Reviews for Sir Francis Bacon - English Philosopher and Statesman (Biography)

The average rating for Sir Francis Bacon - English Philosopher and Statesman (Biography) based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-01-03 00:00:00 Omar Ortega Pretty funny :) That crisp, classy, sardonic British wit... Quips : ------- “These early Britons were suitable only to act as ancestors. Aside from that, they had no good points.” “The Druids largely lived in the woods in summer and in debt during the winter.” “They believed in human sacrifice… On Giblet Day people came for many miles to see the exercises and carry home a few cutlets of intimate friends.” “Queen Boadicea got so disgusted with the Romans… that she got her Britons together, had a steel dress made to fight in comfortably and not tight under the arms…” “Let us not swell with pride as we refer to our ancestors, whose lives were marked by an eternal combat between malignant alcoholism and trichinosis. Many a Saxon would have filled a drunkard's grave, but wabbled so in his gait that he walked past it and missed it.” “Hardicanute only reigned two years, and in 1042 A.D. died at a nuptial banquet, and cast a gloom over the whole thing. In those times it was a common thing for the king or some of the nobility to die between the roast pig and the pork pie.” “January 5, 1066, Edward died, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, which had just been enclosed and the roof put on.” “The rich lived in great magnificence, with rushes on the floor, which were changed every few weeks. Beautiful tapestry… adorned the walls and prevented ventilation.” “A pane of glass indicated the abode of wealth, and a churl cleaning the window with alcohol by breathing heavily upon it…” “St. Dunstan was quite an artist, and painted portraits which even now remind one strangely of human beings.” “William's death was one of the most attractive features of his reign.” “He cursed his sons and died miserably, deserted by his followers, who took such clothing as fitted them best, and would have pawned the throne had it not been out of style and unavailable for that purpose, beside being secured to the castle.” “To be a relative of the king in those good old days was generally fatal. Let us rejoice that times have so greatly improved, and that the wicked monarch has learned to seat himself gingerly upon his bomb-infested throne.” “History holds but few such characters as John, who was not successful even in crime.” “Possessing peculiar gifts as a versatile liar and boneless coward, and being entirely free from the milk of human kindness or bowels of compassion, his remains were eagerly sought after and yearned for by scientists long before he decided to abandon them.” “… Louis of France, who also wished to go to Jerusalem and take advantage of the low Jewish clothing market.” “Edward did not hurry home as some would have done, but sent word to have his father's funeral made as cheery as possible, and remained over a year in Italy and France.” “Wales having been annexed to the crown, Edward's son was vested with its government, and the heir-apparent has ever since been called the Prince of Wales. It is a good position, but becomes irksome after 50 or 60 years, it is said.” “... Gunpowder was discovered by Roger Bacon, whereby Guy Fawkes was made possible. Without him England would still be a slumbering fog-bank upon the shores of Time.” “Thus ends the sad history of a monarch who might have succeeded in a minor position on a hen farm, but who made a beastly fluke in the king business.” “… Edward III was crowned at 14 and married at 15… Princes in those days were affianced as soon as they were weighed, and married before they got their eyes open, though even yet there are many people who do not get their eyes opened until after marriage. Edward married Philippa… to whom he had been engaged while teething.” “The next year the Black Prince sent 12,000 men into the heart of France, where they met an army of 60,000, and the English general offered all his conquests cheerfully to John for the privilege of returning to England; but John overstepped himself by demanding an unconditional surrender, and a battle followed in which the French were whipped out of their boots and the king captured. We should learn from this to know when we have enough.” “Poor Richard wandered away to Wales, where he was in constant danger of falling off, and after living on chestnuts knocked from the high trees by means of his sceptre, he returned disgusted and took up his quarters in the Tower, where he died of starvation in 1400. Nothing can be more pathetic than the picture of a king crying for bread, yet willing to compromise on tarts.” “Roger Bacon was thrown into prison for having too good an education. Scientists in those days always ran the risk of being surprised, and more than one discoverer wound up by discovering himself in jail.” “No two authors spelled alike at that time, however, and the literature of the day was characterized by the most startling originality along that line.” “… Lambert was not made of the material generally used in the construction of great men, and, though he secured quite an army, and the aid of the Earl of Lincoln and many veteran troops, the first battle closed the comedy…” “Henry hated war, not because of its cruelty and horrors, but because it was expensive. He was one of the most parsimonious of kings, and often averted war in order to prevent the wear and tear on the cannon.” “… John and Sebastian Cabot were fitted out and discovered North America in 1497, which paved the way for the subsequent depopulation of Africa, Italy, and Ireland.” “Charles V of Spain… in 1520… became the greatest power in the civilized world. It is hard to believe in the 19th or 20th century that Spain ever had any influence with anybody of sound mind…” .

Review # 2 was written on 2018-05-15 00:00:00 Mark Davis The text is amusing and clever. Harold did not merely die at the battle of Hastings, he "abandoned the fight in order to investigate the surprises of a future state." On William the Conquerer: "William's death was one of the most attractive features of his reign." On the common people: "The common people were cheerily permitted the use of what atmosphere they needed for breathing purposes, on their solemn promise to return it, and at the close of life... they might contribute to the fertility of the royal vegetable garden." On serfdom: "A serf was required to be at hand night or day when the baron needed someone to kick." The illustrations are masterpieces of comic art; I bought this book for the pictures. The facts and dates are valid and the chronology and major characters are real, but don't take this book too seriously. There are so many characters it is hard to tell them apart. A royal blur of Edwards, Henrys, Williams, etc., over 1,500 years of British history, from Julius Caesar to Henry VIII. Not recommended for serious scholars, but can be fun if you are in the mood.