Reviews
"Engaging.... Charles
had many virtues, and Ms. de Lisle does justice to them.... Ms. de Lisle's
account of the Revolution and the war is excellent-clear, fair, sympathetic and
detailed.... she grants him the stature of a tragic hero."โ
AllanMassie, Wall Street Journal
"Leanda de Lisle has approached one of the
great icons of history with understanding and compassion. She takes her readers
through the twists and turns of the English Civil War so that they understand the enormity of the
regicide and the foolishness and courage of the king."โ
Philippa Gregory, author of TheOther Boleyn Girl
"The
reign of King Charles I of England is perhaps best known for its bloody end,
when the monarch was beheaded on January 30, 1649.... The polarized nature
of the debate concerning Charles's execution, however, has advanced a
simplistic understanding of the Stuart king's legacy, one concerned chiefly
with his abuses of power and attachment to the doctrine of divine right of
kings. Leanda de Lisle's new biography of Charles, based on existing
scholarship as well as newly discovered letters from the king's own hand,
promises to challenge this legacy."โ
TheNew Criterion Critic's Notebook
"Charles I
(1600-1649) has always received bad press....veteran British historian de Lisle delivers a
more generous portrait.... De Lisle's parliamentarians are an irascible group, resembling not so
much freedom fighters as the tea party; on the other hand, the author's Charles
often seems the voice of reason. Recent elections in Britain and the United
States have produced surprisingly dysfunctional governments. De Lisle's fine,
revisionist view of Charles may arouse nostalgia for a time when national
leaders, elected or not, looked out for the nonzealous majority."โ
KirkusReviews
"De Lisle paints a
sympathetic portrait [and] skillfully places Charles's story within the context
of religious, international, and domestic political rivalries.... Misogyny,
religious prejudice, and prurient propaganda.... This fascinating look at a
society in turmoil and the resilient, principled leader who tried to remain
true to his religious and dynastic responsibilities will leave readers to
determine for themselves the meaning of 'The White King,' .... An engrossing
read."โ
Library Journal
"Charles I has long
eluded even the most scholarly of biographers; his personal contradictions,
attractive qualities and ludicrous blunders require a writer of rare talent to
let us appreciate the long-hidden character of the king."โ
Andrew Roberts, visiting professor, King's College London, and authorof Napoleon: A Life
"Leanda de Lisle uses hitherto unknown manuscripts to offer a sympathetic interpretation of the character of Charles I that is more nuanced than previous treatments thanks partly to a highly original account of his much-maligned queen, Henrietta Maria.
The White King interweaves personal, national and international events in a vividly written account of his downfall and eventual execution in 1649."โ
Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, professor of history,University of Virginia, and author of The Men Who Lost America
"This new balanced biography of Charles I, Leanda de Lisle's
The White King is so marvelous It blows away the partisan fog and presents such an immediately recognizable human that all previous tellings look like caricature.[The book]
renders sufficiently broad strokes of macro history but is also microscopically filled with careful archival detail only the best historians can dig up and make come alive almost effortlessly.... incisive, razor-sharp writing...a polished biographical gem ....[de Lisle] carefully integrates reliable new source documentation - including lost letters from a previously closed private archive at Belvoir Castle - and capable critical analysis about Charles. It will be definitive for a long time."โ
Patrick Hunt, author of Hannibal, for ElectrumMagazine
"By the end of the
book, I was sure that this was one of the best books on Charles I yet written.
De Lisle certainly does know how to write strong, compelling narratives....Her
best - and vital - talent, is perhaps her commendable ability to see the whole
picture, the shades of grey."โ
Andrea Zuvich, authorof A Year in the Life of Stuart Britain for The Seventeenth Century Lady
"The White King paints a brilliantly balanced look at the tragic life and complicated reign of King Charles I. Vivid in detail, Leanda de Lisle's research is balanced and insightful.... Richly researched and engagingly written, you will gain excellent insight not only into the life of King Charles I and the lives of those closest to him, but also the religious and governmental strife that drove Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales into bitter religious and civil war."โ
Queen Anne Boleyn.com
"De Lisle brings the figures surrounding Charles I to life with the strident confidence that accompanies the historian who fully understand their subject....A well-written and impeccably researched biography,
The White King seeks not to revise the history of England's Civil Wars, but uncover the truth hidden beneath the grime of centuries of propaganda and myth."โ
Adrienne Dillard,author of the best-selling Cor Rotto: A Novel of Catherine Carey
"
The White King offers gripping reading. It rewards those who read it a better understanding of King Charles I, and a greater appreciation for the events which shaped his life."โ
Galveston Daily News
"De Lisle cuts a
clear path through the complex politics surrounding the reign of Charles I and
the Civil War. Highly recommended."โ
Tudor Times
"The author's research and presentation are skilled and highly readable
. . . It is an illuminating book."โ
Historical Novel Society
Expand reviews