John Kenyon's scholarly biography of Sunderland is widely regarded as an unsurpassed classic both on its subject and for the penetrating insights it provides into the turbulent decades at the end of the 17th century. Sutherland, one of the prickliest characters on the contemporary political stage, was one of the era's great survivors and came to exert considerable influence on the policies adopted by three successive monarchs. He was at the very heart of the major constitutional and religious upheaval which centred on the ...
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John Kenyon's scholarly biography of Sunderland is widely regarded as an unsurpassed classic both on its subject and for the penetrating insights it provides into the turbulent decades at the end of the 17th century. Sutherland, one of the prickliest characters on the contemporary political stage, was one of the era's great survivors and came to exert considerable influence on the policies adopted by three successive monarchs. He was at the very heart of the major constitutional and religious upheaval which centred on the "Glorious revolution", and gradually came to shoulder responsibility for political and religious decisions way above his station. Towards the end of his life, Sunderland became the first of the great intermediaries between Court and faction, reviving the fortunes of the "Court whigs" and bringing their leaders back into line with the pre-revolutionary governing classes. John Kenyon's remarkable work of scholarship remains a fundamental source to any serious understanding of the period.
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