No comments about Los 7 Borgia.

No comments about The Matrimonial Trials of Henry VIII.

No comments about The Betrayal of Richard III (History).

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1 comments about History Of Margaret Of Anjou, Queen Of Henry Vi Of England.

1. Like Agnes Strickland's Queens of England, Abbott's history is outdated given all the new information and research that has been done since the original date of publication. For instance, there is now irrefutable evidence that Margaret was in Anjou from the years 1434-1442 with her grandmother, Yolande of Aragon. There are many other instances of this throughout the book.
   Secondly, Abbott spends a lot of time trying to give background on the times and places that Margaret lives that, while entertaining, have nothing to do with her and for a rather slim volume, take away from the account of her life. The chapter on Lady Neville comes to mind, especially as the chronology of it is not clear and he admits before he begins that is most likey fiction (it is).
   However, for anyone who loves the wars of the roses and Margaret of Anjou, this is a lovely addition and it's interesting to read history as it was written in the 19th century.

4 comments about Dearest Vicky, Darling Fritz: The Tragic Love Story of Queen Victoria's Eldest Daughter and the German Emperor.

1. i felt so bad how vicky and fritz were treated by his family and country,if given a chance they could had did many great things for their country.they marriege was one few love matchs in europe.but the cruelity by their oldest son who belittled undermine his own parents.vicky losing two childern brought tears to my heart.



2. Dearest Vicky Darling Fritz was a very interesting book and also very informative. When reading it I felt very sad for Vicky and Fritz for all the things they had to go threw, such as children who made trouble for them, a minister who did not like them, Fritz's father who would not give them the respect they diserved, and to top it off Fritz's death of cancer four months after becoming Kaiser Fredrick III.



3. This was fairly interesting and well written, but for a good, thorough biography of Princess Vicky, "An Uncommon Woman" is a far better choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a fairly brief overview of her life and loves, this book will spare you the extreme detail found in "Uncommon Woman."



4. It was a rarity indeed that a royal marriage would be a happy one; that was never the idea of alliances such as the one between Victoria, Princess Royal, and Crown Prince Frederich of Prussia--but a happy marriage is exactly what they had. A partnership between a good man and an exceptionally intelligent, perceptive, loving woman. Vicky was maligned in her adopted country, gossiped about, belittled, and ultimately emotionally abused by her two eldest children, but she remained a remarkable woman nonetheless. This is a fascinating book about a devoted couple.

No comments about King Charles III: A Biography.

1 comments about Obscure Kingdoms.

1. As a small person (4'10"), I have always had a fondness for small countries. As a geographer, I enjoy knowing about places most people have never heard of. And as a veteran armchair traveller... Well, this book could hardly miss with me. Edward Fox sets out to explore the mysteries of royalty by visiting a half-dozen small, non-European kingdoms and attempting to meet their respective kings, with varying success. Dressed in his official king-meeting costume of a blue Brooks Brothers suit and tie, Fox meets with royal responses that cover the spectrum: casual affability in Tonga, fierce hostility in Swaziland, democratic divinity on Java. Meeting King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga was a snap. Fox simply made an appointment for an interview. He could also observe the King on His Majesty's daily royal bicycle ride cum motorcade. On the other hand, he spent weeks chasing after Sultan Qaboos of Oman as the King made tours and military inspections up and down his nation. Finally Fox gave up hope of an interview, contenting himself with a bow and a limp handshake in a receiving line. Fox met a fair number of Yourba kings, of whom there are roughly 700 in all of Nigeria. Having lost their temporal power to the central government, they are primarily leaders of traditional Yourba religion. Yet kings are usually chosen on the basis of wealth and professional background, not for their knowledge of and belief in these traditions. The Ataoja of Oshogbo was a well-educated, devout Muslim, and thus found himself caught in a serious spiritual dilemma. Besides his own religious duties, his daughter was required by tradition to be high priestess of Oshun, the Yourba Venus, and preside at the goddess's annual festival. Another Royal Annoyance was an Austrian sculptress and sincere devotee of the Yourba gods who, during her 40-year residence in Oshogbo has made the town the cultural capital of Yourba, turned Oshun's grove into a sculpture garden, and erected (if you'll pardon the expression) an ithyphallic statue on the palace grounds. Not the sort of decoration a pious Muslim usually wants to see in his front yard. A monarch's lot is not a happy one! Swaziland turned out to be downright hostile. On his request for an interview, Fox was told, "I have just been in England. I didn't see the Queen Mother. Do you think I could have seen the Queen Mother just like that?" The author's only sight of King Mswati II was at the performance of a long, boring public ritual ("Take your hands out of your pockets and stand still!" he was scolded after about two hours). But he did manage to meet Maja II, king of the Mamba clan, whose ancestor was given royal title and dignity by Mswati II's ancestor in 1819. Most Swazis don't know he exists, and the Mamba kingship is omitted from all official Swazi histories. Fox met Maja II at His Anonomyous Majesty's butcher shop, where they had a chat and a smoke, and Fox took a photo of the King posing beside his pickup truck. Fox's last royal pilgrimage was to the island of Java and Hamengkubuwono X, Sultan of Yogyakarta, whose kingship has become entirely spiritual. As a disciple hoping to be accepted by a guru, Fox knew his quest would require patience. He moved into a hotel where no one spoke English, took no tourist excursions, bought no souvenirs, and settled down to read "War and Peace" while waiting for his contacts to turn something up. Step by step, contact by contact, Fox closed in on his goal: a highly formal interview, with interpreter, in which the Sultan was as democratic as he could manage. He wasn't exactly Maja II with his pickup, but he went so far as to acknowledge and show interest in Fox's gift, which is more than the cycling Taufa'ahau of Tonga did. Our last glimpse of Hamengkubuwono X is of His Majesty enthusiastically playing soccer in the rain, and afterward handing out gifts of soccer balls and jerseys to his subjects and fellow-players.

1 comments about Diana: Death of a Goddess.

1. Finally, the definative volume on the murders of Lady Diana Spencer and Dodi al Fayed. Documentary filmmaker and psychologist Cohen unearths data that is non pareil in the Diana assassination genre. I dog-earred and highlighted nuggets on every other page. The obscure and arcane data flies fast and furiously as one races from one fascinating aspect of the crime to the next. Also included are engrossing reports on the murder of Grace Kelly and her affiliations with the evil Solar Temple cult. Prince Charles was in close proximity (literally) to Temple founder Jo di Mambro on several occasions.
   Cohen spent many years in France and is conversant with many of the shadowy players who figure prominently in both hits. This book has to be added to the library of all Diana followers.
   Five stars for such intrepid research!

No comments about A Time of Triumph and Sorrow: Spanish Politics During the Reign of Alfonso XII, 1874-1885.