'This is a splendid book. If only more historians wrote as vigorously, vividly and imaginatively as Ronald Hutton, specialised history might recover some of its appeal to a wider public. Hutton's skilful use of well-selected illustrative detail shows a complete mastery of the sources...He is disarmingly unengaged in current academic-ideological squabbles. His conclusions are tentative, undogmatic, open-minded, but clearly stated. A special virtue is the attention which his book pays to Scotland and Ireland...Dr Hutton finds new angles, neglected pieces of evidence...It is nice to think that so enjoyable a book will become the standard authority on its subject.' Christopher Hill, Guardian
'This is a book packed with information and insight, biography of high order because grounded in the most thorough-going and wide-ranging analysis of the reign ... it is merriment, vitality and superb historical writing, which inform the whole of Dr Hutton's book.' Jenny Wormald, Glasgow Herald
'a judicious, deeply researched book, to the balance of which his sub-title is an important clue' Antonia Fraser, Sunday Times
'Dr Hutton's scholarship is of the highest order ... Dr Hutton is to be congratulated on producing a book of lasting interest and importance.' R. C. Latham, The Tablet
'This is a book of outstanding quality ... both scholarly and readable' Christian Hesketh, Scotsman
'Hutton has produced a carefully balanced and detailed examination of Charles II and his reign. It is a major addition to our understanding of the monarch and his turbulent times.' Jeffrey L. Schweer, S. F. Chronicle
'a thorough, scholarly, composite portrait' L. Elisabeth Beattie, The New York Times Book Review
'Charles Stuart's life makes for fascinating reading, and Hutton does the story to a luminescent turn.' Brad Hooper, Booklist
'well-written study of an important and fascinating figure' Library Journal
'the first scholarly biography of Charles II ... Any college or public library will want to buy this well-written study of an important and fascinating figure.' Library Journal
'Hutton has produced an erudite and extensively researched book that covers not just the king's reign but also his boyhood and experiences in exile. He shows great sensitivity to the sources ... There is much of value to be gleaned from this book.' Tim Harris, Brown University, Journal of Modern History, Volume 64, Number 4, December 1992
