Reviews (8)

Better than a novel
This is an absolute page-turner on the Invincible Armada and its demise before Calais in the fateful year 1588. Absolutely Amazing!
This has got to be one of the absolute best historical books on the Armada.Not only on the Armada but on the politics on the continent as it pertained to England and Spain.It is very accurate in its facts and portrays them in a way that brings the characters and events alive, leaving you with a craving feeling to read more and more.Written like a novel yet with the facts of a history book.A recommend for anyone looking for a gripping historical account of the struggle between Spain and England that resulted in the Armada's attempt to invade England.

Debunking Collective Memory and Highlighting Diplomacy
Given Mattingly's insight into Mendova's political manuevers in Paris, Philip II's understanding of European powers, and the role of the Catholic Church in European politics, this was required reading for a college course on European Diplomacy (1500-1918).While a naval historian might find fault in the lack of details and maps, Mattingly does cover the moves and countermoves by the English and Spanish reasonably well, especially for novice sailors like me.However, Mattingly correctly focuses on the lasting influence of the English Enterprise by the Spanish Armada: the flawed belief of a power shift in European politics and the myth(s) it produced.Read more

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Armada, 1588    3. Europe - Great Britain - General    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History, Naval    8. History: World    9. Spain    10. Spanish Armada, 1588    11. Western Europe - General    12. History / Europe / Western    13. United Kingdom, Great Britain    14. Western Continental Europe    15. World history   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Economic History    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Political History    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Spain    12. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500    7. Christian communities & monasticism    8. History / Great Britain    9. United Kingdom, Great Britain    10. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (2)

Brilliant!
This book was simply wonderful!The research must have been tremendous!It was fun to reach back in time to get a glimpse of medieval laws and ethics.At times I couldn't put the book down!I can't wait to read it again!

A fascinating tale of crime, scandal and trial by combat
Eric Jager's `The Last Duel' is a fascinating insight to the conducting of a personal feud in fourteenth century France during the period where the medieval concept of chivalry was at its height. Dealing with the historical personages of Jean Le Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris it is a story that defines our modern conceptions of the age and mixes in a dash of romance and tragedy as two men end up at a tourney fighting to the death over a young, beautiful woman.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. France - History    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Legal History    7. Medieval    8. Medieval World History (Circa 450 - Circa 1450)    9. Western Europe - General    10. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. British Isles    7. History / Great Britain    8. Political science & theory   

Reviews (2)

Young Heros....A fascinating story of courage
Reading this book renews your faith in mankind. In this book there are many stories of people who resisted the Nazis and the thugs and gangsters who supported and collaberated with the Nazis.
The Twentieth Train
The Twentieth Train: The True Story of the Ambush of the Death Train to Auschwitz by Marion Schreiber is a true account of rescue in Belgium. After the Nazi invasion of Belgium in May of 1940, a camp was set up in Malines (or Mechelen in Flemish) for captured Jews. Their ultimate destination was Auschwitz, but a minimum quota of prisoners was required to fill a convoy, hence Malines, the collecting area. Tragically, there would be twenty-eight Belgian convoys to Auschwitz before the end of the war, but Marion Schreiber tells the little-known story of the ambush of the twentieth convoy. Executed entirely by three young men independent of the Belgian Resistance movement, the operation managed to free over 240 Jewish prisoners before the train reached Auschwitz. Of the rescuers, however, only one survived capture and death.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Belgium    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    8. Jewish resistance    9. Jews    10. Western Europe - General    11. World War, 1939-1945   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Egypt    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War I    5. Western Europe - General    6. European history: First World War    7. History / Military / World War I    8. Netherlands   

Reviews (8)

A seminal work
A seminal work of great magnitude but weak in its analysis of pre-20th century history.This book gives a whirlwind tour of Austrian History from 1200-1900.Then the book slows down and achieves greatness in describing the intricacies of Franz Joseph's rule as well as WWI and the road to Anschloss with Germany.The book picks up by describing the little knowportion of Austrian history, the post 1945 Austria.At first divided between the major power Austria then became a `permanently' neutral power, although a power that hosted a controversial leader in the form of Mr. Waldheim, a former Nazi.The book then covers the `awakening' of Austria as it found itself post cold war.Although not up to date, it doesn't cover the election of the right wind Jorg Haider, this is an excellent introduction and survey of Austrian history. Not perfect, but best overview of Austrian history avail
English-language books on the long-term history of Austria are relatively rare.Admittedly, Austria was one of the most historically interesting places in the world during the latter part of Franz Josef's reign-dozens of interesting books are available covering events and movements encompassing the intellectual flowering of Wien beginning in the late Victorian period.Giant personalities in the fields of visual art, psychology, music, philosophy, literature and theatre could seemingly be found in every coffee house in turn-of-the century Wien. SHOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT TITLE
I found this to be an interesting book for its coverage of historical events within Austria during the 20th century (i.e., the fall of the Hapsburg monarchy and the Nazi occupation). Brook-Shepherd goes into pretty good detail on these events.However, he devotes much of the book to the 20th Century, and, in a seeming contradiction to the title, does not giveas much attention to pre-20th Century developments.For example, he doesnot give much detail about Maria Therea or Joesph II.Perhaps he shouldhave devoted the book to only the 20th Century. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Austria & Hungary    2. Europe - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Western Europe - General    7. World - General   

Subjects:  1. Economic History    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Western Europe - General    6. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. Europe    3. Gerontology    4. History    5. History: World    6. Medieval    7. Medieval, 500-1500    8. Older people    9. Social aspects    10. Social history    11. Sociology    12. Western Europe - General    13. Elderly    14. History / Europe / Western    15. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. France    4. History    5. Politics and government    6. Social classes    7. Social conditions    8. Sociology    9. Europe    10. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    11. History / Europe / Western    12. Social history    13. c 1700 to c 1800    14. c 1800 to c 1900    15. c 1900 - c 1914   

Subjects:  1. 17th century    2. Book industries and trade    3. Books And Reading    4. Early modern, 1500-1700    5. England    6. English Literature (General)    7. English fiction    8. History    9. History and criticism    10. History: World    11. Media Studies    12. Sociology    13. Western Europe - General    14. Working class    15. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    16. English    17. History / Europe / Western    18. United Kingdom, Great Britain    19. c 1700 to c 1800    20. c 1800 to c 1900   

Editorial Review

Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion rank among science's biggest ideas. But did Kepler lie, steal, or even murder for the data he needed to complete his revolutionary calculations? Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder make this bold claim in Read more

Reviews (18)

Scientist Assassins
Heavenly Intrigue, by Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder, is a novel written with the assertion that scientist Johannes Kepler murdered scientist Tycho Brahe in the early seventeenth century.Before giving a myriad of forensic evidence to support this assertion, the authors offer a brief biography of each scientist that outlines both their personal and astronomical lives.Entwined in these facts are hints of Kepler's malevolent mental instability and his progressive hatred toward Brahe.Thus, the authors appear to have been motivated to write this novel as an attempt to reveal the true cause of Brahe's death and to label Kepler as not only a brilliant scientist, but a self-centered assassin.Aside from the darker, more hypothetical aspect of the novel, the authors describe each scientist's effect on posterity.Namely, Brahe instigated the methodology of science that develops theories after repeatedly gathering empirical data, while Kepler developed three planetary laws that redefined the structure of the solar system.Most importantly, both scientists opened avenues of ideas and questions that prompted Isaac Newton to discover the force of gravity.This novel is an ideal novel to read for a different perspective on two of history's most influential scientists.By intertwining their scientific achievements with historical background, it becomes easier to comprehend their lifestyles, motivations, and ambitions.

Intriguing scientific history
The Gilders have combined short biographies of both Brahe and Kepler to tell a story about early modern science, centered on their startling theory that Brahe was murdered by Kepler.
Annoyingly Slanted.Not Science, But Speculation
When I borrowed a copy of this from the university library (thank God I didn't buy it), I was misled since it was the hardbound edition without the jacket, so all I saw was "Heavenly Intrigue."If I had seen the complete title, I wouldn't have bothered.The authors are truly of this generation, the CSI/forensic-wannabes (every cable channel has them now, very dismaying) who portray the facts from a mystery caper point of view, instead of looking at all the possible factors surrounding Brahe's death.Having read the other reviews, I find it just as compelling that it could have been Mrs. Brahe who had to euthanize him.And Brahe, although popular, had his own share of enemies, from religious extremists to possible other rivals.Maybe even kindergarten enemies, who knows? -- he did have a disfigured nose, a testament to his pugnacious nature.That should have been an obvious clue to the authors.As much as they try to give Kepler his due, they also paint him as a villain, on account of his mental troubles, his moods, etc.Well, I have news for the authors... most scientists have had their psychotic episodes:Newton suffered from depression (and by some accounts, a form of dementia) in his later years; Leibniz was worse off.Boltzmann wound up committing suicide.But the point of all this?Everyone, especially in those times, weren't quite right in the head.Hey, if you were living in war-ridden, plague-infested times, would you really be morally sound and civilized, the way we like to think of ourselves now??I don't think so!!!!!And what is the whole point of this forensic crap??Just to prove Brahe was murdered?To find a culprit, at any costs??To make Kepler the Fall Guy???The same has been said about some who have made important contributions in culture, science, and history, like Caravaggio or George Washington (both suspected and/or accused of murder in their lifetimes).The man lived miserably, and may not have been a saint.Despite Kepler's being obsessive a scientist (or philosopher, depending on your point of view) as he was... which scientist isn't?... he never quite expected to see the same kind of glory as Brahe did.Scientists then didn't enjoy the same prestige that we do now.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1546-1601    2. 17th century    3. Astronomers    4. Astronomy - General    5. Biography    6. Brahe, Tycho,    7. Death and burial    8. Denmark    9. History    10. History Of Astronomy    11. History: World    12. Science    13. Science, Renaissance    14. Scientists    15. Speculative    16. Western Europe - General    17. History / Europe / Western   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Christianity    3. Christianity and other religio    4. Christianity and other religions    5. Church And Other Religions    6. Europe - General    7. Historiography    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Islam    12. Islam - General    13. Medieval    14. Relations    15. Western Europe - General   

Subjects:  1. Calendars & Diaries    2. Calendars - Art    3. European    4. Individual Artist    5. Mysticism    6. Spirituality - Celtic    7. Western Europe - General   

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Social Aspects    6. Technology    7. Western Europe - General    8. Europe    9. History / Europe / General    10. Impact of science & technology on society   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (3)

Fragments are the *point* of the book
Our friend from Ohio below has rather missed the point of this magnificent book. Vinen has set out not to tell a story we all already know, but rather to explore the multiplicity of experiences in Europe during the 20th century. In this, through anecdote, statistic and telling details, he succeeds brilliantly. The book is consistently thought-provoking and challenging, a hugely welcome antidote to history books which merely list battles, wars, elections, deaths of Great Men.

Not what it looks like
I'm afraid this one runs a risk of being misunderstood.If you judge it as straight narrative it is indeed weak.But that's not its purpose.Rather it is an attempt, mostly successful, at social history beyond narrative.Read it with an ear for the detail: how the women's vote kept the Christian Democrats in power; how average civilian lifespan in Britain actually increaed during World War I-- and the wonderful bit about the disappearing wristwatch under the made-up red flag.He's also good at the shrewd aside: how we know more about the lives of 17 people around Gordon Square than of all of Serbia.As a title, "Fragments" is perhaps a confession more than a boast; Vinen does not always keep control of his material. But many of his fragments are too good to be missed.

A Book in Fragments
As a prolific reader of history, I found this book to be a tremendous diappointment.There is no coherence to this project.It is pieces of history and the same oft-quoted statistics slapped together - a poor condensation of Keegan's various books, Ferguson's The Pity of War and Kershaw's Hitler.Read any of these, but not Vinen's.Yes history is messy, but writing about it shouldn't be. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century World History    2. 20th century    3. Europe    4. Europe - General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Modern - 20th Century    9. Social conditions    10. Western Europe - General   

Reviews (5)

The saga of Christendom reaches 1815
*The Revolution against Christendom* is the fifth installment of a series which began publication more than twenty years ago, in 1985. Comprising almost 3,000 pages of small print, not counting the superb annotated biographies and the indexes, the series has apparently reached here its penultimate volume : though it was at one point to have spanned seven of them (as listed in *The Glory of Christendom*), references to volume 6 now mention a chapter 18 devoted to World War II, which goes way beyond the 1918 end date initially set for it.
Definitely worth reading
This was an enjoyable and perceptive read, as Dr. Carroll usually is. However, compared with his previous four volumes of "A History of Christendom" I think it is of lesser quality. This is manifested mostly in some topics that he chooses to emphasize (or to neglect), perhaps beyond their actual importance. This can probably best be attributed to his advanced age and rapidly declining health (he suffered a severe stroke a few years ago.) Still, it is unarguably orthodox from the Catholic standpoint and does much to correct the prevalent secularist interpretation of history.
Truth is Declarative Being
Saint Hilary said,
Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Religion    3. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    4. Western Europe - General    5. Religion / History   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Atrocities    3. France    4. Historiography    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Judaism - General    10. Poland    11. Religion    12. Western Europe - General    13. World War, 1939-1945    14. Religion / Judaism / General    15. Second World War, 1939-1945    16. The Holocaust    17. c 1960 to c 1970