James Gregory's new book is a highly original and wide-ranging account of the changing tradition of official pardoning and forgiveness in modern Britain. Focusing particularly on the 19th century, and on the role of the monarchy, he uncovers a missing dimension of legal, political and popular culture. He has consulted an abundance of sources and made very good use of the Royal Archives, the latter allowing him to investigate the unusually active role played by Queen Victoria in dispensing clemency. I envisage a good audience for this book, amongst general historical readership, and especially students of Victorian studies, legal history and the history of the monarchy. It will also be a good addition to the range of books appearing in Queen Victoria's bicentenary year.

Miles Taylor, Professor of Modern History, University of York, UK

James Gregory's penetrating study highlights Mercy-Portia's “quality” and “deed”-as a key word in re-evaluating a wide range of cultural challenges coalescing around Victoria's long reign, including: the nature of monarchy itself; debates on capital punishment, Empire, and rebellion; concerns whether unadulterated justice could tame social complexity. Admirably convincing.

Gonzalo Sanchez, Professor of European Cultural History and Humanities, The Juilliard School, USA