Folio Archives 128: A Memoir of the Forty-Five by The Chevalier de Johnstone 1958
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1wcarter
A Memoir of the Forty-Five by The Chevalier de Johnstone 1958
Most histories are a reconstruction of events by an historian. This is the personal memoir of a person who was deeply involved in one of the most historic events in Scottish, and British, history – the uprising that followed the arrival of Prince Charles in Scotland to reclaim the thrones of both Scotland and England for his father (James) from King William – and he very nearly succeeded!
Arriving with just a handful of followers, he galvanised the highland clans, who gathered behind him to form an army that invaded England, and in this they were remarkably successful, penetrating as far as Derby, only 125 miles from London.
At that point the Prince made the first of a series of astounding blunders and poor decisions, that ended months later with his infamous defeat at Culloden near Inverness. The English then took fearsome retribution, slaughtering thousands of highlanders, and executing any officers of Prince Charles who escaped from the battle.
James Johnstone (1719-1800) was such an officer. Enlisting at the age of 26 with Prince Charles, Johnstone was at the centre of decision making and action throughout the campaigns in England and Scotland. At Culloden he narrowly escaped with his life, then over many months made his perilous way from the Highlands to London and eventually to safety in France where he was eventually knighted for service to that nation.
This is a fascinating and very easy book to read, as every page is filled with adventure and action, and all of it is true history. Johnstone is a superb story teller, but there has been some editing by Brian Rawson (who also wrote a 16 page introduction) to correct some chronological and geographic inconsistencies, as the book was written some years after the events.
The 251 page book is beautifully bound in dark blue cloth that is gilt blocked on cover and spine with an intricate Scottish themed pattern. There are grey endpapers printed in white with a map of Scotland, and numerous other maps throughout the text explaining locations and battle formations. There are eight tipped in black and white illustrations. The page tops are coloured light blue. The slipcase is plain mid-grey and 23x14.8cm.
A book I highly recommend to any Scot, historian or interested reader, as it has a pace as fast and easy to read as any work of fiction.
. . . . 
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Most histories are a reconstruction of events by an historian. This is the personal memoir of a person who was deeply involved in one of the most historic events in Scottish, and British, history – the uprising that followed the arrival of Prince Charles in Scotland to reclaim the thrones of both Scotland and England for his father (James) from King William – and he very nearly succeeded!
Arriving with just a handful of followers, he galvanised the highland clans, who gathered behind him to form an army that invaded England, and in this they were remarkably successful, penetrating as far as Derby, only 125 miles from London.
At that point the Prince made the first of a series of astounding blunders and poor decisions, that ended months later with his infamous defeat at Culloden near Inverness. The English then took fearsome retribution, slaughtering thousands of highlanders, and executing any officers of Prince Charles who escaped from the battle.
James Johnstone (1719-1800) was such an officer. Enlisting at the age of 26 with Prince Charles, Johnstone was at the centre of decision making and action throughout the campaigns in England and Scotland. At Culloden he narrowly escaped with his life, then over many months made his perilous way from the Highlands to London and eventually to safety in France where he was eventually knighted for service to that nation.
This is a fascinating and very easy book to read, as every page is filled with adventure and action, and all of it is true history. Johnstone is a superb story teller, but there has been some editing by Brian Rawson (who also wrote a 16 page introduction) to correct some chronological and geographic inconsistencies, as the book was written some years after the events.
The 251 page book is beautifully bound in dark blue cloth that is gilt blocked on cover and spine with an intricate Scottish themed pattern. There are grey endpapers printed in white with a map of Scotland, and numerous other maps throughout the text explaining locations and battle formations. There are eight tipped in black and white illustrations. The page tops are coloured light blue. The slipcase is plain mid-grey and 23x14.8cm.
A book I highly recommend to any Scot, historian or interested reader, as it has a pace as fast and easy to read as any work of fiction.
. . . . 
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2LesMiserables
One of the best Folio books I have read.
3folio_books
>1 wcarter: Most histories are a reconstruction of events by an historian. This is the personal memoir of a person who was deeply involved in one of the most historic events in Scottish, and British, history
Very true. And yet this was the stated aim (you'll find it in the earlier prospectuses) of Folio's history books - they were to be written by people involved in the events, or at the same time, or not long after the events occurred. They later diluted that by including "classic" histories (eg Macaulay & Trevelyan) until gradually we reached the point where we are now. Sure, there have been some excellent examples of works by modern historians, but I'm concerned about the trend towards pop historians, straight off the telly.
This book stands as a superb example of contemporary history.
Very true. And yet this was the stated aim (you'll find it in the earlier prospectuses) of Folio's history books - they were to be written by people involved in the events, or at the same time, or not long after the events occurred. They later diluted that by including "classic" histories (eg Macaulay & Trevelyan) until gradually we reached the point where we are now. Sure, there have been some excellent examples of works by modern historians, but I'm concerned about the trend towards pop historians, straight off the telly.
This book stands as a superb example of contemporary history.
4The_Toad_Revolt_of84
>1 wcarter:
Thanks Warwick. This book was on my radar from my prospectus research, it was nice to get a glimpse at it.
Thanks Warwick. This book was on my radar from my prospectus research, it was nice to get a glimpse at it.
5boldface
This is a lovely book and a riveting read. I have both the original 1958 version and the revised 1970 edition as shown above. I would say that the plates are more finely reproduced in the first edition. The binding is the same in both.
6The_Toad_Revolt_of84
>3 folio_books:
It appears that the mid-nineties are the beginning of the change from the history selections of Charles Ede to the sets and series Folio, into which is currently selections dominated by the 'most-authoritative' text historians. The change has never been wholesale, but the principle has been laid to rest. Their travel books and reprints make up most of the selections that fit the old idea.
It appears that the mid-nineties are the beginning of the change from the history selections of Charles Ede to the sets and series Folio, into which is currently selections dominated by the 'most-authoritative' text historians. The change has never been wholesale, but the principle has been laid to rest. Their travel books and reprints make up most of the selections that fit the old idea.
