Jacqueline RidingJacobites

I have been waiting a long time for an historical account of the Jacobites and while "A New History" delivered on the whole it did leave me a bit disappointed. The constant interchange between various dialects and languages was confusing but I appreciated the inclusion of original letters from both sides of the conflict. The book is very detailed in its account of battles and one gains a better understanding of the personal relationships (between old and young pretender in particular) and the individual sacrifices accompanying the rebellion. I would though have liked to have an analysis of what would for example have happened if the Prince had marched on London or if French troops had arrived, etc. In other words, while an excellent account of events and people associated with the rebellion, I would have liked for the author to have stepped back and away from the source documentation and consider the lessons and the "What If" questions at the end of the book. In the meantime, I look forward to a complete biography of the Bonnie Prince Charles as his story did not end with the rebellion.

For a student of Scottish history, this is a very well written and documented work! It tells the story of the Jacobite Rebellion in an interesting story-like way, yet remains faithful to history. If you are of Scottish decent, you owe it to yourself to read this book!

We just read "Jacobites" in our book group and I loved it! Masterfully told through contemporary accounts (letters, reminiscences, histories, etc.), you feel as though you are right in the action, watching these fascinating events unfold. At one point, I was so engrossed in the story, I wondered if it was possible that things were going to turn out differently. The account of the actual Scottish rising is book-ended with matching experiences on the outer Scottish islands; the first, as the adventure began, so exuberant and hopeful, the last after devastating failure, so poignant and forlorn.There is no question that the first few chapters are slow. The author meticulously lays the groundwork for her ripping yarn. In a sense however, the detailed telling of the year leading up to the invasion serves as a dramatic counterpoint to the speed of unfolding events once the ships leave France. As some have noted, modern maps may also have been helpful but again the use of contemporary maps and illustrations added to the sense that you were experiencing the Jacobite rising first hand. I didn't just like this book, I loved it!

I bought this because on my recent trip to Scotland to trace my relatives--being 95% Scot--I discovered that at least some of them came to the Colonies as refugees--they sided with Bonnie Prince Charlie and that went badly...so they found themselves as refugees washed up on the shores of Virginia colony without much...and this book helps me understand where all this came from--a gripper, especially if these are your ancestors.

I am interested in this topic mostly because of genealogical discoveries. The strengths of the book are its specificity, it's use of contemporary sources. It's weakness is its clarity and ambiguous references to people. For instance, it a continual integration of quotations became hard to follow as the references did not follow modern spelling, punctuation, or syntax.

Although I'm a retired English and foreign language prof, I love history, especially English history. Although the author's style is a bit dry, she does deal with a large amount of material. Her research is impressive.

A marvelous account of the 1745 rebellion using primary reports describing events as they happen.

Best book on the subject!

I have read most of the major books on the Jacobite Rebellion and can say that this is without doubt the best I have encountered. Many historical authors rely on bombarding the reader with dates and figures in order to prove their abilities in researching a given historical topic. However, in this work Dr. Riding has produced not only a impeccably detailed analysis of the '45 but has also constructed a damn good story. The major drawback of reading any historical work is sometimes having the prior knowledge and internal belief that you already have a sense of what the outcomes are. In order to avoid this pitfall and put more meat on the bones as it were Jacqueline Riding enhances the historical facts by including first hand eye witness accounts, letters from the major protagonists on both sides etc in order to construct a lucid and articulate narrative that held me spellbound. I cannot praise this book highly enough, if you are student of history or just a fan of Outlander then get it, you will not regret it

There are so many myths about the Jacobite rebellion and it's often been hijacked as a nationalist cause. In reality it was far more complex and nuanced. This book takes a step back and draws on a wide range of contemporary accounts from across Europe to understand the wider situation. I've felt more drawn to the Prince as a result of this book - his foolishness yes but his intelligence, culture and charm comes through particularly well.So the content is excellent but the actual book less so. I struggle with the font size which is just too small.

A enjoyable read. I was aware of the basics of the events through studying many years ago at school and through programs such as Outlander.Whilst the subject is by its nature heavy and the use of quotes from contemporary sources did mean that some had to be reread to fully understand them, it has meant that i have a better understanding of why the Jacobites turned around at Derby despite being a gew days from London

The subtitle of this book is more correct than the title. I would have liked to have learned a bit more about the history of the Jacobites and their origins as well as their other uprisings before jumping into the 45 but otherwise it is a really good read. Set out in short chapters and Fillmore letters and eyewitness reports you can follow the rebellion from Rome to England and back again. We'll set out easy to follow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A very detailed history of the rebellion with corrects many of the popular myths about the event.Firstly the plan was to be aided by french troops.When this did not appear the Stuart pretender was advised by the Scottish lords to abandon their attempt.They did not and were ultimately defeated.The duke of Cumberland although only aged 25 was an experienced general and not a butcher.Lastly I learned that the soldiers depicted in the Hogarth print “ The March to Finchley” were stationed in a field near the village of Finchley to defend London. A very good account of the rebellion and it’s aftermath.