British stage idol Fanny Kemble (1809-93) married a wealthy American slave-owner in 1834. Although the marriage turned out disastrously, it provided a bonanza for historians. No shrinking violet and a prolific writer, Fanny wrote profusely on slavery, America, and women's issues till her death.

The Kembles were England's leading theatrical family. Sarah Siddons was her aunt, but Fanny became equally celebrated. Despite this, her family were chronically in debt, and the American tour was one of innumerable unsuccessful efforts to make money. Soon after arriving she fell in love with Pierce Butler, a Georgia plantation owner, who made her stop working after they married. She quickly regretted her decision, but there was little a woman could do in that era. When Butler moved to his plantation, Fanny encountered slavery first hand and did not like what she saw. She complained bitterly and protested the slaves' treatment. Worse, she outraged her husband and the neighbors by expressing her opinions in print and in the north. Perhaps her most impressive accomplishment was getting a divorce, a nearly impossible feat in the nineteenth century. It took fifteen years. Except for public readings she never acted again, but her personality and writing sustained her celebrity until the end of the century.

Like many nineteenth century figures, Kemble seemed to spend half her day writing. She kept a journal, sent and received a torrent of letters, published a dozen books and scores of articles and essays. Catherine Clinton, Professor of History at Baruch College (The Plantation Mistress, 1982) has obviously read it all and transformed it into an entertaining account of one of the most colorful women of her time.

I checked this book out from the library and read it the week prior to our family's vacation to Charleston, SC. I found it very informative and I enjoyed recognizing the names of families, towns and historical landmarks mentioned in the book, especially St. Simon's Island, which I enjoyed reading about in Eugenia Price's series of books on that particular area. I have a great interest in women's experiences, pre and post-civil war, and would not think twice about adding this book to my ever-growing collection of that era.

A combination of excellent writting and the fascinating subject -Fanny Kemble - make this a book you'll find difficult to put down. After reading this book, I, too, long to know more about this charismatic woman. Regardless of whether or not your interests lie in learning more about women during the Civil War, Fanny Kemble's life and times is a thoroughly compelling story.

I originally saw Catherine Clinton on C-Span Book TV (yes, I admit I do watch it! LOL). Her enthusiasm regarding Fanny Kemble was clearly evident and the book does not disappoint. I do want to point out that I've chosen to read Clinton's book before I've read the journals which she edited.

With respect to Fanny Kemble, I find her to be a study in contrast. On the one hand she craved independence of thought and financial means yet she appears to have despised the very things that would bring her either independence, financial security or both. For example, she clearly was an excellent performer - something which would have allowed her independence of both thought and financial security - yet it appears she in many instances indicates she disliked performing.

After reading Catherine Clinton's book, I can't help but wonder what the literary world lost when she married Pierce Butler. Would we have another Jane Austen if she had remained unmarried or if she had a supportive or better match for a husband? Unfortunately, we're only left to guess.

This book about Henry VIII's first wife left me wanting more. (Luckily, Mary Luke had other books about Tudor England.) Catherine's life is amazing, and anyone interested in the history of the English Reformation needs to know about her. READ THIS BOOK!

This tells the story of Charles II in Restoration England; seen through the eyes of his wife, Queen Catherine of Braganza and Barbara Villiers, his greedy and sensual mistress.

Mr. and Ms. Guinness' massive biographical study of their family is tremendously interesting to any devoted reader of the Mitfords. However, their attempts to rehabilitate the legacy of unrepentant fascists Diana (Guinesses' mother--so it's an understandable lapse) and Unity are nearly comical in their reach. They go to great lengths to discredit those who've criticized Unity and Diana's reprehensible involvement in and enthusiasm for Hitler and his British minions, including of course Diana's husband, Mosley; rather than adequately contextualize Diana and Unit's fervor, these attempts serve only to make themselves appear as familial apologists.

As scholars, the father-and-daughter biographers are lacking in appropriate perspective and historical context; however, the "insider" information they impart makes the book a veritable treasure chest of Mitfordiana.

I've had this cookbook for several years now, and have made many of the dishes inside it. All have been easy (simple, actually) to make and most have been tasty. There are sections on soup, salads, entrees, etc. Each recipe has a picture, which is important to me. It probably only contains about 80 recipes or so, split into about 5 categories (soup, salad, etc), so it's not all-encompassing. But I would recommend it to anyone.

Jean Plaidy, also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt, was a prolific writer of historical fiction. In this, her ninth volume in her "Queens of England" series of books, she relates the first person narrative of a little known Queen, Catherine of Braganza, who married Charles II of England. Together, they led England during the restoration of the monarchy, after the death of Oliver Cromwell saw the end of Puritan rule in England.

The marriage of Catherine of Braganza, who was from Portugal, to the newly restored King of England, Charles II, was a purely political alliance. Catherine was the daughter of King Juan IV of Portugal, who had previously been known as the Duke of Braganza, a vassal of Spain, as Spain had invaded Portugal in his father's time. When Catherine was five, after sixty years under Spanish rule, her father drove out the Spaniards and assumed his rightful role. His rule was a tenuous one, however, as the only foreign countries who recognized Juan IV as King of Portugal were France and England, who were enemies of Spain, at the time. The Pope, however, under the thumb of the Spaniards, did not, and other countries followed suit.

When Catherine, the Infanta of Portugal, was about eighteen years of age, her father died, leaving her mother, Donna Luiza, Queen Regent, of Portugal, as her brother, Alfonso, was only thirteen years old. Shortly thereafter, in the year 1658, Cromwell died, and within two years, Charles II of England was restored to his throne. Donna Luiza sought the marriage of her daughter, Catherine, to Charles II, as a way of being able to shore up her defenses against the ever pervasive threat of Spanish subjugation. By the time Catherine was twenty two, she was married to the thirty year old King of England.

Catherine was a Catholic Queen in a Protestant England that had never forgotten the cruelties of their last Catholic ruler, Mary Tudor, also known as "Blody Mary", for her excesses againt those of the Protestant faith. Consequently, the English were cool in their reception of Catherine. Moreover, she was married to a King who was a natural philanderer and whose amorous escapades with the beautiful, though notorious, Lady Castlemaine, as well as with the cockney actress, Nell Gwynne, among others, would cause her much heartache.

When Catherine failed to produce an heir, and it became clear that she was barren, there was much political intrigue in hopes that Charles II would divorce her and marry someone with whom he could beget an heir. That the King was capable of doing so was evident from the number of children he begat with his mistresses. Still, this merry monarch, much beloved by his people who viewed his amorous escapes with amusement, refused to discard his faithful and loyal wife, despite the fact that the public reviled her.

The author weaves a compelling, first person narrative of a Queen whose personal travails are little known. Against a backdrop of historical events, political intrigues, and well known personages, her story artfully unfolds, capturing the imagination of the reader. Hers is a story all too familiar. It is the story of a young noblewoman whose personal happines is subjugated to matters of state. Well written, it is a somewhat romaticized account of a life lived in the shadow of political expediency, and its pathos will keep the reader turning the pages.

Jean Plaidy, also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt, was a prolific writer of historical fiction. In this, her ninth volume in her "Queens of England" series of books, she relates the first person narrative of a little known Queen, Catherine of Braganza, who married Charles II of England. Together, they led England during the restoration of the monarchy, after the death of Oliver Cromwell saw the end of Puritan rule in England.

The marriage of Catherine of Braganza, who was from Portugal, to the newly restored King of England, Charles II, was a purely political alliance. Catherine was the daughter of King Juan IV of Portugal, who had previously been known as the Duke of Braganza, a vassal of Spain, as Spain had invaded Portugal in his father's time. When Catherine was five, after sixty years under Spanish rule, her father drove out the Spaniards and assumed his rightful role. His rule was a tenuous one, however, as the only foreign countries who recognized Juan IV as King of Portugal were France and England, who were enemies of Spain, at the time. The Pope, however, under the thumb of the Spaniards, did not, and other countries followed suit.

When Catherine, the Infanta of Portugal, was about eighteen years of age, her father died, leaving her mother, Donna Luiza, Queen Regent, of Portugal, as her brother, Alfonso, was only thirteen years old. Shortly thereafter, in the year 1658, Cromwell died, and within two years, Charles II of England was restored to his throne. Donna Luiza sought the marriage of her daughter, Catherine, to Charles II, as a way of being able to shore up her defenses against the ever pervasive threat of Spanish subjugation. By the time Catherine was twenty two, she was married to the thirty year old King of England.

Catherine was a Catholic Queen in a Protestant England that had never forgotten the cruelties of their last Catholic ruler, Mary Tudor, also known as "Blody Mary", for her excesses againt those of the Protestant faith. Consequently, the English were cool in their reception of Catherine. Moreover, she was married to a King who was a natural philanderer and whose amorous escapades with the beautiful, though notorious, Lady Castlemaine, as well as with the cockney actress, Nell Gwynne, among others, would cause her much heartache.

When Catherine failed to produce an heir, and it became clear that she was barren, there was much political intrigue in hopes that Charles II would divorce her and marry someone with whom he could beget an heir. That the King was capable of doing so was evident from the number of children he begat with his mistresses. Still, this merry monarch, much beloved by his people who viewed his amorous escapades with amusement, refused to discard his faithful and loyal wife, despite the fact that the public reviled her.

The author weaves a compelling, first person narrative of a Queen whose personal travails are little known. Against a backdrop of historical events, political intrigues, and well known personages, her story artfully unfolds, capturing the imagination of the reader. Hers is a story all too familiar. It is the story of a young noblewoman whose personal happines is subjugated to matters of state. Well written, it is a somewhat romaticized account of a life lived in the shadow of political expediency, and its pathos will keep the reader turning the pages.

I have read all three books in this trilogy. I started with Earth Song not knowing that it was a trilogy. Earth Song is #2 and it is very enjoyable. It is funny and it held my interest. Then I went to #1 and finally to #3 which is Fire Song. The main male characters..Roland in Secret Song and I can't remember the guys name in Fire Song...border on insane! They are so jealous and suspicious through the entire book. Well, to be fair, the last 10 pages they find they really love the lady...too late for me I guess. At one point Daria got so mad at Roland she knocked him down some stairs. I enjoyed reading that part because he deserved it. I love Catherine Coulter's writing but found myself getting mad reading this after the guys had called their ladies lying and deceitful one too many times!!

This is the last and perhaps the best book in the medieval quartet. It's the story of Roland de Tournay and Daria of Fortescue. This book kept me engrossed from the very first page. There are real secrets lie in wait for your discovery. I kept reading it and simply couldn't put it down. The story is captivating and the plot is exciting and remains mysterious until the very last pages. Throughout the book before the plot turns out I felt sorry for Daria for Roland sees her as a liar and she just can't prove herself not one. Ms.Coulter did a good job in describing the love scenes and there are such scenes every once in a while. I loved to meet the characters from the previous books also.

I must admit that I read this before I read the previous books in the trilogy. The love struggle between Roland and Daria was hilarious, heart renching, yet hilarious as well. I have become a big fan of Mrs. Coulter's work and I offer nothing but applause to her fabulous creations. I can't wait for the next novel!

Having read all of Carolly's books, when "Great Catherine" was released, I again was transported to another place and time by the writing of Ms. Erickson. The author has a gift for making history come alive. It's as if you are right there listening in on the political intrigue and court gossip of Catherine's day. She also strips away the unrealistic views of the great monarch passed down by those who observed her from afar. "Great Catherine" is a "great" book and worthy of your time - even if you know nothing of Russian history! Carolly continues to be one of the best historical biographers of our day

Erickson writes with authority in the realm of history, with an impressive list of books, under her belt, including, but not limited to Bloody Mary, Great Harry, Mistress Anne, Bonnie Prince Charlie, The First Elizabeth as well as many others. She is well respected in her field and uses a variety of primary sources when ever possible. In Great Catherine, Erickson uses primary sources including, but not limited to, Catherine's own memoirs as well as other writings of Catherine. Erickson also took advantage of other sources such as letters as well as dispatches of visiting ambassadors, letters and memoirs of contemporaries, both Russian and European, and contemporary descriptions of Russian society and the Russian court travelers, as well as political and administrative documents. Catherine is presented in a very human light throughout the entire book. In the beginning she is presented as a precocious little girl in the court of King Frederick, saying for all to hear and much to her mother's embarrassment, "Why does the king have such a short jacket? He's rich enough to afford a longer one isn't he?"(p.1) Later, when she was fourteen, and once again in the Court of King Frederick, just before embarking for Russia, to be presented to the Empress Elizabeth to see if she was indeed a suitable bride for Peter the third, Princess Sophie made easy conversation with the King and "amazed the court". (p.32) During her stay in Russia, Sophie became gravely ill and was nursed back to health by the Empress herself. The two became quite close and Sophie soon became the Empress's favorite and upon her indoctrination into the Russian Orthodox Church, was renamed by the Empress after her own mother, and second wife to Peter the Great. She was no longer Princess Sophie, but Grand Duchess Catherine of Russia. The mother-daughter relationship did not last as long as Catherine had hoped, for the Empress the suffered from paranoia and was constantly in a state of anxiety in great fear of being overthrown just as she had overthrown her predecessor. She turned on Catherine and blamed her alone for not having provided an heir and became increasingly cruel to her. It seems that after two years the royal couple had not in fact consummated the marriage. It was rumored that Peter was impotent or sterile, perhaps from the severe bout with the pox that he had suffered. Regardless Catherine knew that an heir was necessary and if she did not provide one then she would become unnecessary and would be disposed of as easily as she was chosen. She became pregnant with a child and was once again in the good graces with Empress Elizabeth. The child was a product of her love affair, with Sergei Saltykov. (p.121) Once he had accomplished the deed, he was sent away from Catherine, just as her son Paul was taken away from her once he was born. It seemed to Catherine that the Empress took great pleasure in her power to arrange the lives of those in her court. Since Catherine and Peter were estranged and he treated her with the utmost cruelty, she felt no guilt in taking a lover. Saltykov was only the fist of many lovers for Catherine and she soon was in an impassioned affair with Gregory Orlov, "a handsome hero of Zorndoff" and a "lieutenant in the Ismailovsky guards", who had four brothers that were also well respected in their regiments, that had political sway with the men in their command.(p.188) It was the Orlov brothers that helped Catherine in a successful a coup de tat against Peter, soon after the death of the Empress Elizabeth. She and Gregory had a son, Alexis Gregorovich, which in Russian means, Alexis son of Gregory. Catherine had a unusually great appetite for the opposite sex, but managed a voracious sex life as well as managing the affairs of Russia both on a national level as well as an international level. She wanted to restore the splendor of the old Byzantine Empire. So single-minded was she that she named her first grandson after the city of Constantinople, she called this her "Greek project" and talked of it "incessantly". (p.335) Through her reading of Voltaire, Diderot as well Montesquieu she "acquired lofty idea's about reform and she did bring some reform to Russia, but was sure to not let it go unchecked. She was truly horrified by the Pugachev Rebellion and quickly put it down and laid aside some of her idea's about reform. Erickson writes in a chronological order that is clear and concise, allowing easy to understanding of the many "plot" changes and diverse "characters" that filled the life of the Princess that would become the Empress of Russia. Erickson's usage of quotes is quite smooth and helps to give the feel of a novel is being read instead of historical biography. Some biographers of Catherine's found her sex life to be a major topic throughout their biographies. While Erickson does explain Catherine's various liaisons' she does not make them her entire focus. Erickson emphasizes the various deeds that made Catherine become known as Catherine the Great, such as her victories over the long undefeated Turks and her ideas on reform. Erickson shows that while under the rule of Catherine the Great, Russia experienced economic abundance as well as political power and stability. Carolly Erickson's version of Great Catherine stands out as a balanced and well-researched book. She supports her work with primary sources, such as Catherine's own memoirs and letters of state. This book is well written in clearly organized fashion. It feels like a roller coaster of a novel with all the intrigue, death, torture, betrayal and power and sex that is required to gain and keep a reader's attention and the great thing about the book, Great Catherine, is that it is all true.

I got interested in Russian history after going to the Soviet Union when I was in 8th grade and then the Ukraine when I was in college. Then there is the fact that my husband is also of Russian descent. I picked Catherine the Great because she had such an influence and ruled for a long time. I can't wait to read Erickson's new book about another Russian royal family.

It is rare for an author of a biography to write such that you think you are reading a fiction romance story, but that is just what Carolly Erickson has done. I was drawn into the story of Catherine and her thoughts and feelings from the first page. From her mother's ambition, to her own ambition, to the murder of her husband, to her many lovers. The story just flows in an awesome fashion. The only dissappointment was that the book seemed to gloss over Catherine's many acomplishments as a ruler. It did seem like the book was mosty about her early life and not enough about her rule.

This book will take a while to get throught, it is not an easy read, but is well worth it to understand the history of a people who are such a mystery to most American people.

As to the people trying to excuse this mess with the 'historical accuracy' argument, I think the other reviewers neglected to mention that Sevrin's behavior would be easier to swallow if this had been a story about a woman trapped in a marital nightmare. Asking the audience to believe that Hastings can honestly love Sevrin and vice-versa in all seriousness is just insulting.
This book is awful, but it holds a sick, twisted charm. It's kind of like those home videos where men get hit in the groin by a football; it has tears of laughter running down your cheeks even as you cringe in sympathy. I swear that these characters are the medieval equivalent of guests on the Jerry Springer show. I've read this thing twice, and both times I've had conflicting feelings of disgust and amusement.
It starts out innocently enough. Impoverished, misogynic, yet handsom and manly Lord Sevrin arrives to marry the only child of the dying land-owner and inherit the property. The daughter, Hastings, is a defiant girl with a hot temper. It becomes apparent from the first time Servin opens his mouth that he is a jerk. He also happens to be a close friend of Grealem de Morten, another of Coulter's power-mad rapists. Birds of a feather folks.
The first few rape scenes are brutal, shocking, and disturbing, but after getting past the initial abuse I struck comedy gold!
Watch as characters' personalities change drastically for no apparent reason. Drink some beer every time Servin yells "I will beat you!" Marvel as characters come back from the dead. Everyone is so over-the-top, from the evil ex-lover Marjorie in her quest to lure that abusive lout, Servin, back into her bed to Hastings, the heroine, as the hissing spit-fire to whom abuse, humiliation, and rape are like water off a duck's back.
In every Coulter book, the author always picks some reoccurring theme in which to be cute and funny, but ends up lame and annoying: here it's an obsession with William the Conqueror and Trist, the marten. At least it's not racing kittens.
However, the ending isn't very funny. These are obviously two very dysfunctional people if they earnestly feel love towards each other. Sevrin has am obsessive need to dominate the people around him and he isn't squeamish about being brutal to achieve his ends. Hastings is proud and defiant. Though she does try to go along to get along, she has a limit to how much she can take from him. When this limit is reached she can erupt explosively. Servin probably won't be satisfied until he crushes her spirit completely, which Hastings will fight against. I can really see him killing her one day when she doesn't give into his demands. I really don't think the power of love can change Servin that much. He did revert back to a brutish lout after the part where he and Hastings started to finally get along after all.

I HAVE to say, I disagree with the reviews I am seeing here about this book. I found it engaging and fun to read. I DO agree the title is a bit irrelevant, but the story, on the whole, is well done. I feel those negative comments are written by people who want to take modern characters, actions and attitudes, and put them in a castle and call THAT a historical novel. By the way, the author never proclaims rape as "right", but she does show that the hero in the story would have considered it so, as IN THOSE DAYS she would have been considered property. Catherine Coulter makes her stories as real and believable as she can, so if reality bothers you, don't read this. Otherwise, I think you'll find it a great read!

Rosehaven was the first book I read of Catherine Coulter's. I was so engrossed from the first chapter on. Ms. Coulter's books seem to take a person back in time. Her explicit detail to the homes and surroundings are amazing. I feel as if I'm standing in the castle or in the bailey's. Romance is a thing today that seems very hard to find. Ms. Coulter brings forth romance in such granduer that even the most pessimist person would not be able to put down her books. Since reading Rosehaven I've read quite a number of her other books. I recently purchased 10 of her books online as well as several from our local bookstore. Not only do her books hold the greatest of romance but they are also very lively. The mystery in each one holds a person in suspense until the very last chapter. I love medevial times. If time travel were possible this is the time I would return to. A knight in shining armor is most every girl's dream. I love the way the women in Ms. Coulter's books have a mind of their own (as I do). No woman, no matter the place in time, should give up her identity just because she marries. I truly love each book I've read thus far. I do have my favorites. I adore the characters in the Song Trilogy and the Magic Trilogy. I haven't read any of the current setting books, but I'm sure they're wonderful even in this day in time. Ms. Coulter's book are an inspiration to me and let me lose myself, for just awhile, in a different century of time.