Myself My Enemy (Queens of England Series, Book 1)

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Nice Perspective on Henrietta Maria

Disappointing

THE ROAD THAT LED TO REGICIDE...

Myself My Enemy (Queens of England Series, Book 1)
Jean Plaidy
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0399128778

Customer Reviews:

Nice Perspective on Henrietta Maria.......2006-12-01

I got on an English Civil War kick a little while ago, and when I started to look around for some novels to read, one of the first I came across was Myself My Enemy, Jean Plaidy's 1983 novel about Henrietta Maria, wife to Charles I.

Myself My Enemy is written in the first person, and traces Henrietta Maria's growth from a headstrong young girl to a more reflective older woman, one with many regrets.

This isn't the best novel about the English Civil War I've ever read. Plaidy's prose isn't particularly memorable, and she always tends to tell more than to show. Nonetheless, Plaidy has a gift for getting inside her characters' heads and making the reader care for them, and I thought she did that well with Henrietta. Fiercely loyal to her husband, deeply committed to her Catholic faith, suffering myriad tragedies, and just as often doing the wrong thing as the right one, Henrietta is an interesting heroine, and Plaidy succeeds in making her an appealing one despite her manifest flaws, of which Henrietta is all too aware despite her best efforts to rationalize her actions to herself. Her wavering between self-knowledge and self-justification is depicted particularly well in the scene where Henrietta mourns her son Henry, whom she had alienated before his untimely death by attempting to convert to Catholicism.

Plaidy depicts Charles I sympathetically, without idealizing him, and the relationship between him and Henrietta is moving. Charles II, blithely ignoring his mother's advice, and not without good reason, is also well drawn.

Judging from the reading I've done since about Henrietta Maria, Plaidy seems to have researched Henrietta's life thoroughly and stuck to historical fact, a refreshing contrast to some more recent novels I've read about other historical figures.

All in all, an interesting introduction to a beleaguered queen, and one that got me scouring the library to learn more about Henrietta.

Disappointing.......2006-07-11

I've really enjoyed Jean Plaidy's books over the years, but hadn't read one in quite a while. Since they've begun to be re-published I decided to see what the library had to offer. I picked this up because I knew very little about the English Civil War and its principal players.

Jean Plaidy usually excels at drawing the reader into a specific historical period through excellent research and detailed description, but I found this book lacking. It felt like a first draft. Written in the first person, Henrietta Marie's voice is repetitious. All of the historical events presented feel shallow due to a lack of detail. King Charles' presence is barely felt as are her feelings toward him. The relationship--supposedly a great love match--never feels fully fleshed out. There's a lack of physical description that makes it hard to feel part of the scene. None of the other characters register as real people either.

Overall, it was a rather boring read. I did finish the book, because I was actually interested in the subject. This is the only fictional account of Henrietta Marie I've been able to find. I give it two stars for that alone.

Read this if you're curious, but I'd recommend any other of Jean Plaidy's books especially The Queen's Confession about Marie Antoinette (written under her Victoria Holt nom de plume) or The Lady in the Tower about Anne Boleyn.

THE ROAD THAT LED TO REGICIDE..........2002-08-27

Henrietta Maria, a Catholic, found herself married to Charles, a Protestant, living in a Protestant country, among a Protestant people. The English, at the time, viewed Catholics with deep suspicion, as the excesses of the Catholic Queen Mary, "Bloody Mary", the daughter of Henry VIII, were still not forgotten. A fervent Catholic, however, Henrietta would not put aside her religion, nor was she particularly discreet about her devotion to Catholicism, and, as such, was never fully accepted by the English people.

Henrietta Maria was an impetuous and pretty, young woman, fond of musical revels, fashionable clothes, and gossip. Her husband, Charles, a family man of principle and integrity, was devoted to her, and together they would go on to have a number of children. Their marriage of state, made for the purpose of maintaining a Franco-English alliance, turned out to be a true love match.

Henrietta Maria was also, however, a puppet of Rome, charged with leading Protestant England back to Catholicism. This was to cloud her judgment, at times, and cause much trouble down the road, and, ultimately, serve to pave the way for the rise of Cromwell and his Puritans. They would make her devotion to her religion and her influence over her husband a focal point for turbulence and civil war. Her loyalty and love for her husband was legendary, but not even she could keep him from the road that led to regicide.

Written in the first person, this is a wonderfully told tale of an enigmatic, little known Queen, who wielded great influence over her beloved husband. Rich with historical detail, it is an enormously entertaining novel that is rife with the political intrigues of the day. All those who love reading well written, historical fiction should enjoy it.

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True inspiration

PHENOMENAL Book - It Should Be Made Into a Movie!

Meri Kennedy's Book is Great - Her Same Abuser Had Threatened Me Too

Very helpful

Well done! "My Enemy, Myself" should be required reading for health care professionals... and ...

My Enemy, Myself
Meri R Kennedy
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1424115949

Book Description

My Enemy, Myself is a personal journey through the recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder, depression and Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome. Told with a balance of poetry and prose, the author recalls her journey through chaos, realization, therapy, and recovery. Whether you have been through similar trauma in your life or know someone who has, My Enemy, Myself was written for the reader to identify with the emotions, thought patterns, and self-actualizations. Labeled as a "highly functioning borderline," the author was able to mask many of her symptoms and issues from those around her for decades. It is now her turn to do the unthinkable...tell all that happened to her.

Customer Reviews:

True inspiration.......2006-08-07

Meri Kennedy is a true inspiration to us all. The way she describes her childhood and all the trauma is phenomenal. She is a gifted writer. Each one of her poems was like an introduction to each chapter. Each chapter seemed to be a chapter of her life. Survivors need someone to turn to and this was a great book to turn to. I know many people will benefit from her book and become inspired themselves. I would encourage anyone to read this book.

PHENOMENAL Book - It Should Be Made Into a Movie!.......2006-07-20

This is an absolutely phenomenal book. It's as suspenseful as the best of novels on the one hand, and it includes the author's poetry on the other. It is also a crime story told from the victim's perspective, and from that angle it's heartbreaking. The author was sexually assaulted by her own older brother, as sadistic and manipulative a creature as any found in the annals of literature, for many, many years, starting before she even started kindergarten. How the author, Meri Kennedy, was able to emerge from all of this is a triumph, and it makes for great reading too! There is a universality to this story whether the reader has ever experienced abuse or not. I've heard it said that evil can only exist in the darkness whenever someone sheds a light on evil, it's illuminated and stopped in its tracks. The fact that Ms. Kennedy had the guts to shine a light on the evil that she was forced to endure in her own home, while the unpunished perpetrator is still alive, is nothing short of amazing. It reminds me of all the sayings about how lotus flowers only get the chance to bloom after rising above the mud. I highly recommend this incredible book.

Meri Kennedy's Book is Great - Her Same Abuser Had Threatened Me Too.......2006-06-28

I wanted to say just how relieved I was to read this book - if it is possible to be relieved by reading a book concerning the rape of a child - by Meri Kennedy. It was a relief to me, though, because at one time I knew one of Ms. Kennedy's abusers, and he threatened me, too - and later made up all kinds of mindless, ludicrous lies to try to cover himself and his hideous actions. The man is a rampaging sadist. It is with remarkable, stunning courage that Ms. Kennedy has sat down and written this book, and I applaud her efforts wholeheartedly. The more people can read and find out about the minds of the kinds of people like this decent, gutsy woman's abusers, the better. Thank you for writing this, Ms. Kennedy, and I wish all the very best to you.

Very helpful.......2006-05-23

As a counselor for women that have experienced abuse, I am always in search of clarity and understanding for the serious problems that are often consequences of trauma. I found that reading this book has helped me approach the subject of borderline personality disorder and trauma due to child abuse with a greater and deeper understanding and by doing so, will help to empower those women that are working so strongly on their own persoanl growth.
I encourage professionals and anyone interested in learning to feel about this subject to read My Enemy, myself.

Well done! "My Enemy, Myself" should be required reading for health care professionals... and ..........2006-04-07

Well done! "My Enemy, Myself" should be required reading for health care professionals...and...anyone in the human race. Thank you Ms. Kennedy for sharing your story and affirming that good triumphs over evil.

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Myself My Enemy
Plaidy Jean
Manufacturer: Putnam and Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JPLLCW

Average customer rating:

Myself My Enemy (Queens of England)
Jean Plaidy
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TBIZA2

Average customer rating:

THE ROAD TO REGICIDE...

Myself my Enemy
Jean Plaidy
Manufacturer: ROBERT HALE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2UBRG

Customer Reviews:

THE ROAD TO REGICIDE..........2006-10-07

This is the first volume in the Queens of England series of books by Jean Plaidy, who is also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt. It is a well written work of historical fiction that tells the story of the daughter of King Henry IV of France, Henrietta Maria, who went on to marry King Charles I of England.

Henrietta Maria, a Catholic, found herself married to Charles, a Protestant, living in a Protestant country, among a Protestant people. The English, at the time, viewed Catholics with deep suspicion, as the excesses of the Catholic Queen Mary, "Bloody Mary", the daughter of Henry VIII, were still not forgotten. A fervent Catholic, however, Henrietta would not put aside her religion, nor was she particularly discreet about her devotion to Catholicism, and, as such, was never fully accepted by the English people.

Henrietta Maria was an impetuous and pretty, young woman, fond of musical revels, fashionable clothes, and gossip. Her husband, Charles, a family man of principle and integrity, was devoted to her, and together they would go on to have a number of children. Their marriage of state, made for the purpose of maintaining a Franco-English alliance, turned out to be a true love match.

Henrietta Maria was also, however, a puppet of Rome, charged with leading Protestant England back to Catholicism. This was to cloud her judgment, at times, and cause much trouble down the road, and, ultimately, serve to pave the way for the rise of Cromwell and his Puritans. They would make her devotion to her religion and her influence over her husband a focal point for turbulence and civil war. Her loyalty and love for her husband was legendary, but not even she could keep him from the road that led to regicide.

Written in the first person, this is a wonderfully told tale of an enigmatic, little known Queen, who wielded great influence over her beloved husband. Rich with historical detail, it is an enormously entertaining novel that is rife with the political intrigues of the day. All those who love reading well written, historical fiction should enjoy it.

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.

A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

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Good overview of ancient egyptian pantheon
omg
useful comprehensive reference of Egyptian gods & goddesses
Great book
Most Useful Pocket Dictionary of Egyptian gods

A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
George Hart
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0415059097

Book Description

This comprehensive handbook details the major gods and goddesses and presents a broad survey of others, giving a vivid picture of the complexity and richness of the imagery of Egyptian mythology. A "most useful reference for students of Egyptology and mythology," according to the Bibliography of Ancient Egypt, this is a valuable resouce for anyone interested in archaeology, travelers, visitors to museums ,and all those interested in mythology.

Customer Reviews:

Good overview of ancient egyptian pantheon.......2002-10-13

Although I used this book for learning english terms of egyptology it was quite entertainig too. For a dictionary the author applies a quite polemical view, take the damnation of plutarch and his made-up Osiris legend for example. Although the drawings are nice and clear the reader should use a picture book of epytian gods and goddesses on the side.

omg.......2002-02-04

this is the best book in the world
it helped me soooooooooooooooo much with my social studies project
it also helped me get an A+

useful comprehensive reference of Egyptian gods & goddesses.......2001-01-26

This dictionary not only lists famous Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses (for instance Hathor, Isis, Osiris and Geb), but also foreign and lesser-known deities, from Aken to Yamm. It presents all those worshipped at some point in Ancient Egyptian history. The information of each god and goddess given include the deity's attributes, such as sceptres, crowns and animal form. Illustrated with a few black and white illustrations, it is a most useful reference for students of Egyptology and mythology.

Great book.......2000-11-25

This is the first book about the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt that I have seen has been any good. It lists all the important and less important gods alphabetically. Some even have discriptions. It mainly shows what they were a god of, and some have short myths and legends about them. Of course if you want to learn more about a certain myth or god you will need a different book. But if you want to learn the jist of it, then this book is for you.

Most Useful Pocket Dictionary of Egyptian gods.......2000-06-23

If you need a handy dictionary of Ancient Egyptian deities, this is the one to get. It gives the basic information on most of the important gods & goddesses. What separates it from a few others, is that it does not rely soley on the later (Greek & Roman) myths, but also discusses the earlier references to the gods, and their development over time. Of course the descriptions are quite brief, as they must be for this kind of quick reference. This is not a picture book so it does not contain colored photographs, but it does include useful line drawings of many deities.

Book Description

The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses contains one of the most comprehensive listings and descriptions of Egyptian deities. Now in its second edition, it provides:

* A new introduction
* Updated entries and four new entries on deities
* Names of the deities as hieroglyphs
* A survey of gods and goddesses as they appear in classical literature
* An expanded chronology and updated bibliography, together with a list of relevant websites
* Drawings of the gods and emblems of each district
* A map of ancient Egypt and a time chart

Presenting a vivid picture of the complexity and richness of imagery in Egyptian mythology, students studying Ancient Egypt, travelers, visitors to museums and all those interested in mythology will find this an invaluable resource

The British Museum Pocket Dictionary of Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses (British Museum Pocket Dictionaries)

Average customer rating:

Perfect Introduction to Ancient Egypt

The British Museum Pocket Dictionary of Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses (British Museum Pocket Dictionaries)
George Hart
Manufacturer: British Museum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Ancient Egyptian Animals (British Museum Pocket Dictionaries)

ASIN: 0714119482

Customer Reviews:

Perfect Introduction to Ancient Egypt.......2005-06-09

I love this book. As an American living in Egypt, I keep a supply of this book in the house. I give them to everyone who is about to take their first tour of Egypt. It helps identify the gods and goddesses they will see everywhere. An easy way to know which goddesses you are looking at when she is wearing a vulture headdress.

Average customer rating:

A DICTIONARY OF EGYPTIAN GODS AND GODDESSES
George Hart
Manufacturer: Routledge & Kegan Paul
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXIBLO

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