Jacob AbbottReseñas

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To Caleb, everything is an adventure! With each new experience come lessons in honesty, obedience, kindness, forgiveness, humility, perseverence, and good manners.

Biographies are interesting. I don’t know about the last chapter named The Sequel. I don’t get it.

This simply narrated history of Genghis Khan traces the life of the great conqueror, from being the son of a minor chieftain in Mongolia to becoming the ruler of arguably the largest empire in history. The language is archaic, as it was published in the late nineteenth century. The names of persons and places have been spelled differently, which makes looking up of these names a bit difficult. The book doesn't cover the details of his conquests beyond the modern day Afghanistan. In short, this book is an appetizer that has to be followed up by some sumptuous material on the Khan of the Khans...

Perhaps the best example of Tudor propaganda I've ever read. Vilifies not only Richard III but also Edward IV mercilessly. Certainly not a comment on what I think of the author, I'm a huge Jacob Abbott fan, more just a product of the information available to an American author in the 1800s and how masterful Tudors were as propogandists. Still a decent read for someone who is looking for a simple outline of the main events in the life of Richard III without getting bogged down. Written on a level that makes it a very easy read by comparison to other works in the genre.

Henry IV, Makers of History by John S. C. Abbott
Chapter I. Childhood and Youth.
1475-1564
Navarre.Catharine de Foix.
About four hundred years ago there was a small kingdom, spreading over the cliffs and ravines of the eastern extremity of the Pyrenees, called Navarre. Its population, of about five hundred thousand, consisted of a very simple, frugal, and industrious people. Those who lived upon the shore washed by the stormy waves of the Bay of Biscay gratified their love of excitement and of adventure by braving the perils of the sea. Those who lived in the solitude of the interior, on the sunny slopes of the mountains, or by the streams which meandered through the verdant valleys, fed their flocks, and harvested their grain, and pressed rich wine from the grapes of their vineyards, in the enjoyment of the most pleasant duties of rural life. Proud of their independence, they were ever ready to grasp arms to repel foreign aggression. The throne of this kingdom was, at the time of which we speak, occupied by Catharine de Foix. She was a widow, and all her hopes and affections were centred in her son Henry, an ardent and impetuous boy six or seven years of age, who was to receive the crown when it should fall from her brow, and transmit to posterity their ancestral honors.
Ferdinand and Isabella.Dismemberment of Navarre.
Ferdinand of Aragon had just married Isabella of Castile, and had thus united those two populous and wealthy kingdoms; and now, in the arrogance of power, seized with the pride of annexation, he began to look with a wistful eye upon the picturesque kingdom of Navarre. Its comparative feebleness, under the reign of a bereaved woman weary of the world, invited to the enterprise. Should he grasp at the whole territory of the little realm, France might interpose her powerful remonstrance. Should he take but the half which was spread out upon the southern declivity of the Pyrenees, it would be virtually saying to the French monarch, "The rest I courteously leave for you." The armies of Spain were soon sweeping resistlessly through these sunny valleys, and one half of her empire was ruthlessly torn from the Queen of Navarre, and transferred to the dominion of imperious Castile and Aragon.
Plans for revenge.Death of Catharine.
Catharine retired with her child to the colder and more uncongenial regions of the northern declivity of the mountains. Her bosom glowed with mortification and rage in view of her hopeless defeat. As she sat down gloomily in the small portion which remained to her of her dismembered empire, she endeavored to foster in the heart of her son the spirit of revenge, and to inspire him with the resolution to regain those lost leagues of territory which had been wrested from the inheritance of his fathers. Henry imbibed his mother's spirit, and chafed and fretted under wrongs for which he could obtain no redress. Ferdinand and Isabella could not be annoyed even by any force which feeble Navarre could raise. Queen Catharine, however, brooded deeply over her wrongs, and laid plans for retributions of revenge, the execution of which she knew must be deferred till long after her body should have mouldered to dust in the grave....

Published in 1854, this children's book is one of a series featuring a young man named Rollo and his Uncle George. The narrative has almost a travelogue like feel to it as Rollo and his Uncle explore London and describe their visits to the famous sights.
I found it fascinating to read the 160 year old book and find the descriptions of Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral to be very similar to my memories of visits in the more recent past.

This is the most under-researched and off-topic history book I’ve read to date. Would’ve rated it one star but opted for two when considering the author was a nineteenth-century American writing about English history when he doubtless lacked much info that's available on Alfred nowadays.

But why attempt writing a biography of someone if research is so restricted? Even the book’s title is erroneous, as Alfred was not King of England, he was King of Wessex. Alfred laid the foundations of a united England, but it was his grandson Æthelstan who became my country’s first monarch.

Other errors include a reference to the four kingdoms of England during the 800s. The author gets three right but names the fourth as Essex when it was in fact East Anglia.

At one point Alfred is said to have died in 900. At another he’s said to have died in 900 or 901. In truth, Alfred died in 899. Clearly the author was unsure of the date, so why state it as fact one minute, only to say it was either this year or that in the next minute? Anyway, he's got it wrong.

My biggest criticism is the huge amount of time spent detailing times and events that are off-topic. Apart from the first two paragraphs, Chapters 1-3 have nothing to do with Alfred, while Chapters 4 & 5 barely touch on the subject matter either, as this quote from the end of Chapter 5 illustrates:

>But we must end these digressions, which we have indulged thus far in order to give the
reader some distinct conception of the ideas and habits of the times, and proceed, in the next chapter, to relate the events immediately connected with Alfred's accession to the throne.

Abbott's writing is coherent, easy to follow, and informative without getting mired in too much detail. It would be a perfect book to use as an introduction to Alexander in schools. It was interesting and enjoyable to read.

This is another of the historical accounts produced in the mid 19th century by Jacob Abbott. It gives a reasonable account of the turbulent life of this queen of Henry VI, one of the pivotal figures of the early part of the Wars of the Roses (I read this after watching the first part of Dan Jones's TV series on the conflict). Like the author's book on King Alfred, only less so, it also provides an insight into how historiography was carried out at the time of writing, with rather a blurring of the distinction between fact and legend, an almost complete lack of source references and comparatively few dates. But the Wars of the Roses are never dull to read about.

Despite its age (written in the late 1800s) this short biography reads well enough. The book provides a generally accurate view of Caesar's life and times- no easy task given the enormity of his accomplishments. While certain sections lacked sufficient substance (e.g., the Gallic Wars), other topics were treated well, including backgrounds on Marius and Sulla, and Caesar's ultimate rival Pompey.

Recommended read, particularly for the novice with only limited knowledge of Caesar.

Jacob Abbott’s biography of Margaret of Anjou is written in simple terms, making it digestible for the reader who dislikes the stuffy textbook approach, yet at times it feels underwhelming.

To be fair to the author, he was basing his subject knowledge on what was available to him in the 1800s. Naturally, since then more accurate information has come to light.

For example, this is the first account of the Wars of the Roses in which the suspicion that King Henry VI’s son by Margaret of Anjou – as Queen of England – after several years of marriage and no heir, was in fact the result of an affair. Also, the description of the son’s death differs completely from all modern accounts.

At times Mr Abbott introduces a topic by stating that the following passage is according to Margaret of Anjou’s historians, suggesting that the author is just relating what was believed true at the time.

What surprised me most was the author’s portrayal of Margaret of Anjou as a heroine! Her son was also glorified yet modern accounts describe him as a vicious little monster.

This book is part of a series of historical treatments produced in the mid nineteenth century by Jacob Abbott, apparently an American author of, largely, children's literature. As a work of literature, it is beautifully written. As a work of history, it reflects the views and attitudes towards historical evidence of its time, and is now of very limited value. Chroniclers' stories of dubious veracity are recounted at length. There are very few dates, and very little serious examination of motive. Pages are given over to the innate superiority of the Anglo Saxon race among all other Caucasians, and of that race over all others; and the innate superiority of Christianity over the Danes' pagan beliefs; Alfred was the crowning apotheosis of the Anglo Saxon Christian race in this telling. His undoubted real greatness as the founder of the English nation in something approaching its modern form is thereby transformed into an almost Christ-like godliness, an approach that would invite automatic scepticism if applied by a modern biographer. The last and longest chapter leaps forward a century to tell the story of Godwin (whom he makes the son of a Warwickshire peasant), Emma and the sons of Canute, on the premise that nothing of interest to the non-specialist reader happened during this time (so much for Athelstan, who consolidated and extended Alfred's nation-building achievements). Despite all this, I enjoyed reading this for its literary merits, and as an example of the historiography of the time, but it is to be taken with a huge pinch of salt as a historical account. 2.5/5½

Jacob Abbott’s account of Richard III’s life was published in 1858, thus it is to be expected that certain events are not recalled as historian know – or believe – them to be in the 2010s.

The incident regarding Edward V and his brother’s death, for example, is explained here in detail, yet nowadays historians tend to feel that there is no evidence to convict nor clear Richard of ordering his nephews’ death.

Mr Abbott was an American author, which is probably why his bio on the former English king is not biased one way or the other. He recalls historical events from an impartial point of view. His text not only covers Richard III, but details events of his brother Edward IV’s life, plus various other major individuals involved with the War of the Roses.

All though this may not be one of the most absorbing tomes written on the York kings and their times, I for one found Mr Abbott’s account an entertaining one.

I would recommend this book to anyone, like me, who’s interested in Richard III and the War of the Roses, while also curious to know how this important period of English history was viewed by an American living the nineteenth century.

I decided to read this because my knowledge of French history is patchy at best and I wanted to learn something new about something old. I learned more than expected, as one chapter summarizes the history of the French monarchy from the days when the country was known as Gaul up until events in the life of Henry IV.

The main focus of this tome is the continual conflict between the Catholic and Protestant faith and I think the title of this volume is perhaps misleading. I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about France or European history in and around the sixteenth century, but wouldn't recommend it to someone specifically looking for a detailed account of Henry IV alone.

The text covers the period of 1475-1610. The opening chapters feature Henry's great-grandmother and grandfather. There is as much info on Charles IX and Henry III in this as there is on Henry IV, who rarely appears in the first third of the book. As stated, this is fine for someone such as I, who is interested in learning about this period in general, but could prove annoying for someone wanting specific info on Henry IV.

I was shocked at some of the events that transpired in France during the 1500s. The massacre of St. Bartholomew was particularly disturbing: Catholics murdered 70,000-100,000 Protestants for practicing a different religion to them. This kind of thing continued for years. One horrible account was an eight-year-old boy offering a 'man' eight coins to spare his life - this innocent child was one of thousands murdered without mercy.

Henry IV saw both faiths as political parties and he himself converted back and forth between them since his childhood. He was a very humane king. His ascension to the throne helped bring peace to the war-torn France he so dearly loved. He set a great example. He didn't abuse his power like so many rulers have in all countries throughout history.

The author has done a good job of presenting this history in an interesting way and not offering the reader a dull 'text book'.

I read this bio of Peter the Great as I'm interested in history yet know - or knew - hardly anything about this famous Russian Czar.

I found the rivalry Peter had with half-sister Sophia at the early stages of his life to be interesting. It's a shame that Abbott details the latter stages of Sophia's life so early in the narrative, as when she "reappears" later on as a potential threat to Peter's reign, I know nothing will happen because the author has already stated what becomes of Sophia.

This will make no difference to anyone already familiar with Peter the Great's life story, but for someone like myself, being essentially ignorant of Russian history, I would have been more engaged with the events being recalled had I not already been informed of the fate of a major personage in Peter's story.

The middle section of this bio features passages that bored me a little. Jacob Abbott occasionally digresses from the subject matter, which I found irritating, but I dealt with this by skimming over certain paragraphs. Once Peter declares war with the king of Sweden my attention was renewed.

The history of Catharane, how she became Peter's wife, and how she proved a great influence on him is an interesting part of this history.

Peter's son to his first wife occupies most of the latter stages of this bio. Alexis is not devoted or respectful to his father. Their conflict and Alexis's attitude to life in general is quite surprising.

Good and detailed book of a young boy and his sister traveling the sea.

This book is especially recommended for those with only a casual knowledge of Cleopatra. The author briefly summarizes the history of Egyptian rule by the Ptolemy dynasty, of which Cleopatra was the last prior to Roman rule. The author then describes Cleopatra's immediate family, the often confusing world of Egyptian politics with its familial quarrels, and of course Cleopatra's fascinating relations with both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

A bit simplistic. Nonetheless, an easy reading, excellent overview of Cleopatra which can be used as a starting point for deeper inquiries.

Interesting view of the historical events. Abbott keeps the historical material informative yet readable.

In the mid-19th century, Jacob Abbott (1803-1879) wrote a series of biographies as an introduction to famous men and women in history such as Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, etc.. ostensibly for children, but also appealing to adults. His books do one thing very well, and that is tell a dramatic story in a compelling narrative. His biography of Hannibal is factually accurate in terms of the events, based as it is on ancient texts like that by Livy, it is comparable to Gibbon in style, though not nearly as detailed. Modern critics will rightly point to Abbott's antiquated Victorian-era morality lessons, but I think it provides a certain warm grandfatherly charm, and unintended humor. In any case it's easy to overlook Abbott's occasional commentary for the sake of the narrative of events.

Hannibal focuses on the Second Punic War, the one in which Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with war elephants. The First and Third Punic War are covered in the first and last chapter by way of summary. This account is mostly a biography of Hannibal and so skims over other famous scenes and characters, but Hannibal was the Napoleon/Alexander of his day and thus the central figure of the Punic Wars. If you've only heard of Hannibal and want to know why he is so famous without reading Livy or a longer book this is a great way to go. Although there are some better modern books of this type, like by Harold Lamb and others, this one is free online and has an audio version. The LibriVox recording is well done, see also the map and engravings in the original book.

--Review by Stephen Balbach, via CoolReading (c) 2010 cc-by-nd

This is a revision of a book originally published in the nineteenth century. With a concern to retain the values of the past, Michael McHugh has revised and republished this book for parents on raising Christian children for today's audiences.

This is a reprint of the revised edition of 1852. In 1843 the M&H was still using stationary engines at both ends. (The revision: "All this is, however, changed now,-another route having been found for the railroad, which avoided these inclined planes.")

This is a very cool book! Oak Knoll has done bibliophiles a favor making this text available again. A reprint, but worth locating if you're interested in 19th Century publishing and printing in America. Loaded with period engravings, including cutaways of the Harper "factory" and craftsmen at work.½