Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier

Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier

by Charles Spencer (Author)

Synopsis

To his fellow Royalists, fighting for King Charles I, Prince Rupert of the Rhine was the archetypal 'cavalier'. Young, handsome, expert horseman, crack pistol shot, his swaggering style irritated the stuffier of the king's courtiers almost as much as the 'Roundheads' they were fighting. To the parliamentarians, above all Oliver Cromwell, he was the ultimate 'malignant', one of those Royalists who fought on even after Charles was executed in 1649. Rupert commanded the Royalist forces in exile, at one point reduced to little more than pirates before the triumphant restoration of the monarchy in 1660. In Charles Spencer's thoroughly researched account, Prince Rupert is revealed as more than just a great general and dashing cavalier. He was a scientist and classical scholar too: a true renaissance prince. From his dramatic childhood escape through the snows of Bohemia to respected older statesman, this is the first comprehensive biography of the greatest cavalier of them all.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 464
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Published: 14 Jun 2007

ISBN 10: 0297846108
ISBN 13: 9780297846109
Book Overview: Brilliant biography of the greatest 'Cavalier'of them all A page-turning narrative from the best selling author of BLENHEIM Highly promotable author with extensive TV experience

Media Reviews
'I have read many lives of the prince... but I have not read one before... so richly and fully explored.' -- Antonia Fraser THE GUARDIAN 'pacey and perceptive... Written with all the zest of a Flashman novel, this biography is a delight to read' -- John Adamson THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 'This is a fine book that portrays Rupert as a fascinating figure who was more than the ultimate cavalier, dashing but doomed.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'Charles Spencer's writing is fast-paced and engaging. His accounts of military encounters proceed with a fine degree of excitement... a vivid and enjoyable study.' -- Matthew Dennison TLS
Author Bio
Charles Spencer was educated at Eton College and obtained his degree in Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford. While in the middle of a seven year stint as a correspondent for NBC News in the United States, Charles Spencer inherited the ancestral home of Althorp, Northampton, which he has since restored and refurbished. He achieved worldwide attention after speaking passionately at the funeral of his sister Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. He lives at Althorp and in West London.