Linda Erlich

Extreme. Violence

Reviewed: 10-01-23

Catherine starts out as a young innocent princess who marries into the. Russian Imperial family. She eventually becomes empress and. Is very cruel and ruthless.
Russia is a huge violent country, full of peasants and serfs with a ruthless leader. Mr. Massie provides a clear explaination of Russia,s past and present. And while it is not it pretty it explains a lot.
Hated Catherine. Hated the autocracy and selfshisness. Explains a lot.

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Wonderful story

Reviewed: 12-04-21

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very interesting and well developed. The story was great with an unexpected twist at the end. The story was engaging and the narr

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A gossipy novel about the Queen Mother

Reviewed: 06-22-19

As I listened to Lady Campbell's book I wondered if she was attempting to create another she-wolf queen consort of England. The queen she described could be compared to other she-wolf queen consorts: Eleanor of Aquitane and Margaret of Anjou for example who were strong women, stronger than their king husbands.
The Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Lady Campbell describes is narcissistic, manipulative, and extremely controlling. While she may not have had a perfect caring and loving personality, one has to look at her position in life. She was very powerful and used her power to help the people of the UK. She and her husband led the people through the horrors of WWII. They helped people survive and thrive during the Battle of Britian and were bombed along with them. Queen Elizabeth was a smiling tower of strenghth the her people during the was and afterward. In her long widowhood she continued to serve her country and her people. Whatever her motives, she helped people and did not sit back and enjoy the luxurious life to which she was entitled.

Yes this is an untold story of Queen Elizabeth. However, it seems based on gossip not fact. How sad. I suppose there are people who enjoy reading about the deep flaws in famous people. However, if we are to believe Lady Campbell, queen Elizabeth did bot have a authentic, or good bone in her body. She was pure selfishness. As a psychologist, I find this difficult to believe.

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4 people found this helpful

Wonderful journey and more!

Reviewed: 05-20-19

I really enjoyed this book. I am a psychologist and a student of English History and Ian Mortimer has written a story that tells of life from a new perspective. John, the main character has both a limited time and forever to live out the last days of his life. He learns to see humanity, goodness, badness, the very meaning of of a well lived life from his experiences. As he and his brother move through time, they are confused by the deep changes that come about with progress. They have to adapt and understand these changes quickly and the journey is difficult.

It is a pleasure to travel though the centuries with John and William as they struggle and misunderstand the times and are misunderstand by the people around them. The end is spectacular. Ian Mortimer has given John an answer to the problem he has struggled with all of his life that is meaningful to everyone. This is an existential tour de force.

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24 people found this helpful

Very interesting and compelling novel

Reviewed: 01-18-19

When I bought this book, I had never heard of Matilda of Normandy. This really surprised me because I have been a student of British history for my entire life and thought I knew of all of the royals from the Saxons down to the present day. At first I thought this was a novel about Queen Matilda's granddaughter the Empress Matilda daughter of Henry I.

Instead I was transported back to the 11th century to the years just before the Norman Conquest to learn about Matilda of Flanders, wife of William, Duke of Normandy who led the Battle of Hastings and changed the history of Britain. While this is a work of historical fiction and the details are not true,i.e it is impossible for the author to know the thoughts and intimate moments of Matilda's life, if the broader aspects of this woman's life are known to be true, she was a remarkable and strong woman. She was a true partner of her husband and participated in his politics and war planning. Matilda is highly intelligent, beautiful, creative, and sensual. Her relationship with the duke is described in great detail. This is a very romantic novel.

The narrator is wonderful. She has a deep, sensual voice that is just perfect for Matilda. I have spent man enjoyable hours listening to her read this book to me.

I was a bit disappointed that this book only covered the years before 1066, but that is why there is a sequel. I am looking forward to listening to that book as soon as my credits are available.

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1 person found this helpful

New insights into the Cousin's War

Reviewed: 09-14-18

I really enjoyed this book about the events leading up to and the early years of the War of the Roses. Most authors start with the reign of Henry VI, however Ms. Weir starts earlier with the reign of Henry IV and the beginning of the Houses of Lancaster and York, all decedents of John of Gaunt. Given this perspective one is allowed to understand the family conflicts that lead to the war. This perspective on the story gives us new insight into why it is indeed the Cousin's War.

Previous reviewers have commented negatively on Ms. Mash's narration due to her use of accents. I do agree that they were grating, especially since they were mostly used for phrases within a sentence. However, we must remember that things such as the use of accents and the placement of these accents falls within the purview of the director not the narrator. The director is responsible for this decision, not the reader. On the whole I have always enjoyed Ms. Mash's narration of books and I will not hold the director's decision against her.

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10 people found this helpful

Yes! It is historical fiction!

Reviewed: 10-12-17

Before I bought this book I read some of the reviews. People complained that there were many historical and factual errors in the book and that ruined the book for them. I believe they expected to be reading a history book, a non-fiction book.

This book is a novel, very loosely based on historical people of the Tudor era. It is interesting because the author uses her imagination to create situations and conversations that would be impossible for us, in the 21st century to know. She invents a possible world creating how Jane Seymour could have become the third wife of Henry VIII. The story is chocked full of real people relating to each other in ways that we could not have know about. She has padded the story with fictional characters to round out the story.

In actuality, we know very little about the private lives of these people. We do not know what they said to each other or anything about their most private moments. This is fiction.

As a scholar (I have a PhD) I have read many novels and histories. I know the difference. When I choose a novel, I do not expect that it will be factual. I expect it will be full of imagined information and characters. The author is telling a story, not relating historical fact.

This is an excellent historical novel.

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1 person found this helpful

Magnifent scholarly work

Reviewed: 08-08-17

If you pay attention to the introduction of this book, you will learn that this work is Dr. Russell's doctoral dissertation. It is also not a biography of Queen Catherine Howard. It is a scholarly work on the queen, her family, the court of Henry XIII and his 5th queen, and the politics and society of the mid 16th century. Dr. Russell has done the massive research required for a dissertation. I know the work required because I have written a doctoral dissertation. He has also written a beautiful manuscript also worthy of a doctorate.The detail and beauty of this work is admirable and a pleasurable to listen to. Jenny Funnell's narration is perfect. Her voice and presentation of the work is excellent. I highly recommend this work to all who are interested in British history and especially Tudor England.

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24 people found this helpful

Part two of an epic story

Reviewed: 05-28-16

This book is the second part of Mika Waltari's excellent novel of Ancient Egypt set in the 18th Dynasty. It takes you through a journey through the Ancient World where you are immersed in the cultures, politics and people.

I strongly advise that you listen to this novel I follows the first novel seemlessly. I you love history and the Ancient World you will love these two books.

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A wonderful sweeping epic

Reviewed: 05-28-16

This epic is the first of a two part novel. It is a sweeping, well written epic of ancient Egypt written about Sinnue, the physician. This story takes you into all aspects of the Ancient World with very well developed characters and civilizations.

if you want to immerse yourself in Ancient Egypt, listen to this book. You will not be disappointed.

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