William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste

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William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste

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Category: Biography
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Reviewed by Sue Magee
Summary: A very useful and readable look at William and Mary who are so often overlooked despite their importance. Impressive research and a drawing together of the strands of European history. Definitely recommended.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 288 Date: July 2008
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 978-0750945776

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At school I remember spending a lot of time on the Tudors and the early Stuarts – obviously great favourites of the history teacher and then galloping unceremoniously through the intervening years until we reached another meaningful period – the Victorian era. The importance of William and Mary was completely overlooked in favour of a quick mention of the fact that William wasn't in direct line of succession to the throne and Mary had never wanted to marry him in the first place. Their successor, Queen Anne I remember simply as 'tables'.

But William and Mary are important, for many reasons. Mary was the daughter of James II and Anne Hyde and she was said to have wept for a day and a half when, at the age of fifteen, she was told that she was to marry her cousin, William of Orange. They married on William's twenty-seventh birthday in a private, if gloomy ceremony. Only King Charles II appeared cheerful, but the marriage was happier than many a royal union and William was grief-stricken when Mary died at the age of thirty two.

William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution is a dual biography of the two monarchs as well as an impressive drawing together of the strands of British and European history. It's easy to forget that William and Mary were contemporaries of Louis XIV of France and that this was a time when it was important to maintain a balance of power rather than to extend it.

William has been described as the first European monarch and it's easy to see why. Despite his home – and his heart – being in Orange he fought valiantly on behalf of his adopted country, personally leading his armies into battle. In fact he was the last monarch to do this and whilst his skill as a military strategist might be called into question his bravery was obvious to all.

Mary was initially reluctant to become involved in politics but still stepped up to the plate when her husband was away and performed more than creditably, with William finding after her death that there was no one who could be trusted to take her place. Unusually amongst royal marriages at the time theirs was a love match as well as a politically useful union.

There's a real depth to this very readable book, but it's one to savour and think about rather than hurry through. From having only the most basic knowledge of the period I now feel confident about William and Mary's place in history.

If this book appeals then we think that you might also enjoy Vermeer's Hat: The seventeenth century and the dawn of the global world by Timothy Brook.

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Buy William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
Buy William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy William and Mary: Heroes of the Glorious Revolution by John Van der Kiste at Amazon.com.

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