It is important to understand from the beginning that Sir Walter Raleigh's mother was burned alive(when he was a child) for being a Protestant. So early in his life he developed a hatred for King Philip and the Catholics of Spain.

The legend of Sir Walter Raleigh begins with his love for the sea. When he started his navy career he moved quickly up the ranks. It was not long before the young handsome gentleman was noticed by Queen Elizabeth I herself, who soon grew found of Raleigh, taking him as her favorite. Being the favorite meant being hated by all the other replaced favorites. He was knighted and named Captain of the Guard. Queen Elizabethh awarded Raleigh with the estate Sharon for his quick thinking making a faile mission look noble and heroic. Even though Sir Walter Raleigh was loyal and true to his queen he did marry her maid of honor. He paid for it by being imprisoned in the Tower but was soon restored to his position by the Queen's side after she realized she needed his leadership and advice. She trusted Raleigh and adored him vey much butI'm not sure if there was ever more there. This book does not give an opinion.

Later on Raleigh wanted to go on a quest for El Dorado. The Queen granted him this. He returned empty handed but then aided his country in a battle against the Spanish at sea.This was only one of themany victories he had over the Spanish. These were the times of happiness for the bright sailor, nothing would be quite so right again. As Queen Elizabeth I grew older she fell ill and eventually died. King James from Scotland then took the throne. He was soon to take Robert Cecil as an advisor, an enemy of Raleigh. It was not long before Raligh found himself in a mess. He was accused of treason, secretly plotting with Spain. The man whp ushed the trial forward to guarantee Raleigh's fall of glory was none other than Sir Robert Cecil. Raleigh was condemned to the Tower. There he grewq elderly and weak but he didn't justlet himself rot away. He started to work medicines and finding cures to sicknesses. Many held him infavor because of his miracle working potions. Prince henry, son of King James, was a hpe to Raleigh. He had won the boy's favor. It was a soon thing that Raleigh would be let out of the TOwe, wehn unfortunately Prince Henry became ill. One of Raleigh's potions was given to the prince but Raleigh said it would only work if the boywasn't already poisoned, as he had been. So, Raleigh's hopes were dashed. He was released finally(under trial) to go on another quest for El Dorado. The KIng thought this was an easy way to rid hmself of his problems with Raleigh because Raleigh was too popular to be executed. On this voyage, he lost his son and the lyalty of his men. His ships disobeyed his orders and broke the peace treaty with Spain. The ships had been under his command, but he had never given the command to attck. Although, many made false accusations stating it was Raleigh who had ordered the attck. Even thought Raleigh had the opportunity to flee to the America's and escape these charges, he was a noble man and chose to return to face his adversaries. When Raleigh unexpectedly returned he was epty handed and Cecil tried him again with treason. His fate would be execution. Sir Walter Raleigh never gave up hope and alwayskept his courage, even to the death. He gave such an astounding speech before his beheading that the executioner wouldn't strikeuntil Raleigh yelled to strike. There was no cheering at the death of such a man. A man who had a key role in developing England's trade, navy,and the New England colonies. His love for the sea could onlybe described by one of his best poems: But love is durable fire In the mind ever burning Never sick, never old, never dead From itself never turning

There are so many wonderful tales of Raleigh's adventures that they alone make this book worth reading. Such a wonderful man, such a wonderful story.

Why another biography of Elisabeth of Austria, dozens having been previously written (some the size of a Mitchner opus), if the author has nothing new to add or not even a better way of telling what's been told many times before. This book has neither, and the author has created an inferior work to all those far more excellent ones at your local library. His only fresh approach is a dubious and tasteless tie-in to Diana-mania. It is just too contrived and amateurish. The fact that Kirkus, a highly political organ, has given it a good review is due to the author having a prominent place in the elite and liberal literary community it is comprised of and promotes.

It's a good book, but there's something wrong in the pictures! There is a picture in the middle of the book that shows the Empress Elizabeth of Austria with two of her dogs... but... THAT'S NOT THE EMPRESS! It's her youngest sister "Sophie".

This book has a beautiful dustjacket. Inside, however, it's primarily a rehash of secondary sources with little new information and few fresh insights about the puzzling character of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. The Princess Diana comparison seems like a hasty add-on after her death, not original and not well-developed or thoughtful. It seems like a last-minute pre-publication shameless capitalization on a tragedy for the sake of garnering some book sales through sensationalization. I wish I could have read the version that went to the publishers prior to the accident in the tunnel in Paris, I'm sure it would have been much less annoying.

Let me say that again: ughh.
A good book, all told, but exceedingly dull and almost impossible to get through. Apparently, Jack London's writing style does not suit me.

Innacurate maps, poor accomodation listings and a lack of any addresses or directions makes this guide a nightmare. We threw it away a week into our trip!

Andrew Sinclair's tedious and pompous book about the supposed discovery of America by his ancestors, the Sinclairs of the Orkney Islands, and his supposed discovery of the Holy Grail. is the closest thing to saying he has found the Lockness monster. This pseudo-scientific bunch of baloney never should have been published. God only knows why it was. If this is all Sinclair can produce these days, he should pack it in and take up checkers. Chess would be too challenging.