Think you know the Kings and Queens? Well if you have watched some horrible histories and know the song, you will know something but David Mitchell’s Think you know the Kings and Queens? Well if you have watched some horrible histories and know the song, you will know something but David Mitchell’s book is next level. It’s funny and clever, taking us from King Arthur in the made up mists of time, when all you needed to be King was to say you were, really; all the way up to Elizabeth the first with lots of fighting, beheadings, burnings, bad decision making and just making it up as they went along!
It’s a chunky book but is written in a really laid back style, it will make you laugh out loud and the referencing of today will make you realise that we’ve really not changed that much! He knows his history and pokes fun at it in an utterly gleeful fashion. Such a good read!...more
A down and out Irish poet, the head waiter at the Shakespear’s Head tavern in Covent Garden and a celebrated London Courtesan, in 1757, became bound tA down and out Irish poet, the head waiter at the Shakespear’s Head tavern in Covent Garden and a celebrated London Courtesan, in 1757, became bound together by publication of Harris’s List Of Covent Garden Ladies. A scandalous and salacious work, outlining the names and specialities of the sex workers of the capital- it became a bestseller.
Beyond its pages it reveals a glimpse into the lives of those who lived and died by its profits, motivated by poverty, love, aspiration and shame.
I loved Rubenhold’s book The Five and was totally astounded by it. This book similarly was outstanding. Meticulously researched and written with care, yet is full of tension and drama of the lives of the three people associated with The List. I was particularly taken with the life of Charlotte Hayes and the other women briefly annotated in the list. We get to hear of them only through the prism of men’s eyes and as Rubenhold rightly states, we cannot really know their thoughts on the life they lead or the reasons for it. The men did not care and had no interest in that beyond their own self interest and desire.
An absolutely cracking read, really interesting, dramatic and shines a light on women that history chose to ignore. ...more
What an absolutely wonderful read. I listened to this over a week or so on journeys too and from work and I found it enthralling and utterly absorbingWhat an absolutely wonderful read. I listened to this over a week or so on journeys too and from work and I found it enthralling and utterly absorbing. I grew up near to the Thames but higher than its tidal reaches, it has a mesmeric pull that you can't deny. Maiklem describes this and brings it alive through the secrets and objects that it gives back to us on her mudlarking exploits on the foreshore. I also follow her on instagram and I urge you to take a look as once you start to see these objects and look up their history, you will be hooked to!...more
With this we get a potted grisly history of the Tudors. I love the Tudor period, we all know the stor House of Tudor: A Grisly History - Mickey Mayhew
With this we get a potted grisly history of the Tudors. I love the Tudor period, we all know the stories of Henry and his 6 wives…divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived and this covers those infamous wives plus some other forty five events in total from that time. So we take in the demise of Richard III to the botched execution of Mary Queen of Scots and a lot in between. There are beheadings, burnings, disease and being hanged drawn and quartered.
It is readable, interesting, gruesome and entertaining too. It contained information that I already knew but a lot that I didn’t, it has been well researched and was an enjoyable read. Very detailed there were some parts that I read out to my teenage kids- having just recently visited Hampton Court it tied in nicely with what we had seen and another visit to the Tower of London with the instruments of torture!
A gruesome and entertaining read, one you can dip in and out of and bring the tudors to life!
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Thanks to Pen and Sword books for my copy of this book and spot on the blog tour...more
The Rebel Suffragette - The Life Of Edith Rigby -Beverley Adams
The suffragette movement swept the country in the late 19th and early 20th century. LedThe Rebel Suffragette - The Life Of Edith Rigby -Beverley Adams
The suffragette movement swept the country in the late 19th and early 20th century. Led by the Pankhurst’s, the focus was in London with rallies taking place and demonstrations. But there was a strong Northern movement, Edith Rigby was a fervent supporter. Edith founded the Preston branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was controversial, feisty, charismatic and unpredictable. She was found guilty of arson and an attempted bomb attack in Liverpool, was incarcerated and endured hunger strike. She even threw a black pudding at an MP!! This is the story of a lesser known suffragette, who was nonetheless brave and effective.
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