| Title | : | The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1789041171 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781789041170 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 280 |
| Publication | : | First published April 26, 2019 |
The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King Reviews
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Quite an interesting read on James IV, the king who is relatively often mentioned in books on the Tudors but he is not that widely known for his own sake. This non-ficiton is a little too scholarly, and may be difficult to follow for a reader with little knowledge of the history of England and Scotland in the 16th century. The death of James IV generated some conspracy theories which form the basis for this book, and the Author deals with them elegantly. Moreover,Keith John Coleman makes an successful attempt to look at the nature of Scottish soul and mentality. Overall, a solid non-ficiton read.
*Many thanks to Keith John Coleman, John Hunt Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with arc in exchange for my honest review.* -
I was drawn to The Afterlife of King James IV as I very much enjoy reading about interesting history and historical figures and this sounded a little different from the norm. It explores myth and legend or what some people call folktales in relation to King James IV. He led his army into battle at what became known as the battle of Flodden in 1513 and was apparently killed, but for years after this, there was intense speculation as to whether he really did die. This is effectively the age-old depiction of indulging in conspiracy theories, something a lot of people subscribe to these days.
Known as the Everlasting King due to these rapidly circulating stories Coleman explores a number of alternate theories to the official narrative and explains where some of them could've arisen from. It makes for a fascinating book full of intrigue and cements the assertion that some people who buy into conspiracy theories are looking for a way to change the narrative to comfort themselves or use them to help themselves to make sense of a tragic event.
It's absolutely clear the author loves historical figures as the extensive research is evident throughout. The fact that it is part history book, part folklore makes this an original and highly entertaining read which is coherent and well-structured. Many thanks to Chronic Books for an ARC. -
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Genre: History
I love historical books about royal personalities. The Afterlife of King James IV is a mixture of history and folklore. I feel it will appeal to a wider range of audiences than the usual historical books. What I like about this book is that it is very well written and it shows that the author has done all the background research thoroughly before writing it. At the end of the book, all the references are mentioned and they are many!
Overall the book was enjoyable. It provides you with all the information needed without boring you like many other historical books. The author has put more focus on the defeat of Scotland and the subsequent death of King James IV at the Battle of Flodden. There is also lots of mention about the myth surrounding his survival and where he was buried, but all these remain questionable.
Many thanks to publisher Chronos Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book and this is my honest unbiased review. -
3.5
Afterlife of King James IV is an incredibly well researched look at the rumours of the popular king's survival, as well as the fate of his body after Flodden. I did feel the book got off to a rather choppy start as it drops the reader right into the beginning of the battle without any real context of how relations between the nation states got to that particular point and only a snapshot of the king himself.
The book did find its feet near the middle and became a fascinating read once Coleman began to explore rumours around James' survival in earnest. There was a lot of information presented that I'd never heard before.
Overall, an interesting read, but I do think a working knowledge of the events around the period of time are required before picking this title up.
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. -
After reading Melanie Clegg’s new biography of Margaret Tudor a few weeks ago, I thought the perfect book to follow it with would be another new release, The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King, which looks at the myths and legends surrounding the death of Margaret’s husband, the king of Scotland. As I only knew the basic facts about James IV, I had no idea there was so much controversy about his death at Flodden Field in 1513, but it seems that there were many rumours and conspiracy theories that began to circulate following the battle and Keith J. Coleman discusses some of these in this book.
As penance for his involvement in the death of his father James III, James IV famously wore an iron chain around his waist and it was the fact that the body removed from Flodden did not have the chain that gave rise to the conspiracy theories. Had James switched places with another man on the battlefield? Did he escape and go into hiding? If so, why did he never return? And where is his body’s true resting place? These are just some of the questions the book explores and attempts to answer.
To understand some of the stories surrounding the king’s death, we need to consider where they originated and who might benefit from them. It’s easy to see why the Scottish people, who must have been shocked and disheartened by the scale of their defeat at Flodden, may have found comfort in the idea that somewhere, somehow, their king had survived and might one day come back to lead them again. But Coleman also looks at the situation from an English perspective and from the point of view of ambassadors from elsewhere in Europe, who may or may not have been happy to think that James was still alive.
The selection of legends are certainly interesting and varied. Some are more plausible (though still unlikely), such as the possibility that James went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or that he avoided being killed in battle only to be murdered shortly afterwards by one of his enemies, while others take us into the realms of the supernatural and stories of other worlds. The book also covers some accounts of the ghostly apparitions and prophecies that supposedly foretold the outcome of the battle and there is an examination of how the myths and legends about James compare with those about some of his predecessors such as Alexander III and Macbeth. I was also intrigued by a discussion of the short story Wandering Willie’s Tale, which appeared in Sir Walter Scott’s Redgauntlet, as that is one of the few Scott novels I have read!
Despite the fascinating subject, however, I didn’t find this book quite as enjoyable as I’d expected. The way it is structured made it difficult for me to become fully absorbed in the writing – I thought it jumped around too much from one idea or thought to another rather than being set out chronologically or in any other order that would have made sense to me. It felt repetitive and there was also less time devoted to the actual legends and folklore than I’d anticipated. It’s probably not a book I would recommend to people who are completely new to Scottish history either; it’s written in quite a scholarly style and if you have at least a little bit of familiarity with names and events I’m sure you’ll find things easier to follow. My reading of Rosemary Goring’s two novels After Flodden and Dacre’s War helped me here, I think!
Although this book was not as entertaining as it sounded, I’m pleased I’ve read it and added to my knowledge of the life – and particularly the death – of James IV. -
Book: The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King
Author: Keith John Coleman
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Chronos Books, for sending me this ARC.
I will admit that at first, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this one. Keith’s writing starting out was a bit slow. It read more like a scholarly piece than the easy writing that I have come to expect from Chronos Books. I kept on going and it did get better. I really do think that this is one of those books that you are gong to have to give time to. It is a very well written and researched book, but this may not be the one to start on if you are looking into Stuart Scotland.
This book kind of straddles between history and folklore. We do actually get the best of both worlds in this one. On the one hand, Keith is looking at the historical background and figure of King James IV, then he turns around and adds in some folklore about the king’s death. Again, this is why I don’t recommend you start out reading this book if you are new to Stuart Scotland. What Keith does he cleverly weavers in both of these elements with support to make us get the whole picture of what could have happened to James IV after his death. We also get some of the lead up to his death; again, this is why I don’t recommend this to newbies because if you don’t have an understanding of what was going on in this time period, then you are going to be lost.
What I really liked was the different layers of the story. It’s kind of a ghost story, but it’s not. I mean, this is nonfiction with just a little bit of a twist. I like how complex the book was, even though it’s really not that long. I really have never read a nonfiction book like this; I’ve read nonfiction books with layers before, but this one is different. I don’t know, but I just really like mixing the known with the unknown and having the information to support his theories.
Okay, that is the main thing here. I have read a number of articles and books that are supposed to be arguing something, but end up losing that point throughout the book. This one doesn’t. Keith uses information to form his point and explores all angles. Keith’s voice is there, but it’s not too much-like some other books that I have read. It’s just enough to see what Keith is trying to prove, but, yet, sticking to the story.
Overall, not a bad read. It did take me a little bit to get into it, but it was worth it. This book comes out on April 26, 2019. If you want to check it out for yourself, then hop onto Netgalley and make a request…At least, I think it’s on Netgalley…Don’t hold me to that…. -
Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King. And that is what this books gives us: legends, folklore, death, rumours, conspiracies and great stories.
This is an unusual book in that in one sense it is non-fiction. But the very nature of the stories and supernatural tales of the sixteenth-century Scottish king suggest a lot of fiction. Whatever it is, the book is a great read without being bogged down by historical facts and terminology but not forgetting the sources of information. So technically this is a history book that reads like a novel.
James is certainly an interesting character who is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stuart monarchs and holds the unfortunate record of being the last British king to be killed in battle. James declared war on England and the English king Henry VIII in 1513 to honour an agreement with Loius XII of France, with whom the English were at war. A bad decision because Henry's army was the stronger and James lost his life during that battle, which became known as the Battle of Flodden.
And this is where the story becomes very interesting.
Like all popular folk, people cannot accept a normal death of someone elite, and tales of James surviving the battle sprung up. Some were simply practical options while others were more heroic and magical, Arthurian almost. Clever politicians used some of these stories and theories to further their own ambitions while others used the tales as romantic ghost stories to keep the myth of James alive.
Added to this, King James was a shrewd man. Politically he was an effective king and worked on several peace treaties with England plus a wise marriage to Margaret Tudor, which brought about the joining of the two countries to make the United Kingdom. He was interested in science and medicine and carried out a few experiments himself and dabbled in alchemy. During his lifetime he encouraged stories of his own powers and heroics as if laying the foundations of his own folklore.
This is a fascinating book even for people who generally are not into history or historical fiction. This is the story of a legend. Highly recommended. -
I received this eARC from Netgalley and John Hunt publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I will start this review by being completely honestly, as I always am in all my reviews. I know very little information about King James IV. The only thing I know about him is that he married King Henry VIII’s sister and I only know that information because of a book I read (by the same publisher of this book about Margaret Tudor. So I was a bit worried, when I accepted this arc, that I wouldn’t understand what was happening or that I would just spend the entire time confused.
Thankfully, that was not the case with this book. The author, Keith J Coleman, made sure to give plenty of history and background information leading up the death of King James. He explained before (a little biography of King James), during (how he died) and after his death in a clear and concise manner, which helped my understanding of what happened to this unfortunate monarch.
There was so much work and research that went into this book and I appreciate that. The author clearly wanted to make sure that things were right and even when there was mention of specalition, he made sure to point that out so we weren’t falsely misled.
One major thing I look for in a non fiction book such as this, is readability. If I can’t understand the material in the book, then what is the point of reading it? The readability in this book was good but did need some improvement. There were parts where the author quoted poems or stories in the old English language which were difficult to read. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when I see this because it brings authenticity to the book but it was just very difficult to read and needed some sort of translation because I had no idea what was actually being said. I felt like I missed out on some key details.
Overall, I am pleased with this book. I enjoyed learning about King James and because of this book, I will be looking at some more books about him. I am very curious about this monarch, whose death was such a mystery. If you are a fan of history (like me) or just want to dip your toes in some mystery and intrigue, then I highly recommend this book. -
The Afterlife of King James IV should be a major discovery for people of Scottish descent who want to know more about their heritage! The author, Keith Coleman, is a native of Dundee, where some of my ancestors came from. Just one more reason for me to find interest. I was fascinated to read about the iron belt worn by James IV for Lent, making it heavier year by year. I could not imagine wearing something like that all my life to assuage my guilt over my not very popular father's death. James III does not sound like a nice guy at all. I was also unaware that Margaret Tudor, who was apparently the sister to Henry VIII, practically twisted herself into a pretzel trying to talk her husband James IV out of going to war with Britain. The reports of James IV's survival of the Battle of Flodden remind me that mankind never changes--how like our myths of Elvis and Hitler! There are so many startling tidbits that I am loath to reveal as spoilers--stop reading now if you do not want to know, although there are loads of these--like the nude corpse of James III being paraded around Leicester, that no one will come away from this book unenchanted or without ripe and juicy dining table anecdotes. Very hard to put this book down! I want a physical copy of The Afterlife of King James IV now. Thank you, #NetGalley and #Chronos Books!
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What impressed me about this book, was that it didn't start out with simple ghost stories of how the Scottish King, James IV, was seen after his death. Instead, it delved into history head first and gave the reader a good look at Scotland at the time and a feel for who the king and his predecessors were. Once the author introduced the important players in the life and death of the king, only then did he embark on the supernatural aspects of the book.
I enjoyed reading this. It was informational without being boring and didn't give me that sense of "yeah right," that so many books having to do with the supernatural tend to give me. This is a well-written and interesting book that clearly shows the author's depth of knowledge about his subject matter and his interest in his chosen era.
If you have not read this book yet and are a fan of Scottish history and monarchy, you should consider picking it up.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own. -
To be honest this really was just not for me. Whilst the premise of exploring the mythology surrounding James IV of Scotland was what drew me to this book, the delivery failed to hold my attention. I felt that it was at times repeatative, convoluted, and disorganised. It assumes a prior knowledge of both Scottish and royal history (which I have); however, I guess I was expecting something a little more chronologically presented - dealing with specific themes (birth, life, death, afterlife) individually rather than collectively. I am sure others will like this - just not for me and I left it unfinished.
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King James IV was the first Scottish monarch to lead his forces into battle since the 11th century, and the last king of any British nation to die in battle. But did he? Not according to legend and myth, and not when the notion of his staying alive proved politically expedient. The author provides a fascinating journey through the traditional Scottish psyche and literature through the focus on one seemingly "everlasting" king.
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A king who died on the battlefield and his remains were never found. His story and his legacy went through many revisions throughout history. This sounds like a certain English king, King Richard III, but this story actually takes place decades after Richard’s death in Scotland. This is the story of King James IV of Scotland, who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. It was this event and how James IV was viewed afterward which Keith J. Coleman explores in his book, “The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King”.
I would like to thank Chronos Books for sending an advance copy of this book. I was not very familiar with Scottish history before reading this book so it was a very interesting read.
Coleman explains why James IV’s reign is so unique and why there were some who questioned whether the king actually died at Flodden:
Whispers about James IV defying fate and living on after his catastrophic last battle were a widespread reflex to unexpected tragedy common with many countries. Other kings are said to have cheated death and gone into hiding, or become religious penitents who went to Jerusalem or Rome. Some of these lost leaders shared another of the king’s rumoured fates: murdered by some person they knew and trusted. But very few have been believed to be actually resident in another, supernatural dimension, as one tradition of James IV insisted. This was the destiny of the truly elite, such as the primal warlord Arthur. No ruler, not even the great emperor Charlemagne, attracted so many diverse tales about himself so immediately after his apparent death. (Coleman, 5-6).
Coleman begins his book by exploring the relationship between James IV and his father James III, as well as exploring what James IV’s reign was like. James IV did not have the best relationship with his father since James IV became the figurehead of the opposition party who wanted to see his father dead. After his father’s death, James IV became king and is said to have worn an iron belt to atone for his sins against his father. James IV was something of a ladies’ man and had numerous illegitimate children, but he did marry Margaret Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII, and had legitimate children with her. Under their marriage arrangement, James IV was not to attack England and vice versa, but James IV decided to attack while Henry VIII was away fighting in France. The one flaw in his plan was the fact that Henry VIII had his wife Catherine of Aragon take over military command while he was away and she was not going to let James IV invade. The Scottish and English armies met at the Battle of Flodden on September 9, 1513.
Since we don’t have accurate records of the Battle of Flodden, Coleman explains how the Scottish viewed the battle versus how the English and the rest of Europe viewed this event through literature. It is a very typical historiographical study, but what makes it unique is the addition of the legends and folklore about the king that came after his death. In some parts, this book does read like a ghost story combined with history. It is different, but it does capture the fascination with the supernatural that the Scottish had. In addition, Coleman explores how other historical figures received similar treatments throughout history.
This was the first book that I have read solely on Scottish history and it was a compelling read. It was a bit confusing at points when the history and supernatural elements combine, which was different to be sure, but overall it was a thought-provoking book. This may not be the best book for those who are being introduced to Scottish history, but it is one for those who are familiar with the eclectic approach of Scottish history and those who are interested in King James IV. Keith J. Coleman achieves a unique balance of the historical and supernatural elements to this specific king’s life and legacy in his book, “The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King”. -
The Afterlife of King James IV is a well researched historical account of King James IV, his final days, and the supernatural-like legacy that followed his death. The first few chapters are steeped in historical details of the monarch, the ways he shaped Scotland during his rule, and the events leading to and immediately following his death. There are elements of the supernatural sprinkled throughout these opening chapters, but this aspect of the book starts to pick up during the latter parts of the story. Parts of it read like a ghost story and parts of it read like a really good history book. In the end, it was a portrayal of how the aftermath of the death of a monarch and the mysterious events behind the retrieval or disappearance of his body can have a ripple effect in history that is still felt today.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. -
The Afterlife of King James IV is one of the best books this spring! Chock-full of information, and amazing detail. I initially thought I was going to be reading more of a ghost story, but the history in this book had me captured by page two.
From Flodden Field to England, France and beyond - the legacy of King James was a hard one to live down. The idea that he lived beyond Flodden was something that was passed around and whispered. If this was true, then why would he have not returned home? There were so many questions surrounding this, but the author delved into each one with confidence and was able to satisfactorily lay the "ghost" of James IV to rest. -
I received an ARC of this book for free from Netgalley and John Hunt Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The Afterlife of King James IV was a fascinating account of the conspiracy theories and stories that sprang up around his death at Flodden Field. I appreciated the research that the author put into this book - it kept it from being a re-telling of myths and legends and turned it into a book of substance. Prior to reading this book, I only knew of James IV as a footnote in the history of other monarchs. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book and learn more about a truly fascinating king. -
The Afterlife of King James IV is an intriguing mix of history and folklore. I am fascinated by this period in history and I felt this book really added to my knowledge and understanding of this turbulent time. The level of detail provided by Keith John Coleman is extraordinary. A great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chronic Books for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. -
A very interesting subject, well researched and entertaining to read. It can feel a little disorganised at times, I couldn't always follow the train of thought, but I would recommend the book for those interested in Scottish history. I learned a great deal from The Afterlife of King James IV!
Disclaimer - I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Chronos Books. -
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
This sounded like a really promising book, but it just failed to hold my attention. It was quite repetitive, convoluted and just not that greatly organised. I was grateful that I had prior knowledge of Scottish royalty and history because this book assumes that you do. -
I was really interested in this book, and it's really well researched. Unfortunately, it doesn't flow very well and it's a little dry. If you're more interested in a history book than a non-fiction story, then you're going to love this book. I was just looking for something that read less like a history text. I will say I learned a lot!
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Any time a famous/infamous person dies there are those who cause as stir with “he’s still alive!” conspiracy theories. This is nothing new. King James IV of Scotland, brother-in-law of King Henry VIII, died at the battle of Flodden in 1513 and was eventually buried in England…probably.
This book collects and discusses a number of alternate stories that circulated after the battle and were exploited for political gain by various factions. The book’s subtitle gives the impression that these were mostly of an Arthurian “taken to faerie” variety, but that is not really the case. There were a couple “prophecy” stories and a one with a “once and future king” vibe, but most of the widespread stories discussed here were of a more mundane survival, exile, betrayal, and/or misidentified corpse variety. It felt a bit bait-and-switch, to be honest. Nevertheless, it was a relatively interesting look at the fog of war, human tendency to react with conspiracy stories in the face of unexpected tragedy, and political exploitation of misinformation. -
See my full review here:
https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
I received a free digital copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Review to come. -
A historical lesson mixed with the supernatural, against the backdrop of Tudor Era Scotland/England relations; what's not to like?
Admittedly, The Afterlife of King James IV begins in intimidating fashion, dropping you head first into a specific yet crucial Scottish time period. Keith Coleman does an admirable job of setting the scene and introducing the players, but the opening few chapters do progress slowly, especially for the reader uninitiated into the historical background. The focus of the book is Scotland's defeat and James IV's death at the Battle of Flodden, and the subsequent myth and legend surrounding the king's purported survival of the battle and the final resting place of his body.
While the beginning chapters were a bit tough for me, the book really hit its stride in the middle-to-end chapters, where Coleman details Flodden's aftermath for England and Scotland while interweaving sightings, folklore, and falsehoods surrounding James IV which lingered many years after. Coleman even covers modern "reincarnation" allegations from people who claim to be James IV reborn.
I would recommend this book mainly to aficionados of the time period, as I found myself as a novice to be a bit lost as times. However, I now do have the motivation to continue researching this time period, so that's a bonus in my opinion.
***I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*** -
This is the first book I have read on this Scottish King and the history around him. This King died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. That sentence in itself is a draw card. Anything historical I am drawn to, especially if it is based on real life. I was not entirely familiar with the Scottish history before reading this book so I was heading in with open eyes.
Coleman explores the relationship between James IV and his father James III, and what James IV’s reign was like. Political to some extent and speculation of many illegitimate children, James IV did not have the best relationship with many. He did marry Margaret Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII, and had legitimate children with her. Then the fight against the Tudor's was brought to a head with his marriage arrangements.
This book didn't begin with simple ghost stories of how the Scottish King, James IV, was seen after his death.
We the reader were given a lot of Scotland's history at the time and after all the main characters were out as the important people in the life and the death of this King, then did we embark on the supernatural side of this book. Certainly a different way of taking the life and times of this King who died on a battlefield, and those around him in the Scottish royalty.
Definitely worth reading if you have an interest in history. -
While interesting, I had a couple of issues with this book. Firstly, and this is a publisher error most likely, there are a lot of editing errors. Incorrect or missing punctuation, extra words, etc. Secondly, I felt like the stories jumped back and forth a lot, so it was a little difficult to keep up at times. I did enjoy the stories, and will probably reread this once I brush up on my Scottish history.
