This is a beautifully designed book. As to what's inside: It contains what too many of her biographers are either too dishonest, too ignorant, or, too afraid to include, i.e. her belief in God and her understanding that her country and her country's people had a unique place and a unique role in carrying out God's plan. Elizabeth I had a complete understanding. It's difficult to write off her accomplishments in learning at such a young age as being merely the result of having royal tutors helping her along. This is what many biographers try to do. There's never been an over-supply of young genius in royal families in any era. More attention, as well, should be paid to her reading. Reading great books has never been a guarantee of anything regarding somebody's understanding of themselves and the world, but it is, without exception, a key ingredient in the education (self-education or otherwise) of everybody who eventually DOES attain a real understanding of themselves and the world. Elizabeth's understanding may have even gone beyond herself and the world around her... These writings are not ideal as a window into her, but there is enough here to work up an impression above the words, and, coupled with a good biography such as the one by Paul Johnson the picture can become very complete.

Queen Elizabeth I of England has had hundreds of books written *about* her, but very few of them allow us to hear what she has to say in her own words. I found this an accessible, well-edited collection, not of *all* her words, but of a very good sample. It includes all of the speeches, prayers and poems she wrote that are available from reliable contemporary sources (as with all famous people, things have been attributed to her that she never wrote). It also includes -- and this is my favorite part -- a selection of her letters; sometimes the replies are also included, as with a series of angry letters she exchanged with King James of Scotland (all the while addressing him as "my right dear brother and cousin"). The documents range from formal speeches to Parliament to the occasional playful, teasing or personal note, such as the one she wrote to Lord Leicester in the Netherlands that begins, "Rob, I am afraid you will suppose by my wandering writings that a midsummer moon hath taken large possession of my brains..." Spelling and punctuation have been modernized, and unusual words have been footnoted, but the words are otherwise unaltered, and the texts are presented in full, sometimes in several versions where they differ significantly. I did find that a basic knowledge of the outline of the events of her life is immensely helpful in understanding who she is addressing and why, which is often mentioned only briefly in the notes. There is a certain amount of theorizing in the book's Preface about the "strategic gendering of Elizabeth's self-representation" -- but the texts really speak for themselves. This is a rare chance to see historical material that's often hard to locate, and an enjoyable chance to be "inside the head" of a fascinating historical person.

These books are a wonderful guide to how this life relates to the next and how God directs all life. They answer questions about why bad things happen, the purpose of life, and order in the universe, in a philosophical way that is practical and easy to understand. If you are looking for something deeper than scientific answers, I highly recommend Divine Love and Wisdom and Divine Providence!

When it comes to safe international travel, here's your best companion. You're probably wondering as you plan your trip overseas, "How do I stay healthy abroad....and what do I do if I get sick or injured far from home?" You might be thinking about which diseases are lurking in the locales you're planning to visit-or perhaps you want to know which antibiotic is now considered the best treatment for travelers' diarrhea. And what about that new strain of cholera? Is it really a threat to worry about?

The International Travel HealthGuide, by Stuart R. Rose, M.D. answers these questions-and many more. Now in its Ninth Edition-and with the editorial assistance of internationally-recognized travel medicine experts Jay Keystone, M.D. and Phyllis Kozarsky, M.D.-it is the only annually-updated source that summarizes the most recent information that you need to know to avoid or treat illnesses such as malaria, hepatitis, travelers' diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Topics covered also include: vaccinations • jet lag • medical care abroad • Lyme disease • air ambulance services • travel insurance •HIV risks • business travel • altitude sickness • travel and pregnancy . . . and much more!

The HealthGuide also gives you the latest information on insect bite prevention, water filtration and purification, and how to prepare and use oral rehydration solutions to treat dehydration caused by travelers' diarrhea. When planning your trip, the expanded World Medical Guide section of the book provides you with extraordinarily detailed information on the health risks and diseases in over 200 countries-plus gives you listings of many foreign hospitals!

Updated every year. . . extensively used and recommended by physicians, travel clinics, multinational corporations for their employees abroad, travel agencies, and study abroad programs.

"... A storehouse of advice for the overseas traveler." Robert Barnett, American Express Travel & Leisure magazine.

"... I would strongly recommend this book to anyone considering a trip overseas, or to those of us in the exciting new field of travel medicine." Eric L. Weiss, MD, DTM&H. Former Director, Stanford University Travel Medicine Clinic.

"... I keep a copy of this excellent book in my waiting room and recommend it as the best of its kind to any patient requesting a reference on travel health issues." David O. Freedman, MD. Division of Geographic Medicine, Univ. of Alabama. 472 pages. Softcover.

I bought this book several years ago and left it on the shelf. Then one day when I was looking up a particular shrub, I decided to check this book. From that time forth it has been my first choice when deciding on selecting a particular shrub. The auther is a exceptional horticulturist of many years standing with several plants named after him.

"A Rose at MIdnight" is not your basic romance. The story of Nicholas and Ghislaine is a darkly beautiful one that is sure to move you. I enjoyed the secondary characters of Tony and Ellen as well. I had a few complaints about how the end was somewhat thrown together, but all in all this was a great read.

With some authors I just NEED to have every book they've written and Anne Stuart is one of them. If you've read any of her books (historical or modern) you know she goes in for a dark hero who is usually more bad than good (or maybe I should say so bad he's good). At any rate, I stumbled across this earlier book and WOW!!! What a ride. It takes place right after the French Revolution and our French heroine has managed to survive but not without a load of emotional scars. She is living in England when low and behold she is presented with the opportunity to take revenge on the Englishman (our hero) she blames for all the woes she and her family suffered during the reign of terror. And we're off. . . Needless to say things don't go as she plans. Great story line, great characters who are FULLY developed and complex. Wonderful "secondary character" love story. Order this book! It is worth the extra you will have to pay for a used copy. A definite keeper to add to your Anne Stuart collection. It's 394 sexy pages of adventure, tears and pleasure!

The characters in this novel are tortured and somewhat unlovable, but they are so wounded and needy that they complement one another. Anne Stuart is such a clever and skilful writer that she is able to take a storyline that could fail miserably in someone else's hands, and write something delightful and compelling. Think of this book as a reluctant buddy novel where the hero and the heroine go on a road trip.

I love this book, but found it a little daunting when I first unwrapped it. It is not your standard "lots of beautiful pictures" book. There are a few pictures, but they are not particularly good. It is the writing and the information contained that make this book so valuable. I keep it on my bedside table now and browse through it regularly, to read the fascinating histories and yummy descriptions of roses.

One thing that makes this book so excellent is the beautiful writing and the fact that he includes text and information from older rose resources/material that would be difficult to find without going to an extensive library. It is informative and gives detailed histories of old garden roses with descriptions that truly give you a feel for the roses. There is a rich section on propagation and the cultivation of roses, as well, although I found this less interesting than the historical information. I am particularly interested in Moss roses and this book had excellent material relating to the development of this type of rose, as well as all the other categories such as Portlands, Gallicas, Albas, etc. If you are confused by the categories, you cannot find a better source for explaining how these classes are different and how they may have come into being. I highly recommend it for people who are interested in history and development of roses. I have not seen a better book in this category, and I have quite a number of rose books.

If you are fascinated with the history of the rose, you should get this book--I read this time and time again when considering additions to my garden or when I simply want to know more about the old garden roses I grow and get the characterists of the various classes of rose straight in my mind.

One of the previous reviews said that this book is "not for the gardener." Perhaps it is not for the general, whining newby who can't tell the difference between a hybrid tea and a gallica or the lazy reader who can't get past any book that isn't slopped about with gaudy, glossy photographs and illustrations. But it *is* for the TRUE gardener who appreciates substance over style and really wants to learn about all that roses have to offer. The information contained in this book is priceless, charming and soul-satisfying. If you want a basic rose book with those goofy illustrated directions for planting a rose or identifying black spot, then please drive to Wal-Mart and pick one up there. If, however, you have outgrown the Ortho series (or the equivalent) and want something a bit more...wonderful...then please look no farther than G.S. Thomas and his unsurpassed trilogy of rose books.

If you are a rose-lover who lives from show to show, this book is not likely to please. Nor is it likely to be a good book first book for people new to roses. Firstly, it is not a picture book, though it does have some of the best rose photos to be found in books. Secondly it is not about the "hot" roses of today Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and Miniatures.

Graham Stuart Thomas started out growing such roses, but in his early twenties he was visited by Constance Spry, an Old Rose lover who changed the way he looked at roses. Thomas has spent the rest of his life preserving, promoting, and documenting Old Roses, Shrub Roses, and Climbing Roses. His studies have honed his aesthetic sensibilities. And it is these keen sensibilities that inform this book. We can rely on Thomas to tell us not just the features and history of a rose, but to relate to us how he feels about it. It is this judgement that makes the book extremely valuable.

As we mentioned, the book has a section of one or two hundred photographs and watercolor paintings. These are classic photos, of whole plants. They teach us how the roses will look as garden plants. And as such they are more valuable than a ten thousand photos of single hybrid tea blossoms.

It is easy to recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn how to choose good, gardenworthy roses that work as landscape plants. Any well-rounded rose grower really should have spent some hours perusing its pages.

Stuart Barnes tries too hard to use every word in the English language in his book on a life in rugby.

After reading the first third I had to take the book back to the library. It was a bit like wading through treacle after a while, what's the point? who's he trying to impress? i sure hope he doesn't speak the way he writes.

On the flip side Barnes' views of rugby, in particular English rugby are refreshing and informative.

In conclusion; if you like your prose plain and to the point you will find this book hard going. If you are a big Stuart Barnes or Bath RFC fan then this is probably the best way for an outsider to get an inside view.

Despite Shakespeare's play Richard III, the Wars of the Roses is one of the tougher subjects in military history to write about. Nevertheless, English scholar Michael Hicks makes a valiant effort to summarize the wars in Osprey Essential Histories volume #54. It is a daunting task. American readers in particular, will find this subject obscure and confusing. Unlike our own Civil War or the English Civil War in the 17th Century, the Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic struggles where there was little to distinguish the two sides from each other. The opposing Yorkist and Lancastrian factions fought a series of mini-wars over thirty years to determine who would legitimately rule England, but the warring sides were never marked by ideological, geographical, economic or social distinctions. Opposing leaders even switched sides and loyalties seemingly at will, making it difficult to determine who was fighting for whom or what. Frankly, this book is rather difficult to absorb but the author has done his best, and that appears to be enough.

The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 begins with 23 pages of background material to the wars, and then plunges into the main campaign narrative, of 31 pages. The volume includes nine strategic maps of the main campaigns, as well as an excellent bibliography. Throughout this volume, the author is hindered by the paucity of surviving details about these conflicts; as he notes, there are no surviving muster lists from any of the campaigns, which makes it estimation of the size and composition of the opposing armies guesswork. Nor is there are any detailed information on casualties, economic costs and even the locations of the major battles are debatable. Furthermore, the subject is hardly compelling to modern readers. As Professor Hicks notes, the wars had little impact on the English population at large, society or the economy. Unlike the Hundred Years War, there was no "scorched earth" tactics or pillaging by marauding armies to ravage the land and people. Instead, the Wars of the Roses were a series of extremely brief campaigns, fought by less than 1% of the population and affecting primarily the noble classes.

Militarily, the Wars of the Roses stands out since at a time when methodical siege warfare was popular, the warring English factions consistently sought to settle their political differences with short maneuver campaigns leading to a decisive battle. Indeed, virtually all of the battles ended in "winner-take-all" circumstances, with the losers forced to disperse and flee or face execution. Nor were there any serious attempts at negotiations between the warring factions, since the long period of political debate that had preceded the conflict had proved so fruitless. However the armies in the Wars of the Roses were second-rate by continental standards, poorly armed and virtually untrained, and the author notes that these wars held no lessons for military theory or practice.

The author notes that the Tudors, who were the eventual victors in these wars, learned four main strategic lessons that were taken to heart. These lessons were (1) invasions must be prevented at all costs, (2) keep internal and external foes divided, (3) prevent regular English troops from being used against the regime and (4) prevent domestic dissent from escalating by "a mixture of conciliation, deterrent and propaganda, so that Englishmen learn to regard resistance and rebellion as wrong." Overall, this volume is a tough read, but it gives good insight into how nasty medieval dynastic struggles could become and how protracted struggles evolve over time.