Mary Book Store

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick - Book Giveaway

2011-09-15T09:41:00.001-07:00

Book Review and Book Giveaway

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

Back Cover Blurb

Two very different women are linked by destiny and the struggle for the English crown. Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is determined to win back her crown from Stephen, the usurper king. Adeliza, Henry's widowed queen and Matilda's stepmother, is now married to William D'Albini, a warrior of the opposition. Both women are strong and prepared to stand firm for what they know is right. But in a world where a man's word is law, how can Adeliza obey her husband while supporting Matilda, the rightful queen? And for Matilda pride comes before a fall ...What price for a crown? What does it cost to be 'Lady of the English'?

Empress Matilda

Lady of the English

(Maud)

Adeliza of Louvain

Queen of England

Matilda was one of two legitimate children of King Henry I of England. When her brother, William, died in the White Ship disaster, she became her father’s sole heir. Her father made his noblemen swear their oath to accept Matilda as queen of England and duchess of Normandy after his death.

King Henry I of England

As a young woman, Matilda was sent to Germany as the bride of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. By all accounts, they had a happy but childless marriage.

Henry V

Holy Roman Emperor

When Henry died in 1125, Matilda returned to England where her father forced her, now a dowager empress, to marry Geoffrey of Anjou, a lesser nobleman eleven years her senior. This new marriage brought her little happiness. From the start, it was fraught with abuse. She left him and ran back to England. But political need came into play. Through her father’s intervention, and urged by step-mother Adeliza, Matilda reluctantly returned to Geoffrey. She bore him three sons, Henry (later King Henry II of England, Geoffrey (Count of Nantes) and William.

Geoffrey of Anjou

Matilda's father, King Henry I of England, died in 1135. Forgetting the vow they made to crown Matilda as Queen of England, the nobles reneged and placed Stephen of Blois, her cousin on the throne.

Stephen of Blois

But Stephen did not prove a popular king. Several of his nobles turned on him. The nobles urged Matilda to come to England to be crowned. With the support of her uncle, King David of Scotland, and his army, Matilda attempted a return. Stephen was captured and taken prisoner at a battle at Lincoln.

No woman had ever ruled England or Normandy, especially Matilda who had a reputation for being arrogant, bad-tempered, and moody. Few people liked her. Nevertheless, she travelled to Winchester, and was proclaimed queen. It was then her difficult personality became evident. She refused to converse kindly with the people.

Stephen’s wife visited her to beg for her husband’s freedom in exchange for their exile across the sea and a promise to never interfere in her life again. Matilda refused and ordered the woman away, a decision she would come to regret.

Those loyal to Stephen, continued to fight for him. Their cause gained support as more and more people became disenchanted with their harsh, unkind queen. Even her husband would not come to England to help her. Surrounded by her enemies, she was forced to flee from Winchester, her supporters killed or captured. Disguised in a coffin perforated with holes so she could breath, Matilda made it to Gloucester and Oxford Castle. While one of her supporters crossed the sea to fetch her eldest son Henry who was ten years old, her castle was besieged by Stephen whom Matilda had earlier freed. His men surrounded the castle and prevented food and supplies from entering.

Determined to escape, she and three of her knights dressed themselves in white and in the dead of winter, escaped by climbing down the walls with ropes. Camouflaged against the snow, no one saw them. They crossed the ice-covered river on the ice, walked in the night, and arrived at Abingdon. On horseback, they rode to Wallingford, where Matilda greeted her young son, Henry.

An uneasy truce between Stephen and Matilda came to be. Matilda raised her son at Gloucester until her husband sent for him so he could see his eldest before he left on a crusade. Geoffrey died during this crusade.

Matilda no longer wanted to be queen. Her son, Henry, became king.

Henry II

King of England

Matilda retired to a convent until she died at Rouen in France where she was buried. Her epitaph reads:

"Here lies the daughter, wife, and mother of Henry."

From start to finish, Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick captured my interest. As with all of Elizabeth’s novels, the story is vividly described with a depth of historical detail that is rarely matched by other novelists in the genre. She brings to life the story of a queen who was contrary, vitriolic, and verbally blunt. Despite the known rancorous personality of this fascinating queen, the author allows us to see her in several dimensions – a young bride, an abused wife, a political pawn. And it is this that allows us to admire her courage and strength in the face of an entire country that refused to fully accept her as their queen. A wonderful reprieve from all the Tudor novels that are saturating the market, I urge you to get this book for insight into this fascinating woman’s life.

An Interview with Elizabeth Chadwick

Many thanks to the members of Historical Novel Review for inviting me to give this blog interview.

I’m delighted to be here!

I'm very excited to have one of Britain's finest writers joining us here today. A warm welcome to Elizabeth Chadwick. Thank you for taking the time to allow us to get to know you better.

1. Can you tell us a little about your novel?

LADY OF THE ENGLISH is the story of Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I. She was so called because she had married the Emperor of Germany at the age of 12 and lived at the German court . When she was about 23, her husband died and her father summoned her back to his side, intending to make her heir to England and Normandy. A woman on the throne was not a popular choice in a male dominated society, and Matilda found herself forced into marrying a youth she hated because her father ordered it so. When her father died, Matilda’s claim to the throne was pushed to one side by his barons, who elected her male cousin Stephen to the throne instead. The scene was set for war as Matilda set out to claim her rightful crown.

LADY OF THE ENGLISH is also the story of Matilda’s stepmother Adeliza of Louvain. She was the same age as Matilda and had been married at a very young age to Matilda's father as his second wife. The women became good friends and allies. Adeliza married a baron of the opposition, and the story follows Adeliza's struggle to help Matilda and yet still be a good wife to her husband. It examines through the characters different aspects what it meant to be a woman in the 12th century.

2. What inspired you to write a novel about a woman in this period of history?

I have always written about the medieval period and both men and women in this timeframe. It’s my home territory and my comfort zone. I have done detailed research into the period and I love bringing it to life for a modern audience. It's as simple as that. I am always inspired by the Middle Ages! Also the more I research, the more I realise how much we don't know about the period today, and how much we assume we know which is often very wrong. For example: At one end you have the view that women were powerless in the society of the time, and at the other end the view that actually they were very powerful and filled with the light of modern feminism. The truth is always tinted in shades of grey. They weren't powerless, but their power was measured in different ways to modern Western society. They had their fields of influence that waxed and waned with their role in society. The most powerful women were mothers of male children and widows who were able either to wield the reins behind-the-scenes, or take them in their own right. Daughters and young wives were perhaps the most powerless and had to bide their time.

3. What hardships did women face in this particular century and what lessons can today's woman learn from it?

I've covered this is in a small part in the above question. They didn't have independence as we know it, and had to work out how to get their own way by more subtle means, but it also meant they were more vulnerable. A man was permitted to beat his wife for example, and property laws frequently put women at a disadvantage. Other hardships, are still suffered by many women around the globe today. Famine, war, rudimentary and often ineffective healthcare were just a few of the hardships medieval women might face at some point in their lives. There was the absolute peril of childbirth to face time and again. Contraception was haphazard at least, and the belief system said that one should only lie with one's spouse for the intentions of procreation.

Without vaccination, without access to good paediatric care, only the strong survived and Medieval women often had to deal with the death of one or more of their children. They might be more accepting and fatalistic than us, but it still didn't mean that they grieved less.

I think from Medieval women, we can learn to be grateful for what we have today and not to complain about small things -such as the cliché of the broken fingernail. I also think that while retaining our compassion, we should learn to be tougher.

4. What inspired you about your heroine? Why did you choose her?

LADY OF THE ENGLISH actually has two heroines in the Empress Matilda and Adeliza of Louvain. I have always been interested in the Empress. She is portrayed as a cold, hard, bad-tempered woman. I have even described that way myself in earlier novels from a superficial examination of her character. But I wanted to find out what she was really like? If she was a termagant, then were there reasons for it? What she being misrepresented? Were there any alternative views of her personality? What were the people around her like? What made her tick? Writing novels is always about asking and answering questions.

With Adeliza of Louvain, I realised that no one had ever written a novel about her, and that in fact she was very important to the history of the period, because without her quiet, understated courage, Matilda would have found it far more difficult to make her bid for England's crown, and Henry II might never have come to the throne. I was also interested to find out about Adeliza's relationship with a baron called William D’Albini who she married after her husband King Henry I died. D’Albini supported the opposition during Matilda’s bid for the crown, yet he and Adeliza seemed to live together in harmony. So what was their story?

5. Can you describe a typical writing day?

Depends what day of the week you take as all are different but typical in their own way. If you ask me on a weekday, mostly I write for half of the day and an evening. I will take time out to do the grocery shop, meet a friend, or keep fit at the gym. When I write, I tend to do so in short bursts interspersing with social networking such as Facebook and Twitter and sites such as Goodreads and Historical fiction Online. I know a lot of writers need a concentrated amount of time in which to write, but I find it fairly easy to switch between disciplines. The weekends tend to be my most intensive writing days because I don't take time out to do things away from the PC - other than eat! I am more of a night owl than a lark, and can sometimes be found toiling away in the early hours of the morning, which tend to be late at night in Australia, and mid-evening in the USA, so generally that's when I hook up with overseas readers and friends.

6. Can you tell us briefly about any new novels in the works?

I have been contracted to write 3 novels about Eleanor of Aquitaine by my UK publisher – The Summer Queen, The Winter Crown and The Autumn Throne. I’m researching and writing the first one at the moment. I feel that there is still a place for another Eleanor of Aquitaine novel in the market and my take will be unique! While waiting for the Eleanor books, Sourcebooks in the USA are going to be publishing A Place Beyond Courage, Shadows And Strongholds and Lords of the White Castle, three of my UK titles that have not received a widespread USA audience before.

R.I.P. VI

2011-09-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of books I want to read for Carl's R.I.P challenge this year. Not all books will make it to the list--I simply couldn't list them all. And I'm sure there will be a few surprises or 'impulses.' But I do have a vague idea of what I'd like to read this year:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley*
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte**
The Lifted Veil: The Book of Fantastic Literature by Women 1800-World War II edited and introduced by A. Susan Williams.
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers
Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers
A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey
Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey
The Francise Affair by Josephine Tey
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agatha Christie
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Grave Expectations by Sherri Browning Erwin and Charles Dickens
Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories by M.R. James
The Haunted Doll's House and Other Ghost Stories by M.R. James
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Kill Shakespeare, Volume 1

*Could I go a year without reading Frankenstein? Maybe? But why would I want to do something like that?! This is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite books!
**I would LOVE to reread Jane Eyre this year!

Cartier's Ring - A Novel of Canada by Pearson Moore

2011-08-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

The premise of this book appealed to me because of the inclusion of Native American history which is a favorite sub-genre. I wasn’t disappointed in the large dose of historical facts that flowed throughout the book, just the constant immersion in them and my inability to keep track of who was who and how the countless characters were related. The inclusion of conflict with French traders added even more names to remember, yet introduced me to a period in history of which I knew little.

The main character, Myeerah, fails to find acceptance with the tribe with whom she resides because she’s was born to a different one. The story centers around her and her desire to shoot, ride, and assume the role of a warrior—desires that dominate her thoughts and set her aside from other Indian maidens. The author’s writing is crisp, clean and very picturesque, which lends to the reader assuming a role in the story, although, in my opinion, often a confused one. The use of various Indian dialects and a mixture of tenses in the presentation caused me to often close the book and return at a later time.

Mr. Moore has done extensive research and written a book guaranteed to introduce or reacquaint you with details you might not know or remember from high school. I found myself lost quite a few times and had to go back and re-read portions of the book to keep the characters and their POVs straight in my mind. More than anything, I appreciated the detailed glimpses into the life, history and beliefs of the tribes featured in the novel. I enjoyed being part of the story in that respect.

Comprehension issues are often not the fault of the author, but rather the reader, however in perusing other reviews Mr. Moore has received, I see I’m not the only person to touch on the countless names and POV issues in the book. Regardless, I invite you to read and make your own judgments. Clearly, Mr. Moore is a talented author who believes in maintaining his historical credibility and has garnered many favored reviews. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of his work and hopefully find fewer characters he believes vital to the story. I also apologize to Mr. Moore for the prolonged period between receiving his work and performing my review. Health issues kept me sidelined for a time.

A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther by Joan Wolf

2011-08-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther

You've read it as a biblical tale of courage. Experience it anew as a heart-stirring love story. An inspired re-imagining of the tale of Esther, a young Jewish woman thrust from a life of obscurity into a life of power, wealth, intrigue . . . and tender love. Imagine anew the story of Esther, one of our faith's great heroines, destined to play a key role in the history of Christianity. She was a simple girl faced with an impossible choice. He was a magnificent king with a lonely heart. Their love was the divine surprise that changed the course of history. The beloved story of Esther springs to fresh life in this inspired novel that vibrates with mystery, intrigue, and romance. See the story of Esther in an entirely new way-with all the political intrigue and tension you remember, but told as a passionate and tender love story between a young man and woman. Misunderstood by many, King Xerxes was a powerful but lonely man. Esther's beauty caught the eye of the young king, but it was her spirit that captured his heart.

The story of Esther in the Bible is inspirational. In the year 485 BC, Esther is a young Persian woman with Jewish roots. When the King of Persia repudiates his first wife, Vashti, he begins a search for a new wife. Young women from all corners of the kingdom eagerly attend hoping to be the one the king will choose. Although unwilling at first, Esther’s guardians encourage her to vie for his attention so that she might influence him to keep the Jews from destruction. Esther enters the harem, and much to everyone’s surprise, it is she who fascinates the King and ultimately wins his heart. However, she must keep her Jewish roots a secret from her new husband, at great risk to herself.

In A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther, author Joan Wolf gives a fascinating recounting of this intriguing Bible story. She writes in an easy to read, unencumbered style that allows you to fall into the story easily. I enjoyed the story very much. The beautiful cover art drew me to the novel, but it was the story and easy prose that kept me turning pages. The love story between Esther and the King was brilliantly depicted, as was all the intrigue and power struggles. Esther is an endearing character who goes against all Jewish practices to live an opulent life, very different from the simple life she is used to. This is great Christian fiction – tale of destiny and courage, and sweet love.

Review: Bloodlines

2011-07-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Bloodlines

By Richelle Mead

Publication date: August 23, 2011

My review:

In this spin-off from the Vampire Academy series, Alchemist Sydney Sage is given the assignment of going undercover as a student at a private school. She is to pose as sister to Moroi Jill Mastrano along with Jill's guardian Eddie, and Keith, a fellow Alchemist. Jill's life is in danger and the only way to keep her safe is to go into hiding among humans. Sydney has her hands full with keeping the other humans from noticing that Jill is different, helping Jill adjust to a daylight schedule, and watching for threats. She also has to contend with a very moody Adrian Ivashkov and Keith's antagonism. When someone begins murdering Moroi, Sydney realizes that she may be in over her head.

Bloodlines is in some ways very different from the Vampire Academy books. For one thing, the main character is a human. Sydney is not super strong and skilled in physical combat. She is more of a calm intellectual. In contrast, Rose was the kind of character who took action first. Sydney shows fear and uncertainty and it is a little easier to relate to her because of this. At times, her lack of faith in herself was annoying but I understood that she acts that way because of her unfortunate upbringing. It is nice to see her grow more confident through her interactions with Jill, Eddie, Adrian, and others. Another difference between this series and the VA series is the lack of romance for the main character. Sydney grew up training as an Alchemist and had no time to pursue romance. She also has slim pickings as she is averse to dating vampires. There are hints at future romance for Sydney down the road but fans of the steamy and stormy romance between Dimitri and Rose may be disappointed.

While Bloodlines is different, it also brings back some characters. It was great to read about Adrian and Eddie again and there were even cameo appearances from Rose and Abe. (For those who miss Dimitri, he has a very tiny cameo and will be back for the sequel.) I found myself liking Adrian more than ever in this book. There are some new characters introduced including Sydney's sister Zoe who I think will have a role in later books and another Alchemist, Keith Darnell. I liked learning more about the Alchemists though I didn't find their world as fascinating as the Moroi and dhampir. Just like the original series, Bloodlines is packed with action and plot twists. While I was able to guess some of the twists, I was also surprised by some things. There are some new revelations that will impact the series going forward. I had some reservations about Bloodlines at first but in the end I was very pleased with it and can't wait to read The Golden Lily.

Sisters of Fortune by Jehanne Wake

2011-07-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sisters of Fortune: America’s Caton Sisters at Home and Abroad is an in-depth look at the lives of four siblings who formed the backbone of wealth, politics and society in the nineteenth century.

Told from the perspective of previously unpublished letters written by the Caton family and detailing intimate facts and family history, Author, Jehanne Wake displays her flawless research and writing ability.

Marianne, Bess, Louisa and Emily Caton were born, bred and raised in Maryland, primarily by their wealthy grandfather, Charles Carroll, the sole Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Only because of his influence, wealth, and connections, were these sisters able to travel extensively, be exposed to impressive members of society, and gain their own financial security. The lives of each sister is thoroughly chronicled in this interesting novel, complete with photographs.

Although my preference in reading novels are ones written in third person, I was deeply impressed with the factual display of information uncovered by Ms. Wake in this historical biography, specifically the last chapter which acknowledges the numerous avenues she traversed to write this book. The Caton sisters were able to become influential, educated, and involved in politics and financial decisions long before other women of their time. Opinionated, free-spirited and considered beautiful and charming, the Caton sisters rocked not only the US but England and France, overcoming prejudices and achieving enviable social status. This novel allows readers a glimpse into their personal lives and romances.

The reading of this book was quite a different venture for me, but one I enjoyed and recommend. The experience uncovered feelings of pride in a sisterhood that paved the way for females in today’s political and financial world. I wonder what the sisters would think if they were alive and recognized their contributions. To the author, I say, "Well done, Ms. Wake, well done!"

Pocket Guide to Sheds

2011-07-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Thorburn, Gordon

ISBN/Cat.No	9781844681273 UK
ISBN-10	1844681270
Title	Pocket Guide to Sheds
Author/Artist	Thorburn, Gordon
Publisher	Remember When (Pen & Sword Books Ltd)
Format	Paperback; H:216; W:138; 160p.; 164 images integrated B&W
Status	In print
Publication Date	16/06/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£12.99£9.09
Primary Subject	Gardening
Secondary Subject	Places & peoples: general interest
Readership	General/trade

Covenant with the Vampire by Jeanne Kalogridis

2011-05-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a novel! Simply unbelievable! This is a novel that left me breathless, turning the pages until long into the night. It is the first book of a trilogy. Without doubt, this trilogy is the most beautifully written vampire novels ever written. Through beautiful and profound prose, and in diary format, Jeanne Kalogridis reveals the story of Arkady Tsepesh and how he and his pregnant wife return to Transyvannia after the death of his father. The firstborn heir is expected to be the main council or aid to patriarch/uncle Vlad Dracula. Strange, evil, horrifying things begin to occur immediately, setting the grim, tense mood that only grows more intense until the end of the book.

Covenenant with the Vampire is intended to be a prelude to Bram Stoker's Dracula. She writes in the same style as the classic author, but her prose far supercedes that of SToker (Sorry Bram - but with Jeanne you've met your match!) If you like a book filled with the odd and unusual that will shock and horrify you with its evil darkness as innocents try to overcome the evil Vlad, then this is a must, must read. A roller coaster ride that sends one chill up your spin just as another begins! Get it - I really mean it. The best vampire stories currently available bar none!

Icons of Mens Style

2011-05-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sims, Josh

ISBN/Cat.No	9781856697224 UK
ISBN-10	1856697223
Title	Icons of Mens Style
Author/Artist	Sims, Josh
Publisher	Laurence King Publishing
Format	Paperback; H:280; W:197; D:23; 192p.; 264 illustrations, 173 in colour
Status	Reprinting - no date
Publication Date	25/04/2011
Availability	Unavailable
Price	£19.95
Primary Subject	Fashion design
Secondary Subject	Costume
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Womenswear progresses in leaps and bounds, fuelled by the readiness of women to wear what may at the time be perceived as the radical or outrageous. Not so with menswear menswear evolves, slowly. But from what? Behind nearly every item in the modern male wardrobe is a first of its kind the definitive item, often designed by a single company or brand for specialist use, on which all subsequent versions have been based (and originals of which are now collector items in the booming vintage market). The T-shirt, for example, may now be an innocuous, everyday item, but was created by American company Hanes for US Navy personnel at the turn of the 20th century and was subsequently adopted by sportsmen and bikers. Other items have been designed for sport, farm work, protection and made their way into everyday usage. "Icons of Men's Style" examines, garment by garment, the most important and famous of these products their provenance and history, the stories of their design, the brand/company that started it all and how the item shaped the way men dress today.

Contents

The Outerwear Department: The Mac * The Flight Jacket * The Navy Pea Coat * The Biker Jacket * The Utility Jacket * The Waxed Jacket * The Trench Coat * The Car Mac * The Western Denim Jacket * The Farmhand Denim Jacket * The Battledress * The Covert Coat * The Fishtail Parka * The Harrington The Trouser Department: The Combat Trousers * The Khakis * The Five Pocket Western Jeans * The Dungarees Tailoring: The Bespoke Suit* The Dinner Suit* The Blazer* The Sack Suit* The Ready-to-Wear Suit* The Tweed Jacket The Shoe Department: The Brogue * The Basketball Shoe * The Original Desert Boot * The Work Boot * The Loafer * The Oil Resistant Shoe * The Sandal Underwear and Hosiery: Diamond Socks * The Y-front * The T-shirt * The Panama Hat * The Boxer Short * The Braces Shirts and Sweaters Department: The Button-down Shirt * The Guernsey Sweater * The Breton Sweater * The Polo Shirt * The V-neck Sweater Accessories: The Fountain Pen * The Classic Lighter * The Windproof Lighter * The Dress Watch * The Action Watch * The Aviator Sunglasses * The Leisure Sunglasses

Catherine of Aragon

2011-04-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Tremlett, Giles

ISBN/Cat.No	9780571235124 UK
ISBN-10	0571235123
Title	Catherine of Aragon
Subtitle	Henry's Spanish Queen
Author/Artist	Tremlett, Giles
Publisher	Faber and Faber
Format	Paperback; H:198; W:126; D:30; 480p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	01/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£9.99£6.99
Primary Subject	New BIC Code CVG- description required
Secondary Subject	British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700 inc Tudors, Stuarts, English Civil War, Commonwealth
Readership	General/trade

Summary

The image of Catherine of Aragon has always suffered in comparison to the vivacious eroticism of Anne Boleyn. But when Henry VIII married Catherine, she was an auburn-haired beauty in her 20s with a passion she had inherited from her parents, Isabella and Ferdinand, the joint-rulers of Spain who had driven the Moors from their country. This daughter of conquistadors showed the same steel and sense of command when organising the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Flodden and Henry was to learn, to his cost, that he had not met a tougher opponent on or off the battlefield when he tried to divorce her. Henry introduced 4 remarkable women into the tumultuous flow of England's history; Catherine of Aragon and her daughter 'Bloody' Queen Mary; and Anne Boleyn and her daughter, the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. 'From this contest, between 2 mothers and 2 daughters, was born the religious passion and violence that inflamed England for centuries' says David Starkey. Reformation, revolution and Tudor history would all have been vastly different without Catherine of Aragon.Giles Tremlett's new biography is the first in more than four decades to be dedicated entirely and uniquely to the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together. It draws on fresh material from Spain to trace the dramatic events of her life through Catherine of Aragon's own eyes.

The Red Queen

2011-03-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Gregory, Philippa

ISBN/Cat.No	9781847394651 UK
ISBN-10	1847394655
Title	The Red Queen
Author/Artist	Gregory, Philippa
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Ltd
Format	Paperback; H:198; W:130; 432p.; 1 Illustrations
Status	In print
Publication Date	01/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£7.99£5.59
Primary Subject	Historical fiction
Readership	General/trade

Summary

The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.

Ian Botham

2011-02-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

Wilde, Simon

ISBN/Cat.No	9781847376480 UK
ISBN-10	1847376487
Title	Ian Botham
Subtitle	The Power and the Glory
Author/Artist	Wilde, Simon
Publisher	Simon & Schuster Ltd
Format	Hardback; H:234; W:153; 384p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	14/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£20.00£14.00
Primary Subject	Biography: sport
Secondary Subject	Cricket
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Ian Botham arrived on the international scene just in time to ride sport's first big financial wave and exploit the Thatcherite mantra of go-out-and-get-what-you-want. He certainly needed the cash, having been regularly short since leaving state school in Yeovil at 15. In an era short on glamour and personalities, Botham brought an irresistible cocktail of talent, energy and swagger. With the stench of economic failure still in the air, he made the country feel good about itself again. He showed that Britain could still produce champions and that the working class still deserved to be valued. For this he won himself a fund of public goodwill, a fund he sometimes threatened to drain but uncannily managed to replenish. He had an insatiable appetite, and an uncanny knack, for creating tales of heroism, but if he failed on that score there was always the chance of a scandal or two. He gave the media everything they needed for front pages and back, and some newspapers discovered that it didn't necessarily matter if the story was true or not, as long as he was in it.Ian Botham tells the story a great piece of British sporting history, one of the greatest: of a man for whom the glamour and the grit came together. And it was the grit of the times in which Botham had grown up, and where he had come from.

Building the Titanic

2011-01-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

Green, Rod

ISBN/Cat.No	9781847327451 UK
ISBN-10	1847327451
Title	Building the Titanic
Author/Artist	Green, Rod
Publisher	Carlton Books Ltd
Format	Hardback; H:280; W:230; D:25; 160p.; 120 b/w photographs
Status	In print
Publication Date	14/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£20.00£14.00
Primary Subject	Ships & shipping: general interest
Secondary Subject	Maritime history
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Conceived in 1907, the "Titanic" was two years in design and 37 months in construction at the great Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was the biggest ship the world had ever seen, and thought by many to be indestructible. But she sank just five days into her maiden voyage, en route to New York in 1912. Some 1,500 people died. This book takes the story of the ship right back to the beginning, to the decision to build it in the first place. From there we go into the shipyard, where 4,000 tradesmen - joiners, fitters, electricians, plumbers, welders and many more - turned those plans and blueprints into a towering hulk of an ocean liner, rivet by rivet and plate by plate. Once the outer shell was complete, the luxurious passenger accommodation was fitted out, the dining rooms, the squash court, gymnasium, libraries, smoking rooms and even Turkish baths. The men that built her knew every bolt and shaft, every dove-tail joint, every new-fangled piece of kit, every vibration of the engine. For them, the Titanic would always be the world's greatest ship. This is an extraordinary story of modern engineering and also of human endeavour.Illustrated throughout with blueprints, cross-sections and haunting photographs of the Titanic in construction, "Building the Titanic" adds a fascinating dimension to the history of the world's most famous ship.

Contents

Introduction; 1 Why Build the Titanic?: 2 Who Built the Titanic?; 3 Grand Designs; 4 The Ships Take Shape; 5 Delayed Departure; 6 Pride of Belfast; 7 Atlantic Crossing; 8 Aftermath; Index.

Growing to a Ripe Old Age

2010-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

Enfield, Edward

ISBN/Cat.No	9781849531702 UK
ISBN-10	1849531706
Title	Growing to a Ripe Old Age
Subtitle	50 Years in the Garden
Author/Artist	Enfield, Edward
Publisher	Summersdale Publishers
Format	Hardback; H:198; W:129; 192p.; col. Illustrations
Status	In print
Publication Date	05/09/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£9.99£6.99
Primary Subject	Gardening
Secondary Subject	Biography & autobiography
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Gardens, in my view, often involve too much gardening. This is partly to do with the nature of human beings, who will make a competition out of anything if they possibly can. Edward Enfield has only ever had one garden, but his dealings with it have extended over half a century. He came to his threequarters of an acre knowing nothing about growing anything, and this book is an account of his horticultural successes and failures, inventions and frustrations, discoveries and developments. With wry humour, he leads us through the thorny subject of roses, counts the blessings of keeping chickens and exposes the perfidy of gardening copywriters, while offering wise and witty tips on how best to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Russia

2010-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sixsmith, Martin

ISBN/Cat.No	9781849900720 UK
ISBN-10	1849900728
Title	Russia
Subtitle	A 1,000-year Chronicle of the Wild East
Author/Artist	Sixsmith, Martin
Publisher	BBC Books (Ebury Press)
Format	Hardback; H:240; W:162; D:51; 624p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	19/05/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£25.00£17.50
Primary Subject	European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Russia is a country of contradictions: a nation of cultural refinement and artistic originality and yet also a country that rules by 'the iron fist', with an ingrained eagerness to sacrifice the individual for the collectivist cause. In this riveting history, Martin Sixsmith shows how Russia's complex identity has been formed over a thousand years, and how it can help us understand its often baffling behaviour at home and abroad. Combining in-depth research with his personal experiences as BBC Moscow correspondent for many years, Sixsmith tells Russia's full and fascinating story, from its foundation in the last years of the tenth century to the first years of the twenty-first, skilfully tracing the conundrums of modern Russia to their roots in its troubled past. Covering politics, music, literature and art, he explores the myths Russians have created from their history, and explains the nation's seemingly split personality as the result of influences that have divided it for centuries.Accompanying a landmark BBC Radio 4 series, and marking the 20th anniversary of the dissolution of the USSR, "Russia" is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex political landscape of Russia, and its unique place in the modern world.

The Old Order

2010-06-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Calmady-Hamlyn, Joan

ISBN/Cat.No	9781780031774 UK
ISBN-10	1780031777
Title	The Old Order
Volume Title	Return Home
Volume Number	Pt. 3
Author/Artist	Calmady-Hamlyn, Joan
Publisher	Pen Press (Indepenpress Publishing Ltd)
Format	Paperback; H:198; W:129; D:12; 238p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	27/08/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£8.99£8.09
Primary Subject	Fiction
Readership	General/trade

Summary

As a still divided East and West Germany move uneasily into the 70s and the British come to terms with seismic social and political changes German Baron, Niclaus von Oder-Leidenfeld and his English wife, Jan deal with this new world in very different ways. The Baron finds ample opportunity to beguile, seduce and help old and new acquaintances from Britain. Jan, as a new mother to his heir, wonders at his motives, pines for her family home and questions her true place in his heart. Friends and family, with their help, are growing up, marrying and moving on. But, this new generation of Oder-Leidenfelds have yet to find their own way. Soon their problems become more immediate. The family are shocked by the arrival of a bullying officer on the border, the repressed and bitter Owen Brett-Davies, who has taken a disliking to Claus. What will he do when Claus's scheming cousin, Georg von Halberstadt, a Communist from the East plots against them? Will Claus's cold, calculating and old-fashioned ways finally be too much for Jan and her family to bear? Can the headstrong and wilful Jan accept that, sometimes, the old ways are best?Above all will Claus and Jan find a way to true love and harmony that will restore the old order to the Harzburg Estate?

Artemis Rising, by Cheri Lasota

2010-05-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Myth and legend unite in Cheri Lasota’s hauntingly beautiful debut novel, Artemis Rising. Even with such an intricate plotline, this book is a highly engaging read that will sweep you away with its lyrical passages.

The story begins as Eva’s mother is mentoring her in the rites of the pagan goddess, Artemis. Eva takes the name of the water nymph, Arethusa, and thus consigns her fate to the myth surrounding the nymph, who was pursued by the river god, Alpheus. But Arethusa’s father, a strict Catholic, discovers them and ships them off to the Azores. Soon, Arethusa finds herself the object of attention of the ship owner’s son, the darkly handsome and possessive Diogo.

When a storm wrecks the ship, Arethusa awakens in the arms of her shy rescuer, the soft-spoken Tristao. Now parentless, Arethusa must suffer the derision of her fellow orphans. Diogo soon appears at her bedside and Arethusa begins to believe that he is her Alpheus.

Soon, another legend arises in Arethusa’s life – the tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde. While struggling to unravel these two ancient tales and their often disturbing correlation to the events in her own life, Arethusa searches for the strength within herself to discover her own destiny.

While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the myth and legend that Lasota has so skillfully laid out here, this book is surprising in both its depth and its message. It gets even more intense as it nears the end. The characters are solid and true. Most of all, Arethusa is a unique heroine of uncommon strength who will have you rooting for her all the way. It’s a love story unlike any other, making Artemis Rising even more memorable.

Tender is the Night and The Last Tycoon

2010-03-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

ISBN/Cat.No	9781840226638 UK
ISBN-10	1840226633
Title	Tender is the Night and The Last Tycoon
Series Title	Wordsworth Classics
Author/Artist	Fitzgerald, F. Scott
Publisher	Wordsworth Editions Ltd
Format	Paperback; 448p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	15/05/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£1.99£1.39
Primary Subject	Fiction
Readership	General/trade

Summary

This title includes an Introduction and Notes by Henry Claridge, Senior Lecturer, School of English, University of Kent at Canterbury. "Tender is the Night" is a story set in the hedonistic high society of Europe during the 'Roaring Twenties'. A wealthy schizophrenic, Nicole Warren, falls in love with Dick Diver - her psychiatrist. The resulting saga of the Divers' troubled marriage, and their circle of friends, includes a cast of aristocratic and beautiful people, unhappy love affairs, a duel, incest, and the problems inherent in the possession of great wealth. Despite cataloguing a maelstrom of interpersonal conflict, "Tender is the Night" has a poignancy and warmth that springs from the quality of Fitzgerald's writing and the tragic personal experiences on which the novel is based. Six years separate "Tender is the Night" and "The Last Tycoon", the novel Fitzgerald left unfinished at his death in December 1940. Fitzgerald lived in Hollywood more or less continuously from July 1937 until his death, and a novel about the film industry at the height of 'the studio system' centred on the working life of a top producer was begun in 1939.Even in its incomplete state "The Last Tycoon" remains the greatest American novel about Hollywood and contains some of Fitzgerald's most brilliant writing.

Almayer's Folly and The Rover

2010-02-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

Conrad, Joseph

ISBN/Cat.No	9781840226645 UK
ISBN-10	1840226641
Title	Almayer's Folly and The Rover
Series Title	Wordsworth Classics
Author/Artist	Conrad, Joseph
Publisher	Wordsworth Editions Ltd
Format	Paperback; 384p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	15/07/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£1.99£1.39
Primary Subject	Fiction
Readership	General/trade

Summary

This title includes an Introduction and Notes by John Lester, formerly Head of English at Havering College of Further and Higher Education. From the rain forests of Almayer's Folly to the Mediterranean coast of "The Rover", Conrad's first and final completed novels are played out against contrasting backgrounds. Almayer, in Borneo, is hopelessly obsessed by his deluded dreams for himself and his daughter, which take no account of her falling in love with a handsome Balinese prince. Peyrol, the rover, returns to a France at war and finds the actions of those around him still overborne by memories of revolutionary terror. For the orphaned Lieutenant Real and Arlette love offers release but their romance seems doomed by the demands of his naval duties. Conrad's acute understanding of human psychology and its application across racial and ideological divides is the life-force of both stories. Publication date: 15 July 2011.

Great Britons

2010-01-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

Press Association, Ltd. (Photographer)

ISBN/Cat.No	9781906672829 UK
ISBN-10	1906672822
Title	Great Britons
Subtitle	Britain in Pictures
Photographer	Press Association, Ltd.
Publisher	Ammonite Press (AE Publications)
Format	Paperback; H:210; W:210; D:23; 300p.; full colour throughout, 300 photographs
Status	In print
Publication Date	01/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£14.99£10.49
Primary Subject	Photographs: collections
Secondary Subject	Places & peoples: general interest
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Britain is a nation of great men and women who are admired for their courage in the face of adversity, their outstanding achievements and their unstinting noble qualities. Such popular heroes come from all walks of life and count among their ranks explorers, inventors, soldiers, sailors, airmen, scientists, musicians, sportsmen and women, actors, artists, politicians - and the ordinary folk and unsung heroes who are revered by others because of a selfless act or personal sacrifice. With a wry nod to British eccentricity, also celebrated here are the larger-than-life characters that have won the hearts of the public, including plucky racehorses, loyal canines and loveable celebrities from the small screen. This book is a visual record of some of the foremost personalities in Britain to be lauded with the title 'Great', told in almost 300 images from the vast archives of the Press Association, whose photographers have been on hand over the last century to capture these personalities for posterity.

Parisians

2010-01-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

Robb, Graham

ISBN/Cat.No	9780330452458 UK
ISBN-10	0330452452
Title	Parisians
Subtitle	An Adventure History of Paris
Author/Artist	Robb, Graham
Publisher	Picador (Pan Macmillan)
Format	Paperback; H:197; W:130; 320p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	15/04/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£9.99£6.99
Primary Subject	European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)
Readership	General/trade

Summary

No-one knows a city like the people who live there so who better to relate the history of Paris than its inhabitants through the ages? Taking us from 1750 to the new millennium, Graham Robb's Parisians is at once a book to read from cover to cover, to lose yourself in, to dip in and out of at leisure, and a book to return to again and again rather like the city itself, in fact. 'Quirky, amused and tres British' Julian Barnes 'A collection of true stories, culled from Robb's insatiable historical reading and lit by his imagination ...So richly pleasurable that you feel it might emit a warm glow if you left it in a dark room' John Carey, Book of the Week, Sunday Times 'This book is the sort of triumph that we have no right to expect to come from anyone in the steady way that Robb's masterly books come from him' Philip Hensher, Daily Telegraph 'As Parisian and as bracing as a freshly mixed Pernod and water' New York Times

The Curious Gardener

2009-08-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Pavord, Anna

ISBN/Cat.No	9781408810064 UK
ISBN-10	1408810069
Title	The Curious Gardener
Author/Artist	Pavord, Anna
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format	Paperback; H:198; W:129; D:21; 352p.; Illustrations
Status	In print
Publication Date	05/09/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£9.99£6.99
Primary Subject	Gardening
Readership	General/trade

Summary

In The Curious Gardener, Anna Pavord brings together in 12 chapters - one from each month of the year - 72 pieces on all aspects of gardening. From what to do in each month and how to get the best from flowers, plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables, through reflections on the weather, soil, the English landscape and favourite old gardening clothes, to office greenery, spring in New York, waterfalls, Derek Jarman and garden design, Anna Pavord always has something interesting to say and says it with great style and candour. The perfect book to guide you through the gardening year and, on days when the weather keeps the most courageous gardener indoors, the perfect book to curl up with beside the fire.

L S Lowry

2009-01-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Rosenthal, T.G.

ISBN/Cat.No	9781906509064 UK
ISBN-10	1906509069
Title	L S Lowry
Author/Artist	Rosenthal, T.G.
Publisher	Unicorn Press
Format	Hardback; H:290; W:250; 320p.; colour images throughout
Status	In print
Publication Date	01/10/2010
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£45.00£40.50
Primary Subject	Art styles: c First World War to 1960
Secondary Subject	Individual artists
Readership	General/trade

Breakers

2009-01-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

O'Grady, Chris

ISBN/Cat.No	9781780031873 UK
ISBN-10	1780031874
Title	Breakers
Author/Artist	O'Grady, Chris
Publisher	Pen Press (Indepenpress Publishing Ltd)
Format	Paperback; H:198; W:129; D:20; 370p.
Status	In print
Publication Date	27/08/2011
Availability	24 - 48 Hours
Price	£8.99£8.09
Primary Subject	Fiction
Readership	General/trade

Summary

Ever wonder how a book gets published, becomes a best-seller, maybe even a movie later on? Here are some of the people who make it happen. But brace yourself. Sometimes it ain't real pretty. Besides, which of us can say who really writes a novel that gets published by a traditional publisher? Do we see the editor's "doctoring" as the ultimate product? Or does the publisher dictate the final version of the book, since he's the one who makes the decisions that count. Come to think of it, what if the author isn't really the author? Kinda makes you cogitate, don't it?

Recomended Sites

2004-09-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

Gourmonde

Fashionista

Woman Trick

Fashionade

Fashionista

Travelancer

My Girl Sasha

Horse Ranch

Extreme Hero

Travel Malay

planingtonextday

Lockers Room

Lose my Faith

blogs my baby

Foods & Culiner

Africa

Asia Travel

Business

Cheap Holiday

Cruise

Europe

Food Travel

Holidays

Hotels

India

Jobs

Luxury Holidays