Monograph News! The Household and Court of James IV of Scotland, 1488-1513 by William Hepburn

Front cover of William Hepburn's new book. The title appears in white over an image of James IV's royal coat of arms. The arms are brightly painted with white unicorns each side
Portrait of James IV. The king wears a black cap decorated with a gold brooch. He is lavishly dressed in red and gold and is holding a hawk or other brown hunting bird.

James IV is remembered as a politically successful and culturally accomplished ruler. Prior to his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, James proved himself an effective patron to Scottish arts, science, law, and education, as well as an accomplished player on the European political stage, and left a significant imprint on Scotland's governance and society. 

William Hepburn’s first monograph offers a first detailed look at James's court and household to highlight their centrality to effective government for which James IV was renowned. Placing his research within the broader field of court studies, Hepburn follows the lives of those who made up James' household - from councillors to stable hands! Echoing other interdisciplinary work on early modern Scotland, Hepburn also explores the role of performance and questions of spectatorship. The fresh perspective taken by Hepburn's book on such an important reign makes it a key work for all those interested in Scottish history.

The Household and Court of James IV of Scotland, 1488-1513 is the most recent title in the SHRT's monograph series, which aims to support the work of early-career scholars. The series is published by Boydell & Brewer, prospective authors should contact series editor Professor Steve Boardman, steve.boardman@ed.ac.uk.

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