5 comments about Magic Prague.

1. Definitely not light reading, Ripellino's Magic Prague churns its way through the culture of Prague with exquisite attention to minute detail. This is a book which explores the historic underside of Prague, providing the visitor with a level of information not elsewhere found.



2. The late Mr. Ripellino has amassed a tribute to Prague like no other. It breathes. Anyone that has ever visited the "Golden City of a 100 spires" must have had an inkling deep in their soul of what the author has magnificently put down in words. The "Old Crone [Prague] has claws", as Kafka put it, and Ripellino shows exactly why that is so. The research that went into this book is simply astounding, with my edition having 44 pages of tightly spaced notes, of 333 pages total, including index. The book takes us from one extraordinary Prague tale to another, with myth, legend and reality all melting into one pot of magic. Anyone that plans to visit the center of Europe should read this book in advance, or at least skim it on the plane. It is a tough read, being full of poetic phrases and meticulous details, which often beg for multiple readings. However, the time spent is well worth it. The book will serve as a beautiful bridge between the soul and the mind, as the traveler wanders along the cobblestones of thousand year old "Praha." p.s. I bought my edition (Picador) in Prague for 315 Kcs, or about US$ 9. The price on the back of the paperback is 9.99 British Pounds, which is about US$ 17, depending on the day.



3. I tried to read this before my trip to Prague and found it inaccessible and its language pretentious. Then, after a week in the city, I started reading again. And couldn't stop. It is only when you visit the Jewish cemetery or Prague Castle that the myths, ghosts and executioners of the past come alive. Although a tough read, it is exceptionally rewarding for the traveller who wants to take more home from Prague than just Bohemian crystal.



4. This book isn't great, but it could be a lot better if cut to, say, 50 pages (from 281, plus 40 pages of footnotes.) Ripellino is a modern pedant who floods his disjointed essay with adjectives, metaphors and literary quotes; not necessarily a bad thing, but not good when endlessly rehashing the same idea. The idea is that Prague is a melancholic, Kafkaesque city haunted by the ghosts of 4 centuries of disasters. There're fragments of (heavily interpreted) history, quantities of literary allusions, and perverse descriptions of eccentric art and science, but its all so poorly organized and repetitive that it makes for a bore of a book.

   'Magic', for Ripellino, means atmosphere; he has NO sympathy for occultism and to him Prague's Golden Age, the late Renaissance period, is a period of fools (Rudolf II and other alchemically-minded aristocrats), swindlers (Edward Kelley and all other alchemists), quacks (John Dee and other mystics), and knaves (Rudolf's ministers.) Half the book is spent archly ridiculing the period and its passions.

   In Part Two Ripellino paints an equally grim picture of the period from Rudolf II's abdication in 1612 to, oh, sometime around 1946. But it's still all bits and pieces. We get a gloomy look at a few historical figures, some poets and writers, maybe an artist or two.

   Kafka is the dominant spirit of Ripellino's Prague and what he gives us is a dismal, victimized city. There are no maps or pictures (except for 4 on the hardback's book jacket.) This suits the essay, which is more about Ripellino's mental image of Prague than of a physical locale.




5. If any book can capture the Genius Loci of Prague, this is the one.

5 comments about The Forgotten Monarchy of Scotland: The True Story of the Royal House of Stewart and the Hidden Lineage of the Kings and Queens of Scots.

1. All those who want Scotland to choose a different path from that of England should hesitate before choosing to believe the claims of the author of this book. To cut a long story short, base your policies on fact, not fiction.

   This book is totally ridiculous, and I'm glad that children have not been taught history from it. There are plenty of decent books on the Jacobites, and this is NOT one of them.




2. This book would be even funnier if people did not take it so seriously. As a history, it doesn't even deserve notice; most of the assertions "Prince Michael" makes are backed up by citations that are so deliberately vague (The Vatican Archives, for example) that no serious scholar could ever attempt to verify his claims to being the legitimate Stuart claimant.
   
   As a genealogy, this book is positively grotesque. "Prince Michael's" purported ancestry includes supposed ancestors that did not even exist, as has been conclusively demonstrated by a number of very good websites that specialize in European royal & noble lines. The fact that "Prince Michael" is in league with the very very dubious Laurence Gardner, who has no credence whatsoever in genealogical circles, should speak for itself.
   
   A visit to "Prince Michael's" and Gardner's websites show clearly that the whole purpose of this enterprise is to make a buck, and evidently they have been successful in this venture, even if historical truth had to be sacrificed to achieve this.
   
   This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. When the author doesn't have to bother with historical accuracy, he can instead concentrate on writing a brisk narrative. As a result, I was able to finish this book in rather short order. Also, there some pretty funny stuff in this book, such as the claim that Napoleon is the direct descendant of Charles I of Great Britain (supported again, we are told, by evidence buried deep within the Vatican Archives). Also, the absolutely god-awful painting of "Prince Michael" with his illustrious Stuart forebears (by the "court painter," we are told) was so bad that I could not help but laugh at great length. Such merriment can only be good for the soul, so I guess this book does indeed have something to offer.
   
   In short, if you want a good laugh, by all means read this book. If you are looking for something with even a whiff of historical truth, look elsewhere.
   
   *****UPDATE, 4 August 2006*****
   
   The house of cards appears finally to have collapsed; Michael LaFosse, self styled Prince of Albany and de jure King of Scotland, has fled the UK (apparently returning to his mother's home) rather than face charges from the UK Home Office that his citizenship and passport were obtained using forged documents. He is also facing investigations into the charities he has organized. The support he once enjoyed appears to be evaporating in light of the Home Office investigations, as well as recent negative articles in the Sunday Herald & Sunday Mail.
   
   And yet, this book was a best-seller when it was released. Even though it never stood up to close scrutiny, this book evidently told a lot of people what they wanted to hear, that there was a legitimate descendant of Bonnie Prince Charlie who was looking out for Scottish interests.
   
   It worked for awhile --- people seemed willing to look past the dubious nature of his claims, in part because they wanted to believe that it was true, and also because many people will believe anything that is in print. It is a sad commentary that a man with obviously forged documents could keep the game going for nearly 30 years, but for a con to work, people have to buy into it, and buy they did.
   
   Now that Michael LaFosse's delusions of grandeur seem to have vanished in a puff of smoke (one has to believe that if he truly believed his own claims, he would have stood his ground and fought the charges), this may book may ultimately be the only remainder (the royal website seems to have been taken down for good) of one man's zany quest, much like the Hay Allan brothers' "Vestiarium Scoticum" from 1842. At times it verges into the realm of "so bad it's good," but mostly it is bad in a depressingly earnest sort of way.
   
   Interesting only as a historical curiosity these days.



3. Michel Roger Lafosse is from Belgium - an ordinary man, like most of the rest of us. Unlike most of the rest of us, he has embarked on a fantasy in which he is a prince. This may sound like the start of a children's fairytale story, but it happens to be the best way to begin the real life story of the author of this book. It also puts this book, which he claims is about his ancestors, in context.
   
   Of course, the author Michel Lafosse (who now styles himself HRH Prince Michael of Albany, etc. etc.) was challenged to produce some evidence of his noble claims. He produced a birth certificate, which was dismissed as a forgery by the very authorities in Belgium that he claimed had issued it. His own real birth certificate, of the same date, shows his parents' names, less any mention of the titles that were added in the forgery. Yes, gone is the "Baron" in front of his father's name, and gone is the "Princess" in front of his mother's. Indeed his father's occupation is listed by the registrar as that of shopkeeper, while his mother is listed as a business employee. Through invention of ancestors and twisting of historical detail, Michel Lafosse has managed to write himself into his own imaginary version of history - and you can read it all in this book. I wonder if we need to consider the validity of the book contents at all after these simple facts.
   
   There are many, many other areas where he has been caught out - producing poor quality forgeries of Vatican documents according to researchers, the apparent use of the same typesetting machine on documents supposedly hundreds of years apart (and produced by both Catholic and Protestant churches), and so on - but the space is too limited to properly counter his arguments here. Oh yes, he does claim he is directly descended from Jesus too.
   
   Should you buy this book? If you are looking for knowledge and history, NO. It is written as one man's self-serving account of history with the intention of making him look like he is someone that he is clearly not. However, if you are looking to be entertained by a delusional man, then YES.
   
   But for your own sake, do not leave it lying around the house where your school-going children might pick it up. You do not want them failing history exams or being laughed out of college. I suggest putting some highly visible stickers with the words "Fiction" or "Fantasy" on it, just in case.



4. Michel LaFosse (b. April 21, 1958, Brussels, Belgium), whose father is a shopkeeper and whose mother is an office worker, has claimed since 1976 to be "the senior legal descendant of the Stuart Kings of Britain" (frontispiece). He has posed as HRH Prince Michael [Stewart], the Seventh Count of Albany. This book is his attempt to prove his claim, argue the superiority of the Stuarts/Stewarts to the Hanoverian usurpers, and advocate a restoration of the Royal House of Stewart in Scotland (preferably with a written constitution of his design). Modestly, he does not lay claim to the throne of England; his forebears, he says, renounced that claim during the reign of George V.
   The author claims to be the legitimate head of the Royal House of Stewart because Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart, who was "symbolically crowned" as Charles III in Edinburgh on September 22, 1745) entered into a previously unknown second marriage in December 1785, three years before his death. One legitimate son supposedly resulted from that union, from whom the author claims to be the senior legitimate descendant. (He chronicles his invented genealogy at great length.) Charles's only legitimate heir from his only known marriage, Charlotte, died without issue, so the Stuart line had long been thought extinct; as the author puts it, "the Scots were generally unaware that their Royal House still existed" (3). How dramatic to have the head of the Royal House of Stewart suddenly reappear in Scotland after three centuries of exile!
   This book was a bestseller, but LaFosse's key documents (including his birth certificate showing his princely title) have proven to be forgeries. LaFosse has fled from Scotland. His Web site about the Royal House of Stewart has been shut down.
   As history, this book is useless. With LaFosse's claims exposed as fraudulent, this book is now a mere curiosity, like the claims of the late Anna Anderson to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov of Russia. Why is our desire to believe in these pretenders so strong that we let them con us for so long?
   LaFosse had a long (and presumably lucrative) run of cashing in on Jacobite sentiment and the resurgence of Scottish nationalism. However, he has done a disservice to the causes of Jacobitism and Scottish nationalism, despite his lofty, noble rhetoric.



5. I got this book from the library because I was doing research on Bonnie Prince Charlie and William Wallace. I didn't read the whole book, but the snatches I did read were really bad. William Wallace didn't grow up in the French court! He wasn't an aristocrat! He was an outlaw and a patriot! I truthfully didn't get past the part about Wallace, and it all left me wondering where on earth did this guy get his information from?! It was like a really bad historic novel, but was worse for the fact that it was supposed to be a history.
   I give it one star for obvious reasons.

5 comments about The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy (Oxford Paperback Reference).

1. This book is a must for those readers interested in the history of the British Monarchy. The authors and editors have masterly created both an historical perspective of the institution as well as a personal viewpoint which is both critical and sentimental. Some may be turned off by the length of this book, but once you begin reading, you'll wonder where the time goes. And the wonderful photographs and illustrations bring their words to life.



2. The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy is a uniquely complete book. This is a book very worthy of Oxford, consisting primarily of chapters on royal and political history generally, interspersed throughout with boxed essays on each monarch, special topics, maps, photographs and paintings.

   This book begins with the murky beginnings of royalty in Britain, arising out of the chaos of the post-Roman world. Here we encounter names such as Aethelberht, Raewald, and Hywel Dda -- this book doesn't just concentrate as so many do on the English monarchies, but also on Welsh and Scottish clans, lines, and kingdoms. Here we find that King Eric Bloodaxe, the Viking King of York was followed not too many years later by Edgar the Peacable, king of Mercia and the Danelaw.

   With the inclusion of this extensive pre-Norman section, the book is a must for any British history library. Apart from that, the history is fairly basic -- well written, interesting, but no grand and new insights, more of an encyclopedia writ as an essay rather than articles on particular subjects (for which I am grateful--nothing so disjointed and unsatisfying in many ways as reading an encyclopedia). This however can make looking up topics a bit more difficult, but I've found as I've sought out one piece of information (using the very good index) I find much more (which is always to be desired).

   The final sections include chapters on Royal Residences and Tombs, Genealogies, and Lists of Monarchs, including Scottish as well as English monarchs.

   This book is filled with little bits of interest--for instance, an example of 17th century propaganda: 'In the absence of newspapers, radio, and television, other means of representing events and influencing opinion assumed greater importance. A pack of cards took as its unconvivial theme Monmouth's rebellion in 1685. The six of clubs shows Monmouth's entry into Lyme Regis; the seven of spades shows the duke's fate; and the five of diamonds that of his followers.' This caption accompanies pictures of playing cards with scenes of hanged or beheaded men, etc. An interesting means of information dissemination.

   A very worthy book, perhaps the only royal book a non-historian would ever need; a definite need for any historian or royal watcher.




3. The history of Great Britain since the 5th century is largely the history of its sovereigns, and vice versa, and this fat volume is a success on both scores. Beginning with the early Celtic kings who brought some form of organization to early British (and Welsh and Irish) society, Cannon escorts the reader through the island's history, reign by reign, from Rædwald of the East Angles to Elizabeth II, tracing the waxing and waning of the monarch's personal power, noting royal marriages and interments, wars and treaties, glorious victories and humiliating failures. A great deal of the personal is included along with the politics, as when the young Edward VI coolly notes the execution in 1552 of his uncle, the Duke of Somerset, and the exasperated Queen Anne's attempts in 1703 to reason with her Whig ministers. The numerous illustrations, many in color, add to the flavor of the narrative as well as the reader's understanding. This book may be the only general history of the British monarchy that any student would ever need.



4. The reader of this book will learn a lot about the British (and, before that, the English) monarchy, from the dark ages to today. Each monarch and dynasty are treated objectively and respect, trying to stay as close to their own time as possible and without dogmatic judgements. Hence the "villans" of the Monarchy (Richard III, Henry VIII, George IV) are shown to have a more positive side than one usually gives them credit for, while the "saints" (Henry V, Richard the Lion-Hearted, etc.) are shown to have their dark side as well.
   
   But the book isn't revisionist for the sake of being revisionist--it does acknowledge that, in the final accounting, history's judgement of the good or bad monarchs seems rather justified (e.g., while George IV did promote the arts, he was a debt-ridden bankrupt who treated his wife abominably). Furthermore, it doesn't judge the monarchs by our standards--by how "multicultural" or "feminist" or "anti-colonialist" they were, for instance. It correctly sees such judgement as distorting--as distorting as the Victorians' tendency to judge the past monarchs by *their* standard (e.g., which monarch won the most battles or gained the most colonies.) It does its best to assess the facts objectively--taking account of both the prejudices of the monarch's time and of our own.
   
   Take, as a typical example from the book, the case of George III. Having been unfortunate enough to preside over Britian's loss of the American colonies, as well as suffer from insanity in his old age, he was ridiculed by many contemporaries (especially American contemporaries) as a "tyrant", and "psychonalayzed" by our own generation--"proving" his insanity was (you guessed it) due to repressed sexual urges. While certainly not denying George III's tough position about the American policy, or his bouts of insanity, the authors note that, once the war was over, he told Adams that "nobody wanted this seperation less than me", but that, the seperation having been made, he would do his best for Britian and the new USA to be good friends. They also acknowlege his bouts of insanity and describe his bizzare personal and public behavior during it, but also note that it came (mostly) at the end of his days--after he was a loving, devoted family man and a very reasonable king for over 40 years. His insanity was viewed by contemporaries not with contempt, but with pity.
   
   The book's prose is clear, accessible, but--on the other hand--doesn't oversimplify when complexity and exactitute are called for (such as, for instance, when untangling the various claims to the throne that led to dynasty changes). Furthermore, numerous illusrations being the period talked about to life. Finally, the paper quality is superb, and the index is excellent.



5. If you want to know about the Monarchies, rather than Englisn history, this book accomplishes that. A lot of historical succession is written about, but little of the Magna Carta, for example. The political ins and outs faced by the monarchies are written about extensively, but the treatment of their nobles or commoners will barely appear, nor will decisive battle descriptions. This is not a general history, nor does it claim to be. It is a bit boring.

1 comments about Crowns in a Changing World.

1. The generation that passed between the death of Victoria and the accession of her son, Edward VII, in 1901 and the death of Edward's son, George V, in 1936 was one of great change not only in the British monarchy but in the state of monarchy throughout Europe. Edward's personal power was subject to the close limitations of the unwritten English constitution, but his cosmopolitan personality and astute knowledge of international affairs gave him great informal authority, especially since the emperors of Germany and Russia were his close relations. George, though likeable, shared neither his father's eminence abroad nor his extroverted style, and was much more subordinate to his ministers - and during the early part of his reign, as a result of the Great War, the empires of Germany, Russia, and Austria ceased to exist. The author of this well-researched study, who has written a number of other books and articles on modern European royalty, follows the complex interconnections among the royal houses of Europe during this period, pointing out just how much diplomacy depended before the War on personal relationships between monarchs, and also just how little such things came to matter during the subsequent Age of Dictators. He includes a great many photographs and illustrations, many of which are new to me, as well as a (necessary) genealogical chart and table of accession dates.

5 comments about The Romanovs & Mr Gibbes: The Story of the Englishman Who Taught the Children of the Last Tsar.

1. I enjoyed this book tremendously! It is a real page turner! It follows the incredible life and circumstances of M r. Gibbes, tutor to the last Russian imperial family until his death. Very precise,well researched,with many new facts and information. It is also beautifully written. Will please all the devotees of the Romanov family,as well as all those who enjoy a great story!



2. Sydney Gibbes would have been unknown to all except his own family had he not taken the momentous step of going to Russia in the early 1900s. There he sought out work as tutor to the children of various noble families, with indifferent results and gaining a reputation for behavior, which while not all that unusual for the times, definitely raised a few eyebrows (especially his insistence on whipping his students). He strode into history in 1908 when Empress Alexandra Fedorovna needed a tutor to correct her daughters' accents and hired him sight unseen. Gibbes remained with the family for the next ten years through war and revolution, teaching the four Grand Duchesses and then the hemophiliac Tsarevich.
   
   Gibbes doesn't strike the reader as particularly admirable at first. He was definitely a social-climber and not particularly talented as a teacher. His private life was mysterious, involving some mild flirtations with an Englishwoman and some dreams (carefully recorded for posterity by Gibbes himself) which seem classically Freudian.
   
   Gibbes came into his own, and we find reason to respect and like him, with the Russian Revolution of March 1917. As an Englishman he could have easily left Russia and gone home to safety. Instead he chose to remain with the Imperial Family, sharing their captivity in their palace outside Petrograd and then in Tobolsk. He underwent considerable hardship and personal danger, but he was selflessly devoted to the family. Even after he was told to leave by the Bolsheviks who were holding the family in their final prison in Ekaterinburg he remained in the city, walking past the House of Special Purpose and trying to get in for visits. After the family's murder, he assisted the investigators trying to determine what had happened.
   
   After leaving Russia Gibbes lived in China before returning to England. He became an Orthodox priest, adopted a Russian orphan boy, and spent most of the rest of his life in Oxford, maintaining a museum of keepsakes of the family he had served for so long. He was not particularly effective as a priest, but he was sadly missed and fondly remembered after his death, which is a pretty good epitaph for anyone.
   
   This biography makes use primarily of Gibbes'own notes and diary, so that the reader must look elsewhere for historical insight into his life, but nevertheless it does a nice job telling the story of a quiet, somewhat limited man who was a good servant and friend.



3. This book doesn't shed any new light on the Romanovs, but it does give new insight into a man who knew them very well. It is a short book, but very informative.



4. A very interesting pocket book. A great perspective of the times. For a history buff, a good eye witness biographical account. However, considering the near epic situation of those times and places, the book seems sparse. A noticeable ommission are (the other?) Gibbes' photographs not published in this book. I've seen photographs published elsewhere that were attributed to be taking by Gibbs. A proper mix of these photos and the book would have added much. But still, this book is very much worth reading. For you history buffs, and a complementary account, check out Gilliard's writtings.



5. Was greatly anticipating this read...here it is, an up-close look at someone who spent significant time with the Imperial Family. Finally, an opportunity to get a real glimpse of Olga, Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia...who else could provide such personal commentary but the one person who spent years tutoring the family?? The promise was there (at least in the title), but the pages never delivered. VERY little at all was mentioned about the daughters, and what little anecdotes offered dealt primarily with Alexei. The most interesting part of the book was his brief description of his confrontation of Anna Anderson, the Anastasia imposter. If you're looking for a biography of the man who tutored the Romanov children...by all means buy this book. If you're looking for personal insight into the Imperial family, don't bother.

1 comments about Keatings History of Ireland, Vol. 3 (Irish Genealogies).

1. I'd been looking for some of the old topographical descriptions of families in Ireland - they are often referred to but never given completely in any work. This one has the old writings on where our families were, and the old genealogies from ancient times - if you are serious about Irish history - you will be delighted at this choice piece.

4 comments about London: A Social History.

1. Roy Porter's book covers the full breadth of London history, from Roman times to approximately 1990, with the Victoria era and the post-WWII era receiving particularly heavy emphasis. A more accurate title for the book would be 'London: A History,' because the social history component is a bit thin. Porter devotes more attention to the evolving political situation and to physical characteristics (streets, fortifications, famous buildings) than he does to social history.

   This is a wonderful introduction to London, and would be ideal for the visitor seeking a deeper appreciation of (what I regard as) the world's most fascinating city. One quibble: Porter should have been more self-restrained about his visceral hatred of Margaret Thatcher. Porter's rants about her are so over-the-top that he even blames her for the excesses of left-wing political correctness.




2. Roy Porter, noted and trained as a medical historian, turned his attention to the social development of London, and we are the richer for it. Porter is a Londoner, and has a passion for the city. He is, however, frank in his conviction that London has had it's hour upon the stage:

   'London is not the eternal city.... Between the two Elizabeths, between 1570 and 1986 to be more precise, it was to become the world's greatest city.'

   Porter sees the abolition of the Greater London Council (GLC) by Margaret Thatcher as a benchmark to the demise of London as a great city (I happen to disagree; will he change his opinion in light of the upcoming mayoral elections in London?) Porter's current pessimism about London is very apparent from page 1 of the introduction; however, this does not keep him from doing a sterling job with his subject throughout the text.

   Porter gives brief description to Londinium (mentioning among other things that it was abandoned 'to the dogs' by the Romans in the fifth century), however, begins his history in earnest about the year 1500 because while 'the Romano-British city and its medieval successor have left extensive archaeological remains and chronicles, ...we have no full visual record from before the Tudor age.'

   Porter examines eras in terms of the history of culture, of commerce and industry, and of population and social changes. The nineteenth century (in which there was practically no urban planning, as any current map will inform you) is described as 'Bumbledom', particularly in the field of London politics.

   Porter describes the expansion of London as a 'fungus-like growth' in the late 19th/early 20th centuries; he concludes his analysis with chapters on 'Swinging London' and 'Thatcher's London'. Porter leaves us with a question: 'London was always a muddle that worked. Will it remain that way?'

   In all, a wonderful read, a wonderful story, and a wonderful topic.




3. I want to preface this review by stating that I am in no way an expert on Roy Porter as a historian in general, nor do I claim to have read a plethora of similar books on the history of London. I am merely writing this review as someone who has read Porter's book for a 300-level university course on the history of London.
   
   That said, I have to say that if you are looking for a cohesive overview of every aspect of London's history, you may want to look elsewhere. Porter's primary focus is a religious history of London (which would have been a more apt title). He spends too much time describing in detail nearly all of London's churches (and there are hundreds) and talking about the development of the streets. There are paragraphs (and, indeed, the entire introduction chapter) rattling off street names that mean nothing to anyone but native Londoners. I am currently studying in London and have lived here for quite some time, and still the street names do nothing to enhance understanding. It serves primarily to congest and overwhelm the bits of valid information that are thrown in.
   
   Porter says little about the evolution of London as it relates to England's history. He does divide the chapters into specific historical periods, which is useful, but for those who want to learn about the more interesting monarchs and their relation to the city, read another book. He barely mentions Henry VIII or any of the more colorful monarchs. His chapter on the Tudor period focuses primarily on the Reformation and the reigns of Elizabeth and Mary. While interesting, there is more to a social history than religious upheaval and trade guilds.
   
   I would have to say that Porter's history of London takes a convoluted and dull approach to a fascinating history. The book is by no means bad, but for those who have a choice in what they read and want to spend their time wisely, I'd advise buying a different history of this great city.



4. More illustrations and above all more plentiful and better maps would have made Porter's superlative history of London an unqualified masterpiece. As such, it is still a bloody good book. The late Roy Porter was not only a brilliant historian, above all of the 18th century for which his enthusiasm is nearly overwhelming, but a writer of verve and wit far removed from much desiccated academism. It would be a fitting tribute for Harvard to bring out an expanded edition awash with bells and whistles. Let's hope.

2 comments about Clans and Families of Scotland: The History of the Scottish Tartan.

1. This book follows a well worn pattern but does it well. A small section is devoted to each name, its tartan is illustrated and, in this case, a major advantage is the inclusion of the heraldic drawings of the chief's arms and in some cases, standards, by the late Don Pottinger, Islay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.

   The limitation of this formula is that is it virtually impossible to say anything meaningful in such a short space about a whole clan and often the illustrations of the tartans are too small to allow the full sett to be seen.

   This book finds the same problems when describing each name but its tartans are better than most, although it is impossible, for instance, to see the whole pattern of the Cameron of Lochiel tartan as illustrated. Useful additions, however, are some of the main branches of each clan, and,where one exists, its slogan or battle-cry.

   Some names are included which are not clans but families for whom a tartan is named. Particularly useful for those not already familiar with it is the map showing main clan locations on pp52-55. This is the work of Don Pottinger and the late Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Albany Herald and it contains a wealth of information.

   There are a number of useful articles included in the text and the whole book is most atractively laid out. A good introduction to the subject and well above the usual standard.




2. A must have for anyone of scots descent. Lots of beautiful prints and swatches.. and insightful anecdotes that makes any tartan wearing descendant swell with pride. Good family reference.

No comments about After the Hector: The Scottish Pioneers of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, 1773-1852.

3 comments about Jewish Roots in Poland: Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories.

1. I just received the newly published book by Miriam Weiner, "Jewish Roots in Poland - Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories."

   Upfront, I must say I am an unabashed admirer of Miriam Weiner, since before she "found" four generations of my KUSHNER family going back to the mid eighteenth century in Podolia. I had look forward to the publication of this book for a long time, expecting it to be something special because I know, from experience, just how amazing Miriam's level of detail can be. But, I honestly had no idea how wonderful and valuable the book would be in actuality. It is overwhelming.

   First off, this is an incredible book for Poland researchers, wishing to retrieve archival documents for their ancestors who lived in Polish towns and cities. It lists, archive by archive, all the known archival holdings (of genealogical significance) - by type and time period, for each Polish town.

   In addition, it offers a wonderful pictorial view of Jewish Poland at both the beginning and end of the 20th century. Especially fascinating were photos of the same place taken "now" and "then."

   Even if one never visits an archive or intends to visit an archive, this book is a treasure! " After the first glance, it will probably not be relegated to the genealogy resource shelf of your library; more probably will spend time on the coffee table as well.The artistic detail and printing are exquisite




2. Jewish Roots In Poland is an incredible masterpiece, full of invaluable information and experiences for both the researcher in the quest for roots and the ordinary reader who wants to visit those roots. It has the careful and elaborate detail necessary for serious research and the beautifully rich illustration necessary for serious visualization and enjoyment. A portion of the book is devoted to explaining and listing exactly what material is available for the genealogist (professional or amateur) who is looking for family. Ms Weiner not only tells what is available and where it is located, but also details exactly how to access it. She has the help of those very experts who are in charge of the archives for these explanations. There are, in addition, illustrations of every kind of record that is available. This in itself - the consideration of the kinds of records that were kept and the various ways of keeping them - is a fascinating dimension. Another substantial segmented is devoted to the uniquest of travel literature. There are a number of pages devoted to each of the 28 cities now within the Polish border that had a pre-Holocaust population of 10,000 or more. For each city there is a remarkable collection of photographs: the city before the Holocaust and now, its synagogue(s), its cemeterie(s), its holocaust memorial. For each there is also a bibliography. The archival holdings in Poland are indexed by town and by repository. The contribution of a number of experts in the field enriches the text, and from beginning to end Ms Weiner's collection of photographs enriches the page. Marching up and down the outer edge of the appendix pages are more towns, cemeteries, archives and synagogues. This is a gift to the Jewish community - worth many times its price.



3. This is a unique book that must be read by anyone interested in Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust.