History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful pages, very high quality, useful information!
This is a very useful guide to castles in Scotland

Castles & Ancient Monuments of Scotland
Damien Noonan
Manufacturer: Welcome Rain Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Scotland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1566491886

Book Description

In this exciting and lavishly illustrated new guide, Damien Noonan explores a variety of historic sites.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful pages, very high quality, useful information!.......2001-11-17

You will love the look and feel of this book. Stunning photographs grace virtually every page. Definitions of the different types of ancient structures, as well as a summary of different time periods in Scottish history, are provided. Opening times and entrance costs of the castles are also included. The geographic organization of attractions is perfect for travelers.

What I like most about this resource are the opinions and recommendations given by the author. So many travel books refuse to offer information about the quality of the site and how worthwhile a visit would be. I found that some of the castles I thought were the best (and was planning to visit) were hardly given the time of day in this book. That was because this book gives the most information about the most interesting castles and monuments. I discovered several fascinating sights that we weren't even planning to visit.

I give this book five stars because it offered enough information for me to change and rearrange my trip itinerary. That means that it was both thorough and helpful. Some may be disappointed, because certain castles are covered in two full pages, while others are listed with only their address, opening times, and a one-line description.

This is a very useful guide to castles in Scotland.......2000-08-15

This is very useful as a general introduction to the castles in Scotland. It looks at over 200 sites, giving information about the history of the castle plus opening times . It gives a little information , obviously limited by space , about a lot of castles rather than a lot of info about any one castle. It certainly isn't a detailed guide to any single castle. It is well illustrated with many pictures of the castles. If you like castles , you will love this book.

The Ringed Castle (Lymond Chronicles, 5)

Average customer rating:

Lymond series No 5: Brilliant, but not for everyone
Well worth the effort
Lymond In Russia, Philippa at Court
Philippa is a great character!
Incredible Craftsmanship

The Ringed Castle (Lymond Chronicles, 5)
Dorothy Dunnett
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Checkmate: Sixth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles
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ASIN: 0679777474
Release Date: 1997-09-02

Book Description

For the first time Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are available in the United States in quality paperback editions.

Fifth in the legendary Lymond Chronicles, The Ringed Castle leaps from Mary Tudor's England to the barbaric Russia of Ivan the Terrible. Francis Crawford of Lymond moves to Muscovy, where he becomes advisor and general to the half-mad tsar. Yet even as Lymond tries to civilize a court that is still frozen in the attitudes of the Middle Ages, forces in England conspire to enlist this infinitely useful man in their own schemes.

Customer Reviews:

Lymond series No 5: Brilliant, but not for everyone.......2007-09-06

This is the fifth book in a series which you will either love or hate. It is also one of those multi-book series which must if at all possible be read in the right order, which is

1) The Game of Kings
2) Queen's Play
3) The Disorderly Knights
4) Pawn in Frankincense
5) The Ringed Castle
6) Checkmate

The Ringed Castle has one of the more memorable opening lines in historical fiction: "Not to every young girl is it given to enter the harem of the Sultan of Turkey and return to her homeland a virgin."

After the shattering events of book 4, "Pawn in Frankincense", Phillipa Somerville so returns to England while Francis Crawford of Lymond goes to Russia and takes service with Ivan the Terrible.

There are two reasons why this series, and indeed the author's similar "Niccolo" series, should be read in chronological order. The first is that the plots are incredibly complicated and if you read them out of sequence you have no chance of understanding what is going on.

The second is that many of the characters meet their deaths in ways which are exceptionally unpleasant both for themselves and for the characters who survive them. If you read the books out of sequence, advance knowledge of how characters are going to die, can have a significant impact on the pleasure you would otherwise have had in reading about the earlier events of their lives when you do get around to reading the earlier books.

Like the books, the central character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is brilliant, violent, and extremely complicated. Unlike the books he is very flawed. Lymond is a mercenary with particular interests in Scotland and France, and gets involved in nefarious deeds all over the world as 16th century Europeans knew it. Dunnett brings the splendour, cultural ferment, and violent cruelty of the Renaissance world splendidly to life.

In this book Phillipa Somerville, who was scarcely more than a girl when she first appeared in the stories, becomes a more important viewpoint character, developing as a heroine and counterweight to Franci Crawford.

If you are at all squeamish, or do not like having to make your brain work overtime to follow a book, leave this series alone. Lymond's story is neither "chewing gum for the brain" nor a comfortable read. And even if you prefer flawed heroes to knights in shining armour, Lymond may infuriate you from time to time. But if you can put up with these features, these books will richly reward the effort you make in reading them.

There is no middle ground: you will either hate the Lymond series or recognise these books as one of the greatest works of historical fiction ever written. Or very possibly both !

Well worth the effort.......2007-02-17

Not the easiest book in the six Lymond Chronicles, but The Ringed Castle more than rewards the reader, and anyone who has made it this far in the series will undoubtedly persevere. These books are so awash in swashbuckling one is unaware of how much history one is learning. I can hardly wait to re-read them all to pick up some of what I've missed. Dunnett is a superb writer of entwined fiction and history.

Lymond In Russia, Philippa at Court.......2002-03-28

Volume IV of the Lymond Chronicles shows a marked improvement from the somewhat draggy Pawn In Frankincense, if not quite climbing the storytelling heights of the first three episodes.

Ringed Castle spins two riveting tales, Lymond's attempted remaking of Ivan the Terrible's Russia and Philippa's rise into the upper reaches of the English Royal Court. Vivid supporting characters abound: explorer Diccon Chancellor, chess afficiando Tsar Ivan, astrologer John Dee, and Margaret Lennox, Elizabethan femme fatale. The evocation of the Kremlin is gorgeously detailed, as are Lymond & company's adventures in Russia's unforgiving winter and the heartstopping voyage back to England -- Dunnett's uncanny ability to recreate the exotic past with such force you feel yourself there is in full flower. The book's first two thirds are excellent.

But as in the previous volume, Ringed Castle starts to feel like work down the backstretch. Dunnett's authorial sleight of hand in hiding much of Lymond's viewpoint until the final pages begins to frustrate in its familiarity, this ruse particulary trying given the ongoing story regarding his mysterious parentage.

One hopes for less of this in the final volume...

Philippa is a great character!.......2001-06-15

Most reviews of the Lymond series focus on Francis Crawford of Lymond, the enigmatic, often-tortured central character around whom all the other characters revolve. This isn't surprising because he is the central player on the stage. But my favorite character is Philippa, not just because she is genuinely good, but because whenever she enters a scene, it simply begins to sparkle.

Dorothy Dunnett obviously feels a great love for Philpipa because she gives her the best lines and gave her a marvelous sense of humor. She is a wonderful character, both funny and wise. But her greatest attribute is her strong moral character, her desire to do the right thing. In the prior novel, her desire to save Lymond's son caused to her to risk everything--not everyone would become a member of a harem in an effort to save a life. In Ringed Castle, her desire to reconcile Lymond with his family causes her to place herself at great risk.

With regard to Ringed Castle, I didn't find it as consistently compelling as Pawn in Frankincense, but it is still a wonderful book, particularly the haunting and tragic voyage back to England and the last 100 pages at the English court.

I have a tinge of sadness in the realization that I have only one more installment to see how it all ends, to see if Philippa can ultimately tame Lymond.

Luckily, this series is so strong on many levels I can look forward to many productive and enjoyable re-readings.

Incredible Craftsmanship.......2000-12-14

This book has less action in it than the preceeding novels in this series, but even so, more action than most. We see our hero making his way in an 15 Century Russia. As each book goes by I find that I have difficulty maintaining a liking for this man. He is extremely hard and bitter, and appears to have no loyalties to friendship while he tries to make his point. Even so, I find I still have to keep reading because these books are so powerful. In this book Lymond falls in love, but in true Lymond fashion, feels that he can't share this with anyone, let alone his lady love. I await with much trepidation the final installment in this series in order to find out if Lymond bears any human characteristics or not.

Castles: England + Scotland + Wales + Ireland

Average customer rating:

very good for the price

Castles: England + Scotland + Wales + Ireland
Plantagenet Somerset Fry
Manufacturer: David & Charles Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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Castles: Their Construction and History (Dover Books on Architecture)

ASIN: 0715322125

Book Description

-Based on the original, classic book by Plantagenet Somerset Fry

-The most comprehensive book of its kind

-Full descriptions of all the important castles, along with fascinating accounts of sieges, battles, and personalities From the glory days of European history comes this riveting and classic guide to Britain and Ireland's most famous castles. The scene for some of Europe's greatest historical events--battles, sieges, executions, negotiations, kidnappings, and betrayals--castles today are fascinating and romantic places to visit.

This edition of the classic work Castles has been completely revised and redesigned with hundreds of stunning color photographs and illustrations. The most comprehensive book of its kind, the guide provides complete descriptions of influential castles--including Windsor, Carreg Cennen, Hermitage, and Blarney--along with the stories that still echo through their halls.

Customer Reviews:

very good for the price.......2007-07-26

I really wanted a nice comprehensive book about this subject. This is a wonderful product but the only thing I would suggest to make this a 5 star book would be more intensive pictures. There are a lot (multitudes in fact) of places, castles, ruins that are simply listed with no pictures or in-depth facts to accompany the listings. That was somewhat disappointing.

AAA Britain Guide: Stately Homes & Castles : England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland 2002 Edition

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AAA Britain Guide: Stately Homes & Castles : England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland 2002 Edition
AAA
Manufacturer: AAA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1562516892

Best Castles England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales: Over 100 Castles to Discover and Explore

Average customer rating:

Lovely book
Get a preview before you visit

Best Castles England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales: Over 100 Castles to Discover and Explore
Plantagenet Sommerset Fry
Manufacturer: David & Charles Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0715323776

Book Description

The essential family guide to the best castles to visit in Britain and Ireland. Discover the fascinating history and outstanding architecture of over 100 castles, from romantic ruins to royal homes. Learn about the role castles played in history and what life inside them would really have been like. Find out about visitor attractions, from museum collections and manicured gardens to re-enactment events - to make the most of days out with the family.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely book.......2007-09-18

Gorgeous photos, nice descriptions, but too short & not detailed enough. It would also have helped to have had captions under the photos; I frequently couldn't tell what I was looking at. I also wished it were longer. Overall a worthwhile book if a little on the shallow side.

Get a preview before you visit.......2006-12-27

I am a big fan of ruined castles. I like ancient, crumbling old buildings from times long past. There are many such castles in the British Isles, but there are also many more "modern" castles, built hundreds of years after the medieval period, filled with sumptuous carpets and luxurious wall coverings and such. I can see the allure of these castles for some people, but they do not hold the same wonder for me, and when I am paying a lot of money to visit a foreign country, I want to optimize my experience as much as possible.

This book is wonderful because it lets me do just that. Many guidebooks (I use the Let's Go and Rough Guides) do not differentiate between different kinds of castles, and offer a brief description of each one. It's hard to know what you're getting into before you actually arrive. With this book, you can get a preview of each castle, so you're never surprised. I mentioned my personal love of ruins, but this book is great for any taste, or just the curious.

The information on each structure is sparse, and much attention is paid to the glorious full color photographs. I never got the impression this book was trying to be the authority on castle information however, and I think it succeeds admirably at its chosen task. It is a good supplemental guidebook if you're interested in the topic.

Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650 (Fortress)

Average customer rating:

Decent primer on the subject

Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650 (Fortress)
Stuart Reid
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1841769622
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

With the exception of the key royal sites, such as Stirling and Edinburgh, few Scottish castles were located at strategic points, or were intended to house garrisons required to defend or subjugate towns. Instead they were primarily fortified dwelling houses, erected in an environment of weak Royal authority and endemic feuding between rival clans and groups, in both Highland and Lowland areas. Although some enceinte castles were developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, most defensive construction focused on the tower house, a distinctive vernacular style of Scottish fortification. This book examines the design, development, and purpose of these quintessentially Scottish buildings, and also covers larger sites such as Urquhart and Blackness.

Customer Reviews:

Decent primer on the subject.......2006-07-02

Actually the title of this Osprey publication is a bit misleading. Yes a couple of castles are illustrated, but mostly it is about tower houses, their development and construction. Most of the castles and tower houses illustrated are located in the scottish lowlands and none of them are actually associated with a scottish clan, hence the misleading part of the title. As with all Osprey publications don't expect too much since one cannot really go into depth into a subject in only 64 pages. That being said this is a good place to start but hardly the last word on the subject.

The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne (Oxford World's Classics)

Average customer rating:

Early Romance
DARK CASTLES AND DISTRESSED DAMSELS!
Short and Sweet
A Good Taste of Radcliffe

The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne (Oxford World's Classics)
Ann Radcliffe
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0192823574

Book Description

Ann Radcliffe's first novel is set in the Middle Ages against the melancholy beauty of mountains and rugged coasts of the Scottish Highlands, tells the story of the warring clan chieftains of Athlin and Dunbayne. One of the earliest Gothic tales (1789), it recounts low-born Alleyn's quest for
love and honour, and alternates scenes of passionate feeling with breakneck pursuits. The castle itself, in all its romantic sublimity, becomes the true focal point of the novel. Long out of print, this edition makes a little-known treasure available to modern readers.

Download Description

Anxious to inform the Baroness of his approaching deliverance, to assure her of his best services, to bid adieu to Laura, and to seize the last opportunity he might ever possess of disclosing to her his admiration and his love, the Earl revisited the apartments of the Baroness. She felt a lively pleasure on the prospect of his escape; and Laura, in the joy which animated her on hearing this intelligence, forgot the sorrows of her own situation; forgot that of which her heart soon reminded her--that Osbert was leaving the place of her confinement, and that she should probably see him no more.

Customer Reviews:

Early Romance.......2005-08-15

This book is one of the earliest examples of the romantic novel. The plot was original for its time, though certainly nothing new today. It is completely predictable. Nevertheless, it is interesting as a study of English literature and the development of the novel. This was Radcliffe's first novel, and became the model for many of her later works, as well as the works of many other novel writers.
This book is very plot-driven. The characters are flat, and dialogue or character thought is almost completely non existant. The action in the story leads the text. It also contains the typical hero/heroine relationship; the men, in accordance to the time this book was written, do all the fighting and rescuing, while the women sit at home, unable to do anything but worry and faint.

DARK CASTLES AND DISTRESSED DAMSELS!.......2005-06-14

The Earl of Athlin was betrayed and killed by his envious neighbor Malcolm, the Baron of Dunbayne, 12 years ago. Fearing to endanger her people and the lives of her young children, the Earl's wife, Matilda, has kept out of the way of Malcolm, staying near to her castle and holding back the anger of her subjects. After 12 years, the Earl's son, Osbert, is now 19 years old, and can no longer be held back by his mother. In a surprise attack just as cowardly as that of Malcolm upon his father, he attempts to storm Dunbayne Castle without warning or a declaration of war. Unfortunately, for this overconfident and pompous youth, Malcolm saw it coming, and captures the dumb would-be Earl. Malcolm also has a healthy lust for Osbert's sister, Mary, and demands that she marry him in exchange for her brother's life. Most of the book is concerned with the effort to free Osbert from the Baron's clutches. These attempts are mainly made by the peasant Alleyn, whose bravery and martial skills more than make up for his social standing, well, at least in my eyes.

This short novel has all the devices of the Gothic novel, including dark and gloomy castles, depressed characters, and adventure. But one of the things that stood out to me was the class system which wreaks of injustice. Osbert, the supposed hero of the tale, is always looking down on his best friend, Alleyn, even though his life has been saved by him. He's supposed to be this paragon of virtue and yet he does not think he is good enough for his sister. Everyone has the same blood and this is a good reason that the American and French Revolutions took place. To remind us that we are all created equal. The characters all seemed kind of bumbling and if it wasn't for the fact that they find secret doors of escape in every room they're imprisoned in, or the fact that every guard they encounter kneels before their moral superiority, they wouldn't have got very far. They make the gang in Scooby Doo look deep! You can also see some of the solutions to the mysteries of the novel long before Radcliffe reveals them. It was entertaining though, and she was successful in creating mood and atmosphere, but don't look for anything but a comic book plot here.

Short and Sweet.......2001-01-02

Radcliffe's first novel, a very short and pacy romance set in Scotland. Much of the plot will appear familiar to anyone who has read Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto", but the novel has its own merits in that it holds the reader's attention throughout.

A Good Taste of Radcliffe.......1999-05-11

Interested in a gothic novel but not quite ready to plunge headfirst into "The Mysteries of Udolpho"? Ann Radcliffe's short novel "The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne", provides the perfect first taste of a gothic novel. I first read Radcliffe after reading Austen's "Northanger Abby", which contains refrences to "Udolpho". I instantly became facinated by her work and have subsequently read most of her novels. Reading Radcliffe is definately an experience worth trying, and I reccomend "The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne" as an excellent place to start.

One must not judge the gothic novel with the same standards as any work with more literary merit. The plots are trite, the devices are overused, the language is overblown, and the characters are decididly one dimensional. However, this is what is so great about Radcliffe. All of her work is throughly entertaining, highly amusing to a modern reader, and a source of excellent new vocabulary.

"The Castles Of Athlin and Dunbayne" is no exception. It only differs from Radcliffe's other work in two aspects: it is short (slightly over 100 pages), and it is set in Britian, not mainland Europe. Although it is her first novel and does not achieve the same greatness as later works, such as "Udolpho", it is still worth reading. The story centers around Mary, a Scottish nobelwoman, and her love affair with the low-born, but ever honorable Allyn. It contains an astounding number of chases across dark moors, mysterious noises, escapes from dungones, and passionate exchanges of lover's vows for its small size. What makes the novel so amusing and enjoyable is Radcliffe's serious, fervent tone as she earnestly describes the contrived and trite situations in the novel.

Customer Reviews:

Castle Buffs Dream of a Handbook like this one..........2003-05-20

Want to find the ancient ruins of your family's Scottish history? Then arm yourself with a copy of this book by Martin Coventry and a map from the local Ordinance Surveys and you are on your way to discovering real history that you can see, hear, feel, touch...Martin is constantly updating his information; receptive to additions and changes from all sources to his unique work. A real treasure of information; I would not be without one as I recently wrote a first of three books on the medieval Douglas Clan. A fine research tool for the professional or amateur castle "buff."

excellent guide to Scottish castles.......2001-06-13

This book is an excellent guide to Scottish castles and certainly the most comprehensive book I have seen on this subject. It goes into great detail about 2500 sites of castles and fortified houses going back down the centuries. It gives lots of information about each site including a description , location , history of ownership and opening times . Most castles in Scotland are either owned by Historic Scotland , the National Trust or private individuals. There is probably a lot more in this book than you could ever imagine about Scottish castles. I have some pictures of 20 Scottish castles on my website http://www.castlepictures.com but the scope of this book is way beyond that .

The Ultimate book on every major Castle in Scotland.......1998-10-15

This is the finest and most accurate book on Castles in Scotland you will find. Complete with photographs and illustrations, Martin Coventry gives the reader an accurate historical-to-present story, complete with over 290 pages of locations and contacts, of almost every Castle in Scotland. Mr Coventry is considered by many as Scotlands foremost authority on anything to do with Castles in Scotland. As the producer and paranormal investigator for the Adventures Beyond series, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Mr. Coventry in person. It was partly due to his recommendation that we decided on investigating what is reported to be the most Haunted and evil castle in all of Europe, Hermitage Castle. Mr. Coventry prides himself on being as accurate as possible and has done immense research on every Castle he lists in his books. This book is an excellent informational tool as well as an indepth guide book.

Anyone interested in Castles in Europe or planning a visit to Scotland needs to get a copy of this book. Mr. Coventry also puts out a smaller handbook of Haunted Castles and locations called, 'A WEE GUIDE to The Haunted Castles of Scotland', which deals specifically with those castles reported as being Haunted. This book is a must for those interested in the medieval fortresses which are rich in history and shrouded in legend and mystery. This book provided Adventures Beyond with accurate hard to find historical and factual background information on both of the Castles we investigated in our documentaries, Threave Castle, in Castle Douglas and Hermitage Castle in the South of Scotland. Well worth it at twice the price.

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