Reviews (7)

Other people are other
Little Red Riding, of the Brothers Grimm, is really French, 17th century.The Huguenots brought folk tales to Germany when fleeing the prosecution of Louis XIV.Folk tales are historical documents.They have evolved over many centuries. There was a golden age of folklore research in France between the years of 1870 and 1914.Folklore is a nineteenth century neologism.Oral traditions have enormous staying power.Continuities in form and style outweigh variation of details.
Broad ranging, entertaining, with an interesting method of discovery
Whereas I enjoyed most of this book, I found it somewhat uneven with some chapters written in a far more academic manner than others.
Great for getting into the minds of the common folk
One other reviewer used the term "between academia and pop nonfiction".I suppose accurate pop non fiction was what I was looking for as I was trying to get an overview of the mind set or zeitgeist of prerevolutionary France. It was a little narrower in it's scope than I expected but in hind sight accomplished it's goal in giving me a feeling for that period which in turn helps putting the revolutionin context.
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Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. Civilization    3. Europe - France    4. Folklore    5. France    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Modern - 17th Century    9. National characteristics, Fren    10. National characteristics, French    11. Fiction anthologies & collections    12. History / Modern / 17th Century    13. Modern fiction   

Editorial Review

Would you believe that nutmeg formed the basis of one of the most bitter international conflicts of the 17th century, and was also intimately connected to New York City's rise to global preeminence? Strange but true: nutmeg was, in fact, one of the most prized commodities in Renaissance Europe, and its fascinating story is told in Giles Milton's delightful Read more

Reviews (67)

Full of information!
It's a short book jam packed with characters and voyages. I have to say though that I could have used a time line in the begining to help me keep things straight. Reading this book takes focus (not the kind of thing you can read when you're tired or watching TV at the same time) but I enjoyed learning so much about the spice trade!

Making History Appreciated Again
I am not into history books and I find many are filled with lousy presentation of facts - making it a very dry read.It is not the case here.Milton had successfully made reading history fun and helps you grow an appreciation for the things and people around you and beyond.This book will make you laugh, cry, and cetainly, appreciate the spices in your kitchen :)
Excellent History
Giles does a wonderful historical job in telling a complicated story, but not getting in the way of the history by invoking his views as most historians do.
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Subjects:  1. 17th century    2. Asia - General    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Indonesia    8. Maluku    9. Maritime History    10. Nutmeg industry    11. Spice trade    12. Spices    13. World - Colonial Studies    14. History / Modern / 17th Century   

Subjects:  1. Enlightenment    2. History    3. History & Surveys - 17th/18th Century    4. History & Surveys - Modern    5. History: World    6. Modern - 17th Century    7. Philosophy    8. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    9. History of ideas, intellectual history    10. History, Other | History of Philosophy    11. Philosophy / History, Criticism, Surveys    12. Western Continental Europe    13. Western philosophy, c 1600 to c 1800    14. c 1600 to c 1700    15. c 1700 to c 1800   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Asian - Japanese    3. Literary Criticism    4. Modern - 17th Century    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Classic travel writing    7. Japan   

Editorial Review

Captain James Cook's three epic 18th-century explorations of the PacificOcean were the last of their kind, literally completing the map of the world.Yet despite his monumental discoveries, principally in the South Pacific, Cookthe man has remained an enigma. In retracing key legs of the circumnavigator'sjourney, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tony Horwitz chronicles the culturaland environmental havoc wrought by the captain's opening of the unspoiledPacific to the West, as well as the alternately indifferent and passionatereactions Cook's name evokes during the writer's journeys through Polynesia,Australia, the Aleutians, and the explorer's native England. Horwitz skillfullyweaves a biography and travel narrative with warm humor that is natural and human-scale, and his restless inquisitiveness quickly infects the reader. Whilestriking dichotomies abound throughout that journey--Maori toughs who adopt Naziimagery to symbolize their own fight against white domination, millennia-oldPolynesian sexual mores that would shame the Reeperbahn, a sense thatChristianity decimated native cultures at least as effectively as Westernvenereal diseases did--few are more poignant than the ones that abound in Cook'sown life. This fine work is an adventurous reminder that answers to historicalriddles are elusive at best--and seldom as compelling as the myriad newquestions they pose. Read more

Reviews (79)

entertaining (3-1/2 stars)
This account of Captain James Cook's three voyages is juxtaposed with accounts of what the author encountered two and a half centuries later at venues on Cook's itinerary. The reader switches between Cook's history (upbringing, family, strengths, faults, patrons) and the author's humorous travel impressions.
Great laid back, meandering read
Though the prose wanders a bit in places, one of the most entertaining travelogues I have read.Best read on a beach somewhere in the Pacific.The style is easygoing, but the author gets his point across.Read it!

Looking for an easy-going but comprehensive chronicle of Cook's journeys?
During a round-the-world trip, I travelled to Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tahiti, Bora Bora and Easter Island. I came across lots of places visited by Captain Cook or otherwise connected with him, as well as plenty of monuments with snippets of information about his journeys. I was interested to learn more, but at the same time wanted to avoid academic histories. This book was recommended by my guidebook, and it was perfect. Tony Horwitz combines a chronicle of Cook's journeys in the Pacific with his own experiences of modern-day travel in some of the same regions. It's light-hearted and entertaining, as well as being interesting and informative. It's travel literature, not a literary classic, but it's perfect if you're after an easy-going but comprehensive description of Cook's journeys. Definitely recommended.
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Subjects:  1. 1728-1779    2. Cook, James,    3. Description And Travel    4. Discovery And Exploration (General)    5. Discovery and exploration    6. Expeditions & Discoveries    7. General    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Journeys    12. Modern - 17th Century    13. Modern - 18th Century    14. Oceania    15. Voyages around the world   

Reviews (20)

The Best on the Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War is a rather obscure war for most American readers.However, if you travel to Germany, you'll hear endless stories about the Thirty Years War at almost any tourist site that you go to.It is often considered a war between Catholics and Protestants, but as this book shows, the conflict was more complex than that.There was a web of political intrigues spreading from Austria, France, and Spain.To achieve their aims, the rulers of these countries caused a lot of bloodshed and terror in the lands of the Holy Roman Empire.I really recommend this book because it does a good job of explaining how a meaningless war can drag on endlessly and in the end accomplish little.

Shock and Squabble
What a mess!--I mean the conflict described herein, not the exquisite narrative.Basically, for those unfamiliar with the war, it describes a series of campaigns that arose, nominally at least, out of religious conflict within present day Germany and evolved into what we might now call a proxy war fought on German soil between France and Spain, the Hapsburgs and the Bourbons, for European preeminence--with the Danes and Swedes thrown in for good measure. It reminds one of why Germany was so powerful when it finally got its military and political act together in the past century.As divided as it was in the 17th Century, one of the German alliances actually came within a day's march of Paris during these campaigns---It brings to mind the comment back in the early 90's after the Berlin Wall fell by some waggish fellow on a BBC programme that the reunification was making Germany's neighbours nervous, "France last week offered to surrender."
Reads like a modern day thriller
Excellent read for anyone from lay people to academics. Moves along quickly but doesn't skimp on the details. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Habsburg, House of    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. Military - Other    8. Military History - Modern    9. Modern - 17th Century    10. Modern World History (Circa 1450 To Present)    11. Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648    12. Western Europe - General    13. History / Europe / Western    14. History / Modern / 17th Century   

Reviews (1)

Noble talking
The description on the approach of the book provided by the "Book reviews" is fairly accurate. Therefore, I will only point out that the book is no very engaging, but it is not dry either. It can be savoured by the professional historian, and by the educated layperson too. Therefore, my rate is 5 (content) and 3/4 (pleasure of reading). In addition to this work, other books that I would recommend to read would be "Nobilities in Transition 1550-1700 : Courtiers and Rebels in Britain and Europe" by Ronald G. Asch; "Myths of Power. Norbert Elias and the Early Modern European Court " and "Vienna and Versailles : The Courts of Europe's Dynastic Rivals, 1550-1780 (New Studies in European History)" by Jeroen Duindam (whose books present a more accurate view of monarchy, nobility, the court and the state contrary to that provided by Elias's "The Court Society"); and "The Pleasures of the Imagination: English Culture in the Eighteenth Century" by John Brewer.
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Subjects:  1. 17th century    2. 18th century    3. Europe - France    4. France    5. France - History    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Intellectual History    10. Intellectual life    11. Modern - 17th Century    12. Modern - 18th Century    13. Salons    14. Women intellectuals    15. Women's Studies - History    16. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    17. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    18. History / France    19. Social history    20. Women's studies   

Reviews (2)

Depends on your expectations
Those familiar with this author know his areas of interest and what to expect from him in general, but in this case the particular subject matter imposes some additional constraints. Those who have done any reading on pirates in general know that it's very difficult to find a book that's actually interesting that doesn't wander too far off into wild speculation (or downright fiction). Pirates of any kind were not, for the most part, prolific writers; there are few first-hand accounts of their lives to draw from. In this book Wilson counts on his reader to be understanding of the difficulties he faces in trying to put together the story of the Corsairs and Renegadoes, and for the most part his effort is interesting enough to make you forget its shortcomings.
FASCINATING
For anyone who likes history, pirates, religions, anarchy... in fact, nevermind, for absolutely anyone. this book is simply fascinating, you wouldn't want to put it down. it paints such an amazing image of a time and place that i would do anything to go live there and now one of my goals is to visit the city of Sale in Morocco and walk in the lands were such amazing characters once lived... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - History    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Islam - General    7. Islamic History    8. Modern - 17th Century    9. Europe    10. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Europe - General    3. European - General    4. General    5. History    6. History - Military / War    7. History: World    8. Military - Other    9. Modern - 17th Century    10. Personal narratives    11. Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648    12. Europe    13. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    14. Literary Criticism & Collections / European    15. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (8)

A Joy to Read
This is one of the most fun books of history you will ever be lucky enough to read.It covers some aspects of 17th Century French history, with the greatest proportion of the book centered on Louis XIV and his court, although there are chapters on the peasantry and the brutality of the galleys.
Tour de Force
The wealth of detail in W.H. Lewis' book The Splendid Century is incredible, but even more incredible is Lewis' ability to see the forest and the trees, to intelligently distinguish between what is useful and what is irrelevant and to leave the reader with a definite impression of Louis XIV's France. History in the Grand Manner
W.H. Lewis wrote this famous book (dedicated to his brother C.S.) in 1953, but it has stood the test of time very well and provides an excellent introduction to the history of France during the reign of Louis XIV. "The Splendid Century" is history in the grand manner, written in the style of Trevelyan, Runciman and Roy Porter. The erudition is everywhere apparent, but it is worn lightly and the story is told in fluent prose enlivened by the odd flash of sly humour.Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. France    3. History - General History    4. History / France    5. History / Modern / 17th Century    6. History: World    7. Social life and customs    8. History    9. Modern - 17th Century   

Reviews (1)

In the Name of Iran
This book was fun to read because it was focused on Safavid Kings and how the Kings utilized cosmology in order to govern Iran. Moreover, this book covered Zoroastrian faith and how Zoroastrian faith shaped Iran's Shi'ite sect and culture. This is a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Iran    5. Islam - General    6. Middle East - General    7. Modern - 17th Century    8. Safavid dynasty, 1501-1736    9. Sufism    10. òSafavid dynasty, 1501-1736    11. Asian / Middle Eastern history    12. Cultural studies    13. Europe    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. History / Middle East   

Reviews (1)

Excellent
A masterful study of how the novel ideas of Milton's time inform his vocabulary and thought.Rogers is especially attentive to the differences between our notions of "science" and those of the early Enlightenment.Essential. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. History and criticism    4. History: World    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Modern - 17th Century    7. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    8. Cultural studies    9. England    10. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    11. Philosophy of science    12. c 1600 to c 1700    13. Great Britain    14. History    15. English Renaissance Literature (1500-1700)    16. Literature And Science   

Features

• Audiobook
• MP3 Audio
• Unabridged

Reviews (57)

A talented writer
First off Richard Zacks could write about most anything and keep it interesting. Zacks weaves historical reasearch with creative license to create a reality that is easy to imagine and even relate to. Without being too sugestive, the author manages to paint an imagined world based on carefully researched fact that transports you into the places and events described in the way that a gloomy movie leaves you expecting rain on a sunny day while exiting a theatre.
Mezmerizing
It's the sign of a good historical book when you're 3/4 through and finding yourself frustrated that the author didn't have the "good sense" to change the factual ending to better suite the characters you like. The last half of the book is deeply dangerous as the pacing quickens and you can quickly find yourself glancing up at the 3:00AM clock not realizing you've been reading for so long. Clearly, if you like pirates, this is indeed a pirate story for us adults. If you'd like some insight into what was driving the American colonists maddeningly frustrated in the late 1600's, early 1700's, you'll find it here. And if you want a change of pace to a more realistic vision of the era of wooden ships and iron men than Patrick O'Brien (I've read all of his Aubrey-Maturin series), this pretty much captures it. Very well written, well researched with an ending that haunts you for days.

the best about "pirates"
This is the best of many that I have read about pirates. You will learn the history of the world during the time of William Kidd and other famous pirates. You will learn about the trading islands and a young America. You will also learn about the life of people back then and how and why some became pirates-the world was un ugly place back then and it seems that the life of a pirate, however brief, could actually have been a better one than many other options available to uneducated and unclassed men. Once I learned the truth about William Kidd, I felt bad for him-he seems to have been the fall guy, a political pawn used by the powerful and rich of his time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Historical - General    3. History    4. History: World    5. Maritime History    6. Military - Naval    7. Modern - 17th Century    8. Unabridged Audio - History    9. United States - Colonial Period    10. Biography & Autobiography/Historical - General    11. Chronological Period/17th Century    12. History / General    13. History/Modern - 17th Century    14. Unabridged Audio / History   

Reviews (1)

A superb one-volume military history
From the wonderful description of James I coming to London (in almost indecent haste, if memory of Mr. Reid's text serves) to the Restoration, this book provides an excellent look at the military (army, for those in the US) factors and actions that were part and parcel of the English Civil Wars. As an American wargamer, this volume has provided information, data, orders of battle, battle descriptions, and not a little inspiration. With so little information on this pivotal point in British history available to those of us in the US, this book has proved to be a refreshing draught of cool water on a hot day. Thank you, Mr. Reid! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Military - General    7. Military - Other    8. Modern - 17th Century    9. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    10. Civil war    11. England    12. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (35)

A quick and interesting read, and well worth it
Milton provides a splendid view of Jacobean England via feudal Japan, as well as the relationships between the big trading nations of the time period.His writing style is fluid, easy and interesting, and holds firm to what you expect from a historical narrative.
"Shogun" hero William Blackthorne based on William Adams
Giles Milton's biography of the first Englishman in the Japans is a facinating, compellling and exciting account of the exploits of William Adams, sea captain, adventurer, linguist and participant in the politics of Tokugawa era Japan. Amazing in its detal and readable, this book will keep a history-minded reader interested to the last page. William Adams is the historical figure upen whom James Clavell based his heroic character John Blackthorne, in the epic novel "Shogun."

Again, another great book from Giles Milton!
This book was so good, that my husband sneaks it away and starts reading it!Well, finally I got it back and finished it.This is very interesting tale of William Adams, who comes from the very poor area of England (Limehouse, London), takes a job on a ship which travels for trade to various Asian areas such as Java, Bantam, China.During the trip many lives are lost along the way and they ultimately end up in Japan.William ends up befriending a powerful shogun Ieyasu, learns the Japanese language and becomes a powerful land owner (Hemi).Later he helps the English gain a trading area in the Hirada.This story was so fascinating. This book also links up to some of the same time period as "Nathanial's Nutmeg", especially pertaining to the Dutch disputes with the English to gain trade power. I cannot wait until the next Giles Milton book!!If you are looking for a great historical read - this is the one.And the real-life character of William Adams is the one which James Clavell based his "Shogun" book on... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1564-1620    2. Adams, William,    3. Adventurers & Explorers    4. Asia - Japan    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. British    8. Great Britain    9. Historical - British    10. History    11. History: World    12. Japan    13. Modern - 17th Century    14. Officials and employees, Alien    15. Pilots and pilotage    16. Adams, William    17. History / Japan   

Editorial Review

In the last ten years, a new school of sociology has grown up that sees science as not only relativistic but as a purely human construct; that ties scientists' findings about "nature" to their standing in the cultural and political milieu of which they are a part. Steven Shapin adds to this revisionist literature with a fascinating, paradoxical book that at once questions our notions of the scientific revolution of the last century and deepens our understanding of it. Shapin examines four themes in the history of modern science: mechanism (the idea of nature as a machine); objectivism; methodology and impartiality; and altruism (the idea that science can better the lot of mankind). He does so in three deft, incisive sections: "What Was Known?"; "How Was It Known?"; and "What Was the Knowledge For?" This excellent study, written for the layman, explains how the scientists' world shaped their knowledge of the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

High hopes - not fulfilled
I was really looking forward to reading this book after several warm recommendations, but I was sadly disappointed.The contents was reasonable giving, but the language and the presentation...
Decent Introductory Text
The Scientific Revolution represented a profound change in the way that we try to understand nature.The influence of science today, and its prestite, is pervasive.So this is an interesting topic.But Shapin's book is only an introduction.You'll get some names (Boyle, Galileo, Descartes, Bacon, Newton) and some interesting quotes and summaries of their thought.The issues of experiment, measurement and mathematization are treated.But none of it is in much depth.You won't learn any of the specifics of Copernicus, Galileo or Newton.If this is your first intro to the subject, it's fine.But for someone like me who already has somewhat of a background, most of this was stuff I already knew.It's well written, easy to read and has somewhat of a critical perspective, which is nice.But it's somewhat superficial and shallow.But it serves it purpose, I suppose. The Scientific Revolution changed how we see the world
I am amazed by the review written by the reader from Sydney.This book does not pretend to give a chronological narrative of who did what when in the making of modern science.There are many books that do that job.Instead, Shapin is interested in what difference the Scientific Revolution made to how people at the time, and how we, think about the natural world.The major changes may have been the new idea that nature could be investigated and understood, not merely regarded with awe and fear;that careful, repeatable experiments could yield information about how nature works;and that this new approach to nature changed how human beings regarded our relation to the natural world and our place in it.If nature is something that we can explore and understand, then we have a new power;we are no longer on a par with the natural world, because we can see into it.The ways in which knowledge is acquired, or made, and why it matters that we pursue and develop this knowledge are part of Shapin's central theme.These are not small questions, and to my mind they are addressed elegantly in this short but very substantial book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Modern - 17th Century    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. History of science    6. Science / History   

Subjects:  1. Church history    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. History    4. Joan (Legendary Pope)    5. Leadership    6. Literary Criticism    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Medieval    9. Middle Ages, 500-1500    10. Middle Ages, 600-1500    11. Modern - 17th Century    12. Women    13. England    14. Folklore    15. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh   

Features

• Student Edition

Reviews (11)

Most Representative Thinker in Anglo-American Tradition
John Locke (1632-1704) wrote "Second Treatise of Government" in 1690, it was the main political philosophical source that our "Founding Fathers" went to in writing the "Declaration of Independence" and in forming our government.I think you should know something of Locke to understand what influenced his thinking.His father was a small landowner, attorney, Puritan and his political sympathies were with the Cromwell Parliament.Like Hobbes, Locke attended Oxford Univ. and did not think much about the curriculum or his professors.Most of his education came from reading books in the Univ. library.Renee Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton's writings greatly influenced Locke.Like Hobbes, he took a tutoring job teaching the son of the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and traveled Europe.His friendship with the Earl was beneficial in obtaining government appointments.During the political unrest in England, (1679-83) he fled to Holland because his liberal notions put him at odds with the government.
Essay: The Illusion of Supreme Legislative Power
The Illusion of Supreme Legislative Power
Long winded and largely out of date
Locke's "Two Treatises of Government" is altogether a long read. The first treatise is largely a rebuttal to an earlier book by Robert Filmer. It is filled with many biblical references denouncing any connection between the throne and God. In his diatribe he does manage to point out that the bible does not raise man over woman with regards to family. He gets the point across that father and mother are to be honoured and given respect, perhaps a first step on a long road to women's rights. Read more

Subjects:  1. Early works to 1800    2. General    3. History & Surveys - 17th/18th Century    4. History & Theory - General    5. Liberty    6. Modern - 17th Century    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. History of ideas, intellectual history    11. Political Science / Reference    12. Political science--Early works to 1800   

Editorial Review

In 1629, the Dutch merchantman Read more

Reviews (49)

Puts modern serial killers to shame
It says a lot for a story when it begins with a shipwreck and builds in intensity from there.