Biography Books > E Biography Books > D

Advantages: Explains everything clearly, entertains and portrays Eleanor in a new light
Disadvantages: Hard going at times with a rather dry style

...the dearth of material on Eleanor, especially from unbiased sources. Neither does it help that she never personally corresponded with anyone. Boyd cuts through the rumours and slander spread by Eleanor's enemies and presents her as a strong feminist who refused to be a victim. He tells the story of Eleanor's life using her image as a roadmap: from the sculpted face of her youth found in Bordeaux Cathedral to her effigy at Fontevraud. This adds an ...
...a linear fashion. I liked this device, especially as Boyd refers to the pictures he uses throughout the text, rather than lumping them together with no reference or explanation. From a literary point of view, it also allows the reader to imagine Eleanor more effectively and thus makes the story more enjoyable. Boyd wins brownie points for using maps of France to explain the various territories and who ruled them in the 12th century, and for including ... Read review

Advantages: Imformative, authorative, masterpeice
Disadvantages: Doesn't cover all of her life

...picture of the events that Elizabeth went through which shaped the person that she was. From an abused child, called a heretic, traitor and disinherited, Starkey clearly shows using original documents how the political, religious and consitutional trials of England shaped Elizabeth into the formiddable monarch she ultimately proved to be. Starkey examines Elizabeth in contrast to her sister Mary, and thus we gain an insight into 2 of the daughters ... Read review

Advantages: Charming book - makes you laugh
Disadvantages: Makes you cry too

I have loved Deric Longden's books for many years and I found "Enough to Make a Cat Laugh" whilst browsing on Amazon. Having been reading more 'serious' books recently the thought of his light hearted style of writing really appealed to me so I ordered the book. The book chronicles a year in the life of the Longden household, starting with spring then summer, autumn and finishing with winter. The 'household' consists of Deric, his wife Aileen and ...
...Other members of the family include Arthur's wire brush and a sultana called Ralph - but you will have to read the book if you want to know more about these two! This is a book guaranteed to make you laugh if you have any connection with cats in the house yourself but, on the other hand, it is equally able to move you to tears. For those not already familiar with his writing, Deric's wife - writer Aileen Armitage - is registered blind and occasionally ... Read review

Advantages: An interesting insight to one of the big hollywood stars
Disadvantages: can sometimes be overwhelmed by the information

Errol Flynn was a man who blagged his way into Hollywood. A man who was basically a con man with the prerequisite wit and charm. He was the new swashbuckler of Hollywood Films often doing his stunts himself. But he became more famous for his activities off the screen than on. Flynn was notorious for his drinking binges and high spirited bacchanalia. David Bret talks not only about his films career but also Flynn’s staggering appetite for young men ...
...biopics that were made about Errol Flynn, with a short cast list, synopsis and dissection of the facts that they presented. I would suggest that anyone who is interested in this period of Hollywood history should read this book. Price = amazon.co.uk - £6.39 used and new from £3.40 play.com - £5.99, used and new from £6.13 RRP - £7.99 ... Read review

Advantages: Great inspirational reading
Disadvantages: Bit long winded when she laks about other race competitors

Black White and Gold is the biography written by 2 times Olympic champion, Dame Kelly Holmes. She starts the book in March of 2005 as she is sitting in a limousine driving towards the gate of Buckingham Palace. She is off to receive her Damehood and she says how surreal it felt and how she had to pinch herself to make sure it was really happening. She tells how she joked with the other people who were also their receiving their Damehood and Knights', ...
...to have the Queen place the sword on each of her shoulders, she tells them all she is going to kneel down anyway! As we all know she did not and she received her dame hood in the correct way! We are then taken back to her early years and she tells how when her parents found out she was pregnant and had split up from her boyfriend they did not want her to have the baby but she went ahead and when Kelly was born her mother was given the choice of ... Read review