5 comments about Alexandra: The Last Tsarina.

1. I've read all other Carolly Erikson books and have, for the most part, enjoyed them. This one, however, leaves a lot to be desired. While there were some strong insights into the complexity of Alexandra, still, the character came across as bland. The book felt as thought it was not well-researched and hastily written.



2. I have read many books about the Romanov clan and confess I wanted Anastasia to have survived...But this is the only book that deals with Alexandra as a distinct personality. Simply reading about the death of her Mother when she was a small child give tremendous insight into the adult. Alexandra must have been traumatized by the death and probably had a problem with depression the remainder of her life. The trauma occurring when she was at an age where the line between reality and make-believe is so fine would have added to her desire for 'magic' or spiritual help, thus this book has it's place in helping us understand her as a person even if it is not the most entertaining volume to read.



3. Maybe because this was the first book I've read on the Romanovs, but I was fascinated with the story of Alexandra and her entire family and the time she lived in. I'd recommend this book highly.



4. I was a little disapointed with this book. I have liked Carolly Erickson's Bloody Mary and thought this book would be a good one. It was kind of a let down. There was almost no mention of Alexandra's child hood. I would have liked to have known more about it. Did more shape her in childhood to the woman that she did become? There were some things that Ms. Erickson got wrong and didn't seem to catch. When somebody dissapered from the book, there was little or no explenation on what happened to them. I got the impression that Alexandra was hysterical most of the time (some of it with good reason). Some of the hysteria came from her only son, Alexei, being hemophiliac. You feel compassion for this boy, where doctors could do little or nothing for him. Alexandra did have a part in bringing down the Romanov dynasy, by not listening to sound advice. Massie's Nicholas and Alexandra does a better job at explaining Alexandra's personality and what drove her to do what she did.



5. This book was extremely disappointing. There is so little valuable and insightful information about the Tsarina, and what information there is is simply fluff. This book barely skims the surface and leaves so much out, takes so little time to actually analyze information that it leaves more questions than it answers.
   
   If you are looking for a quick read, or an introductory book to Tsarina Alexandra this is it. Otherwise, I highly recommend "Nicholas and Alexandra" by Massie.

5 comments about Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman (Grove Great Lives).

1. fantatstic book
   not one sided at all
   story told from letters written
   you get to decide how you look upon Marie Antoinette which is refreshing since she is so controversial



2. I love all the works of Stefan Zweig; even in translation, you can tell what a brilliant storyteller that Stefan is. In Marie Antoinette, you could almost feel pity for the unfortunate woman that fate so harshly dealt with the responsibility of a queen. The book is excellent in detailing the emotional stages of her life as a young child into womanhood, & all that she had to endure amid all the royal duties, gossips, struggles & fights behind the palace doors. All in all, an execellent book that I enjoy over & over again.



3. As a disciple of Freud, Zweig was fascinated with the new psychoanalysis and applying it to historical characters. I think he overdoes it in his biography of Marie Antoinette, attributing her love of clothes, gambling, and partying to supressed desires rather than youthful vivacity, since she was a teenager, married at fourteen. This is a book that has outlived its time. Unfortunately, Zweig's Freudian interpretation has been imitated by other biographers and gives a false view of Marie Antoinette even to this day.



4. I think the title should read, "The Portrait of an Average Woman's Behavior". I think one would find it hard to accept that Ms. Antointte was anything but an average woman of her time. Yes, it is true that her behavior was typical of an average woman, but she was raised to become a queen, not your average woman. Finding true love with a warm, romantic, and compassionate man in comparison to her husband Louis XVI and the manner in which she handled the affair are truly average. Her thoughts and behavior as the momentum of the French Revolution accelerated are those of an average woman. Aside from the misnomer, I truly enjoyed the information and the manner in which Mr. Zweig presented it to the reader. Mr. Zweig exposed Ms. Antoniette to the reader as if he had known her personally. After reading this biography I now feel that beneath all the hair pieces and hats, she behaved as any woman would have done in her situation.



5. Dating from 1933 in its first edition, this book is part biography and part psychological analysis of the great Austrian Empress Maria Theresa's daughter who died a hated Queen of France. While both its writing style and its ideas - particularly its author's assumptions about the fundamental nature of womanhood - may seem quaint to the 21st Century reader, it's still very well worth reading. Zweig refuses to rely upon a number of commonly used sources that he has reason to consider suspect, and he approaches his subject with genuine interest that's refreshingly uncontaminated by awe. The Archduchess Antoinette, the Dauphiness of France, the giddy young Queen to Louis XVI, the maturing mother of the Dauphin who would have become Louis XVII - Zweig captures them all, and then takes us with him through this woman's terrible final transformation into the prematurely white-haired "Widow Capet" who mounts the scaffold. He writes her life with frankness that's remarkable, truly, considering the era in which his work was originally published.

5 comments about Grace Kelly: Icon of Style to Royal Bride (Philadelphia Museum of Art).

1. A bride figure of really beautiful Grace.
   The photograph which photographed her is splendid. Various articles used at the time of marriage are carried.
   This is a precious document.



2. I bought this book for the sole purpose of learning more about Grace Kelly's wedding dress. At the time I bought the book, I was planning my own wedding and I wanted a wedding dress that looked similar to Grace's. However, I had not been able to find good pictures of the dress online or in other books I had of Grace. Therefore, I was delighted with this book, which has beautiful pictures of the dress. Furthermore, the book has also proven to be a great addition to my collection of Grace Kelly books as it provides particular attention and detail to one of the most important days in Grace's life. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in Grace, and particularly in her wedding dress.



3. I, for one, think that Grace Kelly was the epitome of the most beautiful, elegant brides of the modern edge...even to Princess Diana..that dress and the work that went into it is mindblowing. I've seen the dress in person and it TRULY is BREATHTAKINGLY stunning! The lace, alone, in this modern age (although no longer available) would be over $10K ALONE! I plan to copy some of Grace's elegance in my very own wedding...a Rose Point Lace garter, the beautiful Juliet Cap...all I can say is this: It's not a Grace Kelly Bio--this is strictly dedicated to the dress and it's making: fabrics and laces used and how they were all put together. Truly and informative book besides being a wonderful reference as well as a Keepsake. At LEAST 5 stars on this. Check it out..you won't be disappointed!



4. This book gives a very detailed representation of Grace Kelly's Wedding Dress. It also gives lots of details of the events leading up to her wedding day. It is not a biography of her life. It focuses on her wedding day and the events leading up to it with the wedding day itself being the culmination.



5. I was a bit disappointed when I received the book as I thought it would have more colored pictures of her wardrobe. Many were in black and white. The photos of her wedding dress were lovely though -- I guess that was the true focus of the book.

5 comments about Philip of Spain.

1. This book did the job for which I bought it i.e to cover the complete life of Philip & thus provide more knowledge & understanding of the Spanish Ride to its Abyss in the 16th Century. I have passed it to my Russian daughter-in-law accordingly. She,a keen Roman Catholic,while generally highly knowledgeable said she knew little about Spain & felt the impact of the Inquisition has been exaggerated. I disagree & this book substantiated my point. Philip accepted the Inquisition to govern Spain. Other counties both Protestant & Catholic perpetrated ghastly deeds against dissidents but with them it was Politics utilising Religion,not Religion managing the State.



2. I suppose it is true of many a biography, and in individual experience, that we rarely recognize greatness in people we know well. Kamen does an excellent job painting an unconventional portrait of Philip. In the process, however, the "Black Legend" is reduced to a somewhat flighty renaissance princeling.

   For whatever reason, I never received the anglophile's disdain for Philip. Perhaps it was Warren Carroll's portrait of Philip in his Christendom series, or Hillaire Belloc's view, both of which tended to paint Philip as the tragically ineffectual hero of Catholic Europe, standing in the breach against both the heretic and the Turk, and only partially saving Europe while dooming his own Empire.

   As ought to have been expected, Kamen's well researched and presented portrait shows a complex individual, capable of progressivism (ala opposition to blood purity laws and early support for Tridentine reforms), while simultaneously enjoying the public manifestations of the Inquisition. The casual nature of Philip's early marriages contrasts starkly against his reaction to the death of his fourth wife. "Philip the Bureaucrat" would seem to be an apt title for a King paralyzed by paperwork, and unable to govern his vast realms due to slow communication, shifty underlings, and a byzantine political system that only Umberto Eco could love.

   It is hard, in the end, to get a bead on Philip. It is indeed tragic for Spain that the many great chances for the establishment of their empire were lost in the various cataclysms of Dutch piracy, stormy seas, and overzealous generals - thus contributing to the later usurpation of Portugese westernization of the orient, English dominance of North America, and setting the stage for Cardianl Richelieu and far bloodier events in Europe.

   Of course, Kamen avoids projecting out consequences, only hinting at the damage done to Spain by the misfortunes of Philip's reign. For a biography of "the world's most powerful man," the focus is so narrow as to be somewhat myopic. But it is at this price that we obtain the detail which saves Philip from both the Black Legend and latter-day sanctification - neither of which he deserves.




3. About time the Prudent King received treatment worth his contemporaneous status! Not much has been written on Phillip II that would pass the most superficial test of historical accuracy. This book, a survey of his reign, is balanced and well written. Kamen describes neither a demon (the characterization of Phillip which most English readers would find familiar) nor a saint (the preferred version among Spanish monarchists), but the first modern bureaucrat. Kamen scholarship has some precursors in the English historical world, ie Elton, Parker, but his contribution to popular history in the form of biography is unique at this point. The 30 Years War, the casus belli for Modern Europe, is inconceivable without Phillip II's presence. This book paints with an informed brush the Spanish dynastic cause. I recommend this book highly.



4. That's right! I am, at this moment, making a powerful epic screenplay about the greatest king in the 1500s. It is called PHILIP, KING OF SPAIN - and it will star me as the great king Philip II. I will show him as the man, the king, the warrior, the father, the husband, and the ruler of his court!

   So forget about those other little biopics like THE LAST EMPEROR, AMADEUS, ELIZABETH, and others! PHILIP, KING OF SPAIN will be an Academy Award-winning, Best Picture epic film made by yours truly - Kristoffer Infante! It will be a companion to my other Oscar-winning Best Picture, PRISONER OF WAR - written, directed, produced, and starring me - and TRIANGLE, another Oscar-winning Best Picture!

   I will be faithful to the man and the myth, and destroy all that negativity that has dogged Philip in the last 400 years! Philip will be loved and appreciated again!

   Count on it!




5. Kamen offers a very complete and detailed description of the great grandson of the Catholic Kings and the difficulty of managing the most extensive empire the world has ever known. The facts are taken from great sources and presented in an honest fashion. Kamen strays from legends and myths and even challenges some of them as he did in "The Spanish Inquisition". The dedication of Felipe II to his realm is explained realisticly. Finally, the chronology is followed with discipline and is commendable. I would recommend this book to anyone desiring information on this Hapsburg leader.

5 comments about Diana, An Amazing Life: The People Cover Stories, 1981-1997.

1. This is the book to own. I enjoyed every bit of it and would recommend it to everyone.



2. Kind of a start to finish collection of selected People Diana covers/articles. It's nice to look through and read (would make a nice keepsake for the Diana fan)- especially if you missed some issues like I certainly did- but not really worth buying if you still have the original copies in good condition. I don't regret buying it but had hoped for just a bit more than a buyer gets here. There was a paperback edition out at first, haven't seen it recently, only slightly cheaper but this version would be the one to get for durability.



3. Hi, I bought my People Magazine Tribute to Diana at local B&N Bookstore and i am so happy that I did!!! I love the history of Diana,s life from the begining as alittle girl, meeting Charlas, the engaement, the births of William and HARRY,diana,s sister in-law Sarah, her marriage troubles and diana rising up a Pheonix the fire bird.I am so glad Dodi made Diana so happy. I love all the colour photos!!! BIG CHEERS TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE!!!!



4. I really enjoyed this re-visit to the People covers! It was a great way to look back!



5. THIS WAS AN EXCELLANT BOOK WITH BEAUTIFUL PICTURES AND ARTICLES AND IT LEFT YOU FEELING LIKE YOU KNEW THE PRINCESS FROM THE BEGINNING OF HER LIFE TO THE END. AN EXCELLENT TRIBUTE TO HER LIFE.

4 comments about Diana Style: Foreword by Manolo Blahnik.

1. Although I am still reading through this book, I am enjoying reading details about the fashion side of her life. It's a nice change from speculation about the rest of her life. The pictures of her fashion style bring back pleaseant memories of how I would like to remember the princess, as the beautiful woman she was. The commentaries from the designers are also loving written and offer details about the princess that add something to the pictures.



2. This is a great book if you are a fan of Princess Diana or just a fan of her fashion. The book is full of great pictures. I highly recommend this book to any Princess Diana fan!



3. I agree with the review left by "Dressmaker": save your money and buy it used, if buy it you must. There is only one picture, a fashion drawing by Roland Klein, that doesn't appear in lots (and lots!) of other Diana fashion books. The text contains a number of glaring errors of general fact, date, and dress description that could have been easily checked. For a very minor example, the Travolta Gown was described on one page as black, and on the next, as ink blue. Shouldn't a "fashion expert" have known the color of one of Diana's most famous gowns? Many of the designer comments are also available elsewhere, in better books.
   
   That said, the text is an interesting take on Diana's use of clothing to make a statement, and her gradual development of the style associated with her at any given period. You won't see anything new here and shouldn't believe everything you read here, either -- by a long shot. If McDowell can't get his facts right, what weight should a reader give to his opinions?



4. This book, on an ever-popular topic, is not as complete or well-illustrated as other, similar books such as "Dressing Diana," "Diana, Queen of Style," or "Diana: The Secrets of Her Style." However, it is more thoughtful in its analysis of her fashions and how they changed over the years. Most such books just burble about her eternal beauty and perfection; this one acknowledges some missteps and gaucheries from time to time, while appreciating her growth and maturity.
   
   I noticed a couple of mistakes: A reference to a pearl necklace that Diana supposedly wore on her wedding day (she didn't wear a necklace at all) and stating that Fergie's gown was made of satin, just like Diana's (Diana's was taffeta). Odd mistakes, considering all you have to do is look at the photos to check the facts.
   
   Overall, this is a nice little book with some good observations, but if you want lots of photos, buy one of the other Diana fashion books.

5 comments about Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Queen.

1. So many biographies already of this fascinating woman, & I'm always happy to read one more. Perhaps Anne appeals to us as the most modern of Henry's wives, with her wit, intelligence & ability to make a life for herself as best she can. I enjoyed this book, probably because the author presents her views so firmly that it makes you think through all the alternate ways of analysing the information. I agree with her conclusions about Chapuys, the Spanish Ambassador, & I've never been a fan of Thomas Moore. Anne with auburn hair? All the historical descriptions I've seen say she was very dark, with swarthy skin. I thought a very good case was made for Anne truly believing that Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was invalid, for genuine religious reasons. It is of course genuinely tragic that Catherine was also a deeply religious woman, with a diametrically opposed view. This book also happily confirms my personal opinion of Jane seymour - you only have to look at those mean little eyes in her portrait! Do buy this book - its very readable, whether you agree with all the author's opinions or not. It's a great addition to the shelf for those of us who are Anne fangirls.



2. Joanna Denny provides the 'white legend' of Anne Boleyn. Anne had deep religous scruples, therefore, God used her influence on King Henry to bring England out of the clutch of Rome -- and therefore, Anne could do no wrong and all who opposed her influence opposed God. That seems to be the premise of the book. Katharine of Aragon was a liar and perverter of truth. Thomas More was a persecuting pervert. Henry was a tyrant before he married Anne; but he was coming closer to grace until he was duped by the Seymours and Cromwell into falling for Jane. Anne had to be labelled an adultress to soothe Henry's ego, and a witch because she was a Protestant, and she had to be killed because 1) she was a threat to the Catholic party; 2) she knew that Henry wasn't so virile; 3) Cromwell saw political advantages in mending fences with the Holy Roman Emperor and the supplanter of the Emperor's aunt was a liability.
   Now, Anne did a lot for the 'new religion' by encouraging reformist preachers, promoting their writings to the King and protecting them from Chancellor More at home and the Inquisition abroad. I don't see that she was as radical a Protestant as Denny writes. She sponsored them mainly because they were pro-King and anti-Pope as religious shepherd, and thus supported her over Katharine. That Anne saw her queenship as a divine mission makes some sense to her conduct toward her former mistress and the Princess Mary. But Anne was not 'Saint Anne' with the Sword of the Spirit in her hand. Denny plays down that she bedded the King before she wedded him. She plays down her invective against Katherine and Mary by accusing the one of living a lie about her chastity (and this living in sin) and accusing the other of being disobedient and rebellious because she refused to brand her mother a whore and her faith idolatry. Denny is hostile to all the Catholics in this story. For example, I grant that Thomas More was a zealous persecutor of 'heretics'. He was proud of it. Of all people, I would have expected him to see another person's point of view; but he did not. He was so concerned that these heretics would not corrupt other, more ignorant souls, and damning them to hell that he would not see their sincerity or the good in their different beliefs. I warn Ms Denny she is much like him by despising other views of the faith than that of the radical Protestant. [I'm from the Anabaptist sector of Christianity. Sir Thomas would have burnt me alive, so I have no brief for his brand of Catholicism; but I appreciate his concern.]



3. Anne Boleyn (1501-1536) was the second of the notorious Henry VIII's wives. She was the first of his wives to be beheaded (Katherine Howard was the second and final wife to die in this manner). Anne was the first crowned Queen of England to die by the executioner's sharp blade as a public spectacle, Her often told story is retold by the late Joanna Denny. Denny published this book in 2004.
   Henry VIII became infatuated by the seductive, highly intelligent and multilingual Anne as his marriage to the dour Catherine of Aragon turned sour. Anne refused to give in to the old king's sexual desires until she had a wedding ring on her pert finger. Henry divorced Catherine claiming she had engaged in sexual intercourse with his older brother the late Arthur Prince of Wales. Henry believed this sin was based on the statement in Leviticus that it was evil to wed the spouse of a deceased brother. Henry believed this was God's curse on his inability to sire a male heir to the throne. He did not want Mary his female child by Catherine of Aragon to sit on the throne. Mary was a devoted Roman Catholic as was her mother. Henry did not want England to become a part of the Holy Roman Empire. As a result of Henry's marriage to Anne the English national church was established and the tie with Rome broken. Anne was an evangelical Protestant whose downfall was engineered by Henry's Lord Chancellor the evil Thomas Cromwell. Anne was accused of adultery with her own brother and several other young bucks at court. She died in 1536 but not before giving birth to Elizabeth I who would reign following the deaths of her half sister Mary and half brother Edward VI. Elizabeth would become one of the greatest rulers in British history.
   What are the problems with Denny's biography of Anne?
   a. She is an advocate of Anne who in her eyes can do no wrong. This is a viewpoint contrary to the assessment of many other scholars who saw Anne as a schemer seeking power for herself, her family and her faith.
   b. The Roman Catholics are all portrayed as bad. Denny has bad things to see about Thomas More who was executed when he refused to agree to the wedding of Henry and Anne. She did prove to me that More was a bigot who sought the death of as many heretics to Roman Catholicism as possible.
   c. Her style is dry reminding one of a textbook account.
   The book can be read but the biases of the author need to be noted. I did learn things I didn't know about this well documented tragic tale of love and death and betrayal in Tudor England.



4. After reading "The Other Boleyn Girl," I wanted to learn more on Anne. Somehow I had reached twenty-five years old without knowing much on Tudor history. This book happened to be on sale here on Amazon, and I bought it. After reading many fiction and non-fiction stories of Queen Anne, I still go back to this book.
   
   It explores every aspect of her life, from before her birth to after her death. It includes many pictures. It is a little heavy to read all in one sitting, and I usually just take in a couple chunks at a time.
   
   Many of the other reviewers hated it for opposing the "facts" that have been known about Anne. Denny does a wonderful job of stating how Anne was most likely tarnished after her death, leading to the many negative things still being written on her. The truth is, we will never the all the facts about Anne, or anything in history, as we were not there. Something that happened yesterday could be told from a friend, and you would get their point of view, as it is told from a person.
   
   What Denny does is give other possible explanations of Anne's life. This book is not for those that have an opinion of Anne as a whore who destroyed England and who only wish to remember her that way. If you have an open mind about events we will never know the whole truth about anyways, pick up this book.



5. Having read many biographies and histories of the Tudor period I was shocked to read this book. The author makes claims that have no basis in history and which are totally based on supposition. It seeks to highlight Anne Boleyn and bash the other queens of King Henry VIII. Highly biased, don't waste you time reading it.

4 comments about Alfred the Great: The Man Who Made England.

1. This is not a great book, but it's readable.
   
   Mr Pollard deals skillfully with the two main difficulties of putting together a biography of Alfred the Great: the scarce, fragmentary and biased nature of the surviving records, and the inherent dullness of the subject, i.e., the internecine Anglo-Saxon wars prior and during the Viking period.
   
   In order to add interest, he beats about the bush abundantly, for example, devoting a good portion of the beginning of the book explaining how the XVIII library that housed important documents of the period caught fire. He also gives abundant context on Viking endeavors in the continent, which helps explain where they come from, and why.
   
   Unlike what happens with many biographical books, that tend to be a collection of facts and dates, Mr Pollard often takes that useful step back and gives us the bigger perspective. He also draws interesting, very common-sensical conclusions and extrapolations when the historical record is lacking.
   
   The book sometimes lapses into that defect common to so many other works about English royalty, especially by British authors: they give the lives of their kings a "teleological" sense, of historical purpose, of finality, of incremental steps (despite drawbacks) towards a destiny of greatness. That slightly hampers the rhythm and objectivity of the work, especially when the author switches to describe Arthur intellectual achievements.
   
   Although a useful map is included, the author refers very heavily to British toponyms all across the narration, often taking for granted the familiarity of the reader with such places. That also slightly limits the enjoyment for non-British readers.
   
   In all, a down-to-earth, well rounded, somewhat wandering introductory book on the subject.



2. Alfred founded what was to become the first modern European state. He not only firmly established the mechanisms used by all future English monarchs (including the Normans) to dispense favor and position but also decisively ended the expansion of the pagan Vikings and, through his monastic land-grants and a culture of learning, set the world on a path to Reformation, Renaissance and Enlightenment. The burghal system of defense against the Vikings, based as it was on the nascent English city, eventually triumphed over the temporary fortifications of the Vikings and the imposing Norman fortresses that were later discarded in favor of urban and suburban life. England would not have become England without Alfred.



3. Justin Pollard's strength is the canny way he brings ancient stories to life by focussing on the human, emotional drivers that set his protagonists into action. The social and political context of Alfred's world is dealt with sensitively and non-judgmentally, leaving the reader to draw his/her own conclusions with the assistance of Pollard's meticulous research.
   
   An excellent work: a readable and informative benchmark for the subject matter. Pollard's thesis, that Alfred was the greatest Englishman, is highly persuasive.



4. 
   Ok, that title was just to catch your attention! But I have long thought that the real King Arthur of legend was based on the Anglo Saxon King Alfred. It would be unlikely for Normans to want to draw any such parallels; but instead of knights Alfred drew around him scholars, and instead of a Merlin he had the Welsh Asser by his side. But you will get none of that sort of thing in this book. This book is good history written in a fluid style that is hard to put down. There is none of that heaping up of sub-clauses and name-dropping that you get in so many histories. This man can write!
   
   Pollard gives you all the background you need, and deftly weaves into this work enough detail about Anglo Saxon and Viking life (and even a little Celtic) to give you a good grounding in that age. You aren't always aware that he is doing it because customs are often introduced as anecdotes or to explain a fact bearing on the story line. Nor is this work restricted to the southern counties of England. The declining Carolignian Empire and most other places that the Vikings came into contact with are well documented.
   
   So, is this book crammed with a lot of trivia? No, you never once get that feeling. Always Pollard's words are interesting and relevant. Indeed, at the end of your over 300-page read, you will be surprised that so much was contained in the book.
   
   Nor does Pollard idolise Alfred. He seeks to extract the man from the myth; and yet when all is said and done, you will understand why the Victorians called this man Alfred, Great. Alfred's story is a great story; he stood up to the bully, and he adapted the social order of his people in order to do so (much as we are now doing to defend ourselves against terrorists); and he did it with guts. Don't take my word for it: read for yourself. And if there are any film makers out there who want to continue the successful Lord of the Rings ethos, why not base a film on this book? It would have to be better than the only other film I know of Alfred, which depicted him as a psychological misfit.
   
   This is a great book about a great man.

5 comments about The Flight of the Romanovs: A Family Saga.

1. This book is an easy read for the non-academically inclined reader. I thought I was finished with books like this when I graduated from college, but now years later I realize that I do enjoy reading comprehensive books on intriguing parts of world history.
   
   This book is gripping from the first page to the last & when the book is over, you almost feel like there should be more of a story to continue regardless that the family line has ended.
   
   Very enjoyable!



2. This book provides a good view on the star-crossed Romanov family, as we see the downward spiral until much of the royal family is killed off and the remainder flees into exile. The volume features an extremely helpful genealogy at the beginning. I found it useful to refer to it from time to time to keep the "players" straight.
   
   The story begins with Tsar Alexander II, a reformer, who was rewarded by assassination. In some senses, this was most unfortunate for Russia, since his efforts at reform moved a far piece from the backward, insular, autocratic system preceding his reign. His successor, Alexander III, learned a lesson from this: no more reform. As the text reads (page 29): "Alexander III checked the liberal course abruptly; extreme conservatism resulted."
   
   He suffered from Bright's Disease and succumbed in 1894. The successor? Nicholas II (of Nicholas and Alexandra). With the Kerensky government and then the Bolshevik Revolution, the Romanovs were swept from power, and many executed by the Bolsheviks. Others escaped.
   
   The volume follows the survivors over their life course. It also provides great detail on other of the Romanovs before the Revolution. Some were quite able; others were of little moment and possessed little talent.
   
   The book provides a good picture of the family from Alexander II and his reform efforts to the death of the final "inside" members of the royal family in the late 20th century.
   
   The book is a fascinating portrayal of a royal family. Sometimes, the detail becomes almost excessive, but that also enhances the richness of the historical perspective. All in all, a nice volume.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It begins with czar nicholas and takes you right up to the present day romanovs. There are loads of similiar names, in fact all the romanovs seem to be called nicholas or alexander, but theres a family tree at the beginning of the book and i was constantly flicking back and forth to keep track.
   
   A fascinating read and one that'll keep you gripped. It deals with the history of all branches of the royal family and what has become of their descendants. The title may be a little misleading, the actual flight of the romanovs doesn't occur for some time into the book. Id recommend the book if you're a novice like me and really hadn't a clue about the romanov history.



4. Very little of this book actually deals with the flight of the Romanovs. The first one doesn't leave Russia until page 179 and most of the rest of the book deals with various Romanovs in exile after they fled. Absolutely trivial, useless anecdotes are abundant. It was impossible to keep all the players straight, partly because everyone had a nickname in addition to his/her given name. It would have been better to describe each branch of the family separately, rather than discussing everyone at once.



5. Absolutely fascinating book! It starts off long before Czar Nicholas. In telling the story of the extended royal family, it provides detailed accounts of what it was like to be there during tumultuous times.
   Plenty of foreign troops played a role in this drama.
   
   The end of Czar Nicholas isn't the end of this book. Amazing tales of flight by the rest of the family.
   One day they were filthy rich and privileged, the next day many were poor and all were refugees.
   
   Escape wasn't the end either. Many exiles, wishing to restore the monarchy, had to deal with Stalin's henchman.
   
   WWII saw many exiles siding with the Germans against the Soviets. They paid a horrific price.
   
   I enjoyed learning who the contenders are for title of legitimate heir to thrown.
   
   As others have pointed out, it does have a degree of bias against many of the Romanov family.

3 comments about Mary Tudor: The Tragical History of the First Queen of England.

1. David Loades wrote a biography of Queen Mary Tudor fifteen years ago. His earlier work has been revised and looked at afresh in this biography written for National Archives in the UK. His biography has been based primarily on original documents about Mary in the archives - and many of these have been reproduced in this publication as well. Its something that serious historical authors used to do in earlier centuries and its actually welcome to see the practice return as a way of preserving this information if the original is ever lost (and that happened quite a bit).
   
   Loades has come to some unusal conclusions about Mary with a fresh look at her life - but I would also say that this is a very balanced assement of this woman who lived though a bitter divorce and the overthrow of all she loved in her youth. If you have an interest in Mary Tudor this book is one you should pick up.
   
   Bloody Mary



2. David Loades is an authority on Mary Tudor and a fine author. Just a point of clarification on the earlier review, however; the first reviewer confuses Mary Tudor and Mary Stuart, two very different rulers. Mary Tudor was the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and the only surviving child of Catherine of Aragon. She succeeded to the throne in 1553 after her brother Edward VI and died in 1558. She has indeed been criticized for what many consider her overzealous push to return England to Catholicism, but in her defense, she was doing what she thought was right.
   
   On the other hand, Mary Stuart was the cousin of Elizabeth I (who was in turn the younger sister of Mary Tudor and daughter of Anne Boleyn) and was the one ultimately beheaded during Elizabeth I's reign in 1587. It should be noted that Elizabeth I herself was briefly imprisoned by Mary I (Mary Tudor) but was released unharmed.
   
   This is a fascinating period of history and this book is a good starting point to learn more about Mary Tudor's brief and sad reign. Mary Stuart's life is also very interesting and Amazon carries several good biographies on her as well.



3. There have been many biographies of Mary Tudor, the British contender against Elizabeth I for the throne of England. History being largely written by the winners, Mary Tudor became notorious for her lethal persecution of the Protestants, her unceasing efforts to deliver Britain to the Catholics, the loss of Calais to the fledgling British empire, and her decades long struggle to gain control of Britain that was to result in years of confinement by Queen Elizabeth and her eventual death at the headsman's axe at an advanced age. In "Mary Tudor: The Tragical History of The First Queen Of England", historian David Loades (Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Wales and an Associate of the Centre for Early Modern History at the University of Oxford) fully explores the dimensions of a complex life in a time of political volatility, religious wars, male domination of government, royal marriages for political advantages, personal devoutness, and a woman who was in many ways stronger than any of the men with whom she associated in her quest for royal power and Catholic supremacy. "Mary Tudor" is an articulate and very highly recommended work of impeccable scholarship that should be a part of every academic library British History & Royal Biography reference collection and supplemental reading list.