History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)

Average customer rating:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered
Red Rose of the House of Tudor
Ok Book
My review
A great book for those who love English history

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0590684841

Amazon.com

"Do you know who I am? I shall tell you. I am Elizabeth, Princess of England, daughter of Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn. I am eleven years old. My mother, once Queen, is now dead. Almost eight years ago, when I was not yet three, Father chopped off her head."

Daughter of a fallen queen, young Princess Elizabeth lives a complicated and dangerous life. She fears her father's famous temper but loves him dearly, noting that she would trade all her jewels just to be noticed by him. She also loves her brother Edward, heir to the English throne, but doesn't like her older sister Mary, who torments her and conspires against her. Kat, her governess, is so worried for Elizabeth's life that she spends hours checking their room for poison whenever they move to a new palace. Court intrigues swirl around her, the French are threatening an invasion, and Kat is clamoring for her to have another bath--that makes nearly six in three months! Through Elizabeth's diary, author Kathryn Lasky brings the Tudor world to life: glittering banquets of peacock, eel, and swan; palaces so stinky that "everyone goes about with their noses buried in pomander balls to hide the stench"; archery contests, where Elizabeth excels; and Latin and logic lessons... where she needs a little work. Some of the history is slightly flawed (a misplaced date or two), but readers will enjoy the great detail as they learn about the childhood of one of England's greatest monarchs. An epilogue, with Tudor family trees, paintings, and background information enhances this already excellent and entertaining book. (Ages 10 and older) --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

N/A

Customer Reviews:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered.......2007-04-02

This book provides a unique look at what life may have been like for Elizabeth long before she was queen. It's easy for historical figures like Elizabeth to become so much larger than life that we forget they were real people, once. Elizabeth I recreates the emotions and thoughts of an adolescent girl in a way that shows that even a princess feels the universal emotions of loneliness, fear, and doubt.

Elizabeth I addresses two themes especially well: a daughter's longing for her father's affection, and a keen political mind's awareness of what it takes to be a successful ruler. Despite the fact that he had her mother beheaded, Elizabeth still loves her father and lives for the moments when he shows her favor. She is also an astute observer of the goings on in the world of royals and nobility, and early on comes to the realization that if she should become Queen, she must remain unmarried to retain her rule.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves diaries and memoirs and takes an interest in the intricacies of queendom.

Red Rose of the House of Tudor.......2007-03-27

This is one of the first in the Royal Diary series that I have read and It is by far my favorite. It gives a great insight in to palace life and into the life of a teenager. It is a great read for all Princess. This book also includes historical facts and pictures about Elizibeth the 1st and her family. I recomend this book for anyone who likes princess, drama and historical fiction. This is one of my favorites in an intriuging and educational series

Ok Book.......2007-03-06

I really like to read books about people and what happened in their life. I have read alot of diaries from different people in different time periods. I found as I was reading that this book starts out medium exciting. In the middle of the book it gets boring and I just felt like starting over on a different book, but by the end of the book I just didn't want to put it down. I really didn't know anything about Elizabeth 1 but after reading this book I would be able to tell you good, bad, and interesting things that happened to her. I found as I read the book that she is like me in many ways. She likes to be outside on sunny days, be around people, be adventurous and free, and she loves animals. It made it easier to read the book because I could look for more ways she was alike me. Even though there were many interesting things that happened in this book I wouldn't recomend this book to a friend. I wasn't really excited to read the book and I went really slow through it.

My review .......2007-02-25

I loved this book it made me relize that the world has changed alot from 1544to now (2007). The best part was that I felt like i was the one going through all the trials and challanges , That Elzibeth went through .

A great book for those who love English history.......2006-11-20

Having taken English History in a British school many years ago, I found this book to be very enlightening in reference to this period of time. This book gives a great insight into the formation of the Elizabethian period.

Average customer rating:

a typical teenager in an atypical position
A skewed view of Byzantium for children
Truly excellent historical fiction
Just Read It
Good Mixture Of History And Invention

Anna of Byzantium
Tracy Barrett
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440415365
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Book Description

Anna Comnena has every reason to feel entitled. She's a princess, her father's firstborn and his chosen successor. Someday she expects to sit on the throne and rule the vast Byzantine Empire. So the birth of a baby brother doesn't perturb her. Nor do the "barbarians" from foreign lands, who think only a son should ascend to power. Anna is as dismissive of them as are her father and his most trusted adviser--his mother, a manipulative woman with whom Anna studies the art of diplomacy. Anna relishes her lessons, proving adept at checkmating opponents in swift moves of mental chess. But as she matures into a young woman, her arrogance and intelligence threaten her grandmother. Anna will be no one's puppet. Almost overnight, Anna sees her dreams of power wrenched from her and bestowed on her little brother. Bitter at the betrayal, Anna waits to avenge herself, and to seize what is rightfully hers.

Customer Reviews:

a typical teenager in an atypical position.......2007-06-10

Anna is the heir to the Byzantium throne, which is quite the tough job for a teenager. Soon, though, Anna finds herself torn between her kind-hearted mother and her harsh and powerful grandmother. She faces all the difficulties of fighting parents, annoying siblings, boyfriends, and growing up (that is, moving from the selfishness of childhood into the selflessness of adulthood, moving from the weakness of dependence on adults to the independence of adulthood), but all in the sphere of royalty and in the Byzantium Empire. This is a beautiful, complex, dramatic, emotional, and thoroughly clever historical fiction. Grade: A

A skewed view of Byzantium for children.......2007-03-19

This story by Ms. Barrett is a good, but seriously flawed fictional account of the life of Anna Comnenus, a Byzantine princess during the medieval era. For those who like fiction with no connection to reality, (and the plethora of fantasy titles, sci-fi and other `historical fiction' tampering with the past on the market today, is a pretty good indication of such!) this is a noble effort, that comes very close to the real thing, but fails at the very point at which it could have made a good novel, a great one. The author's very good pacing of her storyline, her evocation of some of the elements of a Greco-Roman society, are all well executed- it is clear she is a respected writer (the American Library Association gave it awards, as did Booklist and Bulletin).

But the reality of an [Greek] Orthodox culture and the suffusing of that faith in an overtly Christian realm that endured for over 1000 years, are completely missing in Barrett's novel- as are the realities of how deeply intertwined the Christianity of the Apostles and the Greek culture's dependence on them would have more than deeply influenced not only a royal such as Princess Comnena, but the entire court, far more than Barrett envisioned.

The plot strikes me more as a `junior Lucretia Borgia' than a Byzantine monarch's first-born heir. What I mean is this: the intricacies of plotting, revenge, murder, poisoning and all the rest that were a hallmark of the Borgias- and Italian, Papal culture (including some Popes whose offices were bought and paid for by Borgia money!) are in far shorter supply in the Byzantine records, and are by and large totally foreign to an Orthodox phronema [mindset]. Not that they did not exist, mind you! But Barrett's confusion of Roman Catholic and Orthodox prayers, sacramentals, liturgy, and Weltanschauung are apparent to an informed reader, and all of this is tacitly glossed over, downplayed, or clearly absent [by omission rather than commission in the book?] which confuses an Orthodox reader seeking material for his children to have them learn their own history, and points out how such organizations such as the ALA and Booklist are woefully ignorant of world cultures, even though they preach `multiculturalism.' Such obfuscation is made even more obfuscated because of the cover art on the paperback edition, which alludes to some `inner sanctity' of the Princess, showing her with an iconic nimbus of sainthood, that NEVER appears in her actions, or in the pages of the book, nor can be gleaned from the history of the real ruler!

Not once that I recall, is anyone found praying before an iconostasis, a foundational element of ANY truly Orthodox culture, nor are icons even mentioned! Nor is there any mention, allusion, or talk of one of the most astounding events of this era, namely the actions of the Roman schismatics, when Cardinal Humbert, acting as the Pope's henchman, came to Byzantium (Constantinople) with the `anathema' for the Orthodox, over their non-use of the `filioque' [`and the son'] clause in the Nicene Creed - an addition which the West inserted without canonical authority, and then accused the Byzantines of `omitting'- and it is this ONE event, which started the entire break between East and West Rome, which has yet to be healed, over one thousand years later!!! This is not a minor point in dealing with a fictionalized account of Byzance in the year 1100- it would be as if one were to write a fictional story of Lincoln, and not mention the fact that, under his rule, the Civil War took place! This is an example of pure Western hubris, and wilfull ignorance of another, equally valid culture!

Modern writers are all seemingly afflicted with a skewed, adolescent, egotistical temperocentric view of history, [one that is stuck in only THIS century, and THIS era, as `normative' for all of history] and this is increasingly apparent in children's fiction- see my reviews of other historical fiction. Barrett's book is a good look into ego, pride, lack of Christian charity, and the machinations of power, but as a historical novel of either an Orthodox princess, land, or culture, it is severely lacking. Orthodox parents would especially need to do some `caveat emptor' before giving this novel to their children as a `good look' at their own culture.

Truly excellent historical fiction.......2006-03-19

This is a fascinating and well written book. Set in the closing decades of the 11th century, in the legendary city of Constantinople, this book covers the life of the Byzantine princess, Anna Comnena. Named as heir to the throne from an early age, she grows up conceited, self-centred and ambitious but not without compassion and a strong sense of moral duty. She is loved by both her parents, but her father, the Emperor Alexius, is a distant figure, ideolised by Anna, but away on campaign so often that her true father figure becomes, subconsiously, her tutor, the eunuch, Simon. Simon is one of the best characters of this book, an intellegent, kind man deeply concerned with the other influences acting on Anna.

And other influences there are. From a young age, her ruthless grandmother, Anna Dalassena, takes Anna (Comnena) on as her pupil in the arts of statecraft. Anna Dalassena is an interesting character, one that the reader despises and yet admires, mirroring Anna's emotions. Anna (Comnena) is a willing, and to her grandmother, perhaps a little too able pupil. Some reveiwers have commented that Anna (Comnena)behaves too ambitiously to be a likeable character. I think that this is completely unfair and untrue; we know the real Anna, the compassionate girl that lies behind the princess, and the fact that she makes ruthless decisions makes us familiarise with how she developes as a human being all the more.

Anna has two siblings (in real life she had several but they were "cut" for simplicity's sake; the book looses nothing from it), a beautiful, kind, fairly intellegent but generally childish sister and a much younger brother. The brother, John, appears to be weak, spiteful and capricous, and Anna views him as naught but a minor annoyance, but in fact, John Comnenus is the greatest deciever of all the nobility.

As Anna grows up, both Simon and her mother become worried as to how Anna Dalassena is corrupting her with her cruelty and dishonesty. However, in the rigid, protocal obsessed Byzantine court, it is difficult for Anna Comnena to change arangements. Her grandmother has had the ear of the Emperor for too many years to be easily detatched. Her only confident is another of the book's best character, her maid, a Turkish slave called (by the Greeks) Sophia. One of Anna's rare moments of compassion is called into play when she rescues Sophia's illicit lover from execution, thus aquiring Sophia's eternal gratitude and friendship, something she will need as the years draw on.

As Anna grows older, she begins to hate her younger brother for his spitefullness and her grandmother for her cruelty. Unfortunately, while she expresses these emotions (admitedly rather vehemently) to Simon, she is overheard by her younger brother, John. Her grandmother, realising that Anna will be no ones puppet when she takes the throne, and believing John will be hers, sides with John, and Alexius is persuaded to promise the throne to John, not Anna, leaving Anna bitter. As time goes on, Alexius falls into illness and John and Anna Dalassena come to dominate the palace. Anna's claustrophobic life becomes ever more unbearable; her betrothed is killed in war (she is then betrothed to another man, a historian Anna does neither dislike nor love) and she is shut out from the library by her brother in a particularly malicous mood and the throne room, left with nothing to do but plan her revenge on the child that has ruined her life...

The book is difficult to do justice to in a review. The characterisation is remarkable, with some characters being truly... for a lack of a better word, lovable, while others are utterely hideous. A lesser writer might have made the enemies of Anna so pathetic that they inspire contempt rather than dislike, but Barrett successfuly gives them enough depth, and success, to be threatening and unpleasant. John's character, critised in some reviews, I actually think was very strong, (I won't give anything away, but remember John is a master manipulator, greater than even Anna Comnena, and, as we find out, the master of the Great Game of politics herself, Anna Dalassena.

The culture of Byzantium is reflected well in this novel, particularly the attitudes to women (which I understand the author has some knoledge in). This adds another layer of depth to the storyline.

I have some small qualms about the historical distortions of this book. There are several; there were actually many more than three Comneni children, Anna actually married Nikephorous Byrrenius and had several children by him, and here assasination attempt on John was actually made when she was around 35, not 15. However, these changes are in fact almost irrelevant; Anna's life as a married woman would have really been remarkably similar - claustrophobic and limited. The one more dubious change is that of John's personality; while I think John's behaviour in the book is perfectly consistent, the fact he was actually a benevolent and kind ruler somewhat belies his behaviour in this book. Barrett is a historian herself, rather than a novelist (you wouldn't guess from the book's quality) so I don't dispute that she knows her stuff, and I accept that it will have been almost impossible to streamline John's character with reality, but it still strikes something of a sour chord. This is, however, my only irritation with Anna of Byzantium, an otherwise fascinating story set in a neglected time period.

Just Read It.......2006-03-05

Although having been caught in the attempt of murder of her little brother, having her love killed in war, and have been kicked from being the first heir to the throne, Anna of Byzantium stood strong as her life took these nasty turns. She had been the first born of King Alexander III, and despite her parents bearing a son, her father had kept her as the heir to the empire's throne. But when her grandmother Anna Dalassena gets finds out that she won't be able to rule through Anna like she could rule through Alexander, she went out of her way to remove Anna from the succession list and place Anna's brother as the heir of the throne. Putting you in the 11th century, Anna of Byzantium, a historical fiction, will have you experience what the times were like back then.

What was extravagant about this historical fiction was that it was based on one of the few women historians of that time. Many in those centuries thought women were to dumb to write, although Anna proved them wrong. Anna Comnena wrote about her father's legacy as emperor of Byzantium, which also gave historians detail about her life. Anna faced many rigorous times throughout her life. She had to always watch what she did in her life, lest she be exiled. In the end she was banished though for the attempted murder of her brother. She lived in a place in the hills surrounded by nuns. Her courage to keep on going simply baffles you and shows that we are spoiled in our times.

The additions to this historical fiction, Simon and Sophia, were brilliant characters. Although they never existed, the write hoped that Anna had had somebody like them in her life. Sophia had been a Turk, a prisoner of the war Anna's father was fighting, and been made Anna's personal friend and confident. Sophia never was an obedient maid, and Anna soon discovered that she like this "infidel" and they became great friends. Simon was said to be Anna's tutor. In this novel he was the one to rat her out in the attempted murder. He believed still in the great Greek Gods, and despite Anna's loath for him for betraying her, she realized that he had done it only to save her from herself. Simon and Sophia were marvelous additions to the story, for they helped give it the more "real feel" to your mind.

How Tracy Barrett portrayed Anna Dalassena was exquisite. She perfectly showed that Anna Dalassena was the type of person who only though of herself and her bloodline, and anybody not of it was lower in the food chain. Barrett made Anna Dalassena that person that you just want to scream and yell at, and had her fit perfectly in the plot of the novel. When Anna Dalassena took Anna for lessons, her real personality was shown to Anna. Anna saw that her Grandmother was indeed a ferocious liar and plain evil. Anna Dalassena told Anna about how to make treaties and break them, how war was a "glorious" thing, and that to conquer all should always be a goal. Anna Dalassena can be easily thought of as an old and bald female Hitler.

Anna of Byzantium can show you that it wasn't all gold and silver being in a royal family. Your father would be your ruler, and could sentence you to death. You had to watch everything you said and how you acted. You always had to be on guard to make it in the royal court. A novel that gets you reading about a time before America, before Columbus, and before the reign of the English ruler King Henry VIII, you can enjoy a jaw-dropping story that actually gives you a bit of knowledge about the 11th century.

A.Johnson

Good Mixture Of History And Invention.......2006-02-17

I would have rated this book four stars if Tracy Barrett had put more "historical scenery" into her novel. It would have been fleshed out a little better if she had spent more time discussing, say, the clothing, locations, religion, architecture, foods, and overall "culture" of her Byzantine setting. She did a good job rounding out her characters and in heightening the feeling of limitation that came with Anna having to dwell within "protective" walls, first in the imperial fortresses and ultimately in the restrictive convent in which she spent her life after coming out on the wrong end of political machinations. This is a good "clean" story and a nice way to introduce readers within its intended age-range to true events in the history of the later Byzantine period.

Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen Elizabeth I

Average customer rating:

Nothing New
The least frumpy queen on record
WONDERFUL
Well written, but content inappropriate for pre-teens
The First Book

Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen Elizabeth I
Jane Resh Thomas
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0395691206

Book Description

Elizabeth I (1533-1603) impressed herself more vividly on the memory of the world than any other monarch in the history of England. She successfully established and maintained power while refusing to bow to the wishes of those who believed no woman was fit to occupy the English throne. This biography describes the opulent but cruel childhood that shaped the woman Elizabeth became and details her triumphant reign, as well as the unrelenting forces that opposed her. Exploring the answers to some of history's most persistent and intriguing questions, Jane Resh Thomas has created a compelling account of Elizabeth's life that shatters the myths surrounding her and allows readers an unprecedented view of the queen as a human being. Full-color insert, chronology, bibliography, index.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing New.......2007-06-13

This woman was the greatest monarch England ever had. Ever. The book, however was a bit disapointing. It is a bare-bones just-the-facts telling of a great women's life and didn't near do her justice. I wanted more.

If general facts and a fast read are all you want, this book is perfect. Just not for me.

The least frumpy queen on record.......2004-07-08

Take a look at the cover of this book for just a moment. Just a single solitary moment. Maybe the last thing you want to do is read a young adult biography on England's greatest queen, and I can understand where you're coming from. But take a good long look at the image presented on the cover here. This portrait of Queen Elizabeth was fashioned in her time and is commonly referred to as The Rainbow Portrait. It is, to my mind, the most flattering painting ever made of the ruler and it hasn't been touched since she posed for it. When you first look at it, it seems pretty standard. There she is with the high forehead (considered attractive at the time), the bright curly red hair, and the ostentatious finery. In fact, let's take a closer look at that finery. If you look carefully you cannot help but notice that her gown is covered in ears and eyes. You heard me right. Honest to goodness ears and eyes are all over this thing! You don't notice it at first, but once you've seen it you can never forget it. Such is the case with Thomas's book itself. It may not look like much at first, but once you take even a glance at the text you immediately become transfixed by the lives of Elizabeth, her crazy family, suitors, and enemies.

Elizabeth was born the second child of the (in the words of the great comic Eddie Izzard) "big fat hairy king", Henry VIII. Fond of killing off his wives when they either displeased him or couldn't produce male heirs, Elizabeth was the daughter of the soon-to-be beheaded Anne Boleyn. Her life was touch and go from the start. One minute she was treated as a prized pet and the next she was sent to royal grounds far from court. What followed soon after was a series of deaths and accessions to the throne. When Henry VIII died he was followed by Elizabeth's little half-bro Edward VI. When Eddie died he was followed by the Lady Jane Grey (for nine days). After she was tossed out came Elizabeth's older half-sis Mary (Bloody Mary to you commoners). Finally, Mary kicked it and Elizabeth rose to the throne. She was only 25 or 26 at the time and extraordinarily canny in the choices she made. Refusing to marry (and thereby give up her ruling power) Elizabeth remained sexy and single. Over the course of her life she dealt with assassination attempts, the continual threat of Mary Queen of Scots, an invasion of England by the Spanish Armada, excommunication, and all sorts of fun stuff. The result? Elizabeth remains perhaps the best remembered Queen of them all, making her an excellent subject of bios and bio-pics.

I'm easily bored. If I pick up a children's book that won a Newbery Award pre-1950 to read, you'll probably find me curled up in a corner fast asleep in five minutes time. Non-fiction is therefore one of the banes of my existence and I heap large helpings of praise onto any author that can make a realistic subject even halfway interesting. Not being familiar with Jane Resh Thomas, I was understandably nervous when I confronted this tome of a book and its 16th century subject. To my vast relief, my fears were more than unfounded. Here is a history book that has plumbed every interesting tidbit, rumor, factoid, and story for the eager ears of the reader. Want to hear how Queen Elizabeth would expose her chest to foreign diplomats (to put them on edge, you see)? Read it here. Curious about her six foot tall rival who was a queen that disguised herself as a boy to gain English sanctuary? It's a great tale. None of this is to say that Thomas neglects actual informative facts about the Elizabethan era and its people. In fact, this kind of information is so plentiful that it fills each and every page without ever drawing undue attention to itself. I think I learned more about ancient court life within these pages than I could have hoped to anywhere else.

In addition to fabulous factual storytelling and a wonderful ear for narrative, tension, and intrigue, Thomas has filled the book with numerous paintings of the characters involved, even going so far as to include Elizabeth's life in portraits as a color filled section of seven portraits that follow her through the years. To help the easily confused (like my pretty self) there's a fabulous opening section that names and describes many of the book's major players. There's also a portrait gallery of Henry VIII's wives and description of their mostly shortened lives. The back of the book contains a useful chronology of events, a well-cited bibliography of every source Thomas used or even thought of using, and an index. You're in safe hands with this thorough researcher.

Thomas attempts in this book to show the life of Elizabeth without commenting on her too much. Yes, Elizabeth could be as cruel and calculating as her predecessors and she wasn't afraid to "Off with their head" a couple of her closest compatriots. In the end, however, she comes off as a remarkable woman. Thomas leaves plenty of room for speculation on lurid topics that cover everything from Elizabeth's sex life to her love of sweets for dinner. Nothing here is written in stone, but this is probably as good a teen biography of this great woman you're going to get for at least another one hundred years. As someone who looked upon reading this book initially as a chore, I can tell you honestly that it was a joy to go through. A biography that deserves remembrance.

WONDERFUL.......2003-11-28

This is a wonderful and very detailed book on Queen Elizabeth I of England- it explains everything from the divorce from Catherine of Aragorn to her reported affairs with Robin Dudley. If you want to know more about English history, this is definitely a great place to start.

This is the best biography on Elizabeth I that I've read so far, and it has pictures of the portraits that she appeared in in her life. And you'll learn pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about Elizabeth the First- from what her three nicknames were (Gloriana, Good Queen Bess, and the Virgin Queen) to the last lie that she every told her sister, Mary.

This is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone!

Well written, but content inappropriate for pre-teens.......2003-11-13

While the publisher touts this book as appropriate for children 10 and up, I think the School Journal recommendation of Grades 8 and up is much more appropriate. My eight year old wanted to read this book for a class project. I mistakenly thought it would be an excellent choice, but by page 17, I'd forbidden her to continue. By that time, I'd been asked to define ýprostitute,ý ýcastration,ý ýdisemboweling,ý ýliaison,ý "skin ulcer," and ýdeformedý as she read passages that included subjects like the corruption in the priesthood (priests living openly with prostitutes), the adultery charges against Anne Boleyn (including explanations of how the fact that her third child was born stillborn and deformed might have led to rumors about Anneýs morality, as deformity was believed to stem from the woman participating in witchcraft or sexual intercourse with the devil) , and Henryýs persecution of those who refused to accept his new authority as head of the Church of England (including the execution, castration, and disemboweling of priests who defied him). While all the information is accurate and well-researched, this gritty detail (much of which I didn't have to deal with until I was a sophomore in college) seems inappropriate for a child's introduction to the fascinating life of Queen Elizabeth I or Tudor England. It is much more likely -- especially for a sensitive child -- to put them off both subjects forever!

The First Book.......2003-07-28

When I was at my city library I was digging through all the children's biographies and came across this book on Elizabeth I. I thought it would be nice to study this "great" woman, so I decieded to give this book a try.
I did do a good choice. Though it confused me a little bit and was boring in places, I enjoyed it-and it increased my interest in not just Elizabeth, but all royals. I will have to say that another biography on Elizabeth II that I got at the same time was much better for me at the time.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Science Book
From Katrina Holder (7 years old)

Monarch Butterfly
Gail Gibbons
Manufacturer: Holiday House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0823409090

Book Description

From egg to caterpillar to butterfly, the story of how they live.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Science Book.......2002-01-22

This is an excellent book for children to learn about life cycles. The text and illustrations make the wonderful miracle of life come alive for the readers. Beginning with the egg and ending with the beautiful Monarch the author clearly explains the changes that take place. Information is also included about the migration patterns of these interesting creatures. The last pages explain how children can raise monarch butterflies so that they can observe this miracle of life first hand. I would highly recommend this book to teachers who teach life cycles as part of their curriculum

From Katrina Holder (7 years old).......2000-03-21

I like this book because you can learn things about butterflys that you did not know before. You can also tell other people about it to. The pictures are very nice and pretty.

An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly

Average customer rating:

Absolutely amazing
The Extraordinary Butterfly
illustrations grab you
illustrations grab you

An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly
Laurence Pringle , and Bob Marstall
Manufacturer: Orchard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0531300021

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely amazing.......2003-01-20

This is a fantastic book for young and old alike. I'm really interested in and indeed astounded by monarchs and what they do yet its been so difficult to find information about what they do, their life cycle past just the metamophosis etc. This book takes you all the way through from the spring migration from mexico to egg laying, development of the egg through caterpillar and into butterfly, migration back to mexico and then the start of the return journey north. An amazing book - I can't recommend it highly enough. Terrific!

The Extraordinary Butterfly.......2001-05-04

This book first captures your attention with all the bright butterflies featured on the front cover. Then, you are told of a butterfly that has traveled for a month, living a full life, enjoying nature's beauty, and then dies. Although, she hatched over four hundred eggs and one is about to hatch. Soon, there is a catepillar and then, a butterfly, and then the cycle of life starts all over again. The monarch butterfly, called Danaus, from the Danaidae family of butterflies, leads you through a series of beautiful places, mates, hatches her eggs, and dies. The author, Laurence Pringle, is qualified to write about the topic of monarch butterflies. He had professors who had studied the topic check the book for accuracy and someone who had studied monarchs give him ideas for the book. Also, the subject is adequately covered. There are illustrations, with labels and names that extend the text. The pictures really help you to understand what the author is talking about. This book has illustrations that appear throughout to give you an idea of what things look like and hold your attention. Moreover,the language is colorful; Pringle decribes well the beautiful nature scenes in which Danaus is exploring. The book has an index so that it is helpful and easy to use. I would definitely recommend this book for children. What a wonderful way to learn!

illustrations grab you.......2000-10-10

This beautifully illustrated book takes one on a journey into the world of the monarch butterfly. While it is targeted to those 9 to 12, it works for older children as well. For that child who doesn't really like 'science' but must read a science book the illustrations, story, and side bar illustrations and information, lead the way to discovery.

illustrations grab you.......2000-10-10

Management Information Systems for the Information Age (Cram101 Textbook Outlines - Textbook NOT Included)

Average customer rating:

management information systems for the information Age
Good condition
No Communication
Best web support
Warning....

Management Information Systems for the Information Age (Cram101 Textbook Outlines - Textbook NOT Included)
Haag , Cummings , and McCubbrey
Manufacturer: AIPI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1428811923

Book Description

Never HIGHLIGHT a Book Again! Virtually all testable terms, concepts, persons, places, and events are included.look no further for study resources or reference material. Cram101 Textbook Outlines gives all of the outlines, highlights, notes, and practice-tests for your textbook. Only Cram101 is Textbook Specific. Cram101 is NOT the Textbook.

Customer Reviews:

management information systems for the information Age.......2007-03-09

Great service by the seller. Book arrived earlier than I expected.. Product was in the condition mentioned by the seller... Very happy with the purchase. I'll buy again in the future form this seller.

Good condition.......2005-09-24

It was in the condition the seller had said. It arrived on time.

No Communication.......2005-09-19

I was not pleased with the service. My book arrive within the time alloted, 7-14 days it arrived the 13th day without the cd's. By then class had started. Emailed the seller about the issue, I never got a reply. Good thing my instructor had extra's.
Overall poor communication made this an unpleasurable transaction.

Best web support.......2003-12-23

I wish all my books were from McGraw Hill - the support is awesome! A full glossary online and sample tests and key study points all ready to copy and paste into your own study notes!!! Really wonderful company.

Warning...........2002-08-07

Be forthwarned.... I ordered the 3rd ed. of this book and received the 2nd ed. instead. The seller was misleading under the comments section of the book he sold me..... a new listing shows that he's selling the 2nd ed. and not the 3rd ed. He changed this comment once he received an email from me stating otherwise. He wouldn't offer me a refund for the book and now I'm stuck with this one for a class which begins in a week.

Average customer rating:

Meaningful picture book!
This one will stay with you for a long, long time...
A fantastic book for everyone
Beautiful illustrations, touching story
Wonderful illustrations, haunting story

The Prince of Butterflies
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152014543

Book Description

One summer morning, a flock of butterflies alights on John Farrington's house and changes his life forever. Surrounding John in his yard, the monarchs ask for his help. They have lost their way. The green places are gone--the meadows have become mini-malls; the forests are now parking lots. Can John lead them to another refuge?
Passionate, moving, and inspiring, this glorious flight of fantasy from master storyteller Bruce Coville is a timely fable about the difficulties--and the rewards--of staying true to one’s heart.

Customer Reviews:

Meaningful picture book!.......2005-04-22

This is one of the most meaningful picture books I have read in a long time. The message is so important for children if our environment is to survive many more generations. My students have sat spellbound as I read this book out loud to them. The discussions afterward are incredible. This book is a must for all school, classroom, and home libraries.

This one will stay with you for a long, long time..........2002-07-17

One of the most evocative children's books I've seen in years. The art is simply spellbinding---and the ending will touch all but the hardest of hearts. An unusual picture book in that it creates some real narrative and emotional tension along the way before winding up to a wonderful finish. My kids were leaning forward in anticipation.
A must for any Monarch lover.

A fantastic book for everyone.......2002-05-01

A wonderful book! The highly original story works seamlessly with the astoundingly beautiful paintings to create a very powerful reading experience. It is a magical tale combined with an effective message about the real plight of the Monarchs.
Everyone I show this book to loves it; all are inevitably moved both by the story and the gorgeous illustrations.
The Prince of Butterflies is a very uplifting book that all ages can appreciate, and I think it's destined to be a classic.

Beautiful illustrations, touching story.......2002-04-05

John Clapp's illustrations are magnificent, and enhance a touching and moving story. The whole package is something to treasure forever. It is one of those books that children will remember fondly, and share with their own families in the future.

Wonderful illustrations, haunting story.......2002-03-16

Story and illustrations fit together perfectly. After just one reading your child will remember both for the rest of their life but will want to return to the book over and over...

Average customer rating:

The Journey of a Butterfly (Lifecycles)
Carolyn Scrace
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Biology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0531154173

Average customer rating:

shadow castle
Delicious!
Magical classic back in print
Shadow Castle
Finally found it again!!

Shadow Castle: Expanded Edition
Marian Cockrell
Manufacturer: Backinprint.Com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595092969

Book Description

In the middle of a deep forest is an enchanted valley and a castle where only shadows live, shadows of kings and queens who have waited for hundreds of years for the spell cast upon them to be broken.

One day, a girl named Lucy follows a little dog through a tunnel into the valley and meets the mysterious red-haired Michael, who takes her into the shadow world to meet Prince Mika and his mortal wife Gloria, their children and their children's children, and learn the magic that will lift the spell.

This version of Shadow Castle is a new, expanded author's edition with material never published before!

Customer Reviews:

shadow castle.......2007-09-11

i'm thrilled that this book is back in print..my sister and i have fought over our copy for years...our kids have loved it also...they need to write more books like this

Delicious!.......2006-07-08

What a pleasure to see this charming children's chapter book back in print. It was a favorite of mine when I was grade-school age, and an old, taped-up and battered copy still sits on on my bookshelf. In this tale, the lives and adventures of a family of fairies and half-fairies are paraded before the eyes of Lucy, a little human girl who has wandered into the borderlands of their world. A mysterious young man named Michael takes Lucy to a deserted castle where the shadows of past inhabitants can be seen on the walls of a tower room. As Lucy watches the shadows move about, Michael identifies each figure, and recounts their adventures of long, long ago.

The stories of the fairy princes and princesses, and their human and non-human relatives and associates, are told a simple but descriptive prose that young readers should find appealing. For children still a little bit young for the vocabulary of Harry Potter, but too old for Dr. Seuss, this is a perfect read. The illustrations are delightful as well--how I loved the pictures of beautiful Princess Meira and her friend, the dragon Branstookah!

Magical classic back in print.......2006-05-28

This compelling fantasy is back in print after many years, and would make a great gift to any 7-11 year old. It was my mother's favorite growing up, then mine, and I have this expanded edition to my 8 year old niece who says it is better than Harry Potter!

Shadow Castle.......2006-04-08

I was so very happy to find that Amazon has this book....I have looked for years for this book..I had read it has a child and loved it I read it so many times it was worn out..Then for some reason it disappeared...I was quiet upset for the loss of my book
I know Shadow Castle almost Verbatim......This is perhaps one of the best childrens book ever written if not the best...I have bought a copy and shall keep it safe to read to my grandchildren
Thank You for bringing back one of the happy memories of my childhood....Shadow Castle...

Finally found it again!!.......2006-02-01

I read this book when I was about 10 and then it disappeared. Since I couldn't remember the name of the title it took me about 3 weeks of typing in every key word I could think of and had just about given up when I found it again. I think this is one of the best children's books ever with great characters and plot and just seems timeless! I know my niece will enjoy it as much as I did and still do and I'm so glad it's back in print.

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