5 comments about Diana: Closely Guarded Secret (Diana Princess of Wales).

1. In some ways this book misses the point. While it repeats stories of Diana's professional manner and her caring ways, it I felt missed the whole point behind some of Diana's petulant behavior. Charles hurt Diana very deeply. That is obvious. Due to this she did not trust people (but who can blame her). Anything that showed friendliness or respect to Charles sent the message: "Ok! Charles how you treated Diana is acceptable conduct.
   This spelled betrayal to Diana. In Ken's book he often stated how likable Charles could be. To Diana, liking someone who caused her so much pain was a breach of trust.
   Also, while loyalty was often questioned by Diana and she was branded as paranoid because of it -- the truth was Ken Wharfe was reporting Diana's every action to Prince Charles' protection officer and naturally every nuance got back to Charles. No wonder she did not trust her protection officer.
   The same with Patrick Jephsen, the moment Diana announced to him that she was going to do something, he was on the phone to either the Prince's staff or the Queen's staff telling everything and giving them advanced warning. I do not consider that to be a mark of a loyal employee.
   Also, there were inconsistencies in this book. One moment Ken is nothing more than a silent protection officer there to ensure Diana's safety and yet he was frequently given to handing her stern advice and speaking his mind concerning her opinions and decisions. Something that probably kept Diana off balance. She also seemed to resent him pointing out her shortcoming and disagreeing with her decisions.
   The message Diana wanted to send to the world was that she was an innocent girl who married the Charles, Prince of Wales and despite the best PR Buckingham could conjure up Charles' cruel and selfish behavior toward his wife and his ongoing relationship with a married woman came to the surface. Even without the Andrew Morton book, telling all that Diana had been through, there was still rumors and connotations of Camilla being more than a "friend" of the prince.
   A husband having an ongoing affair with a married woman gave Diana the high road. She reacted in a manner common with most women. The bottom line was that Diana WAS done wrong. All the books in the world stating she was paranoid, unforgiving and unstable cannot change the fact that she was done wrong by her husband, her in-laws, staff of various royal households and her own employees.



2. I found this book to be very entertaining and informative from the point of view of one of Lady Di's bodyguards. I'm glad I bought it and read it.
   However,I feel very strongly that Ken should not have included the last chapter
   "Postscript to the paperback edition". He comes across as a very jealous man when he attacks Paul Burrell, her butler whom she came to trust and confide in on levels of which I'm sure Ken was unaware ( read Paul Burrell's Books to see what I mean) With the exception of the last chapter This read is very worthwhile.



3. I have read many of the books written about Princess Diana since her death. This book, written by her bodyguard seems to be honest and balanced in comparison to others that I have read. This book is well written and gives us more insight to what Princess Diana was like in her private life as well as her personal life. I would recommend this book to anyone that has followed the life of Princess Diana, whether it was before her death, or after her death.



4. This book is an excellent, balanced, well-written account of Diana's life and a heartwarming glimpse into Diana's personality. The author has no axe to grind nor is he trying to make a buck by using the most shocking stories he knows. Instead, he has produced a very readable, fun book on Diana. I would not say this is THE one book to buy on the Princess of Wales but if you like to read about Diana, this is probably one of the Top 10. There is plenty of interesting new information to make it worth your time.



5. I found this book a believable and honest account of Diana's
   bodyguard's relationship with her. Enjoyed reading about the
   great times and not so great times she shared with this bodyguard
   and the difficult job he was required to do. His loyalty is
   evident in the book and also his sadness at the end of their
   working friendship. Great book!

No comments about Kings & Queens: The Concise Guide.

2 comments about An Autobiography: The Story of the Lord's Dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith the Colored Evangelist (Schomburg Library of Nineteenth-Century Black Women).

1. Amanda Smith began her life as a slave. She later became a very successful evangelist, preaching to both black and white audiences all over the United States, as well as in England, Liberia and Africa. Fame on that scale in that field would, of course, be rare for an African-American woman even in today's society. In the face of the social obstacles she faced in the late 19th century it was surely nothing short of miraculous.

   Her autobiography is, of course a real autobiography. They didn't often have "ghostwriters" in those days. Her style of writing is easy to read but intelligent, articulate and piercingly insightful.

   She writes about encounters with racism, sexism and class distinctions among African-Americans with a rare combination of uncompromising integrity, wisdom, humor, tact and graciousness. She writes about holiness and theological issues within the context of her own personal experience with God in a way that is compelling and inspirational.

   The autobiography of Amanda Smith is a remarkable telling of a remarkable life. She is an undiscovered American treasure. Her book ought to be a perennial bestseller.




2. I just finished reading the biography of Amanda Smith. I found this book to be a faith building testimony of God's faithfulness and sufficiency, to all who will only trust Him both for spiritual and temporal provision. In today's complicated secular society and even in the organized church, Amanda Smith's testimony rises up in a refreshing way to glorify the Lord and teaches us that God's ways are still pure and simple, easy for anyone to understand and full of goodness and mercy, if only we would humble ourselves to hear what the Lord is saying to us, in His Word, the Bible. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a closer walk with Jesus.

No comments about The Hunt For Rob Roy: The Man And The Myths.

4 comments about The Diana Years(Commemorative Edition).

1. Obviously, this is not the life story or a novel about Princess Diana. For what it is (basically a coffee table book) this is a gorgeous collection of photos. I am a collector of such portrait books, so I didn't see many pics never before published. But for the reasonable price, this is a worthy purchase.



2. This is a beautiful tribute to Diana. Although Diana's years have ended she will be remembered for many years to come.



3. This commemorative volume celebrates the unique magic of the Princess of Wales. The book features a superb collection of photographs of Diana and her life, that was updated and expanded after her death. Major chapters are: Farewell, Shutter Bugged, Once Upon A Time, Hands-on Mom, The Princess at Peace, and much more. A sufficient amount of text accompanies the wealth of large, full color, sharp, candid photos. A must for fans of Diana. Completely indexed. A welcome 5-star addition to your home library.



4. Diana, Princess of Wales, was a favorite for the cover of People Magazine as he was with many other magazines throughout the world. This is a marvelous book which captures the late Princess in some of her most glamourous and elegant moments. This could easily be called a photographic-biography, and, it is a book which I have looked at and read many times. As far as I am concerned, Diana is a person who is glamourous whether she is wearing the most expensive dress or a simple pair of jeans.

   "The death of Princess Diana on August 31,1997, was one of those rare and terrible events that so jars people that they never forget where they were when they hear the news. It was inconceivable that the glamour, the goodness, and the verve that was Diana could have been erased in an instant. The void left by this remarkable woman whom William, 15, and Harry, 12, called Mummy and British Prime Minister aptly annointed 'The People's Princess ' was huge. Its dimensions could only be grasped six days later when the 36-year-old Princess of Wales drew millions of mourners into London's streets and another 2 billion people to their TV sets. The world had lost a patrician with a common touch - a beacon, a magnet, and a friend." p.9

   I watched her funeral services just as I watched her marriage in 1981. I think the most poignant picture of her funeral was that of her former husband, Charles, Prince of Wales; her son, Prince Harry; her brother, Earl Spencer; her son, Prince William; and her former father-in-law, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; as they walked behind her cortege the last mile of its journey to Westminster Abbey. Who can ever forget Prince Harry's roses with a simple card with "Mummy" written on it as it topped her casket.

   On the stroke of 11am on September 6, the chords of "God Save the Queen" sounded in the Abbey as the Welsh Guard entered to place Diana's casket on a catafalque between the Spencers and the Windsors. This was followed by Diana's favorite hymn, "I Vow to Thee, My country," which was chosed by her son, Prince William.

   After the services, Diana's casket was placed was placed in the hearst for its long journey to Althrop, her ancestral home. At times the windshield wipers had to be turned on to wipe away the floral tributes which were thrown on the hearst. Many floral tributes were left at the gates of Althrop. These were taken by her brother the next day and placed on the island where she is buried.

   P.19 begins a chapter ABOUT FACE. I liked the following which appears on the same page - "Her genius was a figt for projecting mood while preserving mystery...

   "How many times could we look at that face? Infinitely, it seemed. In 16 years, Diana never lost her power to fascinate. How did did she do it? Hers was certainly not conventional beauty. The nose, for example, was too long and broad. But the generous scale of her smooth features formed a perfect stages for her distinctly and enchanting unroyal bredth of emotions. Diana was a woman of a thousande espressions, each a tantalizing peek into her soul, Whe could be bashful or brazen, somber or sultry, poised or playful. Like Greta Garbo and Jackie O., Diana kept back part of herself, mainntaining the mystery. Perhaps that was the basis of her seduction. She made us think we knew her so well; yet we didn't really know her at all."

   On pages 24-25, the lovely picture of Diana taken at Highgrove, while she was sitting on the steps, is elegant. She is wearing a pair of red checked pants, a red sweater, a white blouse, and casual shoes - very simple, yet beautiful. On p. 38, there is a picture of Charles and Diana as they meet the press for the first time after their marriage. Diana had already witnessed pictures of Camilla Parker Bowles fall out of her husband's diary. Yet, when reporters asked her about married life she replied, 'highly recommended.' She kept the picture incident to herself even though she must have been hurting deeply.

   "At age 19, when she first blinked for the press, Diana was unsophisticated, but nontheless naturally shrewd - always listening, watching, learning. Bereft of guidance from the royal household, Diana gamely set out to carve a role for herself that went far beyond producing the requisite 'heir and a spare.' As she redefined royal glamor, championed unchic causes, and opened ger heart to people the world over; she reshaped the creaky role of princess for a celebrity-worshipping, mass-media age; in the process, she left behind an incomparable album of absorbing images. Though divorce ended Diana's chance of becoming Queen of England, the phenomenal outpouring of grief and affection that attended her death made it evident, to commoner and royal alike, that she'd earned the title she once said she coveted: Queen of People's Hearts."

   The chapter titled SHE COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT is my favorite. "On a magical evening in 1985, Diana proved to be one singular sensation." Diana had asked the famous Britsh dancer Sleep to choreograph a routine for her to perform at the Christmas benefit for the Friends of the Covent Garden at the Royal Opera House. It was to be a surprise for her husband and diana chose Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl." For about two thirds of the program Diana sat beside her husband in the roual box. Then, Diana slipped out and changed into the dress which she had chosen for this event. Wayne Sleep said he remembered walking on stage and there was a big round of applause. He recalls, 'Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet.' He said he told her to walk on for eight counts and then stand for eight more counts because the people aren't going to believe it. She did so and was very nervous at first. Sleep said, "Every step we took was followed by a huge round of applause and everything else, Diana was performing for an audience of one - her husband - whose box was right over the stage. Sleep says, 'She kept looking up at Charles. there was an enormous sense of fun between them...He was very happy and smiling the whole time.' The routine lasted four minutes and Sleep and Diana took eight curtain calls.

   Of Dians's many roles, it is clearly the role of Motherhood which she enjoyed the most. She took all her roles seriously, but once they began school, Diana always planned her schedule around the school calendar, She was very much a hands-on Mom.

   "As captivating for her flaws as for her glamour, Diana remains an intriguing riddle. Magical in life, tragic in death, the People's Princess has entered the real myth. Paradoxically, even as admirer exalt Diana, it was her flaws and vulnerabilities that made her the most widely loved royal of all times. Her special gift was making the people she met feel special." p157

   This book is filled with beautiful pictures and must be read to be truly enjoyed. This refers to the hardback book which contain 161 pages and measures 81/4x11inches

5 comments about All the Queen's Men: The World of Elizabeth I.

1. This book was not well edited. I was amazed that a man with Brimacombe's credentials had such poor grammar. Also, refers to one of the "Queen's Men" as Anthony on one page and Arthur the next. How did the editor miss that? Brimacombe's skipping around would be a little difficult to follow for someone with no previous knowledge of Elizabeth I. The only reason I did not discontinue reading this book was that there were enough new tidbits here and there to keep me interested, however, for one new to the subject, there are many better books out there.



2. All the Queen's Men provides a wealth of knowledge about Elizabeth 1, and also about the men that helped her to become one of the greatest queens in England's history. For example, Elizabeth's Privy Council was filled with many intelligent and capable people. One of these people was William Cecil, who was an extremely hard-working Secretary of State. Under Elizabeth's reign, she surrounded herself with men of knowledge. But, she also appreciated the arts. Many artists and writers evolved during the Elizabethan rule. One of the most historical writers during this time was William Shakespeare who wrote plays like Romeo and Juliet. Through her entire life, Elizabeth 1 had men surrounding her. But she never picked one for the most important positions in her life to be filled by a man, her husband. She had an extensive string of suitors, but never settled down with one. Among these suitors were Philip of Spain, Charles the Archduke of Austria, and Henry the Duke of Anjou. Overall, this is a very well written book. It contains many relevant illustrations that help you while you are reading. All the Queens Men will delight anyone who is interested in the Elizabethan era.



3. All the Queen's Men provides a wealth of knowledge about Elizabeth 1, and also about the men that helped her to become one of the greatest queens in England's history. For example, Elizabeth's Privy Council was filled with many intelligent and capable people. One of these people was William Cecil, who was an extremely hard-working Secretary of State. Under Elizabeth's reign, she surrounded herself with men of knowledge. But, she also appreciated the arts. Many artists and writers evolved during the Elizabethan rule. One of the most historical writers during this time was William Shakespeare who wrote plays like Romeo and Juliet. Through her entire life, Elizabeth 1 had men surrounding her. But she never picked one for the most important positions in her life to be filled by a man, her husband. She had an extensive string of suitors, but never settled down with one. Among these suitors were Philip of Spain, Charles the Archduke of Austria, and Henry the Duke of Anjou. Overall, this is a very well written book. It contains many relevant illustrations that help you while you are reading. All the Queens Men will delight anyone who is interested in the Elizabethan era.



4. I have one of the earlier editions of this book... if you are studying Elizabeth I or are simply interested in reading a chronological account of the "Who's Who" of Elizabeth's court and courtiers, this is the book for you. If you're bent runs to historical costuming for the Elizabethan era, this is also the book for you. For the costumers: this book contains more source material (by means of portrait reproduction) than you can imagine or shake a stick at. I used this book not only for historical research, but as a costuming reference as well until I found Janet Arnold's book "Patterns of Fashion." The print plates (and there are A LOT of them) are both in color and b/w in my edition. The book is incredibly well researched and written... very little in it could be considered dry. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a page turner, but after almost 20 years with this book in my library I still use it as a reference... it's THAT good... I HIGHLY recommend it!!



5. Looked forward to this book with great anticipation, but was rather disappointed. Many of the stories in the book, especially in the courtiers and statesmen chapters, were very familiar to me, having read them elsewhere. I'd recommend, instead, a book by Neville Williams with the same name (All the Queen's Men), if you can find a copy (currently out of print). The most interesting personalities of the period are examined in greater depth and the book is better illustrated than Brimacombe's.

No comments about Lord Salisbury: A Political Biography.

3 comments about The Day Michael Collins was Shot.

1. Meda Ryan attempts to tackle a very difficult task: determining who shot Michael Collins on that ill-fated day in 1922. In the book's preface, Ryan shares her reasons for wanting to examine the topic and her research methods in compiling the book. In Part I of the introduction, Ryan provides a short biography of Collins's life from his birth to June 1922. In Part II, she covers the last two months of Collins's life and the marrow of the book begins. Ryan supplies several great pictures and several maps of Béal na mBláth. Her evidence consists of eye-witness accounts, letters, telephone conversations and newspaper clippings.

   Ryan takes us on a rollercoaster of facts and emotions as the story progresses. The basic theories she tackles are: Collins was hit from behind by IRA members headed to Kerry, Collins was hit by a member of his own party by a close range bullet from the armoured car, Collins was hit by a ricocheted bullet, and Collins was hit by a bullet fired by an IRA member. After dissecting the response of the medical examiners, the embalmer, the men who supposedly buried the cap Collins was wearing on the day he was killed, and the testimony of Emmet Dalton, Collins's friend and comrade who was with him that day, Ryan does give a firm conclusion as to who the shooter was. She dispels the theories that Collins was shot by a bullet from a Mauser pistol and that Collins was killed by a ricocheted bullet. So who shot Michael Collins according to Ryan's studies? Read this engrossing book to find out!




2. After reading a number of books on Michael Collins I found this book to be one of the most interesting on the shelves. The author gives a brief background of Collins life, what influenced his views and why he signed the Treaty. As the title suggests this book concentrates mainly on the last days of Michael Collin's life. There is an in-depth look at how he was killed and who fired the fatal shot. Interviews included are with those who took part in the Beal na mBlath ambush. I would highly recommed this book, even to anyone who has a slight interest in Michael Collins.



3. This book is a quick read that provides good detail of the last days of MIchael Collins' life and the months leading up to his assassination. If you are interested in what he did before he was shot and a theory of his death then you should read this book. The book focuses on the assassination of Collins and the politics surrounding it. It gives great detail of the final day and the attack itself so if that interests you it would be a good book.

5 comments about My Name Escapes Me: The Diary of a Retiring Actor.

1. Where BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE are more organized as memoirs, this is simply a sequence of diary entries prepared for publication. They show a great actor, the dean of Ealing comedies and (to his chagrin) the great Jedi Master, admiring the twilight in his retirement. This is a gentlemanly, sensitive, yet vibrantly witty writer who once described heaven as sitting with one or two friends, sharing a drink and savoring the silence. There are no peekaboo stories about celebrities or iconoclastic commentaries on the state of the world; just an appreciation for an interesting life well-lived, deliciously and intimately inscribed for us in these daily entries.

   For a more organized and literary memoir, the two titles mentioned above come highly recommended.




2. "My Name Escapes Me" is a book of actor Sir Alec Guinness' personal diary entries from January 1995 to June 1996, which he wrote with publication in mind. I have to give Sir Alec credit: His diary is not as tedious as most people's would be. His writing has a nice pace, and the book is mercifully short. But there simply isn't anything interesting about it. Sir Alec was 82 years old and retired when he wrote this diary. He spent most of his time relaxing at his country home. If he were working, he might have had more interesting anecdotes to relate or perhaps some insight into the process of putting on a play or making a movie to share. But it takes a more talented writer to make something interesting out of the mundane. Sir Alec mentions music that he likes, plays that he sees, books that he reads, art in various forms, but he never expounds on these subjects, so we don't learn anything about the subjects or about him. He doesn't seem to be an opinionated person. Opinions, however trying, might make for better reading. All in all, "My Name Escapes Me" gives the impression of a man of moderate writing talent and moderate intelligence. It's really too bad that no publisher asked Alec Guinness to write a diary for publication earlier in his life. His style is both literate and easy-going. If it had been applied to the life of a working actor, an insightful and highly readable book might have resulted. But as it is, I think only obsessively curious fans of Alec Guinness will find anything of interest in "My Name Escapes Me".



3. sir alec must have been a kind and gentle man. i found in this book that he was charming and witty and deliberately effacing. it takes us on a journey to his many memories of movies,tv,politics, and a great cast of characters that he's met over the years. it's a quiet and calm book. a very relaxing and entertaining read. and what a since of humor!



4. I haven't hear the audio version of Sir Alec's diary: don't need to since I can hear his voice in my head as I read. Gracious to a fault about his fellow actors, prickly about fans who invade his privacy (whether spying him at a museum or appearing in the back garden), exasperated at the Star Wars fame, he is a truly eccentric Englishman and proud of it. I love it when he admits he probably went on and on while telling a story; a common fault of the loquacious and the aging. Pokes fun at himself and endears himself all the more. Delightful.



5. In this, the first of his two volumes (so far, I hope) based on his journal, the great actor Sir Alec Guinness makes writing and reading seem as effortless as his acting. His graceful, lucid prose is remarkable, as are his observations and ruminations on his life, on the craft of acting (he never lets one forget that acting is a craft with exacting standards of professionalism), on his reading, on his religious life, on the world around him, and on his family and friends. He is one of the sharpest yet kindest observers of the human comedy, and reading him is not only an unalloyed pleasure but nourishing to the mind and the heart. Readers of this book should scour used-bookstores for BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and should also hunt down his new book A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE.

No comments about Life of Lord Kitchener, Volume 2.