Anonymous

gripping adventure

Reviewed: 12-07-24

Great book. Author tells the story of the fall of Constantinople as if it were an adventure book, full of action and gripping stories.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Dreadful

Reviewed: 09-21-24

I generally enjoy Dan Jones non-fiction, figured his fiction would feature the same fast moving narrative; couldn't have been more wrong. I cannot stand this book. The story is nonsensical, characters pop in and out randomly, and the characters are all ridiculous.

The story, I suppose, revolves around a rag tag group of fighters known as the Essex Dogs. They are all terrible, worthless, disposable characters- all easily forgotten or confused. The supposed leader is a clumsy coward that falls upwards in the ranks of the army despite being largely incompetent. There is a random drug addicted archer that is inexplicably placed as a squire in Prince Edward's company and they form some weird drug riddled gambling addicted bromance that have a weird cuddle towards the end. This awkward relationship is supposed to be the origin of Prince Edward's famous black armor...in the dumbest way possible. Prince Edward is written as a whiny, worthless brat that accomplishes nothing during the campaign that King Edward basically wants killed because he is so insufferable; earning his spurs is no longer a chivalrous act, but attempted manslaughter.

Absolute garbage and waste of effort. After about a third of thr book I listened at 1.8 speed to get through it, and it still wasn't worth thr invested time.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wonderfully told

Reviewed: 08-03-24

Fantastic story telling of a complex period that involved many, and yet thr author brings it all together in a way that satisfies all interests.

The narrator is adequate, it's just that his tone and accent sometimes makes it difficult to hear.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Boring - not sure what the format is supposed to be

Reviewed: 05-01-24

This is sort of a reading of different manuals on manners with awkward occasional comparisons to the modern. Would have been much better with more research where the author could have compared the manuals with real examples or period stories.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Dissapointing

Reviewed: 03-24-24

I typically enjoy this author, Mayflower and Bunker Hill are great, but this book is a not on par. The premise of the book is to follow along Washington's tour of America in 1789, part journal and part exploration of the land and times of Washington.
However, This book, apparently written shortly after the George Floyd incident, was more of a an exploration of slavery and George Washington's struggle with slavery.

While the author does add the occasional interesting and local lore while on his journey, it is clear that the author was too politically and socially caught up in the Floyd aftermath and it becomes on the plot. An interesting topic sure, but not what the book was billed to be. The author could have put together something similar to Tony Horwotz's Confederates in the Attic, which would have been a much more honest approach to his real topic of interest. Instead, the book fails with a lack of direction.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

More analysis than narrative

Reviewed: 11-21-22

Really interesting discussion of the witch trials and how they impacted the residents of Salem and theor wider context.

Not a narrative of the witch trials themselves, so would consider this more of an advanced book for those interested in Salem.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Wonderfully researched and written

Reviewed: 10-24-22

This is an amazing book that covers an overlooked period in American history. The author does an absolutely steller job of putting together a complicated narrative covering many decades and with many protagonists.

I can't say enough good things about this book. Buy it and enjoy.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good story telling, flawed thesis

Reviewed: 10-24-22

The author presents a nice narrative of the anarchy, the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. However the author's entire thesis, that Empress Matilda was a shining light of medieval leadership and only her gender kept her from becoming Queen, or "female king" as she refers to the title is a problem.

Based on the author's argument you would think no crown was ever "stolen", no kingdom contested, no barons rebelled, and London never gave any ruler of England a hard time. In fact there are countless contemporary examples. The author is aghast that Matilda had the better claim and yet some Barons supported Stephen when her own father, King Henry I, "stole" the crown from his older brother, Robert - who, of course, had a stronger claim.

The claim that the Londoners rejected her based solely off gender is silly as it is mentioned several times that London was loyal to Stephen, if for no other reason that Stephen and his brother controlled access to the main shipping harbor in France. The author massively underestimates self preservation as a motivation. The same reason that opposition barons wee hesitant to switch sides when Matilda was in a strong position.

The author goes on to complain about unfair treatment in hostile chronicles, while uncritically embracing the favorable chronicles. She is distraught at the fact that Matilda is promised to marry Geoffrey of Aquitaine because he is merely a count's son and is ten years younger; yet, no complaints when Matilda is set to wed the future Emperor Henry who was much older than she was.

In the end the author concludes that Matilda did not rule England simply because she was a woman. No doubt there were more strict gender roles and it certainly might have played a role, perhaps even a significant role, in the outcome but the absurd and simplistic conclusion that every problem Matilda encountered came down to gender is truly head scratching.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Pretty basic

Reviewed: 10-05-21

Short history with typical Marc Morris A-S talking points for those familiar with his Norman Conquest book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

Shallow

Reviewed: 07-23-21

A short telling of the times in which Gaunt lived. The author seems to merely use Gaunt as a back drop to the Era. It is a shame because Gaunt has a good amount of authorative information the author could gave told a more complete story of a very interesting man.

Worth a listen as a primer, or general interest.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful