The King's Assassin: The Secret Plot to Murder King James I

by Benjamin Woolley Narrated by David Timson

Overview

"...David Timson narrates this sweeping history of the court of King James I...Timson's emotionally demonstrative tones echo throughout this complex study of Villiers and the British court, adding suspense to every turn..." - AudioFile Magazine

An absorbing account of the conspiracy to kill King James I by his handsome lover, the Duke of Buckingham, a historical crime that has remained hidden for 400 years.

The rise of George Villiers from minor gentry to royal power seemed to defy gravity. Becoming gentleman of the royal bedchamber in 1615, the young gallant enraptured James, Britain's first Stuart king, royal adoration reaching such an intensity that the king declared he wanted the courtier to become his `wife'. For a decade, Villiers was at the king's side - at court, on state occasions, and in bed, right up to James's death in March 1625.

Almost immediately, Villiers' many enemies accused him of poisoning the king. A parliamentary investigation was launched, and scurrilous pamphlets and ballads circulated London's streets. But the charges came to nothing, and were relegated to a historical footnote.

Now, new research suggests that a deadly combination of hubris and vulnerability did indeed drive Villiers to kill the man who made him. It may have been by accident - the application of a quack remedy while the king was weakened by a malarial attack. But there is compelling evidence that Villiers, overcome by ambition and frustrated by James's passive approach to government, poisoned him.

In The King's Assassin, acclaimed author Benjamin Woolley examines this remarkable, even tragic story. Combining vivid characterization and a strong narrative with historical scholarship and forensic investigation, Woolley tells the story of King James's death, and of the captivating figure at its center.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Soft-spoken David Timson narrates this sweeping history of the court of King James I, Britain’s first Stuart king. Listeners learn about the machinations and intrigue within the court. Attention is focused particularly on George Villiers, who rose from obscurity to become gentleman of the royal bedchamber and lover of King James I in 1615. Upon James’s death in 1625, Villiers was accused of using poison on the king, bringing about his death. Timson’s emotionally demonstrative tones echo throughout this complex study of Villiers and the British court, adding suspense to every turn and clue in the investigation. He shifts the pace and tone of his fluid narration to highlight the minimal dialogue and sweeping parliamentary pronouncements. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Publishers Weekly

05/21/2018
Woolley (The Herbalist) delves into the colorful life of the seductive 17th-century English duke George Villiers, favorite of King James I. Elegant and smooth talking, George Villiers rose above his impoverished family to become James’s confidante and lover, establishing a fortune and a litany of titles in a remarkably short time. Despite early missteps—including a breach in protocol that ordinarily resulted in the removal of a hand—Villiers earned the trust of both James and his more introverted heir, Charles. In fact, George and the prince managed a misguided undercover excursion into Catholic Spain in a failed attempt to clinch a betrothal between Charles and the Spanish infanta, which Woolley recounts humorously. He provides an evenhanded portrayal of the dramatic Villiers, balancing his tenderness toward the king with the haughty ambition that inspired him to kidnap marital prospects for his family members on at least two occasions. As for the discussion of why Villiers may have been the first of many Stuart regicides, Woolley draws on new evidence from noted toxicologist John Henry, who believes that someone probably murdered the king, which is interesting but not definitive. Woolley presents an engrossing portrait of an ambitious man trusted by two kings that both casual readers and Stuart history fans can enjoy. (July)

From the Publisher

Woolley has an entirely new, riveting tale to tell…A perfect choice for readers who love English history, especially the Stuart period.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Woolley re-creates the charged sexual and emotional atmosphere surrounding Villiers on a stage packed with powerful, intelligent women, conniving and jealous men, and two kings in desperate need of human love…an engaging account of the personalities and political culture of early Stuart England.” —Choice

"Woolley once again proves himself an adept sleuth among complex sources.”—The Weekly Standard

“Engaging…active history collections should include this niche-filling examination.”—Booklist

“Woolley draws on new evidence from noted toxiocologist John Henry who believes that someone probably murdered the king...an engrossing portrait of an ambitious man trusted by two kings that both casual reader and Stuart history fans can enjoy."—Publishers Weekly

On Savage Kingdom: The True Story of Jamestown, 1607, and the Settlement of America

“A highly readable account . . . Woolley blends nuanced analysis with face-paced narrative.” —Publishers Weekly

“Woolley tackles his subject with the same type of narrative gusto displayed by Nathaniel Philbrick . . . Like Philbrick, his treatment of a legendary event and era in American history is comprehensive and myth shattering.” —Booklist

"Brilliantly framed narrative...fascinating...A well-told story." —Kirkus (starred review)

FEBRUARY 2019 - AudioFile

Soft-spoken David Timson narrates this sweeping history of the court of King James I, Britain’s first Stuart king. Listeners learn about the machinations and intrigue within the court. Attention is focused particularly on George Villiers, who rose from obscurity to become gentleman of the royal bedchamber and lover of King James I in 1615. Upon James’s death in 1625, Villiers was accused of using poison on the king, bringing about his death. Timson’s emotionally demonstrative tones echo throughout this complex study of Villiers and the British court, adding suspense to every turn and clue in the investigation. He shifts the pace and tone of his fluid narration to highlight the minimal dialogue and sweeping parliamentary pronouncements. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2018-05-01
A history of a regicide plot against James I (1566-1625).Though the book may seem like just another history of an English king, Woolley (Savage Kingdom: The True Story of Jamestown, 1607, and the Settlement of America, 2007, etc.) packs the narrative with the kind of interesting tidbits that textbooks often leave out. James I was England's first Stuart king, succeeding his cousin Elizabeth I. His childhood in Scotland was poor and often threatened, so to suddenly become king was a pleasant shock. He always had a weakness for favorites, beginning in his youth with this cousin Esmé Stuart. Robert Carr enjoyed James' favor until the king took notice of a young cupbearer, George Villiers. A group formed at Bayard's Castle worked hard to find George a position for the king, little knowing they were giving up the devil they knew for one much worse. Mentored by Francis Bacon, George became the king's emotional, political, and sexual friend. James gifted countless positions, lands, and titles to George. As James' son, Charles, grew to adulthood, the rivalry between him and George looked like it was going to cause trouble, but the king ended up the loser in that relationship. It was George who accompanied Charles in his secret adventure to woo the Spanish princess. The match of Catholic Spain to strongly Protestant England was unpopular at best. The Spanish support for its allies seizing the Palatinate from James' son was sufficient enough to provoke war. The adventure was a complete failure, though, as Charles was discovered. The wedding never took place, but the ties between George and Charles were fixed. The author notes how the pair excluded the king, who ignored his duties and became resentful, paranoid, hostile, and awkward toward them. The king's death from malaria was always thought to be natural, but Woolley has an entirely new, riveting tale to tell.A perfect choice for readers who love English history, especially the Stuart period.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169255133
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	12/04/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	1,048,830

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