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wealhtheow

wealhtheow

Currently reading

The Theory of the Leisure Class (Modern Library Classics)
Thorstein Veblen, Alan Wolfe
The Last Courts of Europe: Royal Family Album 1860-1914 - Robert K. Massie, Jeffrey Finestone A really fascinating collection of photographs of European royalty, taken from the mid nineteenth century into the early twentieth. More than any other book, this gave an idea of how interconnected the families were: seeing the kings of Greece, Romania, English and Russian dukes, all seated around a breakfast table with their grandparents will do that to you. Photography was still in its early stages, so many of the children's faces are blurred from movement, and even those who stayed painstakingly still are often a bit fuzzy. But overall, this is a lovely collection, well-organized and researched. And even to those not interested in history, the men's mustaches and the women's ruffled dresses will provide hours of amusement.

On a purely superficial note, I must mention that some families bred much prettier rulers than others.
Most attractive: Russian royal family, Nassau family of Luxembourg

ex: The Grand Duchesses of Luxemburg

Least attractive: Montenegro, the Netherlands

ex: Queen Emma of the Netherlands