William King Books

Beautiful translation of one of my favorite mystic poets! Robert Bly's translation of Kabir allows us to experience this mystic poet in a personal way without losing any of the beauty of the poetry. Really enjoyed this book.

Indeed these poems are of such a depth that it is difficult to render their content. Let's say it's the Sufi tradition in full. Just glimpses of the Absolute Truth expressed in words. Let the power of the sound embrace your whole being. Excellent!

It's so hard to find WISDOM these days...
not "moral/ethical" wisdom, or "financial" wisdom,
but ECSTATIC WISDOM.
So few people are interested in the subject of
actually experiencing divine ecstasy...they're too
tied down by dogma, worship of imagery & robotic
ceremonies, etc. That's why this Kabir book by Mr. Bly
is so refreshing...like a real literary Oasis.
It's LOADED with wisdom of the divine ecstasy kind.
I don't care about any translation controversies...
I just approach the book as its own entity...and
understand the ecstatic wisdom it radiates.
I want to thank Mr. Bly for producing this book of
ecstatic wisdom poetry...there's so little of it
available. THANK YOU MR. BLY.

This is the best edition in the Arden collection I have read until now, by Charles Forker. Very helpful to understand meaning with clear footnotes and a serious introduction in which, for example, you learn about historical and fictional facts in the play, and many other clues.
I agreed with a reviewer of another Arden work who said: "The text itself is full of stumbling, often unhelpful endnotes - what students surely want are explanations of difficult words and figures, not a history of scholarly pedantry. The edition concludes with textual appendices."
It happened to me before but fortunately not in this work, which is excellent. The editor makes the difference. I hope Arden Series follows this line!

i'm very grateful,both for the quality and the delivery time.
thank you very much.

This play is the first of four histories involving the rise of Harry Bolingbroke into King Henry IV (parts I & II) and then his son, Prince Hal, into Henry V. These four plays are always popular with audiences and have many virtues, although they are quite different in affect and theatrical means. This play is full of poetry and carefully composed verse. The two Henry IV plays are blessed the Falstaff's glorious prose and Henry V has its own interesting dualities in Prince Hal finally becoming the King - are his comments sincere or full or irony or is he blind to the irony of his own making? But those are other plays.

As this play begins, the York line is in power as Richard II who came to power as a child. Henry Bolingbroke is the son of the Duke of Lancaster (John of Gaunt) and is also the Duke of Hereford as the Earl of Derby. Richard shows through his actions and weak decisions (both weak in strength and weak in acumen) that his hold on the throne is open to challenge. When Bolingbroke decides to make the challenge is open to debate, but he picks a fight with Mowbray and both end up banished instead. This causes a tremendous rift with the Duke of Lancaster and when he dies, Richard decides to seize Lancaster's possessions in Ireland instead of letting them pass to Bolingbroke.

Since Bolingbroke is now the new Duke of Lancaster he decides he is no longer the banished Duke of Hereford and returns to England. A number of rumors and challenges lead to Bolingbroke taking power and when Richard returns from Ireland his loss of his kingdom is accomplished without his realizing it. The rest of the play is the fall of Richard and the rise of Henry IV with the attendant strain on the loyalties of the peers.

Shakespeare's genius for verse and the exposition of character is blazingly manifest in this play and that is one of the reasons for its popularity and the walls of books written about this play. Richard's inwardness and self-absorption is quite communicated to us quite differently than Henry's boldness and aggression. The way the peers show their divided loyalties, anger, fear, and duplicity is also wonderfully done.

This Arden edition is from the third series and has some of the features of more modern scholarship. It is also almost exhaustively noted and resourced. The reader of this edition is given more than 150 pages of introductory material on the origins, language, meaning, and performance history of the play and can choose which to read and which to leave for another time. The notes on each page of text include notes to help the reader understand the text, but also notes on the history versus the play and Shakespeare's sources (such as Holinshead). There are longer notes at the back, and a textual analysis in the first appendix, a doubling chart for performance in appendix two, and a genealogical table for the third appendix (very useful). There is also a list of reference works and an index.

I am a huge fan of the Arden editions and enjoy reading the plays with all this helpful material and I strongly recommend this edition of this play.

I'm a big fan of Ms. Tarr's work, so it's odd to use the word "fun" to describe one of her books. Usually words like "powerful" or "evocative" or "intriguing" spring to mind to describe her novels. But "King's Blood" was truly a delight and fun. The magic of the land and Edith's wonder with it was so artfully told that I felt transported. The characters as developed by Ms. Tarr were well-rounded, and the story was riveting.

Of her many works, this is my favorite and the most delightful...so far. Thank goddess for Ms. Tarr's ability to write well and often.

This is the sequel to Judith Tarr's RITE OF CONQUEST. The story continues with the heirs to William the Conqueror's throne and their love interests.
Red William also known as William Rufus, the eldest son of William's, inherits the throne. Meanwhile, Henry, the youngest son, who will later become Henry I, only inherits silver to make his way in the world. Red William is confronted continuously to become a true king of Britain by accepting his magical powers but refuses to do so. Henry has even more magic than both of his parents but never believes he has a chance for the throne until circumstances drastically change.

Edith, daughter of King Malcolm of Scotland was also born with the superior magical powers she inherited from her overly Christian pious mother and becomes a key player in her own and Henry's adventures.

The plot unfolds with page turning twists and turns. Never a dull moment! I didn't care much for the first novel RITE OF CONQUEST but this one far surpasses it in sheer readability and excitement. I don't know if there are further forthcoming novels in this particular vein but sincerely hope so! KING'S BLOOD is a very worthy interlude!

When the Saxons converted to Christianity, the Old Magic of Britain that kept it alive started dying. When the Norman conquerors came, Britain for a time began to heal because William and his wife followed the Old Ways. When Mathilda died, William turned his back on magic and with his death, a king sits on the throne who can see but wants nothing to do with magic.

The darkness is spreading again and the magic is dying out. The guardians are short one number because a priest denies the Old Ways and follows Christianity. The princess of Scotland, Edith, and Prince Henry, the English king's brother, are filled with and accept the magic that is a part of them. With England under siege from all sides the time is coming for a great sacrifice that if not made will cause Britain to suffer the same fate as Atlantis.

Judith Tarr weaves a web of historical facts and imbues them with a touch of enchantment so that a pivotal event in history is made possible by sorcery. This glimpse into a past that once existed comes about because many minor magical rites and especially one major one cause the essential moment that magic made history. This romantic fantasy is full of action, otherworldly creatures and the need for the champions to prove brave and victorious otherwise Britain will be destroyed.

Harriet Klausner

I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book! I picked it up because I was interested in a little bit of the medieval background of chess; but once I started, I couldn't stop. Hartston does a marvelous job of bringing out the humanity of all the world chess champions and explaining how these characters shaped the history of the game. Each of the Fathers of chess is given a chapter or two that describes his life, career, and influence--on and off the chess board. Far from being a mere timeline of successive champions, the book hightlights and rise and fall of each champion in a form of dynamic history.

While each chapter offers a sample from the champions' games, it is not necessary to work through them. In fact, the book can be thoroughly enjoyed without any understanding of chess at all. However, I do recommend studying the Morphy game. It is short, elegant, and chock full of amazing features and sheer genius. (Having thrived before the age of "official" champions, Morphy was somewhat unknown to me. This book gave me so much appreciation for him, that now I don't hesitate to look upon him as my chess hero.)

This is one of those rare books that I hated to have end. It is still provoking daily thoughts even weeks after I've read it. I will definitely read it again.

This is the first book on chess which I have read and it has spurred me to become an avid chess player. The lives of every famous chess player from Philidor to Kasparov is chronicled in this scholarly writing. Complete with their games and excellent photos , this book is a must-read for all who want to know about the greatest players in the history of chess. Brillant and painstaking research on their lives and their eccentricies.

This excellent book provides a unique look into the history of chess by examining the lives and careers of its prominent players. Although the text essentially ends with Fischer, it is a worthwhile read. The author's style is engaging, and his choice to include only a representative game or two at the end of each master's chapter makes the book flow nicely as a story, rather than a manual on chess tactics or strategy. If you are interested in learning about the characters who played a role in defining this great game, Hartston's book is for you.

After LOVING the Hamlet Literature Guide I bought a while ago, I decided to try Macbeth. Again, I was extremely pleased with the quality of the materials, but also with the fact that Secondary Solutions and author Kristen Bowers actually accomplish what they claim--I really CAN teach the content standards through literature! These guides are perfect for the high school english teacher, but would also be good for a parent who is homeschooling and has a fear of, or never really understood Shakespeare. PERFECT!

I recommend this literature guide to anyone who has any fear of teaching Shakespeare. I was one of those teachers, and like wild dogs, the kids could smell it!! I used this literature guide for the first time a month ago, and my teaching and confidence has turned a 180. This workbook had everything I needed- I didn't have to make up my own worksheets or lessons. Just copy and go--and the kids are learning the content standards and understanding Shakespeare, too. AMAZING!

I purchased the Literature Guide for The Great Gatsby and was thrilled, but now am even more impressed with Macbeth. I would really recommend these lit guides to teachers who don't have a lot of extra time or don't want to take the extra time to write their own materials. Although I understand Shakespeare, teaching his plays are another story. This guide really gives me the confidence to be an expert on Macbeth, since it covers the play so well. Again, I would really recommend these lit guides for any teacher--I am looking forward to more titles!

There is probably more about the illegal sale of pre-Columbian art objects than about the Moche.But there is still a good description of the Moche culture,although no maps.It would have been interesting to see a map of where the Moche were in relation to the desert areas the author describes.I remember well when National Geographic did their first article on the Moche tombs of Peru.It left a sinister impression of short,squat,hefty dark fellows decorated with all kinds of splendid gold and finery,presiding over an unknown yet significant number of human sacrifices.Prisoners bound on their way to the temple,with priests drinking goblets of blood,either their own or their victims.And all those spooky looking large crescent moon shaped gold and gilded nose rings.
The author subtly takes some of supposed savagery of the Moche and makes it appear more understandable in relation to alot of these pre-Columbian cultures. For one the crescent moon probably is exactly that seeing that the Moche were more "night sky" people and had a sacred relation to the moon and its phases.I no longer have the mental picture of a grunting bejewelled priest waiting at the top of a pyramid to whack a victim with some strange kind of religious mace. Not that it didn't happen that way,just that it's no longer my main impression ala National Geographic,(which still is a great publication.
The author gives a good description of the tomb robbing industry and how alot of Moche art actually ended up in respected upscale art galleries.He traces them from the hand spade Juan Valdez's who'll work for coffee beans to patrons of the arts who'll spend tens of thousands to get these treasures.The author concludes with a description of how legislation both local and international are trying to put a stop to the looting of a country's heritage and how difficult it is to stop it.Apparently alot of the collectors'of pre-Columbian art believe(and at times it could even be true),that they are in fact the saviours of this art and culture.He even hints that pre-Columbian art junkies will lie,cheat, steal,go into unconquerable debt,or even persuade gently to obtain their Moche fix.Is this a new disease that can be classified with a medical term?There is drama in this book as well,particularly the archaeologist, Dr. Walter Alva's story. Alva's numerous confrontations of tomb robbers and angry townspeople,sprinkled through the book,add excitement that we can all identify with.

I've become a big fan of the author Sidney Kirkpatrick I've read his other books, The Revenge of Thomas Eakins and Edgar Cayce, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then I stumbled across this one and decided to give it a read, and I have to say I love it too! Very insightful and fascinating, I highly recommend it.

My wife and I have personally been to the Sipan Project at Huaca Rajada three times. We feel that this book should be brought back in print right away!! Except for actually going to Peru, there is very few sources of factual information about this amazing find. The richest 'dig' in our part of the world EVER!! (began 1987). A story that will bring tears to your eyes, hope to your heart and is an awesome adventure tale that will keep you up all night. Find it, read it ... help to share and preserve the Ancient Cultures of our mutual past.(my actual rating is 22).

They ended up deleting my order, didn't tell me, then I had to track down why they deleted it. I also had the pleasure of dealing with their customer support staff based in India -- that was quite an experience. Ended up having to order twice. I now purchase my books online from Barnes and Noble now. I ended up buying one book from Target -- it was supposed to be a present for someone. Amazon won't stay in business!

If you are in a hurry to complete your report, it will help you so. But don't forget to read the entire book as soon as you can.

At last. Shakespeare study notes that are really authoritative, accurate and enthusiastic. This new edition of Cliff's notes on Macbeth is outstanding. There are all the usual things that would be expected in notes of this type, but added to this is a real sensitivity in the appreciation of the language, and also an awareness of Macbeth as a play to be performed. it is perhaps this sensitivity that sets these notes apart. The author communicates a passion for the play by opening it up to everyone in the excellent scene-by-scene analysis. shakespare has never seemed so accessible, relevant and exciting. The suggested tasks are particulalrly inventive- a useful tool for teachers and students.

After struggling with my decision to use this book with my senior students, I am finding they are less hesitant to read AND they are enjoying the concepts in this drama! If it were an honors class, I think I would make students read the original text, but for my regular classes, I am very happy with my decision because they are GETTING IT. We are reading the authentic Shakespeare for the really good lines/soliloquys that shouldn't be missed. This is much better than other renditions that simply paraphrase as far as comprehension is concerned.

I consider myself to be a reasonably literate individual but, I have always avoided Shakespeare since I cannot make sense of the text. But now, I have fianally read Macbeth because, with "No Fear Shakespeare," each left hand page is written in the original whereas the right hand page is a plain English translation. So now I know, that when a porter says "it makes him stand to and not stand to," he is not referring about someone standing up on his feet. Instead, it means that alcoholic drinks make a man have an erection but then, lose the erection. How true is that and how cool is it to be able to understand that? Seriously, Macbeth is a great tale of ambition, deception and conscience. Thanks to this innovative book, I was able to read the original, then, after reading each page, I referred to the translation so I could understand. It was fun to read lines in the original, try to work out what I thought it meant and then check whether I was right. I recommend this as a way finally read and appreciate Macbeth.

The translation is clear and it helps immensely that it is side by side with the actual text. That way it's easy to fully understand the meaning behing Shakespeare's language.

The format of text and audio CD is a remarkable and excellent opportunity to enjoy Shakespeare in many ways. I recently saw Patrick Stewart in Macbeth and hearing other interpretations of the play added a new dimension and enrichment to the live performance.
This Sourcebook is an outstanding tool for classroom use, stimulating interest among students in the high schools and Universities. What a great concept!

I found this in a used book pile (brand new). I teach a 300 level Theatre History class and I can't wait to play some choice bits of the CD. Usually I'm a bit ashamed of the "hip" books about W.S. but this is actually a well thought out edition. Just to hear the generational attempts at the same prose is quite a joy.

I started reading this before seeing the play in London, which starred Patrick Stewart. The book was the perfect enhancement to an excellent production.

Trevor's writing style is simple, beautiful and powerful as he portrays his characters thoughts and actions in a way that makes you care for each of them, however horrible their actions may be.

Other People's Worlds is William Trevor at his best. How wonderful that the new and highly regarded movie, Felicia's Journey, will expand this great writer's audience. This early Trevor novel has all the skill and sharp characterizations that have made his towering intellect so admired worldwide.

An attractive and polite young actor helps with the gardening in the charming home of his wife to be. The setting is very English and very tranquil, at least for a while. Through the elderly eyes of the bride's mother, (the bride is a middle-aged still attractive widow,named Julia,) certain perceptions lead to apprehensions. Francis, having become slightly famous for his tobacco commercials, is wearing makeup, something Mrs. Anstey had not noticed before. This deception is the tip of the iceberg. In a short period of time, with no one to share her concerns, the groom begins to take on sinister qualities, and the older woman feels instinctive hatred and terrific alarm. She is correct in her assessment, indeed he is far worse than even she could imagine. In London, there are another mother daughter complication. The mother, Doris, is an impossible alcoholic, her daughter, Joy, Francis' child, is a troubled adolescent who doesn't read and is always in trouble at her school. Trevor's early novel, and the first of his that I've read, is steeped in tension, and remains a slender, but vivid thriller. Everywhere Francis has attached himself, he has lied, cheated, stolen with no conscience. He is a classic child-abused predator with disturbed sexuality and a twisted mind. He heeps grief onto others but in psychological ways, not physical.
The good and healthy people that he contaminates suffer greatly, and each, in their own way, are forced to come to terms with their own inner demons. These involve religious and characterological myths and failures of faith. There are primarily the overly compassionate and easily conned, led by Julia and Doris, and the more cynical but equally pained people who love them. Those who fail at protection and those who fail at life, or so they ponder, by their lack of such trust. Either way, there is the ordeal of facing one's own own flaws and failures. This so effectively contrasts the perpetrator, Francis, whose complete incapacity to feel remorse transcends everything. I would definitely recommend this sparse yet well-written novel. I certainly intend to read more from this highly respected author.