⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Claire Hobson’s Charles II: Prince and Pauper is a refreshing, focused look at the formative years of one of England’s most fascinating monarchs — long before he became the famously pleasure-seeking “Merry Monarch.” This isn’t the usual retelling of Restoration politics; instead, Hobson hones in on the boy who was born into privilege, thrust into chaos, and shaped by the pressures of exile, war, and survival.

I appreciated the emotional nuance here. Charles isn’t flattened into a caricature of libertinism or royalty — Hobson explores his early vulnerabilities, relationships, and even the attempts to “unboy” him as he was molded into a future king. His early brushes with danger (facing cavalry at just twelve?!) and his navigation of complex religious and political allegiances made for gripping reading. The influence of women in his life, particularly his mother and the royal court, was also explored in a way that felt thoughtful and well-balanced.

The writing is accessible but detailed, with a nice mix of narrative drive and scholarly insight. This book offers a more intimate, human portrait of Charles that makes his later reputation all the more interesting — and perhaps a bit more understandable.

Thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m always excited to read their titles — consistently well-researched, compelling, and beautifully presented.

As the title suggests, this volume offers a sketch of the first thirty years of Charles II's life. A wonderful benefit of limiting the scope of the subject is that readers are offered a chance to more fully immerse themselves in the details surrounding the monarch’s childhood and early adult life. The book also works as a quick overview of the English Civil War and really allows the reader to get a sense of what motivated this conflict, how and why Charles I erred, and how the young Charles II navigated those precarious times.

My favorite anecdote was perhaps the exploration of Charles’ early affinity for a piece of wood who became his constant companion and the resulting musings over what this might signify. Another highlight was the discussion of Christabella Wyndham. I think in my other reading about Charles II, she has somehow been overshadowed by some of his later relationships, but the information presented about her was very interesting! Hobson’s writing is concise and accessible, making this both an easy and educational read that really helped me develop a further understanding of Charles II’s early life and influences.