No comments about The Secret People of the Palaces: The Royal Household from the Plantagenets to Queen Victoria.

No comments about Elizabeth I and Her Age (Norton Critical Editions).

2 comments about John Brown.

1. This book is about Queen Victoria's unusual relationship with her highland servant, John Brown. Most are familiar with the story because of the well-received movie, "Mrs. Brown". While the story made a very interesting movie, for most recreational readers the topic doesn't merit a full book. Raymond Lamont-Brown has certainly done excellent research, and I do not doubt that his account of Mr. Brown and his relationship with the queen is as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, oneof Queen Victoria's daughters drastically edited the Queen's personal papers when it came to the topic of Mr. Brown, so much of the historical record is irretrievably lost. Nevertheless, it seems clear that it is unlikely that there was a scandalous relationship and that the Queen simply considered Mr. Brown to be a completely devoted servant . She consequently kept him in constant attendance and was tolerant of his brusque manner. No matter how hard Mr. Lamont-Brown tries to find some actual drama, most of the relationship (and therefore most of the book) revoloved around the mundane routine of the royal household - daily ponyrides, picnics in the Scottish countryside, below-stairs jealousies, etc. Any excitement in the book is the result of speculation, not historical fact. If you have a serious interest in Queen Victoria, you will find this book worthwhile. Otherwise, see the movie.



2. The release of the well-regarded film _Mrs. Brown_, about Queen Victoria and her gillie John Brown, indicated there was still interest in the story of the Queen and her devoted servant. The full story of their relationship will never be known, but in _John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant_ (Sutton Publishing), Raymond Lamont-Brown sifts through what can be known to give as good a picture as we are likely to get of the servant beloved by the Queen and detested by so many others. It is a small but successful study of the Queen as honest and loyal, with a love of the outdoors, and with a sense of humor (when will the opposite legend go away?) which Brown must have frequently tickled. They were a good match. He impressed both Albert and the Queen with his knowledge of game and hunting, and a strong friendship grew between the gillie and his Queen. He liked jokes and gossip, and the Queen liked to hear his stories. There are many illustrations here of their familiarity. When the royal family went out on jaunts, John Brown usually brewed the Queen's pot of tea. Early in his service, she remarked that this was "the best cup of tea I ever tasted." "Well, it should be, Ma'am," came Brown's reply. "I put a grand nip o' whisky in it."

   There is little doubt that the Queen idealized Brown in a way no one else did, but especially after Albert's death, no one tended her as he did. A courtier wrote, "Others had tended her as their Queen and mistress. John Brown protected her as she was, a poor, broken-hearted bairn who wanted looking after and taking out of herself." Many around the Queen disapproved. Brown took his duties so seriously he would deny even her family access to her. His gruffness with others made few friends. Sent to convey the Queen's invitation to dinner to the Lords-in-Waiting, Brown pushed open the door of the billiard room, eyed the aristocrats, and bawled, "All what's here dines with the Queen." The Prince of Wales particularly disliked him, always referring to "that brute" rather than using his name. He obliterated all the busts and mementoes of Brown after the Queen's death, but he was never able to wipe out the rumors that Brown and the Queen were lovers, or that they had a morganatic marriage, or that Brown was her guide in spiritualism. Such evidence as there is shows that they were nothing but devoted friends as well and mistress and servant. This readable book well illustrates the relationship, with ample quotations from the Queen's diary and from remarks of those who knew both parties well.

1 comments about PRINCESS MARGARET.

1. Over the course of seven decades she has gone from being the cherubic little princess who captured the hearts of the pre-war public, to the controversial, often badly behaved tabloid darling whose escapades foreshadowed those of her nephews and their wives, to the shadowy figure whose recent stroke would seem to have more or less removed her from the public stage.

   In this evenhanded but essentially sympathetic biography, the Princess emerges as both surprisingly interesting and sadly adrift, a woman whose only substantial accomplishment may end up having been the mother of two apparently well-adjusted and happy children (a feat her older sister might well envy).

   Having interviewed members of the Royal Family for various other projects over the years (an advantage denied most unauthorized biographers), Aronson weaves first-hand quotes into his narrative to good effect. He effectively discounts some earlier biographers' wilder claims (of inherited madness, for example) while, it must be admitted, adding some of his own (is it really possible that the Princess confessed to having "detested" her grandmother, the formidable but endearing Queen Mary?). All in all, though, a pleasant and worthwhile read for Royal-watchers.

2 comments about Nikola and Milena, King and Queen of the Black Mountain: The Rise and Fall of Montenegro's Royal Family.

1. I really like history and biographies are my favorite source of historical information. My search for anything related to King Nikola began when I was told that, despite being of a lesser noble family, he had as much royal connections as King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria. The book is very well written and has plenty of photographs in an outstanding edition, and brings important information about the Balkan politics during the twilight of the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. Great book!



2. This is a gorgeous book on the "father-in-law" of Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Well written and gorgeously illustrated.
   
   And this price is a steal - at the museum shop of the King's Palace in Cetinje, Montenegro, this book sells for 100 Euros!

No comments about The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III 1371-1406 (Stewart Dynasty in Scotland series).

5 comments about Diana & Dodi: A Love Story.

1. I found this book to be the best Diana book I have read. I do belive this story. I think Diana and Dodi did care for each other and I think Rene is telling it like he saw it. the book lets you see the personal side of Diana as well as Dodi.the book also tells you what happened the night of the crash. this book is the only book on Diana that I did not get bored with.a great love story.



2. I've probably read all or nearly all the books on Diana. Somehow I'd missed this one until a friend gave it to me as a gift. While I didn't give it 5 stars for its great literary qualities, I thought that for Diana fans, it delightfully delivered the goods - it is a pleasing intimate portrait with plenty of detail (food, clothes, toiletries, habits) yet with a real sense of affection, humor and respect.
   
   Setting this apart from most Diana books is the uniquely likeable voice of the narrator. Delorm is a class act, a man who respected and liked his boss, Dodi Fayed, and who seems to view everyone from his wealthy employer to his fellow cooks, butlers and masseuses with generosity of spirit and an open mind. This is a refreshing contrast with the self serving busybody tone of Patrick Jephson's Diana book, or any of the royal "experts" who simultaneously envy, fawn and snipe.

   The author's joie de vivre and eye for detail turn this book into a lovely little vacation on a yacht, along with two people we might have enjoyed knowing very much. And unlike many books published after their deaths, it does not lay on the pathos, but instead is more of a celebration.

   All in all, this is an intimate book you can enjoy without feeling like a voyeur, and a very welcome read for anyone who misses Diana. She sounds like a lot of fun.

   A great escape read in these glamour-free times. Highly recommended.




3. Rene Delorm, Dodi Fayed's former Butler, was clearly devoted to his former employer and this affection shines through these memoirs.

   The scene is well set with a brief thumbnail sketch relating how his and Dodi's paths originally crossed, before the more eagerly-awaited period is focussed upon. Never overstating his case, Delorm recounts the beginnings of Dodi's affair with the Princess of Wales with disarming candour and seems to me conscious of the temptation to embroider upon his recollections or, worse still, hypothesise on what the future for the couple may have held. This temptation he scrupulously avoids and it is to his credit that he refers only to what he saw and heard and shies away from hearsay and speculation.

   While necessarily anecdotal in content, the book gives a charming, if simplistic, insight into their last days together and makes an interesting addition to the huge library of titles dealing with the demise of Diana and Dodi, by one who was well-placed to observe their intimacies. Paul Burrell, Diana's Butler, (whom she referred to as her "rock") is arguably in a better position to reveal her state of mind in these last weeks but has, to date, sensitively deferred from comment. Delorm's book, though, is an affectionate and poignant recollection and his grief on hearing the devastating news is tangible.




4. This book was very warm, discreet and also revealing of a mgical romance. Anyone that loves Diana will be extremely happy with this book.

   In this book you can feel that Diana is being a real person- happy, smiling, laughing, eating, and falling in love, relaxing- an image she never got by hundreds of people- it is sad that her life was cut so short. She was a lovely, gracious woman who left way to early in life. Her time with Dodi- was to start a lifetime of romance that was ever so sweet. that was cut very short too.Now we will never know if they were to ever marry or not.

   I am a greatful of Rene for sharing his memories with the world of Diana- allowing people to see and to hear about her romance.




5. A starry-eyed account of the doomed pair's romance by Dodi's butler. So protective is Delorm of his late boss that he never mentions model Kelly Fisher, whom he must have known Dodi was two-timing after Diana came along.

   But Delorm's devotion can be touching. "You left me," he wrote in the condolence book at Dodi's funeral, and then dissolved into tears.

   A very one-sided look into a doomed duo's romance.

3 comments about Finding Grace in Monaco.

1. Hard enough to believe, Cori Kirk is always in the right place at the right time to make her way into the princely family. To me she overstrains destiny a bit too much with her esoteric inputs, with which she tries to explain or even justify things that she does - and the effects they have. My impression after finishing the book was that Cori Kirk was on a mission to finding her way into the upper class - and does this so well she even dates Prince Albert (she shows pictures of herself with him). Sad enough, Cori Kirk can't keep him and ends up running after him - more than once finding only polite rejection, which makes one pity her due to the sympathy she manages to build with the reader.
   
   Never the less, a quite courageous and open-hearted book.



2. This book offer readers the rare chance to live inside and flirt with Monaco's Royalty. The opportunity is provided by the imagry of Cori's smooth, journal-type writing style. One can hear the music playing as she dances through each day with the monarchs and feel the passion of each affectionate royal embrace. Cori celebrates dreams, drama and intimacy with the publishing of her charmed-life story in "Finding Grace in Monaco".



3. In the beginning, Ms. kirk's book was harder to believe than a Hollywood fantasy but as you race towards finding out what happens you know the wildest things are possible and do happen.

   Pure Serendipity, and a wealth/health of succinct wisdom.

   Written for women but strong enough for a man. Suspend your doubts and read it!

2 comments about England's Elizabeth: An Afterlife in Fame and Fantasy.

1. Anne Barton, an emerita Cambridge, England professor of literature and history, called this book 'scholarly, wide-ranging, lively and witty', and she doesn't give out praise lightly: she also described it as 'a fascinating cultural history of England itself in terms of its obsession with Anne Boleyn's resilient daughter.' This was in the London Review of Books, which rarely gets that sort of thing wrong, so I bought it. And she was dead right. This is a stunning book -- broadens your whole sense of history. And such a joy and a stimulant to read. I can't think how they'll ever follow it, but thank goodness they wrote it.



2. This is a dazzling piece of cultural history about all the things people have wanted to be true about Elizabeth I whether they are or not, with fantastic pictures drawn from the plays and novels and movies in which her endlessly glamorous afterlife has been lived. It's a great book about why this enigmatic, dangerous woman matters and has mattered: it's funny, it's heartfelt, and it's scholarly too. Perfect for the thinking Glenda Jackson/Bette Davis/Cate Blanchett fan in your life, and a penetrating, witty meditation on fame, womanhood, and history.

5 comments about Elizabeth I: The Shrewdness of Virtue.

1. Jasper Ridley, in this book about the reign of Elizabeth I has some very strong opinions on his subject matter, but seems to veer more towards a negative perception of England's Virgin leading one to question whether he is biased against her.
   There is something of a contradiction in his portrayal of Queen Elizabeth as capricious and vacillating on the one hand, while depicting her a conniving and somewhat Machiavellian on the other.
   
   This is a comprehensive volume, more detailed about the political events and Elizabeth's policies than The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I, Genius Of The Golden Age though it has considerably on her personal life.
   The author skims too quickly through Elizabeth's childhood and youth, before she became Queen, which is a drawback because it was these events that shaped Elizabeth's character.
   Interesting is the juxtaposition her religious tolerance with her total belief in the divine right of monarchs and her belief that to rebel against the ruling sovereign was an abomination. Hence although she was Protestant she had little sympathy for the Dutch Protestant rebels against the Spanish occupation of the Netherlands, and even less so for the French Protestant Huguenots against the persecution of their Catholic rulers.
   Although she made some efforts to mediate in these disputes and gave support to the Dutch rebels when it became clear that Spain had become an outright enemy of England, in the period leading to the threat to England by the Spanish Armada.
   
   She seems to have hated the Puritans and Presbyterians more than she did the Catholics, although the author does not credit her enough for the religious tolerance she brought to England after the repression by her older half-sister, Mary I, in |Bloody Mary's ruthless crusade to stamp out Protestantism in any form from England.
   
   The author well illustrates Elizabeth's anguished reluctance to have Mary Queen of Scots executed, which Elizabeth was virtually coerced to do by her council, and for which Elizabeth always suffered great sorrow and regret.
   
   But I cannot agree with the author's thesis that Elizabeth was a not so much a great Queen but merely presided over a great era in England's history.
   Ridley is wrong.
   Elizabeth brought peace and stability to nation that had suffered centuries of civil strife, brought a strong measure of religious tolerance for the age in which she ruled.
   She built up a strong economy and a flowering of arts and culture. music and literature (Morley, Byrd, Dowland, Marlowe, Jonson and Shakespeare).
   
   And nobody can take away from the courage she gave England during the threat to her sovereignty by Spain's King Phillip and the Spanish Armada, as well as her brilliant choice of admirals such as Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh.
   Who can forget her rousing speech to the people of England defending her country's sovereignty:
   "I have...they shall be duly paid to you."Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general2 shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people"
   
   These are the words of a great leader defending her nation against invasion. It is aforeshadow of Churchill's speech we he told Britain that "We will defend our island whatever the cost may be." Churchill: A Life



2. What a refreshingly well-written, concise and historically well-researched book! Ridley is a master of the historic biography, and every book I have read so far (having started off with his account of Henry VIII) is a riveting read and impossible to put away.

   May Royal Tunbridge Wells continue to serve as an inspiration to this gifted writer and connaisseur of the depth of the English language.




3. Jasper Ridley's biography of Elizabeth is well-written and coherent, broken into chapters that examine pivotal events during the reign in foreign and domestic policy. Ridley's work differs from most Elizabethan biographies in its focus on political and military aspects rather than personal studies of the queen. While at times the text drags, for the most part it is crisp and solid reading, and paints a fascinating picture. What makes the book stand out, however, is the quality of its documentation and use of primary sources, and its tremendous value as a research tool. Mr. Ridley has made assiduous use of archived state papers and contemporary commentaries that depict events as they were actually experienced and grasped by the people in the 16th and early 17th centuries. A student partaking in research on this period or studying the European Renaissance in general would benefit tremendously from a consultation of the bibliography, since the author essentially gives an index of the calendars of state publications that detail various decisions and military planning of the late 1500s. Furthermore, Mr. Ridley is careful to delve deeply into foreign sources as well; he makes extensive use of the archives in Simancas, Spain, as well as archival resources in Italy, to furnish shades of detail often overlooked. The overall result is that Mr. Ridley's biography has an unparalleled "real-time" feel to it. And, the author covers territory that too often is neglected in Elizabethan biographies, especially in regard to military affairs that are difficult to research elsewhere. He examines the English defeat and expulsion from Le Havre in France that resulted in the permanent loss of Calais in 1563; the long Anglo-Spanish war of the 1590s that crippled the finances of both countries, and (with Spanish victories at sea) frustrated English attempts at colonization in the Western Hemisphere while preserving Spain's foothold; and also at the bitter Anglo-Irish guerrilla war of the century's last decade, which devastated the Irish countryside and drained England's resources to the limit. For a detailed biography, Jasper Ridley's biography (along with that of Anne Somerset) is top-notch, and as a research tool it is of inestimable help.



4. Having just finished Anne Somersets more definitive bio on Elizabeth I have to agree with previous reviewers that the author seems to have it in for his subject. Does he even like her?. He portrays her more as vindictive, vascillating, procrastinating,vain and downright bloodthirsty. Most notably in her relations with the english puritans, the protestant rebels in the Netherlands and especially her close relatives. The latter being her treatment of Katherine Grey, sister of the beheaded Jane for whom there was no love lost. He does not give her any credit for being a woman in a mans world and having the guts and wisdom to choose some very bright men as ministers and councillors and not yes-men at that. Walshingham and William Cecil openly disagreed with her on many issues but at no time did she contemplate dismissing them. He also appears to be saying that Elizabeth's foreign policy was based on the divine right of princes to rule their own kingdoms, and that rebels against their rightful lords be they protestant or catholic deserve to be severely punished hence her sympathetic correspondence with Philip of Spain. Ridley also has a penchant for drawing out in unnecessary detail execution and torture scenes. When the assassin of William of Orange is submitted to all kinds of horrific torture before his eventual execution, smiling the whole time the reader finds himself squirming uncomfortably. Despite the authors elegant prose I prefer the Sommerset or even Antonia Fraser biographies. They may not deify the woman but at least they dont vilify her.



5. Ridley provides an excellent overview of Elizabeth's reign, but he spends precious little time with the Queen and her court. I recommend reading this book in tandem with Alison Weir's "The Life of Elizabeth I." Together they provide a fuller picture of the Queen and her times than either book does individually.