This is well researched and easily readable. The mid score is because the author really excuses Edward I's bad behaviors. I get that he believed that WeThis is well researched and easily readable. The mid score is because the author really excuses Edward I's bad behaviors. I get that he believed that Welsh & Scottish people weren't civilized. None the less his behavior was horrible and not in the least chivalrous. I feel like biographers fall a bit in love with the subjects of their books. The author has zero trouble calling out Queen Eleanor of Castile's bad behavior and needs to apply that same standard to Edward....more
This was fast-paced, well researched, well cited and tried to simplify these very complicated politics admirably. Much appreciated. I read this in JanuaThis was fast-paced, well researched, well cited and tried to simplify these very complicated politics admirably. Much appreciated. I read this in January of 2022....more
This is very readable and one of the few English language biographies of Louis VIII. This mostly focuses on his wars and his brief time as King of EnglThis is very readable and one of the few English language biographies of Louis VIII. This mostly focuses on his wars and his brief time as King of England. Still very thorough and very readable. This covers Blanche as well. I read thus probably in January 2022....more
This was poorly paced and I didn't like how it was organized either. This starts off with heiresses from famous fictional books and movies. I was unimpThis was poorly paced and I didn't like how it was organized either. This starts off with heiresses from famous fictional books and movies. I was unimpressed. Even after it slowly gets to the point far too often fictional heiresses are referenced in annoying and frankly puzzling ways. The author both states that money would change her life and increase her happiness AND that money had no impact on heiresses lives because of lack of frame of reference or want. I don't like the idea that poverty and struggle build character especially when we know what it builds is trauma. Also wealth does create happiness. Turns out the ability to afford to live increases base happiness. We've known this for decades.
Much like white privilege doesn't guarantee a life of comfort devoid of struggle, rather it denotes a life free from the negative impact of race. The same is true with wealth, it offers a life in which finances aren't a concern, not guarantees a life with zero struggles. Still money buys a lot of power and prestige in our society and that creates an affluent life. No one is guaranteed happiness and frankly if these heiresses were miserable their wealth was certainly causing misery for many others in support of their life of privilege. At least in the hundreds just for their everyday home, clothing, food and childcare. Now add in the employees of their various wealth producing sources and the misery is spread to thousands if not tens of thousands. But sure, a rich heiress enjoying every physical comfort money could buy was unhappy so let's justify that feeling with poor little rich girl bullshit.
Rich people create poverty because their wealth depends on not fairly compensating labor, instead paying as little or nothing if they can get away with it. These women had servants who labored and toiled, many not even allowed to marry or date and were paid a pittance. I bet they lived unhappy lives without physical comfort of any sort too. They were certainly being used by the heiresses in this book.
I find this to be a white feminist view of history in which we remove the actual power of white women because they did not have as much power as white men. They still had more power than pretty much everyone else in society who wasn't white, including men of color. It's like when we focus the gender pay gap on how white women are paid less than white men and ignore that those same white women out earn most folks of color independent of their gender. White women have ALWAYS only been devoid of power in comparison to white men but consistently this narrative ignores the plight of EVERYONE else. This book fails in that exact same way.
The author seems to think that rich women are the only women used or chosen for something other than themselves and frankly that's bullshit. Folks of modest or limited means are used for how they look, for their lowered value in the labor market, taken advantage of in many ways. In fact the poorer you are the less likely you are to be seen and acknowledged by society at large much less chosen for yourself. Lol what fucking romantic nonsense.
Being used for money isn't any worse than being used for looks or knowledge or labor or physical strength, etc.
Often historians maintain this idea that rich or titled people are uniquely misunderstood by modern society but on the contrary I'd say the western world spends most of its historical space devoted to the lives of the rich and famous very much to the expense of both history and average every day folks.
Also this historian uses the slur 'g#*sy' which is uncalled for and unacceptable but most importantly given the claims of the author, not feminist....more
3.5 stars rounded down This is information dense but slow in places. The narration was terrible and I removed half a star from my rating for that. I gene3.5 stars rounded down This is information dense but slow in places. The narration was terrible and I removed half a star from my rating for that. I generally can tolerate even computer generated voices but this grated on my nerves something awful....more
This is really well done. There's some down playing of how middlleclass The Commodore. Otherwise a good job placing this history within its time, class This is really well done. There's some down playing of how middlleclass The Commodore. Otherwise a good job placing this history within its time, class and race. I thoroughly appreciate his focus on Alva Vanderbilt Belmont's Confederate past and racist views. This isn't a biography of the Vanderbilts so much as a focus on a selected few Vanderbilts....more
2.5 Stars rounded down This was written in 1989 and feels dated. This is decent in places but in others overly descriptive of monotonous paintings, inte2.5 Stars rounded down This was written in 1989 and feels dated. This is decent in places but in others overly descriptive of monotonous paintings, interiors of houses, etc. There's also a bit of sexism I the treatment of the more well known women members of the family. I read this in January in anticipation of Julian Fellowes The Gilded Age...more
This is well written and well researched. I took off a star for sexist views of Eleanor of Aquitaine primarily. Yikes moments there. Otherwise exceptionThis is well written and well researched. I took off a star for sexist views of Eleanor of Aquitaine primarily. Yikes moments there. Otherwise exceptionally well researched....more
I like Dan Jones. I don't agree with the vast majority of his conclusions but as a historian his research is solid and I think he presents history in I like Dan Jones. I don't agree with the vast majority of his conclusions but as a historian his research is solid and I think he presents history in an interesting way.
Early in this book he states that he will be telling this from a 'eurocentric' point of view. I had to laugh because all the history he's ever presented has been eurocentric, which is why I say his conclusions can't be trusted.
This book, however, is largely Islamaphobic which isn't the same as eurocentric.
He portrays the spread of Islam as violent, which it was. However he neglects to mention that at the EXACT same time that Islam is being spread via conquest and domination, Christianity is being spread the same way and using the EXACT same methods.
He never mentions the tools that Charlemagne uses to spread Christianity across large swaths of Europe.
All he had to do was present Christianity as it actually existed and was spread historically at the EXACT same time as Islam was being spread. Or not mention Islam and instead focus on the eurocentric history he promised to tell...more
This was extremely well done. This offers history of the continent,briefly, in leading up to the reign of Charlemagne. This also continues after his deThis was extremely well done. This offers history of the continent,briefly, in leading up to the reign of Charlemagne. This also continues after his death with what happens and gives archeological info, as well as historical sources. I was quite impressed with how this was handed....more
3.5 rounded up to 4 Despite title quite castigating of John's ineptitude but points out he wasn't evil. The author makes the case John was 'an atheist'3.5 rounded up to 4 Despite title quite castigating of John's ineptitude but points out he wasn't evil. The author makes the case John was 'an atheist' but I'm not sure I agree. This is based on John's impatience and irreverence for The Catholic Church but perhaps the ritual nonsense bothered him without him not believing in God entirely. I don't know that seems extreme for that time period. Somewhat sexist view of women covered in this history. He also passes on many exaggerations that have already been explained, such as Richard I's homosexuality. It's possible he was bisexual but we can't really deduce that from existing info. He had illegitimate children and 'sodomy' didn't only mean anal sex at the time he confessed to it, it could cover various what were considered sexual depravities. Sharing a bed with another man, crying, hugging etc were normal at the time Richard I lived and not an indicator of homosexuality, nor is it an indicator of homosexuality now. It's unclear if his contemporaries viewed him as a lover of men. He was a terrible King, brother, son and husband tho...more
This is incredibly well rounded. Definitely the definitive biography, balanced and fair. Still this is long, detailed and if you're looking for somethiThis is incredibly well rounded. Definitely the definitive biography, balanced and fair. Still this is long, detailed and if you're looking for something shorter I'd recommend John: An Evil King by Nicholas Vincent. This is a better more thorough historical biography though....more