5 comments about Dark Horse: A Life of Anna Sewell.

1. The new biography of Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty, is a must read. Adrienne Gavin's style is clear, crisp, and even seductive. Reading the biography felt like being invited on an intimate journey with the biographer/scholar in search of Anna Seawell's life and time. You will love this well-researched biography even if you haven't read Black Beauty.



2. Anyone who has enjoyed 'Black Beauty' as a child should read this fascinating biography of Anna Sewell, 'the ultimate in metaphorical dark horses'. The book charts Anna's family background and Quaker upbringing; the fall which left her lame for life; her invalidism and the subsequent numerous methods of treatment and cures which were attempted; and her love of horses and the freedom she was able to experience in riding. It details Anna's often painful spiritual journey through religious faith and doubt; her close relationship with her mother, Mary Sewell, who was at the time a well-known author herself; and the charitable works and projects they undertook together. The text contains frequent references to and quotations from a variety of sources, which adds to rather than distracts from the narrative, providing an easy and engrossing read as well as a vivid account of Victorian life.



3. A fascinating life of sadness, courage against all odds and the story behind one of the bestselling novels ever written. Thoroughly researched but a smooth easy read I loved the details of Victorian life and the story behind how Black Beauty became so popular. Highly recommended!



4. Right from the beginning "Dark Horse" captured my attention and held it chapter after chapter. Ms. Gavin's recount of Anna Sewell's life is so well written, that I could not put this book down. And it is extremely inspirational in its own right. I am now determined to not only read "Black Beauty", but also to read it to my children, and when they get older, to have them read "Dark Horse". I highly recommend this book to everyone, even those of us who have not read "Black Beauty" will gain from reading "Dark Horse".



5. An entertaining read for those interested in children's literature and Victorian women's lives and writing. Thoroughly researched and extremely well-written. Fans of Black Beauty will no doubt be surprised by the drama of the author's own story. Highly recommended!

2 comments about The People's Princess: A Memorial.

1. I was a little bit disapointted the book had not much text. Of course it was nice to read the other's opinions about Diana with lovely photos, but as a big fan I expected more. A beautiful book to look at, I would say.



2. This book is done in great taste and style. I am glad I picked it up to add to my collection. I do not add Princess books to my collection that are of bad taste.

1 comments about Edward VII's Last Loves.

1. A well-written book full of interesting information. The only problem with the book is that Agnes Keyser seems to be more of an afterthought to Alice Keppel than a subject in her own right. The treatment of Mrs. Keppel is wonderfully detailed. I highly recommend this book!

1 comments about King George V.

1. Kenneth Rose is an excellent scholar and this book is about scholarship--debunking the myths and telling the straight story about King George V and the politicians with whom he dealth. My only wish is that I could know more about George V the man, but this is the same objection that I've had of all scholarly biographers of Kings.

5 comments about Diana: The Last Year.

1. While Andrew Morton's "Diana Her True Story" and "Diana Her New Life" chronicled the Princess's unhappy life in the Royal Family prior to her 1996 divorce from Dumbo Ears (sorry, Prince Charles), Donald Spoto's account describes her life post divorce until her tragic and untimely death. In the process he highlights all the aspects of her character, both good and bad, that caused the world to fall in love with her forever. This is a great tribute to you, dear Diana. May you rest eternally in peace.



2. A good accounting of Diana's last year as she was spinning out of control. When you read about all of her comings and goings you wonder if she had any idea of how it would turn out? Did she know it would soon end?

   One of my favorite books about her. I wonder about the Royal Family and how they manage to keep going. Is a puzzlement.




3. This is an excellent book that towers on the other biographies because this book doesn't dwell on tawdry scandal, but simply concentrate on the most important aspect of Diana: her charity work. No other book has covered her good deeds so well. The only problem with the book, and it is small problem is the somwhat heavy-handed use of poems.



4. One gets the full story from Soto. You don't get every salvo from the war of the Wales.But does one need that? Important facts, such as Diana's understanding that the 10,000 bouquet from the public, was as important as her first, are there.

   I felt he understood Diana and her impact on people better than most. It' has a tenderness that's vital when considering her life.

   The book I recommend when asked about Diana books.




5. I have been reading books on Princess Diana since 1981 and this has to be one of the best. Diana, The last year has to be one of the better written books on Diana. It is worth the money and is the type of book that you will go back to time and time again

No comments about In Person: The Prince and the Princess of Wales.

No comments about The Quest for Anastasia.

No comments about The Reign of Henry VIII: Personalities and Politics.

5 comments about The Princess and the Package: Exploring the Love-Hate Relationship Between Diana and the Media.

1. First of all, this book is NOT a biography of Diana, nor does it pretend to be. The cover states clearly that it is about "the love-hate relationship between Diana and the Media." Therefore anyone demeaning it because the cover isn't "pretty" or because it may be factually inaccurate by moments about incidents surrounding her death and funeral are completely missing the point. This book is not, strictly speaking, about the events of Diana's life but about how they were interpreted. And Mr. Levine shares some very unconventional, intelligent opinions on that subject. Some of it I disagree with (the life and continuing media fascination in Jacqueline Onassis disputes his assertion that the public loves celebrities for their accessibility; Jackie O was the most remote of celebrities and in her case it was her very unknowability that still intrigues us). But on one very important point, I agree with Mr. Levine whole-heartedly. In purely feminist terms, Diana was a heroine, not a victim. She was NOT a victim of the media or, ultimately, the Royal Family. She used the media and survived the Royal Family. And the reason the public adored her is that she went through the same stages every woman does, just on a grander scale and with better clothes. Diana was disappointed by love, longed for direction and meaning in life, loved her children, and was insecure about her looks. And before our eyes, she grew up to be a symbol of grace and generosity. She was transformed by her pain and hardship and she was victorious against the power elite -- and she used the press to win. Diana's memory deserves to be celebrated, not tsk-tsked over as though she had been some poor, helpless little thing. Diana accomplished so much with her own charm, energy and ingenuity. Ultimately, she was the victim of a drunk driver, and that could happen to any of us.



2. An excellent book. Complements Claridge's "Blair'sBritain" as a description of The Great Madness that overtook England in September 1997.



3. This is one of the best books I have ever read about the relationship between the media and a celebrity..I believe the critics of the book have missed the point entirely. The book is not about Diana as much as it is about her relationship with the media. You can take Diana's name out of the book and insert another celebrity's name. You would come up with a similiar tome. This is such a good book I have recommended it to my former professors at Wake Forest University in the communications department. Good job, Mr. Levine!



4. I would never have purchased this book except for the fact that I collect books on Diana. As I look through my collection, I believe, this book possesses the ugliest cover of all my books on Diana which is enough to turn one off.

   As I compare some of the facts mentioned to the same facts in my other books on Diana, there appears to be many inconsistencies in dates, times, and places. The inaccurarcies makes one wonder if there is any truth in Diana's symbiosis with the media.

   This is a book one needs to purchase only if one collects books on Diana; ...




5. I had high hopes for this book, but it was ultimately disappointing. And no, I do not worship at the altar of Diana. As a matter of fact, I found the book to be more sympathetic to her than I thought it would be. Most of this 350 page snoozer is the author's own speculation and theory about why the media and the public were so enamoured of Diana. He manages to get some facts wrong, notably that Queen Elizabeth bowed her head 'when Diana's cortege drove away from Westminster Abbey'. Everyone knows that the queen bowed her head as the cortege was approaching Westminster Abbey. The author literally doesn't know if Diana was coming or going! I realize this sounds petty, but if Levine can't even get this detail correct, how much can I buy into anything else he says? ...

3 comments about Astraea.

1. The leading Renaissance scholar of our time, Dame Frances A. Yates ("the most life-enhancing historian I knew", Hugh Trevor-Roper) in this enthralling reconstruction gave us the best example of her original scientific method. Using a new approach ("to history through imagery"), she focuses on the symbolism of Elizabethan 'imperial theme'. These allegorical intellectual portraits of Protestant chivalry in England and the French Pleiadist movement seems to contain an inspiring meta-historical documents. The genesis of this far-sighted study on "Queen Elizabeth I as Astraea" goes back to a sermon lecture (on Arcadian 'Virgo-Regina' and her apologists, prophetical poets like Peele, Spenser or Sidney) given in 1945 and first published in the famous "Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institute", X,1947. Out of a central essay grew the four "Empire Lectures" originally given at London University Senate House (in January 1952), on the very same theme (imperial political theme in the Middle Ages and Renaissance). Later, it appeared as academic seminars at her favourite "Warburg Institute" and at the Cornell University (1967-70). Summa summarum, this part of Yate's final "Astraea:The Imperial Theme in the Sixteenth Century" have been at first published as a French translation(!). Other texts from the present volume was originally contributed to a various symposiums, colloquiums, Warburg "Journal", "Slade Lectures" and even for a "Annales musicologiques"! Of course, some important parts of the paper were newly written just for this book. Anyway, this is thorough re-analysis of literature, mithology, science and philosophy in Elizabethan (many use to call it rather: "Shakespearian") times. It really challenges the current "modernist" ortodoxies of thinking "without history" and give shape and meaning to traditional ("neo-Hermetic") point of view. Those series of important and inovative essays reflects (through the competitive jugment by thinkers like Charles Schmitt, George Boas, Asa Briggs and Lord Dacre):"one of the most exciting and original of modern English historians: original because she came out of no pre-existing English school but created her own discipline; exciting because, by her enthusiasm and vitality, she inspired pupils who now continue her work...she was essentially a HISTORIAN OF THOUGHT". Or: "Frances Yates is that rare thing, a truly thrilling scholar. Her books on Renaissance history and thinking are alive with poetic instinct and inspired speculation, densely cross-patterned with recurring themes like one huge, continuous tapestry". In the context of a dominant,post-modern culture Frances Yates summary-books stands (eighteen years after her death) as the best and concrete proof for abilities of one typical European metaphysical soul to place famous incarnation of mythical "Faerie Queene" Elizabeth in the global (more than) historical context. A superb study!



2. The leading Renaissance scholar of our time, Dame Frances A. Yates ("the most life-enhancing historian I knew", Hugh Trevor-Roper) in this enthralling reconstruction gave us the best example of her original scientific method. Using a new approach ("to history through imagery"), she focuses on the symbolism of Elizabethan 'imperial theme'. These allegorical intellectual portraits of Protestant chivalry in England and the French Pleiadist movement seems to contain an inspiring meta-historical documents. The genesis of this far-sighted study on "Queen Elizabeth I as Astraea" goes back to a sermon lecture (on Arcadian 'Virgo-Regina' and her apologists, prophetical poets like Peele, Spenser or Sidney) given in 1945 and first published in the famous "Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institute", X,1947. Out of a central essay grew the four "Empire Lectures" originally given at London University Senate House (in January 1952), on the very same theme (imperial political theme in the Middle Ages and Renaissance). Later, it appeared as academic seminars at her favourite "Warburg Institute" and at the Cornell University (1967-70). Summa summarum, this part of Yate's final "Astraea:The Imperial Theme in the Sixteenth Century" have been at first published as a French translation(!). Other texts from the present volume was originally contributed to a various symposiums, colloquiums, Warburg "Journal", "Slade Lectures" and even for a "Annales musicologiques"! Of course, some important parts of the paper were newly written just for this book. Anyway, this is thorough re-analysis of literature, mithology, science and philosophy in Elizabethan (many use to call it rather: "Shakespearian") times. It really challenges the current "modernist" ortodoxies of thinking "without history" and give shape and meaning to traditional ("neo-Hermetic") point of view. Those series of important and inovative essays reflects (through the competitive jugment by thinkers like Charles Schmitt, George Boas, Asa Briggs and Lord Dacre):"one of the most exciting and original of modern English historians: original because she came out of no pre-existing English school but created her own discipline; exciting because, by her enthusiasm and vitality, she inspired pupils who now continue her work...she was essentially a HISTORIAN OF THOUGHT". Or: "Frances Yates is that rare thing, a truly thrilling scholar. Her books on Renaissance history and thinking are alive with poetic instinct and inspired speculation, densely cross-patterned with recurring themes like one huge, continuous tapestry". In the context of a dominant,post-modern culture Frances Yates summary-books stands (eighteen years after her death) as the best and concrete proof for abilities of one typical European metaphysical soul to place famous incarnation of mythical "Faerie Queene" Elizabeth in the global (more than) historical context. A superb study!



3. The leading Renaissance scholar of our time, Dame Frances A. Yates ("the most life-enhancing historian I knew", Hugh Trevor-Roper) in this enthralling reconstruction gave us the best example of her original scientific method. Using a new approach ("to history through imagery"), she focuses on the symbolism of Elizabethan 'imperial theme'. These allegorical intellectual portraits of Protestant chivalry in England and the French Pleiadist movement seems to contain an inspiring meta-historical documents. The genesis of this far-sighted study on "Queen Elizabeth I as Astraea" goes back to a sermon lecture (on Arcadian 'Virgo-Regina' and her apologists, prophetical poets like Peele, Spenser or Sidney) given in 1945 and first published in the famous "Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institute", X,1947. Out of a central essay grew the four "Empire Lectures" originally given at London University Senate House (in January 1952), on the very same theme (imperial political theme in the Middle Ages and Renaissance). Later, it appeared as academic seminars at her favourite "Warburg Institute" and at the Cornell University (1967-70). Summa summarum, this part of Yate's final "Astraea:The Imperial Theme in the Sixteenth Century" have been at first published as a French translation(!). Other texts from the present volume was originally contributed to a various symposiums, colloquiums, Warburg "Journal", "Slade Lectures" and even for a "Annales musicologiques"! Of course, some important parts of the paper were newly written just for this book. Anyway, this is thorough re-analysis of literature, mithology, science and philosophy in Elizabethan (many use to call it rather: "Shakespearian") times. It really challenges the current "modernist" ortodoxies of thinking "without history" and give shape and meaning to traditional ("neo-Hermetic") point of view. Those series of important and inovative essays reflects (through the competitive jugment by thinkers like Charles Schmitt, George Boas, Asa Briggs and Lord Dacre):"one of the most exciting and original of modern English historians: original because she came out of no pre-existing English school but created her own discipline; exciting because, by her enthusiasm and vitality, she inspired pupils who now continue her work...she was essentially a HISTORIAN OF THOUGHT". Or: "Frances Yates is that rare thing, a truly thrilling scholar. Her books on Renaissance history and thinking are alive with poetic instinct and inspired speculation, densely cross-patterned with recurring themes like one huge, continuous tapestry". Believe it or not, you can find at real unexpected places - even in nowadays Serbia - Miss Yates's fans and inspired pupils; just look (if it is anyhow possible) Dragoslav Bokan's recent study on relate subjects titled "Ognjeni Ljiljani" ("Fire Lillies", SKC 1998) or Belgrade translation of her thoughtful "The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age", with extensive preface by domestic authorities. In the context of a dominant,post-modern culture Frances Yates summary-books stands (eighteen years after her death) as the best and concrete proof for abilities of one typical European metaphysical soul to place famous incarnation of mythical "Faerie Queene" Elizabeth in the global (more than) historical context. A superb study!