Royal Throne of Mercy and British Culture in the Victorian Age

James Gregory is Associate Professor of Modern British History at Plymouth University, UK. He is the author of Victorians and Vegetarians (2007), Reformers, Patrons and Philanthropists (2010), Victorians Against the Gallows (2011), The Poetry and the Politics (2014) and Libraries, Books and Collectors of Texts, 1600–1900 (2018).

• 1. Introduction2. Royal Mercy’s Constitutional Context3. Victoria’s Merciful Predecessors4. Public Views of Victoria’s Mercy5. Mercy in the Royal Archives6. Royal Mercy: Rebellion and Attempted Assassination7. Victoria Beatrix: Victoria’s Empire of Mercy8. Envoi to Victoria9. ConclusionBibliographyIndex

James Gregory’s new book is a highly original and wide-ranging account of the changing tradition of official pardoning and forgiveness in modern Britain. Focusing particularly on the 19th century, and on the role of the monarchy, he uncovers a missing dimension of legal, political and popular culture. He has consulted an abundance of sources and made very good use of the Royal Archives, the latter allowing him to investigate the unusually active role played by Queen Victoria in dispensing clemency. I envisage a good audience for this book, amongst general historical readership, and especially students of Victorian studies, legal history and the history of the monarchy. It will also be a good addition to the range of books appearing in Queen Victoria’s bicentenary year.