Book Description

The winner of Britain's prestigious Whitbread Prize and a bestseller there for months, this wonderfully readable biography offers a rich, rollicking picture of late-eighteenth-century British aristocracy and the intimate story of a woman who for a time was its undisputed leader.

Lady Georgiana Spencer was the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was nearly as famous in her day. In 1774, at the age of seventeen, Georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying one of England's richest and most influential aristocrats, the Duke of Devonshire. Launched into a world of wealth and power, she quickly became the queen of fashionable society, adored by the Prince of Wales, a dear friend of Marie-Antoinette, and leader of the most important salon of her time. Not content with the role of society hostess, she used her connections to enter politics, eventually becoming more influential than most of the men who held office.

Her good works and social exploits made her loved by the multitudes, but Georgiana's public success, like Diana's, concealed a personal life that was fraught with suffering. The Duke of Devonshire was unimpressed by his wife's legendary charms, preferring instead those of her closest friend, a woman with whom Georgiana herself was rumored to be on intimate terms. For over twenty years, the three lived together in a jealous and uneasy ménage à trois, during which time both women bore the Duke's children—as well as those of other men.

Foreman's descriptions of Georgiana's uncontrollable gambling, all- night drinking, drug taking, and love affairs with the leading politicians of the day give us fascinating insight into the lives of the British aristocracy in the era of the madness of King George III, the American and French revolutions, and the defeat of Napoleon.

A gifted young historian whom critics are already likening to Antonia Fraser, Amanda Foreman draws on a wealth of fresh research and writes colorfully and penetratingly about the fascinating Georgiana, whose struggle against her own weaknesses, whose great beauty and flamboyance, and whose determination to play a part in the affairs of the world make her a vibrant, astonishingly contemporary figure. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Good story, pathetic subject
I purchased this book to get some perspective of 18th c. England from an aristocrat's life. Amanda Foreman seems to have done extensive research on her subject. She presents the Duchess in such a way as to interest and entertain a 21st c. reader.

The story begins before Georgiana's debut, her marriage, everything else in between and finally to her death. As Lady Georgiana Spencer (great-great-great etc. aunt of the late Diana, Princess of Wales), she was born with birth, fortune and connections. She marries the Duke of Devonshire whose material advantages are even greater than hers. From an innocent bride (whose new husband already had a child by his 1st mistress) she becomes a popular figure in society due to her personality, sense of fashion and position. All the excesses of the partying peers are here:sex (adultery, lesbianism, what-have-you), alcohol and gambling. I felt for her in the beginning; virtually ignored by the Duke, she did her best to please everyone, her mother, her friends, the hangers-on and whoever came her way. I thought of her as pathetic when she gambled obsessively ($6 million dollars almost 300 years ago?), lied about it constantly and was in debt to the end. What I found repulsive was her reliance and friendship on a woman who was her husband's mistress, Lady Bess. The latter lived with them along with her children with the Duke, used the Devonshire's money and stayed on to marry the Duke himself. Jealous of Georgiana, she did all to promote and advance herself. Georgiana was passionate in her loyalties, but her energies and talents were wasted on people who used her. The strength of her loyalties made her spineless and malleable. I felt frustration for her because at every turn, when a decent relationship with her husband could be had (and he forgave her on several occasions) she would fall in love with someone else. She loved her children and this was her redeeming quality. If not for that, her life was a waste.

A Great Read
Georgianna deserves to find an American audience as proportionately big as its British audience. Georgiana was a smash over there in England, a country fond of behind-the-scenes stories of aristocratic ladies in the past. (And in the present, too: much has been made of the connections between the Duchess of Devonshire and her descendent, Diana, Princess of Wales.) Yet Amanda Foreman's Georgiana is much more than one of those ersatz popular biographies full of pillow talk and emotions that result more from the biographer's imagination than real research. The book is written in an unpretentious, straightforward style that values clarity above everything. You don't have to be a Masterpiece-Theater-watching anglophile to appreciate its glamour, wit, and intrigue, and you don't have to be a professional historian to grasp its many provocative implications about history and the birth of mass political campaigning. Amanda Foreman must thank heaven every day that such a brilliant subject came her way, and she serves it well. Still, it would be hard to write an uninteresting book about the Duchess of Devonshire. She is a wonderfully paradoxical figure whose meaning seductively eludes the reader's grasp: was she a dilettante or a genuine, energetic talent frustrated by the sexism of her time? Was she merely acting out of the privilege of her class (really, she was above class) or was she genuinely driven ? The ladies of Stella Tillyard's Aristocrats come across as pampered pawns who infrequently lucked into a little free will. Foreman's Georgiana, in contrast, proves that at least one late-18th-century Englishwoman was capable of acting upon her will-even if she made more than one life-altering whopper of a bad decision. Foreman clearly loves her subject, but she does not leave out the flaws and weaknesses in Georgianna's character--all her indulgence, dishonesy, and self-interestedness are on display here. Still, one of Georgianna's greatest charms was learning from her mistakes, and thus her life-narrative has the arc of a good novel. One problem: it's hard for the non-historian to judge Foreman's claim that the duchess's political success represented a general involvement of women in politics of the time greater than is usually acknowledged. What woman other than Georgiana, so unlike anyone else, enjoyed her kind of power and how many were so advantageously poised, by birth and marriage, to find or create that power? Still, Georgianna's story, in Foreman's skillful telling of it, points to the truth of her claim that "the propensity of women's historians to ignore high politics, and of political historians to ignore women, has resulted in a profound misunderstanding of one of the most sexually integrated periods of British history."

Doesn't deserve a crown
This book was merely a by-product of the Diana-hysteria.

Loved this book and would read again!
This book was amazing and I got it at a discounted rate at a bookstore and never thought I would fall in love with it. Amanda Foreman's writing style is vivid, easy to comprehend and specific enough to be entertaining without it being stagnate. The book was appropraitely paced and truly gave you an understanding of daily life for the Devonshires as well as London during this period. I was extremely pleased with the exaplanations in modern terms of ailments that existed during this period and exactly how trying the times were due to social constrictions. I would highly recommend this book!

Biography Brilliantly Done
GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE is a beautifully written biography. Amanda Foreman's style is so sure that it's more like reading a novel than nonfiction. In the end, one is as fascinated by the Duchess as her generation was. The book consists of four parts under which several chapters are given. Part One is called Debutante under which are the following: chapter 1 - Debutante: 1757-1774, chapter 2 - Fashion's Favourite: 1774-1776, chapter 3 - The Vortex of Dissipation: 1776-1778, chapter 4 - A Popular Patriot: 1778-1781, and chapter 5 - Introduction to Politics: 1780-1782. Part Two is called Politics and contains the following: chapter 6 - The Newcomer: 1782-1783, chapter 7 - An Unstable Condition: 1783, chapter 8 - A Birth and a Death: 1783-1784, chapter 9 - The Westminster Election: 1784, chapter 10 - The Opposition: 1784-1786, chapter 11 - Queen Bess: 1787, hapter 12 - Ménage à Trois: 1788, and chapter 13 - The Regency Crisis: 1788-1789. Part Three is called Exile and has the following: chapter 14 - The Approaching Storm: 1789-1790, chapter 15 - Exposure: 1790- 1791, chapter 16 - Exile: 1791-1793, chapter 17 - Return: 1794-1796, chapter 18 - Interlude: 1796, and chapter 19 - Isolation: 1796-1799. Part Four is the final part and is called Georgiana Redux. It consists of chapter 20 - Georgiana Redux: 1800-1801, chapter 21 - Peace: 1801-1802, chapter 22 - Power Struggles: 1802-1803, chapter 23 - The Doyenne of the Whig Party: 1803-1804, and chapter 24 -"The Ministry of All the Talents": 1804-1806. The biography also includes an introduction, A Note on Eighteenth-Century Politics, Chronology, Family Trees of Spencers and Cavendishes, an epilogue, Notes, Select Bibliography, Index, Reading Group Guide, and many picture, both b & w and in color.
This book will appeal to romance readers of Georgette Heyer, to readers of Georgian or Regency novels, to those interested in the 18th century and those interested in women's history. ... Read more

Book Description

A nation exceedingly rich and extraordinarily powerful, its arts unparalleled in elegance and excellence, France in the seventeenth century mirrored the monarch who ruled it: Louis XIV, heritor not only to the throne of his country but also, supposedly, to the powers of the mythological sun god Apollo. Known as le roi soleil-the sun king-and vested with unprecedented power and privilege, for fifty years Louis epitomized the glory that was France. On the dark underside of the monarchy's grand, gilded looking glass, however, lurked peasant starvation, financial bankruptcy, military defeat, and the deaths of thousands-all of which would plague the conscience of the king. It is in the struggle of the lofty sun king, who at least half-believed in his quasi divinity, to reconcile his extravagant persona with the shortcomings, flaws, miscalculations, and failures of an ordinary mortal that the fascination of this new, intricate, and controversial illustrated biography lies. Indeed, at the heart of Anthony Levi's probing study brews the conflict between Louis XIV's regal infallibility and his human, often tragic and far-reaching errors. Out of it emerges a complex personal portrait of one of the most politically effective monarchs ever to reign in Europe. ... Read more

Book Description

Drawing on interviews with palace insiders, and featuring never–before–seen photos, Royal correspondent Mark Saunders looks at the young yet colorful life of Britain’s Prince Harry. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Don't waste your money !
I guess this book would be good if you weren't an avid fan of Princes Harry and William. However, if you are, then this book is NOT for you !
First of all, the print looks like it was intended for someone with a reading level of 4th or 5th grade (no offense to 4th or 5th graders), but I guess that's just one of the ploys of the author (i.e. if you write BIG then you don't have to write as MUCH). Second, of the information that is written there is really nothing interesting or new. The first half is about his parents, particularly Diana, and the second just has corny trivial information about him which you've probably heard hundreds of times before.
The pictures were nothing spectacular, and if you're a really avid fan, such as myself, you'll notice that some of them are mislabled.
If I were you I'd save my money and join one of the internet Prince Harry clubs. You'll get more recent information, pictures and more than likely won't have to weed through all the information about other family members who you really don't care about !

ok
i love prince harry so of course i bought this book. the only bad thing was that in the beginning it was more of a biography about Diana. but as harry gets older (more towards the middle) it becomes more about him and it gets pretty good. but the beginning is kinda boring, but i would still recommend it for any fan of prince harry.

How do they do it?
I hope this is the best book to ever hit the store shelves. It looks SOOOOOOO GOOD, I've read every book anyone has ever written about Harry! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fasctual Errors
I was disappointed at the factual errors in this book as well as the poor proofreading. On the edition I read the jacket itself refers to Edward as King Edward VII rather than King Edward VIII. The name of Wallis's chauffeur is spelled both Ladbrook and Ladbrooke on successive pages. The decorator Stephan Boudin is said to be with the Maison Jensen rather than Maison Janson. The most egregious error was on p. 395 where the author states that the motto of the Prince of Wales is "Dieu et mon Droit" when the correct motto is "Ich Dien."
One hopes these errors were corrected in subsequent editions of this book.

Uncommon life, uncommon love
Greg King's thoroughly-researched and highly readable biography of the Duchess of Windsor's life is simply excellent! At the outset the author explains that his book is a "sympathetic" portrait of the Duchess, and is not a re-hashing of old gossip and rumors.

Rather, this is a very balanced and highly interesting look at not only the lives of the Duke and Duchess, but of the time and world they inhabited with such joie de vivre, glamour and above all, humor and compassion for others. So many books have emphasized the lavish lifestyle, the Duchess' wardrobe and jewels, her society friends, etc. Here, we are privy to the other side of their lives: one in which Wallis and Edward devoted enormous amounts of their personal time and money to helping those persons less fortunate than themselves. Of particular interest is their years spent in the Bahamas, when the Duke was Governor-General, and Wallis spent years coordinating efforts to improve the lives of native Bahamians. It is sad that Buckingham Palace ignored not only their charitable efforts, which the British Royal Family is so eager to promote in the UK with their "Civil Duties", but that Edward's brother, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth (now the Queen Mother) ensured that Edward and Wallis were not allowed to represent the Royal Family within the UK itself. King George lived in great fear that their popularity with the common people of Britain (and all over the world) would usurp his authority as monarch supreme.

All in all this is a story to be remembered for all time.

A Balanced View - At Last
For those readers who have an inherent interest in the British Royal Family, and especially the late Duke & Duchess of Windsor, much of this book will be repetitive. However, this book's author approaches his subject as though she were a real, living, breathing individual, with complexities and contradictions in her makeup. Wallis Simpson has almost always been portrayed as a ruthless, calculating woman bent upon becoming Queen of England. While I think she must have had a tremendously strong personality, and that the former Edward VIII might have had a somewhat weak character, common sense tells us that most people are neither all one way or the other, that they are capable of bad - and good - motivations. I came away from this book feeling that while Wallis Simpson may not have been 'in love' with the Duke, she truly did love him. Evidently, that was enough for him, and seeing her portrayed as a believeable human being rather than some shrill, cardboard characture made this book an informative and enjoyable read.

"Windsor Wonderland," a fresh and positive view.
If you want to take an enjoyable journey into the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's "Windsor Wonderland," then read Greg King's book. Maybe I'm and incurable romantic, or maybe I am more receptive to a positive focus on the Windsor love story, but I am impressed with Mr. King's descriptive ability and vindication of the much maligned Duchess of Windsor. In addition to inviting the reader into the larger than life existence of THE trend setting lovers of the 20th Century, Mr. King shows how down to earth the Duchess was during the war years while living in the Bahamas. Oh yes, there are vivid descriptions of the lavish surroundings the Duchess created for the former King of England, but she took her responsibilities seriously and guarded against making social mistakes. The result of her efforts actually set social standards. The jewel in the (never to be worn) crown has to be the successful, happy marriage to her husband of 35 years. Bravo Greg! WE have been waiting for a book like yours. The Windsors would be pleased.

Very porly done
More fantasy than fact, this is a fourth-rate biography that is a waste of all effort involved, including the reader's time. ... Read more

Book Description

Had Elizabeth, the exquisite granddaughter of Queen Victoria, not married the Grand Duke Serge of Russia, she would not have found herself, first, at the heart of the opulent court in St. Petersburg and, after the brutal assassination of her husband, in the embrace of the Russian Orthodox Church and a convent dedicated to Christian charity. Nor would she have battled the mesmeric Rasputin for her sister Alexandra's soul or suffered the bloody consequences of a Revolution that would lead to her martyrdom and, ultimately, sainthood. The dramatic details of Elizabeth's story make this elegant volume a fascinating, compelling biography. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Gripping tale of religion dividing a country and a family
This book is an exciting and entertaining look at the power struggle in Restoration England, and how the divide between Catholics and Protestants caused a King to be dethroned by his own daughters. I really liked Ms. Waller's tone and her storytelling abilities, using the actual letters written between Queen Mary and Princess Anne, making them seem that much more real to us as the reader.

I also like it that you can't really see a bias for or against any certain person or religion...you will read good things and bad things about everyone involved, you'll feel anger and pity for these people and their lives. I was completely engrossed from start to finish.

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is.
Ungrateful Daughters treats the last days of the house of Stuart as seen through the perspectives of the major characters: James II, Mary of Modena, Mary II, William of Orange, and Queen Anne. It begins essentially with the restoration and ends with the handover of power to the Hanovers.

The material is absorbing and the book was seemingly quite well-researched. However, for me, much of the pleasure was spoiled by Waller's organisation and tone. The narrative is not linear, but shifts with the perspectives of the different players. I found the effect jarring and occasionally confusing. I also heard more than I wanted of Waller's opinions about the people involved (particularly Queen Anne).

It's funny that I'm willing to forgive a history writer like Mitford her harsh asides, but I wasn't willing to forgive Waller. I found her judgements heavy-handed and they made me suspicious of how (and from what perspective) she was telling the story. Too bad-- because it's a really great story.

This shouldn't discourage others from reading the book-- it's still a good use of time and a book that I'm going to keep in my collection.

Excellent read, ill-considered title
A well-written history of the last Catholic king of England, and one of the most inept, and his two daughters.

The title is unfortunate because no royals of that period (or our own?) ever expressed gratitude. Princesses were raised apart from their parents, and in this case Charles II wisely
decided that James' daughters, Mary and Anne, had to be raised
Protestant. As Pepys points out, James was a talented administrator at the Admiralty (and a friend of Pepys) but a stupid, politically incompetent determined Roman Catholic, at a time when the French Catholics were murdering Protestants in the streets. The English nobility felt threatened, and they, together with William of Orange, kicked out James.

The title is also a misnomer in that the princesses did not steal their father's crown; the credit belongs to the English nobility such as the Duke of Marlborough and the gay King William (a fact not mentioned in this story except very obliquely).

Queen Anne, by the way, did have many children but none survived.

Neither Mary nor Anne was an educated or personable Princess or Queen; both were ill-suited for England. It is even more remarkable, therefore, that Maureen Waller makes them interesting, and the asthmatic but determined William of Orange
completely fascinating.

terrific telling of one of the key events and its aftermath
Maureen Waller's contention is that the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 occurred due to religious differences that came to a head due to royal pregnancy. King James II was a Catholic and his two daughters were Protestant. When James' Catholic wife became pregnant, leading Protestants including James' oldest daughter Mary, married to the King's nephew Prince William of Orange, encouraged her spouse to take the crown from her father. When James II turned to the military to defend him, he found the army and navy deserted him. His other daughter, Anne, a Protestant, supported William and Mary. Ironically, Anne became the last Stuart ruler as neither she nor her sibling had children so the throne passed down the Hanoverian line after her.

UNGRATEFUL DAUGHTERS is a terrific telling of one of the key events and its aftermath (approximately a quarter of a century) in English history. Based on a tremendous assortment of documents, especially secondary sources, readers obtain a close look at the period and why the change occurred in an entertaining manner. Historical fans obtain a close look at James II whose pompousness never enabled him to understand the opposition until he was exiled to France. The book also looks deeply at what motivated his daughters, his replacement as king, and later his exiled son. However, purists need to realize that Maureen Waller juxtaposes modern day values on late seventeenth England, which is difficult to accept because religious choices of that era were much more dramatic and eternally painful than today. Still this is a wonderful biography that British historical buffs will enjoy and learn from.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Book Description

Flora Fraser gives us the fascinating story of a mismatchedPrinceand Princess of Wales, married in 1795 and separated less than a yearlater.George III arranged the marriage of his niece Caroline of Brunswick tohis sonGeorge. Their disastrous, and probably bigamous, marriage (George havingearlierprivately married a Catholic widow), had profound political consequencesculminating in the trial of Caroline for adultery. Caroline's place inhistoryhas generally been limited to that of persecuted wife but Fraser, withaccess topreviously unavailable documents, provides a complex portrait of aspiritedwoman who refused to be victimized. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Flora's Biography of Historical Palace Intrigue: Delightful!
Flora Fraser: Scholar with a Sense of Fun.

By: Sheila Coffin

An Interview with Flora Fraser:

The very British and rather brilliant author Flora Fraser, began her work on the best-selling, "The Unruly Queen," when her editor, Robert Gottlieb, suggested that she write about Queen Caroline.

In case your history is foggy, Queen Caroline, born Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel in 1768, was the wife of George IV of England. Flora told me about it while she sat in front of the huge picture window overlooking the ocean. I had just finished telling her how my mother and I saw our first whales there when I said, "Here I come from an old Nantucket Whaling family and I've never seen a whale." "At which time," I told Flora, "the sky opened, a rainbow stabbed the ocean and a shape breached the surface and sprayed!"

Flora and I laughed but now while we talked we were both alert for the possible presence of whales outside the window.

Flora: "I researched 'The Unruly Queen : The Life of Queen Caroline' in the Royal Archives for ten years. The story of Queen Caroline was a most undignified Regency riot, with the famously sophisticated Prince Regent, as the Prince of Wales became in 1822, and Her Royal Highness the Princes of Wales, brawling and abusing each other like fishwives."

Flora gestured behind her, asking if I saw any whales.

"No," I shook my head.

Flora sighed and continued, "I was intrigued by the Queen, by her intelligence, her bravery, her optimistic character. She also had some less endearing traits. She told fantastic lies, was sexually brazen, a spendthrift and selfish. The Queen's husband turned her out of his home because she did not please him, she 'smelt,' and was the possessor of 'personal nastiness.' Caroline had things to say about George IV, too. She countered that he was not half so handsome as his portrait and rather fat. It was the adultery of both parties that made for such a scandal. Rumor had it that George IV was already previously married to a Catholic widow, Marie Fitzherbert. George IV also had a mistress, Lady Jersey, whom he flaunted even before he ejected Caroline from his home.For twenty-five years the Prince made every effort to divorce Caroline. She resisted him, sometimes from mischief, sometimes because she felt she should not be made to suffer because of the Prince's misconduct.Ironically it was Caroline who was put on trial for adultery. Spies employed by George IV claimed she had committed adultery with a variety of lovers, among them an Italian 'low man,' named Bartelomeo Pergami. Caroline's spirited response was, 'I have only committed adultery once, and that was with the husband of Mrs. Fitzherbert.' The allegations of George IV's marriage to Maria Fitzherbert, and the extent of the truth behind Queen Caroline's possible indiscretions were never resolved. Caroline's trial ended with the charges of adultery being dropped. The divorce was never accomplished as the Queen died shortly after George IV's ascent to the throne."

The British people's intrigue with their Royalty continues as does the interesting behavior of these Regents.

Flora Fraser, herself, is another instance of history continuing itself. She comes from a strong line of Biographers. Both her mother and grandmother are writers.

Flora says this of them: "My family has helped me to steer a clear course as a writer. I inherited my editor, Robert Gottlieb, from both of them as well."

Listening to Flora speak of her various writing achievements one is left with the impression of a colorful and animated intelligence, of someone who went forth into the Royal Archives in the tower of Windsor Castle armed for serious study and who at the end of ten years came away with a spicy and captivating biography about a royal past that seems replicated in the country's current events.

Flora's style is delightful. You will want read this Biography to see how much, or how little history, and people, have changed.

We never did see a whale that day but when I left Flora she was looking.

Exciting history
Flora Fraser writes beautifully, and her research is impeccable. This is one of the best "life and times" set in Georgian England available today. The popularity of Queen Caroline with the populace, always looking for symbols of opposition to the monarchy, makes clearer the similar fascination in our time with as inexplicable a figure as Diana, Princess of Wales. The books is a great read that has something to say, rather like the wonderful Mediterranean histories written by the late Sir Steven Runicman (e.g., History of the Crusades). The Unruly Queen, along with David Gilmour's Curzon, are must reading for those interested in British history.

May I have my time back, please?
Whatever were they THINKING!?! I mean, the author, and worse, the editors. This is an appallingly bad book. I staggered through the whole University of California paperback version, convinced that eventually it would improve. Sadly, I was too optimistic.

Caroline of Brunswick was clearly quite an unpleasant person all 'round. Ill-educated, dishonest, gullible, ill-bred, plain at best, lacking in style and sense, desperate for any sort of attention, she would be difficult to like in the hands of the most talented biographer. It's a shame that she was left to Flora Fraser. This particular Ms. Fraser is living proof that a talent for biography isn't hereditary. She is pendantic, tedious, and apparently without enthusiasm for her subject, whom she abandons regularly in pursuit of political minutiae.

I was startled by the ineptitude of the editing. In a number of instances the vocabulary used was clearly anachronistic slang, but the quotes were not footnoted, leaving the reader bewildered as to the meaning of the quote. In these instances, the Oxford English Dictionary was no help, surely a responsible standard for an editor of a British/American release? Some quotes are simply inaccurate.

I suspect the editors may have been overawed by Flora Fraser's lineage, and hopeful of a comparison between Diana Spencer and Caroline of Brunswick. If Caroline was as Flora Fraser describes, there is scant ground for such hopes.

I majored in British history, am quite accustomed to dry texts, and have read each and every one of Lady Antonia Fraser's splendid works with pleasure. In this case, the daughter should NOT have attempted to go into the family trade, she has no talent for it.

I very much regret the time I wasted plodding through this exceedingly dull book about a sad, dreary woman who would have been best left to rest in peace.

And no, to the best of my knowledge, I'm no relation to this branch of Frasers.

A woman with a heart but next to no common sense!
A biography about one of England's most enigmatic and on this side of the pond at least lesser known Queens. Charlotte born into the rather stogy provincal atmosphere of the Hanoverian Court was married off while still a teenager to her first cousin the future King George IV. A dandy and bon vivant who had already contracted a marriage years ago to the attractive and apparently virtuous widow Mrs. FitzHerbert. Alas Mrs. FitzHerbert was not only a commoner but a staunch catholic and George was a spend thrift. When His father refused to continue filling his coffers unless he found himself a proper (i.e. Royal) bride he abandoned Mrs. FitzHerbert and wed poor Charlotte.

Almost at once however he was repulsed by his cousin (whom he had never before met). After siring one child (a daughter Charlotte) he promptly returned to the far more worldly and appealing Mrs. FitzHerbert. This led poor Charlotte to rebel.

Her rebellion was to cost her dearly. Leading in the end to a notorioius and flawed trial headed by parliment to decide if she was in fact guilty of adultry.

Charlotte led a tragic but interesting life. As with Marie-Antoinette it can be said that Charlotte's own bad judgement and ignorance were as much (if not more) to blame for her misfortunes as the ill will of her enemies.

Overall it was an engaing account of a fascinating woman and period in time. It gave glimpses into the lives of the rest of the British Royal Family. From George's rather embittered maiden sisters to his mad father King George III and his outwardly sweet but meddling mother Queen Charlotte.

Following in her mother's footsteps
Flora Fraser is definitely Antonia's daughter. This book is elegantly written, meticulously researched, and a pleasure to read. Ms. Fraser doesn't dwell lasciviously on the naughty bits, but she doesn't avoid them either. Historians of the Regency period (or any period) realize that the ubiquitous sex is the least interesting part.

If you're not interested in history and biography, if you prefer The Enquirer to The New York Times, you'll probably be disappointed in this book. On the other hand, if you crave intelligent, truthful, fluidly written narrative about a fascinating time in which hypocritical politicians played innuendo like a fine instrument (sound familiar?), get this book. I've read it multiple times, and always find something new to appreciate. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great book from one who was there from the beginning
I read this book in the fall of 1997 and just recently looked at it again when rearranging book shelves. Was so surprised to see that no one had reviewed it before!

Whitaker had observed Charles and Diana for years and he comes to insightful conclusions about the self-centeredness of Charles such as "... it never occurred to him that maybe his life should alter when he married." and "For the first time in his life he was upstaged and...he did not like what was happening." Diana didn't stand a chance against the men in grey or the ever present Camilla.

This was published in 1993 before the sad ending to Diana's life. I recommend it highly to anyone who wants the view of a working journalist. Coverage of the Royal family was excessive during the Diana years, and I'll admit I read almost everything about her, but I believe this a very balanced view of the sad situation that the Royal family is in. They are outdated and unnecessary. ... Read more

Book Description

As a result of covering two dozen United Nations and U.N.-related conferences in the last four years, Joan Veon has come to believe that the connection between the British royal family and the United Nations is not coincidental but provides the way for America to be rejoined with Britain. She states that when the Senate ratified the United Nations Charter, America reverted back under British rule thus fulfilling the goals of Cecil Rhodes, the diamond and gold magnate, who left his fortune to achieve this very goal. What this means is that Prince Charles, as heir to the British throne, has a bigger role to play in world affairs than what people could imagine. She knows that he is a "Renaissance man" and a man with a mission. As a result of his behind-the-scenes role at the United Nations, Prince Charles is responsible for changing the order of life from the biblical perspective of man having dominance over the earth to one in which the earth has dominance over man. One of the major environmental philosophies which runs tantamount to this is that of "sustainable development." Because of his global orchestrations, she has dubbed Charles "the sustainable prince." This is a must read for all those who seek to understand the day and the hour and the powers that rule over us. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

it's a Foolish Book
Because I think he had nothing to do the Prince of Wales is unwise and a Cheater and say rude things about his Parents think he should honor them for the Queen and her husband Tried their best for their children .
that's wasnt 's nice To blame his marriaged failed for his parents it's his Fault . I Totally HATE this BOOK!!!!!!!!

An Outstanding Approach To What's In Store For The World
Joan Veon's writings are not myth. This lady has done her home work. She has proven herself to be an accomplished Writer and Researcher of the United Nations and she has done a scholarly job on blowing the whistle on "Charlie", Prince of Wales.

Those who disagree with this statement simply have their heads stuck in the sand. The UN is quietly taking over the United States and our leaders are assisting them in the disolving of our Constitution. Who permitted the giving of our Land and Parks to the UN? Why do we suddenly find our former National Parks now named "International Biospheres?" Who allowed the assigning of American Armed Forces to Foreign Commanders of the UN "Peace Keeping Forces?" These are traitorous acts, all very unconstitutional, but the general public has absolutely no interest in, or knowledge of, these happenings and seriousness of the consequences of these acts. Consequently, when they awaken and find they are now Governed by the New World Order and that the United States Government and Constitution have been disolved, they will be fulfilling some Biblical prophetic phrases such as, "there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The British Monarchy, unfortunately wields more power, in the UN and world wide, than can be imagined. This book will show you that Prince Charles will inherit more than the title, "King of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations." World dominance and dominion have always been the objectives of Lucifer and his followers.

I am a Born Again Christian and a former History and Government Teacher and all I can say is, "Joan, you get an "A+" for your efforts in writing this book. This book is a must read and heed for all Patriotic and Christian Americans.

An Outstanding Approach To What's In Store For The World.
Joan Veon's writings are not myth. This lady has done her home work. She has proven herself to be an accomplished Reporter and Researcher of the United Nations and she has done a scholarly job on blowing the whistle on "Charlie", Prince of Wales.

Those who disagree with this statement simply have their head stuck in the sand. The UN is quietly taking over the United States and our leaders are assisting them in the disolving of our Constitution. Who permitted the giving of our Land and Parks to the the UN? Why do we suddenly find our former National Parks now named, "International Biospheres? Who allowed the assigning of American Armed Forces to Foreign Commanders of the UN "Peace Keeping Forces?" These are traitorous acts, all very unconstitutional, but the general public has absolutely no interest in, or knowledge of, these happenings and seriouness of the consequences of these acts. Consequently, when they awaken and find they are now Governed by the New World Order and that the United States Government and Constitution have been disolved, they will be fulfilling some Biblical prophetic phrases such as, "there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The British Monarchy, unfortunately wields more power, in the UN and world wide, than can be imagined. This book will show you that Prince Charles will inherit more than the title, "King of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations." World dominance and dominion have always been the objectives of Lucifer and his followers.

I am a Born Again Christian and a former History and Government Teacher and all I can say is, "Joan, you get an "A+" for your efforts. This book is a must read and heed for all Patriotic and Christian Americans.

A Sustainable Paranoia?
My mother made me read this. Told me it would change my views of the world once I saw what a U.N. researcher had discovered about Prince Charles. Now, I'm not a Prince Charles fan, but this was no research. Much of the book is the author's repetitious assertion that sustainable development is an evil conspiracy that places nature over man, and threatens to reduce human population by 90%--supposedly a goal of Prince Charles. (Yes, the prince wants to reduce the world's population to 500,000,000 people.)

First, one should question the internal logic here. The book presents Charles as if he were the Antichrist who wants to rule the world. Maybe he does, but if he reduces the world's population by 90%, what will he be ruler of? Wouldn't any smart prince prefer a vast domain over a diminished realm? According to the book, Charles leads the World Trade Organization (or, at least, is one of its top players), and the W.T.O is also part of this population reduction conspiracy. But if the merchants and manufacturers of the W.T.O. reduce the world's population by 90%, don't they also reduce their markets by 90%? Why would a group of world merchants want to reduce their potential income by 90%? Consider the prince's close alliance with Bill Gates: do you really think Microsoft wants to sell only millions of operating systems when it could hope to sell billions? Population reduction hardly fits the expansionist billionaire mentality. And those who run W.T.O. sweatshops, surely prefer a large slave population that may someday even wear Nike shoes.

Second, one might question the kind of argument by innuendo the author wages: We know Charles is involved in world conspiracies because he's connected to so many major organizations like the W.T.O. and the U.N. Well, he is a prince, isn't he? Think about it. Did you really expect he would only belong to the London Hopscotch League? Ms. Veon also tells us that the U.N. places the U.S. under British charter. I'm not too fond of the U.N., but I don't recall any circumstance in which England had more say over U.N. activities than the U.S. or where it dictated U.S. actions. It seems to me we throw our weight around as well as anyone else in that particular disorganization, so I'm not too concerned that we're puppets of the English imperium. In fact, I think a few people in the U.K. feel the exact opposite might be true. (Though hearing the English argue that the U.S. is too imperial is a bit of a laugh.)

Finally, consider Ms. Veon's insistence that sustainable development--which tries to balance environmental concerns with economic concerns--turns Genesis on its head, giving nature dominion over man: The argument comes from a misguided theology that says God created earth for humans...

Interesting>>>
According to Nostradamus, the anti-Christ will come from the Far East and wear a blue turban. He calls him Mabus which in the mirror spells Sudam. I believe Charles has a lot of power behind him, and I expect anything of all the crazy people that lead this world. The Bible says that in the last days, there will be wickedness, and there is, so look out!! We are going to go out in a ball of fire. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a fascinating story of the meteoric rise and fall of one of the grandest noble families in medieval England set against the backdrop of Viking raids and the Norman Conquest of 1066. Among the most famous families in English history was that of the Earl Godwin of Wessex ,whose most famous son was King Harold.This is the history of the powerful Godwin dynasty, from the mystery of their ancestral origins and background, to their rise to power under King Cnut, and their opportunism and accumulation of wealth under his successors. Frank Barlow charts the family through to Harold - the last Anglo-Saxon king - and finally the crowning of William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest. It was a period of violent upheaval in English history with Viking attacks and the conquest of England by Danish kings. The author unravels the gripping history of a feuding family that nevertheless determined the course and fortunes of all the English. For those interested in Medieval, British or Scandinavian history. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The kaiser leading his country to ruin.
This is a short biography of Germany's Last Emperor, William II.
As stated previously, it is short and a summary of his life.
The story includes his own downfall, leading Germany to the
Weimar Republic and then Nazi Germany.

The book does its best work in describing William's early life,
and his frosty relations with his English mother and relatives.
This led to alienation from the English royalty and prevented
Germany from forming an alliance with Great Britain, and a more
liberalized regime in Germany.

The book describes William's views on Jews, French, Russia, and
Great Britain. This was not a positive side to his personality.
Also detailed is his relationship to his mother, wife, and various mistresses, with a possible homosexual relationship with
his best friend. The author does not go into detail into this
last aspect, because there is not much evidence. His choice of
people to lead his Empire resulted in the First World War.

Adequate but fun to read
The author of this book accuses Michael Balfour in his biography of Wilhelm II of being "sympathetic" to his subject. This book is not. I found the book fun to read, tho it is not well footnoted and its bibliography is not a first-rate one, in my view. I suspect there are better biographies of Wilhelm II than this one. I read Balfour's The Kaiser and His Times, but I was not overly impressed by it, either. Does anyone know what is the best biography of Wilhelm II?

Nothing new in here
This book was relatively interesting, but if you really want to dig into the detail about Wilhelm II's life, you'd be better off with Lamar Cecil's two volume work. There really wasn't much new news in here, and Van der Kiste treated his subject pretty lightly, all things considered. Excellent bibliography, though.

Soldier Sailor Victim Chief
This superb book by Van Der Kiste explores the travails which confronted Wilhelm from the time he entered the world in a botched birth until the time of his exile. If the reader wishes a very real window into middle Europe from the time of the Franco-Prussian War until the advent of the Weimar Republic they need not read further than the pages of this account. Kaiser Wilhelm had his thumb in every pie baked on the continent.... from the Balkan Wars to World War I. He was beset not only with adversaries from across a continent but also from within his own government and family. Seeking a spot for Germany on the world stage the Kaiser's own indecision and poor judgement of people he chose to serve him, terminated his plans for a world wide German Empire. His failure and his inability to understand his own limitations led not only to his destruction, but also set the stage for the destruction of most of Europe in the two brutal wars which marked this century. The author artfully demonstrates that the desires of the individual must be based in reality and the desires of a nation must be as well. If not, all of us reap the whirlwind. This book is suggested reading for historians and academics alone. It is not for the casual reader.

Kaiser Wilhelm II: The brilliant, volatile failure
This is a compelling book about Germany's last emperor, a man whose power, ambition and instability contributed to World War I and lead to the demise of royal houses throughout Europe, including his own.

Inheriting the throne of Germany at the height of that country's power at the turn of the century, Wilhelm was an unstable man who suffered a difficult birth and childhood; who had a love/hate relationship with his English relatives; who believed he ruled by divine right at a time when other rulers were accepting democratic reform.

He was creative, brilliant, mercurial, even visionary. He was driven by the need for power for himself and his country. He was alleged to be bisexual and involved in various scandels.

His need to prove his power and that of Germany could have been a success. Germany entered the 20th Century with a growing middle class, healthy economy, rich creativity in the arts, industrial expansion and great creature comforts. But this same need for power and influence drove him into military expansion to compete with England and engage in pacts with various countries in Europe, still playing royal diplomatic games and not understanding the terror of modern warfare as at was developing.

It lead to World War I. Wilhelm's denial about the realities of the war lead to unrest. Germany lost badly and suffered after the armistice. Wilhelm fled into exile in Holland, dying on the eve of World War II, given a military funeral by Hitler, whom he came to loath after his initial enthusiasm for the Nazis.

The books tells Wilhelms's story in a compelling way, with many fascinating details. One wonders what the world would be like today, had Wilhelm's more liberal father inherited the throne, rather than dying prematurely, placing this complex man in such a position of power. ... Read more

Book Description

“WEIR’S BOOK OUTSHINES ALL PREVIOUS STUDIES OF HENRY. Beautifully written, exhaustive in its research, it is a gem. . . . She succeeds masterfully in making Henry and his six wives . . . come alive for the reader.”
–Philadelphia Inquirer

Henry VIII, renowned for his command of power and celebrated for his intellect, presided over one of the most magnificent–and dangerous–courts in Renaissance Europe. Never before has a detailed, personal biography of this charismatic monarch been set against the cultural, social, and political background of his glittering court. Now Alison Weir, author of the finest royal chronicles of our time, brings to vibrant life the turbulent, complex figure of the King. Packed with colorful description, meticulous in historical detail, rich in pageantry, intrigue, passion, and luxury, Weir brilliantly renders King Henry VIII, his court, and the fascinating men and women who vied for its pleasures and rewards. The result is an absolutely spellbinding read. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A MYOPTIC VIEW OF A HENRY
If you have read Alison's Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII, you will probably already have a good understanding of this aspect of Henry's life, that his, his private life. A.W. asserts in the beginning of this outing that she will not repeat what she had already covered - she only marginally succeeds. She does a good job of covering the information that you would remiss in not repeating; the dissolution of church, and the execution of A. Boleyn etc. However, in place of those details she's placed page after page of tedious information on the many castles and houses he owned and how much he spent fixing them up or redecorating for his new wife. I really enjoyed her picture of life at court and the internal court fractions between those vying for favor. However, the reason this book does not rate higher is that A.W. spends little or no time exploring the politics and society outside the castle(S) walls. I realize the title is "...and his court," but a lot of that was already covered in Henry's Six Wives. Having read A.W.'s surface treatment of Queen Elizabeth, I know that she is mostly interested in the drama aspect and the personal lives of those in the renaissance court, and not necessarily in the actual broader history of the time.
Bottom Line: I don't think I'm being too harsh on this book. I think A.W. is a wonderful researcher and a fine writer, it's just that this book is not the place I would recommend to anyone really wishing to further their understanding of the world in which Henry VIII lived.
Note: One bit of irritation is A.W.'s mention in the back-of-the-book interview that she has new information regarding Anne's execution, of course she does not mention what it is there because she wants you to read the book. I read over the key chapters where she covers Anne Boleyn's charges and there is really nothing new. As we've learned before the charges against her were mostly fabricated.

Excellent Description of 16th Century Royal Life
This was an enormously readable and interesting book that went much further than retelling the life of Henry VIII. The descriptions of the elements of daily life at Henry's court were very readable, sensitive to modern readers, and yet reasonably objective. Weir's new hypothesis on the execution of Anne Boleyn is wrought subtly, without drawing attention to itself as a new theory, and might be missed by those who are not very familiar with Tudor history. As with all Alison Weir's books, this one was very well researched, well-written, attentive to detail, easy to read, and very, very enjoyable.

Good on its own, repetative if you've read others
As Alison Weir is one of my favourite authors, I was very excited to run out and buy this book. However, I was a little disapointed when I actually read it. Weir seems to recycle much of her information from other books that she has written, mainly "The Six Wives" and "The Children" of Henry VIII.

Despite my disapointment, I gave this book 4 stars because if I had read neither of those books, I think I would have really enjoyed this one. As with all of Weir's books, it is chock full of information and extremely well written. Despite all the details, it is never boring. There is SOME new information in here, but I don't think that there is enough to merit a whole separate book.

If you have never read Weir, or are looking for a very good intro to life at a Tudor court, then this book is definately worth reading and I wholeheartedly recomend it. If you are already an old hand at Henry et. al., then you might want to skip this one and move on to another of Weir's books.

Delicious Social History
While not a biography of Henry VIII per se, this book is a fascinating glimpse into the machinations of his court over time. This lion king, fierce, ruthless, gifted and charming, presided over the first truly Renaissance court in England. Ms. Weir combed obscure sources for hitherto unknown insights and has written them into a cohesive social history. Who knew Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn both favoured cherries and strawberries above all other fruit? I had heard Henry VIII was fastidious in his personal hygiene, but here all is described at length: his daily routines, his eating and exercise habits, how he dined and with whom, the monumental progresses, plus his being the centre of a not very small courtly universe. What protocols his courtiers had to observe! And even Henry VIII does not appear the master of destiny, at least not in the minutae: he, too, was bound by conventional expectations of kingly behaviour.

Even as Henry was clean, his courtiers were hardly so: where else would find details such as crosses carved into palace walls to prevent men from urinating against them?

Here we see Henry's human side; I am familiar with Scarsbrick's intellectual view of Henry -- the man of policy and passion, the ecclesiastical and political dimensions. Here we see the business of being king; one sees 'Dieu et Mon Droit' in action, the pageantry, the spectacle, the dangers associated of rising too close to this brilliant sun. Much of it all must have been tedious, but Henry was born to the task (even if he were not destined to be king until his elder brother's premature death).

And Henry is not the only one addressed from an unconventional angle: Ms. Weir has unearthed details regarding Henry's wives and associates which normally escapes biographers. Occasionally, however, she does go out on an unsupported, unconventional limb, but overall, this is a wonderful companion piece to more difficult scholarly analyses of the period. Indeed, the book is easy to digest, although some unfamiliar with Henry VIII's reign might find the extraordinary amount of detail overwhelming. For the aficionado it is a welcome addition.

Great Book, though some flaws
I really loved this book, and it gave me a unique perspective of Henry VIII and those around him.
The only real flaw in this book is that the chapters that talk only about architecture and fashion tend to be a bit boring. I'm sure that the book would have been just as good without all of those long parts about the castles, etc... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Review of the Politics and the Politicians of the Era
Kenneth Rose is an excellent scholar and this book is about scholarship--debunking the myths and telling the straight story about King George V and the politicians with whom he dealth. My only wish is that I could know more about George V the man, but this is the same objection that I've had of all scholarly biographers of Kings. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This is an excellent book for everyone.
This book has been in my collection since its publication and has been read many times. It's still difficult to believe that this beautiful, young princess is no longer on her earthly sojourn but has moved on to a much better place.

The forward is written by The Reverend Tony Lloyd who is The Executive Director of The Leprosy Mission. The following quote is taken from the foreward on page 11: "Leprosy may not be mentally and physically damaging, but it is often erroneously seen as a curse from the gods, and the 'victims' then become outcasts. Since Diana herself was the frequent victim of pain and anguish, she had a special empathy for those who suffered in the same way. It is not a coincidence that five of her six remaining charities are associated with stigma.

"She was charismatic, witty, and, above all, a womain of extraordinary compassion. This was demonstrated both in the limelight and, more often, when there were no cameras or reporters present." So many times, one tends not to read the preface or the forward of a book and, often, valuable information can be gleaned from these. I, for one, feel that the last sentence of the above quote is crucial since there are still may people who think that Diana did everything in full view of cameras.

If one collects books on Diana, this book is a must. There is not any new material, there are several pictures not seen before; however, as with all books, it is presented in a different format and style. One is taken through Diana's life as a toddler, as a small girl, as a teenager, as an adult, and lastly, through her funeral service and to her final resting place on the small oval island at Althrop - her ancestral home.

Following are three quotations of Diana's: "I shall get married when I am sure that I am in love, so that we will never be divorced," said by Diana as a small girl - page 15. On page 30, "I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world when I looked at Charles through my veil. I had tremendous hope in my heart." On page 72, "I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved, and I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour; for a day, for a month, but I can give. I'm very happy to do that and I want to do that."

This is a great, but sad tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. This book contains many beautiful pictures in color and a few in black and white. This book is a must for anyone who collect books on Diana, Princess of Wales.

A must-have for Diana book collectors!!
Just when you think that you've read all there is about the late POW, along comes this well-written volume. It wasn't just the same old text with a few changes of words to make you think it was all new. I really found this book refreshing in content. One of the best coverages of the funeral I've read to date! Also pictures that I had not seen previously--and I have an embarrassingly large collection of them! However, while you're waiting for this book at Amazon.com to be released, I purchased mine at Waldenbooks on the clearance table for $2.99. I was shocked to see such a great book at such a steal, it's definatly worth the asking price here!

This is a very excellent tribute to Diana.
I have a few books about Diana, but this one, A Tribute to the People's Princess, I found to be very excellent. It shows Diana in many pictures in her different roles in life:Princess of Wales, mother, wife and humanitarian. I recommend everyone who wants to learn more about Princess Diana, to read this book, you'll be glad you did.

This book was excellent it had some different photos
I have many books on Diana and was pleased to see this one come out. It has nice colourful pictures of her and some different poses. Highly recommend it.

This is one great book!
This is an awsome book on Lady Diana. It has TONS of pictures. I enjoyed it ALOT!! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

This book was an endearing surprise!
To start out... I was never a Fergie fan. I read it upon the insistance of my sister. What an inspiring story she has to tell! I shall NEVER look at her the same way. She encapsulates the story of so many women who have had to deal with adversity (YES INDEEDY) and has found strength in doing what came natural to her and at times taking steps to do what was so difficult. I would recommend this book to all. She is a rare jem. The book is well written. You laugh, cry and rejoice in her becoming the woman she is.

A good story of overcoming difficulties and personal growth
This is a woman whose own self-destructive behavior caused a lot of problems for herself and others, and her impulsive behavior led to supreme public humiliation on an international level.

She was also, unfortunately, profoundly sabotaged by the system of which she found herself part, and without the collusion and participation of certain people in the Palace and the press, her downfall might have been kept much more quiet than it was.

And yet, against all odds and with a list of insecurities and neuroses as long as your arm, this woman managed to climb back up from rock bottom, pay off all of her enormous debts, get herself and her life under control, and go on to become a patron of charity and author. She's a fine mother, a decent person, and, that rarest of rare things, a real grownup (now, anyway).

It takes a lot of courage to admit all your failings, take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and move on with your life. She has done just that, and this book is an encouraging, easy-to-read, engaging look at her journey. I found it inspirational and heartwarming, and although I liked her before reading this book, by the time I was finished, I respected her.

Even if you care nothing at all about royalty and the glamour of being in the public eye, this story of a woman triumphing against great odds is a great read.

Disillusioning
Shattered all my Princess Dreams. She looks good, but her character and morals still seem to be in need of reworking. I couldn't make it past the first few chapters. Just kept getting more and more depressing. Felt sorry for Prince Charming.

A woman of little taste or style
What a perfectly ghastly woman. She is the living embodiment of vulgarity.

A Memorable Biography
I enjoy reading biographies and this one by Sarah Ferguson has stayed on my heart years after I first read it. Sarah was so honest about the heartbreak she lived through as the child of divorce, that often her story made me cry. Her willingness to truthfully share the mistakes she made and the painful lessons she learned during her time at Buckingham Palace were poignant and fascinating.

I recommend this story to anyone who is interested in British royalty, but also anyone who wants to read compelling story about an inspiring woman. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting reading, but perhaps a bit too male-bashing
I'm not quite sure why I decided to purchase this book; ...I thought this would provide a different look at an exhaustively covered subject.

First, I would not recommend this book to a "casual fan" of Diana. There is some deep reading here, it's not a book that can be skimmed and understood. You have to *read* it. ...

Ms. Campbell seems to pull much of her book from other sources, with extensive quoting being quite a bit of what you are reading. She then takes these quotes and excerpts and adds her interpretations and opinions. Sometimes these were spot on, other times I felt that she was stretching a bit to prove her point. I also feel that the title is somewhat misleading; the book wasn't entirely what I expected. The author's repetitive claims of Diana being "penetrated" by the media's cameras, the world's eyes get rather boring and made for some eye-rolling on my part. There is no doubt that the media were invasive to Diana, but I also believe she played them at times--it was a give and take. Maybe if I were a "feminist" I would be more inclined to agree with this observation.

There is some fascinating history in regards to past Princes of Wales, their behaviours and relationships, in particular that of George IV and Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Ms. Campbell points out amazing similarities between Caroline and Diana, and for that alone this book is worth delving into. Although I am reasonably well-versed in the recent past and current happenings of the House of Windsor, what I read was news to me, and sheds some light on the Royal Family, Prince Charles, and a marriage that was, unfortunately, doomed from the start. ... Read more

Book Description

An abused child, yet confident of her destiny to reign, a woman in a man's world, passionately sexual -- though, as she maintained, a virgin -- Elizabeth I is famed as England's most successful ruler. David Starkey's brilliant new biography concentrates on Elizabeth's formative years -- from her birth in 1533 to her accession in 1558 -- and shows how the experiences of danger and adventure formed her remarkable character and shaped her opinions and beliefs.

From princess and heir-apparent to bastardized and disinherited royal, accused traitor to head of the princely household, Elizabeth experienced every vicissitude of fortune and extreme of condition -- and rose above it all to reign during a watershed moment in history. A uniquely absorbing tale of one young woman's turbulent, courageous, and seemingly impossible journey toward the throne, Elizabeth is the exhilarating story of the making of a queen.

Reviews (30)

Informative but shallow
This book concentrates on the period from the Queen's birth to her accession to the throne and then, for some unknown reason, tacks on the bare facts concerning the demise of her regime in the last few pages of the book. Why?- As an American who did not learn English history by heart, but absorbed it as part of an undergraduate European History class, my memory was jogged by the allusi