Charles Williams Books

This is a great collection of science fiction stories by Canadians, many of whom you will recognize as pioneers in the genre. The stories are entertaining and original, and the introduction is fun and educational.

This book was originally written in German, in 1950, and I approached it apprehensively, assuming it would be ponderous. However it is quite a straightforward read and lively in its interpretations. It shows the evolution of British political life, through the lives of Henry Fox, and his son Charles James and of William Pitt, father and son. The only hint of its Germanic origins are the occasional analogy to Schiller or Bismarck.
The book is quite favourable to the liberalism of Charles James Fox and opposed to George III's attempts to disband the party system. In the latter it is clearly at odds with the view (of Linda Colley and others) that after the
defeat in the American war of Independence, that George III reinvented himself and became the non-political, patriotic and popular embodiment of Britain.
The book is strong on biography, and shows some of the dissolution which was a feature of political life at the times, Charles James Fox and both Pitts were unable to control their personal spending, Fox was an inveterate gambler and the Younger Pitt is described as being a victim of alcohol.

If you are starting out in this area of law This book has a good description on alot of good points to do your job.

Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (9/08)


Driven people are powered by profound things unseen. Embedded in their very soul they are aware of what is to come, but sometimes unaware of the journey they are traveling.

Charles Williams grew up in Pastoria, Arkansas with his seven brothers and sisters. Raised by his single mother, Gennie, and grandparents, Clarence and Rosie, Charles experiences love and guidance that molded him into someone who manages with what you have. Happy times were not guided by monetary wealth. The love of family and times shared with those individuals you hold close to you heart are where memories' are made.

We travel with Charles during years in which he attends school, enlists in and is honorably discharged from the Army, then again begins attending school. He may have appeared to be wondering, and possibly he was. Regardless, he meets Linda who, although not given the credit it appears she deserves, guides him toward his destiny. A simple "no" provided a profound stepping stone which made Charles do it on his own and take a chance. After reading a summary on the back of the book I was led to believe Charles explores his dreams of being an entrepreneur by investing in real estate. The detailing of his childhood is not continued on through this part of Charles story so his revelation was not put to paper. While looking for something part-time to provide additional income, Linda tells him she had bought an investment property that had been supplementing her own income. He suggests they become partners and invest in a property together and she answers "no."

Charles' recollection of his younger days portray the stability that he felt while growing up and were great memories for him to draw from as he ventured out into the world on his own. Coming from a small town myself, I know firsthand what a secure environment they can provide. As all butterflies, one has to take flight and do it on your own.

From laughing with Charles as he describes squeezing the waste from a hog's intestines after it has been slaughtered, to crying when he finds his grandfather laying in the back yard after a stroke, you will experience his memories with the great emotion expressed in his writing, "A Promise for all Seasons."

First off, this is not a biography of Charles V. It is as the title says and what Maltby says in his Introduction, it is a history of the reign of Charles V. This glances quite a bit on Charles V, so you do see quite a bit of his life. Even more so you see his realms and the wars and laws that were enacted.

For the most part this is a short and succinct analysis of this important ruler's reign. It is a bit dry and sometimes reads more like a recital of facts, but it does move well from chapter to chapter.

I would recommend this book only to someone who has read a biography or is familiar with Charles V and would like a more close analysis of his reign.

3.75 stars.

Well how is that, according to the data provided the fourth edition appeared in 1920!

Wow! I almost forgot about this book.

There's a lot of dated tack & clothing, to be sure, but this book has a LOT of solid, universal advice, and *gasp* Western horses with natural head carriage.

Scorpion Reef by Charles Williams can best be described as an action-adventure novel that takes place in and around the Gulf of Mexico. The protagonist is Bill Manning, a seafarin' man with a sensitive soul. Bill's life undergoes an abrupt and profound transformation when a beautiful, statuesque blond named Shannon Macaulay enters his world.
Bill and Shannon find themselves caught up in a nasty struggle with some very bad men over sunken treasure located off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Using a very descriptive and detailed writing style, Williams successfully spins an engaging tale of mystery, romance and danger against the backdrop of the open sea. And the ending is a really great one.
My only complaint about this otherwise genuinely appealing book, is the overly convoluted, highly improbable backstory used to set up the narrative's underlying conflict.
Scorpion Reef is a flawed but still highly entertaining work of fiction. Well worth reading.

On a road trip I picked up a used copy of the 1968 Secret Mission to the Philippines by William Wise. It is a very interesting book in many ways. First, it is a great history about guerilla operations in the Philippines during World War II. Chick Parsons arrived in the Philippines in 1921 as an 18-year old. By the time of the outbreak of the war in the Pacific in 1941, he had had a career and raised a family. He had also served in the US Navy reserve too.
That reserve service put him to work after the Philippines were attacked. Ultimately, he avoided imprisonment as a POW and as an enemy alien because of some doubtful credentials as a diplomat. Nevertheless, the account abounds with accounts of POW and internment camps. He and his family are traded for Japanese nationals held in South American and he makes it back to the US. From there he joins MacArthur's staff in Australia and then goes back to the Philippines to organize the resistance groups that had developed. He was quite successful in doing this and was awarded Philippine Medal of Valor (other American recipients: Douglas MacArthur, Chester Nimitz, and Jonathan Wainwright--heady company).
I enjoyed the book. I read it all on the day that I bought it. Partially, that was because of the compelling story, but also because it read so easily. It reads as easily as a child's book. Possibly, it reads so easily because it is a bit shallow with complex issues greatly reduced.
I enjoyed and recommend the book.

Charles Mungoshi's books will continue to be read two-hundred years from now. His work expresses the nuances of human emotions common to all peoples. He shows the good, the bad and the ugly - without giving them labels. A delightful read that leaves a long aftertaste.