kings and rulers

"Orphaned from infancy, Catherine de' Medici endured a tumultuous childhood. Married to the French king, she was widowed by forty, only to become the power behind the French throne during a period of intense civil strife. In 1546, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Elisabeth de Valois, who would become Queen of Spain. Two years later, Catherine welcomed to her nursery the beguiling young Mary, Queen of Scots, who would later become her daughter-in-law. Together, Catherine, Elisabeth, and Mary lived through the sea changes that transformed sixteenth-century Europe, a time of expanding empires, religious discord, and populist revolt, as concepts of nationhood began to emerge and ideas of sovereignty inched closer to absolutism. They would learn that to rule as a queen was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time. Following the intertwined stories of the three women from girlhood through young adulthood, [this book] paints a picture of a world in which a woman could wield power at the highest level yet remain at the mercy of the state, her body serving as the currency of empire and dynasty, sacrificed to the will of husband, family, kingdom"--Provided by publisher.

Portrayal of the life and times of China's last emperor, Pu Yi-- crowned at age 3, and destined to live as a prisoner in his own country in one way or another for his entire life.

Estranged spouses King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine battle over which of their sons should ascend the English throne, while King Philip of France plots to make their arguments moot.

A look at the history of Rome through its architectural triumphs. Examines the planning and construction of the city's greatest masterpieces, including the Colosseum and its mysterious subterranean aqueducts.

Shakespeare's tragedy about King Lear, an old king who prematurely divides his kingdom among his greedy daughters.

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men. The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed. The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive. But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armor. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world. She does not know this yet. But she will. - Baker & Taylor.

Pu Yi, the emperor of China who comes from a long history that is irreversibly altered by two world wars and fierce political upheaval, is forced to leave the protective walls of the Forbidden City and build a new life in a strange world he has always longed to explore, but has never really known.

Explores how the characters and lives of King George III of England and George Washington affected the progress and outcome of the American Revolution.

Documents Russia's history in regards to its rulers, such as Russe, Vikings, Kiev and Ivan the Terrible.

Presents the original text, side-by-side with an English translation, of Shakespeare's tragedy in which Macbeth and his ambitious wife plot to kill their king and his heirs, clearing the way for Macbeth to seize the crown of Scotland for himself, and includes a brief synopsis of the plot and action, character profiles, a cycle-of-death graphic, and discussion questions.