Ireland Books

North has done something no author has done with regard to his subject in far too long; he actually took the time to look into it and put forth his own thoughts instead of regurgitating the works of others. (Most notably Stanley's "search for AS paganism") Just when I thought there was little ground left to break on the subject, along comes North's book and challenges long held and long overlooked aspects of Anglo Saxon pagan belief. From the onset of the book to the final chapter on Paulinus and the Stultus Error (which is brilliant I would like to add)I did not set this book down once. A must have for the student of Anglo Saxon culture and Theodisc Heathens alike. Brilliant work from a brilliant scholar. Wes thu Peter North hal!

While I found Mr North's overall view of Anglo Saxon Heathenry a bit short, his specific information and his comparitive knowledge and examples with the rest of the Germanic world is a treasure for todays Heathen/Asatruar. If you can spare the $, and are not new to Heathenry, get this book. You will be amazed at what hints of Heathenry survived in Anglo Saxon literature. Wes Heathens Hal! :-)

At last a book on gardening that doesn't assume the reader has unlimited money, and space, to work with- and best of all, Dillon admits to her gardening failures so you don't feel too bad about your own. I thought her wry humour on the subject of water features worth the price of the book in itself.

At last a book on gardening that doesn't assume the reader has unlimited money, and space, to work with- and best of all, Dillon admits to her gardening failures so you don't feel too bad about your own. I thought her wry humour on the subject of water features worth the price of the book in itself.

I had the privilege of being Dr. William A. Sessions' research assistant at Georgia State University, and I have never seen, before or since, a work of such outstanding scholarly research written in his unique style of combining scholarship with human insight -- making this work accessible to all, and extremely useful to the academic community. It is a fascinating story, well told--possibly the first academic "page-turner." This important biography is written with such insight and so compellingly one cannot put it down. It is an extraordinary work by a brilliant scholar who is also a marvelous writer.

The Earl of Surrey was the co-founder, along with Sir Thomas Wyatt, of modern English poetry; the whole procession from Spenser and Shakespeare down to Yeats and Eliot starts with Surrey and Wyatt. Surrey's most notable contributions were the creation of English blank verse and the development of the English sonnet from Italian models; without Surrey we should not have Shakespeare as we know him. Surrey was also a distinguished soldier and a loving husband, who was executed for treason at age twenty-nine.

The nineteenth century produced two excellent lives of Surrey, those of G. F. Nott and Edmond Bapst, the latter in French. The twentieth century had not done so well, as the principal accomplishment of Surrey's 1938 biographer, Edwin Casady, was translating Bapst's discoveries into English. William Sessions swings the balance the other way, his Henry Howard, the Poet Earl of Surrey being a magnificent tour of Surrey's life, his poetry, and his world.

Sessions offers the first fully integrated biography of Surrey, addressing his art, family, society, culture, religion, travels, and military career. The book is based on a massive amount of research, both archival and geographical, for Sessions visited virtually every site of importance in Surrey's life. The illustrations alone, some never published before or not properly identified, almost justify the cost of the book.

Sessions corrects many key facts of Surrey's unevenly documented career. He shows, for example, that Surrey was a moderate Protestant, whereas Nott, Bapst, and Casady simply assume that Surrey shared their own religious views--an approach complicated by the fact that Nott was a Protestant while the other two were Catholics. Getting Surrey's religion straight is absolutely essential to understanding a short life spent at the center of the escalating violence of the early Reformation. Finally, Sessions uses the full texts of the original documents concerning Surrey's downfall (instead of reading the published summaries), thereby untangling much of the mystery that occurred amid the religious strife, dynastic uncertainty, and naked ambition at the end of the reign of Henry VIII.

The history of non-violent liberation movements, as re-told in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, often neglects mention of this wonderful character. Eyewitness to the bloody mess that was the French Revolution, he came to the task of liberating his own country with wit, energy and a commitment to avoid bloodshed.
The best part of this wonderful book for me is the story of how over a period of years, O'Connell and his "Catholic Rent", collected faithfully around the country, eventually empowered enough people to meet the requirements of the franchise (in effect, buying the right to vote) to be able to elect their own representatives instead of being represented again by men chosen for them by the local feudal establishment.
MacDonagh presents The Liberator in all his contradictory glory. Feared by the British as a rabble rouser and eventually dismissed as a compromiser by more radical successors, this careful Dublin lawyer showed his countrymen that their country could be theirs once again. It's a great story, as sad and thrilling as any good Irish story, and this book is wonderfully well written. I recommend it to anyone interested in human liberty and/or Irish history.

Few figures in Irish history loom as large as the nationalist politician Daniel O'Connell. Born in 1775 to a small landowning family, he was taken in by a wealthy uncle who sponsored his education. After studying in Catholic schools in France and at the Inns of Court in London, O'Connell quickly emerged as one of the most successful lawyers in Ireland and a leading figure in Irish politics. Having witnessed the excesses of the French Revolution, he rejected the use of violence and preferred to work within the existing political framework to achieve his goal of Catholic emancipation - one which he finally achieved in 1829 after decades of effort.

Oliver MacDonagh's book, the first of a two-volume study of O'Connell, details the personal and political struggles of this period of O'Connell's life. Relying heavily on O'Connell's extensive correspondence, MacDonagh provides an informative analysis of his life in a briskly-moving text that rarely bogs down in tedious detail. If there is a problem with this book, it lies in the author's assumptions of the reader's familiarity with the period. Too often he addresses people and events in passing, leaving out background details and even first names from his narrative. Some explanatory text about matters like the veto or comparisons of the cost of living in Ireland and France would have greatly aided his explanation of events.

Such problems aside, this is an excellent book. MacDonagh offers a well-written study of Daniel O'Connell's life, enhancing our understanding of his measures and motives. It is likely to remain the definitive study the man for many years to come, one that helps us to appreciate this dynamic individual and his impact on Irish history.

And so goes the story of Abelard and Heloise:

Living within the precincts of Notre-Dame, under the care of her uncle, the canon Fulbert, was a girl named Heloise, of noble birth, and born about 1101. She is said to have been beautiful, but still more remarkable for her knowledge, which extended beyond Latin, it is said, to Greek and Hebrew. Abélard fell in love with her; and he sought and gained a place in Fulbert's house. Becoming tutor to the girl, he used his power for the purpose of seduction, and she returned his devotion. Their relations interfered with his public work, and were not kept a secret by Abélard himself. Soon everyone knew except the trusting Fulbert. When he found out, they were separated, only to meet in secret. Heloise became pregnant, and was carried off by her lover to Brittany, where she gave birth to a son. To appease her furious uncle, Abélard proposed a secret marriage, in order not to mar his prospects of advancement in the church; but Heloise opposed the idea. She appealed to him not to sacrifice for her the independence of his life, but reluctantly gave in to pressure. The secret of the marriage was not kept by Fulbert; and when Heloise boldly denied it, life was made so difficult for her that she sought refuge in the convent of Argenteuil at Abélard's bidding. Immediately Fulbert, believing that her husband, who had helped her run away, wanted to be rid of her, plotted revenge. He and some others broke into Abélard's chamber by night, and castrated him. The priesthood and ecclesiastical office were canonically closed to him. Heloise, not yet twenty, consummated her work of self-sacrifice at Abélard's jealous bidding that she never again share romantic love with a man, and became a nun.

Sometimes men just get what they deserve! A fascinating autobiography that at turns is arrogant and at other bitter. A great read for any student of medieval history!

Peter Abelard (1079-c.1142) was a renowned French philosopher and theologian, though he is usually remembered today for his affair with the beautiful Heloise, which ended with his being castrated by the girl's uncle. This short book (48 pages) contains Peter Abelard's autobiography, entitled Historia Calamitatum or The Story of My Misfortunes, which was written shortly before his death. In it, Dr. Abelard, shows how his life unfolded; from his promising youth, through to his seduction of Heloise, and on to his problems as an abbot of the monastery at Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuis.

I must say, that I found this to be a fascinating read. Dr. Abelard thought very highly of himself, making such remarks as, "Thus I who by this time had come to regard myself as the only philosopher remaining in the whole world..." Concomitantly, he thought very little of the people around him. In his recollections, his brilliance shown like a thousand suns, and his teachers and fellows all came to hate him because of their jealousy. Everywhere he went people came to hate him, through no fault of his own, but only through their jealousy and evil. I imagine that he was a difficult man to love; my hat is off to Heloise.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating, and very insightful read. I now feel that I understand what Peter Abelard was truly like. If you wish to read Dr. Abelard's defense of himself, and look through a window into his soul, then I highly recommend that you get this book.

After buying several books and guides I have found that Historic Houses Castles & Gardens is the perfect guide for anyone interested in travel to Great Britain and Ireland. It is jam packed with color photos of each location it presents. It provides acurate information on such topics as opening times, availible options, and location. The book also provides a very helpful listing of recommendations of properties by Johansen and a useful calender of events. Also included is a list of sites that perform civil marriages and maps showing all locations featured in the book. This book is wonderful for anyone that loves architecture or is planning a vaction. It is a very concise guide to some of the most wonderful treasures of Great Britain and Ireland.

Historic Houses Castles & Gardens is a wonderful guide for anyone interested in looking at beatiful architecture and for anyone planning a vacation. It has very accurate information and includes opening times, what is availible at each site, and interesting facts. The book also in includes reccomendations on where you can stay when in Great Brittian or Ireleand. It is a very comprehensive and wonderful guide to some of the treasuers of Great Brittian and Ireleand.

This book took a time and a man, explained the truth of the time and captured my heart. Knowing there was King and how Mr. Reno went about proving his existance was interesting, intreeging, heart warming and fun. I can not wait for the next book!

"The Historic King Arthur" is perhaps not a book suited for first-time travelers through the murky forests of Arthurian history, searching for the reality behind fifteen centuries of myths and tales. It might be best to first read one or more other works dealing with this great mystery before tackling Frank Reno's highly detailed, deep-delving study of the ancient sources that shed light upon the question. That way, the journey through the writings of Gildas and Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth and various scribes and poets will not be quite so daunting. But make no mistake about it, once some fundamental grounding in the basics of the Arthurian quest has been obtained, then "The Historic King Arthur" (and its sequel, "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Age") should be read carefully. Reno minutely examines each source (and most of them are to be found with numerous variations) to lay out his case for his solution to the central questions of the Arthurian mystery: Who was King Arthur? Where did he live? When did he live? Who were his enemies? What was his role in history? And what was really his name?

Reno acts as a guide in this journey in search of historical truth, explaining his methods and logic in evaluating the evidence, but he does not rigidly insist upon the absolute truth of his conclusions. Frequently, he explains that there are other reasonable answers to the questions than the one he favors. Sometimes, such as in his analysis of the locations of many of the battles fought by Arthur (as described in Reno's "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Era"), he concludes that no single "best" answer is really possible. At times, his explanations are complex and subtle to the point where the reader may have difficulty following the path Reno is laying out. That is perhaps a natural consequence of the type of evidence that must be used and of the detail in which it is presented. Usually, however, Reno returns to the same subject of investigation later in the book to again address the questions and to clarify his answers. Thus, attention to detail on the reader's part is required and patience must be exercised as the author slowly builds his case.

And what are Reno's answers to what above I termed the central questions? He believes that Arthur was of a Roman-British background, operating as a high king primarily in Wales and the adjacent midlands, although also in southern England and northern Gaul, from the middle of the Fifth Century AD through the early portion of the Sixth. Reno contends that many of Arthur's campaigns were waged not against Saxon hordes fresh from Germany, but against Saxons who had been settled in Britain for one or more generations, these "English" Saxons being in league with leaders and forces of native British. And Reno believes that "Arthur" was a man known otherwise to history as Ambrosius Aurelianus and as Riothamus and finally as Arthurex, not a name at all but an epithet connoting his status as a great leader.

I will not claim that I am yet wholly convinced of this "triad" equation of Ambrosius Aurelianus, Riothamus, and Arthur but, as the author himself points out, rejection of this total identity does not negate the validity of many parts of Reno's overall work. I found to be especial important Reno's conclusions regarding Cerdic, a "Saxon" king with a wholly Celtic name, and Cerdic's people, the West Saxons. If Reno is correct, our understanding of the Arthurian era must be substantially altered, with a consequence that the course of events becomes much more clear. I expect Reno's conclusions to be challenged - this is inevitable in a field where evidence is scant and subject to multiple interpretations - but at the very least he has provided us with a provocative, comprehensive portrait of man and era.

To my knowledge there is no other Arthurian study available to the general public that explores the ancient sources in such depth to provide answers to the old questions. If I might be critical of some peripheral features, I do wish that the index was somewhat more comprehensive and illuminating (given the complexity of the issues at hand, I found myself turning to the index again and again to go back to earlier points) and the maps, although numerous, sometimes lack the visual clarity that could have been achieved. Nonetheless, "The Historic King Arthur" and "Historic Figures In the Arthurian Era" are books that should be of great interest to anyone seriously interested in attempting to glimpse the real King Arthur.

Plakans' dictionary is well thought out and reads extremely well with supporting background material. A must for scholars and historians as well as the casual Baltic observer or student!

For anyone who is interest in the history of Latvia, this book is a MUST. The book does not go in great depth. But presents the reader with highlights of Latvian history, culture, and chronology. Most of the book consists of a historical dictionary. The historical dictionary, portion of the book, is interesting. After the dictionary, I would rate the bibliography as interesting and useful. It is 25-1/2 pages long.

This book is a MUST, for the Latvian historian.

Having stayed in 38 paradors in Spain, I found this book to be most interesting and illustrated with beautiful photographs; I only wish it had included a few more of the paradors. Many of our friends know that we are devoted to the Paradores, and now plan our yearly trips to Spain around them, so I consider this book to be an appropriate Christmas gift.

About 80% beautiful photos and 20% useful information, Historical Paradors : A Journey Through Spanish Hotels shows a side of beautiful Spain that most tourists never see. The photos of these stunning architectural wonders stir the imagination of the Old World and makes me twitch towards planning my next trip to Spain. This book is DEFINITELY coffee-table caliber!!! And if MadridMan of MadridMan.com likes it, it's GOT to be gooooood!

This review is necesary for understand the History Teory, it's more importand for thaformation of de Historian

This review is necesary for understand the History Teory, it's more importand for thaformation of de Historian