Crimson Skies Books

These books of Ms. Samson's just keep getting better and better. I loved this book, it was AWESOME!!... It taes place exactly where Fields of Gold left off, and goes on from there for quite a few years, Elspeth is now grown, and she goes through many trials!! I loved the LOVE between David and Camille!!

I really enjoyed this book. This story is about murderer David Youngblood and his new wife Camille, a former professional mistress. The characters are very real and not your typical "perfect" Christian character. They deal with struggles, and a rebellious daughter while trying to solve the mystery of a double murder that David's former prisonmate was sent to Devil's Island for. This book held some suspense and mystery as to who the real murderer is. I find that Lisa Samson does not try to write in a'politically correct Christian' way, which is a nice change. It was nice to see what happened to the rest of characters from the previous two books in the series. Lisa Samson is one of the best Christian authors out there. If you like historical christian novels then this is one to buy.

I played the computer game that these novels were partly based off, and I loved the world in which the game and book take place. I read it pretty fast, and although the end of this book has a section from the second, there was never a second book made in the series, this is the only downfall, otherwise the book is great.

Admittedly it requires familiarity with the board game series it's based on to make total sense--especially with all the airplanes mentioned in it--but it's a thoroughly enjoyable tale of dogfighting, greed, and vengeance over the skies of an alternate 1937 Seattle. The setting is evocative of Mack Maloney's "Wingman" series, but more from the point of view of the people who prefer and enjoy the balkanization of the USA rather than the people who want to restore it.

This is an excellent book about Napoleon whether you are a beginner or a long ti me reader. Dwyer takes the top scholars from all points of Napoleons career and gets them to continue to this wonderfully written and very well organized book. If you want a simple approach to how Napoleon came to power this is an excellent choice. It is also a wonderful textbook that can help explain how Napoleon came to power and stayed in power.

I liked this book, I found the historical part of it interesting although much of it was fictional in order to fill in the "holes" of the life of the Boleyn girls. It was well written and worth reading!

I enjoyed this book so much, I read it twice. Rarely do I do that. I was disappointed in the watered-down film version, however. This is my first Philippa Gregory book, but certainly not my last.

I simply couldn't put this book down! Just read one bit at the bookstore and I promise you won't be disappointed!
It is well written, creative, and NEVER a dull moment in the life of the court! I loved how the author revived the Boleyn family and created such wonderful characters that you want to see succeed in life! You want to meet them, spend the day with them, and help them! It was just a lovely book and I can't wait to read more of her novels!!!

I loved this book, I thought that it was very well written. Phillipa Gregory makes it feel like you are there watching all of the stuff as its happening. It is so hard to believe that these were real people, who had to live like that. She makes history fun to read about. It is such a great book. I recommend it to all my friends and family that enjoy reading. I will defiantly read this one again!!!!

Historical fiction is a favourite guilty pleasure of mine, and I came to this book with no pre-conceptions; in fact, I actually expected to like it. Unfortunately, and many reviewers have said it more eloquently than I, TOBG is poorly-written, vulgar and offensive on a number of levels. It is reminiscent of self-indulgent internet fanfic, where the only constructive criticism received must have been along the lines of "Soooo need more!!1!!!" I am still mystified as to how it even got published in its current form.

I get that this is historical _fiction_, and that that means an author is free to make up details as he or she sees fit. Of course, one can never expect complete accuracy; I am pretty tolerant of historical errors and literary licence, provided that these are acknowledged and disclosed to the reader. I've enjoyed numerous historical novels, most of which could never be regarded as classic literature or accurate, but which bring to life the era and the personalities vividly. I did not expect the definitive biography of Anne and Mary Boleyn by any stretch of the imagination. What I did expect though was at least an attempt at treating the characters with a modicum of respect and remaining true as far as possible to what we know about them, as well as a gripping and enjoyable story. TOBG provided neither.

This author claims to be a "feminist historian." However there is nothing "feminist" about the portrayal of the women here, in fact like a previous reviewer, I think it's bordering on misogynist: Mary and Anne are reduced to one-dimensional representatives of the "Madonna/whore" stereotype, with Mary being the ultimate Mary Sue, embodiment of all that is pure and virtuous (complete with some 21st century attitudes about marrying for love), and Anne a vicious, megalomaniacal, amoral troll with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Mary's reputation - which comes to us from contemporary accounts - as a good-time girl of the French court is completely whitewashed over; in this universe, she is a sweet, innocent teenager when she becomes Henry VIII's mistress. There's no sign of Anne Boleyn, the cultured, very well-educated, multilingual Renaissance lady and Queen, who produced the great Elizabeth I and during her lifetime, patronised the arts, generously dispensed charity and was deeply interested in religious reform, to name just a few things.

This novel does both of these women, as well as the other characters, a disservice with this flat, caricatured portrayal. There is no light and shade, no complexity; in fact, some of the characterisations are completely implausible. The dialogue is frequently anachronistic, the prose is often turgid and heavy-handed - Gregory tells, rather than shows - and I found myself skim-reading a lot of it just to finish it. The language evokes little sense of the period, with characters being attributed with modern attitudes and opinions. It takes some doing, but TOBG manages to turn interesting, dramatic and complex events into a dreary, tedious family soap opera.

Fiction dealing with people who really existed is tough to write, as I believe there is a responsibility to remain as close to the facts as we know them as possible; one must have very good reason to diverge from the accepted historical record. This means researching the era and the personalities almost as thoroughly as one would a biography. As other reviewers have pointed out, Gregory's research - if the listed bibliography is all that was consulted - appears shoddy at best: she ignores the definitive biography of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives, for example. Some of the plot elements are so removed from the historical record that it is hard to take the novel seriously. Anne marrying Henry Percy? Being sent to France as "punishment"? Henry VIII fathering both of Mary Boleyn's children? The Boleyn parents effectively being pimps for their daughters? Anne seducing Henry away from her sister? "Stealing" or "abducting" Mary's son to establish him as a "potential Tudor-Boleyn heir"? George Boleyn sleeping with Francis Weston (this element did nothing to advance the story whatsoever, and seemed to be included for the sake of it) but also happens to be sexually attracted to his sister ... and acts on it? Mark Smeaton being _ Weston_'s musician? Deformed incest babies? The list goes on. Sorry, just no.

Again, an author is entitled to take liberties and deviate from the historical record for dramatic purposes, but here, there is no disclosure that this has occurred; in fact, there has been repeated insistence to the contrary. Further, it is difficult to see how the plot and the central themes of the novel would have suffered had some of the above elements been accurate.

This would have been a far better novel had it focused on purely imaginary characters, set in Tudor times. The same themes could have been explored just as effectively had the protagonists been say, two fictional noblewomen vying for the attention of the Duke of Whatever, and there is no restriction on how the personalities are portrayed or the course of events.

I respect the fact that many readers have enjoyed this novel for what it is, but I sincerely hope those whose interest in the period has been sparked by TOBG will go beyond this frankly bizarre alternate universe and sketchy bibliography, and discover the fascinating story of the _real_ Anne Boleyn. Excellent non-fiction sources include Ives' "The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn"; and Antonia Fraser and David Starkey's works on the six wives. As for novels about Anne Boleyn - although dated, the best I've found are probably those by Margaret Campbell Barnes ("Brief Gaudy Hour") and Jean Plaidy ("Murder Most Royal").

This is Philippa Gregory's best novel yet! Not many writers would bother to go so deep into the lives of the women who changed the course of history. In a time when women were thought of as inferior and bothersome, Gregory opens the eyes of the reader and makes them realize that without Kathrine of Aragon, or Anne Boleyn, or Jane Seymour, or Anne of Cleves, or Katherine Howard, or Katherine Parr, Henry VIII would not be remembered as he is now. He would not be that infamous king who tore his own country apart for the lust of a woman. It was the women in his life that made him famous(and the same goes for many other men in history). That's what I like about Gregory, she makes these people real, she turns them back into flesh and blood before our eyes. She makes them laugh, love, and cry. She gives them humanity. This is not just another one of her fantastic triumphs as a writer, but full proof of her knowledge of the human nature.

Gregory provides a fresh angle to the "done to death" story of Henry VIII and his wives. Historically accurate, suspenseful, and insightful character development make this book a pleasure to read. I was lucky enough to listen to it on CD where three marvelous actresses read the parts of the two queens and Jane Boelyn. While sometimes it's wonderful to curl up with a book--the CD performances made the story come alive.

You know it's fiction but it's believable and could have happened. The author does a good job spinning this tale based on history. Some of the thoughts and belief seem a little modern but overall a good read. I would recommend it.

The Boleyn Inheritance is a perfect follow up to The Other Boleyn Girl. Philippa Gregory takes you back in history in such a rich and wonderful way that I have been recomending this book already to anyone I meet who loves either history or just reading a great author. Now I'm reading The Queen's Fool and again I'm messmerized. She is definantly an author whos work I plan to continue reading for a long time. I highly recomend this book and all her work.

This book definetly demonstrates the trials and tribulations that woman in medieval England had to face. This book basically picks up where The Other Boleyn Girl left off, with the exception of pretty much skipping Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour. My only complaint is that Philippa skipped that queen.. In beginning of this story, she has died in child birth. Anne of Cleves, I cannot say enough about her character and her silent charm. This queen struck a chord deep within myself. I felt for her and admired the way she overcame both a domineering brother and King Henry and his court. Katherine Howard, frivolous stupid child that meets a tragic ending for following her heart. This book goes back and forth between the viewpoints of these two queens and the one always observing it all, Jane the traitor. Some of you will remember her from The Other Boleyn Girl. I personally enjoyed the back and forth narration, my mother, however did not. Truly something to consider when contemplating the purchase of this book.

Mr Cornwell once again has captured the imagination of the reader and transported him/her back in time. A facinating tale.

Sword Song, the fourth delivery on the "Lords of the North" series, seems more rushed and formulaic than the previous three.

The plot in implausible, and even the depiction on the final battle, usually one of Cornwell's strong points, sounds ridiculous and far-fetched.

Uthred is a likable character idea (a Saxon by birth seized by the Danes at an early age, who comes to love their lifestyle and beliefs).
But this book offers nothing new in terms of narrative resources or character development, just a repetition of the same trite devices Cornwell used in the previous books to keep the story going.

Even the tidbits of historical information on daily life, which added some interest to previous books, are scarcer in "Sword Song", and the author departs more from factual history.

I found myself skipping pages as the book neared its end.
Even if you liked "Lords of the North", "The Last Kingdom", and "The Pale Horseman", skip this one, it offers nothing new.

"Love is a dangerous thing...Lust is the deceiver. Lust wrenches our lives until nothing matters except the one we think we love, and under that deceptive spell we kill for them, give all for them, and then, when we have what we have wanted, we discover that it is all an illusion and nothing is there. Lust is a voyage to nowhere, to an empy land, but some men just love such voyages and never care about the destination."

What can I say? Cornwell's insights are brilliant. His historical detail is enjoyable and, when he departs from strict history, his story is generally believable.

I'll make one comment which is no criticism. How could it be? I've enjoyed virtually every book Cornwell's written and he's been influentual in my writing of historical fiction. His heroic characters are perhaps a little superhuman and I prefer somewhat more human types---people who are sometimes bested in a straight-up fight, people who get injured and are even soundly defeated. Still Cornwell's stories work so he must have it right.

I do wonder, however, if Alfred would accept a Thor-worshipper into his ranks? I remember reading a tale in the Icelandic Sagas in which an English king refuses the services of two Viking brothers unless they convert. "You needn't practice Christianity," the Englishman tells them, "but you must agree to be baptised." They agree because, afterall, what harm can a little water do? Hence, believers in Thor and Odin became Christian from Normandy to Iceland...from Greenland to the Volga.

Those who think the Viking surge was somehow defeated must consider the fact that they gave Russia and Normandy their names, colonized Iceland and Greenland, maintained control of Scandinavia and left their abundant seed scattered over northern Europe including Britain and Ireland. They weren't defeated...They got what they came for.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

Another outstanding book by Bernard Cornwell. He is my favorite author of historical fiction and I have read all of his books and like the others, this one was outstanding.

For those of you who have faithfully read the entire Sharpe series, and all the other series, you know full well that Bernard Cornwell is a master author who never fails to fully involve you in everything he writes. I've read other reviews about his books, and such carping, such trifling squabbles over insignificant details always amazes me. I have no trouble believing that any of those peole would ever read a book by anyone twice. "What for?" they would squeal. And that says it all.
I simply want to say that I've always enjoyed anything I've ever read by Bernard Cornwell. His research is very impressive, his characters always completely credible, and as a plotter he has few equals. For those of you who enjoy finding an author who has a lot to offer, look no further. Here's to you, Bernard, may you continue to write for many years. And thank you for all the wonderful time I've spent with your books.

It is with great respect that I read Zamoyski's 1812. Respect not only for its author, but also for the players in this horrifying chain of events. Zamoyski has to be praised for making history imaginable, not only on an intellectual level, but also to the senses and to our emotions. His creed 'ad fontes' has given breadth and depth of approach, without drawing me, interested layman (forgive my pun) into discussions with his peers. Two remarks aside.
Sometimes the horror-tales of eyewitnesses can be deceiving for the overall picture. People tend to report about the things that go wrong, or the things that make an impression because they are repulsive or stupid. Moving an army of hundreds of thousands over thousands of kilometres in the described conditions is no mean feat. So a lot of things must have gone right. Describing cannibalism is more spectacular than describing the organisation of well-oiled logistics. Zamoyski does pay attention to this aspect, to be sure, but in order to make his account readable, he has to zoom in on the catastrophic. We would get a greatly distorted view of our modern history if we were to let our news agencies dictate it. So putting too much trust in eyewitness accounts may obscure rather than clarify our view about what is really going on.
Secondly, we have to take into account that in 1812, even in normal circumstances, death was omnipresent and life in general was infinitely harder than we can imagine in our world where even our soldiers are never further than one hour away from a hamburger and a coke.
By the way, I loved the asides of Zamoyski where he draws lines between those days and modern history, such as the horrors of serfdom in Russia and their meekness towards absolute rule under communism - which might even be extended to their craving for a powerful leader as Poutin

I spent some cold winters in Ohio as a small boy and later on, in Chicago as a working stiff. But I appear to have had it easy compared to those participating in the French "retreat" from Moscow. Four hundred thousand died in the West, possibly as many in the East, and for what reason? A spat between Napoleon and Alexander? A lack of communication technology? Or, more likely, personal vanity. Orwell's short story "Shooting An Elephant" comes to mind, a narrator who acts not out of personal conviction but because of poltical pressure or worse yet, vanity and shame. Moscow 1812 is history from the ground up, a terrifying story of man's inhumanity to man. Make this book required reading for the War and State departments. Put a "Billy Goat" bookcover on it and have someone read it to Bush. The world needs to wake up to the danger of false patriotism and fear-mongering. Zamoyski's book is chilling, and great. Read it, NOW!

Zamoyski's book is very well done. He has done a yeoman's job of research and put it in a very readable form -- a rare achievement for many historians. The book will leave you fascinated from beginning to end.

To keep it brief, throughout the human record there are those moments when a crucial turn of events impacts the whole of Western civilization. The campaign to, and retreat from, Moscow by Napoleon was one of those events. This book is written in a smooth prose and replete with rich detail by firsthand accounts and general historical information. Perfectly blended to create a recounting of the trek so surreal that it literally allows the reader to transcend time and feel like they are actually there.

Walk with the Grand Armee through snow and -35 degree temperatures, endure the exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, and witness the suffering as well as depravity as dehumanization sets in. This book is one of those rare historical non-fiction pieces that reads fast and is very hard to put down especially once you get midway into it.

The Russian campaign is definitely the most difficult to write about. In this volume, the author presents a highly readable account of that great campaign that is an valuable addition to the literature of the campaign, but it isn't a stand-alone account of the Russian campaign, and it isn't without its flaws.

Overall, the author has demonstrated a more-than-adequate grasp of the poltical problems facing the belligerents in 1812. The causes of the war are evenly handled, and the sole blame is not laid at the door of the French, or at Napoleon's. That being said, the author has not painted an accurate picture of either Napoleon or Alexander. Napoleon's character is relegated to the 'traditional' view of him being driven 'by a lust for power and domination over others' as well, among other things 'having no sense of justice' (which is a gratuitous and ludicrous statement, Napoleon formulating and giving France and the Empire the Code Napoleon among other civil reforms). It is only recently that an accurate picture of Napoleon's character has been developed by historians and it is a shame that work wasn't taken advantage of here.

On the other hand it appears that Alexander is given the benefit of the doubt at almost every turn, even though he was a particide, an Asian autocrat, who wielded his unquestioned power in Russia, was a treacherous ally, and one who refused to support the alliance he made with Napoleon in 1807. He was slippery, double-dealing, and a coward who deftly used intrigue, deception, and treason to his benefit. He tried to be a soldier, and was not, interfering rather than helping his generals in the field. His chosen advisors, his 'aides-de-camp' were carpet knights and not soldiers, who helped with this interference. He fought the Turks and the Swedes, as well as the French, and it is probably that his lauded stance of not negotiating with Napoleon in 1812 until there were no French on Russian soil was because he feared being assassinated by those same nobles that murdered his father.

There are other errors in the book. The author labels Tilsit a triumph for the Tsar, whcih is a fantastically inaccurate statement; states that the battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809 were 'twin battles' when they were not (it was one action, which the Austrians won-the first battlefield victory over Napoleon since 1796-it is known as Aspern to the Austrians and Essling to the French, hence the hyphenated use of both names by many historians); and War and Peace is mentioned as a quasi-reference for the period, which is a gross error.

The author inaccurately states that the Russian artillery arm was probably the best in the world in 1812, which cannot be supported by any substantive reference. The French artillery arm had been recognized as Europe's best since 1789 and it had not been eclipsed by any other European artillery system since. The Austrian and British artillery arms were also superior to the Russian artillery. The Russian artillery officers were poorly trained and educated, and the 'new' equipment of the 1805 System were copies of Prussian and Austrian material from the 1740s and 1750s. Further, the manner in which Russian artillery was commanded and employed was inferior to French artillery doctrine and this was remarked upon by various Russian artillerymen, notably Yermelov, Sievers, and Kutusaiv.

The author also stated that the French transport corps was 'le train.' Actually, there were at least two different types of 'train' in the French service. The train des equipages (supply train) is the organization to which he is referring. There was also a train d'artillerie which was responsible for hauling the artillery equipment. there was also a smaller engineer train to boot.

While some of the military sections of the book are substandard and carelessly done, the overall impact of the volume is a credit to the author. While many other authors and historians have misinterpreted or left out key factors of the campaign, this author does not. He correctly labels the Russian generals and high command for what it is-in short a mess. Further, the Battle of the Berezina is analysed correctly in that it was a decisive victory for the French. Further, the crucial Battle of Maloyaroslavets is labeled a French victory. The issue with the most impact, however, is that the author correctly states the heavy losses the Russians incurred during the campaign which many overlook, focusing on the disaster that befell the Grande Armee. Russian losses, for the same causes, the cold and exposure, are clearly brought to the forefront of the narrative.

If used with caution in the areas outlined above this is an excellent narrative of the Russian campaign. It is highly recommended and should be on everyone's bookshelf who is interested in the Napoleonic period in general and the Russian campaign in particular. I am looking very much forward to the author's next effort.

Finished the book last night and handed it over to my wife. I gave her the highly enjoyable look. There is alot of history covered here, sometimes I wished that the timeframe was a little more compressed, maybe 2 years instead of the whole war. But that doesn't take away from the fact that its a heck of a yarn. People who enjoy reading Alan Furst will dig right in. Grab it and go.

Where did the title for this book come from? There is no "night of flames" in the story! The title is a non sequitur. The book jacket description is misleading and the cover drawing has no relation to the story whatsoever. All seem like gimmicks to sell books.

If you can survive the first (and awful) 105 pages, the story really begins on Page 106. From that point, the tale is quite good, even though the 2 main characters (Anna and her husband Jan, who are never together until the final 5 pages) are lackluster and rather boring. Their internal musings are writing-101-inane. There just is something not quite right about these 2 people. I felt little sympathy for or connection to them throughout the book, and I found both of them a bit unbelievable, except at the very end of the story. I do think, also, that the denouement is forced and the resolution to Jan and Anna's dilemmas is quite unbelievable.

There is a very good mix of other interesting characters, however, and I especially liked all of the "ordinary" people who were the real heroes of the resistance -- wherever it might have been staged. In this story, the underground resistance is in Poland and Belgium. These people risked their lives every single day during the German occupation, as they refused to crack under the criminal Nazi regime.

The action portions of the book are really good, well-written and quite exciting. There are many heart-wrenching passages of great pathos and clear descriptions of the risks and challenges of sabotage. Jacobsen creates good tension and realistic fright.

I'm still trying to figure out why I am not really crazy about this book. Has this genre lost its luster? Are the story lines about WWII in Europe, even ones as clever as in this tale, getting old? Nazi cruelty and stupidity, Jews fleeing for their lives, brave resistance fighters, wartime atrocities and privations - it's all here for the thousandth time. Perhaps the stories are getting a bit predictable. If so, that's too bad for all of us European WWII spy-sabotage-action-thriller junkies. I've always thought there's nothing quite like reading a great Alan Furst "black and white" spy novel.

Well, Mr. Jacobsen is not Alan Furst by a long shot, but his story is really good. Thus, I'm mixed about the entire book and conclude that it deserves only a rating of 3. The writing is very uneven. Some dialogue is amateurish and sophomoric, in contrast to the well-done action descriptions. The big weakness is the silly and repetitiously inane internal thoughts of Anna and Jan. She, for instance, is rather unlikable, somewhat frantic and impulsive, an unlikely combination of traits given her brains and education. Jan is a mix of rebelliousness with a toe-the-line-to-authority genetic bent. He does what he's told while hating it for the most part. And he is fundamentally selfish, an unhappy soldier at best.

The other flaw in the story is the 4-year time gap. The reader is forced to jump from 1939-40 to 1943-44 with no explanation. Thus, story continuity is lacking.

Maps would help. I am always puzzled why writers of these kinds of geography-dependant stories fail to insert several simple maps of the key battle sites or key strategic locations. Toward the end of "Night of Flames," a detailed though simple map of Antwerp would have been a great help, even if the author had to invent some of the sites. There are at least 5 places in this book where a nice map would have been appropriate and necessary.

Another puzzlement is why authors of this kind of fiction refuse to offer a list of characters and their relation to each other at the front of the book, just as the writer of a stage play lists the characters. When reading a novel, it is very easy to forget who a character is and what his or her relationship is with others. Why not make the job of reading and appreciating such a novel a little easier for a reader with a nice list of characters?

All-in-all, you won't learn much about WWII in reading this story. You won't come away with much appreciation of the Polish and Belgian resistance, and you won't feel any differently about the Nazis. Yet, the story is good and probably worth a couple evenings of your time.

"Historical fiction at its best." These were the words used by award-winning author Homer Hickam in his review of NIGHT OF FLAMES, and he is right on the mark. In this outstanding debut novel we are presented with the drama of World War Two from a new and fresh perspective - through the experiences of a Polish university professor and her cavalry officer husband. The story is extremely well crafted as we follow our characters through their five year quest to find each other among the ravages of wartime Europe while trying desperately to preserve their humanity in a world gone mad. This is a story of the perseverance and courage of common people drawn into extraordinary circumstances. It is a story that gives us everything we look for in quality historical fiction - compelling characters we care about, tightly focused narrative, suspense and drama. Be sure to give yourself time when you pick it up because you won't be able to put it down.

I disagree with the reader who thought Jacobsen tried to cover too much territory in one book. In fact, I thought Jacobsen handled the transitions from one part of the war to another with considerable skill. Thing is, he wasn't trying to give us a complete history of WWII, fascinating as that might be. He was telling the story of one couple -- Jan and Anna -- and their friends and families -- and he did it extremely well. The book is impeccably researched, taught me a few things I didn't know, and brought a horrible period of history to vivid life. RECOMMENDED.

For a nice easy/escape read on an airplane, this book is good. The story keeps you going. But if you are looking for a literate historical fiction, you may be disappointed. The dialogue in this is often drivel (there are times you will surely wince), the coincidences at times ridiculous, the character development thin, and very little description/feel for place which is what makes this genre so rich, is lacking. Read all of Alan Furst's work first (no one comes close), then when you can not live without this genre any longer, this will work.

This is not 5 star material.

Although I did like this book and I was able to continue with the characters I learned to love in the earlier book, Push Not the River, I found myself reminded of way too many years ago in a college lecture.
The history was interesting but far too much detail and not enough story.

I fell in love with the heroine, Anna in Push Not the River, yet in this book, Against a Crimson Sky, she had little more than a walk on part in much of the story. If anything this book concentrated way too much on military minutia and history of Poland and did not balance the original story of Jan & Anna's romance enough.

James Conroyd Martin has created yet another literary treasure with his sequel to PUSH NOT THE RIVER. Once again, his fabulous gift for storytelling has given me deeper insight into the history of Poland and has truly helped me understand how the political events of the day affected so many lives. Well done!

Against A Crimson Sky came in the mail today and I couldn't wait to begin reading. I ordered it as soon as I finished Push Not the River and I wanted to know what would happen to Anna. These two books were a great way to learn about Polish history and there is nothing dry about them. From the beginning of the saga you fall in love with Anna and worry about her scheming cousin Zofia. So many unfair things happen to Anna and to Poland. Even if you know the history you still hope for a happy ending. If you like historical fiction or romance or books set in foreign countries this will be an unforgettable read!

"Against a Crimson Sky" takes a gripping historical look at the final partition of Poland (1795), it's people, and tells the personal story of the Stelnickis. Martin uses a grand, sweeping style reminiscent of epic storytelling to paint a vivid picture of the era. "Against a Crimson Sky" is a book that can easily be visualized on the movie screen.

The story beings in 1794 shortly after the Russians invade Poland before the country's final partition. Zofia Gonska is pulled from a river escaping death. Switching scenes, Countess Anna Berezowska-Grawlinska (minor Polish nobility) makes her way back home to Sochaczew after the Russian invasion of Praga and reunites with her lover, Count Jan Stelnicki. As Poland is finally taken over by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, Anna and Jan get married and start their family.

Zofia, Anna's cousin, had previously tried to keep Anna and Jan apart. Now, she finds herself drawn to the peasant boy who saved her, Jerzy. Zofia though is like a bird that can't stay still and the peasant life isn't for her. She leaves Jerzy and returns to Praga, a town just outside of Warsaw, and gives birth to her daughter, Izabel.

Anna and Zofia make peace, yet Jan finds married life unable to satisfy his restless nature. When Napolean hints that he would return Poland to the Poles, Jan and his friend, Pawel, join the Emperor's legion, leaving Anna to raise their three children, Jan Michel, Tadeusz, and Barbara. Anna, uncomfortable with the local magistrate, Dolinski, leaves Sochaczew and moves in with Zofia at Praga.

As Napoleon marches across Europe, Anna and Zofia, as members of Poland's nobility, help to entertain various European dignitaries, including Russia's Czar, Alexander, and even Napolean himself. Zofia is always in the thick of Polish intrigue while Anna prefers to keep her eyes on her boys who have gone to military school.

After years apart, Jan is reunited with Anna in Sochaczew as their boys join Napolean's march into Russia. This time it's Anna who leaves Jan to work as a nurse in Praga. As Napolean's march into Russia holds the promise of a reunited Poland, will Jan and Anna's marriage withstand another separation? The end of the novel is surprising and satisfying.

The book's historical backdrop is intriguing and the supporting cast is not only dynamic, but strong in it's own right. Zofia, Pawel, Charlotte, and Dolinski have their own interesting stories to share. Anna is a vibrant lead character in her own right and is a steady, grounding force during the turbulent times of the book. Anna's nobility, whatever the situation, always shines through.

The pace is quick and the writing is sharp. The book is a sequel to "Push Not the River," but stands on it's own. For an exciting look at Poland's struggles and the human condition in the face of war, "Against a Crimson Sky," is a book that will keep the reader turning the page.

I purchased this book before my recent trip to Poland in order to understand the history of the country before arriving. I am not much of a history fan, but this interested me. The book was thorough about not only the history but also the culture, literature, etc., of what we now call Poland. The book was a little dry for me, but that's how I view most history books. The book does not go into every detail, but it will give you a good general idea of what happened when and to whom.

This book has by far exceeded my expectactions. As a person who was born and raised in Poland, I was somewhat surprised when I realized I was learning quite a few new things about my country's history, as well as having been reminded of a few facts and details that I had forgotten over the years. I was very impressed with Mr. Zamoyski's attention to detail and wealth of knowledge. I would definitely recommend this tome to anyone interested in this beautiful country's rich history and customs.

Oxford-educated and American-born, Adam Zamoyski's "The Polish Way" is a penetrating overview and anaylsis of Poland's history. The author's unique approach to an examination of a land where his own ancestors fulfilled a remarkable contributory role results in 22 chapters that I can only describe as brilliantly-conceived essays on some facet of Poland's unique character as illustrated in each successive epoch. In essence, each "essay", after a complete reading of this volume, can stand alone for return study and relishing. Zamoyski's examination of "Sarmatism" -- the unique mind-set of the Polish people -- is the most valuable gem in this jewel of a book!

I read this book on a trip to Poland and it enhanced the experience tremendously. Another reviewer wrote dismissively of this book, suggesting no one with any discernment need bother with it since they can read the far better work of Norman Davies instead. That sort of snobbery is undeserved. This book does not purport to be a definitive and exhaustive history of Poland, but it is an outstanding introductory work. Zamoyski's prose moves along as briskly as if the book were a novel, and yet he maintains rigorous academic standards.

Zamoyski dosen't waste any words in the Polish Way. His writing is to the point and flows nicely. All chapters made for great reading, however, chapter 21 was to our book club, the most touching. Chapter 21 gives an amazing assessment of the tragedies endured by the Polish People/Nation during WWII. It makes a very strong case that "Poland" lost WWII...think about it.... Amazing Book!; I'm thinking about re-reading it. Just Excellent!!!