A fantastic adventure - one of my favorite books as a child! I ordered copies for myself, my brother, my sister, and my mom. It is just as wonderful as I remember. The illustrations are superb, and the story is timeless.

This is a wonderful story, told as a fairy tale, about a king and his friends, each with a unique talent. They help each other using these gifts and are ultimately successful as a team in a situation where any one would have failed. The illustrations are old-fashioned but beautiful. The situations are interesting to children and make this a great introduction to longer fiction.

As a child in the mid 70's I can remember paging through this book for hours at a time before I could even read. The illustrations had a very overcast, eeriely beautiful, hazy atmosphere that haunted me (in a wonderful way) and still do today - thank god for Amazon's used bookstore search option! It reunited me with this old favorite & opon opening it for the first time in 20 years I practicaly had a religious experience from the nostalgia overload.

My brother has got this book and everytime I go to his place I look at it.I even remember when it came out.It is a fantastic book and I love it.That is why I have purchased a copy...

There is a nice informal picture of Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince William on the front cover. On the inside cover and the next page is a family tree of Prince William's relatioship within the British Royal Family and with the Royal Families of Europe. The Prince of Wales' coat of arms which Prince William will inherit when he assumes he title.

I have had this book since its publication, I have read it many times, and I have looked at its beautiful pictures so many times. I've really never paid much attention to Prince William's horoscope which was written at the time of his birth by John Naylor, President, Federeration of British Astrologers.

The following is taken from the horoscope : "... Conservative in thought and basically cautious in action, though not without strong prejudices too. These qualities will be combined with an uncanny intuition which will enable him to read minds, anticipate actions.

"...he has a good share of courage, ambition, aggression and physical vitality, quite a temper, and a vein of foolhardiness...

"...Prince William's horoscope has the hallmark of monarchy, whereas his father Prince Charles' lacks this distinctive feature, as did King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's.

"A good I.Q. and a useful academic ability is indicated, but it is an intellect which is imaginative and artistic, which inclines toward idealism and perfectionisim, rather being pragmatic, anaytical or rational...His ready sympathies and his emotionalism make him a romantic, gullible, susceptible to flattery, a 'good fellow.'

"Prince William has an affinity for the sea...Yet, more than most members of the royal family, he has intellectual capabilities. He leans towards being an academic...he could develop an interest in constitutional law...

"Not only because he is a prince, but because he has great charm, is sensitive, sympathetic and responsive as well as being full of vitality, he will wreak havoc with feminine hearts...

" The astrological picture is therefore of an affectionate, sensitive yet lively child, courageous, and possessing a vein af aggression which will flare from time to time. He will need and demand, a lot of affection and attention, being prone to vivid emotional affection and approval.

"...In maturity he will have a vigorous, active dispostion and will be capable of becoming a considerable stateman, combining keen intuition and a feel for public mood and reaction with a useful capacity for leadship...

"...Yet the most interesting indication in regard to Prince William's future occurs in the late 1980's. Both he and his mother, the Princess of Wales, are Cancer subjects...Different but comparable indications occur in the horoscopes of the other principal royals, the Queen, Prince Philip, and Prince Charles. Royal stars suggest that the second half of the 1980's the winds of change will blow through the royal corridors; the younger generation, Prince William amongst them, coming into greater prominence. Happenings in the summer of 1985 will set this trend into motion."

I included these excerpts because I believe that are most interesting in view of all that's happened to Prince William in his short life.

Shortly before dawn a royal-blue Rover police car proceeded out of the gates of Kensington Palace and sped towards Paddington to St. Mary's Hospital. There were only four people in the car - the chauffeur, the personal detective, Prince Charles, and his twenty-year-old wife. Shortly after five o'clock Diana, Princess of Wales, was admitted to the Lido Wing. For once in her twenty-one months in the glare of publicity, there was not a photographer in sight. However, it was not to reamin this way for long. By the time Buckingham Palace released the news of the princess' arrival, there was a continous, steady stream of well wishers and onlookers. By ten o'clock the fist flowers had arrived.

Within the hour after the birth of Prince William, Buckingham Palace made its official announcement. However, the news traveled faster by mouth. There were tremendous choruses of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and chant variations on a footbal theme of - "Nice One Charlie-Give Us Another One."

The crowds began to swell in anticipation of Prince Charles' emergence. I can remember watching TV and wondering if he were ever going to come outside. Of course, when he emerged, it was the first time he had been seen in public that day. There was lipstick on his cheek and soon there was more. He appeared to be extremely happy as he spoke of his first-born in glowing terms such as "beautiful" and "marvelous form" and he himself was "relieved and delighted" and duly impressed by the experience of attending the birth. With warmth and concern Prince Charles thanked everyone for their interest and concern. I was almost 11:30pm when the Prince left for home at Kensington Palace.

Anyone who was watching TV will never forget the Prince of Wales leaving the hospital the next day with the glamourous Princess and their baby prince. Prince William was the first direct heir to the Throne who was born in a hospital. Princess Diana could not wait to get him home. They certainly appear to be a radiantly happy couple as they leave the hospital with their small bundle of joy. picture p. 123

I hope there is a republication of this book so that those who don't have it will be able to puchase this beautiful book.

This book is a must for all who collect books on the Royal Family or just enjoy reading about them.

This refers to the hardback edition which was published in 1982 and measures 91/4x113/4 inches.

This is a tender, loving look at Prince William and his royal heritage. There are plenty of color photographs of the royal family showing clearly the love of the proud parents as well as photographs of them as babies. This book will warm your heart and have you ooohing and aaahing within the first few pages. This is a must for anyone who is interested in the royals or anyone who loves babies. If each picture is worth a thousand words, then this book is priceless. It is a pure joy and holds the memories of a family which was dealt a tradgic, cruel blow.

The edition of Edward II I read was the New Mermaid Series one, which had a very good and informative introduction, and has the spelling modernized. The spelling modernization extends to place names as well as general terms. I am not sure how I feel about spelling modernization, as it is nice to see how the work was originally spelled, but it made the work very easy to read. The play itself is amazing, very engaging even though it is a history, and is mostly based on things that actually happened. The language is not as flowery as Shakespeare, but is lovely nonetheless. Some of the characters of the play are very fickle, and seem to suddenly change as you read the text of the play. (Queen Isabella goes from devoted and self-sacrificing wife to cunning adulteress.) It makes more sense on stage, and after seeing this play, it was easier to see how good it is.

Marlowe's final play is also his masterpiece. To be sure, the dramatic events in this play really did happen, but Marlowe shows himself at his best when he paints the picture. At first, Marlowe masterfully allows us to detest Edward for undoing all the fine work of his father Edward Longshanks. We also are able to feel sorry for Mortimer and Isabella. (the eventual villains). Isabella feels neglected and Mortimer can not stand to see the fine work of Edward Longshanks undone. Later, we come to have some respect for Edward II when he shows himself to have some of his father's fine qualities and he crushes the first rebellion against him with courage and intelligence. When the second uprising successful, we no longer are lead into any feelings of admiration for Mortimer and Isabella. Once they have power they are more vile and disgusting than Edward II ever was. By Act 5.1, Marlowe gives Edward II moving soliloquies and does not allow our new won pity to slack for a moment. The final scene of this play when Edward II's 17 year old son Edward III flips the tables, crushes his corrupt mother, has Mortimer put to death, and offers prayers to his murdered father is a scene that is almost unsurpassed in literature. To be sure, this did actually happen, but Marlowe not only tells us what happened, but colors it with his superb mastery of the language.

Edward the second, or to give it its full title, 'The troublesome reign and Lamentable death of Edward, the second king of England, with the tragical fall of proud Mortimer', is famous for being an Elizabethan 'Gay play', but this is only one of the subjects contained within the play. Politics, cruelty and the Feudal System are all important themes in this, one of the great masterstrokes of Elizabethan literature. The play itself is a history play, set in the 14th century featuring Edward and his previously basished lover, Gaveston, who returns after the death of Edward's father. This return enrages the barons, who were sworn to Edward's father that Gaveston would never return. This is the catalyst for a plot that races around like a cheetah on speed, culminating in one of the most excruciating deaths ever portrayed on stage. "Shakespeare? Who? Marlowe was far better!"

Having a love of literature, and being an English Lit. major has given me the oportunity to read most of Shakespeare's works. Shakespeare's talent and genius has surely endured and his beautiful writings are essential to mankind not only in the classroom but throughout our lives. His tragedies speak the loudest to me, as they are charged with drama, emotion and memorable quotations. Having to choose a favorite book of all time I would say, "Othello." Yet Hamlet is my second favorite drama of Shakespeare's, and Macbeth also holds strong. I do not care for King Lear but having Shakespeare's 4 greatest and most popular tragedies in one book is a collection worth having.

4 of his best i strongly recomend this group of storys.

Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth are Shakespeare's greatest works. These fantastic stories, coupled with strong footnotes, make for superb reading material. I would recommend this book to beginning and master Shakespeare readers.

Our classroom read a poignant short story about his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker. I was pleased to find this book on the life of her son in this carefully researched, well-presented biography. It is an interesting read of a man and also a chief showing how he is torn between two worlds of belief and behaviors. Informative read. It received the Oklahoma History Book of the Year award.
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Books One - Three

This past summer, I made a trip to the reconstruction of Old Fort Parker in Groesbeck, TX - and the actual massacre site - where Cynthia Ann Parker, age 9, was captured by Comanche warriors and raised as a Comanche woman for the next 25 years before a well-meaning Texas Ranger discovered her and returned her to her white relatives. Cynthia Ann never readjusted to white society and, in mourning for her Comanche husband and her children, eventually starved herself to death. Yet, out of this tragic story, her son Quanah - half white, half Comanche - rose to become the most influential representative of the Comanche tribe and the last Comanche Chief.

In this book, author William T. Hagan presents the meticulously researched story of Quanah's life and the politics of both the white and native worlds which he straddled, serving as an eloquent bridge between two societies struggling for survival on the Oklahoma and Texas plains. An astute businessman, Quanah recognized the futility of staving off white settlement and turned his warrior energies toward negotiating for the best "deals" he could get for the American Indians. Although he made many trips to Washington, DC and the White House to represent the needs of the Indians and often wore western Anglo dress, he refused to give up his braids, his "much married condition" (7 wives), and his dedication to the peyote cult.

This is a fascinating book which I highly recommend to any afficianado of the Old West and Native America.

Although I tend to be wary of any biographies that speak with an omnisient narrative voice, and don't cite their sources as they go, Hagan's book does well remaining mostly unbiased in discussing native-white relations, and stating facts. It has an excellent collection of pictures I haven't seen elsewhere, and gives a well-written account of Quanah Parker's life without 'juicing it up'. Being a descendent of Quanah Parker, I've read anything about him I can get my hands on, and this is definitely one of the better resources.

This is a griping historic novel. It brings forth emotions while being grounded in hard facts. Readers walk away with expanded knowledge of the events and issues facing miners of past years while reading expertly constructed storylines.
This book brings vivid images of life as a Scranton coal miner a century ago. The insensitivity of mine bosses is shown, as they were upset at mining accidents not for the sake of those injured yet because of production delays. Further lack of feeling is shown when mine owners would pay for the removal of dead mules in mines, yet families would have to pay to bring the bodies of their dead relatives from mines.
We learn a main reason why mine owners were insentivies was that it was railroad companies that owned most of the mines. Laws passed allowed rail companies to control the transportaiton of coal. Railrod companies gobbled up owning coal mines and refused to transport coal of competitors. The owners of railroads were generally not sympathetic to the plight of miners.
Miners suffered and they reacted. 61,000 miners died nationwide at work from 1838 through 1914. Growing labor unreast was met with company-sponsored attackers that put down unrest and killed some miners. Mine union members were barred from employment. Vigilantes struck back. Mine executives and public officials were killed. Miners marched, and Sheriffs and deputized Sheriffs opened fire shooting and killing miners.
Scranton a century ago was a city with much tension, struggles, and death. This novel brings that Scranton of yesteryear alive. This book about working underground is a rare gem.

Wow, I loved it. What a story. My grandfathers worked in mines. It gave me a great insight to their struggles. The stories they told me in my child hood were explained in detail. I am not much of a book reader, but I could not put this book down. Gripping. All persons who work for a living should read this book. See what these people did to pave the way for all of us. Be thankful and don't let their stuggles go for not in this era of corperate greed. A must read for all union members.

This is the first book in the Norman Trilogy series written by the author and a very good work of historical fiction. It chronicles the the life of William the Conqueror, the bastard son of the Duke of Normandy. Born to the daughter of a tanner, his illegitimacy was to be a sore spot and bone of contention for many years. Designated by his father to succeed him as the Duke of Normandy, the circumstances of his birth would cause him to have to fight usurpers within his duchy in order to retain his title.

After a somewhat unusual courtship, William married Matilda, the fiercely independent and beautiful daughter of the King of Flanders. Together, they had a number of children who were to cause him much anger and much sorrow. One of them would eventually bring about a fissure in his relationship with his beloved Matilda.

William, always ambitious, coveted the throne of England and was supported in his desire to be king by his intelligent and equally ambitious wife Matilda. In 1066, after the death of the King of England, Edward the Confessor, with whom he had had a longstanding friendship, William crossed the channel from Normandy to England. He wrested the English crown from King Harold, Edward's popular Saxon successor. In doing so, he forever changed the course of England and its history.

Vividly written and well researched, the author weaves a spellbinding tale of the Duke who would be King. A tapestry of exciting historical events makes this an enthralling tale that will capture the imagination of the reader. Lovers of historical fiction will especially enjoy this interesting and well written book.

The first in a wonderful series on the History of England. Plaidy makes the life of the first King of England interesting and wets your appetite for more. A must for all history buffs!

Jean Plaidy is an excellent author. She manages to make you fascinated with all the characters in the story--from its hero William the Conqueror, to his worthy adversary Harold Godwinsson. A must-read for a historical fiction buffs.

Armed with my copy of this book and The RoMANtic's Guide, my wife and I were off to New York for a special romantic weekend. I couldn't have done it without these two books. My wife was amazed at the places we saw, slept and ate.

The photographs are breath-taking, the writing a pleasure in itself, a perfect coffee table book, a very well put together guide that provides a lot of intresting places to try out in NYC

This book revives a romantic vision of New York that has been forgotten. It offers intimate insight into wonderful corners of space in New York. The writing is clever and descriptive and the full-page bleed photographs are dramatic and stunning.