Antonia Fraser,
King James VI of Scotland, I of England, 1974
The man who commissioned the translation of the Bible now popularly known as the King James Version was also a voracious gayer who fell passionately in love with boys from the age of 13 until his death at 58. Take a minute to savour that sweet irony. Antonia Fraser certainly didn't since, when she wrote this introduction to the man in 1974, she blamed his
tendencies on his brutal separation from his mother, Queen Mary, and a harsh upbringing in Scotland. In many ways, James had a lucky reign: the power generated under Queen Elizabeth's rule came into its own under him, beginning Britain's expansion as a world power; he survived the Gunpowder Plot; knew Shakespeare (and perhaps even saw some of his plays performed for the very first time); and generally enjoyed a peaceful reign and various close relationships with pretty male courtiers. This book is a good introduction for anyone who doesn't know his story, especially because of the large amount of illustrations included. Sadly, though, the famous painting of him salivating over one of his favourites didn't make the cut.
