No comments about Gordon Brown: Past, Present and Future.

5 comments about Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII.

1. David Starkey's 'Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII' is obviously a highly researched piece of work. I've read many Tudor biographies, and this is by far the most extensive I have ever laid eyes on. But unfortunately I have more bad than good to say about it.
   
   What good I can say is trivial. It's a large, long book that takes some concentration and thought to get through. Starkey knew his material well before getting down to business, although I don't believe he wrote about everything he could have. In the space of 765 pages (not counting the index and notes, which took an additional 80+ pages) there is so much information on the politics of Henry VIII's marriages, one cannot help but feel some awe. But that is where the interest ends for me as a reader. Unlike with the Tudor biographies of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser, I wasn't drawn into the story in the least. And this is where the bad begins.
   
   Where should I start? First of all, the book is completely unbalanced. Well over 300 pages are devoted to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, while barely 40 explain the relationship with Anne of Cleves. The same can be said for the story of Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Perhaps there really is much, much more to the relationship between Boleyn and Henry Tudor, but I still believe that a balance could have been found and more depth explored with Henry's other wives.
   
   Many reviewers have lashed out against Starkey's language and grammar. While I'm no English expert, I must agree that it's difficult to "get into" the story and stay focused on Starkey's writings. And yes, he does tend to ask too many questions and doesn't hesitate to express his opinion, and stick with it, over historical facts.
   
   And last for this review, but certainly not least and not the truly last of my personal complaints against the book, is Starkey's blatant disregard for other historians and authors. In his introduction, he denounces the books of Fraser and Weir (with author names), which totally lacks class and respect and in my opinion. And that's far from the only time he does such a thing. I remember at one point in the book, just after the birth of Elizabeth (daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn), Starkey denounced, with a bit of cool arrogance, the "unsubstantiated" claim that Anne wanted to breast-feed Elizabeth but Henry wouldn't allow it. I won't deny that I have read about this before and that I really don't know if it's true or not, as I am not a hard-core historian. But I am curious as to why Starkey believes, as he seems to in many sections of his book, that his is the one and only true version of events. How does he know that? And just because there is no hard evidence for certain events, how does Starkey know that they did or didn't happen?
   
   PBS created a mini-series based on Starkey's book (Starkey himself narrated) which turned out to be worse than the book. It's a sorry thing that a book so long and informative should turn out so uninteresting, but it did.



2. Starkey's writing is terrible! First off, he thinks his view is the one, true, right one and all other Tudor biographers got it wrong! He has an annoying habit of making ridiculous assuptions about the personalities of the queens. He puts them into misogynistic,cartoonish categories--he dismisses Jane Seymour as a boring, mousey doormat, then speculates whether that was all really a *calculated act* on her part! I guess that's the only way she could be interesting to him as he seems to relish the conniving/bitchy/vamp portraits he paints of Ann Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Starkey supposes that 16th c. queens reacted to certain situations in a flippant manner as would modern teenagers, or teens on the "O.C." This is so ridiculous. These were patriarchal times and these queens were literally fighting for their lives. I can't believe some people loved this steaming pile of poop! This book is a waste of time and money! It isn't fit to line my bird's cage!



3. Friends, this is an excellent book. If you were to watch his DVD series on Elizabeth and other Tudor monarchs, you would clearly see that David Starkey is an excellent scholar, has an outstanding grasp of the Tudor monarchs, is quite articulate, and can take the highly complex issues and explain them in a very understandable way. This book is no exception. It is very intelligently written, is helpful, and not just a rehash of other scholars.
   
   I find Megan's reveiw of this book so far from reality and utterly foolish as to be offensive. Her suggestion that one could learn as much from a story book is utterly absurd. Undoubtedly, her review must be the result not only of pure bias but also of pure inebriation.



4. I read this book with great deal relish in thinking that I might get fresh perception on the history of the six wives of Henry VIII. What I found was an easy to read, easy to understand, well researched but highly opinionated book. I think the author tries so hard to be different from other historians and books on this subject that he managed to turned opinions and conjuctures into facts as he see it.
   
   Most of the book deals with two wives, Katherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn. The rise, love and fall of both women who dominated much of Henry's life takes up much of the author's book. The rest of the four wives, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr all got parred down, almost like an summarized aftermath after the two main events. I always thought each woman was pretty unique. (Henry seems to like "Katherine or Catherine as a name in his women.)
   
   This book also proves to be dominated by Henry VIII as he's in almost every single page once he's crowned. From this book, the reader will have a good understanding about how Henry deals with his interpersonal relationship with his wives. You may have a better understanding of Katherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn even if you may not agreed with many of the author's opinions. But after that, the rest of the four wives adds nothing to what lies published before this book.
   
   I would recommend Allison Weir or Antonia Fraser books on this subject initially. I would recommend this book only for experienced readers of this subject matter. Reason for that is that the author proves to be too opinionated in his writing and it would be best if you read this book if you got a good grounding on the subject.



5. David Starkey's "Six Wives" is very engaging and easy to read, despite the intimidating weight of the hardcover. Starkey is a brilliant historian and he breathes life into his subjects as he covers their life and times. He is an expert on all things Elizabethan and readers can trust that his interpretation of events always has extensive research behind it. The few pages of prints in the center of the book are a nice addition, though personally, I wish there were illustrations of the various castles and manors as well as the formal portraits we are given.

2 comments about Footsteps of the Hunter.

1. He wrote a good book on small histories of his war. But no many on aerial war ! it's curious, i like his writing but why he doesn't speak of these planes or comrade ( gunther rall, 5 sentences, we don't know about of his first victory, etc...). Curious !



2. A typical book in the genre of war memoirs. The text illuminates the human aspect of the war as seen from the perspective of a regular pilot. Adolf Dickfeld served with III./JG52 with the famous Hermann Graf. Later on he was transferred to II./JG2 and II./JG11. The author offers some unexpected details about the life of an occupational force in the various theaters of operations. Episodes of aerial duels are interspersed with accounts from the daily routines of his unit. The Dickfeld memoirs are sparse on details of historical events. The book offers few dates of events and no maps. Also, few references are made to the overall context, in which the author operated. Unfortunately, memoirs by front-line troops often share this lack of factual documentation and I have grown to accept it.
   
   There are two problems with this book though. The first one has to do with the rather poor editorial work on this publication. There are several spelling mistakes and clumsy translations of German terms and expressions. The second weakness of the book is that the author is torn between remorse for the war crimes of the occupational forces and the blind bitterness of a conquered combatant. Sometimes he would erupt in apologetic diatribes. Other times he would try to rationalize German atrocities by comparison to other historical (supposedly similar) events. Both sources of these emotional outbursts are off-beat in my humble opinion and detract from the readability of the text. In that sense, Luftwaffe Fighter Ace by Norbert Hannig and Alert in the West by Willi Heilmann are better reads on the same subject.

No comments about The Pirate Queen.

5 comments about The Fields Of Athenry: A Journey Through Irish History.

1. This author has an extrodinary talent, though he say's he's not Irish, to weave a tale of some of the most telling lore of Irish history with his ambitious effort (and the amusing stories that go with it)of restoring an ancient Castle in a town seemingly forgotten by history. All of Irelands real charactors of history are here and Mr. Roy does an excellent job of bringing them to our midst again, sometimes no matter how tragic or enlightening that may be. An excellent read from a very studied author.



2. Mr. Roy's work is really two books in one -- a history of Ireland and its relationship with its Englsih invaders, and the personal story of how he bought a castle and restored it. Mr. Roy weaves the two stories together in alternating chapters, and does so with great skill.

   The Irish history is sound, concise, and informative -- Mr. Roy explains how the Norman invaders became co-opted by their Irish subjects and how running through the whole complicated skein of Irish history is the story of the great, but quarrelsome Irish families -- The O'Connors, O'Briens, Burkes, and Fitzgeralds. This focus provides a great deal of clarity to understanding the history of the Island.

   The story of Moyode Castle (Roy's personal story)is also fascinating, especially in detailing how the Irish accept this "foreigner" among them and how Mr. Roy comes to know and appreciate the local Irish culture. The book has many amusing tales of his encounters, although it is a little wistful, because he realizes that the Ireland he celebrates is gradually being lost to history.

   Well worth reading, particularly if you are looking to travel in rural Ireland, or ever hoped to buy a castle.




3. I fail to see why the author bothered with his project- be it the "castle" or the book- given his low regard for the people and the place in general. I'd spent a fair amount of time in the area while growing up, and can tell you that the area has a charm that was utterly lost on the author. Don't waste your money, there are a myriad of books vastly superior to this one to be had. Just pick one at random and you'd have a better than even chance of it.



4. I appreciate James Roy's style of writing in which the past is so cleanly entwined with the present. This book takes the reader on a short journey through Ireland's tumultuous history and brings it all to life in the lives and characters of the real people of Galway. I was looking for a book that would not gloss over Ireland like a tourist guide and I found one in The Fields of Athenry. I am looking forward to reading Mr. Roy's other works! Now if I could just come up with enough money to buy me a castle... :-)



5. I recently came across this book ,published in 2001,and what a wonderful surprise it is. There were two things that drew me to this book when I saw it. First,I spent an afternoon at my son in law's uncle's home a few years ago. He is a senior farmer who still farms ,lives in thatched roof cottage about 3 miles from the site of Moyden Castle .Smack dab in the middle of the Fields of Athenry, and one can see a similar castle from his front door,a mile or so away.It is one of my most memorable ,of many,memories of Ireland.The second reason is that the song "The Fields of Athenry" is one of my favorites. It was composed by Pete St.John,and has been recorder by thousands. It ranks right up there with "Danny Boy".My favorite version is by Paddy Reilly. A search on the web has much interesting things including the music and lyrics.
   
   By lonely prison walls
   I heard a young girl calling
   Michael,they have taken you away
   For stealing Trevelyn's corn
   So the young might see the morn.
   Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.
   
   Low lie the Fields of Athenry,
   Where once we saw the small free birds fly.
   Our love was on the wing,
   We had dreams and songs to sing.
   It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.
   
   Roy has done a masterful job in taking his experiences of nearly 40 years of finding an abandoned castle,built in 1550,obtaining ownership and restoring it to livable conditions. while telling of all his experiences,love of Ireland,its people and its cultures;he at the same time, outlines the history of Ireland and particularly that around Athenry and Galway.He is a gifted writer and while combining these two different themes;he is able to keep them separated. It is little wonder that he has done such a teriffic job with his book,when you consider most books like this are done with only a few years experience, Roy put over 40 years of his heart and soul into this book;and it shows.
   When one lives in a country like Canada where our history is only a couple of hundred years old,history really doesnt't have much to do with our daily lives or even our culture.However,with Ireland,one cannot get away from the tumultuous history this country has gone through for literaslly thousands of years. No matter where you go in Ireland ,history is right there before your eyes.For example ,a few years ago ,I spent a week in Galway,and yes ,watched the "Sun Go Down On Galway Bay".One rainy morning,not fit for man or beast,I took a stroll in an ancient graveyard in the middle og Galway. To my amazement I ran into a wonderful old gent who is on the restoration committee and he showed me a plaque dedicated to about 200 sailors who were shipwreked off the coast.They were from the Spanish Armada, and the British murdered them all and buried them in a common pit in this graveyard.There had been a monastary and a church on this site which the British had destroyed. The monks were likewise killed and the spot where they had been buried had been used for a dump for a couple of hundred years.They were in the process of restoring that too. Within a few meters there was the latgest Celtic Cross ever made. It was made for the World's Fair in Chicago,and after it was brought back here and installed as a famous family's memorial.A few minutes walk away, I visited a still functioning church which was visited by none less than Christopher Columbus ,looking for information before his trip to the new world. Amnother few minutes away is a monument commemorating the visit here by President John F Kennedy. Also nearby ,is a window where Judge Lynch had his son's sentence for murder carried out,by hanging. Yes,he has been remembered for this with the term Lynching or Lynch Mob.
   If you want a knowledgeable insight into Irish History and Culture;you'd do well with finding and reaing this excellent book.

No comments about The Confession of Saint Patrick (Triumph Classic).

No comments about Henry VIII (Seminar Studies in History).

No comments about Gerald of Wales: A Voice of the Middle Ages.

2 comments about George I (The English Monarchs Series).

1. The author's writing style is easy to follow, without being simplistic and her grasp of the historical issues of the period is excellent.

   She presents a great deal of information about the women involved in the history of George, which is unusual for a historian of the Hanovers.

   The book is approachable without an in-depth knowledge of the German principalities (though this obviously helps).

   Solidly recommended.




2. I read a Hard back copy from the local library and could not believe it. I loved this bio. I have read many other biographies and books on the Stuart and Hanover Dynasties of Britain but most were from Charles II and the pretenders and George III through Victoria. George I seems to be remembered as the British King who really didn't care; He took his time accepting the throne, refused to learn English, ran away to Hanover every chance he got and only wanted English money proven by the South Sea Bubble scandal. This book gives us more. A lot more. It shows the who and why, it dispels the stories I have listed above and gives us the man, flesh, blood and emotions. He becomes a real and more understood human than just an uncaring figure from history. I highly recommend this book. It is a great read. I didn't want to put it down. It flows easy and gives enough detail and background to keep you moving through history and his life without bogging you down. All those, Jacobites included :) who do not know George I outside of the usual should read this book. I can't say enough about it.

2 comments about Becoming Winston Churchill: The Untold Story of Young Winston and his American Mentor.

1. for people really interested in the only mentor churchill ever had this book is a must have



2. I have been a student of Sir Winston Churchill my entire life. Long enough to consider myself a Churchill historian and serious collector of any and all items related to his life. My personal Churchill library is extensive and I am indeed proud to know Michael McMenamin, author of "Becoming Winston Churchill" and to add his book to my library! Michael has done an outstanding job sharing with us the important influence that Mr. Bourke Cockran had on Winston as he formed his personal and political beliefs early in his life. He obviously was regarded a close personal friend, mentor and perhaps even as a respected father figure. I recommend this book highly! Donald E. Jakeway