An excellent comprehensive biography and history, but I found it lacking in passion for the subject. In fact, a lot of it reminded me of essays I wrotAn excellent comprehensive biography and history, but I found it lacking in passion for the subject. In fact, a lot of it reminded me of essays I wrote in college - not in material, etc. (Massie is clearly an expert in that regard), but in style and pacing. Several sections repeated themselves, several figures were over-introduced or explained while others were given barely any introduction or reminder clues, some sections were deeply researched and discussed while others seemed glossed over or only included because it was insisted upon. There were even a few passages in which the author inserted a bit of opinion-based commentary, which seemed out of place and unnecessary in this type of book. I might have also liked a little more extensive a discussion of her legacy and the events following her death.
I may later update my rating from 3 to 4 stars based on the level of content and quality of writing, both of which were excellent. For right now, however, 3 stars is my immediate impression....more
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