The Six Loves of James I - by Gareth Russell (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A groundbreaking and insightful exploration of King James I, enigmatic successor to Queen Elizabeth I, from the "meticulous researcher" (The Wall Street Journal) and author of the "enjoyable and readable" (Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Palace.

From the assassination of his father to the explosive political and personal intrigues of his reign, this fresh biography reveals as never before the passions that drove King James I.

Gareth Russell's "rollicking, gossipy" (Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets), and scholarly voice invites us into James's world, revealing a monarch whose reign was defined by both his public power and personal vulnerabilities. For too long, historians have shied away from or condemned the exploration of his sexuality. Now, Russell offers a candid narrative that not only reveals James's relationships with five prominent men but also challenges the historical standards applied to the examination of royal intimacies.

This biography stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of royal history, illuminating the personal experiences that shaped James's political decisions and his philosophical views on masculinity and sexuality.

Review Quotes

"A very intimate portrait; James comes alive in full flamboyance. . . Russell expertly weaves the bedchamber gossip into the tapestry of a tumultuous reign. The book is serious when it needs to be and fun when appropriate. Academic historians are often reluctant to discuss emotions and rather limp when it comes to sex. Russell, in contrast, immerses himself in James's complex personality, producing a portrait that is robust and exquisitely detailed... a superbly nuanced biography."
--The Sunday Times

"Confident, compelling. . . a sober, rounded portrait of James Stuart, which rescues him from the caricature, product of later parliamentarian bias, of the slobbering (not true) weakling (also not true) who was forever fiddling with his codpiece (there is no contemporary evidence for this). Instead we meet a complicated man, an obsessive hunter, an intellectual who wrote decent poetry and books, superstitious, impulsive, passionate, and above all, deeply paranoid. This last detail is little wonder. The most striking lesson of this propulsive biography is just how brutal life was 450 years ago."
--The Guardian

"Superb. . . stands apart in its mixture of acute psychological insight and intricate research, as he brings the backbiting and power struggles of the Jacobean court to life with wit and vigor. His greatest achievement here is to redefine James as one of Britain's few queer kings, and he dispenses with the euphemisms and evasiveness of other historians in this stirring account of the man who would be queen."
--The Observer

"Gareth Russell cannot write an uninteresting book. . . James is that most interesting of men--one whose best acts contribute to his own destruction. It is a warts and all story told with compassion."
--Philippa Gregory

"Books like this don't come along very often. Told with Gareth Russell's characteristic verve and exquisite eye for detail, it is a story so compelling and surprising that it feels as if it has been hiding in plain sight for 400 years."
--Tracy Borman

"Powerful and personal. . . Thoroughly researched and bursting with delicious details, The Six Loves of James I is an important book that is both masterful and utterly captivating. This is Russell at his absolute best."
--Nicola Tallis, historian and author of Young Elizabeth

"Russell's superb biography of James I stands apart in its mixture of acute psychological insight and intricate research, as he brings the backbiting and power struggles of the Jacobean court to life with wit and vigor."
--Alexander Larman, The Observer

"A pacy, accessible book, it celebrates a force of nature who lived life on his own terms, despite the strife it caused him."
--The Herald (Edinburgh)

"Written with enviable clarity and full of fascinating asides."
--The Scotsman

"A highly-readable, highly-relevant tale of passion, politics and, above all, people."
--Steven Veerapen, author of Witches: A King's Obsession

"A substantial and remarkable contribution to the study of the history of Stuart Britain. . . . Russell is one of the great living historians and is setting the (very high) standard for the rest of us, and we are very lucky to have him and his work."
--Andrea Zuvich, author of Ravenous: The Life of Barbara Villiers, Charles II's Most Notorious Mistress

"More than just a biography, it is a reclamation. . . . This book is a vital contribution to our understanding of James, his kingship, and the complex tapestry of love and power."
--History Today

"Move aside Henry VIII and his six wives."
--The Belfast Telegraph

About the Author

Educated at Oxford University and Queen's University, Belfast, Gareth Russell is a historian, novelist, and playwright. He is the author of several books, including The Palace, The Ship of Dreams, Young and Damned and Fair, The Emperors, and Do Let's Have Another Drink. He lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland.