This book portrays the life of George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, the favorite of kings James I and Charles I. It explores Buckingham’s rise to power, his flamboyant lifestyle in the 17th-century English court, and his spectacular downfall.

Addictive, informative, and easy to read, this book is both history and biography, artfully capturing the man and his times. Buckingham’s story is tragic—he was in over his head, raised too high too soon, and incapable of recognizing his own limitations. This narrative portrays the man in all his glory and pathos.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I requested and received an eARC of The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham by Lucy Hughes-Hallett via NetGalley. This must be my year of reading about the Stuarts and their lovers and I am happy to be adding this title to my list. I was especially excited to see this on NetGalley after watching Mary & George earlier this year. Although the television program proved to be an occasionally tepid affair, the history remained fascinating. In Hughes-Hallett’s work George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham takes center stage as the author explores his origins and his meteoric rise as James I’s favorite.

The introduction to the text addressed two points that really interested me going into this work. Hughes-Hallett’s suggests that perhaps Buckingham wasn’t the monster some chose to portray him as (making him the titular scapegoat) and that those who knew him most intimately thought him kind, courteous and modest. The author also suggests that Buckingham and those connected with him in many ways subverted gender roles and traditional familial relationships. These claims are backed by the text that follows and are often used to pose very interesting questions that provide for a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter.

This was a captivating account of an often misaligned man. The text is well-sourced and the cast of characters who make up this history are well explained. Although this is quite lengthy, there are frequent chapter breaks, and the information is presented in a digestible way making it quite easy to put down this book and pick it up again without feeling lost. Hughes-Hallett uses Buckingham's and James’ personal histories to make interesting assessments of their characters. I particularly enjoyed the sections about James I’s childhood, the relationship between Buckingham and his mother, as well as the bits about Buckingham and Francis Bacon.

Perhaps, most importantly, this was a fun read! History can often be dry, but that isn’t the case here. Hughes-Hallett leaves no stone unturned as she explains the art, culture and prevailing attitudes of the era, while also providing enough salacious history to make for a very interesting reading experience. I found myself wanting a glimpse of Buckingham's famous legs or wondering how he might have spoken. I really appreciate the way the author breaks down complex understandings of friendship and sexuality in the early Stuart era. Being both informative and entertaining can be a difficult task, but Hughes-Hallett seems to excel at it. I will absolutely be adding a physical copy of this book to my library as soon as I can get my hands on it!

Hughes-Hallett deftly examines how individuals and groups have been unfairly blamed for societal woes, using compelling case studies and vivid storytelling. The book's insightful analysis and rich historical context make it a compelling read, offering readers a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of blame and its consequences. Hughes-Hallett’s engaging prose and thorough research ensure that "The Scapegoat" is both informative and intellectually stimulating.