The Last King of America

The Misunderstood Reign of George III

By: Andrew Roberts

Narrated by: Phillipe Stevens

The last king of America, George III, has been ridiculed as a complete disaster who frittered away the colonies and went mad in his old age. The truth is much more nuanced and fascinating - and will completely change the way listeners and historians view his reign and legacy.

Most Americans dismiss George III as a buffoon - a heartless and terrible monarch with few, if any, redeeming qualities. The best-known modern interpretation of him is Jonathan Groff's preening, spitting, and pompous take in Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway masterpiece. But this deeply unflattering characterization is rooted in the prejudiced and brilliantly persuasive opinions of 18th-century revolutionaries like Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, who needed to make the king appear evil in order to achieve their own political aims. After combing through hundreds of thousands of pages of never-before-published correspondence, award-winning historian Andrew Roberts has uncovered the truth: George III was in fact a wise, humane, and even enlightened monarch who was beset by talented enemies, debilitating mental illness, incompetent ministers, and disastrous luck.

In The Last King of America, Roberts paints a deft and nuanced portrait of the much-maligned monarch and outlines his accomplishments, which have been almost universally forgotten. Two hundred and forty-five years after the end of George III's American rule, it is time for Americans to look back on their last king with greater understanding: to see him as he was and to come to terms with the last time they were ruled by a monarch.

©2021 Andrew Roberts (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Economist and The Times (UK)

“The deft portraits and detailed episodes Mr. Roberts provides in The Last King of America - drawing on a vast trove of documents newly digitized by the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle - bring into clear view the man at the center of it all, whose personality, principles and proper reputation have been too long obscured.” (The Wall Street Journal)

“A fair-minded portrait...[written] with insight and aplomb.” (The Washington Post)

Yikes!

I am excited to tackle this book BUT I am struggling with the narrator who sounds as if maybe he’s auditioning a bit too hard for a Broadway show. I love books about the story behind the story and King George has for a long time — as with Benedict Arnold— been turned into nothing more than a cartoonish one dimensional figure out of history.

Informative Historical Update

As an American, I know history is written by the victors. Mr. Roberts gives us a different perspective, explaining WHY Britain would act the way it did. Quite logical, for the day. Triggered by the play ‘Hamilton’, the author does succeed in balancing the playing field. I found myself respecting King George. Yet, he can’t seem to grasp that no matter how noble King George may have been, the world had simply outgrown voluntarily be ruled by non-elected officials. Period! Riches were to be gained, so weaknesses were exploited.

Tireless research so the story is top notch. The performance was a bit difficult at times due to the British accent and a somewhat formal presentation.

And ‘Hamilton’ is still funny…What…what?

Amazing

Everything I thought I knew about George III was wrong ! If I had lived during his monarch, after reading this biography of a truly great man I wonder if I would have been a patriot or a loyalist. Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams in particular were two of the main persons to create an image of an narcissistic simpleton ruler in the colonies, pre and during the American revolution.
George was an academic and a major contributor to the sciences. This is a very interesting and enlightening read.

Outstanding work of history and biography

I am an avid student of history and found this to be one of the best works I have come across. I have read/listened to some of the more recent scholarship on the American Revolution so was not completely surprised by Roberts' telling of the British side of the story, however, his biographical narrative on George III broke new ground. His use of George's correspondence allows the reader/listener to get an excellent portrait of the King revealing the good and bad. Also his research should put to bed the "Madness of King George" explanation of the King's illness as false and misleading. The book also paints an outstanding picture of British politics and culture of the late 18th and early 19th century. I highly recommend this book.

Enjoyed a new lens on history.

I really enjoyed the book. Lots of details and insights into the times and king. I also enjoyed the lens of the revolutionary war from their point of view.

Terribly misunderstood monarch

Overall very good. Casts George III in a much better light and puts to rest various canards about his 'tyranny.'
But the narrator's American accent is very bad and distracting.

Last King of America

I was curious about this official who served during the Revolutionary War. As Americans he is presented as a tyrant. I find from this history that he was one of England’s better rulers. I knew German soldiers fought here for England. I did not know that they made up the larger part of the army. I was also surprised how many wars were fought on so many different places. It was not surprising how ill behaved his sons conduct was and their money habits were so bad. Some things do not change through all these years. King George had good habits of the ways he spent his money, the way he treated his wife and children. His illnesses were such a trial. I am glad I spent the 40 plus hours necessary to hear the whole book.

A useful corrective

In grade school in the ‘50’s we were taught that George was a tyrant as described in our Declaration of Independence. It turns out the list of offenses was greatly exaggerated for political purposes. Here we learn that he was an intelligent and considerate man who accepted his limits as a constitutional monarch. It’s sad to read about his bipolar disease and the ineffectual efforts to treat it.

Long, sometimes dry book, but changed my opinion

This book is extremely informative. It really dives into the details to give the reader a robust understanding on this historical figure. Would recommend for people really trying to dive in and learn more, but not for someone who only wants high level details.

Narration is amazingly well done.

I am opening and enlightening, I’ve had my perspective changed

it’s an intimate portrait, detailed, and thorough, and in some ways I think I might have been happier having not heard it. The creeping suspicion that the founding myth of my country may be more complicated is suddenly brought into tight focus. A perfect opening salvo in a personal war of cognitive patriotic dissonance and yet I come out on the other end with an unexpected moral hero in George III.