Product Description
First published in 1981 by Hamish Hamilton this biography of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester traces his life and achievements; his struggle for power with Cecil; his patronage of scholars, writers and actors; his support for the puritans; his term as Governor of the Low Countries and his marriages and affairs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Elizabeth's Choice

Wilson shares his appreciation for the Earl of Leicester.His role as a leading spirit of the Reformation and as an early patron of what becomes known as Elizabethan Drama has been overshadowed by his unique relationship with the Queen.The book explains his roots, his passions, his successes and limitations and the personal and financial cost of his association with the queen.The reader gets insight into his character and his relationship with Elizabeth.

This compares well with the new publication Elizabeth&Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics.Of the two, this one, humanizes Dudley such that the reader understands more of what Elizabeth saw in him.Wilson deals more powerfully with the attachment of these two star crossed would be lovers and you feel the loss and disappointment the two shared.Gristwood sticks with the record.

I would give this 5 stars but the beginning is so slow and genealogy laiden that I almost put it down and throughout there are long quotes from original sources.I presume the long quotes are there to give the reader a feel for the sentiments as they are directly expressed, but many are so formal and tortured that they only demonstrate why general readers need historians like Wilson and Gristwood to interpret them for us.

Well written!
Mr. Wilson's Sweet Robin is a well-written book that is supported by many facts, but not stuffy and hard-to-read, unlike many other books written about England's history.Most people think of Robert Dudley as ablue-blooded scapegoat that history would be better off without. Mostscholars nuture this image, painting him as a black-hearted villan.ButMr. Wilson offers us a refreshing change in perception: that of a noblemantrying to survive the tumultuous times of the era in which he lived.Thatin fact, far from being an evil knave, he, like his forefarthers beforehim, was guilty only of an extreme loyalty to the particular monarch whichhe devoted his whole life to.Sweet Robin opens in the time of RobertDudley's grandfather and continues through his life, chronicaling all theevents that shaped him and the people around him.It finally ends a littlewhile after his death, to show how little real influence he had on thechanging times, other than through his special bond with Queen Elizabeth. While Robert Dudley is not the most important man this world has ever seen,he is certainly one of the more colorful personages of his time.I commendMr. Wildon for writing an excellent book! ... Read more

Product Description
An intimate friend of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Diana Mosley was a frequent guest at their parties in Paris or at "the Moulin" in Orsay, where they were neighbours. Written in her inimitable style - archly intelligent, witty and perceptive - Diana Mosley paints a remarkable portrait of her friend that is both extremely life-like and realistic with regards to the flaws of her friend. What was it that utterly captivated the heir to the throne and made him renounce it so that he might never be parted from her? It is this question which Diana Mosley seeks to answer and which she is better qualified to answer than anyone else, given her love of her husband Sir Oswald Mosley, Leader of the British Fascists. The book also includes portraits of her other friends, such as Evelyn Waugh and Lytton Strachey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Duchess of Windsor and Other Friends
Really, I am quite puzzled....don't you have to have the book in order to review it?I have been waiting since September 11th to receive this book and have been told to continue the order since then.My question is - how can Amazon sell a book they don't have....I checked and the book is still being offered for sale and I don't even have mine.....WHAT IS GOING ON? ... Read more

Product Description
Explore the living history of the British Isles in this unparalleled compendium of kings, queens and rulers, which also traces the development of one of the finest architectural legacies in Europe from earliest times to the present day. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a pioneering study of the genetic, personal and political effects of hemophilia on the British royal family, eatablishing for the first time the part it played in bringing about the Russian revolution, the fall of the Spanish royal family and Hitler's rise to power. The authors, widely respected scientists who have been involved in DNA testing of bones, trace the history of the hemophilia gene in the British royal family and raise some startling questions, not least of which concerns its origin.

Why was Queen Victoria born with this hereditary gene if it was carried by none of her ancestors? Was she an illegitimate child? In unravelling the story of Queen Victoria's Gene, the authors detail the remarkably well documented sexual lives of Victoria's decendants, and also reveal the truth behind such characters as Anna Anderson, who claimed to be Anastasia, the Czar's youngest daughter.

When first released in hardback, this secret, and startling history of the British Royal family caused great controversy, and is an original and thought provoking study of Victoria, and European History. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Queen Victoria
This was a fascinating read, about how history was hugely influenced by this genetic anomaly.

grandmother of europe
queen victoria was the grandmother of europe who brought hemophilla to many european royal houses that ended in great tragic.

Not much new on Victoria's family, but some interesting unsubstantiated speculations
I think I read this book for different reasons (and got different things out of it) than most of the previous reviewers. One of the first instances of "genetic genealogy" was the investigation into the roots of the hemophilia that plagued the czarevich Alexei of Russia, the only son of Nicholas II, who probably wouldn't have lived long enough to become czar even if the Bolsheviks hadn't liquidated the imperial family. But Victoria's son, Leopold, also died of complications of the disease, and it made its way into the Spanish royal family, as well. Where did the defective gene Victoria carried come from? There are only two medical possibilities: Either she was the victim of a random mutation -- one chance in about 50,000 -- or her father was hemophiliac. And since her father, Edward, Duke of Kent, did *not* have the disease, that would mean Victoria was illegitimate, the offspring of a hemophiliac lover of the Duchess of Kent. The duchess certainly *did* have a lover, and it's also possible, from all the evidence, that the duke was sterile. In which case, the throne should rightfully have gone to King William III's next closest relative, . . . and who would that have been? This is quite a fascinating detective story, investigating in considerable depth the private lives of the Coburgs, and it leaves one to wonder how the 19th century in Britain might have been different if Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and subsequently king of Hanover (a very distasteful individual by all accounts, and a very unpopular ruler), had become king of Great Britain. (His eldest living descendant in the male line today is Ernest Augustus, Prince of Hanover and present husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco.)

Interesting
This book was very interesting. It is a story of Genes. It tells the story about Queen Victoria and her family. Two of her daughters, Alice (As well as two daughters and a son), and Beatrice (as well as two sons and a daughter) were carriers of a disease called hemophilia and her son Leopold (As well as a daughter) had the disorder.One might wonder what the mystery is about it. Well it is this, where did the three children get the disorder? Because the daughters were carriers of it they could not have gotten it from there father Albert, so it must have been Victoria. One problem is that supposedly comes from one the most well documented families off all time (The family can trace there lineage to Adam and Eve) that leaves three posiblities-1. That she is not the Granddaughter of King George III 2. Her mother (Victoria of Sax-Coburg) was a carrier-which turned out to be false or 3. There was a spontaneous combustion of the egg or sperm that made Victoria.The authors get into all three of these hypotheses in order to try to understand just how Victoria got the gene for hemophilia.The authors also delve into the lives of the people who had hemophilia and tells about some of the pretenders to the thrones descendent from Queen Victoria and how with the knowledge of the gene people have figured out they are fakes.

More about hemophilia and history than scandal
It's too bad so many reviewers and editors chose to focus on the small part of this book which questions Queen Victoria's legitimacy, because that's not really what this book is about. It's far more about how the interbreeding of British and other European royalty had profound consequences for world history. Thebulk of the book traces the competitive sexual politics prior to Victoria's birth, and the way inbreeding among royalty contributed to the spread of the hemophilia gene, causing major world upheaval (in particular, to the fall of the Russian tsar). Much has been written of the privileges of 19th century royalty, but this book brings into sharper focus the way these royals' private behavior had public consequences. An interesting treatise on an aspect of history that is often overlooked: that many European wars were family conflicts extended to a grand scale. ... Read more

Product Description
For the first biography of this man of letters, diplomat, and scholar, Donald Harman Akenson had unrestricted access to O'Brien's personal papers. The intimate drama of people and events that emerges is not only a portrait of one man but also the story of modern history unfolding. "Conor Cruise O'Brien . . . has certainly found a splendid biographer in historian Akenson. . . . [This] is a very fine biography, full of wit, verve, candor, and a critical appreciation of its subject."--Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Product Description
Hobson’s Choice is the first, last and only biography of the long forgotten A.F. Hobson, Rough Rider, movie mogul and Justice of the Supreme Court. In an era of giants, Hobson stood above them all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome Stories- Great Writer
Peter Heyrman has the wit of Mark Twain and the style of Hemingway and Faulkner. In "Hobson's Choice" he creates a story that very few could put together. It is a "fictional history" with a lot more truth than I think Heyrman is willing to admit. (Although Heyrman does say, "It is in fiction that one finds the deepest truth." ) I'd have to agree. He brings us back in time to the old south, to the period of the reconstruction through the the eyes of a flamboyant character, Arthur Fairly Hobson. If you want to be brought back in time and just escape, this is the book. The writing doesn't get any better and the stories really show something about the history and human nature of all of us. Hobson's Choice a is GREAT read.

An American paradigm and parable
Peter Heyrman's Arthur Fairly Hobson is a man who never was. And yet in Hobson the reader finds a paradigmatic American intellectual: difficult to decipher or know other than in passing, charming to those he meets--both men and women alike-- and yet simultaneously hollow and enigmatic to those who flock to his side.

The fact that Hobson is a fiction does not matter: this "biography" reminds one of the loneliness of history and of the many great men who have faded into obscurity.

Hobson's Choice is to some extent a metafictional commentary on or homage to the styles of great American writers as well. When exploring Hobson's childhood in the deep South, one can hear the strains of Sherwood Anderson in one chapter and Faulkner-esque rhythms in another. The style seems to follow the time, the place, and the events.

Ultimately, Hobson's story is the American story: what passes for power may be mere circumstance, what passes for beauty may be mere vanity. All the time the reader traces the events of Hobson's life-- the real Hobson remains elusive. Hobson is neither admirable nor despicable: it is impossible to know Hobson well enough to feel either about the man himself: the book in that sense is more about those who revolve around Hobson than about the man.

Ultimately, Hobson's secret is revealed, and along with that secret, Heyrman reveals a parable for the American fascination with political might and mythmaking. Yet it is not a political novel: there is little expression of political philosophy and no moralizing commentary on public policy. It is a book about humanity, which is drawn toward power as moths to a flame.

This is a good book for those who like biography or character sketches generally, or for those who are interested in the history of the times from the Reconstruction through the depression (Although Hobson is a fiction, his life in politics is set amidst very real events). More than anything, it is a good book for those who admire a thoughtful and well written novel with myriad levels of metaphor and nuance. ... Read more

Product Description
This fresh interpretation of Mary Queen of Scotland brings us a new biography of one of the most intriguing figures of early modern European history.

Setting Mary firmly in the context of the cultural and intellectual climate of the time, Warnicke brings to life what it must have really been like to be a female monarch in the sixteenth century.

Examining all aspects of her life, Warnicke particularly pays attention to the personal side of Marys life: her three marriages, her constant illness, and her role in numerous plots and conspiracies. She also looks at her reign, from the age of one week, as some-time queen of France, the cousin once removed, rival, and general thorn in the side of Elizabeth I, who ultimately had her executed for treason.

Mary Queen of Scots is a fascinating read for students, historians and enthusiasts alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not the in-depth treatment expected of Dr.Warnicke
I am not a professional researcher,nor am I a historian, although I have a keen interest and vast library on tudor/jacobean history and culture.I am researching for a trilogy of historical novels, both centered in the court of the Queen of Scots.I bought this book with an eye to confirming the historical accuracy of my work, but I expected to learn at least one fact, or acquire at least one viewpoint I had not heard.While this is a good overview for a novice on the topic, I found nothing I had not already learned or surmised from the works of Guy, Fraser, Wormald,or the nowavailable works of Melville, Skelton and others. For entertainment, Guy's My Heart is My Own is a more enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description
Lytton Strachey’s captivating portrait of Queen Victoria is considered a masterpiece of the biographer’s art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

bravo, mr strachey!
lytton strachey is my favorite non-fiction writer. he writes non-fiction that is flawless and beautiful. some of the writing in this book is as good as any writing i've seen anywhere. but who cares? who cares? what a shameful culture has been fashioned that has no room for this.

Pioneering biography
This life of Queen Victoria set a new standard for biographies when it was written and it still reads very well today. To the modern ear some of Strachey's language may at times be a bit dry. That aside this is an excellent study of the development of Victoria from infancy to old age. The entanglement's of family and the influence of key ministers is well covered and documented . Especially interesting is the treatment of Prince Albert and the Queen's relationship.
I found this to be quite an informative book and would highly recommend it to anyone with a curiosity regarding this period of British history.

queen victoria by Lytton Strachey
I purchased this book at a library sale and it has no copywrit date other then the 1921 date published by Harcourt, Grace &World,Inc and renewed by Jame Strachey, with no renewal date. The copy I have has 434 pages which include an index of subject matter.The only other used books mentioned for sale have acopywrit of 1981 and have 100 less pages.This book is in very good condition and has the original cover jacket.It begins its historic tale in 1817 and includes footnotes at the bottom of the page.

still one of the best things around
strachey became famous for his 'eminent victorians' which has the reputation for being a hatchet job-but he was looking at the previous generation from the disillusioned, post-WWI perspective, and he treats florence nightingale et al more like prodigies than monsters. when he undertook to write about the eponymous queen herself, people expected it would be another exercise in target practice-even his mother tried to discourage him, saying that 'if she was stupid, it was not her fault.' But in the event what he produced is one of the most sympathetic, if slightly condescending, biographies ever written-and absolutely one of the most accomplished. it is a chronicle of victoria's 60+-year-long political career and emotional life, a series of portraits of all the personalities in her life-including albert, his curious replacement john brown, disraeli-him, it is true, strachey clearly did not like-a completely non-pedantic reflection on the growth and eventual shrinkage of the british empire during her reign-and the whole thing is done so subtly, so gracefully-and, at the same time, so forcefully-that you may find yourself talking about nothing else but this book and queen victoria for days afterward. one of the most successful marriages of rigorous scholarship and beautiful style in english literature.

Interesting portrait of a queen
A readable and fairly brief account of Victoria.Frequent passages fromVictoria's girlhood diary and letters make Victoria's early lifeparticularly vivid reading.Also fascinating is Victoria's relationshipwith her government, and her tendency to cling to the current primeminister and despise the Opposition, whoever they might be.

The enigmaticPrince Albert, and his evolving relationship with Victoria, is presentedwell.Strachey makes some startling suggestions about what Britain mighthave turned into, had Albert lived longer (answer: Prussia).

This bookis elegantly written, and free of the psychobabble one might expect from amore modern book.

The book is not boring.Although Victoria is alwaysproper, there is plenty of adultery and dysfunctional family behavior amongher many adult children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Even more information on the age old threesome
I thought that I knew all that there was to know about the whole Charles-Camilla-Diana triangle, then I started reading the Windsor Knot and I realized that I did not know all that much.

The book is more than the story about Charles and Camilla and Diana's relationships with eachother. The author delves into the murky past of the players families and tells us about the some of the people that came before Camilla, Charles, and Diana.

A very interesting, entertaining book!

The Windsor tale told with the spotlight on Camilla
Is there anything about the Di-and-Chuck saga that hasn't already been said? Christopher Wilson has decided that a book highlighting events from Camilla's perspective would fill a gap in the coverage of these events. It's a reasonable idea for a book, except that there's nothing to indicate he has talked directly to Camilla, and he's reduced to guessing what goes on in her mind.

Nonetheless, the book is an easy read and approaches the well-known story from a different angle, adding a few tidbits such as describing the Queen's raging hatred of Camilla. According to Wilson, it was Camilla who encourged Charles to marry Diana. The book is rather ambivalent in its perspective on Camilla, suggesting she saw no ethical dilemma in cheating on her husband to be Charles' mistress and orchestrating the sham marriage between Charles and Di. Yet in other passages, Camilla is shown in a sympathetic light. Even if Camilla is responsible for her own fate, it can't be easy being the most hated woman in Britain.

The book portrays Di's marriage as more of an empty shell than other authors have portrayed it. The author suggests Di knew what she was getting into, but was too naive and too intimidated to back out during the engagement. The marriage never had a chance; Di was never intended to be more than a showpiece. As the story is told in this book, the villain is Charles, who over and over is portrayed as self-centered even by the standards of royalty and utterly devoid of a moral compass or basic interpersonal skills.

The early chapters cover Camilla's family history. Skip those and jump into the middle of the book which is far more interesting. The book, written in 2002, ends with the author speculating that everyone should brace themselves for a Charles-and-Camilla marriage announcement, which of course occurred in 2005.

Excellent and timely book
As the Camilla PR campaign continues in the UK, it's helpful to remember her role picking out the "perfect mouse" for her lover to marry. As Diana herself expressed the dilemma: "there were three of us in the marriage so it was a bit crowded".

Camilla selected the girl she thought would be too timid to object to the longrunning Charles/Camilla affair; slept with her lover days before the royal wedding, gave him trinkets and pictures to take with him on his honeymoon... no wonder Diana grew to hate both her husband and the "Rottweiler". One also wonders if Princes William and Harry will ever learn of the role Camilla (Queen Camilla) played in making their late mother so unhappy. The saga continues and I hope Christopher Wilson is there to cover it in his next book.

Bitter Disappointment
Unless you have NEVER read a SINGLE book on Diana and Charles, you will not find a scrap of new information here.I did not find a sentence that I have not read at least 10 times before.Additionally, it left out too much important information to be be a good, all-inclusive read. ... Read more

Product Description

Mary Tudor is often written off as a hopeless, twisted queen who tried desperately to pull England back to the Catholic Church that was so dear to her mother, and sent many to burn at the stake in the process. In this radical re-evaluation of the first 'real' English queen regnant, Judith M. Richards challenges her reputation as 'Bloody Mary' of popular historical infamy, contending that she was closer to the more innovative, humanist side of the Catholic Church.

Richards argues persuasively that Mary, neither boring nor basically bloody, was a much more hard-working, 'hands on', and decisive queen than is commonly recognized. Had she not died in her early forties and failed to establish a Catholic succession, the course of history could have been very different, England might have remained Catholic and Mary herself may even have been treated more kindly by history.

This illustrated and accessible biography is essential reading for all those with an interest in one of England's most misrepresented monarchs.

Customer Reviews (1)

Mary Reconsidered if not Rehabilated
At the beginning of this biography, Judith Richards describes the incredulity of friends and colleagues when told she was writing a new biography of Mary I, first Queen Regnant of England. She deals with the sources of that incredulity, that Mary was a bloody tyrant or that Mary was a boring monarch. Richards gives more attention to the latter than the former.
She covers Mary's birth and happy childhood, emphasizing the humanist education she received with the encouragement of both her mother and her father, Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. Then she recounts the suffering Mary endured as Henry dissolved his marriage to Catherine, sent her into exile, and married Anne Boleyn. Mary endured separation from her mother and bullying from her father's agents to force her to accept her own status as a royal bastard and deny any allegiance to the pope.
Richards creates sympathy for Mary in these situations, exploring not the emotions Mary "might" have felt in the style of so many biographers, but the documented evidence of her struggles to remain true to her mother and to her faith, especially when her half-brother Edward tried to force her to give up the Mass.
The nobles and the people of England rallied behind Mary when Edward died and Mary foiled Northumberland's plot to change the succession. Mary at first refused to have Lady Jane Gray executed--extraordinary clemency for a monarch, to let your usurper live (under arrest in the Tower, of course).
Richards dedicates six of the 12 chapters to Mary's five year reign, exploring how Mary handled working with councillors who had previously bullied her about the Mass or supported Northumberland; the pomp and majesty of her coronation patterned after the crowning and anointing of all the male monarchs who had gone before her, and analyzing the issues of her marriage and rule as sole monarch.
Richards does not dwell on the burnings at Smithfield and Oxford. She points out that we do not have a contemporary volume like Foxe's "Acts and Monuments" to describe the deaths of almost 200 Catholic priests and laity under Elizabeth I, and also hints that the campaign of burnings was having the desired effect.
She concludes this even-handed biography with the war with France, Mary's death, and a reassessment of her personality. B&W illustrations; good documentation. A model biography. ... Read more

Product Description
This book takes great liberties with known British history and characters of the Victorian Age, the names herein might be the same and might resemble actual events but it must be stressed with the greatest emphasis that all the characters in this volume are fictional and none of the events ever occurred, this is a work of pure fiction. The reamining years are found in "King Of All England" a follow-up to find out what ever became of the Prince and his Page Bpy.
WARNING:This book is crammed full of sexual talk, activity, innuendo, and sexual illustrations, if this offends you in anyway, please do not read this book, if on the other hand you like a bit of sexual history, a little spice added to your review of events past, even if twisted just a bit, then you will enjoy this run down history lane with you pants falling down faster then snow melts in summer. Enjoy.
Note:This is my unedited proof,
Other titles by this Author are:
Ride Em' Cowboy - Train Robbers
Tarzan's First Love
The Making of A Gay American Spy
Ride Em' Cowboy - The Store Clerk
Growing Up Gay
Soldiers - Prisoner of War
Islam - Religon of Hate
The Islamic Wars
Ride Em Cowboy-Cum Ride My Phony
Soldier-Prisoner of War
Soldier-Prisoner of War - New Edited
Frankenstein - For the Love of a Man
The GAY Vampire
The Cliff House Vampire
These Are My Children
Finding Simon
Ride Em' Cowboy – Dodge City
The Gay Vampire – The Journey Home
A Romance in the Wilderness
From Boys to Men
Ride Em’ Cowboy – The Grizzly
Sinbad – The Balloon Kingdom
Tarzan – The Awakening
Alien Encounter
Cum Ride My Pony
Drag Queen – Alice in Wonderland
Edward
Ghosts and Nightmares
Jane Eyre – My Brother James
Weathering Heights – Conclusion
Ride Em Cowboy – The Dude Ranch
Ride Em Cowboy – He Lived to Tell the Tale
Ride Em Cowboy – Indian Affairs
The Cliff House Vampire
Sinbad the Gay Sailor
Whispers in the Night
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great all around read
I am a member of a number of book clubs, several in the Colorado Springs and Aspen areas as well as another in New York that I attend when in the city. I am so pleased to say that I enjoyed this book very much. It was recommended to me by another member who passing along information about new books and authors. THis Author, Arius De Winter is doing a wonderful job. I also like his retelling of old classic books that you would never ever think would turn gay, but I guess if they can make a Zomby out of a classic they can turn them gay too, which is lovely altogether. I find it is an art to write, this author is one of the best new authors I have come across and am happy to see his titles grow.I highly recommend this book. Other titles I recommend by this author are:
Once Long Ago (Gay Romance), Valley of the Kings (Gay Adventure),From Boys to Men (Gay Classic), The Valley of Silent Men (Gay classic)and Reflections In The Looking Glass - A Murder Mystery That Will Surprise you (Gay Murder Mystery),My Gay Socks (Gay Romance) and The Boy He Loved - Obsession Into Darkness (Gay Suspense). These are fantastic books that I have recommened to others and they have replied they had enjoyed them too.

Royal Lot
Like the characters intended, I found this book at first telling but as I read on, found it a history of what might have been at the time.I've followed this author for some time and find this book different then most of his writtings, more histoical in a wanting fashion. I've recommended this one to several friends who also agree that we'll continue to read on and hope to see a part two sometime soon. We've offered this book to our little book club and has found a favorable review.
Other titles by this Author are:
Ride Em' Cowboy - Train Robbers
Tarzan's First Love
The Making of A Gay American Spy
Ride Em' Cowboy - The Store Clerk
Growing Up Gay
Soldiers - Prisoner of War
Islam - Religon of Hate
The Islamic Wars
Ride Em Cowboy-Cum Ride My Phony
Soldier-Prisoner of War
Soldier-Prisoner of War - New Edited
Frankenstein - For the Love of a Man
The GAY Vampire
The Cliff House Vampire
These Are My Children
Finding Simon
Ride Em' Cowboy - Dodge City
The Gay Vampire - The Journey Home
A Romance in the Wilderness
From Boys to Men
Ride Em' Cowboy - The Grizzly
Sinbad - The Balloon Kingdom
Tarzan - The Awakening
Alien Encounter
Cum Ride My Pony
Drag Queen - Alice in Wonderland
Edward
Ghosts and Nightmares
Jane Eyre - My Brother James
Weathering Heights - Conclusion
Ride Em Cowboy - The Dude Ranch
Ride Em Cowboy - He Lived to Tell the Tale
Ride Em Cowboy - Indian Affairs
The Cliff House Vampire
Sinbad the Gay Sailor

Leave This One On The Shelves!
Nice title but a complete boring expanse of tedium between the covers. I think a complete history of the sex life of the Gabon Viper in Pig-Latin would be a star up on this one. Sort of up there with certain begat chapters of the Bible. You know the ones....endless lists of who begat whom and on and on, ad infinitum. I would rather go to the Dentist than do a second read of this work. I'm still trying to figure out if there is indeed a plot line in there somewhere. Search me. I couldn't find one. Couldn't hang on to one character long enough to see any. You have to wonder if the writer had tongue in firmly in cheek when this hit the publisher. I will end up deleting it from my Kindle, it was just that awful. ... Read more

Product Description
Made available in English for the first time, Wout Troost, exploits his detailed knowledge of Dutch, English, Scottish and Irish sources to paint a holistic and convincing political analysis of William's reign. ... Read more

Product Description
Second Edition - While traveling I heard about they story of a Pincess of China, a woman living in the USA who had lived with the last Empress of China and had actually lived in the Forbidden City.I found the story too interesting to pass up and then found that her story had been forgotten.
I hope to keep that life and story alive along with the history of China. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing, given the money I paid for it
It's amazing that, despite a wealth of detail; new information available from Russian sources, and decent (but only just) writing, Ms. Hall couldn't produce a home run with this biography.

This is the first biography of Marie, wife of Tsar Alexander III, in English.It's unfortunate that Ms. Hall is the author; she lacks the skill to make a subject "take off" (unlike Charlotte Zeepvat, whose Royal books I just want more of).Facts are presented, but in a dry, almost by-the-numbers fashion (the same fault I noticed with the biography of Xenia, Marie's daughter -- very dry presentation despite an intriguing life).Although there was access to Marie's diaries and letters, the author never lets us hear Marie's voice.

It's odd that the author refers to Marie throughout the book as Dagmar, not Marie Fedorovna (the name she adopted as a Russian) or even as Minny, her childhood nickname that even Queen Victoria referred to her by.Was she trying to emphasize her Danish heritage?We don't find out.Yes, she was born Dagmar, but once she married, she became Marie, so why not refer to her as Marie or as Minny?

How I wanted to learn more about Marie's romance with Nikolai who-should-have-been Nikolai II, and new information about her marriage with Alexander III!We only get a very few far & between new details, in the midst of all the known ones.

Interestingly, one comes away from this book with less sympathy for Nicholas II and Alexandra than ever before.They are certainly shown to be the weak, in-over-their-head rulers that they were.But, frustratingly, very little of the actual diary entries or correspondences that presumably set forth just what went wrong in the relationship between Marie, Nicholas & Alexandra, are utilized; it's just the author's summarizations.

There's a summarization of the Anna Anderson controversy near the end of the book, which I could have done without.I'm tired of almost every book about the Romanovs rehashing the Anna Anderson case.DNA evidence has settled that hash.They ALL died in that cellar, and she was a very carefully coached would-be imposter (I don't know by whom, but lets say the German relatives) -- please get over it.

I suppose, based its subject, and being the only English language biography of Marie to date, it's a must-have for a Royal biography collector -- but only just.If Charlotte Zeepvat or John Van der Kiste ever produce a biography of Marie, I'll be selling this one.

If only James Pope-Hennessey were still alive -- he'd have done a superb job, like he did with his QUEEN MARY.

... Read more

Product Description
Memorial to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her death. Approximately 80 b&w illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1860 edition by Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1856 edition by Smith, Elder and Co., London. ... Read more