This is a survey of a seminal and intensely controversial period inBritish history, from the union of the Crowns of England andScotland in 1603 to the union of the Kingdoms in 1707. The book explores the intersecting histories of the Stuartmonarchies and considers how events in each nation were shaped bybeing part of a multiple kingdom as well as by their own internaldynamics. Throughout, special attention is given to thepersonalities and political style of successive rulers. Their rolein precipitating two revolutions is examined against the backgroundof longer term constitutional, religious and social themes. Inparticular, the parallels between James I and Charles II, andbetween Charles I and James II, are clearly drawn out.