Book excerpt: Artistic and Political Patronage in Early Stuart England explores the remarkable life and career of William Herbert, Third Earl of Pembroke. Pembroke was one of the most influential aristocrats during the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I. He was a great patron, a prominent politician and electoral manager, an entrepreneur, and a gifted poet. Yet despite his influence and many talents, Pembroke’s life has been little studied by historians. Drawing on archival material, this book throws new light on Pembroke, and demonstrates just how significant he was during his lifetime. This book will appeal to scholars and students of early modern British history, as well as those interested in politics and patronage during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.