Art History Books

Having always been a fan of Betty and Veronica (I'm more of a Veronica type myself), I was happily surprised to see the release of this book. Mr. DeCarlo's art is a great romp through thrugh the golden age of comic pin ups. It's a treasure for anyone who appreciates erotica with a sense of fun and for those of us who in our younger days wished that the Archie Comics girls were just a little more scandalous!

Dan DeCarlo is considered by many comics fans to be the quintessential Archie artist -- and considered by all comics fans to be the best delineator of Archie's rival girlfriends, Betty and Veronica. DeCarlo, who died in 2001, also had a prolific career as a pin-up artist for humor magazines, and this little tome collects some of his best work from the late 50s and early 60s. DeCarlo had a knack for making his women appear funny and sexy at the same time. While most of the gags aren't much, the girls are simply TOO much. There's some (relatively tasteful) nudity here, but most gags involve skimpy clothing and lingerie, so I'd rate this between a PG-13 and a "soft" R.

I had heard of Dan DeCarlo from the older Archie Comics and was surprised to see that he had done more provocative works in other magazines. His art style was the basis for the female characters in Archie's gang, and has been imitated many times since. There are a LOT of his older single-panel gags from several adult magazines. If you like nice artwork and nicely-drawn woman, it's a must have!

The Pin-Up Art of Dan DeCarlo is an absolutely gorgeous collection of work from 1956 through 1963, when the cartoonist was at the peak of his powers.

For those who came late, Dan DeCarlo got his cartooning start working at Timely (later Marvel) Comics drawing such fare as Millie the Model and Sherry the Showgirl for Stan Lee. From the late 50s into the 90's, DeCarlo was the quintessential Archie artist, best known for his work on the daily Archie comic strip and his definitive depictions of the yin and yang of Riverdale sexuality, Betty and Veronica. Millions of adolescent boys felt peculiar stirrings while reading about the exploits of the wealthy brunette and the wholesome blonde (particularly while engaging in their titular Summer Fun... no pun intended).

The discovery years later that DeCarlo was moonlighting as a girlie cartoonist for the Humorama line of men's magazines was, for some fanboys, the sociological equivalent of the discovery of the early nude photos of Madonna or Vanessa Williams. As sexy as Betty and Veronica were, they were chaste (to Archie's eternal frustration). The women DeCarlo drew for Zip, Joker and Laugh Riot were not innocent. And they were often naked.

While DeCarlo's drawings of men came in all shapes and sizes, critics charge that all of his women looked exactly alike, with the same rounded face, turned-up nose and hourglass figure; That the only differing feature was the hairstyle. It's a valid point, but in the end it doesn't matter. It's like criticizing the Ramones for recording the same song over and over. Yeah, they did. And better than anyone else.

DeCarlo's art was pure cartooning, clean and distinctive, with a masterful line and a sense of design that rivalled anyone's. He drew clothes better than almost any cartoonist this side of Hank Ketcham (not that there's a lot of sartorial evidence in this book) and his comedic timing was exemplary.

The Pin-Up Art of Dan DeCarlo (compiled by Alex Chun and Jacob Lovey) is beautifully printed in a black and orange two toned scheme, mostly full page cartoons with some devoted to detail from the art. There are a few problems. An out of place pin-up drawn by DeCarlo in 2000 awkwardly stretches across two pages near the end of the book, none of the cartoons are dated or annotated and the text for the gags has been redone, but those are minor complaints (the absolutely hideous sliced lettering used for the title of the book is unforgiveable, however). This book is indispensible for anyone who loves pin-up art, beautiful cartooning.... or ever wanted to see Betty and Veronica naked.

Not that I ever thought about that.

I just love this stuff. For every time our parents claim how properly they were brought up, there is a cartoon in this book that reminds me that they were every bit as bawdy as we are today. They just had better taste about it. This book starts with a history that isn't all that much to read and then single panel cartoons each page. The art is what it is and the jokes are the ones we've been retelling for years so it must be good stuff.

Be prepared to marvel. You will need a lot of concentration, and a lot of silence to process these teachings. It's not hard, but this is deep stuff. This book is prophetic. You almost have to prepare yourself spiritually in order to really grasp this material. Are you willing to invest the time? I suggest you ask yourself this question before you order this book. If you are, then let me tell you it is worth every word, or should I say "point" on the page.

PS: This is not a book for someone needing basic information. This is only for the serious art student or seriously interested lay-person. Also, those who enjoy logic and math might like this book.

This item was received in a very timely , and in excellent condition.

Kandinsky's goal seems admirable, to create a vocabulary in which abstract visual art can be discussed. That would allow a theory of abstraction to develop, with the promise that art would advance as its theory advanced. He argues his case well, he was trained as a lawyer after all, using analogy to that most abstract of arts: music.

He presents his thoughts in three sections following logical progression: point, line, and plane. As one would expect in discussing visual impression, Kandinsky acknowledges the mathematical point but generalizes it to isolated, self-contained marks of many kinds. Already, in the zero-dimensional world, Kandinsky begins his conceptual whirl: a point is not just a point, but a tension, a temporal presence, and even a sound - though I'm not convinced that this "sound" relates to audible impressons. The point even manifests as a period in punctuation. Its presence and position changes or erases a sentence's meaning; presumably, one is to infer that it has similar meaning in visual compostion.

Moving on to Line, Kandinsky crams a huge number of concepts onto the page: temperature, hue plus white and black, movement and force, angle, sound and triple sound, and even the duality of male/active vs. female/passive. Certainly there is much to discuss in all of these things, but the color, sound, and sex of a specific diagonal angle elude me. They are clear enough to Kandinsky, though, who announces these relations with absolute certainty and inevitability. His writing makes me think of mysteries revealed with papal infallibility, and with internal reason beyond human reasoning. Discussion of Plane drives even deeper into thickets of interlaced concept. I admit that I was never able to hack a clear path for myself through his conceptual undergrowth.

In the end, Kandinsky's vision remains a statement of his own inner experience - not of thinking that could be shared and pushed forward by other minds. Instead of showing the world how to think, he shows the world how he thinks. Although I'm no great fan of his art, that glimpse fascinates me, and is reason enough for reading and experiencing this remarkable text.

-- wiredweird

I think this book is useful for understanding Kandinsky's art but I think it is most useful for artists trying to form their own ideas about art. The reason for this is that in ascribing characteristics to many aspects of art for example lines curves and planes, the author makes us as artists think about how we use these aspects of art in our work. So, in other words, he gets you thinking about the meaning of all those marks on paper we make. I think most artists will find their own explanations of the various types of line, curve, color and plane, what this book does is give you the idea for doing so in the first place.

Este libro se ha convertido en el indispensable para los estudiantes de artes plásticas, nos define el punto, la linea y el plano desde muchos puntos de vista además de explicar la generación y desarrollo de los tres elementos básicos del arte visual.

No time to write much - twin 19 month-old boys will do that.
I've been to pompeii a number of times, worked on a dig there and have read many books about the town. This book weaves such a fascinating story using known facts and logical assumptions that, after finishing it, I picked it up and read it again.

These two authors, Mr. Butterworth and Dr. Laurence, have brought a great human story to life. Offering insights I found most mesmerizing. I especially liked some of the 'dirt', Nero's challenges, and many attempts to murdering his mother, Agrippina, his acting career, and an account of the burnign of Rome. Their description of the devastating earthquake and the all important water system and aquaducts. The suggestion of the importance of public arenas and games, not unlike modern societies. This is a great non-fiction read.

Mention Pompeii, we tend to think of the ruins of a Roman city, and the eerie plaster casts that were made of those who had perished, the echoes of their bodies found in the ashes. Many books have the hints that the ancient Romans had it coming, the eruption of the nearby Vesuvius being a sign of divine retribution for their decadent, pleasure loving lives, and it was a view point that many later Christian writers took up with glee. Most writers focus simply on the eruption, the efforts of the inhabitants to flee, and not much more.

But authors Alex Butterworth and Ray Laurence take on a very different approach. Instead of imposing modern stereotypes onto the story of Vesuvius and Pompeii, they take a far wider and much more intimate account of the story. The tale begins a few years before the earthquake that shattered the city in 62 ce, a catastrophic event that ruined or damaged many of the buildings, and caused many inhabitants to either be killed or flee to other parts of the Empire.

But a few stay, taking advantage of low land values, and a dramatic political shift and are determined to rebuild. After all, not only was Pompeii on what is now the Bay of Naples, but it was a major port and agricultural center as well. It is an ironic fact that volcanos produce soils rich in nutrients, perfect especially for the grapes that produced the sweet wines that the Romans were so fond of. And during the first century of the common era, many thought that Vesuvius was a dormant volcano. Even Spartacus with his slave army had camped in the crater during his rebellion.

All of this I had known before reading this book. What I discovered afterwards amazed me. For Pompeii had a powerful patroness, none other than Poppaea Sabina, the wife of Nero. Possibly born and raised in Pompeii, Poppaea maintained close ties to Pompeii and the graffiti that was found etched and painted on the surviving walls mention her many times. Indeed, the authors go into great detail about the women of Pompeii, from their business dealings, lives as slaves, wives and workers; all too often, Roman women seem to be skipped over in favour of their more martial, public husbands and sons.

Interspersed throughout the book are small fictional snippets about the actual people in Pompeii. They're not too long, tiny vignettes about ordinary people, whether they are politicians, an abused slave girl seeking sanctuary, a smallholding farmer, or an overseer on an estate. Each one is vividly written and I found myself wanting to know more about each person. It was these snippets that really caught my attention and they kept the narrative fresh and creative. Not that there was a problem with the longer sections -- the authors are wise enough to gear this towards the causal reader; the story flows well for covering nearly twenty years of political turmoil and natural disasters.

Throughout the book, we're given tantilizing hints of the world of Pompeii, from the glittering surroundings of the wealthy and powerful, to the grinding misery of the slaves, graffiti and slander scrawled on the walls -- the Romans were not prudish or shy about denigrating an opponent in public -- the use of frankly sexual art that would horrify most people today, and all of the little bits of a world that was lost on a late morning in August, in the year 79 ce.

It's a great read, and I happily recommend this one for anyone interested in ancient Rome. This was a book that kept me up late at night, moving smoothly between the stories, and knowing that inevitable doom was about to hit. One aspect that I really enjoyed was that the authors bothered to put Pompeii and its story within the larger context of the Roman world, and suddenly a lot of history and ideas of their world came into focus and began to make sense.

Two inserts of black and white and colour photos are included, along with three maps showing the Roman Empire with its provinces and cities, a map of the Bay of Naples and the area around Pompeii, and finally, one of Pompeii itself. Along with the narrative, there are acknowledgements, a bibliography and index, all of which serve to tempt the reader on further discoveries for themselves about Roman archaeology.

I happily recommend this one. It's a worthy addition to anyone's library, and especially those who find the Roman world a very interesting one indeed.

This book takes a very close look at the buried city of Pompeii, and the type of living that went on in it prior to, and at the time of, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It goes into great detail, and even has some fictional episodes done in italics to give more of a flavor to the work. It tended to be a bit dry at times, which cost it that last star, in my estimation. On the other hand, you will learn a great deal that you didn't know about life in Pompeii, and by extension, other parts of the Roman Empire during and shortly after the time of Nero.

This book brings Pompeii alive in way that I've only seen before in well made TV documentaries. The authors bring a depth of scholarship and imagination to this book that makes it easy to read and enjoyable. They have bought together many strands of information that has for many years languished in dusty Italian archives or only been published in Italian in obscure technical books.

This book only really covers the last 20 or so years of the cities life. It interspaces imaginative reconstructions of people's lives with the factual information on what people in the city would have lived with. We get a good overview of the reign of Nero and the impact he had on the city. (He has a deserved reputation for madness if this book is anything to go by) It also covers the great earthquake in AD63 and the impact it had on the city in the years leading up to its final destruction in AD79.

If you have any interest in Pompeii then this is a book you should read. It brings the Roman world alive. You have a distinct feeling that Pompeii was a complex city, in many ways like modern cities with its infrastructure needs - though distinctly different in its political processes and its reliance on the mass of slaves to keep things running. All said, this is a good read and if you know nothing of ancient Rome or Pompeii a good, and lively, introduction to both.

This is a stunningly beautiful book filled with incredibly beautiful art. The narrative text is well written.

This book is the most amazing introduction to the Pre-Raphaelites! The pictures are absolutely amazing, especially since this is an over-sized book and therefore the details in the photos are amazing!

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the Pre-Raphaeilite Artists (in general) and also to anyone that loves the Pre-Raphaelite works of Art & needs a good introduction!

First, let me say what I like about this book. It is profusely illustrated with full-page images, nearly all pictures mentioned in the text are reproduced in good quality, so one immediately sees what is described by the author. The text is free of jargon, lucid and highly entertaining (check the story of John Ruskin's unhappy marriage). Basic facts are rendered, short biographies of major painters are here, as well as some historical background (for example, the Aesthetic Movement and Oscar Wilde).
But this book has its weaker points. Mr. Christopher Wood does not specify what he means by "Pre-Rafaelite style"; sometimes it appears as he only means close adherence to nature and precise detailing. But what would he say then about German Biedermeier or French Neo-Grecs? The text overall is too smooth, it does not take into consideration newer approaches to art history (Norman Bryson's studies of pictures as sign systems, for example). So if you want a problem book, a challenging essay, you better look to Elizabeth Prettejohn's study. This one is just an introductory survey aimed at a general reader -- but a pretty good introduction, I might add.

I'm so thrilled to see that this book has been reissued after being out of print for several years. I found the original edition of this book in a frame shop in 1992, and bought it on a whim. Through this book I fell in love with the art and artists of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, and now own over fifty books on the subject, while prints by Evelyn de Morgan and John William Waterhouse decorate my walls. This book introduced me to the beauty and majesty of Pre-Raphaelite art, so I'd love it for that reason alone. However, years later, I still find that Wood's survey of Pre-Raphaelitism is the best I've ever seen. Full of 'academic' information, it's still easily read cover to cover, and the full color pictures are exquisite.

If you have even the slightest interest in Pre-Raphaelite art, you simply must own this book. It's both the PRB Primer and Bible, as far as I'm concerned.

I am a learning hobbyist artist interested mostly in portraits. An artist friend told me that I might be interested in the pictures of the Pre-Raphaelites. "Pre-Ra...What?"

When I bought this book I had not intended to read much of the text. I was primarily attracted to the beautiful pictures in the book, which I hope to learn from. It turns out that Christopher Wood's rendition of the biographies of these remarkable group of mid- to late 19th century English artists was exceptionally well weaved and readable. I got a very good education on the history of the Pre-Rephaelite art with fascinating details of the lives of the key players and, of course, beautiful, large-format reproduction of their best work.

I came across a number of books on this subject. Some have better and more detail prose, but none comes close to this one in terms selection and the quality of reproduction of the pictures.

This book combines solid historical research with an attractive and amusing style of writing, resulting in a fascinating book about the "discovery" of this great American bird by Europeans.

Learned, witty, imaginative, unexpected, this book is a treasury of language, literature and images associated with the turkey. Beautifully produced, it is selling at a bargain price, and guaranteed to enliven your gathering around the turkey, for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other feast.

Eiche has produced a masterpiece that deserves to become a best seller. Wonderful and witty account of the introduction of the New World Turkey into the Renaissance Old World, with brilliant tidbits of turkey lore and poems to accompany your Thanksgiving feast. A perfect stocking stuffer for old and young. Get it while Amazon still has copies available.

Joanna Woods-Marsden, Los Angeles, CA.

This book is an instant classic, which will doubtless inspire generation after generation of food mavens, history buffs--and just about anyone who enjoys good eating and good writing. The humble fowl furnishes the premise for the author to take us on an exhilarating trip across cultures and historical eras. Eiche paints a panorama of cultural, culinary and artistic life that assumes almost epic proportions, but she never fails to delight with her eye for wierd, offbeat, and just plain hilarious details. The author, a distinguished scholar of Renaissance art, writes with great charm and a dry sense of humor that is almost too deliciously wicked. Her prose will is reminiscent of the great bellettrists of natural history, from Izaak Walton to Diane Ackerman (whose books, if you haven't read them, would make a perfect accompaniment to this one). Whether you're looking for a great gift book, in search of some un-put-downable cultural and culinary history to read on a cold autumn night, or just want to adorn a holiday table with its gloriously beautiful illustrations--this is a book you'll gobble up with pleasure again and again!

This book is a gem! It documents, with remarkable art and historic references, the turkey's journey from the Americas to Europe. The illustrations are delightful, ranging from tapestries and cookbooks to political cartoons. Everyone I have shown this book has enjoyed it.

This is a beautifully produced photographic essay on the plight of the Puerto Rican people in the United States. It begins, interestingly, in Hawaii but spreads across the entire United States, with stops in New York City, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC, and California. Most of the photographs are from the 1980s, with a few somewhat earlier. The photographs are supported by well written, informative text that movingly documents the struggle of a displaced, disenfranchised people. The Puerto Rican people are in a peculiar position which has made them especially vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. They are part of the United States, so they are American citizens. But they are not a state. They do not vote in federal elections and have no representation in the U.S. Congress. Puerto Rico is considered a "commonwealth," with a somewhat confusing and ambiguous status. The issue of statehood versus independence versus continuation of the status quo as a commonwealth is a matter of ongoing debate among Puerto Ricans. However, the history of the relationship with the United States is akin to the relationship between a colonial power and a colony, namely, oppression and exploitation by large well capitalized interests. This book is the visual documentation of the human impact of that relationship. In response to the economic hardships facing them on the island, many Puerto Ricans migrated to the United States mainland and Hawaii in hopes of improving their lot. Frank's assessment of that quest is generally negative. He believes that living conditions in the Puerto Rican communities have worsened between 1980 and 2000. However, his beautiful black and white photographs, which include many sensitive portraits as well as urban landscapes, reveal a community with great vitality and youthful energy struggling against the harsh background of poverty and discrimination. Although they are downtrodden, these people are not in despair. That can be clearly seen in the photographs. These are people with dreams and the drive to pursue them. These are communities that have strong internal bonds and are engaged in a vigorous ongoing struggle to improve their fortunes. Frank has been an activist and a leader in that struggle as well as a photographer who documents it. He has produced a very moving and informative book that is a credit to his people and their ongoing endeavor. In the interest of full disclosure Frank has been a teacher, mentor, and friend of mine for probably twenty years. He brings high standards of craftsmanship and quality to his work as a photographer. One sees those standards of excellence at work in the skill and thought with which this high quality book has been put together. It is an excellent addition to any photographic collection.

Bravo! This life's work by Frank Espada is a beautiful and moving documentary of humanity. The stunning photographs tell a compelling story on their own. The stories that accompany the photos tell the heart wrenching experiences of a proud people that have contributed so much to our history and culture, yet at the same time continue to be neglected. This book should be in the curriculum of every high school, college and university across the country, as it certainly chronicles an important chapter of civil rights and human rights in American history.

What draws you into this experience are the masterful photographs captured by one of the world's most important documentary photographers. If you are a lover of documentary photography, this book is for you.

In any given year, few books document the ethnic experience of any one group of people. Even fewer depict the Hispanic experience within this context. Rarer yet have any of these publications captured the essence of the Latino migratory experience. And barely a handful has portrayed the migration of the Puerto Rican citizen--from island to Mainland.

It is indeed refreshing for a Hispanic volume to exclusively focus on a group that continues to represent the world's largest human airborne migration, still striving to survive and longing to make significant contributions. Page after page chronicles countless journeys and unfolds arduous experiences. Espada's book provides a living testament to this migration and portrays indelible images of a people in transit.

Spanning more than half a century, few books have portrayed the diaspora of Puerto Ricans so vividly. Through the critical eye of a still camera, this compendium represents the height of photo documentation without being journalistic in style or verbose in narrative. As it captures the essence of a people, it also represents a rather unique addition to our knowledge by filling a historical vacuum and illustrating how this population flux has greatly enriched this country.

Not to be misunderstood, however, the book is more than a collection of photos. It represents a selection of some of the best photographs an essayist would be proud to showcase. Each photo has been painstakingly selected. Some represent winners of awards, while others represent the best from regional and national exhibitions. The author communicates a vibrant history within 200 photo-filled pages, each conveying the richness of life and struggle across multiple decades and in a wide array of settings. As such, the book is not one to be merely read, but one to be experienced through its many images and subjects.

Such a compilation of photo art is also the culmination of more than 50 years of toil by a Boricua who also happens to be a photographer and a detailed chronicler of events. It exemplifies the work of a photographer that had the temerity to document the initial movement of a people to this country and with subsequent labor migrations across states, cities and barrios. The photos capture a people's movement in dramatic black and white--active and energetic, alone and in despair, in song and dane.

Equally important, the book represents a beautiful product. It is one that will likely withstand the test of time and can be proudly displayed on a mantelpiece along with sculpture and other artwork. Its photos are so impressive and well presented that the book can become a talking piece all its own. As a compilation of gorgeous photography, it also can become a veritable addition to any collection.
--Abdin Noboa-Rios, Ph.D.

Frank's book is an evocative and poignant portrayal of his soul-search and it's profound rooting in his ethnic heritage. In the tradition of Gene Smith, the expressively graphic photographs of his quest stand out from the glitz and vanity of much of today's photographic expression for their truth and honesty. For those who value such, an important book for their bookshelves.

Dave Heath

I adore this book. The images are striking, engaging and filled with poinancy. Frank Espada's incredible achievement stands the test of time and is forever immortalized in this exceptional book. The book itself is a work of art and graces our living space with its distinguished presence. The rich and bold images have been crafted by one of the world's masters of black and white photography. Each image reaches out with humanity, vulnerability, honesty and compassion. Frank Espada has given the world an incredible gift of his creative eye, masterful skill and heroic heart.

This is a book any serious photographer or photography lover should own, but also those interested in American history. The Puerto Rican Disaspora is not just a story for or about Puerto Ricans. It is about America. It is about us. If we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes in the future. Frank has documented an important aspect of our struggle for civil and human rights in a community he knew intimately well. This project is a seminal work from an American master.

This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of Elizabethan Costuming. It mainly contains all of the details of Queen Elizabeth I wardrobe but it has unique points in the society that surrounded the dresses. This book helps to explain the Gloriana image that became so popular and it helps us to understand all the little details that went into the dress of the period. Detailing costumes using portraits and explaining how the fashion progressed makes this book a must for anyone interested in Renaissance Faires and the nobility. The only drawback is that very very few of the portraits and pictures are in color. I think a total of about 7 are in color the rest is in black and white. The only way to make this book more appealing and usable would be to put all of the portraits and pictures in color, but that would make the book even more expensive. After this must have book the 2nd on the shelf should be a J. Hunniset book (the lady who did all the costuming for Elizabeth R and The Six Wives of Henry the VIII produced by BBC). Next, any Janet Arnold book. Last, would be the Norris book: Tudor Costuming and Fashion (although most of this book is very outdated it is nice to look at). All of these are must haves and will make a well rounded library. Dispite the high price of the book it is worth posessing. Enjoy.

This book is amazing. Huge, and packed full of information. An essential refernce work if you are seriously considering doing anything with elizabethan fashion. The author has poured years of scholarship into this work and it shows. It's not really a coffee table picture book. Instead it is full of carefully culled facts for the serious student or anybody curious about 'real' English Tudor costume.

For the historical costumer focused on 16th century clothing, this is the "bible" hands down. Big, expensive, and filled with the usual detail that is the hallmark of Janet Arnold, this is one very worthwhile investment for the serious costumer. This book has one tiny drawback, in that it focuses entirely on women's fashion in the 16th century as viewed through the wardrobe accounts of Queen Elizabeth I and some of her contemporaries. Therefore, it has nothing to say on the topic of men's clothing, which is an unfortunately neglected aspect of 16th century research.

Much of Janet Arnold's most important contributions to the costuming community are addressed in this book, making it extremely valuable. She presents each section with satisfying detail, raising very few questions that remain unanswered. The photographs accompanying the text are also invaluable, as many of them are not available in other books or to the general public for viewing. If only there were more color images...

If you can afford the book, you won't regret buying it.

For years I heard how this was _the_ book to buy if you were into Elizabethan costuming and wanted authentic items that could be documented. The book is good for that, and I enjoyed the style that Ms.Arnold wrote it in.

But I have two major gripes with the book-both regarding the quality of graphics and images in it.

First off-in the whole book there are only about 5 pages in color. The rest of it-including hundreds of portraits, examples of extant clothing pieces and pieces of embroidery were all in black and white. I complain about that because, with so many of the portraits quoted as examples it would help if they could be seen clearly. (Many of them are too dark to have reproduced well, and a few are quite horrible.) And the photographs....

If they could reprint this book and possibly include more color plates it would be a much much more valuable resource. As it stands now, it is a good source, but not all that I could have hoped for. Instead I have begun a search for color reproductions of the portraits cited in the book. A long tedious job but one that I think over all will make it a much more solid resource for my needs.

I bought this as a gift for a friend who helped a great deal with my wedding, advising me of dress styles, hair styles, fashion from this era, dances, music, food, and everything in between, as well as arranging all the flowers for the wedding! She was a godsend! When I gave her the book, her jaw dropped and she was so excited to get it... she said she had been wanting it forever. As I consider her quite knowledgeable about the subject matter of this book, and as it came highly recommended by her, I would say that it's a great book to have if this is something you are interested in as a serious hobby or more.

If you are a I Love Lucy fan this is the book for you.
It has some of the neatest quotes, Funniest quotes, and your favorite quotes. It may be short but it is worth long time and effort. So this is the book for you Lucy fans !!!!!!!!

I was out finishing the very LAST of my Christmas shopping when what do my wonderous eyes see? This Quotable "I Love Lucy Book"! What a treasure!!

I leafed through the book and immediately had to get it as a Christmas gift to myself! Any Lucy fan whether it is yourself or a friend or family member will LOVE to get this book!

Although it is by no means a hard read and is full of quotes from Lucy, Ricky, Ethel and Fred with wonderful clear pictures, the Lucy afficenado can tell a lot of time went in picking the quotes out of the many episodes and formatting them into this handy book (129 pages for those who like page counts). I should say a lot of time and a lot of Lucy TLC for the fans of "I Love Lucy" were given from the compiler (Stephanie Chizek)of this work.

As a Lucy fan, I was taken very much by this little golden nugget of Lucy quotes and highly recommend this book for the many Lucy fans and for those with Lucy libraries. This is a MUST and you won't regret one minute for buying this book!

"The Quotable I Love Lucy" is an absolute treasure! With hilarious pictures and quotes, how can one not love Lucy and the gang? The style of the book is great and the introduction is insightful. If you ever wondered what Lucy was saying during "Vitmeatavegamin," wonder no more, as they have that quote in here! I must have for Lucy lovers - I recommend.

With its informative introduction by Tom Watson, The Quotable "I Love Lucy" is a wonderfully presented, memorable volume filled with a superb selection of the best moments and wittiest verbal gags of a truly classic television show that has become an icon of American popular culture from the 1950s down to the present day (thanks to perpetual reruns on Nick At Night). Black-and-white photographs of the unforgettable Lucy and Ricky Ricardo spice up this hilarious selection of classic vignette quotes and mini-scenes. The Quotable "I Love Lucy" is a welcome giftbook for fans of one of the greatest comedy series of all time and a "must" for all Lucy fans everywhere!

I loved this!! i saw it at the store and i was like "o my gosh i gotta have this!!" so i bought it and read thru it. its a bunch of quotes, some of them are really cute, and pictures from episodes. its a nice hard cover and i just loved it! Recently i have seen episodes that i hadn't seen before and just reading that book i knew a dialouge by heart and could recite it along with the person saying it. such as when lucy is asking Ricky to be in the show at the Palladium and she says "...if you dont let me be in that show at the Palladium i'll give you such a punch you'll talk funnier than you do now!" and "Do you know how many times i'll have to sing 'Babalu' to pay for that house?"~Ricky. its really an adorable book that i treasure. they also include the entire Vitameatavegamin speech before and after she is drunk. its definetly for ANY Lucy fan. And i am definetly a Lucy fan!!!
"Its not the gift that counts. Its the lack of thought behind it." ~ Lucy

Having just finished Book 1, and begun Book 2, I can say without a doubt that it was primarily this text that enabled me to make the progress I have. I have examined both this series, and the Athenaze, and would very much recommend this one, not becuase it is better, per se, but because it is more rewarding. Indeed, I have finished just one year of a language, and can already read one of its most famous authors! To a highschool student who has already taken 5 years of another language, and still cannot read classic Spanish literature for want of elevated course rapidity, this is astounding. I will say that this pace does require some level of devotion. There were times (around sections 25-30, and again at sections 50-60) when I was convinced that I could go no further. Yet, I have made it to Book 2, and say that anyone else can as well, just so long as they put the work into it, persevere, and occasionally can talk to a good tutor. This last point is really the key. I find this text far more useful than the Athenaze, but I must also relate that, as with any language, it is best to learn it at least partly from one relatively "fluent" in it. A tutor is a must for almost all. With that said though, I will restate the fact that this is a wonderful and rewarding text to study from, and one that will undoubtedly amaze any who would never consider themselves able to read ancient Greek. Just give it a try--as long as you stick to it, you will eventually succeed.

This is a three-volume set of large paperbacks that will teach the motivated beginner Homeric Greek.

Most of the grammar is introduced in the 120 lessons in volume 1. The lessons are short - about 5 or 6 vocabulary items are introduced, along with a grammatical point or two. There are not a lot of examples given for each grammatical point, but this is made up for with the exercises. Each lesson, in addition to the reading selection, has translation exercises, both English to Greek, and Greek to English. Volume 2 has another 100 lessons or so, mostly annotated readings. Volume 3 is the "Teacher's Manual and Key". It contains translations of all the reading selections, and the answers to all the translation exercises. There are also tests for each lesson, with the answers provided. The presence of the answer key (translations and the answers to the exercises) is what makes this series excellent for those learning on their own; students get both practice in the application of the grammar, and feedback on how well they have learned the material.

A background in Latin is obviously helpful, but not required. The cultural notes, quotes, and historical information help keep interest high. Obviously a text meant for use in Catholic / Jesuit schools, it's a refreshing throwback to the days when the classics were respected, and "dead white men" were not politically incorrect.

Homeric Greek is not an easy language. But if you're motivated, willing to keep on pluggin', do the exercises faithfully, you'll end up with an excellent knowledge of this difficult but beautiful language.

This excellent 3rd edition, including some well-chosen revisions and supplements, retains all the advantages of Schoder and Horrigan's measured approach while improving typography and readability, expanding the (extra-Homer) readings, and speaking more clearly to the preparation-deprived student of our time (earlier editions pretty much took for granted conceptual understanding of grammar and syntax). The book's pace is excellent and so is its well-phased introduction of new concepts as the student progresses. Self-correcting exercises are also included for the first time. Selections from the Odyssey begin halfway through the book, after the student has acquired sufficient knowledge and cultural background to appreciate them.
Highly recommended. I hope that Collins Edwards, the reviser, is even now working on Book 2, last republished (2nd edition) in 1986.

"A Reading Course in Homeric Greek" is a wonderfully-written text, filled with warmth and wisdom. This is a key to the genetic code of Western Civilization!

If you want to read ancient texts in Greek, the best way, now pleasantly-surprisingly feasible with this book, is to start in Homer (however many individuals you believe actually composed the works under that name). I say this for two reasons:

1. Literarily, Homer's works function in almost all ancient Greek and Roman literature in the same way that the King James Bible and Shakespeare's works function in English literature.

2. Linguistically, it's always easier to go forward in time through linguistic changes than to go backward. English speakers today have to work at first to get the right feel for Shakespeare's English, and even the later ancient Greeks (after the time of Alexander the Great) depended on their scholars to explain "difficult" parts of Homer's language for them.

This textbook is good. It rewards you with frequent, and real, accomplishment at each step. However, if you're a complete beginner in Greek who has never "declined" nouns and adjectives in any other language, you'll get much better results by taking a class based on this book or else by meeting frequently with a qualified private tutor. If you are comfortable declining nouns, and you are able to teach yourself a language efficiently, you can profitably work through this book on your own.

This book goes a long way in explaining why there was so much written about the Wild West and why so much embellishment took place.Throughout history there has been all kinds of spins put on the people involved and what really occurred.Why would anyone expect anything different during the expansion of the West,particularly after the Civil War? In dramatic times of history,be it the Wild West,WW2,Crime in Chicago etc.people are craving for an understanding of events as well entertainment,and that is what we are given by the writers and the media.
Personally,I enjoy both the factual as well as the fictional
aspect of these times.
One character who often appears in books is Ned Buntline.He was a real person by the name of Edward Zane Carroll Judson,and this book does a pretty good job of telling us who he was and some of the things he did.Somebody must have written a book on him;it would be a good read.

This book was a welcome source of information on the Carson & Miller families whose genealogy I have been researching. Michael Wallace did an excellent job of getting his historical facts straight and offered some additional resources for my search for family history.

The easy style presented an engrossing story of a family moving through history from the 1850's to the 1930's and adjusting (not always easily) to the changing moores of society.

My father was a cousin of the Miller Bros. and told us children stories of his childhood in Oklahoma and attending the shows at the 101. My sister & I recently visited the old 101 ranch site and were sad to see that little is left. The Miller house in Winfield, Kansas is still standing in beautiful condition and is a private residence.

Michael Wallace is an excellent storyteller. The book gave life to my genealogy and made me feel in touch with the characters and the times. Anyone with an interest in western history would enjoy this story of a dynamic family who helped shape our images of the old west.

One terrific book -- a majestic recreation of the figures that helped define the old west and western entertainment.

Readers lacking a sense of irony may be dismayed to discover that the Real Wild West was only loosely hitched to reality. Spurred by the imaginations of Charles Miller and his three sons, our perception of what is the west sports the distinct brand of the 101. Take heart, though, because on the Miller Brothers' 101, the west was most certainly wild.

Possibly outlaws and certainly mavericks, the Millers rounded up some legendary talent to work their ranch and perform in their touring shows. The 101 herd of entertainers included Geronimo, Will Rogers, champion cowgirl Lucille Mulhall, Annie Oakley rival Princess Wenona, and such film legends as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Ken Maynard, Yakima Canutt and Hoot Gibson. Black cowboy, Bill Pickett, famed for inventing the rodeo event steer wrestling spent a long career at the 101, and Buffalo Bill Cody spent his final year with the outfit.

While tooling a longstanding image of the west with their Wild West productions, the Millers also saddled up to motion pictures, oil production and an outstanding crop and livestock operation. Their story is a rodeo itself, made all the more interesting by the hints that white hats did not cover the heads of all of the 101 cowboys and cowgirls.

When the last little doggie was wrangled on the 101, the Miller Brothers' legacy did not ride off into the sunset, but continues to stampede through the dreams of would-be cowpokes everywhere. I'm not a regular patron of movie theatres, but I cannot wait until this saga makes it to the big screen!

If you like history and the stories of the old west, buy this book. I really enjoyed it.