Terry Jones Books

Classed by many as an 'any year diary/jouranl' personally I find this book far too beautiful to actually write in.

If you are a Froud fan this book is a must, but it is a companion piece so do not expect a whole new range of the fairy art. Based on the original 'Pressed Fairy Book' this book contains many of the same 'pressings' and quotes from the story. As well as witty comments for select days of the year.

May 3rd, "Bent wand straightening day"

May 9th, "Royal society for the prevention of cruelty to fairies founded"

it is a datebook, i thought it would be more like another book to the set, it is very pretty though.

You won't want to put it down! It makes a great coffee table book or gift, i haven't met one person who hasn't liked it. I have family members who don't like to read, but even they can't stop themselves once they start this book. They have all read it cover to cover. I personally re-read it regularly. I adore the illustrations, they are so much fun! You will love it! I guarantee it.

If you're a fan of the Cottington fairy lore (the Pressed Fairy Book, Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells, and you might as well include the Goblin Companion since it too is made by the wonderful team of Froud and Jones), you'll never run out of holidays, or, as I call them, Excuses to Play Kazoo, Blow Bubbles, And Generally Make A Fool Of Myself. Some olidays are for elves or pixies or goblins only, but, if you consider the malleable nature of the celebrants as mentioned in other Froud books, this isn't really much of a hindrance. Consider this book as having four stars on it's own, but five when coupled with anything else by Terry Jones and Brian Froud.

it is a datebook, i thought it would be more like another book to the set, it is very pretty though.

Slightly more interesting piece of output, due to the theme being the
old Green Knight story. That tale is usually quite entertaining, and is
in this version, as well. The other piece is eminently forgettable,
however. I suppose you would say that it is for Tolkien completists
only.

"Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight" is a great and holy work of literature and I return to it on an annual basis to breathe the air of its strong magic and to observe with awe its rutheless moral rigor. What a profound joy it is to foresake the barren land of contemporary hack literature and enter once more into a world where the colors are brighter, the language is grander, and the characters stride across the mysterious landscape like gods or faery-figures lit from within by a mystic sun. The great J.R.R. Tolkien did us all a supreme kindness when he advocated for the deep spiritual and aesthetic significance of "Beowulf" (for whom his own writings bear covert relations) and he doubled it when he translated this masterpiece of the enchanted but decidedly anonymous soul who wrote it.

Five stars are a poor return for such pleasure and wisdom offered.

For anyone who cares about the subject and yet is too lazy to read the original it is always a joy to read Tolkien, a master of English. The story is not fantasy, which many mistakenly look for in Tolkien, but a classic of middle English literature. If you get hooked on this genre there are many other stories, both long and short, available, and the original language is not so different from our own.

These three texts from the translating pen of J.R.R. Tolkien coprise an uplifiting trio that give the reader a glimpse of times when literature was aimed at both beauty and the edification of proper values. This is particularly true in the first two texts.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight presents a late Arthurian legend which was penned in a relatively obscure West-Midland dialect of early Middle English. The text, as translated by Tolkien, still maintains the auditory alliteration used to drive the poem itself. This in itself is a blessed treasure to the reader, as it is a rarely used method of poetry. The story is a gem in that it presents a fallible human, Gawain, who strives by the Grace of God to fulfill his oaths made. It is an exposition of piety, casting the Arthurian knight into a wholly Christian light.

Pearl, written in a dialectic style of poetic meter, is a moving poem of grief and understanding in the face of the death of a two-year-old child. The imagery used in it is absolutely breathtaking, drawing heavily on the Apocalypse of John for its material. The discourse is a journey of enlightenment and eventual peace, marked with profound trust in God. I found this poem to be absolutely stunning in itself. Pearl, along with Gawain, exposes the existence of a great deal of Marian piety at the time of the writing. This presents an intriguing scenario which reminds Christians of the ongoing understanding of Mary's role in the Christian faith.

Sir Orfeo, related in many ways to Classical myth, is a much more light-hearted adventure. It is a quick read that presents the reader with the brave quest of King Orfeo for his lost wife,Heurodis. The sybols used are mixed from Classical as well as English/Celtic sources. While the story is not wholly inventive, it is a fun read and has been presented very well by professor Tolkien.

I suggest this set of texts to everybody, for they present the reader with poetry which is not only grounded in romance/adventure but also in morality (particulary I and II) and faith.

I've always been fascinated with the old Arthurian legends, so this tale appealed to me greatly. Sir Gawain was everything a knight should be considering the fact that he's not perfect due to the fact that he's human. The animals depicted in the hunting scenes directly tie in with the storyline with Sir Gawain and the lady of the castle. The deer represented that Sir Gawain tried to flee away from having to deal with the lady of the castle. The wild boar represented difficulty since it was stated that the boar in the hunt had killed a man. Finally, the fox represented the fact that Sir Gawain was planning to be sly and conceal the fact that the lady of the castle had given him her girdle. The fact that he would lie to the lord of the castle, shows that he is truly human and that he would like to keep his own head when he has to go meet back up with the Green Knight the following day. The hunt over three days represents a series of three tests which later comes to aid or hinder Sir Gawain in his quest to keep his oath as a knight and follow through with the guidelines of "the beheading game". The girdle at the end that all the knights in King Arthur's court take to wearing symbolizes that they are human and that they are not perfect and that humility should be observed.

I enjoyed this book on many fronts. It is interesting and thorough without being dense and burdensome. The style is casual and fun. The type and page/word density is attractive and breezy. Thirty minutes of reading actually gets you somewhere. I love that there are pictures sprinkled throughout the book -- rather than delegated to a big clump in the center -- each appearing near its pertinent text. This may not be most complete scholarly work on the life and times of Chaucer, but for a casual historian it is an excellent investment.

As is oft observed about the Medieval epoch, particularly the 14th and early 15th centuries, a lot got lost. Bloody warfare and political upheavals destroyed most of the relatively few documents that were produced in the era, and sheer passage of time between then and now challenges historians to come up with definitive answers to questions like, "What did happen to Chaucer, anyway?"

Geoffrey Chaucer, born circa 1343 A.D., is a remarkable figure on several accounts. First and foremost, he created an oeuvre of poetry that was very popular in his lifetime and has remained so across six centuries. He advanced the use of the English language as an expression of culture. He represented the rise of the commercial class to courtier status, as the crown increasingly relied on independent sources of council and money to fund warfare and courtly acquisitions. Famous in his own time, his life can be traced through contemporary chronicles and court records. But suddenly, the trail goes cold in 1400. There's nothing to say he died of natural causes but there is nothing to say he wasn't murdered. Nonetheless, Terry Jones and fellow scholars have titled their book, WHO MURDERED CHAUCER? They say at the outset that their chase back through the remains of the 14th century is more about the question than the answer because their evidence is circumstantial. It is, however, a very persuasive, thoroughly examined catalogue of evidence that suggests that one way or another, Chaucer was not in a good place come 1400 A.D.

Chaucer rose to eminence because of the cultural values held by the boy king, Richard II. Though Richard has been portrayed as weak and weird, Jones et al find him to be a man who wanted peace, emphasized culture and internationalism, and allowed critical and creative thinking to flourish under his watch. He was done in by his cousin, the conservative, hawkish Henry IV who allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Arundel, to institute a reign of terror in the name of orthodoxy. And there stood Chaucer having just satirized several church figures in "The Canterbury Tales." And having the nerve to dun the crown for his annuity. Oh dear.

Jones et al are serious historians who sift through primary documents and interpret a considerable body of scholarship on their subject. They pull it all together in a well-documented, provocative text that is never dry. It is as much about Richard, Henry, Arundel and the world they inhabited as much as it is about Chaucer and his work. It tells us a lot about how the human race advances itself through literature and culture.

Normally, when I read a history book, I am most interested in the factual content and the bibliography and footnotes.

If I were to review this book based solely on academic content, I've got to be honest and say that the authors never really answer the question in the title or prove the thesis of the book. Instead they lay out the evidence for how and why Richard II was deposed and suggest what impact that may have had on Richard's servants and ministers like Geoffrey Chaucer. The footnotes and bilbiography are fairly thorough and add much to their description. I particularly liked how the original text is provided for all quotes along with modern English renderings of the Middle English and Late Latin citations. Moreover the sheer scope of materials consulted is impressive ranging from contemporary English and French chronicles to modern statistical studies and linguistic analysis.

However, the central thesis still eludes this painstaking effort. In fact, the book may do much to show that the central thesis can never be proved. For one thing, the tremendous breadth of the evidence consulted suggests that every stone has been turned over and that we may never be able to answer the question of how Chaucer died at all if we must rely on the sources we now have.

But the authors also admit as much.

They acknowledge that it is not even clear if Chaucer was murdered at all. Instead, they use the conceit that they are laying out a coroner's case.

As a lawyer, I find that description a little too generous. The prima facie case is still missing. But what they do lay out is a plausible motive and some evidence of opportunity. They describe the milieu Chaucer lived in near the time of his death and then suggest some areas where we might continue looking for clues to what happened to him in the end.

That's enough to make a good book. . . and a book I would read for its content alone.

But this book goes one better. The publisher has made an eye-catching package that I couldn't pass up. When I say the book is "beautiful" I'm not exaggerating. The entire book is illustrated like the finest manuscripts of the Middle Ages, --because the illustrations are from those manuscripts themselves. It is printed on sturdy white, glossy paper like a fine art book. Never have the late middle ages come so alive for me.

It is as if we are reading an alternative account of the end of Richard II written almost contemporaneously with our received histories of that era somehow miraculously . If there had been op-ed features in medieval manuscripts this would be the counterpoint to our received Lancastrian opinion of history.

It's more than just a deconstruction of history. It's a re-illumination of it.

I think it may be the best book of its kind I have ever read.

This is an absolutely amazing feat. Impeccable scholarship, daunting research of primary artifacts, and a brilliant distillation of available evidence all merge for this beautiful publication. The end result is remarkable on a multitude of levels.
The primary success is that this is a delightful read for anyone. The fact that it's title character is the father of English literature only adds to it's radiance. Those who dismiss this signature effort as little more than a well bound picture book, clearly failed to give it a read. It is exceptionally well presented because the work itself merits such attention.
Mr. Jones vivacious presentation of this monolithic probe of Chaucer and his environment breathes such life into his subject that he is all but resurrected. He and his colleagues may not have proven Chaucer's murder, but vastly more than reasonable doubt arises after their case is made.
Mr. Jones first work on Chaucer 25 years ago (Chaucer's Knight) was revolutionary. In that work, his exploration of Chaucer's intent insisted on reconsideration of the knight in The Canterbury Tales. He blew the dust off of the conventional interpretation of the knight's tale and revealed the actualities. In this regard, informed academia has never been the same since. Who Murdered Chaucer calls for another reassesment of this fourteenth century innovator. Those who wish to discount Mr. Jones authority because of his theatrical enterprises (which may well include the occaisional dubious historical stretch) are obviously unaware of his formidable expertise in this territory. He is one of the preeminent Chaucerian scholars of our day.
The crowning glory of this endeavor is the animation of Chaucer himself. He is no longer a distant stick figure poised against a diorama. He lives and breathes in his truculent era. We are all the richer for being drawn into his world with our eyes open to it and him.
You'll leave this treatise with an inkling that Chaucer might well be the hero in the end.
A fine, fine, book.

The book takes place in the ill fated reign of King Richard II (1377-1400.) But 1400 was not only the year that Richard II was disposed by Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV). It was also the same year that England's famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer, disappeared. No funeral...no written account...nothing. Doesn't it seem a bit odd that this poet who served both with King Edward III and Richard would suddenly just disappear?

Perhaps he was murdered!

This is the theory that this book lays out. Terry Jones does a superb of informing the reader of the opportunist and controversal politics of that time. Especially the conflict between church reformers and church conservatives; the "Lollards" vs the worldy bishops. And it's in this very conflict that Chaucer may have risked his life by writing the Canterbury Tales, which exposes the corruption of the worldy priest in those days.

Jones looks past the propaganda of that time and paints a more accurate picture of what was going on in England in that time. Who was really the bad guys of those times? The defeated or the conqueror? And to what great lengths would powerful individuals go to to stomp out unpopular opinion?

The book is far from just a boring romp through history. Their is a bit of humor added in and the book never tries to be too confusing for the reader.

Highly recommend!

...but also a bit disarming! Some of the stains and "odor" illustrations in the book look... well, "fresh". I'm not altogether sure that I want to know how the book publisher achieved this effect, but it definately adds bonus points in my mind.

So, the authors of the book claim to have found a gadget that allows them to communicate with smells and stains. Odd, to think that such things are sentient, but nonetheless, their commentary is, of course, hilarious.

Not that I mean to give anything away, but my personal favorite is "The Great Stain of the Apocalypse" and the theory surrounding it. You'll have to get the book (which I recommend) to find out more!

Hilarious and all-together head-scratching, as you find yourself realizing they're talking about something you've been wondering about all along. You may have thought you were the only one undergoing the cruel and unusual punishment of these noxious fumes and stains, but here you find you are not alone... If you're going to read this aloud as a bed-time book or as a book of quotations, you are required by law to read it aloud with an English accent. If you cannot speak with an English accent or if it is terrible beyond measure, please read silently. Don't even mouth the words as you read. If by chance, you meet someone who is talking about smells and stains in a bad English accent, smack him. If he's bigger than you, you may let him off with a warning...or politely kick him and run, because big guys take longer to build up the inertia to accelerate than little guys. If he doesn't catch you and is breathing heavily, then run up to him and smack him. That should get the point across.

I have bought this book as a gift for friends ever since I owned my first copy. It is funny, beautifully illlustrated and guarenteed to appeal to all artistic types with an affiliation for Monty Python, Black Adder and all things English and comedic! Not for children, even though they love the picture. It stands alone although is really best enjoyed along with the other Lady Coddington fairy books.
I am currently buying a copy for my graphic deisgner and his illustrator wife. I have no doubt he will add it to his collection of published weirdness!

...because Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells is, aside from nicely done art (by Brian Froud) and brilliant satire (by Terry Jones), a fairly good glimpse into the sort of creatures that are around even if you don't want them to be, even if you aren't the sort to have pixies and goblins about because you don't believe in them or believe in them so much it creeps the little creatures out. Check under your VCR or underneath the layer of papers covering a desk to see what I mean, as you've probably got Doggitus Mucilagus sticking some loose change to the wood.
Extremely funny and far from fiction, get it for yourself and as a gift for your favourite neat-freak.

So nice that you all found uncle Quentin. I do need to talk with him. Can't believe everything that you read. What he is not telling you about is all the fairies that escaped from London and landed in (of all places) Des Moines, Iowa. I need to know where to get in touch with uncle.

I found the book to be a good idea of what Medieval Live was about. I'm going to be part of a local Ren Faire and found the book to be very helpful in putting together a character of a monk.

Terry Jones always reminds us there are three sides to any story; this side, that side, and then the truth.
Like his book "Barbarians", "Medieval Lives", seeks to undo the one-sided story given in popular history.
We are reminded that history is in fact written by the victors, or in this case, those with the money.
The real story in history is often buried, sometimes quite literally, as shown in the excavations around England that Jones uses as evidence. He dispells the notion of the Dark Ages, as a fabrication of later times, and shows how Medieval Europe was anything but dark. In fact people lived quite rich, and innovative lives.
But more than anything, Jones tells his story in a warm, witty voice that reminds the reader of his wonderful work as a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Medieval Lives is a great read for the historian with an open mind, or for anyone who wants to learn a little and of course, laugh a little.

Vince Cook,
Chicago Illinois

This was a wonderful debunking of the common view of the Middle Ages. I loved it. My only reservation is that the book is so England-centered that it mostly ignores the rest of the world. On the other hand, I think that was the original audience so who am I to complain.

Worth the time to read, and it's so engaging it won't take long.

This is an excellent overview of an often misunderstood and underappreciated era. The authors present copious quanties of information, but never become pedantic or tiring. This book would be a good introduction to the era for those whose history education fell short in this respect. I've been a student of the medieval period for years and I learned a good bit that was new to me.

When Terry Jones joined Monty Python, he kept his day job. He is a scholar and professor of medieval studies. Which means, MEDIEVAL LIVES is serious history for general readers, but it is also history dished up in a fluent voice that chuckles over human folly, is appropriately stern at the abuses of power that caused incredible pain and suffering, and returns with awe at the lights of human achievement that managed to flicker in an epoch of constant bloodshed.

Nothing seems to annoy Jones more than the inaccuracies that have circulated as fact about the period he defines as beginning with the Norman Conquest in 1066 and ending when Henry VIII effectively dismantled the old church in 1536. The overarching inaccuracy is that the medieval period was static and primitive. Au contraire says Jones and developed a BBC series taking the 470 years archetype by archetype, looking at how things changed often dramatically in that long period, sometimes progressively, sometimes regressively for the likes of peasants, minstrels, monks, outlaws, scientists, knights, women and kings. He stomped forcibly on the inaccuracies and falsehoods largely promulgated in the Renaissance and Victorian eras. This book is the companion volume to that series. As someone who has not seen the television series, I can vouch that you never miss it. The book is a stand alone triumph.

Jones manages to pull together an amazing amount of material and information in a relatively short book, weaving social, political and religious history. As such, the book is like a survey course, which is not a bad thing at all. To see what Jones can really do when he throws all his scholarly resources and colleagues at a medieval subject, see WHO MURDERED CHAUCER? That is top-notch historical investigation and criticism that skimps on nothing.

While many people claim to know Dr. Fegg personally, I write with complete probity when I state Dr. Fegg is, indeed, a close personal friend of mine. We first became acquainted ten years ago when Dr. Fegg sacked his then-literary agent Ms. Esther Scallop. Amazed by my vast knowledge of the publishing industry, as well as my knowledge as to the whereabouts of Ronald Biggs, Dr. Fegg hired me to promote his work. In this particular tome (don't you just love the word 'tome?'), my favourite bits are "Crossing the Andes By Frog," and the frightfully clever pantomine entitled, "Aladdin and his Terrible Problem." It is astounding that Dr. Fegg has thus far escaped nomination for the Booker Prize. He has more talent in the tip of his pinkie than V.S. Naipul has within his entire being. Please buy this book. Royalty money comes in handy. If you can't buy it, hunt down someone who owns it and steal it from them. Chances are they will not give it up without a fight so it is recommended that you bring a pair of brass knuckles or a can of mace. Good luck!

Remember the Python routine about a "killer joke?"

This book came close to being a collection of such jokes. Nearly every story made me, and several of my friends, laugh until we almost couldn't breathe.

Over twenty five years later, it still has the same effect.

(GET THIS BOOK BACK IN PRINT!)

I got this book in like fifth grade, I don't remember, but I still have my original "Dr. Fegg's Nasty Book Of Knowledge" with tape on the binding because I wore it out. I am holding it now. I remember distinctly when and where I bought it, a now-defunct newsstand in my home town. I remember because I laughed so hard while walking back to my house after I bought it that my stomach hurt and I was crying.

From the Deliferate Mistale to the Creeping Manuria, a great book.

I had hoped that civilized society had seen the last of Dr. Fegg's nasty little pamphlet. This is a work a certified lunatic who is now a depleted geriatric living on the outskirts of the Scotish outer Hebrides..do not be fooled!!...the right and kind fellows of the English variety troop, aptly named Monty's Python had no hand in this. The true tale is that of a heartless killer has been trying to ruin the nights sleep of innocent children worldwide with this satanic bedtime treatise. Buy what is left of these books and burn them instantly!

...

The typical encyclopaedia is written without an authorial voice or angle. For example, you can read dozens of entries by the same contributor in Britannica, without discovering anything about his secret lover in Bolton or what he had for breakfast that morning. For followers of FR Leavis, this may be fine. But for many of us, this is not enough, and the eminent Dr Fegg's book fills a big gap in the market.

Dr Fegg's aim was not only to cover his expenses while on the run, but also to educate pre-adolescent children in the essentials of life, as well as proving that he had almost nothing to do with the Bournemouth Axe Murders.

Some people got the wrong idea. In its original 1974 version, it was called THE NASTY BOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. But after many complaints about it being an inappropriate birthday present, and several inquests, and only two Old Bailey trials, the title was changed to the present name.

In the 31 years since its publication, I have tried to live my life according to Feggist principles, barely washing from week to week, and gradually whittling away the stock of relatives. The mandatory life sentences have been a bit of bummer, but you can't have everything. I wish I'd been able to put into practice Dr Fegg's advice about crossing the Andes by frog.

It was, of course, Dr Fegg who ended all chances of a Rutles reunion, and since the disappearance of Ron Nasty, Dr Fegg has had to lie very low indeed. Some say he is in South America. Others say the Himalayas. His only link now to the outside world is Mike Palin, who was only half-responsible for the Skegness Impaling. It is alleged that Mike goes to see him every now and then, under the guise of a new series for the BBC, in order to channel some of the proceeds from the enormously successful (in an in-between-Holy-Grail-and-Tomkinson sort of way) encyclopaedia.

I somehow doubt it. But I enjoyed this book tremendously.

This spring I enrolled in PSCI 398 Domestic Terrisom. As part of my outside reading, I came across this book. I found that it was very informative and offered a new insight into what happend in Oklahoma City. Though I read this book on my own time, it gave me lots of good ideas on how to explore the question that plagued my class "What is domestic terriosm?" This books explains why everyone including the guilty deserve a defense.

Stephen Jones, the lead counsel for Timothy McVeigh, writes an engrossing book that is not only about his client's case, but gives equal treatment about a nefarious government reminescent of Rome of the Roman Empire. In his writings Jones not only presents many deficiencies in the Federal government's case against McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombing, but also paints the picture of a government agency completely hell-bent on "winning." Jones, in advocating for his client, contends that the prosecution's case was incomplete and circumstantial; exculpatory evidence was either withheld or stalled that could have helped in giving McVeigh a fair trial.

In his analysis, Jones does raise enough doubt in McVeigh's "direct" involvement in the bombing, and more that one can of worms is opened. For example, an extra leg is found in the Murrah Building rubble that does not belong to any victim. Additionally, several red flags that are discovered by Jones and his team may imply that the bombing was planned from abroad. For example, how can only two men plan and execute such a bombing of such magnitude, something said to be impossible by bomb experts in other countries where this kind of thing is routine? Jones questions Terry Nichols' ignorance of the OKC bombing plans. Nichols made several trips and many telephone calls to the Philippines, a hotbed of terrorist activity -- that's never taken seriously in connecting Nichols, much less in mitigating McVeigh.

Jones' book is also his own biography foray into a high profile case that transformed his life and his beliefs about U.S. justice. His book, as he writes, is not meant to cash in on this case, but to expose the truth. Jones believes McVeigh should have been found not guilty (Read especially the acknowledgements!), and portrays his client as a man, not the demon characterized by the press. Although Jones does not offer why McVeigh was involved at all, this would seem to be covered by attorney-client privilege. Despite this, whether or not Jones convinces the general public of the facts that McVeigh did not receive a fair trial and that the government successfully hid the truth is left for the reader.

In trying to justify his defense of Tim McVeigh, which needs no defense, since we all know everyone is entitled to a good defense no matter what the crime, Stephen Jones tries to convince us that Tim McVeigh may not be guilty of bombing the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, or at least that there are a number of others involved.

His main defense consists of trying to convince the reader that certain eye witnesses do not agree with each other on important sightings of McVeigh, but you don't have to know much about legal proceedings to know how unreliable eye witnesses can be. Another strong pillar of his defense is the finding of an unidentifiable leg in the bomb debris. A leg that apparently belongs to none of the known victims. Presumably, the owner walked away on his remaining leg and never showed up at any hospital in the area. Presumably, the medical examiners trying to patch up numerous body parts got it all right and could not have made a mistake.

On top of that, Jones was a party to fake confession of McVeigh's that was designed to confuse far right milita units who might be talked to admitting things they knew about, since Tim had already taken credit for the bombing. This little subterfuge backfired on the defense when the Dallas Morning Times illegally learned about it and proceeded to tell the world about the confession, not realizing it was fake.

But like all murder trials, you can't help but feel the accused is guilty when he won't take the stand in his own defense. McVeigh taking the stand was never even considered as far as I can determine from this account of the story. And since McVeigh would rather go to his death, and Nichols to life in prison, rather than incriminate anyone else, one can only conclude they are truly guilty.

Nevertheless, I recommend this book to all buffs of courtroom trials and conspiracy buffs who can probably have a lot of fun with it.

Stephen Jones blends an insightful analysis of the events that have transpired since April 19, 1995 and the date of McVeigh's execution in Terre Haute, Indiana based on two important premises: The government investigation was incomplete and McVeigh did not receive a fair trial. This is as much a book for law students as it is for conspiracy artists. Jones' southern charm comes forth in his capacity as author yet his role as defense lawyer never escapes the reader. Jones covers his bases much of the time, pointing out early in the prologue that he would not have been able to write this detailed account of his conversations with McVeigh had McVeigh's appellate team attacked his capacity as a lawyer during McVeigh's trial.

This book is far from sensational and actually is closer to a calm, reasoned look at both McVeigh as a person and United States v. McVeigh as a trial set in perhaps the most bizarre and compromising circumstances in the past fifty years. This book perfectly suits any law school course involving mass destruction or suits any university course concerning political dissent or even the political science of law.

Others Unknown put into print what the majority of thinking Americans sensed about the Oklahoma City Bombing.

There had to be more people involved.

It all started with the FBI drawings of mystery man number 3, who was described by no more than 3 people to have been with McVeigh. He looked Middle Eastern. Hmmm, nope no terrorist acts would ever occur on American soil right. Then the second little facts that weren't put to light, the bomb making materials that they had receipts for would never have been enough to do that sort of damage. And on it goes.

The interesting thing is that Stephen Jones (the author and McVeighs attorney) even points the finger at Osama Bin Laden back in 1998. Hello is anybody listening. Hindsight is great, but I think we all knew there was more than meets the eye about this ordeal.

The weakest part of the book is that MR. Jones never delves deep enough into why the government cover-up. He barely scratches the surface, but I think that is the real mystery. Why was the government not screaming that we know there was at least one other person involved and we need to find him? Is it simply that Bill Clinton didn't want to rock the boat? Could it have been that he was trying to create a legacy for himself, other than ????gate (you fill in the scandal)? Did he think naming an Arab as a suspect might destroy peace talks with Israel and Palestine? These are all only conjectures but the book should have hit these issues harder.

Overall a good book, especially for the ignorant Americans who are spoon-fed their daily dose of propaganda from CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, Etc., and think its news.

I am very happy with my purchase. It was given as a Christmas present along with the World of the Dark Crystal. If you are or know a Jim Henson or Brian Froud fan than this is a must have.

As always Brian Froud out did himself. He is so talented. The only thing I am not sure of is how long this book will last if viewed quite a bit. the stitching isn't uniformed through out the book.

I bought this book for my girlfriend, that loved it when she was little, but lost the book in a moving.

This book is really charming and very imaginative. The explanations and names of the creatures are very amusing, the illustrations are amazing, and the talent of the author shows.

However, it is more a goblin catalog than a fantasy book or novel, so be sure of what you are buying. It is an artbook, not a tale or a novel. It can be enjoyed anyway by young and old, I think, but it is what it is.

Brian Froud, the creative genius behind Jim Henson's The Labyrinth, presents his concept illustrations for the film in this beautiful book. Written as a long-lost "archeological find," this book catalogues a variety of different goblins who allegedly lived 60 million years ago. It was a delight to see some of the original sketches that would eventually evolve into puppets from one of my favorite movies as a child. The best part was the afterward. There's not too much content, but I love the idea of a whimsical brainstorming session with Jim Henson in the back of a limo and the evolution of David Bowie into Jared the Goblin King. This is a great coffee table book for any fan of The Labyrinth.

I order 2 books from the vender. To my surprise they came as if they were worth gold. Of course to me they were. but they were bound in heavy plastic packed to protect them and shipped in heavy in cardboard. I will order from this vendor anytime I see their name on a book I want, even if they are not the least expensive,because these 2 books I ordered from them have absoultely no tell tail signs of being used.
To see pictures of these books please go to laneiam@aol.com and see shared pictures dated 1/6/08

I have this book and felt it did not show the real Brian Jones. Brian was a very intelligent, great musician,
and basically a good and decent man. When people use drugs/alcohol their personality changes dramatically.
When Brian was at Cotchford Farm he was attempting to get his life back on track. In writing about Brian
one has to remember this was the Sixties and the culture, attitudes and social beliefs were entirely different
than in the following decades. Brian was a drug addict and probably an alcoholic. He was trying to cope with
his problems with the other band members, his life in general. Since there was no rehab or counseling like
there is today he felt this was the only way to handle it. I truly believe Brian Jones was definitely murdered.
Probably by Frank Thorogood with some help. Brian was more than the demonized versions I have seen in
several books. It is only fair to this musician to portray him in all aspects and not just when he was messed
up, and depressed. He was often compassionate, kind and cared deeply about his loyal friends. Let us remember this please

Terry Rawlings, has written a great book in the 1960s i was in a Band
that was hailed as the american stones .( The Rave Ups) and met the stones
and became, a good friend of Brians a week before he was killed he
came to RADA in London to see me act, Terry's book cuts to the point
of what happened. May Frank Thorogood BURN IN HELL

If you are old enough to remember Brian and the early years of the British bands, this is a very interesting read. It makes sense and is probably the closest one will ever get to the truth of his life and death. I also saw it as a supplement to "Stone Alone." Well written, well documented.

Great read if you're a fan of Brian Jones and his work. Compared it with Bill Wyman's book, STONE ALONE, and details of his early struggles as a musician are pretty similar. As with any biography, what's true and what is not is always very questionable. However, this book gives the reader an insight of what kind of life Jones probably led and the path to his demise. I would rate STONE ALONE ahead of this book for reliable information because it's from the Stones' bassist himself. The Anna Wohlin book reads like a romantic novel, and the material is very questionable. This book is more for diehard fans of Brian Jones.

Brian Jones was the founder of the Rolling Stones, and this book unflinchingly lays everything out about his life for the reader. Based on years of research and interviews with people that knew him, it is probably the most factual of the books I have read. It also lays the ground for some serious discussion about the possibility that Brian's swimming pool death was not accidental. This is not a "new" revelation - murky details about the death have been scrutinized pretty much since the day after it happened in July 1969. The author clearly demonstrates that it is within the realm of extreme possibility that Brian's death was no accident. Oh, and someone allegedly confessed, as well.

Apparently Keith Richards has spent some effort over the years trying to get to the bottom of just what happened the night Brian died. This is the book that Keith said, "...the cat [the author] probably got it about right". This statement says to me that Keith feels this is probably the closest we'll ever get to any truth.

Brian Froud does it again with this beautifully illustrated book. This book is centered around goblins (rather than faeries). Still good, but sometimes hard to find. Good luck tracking it down, Froud fans! You won't regret it!

...Then this would be an ideal addition to the "Cottington Archive" series of books Including the Pressed Fairy Book, Pressed Fairly Journal, and Strange Stains & Mysterious Smells (all with co-conspirator and Monty Python alumnus Terry Jones) and Froud's solo contribution the Fairy Album. Like Strange Stains, the Goblin Companion offers whimsical Froud art accompanied by short comedic blurbs by Terry Jones, with these particular vignettes suggesting that the Goblin world, while distinct from our own, offers a humorous reflection of "Ungoblin" society through its depictions of goblin religion, politics, sports, and cooking. If you're a fan of the earlier books in the Cottington series, Monty Python, or the Labyrinth movie, The Goblin Companion will provide ample giggling and be a welcome addition to your library.

I discovered this book at a small store in England, and instantly fell in love. On the plane back here, I read the whole thing twice. It is very interesting and often funny!! If you loved Good Faeries/Bad Faeries (or vice versa) you'll LOVE this book!!

A splendid blend of hilarious text and even-more-hilarious art, The Goblin Companion is great for the accomplished goblinologist, on for the dedicated fan of the movie Labyrinth.

Don't expect the breathtaking paintings and art found in most of Brian Froud's books--the Goblin Companion is mainly full of quick sketches and gritty ink-and-watercolor drawings, and I found the art rather mediocre.