Sarah Gristwood has written a masterpiece that effortlessly and enthrallingly interweaves the amazing stories of women who ruled in Europe during the Renaissance period.--Alison Weir Sixteenth-century Europe saw an explosion of female rule. From Isabella of Castile; and her granddaughter Mary Tudor; to Catherine de Medici; Anne Boleyn; and Elizabeth Tudor; these women wielded enormous power over their territories; shaping the course of European history for over a century. Across boundaries and generations; these royal women were mothers and daughters; mentors and protégées; allies and enemies. For the first time; Europe saw a sisterhood of queens who would not be equaled until modern times. A fascinating group biography and a thrilling political epic; Game of Queens explores the lives of some of the most beloved (and reviled) queens in history.
#364479 in Books Whitaker Robert 2016-03-01 2016-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x 1.00 x 5.56l; 1.02 #File Name: 0465057942368 pagesThe Mapmaker s Wife A True Tale of Love Murder and Survival in the
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. This is a fascinating true story of adventure and science ...By Quantum libetThis is a fascinating true story of adventure and science in what is now Ecuador during the 1730s. The scientific part involves the expedition of members of the Académie française to measure a meridian arc at the equator and to compare its measurement with one measured in "Lapland." The object of the enterprise was to determine whether Isaac Newton's description of Earth as flattened at the poles because of the planet's rotation or elongated at the poles as postulated by other scientists. The French scientists struggled for years in the inhospitable Andean terrain to obtain accurate measurements and proved that Newton correct. One lowly member member of the French team was Jean Godin; who married Isabel Gramesón of a high-ranking family of the Spanish Viceroyaltyof Peru. Godin's plan to return to France with his pregnant wife involved exploring the downstream for its entire length and returning upstream to collect his wife. Godin spent 20 years (1749-69) in this enterprise; at which point she set out in search of him and suffered even more horrific experiences than her husband had during the interval.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Name of the book misleadingBy Was It Worth PurchasingThis was an unread (by everyone in my book club) book club read. Although very interesting and informative; it was very a laborious read. I read a lot (2 books a week) and it is one of the first books I had to keep putting down and going back to later. Everyone in my book club was in agreement that the name of the book is misleading. It had about one chapter solely dedicated to the wife and that was at the end of the book. After discussing the book; however; many of the ladies rated it at least a 4 star due to the scientific value; exploration; flora and fauna collection and all around bravery of the men who were willing to die doing what they did.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Intriguing True Story; Rich in History; and Proving Once Again that Love Conquers AllBy Kristi BlackI read the Mapmaker's Wife because we are currently visiting Ecuador and I enjoy reading stories about places I have been. Even though the story takes places in the 18th Century; I was ecstatic to not only be familiar with many of the locations; but that the place where we are currently staying is directly across the street from where one of the sub-plots occurred! I got a lot more than expected from this true story. The author delves deep into the expedition of a group of French Scientists that came to the equator to conduct the measurements to once and for all solve the argument of the size and shape of the earth. While there; Jean Godin; one of the Assistant's to the expedition marries Isabel; a daughter from one of the local well-to-do families. The couple end up being separated for over a 20-year period. Separated by the hazards of the jungle; both Jean and Isabel never gave up hope to be reunited with one another. Isabel; after waiting years for Jean to come back to Peru; sets out on a journey through the dangerous ; something that was unheard of and thought to be impossible for a woman during that time. Though the title of the book is misleading; it is well written and the reader quickly comes to appreciate the in depth research the author conducted in order to put us right there from colonial Peru to deep in the jungle.
