This series is built on the bedrock of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon mythology (a fascinating topic in itself), but Aaronovitch is clearly just one of those This series is built on the bedrock of Celtic and Anglo-Saxon mythology (a fascinating topic in itself), but Aaronovitch is clearly just one of those people who is interested in the world and never stops learning. Each book seems to be built around whatever topic he's interested in lately--jazz, sculpture, architecture.
I followed the characters and plot of this installment with no problems even though I haven't read the graphic novel or short stories (exclusive to certain British bookshops?) that were set between this and the last novel in the series. Maybe I'll have to dig them up at some point. ...more
This was a wonderful biography because while it relies on the royal archives, it doesn't use them as the sole source, and the author refused to kowtowThis was a wonderful biography because while it relies on the royal archives, it doesn't use them as the sole source, and the author refused to kowtow to the official vision of Victoria in the expurgated versions of her diaries. Victoria emerges from these pages as fully human.
Previous biographers picked and chose from the records they were allowed to see to perpetuate the myths of either the ever-grieving widow, the dutiful public servant, or the wife and mother with a middle class mind. She was all of those things and so much more. She was almost a walking contradiction--She began her rule as a strong Whig, but ended as a Tory. She hid behind the constitutional prohibition against royal interference when she didn't want to act, and ignored it when she did. She was simultaneously selfish and weak-willed, but determined and forceful. She ruled an empire while arguing against women's suffrage.
And this review wouldn't be complete without mentioning John Brown--not because he's important to the history of Britain, but because he was important to Victoria as a person (and frankly, because the official insistence on wiping him from history and pretending Victoria wasn't a human being stirs my righteous indignation). There is little doubt Victoria had an intimate relationship with him. Whether it was physical is unproven, and frankly immaterial. While such a relationship would have offended Victorian mores, I cannot fathom why this should be considered so scandalous four generations and nearly a century and a half later, or what possible motivation the Royal Archives would have in trying to suppress the information.
Unlike Albert, Brown had no political role, he just made the Queen happy. The official keepers of history see no contradiction in it being public knowledge that Victoria essentially handed over the reigns of State to Albert during their marriage, despite the fact that while he was royal, she was Queen, but the very existence of John Brown is an official point of contention, even though he had no input in the steering of the ship of Britain. And despite the "grieving widow" myth, it's clear from the volume of her correspondence that Victoria did not allow the business of government to lag during their relationship.
The author was required to get permission to access the vast, but still edited/censored documentation housed in the Royal Archives, and in order to do so had to sign a contract allowing the Archives permission to review the manuscript before she published and ask her to remove any information based on sources she found there. She agreed, and in the review process the Archives had the audacity to ask her to remove information relevant to Victoria's relationship with Brown based entirely on outside sources. Bully for her for publishing anyway. In their attempt to suppress the information, they made that part of Victoria's life the story....more
William Gibson is one of the great masters. He understands that technology won't save us from being fundamentally human. William Gibson is one of the great masters. He understands that technology won't save us from being fundamentally human. ...more
This novel makes your heart ache for her, respecting her strong conviction and thoughtful stand even while you know she can't stand against the tide oThis novel makes your heart ache for her, respecting her strong conviction and thoughtful stand even while you know she can't stand against the tide of history. She and Thomas More are those rare creatures who become exceptions to the rule that history is the story of the winners. ...more
I'm so glad Weir opened my eyes to Lady Margaret Douglas. She was a true power player, and deserves more attention. She was one of the few people, malI'm so glad Weir opened my eyes to Lady Margaret Douglas. She was a true power player, and deserves more attention. She was one of the few people, male or female, capable of maneuvering in the wake of Elizabeth I. She spent time imprisoned at Elizabeth's whim and died penniless, but ultimately her machinations ensured it was her descendants that ended up with the crown....more
I love the way Tana French gets into the head of her detectives so much that I get frustrated by the way each novel follows a different detective. I sI love the way Tana French gets into the head of her detectives so much that I get frustrated by the way each novel follows a different detective. I suppose I get so used to the "series" model of mysteries that I expect it, even as I recognize the flaws--eventually it becomes so formulaic and dull. The biggest pitfall with series that focus on the same central character is that the character either has to be perfect to start with, and therefore dull, or any personal growth that they experience in one book is suddenly gone when the next starts so the formula can repeat. French can allow her characters to evolve without worrying about the next book, which is refreshing. ...more
I am always a little flummoxed by the supernatural elements which pop-up in some of her books but not others. I keep looking for some broader meaning I am always a little flummoxed by the supernatural elements which pop-up in some of her books but not others. I keep looking for some broader meaning from it. Some murders are committed by people who are just killers, some are driven by the commonplace motives of jealousy, money, or protecting those they love, but for some reason some of her murderers seem to be compelled by these other forces. I never know how to catalog it....more
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