King Charles I's life ended with his neck: he was beheaded outside his London palace in January 1649. It was presumed then that his son Charles II who had fled would suffer the same fate; with his darker complexion, six foot two figure and regal mannerisms, he stood out in a crowd. Yet, against all odds, the heir to the throne became the protagonist of one of the most incredible pursuits in history, lasting nearly a decade. In this gripping, action-packed, true story, Spencer uses brand new material to retrace the Odyssean journey of the King of Scotland, including correspondence and diaries from Charles II himself. The King never forgot the particular kindness of his Catholic helpers. Their patchwork of hiding places had evolved in the face of royal, Protestant, persecution; but, ironically, now they saved the life of a king. Guided by its various twists and turns, this unputdownable book tells an old story with new eyes, challenging our polarised notions of royalism, nationalism and loyalty.
