Unfortunately there was so much going on at the time I got this ARC that I didn't get the time to read it, but from the glances I had it looked intriguing, in several senses.
I wish I had been able to read this book and hope to do so in the future.
I'm giving it three stars just because that's in the middle of the range.

From the moment the childless Charles II of England died and left the throne to his brother James II, the wheels were set in motion for James’s overthrow. A devout Catholic, James was suspected almost from the start of seeking to force his religion on his subjects, and his ham-handed attempts to reverse discrimination against Catholics and surround himself with those he trusted only hardened those perceptions. First, his nephew Monmouth, Charles’s illegitimate son, led an unsuccessful rebellion, but when his queen gave birth to a son who would displace James’s Protestant daughter Mary from the succession, the die was cast, and Mary and her husband William were invited to take the throne, upon which James fled the country and spent the rest of his life in France, plotting to regain it.

Espionage in the Divided Stuart Dynasty covers, in sometimes excruciating detail, the various maneuvers on both sides, including during the lead-up to Monmouth’s rebellion and briefly after the deaths of both James and Queen Anne, including the ’15 and the ‘45, for each to learn what the other was planning and prepare for it. While I found a lot of what was in this book to be interesting and new to me (this not being one of the periods of British history in which I am well versed), it could also be slow going. Maybe one reason was that very lack of familiarity, since the various ministers, secretaries, and other figures tended to kind of run together, and they weren’t vividly enough drawn (or just not vivid enough in themselves - probably a good thing for espionage) to come to life in my mind. Some things that surprised me, though, were not only how many attempts were at least begun if not carried out, how close James came at times - though his ability to sustain any victory he could have won is doubtful, and how little he actually seemed to want to succeed.

I received a copy of Espionage in the Divided Stuart Dynasty from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really learned a lot abou try a time in royal history I had not read much about before. I recommend for any history reader

I can’t do it. Why do I have such bad luck with non-fiction British history on NetGalley? First The Tragic Daughters of Charles I and now Espionage in the Divided Stuart Dynasty. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pen and Sword History for the eARC, but unfortunately, I did not finish this book.

Here’s what I was anticipating based on the description of the book: I was hoping that Julian Whitehead would explain, in detail, how government intelligence and espionage worked in Stuart England. For example, he could have opened the book by describing what methods were used during the Civil War by Cromwell, et al, and then talked about what (if anything) Charles II had changed after coming to power. From there, after a brief broader lesson on the state of continental politics and the tensions between Protestants and Catholics, I’d have expected Whitehead to structure this book such that each chapter focused on a different aspect of intelligence work: appointment and funding of the spymasters; recruitment and handling of agents; cryptography and secret communications; infiltration and exfiltration, etc. Or perhaps he would have organized the book loosely around specific key moments of espionage activities, each of which would then elucidate specific understandings about Stuart espionage.

That is not what you get with this book.

Despite the title, this is a general history of the reign of James II from 1685 to 1715. It focuses heavily on how England’s staunch Protestantism drove multiple attempts to depose Catholic James II. Indeed, if I learned anything from this book (and I did learn things!), it’s how incredibly powerful and vast the divide between Catholics and Protestants was in Europe in the late seventeenth, early eighteenth centuries. Religious differences fuelled so much of the conflict and underlay so many alliances in that time.

To be fair, Whitehead does mention intelligence here and there. He talks about who is in charge and agents that were being used to gather information, especially about rebels and rabble-rousers living on the Continent. Nevertheless, such information never threatens to take over and, you know, actually become the focus of the book.

Even if I were satisfied with this just being a more general history, I was not enjoying Whitehead’s writing style. It has the flatness of academic writing with none of the frequent citations. There is a small amount of editorializing and context, but for the most part, this book feels like reading a Wikipedia page about James II’s reign. That’s honestly the best way I can summarize Whitehead’s style: it is almost pure exposition with very little voice or heart to it.

So … I got bored. The book was not academic enough to excuse its dryness and also not specific enough to keep my interest. Your mileage may vary.

30 years of history with a focus on the role intelligence played in the shaping of the United Kingdom of Britain. As the author says in the introduction, the subject matter is espionage and conspiracy but the theme is loyalty. This history was not just a summation of dry facts, it was interesting history told well brought to life with stories and small (maybe insignificant) facts. For example, the man who participated in a rebellion, was arrested, and amputated his own arm with a pen knife while waiting for examination.

When Charles II died in 1685 he left a nation torn between the Protestantism established by his predecessors, and the Catholicism that quietly marked his own religious sympathies and those of his heir, James II. The challenges presented to a Catholic King ruling a nation which, on the surface at least, was Protestant, would require careful consideration and a thorough understanding of the threat posed by dissenters and pretenders.
Whitehead’s account sets out a forensic analysis of the complex manoeuvres undertaken to prevent this latent religious tension manifesting as outright political unrest. The existential threat presented by conspirators was not one to be taken lightly and the importance of up-to-date, quality intelligence is certainly apparent through the narrative.

To state the obvious, this book is not an introduction to the subject, and it helps to have a reasonable understanding of the main players and historical context before undertaking a deep dive into the intrigues and machinations of James’ court. For an overview of the Stuart kings, however, or the back-and-forth controversies over religion in Britain in the period, there are a number of sources which are helpfully included in the index.

Whitehead does a fantastic job of bringing complex, nuanced figures into the light, a personal favourite being his description of the role of Charles Middleton, James’ ruthless chief adviser. His forensic command of his subject gives a tangible credibility to the narrative. Whitehead’s own professional experience in government intelligence brings a new angle to the study of the subject, and his writing has a clarity and gravitas which is well-suited to his material.

The detailed appraisal of the descent of the Duke of Monmouth, for example, sets out a clear account of events as they transpired. Some readers may like to see a deeper analysis of contemporary feeling about such upheaval, but this is arguably outside of the scope the author has set for himself. If you are interested in an impassive, forensic description of the behind-the-scenes plotting and counter-plotting in this period of stark religious division, this is the book for you. Ultimately, a great spy story is intriguing regardless of the century.

This was an interesting book that tells the history of the Stuart period. It was written well and was very informative. However, it was not the book I thought it would be. I expected it to be about espionage and it was more about the history of the period which was fine by me as I am not all that familiar with the Stuarts.

This is another one of those books which has me conflicted. On the one hand, it is an engrossing tale of the reign of James II of England and the subsequent quest for the throne after he fled in the face of growing religious opposition and the invasion by invitation of William of Orange - "... the overriding issue that was to fracture both family and nation was religion ..". And for someone dipping their toes into this period, it is a highly useful and informative resource.

On the other it purports to be a look at the role of espionage during this particular period in English history - which leads to more conflict as I find this component to be somewhat overshadowed by the first (ie: the history).

As my reading "career" has progressed, I have surpassed the general histories and am looking for more niche subjects. I guess what I was hoping for was more on the espionage side of things rather than a history of the Jacobites for I think to pick up this tome based on title alone one already assumes some understanding of events. I wanted to know more about the methods - the modus operandi, the people involved, the problems they faced - a bit more along the lines of Michael Smith's "The Anatomy of a Spy: A History of Espionage and Betrayal" wherein each chapter highlights a particular theme with examples given to illustrate.

The methods used by the Jacobites, French, Dutch and English were not dissimilar - some were more effective in the collection, collation and usage of intel gathered than others. For as Hugh Douglas, author of "Jacobite Spy Wars: Moles, Rogues and Treachery" notes, "... the final betrayal of the Stuart cause had not come about through a mistress's pillow talk: they had finally been shafted by one of their own ..."

‘Espionage in the Divided Stuart Dynasty’ focuses more on the division between the Stuart family than the espionage of the governments. The reader learns about the Glorious Revolution, James II, his daughters Mary and Anne, and the family divided by religion. Wars for succession and for religion were the perfect time for spies and spymasters to take their place in saving the monarchy. But, despite the book’s promise, ‘Espionage’ has little to say on the subject. Reading that letters were intercepted and informers were paid to pass on Jacobite plots wasn't really anything earth shattering. While learning that most of the information passed on was either wrong, ignored, or already popular knowledge was interesting, this book never delivered the details that would have made it stand out from any other book on the time period. Highly repetitive and unevenly written, it might be an interesting introduction to the Stuarts for a reader, but never rose above the mediocre in my opinion.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

“For want of [espionage] and intelligence a Prince may lose his crown.”
This book tracks the sundry plots and uprisings from both sides during the Stuart dynasty, beginning around the times of James II’s ascension to the throne. The importance of the intelligence gathered, or the lack thereof, is a strong theme throughout the book. One such striking moment is that James II had information regarding the impending Glorious Revolution, but chose to ignore it completely. Instead, he sent a letter to his son-in-law, who was soon to invade his country and take his throne, in which he said “this place affords little news, what news from your side of the water?”

While this book is about espionage, Whitehead notes himself that “its theme is loyalty.” Personnages in this book grappled with loyalty to one’s family, to one’s religion, and to the crown, often having to decide between two or more. While this theme was well developed, especially when it came to James II and his daughters, the subject of espionage was not as central as I would have hoped. There were a few passages that talked about different methods of espionage during the era, but this seemed to be secondary to a basic overview of British and European royal history in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. I would not recommend this to anyone solely interested in the espionage aspect, but it would be an excellent read for someone looking to learn more about this era of British royalty.

"Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive" – Sir Walter Scott

Imagine a giant chessboard. Pieces include royal edicts and acts. Rebellions and counter-rebellions. Informants and spies. Conspiracies. Exiles and executions. Agents and double agents. Assassination plots and counter-plots. All set on a board roiling with religious fervor and fear in which control of England and the monarchy are at stake in the ultimate game of chess.

That’s the gist of this prodigious historical tome. Spanning thirty years, Espionage chronicles the epic struggle between two religious factions – Catholics and Anglicans – and its consequences for England and the throne.

Espionage carefully unravels and explains the tangled web of intelligence and counter-intelligence and the role both played in this period. History lovers with sharp eyes will be fascinated with this voluminous account of the rule of James I, as well as challenges to and changes from the throne .

It also explains the oft-confusing, complicated web of inter-connected royal relationships and alliances that include England, Germany, France, William and Mary of Orange, the Italian States, and Emperor Leopold of Austria, to name a few.

Trouble begins with King Charles I’s deathbed conversion to Catholicism at the behest of his brother, James. The latter ascended to the throne upon the demise of his brother. James’s main tasks are to ensure the security of his throne and to alleviate fears about his rule as a “papist king.” (That’s no mean feat if you’re a Catholic monarch in a heavily Protestant country in the 1600s.)

Indeed, Espionage is a deep dive into the shadowy world of espionage, spies and secrets and ”anti-Papist” hysteria. Whigs, Tories, and Covenanters. Bribes and burgers. The Test Acts. Louis XIV. External invasions and internal uprisings. Lots more. All swirl around the ultimate objective: keeping and maintaining the English throne and quashing insurrectional "checkmates."

The text includes a head-spinning chronology of names, dates, places and the crucial role that accurate, timely intelligence played in all of the above. Readers are also introduced to a vast and complex array of characters. They range from the Duke of Monmouth to English nobles, members of parliament, the royal family, public office holders and appointees, and members of the military.

American readers will gain a better understanding and deeper appreciation of our Bill of Rights as well as the fortitude demonstrated by our founding founders in declaring our independence from the crown.

Thoroughly documented and meticulously researched, Espionage epitomizes Sir Walter Scott's adage. This book isn’t for the faint-hearted. Non-British or casual readers unfamiliar with English history, the monarchy, or government may get lost in the dense forest of 17th century England. Some will find it as dry as the Atacama Desert. But serious history lovers will enjoy the journey.

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