The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War, and Madness in Seventeenth-Century England

[This is a review I wrote in 2008]

This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later show more relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years. show less

The Verneys were a gentry family who preserved their letters and family papers, allowing for historians to recreate their family story in vivid detail. This volume is centered on the 17th century, during which the Verneys had unique adventures, which included an heir who became a pirate in the Mediterranean, a young wife who suffered from madness, and numerous troublesome sons and rebellious daughters. They were also part of the turbulent history of this period - family members served in the battles of the English Civil War, were exiled during Cromwell's rule, others were distraught be the Great Fire of London, and the head of the family lost a seat in Parliament after James II's overthrow. This history, drawing on such intimate show more sources, presents a highly realistic picture of family life that is at once relatable and distant. show less

This was an extremely impressive book. The author made copious use of the letters and other documents from the Verney family, but also supplemented that with extensive research into social aspects of the age. So a story about a no-good son being sent to Jamaica, for instance, is supplemented by a history of the settlement there. A nephew who was hung as a highway robber leads to background information on major crime of the time. Altogether, a very good read. Not light but never boring.

Apparently this 17th Century English gentry family saved every scrap of correspondence in an attic. It spans several generations just at the edge of the true aristocracy. I found it really interesting and enjoyed it quite a lot. This is not a dry history book, but rather fun and personal, having been taken for the most part from the Verney family letters and notes. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading history, especially British history.

Apparently this 17th Century English gentry family saved every scrap of correspondence in an attic. It spans several generations just at the edge of the true aristocracy. I found it really interesting and enjoyed it quite a lot. This is not a dry history book, but rather fun and personal, having been taken for the most part from the Verney family letters and notes. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading history, especially British history.

A fascinating look at a "typical" landed English family in the 1600s, based on an amazing number of original documents kept for many generations. The author brings the family members to life, showing both virtues and vices. I learned a lot about British history of the period (Cromwell, the English Civil War, merchants trading in the middle and far East, etc.), along with a greater understanding of daily life of the Verneys and all their connections in the upper middle classes. This is an excellent and compelling book.