Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Biography]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1788360702|title=Dirty BertieCharles, The Alternative Prince: An English King Made in FranceUnauthorised Biography|author=Stephen ClarkeEdzard Ernst

|summary=Although he was Anglo-German by birthFor over forty years, so Stephen Clarke suggests, King Edward VII was very much a Parisian by naturePrince Charles has been an ardent supporter of alternative medicine and complementary therapies. As we would expect from ''Charles, The Alternative Prince'' critically assesses the author of several lighthearted books on our Gallic neighboursPrince's opinions, including ‘1000 Years beliefs and aims against the background of Annoying the French’, this is not scientific evidence. There are few instances of his beliefs being vindicated and his relentless promotion of treatments which have no scientific support has done considerable damage to the most weighty or solemn biography reputation of the King you will ever find, but it a man who is certainly an entertainingproud of his refusal to apply evidence-based, racy gallop through the life of its subjectlogical reasoning to his ambitions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780890346</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|title=Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon|author=Kate Williams|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=Until reading this biography, it had never really occurred to me just how shadowy a figure the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the best-known European rulers of the age, really was. It may be common knowledge that her name was Josephine, but few of us perhaps really know anything of the woman behind the name.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>009955142X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=The Devonshires: The Story of a Family and a Nation|author=Roy Hattersley|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=According to the back of this book, ‘the story of the Devonshires is the story of Britain’. That’s an extravagant claim, but it contains more than a germ of truth. Certainly one would be hard-pushed to find an aristocratic, non-royal British family who has more consistently been central to our history since medieval times, as this detailed chronicle demonstrates. From the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII presided over in part by Sir William Cavendish, father of the first Earl, to the big business that their ancestral home Chatsworth House in Derbyshire has now become, the somewhat inaccurately geographically-named Devonshires have often been, or helped to, contribute to, part of the fabric of Britain’s past and present.Frontpage|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099554399</amazonuk>}} {{newreview1739805100|title=The Life of Rebecca Jones|author=Angharad Price|rating=5|genre=Biography|summary=A newly-married couple make their way home from the chapel, riding on a horse-drawn cart as it winds its way round familiar country lanes towards the beautiful valley of Maesglasau. The horse pauses atop a hill and Loving the valley spreads out before themEnemy: 'the vessel of their marriage'. The centuries-old stone farmhouse Building bridges in the crook of the mountain is to be their homestead; a sturdy, silent witness to the tragedy and joy that is an intrinsic part of the fabric time of family life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>085738712X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Wilkie Collins: A Life of Sensationwar|author=Andrew LycettMarch|rating=4.5

|summary=Wilkie Collins has come down ''Loving the Enemy'' tells the quite extraordinary story of author Andrew March's grandparents, who first met when grandfather Fred Clayton went to Dresden to us as teach in the chief exponent early days of the Victorian ‘sensation novel’. This was Nazi regime in the genre of story written specifically to expose deep-rooted domestic or family secrets, uncovering illegitimacy, bigamy or other irregular activities by supposedly respectable citizens leading outwardly normal, uneventful lives1930s. There were mysteriesFred, deceptions, betrayals, evil characters a sensitive and good innocent ones. Measured by these standardsthoughtful man, he led a ‘sensational’ life himself. When not writing novels, short stories, plays or articles for journals had some vague ideas of "building bridges" which may guard against the growing hostilities between nations unfolding in order to earn a living, this apparently fine upstanding bachelor maintained two households, two mistresses, and children Europe at the same time – . Fred's attempts to separate individual people from ideology weren't universally successful but he did make friendships and managed to keep them connections that lasted for a secret from the public who would doubtless have been scandalized to know the truthlifetime.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099557347</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Four Sisters:The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand DuchessesWill Brooker|authortitle=Helen RappaportThe Truth About Lisa Jewell

|summary=A few years ago, Helen Rappaport wrote and published Meet [[Ekaterinburg: The Last Days Category:Lisa Jewell|Lisa Jewell]], one of the most successful British authors I've never knowingly read. Now meet Will Brooker, one of the Romanovs by Helen Rappaport|Ekaterinburg: The Last Days thousands of less successful authors I quite confidently never have read. This book starts with the Romanovs]]two meeting each other, a painstakingas well, chilling account of and shows how 2021 drew the final days two closer and death closer together. The meeting was some unspecified combination, it seems, of her anecdote about cup cakes, the last Tsar words of Russia her latest book she was reciting, and his family. To her being in a certain extent this biography is ''black lace mini-dress with gold brocade'' (certainly a prequel get-up never commonly worn at the author events I get to attend), but pulled Brooker, a professor of cultural studies who has swallowed Roland Barthes, down the rabbit-hole that volumeis Jewell's diverse output. Brooker decides he'd like nothing more than to follow her through a year in the published author's life, an account working to make a success of the short lives of OTMAlatest title, as they referred to themselves – and struggling with the Tsar’s daughters Olganext in line. Jewell, Tatianadue diligence appropriately done, Marie and Anastasiaagrees. And this is the result.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230768172</amazonuk>1529136024

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Holy Fox: The Life of Lord HalifaxMartha Leigh|authortitle=Andrew RobertsInvisible Ink: A Family Memoir|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=Of all the British nearly-Prime Ministers Edward Wood Martha Leigh begins her book talking about a childhood spent in a slightly eccentric, 1st Earl of Halifax, must be uniqueimmediately recognisable upper middle class English family. He was the one who came closest to assuming the mantle only to find the job denied him, and had he done soHer father is a Cambridge don, forever clacking away on him Britain’s destiny would have depended. For his typewriter as he was edits the complete correspondence of the man whom several confidently expectedphilosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and many wanted, to take over after his life's work. Her mother is a concert pianist who practises for hours every day. Neither parent is hugely interested in the resignation practicalities of Neville Chamberlain during life. There is love in the dark days of May 1940house but also darker undercurrents that a child does not fully understand but knows is there.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781856974</amazonuk>1800460384

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Boys In The Boat: An Epic Journey to the Heart of Hitler's BerlinPolly Barton|authortitle=Daniel James BrownFifty Sounds

|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary=You see, Jesse Owens had it easy – all he had to Where do was run fast. Alright, he did have to face unknown hardship, heinous prejudice at home and abroadI start? I could start with where Barton herself starts, with the question ''Why Japan?'' Japan has been on my radar for a while and make sure he was fast enough to outdo the rest of his compatriots then if the worldhadn's best to win gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympicst gone into melt-down I would have visited by now. I may get there later this year, but others who wished to do the same had to do moreI am not hopeful. People such as those rowers in And like Barton, I don't know the coxed eights squad – people such as young Joe Rantz. He certainly had answer to face hardship, the prejudice borne by those question ''why Japan?'' She explains her feelings in respect of the moneyed east coast yacht clubs against an upstart from question in the NW USAfirst essay, and when he got to compete he had to use so many more muscleswhich is on the sound ''giro' '' – which she describes as being, and operate at varying tempiamong other things, with the temperament sound of the weather and water against him, all in perfect synchronicity with seven other beefcakes. Despite rowing being the second greatest ticket at those Games, Joe's story is a lot less well known, and probably a lot more entertaining'every party where you have to introduce yourself''.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1447210980</amazonuk>1913097501

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert A CaroFrederic Gros|title=The Years of Lyndon Johnson: Means A Philosophy of AscentWalking

|genre=AutobiographyPolitics and Society|summary=It's only a matter I confess I picked this one up from the library in my pre-lockdown forage of days since random stuff. Now I finished listening have to [[The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power by Robert A Caro|The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power]], go out an buy my own copy so that I can turn down the first part of Robert A Caro's definitive work on the President pages I have marked and despite having just spent over forty hours on the book return to its varying wisdom when I wanted need to learn more. Some books draw you in slowly. I was torn though - the second book This one had me in a series is not often as good as the first and it struck me that these might two pages, wherein Gros explains why ''walking is not be the most exciting years in Johnsona sport''s life. Was this book going to be the link which took us on to the more exciting times? Not a bit of it.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>B00GSHD0U6</amazonuk>1781688370

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert A CaroSharon Blackie|title=The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to PowerIf Women Rose Rooted

|genre=Biography|summary=Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President I normally say that you can tell how much a book means to me by how many pages have corners turned down. Perhaps an even greater measure of impact is setting out to buy my own copy before I've finished reading the United States, preceded by John F Kennedy and succeeded by Richard Nixon, with both being remembered most for the way they left officeone I've borrowed. His fiveI want to avoid clichés like 'powerful' 'inspiring' 'life-year term in office was overshadowed at the start by changing' – although it is definitely the Kennedy assassination first two and increasingly blighted by only time will tell about the debacle which was Vietnam, third – but there was something about Johnson which always intrigued me: how does clichés exist for a poor boy from Texas hill country without an exceptional (or even reason and I'good') education become president of the United States? 'The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power' tells you all that you need to knowm not sure I can succinctly put it any better.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>B00GSHTJZQ</amazonuk>1912836017

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0241446732|title=Born Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in SiberiaCrisis|author=Tamara AstafievaMalena Ernman, Greta Thunberg, Michael Darlow Beata Thunberg and Debbie SlaterSvante Thunberg|rating=4.5|genre=AutobiographyPolitics and Society|summary=I tend to shy away from reviewing book titles, but this time it seems appropriate – here it's a title that doesn't tell you The Ernman / Thunberg family seemed perfectly normal. Malena Ernman was an opera singer and Svante Thunberg took on most of the half parenting of the storytheir two daughters. As much as Tamara Astafieva was born in Siberia, Then eleven-year-old Greta stopped eating and returned there several times, for many different reasons talking and with many very different outcomesher sister, this is much more of a picture of the Soviet Union as we in Britain think of it – MoscowBeata, a bit of Saint Petersburgthen nine years old, and little elsestruggled with what was happening. ThatIn such circumstances, it's not natural to seek a fault – and again solution close to home, but eventually, itbecame clear to the family that they were ''burned-out people on a burned-out planet''s not half of the story. The story here is so complex, so rich with detail and incident, and itself came about in such an unusual If they were to find a way, that any summary of the book has its work cut out in defining its many qualitiesto live happily again their solution would need to be radical.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0704373343</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0648684806|title=Clara Colby: The Pike: Gabriele D'Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of WarInternational Suffragist|author=Lucy Hughes-HallettJohn Holliday|rating=3.54

|summary=Gabriele d’Annunzio The path of Clara Dorothy Bewick's life was a strange and perhaps fortunately unique character, a kind of 20th century Renaissance man who almost defies posterity probably determined when her family emigrated to pigeonhole himthe USA. At various times he the time she was a poetjust three-years-old but because of some childhood ailment, novelistshe wasn't allowed to sail with her parents and three brothers. Instead, dramatistshe remained with her grandparents, journalistwho doted on her and saw that she received a good education, adventurer, self-styled demagogue both in and philandererout of school. Although he lost several friends during She was the First World War, as well as only child in the sight of one eye when his plane household and her childhood was shot down, he had a passion for war, seeing bloodshed as manly and death in battle as glorious self-sacrifice. He By contrast, her family had become pioneer farmers in the dodgiest mid-west of moral compassesthe United States and life was hard, as Clara was to find out when she and yet was hardly her grandparents eventually went to join the Adonis he believed himself to befamily. One French courtesan who firmly rebuffed his physical advances later called him ‘a frightful gnome with red-rimmed eyes and no eyelashesClara would only know her mother for a few months: she was married for fifteen years, no hairhad ten pregnancies, greenish teeth, bad breath seven surviving children and the manners of a mountebank’died in childbirth not long after Clara arrived. Had he been alive todayAs the eldest girl, he a heavy burden would have probably been an instant celebrity fall on Clara and media personality with Wisconsin was a very short shelf-life. One half Jeremy Clarkson, one half Russell Brand, one might sayrude awakening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007213964</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Van der Kiste1789017977|title=Alfred: Queen VictoriaRonnie and Hilda's Second SonRomance: Towards a New Life after World War II|author=Wendy Williams

|genre=BiographyHistory|summary=Prince Alfred Ronnie Williams was the second son of Queen Victoria Thomas Henry Williams (known as Harry) and her husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg GothaEthel Wall. At the time of his birth There's some doubt as to whether or not they were ever married or even Harry's birthdate: he was second claimed to have been born in line to the throne after his brother1863, the Prince of Wales but he was already many years older than Ethel and was generally known within the family as Affiehe might well have shaved a few years off his age. In his early teens he joined For a while, the Royal Navy - at his own request - and whilst his family and status was undoubtedly no disadvantage quite well-to him, he worked hard -do but disaster struck in the 1929 Depression and five-year-old Ronnie had to adjust to a genuine talent for the navy, eventually receiving his Admiral's baton and visiting all five continents in the course of his service. He was created Duke of Edinburgh (along with various other titles) by the queenvery different lifestyle. His marriage - to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia - One thing he did inherit from his father was not a happy union, with his wife being not need to be well-liked in society turned-out and obsessed by her precedencethis would stay with him throughout his life. They had six children (one of whom was stillborn) but only one son - 'young Affie' who committed suicide He joined the army at the age of twenty foureighteen in 1942.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178155319X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Trip to Echo Spring: Why Writers Drink Patti Smith|authortitle=Olivia LaingYear of the Monkey

|summary=Coming from a family with an alcoholic backgroundOn the coast of Santa Cruz, Olivia Laing became fascinated by Patti Smith enters the idea of why and how some lunar year of the greatest works of twentiethmonkey -century literature were written by those one packed with a drink problemmischief, sorrow, and unexpected moments. The list soon became In a long one – Dylan Thomasstranger's words, Raymond Chandler''Anything is possible: after all, Jack London, Jean Rhys, to name but a few, instantly came to mindit's the year of the monkey''. In As Smith wanders the spring coast of 2011 Santa Cruz in solitude, she crossed the Atlantic to take reflects on a trip across the USA, from New York City year that brings huge shifts in her life - loss and New Orleans to Chicago and Seattle by hired car and trainageing are faced head-on, as it the shifting political waters in America. |isbn=1526614758}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1912242052|title=O Joy for me!|author=Keir Davidson|rating=3|genre=Art|summary=''Oh Joy for me!'' gives Coleridge credit for being ''the course of which she took a close look at the link between creativity and alcohol which inspired first person to walk the mountains alone, not because he had to for work of six authors, namely F. Scott Fitzgeraldas a miner, Ernest Hemingwayquarryman, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheevershepherd or pack-horse driver, but because he wanted to for pleasure and Raymond Carveradventure. Taking her title from a character in Williams’s play ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ who says he is taking a trip to echo springHis rapturous encounters with their natural beauty, an euphemism for the liquor cabinetand its literary consequences, she travels to changed our view of the places which were pivotal in their often overlapping lives and workworld''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847677940</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Graff_Find|title=Hanns and Rudolf: The German Jew and the Hunt for the Kommandant of AuschwitzFind Another Place|author=Thomas HardingBen Graff|rating=3.5|genre=BiographyAutobiography|summary=This dual biography concerns, as the title makes clear, two men. One was from an inherently German, rich Jewish family – they had When Ben Graff's grandfather Martin handed him a powerboat so he could waterski on the lake at their country cottage – who fled the rise plastic folder of the Nazis early in the 1930s, and got away moderately lightly, only losing properties and a large and successful medical career. The other was handwritten notes from an inherently German family, who signed up for First World War service before his agejournal, but only really wanted to be a farmer and family man, yet who ended up running probably historyhe didn's worst slaughterhouset take much notice of it. Both had a connection and a shared destiny that was largely unknown before this book was researched, there's a chance that both of them had At the blood age of one man and only one man directly on their hands from WWII service24, and both of them – again, as the title makes clear – are given Graff didn't realise the dignity gravity of the familiar, first name throughout this incredible bookpages he was holding.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434022365</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789016304|title=Penelope FitzgeraldWar and Love: A Lifefamily's testament of anguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam|author=Hermione LeeMelanie Martin

|summary=Penelope Fitzgerald came from an earnest Melanie Martin read about what happened to Dutch Jews in occupied Amsterdam during World War II and renowned academic family, the Knoxes, which included several prominent clerics; her grandfather was the Bishop of Manchester. A considerable biographer herself, entranced by what she wrote a book on the Knox brothersdiscovered, these included two Oxford pastors (one particularly in ''The Diary of whom, Ronald Knox, converted to Catholicism, was famous as a biblical translator and whilst chaplain at Trinity College became a mentor to the future prime minister, Harold Macmillan), a top Bletchley cryptographic analyst and PenelopeAnn Frank''s but then realised that her own eminent father, family'Evoe' who was editor of Punchs stories were equally fascinating. Fitzgerald wrote prolifically A hundred and seven thousand Jews were deported from childhood and fulfilled some of these high expectations by gaining a brilliant First at Somerville. Graduating in 1938, she was already known for her membership of the smart setcity during the war years, for her student journalism but only five thousand survived and a reticent, indeed peremptory manner. Women Martin could not actually graduate at Oxford until understand how this could be allowed to happen in a statute was passed in 1920. Hence she was amongst Oxford's early women graduatescountry with liberal values who were resistant to German occupation. Her striking appearance within Most people believed that the smart set earned her occupation could never happen: even those who thought that the Germans might reach the city were convinced that they would soon be pushed back, that the Amsterdammers would never allow what happened to escalate in the nickname of way that it did, but initial protests melted away as the organisers became more circumspect. It''blonde bombshell''s an atrocity on a vast scale but made up of tens of thousands of individual tragedies.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701184957</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Freeman1786893452|title=How to Read a Novelist: Conversations with WritersThe Ungrateful Refugee|author=Dina Nayeri

|summary=As Here in the West, we see news reports about immigrants on a book reviewer there regular basis – some media welcoming them, some scaremongering about them. But all of those stories are certain people whom I hold in high regard written by journalists – almost always western, and one of these is John Freeman. Not yet forty he has an enviable record as an editor almost always, no matter how deep the investigative journalism they carry out, outsiders to some of the big names in literature world and it seems the situations that every book of note for a decade and a half has been greeted by his reviewrefugees find themselves in. DonIt't be misled by s rare that we find out the journeys from the title ''How to Read a Novelist'' - refugees themselves – and this isn't is a guide rare opportunity to literary criticismdo that, in this intelligent, but powerful and moving work by Dina Nayeri -someone who was born in the middle of a collection of Freeman's interviews with eminent authors. There are fifty six revolution in total, ranging from literary giants such as Toni Morrison, Ian McEwanIran, Gunter Grass and Kazuo Ishiguro through fleeing to popular crime fiction writers such America as Donna Leona ten-year-old.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472109376</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0857058320|title=Inside The Centre: The Life of J Robert OppenheimerLord Of All the Dead|author=Ray MonkJavier Cercas and Anne McLean (translator)|rating=54

|summary=Thinking back ''Lord Of All the Dead'' is a journey to uncover the early 1960s, Bertrand Russell, the subject of another prize winning biography by Ray Monk, was frequently seen on black author's lost ancestor's life and white television declaring his concerns over Nuclear Weaponsdeath. He stated, 'Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under Cercas is searching for the influence of a meaning behind his great fear.uncle' For nearly seventy years, mankind has wondered s death in the words of StingSpanish Civil War. Manuel Mena, Cercas'How can I save my boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?' As concerns about nuclear proliferation in relation to Iraqgreat uncle, Pakistan and North Korea escalate it is salutary to return to a thorough biography of the man, known as figure who looms large over the book. He died relatively young whilst fighting for Francisco Franco's forces. Cercas ruminates on why his uncle fought for this dictator. The question at the father centre of the bomb, that felt a deep and urgent need this book is whether it is possible for his great uncle to be at a hero whilst having fought for the centre and to belong, J Robert Oppenheimerwrong side.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099433532</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1788037812|title=Magic WordsThe Fraternity of the Estranged: The Extraordinary Life of Alan MooreFight for Homosexual Rights in England, 1891-1908|author=Lance ParkinBrian Anderson

|summary=I don't think that I ever saw [[:Category:Alan Moore|Alan Moore]] when I lived Originally passed in Northampton1885, and I don't think I coincided with the publication of ''Maxwell the Magic Cat'' law that had made homosexual relations a crime remained in the local newspaperplace for 82 years. But during this time, restrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. So I missed out Between 1891 and 1908, three books on the memorable frame nature of someone else who is six foot homosexuality appeared. They were written by twohomosexual men: Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds, albeit a generation older and looking so hirsute he would seem to be afraid of scissorsas well as the heterosexual Havelock Ellis. But I certainly would not have been alone in not recognising him for what he is. How many Northampton housewives flicked past Exploring the daily panels margins of ''Maxwell'' society and studying homosexuality was common on the European Continent, but barely talked about in complete ignorance the UK, so the publications of who Alan Moore actually is? these men were hugely significant – With no idea that the years he spent drawing that cartoon for £10 a week – later contributing to be £12.50 – were just him gearing up to be the biggest man scientific understanding of letters in homosexuality, and beginning the comic book world?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781310777</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Alan Turing (Real Lives)|author=Jim Eldridge|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Alan Turing was one of Britain's greatest thinkers of the last century. He did pioneering work on computing struggle for recognition and artificial intelligence. He was also a hero of World War IIequality, working in leading to the famous codemilestone legalisation of same-breaking community at Bletchley Park, cracking German naval codes used to lethal effect organising U-boat attacks. Turing was the man who beat the Enigma machinesex relationships in 1967. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472900103</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Buckland_Zoo|title=CherThe Man Who Ate the Zoo: Strong EnoughFrank Buckland, forgotten hero of natural history|author=Josiah HowardRichard Girling

|summary=Having looked at the title and sub-title, As a conservationist in Victorian England before the latter being no more than the two-word title of one of her latter-day hitsterm existed, I assumed this Frank Buckland was going to be very much a fairly comprehensive biography man ahead of the American singerhis time. The sub-titleSurgeon, ''Strong Enough''naturalist, taken from one of her latter-day hit singles, reveals nothing. Not until I had almost finished itveterinarian and eccentric sums him up perfectly, and any biographer is immediately presented with a little puzzled at it not being quite what I had expected, did I finally look at the blurb on the back – at which point all became clear. This was not the full story of a showbiz career which has lasted close on half a century, but for the most part an extraordinarily detailed account of her 1975 TV variety showcolourful tale to tell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0859654842</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=Empress Dowager CixiWilliams_Captain|author=Jung Chang|rating=5|genretitle=Biography|summary=It’s easy to see why Jung Chang selected Cixi as the focal point for her study Captain Ronald Campbell of China’s tumultuous modern history. Cixi is a truly fascinating womanBombala Station, one of few human beings whose existence can be honestly said to have shaped the course of history. Cixi’s biography is not only a fascinating read due to her own political machinations, but also because of the immense transformations that occurred in China during her lifetime. Jung Chang offers a detailed exploration of the period from Cixi’s entrance to court in 1852 to her death in 1908, during which time the ancient dynastic customs of China gave way to the advent of the industrial age.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224087436</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=BertieCambalong: A His Military Life of Edward VIIand Times|author=Jane RidleyIvor George Williams|rating=54

|summary=Several In March 1829 Ann Parker married Captain J A Edwards of the main facts about King Edward VII (1841-1910) are reasonably well-known17th Regiment of Foot. Considered oversexed by his parents, Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, he He was blamed by the former for breaking in command of the latter's heart troops and causing convicts on board a ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydney, Australia: his early death with the news that he (Edward) had enjoyed himself with a lady of the nightwife and young son accompanied him. He was notoriously unfaithful not destined to live a long life, dying suddenly at the age of 34 at Bangalore, leaving his widow to raise their two young sons. Edwards' death left his charming but prematurely deaf and lame wife Alexandra, hated reading books and learning but became widow in a first-class unofficial ambassador difficult position: not only did she have their farm to courts and countries abroadmanage, and despite low expectations of others and poor health he made an excellent King but she was also responsible for the last nine convicts who worked the land. Two years of his lifelater she would marry Captain Ronald Campbell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099575442</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony SummersPeacock_mountain|title=Not In Your Lifetime: Into The Assassination Mountain, A Life of JFKNan Shepherd|author=Charlotte Peacock

|summary=Possibly no assassination in history Mostly we choose what books to read because there is so little time and so many books… I can have had such momentous consequences for understand the history of approach, but I also think we sell ourselves short by it, and we sell the world myriad lesser-known authors short as that of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria well. So while, like most other people I have my favourite genres, and his wife Sophie in Sarajevofavoured authors, and while, like most other people I read the capital of Bosniareviews and follow up on what appeals, in June 1914. It was their killing which led directly I also have a third-string to the outbreak of the First World War, just six weeks latermy reading bow: randomness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230759572</amazonuk>

{{newreview|title=Red Love: The Story of an East German Family|author=Maxim Leo|rating=5|genre=Biography|summary=Chances are there have been major disagreements and splits in your family. One black sheep might have supported the wrong football team. Some of you will be strictly ''Strictly'', the rest ''X Factor''. But probably nothing compares to what went Move on in the Leo household over decades in Eastern Berlin. One of our author's grandfathers, Gerhard, was too Jewish and bourgeois to survive life in Germany, fled to France, and came back a Communist having fought against Nazism. His counterpart Werner ended the war with some semblance of PTSD, and more or less landed in Communist Berlin due to facts of administration, yet became a fully-fledged Party activist. Author's mother Anne worked as a journalist on the Communist mouthpiece newspaper, even if she managed to doubt things she was forced to write during the Prague Spring and more. Her husband Wolf – Werner's son – in a similar industry was involved in sort-of Photoshopping for propaganda, [[Newest Business and often sabotaged his own output. He was violent, awkward, but very anti-establishment. And if you can't see how having a non-Communist in such a family in the heightened times of Cold War Berlin would be, you certainly will after reading this gripping collective biography.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908968516</amazonuk>}}Finance Reviews]]