History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

America's Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians

Average customer rating:

Deserves 20 stars! A Masterpiece!
EXCELLENT Model Reference: Beautiful Pictures, Beautiful Homes
A Must For Victorian House Owners
a great victorian house book
The pinnacle of the series

America's Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians
Elizabeth Pomada , Michael Larsen , Douglas Keister , and Elizabeth Pomanda
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140238573

Customer Reviews:

Deserves 20 stars! A Masterpiece!.......2007-06-16

WOW!! This book is truly a feast for the eyes, and that's no exaggeration! There are so many first rate photos and plenty of text. Every page has multiple color photos. It is a very heavy book! The paper is high quality and the photos are extremely high resolution and stunningly beautiful. What a great job they did just in printing this book! If you love Victorian homes, then this book is a must have! I like it so much I think I will eventually buy a brand new hardcover copy of it (I bought a used paperback copy). I plan on getting all the other books in this series too. Some of the very best Victorian homes are in this book. They kind of remind me of Disneyland with all the colorful paint schemes and fanciful shapes and decorations.

EXCELLENT Model Reference: Beautiful Pictures, Beautiful Homes.......2005-09-28

Believe it or not but the main reason I purchased this beautiful book was for reference material for scale model building (i.e. LEGO, etc.). I was hunting forever for a book on Victorian homes--with pictures of the OUTSIDE (as most of the books on Victorian architecture deal with the classic interior designs, furniture, etc.). LEGO and Victorian homes go hand in hand, as this book's wonderful color pictures perfectly illustrate--who could imagine such combinations would actually look so stunning!? In addition to excellent photography the text is well written, with interesting facts about each home, why it's unique, yet how it fits into the overall "Painted Lady" lineage... excellent. :-)

A Must For Victorian House Owners.......2004-07-24

A fantastic book, a must for anyone who is thinking about painting a Victorian house. It was very helpful to me and my husband who had to come up with a color scheme for our three-story Queen Anne built in 1895.

If you're in the same boat, then you know that deciding on a color scheme for a detailed Victorian house isn't easy and takes careful thought and consideration. This book will help you. It will give you countless ideas, and just looking at the photos is inspiring.

And then, the book will appeal to any fan of Victorian architecture as well. I love looking at the numerous photos of the houses and find myself thumbing through it again and again. Every time I look at this book, I see something intriguing that I hadn't noticed before. Such a book serves to keep me inspired during the remainder of our home's renovation, which is trying at times.

a great victorian house book.......2004-01-31

i was speechless each picture was so beautiful , i love each and every house. a great book

The pinnacle of the series.......2003-08-14

Taller than any of the other books and nearly twice as thick as the thickest, this gorgeous 1992 volume (Ms. Pomada, isn't it time we got a fifth??), once again produced with the help of partner Larsen and photographer Keister, is, like "Daughters of Painted Ladies," a survey of Victorian homes from all over the country. From Searsport, ME, where the subtly detailed, white-bodied Mansard Carriage House Inn welcomes its guests, to a pink 1887 Steamboat Gothic in National City, near San Diego, here are dozens of Victorians, large and small, somber and vivid, plus an assortment of interiors, some fully period, others furnished in more contemporary style against the richly detailed background of the time. If you buy it to "get ideas" for your own Painted Lady, you'll find more than you can choose between. If you buy it just to look at, be prepared to spend hours drooling! A treasure trove for lovers of period detail, which is so admirably brought out by the creative combinations of color used in decorating these buildings.

The Painted Lady (Christopher Redmayne Mystery)

Average customer rating:

A portrait of murder

The Painted Lady (Christopher Redmayne Mystery)
Edward Marston
Manufacturer: Allison & Busby
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0749081627

Book Description

Araminta Jewell is one of the beauties of her day; a witty, resourceful, dazzling young lady who manages to resist all the blandishments that come her way. Even her marriage to the staid and ugly Sir Martin Culthorpe has not tamed the rakes of London; for them she has assumed almost iconic status. So much so, that the first man belonging to the Society for the Capture of Araminta’s Maidenhood who beds her stands to win a sizeable prize from the club’s contributions.

It is during her first sitting for a portrait painted by the fashionable French artist Jean-Paul Villemot that the architect Christopher Redmayne meets the lovely Lady Culthorpe, although he ahs heard much about her through his brother Henry, one of her most ardent pursuers.

Before the portrait can be finished and revealed, however, Sir Martin is murdered. Joining forces with Henry and his friend constable John Bale, Christopher is soon inundated with suspects. Was Sir Martin killed for his shady business dealings or for the exquisite prize of his wife?

Customer Reviews:

A portrait of murder.......2007-09-01

In 17th century London, a group of rakes and ne'er do wells decide to pursue Araminta Jewell, a young, aristocratic beauty, to see which of them could capture her virginity. Their initial plan was thwarted by the marriage of Araminta to an older man, but this pathetic bunch of villians still want to worm their way into her bed and place bets on who would be the winner. When the husband is murdered in his own garden, this fact doesn't deter them and they plan to descend on her at the funeral, en masse, declaring their undying love and devotion. Brilliant young architect Christopher Redmayne, whose brother Henry is one of the reprobates bent on having their way with Araminta, investigates the death of Araminta's husband with the aid of his friend, Constable Jonathon Bale. These two characters have apparently appeared in other mystery books by Edward Marston and are well known amateur sleuths.
It's a mercifully short book.

Daughters of Painted Ladies: America's Resplendent Victorians

Average customer rating:

A broadening of focus
A spectacular symphony of color and form
it change my home style

Daughters of Painted Ladies: America's Resplendent Victorians
Elizabeth Pomada , and Michael Larsen
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0525485775

Customer Reviews:

A broadening of focus.......2003-08-14

Here Pomada, with co-author Michael Larsen and photographer Douglas Keister, branches out from her San Francisco roots in search of Painted Ladies in other regions of the country--and finds them. Once again she shows houses of all sizes, degrees of elaboration, and amounts of gaudiness--the quietly lavender Blackberry Inn of Camden, ME, the darkly splendiferous English Queen Anne at 130 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, beach cottages on Martha's Vineyard, a vividly red church in West End, NJ, a crisp turqouise-and-cream confection from Cape May, a wondrously porched house in Savannah, GA, even a brick eclectic in Milwaukee. One wonderful little gem on p. 89 is an Aspen, CO, cottage whose front-porch gable comprises a blending rainbow of 25 colors--"14 blues of the sky and oranges from the sunset." The Morey Mansion of Redlands, the Carson Mansion of Eureka, and several Main Street buildings are here too. Pomada even contrived to get permission to show some interiors from a Portland house. These lovely houses will set you dreaming even if you don't own one of the same vintage yourself.

A spectacular symphony of color and form.......2001-01-05

"Daughters of Painted Ladies" is a beautiful tribute to restored Victorian houses from throughout the United States. Full-color photographs by Douglas Keister are complemented by the commentaries of Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen.

The book focuses on what the authors call the "Colorist Movement" in historic house restoration. In other words, every one of the homes pictured has been painted "in three or more contrasting colors" that "bring out the decorative ruffles and flourishes" of each structure. So if your idea of a Victorian home is a dull, gloomy old mansion in a state of disrepair, be prepared to have that stereotype blown away. These "painted ladies" are some of the most vibrant and beautiful homes I have ever seen.

The book captures many different Victorian era styles: Italianate, Second Empire, Steamboat Gothic, Queen Anne, Octagon, Stick, and Victorian eclectic. And don't miss the special appearance by "Lucy," the elephant-shaped house built by James Lafferty. The colorist approach to these homes truly accentuates the varied vocabulary of Victorian architecture, with its towers, covered verandas, neoclassical pillars, oriel windows, decorated verge boards, and other fanciful details.

The book concludes with some helpful tips and resources for those interested in creating their own painted lady. If you are a lover of Victorian era architecture, buy this spectacular book and prepare to indulge in a decadent symphony of visual splendor.

it change my home style.......1997-08-30

After I read and enjoyed this beautiful book I painted my home in Victorian style and soon many houses in Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego Argentina, also change the "white walls, black roof" they ever were.Thanks! Virgini

Painted Lady Butterflies (Schaffer, Donna. Life Cycles.)

Average customer rating:

Painted Lady Butterflies (Schaffer, Donna. Life Cycles.)
Donna Schaffer
Manufacturer: Bridgestone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0736802118

Painted Ladies Revisited: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians Inside and Out

Average customer rating:

Back to the future?
Inspiring! Beautiful! A "must have" for renovators!

Painted Ladies Revisited: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians Inside and Out
Elizabeth Pomada , and Michael Larsen
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0525485082

Customer Reviews:

Back to the future?.......2003-08-14

11 years after the publication of "Painted Ladies," Elizabeth Pomada returned to San Francisco to gaze anew upon its Victorians, and found a new concern for authenticity, subtlety, and sophistication in what she now calls the "Colorist Movement." The examples she shows here, while still splendidly detailed and richly pigmented, are for the most part less gaudy than those in the first book, reflecting the emergence of yuppies onto the preservationist stage earlier occupied by hippies and radicals. Almost the best part of the book, however, is the many interiors she has included, often by houseowners with a keen interest in authentic restoration. Architecture and interior-decorating buffs alike will want to own this volume.

Inspiring! Beautiful! A "must have" for renovators!.......1999-05-24

If ever you want to be inspired, transformed, bowled over or "wowwed" by the possibilities of an old house... Read the Pomada/Larsen series. The pictures are breathtakenly beautiful and the text is quite informative. Lots of 'pearls of wisdom' there. Before you buy that victorian, read this book for some informative information. After you buy--keep reading (like a litany) to keep the vision alive amidst the rubble and asbestos. You won't be sorry ---you will be renewed. These books were like falling in love, or the collector's itch---The fever is maddening but the end result is Oh so sweet. Get them all!! (5 titles still available)

Average customer rating:

How to Create Your Own Painted Lady
Elizabeth Pomada , and Michael Larsen
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Buildings & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0525484744

Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians

Average customer rating:

SAVE YOUR MONEY
Joyous whimsy

Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians
Elizabeth Pomada , and Michael Larsen
Manufacturer: Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 052548244X

Customer Reviews:

SAVE YOUR MONEY.......2006-11-11

I've ordered numerous books on Victorians and this one is by far the worst. The photos have a washed out look to them. Colors look faded and if you've ever seen a Victorian painted correctly, the colors are vivid and plentiful. Electric lines that ran between the Victorian and the photographer, printed out thick and dark black. Needless to say it decreased the beauty of the home.

Number of pages totals 80 and the majority of them are photos but this book isn't nearly as good as Elizabeth Pomada's other books. It will remain in my home library because I've already paid for it but I can't say it gives me much pleasure to turn it's pages.

Joyous whimsy.......2003-08-14

If Peter Maass, in "The Gingerbread Age" and "The Victorian Home in America," first made us truly aware of the glories of Victorian domestic architecture, it was Elizabeth Pomada who showed us how it could be brought to vivid life. In this, her first book about the modernizing-by-paint of 19th-Century houses, she concentrates on San Francisco, where the Painted Lady style was invented during the heyday of the hippies. The houses shown in the gorgeous full-color photographs range from the elegantly somber (like Don Parodi's many-bayed house on p. 23) to the minutely detailed (the imposing Colonial Revival mansion on p. 20 and the Bert Franklin rowhouse opposite) to the downright gaudy (Rhine & Kennedy's fire-engine-red offices on p. 29, a tiny lavender cottage on p. 50, a literally rainbow-striped confection on p. 69). If you can't make it to San Francisco in person--or if you've been, and want to relive the glories of its vintage housing--this book belongs on your shelf.

Average customer rating:

Painted Ladies

Manufacturer: Dewi Lewis Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 1904587186

Book Description

In the early twentieth century the postcard provided an immediate and direct form of communication-rather like text messaging today. Made by anonymous photographers and hand-colored by thousands of unknown women working in their studios, hand-tinted cards became one of the most popular of art forms. This extraordinary collection encompasses cards from throughout the world, including Africa and the Middle East, many raising issues of colonialism and exoticism. Painted Ladies provides a colorful and fascinating insight into the fashion, culture, and interests of the early twentieth century.

British-born Nick Hedges is a well-respected photographer in his own right. He has published a number of books of his own work and has exhibited widely.

The Painted Lady (Signet Regency Romance)

Average customer rating:

Good relationship drama.
Barbara Metzger delivers another gem!
Metzger at the top of her form!
A magical regency romance

The Painted Lady (Signet Regency Romance)
Barbara Metzger
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

Signet Regency Romance | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451203682
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Book Description

The more Lilyanne Bannister hears about the dashing, devilish Duke of Caswell, the more intrigued she becomes. And soon she wonders if it is time to give in to a dangerously irresistible temptation-and discover for herself what the duke has to offer...

...one of the genre's wittiest pens. (Romantic Times)

Customer Reviews:

Good relationship drama........2001-07-29

Dukes did not paint, or did they? For Kennard (Kasey) Cartland, Duke of Caswell, painting was not merely a hobby, but a way of life. He would collect models as he would have collected priceless art objects, but there was a woman in his life who didn't consider herself an object at all. Miss Lilyanne Bannister dreamed of wearing finery and enjoying a London Season like many of her contemporaries. She had to put those dreams on hold when her parents were killed and she was placed in the care of a stern uncle. Could the images Kasey painted of bright scenes brighten Lilyanne's life? Barbara Metzger handles the give and take of a relationship deftly. Like the brilliant colors of Kasey's palette, this story also has its brilliance.

Barbara Metzger delivers another gem!.......2001-07-18

Ever wondered what Galatea would have said to Pygmalion before she came to life, especially if she also possessed a sharp wit and a caustic tongue to boot?

Kennard Cartland, the Duke of Casewell, is very much a man of the ton. He's rich, good looking, a responsible duke, and has a reputation of being a very generous and excellent lover. He also has a deep, dark secret. He is a brilliant artist. Each night, he repairs to his house in Lonsdale Street, where he spends the night (after having indulged with the lady of the night, literally) painting nudes. One night, instead of painting his latest conquest, he creates a beautiful woman out of his imagination. In fact, she's so beautiful and perfect that he even finds himself drooling over her, for all that she's a figment of his imagination. So you can well imagine his shock when the lady in the painting starts talking to him and upbraiding him for everything from his many self indulgences, his casual use of women, and the cold manner in which he has chosen his future wife. The duke is fit to be tied -- could he be losing his mind?

Afraid that this may be the case, he repairs promptly to the estate of a Dr. Bannister, who had at one time been King George III's physician. Dr. Bannister now runs a sort of sanitarium where the aristocracy send their difficult and wayward daughters and wives. Bannister is keen to take on the duke's case. However the duke soon finds that if the good doctor cannot cure him, Bannister's regime of boiled food and rigorous exercise and knitting, will soon drive the duke quite daft from boredom. Everything the duke takes pleasure in (reading, good food, painting, & conversation) seems to be on the doctor's forbidden list. Indeed the only bright spot in this very grim landscape seems to be Bannister's niece, Lilyanne. But Lilyanne is convinced that the duke is dangerous, and so keeps her distance. Stung that (for once) his rank, good looks and legendary charm seems not to be working on Lilyanne, the duke goes all out to win her trust and approval. And the more time he gets to spend with Lilyanne, the more she's proving to be just too irresistible a temptation. Surely he cannot be falling for a young woman of modest means and background?

Lilyanne Bannister has all but given up hope of ever finding happiness and love. Orphaned at an early age, Lilyanne and her sister, are quite dependent on their uncle. And in order to give her sister a chance at some kind of life, Lilyanne has all but resigned herself to acting as her uncle's assistant at the sanitarium. She was quite resigned to her fate; and then one day, rich, charming and handsome Kennard Cartland enters her life. From the very start Lilyanne knew that she would have to arm herself against his charm. But it isn't too long before she's falling under his spell, esp since he actually seems to enjoy talking to her and listening to her opinions. Knowing that nothing can come from this friendship, Lilyanne is quite stoic about the fact that they will never ever meet again once he leaves the sanitarium. But then the duke finds himself in the middle of a scandal involving two missing ex-mistresses. And he turns to Lilyanne for help. Now Lilyanne finds herself in London, living in his London house, and seeing him everyday. Could this renewed contact mean a second chance at love for the Lilyanne and the duke?

With "The Painted Lady," Barbara Metzger has delivered yet another gem. And this time, she's written the novel in a really droll manner, full of dry asides and hilarious observations. Metzger spares no one -- she's even witty at her hero's expense. I couldn't contain my laughter, esp when the 'painted lady' mocked and upbraided the duke. And Metzger does a wonderful job of depicting the duke's confusion over his feelings for Lilyanne, and that he can hear his 'painted lady' talk; as well as Lilyanne's wistful hopes of one day leading a life quite different form the one she's currently living. Only two things detracted a little from my overall enjoyment of this novel: the rushed manner in which Metzger tied things up at the end, and the manner in which she would lapse every now and then into 20th century colloqualisms. However this is a wickedly funny romance novel, and is definitely a book that you can read and reread over and over again.

This is a brilliantly funny book, and is definitely a keeper!

Metzger at the top of her form!.......2001-07-11

This is Metzger at her very best. Witty, warm, and very funny, with charming characters in an original and captivating story. She pushes the Regency envelope while at the same time hewing to the best of the Regency genre with clever dialogue in a bright and breezy plot - which I won't spoil for you by describing too closely. But there's a handsome hero with a strange obsession, a beleaguered heroine with a growing obsession for him in spite of her best resolves, and a mysterious painted lady with pointed and perceptive commentary and.. Oh - read it for yourself! And then reread it. This one's a winner and a oner.

A magical regency romance.......2001-07-11

Duke Kennard "Kasey" Cartland prefers painting portraits to attending the acceptable and winked at events of the Ton though he has had mistresses. However, Kasey realizes that he needs a wife so he can have a male child because his current heir, his younger brother Junior, would gamble away the estate. His choice for a spouse is Lady Phillida Granleigh, who thinks his painting is childhood dabbling.

However, his latest portrait of a phantom lover talks to Kasey. Feeling he is losing his mind, Kasey visits Sir Osgood Bannister, known for helping the Ton with their ailments. There Kasey meets Osgood's niece Lilyanne, who believes that the artistic aristocrat has seen a vision that wants to assist him in reconciling his secret life with his patrician life. As Lilyanne and a reluctant Kasey begin to fall in love, the weird other dimensional matchmaker continues to bring them together.

THE PAINTED LADY is a well-written, amusing, but weird and different Regency romance. The story line is fun as the two lead characters struggle with their growing feelings for one another. However, what makes Barbara Metzger's novel distinct is the humorous lady in the portrait who serves as a matchmaking psychologist forcing the male protagonist to take a close look at his desires.

Harriet Klausner

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books