Why Spencer Perceval Had to Die: The Assassination of a British Prime Minister

This book is of importance to our understanding of the modern world, and sets the early 19th Century in the context of the birth of both a developing Europe, and the new United States of America. Since we only had the one Prime Minister assassinated, it is perhaps interesting that he is so seldom mentioned. I was drawn to this book by the chapter on John Bellingham, in Kelly Grovier's The Gaol, and cannot say that I am disappointed. Stephen Rashbrook reads very effectively and engagingly, and the mystery of how Bellingham, penniless by the end of February 1812, had the cash to pay for lodgings, good clothing, and the weapon he used to shoot Spencer Perceval, well told. Perhaps the real takeaway message of this book is the is the force of Anglican Evangelicalism, and the meaning of Providence in 1812, and how followers of this branch of Christianity tried to comprehend the loss of a Prime Minister they valued highly.

I chose this book as there was a story in my family that one of my ancestors was standing beside Spencer Perceval when he was assassinated. And he was as is documented in this pacey and interesting account of the event. It is a fascinating investigation into the perpetrator's possible motives and they emerge as a much more complex than was supposed at the time. It was a turbulent period in British history both economically and politically with war with America looming and pressure to outlaw the transportation of slaves: a move vigorously opposed by a powerful lobby of merchants.
I had earlier listened to William's Hague's masterly biography of William Willberforce, and was pleased to find that the present book complements the former in giving a different slant to the struggle.

A must for anyone who likes history. The story of of the man who killed the prime minister is extremely interesting and in telling it, Linklater touches on many subjects which include the abolition of slavery, the legal system for a criminal trial, and many other such themes.



And Stephen Rashbrook is an excellent reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I am ashamed to say it is a historical event I knew nothing about. The book puts you very firmly in the period explaining all the background and events that led up to the assasination in detail. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in British history.

Impossible to fault Andro Linklater's excellent book. I re-enact this period, and this gave us so much valuable background to the era. (We listened to it as we were hand-sewing our 1800 period costume!) So many people probably don't even know a British Prime Minister was assassinated - although we all know about the assassinations of US Presidents, which is a shame. 1811 has to be one of the most pivotal and fascinating points in European history. Hope I am not making this sound like a dry history tome - it is far from that. A compelling story, well told. My teenage son, who has never read or been interested in an history book in his life, loved this so much he downloaded it and listened to it himself, after overhearing a bit of it.

Sorry to say I found this rather dull and is one of the few books I have been unable to finish. One day I will try again - very thorough and detailed but not an easy listen.

Well written, interesting and thoroughly entertaining. I knew nothing about this period of history but this book takes no knowledge forgranted but instead gives lots of background information. Really recommend