History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [8 Volumes Complete Book Set] (Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII)

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [8 Volumes Complete Book Set] (Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII)
Average customer rating:

Brilliant, beautiful classic

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [8 Volumes Complete Book Set] (Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII)

Manufacturer: Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BRUDMM

Product Description

2 boxed set, each wrapped in the original cellophane. Each box contains 4 books. Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant, beautiful classic.......2007-01-25

This classic presented by the Folio Society, cream leather bound, and gold leafed was a nice touch.

Hours of some of the best history reading that many authors have used as referance. Everything you wanted to know about the Roman Empire, to Attila the Hun, Constantine the Great, The Byzantines, Mohammud, and onwards.

Encyclopeadic knowledge at its finest.

Average customer rating:

Great New Heroine
Another Winner
Not that great
It was ok.....
Another Great Book

A Dangerous Love
Bertrice Small
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451219783

Book Description

From the New York Times bestseller Bertrice Small-first in an exhilarating new historical romance series

Adair Radcliffe is only a child when her family perishes in the War of the Roses, so her real father, the womanizing King Edward IV, takes her in, honoring his promise to her mother. Once Adair turns sixteen, the king marries her off without her knowledge-and to her later outrage- in a wedding by proxy. But when tragedy leaves her a widow twice over, Adair realizes that her already tenuous social position has sunk even lower. Now, all she can do is hope that the Scottish laird to whom she is sold will have mercy on her. But little does master or servant suspect that love knows no rank.

Customer Reviews:

Great New Heroine.......2007-05-09

Beatrice Small is one my favorite authors, and I literally consume her books. I've read every one she has written, and have never read one I didn't like. The Heroine Adair in this story, although English born, kind of reminds me a little bit of Skye O'Malley.

Another Winner.......2007-05-08

I think this book is another example of Ms. Small's wonderful skill! All the history and the romance make a great read! I've read almost all her books and she keeps me coming back for more. Thank you Bertrice Small.

Not that great.......2007-04-25

I am new to the worlds of Bertice Small. This is the first book of hers that I have read. And I have to admit to being very disappointed. She's written a huge collection of books, so she is obviously an experienced author, however I found her dialog to be stilted and the characters to be somewhat unsympathetic. Starting with the fact that Adair name drops at every opportunity that she is the bastard daughter of King Edward. I loved it when she finally met Conal, and tried that line out on him, and he said (paraphrasing) - well, you weren't born of King Edward's Queen, so get over yourself.

My feeling is that either this is an old fashioned sort of romance novel, or that Ms. Small is writing more of an historical angle to the story than a romance angle. There is a lot about characters from the War of the Roses, but you'd sort of have to have a history book beside you, or go to Wikipedia, to follow along with where Adair fits into the catalog of characters and events. Elizabeth of York, for example, I needed to go look her up. Then I had one of those moments as a reader, where you're hitting the palm of your hand with your forehead. She's pregnant, but gets on the same horse with her husband - so you can imagine there is not a lot of room in the saddle - to ride to her wedding day.

anyway - Ms. Small has a reputation, so I'll try one or two more of her books before I give up.

It was ok............2007-01-12

I'm still hoping she writes something similar to skye O' malley though!

Another Great Book.......2007-01-11

I have been reading Bertrice books since I was 13 years old and this one was up to snuff with all the others. She ties in nicely characters that she may have written about in previous books and it is always great to learn a bit of history as you read of the internal strength of women.

Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis

Average customer rating:

Must-Have-Title for exegesis of the Greek NT!
Good Introduction

Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis

Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581344082

Book Description

With the explosive increase in availability of English Bible translations, the question can easily be asked, âWhy bother with the hard work of biblical exegesis?â Computers can translate foreign languages and our English texts can take us very close to the original meanings, so why exegete? Answer: because the deepest truths of the Bible are found through the deepest study.

This book teaches the principles, methods, and fundamentals of exegeting the New Testament. It also has examples of textual exegesis that clearly and helpfully show the value of exegeting a text well. Any serious student of Scripture would benefit from utilizing this book in the study of the Bible.

â Interpreting the New Testament Text is a contemporary application of Paul’s charge to Timothy to study to present himself to God, approved as one who correctly handles the word of truth. Highly recommended!â
Andreas J. KÃ¶stenberger, Professor of New Testament and Director of Ph.D. Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

âThis âhow-to’ guide provides significant step-by-step help for first-year seminarians. It should prove very helpful.â
Klyne Snodgrass, Paul W. Brandel Professor of New Testament Studies, North Park Theological Seminary

âNot only an excellent textbook but also a useful refresher for pastors and teachers engaged in the weekly study of the text for ministry.â
Clinton E. Arnold, Professor and Chairman, Department of New Testament, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

âCovers the exegetical landscape admirably.â
B. Paul Wolfe, Associate Professor of New Testament, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

âA comprehensive, thorough, and excellent guide to exegetical method that I am happy to recommend with enthusiasm!â
Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary

âFanning and Bock have compiled an all-star cast of lucid writers on exegetical method with like-minded writers illustrating good interpretations of texts and themes. It’s really two books for the price of one, with each made better by the other!â
Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

âThis excellent collection of essays provides a solid foundation for all whose goal is to hear and obey God’s Word.â
Mark Strauss, Professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary–San Diego

âA tool that takes you into the best New Testament classrooms for the simple price of one volume.â
David Wyrtzen, Adjunct Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary; Pastor, Midlothian Bible Church

Customer Reviews:

Must-Have-Title for exegesis of the Greek NT!.......2007-10-21

Divided into two parts (Exegetical Methods and Procedures, and Exegetical Examples and Reflections), this book is a great tool for learning how to do exegesis.

Well worth the money spent!

Good Introduction.......2007-01-04

Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis edited by Darrell Bock and Buist Fanning is divided into two parts. The first deals with methodology. This section travels from defining "Exegesis" through 13 chapters to application, ethics, and preaching.

In between the authors survey and explain textual criticism, grammatical analysis, diagramming, lexical analysis, exegetical problem solving (validation), background studies, genre studies (narrative, epistolary, apocalyptic), the Old Testament in the New, and theological analysis. All of this covers just over 300 pages.

The second section of the book provides 150 pages of exegetical examples of these activities written by some big name scholars such as I Howard Marshall and Edwin Yamauchi and many other lesser known but still excellent scholars.

The book as a whole is extremely well organized and has the wonderful benefit of bibliographies at the end of each section.

Overall the book is an excellent introduction for those who are just beginning to study New Testament Interpretation. For more indepth study Stanley Porter's Handbook to Exegesis of the New Testament is a more advanced level book, but even still don't loose Bock and Fanning, it has made a valuable contribution to the field.

Also unlike some similar books, Bock and Fannings's book is a hardback which will last longer.

Finally, the book is a Festschriften (a sort of tribute) to Harold Hoehner, who had a major impact on how exegesis was done at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Quality text, quality workmanship, five stars.

Average customer rating:

Fiction attempting to pass for serious history
Just OK
"Because I said so!"
definite edge of your seat
Mediocre writing, biased presentation

The Princes in the Tower
Alison Weir
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345391780
Release Date: 1995-07-10

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.

Average customer rating:

scholarly presentation of the adventurous reign
A puzzling tale well told
Arguably the definitive work on the subject

Edward IV (The English Monarchs Series)
Charles Ross
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Henry II (English Monarchs)
Yale English Monarchs - Henry VII (The English Monarchs Series)
Richard III
Henry V (English Monarchs)
King John (English Monarchs)

ASIN: 0300073720

Book Description

In his own time Edward IV was seen as an able and successful king who rescued England from the miseries of civil war and provided the country with firm, judicious, and popular government. The prejudices of later historians diminished this high reputation, until recent research confirmed Edward as a ruler of substantial achievement, whose methods and policies formed the foundation of early Tudor government.

This classic study by Charles Ross places the reign firmly in the context of late medieval power politics, analyzing the methods by which a usurper sought to retain his throne and reassert the power of a monarchy seriously weakened by the feeble rule of Henry VI. Edward's relations with the politically active classes—the merchants, gentry, and nobility—form a major theme, and against this background Ross provides an evaluation of the many innovations in government on which the king's achievement rests.

Customer Reviews:

scholarly presentation of the adventurous reign.......2001-05-17

Charles Ross presents an unforgettable tale of the most confusing, uneven and adventurous reign of any king in the English history. Edward IV remains the only king who was able to loose a kingdom and them successfully reclaim the crown. Possessing remarkable talents in administration and warfare, he however managed to bring the treasury to almost complete ruin by the end of his term, and botch the most impressive show of force in France any English king (including Edward III and Henry V) can ever master to assemble. Edward IV lived in the extraordinary age, full with great personalities like Richard Warwick the "Kingmaker", Margaret, the queen of Henry VI, and his own kid brother Richard, future most vilified by Shakespeare king Richard the III.

It is very easy to fell victim to novelized history when relating the events as extraordinary as the events of Edward's reign. Not Charles Ross. He is extremely well researched and versed in the records of the period, and presents the somewhat dry details of the records of the Household and Exchequer, in an interesting way and extremely well cross-referenced. Internal English sources are corroborated by continental and papal records. I would recommend this book to a serious student of history.

Also see Charles Ross's "Richard III" for a mysterious, bloody, and tragically brief concluding reign of Plantagenet dynasty. This one is also highly recommended.

A puzzling tale well told.......2001-03-14

Edward IV is one of the great enigmas of history. Even how he was able to become King is not self-evident. His seizing the throne was then followed by government marked by occasional brilliance and great folly. For someone who at times was keenly aware of dynastic considerations, his own marriage was the height of folly compounded by giving far too much influence to the Queen's relatives. He gave far too much trust, power and wealth to a few individuals, especially the Earl of Warrick and his traitorous brother Clarence alienating in the process much of the established nobility and wrecking in his early years the King's finances. Overthrown in the course of his reign, he nevertheless succeeded in recapturing the throne in short order and then repairing his fortunes spectacularly. Even so, this was accompanied by the strangest series of preparations for invasion of France, ending in an almost farcical procession in Northern France and a pusillanimous retreat. Lazy, debauched, perceptive and effective-many such adjectives can be applied to him - and all miss the puzzling essence of the man and his reign. What a set of stories could be woven out of this material without clearly capturing the essence of the situation! One cannot help wondering why of the adult kings between Richard II and Henry VII, Edward IV alone did not attract Shakespeare's pen.

Charles Ross wrote a fascinating book on this puzzling ruler, making as clear as the scanty and somewhat unreliable records allow the course of Edward's life and reign, and the various episodes that both fascinate and puzzle. The book (with a short introduction by R.A. Grifffiths rather than a revision by him) proceeds first by laying out the story, and then returning to give separate investigation of various aspects of Edward's rule, such as governance, his relations with the community and his finances. This latter subject is particularly well handled, as is the penultimate chapter on law and order. The story is well told, without excessive pedantry and without any attempt to hide when the record is unclear or the author has had to make large interpretations. One may not really know or understand Edward by the end of the book, but one's feeling is that it is the man himself who escapes capture by the biographer's art, not any weakness of the biographer himself. For those interested in such matters - and this is not light reading - Griffith's biography should prove highly satisfying.

Arguably the definitive work on the subject.......1998-11-24

The late Charles D. Ross presents here one of the most readable and interesting presentations of of English monarch ever written. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the king or his era-I used it extensively in my senior thesis!

Elizabeth Wydeville: The Slandered Queen (England's Forgotten Queens)

Average customer rating:

good history
Difficult to read typeset
Fascinating account of a fascinating woman!
Elizabeth
Another Feminist Revision

Elizabeth Wydeville: The Slandered Queen (England's Forgotten Queens)
Arlene Okerlund
Manufacturer: Tempus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0752433849

Book Description

Elizabeth Wydeville, Queen consort to Edward IV, has traditionally been portrayed as a scheming opportunist. But was she a cunning vixen or a tragic wife and mother? As this extraordinary biography shows, the first queen to bear the name Elizabeth lived a life of tragedy, love, and loss that no other queen has since endured. This shocking revelation about the survival of one woman through vilification and adversity shows Elizabeth as a beautiful and adored wife, distraught mother of the two lost Princes in the Tower, an and innocent queen slandered by politicians.

Customer Reviews:

good history.......2007-08-17

An excellent history of Elizabeth Wydville. Sometimes a few too many details. Shows the love between Elizabeth and Henry. A great sadness at the end of the book showing how badly a queen can be treated after the king dies.

Difficult to read typeset.......2007-05-16

I thought this book had a great deal of conjecture in it. Regarding keeping this reader's interest, the book didn't come close to most of the historical books I've been reading lately, mostly by Alison Weir and Antonia Frasier. Additionally, the print was not dark enough for easy readability, and the print was rather small. Not easy on the eyes at all.

Fascinating account of a fascinating woman!.......2007-04-08

What a studied and fascinating work this book is! We've heard many versions of the presumed accounts of the 2 missing princes who disappeared from London Tower...but what of their mother, the first Queen Elizabeth? Although we've heard much smattering of slander about her in the past, now we have a new story to consider in this lavishly researched, footnoted and indexed work reviewing the Queen's life. Although you will feel the good weight of research that the author poured into the book, you will be able to read the Queen's fascinating story without needing to be a Rhodes Scholar to delve into it.

We even get to sigh a romantic sigh as we imagine the meeting of (24 year old) Elizabeth when she met with the King (age 19) at the time he likely fell madly in love with her: "At Grafton, Elizabeth was on home territory. The Wydeville manor lay within a mile of Whittlewood Forest where the King was hunting. Having grown up here, Elizabeth knew the course that the hunters would take, the fields where the deer would be chased for the kill, the grassy spots ideal for picnics. Choosing a large oak tree, she stationed herself and her two small sons beneath it and waited. Hard in pursuit of prey, Edward saw the beautiful young mother with her children, pulled his horse up short, and marveled at the bucolic tableau." See what I mean? We really get a feel for the romance, the hardship, and the tragedy to follow.

The ancestor of Mary, Queen of Scots and of Lady Jane Grey, this slandered queen's grandson will be Henry VIII, her great-grandaughter will be Queen Elizabeth I. In her time, she will become a widowed mother of two children but then secretly marry the King of England (the younger Edward IV), thus being crowned Queen of England in 1465, her father will be beheaded, her husband the King will become exiled leaving her alone while pregnant with many young children in tow, she will give birth to the future King of England (Edward V), her brother will be executed, her son (Sir Richard Grey) will be murdered upon order of Richard III, her two sons (King Edward V and Prince Richard of York) will disappear from the Tower of London with tragically uncertain fate, her 19-year-long marriage will be declared adulterous and their 10 children will be declared illegitimate, and she will be accused of witchcraft and sorcery.

An amazing life, worth of the re-defining richly presented by this author.

Elizabeth.......2007-03-14

I have to agree with another review that it was interesting to read a different interpretation of Elizabeth Wydeville. Some of the arguments fell short, but I still thought it was well done. I'm also not sure we are at a point to be spurning historical reinterpretation just yet.
I enjoyed it and recommend that readers also read Baldwin's biography of Elizabeth

Another Feminist Revision.......2007-03-11

Is anyone else tired of hardline feminists writing revisionist histories of every female personage whose reputation may have been exagerated by contempory chroniclers?

As contempory chroniclers are the only primary information sources, even assuming that they were all misogynistic and that they unjustly slandered every "liberated" woman, there are no better sources to prove otherwise. Portraying Elizabeth Wydeville as unculpable and virtuous is adding modern prejudice to her personage even more than her contemporaries possible misogyny.

Frankly, this type of revisionist history is insulting as a scholar and as a female, and I was highly disappointed to see Alison Wier's name associated with this farce.

The Brothers of Glastonbury (Roger the Chapman Medieval Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Excellent entry in a great series
GROOM DOES A STAGE LEFT
Sedley has done it again!
A good medieval mystery
All 'Brothers' Are Not Created Equally!

The Brothers of Glastonbury (Roger the Chapman Medieval Mysteries)
Kate Sedley
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Lammas Feast (Severn House Large Print)

ASIN: 0312272820

Book Description

Roger the traveling chapman should be on his way home to medieval Bristol after a nice summer's peddling. But a request from his duke to escort a bride en route to her betrothed takes him toward Wells, where the groom and his brother have vanished. Roger links the disappearances to the discovery of ancient scrolls written in a strange language. But as he deciphers the archaic tongue, he concludes that a still-greater mystery lies at the heart of the brothers' disappearance. AUTHORBIO: Kate Sedley, a mother and grandmother, lives in England with her husband.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent entry in a great series.......2007-08-21

Seventh in the Roger the Chapman medieval mystery series, this one set in and around Glastonbury. Roger is asked by the Duke of Clarence to escort a young girl--the daughter of one of his knights--to the home of her betrothed in Glastonbury when her fiancée doesn't show up to escort her as planned. Upon arriving at the family home, it's discovered that the betrothed, Peter Gildersleeve, has disappeared--vanished, quite literally, into thin air. With the household in an uproar, Roger has one of his dreams/visions that entice him into staying and trying to solve the mystery of Peter's disappearance. When his brother Mark also vanishes a few days later, Roger steps his efforts into high gear and of course later solves the case. One of my very favorite series, though the mysteries are usually fairly easy to figure out. The period detail and Roger's "voice" make this series special for me.

GROOM DOES A STAGE LEFT.......2003-06-25

THIS IS A ROGER THE CHAPMAN MEDIEVAL MYSTERY [ MY FAVORITE KIND OF BOOK]. MY FRIEND KATE SEDLEY HAS ABOUT 7 OR 8 OTHER GREAT BOOKS OUT THAT ARE WORTH TRACKING DOWN. THIS MYSTERY TAKES US BACK TO AUGUST 1476 [JUST BEFORE MY BIRTH]. MS SEDLEY IS A STUDENT OF ANGLO-SAXON AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY. ROGER THE CHAPMAN [TRAVELING SALESMEN] IS IN MOST, IF NOT ALL HER BOOKS. HEREIN ROGER IS ASKED TO ESCORT A YOUNG BRIDE TO MEET HER BETROTHED. BUT THEY FIND THE BRIDEGROOM HAS VANISHED [THE BRIDE TO BE IS NOT IN THE LEAST PUT OUT]. THEN TWO DAYS LATER, THE BRIDEGROOMS BROTHER ALSO DISAPPEARS. [STRANGE FAMILY]. GOSSIP OF BLACK MAGIC ABOUND. THE PERIOD DETAIL IS RIGHT ON. A REAL DELIGHT TO SHARE A WEEKEND WITH. ROGER FINDS AN ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT WRITTEN IN A STRANGE LANGUAGE, WHICH HE LINKS TO THE DISAPPEARANCES. THIS BOOK IS HARD TO PUT DOWN, IF YOU GO OUT TO DINNER, YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF GETTING IN A LINE OR TWO WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR MEAL. [MY WIFE WAS NOT TO PLEASED WITH THAT]. DO NOT READ THE LAST CHAPTER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. GIVE THIS DELIGHTFUL SERIES A CHANCE, YOU'LL BE PLEASED YOU DID.

Sedley has done it again!.......2001-06-15

Just when you think the last Roger the Chapman book was the best one written so far, Sedley out-does herself and writes an even better book. "The Brothers of Glastonbury" is the best book so far (I used to think that of "The Wicked Winter" until I read this book). Warning: Don't read this book when you have an overwhelming amount of things to do, you won't be able to put it down until your finished with it! Read this book and you won't be disappointed.

A good medieval mystery.......2000-11-26

During the reign of King Edward IV, tinker Roger Chapman could have gone very far in the Duke of Gloucester's household because he saved the future monarch's life. Roger rejected all honors preferring to remain his own master and wander where he wants when he wants. Only the coldest of wintry weather ever binds Roger to his home shared with his mother-in-law and daughter.

Roger is returning home after a season of wandering but is waylaid by the Duke of Clarence. He wants Roger to escort Cecily to her aunt's house in Glastonbury because her betrothed, Peter failed to arrive to do just that. When Roger arrives at Peter's home, it is to find Peter missing. His aunt and others fear that someone, perhaps the devil, abducted the missing Peter. Roger, unable to resist the lure of a mystery, agrees to look for leads. A few days after Peter vanished, his brother disappear too, leaving a bewildered Roger seeking a logical solution when none seems forthcoming.

Talented storyteller Kate Sedley shows an expertise in medieval history with her in depth look at the culture, beliefs, and interests of the times. That historical mien serves as a backdrop to the mystery starring congenial yet fathomable characters. The seventh novel in the series, THE BROTHER OF GLASTONBURY, is a wonderfully executed mystery that fans of the sub-genre and readers of historical novels and mysteries in general will thoroughly appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

All 'Brothers' Are Not Created Equally!.......2000-08-25

All `Brothers' Are Not Created Equal!

Roger the Chapmancannot sit still! This traveling medieval peddler, romantic, and private detective cannot stand to be cooped up at home, where he should be attending to his daughter and mother-in-law, but he can't. Sometimes on his own volition, sometimes at God's beck (or so he claims!), Roger is always "on the road again."

In Kate Sedley's sixth episode is this rather delightful series, we find our Roger on an errand by the Duke of Clarence: deliver a young girl to the home of her finance. It seems that the groom-to-be hasn't shown up to fetch her himself and the Duke hasn't the time to take her either. Enter Roger.

Alas, it turns out that the intended, one Peter Gildersleeve, seems to have disappeared as if by magic, or more ominously, taken by the Devil, or so some folks in this 15th century story want to believe. Not two days after Roger has delivered the comely Cicely to her betrothed's home, but the groom's brother, too, disappears. What follows is Roger's dedication to solving the mystery, which seems to hinge around an ancient parchment that appears to give clues to an long-lost treasure (Could it actually be the Holy Grail?). Before its conclusion, murder and mayhem--but not much mystery-- prevail and before you know it, Roger is once again the winner.

In "The Brothers of Glastonbury," however, Sedley becomes all too predictable and her mystery almost fizzles out. Her Roger's character, as always, is enough to keep us reading--he's more complex than he wants you to believe, he's less naive than he seems, he's quite clever, especially with riddles, and he's a man after our own hearts: a free spirited individual, one who genuinely wants to do Good and is adamantly opposed to Evil. [...] "The Brothers of Glastonbury" is a good read--perhaps not a great read, but worth the effort. It lacks the intensity, the thrill of "The Wicked Winter," but still a good bet!

Customer Reviews:

Can't believe book was written by a man and not a woman!.......1997-11-30

Love this author in all his psuedonyms. Can't wait for him to write more books!

Average customer rating:

clean and crisp
No brotherly love here!
One of the best historical mystery series
A Well Thought Out Plot

The Prodigal Son (Roger the Chapman)
Kate Sedley
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0727891626

Book Description

The latest title in the acclaimed Roger the Chapman series When Roger the Chapman discovers he has a hitherto unknown half-brother, he has mixed feelings about the matter. But when John Wedmore is accused of being the young page who, six years earlier, robbed his mistress and murdered a fellow servant, and is thrown into prison, Roger feels obliged to investigate the charge.

Customer Reviews:

clean and crisp.......2006-07-19

The book arrived quickly and in perfect order. I enjoy this series and was happy to have the newest edition.

No brotherly love here!.......2006-06-24

Kate Sedley's extensive series featuring Roger the Chapman seems to get better and better. Set in 15th century England, the crime-solving adventures of the erstwhile and charming young peddlar finds himself once again in the middle of another murder.

"The Prodigal Son" takes Roger on the road to Croxcombe Manor after he finds he's got a long-lost half-brother. Alas, it's not just a brotherly reunion! His brother has just been arrested for murder while visiting Bristol (where Roger and his family live). Roger undertakes to defend him and sets off to the scene of the crime, which supposedly happened some six years ago. Roger, of course, is convinced this is a case of mistaken identity!

Like Willie Nelson, Roger's on the road again and shortly winds up at his destination--only to find the Bellknapp family in great turmoil. The heir to the family estate has just returned after a years-long absence. Anthony (a true prodigal son) is not warmly welcomed as his own younger brother, spoiled lad that he is, had hopes of inheritance. Thus, the two brothers give the term "sibling rivalry" a sound definition, the love of money (and possessions) being the root of all evil!

Naturally, a murder must occur and the obnoxious Anthony is found dead floating in the estate moat. Roger knows that he has been sent to Croxcombe Manor for a purpose. Sedley strong writing hands take over as she weaves an intricate, sound case and it seems it will tax Roger's ability fully in order to unravel this one.

But Roger's up to it (he's always restless to get involved in such situations) and the reader is the winner. Sedley's penchant for period writing, strong prose style, attention to detail, and sound characterization make "The Prodigal Son" a read worth one's time.

One of the best historical mystery series.......2006-04-25

I'm a huge fan of the Chapman mystery series -- I think they're the best historical mysteries written, with the possible exception of the Cadfael stories.

This may not be the absolutely best of the series (I rather liked Roger when he was a callow youth) but it still is far better than most in the genre. It has a real flavor for the times, and the main character is as charming as ever. He's grown through the books but never has lost his basic goodness. The story is complex without being overly complicated and the dialog and descriptions are carefully rendered.

The ending was a bit of a surprise, which is a good thing.

All in all, I don't think any fan of historic mysteries will be disappointed in this series. If possible, start at the beginning and follow through in order since you get to see Roger's character develop.

A Well Thought Out Plot.......2006-02-10

Roger the Chapman is sitting in an inn in Bristol minding his own business, but intrigued by a young man who is moving around the patrons asking questions. The man looks familiar and Roger is soon to find out why. The young man is a half brother Roger never knew he had and the familiarity is because of the likeness to Roger's own father.

No sooner have the two met than Roger gets news that his long lost brother has been locked up in the town jail accused of the brutal and savage murder of a young woman the wife of the steward at Croxcombe Manor, near Wells. The murder had taken place several years earlier, but the lady of the manor had spotted Roger's half brother and accused him on the spot.

There is nothing or it but for Roger to set out to Croxcombe Manor, to try to unravel the mystery from the past and unless he can his new found brother will surely hang.

The Burgundian's Tale (Roger the Chapman Mysteries) (Roger the Chapman)

Average customer rating:

Another Case for Roger the Chapman
Roger the Chapman Returns in an Excellent Medeival Mystery
Roger Fans: Have you detected a mysterious change in this series?
an excellent read

The Burgundian's Tale (Roger the Chapman Mysteries) (Roger the Chapman)
Kate Sedley
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0727862162

Book Description

The new title in the acclaimed Roger the Chapman series Things aren't going too well at home for Roger the Chapman and his wife, Adela. Their fourth child has died only days after being born and Roger fails to conceal his feelings of relief at having one less mouth to feed. Adela naturally resents his attitude and their bitter arguments become increasingly commonplace. Roger decides that to maintain harmony at home the best thing he can do is take up his pack and cudgel and once again leave Bristol to trade his goods in the surrounding countryside. Almost as soon as he makes this decision, he receives a message from King Edward IV's brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, summoning him to London to assist in the investigation into the murder of Fulk Quantrell, the son of one of the ladies-in-waiting to Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy, who is on a triumphant return visit to London. It seems Roger has no choice but to return to the dirty, crowded streets of London, where he soon meets a surprising number of people royalty, servants and workers alike who all have a motive for murder.

Customer Reviews:

Another Case for Roger the Chapman.......2006-09-08

Kate Sedley's books about Roger Chapman, the pedlar come murder mystery sleuth are becoming more and more popular and rightly so. They are good entertaining reading with plots and backgrounds that have been well thought out and well researched. They are what I would call light reading (very much like the writing style of Paul Doherty or Bernard Knight, two other well known authors of medieval mysteries).

Roger the Chapman has been at home in Bristol too long. His fourth child has died shortly after being born and his wife Adela believes that Roger has not been particularly upset by this sad event. If truth be told he is in fact somewhat relieved at having one less mouth to feed, but this does not make him feel any less guilty for having those thoughts. Because of the friction between them, Roger thinks a few weeks on the road selling his wares will help to heal the rift.

No sooner has he made his mind up to go on the road he receives a message from Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a man he has worked for before, asking him to travel to London to solve the mystery of a murdered foreigner, a Burgundian. The murdered young man is the son of one of the ladies-in-waiting to Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy. A request from the Duke of Gloucester is tantamount to an order from anyone else and Roger has no option but to go to the crowded streets of London, where a surprising number of the people he questions appear to have a motive for doing away with the murdered man, Fulk Quantrell

Roger the Chapman Returns in an Excellent Medeival Mystery.......2006-01-23

As the capricious English spring vacillates between cold dreary rains and idyllic sunshine, Bristol peddler Roger the Chapman decides to make a quick trip to London to sell his wares and escape from his perceived domestic troubles. The trials of feeding three children and the recent death of his new baby daughter drives ROger to seek the peace of the road for a short while. Not long after his arrival in London, though, the Duke of Gloucester again commands Roger to investigate a London murder that touches a member of the royal household.

The victim, Fulk Quantrell, is the handsome nephew of London matron Judith St. Clair. Fulk had recently returned to London after living in the court of Burgundy, where his mother, Judith St. Clair's twin sister, was a favorite servant to Duchess Margaret of Burgundy. The mystery is set amid the excitement of Duchess Margaret's ceremonial return visit to London. The mystery unfolds quickly, and auther Sedley does a superb job of combining every day life in 1480 London with the development of the mystery. One of the charming aspects of the mystery series is the relationship between the common peddler Roger Chapman and his royal friend the Duke of Gloucester. Also, author Sedley skilfully weaves in events from English history right into the story.

Whether this is your first meeting with Roger the Chapman or you an old friend of the series, I highly recommend this entertaining historical mystery.

Roger Fans: Have you detected a mysterious change in this series?.......2005-08-29

Another can't put it down, fast paced mystery that should win Sedley new fans. If you are not already a Roger fan, I suggest you stop reading this and read "Tregatt"s review. (The series is best read in order, however, start with DEATH AND THE CHAPMAN) If you are a fan I suggest you stop reading until you've read the book. I'm not going to give away the plot, but you may want to enoy the book first before you read further. The problem is: Is this the same, the real, our old Kate Sedley? Suddenly, instead of long, ponderous (but beautifully descriptive) sentences we have short, more precise ones (if a little minimalistic). We are reading much better plotted and organized mysteries. Not that I miss the old "Come on, hurry up and figure it out, and lets get on with it, we readers have figured it out ages ago," Roger. But I do miss some of the flavor of those earlier books. I don't know if the changes are due to: a much more demanding editor, a ghost co-writer, or what. I do realize that there are a few books which, if I had started the series with them, would have been the last I read. Yet in these new, better mystery Roger books some of the what Martin Heiddegger called "the world worlding" that brought the 15th Century to life in a closeup, touchable form, is gone. Also gone is that magical sense of the religious that was so carefully cultivated in the earlier books. There was a little bit of that magic in this one, in that he did dream about the answer to the mystery, but I used to like the way Roger brought God, and his past into the meld. There is also a sort of class conflict in this book that I think the old Kate would have handled better. The Duke treats him like a friend, the suspects like a lower class nusiance--I just think this could have been handled better. And lastly, and this is a spoiler, so you might not what to read on until you've read the book. Roger again does not get rewarded. In fact, he doesn't even work on getting new material for his pack except at the very beginning. In the past economics were always a conern. Why suddenly can Roger go home after a long trip not only penniless, but having to have paid for his apprentice's ale, and whatever. Now again, I like this book, I like Roger as a character, and if the books have to be better told mysteries to attact more readers, then so be it, but I would like more 15th Century meat on my bones, please.

an excellent read.......2005-06-10

Kate Sedley has penned yet another wonderfully page-turnning and riveting read with this latest Roger the chapman installment. One of my favourite mystery series, it's always a treat for me discover that there is a new Roger the chapman mystery for me to sit down and loose myself in, and "The Burgundian's Tale" lived up to my every expectation of an engaging and suspenseful read.

Margaret, the Dowager Duchess of Burgundy and King Edward IV of England's younger sister, is in England for a visit. And London is bustling with excitement as the merchants and townspeople vigorously prepare for the influx of royalty, aristocrats, visiting Burgundians and their assorted retinues. In the midst of all this the murder of young man, Fulk Quantrell, would probably have gone unremarked by many, except that Fulk also happens to be the Dowager Duchess' favourite male attendant. And so Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, asks his trusted servant, Roger the chapman, to investigate Fulk's murder. Fulk, it turns out was the only son of Duchess Margaret's childhood companion and favourite seamtress-in-chief, Veronica Quantrell. Recently, however, Veronica had passed away, and Fulk had asked permission to come to England in order to acquaint his aunt, Judith, with her twin's death. Judith had married well and advantageously, and although she has several dependents that she had promised to make her heirs, all this goes out the window when she meets Fulk and falls for his charms. Could one of the displaced heirs have murdered Fulk out of anger and greed? Seemingly, this should be a rather simple case for Roger to sort out. Except that the more inquiries that Roger makes, the more opaque things become -- Fulk was not the sunny, charming youth his aunt or the Duchess claim him to be, and at the back of everything, is an impression that Roger is getting of something truly evil and sinister lurking, something that Roger senses he has to unveil.

For Roger, the request to investigate Fulk's murder couldn't have come at a better time. Just recently, he and his wife, Adela, had suffered the loss of their newborn child. Roger's grief, however, was also tinged with relief because now there would be one less mouth to feed. And this feeling, which he was unsuccessful at hiding from Adela, has led to an estrangement between the couple. So that Roger was almost ready to go on one of his selling trips in order to put some distance between him and Adela when the Duke's summons came. But this new case, Roger senses, is not only perplexing, but also quite dangerous, and he will have to keep his wits about him if he is to come home to Adela whole of body and mind when it is all finished...

I couldn't resist finishing "The Burgundian's Tale" in one sitting. It was swiftly paced, totally engaging and wholly suspenseful, and was written with such skill and command that time flew, pages turned and I had finished the book before I even knew it. And I had meant to savour this treat over a few days!! For readers not yet in the know, Kate Sedley's Roger the chapman series is not to be missed. It's vivid and colourful and the author does an excellent job of portraying life in late 15th century England, from both the point-of-view of the humbler folk as well as the aristocrats. She has been successfully able to do this by making her protagonist, a humble chapman, who also happens to mix, now and then with the more powerful men of the realm (like the Duke of Gloucester). Add to all this authentic historical detail some really nifty and suspenseful mysteries, and you have a series that can rely on to deliver some truly excellent reads. And "The Burgundian's Tale" makes a fine addition to this wonderful series.

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