Bonny Prince Charlie

by Susan Maclean Kybett

Kybett spent 15 years in intensive study of the Stuart Papers, thousands of letters and documents, the bulk of which have been virtually untapped by other researchers. As a result, her book contains more new information on the subject than any book published since 1900. 15 black-and-white photos.

Genres: Biography, History

Paperback

First published April 14, 1988

Reviews

[Deedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Maclean Kybett hates Charles Edward Stuart with a passion uncommonly seen in history books. Every fact she interprets in the most negative way possible. Apparently Charles Edward Stuart was a drunken grifter who took advantage of Scotsmen's youthful idealism. I'm glad I read this because usually Charles Edward Stuart is portrayed in a heroic light, and it was useful to consider that the same facts can be "spun" to show him in a negative light.

[Edith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Untrustworthy bio of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Kybett claims to have spent years rounding up new information about the Jacobites, but there is scant evidence in her notes to prove it; they are pitiful. There is a whopping error on the first page. And, without supporting evidence, she claims James II and Anne Hyde had an illegitimate daughter together before they married. (Their first child, as usually understood, was born only two months after they married. Why wouldn't they have rushed to marry on the theoretical previous occasion?) James certainly fathered a number of bastards, but the likelihood of having done so with Clarendon's daughter is almost nil.

Kybett really dislikes poor Charles. He was not perhaps a particularly nice young man, and a worse older one, but even he deserves some objectivity. Not recommended.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kybett presents no new information but covers her topic well. Bonnie Prince Charlie was rather an elusive subject because of the emotional response to him--many primary sources are not reliable concerning information about him nor are many objective. Writing a biography on him would be challenging. Kybett's is more impressive than most that come after hers.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unsympathetic, unflattering picture emerges of Bonnie Prince Charlie in this biography, not the usual romantic portrayal that most Americans have come to either believe, or choose to believe. The author has done her homework, though, and has the resource material to back up her descriptions of the prince, both as a young man in Scotland and later in France and Italy. Although I could have done without a few of the military descriptions, this was a book well worth reading. 3.5 ***

[Emilija · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, this book taught me something. Which was never to read a book written by this author again! Clearly, she hated her topic, it was a difficult book to slog through and I think I zoned out quite a few times. I can't remember what happened with Bonnie Prince Charlie in any case.