The Life of Elizabeth I
by ALISON WEIR
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Paperback (05 October, 1999)
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Editorial Review

The long life and powerful personality of England's beloved Virgin Queen have eternal appeal, and popular historian Alison Weir depicts both with panache. She's especially good at evoking the physical texture of Tudor England: the elaborate royal gowns (actually an intricate assembly of separate fabric panels buttoned together over linen shifts), the luxurious but unhygienic palaces (Elizabeth got the only "close stool"; most members of her retinue relieved themselves in the courtyards), the huge meals heavily seasoned to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. Against this earthy backdrop, Elizabeth's intelligence and formidable political skills stand in vivid relief. She may have been autocratic, devious, even deceptive, but these traits were required to perform a 45-year tightrope walk between the two great powers of Europe, France and Spain. Both countries were eager to bring small, weak England under their sway and to safely marry off its inconveniently independent queen. Weir emphasizes Elizabeth's precarious position as a ruling woman in a man's world, suggesting plausibly that the single life was personally appealing as well as politically expedient for someone who had seen many ambitious ladies--including her own mother--ruined and even executed for just the appearance of sexual indiscretions. The author's evaluations of such key figures in Elizabeth's reign as the Earl of Leicester (arguably the only man she ever loved) and William Cecil (her most trusted adviser) are equally cogent and respectful of psychological complexity. Weir does a fine job of retelling this always-popular story for a new generation. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Highly Detailed And Ravishingly Entertaining.
Nowadays the most fascinating news we can hope to attain from the British monarchy is where Prince Harry was caught smoking dope or punching a cameraman. But all histories have their moments of real fascination, within the English monarchy there is no more universally appealing story than that of Elizabeth I. The 1998 movie only helps to show just how iconic Elizabeth is, probably the most iconic queen England has ever produced. Alison Weir's "The Life Of Elizabeth I" is a magnificent book that chronicles the life of Elizabeth and in rich detail explores both the icon and her human side, Weir bravely takes on the rumous about Elizabeth's love affairs and explores each one. She also brilliantly transports us to the England of the 1500s, giving us a tour of a world where death was almost certain before the age of 41 and where being a Protestant or Catholic was not simple religious association like today, but a position that could very well mean life or death. The character of Elizabeth that Weir builds is that of a strong-willed, independent-thinking queen who was not afraid to speak her mind, be natural (yet still retain a sense of the formal and majestic) and had the wits to take on powerful enemies and survive to see another day and establish the England that gave us Shakespeare. Weir does not however only present Elizabeth the icon, she also lays bare the theories of why Elizabeth would not marry and who her lovers were (Weir leaves it for the reader to decide if any of the relationships might have been sexual). There are also brilliant comedic moments where you laugh and smile at some of the outrageous, almost ridiculous situations Elizabeth would find herself in with a world pressuring her to marry and provide an heir. One of the special things we get from reading "The Life Of Elizabeth I" is the sense that this author loves the subject and has obsessed herself with it. This is such a detailed, monumental work that it deserves to be read more than once to be able to process all the information, emotions and history. The world has had it's share of intriguing, towering leaders from Alexander The Great to Winston Churchill, Elizabeth is surely among them and Weir's book not only informs you but gives you the sense that you have gotten to know the character.

Deliberately limited in scope, so limited in appeal
In her introduction to "The Life of Elizabeth I," Alison Weir states that it "was never meant to be a political biography, nor did I intend to write a social history of the times. My aim has always been to write a history of Elizabeth's personal life within the framework of her reign...." If that dovetails with your interest in Elizabeth I at this time, then this book may be for you. I, on the other hand, failed to grasp the earnestness of Weir's caveat before starting the book, and ended up frustrated by its deliberately limited scope.

Like Weir's captivating "The Children of Henry VIII" and "The Princes in the Tower," this book benefits from her exceptional research skills--though maybe too much. It covers in excruciatingly fine detail, almost to tedium, every angry scowl and fit of pique (and there were evidently many), every chaste romance and court squabble Elizabeth had during her reign. Unfortunately, Weir seems to have trouble managing the volume of details, and they frequently detract from the flow of her writing. This enslavement to connecting every available dot also costs her the passionate storytelling that made "The Children" and "The Princes" so engaging.

Rightly, however, Weir delves deeply into Elizabeth's love affair with Robert Dudley and into the machinations of her several non-marriages. Weir does a passable job of conveying Elizabeth's emotions, and you can feel the queen's sadness at Dudley's death. But Elizabeth's life offers so much material that Weir is required to move on immediately, continuing to hop from topic to topic in order to touch every milestone within a reasonable page count. In the end, I found myself wanting more information on things merely hinted at, such as religious burnings and court behavior, which the book is simply not intended to cover.

By not going into sufficient detail on Elizabeth's statesmanship, her place among her contemporaries, her imprint on history, and the culture of the time, Weir gives the reader little context in which to understand Elizabeth's choices and actions. That's fine for a reader who is familiar with Elizabeth's era and political role, but for someone looking for a well-rounded introduction to her as a historical character, this isn't the book. At least it wasn't for me.

"The Life" is a valuable companion to the political biographies available on Elizabeth; after spending several laborious weeks slogging through it, I plan to read one of them and figure out what it really means. I give "The Life" four stars because of Weir's skill and accomplishment--I give myself zero stars for not taking her warning more seriously.

A rich and colorful account of Elizabeth's personal life.
Elizabeth I was one of the most impressive monarchs in European history. Born in 1533 of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, she was declared illegitimate upon Anne's execution. Elizabeth's childhood was turbulent, and it was much a matter of luck that she ever came to power at all, preceded in the line of succession by her half-siblings Edward and Mary, and her legitimacy being a matter of heated debate. Elizabeth finally ascended the throne in 1558, at age twenty-five, upon Mary's death. From the very start she faced adversity. After Queen Mary (nicknamed "Bloody Mary" by an unadoring public), most Englishmen were unenthusiastic about having another female ruler. To succeed, Elizabeth would need to present herself to her people as an almost superhuman figure, a symbol of both strength and purity.

Those considering this book should first be aware of what it's primary purpose is. It deals mainly with Elizabeth's private and social life. Politics does of course come into the book, as it can't be entirely separated from the life of a monarch, but this is not its main focus. Weir writes in her preface: "This was never meant to be a political biography, nor did I intend to write a social history of the times. My aim has always been to write a history of Elizabeth's personal life within the framework of her reign . . . The manuscript was originally entitled "The Private Life of Elizabeth I," but it very soon became apparent that Elizabeth's 'private' life was very public indeed, hence the change of title." The bulk of the book concerns itself with Elizabeth's relationships with other people, both personal and diplomatic. And much of this took the form of courtships. Elizabeth recognized her ability to use herself as a pawn, turning her biggest challenge - her gender - into an asset, and manipulating fellow rulers through the marriage market. She took full advantage of this, often to the exasperation of all around her.

And of course, no account of Elizabeth's personal life would be complete without much attention paid to her particular relationship with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Weir does an admirable job in exploring the complexities of this friendship and star-crossed romance, offering one of the most compelling accounts of it that I've read anywhere. Many people have embellished the story of Elizabeth and Dudley, letting their imaginations run wild around all the details that we cannot know for sure, but Weir remains objective and honest, acknowledging the facts and offering her well-reasoned opinions, either in affirmation or refutation, of the common rumors.

Long a fan of Queen Elizabeth I, and of the Elizabethan period of British history as a whole, I dove into this book with eagerness and, since I had previously read and been impressed with Weir's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," high expectations as well. I was not disappointed at all. One of the striking characteristics of Weir's books is their readability. Unlike much of the dry material put out by Academia, her writing is full of life and highly accessible to a general audience. "The Life of Elizabeth I" reads more like a story than a biography, remaining rich in detail but arranging the information in such a way that it stimulates rather than strangles the reader. Elizabeth really comes alive through Weir's words, and one gets to know her most intimately as Weir reveals all the nuances of her character, strengths and weaknesses alike. The book also offers a wealth of information on lifestyles and customs of the time, painting a colorful background for Elizabeth's life.

Included at the back are an extensive bibliography, clearly showing how exhaustively Weir researched for this book; genealogical tables on the Tudors, the Boleyns and Howards, and the Dudleys; a thorough index, making it easy to refer back information on any person, place, or event connected with Elizabeth's life; and a "Reader's Guide" that includes discussion questions for reading groups. This is one of the most engaging and informative biographies I've ever read, and I recommend it most highly to anyone interested in Tudor history. Well worth the read. ... Read more

Isbn: 0345425502
Subjects:  1. 1533-1603    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Elizabeth    7. Great Britain    8. Historical - British    9. Queen of England,    10. Queens    11. Royalty    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Royalty    14. Reading Group Guide   

King James and the History of Homosexuality
by Michael B. Young
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 1999)
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Reviews (2)

King but no Saint
Author M. Young pulls together the evidence concerning James I's alleged sodomy and leaves it to the reader to decide.

one letter, by King James himself to Robert Carr in 1615, complains about a number of issues, including: "I leave out of this reckoning your long creeping back and withdrawing yourself from lying in my chamber, notwithstanding my many hundred times earnestly soliciting you to the contrary." (Young, p. 43)

Villiers, on anticipating his return to England from his Spanish posting, told King James: "I cannot now think of giving thanks for friend, wife, or child; my thoughts are only bent on having my dear Dad and Master's legs soon in my arms." (Young, p. 47)

while King James did write about sodomy as a "horrible" crime in his Basilikon Doron, "Sex with subordinates was a prereogative of patriarchy, and James was the chief patriach of the whole realm." (Young, p. 48) "James could have been perfectly earnest in condemning sodomy while simultaneously engaging in what we today would call homosexual behaviour" (Young, p. 49)--because the "legal definition [of sodomy] was extremely narrow. It specified only one sex act between men, anal intercourse, and excluded all other genital sex acts." Furthermore, as James is said to be "a notorious hypocrite where swearing and drinking were concerned; he could simply have been the same where sodomy was concerned." (Young, p. 50)

Did James play the hypocrite, preaching one thing fr one side of his face while whispering something else to his favourites? Perhaps no one will ever know on this side of heaven. It won't hurt to read Young's arguments and decide for yourself.

Fascinating book - entertaining AND educational
This is a really great book, entertaining and readable, yet also informative and educational.
It discusses both the personal history of King James (of the King James Bible fame) and public perception of homosexuality during 16th and 17th Century England.

For readers not already well acquainted with King James, such as myself, the opening chapter establishes his history. And it does a good job -- not only did it enable me to follow the rest of the book, but subsequent histories I've read of King James didn't add anything surprising, meaning it was sufficiently thorough.

The next chapters examine the evidence that James had sex with his male favorites, what the court and subjects thought about it, along with the various terms, codes and historical analogies that James' contemporaries could discourse about sex between males.
Subsequent chapters discuss the relationship between homosexuality, effeminacy and pacifism vs. heterosexuality, masculinity and war, how James's homosexuality affected the reign of his son, Charles, and what contemporary and later writers said about James's sexuality, concluding with comments on the general history of homosexuality.

Fascinating book. It has an element of the tabloid (with juicy excerpts from James' love letters) while also very thought-provoking. I have purely a layman's interest in the subject, and I had no trouble following the author's language or arguments. For more serious historians and researchers, everything is very thoroughly footnoted and annotated.

I *HIGHLY* recommend it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0814796931
Sales Rank: 1493323
Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. 17th century    3. Europe - General    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. Gay Studies    6. Gay kings and rulers    7. Great Britain    8. Great Britain - History - Tudor And Stuart (1485-1714)    9. Historical - General    10. History    11. History: World    12. Homosexuality    13. Homosexuality, Male    14. Renaissance    15. Sociology    16. James    17. Sexual behavior   

The Reckoning : The Murder of Christopher Marlowe
by Charles Nicholl
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (15 July, 1995)
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Reviews (14)

Actually 4 1/2 stars...
Many of the other reviews have nailed it. Nicholl has done an extraordinary job of gathering the available evidence to present a seemingly strong case for Marlowe's espionage work and murder. What he hasn't really done is write a gripping story about Christopher Marlowe. The Marlowe chapters are good, and there are several other chapters that aren't about Marlowe but are still good, though I wonder what they're doing in here. It's like he didn't have quite enough material for a book-length manuscript on Marlowe's murder, so he threw in lots of other (admittedly very interesting) stuff. For instance, there's a lot about the Babington conspiracy, which does give one a good insight into the intelligence world of the times, but oops, sorry, has nothing to do with Marlowe per se. Still, I'm glad Nicholl got it published as a book rather than a scholarly article (which is more what it reads like), since this way there's a much greater chance more people will find it and read it.

Well-researched but sometimes tedious
For assiduous research into Marlowe's life and times, THE RECKONING deserves five stars. For pure entertainment value, I would give it only three. So I've split the difference.

It's impossible to deny the hard work and exhaustive research that went into this densely argued book. Nicholl discovered previously unknown tidbits of fact about Marlowe and other Elizabethan figures (and he is not shy about announcing his role in these discoveries). Unfortunately, the sheer number of digressions into the minutiae of Elizabethan spycraft began to wear on me after a while. At one point Nicholl himself admits that a certain story he is recounting is "wearyingly familiar," as indeed it is - we've read it all before, again and again, in the lives of various minor poets and sometime spies reconstructed throughout the book. Some of these folks are directly connected with Marlowe, some have only the most tangential relationship, and others are dragged in just for atmosphere. An examination of the events in Deptford that left Marlowe dead occupies the first and last sections of THE RECKONING, but the long middle portion is devoted to establishing the background of the killing - a background that seemingly incorporates every single fact Nicholl was able to dig up during months or years of poring through archival documents. It can be "wearying" indeed, not to mention mind-numbing. Still, there is important information here for those interested in the period. Just don't expect a quick or easy read.

nice little historical who dun it!utterly brilliant work
I love history and all the details.I also love riddles and mysteries.So, when someone combines both into a tale, as Charles Nicholl did, it's bound to please me.This book is the Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography and the Crime Writers' Gold Dagger Awards for non-fiction thriller - both well earned!!

Marlowe was a very controversial poet and playwright.In 1593,he was stabbed to death in a lodging house in Deptford.To say the least, the manner and circumstances of death was up to question.There was a violent quarrel concerning Marlowe's bill and the official finding has been called dubious at best.

Nicholl brings to life this historical riddle with style and ingenuity weaving facts, supposition and fiction into one wonderful mix.He presents a very complex study of Marlowe's death, but it is also a marvellous study of the seedier side of Elizabethan society.

Nicholl walks the masterful tightrope between historical study on Marlowe's murder, a well-written 'who dun it' and portrays with rich detail the period that leaves one wondering if he is not reincarnated!!

So buy it for the history, writers need to read it if they write about the period for it is also a scholarly work, but most of all sit back and enjoy a real British Who do it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0226580245
Sales Rank: 159269
Subjects:  1. 1564-1593    2. 16th century    3. Biography    4. Death and burial    5. Dramatists, English    6. Early modern, 1500-1700    7. England    8. General    9. Great Britain    10. History    11. London    12. Marlowe, Christopher,    13. Murder    14. Murder victims    15. Nonfiction - True Crime / Espionage    16. Reference    17. True Crime    18. Marlowe, Christopher    19. True Crime / General   

To Shield the Queen (Mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's Court (Paperback))
by Fiona Buckley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 1998)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Reviews (21)

3.5 stars - a bit slow at times
Ursula is a strong, independent woman, but not unrealistically so for her background or position.The mystery is okay, but the characters and depiction of the period kept me involved.Although it dragged a bit at times, Buckley paints a wonderful picture of the life and intrigues of court life.I would read another.

First in an Intriguing Elizabethan Mystery series
The first in a series of mysteries by British author Fiona Buckley, set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. If you loved the movie ELIZABETH, you'll love this series.
Ursula Blanchard, a recently widowed woman, must leave her young daughter in the care of a servant and make her own way in the world as a lady in waiting to young Queen Elizabeth I. At court she finds herself encountering intrigue at every turn and is soon offered an opportunity to serve the Queen and earn some extra funds which she can use to support her young daughter. Rumors abound that nobleman Robin Dudley is having an affair with the Queen, and that he is poisoning his wife to free him from his marriage. Ursula must go to his home to protect Dudley's name, and through him the Queen's. But once Ursula arrives, she begins to have doubts, especially after the warnings she receives. Is there something to the rumors? And if so, is Dudley the one behind them, or is there something even more dangerous and sinister afoot?

If you know your Tudor history, you're going to love this series. It's full of people, places and customs of the period, very well researched. Even the central mystery of the plot is based on fact, like all of Fiona Buckley's books. There's a subtlety to the plot, and a great deal of political and religious intrigue mixed in. It's quite rich and pleasantly complex.

What I most enjoyed was the detailed account of the daily life of a gentlewoman. There seem to be a lot of books about daily life of the working class and peasants, many more on the life of the nobles. What you don't often see are the middle class, which is what makes Ursula Blanchard such an interesting heroine. She is caught between the two classes, at the mercy of the nobles and trapped in their plots and games, yet high enough that she can be a player (or pawn) in those same games.

This is a great start to a very intriguing series.

HISTORICALLY THOUGHTFULL MYSTERY
With so much historical literary strip mining going on it's hard to find a worthy and faithful narrative. Mystery writers and otherwise love the flavor of the past but too often use it only as a back drop to their otherwise "modern" tale. There are exceptions (K.Follet's Pillers of the Earth - my fav) and Ms. Buckley is one of them. For starters, she doesn't bite off more than she can chew by trying to fit in pounds of historical facts designed to let the reader know that she did her research. The premise is simple and perfect: Who Killed Robert Dudley's wife? It's been a great unsolved mystery since it happened and speculations have abounded.So, kudos' for the choice of plot.
The reason I gave 4 stars and not 5 was simply my personal feeling that the story stalled here and there, but allowances have to be made for character development. I enjoyed the unlikely heroine and her entourage.
Bottom Line: I recommend this mystery to anyone interested in the period, but not to anyone who likes to gather clues and bust the culprit before the end. It's not that kind of mystery. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671015311
Sales Rank: 47792
Subjects:  1. 1485-1603, Tudors    2. 1533-1603    3. Elizabeth    4. Elizabeth, 1558-1603    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    7. Great Britain    8. Historical - General    9. History    10. Mystery & Detective - Historical    11. Mystery & Detective - Traditional British    12. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    13. Queen of England,    14. Fiction / General   

Snow White and Rose Red
by Patricia C. Wrede
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 April, 1989)
list price: $15.95
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Reviews (12)

Snow White and Rose Red
I had this book when I was a kid, and I loved it.I enjoyed the spin that this story put on the original fairy tale.I seem to remember another book that was a collection of fairy tale stories with the same type of concept.I recommend this book and, if you can find it, the collection to anyone with a child and to anyone who just wants to relive their favorite fairy tales with a twist.

Wonderful retelling of old fairy tale
This was the first book by Ms. Wrede that I ever read. I enjoyed the characters, setting, and use of real people. I also enjoyed the elements from the original that she kept and how she incorporated them into her version. A very satisfying read.

Please, please, please re-release this book!

Please, re-release this book!
I was curious about this book, since I loved the Enchanted Forest Chronicles so much, and also because I had read Jane Yolen's Briar Rose, another book from the Fairy Tale series. Finally, after frantic searching online to buy it (where the cheapest copy of this book I could find was an expensive poor copy of the book, and I don't really like spending lots of money on paperbacks), I found this book in my local library, and read it. It wasn't as good as Dealing with Dragons or the other books that I have read by Patricia C. Wrede, but it was still good. I had never heard the fairy tale of Snow White AND Rose Red, so I was a little confused (I was thinking that it would be like the Disney movie of Snow White). Wrede summarized the true fairy tale bit by bit before each chapter. It wasn't really a modern-day telling of the fairy tale, like Briar Rose was, but just a retelling. Wrede tried to use archaic language (lots of thee's and thou's), and that slowed down the story. That is my only complaint about the book. I am hoping that eventually this book will be rereleased so I can add it to my collection of the Fairy Tale Series, or maybe that I'll find a copy of it used for cheap, but I'm glad I read it. It wasn't as good as I hoped, but it was still okay. If you want a better Wrede book, read the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, or try reading Briar Rose by Jane Yolen. ... Read more

Isbn: 0312931808
Sales Rank: 1070176
Subjects:  1. American Science Fiction And Fantasy    2. Fantastic fiction    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy - General    5. Fiction - Fantasy   

Ill Met by Moonlight
by Sarah A. Hoyt
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (09 October, 2001)
list price: $21.95 -- our price: $21.95
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Editorial Review

It takes a lot of guts to write a novel about William Shakespeare, and Sarah A. Hoyt has what it takes. The deed inherently invites comparison, and of course Ill Met by Moonlight falls short of the work of the greatest writer in the English language. However, the prose is solid; the story lines are involving, tough-minded, and sexually charged; the characters are interesting and sympathetic; and echoes of Shakespeare's work ring through the novel. If you like good fantastic fiction, you will enjoy Hoyt's debut novel. If the idea of turning Shakespeare into a character in a book bothers you, or if you don't like fictional explanations of where a real person got his inspiration or ideas, then steer clear.

Young schoolteacher Will Shakespeare, struggling to support his new wife and baby daughter, is not entirely surprised to come home and discover they are missing. Believing his wife has returned to her family, he ventures into Arden Forest, heading for her village--and beholds a fine palace where no dwelling should be, with dancing lords and ladies of unearthly beauty, and his own dear wife dancing with them. He believes he is dreaming, until an impossibly beautiful young noblewoman steps forth to converse with him--and kiss him. The Dark Lady will help Will rescue his captive wife and child--if he will aid her in a soul-damning plot to kill the fairy king. --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Reviews (19)

An aural pleasure
This is a fabulous audio. Sara Hoyt manages something that I didn't think was possible. A new view of the life an work of William Shakespeare. She brings him together with the world of the Fae and it makes for a surprisingly good fit.Jason Carter is best known for acting in the television series Babylon 5. Who would have guessed that he could bring this world to life ? He does it with gusto and as he speaks I can hear a your Will longing for his love. A faerie princeling in the throws of plots, politics and adolescence. A woman who is thrust into terrible choices. And that's just the beginning.

NOVEL PREMISE, MILDLY INTERESTING
It is a bold endeavor using the best-known figure in English literature as your main foil in a light hearted fantasy concerning men and fairies.Ms. Hoyt has taken William Shakespeare as a very young newlywed and enveloped him in a plot that has the usurper fairy king kidnapping his wife and child, first as a wet nurse and then maybe as a wife.Coming to his unlikely aid is the rightful king, who just happens to be able to change from male to female, and in a tale of mismatched love and lust plots to retrieve Will's wife Nan.

An interesting premise and actually not a bad little story.Some may be put off by the use of such a famous persona in such a light fantasy but as it happens I'm not one of them.I'd be willing to bet the old Bard wouldn't care all that much either, anything for a good story I'm sure.The biggest problem I had with the whole thing is the rationalization of why Will's wife Nan was picked by the usurper Sylvanus to be his wife.She was a self admitted `old maid' and a bit of a shrew who married a much younger William out of, oh I don't know, desperation?Certainly if she were a raving beauty she would have been snapped up long before Will came along, regardless of any possible personality flaws. So why did a centuries old fairy, with all the beauty and power of his enchanted position precipitate his own ruin by kidnapping this rather ordinary human woman?Beats me, I can't figure it out.To be honest it is easier to accept the existence of fairies than this plot twist.

I will say one thing of Ms. Hoyt, she certainly knows Shakespeare's works, at least the more well know ones anyway.Inter-dispersed with almost every spoken line is a hint, and sometimes a bit more than a hint, of some famous quote from one of the Bards plays.It's actually interesting trying to place some of the more paraphrased ones with their original.

As a romance it's only fair and as a fantasy it's good.All in all I would RECOMMEND it.It garnered just enough interest from me to proceed onto the next one, from there we will see.

Quicksilver!
To tell the truth I probably would've walked by the display of "Ill met by moonlight" in a bookstore, ignoring its colourful cover or flashing title. Fantasy and fairy tales are not really my cup of tea. However, it was the prospect of listening to audio book version read by Jason Carter that made me buy the tale. Fans do some crazy stuff that is for sure.

Now, after listening to eight hours of adventure, love and magic, I have to admit that I would've truly missed a fantastic novel if I hadn't bought it when I did. The first few minutes, the prologue to be exact, sounded strange to my ears. Then the story started and I was pulled into the magical world of Will Shakespeare and Prince Quicksilver.

English is not my first language so I have to say that I did not understand all words of this very colourful story. I learned to love and hate the characters and when the story moved on I was eager to see what would happen in the next scene, the next paragraph, yes, the next sentence. I fell in love with Quicksilver just as Lady Ariel did - and yet hoped for the dark Lady Silver to show Will the pleasures of love and passion. Sometimes my breath would catch in my throat when the unexpected happened. The Hunter's evil herd of wolves, or Will's attempt to capture Lady Silver by iron chains made me gasp in surprise and I hoped and feared for my favourite character.

In the end I was sad that the tale ended so soon but it was a good end, a happy end of a fairy tale.

This was only the second audio book I've ever "read". I was very pleased with the reading by Jason Carter who breathed vivid life into each character. ... Read more

Isbn: 0441008607
Subjects:  1. 1564-1616    2. Dramatists    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy - Historical    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. Fiction - Fantasy    8. Great Britain    9. History    10. Shakespeare, William,    11. Shakespeare, William   

The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country
by Neil Gaiman, Malcolm Jones III, Colleen Doran, Kelley Jones, Charles Vess, Steve Erickson
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (24 September, 1991)
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $10.19
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Editorial Review

The third book of the Sandman collection is a series of four short comic book stories. What's remarkable here (considering the publisher and the time that this was originally published) is that the main character of the book--the Sandman, King of Dreams--serves only as a minor character in each of these otherwise unrelated stories. (Actually, he's not even in the last story.) This signaled a couple of important things in the development of what is considered one of the great comics of the second half of the century. First, it marked a distinct move away from the horror genre and into a more fantasy-rich, classical mythology-laden environment. And secondly, it solidly cemented Neil Gaiman as a storyteller. One of the stories here, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," took home the World Fantasy Award for best short story--the first time a comic was given that honor. But for my money, another story in Dream Country has it beat hands down. "A Dream of a Thousand Cats" has such hope, beauty, and good old-fashionedchills that rereading it becomes a welcome pleasure. --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (27)

I Do Not Like This Particular Book! The Worst So Far.......
Okay, the Sandman "Dream Country" is a collection of short stories that are related to the characters in the series, but unrelated in terms of the main storyline that's been going on in "Preludes and Nocturnes" and "The Doll's House." I hate when good storylines like that in "The Doll's House (Vol. 2)" get cut off with something unrelated like this book. There are four stories in this collection and they are as follows Calliope (which is very disturbing and my favorite), Tale of Thousand Cats (a real yawner in my opinion), A Mid Summer's Night Dream (another yawner that apparently won the World Fantasy Award), and then there is Facade (which is my second favorite and features an appearance of Dream's sister, Death).

I would not be so down on this book if it was in relation to the actual story that is unfolding. What was great about "The Doll's House" is it left off where "Preludes and Nocturnes" started. "The Doll's House" also introduced some new characters to the fold. Really, really well written books, but I feel that "Dream Country" though amusing and somewhat entertaining, is just not a good Sandman book. I gave this book three stars because while I dislike it, it is a far better read then alot of crap that's out there today. I mean don't we comic readers get tired of men and women running around in tights pretending to be somthing they're not. I know I do, but I just do not like this particular book. Definitely, the worst of the series.

dREM Country
It must have occurred to Neil Gaiman that a character like The Sandman presented an infinitely difficult challenge. I mean, here's a character that is all powerful... all the time.Oh sure, the first Sandman collection (Preludes and Nocturnes) gave us some brief moments of un-Sandmanlike frailty.There was a distinct possibility at the beginning that dear old Morpheus might come to some serious harm.With "Dream Country", however, it's perfectly clear that our hero is impossible to defeat.This places his author in an interesting position.Instead of your usual good-guy-fights-bad-guy-and-almost-loses-then-at-last-wins, the story has become more focused on far more infinite matters.Suddenly we're reading stories in which muses are the prisoners of writers, where cats used to be gods, and the origins of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are explained.When your hero has supreme powers, things can get a lot more interesting.

This particular collection contains four stories, all varying in type and quality.The first is the most disturbing, and probably also the best.In it, the muse Calliope has been captured and imprisoned by a writer for sixty years.Now he's just traded her to an upcoming new author and her torment begins anew.Fortunately her one-time lover, Morpheus, has recently been freed from his own prison.And he doesn't look kindly on jailors.The second story, "A Dream of a Thousand Cats" opines the theory that once cats were the rulers of the world until humans dreamed themselves into control."A Midsummer Night's Dream" shows the true source of Shakespeare's brilliant creation and promises future and highly amusing sequels.Finally, "Façade" (the weakest of the bunch) shows Element Girl seeking Death's help.

Stronger than the previous collection "The Doll's House", this book is an interesting series of conjectures.Though the first story hurt to read, it was well thought through.Gaiman has even added, at the end of this book, the original script as he wrote it for that story.Unfortunately, artists Kelley Jones and Malcom Jones III decided that in spite of Gaiman's requests that his tortured Calliope be more like a Holocaust victim than a supermodel, this is the comic book world and the supermodel idea won out in the end.Which sucks and almost ruins the story (once you know Gaiman's original intent).So naughty naughty to the Joneses.Other tales fare better.The one involving cats, in some ways, shows why "The Sandman" has always been the one graphic novel read by as many women as men.And no one can deny the enticing "Midsummer".I haven't read any Sandman comics past this book, but I am truly hoping for a "Tempest" based story to come up at some point as well.As for "Façade", it's weak.One of those in-jokes for people who enjoy old comic book superheroes.If you're not familiar with Element Girl then the story doesn't make a heckuva lotta sense.Why include it?Because, I suspect, someone was clamoring for that hottie Death to make another appearance.But it's just a mildly depressing story that ends oddly.I didn't know what to make of it.I just knew it was poorly thought out.

Nonetheless, the tales in this book still hold together well in the end.I wouldn't hand this book to someone trying to decide whether or not to even read "The Sandman", of course.This is not a good Sandman starter novel.But for those already hooked fans, it has its charms.A fun dwelling on the nature of our own R.E.M. cycles.

Time to take a breather...
Dream Country is a great little book.It feels good to take a break after surviving The Doll's House.If you are planning on reading the Sandman through and through, you should definately catch up on this volume before entering Season of Mists.None of the stories are essential--although some of them will heighten your enjoyment of future volumes if you have read them first.

All in all, a little book with big meaning, that is both engrossing and greatly enjoyable.Not to be skipped. ... Read more

Isbn: 156389016X
Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Fantasy    5. Graphic Novels - General    6. Fiction / Graphic Novels   

Strange Devices of the Sun and Moon
by Lisa Goldstein
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 1994)
list price: $4.99
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Reviews (4)

Strange Devices of the Sun and Moon
I note the positive reviews and blurbs all over the cover, but I didn't think much of this book.

The Faerie Folk have come to Elizabethan London, bringing problems in their wake, especially for Christopher Marlowe and for Alice, whose son turns out to be a changeling.

I found the language use here to be a bit mundane, meaning that a mood was never really developed. Plot events jolted from one to the next, without a sense of flow. Characters, especially secondary characters, seemed faceless and lacking in personality.

I was bored, therefore, and cannot recommend the book.

interesting mix of worlds
I picked up this book because I thought that a fantasy story set in the London of Elizabeth I would be an interesting read.While I enjoyed it, I soon realized that such an extraordinary mix of genres and themes could not appeal to a very wide audience.One finds in this world a very historical novel trying to merge with a typical fantasy story of the fairy world.In the novel itself the merge is more of a clash than a smooth blend, and the same can be said for the literary style.Given that I am a student of history and literature as well as a fantasy fan, I rather enjoyed the concept and had fun making my way through the process.

In the book, one is presented with a picture of Elizabethan London.Court intrigue, meetings in pubs, bookselling rights, and the scare of the plague all are part of the basic setting.The author has done her homework and seems at times to almost go out of her way to include some interesting tidbits of history.Real figures from history, such as Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd, make their way into the story. (But fear not, while the author does take liberties with these personalities, they are not subject to the same brutal misrepresentation as befell Chaucer in A Knight's Tale!)Amidst this historical cast, one encounters Alice Wood - a widow who is struggling to keep her husband's business of bookselling running.It is her missing son, Arthur, that draws the fairy folk to London and involves her and her friends in the battle between the light and dark fairy.

It took me awhile to really become involved in this story.There are so many subplots at the beginning that one doesn't know which to follow or become attached to.Nevertheless, they all are witty and entertaining and eventually one sees how they all fit together.I enjoyed the story as it developed and appreciated the rich description and philosophical musings as well.This book is not for everyone, but for those who find Elizabethian London and the fairy realm fasinating, I would highly recommend it.

Elizabethan Faerie Tale
Entertaining story of court intrigues, alchemy, magic, poets and playwrights, and the Faerie Folk in Elizabethan London; even Christopher Marlowe makes an appearance.I bought the book because it was listed asrecommended in the Alternative Sexualities in Science Fiction and Fantasyonline compendium; and it was a good read, but Marlowe is something of aminor character.. in fact, I'm not sure why he's in the book at all: anycharacter could have played his part [ though it did make for flavor andfun reading ]. ... Read more

Isbn: 0812519515
Sales Rank: 1054386
Subjects:  1. Fantasy   

Armor of Light, The
by Melissa Scott, Lisa A. Barnett, Elisabeth Carey
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 1997)
list price: $23.00 -- our price: $23.00
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Reviews (4)

Not Quite What I Expected, But Very Enjoyable
Well, to be honest, I'm not sure what I expected when I checked this out from the library, but it sounded interesting, so I thought I'd take a look.The story was fairly slow-going at first.In fact, I would say that it wasn't until about 1/2-way through the book that the plot actually got 'moving' so-to-speak.That's not to say that it wasn't interesting, it just seemed like there was lots of information that wasn't really connected to the plot.There were also times where I felt that certain scenes were written just to display the authors' historical knowledge, which isn't something I find particularly appealing in novels.

Also, although touted as a historical fantasy, this book is probably about 80% historical, 15% fantasy and 5% alternate reality.Honestly, if I had known nothing about Elizabethan England when I read this I would have been completely lost and, while reading, I still felt out of the loop occasionally.There were a lot of historical names and places, and it was difficult keeping them straight in my head, especially at the beginning.I can't really recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have at least a little previous knowledge of this time period, but I can say that it would be worth it to do some research for the sole purpose or reading it.

If you don't want to read about the time period, take a look at these two movies: Elizabeth w/ Cate Blanchett and Shakespeare in Love w/ Gwyneth Paltrow.They will give you a historical basis to work off of and both will give you most, if not all, of the names you need to know.

Like fantasy? Like Elizabethan England? This is for you!
This is a very well-structured, well-written book set in an alternate version of Queen Elizabeth I's reign. The settings are finely drawn, the characters are engaging, and the plot is gripping. I reread this book about once a year just for the pleasure of it, and I snapped up this hardcover when it came out. If you like alternate history and fantasy, and don't mind them mixed together, read this book. If you just want to read about people living in Elizabethan England, read this book. And if you just have to have any book with Shakespeare as a character... you, too, have some reading ahead of you.

I still like it!
I'm the cover illustrator, and I don't always like everything I read. Often, even if I liked a story the first time, I don't like it when I have to read it about the fifth time to check on the color of someone's shirt. Or I start noticing the lapses in historical detail or logic orcharacterization.

This book I still read for pleasure, even after Ifinished the cover.I read a lot of alternate history, and this surelyranks among the best. ... Read more

Isbn: 0915368293
Sales Rank: 767206
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Science Fiction - General   

Impossible Things
by CONNIE WILLIS
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 December, 1993)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Reviews (22)

Eh... Not as good as I know Willis can be
After reading "Passage," I was anxious to devour more of Willis. "Impossible Things", a collection of short stories, sounded like a perfect way to get a quick fix - a buffet table to expose myself on as many different aspects of Willis as possible.

Next time I'm sticking with the full-length novels. Not that there's anything *bad* about the stories in "Impossible Things", it's just that there's nothing outstanding about them either. For one thing, they're long, in most cases much longer than they need to be. For another, they're somewhat dated, which is understandable given that most were written in the '80s. Yet you never get that sense in the stories of, say, John Varley.

Perhaps I just had expectations that were too high. As I said, no one story was ever bad, and some were actually quite good. "A Winter's Tale" is probably my favorite, a story about Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, and what she may have known about the famous bard that continues to puzzle literary scholars today. "Even the Queen" is clever and provocative, short and snappy, as well as being timely. "Spice Pogrom" is also clever and funny, but it's much, much too long.

The stories in "Impossible Things" are a somewhat confusing mix of wit and despair. Willis alternates between mocking PC sensitivity in "Ado" and a horrifying description of a young housewife's descent into madness in "Chance", with little unifying theme to tie the book together. I enjoyed the stories individually, but the collection as a whole fell somewhat short.

Disappointed fan
Connie Willis has written several wonderful books, from the delightful "Bellwether" to the deeply moving "Doomsday Book."She brings a characteristic wit and perspective to anything she touches.Strangely some of the same things that I treasure in her novels didn't translate well to this book.

First of all, it is a book of short stories (something I didn't realize when I bought the book).While not an issue in and of itself, I do wish I hadn't picked up the book expecting a novel, as the disappointment probably colored my enjoyment.

A second aspect of the book that isn't necessarily an issue, but reduced my pleasure in her work, was that these stories tended toward melancholy.The bitter-sweet memory of times gone by seemed to be a predominant theme.This kind of work has its place, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had waited until I was in the proper mood.

The only real issue I have is with her writing style.She tends to start her works by thrusting you right into the middle of something without any setup.This is disorienting, but was entirely appropriate and well used in "To Say Nothing of the Dog" (another of her novels).In contrast, in her short stories, a reader is just getting his feet under him when the story ends.In the course of a single story, this is exasperating, but the feeling quickly builds to annoyance when reading a succession of stories in a single sitting.

Any one interested in completing their collection of Willis's works will obviously need this book, but, if you are new to the author, I would recommend starting with one of the five-star books I mentioned in the first paragraph.

A Must Read, Witty and Hilarious
There are so many good short stories in this book, I hardly know where to begin. "Even the Queen" is the most hilarious answer to `The Feminist Question' ever. I don't think anyone could ever top it. "In the Late Cretacious" is the most funny and accurate portrayal of university politics I have ever read. "Ado" is a funny look at political correctness taken to its most extreme absurd conclusion. I can't recommend this book enough. ... Read more

Isbn: 0553564366
Sales Rank: 103519
Subjects:  1. Fiction - Science Fiction    2. Science Fiction    3. Science Fiction - General    4. Fiction / Science Fiction / General   

Blood Price (Daw Book Collectors)
by Tanya Huff
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 November, 1993)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Reviews (31)

Boring!
I tried to force myself to finish this book, and only made it halfway through. The characters were childish, flat and unimaginative. The vampire was dramatic and silly. The plot was horribly boring. Keep in mind that I don't usually like cop dramas or vampire romances, which is exactly what this is.

Excellent Series
Like many others drawn to sci-fi/horror novels.I picked up this book after the recommendation of many on this site who compared it to the Anita Blake series.This series is definitely up there.It is a total of 5 books, and this is the first in the series.

Vicki is an ex cop turned private investigator who had to leave the police force because she is losing her night vision.One night at the subway station Vicki finds a murdered body, and even though she has left the force, she feels compelled to investigate this crime (and it helps that she is finally hired to investigate the crime).While investigating she meets Henry, a romance writer who is also a vampire.Henry has his own reasons to investigate the crime.Vicki is unable to see at night.Henry is unable to go out during the day.They both have to work together to discover the murderer.

I do not want to give too much away, but if you are looking for a good vampire series, give this one a try.You will not be disappointed.If you would like the exact order of the series, it is Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact and Blood Debt.This book and the entire series gets five stars!

Interesting premise
Vicki Nelson had been a cop on the Toronto police force until she was forced to retire 8 months ago due to a degenerative eye disease.She decided to become a PI but business had been slow until a murder took place right before her.The investigation brought her back into contact with her former police partner, Mike Cellini and also with a world she had only known as fiction.Vicki met Hugh Fitzroy, a vampire.The three pursue their separate paths to stop the wave of murders that is sweeping Toronto.Paths that lead from the university scene into the realm of demons.

The characters are interesting and promise to become more so as the series continues.The plot is well thought out and exciting.

This is a thriller, not a mystery as the culprit is known from the beginning.The interest comes from how the problem is solved and in the development of the characters.I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. ... Read more

Isbn: 0886774713
Sales Rank: 33280
Subjects:  1. Fantastic fiction    2. Fantasy    3. Fantasy - Contemporary    4. Fantasy - Dark/Horror    5. Fiction - Fantasy   

Children of Henry VIII
by ALISON WEIR
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (08 July, 1997)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Editorial Review

The royal family may have its problems these days, but as Alison Weir reminds us in this cohesive and impeccably researched book, the nobility of old England could be both loveless and ruthless. Weir, an expert in the period and author of a book on Henry's VIII wives, focuses on the children of Henry VIII who reigned successively after his death in 1547: Edward VI, Mary I ("Bloody Mary") and Elizabeth I. The three shared little--living in separate homes--except for a familial legacy of blood and terror. This is exciting history and fascinating reading about a family of mythic proportions. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

Mrs. Weir clearly did not do the in-depth research required.
Mrs. Weir clearly did not do the in-depth research that she should have. Among the glaring inconsistencies is on page 248 in which Mrs. Weir indicated that Elizabeth was taken from Ashridge on Feb. 12, 1554 later spending a night on Feb 21 at the village of Highgate. Raphael Holinshed in his chronicles of 1587 indicates that Elizabeth was taken from Ashridge on the 15th of March.
John Foxe and Henry Ellis (Two early historians)concur that Elizabeth was moved to the Tower on Palm Sunday, the 17th of March, not February 22nd as Mrs. Weir indicates.
There are other inconsistencies, please enjoy the story and do not rely on the facts.
Speaking as a professor of early European history for 18 years, these types of accounts only serve to distort history for future generations.

Wonderful Biography
This is a wonderful, interesting, and detailed read on the children of Henry VIII; Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Jane Grey (Henry's great-neice).The book describes each one of their reigns (although shame on Weir, two pages on Elizabeth's reign), their impact on the country, and their relationships with each other.A book no history enthusiast should be without!

Four British Monarchs and Their Relationship with Each Other
I am fascinated with the Tudors, particularly Elizabeth I and her cousin, Lady Jane Grey.I have read many biographies on the different players in this time frame yet I have read few books that focus on the relationships between those people.I yearned to know those details, however.How did Mary and Jane go from being on friendly terms to rivals?How did Mary react to Edward VI?How did Elizabeth react to the news of Jane's death?

Weir started off doing a splendid job addressing all of those issues.She started off addressing the character of Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and Edward and their feelings and relationships with each other.She painstakingly chronicled in great detail the tumultuous nature of Mary and Elizabeth's relationship, as well as how Mary viewed Edward VI and him her.Yet after Edward's death, she sort of lost touch of that track, and focused primarily on the nature of Mary's relationship to those around her, which while interesting, still did leave me with some unanswered questions.For instance, I never did get a good feel for how Elizabeth reacted to the news of Jane's death (it might be one of those mysteries of history, but if nothing was written about it at the time, I would at least like to know).

The writing style is good and clear, especially for a work of history, and the pages seem to fly by.My only complaint was her repetitiveness.For instance, she mentioned that Mary thought that Elizabeth was the daughter of Mark Smeaton three times.

In all, the book definitely addressed a lot of personal issues I had not yet seen addressed and was a pure pleasure to read.It would also, I believe, serve for those who know little of the time period or of Mary I, be an excellent starting place, for the work is not so bogged down in details as many other historical works are. ... Read more

Isbn: 0345407865
Subjects:  1. 1491-1547    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. Family    7. Great Britain    8. Henry    9. Historical - British    10. History    11. King of England,    12. Queens    13. Royalty    14. Tudors, 1485-1603    15. VIII,    16. Biography & Autobiography / Royalty   

Daily Life in Elizabethan England (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series)
by Jeffrey L. Singman
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (30 August, 1995)
list price: $49.95 -- our price: $49.95
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Reviews (3)

good reference book to keep
This book is an organized collection of information you've probably searched for.Great book for anyone working in the Renaissance faire circuit or for anyone wanting to go to a faire.I especially love all the games with rules and directions on how to make what was needed.It also has interesting recipes and songs in it.Some of the topics could have gone into more depth but in all very well done.

A Top-Notch Reference Book
I have been playing in a Medieval Society (SCA) for almost 13 years and thought I knew most of what I would read in this book but I was astounded by the wonderful depth of information. If you are a recreationist, this book is for you!!

The Best
This is an amazing book. It helped me ace my Shakespeare project. Thanks! ... Read more

Isbn: 031329335X
Sales Rank: 438623
Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Elizabeth, 1558-1603    3. England    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. Great Britain    6. Great Britain - History - Tudor And Stuart (1485-1714)    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Medieval    11. Social History    12. Social life and customs    13. History / Medieval   

The Queen's Conjurer: The Science and Magic of Dr. John Dee, Adviser to Queen Elizabeth I
by Benjamin Woolley
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 2002)
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Reviews (14)

Best book on Dee yet!
For 25 years I have read & collected everything on John Dee I could find, even to the point of ordering the Sloan MSS fron the British museum. My only complaint about this effort is that it wasn't longer. It reads like a novel. This is the daily life of one of the most fascinating people in British history. Occultists will get clarity on the nature of the Angelic workings, Alchemists get a glimpse of the nature of the craft, students of history are drawn into the gritty reality of fifteenth century Europe. This book carried me through from beginning to end in only two sittings. I couldn't put it down. Well done Woolley!

A Clear Headed Biography Of A Shadowy Figure
Doctor John Dee is probably one of the most misunderstood figures in Elizabethan England. His dabbling in the occult has caused many historians to dismiss him. Yet his dabblings were not unusual for his time as it attracted the interest of learned men from Copernicus to Newton. Benjamin Woolley has done a fine job of giving us Dee's life in the context of his time giving the reader a clearer picture of his important role in the court of Elizabeth I.

As a political advisor he strongly urged Elizabeth to abandon Britain's insular view of itself and to expand outward. Here was laid the foundation of what would become the British Empire. Was Dee a conjuror? Yes but you have to consider what the term actually meant in Dee's time. People believed that numbers had a magic power. Those who could work them, mathematicians as Dee was, were said to be able to work or conjure numbers. Was he an alchemist? Very definately but once again we must put it into the context of its time. For the most part alchemists were people who could work metalsfrom ore, what we would call today metalurgists. Those who tried to convert metals into gold mostly worked on the assumption that if silver and other metals could be extracted from other materials then why not. There were of course the charlatans but for the most part the work was an attempt to produce valuable metals via chemistry. The reason why the court of Rudolph II in Prague attracted so many alchemists is quite simple. Large deposits of silver had been found in Bohemia and there was simply a need for them.

Dee's meeting with Edward Kelley and his serious studies of the occult are clearly presented. The author makes no judgement but merely lays things out as Dee thought he saw them. The Enochian and Angelic languages as well as Kelley's alleged visions are covered in depth. How deep Dee's beliefs were are questionable as he himself at times expressed doubts about his dealings with Kelley. Woolley also makes clear that what Dee was involved with in was not considered off the wall in its day as most scholars and learned people believed in it.

Woolley has really done a fine job of giving us a clear picture of a person usually presented to us as a shadowy and mysterious figure. Dee's life was quite open and the realties of it are far more impressive than the myths.

Dr. John Dee- Mathematician and Mystic
I have always found Dr. John Dee to be one of the most intriguing characters of Elizabethan times. Yet, there seemed to be so little information available about him, only bits and pieces and rumors- often spread by his enemies. Here is a most satisfying biography that not only gives you a complete look at the Doctor's life, but is also supplemented with a wealth of associated detail and historical background. This book turns Dee from a shadowy character to a real man, a great man.

What comes across is the amazing breadth and depth of Dee's interests and scholarship. He was already famed for his remarkable intellect and ability as a student at Cambridge. At a time when most scholars barely processed a reading knowledge of bad Latin, he mastered classical Greek to be able to read the forgotten works of Plato and Pythagoras. He was a personal friend and correspondent to the great men of the age such as Tycho Brahe and Mercator. Dee himself was famed as a great mathematician in Europe (at a time when simple trigonometry was almost unknown in England.) He was offered high positions at the great courts of Europe, but turned these offers down out of a deep seated desire to raise up his country of birth to be their eventual global equal (at this time England was a poor, backward, weak backwater.) Indeed, the first conception of a British Empire, founded upon a strong Royal Navy, was first expounded by Dee.

John Dee was as close to modern scientist as existed in the 16th century. He independently came to the conclusion that bodies of unequal weight fall at the same rate- before Galileo. He was recognized as England's top expert on optics and lenses. He was recognized as one of the top experts on navigation and chart making of his day. He kept detailed astronomical observations that even Tycho Brahe admired. He based his astrological work upon the heliocentric "heresy" of Copernicus. He was an expert in geology and ores and leased his own tin mine. He also collected the biggest research library of the age in Mortlake, which was a gathering place of the greatest minds of England and the continent. In short- Dee was a competent expert in several areas of natural philosophy and applied technology. He believed in detailed observation and record keeping- in both natural, and supernatural, phenomena.

The thing is, Dee believed his accomplishments in the more material and practical sciences to be among his lesser accomplishments. Like Newton after him, his real passion was with the deepest cosmic and spiritual secrets. This led to his fame as an astrologer, and an alchemist, and a cabalist. Dee's passion was to discover the ancient, true, original religion of mankind, the "prisci theology." That is why he could walk easily among both Protestants and Catholics- he ultimately considered both of their dogma's to be equally absurd. Dee had a much more open mind that the "scientists" of later centuries- he studied all unknown forces, natural or supernatural. This was why be studied and practiced natural magic (Agrippa's three books were always open upon his desk for quick reference.) He knew that hidden currents influenced the day-to-day world, and he documented his observations even if he couldn't explain them in terms of material cause and effect. This also led to his interest is scrying and the use of natural sensitives to communicate with spirits. It should be noted, that no one at this time doubted the existence of such spirits- it was as self evident as the existence of God. In fact, many powerful lords of the day employed seers and scryers, including the earls of Leicester, Pembroke, and Northumberland.

All in all, you come away with a renewed respect for Dee. You realize that his only fault was to be born in a society of petty, ignorant, lesser men. It was they that libeled and slandered his image and painted him as a superstitious conjuror. Indeed, the only real mistake that the good Doctor made was to outlive his beloved queen and protector. ... Read more

Isbn: 0805065105
Sales Rank: 167751
Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Europe - Great Britain - General    5. Historical - British    6. Historical - General    7. Renaissance