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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 51

The New Book of Kings

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The New Book of Kings.

The Modern Press, 13 & 14, Paternoster Row, E.C.; John Heywood, Manchester; and of all Booksellers.

Opinions of the Press.

The "New Book of Kings" is nothing more nor less than a "scandalous chronicle" of the English Monarchy which under ordinary circumstances would be consigned with a feeling of disgust to the waste-paper basket. The denunciatory paragraphs now going the rounds of nearly the whole English, Irish and Scottish press are but gratuitous advertisements of a book which ought never to have been printed.

Dublin Mail.

The "New Book of Kings" embraces a travesty of history as unscrupulous, served up in a sauce of rhetorical malignity as base, as the most zealous foe of the monarchy could desire. To the entire satisfaction of his own insolence he (the author) shows that from the time of William the Conqueror to that of William IV. the career of royalty was one of consistent cruelty, fraud and debauchery.

Fifeshire Journal.

Among literary items be it recorded that Mr. Morrison Davidson, Barrister and Journalist, has just published the "New Book of Kings" which is as fiercely revolutionary as Diderot himself could desire.

Irish Times.

The "New Book of Kings" is an interesting and cleverly written little book by an Universal Iconoclast who not only pulverises all our English Kings, but even attempts to drag Oliver Cromwell from his grave and to gibbet him once more. There is a terrific amount of truth in Mr. Davidson's impeachment of Crowned Heads; but we do most certainly challenge the assertion that Cromwell was a 'beast of prey.' What we do admire about the author is his consistency; he has no mercy even for those who might be presumed to be his friends.—Daylight. (Norwich).

This is a very clever little book. The best point in Mr. Davidson's work is that he seems to have shaken himself clear almost if not altogether from middle-class prejudices. The history of the great Middle-Class Revolution of the seventeenth century has yet to be written. Mr. Davidson's sympathy with the Levellers and genuine Republicans is so manifest that he would start with much in his favour. It needs some pluck even now to write this sentence, "judging of such a beast of prey as Cromwell we should never regard for an instant what he said but mark intently what he did.

Justice.

Mr. Morrison Davidson describes the war in Egypt, carried on by the noble Mr. Gladstone for whom Mr. Davidson worked in 1880 as "the most iniquitous of modern times."

Yorkshire Post.

The blackest of all the black marks is set against Cromwell, the hero of Carlyle and the demigod of English democracy. It is needless to say that Froude's affection for "Bluff King Hal" and Macaulay's enthusiasm for William III. find no place in these ruthless pages.

Eastern Evening News.

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Altogether it is an awful story, as pungent as a clever writer can make it, and perhaps the telling it in blunt language is not without its uses. I would advise any bad bold Radical who believes neither in king nor lord, to buy it and harden his wicked heart therewith.

Suffolk Mercury.

The author of that very spirited book "Eminent Radicals" has issued from the Modern Press another very powerful Radical publication characteristically called the "New Book of Kings." It is written in Mr. Davidson's most trenchant style.

Hull Express.

The "New Book of Kings" is a ferocious attack on Monarchy which is certain to have a great circulation both in this country and America. It has as much interest as a sensational novel and far more solidity.

The Galloway Free Press.

Mr. Morrison Davidson has published his "New Book of Kings." Its author has not a word to say in favour of any English sovereign from William the Conqueror to Victoria. This monotony of turpitude would be wearisome were it not for the vivacious and trenchant style. It is calculated to serve the useful purpose of opening the eyes of people who now worship Monarchy as a fetish.

London Echo.

The "New Book of Kings" would be justified in its tone if Queen Victoria were like King Bomba. It is a long libel on the sovereigns of England.

Western Morning News.

I have hardly seen a book of this character since the days of Ernest Jones and Feargus O'Connor, Frost, Williams, and Jones. Such a book should be a sign to the Tories that society may want saving again. The "New Book of Kings" must be set down as a very advanced and thoroughly Republican production.

Rochdale Observer.

If I wanted to convert any friend from the errors of Republicanism I should give him Mr. Davidson's book. "Nothing could be so bad as that," he would say. One can hardly criticise a volume written in this extraordinary style.

Liverpool Mercury.

The Duke of Connaught, it is hinted, may not care to go back to India. While here he can compare notes with his royal relatives holding similar cosy positions with respect to a book published recently entitled the "New Book of Kings."

Belfast Morning News.

Mr. Morrison Davidson's "New Book of Kings" is causing something of a flutter in the Ministerialist dovecots. His writings read like the cry of the injured spirit of Liberalism coming to earth to indict false leaders and traitorous followers.

Wolverhampton Evening Star.

The "New Book of Kings" is an astounding one and in any other country would be almost certainly suppressed. It is a savage attack on the Monarchy and strange to say on the present government.

Dublin Daily Express.

The "New Book of Kings," by Mr. Morrison Davidson who wrote the smart sketches in the Echo "Senators in Harness" is written in too cantankerous a spirit. The book dwells on the bad side of each monarch's character and ignores the good.

Manchester Evening News.

The style of the "New Book of Kings" is able and agreeable but its rampant Radicalism is calculated to appal even the followers of Mr. Chamberlain.

Newcastle Daily Journal.

Mr. Morrison Davidson's "New Book of Kings" is a curious specimen page break of the literature with which extreme politicians occasionally favour us. Written with masculine vigour and no want of that it is yet about the most remarkable perversion of history that one could reasonably expect to see.

Glasgow Herald.

The object of this Radical writer is to show that the sovereigns of England have been the vilest wretches that ever crawled.

Middlesbro' Daily Exchange.

The "New Book of Kings" is simply a violent attack on the memory of the rulers of England from the time of the Conquest down to the present reign. It has the merit of being well written, but it is cruelly plain-spoken. There are passages in the book savouring of rank disloyalty.

Belfast News Letter.

Mr. Davidson is the unblushing accuser of all the Kings and Queens that ever reigned over England. His little book is a veritable "bloody circuit" by a modern Judge Jeffries. It is a collection of short and pithy condemnations of their acts, their characters and their lives written with sarcastic force and unsparing hate.

Norfolk News.

Mr. Morrison Davidson—a gentleman well and honourably known in connection with the London Press—has published a short, severe and somewhat satirical sketch of the English Kings. The sketches are done with great skill and smartness and the declamation is trenchant and effective. It is a scathing criticism of modern Liberalism interwoven and illustrated by facts and arguments drawn from the lives of our monarchs.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle.

It is a history of Royal blackguardism; eloquent and spirited but not always logical or even fair.

Sheffield Independent.

Mr. Davidson is, however, an able and vigorous writer, and those who do not share his opinions will read his criticism on the Royalties of England with interest.

Dundee Advertiser.

It is written from a thoroughly democratic and revolutionary standpoint; and even those who do not adopt its views may appreciate its vigorous treatment of the topic with which it deals.

Leeds Mercury.

Mr. Morrison Davidson shows up with merciless severity the shortcomings of our Kings and Queens. The book is written with great ability, but the tone is characterised more by the vehemence of the pleader than by the calmness of the judge.

Northern Ensign.

Its thoroughness raises a doubt as to its honesty. It should be read, but read with reserve and inquiry.

Eastern Morning News.

A wholesome spirit runs through the whole work. Every line should be read by all who either believe or believe not in Kings.

The Centaur.

Now and again efforts have been made to bring to light the real characteristics of the Kings and Queens of England. Possibly the most vigorous and truthful work upon the subject is the "New Book of Kings." Mr. Morrison Davidson spares no one; and he gives evidence of his statements. Every political or historical student should have the "New Book of Kings."

Boston Guardian.

A perusal of "The New Book of Kings" will astonish the student of political history as to the number of evil things which can be raked together to the prejudice of Monarchs.

Edinburgh Daily Review.

His criticism of past and present English Royalty is often fair enough but it is often coarse and altogether out of proportion.

Bradford Observer.

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Whilst perhaps a little one-sided it exhibits seriatim the principal defects in the character and conduct of the Kings from William I. to William IV.

Burnley Gazette.

Most people would prefer to regard the work more as a huge satire than in the light of a reliable history. Its strong Republican tone may be objectionable to many.

Sussex Daily News.

Royalty in the past offers him (the author) nothing but a dark picture of an outraged Decalogue; royalty in the present is merely a highly-paid incompetency. 'The Book of Kings" is a valuable contribution to Republican literature.

Dundee Advertiser.

Mr. Davidson furnishes a concise history of the Royal Families who have successively ruled over this realm, and is not anxious to be complimentary to any at the sacrifice of truth.

Halifax Courier.

Mr. Davidson has presented a strong indictment against Royalty, and given some valuable information as to the Civil List.

Secular Review.

The "New Book of Kings"—This little brochure should find its way into the homes of all Radicals, and should be read by the most extreme Tories. . . . Unpleasant truths in plain straight-forward language.

Midland Free Press, Leicester.

The "New Book of Kings" is full of facts founded on historical research, and these are well calculated to open the eyes of even the most fanatic worshippers of royalty to the utter worthlessness of their fetish.

Reynold's Newspaper.

Mr. Davidson founds himself on Scripture, and sets himself by an examination of the operation of royalty in this country, to prove that the Word of the Lord stands firm, and that monarchs have ever been a scourge to their people. The book is sure to be read even by those who are far from agreeing with its conclusions.

Cambridge Independent Press.

The New Book of Kings "is perhaps the heaviest bill of indictment against monarchs that ever was written. Whatever may be thought of Mr. Davidson's extreme opinions, this one-sided book is a remarkable and a clever one.

Bury Times.

Two or three years ago Mr. Davidson published "Eminent Radicals," a work which we rated at a high value when it appeared. His present volume is even better written in point of style, being exceedingly terse, pointed, and at times richly epigrammatic. The record he gives is a terrible one.

Dumfries Standard.

Mr. Davidson is a vigorous writer at his weakest, and here he is by no means weak. The book is a political tonic for reading by timid Radicals. Liberals will regard it with some terror, and Tories if they look will turn away with real affright. The book is likely to have a wide sale.

The National Reformer.

A very caustic commentary on the lives of the Kings and Queens of England, in which their weaknesses are engraved on rock, and their virtues written on sand, to be washed away by the first tide.

Nottingham Daily Express.

Would you like some exceedingly strong and pungent Republican reading for a change? If so, invest sixpence in the new and exceedingly readable and compact History of England, called by the stern author the "New Book of Kings." His trenchant philippics are very refreshing in an age not free from sycophancy toward the Blood Royal.

Penny Illustrated Paper,