No comments about Charles Edward Stuart: A Tragedy in Many Acts.

No comments about Magnificent Monarch: Charles II and the Ceremonies of Power.

5 comments about Henry VIII.

1. Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. When I first received this book and saw how HUGE it was (and in small print, yet), I thought I was in for a long, tedious and boring read. In other words, the kind of book that you start but it becomes harder and harder to keep reading until you finally give up way before the ending.
   
   To my surprise, this book engrossed my attention from day one and became impossible to put down. Jasper Ridley has done a masterful job of giving us a very detailed biography of one of the most memorable kings in history. Unlike so many other books about Henry, Ridley refuses to monopolize the subject matter with sensationalistic details revolving around Henry's wives. Instead, he concentrates on the much more important religious, political and social aspects of his reign.
   
   I think this book captures the true essence of Henry VIII--a tyrant, selfish, arrogant, and demanding. A person who in almost every instance was able to manipulate people into doing his dirty work for him. An individual who could play tennis with a subject he considered a "friend", such as Thomas More, and then easily have this bosom companion executed without nary a shred of remorse whenever it would serve Henry's advantage to do so. One of Henry's most popular practices was to sail the Thames surrounded by women and fawning courtiers while a former close advisor, friend etc. was being executed. This king was a master of disguise, making it appear that he had little or nothing to do with distasteful events and absenting himself from the controversy at hand.
   
   The author mentions early on that, in effect, while gazing at the famous Holbein portrait of Henry VIII in all his glory, people were mesmerized by the majesty as portrayed in the painting. What they did not notice were the hard, unfeeling and pig-like eyes that were barely visible in the already bloated face. If the eyes indeed are the "windows of the soul", Henry was a very cruel individual indeed.
   
   Although his reign was extremely productive in many ways, such as his interest in solidifying England as a naval power, the most striking aspect is, of course, the religious break with Rome. Here too, Henry waffles back and forth as the winds blow. To say this was an achievement is merely subjective; it began a period of intense religious misunderstandings which resulted in the deaths of untold innocent people who refused to accept this or that form of religious belief and worship. As such, I cannot classify Henry's break with Rome as a positive issue. I am not religious, and therefore perhaps not qualified to judge this. But the results of this action are being felt well into modern times. It is a subjective issue as to whether this extreme action on his part set his country and Europe on the right course.
   
   As initially stated, do not be put off by the size of this book. It will engage your attention and provide a picture of Henry (essentially minus the much touted wife leaping) that probably comes closest to what this famous monarch was actually like.



2. Yet again, J Ridley takes the reader on a remarkable journey, guiding you through the maze of factual background without ever letting your hand go. His mastery of the English language and notable training as a barrister make him the best narrator of the century.



3. Ridley is brilliant as ever. In his masterly style, he portrays both historic detail and periodic insight in such manner that the reader is captivated from the first page onwards. The ongoing battle with Lady Antonia Frazer's biography is a delight (especially when historical inaccuracies in her biography are condemned to footnotes). A book one cannot put down for a single moment.



4. Jasper Ridley's bio of Henry VIII, if nothing else, suggests to me that executioners must have had a steady employment during early 16th-century England. In Ridley's biography, England's formative king is essentially a psychopath, and the country became Protestant, not because of any doctrinal attachment to the Reformation, but as a consequence of political machinations and goals on Henry's part. This, in fact, is one of the book's great strengths; Ridley is rare among biographers in his thorough attention to and excellent summary of the thicket of political events surrounding Tudor England, and this book does an excellent job of explaining these intricacies. Especially fascinating was the depiction of the conflict between Henry and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Henry would have probably gotten the papal annulment that he wanted to dissolve his marriage to Katharine of Aragon, if only Charles had not effectively controlled the pope and been such a bitter enemy of Henry's; then Henry would have found no need to break from the Catholic Church, and history would be entirely different! For a Renaissance monarch, Henry seems more to resemble one of the 20th century's bloodthirsty dictators in this book. While the depiction initially surprised me, Ridley backs up his claims with such excellent documentation and use of primary sources (which I was able to check), that he definitely has a point! A fascinating bio.



5. Ridley paints a picture of a King who is as ruthless a tyrant as any 20th Century dictator. Henry VIII is shown as a ruler who forced his ministers to do his bidding and then executed them to satisfy public opinion, once his policies began to loose popular support. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, including breaking with the Pope in Rome and reforming the Church in England with him as the head, when the Pope refused to grant him an annulment from his wife, who could not give him a male heir. Thereafter, Henry played Protestant and Catholic factions against each other, so that he could remain in complete control as an arbiter; alternatively burning influential Protestants as heretics and Catholics who refused to recognize him as Supreme head of the Church of England as traitors. Ridley's picture shows us a king who would stop at absolutely nothing to get what he wanted, including turning society and 1000 years of religion completely upside down! A fascinating look at the Stalin of the 1500s!

1 comments about Cape Clear, Island Magic: A Photographic, Historical, and Dramatic Account of Clear Island.

1. That is what this place is like & that is how the author captures the atmosphere of this beautiful place.

No comments about The Last Lion Part A: Winston Spencer Churchill, Visions of Glory, 1874-1932.

5 comments about Diana : Her Last Love.

1. I think that the author tells the truth but I don't agree with her,I think Diana was manipulative, she planned several strategies to win Hasnat back including using the media and Dodi to make the doctor jealous.The pess describes him like a playboy, a bad man, but he was the only man who loved her so much, he was very kind with her.His life looked like her life: his mother leaved his father when he was 3 years old,he was a mediocre student,he loved to have beautiful women because he didn't like to stay alone , he believed women loved him only for his money.Sometimes he prefers to stay with a woman who did not really love him, because he didn't like to be alone.He has insecure behavior.in the past diana manipulated media in order to send a power message but this timesI think she really cruel woman because when someone was in love with you , you should't joke with his feelings, and used media to create illusion of love,it's really unbearable to an human being. I read a lot of books about Diana: her true story by andrew Morten death of a princess by Thomas sancton and Scott Macleod, the day Diana died by christopher andersen , shadows of a princess by p d Jephson
   In fact I was a great Diana 's fan but when I read this book I didn't like her anymore. The media show us a superficiel dodi's picture. people have been influenced by the press



2. After reading this book, I am convinced that the author speaks the truth. Hasnat Khan's name comes up in several books, and they all state Diana felt strongly for him. I do believe she was with Dodi Fayed to make Mr. Khan jealous. I certainly can picture her with a heart surgeon more easily than I can with a playboy who didn't know what to do with all his money. I also read Paul Burrell's book, "A Royal Duty" and he alludes to Diana's true love, though he doesn't give him a name. He does say it was not Dodi. I believe that had Diana lived, she would have possibly married Hasnat Khan, or at least maintained a loving relationship with him. She didn't know Dodi well enough to even think of marrying him; the relationship was simply a summer fling. It's sad that she did not live to see that happiness with Dr. Khan come to fruition.



3. Based upon the other Amazon.com reviewers, I didn't expect much from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing is good, a little hero-worshiping of Diana comes through but that's OK. I notice she only interviewed some of the more wacko or cheeseball "friends" of Diana (Simone Simmons, the faith healer, taken seriously?? but I guess Diana took her seriously at one time). However, at least you learn more about Hasnat Khan & his background (sounds like a really nice person, and all his family too) than you do from any other Diana book. I can't agree that Diana was a stronger person at the end of her life -- she seemed to be very immature still. Imagine taking up with Dodi Fayed to make another man jealous, sure he was a multi-millioniare but please, the guy had had so many women (what did he tell Diana about his fiance, Kelly Fisher??)...I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. That's mature, strong behavior? I think she was so devastated when Dr. Khan finally broke it off, that she went into a tailspin & into her old, self-destructive, immature behavior. Manipulative, too, if you believe that she planned for the "Kiss" picture & the others being taken (which I believe). The author doesn't agree with my thoughts but she doesn't force the issue, she just mentions that other friends thought Diana sounded strong at what turned out to be the end of her life. It's an interesting book, not the best one on Diana but thoughtful & brings out some unknown background on her relationship with Hasnat Khan.



4. Kate Snell's book is 100% fiction. She said the relationship between Diana and Dodi was not serious.

   Few months agao a priest broke his three- year silence to reveal how Princess Diana confessed her love for Dodi Fayed - and was going to marry him.

   Father Frank Gelli said the Princess even asked him if he could conduct her wedding ceremony. She confided in the highly- respected Church of England minister at secret meetings in the weeks before she and Dodi were killed.




5. This book isn't one to really enjoy. Ms. Snell uses other books(listed in back) as references, no real problem with that but then she goes further and uses anonymous sources. I never really like that because you have no way of knowing how good that source is or whether or not they might have a grudge against the subject. I suspect that some enemies of the Princess more than her friends contributed, that stuff about Diana trying to pay Simone Simmons with gifts instead of cash is an example of this. Anything I've ever read indicates to me that she most likely would not have done this (although she could be very generous with gifts), that would be a trait more of the born Royals. The love life details, are they true? I don't know, the Princess is dead and Hasnat Khan isn't talking. A person should also remember that in 1997 his relatives embarassed him by talking so much, sounds to me like they're still at it.

No comments about The Letters of Virginia Woolf, Volume IV, 1929-1931.

1 comments about George IV (The English Monarchs Series).

1. This guy was the epitome of decadents. The author described in 3D so it seams the parties,the spending, the frustration, the many mistresses of this unpopular king. No one was sorry when he passed away. That is sad indeed. The author also showed that this king was a great patron of the arts. He built schools. Great book.

1 comments about David Douglas: Explorer and Botanist.

1. The adventures of an ardent plant lover/collector during the 1820s and 1830s. David Douglas documented, collected, and returned to England over 200 new species of plants commonly found in contemporary gardens. The Douglas fir, arguably the most significant timber source of the 20th century, is named for him. He walked more than 10,000 miles during his travels across North America enduring many hardships while experiencing an unexplored wilderness. His interaction with native peoples demonstrated his inate skill as a diplomat.
   His wonder at the marvels of nature will resonate with any plant lover.

1 comments about Admiral Lord Nelson: His Context and Legacy.

1. I cannot think of another Briton who has had more written about them for as long a time as Nelson. Now we are approaching the 200 year anniversary of his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. And we are hearing again of his famous signal 'England expects every man will do his duty.' And his famous last words 'Thank God I have done my duty.'
   
   In this new book, nine noted historians contributed articles. Each views Nelson's life and legacy in a different light. In Part 1 of the book the subjects are Seamanship, leadership, orgiginality, Friendship, Freemasonry, Fraternity, Manliness, patriotism and body politics.
   
   Of particular interest was Kate Williams article Nelson and Women which discusses how Nelson was marketed to the female consumer of the time. This included romance novels, fantasies about how sailors whould behave, and various consumer items offered for sale. This is a view of early nineteenth century England not seen before.
   
   Part 2 of the book goes into the Nelson legacy. This legacy didn't just happen, it was carefully constructed by the British Navy, Government and others. They did a good job, the legacy has now lasted for 200 years and shows no sign of dimenishing.
   
   A most interesting book that discusses parts about Nelson that haven't been emphasized.