Royal Survivor: The Life of Charles II

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time.
Review: This book has gotten good reviews in this forum, but I'd like to offer a dissenting viewpoint. This book may have a "lively" style but it is poorly researched. It appears as though the author did no research in archives. The material has all appeared elsewhere. The bulk of the book is based on secondary sources. Fully 85% of the footnotes are from secondary sources. Some quotations are rendered with no footnotes at all. The footnotes aren't even consistent in their form. This a poorly researched & sloppily edited book. There are much better books on Charles that you can get.

Rating:
Summary: Re-live an exciting period in history
Review: This book is excellently researched and well presented. The turbulent times of the reign of Charles II cast a long shadow on the following centuries of English and European history. The author gives us a most valuable guide. The book is easy to read and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Re-live an exciting period in history
Review: This book is excellently researched and well presented. The turbulent times of the reign of Charles II cast a long shadow on the following centuries of English and European history. The author gives us a most valuable guide. The book is easy to read and I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Well-Crafted Tale Makes Politics Interesting
Review: This book is very cleverly put together by Mr. Coote. I've noticed that some of the professional reviews tend to dwell on the more salacious parts but the vast majority of the book is about the power politics involved in the struggle between Charles and Parliament. It is a tribute to Mr. Coote that he makes the principles involved interesting and understandable to the modern reader. He throws in just enough information about Charles's personal life to provide a nice breather from all the politics. You learn about all of the mistresses and illegitimate children and how Charles liked to spend his personal time. He was a very physical and fit man who was quite tall for the times (6 foot 2) and liked to hunt and fish and play tennis and was an excellent horseman. The first third or so of the book, when Charles was on the run from Cromwell and the Roundheads and then in exile was also very interesting and even exciting. Charles proved himself to be very brave and resourceful and also intelligent and devious. The book maintains a nice balance between the political and the personal and is a good introduction to the times.