I enjoyed reading this book I knew a little about the civil war but mostly from the parliamentary point of view so it was very interesting to read from the royalist view point. My impression is that he was very misunderstood and things could have been different had he not had soo many in the court circle working against him.
At times I did get bogged down by some of the battle descriptions but I did enjoy reading.

Handsome, dashing, an excellent soldier and fiercely loyal to his uncle King Charles I, Prince Rupert is always a fascinating character. His reputation has taken a bit of a beating over the years, however, and Mark Turnbull’s sympathetic look at him gathers new information and discovers the truth behind the legend. Rupert in his battles in the Civil War faced a poisonous rivalry from the envious Digby, in-fighting from jealous cavaliers, a brother who was sympathetic with the other side and an indecisive King. He had much to contend with but in spite of all this, he almost won the Civil War for the King.

Rupert’s black dog Boye is also the stuffof legend, even regarded by some of the Parliamentarians as involved in witchcraft! They spread all sorts of fantastic rumours about Rupert and his dog.

Turnbull also studies his relationships with women, including his mother, his bossy aunt and his mistresses. It was good to see that he eventually settled down with a family in his beloved England after all of his years of fierce battles.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A fascinating look at a very interesting man and the people (especially women) in his life.

It is detailed, but immensely readable, which is not easily achieved in historical biographies. It shows Rupert as a clever, talented, charming, brave man but also shows his flaws. The focus on the people around him is welcome too: the man's life was full of fascinating people and I full-heartedly agree with the author that to understand the person, we need to get to know the people around them. Rupert's mom was my favourite in the earlier section of the book, and his lovers/partners (who were quite remarkable in their own right) get the attention they deserve as well.

The inclusion of the letters is also wonderful. Little comments and remarks, both the serious one and quite gossipy ones, made the book very entertaining. My favourite was this particular comment about Rupert after his birth: Despite the ‘infirmities’of infancy, it was recorded that there appeared appropriate ‘rayes’ of majesty in the child.

A wonderful book for those who are interested in history and those who want to get an insight into the life of one of the most intriguing people of the Stuart era.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.