I suppose....after all, you're right about the fact that there aren't many English language biographies--good ones, that is. I mean, I could recommend many excellent French biographies, but English gets more complicated. I haven't read it in awhile, but I would say off hand that the one by George Rudé isn't that bad...

Mocking Schama can never be a bad thing. If you do get it, be sure to tell us how it is!