A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world


A beautiful book exhuming a bygone era..., 27 Mar 2001
This is wonderful to read. Ondaatje manages to recreate Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in a wonderfully absorbing, highly readable style. The characters (his family!) are extremely eccentric and entertaining, though there is sadness as well as humour. He is a top-notch story teller and this kind of travelogue/biography is a joy to read.

Oh please!, 07 Jun 2000
I'm afraid I found this book rambling, boring and thoroughly self-indulgent. An avid reader, this is the only book I have ever read that I actually wanted to throw away without finishing, an act which I have never before contemplated.I think that says it all?

Exquisite prose interlaced with vividly beautiful poetry., 26 Jul 1999
A fascinating insight into a time and place I knew nothing about. Ondaatje writes like a dream; not only is his style luminous and sensual but the stories themselves are a sheer delight. Like my fellow Londoner, I loved the story of Lala on the bus - but even more I loved the photograph of the author's parents. Certainly one of my favourite books. Highly recommended (although admittedly not to everyone's taste - if you prefer Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen you may be disappointed).

fiction, family history, fairy tale or autobiography, 30 Jan 1999
Ondaatje's prose is luminous and his poetry makes Sri Lanka a tangible presence. This is a family history of sorts with a fluctuating narrative standpoint - at times autobiographical, at times a vivid recreation of his parents' experiences and those of other family members. The story of his improbably named grandmother and the groper on the bus had me laughing out loud. This is a fascinating jewel of a book which reads like fiction - not the sort of fiction you buy in an airport book shop, though; rather the sort of fiction likely to be praised on late night book reviews. It is a delight.

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world


A beautiful book exhuming a bygone era..., 27 Mar 2001
This is wonderful to read. Ondaatje manages to recreate Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in a wonderfully absorbing, highly readable style. The characters (his family!) are extremely eccentric and entertaining, though there is sadness as well as humour. He is a top-notch story teller and this kind of travelogue/biography is a joy to read.

Oh please!, 07 Jun 2000
I'm afraid I found this book rambling, boring and thoroughly self-indulgent. An avid reader, this is the only book I have ever read that I actually wanted to throw away without finishing, an act which I have never before contemplated.I think that says it all?

Exquisite prose interlaced with vividly beautiful poetry., 26 Jul 1999
A fascinating insight into a time and place I knew nothing about. Ondaatje writes like a dream; not only is his style luminous and sensual but the stories themselves are a sheer delight. Like my fellow Londoner, I loved the story of Lala on the bus - but even more I loved the photograph of the author's parents. Certainly one of my favourite books. Highly recommended (although admittedly not to everyone's taste - if you prefer Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen you may be disappointed).

fiction, family history, fairy tale or autobiography, 30 Jan 1999
Ondaatje's prose is luminous and his poetry makes Sri Lanka a tangible presence. This is a family history of sorts with a fluctuating narrative standpoint - at times autobiographical, at times a vivid recreation of his parents' experiences and those of other family members. The story of his improbably named grandmother and the groper on the bus had me laughing out loud. This is a fascinating jewel of a book which reads like fiction - not the sort of fiction you buy in an airport book shop, though; rather the sort of fiction likely to be praised on late night book reviews. It is a delight.

Family History "Must Haves", 09 Feb 2008
As a fairly recent - but rapidly becoming obsessed - family historian I have either acquired or borrowed a fair number of the leading books on Family History available at the moment. However Ancestral Trails outshines them all. Whilst being very readable in its own right it gives a wealth of background information on sources and advice on how you might make progress if you hit a brick wall, and has the most comprehensive coverage I have found. This and The Genealogist's Internet by Peter Christian have become my two bibles. I run two Family History Groups and I would strongly recommend both of these books to any serious amateur family historian.

Outstanding coverage and depth of knowledge, 12 Mar 2007
Whilst echoing all the comments already made, this phenomenal tome is and is likely to always be the definitive reference. Despite the extensive movement towards Internet sources, this book has the insight into 'why' you move through certain classes of records whereas the (also essential) Internet guides tell you where these are.

Beyond that the illustration with examples from the authors research, the many examples of why you need to double check every assumption, and the wealth of ideas for gleaning more insight into the lives of ancestors are frankly astonishing, and it astounds me that one person could both know so much, find so much and still have time to update this masterpiece.

If you haven't bought it, you're not serious about family history.

the undisputed bible of family history - get it!, 11 Mar 2004
Having been involved in family history research for thirty years, and being completely self-taught by trial and error, I have sometimes been tempted to invest in expensive reference books, but found many of them cumbersome, badly organised, or rapidly outdated. Genealogy is constantly developing but even so this book, in any edition, is an absolutely invaluable longterm reference. It is written in a hugely informative way, exciting and never patronising, and the sheer quantity and quality of information in it is breathtaking. You couldn't make a better investment if you're researching your family history (especially with the superb Amazon discount!) Can't fault it! BRILLIANT!!!

Outstanding, 25 Feb 2004
This is quite simply the best reference work for United Kingdom Genealogy that I have come across. I have been waiting for publication of the second edition for some time and am not disappointed at all. Everything I can imagine I might want to know is in it. I have been interested in Genealogy for many years and wish this volume had been available sooner. It's worth twice the price!

The book I've been waiting for., 17 Jan 2001
If you're interested in genealogy - this is the book you've been waiting for. It's clear, concise and very informative, written in an easy style which makes it easy and enjoyable to read. After reading several books on Genealogy, including many older ones from the library, this made a refreshing change, particularly as it is bang up to date with information on CD Roms, computer packages and internet sites. Herber manages to level the book in a way that it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or already someway into your research - this book will definitely be of help. Excellent!!

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world


A beautiful book exhuming a bygone era..., 27 Mar 2001
This is wonderful to read. Ondaatje manages to recreate Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in a wonderfully absorbing, highly readable style. The characters (his family!) are extremely eccentric and entertaining, though there is sadness as well as humour. He is a top-notch story teller and this kind of travelogue/biography is a joy to read.

Oh please!, 07 Jun 2000
I'm afraid I found this book rambling, boring and thoroughly self-indulgent. An avid reader, this is the only book I have ever read that I actually wanted to throw away without finishing, an act which I have never before contemplated.I think that says it all?

Exquisite prose interlaced with vividly beautiful poetry., 26 Jul 1999
A fascinating insight into a time and place I knew nothing about. Ondaatje writes like a dream; not only is his style luminous and sensual but the stories themselves are a sheer delight. Like my fellow Londoner, I loved the story of Lala on the bus - but even more I loved the photograph of the author's parents. Certainly one of my favourite books. Highly recommended (although admittedly not to everyone's taste - if you prefer Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen you may be disappointed).

fiction, family history, fairy tale or autobiography, 30 Jan 1999
Ondaatje's prose is luminous and his poetry makes Sri Lanka a tangible presence. This is a family history of sorts with a fluctuating narrative standpoint - at times autobiographical, at times a vivid recreation of his parents' experiences and those of other family members. The story of his improbably named grandmother and the groper on the bus had me laughing out loud. This is a fascinating jewel of a book which reads like fiction - not the sort of fiction you buy in an airport book shop, though; rather the sort of fiction likely to be praised on late night book reviews. It is a delight.

Family History "Must Haves", 09 Feb 2008
As a fairly recent - but rapidly becoming obsessed - family historian I have either acquired or borrowed a fair number of the leading books on Family History available at the moment. However Ancestral Trails outshines them all. Whilst being very readable in its own right it gives a wealth of background information on sources and advice on how you might make progress if you hit a brick wall, and has the most comprehensive coverage I have found. This and The Genealogist's Internet by Peter Christian have become my two bibles. I run two Family History Groups and I would strongly recommend both of these books to any serious amateur family historian.

Outstanding coverage and depth of knowledge, 12 Mar 2007
Whilst echoing all the comments already made, this phenomenal tome is and is likely to always be the definitive reference. Despite the extensive movement towards Internet sources, this book has the insight into 'why' you move through certain classes of records whereas the (also essential) Internet guides tell you where these are.

Beyond that the illustration with examples from the authors research, the many examples of why you need to double check every assumption, and the wealth of ideas for gleaning more insight into the lives of ancestors are frankly astonishing, and it astounds me that one person could both know so much, find so much and still have time to update this masterpiece.

If you haven't bought it, you're not serious about family history.

the undisputed bible of family history - get it!, 11 Mar 2004
Having been involved in family history research for thirty years, and being completely self-taught by trial and error, I have sometimes been tempted to invest in expensive reference books, but found many of them cumbersome, badly organised, or rapidly outdated. Genealogy is constantly developing but even so this book, in any edition, is an absolutely invaluable longterm reference. It is written in a hugely informative way, exciting and never patronising, and the sheer quantity and quality of information in it is breathtaking. You couldn't make a better investment if you're researching your family history (especially with the superb Amazon discount!) Can't fault it! BRILLIANT!!!

Outstanding, 25 Feb 2004
This is quite simply the best reference work for United Kingdom Genealogy that I have come across. I have been waiting for publication of the second edition for some time and am not disappointed at all. Everything I can imagine I might want to know is in it. I have been interested in Genealogy for many years and wish this volume had been available sooner. It's worth twice the price!

The book I've been waiting for., 17 Jan 2001
If you're interested in genealogy - this is the book you've been waiting for. It's clear, concise and very informative, written in an easy style which makes it easy and enjoyable to read. After reading several books on Genealogy, including many older ones from the library, this made a refreshing change, particularly as it is bang up to date with information on CD Roms, computer packages and internet sites. Herber manages to level the book in a way that it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or already someway into your research - this book will definitely be of help. Excellent!!

A comprehensive guide let down by sloppy editing, 18 Apr 2008
This is essentially the 3rd edition of 'Army Records for Family Historians'. The 2nd edition was published in 1999, when the National Archives was the Public Record Office. At that time the online catalogue was in its infancy and no documents had been digitised.

The new edition brings the previous edition up to date, but this has been done in a rather haphazard fashion. The book gives the impression that very little copy editing has taken place and there are many errors and inconsistencies of style. Some examples follow:

In the Acknowledgements on the title page verso, 'which has led me' appears as 'which has lead me'.

On page 9, after giving the address of the National Archives, the following sentence appears: 'The Office is open from 09:00-17:00 Mondays and Fridays, 09:00-19:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00-17:00 on Wednesday and 09:30-17:00 on Saturday.' Firstly, what is 'The Office'? It would seem that the initial sentence giving the address originally referred to The Public Record Office, and the second sentence has not been changed to 'The Archives are open ...' to reflect this. Secondly, why are the days Monday and Friday in plural form and the other days in singular form? This is sloppy editing.

On the same page, there is reference to Kew Gardens station, which is said to be on 'London Transport's District Line'. London Transport was replaced by Transport for London some time ago.

On page 47, reference is made to Kevin Asplin's Roll of The Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse and Lovat Scouts who fought in the (second) Boer War, published in two volumes, but no mention of the freely-available website that contains the same information.

At the time the earlier edition was written, the Soldiers' Documents in WO97 for 1760-1854 could be searched using a computerised index at the PRO (as it then was) but these records have now been incorporated into the online catalogue. That these records can be searched using the catalogue is mentioned on pages 44-45, but in a case study on page 59, it is stated that there is 'an index available on computer' and it would seem that this section has not been revised.

There are some dubious entries in the list of dates on page 156. The date of the start of the Crimean War is given as 14 September 1854, which is the date that the British Army landed in the Crimea, but Britain declared war on Russia on 28 March. The next entry: 1854, 25 October - 1857, 6 December: Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Balaclava, is rather mystifying. The Crimean War was over by 6 December 1857, and presumably this date refers to the Third Battle of Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny.

On page 162, there is a reference to the Public Record Office, rather than The National Archives, and the title of Amanda Bevan's book is given as 'Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office', although the publisher is correctly given as TNA! There is a further reference to 'The Office' on this page.

Capitalisation of titles in the list of references on pages 163-164 is inconsistent.

These are just the errors that jumped out at me on a first reading, but I am sure there must be many more.

In summary, although this is an up-to-date and comprehensive book for the family historian with army ancestors, it is seriously let down by numerous minor errors, and would have benefited from more extensive copy editing and proofreading.

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world


A beautiful book exhuming a bygone era..., 27 Mar 2001
This is wonderful to read. Ondaatje manages to recreate Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in a wonderfully absorbing, highly readable style. The characters (his family!) are extremely eccentric and entertaining, though there is sadness as well as humour. He is a top-notch story teller and this kind of travelogue/biography is a joy to read.

Oh please!, 07 Jun 2000
I'm afraid I found this book rambling, boring and thoroughly self-indulgent. An avid reader, this is the only book I have ever read that I actually wanted to throw away without finishing, an act which I have never before contemplated.I think that says it all?

Exquisite prose interlaced with vividly beautiful poetry., 26 Jul 1999
A fascinating insight into a time and place I knew nothing about. Ondaatje writes like a dream; not only is his style luminous and sensual but the stories themselves are a sheer delight. Like my fellow Londoner, I loved the story of Lala on the bus - but even more I loved the photograph of the author's parents. Certainly one of my favourite books. Highly recommended (although admittedly not to everyone's taste - if you prefer Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen you may be disappointed).

fiction, family history, fairy tale or autobiography, 30 Jan 1999
Ondaatje's prose is luminous and his poetry makes Sri Lanka a tangible presence. This is a family history of sorts with a fluctuating narrative standpoint - at times autobiographical, at times a vivid recreation of his parents' experiences and those of other family members. The story of his improbably named grandmother and the groper on the bus had me laughing out loud. This is a fascinating jewel of a book which reads like fiction - not the sort of fiction you buy in an airport book shop, though; rather the sort of fiction likely to be praised on late night book reviews. It is a delight.

Family History "Must Haves", 09 Feb 2008
As a fairly recent - but rapidly becoming obsessed - family historian I have either acquired or borrowed a fair number of the leading books on Family History available at the moment. However Ancestral Trails outshines them all. Whilst being very readable in its own right it gives a wealth of background information on sources and advice on how you might make progress if you hit a brick wall, and has the most comprehensive coverage I have found. This and The Genealogist's Internet by Peter Christian have become my two bibles. I run two Family History Groups and I would strongly recommend both of these books to any serious amateur family historian.

Outstanding coverage and depth of knowledge, 12 Mar 2007
Whilst echoing all the comments already made, this phenomenal tome is and is likely to always be the definitive reference. Despite the extensive movement towards Internet sources, this book has the insight into 'why' you move through certain classes of records whereas the (also essential) Internet guides tell you where these are.

Beyond that the illustration with examples from the authors research, the many examples of why you need to double check every assumption, and the wealth of ideas for gleaning more insight into the lives of ancestors are frankly astonishing, and it astounds me that one person could both know so much, find so much and still have time to update this masterpiece.

If you haven't bought it, you're not serious about family history.

the undisputed bible of family history - get it!, 11 Mar 2004
Having been involved in family history research for thirty years, and being completely self-taught by trial and error, I have sometimes been tempted to invest in expensive reference books, but found many of them cumbersome, badly organised, or rapidly outdated. Genealogy is constantly developing but even so this book, in any edition, is an absolutely invaluable longterm reference. It is written in a hugely informative way, exciting and never patronising, and the sheer quantity and quality of information in it is breathtaking. You couldn't make a better investment if you're researching your family history (especially with the superb Amazon discount!) Can't fault it! BRILLIANT!!!

Outstanding, 25 Feb 2004
This is quite simply the best reference work for United Kingdom Genealogy that I have come across. I have been waiting for publication of the second edition for some time and am not disappointed at all. Everything I can imagine I might want to know is in it. I have been interested in Genealogy for many years and wish this volume had been available sooner. It's worth twice the price!

The book I've been waiting for., 17 Jan 2001
If you're interested in genealogy - this is the book you've been waiting for. It's clear, concise and very informative, written in an easy style which makes it easy and enjoyable to read. After reading several books on Genealogy, including many older ones from the library, this made a refreshing change, particularly as it is bang up to date with information on CD Roms, computer packages and internet sites. Herber manages to level the book in a way that it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or already someway into your research - this book will definitely be of help. Excellent!!

A comprehensive guide let down by sloppy editing, 18 Apr 2008
This is essentially the 3rd edition of 'Army Records for Family Historians'. The 2nd edition was published in 1999, when the National Archives was the Public Record Office. At that time the online catalogue was in its infancy and no documents had been digitised.

The new edition brings the previous edition up to date, but this has been done in a rather haphazard fashion. The book gives the impression that very little copy editing has taken place and there are many errors and inconsistencies of style. Some examples follow:

In the Acknowledgements on the title page verso, 'which has led me' appears as 'which has lead me'.

On page 9, after giving the address of the National Archives, the following sentence appears: 'The Office is open from 09:00-17:00 Mondays and Fridays, 09:00-19:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00-17:00 on Wednesday and 09:30-17:00 on Saturday.' Firstly, what is 'The Office'? It would seem that the initial sentence giving the address originally referred to The Public Record Office, and the second sentence has not been changed to 'The Archives are open ...' to reflect this. Secondly, why are the days Monday and Friday in plural form and the other days in singular form? This is sloppy editing.

On the same page, there is reference to Kew Gardens station, which is said to be on 'London Transport's District Line'. London Transport was replaced by Transport for London some time ago.

On page 47, reference is made to Kevin Asplin's Roll of The Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse and Lovat Scouts who fought in the (second) Boer War, published in two volumes, but no mention of the freely-available website that contains the same information.

At the time the earlier edition was written, the Soldiers' Documents in WO97 for 1760-1854 could be searched using a computerised index at the PRO (as it then was) but these records have now been incorporated into the online catalogue. That these records can be searched using the catalogue is mentioned on pages 44-45, but in a case study on page 59, it is stated that there is 'an index available on computer' and it would seem that this section has not been revised.

There are some dubious entries in the list of dates on page 156. The date of the start of the Crimean War is given as 14 September 1854, which is the date that the British Army landed in the Crimea, but Britain declared war on Russia on 28 March. The next entry: 1854, 25 October - 1857, 6 December: Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Balaclava, is rather mystifying. The Crimean War was over by 6 December 1857, and presumably this date refers to the Third Battle of Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny.

On page 162, there is a reference to the Public Record Office, rather than The National Archives, and the title of Amanda Bevan's book is given as 'Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office', although the publisher is correctly given as TNA! There is a further reference to 'The Office' on this page.

Capitalisation of titles in the list of references on pages 163-164 is inconsistent.

These are just the errors that jumped out at me on a first reading, but I am sure there must be many more.

In summary, although this is an up-to-date and comprehensive book for the family historian with army ancestors, it is seriously let down by numerous minor errors, and would have benefited from more extensive copy editing and proofreading.


Real life as it was for who emigrated, 08 Oct 2007
I'm slightly biased with the review for this book....as part of what was written could be the story of my family. My grandfather emigrated to Scotland from Italy in the 1910's and it is natural that the story struck a cord deep down. The journey begins in 1913 when one of the Crolla's - Alfonso decides to emigrate to Edinburgh with his young wife and finishes after the Second World War. It recounts of the difficulties they encountered both in peace time and duting the war, of how they conquered them to make a better life for themselves and of the beginnings of the famous delicatessen Valvona and Crolla in Edinburgh.

A superb read, 05 Feb 2007
I could not put this book down. It is very well written. The historical content of Italian immigrants to Scotland is very interesting plus very moving. The "poetic license" that adds a story to fact makes for a real love story/family saga. Mary Contini's description of Italian food and style of cooking made me demand to taken out to a true Italian restaurant. The description of the food will have your mouth watering! Even the open chapter which involves the slaughtering of a pig will have you longing for real Italian sausage! I highly recommend this book - it is a good rip a long read!

A must for the beginner, 23 Aug 2005
If you are thinking about starting your family tree then this is definatly the book for you. It explains in simple terms where you need to go to find different information and what you are looking for. Also includes a great contacts section which was really useful.

Family History researching, 25 Dec 2004
This is an excellent book for the beginner with many very helpful references and addresses. Thoroughly recommended.

An ideal introduction to tracing your family history., 27 Feb 2002
Although written by a retired professional genealogist, it is very readable and an excellent introduction to the subject. It covers not only the usual topics of what information is available and from what sources etc., but also the basics of how to keep records, how to store and file all the information you gather, exactly what to look for in old records, etc. There are also precise instructions on how to actually draw up your family tree; all very valuable guidance to beginners to the subject which is often missing in other books.

Collins Tracing Your Family History, 02 Feb 2006
This is an updated edition of a book that was first published in 2004. It is well produced and lavishly illustrated, though some sections could have done with a bit of basic, old-fashioned editorial work and proof-reading. The author, an experienced professional genealogist, covers all the standard sources: oral evidence; birth, marriage and death certificates; census returns; wills, and so on. But there are also useful sections on subjects not touched on by earlier books on family history, such as the implications of DNA technology for genealogists, and the tracing of ancestors who were not born in Great Britain. It is particularly helpful to have an up-to-date address list, which includes some of the most useful websites. In all, a valuable addition to any family historian's library, whether they are a beginner or an old hand.

Excellent FH introduction, 25 Jan 2006
'Tracing Your Family History' is an excellent guide and reference book that will be useful for any genealogist starting out on a serious family history quest. Not owning Mark Herber's similarly aimed book, 'Ancestral Trails', which at a whopping 840 pages is more than twice the size of Adolph's volume, I can't compare the two, but TYFH is certainly a book that's designed to be used and would make an excellent present for someone starting out in their research. It's the kind of book that's worth dipping in to, and returning to from time to time, as well as reading from cover to cover.

Its chapters are structured by category of record, which means that it is easy find everything you need about specific types or sets of records in one place. This is useful as, once your family history investigation gets under way, this is usually the way one organises the research process.

One danger facing any author in this field is that the internet references quickly become dated. TYFH has a large number of URLs that can be usefully followed up, in fact more than enough to keep an assiduous researcher fully occupied for many, many months. However, if you're the kind of researcher that has to nail down every reference or potential website record then you probably need Peter Christian's 'The Genealogist's Internet', now in its third edition, as well.

It's hard to imagine any single book containing everything that a present-day genealogist would ever want, the range of documentary materials transcribed and online records available is simply too great, but this is an exellent single-volume description of the field that covers the full scope that almost all family history projects will ever need.

By the Sword Divided in book form., 26 Nov 2008
I've just finished this book and found it hard to put down. The 17th Century was a time of massive change in England and for that reason alone, this book is fascinating. However, if you take the history away, this is a story of the lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies of a family. It reads like a soap opera with happy marriage, unhappy marriage,struggling to make ends meet, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, criminality, birth, premature death, love, laughter and grief.
If you liked "By the Sword Divided" ( If you're old enough to remember!) then I heartily recommend this book to you.






Compelling history!, 14 Apr 2008
This is history at its best - it's readable, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Tinniswood's book achieves many goals in one - a fascinating social history, meticulous biography, powerful family saga, and not least it is a really good and engaging read.

The tale begins with Sir Francis Verney who ran away from his teenage wife in 1608, sold off much of the Verney property, converted to Islam and became one of the most feared pirates on the Barbary Coast. Carry on to read about Bess, who ran off with a clergyman; Cary, a heavy gambler, and Henry who was obsessed with horse racing; not to mention those involved in the English Civil War; Mall, who became pregnant out of marriage, or one of the later relatives who was hanged at Tyburn. A really good and compelling portrait of seventeenth-century England, and especially the Verney family. The history is based predominantly on the extensive records of the Verneys, particularly hundreds of letters kept by Sir Ralph Verney (1613-96) who presided over Claydon House in Buckinghamshire for over 50 years.

Stuart era soap opera, 29 Oct 2007
Adrian has taken the collected letters of the Verneys and turned them into a fascinating story of life in the Civil War and Restoration. The Verney family characters are all uniquely human with frailties and aspirations that are recognisable today, especially in how Sir Ralph Verney tries to maintain the family fortunes, have his sons shoulder responsibilities and marry well with large dowries. The women are not in the background and show how they rebel to the strictures placed on them by society.

Adrian's own views stay in the background except for some, for him, shocking revelations as to personal conduct. Its a surprisingly readable page turning insight into how an aristocratic family copes with being torn apart by the Civil War, with parallel in today's world


A beautiful book exhuming a bygone era..., 27 Mar 2001
This is wonderful to read. Ondaatje manages to recreate Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in a wonderfully absorbing, highly readable style. The characters (his family!) are extremely eccentric and entertaining, though there is sadness as well as humour. He is a top-notch story teller and this kind of travelogue/biography is a joy to read.

Oh please!, 07 Jun 2000
I'm afraid I found this book rambling, boring and thoroughly self-indulgent. An avid reader, this is the only book I have ever read that I actually wanted to throw away without finishing, an act which I have never before contemplated.I think that says it all?

Exquisite prose interlaced with vividly beautiful poetry., 26 Jul 1999
A fascinating insight into a time and place I knew nothing about. Ondaatje writes like a dream; not only is his style luminous and sensual but the stories themselves are a sheer delight. Like my fellow Londoner, I loved the story of Lala on the bus - but even more I loved the photograph of the author's parents. Certainly one of my favourite books. Highly recommended (although admittedly not to everyone's taste - if you prefer Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen you may be disappointed).

fiction, family history, fairy tale or autobiography, 30 Jan 1999
Ondaatje's prose is luminous and his poetry makes Sri Lanka a tangible presence. This is a family history of sorts with a fluctuating narrative standpoint - at times autobiographical, at times a vivid recreation of his parents' experiences and those of other family members. The story of his improbably named grandmother and the groper on the bus had me laughing out loud. This is a fascinating jewel of a book which reads like fiction - not the sort of fiction you buy in an airport book shop, though; rather the sort of fiction likely to be praised on late night book reviews. It is a delight.

Family History "Must Haves", 09 Feb 2008
As a fairly recent - but rapidly becoming obsessed - family historian I have either acquired or borrowed a fair number of the leading books on Family History available at the moment. However Ancestral Trails outshines them all. Whilst being very readable in its own right it gives a wealth of background information on sources and advice on how you might make progress if you hit a brick wall, and has the most comprehensive coverage I have found. This and The Genealogist's Internet by Peter Christian have become my two bibles. I run two Family History Groups and I would strongly recommend both of these books to any serious amateur family historian.

Outstanding coverage and depth of knowledge, 12 Mar 2007
Whilst echoing all the comments already made, this phenomenal tome is and is likely to always be the definitive reference. Despite the extensive movement towards Internet sources, this book has the insight into 'why' you move through certain classes of records whereas the (also essential) Internet guides tell you where these are.

Beyond that the illustration with examples from the authors research, the many examples of why you need to double check every assumption, and the wealth of ideas for gleaning more insight into the lives of ancestors are frankly astonishing, and it astounds me that one person could both know so much, find so much and still have time to update this masterpiece.

If you haven't bought it, you're not serious about family history.

the undisputed bible of family history - get it!, 11 Mar 2004
Having been involved in family history research for thirty years, and being completely self-taught by trial and error, I have sometimes been tempted to invest in expensive reference books, but found many of them cumbersome, badly organised, or rapidly outdated. Genealogy is constantly developing but even so this book, in any edition, is an absolutely invaluable longterm reference. It is written in a hugely informative way, exciting and never patronising, and the sheer quantity and quality of information in it is breathtaking. You couldn't make a better investment if you're researching your family history (especially with the superb Amazon discount!) Can't fault it! BRILLIANT!!!

Outstanding, 25 Feb 2004
This is quite simply the best reference work for United Kingdom Genealogy that I have come across. I have been waiting for publication of the second edition for some time and am not disappointed at all. Everything I can imagine I might want to know is in it. I have been interested in Genealogy for many years and wish this volume had been available sooner. It's worth twice the price!

The book I've been waiting for., 17 Jan 2001
If you're interested in genealogy - this is the book you've been waiting for. It's clear, concise and very informative, written in an easy style which makes it easy and enjoyable to read. After reading several books on Genealogy, including many older ones from the library, this made a refreshing change, particularly as it is bang up to date with information on CD Roms, computer packages and internet sites. Herber manages to level the book in a way that it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or already someway into your research - this book will definitely be of help. Excellent!!

A comprehensive guide let down by sloppy editing, 18 Apr 2008
This is essentially the 3rd edition of 'Army Records for Family Historians'. The 2nd edition was published in 1999, when the National Archives was the Public Record Office. At that time the online catalogue was in its infancy and no documents had been digitised.

The new edition brings the previous edition up to date, but this has been done in a rather haphazard fashion. The book gives the impression that very little copy editing has taken place and there are many errors and inconsistencies of style. Some examples follow:

In the Acknowledgements on the title page verso, 'which has led me' appears as 'which has lead me'.

On page 9, after giving the address of the National Archives, the following sentence appears: 'The Office is open from 09:00-17:00 Mondays and Fridays, 09:00-19:00 on Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00-17:00 on Wednesday and 09:30-17:00 on Saturday.' Firstly, what is 'The Office'? It would seem that the initial sentence giving the address originally referred to The Public Record Office, and the second sentence has not been changed to 'The Archives are open ...' to reflect this. Secondly, why are the days Monday and Friday in plural form and the other days in singular form? This is sloppy editing.

On the same page, there is reference to Kew Gardens station, which is said to be on 'London Transport's District Line'. London Transport was replaced by Transport for London some time ago.

On page 47, reference is made to Kevin Asplin's Roll of The Imperial Yeomanry, Scottish Horse and Lovat Scouts who fought in the (second) Boer War, published in two volumes, but no mention of the freely-available website that contains the same information.

At the time the earlier edition was written, the Soldiers' Documents in WO97 for 1760-1854 could be searched using a computerised index at the PRO (as it then was) but these records have now been incorporated into the online catalogue. That these records can be searched using the catalogue is mentioned on pages 44-45, but in a case study on page 59, it is stated that there is 'an index available on computer' and it would seem that this section has not been revised.

There are some dubious entries in the list of dates on page 156. The date of the start of the Crimean War is given as 14 September 1854, which is the date that the British Army landed in the Crimea, but Britain declared war on Russia on 28 March. The next entry: 1854, 25 October - 1857, 6 December: Charge of the Light Brigade, Battle of Balaclava, is rather mystifying. The Crimean War was over by 6 December 1857, and presumably this date refers to the Third Battle of Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny.

On page 162, there is a reference to the Public Record Office, rather than The National Archives, and the title of Amanda Bevan's book is given as 'Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office', although the publisher is correctly given as TNA! There is a further reference to 'The Office' on this page.

Capitalisation of titles in the list of references on pages 163-164 is inconsistent.

These are just the errors that jumped out at me on a first reading, but I am sure there must be many more.

In summary, although this is an up-to-date and comprehensive book for the family historian with army ancestors, it is seriously let down by numerous minor errors, and would have benefited from more extensive copy editing and proofreading.


Real life as it was for who emigrated, 08 Oct 2007
I'm slightly biased with the review for this book....as part of what was written could be the story of my family. My grandfather emigrated to Scotland from Italy in the 1910's and it is na