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A major new biography of the young Richard III. Richard III is a
paradox - the most hated of English kings, yet the most beloved, a
deeply pious man, yet materialistic to the point of obsession,
puritan, yet the father of at least two illegitimate children. This
new biography concentrates on the much neglected early part of
Richard's life - from his birth in 1452 as a cadet of the House of
York to his marriage to the beautiful Anne Neville - and shows how
his experiences as the son of an ambitious duke, a prisoner of war,
an exile, his knightly training and awe of his elder brother, King
Edward IV, shaped the character of England's most controversial
monarch. From the insignificant younger brother of a would-be king
to Knight of the Garter, duke, respected soldier and loyal
supporter to Edward IV, Richard faced extreme danger and heady
triumph, poverty and abundance, neglect and acclamation as the
House of York rose to the heights of power and propelled him a
glorious career at Court.
Intelligent, authoritative, and often surprising, a biography of
the most famous of French monarchs, by an acclaimed biographer and
historian. Louis XIV's story has all the ingredients of a Dumas
classic: legendary beginnings, beguiling women, court intrigue, a
mysterious prisoner in an iron mask, lavish court entertainments,
the scandal of a mistress who was immersed in the dark arts, and a
central character who is handsome and romantic, but with a
frighteningly dark side to his character. Louis believed himself to
be semidivine. His self-identification as the Sun King, which was
reflected in iconography of the sun god, Apollo, influenced every
aspect of Louis's life: his political philosophy, his wars, and his
relationships with courtiers and subjects. As a military
strategist, Louis's capacity was debatable, but he was an astute
politician who led his country to the heights of sophistication and
power - and then had the misfortune to live long enough to see it
all crumble away. As the sun began to set upon this most glorious
of reigns, it brought a gathering darkness filled with the anguish
of dead heirs, threatened borders, and a populace that was
dangerously dependent upon - but greatly distanced from - its king.
This stylish and incisive narrative presents readers with a fresh
perspective on one of the most fascinating kings in European
history. Louis XIV's story has all the ingredients of a Dumas
classic: legendary beginnings, beguiling women, court intrigue, a
mysterious prisoner in an iron mask, lavish court entertainments,
the scandal of a mistress who was immersed in the dark arts, and a
central character who is handsome and romantic, but with a
frighteningly dark side to his character. Louis believed himself to
be semi-divine. His self-identification as the Sun King, which was
reflected in iconography by the sun god, Apollo, influenced every
aspect of Louis's life: his political philosophy, his wars, and his
relationships with courtiers and subjects. As a military
strategist, Louis's capacity was ambiguous, but he was an astute
politician who led his country to the heights of sophistication and
power-and then had the misfortune to live long enough to see it all
crumble away. As the sun began to set upon this most glorious of
reigns, it brought a gathering darkness filled with the anguish of
dead heirs, threatened borders, and a populace that was dangerously
dependent upon-but greatly distanced from-its king.
This historical investigation into the real John the Baptist brings
to light one of the most influential figures in Christianity and
western civilization, who is also a revered figure in Islam and
other religions. Two thousand years later his life and example are
still an influence for millions. John the Baptist's importance is
such that he appears in all four Gospels, together with the
writings of Josephus, and is inextricably linked to the life of
Jesus. John was a friend, inspiration and forerunner for Jesus -
and a respected figure in his own lifetime - yet the historical
facts of his life are unknown to most. Josephine Wilkinson
assembles the evidence to show us the man whose views led him to be
sentenced to death and beheaded by Herod. Based on the ancient
sources, the author gets as close as it is possible to get to a
biography of John, including an account of his relationship with
Jesus.
The Man in the Iron Mask has all the hallmarks of a thrilling
adventure story: a glamorous and all-powerful king, ambitious
ministers, a cruel and despotic gaoler, dark and sinister dungeons
- and a secret prisoner. It is easy for forget that this story,
made famous by Alexandre Dumas, is that of a real person, who spent
more than thirty years in the prison system of Louis XIV's France
never to be freed. This book brings to life the true story of this
mysterious man and follows his journey through four prisons and
across decades of time. It introduces the reader to those with whom
he shared his imprisonment, those who had charge of him and those
who decided his fate. The Man in the Iron Mask is one of the most
enduring mysteries of Louis XIV's reign, but, above all, it is a
human story. Using contemporary documents, this book shows what
life was really like for state prisoners in seventeenth-century
France and offers tantalising insight into why this mysterious man
was arrested and why, several years later, his story would become
one of France's most intriguing legends.
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Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
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R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
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