The problem with King Charles I is much like the last Tsar of Russia, they’re viewed through the prism of how they died. This book is a class act in removing the centuries of propaganda against, a King who lost his head but in losing his head he set the scene for the rejuvenation of the monarchy into a new age. It’s a sympathetic portrayal of man, a time and the circumstances that led to revolutionary movement in Britain.

Freshly written and researched, structured effectively and an impressive use of sources in a stylish way.

I enjoyed this book and came away feeling I understood a complex period better than before.

It well deserves the praise it’s been getting.

An incredibly fascinating book regarding a subject I know very little about. I enjoyed the writing, the atmosphere. I enjoyed everything!

I really enjoyed the book, I felt the information was displayed well and that background was thoroughly researched. I would recommend this book.

This was an enjoyable and captivating read of a man historians often depict incorrectly. While you'll get distracted by details the casual writing style make it a read that anyone can tackle.

As a Tudor historian, it is nearly impossible to review works set during the time period without seeing the content through the jaundiced lens of your own biases. More often than not, there is room for multiple interpretations of the documented evidence, but it can be hard to overcome the instinctual gut-reaction humans experience when faced with an opinion that differs from one they wholeheartedly embrace about historical figures they have come to cherish. That uncomfortableness is invaluable when we seek academic growth, but it makes reading for pleasure a challenge. Thankfully, I had few preconceived notions about England’s first Caroline king, and when I was offered the opportunity to review the latest take on his life, I leapt at the chance. Few things can compare to the joy I feel when introduced to a new historical subject and this beautifully crafted biography did not disappoint.

The subtitle of Leanda De Lisle’s The White King calls the monarch a traitor, murderer, and martyr, but upon completion of the book, I have come away with the impression that the only fitting descriptor used is martyr. The other titles seem far too subjective for this oft-misunderstood king.


Though Charles’ reign came many years after the death of the ginger-haired tyrant at the head of the Tudor court, the spectre of Henry VIII looms large throughout this biography. His reign and personality are held against those of Charles I to show how vastly different they were and just how much the world had changed in the intervening years. The charges of tyranny lodged against the latter monarch pale in comparison to the actual tyranny perpetrated by Henry VIII and his children, yet none of their reigns ended with the humiliation of the scaffold, as Charles’ did. Even more striking are the parallels De Lisle makes with our current political climate – where “populism meets religious justifications for violence” and “the rise of demagogues, who whip up mobs by feeding off ethnic and religious hatreds.”



De Lisle brings the figures surrounding Charles I to life with the strident confidence that accompanies the historian who fully understand their subject. All of their graces and foibles are fully explored; their ever-changing allegiances reported without a hint of sentimentality. If their motivations are not revealed in the primary sources, they are left unexplained here, preserving the jarring atmosphere Charles must have felt during his reign. Even the most historically savvy reader is never quite certain where loyalties lie or how often the tides will turn. In the hands of a less experienced historian these twists would be rendered into a confusing mess, but De Lisle deftly navigates the murky waters with expert precision.

My favorite part of The White King was the focus on Robert and Henry Rich and their cousin, Lady Lucy Carlisle. Having spent the better part of the last decade researching Catherine Carey, Lady Knollys, it was refreshing to see the role her descendants played during this tumultuous time in English history. The fealty they showed their monarch was far from the devotional loyalty Lady Knollys was known for in her lifetime, but the Puritan proclivities of their great-grandfather, Francis, remained un-diluted. I often found myself wondering what their grandmother, Lettice, would have thought of their intrigues. Lady Carlisle appears the most like her ancestor. Like Lettice, she even bore an uncanny resemblance to the queen she served.


I thoroughly enjoyed De Lisle’s inclusion of the correspondence between the king and his wife, Henrietta Maria, recently unearthed from the Belvoir archives. Through their words, the unjust depictions of the queen fall apart at the seams, and Henrietta Maria is finally given the recognition she deserves. The emphasis on Charles family life is most touching here. The love and devotion they showed to him speaks volumes about his character.

A well-written and impeccably researched biography, The White King seeks not to revise the history of England’s Civil Wars, but uncover the truth hidden beneath the grime of centuries of propaganda and myth.

The style of writing is explanatory, and not engaging to me. Therefore, I’m not the right reviewer for this book. There are others who appreciate this style of writing and they will reveal veracious reviews.

I found this book to be a brilliant blow by blow account of events leading up to the English Civil War. It is so well researched,with many details unknown to me,clearly written,with major characters and events explained in such depths. History is usually a procession of battle names and dates,with no clear connections between them, this book creates order from chaos and is a fascinating read.
Whilst on holiday in Scotland, I was amazed how far north the Civil War battles had been fought and that not only Scottish and Irish soldiers were involved in this war of religion. I was touched to find that although Charles was a true regal monarch,he was a caring family man with genuine love for his wife and children. Indeed, he spent his last hours writing family letters and obtaining gifts for these children, this White King,who was destined to die at the hands of his subjects.
This book should be in every school classroom, it would have greatly increased my knowledge and enjoyment of the later Stuart rulers,when I did my history degree if this had been available to me then. I will be recommending this to my local U3A group. I have posted a copy of this review on NetGalley today.