Book Description
From the internationally bestselling author of
London and
Sarum -- a magnificent epic about love and war, family life and political intrigue in Ireland over the course of seventeen centuries. Like the novels of James Michener,
The Princes of Ireland brilliantly interweaves engrossing fiction and well-researched fact to capture the essence of a place.
Edward Rutherfurd has introduced millions of readers to the human dramas that are the lifeblood of history. From his first bestseller,
Sarum, to the #1 bestseller
London, he has captivated audiences with gripping narratives that follow the fortunes of several fictional families down through the ages.
The Princes of Ireland, a sweeping panorama steeped in the tragedy and glory that is Ireland, epitomizes the power and richness of Rutherfurd’s storytelling magic.
The saga begins in pre-Christian Ireland with a clever refashioning of the legend of Cuchulainn, and culminates in the dramatic founding of the Free Irish State in 1922. Through the interlocking stories of a wonderfully imagined cast of characters -- monks and noblemen, soldiers and rebels, craftswomen and writers -- Rutherfurd vividly conveys the personal passions and shared dreams that shaped the character of the country. He takes readers inside all the major events in Irish history: the reign of the fierce and mighty kings of Tara; the mission of Saint Patrick; the Viking invasion and the founding of Dublin; the trickery of Henry II, which gave England its foothold on the island in 1167; the plantations of the Tudors and the savagery of Cromwell; the flight of the “Wild Geese”; the failed rebellion of 1798; the Great Famine and the Easter Rebellion. With Rutherfurd’s well-crafted storytelling, readers witness the rise of the Fenians in the late nineteenth century, the splendours of the Irish cultural renaissance, and the bloody battles for Irish independence, as though experiencing their momentous impact firsthand.
Tens of millions of North Americans claim Irish descent. Generations of people have been enchanted by Irish literature, and visitors flock to Dublin and its environs year after year.
The Princes of Ireland will appeal to all of them -- and to anyone who relishes epic entertainment spun by a master.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
The Princes of Ireland.......2007-10-11
This novel was better than The Rebels of Ireland. It is rich with the history of Ireland. However, some of the charaterters were repetitious.
Rutherford's books.......2007-08-06
Rutherford does a great deal of research and manages to weave a lot of real history into a fictional story with finesse. The sequel, "The Rebels of Ireland", taught me more about Ireland's current culture than reading a stack of history books would have done.
Lackluster indeed.......2007-06-16
I had trouble finishing this rather boring history of Ireland. The characters are two dimensional and the whole story lacks connectedness. It was more fits and starts and then a change to a totally different time. It seemed the author was unsure if he was writing a novel or history and tried to cover too much ground at one time.
Formulaic but not bad.......2007-04-08
This is my first read of Edward Rutherford and based on several other reviews of this work, it appears that measured against the standard of his previous work, this one is perhaps not as powerful.
Not having the benefit of those previous reads, I come at this perhaps from a different point of view.
As an amateur historian and genealogist, I came to this work expecting it to give some context and progression toward a better understanding of the history of Ireland and perhaps some insight into the lives and issues of its inhabitants. I was not disappointed in that regard.
In terms of comparison there certainly is a close parallel to the works of James Michener. It also reminded me of some of the works of Morgan Llewellyn, "Lion of Ireland" although, this work doesn't quite capture the reader's imagination in terms of the development of each character.
All that said, this work doesn't quite rise to the levels of the standard-bearers in terms of the genre or the region.
Still, it is not bad. The use of recurring themes, the character continuity across generations and the use of literary devices such as a drinking skulll passed through one of of the families is done reasonably well. Interesting as well for the genealogist. is the development of the character names over time, illustrating the development and change in family names that is typical of the region.
Not 5 star material, but again, not bad. The reader looking to benefit from the reading of this book in terms of their understanding of the history and the region will not be disappointed. The reader looking solely to be entertained, may find it more work than pleasure.
I personally enjoyed it, while recognizing it probably is not Rutherford's best work.
Better Than A Sleeping Pill.......2007-02-08
I've read Sarum, London, & The Forest and really enjoyed them. This book is not nearly as good. It's just plain boring. I kept reading with the hope that the book would improve in the next chapter - needless to say my hopes were dashed! I will probably give his next book a chance, after all, every author should be allowed a "dud" now and then.
Book Description
The daughter of a disgraced earl, she matched wits with a prince.
It is the fourteenth century, the height of the Medieval Age, and at the court of King Edward III of England, chivalry is loudly praised while treachery runs rampant. When the lovely and high-spirited Joan of Kent is sent to this politically charged court, she is woefully unprepared for the underhanded maneuverings of her peers.
Determined to increase the breadth of his rule, the king will use any means necessary to gain control of France—including manipulating his own son, Edward, Prince of Wales. Joan plots to become involved with the prince to scandalize the royal family, for she has learned they engineered her father’s downfall and death. But what begins as a calculated strategy soon—to Joan’s surprise—grows into love. When Joan learns that Edward returns her feelings, she is soon fighting her own, for how can she love the man that ruined her family? And, if she does, what will be the cost?
Filled with scandal, court intrigue, and prominent figures of the Medieval Age, The First Princess of Wales has at its center a wonderful love story, which is all the more remarkable because it is true. Karen Harper’s compelling, fast-paced novel tells the riveting tale of an innocent girl who marries a prince and gives birth to a king.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book and glad that I read it.......2007-08-15
I picked this up not knowing what to expect and found that I liked it a lot. In fact, it only me a day and a half to get through the whole thing.
I found it to be informative and fun. It has inspired me to find out more about Joan of Kent and that whole time period. I hope that others read it and give it a chance. I think that you'll like what you find.
Now to find her other books and hope that they are as good.
great book!.......2007-06-23
I recieved this book as a birthday gift, and was quite amazed that it turned out to be a book I would have picked myself! Aside from one war scene that was a bit boring for me, the rest of the book was really intruiging, and kept me reading on. There are some parts in the book, that as a women makes you cringe...but unlike the previous reviews, I don't think that it was all intended to be romantic. I had no idea it was even listed under romance. It more came across to me as being a historical fiction, and along with that also comes how women were treated during that time..which wasn't always the best. I would definitely recommend this book, but be prepared for some harsh parts.
LOVES IT!!.......2007-03-29
Harper has an incredible nac for writing and her words flow smoothly throughout the book. She is well researched, her plot is well planned and put together, her characters are well made and dynamic, the sexual tension is off the charts, and she manages to grab hold of the reader's emotions. I literally could not put the book down, so wonderful it was. It is definitely among my top five books of all time, and I have absolutely NO bad thing to say about the writing. Many times I felt like crying for the heroine or hero and the action never stops, moving the reader from page after page to see what happens next. I am sure that I will enjoy this book many, many times more. Absolutely GREAT reading... not your regular run-of-the-mill, sappy love story... the sweetness of their love is made more sweet by the bitterness of the trials and tribulations they must endure for years before they are finally united in holy matrimony. READ IT!
Readable Despite Its Extreme Faults.......2007-03-11
Aside from the shallow, fatuous characterizations, the gratuitous borderline-rape sex scenes, the anachronistic dialogue, and the utter lack of historical verity it was not a bad read. If you are looking for a realistic depiction of Joan of Kent or fourteenth century England, you will be sorely disapointed.
Ms. Harper was unable to even accurately portray Joan's honours and dignities, refering to her as the "Duchess of Kent" and stating that her husband, Thomas Holland, did not assume the titles by her right. The Holland-Salisbury case and the consequeseces of the death of Edmund of Woodstock are grossly distorted. The historical continuity is preposterously inaccurate, as are the names and relative ages of Joan's siblings and children.
As for the unwarranted copulation and the vapid, desultory female characters, anyone who has previously read Ms. Harper's work will not be surprised. Despite all of these severe flaws, I found this book easy to read and not unenjoyable. Consider it as a beach read or on a commute.
I can't believe all the negatives on this book.......2007-02-14
So what that some of the ages of the major characters don't add up. The love story is true and the author's creation of Joan's and Prince Edward's characters and relationship with each other is very believable. Prince Edward was arrogant and self assured just as a prince in his time should be. What woman wouldn't enjoy the attention, desire, and eventually, the love of a most beloved prince. I have to warn those fans of true historical novels, such as those of Sharon Kay Penman, that this is more of a romance novel. But, it is still a fun read.
Book Description
"A SURPRISINGLY FRESH AND TREMENDOUSLY THOROUGH CONTRIBUTION to the debate...Weir's book is, no doubt, not the last on this subject, but it might be the best....[She] constructs a devastating case...[and] brilliantly illuminates the nature of late-medieval political power."
--The Boston Globe
Despite five centuries of investigation by historians, the sinister deaths of the boy king Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, remain two of the most fascinating murder mysteries in English history. Did Richard III really kill "the Princes in the Tower," as is commonly believed, or was the murderer someone else entirely? Carefully examining every shred of contemporary evidence as well as dozens of modern accounts, English historian Alison Weir reconstructs the entire chain of events leading to the double murder. We are witnesses to the rivalry, ambition, intrigue, and struggle for power that culminated in the imprisonment of the prince and the hushed-up murders that secured Richard's claim to the throne as Richard III. A masterpiece of historical research and a riveting story of conspiracy and deception, The Princes in the Tower at last provides a solution to this age-old puzzle.
"Weir takes on this delicious mystery with a fearsome vengeance. The result is a fascinating and completely credible account."
--Milwaukee Journal
"Did Richard III do in his nephews or didn't he? How much of the evil-uncle legend was later Tudor propaganda and how much was true?...This is exciting reading."
--The Denver Post
"A fascinating historical whodunit in which truth is more sordid than fiction."
--Kirkus Reviews
A MAIN SELECTION OF
THE BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
Customer Reviews:
Fiction attempting to pass for serious history.......2007-08-05
This book has a bibliography but no footnotes or source citations. If you are a serious history student, don't waste your time on this book. It isn't worth the paper it's written on.
Just OK.......2007-06-10
Historical accuracy aside, I was a bit disappointed in this book. I realize it's not a novel, and is written more like a history book. The first 90 pages jump around the bloodlines etc, and the information is repeated later in the book. Get past the first 90 pages and it becomes more readable.
"Because I said so!".......2007-05-30
Weir's earnest claims of neutrality aside, it should be fairly obvious to any reader, whether they agree with her or not, that she allows her personal bias to color her account in ways that, personally, I think are fairly inappropriate. It's one thing to state all your evidence and then the conclusion that you draw from it; it's another to say, "This is what I think, and here are the reasons I'm right." What irks me most is that there is no consistency in her dependence on sources. If she agrees with a source, then obviously the source is correct. If not - even if it is the same source - all of a sudden it is no longer to be trusted. You can't dismiss a source as unreliable in one chapter and then base your entire argument on it in the next.
Another thing that bugs me is that Weir does not use footnotes. There is a bibliography, and she does use in-text citations for most of her primary sources, but at times it is impossible to tell if her argument is her own or if it's coming from someone else. This is such a huge no-no, but it seems like it's becoming more common in "popular" histories - a bad sign.
Now, the fact that I tend to disagree with Weir's conclusion - which is, despite what she claims in her introduction, that Richard III was a grade-A jerk - might bias my own review. But the truth is, Weir's methodology makes her thesis rather unconvincing. I'm sure if you went into this book already certain that Richard did it, this book will be a great confirmation. And if you didn't know anything about Richard, Weir's long list of grievances against him (even if many of them are highly subjective) may be enough to convince you to accept the conventional wisdom about the princes' deaths. But I suspect few, if any, of the people who have actually done their own research into the subject, and who have come to doubt whether Richard really killed his nephews, will be won over by Weir's flimsy accusations. "Because I said so" is not a terribly persuasive argument for anyone to make, much less a respected historian.
definite edge of your seat.......2007-04-11
Power, Corruption, Jealousy, Imprisonment and Murder. The Princs in the Tower is tale as oold as time and still to this day an unsolved mystery of England's greatest period. Tantalizing and intriguing Weir did a fantasitc job researching this project and has done a wonderful job giving those details to the readers.
Mediocre writing, biased presentation.......2006-12-27
I am amazed that so many people find Weir's writing engaging. Compared to many modern writers - historical and not - it is mediocre at best. As for her presentation of "facts" - she is extremely biased. It is clear even for anyone like me who vaguely knows of Shakespeare's "Richard the III" and having been born in Russia never studied British history in earnest. I do read a lot of documentary mysteries and am inclined to logic and reasoning by occupation (financial accounting) and I should agree with all the previous reviewers who comments on her inclination to bent facts to fit the preconceptions Mrs. Weir has to reach the conclusions she obviously had before she wrote the book (and probably started the research).
One good thing did come out of reading this book, though - it caused me to seek more material about the period and I have red, among others, the Paul Murrey Kendall's "Richard the III" and can highly recommend it as a book of high scholarly standards and excellent example of truly engaging historical writing. I don't think King Richard the III was a saint, and I am sure anybody is capable of murder under certain circumstances, but I tend to agree with "revisionists" that it is hard to believe that he was behind this particular murder and definitely was not the one who would benefit from it the way it was done. On me "The Princes in the Tower" had the opposite effect from the one intended by the author. But if you are seeking a melodrama presented in the guise of historical writing - it is a book for you.
Book Description
You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go—they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!
Frommer's Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island is the premier guide to the Atlantic Provinces, with complete coverage of the title destinations as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. You'll get the inside scoop on the best hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, as well as the author's picks for the best travel experiences, including: sea kayaking nova scotia; biking the cabot trail; hiking Gros Morne National Park; driving along the Viking Trail in Newfoundland; walking through Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia; feasting on fresh lobster and Digby scallops; and more.
Customer Reviews:
A Disappointment... .......2007-08-16
very limited information about Nova Scotia. I have used many guide books in the past and this one was a real disappointment ! In some regards actually found the AAA guide to be more useful,,,
Book Description
Walk on the ocean floor at low tide among stunning rock formations, ascend rugged coastal cliffs on the world's most scenic drive, mingle with the locals at a seaside lobster boil, or spend the night in a historic lighthouse—Fodor's Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada, 9th Edition offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the area, including New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best —"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our Atlantic Canada guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area to Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best—so you know you're seeing the real Atlantic Canada.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
-----------------------------------
With Fodor’s you get much more than a guidebook–we make it easy for you to customize your dream vacation.
Visit
www.fodors.com to find up-to-date travel bargains, mini-guides to worldwide destinations, information on local festivals, dazzling drives, maps, vacation planning tips and much more!
And, for more insider secrets, visit “Travel Talk” and “Rants and Raves” online at
www.fodors.com/forums to get advice from other travelers like you.
Customer Reviews:
Best buy.......2007-03-11
I am organising a trip in the Maritimes and this guide was the best. Very helpfull, very easy to read and you can tell the writers are from the area, they know the places.
Detailed info very helpful.......2006-08-17
The details of what is seen in the various areas are very helpful. Fodors takes you town by town in an orderly fashion with helpful information in planning your trip.
I found that after reading this book, my vacation plans were changed to accomodate more sightseeing. It was very beneficial.
Book Description
Master 18th-century cooking techniques while soaking up music and mutiny at Louisbourg, p. 131.
Discover what festival-going Scots really wear under those kilts in Halifax and Antigonish, p. 71, p. 119.
Slap on a bib and loosen your belt at a PEI lobster supper, p. 205.
Shore up your sea legs while spotting humpbacks and dodging icebergs on Newfoundland's waters, p. 229.
Dedicated Newfoundland & Labrador chapter.
Two fearless authors, 800+ hours and 8830km on the road.
Oodles of itineraries to please road-trippers, foodies, history buffs and Anne maniacs alike.
Evocative insights from a host of Atlantic Canadians.
Customer Reviews:
A good guide to carry along with you.......2007-10-02
We used this during our trip and enjoyed it a lot, most especially their restaurant recommendations. Their choices in Halifax and Charlottetown were right on. Their B&B recommendations were good too. I recommend carrying this with you on your trip.
Book Description
Thomas Jefferson condemned slavery but denied that whites and liberated blacks could live together in harmony. Jefferson’s young cousin Richard Randolph and ninety African Americans set out to prove the sage of Monticello wrong. When Randolph died in 1796, he left land for his formidable bondman Hercules White and for dozens of other slaves. Freed, they could build new lives there alongside white neighbors and other blacks who had gained their liberty earlier.
Fittingly, the Randolph freedpeople called their promised land Israel Hill. These black Israelites and other free African Americans established farms, plied skilled trades, and navigated the Appomattox River in freight-carrying “batteaux.” Hercules White’s son Sam and other free blacks bought and sold boats, land, and buildings, and they won the respect of whites.
Melvin Patrick Ely captures a series of remarkable personal and public dramas: free black and white people do business with one another, sue each other, work side by side for equal wages, join forces to found a Baptist congregation, move West together, and occasionally settle down as man and wife. Even still-enslaved blacks who face charges of raping or killing whites sometimes find ardent white defenders.
Yet slavery’s long shadow darkens this landscape in unpredictable ways. After Nat Turner’s slave revolt, county officials confiscate and auction off free blacks’ weapons–and then vote to give the proceeds to the blacks themselves. One black Israelite marries an enslaved woman and watches, powerless, as a white master carries three of their children off to Missouri; a free black miller has to bid for his own wife at a public auction. Proslavery hawks falsely depict Israel Hill to the nation as a degenerate place whose supposed failure proves blacks are unfit for freedom. The Confederate Army compels free black men to build fortifications far from home, until Lee finally surrenders to Grant a few miles from Israel Hill.
Ely tells a moving story of hope and hardship, of black pride and achievement. He shows us an Old South we hardly know, where ties of culture, faith, affection, and economic interest crossed racial barriers–a society in which, ironically, many whites felt secure enough to deal fairly and even cordially with free African Americans partly because slavery still held most blacks firmly in its grip.
Customer Reviews:
Way Down Yonder..........2007-02-07
Ely's revelations about Free African Americans in Virginia living, working, interacting, and marrying with white rural Virginians is a fascinating, detailed, and insightful revelation. Not so much that it happened, but that it was kept such a secret from the public, and in fact the subject of much dishonest, negative propaganda by the press and the politicians of the era. A week or so after starting to read this fascinating book, a relative was talking about what a great guy his new Cardiologist in Richmond, Va was. And he related that the good Doctor was from Charlotte Court House, between Naruna, Va where I grew up and, the location of New Isreal in Buckingham County. And his name was Randolph...,the family name taken by many of the slaves freed by the Mr. Randolph in the 1700's. This week the legislature of Virginia passed an official statement of regret for the effects of slavery. An institution the the Randolph family escaped a hundred years before most of their peers. Hopefully it wont take another hundred years before an African American Cardiologist from small town Virginia, is not a anomaly.
A story that deserved to be told, though it drags a little in repetitive places.......2005-12-22
The subject of this history is Israel Hill in the early 19th century, a settlement in Virginia of free African Americans, former slaves who had been emancipated in their former owners' will. The book explores various aspects of lives in this community: land ownership, chosen occupations, relations with the law and with their neighbors.
It is a good and worthy history; I'm glad I read it, as I learned much. It is also a story very much worth telling. The discussion of how many of these men were drawn to the profession of piloting river shipments was particularly interesting.
The modern reader will doubtless be struck by how frequently these individuals were able to assert their rights. The law was certainly not colorblind, and they were discriminated against in many fundamental and structural ways. But the book also shows many instances wherein the freed men and women were able to bring suits and win them, or to be acquitted from unjust charges. Although discrimination was embedded in many aspects of the law, it was nevertheless the case that many a judge and jury would believe the word of a black man with a reputation for honesty over a white man with a reputation for venality.
Would-be readers should be aware, however, that the book is quite detailed. Numerous cases like those referenced above are described, and it can take a fair amount of reading to go through the examples that serve the author's point.
If I have one small criticism of the book, it's in the number of times the author feels compelled to point out that things back on Israel Hill weren't always the way that we modern audiences tend to assume from Pre-Civil War Virginia. He's certainly correct, but we have no way of knowing what future generations will assume about that time. His book would have more staying power if he didn't expect certain presumptions on the part of the reader; his work speaks for itself without them.
But that's a minor quibble; it's an inspiring story, and worth reading. Most general readers will find their understanding of this earlier society much deepened.
How free black and white folk lived together for decades.......2005-03-12
A Southern experiment in black freedom from the 1790s through Civil War times? President Thomas Jefferson condemned slavery but didn't believe whites and liberated blacks could live together in harmony: His cousin Richard Randolph and ninety blacks set out to prove him wrong, and built a bastion of freedom in his heritage to bondsman Hercules White and dozens of other slaves. The lives of the newly freed people on the land Israel Hill is revealed in Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern Experiment in Black Freedom from the 1790s Through the Civil War, an in-depth survey of how free black and white folk lived together for decades. Chapters provide both a social history of slavery and a set of political insights detailing hardship, black pride, and an impossible dream come to life.
Average customer rating:
- An unavoidable piece of work on Lawrence's life
- Wonderfully thorough Research
- Almost as eloquent as Lawrence himself
- We Will Never See Its Like Again
- Fresh, engaging view
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A Prince of Our Disorder: The Life of T. E. Lawrence
John E. Mack
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
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ASIN: 0674704940 |
Book Description
When this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography first appeared in 1976, it rescued T. E. Lawrence from the mythologizing that had seemed to be his fate. In it, John Mack humanely and objectively explores the relationship between Lawrence's inner life and his historically significant actions. Extensive interviews, far-flung correspondence, access to War Office dispatches and unpublished letters provide the basis for Mack's sensitive investigation of the psychiatric dimensions of Lawrence's personality. In addition, Mack examines the pertinent history, politics, and sociology of the time in order to weigh the real forces with which Lawrence contended and which impinged upon him.
Customer Reviews:
An unavoidable piece of work on Lawrence's life.......2006-12-23
While searching for literature on the man in the movie `Lawrence of Arabia', otherwise unknown to me other than knowing him as the brother of D.H. Lawrence, I stumbled across this most authoritative biography on the man who David Lean so magnificently portrayed in his film. He is one of the men who could be placed in par with other great leaders of Britain during the early part of the 20th century.
While Lawrence's autobiography, `Seven Pillars of Wisdom' gives gory picture of his life in the desert and his adventurous war campaigns, Mack's book gives more insight into the man's psyche just as Judith Brown did on Gandhi in her book `Gandhi - A Prisoner of hope'. His many questionable traits (exhibitionism, homosexual tendancies, overemphasis of his achievements) are wonderfully analyzed with information gleaned from tons of historical materials. While the west looked at him as a great war commander (though some question his contributions during the great desert wars), the east, even the people who worked with him, do not consider him as a man who helped Arabs gain their freedom from Turks other than agreeing to the fact that he helped king Faisel in wars.
Lawrence's genius is considered twined with his behavioral disorder, a not so common association among people who have schizophrenic symptoms except may be for rare cases of autistic geniuses like Peter Guthrie (not the Scottish mathematician but a not so well-known artist). There have been debates during his later years as whether Lawrence was in fact an autistic. At any rate, as reflected in one of his most famous quotes, he was a `dangerous' daydreamer who dreamt with open eyes and made things happen unlike night dreamers who dream in their dusty recesses of their minds only to wake up in the morning to see they are vain.
T.E. Lawrence's life and his untimely death (by motorbike accident) left us with lot of questions as who was he and what was he doing in the middle east and what made him to completely depart from the politics of middle east and lead a secluded life of 23 years in the Royal Air Force (not forgetting his contributions to the invention of new types of speed boats). His appearances in Arab's traditional attire in Versailles during 1919 Paris Peace Conference with the King Faisel and with other western dignitaries draw a stark similarity with Gandhi's appearance in loin cloth and shawl during the Round Table Conference at London. Though Faisal trusted him as his benevolent, he did not entrust Lawrence completely as he always thought him as a British spy.
I would suggest anyone who is inquisitive of T.E. Lawrence, also see David Lean's much acclaimed epic motion picture `Lawrence of Arabia'. If the movie `Lawrence of Arabia' captivated me, Mack's biography enthralled me with its abundance of well researched information. As with any other great men, Lawrence's life also is worth researching into. And these biographers are the ones who make legends live and help sustain the new generations' interest on these great people. A great biographical work!
Mere coincidence or not, John E. Mack died of a car accident in New York in 2004.
Wonderfully thorough Research.......2005-01-05
I have now read several books both on T.E. Lawrence, the Middle East, World War I and English governmental history. This is by far the best biography on T.E. Lawrence and the situation in the Middle East that I have read. John Mack did an outstanding job of researching Lawrence for this book. One of the most interesting sections of the book was reading the endnotes. They provide even more information about Mack's research as well as to clarify some previous misstatements about Lawrence.
Although Lawrence suffered greatly from depression and other disorders he was a truly great man. That he was able to be an outstanding friend to so many people while enduring personal suffering is amazing. John Mack portrays Lawrence in an honest light which actually makes Lawrence and his achievements all the more spectacular because of his personal struggles.
John Mack's biography shows us that great people are not perfect nor does their greatness make them happy. He also shows that people who, if truth were know, live outside of societies norms can do world changing things and be loved by society. Lawrence seemed to have been very accepting of all people, other than himself.
To call Lawrence's life tragic in some way diminishes his accomplishments. Was Lawrence a great man because of his problems or in spite of his problems? I think that Lawrence was capable of being a legend because of his problems. The psychological struggles he endured were who he was. Society is so quick to discount a person because of psychological problems, whether they are great people or not. If society were honest with itself, it would realize that everyone has some problem or other. Some, as Lawrence was, are open (relatively) and honest about their problems while most choose to act as if they don't exist.
Winston Churchill, a contemporary of Lawrence's, also suffered greatly from depression and probably some other things as well. Churchill was also hero and a legend and was largely responsible for keeping the world free from Nazi Germany when few noticed the threat or appropriately dealt with it.
It appears to me, that the greater the leader and the more astounding his or her abilities, the more "different" they are from what society believes is normal. A good thought to ponder.
John Mack does an excellent job of providing a well-documented biography of T.E. Lawrence as well as an outline of his psychological makeup. Mack does not claim to understand Lawrence or to explain every behavior. I had expected to read more of a detailed psychological report and was, at first, a bit disappointed. However, the longer I read the more apparent it was that Mack was portraying Lawrence's personality through an accurate telling of his story rather than trying to lecture on "who Lawrence really was" and "why he did everything he did". John Mack also did not fall into the overly Freudian theory that Lawrence did everything because of sex. Sex obviously played a role in his psychology but did not appear to be the overriding theme.
Almost as eloquent as Lawrence himself.......2004-08-19
Dr. John Mack's study of Lawrence is one of the most absorbing reads I've ever enjoyed in my lifetime. As Irving Howe wrote, "What finally draws one to Lawrence, making him not merely an exceptional figure, but a representative man of our century, is his courage and vulnerability in bearing the burden of consciousness." The impact that the trial by fire in Arabia appears to have had on his post-war life is shocking, and teaches us once again not to envy our great heroes. Lawrence wrote of General Allenby that great men cannot be judged by ordinary standards, anymore than the sharpness of the bow of an ocean liner can be judged by the sharpness of a razor. After reading "A Prince of Our Disorder," I recognize now that Lawrence was probably thinking of himself while writing those kind words about his former master, asking that he not be be judged by his hidden afflictions, torments, and self-doubts, all the while laying out those same imperfections for all the world to read. Lawrence warned us,"The documents are liars ... No man ever yet tried to write down the entire truth of any action in which he has been engaged." No man is truly capable of understanding his own subconscious motivations, but I doubt that anyone has ever struggled harder than Lawrence to achieve self-understanding. We will have to try to read between the lines, learn what we can, and apply that knowledge to enrich our own poor lives.
So sad for all of us that our leaders are not of the same introspective type. Dr. Mack comments in his introduction that "The destructive leader, and the eagerness of a large segment of the population to identify with him, comprise one of the central threats -- if not the greatest threat -- that faces human society. There is perhaps an increasing unwillingness to entrust our well-being and our lives to individuals and characters we do not understand and whose ultimate purposes we are ignorant of." Let's hope so.
Jeremy Wilson's massive biography "Lawrence of Arabia" may better satisfy military readers interested in extensive contemporary document citations, and includes much more detail on Lawrence's Cairo years. Wilson also has a better set of photographs. The 1922 Oxford full text of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," edited by Jeremy and Nicole Wilson and available from Castle Hill Press in the UK, is most highly recommended to all who find "T.E.L." fascinating.
We Will Never See Its Like Again.......2004-01-10
For years, I have studied the life and works of T. E. Lawrence. My research has lead me across the pages of hundreds of books including his own Seven Pillars of Wisdom, but the best biography and analysis of Lawrence I have yet encountered is A Prince of Our Disorder.
Dr. Mack's thorough examination and explanation of the effect of Lawrence's childhood on his adult life and mentality is brilliant. Instead of merely stating his opinions, he touches on those of other biographers as well and then proceeds to state how and why he feels they are accurate or inaccurate, providing quotes from military reports, other Lawrence books, interviews with Lawrence's relatives and friends, and Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
If you read A Prince of Our Disorder, I can almost 100% gaurantee that you will have a better understanding of Lawrence's personal role in the Hejaz Campaign and the lasting effects of his experiences in Arabia on him physically and psychologically. Thankfully, it is beautifully written, and not at all confusing.
From the moment Mack "introduces" you to Lawrence you will have a desire to learn more about him, and as Mack walks you through his troubled life, you will feel pity and awe for this untouchable man.
I think that A Prince of Our Disorder clarifies the line between the legend of the indestructable, hero-Lawrence and the lost, soul-searching man Lawrence really was.
Fresh, engaging view.......2003-10-01
I've been studying the life of Lawrence nearly all of my own 50 years, since I was thirteen. I've read and reread all I could find about him, especially his own Seven Pillars of Wisdom. How refreshing it was to read Professor Mack's excellent book which covers so much more than I'd ever found before and with surprisingly brilliant insight. A fresh look at this enigmatic figure with modern eyes and a richer understanding. A great read.
Average customer rating:
- Good collection by a master of wit
- a great collection
- A fabulous collection of perhaps Twain's very best works!
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Mark Twain : Historical Romances : The Prince and the Pauper / A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court / Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (Library of America)
Mark Twain , and
Samuel Clemens
Manufacturer: Library of America
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Binding: Hardcover
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Mark Twain : Mississippi Writings : Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, Pudd'nhead Wilson (Library of America)
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Twain: The Gilded Age and Later Novels: The Gilded Age / The American Claimant / Tom Sawyer Abroad / Tom Sawyer, Detective / No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger (Library of America)
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Mark Twain: Collected Tales, Sketches, Speeches, and Essays: Volume 2: 1891-1910 (Library of America)
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ASIN: 0940450828 |
Customer Reviews:
Good collection by a master of wit.......2002-05-10
Huck Finn, I could take or leave. Conn Yankee is among my favorit e classics. Joan of Arc---better than other interpretations of
warrior women. I recommend this collection and "Damsel in the Rough" by Ann M. Tempesta.
a great collection.......1999-06-23
for fans who wish there were another Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer, you will find Mark Twain's 'joan of arc' just as beautifully written as his more famous 'prince an the pauper' and 'connecticut yankee'. for catholics, 'joan of arc' is even more of a must read, a stunning proof how this great saint has captured the hearts of so many, regardless of their skepticism or creed. Library of America editions are beautifully bound, lightweight, and readable. here they contain the two most famous of his non-mississippi writings with a gem most of us never knew existed. a keepsake for the decades.
A fabulous collection of perhaps Twain's very best works!.......1999-02-20
This collection contains my 2 childhood and all-time Twain favorites - Prince & Pauper, and Connecticut Yankee - and added the magical ingredient of a historical romance I never knew Twain had written - Joan of Arc. Now that I have read this as well, I see that it may be even better than the other two!
The wry sense of humor characteristic of Twain definitely is most in evidence in CT Yankee. All 3 of these works deliver Twain's wide understanding of human nature in different times and sociological conditions, and his admiration of human nobility and greatness of heart in adversity. Joan of Arc unquestionably is the most inspiring of these tales, being the story of the greatest hero (or heroine). The Prince and the Pauper, however, remains a jewel of an adventure story, which any child can identify with, and learn from.
It is a collection to keep forever, and re-read frequently.
Average customer rating:
- You will be absorbed into the story
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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (The New Cambridge Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Binding: Paperback
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King Henry V (The New Cambridge Shakespeare)
ASIN: 0521532523 |
Book Description
Philip Edwards deals succinctly with the exhaustive commentary and controversy which Hamlet has provoked in the manifestation of its tragic energy. Robert Hapgood has contributed a new section on prevailing critical and performance approaches to the play in this updated edition. He discusses recent film and stage performances and actors of the Hamlet role as well as directors of the play. His account of new scholarship stresses the role of memory in the play and the impact of feminist and performance studies upon it. First Edition Hb (1985): 0-521-22151-X First Edition Pb (1985): 0-521-29366-9
Customer Reviews:
You will be absorbed into the story.......2006-09-17
This really is "The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark" and not only the Prince but his family. Not only his family but his friends. Not only his friends but all though that came before him and is told to those that came after him.
You can take time to scrutinize and pick apart many underlying themes or may of the phrases that now challenge Bible sayings in today's sound bites. But the real fun is in just reading the story and you will find that it is not as foreign as you may have thought.
A quick synopsis is that Old Hamlet conquered Old Fortinbras seizing his land. Now that Old Hamlet is dead, Young Fortinbras wants his land back and is willing to take it by force. Meanwhile back in Dänemark Young Hamlet who is excessively grieving for the loss of his father, gets a now insight from his fathers ghost. Looks like he was a victim of a "murder most foul"; it looks like his mother and uncle were in cahoots on the murder.
The story is about what each person felt and acted or did not act upon the situation.
You will find many movies and perverted imitations of the story but nothing will replace the original scripts that were intended to be watched.
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