Russell has become an author that I will automatically pick up a book he has written simply because he is a masterful wordsmith. Russell's ability to provide interesting, personal, and nuanced narrative biographies keeps you hooked from beginning to end in all of his works. This book, in particular, is no exception.

This is the first book about James VI and I that I have read, which provides an intimate portrait of him as a man. Russell references how James is often portrayed in the media as bowlegged and unable to walk, which was how I always pictured him (probably thanks to Robert Carlyle's portrayal of James in Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot). So, it was refreshing to have those notions blown away by Russell's diligent and colorful descriptions of James' life.

I particularly enjoyed the focus on James's childhood. Due to my interest in his mother, I had never really learned about the details of James's life before he reached adulthood. The interpersonal dynamics of the Scottish court during this period were incredibly complicated, and Russel captured the fear that James must have experienced from the abundance of violence that surrounded him so well that it was heartbreaking to read. Also, the stories of physical abuse that James suffered because his tutor did not believe in the right of kings (which is a fair opinion to have, but I'm not sure what he was hoping to accomplish by bullying a child) were harrowing. I also appreciate that Russell provided the evidence and allowed the reader to draw their conclusions about the psychological impacts these events must have had on James. Diagnosis at a distance is not advisable, but not to consider that James experienced psychological processes is also just as dishonest.

My favorite parts of the book were related to James's relationship with his wife, Anna of Denmark. I desperately want to read a biography of her, but have not been successful in finding one. The complexity of James and Anna's relationship was so well detailed throughout the book. It's clear that their marriage was one of two strong personalities, but that they found a way to work together to have at minimum a working dynastic relationship and at best a loving partnership. Hearing of James's reaction to Anna's death also painted James in a whole new light. I am not sure where I got the sense that James was stoic and didn't express his feelings, but Russell's depiction during this scene quickly disuaded me of this idea.

My second favorite part of the book, and it is a very close second, is the quotations from the letters that James and his epinonymous six loves wrote to one another. There is a mix of sweetness, love, anger, and horniness that makes the intimacy that James experienced with these men quite clear. I particularly enjoyed the insights into how James balanced his feelings with the larger political world. I also found the cognitive dissonance of James not wanting the British public to know of his liaisons, but his not hiding it at court, particularly interesting.

There were a few instances where the text wandered a little bit to describe much wider court and European events. They were interesting, but did feel a bit long in some places.

Overall, this was a fantastic book. I have a fundamentally different understanding of James VI and I. I also learned about several important figures in his life that I had little to no knowledge about, particularly Robert Carr. I would highly recommend this book to history lovers and Stuart dynasty fanatics alike.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, War, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Outing, Colonisation

I have been trying to find books that would speak at length of the childhood of monarch in the middle age and renaissance time for SO LONG.

And then this come along.

Make no mistake: this does speak about James I / IV love life, but it is also in general a more humane look at the life of a king in the 1600s. Which, not to make too fine a point to it, sucked in a lot of way.

As a queer person myself, I also DEEPLY appreciated how Russel had no qualms about using the word "homosexuality" for the obvious times James I had relationship with other men, like Villiers (as the author says himself: when it is about a heterosexual relationship, we aren't NEARLY as afraid to claim a man and a woman had sex with FAR flimsier claim.

Another interesting part was the deep dive into the importance that magic had for people at that time. They *believed* it. They deeply believed magic could and would be used for evil. Necromancy was a real fear in people's lives, including the nobility.

All in all, a very interesting take, and a refreshing one.

I was given this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Russell depicted beautifully the life of James I, not settling for just stating facts, but engaging with his life-story like one should, humanly and passionately.

Gareth Russell’s The Six Loves of James I is a truly captivating and revelatory biography that breathes new life into the long-discussed but often misunderstood reign of King James I. With his signature blend of scholarly insight and “rollicking, gossipy” narrative (as praised by Dan Jones), Russell invites readers into the intimate world of one of England’s most fascinating monarchs. The book deftly explores the intricate and often controversial aspects of James’s personal life—specifically, his complex relationships with five prominent men—and tackles a topic that has long been relegated to whispers or dismissed entirely: the king’s sexuality.

What sets this biography apart is not only its candid approach but its ability to contextualize James I within the social, political, and philosophical currents of his time. Russell doesn’t simply recount the king’s personal affairs; he intricately ties them to the broader political landscape, demonstrating how these relationships influenced James’s reign and shaped his decisions. The result is a nuanced portrait of a monarch whose public power was often intertwined with his private vulnerabilities.

For too long, James I’s sexuality has been an area of historical hesitation or outright condemnation, but Russell challenges the outdated standards and invites us to consider the monarch in a fuller, more human light. This isn’t just a biography—it’s a groundbreaking work that illuminates the intersections between power, identity, and personal experience in royal history.

Russell’s command of the subject matter, paired with his engaging storytelling, makes The Six Loves of James I a significant and highly enjoyable read for anyone interested in the fascinating and often contradictory nature of the English monarchy. Whether you’re a seasoned historian or a casual reader, this biography is a must-read. It’s a rich, thoughtful, and thoroughly absorbing exploration of one of history’s most enigmatic kings.