Subtitled "The Misunderstood Reign of George III" by Andrew Roberts (680 pp. plus 57 pp. endnotes and bibliography) was a Christmas gift from daughter Rachel. The length of time it took me to read this book is no reflection on its content or style. It is excellent.
I have neither the time or qualifications to review this heavily-researched volume but will point out that Roberts was the beneficiary of the 2015 release of many of the papers of George III by the current Queen. Roberts gives evidence of having read everything written by or to the late King and (virtually?) everything in connection with him written by his contemporaries. And Roberts uses this wealth of original material to correct many misunderstandings about the man and his reign. Misunderstandings (libels?) from the American side can be more easily understood given the exigencies of fighting a protracted war for independence. The equal calumnies from the Whig oligarchs of George's day, and their repetition by Whig-leaning historians of much of the next two centuries, find less reason for leniency.
Americans know or care little for what George did following 1782 but Roberts brings to light the George's stalwart service to Britain as king during the long conflicts with France beginning with the French Revolution. Roberts also sets straight the record, insofar as it can be established at this date, with regard to the King's mental illness. It was not porphyria and the 1960 articles asserting that it was have been debunked by specialists in the field.
I won't say more here except to recommend this book to anyone interested in the British understanding of their "colonial problems" and the contributions of George III to the constitutional order that continues to prevail in the United Kingdom
No comments:
Post a Comment