The novel is set during the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and in these pages we meet or hear about great historical figures like Cromwell; Anne Boleyn and so many others. However, we also get to read how a monastery and its monks must have felt during the time of Henry VIII's changes, and it is a really amazing depiction. We also get to hear Shardlake (the main protagonist) sharing his view of how good he thinks the changes are, and how annoyed he gets with the monks.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Another book recommendation
I've just finished the first book of CJ Sansom's series about a hunchback lawyer. It is so very rare to find historical fiction that actually makes you think and feel like you are in the time being described. However, Sansom perfectly manages it in Dissolution (Shardlake)
.
Labels:
books,
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victorian gentleman
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
More books VII
"At last, he's back!", I hear you cry! Except, I don't hear you cry it, because either a) that means I have upset you; or b) there's actually no one reading any of my reading material; or recommendations. I suspect the latter. :) Here are some more recommendations from me, but this time with a theme of LONDON.
St Pancras Station (Wonders of the World)
: Let us not forget that until recently, St Pancras station was a dump - after years of neglect. Now, it is a wonder of the world, and rightly so! It was often the forgotten station, a great cathedral of trains. This book is a great introduction, and is really excellent. It tells the fascinating story of how the station and hotel were built, and just shows how impressive the whole structure is. After reading this book, I promise you that the next time you travel from St Pancras to Paris or Brussels you will have to look up! 7/10.
Necropolis: London and Its Dead
: Unlike the above book, the author discusses in more details, the many cemeteries and graveyards in London. If you have ancestry in this great city and wanted more information on the parish churchyards, or the cemeteries, please read this book. From the horrible parish churchyards of Portugal Street (near Holborn, and where my ancestor of the same name was/is buried) to the true cemetery cities of St Pancras & Islington Cemetery and other Victorian masterpieces - this is a fascinating book. 8/10.
London's Dead
: If you're fascinated about the history of London's dead, then this is the book for you! It details information on so much death, and in so many areas of London from plague to execution. I found this absolutely fascinating and the author provides so much information. 9/10.
Necropolis: London and Its Dead
Sunday, 29 January 2012
60 Years
2012 is a momentous year for us royalists, because Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrating sixty years on the throne of Great Britain. I've already discussed my love for the Queen here, so instead I am going to talk FACTS. She is only second to Queen Victoria in longevity as our monarch, but is a lot more active that Queen Victoria (who rarely came out publicly after the death of her husband, Prince Albert).
Did you know that our Queen has been on the throne for so long, that her reign has surpassed those of her four immediate predecessors combined (Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, and George VI), after which she became the third longest reigning British or English monarch, the second-longest-serving current monarch of a sovereign state (after King Bhumibol of Thailand), and the oldest reigning British monarch.
Today, she broke another record and becomes the longest-living British head of state, when she overtook Richard Cromwell.
To overtake Queen Victoria and become the longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth would have to live to 10 September 2015, when she would be 89. To surpass the reign of King Louis XIV of France, and become the longest reigning monarch in European history, Elizabeth would have to live until 26 May 2024, when she would be 98.
It's very possible too, after all, the Queen Mother lived to 102.
God Bless, the Queen. Thank you, Ma'am for everything you do for us.
I recommend you read the book below too:
Sunday, 15 January 2012
More to come...
Promise I am going to write more by the end of February. I've managed to read a few more books, so will review them here soon.. PS, I hope it is not too late (I suspect it is) to wish you a very Happy New Year (well, at least the Chinese one which is coming up!)...
Thursday, 15 December 2011
More books VI
I've just finished reading Moab Is My Washpot
by Stephen Fry. If you like a book that's a little mixed up, hilarious and very Stephen Fry, then this is the book for you. 6/10.
My second recommendation for the end of the year is the very sad book about Madeline McCann, called: Madeleine
by her mother. It goes into every sad detail of their missing daughter and reveals the true heart breaking events that lead up to and since her kidnap. All proceeds from the book go to the charity which is helping to fund their search for Maddie. Let's keep the little girl in our prayers and please buy this book today. 10/10
Saturday, 15 October 2011
More books V
Another eclectic list of books that I have read recently. I highly recommend all of these:
A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain
: The author (Marc Morris) writes like a novelist and thus you are instantly hooked by the various intrigues and invasions that encompass the reign of Edward I. One recommends that you read this book first, before watching the film Braveheart again. Braveheart's history is so terribly wrong that it hurts. However it's a good film, and so I recommend you watch it afterwards, Braveheart [1995] [DVD]
. 10/10 for the book; 8/10 for the film.
A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain
Richard III (Revealing History)
: Another good book, but not written in as good a style as Edward I above. Plus, it can sometimes be totally muddled. However, it is still a good book and I recommend anyone interested in this period to read this as an introduction. The author is not pro Richard III, but it is still a good read. 8/10.
Saturday, 3 September 2011
More books IV
Here are some more books that I've read recently and what I think of them! The theme is history, but if you love history, enjoy. Here's the first...
The Year 1000: An Englishman's Year
: I loved this little book, as it came out just before the year 2000, and was a good introduction to a thousand years ago. As ever, I have only read it now, but what a little gem! Most books about this era can be quite dry and dull, but the authors completely avoided being like this. Instead, they take each month of the calendar and discuss a theme set around that month, so the book ends up touching on hungers, riches, and every other spectrum of life in 1000. I highly recommend this book, because it gives you a rich and interesting take on the Year 1000. 9/10.
And the second...
The Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean
: This book is truly a remarkable achievement, like the civilisations that lived along the shores of the Mediterranean. John Julius Norwich is an excellent historian and writer, and has seamlessly written a history of the middle sea from its beginnings to the Great War. It is truly an amazing book, and Lord Norwich manages to keep it fascinating and intriguing. I recommend anyone who wants to read a history of this fascinating sea to get a copy of this book as soon as possible - in it you will find out about so much: from the Ancient Greeks to the Romans; from the Pope to the King of Spain; from the Ottoman Empire to the Holy Roman Empire - everything is covered. Highly recommended. 10/10
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