Book Description
"The reader is left with the haunting sensation that perhaps the good a man does can live after him--especially in the hands of a dedicated historian."
SAN DIEGO UNION
In this stirring historical novel, Sharon Kay Penman redeems Richard III from his villainous role in history as the hulking, evil hunchback. This dazzling recreation of his life is filled with the sights and sounds of battle, and the passions of the highborn. Most of all, it brings to life a gifted man whose greatest sin was that he held principles too firmly for the times in which he lived, and loved too deeply to survive love's loss.
Customer Reviews:
One of my all time favorites.......2007-10-22
After reading more historical novels than I can guess, I feel I need to go back to this book that I read quite awhile ago. This is one of my favorite books and one of the ones responsible for my love of era. I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to plow through 900 plus pages. I read all Of Sharon Kay Penman's Welsh trilogy and am sorry there has not been any recently.
couldn't put it down.......2007-09-16
I'm not a fan of historical fiction. I picked this up cheap somewhere and it sat around for a year or two before I dove in. Hesitant to start, I couldn't put it down once I got going. It was one of those "you don't want it to end books".
I've read a fair amount about the Wars of Roses (time frame of this novel) and felt like I was getting a great story and a re-cap of good history to boot. I'm not an authority but the history seems fairly spot-on. The author has some notes regarding her few changes at the book's end.
One sided? Yes. She's a Richard fan, no doubt. I lean toward the Richard camp anyway. I don't agree 100% with a few things but that's ok. The story works and maybe she is right about all of it. You'll like the either way. On more than one occasion I found myself wanting to jump in the story and lend a hand (as if I was could!). It gets that exciting. The main characters are well developed and to be fair, you heart will go out the Lancastrian as well as the Yorkist.
If your interested in the Wars of the Roses, medieval history, or good old family warfare (this beats Godfather stuff any day), go for it.
Great Revisionist History.......2007-09-03
A thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read. I love the way she makes the characters come alive. No cardboard cut outs here! By making over Richard, one gets a more balanced picture of what might have happened. The supporting cast--Buckingham, Hastings, Elizabeth, etc.--are well drawn, too, and the complexity of the period is brought out in an exciting way. Loved it!
Fabulous, thorough, historically accurate novel.......2007-06-26
Though a novel, THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR accurately reflects the times (approx. 1459-1485). The story is sympathetic toward Richard III, but it is less romanticized than some other fiction in this category.
If memory serves (I read the book awhile ago.), it treats the disappearance of the princes as a murder - one committed by the Duke of Buckingham without Richard's knowledge or consent. I think this scenario is unlikely, but the work is fiction, and no one knows what happened for certain.
While the novel centers around Richard, readers also will learn about Edward IV, who reigned during most of the time period covered by the book. You will also learn about the disputes between the Houses of York and Lancaster, as well as the role of the French, and to a lesser extent, the role of Burgundy during the Wars of the Roses.
Penman is an awesome storyteller - strong character development, credible blend of fact and fiction, engrossing writing style.
The best of Penman's fabulous historical fiction.......2007-05-17
I love all of Penman's historical fiction, and I think this is the best one. What more can I say...it's in a class all its own.
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
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Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, England, 1544 (The Royal Diaries)
Kathryn Lasky
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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.
Book Description
Richard III is said to have murdered his nephews for their throne, but this second historical novel in the ROSE OF YORK series--winners of a remarkable ten awards--tells a different, well-documented, and dramatic story: A man of conscience, Richard is a reluctant king, forced into power and chosen by destiny to save a nation from bloody civil war.
Customer Reviews:
"No good ever came from visiting the past.".......2007-03-09
The second novel of Worth's Rose of York trilogy, Crown of Destiny covers a critical period of the life of Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Brother of Edward IV, Richard has remained in the background by choice as his brother sinks into increasing dissolution, the king's wife, Elizabeth Woodville, tainting the court with the venality of her actions on behalf of the Woodville family interests. To avoid the entrenched hostilities of Edward's realm, Richard removes his family to their estate at Middleham. It is there that Richard begins experimenting with a judicial system that treats all parties as equal before the law, laying the groundwork for a reign that will be defined by its reform of the judiciary and establishment of trial by jury before one's peers. Removed from the contentiousness of the court, Richard throws himself into his work with great enthusiasm, enjoying a peace he will not know again.
Edward argues violently with his brother, George, Duke of Clarence, thanks to the constant machinations of the queen, who never ceases to plot the downfall of her enemies. Although not of royal lineage, Bess harbors grand ambitions, not the least of which is to see her son succeed his father on the throne of England, the Dower Queen at his side. But first, George must be removed, both of Edward's brothers a threat. Richard stands by, helpless, the king deaf to his pleading, as George is accused of treason. Soon after George's death, the king falls ill and succumbs as well, even though he is in the prime of life. Even though Edward appointed Richard Lord Protector of the prince from his deathbed, the court teems with the schemes of those who would wrest the power from Richard. Assuming Edward's dying wishes will be honored, Richard accepts his task, but once more his naiveté blinds Richard to the intentions of those around him. Viewing the world in black and white, Richard is oblivious to the subtle nuances of human behavior, often escaping catastrophic results through the intervention of those around him who dare to speak the truth.
Nearly outwitted by the crafty Bess, Richard takes charge of Edward's young son, planning the boy's coronation. Then another shock: a document exists that may thrust Richard on the throne, saving England from more years of civil war. Caught in a moral conundrum not of his own making, Richard makes the most difficult decision of his life, showing a marked maturity and sense of history when dealing with the treasonous offenses plotted against him. He acts decisively, but once more Richard's natural inclination for fairness interferes with his judgment in dealing with traitors. Believing kindness will be repaid by loyalty, Richard pardons all but one of the offenders, assuming the best from those who are his sworn enemies. The die is cast and the reluctant king assumes the mantle, his brothers silent in their graves, as well as many of the loyal Neville's. Much maligned by the Tudor version of history, Worth's Richard III has not the coldhearted duplicity required to perform the heinous acts of which he has been accused over the years, an uncommonly just man who only wants peace and prosperity for his country. Richard will be tested during his reign, betrayed by the ambitions of those who call themselves friends. Luan Gaines/2007.
Great Entertainment and Great History.......2006-12-15
The many mysteries of the reign of King Richard III of England have occupied both popular fiction and academic writing for many years. Worth's fluid style makes the Rose of York series a pleasure to read, and those with a special interest in the period will especially appreciate her deft handling of the historical sources, to which she is absolutely faithful. It is especially gratifying to find that for once Richard's wife, Anne Neville, is not portrayed as a weak and ineffectual semi-invalid, but is instead shown holding court and dispensing patronage in her husband's absence in the grand tradition of the medieval noblewoman.
Worth skillfully develops secondary characters like John Neville, George of Clarence, Anthony Woodville and Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. For example, Buckingham appears for the first time in Crown of Destiny at the wedding of the Edward IV's son Richard to Anne de Mowbray, one of the few times that the historical sources record that Richard and Buckingham met before Richard became Lord Protector upon his brother's death. Buckingham gained enormous influence with Richard in a very short time, a peculiar circumstance which Worth attributes to Richard's loneliness after the death of his beloved brother. One suspects that this influence will be a factor in the author's solution to the central mystery of Richard's reign, the question of whether he murdered his nephews in order to usurp the throne. But for that, readers will have to wait for the third book in the series, Fall From Grace. I, for one, am looking forward to it enormously!
Justice is All That is Left!.......2006-12-03
In discussing Sir Thomas Malory's account of King Arthur's knights, Richard of Gloucester says to Anthony Woodville that his favorite part is when Arthur slays Mordred. While this initial comment might lead a reader to think that Richard is again displaying his brutal character, as he is depicted in history, it would be wise to hear his amplification of that comment, "Justice is done." Woodville responds, "But justice comes at high cost. To get at Mordred, the King must sacrifice himself." Richard replies, "You miss the point. The cost of treachery is what's high. Justice is all that's left."
This lengthy interchange is worthy of significant notice as it parallels the main characteristic of Richard III as portrayed by Sandra Worth in this second novel of The Rose of York series about the King so often maligned in the accepted historical record. Yes, Sandra Worth and other Ricardian scholars and writers have come to a different conclusion - King Richard III always acted from a just and thoughtful analysis of the political facts and opinions available at the time in question.
For it is the audacious and despicable behavior of the Woodvilles against King Edward IV, Richard of Gloucester's brother, and the rest of the Plantaganet clan that almost undoes England's respectable relationships with Europe and almost destroys England itself with civil and political war. Richard watches his brother evolve from an idealistic, strong ruler to a deluded, drunk, blind, and irresponsible weakling totally unaware that his few murderous acts were leading to a disastrous end. As could be expected under such conditions, former loyal advisors and servants become as decadent as their leader because of their own lust for ambition and power. What an education for a future king - and how brilliantly this author portrays the individual as well as the political climate under which this all occurs.
So it is no small wonder that Richard becomes a man totally focused on justice - after watching his brothers and so many more murdered for base and mistaken reasons. His faithful and perceptive wife, Anne, can only comfort him so much but does help him preserve his sanity in the midst of even more horrific events. Indeed, he eventually even learns that his own family harbors momentous secrets that will affect the future of England and which he will not learn about until a most critical moment after his brother, Edward's, death - one for which his brother George was condemned to death by Edward.
Sandra Worth knows how to write superb historical fiction! The reader comes to appreciate the depth of Richard's character in taut suspense through the spare yet plot-driven tale quickly emerging under Worth's deft, depictive skills. With meticulous research, this author proceeds to engage the reader in truly understanding where the term "blind justice" originated and what it truly means in the life of a respectable and memorable political leader of amazing stature!
Congratulations, Sandra Worth! You have done it again with realistic and creative skill - and so much more! I can't wait to read the final novel in this noteworthy series, The Rose of York:Fall From Grace.
Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 4, 2006
Richard the Good!.......2006-11-05
I very much enjoyed this book, as I did the Crown of Destiny. Sandra Worth knows her stuff. Richard 111 is shown as a sympathetic character very much devoted to his older brother. In his time he was well loved, especially in the North of England. His nastiness was created by the Tudors and there is no contemporary docuentation regarding a withered arm or a hunchback. He was quite a warrior and it would have been impossible for him to wield the weapons of the time if he was physically challenged.
However, no one is perfect and it does appear that Richard had a slight case of paranoia. This may have gotten worse as he became older, thus he probably "lost it" once in a while - strawberries anyone?
I still prefer Sharon Penman's portrayal .of Richard, hence only 4 points
THE ROSE OF YORK: CROWN OF DESTINY Is A Worthy Read!.......2006-10-13
Pardon the pun, author's last name and well, you get it. This is the second in a trilogy by Sandra Worth detailing the life of Richard III. I found it to be much better reading than the first! The pace was much faster and I found myself with a REAL page turner in my hands!
In this novel Richard III is a conscientious, principled man and the author's story really brings this across. How difficult it must have been to become something you never wanted, King of England. Anne Neville, wife to Richard is also a courageous, strong willed person whose health was anything but. She also never desired to be a monarch, Queen, no less of England. Hers and Richard's lives were destined to be anything but what they truly desired. Their cherished but short lived privacy was shattered, especially when Richard accepted the crown. Their son's health was also a source of great joy but greater sorrow.
I vastly enjoyed this second novel in the trilogy and am very much looking forward to the third!
Book Description
From the pen of legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy comes an unforgettable true story of
royalty, passion, and innocence lost.
Born into an impoverished branch of the noble Howard family, young Katherine is plucked from her home to live with her grandmother, the Duchess of Norfolk. The innocent girl quickly learns that her grandmother’s puritanism is not shared by Katherine’s free-spirited cousins, with whom she lives. Beautiful and impressionable, Katherine becomes involved in two ill-fated love affairs before her sixteenth birthday. Like her cousin Anne Boleyn, she leaves her grandmother’s home to become a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII. The royal palaces are exciting to a young girl from the country, and Katherine ?nds that her duties there allow her to be near her handsome cousin, Thomas Culpepper, whom she has loved since childhood.
But when Katherine catches the eye of the aging and unhappily married king, she is forced to abandon her plans for a life with Thomas and marry King Henry. Overwhelmed by the change in her fortunes, bewildered and flattered by the adoration of her husband, Katherine is dazzled by the royal life. But her bliss is short-lived as rumors of her wayward past come back to haunt her, and Katherine’s destiny takes another, deadly, turn.
Customer Reviews:
A great book, but don't come to this one if this is your first Plaidy.......2006-06-13
I really enjoyed this work. It was fun to read about one of Henry VIII's less known wives. However, as this was my first Plaidy work, I was taken aback at how vain and shallow Katherine was portrayed.
Throughout the book, I wondered if my dissatisfaction with the main character of Katherine was because of the writing or because of the character herself. When I reached the end and reviewed the Book Group notes, I was relieved to see that this was definitely the author's intention, as Katherine was referred to as a "bimbo." This was further validated by a little Internet research too. Plaidy deftly captures the period, with its scars and intrigues.
Not one to start a Plaidy collection with, but a very good read.
Katherine Howard's story from her point of view.......2006-06-12
Katherine Howard, the young and pretty fifth wife of Henry VIII (and cousin to Anne Boleyn) is the subject of one of Plaidy's last novels, written in the style of The Lady in the Tower.
Katherine, through the aid of a scribe (she was not greatly educated), tells her life story. Born into an impoverished branch of the great Howard family, she is sent to live with her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, and it is not long before her good looks and bad company begin to get her into trouble. When she is given a place as a lady to Anne of Cleves, her family attempts to use Henry VIII's infatuation with her to serve their own interests.
The Rose Without a Thorn is a very moving and intelligent historical read. Readers see how the young, foolish Katherine goes from the Queen of England to a prisoner when her past comes back to haunt her and she is also charged with adultery. Most likely to add more validity to the love story with Culpepper, there is a small historical inaccuracy at the end...Katherine did not actually say that she would rather die the wife of Thomas Culpepper than as a queen.
However, a wonderful page turner. I was actually moved to tears at the end.
Loved it.......2006-01-13
I loved this book and immediately wanted to read more of the authors work. Wonderfully told story that makes you feel like you're there...
Great read.......2005-12-19
This is the first Plaidy book I have read. It is a great read. Very well written and intriguing.
An unwitting, loving, if foolish pawn.......2005-09-20
Katherine was a young girl, very lovely in the manner of Ann Boleyn (she is also her cousin) whose strength was also her downfall. She appealed to Henry VIII - who just has divorced Ann of Cleves - because she was everything that Ann was not. Fair, pleasing and not very clever. She is used as a pawn by her uncle - Duke of Suffolk to get back the power from the Seymours who have the King's favour. She goes along with it - with some misgivings because of her past which is chequered to say the least. I felt that she probably made Henry most happy of all his wives. When the dark clouds of Katherins's unsavoury past start clouding over, there is a place where you think that both Henry and Katherine are pawns of the men around them- for if they had met, he surely would have forgiven and taken her back. It leaves you wondering, about Henry VIII, about the follies of youth which some commit and grow beyond... A very absorbing tale, if a little sad ...
Book Description
Set in Malory's England during the Wars of the Roses when the passions of a few determined the fate of a nation, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable eight awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers -- Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville -- before they become King and Queen. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.
Customer Reviews:
novel.......2007-09-09
ordered for my daughter,(19), she loved it. shipping was very quick, book was in very good condition, just as discribed.
All Fiction, No History.......2007-07-04
I have read hundreds of historical novels, including many about Richard III, and I have to say this was the worst--I couldn't even finish it. Within the basic outline of the story as we know it, the author creates a series of improbable characters and scenes (the Earl of Warwick sailing his own ship????). Don't bother--read instead some of the really good historical fiction about Richard (Rosemary Hawley Jarman, Sharon Kay Penman, etc.).
The voice of dissent .......2007-06-05
I was supposed to love this book. Everyone told me I would love this book. I wanted to love this book, I tried to love this book and though everyone will hate me for posting this review I'm afraid I have to be the voice of dissent on this book. I did not love it. I did not like it. I know that most of the reviews for it have been stunning, and I just don't understand why. To me the writing seems overly simplistic, even childish, and I just could not get interested in the story. Everybody had such a clear role in it, the hero, the hero's mentor, the heroin, the cruel older brother....
I just don't see what people liked about this. I didn't find it romantic or exciting, in fact, I couldn't even finish it.
Two stars.
Great introduction to the Ricardian viewpoint.......2007-06-04
This book introduced me to the controversy surrounding Richard III. Was he a villian or a fair-minded leader? Did he kill (or sanction the killing of) his nephews - the would-be Edward V and his brother, Richard - or was he framed after his death by those who supported Henry Tudor?
For this introduction, I'm grateful. Otherwise Shakespeare's Richard III was my only point of reference.
However, Worth is no Sharon Kay Penman. After reading the 1st volume in the Worth series, I picked up THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. It's a far superior book. While it too paints Richard III in a favorable light, it remains true to history - at least as we know and understand it today.
THE ROSE OF YORK reads like a historical romance. At the time, knowing nothing about the subject except for the Shakespeare play and this book, I kept wondering if the truth about Richard lie somewhere in between the villian and the saint.
My recommendation is, if you favor romance over history, read THE ROSE OF YORK. But if you prefer historical fiction, read THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. While biased (as any interpretation of history is) in favor of Richard, it relates much about the times and events that is accurate.
Richard III: History made fun..........2007-05-23
Upon reading other comments about this book, I seem to be looking at it from a different perspective. Most of what I've read in the genre of European historical fiction was such drudgery--stuffed with page after page of verbose, lifeless details that I was tempted to skip over. I am not normally a fan of this genre.
I met the author, Sandra Worth, at one of her book signings. She has a passion for this subject that is contagious. I took THE ROSE OF YORK: LOVE & WAR, the first of this series, home with me and have read it twice.
Worth does a great job of juggling a dizzying number of characters and events, some of whom have similar names. A couple of times I was confused, but there is a convenient family tree in the front. The incredible contrasts--evil and compassion, beauty and ugliness, chivalry and incivility--lend this story a texture that spans from one extreme to the other. I found these ironic contrasts most fascinating. Worth describes the darker parts of young Richard's life in words that paint disgusting pictures yet somehow are not vulgar; the uplifting parts follow a path of beautiful prose that is akin to poetry. That I, not being in any way a fan of romance, can appreciate this is remarkable!
This is one of the most carefully edited books I've seen in the last few years, with a conservative layout and just enough British flavour to make it feel authentic.
I understand why the serious historian--the fellow with a PhD in History--might find this book lacking. But if one reads for entertainment and enrichment, they won't be disappointed here. I'm looking forward to reading the other two in the series!
Byron C. Justice, Author of "Violent Night" and "Haunted Camps."
Book Description
From Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, to Richard III, The Wars of the Roses follows the history of the kings of the houses of Lancaster and York who shaped this tumultuous period of English history. Anthony Cheetham provides insight into the politics, society, and economy of this time, and above all, he conveys the personal histories and characters of its rulers.
About the series
A Royal History of England:
From the beginning of monarchical power in Norman times to the present queen, the British royal family has experienced many scandals, triumphs, and changes in public image, but few of their reigns can be described as uneventful. With contributions by specialist authors and contemporary illustrations of royal heraldry and coats of arms, Antonia Fraser has edited a definitive and entertaining history of one of the most powerful monarchies in the world.
Product Description
The Mary Rose carried a crew of naval officers and sailors, a fighting force of gunners and soldiers, a Barber-surgeon, several ship's carpenters and skilled navigators. Of nearly 500 men, fewer than 40 survived the sinking on 19th July 1545. Trapped by netting, or below deck, they stood little chance, and their bodies and belongings went to the bottom of the sea. Excavation of the hull and contents produced a huge collection of objects that together make up a detailed picture of what life was like on board. Before the Mast explores how the men of the Mary Rose lived, through their surviving possessions; how they were fed; their music and recreation, medicine and provision for illness and injury, as well as working practices: carpentry and maintenance, stowage, navigation and ship's communications. The personal possessions of the crew included religious items, books, fishing lines and weights, sewing kits, money, hair combs, jewellery, knives, musical instruments and many items of clothing. The Barber-surgeon, who had his own cabin, brought on board a fine chest filled with canisters, bottles and pots of ointment and medicines, a variety of surgical instruments and a fine set of razors. Another cabin nearby was clearly occupied by the ship's carpenters whose toolkit included planes, adzes, axes, hammers and drills, as well as pitch pots and special mallets for patching up leaks in the ship's hull. The ship's navigators had the best in sixteenth century compasses. The ship's galley was in the hold and this area in particular produced many examples of wooden and pewter plates, bowls, pots, bread troughs, and tankards, as well as barrels and baskets still containing beef, pork, fish and fruit. The volume also includes an analysis of the human remains providing evidence for the stature and age range of the men most were under 30 their health, and injuries sustained.
Customer Reviews:
Before the Mast.......2007-06-27
The Mary Rose shipwreck is a unique time capsule for those interested in history, let alone in Tudor England. The range of artifacts represent the life, death and warfare aboard a late medieval ship, consisting of the naval equipment, arms and armaments (arrows, bows, cannon, etc), furniture, clothing, the bones of those drowned, jewellery, medical supplies, games, musical instruments, and this list goes on. Because of the condition of the finds it is a great reference for those using it to make replicas. The descriptions, line drawings and measurements make it all the easier to understand how the artifacts were made and used.
The presentation and and text is well done and easy to read. All in all a worthy addition to any libary or bookshelf.
Average customer rating:
- Illustrious
- July 31, 2201
- A vividly dramatic tale of forbidden romance
|
Ruskin's Rose: A Venetian Love Story
Mimma Balia , and
Michelle Lovric
Manufacturer: Artisan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Savage Garden
ASIN: 1579651372 |
Book Description
Venice can be a dangerous place for a man's emotions--particularly at Christmas, particularly if he's the grief-stricken art historian John Ruskin. In 1876, a year after the death of his clandestine love, Rose La Touche, Ruskin arrived in the city of canals and arched bridges. The author of such acclaimed books as Modern Painters and The Stones of Venice, Ruskin suddenly found himself adrift without his Rose. He'd seen his own youthful marriage scandalously annulled; he had lost his faith, his love, his fortune. It was time to heal.
Ruskin's Rose tells the unforgettable story of Ruskin's relationship and of his time in Venice, when he rediscovered art through the paintings of fifteenth-century artist Vittore Carpaccio. Gorgeously illustrated with photographs of letters, maps, flowers, lockets, and other artifacts, this tale will stir the heart of every reader.
Customer Reviews:
Illustrious.......2004-06-16
You do not need to be neither an art expert nor historian to appreciate this find book. Like the above reviewer has already mentioned, this is not even a book: it is in fact a living artifact to be treated in league with the works of arts it treats as subject matter. A work of art unto itself. Style-wise it reminds this reader of one of Nick Bantocks' books, and in fact, Mr.Bantock had written a book called 'The Venetians Wife'. But if you are not totally and delightfully suprised and charmed by the books maps, illustrations and photos then it wil be the story itself that leads you around by the lapels. Indeed, the author weaves a warm spell; draws you in and one gains the impression from just the very first few pages that it is a story that deserves to be settled in for and is at once illustrious and intriguing, beguiling and irresistably seductive all in one. By the way, makes a great gift and in fact like me, you may find your self buying not just one...but two. Let this book earn a special place on your book shelf mantle and your heart as well. One gets the impression that this is exactly what it was meant for. Enjoy!
July 31, 2201.......2001-08-01
Well, it is indeed a pretty obect, but it's hardly a "book". It has to take me longer than a half an hour to read in order to dignify a piece of writing as a "book". As an illustrated historical essay, i give it FIVE stars. Publishing a hard cover around an fine essay and filling it with illustrations, is a little too "twee" for my taste, but i have to admit it was an experince to read and i will not forget the sensitive insight into my favorite Victorian. Hey, on this date, it's about the right price, Dave... go for it.
A vividly dramatic tale of forbidden romance.......2001-03-13
Ruskin's Rose provides a Venetian love story of an art historian who fell in love with Irish girl Rose in 1858. Using material from the letters between the two, the authors reconstruct a tale of forbidden romance every bit as vivdly dramatic as Shakespeare, with color illustrations by Ann Field peppering the account.
Book Description
AN UNFORGETTABLE HEROINE,
A KING MISUNDERSTOOD BY HISTORY,
A LOVE STORY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD
In A Rose for the Crown, we meet one of history's alleged villains through the eyes of a captivating new heroine -- the woman who was the mother of his illegitimate children, a woman who loved him for who he really was, no matter what the cost to herself.
As Kate Haute moves from her peasant roots to the luxurious palaces of England, her path is inextricably intertwined with that of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard III. Although they could never marry, their young passion grows into a love that sustains them through war, personal tragedy, and the dangerous heights of political triumph.
Anne Easter Smith's impeccable research provides the backbone of an engrossing and vibrant debut from a major new historical novelist.
Customer Reviews:
More sappy romance than historical fiction.......2007-07-15
I read a lot of historical fiction centered on the Tudor and post-Tudor periods. I enjoyed learning something about the War of the Roses and the period leading up to Tudor times. I agree with another reviewer who stated that she wished the fiction had been more historical. Yes, the background is historically accurate, but the romance (as Ms. Smith admits) is mostly invented. I would have enjoyed the story so much more if it hadn't so frequently read like a sappy romance novel. And, for some reason, I often found myself confused by all of the similar names and titles of the characters (but that may just be a fault of my own). In general, I thought it was a pleasant, interesting and fast read; worth a try.
An evocative read.......2007-07-02
I read this book while flying home from the Historical Novel Society conference and was immediately transported to 15th century England. Anne Easter Smith evokes not only the time and place but also all the sensory perceptions of what it must have been like to live at this time. The plot hummed along seamlessly allowing me to relive Richard III's story as well as that of an ordinary woman living in extraordinary times. I was so totaly immersed in this terrific book that I quite forgot all the discomforts of flying in our so called modern age! An evocative read such as this should not be missed.
The journey begins...........2007-06-13
My name is Lynn and I'm a Richard III addict.
And it's all the fault of this book and Anne Easter Smith. I purchased this book because, although I love reading about the Middle Ages and the English monarchy, I realized how little I knew about Richard III -- and thought the book, while fiction, might enlighten me a bit.
Well, it did. And also lightened my pocketbook because it started me on a journey down a road where I have purchased numerous books about Richard III (fiction and non-fiction) and even joined the Richard III society.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in that time period. It's well-written but not ponderous -- a good read -- and, along with SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR (Sharon Kaye Penman) a good place to start on a Ricardian journey!
Loyaultie me lie!!
Riveting and Wonderful.......2007-04-10
Bringing this history forward, Anne Easter Smith tells this complicated story with such ease! She reveals Richard's history through delicately landscaped historical facts from another time, another world. This book, written by researched and beautifully managed language, brings a new way of seeing the era and the Richard I did not know.. And from the viewpoint of a woman is to know his heart rather than the history that has kept his heart hidden. It is tender and terrifying. There is a world revealed here, a world that many have not heard, seen or known, until now.
Get Real.......2007-03-19
I really wanted to give this story at least a four, but I just couldn't. It does have many excellent points. As an avid reader and medieval history fan I was delighted to find a novel so thick. I think it took me like a week to read it, and for that I'm grateful as I go through most books in a day or two. And the story itself is very involving on every level EXCEPT when the authoress is dealing with the subject of Richard III and that's where I take major issue.
The way Richard III is depicted in this novel is shameless revisionist writing, and that's fine. Everyone has their opinion and the authoress is entitled to allow her novel to reflect her own. She says Richard III was maligned by contemporaries who influenced the modern view of him and this holds water if one is going by the work of historians alone, but I don't. In this book Richard III is portrayed as being some kind of angelic being who does no wrong. Any and every crime he may have been associated with he's depicted as having been framed. He's a saint. He has clean hands. It makes him the most boring character in the whole novel. And it doesn't jibe with historical fact.
Look past the personal biases and consider the family and times Richard III came from. His entire family, and the entire medieval warrior aristocracy was known for being cold and ruthless. I have never heard this disputed. And yet in this book Richard is the anomaly. He is nothing like his brother's who used any means at their disposal to acquire power. I am not saying Richard is guilty of killing his nephews in the Tower. I am saying the sainted hero of this novel has no relation to what the man was proably like in real life.
The whole irony is had the authoress portrayed Richard with a harder edge, or with a more complex character - a good side and a bad side - it would have made for an even more compelling story than the whitewash results we see here. As it is the "main" love story in the novel reads like a common fairytale romance that fans of this novel seem to lap up. And she should have skipped the graphic love scenes between Richard and the heroine just like I had too. The mental image of Richard III making it with anyone just doesn't do it for me.
Customer Reviews:
Stick With It.......2007-07-04
I confess: I came very, very close to wall-banging this one at the end of Part II, approximately 200 pages into my read. I had simply had enough of the shallow, self-serving main character, Robert Merivel. His incessant need to be loved by King Charles II had led him to marry the king's mistress in order to give her a "legitimate" name (and also allowing him to line his pockets rather nicely). All well and good, but Robert kept searching for a calling in his own shallow way, first through painting (for which he apparently had no affinity) and then through music (with only moderately better results). Robert is actually a little surprised and upset to realize he'd been chosen to marry Charles's mistress simply because he was so foolish; that self-same foolishness leads him to believe he's falling in love with her, and he makes a rough pass that leads the king to take away all he's given. It was at this point that I threw up my hands and said, "Enough!" Though well-written, I was so irritated with Robert that I just couldn't face more of his whining lack of self-awareness.
And then...I visited Amazon and read a few reviews, which led me to realize that perhaps there was hope for Robert's metamorphosis yet. So I decided to give poor Robert one more chance, and I am most glad I did! Robert finds himself, as a former physician, thrust amid a group of Quakers who tend the mad. Through his closest friend, Pearce, Robert rediscovers his need to heal and the rewards of thinking beyond himself. Robert does not entirely give up his former ways, but there is growth and responsibility and ultimate tragedy that lead him back to the King and forward in growing up. I'm still not sure what to think of the ending, however; it seems ambiguous to me.
I am pleased that I decided to finish this book in order to learn what became of Robert, and I liked that each of the three parts seem to section off his life very well. This novel is well done and thought-provoking, and ultimately a very worthwhile read.
nice read.......2007-05-06
A nice read for all those interested in the 17th century. Especially amusing is the first persons harsh view on himself as he indulges himself in decadency and later gets cured.
The character of King Charles II is a catalyst that intrigued me, though the end was somewhat unlikely it still fitted the story.
Restoration.......2006-03-20
Not having earlier heard of Rose Tremain or read her other books, I had no expectations of 'Restoration'. But since it made the Booker shortlist I did expect an entertaining read.
The novel starts off promisingly. The early stages of the book, where the central character - Merivel is introduced is quite entertaining, but as the novelty of the character begins to wear off the book starts to falter. .
"In this age, all fortunes are made in court.".......2005-08-19
Robert Merivel, who has studied to be a physician, is appointed, ironically, to be veterinarian for the spaniels of King Charles II, who has recently been restored to the throne following the death of Oliver Cromwell. Merivel enjoys the gaiety and frivolity of court life, and, a bit of a fool, he entertains the king. The king's decision to placate one of his lovers by marrying off his favorite mistress to Robert Merivel, spells the beginning of the end for Merivel's tenuous fortunes. Warned not to fall in love with his wife, Celia Clemence, since the king intends to continue seeing her, Merivel cannot help himself, and he is cast out, losing not only the king's affection, but also his house and, of course his wife.
Joining a group of men who work at an asylum for the insane, Merivel learns that there are deeper concerns in life than the hedonism of his life at court, and he develops genuine affection for several of the kindly Quaker men with whom he works. When he transgresses the society's rules, however, he is cast out from there, too, ending up in London at the time of the Great Plague and eventually the Great London Fire.
Painting vivid pictures of Merivel's life--at court, at the asylum in Whittlesea, and in the neighborhoods of London--author Rose Tremain brings the age, its customs, its science, and its social structure to life. The years of 1664 - 1666 are especially difficult, and as Merivel lives through the horrors of the Plague and the panic of the Great Fire, which Tremain recreates with the drama they deserve, the reader can see Merivel becoming less a fool and more a human. Like the restoration of the king to the throne, Merivel's "restoration" to dignity takes place after a period of dark reflection and self-examination, and both Merivel and the country learn from their travails.
Tremain develops Merivel's personal transformation with sensitivity, finesse, and much ironic humor, and when, at last, he is noticed again by the court, his understanding of himself and his role in the world is far more profound than it was before. Depicting the personal and the philosophical turmoils of these early Restoration years with a historian's eye for detail and a detached observer's sense of wit, Tremain illustrates the contradictions of this period realistically and often with dark humor. A fine historical novel, Restoration transcends its period, offering observations, themes, and lessons for the present day. Mary Whipple
The confusing personal journey of Robert Merrivel.......2004-03-22
I love historical fiction, and as a doctor, I am also interested in the history of medicine. Considering that this book features the excesses of court life under Charles II and the treatment of the mentally ill in the 17th Century, I really expected to enjoy it. As a simple story I did, but I constantly felt that something was lacking.
The book tries to show us the evolution of Robert Merrivel's character from hedonistic, self-interested and needy, to wise and contented. Indeed, at the end of the book Merrivel seems to achieve what he craved all the way through - a sense of worth and of being loved by someone. He thought he had these at the beginning of the book in the form of social standing and the King's affection, but discovered that he was fooling himself.
It was surprising then, that in the end, he finds these things in just that - social standing and the King's affection. The fact that we are told Merrivel eventually realises his foolishness in wanting the King's friendship, and yet at the end still craves, pursues and recieves it anyway, I felt somehow ridiculous. I wondered whether this really showed a transformation of character. He made use of the same things as he did in the beginning of the book for affirmation. In short, I found it disappointing that his aims and goals, and his criteria for happiness, did not change along with his personality. Merrivel's actions simply do not reflect what the book is trying to tell us has occured within him. This incongruity bothered me quite a lot, and left me wondering what the point of describing the inner transformation was.
I also felt more could have been made of the Bedlem section of the book. It would have been nice if Merrivel had made a discovery on the treatment of mental illness, just as he realised that the heart as an organ has no sense of feeling (a well known medical fact today). But that is just a personal feeling I guess.
Read this book if you want a good story, and an interesting main character. Just don't expect the emotional journey of Merrivel to make much sense in the end.
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