Books

  1. Prince Henry "The Navigator": A Life (Yale Nota Bene S.)
    Prince Henry "The Navigator": A Life (Yale Nota Bene S.)

  2. No Virtue Like Necessity: Realist Thought in International Relations Since Machiavelli
    No Virtue Like Necessity: Realist Thought in International Relations Since Machiavelli

  3. Dress in Eighteenth-century Europe, 1715-1789
    Dress in Eighteenth-century Europe, 1715-1789

  4. Rethinking the Holocaust (Yale Nota Bene S.)
    Rethinking the Holocaust (Yale Nota Bene S.)

  5. The Hardest Day: Battle of Britain, 18 August 1940 (Cassell Military Classics S.)
    The Hardest Day: Battle of Britain, 18 August 1940 (Cassell Military Classics S.)

  6. The Red Orchestra: Soviet Spy Network Inside Nazi Europe (Cassell Military Classics S.)
    The Red Orchestra: Soviet Spy Network Inside Nazi Europe (Cassell Military Classics S.)

  7. These Men Are Dangerous: The S.A.S. at War (Cassell Military Classics S.)
    These Men Are Dangerous: The S.A.S. at War (Cassell Military Classics S.)

  8. The Dambusters Raid (Cassell Military Classics S.)
    The Dambusters Raid (Cassell Military Classics S.)

  9. Cassino: Portrait of a Battle (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    Cassino: Portrait of a Battle (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

  10. The Renaissance at War (Cassell History of Warfare S.)
    The Renaissance at War (Cassell History of Warfare S.)

  11. The Swordbearers (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    The Swordbearers (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

  12. The First Armies (Cassell History of Warfare)
    The First Armies (Cassell History of Warfare)

  13. Mongols, Huns and Vikings (Cassell History of Warfare S.)
    Mongols, Huns and Vikings (Cassell History of Warfare S.)

  14. Hitler's Commanders: German Bravery in the Field, 1939-1945
    Hitler's Commanders: German Bravery in the Field, 1939-1945

  15. The Stuarts (Royal History of England S.)
    The Stuarts (Royal History of England S.)

  16. The Middle Ages (Royal History of England S.)
    The Middle Ages (Royal History of England S.)

  17. England's Heritage
    England's Heritage

  18. British Greats
    British Greats

  19. Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia
    Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia

  20. Night Blitz, 1940-41 (Cassell Military Paperbacks)
    Night Blitz, 1940-41 (Cassell Military Paperbacks)

  21. The Battle of Britain: Dowding and the First Victory, 1940 (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    The Battle of Britain: Dowding and the First Victory, 1940 (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

  22. Memoirs: Ten Years and Twenty Days (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    Memoirs: Ten Years and Twenty Days (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

  23. The Great Escape (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    The Great Escape (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

  24. The Somme: A New History (Fields of Battle S.)
    The Somme: A New History (Fields of Battle S.)

  25. Aces, 'erks and Backroom Boys: Personal Stories from Britain's Air War 1939-45 (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)
    Aces, 'erks and Backroom Boys: Personal Stories from Britain's Air War 1939-45 (Cassell Military Paperbacks S.)

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
  • Very Interesting
  • History as Science Fiction
  • Provocative, appealing and controversial
  • pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:
  1. History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
  2. Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
  3. Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
  4. Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization
  5. They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

5 out of 5 stars Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

4 out of 5 stars History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

5 out of 5 stars Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02

Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.

5 out of 5 stars pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16

Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.
The Art of War & The Prince by Machiavelli
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Terrible MP3 CD, terrible packaging
  • Good book
  • Take a Side and Step Along
  • Essential Knowledge
  • Two Great Books for the Price of One
The Art of War & The Prince by Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli
Manufacturer: El Paso Norte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:
  1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition
  2. Discourses
  3. On War (Oxford World's Classics)
  4. Strategy: Second Revised Edition (Meridian)
  5. The Art of War by Mao Tse-Tung - Special Edition

ASIN: 0976072688

Book Description

This Special Edition of The Art of War & The Prince by Machiavelli unites both of Machiavelli's renowned volumes on strategy so that the philosophy and mechanisms for obtaining power and managing power may be seen as a single entity. Possessed of a great intellect, Niccolo Machiavelli was uniquely suited to examine and explain the important details of statecraft.

Machiavelli, like Plato and Pythagoras and Confucius two hundred odd decades before him, saw only one method by which a thinking man, himself not powerful, might do the work of state building, and that was by seizing the imagination of a Prince. With these writings, he has influenced the history of the world.

Machiavelli has so influenced human civilization that the very term: Machiavellian, has come to mean that which is characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning. A prime example is his advice: "A wise prince, when he has the opportunity, ought with craft to foster some animosity against himself, so that, having crushed it, his renown may rise higher." His advice, on this and other suggested intrigues, has been heeded by various heads of state for over four hundred years.

Other Special Editions in this series that deal with the subject of warfare and strategy include:
The Art of War By Sun Tzu - Special Edition
The Art of War By Mao Tse-tung - Special Edition
The Art of War By Baron De Jomini - Special Edition

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Terrible MP3 CD, terrible packaging.......2007-05-30

I was not at all happy with my recent Audio MP3 CD purchase of The Prince. Firstly, the packaging was shotty at best, nothing professional about it. Looks like some dude made this in his garage with a blank cd and an inkjet. Secondly, a few of the tracks didn't even work, for example #2, and #19. As well, at least 2 other tracks were only 5 seconds long. I would recommend staying away from this product and save your money.

4 out of 5 stars Good book.......2007-05-23

I've had the art of war recomended to me by several people. As someone who is in retail/IT, it is an interesting read, but tough to follow. I believe that the version by Sun Tzu would be a little more appropriate for a business/management setting.

5 out of 5 stars Take a Side and Step Along.......2007-03-26


In a world torn by strife, greed and self-interest, Machiavelli's writings are essential reading for intellectual self-defense, if for no other reason. It is necessary to know the enemy and the extent of his intentions so that you might protect yourself adequately. Machiavelli's prescriptions and justifications have shocked and outraged the meek and the pure of heart for centuries.

Machiavelli was a very accomplished individual. His talents ranged over a wide spectrum: politics, philosophy, natural science, and military science. And, he was an expert in the application of cunning, deceit and treachery - the standard tools of politicians in every age. Machiavelli, however, was several cuts above the standards of the time in which he lived.

In matters of political intrigue Machiavelli has few peers - at least none who have had the courage to advocate the extremes to which men should be willing to commit in order to exercise effective control over their domains. His writings have served as a roadmap for the unscrupulous for several centuries.

It is not necessary to agree with the teachings of Machiavelli in order to appreciate the effectiveness of his advice, but you cannot - in this world - afford to be ignorant of his advice. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. With only limited information as to which side of a conflict might be in the right, we should, of course, stay on the sidelines. Unfortunately we are too often required to take a side and step along. Machiavelli suggested that you always pick the winning side - regardless of its hypothetical merit.

In a world where honor, integrity, kindness and generosity of spirit are totally absent, the ruthless, cruel and logical courses of action - the paths to success - are precisely what Machiavelli advocated. To him, nothing else made sense. He pointed out that those who refuse to accept their unpleasant realities and instead retreat into untenable fantasies, are the ready-made victims for the ruthless.

Machiavelli's minions, the clerics, politicians and merchants who have taken his advice to heart, have succeeded far beyond the bounds of their unaided imaginations. P. T. Barnum's observation, that: "There's a sucker born every minute", is right in tune with the philosophical outlook of Machiavelli. He would have agreed with the premise: "If God had not meant for them to be sheared, he would not have made them sheep." He would, however, have pointed out: "You can shear them many times, but you can only skin them once."

5 out of 5 stars Essential Knowledge.......2006-12-08


Machiavelli had to be extraordinarily brave to say, out loud, and publish the view that power for the sake of power was its own justification; that the ultimate morality of any action was determined by its success in obtaining and maintaining power. This idea has influenced world politics most profoundly. Going into a political debate, or even just passing through this world, without being aware of the cold, calculating mindset that considers that obtaining and wielding power to be the most important aim in life is like going into battle unarmed.

However reprehensible some might think that the philosophy of "the end justifies the means" might be, to ignore it, and pretend that it doesn't exist, is even worse. Ultimately, the truth is all we can rely on. Knowing the truth, knowing the worst along with the best, may not set you free, but it can help prepare you for whatever comes your way.

5 out of 5 stars Two Great Books for the Price of One.......2006-12-08


Ever so often you find one of those special books that you just have to re-read from time to time. Machiavelli's The Prince was already on my list. After finding this book, which also contains The Art of War by Machiavelli, The Art of War has also made my list.

The conversational, or rather dialogue, style of The Art of War is very different from the straight exposition of The Prince. The points that are important get argued out by the characters as they explain their points of views to each other. Of course, the dialogues are biased in favor of the views that Machiavelli wished to promote. That was a very popular style for a variety of reason during those times. Chiefly, it gave the author some wiggle room if the book was challenged by The Church (although it didn't do Galileo much good with regard to The Starry Messenger.)

Having both of these books in one volume also serves to illustrate the breadth and width of Machiavelli's intellect, both as a political theorist and as an accomplished writer. There should be no doubt that Machiavelli was not writing for the public at large. His intended audience was the Medici family and the other powerful leaders of his own time. Most of his writings, with these two being the prime examples, were intended to demonstrate just how clever he was to the people who could help his career plans. The fact that he left a legacy that has influenced philosophy and politics for all time was coincidental.

On a more practical vein, this particular edition is a bargain simply because you get two great books by one of the most important figures in the history of political theory for less than the price of the two separate books. And, having both books bound together keeps you from misplacing one of them. What a deal!
Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553 (The Royal Diaries)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good FICTION book
  • Queen of Scotland, lived in France
  • Mary, Queen of Scots
  • some history about this book . . .
  • She is not Bloody Mary
Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country, France, 1553 (The Royal Diaries)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439194040

Amazon.com

Sent from her native Scotland to live in the court of her future father-in-law, King Henry II of France, young Mary, Queen of Scots, spends her time attending balls, hunting and hawking, learning Latin and fractions and music, and playing with her future husband, Francis. In Kathryn Lasky's fictionalized diary of the 11-year-old queen, readers will get a piquant taste of 16th-century life in Europe. Mary is quite aware of her role as the betrothed to France's royal family. Playing chess together one day, Francis comments to Mary, "Did it ever strike you, Mary, that we are not so much children and sons and daughters of parents as we are pieces on a gigantic chessboard called Europe? You are given to me to help checkmate England." As with the other titles in the Royal Diaries series (Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, etc.), a fact-packed historical note, epilogue, paintings, and family tree provide just enough additional information to whet the appetites of readers for more about the ill-fated queen of Scotland and France. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Mary is only nine months old when she is crowned Queen of Scotland succeeding her father King James V. Because of political conflicts, she is forced to be separated from her mother and her country from the age of five. For the benefit of forging an alliance with France, the youngster is betrothed to Francis, the son of King Henry ll of France and his wife, the vicious and jealous Queen Catherine de Medici. Mary is sent to France to live in their care until she is old enough for the marriage to take place. It is at their home, the beautiful Chateau St. Germaine, that we first meet the irresistibly charming Mary at 11 years old. Keenly intelligent, she excels academically, and shows a talent for dance, music and poetry. She's an expert horsewoman, skilled at archery and hawking.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Good FICTION book.......2006-10-19

THis book is a good read. I've found though that many books in this series are incomplete. They fail to metion any parts of their deaths. I for one don't like this. In History Mary Queen of Scots was killed by her cousin Elizabeth I of England. I also noticed that in the last grand duchess, they again failed to show why she ended up as the last grand duchess. I enjoyed reading this book. In reality, the book isn't a history lesson and shouldn't be read as such. Finally, it is an incomplete account based on a certain author's view.

5 out of 5 stars Queen of Scotland, lived in France.......2005-11-07

I'm a big fan of the Royal Diaries series and own this book, which i think is very interesting. It tells you alot about the life of Mary Queen Of Scots, where she lived, ect. I acually didn't know she had lived in France before i read this book. Historicly corrrct, interesting and fun to read; this book also mentions Elizabeth I, whom a diary in this series has also been written after. I definetly recomend this book.

5 out of 5 stars Mary, Queen of Scots.......2005-10-28

Alright, here is some information about the history of this family. This is not completly about this book, but scince so many people are getting their history wrong, i chose to write a review just for that reason.

Mary is the cousin of Elizabeth I of England. Mary became Queen of Scotland before she was even 2 years old, (rather odd!) but was raised in France.

Mary was a betrayer, and did not appriciate Elizabeth's kindness at all, and was plotting against her with the Spanish. Elizabeth warned Mary but she chose not to listen. Elizabeth ordered for Mary to be executed, and so it was done on February 8, 1587. She was executed.

Mary is the great - grand daughter of Henry VII. Here are some of the people she is related to:

- King Henry VIII (Son of Henry VII, Father of Elizabeth I and Mary I, married to Anne Boleyn, her Great - Uncle)

Second Cousins , Mary I, Elizabeth I, King Edward VI , Lady Jane Grey (i think), ect.

Margaret Tudor (Daughter of Henry VII, Sister of Henry VIII, her great - aunt)
************************************************************

That is just a small percent of the history of Mary. Thank you.

5 out of 5 stars some history about this book . . . .......2005-10-27

Mary, Queen of Scotts (Mary Stuart) is the Great- Grand daughter of English King Henry VII. She is the second - cousin of Elizabeth Tudor, Daughter of King Henry VIII. She was Queen of Scotland, and was exiled from Scotland for many years, and lived in England at the palaces of her Cousin, Elizabeth. Mary betrayed Elizabeth greatly, and planned to kill the Queen. She talked behind Elizabeth's back, and even though Elizabeth was kind to her, Mary acted very ignorantly towards Elizabeth! Because she planned to kill to Queen, she was ordered to be be-headed by Elizabeth. THANK YOU!

5 out of 5 stars She is not Bloody Mary.......2005-10-05

The book was very intresting like all the Royal Diaries I have read so far. [...] SHE IS NOT BLOODY MARY that in fact was Elizabeth I's half sister Mary TUDOR not Mary STUART( who is the man character in this story)

chiao!
Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine
  • Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine
  • My Favorite
  • The Diary of a amazing girl
  • If you liked this book...
Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine
Kristiana Gregory
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439164842

Book Description

Fourteen-year-old Eleanor of Aquitaine lives in a castle in Poitier, France, with her father Count William of Aquitaine (son of William the Conqueror), and her 12-year-old sister Petronilla. Their mother died several years earlier, so their grandmother and ladies-in-waiting raise the girls. Eleanor is extremely intelligent and literate, having been carefully educated by royal tutors. Spinning bores her, as does weaving, sewing, and other housewifery skills expected of her. She would rather be a knight and ride off to war. In fact, in 1136, when her father is invited to help invade Normandy,

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine.......2006-03-17

THIS BOOK, in MY OPINION, was one of the best out of the "Royal Diaries" Series. Eleanor is not a princess, but a Duchess of Aquitaine (Southern France) in the 1100's. This book was well written and contained much information on Eleanor's teen years. Although the reading level is supossed to be ages 9-12, i am 13, almost 14, and enjoyed this book. I think it's good for all ages.

5 out of 5 stars Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine.......2006-01-04

Eleanor of Aquitaine has a difficult childhood. Her father, the duke, constantly gets in fights with the pope. As if that's not enough to deal with, her brother died and her father wants her to get married as a political arrangement.A beloved family member goes on a trip, never to return. And finally, she must marry Louis the Younger when she'd much rather be playing with her sister and daydreaming.
This was one of the most exciting books in the Royal Diaries series! It has brave knights in battle,court intrigues,and betrayal...

5 out of 5 stars My Favorite.......2005-11-18

This is the second Royal Diary I read, and I loved it. The story is wonderful. Eleanor is a young girl who goes through all the same things that girls do now, she just was in the 1100s. I think that every young girl will love learning about history while also reading a good story.

5 out of 5 stars The Diary of a amazing girl.......2005-10-31

Eleanor is a young girl but is old enough to get married. Her father Duke William X a very wealthy man, decides to go to war. So her sister and her are left with no father or mother only servants and there grandma. He does come back but a tragedy occurs and she is forced to marry the price soon to be king of France. She has never met him before and she really like Clotaire the strong. Her life is filled with new, terrifying, heart leaping adventures. She also has a younger brother and sister. Her brother dies but, her sister is still alive. Her mother is also gone. So it's not really a big family. Just her younger sister her dad and herself. I really like this book because of different things I get to read about. I think its so cool hearing about what it was like for a girl in medieval times about my age well she was really more of a princess. Her father had even more money then the king. It's really interesting reading about her life. How and where she hides her diary. How she is taken care of. What they ate back then. Where they went to the bathroom with no toilets. Its such a fascinating book with so much drama. And life filled with excitement!

3 out of 5 stars If you liked this book..........2005-09-01

If you liked this book, then try reading "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver." It tells the story of the rest of Eleanor's life. She was an AMAZING woman who led an enormously fascinating life!!!!
Prince Henry "the Navigator": A Life
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Into the Unknown......
  • Great book, but don't take this one to the beach !!
  • Henry the Navigator: Debunking or Hatchet Job?
  • What did Henry know?
  • An Entrepreneur Who Rarely Himself Went To Sea
Prince Henry "the Navigator": A Life
Peter Russell
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300082339

Book Description

This enthralling life of the legendary fifteenth-century Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, is the first comprehensive biography in more than a century. Examining the full range of the prince's activities as an imperialist and as a maritime, cartographical, and navigational pioneer, Peter Russell shows that while Henry was firmly rooted in medieval times, his innovations set in motion changes that altered the history of Europe and regions far beyond.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Into the Unknown.............2004-02-10

Prince Henry 'the Navigator' provides the reader an intricately detailed account of the life of this crusader, geographical visionary, and aggressive entrepreneur. Seeking an end around the Saharan caravan trade, Henry pushed maritime exploration down Africa's Atlantic coast into a region shrouded in myth and mystery. Ostensibly claiming a crusader's fervor for the conversion of the barbarous, Henry initiated the Afro-Atlantic slave trade, charted Africa's western shoreline, commercially developed the Azores, battled desperately for control of the Canaries, and, as time and events allowed, launched invasions of Morocco with varying degrees of success.

Henry thrust medieval Europe into the Atlantic providing the impetus for empires to come. Like any mortal, he was imprisoned by the consciousness of his times, yet unfettered in his drive to explore the unknown. Both flawed and famous, P.E. Russell's Prince Henry is placed firmly within the chronological context. He can be detested for his commerce in flesh, his cynical exploitation of faith, and his innate impulse to conquer, but he would then be measured not by the standards of his day, but of our own. In settling this score, Russell admirably adheres to objectivity.

Despite spotty source material, P.E. Russell has presented a comprehensive, entirely readable account of Henry the Navigator. This is a solid and satisfying book which easily merits a rating of 4 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Great book, but don't take this one to the beach !!.......2003-08-04

Mr. Russell's book is superb in many ways: the prose is very elegant, even to a French speaking reader, the author's erudition is impressive and any amateur historian will find here a fascinating introduction to a side of European history which he or she is most unlikely to have been familiar with prior to acquiring Mr. Russell's book. That "the navigator" hardly ever set foot on a ship of any kind, I must confess I didn't know! His cupidity, pettiness in certain ways and magnanimity in other are very intriguing. The context is beautifully described. In other words, here is a splendid book by a very gifted historian. One word of caution, though: this is not an easy read! Don't take Mr. Russell's book to the beach after a stressful few months at the office. It takes a relaxed and attentive mind to really enjoy the book. I read it whilst in a yoga camp on a carrot juice fast. Both were perfect!

4 out of 5 stars Henry the Navigator: Debunking or Hatchet Job?.......2003-05-19

In 1385, when Henry the Navigator was born, Europe was a Eurasian backwater--fragmented and poor, inferior to China in marine technology, and far behind the Islamic world in geographic scope and cultural achievement. Two centuries afterward, Europeans dominated the world. Henry was one of the individuals at the root of this turnaround.

As Peter Russell's biography is at pains to point out, Henry himself had no such grandiose vision. As a younger son of King John I of Portugal, he helped lead an attack on the Moroccan port of Ceuta in 1415, and was given responsibility for governing and supplying the enclave afterward. In the course of this work he seems to have devloped an appreciation for the special capabilities of Portuguese sailing caravels, and to have seen how they might be used to promote Portuguese expansion overseas.

Beginning in the 1420's, Henry sent out a series of state sponsored voyages of exploration and commerce. As Russell relates, his motives were not always clear and were sometimes contradictory. At various times his captains sought uninhabited land to colonize, pagans to convert and enslave, allies to fight against Islamic North Africa, and new markets in which to trade. At times Henry seemed to relish fighting for its own sake, since the medieval culture in which he had been steeped required worthy enemies against whom to perform chivalric deeds of valor.

In the 1430's Henry's captains began charting the coast of Africa south of Morocco, which had previously been unknown to Europeans. By his death in 1460 they had reached as far as Sierra Leone and had established profitable trading relationships with many of the kingdoms of West Africa--with slaves, sadly, as one of the principal commodities. After Henry's death the project continued until Portuguese ships had rounded Africa and reached India and the Far East. Henry took time off from these endeavors to sponsor further (unsuccessful) attacks against Morocco and to intrigue against his fellow Christians in Castile and Aragon.

Russell, however, emphasizes Henry's medieval mindset so much that he almost misses what was unique about Henry's life and work. No other ruler of his time thought to direct state resources to maritime expansion. No other prince required his captains to keep such careful charts and records so that discovery might be cumulative. No one else, a century before Columbus, saw the potential for improved sailing ships to revolutionize commerce and warfare.

Nevertheless, for all its flaws, this is a ground-breaking and carefully researched biography, marked by judicious evaluation of source material. One only wishes that Russell had not been so anxious to debunk his subject as to make him seem like just another medieval grandee, rather than the remarkable innovator which he was.

5 out of 5 stars What did Henry know?.......2003-02-04

A fascinating book for history buffs and professionals, although maybe hard going for the general reader. It's wrong to criticize an author for not writing a different book, and this is a biography rather than a history of maritime technology but I felt shortchanged in the scientific history department. Why were the Portuguese able to make these voyages at this particular time? He mentions the caravels as better able to sail close to the wind than were purely square-rigged ships but does not say when and where they were developed or what the evidence is that this was a major development. Did anyone in Portugal possess any kind of sextant? Did the King really have "a court astrologer" ? Did Henry have access to the Majorcan maps? I'd like to have known more about these, and how they were circulated.
Sir Peter's main message is debunking. He wants to show that Henry was a narrow-minded incompetent, literally Quixotic, medieval bigot and not a scientifically curious Renaissance man. He holds no punches about his involvement in the slave trade.
Without endorsing post-mortem psychanalysis it seems strange that the author so resolutely withholds comment on Henry's celibacy and relationship with his adopted heir, while freely speculating about his motives in other areas.
I was puzzled about the fate of Henry's brother Don Pedro. Regent of Portugal. The table at the front shows that he was killed in 1449, and on page 357 of my paperback edition we are told that Henry contributed to his death, but no details are given. Did I miss something?

5 out of 5 stars An Entrepreneur Who Rarely Himself Went To Sea.......2002-03-15

Don Henrique, younger son of Portugese royalty, represents the cusp between the medieval and the Renaissance; the 14th and 15th centuries. As Russell's life of Henry shows us, he was a passionate crusader whose stupefyingly backward prejudices fueled a succession of costly wars against the Arab world (and won only one prize: the Moroccan port of Ceutes, still technically part of Europe). He founded his own religious order and lived a wholly ascetic life. Yet he was also an extremely risk-happy entrepreneur, funding exploration to the Azores, Madiera and the African coast as far as Guinea. Henry is not to be glorified, and in fact Russell's portrait is quite damning; he was a stubborn, greedy, violent man responsible for killing and enslaving countles Africans. But he was a force of history, and can be argued to have pioneered Spanish and Portugese expansion, even if, as Russell shows us, he may not have been fully conscious of this.
Bastard Prince: Henry VIII's Lost Son
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Book for aficionados of the Tudor period
  • Interesting topic, but the writing didn't grab me
  • The Lost Son
  • Passably Competent Account of a Little Known Bastard
  • The man who was allmost Henry The Ninth of England
Bastard Prince: Henry VIII's Lost Son
Beverley Murphy
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0750926848

Book Description

The first book to examine the life of Henry Fitzroy, the only illegitimate child ever publicly acknowledged by Henry VIII.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Book for aficionados of the Tudor period.......2006-07-08

Dying at the age of 18, Henry Fitzroy is, in the end, a person of little or no historical significance. There was the potential that he could have become historically significant, but he didn't; this may make him a little interest to general history readers. On the other hand, as the king's acknowledged son, there is also considerable documentation about his life, and it did intersect with some of the flashpoints of history. For the reader interested in the period, his story fleshes out the life and upbringing of a high-ranking male. Murphy also checks upon some of the minor, disputed details of the question of the succession.

What is very interesting about biographies like this is that they bring out the details of the period better than biographies of the famous. The latter are so filled with political and social events that very often the subject isn't developed as a person, even when there is copious information. In a way, that is a shame. It would be nice to have "personal" biographies of such people where the already heavily documented major historical events are a background to their daily life. I had read a great deal of information about the Tudors before I learned that Henry played cards with (and lost to!) his cellarer, or that Anne Boleyn, obviously a woman after my own heart, insisted that he move his fighting cocks so that she could sleep in in the morning.

One problem that I do have with Murphy is that she struggles so hard to make him seem more important. If his neighbors were bringing him gifts when he was 12, I think it is more likely to ingratiate themselves with him and his father, not because he was personally doing a fabulous job of managing his estates. His life wasn't one that was eccentric or fascinating or wittily told that I would recommend it to everyone, but I think that people really interested in the period will find it improves their general understanding.

3 out of 5 stars Interesting topic, but the writing didn't grab me.......2006-02-15

I love Henry...love any book about him, his wives, his children, I have all of them. This one caught my eye because it was written about one of his children you rarely hear anything about other than his mother's name and that he died relatively young. I was excited to start reading, but found the presentation wasn't grabbing my attention, and I found myself not being as interested in the information presented as I thought I would be. I suppose you could call the presentation as text-bookish. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy non-fiction, especially historical non-fiction, but this one just didn't keep me interested.

5 out of 5 stars The Lost Son.......2005-06-16

Among the more grandiose plans amongst the ministers of Henry VIII's administration was to legitimize Henry FitzRoy and marry him to his legitimate half-sister Mary (i.e. Bloody Mary). It has been rumored amongst historians that this idea was in fact direct from the King's mouth. According to 16th century standards, siblings who shared the same father (but perhaps not the same mother) were considered 'full-blood' siblings. Siblings who shared the same mother but different fathers were those considered "half". Just a little tidbit of historical nonsense.

3 out of 5 stars Passably Competent Account of a Little Known Bastard.......2004-09-02

Henry VIII while famous for his six wives, did not stop there: among his many extracurriculars was Elizabeth Blount, a young lady who bore him a son, Henry FitzRoy, who was later made Duke of Richmond. The Bastard Price was born well before Ann Boleyn had come on the scene, was publicly acknowledged as the "natural son" of the King and showered with titles and offices. As such, it would not have taken much - or at least it would have taken less trouble than it might have seemed, certainly less trouble than Boleyn marriage brought - to "legitimize" Richmond and thereby solve the most pressing crisis of the late 1520s and early 1530s, namely, Henry's failure to sire a male heir. Murphy does a reasonable job of walking us through the permutations and combination of this would-be scenario, and one is left pondering the possibilities: could the English Reformation have been averted through a bit of subtle intrigue and a quick marriage to Blount? Though the story is interesting, the book itself is a bit slow and assumes quite a deal of background knowledge.

4 out of 5 stars The man who was allmost Henry The Ninth of England.......2002-07-22

This book is a must read for those interested in Tudor Royalty.It reveals an entirely different view of Henry VIII and the problems[real and imagined]he faced concerning his desire for a legitimate male heir to the Throne of England.The politics surrounding Henry VIII and his Court are well researched and presented in a clear way which involves the reader with the Duke of Norfolk and Anne Boleyn's backers and Family[Seymour] as they fought for power and the favor of the King.
To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • More fiction than history
  • Good twist to the old Tower Tale
  • Entertaining but flawed
  • A compelling look into an ages-old mystery
  • To The Tower Born
To the Tower Born: A Novel of the Lost Princes
Robin Maxwell
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060580518
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars More fiction than history.......2007-01-31

What a waste of my time and money! This is the authosr's second book that I read, and I beleive the last. If you like historical fiction this is not for you. I don't think the characters are well developed, she had a wonderful piece of history to work on and did not do it justice. As someone wrote here before maybe the author was influenced by Hollywood because the explosions and the involvement of women of the time ( especially a princess ) on the "action packed" part is somewhat unbelievable. Sometimes the book made me feel it was written for teens.

3 out of 5 stars Good twist to the old Tower Tale.......2006-09-08

3.5 stars

Ms. Maxwell's take on what happened to the two sons of Edward IV who disappeared from the Tower of London shortly after Richard III "usurped" the crown from the eldest of them adds a clever layer to the two most commonly told versions of this story (that Richard III had them murdered, or that he was innocent & uninvolved and the Duke of Buckingham did it in attempt to gain the crown for himself).

I absolutely love the possibility of Margaret Beaufort's involvement which Maxwell has added in this story. Her ambitiousness, political machniations and involvement in intrigue have been well documented. It's entirely plausable to see her as the pupeteer behind Buckingham... however, other aspects of Maxwell's take on how she and Buckingham may have been involved are completely far-fetched. This story provides a "happy ending" to a tale that simply could not have ended so. In writing it as thus, Maxwell pushes the reader beyond the bounds of believability and left this particular one feeling quite disappointed after reading 7/8 of the story only to find a Hollywood ending complete with explosions.

Maxwell relies on an overly used formula to set the stage for the story. The main character, Nell Caxton, is uncommonly educated for a woman of her time, has maintained a childhood friendship with Princess Elizabeth and thus has access to Royal circles, and yet is so likeable and street smart that she is also friends with every street-dwelling pauper and prostitute in the vacinity of Westminster. Nell's cleverness also opens doors to romance with a man of the court, a position as tutor to the young king-to-be, and an appointment as scribe to Margaret Beaufort. Nell has a surprising amount of unchaperoned time, much of which she manages to spend with her also-strangely-unchaperoned princess friend. As one would expect, the girls even get to sneak around undetected disguised as young men.

Despite the kitsch formula and over-the-top ending, the book is entertaining. The story of Richard of York / Richard III and his ascention to the throne and coinciding disappearance of the Princes in the Tower has intrigued the public for 500+ years. Maxwell has contributed a smart, mostly plausable and formerly unexplored possible answer to the mystery.

3 out of 5 stars Entertaining but flawed.......2006-08-13

This is the first book by this author that I've read. I only chose it because it has to do with Richard III and the Princes in the Tower, a mystery that has always fascinated me.

I'm not going through the storyline here, as numerous reviewers before me have already done so. The main question is, who was responsible for the disappearance of the Princes?

Ms. Maxwell's answer as to the identity of the culprit is clever and credible (psychologically and historically speaking), but the whole rescue-of-the-princes scene is such a stretch it's not believable for one second.

Also, though Ms. Maxwell did read some previous books of the subject, she didn't assimilate them very well and makes several historical mistakes, like the people in the crowd circa 1500 referring to Richard III as a hunchback. If they lived at the time, they should have known he was no such thing, that's only Shakespeare's take on it. Besides, by general accounts, Richard III was loved in his time. He was a good king for the little time he had ruling England.

She also absolves Henry VII from the crime on the grounds that he wasn't in England at the time. She obviously didn't read, or conveniently forgot, Josephine Tey's and others' theories that the Princes were alive and well when Henry Tudor took over the Tower (which was not a prison at the time, but a royal residence) and that he (supposedly) only did away with them after he took the throne. Another theory of course is that they were never murdered at all.

Being a stickler for at least some historical accuracy even in a work of historical fiction, that irked me and detracted from my enjoyment of an otherwise entertaining book. I liked Nell Caxton's romance with Lord Rivers, and the fact (which might be true) that Elizabeth of York was in love with Richard III.

The ending left one hanging, because the two friends, Nell and Bessie, tell the whole "true" story to the future Henry VIII. What good did it do? We all know he didn't lift a single finger to rehabilitate his great-uncle's memory. Actually he finished what his father had started, killing off what was left of the heirs of York. And what became of the Princes after they were rescued is also left to the reader's imagination. It would have been nice if she had hinted at the "pretender and impostor" Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be the younger of the two princes during a rebellion under Henry VII.

All in all, I did enjoy the story but purely as a work of suspense/mystery fiction. As historical fiction, it was sadly disappointing.

5 out of 5 stars A compelling look into an ages-old mystery.......2006-06-06

(This review was first published in The Historical Novels Review, Issue 34, November 2005 - ISSN 1471-7492)
The disappearance and alleged murder of Edward IV's young sons in the Tower has fueled centuries of speculation, both in fiction and nonfiction. Shakespeare was one of the first dramatists to peg the crime on Richard III, in part because the playwright lived under Elizabeth I, a Tudor. The Tudors were invested in having history record Richard III as the perpetrator, seeing as Henry VII had killed Richard in battle, founding the Tudor line. Nevertheless, a staunch cadre of Richard III defenders believes he was not to blame. The princes themselves were never seen again, and on this intriguing, if oft-explored, mystery does Robin Maxwell build her fourth novel, as told through Nell Caxton, daughter of an innovative English printer, and Princess Elizabeth (Bessie) of York, the doomed princes' sister. Maxwell has shown her skill in previous historicals, most notably her masterful The Wild Irish; here, she moves back in time to the tumultuous final days of Edward IV's reign and Richard III's usurpation of his nephew's throne. The history itself offers a compelling story line, with the added dimension of the entrepreneurial Caxton family, and we are quickly swept into the chaotic events leading to the princes' disappearance. Maxwell conjures an intelligent, credible alternative to the Richard III theory, with Nell unraveling the mystery. Nell is an engaging lead, a commoner whose educational skills and familial connections allow her to penetrate the royal circle. The tale is accessible even to English history novices, and Maxwell's scheming Buckingham, icy Elizabeth Woodville, and implacable Margaret Beaufort offer a complex glimpse into the often-lethal struggle for power at court.

5 out of 5 stars To The Tower Born.......2006-03-17

This subject has always attracted controversy as to what really happened to the two princes. It is however expressed in a way which leaves the door still slightly ajar for the readers own assumption. I liked this book very much I liked the authors style of writing and the wonderful way it has been told through the eyes of two very different ladies one a royel born the other a commoner with a lasting bond of firm frienship which endures through many trials and tribulations. A great read and I highly recommend it.


Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Series
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  • Patience,Princess Catherine
  • Excellent
  • Patience and You Will Win
Patience, Princess Catherine: A Young Royals Book (Young Royals)
Carolyn Meyer
Manufacturer: Gulliver Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152165444

Book Description

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur's betrothed--the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon's fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine's parents arrange a marriage with Arthur's brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess's resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England's queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Series.......2006-11-14

Carolyn Meyer once again does a wonderful job in telling the story this time Catherine of Aragon's as she goes from Spain to England marries Arthur and becomes a widow. It truly shows how a lady's life was completely in control in that era as Catherine patiently awaits the next step. She's in a tug of war between her father and Henry VII over her dowry. When the king dies Catherine thinks she's getting her happily ever after by marrying Henry VIII but that isn't to be when she's cast assided for another and heartbroken. She's got a real fighting spirit and very admirable.

4 out of 5 stars Book Review.......2006-03-13

Princess Catherine of Aragon was one the first love of the infamous King Henry VIII during the early 1500's. She was originally betrothed at the elderly age of 17 at the time to his older brother Arthur, who died young, but since Catherine couldn't produce an heir, the rest of the royal family did not pay any attention to the foreigner who hadn't paid all her dowry in the first place. Before he became heir to the throne, the young, sweet Henry had been her only guide in the cold, dreary country, which was nothing like her Spain. Since the first day of her visit, he had talked and laughed with her, as well as teach her bits of French and English, and to Catherine was the best person possible to help her out. Though, years after Arthur's death, conditions at the castle had rapidly changed: the queen had passed away due to child birth illnesses, King Henry VII had grown older and became more violent, and gradually, the members of Princess Catalina's court had deserted her and returned to Spain, which was currently at war as a result of Queen Isabella's unexpected death. Through all of those life-rattling events, the Spanish royal was determined to marry Henry. His father noticed and because she had not completely paid the marriage dowry, he cut her allowance, which forced Catherine and her assistance workers to starve, but the foreigner still fought for what she wanted. Carolyn Meyer unmasks the true hardships of being a royal in her novel Patience, Princess Catherine.
Like other great historical fictions, Meyer blends a bit of history with love, betrayal, and greed to create a perfect teen novel that is both entertaining and educational. For example, in the beginning when Princess Catalina of Aragon arrives in her new homeland, she immediately noticed disturbing differences between the culture of Spain and England. The first women that crossed the path of her and the royal court proudly wore their make-up and hair without veils. Dona Elvira, the princess's duenna, or guardian, was astounded and tried her best to persuade Catalina to maintain the customs of home, for the sakes of her parents. Eventually, her duenna gives up when the king and Prince Henry surprisingly request that they meet before Catalina sees face to face the man she is betrothed to.
The story also works in many examples of real historical customs. Catalina and her court were used to drinking pure crystal-clear water all the time, but at a banquet celebrating the royal betrothal, they found out that the English drink more ale than water at the time. They were given around twenty glasses of ale one after another and out of politeness they finished every glass, but inside their stomachs were churning and aching. One custom that really frightened the new Princess Catherine of Whales was the waltz, a dance which all of the royals appeared to know. At home, the traditional music was based on the music presented and moving to the beat, but there every couple was stiff, yet kept a mysterious elegance
After Catherine marries Arthur, terrible events happened so quickly, the new bride was overwhelmed. First, she and her husband become seriously ill and when Catherine recovered and goes to see her husband at his chambers, his royal staff sent her away. Then one cold, windy morning in the garden, a servant told the princess that her husband was taking his last breaths of life. Minutes later the graceful young lady screamed into the air as the sun rose when the doctor announced the death of the prince. When the funeral begins, the queen tells the widow in confidence that she may be pregnant at the age of 37. Her suspicions were right, but the birth of the girl who lived for only days gave her a birth illness that killed her. Later, the king, confused and alone, asked Catherine to be his new queen. However, since she said she wanted to marry Henry VII, he cut her allowance, hoping she would return to Spain.
Life was as tough and cruel in the past for both royal and real people, but now even the hungry of today's world live better than they did. In this book, the many hardships remind us of that we take for granted.

R. Turner

3 out of 5 stars Patience,Princess Catherine.......2005-11-07

this could very easily be great book but drags. The author never really gets to the great part until the very end!!!!! Good book hough.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2005-10-17

This book was great! I loved how you saw Catherine and Henry. They were both fun to watch and see how they interacted with each other and with the people around them. It was great to see how much historically accurate information was included. It took me about 20 pages to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. This is a GREAT book for people of all ages.

5 out of 5 stars Patience and You Will Win.......2004-05-01

This is the 3rd book in the Young Royals series. This historical novel is based on Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. This opens in 1533, as Catherine refuses to release King Henry VIII from their marriage, renounce her title, or recognize Anne Boleyn as queen. She is imprisoned in a "moldering castle" and allowed no visitors and no contact with her daughter, Mary. This book shows Catherine reflecting on her experiences, beginning with her voyage to England at age 15 to marry Prince Arthur. Their marriage, in name only, lasted 6 months until his death in 1502. Over the next 7 years, Catherine lives with increasing poverty and decreasing prospects of marrying England's new crown prince, Henry. It shows how she hard her life was. It gives you new insight into her life. I think this book is better from 12 years and up.
Amidst a Storm of Bullets: The Diary of Lt. Henry Prince in Florida, 1836-1842 (Contribution (Seminole Wars Historic Foundation), No. 1.)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Valuable eyewitness account of the 2nd Seminole War.
Amidst a Storm of Bullets: The Diary of Lt. Henry Prince in Florida, 1836-1842 (Contribution (Seminole Wars Historic Foundation), No. 1.)
Henry Prince , and Frank Laumer
Manufacturer: University of Tampa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1879852594

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Valuable eyewitness account of the 2nd Seminole War........1999-01-28

Not since Dr. Motte's "Journey Into Wilderness" have we had such a valuable eyewitness account of the 2nd Seminole War. Lt. Henry Prince was in the 4th Artillery, and saw some of the major actions of the war. He was at Camp Izard with General Gaines in early 1836. Although we have plenty accounts of that action, Prince gives a lot of details that are not mentioned in other accouts, like Seminoles dressed in soldier uniforms to trick the soldiers. He also gives more details on Col Parish's shooting of Lt. Ward at Fort King, and gives a very different view than what is written in "The Army & Navy Chronicles." Prince is a West Point graduate and officer in the field, and has a very different perspective that Dr. Motte's "Journey Into Wilderness." The Prince diary came to us by an interesting set of circumstances. It was a loose collection of papers found in an attic trunk up north. The owners brought it down to the Dade Battlefield wondering if it was of any value. Unfortunately it took 20 years from that time until finally getting published. The sale of the diary to the Florida collection at the University of Florida was negotiated, and Prince's handwritten notes were transcribed and edited for publication. The published book includes Prince's interesting sketches as well. Prince's diary was invaluable for finding Powell's Town on the Withlacoochee River. (Osceola's hideout during the war.) An interesting archaeological survey was done and can be found in Brent Weisman's book, "Like Beads on a String." (Out of print, but found in many used book stores in Florida.) I would say the one of the big drawbacks of the diary is that it is left much as Prince wrote it. Although this captures the flavor of an officer scribbling notes in the field, even Laumer's footnotes will help little if the reader is unfamiliar with some of the military terms and abbreviations. Without knowledge of some of the duties and details of the Army, you may get confused. Also, Prince's handwriting must have been difficult to read, because of some confusion of names and words. There is a Col. Wanch mentioned, when it is most likely Col. Warren of the Florida Militia. But overall, Frank Laumer has done an invaluable service by making this available to researchers and historians of the Florida War. --Okahumpkee
Henry, Prince of Wales, and England's Lost Renaissance
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Henry, Prince of Wales, and England's Lost Renaissance
    Roy C. Strong
    Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    IrishIrish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0500013756

    Book Description

    When the eighteen-year-old Henry, Prince of Wales, died in 1612, the hopes of a new generation had been dashed. The young Prince, eldest son of James I and brother of the future Charles I, epitomized the yearning of those who wished England to lead Protestant Europe in a great crusade against the might of Catholic Spain. He embodied the aspirations of a new era in the arts, creating a court which, had he lived, would have rivalled those of the Medici grand dukes in Florence. Using original documents and sources, this is the fascinating story of a great renaissance life tragically cut short.

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