No comments about Beaux and Belles of England: Mrs. Mary Robinson, Written by Herself, With the lives of the Duchesses of Gordon and Devonshire.

2 comments about LiliUokalani.

1. Lowe's biography of the talented, beautiful queen is a wonderful addition to the library of any student of Hawaiian history and its alii. Queen Liliuokalani's tragic years on what was left of the throne are perfectly illustrated.You feel you are actually there! The story of how the Queen was put under house arrest, refused access to newspapers - her friends had to smuggle them to her wrapped around flowers (there is even a photo of her reading a wet, crumpled newspaper) and accounts of the last days of the monarchy are devastating. The annexation day parade, according to this book which is very well researched and very readable, had "the atmosphere of an execution." Highly recommended.



2. Lowe's biography of the talented, beautiful queen is a wonderful addition to the library of any student of Hawaiian history and its ali'i (royalty). Queen Liliuokalani's tragic years on what was left of the throne are perfectly illustrated. You feel you are actually there!
   The story of how the Queen was put under house arrest, refused access to newspapers - her friends had to smuggle them to her wrapped around flowers (there is even a photo of her reading a wet, crumpled newspaper) and accounts of the last days of the monarchy are devastating. The annexation day parade, according to this book which is very well researched and very readable, had "the atmosphere of an execution." Highly recommended.

No comments about King John (The Medieval World).

No comments about Reporting Royalty.

1 comments about Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend.

1. The last sentence of the book summarizes the excellent thrust of this book. "Elizabeth can not be separated from the legend that she helped create." This book is the companion to the traveling exhibit on Elizabeth I that I was not fortunate to see, but stands on it's own merits.
   
   There has been a plethora of books on Elizabeth I; unfortunately many of them are just chronological listings of events or the author has an agenda or preconceived thesis. This book is stellar in avoiding the usual approach. It is thematic. This book concentrates on the effects of Elizabeth's surroundings on her, and her effect on her surroundings. There two very good reasoned chapters on the religion and sexuality of Elizabeth. The book was meticulously researched and documented and used the figures in the book to visually support the book's themes. A very perceptive, albeit brief, section analyzes how Elizabeth I has been portrayed in cinema. The writing is concise and fluid and to the point.
   
   I give a book on the Elizabethan era or Elizabethan/Shakespeare literature to my family every year as gifts. This is probably the finest.

5 comments about The Untold Love Story: Marie Antoinette & Count Fersen.

1. It's about time an author focuses on the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen. Their relationship is as important and historic as that between Marie and the King, yet most biographies leave it to footnotes. Farr's story moves with exciting and horrifying pace. The emotional (and mortal!) costs born by those closest to Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI are conveyed to a point of agony. Count Fersen's character is most romantic, almost as good as Sidney Carton, but better because it's true.

   But it's the nature of this story to be passionate. I was looking for more substantiation of their romance. I felt some of the connections were lost in Farr's story and some of the character names were confusing. Thank you for the biography in the back - indispensible. I was also disappointed by some of the assuptions made. Lost documents and correspondance incryption muddle the facts and Farr does not fully convince me that the assumptions made are true.

   Even with these limitations I completely enjoyed this book (from the library) and am upset that it is not available to purchase for my library.




2. brush strokes. Never before have I read such conjecture...truly, I am appalled by the liberties Farr takes in construing the facts to suit her case. Indeed, I too am of the opinion that Marie Antoinette and Fersen were lovers; however nothing concrete has ever surfaced in any correspondence before and after the Queen's death to concusively determine the exact nature of the relationship. According to the publisher, Farr makes use of previously unpublished documents...really? Which ones? Did I miss something? This message is less a review to benefit other readers than a severe admonition to Farr: you have given the public nothing with this tissue of loosely woven fantasy...seemingly your fantasy. Stanley Loomis wrote the definitive book on this subject with The Fatal Friendship. Don't flatter yourself, Farr, the "story" has been told often enough (and more accurately) before you.



3. The best thing this book has going for it is the Bibliography - because if you read that you will be enlightened as to some other books which you would be far better off investing in. Apart from that the book has a 'pretty' cover - so if you want to waste your money on a 'pretty' picture & a good Bibliography then go ahead & buy this book. Do yourself a favour - skip this one & invest in something like Joan Haslip's 'Marie Antoinette' or 'The Fatal Friendship' by Stanley Loomis, or even 'Louis and Antoinette' by Vincent Cronin.



4. I agree with the sentiments of reviewer who wishes that publishers would take a vacation from publishing M.A. books for awhile...sadly I am sure we will see more...

   They will push authors in their stable to crank out yet another rehash...

   This book is also indicative of another lamentable trend...editors are spell checkers not fact checkers...while this is not as bad as Schom's book on Napoleon which lists both dates Josepine died in the index (both are wrong) it would be nice if they could have people who know the subject give it a fact read.

   I agree with the sentiment that the Fatal Friendship by Stanley Loomis is a good book, however I suggest Le Notre's biography of M.A. as a more balanced and better researched book than some of those mention...what gives Loomis balance is that he has written some "essays" (I can't say he is a biographer)in his book Paris in the Terror. It is also what gives Le Notre balance. He has done excellent biographies of Robespierre and a misnamed biography of M. F-Tinville which goes into great detail on the trial of M.A.

   Castelot and Cronin are journeymen who certainly do an adequete retelling...but they were written for the popular market...as were their other biographies of Napoleon, Louis XVI, etc.

   Le Notre is definately the person you want to discover...no really good library is complete unless you have a complete collection of the Le Notre books of time period...I also suggest his books on the September Massacres and the Noyades of Nantes.

   Michael La Vean
   Fellow, International Napoleonic Society




5. It is beyond my comprehension how so many books that are fiction try to pass for true history. Evelyn Farr's work is one of them, perhaps one of the most notorious examples. Rarely have I seen such sloppy research and wild conclusions drawn from scant evidence. At least Carolly Erickson is honest about her "Hidden Diary" fantasy and calls it a "novel." Farr's book provides some interesting tidbits such as the queen learning to waltz at Petit Trianon but when one compares that to some of her other outrageous affirmations one does not know what to believe. Gentle, pious King Louis XVI is portrayed as a man who roasted cats for fun and did not mind his beloved wife openly having children with another man. This is as far-fetched as biography can get, a total distortion of known facts. For those interested in the friendship between Marie-Antoinette and Count Fersen, it would be better to read Loomis or Cronin, who present the evidence meticulously, even if you do not agree with their conclusions, or even Seward (who did not think Fersen and the queen were more than platonic friends.) It is a sensational ploy for biographers of the queen to discuss a mere allegation and theory as if it were a proven fact.

No comments about Henry VIII - Vol. I.

No comments about Diana in Search of Herself.

2 comments about Monarchy and Matrimony: The Courtships of Elizabeth I.

1. This is a unique study which is of equal value to the academic or the interested amateur. For too long Christopher Haig's dated and simplified account of the Virgin Queen's persistent virginity has been allowed to dominate Elizabethan history. Susan Doran takes each of Elizabeth's courtships seriously instead of blindly assuming a grand narrative. Although female historians are relatively new to the public arena, Susan Doran has "the heart and stomach of a man".



2. When Sue Doran writes about something you ,the reader, can be assured the result will be an indepth study of her subject matter...no just brush the surface with this writer...Here you will read about the political and social intrigue surrounding Elizabeth I and her courtships.The author focuses on a different approach to the Virgin Queen's trials in trying to govern England and handle the many "would be"and serious suitors.A most interesting and informative book for those interested in history.

1 comments about Philip the Bold: The Dukes Of Burgundy.

1. Vaughan's series of books on Valois Burgundy have long been a staple for anyone interested Burgundian history and culture. After a long stretch of being out of print, and very difficult to find, these new editions are sure to be welcomed by many historians. Added to Vaughan's work is a fantastic new introduction written for the 2002 edition by Malcolm Vale (another historian I would readily recommend).
   While these works may be older, and more recent work has been done on Burgundy, Vaughan's scholarship is still first-rate. A must for the bookshelf of anyone interested in Valois Burgundy, or Northern Europe in the late 14th and 15th centuries.