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.

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England

Average customer rating:

Isabella:Treachey,Adultrey, and Murder inMedieval England
2.5 stars
The Fourteenth Century comes alive
Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England
Fourteenth Century Revolutionary or Shrewd Businesswoman?

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England
Alison Weir
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345453204
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Book Description

Isabella arrived in London in 1308, the spirited twelve-year-old daughter of King Philip IV of France. Her marriage to the heir to England’s throne was designed to heal old political wounds between the two countries, and in the years that followed, she would become an important figure, a determined and clever woman whose influence would come to last centuries. But Queen Isabella’s political machinations led generations of historians to malign her, earning her a reputation as a ruthless schemer and an odious nickname, “the She-Wolf of France.”

Now the acclaimed author of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alison Weir, reexamines the life of Isabella of England, history’s other notorious and charismatic medieval queen. Praised for her fair looks, the newly wed Isabella was denied the attentions of Edward II, a weak, sexually ambiguous monarch with scant taste for his royal duties. As their marriage progressed, Isabella was neglected by her dissolute husband and slighted by his favored male courtiers. Humiliated and deprived of her income, her children, and her liberty, Isabella escaped to France, where she entered into a passionate affair with Edward II’s mortal enemy, Roger Mortimer. Together, Isabella and Mortimer led the only successful invasion of English soil since the Norman Conquest of 1066, deposing Edward and ruling in his stead as co-regents for Isabella’s young son, Edward III. Fate, however, was soon to catch up with Isabella and her lover.

Many mysteries and legends have been woven around Isabella’s story. She was long condemned as an accessory to Edward II’s brutal murder in 1327, but recent research has cast doubt on whether that murder even took place.

Isabella’s reputation, then, rests largely on the prejudices of monkish chroniclers and prudish Victorian scholars. Here Alison Weir gives a startling, groundbreaking new perspective on Isabella, in this first full biography in more than 150 years. In a work of extraordinary original research, Weir effectively strips away centuries of propaganda, legend, and romantic myth, and reveals a truly remarkable woman who had a profound influence upon the age in which she lived and the history of western Europe.

Engaging, vibrant, alive with breathtaking detail and unforgettable characters, Queen Isabella is biographical history at its finest.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Isabella:Treachey,Adultrey, and Murder inMedieval England.......2007-10-11

Alison Weir has written an exciting and insightful biography about a much maligned Queen. Her reseach and documentation are impeccable. I found myself bound to this book, I could not put it down. Ms.Weir has once again made history live for me.

2.5 stars.......2007-10-08

As always, Alison Weir has written an easy-to-read, interesting piece of popular history that engages its reader. The writing style is crisp and well-written. Her facts are for the most part great, certainly better than some writing in this period. But it's the interpretation of the facts that tend to bother me here. I was unimpressed with Weir's consistent vindication of Isabella-as-a-much-wronged-victim(which seems to be popular these days) and the use of this as "justification" later on.

For one, I was bothered by Weir's frequent referencing of Isabella's "mistreatment" and "abandonment". As if Medieval women expected anything less. Women in Isabella's position were quite frequently, if not usually, ignored in favor of mistresses, placed second to council, kept from their children, and subject to their husband's every whim. This does not make it right, of course, but it's not as if people would expect much less. And in fact, many a time Edward was very good to Isabella, letting her drastically overspend, he is said to have only reproached her once. I find it interesting that when she was in France cavorting with Mortimer that Edward had the legal right to kill her, he could have sent people to beat the snot out of her, and yet he did not. I believe this says a great deal about his character. But I digress.

Another thing I was annoyed with was Weir's attitudes towards homosexuality. I recall her using the word "perverted" more than once(and in a way that was reflecting more her beliefs than society at the time's). And some pretty sharp double edged swords were being thrown here. When Edward is influenced by one of his advisers-likely lovers-it's a perverted hold and means he is weak and a horrible King. But when Isabella in 1527-1530 lets Mortimer take the reigns(allegedly), it's just because of her feelings for him and we should only blame her a bit.

I'm definitely not convinced at this portrayal of Isabella. Weir-grudgingly-admits to a bit of ruthlessness in her character before amping up her much vaunted "good qualities"(all which require coaching out of their shells) and blaming whatever man is handy at the time. Her greed and power-hungriness is skimmed in a paragraph, while the Despensers and Edward get a whole chapter dedicated to their(admittedly excessive) expenditures, and it's never mentioned that Isabella's were much worse! Isabella was certainly a force to be reckoned with-head strong, intelligent, courageous-yet no matter how hard you press that it was justified, a woman who watches a man she knew being slit from top to bottom, howling along the way, slowly dying, and throw a party afterward is not a delicate little flower. A mother who would refuse her children one last time to see their beloved father can hardly be called kind-hearted. And yet Weir would have us believe she is just a gentle little bookworm, doe-souled mother who was just getting her rightful little revenge.

Not to say I loathed this book. I'm a fan of Weir's style, even if I disagree utterly with the conclusions she comes to. The three parts ("Isabella and Edward", "Isabella and Mortimer", "Isabella") were well divided, and the chapters within were interesting(I'm curious where many of the quotes came from at the beginning of each, Shakespeare, perhaps?). Like in all of her biographies, Weir has a chapter dedicated to the styling of the household at the time, equipped with Castle descriptions, employees of the subject, their day-to-day life-I tend to enjoy this chapter the most in her books(her "King and Court" book on Henry VIII is written in roughly half of this style, if anyone is interested). I did feel some sympathy for Isabella in many places, and I didn't feel Weir was ridiculous with the assertions she made to help clear Isabella's name(although her Edward II survival story sounded alarmingly fictitious, however, she never states it as concrete fact, so I was entertained.)

Overall, I would recommend this book not as a starting point, but for one who is reasonably schooled in this era of history.

The Fourteenth Century comes alive.......2007-06-15

Vivid and compelling depiction of an often maligned historical figure who emerges as much more complex and sympathetic than usual in histories of the period.

Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England.......2007-03-09

Excellent writing and a mesmerizing story: in-depth research and character-development creates an historical setting that involves the reader.

Fourteenth Century Revolutionary or Shrewd Businesswoman?.......2007-02-04

This is the best of the Alison Weir books I have read, and the others are 5 star books as well. The beginning part develops the characters, the later part is more reportorial. Weir concludes with a summary of Isabella's role as a revolutionary.

Isabella clearly defied the narrow female role of her times, but her revolutionary role, in my view, was accidental. It was not the confiscation of land of the nobles, nor the suspension of habeas corpus that motivated her, it was the suspension of her revenues and it seems to a lesser extent, her forced separation from the crown prince.

She was clever in "networking" with the many who had grievances against Edward II, and wise in her pardoning her adversaries and paying her supporters. Weir guides us towards blaming Mortimer for the re-institution of conficatory policies. I'm not convinced. As a woman in this time, Isabella surely needed male support and advice. Perhaps he steered in the directions she wanted to go.

Medieval England is barbarous, in many ways. The descriptions of the hangings anesthetize the reader to the ultimate burial of Isabella.

There are incisive descriptions of the relationships with Scotland, France and other continental courts, and the church. These narratives contribute to making the book more than just a good read for the lay reader.

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe

Average customer rating:

Poor depiction of medieval history
THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN
Wanted to like this one but....
A sloppily written and very bad book
Excellent

Four Queens: The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled Europe
Nancy Goldstone
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670038431
Release Date: 2007-04-19

Book Description

Four accomplished sisters who rose from near obscurity to become the most powerful women in Europe

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent thirteenth century, a time of chivalry and crusades, poetry, knights, and monarchs comes the story of the four beautiful daughters of the count of Provence whose brilliant marriages made them the queens of France, England, Germany, and Sicily.

From a cultured childhood in Provence, each sister was propelled into a world marked by shifting alliances, intrigue, and subterfuge. Marguerite, the eldest, whose resolution and spirit would be tested by the cold splendor of the Palais du Roi in Paris; Eleanor, whose soaring political aspirations would provoke her kingdom to civil war; Sanchia, the neglected wife of the richest man in England who bought himself the crown of Germany; and Beatrice, whose desire for sovereignty was so acute that she risked her life to earn her place at the royal table.

A compulsively readable narrative, Four Queens shatters the myth that women were helpless pawns in a society that celebrated physical prowess and masculine intellect. A riveting historical saga for fans of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser.

Customer Reviews:

Poor depiction of medieval history.......2007-08-25

Ms. Goldstone omits a lot of facts from medieval history, particularly surrounding the canonization of Louis IX, his first crusades, his father's relationships with the English king, and the role all 4 sisters played in the political, economic and cultural life of their country. She also does not provide the reasons why Marguerite refused to support the canonization in the first place. She hs completely omitted the relationship between Sanchia and her elder sisters. Sanchia was treated the same way as her younger sister Beatrice, belittled and humiliated because she was not a queen while her sisters were. She fills in the blanks by putting names of relatives, w/o really explaining their roles in history and their influence on the affairs of France, England, Sicily, Provence, etc. After reading each chapter, I constantly wanted to ask "So what?" What was the influence on Boniface of Savoy, Thomas of Savoy and Beatrice of Savoy on the affairs of her daughters' kingdoms? Did they bring any reforms, what was their relationship with the Church? This "dump" of insignificant information makes the book very hard to read. It's overwhelmed with names but lacks explanation of their roles in the lives of the 4 queens and their impact on the history of France, England, etc.

She has failed to explain the kings' relationships with their vassals, There is no mention of the state both King Louis and King Henry have inherited their respective kingdoms. No mention of their relationships with the Parliament or Magna Carta, etc. She has failed to even mention the role of Templars in the Crusades!!!

Ms. Goldstone'language and the choice of words is rather poor, leaving the book disorganized and its chapters badly written. Her constant quoting of Matthew Paris and, sometimes, of Joinville, left me wondering if she has encountered any other contemporaries' notes in her search, for there are plenty.

In the back of the book, Ms. Goldstone mentions sources she used while writing her book. Her detailed description of each source made me wonder if she knew she was unprepared or was lacking enough references, thus making her write explanations of who said-when-what-how-why is this important to mention.

I realize that not everyone has a Ph.D. in history and the lack of it should not prevent individuals from writing a fine narrative piece on a historical topic. However, when you write it - do it like a professional, invest time in your research, learn your subjects/main actors. Otherwise, you will sound like an unprepared middle-school student, who pretends to act like historian.

THE FORGOTTEN TALE OF FOUR REMARKABLE MEDIEVAL WOMEN.......2007-06-05

Historians have long ignored or understated the contributions of women so Nancy Goldstone's FOUR QUEENS, the previously untold story of four 13th century sisters who rose from minor nobility in Provence to become queens of France, England, Sicily and Germany, comes as welcome and long-awaited relief. Marguerite, married at just 13 to Louis XI of France, stood her own in a court dominated by her powerful mother-in-law, Blanche of Castile, and ultimately led her husband and his army home from a disastrous Arabian crusade. Eleanor, wife to the ineffectual Henry III of England, deftly played-off rebellious barons and craftily preserved the throne for her son in spite of the civil war she helped ignite. Beautiful and gentle Sanchia married Richard of Cornwall, the richest man in Europe who effectively purchased the Kingdom of Germany. Feisty young Beatrice, wed to Charles of Anjou, led an army through the Italian alps in her determination to saved her besieged husband and secure him the Sicilian throne. Praised by eminent Princeton historian Theodore K. Rabb as "deeply researched," FOUR QUEENS is written with a light and accessible touch, equally at home on the shelf of the serious scholar as it would be on the nightstand of a harried mom who wants a few pages of intellectual stimulation before falling into bed. Brava!

Wanted to like this one but...........2007-06-04

she continually overemphasizes the political roles of the four daughters of Raymond Berenger V, the Count of Provence, and as a genuine medievalist, she should know better.

A sloppily written and very bad book.......2007-06-03

This is an extremely sloppily written and bad book. It is written in the childish style that some popular historians seem to find it necessary to adopt because they think their audience is too stupid to understand anything else - usually an underestimation of said audience. Moreover, the author has clearly not bothered to do any form of basic research to get her facts right. To take but a few examples: In chapter 7, we are told about Richard of Cornwall's crusade in 1240. He is said to have met Emperor Baldwin II of Constantinople "who had lost his empire" (p74). Actually, the Latin Empire of Constantinople (Baldwin's empire) was around until 1261, which is when he lost it. Three pages later, we are told that "The French, too, had sent an army to retake Jerusalem only the year before," in other words in 1239. Retake from whom? Jerusalem was in Christian hands from 1227 to 1244. She also seems to have no idea of the relative importance of the Kingdom of Sicily within the domains of the Holy Roman Emperor. At this stage, less than a third through the book, I gave up, rather than waste any more time on such rubbish. Zero stars would be a better rating.

Excellent.......2007-06-02

I didn't know much of the story of the Provence sisters, but this filled that knowledge gap. For people interested in the Middle Ages as more than just the time between the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, this is a valuable resource. For people interested in powerful families, you can't go wrong with four sisters who all become queens! Excellent book!

Average customer rating:

A very fine, accurate, brief review of European History
Must Have for the AP Euro Exam
Modern European History
it's great
Perfect for Reviewing for Tests

Modern European History
Birdsall S. Viault
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070674531

Customer Reviews:

A very fine, accurate, brief review of European History.......2007-08-04

The student above who felt this review book was too LONG completely misses the point. One does not read through a book like this as a substitute for the textbook -- which is what I imagine this poor young student though he could do. One relies on it to clarify areas of confusion. As a good reference and review book to read either before a chapter or as review afterward, this is a genuinely excellent book.

First, it's a nice size. It's smaller (height and width) than most of the enormously giant-sized review books available so it's like a real book. And it's printed on real paper, not cheap newsprint like most of the AP review books are. Small enough that you can easily grab it off the shelf or carry it around with you. And, the page layout makes it easy to find things. Everything is treated in brief paragraphs with clear topic headings. Pages are brief so you move through it page-after-page very quickly. It really couldn't be easier to use.

As a history teacher, I look into this book from time to time to double-check an historical issue or event or to check up on correct chronology of events I can't quite recall. It saves a lot of time compared to paging through much longer, denser books.

As a review book, I imagine this would be very good to refresh a student's memory of lots of important (and, frankly, many less important!) events, people, and ideas. However, students who are looking for a book to replace their textbook will be disappointed as this book assumes you have some idea what is going on historically. You could read it alone and understand the history pretty well, but I doubt you'd be very confident without the analysis of the textbook which this does not have.

The one thing most lacking from books like this is overall themes and ideas. Most review books lack this so this is not so much a criticism as something to be aware of. History has patterns, themes, and MAJOR themes to be aware of (The rise of democracy, the clash of civilizations, the struggle for equality, impact of the Enlightenment, the impact of economic changes . . . and so on). If all you know are facts, events, and dates, you will be lost--but you already knew that!

This book assumes you are aware of these themes (See your textbook or your teacher if you aren't -- believe me, they are very important) and is designed simply to remind you of all that pesky information you might not have understood so well the first time. In that respect, this is a very fine book and clearly worth the money as one of the better European History review books.

Another caveat: It is NOT designed specifically to prepare you to "ace" the AP exam. It doesn't have the usual tips and tricks stuff that most review books have. It is designed for students who want to understand and remember the history, not for students that want quick shortcuts to faking out the exam. Of course, it goes without saying that students who understand the history tend to "ace" the exam -- without shortcuts and so-called "insider" information that isn't really very useful.

4 stars only because of lack of larger themes, but I'm a very tough grader!

Must Have for the AP Euro Exam.......2007-05-14

I had one of the most boring textbooks invented for the AP Euro class. I couldn't stand reading it and as a result, I was not one of the top scorers on the tests in my class. However, I used this book to study for my in-class final and the AP exam and I did well on both. Thanks to this book, I got a 5 on the AP. The book has good information and it helped me learn things that my AP teacher did not teach in our class. I recommend that you buy this book in order to do well on the AP. My only negative comment is that it has no practice exams but since the book is not associated with AP, it is a flaw that is easy to forgive.

Modern European History.......2007-03-12

Very helpful book. It has maps in it and its written in a very good language and nothing fancy.

it's great.......2007-03-01

i just took the ap euro exam last year (got a 5) and this was my favorite prep book out of all prep books (also had barrons and REA). concise, easy to carry around, excellent index, even smells nice (if you're a weirdo like me who likes to sniff bookpaper)- mod euro history condensed my piles of lecture notes to little easy-to-read paragraphs. altho i wouldn't recommend solely studying from this book (read your textbook and notes too. make flashcards till your hand falls off.), I definitely recommend getting it.

Perfect for Reviewing for Tests.......2007-01-24

So, I just finished my AP Euro class (the class exam was last week). I managed to get an A in what is considered a highly difficult course at my school, and I can proudly say that I only read my textbook the first week of the class. While other students spent hours poring over tedious 5 pt. font pages in our convoluted textbook, I simply read this. Before every M/C test or essay, I would quickly read the chapter[s] that corresponded with whatever subject we were studying. Many times, Modern European History had answers to questions on the test that the textbook didn't even mention. It covers every topic in the textbook in appropriate depth, and makes everything truly easy to understand. I highly recommend this; it saved my life!

Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King

Average customer rating:

Lusty Louis and His Lady Loves
Louis XIV: the man known as the Sun King
Second fiddle to the previous "The Journey, Marie Antoinette."
Interesting History
The Domestic Life of the Sun King

Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King
Antonia Fraser
Manufacturer: Nan A. Talese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385509847
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Book Description

The self-proclaimed Sun King, Louis XIV ruled over the most glorious and extravagant court in seventeenth-century Europe. Now, Antonia Fraser goes behind the well-known tales of Louis’s accomplishments and follies, exploring in riveting detail his intimate relationships with women.

The king’s mother, Anne of Austria, had been in a childless marriage for twenty-two years before she gave birth to Louis XIV. A devout Catholic, she instilled in her son a strong sense of piety and fought successfully for his right to absolute power. In 1660, Louis married his first cousin, Marie-Thérèse, in a political arrangement. While unfailingly kind to the official "Queen of Versailles," Louis sought others to satisfy his romantic and sexual desires. After a flirtation with his sister-in-law, his first important mistress was Louise de La Vallière, who bore him several children before being replaced by the tempestuous and brilliant Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan. Later, when Athénaïs’s reputation was tarnished, the king continued to support her publicly until Athénaïs left court for a life of repentance. Meanwhile her children’s governess, the intelligent and seemingly puritanical Françoise de Maintenon, had already won the king’s affections; in a relationship in complete contrast to his physical obsession with Athénaïs, Louis XIV lived happily with Madame de Maintenon for the rest of his life, very probably marrying her in secret. When his grandson’s child bride, the enchanting Adelaide of Savoy, came to Versaille she lightened the king’s last years—until tragedy struck.

With consummate skill, Antonia Fraser weaves insights into the nature of women’s religious lives—as well as such practical matters as contraception—into her magnificent, sweeping portrait of the king, his court, and his ladies.

Customer Reviews:

Lusty Louis and His Lady Loves.......2007-10-07

Love and Louis XIV is a superbly researched book about the many loves of Louis XIV, perhaps the most interesting monarch to have ever lived, and certainly to have ever ruled la belle France.

WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR? Readers who would like to learn more about Louis XIV's love life and the psychology behind what made him so randy! This is the perfect book for readers who find themselves asking these questions: Did Louis XIV marry? Did he love his wife? If so, why did he have so many mistresses? Why did he sometimes appear so cold, so cruel to those nearest to him? What happened to the young Louis that made him unable to remain interested/faithful to one woman?

****Note, if you are looking for a comprehensive biography about the Sun King, one that covers his life, not just his love life, I would highly recommend LOUIS XIV by Olivier Bernier (an expert on French culture and history)****

Antonia Fraser is a supremely talented author, deftly weaving pertinent facts, interesting tidbits, and riveting story-telling. Her books are my beach-reads. Forget chick-lit, murder mysteries, or romance novels, there's more romance and intrigue in one of Antonia Fraser's books and what makes it more thrilling to read is that it all really happened!

Louis XIV: the man known as the Sun King.......2007-03-16

Louis XIV, styled the Sun King, was the King of France for 72 years (1643 to 1715). At the time of his birth, his mother (Queen Anne) was almost 37, and was childless after 22 years of marriage (to King Louis XIII).

It is no wonder, then, that Louis was styled 'Dieudonne' or 'Deodatus' ('Godgiven'). It is perhaps also unsurprising that Louis's bond with his mother was so strong.

The reign of Louis XIV has been written about by many: there were many achievements during his long reign (including the construction of Versailles, reforms of taxation and administration, and patronage of the arts).

Antonia Fraser has focussed on his relationships with women. From his strong loving relationship with his mother, his kind but formal relationship with his wife Marie-Therese, his multiple and very different mistresses, as well as with the women of his extended family, we obtain a more complete picture of Louis XIV man and king.

I have read, enjoyed and learned from Antonia Fraser's non fiction since 1974. This book does not disappoint. By illustrating Louis XIV's awareness of the conflict between church doctrine, and adultery, Ms Fraser gives us another dimension of insight into this successful monarch's long reign.

Highly recommended to those interested in the life and times of Louis XIV.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Second fiddle to the previous "The Journey, Marie Antoinette.".......2007-01-20

It is not that the book is a bit dull. Louis XIV was dull, well dull compared to those who came before and those came after. Beautifully written, excruiciating research, lovely to read. However, while I found the previous book by the author, The Journey: Marie Antoinette, compelling and a struggle to set aside to complete nominal life perserving tasks (eating, drinking)this book presented a society that was living under a cloche or bell jar, stifled and well, dull, even the sex seemed not worthwhile and, yes, pretty dull. Perhaps it was that way. Nonetheless, the author was able to keep the massive cast of characters in a presentation so that the order within a the reader's grasp.

Interesting History.......2007-01-09

Not a bad read, although all of the facts make it seem overly long, and the similarity of some of the names can be confusing - not the author's fault. Antonia Fraser tells a very detailed story about the Sun King, and the ladies he was involved with.

The Domestic Life of the Sun King.......2007-01-03

"Love" as presumed by casual browsers of the title, and "Love" as meant by the author may differ. The book covers his friendships, flirtations, infatuations, in-law relations, marriage and (perhaps) pseudo marriage and his views of the female obligation to sacrifice for international diplomacy. By the standards of his cousin, Charles II of England, Louis XIV was the much more responsible adulterer.

Fraser demonsrates how Louis' early bond with a loving mother- an exception for a time characterized by royal nurseries-was replicated in his intimate relationships with women. There is an interesting symmetry that you come to understand as the story evolves.

The best part is the end when Fraser gives analysis of Louis and his attitude towards women and his basic generousity.

My only criticism is that the genealogical chart is difficult to read. A different lay out would have helped.

This book doesn't try cover the weighty historic issues which are well documented in many other sources. This book brings something new to the table. Like all Fraser books, it is very well researched and readably presented.

The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II

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Review
very nice book
LOVED IT!
Royal Russia Lives!
finding the real treasure

The Court of the Last Tsar: Pomp, Power and Pageantry in the Reign of Nicholas II
Greg King
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471727636

Book Description

Praise for The Court of the Last Tsar

"Any book by Greg King is a book to be kept and savored. He has not only given us a fresh, clear-eyed, and often startling new look at the life of the last Romanovs, but also lived up to the promise of his title. He has shown us how the whole enterprise worked, from Tsar Nicholas to his lowest cook and chambermaid. This book is a great work of scholarship—and a wonderful read."
—Peter Kurth, author of Tsar: The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandra and Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson

"A mammoth, monumental achievement. No other book captures the essence and the entire scope of life at the court of Nicholas II. It's a thoroughly enjoyable and encyclopedic masterpiece that will be a major source for historians and biographers for years to come."
—Marlene A. Eilers, author of Queen Victoria's Descendants and publisher of Royal Book News

"Greg King has truly written a tour de force. The book is extremely well researched, has over 100 illustrations and is, quite simply, marvelous."
—Coryne Hall, author of Little Mother of Russia, Once a Grand Duchess, and Imperial Dancer

"Greg King is emerging as one of the leading authorities in today's liveliest field of Russian studies, and this is a major contribution to the study of late Imperial Russia."
—Joseph T. Fuhrmann, author of Rasputin and the editor of The Complete Wartime Correspondence of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra

Customer Reviews:

Review.......2007-08-27

I received item in a timely manner and in great condition. I would definitely recommend this seller.

very nice book.......2007-03-15

this book is detailed and very nice illustrated, wunderful book! a must have for everybody!

LOVED IT!.......2007-03-11

For Academics and fans alike, this book is an invaluable source of information on the Romanov Family of Russia. Greg King is an expert on this family and I trust what he writes. He also laid the book out in chapters centering on different areas of interest such as their source of income AND he is the first author on the subject to convert the Ruble of yesterdday into the Dollar of today. Truly astounding to see what these people were making AND spending as fast as they could while the country suffered in abject poverty as they partied the nights away.

Royal Russia Lives!.......2007-03-09

I thought the book was very informative about life at the Imperial Russian Court. It showed the majesty, wealth and power of the Romanov Dynasty and those who served under them for over 300 years. Reading this book I felt as if I wish I was a fly on the wall to see all things that had gone on. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Royalty and has a fasination with the Romanovs.

finding the real treasure.......2007-02-20

This is a fine book on many levels. Subjects are parsed in sections - Personages, Palaces, Possessions, Pageantry, Pleasures - and the narrative is fluid and distinct. Chapters on the extensive Romanov family are fashioned with critically vivid directness, and the author comes into his own discussing the Romanov palaces. King needn't take a back seat to anyone with respect to understanding architecture and its many-layered meanings. Detailed descriptions of the various Romanov houses gives this book great value both historical and artistic, with a completeness missing in other literature on the subject. Along the way there are some real tidbits - about the emperor's library at the Winter Palace, he reveals that the Imperial Bindery provided the collection of rare volumes with new leather bindings: brown for works in Russian, blue for French, red for those in English, green for German. King reveals that the Chesme room at Peterhof took its name from twelve large canvases by Jacob Philippe Hackaert, depicting the Russian naval victory over Turkey in the Mediterranean in the early 1770s. When Hackaert worked on his commission, the Russian navy actually had a sixty-gun frigate blown up as it lay at anchor, so that the painter might accurately reflect the horrors of battle! The book contains three large sections of beautiful color photos. Unfortunately, a number of interesting photos are in black and white; one especially, the homely Lower Palace at Alexandria, Peterhof, I wish was color, but the photos are pungent and important, with the large color shots reproduced again in b/w miniature on those pages of text germane to them. Especially valuable is a rare photo of mediaeval-inspired Feodorovsky Sobor in the Alexander Park at Tsarkoye Selo, its hipped roofs and vaulted arcades topped with a single onion dome above its chapel. It's a magnificent edifice! Nicholas II, who nursed a love of mediaeval architecture, loved this anachronistic fantasy and commissioned additional buildings in the same style. The book dazzles with details, architectural and otherwise, each chosen with purpose. That purpose, it turns out, is the revealing of Nicholas and Alexandra. Strange as it seems, this book about the material, as it were, of the court of Nicholas II, ends by revealing profoundly the fated couple. Perhaps no other book has opened more deeply the mystery of Nicholas and his Empress. THIS is the real treasure of 'Court of the Last Tsar'. It's not surprising King's reputation for essential scholarship noticably rises. If you've an interest in, or better, a love for Romanov history, this is the book to read. By shaping the discussion around palaces and ceremonies and privileges, the intense mystical humanity of Nicholas and Alexandra comes screaming through - vibrant with tenderness and grief, misunderstood, sacrificial. I'm tremendously moved by this book and you will be too. One of the great mysteries of human history nobly emerges almost, it would seem, by accident. It's transfixing from beginning to end. Greatly, generously, unreservedly recommended reading.

Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne

Average customer rating:

"Prisoner of The Chrysanthemum Throne"--A Bogus Story
Heartbreaking.
Princess Masako
Sob Sister Stuff
It's worth your time....trust me!

Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne
Ben Hills
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1585425680

Customer Reviews:

"Prisoner of The Chrysanthemum Throne"--A Bogus Story.......2007-08-19

First of all,as a Japanese,I will not sit here and watch as an affair of my country is terribly distorted and misunderstood.Let me start by pointing out the most important fact unbeknownst to Western people:The majority of the Japanese people DO NOT sympathize with Princess Masako any more,because we already know the truth all too well.

Although we used to regard her in the early days as an efficient but "unfortunate" princess just as this book claims to be,now almost every Japanese inwardly thinks that she is just a loathesome,power-hungry upstart with gilded academic backgrounds and a seemingly remarkable diplomat's career who married into a highest and noblest family she never really belonged to.We also think that she should be deprived of her title and dismissed from the Imperial Family as soon as possible--not because she is a "modernized" woman who is alien to our society,but simply because she is not doing her duty at all.In fact,also unbeknownst to overseas media,she keeps on betraying the people's expectation for her to live up to her title by refusing to attend almost all the public functions out of faked sickness,seeking only fun,squandering the taxpayers'money without a reflection.

In other words,all she ever does is to pretend that she's so "mentally ill" that she needs "a long rest" and to "shop till she drops" on the people's back as she goes on needless vacations.(For example,she immensely enjoyed her visit to Tokyo Disneyland with her husband and daughter by riding various attractions this March,and shortly after it was reported in the media,there appeared many weblog entries denouncing her act.)
As you know,a real patient of depression or of any other mental illness is never able to go out not only to work,but also to play however hard he or she wants to.Even though there is yet no clear evidence that her illness is false,there is a revealing fact that the Princess has never undergone a thorough mental health check by a third-party doctor,nor has her doctor in charge officially held a press conference to announce the proper diagnosis to this day.With all the inappropriate behaviour of the Princess above in mind,we have come to a conclusion that she is an utterly ineligible Crown Princess,a Marie Antoinette-like tax-spender,a sheer disgrace to our nation and to "the Chrysanthemum Throne" in the true sense of the term.

So the point here is as follows:She is no "prisoner" to be "liberated" at all;all we have here is one delinquent who would universally be dismissed should she be a princess of some Western country,and that Japanese traditions or "the way of the Kunaicho(the Imperial Household Agency)" has nothing to do with the so-called "unfairness" of the way she has been treated.We only think of her as we naturally do,and the Imperial Household Agency has been only doing its job.
Suppose an agency of Royal or Imperial affairs did not try to admonish a troublemaker in the Family,or it did not try to defend their lord in the face of a malicious slander,then of what use would it be?Naturally,if it takes the above actions when needed, that would be NO "violation of human rights" or "violation of freedom of speech" as the author Ben Hills alleged regarding the treatment of Princess Masako and the Kunaicho's protest against his book.
Therefore,all the author's accusations against the Kunaicho and the other members of the Imperial Family are groundless,because those accusations are made on an unsound premise that they should be blamed for their own unique "inhumanity" and "feudalism" that never really exist in this particular case.Needless to say,a tradition should never be judged from an insufficient research or a subjective,narrow-minded viewpoint like the author's,especially when the allegations are untrue.

Finally,please DO NOT ever be deceived by this bogus story of some Imperial oppression of a well-intended,"liberated" individual which never took place,not only for our sake,but also for your own sake,because this is apparently a book of propaganda full of intentional errors designed to undermine Japan's and the Imperial Family's reputation.With Japan being a former Axis and a defeated nation of WWII,it is not uncommon for the rest of the world to demonize the Emperor or the Imperial system of Japan by deliberately depicting it as a thoroughly inhumane existence despite its now-pacifistic nature.So,all wise and conscientious readers out there, stay open-minded,for an ignorant,unsuspecting "good intention" misled by malice could lead to true unfairness such as racism and destruction of a culture that is different from your own.

Heartbreaking........2007-07-27

For a young woman who could have conquered the world to be buried under ridiculous, unreasonable tradition which has no place in this modern world.

Princess Masako.......2007-06-01

Part of the book is interesting, but mostly disappointing me.
Not only many parts are coming from gossip news papers, but also author is influenced by his wife, Mayu Kanamori, notorious anti-Japanese Korean left-wing journalist. She always against the Royal family and the contents of the book seems following her idea.

Sob Sister Stuff.......2007-05-31

I realize Hills didn't have a whole lot of authenicated material for this book, but some of the inaccuracies - well, really! Kids dressing in gangsta clothes in the 70s?!? That's what Hills maintains when Masako first started school in the US.

I was constantly puzzled by the author's efforts to appear unbiased. 'Poor Masako,' was one message. 'Her family background is somewhat suspect, and her father is a social climber. tee hee,' was another (and snide) message. The different in height between the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was also noted. To what end? Hills see-saws back and forth between trying to appear a legitimate, serious author and a gossip columnist.

I wish Hills had spent some time explaining, for us gai-jins, the role and upbringing of the woman in Japanese society. Until very recently, all Japanese female names ended in 'ko,' which means 'child' - Keiko, Masako, Aiko, etc. While this may sound minor, it is indicative of how women are perceived in Japan. (My former husband, who spent a lot of time in Japan, was once chided by a Japanese man for being too polite to women.) It would, I think, help to explain Masako's difficulty in her, IMHO, schizophrenic life.

All in all, if such a book had to be written, I should prefer to have Kitty Kelley tackle the subject. She, at least, is a zippy writer, and this book definitely lacks zip.

It's worth your time....trust me!.......2007-05-27

This has to be one of the greatest books I've read in a long time. I seriously suggest this book to anyone who is looking for an interesting and great book to read.

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan

Average customer rating:

Do note that Prince Bandar "cooperated" with his friend, the author, William Simpson.
The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan
FASCINATING
A recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries.
Public Myths, Private Realities

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan
William Simpson
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060899867
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

A riveting portrait of one of the most enigmatic yet influential powerbrokers in America–Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al–Saud, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States from 1983–2005.

At a time when understanding our friends is as important as understanding our enemies, Prince Bandar bin Sultan remains one America's most enigmatic powerbrokers. As the illegitimate son of a Saudi prince and a servant girl, Prince Bandar overcame his unrecognized beginnings to rise as one of Saudi Arabia's brightest diplomatic stars, ultimately becoming the Ambassador to the United States–and one of the most influential men in Washington.

As Ambassador, Prince Bandar worked with CIA Director Bill Casey to fund covert CIA operations with Saudi petrodollars. He played a key role in the Iran–Contra affair; consulted with President Gorbachev to secure Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan; negotiated an end to the Iran–Iraq war; and, with Nelson Mandela, resolved the Pan Am Flight 103/Lockerbie Affair. He served under four different American presidencies and was called "Washington's indispensible operator" by the New Yorker.

Yet Prince Bandar was more than this. His entre into Washington society and the Oval Office was unmatched. George H.W. Bush took the Prince and his family on fishing vacations; First Lady Reagan used him to convey messages to her husband's Cabinet; Colin Powell would drop by his house to play racquetball.

Customer Reviews:

Do note that Prince Bandar "cooperated" with his friend, the author, William Simpson........2007-06-09

Do not waste your money. This is an obvious PR effort and none of the recent news regarding the Prince shows up here - for obvious reasons.

The Prince: The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.......2007-04-13

Not that intriguing a character. The author is a very goooooooood friend of the subject and is obviously very bias.

FASCINATING.......2007-02-14

Definitely worth reading, I find it very interesting to read about a Saudi prince. Most people have no idea what a Saudi prince is all about and this is a way to find out.

A recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries........2007-02-08

THE PRINCE: THE SECRET STORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTRIGUING ROYAL PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN might at first glance seem to be a special interest title - but it's actually much more. Any reader interested in Middle East issues should read THE PRINCE, as it surveys the life, political rise and richness of the Saudi Arabian prince who today is Ambassador to the U.S. His life reflects social and political changes in the country and his work has led him to play pivotal roles in emerging politics of the entire region, making THE PRINCE a recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Public Myths, Private Realities.......2006-10-18

I have met Prince Bandar bin Sultan a number of times in the United States in my capacity as a money manager for extremely wealthy international families, and as a financial advisor to governments. I also lean towards political conservatism, although I am deeply disappointed at the extent to which corruption has become common in our government in the last decade or so. It use to under the table, now it's in our face.

William Simpson's book on Prince Bandar is requisite reading if Americans are to begin to understand Saudi Arabia. This is the critical country in the Middle East, and the world's dominant oil producer. Understand that Simpson the author is a personal friend of long-standing with Bandar, having attended together the Royal Air Force College in Cranwell, England many years ago. The Prince has publicly blessed this book. This tells you that this is an authorized biography, which means Bandar has edited every page. He's managing his image, and I must say quite well after reading it.

The problem I have with the book, but it must still be read, is that it is completely self-serving, and the author is in the Prince's pocket. This is not surprising; just about everyone in Washington was in the Prince's pocket. When you have a billion dollar personal fortune at your disposal plus the full financial backing of the world's most liquid country (both oil and greenbacks), who wouldn't want to be Prince Bandar. He's also got political access, and diplomatic immunity to boot.

The real question which is not answered by this book is to what extent did Bandar while the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005, use his money and his power to achieve the goals of his country to the detriment of ours. For the most part Bandar was exempt from the normal laws, and procedures that our own citizens must adhere to.

This man became close personal friends with several Presidents including the current President Bush. You may not remember this, but in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy, scores of Osama Bin Laden's relatives were still living in the United States. Many of them were students at different universities. Bandar arranged with President Bush for FBI controlled aircraft to pick up these family members, and whisk them immediately outside the United States to Saudi Arabia where they would be protected from our laws.

How startling is this when you think about it. This was the greatest loss of human life via an attack in our country's history, instigated by one man, Bin Laden, a Saudi by the way. The rest of us were stuck at airports throughout the United States for a week. The only non-military planes allowed to fly throughout the United States were planes being sent to pick up family members of the mass murderer so they could be flown out of the country. This shows you Prince Bandar's power, and he used that power for 22 years as he saw fit, for those he saw fit.

Bandar's money and fingerprints were all over the Iran-Contra scandal that could have conceivably brought down Ronald Reagan's Administration. It certainly tarnished Reagan's government, and ruined the last 2 years of his Presidency. You need to know about these events, and Bandar's connection to them. As citizens of the most important democracy in history, we need to know, and keep an eye on what our government is doing. Our founding fathers did not trust governments. Only an informed citizenry can guard our freedoms.

It has been said that POWER CORRUPTS, AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTEY. I believe this is true, and history demonstrates its veracity. Bandar is a man that has moved in very powerful circles. He was the ultimate power player displaying a persona based on public myth while the whole time operating under different private realities. There were only two people in the world that had power over this man who was the illegitimate son of Prince Sultan and a servant. The book talks about these two men in detail.

Bandar's father was the Saudi Arabian Defense Minister during the early 1960's. It was his grandmother who was the widow of King Abdulaziz that recognized the boy's talent. Bandar had a fabulous personality, truly charismatic. When he is in the room, you know someone special is around. It was this charisma that endeared him to King Fahd who controlled Saudi Arabia with an iron fist for decades.

King Fahd was his mentor, and Bandar wielded enormous influence over the King. After all, it was Bandar that lived overseas all those years doing the King's bidding, and in return influencing what that bidding might be by the advice he rendered to the King. There is no question I am told by people in a position to know that Bandar would use his influence on the King to say that he knew what each of our Presidents would do under certain situations. In return, Bandar would tell the President of our country, several Presidents in fact, that he knew what King Fahd would do. He was the ULTIMATE MIDDLEMAN.

This is why you must read this book. Even though it is self-serving, you can't help but get a feel as to who and what Bandar is. You also get a feel for Saudi Arabia, and the power game they play. Even though the Prince tries to limit the reader as to what he wants you to know about himself, and the game he played, the truth still comes out between the lines. This is why you have to spend the time to understand the Prince, and the culture he comes from. Saudi Arabia is a lifeline for us. Without their oil, the oxygen would be sucked right out of our economy.

You might be wondering how influential Bandar was through the years. Look at it this way. More than a generation ago, when Richard Nixon was trying to cover up the Watergate scandal, his aides told him it would take money. The President asked how much? He was told a million dollars in cash, the equivalent of $20 million today. Nixon replied on the tapes, "I know where I can get it." This was before the Saudi connection that is now firmly entrenched.

There are times when every President needs access to large sums of cash. Sometimes it is to bypass the necessity of reporting to Congress. Other times, it is convenience. Bandar always had that access. We will never know in the darkness of the night to what extent he used that access, and what we had to do in return. You have merely to judge the relationship of the United States to Saudi Arabia to figure it out for yourself.

Let me illustrate. A couple of years ago, I was in South Africa working on a project. I usually stay at a certain hotel, because it is secure. They know me, I am private, and we take care of each other. The entire hotel had been taken over by the Saudi entourage for a diplomatic celebration. I saw dozens of Saudis. Here is what was strange. They were wearing business suits, which as you know usually have an outside pocket on the left side of the jacket where some men would wear a handkerchief. Instead of the handkerchief, each of these dozens of Saudis had plastic envelopes, each one containing $10,000 in hundred dollar bills. Some of these people were walking around with five, six envelopes. Other individuals had suitcases full of plastic envelopes.

My associates at the hotel said they had brought tens of millions of dollars in American cash with them. I don't drink, but I do have meetings in bars, and restaurants. I prefer public locations for security reasons, especially in foreign countries. While in the bar, I ran into a group of 9, 10 Saudis celebrating. They started to take bottles of Cristal Champagne, shake them up and shoot them at one another at $350 per bottle. The bill 2 hours later was $40,000 without the tip. When you have that kind of cash, you can buy influence, and that is our problem in this country. The food in the bar was terrific by the way.

Bandar also wielded tremendous political influence. I was doing a study on North Korea years ago in reference to a geopolitical project I was involved in. President Bush announced the potential drawdown of our troop deployment in South Korea, which is 30,000 plus military personnel. All of our soldiers are within artillery range of North Korean armaments just across the border.

I could not understand how President Bush would have made such an announcement without exacting North Korean concessions in return. It then came to my attention that Bandar had talked Bush into it. How is it that the Saudi Arabian Prince could influence American foreign policy on the Korean Peninsula? It did not make sense, until an associate informed me of Bandar's logic. He told Bush the North Koreans were so unreliable politically that he could envision them launching an artillery attack.

If they did, we would have 15,000 dead Americans in hours. Wouldn't it be better Bandar told the President to reduce the American presence, so that if the North Koreans were foolish, you would have a local, regional conflict on your hands, and not a major war? Bush went for it; Bandar has INFLUENCE.

Read the book. It's a great read about a man of many faces. Word is that Bandar is now out of favor with the Saudi leadership, and that is why he is no longer Ambassador to the United States. The publicly stated reason for the change in ambassadorship was Bandar's health. Sure, do you think the Saudi weather is more conducive to his health than American sunshine? As time goes on, the truth will get out. It is also strange how oil prices have come down strongly off their previous peaks, coincident with a critical Congressional election in November. If I believed in co incidents, we could call this the SAUDI VOTE. The question is does it have Bandar's fingerprints on it?

Richard Stoyeck

The Lost King of France: How DNA Solved the Mystery of the Murdered Son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Average customer rating:

If there is a better book about the Dauphin, please let me know
A searing tale
The Suffering of the Innocent
Great Read, Poorly Made Book
Well written

The Lost King of France: How DNA Solved the Mystery of the Murdered Son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
Deborah Cadbury
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312320299

Book Description

Two years after the executions of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette at the height of the French Revolution, a ten-year-old boy, his skin covered with scabies, his sanity gone, died in a Paris prison. Was this tortured child of royal birth, or had the young prince escaped? In time, the prince's surviving sister was approached by count-less 'brothers' claiming not only the dauphin's name, but also his inheritance. For the next 200 years, as rival royal dynasties vied for the French throne, this mystery went unsolved. It was not until experts discovered a mummified human heart in a crystal urn that the truth unfolded. Examining this historical mystery from every absorbing angle, Cadbury explains how modern DNA analysis uncovered a surprising answer to this centuries old mystery.

Customer Reviews:

If there is a better book about the Dauphin, please let me know.......2007-07-29

You read about how this little boy, who'd known only the best the world had to give, ended up in a sunless room, curled in a fetal position, full of puss and unable (or unwilling) to speak. This is a creepy tale that makes what happened to the son of the Tsar Alexander's son in 1917 (or there abouts...who knows for sure?) seem like a kind ending. It also gives you insight into his mother's execution and his sister's life.

A searing tale.......2007-05-23

Of all the human tragedy that marked the French Revolution, perhaps none was so acute as that experienced by the royal family. In this well-researched and engrossing book, Deborah Cadbury conveys the full measure of this tragedy in her description of the unspeakable horrors visited on the little Dauphin of France, Louis-Charles, son of Louis VXI and Marie-Antoinette. It is impossible to avoid that sick feeling in the pit of one's stomach as we read this harrowing tale, and it certainly helps explain why, to this day, many people can't bring themselves to believe that it was indeed Marie-Antoinette's "chou d'amour" who ended his days in so wretched a manner.
Cadbury also does a fine job of recounting in a very readable manner the seemingly endless procession of pretenders that began to emerge shortly after the Terror, and keeps the reader in suspense until the final denouement.
All in all, an excellent, moving book, not to be missed.

The Suffering of the Innocent.......2007-05-23

I enjoyed Deborah Cadbury's "The Lost King of France," although I would never recommend reading it at night, unless stories of small children being brutalized help one to sleep. Cadbury has a dry, logical style which makes her descriptions of the royal family's descent into hell all the more horrifying. I was perturbed when she stated that Fersen and Marie-Antoinette were probably lovers, without giving any evidence, especially when she was careful to give evidence for everything else. Also, on the cover of the book is most likely a picture of Louis-Joseph, not Louis-Charles (Louis XVII).

Many say that the book proves beyond doubt the death of Louis XVII on June 8, 1795, but it does not. The DNA merely concluded that the desiccated heart which was allegedly removed from the little victim who died in the Temple was the child of a Habsburg princess. As anyone familiar with European history knows, Habsburg princesses were legion; many not having the last name of Habsburg, but having Habsburg genes. Although it is highly probable that Louis XVII did die in the Temple at age ten after horrendous sufferings, it should be recalled that Madame Royale herself had doubts about the fate of her brother, since she had not been allowed to identify the body.

Great Read, Poorly Made Book.......2007-02-22

I purchased my soft cover copy of The Lost King of France in February 2007 through Amazon. As I began reading, the pages began to fall out of the book. The ink on the pages was thin, spotty,frequently irritating to read as one's eye stopped to make out whether a letter was an "e" or an "o." The publisher is St. Martin's Griffin. Fine work by the author - excellent read. Check it out of the library or find a hardback to buy. By the time you finish reading the paperback, you'll have a lap full of single pages and a severe case of eye strain. Paper's cheap too.

Well written.......2007-01-29

Oh , this is such a sad book, about a poor child that suffered so much---just because he was the son of Marie Antoinette. Parts of this book simply made me cry (especially at the very end of this book).

The author is AMAZING!...Wow, what a writer! I'd love to read more of her books after buying this one.

The information given inside this book (ie: on whether the "real" Boy King died in the horrible way which he did) were proven to me, in my humble opinion. The author covers all bases, in order to come up with the final conclusion on what truly happened to the poor King child.

I recommned this book if you like mysteries, biographies of famous people, and also if you like the topic of History , in general.

Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)

Average customer rating:

NEW TWIST ON ROYALTY!
WIll stimulate your interest in learning more history.
a delightful escape!
A wonderful romp in the pages of history
Very Apealling

Sex with Kings: 500 Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge (P.S.)
Eleanor Herman
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060585447
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Book Description

What does Camilla see in Charles? Did the Duchess of Windsor REALLY think she was going to get the crown of England? Learn the scandalous truth about the illicit relationships of some of history's most powerful men – and the women who slept with them to get to the top. There was Madam de Pompadore – brainy but passionless mistress of Louis XV and her successor Madam duBarry . beautiful, stupid, but a whole lot more fun.

Fascinating, and endlessly entertaining, Sex With Kings explores sex, power, money, rivalry and revenge. This non–fiction journey through 500 years takes the reader into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful kings. From the dawn of time, power has been a mighty aphrodisiac. The royal mistress, having conquered a king, often ran his kingdom, wielding her sexuality as sceptre. Sex With Kings is trailblazing in its exploration of this intriguing phenomenon – the position of royal mistress at European courts, the fascinating women who filled it, and how their responsibilities and rewards changed over the centuries. This is a chapter of women's history which has remained unwritten – until now.

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Throughout the centuries, royal mistresses have been worshiped, feared, envied, and reviled. They set the fashions, encouraged the arts, and, in some cases, ruled nations. Eleanor Herman's Sex with Kings takes us into the throne rooms and bedrooms of Europe's most powerful monarchs. Alive with flamboyant characters, outrageous humor, and stirring poignancy, this glittering tale of passion and politics chronicles five hundred years of scintillating women and the kings who loved them.

Curiously, the main function of a royal mistress was not to provide the king with sex but with companionship. Forced to marry repulsive foreign princesses, kings sought solace with women of their own choice. And what women they were! From Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of Louis XV, who kept her position for nineteen years despite her frigidity, to modern-day Camilla Parker-Bowles, who usurped none other than the glamorous Diana, Princess of Wales.

The successful royal mistress made herself irreplaceable. She was ready to converse gaily with him when she was tired, make love until all hours when she was ill, and cater to his every whim. Wearing a mask of beaming delight over any and all discomforts, she was never to be exhausted, complaining, or grief-stricken.

Customer Reviews:

NEW TWIST ON ROYALTY!.......2007-10-01

This is one of the funniest books on European Royalty I've read in a long time. As a student of history, I have heard of most of the royal mistresses mentioned but this was a great new way of telling the stories. It was almost like reading a girls gossip ring on paper and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't believe some of the things these men and women got away with!

All in all a GREAT book! A must have for anyone interested in history or royalty.

WIll stimulate your interest in learning more history........2007-08-25

Eleanor Herman's book, Sex with Kings, is full of fun gossip. It is an easy non-complicated book that may start some readers off as future history fans. I think this book would be good as a supplement to a college freshman western civilization history course. If I was teaching European history to freshmen, I would use this book, along with other more scholarly books, but I think this book is very humorous, entertaining, and full of nasty details about the intimate lives of the powerful. It may make history come alive for those who find history boring.

There is one major problem with the book. Herman decided to group her chapters around various themes, such as the rivalry between the queen and the king's mistress, or the husband of the king's mistress, the riches to be obtained as the king's mistress, the potential political power that might be obtained, the issue of royal bastards, public opinion of the mistress, and the change of winds that occur when the king dies before his mistress. This would appear to be a very sensible way to organize the chapters, however it also means that each chapter is full of small paragraphs on each amorous couple and thus the text seems disorganized and choppy. If Herman had selected 12 royal mistresses and then followed the themes she identifies within each of these stories, the text would have been more easily understood and the narrative flow would improve.

That being said, the various adventures in this book were very entertaining. The story of Anthenais de Montespan and Louis XIV was a highlight of the book. Anthenais is obsessed with remaining as the king's favorite, involved in attempts to keep all beauties away from the eyes of the king while giving him secret love potions. Yet she is trumped by her children's old maid governess, Madame de Maintenon, who eventually becomes the king's legal wife after the death of the Queen. This is a fascinating twist of fate, and yet as Louis XIV grew older and more mature, it would only seem natural that he was less interested in exotic young beautiful lovers and became interested in a woman of intelligence, character and good judgement.

The mistress that receives the most coverage is, of course, Jeanne-Antoinette Etioles, Marquise de Pompadour. This beautiful, refined, intelligent, and sophisticated woman ruled the court of Louis XV, a man of normal intelligence and instincts but not a great thinker or strategist. Pompadour was probably the most influential and powerful of all royal mistresses in Western Civilization, chosing to make critical decisions of state on behalf of the king rather than to worry about jewels and finery.

The most entertaining mistress would have to be Lady Castlemaine, lover of Charles II. Her ability to manipulate Charles II, while gathering untold riches for herself, is almost unbelievable. Charles II actually was unable to pay the sailors in his navy because of the funds he spent on Lady Castlemaine.

The life of Marie Jeanne du Barry, the final mistress of Louis XV, is a wild tale of a beautiful prostitute, elevated to the role of the King's mistress due to her exceptional beauty, and yet she remained an innocent soul with little intelligence. Comtesse du Barry went into retirement with her jewel collection upon the death of Louis XV. Her jewels were stolen and later recovered in London. By this time the revolution had begun and Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were imprisoned. Comtesse du Barry was able to get permission to go to England to reclaim her jewels at a time when the revolutionary government was not allowing the ruling class to leave France. The ironic thing is that du Barry returned to France with her jewels and soon died on the guillotine.

The book ends with the abdication of Edward VIII to marry Wallis Simpson and the affair between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Edward's low intelligence is explored as well as Prince Charles' lack of judgement around his life with Diana. Camilla actually comes across favorably in the final chapters of the book.

The book is full of odd sexy stories that might stimulate folks to actually pick up a history book one day.

a delightful escape!.......2007-07-12

This was a new topic for me - intimate details of European royalty through history. This introduction sparked a newfound interest, which has not faded. This book provides terrific overviews of many mistresses and their relationships with the public, the courts, and their kings - organized by theme/topic. Sex itself, is a small portion of this book (and is not nearly as graphic as you might think at first). I had no idea how many different roles a mistress really played during her life, and have much more admiration (or sometimes disgust) for what these women did to obtain their goals.

The author does a wonderful job at making you feel like you are peeking through keyholes and eavesdropping on gossip, but without being disrespectful to those involved. Although the author has a beautiful and elegant writing style that paints picture after picture, she still manages to let the facts speak for themselves and allows you to draw your own opinions on these women and their controversial lifestyles. Additionally, previous historical expertise is not necessary to enjoy this book. However, be prepared for "accidental learning", as it happens quite easily and unknowingly. This book won't gather dust on you bookshelf. As soon as you're finished, you'll know of a friend to pass it on to...who will do the same when she's finished with it...

If you have any interest or curiosity about the women of this era, or history that takes on a more personal account AND if you enjoy books that allow you to live vicariously, or books that take your mind off of work or some other responsiblilty, I recommend this book.

A wonderful romp in the pages of history.......2007-07-10

I really liked this book. It was written well and very informative. I read a lot of historical fiction and there is almost always a mistress involved in something. This book brings them back to life and gives you insight on how they got to their status and kept it and or lost it.

Very Apealling.......2007-07-07

I am an "avid reader" of historical biographies, and this book would be good for anyone who is just getting into history. The excerpts are short and funny and do their job of keeping your interest! Very interesting!

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