George II: King and Elector

Description

Despite a long and eventful reign, Britain's George II is a largely forgotten monarch, his achievements overlooked and his abilities misunderstood. This landmark biography uncovers extensive new evidence in British and German archives, making possible the most complete and accurate assessment of this thirty-three-year reign. Andrew C. Thompson paints a richly detailed portrait of the many-faceted monarch in his public as well as his private life. Born in Hanover in 1683, George Augustus first came to London in 1714 as the new Prince of Wales. He assumed the throne in 1727, held it until his death in 1760, and has the distinction of being Britain's last foreign-born king and the last king to lead an army in battle. With George's story at its heart, the book reconstructs his thoughts and actions through a careful reading of the letters and papers of those around him. Thompson explores the previously underappreciated roles George played in the political processes of Britain, especially in foreign policy, and also charts the intricacies of the king's complicated relationships and reassesses the lasting impact of his frequent return trips to Hanover. George II emerges from these pages as an independent and cosmopolitan figure of undeniable historical fascination. 3337_00_FM.pdf 3337_00a_Intro.pdf 3337_01_CH01.pdf 3337_02_CH02.pdf 3337_03_CH03.pdf 3337_04_CH04.pdf 3337_05_CH05.pdf 3337_06_CH06.pdf 3337_07_CH07.pdf 3337_08_CH08.pdf 3337_09_CH09.pdf 3337_10_CONCLUSION.pdf 3337_11_BIBLIO.pdf 3337_12_Index.pdf