He then explores the surviving documentation (from the Habsburgs, their allies, and their adversaries) on the formation of strategy in three crucial case studies: Philip’s unsuccessful efforts to maintain his authority in the Netherlands, his defective peacetime management of foreign relations with Scotland and England, and his failed Armada campaign against England. Geoffrey Parker begins by defining the characteristics of Spain’s strategic culture: the king’s distinctive system of government, the “information overload†that threatened to engulf it, and the various strategic priorities and assumptions used to overcome the disparity between aims and means. The author investigates the strengths and weaknesses of Philip’s strategic vision, the priorities that underlay his policies, the practices and prejudices that influenced his decision-making, and the external factors that affected the achievement of his goals. From 1556 until his death in 1598, Philip II of Spain ruled the first global empire in history, yet no one so far has analyzed precisely how he accomplished this feat.
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During his long life he produced more than 140 works. Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet and novelist, scholar, translator and writer of antiquity, specialising in Classical Greece and Rome. In The Golden Fleece Robert Graves transforms Greek myth into a thrilling and richly imagined story, bringing the ancient world vividly alive. As they battle clashing rocks, monsters and seductresses, watched over by pitiless gods, they will learn that victory comes at a price. Jason, who is so attractive that women fall instantly in love with him, sets sail in the Argo, along with the greatest heroes of ancient Greece, including the surly (and often drunk) Hercules, the enchanting musician Orpheus and the warring twins Castor and Pollux. In order to reclaim his father's kingdom, Jason has been sent on an impossible mission: to take the golden ram's fleece that lies far away, guarded by a dragon. Book I would have taken to a desert island: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Favorite authors back then: Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madeleine L’Engle, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Joan Aiken, Susan Cooper, Lloyd Alexander. Spent a lot of time lying on my bed reading. Father was a photographer for The Washington Post. It reminds us that friendship can outlast storms and landslides, anger and jealousy.ġ9 October 1962 in Washington, DC. The strong bond between Mary and Elizabeth sees them through struggles with poverty, rivalry and ostracism, as well as the physical dangers of their chosen obsession. In danger of being an outcast in her community, she takes solace in an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Philpot, a prickly London spinster with her own passion for fossils. Working in an arena dominated by middle-class men, however, Mary finds herself out of step with her working-class background. Remarkable Creatures is the story of Mary Anning, who has a talent for finding fossils, and whose discovery of ancient marine reptiles such as that ichthyosaur shakes the scientific community and leads to new ways of thinking about the creation of the world. With its long snout and prominent teeth, it might be a crocodile – except that it has a huge, bulbous eye. In 1810, a sister and brother uncover the fossilized skull of an unknown animal in the cliffs on the south coast of England. Giving him advice, criticism, and sometimes comfort are characters named Crazy Glue, Fat Bald Guy with a Mustache, Aunt Bee, Sexy Lady, and Laugh Track. The stress of juggling both his own life and his father's has Jason talking to the voices in his own mind. Now, Jason is in charge of damage control when his father dons his Greek war helmet as he rants and raves against the Furies who he believes killed his wife and are out to destroy him. It had always been his mother's responsibility to keep track of his father's erratic behavior, but she's gone. He's trying to keep up his grades, write for the advice column of the school newspaper, and keep an eye on his father. A cast of characters inhabit his mind their voices constantly whisper commentary on his every thought and action. Memories from before his mother died and before his father went crazy are the only things keeping Jason going, but his grasp on reality may be slipping. Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for As one of the previous reviewers pointed out, there are indeed lots of sex scenes, but they were all very tastefully and beautifully written (as were the descriptions of the wraeththu sexual organs. Incepted into this race by the latter means, a young man named Pellez is sent on a journey in which he must realize his destiny as the leader of this fledgling race and thereby bring peace to the land.Įqual parts political intrigue, erotica, and coming-of-age, this was one hell of a book I couldn't put down. These creatures are able to reproduce by two different means: the "old-fashioned" way, and also by injecting their own blood into a worthy human recipient, much like a vampire. Taking place in a Mad Max-like, post apocalyptic wasteland, a new race of psychically gifted, impossibly gorgeous hermaphroditic beings known as the Wraeththu emerge from the ashes to assume their rightful place as the highest life form on earth. Thank you PBS, for introducing me to my new favorite author! This book was unlike anything I've ever read. The Reykjavik summit produces some of Mallon's best writing. Hitchens arrives to report and issue cynical observations between cocktails, while Harriman knows that a successful summit for Reagan could scuttle her plans to help the Democrats take over the Senate in the ’86 midterms. Anders tags along as a stealth observer for the old cold warrior Nixon, who worries that Nancy Reagan and Secretary of State George Shultz will pressure the president into disastrous concessions. The more public story deals with the seminal events of Reagan's second term: the 1986 arms-control summit with Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland, and the Iran-Contra affair, which erupted that same year.Īll the book’s key players have a stake in Iceland. Two major stories unfold in Finale: one tracking the historical record and the other delving into the private life of Anders Little. At night, Ben Cortman, Robert’s friend and colleague, now a vampire, is usually the first to come to his door. He repairs the damages done by the vampires and hangs up the garlic that repels them. He also attacks the comatose vampires, killing them by hammering stakes into their hearts. When the vampires stay away from the sun and lie inactive, Robert Neville scavenges through the abandoned marts and malls of Los Angeles for essential supplies. Richard Matheson’s classic 1954 horror and science fiction book, ‘I Am Legend,’ is the originator of many science fictions and horror genres. Robert is immune to the contagion that caused the plague and strives to stay alive despite a host of plague victims who turned into zombie-like vampires. ‘I Am Legend’ tells the tale of Robert Neville, the lone survivor of a worldwide pandemic who finds himself fighting to exist in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. ‘I Am Legend’ is a horror and science fiction post-apocalyptic novel that answers the question: “What happens if the world is taken over by vampires?” With the jaw-dropping realistic description of events and an in-depth depiction of the range of emotions felt by Robert Neville, ‘I Am Legend’ holds its place as a sci-fi terror masterpiece. Using the third-person perspective, Richard Matheson tells the story of Robert Neville and his struggle to win in a world overthrown by vampires. She was attacked by them when she was a little girl – and then rescued by one of the wolves. The wolf pack that lives in Boundary Wood is bolder, stronger, and stranger than most. Mercy Falls is like most other small towns in most respects, but has one big difference – wolves. In the first book, we meet Grace, a high school senior who lives in the small town of Mercy Falls, Minnesota. Okay, the trilogy begins with Shiver. And let’s be honest: who could resist this cover? I love the cover artwork for this entire series. The Aroma of Books //Rants//Raves//Reviews// Pargeter, Edith (also writing as Ellis Peters).Mertz, Barbara (also writing as Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels).Christie, Agatha (also writing as Mary Westmacott).Children’s History: Landmark, Signature Biographies, and We Were There. In 1988, Sloan Hadfield’s brother Ridge went fishing with their father and never came home. Optimized for Kindle, this digitized version of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" delivers a seamless reading experience, preserving the essence of the classic while adapting to the needs of modern readers. With an ensemble of intriguing characters each concealing their own secrets, you'll be on the edge of your seat as the plot navigates unpredictable twists, culminating in a stunning revelation. The story unfurls as a famed detective, known for his distinctive intellect and razor-sharp perception, unravels the mystery. Set in the heart of a serene English village, tranquility breaks when a startling murder occurs. Penned by a renowned author, this riveting tale delivers a masterclass in suspense, plot twists, and unerring detective work. Summary Immerse yourself in the intrigue and suspense of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd," a captivating mystery eBook that stands as an unparalleled classic in the genre. READ The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: An Unforgettable Classic Mystery eBook - The Hercule Poirot Mysteries Book 4 Agatha Christie, Bluefire Books Mark, you should get what you deserve, but you won't because your wife is a saint and your friends are too good for you.ĭon't waste your time on any other narrator. The last work of Trollopes series the Chronicles of Barsetshire, this novel concludes the unfinished stories of many characters. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Sooo creepy and oozy and just stay-far-away-from-y. SOWERBY! I could see him so clearly in my mind's eye from his voice. Which character – as performed by David Shaw-Parker – was your favorite? I think she would be so much fun to know as a real person! Just so no-nonsense and witty. I made the mistake of downloading a Trollope that wasn't narrated by him and I only made it through 15 minutes or so (I thought I would at least give it a try before I had to stop and return it! What made the experience of listening to The Last Chronicle of Barset the most enjoyable?ĭavid Shaw-Parker is one of my favorite narrators ever. |