Stuart kings were stabbed in cellars, hacked to death in barns, and repeatedly deposed. The bold "King Billy" was felled by a common molehill. James II of Scotland was killed by his own cannon.

Yet, despite the farce and tumult that marred their years in power, it was during the Stuart Dynasty that a new and vigorous religion emerged in Britain. Stuart monarchs presided over the creation of the United Kingdom, witnessed the formation of radical new institutions and schools of thought, and saw the seeds of a modern democracy planted in British soil.

The Stuart story is a dazzlingly varied one, and John Macleod explores their history with a keen eye for detail, rich anecdote, and remarkable wit.