The surprising thing about Ian Friel's book is how far back into the annals of our history it travels. The Viking invaders pre-1297 also had sailing boats, of course, and the British eventually copied their design and build, but this is a comprehensive and brilliantly conceived memoir of a seafaring nation from its earliest times to when it was time to use steam power for our naval craft. Absolutely fascinating!
Books Monthly
The surprising thing about Ian Friel's book is how far back into the annals of our history it travels. The Viking invaders pre-1297 also had sailing boats, of course, and the British eventually copied their design and build, but this is a comprehensive and brilliantly conceived memoir of a seafaring nation from its earliest times to when it was time to use steam power for our naval craft. Absolutely fascinating!
Books Monthly
A fine edition to add to the many books tackling these infamous siblings = in both fact and fiction. Morris make a poignant remark: "... now, as throughout history, people love a good gossip ...", and like us today, they "... want stories that both disgust them and draw them in ...". In their own time, Cesare and Lucrezia are the equivalent of today's Kardashians or Osbornes. Delving into the family history from its Spanish roots, Morris provides the reader with a concise background of the family including Rodrigo's rise to the Papal throne up until the siblings draw final breath. But the focus here is on the two siblings - Cesare and Lucrezia - as opposed to a complete history of all Borgias. In this easy to read and well presented tome, all the main events are covered off - we are not bogged down in unnecessary detail so readers new to this topic will have no trouble at all keeping pace. For me, I love the Borgias, so much of this was well worn and familiar ground. Gossip and hearsay.. Read more
NetGalley, Melisende d'Outremer
A fine edition to add to the many books tackling these infamous siblings = in both fact and fiction. Morris make a poignant remark: "... now, as throughout history, people love a good gossip ...", and like us today, they "... want stories that both disgust them and draw them in ...". In their own time, Cesare and Lucrezia are the equivalent of today's Kardashians or Osbornes. Delving into the family history from its Spanish roots, Morris provides the reader with a concise background of the family including Rodrigo's rise to the Papal throne up until the siblings draw final breath. But the focus here is on the two siblings - Cesare and Lucrezia - as opposed to a complete history of all Borgias. In this easy to read and well presented tome, all the main events are covered off - we are not bogged down in unnecessary detail so readers new to this topic will have no trouble at all keeping pace. For me, I love the Borgias, so much of this was well worn and familiar ground. Gossip and hearsay.. Read more
NetGalley, Melisende d'Outremer
The book is well written and chronologically set out. It is easily accessible for any reader who would like to learn more about Richard. In this book, Richard is more human, more understandable than in some other works I have read. There are also extensive notes and a bibliography for those who would like to explore Richard's story further.
NetGalley, Joyce Fox
The book is well written and chronologically set out. It is easily accessible for any reader who would like to learn more about Richard. In this book, Richard is more human, more understandable than in some other works I have read. There are also extensive notes and a bibliography for those who would like to explore Richard's story further.
NetGalley, Joyce Fox
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars
I very much enjoyed reading 'The Castle in the Wars of the Roses'. As someone from Lancashire (whose cat is, in fact, named Bosworth), I knew a largely one-sided account of the war itself; this novel helped broaded my understanding on equal sides. Thank you to Dr Dan Spencer for this book, and to Netgalley, and Pen and Sword for allowing me to read this.
NetGalley, Alicia Marsden
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars
I very much enjoyed reading 'The Castle in the Wars of the Roses'. As someone from Lancashire (whose cat is, in fact, named Bosworth), I knew a largely one-sided account of the war itself; this novel helped broaded my understanding on equal sides. Thank you to Dr Dan Spencer for this book, and to Netgalley, and Pen and Sword for allowing me to read this.
NetGalley, Alicia Marsden
I'll be honest, most of my knowledge about this history in this geographical area comes from watching Showtime's The Borgias. Not a bad show, but not always accurate. But, I enjoyed reading this because I was familiar with the events through the show, although things were obviously different and smashed together. So, this was a very quick, enjoyable read. I found it interesting and I appreciated how Romane took me as a reader through the events. It never felt overwhelming and I was able to track a lot of it, from the chronology to the main players and how they changed as people died and fortunes shifted. Very good book on the topic!
NetGalley, Caidyn Young
I'll be honest, most of my knowledge about this history in this geographical area comes from watching Showtime's The Borgias. Not a bad show, but not always accurate. But, I enjoyed reading this because I was familiar with the events through the show, although things were obviously different and smashed together. So, this was a very quick, enjoyable read. I found it interesting and I appreciated how Romane took me as a reader through the events. It never felt overwhelming and I was able to track a lot of it, from the chronology to the main players and how they changed as people died and fortunes shifted. Very good book on the topic!
NetGalley, Caidyn Young
