Biography Books > P Biography Books > 5 GBP to 9 GBP > by Author

Advantages: very moving, very gripping
Disadvantages: very upsetting

This trilogy shows a man growing from strength to strength as he over comes the tragedy of the abuse in his youth. Dave Pelzer's imagery and language gives a clear picture of what he went through as achild, without the accusatory air that normally come from these biographies. It is a hearty wrenching story of a little boy in the midst of violent world, and will not have anyone unmoved, a box of tissues is definately required to accompany it. It's ... Read review

Advantages: Very well-researched, packed with facts
Disadvantages: Too much historical and political detail

This study of the ill-fated Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), later the German Empress Frederick and mother of Kaiser Bill, is exhaustively researched. The author has had access to some very useful sources, and this is bound to remain the most complete book on the Empress for some time to come. I particularly like her sympathetic tone; 'Vicky' has had her detractors, who have accused her of being tactless, domineering towards her husband, and ...
...her life, but Pakula proves that these judgments show a distortion of the evidence, or else stem from a lack of understanding and insight. The main problem with this book is that its 600 pages or so of closely-printed text often tend to lose the central character from time to time. There is considerable detail about the court of Berlin and the various wars, political issues of the time et al, but I think it would be much more readable if some of ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting a lot of history
Disadvantages: Long winded and hard to read

I wanted to read the Samual Pepys diaries for a long time, I enjoy history and love to learn about our English past. I borrowed the book the more modern version, but still found it a struggle to read. Its very hard and long winded. I found it a boring book at times but other parts compelling. I have leart a lot about the black death, the great fire and general times around London in the 1600's. Its worth the read if you have the time and patience. ...
...for that period in history. The amazing way in which they coped in London with all that was happening. It was an interesting time for the monarcy as well. I do think much of Samual Pepy's and his treatment of his wife, but he was loyal and tried to understand her. I would recommend a read for those who really want to, its a long struggle to finnish but fullfilling when you have ... Read review

Advantages: Price, brilliant reading.
Disadvantages: Some strong language

...had written his first novel, Weerz me Dad? I felt a great desire to read this, so I rushed to buy it. The Story. An extremely humourous, yet tinged with sad moments, autobigraphical recollections of a 5year old boy growing up in the late 40' to the age of 10 years in the early fifties. The location of the story in the , then, heavily industrialised City of Sheffield. The book recounts many stories of the hardships and struggles of an age long ...
...weeks before his new book, Weerz Me Mam? is to be published and on sale. My Personal Comments. Not only have I have read this when I first bought it, I have re read it and achieved the same enjoyment second time around. Rarely has actually reading a book brought tears to my eyes with laughter, but this certainly did. Being nearly the same age as Fred was, together with living near to Sheffield, not only could I empathise fully, I could also picture ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent read, great source of information of the subject and his time
Disadvantages: Not everyone might know or be interested in Isherwood

Christopher Isherwood is one of those writers who is interesting for what he did as much as for what he wrote. In particular he was identified with a coterie of writers and artists who if they did not "dominate the century" as has somewhat pompously and inaccurately been claimed certainly contributed to the development of literature particularly during the decade of the thirties. For the casual reader it is pertinent to point out that Isherwood's ...
...they are rarely revived, know Isherwood co-wrote three plays with WH Auden. Isherwood also wrote a string of other novels with varying success but perhaps a biography of this nature was required to establish Isherwood's place in contemporary literature. Who then was Christopher Isherwood? The question is less obvious, and so is the answer, than may appear on face value. Much of Peter Parker's excellent, indeed seminal, biography is concerned with ... Read review