Book Description

A revealing portrait of Camilla Parker Bowles and her long–standing, highly publicized love affair with Prince Charles. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What is the decency of this author?
She will justify anything coming from Camilla and Charles, gossiping like Lady Campbell and attribute every single fault to Diana. Where is your moral? Camilla was pestering this couple for all these years, insincere in wanting their best. Why she didn't get a life ? Leave the poor couple to live peacefully? She really stole another woman's husband. I imagine how much Camilla is paying to this wretched author to write this sordid book. Diana should have sent or hire someone to eliminate this bothering woman in the first place. This will put her in her right place. But Diana was decent in just getting out of this sham marriage instead of persisting it despite all the privileges of royal life. She was being far more honest in wanting to terminate it than many women who will stay in this sordid marriage just for the food.

Update of an older book
This is just an update of an earler Caroline Graham book, The King's Mistress. I dont beleive that the author was being very objective in her treatment of the subject matter. The late princess Diana is not portrayed in a good light, whilst Camilla is seen as just a woman in love. She comes across as so very caring, kind, giving and loving, its a wonder her own ex-husband didn't hold on to her. Overall though, the book is well written and does give some insight into the woman who may or may not be queen.

An inside look at an interesting woman
Camilla is a mystery in a many ways - her name is well known, but, not all that much is known about what she is really like. This book give a satisfying look at the woman who was the third party in the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Not always flattering, but, always fascinating, it tells the story of Camilla's life in a manner that shouldn't offend any die hard Diana fans (I am one). It left me wanting to know more about her, satified my desire for trivial details and left me with some admiration on this easy to dislike woman. After all, she and Charles have had a relationship for far longer than most marriages last, and, when all is said and done, he has a right to be happy. The whole saga of Charles, Diana and Camilla is a lesson to the world on marrying for the right reasons and the need to be clear on motives and motivations. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

Reads more like a novel than a biography
I was somewhat reluctant to first start reading The Lonely Empress because, from the some of the biographies I've read (but not certainly not all!), they tend to start out interesting but then become dull and boring. It usually takes a talented author to write a biography on a boring royal. But even an unskilled author would have no trouble about sounding fascinating if their subject matter was Elizabeth of Austria. Born a mere daughter of a duke in Bavaria, Elizabeth had a fairytale (ish) romance. The emperor of Austria, Francis Joseph, was already engaged to Elizabeth's sister Helen when he fell in love with her. All of a sudden, to everyone's surprise, the Emperor started to rant about the grace and beauty of this younger sister, much to the dismay of his mother, the archduchess Sophie, who thought that Helen would become the perfect empress. Elizabeth was still a child when she became engaged to the Emperor. Suddenly, she wasn't allowed to run wild, like she had been when she was younger. Elizabeth had been known to skip her lessons and go out riding for hours. Her father, Duke Max, was known for his strangeness. He was known to travel the Bavarian countryside to escape his duties and delighted in circuses. The poor Duchess Ludovica, Elizabeth's mother, must have had a terrible time with her daughter and equally childish husband. Elizabeth inherited her father's peculiarity and was known to be her happiest when surrounded by less than royal people. Because of this she was looked down upon at court by the snobbish Viennese. This woman traveled to countries far away so she could escape her duties as an Empress and her husband. What makes this book more interesting is how the author has portrayed Elizabeth. She doesn't try to make Elizabeth into a selfish, spoiled woman yet she doesn't spend the whole book describing her flawless beauty. Elizabeth seems to be a difficult topic to write about. As many people who have met the Empress say about her throughout the book, "She could be quite charming when she wanted to be. Yet she could also become cold and haughty." Elizabeth has you admiring her at times, like when she tries to help the Hungarian people regain their Constitution, and at other times hating her, the way she treated her husband and children. The woman whose husband spent fortunes building her three homes around Europe and who still wasn't grateful or satisfied. But one feels for Elizabeth at how much misfortune she had dealt with in her life. She seems to be a caged bird, she seems to have those natures that cannot be trapped or caged. She needed wide spaces so she can spread her wings. The author portrayed Elizabeth excellently and made the book an enjoyable read.

Captivating HerStory
I first learned about Sissi during my senior year of high school when my German teacher had a connection with someone in the international airline biz and could get her students back issues of German magazines like "Der Spiegel" and "Gala." I grabbed an issue of Gala and there was the most enchanting woman on the cover. It turned out to be Romy Schneider and the magazine was celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sissi's death.

I was utterly FASCINATED, reading about her life, her beauty cult, her self-abusive trials with anorexia and bulimia, her marriage to the emperor, and so forth.

A few years later, I got the chance to study abroad in Austria and hat the opportunity to visit actual historical Sissi-related sites.

When I got back to the US for my senior semester of college, I took a women's studies course and did a paper of the Austro-Germanic Beauty Cult surrounding Empress Elisabeth of Austria. This, along with my personal experiences in Austria and Hamann's book, provided me with a plethora of information about Elisabeth.

But what made me truly appreciate this book was the way that the author presented the material. This book read like a novel. I feel that Haslip provided a very well rounded amount of historical material that doesn't feel one-sided (very pro-Elisabeth or focusing solely on how beautiful she was).

If you're interested in a different "princess story," this empress will captivate you!

Well written biography of Sissi
Prior to visiting Vienna last summer, I hadn't known much about Elizabeth of Austria or Sissi as she was often called. Seeing Schonbrunn and the Hofburg made me curious to learn more about her, and this book certainly makes for interesting reading. The author provides details not only about Elizabeth and her family, but also about the politics of the day. Elizabeth comes across as a study in contrasts: on the one hand, she could be very charming and gracious, on the other hand she appears to have been fundamentally self-centered and unsuited for the duties of an Empress. Wrapped up in her own pursuits, obsessed by the thought of gaining weight, growing old and losing her beauty, she was restless, possessive and prone to depression. At the end of the book, I felt much more sympathy for the Emperor Franz Joseph who loved Sissi to her dying day, despite the many separations he endured that were caused by her constant wandering around Europe and despite her unwillingness or inability to perform the duties traditionally expected of an Empress. Overall, this is a well-written biography, and my only caveat would be that Haslip sometimes makes allusions, for example regarding Elizabeth's illness, that are not fully explained which can be frustrating for the reader.

Not bad but I prefer....
Good book, easy reading. Reader will learn a big part of Elisabeth of Austria's life. Historical content is pretty accurate although I find that the author is interpreting to much the state of mind of the subject like the French Book by Nicole Avril "Sissi, Imperatrice Anarchiste". No one will ever know exactly was "Sissi" was thinking. The assomptions prevent the readers from making their own mind about this lovable princess. In my opinion the straightforward story of her life and the historical facts will give them a better idea of who she was. Golden Fleece and Sissi by Edgar C. Conti are perfect to learn more on Elisabeth of Austria...

A fine biography of Elisabeth of Austria
I have read many biographies of Elisabeth of Austria, and I was fed up with the fawning descriptions of a misunderstood beauty. I was so glad to find this book. Ms. Haslip describes the empress as a real person, beautiful but spoiled and unwilling to do her job. The evil stepmother-like mother in law is much more believable as described in this book. If she was so awful why was she so close to Elisabeth's mother? Elisabeth is a woman full of contradictions and is described well. The only thing that still aggravates me is that no author will name the mysterious illness that caused the rift from her husband. I wish that they would stop dancing around the issue and just name it!

Overall, this is a very fair assessment of the empress and her family, and describes her better than any I have read. I wish there were more pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

This engrossing biography, written by one of the most distinguished medievalists of his generation, paints a new portrait of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror. Not the brutal, greedy, and repressive king that has been supposed, Henry was the ultimate pragmatist and a man of keen intelligence who desired peace, C. Warren Hollister shows. He vividly describes Henry's life and reign in a time of fundamental change in the Anglo-Norman world. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Warren's legacy
I will admit right up front that I was a student of Warren Hollister and loved him dearly. That being said, this is a grand book that has come to light in the face of great adversity. Despite the destruction of many of his initial notes in a fire and despite his own untimely death, both his own research, his love of detail, and the kindness of his friends have surfaced in this volume.

The best book to compare this to is W.L. Warren's "Henry II". Like that book, this is an attempt to get down in concrete fashion all the hard facts of an incredible monarch; in some ways Hollister is arguing against Warren in that Hollister is showing that many of the significant legal changes generally credited to Henry II, such as the expansion of circuit courts, actually had their origins during the reign of Henry I.

This is a methodical work; it is not light reading nor is it meant to be. It is, literally, the work of a lifetime, one historian's ode to a great figure from history. Yet it is not truly a panagaeic either; Hollister shows Henry's warts as well as his glories. The point is that in many ways this is Old School History. It is about kings, courts, wars, laws, and all the rest. It is not a stylish book with a lot of witty turns of phrase (though there are some). First and foremost this is a book of careful argumentation, a book that pushes even more strongly than in the past C. Warren Hollister's unflagging belief in the 12th Century Renaissance.

Warren was a great and charming man, endlessly hospitable, always kind, and a man who had a true care for his students. In each of them he planted a respect for documents -- how much can be inferred, more importantly how much cannot, how to honestly show what you have learned, and how to both back that up and prove it. I know he would have wanted to clean up passages of this book, tighten his arguments here and there, add several more footnotes. But it is because of the respect and love that Warren showed his many students, his family, that this book is here today.

May this work serve as a fitting epitath to a great and generous heart, as well as to a fine historian.

an outstanding biography
This biography follows the typical outline of books in the
English Monarch series, namely a set of chapters describing
the life chronologically, followed by a set of chapters
discussing key topics (in this case, on topics such as
administrative reforms, and relationships with the church),
followed by a concluding chapter which discusses the end of the
monarch's life and sums up contributions.

What makes this biography outstanding is the tone: Hollister
kept the tone slightly informal and and active -- as a result
the chronological sections are lively and the topical sections
feel like an informed but informal seminar.

Henry I: Yale English Monarch Series
Learned scholars tend to have all-encompassing analysis in their books, and this book is no exception. In my opinion, the last two sections of this book are not geared for a history buff such as myself and are dry and dull material; I know that scholars feel they have to be complete in their analysis, but the difference with books geared for history enthusiasts is that these books are exciting to read, from the first to the last page, and this book falls short in this regard, but to be fair about this, I think the majority of this book is exceptional and compares with any historian in my vast collection; the law and governance section was interesting to a degree but was dry as well. This book is complete in detail and goes beyond the perspective that historians employ on their readers.

WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!
THIS MONUMENTAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE KING WAS MR HOLLISTER'S DREAM AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT. HE DELVES INTO EVERY ASPECT OF THE KING'S LIFE AND USES MEDIEVAL SOURCES AS WELL AS NEW RESEARCH. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE ... Read more

Book Description

Christy Campbell's mesmerizing tale of The Maharaja's Box begins with a list of names of "dormant account holders" published by the Swiss Bankers Association in 1997, during investigations of "Nazi gold." Many of the accounts belonged to Jewish victims of the Holocaust; one was the property of an Indian princess, the deceased daughter of Maharajah Duleep Singh, last Emperor of the Sikhs. Duleep Singh took the throne at the age of five and was King of the Punjab for four years (1845-1849). When the area was annexed by the British, Singh was forced to resign his wealth-including the world famous Koh-i-nor diamond-and all claims to sovereignty. What long-lost fortune might have been locked away in the princess's safety deposit box?

Author Christy Campbell sets out on an investigation that takes him across several continents and into the archives of many strange and dubious characters. He uses a wealth of documents-including nineteenth-century newspaper articles, personal letters written by such notable figures as Queen Victoria, the memoirs of British diplomats, ministers, and foreign secretaries, and the reports of British and Russian spies-to re-create in stunning detail the life of Duleep Singh and his attempt, in middle age, to reclaim his throne and overthrow British rule in India. The result is a fascinating and true tale of espionage, intrigue, and illicit love. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Dares to show the negative side of Diana, balancing positive
Only a book written well BEFORE Diana's death by a true British aristocratic insider would dare to show the negative side (along with the positive side) of Diana's character. Refreshing, particularly after all the smoozzzzy stuff that came out after her death. This book truly paints a multi-facted portrait of Diana. If you want perspective, read this book.

I liked it....
I read most royalty books I can get my hands on and I like this one. Why? It's not sensationalized, it's frank. The author is a peripheral part of the circles of people of whom she speaks. She is fairly even handed, without "poor princessing" as much as most other Diana books do... and she has marked compassion for the dubiously-perceived Prince of Wales. Maybe she doesn't get everything right -- who can say for sure? -- but I have the feeling she is much RIGHTER than wrong in this chronicle of Diana, and I think we readers owe it to Charles and to Diana herself to attempt to see them in a balanced perspective.

This book was published in 1992 at the time of the Waleses de facto separation (they separated formally in December of that year) and five years previous to the former late princess's death in a car crash in Paris (August, 1997).

Diana's Life
I really don't know why some people consider this woman to be a saint. I really think she was probably a caring, giving person
but lets face it , she was human. How many girls in their teens
dream about marrying someone famous? Alot I'm sure. In her case
her wish came true and I don't think she was ready for it. Nobody is really at fault here. Lady Campbell is simply writing
about what what other people told her. Prince Charles was probably under pressure to marry and like alot of girls at 19
she was probably INFATUATED not IN LOVE. It's very sad.

Whaddya Want For (Under) A Buck?
This book, while not always pleasant, gives yet another dimension to the story of Charles and Diana. Before her death, Diana was perceived as a saint, and Charles, the devil. This book presents them as what they actually were: HUMAN.

Despite the book's title, this is NOT an "all Diana" book. There's quite a bit of text on Charles and the Royal Famliy.

The photo section is a strange mixture of what seems to be photos left over from old shoots (odd angles, the back of Di's head, or her face in shadow) as if the author could only afford second-rate photos. It's a very strange selection of (photo) subjects also. I wasn't sure why the author felt it was important to publish pictures of women Charles dated in the 70s.

I'll read everything about the royals I can get my hands on so even while I didn't totally agree with everything in this book, I did enjoy reading it. If you're a Di-aholic, you'll probably enjoy it too (especially for the price I just saw it listed for on Amazon!)

We still don't know Diana
I bought this book in 1994 when it first came out. Have just re-read it and find that it is mostly gossip. The author's annoying way of identifying her sources puts me off. Few are named by their real names. It's like reading a tabloid.

Diana comes across as a spoiled brat, but Charles leaves a lot to be desired also. At this point, do we really care? The Royal Family and their "toadies" in the UK seem so outdated. Their lives are very superficial and pointless according to this book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Ridley is a genius
Yet again, J Ridley takes the reader on a remarkable journey, guiding you through the maze of factual background without ever letting your hand go. His mastery of the English language and notable training as a barrister make him the best narrator of the century.

Fascinating biography of a ruthless king
Jasper Ridley's bio of Henry VIII, if nothing else, suggests to me that executioners must have had a steady employment during early 16th-century England. In Ridley's biography, England's formative king is essentially a psychopath, and the country became Protestant, not because of any doctrinal attachment to the Reformation, but as a consequence of political machinations and goals on Henry's part. This, in fact, is one of the book's great strengths; Ridley is rare among biographers in his thorough attention to and excellent summary of the thicket of political events surrounding Tudor England, and this book does an excellent job of explaining these intricacies. Especially fascinating was the depiction of the conflict between Henry and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Henry would have probably gotten the papal annulment that he wanted to dissolve his marriage to Katharine of Aragon, if only Charles had not effectively controlled the pope and been such a bitter enemy of Henry's; then Henry would have found no need to break from the Catholic Church, and history would be entirely different! For a Renaissance monarch, Henry seems more to resemble one of the 20th century's bloodthirsty dictators in this book. While the depiction initially surprised me, Ridley backs up his claims with such excellent documentation and use of primary sources (which I was able to check), that he definitely has a point! A fascinating bio.

Henry VIII-a ruthless tyrant
Ridley paints a picture of a King who is as ruthless a tyrant as any 20th Century dictator. Henry VIII is shown as a ruler who forced his ministers to do his bidding and then executed them to satisfy public opinion, once his policies began to loose popular support. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, including breaking with the Pope in Rome and reforming the Church in England with him as the head, when the Pope refused to grant him an annulment from his wife, who could not give him a male heir. Thereafter, Henry played Protestant and Catholic factions against each other, so that he could remain in complete control as an arbiter; alternatively burning influential Protestants as heretics and Catholics who refused to recognize him as Supreme head of the Church of England as traitors. Ridley's picture shows us a king who would stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wanted, including turning society and 1000 years of religion completely upside down! A fascinating look at the Stalin of the 1500s!

Henry VIII, The Politics of Tyranny
This was a thoroughly researched, well written book on the reign of Henry VIII. Rather than focus on his marital situation, much detail was given on the birth of the Church of England and Henry's politics with Francois of France and Charles, the Holy Roman Emperor. It was fascinating to see how Henry changed greatly during his reign. This book is definitely a must for anyone interested in the politics and religious conflicts during the reign of Henry VIII. ... Read more

Book Description

William II, better known as William Rufus, was the third son of William the Conqueror and England's king for only 13 years (1087-1100) before he was mysteriously assassinated. In this vivid biography, here updated and reissued with a new preface, Frank Barlow reveals an unconventional, flamboyant William Rufus-a far more attractive and interesting monarch than previously believed. Weaving an intimate account of the life of the king into the wider history of Anglo-Norman government, Barlow shows how William confirmed royal power in England, restored the ducal rights in France, and consolidated the Norman conquest. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

remarkable detail on a rare subject
I was impressed with the amount of detail on William Rufus by Frank Barlow. He pieced together a time in English history that seems to be looked over by most historians. Barlow makes a strong analytical approach to dispelling public perception of William Rufus. He makes sure you understand that the remaining documentaton on William Rufus is so fragmented. And that that does remain is from one point of view, the Church which obvouisly does not favor William Rufus. Barlow points out William II was a more capable ruler than most give him credit for and this angle is enough to make this book a must read for those interested in Norman History and the English crown.

a look at a forgotten king
William Rufus (William the Red), second son of William the Conquer,took over England while his older brother's back was turned and ruled it for little over a decade before being killed in a strange hunting "accident" in the New Forest. That's about all the space he gets in history today, except the claims that he was a homosexual, an atheist, an all-round bad person and the less said the better. While this book takes pains to look at and question these charges,it is not the only subject that the author deals with in William's regin. Despite being a "wild and crazy guy" and running a court that looks like a frat house, William seems also to have been an able adminstor, a good diplomat and a strong enough miltary leader to keep his elder brother out of England and the Saxons quiet. I enjoied this book, one of the few on the subject and a serious study of it's subject. A good source on a rare subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Clear, concise explanation the Clay/Jackson power struggle
Today we know them as Old Hickory and the Great Compromiser. However, they called each other King Andrew the first and the Corrupt Bargainer. Jackson and Clay were the opposite poles of the axis of Antebellum politics. Each man carried an ideological dislike and often personal hatred of the other man. However, each shaped the political landscape in the US perhaps more than any men after 1800. The 1820-30s were the utmost of critical in the development of the US- the crossroads where the US could prove a failed democratic experiment or emerging industrial country. In these crucial times nothing happened in Washington, DC without either Clay's or Jackson's approval. Their personal feud infulenced everything from construction of national highways, and the national banking system to slavery and tarriffs.

Watson keeps an even hand in explaining the complex relationship of these two important men. His writing is percise and insightful. The first part is Watson's explantion and analysis. Part 2 consist of over 100 pages of historical letters and writings. This allows the reader to understand Jackson and Clay thru their own words. The 200+ pages read very fast and contain all the information your likely to ever need to know about the connection between Clay and Jackson. The book was designed "to be a reasonable one-week assignment for a college course." It proves very reasonable indeed. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Interesting book but he sure hates alFayed
I'm still in the process of reading this book but two things are already apparent to me. 1. Mr. Gregory seems to have a powerful dislike for Mohamed al Fayed. 2.Since the wildest conspiracy theories don't hold up he seems to think that means none of the rumors could be true. I agree that the Princess likely did die in an accident but to absolutely rule out foul play is going too far. Many of Mr. Gregory's debunkings seem very well thought out and informative, even probable, I just have a feeling that something is missing.

Don't waste your money on this one
Martyn Gregory's account of the couple's final journey is riddled with inaccuracies, distortions and falsehoods.

Very Interesting
It is quite obvious that Mr. Gregory has done his homework here. There were several interesting details which I had not read before. He is very anti Al Fayed. But he did strain his credibility with me when he twice mentioned that JFK was assasinated in Houston. Mr. Gregory must be very young! I enjoyed the book. He argued his "case" very convincingly.

It's about time.
This is the book that finally shows the Diana/Dodi murder and conspiracy stories to be what they are - complete figments of the imaginations of Mohamed Fayed and his minions. Mr Gregory had access to Diana's friends and the bodyguards who shared her final vacation with Dodi Fayed, and with their help he sheds the true light on the relationship. Why would anyone want to murder them when the relationship hadn't even lasted for 2 months and gave no indication that it would lead to marriage? And who would choose a car accident to commit murder when it's the most inefficient way of killing, since we have no control over the laws of physics which govern car accidents? I commend the author for having the courage and common sense to write this book, since he, and I, seem to believe that some people would see sinister conspiracy plots in 2 people planning to go grocery shopping together.

Book riddled with lies and distortions
I'm really sorry to say this and I hope you don't take offence, but there's only one word in the English language that most precisely describes people like Martyn Gregory: propagandist. ... Read more

Book Description

Unique in his own age and a phenomenon in any, Charles-Maurice, Prince de Talleyrand, was a statesman of outstanding ability and extraordinary contradictions. He was a world-class rogue who held high office in five successive regimes. A well-known opportunist and a notorious bribe taker, Talleyrand's gifts to France arguably outvalued the vast personal fortune he amassed in her service. Once a supporter of the Revolution, after the fall of the monarchy, he fled to England and then to the United States. Talleyrand returned to France two years later and served under Napoleon, and represented France at the Congress of Vienna. Duff Cooper's classic biography contains all the vigor, elegance, and intellect of its remarkable subject. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautifully written introduction to a fascinating man
Talleyrand was one of the world's great "characters", a man of wonderfully succinct and wounding epigrams ("what's not to love-- he's so vicious" was his friend Montrond's assessment), and a man of tremendous skill and foresight in statecraft whose wisdom would do us a spot of good today ("true strength is that which moderates itself" and, faced with Napoleon's plan to cross the Neiman and invade Russia, the wonderful reply "to do what?"

As the "cult of Napoleon" rose in France, Talleyrand, along with Fouche and Marshal Marmont became reviled, the hated betrayers of the Emperor-- never mind that the Emperor was bleeding France white in pusuit of his own personal glory.

As a consequence, this book, written in the 1930s by a British diplomat, to some extent reintroduced the French to the talents of their greatest statesman. The definitive French biography of the same time, by Lacour Gayet, is more detailed, but ultimately diminishes Talleyrand's achievements.

Cooper is ideally placed to interpet Talleyrand-- the salon society that the Prince belonged to is now long gone, but Cooper has a first-hand sort of feeling for the ways in which upper crust Anglo-French society mixed social and policy issues, and the role that women played in the mix.

He also writes beautifully. Talleyrand is a tough brief in that regard-- the man writes so elegantly and sharply that mediocre writers just end up stringing together the bon mots-- not Cooper, whose own cleverness is on display, particularly in the descriptions of the Congress of Vienna.

This is an older book, and does not make use of the last 70 years of research, so its dated in many ways (particularly the discussion of Talleyrand's early eccelesiastical career, which was pretty much a blank until Louis Greenbaum began exploring original material in the '60s-- and Talleyrand's position as Agent General of the French Church is important to understanding the development of his remarkable political skills). There are also no footnotes.

In English, I'd also recommend the excellent "The Lives of Talleyrand" by Crane Brinton, a sort of intellectual history. . .its somehow striking that Talleyrand's greatest defenders are a British diplomat and an American college professor.

In French, Lacour-Gayet is the standard, while Michel Poniatowski's works produced a wealth of new information, if not a full life.

But for any general English language reader seeking an introduction to the man, this is the book, hands down, no question. Read it for content, and read it to remind yoursel of what good writing should be like. . .

Fantastic Biography
What a fun biography! Duff Cooper writes with the confidence of a man who has led an interesting life himself.

Talleyrand's years span some of the most fascinating times in France (in my opinion). He embodied the corruption of the old regime, the spirit of the revolution, and the hubris of Napoleon's empire. Through (and in spite of) it all, he seemed to keep a level head when those around him got carried away.

I found Talleyrand to be one of the most inspiring figures in history, and I think that is in no small part to Cooper's engaging writing style.

A superb read!
An even-handed, page-turner that enables the reader to begin to understand an enigmatic statesman who exercised profound influence during the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. In studying Talleyrand, one appreciates his unestimable intellect and rhetorical gifts; and his contribution to the stability of Europe and the greater world both during his time and through the early 20th Century. Mr. Cooper's book paints a concise, yet illustrative, portrait of a legend with his tumultuous times as a scenic, but undistracting, background.

Prince of Diplomats
The best condensed book on " The Prince of Napoleonic Diplomacy", and the last one hundred days of the emperor's reign. Like Fouche a great visioner of the future and " Bon vivant ", who also knew when to keep a low profile at the right time . He sorted successfully his ups and downs and survived all the french revolution storm, from the reign of terror to the Vienna Congress. ... Read more

Book Description

On August 9,1945, on the tiny island of Tinian in the South Pacific, a twenty-five-year-old American Army Air Corps Major named Charles W. Sweeney climbed aboard a B-29 Superfortress in command of his first combat mission, one devised specifically to bring a long and terrible war to a necessary conclusion. In the belly of his bomber, the Bock's Car, was a newly developed, fully armed weapon that had never been tested in a combat situation--a weapon capable of a level of destruction never before dreamed of in the history of the human race...a bomb whose terrifying aftershock would ultimately determine the direction of the twentieth century and change the world forever.

The last military officer to command an atomic mission, Maj. Gen. Charles W. Sweeney has the unique distinction of having been an integral part of both the Hiroshima and the Nagasaki bombing runs. His book is an extraordinary chronicle of the months of careful planning and training; the set backs, secrecy and the snafus; the nerve-shattering final seconds and the astonishing aftermath of what is arguably the most significant single event in modern history: the employment of an atomic weapon during wartime.

... Read more

Reviews (22)

A hometown boy follows his dream and collides with history
This story held extra meaning for me because Major General Sweeney was born and raised in my home town of Quincy, Massachusetts. I was born in 1961; Hiroshima occurred on my Dad's 15th birthday, Nagasaki three days later.

I am grateful - as I'm sure my father was - to Sweeney and his heroic counterparts for the sacrifices they made to bring the war in the Pacific to a conclusion. Sweeney states his case firmly and directly - without the bomb, Japan was willing to fight to the end; troop mortality estimates for a planned invasion of Japan were astronomical. Sweeney's actions saved the lives of countless of today's fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers (in America and Japan).

This book will make you appreciate the seminal role played by General Paul Tibbets, whom Sweeney salutes in the Acknowledgements as "one of our military's great leaders and the finest pilot I have ever met." Considering the often stifling nature of military bureacracy, watching Tibbets operate inside military jurisdiction while essentially doing an end-run to accomplish his goals is amazing.

Note that this is not a complete atomic history, but more of a tale of the author's rise from wannabe pilot to commander of the Bock's Car in less than five years. [Dan Rather said it best in his review of War's End: "...written with such detail, sweep, and compassion that it might have been a novel and not an autobiography."]

As a result, don't read this looking for revelations about Los Alamos, Oppenheimer, etc. The only connection you get there is that Tibbets actions during this whole lead-up period to Hiroshima are somewhat of a mystery to Sweeney, so you understand there's a whole lot going on in the background that Sweeney is not privy to. To fill in some of the gaps, I recommend "Target Hiroshima" concerning Deak Parsons, America's 'Atomic Admiral' [Parsons makes an appearance in War's End as a key link to all prior land tests; he also armed the bomb on the Enola Gay.] Also, Paul Tibbets has a rememberance entitled "Mission: Hiroshima&quot.

convincing evidence that dropping the bombs SAVED lives
Reading General Sweeney's account of the the events leading up to the dropping of the bombs on Japan convinced me that many more lives were saved by the bombs than were destroyed by them.There are those who believe that an apology is owed to the Japanese for the devastation done to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Those who believe that would do well to read this book and take another look at the reasons that make them feel that the Japanese were the real victims rather than the cause.Sweeney does not glorify the use of atomic weapons.What he does glorify is the sanctity of human life and the ability of his missions to preserve it.He is a true American hero.

Nagasaki: The Forgotten Bomb
Most people are well aware of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, but some forget that three days later, a second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki. This book is the story of Major Charles Sweeney, the pilot who commanded the Nagasaki mission.

Major Sweeney had risen through the ranks of the Army Air Corps, becoming proficient in many different aircraft. As fortune would have it, Sweeney met Colonel Paul Tibbets, who was in charge of a top secret operation. Immediately intrigued, Sweeney spoke with Tibbets and asked if he could be assigned to Tibbets' unit. Tibbets agreed, and eventually Sweeney would become Tibbets' right hand man. Stationed at Wendover, Utah, Tibbets put his men through a rigorous training course. His men became experts in the flight and operations of the B-29, as well as techniques designed by Tibbets.

Finally, the group left Wendover for Tinian island. This would be their new base of operations. Training continued, and on August 6, 1945, three B-29s lifted off the runway bound for Hiroshima. Tibbets piloted the bombing plane, the Enola Gay, while Sweeney flew one of the reconnisance aircraft. (Sweeney was the only person to be invloved in both atomic missions). At 8:15 on August 6, 1945, a single bomb fell from the Enola Gay and vaporized the city of Hiroshima. However, the Japanese did not surrender. Three days later, a second mission, commanded by Sweeney, again headed for Japan.

The target city was Kokura. The weather aircraft flying ahead of Sweeney's plane reported clear weather over Kokura, the primary target, and Nagasaki, the secondary target. However, fires from a nearby city which was bombed the night before began to obscure Kokura. By the time Sweeney and his crew arrived, the city was covered by smoke and clouds that had rolled in. Sweeney had strict orders to only bomb visually; no radar drops. Sweeney made three passes over the target; an almost unheard of tactic. Still, the smoke and clouds did not dissipate. Low on fuel because a mechanical malfunction had resulted in 600 gallons of fuel being trapped in the bomb bay, Sweeney headed for the secondary target of Nagasaki. Sweeney was informed that he would only have enough fuel for one pass over Nagasaki. Upon arrival, Nagasaki was also cloud covered. Sweeney had made up his mind to drop by radar, but the clouds parted sufficiently for the bomb to be sight-dropped, although they were not over the primary aiming point. The drop was successful, but now the crew had to worry about their fuel situation. Thanks to some skillful flying by Sweeney, the crew managed to land their plane safely on Okinawa with only seven gallons of fuel to spare.

I enjoyed this book, but the beginning is kind of slow, and I think Sweeney held Tibbets in almost God-like reverance. However, the description of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is very good. For more information on Paul Tibbets, I recommend the book "Duty" by Bob Greene.

A fasinating account on the B-29 and the bomb
I found that Sweeney book on the development of the B-29 and the dropping of the atomic bomb to being very interesting.

Although I have read much on the atomic bomb, I never realised the particular problems faced by the people who actually dropped it. If you are interested in this subject this book is a must.

A sobering account of how it was.Outstanding and riveting.
General Sweeney has made it easy to look at things as they were, not how we think they should have been. All the revisionists in the world cannot change the facts, the U.S. used everything in its power to end the war and save AMERICAN lives. If you believe anything else, you are nothing but a fool! The Japanese were as cruel and brutal as the Nazis. Just because they deny the atrocities they committed cannot change the truth. It is as absurd as someone trying to deny that the Holocaust never occurred. Instead of portraying the Japanese as victims, historical revisionists should talk to the few survivors of the Bataan Death March, Japanese POW camps or any Chinese who made it through the rape of Nanking. Shouldn't historians base their conclusions on real facts and not on fantasy-based theories? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

Not much new
This book didn't add much. Most of the information and pictures have been seen elsewhere.

THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS
Having read various books on the fashion of the modern princess, I think that this is the best book so far that has been produced.

I am sure that readers would appreciate the time spent with providing detail information with the necessary large and colored photographs etc.

Apart from the great production, I think everyone has a special feeling knowing who Princess Diana was as a person! Today , July 1st., 2000 marks her birthday anniversary and I therefore take great pride in recommending this book to others by making a comment on such a date.

A Little Too Fawning, but the Catalog is Great
Georgina Howell clearly takes the Andrew Morton (read Diana) point of view on the Princess's persecution by the palace and casts her as a kind of saint in a fashion-conscious hagiography. The text was a little too hyperbolic in deifying Diana, yet perhaps that is appropriate, as few have done so much for fashion in our century.

But this book has redeeming qualities that make it worth the time. First, it does cite instances of Diana's fashion faux pas that are gossipy and interesting, for example her dressing-gown dress by David Sassoon and her slip-style dress by John Galiano for Dior. It is also quite meticulous about citing designers and recounting their memories of dressing Di. This humanizes a commercial name and gives the reader a sense of what her patronage meant to these fashion houses.

The best aspects of the book are the appendices listing the auction catalog by piece and the designer listing with short biographies. This is a wealth of specific information that couture-ophiles will love.

THE FIRST COFFEE TABLE BOOK I'VE READ COVER TO COVER...
Georgina Howell has provided the world with a unique perspective on how Princess Diana revealed her inner thoughts and feelings through her outward style and clothing. This book is especially meaningful to me because it was a gift from my sister Darla who joined me at the Christies Auction in 1997 and travelled with me to Althorp last summer. She wrote a small poem on the gift card and ended by saying "We sat with celebrities of glamour amid, waiting for Christies to open the bid. We bid and we raised until bowing to fate, but our memories are captured on Page 208." And sure enough, there we are: my sister, myself and Bid Paddle #212.

A BIOGRAPHY AND CHRISTIE'S AUCTION CATALOG IN ONE
A very interesting study in how a person's clothing reflects what is going on in that person's life! The back has short bios of the fashion designers of Diana's clothing/shoes/hats, and a listing of the dresses sold at the auction. For those of us who don't own a copy of the auction catalog, this is almost as good as having one. HOWEVER, the critic before me is right: too many typos for the money! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Queen for a day, but not much more...
Jane Grey was queen for nine short days, during a period of great turmoil. The documentary evidence from this time is rather spare; even the coins minted during this brief reign are so rare as to be valued collectors' items. Author Alison Plowden uses documentary evidence and secondary sources to reconstruct the world around this brief reign. Indeed, Jane Grey remains a shadowy figure, even with this and other biographies available, given that, as a child, she was not party to much life at court, and did not have ongoing correspondence with many people likely to preserve such writing (only a handful of personal letters remain from her).

Plowden introduces the world of the Tudors and their friends, hangers-on and rivals from the time of Lancaster/York conflict, and Henry VII, the first Tudor king, forward. This reads like a soap opera, and indeed it was a time of intrigue, deception, jockeying for position and occasional outright evil behaviour. The executioner's task at the Tower was never wanting for more; the Tudors, Seymours, Brandons, Dudleys and other such families were intertwined in the political, religious and dynastic machinations of the time, and sometimes this late medieval machinery caught up the people as it would grind along.

Lady Jane Grey was not born to be queen. This does not make her unique among monarchs in British history; when the current queen Elizabeth was born, it seemed very remote that she should ever advance to be monarch. Indeed, even the great Henry VIII wasn't the heir apparent when born; his brother Arthur was Prince of Wales -- Henry married his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon, and the successive sequence of wives and offspring commenced from there. Lady Jane Grey was born of none of these wives, nor even from Henry directly, but rather through one of his younger siblings, Mary, one-time queen of France.

Plowden's tracing of the history is very much personality driven. Events and issues take a secondary role to the history she recounts here -- it is very much the people involved, who are somewhat hard to keep straight at times (when one would acquire a new title, the name changes; since these names often had predecessors also active in royal and governmental affairs, one sometimes needs charts and graphs to keep the players distinct).

Lady Jane Grey was a mere teenager when she came to power, such as it was. A precocious and intellectual child, she still lacked the political savvy of the Privy Council and other chief executors and leaders from Henry and Edward's reigns; she was the not-always-willing but not-unwilling pawn of her family's ambitions -- at one time thought to be a possible wife for the king Edward, her family jumped at the chance of settling the crown directly on her head, under the ostensible purpose of preserving a Protestant succession.

Ultimately, the venture was doomed to failure, for as much as the royal and parliamentary authorities like to believe they rule England, ultimately it has been the people en masse, and those whom they do not support do not last long. The common folk, still largely Catholic in leaning, also understood royal succession in simple terms -- Mary Tudor was the next in line for the throne, so they supported her (largely they would support Elizabeth, a moderate Protestant, for the same reason five years later). Lady Jane fell victim again to the problems of politics; Mary Tudor, once queen, was inclined to be lenient until it was felt that Jane's presence continued to be a rallying point for Protestant dissidents.

Plowden's book is not a simple biography of Jane Grey, but rather a survey of the historical period, from the generation prior to the aftermath. If Jane Grey seems to be a bit lost in the sea of people in this text, that is understandable, for even though she was queen for a short time, it was hardly her own reign or her own doing, and she didn't last long enough for contemporary histories in personal detail to be written (nor was it really in the interests of others to do so during the reign of either Mary or Elizabeth). Taken as a snapshot of a short time in the Tudor dynasty, and a very unique period in British history, this is a good survey.

This is not an historical romance, nor a narrative history done in novel style. It is a little light on notes, placed at the end rather than as footnotes, for a 'grand' history, but is still built on strong authority. The select bibliography is worthwhile, as is the index. While Plowden's language could take a little polish to good effect, the text remains interesting and factually well-executed, keeping speculation and romantic embellishment to a minimum, and clearly delineating between documentary fact, gossip and hearsay, and later interpretations and reconstructed memories.

Dissapointing
I had eagerly anticipated this book for a long time, but I found it very dissapointing.

It's more of a quick retelling of the struggle for the throne after Henry VIII's death than a biography of Jane. She's a minor character in her own biography, emerging only for brief, tersely described events.

Catherine Parr on the cover of a book about Jane Grey?
A book with Catherine Parr on the cover using a few embellished facts, very little research and fanciful story telling make this a book only for the passive reader. ... Read more

Book Description

"A splendid book with two absorbing subjects. . . This is history at its most enjoyable."-Sunday Times (London) Henry VIII's sisters, neglected by generations of historians, affected the lives of their contemporaries much more forcefully than did any of their brother's famous six wives. In The Sisters of Henry VIII, Maria Perry brings history alive by examining the lives of these extraordinary women and their influence on Europe in the Tudor Age. Margaret became queen of Scotland at age thirteen; family members arranged beautiful Mary's betrothal to the aging King of France when she was twelve. But both women chose their second husbands for love: Margaret married and divorced twice after Henry's advancing armies slaughtered her first husband and kidnapped her children; Mary risked execution by proposing to the handsome Duke of Suffolk. Groundbreaking in both depth and scope, Perry's work rescues two remarkable princesses from the shadows of history and offers a fresh interpretation of a royal family and an era sure to fascinate readers of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A very interesting book
This was a book I really liked. I found it facinating to read about another two members of the Tudor family. Maybe the most interesting thing about the Tudor family is how they managed to rule, or simply survive, in a time when cruelty, power struggles and dominance over women were common.

In this book Maria Perry tells us about the sisters' childhood and family background, as well as about their adult lives. In both cases the sisters had to marry a king as part of their father's attempt to keep or make allies, and not for love.

The eldest sister Margaret soon ended up as my favourite. She came across as a strong and couragious woman. In a time when women had no power, she fought to take control over her own life. When she was widowed and still pregnant, her brother tried to arrange a wedding for her. But Margaret wanted to marry based on her own choice, something her brother Henry VIII disliked. Later on she had to fight in order to keep her children, since they as heirs to the throne could be used as tools to rule the country by scroupulous men.

Very enjoyable and detailed History
Perry writes about the lesser known subject of Henry VIII's two sisters, Margaret and Mary who became Queen of Scotland and Queen of France respectively. It's really a review of his whole family, which shows that his sisters, even as political pawns were much more involved in events than wife focused biographies and legends would generally show. There is some early discussion of their parents, Henry VII and his Queen, Elizabeth of York, which shows how they inherited the royal propensity for pagentry and how, Perry's descriptions are sumptuous, the emphasis on sartorial wealth and jewels was really the political rhetoric of the day. More than that, it seems also have been a business, and many conflicts and wars can be explained by the need for the Tudors to pay for all their nice clothes and jewels--even, or especially, they owed money--so that they can keep being royals. Perry is as assiduous about the financial details as she is avid about the fashion details, and even if you aren't quite sure what the numbers mean the story is always readable, imaginative and intriguing, leaving its share of Historical what-ifs. (What if Mary's long-term youthful betrothal to Charles V of Spain had been honored, for example?) As one might expect Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn get their fair share of mention, but the context of their tribulations seems at once more mundane and more majestic.

For True Lovers Of Historical Biographies Only
--Because this book, for the most part, except when the author decides to basically abandon a person or issue in it, is loaded with details. If you are interested in the life and times of Henry VIII, his relatives, friends and enemies, then you will likely forgive the author's apologist attitudes toward him (and her seemingly hyper-critical eye, in my view, of his sisters). If you are relatively thick-skinned about writers who do that, weaving their own opinions through the story they are telling, while supposedly presenting historical fact, you will find this book very interesting and fairly absorbing. There are a lot of minute details about banquets, clothes and social behavior, which are a lot of fun to read and know about, again, if you're interested in the first place. Which I am, so I liked this book.

I Didn't Even Finish It
Disappointing. I kept hoping for something new, some tidbit of information which had just been discovered and never published before. It didn't happen. The only thing that was confirmed was that Margaret had it alot tougher than Mary and that detail had been found before in other biographies of Henry VIII. To my mind, King Henry figured too prominently in this book.

Why was this book even published?
This book, to put it bluntly, was utterly disappointing. Though the book sports a title that leaves little doubt as to whom the subjects are, it would be more accurate to read "Henry VIII's Interactions with his Sisters and Their Families". Little of the text relates to the personal lives and feelings of the women; most is dedicated to political happenings and of Henry VIII's life. The writing style of Perry is pathetic, as she often changes topics in the middle of a paragraph or goes on about some event that didn't have much or nothing to do with the sisters in the first place. Perry managed to write only a few sentences about the death of Margaret's early children (and none at all about how she felt about it) while writing pages on how many yards of cloth of gold were used for one of Cardinal Wolsey's parties. At times I had to put the book down, I was so annoyed. Sometimes, I found the wording was so confusing that I had to look up the events in another book or read over the text a few good times to perceive just what was going on. At the end, the book transforms into a wandering account of Henry VIII's divorce from Katherine and marriage to Anne. Of course, when Anne is executed, Perry gives us only a quick mention of it, commenting that the happenings are "not important to our story"; what a contradiction. The two stars that I gave the book are because of the few interesting facts about Mary, Margaret and Henry's childhood, as well as Henry Fritzroy's. I am aware that little historic fact can be found about these too ladies, but Perry doesn't present the information she has well or into a flowing, easy to read joint biography. I'm sorry that I bought this book, which is the only reason I finished it. I recommend Alison Weir instead. ... Read more

Book Description

"Fascinating . . . Alison Weir does full justice to the subject."
--The Philadelphia Inquirer

At his death in 1547, King Henry VIII left four heirs to the English throne: his only son, the nine-year-old Prince Edward; the Lady Mary, the adult daughter of his first wife Katherine of Aragon; the Lady Elizabeth, the teenage daughter of his second wife Anne Boleyn; and his young great-niece, the Lady Jane Grey. In this riveting account Alison Weir paints a unique portrait of these extraordinary rulers, examining their intricate relationships to each other and to history. She traces the tumult that followed Henry's death, from the brief intrigue-filled reigns of the boy king Edward VI and the fragile Lady Jane Grey, to the savagery of "Bloody Mary," and finally the accession of the politically adroit Elizabeth I.

As always, Weir offers a fresh perspective on a period that has spawned many of the most enduring myths in English history, combining the best of the historian's and the biographer's art.

"Like anthropology, history and biography can demonstrate unfamiliar ways of feeling and being. Alison Weir's sympathetic collective biography, The Children of Henry VIII does just that, reminding us that human nature has changed--and for the better. . . . Weir imparts movement and coherence while re-creating the suspense her characters endured and the suffering they inflicted."
--The New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Readable history....
I like Alison Weir's books because she is able to extract the pertinent facts from the most complex of sources and present a great deal of information in an immensely readable book. THE CHILDREN OF HENRY THE VIII is no exception. Although she is a "popular" writer, Weir does not shun primary materials. Her bibliography is very impressive and she seems to have "done her homework".

CHILDREN covers the lives of Henry's three children by Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boylyn, and Jane Seymour. I find it amazing that one of England's greatest monarchs, Elizabeth I, was the daughter of a woman who reigned for a mere 1,000 days. Known as the "French whore" by the Catholics who hated her, she was a lady in waiting to Katherine of Aragon the mother of Mary.

According to Weir, the young Mary was most solicitous for the life and welfare of her young sister Elizabeth after Anne Boylyn was beheaded. Had it not been for Mary's care, perhaps there would have been no Elizabeth I. Both of young princesses were at risk from various parties after Anne died. Mary, a bit older than Elizabeth was aware their lives were at risk and she did what she could to protect her self and her sister from whom she was later cruelly separated. Sadly, as they grew older and were kept apart by various scheming interest groups, Mary and Elizabeth grew more estranged and distrustful of each other until finally there was a parting which nearly cost Elizabeth her life.

Weir tells Mary's tale from the standpoint of a sympathetic viewer. After all, Mary had been raised to expect her place would be with her parents and that someday she would be queen if she had no brothers. Henry was married to Katherine for 20 years, and she bore him many children. Alas, only Mary survived.

The English could accept a woman on the throne, but most preferred a man. Hence, Henry VIII continued to father dozens of children with a succession of wives until at last a son lived. Edward was born to wife number three, Jane Seymour, and although he survided infancy Edward was frail and easily became sick in an era filled with plague and other misasmas.

Edward was crowned king however he died young. Although he was to be followed by his sister Mary who was next in succession for the throne of England, Edward's ministers plotted and placed Lady Jane Grey on the throne. Jane was a cousin to Edward and a direct descendent of Henry VII. Jane was Protestant, the main reason certain parties supported her. Jane was destined to be overthrown by Mary's forces nine days after she seized the throne. When Mary eventually claimed her throne she was not above buring a few Protestants including the ill-fated Jane who had plotted against her.

Most of us grew up reading history books written by Protestant historians who did not tell Mary's story objectively. In THE CHILDREN OF HENRY VIII, Alison Weir has redressed this wrong. Mary was indeed a queen of vengence, but she lived in times that tried women's souls.

A fascinating look at a tumultuous time
If you'd like to gain a better appreciation for the necessity of separating church and state, or for the orderly change of governments (for the most part) today, check this book out. Ms. Weir does a great job of putting together history books that communicate the intrigues and difficulties of British politics in the 15th and 16th centuries. I can't wait to see her book about Elizabeth I; this one ends just as Elizabeth gains the throne of England. I learned so much about the short lives of Edward and Lady Jane Grey, and the politics of marriage, through Weir's books. "The Princes in the Tower" and "Six Wives of Henry VIII" are also terrific reads.

Four British Monarchs and Their Relationship with Each Other
I am fascinated with the Tudors, particularly Elizabeth I and her cousin, Lady Jane Grey. I have read many biographies on the different players in this time frame yet I have read few books that focus on the relationships between those people. I yearned to know those details, however. How did Mary and Jane go from being on friendly terms to rivals? How did Mary react to Edward VI? How did Elizabeth react to the news of Jane's death?

Weir started off doing a splendid job addressing all of those issues. She started off addressing the character of Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and Edward and their feelings and relationships with each other. She painstakingly chronicled in great detail the tumultuous nature of Mary and Elizabeth's relationship, as well as how Mary viewed Edward VI and him her. Yet after Edward's death, she sort of lost touch of that track, and focused primarily on the nature of Mary's relationship to those around her, which while interesting, still did leave me with some unanswered questions. For instance, I never did get a good feel for how Elizabeth reacted to the news of Jane's death (it might be one of those mysteries of history, but if nothing was written about it at the time, I would at least like to know).

The writing style is good and clear, especially for a work of history, and the pages seem to fly by. My only complaint was her repetitiveness. For instance, she mentioned that Mary thought that Elizabeth was the daughter of Mark Smeaton three times.

In all, the book definitely addressed a lot of personal issues I had not yet seen addressed and was a pure pleasure to read. It would also, I believe, serve for those who know little of the time period or of Mary I, be an excellent starting place, for the work is not so bogged down in details as many other historical works are.

No "Part II Syndrome"
Although not advertised as such, this book should really be considered "Part II" of Weir's Tudor trilogy. If you haven't read "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" first, you really should; and "The Life of Elizabeth I" picks up right where this one ends. Usually part 2 in a trilogy is the weakest link between the beginning and the end, but this is an exciting and engrosing book chronicling the reign of Edward and Mary.

Edward VI usually gets more or less ignored: probably a combination of his father and sisters seeming much more exciting, and the fact that he became king at age 9 and died only a few years later. Weir shows that this is unfair: despite his age he managed to smoothly manipulate those who held power over him, and shows a surprising maturity in the letters and papers that he left behind.

Mary, poor Bloody Mary, is so easy to despise and/or mock, but Weir turns her into a sympathetic, if pathetic, character. With no interest whatsoever in ruling, the pressures of the throne, her marriage, and her inability to conceive basically caused her to go mad.

Throughout the book we see Elizabeth, but really only as she interacts with her half-siblings. Still, this book offers the foundation of her personality and drive. This, as well as the 2 other books I mentioned in the first paragraph, is an essential book for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Tudor period, or Queen Elizabeth. Best of all, it is exhaustively researched and written in a simple, accessible style that you don't have to be a historian to understand.

Wow, wow, and more wow
I know it's an asinine way to start a review, but it's honestly the most apt title I can think of: this book is absolutely outstanding. I was completely absorbed the entire time. "Bloody" Mary is given fair treatment, as is Lady Jane Grey; Weir doesn't play favorites and tells the story in compelling and thrilling detail. Hate history? This book is a good place to start, as the rich personalities of the Tudor monarchs and their contemporaries are fleshed out into truly lifelike figures. Is there anything this woman can't write? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Fine Edition of a Classic
"Brief Lives" has always been a delight, but it was Oliver Lawson Dick's scholarly editing that revealed Aubrey's genius. And Lawson Dick's Introduction, "The Life and Times of John Aubrey", is a miracle of synthesis and compression: certainly one of the finest biographical essays ever written. This Nonpareil Books edition is sumptuous - a joy to read in these days c