John Wayne Books

Book was late arriving. In "good" condition, other than the fact that numerous pages were ripped out. All pages there, but no easy to use book with these loose pages

I would have to say that this book was able to accomplish being both very detailed, and easy to understand. Not something that many authors can achieve. The simplicity in which the chapters are broken down into makes it easy for one to be able to quickly access whatever they need. Not to mention I used this for just one class, and in a semester we only got through about 12 or so chapters, of the 43. Great reference for the future and very highly recommended!

good work on the part of author......

I use this book in most of my Engineering classes because it contains so much information and explains it in ways that make sense to anyone. The older editions have a nicer, more comprehensive index in the back but contain just as much information.

I used this book (7th Edition) as the standard text for my Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering - I took all the electives in Manufacturing Engineering and so can say I covered a very broad range of topics in some depth.

This book is - to say the least - comprehensive. Not only did I find it an easy but thorough reference while taking my courses, I still frequently refer to it over 10 years later. I can honestly say that it is rare that I have to go outside of this book to look up details on basic manufacturing and machining processes.

A real benefit to the way the book has been written is the extensive use of photographs and diagrams to illustrate just about every point (often several to a page). When you are trying to understand real world problems like manufacturing this is essential.

In fact, I would go so far to say as if you are just someone with an inquisitive mind that likes to tinker with machine tools then you'll find this book useful. There have been plenty of times when I stumbled upon something while researching another topic and had a "so that's how they do it" moment.

You won't find extensive theory in the book - if you need to do theoretical calculations on strength of materials etc then you will want to look elsewhere. If you are interested in the practical details of manufacturing processes then this is the one for you. Perhaps thats the reason why this volume gets all the use and my theory books stay in the basement!

By the way, it's a real tome - over 1100 pages in the 7th edition - I'm sure there have been revisions in the 8th edition but haven't seen it yet. Even though it's expensive this book has paid itself off many times over for me.

This book has a good range of information, easy enough language and concept presentation for those casually interested in restoration but also provides detailed, applicable info for the professional.

As a prairie biologist, I refer to this seminal volume frequently. It is the very best compendium of prairie restoration and management information.

Anyone who has been taken by the ecological romance of the tallgrass prairie, and hopes either to know in detail the ecology of these biomes, or to plant or manage one, needs to have this in the personal library. It's mostly technical, but wonderfully engaging for the "prairieophile." One doesn't really know the prairie until having read this book.

This is a top rate restoration hand book. Amazing amount of information from people who are out doing the work. It is a collection of essays/chapters written by the front-runners in the field. Everything you wanted to know from site selction to seed collection to fire management. Since it is written by actual prairie restorationists, not theorists it is practical and easy to understand. I will recomend it to everyone who is interested in the field.

Let me just say that it is nice that someone wrote more than just what plants to use. It is fairly easy to find prairie journals and books that describe everything except how to implement your prairie project. Packard had the good sense to know that seeding rates and implementation techniques are necessary information.

If you don't already have the original 1997 edition, then this is definitely a 5 star title. However, if you DO have the original, don't bother to buy this one. Despite the various developments mentioned in the preface to this 2005 edition -- advances in no-till planting techniques, restoration strategies for woodland wildflowers, methods for integrating native biodiversity into agriculture, and exploding Internet resources -- none are dealt with here. There is no updated information about weed problems and herbicides, despite the ongoing advance of invasives and development of new products. Lots has happened in the field in the decade since the prior edition was written, but you learn none of it here. This is just a reprint of the original -- and this is quite disappointing.

That said, what is covered is truly excellent. It just could have been far better with a thorough rewrite.

Author Ronald L. Davis has given us a very informative, easy to read biography of a surprisingly complex, some would say tortured soul. All the highlights are there, Duke's less than perfect childhood, his early days as a prop man for Fox Film, Duke's first big movie made in 1930, "The Big Trail", a critical success but box office failure. Then the hungry decade where Wayne honed his skills and waited for his "time" to come.

It came in 1939 when John Ford chose Duke to star in the ground breaking "Stage Coach". Wayne and Ford then had more than 25 years of hit movies, all these classics The Searchers, The Quiet Man, The cavalry trilogy etc. are mentioned in the book.

Author Davis does not forget to explore Duke's three marriages, his loving but sometimes stormy relationships with his seven children and several high-profile affairs, particularly one with Marlene Dietrich that lasted for over three years.

Wayne's last decade is also fully explored, his Oscar winning role in True Grit, the poignant last movie, The Shootist, where his characters' struggle with cancer reflected his real life situation.

Fully recommended.

His friends & fans simply call him Duke.

More than 20 yrs. after his death he is still coming in 1st or 2nd in polls askings Americans who their favorite actor is.

Why is this?

Come on, he's dead already!

Beginning in 1930 with THE BIG TRAIL & ending in 1976 with THE SHOOTIST, DUKE has been bigger than life, a symbol to the world of the ruggedness, tough independence, personal conviction, & courage that make up the American character.

I love him not just because he was a great actor, but because he played roles that showed us an America to be proud of. He was the type of guy you wouldn't mind sitting with in a bar for a few drinks &, definitely, you'd love him at your back in a fight!

The author of this book will help you understand & appreciate John Wayne the way I & millions the world over do.

You will never look at John Wayne, the actor & the man, in the same way ever again.

He is my favorite American Actor of all time, and, before I sold the collection a couple of years ago, I owned nearly all his films on Video.

Not the best book out there, but still informative.

Though very in-depth in explaining each movie John Wayne appeared, the book lacks somewhat in explaining who John Wayne was. In comparison, Donald Dewey's recent biography of Jimmy Stewart gives the reader a more detailed examination of Stewart than Ronald Davis does of Wayne. Ronald Davis also relies too much on the self-centered Pilar Wayne, the third Mrs. John Wayne, for anectdotal information. Davis's use of interviews with Harry Carey, Jr. are quite valuable and illuminating. It's a shame that Davis didn't thoroughly interview other actors who shared the screen with Duke, including Ron Howard, about whom Duke thought highly or Kim Darby (Mattie in True Grit), who didn't like the Duke (remember, True Grit was filmed in 1968). Mr. Davis does an excellent job explaining Duke Wayne's desert years in the thirties doing one-reel westerns. One has to admire Wayne's persistance. One note Pilar Wayne reveals through Ronald Davis that puts Wayne in a very bad light and has changed my personal views toward him to the strongly negative, was Duke Wayne's insistance that a pregnant Pilar get an abortion. The baby was inconvenient as Duke was in the divorce court with number two wife Chata in a highly charged divorce battle. The baby was killed but Duke Wayne received a fairly good divorce settlement. A conservative icon, when the chips were down, was capable of a selfish, dishonest, sordid, dirty act. The Duke was a great actor and icon but was not a good person. He was not a great American.

--Derek Leaberry

This biography succeeds in its evenhanded portrayal of John Wayne. No doubt some will criticize it because Davis doesn't spend his time eschewing Wayne's politically incorrect opinions, but neither does the author lionize Wayne the man. What you have left is a concise and readable 400 page biography that covers all the movies and all the wives. Davis gives his opinions as to why the Wayne legend still survives, and what his fellow actors thought of him way back when.

Interesting is the story behind the making of the ALAMO, a film he produced, directed and starred in, the subsequent Oscar campaign, and the aftermath. Also interesting is Wayne's relationship with director John Ford, whom he loved, and their disagreements.

Nothing to brag about, but no complaints either. Shipping was good, price good, service ok.

This book undoubtedly has a lot of research put into it. However, the crux and conclusion is a very biased evaluation. I would never call it a "No-Nonsense" anything.
The main problem I have with the book in terms of GLOBALIZATION is Ellwood only considers globalization in economic terms. All his examples and research area based on the "global economic system." Globalization is supported by the free market, but this is only part of the force.
Then, the way he analyzes the free market and democracy is unfair. He gives examples of the WTO, IMF, et al reducing democracy and sovereignty for economic prosperity. Then he speaks of international investors taking advantage of locals. BUT, he never investigates any other option. Look where Communism led China--50 M starved to death.
Lastly, his anti-American bias taints the quality of globalization argument as well. He equates globalization with Americanization. Many authors would disagree with that statement. He naturally disagrees with Americans, and uses it as a straw man method to pull down globalization too.
Revealing quotes:
"...US to flout both domestic and international law as it wages a unilateral 'war on terror.' The single-minded pursuit of this chimera has eroded civil liberties and human rights..."
"local cultures around the world are marginalized and devalued. Family and community bonds are disintegrating..."
"Companies make the profits but society has to foot the bill."

--The book is deceivingly easy to understand: following him is no problem. But what he says doesn't answer all the questions of the free market or Globalization. You'll need a more extensive book, and unbiased, to do that.
Recommended: The Globalization Reader
Why Globalization Works, (ok)
Thomas L. Friedman books

If you like leftist Canadian thinkers like John Raulston Saul or Linda McQuaig, you'll love this handy little book. It is less obtrusively philosophical than Saul, less earthily anecdotal than McQuaig, but squarely in their broad line of thought.

Albeit in a somewhat muted and oblique way, the volume makes it clear that in its root impulses, globalization is an Anglo-Saxon phenomenon: Nixon's abandonment of the gold standard in 1973, Thatcher's coming to power in the UK in 1978.

It is odd for a Canadian based series that the major Canadian player of this era - our dear, late PET, despised by Nixon, Regan, Thatcher -- isn't even in the index.

Useful facts: the WTO is founded in 1994; its major instrument becomes the 1997 MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment). David Korten features heavily in the debate (his mid-90s WHEN CORPORATIONS RULE THE WORLD is not in the bibliography, even if a 1997 follow-up, THE POST-CORPORATE WORLD, is present). What is perhaps the book's most clutching assertion (one Korten had made more or less made in that earlier volume) is on page 73: "For every dollar that is needed to facilitate the trade in real goods, nine dollars is gambled in foreign exchange markets."

This is a great intro to corporate globalism, and also a good refresher for the more educated folk. Ellwood wonderfully and consicesly gives a quick history of globalization (ie economic colonialism)describes the Bretton Woods Trio, explains and the problems with the rise of speculative investments, among others. I would recommend this book to anyone.

I got this book, the 10th edition because the 11th is brand new and very expensive. This one is just about the same and works just fine for the class I have that requires this book.

The paperback version is nice because it's cheaper... but after reading it, I think I would prefer the hard cover. Paperback books of a small size are fine, but this one is too large to work as a paperback. I have a hard time reading it because if I put it on my lap it sort of flops over and I can't see the whole page.
As to the content... I found it to be a little insulting. A lot of the points the text makes are sort of trite and obvious. It says things like "children are our future." This is true, but it doesn't seem like something that needs to be said in a college level textbook.
It looks pretty, with nice pictures and quotes in the margins, but there just doesn't seem to be much substance. I think a topic as interesting as child development should have a more interesting book.

I find this book to be a bit structured and I need to understand the content clearer. I tried to purchase a study guide but there was none avalable

Page Dickey is one of our finer writers and knowledgeable experts on gardening and has once again produced a book with the able assistance of nature photographer John M. Hall that becomes an instant classic. For all the beautiful garden books that fill the shelves of our bookstores and homes, few begin with the concept of making the natural setting of the space where people elect to create a garden the primary consideration.

After a beautifully written and informative foreword by Wayne Winterrowd, Dickey crosses the country, pausing in various differing locales to interview and photograph significant gardens from Maine to Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, California, and Washington, selecting gardens that varying from arid spaces to waterways. At each of the fourteen gardens we are given background as to the types of soil, natural vegetation, moods of the area, history, and the final creative masterpiece gardens that have been created from all of this information.

The result is a beautifully designed, written, photographed and produced book that deserves a place in the libraries of everyone who loves gardening - and the environment! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 07

Ms. Dickey has written wonderful garden books in the past - Breaking Ground, Inside Out and a Duck Hill Journal, to name a few. Gardens in the Spirit of Place is another winner. She has a great eye for the beautiful and idiosyncratic, and is an absolutely terrific writer. An inspiring collection of unique gardens that embody their varying surroundings.

The correct names of the plants and professionals under discussion do
not go out of style. This book falls short on accuracy. Yes there are pretty photos, but not enough hard information. Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) is a staple of prairie gardens. I see it every day. It does not look like this. (I wonder if it's a Calamagrostis?) If you're looking for Neil Diboll's nursery , use this spelling and Google will help you. These were just two of the simple errors I noticed. It does tend to take pleasure out of reading a book in this genre when one can't trust the
information.
Ken Druse' much earlier book, The Natural Habitat Garden, covers this same topic. The book contains beautiful photos. It's much more helpful. There is accurate, information, written in a readable style that makes the concept of a garden that fits the place come alive.

This is a richly detailed bibliography of J.R.R. Tolkien's writings. (Keep that in mind-- this is not a bibliography of Tolkien criticism or scholarship-- only of Tolkien's own works). Each edition of each work is described in careful detail-- subtle distinctions in the cover, title page, etc. are noted as are variations in spelling, typography, errata and corrections. To be honest, I'm not sure how relevant this work is for the average Tolkien fan-- or even for the Tolkien scholar. It will certainly be useful for book collectors, used/rare booksellers, book appraisers, and others who are interested in the book itself as a physical object)-- but I think there's very little of interest here fans interested in broadening their understanding of Tolkien's fiction or for scholars interested in writing about it. Because of its very limited, very specific utility, I can't really justify a high rating for this. Don't get me wrong-- for what it is, it's thorough and quite excellent. But, I just don't think it's all that *useful* of a book to anyone but a small handful of bibliophiles

Other reviewers don't apparently understand the purpose of this reference work. It contains all the minute details of the publication history of Tolkien's work. If you have an old edition of the Hobbit and have an interest in its rarity and presumed value then you need to look up the edition in this book. The odd thing about this bibliography is the adventure story it relates about the publication of these great works. It is an epic tale involving the incorrect spelling of the plural of Dwarf, exorcisig demons from a tape recorder by reciting the Lord's Prayer in Gothic, and fighting pirates of copyright infringement. Parts of this bibliography are actually interesting to read because Tolkien had such a hard time with publishers and copy editors. Raynor Unwin's story of reviewing the Hobbit as a little boy and then The Lord of the Rings as a young man is a marvel. Everyone, including the author, underrated the eventual popularity of the stories. The publisher actually developed a plan to publish the Lord of the Rings as a trilogy. If Part 1 did not sell, then Parts 2 and 3 would not be published. As a result, readers bought and read Part 1 and then had to wait up to a year for Parts 2 and 3 to be published! Can you imagine reading the first part of this tale and having to wait so long for the ending? This bibliography tells the story. If you are a Tolkien collector, you get a great bibliography along with great stories.

Although this rather pricey work is intended for booksellers, collectors, and librarians rather than for the general public, I believe that just about anyone who is interested in the writing and production of Tolkien's great works will find much here that is both informative and interesting.

This comprehensive, non-heroworshipping history of the American aviation/weapons business unfortunately slipped out of print for a few years, but is now available again from Johns Hopkins with a new preface. It is still unparalleled for telling the story of a pivotal industry without being stupified either by government secrecy or corporate obfuscation. A must-read for anyone interested in "defense" issues.

The author does a good job telling the story of the rise of the aeronautics industry. However, his narrative is marred by gratuitous and unsupported swipes at Reagan-era programs like the B-2, which he characterizes -- along with Northrop's YB-49 flying wings -- as one of the "technological grotesqueries" of the 20th century.

Out of eleven pastors, theologians, mentors, and a preacher's wife contributing to the thirteen articles (or addresses from "Building Strong Families in Your Church" conference in 2000) in this book, no one comes close to the depth, weight, intensity and wealth of anthroposensitive theology of Prof. Wayne Grudem's article. Even though his is the longest paper (62 pages), it is worth spending your time on, as he systematically explains the theology of man and woman. He begins with Genesis to come to the conclusion that men and women are created with equal value and dignity, yet different roles. Grudem gives then ten evidences of God-ordained headship of man at the Creation, which means that this headship is not a result of the Fall, but God's design; as we note the order of creation, the representation of humanity (humanity is often referred to as mankind, not womankind), the naming of the woman, the naming of creatures, the accountability (God called Adam, not Eve after both sinned), the purpose (woman is called to be a helper, not in a pejorative but honorable sense), the conflict (as a result of the Fall that introduces distortions of roles), the restoration (the reversal of the curse, through the New Testaments directives as those found in Col 3:18-19 or 1 Pet 3:1-8), the mystery of the complementary union of man and woman in marriage, and finally, in the parallel with the Trinity that Grudem later elaborates further brilliantly.

Next, Grudem warns about the dangers of the distortions that seem to be prevalent not only in the West, but in many parts of the world, where man, instead of being responsible in his humble, loving role as the leader, is drawn into the extreme left of passivity; which Grudem calls "wimp", or the extreme right of tyranny. Similarly, women face the risk of resigning to the extreme left into what Grudem calls "doormat" or the extreme right as usurper, instead of the God-ordained role as a joyful-intelligent helper with equal value and dignity, who serves their husband with glad submission. Despite the biblical God-ordained headship of man, Grudem openly denounces the abuse of women, not only in marriages or relationships in general, but also in the abominable practice of female infanticide, of which he commented,

"This is a tragedy of unspeakable proportions. In addition to the harm of these lost lives, we must think of the destructive consequences in the lives of those women who survive. Form their earliest age they receive the message from their families, and indeed from their whole society, "Boys are better than girls," and "I wish you were a boy." The devastation on their own self-worth must be immense. Yet all of this comes about as a result of a failure to realize that men and women, boys and girls, have equal value in God's sight and should have equal value in our sight as well. The first chapter of the Bible corrects this practice, and corrects any lurking sense in our own hearts that boys are more valuable than girls, when it says we are both created in the image of God" (p.79-80).

From here, Grudem launches a counter-argument, that to me sounds like a check-mate to the feminists' propositions that often argue that first; in Gal 3:28, the role distinctions in man and woman are abolished, second; that "be subject to" (hypotasso) spoken of in Eph 5:21 nullifies male headship in marriage and family because the word means "mutual submission", and third; the word "head" (kephale) in Eph 5:23 does not mean leader or imply authority, but "source". The counter argument against the first one is that the context of "one" means, "... that we are united, that there should be no factions, or division among us, and, that there should be no sense of pride and superiority or jealousy and inferiority between these groups, ... men should no longer thing themselves as superior to women... when the Bible says that several things are one, it never joins things that are exactly the same. Rather, it says that things that are different, things that are diverse, share some kind of unity (e.g, in purpose)" (p.50).

In regard to the argument that male headship is nullified in Eph 5:21 as implied in the words "be subject to," Grudem refutes it, not only by using the commentary from Daniel Doriani who pointed out that the words mean, "that those in authority should govern wisely and with sacrificial concern for those under their authority," but also through an extensive analysis on the root of the Greek word "hypotasso" and its uses at different passages of the Bible, all of which indicate a uni-directional, not bi-directional or reciprocal submission, as evident from (p.53):
- Jesus was "subject to" the authority of his parents (Luke 2:15)
- Angels and other spiritual beings are "subject to" Christ (1 Cor 15:27, Eph 1:22)
- Christ is "subjected to" God the Father (1 Cor 15:28)
- Wives are told to be "subject to" their husbands (Eph 5:22,24; Col 3:18, Titus 2:5, 1 Pet 3:5)
- The church is "subject" through Christ (Eph 5:24)

And finally, in regard to the word "head" (kephale), Grudem argues there has never been an interpretation that says the word "head" to mean "source", but always "leader" or "one in authority". There are many other excellent lessons that Prof. Grudem teaches, that I should not reveal here because otherwise, unless checked, I could not resist to give you the entire content of his paper in this review. For example, the parallel between the equality of man and woman, yet different roles, to the Trinity is simply mind-boggling and why the issue of manhood and womanhood is huge because it is not merely about men and women, but the repercussions reach out not only to the family, society and most importantly our understanding about and obedience to God himself.

The other two addresses that are worth learning are from John Piper and Bob Lepine. Observant readers and those who are familiar with Pastor John will note that his paper is similar to his second talk at 2004 Desiring God National Conference, in which he points out that marriage is not to be lived out for marriage sake or for man and woman's sake but the ultimate priority is the glory of God. Amen. Bob Lepine gives an excellent treatment on the role of a husband in a family as prophet, priest and king, parallel to that of Jesus Christ to the church. As a priest, the husband is responsible to pray for his wife and family. As prophet, he should understand solid theology, establish doctrinal foundations in the family, teach them and confront sins in their lives (and I should say in his own life as well). The husband as king leads, provides and protects his wife and children, as well as establishes strategic planning.

Something that would immediately be evident to the discerning readers is that there are two groups of speakers with two different concerns, at least from the impression I received by reading their articles; one with the family or country or both as the uttermost concern, and the other one is God and his glory as the primary concern. The first group barely touches the Scriptures (with some exceptions, such as Mahaney), since what they seem to care about is to how to teach men to be truly masculine or how to raise "healthy" family through a successful self-help program or through some magic formulas. One author clearly embraces the seeker's sensitive approach while running his man's program as evident from the following,

"Since the outreach to seekers is a definite purpose of Men's fraternity, the first ten to twelve sessions are as non-religious as possible. So the music you hear playing in the background is popular secular music. Here are two more tips to help your Men's Fraternity a winner: 1. Find the right host... 2. Use technology. Tehnical bells and whistles that are familiar to men can reduce the resistance of those not comfortable in church. In the early sessions, I don't even open a Bible. I will say, "Just like the Scriptures say," and the Bible verse will come up on PowerPoint behind me." (p. 200, 202-203)

I would not say the same about the lectures about woman because Susan Hunt talks about raising feminine girls and mentoring young women in the context of honoring God, living a life pleasing to Him under the covenant of grace, enabled through the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, she falls in the second group; the God-centered group. She does a better job in her second paper that deals with mentoring young women where she uses Titus 2:3-5 as the basis of women mentorship. Some noteworthy lines that she wrote are:

"What is the purpose of this mandate? (i.e., Titus 2:3-5) The emphasis of the book of Titus is sound doctrine and godly living. God's glory is the overriding purpose of the relationships being discussed. This is not a self-enrichment program (note the difference here). These are covenant relationships that are centered on glorifying God by reflecting His grace to one another. Spiritual mothering: When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God's glory.

What kind of training is involved? ... The training would involve the cultivation of sound judgment and prudence. It suggests the exercise of that self-restraint that governs all passions and desires, enabling the believers to be conformed to the mind of Christ. This is a teaching of a way of life as we live in relationship with one another. It is passing on to younger women a biblical worldview that includes a biblical perspective of womanhood" (p.185).

Here is the grade I would assign to each author. To me personally, and hopefully to the readers as well, the authors who receive A and B teach me some valuable glorious, God-honoring, life-transforming truths about the theology of man, woman, and marriage, while those who receive C or lower, I would simply say, "Proceed with caution."

Rainey: B
Grudem: A++
Piper: B
Lepine: A
Mahaney: C
Weber: B
Hunt: B/A
Davis: D/B
Lewis: F
Farrar: C
Loritts: B

Dennis Rainey's compilation of Christian authors is brought together very well. The content is so needed for the Christian who wants to make a difference in their home and in their marriage.

With a penchant for honesty and thorough research, this book delivers, in each chapter, a feast for thought and self evaluation. The intellectual approach to challeneging the Christian reader makes this book work better than 90% of the books I have read on this topic. The blending of the intellectual challenge, the practical application, and bibical foundation makes this book.

He starts by assessing the greatest challenges facing the family and then leads the reader to a biblical explanation for these challenges. The remainder of the book provides specifics for the husband and the wife in strengthening the marriage and raising masculine sons and feminine daughters.

If you do not have a Christ-centered life, you might feel as though this book is like climbing Mt. Everest without training for the climb. With that said, it is a "must" read in my opinion, but is suited best for matured Christians.

Death of an Overseer starts off a murder mystery and on the way teaches a good bit on historical research and writing. In respect to the latter the book is far more illuminating in potential pitfalls and mistakes as well as demonstrating sources to draw upon. As the former Michael Wayne impresses early on he will not tip his hand as to who he thinks was the responsible for the murder. It's an interesting if unoriginal idea and at times Wayne's writing makes for sometimes disjointed reading as he tends to repeat earlier passages to the point you feel like saying "you've mentioned this before, move on!" But he doesn't move on and does keep repeating himself and frankly it gets annoying. Wayne also slowly parses out additional information to change your mind all while slowly chugging along to the end.

Wayne's writing is quite good from a historical and genealogical perspective, but the end takes a truly bizarre turn as Wayne, after scrupulously avoiding conjecture, comes up with a maudlin fictional letter from the "falsely" accursed and dying McAllin to his young son. The letter is hysterically maudlin, sounding painfully like a 20th Century writer striving to sound 19th Century. The premise is too far fetched and intended to "exonerate" McAllin in way too heavy handed a manner. For a writer striving to let the reader decide why would you include such a ham-fisted attempt to exonerate?

And therein lays the problem. Its evident Wayne is indeed NOT impartial. If he were truly impartial he never would have included this bizarre fantasy, so clearly he thinks McAllin had absolutely no role in the murder. In that respect he doesn't really want the reader to decide, he wants to steer you towards what he thinks is the right direction. I read the book and made up my own mind. Wayne makes a compelling case the three slaves murdered the overseer. Its unlikely Farrar could have created the lie about the slaves implicating McAllin without others seeing through it and Farrar had too much to lose to gamble on something so patently foolish. So in likelihood the slaves probably implicated McAllin. Whether he was truthfully involved or not is unknown. His behavior was certainly suspect after the murder. Wayne's elaborate hypothesis that McAllin was querying the slaves solely on Clarissa Sharpe's behalf is too far fetched. If Clarissa Sharpe needed that done she would have brought someone in of her same class who had the resources to get to the bottom of it. That person would have been Farrar, a planter like herself, not McAllin a carpenter. The class system that was so dominant in the South at the time would have had it no other way. Futher, McAllin stood to gain nothing from inquiring with the slaves to see who murdered Skinner the overseer. Skinner was an obstacle to McAllin and he would have no interest in finding out what had happened or who may or may not have murdered him.

Wayne looses his objectivity in a desperate attempt to clear McAllin in a non-too-subtle manner and the book suffers as a result. Had he left out the fictitious letter that tips his hand I would have thoroughly enjoyed the book. Some mysteries are just never meant to be solved.

A riveting murder mystery involving race and sex in the Old South, "Death of an Overseer" is equally fascinating for what it reveals about the historian's craft. Besides this, it is beautifully written. Historians and the general reader alike will find this book hard to put down.