The Wisest Fool

"'The Wisest Fool is a sensitive portrait of a king who, despite errors of judgement managed to negotiate a period of exceptional political and religious turbulence... this is a probing, wellrounded and very readable account of a king too often over-looked, despite his pivotal role in modern British politics.'  -- Rosemary Goring * Herald * 'It does not flinch from the flaws of character and errors of rule but makes a fair analysis of James the man as he struggled to become James the king ... a real page-turner for lovers of history' -- Philippa Gregory 'Two kingdoms, two very different reputations. Veerapen brings fresh life and acute insight into the conundrum that is the reigns of King James' -- Leanda de Lisle '[James] was derided as ""the wisest fool in Christendom"" - wise in small things, but a fool when it came to weightier matters. That image has now been punctured. Not for the first time a historical parody emerges on closer inspection to be largely based on manufactured propaganda' -- Magnus Linklater * The Times * 'Steven Veerapen's biography of James VI/I is so good that it seems likely to become the definitive work about the life of a much maligned and perhaps poorly understood character.' * Undiscovered Scotland * 'He may not always have acted wisely during his reign, but a new biography shows that James VI and I was no fool...this is a very engaging book' -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman * 'James has, in the past, been ill-served by historians, but Veerapen’s balanced and minutely researched account redresses this lack, and anyone reading it will learn an enormous amount from it, about the king himself, his court, and the competing philosophies of monarchical power in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.' * Tudor Times * 'an extremely well-balanced account of James' character... a highly accomplished and well-written work of creative non-fiction' * Country Life * 'A really interesting biography… a deep dive into the facts and information paints something of a different story… busts some of the false ideas and presents a better picture of this historical person' -- Dr Miranda Melcher * Newbooks Network (British Studies) * 'Veerapen weaves a fresh and honest tapestry of James’s character in all its imperfect glory. It is based on scholarly study and achieved with appropriate gravitas . . . Only by examining his time as King of Scotland can later years be fully understood – and this is expertly done' -- Mark Turnbull * GoodReads, FIVE stars * 'Steven Veerapen has done a splendid job in bringing this neglected king and the extraordinary life he led so vividly to the page . . . Expertly researched and eminently readable' -- Linda Porter * The Writing Desk blog * 'rescues James from the slurs and condescensions of history' * West Highland Free Press * 'This is a thorough, detailed chronological life of James that concentrates on the links between his private and public life, especially in the period before his accession to the English throne.' -- Richard Clegg * Bookmunch * 'Extraordinary stuff' * Aspects of History * 'A rich and rewarding read' -- Ali Hull * Preach Magazine *"