4 comments about Queen Victoria's Children.

1. A very in depth and intriguing view into the life and lifestyles of the children and grandchildren of the "grandmother of europe", Queen Victoria. If you are after something easy to read and digest but not too in depth,on a wide variety of royals, then Van der kiste is the author for you. I find his books to be very interesting to read as well as informative, which is a hard combination to find. Very good reading! Im on to his next book.



2. If you have nothing else in your library re: the 9 children of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert -- no other biographies of Vicky, Albert Edward, et al.-- then this is the book to have. It gives a good overview of the lives of all nine children. However, I found it a little tedious to read because I HAVE read separate biographies of Vicky, Albert Edward, Louise, Arthur & Beatrice, and those biographies are the sources for Van der Kiste's book. So, if you are like me a royalty buff who's already got the biographies, you don't need to read this because it has nothing to add. But it's a well-written & concise history of all the children's lives.



3. This author produces very workmanlike and highly readable popular histories of the modern period, this time with a bio-political survey of Victoria's nine children and forty grandchildren. They possessed widely differing personalities but remained a close-knit family -- though relations often were strained by divided loyalties through marriage into other European dynasties. The author also makes good use of illustration and includes a good (though brief) bibliography.



4. "Oh madam, it is a princess!"
   "Never mind, the next will be a prince." -- Queen Victoria's comment when informed as to the gender of her first child
   
   I've always been interested in the Victorian period of English history. One of the most fascinating of the people of the time is the woman who gave her name to the era, Queen Victoria herself. Longtime author John van der Kiste, who has penned several biographies of the European royalty, now turns his attention to the Queen and her nine very different and unusual children.
   
   While this is a good place to start research on the various children of Victoria, the treatment is just too light and shallow to be of any real use. Most of the information that is given is of the 'who was born, married, and died' variety, along with various illnesses and mishaps. Almost nothing is given of the sibling rivalries and dramas that must have played out in such a huge family with so many distinct characters. Van der Kiste has written other collective biographies of royal siblings, and several stand-alone biographies of various royals, but this is not one of his better efforts.
   
   The best part of the book is one of the appendices that lists all of the children, and provides pertinent information about their own children and the many intertangled relationships that they would create -- by the First World War, descendants of Queen Victoria would be found either occupying or marrying into nearly every throne in Europe with the exception of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, several small German principalities and the Italian royal house.
   
   The author did update his book and bibliography, making note of the new material and books published on the individuals, it's still not really worth the effort to seek out a copy unless you are a fan of van der Kiste's work. The photographs are rather muddled, and not very unique to the work -- many come from other sources. Most of all, the entire narrative has the feel of a cut-and-paste job; while it is good to see the story of Queen Victoria and her children presented in a cohesive whole, and in chronilogical order, it simply lacks the depth of other, far better written, biographies.
   
   Somewhat recommended.

1 comments about The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova.

1. The Memoirs of Princess Dashkova are unique in that they are a first hand account of eighteenth century Russia from the point of view of a noblewoman close to the centers of power at the court of Catherine the Great. As all memoirs do, Dashkova's words present a particular bias-that of an intelligent and privileged upper-class woman in a deferential society who has an agenda she wishes to impress upon the reader. Yet within this memoir are glimpses of Russia in a time of radical and fast-paced changes, in some of which Dashkova herself has a hand.

   It is difficult to credit Dashkova's convictions that she was the first to even conceive of the possibility of Catherine's overthrow of Peter III since Dashkova was eighteen and one of the younger members of Catherine's circle. Although Dashkova was a supporter of Catherine and did have a hand in the plot to over throw the czar, Catherine's memoirs imply that such a coup was envisioned long before the death of the Empress Elizabeth and that Catherine herself was merely waiting for the right moment to act. More plausible is the idea that Catherine had cultivated the young Princess purposely to have a ear in the Vorontsov camp. Dashkova's rendition of events would have her personally picking the conspirators, sending for Catherine's carriage, ordering the Orlovs to bring Catherine to speak to the regiments and almost single-handedly arranging the entire series of events. The most noteworthy point in this account of the coup of 1762 is the fact that it could take place at all in a monarchial state. That the Emperor with the appropriate Russian bloodline could be overthrown by his wife, a Princess of Germany, is remarkable in itself and speaks more of Catherine's perspicacity than of Dashkova or any other supporter.

   Dashkova paints a picture of the Russian court under Catherine as both a place of sycophants and personal favor seekers and of great new ideas and plans for the state as a whole; of wealth and luxury taken for granted by the aristocracy while at the same time there are ongoing economic problems of national significance. Dashkova's Russia has two faces-that of an elegantly coifed and gowned Europeanized noblewoman and that of the peasant-serfs, themselves living in hovels, who out of gratitude for being allowed to work volunteer their labor so that she could build a fine house. The clearest impression of Dashkova and her contemporaries is that typical of the majority of eighteenth century aristocracy-of the disparity between the classes and of the general obliviousness of the upper-class to the misfortunes of the lower.

   Dashkova's lesson to Diderot of the importance of serfdom-as a method by which the enlightened aristocracy protects the hapless peasants for their own good-gives a clear perspective of the hierarchy between the social classes in eighteenth century Russia. Whether the conversation actually took place is less believable than the fact that she, like the vast majority of Russian aristocracy, wholeheartedly subscribed to the theories of absolute sovereignty and enlightened despotism. Even less believable are Diderot's thanks to Dashkova for educating him on the advantages of serfdom. When she meets Voltaire she describes him as being infatuated with her and begging her not to leave. A possible explanation of Dashkova's need to portray herself as such a close confidante and friend to Diderot and Voltaire may lie in a desire to be seen in some respects as Catherine's equal.

   The Princess portrays herself as a highly-educated liberal thinker about ideas she is not willing to put into practice; while at the same time her intention is obviously self-serving propaganda and a desire to share with her audience the esteem she feels she is held in by nearly everyone she meets. In one aside she states: "I would remind my readers that this will only appear after my death, so they cannot tax me with vanity because I repeat things as they were said." This intent to impress is typical of the Russian Court as a whole, especially in their pursuit of Western European approval.

   To give Dashkova some benefit of the doubt it must be pointed out that much of the style of her writing, particularly the overt humility that comes across as insincere, is actually an affectation typical of women writers of the eighteenth century. For women to be accepted as authors or thinkers of any note was rare indeed, and most women of that period, whether writing on political issues like Mary Wollstonecraft or on women's lives like Frances Burney, found it necessary to preface much of what they had to say with some apologizing for simply being female. In that respect Dashkova's memoirs are fairly similar to some of her contemporaries. Where Dashkova must be taken with some skepticism is in those areas where her own accounts differ with the historical record and fortunately Jehanne Geith, Kyril Fitzlyon, and A. Woronzov-Dashkoff have done an admirable job of reporting such issues in the introduction, afterword, footnotes and index of the text. To them belongs the real praise for this fascinating glimpse into eighteenth century aristocratic Russia.

5 comments about African Princess.

1. From a female pharaoh in ancient Egypt to an African princess of her people who avoided men, and an empress, African Princess uses words and pictures to recreate the lives of six selected powerful royal women of Africa. Good reading skills in grades 2-4 will lend to an appreciation of early female African leaders.



2. Six examples of African feminine royalty are showcased in chronological order, from pre-Christian times to the modern era. Each of the women focused was representative of her time, yet she showed a foresight and independence that made her stand out from her contemporaries.
   
   The text by former schoolteacher Joyce Hansen, along with Laurie McGraw's superb illustrations, makes for a captivating and inspiring read for youngsters, female and male. It also should be noted that the book should be shared with all children for there still remains some misconceptions in the general public about Africa, even to this day.
   
   The book does a good job of addressing and correcting those misconceptions in a highly professional and insightful manner.



3. I discovered African Princess: the Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women while searching for history about African Royalty, and it is most excellent. The artwork is gorgeous and the text is simple enough for my 8 year old niece to read it and understand it. Rich history, intriguing stories, and pride in our history make this book great for all generations.



4. I like african princess because it tells adventurous true stories.And woman who had great courage and great symblos for woman.In Ethiopia when you are 10 years old you get married and are trained to do elderly things. The Portugues and Ugandans were in a slave trade. The Portuguess wer in the slave trade to recieve slave trade, and Ugandas would get weapons. All of these stories I mentioned were great and they tell you African history.



5. This is a book that all African American women should own. It gives a sense of pride to know where we come from. I applaud the author. Thank You.

4 comments about Queen Emma and Queen Edith: Queenship and Women's Power in Eleventh-Century England.

1. This is a wonderful study but a bit disjointed in the prose style and in the categories of analysis Stafford chose. It's less biographical and narrative than would be appropriate for those simply curious about the two women in question and presumes a lot of bacground knowledge about the period.



2. Like the other reviewer implied, don't buy this book if you just want a quick peek into the lives of 2 English queens. This book is more appropriate for people well-acquainted with the subject matter. The book is really well-written and will be a great source for history students for years to come.



3. Hats off to Pauline Stafford for even attempting such a book as this one! Both Queen Emma and Queen Edith lived in a world so long past, so shadowy to us now, that it is indeed an undertaking to explore their lives! I would love to see more of the same type of work. For those of you intrigued by these women, there are some works of fiction out there that you may enjoy: Gildenford & The Norman Pretender by Valerie Anand; A Hollow Crown by Hellen Hollick; and Lord of Sunset by Godwin Parke.



4. Even though women as rulers weren't part of either the Anglo-Saxon or Norman traditions, two English women in particular changed things. Neither was a sovereign ruler but both had personalities of strength and authority. Emma (Ælfgifu after her marriage), sister of Duke Richard II of Normandy (though she carried a Frankish birth-name), was the queen first of Æthelred "the Redeless," Saxon King of England, and then of Canute, the Danish conqueror of the island. Edith, daughter of Godwine, Earl of Wessex, furthered her family's dynastic ambitions by becoming the queen of King Edward the Confessor, and thereby Emma's daughter-in-law. But this volume is considerably more than a dual biography, and more even than the "gender study" it intends to be. It delves deeply into the dynastic power structures of 11th century ruling families and the nature of royal patronage which helped keep rulers in power. The prosopographical appendix and the extensive bibliography also are excellent.

5 comments about Catherine the Great : Life and Legend.

1. First of all, contrary to the review now on line, this book was not written by John T. Williams, whoever he is, but by John T. Alexander. This biography is a much more serious and learned biography than Henri Troyat's, which I read in 1987. This book has dull parts, but the story it tells is an incredible one. Catherine had an amazing career, and of course her parade of favorites is legendary. I found this book to be good academic history and it well deserves reading.



2. Alexander does a marvelous job retelling history without sensationalizing it. Many past biographers undertaking the job of writing about Catherine the Great have often focused too much on her sexuality, rather than her political prowess. John T. Alexander, however, thoroughly examines the political and cultural context of her life, and refuses to insult the reader's intelligence by dishing gossip or repeating long-held opinions. Having read four other biographies of Catherine the Great, I can assure you this one is probably the best. Impartial, informative, and interesting.



3. I have read history books more interesting than this book. When i purchased the book i thought that it would be an interesting work. The book started off interesting. Then, as it progressed it got worse. Rent the movie. It would be much better. Trust me.



4. I have read several books on the history of Russia, like Peter the Great, and the Romanovs, but this book frankly bored me. The author definetly knows his stuff about Catherine, but I got so tired of reading about all the political stuff in this book. I wanted to know more about her personal life, more details about her comings and goings, not about how she ruled her Russian cabinet officers. Also the use of vocabulary was way over my head, so it made it hard to enjoy reading because many times I needed to get the dictionary, and I feel I have a fairly good vocabulary. I would not recommend this book unless you want to know about Russian administration in her time.



5. This is a good book to read to get a handle on the reign of Catherine the Great and late 18th C. Russia. Alexander covers the court intrigues, the attempts at reform, the complexities of foreign policy. He also avoids treating Catherine's personal life in a sensationalistic way.

   So if you read this book, you will learn a lot. On the other hand, the book doesn't really come to life in the way Massie's "Peter the Great" or Avrich's "Russian Rebels" did. It is recommended only to those with a serious interest in the time of Catherine, such as students, and not the casual reader.

5 comments about At Home with the Marquis de Sade: A Life.

1. The art of biography is a tricky one indeed. The biographer must make the subject come alive, while keeping him/herself far in the background. Unfortunately for 'At Home With the Marquis De Sade,' one often learns more about Francine Du Plessix Gray and her prejudices than about the Mad Marquis. To be fair though, De Sade is dangerous territory for the biographer. So much has been heaped around the myth that the truth about the man may never come to light.
   
   Gray does admirable work with her sources though. Page after page, she unindates you with quotes from Sade's voluminous correspondence. The Alphonse-Donatien de Sade that emerges from these letters is one of a spoiled and self-centered child ignored by his profligate father and cold, unloving mother. Gray traces Sade's development into an imperious adolescent whose arrested childhood spurs him to find love and acceptance at the expense of others. The young nobleman inflicts painful whippings and other brutalities on a variety of servant girls and prostitutes. Sade's defense of his behavior underlies the inhumanity of the Ancien Regime. They were 'whores' and deserved no better. Gray brilliantly shows the connection between Sade's aristocratic snobbery and his casual disdain for those below him on the social ladder. With the arrival of the Revolution, the Terror and eventually, Napoleon, Sade finds himself playing the political chameleon in a continous effort to escape the blade and free himself from prison.

   Thoroughout the book, Gray looks upon her subject rather bemusedly. Horrified at his misogyny and cruelty, she appears skeptical, if not downright cynical towards his occasional outbursts of kindness. In Gray's opinion, Sade was an overgrown child who never grew up to learn the fundamental lesson of 'civilization,' that of controlling our individual passions for the good of the whole. This Freudian-inspired thesis underscores the whole work, where Gray acts like the condescending aunt to a naughty nephew.

   The strongest link in the book is Gray's examination of the women in Sade's life, foremost, his docile, all-forgiving wife, Pélagie, and his conformist, propriety-mongering drill sergeant of a mother-in-law, Madame de Montreuil. We get a sense of Sade's relationship with women, caught between the Scylla of Pélagie's adoring meekness and the Charybdis of the Madame's censuring strictness. Sade navigated his whole life between these two extremes, worshipping the one, loathing the other. But to view women as equal, suffering human beings just like himself was impossible. Sade needed both the angel and the harpy.

   Where Gray's psychoanalysis proves weakest is with the discussion of Sade's complex and confused sexuality. She never really addresses the question of where his desire fit in. Homosexual? Bisexual? Heterosexual? Pansexual? Sade seemed to include all at once. Whilst such terms were the product of the 19th century, Gray remains silent on where to put the Marquis. Instead, she, like her Enlightenment predecessors, focuses on the sexual acts of Sade's varied repetoire: masturbation, flagellation and of course, 'sodomy,' which she incorrectly attributes to anal sex alone. Even more importantly, she never explores the reason for his being burned in effigy after his bisexual orgy in Marseilles which set him down the road of infamy. He was sentenced to death for having sex with a man, his valet, not for the horrible cruelties inflicted upon two young prostitues. The Ancien Regime tolerated the abuse of women while condemning the 'crime' of homosexuality. And herein lies a key to further examining the Marquis. Were his shocking exploits and even more outlandish writings the outlet of sexual energies he could only express at the pain of death? Gray includes nothing about this paranoid homophobia of Ancien Regime France and of European history as a whole. Instead, she rests her case on the very questionable thesis that civilization is the only bulwark against barbarity. Two devilish European wars of destruction might prove otherwise. Perhaps civilization's 'necessary suppression' breeds the seeds of barbarity itself.

   Such questions and many more are left to the reader's musings, while the troubled Marquis never really leaves the page. Gray imprisons him once more in a quagmire of 'original' materials, while the man himself silently rattles his chains at us. 'At Home With the Marquis De Sade' journeys down the hitherto unexplored side-streets of the 'divine' marquis' existence, but ultimately fails to bring him to life. For that, I guess we'll have to wait.




2. This is a very good book that pulls no punches about Sade but does not condemn him either. It is a facinating story told through Sade's letters and it breaths life into this strange and brilliant man. The book does not enter into any of the complex theoretical debate that surround Sade so it can be read simply as a facinating story of a facinating man. But it is by no means simplistic and is a good primer for anyone who might want to enter the catacomb of Sade theorists. Read and enjoy. Ruminate and reflect.



3. When I first started reading this, it seemed more about the women (his mother and wife) than the Marquis. So, I read further to prove myself wrong.....not very successful. I had read another reveiw about this book that said the author sounded like a mother chastising her son; that sounded pretty close to what I read from the book. When it comes to the Marquis de Sade, I beleive that the author should have a presence, but not a(n) seemingly overbearing/opinionated one like in this book. I didnt finish it; after a few pages I realized this was not what I was looking for: something about the Marquise de Sade, not the women in his life.
   If you want some type of psychoanalysis-biography of de Sade( which I want) this isn't it. It seems well researched, just not about the right subject.



4. Francine Gray has humanized Sade for us. The full description of his activities prior to his arrest,as given by Gray, confirms what Sade says of himself,"I am a libertine: I have conceived everything one can conceive in that genre, but I've surely not done all I've imagined and surely will never do it.." Sade was a visionery of cruel and convoluted sex. As regards the use of whips and Cat-'o'-nine tails and sodomy, he was only following the style of his contemporary aristocrats, a way of life which treated prostitites and the lower orders as captive booty, like the nubile black slave girls were treated in the South here till the Civil war.That way of life amongst the French Aristocracy .seems to have continued at least till the twenties of the last century- see Proust's portrayal of the proclivities of Baron Charlus in the last volume of his 'Remembrance of Things Past' ['In Search of last Time' in the recent Penguin Edition]. The description of the French Revolution by Madame Sade is an insider's account of the cataclysm. The black tid-bits about the leaders of the French Revolution, - Mirabeau [incest with his sister and writing erotica] and Danton, ['who read Justine to masturbate']are quite revealing and also raise the question how it is that lechers and the morally defecient become leaders of rabble or are chosen as such by the rabble.Francine could have analysed what exactly was the attraction Sade had for women of all types- the intellectual Milli Rousset, the beautiful Anne Launay,his sister-in-law, the uneducated Constance and others.The book is, on the whole, a great read. B.T.Sampath



5. Strangely, though it is from him that the word sadism is derived, I found it no torment to read this delightful book. There are many myths around the Marquis de Sade, as he has always been more talked about then read. This biography shows us a gentler side of the man by focusing upon his relationships with the women in his life. Though he could be cruel like any of us, his "crimes" pail in comparison to those of many of his contemporaries. What I find interesting about the Divine Marquis is not so much the writings as the energy of the man himself. Sade was almost incapable of restraint, except when it came to saving his own skin. When locked away behind prison walls and unable to gratify his desires in the flesh, he turned to the pen to pour those energies onto paper. Called "the freest spirit who ever lived" by Apollinaire, Ms. Gray shows us the great lesson of such freedom, the necessity of compromise in civilized life. In his last years, in a letter to an old friend he writes: "I am not happy, but I am well." How many of us, thwarted in our dreams and desires, might say the same?

4 comments about The Elizabeth Icon, 1603-2003.

1. This is a wonderfully written and fascinating book about Elizabeth I's iconic appearance in the popular imagination. It surveys everything from high art portraiture to twentieth-century teapots, and reveals a great deal about how English-speaking culture manipulates its reception of a powerful woman. Good scholarship, and good general reading.



2. An artful and insightful investigation into the phenomenon of the iconography of one of England's most co-opted historical figures. Meticulously researched and documented, Dr. Walker's study of the evolution of the Gloriana icon and the deliberate revisionism surrounding her role in the English consciousness from the moment of her death into current pop culture flips the traditional Elizabeth I scholarship on its head. *And there was much rejoicing*
   
   One of the book's greatest strengths is the masterly interspersion of snatches of wry humor and dry wit throughout the formidable scholarly passages. The analysis is lively because the author succeeds so effortlessly at animating her argument with the kind of surprising cleverness that makes an academic text both entertaining and credible.
   
   `The Elizabeth Icon' revisits an oft-studied era in English history with a different perspective and reveals important facets previously disregarded as insignificant or overlooked as immaterial. It goes on to offer new insight into why and how successors, politicians, and citizens conceptualize public figures and national identity.
   
   This kind of study is particularly interesting in an America where the current administration is often accused of distorting



3. If you like drinking tea and watching Masterpiece Theater, this one is for you -- hey, and it would be so cute to read it by the light of those real beeswax candles. Walker is a real true-blue Anglophile -- which means that there's lots of stuff about Britain in this book, lots of which you won't understand, but then she admits she doesn't too some of the time. Book that vacation to BuckingHam Palace and take this book along.



4. 
   With so many big books on the market about the most amazing
   queen (and she was also a great king) in history, why should a reader
   buy this one? Because it is simply the best one out there. Innovative,
   detailed, witty, and the best book jacket image of Elizabeth EVER.
   This is the best book to be published on Elizabeth in the last twenty years
   and if like me you have scarce financial resources, this should be your
   splurge.

No comments about The Life Of King Alfred.

3 comments about Madame de Pompadour: A Life.

1. Having finished this book, I am struck with an uneasy dissatisfaction. Evelyn Lever did a very good job - so far as she went with her subject. But she leaves you hungry for more.

   "Madame de Pompadour" is easier reading than similar works by Antonia Fraser, Amanda Foreman, and Alison Weir. Lever cites fewer sources in her text, relying primarily on simple footnotes with little comparison and contrast of conflicting sources. Nor does she go into the specifics or character of her sources, leaving the reader to wonder where the information is really coming from, who said what and why. In some instances, it is difficult to see how Lever came to her conclusions. This makes the book move faster, but it also creates a void in the overall effect.

   The backdrop of the French court is not fleshed out with details of the period or placed into greater historical context. the reader is given no real sense of time and place, and this makes the two primary characters - Madame Pompadour and Louis XV - somewhat two dimensional.

   As a lover of historical biography and a fan of the scholastic style used by Fraser and the others listed above, I was disappointed. The period and the personality of Jean-Antoinette de Pompadour did not come alive through the reading and I craved more details of her life - what she ate, what she wore, some speculation on *how* her tastes developed.

   The detailing of the events of Madame Pompadour's life fall curiously flat. How on Earth did this woman retain the role of offical mistress when she flatly refused to sleep with Louis XV after the first 7 years of their relationship? Lever simply says that the King was "dependent" on her but does not detail why this might have been.

   Also, this is the bio of one of the most famous professional courteasans in History - surely a bit more salacious detail was in order? there is practically no speculation or discussion of sex, and let's face it, when we read about a woman who traded her "virtue" for power, a little sex talk is what we're looking for.

   I had read in "At Home with the Marquis de Sade" and other texts that the Parisian Police Chief of this time was in the habit of forwarding reports of his spies in the brothels of Paris to Madame Pompadour and the King so that they could enjoy a limited sex life through voyeurism. There was no mention of this in the text, not even to refute the assertion, although Lever cited the same sources as "de Sade," which causes me to speculate that perhaps the author has intentionally avoided this sort of detail.

   On the whole, however, it's not a bad book. The details given are indeed fascinating - for example, an examination of royal patronage and the Royal Mistress's role in the development of the French china industry or carefully reconstrcuted descriptions of Madame Pompadour's tastes in antiques and architecture. The photo inserts, tho smallish, do contain some lovely examples of portraiture and Lever gives great attention examining the details in context of the subject's life.

   Lever is thankfully not one of those biographers that becomes so infatuated with her subject that she cannot see and discuss her flaws. She reports Madame Pompadour's unpopularity without making a crusade of it, and does manage to bring a soild sketch of Madame Pompadour's personality through, despite the lack of intimate detail.

   I would buy this book if you're looking for an easy read and find the details of historical context boring. But if you live for the historical detail and the minute descriptions that make a subject come alive to the reader, best that this book be skipped.

   I'm told that there are more scholastically minded books on the market, including one with an introduction by Amanda Foreman. I intend to supplement my reading with these as soon as possible, because this book did convey enough of Madame Pompadour's fascination that I want to read more.




2. The tremendous research done to write this book is obvious. It is fascinating, though almost too detailed. The reader is bombarded with names and titles that are very hard to keep straight even for someone who speaks French. However, it is a compelling look at the life and era of an influential woman.



3. Overall, this is a well-written, engaging portrait of Madame de Pompadour, as well as other important persons of the times, including Louis XV, the aristocracy, Pompadour's family members, etc. We learn much about Pompadour, her personality, how she managed her rise to prominence, the court intrigues. Her involvement in politics and the arts are addressed. I would have liked some more information on other aspects of French society (e.g., life of different social classes, the economy, foreign affairs) than is provided. I recognize that the main point of the book is a focus on Pompadour, yet I believe this additional information would have provided a fuller picture in which to understand Pompadour. Nevertheless, I would defintely recommend this book to a reader who wants to learn more about this important woman and the court life during Louis XV's rein.

5 comments about The Way Out: A True Story of Survival.

1. Craig Childs explores and describes the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau like no one else can. In "The Way Out", Childs and a friend navigate through a maze of canyons incised deeply into the Navajo Sandstone of northern Arizona. This could be just another wilderness adventure, a book to sit beside the countless other wilderness essays on bookstore shelves, but it is not: I have seen the land Craig Childs navigates in this book, a land of twisted canyons so disturbingly chaotic that I feel tremors in my solar plexus whenever I see it, and I have never had the courage to try to cross it.
   
   As they struggle through the twisted canyons, Childs flashes back to his turbulent relationship with his father, and he describes his friend's long and torturous career as a police officer. At first I found these flashbacks to be too personal and intimate; I was almost embarrassed for Childs' inability to keep these deeply personal thoughts to himself. As their adventure progresses, though, these past experiences come alive in the stone, creating a web of life and continuum whose lessons are seen at every turn. In his final act, Childs takes his father's ashes into the desert where he intends to release them in the only place where he can find peace. A storm blows up though, and his father's ashes are taken by the wind and the crash of lightening. This seems to prove to him that his struggles through nature are the same as his struggles with his father: enigmatic; tempestuous; dichotomous.
   
   "The Way Out" is a powerful story of emotion and survival in the wilderness of the land and of the mind.



2. I read this book based upon the reviews listed here and was very disappointed. What were these reviewers thinking? This book was tremendously boring. I never really got the feeling that they were in danger. Im sure they were but it didnt come across too well. And there were just too many metaphors. One after another. I never could identify with either hiker. I had no image in my mind of what they looked like. Too many flashbacks I didnt really care about their past experiences. If i wanted cop stories i would take out a cop book from the library(i dont buy books). This book cant compare to books like Into Thin Air and Skeletons across the Zahara. Please read either one. They were fantastic.



3. I loved this book, which is a feast for the soul. The novel profiles an inner and outer journey of two men through the most intense enviornment. Beyond the physical endurance required to pass this route, the 2 men reflect on their past struggles with socitenty, family and personal demons.
   
   It's another incredible book by Childs, and I think marks a change in his writing style. Rather than a collection of journeys, this is a single story which becomes a lengend or tale.
   
   Read this book. It reaches into the soul of men, in a way few contemporary stories can.



4. With all due respect (I find most of Craig's other books written with both elegance and restraint; amd his solo explorations acts of courage and surrender.), these two men went out for a month, with top-of-the-line gear, plenty of food (cached and otherwise) and, in fact, were in no real danger. A real survivor is a grandmother on food stamps, taking care of and loving five grand-kids, in a roach motel, with no vehicle and a greedy landlord.
   Or a woman with a double mastectomy, who finds out she had bone cancer and decides it is time to learn how to drum because she has wanted to all her life, and knows each 3-month check-up might be her last.



5. Where most people go to resorts or on a cruise for time away from their everyday lives, Craig Childs and his close friend and traveling companion Dirk Vaughn walk the desolate deserts, canyons and chasms of the American West.
   
   The Way Out describes Childs' walk through a forgotten and imposing fracture in the crust of the earth rarely if ever seen by white people. The indigenous tribes through millennia have passed this way, but until Childs and Vaughn receive permission from an elder Dine shepherd, no one has walked this route in recent times.
   
   Childs' style of writing is metaphorical. It engages you and makes one understand the element he is traveling like no other author I have read. It flows like prose from the early days of the last century when authors painted their stories with words.
   
   In the short period of time that the two men spend in their search through this chasm, they reflect on the lives they have led that have brought them to this adventure. Childs' life is one of dark memories that would have pushed those without his outlook upon life to the depths of depression. In his compatriot Vaughn, we meet a man that has seen the distasteful underbelly of big city crime in his days as a police officer.
   
   Yet neither man allows those past experiences to dampen their spirit in their quest to explore the forgotten realm in which they have intentionally placed themselves.
   
   I must admit, I almost put this book down. But as I forged forward I began to understand the author's style and what he was trying to communicate.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: The Way Out will make you take solitary stock of what has happened along your own walk through life.