Review: The Bucharest Legacy by William Maz

Synopsis: CIA agent Bill Hefflin is back in Bucharest—immersed in a cauldron of spies and crooked politicians ...

The CIA is rocked to its core when a KGB defector divulges that there is a KGB mole inside the Agency. They learn that the mole's handler is a KGB agent known as Boris. CIA analyst Bill Hefflin recognizes that name—Boris is the code name of Hefflin's longtime KGB asset. If the defector is correct, Hefflin realizes Boris must be a triple agent, and his supposed mole has been passing false intel to Hefflin and the CIA. What's more, this makes Hefflin the prime suspect as the KGB mole inside the Agency.

Hefflin is given a chance to prove his innocence by returning to his city of birth, Bucharest, Romania, to find Boris and track down the identity of the mole. It's been three years since the bloody revolution, and what he finds is a cauldron of spies, crooked politicians, and a country controlled by the underground and the new oligarchs, all of whom want to find Boris. But Hefflin has a secret that no one else knows—Boris has been dead for over a year.

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A thrilling follow up to The Bucharest Dossier, which sees Bill back in Bucharest, tracking down not only a long dead mole, but who has now assumed his identity. A proverbial cat-and-mouse game is played out against a backdrop of conspiracy, corruption, espionage, and where every man and his dog is out for a piece of something. Democracy is slow as generations grew up in an era where bribes and blackmail were pervasive - it is a system not so easily given up, especially for those with the information and the power to hold onto it and meld it into something of their own. This is the world into which Bill is thrust in his search not only for the mole but the means with which to clear the suspicion attached to his own name.

They say "write what you know" - and Maz does this to perfection, giving the reader an insider's view of Bucharest pre and post Glasnost. A worthy successor to The Bucharest Dossier.

The Bucharest Dossier by William Maz

Synopsis: Bill Hefflin is a man apart—apart from life, apart from his homeland, apart from love ...

At the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin—a disillusioned Romanian expat—arrives in Bucharest at the insistence of his KGB asset, code-named Boris. As Hefflin becomes embroiled in an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution, nothing is as it seems, including the search for his childhood love, which has taken on mythical proportions.

With the bloody events unfolding at blinding speed, Hefflin realizes the revolution is manipulated by outside forces, including his own CIA and Boris—the puppeteer who seems to be pulling all the strings of Hefflin’s life.

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I love espionage / spy thrillers and this one is right up there with some of my favourite authors.

It has been a while since I first read this and its sister book, but both still resonate. It is the story of a naive young CIA analyst caught up in a game played by those higher up for their own ends. A man, whose own life is shrouded in mystery and who is far from being honest with those around him, who is thrust into a world where identity is a commodity, loyalty questionable, corruption pervasive, and conspiracies abound.

The writing is slick, engaging, and ready to send you hither and thither during the years of revolution in Ceausescus' Romania of the 1980s. What fully immerses the reader in the narrative is the author's ability to posit parallels from his own early life into the text, giving such a sense of realism.

A great first book,which I followed immediately with the second - The Bucharest Legacy.

Review: Medieval Nuns At War by Elizabeth Quillen

Synopsis: Medieval Nuns at War by Elizabeth Quillen uncovers the extraordinary lives of nuns who defied expectations, embracing roles that went far beyond contemplation and prayer. From the rebellion of Princess Clothild and her sister Basina, who led mercenaries to storm their abbey, to Queen Radegund's quest for autonomy within the cloistered world of Poitiers, these stories reveal women unafraid to wield power in times of crisis. "These women made their marks briefly, but brightly in the pages of chronicles, poems, and letters," Quillen writes, bringing to life their audacity and ambition in shaping medieval society.

Quillen's deeply researched narrative explores how these nuns balanced spiritual devotion with an intense drive for influence, often clashing with both secular and ecclesiastical authorities. Not content to remain within convent walls, women like Leoba, who served as an imperial regent, and Hildegund von Schonau, who disguised herself as a monk to escape persecution, exemplify the resilience of medieval nuns. Quillen illustrates how convents functioned as political centres, not isolated enclaves, with nuns as pivotal figures in military defence, treaty negotiations, and even political rebellion.

For readers fascinated by the hidden currents of medieval history, Medieval Nuns at War is a rare treasure. Quillen's captivating prose and meticulous scholarship shed new light on these "rebellious, resilient, and rowdy women," who not only fought for survival but also left indelible marks on their societies. Through letters, chronicles, and centuries-old biographies, this book finally gives these fearless women the recognition they deserve as warriors, leaders, and guardians of their communities.

~ ~ ~

Having read this book, I am probably not the best person to provide a review for a reader new to this topic. I read (and have read) quite extensively across the periods of history under study here, am familiar with the names and stories, so I get a little picky with topics that don't live up to their hype - specifically some of the tediously anachronistic titles that don't follow up with any meaningful substance.

The subjects at hand were at least varied from the Merovingian period right through the Crusades and to the 17th century - and kudos certainly for providing a modicum of originality in the choice of subjects. However, the lack of adequate information and the overall density of that provided made for very dull reading, and a tome that had to be "propped up" with other pieces of information not directly relevant to the topic at hand (the chapter on the Crusades stands out in this).

To be honest, the more I think about this, the more I wonder what the actual premise was ...... provide a sourcebook on nuns or other female religieuse who went to war / war zones, or who battled it out for power between themselves or rival institutions - both could have been achievable with a great deal of selective editing, and a few more examples.  

We the reader are fully aware of the political role played but some female religieuse, who stepped out of their community and into the secular world - even more documentation and examples in this field would have been welcomed - but again, there was a scarcity.  The focus in some chapters was so narrow that there was inadequate data to fill them - and so the "puff" was added - again, other examples would have been quite sufficient.

Again, one must be careful when one attributes so much to their subject but fails to deliver.  The reader does not like to be deceived.

The more I read, the more diverse I am becoming, looking for niche topics. I am not concerned with quantity - just quality! Less is more I believe someone once said - the same applies to books. We know you have done your research - it doesn't need for every piece to be put into print. This just didn't work for me.

The two stars is for Catelina de Erauso, whom I discovered many many years ago, and am glad to see someone else has now.

Review: The Adventures of Max Spitzkopf by Jonas Kreppel

Synopsis: Max Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes, “heads the famous Viennese detective bureau Blitz . . . He’s bold as a lion and takes the wildest risks.” Meet Max Spitzkopf: legendary private eye, undefeated foe of villains, and passionate defender of the Jewish people. No matter how hopeless or dangerous the case, when “the investigatory profession’s greatest artist” is summoned, justice is assured. Aided by his trusty assistant, Fuchs, super-sleuth Spitzkopf deploys equal parts physical bravery and intellectual ingenuity— not to mention a knack for stealthy disguise—to unpick evil conspiracies, outwit the canniest of criminals, and restore moral order to the world.

Giving a unique twist to a beloved literary genre, this complete collection of the fifteen Spitzkopf mysteries is also a vibrant testament to Jewish life, in all its variety, during the last years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Reading the tales, with every iota of their linguistic verve and historical charm preserved in Mikhl Yashinsky’s translation, it’s easy to see why the young Isaac Bashevis Singer thought them “masterpieces.”

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Highly engaging collection of fifteen short stories featuring a Jewish detective, written in the style of Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes". The stories are set in and around Vienna in the 1920s, and deal with issues pertaining to the Jewish community and their dealings with those who are outside it.

Max Spitzkopf is a well respected (licensed) detective, and is accompanied by his Watson - Hermann Fuchs - who always seems to get himself into one scrape after another, resulting in a bash on the head, imprisonment and escape. Spitzkopf is inundated with cases from the seemingly banal to issues of national importance. As Spitzkopf bemoaned to Fuchs: “I would need at least ten heads, along with twenty eyes, twenty ears, and twenty pairs of hands and feet, to take on all of the cases these people wish to drop into my lap.”

Themes dealt with include religious bigotry, racism, murder, revenge, persecution, marriage, gang violence, espionage, forged wills, kidnappings, disappearing persons, - so if you have read your Holmes, you will feel at home with Spitzkopf. Like Holmes, Spitzkopf makes use of his assistants to do the leg-work, dons disguises himself, and throws out red herrings when on the trial of his mark. All cases are solved when the detective takes centre stage to unveil the villains and lay the matter to rest. And the villains always receive their dues.

Each of the stories follows in sequence and this is indicated by references at the beginning of the next tale. They are each in turn set out with a number of small chapters. As Yashinsky points out in his introduction, the stories of Spitzkopf were originally written as fifteen ".. pulp-fiction pamphlets that told his stories and cost only twenty Austrian heller for each shabby little shocker of thrity-two pages, published in Kraków around 1908."

I welcomed the opportunity to explore and savour a new detective series and highly recommend investing some time with Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes.

Review: A Prentender's Murder by Christopher Huang

Synopsis: The year is 1925. A labyrinth of roads and rails spirals out from the bones of a nearly forgotten settlement. Londinium. Once the far-flung edge of the vast Roman Empire, it is now the seat of a greater one.

Few have given more for the Empire than Colonel Hadrian Russell. Robbed of his four sons by the Great War, he now holds court as the acting president of the Britannia, a prestigious soldiers-only club in London. But when the Colonel is shot and thrown out the club’s front window, it seems the shadows of the Great War may extend further than previously thought.

Lieutenant Eric Peterkin, newly installed secretary at the Britannia, finds himself thrust into the role of detective after Scotland Yard points fingers at friends he knows are innocent. But is the true murderer an unknown spy? Or a recently resurfaced friend of the Colonel’s dead sons? Or is it one of the Colonel’s four widowed daughters-in-law, who by all appearances paid him complete devotion?

Accusations from personal betrayal to wartime espionage mount among the suspects as Eric's investigation draws him back to scenes and sites of a war he’s sought to leave behind. From the greening fields of Flanders and the springtime streets of Paris to the sterile wards of a Swiss sanatorium, and back to the Britannia itself, Eric finds that even myths leave behind bones.

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Having read the first in the series - A Gentleman's Murder - I was eagerly awaiting the second, so was glad of an opportunity to finally read this.

This second book, follows on from the first - and there are a number of references made throughout this one so I do suggest reading "A Genteman's Murder" first. 

Set in the years immediately following WWI, the scene is again set in the Britannia Club, a club for returned soldiers only in London, where we find Peterkin is now Secretary. Against a backdrop of post traumatic stress and the horrors of the Great War", social change, identity and the emancipation of women, murder is once again committed within these hallowed walls.

Returning from Hong Kong and now seconded to Scotland Yard, Inspector Benedict Crane investigates - whilst Peterkin himself conducts his own postmortem of events and interviews those close to the victim, many of who are hiding their own secrets.

As an exploration into the effects of war on those who survived and returned, this is very empathically done - in addition to taking into account the impact of those who remained at the home front and suffered trauma and loss of a different kind.

The mystery of who and why the Colonel was killed was well-crafted, with witnesses and suspects alike coming under the scrutiny of both Peterkin and the Inspector - with both gaining a little more than their counterpart based on the interpersonal relationships. Peterkin is aided in his investigation by his sister Penny and best friend Avery, with a host of other characters providing their perspective (at times I found myself questioning their relevance).

But the past has a way of rearing its head, old secrets long forgotten or buried are coming to the fore ... but at what cost?

"... you do not want to be so lost in the past that you lose your present ..."

Where this lost me a little bit was the need to go "off site" - that is to France and Switzerland" where answers were not forthcoming - and to me this was really was merely an unnecessary diversion for the reader. In addition, in order to portray the societal changes and struggles, I felt the narrative went on a bit too long as there are a number of different elements to be explored before all are brought together.

All in all, another decent novel from Huang.

Review: The Return of Moriarty by Jack Anderson

Synopsis: After Professor Moriarty survives Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock Holmes dies, Moriarty finds himself caught up in a locked-room mystery Holmes couldn’t solve.  This time, it’s up to Moriarty to crack the mystery, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes ingenious retellings like the ones by Anthony Horowitz and Laurie R. King.

Upon escaping from Reichenbach Falls, his empire in ruins, criminal mastermind James Moriarty takes the identity of wealthy inventor Hugo Strahm and embarks on a dark pilgrimage to the cliffside manor of Schloss Alber in Bavaria.

When medical student Clara Mendel returns to Schloss Alber, she finds her childhood home on the verge of ruin. A deadly feud over a priceless heirloom has thrown the Alber family into chaos while its walls play host to an unusual cast of characters – the obstinate Lord Alber, his strange and beleaguered children, their cantankerous butler, and of course, their mysterious new guest, "Hugo Strahm." When one of them is poisoned at dinner, it’s the first act in a spiraling criminal conspiracy, in which any and all of them are suspects.

Working with the sharp and inquisitive Clara, the former crime lord attempts to solve the mystery whilst trying to keep his true identity concealed. Yet despite taking on the role of detective, Moriarty does not share Sherlock Holmes’s methods, nor his interest in justice. Only one thing is certain, for James Moriarty, dying at the hands of Sherlock Holmes would have been an elegant end… The question of what comes next is far more complicated.

This cleverly plotted mystery is a faithful and inventive take on the Sherlock Holmes legacy, paying homage to Arthur Conan Doyle’s signature style while adding its own devious tricks to the story that is destined to become a must-read classic for Sherlock Holmes fans.

~ ~ ~

As a huge fan of Conan Doyle's Holmes and Moriarty, I was eager to read this new mystery featuring Moriarty himself. And for the first part, I was intrigued and engaged as a series of journal entries and letters reveal that Moriarty did indeed survive after Reichenbach Falls in 1891 - these narratives explain this quite well, with each new narrator picking up where the previous one left off.

It is not until we meet our final main narrator in Clara Mendel and we reach our destination of Schloss Alber, that for me, events stagnate - characters become passe and even Moriarty himself is a bit wishy-washy. The actual mystery, was rather formulaic - just set in a different geographical location and timeline.

Whilst the use of a number of difference narratives does - at first - maintain a certain continuity, they actually begin to distract and detract from the mystery itself, bogging down the narrative to the point that I found myself wondering if the author was ever going to get to the point.

I was not a fan of this rendition of Moriarty, which was most likely one of the main reasons that this story just did not resonate - I would hardly describe it as a homage to Conan Doyle's own style nor being faithful to the Holmes legacy. One for the Holmes corpus ... I think not.

Review: The Concentration Camp Brothel by Robert Sommer

Synopsis: In his seminal work, The Concentration Camp Brothel, Robert Sommer reveals the hidden horrors of sexual forced labor within the SS camp system, a subject long overshadowed and seldom acknowledged in the discourse on the Holocaust.

Through his rigorous examination of over 70 archives and poignant interviews with more than 30 survivors, including former visitors of camp brothels, Sommer paints a vivid and harrowing picture of the atrocities committed. This book is the first to offer a comprehensive exploration of the establishment, operation, and profound impact of brothels in Nazi concentration camps.

Sommer's research meticulously details the brothels' integration into the concentration camp system, their role in the Nazi exploitation of bodies for control and profit, and the complex reactions of the prisoner society to these establishments. He explores the desperate survival strategies employed by the women forced into sexual labor, and the chilling motivations of their exploiters.

The book also places the tragedy of camp brothels in the broader context of sexual violence under Nazi rule, making a critical connection between these acts of exploitation and the overall history of the Holocaust. This updated English edition incorporates new findings and perspectives since the original German publication in 2009, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. The foreword by Annette F. Timm adds further context and contemporary analysis, enhancing the book's relevance and depth.

~ ~ ~

A confronting lost and ignored piece of Holocaust history. A forgotten voice given a hearing; its victims left physically and emotionally scarred, viewed as collaborators despite their own incarceration; so despised by their own that many refused to openly acknowledge this part of their lives. 

Using memoirs of those who would talk and other historical documents, this is a meticulous account of the brothels that were set up and operated, albeit for a short period of time, in Nazi concentration camps. These brothels were for the use of prisoners, not the guards or officers; mainly Ayran women were "employed" - women who had already been incarcerated for what was termed "anti-social behaviours"; the brothels were used as an "incentive" to increase the productivity of the imprisoned, forced labourers.

The stats at the end of the book are eye-opening - the youngest woman was seventeen, the oldest thirty-five.

It should be remembered that since the recognition of sex slavery in International Law (c. 2002), these victims are still ignored, uncompensated (as this was considered "voluntary"), outcast.

This is a well researched and confronting piece of history that - like its victims - deserves more recognition.

Review: Peter of Savoy by John Marshall

Synopsis: 

Where did the story that ended with the great Edwardian castles of north Wales begin? How was it that hundreds of men from Savoy built castles in north Wales? Whose stylised statue sits outside the Savoy Hotel in London on the site of his former palace? Whose castle of Pevensey endured successfully the longest English siege? Why does much of Switzerland speak French to this day? Why do we find elements of the Magna Carta in the Statutes of Savoy? Who was one of the greatest figures of the thirteenth century? Peter of Savoy, known to chroniclers of his homeland as The Little Charlemagne.

Peter of Savoy came to England as the uncle of Queen Alianor de Provence, the consort of King Henry III. He quickly found favour as one of Henry’s closest advisers and noblemen. Peter was in effect Queen Alianor’s right-hand man in England, her protector, and subsequently the protector of Lord Edward, the future King Edward I. He played a key role in Henry’s military and diplomatic efforts to recover his ancestral lands in France which culminated in the 1259 Treaty of Paris. This rapprochement between the Capetians and Plantagenets might have warded off the Hundred Years War, but it was not to be.

Nonetheless, the nineteenth-century monks of Savoy thought it his greatest accomplishment. Peter played a key role in the Second Baronial War which engulfed Henry’s reign, at first siding with Simon de Montfort but then changing sides as the reform movement veered toward xenophobia. Returning to Savoy he laid the foundations for the County of Savoy to become a powerful Duchy which in turn almost became a country before it was dismembered by Switzerland, Italy and France. His historical reputation suffered at the hands of English chroniclers keen to eulogise the Montfortian regime. This work is an attempt to discover the real Peter of Savoy.

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It get five stars as it ticked all the boxes for me - it achieves what it sets out - to discover the real Peter of Savoy.

And why five starts - it is a biography about a man who was at the forefront of European politics in the 13th century; it is a biography that provided additional information from what I had already read; it is a biography that provided a more balanced view of an historical figure; and it is a biography that I would be more than happy to have on the shelves of my own library (and will be - adding it to my own library, that is). Definitely one for those with an understanding of period and the major players, but also one for those looking for that little bit more.

Marshall does extraordinarily well to bring to life the character and person that was Peter of Savoy. Marshall notes that in reference to the Savoyards and their attachment to the royal family, that "... in assessing 13th century international affairs, we must think of them as family first and foremost ...". For that was how monarchs ruled - they tended to surround themselves not only with capable military and political minds, but with family, whose loyalty to them and them alone, was rarely doubted. And in Peter of Savoy and his family, Henry III, King of England, found a staunch ally who guarded the monarchy through the later tumultuous years of his reign. Peter was a pragmatist, who led a life with one foot in England and the other in Savoy; who was driven by the protection of his family and its interests in the Plantagenet dynasty. His niece was - afterall - Queen of England - but he was more than that - though depending on the political camp you were in, he was both praised and vilified.

Marshall begins with Savoy - and Peter's (or Pierre) antecedents, the foundation of the County, and its early links to England. In Savoy, Marshall advises, succession is never so simple and there was constant inter-family strife over inheritance from both sides of Peter's family - those in Savoy and those in Geneva.

Then the focus then turns to four sisters, the daughters of Raymond Berenguer V, Count of Provence. Briefly, these are: Margaret (m. King Louis IX of France); Eleanor (m. King Henry III of England); Sancha (m. Richard, King of the Romans, and brother of Henry III); and finally, Beatrice (m. Charles I, King of Sicily). And mentioned above - family was key in the world of international politics (he was uncle to all four women) - and these marriages, as with others, would play their part.

Peter found himself at the English court, where his appointments were viewed with some suspicion - nepotism was alive and well in 13th century England. However, Peter was a very capable administrator who was well rewarded - how else was he able to manage the affairs of both England and Savoy! But his main aim was to build a familial network around both Henry III, but more importantly, around his niece Eleanor and her son, Edward (later King Edward I of England). 

Henry's reign was far from popular: there were failed military forays (designed to reclaim lost Continental lands); there were the attempts to place his brother on the Imperial throne and his second son on the throne of Sicily; there were rebellions in Gascony; and there were efforts to remove the influence at court of "foreigners".  This period in English history would also be known for the Barons' Wars, and the rise and fall of the King's brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort.

The latter part of Peter's life would see him back in Savoy, consolidating his European lands, taking on the Habsburgs, settling disputes and ensuring the family succession. He was a key player on the international political scene; he was a reformer, a visionary, a statesman and diplomat, and a peacemaker.

I could literally wax lyrical about this book till the cows come home - but for those with an interest in 13th century European politics, this is a must have biography.

I would recommend reading this in conjunction with Marshall's book: Welsh Castle Builders

Review: The Case of Cem by Vera Mutafchieva

Synopsis: Vera Mutafchieva’s The Case of Cem, presented as a series of depositions by historical figures before a court, tells a straightforward tale: Upon the death of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1481, his eldest son Bayezid takes the throne. However, discontented factions within the Ottoman army urge Mehmed’s second son Cem, a well-educated and experienced warrior, to oppose his brother’s ascension. Bayezid refuses, setting off a ruthless power struggle and forcing Cem into long years of exile, a pawn for European powers as they try to slow the Ottoman Empire’s expansion.

This enticing novel of court intrigue maintains lasting resonance for being a personal exploration of emigration and loss as told through the historical era during which the politics of the East and West were sketched out with utter clarity. These early lines of demarcation, as voiced through Christian and Muslim emissaries, power hungry rulers, unflinching warriors, and poets, have indelibly influenced the word as we know it today.

~ ~ ~

As the synopsis mentions, this historical fiction novel is set out as if the characters were themselves in court, setting out their own history before embarking on their recollection of their involvement in the events surrounding the last years and days of the Ottoman Prince and Sultan Cem. Each character, speaking in the first person, provides their own unique and personal view on events from their interactions with the exiled Cem. Each character provides a little more to the overall story of Cem, with the fictional character of the poet Saadi, providing the main thread linking all to and providing an insight into Cem, as Cem himself does not provide any account for the reader.

Following his failed attempt to take his father's throne and the accession of his brother Bayezid as ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Cem became the ultimate bargaining chip in international political relations between the East (Ottoman Empire) and the West (Kings, Popes, Knights) - all of whom were eager to bring about some truce with the encroaching Ottoman Empire - for themselves, individually, not collectively. Cem is often viewed as "a hapless prisoner and cruelly betrayed paramour of a bored and similarly imprisoned noblewoman".

Cem was far from being a distant figure - having come across him in my readings on the Ottoman Empire (a fascinating lesson in the art of political survival) and other historical tomes where he has featured during his exile, not least as a "guest" of the Hospitallers on Rhodes and of the Borgia Pope in Rome.  Even in death, Cem still provided to be worthy of bargaining.

This is quite a lengthy read but I would say one that is not overly cumbersome - take your time and enjoy the story. A new reader to this period may find this style a bit more user-friendly as opposed to diving head first into Ottoman politics and history (which is quite the fascination).

Review: By Treason We Perish by AJ Mackenzie

Synopsis: One lone detective faces down a twisted medieval web of spies and intrigue.

October, 1338. A great war has begun, one that will define Europe for a century. King’s Messenger Simon Merrivale returns to England in disgrace, his life barely intact, after a bid to create a pro-English state in Savoy goes disastrously wrong.

With the battle lines drawn, a new and overwhelming threat emerges. King Edward III has assembled an uneasy alliance of European powers to enforce his claim to the throne of France. But corruption is rife both at home and abroad, emptying the king’s war chest. Lack of money could cripple everything that has been built. Enemies lie hidden amongst the ranks of friends. Wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Faced with the difficult task of not only discovering the traitors but recovering his position and respect, Merrivale has a complex and potentially deadly mission at hand. For if just one conspirator escapes justice, all will fall.

~ ~ ~

This series is set in the 14th Century, during the reign of King Edward III of England. In this particular tome, the newly burgeoning wool trade with Flanders and the trade in saffron is at the heart of the mystery that King's Messenger, Simon Merrivale must solve.

Wool became the backbone and driving force of the Medieval English economy between the late thirteenth century and late fifteenth century and at the time the trade was described as “the jewel in the realm”! And as such, it was heavily taxed and regulated by the English Crown. You can read more here: Britain Express - Edward III and the Development of Trade.  Saffron, as today, is a very expensive spice that was produced under certain conditions. It is still processed manually, the dried stigma of the saffron crocus flower is incredibly delicate, making it difficult to harvest, especially in great quantities, hence its high price. Like the wool and saffron trade, the medieval Italian Banking families are also comprehensively dealt with as well, especially England's links to the Bardi and Peruzzi - as they too play a role in this tale.

I will preface my review by saying that this is the first in a new series. However, upon reading it, I felt that much had happened (backstory-wise) that was not - again, my own thoughts - adequately covered off. It read like I had just jumped into the middle of a series - maybe a short prequel might be in order to set things right - or will this be explored more as the series progresses, I wonder.

The author, whilst providing much information on the key subjects that form part of the narrative, I think, assumes you have some idea of what was happening at this particular time in history. And a general read of the times would be an advantage, though the author does provide a list of characters at the beginning.

Having said that, there is much to admire in this book: a good mystery; themes of murder, corruption, medieval politicking, scandal; and the promise of a series.

I am looking forward to the next installment.

Blood, Fire & Gold by Estelle Paranque

A fascinating joint biography of Elizabeth I and Catherine de' Medici, which explores how their complex 30-year relationship redefined the course of history.

Sixteenth-century Europe was a hostile world dominated by court politics and patriarchal structures, and yet against all odds, two women rose to power: Elizabeth I and Catherine de' Medici.

One a Virgin Queen who ruled her kingdom alone, and the other a clandestine leader who shaped the dynasties of Europe through her children. Much has been written about these two iconic women but nothing has been said of their complicated relationship—thirty years of friendship, competition and conflict that would change the face of Europe.

This is a story of two remarkable visionaries. It is also a tale of ceaseless calculation, of love and rivalry, of war and wisdom—and of female power in a male world. Shining new light on their legendary kingdoms Blood, Fire and Gold provides a new way of looking at two of history's most powerful women, and how they shaped each other as profoundly as they shaped the course of history. This is a lively and meticulously researched book that moves cleverly from the intimate details of female lives to the big power struggles of Europe during the period.

Review: Powers & Thrones by Dan Jones

Synopsis: Dan Jones's epic new history tells nothing less than the story of how the world we know today came to be built. It is a thousand-year adventure that moves from the ruins of the once-mighty city of Rome, sacked by barbarians in AD 410, to the first contacts between the old and new worlds in the sixteenth century. It shows how, from a state of crisis and collapse, the West was rebuilt and came to dominate the entire globe. The book identifies three key themes that underpinned the success of the West: commerce, conquest and Christianity.

Across 16 chapters, blending Dan Jones' trademark gripping narrative style with authoritative analysis, Powers and Thrones shows how, at each stage in this story, successive western powers thrived by attracting – or stealing – the most valuable resources, ideas and people from the rest of the world. It casts new light on iconic locations – Rome, Paris, Venice, Constantinople – and it features some of history's most famous and notorious men and women.

This is a book written about – and for – an age of profound change, and it asks the biggest questions about the West both then and now. Where did we come from? What made us? Where do we go from here?

It should come as no surprise that Jones has decided to take on 1000 years of history and condense it into one tome.

To be perfectly blunt, I can take or leave Jones as an author - its nothing personal. I've read his books and find them entertaining enough, but to be honest he is not one of my "go to" authors - I don't go all "fan girl" when I see his books.

Having said that, this is quite a good, well-rounded read, that will appeal to the masses. It is broken down into four parts, and four sub topics, that flow in a linear timeline. The focus encompasses both Roman Empires (East & West), Europe and the UK. Its only when discussing the Arabs and Mongols does Jones veer from a predominantly Euro-centric narrative.

To give you an idea of what is in store for the reader, I have provided a little summary - each chapter and part can be read as a "stand alone" .

Part I - 470 - 750.

Its four sub catergories are:

Romans - the Roman Empire (social, military, culture and religion) with a focus on Britain and its invaders

Barbarians - Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, et el

Byzantines - predominantly Justinian and Theodora

Arabs - invasions and their conflict in the Mediterranean (Greeks and Franks)

Part II - 750 - 1215

Franks - Merovingians and Carolingians, focusing on Charlemange up the fracturing of the kingdom

Monks - looking mainly at the Christianity of the monks, pilgrimage sites

Knights - rather self explanatory, with good detail on El Cid, and the chivalric romances

Crusades - covers from the First to the decline, circa Emperor Frederick III

Part III 1215 - 1347

Mongols - their push westward, biographies on notable leaders including Tamerlane

Merchants - Venice and Genoa feature, with the emphasis on trade routes, banking, the rise of the Republics, and of course, Marco Polo and Dick Whittington

Scholars - rise of the universities, translations of Arabic sources, the insular nature of the church scholars, Isidore of Seville

Builders -Edward I's castle building in Wales, cathedrals, fortified cities

Part IV 1347 - 1527

Survivors - plague, little ice age, economic reform and rebellion, reign of Richard II of England

Renewers - Joan of Arc, Jan van Eyck, Leonardo da Vinci, the Medici, the Renaissance, Chaucer, Dante, Petrarch

Navigators - siege of Constantinople, medieval voyager to India, Africa and the Americas, and the explorers such as Henry the Navigator, Magellan, Columbus, and the Conquistadors

Protestants - papal schism, reformation, Martin Luther, Henry VIII, Charles V

So, you can pick and choose areas of interest, which makes the one thousand year history over seven hundred plus pages seem not that daunting.

The aim here is to entertain and inform, and Jones does this remarkably well; and there is - of course - plenty of notes and references for the avid history buff to go exploring further on their own.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a slightly different take on the history narrative - and for all fans of Jones!

Review: The Invention of Sicily by Jamie Mackay

Synopsis: A fascinating cultural history of this most magical of islands.Sicily has always acted as a gateway between Europe and the rest of the world. Fought over by Phoenicians and Greeks, Romans, Goths and Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, Germans, Spanish and French for thousands of year, Sicily became a unique melting pot where diverse traditions merged, producing a unique heritage and singular culture.

In this fascinating account of the island from the earliest times to the present day, author and journalist Jamie Mackay leads us through this most elusive of places. From its pivotal position in the development of Greek and Roman mythology, and the beautiful remnants of both the Arab and Norman invasions, through to the rise of the bandits and the Cosa Nostra, The Invention of Sicily charts the captivating culture and history of Sicily.

Mackay weaves together the political and social development of the island with its fascinating cultural heritage, discussing how great works including Lampedusa’s masterpiece The Leopard and its film adaptation by Visconti, and the novels of Leonardo Sciascia, among many others, have both been shaped by Sicily’s past, and continue to shape it in the present.

To be totally honest, I only read this one for selected chapters that covered the period from 826AD to 1693AD to enhance my already sound knowledge of this period in Sicily's history (and to pick up any nuggets I may have missed elsewhere).

Overall, it was an easy to read primer that flowed well; it was well researched and informative. It will provide an ample launching pad for someone who is interested in Sicily, its history and its diverse cultures and population.

By My Sword Alone by David Black

The Battle of Glenshiel, 1719. Thirteen-year-old James Lindsay watches the action unfold as the Jacobite forces supported by his family are defeated. For the rebels, it is the beginning of the end. But for James, forever marked by the battle, it is truly just the beginning.

Later, forced to flee Scotland, James finds himself on the European mainland and eventually in the Roman palace of his own ‘king’. There, he experiences all kinds of adventure, from the romantic to the brutal. Chastened by time and experience, he gradually loses the naivety of youth and takes a more mercenary approach as the great events of history unfold.

Yet all the while, he is aware of developing philosophies and how they are extending, slowly, into the lives of men and women – and monarchs. On he battles, through the Age of Enlightenment – until he meets a woman who challenges everything …

By My Sword Alone is a striking blend of historical novel and psychological profile that immerses readers in the thought, politics and bloodshed of eighteenth-century Europe. It will please David Black’s many fans and likely win him many more.

Review: The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis

Synopsis: When Aline Griffith was born in a quiet suburban New York hamlet, no one had any idea that she would go on to live “a life of glamour and danger that Ingrid Bergman only played at in Notorious” (Time). 

As the US enters the Second World War, the young college graduate is desperate to aid in the war effort, but no one is interested in a bright-eyed young woman whose only career experience is modeling clothes.

Aline’s life changes when, at a dinner party, she meets a man named Frank Ryan and reveals how desperately she wants to do her part for her country. Within a few weeks, he helps her join the Office of Strategic Services—forerunner of the CIA. With a code name and expert training under her belt, she is sent to Spain to be a coder, but is soon given the additional assignment of infiltrating the upper echelons of society, mingling with high-ranking officials, diplomats, and titled Europeans, any of whom could be an enemy agent. Against this glamorous backdrop of galas and dinner parties, she recruits sub-agents and engages in deep-cover espionage to counter Nazi tactics in Madrid.

Even after marrying the Count of Romanones, one of the wealthiest men in Spain, Aline secretly continues her covert activities, being given special assignments when abroad that would benefit from her impeccable pedigree and social connections.

Filled with twists, romance, and plenty of white-knuckled adventures fit for a James Bond film, The Princess Spy brings to vivid life the dazzling adventures of a remarkable American woman who risked everything to serve her country. 

For me, this was cosy-espionage, a new term I am applying to works on espionage where there is not really a lot of espionage substance.

One cannot take away from Aline that work that she did for the USA whilst she was based in neutral Spain - she was a coder and a field agent of sorts; she underwent the training before being handed a cover story and assigned a task.  Yes, anyone caught spying in Spain was at risk of being arrested, imprisoned and deported - but all, including the Nazi, were on the same playing field. However, the risks associated with her work are a far cry from those who were air-dropped behind enemy lines and were at risk of being captured by the Nazi and executed.

Much of Aline's "work" was social - meeting and mingling with society notables to gain access to any information that might come her way.  The odd bits of derring-do come in the form of being tailed by "associates" of a jealous boyfriend (a bull-fighter of renown) and a short spell of imprisonment.  Her work was carried out in the last year or so of the war in Europe - and with the surrender of the Germans, her work - for all intents and purposes - was over.

By this time, she was more or less ensconced in Spanish society and being courted by a Spanish prince.  Though she claims she wants to do her part, one finds that Aline was more interested in the social aspects that this covert work provided her - so much so she quits to marry her prince.

We are only told that during her marriage that she was working for the CIA - but there are no details that are indeed forthcoming to really give credence to this theory.  Her latter years could be taken from the covers of the gossip columns.

" ... Aline had perfected the art of gathering and keeping friends, weaving them together in a tapestry that spanned from Madrid to Paris to New York to Hollywood ..."

The author himself lets us know quite early on that even he was unsure if her story was even true, and that numerous events in her memoirs are indeed highly imagined. The constant adjustments to her narrative in her own books did not help matters in her favour.  

I would not class her as a war heroine along the lines of say a Nancy Wake, Odette Sansom, Noor Inayat Khan or even Violette Szabo, but one cannot discount that fact that she did serve her country in some capacity (more of a Bletchley Park type role).  I did appreciate the wrap up of the main characters at the end - it is always to see where they ended up after the war.

This is a very readable story of a small town girl, who went from model to spy to novelist to celebrity all in one incredible lifetime.

Review: Blood Royal by Robert Bartlett

Synopsis: Throughout medieval Europe, for hundreds of years, monarchy was the way that politics worked in most countries. This meant power was in the hands of a family - a dynasty; that politics was family politics; and political life was shaped by the births, marriages and deaths of the ruling family.

How did the dynastic system cope with female rule, or pretenders to the throne? How did dynasties use names, the numbering of rulers and the visual display of heraldry to express their identity? And why did some royal families survive and thrive, while others did not?

Drawing on a rich and memorable body of sources, this engaging and original history of dynastic power in Latin Christendom and Byzantium explores the role played by family dynamics and family consciousness in the politics of the royal and imperial dynasties of Europe.

From royal marriages and the birth of sons, to female sovereigns, mistresses and wicked uncles, Robert Bartlett makes enthralling sense of the complex web of internal rivalries and loyalties of the ruling dynasties and casts fresh light on an essential feature of the medieval world.

This is really an analysis of family politics of royal and imperial dynasties throughout Latin Christendom and Byzantium 500 - 1500.

We begin with the life cycle: however, before an heir can be born, the choice of bride must considered.  Bartlett discusses the intricacies associated with the marriage contract, pregnancy and childbirth, the potential for a childless marriage or bachelor king, or the repudiation of a bride and annulment of the marriage.

All things proceeding as planned, the bride gives birth to the much awaited offspring, what then?  For "what happens in bed had political consequences". Acknowledgement of a designated heir and or coronation secures the succession to a point but then we can run into problems such as a minority and interregnum or worse, adult sons - kings-in-waiting - circling and waiting for their chance. But what if the marriage produces only females - we then have now the succession of a queen and the associated issues of finding a potential husband, or the possible exclusion from rule altogether for the female heir.

Whilst considering the legitimate succession of son or daughter, we must also look to those illegitimate heirs and their rights to the succession for in many instances the "father's blood was enough to transmit eligibility to the throne" and sometimes preference was given to an illegitimate male over a legitimate female.

" ... ruling dynasties were not biological units but political ones.  Collateral branches might be excluded or pruned ... governed by biological uncertainty ..."

Still looking at the life cycle of a dynasty, Bartlett takes us through changes both within and without that can affect the success of a dynasty - hereditary or elective, too few heirs / too many heirs or rivals, provision of a patrimony for younger brothers especially as it may involve subdivision of dynastic lands. And if the heir is young and there is a minority, what of the "wicked" uncle or stepmother. It is not only the traditional forms of succession that are discussed but also how the dynasty worked within the Church, a Republic or City State to secure longevity.  Bartlett finishes his look at the life cycle with death, whether through illness, accident, warfare, assassination, disfigurement, or the figurative death of the dynasty through extinction.

The second part of this work looks at the "sense of dynasty" - a bit more of an academic detour looking at the terminology and naming of dynasties, and of associating periods in time through the dynasty - ie: Tudor, Plantagenet, Capetian.  We also look at names, naming patterns, name changes and of course, the numbering of successive monarchs.  Diverging a little more, Bartlett considers how astrology, prophets, even sorcery and magic can have an impact in the face of dynastic uncertainty. He also takes a look at how monarchs themselves perceive their dynasty - the foundation legends, their public image and the medieval PR that goes into maintaining it.

One of my favourite chapters concerns pretenders and "returners" - the latter being a phrase I had not fully considered. We are treated to all manner of imposters, pretenders, substitution, deposition and imprisonment, and the "resurrection" of monarchs long thought dead.

Bartlett tells us that ".. ancient royalty is simply conquest that has endured ..".

This work will make a must have resource / reference for those with a penchant for medieval history. It is extremely well researched - so all the hard work is done for you - and is extensively noted with a comprehensive bibliography. There are many unique examples peppered throughout to support the information - so not just the standard, more familiar dynasties - which is easy to both read and understand.

Definitely one for my own personal library.

Review: Prague Nights

" ... most things in life are learned too late, and wisdom, if it comes at all, comes tardily ...."

This sums up the situation of Christian Stern, a young illegitimate son of the Prince-Bishop of Regensburg, who on his first day in Prague, stumbles upon the corpse of the mistress of Emperor Rudolf II. And so begins a bizarre series of events as Christian is arrested, accused, released, favoured, engaged, and ultimately played.

Benjamin Black's Prague Nights is narrated in the first person by Christian, and we know from comments that he is reflecting upon past events and how they have led to his current predicament - which from the overall tone, is not happily ever-after.

Christian is an innocent at the court of Rudolf II, and whilst gaining the Emperor's favour, he is immediately at odds with the two most powerful men in the Kingdom - the Royal Chamberlain, Philipp Lang, and the Lord Steward, Felix Werzel. Thrown into this hotbed of vice, conspiracies, intrigues, plots (religious, political, fraternal) and magic, Christian stumbles about attempting (if that is the right word) to solve a murder - a murder no-one is in any great hurry to solve. 

"... everyone did everything ... in so much stealth and secrecy that they seemed to live their lives engaged in a vast, compulsory and endless conspiracy ..."

His rise at court is swift - and the phrase the further the rise, the longer the fall is most apt. One wonders how one so new to the city and so apparently naive could have gained so much so quickly ..... is he being played by the parties concerned, and if so by whom; is he being misdirected from his mission by the lusty former imperial mistress, and if so, why .... "is there anyone who is not owned by someone .." Christian laments.

It is a captivating story that keeps the reader hooked .... Christian is definitely not a player in any sense of the word, but one who is being played ..... the "wolf on a string" .... though at times one wonders who is actually pulling the strings as there are so many protagonists to chose from! In fact Christian himself should have the last word .... "there are matters afoot at court too densely tangled for me to penetrate them.."

Read reviews here:

@ Kirkus Review: "Patient readers in no hurry will savor Black’s dark, vivid mural of Prague at the turn of the 16th century."

@ There's Always Time For Crime: "I’d say there were winks as well as nods to his devoted readers, but that the story is blighted by cliché piled upon ossuary."

@ The New York Times Book Review: "The ornate style of Christian’s narrative suits both this rich historical period and the courtly language of Prague, this “city of masks and make-believe.”

Baltic History

A selection of tomes on the history of the Baltic region

The Baltic: A new history of the region and its peoples by Alan Palmer. 

This history of the region covers the Viking era through the Medieval pinnacle of trade into the world war years of the twentieth century and the years of Soviet domination. Now, these countries are growing and emerging into strong democracies.

The Baltic: A History by Michael North

From the Vikings to the EU the Baltic has been a Nordic Mediterranean, a shared maritime zone with distinct patterns of trade, cultural exchange, and conflict. Covering a thousand years in a part of the globe where seas are more connective than land, Michael North’s overview transforms the way we think about one of the world’s great waterways.

A Concise History of the Baltic States by Andrejs Plakans

The book traces the countries' evolution from their ninth-century tribal beginnings to their present status as three thriving and separate nation states, focusing particularly on the region's complex twentieth-century history, which culminated in the eventual re-establishment of national sovereignty after 1991.

Foreword to the Past: A Cultural History of the Baltic People by Endre Bojtár

Introduces the reader to Baltic issues in general; recounts the history of the Baltic peoples relying on archaeological sources; provides an objective linguistic history and a description of the Baltic languages; and provides original and fresh insights into mythology in the ancient history of the Baltic peoples.

Culture and Customs of the Baltic States by Kevin O'Connor

The approach in each of the topical chapters is to generalize what is common among the three states and then to focus on each country in turn. Chapters on the land, people, and history; religion; marriage, family, gender, and education; holidays, cuisine, and leisure activities; language, folklore, and literature; media and cinema; performing arts; and art are a superb introduction to the Baltics and to the unique aspects of the countries.

Northern Shores: A History of the Baltic Seas and Its Peoples by Alan Palmer

In the days of sail Viking longships and Hanse roundships plied the waters of the Baltic, and for centuries the area formed the axis of a five-nation power struggle, as bids were made for glory both on land and at sea. Today towering ferries and container ships criss-cross routes between cities with a proud past, and travellers are entranced by legendary castles and captivating palaces. This is the fascinating story of the northern inland sea and of the peoples of its shores, from the ice age to the nuclear age.

The Baltic World 1772-1993: Europe's Northern Periphery in an Age of Change by David Kirby

Here he tackles the contrasting experiences of Europe's northern periphery -- affluence and democracy in the north, stagnation and authoritarianism in the south -- from the French Revolution to the collapse of the USSR and beyond. This is a masterly study of a region that is far from peripheral politically to the post-Soviet world.

A History of the Crusades: The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries edited by H. W. Hazard

A comprehensive, collaborative account of the political, religious, military, and social causes, events, organizers and leaders, achievements, and consequences of the Christian Crusades and concurrent enterprises, through the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Part of a six volume series, this edition has chapters on the crusades against the Hussites, and the German crusades in the Baltic

Crusading and Chronicle Writing on the Medieval Baltic Frontier- A Companion to the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia by Dr Carsten Selch Jensen, Dr Marek Tamm, Ms Linda Kaljundi

The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written by a missionary priest in the early thirteenth century to record the history of the crusades to Livonia and Estonia around 1186-1227, offers one of the most vivid examples of the early thirteenth century crusading ideology in practice. A key objective of this book, therefore, is to synthesise the current state of research for the international scholarly audience.

Kateřina Tučková and the latterday witch-hunts of Moravia

Radio Prague - Kateřina Tučková and the latterday witch-hunts of Moravia

The White Carpathian Mountains, straddling the border of Moravia and Slovakia, are one of the most beautiful and rural parts of the Czech Republic. Towns are few and far between and for centuries local people would take their aches and pains to old women renowned in the region for their special healing powers. They were known as “goddesses” and passed their knowledge from generation to generation. But Czechoslovakia’s post-war communist rulers saw the world these women represented as a threat and within two generations they were wiped out. Their tragic story is the subject of the excellent novel “Žítková Goddesses” by the young Moravian writer Kateřina Tučková.

Read interview with David Vaughan Here @ Radio Prague

September Additions

Well, September is half way gone and the latest order has gone in for this month's additions to the Library.  So what have I chosen to order this month - see below and let me know what you think:

• Northanhymbre Saga by John Marsden
• A History of the Ostrogoths by Thomas S. Burns
• Lordship, Reform, and the Development of Civil Society in Medieval Italy by David Foote
• Vikings in the Isle of Man by David Wilson
• Aethelred II by Ryan Lavelle
• Kings, Mormaers and Rebels (Early Scotland's Other Royal Family) by John Marsden
• An Onslaught of Spears (The Danish Conquest of England) by Jeffrey James