This is the first scholarly biography of the king who is remembered by the English with more popular affection than almost any other. Covering his entire life, it takes in his colourful years as a prince and as an exiled monarch during the Civil War and Interregnum, in addition to his later career as effective ruler of three kingdoms. A unique feature of Ronald Hutton's authoritative study is the attention given to Charles's reign over Scotland and Ireland, as well as England, giving us the first united history of the British Isles in this period.

The work is based throughout on all the known surviving sources, some of which have never been used before. This lively and comprehensive biography fills an important gap in Stuart historiography, and will be indispensable to anyone interested in the period.