From the sixth through the sixteenth centuries; the faiths of Islam and Christianity contended for primacy in the Mediterranean world. At times acrimonious; at other times harmonious; the encounter between the two creeds in the Middle Ages provides a backdrop to much of what informs; and misinforms; public opinion on present-day conflicts. Recounting seven major battles encircling the Mediterranean―Yarmuk; Poitiers; Manzikert; Hattin; Las Navas de Tolosa; Constantinople; and Malta―Stephen O'Shea shines vital new light on the distant past while offering invaluable perspective on the two faiths' ongoing contest for spiritual and political primacy.
#33293 in Books Alison Weir 1991-01-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 6.25 x 1.25l; 2.04 #File Name: 0802136834656 pagesBiographies MemoirsIrelandRoyaltyEngland
Review
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Weir or Fraser?By TuckerbyWhat’s Great: the writing; which makes this book a delight to read. Weir paints each wife with color and depth so that we come to know them across the centuries: the “staunch but misguided woman of principle;†the “ambitious adventuress with a streak of vengeance;†the “strong-minded matriarch;†the “good-humored woman;†the “empty-headed wanton;†and the “godly matron†with a weakness for “handsome rogues.â€Why I don’t give this book 5 stars: because I don’t know how much of the information I can trust. Weir is a novelist who embellishes her narrative with colorful flourishes that make for excellent reading; but which may also distort the actual events and influence our perceptions. Saying that Henry stomped off in a huff is certainly more lively than saying he left the room; but unless his emotional state is corroborated by witnesses; Weir’s depiction is artistic license rather than documented fact. It’s also sometimes hard to tell when Weir is presenting her own conclusions and when she is relaying what she’s found in source material. When she writes that Henry wanted Elizabeth “kept out of his sight†after Anne Boleyn’s execution; is this her interpretation or what a contemporary actually observed? What also makes me question Weir’s interpretations is that I don’t always find her explanations convincing. For example; she postulates that Jane Seymour’s delay in conceiving was probably due to Henry and his “advancing infirmity;†as evidenced by the fact that his later wives bore no children. We can never really know why it took Jane several months to conceive. She could have had irregular menstrual cycles. Henry’s physical condition in 1536 was very different from his state in the 1540s; and any impotence there may have been during his later years would not necessarily have afflicted him earlier. The reasoning just seems flimsy to me. Lastly; some of Weir’s information is not corroborated by professional historians; making me question her analysis and assessment of sources..Still; I can’t deny that I enjoyed reading this book; and found it accurate enough (that is; the information matched what I’ve found in other books) to recommend. For reading pleasure; I put it ahead of Antonia Fraser’s book of the same title; but Fraser’s is the one I believe. She seems less prone to presenting her opinions as facts and offers more plausible explanations for her views than Weir.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Another great Alison Weir bookBy Tripower53I've read a great deal about Henry VIII; but knew little about his wives; especially Katherine of Aragon.4 and 1 / 2 starsAlthough this book became tedious in places; overall it was a very good read. I wanted an overview of Henry's wives and I believe this book fulfills that requirement.The women's personalities were very different. But they seem to dovetail to Henry's needs as he aged and got more suspicious and pessimistic. He was one tormented man; I'll grant him that.This is a very well written book and was well researched. I read Alison Weir's Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession first; and in it Ms. Weir tells Anne's story in much more detail. (Of course.)I continue to look forward to reading more of Ms. Weir's books.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great historical readBy marilynn alexanderThis is a fascinating look at life back in the days of Henry VIII and the women who shared his throne. It is an in depth look at the customs and beliefs of the men and women of that era. I had no clue how difficult life was for women and children in those days. It examined in careful detail the reality of the women and to a degree the children that were in the court of Henry VIII. I appreciated the authors careful and in depth research on this fascinating topic. It was a great read and a believable historical novel. The author was careful to note when historical fact was either missing or came from a suspect source. It wasn't just another history book. It was lovely; flowed smoothly and was very informative. It had life to it and made you feel as though you were there. I am looking forward to reading her book about the children Henry VIII sired. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the time and the people in Henry VIII's life.
