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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
funny
informative
slow-paced
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I really, really enjoyed this biography - it is an excellently researched, historically focused biography of the first King of both Scotland and England whilst also being a meaningful and valuable addition to the queer history archives.
The author takes pains to focus on James separately as a man and as a King - as James himself saw himself. The dichotomy and overpriced between the two is fascinating, as is the open secret of what can comfortably be labelled his bisexuality. The focus on his clear love for Anna, his wife, throughout their marriage is one I've not come across before and if anything it really underscored the deep love James had for all of his partners instead of making his same sex relationships seem like some sort of desperate acting out against his marriage.
The book is also quite a lot kinder to his male partners than many recent modern reflections on them - I'm looking at you, Mary and George.
Anna is, by far, the stand out of this book for me. Her petty, witty and hilarious reactions to almost every major moment in her marriage and Queenship absolutely cracked me up.
The author takes pains to focus on James separately as a man and as a King - as James himself saw himself. The dichotomy and overpriced between the two is fascinating, as is the open secret of what can comfortably be labelled his bisexuality. The focus on his clear love for Anna, his wife, throughout their marriage is one I've not come across before and if anything it really underscored the deep love James had for all of his partners instead of making his same sex relationships seem like some sort of desperate acting out against his marriage.
The book is also quite a lot kinder to his male partners than many recent modern reflections on them - I'm looking at you, Mary and George.
Anna is, by far, the stand out of this book for me. Her petty, witty and hilarious reactions to almost every major moment in her marriage and Queenship absolutely cracked me up.
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Russell has become an author that I will automatically pick up a book he has written simply because he is a masterful wordsmith. Russell's ability to provide interesting, personal, and nuanced narrative biographies keeps you hooked from beginning to end in all of his works. This book, in particular, is no exception.
This is the first book about James VI and I that I have read, which provides an intimate portrait of him as a man. Russell references how James is often portrayed in the media as bowlegged and unable to walk, which was how I always pictured him (probably thanks to Robert Carlyle's portrayal of James in Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot). So, it was refreshing to have those notions blown away by Russell's diligent and colorful descriptions of James' life.
I particularly enjoyed the focus on James's childhood. Due to my interest in his mother, I had never really learned about the details of James's life before he reached adulthood. The interpersonal dynamics of the Scottish court during this period were incredibly complicated, and Russel captured the fear that James must have experienced from the abundance of violence that surrounded him so well that it was heartbreaking to read. Also, the stories of physical abuse that James suffered because his tutor did not believe in the right of kings (which is a fair opinion to have, but I'm not sure what he was hoping to accomplish by bullying a child) were harrowing. I also appreciate that Russell provided the evidence and allowed the reader to draw their conclusions about the psychological impacts these events must have had on James. Diagnosis at a distance is not advisable, but not to consider that James experienced psychological processes is also just as dishonest.
My favorite parts of the book were related to James's relationship with his wife, Anna of Denmark. I desperately want to read a biography of her, but have not been successful in finding one. The complexity of James and Anna's relationship was so well detailed throughout the book. It's clear that their marriage was one of two strong personalities, but that they found a way to work together to have at minimum a working dynastic relationship and at best a loving partnership. Hearing of James's reaction to Anna's death also painted James in a whole new light. I am not sure where I got the sense that James was stoic and didn't express his feelings, but Russell's depiction during this scene quickly disuaded me of this idea.
My second favorite part of the book, and it is a very close second, is the quotations from the letters that James and his epinonymous six loves wrote to one another. There is a mix of sweetness, love, anger, and horniness that makes the intimacy that James experienced with these men quite clear. I particularly enjoyed the insights into how James balanced his feelings with the larger political world. I also found the cognitive dissonance of James not wanting the British public to know of his liaisons, but his not hiding it at court, particularly interesting.
There were a few instances where the text wandered a little bit to describe much wider court and European events. They were interesting, but did feel a bit long in some places.
Overall, this was a fantastic book. I have a fundamentally different understanding of James VI and I. I also learned about several important figures in his life that I had little to no knowledge about, particularly Robert Carr. I would highly recommend this book to history lovers and Stuart dynasty fanatics alike.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the first book about James VI and I that I have read, which provides an intimate portrait of him as a man. Russell references how James is often portrayed in the media as bowlegged and unable to walk, which was how I always pictured him (probably thanks to Robert Carlyle's portrayal of James in Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot). So, it was refreshing to have those notions blown away by Russell's diligent and colorful descriptions of James' life.
I particularly enjoyed the focus on James's childhood. Due to my interest in his mother, I had never really learned about the details of James's life before he reached adulthood. The interpersonal dynamics of the Scottish court during this period were incredibly complicated, and Russel captured the fear that James must have experienced from the abundance of violence that surrounded him so well that it was heartbreaking to read. Also, the stories of physical abuse that James suffered because his tutor did not believe in the right of kings (which is a fair opinion to have, but I'm not sure what he was hoping to accomplish by bullying a child) were harrowing. I also appreciate that Russell provided the evidence and allowed the reader to draw their conclusions about the psychological impacts these events must have had on James. Diagnosis at a distance is not advisable, but not to consider that James experienced psychological processes is also just as dishonest.
My favorite parts of the book were related to James's relationship with his wife, Anna of Denmark. I desperately want to read a biography of her, but have not been successful in finding one. The complexity of James and Anna's relationship was so well detailed throughout the book. It's clear that their marriage was one of two strong personalities, but that they found a way to work together to have at minimum a working dynastic relationship and at best a loving partnership. Hearing of James's reaction to Anna's death also painted James in a whole new light. I am not sure where I got the sense that James was stoic and didn't express his feelings, but Russell's depiction during this scene quickly disuaded me of this idea.
My second favorite part of the book, and it is a very close second, is the quotations from the letters that James and his epinonymous six loves wrote to one another. There is a mix of sweetness, love, anger, and horniness that makes the intimacy that James experienced with these men quite clear. I particularly enjoyed the insights into how James balanced his feelings with the larger political world. I also found the cognitive dissonance of James not wanting the British public to know of his liaisons, but his not hiding it at court, particularly interesting.
There were a few instances where the text wandered a little bit to describe much wider court and European events. They were interesting, but did feel a bit long in some places.
Overall, this was a fantastic book. I have a fundamentally different understanding of James VI and I. I also learned about several important figures in his life that I had little to no knowledge about, particularly Robert Carr. I would highly recommend this book to history lovers and Stuart dynasty fanatics alike.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Outing, Colonisation
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced