Bonnie Prince Charlie is one of history's most romantic figures, but to what extent has myth obscured reality? Possessed of the cunning and seductive charm of Charles II and the bravery of James II, Charles Edward Stuart failed in his attempt to take the English throne and ended his days in exile in Rome. Drawing on extensive original research, Frank McLynn's biography reveals a man of rare promise and quality whose ambitions were frustrated by the political complexities of his age and a personality fatally flawed during an unhappy childhood.