Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd: The inventories of the Wardrobe of Robes prepared in July 1600, edited from Stowe MS 557 in the British Library, MS LR 2/121 in the Public Record Office, London, and MS V.b.72 in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC

Much of Janet Arnold's most important contributions to the costuming community are addressed in this book, making it extremely valuable. She presents each section with satisfying detail, raising very few questions that remain unanswered. The photographs accompanying the text are also invaluable, as many of them are not available in other books or to the general public for viewing. If only there were more color images...

But I have two major gripes with the book-both regarding the quality of graphics and images in it.

First off-in the whole book there are only about 5 pages in color. The rest of it-including hundreds of portraits, examples of extant clothing pieces and pieces of embroidery were all in black and white. I complain about that because, with so many of the portraits quoted as examples it would help if they could be seen clearly. (Many of them are too dark to have reproduced well, and a few are quite horrible.) And the photographs....

If they could reprint this book and possibly include more color plates it would be a much much more valuable resource. As it stands now, it is a good source, but not all that I could have hoped for. Instead I have begun a search for color reproductions of the portraits cited in the book. A long tedious job but one that I think over all will make it a much more solid resource for my needs.

8 Things You'll Learn from Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads

Rosalind Wiseman was gracious enough to give us a sneak peek at the advice found in her new book, and we're kind enough to share. So, if you've ever found yourself in any of the following situations, Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads is the book for you:

1. Your kid, who attends every practice diligently, gets lots of "pine time" on the bench, while other kids who aren't nearly as good get more play time. Should you say anything to the coach?

2. Your daughter fights with her best friend, who shuts her out of the clique. The best friend's Mom says, "I really think the girls should work it out, don't you?"

3. An angry father shouts down the principal at the PTA meeting, saying, "I know I speak for all parents here when I say..." while you disagree completely. Should you speak up?

4. You walk by two women and overhear them saying about a girl nearby, "She looks like such a slut." That's your daughter they're talking about. Should you confront them?

5. Your son goes to a party where there's drinking. When the cops bust up the party, your kid gets suspended too, even though he wasn't drinking. Should you protest?

6. Your daughter doesn't get invited to "the" party of the season, which is being given by one of her good friends. Should you call the other mother?

7. They're putting the squeeze on you to join yet another school committee, but you're already stretched thin with your full-time job. How can you say no?

8. The principal busts your kid for cheating, and now his chances for getting into a good college are ruined. It was a one-time offense, and you think the principal is making too big a deal of the incident. Should you challenge the school to get it expunged from his high school transcript?

Book Description

What happens to Queen Bees and Wannabes when they grow up?

Even the most well-adjusted moms and dads can experience peer pressure and conflicts with other adults that make them act like they’re back in seventh grade. In Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads, Rosalind Wiseman gives us the tools to handle difficult situations involving teachers and other parents with grace. Reassuring, funny, and unfailingly honest, Wiseman reveals:

• Why PTA meetings and Back-to-School nights tap into parents’ deepest insecurities

• How to recognize the archetypal moms and dads—from Caveman Dad to Hovercraft Mom

• How and when to step in and step out of your child’s conflicts with other children, parents, teachers, or coaches

• How to interpret the code phrases other parents use to avoid (or provoke) confrontation

• Why too many well-meaning dads sit on the sidelines, and how vital it is that they step up to the plate

• What to do and say when the playing field becomes an arena for people to bully and dominate other kids and adults

• How to have respectful yet honest conversations with other parents about sex and drugs when your values are in conflict

• How the way you handle parties, risky behavior, and academic performance affects your child

• How unspoken assumptions about race, religion, and other hot-button subjects sabotage parents’ ability to work together

Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads is filled with the kind of true stories that made Wiseman’s New York Times bestselling book Queen Bees & Wannabes impossible to put down. There are tales of hardworking parents with whom any of us can identify, along with tales of outrageously bad parents—the kind we all have to reckon with. For instance, what do you do when parents donate a large sum of money to a school and their child is promptly transferred into the honors program–while your son with better grades doesn’t make the cut? What about the mother who helps her daughter compose poison-pen e-mails to yours? And what do you say to the parent-coach who screams at your child when the team is losing? Wiseman offers practical advice on avoiding the most common parenting “land mines” and useful scripts to help you navigate difficult but necessary conversations.

Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads is essential reading for parents today. It offers us the tools to become wiser, more relaxed parents–and the inspiration to speak out, act according to our values, show humility, and set the kind of example that will make a real difference in our children’s lives.

Also available as a Random House AudioBook and as an eBook

Customer Reviews:

Uneven advice brings this book down.......2007-10-02

This book does contain some helpful information. I specifically appreciate the parts on decoding what others are saying and things you are to never say (like "I don't know what you're teaching your kids, but we teach ours to be polite"). I also really enjoyed the quotes from teachers, counselors, coaches and principals.

However, some of the suggestions for dealing with conflict boggle my mind. For instance, the author says if someone else schedules a birthday party on the same day as your child's party, you should call up the other parents, and suggest a joint party or give them the chance to "do the right thing," which is apparently for those parents to cancel/reschedule their child's party. I find this to be absurd, impractical, and potentially embarrassing to your child. First of all, if you are the one with the problem with the parties, you should reschedule your child's party. Why are you trying to make your problem their problem? Perhaps you could make a joint party work, but either that child wasn't invited to your child's party in the first place, or that child WAS invited but decided to have his own party. Either way, it doesn't bode well for a joint party. I think another suggestion was for the parents of both kids to send out a joint letter stating that they expect the kids to honor their first commitment to one of the parties. Again, I find this micromanaging and awkward.

There are other instances of this but I think you can get the idea. First she says don't micromanage your child's social life and then seems to suggest you do that very thing. There is helpful information here, just don't swallow everything without a little common sense.

Finding the Strength to Stand Up for Our Kids (and Stepkids).......2007-04-13

If you've ever tried to get involved in the PTA and wondered why you left feeling insecure about your abilities as a parent, winced at hearing a dad (or mom) comment loudly and negatively on the soccer abilities of 5-year-olds from the sidelines, or sat silently while the booster club is hijacked by a parent who's a bully, then you'll find much to appreciate in this book.

A never-ending series of power plays among parents - the dramas that all of us see every day - are dramatically affecting our children and their schools, playing fields, and life skill development. Wiseman spotlights parents who live out their own insecurities through their kids. They push their children to take a whirlwind of classes, load them up with extra-curricular activities, and fret that it's not enough to gain admittance to the Ivy League. So it goes one step further - to bullying school administrators, blackballing other kids, and swooping in to rescue our children from the lessons they desperately need to learn on their own.

It's no surprise to see her expertly slice and dice the undercurrents surrounding a Queen Bee Mom and her posse, as they turn a cold shoulder to the new parent stumbling into the book fair planning committee. Wiseman also wrote Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence, the landmark New York Times bestseller on relational aggression in girls.

Several personas - from Caveman Dad to Hovercraft Mom, flit through the pages. They're not labels per se - but tools that help us understand our own roles and behaviors.

There is no prissy-footing or tip-toeing around the big issues here. The book offers solid advice with scripts to help parents stand up and build a culture of civility and respect that helps all our children. She encourages parents to challenge the often aggressive, inappropriate, and plain over-the-top behavior exhibited by many parents today.

It's a field guide in handling uncomfortable conversations between parents and adults who care about children. For example, a dad overhears a couple of women calling his daughter a slut because of how she is dressed. For most parents - the options that immediately come to mind are to start a shouting match with the women, or to slink off in silence. In reality - the dad didn't like the way his daughter was dressed, and would like for her to dress differently - and was struggling in his relationship with her. Wiseman offers a scripted conversation to guide how the dad could approach these women, state what he overheard, and ask for the situation he'd like to see happen instead.

And the reader is not off the hook, either. Wiseman encourages all of us to reflect on our own behaviors and motivations, and consider how we can be part of a community that values its members, treats people with dignity, and supports our children. The conversational and warm tone make for easy reading. Although the book talks directly to parents, there is much of value here for stepparents, educators, and others who care about children and their well-being. As a former youth worker who endured more than a few parental barrages - I found much of comfort and value in this book. As a stepmom to three, I saw some of my own experiences and observations mirrored, picked up a boatload of helpful advice, and considered my own attitudes and behavior.

I met author Rosalind Wiseman during the National Book Festival in Washington, DC last year. I was impressed with her energy and commitment to helping us all build positive communities for our children. When she inscribed her autograph in my book, she added "Stay strong!" We all need to hear that.

Look out, queen bee moms/kingpin dads! We're on to you!.......2007-01-31

Again, Rosalind Wiseman is giving us moms, and women in general, the information necessary to go up against the queen bee moms and kingpin dads out there! And I laughed when reading one of the negative reviews, because I can guarantee you that the information in this book hit a nerve with that particular reviewer...buzzzzzzzzzzz. Thanks, Ms. Wiseman! Knowledge is power.

A must read for every parent.......2007-01-12

Although, I only have a four and a two year old. I know that the time will come when I have to handle certain situations that are described in her book. Like what to do when my daughter doesnt want to invite a girl to her party, or when my son thinks that he got a grade he didnt deserve. Although some of the situations wont happen to me, because I live in a small town, but I think that this book will help every involved parent that wants the best for their kids.

Good encouragement about standing up for yourself and your kids.......2006-12-25

The author gives good examples about how to confront another parent. The best part of the book for me was where she points out that apologies are important, and suggests how to ask for an apology and to give a sincere apology yourself.

Average customer rating:

quite an insight
Mostly historical rubbish.
Historical Read
Much better than anticipated
Don't let the 116 reviews be the reason you buy this book

The Life of Elizabeth I
Alison Weir
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

History & Nonfiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

Biographies & Memoirs | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books

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

ASIN: 0345425502
Release Date: 1999-10-05

Amazon.com

The long life and powerful personality of England's beloved Virgin Queen have eternal appeal, and popular historian Alison Weir depicts both with panache. She's especially good at evoking the physical texture of Tudor England: the elaborate royal gowns (actually an intricate assembly of separate fabric panels buttoned together over linen shifts), the luxurious but unhygienic palaces (Elizabeth got the only "close stool"; most members of her retinue relieved themselves in the courtyards), the huge meals heavily seasoned to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. Against this earthy backdrop, Elizabeth's intelligence and formidable political skills stand in vivid relief. She may have been autocratic, devious, even deceptive, but these traits were required to perform a 45-year tightrope walk between the two great powers of Europe, France and Spain. Both countries were eager to bring small, weak England under their sway and to safely marry off its inconveniently independent queen. Weir emphasizes Elizabeth's precarious position as a ruling woman in a man's world, suggesting plausibly that the single life was personally appealing as well as politically expedient for someone who had seen many ambitious ladies--including her own mother--ruined and even executed for just the appearance of sexual indiscretions. The author's evaluations of such key figures in Elizabeth's reign as the Earl of Leicester (arguably the only man she ever loved) and William Cecil (her most trusted adviser) are equally cogent and respectful of psychological complexity. Weir does a fine job of retelling this always-popular story for a new generation. --Wendy Smith

Book Description

Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating new book, acclaimed biographer Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure.

Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic that is also an amazingly intimate portrait, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning reading experience.

Customer Reviews:

quite an insight.......2007-08-31

I have read many books on the lives of the Tudors. This one is so realistic, it is like she was writing about the present instead of 500 years ago. It is a fascinating book

Mostly historical rubbish........2007-08-16

This is a sweet attempt to tell a somewhat romantic story of Elizabeth 1. For those interested in English history they might want to read 'Character's of the Reformation' by Hillaire Belloc. This English historian deals with the political side of the Tudor monarchy and the men who actually gave Elizabeth her marching orders and who ran the government during her reign.

Historical Read.......2007-04-04

I am an Elizabethan freak so it takes a lot for me to really get into a book about the period and not nit pick it. This book follows Elizabeth across her life. I didn't think it offered much of a new perspective or new data however. It was a pretty standard biography of her (I've read about 10), but Alison Weir is a good writer which makes it enjoyable. If you are looking for new facts or a more thought provoking read, I would suggest David Starkey's Elizabeth. It explores her youth more and discusses many of the possible theories of a pregnancy, dispells tower gossip stories based on scientifc records from the time period, and is also an enjoyable read. So if you want something a little mindless and entertaining, or if you are new to this field of study, this is a good book. If you're a little more seasoned, I would choose the Starkey book and if you can afford both, I would suggest that so you can compare and contrast.

Much better than anticipated.......2007-03-14

I had heard several negative reviews in regards to Alison Weir and her "take" on history regarding Elizabeth I from friends. As a historical actress at our local renaissance faire for many years, I actually enjoyed this book quite a bit. Ms Weir does state that some of the events are historical while others had to be imaginative at times so I dont feel this book misrepresents anything at all. The accuracies are fraught with historical proof therefore the uncertainties don't really matter. Sadly there arent any valid historical documents from Elizabeth's personal journals to compare with, so assumption on what she thought, how she felt or what influenced her at times is perfectly acceptable based upon common knowledge of Elizabeth's upbringing.
I personally own now 4 of Ms Weir's books and have yet to find one I haven't enjoyed. Highly recommend it though it is a bit long and you dont want to put it down.

Don't let the 116 reviews be the reason you buy this book.......2007-02-01

I am reading this book after having read several others on the tudors. If you are interested in a very opinionated and dry take on the life of Elizabeth I--then this book is for you.

Lots of Weir's opinions but the content isn't any different than anything Ive read already.

Average customer rating:

After the Death of Henry VIII
By Slanderous Tongues
Okay, but starting to get ridiculous
excellent Elizabethan historical fantasy

By Slanderous Tongues
Mercedes Lackey , and Roberta Gellis
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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

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

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

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

ASIN: 1416521070

Book Description

Great Harry is dead, and England is ruled by a dour Protector for 10-year-old Edward VI¿-a Protector intent on keeping total control over the young king and no friend to Lady Elizabeth because of her brother¿s fondness for her. In the great lens and the dark pool that hold Visions for the FarSeers of the Bright Court and the Dark, the images change and waver. A pale, thin girl sometimes wears a crown and sometimes has no head; King Edward and his Court grow misty as he changes from boy to stripling. But the fires of Mary¿s reign still burn bright as they swallow writhing men, women, and children, and if she ever reigns the red-haired queen brings a burgeoning of art and joy. Elimination of that last possibility for England is Vidal Dhu¿s prime purpose, but he has been forbidden by King Oberon to attack Elizabeth. Though he may not attack her directly, still he hatches schemes within schemes. And if his plan to involve the young princess in a scandal that would render her unfit to rule in the opinion of the Proctor and his Council, he has more twisted plans to eliminate Elizabeth once and for all.

Customer Reviews:

After the Death of Henry VIII.......2007-06-04

By Slanderous Tongues (2007) is the third historical Fantasy in the Scepter'd Isle series, following Ill Met by Moonlight. In the previous volume, Henry VIII died and his death announcement was delayed for two days while Hertford arranged for Edward's crowning. Now Edward has become the King, but actual control lies with Hertford and the Regency Council.

Vidal Dhu learned that Elizabeth had been taken to an Unformed Land near the Unseleighe Lands and he attacked the party. Denoriel held off Vidal, but was losing Power when Oberon appeared and stopped the fighting. Elizabeth irritated Oberon by claiming Denoriel as her own, but Titania appeared and interrupted that conflict. Everybody fled while the Rulers of the sidhe settled their differences.

In this novel, as England mourns for their king, his children are uncertain without his presence. Ten year old Edward is now king and has been taken under the protection of his maternal uncle Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertford. Mary is now an adult and has her own household. But no one seems to care about fourteen year old Elizabeth. Since her infancy, the King has directed her living arrangements. Now that Henry is gone, she wonders who will take charge of her life.

Her good friend Lord Denno -- Denoriel -- enlists the aid of the Dowager Queen to provide a place for Elizabeth. Catherine eagerly accepts the chance to do something meaningful and asks for permission from the Council to take the youngster into her household. The Council agrees and Catherine invites Elizabeth to live with her.

Denoriel has been Elizabeth's friend for a long time -- in mortal terms -- and is now having lascivious thoughts about her. Since he believes that she would never think of him in a lustful manner, Denoriel tries somewhat unsuccessfully to school his thoughts. Little does he know that Elizabeth is having the same problem about him.

Lady Alana -- Aleneil -- keeps watch over Elizabeth as one of her maids of honor. So does Blanche Parry, a mortal with some ability to sense magic. Both are necessary, because Prince Vidal Dhu of the Dark Sidhe still wants to kill Elizabeth. Even though Oberon has forbidden him, or any other Dark Sidhe, to directly attack the child, Vidal knows that Elizabeth's succession to the throne would lead to a wanting time for the Dark Court.

Rhoslyn -- half-sister to Denoriel and Aleneil -- performs a similar service for Vidal among Lady Mary's household. Yet Rhoslyn is becoming ever more dissatisfied with the Dark Court. Contrary to what she had been told, Rhoslyn has found that the energy that feeds the Bright Court can also sustain her. But she doubts that her brother Pasgen would leave the Dark Court with her, so she continues to follow Vidal's orders, if not quite as he would have preferred.

Pasgen discovers that the mists in one area of the Chaos Lands have developed sentience. Apparently the mists were awakened by Elizabeth's request for assistance and then provided a lion to attack her enemies. Now these mists are inhabited by vaguely humanoid shapes: one with red hair like Elizabeth and the other with gold hair like Denoriel. The mists welcome Pasgen and even solicit his return, but he is afraid of their potential.

Harry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, finds a calling in Underhill. The Sidhe domains of Alhambra and El Dorado have been cursed by the Spanish Inquisition and are now infested with the Great Evil and minor malignities. He has been enticing older Sidhe back from the Dreaming to fight against these malevolent forces.

In this story, Denoriel meets Thomas Seymour in Queen Catherine's home and notes that the man is very welcome there. Yet Thomas is a man of lusty desires and selfish concerns. He wants to marry either Elizabeth or Mary to gain political power. Mary has little use for him, but Elizabeth is too naive (and devoted to Catherine) to plainly state her objections to his unwelcome attentions.

Vidal nurtures various plots to increase hostilities in the British Isles and to remove Elizabeth from the succession. He urges the Scots to continue their raids across the border and to repel offers for political settlements. He also encourages the followers of the old religion to instigate slanders against Elizabeth.

Denoriel is kept busy defending himself from personal attacks and trying to protect Elizabeth from political ploys. Even Rhoslyn and Pasgen become involved in defending Elizabeth and Denoriel. Their efforts lead to Denoriel becoming less averse to peaceful relations with his Dark Court siblings.

This story continues the fantastic explanations of English history leading up to the Elizabethan Age. Of course, all the magical effects are hidden from history, but much happens beyond mortal kenning! This volume leaves plenty of unexplored history for sequels.

Highly recommended for Lackey and Gellis fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical adventures, Unseleighe plotting and Underhill romances.

-Arthur W. Jordin

By Slanderous Tongues.......2007-06-02

As ever, Mercedes Lackey always entertaining. This is a fun series and am looking forward to the next.

Okay, but starting to get ridiculous.......2007-02-12

I really liked this series when it started out, since I was fans of Lackey's Serrated Edge series and I also like historical fiction with twists. The Guardian Sidhe plot line combined with the era of the Tudors seemed like an excellent idea. However, sorry to say, the believability of the novels seem to have gone downhill since This Sceptr'd Isle. In Isle and in Ill Met By Moonlight, Denoriel and Aleniel are presented as trusted friends, protectors, and advisors. Denoriel, especially, is shown to be a father-figure to both Harry and Elizabeth. Makes sense, since he is after all, centuries older, wiser, and is possessed of the Sidhe's love for children.
Which is why I was shocked when Lackey and Gellis decided to present him as Elizabeth's lover, of all things. To me, this just doesn't work. It's absurd to have a man, or elf if you prefer, go from raising a child to suddenly seeing that same child as a potential love interest. Yes, I know Denoriel is unbelievably hot and sexy, but STILL. And the reasoning given, that in order to protect Elizabeth from being attracted to Thomas Seymour, she needs another lover to distract her, and Denoriel is conveniently available and can't get her pregnant, plus she has stirrings of puppy-love for him . . .no this is just ridiculous. They would have done better to go with the original historical line that Elizabeth disliked Thomas Seymour since she saw him only as a stepfather, with Denoriel protecting her the way a father or brother would have. The teenage Elizabeth, from all the biographies, was not the type to have casual affairs with men at ANY age, she valued her autonomy too greatly and she knew that once a man gets a woman in bed, back then it was seen as a powerplay, which was why she always avoided such things. Also she hated marriage because of the dangers it presented to a woman, witness her mother and Henry VIII, because it gave total control to the man. Saying she would never marry because she could have her Sidhe lover and thus never miss out on sex or have to worry about commitment doesn't fit the image of Elizabeth that I know. And what about Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's great unrequited love? He barely gets a mention, Elizabeth is so preoccupied with Denno. Unless they're going to bring him up in the next book and say that the reason Elizabeth was able to resist him for so many years was because she loved Denoriel. Spare me! All in all the whole Elizabeth-Denno affair seemed tawdry and cheap to me instead of tender and loving. It would have made better sense for him to have fallen in love with Elizabeth once she was queen and Dudley had married her cousin Lettice, then she would have been looking at him as a woman who has known love and loss, not as a starry-eyed adolescent. I felt it also diminished the very real danger Seymour's advances caused her reputation, since there was no chance she might respond to them and jeopardize herself, the way there was in actual history. It would have been better if there HAD been a chance, then the book would have had some tension and Denoriel would have been tested as to how he could protect his charge without revealing himself and the whole scene of questioning at the end would have been a lot more dramatic. Yes, i know this is alternative history, but I think Lackey did a much better job with her other series, alternate Venice in Shadow of the Lion and This Rough Magic.

excellent Elizabethan historical fantasy .......2007-02-07

The prophecy is clear that Princess Elizabeth will eventually sit on the throne bringing an enlightened period to the mortals. The fairy realm remains divided as it has for several years over the now fourteen year old offspring of the late King Henry VIII who is being hounded eternally by a gaggle of executed spouses. The dark Unseleighe Sidhe Prince Vidal Dhu believes that preventing Elizabeth's ascension will mean a return to their glorious Dark Ages filled with horror and misdeeds that fueled these malevolent elves.

However, to achieve his side's darkest objective of insuring Elizabeth's fall from grace, they must remove preferably by death her overly protective guardians, the traitorous Seleighe twin elves, Lord Denoriel and Lady Aleneil. Dhu assigns the elimination of the Princess' protectors to twins Rhoslyn and Pasgen; if anyone can get at Denoriel and Aleneil it is their Dark elven half-siblings. With them removed from the scene the prophecy will fail as Elizabeth will surely find a spouse or some way to alienate her half-siblings the recently crowned boy King Edward VI and the heir their older half sister Princess Mary.

The third Scepter'd Isle Elizabethan historical fantasy (see ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and THIS SCEPTER'D ISLE) is an excellent blending of mid sixteenth century English royal history and a fantasy thriller. The stakes are high as the rival elven groups battle not only for their future but that of the humans. The key players from the mortal and paranormal realms seem genuine including the target Princess Elizabeth due to the mixing of real events and known facts of her young teen years into the story line. Fans will cherish this top quality collaboration between two distinguished authors from differing genres who prove that adding one and one can surpass two when greatness join forces.

Harriet Klausner

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)

Average customer rating:

Not Just Pharaohs--but all of Egypt!
Pharaohs!
An Effective Introduction to Ancient Egypt for Children
a good introduction to Ancient Egypt, for children
Excellent introduction to Egypt!

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt (Landmark Books)
Elizabeth Payne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Africa | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ancient | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0394846990
Release Date: 1981-02-12

Book Description

For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was a great civilization that thrived along the banks of the Nile River. But when its cities crumbled to dust, Egypt’s culture and the secrets of its hieroglyphic writings were
also lost. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days.

Customer Reviews:

Not Just Pharaohs--but all of Egypt!.......2006-07-11

This book is another Landmark Books success!

Your children and you will learn, not just about Pharaohs, but about Egyptian history as well. The author utilizes stories well in order to draw the reader in and retain his interest. This is no mere book of facts that you will have to drag your children through; I found myself engaged and learning while reading it.

Of course, this is not the FULL history of Egypt, but all the main Pharaoh's and the events surrounding them are covered in detail. I take issue with a few of the assumptions the author presents that have been made by modern Egyptologists, but the error is in our current thinking on Egypt, not the author's work.

(For example, do you really believe that illiterate peasants worked from sunup to sundown and were pleased to do so for Pharaoh--to a man? Or, that modern scholars who have been able to find little evidence from the time period of Cheops know more about the opinion of the ancient Egyptians towards their Pharaoh than the Egyptians themselves did in 50BC?)

Some Pharaohs covered include Cheops, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Akhnaton, and Rameses II. Also covered are the times of chaos in between the kingdoms, minor pharaohs and some queens, and times when Egypt was conquered and how this changed their kingdom. Even daily life of ancient Egypt is described within the text, making this an good stand-alone study on Egypt.

Summary: This is an excellent middle-school resource for a study on ancient Egypt that will provide information about most of the main events in a chronological manner. Highly recommended!

Pharaohs!.......2005-08-23

The mythology of Egypt can be fun, but the history is what really draws your attention. A clear part of Egyptian history is her pharaohs, and this book follows the line of ancient pharaohs with adequately-sized sections for each.
If you are looking for specific details this might not be very helpful, but it is very good for reading about the bigger stories.
This is a great book to help start young readers on their road to learning about Ancient Egypt.
A 'must have' for any Egypt-history-lover!

An Effective Introduction to Ancient Egypt for Children.......2001-08-31

Written for children who are independent readers, Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt was, nevertheless, a fascinating introduction to Ancient Egypt for all my children. My younger daughter was in first grade at the time and needed some help with the reading, but the stories themselves were of great interest to her. It was fun for me to see all three of them learn about the Rosetta Stone and other archaeological discoveries, most of which I hadn't learned about until I was well past childhood. It's amazing what children will find interesting when it comes wrapped in a story. Although some may regard the story-telling as somewhat fanciful (obviously we don't really know what most of these people really thought or felt), the author has succeeded in her quest to bring the attention of the reader into the context of the history she describes.

We bought this book along with the Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Eqypt, which listed it as one of its primary texts for children's history. I recommend that book, along Tony Allan's Time Traveller Book of Pharaohs and Pyramids, if you are going to teach your children the history of ancient Egypt. The Greenleaf book helps you organize your children's study with questions and projects (along with recommended resources), while the well-illustrated Time Traveller book helps the children visualize what they're reading about.

a good introduction to Ancient Egypt, for children.......2000-08-30

In this book, the author examines the important discoveries and the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. She gives a description of the infamous Rosetta Stone, then continues with a brief history of the Ancient Egyptian civilization and religious beliefs. She also reports on the pharaohs and their accomplishments, including those of Akhenaton, Ramesses II, Cheops, Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. An interesting book for children ages 9 to 12.

Excellent introduction to Egypt!.......2000-08-06

This is a wonderful general introduction tot he study of ancient Egypt. Caution: This is really meant for grades 7 and up. The langauge is difficult for younger ones,even as a read-aloud. Also, the first chapter is mostly conjecture about the beginning of civilization in the Nile River Valley. You can skip it. Overall, it is fascinating reading.

The Hooded Hawke (Elizabeth I Mysteries, Book 9)

Average customer rating:

Harper pens another winner!
delightful sixteenth century mystery

The Hooded Hawke (Elizabeth I Mysteries, Book 9)
Karen Harper
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Historical | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312338872
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Book Description

In the ninth installment of Karen Harpers highly respected Elizabeth I mystery series, Elizabeth and her court depart London for a summer journey. By royal command, the young Francis Drake joins the entourage. But someones idea of sport is shooting crossbows and longbows at the queen and her captain. As bodies and clues pile up, the mystery and dangers deepen like the surrounding forests. Both Drake and the queen have cousins they cannot trust who may want them dead.

Customer Reviews:

Harper pens another winner!.......2007-03-27

Queen Elizabeth (the first, not Helen Mirren), unwilling to let her enemies catch her unawares, enlists her servants and staff to help her pursue whoever is behind the barely-missed attacks on her person. Determined, clever, and quick-witted, Harper's Elizabeth is a master at managing court and international intrigue while solving yet another murder. Let's hope we have more from this talented author!
Eleanor Sullivan, author of Assumed Dead.

delightful sixteenth century mystery .......2007-02-23

The Hooded Hawke
Karen Harper
Dunne, Feb 2007, $23.95
ISBN: 0312338872

In 1569 Queen Elizabeth I continues her effort to strengthen her control of throne while her prime rival Mary, Queen of Scots, and several northern lords brew rebellion. Though concerned over her safety, Elizabeth refuses to be a prisoner as she was when her late stepsister was queen. Accompanied by Francis Drake, she goes out on an outing, but someone tries to assassinate her; killing her falconer instead. A second attack comes close to her while she consulted with her herbalist.

Not one to sit around as a target, Elizabeth begins an investigation as to who is behind the attempts on her life as she suspects it is not the obvious suspects like Mary. She enlist her loyal servants and Francis to help her unravel the truth as she begins to suspect she is not the objective, but that someone else close to the crown is and the assailant also has to be in the inner royals circle. If her theory is wrong, a dead Elizabeth would be the proof.

As always with this delightful sixteenth century mystery series, readers must accept Queen Elizabeth I as a private investigator extraordinaire. If one can accept that basic axiom, the exciting story line is fascinating as the audience obtains a deep look at Elizabethan England inside a cleverly devised whodunit with suspects galore.

Harriet Klausner

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)

Average customer rating:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered
Red Rose of the House of Tudor
Ok Book
My review
A great book for those who love English history

Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0590684841

Amazon.com

"Do you know who I am? I shall tell you. I am Elizabeth, Princess of England, daughter of Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn. I am eleven years old. My mother, once Queen, is now dead. Almost eight years ago, when I was not yet three, Father chopped off her head."

Daughter of a fallen queen, young Princess Elizabeth lives a complicated and dangerous life. She fears her father's famous temper but loves him dearly, noting that she would trade all her jewels just to be noticed by him. She also loves her brother Edward, heir to the English throne, but doesn't like her older sister Mary, who torments her and conspires against her. Kat, her governess, is so worried for Elizabeth's life that she spends hours checking their room for poison whenever they move to a new palace. Court intrigues swirl around her, the French are threatening an invasion, and Kat is clamoring for her to have another bath--that makes nearly six in three months! Through Elizabeth's diary, author Kathryn Lasky brings the Tudor world to life: glittering banquets of peacock, eel, and swan; palaces so stinky that "everyone goes about with their noses buried in pomander balls to hide the stench"; archery contests, where Elizabeth excels; and Latin and logic lessons... where she needs a little work. Some of the history is slightly flawed (a misplaced date or two), but readers will enjoy the great detail as they learn about the childhood of one of England's greatest monarchs. An epilogue, with Tudor family trees, paintings, and background information enhances this already excellent and entertaining book. (Ages 10 and older) --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

N/A

Customer Reviews:

A Forgotten Princess, A Queen Remembered.......2007-04-02

This book provides a unique look at what life may have been like for Elizabeth long before she was queen. It's easy for historical figures like Elizabeth to become so much larger than life that we forget they were real people, once. Elizabeth I recreates the emotions and thoughts of an adolescent girl in a way that shows that even a princess feels the universal emotions of loneliness, fear, and doubt.

Elizabeth I addresses two themes especially well: a daughter's longing for her father's affection, and a keen political mind's awareness of what it takes to be a successful ruler. Despite the fact that he had her mother beheaded, Elizabeth still loves her father and lives for the moments when he shows her favor. She is also an astute observer of the goings on in the world of royals and nobility, and early on comes to the realization that if she should become Queen, she must remain unmarried to retain her rule.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves diaries and memoirs and takes an interest in the intricacies of queendom.

Red Rose of the House of Tudor.......2007-03-27

This is one of the first in the Royal Diary series that I have read and It is by far my favorite. It gives a great insight in to palace life and into the life of a teenager. It is a great read for all Princess. This book also includes historical facts and pictures about Elizibeth the 1st and her family. I recomend this book for anyone who likes princess, drama and historical fiction. This is one of my favorites in an intriuging and educational series

Ok Book.......2007-03-06

I really like to read books about people and what happened in their life. I have read alot of diaries from different people in different time periods. I found as I was reading that this book starts out medium exciting. In the middle of the book it gets boring and I just felt like starting over on a different book, but by the end of the book I just didn't want to put it down. I really didn't know anything about Elizabeth 1 but after reading this book I would be able to tell you good, bad, and interesting things that happened to her. I found as I read the book that she is like me in many ways. She likes to be outside on sunny days, be around people, be adventurous and free, and she loves animals. It made it easier to read the book because I could look for more ways she was alike me. Even though there were many interesting things that happened in this book I wouldn't recomend this book to a friend. I wasn't really excited to read the book and I went really slow through it.

My review .......2007-02-25

I loved this book it made me relize that the world has changed alot from 1544to now (2007). The best part was that I felt like i was the one going through all the trials and challanges , That Elzibeth went through .

A great book for those who love English history.......2006-11-20

Having taken English History in a British school many years ago, I found this book to be very enlightening in reference to this period of time. This book gives a great insight into the formation of the Elizabethian period.

Average customer rating:

Great historical fiction
Breath of Fresh Air
An unforgettable book
A Deeply Complex Historical Figure
Great Read

I, Elizabeth: A Novel
Rosalind Miles
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

Popular Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Book Clubs | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0609809105
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Book Description

Publicly declared a bastard at the age of three, daughter of a disgraced and executed mother, last in the line of succession to the throne of England, Elizabeth I inherited an England ravaged by bloody religious conflict, at war with Spain and France, and badly in debt. When she died in 1603, after a forty-five- year reign, her empire spanned two continents and was united under one church, victorious in war, and blessed with an overflowing treasury. What’s more, her favorites—William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, and Sir Walter Raleigh—had made
the Elizabethan era a cultural Golden Age still remembered today.

But for Elizabeth the woman, tragedy went hand in hand with triumph. Politics and scandal forced the passionate queen to reject her true love, Robert Dudley, and to execute his stepson, her much-adored Lord Essex. Now in this spellbinding novel, Rosalind Miles brings to life the woman behind the myth. By turns imperious, brilliant, calculating, vain, and witty, this is the Elizabeth the world never knew. From the days of her brutal father, Henry VIII, to her final dying moments, Elizabeth tells her story in her own words.

Customer Reviews:

Great historical fiction.......2007-07-08

Elizabeth I is an amazing Queen who is still shrouded in some mystery. There is a quest amongst historians to get at the "real" Queen Elizabeth and Roslind Miles does a great job of doing this. This is an intriguing "historical fiction" read about Elizabeth from her young days of being the discarded child of Ann Boleyn to the beloved Queen of England. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning a little more about the Queen. Although this is a historical fiction, the author did do research into Queen Elizabeth so there is a lot there that is true, or semi true.

Breath of Fresh Air.......2007-07-07

I have read many biographies on Elizabeth, from textbooks to fictional history, and this one breathed new life into them all! Miles really makes the biography/story come alive for me. I am so glad I found it!!

An unforgettable book.......2007-07-07

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The queen's inner struggles with being a ruler yet a woman was described throughout the book. It was hard to put down and I was sorry when it ended. I'm looking forward to reading her other books.

A Deeply Complex Historical Figure.......2007-06-03

Vividly written, as if Elizabeth were speaking to the reader in her own voice. The book does an excellent job of portraying her complexities and her volatile nature without making her sentimental--it's clear she's a vain creature who sometimes let her vanity get in the way of her brain. A compelling read.

Great Read.......2007-05-19

This was one of the best book on Elizabeth that I've found. If you like anything by Margaret George, you'll love this. If you love this, read George's Henry VIII. Awesome stuff.

Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Difficult Parents in Your Child's Life

Average customer rating:

Some of Us Have Left Seventh Grade Behind

Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Difficult Parents in Your Child's Life
Rosalind Wiseman , and Elizabeth Rapoport
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Conflict Management | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Teenagers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Health Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

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

ASIN: 140008301X
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Some of Us Have Left Seventh Grade Behind.......2007-05-29

I am the mother of two first grade children and picked up this book rather reflexively a few weeks ago. I was drawn in by the promise that it would reveal the secrets of all of the weird and labyrinthine social interactions that supposedly plague parents of school-aged kids. I figured it must have something to tell me that I don't already know!

Although I've had my share of questioning my own and other parent's judgement at various moments throughout my children's school experiences (so far preschool through first grade) -- I find that my live-and-learn attitude, and my sense of confidence and practicality just keep my boat afloat. If I screw up, I learn something from it and try to manage things better next time. If someone else screws up, I might stew over it for a while, but ultimately, I just right myself and move on. I guess I just don't have the time or interest to care much about whether there's a queen bee or a superdad around. I figure we're all just people after all and everyone is working from a different set of strengths and weaknesses. What is the big deal?

I mean are we really all fretting over what to wear on "back to school night," or chewing our nails with anxiety when one mother is on a first name basis with the principal while we are still at the smile and nod in the hallways stage with that person?

After reading about 1/2 the book and flipping through the rest trying to find a chapter worth reading but failing at that task -- I finally gave up and realized that maybe -- just maybe -- I just have gotten over 7th grade after all. I'll bet I'm not alone.

Average customer rating:

A good biography of the Virgin Queen by Tudor Scholar Erickson
Nearly reads like a novel ...
First Elizabeth a reading pleasure
Hail Britainia
Elizabeth the Woman & the Queen

The First Elizabeth
Carolly Erickson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 031216842X

Book Description

In this remarkable biography, Carolly Erickson brings Elizabeth I to life and allows us to see her as a living, breathing, elegant, flirtatious, diplomatic, violent, arrogant, and outrageous woman who commands our attention, fascination, and awe.With the special skill for which she is acclaimed, Carolly Erickson electrifies the senses as she evokes with total fidelity the brilliant colors of Elizabethan clothing and jewelry, the texture of tapestries, and even the close, perfumed air of castle rooms. Erickson demonstrates her extraordinary ability to discern and bring to life psychological and physical reality.

Customer Reviews:

A good biography of the Virgin Queen by Tudor Scholar Erickson.......2005-12-05

Carolly Erickson has done her homework on the Tudors of England and in her 1984 biography of Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603)
does a fine biographical profile.
Elizabeth's mother Anne Boleyn died at the stake failing to produce a male heir for the cruel HENRY VIII. Her only chld was Elizabeth who ruled Britain from 1558 to her death in 1603.
Elizabeth had a difficult and dangerous life dealing with such
enemies as:
1. The might of Spain and France.
2. Various Catholic groups wanting to assasinate the Protestant leaning queen.
3. Personal enemies include her half-sister Queen Bloody Mary
who at times had Elizabeth imprisoned in the tower. She burned
Protestants at the stake in her short reign from 1546-1553 following the death of her half-brother Edward VI (son of Henry and Jane Seymour). Another enemy was Mary Queen of Scots who Elizabeth had executed in 1587.
4. Elizabeth was very intelligent, crafty and skilled in survival in a dangerous time of civil war, various rebellions and complicated international political and religious warfare.
Erickson is good at writing Elizabeth's story focusing on her many love affairs most notably with the Earl of Leicester.
Elizabeth's reign is well told in this biography which is a good place for a burgeoning interest in Tudor History to bloom.
The book is one of the finest I have read on Elizabeth. I can
recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story well told about one of the great female rulers in history!

Nearly reads like a novel ..........2002-08-23

I tend to read mostly fiction, but for some reason earlier this year I decided to foray into biographies. This book gives you a peek into Elizabethan life, gives you insight into Elizabeth I's personality, and you learn quite a lot of history, scandals, and rumours-of-the-day along the way.

This book reads more like a biographical novel than a pure biography, which, considering the subject matter is about 500-years old, probably means some license was taken with dialogue, etc., however, I think the style makes the subject infinitely more memorable.

First Elizabeth a reading pleasure.......2002-01-25

The major difference in "The First Elizabeth" by Carolly Erickson and "The Life of Elizabeth I" by Alison Weir is stylistic. Both women are thoroughly versed in the life of their royal subject, and obviously enthusiastic about her as well.

Erickson's style, however, leans more toward novelistic narrative. She seems to be sitting with you, telling you a story about this great monarch with her infamous "virgin" status, her political adeptness, her fearsome temper, her penchant for swearing oaths that made one's blood freeze, and her ability to command deep love and adoration from her subjects.

This style is especially appealing for those for whom this biography is their first foray into Tudor biography. It introduces the major players in the queen's life thoroughly so that one is well acquainted with Robert Dudley, Cecil and Walsingham, as well as Mary I and the many other colorful characters that populated the Queen's life. You also get a real feel for the terror and uncertainty of Elizabeth's youth, when she lived in fear of death at the hands of her unstable, Catholic sister.

Erickson adroitly paints a stunning (and sometimes shocking) picture of life at court - and what a life it must have been. Living at the various castles Elizabeth moved between (they changed castles regularly so that the one previously used could be cleaned and "aired out") was far from our 21st century idea of luxury, and when you read about the trials and travails inherent in the Queen's annual "progresses", you'll never gripe about rush-hour traffic again!

Again, I would recommend this to anyone starting out to read about Elizabeth I, and to the reader already familiar with the life of the greatest queen of England. Those of the latter group might find that the author falls in love a bit too much with her subject (and who wouldn't, as this lady is one of the most fascinating people in history). In some places towards the end the flow of the narrative (going from event to event) isn't quite as seamless as it could be (you feel as though you are jumping from one to the other without a lead-in sentence/paragraph) but never mind that. Erickson does a marvelous job of painting a portrait of the life and times of Elizabeth and it's a most pleasurable learning experience and enjoyable read.

After finishing "Elizabeth I", the reader would do well to continue on with Weir's biography mentioned above. I started with Weir and am now committed to reading Erickson's extensive series on the Tudors, including "Great Harry", "Mistress Anne", etc.

Hail Britainia.......2001-12-10

A great book about a Queen whose story reads more like "The Godfather" than you'd guess.

Elizabeth I, thrust onto the throne while her country was still in the midst of it's centuries-long emergence from Roman rule, turned England into Great Britain through a heady mixture of guile, guts, and British steel(How's that for rhetoric?).

It's a great book, as are most of Erickson's titles.

Elizabeth the Woman & the Queen.......2001-11-26

I have read this book several times over the years and have found it engrossing both on the historical and dramatic level. The author manages to portray Elizabeth as an all powerful monarch as well as a very human woman with all of her strengths, weaknesses and faults. The personality of Elizabeth is emphasized throughout and so the reader is left feeling that something of the person behind the legend is revealed. Carolly Erickson also reveals a great deal of the political and social environment in which this woman functioned. Knowing the political and social environment in which she was raised, came to power and ruled makes her life story that much more remarkable. Overall I found this book very worthwhile and enjoyable reading.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books