1 comments about A Golden Age: The Autobiography.

1. Steve Redgrave is an amazing rower. We get to learn something about the cost of his unparalleled Olympic achievements. But this is not a dramatic book, rather a somewhat rambling memoir, transcribed by Redgrave's cowriter.
   
   If you're a huge Redgrave fan, rowing fanatic, or Olympic sport freak, get it. If you want to learn how to row, buy Redgrave's Complete Book of Rowing (or better yet, Frank Cunningham's Sculler at Ease, which covers sweeps too). If you want Olympic drama, buy The Amateurs by Halberstam or Assault on Lake Casitas by Brad Lewis.

5 comments about Her Little Majesty: The Life of Queen Victoria.

1. This is a small book for such a large subject. It keeps to the facts and indeed it does not overwhelm you with those. I found some of the expressions used in the book to be a little odd, almost as if the writer was trying to write in style that she thinks is "real" English.

   I enjoyed the book and it has made me want to learn more about this quite remarkable woman. In short ;read it and enjoy , but don't expect to be turned into an expert by the end of the book.




2. This book is very well written. THere are many similies and metaphors which put you back into the life of Queen Victoria. It is an educational book, yet it reads like a story. It is most definetly not like most historical non-fiction books.



3. This is a very brief and often inaccurate portrayal of Queen Victoria and the 19th century, during a time when everything that people knew and accepted was changing. For a more accurate biography about Queen Victoria, I suggest "Victoria Victorious" by Jean Plaidy. Much better.



4. I was hoping for a lot more from this book after reading other reviews and noting how many biographies of famous women Carolly Erickson has written. Frankly this book read like a student's history project, that is, essentially a time-line with only a small effort to truly express who Queen Victoria was. The book was not very captivating and I only finished it because it was the only book I had on an 8 hour flight. There are probably better biographies of the Little Queen out there.



5. Like most reviewers, I found this delightful little volume a good read, without the detail one normally encounters in a biography. One gathers from this work that the the queen's unhappy childhood had a profound effect upon the rest of her life; including, in rather a perverse way, the relationship with her husband, whom she is said to have both adored and harassed.
   
   I have to admit that I purchased my new copy for one pound in London (remainder!). I am doubtful if I would have paid full price. But a good read.

5 comments about The Queen of Whale Cay: The Eccentric Story of 'Joe' Carstairs, Fastest Woman on Water.

1. Nonconformist is an understatement. Eccentric isn't outre enough. Over-the-top words do not adequately describe Marion "Joe" Carstairs. She was a breakneck ambulance driver in World War I France, a world record-holding speedboat racer, the supreme ruler of her own Bahamian island, and pal to notables such as the Duchess of Windsor, Tallulah Bankhead, and Marlene Dietrich.

   Assigned to write an obituary of "Joe" Carstairs for the London Daily Telegraph, Kate Summerscale soon became fascinated by the woman who held sway in the 1920's as heiress to the Standard Oil fortune. This singular individual wore men's clothing meticulously tailored for her on Saville Row, favored female lovers, was tenaciously devoted to a small leather doll whom she christened Lord Tod Wadley, and managed to thumb her nose at almost every convention.

   As Ms. Summerscale unearthed more and more amazing information about her extraordinary subject, she determined to carry her findings far beyond a terse death notice. The result is The Queen Of Whale Cay, a buoyant, highly readable biography that became a London Times bestseller and nominee for the Whitbread Biography of the Year Prize.

   Estranged from her parents and disliked by a step-father, young "Joe" was sent to boarding school in America. Of this time her diary only records, "Left family aged 11." At the age of 16 she drove ambulances in France, where "Paris was heavily shelled....whole sides of houses fell down and people lay bleeding in the streets."

   Returning to London after the war, "replenished, brimming with vigour and ambition," "Joe" and some friends opened a chauffeuring service, and took on "any driving work, far and near."

   Galvanized by machines and speed, in 1925 Joe used her wealth "to commission the best motorboat money could buy." She was a daredevil on water, competing in races in Britain, Cannes and Detroit, where she vied with the famous Gar Wood.

   Yet, racing was not enough. She sought even greater challenges by leaving England in 1934 to rule and reside on Whale Cay, the Bahamian island she purchased for $40,000. Upon arriving she found the only inhabitants were a black couple who tended the lighthouse. "Joe asked them whether they lit the beacon every night, and they replied, to her amusement, "Only when the weather's good."

   She worked alongside laborers to lay a road from one end of the island to another. A store was built, and a large hole dug then filled with blocks of ice for refrigeration. Her home, the Great House, was constructed with the help of 300 men. It was a "sturdy Spanish villa, white, with red tiles..." From there she had dominion over a colony of 500 Bahamians, and entertained friends from throughout the world.

   During the 1960's, as Bahamians became increasingly independent, the atmosphere on Whale Cay changed, and "Joe" retreated to Miami. In 1975 she sold the island for approximately 1 million dollars. Three years later, deciding she'd had enough of women, she invited a handsome older man to move in with her. Hugh Harrison "stayed with her as a friend and paid companion until she died." In 1993 "Joe" and Wadley were cremated together.

   Generous, outrageous, at times a bold prankster, "Joe" Carstairs defies description. Her life defies fiction. The Queen of Whale Cay is intriguing reading, a candid portrait of a nonpareil, an incorrigible, unconquerable 20th century woman.

   - Gail Cooke




2. I saw this slim volume in the store and was fascinated by the picture on the cover - a woman dressed as a man with a little battered doll on her shoulder - "what in the world is this?" So, I started to read. What a surprise. This is the story of Marion "Joe" Carstairs, a Standard Oil heiress, a champion speed boat driver, friend to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, an unrepentant lesbian, owner of the Caribbean isalnd Whale Cay, and the constant companion of Lord Todd Wadley (yes, a funny little doll). This is one of the most immediately engaging books I've ever read. What a character she was, and what a life she led. "The Queen of Whale Cay" is an absolute charmer from start to finish. Looking for a little slice of forgotten history to while a way some time? This is the book for you.



3. On paper, this book sounds fabulous. A rich, beautiful lesbian lives a scandalous life filled with excitement, traveling around the world, meeting lots of famous people, and making love to dozens of willing female partners. Imagine a Howard Stern sex epic with a sumptuous budget and a Merchant Ivoery feel!
   
   Kay Summerscale does a very professional job as a biographer. Unfortunately, the story is not that exciting. Yes, Joe Carstairs was a rich lesbian, and a rebel, but she was not in any sense a "fun" person. She was apparently some kind of borderline schizophrenic. All she could do to act "manly" was to throw screaming tantrums, smoke, spit and swear. Not an attractive personality. The whole thing with carrying the little doll around for 60 years comes across as sick, not funny or charming.
   
   Read the book for the sumptuous settings and try to imagine someone glamorous, like Gloria Holden (from the lesbian classic DRACULA'S DAUGHTER)having the same adventures, but in a fun way.



4. Kate Summerscale stumbled onto a treasure trove when she was asked in the 12990s to write the obituary for a British daily for M. B. "Joe" Carstairs, an eccentric Standard Oil heiress who had set speedboating records in the 1920s and who literally ruled her own Bahamian island for several decades, not only paying all the inhabitants directly out of her pocket but also establishing their rules and punishments. Carstairs also was one of the great lesbian lovers of the twentieth century, having affairs with dozens of beautiful actresses including Greta Garbo and Tallulah Bankhead--and to top off everything, was obsessed with a small leather manikin she named "Lord Tod Watley" and took with her everywhere, proclaiming him the great love of her life. The material is so terrific that this slim little biography can't help but be a fun read, but the book is held back tremendously by Summerscale's amateurish writing style, which consists of endless flatly declarative sentences and which rarely uses transitions between new ideas. Clearly Summerscale is quite erudite (her allusions to Woolf and Djuna Barnes are not only illuminating but actually quite clever), but the prose was a real drawback to what would have been otherwise a terrific tale.



5. Joe Carstairs comes off as a fascinating study of what it was like to be a moneyed lesbian somewhat outside the usual literary lesbians of the early 20th century. There aren't many stories about these women, and we can certainly use more.
   
   Alas, Carstair's definitive biography is yet to be written. Summerscale uses Freudian analysis-- badly-- and literary allusions-- somewhat better-- to illustrate who and what Carstairs was about. Summerhill basically creates a book that is about 50 years behind the time it was written. It would help if Summerscale had any actual clue about lesbian culture and cultural theory, but it seems she'd rather turn Carstairs into a freak instead of exploring her as an outsider.
   
   The most egregious example of this is early on in the book, in which she talks about how Carstairs "rejects her feminity to reinvent herself." You can't reject what you don't have in the first place. Grounding the biography firmly in the mistaken beleif that a female body will naturally be feminine creates a caricature of Carstairs rather than the fully human characterization she deserves.
   
   This is worth reading, but it's worth reading with a very critical eye on Summerscale's clunky writing and outdated analysis.

3 comments about Churchill at War 1940-45.

1. Those who share my high regard for Martin Gilbert's and then Roy Jenkins' comprehensive biographies as well as John Keegan's brief but insightful biography of Winston Churchill (within the "Penguin Lives" series) will gratefully welcome Lord Moran's discussion of Churchill during World War Two. His access was direct and unlimited, serving as Churchill's personal physician until his death on January 24, 1965. According to Lord Moran, shortly after the war ended, G.M. Trevelyan strongly encouraged him to record his thoughts and feelings about Churchill as well as anecdotes which otherwise would have been lost. Thus began a process which continued until 1966, a year after Churchill's death, when Lord Moran published an 850-page memoir. Much of that volume has been reprinted in this new edition.

   Having read and then re-read the three previously cited biographies, I already knew a great deal about Churchill's life and career. Of greatest interest to me in this volume are the anecdotes, dozens and dozens of them, which reveal Churchill the man in ways and to an extent not previously indicated by other authors. Many of these anecdotes suggest that the Churchill was an especially "difficult" patient, one almost totally lacking in patience. Over time, he had several health problems which even his epic will power could not overcome: a number of heart attacks, three pneumonias, two strokes, one abdominal operation, a hernia, deafness, and a virulent skin disease as well as countless minor ailments. Refusing to reduce (much less eliminate) his daily consumption of cigars and alcohol certainly didn't help, nor did the quick cures of quacks whom Churchill insisted on retaining. Because of quite legitimate concerns about Churchill's health, therefore, Lord Moran accompanied him on numerous trips, recording his own opinions of dozens of contemporaries such as Roosevelt, Stalin, Atlee, Eden, and Truman. These comments leave no doubt that Lord Moran was a keen observer and a shrewd judge of other people.

   Alistair Cooke once said of Churchill that he "told a listless nation it was heroic, and it became so." Perhaps you are already familiar with Churchill the public figure. In this lively and informative volume, Lord Moran enables you to take Churchill's measure as (in Cooke's words) a "magnetic, monstrous, oddly lovable man."




2. This book is a reprinted excerpt of Lord Moran's diary who was Churchill's personal physician from May 1940 to his death. As his doctor Moran accompanied him to all major conferences. The diaries provide, therefore, fascinating glimpses into the lives of the people who have shaped the twentieth century. Although only the war years are covered here the interested reader might want to look up the complete diaries in libraries because they are no longer in print.
   Nevertheless, even the book under discussion shows that the Churchill who is so admired today also had his darker side and that by 1943 the Atlantic Alliance was no longer as firm as we are led to believe. At the time of the Teheran and Yalta conferences, which shaped the post-war world, Churchill had lost all influence over Roosevelt, who had gravitated instead to Stalin. Lord Moran also shows clearly that Roosevelt was no longer capable of understanding what he was up against and at Yalta it was apparent that the man was dying. He should never have run for re-election in 1944.
   The insights which Lord Moran brings to our understanding of the tragic twentieth century should be seriously considered because the fate of the world hangs on the physical and mental health of a handful of leading politicans.



3. I don't think anyone with an interest in Winston Churchill can afford to pass this book by. It's a warts-n-all portrait (a very thorough and fair one), and certainly is a breath of fresh, unsentimental air when it comes to trying to pin down the character of Churchill and his conduct as a leader during WWII.
   
   I especially admired the author's almost conversational, easy writing style, which just flows across the pages, and, the way he reveals much about himself, as well as Winston Churchill (but without thrusting himself or his POV on the reader).
   
   I found this book fascinating and am looking for a copy of its sequel, which takes Churchill from 1945 to 1965.

5 comments about Richard and John: Kings at War.

1. I enjoyed McLynn's book, which is unashamed in its traditional bias. He is incredibly scrupulous about citing his sources, with a vast array needing practically the last 50 pages of the book to list. I only wish that he had drawn upon a somewhat wider vocabulary to match. After reading this and his 1066 book back to back, I would not be entirely inconsolable if I never came across the words 'uxorious' or 'contumacious' again which he is particularly fond of. Or a state of affairs described as a 'cockpit' of intrigue or tension.
   
   Still. I enjoyed Richard & John a great deal. Though it is clear, throughout the book, that whom he truly relishes writing about is Richard. John is pretty much an afterthought, beyond the fortunate circumstances of living a bit longer after Richard's death, which provides McLynn with the opportunity to take sadistic pleasure in detailing his failures in comparison with Richard's heroic nobility. If the Lionheart had lived a decade longer, this book might as well have been called 'Richard'. Which wouldn't have been bad. Since the book truly soars when Richard takes center stage. There is also fine treatment given to an array of memorable if little known characters, such as William Marshall, who had a rather hilarious affinity for tournaments.



2. Its nice to learn that "King John was not a good man", and that Richard actualy earned his reputation. Well written, exciting as a good detective story, history the way it used to be written and the way it should be written. Besides its fun to see the revisionists revised. A good read as well as good history.



3. I must say that I am very disheartened by some of the other reviews here that chide author McLynn for using big words or for going into excessive detail in Richard and John: Kings at War. For me, McLynn's prose was the highlight of this experience, his colorful and extremely engaging writing made exploring the often confusing and complicated world of medieval European politics and culture.
   
   I'm the kind of reader who likes a challenge, who enjoys coming across words that I need to look up in a dictionary, and relishes the opportunity to immerse myself in a vast, unfamiliar world like that of Richard the Lionheart and the Angevin dynasty. When I come across a word like "uxorious" or "gallimaufry," I don't resent the author for obfuscating his thoughts in the arcane or obscure, I'm thankful to be introduced to new methods of expression.
   
   Richard and John is a challenging read, without a doubt, but McLynn's approach is not condescending to the reader. Quite the contrary, by not dumbing down his text he reveals a level of respect to the reader, and puts his faith in our ability as learned adults to not merely allow the book to wash over us passively, but to actively engage the text, and include ourselves in the rich dialogue he has set-up.
   
   I enthusiastically recommend Richard and John as an excellent and exciting narrative which sheds light on the distant yet in many ways familiar world of medieval Europe and as an example of well-tuned writing that should invigorate readers, not discourage them.



4. The battle between church and monarchy for control of England in the 12th and 13th centuries is a fascinating look at greed, power, some chivalry and life during hard times. Throw in Robin Hood, Magna Carta and beautiful ambitious women for a great story.



5. Author McLynn has produced a very creditable work on the family of Henry II (& I should have added Philip Augustus in my title) from a traditionalist standpoint. Yes, his prose is interlaced with opinions, but I found them to be consistent with the evidence. I particularly enjoyed McLynn's portrait of Saladin and the difficulties he faced confronting both the crusaders and enemies within the Muslim world. In a phrase, there was no inside track anywhere.
   
   With respect to both Richard and John, it was refreshing to read a work from a modern academic author who does not condemn Richard for this love of battle or exalt John who faced the impossible task of keeping a patchwork of lands together that lacked a common language or heritage. In addition, the author completely refutes the notion that Richard was a homosexual (another favorite of politically correct authors). He sometimes ends up presenting a wearisome procession of political treaties, the breaking of those treaties and subsequent military conflict, but that was life among the perpetually squabbling petty kings and barons of Europe at the time.
   
   McLynn does yeoman work in attempting to present the Angevin empire as it was without moralizing and criticizing with 20th century hindsight and professed morality. At the time the crusades were seen as noble and in keeping with God's command. Richard was simply doing his duty to God. Today, academics generally condemn the crusades following on Hume's 18th century historical work that set the tone. No doubt we will be judged in the twenty-fifth century as equally misguided and feckless. One should never, never, never judge historical figures by anything other than the conditions and attitudes of their times. McLynn does this admirably.
   
   As a descendant of John (& Henry & Eleanor) I was hoping for some new or legitimate defense of his many faults, but alas, there was none. John has been much loved lately by revisionists (see Turner), but even with my possibly average knowledge of medieval sources, I knew such polemics possessed severe faults and biases. Maybe it is comforting to believe that all great leaders have feet of clay, but some are truly better than others.
   
   Richard was clearly the foremost military leader produced in Europe from 600 to 1700 CE and should be recognized as such. That he treated England as only a part of his empire (and not excessively important) might offend British historians, but that is their problem, not Richard's. His killing of the 3,000 Acre prisoners is usually used to prove his blood lust, but in medieval eyes this hardly raised an eyebrow.
   
   With John, on the other hand, it is difficult to find any redeeming virtues. Modern historians often make much of the difficulties he faced, but other leaders in history (Genghis Khan comes to mind) have faced far greater difficulties and overcome them. John's failures were his own, and the litany of them makes for difficult and boring reading. I can only imagine how difficult they were to write about over and over again.
   
   A sideline in McLynn's treatise is the venality of the Roman Catholic Church and its meddling for hire in the affairs of kings and governments. It was often difficult to separate religion from politics, and bribing Church officals was the order of the day. The recounting of one tiring manipulation after another by the clergy and Pope makes for daunting reading. Yet again, the participants at those times saw nothing unusual or even unethical in such activities.
   
   McLynn has produced a masterful and scholarly work, although like others, I sometimes found the writing style producing ennui. Nevertheless, it is well worth reading for a thorough understanding of the times and the major players affecting England. There were not a lot of new disclosures here, but through McLynn's encyclopedic presentation from medieval sources, the characters came to life in a setting that can be understood by the modern reader (if it can ever be understood given our a priori framework of knowledge). History is well served. What more can one ask?

5 comments about The Way We Were: Remembering Diana.

1. No one knew the multi-faceted Diana, Princess of Wales like Paul Burrell did. Once again he evokes her memory and captures the majesty of the delicate chameleon we knew, simply and lovingly, as Diana. In a lifetime that was all too brief she accomplished what no other "Royal" has. Until the reign of Elizabeth II, no one really bothered about the monarchy. We came into the age of television and reached toward the age of technology as Elizabeth II was crowned and reached toward her reign as Queen in an age of enlightenment. I am quite certain she could never foresee the likelihood of a modern day Princess reaching out to the people in the way H.R.H. Diana extended herself and touched those she would never know or may never see again. The Monarchy seemed to be hidden behind palace doors, but not Diana...never Diana. The Queen has possession and guardianship of the crown jewels during her reign. The brightest of those was one she could never possess or pass on. The most brilliant and brightest star was Diana, the "Queen of Hearts" and the "People's Princess" who served her people by being out among them and giving of herself to them whenever and wherever she could. The charity in her heart was endless as she was tireless in her contribution to those who suffered. The Queen always thought she knew her people well. The death of Diana proved that to be a total misconception. It is my belief that since the British people had been exposed to another way of being and another way of doing things, they weren't going back to a time when things happened around them. It is also my belief that the next reign will take a lesson from Diana's ways and rule with true spirit, openess and generosity of heart. Thank you Paul, for another glimpse into your world with Diana!



2. The author deserves to be knighted for his contribution to the public in writing this book.
   He is the only person who can be trusted to write truthfully and respectfully about Princess Diana. The book is poignant and I cried buckets of tears through every chapter. However, I found it to be emotionally healing and therapeutic too. If you loved Princess Diana and want to find some closure after the tragedy of her death, this book is a must.



3. This is an excellent heart warming book that to me, gives a more accurate review of Princess Diana's life. It shows that she was human, compassionate and like the rest of us in this world had her own problems. It also shows a girl marrying an older controlling man and gave up her life the day she said "I do". I am not sure such a young person knew what she was about to give up. This book only allows me to admire this young Princess more today than yesterday. It is a book that I could not put down until I was finished through the final account of Diana's life, in tears. Worth every penny I paid for it.



4. Just as in a Royal Duty, in The way we were Paul Burrell allows us to know a little more about his life serving Princess Diana, as a butler and as a friend (friendship that other peolple didn't accept and gave him lots of problems after she died). Here he also reveals some secrets that let us know how Diana really was and who she was really in love with when she died. That information was a shock to me because I guess we all try to believe what the media sells not knowing that sometimes that's not the truth.
   I loved this book!



5. in this book you get a better feel of diana's day to day life and the pictures of the interior of her private quarters at kensington palace were very interesting to see. i am surprised that he was able to publish the pictures in his book. and what is buried in the garden really shocked me, just wonder what the outcome of that will be. her relationship with dr. hasnat was rather sweet and sad, never resolved. if di had lived i believe there would have been more to come with that relationship.paul also lets us in on the love hasnat had for diana. in many reports i read he seemed rather distant, but that wasnt the case at all. OH THE WHAT IF'S. the pictures alone are worth the price of the book. good read and i learned things i did not know... even after reading many books on diana.

5 comments about Nick Drake: The Biography.

1. As the other reviewers have said, there is too much useless information. He should have given in to this and made a concise, quick read, but instead seemed to set a page number goal and filled most of it with fluff.



2. Can't much argue with the complaints that this is too long and rambling, badly edited, repetitive, and lacking in juicy details. Guilty on all counts. It could have easily been half as long.
   
   For what it's worth, an early version did appear as a magazine article in MOJO, and worked quite well in that form. When it came to fleshing it out to a full book, it feels like he was trying too hard to compensate for the lack of first-hand participation by Drake's family, producer, and key colleagues such as John Martyn and Richard Thompson, and went overboard with the school chums material. Some of the latter is worthwhile, but the most insightful and interesting parts come from the interviews with session musicians, engineers, exasperated record company employees, and Linda Thompson. And the Francoise Hardy material is somewhat revelatory -- too bad there isn't more of it. The John Martyn stuff, even though second-hand, is quite touching.
   
   Ultimately, one is left less with a deeper understanding of Nick Drake himself than with an overwhelming sense of disbelief and frustration at the cluelessness of those closest to him. Reading this account of his unravelling, I keep wondering why no one but his parents seemed to truly grasp the gravity of his illness. A good psychotherapist would likely arrive at an accurate diagnosis halfway through the book. Perhaps it was just the times, and there was simply less awareness then, but you'd think someone would have intervened. Twenty-five years on, we have documentaries about Metallica going to group therapy...
   
   I would add that, without seeming to try very hard, the book makes a convincing case for Drake's death being accidental. I had always assumed it was intentional, but now I rather doubt it.



3. the washington post book world had this to say: "drake fans will devour the book." and that i did. this is a very readable, well done portrait of the troubled genius that was nick drake. you probably would not be here reading this if you were not already familiar with drake's gorgeous music, so i am assuming you simply want to know about the life of an artist who's work you admire. this book will be just the ticket. i really can't understand the negative to luke-warm reviews posted here. drake's life and times are sculpted in a narrative that never falters. mr humphries has done a service to fans of nick drake, that i, for one, applaud. i highly recommend this bio to nick drake fanatics everywhere.



4. This book is a laudable attempt to tell the Nick Drake story, but the amount of padding to make it into a thick enough volume to stand up on shelves is ridiculous. The detailed reminder of how the Titanic sunk goes on for several florid pages, only to tell us that one person connected with its history was the author's uncle, who delivered Nick Drake at a Rangoon hospital.
   
   This only section of real interest to any Drake admirer is nearer to the end, and it is thankfully not pruriant. Drake's slow and tragic decline is told with care and uses the fascinating insights of friends and family.
   
   A thinner volume leaving out all the padding would have served Drake's memory better, and would sell just as well. The author might have had to settle for a cheaper RRP for his product, but he still would have seen more payback than Drake did for his economical music in his lifetime.



5. Lack of personal information is a severe handicap for a biographer. In this case, family of Nick Drake couldn't or wouldn't talk, neither did Nick's producer.Nick's father and mother had passed on, and his sister Gabrielle, for reasons not given, was not forthcoming.Nick, it seems, had no close friends to whom he confided his personal thoughts.The author thus pads out the story to make it book-length.There is a frustrating lack of personal anecdotes and information which one desires in a biography.The author quotes various people who knew Nick in some way, but only on the surface.Part of the problem was Nick himself.With his mercurial Gemini nature, he kept slipping out of people's grasp.He withdrew more and more into himself.In his declining years he would visit friends, but barely talk to them.The author does not delve into Nick's psychology to any extent.It seems Nick may have been a narcissistic personality.He was very self absorbed and formed no close relationships.Reading this book I get the feeling he expected success to be handed to him on a plate. He did not put in the hard work necessary for success.Nick did not have an agent, and conflicting reports are given about his confidence as a live performer.I have the impression that Nick gave up trying, and sank into a depressed and passive state.For these reasons I don't see him as some misunderstood romantic figure.All in all, a depressing book about a depressing person.

5 comments about The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense and Sensibility.

1. This was a truly fun book. It was written with a sense of fun about Jane Austen. Synopsis of the novels and characters are interspersed with interviews from actors who've had roles in movie adaptations of Jane Austen's novels, famous writers' thoughts on the impact of Jane Austen in their own writings, silly quizzes that will have you nodding your head or guessing out loud and even lists of the most obnoxious characters.



2. The Friendly Jane Austen: A Well-Mannered Introduction to a Lady of Sense & Sensibility is a wonderful resource for the die-hard Austen fan as well as Austen newbies. Ms. Tyler takes each book in turn, gives a synopsis of the plot and places it in historical context and in the context of Austen's life. She then explains those details that might be abstract to those not familiar with Regency culture, such as entailed property, the importance of walking and the attitude toward marriage, making the reader comfortable with the novel. She includes illustrations, interviews, quizzes and delightful bits on the side such as "10 Surefire Ways to be Vulgar", a table of average income and "Sense and Sensibility: A Checklist". In addition, she finishes the book lists of movie versions, book spin-offs and sequels and shows Austen's role (her "legacy") in our century.
   
   An Austen fan from way back, I found this a truly delightful book. Ms. Tyler is humorous as well as informative and her enthusiasm for Austen is apparent. This is a must-have for Austen fans, no question about it; the resources provided in The Friendly Jane Austen further the enjoyment of reading Austen's novels. It is also an excellent book for those that have just started reading Austen. With this book by your side, you can't fail to see just how wonderful Jane Austen was, and still is.



3. This fine little book is a great encyclopedia of Jane Austen, her life, all her works, impact on other writers, and on other forms of entertainment over the two centuries her works have been amongst us. I find it is frequently used as a resource for discussion. Those new to Jane Austen will get an excellent start in becoming a fan. The writing is lively, well illustrated and easily translated to the 21st century investigator.



4. Of all the references I have seen so far, this is the most complete as far as covering all of Jane Austen's personal life, the last 200 years of how other famous people saw her, a clear discussion of each of her novels, and how the many adaptations have had an impact in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This book is must reading for oldtime fans of Jane and a great and full introduction for first time readers. Who can resist being a fan after reading this fine book? It deserves to be kept handy all the time.



5. I just happened upon this little gem at my local bookstore and after thumbing through the pages for about a minute, I knew I had to have it. The layout of the book is superb as it highlights each of Miss Austen's novels and gives facts, fun lists and quotations in a light-hearted yet interesting manner. There is something for the long-time fan as well as anyone new to the novels. A must-have for any Jane Austen fan and a fantastic resource for any book club reviewing a Jane Austen novel. Well done.

5 comments about The Elephant Man : A Study in Human Dignity.

1. I read this book after reading Christine Sparks' novel, "The Elephant Man", which is based on the movie based on the true-life story of Merrick. Reading Montagu's book helped me realize which parts of the story were from Merrick's actual life and which were artistic creations. Montagu includes a number of primary documentation in presenting the history of Merrick (including Treves' memoirs, Merrick's autobiography, Carr-Gomm's letters to the Times, etc.), as well as what later researchers have found out about Merrick's history and a description of the disorder he was inflicted with, neurofibromatosis.

   After presenting this information, Montagu continues by explaining the moral lessons that come from the story of Merrick. This is where Montagu's book starts to reveals its dated-ness. Though the lesson of the importance of loving a child will never be outdated, Montagu insists on the special role of the mother, whereas modern anthropologists have conclude that fathers can nurture children as well as mothers (men are not as inclined to participate, but do have the ability). In the 70's when this book was written, child rearing was still looked upon as being the sole domain of the woman. Mother-love should be read parental-love.

   The second complaint I have is Montagu's actual writing style. Though he has good thoughts and ideas, he has little skill in expressing them and has a tendency to rehash the same thought over and over again. His writing is not well organized (beyond being divided into chapters) and his presentation of moral truths comes off more like pleading rather than as a well-presented argument. The language is simple and easy for children to understand so it is a great book for young readers, but the adult reader will feel the book lacking.

   I am glad I purchased this book, and I recommend it for people who want to know more about the life of Joseph Merrick, but the rest of the content must be read with a grain of salt - realize that the writing is poor and the analysis is somewhat outdated. I could not give it 4 or 5 stars because of these faults.




2. I really liked reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone. It is about the life of Joseph Merrick. It shows people how that it is what is inside a person that counts. What is in their heart that counts, and not how they look. It's one of the best books I've ever read.



3. Upon seeing the movie "The Elephant man" I was immediately possessed by an overwhelming urge to know how much of the movie was true, and how much was false. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book answered every question I had, and more. Ashley Montagu has researched the subject with such a tenacity that it truly boggles my mind that he was able to collect all this information
   
   Though I respect the reviews of others here, I have to respectfully disagree with what some have said doubting the influence of his mother, for two reasons. The first and foremost being that Mr. Montagu gives more than enough information as to allow the reader to make their own informed decision, even if they do not agree with his views. The second reason being that the idea of Joseph's father being the shining beacon in young Joseph's life is very unlikely. Joseph Merrick's father let him be sent away to work at age 12. Keep in mind, a hip injury had left him practically lame, and he had almost no use of his right arm. One day his father beat him severely when he spent too much money, which money he earned himself, on food. There is no record of him making any attempt to recover Joseph when Joseph left home for good at the age of 14. (Mr. Treves thought Joseph's mother had sent him to the workhouses, however, Mr Montegu proves this assumption wrong) I would say that Mr Montegu places such importance on Joseph's mother simply because it seems quite impossible that such an importance could be ascribed to the father given the facts.
   
   To this day, I can not fathom Joseph Merrick; by all accounts, after everything that happened to him, he should have been bitter and spiteful to the core, yet he was was instead a shining example of courage, dignity, and the human spirit. This book illuminates that undying spirit in a way that is hard to describe. I would recommend this book to everybody.



4. Like others I purchased and read this book after reading the book by C. Sparks based on Joseph Merricks life. I also purchased "The True Story of the Elephant Man" by Howell and Ford. I found that to be a vastly superior book in detailing his true life and the ways of the London in that era. Montagu did not enlighten me with any new facts, and filled the rest of his pages with his thoughts.



5. Treves' writings I would give 5 stars, but the book as a whole I give 3.
   
   I would only recommend this book for the short story that Frederick Treves wrote and for the pictures, paintings, etc., that are in this book. I believe Ashley Montagu did an extreme disservice to John Merrick (Joseph as he likes to call him and was his given name, it seems). He also did quite the disservice to Treves. Using Treves' book, only to discredit him! It looks to me that Montagu only wanted to further his own book and his beliefs on people who can't quite come to grips with what John Merrick went through. It is unbelievable how much Montagu contradicts himself --- and he doesn't even seem to notice. He was boring ... and this is not the book I thought I was buying! Treves' story of the man he knew and helped, was so beautifully written, so real, and so touching. Montagu tries through out the book to almost say, "I am right and Treves is wrong." His findings have no proof. His logic makes no sense! Either Treves is a liar and Montagu is right --- or Treves is telling the truth and Montagu is just furthering his beliefs on people and because he thinks every person has to have a loving mom to be nice, etc. Treves had no reason to lie. All he says makes sense. I believe Treves without a doubt. I just wish there was more that he had written. Montagu would have you believe that John Merrick was only maltreated severely (if that) for a few years. Treves says it was all his life. There is no way that Montagu could be correct (and most of what he says has no proof) and for John Merrick to be who he was ... i.e. react to things as he did ... to not want to talk about the past, etc. A few years just isn't going to do to a person, what your whole life would ... meaning, being treated horribly, no love, no talking, no nothing ... a nightmare. John's earliest memory is the workhouse. How, then, could it not be of his mother, if what Montagu says is true that John had her up to almost eleven years old? Because it's not true!
   
   As you read Treves beautiful story of John Merrick ... don't let Montagu ruin it for you. Read it to see how much Montagu doesn't make sense, how it doesn't add up, and how he has no proof. Even the so called "Autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick" supposedly by Merrick, has no proof of authorship! His handler could have written it, or told John what to write. Then, when you're done with the book, read only Treves again, and take in what Treves was telling us. What a humble, gentle, loving, true human being John Merrick was. And realize, that yes, anything is possible through the Lord ... and I believe the Lord was with John and that John trusted in the Lord, and that he is in Heaven today.
   
   The book is worth it to buy for the Treves story and the pictures. But that's all.

4 comments about Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchills.

1. Winston and Clementine: Happily Ever After

   This is the story of a political marriage. In some ways it will be familiar to the contemporary reader, though it began and ended a long time ago.

   Both husband and wife in this marriage were interested in politics. The husband was elected again and again over decades to high office. For decades his wife fought at his side, entertained at his table, offered her judgment to him and his colleagues and his enemies. She took his place in his absence, and sometimes in his presence. She became an international figure. She had power, and she used it. Always she had a mind of her own.

   Sometimes this couple would quarrel. Once a serving dish was thrown. There was a period, not too long, when one of the partners was out of sympathy with the other, or anyway in sympathy with another.

   They knew trouble. They lost a daughter and many friends to death, and some friends to betrayal. They fought political wars at home in which their own party tried to deprive them of office. They fought shooting wars abroad-including the worst ever. More than once, they seemed down and out. Their livelihood as much as their career was threatened. After decades of struggle they reached the summit of power and they knew the adoration of a nation and a world. By then they had grown old together.

   Readers of this story will find that wives did not enter politics yesterday, and private lives were influential in politics before last week. But in other respects this story is unlike anything we have known in this time. Here are two people who won every honor that human affairs can offer, and they won them together. Meanwhile they operated upon those natural and traditional lines that involve that deepest of partnerships. Their division of labor augmented the strength of them both beyond what either could do, apart or together, if they both had done the same parts of the job. True, this is the story of a political partnership. More than that, it is a marriage.

   The editor of this book is the youngest child of Winston and Clementine, Mary, now Lady Soames. She brings to the work care, intimacy, and insight. She has adopted some of the best devices of Sir Martin Gilbert, Churchill's official biographer, to make the book available to the reader unfamiliar with the times and the people. Her notes are useful. She lets the letters themselves convey the story.

   One sees right away the amazing pace at which these people lived. Winston Churchill was a soldier whose bravery and judgment in battle were beyond doubt. He wrote every line of every speech he ever gave, save perhaps one, and they are not surpassed in eloquence or impact or amplitude. He wrote serious books, nearly forty of them. He served in the British House of Commons, and mostly in the Cabinet. Meanwhile he made his living writing and speaking in publications and before audiences all over the world. Their house teemed all day and much of the night with secretaries, researchers, and colleagues. He wrote once that statesmen should exist in a condition of "stress of soul." Ever he took that advice for himself.

   And necessarily, then, he imposed it upon his wife.

   Winston Churchill and Clementine Hozier were married in September 1908, and they remained so until parted by death in 1965. Martha Washington, wishing to keep her relations with our Founding Father private, burned most all of the letters that passed between them. The Churchills' letters are preserved intact in their remarkable abundance. Partly because they were so busy, and partly because they took many vacations apart, occasions to write were frequent. In their day the post traveled rapidly-Fed Ex was not necessary; e-mail was unavailable; the telephone came along, but its frequent use developed later. And so they wrote, and well they wrote.

   Nuggets are found in every shaft of this mine. Sir Winston is candid with his wife as with no other, especially in times of triumph or stress. When the first war begins, he unveils his character: "Everything trends towards catastrophe & collapse. I am interested, geared up and happy. Is it not horrible to be built like that? ...Yet I wd do my best for peace, & nothing wd induce me wrongfully to strike the blow." Another time, in a very different mood, he writes: "you have seen me very weak & foolish & mentally infirm this week...." And then the man of unbreakable will proceeds: "I cannot tell you how much I love & honor you and how sweet & steadfast you have been through all my hesitations & perplexity."

   Clementine often bears the burden of saying to her husband what others cannot. When the first war begins, she cautions him about the feelings of a dismissed Admiral: "there only remains the deep wound in an old man's heart. If you put the wrong sort of poultice on it, it will fester." When the second begins, she writes: "...there is a danger of your being generally disliked by your colleagues & subordinates because of your rough sarcastic & overbearing manner.... Therefore with terrific power you must combine urbanity, kindness and if possible Olympic calm."

   The letters of Winston are often more abstract and reflective than those of his wife. Sometimes they are effectively first drafts of things he will later publish. His life is saved once in the trenches by an annoying general who makes him walk two miles under fire just for a little chat; when he returns his dugout and all in it are destroyed. He reflects: "it is all chance or destiny and our wayward footsteps are best planted without too much calculation. One must yield oneself simply & mentally to the mood of the game: and trust in God which is another way of saying the same thing...."

   At the same time, one sees in the husband a sharp need for his wife. It is he who is "lonely among crowds." It is he who has no one but her "to break the loneliness of this bustling existence."

   History has more to say of Winston than of Clementine. He saved his country and more in a desperate crisis, and he leaves behind him a written account of prudential wisdom that is not surpassed. Both his words and his deeds exhibit a longing for honor. He fought for it. He met its demands with utter resolve and lifelong resilience. But of course there was more to his life than that. Honor itself is limited by the high purposes that define it, including the promises and affections that make a family. So he could write to her, at one of the lowest points in his life: "the nearer I get to honor, the nearer I am to you."

   Churchill ends My Early Life, his explicitly autobiographical work, with the passage: "Events were soon ...to absorb my thoughts and energies at least until September 1908, when I married and lived happily ever afterwards." And so together they did. And do.




2. The real service that this book performs is to remind the reader that great historical figures are not one dimensional. Chuchill was a renaissance man, warrior, journalist, historian, memoirist, politician and statesman. He was arguably the single greatest personage of this century and his name has become a symbol for the indominitable spirit of a free people. The collection of letters sent to and received from his wife are entertaining as well as educational. They provide a feel for the time in which they were written and place many of Churchill's famous accomplishments (and failures) in proper context. Amazingly, unlike today when the more we know of a public figure, the smaller they seem, in Churchill's case one comes away convinced that this was a great man in the truest sense, and that much of his greatness is due in no small part to his marriage to Clementine.



3. This book was introduced to me through a friend and, quite frankly, my first reaction was to cringe at the idea of reading such a bulky historical book. But from the first letter I was transfixed by the dialogue between husband and wife on both political and personal matters. This book brings with it a new aspect of Churchill's personality - he was not only a great statesman but he was a passionate man who loved his wife dearly which is seen clearly in the letters that were intended for her eyes only.

   I often wonder how he would have felt to know millions would one day read the letters he wrote to his "clemmie-cat". In any case, its a great read :)

   Cheers, Meagan.




4. When I considered buying that book, I first felt quite uncomfortable about the idea of reading an exchange of private letters between Winston and Clementine. Fortunately, I overcame my discomfort fast. I quickly enjoyed reading that thick epistolary volume about their political and personal matters. The personal letters of the Churchills revealed to me how influential Clementine was on Winston across the board. Their deep love and trust was the secret of their successful marriage, even if Winston was not always an easy husband and politician to deal with. Corresponding by written messages (today perhaps by email) with each other on a regular basis, even when they were together, proved to be an excellent way to help them keep their enduring flame for each other intact. Today, too many marital and extra-marital relationships get dissolved prematurely because of a lack of enough communication between both players. Life is after all a comedy in which men and women play their part and need to know or rediscover how to communicate their joys and pains to one another in order to increase the odds that they will be successful in their relationship.