When Jacobite enthusiast Michael Nevin successfully bid for a handwritten letter and memorandum by Bonnie Prince Charlie at an auction, little did he realise he had come into possession of material that would change our view of history.

Written in France following his defeat at Culloden in 1746 and addressed to Louis XV, the story that emerges from these documents is more complex than that suggested by conventional histories of the time. In addition to revealing the prince as a far more charismatic and courageous figure than that portrayed in popular fiction, they show that, far from abandoning Scotland after Culloden, he was committed to return and did not finally give up his dream of Stuart resoration until the failure of the Elibank Plot.

In this book, Michael Nevin tells the story of the Rising of 1745-46, its genesis and consequences. It looks at the motivations of the leading players, examines crucial but neglected battles of the Jacobite wars and sheds new light on the mystery of what led to Bonnie Prince's Charlie's psychological disintegration after 1752.

About the Author

Michael Nevin is a professional economist and collector of Jacobite memorabilia. He served as Treasurer of the 1745 Association between 2005 and 2010 and has been the association's Chair since 2016. He lives in Edinburgh.

Reviews

'Nevin's use of primary source material to re-evaluate the 1745 Jacobite Uprising is a worthwhile exercise which sheds much light and will be of particular interest to historians of the period'

* Scottish Field *

'Calls for a reappraisal of [Charles Edward Stuart's] character and career'

* Oban Times *

'Calling for a reappraisal of the prince's character and career, [Nevin] draws on the Prince's own previously unpublished account as well as number of other first-hand accounts in seeking to understand the thinking of the man who led the Rising of 1745'

* Northern Times *

'Reassesses [Charles Edward Stuart's] life and legacy as a romantic failure...challenges the image of Bonnie Prince Charlie in some print and screen portrayals as an inept leader and alcoholic at the time of the Battle of Culloden'

* Press & Journal *

'A highly readable and well-written account'

* Sorted Magazine *

'Michael Nevin dispels the longstanding Hanoverian propaganda myth that Bonnie Prince Charlie abandoned Scotland after Culloden. ... This is a sumptuous book. The coloured plates are of the highest quality and are appositely annotated. ... Covers all the salient points of the various Jacobite Risings but also includes material that is rarely seen'

* The Jacobite *



Book Information
ISBN 9781839830099
Author Michael Nevin
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Origin
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 548g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 162mm * 25mm