April 16, 1178 BC - It is roughly calculated that this is the date that Odysseus finally made it home from the Trojan War.
April 16, 1521 - Martin Luther's first appearance before the Court of Worms and the Holy Roman Emperor.
April 16, 1746 - Bonnie Prince Charlie (the Young Pretender) is defeated at the Battle of Culloden.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
This Day in History...
April 15, 1865 - President Lincoln dies after being shot the previous day by John Wilkes Booth.
April 15, 1912 - The RMS Titanic sinks at 2:20 am after hitting an iceberg late in the evening of the 14th.
April 15, 1912 - The RMS Titanic sinks at 2:20 am after hitting an iceberg late in the evening of the 14th.
Cats in History
As a follow up to my post yesterday about Shakespeare Cats, I thought I would share some more of Susan Herbert's creations with you.
The Romanovs
Emperor Napoleon
The Princes in the Tower
Nine Days Queen, Jane Grey
His Royal Catness, Edward VI
The appropriately named Cat Howard.
The Romanovs
Emperor Napoleon
"Let them eat cat treats."
The Princes in the Tower
Nine Days Queen, Jane Grey
His Royal Catness, Edward VI
The appropriately named Cat Howard.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
This Day in History...
April 14, 1471 - In a heavy fog, Edward IV defeats Warwick and the Lancastrians at the battle of Barnet. Warwick is killed and Edward's throne is secured when he defeats Margaret of Anjou a couple of weeks later at Tewkesbury.
April 14, 1912 - At 11:40 pm, the RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg in the North Atlantic. A little over two hours later the ship sinks beneath the waves, taking over 1500 people with her to the bottom. Because of out dated rules, there were only enough lifeboats for about half the people on board. A little over 700 people survived.
April 14, 1912 - At 11:40 pm, the RMS Titanic strikes an iceberg in the North Atlantic. A little over two hours later the ship sinks beneath the waves, taking over 1500 people with her to the bottom. Because of out dated rules, there were only enough lifeboats for about half the people on board. A little over 700 people survived.
Shakespeare...in Cats!
I love Shakespeare.
I love cats.
Naturally a book entitled Shakespeare Cats is going to catch my eye. Susan Herbert took scenes from some of Shakespeare's most famous plays...and recast the rolls with cats! It is really adorable! Here are some of my favorite images from the book. I was able to scan some of the images myself...until my scanner decided to take a vacation and I had to go in search of some of the others on the internet. Once I get the technology up and running again I will upload some more of these adorable pictures! Enjoy!
Check back tomorrow for "cats in history!"
"Oh pussy cat, oh pussy cat, wherefore art thou pussy cat?"
Probably one of my favorites.
A cat nap?
"Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand."
"Remember who commended thy yellow stockings..."
Malvolio and Olivia
"Come sit upon this kitty bed..."
Titania and Bottom
"We few, we happy few, we band of tomcats..."
"There's catnip, that's for remembrance."
"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!"
King Lear
"But if I gave my wife a catnip mouse -"
Iago to Othello
Cleopatra
I love cats.
Naturally a book entitled Shakespeare Cats is going to catch my eye. Susan Herbert took scenes from some of Shakespeare's most famous plays...and recast the rolls with cats! It is really adorable! Here are some of my favorite images from the book. I was able to scan some of the images myself...until my scanner decided to take a vacation and I had to go in search of some of the others on the internet. Once I get the technology up and running again I will upload some more of these adorable pictures! Enjoy!
Check back tomorrow for "cats in history!"
"Oh pussy cat, oh pussy cat, wherefore art thou pussy cat?"Probably one of my favorites.
A cat nap?
"Go get some water and wash this filthy witness from your hand."
"Remember who commended thy yellow stockings..."Malvolio and Olivia
"Come sit upon this kitty bed..."Titania and Bottom
"We few, we happy few, we band of tomcats..."
"There's catnip, that's for remembrance."
"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!"King Lear
"But if I gave my wife a catnip mouse -"Iago to Othello
CleopatraTuesday, April 13, 2010
This Day in History...
April 13, 1275 - Eleanor de Monfort, youngest daughter of King John and Simon de Monfort's wife, died and is buried at Montargis Abbey in France.
Monday, April 12, 2010
This Day in History...
April 12, 1567 - The Earl of Bothwell was found not guilty of the murder of Lord Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots' English husband. Darnley had been found strangled to death beneath his window after an explosion. Bothwell and Mary then married.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
This Day in History...
April 11, 1240 - Llewelyn Fawr (the Great), Prince of Gwynedd, died at the Aberconwy Abbey and was buried there. Llewelyn's dream was a strong, united Wales. He married Joanna, daughter of the English King John.
Sharon Kay Penman's excellent novel Here Be Dragons is about Llewelyn's life. If you haven't (what's wrong with you?) you need to!
Sharon Kay Penman's excellent novel Here Be Dragons is about Llewelyn's life. If you haven't (what's wrong with you?) you need to!
Friday, April 9, 2010
This Day in History...
April 9, 1413 - Henry V is crowned King of England. His eventually married Princess Catherine of France to help solidify his claim to the Crown of France.
April 9, 1483 - Edward V, eldest son of Edward IV, became king upon his father's untimely death. He was never crowned, though. Edward and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, disappeared from the Tower a couple of months later and their fate remains a mystery to this day and a hot topic of debate. Some believe their uncle Richard III had them killed, others think he spirited them off somewhere, while others believe Henry VII killed the boys.
April 9, 1483 - Edward V, eldest son of Edward IV, became king upon his father's untimely death. He was never crowned, though. Edward and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, disappeared from the Tower a couple of months later and their fate remains a mystery to this day and a hot topic of debate. Some believe their uncle Richard III had them killed, others think he spirited them off somewhere, while others believe Henry VII killed the boys.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Booking Through Thursday: Plots?
BTT is hosted by Deb at Wordpress.Q: Plots? Or stream-of-consciousness? Which would you rather read?
I think I am probably more of a fan of a book with a plot(s). There is more a writer can do with a work with a plot over writing stream-of-consciousness. While you would get much more detail of a character's true thoughts and feelings in S-o-C it could be a bit difficult to achieve believability in some genres. I just prefer something with a good, interesting plot.
Book Review: The Sixth Wife
The Sixth Wife, Jean Plaidy
4 roses
I am a huge Jean Plaidy fan; I read all I can get! I just really enjoy the good research and clean writing in her books and this novel about Henry VIII's sixth and final wife is no exception.
While many other Tudor books cover Katherine Parr and her role in Princess Elizabeth's life, none of them truly focus just on Katherine in any believable way. This one does that and I think that is why this is probably my favorite book (so far) about Henry VIII's last queen. Plaidy's novel really shows Katherine as an intelligent and attractive woman, desperately in love with Thomas Seymour, but a woman who knows there is no way to say no to the King. Through Plaidy's wonderful writing you really see how stressful Katherine's life was while married to Henry, having to deal with the extreme fickleness of his affections and constantly feeling as if the sword was just waiting at the back of her neck. Queen Katherine was also interested in the New Learning and so became a target for Catholics hoping to bring the religion back to England. The depth of the scheming her enemies went to in order to bring her down are covered in this book and it is amazing (and a bit of good luck) that she was able to survive their attempts. Plaidy's writing really brings the Tudor court alive with the perfect details of everyday life along with all the intrigue and political and religious turmoil of the time; it was easy to feel the stress the Queen was under every day of her marriage. We also see in this novel how much of a mother Katherine became to Henry's youngest children Edward and Elizabeth as well as to Jane Grey. Even once Henry is dead and she is married to Thomas Seymour she can't have a happy life as she eventually realizes that her husband is after the Princess Elizabeth. Again, Plaidy's exceptional writing shines through and you can really feel the grief and sadness Katherine dealt with at the hands of Seymour.
Some of Plaidy's novels can be a bit dry but this one does not fall into that category. The writing is wonderful and full of emotion. The dialogue does not seem entirely modern but she doesn't pepper her story with medieval phrases. Her research is impeccable and she is masterful at weaving it into a moving story. All of the major players at the Tudor court are here in the novel, Henry, the Seymours, Prince Edward, Princess Elizabeth, Wriothesley, etc, and they are portrayed fairly and accurately but the novel is very much focused on Katherine and how she interacts with these various people. I would certainly suggest this novel to Tudor lovers and Plaidy lovers. I also believe it would be a good read for the reader casually interested in this time period as you will get an exceptionally written story full of emotion but very good historical details as well.
4 roses
I am a huge Jean Plaidy fan; I read all I can get! I just really enjoy the good research and clean writing in her books and this novel about Henry VIII's sixth and final wife is no exception.While many other Tudor books cover Katherine Parr and her role in Princess Elizabeth's life, none of them truly focus just on Katherine in any believable way. This one does that and I think that is why this is probably my favorite book (so far) about Henry VIII's last queen. Plaidy's novel really shows Katherine as an intelligent and attractive woman, desperately in love with Thomas Seymour, but a woman who knows there is no way to say no to the King. Through Plaidy's wonderful writing you really see how stressful Katherine's life was while married to Henry, having to deal with the extreme fickleness of his affections and constantly feeling as if the sword was just waiting at the back of her neck. Queen Katherine was also interested in the New Learning and so became a target for Catholics hoping to bring the religion back to England. The depth of the scheming her enemies went to in order to bring her down are covered in this book and it is amazing (and a bit of good luck) that she was able to survive their attempts. Plaidy's writing really brings the Tudor court alive with the perfect details of everyday life along with all the intrigue and political and religious turmoil of the time; it was easy to feel the stress the Queen was under every day of her marriage. We also see in this novel how much of a mother Katherine became to Henry's youngest children Edward and Elizabeth as well as to Jane Grey. Even once Henry is dead and she is married to Thomas Seymour she can't have a happy life as she eventually realizes that her husband is after the Princess Elizabeth. Again, Plaidy's exceptional writing shines through and you can really feel the grief and sadness Katherine dealt with at the hands of Seymour.
Some of Plaidy's novels can be a bit dry but this one does not fall into that category. The writing is wonderful and full of emotion. The dialogue does not seem entirely modern but she doesn't pepper her story with medieval phrases. Her research is impeccable and she is masterful at weaving it into a moving story. All of the major players at the Tudor court are here in the novel, Henry, the Seymours, Prince Edward, Princess Elizabeth, Wriothesley, etc, and they are portrayed fairly and accurately but the novel is very much focused on Katherine and how she interacts with these various people. I would certainly suggest this novel to Tudor lovers and Plaidy lovers. I also believe it would be a good read for the reader casually interested in this time period as you will get an exceptionally written story full of emotion but very good historical details as well.
This Day in History...
Couldn't really find too much for today so I'm just posting a few that are about a couple things that I already love - my Atlanta Braves and the Titanic.
April 8, 1974 - Baseball player Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's long standing record of 714 homers.
April 8, 1997 - The results of the first ultrasonic scan of the Titanic's bow gave researchers some revealing new information. A series of six short slits appear to be the principal damage done to the ship after it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic in 1912.
April 8, 1974 - Baseball player Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hits his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's long standing record of 714 homers.
April 8, 1997 - The results of the first ultrasonic scan of the Titanic's bow gave researchers some revealing new information. A series of six short slits appear to be the principal damage done to the ship after it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic in 1912.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
This Day in History...
April 7, 1770 - The English romantic poet and future Poet Laureate William Wordsworth was born.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
This Day in History...
April 6, 1199 - Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) dies after being hit by an arrow at the Siege of Chalus in France. He is buried at Fontevrault Abbey. His mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine would later be buried there as well.
April 6,1590 - Queen Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham died at about the age of 58. He probably saved her life a few times when he uncovered plots against her.
April 6,1590 - Queen Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham died at about the age of 58. He probably saved her life a few times when he uncovered plots against her.
Monday, April 5, 2010
This Day in History...
April 5, 1843 - Queen Victoria proclaimed Hong Kong a British colony. It remained so for 99 years.
Mailbox Monday
Mailbox Monday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists!
The Scarlet Lion, Elizabeth ChadwickOh my god! Finally!! Thank you so much to the person who sent this to me! I actually jumped up and down in excitement when it was delivered! Can't wait to loose myself in the pages.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
This Day in History...
April 3, 1043 - Edward the Confessor, son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, is crowned King of England at Winchester Cathedral. He was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings. His biggest contribution to history is Westminster Abbey.
Friday, April 2, 2010
This Day in History...
April 2, 1502 - Prince Arthur, Prince of Wales, died at Ludlow Castle. His untimely death would set into motion the dramatic events of his brother Henry VIII's reign.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Book Review: The Queen's Pawn
The Queen's Pawn, Christy English
3.5 roses
I was honored to receive this advanced copy to read and review and enjoyed the story that Ms. English presents. I am always happy to read anything that deals with Eleanor of Aquitaine and this touching novel did not disappoint. This is the story of a girl rarely mentioned in history, the Princess Alais of France.
Alais was betrothed to Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II's son Richard and sent to live in England until her marriage. Once in England she is taken under Eleanor's wing and the two form a close mother-daughter relationship. Eleanor really sees a lot of herself in young Alais. After meeting Richard she falls in love with him and looks forward to the day when they will finally be wed. However, her love quickly turns to hate when she discovers him in the arms of another woman and takes it personally. Despite Eleanor's advice that most men will stray, Alais feels that she has been nothing but a pawn and decides to take revenge on not only Richard but on Eleanor as well. Her goal? To be crowned Queen of England next to Henry.
This was a very interesting look into the life of a girl who, if she is mentioned in history at all, is usually only mentioned in a quick side note. There really wasn't too much going on in the story through the first half as the author introduces us to the major players and really sets the scene for the coming conflict. The action really seems to start in the second half and then the story moved fairly quickly. The detail in the descriptions of life during this time was fantastic. The author really gives the reader a look at something that is usually overlooked in most novels - a closer inspection of what life was like for royal females. I especially enjoyed the scenes in the Great Hall during meals; it was very easy for me to picture Eleanor lording it over her end of the table with Henry trying not to be outdone on the other end. Her attention to the details was really amazing and I appreciated the effort to make things come alive. You will not get bogged down in all this detail though, as can happen in some historical fiction when too much is thrown at you; what is on the page is what is needed in the story. The only thing that got a bit annoying to me was the constant repetition of certain phrases or ideas, which happens quite a bit in Eleanor's case as she is always saying, for example, "Alais is like me; she is very strong" in various ways. As for the characters of Eleanor, Henry, and Richard, they behave as you would expect with nothing "out of character" for them, though I thought the affection Richard showed Alais was very touching. Alais, however, turns out to be one of those characters who I initially liked but eventually came to despise, though I am not saying that her character is not well written. I have never been a huge fan of drastic changes in a character's personality. I was fine with her until she got it into her head to try to push Eleanor off her throne, though it did give me a chuckle to think that this young girl thought that she'd be able to best Eleanor of Aquitaine. I thought her hatred of Richard's seeming betrayal was a bit much and I found it hard to believe that she actually thought men were faithful (at this time) once they were betrothed or married. As usual, I loved how Eleanor always shows queenly poise and thought how she handles the entire situation was beautifully written. I liked the way the author ended the story as well; it was a very calm and peaceful scene.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. It was another fascinating look into the lives of the volatile early Plantagenets. I liked how the author focuses on a little known person from history and gives her a story of her own, really making her come to life. I would certainly recommend this to readers interested in reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine but are not ready to take on the much larger novels about her. I am looking forward to this author's next novel!
3.5 roses
I was honored to receive this advanced copy to read and review and enjoyed the story that Ms. English presents. I am always happy to read anything that deals with Eleanor of Aquitaine and this touching novel did not disappoint. This is the story of a girl rarely mentioned in history, the Princess Alais of France.Alais was betrothed to Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II's son Richard and sent to live in England until her marriage. Once in England she is taken under Eleanor's wing and the two form a close mother-daughter relationship. Eleanor really sees a lot of herself in young Alais. After meeting Richard she falls in love with him and looks forward to the day when they will finally be wed. However, her love quickly turns to hate when she discovers him in the arms of another woman and takes it personally. Despite Eleanor's advice that most men will stray, Alais feels that she has been nothing but a pawn and decides to take revenge on not only Richard but on Eleanor as well. Her goal? To be crowned Queen of England next to Henry.
This was a very interesting look into the life of a girl who, if she is mentioned in history at all, is usually only mentioned in a quick side note. There really wasn't too much going on in the story through the first half as the author introduces us to the major players and really sets the scene for the coming conflict. The action really seems to start in the second half and then the story moved fairly quickly. The detail in the descriptions of life during this time was fantastic. The author really gives the reader a look at something that is usually overlooked in most novels - a closer inspection of what life was like for royal females. I especially enjoyed the scenes in the Great Hall during meals; it was very easy for me to picture Eleanor lording it over her end of the table with Henry trying not to be outdone on the other end. Her attention to the details was really amazing and I appreciated the effort to make things come alive. You will not get bogged down in all this detail though, as can happen in some historical fiction when too much is thrown at you; what is on the page is what is needed in the story. The only thing that got a bit annoying to me was the constant repetition of certain phrases or ideas, which happens quite a bit in Eleanor's case as she is always saying, for example, "Alais is like me; she is very strong" in various ways. As for the characters of Eleanor, Henry, and Richard, they behave as you would expect with nothing "out of character" for them, though I thought the affection Richard showed Alais was very touching. Alais, however, turns out to be one of those characters who I initially liked but eventually came to despise, though I am not saying that her character is not well written. I have never been a huge fan of drastic changes in a character's personality. I was fine with her until she got it into her head to try to push Eleanor off her throne, though it did give me a chuckle to think that this young girl thought that she'd be able to best Eleanor of Aquitaine. I thought her hatred of Richard's seeming betrayal was a bit much and I found it hard to believe that she actually thought men were faithful (at this time) once they were betrothed or married. As usual, I loved how Eleanor always shows queenly poise and thought how she handles the entire situation was beautifully written. I liked the way the author ended the story as well; it was a very calm and peaceful scene.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. It was another fascinating look into the lives of the volatile early Plantagenets. I liked how the author focuses on a little known person from history and gives her a story of her own, really making her come to life. I would certainly recommend this to readers interested in reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine but are not ready to take on the much larger novels about her. I am looking forward to this author's next novel!
This Day in History...
April 1, 1204 - Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II, died at Fontevrault Abbey in France. She was 82. No other queen consort would to reach this advanced age for over 700 years. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, wife of George VI, passed away on March 30, 2002 at 101.
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