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.

Average customer rating:

The Best Volume on the Conquest
I LOVED IT BUT WHY ONLY FOUR STARS YOU ASK
Short but excellent introduction
A Little Thin....
1066 and All That

1066: The Year of the Conquest
David Howarth
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140058508

Customer Reviews:

The Best Volume on the Conquest.......2007-05-25

This is not Howarth's best work, but it is the best work available on the Norman Conquest. Reaching into the murky depths of the 11th century, Howarth manages to sift through dry historical data in an exciting story format. While reading the book it's easy to forget that you know the outcome and you find yourself marching with the beleaguered King Harold to an uncertain fate in the autumn of 1066.

The book has a bias, but the author is straight-forward about it. He's very pro-Harold, anti-Edward, and sympathetic toward William, even if he is portrayed as the antagonist. The book is unusual in that it it gives more information than most about the events leading up to the Conquest, instead of grinding down in the minutia of October the 14th. Having said this it still covers the Battle of Hastings giving a feel for the event and indulging in a few speculations about some of the details. The author doesn't waste words however, as all this is done in a very small volume.

Anyone looking for a quick, easy, readable, but still scholarly work about the Norman Conquest will never find a better book than this one.

I LOVED IT BUT WHY ONLY FOUR STARS YOU ASK.......2007-02-06

this book, magnificent, incredible, couldn't put it down... vivid details, a real tour de force of historical significance... why only four stars... the author makes countless references to the bayeux tapestry an artistic account of pre and post conquest but not a single picture in the entire book showing us what the tapestry looks like... painful because the book is gripping and you ache to see what the author is talking about each time he makes reference to it... i'll look up the pic on line and print it out to look at it, but i'd have paid more just to have a color pic included in the book with appropriate captions guiding the reader to the references made in the body of the book

Short but excellent introduction.......2006-12-23

Howarth's book on the year 1066 is well-written, factual, succinct, and engaging. To my way of thinking, he walks the fine line between too much and too little detail quite adroitly, and the book is one you can easily read again and again (any time a little refresher of the basic facts is required).

I also like his use of a small, "typical" English village throughout the story. One tends to think of the Norman Conquest in large socio-political terms, but it's sometimes important to refocus one's attention on how (and when or if) it actually affected the smaller villages, where ordinary commoners lived out there lives in relative isolation from the royal court. Quite a refreshing perspective.

A Little Thin...........2006-11-11

What there is of this book is actually pretty good and I am considering changing to 4 stars. It's packed with historical facts yet reads well. The author has done the primary research and compiled essential data into an enjoyable read. As a primer on this era, this book is a good start.

My only complaint is that the author has parsed his data too well; this book is surprisingly short. Perhaps he did that in view of readers' interest but I would have preferred a few more details.

1066 and All That.......2006-08-06

"1066 and all that..." being the stock British phrase for the Norman Conquest, this book should have been titled "All That." You slog through so much extraneous, badly organized material (including Saxon and Scandinavian names)that it makes the stereotypical Russian novel look like a model of clarity. Up to about page 100 there's the occasional paragraph pointing out which way we're going and after that, golly, sometimes a whole page or two of clear storyline. There's actually some interesting stuff but 11th century history and politics were a mess and this book doesn't do much to clear things up.

A Needle in the Right Hand of God: The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the Making and Meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry

Average customer rating:

Context for the Bayeux Tapestry
Impressive!
Unusual insights, engaging writing

A Needle in the Right Hand of God: The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the Making and Meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry
R. Howard Bloch
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Medieval | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Textile & Costume | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

Western | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1400065496
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

The Bayeux Tapestry is the world’s most famous textile–an exquisite 230-foot-long embroidered panorama depicting the events surrounding the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is also one of history’s most mysterious and compelling works of art. This haunting stitched account of the battle that redrew the map of medieval Europe has inspired dreams of theft, waves of nationalism, visions of limitless power, and esthetic rapture. In his fascinating new book, Yale professor R. Howard Bloch reveals the history, the hidden meaning, the deep beauty, and the enduring allure of this astonishing piece of cloth.

Bloch opens with a gripping account of the event that inspired the Tapestry: the swift, bloody Battle of Hastings, in which the Norman bastard William defeated the Anglo-Saxon king, Harold, and laid claim to England under his new title, William the Conqueror. But to truly understand the connection between battle and embroidery, one must retrace the web of international intrigue and scandal that climaxed at Hastings. Bloch demonstrates how, with astonishing intimacy and immediacy, the artisans who fashioned this work of textile art brought to life a moment that changed the course of British culture and history.

Every age has cherished the Tapestry for different reasons and read new meaning into its enigmatic words and images. French nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century, fired by Tapestry’s evocation of military glory, unearthed the lost French epic “The Song of Roland,” which Norman troops sang as they marched to victory in 1066. As the Nazis tightened their grip on Europe, Hitler
sent a team to France to study the Tapestry, decode its Nordic elements, and, at the end of the war, with Paris under siege, bring the precious cloth to Berlin. The richest horde of buried Anglo-Saxon treasure, the matchless beauty of Byzantine silk, Aesop’s strange fable “The Swallow and the Linseed,” the colony that Anglo-Saxon nobles founded in the Middle East following their defeat at Hastings–all are brilliantly woven into Bloch’s riveting narrative.

Seamlessly integrating Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Byzantine elements, the Bayeux Tapestry ranks with Chartres and the Tower of London as a crowning achievement of medieval Europe. And yet, more than a work of art, the Tapestry served as the suture that bound up the wounds of 1066.

Enhanced by a stunning full-color insert that includes reproductions of the complete Tapestry, A Needle in the Right Hand of God will stand with The Professor and the Madman and How the Irish Saved Civilization as a triumph of popular history.

Customer Reviews:

Context for the Bayeux Tapestry.......2007-04-12

Of all the great historical and artistic sites in the world, the Bayeux Tapestry is perhaps second on my list of places I would like to visit (Troy comes first). Actually not a "tapestry" (it is technically an embroidery) the Bayeux Tapestry, dating from the Eleventh century pictorially tells the story of William the Conqueror's invasion of England and victorious battle at Hastings. Exactly who sponsored its creation, designed it, and embroidered it remain mysteries, as does its ultimate purpose. Bloch's new book does not seek to supply sensational answers to these continuing controversies (as did, for example, Andrew Bridgeford's "1066: The Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry"), nor even to solve the perplexing mystery of the identity of the woman "Aelfgyva" who appears in the Tapestry. Instead, Bloch provides a fast-reading discussion of the historical and artistic context for understanding the Tapestry. He concludes that there are many Scandinavian/Norman elements incorporated into the the design (and Scandinavian textiles are the most closely related art works known), but that Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscripts appear to supply the models for the style of illustration. And the author traces back important design elements to Byzantine silk weavings.

Bloch contends that the Tapestry was consciously created as a way to bring together the Anglo-Saxon and Norman peoples on both sides of the English Channel (although it seems to me that this view is suspiciously congruent with modern notions of multiculturism rather than Eleventh century realities). Regardless whether one accepts or rejects this viewpoint, the book's narrative provides an informative examination of the Norman and Anglo-Saxon worlds which gave birth to this unique artistic treasure.

Impressive! .......2007-04-03

Dr Bloch explains the tale of the Tapestry in a very clear and appealing manner. In particular, he describes the sequence of events depicted by the Tapestry itself as well as the political environment of early 11th century Europe that led to the pivotal Battle of Hastings. His insights are cogent and sound. I highly recommend this brief but thorough work.

Unusual insights, engaging writing.......2007-01-11

It's said that the Devil can quote Scripture to prove his own point - and something like that has been tried with the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Norman Conquest of England. The French claim it as French. The English have claimed it as Anglo-Saxon. During World War II, Hitler tried to use it as a kind of Book of Genesis for the Third Reich. William the Conqueror, 7th Duke of Normandy, was the descendant of Vikings. ("Norman" derives from the Latin for "Northmen.") The Scandinavian connection appealed to Hitler's racial, mythic notions. Among the Tapestry's 11th century images of conquering warriors, he sought ancient origins for his supposed Germanic super-race.

In fact, maintains R. Howard Bloch, these competing claims are only possible because the Tapestry itself hardly takes sides between the conquered Anglo-Saxons and the conquering Normans, and seeks to reconcile those whom it portrays. Its point of view is neither clearly Norman nor Anglo-Saxon. Without dwelling on fixing blame, it shows both armies fighting bravely. ("French and English fall together," it says of the battle at Hastings.) All may go on to become King William's peaceful subjects. Bloch finds in the Tapestry's well-recognized ambiguities an intention by its designer to tell the story without maligning either Normans or Anglo-Saxons.

Sterling Professor of French and the Director of the Humanities Division at Yale, as well as author of several books about the Middle Ages, Bloch brings an unusual array of qualifications to this subject. His mother, formally trained as a textile engineer, was a craftswoman who covered the walls of their home with creative needlework; his father an expert in the manufacture of finished cloth. In considering the Tapestry, its purposes and the influences it reflects, especially those found in other woven, painted or embroidered fabrics, Bloch speaks the language of textiles as one born to it.

He points out from the beginning, as all writers on the Bayeux Tapestry must, that it isn't strictly a tapestry at all, but an embroidery, on a long (about 230 feet) linen strip; and that we have no other record like it. Despite the crude medieval drawing, the Tapestry vividly brings alive the sweep of events. The most photorealistic horses, for example, could not pulse with more vitality, or fall in battle more convincingly, than they do in these images. In the Tapestry's unfolding story, we see the Anglo-Saxon Harold Godwineson swear his oath of loyalty to Duke William. It doesn't tell us whether he had a choice, or was tricked. Is King Edward the Confessor of England, on his deathbed, revoking his promise of the crown to his kinsman, Duke William of Normandy? Promising it to Harold? There sits Harold in majesty, crowned -- if it was with indecent haste, the Tapestry doesn't say so -- the day after Edward's death. Duke William "is told of Harold," the Tapestry tells us neutrally, and he prepares to invade. There is the mysterious woman, Aelfgyva. With generations of scholars we wonder who she is, and why she is here. Is that cleric merely touching her head, or slapping her so that she'll never forget something she's witnessing? The images quicken their pace, reaching the bloody clash at Hastings and the Norman victory. Something is missing at the end of the Tapestry; perhaps the lost portion showed King William in majesty, matching the earlier crowned and enthroned Harold.

Professor Bloch understands the Tapestry with an appreciation of what may be called the southern angle: that the Normans who had campaigned in or been to the Italian peninsula, Sicily, the Holy Land, Constantinople, brought back with them both novel combat tactics and a network of cultural threads that linked their northern homeland with Byzantium and with the whole Mediterranean world. He points out not only the famly Scandinavian links of style and motif with the Tapestry, but those found in sumptuous Byzantine silks, proposing lights for what have been obscure corners of Tapestry interpretation. In so doing, he gives greater attention to the enigmatic borders of the Tapestry -- those often-cryptic passages above and below the main narrative -- than do some other commentators.

He argues that the Tapestry deliberately leaves crucial questions unanswered. It means to withhold one-sided judgments. The Tapestry does NOT tell us whether Harold swore fealty to William willingly, or whether he knew he was holding his hands outstretched over sacred relics, making the oath a much more serious matter. It leaves unstated, not alone what King Edward intended at the last, but what it was in his power to do. Though the evidence suggests that English hands made the Tapestry, it is NOT clear whose voice, so to speak, tells the story. The Tapestry, Bloch maintains, is not a work of partisan propaganda. King William, he says, wanted Anglo-Saxons and Normans reconciled under his unifying rule -- and wanted the wider world to acquiesce in his dreams of even wider empire. Without knowing for sure when or where the Tapestry was made, or by whom ordered, or where it was designed to be displayed, Bloch says, we can find all this on its face. It's an argument that anyone interested in the Norman Conquest, the events surrounding it and those that flowed from it, should want to consider; and it is engagingly written. I couldn't put it down. Its story is, of course, still relevant -- to, among much else, the fact that Prince William of England will someday be King William V because he'll be counting from King William I, the Conqueror.

Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen Book)

Average customer rating:

The scripts for all three fantastic plays.
Acute social observation. Highly comical.

Norman Conquests: Table Manners; Living Together; Round and Round in the Garden (An Evergreen Book)
Alan Ayckbourn
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0802131344

Book Description

This brilliant comic trilogy details the amorous exploits of Norman, assistant librarian, whose one aim is to make the women of his life happy—these women being, as it happens, three sisters, one of them his wife, who can’t wear contact lenses because “life with Norman is full of unexpected eye movements.” Each play stands uproariously on its own yet interlocks with the others to form an ingenious Chinese puzzle of successive relations.

Customer Reviews:

The scripts for all three fantastic plays........2001-01-02

In the late 1970s PBS presented a hilarious trilogy of plays called "The Norman Conquests." I've been trying ever since to find them again. And here they are! This volume contains the scripts for all three of these amazing plays. Their premise: Norman is a real charmer who seduces (not necessarily sexually) everybody he meets. Each of the three plays takes place on a different stage. It's the same story and the same six characters, but seen from what happens only in each room in each play. It's an amazing accomplishment for a writer. This book carries an introduction by Ayckbourn that explains how he did it. And he says the plays are meant to be seen in any order. But I prefer the order given here: "Table Manners" (in the dining room), "Living Together" (the sitting room) and "Round and Round the Garden." If you haven't experienced it, the videos are available now (finally!), as well. The production (the same I saw on PBS) stars Tom Conti as an unforgettable Norman.

Acute social observation. Highly comical........1998-04-27

Terrific work (again!) from this major British playwright showing a disasterous family weekend where a would be Casanova sets his sights on his sister in law and the whole family ultimately become involved. Although written and set in the mid 1970s it remains just as funny (if not more so) now. All of the characters are classics and there are a feast of one liners. It really needs a stage production to be done justice though.

The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily

Average customer rating:

Well written general guide
This is an excellent book.
Learn about the "other Norman Conquest"

The Norman Conquest of Southern Italy and Sicily
Gordon S. Brown
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786414723

Customer Reviews:

Well written general guide.......2006-02-28

This short history is a well written general guide to the period. It provides a general program of events for anyone who wishes to study this particular episode of Italian or European history. The "other" Norman experiment in conquest and governance deserves more attention than it gets, especially in our current era of ethnic and relegious conflict. Useful and informative.

This is an excellent book........2005-06-19

This book is well written and interesting throughout. This is how history should be written, not dry and uninspirational but alive and dynamic - things happen in this book. No stagnant and uninteresting analysis of history here!

The topic of this book is the Norman conquest of the south of Italy, a subject that I did not know at all before I picked up this book. It gives you insight on the middle ages and debunks the traditional (and false) idea that Europe in the middle ages was a complete uncultured and chaotic place. The civilization founded by the Normans in the south of Italy was both advanced and thrived for many years.

Great stuff. Anyone with a bit of interest in history should find out about this little known epic undertaking by the Normans.

Learn about the "other Norman Conquest".......2004-05-24

This is a fascinating account of how a group of Normans found their way to southern Italy at about the same time as another group was conquering England, and within half a century had prevailed over Lombards, Saracens, Byzantium, and the Papacy to establish themselves as the dominant power in the region. A little-known story, which should be of interest to history buffs, anyone wanting to know about Italy's past, and those wondering where blue-eyed Sicilians come from. Well-researched, but the scholarship does not get in the way of the text. Eminently readable.

The Annals of Ireland Translated from the Original Irish of the Four Masters by Owen Connellan (2 Vol. Set)

Average customer rating:

J. Chrys Dougherty - early review
First Ever English Translation of the Four Masters (1846)

The Annals of Ireland Translated from the Original Irish of the Four Masters by Owen Connellan (2 Vol. Set)
Michael O'Cleary
Manufacturer: Irish Genealogical Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0940134772

Book Description

This was the first translation of these annals into English. It was published in 1846, and appears here exactly as the copy in the IGF library, with additions. The time period covered by the Four Masters here is from the 12th to the 17th century, with annotations covering the earliest times in Irish History. This is a two volume set, with color frontis in each, and a large folding map showing the location of families as given in the annals themselves. Celtic lettering is found on specific pages. New IGF map index included in this edition only. There is no comparable work to that of the Four Masters in Irish History and genealogy.

Customer Reviews:

J. Chrys Dougherty - early review.......2006-08-22

I haven't had time for more than a brief review of both volumes, but since our family from Derrylehan, Donegal, is descended from the O'Daughertaighs of Inshowen, this work is a treasure of infomation of which I have long known but now for the first time have had access to in an excellent translation. I have traced all references to the O'Dohertys in both volumes, but have not yet had time to trace the grandmother's McMahans of Fermanaugh. These books are a big help to anyone wanting to understand the culture of Ireland from the 11th to the 17th century.

First Ever English Translation of the Four Masters (1846).......2003-08-07

A very impressive work, in 2 volumes, hardbound, with four color frontis and the almost forgotten original map of Irish Family locations. The fold out map is about 20 x 25 and is the best of the genre. The Annals by the Four Masters are perhaps the most noted source in Irish history and this was the first translation into English (1846). The formal text is complete from the 12th to the 17th century. In addition, the annotations cover Irish history from the earliest times. We have been waiting for this edition to be published ! (note that Connellans translation preceeded that of O'Donovan.) Helpful index to the old map has been added for the first time. These Annals are in the English language. A few pages have some age markings on them from the original, and it remains a magnificent set of books. All in all, this is one of a kind, with a distinctive color frontis, some celtic lettering, and a map that has been out of print for over 150 years . If you have been waiting for the Annals as we have,
this is a real treat. Connellan, was a leading gaelic scholar, and this first ever translation laid the groundwork for all that would follow in the field.

From Norman Conquest to Magna Carta: England 1066-1215

Average customer rating:

From Norman Conquest to Magna Carta: England 1066-1215
Christopher Daniell
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0415222168

Book Description

From Norman Conquest to Magna Carta is a wide-ranging history of England from 1066 to 1215. Starting with the build-up to the Battle of Hastings and ending with the Magna Carta, Christopher Daniell traces the profound change England underwent in the meantime, from religion through court life to arts and architecture.
This survey uses a combination of original sources and sharp analysis to trace England's transformation after 1066. The Papacy became powerful enough to proclaim Crusades or challenge kings. The new monastic orders revitalised Christianity in England and spread European learning throughout the country. The new Norman conquerors changed the landscape with major building projects, new cathedrals and churches, and numerous castles in the countryside to defend the new lords. In 1215 the king's administration had become more sophisticated and centralised. The homelands in Normandy had been lost, forcing future kings to concentrate on England. The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 and would revolutionize the world in centuries to come.

Strongbow: The Story of Richard And Aoife (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)

Average customer rating:

An interesting book, although not one of her best.
Strongbow
A quick, disappointing read
I couldn't put it down!
A Quick Easy Read

Strongbow: The Story of Richard And Aoife (Celtic World of Morgan Llywelyn)
Morgan Llywelyn
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0812544625

Customer Reviews:

An interesting book, although not one of her best........2001-10-09

I'm a huge fan of Llywelyn, and have read most of her books. This one isn't one of her best, although it does have some interesting information about 12th century Ireland. The book is historical fiction based on Richard "Strongbow" and his Irish wife, Aoife.

The book is written in the first person, alternating between Strongbow and Aoife narrating a chapter. This can be a bit hard to follow at times.

The reading is relatively easy even with the first person writings. Unless you are an avid Llywelyn fan buy one of her other fantastic books.

Strongbow.......2001-01-30

Despite the negative reviews about the alternate chapter writing, I belive it was a well written book and the chapters were very easy for me to follow. If I, a junior high school student, can foolow this story i would think that just about anny literate person should find it enjoyable and inspiring. The story plot is set in Ireland/England in the 12th century. Richard de Clare, AKA Strongbow, is the son of a very popular warrior. Aoife, AKA Red Eva, is the daughter of a very important leader. I would recomend this book to anyone that enjoyed Brian Boru or who has an Irish Background.

A quick, disappointing read.......2000-05-01

This was not the best Llywelyn book I've read. The novel, if you can call it that, was brief (more of a novella). She did not develop the main characters at all. It was like reading a biographical sketch of Richard de Clare and Aoife. Each of them tells a little of the story every other chapter. This style would work for a well developed story, but here it seems as though the characters have never met and they are supposed to be in love! The ending comes quickly and is not satisfying. A happy ending is not necessary, but with so little story it was a big disappointment. However, this book would be a good read for a young adult (7th-8th grade) and an introduction to Llywelyn and historical fiction. The back drop of the story was authentic and Llywelyn is an eminent historian. Still, if you are an adult, avoid this one and read another LLywelyn book such as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch.

I couldn't put it down!.......1999-10-19

It was a very interesting book, with a lot of cool irish mythology, and even historical facts. It made me want to read more of Morgan Llywelyn's books. It was a very entertaining book, that kept me reading once i started.

A Quick Easy Read.......1998-06-27

This my first book I've read by this author. Like others have stated, every once in a while the alternating chapters can be confusing. I think that I will try another of her books, but try out this book for yourself.

Average customer rating:

he destroys well who builds something better
Good coverage of an intersting topic

The Normans and the Norman Conquest
R. Allen Brown
Manufacturer: Boydell Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0851153674

Book Description

The introduction of Brown's book should be made compulsory reading- LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKSThe `English' who faced the forces of William duke of Normandy on 14 October 1066 were by no means a pure-bred and unified race, nor was the flower of England's manhood laid low by an army of self-seeking Norman opportunists. R. Allen Brown traces the forces and influences that shaped both England and Normandy in the decades before 1066, and shows how the new order, emerging from the aftermath of the battle of Hastings, produced a degree of political unity and social dynamism previously unknown in England, bringing a reinvigorated nation fully into the mainstream of the dynamic expansion of western Latin Christendom.R. ALLEN BROWN was professor of History at King's College, London and founder of the annual Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman studies.

Customer Reviews:

he destroys well who builds something better.......2007-06-15

This book was written as a reaction to the all of the revisionist Neo-Anglo-saxon writings of the 60's,which saw the Norman conquest of England as an invasion that was more negative than positive.The book is almost half comprised of footnotes which shows a conscientousness in regard to the written sources on the author's part.Brown portends that Norman achievements in all aspects in regard to England far outweigh any negative aspects.There is a detailed chapter on the numerous claims to Edward the Confessor's throne and the legitimacy of each one-then Brown let's the reader decide.Once again the footnotes add to the author's surgical detail.The book is a "lest we forget" book addressed to the Neo-Anglosaxonophiles of the 60's.

Good coverage of an intersting topic.......2000-07-14

This is a well written book which looks at an interesting period in English history which is for the most part skimmed over by novellists (where most of us get our history) in favour of later more "interesting" periods. It is a great introduction to the topic, and is a worthy addition to the library of anyone who is interested in the period.

Average customer rating:

Rite of Conquest
Not a Bad Historical Fantasy about William the Conqueror & Matilda
spellbinding historical fantasy

Rite of Conquest
Judith Tarr
Manufacturer: Roc Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451460022
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Book Description

For 500 years the Saxons ruled England, crushing the ancient powers. But a wave of change approaches. Across the Channel in Normandy, William is born-the bastard son of a duke and a magical woman of Druid descent.

As he grows to manhood, William's battle skills earn him respect, but his temper and disregard for his innate magical abilities hold him back. He needs a teacher, whether he wants one or not, and finds one in the beautiful French noblewoman Mathilda. But William is resistant to the very idea of magic, and unless he can accept Mathilda's help-and her love-his imperfectly controlled abilities may destroy him. In an epic battle that spans worlds and ages, magical forces and earthbound armies will be drawn together by William as he fights to achieve his destiny-and reign as King of England.

Customer Reviews:

Rite of Conquest.......2005-09-14

Judith Tarr is an author I generally like. I've read a number of her books, and they are often quite interesting, even if you have to suspend disbelief. Rite of Conquest is well-written. Unfortunately, I don't think this book is one of her best. In order to make William "the Conqueror" "fit" her "Arthurian" image, she has to do a lot of "playing" with what is historically known, and the result is a tale that doesn't look like any histories I've ever seen of this period. That, in itself, is not bad; it's p ossible in fantasy and science fiction to play with historical "realities" to a certain extent. However, she plays so much with the realities of the time, that the characters simply become unbelievable. Their motivations are not rooted ini any actual context(which I think even a "historical fantasy" writer must accept), but in what she would "like", based on certaiin tropes popular among (some) fantasists: namely "happy pagans" and "magic practitioners". She comes up with some pretty odd practitioners of these arts, e.g. Lanfranc, who was later Archbishop of Canterbury. And she makes William a lot "nicer" than he probably actually was, ignoring the fact that the English probably considered him little more than a thug with a crown on his head. But as I said, she writes well, and if the reader is able to keep a very large grain of salt nearby, it is enjoyable.
Anne G

Not a Bad Historical Fantasy about William the Conqueror & Matilda.......2005-09-01

This is the historical fantasy version of William and Matilda. They are both blessed/cursed with great magic. William is also the reincarnation of King Arthur (which I found extremely difficult to swallow). It follows William and Matilda from 1047-1066 in primarily Normandy & England. The overall story was ok but it was not riveting.

My biggest problem with this novel is the idea that William is actually King Arthur reincarnated. I find it difficult to believe that "William/Arthur" would have been able to justify the slaughter of his own "countrymen" to rightfully rule again.

I enjoyed Judith Tarr's "Pride of Kings" & "Kingdom of the Grail" much more. I guess that's because the stories were more realistic and grounded more in fact rather than so much fantasy/magic such as this one was.

spellbinding historical fantasy.......2004-10-06

Rite of Conquest
Judith Tarr
Roc, Oct 2004, $16.00, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0451460022

In 1047, William the Duke of Normandy tries to ignore the magic that flows through his veins as he battles pretenders and contenders who wish to replace him. The old magic thrives in Normandy with beneficial spirits who want to help mankind. Powerful sorceress Mathilda, daughter of the Count of Flanders, is sent to the French King's court where William has come after winning a decisive battle abetted by King Henry.

When William meets Mathilda, she lectures him on the use of his magic so that he does not inadvertently hurt himself or others. Fearing the magic that is the antithesis of Christianity, William flees to his Normandy, but cannot forget Mathilda. He proposes marriage and she accepts. They may forge a dynasty across the Channel where the Church has thrown out the magic, but William must first defeat King Harold.

The story of William's rise to power, consolidation of that power, and his marriage to Mathilda are part of the history books, but also cleverly interwoven into a spellbinding historical fantasy that once again shows why Judith Tarr is the mistress of the sub-genre. Her unique slant on the events leading to 1066 makes for a fun and fascinating read. The use of magic as a benign tool while the battles provide a more mundane (though interesting) look at William's claiming of the throne with church approval maks for a fascinating juxtaposition. RITE OF CONQUEST is a definite keeper.

Harriet Klausner

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books