A. Merritt Books

This book should have a wider readership and it should be back in print. Forever. It gives a gut wrenching narrative of life in a work camp. The suspense is carried throughout the book so that you are pulled into the various subplots with force. I have read several books about people in these kinds of situations and this is the best prison camp fiction I have read.

a book were you know whats going to happen but you keep on going because its writen to good. most likly people dint read it because of its name

This is one of the best books I have every read, it is up there with Diary of Anne Frank, and The Hiding Place. It makes you really FEEL. I think it should be required reading for everyone.

This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life! A Book of Songs is a story about a boy being reborn, and a man (a father figure) being reborn with him. The man's attitude toward the concentration camp and life in general are greatly altered because of the things that he learns from teaching the little boy to live again. I have read other "prison camp" books, such as Solzhenitsyn's One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Dostoevsky's The House of the Dead, Koestler's Darkness at Noon, etc., but NONE of those even comes CLOSE to A Book of Songs. This is a book for a parent to read: the descriptions of the little boy will make you weep. Anyone who has a soul should read this book: you'll look at your reality a bit differently afterwards.

A Book of Songs by Merritt Linn is a marvelous book. It is the story of survival in all senses of that word; physical, emotional, but especially spiritual. It traces the story of Jews in a forced labour camp and the small child playing the violin who appears to them. The originality in the characters and the vivid details of the situation sets this book apart from others covering similar material. It goes beyond merely the sheer horror of the situation and finds the novel's life in the individual characters trapped within that situation. The story finds its universal message not through a grand design but through finding the uniqueness of the individuals in small, personal ways. A truly touching work.

I recommend this book to my coaching clients because it gives them a real system to develop strategy and then measure performance. Everyone wants a simple way to stay on track with their goals, and this book offers organizational planning advice, suggestions on how to effectively communicate the plan with employees, and then reports to make sure there is accountability for results.

Its a real road map on how to get where you want to go in business.Its content is practical and very useful for managers and owners.The many forms are great and puts you thru the process.Written from a Tec point of view.

This book is packed with practical information and worksheets so you really get your money's worth. All points are illustrated with actual company stories and real-world experiences. The format makes it particularly easy to read and use.

Whether you work in a large company or small, are new to business or are a long-time professional, you will find something invaluable in this book. I bought the 1st edition, and this 2nd edition adds several new sections: there is a whole new chapter devoted to Human Resources, and great sections on holding a strategic planning meeting and writing a business plan. This book should be on every business person's bookshelf - you'll use it again and again.

I found the worksheets alone in this book worth the price. When you follow the step-by-step instructions, the worksheets cull out only the data you need. With all the extraneous data out of the way, it's easy to pinpoint critical problems that you might miss otherwise. And it makes developing key indicators and reports easier as well. I think any CEO who wants to keep the company's accounting and human resource managers on top of things at all times should give them this book tomorrow...if not sooner.

Reviewed by: Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (10/06)

This book is a compilation of stories by Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula. Some of the stories are connected and others stand alone. There is some history in some of the stories which was very interesting.

Some of my favorite stories are:

"Finding Anna" by Byron Merritt

Anna Wooley is a ten year old fighting cancer. She is always cheerful when going for her chemo treatments. One day her father asked the doctor if the treatments were doing any good. He said that he was not sure since Anna didn't have any of the usual side effects of chemo and radiation. Her brother Bruce treated her like any older brother would a younger sister, with the usual arguments and name calling. Bruce wanted to enter a surfing contest, and Anna told her father it was to get a girl's attention. While she was at the beach watching Bruce, Anna saw a man that she knew instinctively was death watching her. She got very upset and told her brother not to let him take her. Bruce asks her who and she tells him the man in the dark clothes. Their father gets upset when he finds out that Anna was out in the water. He tells her that she can't do that anymore. The day of the competition Bruce was nervous until it was his time to go out with the waves. Finally his group was called and they no sooner got out there but the surf changed and the bell was rung for them to come back in. Bruce was not among the surfers who returned. Anna knew her brother was in trouble and went out to help him. Anna was caught in a riptide just as she reached her brother. She could not fight it off. Anna did not recover from that trip to the beach. She did meet the man in the dark clothes though and he told her he was there to help her with her transition. She had woken up as a fairy. He tells her there is a meadow and someone waiting for her. As she approaches she sees her mother waiting.

"Donya's Spices" by Shaheen Schmidt

Donya grew up in Iran, and she loved using the spices of her country in her cooking. Her son Raha had married an American girl and they had a daughter named Christine. Donya's daughter-in-law and she did not have much to do with each other. Stella had been trying to Americanize Raha and to strip him of his heritage. One day Raha asked Donya to keep Christine for them. Stella sent what she was to eat that day as she did not approve of the meals that Donya enjoyed. Raha smelled his mother's cooking and told her Khoresht Sabzee, his favorite. Donya tells him that she will save him some for his supper. Christy tells her grandmother that she has brought movies to watch. But, Donya says they should go outside and see what's in the garden. When they once again are in the house Christy asks her grandmother if she is a witch. Donya asks why she would ask that and Christy said that her mother said she was a witch because of all the bottles she had around her kitchen. Donya explains to Christy that they are just spices and not witches brew. When it came time to eat, Christy asks if she can try what her grandmother cooked. Donya is delighted. Before she leaves Christy asks Donya if she is going to be at her birthday party. Donya says of course. The party is mostly adult friends of Christy's parents. The guests question Donya about her heritage and she answers their questions. When Stella seeks her out she tells her that it is a nice party. Then Donya tells her that she is going to have stomach trouble after she eats the food from the party. Stella just sloughs it off and says she will be fine. Sure enough Raha calls his mother and asks what Stella can have to stop her from throwing up. Donya tells him to give her strong mint tea with sugar. The next morning Stella calls Donya and thanks her for the remedy and tells her it kind of worked. Donya feels that a little piece of Stella's heart has melted and is pleased.

"Canned Hunt" by Ken Jones

Clarence Woodall worked as docent of the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. All of his friends called him Woody. One day Woody took a break and was seated on a bench looking out at the golf course. He overhears two men talking; really they are arguing about some cargo on a ship that one of the men threatens to dump over the side of the ship. They notice Woody sitting there and decide that he is harmless. Woody tells his wife when he gets home that he overheard the two men talking and it bothered him. After supper Woody sees a copy of Newsweek and one of the men is staring back at him. He asks one of his friends about the man in the magazine and is told that he has animal heads displayed in his home. Not just any animals but tigers. Then the friend tells Woody about the canned hunts. The next day when Woody arrives at work the other docent tells him that there had been a big commotion on the docks. They had found a man's body in the harbor. Woody finally calls Fish and Game and tells an agent what he suspects. The officer tells him that there is not much they can do until the law is actually broken. She tells him that they will take over. Woody can't let go though and decides that he will go Carmel Valley and take pictures for evidence to give to Officer Baker-Harris. His wife Helen makes him take his phone with him. When he arrives he sees trucks with crates on them and observes what's happening. Meanwhile Officer Baker-Harris calls Woody's house and asks his wife where Woody is. She tells her that he has gone investigating. The officer tells Woody's wife to call him and tell him to back off. Well, the phone rings and alerts the animals and the hunters that someone is watching them. Just in the nick of time
Fish and Game arrive and get the situation under control.

You can find just about anything you want to read about in this book. There is murder, family problems, greed, perseverance and vampires. Truly there is something for everyone in this book.

The stories of "Monterey Shorts 2" are all well written and draw you in and stay with you when you are done. Any reader would find favorites among these stories of the Monterey Peninsula.

"Monterey Shorts 2" is a collection of short stories written by authors of the Monterey Peninsula in Central California. Each of these wonderful stories takes place somewhere in the area of the Monterey Peninsula. The stories date back from the days of the gold rush to present time. Another interesting aspect of the book is that some of the stories refer to characters in another story. This helps tie key parts of the plot together and gives a better overall understanding of the stories. If you like stories of all varieties without a large time commitment, this is the book for you. "Monterey Shorts 2" gives you the thrill of a best-selling novel and the feel-good lessons of life with its many stories written by some of the best authors in the country.

I thought this book gave great insight to the reader about life in the Monterey Peninsula. There is an excellent variety of stories from psychological thrillers to the stories that send great universal messages. The stories incorporated a lot into the plot and storyline, but not too much to confuse the reader or detract from the main idea of the story. Many of the authors wrote more than one story in the book, and I was impressed with their ability to write high-quality work from vastly different genres. I thought the subtle details blended with the plot very well to keep the reader on edge at all times. This book will not bore the reader because of the many twists in each story along with the wonderful pictures the authors paint the reader. "Monterey Shorts 2" is one of the best books I have ever read, and I recommend everyone to read it.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

There is something to be said about a group of diverse authors and writers residing in the Monterey Peninsula of California that in 2000' decided to form a writing group with the objective of improving their skills by subjecting their masterpieces to straightforward, rigorous, and mutual critiquing. As Bryon Merritt, one of the principal founders of the group, pointed out to me, this was a group that was not formed to become publishers. However, fortunately for lovers of short stories, this did in fact occur with the publishing of its first anthology, Monterey Shorts. The initial venture has now spawned more stories with its second edition, Monterey Shorts 2: More On The Line: Stories by Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula.

This latest ambitious anthology runs the gamut from absorbing stories reflecting the history of the Monterey Peninsula to its culture and even the psyche of its inhabitants. There is Byron Merritt's A Break In The Trail -a story based on a real person, Charley Parkhurst, who worked for the stage coach lines in the Santa Cruz area in the 1850s and 1860s. Readers will be in for a surprising ending! Another is a comment on the art scene of the area with Frances J. Rossi's Framed, wherein we read about a love triangle involving a transplanted easterner, Rosalie, who falls in love with Pete, the owner of a picture framing store called Figueroa. Then there is Moving Day authored by Mike Tyrrel reflecting Californians concern about protecting the environment. This story is thought provoking, as we read about an obnoxious family living in the Monterey Peninsula that couldn't care less about their neighbours, the environment, or for that matter anyone or anything other than themselves. Ken Jones' Canned Hunt is an excellent story about how some inhabitants are unconcerned about endangered animals. Some of the others in the collection are feel-good tales, where a certain statement is made, such as Shaheen Schmidt's Love Potion that involves an Iranian, Donya, and her Carmel Valley neighbour, Betty, who was not getting along with her husband. The wise Donya comes to her rescue with some charming advice. The end of the book contains short bios of each of the contributors.

Without doubt, this impressive collection of refreshing and clever short stories is sure to find its way on the night tables of many of the B&BS that dot the Monterey Peninsula coast line. These authors definitely deserve recognition and respect from their peers, as well as their readers, not only for their writing skills but also for their tenacity in striving to perfect their craft.

Norm Goldman, Editor Bookpleasures

The Monterey Peninsula is a beautiful place, and apparently has always been so, although perhaps once more untamed and unpredictable. With such a powerful and enchanting ocean landscape, the creativity of its inhabitants should be abundantly fed.

"Monterey shorts 2" is an inspiring collection of 20 short stories from a diverse and talented group of writers living in the Monterey Peninsula. This 2nd collection offers up a wonderful diverse banquet of colorful and creative tales, from the vivid and enchanting title-character in `Donya's Spices' to the twisted and humorous moral lesson of `Moving Day.' Each author presents a unique gift to the reader, with the shared theme of the beautiful seaside setting with a rich and interesting history.

All the work here is excellent, and each story is as interesting and entertaining as the last. Each of the authors has their own style, some preferring to write from a historical perspective, while others take from modern life. Still others travel to another time or realm as yet unheard of. Despite the diversity, the common thread of setting works wonderfully to give the collection a sense of connectedness and continuity.

The authors joined together to create FWOMP: Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula, and in 2002 published their first collection which met with great local success, ultimately leading to this welcomed 2nd book. The authors themselves are as diverse as their stories, with such interesting lives and experience that to relate them here would take away from their product. Fortunately, the collection includes a section on the back telling all about the individual members of FWOMP.

This collection comes highly recommended. There is definitely something here for everyone, from the historical fan, to the science fiction buff. Simply open and enjoy.

Storytelling is an art--and not an easy one to master--however, the ten authors with the Fiction Writers of the Monterey Peninsula (FWOMP) have done well with their latest compilation and anyone looking for an interesting collection of tales should certainly consider this book.

With its superb presentation, detailed editing, and clever illustrations, Monterey Shorts 2 creatively interweaves the history, the flavor, and the nature of not only the colorful populace but of the California Central Coast itself.

Whether reading of the first woman lighthouse keeper to the flight of a spritely being to the sinister side of desire or of love and beyond, this anthology of more than twenty stories charms the reader and makes them want to turn the page to discover what new tale lies just ahead.

Could it be the vampire or the murderer? The artist or the diviner? An exotic beast or just a monkey? Will he come home to a house not there? Or find a friend is not all they seem?

A few noteworthy mentions include "Finding Anna," "Snakeskin Jacket," "Charlotte's Light," "Moving Day," "Lavinia," and "Framed" but as a whole, I enjoyed reading each of these wonderful stories.

I also want to mention how the stories--some strong enough to stand on their own merit--did not overshadow the others too much and therefore imparted to the reader a genuine medley of works.

Kudos to these writers who believe that solid criticism served with sincerity is a dish well served. They've proven a gift, shaped with honest effort, will stand high above the rest.

Well done!

Reviewed by Dehanna Bailee, http://www.dehanna.com

Wonderful, heartwarming,and graphically beautiful book for doglovers of all ages.
A must have.
It's also a great gift.

This book is an especially unique addition to any dog lover's library. The photos beautifully illustrate diverse aspects of the human-dog bond. I received it as a gift, and immediately purchased copies for my dog loving friends!

Fantastic and really great book. Hard to describe, but the photo's and quotes are really fantastic. I received it today, and enjoyed it so much, that I am ordering three more copies,to give to friends

Fantastic and really great book. Hard to describe, but the photo's and quotes are really fantastic. I received it today, and enjoyed it so much, that I am ordering three more copies,to give to friends.

There are few bonds as close as the one between man - or woman - and dog. What creatures are as cherished as our canine companions? More than just man's best friend, the dog has become an honorary, and honored, member of our society. To celebrate this unique relationship, A THOUSAND HOUNDS brings together over 400 photographs of dogs, many of which have rarely been seen.

Spanning more than 150 years (1839 to present), this book chronicles the evolving relationship between man and dog. Included are no-nonsense 19th century working dogs, adventuring dogs, dogs of war, police dogs, fictional "superdogs" like Rin-Tin-Tin and Lassie, beloved family dogs, and, to some, the pinnacle of canine achievement: the ultra-bred and groomed show dog.

Intellectually and visually stimulating, A THOUSAND HOUNDS is far more than just a collection of dog pictures. This unique book features the work of hundreds of world-famous photographers and artists (from Picasso to Man Ray, Ralph Gibson to Eric Fischl, Wolfgang Tillmans to David Salle, and of course, Elliott Erwitt and William Wegman), dozens of witty and moving quotes about dogs, and captivating essays on the presence of dogs in the history of photography and their relation to man.

Moving and extreme reality

This book reviews the aftermath of the Vietnam-U.S. war in a down to earth tone and it's impact on the people who's involvement in the war are explained in detail.Personally i like this book because of its content which voiced out the real opinion of the one involved in the war no matter whether they're the allies or enemies.It's a great book to those who wants to know more about the Vietnam war and its aftermath.

This book is worth reading for anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War.
It is a collection of forty-eight short recollections from a wide variety of Americans and Vietnamese involved in the war, or the country, from the late 50's to the 80's. It also touches on Cambodia and Laos. Each recollection is from one-half to six pages long, and may cover one short event, or several years' experience in the country.
The book deceptively starts out slowly, and it is only with continued reading that one discovers that within this chosen group of recollections are many of the great truths of politics and military conflict in South Vietnam.
The essays cover the fatal flaws inherent within South Vietnam, which include the long history of being a colony of France, without France taking any steps to prepare the country for independence, such as training civil servants or encouraging the rule of law through local rulers. Once independent, South Vietnam was fragmented on religious lines. The civil leaders were corrupt, engaged in nepotism, and did not relate well to the peasants. South Vietnamese military leaders were promoted not on merit, but by family ties and the size of the bribes they paid to the government. For political reasons, the military zone around Saigon was intentionally unorganized and inefficient.
The geography of South Vietnam -- having all its territory within easy reach of Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam -- made it a very difficult land to defend from an enemy with safe sanctuary so close to crucial areas. This book does not mention the oppressive acts of the South Vietnamese government, which helped alienate its citizens. The book seems to understand, if not almost excuse, wrongful acts by US soldiers.
The US tactics also contributed to defeat: rules of engagement tied the military's hands in senseless ways (a SAM base couldn't be attacked under construction, but pilots had to wait until it was operational); rotating inexperienced officers through Vietnam to "punch their combat ticket" was more important than retaining experienced officers and advisors who often "got it" just before being rotated out; the battle for "hearts and minds" was often ignored; and years were wasted on ineffective strategy, until home protests compelled withdrawal.
And, yes, North Vietnam really was an oppressive regime which used terror and lies to achieve its goals.
Any discussion of Vietnam brings up many "what if's?" What if South Vietnam had a more appealing and legitimate government? What if US politicians hadn't used such ineffective strategy and tactics? Is there ANY scenario which would have resulted in a long-term stable and secure South Vietnam?
If you're at all interested in the field, this is a book well worth searching out.

Al Santoli's book, To Bear Any Burden, is a narrative of stories told by 47 Americans, Vietnamese (both North and South), and Cambodians regarding their experiences before the US involvement, during the US war, and the war's aftermath (after the departure of US troops). Each tale (from two to 10 pages in length) is riveting in itself. The book moves in relative chronilogical order beginning in 1954 and concludes with the present (circa 1985). Each tale is successfully interwoven with the next story such that there is a cohesiveness and a logical flow to the story telling timeline.

Some of the stories are quite stunning: from the description of US soldiers being called baby-killers and spat on after they returned to the US [difficult to comprehend in this patriotic post 9/11 world] to the horror stories of the Communist regimes in Cambodia and in North/South Vietnam after the fall of Saigon [after reading theses stories, one should question why the US would want to establish ties to Vietnam].

This "straight from the hip" narrative is recommended to anyone wishing to learn more about the scenes from a participant's point of view.

I first read To Bear Any Burden when it was originally released in 1985. This has been a 'must-read' classic of American involvement in Southeast Asia since it was published. For it, Santoli interviewed, in depth, 47 individuals representative of that involvement from 1945 into the 1980s--Americans, Viet-Namese (communists and anti-communists), Cambodians and Laotians. The book is so artfully compiled as to flow like a single narration; yet the 'cast of characters' are separate in time, space, culture and social rank--an entire spectrum from ambassadors to villagers, soldiers to politicians, in one volume. No ones education about the Viet-Nam War is complete unless they've read this book.

Who would have thought that aviation and medicine were so much alike. This book reviews the safety culture in both professions (albeit from an aviation point of view) anb shows that both can learn from eachother.

I have used this book in aviation safety training and it does provide a solid basis for creating a safety culture.

Recommended!

Too many books on this subject are either just too academic or too trivial to be worth the price. This book avoids these pitfalls and provides helpful analysis to the 'real world'.

Robert Helmreich is regarded in the aviation industry as the father of Crew Resource Management (CRM), and in this book he and Ashleigh Merritt (with material contributed by many others) discuss the effects of cultural issues on safety in aviation and in the operating room.

While the bulk of the book is devoted to CRM in aviation (the researchers have vastly more data and experience in that field), the book serves well as an introduction to cultural influences in the operating room (and in medicine in general, to a degree.) This book is not light reading, and is most suitable for professionals in aviation, medicine, or behavioral and social sciences familiar with inter- and intra-cultural dynamics and the statistical methodologies typical in such studies.

The book is excellent at breaking down cultural influences by national, organizational, and professional affiliation, and it adds a significant amount to the body of knowledge in this area. As a long time airline pilot (and part-time safety and training consultant), I found the book fascinating and generally in agreement with my experiences working with pilots from airlines around the world. There are a couple of minor areas where I disagree with the book, for instance on page 105, the authors state "we believe that every national culture values the safety of its members and that every airline is dedicated to improving the safety of its operations." I agree that this is the case in the vast majority of cases, but I have been given reason to doubt the complete accuracy of the second half of that statement based on my personal interactions with many pilots from airlines around the globe. I think that management at all airlines would prefer safe operations as a matter of profitability, but that some are content with doing the minimum mandated training with safety as a second thought to legality and profitability. This is a minor semantic point separating my opinions from those of the authors, and is based on my personal observations and interactions with several thousand crew members from scores of airlines from all over the world. I will unequivocally say that the cultural profiles that the authors have established for the pilots are nearly identical to my own perceptions.

A very interesting part of the book concerns itself with pilots distrusting management. The authors were stunned to discover what low regard pilots felt for management. (As a pilot I think, in general, justifiably so.) This ties in with my comments above about genuine managerial interest in safety. They all "talk the talk," but many don't "walk the walk." The matter is fully distilled for the non-industry insider on pages 127-128 which emphasizes the group mentality (with resultant long-term corporate health) of Southwest Airlines in a press release written by their founder Herb Kelleher, contrasted with a press release from one of the embattled legacy carriers, released by the CEO of that corporation. The latter gave no credit to the employees, while the Southwest release did. The esteem with which management regards employees couldn't be carved in greater relief: the problem for management is that this is a treacherous two way street, and the employees that are desperately needed by legacy carriers are now largely demoralized in some cases to the point of apathy. Fortunately, the Helmreich team was not able to tie safety records conclusively to morale, though that may be simply because accidents are so statistically rare. On page 179 the authors deal again with the trustworthiness of management. The assertion is that for a safety system to function employees must feel free to report safety problems, instead of hushing them up (this is a major issue on the medical side of the house with the ever-present malpractice litigation waiting to ensnare doctors.) The authors are right on the money: if a hint of vindictiveness or lack of anonymity exists in a safety program, it will fail. The authors cite the excellent program at Continental Airlines as a model for how to deal effectively with an accident (in this case a non-fatal gear up landing of a DC-9) to learn from it and make further safety gains with employees.

On page 204 the authors examine cultural issues in the context of language differences. They cite the problems of Chinese pilots speaking in English. They mention the issues of sending a (non-pilot) translator with the pilots to aid communication. I have worked with several Chinese airlines and they are all bright, polite, and perceptive in my experience, but the dynamics in the simulator with the translator are unnerving as instructions are translated and queried, checklists are run and maneuvers are flown. In general under abnormal conditions I found that when a translator is used, emergency procedures took much longer (perhaps twice as long) to accomplish due to the language problems involved. I fully support the Helmreich proposition that international pilots be given more training in English (the international language of air transport.)

In sum, this book is superior and fascinating. I have commented more on the aviation side of the book because that is where the majority of my expertise is, but the medical side is equally fascinating, and heralds the beginning of a true safety system approach to medicine. I highly recommend this book.

This is an outstanding book that goes deeply inside the airline pilots and medical culture (it is much more related about aviation). Full of data and cases that supports and illustrates the author theory. It is a book not only to people that desing training but also manages those professional groups.

This is the best collection of Milton works available that I know of: sturdy, with thick white pages offering ample room for note taking, numerous footnotes, rare works such as Christian Doctrine (which is extremely interesting)and writings from people who knew Milton. Nothing more needs be said. The price, $40 something, is insanely cheap if you consider how much you're paying per work - probably comes out to a couple dollars each.

A lifetime of Milton resides between the durable covers of this book, inexhaustible hours with one of the greatest writers of the English language. Truly, this is one of the most enjoyable books I own.

Coming from someone who was so frugal that my choice of major in college was influenced by the fact I could find most required reading for a dual degree in philosophy and English literature in the library rather than pay my hard earned money for books that were not worthy.... this is my strongest possible recommendation: This was one of the few texts I actually shelled out money for in college without regret and would even purchase AGAIN! ( My copy was destoryed by Hurricane Isabel) I have fond memories of studying Milton, and when he seemed at his most confusing the notes in this text were wonderfully clear.

Others have suggested the Norton is the edition for college students. I disagree. The Hughes edition is definitely worth the money. The notes are the best -- in reading criticism on Milton, there's usually plenty of references to Mr. Hughes's notations themselves. This is the standard, accepted text. This is the complete poems, with his Latin and Italian poetry appearing ajacent to an English translation. There's a generous selection of Milton's prose, too.

Spend the wad and buy the book. If you're reading this, then you're a bibliophile, no doubt. For the rest of your life wouldn't you prefer to have the best edition of Milton on your shelf, or will you be satisified with a $9 Signet Classic? (I tossed mine.)

Check out the Dore Illustrations for PL, too.

BTW, after reading Areopagitica, I believe that everything Jeffereson said was a debt to Milton.

This is still the most extensive, best-annotated, one-volume Milton set available. As the blurb above indicates, Hughes presents all the poems and prose in chronological sequence, so it is easy to trace the great poet's increasing facility, and later mastery, in both areas. We start with Milton, the fifteen-year-old student, translating Psalms from the Hebrew as well as passages from the love poems of Ovid and Properius. We then follow him to Cambridge, where he really starts assimilating all his classical studies, first fashioning imitative Latin elegies followed by his first poems of native genius, "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity," "On Shakespeare," "L'Allegro and Il Penseroso."

Hughe's edition is invaluable as a tool for students, scholars, or general readers. The notes never get in the way of the text, but will lead the reader to relevant sources should he/she desire to learn more about a given allusion or want more background. If the reader is patient, and actually reads all the material that comes before "Paradise Lost", he/she will be rewarded with a richer understanding of Milton's magnum opus. Please be advised that if you have made it that far, don't stop there. "Paradise Regained" and "Sampson Agonistes" are powerful examples of epic poetry as well. I personally feel that "Paradise Regained" has had almost as large an impact on modern fiction in particular (Dostoevsky and Flaubert are prime examples)as has "Paradise Lost."

Blake said that Milton was of Satan's party without knowing it. Actually Milton's prose does open up some interesting possibilities in that sphere. In "Areopagitica" he advocates for the necessity of evil. He was, as history has amply recorded, hardly a defender of central authority. He was emphatic about individual liberty and wouldn't be dictated to by Pope or King.

There are several short early biographies of the poet at the end of the book. All paint a portrait of an idiosyncratic genius who suffered numerous setbacks both physical and political, particularly in his last decades. He was an extraordinarily brave man, who has taken some heat from Virginia Woolf and later feminists for his "ill use" of his daughters, who, the line goes, he kept in ignorance and near slavery so that they could aid him as ameneunses after he went blind. If such detractors had actually done any wide reading on the subject (Shawcrosse is an excellent source) they would not have made such charges. Though not what could be described as a "loving father," Milton certainly never inveighed against his daughters to remain "indentured" to him, nor did he subvert any marriage plans they arranged (none were forced into "arranged marriages" either, though the practice was still common in that era). He didn't tutor them in the Languages he asked them to transcribe, per se. But this begs the question, if they were'nt taught Latin, Greek and Hebrew, how would they have been able to act as scribes in those languages in the first place?

I'm sorry to see that this volume is now almost $100. In this day of large trade paperbacks, perhaps a more affordable edition will be forthcoming.

Lisa Merritt is a great grant writer, as such she makes this book/CD-ROM an easy tool to follow when writing for a grant application.
Concise and easy to follow instructions. This book is a MUST to have at your fingertips !
Ruby Issaev,
Marketing Director
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida

After looking for a grant writer for several months, I decided to take matters into my own hands. If not for the help of this wonderfully concise, clear, and intelligent book, I would have been totally daunted by the task. Lisa Merritt's book is ideal for the novice grantwriter who wishes to take matters into her own hands. Because of this book, I am now actively pursuing my own grants without having to depend on the timeframe of others and without excessive out-of-pocket fees.

As a director of a not-for-profit studio and company I found Lisa Merritt's e-book to be an invaluable tool for tackling the massive field of grant writing. It is simple and concise in an electronic format that suits contemporary submissions.
I have worked with Lisa for many years and can attest to her capabilities as a grant writer. Do yourself a favor and buy this ebook.
Brigid Baker dir. Whole Project/6th Street Dance Studio

The Florida Film Institute has been a client of Lisa Merritt for the past year. She has helped FFI achieve its fundraising goals for 2005/2006 and we are very confident that Lisa will again help our organization raise the bar even higher for 2006/2007. You will find her book simple and a very valuable educational tool.

Stephanie Martino-Rizzi
President/ Dir. of Development

I thought I'd read everything & experienced all Viet Nam had to offer. Bill Merritts book has refreshed my memories of Cu Chi and Phu Cuong. I was on the bridge with Bill Merritt before it blew. We played chess, and he remembered the names of our Chinese/Vietnamese soldier friend-"Ha"-and our housegirl "Loi". I have pictures of both. His memory of dialogue and events is astounding, and I believe I am one of the characters in his book. I loved it, even though the memories are not good.

Bill Merritt's account of his service with the 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Division, in 1968, never got the attention it deserved, but it is one of the best memoir-style books to have emerged from the Vietnam War. The writing is rich and layered, the dialogue utterly real, the stories frank and fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in what Vietnam was like for a junior enlisted man, and a must for any serious reader of Vietnam War literature.

A fine memoir of a Vietnam veteran. My brother met the author and secured a signed copy for me which I immediately devoured. It is highly readable and engrossing. I especially enjoyed the attention to language; specifically the terms and names. Merritt uses them effectively to put us into his time and environment.

Bill Merritt's account of his service with the 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Division, in 1968, never got the attention it deserved, but it is one of the best memoir-style books to have emerged from the Vietnam War. The writing is rich and layered, the dialogue utterly real, the stories frank and fascinating. Highly recommended for anyone interested in what Vietnam was like for a junior enlisted man, and a must for any serious reader of Vietnam War literature.

This book is one of the Dear Canada series, which are historical novels, written in diary format, about fictional girls during different periods of Canadian history.

Susanna Merritt is a young girl living near Niagara, Canada in 1812, the youngest in a large family. Susanna fears for her family as the war begins, but she is also very worried about her best friend, Abbie Seabrook. Abbie's family are Americans, who are reluctant to go to war against their home country. In her diary, Susanna describes what happens to her family and friends during the first few months of the War of 1812, and during the battle that takes place near her home.

As an American, I really enjoyed getting a different view of the War of 1812 from Susanna's Canadian perspective. I really liked the setting and the characters came alive in Susanna's diary. I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoyed any of the Dear America or Dear Canada books.

I read them all and this one is most exciting novel on the face of Earth! It is about Susanna Merritt's life during the war of 1812. Her father is the Sheriff of an army in Canada in Niagara, so she hardly ever sees her. With her father, brother and pregnant sister not living with her, Susanna only has her Mother, other sister Maria, and maid, Tabitha. One night, while in Niagara visiting, Susanna buckles on Governer Brock's sword before a very, very, very important battle, and if you read this novel, you will find out if the Canadians or Americans won this battle.

Susanna Meritt lives near Nigarra in Canada, 1812. A war is whispering around her, and soon troops of Canadians are leaving Canada to fight America, determined to end their war of 'who owns Canada' once and for all. Susanna constantly worries for her family and herself, but mostly for her friend- Abigail Seabrook and her family, who are Americans, and are against the idea of going to war against their home country.

Whispers of War was an amazing book that cleverly told the 'War of 1812' in an intelligent and innocent way, immitating the voice of an innocent young girl as she watches her beautiful home- Canada, die around her.

This is absolutly one of the best historical books i have EVER READ!
I have read this book about four times, and i never get bored of it. Heres my review - -

This book is about 11 - year - old Susanna Merritt, who lives in Upper Canada (around Ontario..) In 1812. Her family is constantly fearing about war, and talks about how many family members were killed in different wars.
Susanna Merritt lives a peaceful, safe life in the small town of St. Cathrines, with her sister Maria (15), mother, father, brother Hamilton Merritt (age 19) and her many pets. She goes to school, although the teacher is not very good at, well, ... Teaching.

When news comes that there IS going to be a war, Susanna and her family are devestated, as her brother and father must go off and fight.

Susanna also fears her friendship with Abby, who just moved to Canada from America two years ago, will not last.

But through everything, Susanna stays strong, and follows in her brother's footsteps by writting a diary.

Some interesting points in this book are:

- - When Susanna meets General Brock in Niagara.

Sad parts in this book are:

- - When General Brock dies.

- - When Susanna worries that her sister, Caroline, is going to die.


Overall, this is a fantastic book, and i recomend it to anyone that is looking for a fun book to read, that is also educational!