Ungrateful daughters: The Stuart princesses who stole their father's crown - Hardcover

Waller, Maureen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340794615 ISBN 13: 9780340794616

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2002

Synopsis

This work recreates the late Stuart era, in a narrative that highlights the influence of three women in one of the most momentous events in our history: a palace coup that changed the face of the monarchy and signalled the end of a dynasty. In 1688, seven prominent men invited William of Orange - James' nephew and son-in-law - to intervene in English affairs. But it was the women, Queen Mary Beatrice and her stepdaughters Mary and Anne who played a key role in this drama. Jealous and resentful, Anne had written malicious letters to her sister Mary, implying that the Queen's pregnancy was a hoax, a Catholic plot to deny Mary her rightful inheritance.

About this title

About the Author:

Maureen Waller was educated at University College London, where she read Medieval and Modern History. She took a master's degree at Queen Mary College, London in British and European History 1660-1714. After a brief spell at the National Portrait Gallery, she went into publishing. She has worked at many prestigious publishing houses.

From Publishers Weekly:

In November 1688, the Protestant Prince William of Orange landed in England with an invading Dutch army. The Catholic King of Britain, James II, prepared to meet William in battle, but the unpopular James soon found himself deserted by his army and navy-and, most surprisingly, by his own daughters. Crestfallen, James fled to France, and William became king. This "Glorious Revolution," London-based historian Waller (1700: Scenes from London Life) tells us, was largely the product of a family feud. James's eldest daughter, Mary, was married to William, who was also James's nephew. James's other daughter, Anne, also defected to William. Why did both daughters betray their father at his hour of greatest need? Waller believes it was partly religion-the fervently Catholic James had failed to convert his Protestant daughters and nation. Moreover, Princess Anne loathed her Catholic stepmother, Queen Mary Beatrice. When the queen became pregnant in late 1687, Anne claimed the pregnancy was a papist hoax. As for Mary, she supported her husband, William, and her Anglican faith. Neither Mary nor Anne had children, and Anne eventually became the last Stuart monarch. Waller, using Stuart family letters and an impressive array of secondary sources, has written a highly readable, thoroughly researched family saga that shows vividly how the personal and the political interacted to produce one of the seminal events in British history. 16 pages of color photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0340794615
• ISBN 13: 9780340794616
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480