No comments about Dynasty of Chernigov (Studies and Texts).

2 comments about William Augustus Duke of Cumberland: A Life.

1. Labeled the butcher by Jacobites, William, Duke of Cumberland is remembered mainly for his command of the British army which defeated Charles Stuart, the young pretender at Culloden. This book show's he was more than a butcher. He was a devoted son, and friend to his father, George II. He was the first Hanover Prince born in England. He was a brilliant General and dedicated to his troops. William even came to the aid of his nephew George III and helped set up a new government when most men would have just stayed in retirement. I enjoyed the tale of Mr. Whitworth's, and I now believe that history should re-judge this man by his life and deed's.



2. Rex Whitworth's biography on William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland proves to be a very interesting and informative reading material. The book which proves to be well written and very sympathetic in outlook toward the Duke of Cumberland's career as soldier and as a son of King George II and uncle to George III. As the book reads on, it was interesting to see the many facets of this man who may have been a royal blood but always a soldier first.
   
   Cumberland is best known for his actions during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 and his victory at Culloden where he completely destroyed all hopes of the Stuart restoration. He is also best known for the aftermath of that battle where many Scottish survivors were ruthlessly hunted down and killed or sold into white slavery oversea. Due to these actions, Cumberland was forever tainted by historians as "Butcher of Culloden".
   
   One of the more damning evidences of Cumberland's "war crimes" as we may put it today is the controversy over a supposed forged order of battle where the Jacobites were to give no quarters once they defeat the British. Jacobites and the later on the Scots claims that Cumberland forged such an order to give justification to his own butchery after the battle of Culloden. When I visited the Culloden Visitor Centre in August 2006, the exhibit there make a great deal on this matter and its their assumption Cumberland forged the order to justified his brutal actions during the aftermath of the battle. The author on the other hand, on pages 89-90 of the book, believed that the order written for the suppose night attack on Cumberland's army which was cancelled, was a real Jacobite order and not a forgery. The author also stated that this order was well known throughout the Jacobite army before and during the battle of Culloden.
   
   Overall, I found the book to be a good reading material and it should be considered as a mandoratory biography to read for anyone interested in the Jacobite rebellion as well as the mid-Georgian military history. There is no doubt that Duke of Cumberland led a very controverisal life and this is a good book to start off understanding him - even if you may be biased against him.

No comments about Sovereign, Elizabeth II & the Windsor Dynasty.

1 comments about Catherine De' Medici and the French Reformation.

1. This book, published in 1905, gives a balanced view of Catherine de Medici's earlier and middle years, concentrating on the strife between Catholic and Huguenot (French Protestants) leading to the massacre of St. Batholemew's eve. History paints de Medici negatively, but the author accords her some positive qualities:a sharp mind and independence of spirit. The latter might be one reason she favoured the Huguenots during her reign, even arranging a debate between Protestant and Catholic representatives, a debate that ended in profound disagreement. The author draws from documents written around the era in question, and the book has a good selection of plates showing such figures as Diane de Poitiers (the mistress of de Medici's husband, Henry II). Sichel's view is objective (both Catholics and Huguenots were often intolerant), and she puts much into the context of the latter Renaissance. Indeed, the latter part of the book departs from the central theme, examining French artists such as Ronsard.This book, its hardcover version at least long out of print, is a valuable and informative record.

No comments about The life of Marie Antoinette, queen of France. By Charles Duke Yonge ....

No comments about H.M. King Michael I of Romania.

1 comments about Autobiography of Emperor Charles IV: And His Legend of St. Wencesias (Central European Medieval Texts).

1. Anyone interested in the history of Bohemia and Charles IV will find this first English translation a worthwhile read. The scholar will find an accompanying original Latin version of his biography, an analysis of the work as well as a collection of source materials, while the history enthusiast will get a rare glimpse into a primary source and into the mind of a most interesting monarch. A good part of the book finds Charles preaching advice to future rulers, but in other parts of the book we find him telling us what he was thinking and doing at specific points in his life. Whether it is tactics on the ground or creating the base for his rise to power, Charles' own words speak to us directly unfiltered by the opinions of other historians. This alone makes it worth the price of admission to English readers.

1 comments about In Private - In Public: The Prince and Princess of Wales.

1. This is a very well illustrated, matter-of-fact volume which presents a picture that we now know never existed of the Royal couple. It is a good reference to know the way a Royal Household is run; the tours, the public events, the planning and the organization of it all. Other than that, the book mostly focuses on the opinions and ideas of Prince Charles at the time, making very brief references to Diana, most of them untrue. One cannot help becoming nostalgic at the sight of so many idyllic pictures of a family life that never was, and it makes one wonder: what would it have been like if Charles and Diana had remained married AND in love? Most likely, the Princess would be alive today, probably with a couple more children and, like a banner in the crowd read on their wedding day - "Charles and Diana will rule U.K.". It is a shame that the Establishment authorizes books like this, so untrue.

No comments about Letters to His Son, 1749.

No comments about Theirs is the Kingdom.