The Wisest Fool: The lavish life of James VI and I Steven Veerapen Birlinn, (September, 2023), pp.432, Hardback, £25.00; E-book, £16.99; Paperback, N/A ISBN: 978 1780278162
For those with only a cursory knowledge of history, James VI of Scotland and I of England barely registers. That he was the target of the Gunpowder Plot is about the extent of his connection with the popular imagination. In recent years though, there has been a resurgence of popular interest in James, largely focused on his sexuality. An explosion of interest in queer history has broughtwhich presents the Jacobean court as one revelling in earthy language and a whole heap of sexual intrigue. It is in this context that Steven Veerapen’s excellent book, should be read.
