5 comments about Henry I (The English Monarchs Series).

1. In my book, "Astronomical Symbols on Ancient and Medieval Coins", I devote an entire chapter to the astronomical symbols that were depicted on medieval English coinage as signs of divine right to sovereignty. As part of my research, I read numerous books on medieval English history, and I found that Hollister's book, "Henry I," was especially useful.
   
   Not only were there many items of interest that added to my understanding of the history of his reign, but of all the books about Henry I that I read, Hollister's book was one of the most interesting reads. He really brought together an amazing amount of information.
   
   I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in English history.
   
   Marshall Faintich



2. I read Hollister's Henry I recently and I must highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the English monarchy. I knew virtually nothing about Henry when I first began to read this book (as he is one of the less famous English rulers amongst the general public), and came away feeling as if I actually had met the man. Hollister's style is colorful and easy to understand and follow-even his more analytical chapters on the church and the sources he used are interesting. If you want to learn something about a underappreciated figure in medieval history, give this biography a try. I am sure you won't regret it.



3. I will admit right up front that I was a student of Warren Hollister and loved him dearly. That being said, this is a grand book that has come to light in the face of great adversity. Despite the destruction of many of his initial notes in a fire and despite his own untimely death, both his own research, his love of detail, and the kindness of his friends have surfaced in this volume.

   The best book to compare this to is W.L. Warren's "Henry II". Like that book, this is an attempt to get down in concrete fashion all the hard facts of an incredible monarch; in some ways Hollister is arguing against Warren in that Hollister is showing that many of the significant legal changes generally credited to Henry II, such as the expansion of circuit courts, actually had their origins during the reign of Henry I.

   This is a methodical work; it is not light reading nor is it meant to be. It is, literally, the work of a lifetime, one historian's ode to a great figure from history. Yet it is not truly a panagaeic either; Hollister shows Henry's warts as well as his glories. The point is that in many ways this is Old School History. It is about kings, courts, wars, laws, and all the rest. It is not a stylish book with a lot of witty turns of phrase (though there are some). First and foremost this is a book of careful argumentation, a book that pushes even more strongly than in the past C. Warren Hollister's unflagging belief in the 12th Century Renaissance.

   Warren was a great and charming man, endlessly hospitable, always kind, and a man who had a true care for his students. In each of them he planted a respect for documents -- how much can be inferred, more importantly how much cannot, how to honestly show what you have learned, and how to both back that up and prove it. I know he would have wanted to clean up passages of this book, tighten his arguments here and there, add several more footnotes. But it is because of the respect and love that Warren showed his many students, his family, that this book is here today.

   May this work serve as a fitting epitath to a great and generous heart, as well as to a fine historian.




4. This biography follows the typical outline of books in the
   English Monarch series, namely a set of chapters describing
   the life chronologically, followed by a set of chapters
   discussing key topics (in this case, on topics such as
   administrative reforms, and relationships with the church),
   followed by a concluding chapter which discusses the end of the
   monarch's life and sums up contributions.

   What makes this biography outstanding is the tone: Hollister
   kept the tone slightly informal and and active -- as a result
   the chronological sections are lively and the topical sections
   feel like an informed but informal seminar.




5. Learned scholars tend to have all-encompassing analysis in their books, and this book is no exception. In my opinion, the last two sections of this book are not geared for a history buff such as myself and are dry and dull material; I know that scholars feel they have to be complete in their analysis, but the difference with books geared for history enthusiasts is that these books are exciting to read, from the first to the last page, and this book falls short in this regard, but to be fair about this, I think the majority of this book is exceptional and compares with any historian in my vast collection; the law and governance section was interesting to a degree but was dry as well. This book is complete in detail and goes beyond the perspective that historians employ on their readers.

3 comments about Scots Irish in Pennsylvania & Kentucky (Scots-Irish Chronicles).

1. I found this book at a Scottish Festival in February and picked it up because my ancestors were Scots-Irish who lived in PA before the Civil War. I thought the book would help me to understand the reasons the Scots-Irish came to America, their migration, and their life. Little did I realize that it would give me genealogical support for 3 of my ancestors, Galbraiths who were founders of a Presbytery in Donegal County, PA.
   
   This book is an interesting read for anyone with connections to either Scotland or Ireland. It gives a better picture of the strength and fortitude of these people, who were driven from Scotland to Ulster Province, and ultimately from Ulster to America. Based on my own genalogical findings, Mr. Kennedy appears to have done his homework with his research. This book is fourth in a series (the previous books are the Scots-Irish in Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas). It is interesting to note that the Scots-Irish, in spite of the derrogatory terms used to describe them, were often gentry who had been driven from Scotland to find a new home in Northern Ireland.
   
   I recommend this for anyone who is interested in learning more about the contribution of the Scots-Irish in building our country. Also, if you are researching your family history, Mr. Kennedy's books will give you a better understanding of the contributions your ancestors made to the growth of our nation.



2. Billy Kennedy is one of the first writers of Ulster Scot or Scot-irish history to truly understand and document his findings.
   First to recognise the tremendous contibution to history by this group.This backbone of America establish a Culture says James T Webb in his "Born Fighting", a culture of the American Military, Police and Firemen and many others we can always count on. Few groups have been reciepents recieve treament by the elitist and history abounds with words like Red Necks, Hill Billy, White Trash, few recognise their contibution starting with Blue Grass, US Constitution and Declaration of Indepedence and the Patriots to make it happen. They are the mainstream that disturbs those who are not. Insults have never detered their commitments.
   Billy throughout his series documents the many incidenteds and contributions while in Ulster is part of a team to expand Ulsters part in todays world. Along with Billy's books, Born Fighting by James T Webb is equally recommended.
   A Silent Knight sends, thank you



3. Billy Kennedy loves to recount every tale @ the Scotch-Irish he finds under every rural outhouse in the hill-billy South--and he never documents where he actually found it! This is not history-its myth & fable to make Scotch-Irish protestants feel warm and fuzzy.

5 comments about Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.

1. This was a gift, & the recipient tells me they are really enjoying it & that it is much better written than many similar books on the subject (& she reads them all!).



2. I became interested in reading more about the life of the Queen and her husband after seeing "Windsor Castle: A Royal Year." Prince Philip is the star of one of the hours of that multi-part documentary. He came across as a down-to-earth man of many interests about whom I wanted to learn more. I purchased this book mainly interested in it as a biography of Prince Philip.
   
   Prince Philip of Greece had a difficult early life. He was the youngest son of Prince Andrea of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenburg/Milford-Haven. His three older sister all married German nobles. The Greek royal family was subject to on-again off-again exile. His parents were separated after their exile. Not having any Greek ancestry, the Greek royal family was in a precarious position in the early part of the twentieth century. Philip had no fixed permanent residence for much of his life before marrying Princess Elizabeth. As a great great grandson of Queen Victoria, he is 550th or so in line for the British monarchy himself. Philip lived with various relatives and went to school in Germany and later Gordonstoun in Scotland. He served in the British Navy and famously was first photographed with Princess Elizabeth at the Royal Naval College. At the Battle of Cape Matapan Philip was manning a searchlight and had the good fortune to illuminate an Italian (enemy) ship resulting in devastating fire being directed at that ship.
   
   Philip and Elizabeth were married in 1947. Elizabeth became Queen upon the death of her father five years later. Philip duties in supporting the Queen have involved endless ceremonial events and public appearances for over sixty years, and continues to maintain a full schedule of public functions into his late eighties.
   
   Author Brandeth take pains to dismiss all claims of Philip's famously alleged infidelity as untrue both by reason of his loyalty to the Queen and by virtue of logistic impossibility. He even explains Philip's absence from the Queen's bed early in the morning on July 9, 1982 when a deranged man sneaked into Buckingham Palace. The lunatic sat on the Queens bed talking to her until she was able to summon her guard. The man later admitted that he intended to commit suicide in the Queen's presence. Brandeth explains that Philip and the Queen normally share the same bed but on that morning Philip slept alone having travel plans that would require him to get up unusually early.
   
   Brandeth places most of the blame for the difficult relationship between Diana and the Royal couple on poor communication and especially to the immature and emotionally unstable Diana. Many very sensitive matters were discussed in letters rather than face-to-face leading to misunderstandings and later causing great embarrassment when those letters got into the hands of the press. Maintaining some privacy while living in the fishbowl of Palace life has been a matter of obsession for the Queen and Philip. Courtiers that have discussed royal personal business or, even worse, written books about the Royals have been completely cut off. The author recalls how the Queen broke off all contact with her much loved governess "Crawfie" after that servant wrote a tell-all book about the Queen's childhood in 1950s. It was to avoid unwanted public disclosure that the 2003 Burrell trial was halted. Paul Burrell, Diana's butler was charged with stealing and selling some of the late Lady Di's personal effects. Just as the trial was about to begin, the Queen remembered a conversation with the valet in which he told her that he holding on to some of Diana's possession for safekeeping.
   
   The author describes himself as a friend of Prince Philip's. While this account can not be considered an authorized biography, the author does include the Prince's wry reaction to various controversies that have surfaced during his long life. On the other hand the Queen remains a distant aloof figure in this biography. Like the aforementioned documentary, where Philip talks directly to the camera about his duties as Ranger of Windsor Park, this book gives a rare look at otherwise inscrutable Prince Philip explaining himself in his own words.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. This is not just a book about the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip-it is a story of their lives both before and after their marriage in-in sections.
   
   First Section: details about their early lives and details surrounding their parents and grandparents.
   
   First was Elizabeth growining up in England-with her parents the Duke and Duchess of York and then after Edward VIII abdicated King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
   
   Second was Philip born a Greek and Danish Prince but shortly after his birth his family was forced to move to France to live near his uncle George and Aunt Marie.
   
   Second Section: Details their lives as teenagers around the time of WWII
   Elizabeth was forced to live apart from her parents and was sent to live with her sister outside of London. After the war the family was reunited and at 13 Elizabeth met Philip for the first time
   
   Philip lived in France for several years before his mother was institutionalized and his father ran off with his mistress. His sisters help raise him and then sent him to schools in Germany, and England. During the War he was a Navey Man where at 18 he met 13 year old Elizabeth.
   
   The Next several Sections detail their courtship, marriage, becomeing first time parents to Charles and Anne, becoming Queen and Consort and then having Andrew and Edward afterward.
   
   An interesting book with interviews from Prince Philip, Elizabeth's cousin and others that give a detailed account of two interesting people.



4. one of the most beautiful biographies i have ever read . it reavels the humaneterian side of queen elizabith and prince philip . they are like us they love and hate like every ordinary person . mr brandreth is great .do not miss this book



5. Having read a lot of books about the royals, I didn't know if I wanted to read another. I'm very glad I read this one. Enjoyed how it was written. Very witty remarks, a lot of them in parenthesis. Having the book notes at the bottom of the various pages was a great help. One can't help but read them. There was alot of info that I had read before, but Mr Brandreth gave a more balanced view. It was a fun read!

1 comments about The Romantic Exiles.

1. This is a masterpiece of English academic writing. Lucid, perfectly judged, witty, the book follows the paths of Alexander Herzen and his remarkable family and acquaintances through the cultural currents of mid-19th century Europe. The big story is Herzen's love life. How he managed to be so productive for several decades among the extraordinary turbulence of these experiences is a complete mystery, a mystery handled beautifully by Carr. If you want some insights -- insightfully partial, domestic and exquisitely detailed -- into the passionate and talented angry middle-aged men who theorised and fomented the Russian and other revolutions, this is your book. From there go onto Herzen's own My Past and Thoughts or Isaiah Berlin's writing on the same topics.The Romantic Exiles

5 comments about Hitler's Death: Russia's Last Great Secret from the Files of the KGB.

1. I thought the book was outstanding. Until I got to literally the last page and realized something very, very important was missing. As they say in movie and TV reviews Spoiler Alert!! On that last page she observes that a look at the pieces of Hitler's skull establishes that he could not have shot himself. That is when I realized that missing from the book was even a semi-comprehensive autopsy of Hitler. There is great concentration on the teeth which are used to prove that the bodies are Hitler's and the Mrs. But at no point I could find was there any material to show that the two parts of the skull went together and it is certainly not obvious from the pictures. It is also notable that a cursory autopsy was done on the German Shepard, presumably Blondi. I really can not see the Russians doing a autopsy on an dog and not on Hitler and the rest. I think someone has swept the file a bit before these gentlemen got there. Other than that disappointment, outstanding!



2. I have only two problems with this otherwise excellent book:
   
   First is the sub-title, 'Last Great Secret.' It's really hard to say convincingly that this is the last secret. It seems that all the time more secrets are being found. And I can think of some other things that should be in the KGB files that haven't been reported yet. For instance, what were the Russian code breaking efforts.
   
   The second problem is admitted on page 11 of this book. Much of the information contained in the book comes from the Soviet interrogation of captured Germans who had been close to Hitler in the bunker. It was in their interest to tell their captors what they wanted to hear. And under questioning by the KGB who knows what was done to them. 'The Hitler Book' covers much of this same subject and the diligent reader will want to read both as they present a different slant.
   
   The Russian forces captured Berlin, and immediately began an investigation as to Hitler's last days. They compiled a great deal of forensic evidence, reports of which are included here. In fact, most of the book is in the form of reports of one kind and another. This book appears to be about as close to the original source material as can be found without the ability to read Russian.



3. Recent history is always the most fresh in any person's mind and the events which led to the rise and fall of Nazi Germany remain as fresh today as they ever were for many people - even for those who were born after the war was finally over and simply grew up in it's aftermath. No other person from that time was ever more hated than Adolph Hitler and, for far too long, specific details and facts about his death have always seemed to raise more questions than answers. Not any more.
   
   Now that the former Soviet Union is gone, the new Russia is slowly opening her doors - and her archives!, to reveal what was formerly the country's most guarded secrets. With Russian troops being the first the storm the Reichstag, it was to Stalin that all papers and diaries recovered from that building were delivered and, until recently, the world's historians had been denied access.
   
   Now, those historians and writers have been allowed sight of the most telling documents about the final days of Nazism. In this book, we are treated to a compilation of evidence about Hitler's death unlike anything which has gone before. Evidence such as that from Hitler's own closest inner circle, reports made by the Russians and Germans who took part in that final battle, detailed accounts from those who were sent to arrest the Fuhrer, records of the interrogation of those who survived Hitler's Bunker, Martin Bormann's entire diary of the time and more besides.
   
   Many people dismiss Adolph Hitler as a madman. Perhaps he was - but maybe that answer is just too simple. One thing is for certain, to read this book is to answer almost every single nagging question that was there before it was published.
   
   An excellent job of research.
   
   NM



4. V.K. Vinogradov, et.al.'s HITLER'S DEATH: RUSSIA'S LAST GREAT SECRET FROM THE FILES OF THE KGB is a 'must' for any scholarly collection specializing in World War II history. It solves one of the greatest mysteries of the war, using previously unpublished top secret documents and images from KGB archives to present new evidence from Hitler's inner circle, testimony from Germans and Russians who participated in the final battle, and evidence from those sent to arrest Hitler. Verbatim records of the interrogation of survivors blend with internal reports to Stalin and more to penetrate the cloak of secrecy and recreate Hitler's last days.



5. Very interesting, though dry. This book provides some interesting facts for this period of history. Problem area is
   the read is a bit dull, and drawn out.

No comments about Eileen Gray: Compact Design Portfolio.

No comments about Rob Roy Macgregor.

3 comments about George III: America's Last King (The English Monarchs Series).

1. I am not a historian; I am a fan of history. I know enough modern history to recognize skillful writing, accomplished research and craftsmanship. Jeremy Black's book qualifies in all these categories. William Hays excellent review of this biography in the Wall Street Journal is a wonderful, concise summary of Mr. Black's book. Since it is unlikely I can match his fine description, I will confine my comments to cautious criticism rather than perform an academic dissection.
   
   American readers should be warned that this is not an easy book to read. Mr. Black, who is a professional historian, write to an audience familiar with British politics that understands title inheritance (sixth earls), peer promotions (and name changes), Parliamentary procedure (ministerial nominations and dismissals) and English history (the Glorious Revolution). It is unlikely that American readers, who rarely have this kind of grounding, will understand these conditions upon opening his first chapter. Nor had I managed to greatly expand my knowledge base when I closed his last chapter. The biography would gain greatly from a brief introduction to late eighteen century British politics, even at the risk of boring our English cousins.
   
   It is also not easy to read because Mr. Black's sentences are occasionally confusing and his paragraphs disjointed. Tighter editing should have corrected this problem. Perhaps his editors were intimidated by his academic position. I am not. A competent reader recognizes good grammar. A sentence that requires three readings qualifies for either better editing or waiting until one is sober. This doesn't happen often but it does with regularity.
   
   I was quickly lost upon encountering the different orders of the King's bedchamber. A search through several internet sources was no help. Is the lord chamberlain superior in rank to the master of the groom? Perhaps it makes no difference. However, being curious about such matters left me cast ashore without resources. The Order of the Garter placed me in a similarly abandoned state. And I must say, at a minimum, I wondered why offices were named for intimate adornments (robes and garters). This are not meant as great criticism. It is simply that unsophisticated readers such as me are disadvantaged and would appreciate a brief introduction to the Georgian political world.
   
   American readers will be slightly disappointed in Mr. Black's discussion of how Colonial politicians related to George III. Thomas Jefferson is mentioned occasionally as is John Adams. Both spent time in London and left original source documents. Yet I wondered if they were indeed snubbed. I find it unlikely although the same stories continue to be told. Jefferson is known to have manipulated truth to suit his purposes, and Adams is a prejudiced, judgmental and sometime unreliable journalist. I wanted to know if George III did, in fact, slight them, and if so, why. He would likely have left a note of such a performance I would appreciate Mr. Black's comments.
   
   Yet this book is extraordinarily instructive. A careful reading of Mr. Black's biography yields an excellent assessment of George III. He ultimately appears as a steadfast, conscientious man thoroughly devoted to his wife, religion, country and duty. In short, he is the consummate royalist, and Mr. Black goes to great extremes explaining exactly why. A Freudian analysis will probably explain more. Surely some internal medicine specialist will eventually diagnose why this uniquely admirable and unfortunate man suffered so terribly and how he might have been more humanely treated in his declining years. After all, if we do not try to profit from our mistakes, reading history is a useless exercise in arrogant commentary. I highly recommend Mr. Black's biography and only graded it as four stars based on some minor concerns about my lack of preparation and his writing style.



2. I was very well satisifed with the book. It was very enlightening. It was Hard cover and made very well. Thank you so much.
   
   Sincerely
   
   Diann Geary



3. It is not a book for someone who doesn't know anything about George III.
   It is not for begginers. But it is very good book to get to know George very well. What he was thinking about politics, religion, etiquiete . But especially very well is described his relationship to his ministers.

2 comments about Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris.

1. A long time Melville fan, I was thrilled to find a study on his work printed in my native English. In the United States many of Melville's films are simply unavailable with English subtitles in either VHS or DVD. I really appreciated being able to access details of these unseen master works through this book. The organization of his work into genres was well thought out. Enjoyable are the tidbits of backstory before, during and after production of each film. Like any passionate artist much of who the man was can be found expressed in his work. This book lovingly invites the reader to seek out and experience these wonderful films. I also found helpful references to other French films I hadn't discovered. I hope and pray Criterion releases more of Melville's work on DVD



2. Ginette Vincendeau's study of Jean-Pierre Melville, subtitled An American in Paris, is a superb addition to anyone's library of works on film directors and is a perfect complement to the now sadly unavailable set of interviews by Rui Nogueira, Melville on Melville.

   The subtitle is a nice touch. Melville was, for his time, a radical filmmaker who embraced American film noir and, for that matter, American film in general. His influence can easily be perceived in the work of many other directors, both contemporary with his time, and later, including, among others, Truffaut, Tarantino, and John Woo. Indeed, Tarantino and Woo are mentioned here, as is Truffaut and Godard. Melville's famous falling out with the latter is highlighted--this followed a period in which Godard professed admiration for Melville. The turnabout is of some real interest.

   As this is a current book, Vincendeau naturally did not have the opportunity to speak to Melville directly, as did Nogueira. But she does much with what is known of Melville and offers insights into his character that Nogueira did not. Her dissection of his films is truly first-rate; she analyzes both the films, objectively, and Melville's personal involvement in each of them. Her discussion of the director's perspective on society--what makes it tough, what makes it bearable, what gives it meaning--dovetails nicely with her observations on his work as a filmmaker.

   One of the great things about buying the Criterion DVD release of Le Cercle Rouge is that it includes an excerpt from the Nogueira book in which Melville himself talks about that film. The Vincendeau book is indispensable for those who want a penetrating examination of one of the greatest of all French filmmakers.

   Highly recommended.

4 comments about Guerilla Days in Ireland.

1. For the third reviewer : you don't need to be English , Russian , German or American to understand and condemn nazi or stalinist atrocities ; similarly , you don't need to be an Irishman to realize Britain's unfair , oppressive and intolerant rule of Ireland , not yet finished by the way . There's ample historical evidence of all kinds of wrong doing by the British during their centuries-long illegal occupation of Ireland , denial of elementary basic rights to the Irish (catholics obviously)and the establishment of an unnatural separation of the North from the South that it is still unresolved .
   
   Like any other country in the world , Britain has had brilliant pages in history and also dark , shameful ones , with their handling of the Irish case probably being the worst - to day .
   
   As for the book , I'll only say this : don't miss the opportunity to learn how a small group of determined men (basically peasants)were led with brilliance to defeat a much bigger , stronger and modern army . Probably much to the dismay of some , still today .



2. The first problem with the two previous reviews is that they make no distinction between Loyalist (Protestant) and Republican (Catholic) Irishmen so claiming this book to be an account of "the unbelieavable atrocities the English purpetrated on the Irish people" or "The actions taken by armed mercenaries, English military, and English puppet police against the Irish people" or even "Anyone interested in understanding the mindset of Irishmen" is clearly wrong. This is the account of the Southern, Republican Irish on the events that took place and should not be accepted as Ireland's (as a whole) views as Protestant Northern Irish are loyal to Britain, not Ireland. Reading reviews on the books about the troubles it is striking how from people's locations and surnames they seem to have no link whatsoever to Ireland yet claim this book is the definitive account without any other evidence!!! Look into the situation for yourself. Who's asking for control of more land? That answer alone should tell you who the real aggressors are. The comment that this book "brings to mind Hitler's treatment of the Jews in Europe twenty years later" is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard. You're telling me that about 10million people were exterminated!?!? To this day Irelands population isn't close on that so I STRONGLY suggest you check your obscenely inaccurate views before posting a review that incredibly 8/12 people found useful!!!???!!! It is truly disgusting how World War II gets banded about as an example whenever an injustice occurs, you are souring the memory of those who truly had probably the worst human injustice ever done to any human beings. British rule of Ireland vs. Hitler's Nazi Germany. Only a fool would try to compare them. The main aim of this review is purely for people to understand this is a Southern, Republican Irish view on British actions in Ireland (therefore not taking into account Loyalist Irish views) and I will leave it to you to decide whether this account MAY have bias.



3. The incredible career of Tom Barry and that of the West Cork Flying Column is an inspirational example of what virtually untrained volunteers fighting for their families and their country can achieve, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The British had over 12,500 men in West Cork chasing after about 310 IRA Volunteers...and never defeated them. Barry discusses many military topics and personal thoughts which the student of Irish warrior traditions will find extremely helpful. Members of many guerrilla movements around the world have read and profited from the lessons in this book including Che Guevera (whose last name was "Lynch" thanks to his Irish grandfather) and the early Jewish guerrillas in the Irgun and Lehi. Anyone interested in understanding the mindset of Irishmen bent on taking a stance and fighting for what they believe in, will be well rewarded for reading this book.



4. This on the scene writer grimly reveals the unbelieavable atrocities the English purpetrated on the Irish people in this century. This book is a beginning to the understanding of the relations between the English and the Irish. The actions taken by armed mercenaries, English military, and English puppet police against the Irish people in their own country is appalling and brings to mind Hitler's treatment of the Jews in Europe twenty years later. A must read for all who seek an understanding to the Anglo/Irish situation.