Kakaku：280 saved$2.80
Berkley Trade
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. IPhone 3G used's review (4 stars) 『This is marketed as fantasy romance, but it's mostly just fantasy.
**** "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland.
Literally a fairy tale. It was love at first sight for a mage king and a fairy princess, but fairies don't wed mages. They get their chance when his evil brother captures and imprisons her and her brother asks him to rescue her.
It was a nice story, but it felt as if a lot of it had been left out. We learn, for example, that he's one of the most powerful mages, but don't see much evidence of it. We also learn that her mother had betrayed her to the evil brother, but not why or how. It would make sense if it were part of a series, but I couldn't find any evidence of that.
**** "When Winter Comes" by Sharon Shinn.
In a land where magic is distrusted, a young woman tries to protect her sister and infant nephew. The baby's father was a mystic, and the baby himself has magic powers that make it hard for them to stay incognito. They're aided by a man of the nobility and a pair of female mystics.
It was interesting, but felt more like the introduction to something than a complete story in itself. The romance is virtually nonexistent, which isn't a bad thing, except that it's marketed as fantasy romance.
**** "The Kiss of the Snow Queen" by Claire Delacroix.
Re-telling of the snow queen fairy tale, but instead of the brother being affected by the snow queen, it's the handsome prince. The heroine's a seer in training, who's been told that she must remain chaste to preserve her power. She's barricaded herself in her room to avoid a forced marriage to a cruel prince, calls for help in her magic mirror, and gets more than she bargained for. In the end, she has to choose between her power and the life of the man who came to her aid.
All the sensuality in this one is related to an angel who calls himself Loki, who feeds on sexual energy. The ending was a surprising let-down.
**** "A Gift of Wings" by Sarah Monette.
Again, light on the romance, which, again, is only a problem because it's marketed as romance, which has nothing to do with the story and everything to do with the publisher. Also again, I felt as if I'd come into the middle of a series, though according to her website, "'A Gift of Wings' takes place in the same world as Mélusine and The Virtu, though it is a standalone story--no overlap with the novels."
The hero and heroine are on their way to seek help for him--he was wounded physically and his magic was damaged or destroyed somehow in a war. At an inn, they come across an arrogant wizard who'd told him that his injuries were all in his head, then later that night, they discover the man dead. Being the obvious suspects, the hero and heroine have to find whodunit.
Fans of gender reversal will like this one--the heroine is larger and stronger than the hero, and he's very dependent on her. Call me sexist, but I don't find that romantically appealing at all. As a fantasy, though, it's fine. It does turn out that she'd fallen in love with him before his injuries, so that redeems the love story for me--otherwise, I'd be thinking she was more in love with the image of herself as a longsuffering caretaker to an invalid.』
(Great read) 『I bought the book for sharon shinn's story cause I am a big fan of her 12th house stories. The other authors are decent but not up to my standard』
(disappointed) 『I was disappointed with all the stories in this book, they were not up to what made me fans of these authors.』
(A mixed bag (three and a half stars)) 『It seems that the people who read this anthology fall into either of two groups: romance readers who love Kurland's story and mostly dislike the other ones and fantasy readers who pick the book up for Shinn's story and don't know what to make of the rest.
The plots are neatly summed up in the book description, so I'll just give you my impressions.
"A Whisper of Spring": Sometimes the impossible is closer than you think. I'm more of a fantasy reader, so Kurland's story was very nice, life-affirming, cozy, predictable and perfectly forgettable to me. No background building whatsoever. Maybe if it were a full-length book... Well, it's obviously a part of her Nine Kingdoms series, with another story published in the anthology "To Weave a Web of Magic" and a full-length novel "Star of the Morning" coming out in December 2006, so there's still hope. Three stars.
"When Winter Comes": Fight for the ones you love and you'll get rewarded. I love Sharon Shinn, so I liked her story very well, though it started as slow as her novels tend to, which may be annoying to unaccustomed readers. The story is a spin-off of her novel "Dark Moon Defender", the third volume of her Twelve Houses series. Even though it can easily be read without knowing the series, I suspect that in order to get a better feeling of the political/social background it would be best to have read at least "Mystic and Rider" first. Four stars.
"The Kiss of the Snow Queen": I've no idea what this story was about. Deveraux' story was the one in the lot I simply disliked and was bored by. It's not that it was badly written. I suppose that there may even be some readers who'll love it. However, the mix of Christian faith and Norse myths combined with the fairy tale of the Snow Queen and stuffed with both modern slang and medieval archaisms was... chancy, to put it mildly. I'm not usually bothered by such things (obviously, since I love Shinn's books), but some readers who are serious about their religion may even find it offensive. And if there was any romance at all, it was not between the hero and the heroine. Two and a half stars.
"A Gift of Wings": Love heals. I've never read anything by Monette, so I was pleasantly surprised. The best story in the anthology, in my opinion. It was maybe too obviously a 'healing' romance, developed against a background of a 'whodunnit'. Intricate world building, very interesting characters. This story is a bit darker than the other ones. What some readers may not like about it is that the heroine is obviously the stronger partner and the hero does a lot of crying, sometimes coming across as seventeen rather than thirty, but, hey, he's entitled ;-) I think I'm going to give her novels a try. Four and a half stars.
In my opinion, this anthology is such a mixed bag that each person will find a different story to his or her liking, but never all of them.』
(5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others) 『I got this book for the first story, "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland. I love her writing, while the other authors here just aren't my style. I love the way Lynn's stories are all clean... the romance is real love, rather than sexual "chemistry." This story didn't disappoint me. The emotion and tension is there, even though not even a kiss can be found in its pages. It is a BEAUTIFUL story of two people who discover that the chance that they never thought possible, has been given to them... to be together.
Iolaire, an elfin priness, has been kidnapped by the evil Lothar of Wychwold. Her brother seeks out Symon, the mage king of Neroche, to help rescue her. The rescue is swiftly accomplished... but Iolaire cannot return to her home... and Symon finally dares to believe that maybe he can have her as his own.』 『From four of today's most imaginative authors come four stories of love as pure as the driven snow that will warm the coldest of hearts.
USA Todaybestselling author Claire Delacroix delivers an enchanting tale of a gifted seer who receives a vision of a man whom she was not meant to marry, but was meant to love.
USA Todaybestselling author Lynn Kurland spins a story of a mortal man and an elven woman who endure both the mundane and the magical in their quest to remain together.
Award-winning author Sharon Shinn writes of a brave young woman who saves her sister's magically- gifted child, only to receive an unexpected gift of her own.
And newcomer Sarah Monette's romantic novella tells of a warrior maiden trapped in a deadly storm with the only man she ever wanted, whose scars she must heal if he is ever to want her.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Read it and loved it, reading again.) 『I read this book years ago. As a fan of Henry VIII and the Tudors, I always get my hands on things about them. This was a find. Yes it isn't historically accurate for the most part, but it is a great read. I recently decided to read it again, but my library couldn't get me a copy of it. I once considered buying it for $32, but waited. Now I just had to and it was less. If you find this book anywhere grab it.』
(Good Historical Romance, Bad Historical Fiction) 『Since the book cover suggests this story is a historical romance, and therefore not expected to be entirely accurate with respect to the historical background, I rate it 3.5 stars.
The love story - rather, love stories because Kathryn loves more than one man throughout her life - is excellent. But the portrayal of Henry's court is exaggerated at best. Unfortunately, the history is woefully wrong throughout.
The portrayals of many of the historical characters - Anne Boleyn, Jane Parker, Anne of Cleves - were over the top. Anne Boleyn was portrayed as shrew, which perhaps she was, but Merton Abbey actually makes you feel sorry for Henry. Boleyn is such a shrieking, whining, spoiled brat, you can't wait until he lops off her head.
Jane Parker is portrayed as a sly wicked woman, who just wants to get ahead in Henry's court. Anne of Cleves is portrayed as a lesbian who wants to be unattractive to Henry. So she doesn't dress fashionably; nor does she wash. Worse, she picks fleas off her bosum whenever Henry is near.
The part that really made me laugh, though, was the birthing scene with Jane Seymour. After a completely unbelievable charade between Kathryn and the doctors whereby she removes them from the room, the Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard) bangs on the door demanding admittance. He convinces K to let him in. (H will hold her responsible and chop off her head if anything untoward happens to the just-born prince. The Duke will serve as witness.)
Because he's in the birthing room, and because all other hands are busy when the local witch has trouble delivering the afterbirth, the Duke assists. Yeah, right! LOL!
In any event, Kathryn's an entertaining love story. There's lots of action. But you can't put too much stock in the history.』
(Fabulous tale of one woman who served all six queens of Henry VIII) 『Wow, historical romance doesn't get much better than this. This is the story of the fictional Kathryn Chase descended from Edward IV via the wrong side of the blanket and also related to the Howards, who from a very young girl starts serving Catherine of Aragon, and eventually serving as lady in waiting to all of Henry's queens, thus giving us a wondrous glimpse into the lives of those famous and ill fated queens. Unhappy in her first marriage, Kathryn is attracted to the mysterious, flamboyant and oh so hunky John de Gael of Windsgeat, a duchy with a mysterious heritage and independent of the English Crown. John's family not only adheres to the ancient religions of the forest, there is also a deep dark secret of his family that he keeps from everyone, even his beloved Kathryn.
Throughout, Kathryn is as stubborn and passionate as only a Howard and Plantagenet can be, and we get a fascinating glimpse at the Tudor court and the lives of Henry's queens, and the perpetual ups and downs of surviving court with one's head intact. One thing that sets this book heads and tails above most of the rest of this genre is the up and down relationship between Kathryn and John. Things separated them; they fell in and out of love, married others and loved others until they were reunited in their later years to try to make a working relationship amidst the continuing intrigue and treachery of Henry's court.
All in all, a pretty perfect read. One of my favorite parts was the telling of the reign of Anne of Cleves, there were some seriously laugh out loud moments in those chapters, along with the final 100 or so pages as Catherine Howard fell from grace and Henry married Catherine Parr that were just unputdownable. According to the author's notes at the end of this book there were to be more Windsgeat novels forthcoming, but as far as I can see there isn't anything else published by this author under the name Anne Merton Abbey. I for one, would like to see more of this story as Edward assumes the throne, followed by Mary and Elizabeth.
This book is out of print and from the prices being offered, quite rare. I was lucky to find a copy for $5 US and snapped it up, and I would say it's worth your while to scour the used books stores and the internet with hopes for a better price, unless you're willing to bite the bullet and pay the going rate. A solid five stars, highly recommended.』
(Excellent Novel!) 『I am an avid reader and this is one of my all-time favorite books! I've had this book for 15 years and when I went to a Caribbean island and could only take five books along, this was one of them! I've read it 50 times at least and still find it immensely thrilling. PLEASE publish the next one - I've been waiting for a long, long time』
(The author is still writing) 『I agree with the other reviewers - this is a marvelous, and unique historical novel. However, there seems to be some confusion as to the author. Anne Merton Abbey is Jean Brooks Janowiak. She wrote several "gothic romances" with Janice Young Brooks (Jill Churchill) under the name Valerie Vayle, and currently holds the legal rights to the Vayle name, but she and Janice Young Brooks are not the same person. Anne Merton Abbey has had the sequel to Kathrine completed for years. The problem is the publishers - they say there is no market for it. Obviously they are wrong.』
Kakaku：210 saved$2.10
Berkley Trade
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Too many names and affiliations) 『Rereading passages several times did not alleviate the confusion. The frustration was lessened midway through the story by giving the reader and emotional and intense look into British royalty. ~Affaire de Coeur』
(A pleasant read) 『This was a fast and easy read; nothing too taxing on the brain. Interesting to read about Queen Elizabeth I, although I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already known. But despite (any maybe because of) the simplicity of the story, it read like a dressed up version of a basic timeline of Elizabeth's life. Not a lot of character depth; just a story of friendship and love simply placed over the non-fiction details of Elizabeth's life and the events in it. In general, a pleasant read. Kept me interested, but not riveted. 』
(A disappointing read!!) 『The story had no true purpose. It was flat. Ms. Ashley would have done better to concentrate more on developing her heroine and her clasdestine activities. Instead she floats all over, in effect, glossing over her heroine and her supporting activities. Even her portrayal of history was incorrect. Elizabeth didn't go to the tower until AFTER Queen Mary had married. Pick a time in the turbulent period and stick with it. Ms. Ashley doesn't have the talent to write a novel spanning over a decade. She needs to stick with fiction. History isn't her cup of tea.』
(Hum-Drum Retelling of Elizabeth's Rise to Power) 『Told through the eye's of Eloise, Elizabeth's seamstress and confidante, this is a somewhat lukewarm telling of Elizabeth's road to be Queen. It begins with the death of her father, Henry VIII, and ends somewhere around her 30th year after she has cooled things off considerable with Robert Dudley.
During the turbulent years of the reign of "Bloody Mary", Eloise doubles as Elizabeth's spy by gathering information for Elizabeth while she is Mary's prisoner. Somehow a seamstress manages to keep Elizabeth informed of the goings on in the outside world. You have no idea how in the world she manages to do so. That is until one obscure sentance gives it away. It actually is an intriguing way it's done and it would've added so much more to the story if it had been examined more than just a blurb that could easily be missed.
There is a romance between Eloise and her contact, James Colby, although you'd never know it from the complete absence of any sort of passion between the two. Their clandestine meetings seem to be nothing more than gossip followed by a parting kiss.
Elizabeth is not portrayed as a the passionate, headstrong woman she was. Well, maybe the headstrong part! She was written as a self-centered brat who goes around slapping everyone. Even her elderly governess who she claims to love more than anyone.
There is no story development between Robert and Elizabeth, rather you as a reader are instructed that they were good friends who eventually may have become lovers. Their relationship is told rather than felt. In fact, it seems as though every important event that happened during that time is glossed over. The only thing really in depth is the depiction of Elizabeth's gown.
I just did not enjoy this novel much at all. It lacks passion and the ability to pull the reader into the story, at least this particular reader. The last 100 or so pages were so much better than the first 200 so that saved it from getting two stars! I can only recommend this novel is you're a die hard fan of anything having to do with Elizabeth. I give it a halfhearted three stars.』
(Tired of Tudor Historical novels that all read the same? Try this one.) 『These days, when I see a novel set in Tudor England -- from 1485 to 1603 -- I automatically cringe. So very much historical fiction is set in these times that it was become painful for me to read it, as most authors tend only to do the most cursitory of research, and usually, they don't get it right.
Let's face it, the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England is pretty heady stuff and a great temptation for any novelist. No one had expected Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to become queen -- after all, she had a younger brother, Edward, and an elder sister, Mary, who would inherit before she did. And this princess had a less than ideal childhood -- alternately cherished then banished by her father as the whim too him, she was barely a toddler when her mother was victim to the executioner's sword. She was highly intellectual, with a natural flair for music and languages, and a wit that could run circles around most people.
Jennifer Ashley's The Queen's Handmaiden, takes a look at the early life of this remarkable woman through the eyes of one of her attendants. Eloise Rousell is the daughter of a gentlewoman and a roving player in a theatre troop -- not exactly a birthright that will ensure stability. Raised by her grandmother, Eloise quickly displays an unusual talent, and one that will help her make her fortune -- she is an expert seamstress, able to create gowns that are beautifully made and designed. Eloise is also clever, and has learned quickly to keep her mouth shut -- a trait that will be even more valuable in the treacherous Tudor court. When still a child, she's sent to live with her Aunt Kat Champernowne, who is none other than the Lady Elizabeth's governess.
Growing up as both a servant and a confidant of the princes, Eloise quickly turns into a quick-minded young woman. Through her eyes we see the dashing, if not too bright, Thomas Seymour, and his troubled marriage with Catherine Parr, and it is both of the girls first encounter with both love and treason. There is the short reign of her brother Edward VI, who is merely a king in name while two powerful families, the Seymours and the Dudleys, who each strive to be the real ruler of England. And then, there is Mary, Elizabeth's older sister who both wishes her sister dead, and England returned to the Roman Catholic faith...
Certainly we've seen this story before, written over so many times that it has pretty much become a cliché in the world of novels. How many plucky heroines who are nobodies can the reading world put up with? But Eloise Rousel is a bit different and Ashley isn't afraid to make her so, either. While her role in the novel is that of the narrator, she is strong enough to have her own voice, and not once does the author let her slide into insipid, mawkish mooning about either -- Eloise is quite aware of the dangers around her, and not even the attraction that she has towards a courtier, John Colby, is enough for her to loose her good common sense. Too, Ashley is wise enough to keep her heroine from the usual antics found in historical novels -- Eloise is not ravishing, or brilliant, or the sort who strikes men down with her beauty. Instead, she's just a person, and leaves the brilliance to Elizabeth.
What sets this book apart is that Ashley has managed to capture the essence of this monarch, and keeps it within what is known. She throws temper tantrums, isn't above slapping her servants in a fit of pique, and an absolute peacock in wanting admiration and near worship. But she was also very loyal to her friends, had a great deal of resiliency when it came to times of crisis, and would ultimately prove to be the right monarch for England when the time came. All of these traits were fairly well documented in the queen's time, and Ashley makes excellent use of her sources.
Finally it is the amount of research about the real people and events, the details of daily life and dress, that make this novel worth it. While it does get a bit heavy with the florid prose over clothing details, Ashley keeps the story moving briskly along at a near breakneck pace. Not once was I bored with the story, nor did my attention wander, which is to me the sign that an author has really paid attention to what she is doing.
My biggest complaint is that the romance between John Colby and Eloise never really seems to catch fire -- everything is at a very cool simmer and it comes across as more of a business arrangement than any sort of love affair. Still, that too can be documented with the times, and Ashley wisely stays away from having the reader trudge through pages of erotica to tell her story. Thank goodness; it's a very welcome break in the world of historical novels these days.
Overall, a solid four stars. It's not a great novel, but it is certainly a good one, and well worth the trouble to seek out if you enjoy historical settings. For me, it's definitely a keeper, and I suspect that I'll be giving it a reread several years down the road.
Recommended.』 『A novel of the early years of Elizabeth Tudor-as told by the spirited niece of her real-life governess.
Her name is Eloise Rousell
. Daughter of a well-bred lady and a strolling player, she lived her early years in peaceful obscurity. But then her father died-and her new stepfather wanted none of her. So she was sent to her aunt, Kat Ashley-governess to the young Elizabeth Tudor.
In the tumultuous household of the princess in exile, Eloise finds her destiny- best friend, confidante, lady-in-waiting, and favored seamstress of the fiery girl who would become the greatest monarch of all time.
Through a decade of plots and counter-plots, tragedies and triumphs, Eloise, like her aunt, is a constant in Elizabeth's life. Risking her heart- and her head-in service to the cause of seeing Elizabeth on the throne, Eloise is a bright, brave, sprightly witness to history. This is her story.』
Kakaku：194 saved$1.94
Amber Lotus
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Touched my soul.) 『What a BEAUTIFUL book! I'm an middle aged woman and I fell in love with this book! The story tugs at your heart and the illustrations are remarkable! I've never even heard of this story, written by Queen Marie of Romania, but I am SO glad that I found it! Enjoy, and MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BOX OF TISSUES NEAR BY!』 『This book tells the story of the“Sunchild.” Her soul passes undiscovered through the world and brings blessings and consolation wherever her small feet touch the earth. She gathers the tears and sorrow of the world and helps to bring the light down to earth. The author’s story is a masterpiece, and no other artist is bettersuited to illustrate this tender story than Sulamith Wülfing. A wonderful gift book.』
IPhone 3G used's review (The Christian Bible . the Naked Truth) 『This Version of the Bible is a must read for all. It reveals the true nature of religion and it's true purpose. By cutting to the hard core psychological base of human mind control. With thousands of years of refined propaganda technology in it's box of mental tricks, religion is opened like a can of slithering worms. With the slippery and devious underground stories being dug up and used as bait for the gullible and the ignorant. I give Douglas Rankin 5 stars for his candor and humor to bring to light the wisdom of the Christian Bible with all it's lies, gore and stupidity! This will be a family Bible to be treasured like no other! I say lets have the Queen Jane in every library, school and church! AMEN!』
(This book is great) 『It really opened my eyes up to the amount of filth that the bible really contains』
(How NOT to Persaude Christians to Abandon Christianity) 『Douglas A. Rankin, a linguist and freethinker, has modified the King James Version of the Bible so that all the sex, scatology, violence, and so forth therein is stated in plain, unambiguous, and uncensored language. The book also includes a system of well-drawn icons that mark for the reader those portions of the text that involve the types of content Rankin wishes to highlight (a snoozing moon for the boring parts, a urinating child for scatology, a Dracula face for canibalism, a copulating heterosexual couple for heterosexual sex passages, and so forth). Yet _Queen Jane's Version_ is much more than a translation of the King James Version into contemporary English. The book is designed to be "an iconoclastic, biting, often shocking satire that mocks religious hypocrisy and the gullibility of hard-core believers." According to Rankin, the purpose of such an approach is to inspire people to live life for life rather than for death, for reality rather than for mind-crippling myth." Yet, given the book's antagonistic approach, I think it is highly unlikely that the book will accomplish anything besides alienating Christians. In marketing terms, this book is a "high negative."』 『"Queen Jane's Version, The Holy Bible for Adults Only" (QJV) is an outrageous parody, chapter and verse, of the King James Version (KJV). Throughout the text, graphic icons flag the most scandalous scriptures, while contemporary language (including epithets and sexually-explicit slang where appropriate) exposes and holds up for ridicule all the flaws, errors, contradictions, debaucheries, atrocities, obscenities, and absurdities that fill the "original" KJV. Though the QJV is often radical, cynical, sarcastic, blasphemous, and bawdy, the purpose of such an approach is to inspire people to live life for life rather than for death, for reality rather than for mind-crippling myth. Subtlety often makes its humor cunningly deceptive, and its variety of writing styles mirrors the many differences of tone and temperament in the "original". As a whole, it is an iconoclastic, biting, often shocking satire that mocks religious hypocrisy and the gullibility of hard-core believers.』
Kakaku：1279 saved$12.79
Collins Design
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (very enticing) 『i could not put this book down.as big as it is,i read it in 2 days.so far i have read 3 books about burlesque and this one tops the cake.i rented this book from the library but now i will purchase it.this is a book you must own and the details in the book are priceless.』
(Stunning) 『I just received this book in the mail, and i have only one word for it - Stunning.
This book is full of beautiful photos and sketches of original costumes, and there's a wealth of written information to go with the pretty pictures! Even the presentation is lovely, i'm really impressed with the matte pink binding - it'll look great in my book case ;)
Go ahead and order this book, you won't be disappointed.』
(ture love) 『the book is very dazzling ,and it would be my ture love for the passed Age.』
(A Fine Tribute) 『An artistic design layout provides the reader with lots of photos and scrapbook pages of original costume sketches, fabric swatches, letters, postcards, and lots more. This visual collage is a wonderful piece of film toward understanding the life these women lived. Their attitude and sex appeal as we know it only disguised the reality of their life, tough working conditions and a career contingent of youth and beauty eventually leading these women to fall on hard times and in the end forgotten.』
(A 'must' for any holding strong in American arts history) 『If the book title sounds familiar, it's because Liz Goldwyn's HBO documentary of the same name aired in July 2005 to much acclaim, covering the history of American burlesque. If you think you've seen it all in the show, think again: the book holds much more! Here are personal stories, career overviews, and biographies of some of the most talented genre stars. Burlesque history comes alive here as in no other collection, making PRETTY THINGS a 'must' for any holding strong in American arts history, from general-interest to college-level libraries.』 『
Liz Goldwyn's lifelong fascination with the inimitable glamour of classic burlesque inspired her to spend the past eight years corresponding with, visiting, interviewing, receiving striptease lessons from, and forming close relationships with the last generation of the great American burlesque queeens. Goldwyn invites us to step back into an era when the hourglass figure was in vogue and striptease was a true art form.
Meet Betty "Ball of Fire" Rowland, who was known for her flaming red hair and bump–and–grind routines. (It turns out she once sued the author's grandfather, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., for using her stage name and costume in his Hollywood picture, Ball of Fire.)
Meet Sherry Britton, who, with her long black hair and curvy, trim physique, was among the most stunning of the burlesque stars before Mayor LaGuardia outlawed burlesque in New York.
Meet Zorita, whose sexually explicit "Consummation of the Wedding of the Snake" dance (performed with a live snake) and other daring performances earned her legendary status.
Goldwyn draws back the curtain to reveal the personal journeys of yesteryear's icons of female sexuality and power, restoring their legacy to an age that has all but forgotten them–despite today's resurgence of burlesque.
Kakaku：766 saved$7.66
London
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (best book on Boudica yet) 『This is one of the best books on Boudica yet, and if you only read one, this should be the one you read. There is relatively little known about the woman that has become so important in some many ways to so many segments of society, and what is "known" should be treated with caution. Hingley and Unwin do an excellent job of showing what we do know, what we don't know, and what we might know but should think critically about in the context of the story of Boudica. They manage to create an interesting story without compromising on the evidence, avoiding what so many do when they say all the right things about biased sources and then mostly ignore what they just said and relate what those sources say as fact. Instead, Hingley and Unwin weave the critical assessment of both written and archaeological courses into their discussion in a way that keep it relevant to the story they tell. This story is given substance by the up-to-date discussion of current archaeological research on the period, which provides as useful review for professionals and interested others alike. The second half of the book was also interesting, providing a review of the ways in which "Boudica" became transformed into "Boadicea", the cultural icon variously of the right, the left, and the centre. This is far more standard in this type of literature, but nonetheless valuable in terms of what it brings to the table. Probably most importantly, they manage to do all this in a highly readable fashion. Tackling the deconstruction of assumptions of Roman superiority, the inevitability of Romanization, and the uncritical use of written sources can often get mired down in jargon and so sail beyond what most people understand or care about. However, this book does it in a way that is both accessible and convincing. Nice job all around!』
(Woman of Victory) 『This book could not be given enough stars. It takes a fascinating episode in history, the revolt of the Queen of the Iceni of Britain in AD 60-61, and looks at it from historical, archaeological, literary, and mythical points of view. It shows how Boudica has went from simply the best-remembered of many contemporary British female warlords to variously being portrayed as a sadistic villian, a feminist hero, and a champion of British nationalism and politics. Overall, the book examines the real Boudica's role in history and her subsequent impact on modern Britain in a manner that is both informative and enjoyable to read. It is a fine source on Queen Boudica, the Celtic 'Woman of Victory' from every perspective!』 『Boudica, or Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, led a famous revolt against Roman rule in Britain in AD 60, sacking London, Colchester and St Albans and throwing the province into chaos. Although then defeated by the governor, Suetonius Paulinus, her rebellion sent a shock wave across the empire. Who was this woman who defied Rome? "Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen" is an account of what we know about the real woman from classical literature, written for the consumption of readers in Rome and the archaeological evidence. It also traces her extraordinary posthumous career as the earliest famous woman in British history. Since the Renaissance, she has been seen as harridan, patriot, freedom fighter and feminist, written about in plays and novels, painted and sculpted, and recruited to many causes. She remains a tragic, yet inspirational, figure of unending interest.』
Kakaku：2450 saved$24.50
Oxford Inst Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Mindboggling premise!) 『I certainly agree that this book suffers greatly from a too-evident lack of editing. Nevertheless, the premise is ultimately fascinating and stunning in its impact.
I've long been dismayed by the tendency of Stratfordians to jump to marginally warranted conclusions about the "facts" of Shakespeare's life. (Read any of the major biographies carefully, and you'll soon observe how very quickly phrases such as "it seems" and "it seems certain" transform smoothly into conclusions that then are spoken of as if proven facts.) Thus, to be fair, I must admit that Mr. Streitz develops a fascinating but similarly unproven thesis about Oxford's relationships with both Elizabeth I and Southampton. The difference, it seems to me, is that his theory provides a context that makes startling sense of the tone taken in several of Shakespeare's more puzzling sonnets.
Intrigued by Streitz's analysis of the significance of "Venus and Adonis," I left off his book and fetched my copy of the poem and read it straight through. Frankly, considering the poem's content in view of Mr. Streitz's suggested context was not only stunning but left me with chills for some time thereafter. His context renders the poem not merely darkly erotic but shatteringly so. Viewed relative to the whole of Streitz's theory, it is absolutely chilling.
An extremely intriguing book without a doubt. I'd suggest reading this in conjunction with Diana Price's SHAKESPEARE'S UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY. Both raise quite compelling doubts about the connection of the "Man from Stratford" with the works.』
(He's got something here, but...) 『First of all, this book isn't worth fifty bucks. I spents all my birthday money on it, and I was disappointed.
Second of all, it's pretty obvious this guy doesn't like Elizabeth much. I don't know if it's anti-feminism, or what, but he makes some pretty rotten accusations against her. He seems to use Mary Queen of Scots as his main source that anything happened between Elizabeth and Oxford. In case no one noticed, Mary isn't a very good source. Mary and Elizabeth didn't like each other and they both loved to say nasty things about the other one. Philip II isn't a good source either. Using Mary and Philip as sources is like calling up Severus Snape and asking for a biography of Harry Potter. You aren't going to get very goood info. She was a decent woman, and a decent ruler, but Mr. Streitz seems bent on proving she wasn't.
Second of all, it's pretty obvious he didn't do his research. He can't seem to remember how old these people are at given times. He says Elizabeth was 13 when she had Oxford. Actually, she would've been 14 or 15 depending on whether or not she had him after her birthday. I'm just a kid, but even I know basic math. And he said Jane Grey was Mary Tudor's daughter, but she was her grandaughter. Anyone with a basic knowledge of Tudor history would know that right away.
Third of all, he does actually have something here. It seems to me that he found a bunch of wholes and history and decided to fill them up with one answer. I don't think Elizabeth had all those kids he talked about, I mean maybe she was pregnant after what her step-dad did to her, but I don't really see any proof it was Oxford. However, Oxford could of thought he was King of England. Not because of who his parents were, but just cause of his ego. Essex probably wasn't her kid (despite what the book says) but he seemed to think he was king. The only concrete evidence he had was the play in 1609: "To our ever-living poet" They tend not to say that about people who aren't dead. So maybe Oxford was Shakespeare, or atleast he wrote some stuff for him (I think it was more than one person). But I don't think he was the Queen's son, and I'm a little offended by his Elizabeth dissing and his elitist attitude "Shakespeare was poor and poor people can't write!".
In conclusion: Don't buy it, borrow it if you get the chance. Try another Oxfordian book for a better look at things. Mr. Streitz should learn his dates. (hey that rhymed!)
- J. [...]』
(Shakespeare by Another Name) 『Try Shakespeare by Another Name first... And the Wives of Henry the XIIIth and then go back to this one.
』
(Oxfors: Son of QE I, by Paul Streitz) 『Paul:
I finished reading it and I am somewhat at a loss for words to express my opinions.
* Absolutely fascinating book. * Remarkably interesting for me. * Almost unbelievably detailed. * Astonishingly insightful, superlatively written with a fabulous command of the English language and a profound intellect.
I cannot imagine how you found the time to absorb so much information and then detail it in writing. Meticulous.
I spent my career in areas of Earth Science and geology so I am accustomed to "detective work" fossil identification, geological sequences, unraveling the past, using clues to seek out facts. Further, I have an intense interest is archaeology and anthropology as well as history so this book provided an abundance of information about life in the Elizabethan era that I knew little about. Now a void has been filled.
My other readings attributed the KJV bible to Sir Francis Bacon so I will have some reconciling to do.
William E. Tibbe, Sr. Chestnut Ridge, New York 』
(It makes you think) 『It sounds plausible. Compare the pictures of Henry VIII, Elizabeth, Edward de Vere, Sir Henry Neville, and Henry Wriothesly, the Earl of Southampton. They all have red hair, and look remarkably similar. It is begining to look like Edward and the two Henrys could have been brothers!! Sir Henry Neville became very fat in middle age - like Henry VIII. He was an only child - rather rare in those days.
Read "The Truth Will Out" by Brenda James - who makes a very good case for Sir Henry Neville being Shakespeare. He was tutored by Sir Henry Saville, top Oxford scholar, and several hundred coincidences link him to the works of Shakespeare.
The two Henrys were put in the Tower together, under sentence of death for their part in the Essex plot to depose Elizabeth.
But why were they were not put to death like the other plotters? - because they were Elizabeths children?
I wonder if the skeletons of all these people are available? We could test their dna!
If Sir Henry Neville was the son of Elizabeth, and wrote the plays - and also wrote the sonnets to his "brother" the Earl of Southampton - it is not surprising that it was kept secret - a state secret no less. Hamlet, and To Be or Not To Be, was written while the two Henrys were in the Tower under sentence of death.
Worth reading.』 『In the summer of 1548, the thirteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth Tudor was secluded at Cheshunt, England. There she gave birth to a boy, whose father was Thomas Seymour, Elizabeth’s stepfather. The child was placed in the household of John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford and the changeling baby was raised as Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.
Edward de Vere was an acknowledged playwright, poet, theatrical producer, musician, dancer and literary figure of the Elizabethan era. He wrote under several pen names and also under names of living persons.
His most famous pen name was "William Shakespeare."』
