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The Queen's Speech: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen in her Own Words
By Ingrid Seward. 2016
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest-serving monarch in British history. During her 63 years on…
the throne, few have got to know her well, but there is one body of work that sheds new light on her thoughts, personality and the issues that really concern her: the Queen's own speeches. For many years, the Queen's Christmas address was the most-watched programme on television on Christmas Day, and millions still tune in to hear what she has to say. Now, in this wonderful, intimate portrait of Her Majesty, Ingrid Seward uses the Queen's speeches as a starting point to provide a revealing insight into the character of the woman who has reigned over us since the days when Churchill was prime minister. Starting with her first ever broadcast, in December 1940, when the teenaged Princess Elizabeth addressed a wartorn nation, right through the annus horribilis, and on into the 21st century, the book highlights the most important moments in her life and how she has responded to them. Based on in-depth research and interviews with many of those who know the Queen best, this book sheds new light on the life and career of our monarch. Renowned as one of the most authoritative writers on royal matters, Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majestymagazine, has written a charming and fascinating portrait that will be cherished by all who read it.Doomed Queens
By Kris Waldherr. 2008
Illicit love, madness, betrayal--it isn't always good to be the queenMarie Antoinette, Anne Boleyn, and Mary, Queen of Scots. What…
did they have in common? For a while they were crowned in gold, cosseted in silk, and flattered by courtiers. But in the end, they spent long nights in dark prison towers and were marched to the scaffold where they surrendered their heads to the executioner. And they are hardly alone in their undignified demises. Throughout history, royal women have had a distressing way of meeting bad ends--dying of starvation, being burned at the stake, or expiring in childbirth while trying desperately to produce an heir. They always had to be on their toes and all too often even devious plotting, miraculous pregnancies, and selling out their sisters was not enough to keep them from forcible consignment to religious orders. From Cleopatra (suicide by asp), to Princess Caroline (suspiciously poisoned on her coronation day), there's a gory downside to being blue-blooded when you lack a Y chromosome. Kris Waldherr's elegant little book is a chronicle of the trials and tribulations of queens across the ages, a quirky, funny, utterly macabre tribute to the dark side of female empowerment. Over the course of fifty irresistibly illustrated and too-brief lives, Doomed Queens charts centuries of regal backstabbing and intrigue. We meet well-known figures like Catherine of Aragon, whose happy marriage to Henry VIII ended prematurely when it became clear that she was a starter wife--the first of six. And we meet forgotten queens like Amalasuntha, the notoriously literate Ostrogoth princess who overreached politically and was strangled in her bath. While their ends were bleak, these queens did not die without purpose. Their unfortunate lives are colorful cautionary tales for today's would-be power brokers--a legacy of worldly and womanly wisdom gathered one spectacular regal ruin at a time.The Murder of King James I
By Alastair Bellany, Thomas Cogswell. 2015
A year after the death of James I in 1625, a sensational pamphlet accused the Duke of Buckingham of murdering…
the king. It was an allegation that would haunt English politics for nearly forty years. In this exhaustively researched new book, two leading scholars of the era, Alastair Bellany and Thomas Cogswell, uncover the untold story of how a secret history of courtly poisoning shaped and reflected the political conflicts that would eventually plunge the British Isles into civil war and revolution. Illuminating many hitherto obscure aspects of early modern political culture, this eagerly anticipated work is both a fascinating story of political intrigue and a major exploration of the forces that destroyed the Stuart monarchy.Renaissance Emir: A Druze Warlord at the Court of the Medici
By T. J. Gorton. 2013
This groundbreaking biography of Fakhr ad-Din, Prince of the Druze, is based on the author's vivid new translations of contemporary…
sources in Arabic and other languages. It brings to life one remarkable man's beliefs and ambitions, uniquely illuminating the elusive interface between Eastern and Western culture.The Baker Who Pretended to Be King of Portugal
By Ruth Mackay. 2012
On August 4, 1578, in an ill-conceived attempt to wrest Morocco back from the hands of the infidel Moors, King…
Sebastian of Portugal led his troops to slaughter and was himself slain. Sixteen years later, King Sebastian rose again. In one of the most famous of European impostures, Gabriel de Espinosa, an ex-soldier and baker by trade--and most likely under the guidance of a distinguished Portuguese friar--appeared in a Spanish convent town passing himself off as the lost monarch. The principals, along with a large cast of nuns, monks, and servants, were confined and questioned for nearly a year as a crew of judges tried to unravel the story, but the culprits went to their deaths with many questions left unanswered. Ruth MacKay recalls this conspiracy, marked both by scheming and absurdity, and the legal inquest that followed, to show how stories of this kind are conceived, told, circulated, and believed. She reveals how the story of Sebastian, supposedly in hiding and planning to return to claim his crown, was lodged among other familiar stories: prophecies of returned leaders, nuns kept against their will, kidnappings by Moors, miraculous escapes, and monarchs who die for their country. As MacKay demonstrates, the conspiracy could not have succeeded without the circulation of news, the retellings of the fatal battle in well-read chronicles, and the networks of rumors and correspondents, all sharing the hope or belief that Sebastian had survived and would one day return. With its royal intrigues, ambitious artisans, dissatisfied religious women, and corrupt clergy, The Baker Who Pretended to Be King of Portugal will undoubtedly captivate readers as it sheds new light on the intricate political and cultural relations between Spain and Portugal in the early modern period and the often elusive nature of historical truth.The Rise and Fall of War Crimes Trials
By Charles Anthony Smith. 2012
This book is the first comprehensive analysis of the politics of war crimes trials. It provides a systematic and theoretically…
rigorous examination of whether these trials are used as tools for political consolidation or whether justice is their primary purpose. The consideration of cases begins with the trial of Charles I of England and goes through the presidency of George W. Bush, including the trials of Saddam Hussein and those arising from the War on Terror. The book concludes that political consolidation is the primary concern of these trials - a point that runs contrary to the popular perception of the trials and their stated justification. Through the consideration of war crimes trials, this book makes a contribution to our understanding of power and conflict resolution and illuminates the developmental path of war crimes tribunals.Karim Khan Zand
By John R. Perry. 1979
A forward thinking and notably popular leader, Karim Khan Zand (1705-1779) was the founder of the Zand dynasty in Iran.…
In this insightful profile of a man before his time, esteemed academic John Perry shows how by opening up international trade, employing a fair fiscal system and showing respect for existing religious institutions, Karim Khan succeeded in creating a peaceful and prosperous state in a particularly turbulent epoch of history.Off the Beaten Path
By Norman D. Watt. 2014
With a total of 31 North Shore hikes (15 in West Vancouver and 16 in North Vancouver), plus two in…
the Pemberton area, this is the most comprehensive collection of North Shore hiking trails to be found anywhere. Focusing on the varied and interesting hiking trails through the wilderness of Metro Vancouver's North Shore forests, many entries feature historical information about the area not often found in other hiking books, including points of local interest such as old homesteads and logging camps from the early 1900s.The level of detail, including thorough trail descriptions and approximate walking times, makes this book a distinctive and invaluable resource for the seasoned outdoor adventurer as well as the casual hiker. From Horseshoe Bay and Lighthouse Park to the Baden-Powell Trail and Goldie Lake, discover the rugged beauty of the North Shore up close and on foot.Empress: The Astonishing Reign Of Nur Jahan
By Ruby Lal. 2018
Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. When it came to hunting, she was a master shot. As…
a dress designer, few could compare. An ingenious architect, she innovated the use of marble in her parents’ mausoleum on the banks of the Yamuna River that inspired her stepson’s Taj Mahal. And she was both celebrated and reviled for her political acumen and diplomatic skill, which rivaled those of her female counterparts in Europe and beyond. In 1611, thirty-four-year-old Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the twentieth and most cherished wife of the Emperor Jahangir. While other wives were secluded behind walls, Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband, and governed in his stead as his health failed and his attentions wandered from matters of state. An astute politician and devoted partner, Nur led troops into battle to free Jahangir when he was imprisoned by one of his own officers. She signed and issued imperial orders, and coins of the realm bore her name. Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal uncovers the rich life and world of Nur Jahan, rescuing this dazzling figure from patriarchal and Orientalist clichés of romance and intrigue, and giving new insight into the lives of women and girls in the Mughal Empire, even where scholars claim there are no sources. Nur’s confident assertion of authority and talent is revelatory. In Empress, she finally receives her due in a deeply researched and evocative biography that awakens us to a fascinating history.Feminism, Absolutism, and Jansenism
By Daniella Kostroun. 2011
Feminism, Absolutism, and Jansenism chronicles seventy years of Jansenist conflict and its complex intersection with power struggles between gallican bishops,…
Parlementaires, the Crown and the Pope. Daniella Kostroun focuses on the nuns of Port-Royal-des-Champs, whose community was disbanded by Louis XIV in 1709 as a threat to the state. Paradoxically, it was the nuns' adherence to their strict religious rule and the ideal of pious, innocent and politically disinterested behavior that allowed them to challenge absolutism effectively. Adopting methods from cultural studies, feminism and the Cambridge School of political thought, Kostroun examines how these nuns placed gender at the heart of the Jansenist challenge to the patriarchal and religious foundations of absolutism; they responded to royal persecution with a feminist defense of women's spiritual and rational equality and of the autonomy of the individual subject, thereby offering a bold challenge to the patriarchal and religious foundations of absolutism.Las hermanas Romanov
By Helen Rappaport. 2014
La historia tan cautivadora como tr gica de Olga Tatiana Mar a y …
Anastasia hijas del ltimo zar y las cuatro princesas m s glamourosas de Europa Cuatro preciosas j venes tal vez las m s admiradas y fotografiadas de la realeza de principios del siglo XX objeto de incesantes rumores nacidas en un mundo de glamour y opulencia crecieron ajenas a su destino entre juegos coqueteos con oficiales del ej rcito y mascotas hasta la Primera Guerra Mundial y la Revoluci n Pero qui nes eran realmente m s all de su imagen edulcorada de ni as bonitas con vestidos blancos y grandes sombreros Cu les eran sus esperanzas personales sus sue os y aspiraciones y c mo se relacionaban entre s y con sus padres C mo era su vida como parte de la familia imperial Helen Rappaport coloca a las cuatro hermanas en el centro del escenario y bas ndose en sus cartas diarios y otras fuentes primarias hasta ahora no examinadas reconstruye la fascinante personalidad de cada una de ellas pero al mismo tiempo traza un impresionante retrato familiar y de la Rusia prerrevolucionaria El 17 de julio de 1918 bajaron al s tano de una casa en Ekaterinburg La mayor ten a veintid s a os la m s joven tan solo diecisiete Junto con sus padres y su hermano de trece a os de edad fueron brutalmente asesinadas Su delito ser las hijas del ltimo zar La cr tica ha dicho Maravillosamente escrito Una fascinante profunda y comprehensiva investigaci n de las duquesas imperiales Daily Express Desgarrador y muy bien escrito El sensible retrato que hace Rappaport de las desafortunadas hermanas crea en el lector verdadero apego hacia cada una de ellas Mail on Sunday Evocador y espl ndidamente investigado y relatado esto es historia narrativa en su m xima expresi n Bookseller Una reconstrucci n amena y bien documentada de los ltimos d as de las hijas del zar Nicholas Telva Los lectores se ver n arrastrados por una narraci n tranquila pero elocuente mientras la autora arroja nueva luz sobre la vida de las cuatro hijas Publishers Weekly Las hermanas Romanov recrea de manera sobresaliente la claustrof bica atm sfera provocada por el amor maternal de Alejandra Mediante unos conocimientos s lidos un gran dominio de las fuentes primarias y grandes dosis de entusiasmo por el tema ofrece un estudio consistente y demuestra con rotundidad la fuerza de los lazos familiares The Telegraph Rappaport es una convincente bi grafa excelente a la hora de sacar a la luz la humanidad de la historia de ofrecer un fresco del pasado con todo su dram tico detalle sin dejar de colocar a las personas en el primer plano de sus penetrantes retratos Lancashire Evening PostAt Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England
By Walter Dean Myers. 1999
Meghan: A Hollywood Princess
By Andrew Morton. 2018
From Andrew Morton, the New York Times bestselling author of Diana: Her True Story, comes a revealing, juicy, and inspiring…
biography of Meghan Markle, the American actress who won Prince Harry's heart. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were set up by a mutual friend on a blind date in July 2016, little did they know that the resulting whirlwind romance would lead to their engagement in November 2017 and marriage in May 2018. Since then, our fascination with the woman who has smashed the royal mold has rocketed. So different from those coy brides of recent history, Meghan is confident, charismatic, and poised; her warm and affectionate engagement interview won the hearts of the world. In this first-ever biography of the duchess-to-be, acclaimed royal biographer Andrew Morton goes back to Meghan's roots to uncover the story of her childhood growing up in The Valley in Los Angeles, her studies at an all-girls Catholic school, and her fraught family life-a painful experience mirrored by Harry's own background. Morton also delves into her previous marriage and divorce in 2013, her struggles in Hollywood as her mixed heritage was time and again used against her, her big break in the hit TV show Suits, and her work for a humanitarian ambassador-the latter so reminiscent of Princess Diana's passions. Finally, we see how the royal romance played out across two continents but was kept fiercely secret, before the news finally broke and Meghan was thrust into the global media's spotlight like never before. Drawing on exclusive interviews with her family members and closest friends, and including never-before-seen photographs, Morton introduces us to the real Meghan as he reflects on the impact that she has already had on the rigid traditions of the House of Windsor, as well as what the future might hold.Harry: A Biography Of A Prince
By Angela Levin. 2018
An eye-opening, monumental biography of Prince Harry by a veteran journalist on royal affairs who accompanied the prince on his…
royal duties for a year and was granted privileged access to his home in Kensington Palace. Once a reckless rebel and now a respected role model, Prince Harry is one of the world's most popular royals and the force behind giving the British royal family a twenty-first century makeover. How has he done it? This insightful new biography is a three-dimensional look at what Harry is really like as a person, both on and off royal duty. It is written by distinguished journalist and author Angela Levin, who accompanied Prince Harry on many of his engagements and had exclusive access to him at Kensington Palace. The book unwraps the real man behind the camera, and his own perceptive insights. It delves into his troubled childhood and the lasting effect of losing his adored mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, so young. It explores his rebellious teenage years and the key defining moments that have enabled him to face his demons and use this experience to help others who struggle with mental, emotional and physical pain. Angela Levin found a complex man who has inherited his late mother's extraordinary charisma and is determined to "make a difference." After finding the love of his life in Meghan Markle, and in anticipation of their marriage this year, this is an investigation into the real life of Prince Harry.Æthelred: The Unready
By Levi Roach. 2016
Elizabeth I: Collected Works
By Leah S Marcus, Janel Mueller, Mary Beth Rose. 2000
This long-awaited and masterfully edited volume contains nearly all of the writings of Queen Elizabeth I: the clumsy letters of…
childhood, the early speeches of a fledgling queen, and the prayers and poetry of the monarch's later years. The first collection of its kind, "Elizabeth I" reveals brilliance on two counts: that of the Queen, a dazzling writer and a leading intellect of the English Renaissance, and that of the editors, whose copious annotations make the book not only essential to scholars but accessible to general readers as well.Augustus
By Adrian Goldsworthy. 2014
Caesar Augustus' story, one of the most riveting in western history, is filled with drama and contradiction, risky gambles and…
unexpected success. He began as a teenage warlord, whose only claim to power was as the heir of the murdered Julius Caesar. Mark Antony dubbed him "a boy who owes everything to a name," but in the years to come the youth outmaneuvered all the older and more experienced politicians and was the last man standing in 30 BC. Over the next half century he reinvented himself as a servant of the state who gave Rome peace and stability, and created a new system of government--the Principate or rule of an emperor. In this highly anticipated biography Goldsworthy puts his deep knowledge of ancient sources to full use, recounting the events of Augustus' long life in greater detail than ever before. Goldsworthy pins down the man behind the myths: a consummate manipulator, propagandist, and showman, both generous and ruthless. Under Augustus' rule the empire prospered, yet his success was never assured and the events of his life unfolded with exciting unpredictability. Goldsworthy captures the passion and savagery, the public image and private struggles of the real man whose epic life continues to influence western history.Eleanor of Aquitaine
By Marion Meade. 1977
Marion Meade has told the story of Eleanor wild devious from a thoroughly historical but different point…
of view a woman s point of view --Allene Talmey VogueFrommer's Montreal & Quebec City 2010
By By Leslie Brokaw, Erin Trahan. 2010
Completely updated every year Frommer s Montr al Qu bec City features gorgeous color photos…
of the sights and experiences that await you Our author hits all the highlights from Vieux-Montr al to Queb c s fascinating Mus e de la Civilisation She s checked out all the best hotels and restaurants in person and offers authoritative candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget You ll also get up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife detailed walking tours accurate neighborhood maps advice on planning a successful family vacation and side trips to the Laurentians Cantons-de-l Est Ile d Orl ans Montmorency Falls Ste-Anne-de-Beaupr Parc Mont Ste-Anne and Central Upper Charlevoix Frommer s Montr al Qu bec City also includes a color fold-out mapVictoria: Portrait of a Queen
By Catherine Reef. 2017
Catherine Reef brings history vividly to life in this sumptuously illustrated account of a confident, strong-minded, and influential woman. Victoria…
woke one morning at the age of eighteen to discover that her uncle had died and she was now queen. She went on to rule for sixty-three years, with an influence so far-reaching that the decades of her reign now bear her name—the Victorian period. Victoria is filled with the exciting comings and goings of royal life: intrigue and innuendo, scheming advisors, and assassination attempts, not to mention plenty of passion and discord. Includes bibliography, notes, British royal family tree, index.