Book Review: ‘Stuart Spouses’ by Heather R. Darsie

Historian Heather R. Darsie, who was my first guest for Season 2 of Stuart Saturday Live, is best known for her work on Tudor women such as Anne of Cleves (and I’m looking forward to reading her forthcoming book on Katharine of Aragon for Amberley Publishing). She recently, however, stepped into the world of Stuart history with her book: Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain. 

I received a hardback copy from our mutual publisher, Pen & Sword, and it is beautiful: it is jam-packed full of information, and unlike my work, which is firmly set in the 17th century, it is spread out over all of the Stuart consorts from 1406 – no mean feat. It also contains a large and sumptuous section of colour images (which, I’ll admit, I wish I could have had for Ravenous!). It also contains maps, a timeline, an appendix containing a selection of poems, several family trees, and – crucially, for me – an index. And, just look at that lush, vibrant cover!

This was the first book by Darsie that I have read and I enjoyed her style of writing: it’s concise and has heart: she conveys sympathy for the plights faced by some of the persons involved.

Stuart Spouses looks at the oft-overshadowed consorts of the Stuart monarchs, from 1406 to 1714. By focusing on these people and detailing their rises to matrimony, the trials and tribulations of their courtships, and the impact their unions and dissolutions had on the kingdoms of Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales, one learns not only the history of these kingdoms but the true, sometimes soft, power behind the throne.

This book has footnotes, whilst I prefer endnotes – I know we all have our preferences when it comes to these things. Perhaps some may look upon it with a more critical eye than I and say that it lacks analysis and depth, but surely, one shouldn’t expect such things from a compendium. In fact, I enjoyed this book – I can’t say I agreed with everything (but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I like seeing another view). Stuart Spouses is what it claims to be: a compendium, and I think it is a fine read particularly for those less acquainted with Stuart history. As such, I would probably not recommend this book if you already have a good knowledge of the Stuart consorts. That being said, however, I think we can reasonably say that I know a fair bit about Stuart history, and even I learned a thing or two from this book. Who knows? It may just be the thing to whet your appetite for the Stuarts!

You can purchase a copy of Stuart Spouses through Pen & Sword, or your preferred bookseller.