In April 1865; the steamboat Sultana slowly moved up the Mississippi River; its overtaxed engines straining under the weight of twenty-four hundred passengers—mostly Union soldiers; recently paroled from Confederate prison camps. At 2 a.m.; three of Sultana's four boilers exploded. Within twenty minutes; the boat went down in flames; and an estimated seventeen hundred lives were lost. The worst maritime disaster in American history; the sinking of the Sultana is a forgotten tragedy lost in the turmoil of the times—the war's end; the assassination of President Lincoln; the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth. Alan Huffman presents this harrowing story in gripping and vivid detail and paints a moving portrait of four individual soldiers who survived the Civil War's final hell to make it back home.
#355611 in Books Helen Castor 2012-01-31 2012-01-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.24 x 6.00l; 1.17 #File Name: 0061430773496 pagesShe Wolves The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth
Review
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful. Riveting! History That's Better Than Fiction!By MusingCrowI had eagerly awaited the release of this book and waited until I could take my time and read it slowly- taking notes if I wished. I wasn't disappointed! The book begins with a genealogy of the Tudor Succession and as Edward VI is dying. The book is an utterly fascinating; eminently readable; treatise about the tradition of female rulers prior to the time of Elizabeth I.Included are:Matilda: Lady of England 1102-1167Eleanor: An Incomparable Woman 1124-1204 (long lived indeed!)Isabella: Iron Lady 1295-1358Margaret: A Great and Strong Laboured Woman 1430-1482and; as the books returns to the time of the Tudors and the death of Edward VI; in "New Beginnings"Mary and her disastrous marriage with Philip of Spain. The book ends as Elizabeth I is handed the reins of of government and becomes both the King and Queen of her kingdom.Each section is preceded by a both a genealogy as well as a map of the Kingdom as it existed at that point in history. Very helpful while you are reading about the constantly changing boundaries of the various countries. The genealogies really made me realize how small the pool of available spouses for royal marriages really was at the time. Papal dispensations for consanguinity matters must have been a steady source of revenue for the Church! Ms. Castor has an uncanny ability to write non-fiction that reads as enjoyably as fiction. I was sorry when the book ended - wanting more of this truly riveting history. The struggle of female rulers really was the the beginning of the fight for women's rights and the fact that these amazing; talented; strong women managed to rule as they did is a wonder. I wonder how many modern women would have the tenacity and determination to breach the boundaries of proper 'etiquette' as these female rulers did. It boggles my mind at how strong and focused they must have been. No doubt they would be the sort of successful women who would; to this day; be called She Wolves; baracuddas; or another word that begins with the letter b----.I wished that the book had more illustrations - but then I always wish that. I always want more images to pair with the words in a book. The included 8 pages of color images are well done - but more would have been better (of course!) This book will; I think; hold wide appeal to history buffs - especially those who are Anglophiles as I am; as well as for people who study women's rights and societal issues.I will be on the pre-order list as soon as I hear about Helen Castor's next book !0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Solid History ReadBy Danielle N. HartI really enjoyed this. It seemed pretty well-grounded historically (I did not spot any glaring errors; and I've done a bit of reading on the subject) - as a previous reviewer notes; it would have been nice if the sources had been a little better presented. It's more of a "further reading" list rather than a guide to specific statements. The author's voice is a good one; and personalizes the characters. I also appreciated linking the earlier queens to Mary and Elizabeth (and poor Jane Grey) and the compare-and-contrast. It's a long read but worth it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Women and the English Monarchy in the Early YearsBy MaryAnnReadsIf you're looking for pop-history; this probably won't suit you. This book is real history. It's a look at several women who either ruled or sought to rule England in the years before Queen Elizabeth I. It's mostly sympathetic to these royal women; though not uncritical.There's a lot of detail; a lot of names; a lot of history covered.If you have an interest in the English monarchy and the wars and internecine workings that formed it; this is an excellent book.
