Originally published: London : Jonathan Cape, 2010

The Stewards: origins in legend and history -- Robert II (1371-90): the first Stewart king -- Robert III (1390-1406): a troubled reign -- James I (1406-37): the poet-king -- James II (1437-60): a quick-tempered king -- James III (1460-88): a study in failure -- James IV (1488-1513): the flower of the Scottish Renaissance -- James V (1513-42): people's king or tyrant? -- Mary (1542-67): Scotland's tragic queen -- James VI and I (1567-1625): the king as survivor -- Charles I (1625-49): the martyr king -- The interregnum and the scattered family (1649-60) -- Charles II (1649-85): a merry and cynical monarch -- James VII and II (1685-88): author of his own tragedy -- William III (1689-1702) and Mary II (1689-94): revolution settlement and Dutch rule -- Anne (1702--14): end of an old song -- James VIII and III: Jacobites