Follow Empress Bianca from her earliest days as a middle-class housewife in post-war Mexico as she lies, cheats, schemes and seduces her way to the top. A veritable monster of vanity and pretension, captured with deadly accuracy in Lady Colin s lucid prose, Bianca leaves her mark on every couturier's salon, chic restaurant or exclusive gathering she walks into, cutting an unmistakable swathe through social circles and gossip columns from the late 1950s right up to today.

When Europe broke free of the dreadful clutches of the Middle Ages into the intellectual playground of the Renaissance, an extraordinary thing happened: Cultured women began to take their place as central figures giving harmony to entire social groups. So says author "Christopher Hare," a pseudonym for British writer MARIAN ANDREWS (d. 1929) who is mostly remembered for her historical novels but here turns her keen eye on historical fact. First published in 1904, this charming volume offers sketches of some "typical" cultured women of the Italian Renaissance, including: [ Lucrezia Tornabuoni, wife of Piero dei Medici [ Clarice degli Orsini, wife of Lorenzo dei Medici [ Queen Giovanna I [ Queen Giovanna II [ Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan [ Bianca Maria Sforza, wife of the Emperor Maximilian [ Isabella d'Este, Marchesa of Mantua [ Rene of France, Duchess of Ferrara [ Lucrezia Borgia, Duchess of Ferrara [ and others.

Originally published between 1929 and 1991 the volumes in this set: Offer a comprehensive and challenging interpretation of the German past Assess Bismarck’s contribution to the German Empire and his legacy for modern Germany Examine the psyche of the Germans and discuss the psychological impact of the Second World War on the Germans Review critically not only the rise and rule of National Socialism, but also the strength of authoritarianism and militarism and the weakness of democracy in 19th Century Germany Examine the inter-relationships between social and economic change on the one hand, and political developments on the other. Analyse the significance of the Zollverein on economic growth Discuss authority and the law in the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. Analyse the contribution of German historians to 20th Century historiography Chart key events in British – German trade rivalry Include archival material from both the former East and West Germany.

When originally published in 1982 this was the first biography of Maximilian I to appear in English for half a century. It assesses a man who was Holy Roman Emperor, founder of the modern Austrian state and the grandfather of Charles V and Ferdinand I. Maximilian was a key figure and an appreciation of his role and career is vital to an overall view of European society and politics at the dawning of modern times. The book gives an insight into Maximilian’s style of government and reveals the underlying personal factors that determined many of the key decisions which influenced politics and control during his reign.