Lonely Planet Italy

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

Explore the riches of Italy with Lonely Planet's essential guide. Featuring a special color feature on Italian art and architecture, this book also contains insider's advice on the best pasta and gelati; skiing and trekking information, notes on history, culture and current politics; as well as practical food and accommodation suggestions for every budget. Delightful sidebars add insight into the culture, with details on everything from gladiators to mushroom picking. --Kathryn True

Book Description

Buzz through Rome on a scooter, cook up a feast in Tuscany, float down Venice's Grand Canal and hang out with the glitterati on the Amalfi Coast - Italy is the real deal. Make sure you are pointing in the right direction with this best-selling guide.

o EXPLORE - in-depth coverage takes you beyond the classic cities into the heart of Italy's rolling countryside, craggy mountains and tiny hilltop towns
o PUT IT IN CONTEXT - detailed history, culture, art and food chapters help you get under the skin of this incredibly diverse country
o HATCH A PLAN - inspirational itineraries and comprehensive practical information enable you to make the most of your time in Italy
o STAY IN STYLE - whether it's a cosy B&B for a night or a week in Puglia's trulli, our listings deliver
o DINE OUT - from humble trattorie to fine-dining institutions, our hand-picked reviews highlight the best of Italy's regional cuisine

Customer Reviews:

Don't rely on this country guide--buy the city guides instead!.......2007-08-07

My friend bought this guide for our trip through Italy this summer. Our trip went through Venice, Florence and Rome, with side trips into Tuscany and Naples/Pompeii. This book contains information on so many different places that it does not provide much useful information on any one city. We felt so lost in Venice and Florence with the scant information provided in this book that we ended up buying the LP Rome City Guide when we got to Rome. You would be much better off buying individual city guides before you leave the US though because travel books are very expensive once you're in the city. I have used many LP books over the years for both domestic and international travel, but I would recommend city books from now on.

a disappointment.......2007-06-11

I own about 20 Lonely Planet guides and am a real fan.
This is probably the most disappointing one to date.
The info seems to be all over the place, sometimes completely wrong or the opposite of what you would expect : A luxury complex in the book was a real dump in reality, a palace not worth while, was probably the best thing we saw on our 10 day trip.
Complete "must see" places are missing and others who LP claims to be "must see" were not that great, so overall the weakest LP guide I've read and used so far.
They should start this one from scratch

excellent service.......2007-05-03

wonderful speedy service from the bookseller. I am in New Zealand and I was getting a little apprehensive - I thought I would not get the book in time for our trip to Italy at the beginning of June but no it arrived here today and I am thrilled - thank you J K Books

Good for getting around & trivia, but not much else........2007-04-18

We just returned from a 10-day trip to Italy, mostly in Florence, Rome, and Milan. We carried both Lonely Planet Italy and DK Travel's EyeWitness Italy. Even though I've been a Lonely Planet devotee for years, I was very disappointed with Lonely Planet Italy.

Good points:

- Lonely Planet is GREAT for getting around. It has fantastic details on how to get from place to place. Even though we were flying in and out of lesser-known airports, the information we needed was there. Also, the Lonely Planet info made it a breeze to plan day trips to some of the smaller cities.

- Great tips! I think this is the biggest saving grace of Lonely Planet Italy. There were some fantastic tips for beating the crowds. In addition to information about advance bookings for museums (both in and outside of Italy), there was some great advice for avoiding queues at other major sights. This was especially helpful travelling during the super-crowded Easter holiday!

- Interesting Trivia. The one area of content that I actually picked up the Lonely Planet book to read was the little boxes of trivia. Things like a short history of Michelangelo's disagreements with the Popes. Most of these are usually fun and interesting to read.

- Lots of things to do! There were lots more listings in the Lonely Planet book compared to our Eyewitness.

- Extensive Hotel and Restarant Listings. The hotel listings are fine if you don't have another way to research them, but with so many great travel sites with candid traveller reviews, this doesn't make so much of a difference anymore. The restaurant listings are still helpful.

- Listings with admission fees. Our other guide mentioned in their listings if there were admission fees at places, but they didn't give the amount. It was nice to check Lonely Planet and know just how much things would cost, since some of the museums are not cheap!

- Lots of websites. I do most of my travel planning online before I leave, so I appreciated having the URLs for everything from hotels to museums to transportation.

Bad points:

- Crazy Itineraries. One thing I've always liked about the Lonely Planet books is the suggested itineraries like "Rome in 5 days." In the Italy book, this was only provided for Rome, which was disappointing, but the itineraries themselves were insane! There's actually a 2-day itinerary that covers almost ALL of Rome, which would be great for a whirlwind tour. The problem is that the longer itineraries were simply to finish the 2-day whirlwind and then see some more obscure sights. It seems that a better option would be to spend more time at the places visited in the 2-day trip. For example, explore some of the great museums that are in some of the areas glossed over by the 2-day plan.

- Absolutely no ratings of listed attractions. The problem with listing so many things to do is that you have no idea which ones you should actually do! I've found this to be a general problem in the Lonely Planet series. In more than one case, we've gone to see something after reading an interesting description in our LP guide, only to find that it's actually pretty boring, and the ONLY interesting points were the ones mentioned in the book. Eyewitness had a "Star Sight" system to mark their highest suggestions, and we absolutely loved this.

- Not enough descriptions or explanations. For example, the Lonely Planet description of the Roman Forums is something like, "To the left was the Temple of So-and-So. Across from that are the remains of the columns that formed the Such-and-Such." Unfortunately, it never explains anything about Such-and-Such or So-and-So, or why they were important. So you really have no idea what you're actually seeing (except the name).

- Too hard to follow. I've accepted this for years, because Lonely Planet keeps the book costs down by printing mostly black and white text, but in some places, it's just too hard to describe where something is. It's too hard to walk through a city square and try to read the prose descriptions of what's around you, especially when it's decorated with a the small literary flourishes that adorned the descriptions in this guide.

Overall, I feel that I just wouldn't have gotten as much out of the trip with only the Lonely Planet book. It's great for the logistics of travelling, but once we'd reached our destination, it wasn't very helpful at all. I highly recommend the Eyewitness guide if you want to learn more about Italy while you're there: Italy (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

great book, but the cross-referencing..........2007-03-29

Great book, great line of books, but here's L.P.'s great quirk: despite an almost too complicated web of cross-references, you can't easily go from an item on the map to the description of that item. That is, if you're standing on Via del Corso and see that you are near five restaurants, it becomes a Herculean effort of page turning to find each of those five restaurants in the text. This seems like a minor point, but it will leave your cursing in the streets of Naples.
A solution that I came to in my more intense and grimy days of backpacking in small groups through Europe was to have one person carry a (well researched) Lonely Planet and another carry a (user friendly) Let's Go. This usually left us with all our bases covered.

The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.

Average customer rating:

Speechless
Excellent Read!
Incredible Story Written with Heart
Finely Drawn Portrait
Fabulous

The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.
Sandra Gulland
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684856069

Amazon.com

Since completing high school history, few of us have managed to keep straight the details of the French Revolution. Beyond suggestions of eating cake and the effectiveness of the guillotine, this sordid time period has remained--for many--somewhat obscure. Now, through the novel The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., not only do we learn of the many differences between Robespierre and Rousseau, but we gain insight into the marriage of one of history's greatest political couples: Napoleon and Josephine.

Standing beside the charismatic Napoleon, Josephine's own importance and fascinating history have often been overshadowed. In a fictionalized account of Josephine's diaries and her correspondence, author Sandra Gulland has shed light on Josephine's pre-Napoleon life. This, the first of three books about Josephine, covers her childhood in Martinique, her first marriage, the birth of her children, her life during the revolution, and her marriage to Napoleon.

A poor Creole outsider as well as a rising socialite, Josephine experienced both the horrors of imprisonment and the privilege of connections. Utilizing these different perspectives, Gulland takes special care to bring forth the reality of life in late 18th-century France. Though she can only theorize on Josephine's emotions and desires, Gulland's talented writing and the restrained use of footnotes keep the reader properly informed on pertinent details, whether they be obscure political events or voodoo beliefs. While professional historians may bristle at the artistic license Gulland employs, most readers will find her novel a satisfying and engaging introduction to this dramatic period. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

Book Description

In this first of three books inspired by the life of Josephine Bonaparte, Sandra Gulland has created a novel of immense and magical proportions. We meet Josephine in the exotic and lush Martinico, where an old island woman predicts that one day she will be queen. The journey from the remote village of her birth to the height of European elegance is long, but Josephine's fortune proves to be true. By way of fictionalized diary entries, we traverse her early years as she marries her one true love, bears his children, and is left betrayed, widowed, and penniless. It is Josephine's extraordinary charm, cunning, and will to survive that catapults her to the heart of society, where she meets Napoleon, whose destiny will prove to be irrevocably intertwined with hers.

Customer Reviews:

Speechless.......2007-06-27

I just finished reading the trilogy (took four days and I have been working too) and I am amazed at how incredible these books were. The history is incredible and told in a way that makes you feel that you are there. I laughed, I cried and now I feel empty. I will miss Josephine.

Excellent Read!.......2007-01-08

I couldn't put this book down. It is filled with so much history during Jospehine Bounaparte's earlier years up to when she meets Napolean. I am not sure how this woman survived all that she lived thru in this book. It is some very good reading.

Incredible Story Written with Heart.......2006-12-21

Let me just say that I am not normally a fan of historical fiction based on a singular character. When I received this book as a gift, I was a bit nervous about reading it. However, Ms. Gulland's talent and gift for storytelling has changed my opinion. I started out expecting not to like it - I ended up loving it.

Josephine's story is a compelling tale of a young Creole girl who eventually becomes queen. But it's more than that - it's a story of a woman caught in a loveless marriage, in impossible situations and how she managed through her own strength of character to rise above her tribulations. Ms. Gulland made me forget that I was reading fiction. She also made me love the intimacy of this story. Thank you!

Finely Drawn Portrait.......2006-09-02

I'm not sure how Gulland does it, but her dialogue, journal entries, and letters let us get to know Josephine and keep the pages turning. An artful solution to the challenge of setting place, voice and character.

A great read for those who like historical novels and/or French culture...

Possibly addictive, I had to read the next 2 books in the series after finishing "Lives and Sorrows."

Fabulous.......2006-06-29

This is the way all historical fiction should be read. It was fun to read and great to see the life and times from a woman's perspective. Josephine is so real and you cry for her to find the joy she deserves. Fabulous read, I am on the third of the series now. BUY ALL THREE!!

I Married Wyatt Earp: The Recollections of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp

Average customer rating:

Non Fiction
Josie's Adventure, March 29, 2007
Thank you!
Josie's Adventure
The genius that is Glenn G,. Boyer

I Married Wyatt Earp: The Recollections of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp
Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp
Manufacturer: Univ of Arizona Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0816505837

Book Description

This book is now limited to an existing stock after which it will go out of print. All copies purchased new directly from Amazon.com will be AUTOGRAPHED by the co-author/editor, Glenn G. Boyer. The combination of going out of print and the autograph, will make this publication a rare collectors' item. (In a short interim period until Amazon's small current inventory is exhausted, some copies will be unautographed, but may be sent to publisher, HRA, at 1702 E. Lind Road, Tucson, Arizona, 85719, and such copies will be returned autographed, postpaid.) This is the memoir of a woman who saw the raw life of the last frontier as the consort of a man who is today the best known Western character of them all. The text of this book is totally attributable to Wyatt Earp's third and last wife, who lived with him from April 1882 when he left Tombstone until his death in Los Angeles, California in January 1929. The sources are what Mrs. Earp said personally, wrote, or are based upon documentation of events with which she was thorougly cognizant as an observer or participant. It is a memoir in the "traditional" definition: that memoirs are most often written by someone other than the subject. (Webster's New World Dictionary. 2d Edition, c. 1970: "a biographical notice usually written by a relative or personal friend of the subject.") That holds true with this book, but though not entirely written by the subject personally, it was prepared by someone who had met her during her lifetime, and became thoroughly familiar from intimate sources with what the subject did and said. This accepted memoir preparation tradition naturally arose from the need for one with writing ability to assemble memoirs in publishable form. Notwithstanding, this work is most largely based directly on dictated interviews of the subject or first person recollections of what she said or wrote to others she trusted. In view of the modern fame of Wyatt Earp as a folk hero, the insights of the one who knew him best make the book absolutely unique.

Customer Reviews:

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

Josephine Earp, Wyatt's wife, looks back on her life in her later years, and the time spent with her husband.

Josie's Adventure, March 29, 2007 .......2007-05-18

Josephine Marcus Earp was born with a sense of adventure, she ran away from a prosperous and loving home in San Francisco not to join the circus, but a theatrical troupe playing Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore that was bound for Tombstone.
Young, attractive and impressionable is a prescription for trouble in a mining town. Josie accepted Johnny Behan's offer of marriage before she had time to look over the whole field, and it came back to haunt her. Behan bought her a ring but put off the wedding. Wyatt Earp caught Josie's eye and opened up a classic love triangle. Then to further complicate matters both suitors were in a race to become the next sheriff of Cochise County.
Josie's accounts of Tombstone are right on the mark and two of her best friends Addie Bourland and Marietta Spencer had first hand knowledge regarding two of Tombstone's major happenings - the shootout at the OK Corral and the murder of Morgan Earp.
Josie tells about the bloodletting after the shootout and how in order to get out of the line of fire Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday along with several allies leave Tombstone and go to Colorado. Josie followed Wyatt a short time later and they soon got married. While they were in Colorado they spent time with Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson and did some mining in the Gunnison area.
Then it was on to the silver strike at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and the gold fields of Alaska. Back in the states Wells Fargo hired Wyatt to do some detective work in Texas. When that job was finished they traveled to San Diego, California in search of business opportunities. The two dined out, went to parties, attended the theatre and saw the famous Lily Langtry perform in Shakespeare's "As You Like It." Wyatt made a number of profitable investments in both saloons and real estate. He also won a fine trotting racehorse in a poker game. That one horse peaked Wyatt's interest in racing and he eventually bought and raced a sizeable stable of horses. Following those days on the racing circuit and a stint as a boxing promoter Wyatt and Josie settled in and lived out their lives in Los Angeles entertaining and being entertained by stars that were part of Hollywood's burgeoning motion picture community.
Wyatt died in 1929 and Josie lived until 1944.
Josephine Marcus Earp tells a compelling story of an era filled with colorful characters and fascinating events.

Tom Barnes Author of "Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone"
Also "The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle."

The Hurricane Hunters And Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone: The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday

Thank you!.......2007-04-12

Enjoyed the book very much. A lot of interesting information and facts from the time period. I would recommend the book to anyone with interest in this era.

Josie's Adventure.......2007-03-29

The genius that is Glenn G,. Boyer.......2004-12-31

As a student of the study of Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp now for nearly 60 years, I find that this particular book by Mr. Boyer to be the best of it's genre. Actually it is the only one of it's kind.
No writer or historian that I am aware of even comes close to capturing the sense and feel of the old west, Wyatt and Josephine Earp and the litany of characters that were entwined with their lives.
Mr Boyer's unique ability as a writer places the reader right there in all the action and he paints such a picture that you are living the events.
No one can touch Glenn Boyer when it comes to bringing to life these true to life characters (even though there seems to be an army of wannabe's who try to erode his legacy)

Glenn G. Boyer, If there ever truly was a King of the Cowboys, then Mr Boyer is the King of Old West Historians. He, could, if he were not so modest, could coin the phrase from Ali and say

Average customer rating:

Insipid, cliche ridden, posturing tripe
Is simplicity powerful or dull in this book?
Love and Destruction
Chilling Account of Affair Related Obsession
timeless love, beyond the box

Damage
Josephine Hart
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0449911888
Release Date: 1996-09-29

Book Description

"Hypnotic."

THE BOSTON GLOBE

He was a married M.P.with two grown children. On the surface, his life was what he wanted it to be. She was his son's fiancee, a shattered woman who had only known forbidden love. When they meet, their attraction is instantaneous, their obsession complete. And nothing, it seems, can tear them away from each other and their dangerous, damaging, illicit passion....

"Striking."

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Insipid, cliche ridden, posturing tripe .......2007-07-01

Josephine Hart's "Damage" is an old trope redone poorly. Middle aged man finally feels "alive" because of some forbidden lust. Then, as the formula demands, he and others pay the consequences. In the end, with it's lifeless characters and painfully predictable trajectory, it's a big "So what."

Strong points:

The author's prose is very easy to read, which, in itself, is a greater achievement than some might imagine.

It's short, you can read this in a single sitting, 2 maybe 3 hours max. It may be a harmless way to waste time while waiting at an airport or to lull yourself to sleep on the plane.

Neutral point:
Makes no demands on the reader. You do not have to bring any special expertise or experience to this tale in order to get everything out of it. (In fact, too much imagination, wide ranging interests, or life experience will likely destroy any interest in reading past the first few pages.)

Now for the bad points:

This tale is very thin, even thinner than the book itself. It may have worked as a short story but should have never gone much beyond 10 pages. It just doesn't have the legs to support itself.

The characters are so flat and lifeless that the reader is given no reason to care about any single one of them. Maybe this reflects the flat, lifeless existence of the narrator before (and, as far as I can tell, after) he discovered lust, but it doesn't work at all for me.

The narrative voice is supposed to be that of a 50ish man but it sounds like an inexperienced school girl giving her impression of adult male lust. The voice was so jarring, so off putting, that it was a struggle for me to maintain an image of the narrator as a male. I'm not kidding, I re-read some of the initial paragraphs several times to see if I had missed some gender cue. Then I briefly wondered if the guy's "dark" secret had something to do with a belated discovery of homoerotic inclinations or trans-sexuality. No such luck. In a few pages I realized the inapposite voice simply reflected the author's significant limitations. But that girlish voice in a grown man's body was really bothersome.

The author sprinkles the text with little phrases that I suppose are intended to sound profound or insightful but instead come across as trite, gratuitous posturings.

The writing style is tedious and repetitive. Start reading paragraphs at random and they all sound pretty much the same. If this is supposed to represent the repetitive nature of obsession, it doesn't work. Instead, it is soporific.

There is no momentum, neither forward, backward, nor sideward. The only movement in the story comes from physically turning the pages.

The cover blurbs use words such as "noir", "erotic", "scandal" and "obsession" to describe the novel but there was no such substance to be found between the covers. Oh, sure, the narrator tells you that it is a tale of awakening lust and tragic obsession, but his promises don't deliver. Medical textbooks have more dramatic sexual descriptions than this thing does.

Then there is the over-the-top sign off at the end. Without "spoiling" the pathetic final lines by quoting them, I don't think that the reader needs to be condescended to. I can't tell whether the author is intending to instruct mentally dense readers or whether she intended to create a warped sense of sympatico between author, reader, and characters by adding such self-aggrandizing drivel at the end.

This is a book best suited for those with the mindset of the stereotypical, adolescent girl who hungers for doomed passions but settles for cheap romance novels while waiting for real life to come her way.

Is simplicity powerful or dull in this book?.......2007-04-21

The story of Damage is a great story, but it was fairly predictable. However, I still like the ending, how the protagonist fades into bright white seclusion. The story is powerful but without sophistication of writing style and is sometimes even a little dull. Whether it's intentional or not I cannot decide.

Love and Destruction.......2006-10-04

I relate more to love stories like this: I've seen enough "damage" over my lifetime from passionate relationships to feel at home here.

The author doesn't spend too much time analyzing the destructive power behind the narrator's desire for his son's fiance. How could she? How can anyone explain that mysterious but all-consuming passion that overwhelms some people?
There are so many betrayals at the heart of DAMAGE but yet you don't end up hating the narrator. Somehow a middle-aged British doctor and politician, a successful family man, is helpless and destitute by his passion.
Not guilty by reason of insanity.
And I accepted that.

Chilling Account of Affair Related Obsession.......2006-08-25

"For those of you who doubt it, this is a love story." I saw the movie before reading the book, which was excellent but a bit obscure, and I wanted to know more about the character motivations. And boy did I get it! Hart's writing provides the reader with a vivid understanding of why.

timeless love, beyond the box.......2006-01-15

Not one for picking up a book due to appearance on pop lists, I believe I'd heard buzz about this book in the decade in which it was written. But it was a book I recently picked up to make use of time while en route for travel. It was the title that moved me. And the first couple of sentences, and a glance at other words within. The subject matter was a teaser, as well. I hesitated, as some other reviewers had mentioned, because it promised darkness and the topic of adultery. Obsession. The tone. Was I prepared to hear this story?

Most revealing were the intimacy, intensity, the thoughts, the thought process. The personalization of the narrator to expose himself is like his flash back. Obsession is not a gender, so I related to the truths of it, and any skepticism about emotional veracity flipped with each page. Initially, the story was very proper, almost journalistic in sharing who he is. The emotionless mask before he discovers the damnable gatekeeper who exposes him to the pain behind her mask. Thus comes functionality for his mask, it can become a shield to hide behind. For a time at least, before he must become who he is. Here is a man going thru the motions of life, but alienated from experiencing it with heart and soul for himself. He jumps right in.

I didn't read the book in one sitting. The minimal words were like brushstrokes of a painting, I had to step back and think. The truth of obsession, love. I read the book slowly to re-capture realities I've known. Love, obsession. For better and worse. Heart and soul of first/true love. (And hopefully more to follow after recovery.) The protagonist may or may not recover, as time heels all wounds, it wounds all heels. Though late to the game of love, at least he becomes more whole for having begun to live with love, no matter the variety that's damaged from the start.

From start to finish, the book depicts a circle of life with varieties of love and loss, and associated consequences, for better or worse. The female protagonist starts with a secret love story that ends in tragedy that she willfully struggles to reenact over years to finally control the outcome, pass responsibility by giving choice. She sets the stage, recruits the players, and with the aid of an omniscient conductor, the train wreck takes off for transference or transformation. The tryst room is a reflection of the one-dimensional nature of their relationship. It is barren. Big and empty, where they act out what can only become stillborn love. Could she and Aston have lasted? Would those who claim to love her be able to handle incest? Would Aston be able to handle other lovers? Could Martyn prove the outcome for Aston was inevitable, then or now? With Anna was not to blame for her role. The test, the keys, were in the hands of Freudian Peter, childhood trauma survivor Anna, and Martyn, the transference stand-in for Ashton. Anna brings proper attire for whatever outcome. Is Martyn truly in love with Anna the way she needs, so can consummate her marriage with her new Aston, or can she at least pass the torch of responsibility? Our narrator and his son become the fall guy. Martyn as the trumped rival of what could've been triumph over his father. The father holding the bag. He knew better, but he gave his power to Anna, for a better outcome, but kept the ruling title. He is responsible for his choices within the context. He had not succeeded at experiencing love, never mind good love. And here was his son about to rise above him, to break the cycle of his inheritance.

All love not created equal, invincible, dispensable, but mindful with heart and soul. Possible. What would/wouldn't we do for love? What's the worse that could happen if we did act on forbidden love? Among the life-affirming things, love can be scary, mindblowing, life-destroying, so maybe some tread lightly, because the gift trade may include passing of damaged goods from a wolf, stillborn love, a kind of love we don't want to choose. Adultery? ill-gotten goods with a shelf life. In this case, love was cloaked in adultery with the adultery antey upped for a man's last ditch effort at love. Someone old enough to know better, too young at heart to care, willing to learn. What price love? Priceless to some.

Average customer rating:

Superb Finale
Excellent
Well Done Sandra Gulland--An Outstanding Conclusion!!!
Don't forget the rest of the trilogy
A Standing Ovation

The Last Great Dance on Earth
Sandra Gulland
Manufacturer: Scribner Paperback Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684856085

Book Description

The Last Great Dance on Earth is the triumphant final volume of Sandra Gulland's beloved trilogy based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte. When the novel opens, Josephine and Napoleon have been married for four tumultuous years. Napoleon is Josephine's great love, and she his. But their passionate union is troubled from within, as Josephine is unable to produce an heir, and from without, as England makes war against France and Napoleon's Corsican clan makes war against his wife. Through Josephine's heartfelt diary entries, we witness the personal betrayals and political intrigues that will finally drive them apart, culminating in Josephine's greatest tragedy: her divorce from Napoleon and his exile to Elba. The Last Great Dance on Earth is historical fiction on a grand scale and the stirring conclusion to an unforgettable love story.

Download Description

The only novelist invited to appear among a group of noted scholars and experts for a four-hour PBS documentary on Napoleon, Gulland knows her characters so well she inhabits their world, and her novels enable readers to do the same. The Last Great Dance on Earth brings to life Napoleon's grand empire, its rise and fall, and Josephine's greatest tragedy: her divorce from Napoleon and his exile to Elba. Written in a spare but compelling style with finely nuanced characters and vivid setting. The Last Great Dance on Earth is a brilliant feat of historical fiction that is difficult to put down and impossible to forget.

Customer Reviews:

Superb Finale.......2007-02-11

I don't need to repeat what eveyone else seems to be stating in their reviews of this book and the entire Josephine trilogy; the story flows from start to finish.

I very highly recommend this book!

Excellent.......2006-07-11

A perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy. Gulland has clearly done her research and France comes alive through the eyes of Josephine Bonaparte. Compassionate, kind and well-loved in France, Josephine also gives us a very intimate and sympathetic insight to Napoleon Bonaparte. I enjoyed this whole series and would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in the French Revolution, the French Republic and the rise of Napoleon. It is engrossing, humorous and heart-rending. Highly recommended.

Well Done Sandra Gulland--An Outstanding Conclusion!!!.......2006-06-22

I can't express how much I loved this wonderful novel. The most accurate adjective I can think of would be 'interesting'. This book was soooo interesting. Gulland's attention to detail is absolutely meticulous. She used over 400 sources in the writing of this trilogy. I learned so much--not only about Napoleon and Josephine, but also of other historical figures of that time. I also found the daily life of the aristocracy not only fascinating but also exhausting.

Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine Beauharnais are some of the most intriguing characters in history. Their story is so compelling and Gulland does a wonderful job of presenting it. Her 'Josephine' trilogy tells the story of Marie-Josephe-Rose Tascher (Beauharnais Bonaparte) who was born on the French Caribbean island of Martinique in 1763. She died, as she was still known, as the Empress Josephine at her beloved Malmaison in Paris in 1814. THE LAST GREAT DANCE ON EARTH begins in March 1800 at the Tuileries Palace in Paris and ends at her death. But, Gulland has a special treat for her readers. She ties up all the loose ends by telling us what happens to all the characters in her novel. I loved that! In fact, I was taking a tour a couple of weeks ago in St. Augustine, Florida and the guide told us that this is where Napoleon Bonaparte's brother came to....I now know that it was Jerome. The author also has a chronology with detailed accounts and dates of events in the last fourteen years of Josephine's life. Gulland also used actual letters of the pair in this book. And again, the pages are peppered with footnotes that add credence to this story.

In book three we're treated to more of the deep and abiding friendship of Josephine and Napoleon. The love they had for each other is legendary. Napoleon was a wonderful father to Hortense and Eugene and they also adored him. But Josephine had to put up with her horrid in-laws, their jealousy and constant designs of destroying her marriage, their lies and the constant undermining--geesh, she was more patient than I could have been. They eventually succeeded. Despite going through horrible and archaic treatments for infertility, Josephine could not conceive. As we all know, Napoleon divorced her in order to gain an heir. Even then, they continued their friendship and love.

I have been mesmerized with Napoleon and Josephine since visiting the Lourve for the first time as a college freshman and falling in love with David's "The Coronation of Napoleon." Then, after visiting the famous, albeit headless statue of the former Empress at her birthplace in Martinique, my curiosity became insatiable. We learned that Josephine's head was cut off because she influenced her husband to reinstate slavery. I was hoping to read an explanation in these novels but it was never mentioned (although Martinico is mentioned quite often). Which comes to another point: Gulland mentions that researching the lives of Napoleon and Josephine is addictive; I've already bought two more books, maybe I'll find the answer to my question!

Don't forget the rest of the trilogy.......2003-06-15

While this book stands out on it's own merits, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you didn't read the first two books in the trilogy first ('The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.' and 'Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe'). This is probably my favorite group of books and everyone I have let borrow them feels the same. All are well-written and easy reading (as well as interesting history). I am only sorry that Sandra Gulland hasn't written any other books...yet. I keep hoping.

A Standing Ovation.......2003-02-11

Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!! Oh, how I hated to come to the end of this series. A caution to would-be readers: Do NOT shortchange yourself and skip either of the first two books (Many Lives/Secret Sorrows, and Tales of Passion) - they all flow together seamlessly and offer an indescribable wealth of passion and intellect. Wonderfully written, deeply researched - this trilogy by Ms. Gulland is truly a treasure.

Average customer rating:

Excellent and a Prelude to Better Things
If you are a beginner, this is the book
Excellent intro book on number theory
Great buy for aspiring cryptographers
Nicely explained

Elementary Number Theory
Gareth A. Jones , and Josephine M. Jones
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3540761977

Book Description

This book gives an undergraduate-level introduction to Number Theory, with the emphasis on fully explained proofs and examples; exercises (with solutions) are integrated into the text. The first few chapters, covering divisibility, prime numbers and modular arithmetic, assume only basic school algebra, and are therefore suitable for first or second year students as an introduction to the methods of pure mathematics. Elementary ideas about groups and rings (summarised in an appendix) are then used to study groups of units, quadratic residues and arithmetic functions with applications to enumeration and cryptography. The final part, suitable for third-year students, uses ideas from algebra, analysis, calculus and geometry to study Dirichlet series and sums of squares; in particular, the last chapter gives a concise account of Fermat's Last Theorem, from its origin in the ancient Babylonian and Greek study of Pythagorean triples to its recent proof by Andrew Wiles.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent and a Prelude to Better Things.......2007-08-19

This is just a good book - but if you want to get a good understanding of abstract algebra ala Herstein and Dummit & Foote, then this is an excellent investment.

If you are a beginner, this is the book.......2007-01-10

This book presumes so little of the reader that anyone can start learning number theory using this book. There are plenty of exercises and all of them have solutions. All the major topics are covered, and in a fashion and pace that allows you to grasp the underlying concepts. This book maintains accessibility and quality throughout. Highly recommended, particularly for beginners.

Excellent intro book on number theory.......2005-12-04

Ever since my undergraduate days aeons ago, I have always had an aversion to any number theory, but Jones and Jones have changed my mind completely. In the last year, I came across a few articles that made me want to learn more about the topic, but wasn't sure where to start, as I wanted a book that had proofs that I could follow, and yet also gave me some motivation to dive into more complicated mathematics such as elliptic curves. Elementary Number Theory fit the bill perfectly and has served as a wonderful introduction to the subject that I could follow and enjoy.

This book is the perfect blend of text and formulae for me, and seems an excellent combination of rigour and looseness, always trying to keep a steady pace for the reader without bogging down in pedantic details that are irrelevant to any but the most fastidious of readers. At the same time, the authors also ensure that the reader gains an appreciation of actually proving theorems about numbers, instead of relying on mere intuition or hunches.

As mentioned by other reviews here, the authors have included complete solutions to all of the exercises, which are sprinkled throughout each chapter, as well as at the end of each chapter. This is a welcome change to so many math texts that have "exercises left to the reader," and has been a requirement for me when reading a text in an unfamiliar subject. The exercises are selected appropriately to the content of the chapters and I found them to be a welcome complement to the rest of the book.

In addition, the book discusses applications of number theory to cryptography in a very readable fashion, with any additional mathematics required for the book (in this case some simple group theory and analysis) in two appendices. A book on number theory would also be incomplete without at least a brief discussion of Andrew Wiles and Fermat's Last Theorem. Of course, Elementary Number Theory steps up to the plate appropriately and gives an overview of the history of the theorem and a (necessarily) thin overview of Wiles' proof.

I think, however, one of the best features of the book is that Jones and Jones have attempted to make the text very readable, in the sense that you could sit in a bath and enjoy part of a chapter without any trouble. I have always enjoyed reading mathematics without pen and paper handy, mainly because it improves my memory and visualization when working through problems, and this text helps greatly in that regard. They do not go for the obscure, and realize that the people who are reading this text are doing so for the first time (hence the title) and will not be overly impressed if the authors had chosen to blind us with their brilliance. The authors understand that we are mere mortals with busy lives, and appreciate a smoothly flowing textbook without having to stumble through unique and cryptic notation or a difficult proof without any explanation.

Great buy for aspiring cryptographers.......2003-04-26

I bought this book while studying cryptography, a field that relies heavily on Number Theory for inspiration and from which it draws many, if not most, of its constructions. Most books on Cryptography summarily relegate the relevant number-theoretic aspects to short appendices that fail to build any intuition about what is going on. This book delivers precisely what is missing: a very readable, easily accessible introduction to the main topics of number theory that leaves the reader with a much better idea of how everything fits together. The book is very well suited for self-study, and includes answers to all exercises.

It should be noted, though, that the book does not address any of the computational aspects of Number Theory that are so dear to Cryptography (e.g it's easy to take square roots mod p if p is prime, hard to take square roots mod pq unless you know p,q). This, however, does not reduce its usefulness, since such results become very easy to absorb once one has a decent understanding of number theory and its workings. To fill the computational gaps, I would suggest Dana Angluin's "Lecture Notes on the Complexity of Some Problems in Number Theory" which are freely available on the web (the 2001 LaTeX'ed version)

Nicely explained.......2002-07-27

I used this book as a reference book to review the basic number theory that I tend to foreget while I was in graduate school. I hope I had that book while I was undergraduate, because the all the proofs are clearly written. The exercises are all meaningful, but it will be nice to include some challenging problems. I highly recommend this book to any undergraduate or even bright high school students who want a quick introduction to number theory.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Book
A reminder we all need
A Must Read for Catholics of ALL ages
The Weight of a Mass: Tale of Faith
Refreshing classic

The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith
Josephine Nobisso
Manufacturer: Gingerbread House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 081462930X

Book Description

When a poor devout widow begs for a scrap of bread from a rich faithless baker, she promises to participate in the king’s wedding mass as payment for the baker’s generosity. The baker writes “One Mass” on a scrap of paper and places it on his scale to determine how much bread it is worth. To his and the entire town’s surprise, nothing in the shop, not even the gigantic wedding cakes made for the king, outweighs the simple piece of paper representing the true worth of a mass. Luminous old-world watercolor paintings grace the interior of the book and gold foil artwork lends an air of solemnity and sacred beauty to the story.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Book.......2007-10-05

This is a wonderful book about a folk tale regarding the Eucharist. Make sure you read the passage at the end, it is based upon a true story! My children love this book. It really helps them appreciate how important the Mass is.

A reminder we all need.......2007-09-16

This is a beautiful tale of faith. Both the story and the pictures are wonderful. I have read it to my son at least fifty times and I still get a little choked up on the last page. He doesn't understand now why I frequently stumble over the words, but I hope someday he will do the same with his children.

A Must Read for Catholics of ALL ages.......2007-05-14

I purchased this book for my daughter's First Holy Communion. She loves the story and so do we. It does a wonderful job of portraying how important it is to participate in the sacrifice of the Mass. I will be sure to read it to my children whenever they start whinning about going to church. A must have for all catholic families.

The Weight of a Mass: Tale of Faith.......2007-05-12

This is a beautifully illustrated, well-written book that shows the infinite value of the Mass. It is based on an actual miraculous event, as explained at the end of the story. Kids and adults alike will be interested to see how the story develops. Highly recommended for any Catholic family or classroom.

Refreshing classic.......2007-04-18

I bought this for a gift but read it first. I will buy it again and again as a gift for first communicants or for children that age. It is an inspirational story for all.

Average customer rating:

Almost...
Brain-teaser, brilliant, historical mystery
Five Century Old Murders Solved
This highly surprising telling....
Richard the hero

The Daughter of Time
Josephine Tey
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684803860

Amazon.com

Josephine Tey is often referred to as the mystery writer for people who don't like mysteries. Her skills at character development and mood setting, and her tendency to focus on themes not usually touched upon by mystery writers, have earned her a vast and appreciative audience. In Daughter of Time, Tey focuses on the legend of Richard III, the evil hunchback of British history accused of murdering his young nephews. While at a London hospital recuperating from a fall, Inspector Alan Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of King Richard. A student of human faces, Grant cannot believe that the man in the picture would kill his own nephews. With an American researcher's help, Grant delves into his country's history to discover just what kind of man Richard Plantagenet was and who really killed the little princes.

Book Description

Josephine Tey re-creates one of history's most famous -- and vicious -- crimes in her classic bestselling novel, a must read for connoisseurs of fiction, now with a new introduction by Robert Barnard

Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, recuperating from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III that bears no resemblance to the Wicked Uncle of history. Could such a sensitive, noble face actually belong to one of the world's most heinous villains -- a venomous hunchback who may have killed his brother's children to make his crown secure? Or could Richard have been the victim, turned into a monster by the usurpers of England's throne? Grant determines to find out once and for all, with the help of the British Museum and an American scholar, what kind of man Richard Plantagenet really was and who killed the Little Princes in the Tower.

The Daughter of Time is an ingeniously plotted, beautifully written, and suspenseful tale, a supreme achievement from one of mystery writing's most gifted masters.

Customer Reviews:

Almost..........2007-08-07

Let me start off by saying: I know very little about the facts of this case. I did know that the Princes in the Tower went missing circa 1483, that Richard III had usurped one of their thrones, and that there is dispute over who killed them. I know the names of the base players(Edward IV, Edward V, Richard, Elizabeth Woodville, Buckingham, Henry Tudor). That I know for sure. But as far as the many intricacies, complexities, and subtleties of the documents of the case, I am unaware: I've spent my life studying The Tudors, and the French Royal families. Therefore, from this point onward, any of what I say regarding the facts of the case should, I suppose, be taken lightly.

That being said, I enjoyed this book. I tend to be a slow-and-steady reader, yet I finished it in one night. It was perfectly short-and-sweet(206 pages), the vocabulary was broad,the dialouge interesting, the mystery intriguing. It was engaging, and I was never bored.

As far as the whodunnit is concerned, I'm convinced, like Grant and his American friend were, that Richard was innocent. The facts that Tey presents, to me, make it very unlikely, if not impossible, that Richard was involved. The facts: That he was unusually merciful to the others that "stood in his way" to the throne, that the death of the boys actually caused more problems than solved them, and that there were very very few contemporary rumours that the boys were dead is enough to convince me, add onto that the portrait Tey paints of Richard: as a sad, lonely, brave, intelligent man, although slightly too forgiving for his own good make it even more unlikely. He comes off as sympathetic, extremely so: I was drawing comparisons between Richard and Snape by the end.

However, I did have a few qualms with this book. We never really understand WHY Grant was so obsessed with Richard, aside from the fact that he was bored. Yes, he was interesting, but Richard seemed to be the sole focus in his life. For a main character, Grant was not very well drawn-more character development, perhaps moving on from Richard at the end, would have been beneficial.

Likewise, the whole point of this book seems to be rescuing Richard from the one-deminsional villan status(in which respect it succeeds), but in that attempt, Tey creates another one-deminsional villan in Henry Tudor, aka Henry VII. Criticism of Henry is thrown because he usurped Richard's throne, although Richard had actually done the same thing. On his death, his kingdom's treasury was in very good shape, and I don't believe there were any wars during his 23-year-reign. It seems as if Henry was liked by his subjects, so he must've had SOME good-leadership qualities. It is possible-actually, likely-that Henry killed the boys, but that doesn't make him completely evil, just like it wouldn't detract from Richard's good qualities if he killed them.

Overall, though, I reccomend it. I plan on getting my hands on a book about the Princes dissapearance, and getting into the actual facts of the case, and I think most would have similar reactions.

Brain-teaser, brilliant, historical mystery.......2007-06-04

Some say this book is responsible for the renewed interest in Richard III. Whether true or not, it certainly peaked my curiosity.

It's chock full of history. But I have one word of caution: If you know nothing about the Wars of the Roses, the reign of Edward IV or Richard III, I recommend you first read Sharon Kay Penman's THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR. Without a good foundation in the history of the times, you'll miss much of the subtle references.

On the other hand, the unveiling of Richard III (biased in favor of the man) appears secondary to the point of the book. Rather, I think Tey meant to call historians to task. If history were written after proper (or legal) interpretation of the evidence at hand, she seems to contend, it might prove a whole lot more accurate.

Five Century Old Murders Solved.......2007-02-15

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Alan Grant is in the hospital with a broken leg and concussed spine; he fell through a trap door when chasing a crook. Bored, he asked for some books and prints. One of those prints has the portrait of Richard III. one of the greatest villains in English history according to the legends. Are histories written by the winners to justify their actions? Grant develops an interest in English history in general and the time of Richard III. His Parliament was the most liberal and progressive on record; why was he such a villain? In Chapter 3 it says that Tyrrell was hanged for smothering the Two Princes after being found guilty and confessing. That should pretty much solve the crime.

Thomas More's "History of Richard III" was based on hearsay (Chapter 7). More got his story from John Morton, a bitter enemy of Richard III. Richard III's contemporaries did not mention the murder of the Two Princes, not did Henry VII in his Bill of Attainder after Richard III's death. The conclusion must be that the Two Princes were still alive! In Chapter 8 Elizabeth Mackintosh misrepresents the Boston Massacre, so I question her story about Tonypandy. [The Boston Massacre was real. The troops who shot into an unarmed crowd were tried for murder, and acquitted.] The conversations between Grant and Carradine are used to explain late 15th century history. The Bishop of Bath told of an early marriage of Edward IV that would disinherit Edward's children, the Two Princes and their sister Elizabeth (future wife of Henry VII). Richard III's mistake was to pardon Lord Stanley and Bishop Morton (Chapter 10). Perhaps Richard III was too easy-going with his enemies?

Chapter 11 tells about two Scottish women martyrs in a legend that has never been verified. Why did Henry VII order the destruction of Titulus Regius without it being read by Parliament? Why did nobody speak then about the death of the Two Princes, if it did happen then? The fact that the murder of the Two Princes was never mentioned while Richard III was alive must mean they were still alive. Grant explained who benefitted from their death (Chapter 13). Sir James Tyrrell was well-rewarded by Henry VII until a falling-out in 1502 (Chapter 14). Then he was captured and beheaded without a trial! The story of a confession came later. Those who had prospered under Richard III died when Henry VII took power. [The story about Richard III's "warm heartedness" reminds me of Machiavelli's advice that it is better to be feared than loved.]

Henry VII was the first English king to have a bodyguard (Chapter 15). They tell of the events of 1486, when Sir James Tyrrell received a general pardon in June, then a second in July. Henry VII invented the Star Chamber, the classic example of tyranny. Chapter 16 summarizes the known facts. Grant finds Richard III innocent of murdering the Two Princes (who were obstacles to Henry Tudor). There is a surprise in Chapter 17. Ever since the Stuarts they knew that Richard III was innocent! Horace Walpole wrote about this in the eighteenth century. So why has the vicious legend kept going? Blame William Shakespeare and his play. Just as Hollywood created a "Wild West" of Cowboys and Indians to hide and obscure the real history of the late 19th century America. Grant explains why the mystery about the deaths suggests Henry VII's guilt.

I wonder why there was no print of Henry VII here? Richard III has "quite a nice face, isn't it?" Can you judge a person by their looks? It was the policy of Henry VII to eliminate all rivals to the throne, such as the heirs of York, but few details are given here.

This highly surprising telling...........2007-02-10

...of one of the oldest mysteries in England was thoroughly enjoyable. The story is told in an intelligent manner and seems to logically solve the mystery. Until I read another theory on these two little princes I find more believable I'll stick with this one!

Richard the hero.......2007-01-10

Josephine Tey wrote this in the 1950s, an examination of the place of Shakespeare's arch-villain King Richard III in history, as a detective story of a kind. The attitudes it reveals are dated, and the environment in which the book is set (a hospital) quaint social history. But the story she explores is exciting, challenging and will change your mind about the history you learned at school and never questioned afterwards. My only quibble is that the most famous picture of Richard III, in which he is shown putting on or taking off a ring and in which it can clearly be seen that he has one shoulder higher than the other, which is much referred to in the book, is not the one used on the cover. Read this book, it will change your mind.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Really compelling story of Josephine
A magnificent, poignant look into Napoleon Bonaparte's wife!
NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE, A LOVE STORY
Entertaining Read

Tales Of Passion Tales Of Woe
Sandra Gulland
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684856077

Book Description

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is the much-awaited sequel to Sandra Gulland's highly acclaimed first novel, The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. Beginning in Paris in 1796, the saga continues as Josephine awakens to her new life as Mrs. Napoleon Bonaparte. Through her intimate diary entries and Napoleon's impassioned love letters, an astonishing portrait of an incredible woman emerges. Gulland transports us into the ballrooms and bedrooms of exquisite palaces and onto the blood-soaked fields of Napoleon's campaigns. As Napoleon marches to power, we witness, through Josephine, the political intrigues and personal betrayals -- both sexual and psychological -- that result in death, ruin, and victory for those closest to her.

Download Description

In beautifully imagined diary entries, Sandra Gulland continues the story of Josephine's marriage to "the Corsican, " Napoleon Bonaparte. As Napoleon's march to power erupts in political intrigues and personal betrayals, Josephine witnesses the triumphs, as well as the death and ruin, of those closest to her. The novel is set at the end of the eighteenth century, when Napoleon is General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy, and his impassioned -- and at times disturbing -- love letters provide a fascinating counterpoint to Josephine's own journal. An impressive combination of historical fidelity and fictional artistry, Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe brings the legendary Josephine and the drama of her time to vibrant life.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-01-31

I love this series and am not looking forward to it ending. However, I am excited to get started reading the third book in this series having finished the first and second books. These books read so easily and the reader is drawn into Josephine's life -- the reader begins to feel like they truly know this woman.

If you like to read Historical Fiction then this series is definately for you!

Really compelling story of Josephine.......2006-08-26

Whether this piece of historical fiction sticks to the facts or not, I don't know, but the drama and empathy one feels in reading it makes you want to have known Josephine first hand. A delightful and compelling read.

A magnificent, poignant look into Napoleon Bonaparte's wife!.......2006-06-10

I read The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B a few years ago and hadn't thought of reading the second volume until now. Well, in all fairness, I hadn't known there was a second installment until now. This historical figure has always intrigued me for being the wife of one of the most powerful military commanders in history. Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is another intriguing and insightful historical/biographical novel centered on the woman who shared her life with the man responsible for the European wars of late eighteenth century to early nineteenth century. This novel covers the couple's stay in Italy during 1786 to 1800. In diary form, Josephine tells us about Bonaparte's self-declaration as First Counsel and becomes all the more powerful while she deals with her in-laws who had taken an instant dislike to her and try to ruin her reputation with lies and careful plotting. And through her many trials, she never loses her desire to help others in spite of having a compulsive need to shop and then hide her debts and expenses. And then she moves the reader when she realizes that she's developed feelings for her husband. There are various twists throughout the novel.

Sandra Gulland paints a true and compelling picture of the historical Empress. She makes her likeable and yet conflicting and complex at the same time. Her trials with her in-laws are the most difficult ones for her and you feel her struggles while applauding her strength for enduring them with the patience of a saint. I also like how the author describes the ever-changing roles in Josephine's life as her husband gains political power and becomes a formidable figure in Europe. The historical accuracy is quite impressive and the footnotes were very insightful. I often don't like footnotes in fiction because they distract me from the story, but in this case I found them to be integral to the overall book because I learned things about Bonaparte that I hadn't known about before. I read The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B a few years ago and cannot remember every detail, but I do know that I wasn't able to appreciate Josephine B back then as I do now with this one. Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe is a great second offering in what is so far a great trilogy. Sandra Gulland has impressed me with this wonderful book and I look forward to reading The Last Great Dance on Earth, which will pick up when Bonaparte moves to the Tuileries Palace. I hope that this third and last installment will also cover all of the Napoleonic wars, Bonaparte's exile to Elba and his reinstallment on the throne of France, which leads to the battle of Waterloo. I can't wait to read Gulland's version of Josephine B and her insights during those events! (Though I think Josephine died the year before Waterloo.) Anyway, I recommend this wonderful book, right after you read The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.

NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE, A LOVE STORY.......2006-05-17

Two days after Josephine's marriage to the funny little Corsican (on March 9, 1796), Napoleon leaves Paris to take command of the Army of Italy. Three and a half months later Josephine is summoned to Milan by Bonaparte. She leaves her beautiful home, her friends, and most importantly, her children for almost two years. During this period she must spend time with her husband's horrible mother and siblings and endure the most unbelievable and torturous therapies in order to get pregnant.

TALES OF PASSION, TALES OF WOE is book two in Sandra Gulland's trilogy about the life of Josephine Bonaparte. This novel only covers four years--the period between Josephine's marriage in 1796 through February, 1800 when the Bonapartes move to the Tuileries Palace. This takes place after the big Coup d'Etat when Napoleon overthrows the Directors and declares himself as First Counsel. In between the pages, written as a diary and peppered with a multitude of historical footnotes, we find Josephine, as usual, trying to help others. She continues to show exceptional patience when dealing with her offensive in-laws (who are constantly plotting against her, taking money from her and who spread lies about her). She also shops and shops and spends way too much money and then tries to find ways to cover her debts. She also is slowly falling deeply in love with her younger husband.

I really enjoyed reading this historical novel about characters I have always been intrigued with. TALES OF PASSION is not only beautifully written but is quite the page-turner. Included in this book are actual letters written by Bonaparte to the love of his life. Even though I know the tragic ending of this love story, I am still looking forward to book number three to see how it all transpires.

Entertaining Read.......2003-08-21

While not as engrossing as the first of the series, this book still successfully draws the reader into the intrigue filled & interesting world of Josephine Bonaparte. The author does a good job of recreating so many of the pivotal moments in the Bonaparte's life without loosing the personal insight of Josephine.

Book Description

Jane Austen’s Guide to Good Manners is a light-hearted, insightful handbook written as if intended for her original Regency Era readers, and illustrated throughout with beautiful watercolors. When Anna, Jane Austen’s young niece, sent her a novel for “literary comment,” Jane loved everything about it, except its utter disregard for the manners of the day. The resulting and tender correspondence between the two serves as the foundation for this instructional book.
Etiquette and social behavior of the early 1800s come to life in lovely chapters teaching one on how to pay and return formal “calls,” how to properly refuse a proposal of marriage, who should lead off the dancing at a country-house ball, and what to wear for a morning walk. Jane Austen used these daily customs and niceties to brilliantly illuminate the cloistered world of high society women in her timeless novels. Now with this delightful handbook of correct social behavior, readers will learn just why Mrs. Bennet of Pride and Prejudice couldn’t call alone on her new, rich, bachelor neighbor and had to force the reluctant Mr. Bennet to do so…even as he uttered “Tis an etiquette I despise.”
An indispensable gift for any Austen fan, this beautiful book will prove irresistible to anyone wishing to go back in time to the atmosphere of their favorite Austen novels.

Customer Reviews:

Helping to explain some of the more obscure aspects of Jane Austen's works, with elegance and art.......2006-12-27

Being a fan of nearly everything Jane Austen, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I would buy this book. The Regency period of English history -- from about 1790 to 1820 -- has always interested me, and has been a lucrative trade for modern romance writers, but I was curious about something. How was the Regency period actually? And to solve that question, writer Josephine Ross goes right to the source: none other than the most famous author of the Regency period, Jane Austen, who wrote six novels, and a wide selection of letters, to find out what were the correct manners of the time.

The Regency period was a time when to know how to behave was important. Having the knowledge of when to speak, how to speak, dress, and even introduce yourself could make or break your social success. With a gentle tongue-in-cheek humor, Josephine Ross takes examples from Austen's heroes and heroines to show the right way to behave, in a series of chapters that run the gamut from conversation to marriage and children.

Beginning with an Introduction about the Authoress, Jane Austen herself, the reader is guided into the world of polite society, starting with Manners, Introductions, Conversation, Dining and Dancing, Dress and Taste, Matrimony, Family and finally, Servants. For each aspect, Ross draws on the observations made in the books and letters, and more importantly, shows why a blunder -- or save -- was made.

What I really liked about the book is that it suddenly opened up some of the more obtuse passages in the books that didn't make much sense to me when I had first read them. Of course, Jane Austen already knew that her audience were very familiar with the background that she was working with, and so naturally, didn't bother to explain anything. But for the modern reader, with our quick world of the internet, flashy clothing, and a rather casual attitude towards relationships, some of the behavior seems downright strange. Why would plain white clothing make a woman fashionable above all else; why would a gentlewoman never, but never, visit a man alone, and how being able to make an introduction could prove to be invaluable later?

And yes, many of these same ideas apply in our own world. Some might find them to be terribly old fashioned, but some basics still matter -- especially when a person finds themselves in a scenario where good manners do count, such as say, in a business setting or when meeting potential in-laws, and both skill and tact are called for.

Along with the humor and various aha! moments, the other pleasure of this book were the delicate watercolours painted by Henrietta Webb that illustrated the book throughout. They caught the mood perfectly, and with just a dash of irony as well.

For collectors and fans of Jane Austen's novels, and anyone who needs a good laugh or quiet chuckle, this slim volume -- it's under 150 pages in length -- would make a delightful little present. The layout and design is lovely, and easy on the eyes, presented in a small, hardback format. Josephine Ross has also written a more scholarly work on Jane Austen, which goes into more detail about life in the Regency period.

Happily recommended.

Jane Austen impressed me!.......2006-10-12

This is a graceful book. If you want be a elegant person, you must read this gorgeous book. I Love Jane Austen's stlye, life, everything.

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