The King and the Catholics

England, Ireland, and the Fight for Religious Freedom, 1780-1829

By: Antonia Fraser

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

In the eighteenth century, the Catholics of England lacked many basic freedoms under the law: they could not serve in political office, buy or inherit land, or be married by the rites of their own religion. So virulent was the sentiment against Catholics that, in 1780, violent riots erupted in London—incited by the anti-Papist Lord George Gordon—in response to the Act for Relief that had been passed to loosen some of these restrictions.

The Gordon Riots marked a crucial turning point in the fight for Catholic emancipation. Over the next fifty years, factions battled to reform the laws of the land. Kings George III and George IV refused to address the “Catholic Question,” even when pressed by their prime ministers. But in 1829, through the dogged work of charismatic Irish lawyer Daniel O’Connell and the support of the great Duke of Wellington, the watershed Roman Catholic Relief Act finally passed, opening the door to the radical transformation of the Victorian age. Gripping, spirited, and incisive, The King and the Catholics is character-driven narrative history at its best, reflecting the dire consequences of state-sanctioned oppression—and showing how sustained political action can triumph over injustice.

Great book that is objective.

Very interesting book. I liked the objectivity of the author.
Obvious that for some being anti-Catholic was a land and assets grab.
Many great injustices occurred.

Peaceful Revolution. How it was done.

A great study in Catholic Emancipation in Ireland. Very detailed in the analysis of the persons and their characters that brought this momentous change to Ireland.

Incredibly detailed

A Master’s thesis made audible. Every speech, letter or note written or published by every minor or major politician. Historically stultifying and mind numbing. NOT for long drives but great for putting you to sleep. i listened to the end hoping for some context for the Irish Troubles, but was disappointed.