Reviews (8)

Wonderful book except for irksome error.
I do not have much to add to my review that hasn't been said by the other reviewers. However, Zeepvat refers throughout the book to the members of the Russuan royal family as 'Grand Prince' and 'Grand Princess'! In all my extensive readings of the Romanovs I have never seen anything but 'Grand Duke' or 'Grand Duchess', indeed, this is how certain family members referred to themselves in their memoirs. That said, this is still a wonderful book to add to any royal collection.

Great photographic album about Romanovs!
I would put this one right up there with Love, Power & Tragedy, Royal Russia, and Nicholas and Alexandra: the Family Albums! True, the whole thing wasnt completely about the last family, but the rare and beautiful pictures of Nicholas II and his wife and kids are worth it. All of the photos are clear and large and interesting and grouped by category and bear interesting captions. I was thrilled and pleasantly surprised. Buy this one! Some of the photos I've only seen in the Benecke collection online.

Views of a Vanished World
The Camera and the Tsars is a well organized collection of photographs of the extended Romanov family from the mid 1800s through the post-Revolutionary period. As with her earlier work Queen Victoria's Family, Charlotte Zeepvat has done an excellent job of seeking out many photographs of the more obscure members of the family to give us a more rounded view of the Imperial Family than we usually get from the standard photos seen over and over again.

When I looked through this book I was struck by what a good looking group of people the Romanovs were. The photos are a mixture of formal portraits and snapshots (many taken by the Romanovs themselves), and in most of them the subjects are nice, pleasant seeming people not at all overwhelmed by the formal settings and clothing. The men mostly seem to have been rugged outdoor types, and the women rather romantic and elegant, with some quite beautiful. The children are really cute, too. Interestingly, most of them are smiling, which is rather unusual for nineteenth century photography. There are even some smiling pictures of Alexandra, the last Tsaritsa, who is usually stone faced in most of her portraits. Its also interesting to see how the passage of years changed some of the people. I particularly liked Grand Princess Alexandra Iosipovna, who married one of Nicholas I's sons (and is Prince Philip's great-grandmother). She went from being a fresh faced young girl to an elegant matron to a magnificent grande dame. Also Grand Princess Maria Pavlovna the elder, whose pictures could be used for a dictionary illustration for "distinguished" or "imposing". Even though the pictures are all black and white, you can imagine how the jewels must have glittered and the silks and satins gleamed and rustled.

The final few pictures showing the post-Revolutionary surviving Romanovs are particularly evocative. These are people who have lost a lot and endured enormous pain, and it shows on their still dignified, but very sad, faces.

This is a book all Romanov aficionados will want. It will also appeal to anyone interested in photography, fashion, or just human beings themselves.

A wonderul book for the ages
Words can not describe this book. Zeepvat (as always) does not dissappoint with her latest delight. Keeping in the tradition of "Queen Victoria's Family", the lives of the tragic Romanovs come to life in a book that is a must for anyone with a love for history.

A book of rare photos of the wider Romanov family
Thankfully this book is not just about Nicholas, Alexandra and their children who have already had numerous books published of their photos. Instead we are presented with hundreds of rare, and in many cases never before published pictures, of the often lesser known members of the Romanov clan.

This book charts their photographic interests in both public and private from the 1850's to the 1930's. The only other comparable book to it for images of the wider Romanov family is 'The Last Tsar' by Larissa Yermilova and thankfully there is not too much overlap in their photographic contents.

Charlotte Zeepvat has divided her photos up in to topics such as: The Last Tsar, The Family, Born Romanov, A Suitable Marriage, The Family at Work etc. Each photo in the book is captioned, often accompanied by a story either relating to the specific picture or some other anecdote of that person's life. We get to see many members of the imperial family that often only get passing mentions in other books and this photo album will be an invaluable reference for photographic images of the various Romanov members that you will find nowhere else and is a great companion to this author's other book 'Romanov Autumn'. ... Read more

Book Description

In her international best sellers, PRINCESS and PRINCESS SULTANA'S DAUGHTERS, Jean Sasson vividly depicted the harsh restrictions endured by Saudi women. These books described the lives of women who live in a society where they have few rights, little control over their own lives or bodies, and have no choice but to endure the atrocities perpetrated against them.

Now, in response to readers' tremendous outpouring of interest and affection for Sultana, as well as her works on behalf of oppressed women, Jean Sasson and the Princess continue to expose the outrageous human rights abuses suffered by women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

When Sultana's niece is forced into an arranged marriage with a cruel, depraved older man, and a royal cousin in revealed as keeping a harem of sex slaves, Sultana's attempts at intervention in their various plights are thwarted. But when her nephews are caught committing an unspeakable act against a 12-year-old girl, Sultana is galvanized into action. Risking her personal status and wealth, she takes a stand against the complacency of her male relatives over the child' fate. Ultimately, Sultana and her siters vow to form a circle of support that will surround and shelter abused women and girls.

As with PRINCESS and PRINCESS SULTANA'S DAUGHTERS, the reader is compelled to read just one more page, one more chapter, once they begin reading PRINCESS SULTANA'S CIRCLE. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

More personal than political.
Princess Sultana's Circle is the third book of Jean Sasson's biographical accounts of a Saudi Royal's life. To be honest, Princess and Princess Sultana's Daughters were better books. However, if you enjoyed those, you will enjoy this one too.

There is far less of a focus on women's rights in this book, and it reads like a series of anecdotes from Sultana's life. However, the extravagant lifestyle and the restrictive (by Western standards) customs of the Saudi Arabian elite make for interesting reading.

In this book, Princess Sultana learns a bit more about herself, as she visits Bedouin tent villages, attends her niece's wedding to a much older man, and battles with alcoholism. The title refers to a protective circle of women, which Sultana asks us to form whenever we see women in trouble.

This is the One
Why is this the one?

1)Tell the truth about some Arab women who are completely helpless and submissive when it comes to men.
2)It also shows how intelligent these women are and how they need to be secretive, manipulative (in a good way), to get justice.
3) That without family who will support you- you are pretty much by yourself and alone.
4) That not every Middle Eastern man are wife beaters and haters of women.
5) That some Middle Easten men are the above and really need some counseling.
6)Talks about rape, marriage, how people get away with crimes, and some don't.
7)Shows how Princess Sultana is growing up and prays that her life means something.
8)That many women are hurt by some Arab men. Including American womens

It is her best book. I recommend this highly. She presents herself as strong and completely able to handle her woes without the help of us Westerners.

Please read this book.

An overindulged Princess
I found this book to be very shallow. Princess Sultana's circle is an overindulged group of royal females who recognize the Arab woman as abused and degraded. They consider themselves helpless in saving their fellow woman in a nation driven by the superior male. She travels in private jets to different countries, spends $328,000.00 at a time at Bergdorf Goodman's in New York, and sucumms to alcholism. Her heroic feat was to stop a rape, and take the vicitim to a doctor. Princess Sultana has alot more work to do before she should consider herself a hero.

Pure Fascination
This last book of Jean Sasson's is every bit as fascinating as the first two. I only wish that Jean Sasson and Princess Sultana would continue to collaborate and produce their writings on a more frequent basis. Just when I think I have an understanding of the Saudi Arabian culture, Princess Sultana gives us even more of an eye opener. Amazing detail, with sometimes subtle humor. Not to mention sometimes very disturbing examples of cruelty to women.

Pricess Sultanas circle
My first impression from this writing is that it is more of a fiction than a reality. As there are many parts of this story that seem contradictory and do not make sense. Whether this text is fiction or fantasy is debatable; but what is certain is the known truth of the utter disregard and violations of women's rights in the Middle East. From having met and spoken with a few friends the confessions are much the same; their subjection to being a secondary class citizens. In many cases animals have more rights than the women there; the preceding statement may sound very insensitive; for which I apologize. It is something that we should expect from a closed society where all issues are buried in the hearts of people. On the whole I found it an entertaining read as it opens ones eyes to the conditions faced there. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Wow! As good as it gets...
"Queen Victoria's Family" by Charlotte Zeepvat is a wonderful book, one of the best books I ever read. I like Queen Victoria very much and have already read so many books about her and her family, but this is my special favorite. Because of the fantastic pictures Victoria and her family become alive again in this book. I think there is no other book about Victoria with so many and such beautiful pictures. Besides, I can say that Charlotte Zeepvat is an excellent author, her other book about Queen Victoria's son Leopold is also great. "Queen Victoria's Family" is a must-read book for everyone who is interested in this topic. Read it, you will be as enthusiastic about it as I am.

Magnificent
Absolutely the ultimate book for photographs of Queen Victoria's extended family. Not only are the pictures wonderful but the author's captions put them in context and it is very easy to follow relationships within family lines.

Loved it!
Absolutely remarkable. Charlotte Zeepvat takes the reader into the lives of Queen Victoria and her family with the amazing photographs, both candid and formal. The pictures are rare. They are well organized and have excellent captions. Zeepvat is a great writer/historian and I recommend her books to all.

What a photo collection!
There are certain photos that I simply expect to see when perusing volumes about European royalty. However, upon receiving Zeepvat's book, I was thrilled to find so many rarely seen photos of some of the more obscure descendants of the "Grandmother of Europe." If you're a royalty buff like I am, you can spend hours immersed in this marvelous book and its detailed family trees.

Great book
for those interested in royalty. While some of these photos can be found in many different books, some of them I've seen for the first time. Queen Victoria's decendants are so numerous and belong to so many different royal houses. Definitely a worthwhile purchase! ... Read more

Book Description

Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating new book, acclaimed biographer Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure.

Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? ... Read more

Reviews (96)

The best biography of Elizabeth out there
Put that insipid David Starkey book down and step away slowly. Wouldn't you rather read a wonderfully researched and well written book by an author who can write coherent sentences?

The third book in Alison Weir's Tudor Monarchs trilogy, this book picks up more or less where "The Children of Henry VIII" leaves off. It offers a fascinating biography of a fascinating woman, who laid the foundation of what later became the British Empire.

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is not the book to go for if you are looking to find out about the details of Elizabethan foreign policy or governmental theory. It is, however, the book to go to if you are interested in finding out more about the woman behind those things. Weir makes great use of the ample letters that Elizabeth wrote to let us see inside the mind of a truly brilliant monarch. Yes she used her sex appeal (or at least her eligability for marriage) to guide her foreign policy program, but this books shows us why and how.

Chock full of information, this book is a fun and relatively simple read. Weir is an excellent writer who always manages to find the pefect balance of accessible writing and detailed research.

A better-than-average look into one monarch's life
History is boring to most people, that is just a fact of our nature. And those dry-and-boring accounts by stiff historians do little to reverse this opinion. But I feel that Alison Weir managed to bring history alive in this book, creating a vast tapestry of colors in which to look at. I must admit, being a virgin to both Weir's writing AND the history of British Monarchs, this was a good introductory book. I was rivoted for the latter 2/3 of the book. I was least impressed with the endless accounts of Elizabeth's suitors. Although this was a "big deal" of her time I felt it to be less important next to her larger political and economic feats. Overall, the information in the book was grouped as well as can be expected when dealing with the vast archives of information that has been written about Elizabeth I since her reign. I found Weir's research to be unequaled to anything I've read about Elizabeth I since. A good jumping-off point for the armchair historian.

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for, but...
...if this were my only source of knowledge about QE1, I would have thought the first few decades of the good queen's rule were spent almost entirely on 3 activities: duping prospective spouses, giggling girlishly with Leicester, and engaging in petty jealousies and childish reprimands. It wasn't until the death of Leicester that the content of Weir's book began to get interesting--call me a glutton for punishment, but I was determined to finish what I'd started.

A French visitor to court was quoted late in the book as saying QE1 was 'truly worthy of that high reputation she had acquired.' Sadly the 400+ pages prior to this gave me precious little reason to nod in agreement.

I have no doubts the scholarship on the selected point-of-view is unimpeachable as others suggest. The problem I had is, perhaps, my *choice* of book. This, my introductory biography, was of 'the woman' rather than 'the monarch'.

If you're looking for the personals section, get this book. If you want to see how QE1 shaped Britain and the world of her time, look elsewhere--as a recent UK transplant, I still am...

Great Book...Must Read
No, I am not an expert on British history, but Weir's narration is well written, easy to read, yet challenges the intellect enough to keep you interested. I enjoyed the scope of the book and feel that my understanding of this incredible woman has been greatly enlarged. It is simply an enjoyable book and the intrigues between Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots really kept the book moving along. I can't wait to read Weir's next book about the murder of Lord Darnley. "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" is the perfect predecessor to this book. Well done, Alison!

Impressive and exhaustive biography
Alison Weir writes an exhaustive and impressive biography. Here a more real and human queen Elizabeth I is depicted in a comprehensive manner. The rise of a new world power is narrated as well as the rise of a new faith and a new sovereign. Every person interested in British history should read this text. ... Read more

Book Description

Warriors of God is the rich and engaging account of the Third Crusade (1187-1192), a conflict that would shape world history for centuries and which can still be felt in the Middle East and throughout the world today.Acclaimed writer James Reston, Jr., offers a gripping narrative of the epic battle that left Jerusalem in Muslim hands until the twentieth century, bringing an objective perspective to the gallantry, greed, and religious fervor that fueled the bloody clash between Christians and Muslims.

As he recounts this rousing story, Reston brings to life the two legendary figures who led their armies against each other. He offers compelling portraits of Saladin, the wise and highly cultured leader who created a united empire, and Richard the Lionheart, the romantic personification of chivalry who emerges here in his full complexity and contradictions.From its riveting scenes of blood-soaked battles to its pageant of fascinating, larger-than-life characters, Warriors of God is essential history, history that helps us understand today's world. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Crusades Confidential
"Warriors of God," reads like a tabloid history of the third crusade, and that's exactly what makes it so much fun. James Reston got the dirt on the primary English and French players and has no temerity about spreading it around. Who was the regal counterpart Richard the Lionheart was sleeping around with? You'll find the answer right here. Care for a look at the private life of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine? Step right up. Who was the "whore of Europe?" Yes, indeed, find out here. As for the politics, both in Europe and the East, well, nothing much has changed in the modus operandi of the ruling class. Richard fought a bloody war on the battlefields, and deadly political wars on the two fronts of Europe and the Holy Land. Yes, the underlying current was a holy war, but the profiteers, looters, and opportunists steered events as rigorously as the warriors and clerics. Mr. Reston has much less to say about the peccadilloes of Saladin and the warriors of Islam. In fact, they come off as models of rectitude, both in their private and public affairs. However, both sides were equally as blood-thirsty, and the blood flowed ankle deep--such were the times, such are the times.

Mr. Reston focuses quite clearly on Richard and Saladin as the protagonists of this third crusade, and in them he has found characters as large as life. They were educated, wily, impassioned leaders whose stature has not been diminished by the passage of nine hundred years.

I recommend this book both for the dirt and the history. It's a fascinating look at characters and events, as well as a witness to how the Crusades have never really ended.

So Passed Those Years and Men . . . .
"Warriors of God" is a compelling narrative that draws the reader into the Third Crusade and the lives of its two great leaders, Richard the Lionhearted and Saladin. Reston's story is spiced with the words of poets and bards, and it breathes life into a fascinating and all but forgotten time.

I have not read a great deal about the Crusades, so it is difficult for me to judge how historically accurate Reston's book is. But I can say that "Warriors of God" is very entertaining, that the story is often moving, and that the characters are fascinating.

Saladin was a remarkable leader who united Egypt and Syria and captured Jersualem for Islam. Equally striking, according to Reston, he was a relatively decent man in a brutal time--he preferred bargaining to killing and went out of his way to avoid destroying the people that he defeated. Legend has it that he sent King Richard two fine Arabian horses when Richard lost his mount in a battle with Saladin's troops--after all, a King should not be on foot with his men! Whether or not the legend is true, it says something that it was apparently repeated and believed.

King Richard was cut from a much rougher mold. He was a charismatic but tough leader, and he was not above killing prisoners to make a point. But for all his hardness, he lost his nerve and the Third Crusade when he was on the verge of capturing Jerusalem. After he withdrew from the Holy Land, he embarked on an odyssey, spending a year as the captive of the Holy Roman Emperor and finally returning to England in time to save the country from his brother, John.

The focus of the book is on King Richard and Saladin, but the minor characters are intriguing in their own right. One of these was Sinan, the "Old Man of the Mountain," who ruled the cult of the Assassins. Reston calls him brilliant, ruthless, mystical and ascetic, "with eyes as fierce as meteors." Sinan's followers owed him unquestioning obedience and would regularly kill at his command. "Once, to prove the devotion of his followers to a Crusader leader, Sinan had given a fleeting hand signal to two fidai high in a tower at Kahf, whereupon the two leaped to their death in the ravine below." Not a person to be taken likely, and a reminder that sometimes the past is not all that different from today.

Reston tells us that shortly after Saladin died on March 4, 1193, his scribe Beha al-Din wrote "so passed those years and men, and seem, both years and men, to be a dream." In "Warriors of God," Reston has done done a good job of bringing those years and men to life for the modern reader.

If you enjoy "Warriors of God," you might also want to take a look at Reston's "The Last Apocalypse," which is an equally entertaining book about Europe at the turn of the first millennium AD.

The Original Warriors of God
The book "Warriors of God: The Great Religious Orders and Their Founders" by Walter Nigg 1959, was very helpful before I read Jr. James Reston's "Warriors of God". One of the original warriors of God in Nigg's book summarized Jr. James Reston's type of Christendom very nicely.
Religious obedience-which has no analogy with military obedience-was the highest law. The reason for this incomprehension is doubtless that religious obedience has to often been mistaken for cringing subservience, an unfortunate error that has inflicted untold harm on Christendom.
Walter Nigg's book, which is very hard to find, should be a foundation to any true historian of Christianity. The Chapters are; St. Anthony and the Hermits of the Desert, St. Pachomius and Cenobitism, St. Basi and Eastern Monasticism, St. Augustine and the Communal Life of the Clergy, St. Benedict and His Rule, St. Bruno and the Carthusians, St. Bernard and the Cistercians, St. Francis and the Friars Minor, St. Dominic and the Order of Preachers, St. Teresa and Carmel, St. Ignatius Loyola and the Society of Jesus.

Excellent primer for the Crusades
Warriors of God is not an extensive study of the Crusades but can serve as an excellent primer for those of us wishing to delve into the subject.

James Reston Jr. turns a topic that is complex (and sometimes tedious) into a pleasant reading experience.
His use of Christian and Muslim texts lends a broader view of the conflict and time period.

The author's inclusion of the state of 13th century western European politics (church and monarchy) provides important depth to the story. It also will lead most readers to wonder "This was civilization?"

The movie version of the Third Crusade
This is essentially not history; it is a melodrama based, more or less loosely, on the Third Crusade. Its Saladin and Richard are the characters a novelist would have them be -- tailored to fit his plot line, thinking the thoughts he wants them to think, driven by the desires and emotions he wants them to have. Any relationship between these shallow, crudely-drawn characters and the real thing is not only accidental but unimportant. The point of the book is to teach the reader that there were good guys and bad guys and that we (the West) were the bad guys, while throwing in sex and violence in the bargain. And so it presents a simplified, technicolor version that leaves out the historical doubts, factual uncertainties, and other shades of grey that make for good history but bad B movies.

Who were the good guys and who the bad? Read Runciman's books (his Volume 3 covers the Third Crusade) -- they present history and let you decide for yourself. ... Read more

Book Description

The eminent British historian John Guy has unearthed a wealth of evidence that upends the popular notion of Mary Queen of Scots as a femme fatale and establishes her as the intellectual and political equal of Elizabeth I.
Guy draws on sources as varied as the secret communiqués of
English spies and Mary"s own letters (many hitherto unstudied) to depict her world and her actions with stunning immediacy. Here is a myth-shattering reappraisal of her multifaceted character and prodigious political skill. Guy dispels the persistent popular image of Mary as a romantic leading lady, achieving her ends through feminine wiles, driven by love to murder, undone by passion and poor judgment. Through his pioneering research, we come to see her as an emotionally intricate woman and an adroit diplomat, maneuvering ingeniously among a dizzying array of powerful factions — the French, the English, duplicitous Scottish nobles, and religious zealots — who sought to control or dethrone her. Guy"s investigation of Mary"s storied demise throws sharp new light on questions that have baffled historians for centuries, including whether or not Mary was framed for the murder she lost her throne over.
Queen of Scots, the first full-scale biography of Mary in more than thirty years, offers a singularly novel, nuanced, and dramatic portrait of one of history"s greatest women. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The real Mary!
Mary Stuart was to the manor born, if indeed anyone ever was. She was the daughter of James V of Scotland and the great-granddaughter of Henry VII of England. She was raised in the Royal Court of France and was married at sixteen to the heir to the French Throne. Mary's father had died a few days after her birth and she had actually been Queen of Scotland since that time. Her realm was governed however by a regent who was for most of that time Mary's mother, Mary of Guise. The Guise family was a rich and powerful French family and they used young Mary to their advantage whenever they could. This misuse by her mother's family was just to be the beginning of a long series of betrayals that would finally end in Mary's execution.

John Guy has undertaken a huge task with this biography. The well-ingrained image of Mary Queen of Scots is one of a manipulative siren or of a Queen who was well out of her depth or both. Guy has examined many documents that have never been considered before and has reached an entirely different conclusion. In every way she was the equal of her cousin Elizabeth I, and in many ways her better. Mary's problem was that her Kingdom had been divided up by clan loyalties for years and the squabbles among the nobles made for an unruly Kingdom. Add to this the recent arrival of the Reformation in Scotland, and the further division it caused and the situation Mary faced on her return to Scotland was an almost hopeless one. Not phased in the least, Mary jumped right in and even her detractors had to admit that she was doing well. Even the rather unpleasant John Knox had to admit that the Catholic Queen did not lack courage.

Mary's also faced the problem that Scotland was so small and weak. That fact gave her very little leverage when bargaining abroad or with her cousin to the south. Then of course there was William Cecil, Elizabeth's Secretary of State, who hated Mary with a blind passion. Many Catholics in Europe, including many in England didn't recognize Elizabeth as the legitimate Queen of England, but instead looked to her cousin, the Queen of Scots. For that reason and his raging Protestantism Cecil decided that Mary had to go. And he went to extraordinary lengths to see that she did go.

Guy argues quite clearly that most of the charges that were leveled at Mary by rebel lords of Scotland were trumped up. Supported only by forged and doctored documents. The author is very convincing in his argument that Mary had nothing to do with the death of her second husband Lord Darnley and that in fact her accusers were the guilty parties. In all, Mary seems to have been caught up in events that simply were too much for anyone to handle. She seems to have made the right decision most of the time but with her own lords out to steal her throne and with William Cecil at work in London she simply had no chance.

Her only real guilt came near the end of her life when she did indeed conspire to remove Elizabeth from the English Throne. This conspiracy was more of an act of desperation than anything else, for she had languished in English custody for years. Day catches the sense of desperation Mary must have felt and the reader will understand why she acted thus. Day in fact does an excellent job of catching the spirit of the times as well as the spirit of Mary. Reading this book, one will see how often Mary was wronged while she was trying desperately to do the right thing. The author's thesis is that Mary was not only wronged in her own time, but has been badly wronged by history. In my opinion, he makes his point and it is well taken. After reading this wonderfully well-written book I don't think I will ever think of Mary Queen of Scots in the same way. She had her flaws, but she was indeed an impressive woman.

Well-Research Whale of a Book
John Guy seems to have spent much fruitful time digging up everything he could for Queen of Scots, the True Life of Mary Stuart. Along the way he seems to have fallen completely and hopelessly under her spell. That is not to say he does not, on occasion, find fault with her (her marriage to Bothwell could never be presented as a smart idea) but he puts up the best defence against Mary's detractors (Cecil and Elizabeth) since the reign of the Renaissance papacy. This is only occasionally a problem in this otherwise interesting and mammoth book. Mary has been oft maligned in favour of Elizabeth and it seems, for some reason, one is always expected to choose between these two British queens ruling at the same time and the author makes his choice abundantly clear. The author covers the complicated factionalism of Scotland with adroitness. The murder of Mary's husband, Lord Darnley, is handled with more thoroughness in other books (such as Alison Weir's) but this author places the assisnation in its context quite comfortably. A good book on a fascinating woman.

Huge and hugely satisfying
This is a big book in more ways than one. Even though it's a tome I read it very quickly and with great satisfaction. The religiosity of Elizabethan politics were clearly as cynical as the politics of our own time, but in those days you could have your head removed for it. That thought never left my mind as I plowed through this great read. This is a serious book, but it reads like a novel.

Elizabeth is always held up as a master politician, and although Mary may or may not have been her equal politically she was her superior in charm by a long shot. You cannot help sympathizing with her, admiring her courage, even if she might have been complicitous in her own victimization. She was a very complex character, and this book does an excellent job of teasing out the various strands of her personality.

There is a lot of new information here as well. If you have read the other books on the subject, especially Antonia Fraser's, or are looking for a good place to begin, this is the book for you. ... Read more

Book Description

An essential resource for the study of ancient Egypt's pharaonic dynasties, covering the lives of some 1,500 rulers and royal individuals.

This groundbreaking new book illuminates the lives of the kings, queens, princes, and princesses of ancient Egypt, unraveling family relationships and exploring the parts they played in politics, cultural life, and religion. It ranges from the dawn of Egyptian history, when only isolated glimpses are available of the royal family, through the vast progeny of Rameses II, and ends with the fiendishly complicated—and blood-soaked—interconnections of the Ptolemies and Cleopatras.

The authors begin with a basic summary of the structure of the pharaonic state, including the nature of ancient Egyptian kingship itself and how its functions meshed with those of the bureaucracy. They introduce key members of the royal family and assess what is known about the implications of the major titles that define them.

The book then moves from the general to the particular, with a chronological survey of the royal family from c. 3100 BC and the First Dynasty up to Egypt's absorption into the Roman Empire. For each dynasty, or significant part of a dynasty, the authors provide an historical overview of the period, a summary listing of the kings involved, and a discussion of their families' relationships, including, most importantly, how we know what we think we know about them. Finally, the individuals who made up these families are placed in context via twenty-seven genealogical trees, and described in a comprehensive list of short biographies.

Handsomely illustrated with more than 300 photographs and line drawings, this book will serve equally well as a biographical history of ancient Egypt and a superb volume for home reference. 330 illustrations, 80 in color. ... Read more

Book Description

They are the most chronicled family on the face of the globe. Their every move attracts headlines. Scores of books have tried and failed to penetrate the royal facade. Now Kitty Kelley has gone behind palace walls to provide the first three-dimensional, comprehensive, and evenhanded portrait of the men and women who make up the British Royal family.

Kelley spent more than four years investigating the royal family. In addition to meticulous research into documented sources, she conducted hundreds of exclusive interviews with past and present employees of the royal household, royal friends and relations, courtiers, members of Parliament, and other intimate observers, raising the curtain on this most secretive family.

Here are lonely royal children brought up without a proper education in isolated and artificial surroundings, twentieth-century adolescents with nineteenth-century touchstones. Here are the sexual ambiguities, the alcoholism, gambling, and womanizing that were common in the House of Windsor long before Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. No one is spared; here are the scandals of the last decades: the doomed marriages, and the husbands, wives, lovers and children caught in their wake and damaged beyond repair.

Illuminating the Windsors' arrogance, naïveté, and lusts as well as hard work, dedication, and ability to survive the most humiliating disclosures, The Royals is Kitty Kelley's richest, most iconoclastic, historically significant, and compelling work.

Reviews (62)

A positive review
Having read this book I feel that it has been unfairly maligned. It is neither a trashing of the individuals in the house of Windsor nor is it a tabloid-esque scandal sheet. Ms. Kelly paints a complex psychological portrait of the members of the royal family in a way that does not excuse their well documented ill-behavior but rather allows the reader to have insight into their personal motivations. In a way the royal family of Britain are painted as very real and human characters with flaws and many emotional injuries. I wonder if the negative reaction to this book is due to the timing of its release and the fact that the narrative humanizes characters that Britain, for the sake of its history and system of governance, needs to be more that human. And for the rest of the world to serve as a mirror for our fantasies. For me this book elicited pathos for this family--the queen's coldness and inhumanity caused by the early death of her father and the trauma of the second world war with all of the incipient pressures that would befall her. (what a potentially terrifying childhood knowing that your destiny may require you to "save the nation" though the strength of your character). As for Charles (for whom I personally had a storng antipathy towards prior to reading this book) the childhood he had left him quite incapable of being a loving sympathetic man despite the fact that he apparently has a tremendous need to be so. Diana was bound to be crushed by the institution of royalty and the monarchy. Her "loony' behavior makes perfect sense when you consider that she as a 19 year old girl had just steeped though the looking glass and into a world with no allies. Also, don't kid yourself, while there some epistemological problems and some quotes must clearly be fabricated, a technique of historians going back to Herodotous, this is an exceedingly well crafted book.

Gossipy, and sometimes unbelievable!
Kitty Kelley's books are pretty much all the same--gossipy, tabloid-style writing--but they are fun to read. Some of the theories that she puts across in the book are so outlandish that you wonder if you're not *really* reading one of the tabloids! If you like reading about the Royal Family, and aren't too serious, you'll probably enjoy it. As for the authenticity of what she writes...well, I'll leave that for you to decide!

sleazy gossip and sly rumors
Those who compare this book to tabloid journalism are somewhat mistaken. Yes this book has its fair share of errors, and yes it is as sensationalistic as tabloid trash, but this book certainly shows enough research and gives enough credible sources to more or less accurately portray the scandals and "misbehavior" in the book. There are those who revere the Royals and don't want this stuff to be true because they want to look up to the Royal Family as the paradigm of family values and correct behavior, but I think with so many scandals and less-than-flattering revelations about the Royals' private lives through the years, most people I'm sure have become disillusioned with and cynical about them. Really, these bluebloods are just as flawed and ordinary as the rest of us, only difference being that they were born into the House of Windsor. What's their use? Well, they're good theatre. Also, they help out charities and other good causes, which is nice.

David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"

Curse this book!
I picked the darn thing up at 8 PM one night and couldn't put it down until 7AM the following morning!

It "reads like a tabloid"---well, D'UH!

If you're looking for a serious, scholarly study on the House of Windsor, pass this little baby up. If you're looking for the dirt, the grim, the whispered secrets, and gossip galore, this book is for you.

(Dormouse's word of advice: Just don't read it the night before a job interview...not good, not good at all.)

Reads like a tabloid
Kitty Kelley would make a great gossip columnist, but as a biographer or historian she is absolutely awful.

She seems unaware that when King Georg IV and his wife Elizabeth visited North America World War II had not yet started. She also seems confused about when Churchill became Prime Minister. If she fails with these basic facts that can be found in any history book, how reliable can the rest of her information be? ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Interesting biography of a tragic woman
It is rare to find a biography so readable and interesting. The Kaiserin's life was very complicated and tragic, yet this author presents the facts clearly. There is a lot of German history presented also, but this is necessary to put the actions and feelings of the Empress into context. In addition to the Kaiserin Friedrich, one also gains much insight into the lives of Queen Victoria of England, her consort Prince Albert, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Kaiserin Augusta, Otto von Bismarck, Kaiser Friedrich and Kaiser Wilhelm II. I hesitated to keep reading this book because I knew that the end would come faster if I did. To me this was a "pager-turner." The author makes Queen Victoria's daughter's life come alive! I highly recommend this book!!

Amazing! A "must read" book if German History is your bag.
This book is an amazing mixture of biography, political history and peeks inside the royal houses of 19th century Europe. The story of Vickie is the premise of this detailed book but the author has made it so much more than that. "An Uncommon Woman" not only taught me about the tragic life of The Empress Frederick but also presented the story of the German people and creation of The German Empire in such a clear, concise and detailed manner that for the first time ever, German history actually makes sense to me.

A study in contrasts
Like many royal personages,Kaiserin Friedrich was multi-faceted and a mass of contradictions.Ms. Pakula guides us masterfully through this remarkable woman's life.The more one learns of her often difficult role as crown princess and later empress ,the more one admires her .This book provides excellent material for the history scholar and succeeds in being highly enjoyable-historian or not.

Adjunct Primer to the Political Evolution of Modern Germany
The subject of this biography is the counterpoint from which one can view the development of the personalities and politics which molded the Germany of two world wars. But for chance, Victoria's husband Frederick William 3rd would have spread their liberal and constitutional views, and would have countered Bismarck's repressive policies which set the perfect stage for Kaiser Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler. This interesting, carefully researched and documented, well-writen book adds an essential facet and perspective to the drama and misfortune of modern German history.

A good biography of a remarkable woman
This book is well-written and researched, and has much to recommend it. However, I gave it three stars because I prefer "Vicky" by Daphne Bennett, which is out of print but much more symphathetic to its subject. Ms. Pakula is a little harsh in her judgments. Neither book explores Vicky's health problems, which are set forth in John Rohl's (et al.) "Purple Secret", containing an excellent chapter on Vicky. All three books should be read for a complete understanding of her personality. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Accurate, readable biography of legendary Queen
Ever since I saw Katherine Hepburn play Eleanor of Aquitaine in the film Lion in Winter, I have read everything available on this fascinating 12th century woman - and this book was, by far, the most readable, and probably the most accurate. Though Allison Weir avoids over romanticizing the story by passing along legends as facts (that Eleanor murdered her husband's mistress or the many tales surrounding her Court of Love), she still weaves a fascinating tale. Because Weir is such a stickler for researched facts, there are long sections where she admits that very little is known about what exactly Eleanor was doing at the time (most notably during the murder of Thomas Becket), but I still never lost interest - and she provides enough balanced background on the many characters that you develop a true understanding for their complicated motives. After reading Weir's other books (especially the definitive "Six Wives of Henry VIII"), I was positive that this would be another enjoyable history lesson - and Ms. Weir, as usual, did not disappoint!

A truly extraordinary book
She was the wife of two kings (Louis VII of France and Henry II of England) and a fascinating and controversial woman in her own right. Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, was one of the most important and influential personalities of the Middle Ages and she truly comes alive in Alison Weir's masterful biography. After a short introduction on the history and culture of Southern France, Ms. Weir describes Eleanor's life in wonderful detail, examining contemporary sources, modern historical investigations, myth and reality. Everything you ever heard about Eleanor is here: her marriage to King Louis, her journey to Constantinople and Jerusalem during the Second Crusade, her marriage to King Henry, her emotional and political relations with her sons (two of them were also kings of England: Richard the Lionheart and King John), her role as Queen Regent, the legendary Courts of Love, and her imprisonment and eventual release are all told in Alison Weir's wonderful style. The author also includes a lot of information about other fascinating personalities of the time, such as Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Becket and William the Marshall, and she always manages to evoke the feeling of the period. This is a very well researched and brilliantly written biography that reads like a historical novel.

Another fascinating book from Alison Weir
In my humble opinion, Alison Weir is the best writer of accessible English history. She manages to write in a simple, accessible style without compromising detail or historical accuracy. Her books are fun to read, but so packed full of information.

Taking a break from her usual subject of Tudor and Medieval English history, this book examines the life of Eleanor of Aquataine. It is easy to succumb to hyperbole when writing reviews, but it is NO exageration to say that Eleanor is one of the most interesting people to have ever graced this planet. Hieress of what is now southern France, she left her husband, the French king, for the English king and took her tremendous land holdings with her, thus prompting the 100 years war and causing the great English/French rivalry that has existed ever since. She botched the 2nd crusade by tagging along with her friends as "Amazons." She brought "the art of courtly love" to Paris and London, thus encouraging the creation of chivalry and the Aurthurian legend, and sponsored some of the most important advances in the arts during the early Middle Ages. She fathered 2 kings, acted as regent for one while he was on a Crusade, and was imprisoned by her husband for a decade because she helped her sons plan a coup d'etat. Are you starting to believe that I'm not exagerating?

Weir brings all of her skills as a historian and writer to this book, and it is a fascinating read. If I have one complaint, it is that simply not enough detail exists about Eleanor's life. It's pretty hard to miss the major events, but when writing about a subject who lived 800 years ago it is simply a fact that very few letters, diaries, or personal accounts exist. These are the things that let us glimpse into the minds of great people, and it is sometimes maddening that there is no way to understand WHY things happened the way they did.

Despite this, Weir manages to use the little she has to go on to great effect, and this is the best biography of Eleanor out there (though the Marion Meade one is also pretty good).

Another great one by Weir.....
Well, I think I read enough praises of this book from reading all the past reviews written prior to this one. I supposed another one probably won't hurt. And I am sure that some other person will come along after me to say the same thing.

So having got that off my chest, I would say without a doubt that this book is probably the most readable biography on Eleanor of Aquitaine you will probably ever read. Its not only the most readable but its probably one of the best (although I enjoyed Amy Kelly's book just as much). The book was well written and with honesty, without much bias although it was pretty clear that Weir admired her subject. I liked that Weir tries to cut through many of the mediveal bias against Eleanor, especially on the Rosamund la Clifford affair. Only real complaint I would have is that its need more maps - for the casual readers whose knowledge of mediveal European geography may be lacking.

But no one can go wrong reading this book and enjoying it at the same time.

Impeccable scholarship
Weir's breadth of scholarship is astounding but for the reader interested in details about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Weir makes it quite clear that s/he is sure to be sorely disappointed. Although ostensibly a biography of Eleanor there is little about her in the book due to a decided absence of information regarding her life in contemporary sources. I was disappointed in this lack of detail but, not knowing much about 12th-13th century England and France, found myself reading on just to learn about the era. Weir writes with a real objectivity that I appreciated. I recommend this book to the reader interested in the general history of the Plantagenets and the period in which they lived. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the madness of King George to the equine escapades of Catherine the Great, from the intramural squabbles of Elizabeth and Di to the staggeringly decadent exploits of Charles X: in this gossipy chronicle of regal shenanigans, British journalist Karl Shaw dishes plenty of dirt--and ably demonstrates why royal watching is such a satisfying hobby.

Was there ever a good monarch? To judge by Shaw's account, it's unlikely. Instead, he writes, "Every monarchy in Europe has at some time or another been ruled over by a madman," adding in passing that only Bavaria's King Ludwig had the good grace to turn his madness into a source of tourist revenue for his subjects' descendants. Of the mad and the downright curious there's no shortage in these pages, as Shaw delivers anecdote after anecdote concerning the demented, sometimes awful, sometimes entertaining behavior of the likes of Germany's Frederick the Great, who "drank up to forty cups of coffee a day for several weeks in an experiment to see if it was possible to exist without sleep"; Russia's Catherine I, "a raddled old alcoholic with bloodshot eyes, wild and matted hair and clothes soiled with urine stains ... [who] once survived an assassination attempt too drunk to realize that anything had happened"; and England's Queen Mary, "the only known royal kleptomaniac," whose aides would surreptitiously gather the knickknacks she'd lifted from her subjects' parlors and return them with muffled apologies.

Royal Babylon is a guilty pleasure of a book, and one that does a fine job of explaining, in Shaw's tongue-in-cheek words, "why most continentals can't get enough of royalty, provided it isn't their own." --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Trashy, but a good read nonetheless
No legitimate historian would be caught dead with this book. Shaw has gone through a bookcase of European history books and assembled all the trashy tidbits, especially where sex or personal hygiene is concerned. The end result is a very, very strange book. Focusing mainly on European monarchs of the 1700s and 1800s, the author details the shocking excesses of the royals, with an emphasis on the sexual. Attention is mainly on the monarchies of Britain (before the reign of Elizabeth II), France, Germany, and Russia, with secondary attention on Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Austria. The people discussed are all long-dead; look elsewhere for a recounting of the Charles-and-Di story. The author assumes the reader has some background in European history. Historians will sneer at this book, but it kept me amused during a long day of flying and sitting in airports. It also reminds us that the potential to abuse power is bottomless, and it reminds us why we fought a revolution to get rid of the British monarchy (oops, I forgot -- I live in Canada).

Royal Babylon ~ Wild Romp through European History
This has to be the best non-fiction light reading this summer. Why slog through hundreds of dusty history books for the "juiciest bits" when Karl Shaw has lined most of them up in this rollicking little 325 page volume ? It does for the fabled royal houses of Europe what the 'Hollywood Babylon' books did for our American celebrities twenty years ago. This is not a book which is likely to please royal apologists - between the excerpts, Shaw lays on mercilessly outspoken criticism of the Royals described, in the best British tradition. Underlying the fun is a very serious message about the corruption of the aristocracies in Europe generally, and the monarchies in particular - the great pretension of good old feudalism & aristocracy was the simple idea that power should be for the best & mightiest. Yet Shaw has lined up a "rogues gallery" of people at the very top of the aristocratic pyramid that have had absolutely no moral, mental, or even physical might or superiority. One has to be rightly horrified that this system held together, no matter what, and that the whole world and everything in it, was laid at the feet of these monstrous characters. This is a delightfully shocking little book. What is more, 98 per cent of it is entirely true, no matter what the apologists try to argue. As one might expect, since this writer is based in England, Shaw's biggest salvos are directed at the reigning Hanovers - and it certainly does raise an eyebrow that if Diana had survived marriage to Charles and QE II, that she would have been the first Englishwoman sitting on the throne since Henry the Eighth's last wife, Katherine Parr. Or, that even though she was the daughter of an Earl, a decendant of the Stuart kings, and had a noble lineage older than the Oueen's, that she was considered a "commoner" by the customs of England's "Royal" house. Celebrate Bastille Day and the Fourth of July the right way, and buy this book. It may be the best advertisement for democracy you will ever read !!

Interesting but hardly side-splitting
This account of European royalty between the 17th-20th centuries has some interesting stories about the eccentric and often deplorable behaviour of the members of various royal families. There is an emphasis on sexual misbehaviour, and Mr. Shaw's own prejudices show up quite clearly. He obviously has a strong distaste for the idea of women having sex past a certain age, Catherine the Great comes in for particular censor for being still interested in sex while in her sixties (ugh!)He refers sneeringly to George I's mother as a "flabby, toothless crone"She was a very old lady at the time, but that's no excuse, evidently, for being flabby and toothless. I suppose Mr Shaw thinks she should have been working out at the gym, or something. Camilla Parker-Bowles is refered to dissaprovingly as 'Prince Charles's forty-five year old mistress' (one feels Mr Shaw would dissaprove of her less had she been in her twenties).Mr Shaw seems to feel that hereditary power, combined with in-breeding, is the cause of the bad behaviour of monarchs, though as a previous reviewer pointed out, that hardly explains the deplorable behaviour of such non-hereditary monarchs as Napoleon, Hiter, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao etc. An intersting book if you don't mind the constant dwelling on (sometimes wildly exaggerated) disgusting details. The blurb on the back of the book describes this volume as 'side-splitting' but it is hardly that. Midly amusing perhaps. If you want a side-splitting history book, try 'The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody' by Will Cuppy.

The Enquirer Meets Royal History
A tabloid treatment of history. Don't expect any in-depth explanations of a socio-politico-historic nature, but this book is well-written for the most part, if not terribly hip on scholarship (although the medical histories of some of Europe's rulers were fascinating and frankly somewhat scary). That being said, I enjoyed reading through it in one sitting. Nice light reading, if you take it for what it is.

interesting cover, but could use some work!
I rated this book two stars because sometimes it got extremely boring. Shaw seems to only depict English royalty and it got boring reading stories about the Hanovers. I would recommend A Treasury of Royal Scandals instead it was written much better. ... Read more

Book Description

"Enthralling . . . As fascinating as any novel and more so than most." The New York Times Book Review
The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Bestseller by the author of DREADNOUGHT.
Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, one of the most extraordinary rulers in history. Impetuous and stubborn, generous and cruel, tender and unforgiving, a man of enormous energy and complexity, Peter the Great is brought fully to life in this exceptional biography.
... Read more

Reviews (76)

His Life, His Times, His Russia
A thoroughly enjoyable read, Robert K Massie superbly captures the mood of the man, his dreams, his times, his country, his friends and enemies and the people around him, and about all that can be expected in the scope of a magnificently written biography. This book reads lake an historical fiction novel, and yet Massie's sources make it clear that where it counts there is very little fiction about it. It is a wonderful read for anyone interested in the man who did so much to shape the course of modern Russian history, or otherwise anyone interested in this part of Russia's history in general. Of course, being a biography, there is little discussion on the plight of Russia's peasant majority, and at times it is almost tempting to empathise with Peter in his frustrations whilst forgetting that often countless peasants' lives were being ruined. However, accepting that it is inevitably biased towards Peter, this book makes for a marvellous history. Like any great fiction writer, Massie gives fascinating backgrounds on many of the characters central to Peter's existence, from the hardy foreigners who helped shape his early years and his passion for the seas, to his eventual arch nemesis, Charles XII of Sweden. The result is a fascinating read that is lacking in no criteria but where excitement and adventure are especially abundant.

Engrossing & Intimate
To popularize the history surrounding Peter I of Russia is no mean feat. In fact, to popularize history at all leaves most historians at a loss. What is meant by "popularizing" in this instance is the accomplishment of mutating true history (with the attention to accuracy and research that is necessary) into a dramatic format that appeals to those outside the sphere of the scholarly historian. The author succeeds in this endeavor beyond all expectations.

Massie, who studied modern European history at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and has published three best-selling books on Russian history, has captured the "triple crown" with this work: (1) he provides accurate, even-handed, and exhaustive detail (2) about a compelling historical figure (3) in a suspenseful and enjoyable writing-style.

The book opens with a stunning description of Moscow at the time that Peter's father, Alexis, ascends the throne. Adequately placed in this rich setting, the author takes us through Peter's childhood. Massie argues that the future Peter was brought into existence by the fortuitous fact that he was not the first in line for the throne, and therefore was not leashed by the upbringing expected of a future Tsar during his minority. Peter was free to eschew the religious and scholarly training that was given to his older half-brother Ivan V in favor of the practical trades and skills that became his (and therefore, his country's) life-long interests.

There are many examples within the work that illustrate Massie's balanced handling of historical contradictions. One example that is indicative of this is the description of Peter's half-sister and regent Sophia. Conventional wisdom labels Sophia as ambitious, ruthless, and more like a man than a woman in both temperament and appearance. In his memoirs, a French ambassador calls Sophia ugly and fat, with hairs on her face and tumors on her legs. Massie reasons how this was probably not an accurate portrait of the woman. First, the French ambassador visited Moscow during the end of Sophia's reign, when Russia had aligned itself with Austria, France's enemy during that time. Secondly, the author is skeptical that the French ambassador would have ever seen Sophia's legs to make such an observation. And lastly, Massie argues, if Sophia had been so hideous, other visitors to her court would have certainly said so, and there is no other account in existence that describes Sophia in such a way. This is an illustrative example of the even-handed manner in which Massie handles all people inhabiting Peter's world, with an exhaustive examination of the evidence, but also with a firm grasp on how primary sources can be skewed for other purposes besides historical accuracy.

The "meat" of this 900-page epic centers around The Great Northern War, as it should, since the majority of Peter's reign was spent overseeing this monumental conflict. The middle-third of the book is by far the most entertaining, as Massie expertly builds a slow crescendo of suspense that explodes at the Battle of Poltava, perhaps the single-most important event in Peter's reign, both for Russia as well as for Sweden. Massie gives a sizeable helping of information concerning Peter's counterpart Charles XII, as equally compelling a figure as Peter himself. In fact, the work bounces back and forth between the Russian and Swedish camps during this conflict as effectively as any Tom Clancy novel.

But it is not just the generous treatment of Peter and Russia that makes this such an excellent work. We meet all of Peter's contemporaries, including Leopold I of Austria, Louis XIV of France, William of Orange, Augustus I of Poland, Frederick William I of Prussia, and the many sultans (and their viziers) that ruled the Ottoman Empire. These personages are introduced within their historical contexts, with a concise exposition of their countries and recent histories. (Massie spends eight pages describing Louis XIV and Versailles for the reader, even though Peter never actually meets the Sun King and does not travel to Paris until the reign of the boy-king Louis XV.) These peripheral details make the work entertaining to the casual reader and, at the same time, invaluable to the novice historian.

The most moving episode comes toward the end of the book with the description of Peter's relationship with his son and heir Alexis. Massie leans just a bit in the direction of Alexis as the sympathetic figure in this drama, but refuses to speculate about the mysterious circumstances surrounding Alexis' death in prison after he had been sentenced to die for treason. (Some believe that Alexis was killed in private to spare Peter the infamy of publicly executing his own son.) This is another example of Massie's even-handedness; the evidence either way is not there, and Massie does not invent it nor does he extrapolate false conclusions.

In the last paragraph of the book, Massie furnishes his conclusion concerning his subject: "[Peter] has been idealized, condemned, analyzed again and again, and still ... he remains essentially mysterious. One quality which no one disputes [however] is his phenomenal energy. He was a force of nature, and perhaps for this reason no final judgment will ever be delivered." The judgment made here, however, is that those wishing to learn more about Peter and his world could hardly begin in a better place than with this enjoyable epic.

One of the very best biographies
There are a handful of biographies that simply stand apart from the crowd as true masterworks; this is one of them.Massie captures the essence of Peter the Great, engagingly telling the story from Peter's childhood so we can understand the psychological forces that pushed and pulled on the man.

In addition to revealing the man the was Peter the Great, Massie captures the age in which Peter lived, illuminating for the reader many of the characters that defined the age in Europe including Augustus II, King of Poland and Frederick Wilhelm I, King of Prussia.In particular, Massie focuses on Charles XII of Sweden, and Peter's arch-rival to the extent that the book almost serves as a dual biography.

Fantastic stuff - highly recommended.

BEST BOOK I EVER READ!!
I majored in Russian History in college, so I've always had an interest in the subject and always intended to find a good book on Peter the Great.This book far exceeded my expectations.Not only is it a fascinating, in-depth portrait of one of the greatest leaders in Russian history - it succeeds on every level as a compelling read, whether you're interested in Russian history or not.Massie is a masterful writer - providing all the context information you need to fully understand the specifics of Peter's life and reign.Every stage of Peter's life is gripping, from the story of how he wrested power from his half-sister Sophia to his military battles against Sweden.(I'm not even interested in military history, but during the war chapters, my heart was pounding as I read his recounting of each battle!)Not only is this the best book on Russian history I've ever read, it's the best book I've ever read!It's a real page-turner, and that's saying something as this book is over 800 pages long!

A Masterpiece and epic in it's telling
This volume is simply one of the very best, most exciting, interesting, and highly charged biographies I have read. Fortunately for me, a pending visit to Saint Petersburg provided me with the motivation to pull this twenty four-year-old 1st Edition copy from my bookshelf. Its 850 pages had seemed a daunting task no matter how many people had recommended this as a "must read". Robert Massie has created a masterpiece of story telling. Each chapter is the equivalent of a short story and compelling in it's own right. And each is presented with an introduction that places you, the reader, in context. Massie also places you both in Peter the Great's time but populates his world with many other sovereigns and characters of interesting historical note.Most notably a large part of the book is devoted to King Charles XII of Sweden. Upon completion of this wonderful book I had a much better understanding of Russia, the Baltic States history and the origins of may Russian cultural traits. Peter the Great was a massive personality who's impact was both awful for those he ruled and passed judgement on, and visionary for pushing Russia into a modern and westernized nation. Overall, the book reads like an epic Russian Novel, deep in character study, action, adventure, and compelling social observation. Massie is just an excellent writer. I highly recommend this book as others have recommended it to me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jane Dunn’s Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens offers a blend of history and biography that traces the "dynamic interaction" between two of the most powerful women in Western history. Dunn remains ever aware of the uniqueness of her two central figures: both women ruled as divinely ordained monarchs in a male dominated power structure; and both women were from the same family (Elizabeth I was the granddaughter of Henry VII, and Mary Queen of Scots the great-granddaughter of King Henry).

By focusing not on pure biography but instead on relationships, Dunn is able to narrow her book (still mammoth in scope) to the most salient and interesting events in the two queens’ lives. The book begins in 1558, the year in which Mary first wed and Elizabeth assumed the throne of England. Almost immediately the cousins were embroiled in a conflict that would endure for the remainder of Mary’s life. A restless, sexually-active Catholic, and leader of the Scottish people in alliance with France, Mary was ever a conduit for rumors of rebellion. The "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth used Mary as a dark reflection to underline her own celibate constancy as a ruler of law and order.

The pair never met face to face, but as Dunn reveals, their lives were closely intertwined. After holding Mary in Fotheringhay prison for nearly two decades, Elizabeth ordered her cousin executed in 1587. Mary had chosen martyrdom in favor of a confession to complicity in the Babington assassination plot. In court, she declared: "I would never make Shipwreck of my Soul by conspiring the Destruction of my dearest Sister." Though the ostensible victor, Elizabeth (who had struggled to find a way to release her cousin while still upholding her own power as queen) confessed, "I am not free, but a captive." In Elizabeth and Mary, Dunn has built a rich world that underlines the tragic struggle between private emotions and the public faces history puts on them. --Patrick O’Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An outstanding historical comparison...
Dunn did something different with this book. Rather than reiterate all the facts in the lives of these two contemporary monarchs, Dunn zoned in on the both the similarties between the two women, but more importantly on the differences that led one queen to being one of the best monarchs (female or male), while the other one's claim to fame would end up being a martyr around whom fogs of mysteries could be built (and were).

At first I was a little disappointed in not getting more information than Dunn was providing. It wasn't until where I saw where she was going through comparing the two women, that I could settle in and enjoy the book. I am quite sure there are more then enough biographies out there on both the English and Scottish monarchs, and the world of intrigue swirling around them. What was interesting about this book is the recognition that Elizabeth's very uncertain childhood had an immense impact on her later abilities as a queen, while Mary was spoiled in the French court and so when she came across difficulties later on, she did not know how to handle political crises diplomatically.

Another interesting point, is how much written information (usually in letter formats, or writing from diplomats to their respective kings or queens or popes) still exists from over 500 years ago. We may live in the information age, but these guys managed to get information quite well, as well as spread disinformation successfully.

Dunn's writing is excellent. This book was an enjoyable and fast read. Dunn provides an excellent geneaological chart at the beginning of the book, as well as a chronological chart of the time period. In the back is a great select Bibliography for those who wish to continue to read on this fascinating time.

Karen Sadler

A fascinating side-by-side comparison of two rival queens.
Many have criticized this dual biography for not introducing new material, and simply re-hashing what has been written elsewhere. And clearly there is no shortage of excellent biogaphies on both of these queens. However, it is the format of Dunn's book that sets it apart and gives us an innovative perspective. Queen Elizabeth I of England and Mary, Queen of Scots, were both fascinating monarchs in their own right, but equally fascinating is the complex relationship between them. Both women had a claim to the throne of England. Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth's grandfather, Henry VII, who overthrew Richard III and founded the Tudor dynasty, was also the great-grandfather of Mary (born to King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise). Elizabeth was Mary's elder by only nine years. Both women were ambitious, passionate, and cunning. Yet despite their similar status as queens and cousins, these two women were also very different from one another.

Mary became Queen of Scotland only six days after her birth in 1542, upon the death of her father. In 1548 she was sent to France, to grow up in the court of her French fiance, the dauphin Francis. Her status was never in question, and therefore she never questioned it herself. Elizabeth, however, traversed a much more tumultuous path to her throne. When her mother was beheaded so Henry VIII could marry his third wife, the young princess was declared illegitimate and removed from the succession. Ultimately her place in the succession was reinstated, but this in no way guaranteed that she would ever become queen. First in line was her radically Protestant half-brother, Edward, who died young. Next came the devoutly Catholic Mary I ("Bloody Mary"), Elizabeth's half-sister from Henry VIII's first marriage, under whom Elizabeth even spent some time in the Tower of London. It was only upon Mary's death in 1558, when Elizabeth was 24 years of age, that she finally ascended the throne herself.

The relationship between Elizabeth and Mary was very multi-faceted (despite the fact that the two queens never met). For most of her life, Mary referred to Elizabeth as a dear sister, and actively sought her cousin's favor. Yet at the same time Mary coveted the English crown, and even on several occasions declared that she herself was the rightful Queen of England. Yet the Queen of Scots, by dint of her as-yet unthreatened sovereignty, could also be presumtuous to a fault. Her impulsive marriage to Lord Darnley, her second husband (who was shortly thereafter murdered), against the will and advice of many in both Scotland and England, marked the beginning of her ultimate downward slide. Elizabeth, while she displayed more pragmatism in matters of the heart, was also somewhat jealous of her cousin's romantic exploits. Elizabeth had realized early on that she could never marry her personal favorite, Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, and that she must instead declare herself to be married to her country, but this did not erase her longing for romantic fulfilment.

Ultimately Elizabeth was forced to imprison, and eventually execute