Cupid and the King: Five Royal Paramours

Book Description

The royal European courts were unsurpassed for their glamour, wealth, fame, danger, treachery, and politics. The royal mistress was at the center of that world -- admired for her beauty and sensuality; feared for the power she wielded; even vilified, envied, and resented. In times when women had very little power, the royal mistress had enormous influence, and yet she is seldom mentioned in official histories.

In Cupid and the King, Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent recounts the stories of five very different women, each of whom became a celebrated -- or notorious -- courtesan:

Nell Gwyn, the bawdy, vivacious orange seller turned actress who endeared herself to Charles II -- and the country -- with her wit and down-to-earth manner

Madame de Pompadour, the extravagant, elegant maitresse-en-titre of Louis XV who became one of the great patrons of her time while enraging the people of France

Marie Walewska, who became Napoleon's mistress to save her country

Lola Montez, the flamboyant, scandalous Irish beauty who reinvented herself as a Spanish aristocrat to win the heart of Ludwig I of Bavaria

Lillie Langtry, the legendary beauty immortalized by the most famous artists of her day and the only woman to completely monopolize Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII

Written with an insider's keen understanding of court life and filled with delicious details born of impeccable research, Cupid and the King explores a little-known chapter of the history of women's roles in the royal bedrooms of Europe.

Customer Reviews:

"Cupid And the King" is Quite Entertaining.......2006-04-16

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. Princess Michael's writing style is chatty and open, and she chose five interesting women to study. It's a great "beach read" for lovers of biographies, history or even royal gossip.

Cupid's arrow, royal crown.......2006-03-31

There have been royal mistresses for as long as there have been royals, but only a few have become legendary. And so a real-life royal, Princess Michael of Kent, has chronicled the lives of five of the most famous (or infamous) maitresses en titre in history. Not brilliant, but "Cupid and the King : Five Royal Paramours" is a good starting point.

Nell Gwyn grew up in the gutter, the daughter of an alcoholic prostitute. But through bawdy charm and talent, she became a comedic actress on the London stages, and caught the eye of Charles Stuart. Though she wasn't as high-born as his other ladies, "Nellie" retained a place in Charles' heart until his death, and was faithful to him for the rest of her short life.

Madame de Pompadour was an exceptional beauty who caught the eye of Louis XV, and was soon placed as his official mistress. Since she didn't like sex, she made herself invaluable to the king as a comforting friend, and created a salon where the cultured and artistic people of the time could gather. Unfortunately, her devotion to her king cost her her life.

Marie Walewska was groomed from childhood to marry well, and help her family. But after being married off to a disgusting old aristocrat, the beautiful Marie met her girlhood hero -- Napoleon. For the sake of her country, Marie became Napoleon's mistress, and soon fell in love with him. But his ambition to create a dynasty ended their affair.

Lola Montez was never what she seemed to be. After a nasty divorce, the Irish girl renamed herself, became a "Spanish" dancer, and lied constantly. She also snagged the heart of Ludwig I, king of Bavaria and terrible poet. As she bled the country dry, the angry inhabitants of Bavaria rebelled against their king, and sent Lola packing for the USA...

Lily Langtry was a tomboy, a prankster, and her first taste of polite society was a disaster. But after marrying, she captivated London (and Oscar Wilde) with her beauty and charm. And then she captivated playboy Edward VII, his naive young cousin, and eventually reinvented herself as a respected actress.

Yeah, it doesn't really say much that hasn't been said before. Many books have handled the history of courtesans and royal mistresses, and Princess Michael doesn't add much that is new to the mix. It's basically five short biographies, going over the entire lives of the subjects with plenty of interesting facts, but only a few new insights.

Her writing style is solid enough, exploring the different personal and political facets of the mistresses, the kings, and their families. It's worth noting that even though the author is royalty, only the last of the bios reveals anything about royalty, upper-class society, and the effects of a royal mistress. The rest of the time it's typical "religion disapproved, pious queen suffered, money was spent" and so on.

And four of the five have some great quality that sets them apart -- patriotism, intelligence, charm, or just loyal fun. But Lola Montez doesn't fit in. Despite Princess Michael's gushing, she seems like a callous, ditsy gold-digger compared to Madame de Pompadour or Lily Langtry.

Though it doesn't add any new information, "Cupid and the King : Five Royal Paramours" is a pleasant read for people who are looking for juicy pre-tabloid gossip.

Cupid and The King.......2006-03-16

Finally! A book for all of us who love those trashy historical romances! At least, those of us who love the historical parts. I found this book extremely well-researched as well as an easy read. Powerful men and the women who love them are always fascinating and Princess Micheal of Kent does a fantastic job in giving us those juicy details to keep your attention focused and your eyebrows raised, as well as enlightening you on significant historical events in Europe in the 17th through the 19th centuries. I highly recommend this book for those of you who don't like to admit being a trashy historical novel reader....this is one book you can proudly display on your bookshelves!

Product Description

Stranglehold by former AWA wrestling announcer and personality Larry Nelson is one of professional wrestling's obscure treasures. Amazon.com is the exclusive source for remaining copies of this limited edition collectors item. This self-published and promoted piece was lost in the shadows of higher-budget, glossier rasslin' publications when released in 2001. Amazingly, used copies of Stranglehold have sold for as much as $27 on e-Bay. Get yours NEW, while they last, for less than ten bucks!.

Customer Reviews:

Announcers view esoteric.......2005-02-05

If you want a very brief inside look at what the AWA was like after Hogan and Okerland left and the ultimate demise of the AWA then this is a good book for you. The author has no real insight into the glory years of the AWA but he does cover the waning years from his fill in standpoint. The author is very sincere in his writing however there are tons of better wrestling insider books out there. If you have run out of wrestling reading material then get this if not wait awhile

Don't Waste Your Money.......2004-01-29

If you're expecting a book that's half as insightful as Jerry Lawler's or Mick Foley's, look somewhere else. The author was a minor player in a second rate organization. The "behind the scenes" stories are weak and give you no new insight into the interesting people that made up the world of Professional Wrestling at the time. I've read many wrestling books and biographies and would recommend Mick Foley, Jerry Lawler and especially Pure Dynamite by Tom Billington. If someone gives you this book, give it back.

Entertaining book.......2003-09-06

I didn't know what to expect when I ordered this book, and I was pleasantly surprized. Larry Nelson is completly out of the business by now and he doesn't have to protect anyone (like DDP's book for example) so he tells some pretty shocking story and mention some pretty huge names in doing so. While most books talks about WWE, this one is a refreshing change as I don't know of any other book about the AWA, who was my favorite brand in the '80's. Younger fans may like it also because some of the characters in the book are still around. Also the book came to me autographed, which was a nice touch. All of us who tough Winnipeg was a dull city change their minds after reading this book. I would recommend it to everyone, unless you're not into dirt stories or only care about WWE.

Only for the fan who reads EVERYTHING!.......2003-06-05

I finally picked up this book and my expectations were met perfectly. That's because I didn't expect much. Nelson was never a top announcer in the biz and comes across as a guy who wasn't even allowed on the "inside", because he is wrong on so many accounts and names. Some of these may be editor's mistakes, but some are just plain stupid and unexplainable, since this guy should have known everything about his company. Claiming that Jerry Lawler beat NICK BOCKWINKEL to win the AWA title was just one big mistake that almost any fan should know...(Lawler beat Curt Hennig by the way). Nelson did not mention any of the last days of the AWA (including the laughable title reign of his buddy Larry Zbyszko). A few of the stories are entertaining, but with so much totally incorrect info and an overall lack of depth, only the fan who reads EVERY and ANYTHING about wrestling should buy this book.

A decent read for those who remember the 1980's AWA..........2003-05-19

Larry Nelson was a second rate announcer (he even admits at one point in the book that he was not a good wrestling announcer) for a second rate wrestling league, and even the book itself could be considered second rate, but there were some entertaining moments and it is definitely worth a look by wrestling fans, especially those who remember the AWA of the 1980's. The book starts with a "brief" history of professional wrestling. Completely a waste of time, as most people reading this will already know everything (and probably more than him). Those who don't know, will really learn nothing. The main good thing that stand out for me would be the stories. Gossip, rumors, and firsthand accounts about sleazy things wrestlers did were admittedly fun to read. Stories about Gene Okerlund and Hulk Hogan's alleged recreational activities, Hawk's inappropriate behavior, a couple of different ones about Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen almost tearing apart a bowling alley, and many others were included in the book. Thank goodness they were in the book, because Mr. Nelson just wasn't that interesting himself. Or at least the book wasn't ably written to let us know. He basically speaks in vague generalities about his drinking, coke snorting, and his family. He does go into detail (embarrassingly) when describing the women he encountered (mostly just lusted after)during his tenure in the business. However, the book demonstrates some worth later on. The event WrestleRock (and behind the scenes info) is detailed; Eric Bischoff's very first contact with the wrestling business is revealed; and the three year run of the Superstars of the AWA television program is passionately described, and later the dying days of the AWA. The book has flaws, but there is some good stuff for a wrestling fan to enjoy.

Book Description

At the end of the 1950s, photographer Robert Frank decided that he was done with photography and became a filmmaker. Not until the 1970s would he begin to take the occasional still again. To date, Frank has created more than 25 films and videos, some of them classics of the New American Cinema of the 1950s and 1960s. In his films, Frank amalgamated documentary, fiction, and autobiography, cutting across genres, defying each and every law of Hollywood in his relentless search for truth. In a time where the crass commercialism of mainstream film's visual grammar seems to reign supreme, Frank's film and video work appears to be his most radical and visionary legacy.~Frank films fills a long overdue gap by providing a comprehensive overview of Frank's films. The book's main essay discusses the history and the aesthetics of Frank's film work, while shorter texts by various authors examine every film and video by Frank in detail. This book offers a visually unique approach to Frank's films: at his request, only new stills taken from video tapes were used. The numerous video images add up to a visual essay on Frank's cinema that enters in an engaging dialogue with his photographic work, in particular with the stills he has created since the 70s. The texts and images in Frank Films offer an innovative and in-depth approach to the oeuvre of one of the greatest and most restless artists of the 20th century, proving required reading for everyone interested in Robert Frank and the history of American avant garde film. Created in collaboration with Graz Zweitausenddrei, diagonale, Pro Helvetia, Sixpackfilm. A decision: I put my Leica in a cupboard. Enough of lying in wait, pursuing, sometimes catching the essence of the black and the white, the knowledge of where God is. I make films. Now I speak to the people in my viewfinder. Not simple and not especially successful. --Robert Frank.

Edited by Brigitta Burger-Utzer and Stefan Grisseman. ~Essays by Philip Brookman, Michael Barchet, Kent Jones, Stefan Grissemann, Thomas Mießgang, Pia Neumann and Amy Taubin.

Hardcover, 7 x 9.5 in./204 pgs / Illustrated throughout.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Elements of the Beautiful in Music (Music Primers)

Average customer rating:

The Elements of the Beautiful in Music (Music Primers)
Ernst Pauer
Manufacturer: Library Reprints
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0722256604

Meantone Is Beautiful!: Studies On Tunings Of Musical Instruments

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Meantone Is Beautiful!: Studies On Tunings Of Musical Instruments
Reinhart Frosch
Manufacturer: Peter Lang Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 3906769925

Book Description

Tom Wolfe takes his creative talent to the National Game: Baseball. With easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. Tom helps the carver bring the classic ballplayer out of a block of wood. Each cut is illustrated with a full-color photograph, an important visual aid to learning this fun craft. These projects are exciting and challenging, but with Tom's guidance even the novice carver will find they have the ability to bring them to successful completion.

, 280+ color photos, 8 1/2" x 11"

Average customer rating:

Fake reviewers, this must be a <1 star rank

It is like a pitch book

==>Revealing

First Hand Look at Investment Banking

Leading Investment Bankers: Heads of Ibanking from Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, Salomon Smith Barney & More on the Art of Investment Banking, Mergers ... & More (Inside the Minds) (Inside the Minds)

Manufacturer: Aspatore Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Banks & Banking | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1587620618

Book Description

Inside the Minds: Leading Investment Bankers is written by an unprecedented collection of top industry visionaries and explains in an easy to understand language and format proven real world intelligence and strategies for being a successful investment banker. A must read for every investment banking professional, executive and entrepreneur, regardless of your experience level in investment banking, this book will shed light on the art and science of investment banking and help you be a better professional.

Customer Reviews:

Fake reviewers, this must be a <1 star rank .......2006-03-13

trust me, this book(let) is really bad. Nothing Nothing, it contains Nothing!

I guess some top bankers just write whatever off their minds during lunchtime and put into this book(let) for sale.

there is no way people would rank it 4-5 stars on a sane mind.

buy it and you will regret.

It is like a pitch book.......2005-12-14

This book does not reflect in any way the world of investment banking and really does resemble to an IBanker pitch book. This is especially fond in the ML director vaunting the his bank and how good they are with the new recruits. However, the Manager from DB drawn a pretty picture of the business and how it did built a department. Overall, it less than average book, Monkey business is a lot better.

Jerome

==>Revealing.......2003-09-12

"Inside the Minds" is one of the most informative books I've read about investment banking aside from my Corporate Finance textbooks. The question and answer interview format made the text highly readable. Answers were filled less with managerial jargon and more with nuts-to-bolts advice on how to be a successful banker. Many of the books I've found about banking are either about how to get into the business or about deal mechanics. "Inside" focuses on what personal values help one succeed as a banker, and how to ensure longevity in the industry. "Inside the Minds" is similar to "Market Wizards," by Jack Schwager, only it's about banking (not trading). Both were entirely fascinating, and I'm still looking for more books like them.

First Hand Look at Investment Banking.......2003-07-30

This is a great book on the "insider" world of investment banking - applicable for both current and aspiring investment bankers, seasoned veterans, and anyone interested in how investment bankers operate. Having been in banking for 10 years at a tier 1 investment banking firm, this is the first insider account of investment banking I have read. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in investment banking.

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