Reviews for Jan Smuts: An illustrated biography

The average rating for Jan Smuts: An illustrated biography based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-02-17 00:00:00 Angela Wagers This was very good and a good read for anyone interested in South African history. Smuts started in the Kruger government of one of the Boer Republics. He was a general in the Boer Wars, involved in both World Wars, and lived to see the beginning of the Apartheid era. I was given his book by his great grandson after touring the Smuts house.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-11-24 00:00:00 Melissa k Hayes I enjoyed this 'look behind the curtain' into the life of the British royal family. The book is replete with dozens and dozens of names and relationships of the royal family and its history. There is, as most people know, a very close and wide German lineage which became a serious problem during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries because of two world wars, among other military actions. Alice was, according to the author, an amazing woman who somehow managed to adhere to all the traditions and expectations of her station in life and also be a trail blazer (pun intended, you'll understand if you read the book) as a woman and a role model. Lots and lots of interesting details and descriptions of people, places and things to keep the reader's interest and educate at the same time. The author alludes - very obliquely - to Princess Alice's personality traits, particularly a tendency to speak plainly at times. I felt the author was so enamored of her subject that she may have muted or down-played what could have been a very imperious women at times. If there was "another side" to the princess, the author seemed loath to expose it. That's just a personal suspicion so I may have to read more about this lady from other sources who might be more objective. One of the advantages of reading about many topics and people is the panorama of opportunities to learn more about a subject from a variety of viewpoints.