BORN TO RULE PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Julia P. Gelardi | 480 pages | 20 Feb 2006 | Griffin Publishing | 9780312324247 | English | California, United States Born To Rule (Original Mix) by Angerfist on Beatport

See 1 question about Born to Rule…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Shelves: buddy-read. A prominent sub-theme that has become apparent during this biography binge would have to be the long reach of the English monarchy around Europe. Gelardi offers a wonderful look into the lives of Princesses Alix Russia , Maud Norway , Sophie A prominent sub-theme that has become apparent during this biography binge would have to be the long reach of the English monarchy around Europe. Gelardi offers a wonderful look into the lives of Princesses Alix Russia , Maud Norway , Sophie Greece , Marie Romania , and Ena Spain , weaving together their personal lives with some of the historical goings-on in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That these cousins were both so similar and vastly different is greatly apparent in this book, which boasts an interconnected biography of each. Below I will offer only a very brief snapshot, in hopes of luring others into reading and discovering many more details about these five women of monarchical prominence. Gelardi's attention to detail and smooth narrative are not lost on the attentive reader. Perfect for those who love history and how small nuances can cause revolutionary change in short order. A feisty child and close to her grandmother, Alix was soon won over by the eventual Tsar Nicholas II in As Gelardi notes, Alix was required to convert to Orthodoxy in order to marry and eventually serve as Empress. She did so with little fuss and never looked back. Russia was a powerful entity in Europe and held much sway going into the 20th century. Alix was able to make much headway with her Russian family and gave birth to five children, the youngest, Alexei, who inherited the haemophilia gene. It was around the time of Alexei's struggles that Alix sought the help of a peasant preacher, the now infamous Rasputin. Their connection, while not sexual, proved to open a tear in the marriage with Tsar Nicholas II. As the people of Russia began uprisings, the role of the Tsar and the Romanov Empire dwindled, leaving Nicholas to stand down and dissolve his autocratic power. Russia was in the middle of fighting the Great War, a battle they were forced to leave to deal with the revolution in full swing at home. In the spring of , after having handed power over to the people, Alix and her entire family were brutally assassinated. As Gelardi writes, perhaps one of the most gruesome and draw-out political assassinations ever undertaken. She made her mark, though paid the ultimate price. An early love interest to England's Prince George eventually George V , Marie had a life-long affinity for the great monarch, her cousin. Marrying Ferdinand I of Romania in , Marie helped support the kingdom by supporting her husband, though their marriage was strained from the early stages. While Marie did have six children, Gelardi posits that at least one came from a lover, though Ferdinand was by no means free from his own indiscretions. Marie attempted to remain above the fray, but did push for a strong Romania, especially in territorial expansion at the turn of the 20th century, when she sought the acquisition of Transylvania. With the onset of the Great War, Marie and Ferdinand had to make a choice about entering the fight and on whose side, with the Balkan sentiment rooted in Russia, but Marie having strong ties to her homeland and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The winds of change also blew as revolution amongst the people grew and eventually the monarchs were forced to abdicate and flee. Thankfully, their lives were spared, leaving the country in the hands of the next generation, as Gelardi recounts in her narrative. When she married Constantine I of Greece, the couple soon began their family, which numbered six children. After Constantine's father was assassinated, they rose to the Throne and faced a similar struggle to that of Marie, on which side to place their support during the Great War. Equally troubling was the Greek people's revolutionary fervour, as Gelardi emphasises, which saw Constantine I abdicate and leave the country as Greece flirted with a republic. Sophie fought hard to stand by her husband, but also struggled with her nationalistic lineage, which found her torn between Germany and England. While Constantine was briefly welcomed back to Greece, he was forced to leave again in , never to return. Sophie spent her latter years liaising with family in England and trying to bask in what glory remained at her disposal. An intellectual child, Maud eventually agreed to marry Prince Charles of Denmark her mother's country of birth and began a somewhat quiet life. Remaining far from the battlefields of the Great War, Gelardi posits that Maud was likely the only consort who was never forced to entertain entering the war. Watching the tumult around them, Haakon and Maud interacted with their relations, but were spared bloodshed and revolution throughout their time on the Norwegian Throne. Unlike the required conversion that her cousin Alix underwent, Ena's marriage required that she denounce her Protestant past and accept Catholicism. Ena did so, though received much criticism by the British and even her own family. Marrying Alfonso came also with accepting his philandering ways, though she sought to put this aside and reign as best she could. Six children joined their family and they weathered the storm of the Great War without being required to send troops to the front lines. Instead, they sought to begin an imperial exploration of Africa. Ena was left with her children to determine how Spain might see another generation return to reign. Ena got her wish when her grandson, King Juan Carlos I, ascended at the end of Franco's fascist rule in While only a snippet of the biographical information provided, Gelardi presents the reader with much on which to ponder. As noted briefly above, there were two other cousins who played a particularly powerful role during these times, George V of England and Wilhelm II of Germany. That these seven of Victoria's grandchildren proved to be so prominent in 20th century politics is no small feat. What might be interesting to the reader is that the various consorts and rulers mingled with such ease and regularity. I admit that I am not up on my royal lineage or correspondence, but one does not likely see that nowadays. Still, as Geraldi argues throughout, the interconnectedness of the five female consorts shows both the strong parallels and obvious differences in their reigns throughout Europe. That the continent was shaped in vastly different ways is not lost on the observant reader. But it is ultimately their dignity, devotion to duty, strong sense of responsibility, and steadfastness in the face of adversity that distinguishes them and makes their stories both compelling and timeless. With a strong narrative that ushers the story forward, Gelardi weaves together a strong biography of all five consorts, using detailed research and history as her guide. Each chapter is full of interesting tidbits and superimposes the lives of all five, rather than offering individual glimpses. Gelardi should be praised for this, as it strengthens the argument of the connection these cousins had, even if their lives differed greatly. I found myself wanting to know more and yet stunned at all that I did ascertain from this piece. The perfect piece for me that offers a wonderful survey of Europe at the time, which is bolstered with what little knowledge I have. Geraldi is surely one historian to keep in mind when looking to expand one's horizons. Kudos, Madam Gelardi for such a wonderful biography. I wish I had found this sooner in my journey, though am now left to scramble to read more about these women, their lives, and the other royals who influenced them at the time. You are now on my permanent radar for biographical pieces. View all 11 comments. May 24, Emily Ann Meyer rated it really liked it Shelves: , history , biography. I enjoyed this book - it was a fascinating glimpse at the intertwined and separate lives of these five women. At times, however, I was disappointed at how much had been glossed over. Some of that, I grant, was necessary as discussing the complete lives of five women in a reasonable-sized book could not have been done in any great detail. It could have, however, been improved in a few ways 1 - put a complete rather than simplified family tree - when the author was referring to other cousins, I enjoyed this book - it was a fascinating glimpse at the intertwined and separate lives of these five women. It could have, however, been improved in a few ways 1 - put a complete rather than simplified family tree - when the author was referring to other cousins, uncles, mothers, offspring, grandchildren, siblings etc. Perhaps a simplified family tree on the main page followed by more detailed family trees of each branch of royalty could've served the purpose. View 1 comment. This book is one of those that's very, very ambitious. Five women who happened to be granddaughters of Queen Victoria. All who became consorts, most with very volatile reigns. One killed, a couple ousted from the country. It was a very good book and it definitely gave me a few more people that I want to read more about. I doubt there will be many books about some of the women -- mainly will be in the books about their husbands and kids -- but I'm still going to see if I can find anything. Mar 04, Jessica rated it liked it Shelves: biography-autobiography , read-in , european-aristocracy. Much more scholarly than I would have liked. One of the problems I had with this book is that the author approaches it almost with the assumption that the reader is going to be a 3rd year European history major who has a lot of pre knowledge of this subject. An example of this is almost each person had multiple names they were known by, officially, personally, intimately, etc. She refers to a person flipping flopping between all their names indiscriminately and with almost no explanation so the Much more scholarly than I would have liked. She refers to a person flipping flopping between all their names indiscriminately and with almost no explanation so the reader finds themselves confused over who the author is referring to. The other assumption she makes it that the reader has taken a year or two of French and therefore there is no need to translate the French statements she includes in the book. On the other hand the book is just chock full of information on the European dynasties. I came away with a better picture of the interfamily relationships as well as a better understanding of the first world war. Probably the biggest eye opener of this book was just how inbred these royal families are. I mean I knew there was inbreeding but not to the level this book details. Thank goodness Prince William married a commoner. They need some new DNA running through their families. Dec 26, Suzannah rated it liked it Shelves: non-fiction , history. A quintuple biography of Victoria's five queenly granddaughters, this book was neither particularly well written not particularly scholarly, but did provide a helpful overview of all five lives. Here we get to know - Sophie of Greece, the sister of Wilhelm II who hated his war but got blamed for it anyway and who had a front row seat to some of the worst Allied atrocities of WWI they so often get swept under the rug ; Maud of Norway, who together with her Danish husband only agreed to become the A quintuple biography of Victoria's five queenly granddaughters, this book was neither particularly well written not particularly scholarly, but did provide a helpful overview of all five lives. Here we get to know - Sophie of Greece, the sister of Wilhelm II who hated his war but got blamed for it anyway and who had a front row seat to some of the worst Allied atrocities of WWI they so often get swept under the rug ; Maud of Norway, who together with her Danish husband only agreed to become the sovereigns of Norway after a democratic referendum which shocked their snobbish royal relatives, and who used to go out and do her own shopping, and whose husband was known as "Mr King", and who generally seems to have been rather chill and awesome. Marie of Romania, a theatrical drama queen who would not have been out of place in The Prisoner of Zenda. Liked to get around dripping with Byzantine splendour and taking a series of lovers, pig-headedly insisted Romania get involved in WWI on the Allied side, yet her A1 publicity skills made her adored by the people. Would later write a lot of florid letters and autobiographies, all of them fulsomely praising herself for her selfless activity and diplomatic acumen. I may have taken an instant dislike to her purely on the basis of Gelardi's fangirling. Alexandra of Russia, whom you will likely not learn anything new about here. Shy, awkward, and thick as a brick. Gelardi, who constantly refers to these five women as "Queen Victoria's VERY SPECIAL granddaughters" wants you to know what a tragedy it was for Alix and Nicky to give their country a tiny, grudging little bit of self-government after years of outrageous exploitation. Ena Victoria of Spain, who after being nearly blown up on their wedding day, quietly put up with her husband's lotharing for decades until Spain threw them out, upon which she kicked him out and lived to a fabulously fashionable old age and brokered her grandson Juan Carlos's return to the throne after Franco's death. All of it is a fascinating glimpse into twentieth century history, but I found Gelardi's pro-royal bias a bit difficult to take. From the things I know she glossed over, I'm not sure how much of what she says can be trusted at all. A wonderful overview of the five women who managed to somehow survive the tumultuous years when the modern era didn't just break down Victorian ideals and mores, but smashed them completely to bits. Because the book is a story about these five women - Maud of Norway, Sophie of Greece, Alexandra of Russia, Marie of Romania, and Victoria Eugenie of Spain - by its very nature, it's more vague at times, lacking some of the more detailed examination which would come with a single-focus biography. However, despite the more generalized tone, the author still does an excellent job illuminating the lives of these women as well as the greater whole of European history and change into which they were thrust. Also, because the stories are told chronologically, there's no no individual chapter devoted to each queen. Instead, as the years unfold, a portion of each queen's story is threaded into the next, much like a braid - as we see Alexandra pursued by Nicholas, we then turn to Marie who, during that same time, was struggling to adjust to life in the Romanian court; as the pursuit draws to a close, we turn back to Alexandra as she deals with the fallout over converting to the Russian Orthodox religion. It makes for a more dynamic and yet intimate telling. The only flaws in the book came from the inserts. While a family tree was provided at the front of the book, for some inexplicable reason it was abbreviated. Which meant that there were times when siblings, children, cousins, etc. I can understand having the main tree, where the five women were listed, slightly compressed for simplicity's sake, but it would've been nice to have had an expanded tree, perhaps a detailed breakdown for each woman, on the following pages. Speaking of the family tree, the author would often use family nicknames for certain individuals, most especially when referring to Alexandra's sister, Victoria "Ducky" and Sophie's sister, Margrete "Mossy". It would've been nice, had there been an expanded family tree, to also have those nicknames alongside as I kept forgetting who exactly was who whenever Ducky or Mossy was mentioned. Even without that expanded family tree, it still would've been nice to have had those nicknames somewhere up front as a helpful reminder. As another reviewer mentioned, maps of Europe, especially showing the changes to the borders of certain countries pre- and post-WWI, would've been extremely helpful in understanding the massive political changes wrought by the war. Lastly, for my part, as I'm a very visual person, I wish there'd been a few dozen more photos than what was provided; looking online, I found weddings photos for each of the five women showing their gowns which were utterly exquisite and was quite surprised those same photos weren't included in the book. I think the most fascinating aspect of the entire book was how much freedom all the women were given when it came to marriage. Though duty was always uppermost in the selection, they were able to choose their own husbands based on love and affection as well, something emphasized by Queen Victoria, inspired, I'm sure, by the happiness she found in her marriage to Albert. In turn, each of these five granddaughters of Victoria passed on the same advice to their daughters, continuing the tradition of marrying for both love and duty, something which I believe continues even now in the many descendants of these five remarkable women. May 15, Melissa rated it liked it. I've been vascillating between a two-star and a three-star rating I finally went with the three star just on the strength of the subject matter but the way it's laid out is confusing and the writing style less-than-stellar every section of the book is cliff-hangered with some form of "shattering" as in earth-shattering or a life was shattered or peace was shattered, etc. While I liked the premise, and each of the five women are amazing in their own right, the book felt sloppy. In the I've been vascillating between a two-star and a three-star rating In the "Dramatis Personae" which I loathe in any non-fiction book all the marriages of the next generation the five princesses children - including second marriages, etc - are noted but not the marriage of King Olav V of Norway, son of Maud of Wales, nor are his children noted. That's a big miss; Olav and his son Harald were heavily involved in the Allied effort during WWII, the omission makes it seem like the Norweigan line died out nearly as soon as the dynasty started. The reader could also have been helped by some maps of Europe at the time of the women's marriages and maps showing how the various wars and treaties changed boundaries another helpful footnote could have pointed out HRH Prince Philip's father was Prince Andrew, brother of King Constantine of Greece, who was forced to flee Greece when Philip was an infant - there were only endnotes, not footnotes. Good subject matter, keeps you interested, but the execution was off. May 25, Linda Bridges rated it it was ok Shelves: owned , linda-sbooks , books , book-challenge , books. I was torn between giving this one a two or three star rating. Parts were absolutely fascinating, such as their childhoods and relationships with Victoria, and parts were just tedious. Very little in the book was about Maud and not too much about Victoria Eugenie. I did learn a bunch about Greek and Romanian history in the modern age but the book hopped around from one to another so continuity was hard to maintain. I am usually not the one for non fiction or even fictional history books, but this one was awesome to read. Lots and lots of interesting detail, rich description of interpersonal relation among many of the characters. I didn't know a lot of the historical facts that were inside but they were sure fun to read and discover. Dec 12, Zosi rated it really liked it. A fascinating read. I knew about a couple of these queens, but some of the others were completely unknown to me. The book was well written, though a little dry at times-Gelardi does a good job balancing the stories. The book reads more as a survey of their reigns than anything else which makes sense due to covering all 5 of them but it provides a good starting off point from which deeper research can be conducted. Aug 02, Jessica rated it liked it. I have long heard the saying that if Queen Victoria's family had a reunion World War I may have been avoided. Gelardi does an admirable job making that point true. This is a great book to illustrate just what a tinderbox Europe was when the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated, which began World War I. Family relations across Europe were eroded and in poor shape; they were looking for excuses. One had an attempted assassination on her wedding day, two forced in exile, one a prisoner who was eventually killed along with her whole family. Downside of this book--I had a hard time tracking people between the switching of formal names to nick names. At times it was a bit much. For the most part, I did enjoy this book. I liked it and I found the topic interesting enough to stay up until 2am the night before the book was due back to the library to finish reading it. But there were major problems with this book. It follows five queens, granddaughters of Queen Victoria, but it's not properly segmented and it skips between the five indiscriminately. In one sentence, it'll be talking about Maud and her love for Frank of Teck, and in the next sentence it'll be talking about For the most part, I did enjoy this book. In one sentence, it'll be talking about Maud and her love for Frank of Teck, and in the next sentence it'll be talking about Alix and her attachment to Protestantism. This book could have been significantly improved in this aspect. Another problem was the repetitive usage of multiple names for the same person. I understand that in this period, many royals had multiple titles, but the author constantly flips between various titles and it makes it very difficult to follow the actual thread of what the author is saying. Another problem was the excessive language that the author used. In my head I could constantly hear the dun dun dun cliffhanger music from Eastenders and I haven't watched that in many years because of the constant forewarning the author gave. It was like the end of every paragraph would be something along the lines of "Sophie would come to regret this" or "Marie would not know the importance of this mistake for years to come" etc etc etc. The writing itself came across as a mix between late s letter writing, cheap thriller writing and a fantasy novel. This book did not feel like a nonfiction book and that simply makes me question if everything was actually correct. Finally, the author wrote this as a book about five queens. My second boarding school was a kinder, more liberal place. But we remained as detached from the rest of society as Carthusian monks. The world, when we were released into it, was unrecognisable. It bore no relationship to our learning or experience. The result was cognitive dissonance: a highly uncomfortable state from which human beings will do almost anything to escape. There were two principal means. One — the more painful — was to question everything you held to be true. This process took me years: in fact, it has not ended. It was, at first, highly disruptive to my peace of mind and sense of self. The other, as US Republicans did during the Bush presidency, is to create your own reality. If the world does not fit your worldview, you either shore up your worldview with selectivity and denial, or if you have power you try to bend the world to fit the shape it takes in your mind. Much of the effort of conservative columnists and editors, and of certain politicians and historians, appears to be devoted to these tasks. Last year the former Republican staffer Mike Lofgren wrote something very similar about the dominant classes of the US: "the rich elites of this country have far more in common with their counterparts in London, Paris, and Tokyo than with their fellow American citizens … the rich disconnect themselves from the civic life of the nation and from any concern about its well being except as a place to extract loot. Secession from the concerns and norms of the rest of society characterises any well established elite. Our own ruling caste, schooled separately, brought up to believe in justifying fairytales, lives in a world of its own, from which it can project power without understanding or even noticing the consequences. A removal from the life of the rest of the nation is no barrier to the desire to dominate it. In fact, it appears to be associated with a powerful sense of entitlement. So if you have wondered how the current government can blithely engage in the wholesale transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich, how its frontbench can rock with laughter as it truncates the livelihoods of the poorest people of this country, why it commits troops to ever more pointless post-colonial wars, here, I think, is part of the answer. Many of those who govern us do not in their hearts belong here. They belong to a different culture, a different world, which knows as little of its own acts as it knows of those who suffer them. Twitter: georgemonbiot. A fully referenced version of this article can be found at Monbiot. Education Schools Teachers Universities Students. Born To Rule | Horse Profile, Form Guide & Latest Odds

I was surprised that the princesses had as much say as they did in selection of their husbands. Queen Victoria seems like a feminist in her attitutes from the direct quotes from her letters. While the monarchy as an institution has been widely studied, I'm not aware of any treatment like this of the role of the married off princess. Young girls, who may be in love with men they hardly know, move, permanently to a country where they don't know the language and may have to change a religion. Travel and communication are not what they are today, and their local obligations will be consuming so the promise of seeing a family which may have indulged them is slim unless, like Maud, they marry into a low key, not so prestigious situation. These teens or twentysomethings are thrust into a politics of which they have little awareness, and unless their husbands mentor them, are open to intrigue, gossip and worse. If they're from countries with which their new country is at war, things can hardly get better. Maud has the most satisfying life, marrying a minor noble, who later agrees to become an elected king. The royalists are losing support in at this time in history making the lives of the others profiled stressful, but Maud is happy in her modest court and country. Marie is the only one to make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but it only goes back again. She does this by dropping her Victorian ways and doing as the Romanians do. The author implies that Alexandra's stiff upper lip was a major factor in her family's ultimate tragedy. I'd be interested in informed opinion on this, as well as on Marie's actual influence on the course of events in Romania. I feel like I've just finished a course in European History running from the Victorian Age to modern times. Author Julia P. Gelardi is thorough and it's obvious a lot of research went into this project. She traces the lineage of five of Queen Victoria's many grandchildren the Queen and Prince Albert had nine children ensuring a huge next generation. Maud, Alix, Marie, Ena and Sophie were all fated to follow their grandmother's teachings as they all married into ruling families around Europe. A scorecard and an active family tree with arrows would be helpful in reading this as we face more and more intermarriages among royal families many haunted by the specter of hemophilia affecting male heirs. In cases, like Alix who became the Tsarina Alexander the disease helped lead to murder and the downfall of a royal family. Through many tragedies, betrayals and world events these women managed to stand tall and leave an impact on their countries. To a one, they're interesting and fascinating women. A lot of fascinating information in this book, but the story lines are mixed together.. The ladies were easy to keep track of in the beginning, when they are young, but as husbands and in-laws and children and grandchildren and maybe-lovers, etc. The ridiculous "simplified family tree" was a frustrating waste of time, each queen A lot of fascinating information in this book, but the story lines are mixed together.. The ridiculous "simplified family tree" was a frustrating waste of time, each queen should have had her own detailed family tree, and it would have made it much easier to follow.. Queen Maud, who had a very peaceful life in comparison to the others, is almost an nonentity, she makes so few appearances. I do think this would have been better told one story at a time. The hardback cover is gorgeous. Jan 04, Rachel rated it really liked it Shelves: russia , non-fiction , british-history , queen-victoria. A highly readable non fiction history. Follows the lives of five extraordinary and rather tragic women. Princesses who, although living in glittering palaces, experienced much sorrow in their personal lives and went through excruciating political turmoil. I enjoyed reading about all five women at the same time in order to reference how they all related to each other. However, I'm also interested in reading individual biographies for even greater detail. Other things I found intriguing were how A highly readable non fiction history. Other things I found intriguing were how intertwined the European royal families became, and the amount of intimate correspondence available to historians today. Only complaints are some failures on the editing as far as typos and a wrong date. Fascinating History This well researched history about five of Queen Victorias many grandchildren is worth the time because of the excellent understanding it offers of Europe and Russia politics in pre, during and post WWI times. These five remarkable young women have many challenges facing them in their marriages and then lives, not the least of which is being matched to men for political and monarchy continuation reasons, not love. If you like history, well worth the time to read. A look at five granddaughters of Queen Victoria who would become consorts of five monarchs in Europe, just before the First World War. Each story is tragic is some way, happy in others, and none of them at all dull. Royalty fans will eat this one up. Nov 01, Natalie rated it really liked it. They're all frumpy, aren't they? Because it's a bad idea when cousins marry. I couldn't help but feel the author was trying to get me to sympathize with these five queens - I didn't. I did, however, get a very clear view of how exactly all European royalty is related in some "Queen Victoria, one of our more frumpy queens. I did, however, get a very clear view of how exactly all European royalty is related in some way to each other A fun way to read about European royals, as they related to each other. I really liked this book, and learned a lot about several rulers I was totally uninformed about. Sep 22, Lauren rated it really liked it Shelves: history-nonfiction. I have a peculiar obsession with all things royalty, so this seemed like the perfect book to pick up to build on my knowledge of Queen Victoria, this time expanding my viewpoint by reading about her granddaughters, five of whom went on to become reigning queens of "We who are placed above the crowd are not climbing I have a peculiar obsession with all things royalty, so this seemed like the perfect book to pick up to build on my knowledge of Queen Victoria, this time expanding my viewpoint by reading about her granddaughters, five of whom went on to become reigning queens of various different nations. Gelardi traces the lives of these five granddaughters of Queen Victoria from their birth, marriage, reign, and death, enabling the reader to have an all encompassing view of how these queens encountered both triumphs and tragedy. What made Born to Rule so interesting is its scope in regards to the lives of each woman it studies across the world stage. Born to Rule was able to give an in depth look at each woman's trials and tribulations, weaving together throughout the book multiple countries, kings, queens, and wars over the course of about a hundred years while still retaining respect and precision for the individuality and uniqueness of each woman. I truly felt like I gained a sense of who each Queen was, while also gaining an appreciation for all that they dealt with. It was both interesting and heartbreaking to see how various issues, such as the passing of hemophilia through the royal family, impacted both Alix and Ena's marriages and reigns. Through reading this book I was able to learn more about other countries and reigns outside of my usual bubble of Great Britain, seeing how the decisions that were made rulers a hundred years ago are still impacting the monarchies of today. I also was grateful for the context and explanation Gelardi provided throughout her handling of the events of World War I, something I was not very knowledgeable about. Through her guidance I was able to follow events and still gain a sense of the tangled web of alliances and families that characterized the war. Overall, this book gave me a deeper sense and understanding of how important the role of family was to the various monarchies throughout Europe. After all, through marriage and through Queen Victoria, many of the rulers were cousins who seemed to care very deeply for each other--sharing nicknames, trading letters, worrying for each other and looking forward to the next time they would be able to visit. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge about the royal families of several questions, but is worried about becoming overwhelmed or confused. Born to Rule is the perfect book to read in answer to this. I will be sure to pick up the next book I can find to learn even more about these fascinating and tragic women. This is a really ambitious book that mostly succeeds in telling the stories of Queen Victoria's five granddaughters who became queens consort in Europe. It's fascinating to read about these women, most of them contemporaries, who had to face some of the same challenges some rather different and handled everything in their own way. It's also shocking and interesting how much of Europe's "ruling class" is related, even now. My issues with the book mainly stem from poor editing - the author would This is a really ambitious book that mostly succeeds in telling the stories of Queen Victoria's five granddaughters who became queens consort in Europe. My issues with the book mainly stem from poor editing - the author would skip around among the women's stories with little to no transition in between them. One paragraph would be about Marie of Romania and literally without any transition, we'd be reading about some of Sophie of Greece's children. The five women chosen to write about were difficult, too. Victoria Eugenie of Spain and Maud of Norway? Not so much. They felt rather tacked onto the story compared to the other three. It's not that they weren't interesting women in their own right, but the author included a lot less information about them for a reason. Feb 22, Margaret Conmey rated it really liked it. Sep 20, Lindsey rated it liked it. While the subject matter of this book was fascinating, the execution was lacking for me. There did seem to be a bit of an assumption that you had a background in European history before reading the book. In some places it was hard to keep track which granddaughter was being talked about as the name of them would change from their A glimpse into the lives of five of Queen Victoria granddaughters: Sophie of Greece, Maud of Norway, Marie of Romania, Alexandra of Russia, and Ena Victoria of Spain. In some places it was hard to keep track which granddaughter was being talked about as the name of them would change from their actual name, to their title, or to a nickname. Overall, an interesting read. I definitely learned a few things about these women and how European relations were leading up to WWI. Mar 14, Lyn rated it really liked it Shelves: biography. This is a very sympathetic look at all 5 granddaughters and their lives during a very turbulent time. It contains background politics that set the stage in a very natural way. The geneological chart in the front is good, but I found this to be better. What is amazing is that the eldest granddaughter Maud was born in and the youngest Victoria Eugenie died in You might also like Nancy Goldstones Four Queens: The Provence This is a very sympathetic look at all 5 granddaughters and their lives during a very turbulent time. Jan 22, Linda Finlayson rated it really liked it. Reading biographies is always the best way to learn history in my opinion. Learning 20th century European history through the eyes of some who lived it made it all hang together for me. Granted these eyes were 'from the top', rather than the average person, but these women in their 'exalted' position could see the bigger picture. Their stories are show both their strengths and weaknesses, and some ended quite sadly. They were strong women doing their best in tumultuous times. Sep 21, Rachel rated it really liked it. A detailed and emotional history. It was delightful to learn more about their lives. My heart broke to see such regal and compassionate woman all struggle over obstacles and more often then not be overlooked by history. While the chronological order makes sense, think having the stories of each woman separate and chronological would have made this historical account easier to follow. Dec 29, Jesten rated it it was amazing. This book provides a compelling and detailed look into the lives of five royals who had very different experiences and personalities, but who also all had interesting stories. Though, I believe I may have found a few messed up dates just things like being written as , the book was clearly very well researched and factually correct. I was very happy to learn about these women and their countries in the times that they ruled. Readers also enjoyed. Biography Memoir. About Julia P. Julia P. Books by Julia P. Related Articles. Read more However, such a hegemonic belief cannot have a place in the modern republicanism of our democratic electoral system, which is premised on the right of each and every individual to seek and aspire for any leadership position in Nigeria in so far as he or she is blessed with the citizenship flag. But it is within the endowed grace of democracy for a group to coalesce into a community for political action, where it organizes itself to legally and legitimately seek for power with the protection of its core values and fundamental interest uppermost on its plate. Perhaps, that is the aim of the Northern Political Leaders Forum and other such groups that are now being condemned by detractors. Perhaps, it is within this realm of mythical thinking when the professor of folkloric arts proclaimed the fusion of credo-northernism with Islamism, which is a monumental fallacy and interpolation. Because, a little perusal into the socio-religious background of an essential northerner reveals that the two are one. Just like his Muslim brethren, the Christian northerner, like in the deep-south of United States of America, clutches his bible with the patriotic fervor of a good citizen. After all, even a petulant democratic party strategist like James Carville never for once doubted the patriotic intent of religionists such as former President George Bush. It is also within the context of this belief system that the internationally celebrated inventor of stage classics inserted theatrics into what could have been a great interview when he single handedly transported a literary icon to the very top of Boko Haram elimination list, containing political jobbers, military generals and influential money men. But could a group that has the name western education is a sin appreciate the real value of a Nobel Laureate? Essentially, people who do not appreciate education cannot simply appreciate the eminence of a literary icon within the intricate mechanics of power attainment and the corresponding balance of its applicability. In other words, men of books are neither relevant nor important in the mental psychology of a power seeking rebel and as the celebrated laureate once confirmed to Jonathan Mann of the Cable News Network, at the eve of transition to the current democratic republic, were Soyinka to ever seek for electoral mandate even of the lowly councillorship, he would spectacularly falter. The Kongi personality cult is a deeply polarizing concept among the Nigerian voting public, and that is in tune with the celebration of mediocrity, corruption, criminality and general lack of principles in politics. Roll polish between your palms back and forth for 30 seconds to mix color. To prevent applying too thick, remove excess from the stem and brush, by wiping brush on the sides of the bottle neck. Hold brush at a slight angle above nail for 2 seconds, allowing nail polish to travel down to the tip of the brush. Touch the polish down in the center of the nail, slightly away from the cuticle. Gently push the brush up towards the cuticle, right below the base line and gently glide down nail towards the free edge in a single straight swipe motion. Lift the brush and repeat on each side of the nail plate, following the same single swipe motion to cover the length of the nail. Apply 1st coat of polish to all 10 nails. Apply second coat of polish in the same process Seal the free edge of the nail by running the brush along the tip of the nail plate to ensure longer. Wait 2 minutes to apply Fast Forward Top Coat. This will insure the last layer is completely dry and will not create streaks when applying the top coat. Boss ( Bengali film) - Wikipedia

Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here! In Lyrics. By Artist. By Album. Discuss the Born to Rule Lyrics with the community: 0 Comments. Notify me of new comments via email. Cancel Report. Create a new account. Log In. Powered by CITE. Missing lyrics by Hammerfall? Know any other songs by Hammerfall? Don't keep it to yourself! Add it Here. Watch the song video Born to Rule. Knights of the 21st Century. Michael J. Gibson the Rockstar Cat. Just Tired. Apply Strong Adhesion Base coat to all 10 nails. Roll polish between your palms back and forth for 30 seconds to mix color. To prevent applying too thick, remove excess from the stem and brush, by wiping brush on the sides of the bottle neck. Hold brush at a slight angle above nail for 2 seconds, allowing nail polish to travel down to the tip of the brush. Touch the polish down in the center of the nail, slightly away from the cuticle. Gently push the brush up towards the cuticle, right below the base line and gently glide down nail towards the free edge in a single straight swipe motion. Lift the brush and repeat on each side of the nail plate, following the same single swipe motion to cover the length of the nail. Apply 1st coat of polish to all 10 nails. Apply second coat of polish in the same process Seal the free edge of the nail by running the brush along the tip of the nail plate to ensure longer. Wait 2 minutes to apply Fast Forward Top Coat. This will insure the last layer is completely dry and will not create streaks when applying the top coat. Post Tips: Detail the surrounding skin with a cuticle stick and polish remover if color gets on the skin. Allow Top Coat to dry completely prior to applying cuticle oil to condition the cuticles and nails. External Use Only. Keep off skin. Avoid heat or flame.

Paul Williams reviews 'Born to Rule?' by Paddy Manning

The more he is forced to conform, the more rebellious and non-productive he becomes. This makes Boris question the reality or truth of things which most others take for granted. The facts of a matter or societal standards do not constrain his thoughts or behaviors in the normal way. This minority view of the world has repercussions in every area of life. It is not so much a lack of faith as his questioning of faith that is important, because he can in fact have extreme and strong beliefs. It is the tension created by swinging between fact and fiction which can cause problems. Curiosity and a strange urge to find the truth often leads to a life of study, travel and changing philosophies. In the struggle between fact and fiction, faith, and hopelessness, he experiences many highs and lows. Disappointment is something he has to contend with as other people fail to meet his expectation, or intentionally try to take advantage of him. It gives an interest in the big issues which affect many people such as politics and religion and has given him a powerful influence over the lives of other people. Morality and ethics are important to him, but this does not necessarily mean he is strictly moral or ethical. Though it does give a fairly good sense of what is right and wrong. This aspect gives great opportunities to accomplish things on a grand scale and his enterprising spirit and drive have led to prominence and wealth. Another natural talent is the ability to transform on a large-scale. This involves continual personal development and a reforming influence in his area of interest for the benefit of friends and family, community, and even country. It is favorable for artistic and scientific pursuits which are carried out with the aim of gain. This point can be considered a gift. However, it is not always worked with in a proper manner. His intuitive nature is refined and he can be led to accomplish many divine purposes if the spiritual path is followed and he pays attention to his spirit guides. By following the direction of his spirit guides, he is led to great abundance and much happiness. In general, Fomalhaut is said to be very fortunate and powerful and yet to cause malevolence of sublime scope and character and change from a material to a spiritual form of expression. It gives an immortal name and is of a quite variable effect, either very good or very bad, depending on the overall cosmic structure. But he can also become egotistic, arrogant, confrontational and cruel. An inner battle between brash individualism and a fear of making decisions creates a high degree of tension. Until he masters patience and self- control, this inner tension can easily escalate and escape in self-destructive ways. A battle between freedom and tradition, rebellion and self- discipline, can manifest as an aversion to authority, skepticism, a fiery temper, controversial and provocative comments, insults and conflict. Deliberately flouting traditional moral, religious and social norms makes Boris a conservative revolutionary. His relationships may prove difficult because anyone close to him absorbs some of his inner tension. This can often alienate those who love him. The self-realization of a tendency to take control and quarrel will improve his intimate relationships. Greater understanding and empathy towards others can turn insults into constructive criticism. He can find a balance and resolution by being more patient and sensitive with loved ones. Using his courage and focus of will to harness his enormous creative talent will bring marked achievements. Respect will replace notoriety. In general, Zubenelgenubi causes malevolence, obstruction, an unforgiving character, violence, disease, lying, crime, disgrace, and danger of poison. It is particularly disadvantageous to have Neptune tied up with this star. It bestows an immortal name. However, this can come about more by tragic circumstances than by well-noted success. However, it also causes benefit by disgrace, selfishness, egotism, immorality, meanness, melancholy, unhappiness of mind and fear of poison, and gives an unreasonable, shameless and egotistical nature. In general, Sirius gives fame, honor, renown, wealth, ardor, faithfulness, devotion, passion and resentment, and makes its natives custodians, curators and guardians. In general, Canopus gives piety, conservatism, a wide and comprehensive knowledge, voyages and educational work, and changes evil to good. Boris undertakes many journeys in connection with his position. His parents or ancestors may have been noble, wealthy or famous. But even if he were born into poverty or grew up with a single parent, he would have had opportunities to learn and get ahead. Parents, teachers, relatives, mentors, and superiors helped him realize his full potential because they saw something special in Boris. Throughout his life, he also finds inspiration and help from friends, mentors, and idols in his spiritual quest for the truth of everyday existence. This aspect gives spiritual gifts and the ability to foresee the future, as well as a life of adventure and prosperity. Whether he had chosen a life of luxury or preferred to live modestly, he has enough resources to be able to help his friends and family. Boris is a generous, loyal and devoted person who makes his parents proud. Personal freedom is important to Boris and this can affect his philosophical, religious and even political outlook. Although he is open-minded with progressive ideas, he rejects concepts and ideologies that curtail personal freedom and expression, such as communism and socialism. Boris would do well in a career involving trade, foreign affairs, finance, health, education or law. But like the expansive nature of Jupiter, there really is no limit to his options. So he could just as easily be a comedian, astrologer, mountain climber, race car driver, billionaire or prime minister. He wants to experience as much as he can of the world without being tied down by possessions. He tends to place greater value on feelings, ideals and spiritual concerns. This aspect makes Boris Johnson unselfish and charitable with a lot of empathy and concern for others less fortunate, people who are unwell, even sick or lost animals and perhaps the environment. He likes being of service to others or a particular cause. Boris is very sensitive, probably shy and easily hurt but a devoted friend. Mysteries and the supernatural should fascinate him. This aspect helps Boris find spiritual significance and application in his career. It is likely that one of his parents was particularly stern, interfering or temperamental. He may have had a difficult and intense relationship with them which could have affected his self-confidence. However, his determined and persistent nature means he would not let anything like that hold him back. If anything, he would have used such an early experience to motivate him to excel and leave his mark on the world. Boris is resourceful and efficient and always wanting to improve himself. A relentless, probing nature makes him a perfectionist but also good at understanding human psychology. He may also be fascinated with magic, mysteries or the occult, and be good at solving crimes and puzzles or finding lost objects. Pluto sextile Midheaven brings help from influential people who recognize his potential for marked achievements. It also gives him a commanding presence, strong self-belief but perhaps a tendency to be autocratic. This gives Boris influence over other people, especially those who are weak or uncertain. A magnetic allure that may have sexual undertones, adds to his power to persuade. So Boris has the ability to transform the lives of other people. Knowing his own potential to have such a profound effect on others, it is most important that he uses his power wisely. His obsessive and compulsive tendencies can be an asset in his professional life but a liability in his personal life. When a vast group of men succeed in building a culture with strong institutions which express themselves in significant symbols and works of art or literature, such an effort of many generations is rarely lost altogether. In one form or another, records of this culture endure or are mysteriously preserved, simply because they reveal the place and function of this particular culture in the long process of unfoldment of the potentialities inherent in archetypal MAN. It is such a concept that has been mythified and popularized in the religious idea of the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. The symbol of petrified wood in the Arizona desert, however, tells us that the actual preservation of the records is never perfect or total. Only fragments remain, significant enough to reveal the essential archetypal form. This third symbol of the sixty-seventh five-fold sequence brings the promise of social immortality — i. BoJo and Trump are at the helm. Very British. Arrogance and hubris was always going to be their downfall. The actors and set pieces can be entertaining. As for the rich, it becomes more acceptable to be de-riched, if, like a British joke, they are In on it. Empire is over. Well, somewhere in Astrology king forum labyrinth, Jupiter Rx, I believe, find astronomy and astrology merge.. Personally, I look forward to Pluto moving into in Aquarius The shift of power back to the people who want to live in peace, have enough to share and live in a modest way. To win, the people of the world must stand united and know who the real enemy is. There it is. A good day to you too Sir, it has been my pleasure. The first thing to stress is that the UK will not leave immediately. The UK is still a member of the EU and will probably remain so for several years. But the vote has already triggered an extraordinary chain of events. Rectified as 6 hours and 45,5 seconds. On 31 March, Tusk sent draft negotiation guidelines to the leaders of the EU to prepare for the upcoming Brexit negotiations. European Union. Consider the fact that a major player in this has been through dark money funnelled through the Norther Irish minority hardline pro British empire colonialists the Democratic Unionist Party, founded by the British state in , under the leadership violent reactionary and vicious sectarian bigot Ian Paisley, in response to the hot civil war. A war created in large part, after a short period of peaceful civil rights protests, by the well documented counter insurgency tactics of Frank Kitson, where mostly innocent catholic civilians innocent protestants too but less in number were targeted for murder and torture by both the British army and state funded local criminal loyalist and republican paramilitaries, with a descendant of one loyalist arms dealer, Emma Little Pengelly is now serving as a pro Brexit DUP British MP. And the deafening silence in the global corporate mass media on the partisan political and violent historical origins of the party that presently holds the balance of power over how Brexit is finally to affect every individual citizen in the UK and Northern Ireland, becomes both heinous in its neglect and chilling in its implications. A last potentially genocidal already fatal for Lyra Mckee r. Still following this topic. Whatever the cost. Really very superficial. I looked myself at the Vedic Horoscope, and there you have far more clear information, with his dasa, etc. Also, in Jyotish he is Virgo Asc. I might publish soon. Jupiter, Draconis and IC are all in 17 degrees Virgo. The new research suggests at least the possibility that some of these historic figures were blessed with the leadership gene. Despite the importance of the gene, acquiring a leadership position still mostly depends on developing the necessary skills, say the researchers. Although leadership should still be thought of predominantly as a skill to be developed, genetics - in particular the rs genotype - can also play a significant role in predicting who is more likely to occupy leadership roles. More research was needed to understand the ways in which rs interacted with other factors, such as a child learning environment, he added. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Workplace supervisory roles were used as a measurement of leadership behaviour. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address. Thanks for signing up to the News newsletter. The Independent would like to keep you informed about offers, events and updates by email, please tick the box if you would like to be contacted Read our full mailing list consent terms here. The findings appear online today in the journal Leadership Quarterly.

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