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:

I enjoyed this book and hated its ending
A Classic Historical Romance Not to Be Missed
Love It
Disappointed
Great intro to bodice rippers - historically accurate

Forever Amber
Kathleen Winsor
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556524048

Book Description

Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the teeming streets of London, 16-year-old Amber St. Clare manages, by using her wits, beauty, and courage, to climb to the highest position a woman could achieve in Restoration England—that of favorite mistress of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. From whores and highwaymen to courtiers and noblemen, from events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London to the intimate passions of ordinary—and extraordinary—men and women, Amber experiences it all. But throughout her trials and escapades, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she really loves, the one man she can never have. Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind, Forever Amber is the other great historical romance, outselling every other American novel of the 1940s—despite being banned in Boston for its sheer sexiness. A book to read and reread, this edition brings back to print an unforgettable romance and a timeless masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

I enjoyed this book and hated its ending.......2007-10-14

I saw the movie Forever Amber first and loved it. I also own a VHS copy of it. However, I hated its ending. I enjoyed book. The book is better than the movie. However, the book's ending is worse than the movie. The book and movie Forever Amber need a sequel.

VAG

A Classic Historical Romance Not to Be Missed.......2007-09-16

My mother gifted me with this book when I was about 14, and I read it cover to cover in a weekend. Almost 30 years later, I came across it again during a search for somthing else -- and had to reread it.

'Forever Amber' is a stunningly crafted book and amazingly well researched. So much about the court of Charles II and the restoration is included here along with the troubling story of a headstrong girl who rises from a farm girl to a courtesan. But her rise is not a happy one. She finds out along the way, like so many others before and after her, that money can't buy her what (or who) she really wants.

Amber St. Clare is not a likeable character. She is at once immature, selfish, opportunistic and even spiteful. And yet the reader has to feel some pity for her enduring feelings for her first love, Lord Carlton. Carlton, a true cavalier, is also often unlikeable. In fact, the only one I came away feeling any fondness for was King Charles, a softhearted rogue of a monarch if ever there was one.

Definitely a book that any teenage girl interested in romance novels should read. Parents, be advised: it's a little violent, a little racy, and a little depressing. But it's a wonderful story without a gushingly happy ending - in fact, a rather open ending that leaves several possibilities for the reader to ponder. It's a wonder a sequel was never attempted by someone in the 60 years since 'Amber' was published.

Love It.......2007-04-29

This is one of my favorite books. My mother named me Amber after she read this book. I have to say, I'm nothing like her Mom! I truly love the story of Amber St. Clare, even though her flaws drive me crazy. I enjoyed reading a book my grandmother and mother had once read. The words really take you to the place--England, the court, the countryside, through the plague. There isn't a likable character in this book. Every last one of them will make your skin crawl. It really was a man's world and Amber's desire for Lord Carlton was like a sickness in her blood. Amber made due with the power she was given, her beauty and manipulation. Unlike some other readers, I enjoyed the ending. Amber got what she deserved.

Disappointed.......2007-04-28

I was disappointed after reading this book. The book was great until the last 200 pages. It honestly became boring. I saw myself skimming through the pages waiting for something interesting to happen. The end was horrible. I also agree with the other readers that the author had nothing more to say or just got tired of writing...

Great intro to bodice rippers - historically accurate.......2007-02-06

I give this book frequently as a gift to 14-15 year old girls who are readers and are interested in "grown up books" (Always ask parent's permission first...show them review). This is like Gone with the Wind but of a different period - a little racy in bits, but not dangerously so. GREAT review of the key elements of the history of the period; engaging, strong heroine, dramatic...it's fun, and I've never had a kid that didn't write me a fabulously personal thank you note - they appreciate the "recognition" they're ready for something that is grown up. This is a classic I read in young teen years and it sparked a love of history and historical fiction - but it's still one of the best I've ever read.

Darkwitch Rising: Book Three of The Troy Game

Average customer rating:

3rd book in 4-book series, Wonderful!
Better and better
Here's hoping the last book can redeem the series
A change that's hard to swollow, a series you shouldn't miss
Not quite as good as the others

Darkwitch Rising: Book Three of The Troy Game
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765344440
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

Darkwitch Rising is the third title in Sara Douglass's compelling Troy Game series, a riveting historical fantasy series of love and revenge set against the very fabric of time itself.Britian. An ancient land. Most think they know its history. But few suspect and fewer still know the truth. For back in the mists of time came Brutus, last of the Trojan kings, who was armed with the knowledge of how to construct a magical Labyrinth that could rival the might of the gods. He was drawn to this place by the alluring sorceress Genvissa and together they almost succeeded in creating the Labyrinth. But in the end they were thwarted by Brutus's wife Cornelia, who understood the danger to the land. Her actions however trapped them all into a endless cycle of death and rebirth until the magic of the Labyrinth is completed. Ages pass. Time and again the players have come close to victory but each time there is a new wrinkle to stay the fulfillment of power.The Now that these soul travelers arrive in is a most unique one. The English are at war, not with a foreign power but amongst themselves; a mighty Civil War that threatens to destroy a nation. A great pestilence is upon the land and the newly restored Charles II sits upon the throne trying to hold chaos at bay....and he is one of the major players in this drama.And he is not alone.

Customer Reviews:

3rd book in 4-book series, Wonderful!.......2007-10-16

Cornelia, Brutus, Coel, Genvissa, and Asterion are back again in mid-19th century England. This book has a lot of twists in it as a lot of the final (or are they?) "evolutions" of the characters are revealed. Nothing in this book is slow like the second book in the series. After finishing this book, I could not wait to start the fourth!

Better and better.......2007-03-18

Third in the Troy series. It's about re-birth. The characters live out their lives; and after a few hundred or thousand years are born again. Each time; they get better and better. In the first, Cornelia was just a spoiled princess. The second; a mature women. In this; the third book she is the developing goddess of fertility. Even a goddess cannot have it all her own way though. Her nemesis, the evil Asterian is stronger. He places an imp in Cornelia's body; if she doesn't do what he wants; the imp will tear her apart. How do you get arround that? That is the meat of the matter.

Here's hoping the last book can redeem the series.......2007-01-22

This third installment in Douglass' 'Troy Game' series had a lot of potential initially, but went downhill about halfway through. This time around, the events surrounding Cornelia-reborn, Brutus-reborn, and their "entourage" take place around the court of Charles II of England. Reading the first two books in the series (starting with Hades' Daughter) is a must, as the story, spanning over 1,000 years, is quite complicated. Despite my mild disappointment, I will still read the final book to achieve completion.

As do the others, this book suffers from cheesy cover art.

A change that's hard to swollow, a series you shouldn't miss.......2006-02-21

Very little is what it seems in this book.

And if you're rooting for Brutus and Cornelia to get it together you will shocked and dissapointed-I was.

That said, this does resolve nearly all the issues set up in the past books and set the stage for the next book perfectly.

There is more change in the major players of this book then ever-be prepared to except that evil can be overcome and love can be lost and people can be something they never should have been or would have been. Remember that all the titles of books before refer to Cornelia-this one does too.

Anyway, just read the book. I'm now counting the days until the last one comes out. And desperately hoping that Brutus can finally love Cornelia as he says he does.

Three months later-in retrospect I don't think I like this series very much. It's not very well written, it has no likeable charecters and a lot of the actions are brutaly offensive. Faced with the forth book recently published I find I've just lost intrest. In retrospect I think I find Sara Douglass's writing to be very dark and depressing and gloomy-but not always in a way that works. I wouldn't advise reading her stuff, excepting Threshold, unless you can work a two week depresion into your life.

Not quite as good as the others.......2006-02-19

I was disappionted in the thrid installment of Sara Douglass's Troy Game series. The twists and turns were too much when coupled with attempting to remember all the past lives of the characters. Noah in this novel seemed to go where the wind took her as far as romance goes, and overall was not an admirable character. I disliked the addition of so many characters as well as all the muddled romances of the book.

My Dearest Minette: The Letters Between Charles II and His Sister Henrietta, Duchesse D'Orleans

Average customer rating:

A fascinating read, but a frustrating history

My Dearest Minette: The Letters Between Charles II and His Sister Henrietta, Duchesse D'Orleans
King of England Charles II , and Henriette-Anne, duchesse d' Orleans
Manufacturer: Peter Owen Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0720609917

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating read, but a frustrating history.......2005-05-21

This is a good book for anyone interested in finding out more about some of the more interesting figures of Restoration-era England. Despite the fact that Norrington is prone to gush at times about the fascination and charm of letters that are, in some cases, little more than quickly dashed-off notes, as a body the collection is quite interesting.

Norrington's strength (and weakness) lies in her ability to string together the letters, filling in the context with incidents in the life of Charles II and his sister, Minette, the two main correspondents. Unfortunately, Norrington uses about a fifth of the footnotes I'd like to have seen. For every anecdote whose provenance she footnotes, there are four she doesn't. There is a bibliography, but some of the unfootnoted incidents are so so vaguely attributed in the text that I'd be hard-pressed to know where to begin searching them out in her sources. She includes no index, either, which is quite frustrating as well.

Still, it's a good read, and those interested in the Restoration would already be in Norrington's debt had she only assembled the letters and nothing more. The book is worth buying just on the strength of the letters, if you can find it for a reasonable price.

It should be emphasized that these letters are most interesting from a historical perspective, however, and not as masterpieces of the art of letter writing. For that, try Charles' and Minette's contemporary, Rochester, in Rochester's letters, edited by Jeremy Treglown.

Average customer rating:

Charming Charles

King Charles II
Antonia Fraser
Manufacturer: Phoenix (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 075381403X

Book Description

Following a youth of poverty and bitter exile after his father's execution, the ousted king first challenged, then made his magnificent escape from, Cromwell's troops before he was eventually restored to his throne in triumph in 1660. Spanning his life both before and after the Restoration, Antonia Fraser's lively and fascinating biography captures all the vitality of the man and the expansiveness of the age. 'Detailed, sympathetic, and admirably readable' ECONOMIST

Customer Reviews:

Charming Charles.......2007-08-03

This is what popular historical writing is all about - a readable, knowledgeable, enjoyable book. Fraser provides a superb introduction to the varied life and dramatic times of king Charles II. Her background information is clear and reliably accurate, she provides a great deal of insight into the person of this most personable of kings, and her bibliography is a launching place for further explorations. One could only wish to be able to submit a list of suggestions for new books...

The Loves of Charles II: The Stuart Saga

Average customer rating:

The Loves of Charles II: The Stuart Saga
Skip this
Newer edition of an older saga
Good but not Great
Good stuff that still needs better proofreading!

The Loves of Charles II: The Stuart Saga
Jean Plaidy
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 140008248X
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Book Description

From princesses to country girls to actresses…the loves of Charles II come to life.

Ten years after Charles I was deposed and executed, his son, Charles II, regains the throne after many years in exile. Charles is determined not only to restore the monarchy but also to revive a society that has suffered under many years of Puritan rule, when everything from theater to Christmas festivals was illegal. As king, Charles II throws himself into the gaiety of court life, becoming a patron of the arts and a consummate lover of women. He first secures a strong dynastic alliance by marrying Catherine of Braganza, a shy, plain Portuguese princess who falls in love with her handsome husband and brings him great wealth, but can never give him the son he longs for. For many years, his “untitled queen” is a bold and sensual older woman—Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine—whose husband is routinely paid to look the other way. But when the politically ambitious Lady Castlemaine becomes too powerful, she is replaced by Louise de Kéroualle, a baby-faced French noblewoman who may have been sent to Charles’s court as a spy. His other great love, and Louise’s rival, is Nell Gwyn, a stage actress who rises from the streets of London to become the king’s favorite and a hero of the working class.

Court intrigue and affairs of the heart weave together in this unforgettable page-turner.

Customer Reviews:

The Loves of Charles II: The Stuart Saga.......2007-08-23

I have read and enjoyed many of Jean Plaidy's novels and this is the one I liked least of all. It was frequently repetitious and at times quite boring.

Skip this.......2007-05-12

I'm usually a fan of historical fiction, especially novels about Charles II. However, I couldn't get into this book--or rather, three books rolled into one.

Originally published in 1956 and 1957, these three novels focus on the relationships Charles II had with his sister, Henriette; his wife, Catherine of Braganza; and his mistresses, Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine, Louise de Keroualle, and Nell Gwynne. Although the books are well-researched, the characters have no depth or believability. Even Charles, who was actually a pretty charismatic guy, comes off as a cardboard cut-out. The novels read like historical nonfiction in some places. The relationship between Henriette and her husband's boyfriend Lorraine is never fully explored, when it was suspected (at the time) that he poisoned her. The language of the novels seems stilted, in a way, with a very conservative, 1950s view on sex, a major part of Court life during Charles's reign. Another thing I didn't like (and this may be because these books were intended to be completely separate) was that they would rehash old material--for example, Charles's return to London and his coronation were described several times, in context with his relationships with the women in the novel.

I agree with other reviewers, who say that there were many typos; it looks as though they just copied the older editions for this reprint and didn't make the necessary changes.

Newer edition of an older saga.......2006-03-07

I have read the original Stuart Saga by Jean plaidy. Especially 'Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord' would have the same story base as this one. It might have been re-published which would explain typographical errors that the other reviewer mentions.
I love Charles II for all his faults. He was the last King who really was in charge. If anything at all is a fault with him, he loved too well. After him, English monarchy lost its power - as House of Hanover came into picture - as the parliament grew in its place instead.

Good but not Great.......2005-12-09

Well written in parts, interesting in parts, but as a whole, an unmoving book. I found the story disjointed, and while the characters are well written, there's something fundamentally missing I can't quite put my finger on.

Having read "Queen of the Realm" I expected more, but then having read that Jean Plaidy died sometime ago, the only explanation I came up with was someone else is completing her unfinished works, and not up to the same level of talent.

Good stuff that still needs better proofreading!.......2005-11-08

I have been reading Jean Plaidy's older works, starting with "The Bastard King," in their original printing from about 1970. There were many typographical errors in those older editions. Sadly it appears that the publisher of her newer editions (released in trade paperback format with updated cover art) has simply re-set the existing text without proofreading.

This book is actually three of Plaidy's former novels bound together into one book, since they all deal with Charles II and his reign. The first book (regarding his exile and time spent attempting to regain the kingship) had no typos that I noticed. However, towards the middle of the second book several obvious ones crept into the text: "he wanted to keen on the King's good side," "she was leased to see him," and so forth. These became more frequent towards the end of the second book and occurred fairly regularly throughout the third book. In addition the third book had some fairly glaring typos of a worse type: "She wanted to go I hawking that afternoon..." "Buckingham .e was fuming at this treatment..." Overall it feels like the proofreader started off at the beginning of the book with a glass of wine and ended by finishing a few bottles. The book is slipshod in this respect and this is why I give only 4 stars.

As to content and writing style, this is all very much typical Plaidy and succeeded in keeping me interested in most of the characters. I've never noted Plaidy to make a serious biographical error before, but in this book she cites "Monsieur D'Artagnan" being in command of Louis XIV's forces in a battle, and D'Artagnan is a wholly fictional character. I believe that in writing historical fiction, the people and known circumstances should be kept as accurate as possible, but known fictional elements should not be introduced into the story, and so this mention of Dumas' D'Artagnan struck a very false note with me.

However, it was good reading; it kept me entertained and painted a good portrait of the Merry Monarch. Recommended, and Plaidy has redeemed herself by not continuing to portray male rulers as male monsters (see my reviews of The Lady in the Tower and Victoria Victorious for more commentary on this).

Average customer rating:

Perfect appetizer for a Highland visit
All the information you need, in an attractive package

The Flight of Bonnie Prince Charlie
Hugh Douglas
Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

The flight of Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of history's greatest manhunts. It created Scotland's most treasured legend during 1746, when Charles Edward, heir to the Stuart throne, was ruthlessly hunted down after the Battle of Culloden. This book tells the story of his flight.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect appetizer for a Highland visit.......2003-06-13

One of the things I love about traveling is getting a good sense of the history of a place I'm visiting. I bought "Flight of Bonnie Prince Charlie" in anticipation of a trip to Scotland, and it was perfect for that purpose. Although it provides an excellent history, it seems designed for the visitor; it's equal parts travel and history.

This book gives a day-by-day description of the Prince's 5 months in hiding from the British before he was able to escape to France. He trekked hundreds of miles on foot, in disguise (once, famously, as a ladies' maid!), sometimes passing within earshot of the soldiers hunting him. The book is liberally illustrated with modern photographs of the particular glens and mountains Charlie passed by, as well as reproductions of painted portraits, etc. of the main participants.

Even better, each part of Charlie's escape is accompanied by a detailed map showing where he was on almost a night-by-night basis. In the appendix there are even driving directions and a list of relevant places for tourists to visit.

If you don't know the story behind Charlie's daring escape, you could not start at a better place.

All the information you need, in an attractive package.......2000-10-24

The authors manage to tell the story of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's flight from the disaster that was the Battle of Culloden in vivid detail without including so much detail as to become tedious. Coupled with the inclusion of wonderful photography and maps, this book leaves the reader with a full grasp of what the pleasant Prince and his various protectors, guides and benefactors went through during his five months as a fugitive in the Scottish countryside.

The authors also gave great detail, without undue romanticism, of young Flora MacDonald's role in the Prince's escape.

People interested in the history of Great Britain in general, and Scottish history in particular will greatly enjoy this book.

Average customer rating:

One of Lady Antonia Fraser's best historical biographies

Charles The Debonaire

A Royal Treat!

Royal Charles
Antonia Fraser
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Royal Survivor: The Life of Charles II

The Cradle King: The Life of James VI and I, the First Monarch of a United Great Britain

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

ASIN: 039449721X
Release Date: 1979-10-12

Customer Reviews:

One of Lady Antonia Fraser's best historical biographies.......2003-11-07

This is possibly one of Fraser's best historical biographies. Charles II, king of the glorious Restoration Period in English history, was a figure of legendary proportions, daring, physically commanding, surviving times of great danger after Cromwell's rule, living in tumultuous times of great scientific discovery, literature and some not-very successful wars against the Dutch.

The backdrop of Restoration society is fascinating, bawdy yet considering Shakespeare's plays too crude, wildly sexual, a time of tremendous change in England after the demise of the Tudors. It was a golden age of art and literature and the King was a dramatic figure, enjoying the embraces of comedian Nell Gwynn as well as a number of other famous mistresses, researching in his own laboratory, hunting, racing and swimming. His death at 55 seems a young age, but for those times, he survived to a respectable age and unlike many other kings, died in his bed. If you are interested in Restoration period literature, this is a fun read to set the backdrop for that interesting and fruitful period of European history.

Charles The Debonaire.......2003-01-12

King Charles II, never short of female admirers during his lifetime, certainly has found another fan in Antonia Fraser. The man who fathered fourteen illegitimate children, yet failed to sire an heir to his throne, was tall, charming, and in his own strange way, handsome - although, as Fraser tells us, his olive complexion and Medici looks were not considered to be conventionally good looking. Despite contemporary denials, he was also a convinced Catholic - even though he only formally confessed on his deathbed. Fraser takes us through the many wild turns of Charles' life - early years as the established heir apparent in the court of Charles I, teen years as a minor player in the English Civil War, hero of the siege of Worcester, months as fugitive from the Cromwellians following his father's beheading (and Britain's most wanted man), early adulthood in exile in France and Flanders, glorious Restoration in 1660 and subsequently King of a mini-golden era. While this is by no means an uncritical biography, Fraser argues persuasively that Charles was the master politician of his generation, and she seduces us into cheering on Charles' various attempts, late in his reign, to govern without Parliament. Fraser doesn't assume prior knowledge of English history, so is a great starting point for a first-time encounter with the English Restoration period, yet Fraser's erudition provides enough satisfaction too for seasoned history lovers.

A Royal Treat!.......1998-11-27

Royal Charles is a delight to read and Fraser makes reading history enjoyable.

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History of King Charles II of England
Jacob Abbott
Manufacturer: Echo Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Profane Wit : The Life of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester

ASIN: 1406802417

Book Description

The life and times of the Stuart king

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Our Prince Charles now becomes, by the death of his father, King Charles the Second, both of England and of Scotland. That is, he becomes so in theory, according to the principles of the English Constitution, though, in fact, he is a fugitive and an exile still. Notwithstanding his exclusion, however, from the exercise of what he considered his right to reign, he was acknowledged as king by all true Royalists in England, and by all the continental powers. They would not aid him to recover his throne, but in the courts and royal palaces which he visited he was regarded as a king, and was treated, in form at least, with all the consideration and honor which belonged to royalty.

Phoenix: The Image of the King: Charles I and Charles II

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Not Surprisingly, This Book Is About Image and Personality!
Image is everything

Phoenix: The Image of the King: Charles I and Charles II
Richard Ollard
Manufacturer: Phoenix Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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"Remarkably and immensely readable...A just yet compassionate study of two complex, muddled, fissured human beings caught in the most difficult of crafts--kingship...It should not be missed by anyone interested in the Stuarts or in the personalities of Charles I and Charles II: indeed, any reader will be greatly stimulated by it."--J.H. Plumb, New York Review of Books. Two kings, father and son...and yet, their personalities could hardly have differed more. Through sources as varied as masks, statues, poems, medals, and contemporary written records, a picture of these Stuart monarchs, their characters and their politics, emerges.

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Not Surprisingly, This Book Is About Image and Personality!.......2000-08-24

While I agree with the previous reviewer that this book is not an historical chronicle of the reigns of Charles I and Charles II, it does not purport to be. What it does provide is superb insight into the personalities of these two fascinating monarchs, their public images and private personae. One can get excellent chronicles of the reign elsewhere. Here, one encounters vivid exposition and analysis of the thoughts, motives and manners of the kings, and how these were affected by the conscious cultivation of image. Ollard is, as always,elegant and eloquent.

Image is everything.......2000-05-25

Skip this book if you're looking for details into the reigns of these monarchs or specific instances of foreign policy, etc. This book mostly discusses the image of the kings, as the title suggests. There is little mention of Charles I's attempt to rule without his Parliment, but instead concentrates on his exquisit art collections, his vanity and his self-image. There is more written about Charles II and how his exile shaped his personality and made him so markedly different from his father. The book itself is small and is a fast read. It is a great character sketch on these two Kings.

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