Margaret of Anjou: Queenship and Power in Late Medieval England

Book Description

Margaret of Anjou was a vengeful and violent woman, or so we have been told, whose vindictive spirit fuelled the fifteenth-century dynastic conflict, the Wars of the Roses. In Shakespeare's rendering she becomes an adulterous queen who mocks her captive enemy, Richard, duke of York, before killing him in cold blood. Shakespeare's portrayal has proved to be remarkably resilient, because Margaret's queenship lends itself to such an assessment. In 1445, at the age of fifteen, she was married to the ineffectual Henry VI, a move expected to ensure peace with France and an heir to the throne. Eight years later, while she was in the later stages of her only pregnancy, Henry suffered a complete mental collapse that left him catatonic for roughly a year and a half: Margaret came to the political forefront. In the aftermath of the king's illness, she became an indefatigable leader of the Lancastrian loyalists in their struggle against their Yorkist opponents. Margaret's exercise of power was always fraught with difficulty: as a woman, her effective power was dependent upon her invocation of the authority of her husband or her son. Her enemies lost no opportunity to charge her with misconduct of all kinds. More than five hundred years after Margaret's death this examination of her life and career allows a more balanced and detached view.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent analysis of an active queen, beyond the biographical details.......2005-07-31

Married off at fifteen to the weak-minded and ineffectual Henry VI, Margaret -- daughter of the glittering Duke René of Anjou -- was one of the most powerful (and complex) personalities of the period called the "Wars of the Roses." Shakespeare's depiction of her as the "she-wolf of France" probably was closer to the truth than many of his characterizations. But in addition to explaining the details of her life, Maurer is interested in exploring the motivations that drive a woman placed in power by circumstances -- and she's careful to distinguish "power" from "authority," for Margaret's world depended on hierarchy and rank; public power wielded by a woman required subtlety, even in a queen. A first-rate, thoughtful analysis of the circumstances under which "queenship" becomes "kingship."

Analysis, not biography.......2003-11-05

First off, let me say that this book is not a biography of Margaret of Anjou (1492-1549). What this book is is a look at what it meant to be Queen of England in the Middle Ages, and how Margaret worked within and around the roles of woman and queen. The book defines the queen's prescribed roles as bringer of political advantages, impartial intercessor with the king, and bearer of an heir to the throne. The author shows that Margaret was careful to live up to these roles, to the best of her ability, and only found herself forced out of them by the power politics surrounding her husband's incapacity and the subsequent War of the Roses.

Overall, I found this to be a good book, but not a great one. The author does not give any unnecessary background on any of the people she discusses, and indeed the academic analysis nature of the book gives it a choppy, uneven feel. The lack of background means that you *must* be familiar with the history of Margaret of Anjou, or you will quickly find yourself lost amid the analysis. Also, as this work is written as a scholarly analysis, it is very dry and makes poor bedtime reading.

Book Description

1871. Margaret of Anjou was a heroine; not a heroine of romance and fiction, but of stern and terrible reality. Her life was a series of military exploits, attended with dangers, privations, sufferings, and wonderful vicissitudes of fortune, scarcely to be paralleled in the whole history of mankind. Contents: The Houses of York and Lancaster; Manners and Customs of the Time; King Henry VI; Margaret's Father and Mother; Royal Courtship; The Wedding; Reception in England; The Story of Lady Neville; Plottings; The Fall of Gloucester; The Fall of Suffolk; Birth of a Prince; Illness of the King; Anxiety and Trouble; Margaret A Fugitive; Margaret Triumphant; Margaret in Exile; A Royal Cousin; Return to England; Years of Exile; The Reconciliation with Warwick; Bitter Disappointment; and Childless, and a Widow. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. Due to the age and scarcity of the original we reproduced, some pages may be spotty, faded or difficult to read.

Customer Reviews:

Jacob Abbott's Margaret.......2006-08-27

Like Agnes Strickland's Queens of England, Abbott's history is outdated given all the new information and research that has been done since the original date of publication. For instance, there is now irrefutable evidence that Margaret was in Anjou from the years 1434-1442 with her grandmother, Yolande of Aragon. There are many other instances of this throughout the book.
Secondly, Abbott spends a lot of time trying to give background on the times and places that Margaret lives that, while entertaining, have nothing to do with her and for a rather slim volume, take away from the account of her life. The chapter on Lady Neville comes to mind, especially as the chronology of it is not clear and he admits before he begins that is most likey fiction (it is).
However, for anyone who loves the wars of the roses and Margaret of Anjou, this is a lovely addition and it's interesting to read history as it was written in the 19th century.

Lady of the Roses: A Novel of the Wars of the Roses

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Lady of the Roses: A Novel of the Wars of the Roses
Sandra Worth
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425219143
Release Date: 2008-01-02

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Margaret of Anjou: Queen of England
Phillipe Erlanger
Manufacturer: Univ of Miami Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

At the approach of his 50th birthday, sports and outdoors writer Geoffrey Norman decided to pursue a dream that had quietly obsessed him for years: to summit the 13,770-foot Grand Teton in Wyoming. Little did he suspect, when he announced his plans to his family, that his 15-year-old daughter, Brooke, would ask to make the climb too. Two for the Summit: My Daughter, the Mountains, and Me documents what happened when Norman realized that "the notion of the solitary climb to celebrate my fiftieth birthday was narcissistic, self-indulgent crap" and decided to attack the mountain with his daughter. It is the story of the two novices' toughest two climbs: Grand Teton, and (a few years later) 23,000-foot Aconcagua in the Andes, one of the seven tallest mountains in the world.

Like most books in this genre, Two for the Summit is about adventure and taking risks, although in this case, Norman forgoes the usual adrenaline-and-disaster-driven narrative for a deeply personal and moving account of how climbing helped to teach him what it means to be a good father. There are moments (on Grand Teton for Brooke, on Aconcagua for Norman) when each reaches the limits of endurance, yet what moves this book along is the small epiphanies that accompany the hard work of building trust: "It occurred to me that if nothing else came from this climb and we never got close to the summit, this evening would be something I'd always be grateful for." --Svenja Soldovieri

Book Description

For his fiftieth birthday, Geoffrey Norman wanted to trek up Wyoming's 14,000-foot Grand Teton. When his fifteen-year-old daughter, Brooke, volunteered to join him, his midlife dream became their adventure of a lifetime. After conquering the first mountain, father and daughter set their sights on Aconcagua, one of the highest peaks in the world.

John Rasmus of National Geographic calls Two for the Summit "an adventure of the heart"; and Asa Baber of Playboy hails it as "one of the deepest and finest books of the year." Geoffrey Norman takes readers on a journey into the synergistic worlds of mountain-climbing and fatherhood, exploring both the mystical and powerful bond between fathers and daughters and the demands of climbing mountains. With warmth, candor, and insight, Norman illuminates these twin challenges and their shared required skills-courage, teamwork, and trust. It is a "handsomely written memoir of parenthood and a powerful testament of personal love" (James Dodson, author of Final Rounds and Faithful Travelers).

Customer Reviews:

Heart-warming Story about Father and Daughter who Climb.......2002-09-26

Geoffrey Norman, This heartwarming book is about the author's experience mountain climbing with his daughter, Brooke. First, they climb the Grand Teton in Wyoming, which Geoffrey gives himself as a present for his 50th birthday. Climbing together becomes an activity that bonds them together as Brooke goes through adolescence and Geoffrey goes through the midlife passage. Norman, a writer for Outside Magazine, shares both his physical and psychological feelings with the reader. He also describes the climbing culture and gives us armchair adventurers a better idea of why people risk their lives for recreation. The book makes you feel like he is sitting down and telling you a story.

Life, Mountains, and Kids.......2001-12-17

This is a very good book by an editor approaching 50 who decides a mountain climb is just what he needs to prove he's not over the hill. This gets more complicated when his 15 year old daughter decides she'd like to give it a try. Now in addition to his own insecurities, he must confront his relationship with his daughter as she moves to the age where she starts to separate from her parents but also must address the many insecurities that come with growing up. If you are buying this book for a climbing adventure only, this is the wrong book. But if you want detailed climbing info from beginner to the ascent of a continental summit, maybe this will satisfy you.

This book really shines describing his family relationships and watching his young daughter grow into an independent woman. Read this book if you climb or like climbing stories. But more importantly read this book to explore interpersonal relationships with your kids.

Wonderfully Refreshing and Real.......2001-10-30

Certainly not just another climbing book. Geoffrey Norman paints the human faces with the fine touch of an artist. "Two for the Summit" was one of the most delightful books I've read in a long time. It gently probes the relationship between parent and child as each grows wiser and richer through their shared experiences on the mountain. An interesting and gripping book about real people striving for the highest points in life.

The question "Why do we climb?" has been answered with as many different twists as it has been asked. However, I suspect most of us that climb do it to look inward as much as we do to see the beauty from the summit. Norman shares his personal glimpses of life with family and mountain in a wonderfully refreshing way.

From the perspective of an independent daughter.......2001-06-26

When one picks up a book about mountain climbing, one expects it to emphasize thrill and adventure...In many ways, Norman's book is about thrills and adventure, but they have less to do with the climbing (which Norman does explain in fresh and exciting ways making the reader want to run out and find a huge rock to play on) and more to do with the adventure of loving a daughter, a family, and yourself...I bought this book in a book store before getting onto a plane-- four hours and 1000 miles later I had finished it. It initially appealled to me because it was about climbing, a sport that I am interested in (though still quite a novice), and about the relationship between a father and a daughter from the father's perspective--something which, as a daughter who adores her daddy, interested me very much.

What I found in the book was the simple truth that while we can learn and even begin to master new skills, we will always be negotiating and defining our relationships. Some of the most poignant moments in the book are when Norman expresses his own self-doubts as a climber, feeling limited by aging, and as a father, feeling inadequate to teach anything to his daughters as they become adult women.

Also, as someone interested in climbing, the book did provide me with some direction as to where to look to find out more about climbing and climbers. There are many interesting and fascinating characters that Norman and his daughter, Brooke, meet as they enter the climbing world together, and their stories add much of the humor that can be found in the book. Also, as this is nonfiction, all of the name-dropping will encourage would-be climbers to do some more research and get to know this sport a little better.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in climbing and/or arm-chair adventures, but I would also recommend this book to any father who wants reassurance that there are ways to connect with his daughter(s) in a meaningful way and to any daughter who needs to know what her dad is thinking and feeling as he watches her grow up.

a great addition to the adventure genre.......2001-06-07

I like this book for many reasons, one of which is that it didn't try to mindlessly replicate Into Thin Air as many adventure books have done. Instead, Norman remains very self-deprecating about his own climbing abilities while he focuses instead on his relationships with his daughter. He didn't smooth over the rough edges in family dynamics which I also found appealing. In short, by avoiding adventure cliches, he gives us an exciting account of the thrill of rock climbing, some great climbing stories and some very heartwarming insights into the relationship between fathers and daughters. This book was extremely well written and is a quick read. Congratulations to Norman who avoided all the pitfalls of the genre. His book is unique in the field and gratifying on many levels.

Book Description

Italian films of the post-World War II period showed an extraordinary power and originality that sets them apart from others in the history of Italian cinema. In this book, P. Adams Sitney combines new interpretations of many of these films with original research into the intellectual milieu in which they were made in order to explain them as reflections of Italian national life during moments of vital self-definition. The films Sitney analyzes were made during the years 1945-1950 and 1958-1963. Taking six films from the first period and nine from the second, he focuses on three interrelated aspects: the ways in which they refer, directly or obliquely, to the social and political issues of their times; their relationships to contemporary currents in Italian literature; and their elaborations of a traditional iconography to which they actively contribute. Rossellini, Visconti, De Sica, Zavattini, Antonioni, Pasolini, Olmi, and Rosi are among the directors whose work he discusses. The films include Paisá, La terra trema, La dolce vita, and Il deserto rosso.

Vital Crises in Italian Cinema: Iconography, Stylistics, Politics. (book reviews): An article from: Cineaste

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Vital Crises in Italian Cinema: Iconography, Stylistics, Politics. (book reviews): An article from: Cineaste
Gilberto Perez
Manufacturer: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00093SZUU
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on September 22, 1995. The length of the article is 2409 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Vital Crises in Italian Cinema: Iconography, Stylistics, Politics. (book reviews)
Author: Gilberto Perez
Publication: Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 1995
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: v21 Issue: n4 Page: p54(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Classic, enjoyable read on modernity.......2006-09-24

I first bought this book on a whim during my political science college days, but found great enjoyment and lasting insights. It's been a regular re-read on my shelf for the last 15 years. Most of all, the book unveils the themes of innovation, turmoil and renewal that are the hallmark of the last few hundred years. I came to realize, reading Berman's reviews of Marx', Goethe's and others writing that we have become so embedded in constantly changing times that we have accepted all its characteristics without question. I now think much more carefully about what precepts of being 'busy', acquiring luxury items, altering my personality for business/social situations, etc are worthwhile. ...OK, this sounds too deep for many but the book is written with inspiration, is enjoyable and gives people something important to think about.

Big waste of money.......2006-08-28

Is book is basically a compilation of other peoples writings with bits of the authors commentary sandwitched between them. Little to no insight. If you want to learn about modernity this book is not for you. If you've already read the work by the other authors this book sites, then purchasing and reading this book will be a waste of money and time for you. I recommend going to a library and picking up this book if you can. Because when I was reading this book I was like "damn what a waste of money". Well anyway, its not a stand alone book, rather it is supported by the works of other authors and if youre not familiar with their work then you sure wont understand the conclusion the author makes. Those other authors are old school sociologists whose literature is a mix of sociology, creative story telling, philosophy, and social commentary. From a more modern sociological standpoint, I really do not have the tolerance for it, but even if you do if this is the first book you plan to read about the subject of modernity then youre wasting you time.

Astonished.......2006-03-15

I have known the book by reputation in several texts of urban sociology. The book, however, is much more than most writers have implied. The profound knowledge of Berman about European cultural history is admirable and helpful for getting a deeper understanding of the development of ideas of modern.

One of the best I've read.......2004-09-10

I read this book a long time ago in college for a lit crit class. While admittedly I don't recall much detail of it, I do remember that it was one of few books I read in that class and many other lit crit classes that was lucid, cogent and clear in its argument and analysis. As a testament to its merit, it has remained on my bookshelf after all the others have been sold off to used bookstores. Moreover, it gave me one of the key insights about modernity that have remained with me to this day, and which has been useful in understanding why certain anti-modern societies resist modernization and why our contemporary society is so schizophrenic. That insight is that no tradition, which inherently protects realms of privilege, can be maintained in the face of the onslaught of the profit-driven motive underlying capitalism, which will always seek out new markets to exploit, such as the unexploited market as protected by tradition.

Who says Modernity is dead?.......2001-02-05

When one picks up this book, as we do with all books, we ask: What is this book REALLY about? Among the choice subjects he includes Goethe's Faust, the vibrance of city streets, Marx and Engels in the examination of The Communist Manifesto (treated as a literary piece), the enigmatic Crystal Palace, Baudelaire, the Czars, Nietzsche and the whole hearted destruction of the inner cities such as the Bronx. It is a sort of eclectic mix that both confuses and informs. There are however a few glitches.... Berman, devotes much space to Czarist Russia as a case of 'modernism with underdevelopment' and somehow reduces the Soviet Regime as 'despotic, inquisitorial' and other such reductions to the point of contradicting his thesis of creative modernity. Maybe there is some comparison that can be drawn within the framework of this analysis to put Robert Moses and Stalin as figures of great destruction as opposed to builders of grand empires. In the end, all that is solid melts into air, and we are left more cultured. For those of us who have been dropped into (much to our confusion) into a deliberately cryptic and confusing postmodern world, this piece a vibrant introduction to modernity and should be used as a prime mover for much discussion of the troubles and wonders of modernity.

Miguel Llora

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All That Is Solid Melts into the Air: The Experience of Modernity
Marshall Berman
Manufacturer: Peter Smith Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Philosophy | Theology | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0844666815

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All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: the Experience of Modernity
Marshall Berman
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7AH4E

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All That Is Solid Melts into Air (The Experience of Modernity)
Marshall Berman
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ27QW

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All that is solid melts into air. the experience of modernity

Manufacturer: VErso
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H5XATG

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All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity.
Marshall BERMAN
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NKBVGO

Book Description

Can't hold two cards in your hand without dropping them--much less handle a deck? Then here's your magic book of tricks! Using methods subtle enough to fool anyone, even the clumsiest would-be magicians can put on a stylish show. Simple, casual cuts create confusion for the spectator, and your chatter will distract them while you sneak a peek. Sometimes you'll do the dirty work behind your back (an easy thumb-flip of the pack). Your skills will astound everyone!

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Primer.......2007-08-29

Like a company that excells in its own segment of a niche market, so too does Fehrebacher's first book. Written after many years in various financial markets, the author saw a glut of activity and education in the area of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) but little which dealt with more conservative concerns, vis a vis abortion, pornography, alcohol & tobacco, and gambling. "Put Your Money Where Your Morals Are" was his solution.

While it caters to the above mentioned issues, the book does discuss what is available from the other side, as well as how they fall short of what they proclaim, particularly for a large part of their target audience. Fehrenbacher is unapologetic of the stands he takes, stands he believes are important and timely for conservative Christians. Ironically enough, he also challenges several (erroneous) beliefs that right-leaning Believers often have: the effectiveness of boycotts and the existence of virtuous companies, among others.

All in all, the book is clearly written, well-researched and documented, and full of useful information for those wanting to know more about screening their investments to match their values.

On a side note, I gave it four stars as the information regarding the holdings for various funds is now almost six years old and likely outdated. Though this is an issue of print media, it still unfortunately applies to this book. Otherwise, it would have received 5.

Put Your Money Where Your Morals Are .......2005-09-20

~Put Your Money Where Your Morals Are: A Guide to Values-Based Investing~ is a succinct, informative and practical guide for the conservative investor. Scott Fehrenbacher offers strategies for investors to put their money where their morals are. So, as an investor what exactly are you investing in? Are you investing in companies that promote homosexual interests while pandering to gay community by offering benefits for same-sex couples? Are you investing in mass-media and entertainment? Does your investment profit from pornographic or violent entertainment? Surprisingly, an investment in the Disney corporation means that an investor is essentially subsidizing and profiting from pornographical programming. The News Corporation that owns the ostensibly conservative Fox News Channel owned one of the lucrative pay-per-view porn venues in the United States. These facts alone should suffice to get your attention and make you think twice about where you put your money. How about your biotechnology, medical instruments and pharmaceutical investments? No conservative Christian wants to invest in companies that profits from embroynic stem cell research or producing abortion pills and surgical tools. Fehrenbacher reminds the reader not only of companies to avoid, but also lists some companies to consider. Recognizing that he cannot spell out every investment, he has developed an astute, but easily discernable criteria for choosing investments. This is definitely a most excellent guide to values-based investing, so that the street investor can put their money where their morals are.

The Christian Right's guide to investing.......2005-05-17

If you are a conservative Christian looking to avoid companies that support Planned Parenthood and give health insurance to the domestic partners of employees, this is the book for you. If you are non-Christian, or like me a liberal Christian, this is a book that should be avoided.

The book is aimed only at Christians with repeated Biblical passages and quotes from Christian regions figures. The book defines Christian values by only 4 things: no supporting abortion, pornography, violent movies and video games or acceptance of homosexuality. For example, the book states that American Express should be avoided because it provides benefits to homosexual partners of employees and has a company diversity program that advocates tolerance. JP Morgan should be avoided because they have donated money to Planned Parenthood.

Apparently the author thinks that "Christians" should not concern themselves with such issues as if companies provide living wages, if they pollute the environment or if they support repressive regimes. As a Christian I find the book extremely offensive in its narrow-minded, intolerant definition of "Christian values". If you want to use your investments to make a difference, get a book about socially responsible investing, green investing or spiritual investing. Following the advice of this book only perpetuates intolerance and Pharisee-like self-righteousness.

Put your money where your morals are.......2002-01-05

This is a great book. As in investment advisor my clients have often asked me whether or not their investments agreed with their beliefs. In the past I had to tell them that there was no way to tell. Scott has, in this book, given me the tools to answer their questions. He has helped to better invest my client's money where their morals are. He writes with a lot of experience and concern about where money is invested without being extremist or eccentric. He writes in a way that is down to earth that anyone can understand. I recommend that anyone who has concerns about where their money is being invested read this book. I will use it as a reference for years to come.

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