Annette Ranald's Blog: Annette's History Reads, page 3
July 5, 2014
Book Review: Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of the Cowpens, by Lawrence E. Babits
A challenge for an author writing about a military campaign or battle is to not write like his/her audience is a class of officers at the Military Staff College, or vets who know how to keep track of all the moving pieces. Lawrence E. Babits meets that challenge in Devil of A whipping: the Battle of Cowpens.
The Battle of Cowpens was fought on January 17, 1781, between two men who were polar opposites of one another. On one side was 27-year-old Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, son of a wealthy Liverpool family, whose money and connections bought him his rank and his dreaded Loyalist Legion. Tarleton was a ruthless fighter, skilled at what he knew best, using his Legion cavalry for a crushing blow on a battlefield, and mopping-up operations afterward. Opposing him was General Daniel Morgan, 45 at the time, a barely literate sharpshooter and frontiersman with an old and awful score to settle against men who'd once dared to lay 499 lashes of a cat-o-nine on his bare back. Their armies, each partially composed of American militia fighting on either side for home turf, had scores to settle with names like Waxhaws and Kings Mountain. The stakes for these commanders and their men could not have been higher.
So how did they get there? Why was this battle important? And how badly did it impact the British cause when Bloody Ban finally met his match? Lawrence answers all these questions. The British, despite some successes at the Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Camden, were pulling out of South Carolina. It had cost them too much blood and treasure to hold. The Americans were moving in to take area for themselves, and both armies collided in an area near present-day Spartanburg. There, Daniel Morgan performed a battlefield maneuver that one might only learn about at a military academy. He twice pulled his men back to lure the British forward and encircle them, something called a double-envelopment. Rare to do with seasoned, disciplined troops, dangerous with raw militia as part of your force. The result was that, in three months, General Charles Cornwallis lost men he couldn't afford to loss. Although he would win a useless victory at Guildford Courthouse months later, he would eventually have no choice but to retreat behind his lines at Yorktown and wait for the inevitable.
Babits tells this story, from the details of the composition of the regiments, including how they were armed, their objectives, and their approach, to the climactic narrative of the battle itself and its disastrous aftermath. And he does it in a way that takes the reader along. The myriads of details don't overwhelm, they inform. This was source material for my upcoming novel, Courage and Cunning, where I leaned heavily on Babits description to create the story of members of the same family fighting each other at Cowpens, and how visceral and personal, frightening and harrowing the experience was to both.
Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was fought on January 17, 1781, between two men who were polar opposites of one another. On one side was 27-year-old Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, son of a wealthy Liverpool family, whose money and connections bought him his rank and his dreaded Loyalist Legion. Tarleton was a ruthless fighter, skilled at what he knew best, using his Legion cavalry for a crushing blow on a battlefield, and mopping-up operations afterward. Opposing him was General Daniel Morgan, 45 at the time, a barely literate sharpshooter and frontiersman with an old and awful score to settle against men who'd once dared to lay 499 lashes of a cat-o-nine on his bare back. Their armies, each partially composed of American militia fighting on either side for home turf, had scores to settle with names like Waxhaws and Kings Mountain. The stakes for these commanders and their men could not have been higher.
So how did they get there? Why was this battle important? And how badly did it impact the British cause when Bloody Ban finally met his match? Lawrence answers all these questions. The British, despite some successes at the Siege of Charleston and the Battle of Camden, were pulling out of South Carolina. It had cost them too much blood and treasure to hold. The Americans were moving in to take area for themselves, and both armies collided in an area near present-day Spartanburg. There, Daniel Morgan performed a battlefield maneuver that one might only learn about at a military academy. He twice pulled his men back to lure the British forward and encircle them, something called a double-envelopment. Rare to do with seasoned, disciplined troops, dangerous with raw militia as part of your force. The result was that, in three months, General Charles Cornwallis lost men he couldn't afford to loss. Although he would win a useless victory at Guildford Courthouse months later, he would eventually have no choice but to retreat behind his lines at Yorktown and wait for the inevitable.
Babits tells this story, from the details of the composition of the regiments, including how they were armed, their objectives, and their approach, to the climactic narrative of the battle itself and its disastrous aftermath. And he does it in a way that takes the reader along. The myriads of details don't overwhelm, they inform. This was source material for my upcoming novel, Courage and Cunning, where I leaned heavily on Babits description to create the story of members of the same family fighting each other at Cowpens, and how visceral and personal, frightening and harrowing the experience was to both.
Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens
July 2, 2014
Why we can't write like James Michener anymore-sigh!
HawaiiCentennialTexasAlaskaOne of the reasons authors read other people's fiction is to learn how to write your own. However, the fiction you read has to be the kind that shows you how to write for a contemporary market. At an early age, I picked all the older writers that wrote for a time when people read more than they watched TV. Or, writers that were so darn famous it didn't matter how much they put in their books, publishers would take the chance just because the writer was who he was. James Michener is one such example.
I loved James Michener's books. I read Centennial (the story of Colorado), Texas (ditto), Alaska (ditto), and Hawaii (ditto). A guy who can write the whole history of a state as a novel was my hero. I loved the details and the links between one generation of epic characters to the next. Naturally, when I started writing my first fiction, I followed suit. What readers wanted, I believed, was a sweeping epic that followed generations of characters and chronicled their every move down to a gnat's eyelash. Thankfully, I had an agent and experienced author who broke me of that habit, but I kinda miss the old days and the old ways.
I love to develop a backstory around my characters. Even in a novel that's purely fictional, like the Revere series, there's so much to tell about John, Andre, Dennis, and Steve. How much more so would there be in a grand family saga built around real characters, such as I hope to write someday about the Seymour family of England? Well, so? I'm an indie author now. I can write as little or as much as I want. Right? Well, no, you still have to keep the reader in mind. Sadly, I don't think readers, unless they are hardcore readers, want those good old days back. People want a book they can pick up and finish on a long plane ride, a weekend at the beach or their summer cabin. Chewing through pages of backstory and detail isn't going to make a reader want to pick up a book nowadays.
Still, if you are a hardcore reader and come across those old books on Amazon or in a bookstore, try one. The research and the detail is amazing.
I loved James Michener's books. I read Centennial (the story of Colorado), Texas (ditto), Alaska (ditto), and Hawaii (ditto). A guy who can write the whole history of a state as a novel was my hero. I loved the details and the links between one generation of epic characters to the next. Naturally, when I started writing my first fiction, I followed suit. What readers wanted, I believed, was a sweeping epic that followed generations of characters and chronicled their every move down to a gnat's eyelash. Thankfully, I had an agent and experienced author who broke me of that habit, but I kinda miss the old days and the old ways.
I love to develop a backstory around my characters. Even in a novel that's purely fictional, like the Revere series, there's so much to tell about John, Andre, Dennis, and Steve. How much more so would there be in a grand family saga built around real characters, such as I hope to write someday about the Seymour family of England? Well, so? I'm an indie author now. I can write as little or as much as I want. Right? Well, no, you still have to keep the reader in mind. Sadly, I don't think readers, unless they are hardcore readers, want those good old days back. People want a book they can pick up and finish on a long plane ride, a weekend at the beach or their summer cabin. Chewing through pages of backstory and detail isn't going to make a reader want to pick up a book nowadays.
Still, if you are a hardcore reader and come across those old books on Amazon or in a bookstore, try one. The research and the detail is amazing.
June 30, 2014
BOOK REVIEW-Two little books, a lot of information
Okay, so I didn't think when I offered book reviews as a way of increasing interest in my own writing that my inaugural piece would be about weight loss. Well, I love history and writing, but like many of us, I'm trying to shed pounds. So, I was glad that I got two little books off of the LibraryThing Members Giveaway. The first one is "Lose Pounds the Easy way: A Complete Diet and Weight Loss Guide; A Practical Guide on How to Lose Pounds", by Mary Williams. Now, if you've heard this all before, wait a minute. We learn something new every day. The day before I read this book to review it, I went to the doctor and found I'd gained a pound, and freaked out. I'd been trying so hard! Well, the scale can be your worst enemy because it's often deceiving. The real test for a woman of how much weight your losing is how your clothes fit, and how you feel.
Mary also breaks down ways to turn highly caloric foods such as burgers, fries, and pizza, into healthy foods that you'd still love to eat. And no, you don't nee an expensive cookbook, the latest diet fad, organic foods, or a degree from the Cordon Bleu to do it. She explains how some ancient grains that have been around for centuries (quinoa, millet, and faro), are fare healthier substitutes for wheat, and even tells you how to work out in your own living room without a gym membership or expensive equipment. Who knew the little old jump rope from kindergarten still had its uses?
The second offering is "Weight Lose Myths Exposed (Are you full of crap?)", by Novelty Publishing. As the title and the cover suggest, this is reading for the commode but it has a serious side. There are fifteen true or false questions, each dealing with a common idea we all have about weight loss. Some myths are busted, other ideas enforced, but the common idea is this. It doesn't matter how much water you drink, laps you run, or crunches you do, if you're not watching the quality and quantity of the calories you're taking in. I think many doctors and exercise experts would quibble with the idea that you don't have to exercise, and it is over-priced on Amazon. But, if you happen to see it in a restroom reading rack, it's worth a look and a chuckle.
Hey, I'm not just into history and my books. There are other things out there.Weight Loss Myths Exposed
Mary also breaks down ways to turn highly caloric foods such as burgers, fries, and pizza, into healthy foods that you'd still love to eat. And no, you don't nee an expensive cookbook, the latest diet fad, organic foods, or a degree from the Cordon Bleu to do it. She explains how some ancient grains that have been around for centuries (quinoa, millet, and faro), are fare healthier substitutes for wheat, and even tells you how to work out in your own living room without a gym membership or expensive equipment. Who knew the little old jump rope from kindergarten still had its uses?
The second offering is "Weight Lose Myths Exposed (Are you full of crap?)", by Novelty Publishing. As the title and the cover suggest, this is reading for the commode but it has a serious side. There are fifteen true or false questions, each dealing with a common idea we all have about weight loss. Some myths are busted, other ideas enforced, but the common idea is this. It doesn't matter how much water you drink, laps you run, or crunches you do, if you're not watching the quality and quantity of the calories you're taking in. I think many doctors and exercise experts would quibble with the idea that you don't have to exercise, and it is over-priced on Amazon. But, if you happen to see it in a restroom reading rack, it's worth a look and a chuckle.
Hey, I'm not just into history and my books. There are other things out there.Weight Loss Myths Exposed
June 28, 2014
Like Abigail Adams said, 'don't forget the women.'
Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America's IndependenceRevolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for American Independence, by Carol Berkin, tells the story of women's participation in many facets of the Revolutionary War. We may be familiar with characters such as Molly Pitcher, who took her husband's place on a cannon crew at the Battle of Monmouth, or Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren, whose writings in favor of independence inspired their husbands to stay the course and others to follow. But few of us may have heard of Sybil Ludington, who rode forty miles in freezing rain to rouse her father's militia company before the Battle of Danbury, Connecticut a la Paul Revere, or of Abigail Dolbeare Hinman, who came as close as anybody to shooting traitorous Benedict Arnold when he marched into her town at the head of his new Redcoat command.
Women participated in all acts of the Revolution, and their assistance made a sustained Revolution possible. Without the women's participation, a boycott of British tea and other luxury items would not have been possible. Without their willingness to tend farms and take care of shops, the men would not have marched away from homes and livelihoods. Women's letters encouraged their husbands, and moved others, both men and women to take up the cause. There were also women who smuggled messages and information to Washington and other commanders, or hid it from British officers, provided nursing care, and were often capable of feats of heroism equaling or bettering that of any man.
Carol Berkin introduces us to many of these women, but she doesn't sugarcoat the pill. Life for a woman in a war zone without a husband to make a living and provide protection was dangerous, thankless, and lonely. Yet, through their letters, pension requests, and other accounts, Berkin shows how these women were revolutionaries in their own right. They believed in the cause as much as the men did and they fought for it just as hard, albeit in different ways. This is a must read for the general reader, but still engaging enough for someone with more advanced historical knowledge on the subject.
Women participated in all acts of the Revolution, and their assistance made a sustained Revolution possible. Without the women's participation, a boycott of British tea and other luxury items would not have been possible. Without their willingness to tend farms and take care of shops, the men would not have marched away from homes and livelihoods. Women's letters encouraged their husbands, and moved others, both men and women to take up the cause. There were also women who smuggled messages and information to Washington and other commanders, or hid it from British officers, provided nursing care, and were often capable of feats of heroism equaling or bettering that of any man.
Carol Berkin introduces us to many of these women, but she doesn't sugarcoat the pill. Life for a woman in a war zone without a husband to make a living and provide protection was dangerous, thankless, and lonely. Yet, through their letters, pension requests, and other accounts, Berkin shows how these women were revolutionaries in their own right. They believed in the cause as much as the men did and they fought for it just as hard, albeit in different ways. This is a must read for the general reader, but still engaging enough for someone with more advanced historical knowledge on the subject.
June 25, 2014
The Plantagenets: A Real Game of Thrones
Who needs Game of Thrones when you can read about the real-life House of Plantagenet, England's royal dynasty from Henry II (1154) to Richard III (1485). Family feuds, dynastic war, love triangles, multiple kings claiming multiple crowns, bitter rivals, treasonous plots, and even the odd witch or two. The Plantagenets had it all. For just a tiny taste of what a merry Christmas would be for this family, watch The Lion in Winter (1968), with Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole, which depicts a family gathering that actually occurred in the family chateau at Chinon in France in 1183. Or, if you're into history told the dry and dusty old English way, try Thomas B. Costain's Pageant of England Series. The four individual books are: The Conquerors, The Magnificent Century, The Three Edwards, and The Last Plantagenets.
LIke every royal family worthy of the Kingdom of Westeros, the Plantagenets have an ancestor who was not of this earth (or so they claimed). Count Geofrey of Anjou (1113-1151) was the son of Emergarde, Countess of Maine, who was rumored to be a half-spirit, half-hman hybrid who had the ability to shape-shift and fly. Geofrey's plant badge was the broom (Latin planta genista), although they dynasty did not adopt the official name Plantagenet to commemorate these humble beginnings until centuries later. Geofrey married Matilda of England, thus inheriting her claim to the throne of William the Conqueror and passed it along to his son Henry II, who was able to make good on the throne and become England's King in 1154.
The trouble with the Plantagenets was that England was never good enough for them. What they really wanted was France, and as much of it as possible. Henry II married a divorced French Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who brought with her as her dowry most of southern France. If Emergarde was a witch, Eleanor was a schemer of the first order. Henry and Eleanor had several children, but the most relevant ones were Henry the Younger (called the Young King), Geofrey, Richard (the lionheart), and John. Eleanor loved Richard. Henry mistrusted and disliked all his boys. That's a recipe for a dysfunctional family and this was a textbook case. While Henry and his sons were good-looking, tall, red-blond, and muscular, talented riders and fighters, and Richard had a taste for arts and music, their real family business was fighting to keep each other out of the landholdings they all claimed.
What's a good royal family without a rival in the next kingdom? The Capets weren't as flamboyant as the Plantagenets, but they had their fair share of family drama. Eleanor of Acquitaine had been married to Louis VII Capet, King of France. The marriage produced two daughters but fell apart because Louis was more interested in crusading and acts of piety than his lusty queen. The relationship between Louis and Henry further soured when Louis found out that Eleanor was having an affair with Henry. They divorced, and she took her vast lands with her, leaving the French kings with little more than Northern France and the Loire Valley. Louis subsequently married again and had two children, Phillip II, and Alys. Alys was frequently proposed as a bride for any one of the Plantagenet boys in an effort to solve the land disputes as a dynastic alliance, and if ever any woman was done wrong, it was Alys Capet.
Alys was sent to live in England under Eleanor's care, but she subsequently became the mistress of her proposed father-in-law, Henry II. How young was she when this happened? Probably still a pre-teenager. Nor was Alys the only one Henry had on the string. Tired of Henry, Eleanor schemed to have one of their boys take his place as King of England. Outraged, Henry had Eleanor and Alys locked up in Pontefract Castle for almost twenty years. However, the two continued to bicker over which of their sons would inherit England, the cash cow of their empire, and/or marry Alys. Henry settled the issue in his mind by having his son Henry crowned as a junior king of England (so junior that he's not even given a regnal number). The Young King was a non-entity next to his overwhelming father. He toured Europe as a tournament hero, winning prizes, plotting and getting into trouble. In 1183, he and his younger brother Richard finally got alone well enough to rise against their father in France. Young Henry died of dysentery during the campaign. Richard went on to wrest much of his mother's inheritance away from their father and, although he remained King of England, Henry II was a broken man.
Christmas 1183 in Chinon was going to be a lovely time. Not only did Henry invite his three surviving sons, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, he also allowed Eleanor to come over from England, and bring Alys. Eleanor hoped that Alys would tempt Richard away from what she almost certainly knew was an interest in men. Whether she also knew that Richard had had a torrid affair with Phillip II will never be known, but he was also coming to the party. Now, the innuendos in the old movie make sense. Phillip and Richard spat like lovers. Henry and Eleanor carry on like a bitter married couple. The three boys argue about land, inheritance, and which parent likes them best, Alys whines about getting married, not quite understanding what's going on between her brother and Richard. Henry just wishes they would all go away, which he eventually orders them to do, until next year, when they'd do it all over again.The Last PlantagenetsThe Conquering FamilyThe Three EdwardsThe Magnificent Century
LIke every royal family worthy of the Kingdom of Westeros, the Plantagenets have an ancestor who was not of this earth (or so they claimed). Count Geofrey of Anjou (1113-1151) was the son of Emergarde, Countess of Maine, who was rumored to be a half-spirit, half-hman hybrid who had the ability to shape-shift and fly. Geofrey's plant badge was the broom (Latin planta genista), although they dynasty did not adopt the official name Plantagenet to commemorate these humble beginnings until centuries later. Geofrey married Matilda of England, thus inheriting her claim to the throne of William the Conqueror and passed it along to his son Henry II, who was able to make good on the throne and become England's King in 1154.
The trouble with the Plantagenets was that England was never good enough for them. What they really wanted was France, and as much of it as possible. Henry II married a divorced French Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who brought with her as her dowry most of southern France. If Emergarde was a witch, Eleanor was a schemer of the first order. Henry and Eleanor had several children, but the most relevant ones were Henry the Younger (called the Young King), Geofrey, Richard (the lionheart), and John. Eleanor loved Richard. Henry mistrusted and disliked all his boys. That's a recipe for a dysfunctional family and this was a textbook case. While Henry and his sons were good-looking, tall, red-blond, and muscular, talented riders and fighters, and Richard had a taste for arts and music, their real family business was fighting to keep each other out of the landholdings they all claimed.
What's a good royal family without a rival in the next kingdom? The Capets weren't as flamboyant as the Plantagenets, but they had their fair share of family drama. Eleanor of Acquitaine had been married to Louis VII Capet, King of France. The marriage produced two daughters but fell apart because Louis was more interested in crusading and acts of piety than his lusty queen. The relationship between Louis and Henry further soured when Louis found out that Eleanor was having an affair with Henry. They divorced, and she took her vast lands with her, leaving the French kings with little more than Northern France and the Loire Valley. Louis subsequently married again and had two children, Phillip II, and Alys. Alys was frequently proposed as a bride for any one of the Plantagenet boys in an effort to solve the land disputes as a dynastic alliance, and if ever any woman was done wrong, it was Alys Capet.
Alys was sent to live in England under Eleanor's care, but she subsequently became the mistress of her proposed father-in-law, Henry II. How young was she when this happened? Probably still a pre-teenager. Nor was Alys the only one Henry had on the string. Tired of Henry, Eleanor schemed to have one of their boys take his place as King of England. Outraged, Henry had Eleanor and Alys locked up in Pontefract Castle for almost twenty years. However, the two continued to bicker over which of their sons would inherit England, the cash cow of their empire, and/or marry Alys. Henry settled the issue in his mind by having his son Henry crowned as a junior king of England (so junior that he's not even given a regnal number). The Young King was a non-entity next to his overwhelming father. He toured Europe as a tournament hero, winning prizes, plotting and getting into trouble. In 1183, he and his younger brother Richard finally got alone well enough to rise against their father in France. Young Henry died of dysentery during the campaign. Richard went on to wrest much of his mother's inheritance away from their father and, although he remained King of England, Henry II was a broken man.
Christmas 1183 in Chinon was going to be a lovely time. Not only did Henry invite his three surviving sons, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, he also allowed Eleanor to come over from England, and bring Alys. Eleanor hoped that Alys would tempt Richard away from what she almost certainly knew was an interest in men. Whether she also knew that Richard had had a torrid affair with Phillip II will never be known, but he was also coming to the party. Now, the innuendos in the old movie make sense. Phillip and Richard spat like lovers. Henry and Eleanor carry on like a bitter married couple. The three boys argue about land, inheritance, and which parent likes them best, Alys whines about getting married, not quite understanding what's going on between her brother and Richard. Henry just wishes they would all go away, which he eventually orders them to do, until next year, when they'd do it all over again.The Last PlantagenetsThe Conquering FamilyThe Three EdwardsThe Magnificent Century
The Plantagenets: A Real Game of Thrones
Who needs Game of Thrones when you can read about the real-life House of Plantagenet, England's royal dynasty from Henry II (1154) to Richard III (1485). Family feuds, dynastic war, love triangles, multiple kings claiming multiple crowns, bitter rivals, treasonous plots, and even the odd witch or two. The Plantagenets had it all. For just a tiny taste of what a merry Christmas would be for this family, watch The Lion in Winter (1968), with Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole, which depicts a family gathering that actually occurred in the family chateau at Chinon in France in 1183. Or, if you're into history told the dry and dusty old English way, try Thomas B. Costain's Pageant of England Series. The four individual books are: The Conquerors, The Magnificent Century, The Three Edwards, and The Last Plantagenets.
LIke every royal family worthy of the Kingdom of Westeros, the Plantagenets have an ancestor who was not of this earth (or so they claimed). Count Geofrey of Anjou (1113-1151) was the son of Emergarde, Countess of Maine, who was rumored to be a half-spirit, half-hman hybrid who had the ability to shape-shift and fly. Geofrey's plant badge was the broom (Latin planta genista), although they dynasty did not adopt the official name Plantagenet to commemorate these humble beginnings until centuries later. Geofrey married Matilda of England, thus inheriting her claim to the throne of William the Conqueror and passed it along to his son Henry II, who was able to make good on the throne and become England's King in 1154.
The trouble with the Plantagenets was that England was never good enough for them. What they really wanted was France, and as much of it as possible. Henry II married a divorced French Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who brought with her as her dowry most of southern France. If Emergarde was a witch, Eleanor was a schemer of the first order. Henry and Eleanor had several children, but the most relevant ones were Henry the Younger (called the Young King), Geofrey, Richard (the lionheart), and John. Eleanor loved Richard. Henry mistrusted and disliked all his boys. That's a recipe for a dysfunctional family and this was a textbook case. While Henry and his sons were good-looking, tall, red-blond, and muscular, talented riders and fighters, and Richard had a taste for arts and music, their real family business was fighting to keep each other out of the landholdings they all claimed.
What's a good royal family without a rival in the next kingdom? The Capets weren't as flamboyant as the Plantagenets, but they had their fair share of family drama. Eleanor of Acquitaine had been married to Louis VII Capet, King of France. The marriage produced two daughters but fell apart because Louis was more interested in crusading and acts of piety than his lusty queen. The relationship between Louis and Henry further soured when Louis found out that Eleanor was having an affair with Henry. They divorced, and she took her vast lands with her, leaving the French kings with little more than Northern France and the Loire Valley. Louis subsequently married again and had two children, Phillip II, and Alys. Alys was frequently proposed as a bride for any one of the Plantagenet boys in an effort to solve the land disputes as a dynastic alliance, and if ever any woman was done wrong, it was Alys Capet.
Alys was sent to live in England under Eleanor's care, but she subsequently became the mistress of her proposed father-in-law, Henry II. How young was she when this happened? Probably still a pre-teenager. Nor was Alys the only one Henry had on the string. Tired of Henry, Eleanor schemed to have one of their boys take his place as King of England. Outraged, Henry had Eleanor and Alys locked up in Pontefract Castle for almost twenty years. However, the two continued to bicker over which of their sons would inherit England, the cash cow of their empire, and/or marry Alys. Henry settled the issue in his mind by having his son Henry crowned as a junior king of England (so junior that he's not even given a regnal number). The Young King was a non-entity next to his overwhelming father. He toured Europe as a tournament hero, winning prizes, plotting and getting into trouble. In 1183, he and his younger brother Richard finally got alone well enough to rise against their father in France. Young Henry died of dysentery during the campaign. Richard went on to wrest much of his mother's inheritance away from their father and, although he remained King of England, Henry II was a broken man.
Christmas 1183 in Chinon was going to be a lovely time. Not only did Henry invite his three surviving sons, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, he also allowed Eleanor to come over from England, and bring Alys. Eleanor hoped that Alys would tempt Richard away from what she almost certainly knew was an interest in men. Whether she also knew that Richard had had a torrid affair with Phillip II will never be known, but he was also coming to the party. Now, the innuendos in the old movie make sense. Phillip and Richard spat like lovers. Henry and Eleanor carry on like a bitter married couple. The three boys argue about land, inheritance, and which parent likes them best, Alys whines about getting married, not quite understanding what's going on between her brother and Richard. Henry just wishes they would all go away, which he eventually orders them to do, until next year, when they'd do it all over again.The Last PlantagenetsThe Conquering FamilyThe Three EdwardsThe Magnificent Century
LIke every royal family worthy of the Kingdom of Westeros, the Plantagenets have an ancestor who was not of this earth (or so they claimed). Count Geofrey of Anjou (1113-1151) was the son of Emergarde, Countess of Maine, who was rumored to be a half-spirit, half-hman hybrid who had the ability to shape-shift and fly. Geofrey's plant badge was the broom (Latin planta genista), although they dynasty did not adopt the official name Plantagenet to commemorate these humble beginnings until centuries later. Geofrey married Matilda of England, thus inheriting her claim to the throne of William the Conqueror and passed it along to his son Henry II, who was able to make good on the throne and become England's King in 1154.
The trouble with the Plantagenets was that England was never good enough for them. What they really wanted was France, and as much of it as possible. Henry II married a divorced French Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who brought with her as her dowry most of southern France. If Emergarde was a witch, Eleanor was a schemer of the first order. Henry and Eleanor had several children, but the most relevant ones were Henry the Younger (called the Young King), Geofrey, Richard (the lionheart), and John. Eleanor loved Richard. Henry mistrusted and disliked all his boys. That's a recipe for a dysfunctional family and this was a textbook case. While Henry and his sons were good-looking, tall, red-blond, and muscular, talented riders and fighters, and Richard had a taste for arts and music, their real family business was fighting to keep each other out of the landholdings they all claimed.
What's a good royal family without a rival in the next kingdom? The Capets weren't as flamboyant as the Plantagenets, but they had their fair share of family drama. Eleanor of Acquitaine had been married to Louis VII Capet, King of France. The marriage produced two daughters but fell apart because Louis was more interested in crusading and acts of piety than his lusty queen. The relationship between Louis and Henry further soured when Louis found out that Eleanor was having an affair with Henry. They divorced, and she took her vast lands with her, leaving the French kings with little more than Northern France and the Loire Valley. Louis subsequently married again and had two children, Phillip II, and Alys. Alys was frequently proposed as a bride for any one of the Plantagenet boys in an effort to solve the land disputes as a dynastic alliance, and if ever any woman was done wrong, it was Alys Capet.
Alys was sent to live in England under Eleanor's care, but she subsequently became the mistress of her proposed father-in-law, Henry II. How young was she when this happened? Probably still a pre-teenager. Nor was Alys the only one Henry had on the string. Tired of Henry, Eleanor schemed to have one of their boys take his place as King of England. Outraged, Henry had Eleanor and Alys locked up in Pontefract Castle for almost twenty years. However, the two continued to bicker over which of their sons would inherit England, the cash cow of their empire, and/or marry Alys. Henry settled the issue in his mind by having his son Henry crowned as a junior king of England (so junior that he's not even given a regnal number). The Young King was a non-entity next to his overwhelming father. He toured Europe as a tournament hero, winning prizes, plotting and getting into trouble. In 1183, he and his younger brother Richard finally got alone well enough to rise against their father in France. Young Henry died of dysentery during the campaign. Richard went on to wrest much of his mother's inheritance away from their father and, although he remained King of England, Henry II was a broken man.
Christmas 1183 in Chinon was going to be a lovely time. Not only did Henry invite his three surviving sons, Geoffrey, Richard, and John, he also allowed Eleanor to come over from England, and bring Alys. Eleanor hoped that Alys would tempt Richard away from what she almost certainly knew was an interest in men. Whether she also knew that Richard had had a torrid affair with Phillip II will never be known, but he was also coming to the party. Now, the innuendos in the old movie make sense. Phillip and Richard spat like lovers. Henry and Eleanor carry on like a bitter married couple. The three boys argue about land, inheritance, and which parent likes them best, Alys whines about getting married, not quite understanding what's going on between her brother and Richard. Henry just wishes they would all go away, which he eventually orders them to do, until next year, when they'd do it all over again.The Last PlantagenetsThe Conquering FamilyThe Three EdwardsThe Magnificent Century
June 21, 2014
BOOK REVIEW-Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII, by David Starkey
Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIIIIn the last few years, we've had our fair share of Henry VIII and family. With one miniseries (The Tudors on Showtime), two movies on Elizabeth, and one on Anne Boleyn (the Other Boleyn Girl), we think we know the story by heart and there's nothing more we want (care) to see. While I could do a whole post about the historical inaccuracies in those programs, and probably will someday, this is a book review and I'm focusing on David Starkey's SIx Wives of Henry VIII.
There have been many narratives of the lives of these women. Antonia Frasier has a book about Katherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, and Katherine, as does Allison Weir. So I expected another book about these women to tell me something new. This does not. In fact, if anything, Starkey's rundown on the six wives is a barebones narrative that provides details with little connection, and none of the background and drama that makes one want to care about these women. Starkey is a television personality who often appears on programs in Britain dealing with the monarchy, history, and British politics. I've seen him on some documentaries, which is why I expected a lot more from his writing. I didn't get it.
As if the story needs retelling, here it goes. Henry VIII was king of England from 1509-1547. When he ascended the throne, he married his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess. She was royal, the was pretty at the time, she was there. Katherine tried her best but after about six pregnancies only managed to have one child, the future Mary I. Henry, bored with Katherine and desperate, began to look elsewhere for companionship and a woman with a potential to bear him a son. Enter Anne Boleyn. After a lengthy nullity suit (it wasn't a divorce in the modern sense of the term), which split the Church of England from the Catholic Church, Henry married Anne, who was carrying his child.
This child turned out to be another girl, the future Elizabeth I. After two or three more failed pregnancies, Henry (or his minion Cromwell), found a reason to send Anne to the block as Henry turned to Jane Seymour. Jane died days after providing Henry with the future Edward VI, and after about three years of mourning (moping about his sorry luck with women), Henry married a German princess, Anne of Cleves. The marriage was doomed from the get-go, spawning centuries of debate about Anne's looks and what turned Henry off on their wedding night, but this too was a nullification (not a divorce in the strictest sense). Anne escaped with her head and a golden parachute of property and lovely parting gifts.
True to form, Henry had already settled on a young damsel at his court, Katherine Howard, who was the only one of his six wives to do him wrong. Catherine had a past with a man named Francis Dereham, and she was flirting with a Gentleman of Henry's chamber, Tom Culpepper. Cromwell was dragged out of the Tower of London to fix this mess, and this marriage, too, was nullified. Then both Catherine and Cromwell were beheaded. After another period of moping, Henry settled on twice-widowed Katherine Parr, but almost had her beheaded/burned for heresy until she, very smart woman, saved herself by getting on his good side in a super fast hurry. Henry died a miserable death, and was survived by his three children, all of whom become English monarchs, and two of his wives, who were deuced lucky!
If you've just managed to get through the above, you've essentially read Starkey's book. There's little of he reasons while all this came about, and the drama amongst the minor players that went into the rise and fall of each of these women. If all you're seeking is a rundown on the Tudors, this book is for you. But, if you're wanting the rich drama of the movies and miniseries, but with accurate history instead, go to Fraser and Weir.
There have been many narratives of the lives of these women. Antonia Frasier has a book about Katherine, Anne, Jane, Anne, Catherine, and Katherine, as does Allison Weir. So I expected another book about these women to tell me something new. This does not. In fact, if anything, Starkey's rundown on the six wives is a barebones narrative that provides details with little connection, and none of the background and drama that makes one want to care about these women. Starkey is a television personality who often appears on programs in Britain dealing with the monarchy, history, and British politics. I've seen him on some documentaries, which is why I expected a lot more from his writing. I didn't get it.
As if the story needs retelling, here it goes. Henry VIII was king of England from 1509-1547. When he ascended the throne, he married his brother's widow, Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess. She was royal, the was pretty at the time, she was there. Katherine tried her best but after about six pregnancies only managed to have one child, the future Mary I. Henry, bored with Katherine and desperate, began to look elsewhere for companionship and a woman with a potential to bear him a son. Enter Anne Boleyn. After a lengthy nullity suit (it wasn't a divorce in the modern sense of the term), which split the Church of England from the Catholic Church, Henry married Anne, who was carrying his child.
This child turned out to be another girl, the future Elizabeth I. After two or three more failed pregnancies, Henry (or his minion Cromwell), found a reason to send Anne to the block as Henry turned to Jane Seymour. Jane died days after providing Henry with the future Edward VI, and after about three years of mourning (moping about his sorry luck with women), Henry married a German princess, Anne of Cleves. The marriage was doomed from the get-go, spawning centuries of debate about Anne's looks and what turned Henry off on their wedding night, but this too was a nullification (not a divorce in the strictest sense). Anne escaped with her head and a golden parachute of property and lovely parting gifts.
True to form, Henry had already settled on a young damsel at his court, Katherine Howard, who was the only one of his six wives to do him wrong. Catherine had a past with a man named Francis Dereham, and she was flirting with a Gentleman of Henry's chamber, Tom Culpepper. Cromwell was dragged out of the Tower of London to fix this mess, and this marriage, too, was nullified. Then both Catherine and Cromwell were beheaded. After another period of moping, Henry settled on twice-widowed Katherine Parr, but almost had her beheaded/burned for heresy until she, very smart woman, saved herself by getting on his good side in a super fast hurry. Henry died a miserable death, and was survived by his three children, all of whom become English monarchs, and two of his wives, who were deuced lucky!
If you've just managed to get through the above, you've essentially read Starkey's book. There's little of he reasons while all this came about, and the drama amongst the minor players that went into the rise and fall of each of these women. If all you're seeking is a rundown on the Tudors, this book is for you. But, if you're wanting the rich drama of the movies and miniseries, but with accurate history instead, go to Fraser and Weir.
June 18, 2014
Sir Walter Scott-The path to a lifelong love of history began here.
The Works of Sir Walter ScottI was a true nerd throughout school. I got hooked on history early on and stayed that way, with my nose in a book while the 80's in all their glory whirled by without my noticing. What other kid willingly reads Shakespeare in high school, and who's ever heard of Sir Walter Scott? I found his novels in one of the back shelves of the library and read some of them again and again. In fact, I was still reading them well into college.
Walter Scott (1771-1832), was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was frail as a child, and was sent to his grandparents home on the Scottish Borders to recover his health. What he discovered instead were the tales and legends of Scotland's Borders Region. He later returned to Edinburgh, where his fascination with the Borders turned into a fascination with Scottish history, and then history in general. This is history in the grand, romantic, Gothic style, knights, fair maidens, midnight escapes, and ghosts in crumbling castle towers.
Of course, then as now, history doesn't pay the bills unless you teach it or you get lucky and your books sell. Scott was trained for the bar, and became a lawyer, a court clerk, and later a judge. Practicing law by day, and writing at night, he soon developed a following for his books. In fact, although he only made a bare living at it later in life, he was the first novelist to develop a following in his own lifetime. His books were popular in Britain, Europe, and America, and they remained so until the craze for all things Jane Austen relegated Sir Walter Scott to the children's bookshelf in the mid-nineteenth century.
The boost that Scott gave to national pride in Scotland cannot be underestimated. When he was a boy, there were people around who still remembered Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 Jacobite Rising. There were also people who had decided opinions about it, often based on religious lines. To pine for Auld Scotland, with its mythic heroes, was to have Jacobite and Catholic leanings, which for an up and coming lawyer from a Presbyterian family, wouldn't do. Through his novels, though, Scott could bring those characters and old ways back. He's credited with being one of the first historical novelists. Once his stories hit the Royal Family, and he became a Baronet with the right to be called Sir, he'd hit the mainstream. He even accomplished his life's dream with his own estate on the Borders, Abbotsford, though it took all the money from his practice and his books to keep up.
My favorites among Sir Walter's books, Ivanhoe. If you need convincing, just watch the 1952 movie with Robert Taylor and Liz, and you can see why. I also read and loved the first Waverly Novel (and had a crush on poor, tragic Chief Fergus MacIvor). The Talisman, featuring young Prince David of Scotland as a knight in disguise on crusade with Richard the Lionheart, was another favorite. I like Braveheart and the Bruce well enough, but my A-1 Scottish character has always been the James Graham, First Marquis of Montrose, and I have a soft spot for Rob Roy, both of whom feature in several of Scott's tales.
The only thing that I grew out of with Sir Walter Scott was the use of Gothic elements in the tales. Elements which, ironically, are now all the rage. I'm too old or the magic charms, inherited second sight, ghosts in crumbling towers part of it. My goal, if I ever become a successful author with time to kill, is to resurrect some of these old stories, with more genuine history thrown in, and none of the supernatural clutter. In today's world of vampires, zombies, changlings, and psychic phenomena, I think those things are rather tired.
Walter Scott (1771-1832), was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was frail as a child, and was sent to his grandparents home on the Scottish Borders to recover his health. What he discovered instead were the tales and legends of Scotland's Borders Region. He later returned to Edinburgh, where his fascination with the Borders turned into a fascination with Scottish history, and then history in general. This is history in the grand, romantic, Gothic style, knights, fair maidens, midnight escapes, and ghosts in crumbling castle towers.
Of course, then as now, history doesn't pay the bills unless you teach it or you get lucky and your books sell. Scott was trained for the bar, and became a lawyer, a court clerk, and later a judge. Practicing law by day, and writing at night, he soon developed a following for his books. In fact, although he only made a bare living at it later in life, he was the first novelist to develop a following in his own lifetime. His books were popular in Britain, Europe, and America, and they remained so until the craze for all things Jane Austen relegated Sir Walter Scott to the children's bookshelf in the mid-nineteenth century.
The boost that Scott gave to national pride in Scotland cannot be underestimated. When he was a boy, there were people around who still remembered Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45 Jacobite Rising. There were also people who had decided opinions about it, often based on religious lines. To pine for Auld Scotland, with its mythic heroes, was to have Jacobite and Catholic leanings, which for an up and coming lawyer from a Presbyterian family, wouldn't do. Through his novels, though, Scott could bring those characters and old ways back. He's credited with being one of the first historical novelists. Once his stories hit the Royal Family, and he became a Baronet with the right to be called Sir, he'd hit the mainstream. He even accomplished his life's dream with his own estate on the Borders, Abbotsford, though it took all the money from his practice and his books to keep up.
My favorites among Sir Walter's books, Ivanhoe. If you need convincing, just watch the 1952 movie with Robert Taylor and Liz, and you can see why. I also read and loved the first Waverly Novel (and had a crush on poor, tragic Chief Fergus MacIvor). The Talisman, featuring young Prince David of Scotland as a knight in disguise on crusade with Richard the Lionheart, was another favorite. I like Braveheart and the Bruce well enough, but my A-1 Scottish character has always been the James Graham, First Marquis of Montrose, and I have a soft spot for Rob Roy, both of whom feature in several of Scott's tales.
The only thing that I grew out of with Sir Walter Scott was the use of Gothic elements in the tales. Elements which, ironically, are now all the rage. I'm too old or the magic charms, inherited second sight, ghosts in crumbling towers part of it. My goal, if I ever become a successful author with time to kill, is to resurrect some of these old stories, with more genuine history thrown in, and none of the supernatural clutter. In today's world of vampires, zombies, changlings, and psychic phenomena, I think those things are rather tired.
June 14, 2014
BOOK REVIEW-Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria by Julia P. Gelardi
Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen VictoriaBorn to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria, by Julia P. Gelardi provides a fascinating look at the family of Queen Victoria and five remarkable and tragic women. They are Maud, Queen of Norway (1869-1938), Sophie, Queen of the Hellenes (1870-1932), Empress Alexandra of Russia (1872-1918), Marie, Queen of Romania (1875-1938), and Victoria Eugenia, Queen of Spain (1887-1969). These women shared two things in common. They were all princesses, the granddaughters of Queen Victoria. And although Maud was fortunate enough to remain in her position as Queen Consort of Norway all her life (she died on vacation in England, but not in exile), and Marie died as a Queen Dowager in Romania, they also saw their fair share of tragedy. Of their three cousins, one was brutally murdered, and the other two were in exile after revolutions drove them from their thrones.
Queen Victoria was not called the Grandmother of Europe for nothing. She had nine children, most of whom had large families of their own. Her children and grandchildren married into the royalty of Europe. They and their families often returned to Balmoral, Winsor, or the Isle of Wight for long vacations with Gan-Gan, who had a hand in bringing up many of her descendants. The five of her granddaughters who were lucky enough to catch a consort's crown along with their bridal bouquets would need all her lessons as they navigated the dangers ahead of them.
Gelardi does a wonderful job in weaving the lives of these five women together. While Maud, Alix, Sophie, and Marie were more of an age, Ena was born several years after her cousins. Yet her story, which takes up much of the final chapters of the book, does not overshadow those of the others. Through their letters, Gelardi lets readers see the British Royal Family as human beings who lived, loved, fought, laughed, and had their fair share of good times, bad times, and drama as does every other family. She also shows how deeply war and revolution decimated this family. The British Royal Family at that time had a large share of German blood. Sophie and Alix were German princess by birth. That fact would later frustrate the extended family's efforts to help both of them, with particularly tragic consequences for Alix.
This is a good popular history, suitable for a general reader who has a little background in who these people are to begin with. If you're familiar with Queen Victoria's family, and the sad fate of Tsaritsa Alexandra, it's a must read.
Queen Victoria was not called the Grandmother of Europe for nothing. She had nine children, most of whom had large families of their own. Her children and grandchildren married into the royalty of Europe. They and their families often returned to Balmoral, Winsor, or the Isle of Wight for long vacations with Gan-Gan, who had a hand in bringing up many of her descendants. The five of her granddaughters who were lucky enough to catch a consort's crown along with their bridal bouquets would need all her lessons as they navigated the dangers ahead of them.
Gelardi does a wonderful job in weaving the lives of these five women together. While Maud, Alix, Sophie, and Marie were more of an age, Ena was born several years after her cousins. Yet her story, which takes up much of the final chapters of the book, does not overshadow those of the others. Through their letters, Gelardi lets readers see the British Royal Family as human beings who lived, loved, fought, laughed, and had their fair share of good times, bad times, and drama as does every other family. She also shows how deeply war and revolution decimated this family. The British Royal Family at that time had a large share of German blood. Sophie and Alix were German princess by birth. That fact would later frustrate the extended family's efforts to help both of them, with particularly tragic consequences for Alix.
This is a good popular history, suitable for a general reader who has a little background in who these people are to begin with. If you're familiar with Queen Victoria's family, and the sad fate of Tsaritsa Alexandra, it's a must read.
June 10, 2014
Sensational Murder Trials-An American Tradition
Casey Anthony and Jodi Arias are just the latest in a long line of celebrity trials. Sensational murder cases, media hype, legal dream teams, and controversial verdicts are an American tradition that stretches back to the earliest days of the Republic.
In 1793, Nancy Randolph was the daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter and distant cousin to Thomas Jefferson. She fell in love with her handsome brother-in-law, Richard Randolph, and the two began a torrid affair. She became pregnant, and the newborn infant later was found dead near a woodpile on one of the Randolph family's many plantations. Nancy and Richard were arrested and put on trial. Nancy's family hired Patrick Henry and future Chief Justice John Marshall to defend her. The trial played out in the newspapers of the era, as well as in the courtroom. She and Richard were acquitted, partly because the testimony of the black slaves on the plantation was inadmissible at the time. Few people agreed with the verdict. Although Richard's wife forgave him and he got on with his life, Nancy was forced to leave Virginia and ultimately settled with relatives in New York. She later married Gouvernor Morris, a signer of the United States Constitution, and died a wealthy woman.
In December, 1799, the body of Elma Sands was found in a public well in what is now New York's SoHo District. The man suspected was her fiancé, Levi Weeks, a young carpenter. Levi was arrested for Elma's murder and appealed to his brother, Contractor Ezra Weeks, for assistance in hiring an attorney. One of Ezra's projects was The Grange, Alexander Hamilton's new country estate in what is now Harlem. Ezra went to Hamilton, and Hamilton engaged two other attorneys to help him with Levi's defense. They were Henry Brockholst Livingstone and Aaron Burr, soon to become Vice-President of the United States.
The Trial of Levi Weeks: Or the Manhattan Well MysteryUnwise Passions: A True Story of a Remarkable Woman---and the First Great Scandal of Eighteenth-Century AmericaThe trial took place on March 31 and April 1, 1800, in a packed courtroom, and was widely reported by the newspapers. In a dramatic display, Hamilton, who was cross-examining a key prosecution witness, used candles to show how different lighting can affect a person's perception of someone else's features. Levi was acquitted and New York City was in an uproar. Nobody agreed with the verdict. He left New York and later settled in Natchez, Mississippi, where he designed and built Auburn Plantation. Hamilton and Burr's legal reputations were built on this trial, but their political ambitions would lead them, in July 1804, to the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, and America's most famous duel.
In 1793, Nancy Randolph was the daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter and distant cousin to Thomas Jefferson. She fell in love with her handsome brother-in-law, Richard Randolph, and the two began a torrid affair. She became pregnant, and the newborn infant later was found dead near a woodpile on one of the Randolph family's many plantations. Nancy and Richard were arrested and put on trial. Nancy's family hired Patrick Henry and future Chief Justice John Marshall to defend her. The trial played out in the newspapers of the era, as well as in the courtroom. She and Richard were acquitted, partly because the testimony of the black slaves on the plantation was inadmissible at the time. Few people agreed with the verdict. Although Richard's wife forgave him and he got on with his life, Nancy was forced to leave Virginia and ultimately settled with relatives in New York. She later married Gouvernor Morris, a signer of the United States Constitution, and died a wealthy woman.
In December, 1799, the body of Elma Sands was found in a public well in what is now New York's SoHo District. The man suspected was her fiancé, Levi Weeks, a young carpenter. Levi was arrested for Elma's murder and appealed to his brother, Contractor Ezra Weeks, for assistance in hiring an attorney. One of Ezra's projects was The Grange, Alexander Hamilton's new country estate in what is now Harlem. Ezra went to Hamilton, and Hamilton engaged two other attorneys to help him with Levi's defense. They were Henry Brockholst Livingstone and Aaron Burr, soon to become Vice-President of the United States.
The Trial of Levi Weeks: Or the Manhattan Well MysteryUnwise Passions: A True Story of a Remarkable Woman---and the First Great Scandal of Eighteenth-Century AmericaThe trial took place on March 31 and April 1, 1800, in a packed courtroom, and was widely reported by the newspapers. In a dramatic display, Hamilton, who was cross-examining a key prosecution witness, used candles to show how different lighting can affect a person's perception of someone else's features. Levi was acquitted and New York City was in an uproar. Nobody agreed with the verdict. He left New York and later settled in Natchez, Mississippi, where he designed and built Auburn Plantation. Hamilton and Burr's legal reputations were built on this trial, but their political ambitions would lead them, in July 1804, to the bluffs overlooking the Hudson River in Weehawken, New Jersey, and America's most famous duel.
Annette's History Reads
I enjoy reading and writing about history. I've loved history all my life and read a ton of books. Now, I'll share a few of them with you. I also want to take you along with me in this new and strange
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