Like most girls, I was raised to believe in fairy tales and that, deep inside, I really was a royal princess. It's the most cherished dream of girlhood and Wallis Warfield Simpson bought into that dream in a way that had a profound impact on the history of the British monarchy. The story of Edward VIII and Wallis has been officially portrayed along those fairy tale lines. But it's tough to grow up and realize that fairies don't exist, and that the Windsors were Nazi sympathizers not fit to sit on the throne of England. Still, I find the truth more satisfying than the official fiction because it makes sense of history. The morganatic solution had been done before; why not in the case of Edward VIII? It makes more sense that Wallis was the excuse, not the real reason, behind the abdication. John Parker provides convincing evidence in an easy-to-read history of both the Windsors and their social set. I found it hard to put this book down.

Unless you marry into the British Royal family, it is virtually impossible to ever personally view all the paintings featured in this book (I believe Windsor Castle displays only one painting per year). This book is the next best thing. How else can one marvel at the equisite design, detail and color presented in these Mughal paintings? While the text is written in the usual art history academia mumbo jumbo (meaning dry dry dry), the pictures speak for themselves. One can easily find a sentence here or a paragraph there that will give added insight to the paintings. But the text isn't required to appreciate the magnificance of these art pieces from Shah Jahan's era.

Da Vinci's anatomical drawing is not simply scientific record. It is a great man's comtemplation on humanity through the very basics of physical form. To back up this kind of inquiry, you need a god to in your soul or you have to be the god youself. Without this spiritual aspect, scientific research would turn into something crudely utilitarian or cruelly inhumane as we all have noticed in so many cases in the modern world.

Da Vince is not some mad scientist who messed up with corpses secretly as in a Frenkenstein movie. But do we ever noticed their difference in this country, the supposed most advance country in technology and science? This book would make you think.

I have an old book by Mark Catesby. Half is in French and half in English, it is supposed to one of two volumes, it is not in very good shape,and most of the plates are missing. Do you have any thing more you could tell me about this book?

I love this book. It is about a young rather plain girl growing up in an upper class home in England and her experiences and friends. It has all the elements of a classic: brilliant characters, interesting well, not really a plot and good descriptions, as well as its own special charm. Amy is an especially lovable heroine and her narrative is particularly readable.

A great book-Scary, clever and clever!

The book is extracts from the very intimate journals of the fiddle and dancing master who taught Queen Victoria, her husband and their older children all about Scottish dancing and music and through those many subtle lessons about the essential Scottish character. As they master the steps and dances you join them as they start to have fun, putting on small dance parties and then grand Highland balls. By the end of the book you will want to find your nearest Royal Scottish Country Dance Society class and learn enough to join in the exact same fun.

I had read this book before, but just re-read it this weekend.
It is one of the best books on the British Royal Family that I have read. The author's insights and observations are right on target. It was published in 1993 before the tragic death of Princess Diana, but that does not change his thoughts on the problems of the monarchy. Nothing will change until the death of Queen Elizabeth II as she is too bound up in tradition to modernize. The whole family lives in a time warp.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in the history of the House of Windsor and how it is crumbling.

"The Royal 100: A Who's Who of the First 100 People in Line of Succession to the British Throne" combines a text by Alan Hamilton with many, many photographs. The book's subtitle pretty much describes it perfectly. The book is divided into five sections that reflect the genealogical interconnections of the British royal family. The sections cover the House of Windsor and its descendants; the Norwegian royal house (yes, one of them could inherit the British crown if some massive disaster wiped out all the Windsors and descendants); the Romanian royal family; the Yugoslavian royal family; and the Russian imperial family.

The interesting introduction has an overview of the British royal family and the principles of royal succession. The text overall is both informative and entertining. I loved the many pictures of the royals and their relatives: at work, at play, in formal looking poses, etc. There are wedding pics, baby pics, and pics of royals in the fancy military uniforms that seem to never go out of fashion. Mini-biographies (very brief for the more obscure individuals) accompany the pictures. Along the way are some marvelous images and curious (occasionally even scandalous!) facts.

This is definitely one of the most enjoyable of the many royal books I have read over the years. It's full of life. Unfortunately, the 1986 edition is (as I write this review) way out of date. But the book is still well worth exploring.

I have enjoyed reading your book The Royal Switch. I am 12 years old and I would like to read more of your fiction books like The Royal Switch and Bright Lights the characters in this book are very interesting and have kept me spell bound while reading them. I would highly recommend that everyone would read them.

I am looking forward to reading more of Sarah York's books. I am adding them to my library and am excited about the prospect of adding even more to my collection.