I found this book eminently readable. It shows that the author has a good grasp of the subject which she has analysed in an inteligent manner. Unlike the majority of books that try to put across a view that contradicts the prevelent thinking of the day, this book has convinced me to change many of my beliefs concerning the area of history covered.I would love to have the oppertunity to discuss the book further with the author.

If you saw any of the Sydney during the Olympics, you are sure to find this account of its early years a fascinating revelation. Based on the life of Lieutenant Governor Joseph Foveaux, demonised in Robert Hughes' The Fatal Shore, this book reveals the links and patronage networks which held the British empire together. I liked the way the author in each chapter flung the reader into a physical description of the place where the action happens. And I even found myself caring about Foveaux's successes and setbacks. This is a warm, elegantly written and compelling new departure in Australian historical writing.

K. Theodore Hoppen's book is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of the Victorian Generation. The breadth of its scholarship is extraordinary. It is teeming with important information and provides references for further reading. The book significantly adds to the scholarship of Asa Brigg's The Age of Improvement since it considers the era after the Second reform Bill of 1867 which is crucial to understanding the direction of English history.

Or, should I say, "A whole new slant on brotherly love"?

This book looks at the interesting theme of dysfunctional families setting policy for England during the Renaissance, Jacobean and baroque periods.

Attention is given to the incredible arguments Henry VIII made in order to set aside his first wife, Catherine of Aragon in favor of Anne Boleyn. Relying on the fact that Catherine had first been the wife of Henry's brother, Arthur, the argument completely ignored Henry's own incestuous activities. Henry had taken as mistress Mary Boleyn, Anne's sister, and probably fathered two children, with her.

Five stars were given due to the originality of the work, but be warned when you see the word "scholarly" used by me. It is a pleasant euphemism for "dry", or "difficult reading". Parts of the text have the reader slogging through sentences of more than 60 words. The paragraphs are replete with commas, semi-colons and such, when a period would do nicely. But, hey, we can't all be blessed with a gift for pithy prose.

So, if your interest centers on royalty and on the fascinating Tudor times, I recommend this book.

I greatly enjoyed this book. What I liked most about it is that the things that Spence talks about here, connecting ancient Britain to North African religious practices and migrations seem to be supported by modern genetic analysis(see http://www.oxfordancestors.com ).

Spence had a rather interesting career and was also the founder of the Scottish Nationalist Party.

...and it's dedicated to me, so I kind of had to read it. Still, I'm glad I did. It was more interesting than I expected, discussing the evolution of settlers to being "native" to North America and the Antipodes. About a chapter into it, I stopped reading out of fillial duty, and kept going because I was interested. (How could I resist the events on-board the H.M.S. Bounty being described as "a crisis in labor relations"?)

Now, I'm going to have to read his other books. So, in my unbiased opinion, buy lots of copies so that I can go to grad school.

The book is presented in five parts Part 1 reviews the social and historical context of British politics Part 11 explains the complexities of the govermental systems Part 111 & 1V explore the issues involved in citizens participation and part representation in the systems of gevernment Part V gives an overview of the methods adopted by society to control and contain its citizens Part V1 is concerned to illucidate the rational related to the construction of policy Part V11 summaries the new politics required as Britian develops closer links with Europe

Ms. Hyman has provided the traveller a beautiful book full of wonderful restaurants and descriptions useful while visiting in Britain and Ireland. My wife and I had Ms. Hyman's book at our side while travelling to Ireland last year and to Britain this year. Not only does she provide local recipes and the names of delightful restaurants but she includes comments about the local area which these travelers found extremely useful. We stayed a week in the Cottswalds this year and our travels and dining were based on the recommendations of Ms. Hyman. We then spent a week in London and followed suit there. She led us to wonderful experiences we would not otherwise have found!

This nation has some basic documents; The Declaration of Independence is one of them.

It reads: England is the enemy, and it explains why.

World conflcit was explained by the Anerican Whigs the same way, through the centuries.. that alone, proves The Declaration of Indepedence true today. The U.S. idea was progress and the sanctity of the individual; therefore, it cannot have an allaince with a nation for whih people are no better than animals (Theory of evolution) and continues to me mired in the world of Walter Scott.. not a pretty world.. etc.

Living by this document is life or death... and death has come from ignoring its sober truth.. jl

This collection of essays provides a clear, thorough and very readable introduction to contemporary British politics. It explains why Labour (aka "New Labour") won the biggest majority in the British House of Commons since 1945, and offers some excellent insights into both the immediate future of the Conservative Party and the longterm development of British democracy.