Tag: book review

Book Review: “Castles: A Fortified History of the World” by Dan Jones

On By hmalagisiIn Book Reviews1 Comment

When we think of castles, for most of us, we think of either fairy tale castles or medieval fortresses that were home to royalty and nobility. However, this only scratches the surface of the history of castles. The origins of structures that we know as castles go back centuries and are still being built in the modern age. And it was not just in Europe where castles were used to defend humanity, but all over the world. Dan Jones has taken on the arduous task of taking his readers on a journey through centuries and across continents to tell the stories of some amazing architecture. This is his latest tome, “Castles: A Fortified History of the World.”

I want to thank Viking and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. As many of you know, I am a huge Dan Jones fan, so when I heard that he was writing a new nonfiction book, I knew I wanted to read it. When it was announced that it was going to be about the history of castles, it caught my attention because one of my favorite documentary series was Secrets of Great British Castles, so I knew this was going to be a very good book. I wanted to see how well Jones would be tackling architectural history in a book.

Jones begins our journey with an explanation of what a castle is before exploring the Bronze Age cities, with a special emphasis on the legendary city of Troy. Each chapter of this book focuses on a different era of history and explores famous castles from the period and how they were important. We also get to see the archaeological work done at these sites and how the research gives us even more delightful stories that make the past even richer.

After the Bronze Age and Troy, we move to Iron Age Hillforts in Britannia, with a highlight of Maiden Castle. We then move to the Islamic Castles, which include the fantastic Alhambra Castle, a familiar castle to those who study the life of Catherine of Aragon and her family. Our journey continues with the Viking ring fortresses and the Norman castles, which include Baynard Castle and the Tower of London. Jones goes back to his roots by exploring the Crusader castles, such as Jacob’s Ford and Château Pèlerin. Then you have your chivalric castles, like Caernarfon Castle, the great walls associated with Hadrian, and the Great Wall of China. The Renaissance ushered in great halls like Castel Sant’ Angel while being defensive, like the samurai castles such as Osaka Castle. Finally, we explore the fantasy castles, bringing to mind the Sleeping Beauty Castle of Disneyland and the castles that were used for modern wars. Jones even explores American castles, which as an American that felt a little odd because I never considered the US having castles.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the architectural history of castles. Jones did cover a lot of ground in this book and several centuries. Of course, he couldn’t cover every castle on every continent, as that would constitute a book series instead of a single tome. If you are someone who wants to read about castles all around the world, I highly recommend you read “Castles: A Fortified History of the World” by Dan Jones.

Book Review: “Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance” by Joseph Luzzi

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

In the present day, we think the pinnacle of art and architecture is the Italian Renaissance, but the concept of the Renaissance is relatively new. For the artists and craftsmen who lived during that time in the Italian states, primarily in Florence, it was just their lives. So how did we come up with the concept of the Renaissance for this era in history? It all started with the rediscovery of a series of drawings by Botticelli and their connections to the great poet, Dante. How did Botticelli’s art bring back an interest in this period, and why does the Renaissance matter in the modern day? Joseph Luzzi discusses the drawings that reignited an interest in this period of Italian art history in his book, “Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance.”

This is one of those books that I found while perusing the used bookstores. I have noticed myself getting more and more into Italian Renaissance history, specifically about the famous artists of the period. When I saw that this particular book focused on Botticelli and Dante, it was intriguing to me.

We begin in the late 19th century with a man named Friedrich Lippmann and the bid for a collection of drawings that would alter how we view the period known as the Renaissance. These images were over 100 drawings of Dante’s epic The Divine Comedy created by renowned artist Botticelli. To understand the significance of this project, we must go back to the time when the Medicis ruled Florence. Dante would meet and fall in love with his muse Beatrice, the guide to his Divine Comedy. His masterpiece was an instant sensation in Florence, which inspired artists such as Botticelli, to create their own pieces inspired by it, which includes the over 100 drawings by Botticelli. While Dante’s star continued to rise after his death, Botticelli’s story started to decline into obscurity, minus a few notable pieces.

While I found the first part of this book, which was primarily about Dante, the Medicis, and Botticelli, the second part is where I started to lose interest. The second part of the book explores those who helped invent the term Renaissance and why they believed that this artwork was so important to protect and preserve. While I appreciate the amount of research Luzzi did in this section, it felt a bit dry for me. Overall, I think this was a decent book, but while it was called Botticelli’s secret, it was more about Dante’s greatness. If you want a book that explores the origins of the term Renaissance and how Dante inspired Botticelli, I recommend you read “Botticelli’s Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance” by Joseph Luzzi.

Book Review: “Royal Witch” by Philippa Gregory

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

One woman’s ambitions for power, love, and a child will cost her everything. England is in a golden age with King Henry V and Queen Catherine of Valois on the throne. Jacqueline of Hainault has come to England to ask for help to take back her birthright. A young woman named Eleanor Cobham joins Jacqueline’s court, but Eleanor desires more. She wants power, the man she loves to love her, and a child. But when all else fails, Eleanor turns to a darker path to secure the throne. How did things go so horribly wrong, and why did Eleanor go to such extreme measures? Philippa Gregory tells the tale of Eleanor Cobham and the charges that made her infamous in her latest novel, “Royal Witch.”

I want to thank William Morrow and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. In recent years, I have come to appreciate Gregory’s newer books, so when I heard that she was writing a novel about Eleanor Cobham, it caught my attention. I have heard of Eleanor Cobham as a side character in books about King Henry VI, but I didn’t know much about her life, so I wanted to see how Gregory would tell her tale.

We begin the day that Eleanor Cobham’s life changed when her mother died, and Eleanor was no longer destined to live in a monastery. Now, she could chart her own path, which happened to land her in the court of Henry V. There, she meets the woman whom she will serve, Jacqueline of Hainault. Jacqueline is a woman on a mission to get her counties of Hainault, Holland, and Zeeland back from her husband, John of Brabant, whom she wants a divorce from, and Philip, Duke of Brittany. The only way she can do that is by seeking the help of King Henry V. Henry V’s brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, comes to Jacqueline’s aid as he seeks to become her husband and Count of Hainault. While navigating the complex nature of Jacqueline’s situation, Eleanor falls in love with a young Welshman, Owen ap Maredudd.

Nothing can stay the same forever, as the powerful King Henry V dies, leaving the throne to his infant son, King Henry VI. Eleanor does eventually marry, but not truly for love, but for power, as she finds out that Owen made a scandalous match of his own and married Dowager Queen Catherine of Valois. Eleanor and her husband, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, try everything to get ahead, but in the end, Eleanor resorts to consulting Margery Jourdemayne and others to help in a darker matter. The cost will be insurmountable for Eleanor Cobham.

This was an engrossing novel about a lesser-known figure in Plantagenet history. Eleanor is one of those figures you want to stop and let her be satisfied with the life she had, but you know they are digging themselves further into a hole that they cannot escape from. I am excited to see who Gregory will write about next. If you want a delightfully dark and dangerous novel about one woman’s unlimited ambitions and her fall from grace, I highly recommend you read “Royal Witch” by Philippa Gregory.

Book Review: “The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women’s Roles in Society” by Eleanor Janega

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

For centuries, we have wondered what makes the ideal woman. Our modern ideal of what a woman should be has changed slightly over recent years, but how much have our ideas changed over time? The best way to see how our ideas have evolved over time is to examine how other eras of history viewed women. Take, for example, the Medieval era. What was it like to be an ideal medieval woman? How should women love, and how should they appear to men? In other words, how were medieval women supposed to be in a very male-dominated world? Eleanor Janega examines these questions in her book, “The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women’s Roles in Society.”

I have been following Eleanor Janega online for a few years now, and I have heard about this particular book, but I had yet to read it. I decided to give it a shot because I wanted to see what new information Janega would provide on the subject of medieval women.

As Janega explains in her introduction, this book is broken down into five sections: the ancient philosophy that influenced how medieval scholars viewed women, how men looked at women, how women were expected to love, women’s working roles in society, and why understanding how medieval women were viewed matters for the modern world. We begin with the philosophy of Greece and Rome, as well as ancient Christian theology, to better understand what medieval scholars thought of men and women and the opposite sex. We then look at different examples of women throughout history, like Eve, the Virgin Mary, and Helen of Troy, to show what the ideal standard of beauty was and what medieval motherhood was idolized.

We get to see how women were expected to make love and to express love towards their husbands in order to have children. But women did more than get married and have children. They had jobs, so Janega takes the time to explore different occupations women could do outside of the household for any class, from commoners to queens to even nuns. Finally, we explore how our views on women have changed and how, by studying medieval women, we can strive to build a better future for the women who come after us.

I found this a rather enjoyable read, full of tons of information that I did not know. It gave me a better appreciation for the women of the past. If you want to study more about medieval women, I highly recommend you read “The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women’s Roles in Society” by Eleanor Janega.

Book Review: “J’Accuse: A Medieval Crime and a Servant Girl Who Changed History” by Jennifer D. Thibodeaux

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

In 1429, two women’s lives changed for different reasons. For Joan of Arc, it was the year that she led the French to victory and crowned the dauphin King Charles VII of France. In Normandy, it was the year that a young servant girl was violently attacked. The servant girl, Jeanne Corviere, decided to fight against her abuser in court. Her case would forever change the history of Rouen, where the trial was held. What is Jeanne’s story, and what were the results of her trial? Jennifer D. Thibodeaux tells Jeanne’s tale in her book, “J’Accuse: A Medieval Crime and a Servant Girl Who Changed History.”

I would like to thank Godine and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always in search of books that provide information about obscure stories from history, so when I saw that this book was about a case of a servant girl and her attackers, it caught my eye. I wanted to see what new information Thibodeaux could provide for this period.

We begin with the day that Jeanne Corviere was attacked by Exupere Le Mire, who had asked Jeanne to help his wife deliver a baby. That was a lie, as Le Mire viciously attacked Jeanne in the woods and left her severely injured. She made her way to the nearest town, and while she was healing, decided that she would sue Exupere Le Mire for compensation. Thibodeaux explains the different types of rape cases while explaining how a woman’s role in society could change how the case was handled. Another aspect that would alter Jeanne’s case was something known as the Privilege of Saint Romain, which allowed the clergy of Rouen to select a prisoner to be released from prison and his or her crimes to be eliminated.

Thibodeaux takes her readers on a journey, telling Jeanne’s story over the course of a decade. We are also introduced to figures behind the scenes that fought either for Jeanne or for Le Mire. She also chooses to pair Jeanne’s story with Joan of Arc’s tragic tale of her trial and execution. While it does provide more context to the overall story of France while Jeanne’s trial was ongoing, it felt a bit distracting to me. I wanted to focus on Jeanne’s story, and it felt as if her story took a back seat for a little bit.

Overall, this was a fine book. I did learn a lot about Jeanne Corviere and her case, and the book was easy to follow. Thibodeaux clearly did her research for such an obscure case. If you want to read a book about a medieval legal case, I recommend you read “J’Accuse: A Medieval Crime and a Servant Girl Who Changed History” by Jennifer D. Thibodeaux.

Book Review: “Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster” by Alison Weir

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

If you have been studying the Tudors for any length of time, you probably know the origins of the dynasty. The young Henry Tudor, son of Margaret Beaufort, defeats King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field to become King Henry VII. While the story of the Tudors is a fascinating one, there is a second story that does not get enough attention, and that is how the Beaufort family was founded. It all starts with a love story between John of Gaunt, the son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault, and his long-time mistress and sister-in-law to Geoffrey Chaucer, Katherine Swynford. Katherine has always been seen as a side character in history, until now. Alison Weir tells Katherine’s story in her biography, “Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster” by Alison Weir. 

I have heard about this book for years, but I had not read it until now. I found this book in a used bookstore and finally decided to give it a shot. I have read novels that have featured John and Katherine’s love story, but this is the first time I have read a biography about Katherine herself, so I was excited to learn more. 

Katherine Swynford started life as Katherine de Roet, the daughter of Sir Paon de Roet, a family that had connections to Philippa of Hainault in France. Her sister, Philippa, would marry Geoffrey Chaucer, the author of The Canterbury Tales and an ally of John of Gaunt. Katherine was destined to marry Sir Hugh Swynford, and they had four children: Margaret, Blanche, Sir Thomas Swynford, and Dorothy. While Katherine was married to Hugh Swynford, she would help John of Gaunt and his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster, raise their children, including the future King Henry IV, Elizabeth Lancaster, and Philippa Lancaster, who would become Queen of Portugal. 

Katherine and John each had successful first marriages, but things changed when both Blanche and Hugh died. Katherine remained a widow in John’s household, whereas John remarried Constance of Castile and began a fight for the Castilian throne. During this time, John and Katherine fell in love and had children of their own, who would be known as the Beauforts: John, Jean, Henry, and Thomas. While John and Katherine tried to keep their relationship on the down low, England was changing with the death of King Edward III and the rise of Richard II, the Black Prince’s son and heir. Katherine and John had to navigate the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 and Richard II vs. the Lords Appellant, which included young Henry Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV. Katherine and John shocked England when, after Constance died, John married Katherine, and their Beaufort children were considered legitimate. Weir follows Katherine after John’s death and shows how the Beaufort children continue their legacy, becoming part of the Tudor dynasty and changing English history forever.

Overall, I found this an extremely enjoyable biography that brought a woman who was rather obscure to light. It cemented for me that John of Gaunt truly loved Katherine Swynford. If you want to read a biography about a romance that changed English history, I recommend you read “Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster” by Alison Weir.

Book Review: “Women Who Ruled The World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy” by Elizabeth Norton

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Who runs the world? For most of human history, the typical answer is a King, Prince, Emperor, Sultan, or President. In short, male rulers. However, if we take a deeper dive into world history, we will see cases of women ruling their own countries. We think of women ruling as an anomaly, but in some parts of the world, it is quite common. How did these women come to power and fight for their right to rule? Elizabeth Norton explores centuries of ladies who held power in some way in her latest book, “Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy.”

I have been a big fan of Elizabeth Norton’s previous books and the information she shares about her travels around the world. When I saw that she was writing a book about female monarchies around the world, it caught my attention. I am a sucker for learning about female rulers, but I tend to focus on medieval European leaders. I wanted to expand my knowledge of world history, so when I read the description of this book, it sounded perfect for me.

To cover such a swath of women’s history, Norton has selected a few women to highlight in chapters dedicated to aspects of their reigns. You have your queens who took control for the men in their lives, those who took the throne for themselves, child queens, warrior queens, queens who were both famous and infamous, rulers who had to deal with colonization, empresses, and the queens of the 21st century. We begin in ancient Egypt and explore every continent, except Antarctica, from 5000 years ago to the modern day.

While there are some women whose names are familiar to me, such as Matilda of England, Cleopatra VII of Egypt, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I of England, Isabel I of Castile, Victoria of the United Kingdom, and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the majority of these women were new to me. You have the ancient queens like Merneith, Hatshepsut, and Arsinoe IV of Egypt, the Kandakes of Kush, and Zenobia of Palmyra. We get to explore further into European royalty with Margrete I of Denmark, Charlotte of Cyprus, Blanche II and Leonor of Navarre, Elizaveta and Catherine II of Russia, Tamar of Georgia, Jeanne of France, Maria Theresia of Austria-Hungary, and Juana la Beltraneja. Further east, we get to explore the lives of Wu Zetian of China, the 8 empresses who ruled Japan, as well as the rulers of Bora Bora, Bhopal, Sydney, Madagascar, and Tonga. Finally, we also get to learn about the Rain Queens of the Balobedu and the last queen of Hawaii, Lili ‘uokalani.

This was a delightful read full of fascinating female rulers. I must applaud Norton for the copious amount of research that went into this book and how easy it was to read. It gives readers like me a chance to explore different cultures through the lives of colorful queens. If you want a unique read about other cultures and centuries of female rulers, you must read “Women Who Ruled the World: 5000 Years of Female Monarchy” by Elizabeth Norton.

Book Review: “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

When we think about pirates, we often think of the scallywags of the late 17th and early 18th century. We think about predominantly men who sailed in the tropical waters of the New World, stealing and pillaging while drinking rum and avoiding the navies of Spain, France, and England. While this image is relatively accurate, piracy has been an occupation for centuries,s and it was not just a job for men. There were some famous women pirates like Anne Bonny and Mary Read, but there is one who does not get a lot of attention. Her name is Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen of 16th-century Ireland, who met with Queen Elizabeth I. How did Grace become a pirate, and what were the circumstances of her legendary meeting with Queen Elizabeth I? Ariel Lawhon explores the life of this extraordinary woman in her latest novel, “The Pirate Queen.”

I would like to thank Doubleday and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have heard of Grace o’Malley in previous books that I have read about Elizabeth I, but I didn’t know much about Grace. When I heard that there was going to be a novel about her life, I knew I wanted to read it. This is the first time I have read a novel by Ariel Lawhon, so I was excited to see how she would tell Grace’s story.

This novel is very unique in the way the story is told. It is based on the Trinity knot, in which Grace’s story is told in three separate parts: Maiden, Mother, and Matriarch. Each chapter focuses on one of the stages of Grace’s life. Grace O’Malley, also known as Grainne O’Malley, was the daughter of Eoin O’Malley, The O’Malley, and his wife Maeve. Grace also has an illegitimate brother named Donal, who is basically her best friend. All Grace wants to do is sail the seas like her father, but her gender hinders her ability to do so. To her family, she is a pawn in the marriage market to make a strong alliance with the O’Flaherty clan.

Through the Mother storyline, we see Grace’s tumultuous relationship with her first husband, Donal O’Flaherty, who likes to pick fights with everyone. Grace does not love her husband, but a childhood friend, Richard Bourke. However, Grace is a mother of three and a woman who is willing to fight on the sea for her family, even if it means she gains powerful enemies, including the Governor of Connaught, Sir Richard Bingham.

I enjoyed this book, even though the format took me a minute to get used to, as I prefer a novel in chronological order. The actual story was compelling,g and Grace was a strong female lead; I just wish we got to see more of her pirate antics. Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I hope Lawhon continues writing about women in the 16th century and further back. If you want a novel about a female pirate, I suggest you check out “The Pirate Queen” by Ariel Lawhon.

Book Review: “The Undying Lamb” by Paul Brous

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

A single child can frighten kings and the pope just by existing. The year is 1230, and Europe is on fire with war and the repercussions of the Crusades. Caught in the middle are a baby boy and his protectors who must get to a safe location before forces who want to see the baby dead catch up to them. On top of it all, the Cathars are in danger of being eliminated due to their beliefs. Can the child and his protectors escape Rome, or will the child be killed? Will the Cathars survive,e or will they be persecuted for what they believe? Paul Brous explores these topics in his novel, “The Undying Lamb.”

I want to thank Rising Action and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I like reading about new aspects of medieval Europe. I saw this novel was going to feature a storyline featuring the Cathars, who don’t get much attention from casual history lovers. I wanted to see how he would tell the tale of the Cathars and how the story of a child everyone wants dead would be incorporated into this narrative.

We begin with an extensive glossary of terms used in this book, which includes phrases in Latin, Occitan, French, Sardu, and Italian, which I found extremely useful and showed how much research Brous poured into this novel before I started reading. The actual story starts with Sibilia meeting the mysterious Robin. They are given the task of protecting a baby they call Will, but his identity is the Grail Child, one whom people fear will bring forth the Apocalypse. The mission was put together by Pope Gregory IX and his right-hand man, Cardinal Goffredo Castiglioni, to protect Will from people like Blanche of Castile, who fears that the child would be a threat to her son,n while King Henry III of England threatens to invade France.

To make matters worse, you have the church going after the Cathars during the Albigensian Crusade. While many of the Cathars have been eliminated by the time of this novel, there are still pockets of resistance. Now, the church is sending an inquisition after one such group. So while we have the Grail Child storyline, we also have the Cathar storyline with multiple points of view. 

Personally, I think that the plotlines included in this novel would have been better as two separate novels so that the ideas could have been developed fully. Either that or have an ending that alludes to a sequel novel. Overall, it was an okay read for me; I just felt like he had too many ideas for one novel. If you want to read a decent medieval novel that explores a different aspect of the past, you might enjoy “The Undying Lamb” by Paul Brous.

Book Review: “The King’s Mother” by Annie Garthwaite

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

The year is 1461, and a new king sits on England’s throne. Edward IV has earned his right to sit on the throne by winning the crown at the Battle of Towton. Now, he must fight for his throne against the Lancastrians and his own family. However, there is one woman who stands firmly by his side: his mother Cecily, Dowager Duchess of York. She earned another title the day he was crowned, that of the King’s Mother. As Edward fights his own battles, so too does Cecily to protect her family. Annie Garthwaite concludes Cecily’s story in her novel, “The King’s Mother.”

I remember reading “Cecily” five years ago and thoroughly enjoying myself. Cecily was such an amazing debut novel, and I was so excited to see how Garthwaite would conclude her story. 

We begin with the aftermath of Towton, the battle that secured the crown for the Yorkist cause for a while. Cecily finally believes that her family is safe, for now. But as the King’s mother, she knows that the position is fragile, as war can begin again at any moment, especially with Marguerite of Anjou still at large. Edward is arranging his court and is looking for a wife- well, a legal wife, because he was already technically married to one, Eleanor Talbot, but that surely would not become an issue later on, right? While there were plans for Edward to marry a French princess so they could create an alliance, Edward chose an English widow named Elizabeth Woodville to be his wife and queen. To say Cecily and Elizabeth got along like oil and water would be an understatement. 

This marriage caused a rift between Edward and his cousin/top advisor, Warwick, and in the end, Edward had to face off against Warwick, Marguerite, and his brother George. While Edward is able to fight back against Warwick and Marguerite, ending the Lancastrian cause for a while, it is his feud with his brother George that would have deadly consequences and tear the family that Cecily fought so hard to protect apart. With Edward’s sudden death, her only remaining son, Richard, goes from protector of Edward’s sons to the King of England, until he is defeated by the usurper Henry Tudor. 

To tell this story of the short-lived Yorkist dynasty and the rise of the Tudors through Cecily’s eyes was engrossing, heartbreaking, and a tremendous read. Cecily was not some wallflower, but a fierce protector of her family who earned the right to be considered the first King’s Mother. If you loved “Cecily” as much as I did, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read “The King’s Mother” by Annie Garthwaite.