I picked this up for a euro or so in a secondhand bookshop in order to while away a trip home on the train.

I definitely paid too much.

The narrative isn't strictly linear at times, a technique which you need to use really well if you're writing a biography, and Masson doesn't. She also comes to a number of conclusions about Christina's personality, sexuality and the vexed question about whether or not the queen was a lesbian which are misguided and, frankly, almost offensive to read about, especially placed as they are in an academic manner.

"Ah, but Siria," you may point out, "This book was written in 1968. They thought about such things differently then."

"Perhaps," I may reply, "But they had definitely heard of semicolons and the correct usage thereof. This was clearly copy-edited by an editor who enjoyed the Swinging Sixties a little too much, and who only took on this job in order to earn money to buy more Hemp-Based Products. And then subcontracted it to an illiterate chimpanzee who needed the money in order to fund his crack habit."

Avoid. ( )

1311. Queen Christina, by Georgina Masson (read 5 Jan 1975) This was a totally enthralling book. There are defects: no footnotes, various lapses from chronology, and rather poor organization at times. But the story told is so interesting that I found the book great. Christina was born Dec. 8, 1626, the daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, whom she succeeded as ruler of Sweden when he was killed in the 30 Years War in 1632. She abdicated June 6, 1654, and arrived in Rome in 1656. She returned to Sweden twice but died in Rome on Apr 19, 1689. I found this a most happy choice of reading material on my part, and said it'd be great if all the books I read this year were as good as this one was. ( )