History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (P.S.)

Average customer rating:

Interesting, but cannot match its own hype
Surprisingly absorbing
Sensationalized Version of a Gripping History
Slow
THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary (P.S.)
Simon Winchester
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060839783
Release Date: 2005-07-05

Amazon.com

When the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary put out a call during the late 19th century pleading for "men of letters" to provide help with their mammoth undertaking, hundreds of responses came forth. Some helpers, like Dr. W.C. Minor, provided literally thousands of entries to the editors. But Minor, an American expatriate in England and a Civil War veteran, was actually a certified lunatic who turned in his dictionary entries from the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. Simon Winchester has produced a mesmerizing coda to the deeply troubled Minor's life, a life that in one sense began with the senseless murder of an innocent British brewery worker that the deluded Minor believed was an assassin sent by one of his numerous "enemies."

Winchester also paints a rich portrait of the OED's leading light, Professor James Murray, who spent more than 40 years of his life on a project he would not see completed in his lifetime. Winchester traces the origins of the drive to create a "Big Dictionary" down through Murray and far back into the past; the result is a fascinating compact history of the English language (albeit admittedly more interesting to linguistics enthusiasts than historians or true crime buffs). That Murray and Minor, whose lives took such wildly disparate turns yet were united in their fierce love of language, were able to view one another as peers and foster a warm friendship is just one of the delicately turned subplots of this compelling book. --Tjames Madison

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

The compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary, 70 years in the making, was an intellectually heroic feat with a twist worthy of the greatest mystery fiction: one of its most valuable contributors was a criminally insane American physician, locked up in an English asylum for murder. British stage actor Simon Jones leads us through this uncommon meeting of minds (the other belonging to self-educated dictionary editor James Murray) at full gallop. Ultimately, it's hard to say which is more remarkable: the facts of this amazingly well-researched story, or the sound of author Simon Winchester's erudite prose. Jones's reading smoothly transports listeners to the 19th century, reminding us why so many brilliant people obsessively set out to catalogue the English language. This unabridged version contains an interview between Winchester and John Simpson, editor of the Oxford dictionary. (Running time: 6.5 hours, 6 cassettes) --Lou Schuler

Book Description

The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED began in 1857, it was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor James Murray, discovered that one man, Dr. W. C. Minor, had submitted more than ten thousand. When the committee insisted on honoring him, a shocking truth came to light: Dr. Minor, an American Civil War veteran, was also an inmate at an asylum for the criminally insane.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Download Description

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but cannot match its own hype.......2007-09-10

I think that I could've really enjoyed this book on its own merits had the author not continued to insist throughout that the story was horrifying, amazing, shocking, thrilling, electrifying, and tragic by turns. Rarely can these "sensationalist histories" live up to their own hype. I found the book a fascinating look into the development of the OED with the bonus of the intriguing back story of one its most unusual volunteer contributors. Isn't that good enough? Why must everything be oversold? Note to the publisher: Next time undersell, over-deliver.

Surprisingly absorbing.......2007-08-28

Locked inside the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary is an astonishing, bizarre story poignantly told in The Professor and the Madman. Well written, this disturbing story flows easily, holding the reader's interest to the end, even through the definitions!

After reading this book I have also gained a new appreciation for the beloved dictionary.

Sensationalized Version of a Gripping History.......2007-08-13

The Professor and the Madman is the yellow journalism version of the history of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), Sir James Murray, Dr. William Chester Minor, the treatment of the criminally insane during the Victorian period. I was particularly offended by the overly graphic details of Dr. Minor's self-mutilation (if you don't have a strong stomach, skip that section) and playing up of the fictionalized (and often repeated as fact) version of how Sir James and Dr. Minor first met. If the story weren't so interesting, I would encourage you to avoid the book.

Writing the first edition of the OED took 70 years and employed an unusual organizational method that has since become popular for monumental knowledge tasks -- relying on volunteers to do the bulk of the work of finding quotations that use each word in different ways over time. As someone who has always admired the OED, I enjoyed learning more about the process involved in its development. Unfortunately, that material is scattered throughout the book rather than concentrated where you can find it for a brief read through. The examples are good, however, if the material is needlessly diluted.

Thinking about that monumental effort will give you just the right foundation for appreciating how mental illness can affect parts of one's faculties while leaving others undisturbed, as the paranoid Dr. Minor employed his extensive free time in the Broadmoor Asylum for Criminally Insane and personal wealth to become of the most organized and helpful contributors to the OED.

Dr. Minor's story is the actual focus of the book. Unless you are quite interested in ironies, mental illness, and how the Victorians treated the criminally insane, you will probably find this book has more of Dr. Minor than you really care to know. It's a tragic story, but not one that I would have sought to read if the OED development process material hadn't been in the book. As background for that comment, you should know that I have a strong interest in criminal insanity and wrote my law school thesis on the subject. The book tells its story to make you feel the pain of being Dr. Minor quite well, but The Madman and the Professor won't advance your knowledge of mental illness or legal concepts of responsibility very much.

I was attracted to this book in part due to my work in leading the 400 Year Project, seeking ways to make improvements in everyone's lives at 20 times the normal rate between 2015 and 2035. I came away impressed that just a few people can make a remarkable contribution to an all-but-impossible project. I will redouble my efforts to locate such people for the 400 Year Project.

Tackle the impossible to find out what you can really do!

Slow.......2007-07-11

I did like this book and would have given it 3.5 stars is I could. The history was interesting and easy to get through, even for a casual reader of histories such as myself. However, for some reason I felt like I was dragging myself through parts. I am unable to put my finger on it, but some parts were just really slow for me. I would recomend that you read this book if for no reason than it is full of interesting facts that may come in handy at a cocktail party. In all seriousness, I did like it but read it on vacation so you can cruise through the slow parts.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST-READ.......2007-03-18

IF YOU ARE SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN MENTAL ILLNESS AND NON-FICTION, THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ. FROM THE OPENING LINES TO THE END OF THE BOOK, THIS TRUE STORY WILL HAVE YOU TURNING PAGES. THE TITLE IS SOMEWHAT MISLEADING BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY THINK "SO WHAT" ABOUT THE MAKING OF THE OXFORD DICTIONARY. BUT DO NOT LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU. THIS IS A FASCINATING STORY FROM THE 1800'S ABOUT PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA, BRILLIANT MINDS AND WRITING OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DICTIONARY OF ALL TIMES. THIS BOOK IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES

Historical Dictionary of the Civil War (Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest, No. 18)

Average customer rating:

Historical Dictionary of the Civil War (Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest, No. 18)
Terry L. Jones
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810841126

Book Description

This two-volume set is a well-written read about the military aspects of the civil war, covering the issues that started the war; the military personnel who strategized, commanded, and fought the war; and the many battles, engagements, and skirmishes that comprised the war.

A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian

Average customer rating:

A need to have
Not that impressed with this book
This is a great book, however
Sea of Words
Wonderful book!

A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian
Dean King , John B. Hattendorf , and J. Worth Estes
Manufacturer: Holt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0805066152

Book Description

This comprehensive lexicon provides definitions of nautical terms, historical entries describing the people and political events that shaped the period, and detailed explanations of the scientific, medical, and biblical references that appear in the novels.

Customer Reviews:

A need to have.......2007-10-05

This book is a fundamental reading for those who love O'Brian books and want to make the most of of them.
A couple more pictures would have helped, but it gives you all you need to know to enhance your reading experience

Not that impressed with this book.......2007-10-02

I was fairly disappointed with this book, given some of the rave reviews I've read about it. In a consequtive fashion, several of the phrases I looked up weren't in there, to the point where I gave up using it and am just reading the books.

Perhaps it's for the best though, the book flows better without interuption, if at the expense of full understanding. I wouldn't recommend buying this book. It doesn't answer what you need it for -- terms that aren't used anymore, but aren't in the dictionary either.

This is a great book, however.......2007-09-25

It still needs expansion; in particular with regard to the dialect of the times to make it complete, and there remain nautical terms that need definitions. I suppose that I need to visit the website or see if there is a method of placing requests for additional words or terms.
Still, I feel that it is a must buy if one plans to read the entire series.

Sea of Words.......2007-09-14

This is a must have book when reading the series as it explains many of the unfamiliar terms. Highly recommend you get it and use it when you are unfamiliar with things talked about in the books. Also recommend Harbors and High Seas: 3rd Edition by the same authors. This will show you where the ships went on Jack's voyages.

Wonderful book!.......2007-08-22

Not only does it give you an alphabetical listing of sailor jargon, dictionary style, but also small informational sections about medical beliefs at the time, and brief explanations about how the navy operated. I would purchase it just for the definitions of words, but enjoyed the fact it contained a bit more.

Historical Dictionary of Georgia (Historical Dictionaries of Europe)

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Historical Dictionary of Georgia (Historical Dictionaries of Europe)
Alexander Mikaberidze
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Georgia | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810855801

Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms

Average customer rating:

Wasn't in stock
It's good but not really worth purchasing.
GREAT book for the medical field student
This should be a required purchase for anyone in the medical field.
must have

Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror
Manufacturer: Mayfield Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Linguistics | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0874840538

Customer Reviews:

Wasn't in stock.......2007-08-26

Unfortunately the book was not in stock, but they were quick to refund my money and send an apology e-mail. Great service!

It's good but not really worth purchasing........2007-05-23

It's a good book and all, but I think you're better off using an online dictionary reference site.

GREAT book for the medical field student.......2007-05-20

There is a LOT of information in a very small book. This is my second purchase of this book, as I wore out the other one!!! I recommend this book VERY highly.

This should be a required purchase for anyone in the medical field........2007-05-20

I found an old, haggerd version of this book in our clinic library. Soooo well loved I decided to buy my own copy. Now I carry it around everywere. It's the coolest book ever. It's laid out well, easily referenced and applies to every aspect of daily life. You'd be amazed how much your general comprehention of the English language increases when you pay attention to the "intention" of word roots. This book should be required text for kids in high school and absolutly for anyone in the medical field.

must have.......2007-03-09

A must for learning scientific vocabulary. Learning roots makes learning tough scientific words much easier. Wish I had it in my introductory biology classes

Norwegian-English Dictionary: A Pronouncing and Translating Dictionary of Modern Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk) with a Historical and Grammatical Introduction

Average customer rating:

recommended!
The Best Dictonary you will need when learning Norsk!
Good dictionary
YES!
Very comprehensive

Norwegian-English Dictionary: A Pronouncing and Translating Dictionary of Modern Norwegian (Bokmal and Nynorsk) with a Historical and Grammatical Introduction
Einar Haugen
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0299038742

Book Description

For more than forty years, the Haugen Norwegian–English Dictionary has been regarded as the foremost resource for both learners and professionals using English and Norwegian. With more than 60,000 entries, it is esteemed for its breadth, its copious grammatical detail, and its rich idiomatic examples. In his introduction, Einar Haugen, a revered scholar and teacher of Norwegian to English speakers, provides a concise overview of the history of the language, presents the pronunciation of contemporary Norwegian, and introduces basic grammatical structures, including the inflection of nouns and adjectives and the declension of verbs.

Customer Reviews:

recommended!.......2007-10-15

This dictionary is very good, the best one I've found so far, and I've been in Norway for 2 months. maybe if I try the best bookstores in big cities can find something similar, but in Norway, most dictionaries will be aiming norwegian speakers who want to learn english, so they don't come with fonetics or gender for words. the only problem with this dictionary is that it's only norwegian english, so I had to buy an english-norwegian, norwegian-english one. what i have to do when I want to learn a new word i know in english, is to look for it in the english-norwegian one and then go to my nice green one and look for gender, plural, etc. also, i'd add some fonectic symbols!

The Best Dictonary you will need when learning Norsk!.......2007-07-30

Learning Norsk had been a real challenge for me. This book really helped me with my travels and learning the language. A real must for anyone learning Norwegian. A great book!

Good dictionary.......2006-11-10

Good and complete, a very nice book. Too bad it's only norwegian to english, the other way round would have been fantastic.

YES!.......2006-08-23

Finally, a comprehensive and full dictionary that show pronounciation, and even though for the beginner the "ny-norsk" entries don't seem to be of much use, my husband now after he has become more proficient in the language actually find it interesting having the "ny-norsk" words in there.
Only thing missing to make this complete would be a English-Norwegian part to it, and also this dictionary is due for an update (it's from 1974!!) into the millenium, that would definately give this puppy a clear 5 star, but for now a sturdy 4 star.

Very comprehensive.......2006-08-07

I studied Norwegian for about 3 years in college and used multiple dictionaries. This seemed to be the most comprehensive dictionary that we used. Just like any dictionary it is meant as a reference and not a comprehensive way to learn a language. This is a very handy book to have on your bookshelf if you feel comfortable reading the language but need to translate words every now and again. Highly recommended.

Letters to the King of Mari: A New Translation, With Historical Introduction, Notes, and Commentary (Mesopotamian Civilizations, 12)

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Letters to the King of Mari: A New Translation, With Historical Introduction, Notes, and Commentary (Mesopotamian Civilizations, 12)
Wolfgang Heimpel
Manufacturer: Eisenbrauns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life from Prohibition Through World War II (Writer's Guides to Everyday Life)

Average customer rating:

Somewhat useful
Great series
A MUST HAVE
The one book you need if you're writing about this period.
Excellent Resource for Beginning Your Research!

The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life from Prohibition Through World War II (Writer's Guides to Everyday Life)
Marc McCutcheon
Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0898796970

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat useful.......2005-10-15

The book is mainly in a dictionary style. This means that related details are not grouped together by topic but alphabetized so the onus is on you to piece together an image or understanding as you read. The book contains no illustrations or pictures, either, of any of the fashions, uniforms, vehicles, or other items being described. I wouldn't use it as a primary resource, or even an introduction, but I *would* use it to quickly look up a specific word or phrase, or perhaps for writing dialogue.

(I've owned many of Mr. McCutcheon's books, and once again I'm going to fault him for lacking an index.)

Great series.......2001-03-17

Not just for writers, but historians, hobbyists, and anyone interested in the small details of life in other times. This volume, like the others in the series, includes chapters (with figures and illustrations) on food, clothing, family life, work, education, religion, leisure activities, social and political history, etc. Great for browsing, great for research. Well recommended.

A MUST HAVE.......2000-02-19

Even if your novel takes place in a time period just before or just after 1919-1945, chances are good that your characters and events will be or were affected by this era in American History. Being so well laid out and written with great wit and affection makes it a great read for anyone interested in nostalgia or for those looking to stir up and bring back some memories of their own.

The one book you need if you're writing about this period........1999-04-28

If you're doing a novel or short story set in the 1930s or 40s, get this book and keep it at hand. It will save you from the kind of screaming anachronisms that any seasoned reader of period fiction can spot at fifty paces.

Excellent Resource for Beginning Your Research!.......1999-03-18

Once again through the myriad of the time, the author guides you through the life, the words, and the advents of an age before most of our lives began. Thorough, thought-provoking, and full of nostalgic trivia. Even seasoned writers will find some interesting things to use in your novel. Sublimely titled and studded with perspiring facts and exciting surprises.

Customer Reviews:

A kings story.......2002-12-08

I felt sorry for the duke, he must have been such a lonely man.....He never got any compliments from his father or his family. They all seemed so far away from each other. No wonder he fell in love with Wallis, she paid attention to him, this is what he needed, someone to treat him with respect and high regard, no wonder he abdicated....He wouldn't have to abdicate,but the P.M. at that time was a very vicious and ugly person who was JEALOUS of King Edward, he wouldn't even allow the king to speak to the other members on his own behalf...Queen Mum was also jealous and vicious, she did not like Wallis, because she was divorced and an american, she would not allow King George to communicate with the duke after he was exiled. The people all wanted King Edward to become King, they all loved him because of his charistma and his feelings for the common people.Edward and Diana were very much alike and treated VERY BADLY by their so called "royal families". Edward and Diana had more "guts" than all the royals together. King Edward would have been a "great" king, thanks to Queen Mum and her coldness toward Edward and Wallis caused him to live in an empty wrld. All the worl loves "lovers"and the Duke and Duchess were the lovers of the 20th century. How many people can have such a love????????I really loved this book and read it over and over.....

Vapid, yes...though totally fascinating..........2001-03-12

I can't help it. Even though I believe that the Duke and Dutchess of Windsor were probably two of the most self-serving people ever to exist on the face of the planet, I find them totally fascinating. And this book lets us into their domaine. Imagine a man so totally mesmerized by this woman, that not only did he leave her a fresh flower on her pillow every night of their married life, he slept surrounded by photos of her (separate bedrooms). There were 10,000 photos of them in his bathtub (covered with a mahogany top. He ONLY showered.) that were discovered after her death. That means for the duration of the time that they were married, they were photographed approximately 300 times a year. Every year. The photographs of the refurbished decor in the Paris house were fascinating. Too bad everything was sold after Dodi & Diana's death. This book is truly a window into a lifestyle that no longer exists.

finally a sneak peek into their very private world.......1999-09-08

I was very impressed with the photography and the information contained in this book. Wallis Simpson is amazing, she comes off as more chic and more royal than any of the royals. Fascinating inside look into that very glamorous era, and it's most powerful couple.

too much to pay for a couple with zero to offer.......1998-04-03

It is beyond me how any person with a functioning brain could ever find the Windsors more than the most over publicized, most tedious couple who ever inhabited the pages of People Magazine and its predecessors. What is even more alarming is that there are people willing to pay $67.50 for a book of pictures of the duke, the duchess and their collection of stuff. Pardon me for my rant, but I needed to do it. I don't think I've ever typed out my feeings on this subject before. I've ranted about this couple more than I wish to admit.. but, hell, we all have our quirks.

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