Sudeley Castle: Royalty, Romance and Renaissance by James Parry and Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe (Review #49)

Sudeley Castle: Royalty, Romance and Renaissance by James Parry and Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe

Blurb

Set in the beautiful Gloucestershire Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle exemplifies popular perceptions of the romantic English country house. The final resting place of King Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, it is partly castellated and its centuries-old ruins are festooned with roses. This book, the first comprehensive publication about this remarkable castle, traces over 1,000 years of illustrious history from the time of King Aethelred the Unready through the castle’s Tudor heyday and its subsequent decline and fall, before its dramatic rescue during the second half of the 19th century by the Dent-Brocklehurst family, whose descendants still live there. Sudeley’s architectural heritage, art and gardens are all described and illustrated by historical material as well as stunning new photography.

Review

I went to visit Sudeley Castle during half term and absolutely loved it so I was very pleased to see they had a new book out.

The book is mainly the history of the castle right from before it was a castle to present day and it is interspersed with memories from Lady Ashcombe. The castle has a fascinating history and I love the Tudor connections. I also love how the book doesn’t hide the more grizzly history of the castle. The castle’s story during the Civil War is rather brutal.

The memories Lady Ashcombe shares are wonderful and really give an insight into the castle as a family home as well as a tourist attraction. I particularly like the stories of the pranks that Lady Ashcombe’s children pulled on the visitors when they were young.

The book isn’t long at only 160 pages and contains some wonderful pictures of the castle, maps from history and treasures from inside the castle as well as images of the people who have lived in the castle. It is a perfect coffee table book.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The history chosen to feature in the book is well thought out and well written and is perfectly paired with the relevant photos. I will definitely be revisiting this book as well as the castle. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the authors

James Parry

James Parry is a Norfolk-based writer and consultant. After training as a conservation officer with English Heritage, he joined the British Council, working in East Africa and the Middle East before returning to the UK to study for a Masters in Architecture. He was then appointed by the National Trust as its academic editor, and was responsible for developing a specialist art and architecture publishing programme. He now writes on art, heritage, natural history and conservation for a wide range of publications and takes a particular interest in the Islamic world.

Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe

Living in Sudeley Castle for over 50 years, making her the longest residing Chatelaine to date, Lady Ashcombe is responsible for opening Sudeley to the public in 1970 and continuing to ensure its success and intrigue to this day. Lady Ashcombe and her family are committed to the continued preservation of the castle, its treasures and the ongoing restoration and regeneration of the gardens, for future generations of visitors to enjoy.

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Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle (Review #48)

Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle

Blurb

Cats were illustrated in medieval manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages, often in exquisite detail and frequently accompanied by their natural prey, mice. Medieval cats were viewed as treasured pets, as fearsome mousers, as canny characters in fables, as associates of the Devil, and as magical creatures. Featuring an array of fascinating illustrations from the British Library’s rich medieval collection, Cats in Medieval Manuscripts includes anecdotes about cats—both real and imaginary—to provide a fascinating picture of the life of the cat and its relationship with humans during the Medieval period. A great gift for all cat-lovers.

Review

I have been after this book for so long ever since I read Dogs in Medieval Manuscripts a few years ago. However, I couldn’t seem to get a copy but my wonderful husband managed to find me a copy for my birthday.

Just like the dog version of this book I was not disappointed. Each two page spread in the book contains beautiful examples and fascinating facts. I couldn’t believe some of the facts about cats living or trying to survive in medieval times. Cats in Medieval times were not safe and life was definitely not easy for them unless they found a loving home and were kept safe.

I loved the variety of images in this book and the fact that you can just dip in and out of this book and not have to read it from cover to cover. You aren’t bombarded with information and the information you do get is told simply and succinctly.

This little book is a perfect gift for cat lovers and will also look fab on your coffee table. I give this book a big 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Kathleen Walker-Meikle completed her PhD at University College, London on late-medieval pet keeping. She researches and writes on medieval and early modern animals and medicine.

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The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Review #46)

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Blurb

They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun, and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis—neighbours call her the Witch of Oldhouse—and the haphazard manifestations of her powers make her the subject of malicious gossip.

When entertainer Hector Auvray arrives to town, Nina is dazzled. A telekinetic like her, he has traveled the world performing his talents for admiring audiences. He sees Nina not as a witch, but ripe with potential to master her power under his tutelage. With Hector’s help, Nina’s talent blossoms, as does her love for him.

But great romances are for fairytales, and Hector is hiding a truth from Nina—and himself—that threatens to end their courtship before it truly begins. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.

Review

This book is easily my favourite read of the year so far. I could not put it down and loved every page. It just made me so happy!

This is my second Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel and it won’t be my last. The book is so beautifully written. This character driven historical romantic drama also has a telekinetic twist. It really had quite a Jane Austen feel for me which is probably another reason for my love of the book.

Nina is an unusual girl who loves beetles and insects and not the usual things that a high society girl of her age is considered. She also has something else which hampers her progress in the Grand Season and that is her telekinetic abilities. These abilities have led her to gain the nickname the Witch of Oldhouse by people in her local village and it is not a nice nickname. Nina is spending the season with her cousin and his wife and things are not going well. However, things begin to change when Nina meets Hector. Hector is like Nina and has powerful telekinetic abilities but he has spent his life showing them off whilst performing on stage whilst poor Nina has been trying to hide her abilities.

This book is full of old world traditions and opinions and these are most prominent in Valerie. I really didn’t like Valerie, she is cold and calculating and loves nobody but herself. She lives to make people suffer and because she is from an old family of a good name she believes she has the right to get her own way no matter what the consequences.

This book is atmospheric, entertaining and very engaging. It is packed full of glamour, love, expectations, hypocrisy of society and gender inequality. The book is beautifully written and has such fantastic characters that I really didn’t want to leave behind. I loved this book and give it 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.

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Goodby Mr Chips by James Hilton (Review #45)

Goodbye Mr Chips by James Hilton

Blurb

Mr Chipping, known fondly to his students as Mr Chips, is the beloved Latin master at a quiet boy’s school. For forty-three years he acts as the heart and the soul of his institution, proving that dedication, love and good sense of humour can make all the difference to generations of children.

The classic story of a quiet, unassuming man and the many lives he touches, Goodbye Mr Chips has sold over two million copies and has never been out of print.

Review

Oh what a beautiful little book!

I picked up this book whilst in Cheltenham and thought this will be a nice quick read. My husband has seen the film but I’ve never seen it so had no idea what the story would be like. Thankfully, I was not disappointed.

I could have easily read this book in one sitting but because of work and sleep I read it over two days. The story is focused on Mr Chipping, who is affectionately known as Mr Chips. Mr Chips is the Latin master at an all boys school but becomes so much more than just a teacher to everyone at the school.

This little book is all about a very quiet man who doesn’t seem to make a big impression on the world but who in his own small way touches so many lives in a big way. Mr Chips is a man that so many people treasure and remember and so many still want to meet.

This beautiful book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me ponder and so much more. For such a small book it certainly packs a punch and I must admit I would have loved it to be longer and sometimes more detailed. I would have loved to have learned more about certain times in Mr Chips’ life but sadly it was not to be and I was left to imagine instead.

I loved this book and will happily read it again and again. It gives you a perfect little snippet of England between the World Wars and the time before WWI. I happily give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

James Hilton (1900–1954) was a bestselling English novelist and Academy Award–winning screenwriter. After attending Cambridge University, Hilton worked as a journalist until the success of his novels Lost Horizon (1933) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1934) launched his career as a celebrated author. Hilton’s writing is known for its depiction of English life between the two world wars, its celebration of English character, and its honest portrayal of life in the early twentieth century.

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Puss in Books by Paul Magrs (Review #44)

Puss in Books: Our best-loved writers on their best-loved cats by Paul Magrs

Blurb

A charming collection of quotes about cats from our favourite authors, accompanied by artwork in the trademark style of Paul Magrs (author of The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy ). ‘I love them, they are so nice and selfish’ – L.M. Montgomery This collection of quotes from the literary greats explores just why cats have fascinated, mesmerised and often infuriated writers for centuries. Celebrating the mystery of these daydreaming, snarky, selfish, watchful, contemplative and changeable creatures, Puss in Books helps cat and book lovers to understand these beings who have intrigued great thinkers and writers since the dawn of time. Quotes ‘Time spent with a cat is never wasted’ – Colette ‘Those who play with cats must expect to get scratched’ – Miguel de Cervantes ‘If cats could write history, their history would be mostly about cats’ – Eugen Weber

Review

I will be honest when I bought this book I thought it was going to be more about particular writers and their cats but instead it is just quotes from writers about cats. Each quote is accompanied by a lovely picture of a cat which has been drawn by Magrs.

This little book only took me 20 minutes to read because it is mainly cat pictures and not much to read but it is a book that I will happily go back to especially if I need a cat related quote.

The highlight for me with this book was the beautiful drawings of cats and I loved seeing how Magrs has captured each cat’s character. The quotes were also well chosen.

The thing that let the book down for me and this entirely down to my preferences was that I didn’t like the font that the quotes were written in. I know it is handwriting but I found it hard to read and the quote that was upside down really annoyed me. I suspect the upside down quote was to represent the nature of cats but when you are trying to read a book it is rather annoying to suddenly have to turn the book upside down.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will happily read it again. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Paul Magrs (1969) is an English writer and lecturer who owns two cats called Fester and Bernard and lives in Manchester.

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The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse (Review #41)

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse

Blurb

Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father’s bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou’s help if he is to get out of La Cité alive. Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle-lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further. Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power.

Review

This book was a holiday read for me so the review is rather late. Hopefully, I am starting to catch up with them now though. I really like Kate Mosse’s work so I was very excited to start reading this series.

I was really excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. The only problem I had with the book was I found the narrative a little bitty and at times this made the book drag. It didn’t feel like Kate Mosse’s usual flow of narrative.

This historical fiction novel was packed with adventure, mystery, conflict and some romance. Mosse takes us back to France’s Wars on religion the fighting between the Catholic Church and the Huguenots. The story is set in Languedoc in 1562, in Carcassonne. Minou Joubert is the main character of this book and when she receives an anonymous letter saying ‘She knows that you live’ her life is about to be turned upside down.

When Minou meets a Huguenot convert called Piet Reydon who needs her help to leave La Cite they find themselves drawn to each other in the most dangerous of circumstances. The story then begins to pick up pace and we are shown how family secrets can be hard to bear and the consequences of secrets.

As well as Minou’s story we also have the battle between the Catholics and Huguenot’s going on. Neighbour turns on neighbour and lives of innocents are caught in the middle. The story is fast paced and sets the scene for the time and location beautifully. I really enjoyed this book and the only thing that let it down was the bitty narrative. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Kate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.

Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.

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Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson (Review #40)

Kings and Queens by Tony Robinson

Blurb

The good, the bad and the mad – a lively text, accurate but full of fascinating detail and fun coupled with the outstanding innovative illustrations from some of the country’s most inventive illustrators. Kings and Queens have always provided their subjects with a great deal to talk about. But how much do we really know about them? For instance, who became king when he was only nine months old? Which king invented the handkerchief? Which king died on the toilet? And who is England’s longest reigning monarch?In this fascinating and witty look at kings and queens of England, Tony Robinson provides all the answers to these questions and many, many more.

Review

This book has been sat in a bag waiting to be read for quite a while and as I was having a particularly bad week I thought it looked like a book that would make me laugh and bring a smile to my face. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

Robinson’s brief history of the monarchy starts right at the beginning and goes all the way through to Elizabeth II and it is accompanied by some fun illustrations as well. The other thing I really enjoyed is the little facts you also get of what else was happening in history during certain kings’ and queens’ reigns. For example, when the sandwich was invented and when afternoon tea became popular. There were also serious facts such as when America was discovered and when the slave trade was abolished. I really enjoyed the mix of serious and fun facts though.

This mix of serious and fun facts was also included in the history of the monarchs. We get the serious facts and the bizarre facts which I have never come across. I know this book is aimed more at older children/teenagers but I think it was a joy to read and a great little resource to dip into when trying to remember which one of the Henry’s did what. There were a lot of kings named Henry!

You all know I have an obsession with the Tudor period but by reading this book I have discovered several monarchs I would love to learn more about and so I think this book has fuelled some further reading. Due to the nature of the book giving brief and interesting biographies of each monarch it means it can fuel you a hunger to know more and so further your love of history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but I must be honest it did come across that perhaps Robinson is not a fan of the modern day monarchy. Although he has since stated that he is now a monarchist after seeing Elizabeth II’s dedicated service. I think this is a great little book for children and adults and give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Sir Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, amateur historian, TV presenter, author and political activist. He is known for playing “Baldrick” in the BBC television series Blackadder and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History.

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The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods by Tom Holland (Review #39)

The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and the Gods by Tom Holland

Blurb

“The Persians are coming…” Hearing these words, Gorgo of Sparta is plunged into a dangerous world of vengeful gods and invincible heroes. For a mighty empire threatens Athens, Sparta and all who stand in its path… Calling on the ancient power to transform into a wolf and the blood of Zeus that runs through her veins, Gorgo must lead her nation in one of history’s greatest wars. Multi-award-winning author Tom Holland and acclaimed illustrator Jason Cockcroft boldly weave myth and history in this dramatic tale of Greeks and Gods.

Gripping and powerful, this extraordinary illustrated novel will be treasured by readers young and old. Ideal for fans of Percy Jackson, Neil Gaiman and Kevin Crossley-Holland, and the mythical retellings of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Stephen Fry, this is a book to be read again and again.

Review

I love the children’s section at Topping and Company Booksellers in Bath and I always go for an explore when I visit. When I went in the Summer I saw this book and knew I had to have it. I was also over the moon to see it was a signed edition although it was a shame Holland used the pen he chose to use as it bled through on to the next page which marked things quite badly.

This was my first Tom Holland book but Holland’s books have been on my TBR for quite a while. I have always loved the character of Gorgo from Spartan history as she always seems to be a strong woman and most likely another woman from history who had the strength and the brain to be a woman of power and might but sadly restricted due to her sex. At least she made enough impact for Herodotus to mention her and he said she was a wise woman.

Holland does depict Gorgo as a strong child and woman with a fierce heart with a very wise head on her shoulders. Her mother warns her that the Persians are coming and she is the only Spartan to believe it to begin with but she does find a Greek who also believes the same as she does. I like the fact that Holland depicts Gorgo as a trusted young girl and adult who is so trusted that her father the king includes her in the ruling of Sparta. Then her husband who becomes King of Sparta also shows trust in her judgement and counsel.

To be honest the whole wolf thing drove me mad. Yes there is the semi-mythical lawgiver Lycurgus who instituted reforms into Sparta when Sparta was at its weakest but his existence is doubted because his name is strongly associated with Apollo and most people believe Lycurgus is just a personification of Apollo. So I’m not entirely sure why Holland took it as far as he did because I just didn’t think it added to the story. However, I did really like the added element of the Gods taking part in the story.

The most important thing about this book is that Gorgo tells us about the heroics of the 300 Spartans who held the pass against the thousands of Persians for so long. That is the most important tale to be told and it is told well. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and really add to the story. However, I’m afraid the wolf element really let this book down for me so I only give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Tom Holland is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. He is the author of Rubicon: The Triumph and the Tragedy of the Roman Republic, which won the Hessell-Tiltman Prize for History and was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize; Persian Fire, his history of the Graeco-Persian wars, won the Anglo-Hellenic League’s Runciman Award in 2006. Tom Holland is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Making History” and acclaimed podcast “The Rest is History”. He has written and presented a number of TV documentaries, for the BBC and Channel 4, on subjects ranging from ISIS to dinosaurs. He served two years as the Chair of the Society of Authors and is Chair of the British Library’s PLR Advisory Committee.

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Fireworks by Angela Carter (Review #38)

Fireworks by Angela Carter

Blurb

In the short fiction of Angela Carter, the landmarks of reality disappear and give way to a landscape of riotous and uncensored sensibility. The city of Tokyo turns into a mirrored chamber reflecting the impossible longings of an exiled Englishwoman abandoned by her Japanese lover. An itinerant puppet show becomes a theatre of murderous lust. A walk through the forest ends in a nightmarish encounter with a gun-toting nymph and her hermaphrodite ‘aunt’. Not simply a book of tales, Fireworks is a headlong plunge into an alternate universe, the unique creation of one of the most fertile, dark, irreverent, and baroquely beautiful imaginations in contemporary fiction.

Review

I love the work of Angela Carter and during my teenage years I read quite a few of her books but nothing recently so when I saw this book of short stories I thought it was high time I read some more books by Carter.

I was really surprised by this book because it felt quite different to the books I have read previously by Carter. All the books I have read before are based on legends and fairytales but this contained scenes from real life as well as the fantasy.

I loved the descriptions of Japan in the stories although the story of the exiled Englishwoman in Japan gradually losing the interest of her young Japanese lover was a bit harrowing.

I will be honest The Loves of Lady Purple and The Executioner’s Daughter were rather disturbing and not to my liking. No matter how beautifully written they are, I still didn’t enjoy these two stories.

This Carter book of short stories definitely contained some of Carter’s favourite themes. There was theme of sex, especially the forbidden kind, puppetry and even a magic mirror. However, there was also fireworks, scenes of beautiful Japan and heartbreak. It was really nice to get back into reading Carter again and I will definitely be reading more of her books soon. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

Angela Olive Pearce (formerly Carter, nee Stalker) (1940-1992) published under the name Angela Carter. Carter was an English novelist , short story writer, poet and journalist, known for her feminist, magical realism and picaresque works.

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Tudor Children by Nicholas Orme (Review #37)

Tudor Children by Nicholas Orme

Blurb

The first history of childhood in Tudor England

What was it like to grow up in England under the Tudors? How were children cared for, what did they play with, and what dangers did they face?

In this beautifully illustrated and characteristically lively account, leading historian Nicholas Orme provides a rich survey of childhood in the period. Beginning with birth and infancy, he explores all aspects of children’s experiences, including the games they played, such as Blind Man’s Bluff and Mumble-the-Peg, and the songs they sang, such as “Three Blind Mice” and “Jack Boy, Ho Boy.” He shows how social status determined everything from the food children ate and the clothes they wore to the education they received and the work they undertook.

Although childhood and adolescence could be challenging and even hazardous, it was also, as Nicholas Orme shows, a treasured time of learning and development. By looking at the lives of Tudor children we can gain a richer understanding of the era as a whole.

Review

I am still going through my Tudor phase and I just can’t get enough of books about Tudor history. When I saw this book in the bookshop I knew I had to have it and read it. It did not disappoint.

Children are so often ignored in the history books especially poor children and this is no different in the Tudor period. Sadly, there are a lack of records for the poorer ranks of children but what information there is Orme has found it as well as the surviving information about the children of rich people. It is so refreshing to find a researcher who is concerned with children from history because even today researchers quite often go for the more glamorous subjects.

This book is such a good read and I could not put it down. The book is packed full of information but is not too academic or dry. I loved being able to see Orme’s character through his writing instead of just a list of events and dates. I also really enjoyed how the book is divided up into chapters that are important to the lives of children, such as play, school etc.

The other element of the book that I loved was the illustrations. Orme obviously put a lot of thought into what illustrations to use for his book and they all fitted perfectly and helped demonstrate his point. I also liked how they were in the text rather than in the middle of book. This meant I didn’t have to keep flicking backwards and forwards to see the relevant illustrations.

Overall, I loved this book and I enjoyed how Orme challenged the preconceptions that Tudor adults didn’t care very much for their children. I will definitely be reading more books by Orme in the future and I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones

About the author

A specialist in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, Nicholas Orme is an Emeritus Professor of History at Exeter University. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, and has worked as a visiting scholar at, among others, Merton College, Oxford, St John’s College, Oxford, and the University of Arizona.