No comments about The Reign of George III, 1760-1815 (Oxford History of England Series).

No comments about Queen Elizabeth II: A Portrait in Stamps.

No comments about Anne.

2 comments about Camilla: The King's Mistress : A Love Story.

1. An even and informative tale about Camilla Parker-Bowles, a poor little rich girl who may someday get her prince.

   What we learn is that the upper class in the UK is alive and sick with its own moral code. Do what you want, just don't talk about it.

   I like the author's style of writing, but don't really care for Camilla.




2. While I felt that this was an interesting read I felt the author painted an unfair portrait of Diana. She portrayed Diana as a crazy, unstable shrew and yet it was Charles refusal to end his relationship with Camilla that caused Diana to be so unhappy and angry. I don't think there are very few women on this planet that would be happy and accept the fact that their husband has a mistress for 20 years that he refuses to give up after marriage. It proved to me at least, that Diana was justified in her ending her marriage and giving up the throne. The author paints Charles and Camilla as 2 poor lovers who go through hell just to be together. I felt no sympathy for either of them. But it is an engrossing book none the less.

1 comments about The Stuarts.

1. John Miller's book is one of the few books to cover the entire House of Stuart. Unfortunately, as a beginner to learning more about this house, I found the book to be mostly dry and dull. Miller seems to have no interest in introducing the monarch's to us as people first, to help us understand their decisions. No, I do not need details on the latest fashions of the time, but at the least he could have illustrated the atmosphere of court at the time. Instead, Miller goes into excessive detail about excise taxes and some of the least interesting administrative aspects of the day. The only time he seems to get excited are when he writes about the confrontations between James I and Charles I and Parliament. The Glorious Revolution, for example, is almost passed over! Finally, while Miller's presentation of the dynasty may be balanced, this is probably because he does not offer much in the way of analysis or opinion as it is. I am now beginning my quest for individual biographies, especially since Miller only allocates about 20 pages each to the 4 late post-Restoration Stuart's.

1 comments about Diana (Diana Princess of Wales).

1. This book is not only a personal slide show with over 150 images of the late Princess of Wales. It looks at Diana's life and her impact on other people. Using her own words and quotes from those who knew her, A Life and a Legacy presents an engaging tribute to a remarkable woman.

No comments about Dear and Honoured Lady: The Correspondence Between Queen Victoria and Alfred Tennyson.

No comments about The Reign of Louis XIV.

2 comments about Kings of the Hellenes: The Greek Kings 1863-1974.

1. This book provides an excellent overview of the history of the Greek monarchy.

   How exactly did the Greek people come to be reigned over by a Danish prince and his heirs? Did a King of Greece really die from a monkey attack? The story of the Greek monarchy has a good mixture of everything that intrigues the typical royal-watcher, and Van Der Kiste tells it well.

   You might find it refreshing that, in the chapters dealing with World War One, Van Der Kiste doesn't take a typical (jingoistic) pro-Allied stance. He presents the Hellenic involvement in that war from a Greek royalist perspective.

   If the book is lacking, it's in the final chapters. As the author points out, a historian can only do so much justice to a topic as fresh as the royal family's current standing. The subject of the Greek monarchy in the past 60 years could fill another book.

   Overall, this is a fine addition to Van Der Kiste's body of work, and a good starting point for anyone researching the subject.




2. As a 1st generation greek-american I was initially very excited to read this, but found it very difficult to get through. I waited chapter after chapter, hoping it would flow better but found it difficult to get through. It's such a shame as I've got every reason to read it.

5 comments about Dicing With Di: The Amazing Adventures of Britain's Royal Chasers.

1. The depiction of some of the most professional slimeballs at their very best, true paparazzis with absolutely no ethics whatsoever, if anything this should prove to you that these people at heart are good people, I would let them help my children cross the road anyday, both fine examples of the British tabloid media . Any way Glenn and Mark mine 'll be a swift pint (cheque is in the post I understand?)



2. I thought the book was enlightening, showing a tiny glimpse into another facet of Diana's personality. The stories told by Glenn and Mark sometimes were funny but most of the time sad, showing how strange life with the British royals must have been for Diana and how confining her life continued to be when she tried to break away and make a life on her own. I just kept asking "what if", if she wouldn't have spent so much time running away, would the paparazzi eventually have moved on to another target and left her alone?



3. This book shows just how terribly Diana was harrassed. You only think you know untill you read this book. The photographers called her crazy yet they did not see how PETTY they were or that they drove her to the brink! This book will make you very ANGRY!



4. Insensitive, thoughtless, cruel, non-ending harrassment and deliberate blindness to the misery these two photographers caused Diana runs rampant through every page of this excellently photographed book. Stalking a woman who finally bursts into tears just goads them on to call her a "loon", whereas when she ignores them, they pout and sulk and pretend she secretly "wants the atention". With no thought at all of "do unto others" ,Mark and Glenn intrude onto every private waking moment. It is not enough for them that Diana is on public display as she carries out her duties or charity work. They must catch her sorrow at her father's death, her sipping coffee in her bathrobe in the mroning in her room at Disneyland when she has taken the boys on a visit. What is the purpose of following her everywhere she goes ? It seeme to me that stalkers get arrested in the United States, and yet these men get paid for doing the same thing -- making someone's life miserable -- and then getting paid for it, to add insult to psychological injury. It is a shame that more of the goodness of the Princess is not revealed here, that the evalustion of Diana is not more fair, more generous, more accurate. She was a fabulous Princess, a good Mother, and would have made a good wife to aman not bent from day one on belittling her while he kept up a relationship with his past girlfriend. A sad book because it repreatedly reveals the most despicable aspects of tabloid journalism.



5. It was an interesting book that was candid and well written. I enjoyed reading it and will treasure owning a copy.