“The Once and Future King” by T.H White, Ace edition 1987

Introduction:

The Legend of King Arthur has been around for centuries. According to English lore, King Arthur was the first King of Britain after the Roman Empire left. In addition to Arthur being England’s first King, he will be its savior. The legend incurs that in England’s greatest time of need Arthur will return to protect her. King Arthur has been the source of countless stories and movies, including Sir Thomas Mallory’s romantic tales titled Le Morte d'Arthur. Arthur’s tale usually encompasses characters Guinevere, Lancelot, and others. Many modern tales about King Arthur have used Mallory’s Le Morte d'Arthur as their principal influence, including T.H White’s marvel, The Once and Future King. White’s masterpiece illustrates the majestic story of King Arthur.

“A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking, Bantam 1996

 Introduction:

Back to the Future, featuring Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox, was an epic movie exploring time travel. Time travel, physics, and space has peaked humanity's interest for centuries.  Whether it was Ptolemy of Alexandria, Copernicus, Galileo, or Einstein, humanity has learned a remarkable amount about the universe through advances in science.  Few physicists and astronomers have broken into mainstream society as Albert Einstein did during the 20^th century. Einstein transcended society unlike anyone has ever done. He was a rock star for his accomplishments, most notably general and special relativity. The popularity of Einstein is comparable today to Stephen Hawking. The recent Lucasian Professor of Mathematics is arguably today’s leading physicist. Hawking’s brilliant mind has delved into a variety of topics including: theoretical physics, quantum gravity, and quantum cosmology. Hawking’s book A Brief History of Time brings the complex universe into an understandable read. In his book, Hawking illustrates his expertise in physics making it easy to understand for people without a background in physics or mathematics.

"Dracula, Prince of Many Faces: His Life and His Times" by Radu R. Florescu and Raymond T. McNally, Back Bay Books, 1989.

Introduction:

Do you ever wonder where the legend of Dracula came from or how Stoker created such a perfect monster? Unbelievably, the fictional character is based off a true person. The history book titled Dracula Prince of Many Faces: His Life and His Times explains the mysterious background of Vlad Tepes Dracul. Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler, Vlad III, Vlad Dracul, Dracula) was the historical person that Stoker based Dracula, his brutal and bloodthirsty character. The authors Radu R. Florescu and Raymond T. McNally capture the ruthlessness and courage that constituted Vlad Tepes’ life. Florescu and McNally were both history professors at Boston College. They have written extensively on Vlad Tepes. This book will open up one’s interest in medieval history, especially in the secluded histories of Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.  

"The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova, Little Brown and Company, June 2005

Introduction

Historical fiction is an amazing genre blending historical events with fictional characters, plots and motifs. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova can be classified as a historical fiction novel. Ever wonder who Stoker based his infamous Dracula on? Stoker’s Dracula was not created over night out of thin air. Dracula’s creator introduced his astonishing vampire from the historical figure, Vlad Tepes. Kostova blends two electrifying characters, Vlad Tepes and Dracula, into one monster character in her stand-alone novel, The Historian. Kostova’s excellent storytelling will leave you wanting more.

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Welcome to the Renaissance Book Review This book review site will review books from a multitude of subjects, including history, physics, fantasy, and fiction. The Renaissance Book Review will give reviews and insight on books that are dynamic and complex, but yet enjoyable to read. Fans of all sorts of subjects will find something interesting to read on this book review. Each review will delve into the novel’s pros and cons, while at the end the novel will receive a letter grade on a 4.0 scale. Buckle up and hang on for a ride through different worlds.