Book Review: Mary of Modena by Justine Brown

 

Though I would consider myself somewhat of a history nerd there are inevitably large parts of British history about which I know very little. The short reign of James VII and II, along with its preceding period as heir to the throne and the subsequent years in exile, fall into that category. Even more shadowy is the role of his wife, Mary Beatrice of Modena, of whom I previously knew little but her name and the fact that there was controversy about the birth of her son, James, the future Old Pretender and father of Bonnie Prince Charlie. (At the time the lie was put about the he had been smuggled into her bedchamber in a warming pan, in order to undermine his legitimacy in terms of the future succession.)

This book is not, of course, a biography of James VII and II but of his consort, though he inevitably plays a major role in it. Through Mary Beatrice, Justine Brown sheds fascinating light not only on the Queen herself but on the goings-on around her and the role she was later to play in sustaining and supporting the Jacobite cause abroad — up to and including the first, ill-fated, Jacobite rebellion in 1715. 

With so much intrigue surrounding the succession, in which religion was a crucial determining factor, Mary Beatrice was inevitably at the centre of it; as with her husband, her stalwart Catholicism was perceived as problematic by many in a largely Protestant country. With the alternative candidates for the throne being James’s daughters by his first marriage, Mary’s relationship with her stepdaughters (and their own various entanglements with the friends who sought to influence them) becomes increasingly fascinating.

Without knowing more of the period its difficult to say how balanced this book is; its emphasis of Mary Beatrice’s qualities and focus on the the undoubted but possibly understandable shortcomings of ‘the other side’ made a little wary. It’s very unusual that ne side in history is all good and the other all bad and my sketchy knowledge of the period included the impression that James was perhaps rather weaker, and perhaps not as good a monarch, as the author portrays him. 

This triviality aside, I found the book fascinating in both its breadth and in its detail, and would thoroughly recommend it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword Books for an advance copy in return for this honest review.