History Books

This books is practically amazing. My school scheduled the AP US History course first semester (one semester only) and the class was a disappointment. Massive curving on tests and incompetent students abounded. I read AMSCO for the January SAT subject test and scored a 760. Then I read it again for the May AP test and scored a 5. Simply amazing.

This book was recommended to my class by my APUSH teacher who was a former college professor. She was right in her assertion that this book is better than any other review book out there for AP US History. This book will give you a concise explanation of events and their significance, give you sample questions, and practice DBQ's and FRQ's for each individual section. Me being the procrastinator I am, I crammed with this book the day before the exam. Lo and behold, I got a 5. Now, I'm not saying this book will get you a 5, but using this book properly with all it has to offer will increase your chances infinitely. I'd recommend this book over any other out there on the market.

My AP US History class was way behind schedule - only reaching WWI in the week before the test.

Luckily, I had AMSCO to prepare me for the AP test.

This book summarizes everything you will need to know for the test, and keeps it interesting. There are many maps and charts to visually display the information talked about, and historical documents from each time period that help you to understand historical context. Every chapter has 10 multiple-choice review questions that force you to remember what you just read, sample essay questions, and vocabulary words. Some of the multiple-choice questions were almost exactly the same as questions I saw while taking the AP test. At the end of the book is a practice test that closely models the real thing.

It has sections on Writing the DBQ and FRQ essays. The sections on the DBQ were invaluable to me, because they explained how to write a good essay much better than my teacher did. It goes over structure, how to know what the question is specifically asking you, and shows you how to get a high score using analysis.

This book is also almost indestructible. I took it to many track meets where it was stepped on, thrown across the team tent, and got rained on. It is still in great condition!!

The only downside to this book is that the answers to the questions aren't in the back of it. However, just use Google, and you can find the answers in seconds.

AMSCO is best used over a period of at least two weeks - a month is best. If you are looking for a quick cram book, this one isn't for you.

This book is too long to be a useful review book.

I had this same book (previous edition) as an accompanyment to our American Pageant main text. I think the pageant had like 2220 pages which I real all of in 1 semester.

It's interesting that someone mentioned that they did the course in 2 years (4 semesters). If you follow the rule of 2 high school semesters = 1 college semester, this is correct since you get 2 college semesters credit of history for this course, and we had to do it all in 1 high school semester (so we learned it in quadruple speed, no wonder I was up till 1AM everyday!!!)

Anyway, since we took this 1st semester, and took other courses the 2nd, I forgotten ALOT of the material. The teacher had weekly review sessions for 1 hour every week at library at school at like 8 pm, but my dad wasn't going to take me after a long shift at work.

Though I vaguely remember we were allowed to keep the AMSCO until the test in May the following semester, I remember trying to review with this, but it was just too much information.

It is basically another textbook, and the information is not "summarized" in a useful way for review (as opposed to the Barron's AP European history text I have commented about previously). You basically have to reread the entire thing, which, if you are doing by yourself with no assignments to help reinforce the info (not to mention the fact you already read this), you won't retain anything, at least i didn't

I couldn't afford to pick and choose books at the time and went with what was free, but if you can find some review book that is only about 300-400 pages (i think this one was like 900), that would be the one to get.

However, if the pageant is too long for you, and you can get by in the class without the pageant, i would recommend reading this as a textbook.

I took the AP US exam in 2004, after a 2-year long AP US History class offered by my high school. I was terrified that I'd fail, but this book saved my butt! It's comprehensive, easy to understand, and the review questions and quizzes in the back are fantastic - I even saw a question from the book on the exam! This tome is intimidatingly thick, but don't let that daunt you. I studied 3 chapters per week in the 2 months leading up to the test, and there wasn't a single thing I didn't know. It could use a bit more post-1970 foreign policy information, but you can probably cover that with your teacher/textbook/class. Oh, and a whole chapter devoted to important Supreme Court cases & their significance would be great, but all that information is scattered throughout the book as well.

My AP teacher recommended _not_ writing the practice essays & DBQ, but I don't see why. Any practice writing in the style of the AP exam is critical to scoring well.

In all, if you are taking the AP US History exam (or just want a concise US history reference book!), I highly recommend this one. I still consult my AMSCO from time to time.

Product arrived quickly and in the condition advertised. Seller also included extra study material for no additional cost. I would recommend purchasing from this seller.

Very fast delivery, great price (for a textbook- all of which are rediculously overpriced anyway)and arrived in excellent condition. Thanks.

The book I bought from Eric was in excellent condition, plus it arrived only 3 days after I had purchased it! Great service, perfect product!

I ordered the book and requested to receive it on the next day. I recieved it the next day!! It doesn't get any better than that!! Thanks Amazon!

I have never been too crazy about or never been good at economics, but after reading this book, I feel I understand the real-world economics better. For a novice like me, it is relatively easy to follow the contents because it's full of examples from real business world. I assume this book will be satisfactory to more "academic" readers too because the book still doesn't fail to cover real economic materials like graphs and theories.

This is the third book of the Diana Gabaldon Outlander and of all the years I have been reading, they are my favorite series. Ms. Gabaldone will keep you in laughter and you will shed plenty of ters and she takes you on a journey with Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser. You will experience alot of history and become a part of what you read. Excellent books and Voyager is one of my favorites

Third in the series and just as riviting. I read this one cover to cover, almost non-stop, save for eating and some sleep! I just love this series.

This book is part of a series, and although I haven't actually gotten to it I can be absolutely sure it is going to be exciting. One thing to remember however, is that every one of these books begins slowly, and until you get into the first 2-3 chapters it's slow going. But do keep reading!

The history of Scotland, France, etc., that Ms. Gabaldon attaches to these stories is historically accurate, too.

Awesome books by a great writer.

Okay, I'm going to keep this review brief.
This is after all the third book in this series and chances are if you've read the other two you'll probably read this one as well...

I am so happy to have found this series, I love it. I think it's great fun...well that is if you like to be kept hanging on the edge of your seat. I love the characters and the history and the storytelling is great!

Last night I was getting to the end of the book and feeling disappointed that it would be over until I remembered that there are three more books in the series! and more on the way!

While working at a bookstore, I decided that I needed to read one sci-fi and one romance novel just to get a feel for the genre. I selected Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" for the romance novel, and was absolutely captivated by her story and style. I devoured the first three books in less than six weeks--an amazing feat for me as a slow reader with sight impairments--and have started at least 200 people on these books since then. I've had exactly 2 negative reactions.

Voyager, as I said above, is my favorite of all the books so far. In the last 300 pages or so, Gabaldon's plot moves at breathtaking speed, tying up many ends. The conclusion is stunning. In a year when real time/distance travel is curtailed by high gasoline prices, the "Outlander" series--and "Voyager" in particular--is a mental escape of the first order. If you need some place to go on your "staycation," I would strongly suggest Scotland in the mid-1700's, and a visit with Jamie and Clare Fraser. You won't be disappointed.

The book is in really good condition, and the vendor was out of town but he sent an email apologizing for the delay. After that I got it right away.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to understand and well organized. I was able to learn a lot about Eastern Religions with this book that I got an 'A' in my Religions class. Yay!

This book is one of the most interesting text book i have come across. It gives enough details of every well known religion. there are also photographs giveen to show you what the tevt is explaining.

An excellent introduction to the world's primary religious and wisdom traditions: their origins, major tenets, peculiarities and similarities across the spectrum, and contemporary manifestations. Along with the companion book, An Anthology of Living Religions, this text offers a solid study in the world's religions.

While Living Religions is a good source of information, it was incredibly difficult to read. It was like reading an encyclopedia. I did not like the authors gender bias.

first off i want to thank malcolm x for his thoughts on race after visiting mecca.he saw that persons of all races got together to worship and were colorblind.i will see this man in heaven he saw past racism in america to be a great christian!also i would like to give a big F to public schools in america for not teaching everything about slavery and who was involved,for example it wasn't until i went to college to major in history that i learned the truth about slavery.the white man didn't just go to africa with a big gun and round up black people as slaves,they established trade with the local tribes who traded goods with tribal leaders who had their own slaves as spoils of war and traded them with the white man as just another trade good so the tribes that traded were africans tradeing off other africans to the white's.try to find this in high school history or elementary school history,not likely.it is true that some white slave owners treated slaves horribly and i'm sure african tribes even treated some of their slaves horribly also.wrong is wrong no matter what your skin looks like!slavery is wrong!racism is wrong!!!!! ! ! "everyone" should be able to live free and should be able to worship freely and have pride in their people without being called racist! i'm guilty of being white, i love my race,does this make me a racist! no i don't think so. LOVE,RED

I read this book along time ago and still retain alot of what I learned from it. There is no beating around the bush in this from the beginning he tells of his life as it happened. He tells of an early career in crime to his time in prison and he does not attempt to sugarcoat anything. He does explain his reasoning for having done what he had done in his youth, but he does not claim to be innocent.
He did manage to find a better way to fight his enemies during his incarceration, and anyone who has ever seen any footage of Malcolm X will understand what I mean. The man was a very acticulate and confrontational speaker. He was the spark that ignited the engine of the civil rights movement in many respects. The civil rights movement began as far back as pre-civil war and was slow to develop with minor progress for each generation. Malcolm was the man brave enough to say enough and to make his voice heard over the many voices of the nation that tried to rise over him.
Here is a man that took it upon himself to correct a society that had become accepting of the crimes of their ancestors and simply ignored them. It is only a stonesthrow back in time if you think about it and yet it is painful to imagine people could be so cruel.
I recommend this to anyone who hasn't read it as it is an excellent book and is a document of the life of a man who managed to play a pivotal role in changing the way America viewed itself.

Despite the dispiriting revelation that this book was almost totally written by Alex Haley, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" remains one of my favorite books. Which is a little strange, since his well-known struggles with civil rights, the police, Black identity, and Islam have little or no relevance to my life. Sorry.

The part of this book that affects me most deeply is where Malcolm is in prison educating himself, studying on the floor of his cell in the dim night light. I can't think of another tale about the birth of an autodidact and the rewards of reading that is as uplifting and memorable as Malcolm's. I first read this book about twenty years ago, and that's the part that always sticks with me: the power of books to change your life, regardless of who you are or what you've done. And much of the rest sticks with me too, for example the poignant case of "West Indian Archie."

I would like to advise, however, that you buy this edition: Autobiography of Malcolm X (Penguin Modern Classics), rather than the Ballantine edition, as the binding on the latter has proven unreliable, to say the least. I have gone through three different copies of the Ballantine edition of Malcolm X and the binding has fallen apart on all three of them -- to the point where the covers have come completely off, even though I don't really mistreat books. It can't just be bad luck.

Malcolm X was said to have been a formidable debater, yet it's curious to me that none of his opponents ever made the obvious, unanswerable point: that whatever crimes and horrors the West can be charged with vis-à-vis the African slave trade, those of Islam have been even more extensive and blood-soaked. They go back a lot further, and continued a lot later. In fact, it was only two years previous to Malcolm's making his Hajj to Mecca (1964) that slavery was made illegal in Saudi Arabia!

Hence jettisoning Christianity and Western culture for the supposed moral high ground of Islam was, when you think about it, a dingy move on Malcolm's part. Yet it is, unfortunately, the entirety of his position.

But you'll find this book a cracking good read nonetheless.

An excellent unflinching book about Malcolm X read for my "Understanding Religious Traditions in Multicultural America" last spring. While at times unnerving to read due to its stark honesty, it was very illuminating. As a non-American, it really helped give me further insight into how powerful and tense race is of an issue in American culture. As someone born into a Muslim family, but is a closet agnostic, the perversions I felt Elijah Muhammad perpetuated made me severely uncomfortable anyway. Several parts of this book made me cry, or be wistful I could somehow have found peace in Islam as Malcolm X did.

A very good book.

Every American should read this literature. It discusses America's most obvious flaw. More importantly it demonstrates the power of transformation, tolerance of self and of others, cooperation and the importance of hope.

After reading this book I was left with a pretty vivid conception of Middle Eastern politics and society. The author does a good job connecting various events and figures together, which makes conceptualizing a holistic picture much easier than treating them as distinct.

Organizationally, the book was easily navigable by region/chronology. This also contributed to the coherence of the text as I never felt the author was jumping around, but rather moving in a progression.

I also enjoyed the simplicity of the author's language, it was concise and precise. At the same time, the author avoided dry writing, and never managed to lose my interest.

The only thing I felt was missing from this text was the inclusion of more North African countries, which although may not be geographically the "Middle East" still has strong connections to Middle Eastern culture and politics

Given that it's only around 480 pages, this is about all the author could possibly cover. Excellent book, and not biased IMO.

for the amount of history that is compacted into this work it still admazes me at how little is left out. the meat is left, and even though the fat gives the taste, it is the meat that we need to live off. for all it is a must read on what the middle east is and why. i require it for all my soldiers who want to make rank. this is a work from the highest of scholary men.

Cleveland's history of the Middle East is a superb summary of events that span the time between the formations of the Ottoman Empire and the Gulf War while weaving in the influence of Islam and the challenges of capitalism and imperialism. Cleveland brings his skill as a writer and analysis to bear on explaining the historical basis for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, and a dozen other conflicts in this volatile region.

Cleveland's presentation of Middle East history is a 5-star work of art and analysis.

This is one of the best overviews of the Middle East I have found. IT is distinguished in that it manages to keep to its topic of the Middle East instead of losing focus and revolving everything aruond the state of Israel. While it includes this in the history there is a lot more that has taken shape here and continues to take shape. All in all a very good overview.

What a great primer to get me all juiced for the 2008 Olympics. The Olympics are my favorite sporting event. The grandeur and the dramatics are unequalled in any sport. This absorbing book by David Maraniss takes you back in time to the 1960 Olympics in Rome and the smooth flowing narrative makes this a quick read and matches the excitement you would expect from an Olympic Event. You can sense the winds of change sweeping the world as we head into the turbulent 60's. It's all there the racism, the emergence of sports in the communist countries as a propaganda tool, Aparthied, the seperation of Germany, events tainted by drugs, the struggle of the IOC to seperate amateurs from professionals. A fascinating book.

I am not particularly fond, overall, of sports literature and normally do not read in this particular genre, although, I must admit I enjoy watching sports, follow various sports year by year, and indeed, have been an overall participant in various sports, all my life, more so when I was younger. The Olympic games have always occupied a special place for me and the 1960 Olympics was the first one that I became truly aware of what was going on. My age at the time and the fact that I actually was able to watch many of the vents on television had much to do with this. That being said, I will admit to being a history nut and this work by David Maraniss is a history as much as it is a work about a particular sport.

The 1960 Olympics was held at a time when the world was on the cusp of great change. Not only in the United States were these changes about to take place, but the entire world was on the edge, and we were beginning one of those periodic watershed eras that come along every so often. New nations in Africa were being formed. The old Colonial powers had gasped their last and were no more. Governments were changing, attitudes were changing and the world was just beginning to become wired. There were two super powers at that time, the United States and Russia. These two countries were locked in a war, the Cold War and this war was at its height. These Olympics held in Rome, had this struggle of ideas as a constant backdrop and its presents was quite significant. The two Germanys, for the first time, were acting as a single team; not having completely split as they would soon do and the entire contest was not only the United States v/s Russia, but it was East v/s West.
Racism, sexism and all the other old evils of this world were alive and well. The games were still controlled by Avery Brundage and his band of "old guard." Brundage was truly a horrid man and represented the worse of the "ruling class" of the time and treated the Olympic movement as a private fiefdom and all those who participated as his own flock of surfs. Truly, in my opinion, and the author's as well, you could not have found a man, or group of men, who personified racism, sexism, arrogance, privileged class ethos and egotism more than Brundage and his cohorts.

The author's easy writing style makes this an easy, understandable and enjoyable read. As has been pointed out, each chapter is almost a news report, cum essay, on different aspect of these games; addressing individuals, events and the ever present political background. Many of the great names appear is this work; Wilma Rudolph. Lance Larson. Otis Davis, Herb Elliott, Cassius Clay, Rafer Johnson, C.K. Yang, Abebe Bikila, Al Oerter, the Tigerbelles and their coach Ed Temple, and many, many more (to name just a few) of the truly greats are written about, assessed and discussed. The author has given us a real feel for the times and has given us much to reflect over. Communications, training methods, attitudes toward different sexes and races, the beginnings of doping, how the athletes were treated and how various fans responded are all covered in this fine work.

I do take some umbrage with the assertion that these games change the world. I personally feel that these games were held at a time of change and that those who participated, at ever level, were merely reacting to the changes taking place rather that actually forcing the changes themselves. This is a mote point though and really has little to do with the actually book. It the subtitle upsets you, ignore it.

This was a very informative, well written, well researched work and it as truly a joy to read.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

"Dad! Your name is in this book" That was a pleasant surprise. I bought the book because I was on the U.S. Cycling team for the Rome and Tokyo Olymics. I hadn't started reading it when my son, Chuck, made his discovery. Another book I had read recently dealt with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as an importabt point in modern Japanese history. Inventing Japan: 1853-1964 (Modern Library Chronicles)Ian Buruma's 5 page prologue highlights that Olympic experience. I saw the marathon on various TV screens as I was going to different banks buying Olympic coins. Abe Bikela was the winner as he was in Rome except he wore shoes this time. The drama was that a Japanese runner, Tsubuya Kokichi, entered the stadium in second place. The crowd roared as he headed into the turn for the last lap. Then an English runner entered the stadium at a much faster pace than Kokichi. There was a very Japanese intake of breath by the thousands of fans. The Englishman passed Kokichi in the home stretch to claim second. Tsubuya Kokichi was one of two Japanese competitors that committed suicide because they felt they had failed to meet expectations.

The book Rome 1960 has enriched and expanded my experience as a participant and a spectator. Even if my name wasn't in the book I appreciated the connections I had with other named athletes and personalities. I succeeded where Rafer Johnson failed. I was in Spartacus, as an extra. The studio hired my NROTC unit to march as Roman soldiers.
Thanks to David Maraniss for his great book.

Wes Chowen

The strong response of Amazon reviewers is definitely justified and cheers are in order for both the author and Simon and Schuster for bringing this book out just in time to coincide with the 2008 games. This is five-star historiography, with the perfect blend of biographical, cultural, political and athletic fact. Maraniss showcases the experience of a number of individuals (for American readers, Rafer Johnson, Wilma Rudolph, Cassius Clay, Avery Brundage, et al.) but situates that experience within its historical moment, a moment replete with racial overtones, cold war implications, doping allegations and other key elements. He tells you about the Roman weather and landscape, about the physical challenges and physical ailments of the athletes, their romantic connections, financial support (or non-support), their equipment, their friendships and their rivalries. He does not attempt to cover every last detail of the 1960 olympics. For example, while he quotes the gold medalist swimmer Bill Mulliken, he does not discuss Mulliken's unexpected, dark-horse victory. Nevertheless, this is a lovely read, with apt illustrations, historical point and significant human interest.

Maraniss defines the 1960 Olympics that changed the world not purely because of the political influence of the Cold War, that was obvious in 1936, but in describing the emergence of Russia as a dominant athletic power where the Soviet Union and the U.S. became the dominant medal winners and where the cold war rhetoric emerged more directly in the Olympics as they increasingly did over the next several. Other issues that came into the spotlight was the battle of the China's, National versus Communist requiring the former to accept a different name, the emergency of drug enhancements that resulted in the death of a Danish cyclist, the contrast in the dominance of black athletes such as Rafer Johnson and Wilma Rudolph and the Tennessee State contingent that included long jumper Ralph Boston with how they were treated in some parts of the country where blacks were still segregated, and the fascinating discussion of what was defined as amateur athletics that meant living virtually in poverty in the U.S. in stark contrast to a professional life style for many athletes in other countries. However, the greatest parts of the book are the individual stories of inspiring competitors such as Rudolph who fought off the effects of polio as a child to become the dominant sprinter in the games and won the crowd with her open and very likable personality. The author also describes the frustration of many athletes who are expected to win such as ray Norton who struggles valiantly but meets the definition perhaps of trying too hard as woman's track coach Ed Norton states that in the sprints, those that strain are defeated by those that can run relaxed. Other great stories and descriptions of great completions include Otis Davis who had very little experience in running internationally but wins a photo finish in the 400 meters. Many other great portrayals include swimmers such as Lance Larson who appears rooked out of a medal and diving champ Ingrid Kraemer from East Germany but on a trumped combined German team, the German brash sprinter Armin Hary who wins the 100 meters, the U.S. basketball team made up of some of the greatest stars of the future like Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, the wide open emergence of Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) who shouts that he will have Floyd Patterson "for dinner!", and of course the Ethiopian that shocked the world winning the marathon barefoot, Abebe Bikila. Bikila's win is ironic because along the course he passes a notable Ethiopian monument that was stolen by Mussolini's forces in the 1930s when Italy invaded Ethiopia. Fittingly, the climax of the book is Rafer Johnson's titanic battle against his college teammate from National China, C.K.Yang that comes down to the very last event, Yang's best. The book is complete with excellent photographs such as Australia's Herb Elliott shattering the 1500 meter field to the most poignant photo of all, Johnson and Yang at the end of their final event, Johnson with his head laying across Yang's shoulder for support as they appear to hold each other up after the exhausting competition, competitors but always friends. This is a highly readable book and it is well written. Obviously, more to the American view but well laced with interviews and discussions of notable athletes from al countries like the "Flying Sikh".

I liked this book, I found the historical part of it interesting although much of it was fictional in order to fill in the "holes" of the life of the Boleyn girls. It was well written and worth reading!

I enjoyed this book so much, I read it twice. Rarely do I do that. I was disappointed in the watered-down film version, however. This is my first Philippa Gregory book, but certainly not my last.

I simply couldn't put this book down! Just read one bit at the bookstore and I promise you won't be disappointed!
It is well written, creative, and NEVER a dull moment in the life of the court! I loved how the author revived the Boleyn family and created such wonderful characters that you want to see succeed in life! You want to meet them, spend the day with them, and help them! It was just a lovely book and I can't wait to read more of her novels!!!

I loved this book, I thought that it was very well written. Phillipa Gregory makes it feel like you are there watching all of the stuff as its happening. It is so hard to believe that these were real people, who had to live like that. She makes history fun to read about. It is such a great book. I recommend it to all my friends and family that enjoy reading. I will defiantly read this one again!!!!

Historical fiction is a favourite guilty pleasure of mine, and I came to this book with no pre-conceptions; in fact, I actually expected to like it. Unfortunately, and many reviewers have said it more eloquently than I, TOBG is poorly-written, vulgar and offensive on a number of levels. It is reminiscent of self-indulgent internet fanfic, where the only constructive criticism received must have been along the lines of "Soooo need more!!1!!!" I am still mystified as to how it even got published in its current form.

I get that this is historical _fiction_, and that that means an author is free to make up details as he or she sees fit. Of course, one can never expect complete accuracy; I am pretty tolerant of historical errors and literary licence, provided that these are acknowledged and disclosed to the reader. I've enjoyed numerous historical novels, most of which could never be regarded as classic literature or accurate, but which bring to life the era and the personalities vividly. I did not expect the definitive biography of Anne and Mary Boleyn by any stretch of the imagination. What I did expect though was at least an attempt at treating the characters with a modicum of respect and remaining true as far as possible to what we know about them, as well as a gripping and enjoyable story. TOBG provided neither.

This author claims to be a "feminist historian." However there is nothing "feminist" about the portrayal of the women here, in fact like a previous reviewer, I think it's bordering on misogynist: Mary and Anne are reduced to one-dimensional representatives of the "Madonna/whore" stereotype, with Mary being the ultimate Mary Sue, embodiment of all that is pure and virtuous (complete with some 21st century attitudes about marrying for love), and Anne a vicious, megalomaniacal, amoral troll with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Mary's reputation - which comes to us from contemporary accounts - as a good-time girl of the French court is completely whitewashed over; in this universe, she is a sweet, innocent teenager when she becomes Henry VIII's mistress. There's no sign of Anne Boleyn, the cultured, very well-educated, multilingual Renaissance lady and Queen, who produced the great Elizabeth I and during her lifetime, patronised the arts, generously dispensed charity and was deeply interested in religious reform, to name just a few things.

This novel does both of these women, as well as the other characters, a disservice with this flat, caricatured portrayal. There is no light and shade, no complexity; in fact, some of the characterisations are completely implausible. The dialogue is frequently anachronistic, the prose is often turgid and heavy-handed - Gregory tells, rather than shows - and I found myself skim-reading a lot of it just to finish it. The language evokes little sense of the period, with characters being attributed with modern attitudes and opinions. It takes some doing, but TOBG manages to turn interesting, dramatic and complex events into a dreary, tedious family soap opera.

Fiction dealing with people who really existed is tough to write, as I believe there is a responsibility to remain as close to the facts as we know them as possible; one must have very good reason to diverge from the accepted historical record. This means researching the era and the personalities almost as thoroughly as one would a biography. As other reviewers have pointed out, Gregory's research - if the listed bibliography is all that was consulted - appears shoddy at best: she ignores the definitive biography of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives, for example. Some of the plot elements are so removed from the historical record that it is hard to take the novel seriously. Anne marrying Henry Percy? Being sent to France as "punishment"? Henry VIII fathering both of Mary Boleyn's children? The Boleyn parents effectively being pimps for their daughters? Anne seducing Henry away from her sister? "Stealing" or "abducting" Mary's son to establish him as a "potential Tudor-Boleyn heir"? George Boleyn sleeping with Francis Weston (this element did nothing to advance the story whatsoever, and seemed to be included for the sake of it) but also happens to be sexually attracted to his sister ... and acts on it? Mark Smeaton being _ Weston_'s musician? Deformed incest babies? The list goes on. Sorry, just no.

Again, an author is entitled to take liberties and deviate from the historical record for dramatic purposes, but here, there is no disclosure that this has occurred; in fact, there has been repeated insistence to the contrary. Further, it is difficult to see how the plot and the central themes of the novel would have suffered had some of the above elements been accurate.

This would have been a far better novel had it focused on purely imaginary characters, set in Tudor times. The same themes could have been explored just as effectively had the protagonists been say, two fictional noblewomen vying for the attention of the Duke of Whatever, and there is no restriction on how the personalities are portrayed or the course of events.

I respect the fact that many readers have enjoyed this novel for what it is, but I sincerely hope those whose interest in the period has been sparked by TOBG will go beyond this frankly bizarre alternate universe and sketchy bibliography, and discover the fascinating story of the _real_ Anne Boleyn. Excellent non-fiction sources include Ives' "The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn"; and Antonia Fraser and David Starkey's works on the six wives. As for novels about Anne Boleyn - although dated, the best I've found are probably those by Margaret Campbell Barnes ("Brief Gaudy Hour") and Jean Plaidy ("Murder Most Royal").

I have not begun using this material due to the semester not starting until the Fall but it is a required text.

i have not yet recieved the book ( 02/25/08), though i am supposed to reciev it by 02/13/08

Since a few of the other reviews are too over-the-top to take seriously, I thought I would add my comments: It's nice 'cause it fits in your pocket, & it's nice cause it has lots of the Bates pictures in it. Unfortunately, it includes a lot of basic text at the expense of the more uncommon presentations and PE tests. I'm in the middle of my PA rotation year and I already ignore this book most of the time for that reason. If you have already memorized the more basic aspects of the larger Bates text, don't expect to reference this often. I'll repeat though - it IS nice to have the pictures...

This "Bates' Pocket Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking" is an easy-to-comprehend manual which was structured in a way that should meet the needs of both doctors and nurses. The information contained in this book are simple and straightforward; and just like the complete edition, they included paediatric coverage. The chapters of this book examined both morphological and physiological abnormalities and/or irregularities. They included several illustrative charts and tables, which facilitate comparative analyses of clinical data.
If appropriately adhered to, the supervisory procedures outlined in this book would assist medics in making correct evaluation of each case they encounter. Also worth pointing out, is the way the book paid attention to drug administration.
In all, this is a good medical adviser, which inexperienced medics should have in their lab-coat pockets.

The Batess' pocket guide is a wonderful tool for clinicians.
It is simple, thorough, and clear with good illustrations. Keep it within your reach !!

Restoration Paris, 1818. It has been over twenty years since the Revolution, Napoleon is in exile and the Bourbon kings are back on the throne of France. But the past still echoes...


Hector Carpentier is an ordinary medical student living at home with his mother, where she takes in boarders to help make ends meet. He is suddenly thrust into a murder investigation when detective Eugene Francois Vidocq turns up on his doorstep. It seems Hector's name has been found on a piece of paper that was concealed on a dead body. Hector has never seen or heard of the victim before. He is at a loss to explain why the man might have had his name and been at pains to hide it.


Before he knows what's happening, he is swept along with Vidocq and into a case that has the potential to shake France to its core. The evidence points to a conspiracy to kill a simple, quiet young man who lives in the country and who just might be the heir to the throne of France, Louis-Charles.


During the Revolution, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were both killed. Their two children, Marie-Therese-Charlotte and Louis-Charles were imprisoned in the Black Tower. Marie was eventually released but Louis-Charles died in prison. Or did he? The rumors have always circulated that he might have escaped and impostors have turned up before. But this young man has no memory of his early life and does not claim to be the lost prince. Someone believes he is, though, and they are intent on his death. It is up to Vidocq and Hector to unravel the mystery and protect the unassuming, fragile young man.


Louis Bayard paints a fascinating picture of the little-known real life detective, Vidocq. The world's first real police detective, he had a background in crime and had been imprisoned in his youth. He knew the criminal mind from personal experience and was able to use his knowledge to become an extremely successful detective. To me he seemed to be a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Columbo because of his flair for disguise and his gruff demeanor. Restoration Paris is likewise brought to life brilliantly. This book is a wonderful historical adventure.

The trick with historical fiction is to make the might have been the must have happened! Louis Bayard not only spins a fine tale in the Black Tower, he brings it to life so that we really believe that France's "lost prince" may have survived.

Historical and fictional characters are brilliantly intertwined and the edges blurred enough in this fast paced story from the French revolution. At the beginning of the novel we find the infamous Parisian "detective" (such concepts did not exist of course) Ridoq - half Sherlock Holmes, half psychopath - investigating the strange murder of a Parisian and tracking down our "hero" Dr. Charpentier. Charpentier is dragged into an investigation that delves into what happened in the "Black Tower" to the son of Louis and Marie-Antoinette.

This is a thriller / detective story of the highest order with plenty of twists and turns, yet written in an extremely interesting way. Read it!

This work will grab your attention the moment you open the cover, and will capture you until the last page is turned. Broad in scope and grand in detail, the plot line will ensure satisfying reading.

The Black Tower is a clever, well-researched and written historical detective novel about Hector Carpentier, a medical student who lives with his widowed mother in her home in Paris's Latin Quarter. When a scrap of paper with his name written on it is found on the body of a dead man just three blocks from his home, Hector finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous, confusing investigation, led by clever police detective named Vidocq.

Soon, the investigation has them trudging through the murky, tragic past.

This is a well written novel about a fascinating time period and an even more fascinating historical "mystery" (the fate of Louis XVII, Marie Antoinette's son).

The Black Tower exemplifies the increasingly popular genre of literary mysteries, well-crafted novels that create suspense without compromising artistic integrity. As in his previous novels, Bayard has chosen a historical setting, complete with famous persons from that time period, as the backdrop for this whodunit.

The story opens with excerpts from a journal, describing the cruel imprisonment and physical deterioration of the Dauphin Louis-Charles, the young son of the recently deposed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who is rumored to have died in the Black Tower. From there we flash forward in time and learn, through the first-person narration of medical student Hector Carpentier, about the murder of a man carrying a note with Hector's name on it. Inspector Vidocq, a lovable rogue modeled on another real-life figure who is often credited as being the first modern private investigator, senses that the murdered man's tie to Hector is the secret to unraveling the murder and forces Hector to support the investigation. When they discover that it is really Hector's diseased father (also a doctor named Hector) that the dead man was seeking, the investigation puts them on the trail of a labyrinthine plot to murder another young man who may or may not be the long-lost Dauphin.

I would recommend The Black Tower to any mystery lover who has an interest in historical settings and conspiracies, as Bayard breathes life into early nineteenth-century Paris with his strong research and insightful prose. His fastidious development of setting and character do, however, rein in the pace of this mystery, and the middle third lacks the momentum of the tantalizing beginning and the frenetic ending. That said, the deliciously ambiguous resolution of the novel becomes all-the-more stimulating because of the careful groundwork Bayard establishes during these introspective middle passages. And, in the end, Louis Bayard's artistic blurring of mystery and historical fiction proves to be a winning formula that makes me want to explore his other works, such as The Pale Blue Eye: A Novel (P.S.).