Adaptations Books

My boys loved this book, it had a lot of action in it and every chapter was filled with a new aspect. They really enjoyed reading it as part of thier homeschool curriculum Tapestry of Grace.

This book is going to challenge some readers, and may even offend others... but it should be read by those who want to understand our civilization's cultural background.
It is bold in its imagery, subtle in its literacy, and straightforward in its effect. It tells tales of events that are later echoed in the Old Testament and does so without downplaying their legitimacy.
I teach world history to sixth graders, and though it might be beyond some of them, I would recommend it to my 11- and 12-year-olds without hesitation. My students are already aware of biological and cultural aspects of the Ancient World, so I doubt many would be offended by the graphic nature of the story and illustrations. More importantly, I think they would understand the greater themes that are championed by the text.

I had read John Gardner's version previously and highly recommend it as a more complete translation.
McCaughrean has not included every adventure of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, but has rendered a beautiful version to introduce readers to Gilgamesh and his BFF Enkidu. His trip to the Underworld is left out. She only makes a passing reference to his being 2/3 god and 1/3 man, my favorite Gilgamesh trait.
The language is beautiful. I found passages so beautifully expressed that I had to read them out loud to my household.
The illustrations add to the book. On the pages with the description of The Great Flood, the waves of the water are under the text. The image of Gilgamesh in grief is as strong an illustration of grief as one can find anywhere.
The book only took a couple of hours to read, but it lingers, like the memory of a gourmet meal, deeply satisfying.
I will look for additional books by Geraldine McCaughrean. That has to be the ultimate "good review" of an author.

What a well-written account of the Gilgamesh story. The language is delightful, and the pictures add interest. I read it to a high school mythology class and they were attentive and enthralled.

This version concentrates very little on fighting monsters, instead the author focuses on Gilgamesh's quest for immortality and the importance of enjoying our short lives. Gilgamesh is believed to be the world's oldest epic and the original flood story. After nearly being destroyed by a flood Gilgamesh goes on an epic journey to find the elixir of immortality. The moral of the story ends up being about accepting the things we can't change and making the most of our lives.

This is a wonderful book! For one interested in fantasy at all, this is a must read. For one not interested in fantasy, give it a try, it may pry open your head and set you on the path of the mystical realm of fantasy.

This book is significant for readers who wish to explore the Welsh Mythologies and as a jolly good read. Interestingly it was written before Tolkien's classic and included in Tolkien's library. As a resident of WAles, and as an emigre, it is disappointing that this interpretation is not better known or acknowledged in Britain. For further study look into Robert Graves The White Goddess. Graves an acknowledged scholar fully appreciated that the Welsh Language was the spoken language of Britain and in this book (I do not pretend to understand it in its entirety) the Mabinogion is a constant source of reference. Evangeline Walton's interpretation is a good foundation for all the translations of the Welsh Myths and for a starter to the White Goddess.
Enjoy and be stimulated by these books.

Graham Matthews

I bought the four books of Evangeline Walton's Mabinogeon in the 1970's, and have read them many times over the years. They are treasured by me, and so worn from use that I no longer lend them to friends. I recommend Ms. Walton's work to everyone I know who enjoys reading, especially if they enjoy mythology.

I was very impressed with this book. Walton does a wonderful job of reworking the original Welsh legends into four stories. Naturally, she allows herself certain artistic freedoms, such as interpreting disputed aspects of the legends in a way that seems most plausible to her. However, her skill and her imagination make me gladly accept her interpretation.

The writing is probably the most beautiful I have read since Tolkien. It is rich in detail, vibrant, and poetic. A pleasure to read. The same is true for the characters, who really do come to life in Walton's book. She (re)creates gods and men, heroes and monsters, while at the same time exploring some of the recurring themes of humankind, such as love and loyalty, strength and courage, etc. The basis for all this is the same cultural background of the original Welsh mythologies, i.e. the fundamental conflict between the belief of the Old Tribes, in which women were quite independent and powerful, and the New Tribes, in which women are inferior to men and the role of women as 'creators of life' is slowly forgotten.

At the same time, I don't think this book is for everybody. If you enjoy contemporary fantasy with a Celtic background along the lines of Katherine Kerr, then you may be disappointed by this book. Not every subplot is pursued to completion, not every character is described fully. Walton implies as much as she tells us. The language is as much poetry as it is prose. Like I said, it's beautiful, but read it for what it is!

Anika Leithner

Don't read this book because you want to get closer to the wealth of Welsh myth. Read this book because it is stunning and beautiful. Reading this book you are in the hands of a competent bard aware of the complexities of human behavior. Walton takes you on an adventure complete with misplaced love, tragic deaths, and heroic splendor. She has taken the bare bones of myth and altered little by added a lot and crafted a masterpiece of literature.

Great! The entire series is wonderful. The authors had to have a special inspiration from God in putting together the details. I listened to this about 6 years ago and again this month--today, I can see the progression of earth's events--just as depicted in the audio. One suggestion: would like to have had musical effects and sound better balanced--small parts were barely audible others overwhelming. Overall...I would definitely recommend it--and would listen again!

So, who casted the guy who plays Nicolae?? he sounds like Borat!!

"Please! Do no being afraid you!! I am peacefuls coming! I build New Babylon! Great Successs!"

This is comedy gold, people!!

I purchased the audio versions of Tribulation Force and Nicolae because I've been spending a lot of time driving and Left Behind was rather intriguing.

While the drama of the telling is undeniable, I was annoyed that the introduction to each episode was not edited out. The story is okay; there are holes that may be addressed in the book, but are hugely apparent on the disks.

Nicolae is best yet of the series, really delving in Nicole's powers, Rayford's leadership abilities, and making Buck the action star we know and love for the rest of the series! Also it included some of the classic scenes from the book, like Nicolae and Rayford's confrontation.Beautiful!

This book features a breath taking chase and rescue mission of Tsion ben Juddah, not to exclude the Great Earthquake at the end. Enjoy!

This book was a great read. I recommend it for anyone with any background. However, the refences to Detroit did make me feel right at home reading it. I loved the leading lady's struggle with her christianity and the ending that teaches us to live each day as if your not promised tomorrow!

RETRACED by Anthony Cuffie is a poignant teenage love story between Sheyla Patron and Marcus Stunson. As the story opens, we witness the rape of Sheyla's mother, Kim. Sheyla is the child born of this rape and the tale that follows is the life of Sheyla being raised by her mother, until Kim abandons her. Eventually Sheyla's grandmother takes her in; this is their story. Marcus is also being raised by his grandmother after the murder of his mother. Because the grandmothers are close friends, these two children form a friendship out of happenstance, grief and pain. As it progresses, living your life for Christ is introduced and showcased, as we follow the two from approximately age seven to nineteen, which are tumultuous times for both.

As they enter into their teenage years, Sheyla becomes a wild child, often fighting against the rules of her grandmother's household. She meets up with female and male acquaintances, who she emulates in an effort to fit in, receive attention and feel loved. Marcus, on the other hand, is an aspiring basketball player sought after by private schools and eventually many colleges. Despite the temptation around him, he does not buck the system and appears to be a model grandson and student. His feelings for Sheyla are genuine, but he does not present the thug mentality or appearance that Sheyla clings to. As such, she writes Marcus off as only a friend but comes to realize his friendship is necessary in her life.

The opening captured my attention and the story is filled with action, but it falls short for several reasons. First, editing is a major issue; poor sentence structure and grammatical errors are rampant. As children, the two major characters spout words that are unrealistic for their age. Some of the scenes the characters find themselves in are improbable. Such as, a teenage thug and his girlfriend rubbing elbows at a major political function. Finally, words are misused. An example of this is, a prenatal test is used to describe a paternity test. The setting the author describes is a vivid portrait of the city of Detroit, and the character development is on point, allowing you to get a sense of the how and why. Finally, the author's showing of the transformation from the temptation of the streets to the acceptance of God is touching, heartfelt and believable. He ends this story with a shocking event that rocks you to the core.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

This book had me laughing and crying all at the same-time. Please get you won't be disappointed!

It was really a joy reading a novel about an urban romance based in Detroit. This book was entertaining and I found myself up late trying to finish. The characters were ones there were easy to identify with however the author was sure to include unique twists to keep the reader wanting more. I will recommend this book to several people as well as bookclubs that have not had the opportunity to be exposed to Mr. Cuffie's work. Good job and thanks for putting Detroit on the map!

The characterization in this novel is so vivid that it captures the attention and the heart of readers. This novel highlights the struggles of all the characters, which pulls each of them closer to the Man who created them and gave them strength to endure each struggle.

This novel is especially imperative for teenagers and young adults to read because of the numerous temptations that they are faced with on a daily basis. It's also a good read for adults because it gives them an insight to how they influence the lives of their children and young people in general.

I highly recommend this book for inspiration and encouragement.

This is a performed audio play, not just read by one voice. It is very easy to follow along, and distinguish the different characters.

The quality of this recording is excellent and the performers give very skillful interpretations. Fiennes and Miles are particularly effective as the "star crossed lovers".

Before I listened to this play, I had read the Folgers Shakespeare Library version. I believe that helped me enjoy the play much more.
I am not going to review the play, only this audio version.
The music set the mood of the scenes, and the sound effects brought the landscape to life in my imagination. The cast acted out the parts superbly! The only complaint I have is, When Romeo says, "He jest at scares that never felt a wound," I didn't feel he conveyed enough emotion on that part. After all, in the previous scene, or the same scene depending on how you interpret the scenes, MERCUTIO was mocking his love for Rosaline harshly.
If you are not familiar with the play I highly recommend reading it first, that will make it easier to follow.

This is a terrific recording. My son's teacher recommended he buy this to listen while he read the written words. It made Shakespeare so much more accessible.

It's worth the price just to hear an unabridged version. Capulet is wonderful. The friar is the best ever. Juliet is understandable but has the passion in her voice of a person who's been there a few times too many. But Romeo...a one-emotion three-hour agony to listen to. I've taught teens for thirty years; they don't languish in one emotion. If wallowing were an art form, Fiennes would be the grand master. He obviously doesn't remember how it was long ago when he was a teen.

I was introduced to this play about a month ago when I was cast in the role of Kitty, a friend of the Kitteredges. Intending to only skim the script and hilight my lines, I read the entire play in one sitting. From the opening scene to the closing, I felt like I was being included in the characters' experiences.
The characters' personalities are also quite deep. After the first couple of times that I read through the script, I realized that there was so much more to the characters than what was written on the page. Guare does a wonderful job of letting the reader use his imagination and create his own backgrounds and deeper personalities for the characters.
This play is an intellectual-artsy type for those who are willing to examine their trust for strangers.

Even if this play were worthless, which it is not quite, the concept that gives it its title has passed into the American lexicon, so it will long be remembered, if in name only. Supposedly based on true events, it tells the story of a New York City couple, Flanders (Flan) and Louisa (Ouisa) Kittredge, unsuccessful private art dealers who are desperately clinging to their Manhattan socialite lifestyle. Flan is cash strapped and badly needs to turn up some money to complete a two million dollar deal. One night, as they are hitting up a South African acquaintance for some money, a young black man, Paul, turns up on their doorstep. He claims to be a Harvard classmate of their kids who has just been mugged in Central Park. Any initial resistance they may feel towards this stranger evaporates when he cooks them and their guest dinner, expounds on Catcher in the Rye, reveals that his father is Sidney Poitier, and intimates that he might be able to get them all jobs as extras in his Dad's movie version of Cats. He plays their liberal guilt and their social climbing hunger to perfection and makes such an impression on the South African that he agrees to invest with Flan on the art deal. The grateful couple allow Paul to stay overnight in their apartment while they go out.

His implausible story begins to unravel though when, returning early to their apartment, they find him in bed with a male street hustler and throw them both out. Flan takes particular relish in telling the story of their visitor and they are surprised to find that Paul has similarly hustled a number of their friends. They, especially Ouisa, become obsessed with finding out who Paul really is; apparently just a street hustler. He drops back into their lives several times, and they are tangentially involved in a scandal when Paul seduces and dumps a young man who then commits suicide.

Most of the philosophizing in the play, with the exception of the Six Degrees concept, is fairly silly and the people are immensely annoying. There are some funny lines, but most of the humor comes from watching the loathsome Kittredges humiliate themselves repeatedly. It is perhaps the ultimate comment on the kind of people that the play portrays that none of it is very believable. Despite the nonfiction origins, it strains credulity to believe that people who are this shallow actually exist. I'd recommend it mildly, but only for its cruel treatment of a group of people I don't much like--upper class NY City liberals. The LA Theatre Works production has the added bonus that Flan is played by Alan Alda in a near self caricature.

GRADE : C

John Guare's "Six Degrees of Separation" is about the foibles of a New York City couple named Flanders and Louisa Kittredge, who go by the nicknames Flan and Ouisa. They are a pretentious pair desperate to make a deal with a wealthy South African to keep them in their swank lifestyle when a black man named Paul barges into their lives and cons his way into an invitation to stay the night. Because Paul is charming and intellectual -- flattering Flan and Ouisa to their heart's content -- they become easy dupes, totally shocked when they wake in the morning to find that Paul had invited a male hustler into his bed while they slept. There are touches of liberal guilt in how easily Flan and Ouisa are deceived in that they are fairly patronizing to Paul as a young black man who has (seemingly) been mugged and left penniless until his father gets into town the next morning. But the truth is that the Kittredges are not taken in by their guilt but by the promise that they can get something out of their association with Paul. He claims that the father he is waiting for is none other than Sidney Poitier, coming to NYC to cast for his upcoming film adaptation of "Cats" -- and that he can get them roles as extras to repay their kindness. That is Paul's modus operandi (it turns out that he has also conned several of Ouisa and Flan's friends in the same fashion). He promises his marks a connection to a higher level of society that they aspire to. For Ouisa, Flan et al this means the world of celebrity, but for Rick and Elizabeth (the poor couple Paul turns to when his mugged-son-of-Poitier shtick won't work anymore) it is access to the upper east side world that the Kittredges inhabit. Eventually Paul's relentless conning has tragic consequences, and it feels typical of this play's mindset that the tragedy happens to the lower-class characters while the upper-crust ones hover above it all. But the main fault of Guare's play is that the characters are so uniformly unappealing. They are all pretentious (a word that just about sums up the play) and unlikable cartoons lacking in depth or realism. The parents abysmally ignore their college-aged children, who lavishly act out in retaliation, and they all just feel like stereotypes instead of relatable people you might actually meet in the real world. This is not to say that the play is without merit. It's now famous concept that everyone in the world is connected by a mere six people is intriguing, as are its questions regarding race and class distinctions. The question of how far a person is willing to go to break into the upper echelons of society is also a good one. But what I found most intriguing was when Ouisa, wondering why Paul went to such great lengths to gain access to their lives, commented that "We're not enough to be envied." Can anyone ever be happy with what they have when someone else will always have more? All in all I found "Six Degrees of Separation" to be a mixed bag with some good points muddled by weak characters.

My thanks to Mr. Guare. Had he not portrayed the rich as fatuous dupes, I might still envy them.

Based on the true story of a wealthy, well-meaning liberal couple in the upper echelons of New York society's upper crust, we have Flan or Flanders Kittredge and his wife Ouisa or Louisa; the former is a standoffish but deep down good-hearted art dealer in the private sector who has a penchant for the works of Kandinsky and Cezanne; the latter is his wife, articulate and intelligent who is in need of something of greater meaning and depth other than money, art, fancy restaurants and wealthy friends.

And so the evening commences with a friend from South Africa; they are discussing poverty, the downtrodden and the oppressed, overblown intellectual banter to elevate the ego and make the evening progress smoothly and divinely. But the night is anything but that, for it is dramatically interrupted by Paul - a young black homosexual flimflammer or Peter Funk man with a penchant for male street hustlers (only when he is happy - his words). He comes into the lives of these two unwitting victims after stabbing and passing himself off as a friend to their children who are at Harvard. And what else does her profess? You guessed it - that he is the son of you-know-who: Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier, the most eminent black actor of his generation, the hero that has been the catalyst for the lives of these socially and politically 'aware' forty-somethings.

Paul charms and bedazzles himself into the lives of those he encounters, using his wit, knowledge, ease and most importantly, his race, more specifically, Sidney Poitier's name. As the play intensifies, Paul promises the Kittredge's and future unsuspecting victims minor roles in the movie version of Cats, for which his 'father' is purportedly directing. The victims salivate over the prospect of being in a Poitier film, and they let their guards down, for their humdrum existence now has that depth and meaning that was missing at the beginning of the play; it has that structure that their kids, their careers, their money and their friends could not provide. It has a purpose. An assumed black actor's son is mugged in Central Park. And the kind Kittredges help him out. When life is not all that we want it to be, it is easy to have the wool pulled over our eyes. We believe because we want to believe. That is the meat of this play.

This play is complex because of the issues that are addressed; it is not just about race and economics, but it is about the purpose of existance in life. This work evolves and reveals so many layers, layers that are eventually reached, and thus, a truer gift of insight gained. Ironically, in the environment of the wealthy elite and the established intelligentsia, it was a sharpie who made this couple and others similar to them see the gift that life and living really is.

I'm a huge fan of Mary Blair's work so naturally I wanted a copy of the work she did for Cinderella. The book arrived in a timely fashion and in great condition. It's also a wonderful picture book for kids. Thank you!

Mary Blair's art adds a great dimension to this adaptation of Disney's Cinderella. Her art was used as reference and inspiration for that final animated feature as well as countless other Disney classics. You will be charmed by her style and Rylant's fresh retelling of this fairy tale.

The best thing about this book is that it is full of concept art for Disney's CINDERELLA by Mary Blair. Mary Blair is perhaps best known as the designer of the IT'S A SMALL WORLD ride at Disneyland theme parks, but she was a key concept artist at Disney for all of the 1940s. She came back from time to time to work on certain projects including various duties with the theme parks. Here concept art helped to inspire the animators and her greatest influence is in the films ALICE IN WONDERLAND, PETER PAN and CINDERELLA. Her art work is so delightful and having a collection of Mary Blair's work all in one book is a treasure. The text of the story is simplistic and designed for a pre-school level of understanding. Buy it for the art of Mary Blair.

The full page presentations of these paintings are well worth the cost of this storybook. Get one copy for the kids to thrash now and another for them to relish in their later years. I only wish there were more Blair paintings to cover the world with (however small it may be) Hats off to the publishers for spending extra money and effort to make this a truly 'special' edition.

This stunning, sophisticated new adaptation of perhaps the most beloved fairy tale of all time will appeal to children as well as adult collectors. The gorgeous art work comes from veteran Disney artist Mary Blair, who helped define the look of the Cinderella film through her storyboard art, which is used in this handsomely designed volume. The colors of the text pages harmonize beautifully with the tones in the artwork on the opposite page, and the designer intersperses traditional French graphic designs with the text, such as fleur-de-lys. The art work, although recognizable to Disney fans from the movie, has a very different look than typical Disney storybooks, with a more fluid, almost abstract style, in which the figures are often dwarfed by the grandeur of the backgrounds. It is clear that Blair was influenced by 18th century French masters such as Fragonard in her artwork. Cynthia Rylant's retelling of the story is romantic to the extreme, and manages to breathe fresh life into the familiar old tale. She emphasizes the role of Love, dark and lightness, while omitting many of the familiar elements of the Disney film, such as the mice, cats, birds, and other animals who clamor around Cinderella. This magnificent fairy tale adaptation belongs on the shelf of every girl's library. Due to the length of the text, recommended for children four and older.

It has become a personal habit to browse through this book from time to time since I first read it several years back. It is one of the most inspiring and insightful true depiction of real human lives studied over 80 years (and still going on) by a Harvard psychiatrist. When the study started, it was considered to be a rather mammoth task and created curiosity among contemporary researchers about its possible outcomes. And readers will find it's simply amazing to follow the narratives of different lives evolve over time and chart a course rather intriguing when scrutinized to their depths. Vaillant is not only a psychiatric researcher, but he is also a great author, an honest storyteller. The wisdom oozes out of its pages and the compassionate writings just has a rare potential to warm the reader's heart. I am aware of criticism, that it's done in America, amongst Harvard graduates, only men....etc etc...well at least somebody did it! The real fact is that defenses are pretty much the same in human beings, it takes different expressive quality in men and women, but the range of defenses is the same. This has been my xmas or birthday gift item to friends and family for years...

A fine book following a class of very smart folks who are ... adapting to life in 'the real world'. It's been updated from the original with further info on the people. Very educational and a pleasant read.

I purchase copies of this book by the dozen, as I frequently hand it out to friends and associates of all ages. Personally, I have read it at least three times since it first appeared, and I refer to it often.

The book is organized in alternating chapters of theory and case studies. The theoretical chapters are dense, but fascinating, and make a compelling case for the developmental sequence of what Vailliant calls "defenses" - i.e. adaptive mechanisms. The case studies are fascinating and often humorous, and make this an easy book to pick up and read over a period of time. Often I give the book to people who are unhappy with some circumstance in their life or in the lives of their children, stating that the message of the title is that there is no perfect passage through this life - we all face disappointments and setbacks. Therefore, our goal for ourselves and our loved ones should not be a flawless existence, but rather an increasingly mature adaptation to the inevitable setbacks.

Too many of the books on adulthood are depressing formulations of how everything falls apart after age 30. Who wants to believe that? Vailliant is much more encouraging, in that his thesis is that our 50's can be better than our 40's, our 40's better than our 30's. Sounds good to me (and in his follow up book "Aging Well" Vailliant takes the same cohort into their 80's, which can similarly be a time of growth and development.)

The scope of the study (as mentioned in other reviews) is limited not just to American males, but to those who graduated from college, and come from middle class or better backgrounds. Even within this context, the group selected included 238 of the "healthiest and most promising graduates" from one of America's "leading universities." So clearly, the study looks at some of the most privileged people in the world. Given this background, when reviewers say things like "Its most important finding, in my view, is that peoples circumstances in life play no role in their eventual success or failure", this has to be taken with a grain of salt. Others (such as John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth) have shown that the defense mechanisms and coping strategies people develop are due in large part to the stability of their early years. These circumstances (such as having caring, attentive parents who can provide for us) play an essential role in how people approach difficult situations. It is not simply a matter of choice. Although we can choose to improve our approach to life, some of us have grown up with healthy models of human interaction, and some of us have to revise and develop these models with much effort later in life.

However, the fact that this study is limited in demographic scope does not change the fact that it is a vital description of mental health within this context. It is naive to think that our circumstances play no role in our success and failure in life, but the ability to understand what mental health looks like and how it functions has the potential to help make all of us stronger people. By focusing health rather than sickness this study broke new ground and made important contributions to our understanding of human psychology -- but it is still only a small part of a large and rich field of study.

This book is amazing. It provides concrete examples based on a wonderful study of a group of Harvard graduates of how different psychological coping methods helped people succeed or fail during their lives.

Its most important finding, in my view, is that peoples circumstances in life play no role in their eventual success or failure. Instead, it is the coping methods that people develop, and the positive effort they put in, that decide their outcomes and happiness.

Most chapters contrast 2 real people from the Harvard study, identifying the opposing psychological methods each used (i.e. one is a procrastinator and another gets things done) and shows how their lives played out. Their behaviors correlated directly with their happiness and success in life. The procrastinator wandered from one job to the next, did not have satisfactory relationships, and did not build wealth. The person who got things done succeeded in business and in personal life.

This book identifies the key mental characteristics necessary to adapt to life, using concrete examples based on a long-term study. It provides a positive message that the circumstances of these subjects birth and background did not matter nearly as much as how much effort they put into life. It is well worth reading.

On the other hand, it is worth noting that these graduates were predominantly white, at least middle-class, often Protestant, and were part of the "greatest generation" that as WWII veterans worked during a time when the US economy was booming.

Money was terribly important to Anthony Trollope who never quit his day job at the British Post Office but laboured industriously both at his novels and at his career in the British civil service.

A typical Victorian civil servant in London worked from 10 to 4 for a little over a hundred pounds a year, wages with which a gentleman could pursue a comfortable life occupying a room in the city while dining at clubs, but wages at which he might not marry and raise a family without abandoning this high life. Having both required a much higher revenue, say a thousand a year. A family required a house not rooms, a carriage, not cabs, a housemaid for the wife not chores for the housewife. And there you know all you need to know of Adolphus Crowley, the man who jilts the novel's heroine, Lily Dale, when he learns she comes with no dowry.

A hundred pounds a year also amounted to the wages of Doctor Crofts, a young country doctor with only poor patients. He feels it's not quite enough to allow him to pursue Bell, Lily's older sister. It was also the fantastic sum promised the wards of Hiram's Hospital in the earlier Barsetshire novel, the Warden. Johnny Eames, Lily Dale's other suitor, also belongs to the civil service but at somewhat under a hundred a year and lives in a boarding house in rather unpleasant company.

And yet, money can't be everything. Lily Dale lives rent free with Bell and their widowed mother Mary in the small house of the title, while her bachelor uncle, the Squire of Allington whose land brings in some four thousand pounds a year, lives in the larger house. But when the childless uncle hints that their living there gives him some fatherly authority, the women refuse to recognize this and move out. On principle. We easily recognize Trollope in this careful working out of what actions are right and wrong, of how higher principles translate into practical everyday decisions.

Trollope does paint his characters with more contrast here than in his other Barsetshire novels, making his villain a little more villainous than Sowerby in Framley Parsonage and his heroine Lily Dale purer than Mary Thorne in Doctor Thorne. But I can't say I liked Lily very much. I certainly sympathized with her plight and admired her fortitude, but I think Trollope idealized her too much and turned fortitude to stubborness. Fortunately, other characters make up for a priggish Lily.

Since Trollope is Trollope, we end up sympathizing a little with the villain as he finds no solace in the woman for whom he left Lily. Uncle Christopher Dale relents somewhat in his position and acknowledges he loves his nieces, regardless of whatever duty he might or might not owe them. Johnny Eames, apparently more a more than slightly autobiographical character, grows up achieving something resembling manhood.

And we meet Plantagenet Palliser, the hero of Trollope's other great series, the Palliser novels, who appears scandalously often with the young Lady Dumbello. What will we make of that, now?

Vincent Poirier, Dublin

The Small House at Allington (1864) is a nearly 800 page Victorian three decker novel by Anthony Trollope (1815-1882. The former postal employee wrote 47 novels and is one of Britain's greatest authors. The Small House at Allington is the favorite novel of former Conservative Prime Minister John Major. You don't have to be a politician or pundit to enjoy this excellent book.
Lily Dale lives in the Small House with her mother and sisters. She becomes engaged to the London playboy/cad Adolphus Crosbie. The office clerk John Eames is also in love with Lily. When Crosbie jilts Lily to wed Lady Alexandrine De Courcy a rich ninny the plot thickens. Will John win Lily or will she remain true to Crosbie her first love depsite the impossiblity of ever marrying him?
Trollope is very good in his realistic dialogue and situations. We see the British middle and upper classes at home, the club, in London and in the country. We encounter two major love triangles and see how these romances work themselves out in the class conscious world of high Victorian society. Unusual for Trollope is no mention of a fox hunt!
The novel is very long and was published serially in the Cornhill magazine over a number of months. I found it and Barchester Towers to be the most interesting of the Barsetshire novels set in and around the mythical town of Barset.
Trollope lacks the broad and comic vision of Dickens; the intelligent psychological insight of George Eliot and the satirical verve of Thackery but is still a novelist of the highest caliber. Read him and enjoy hours of reading pleasure.

Like all of the Barsetshire novels, The Small House at Allington is a delight to read.

Less delightful is the Nonsuch Classics edition. This is the second Nonsuch title I have read, and both have been absolutely riddled with typos. I am not exaggerating when I write that there is some error (a strangely placed comma or an odd word substitution ("me" for "he" or "my" for "by") on virtually every page. It's very distracting and aggravating.

I would recommend the book very highly, but would strongly advise any reader to seek out another edition.

I liked this book, not as much as some of the others in the series, but it has its distinguishing points. As other reviewers note, the characters are well drawn and believable. I most of all enjoyed the squire and the earl. The squire especially struck me as a sort of realistic Ebenezer Scrooge with the sharp edges much removed. I liked his sister Lady Julia. Crosbie is an interesting semi-cad. The descriptions of the hum-drum of the clerks' lifes in the City were revealing as well, and reminds one that Dilbert has his Victorian counterparts. The introduction to Plantagenet Palliser is finely done.

Beautiful book. Though it's the 5th book in the series, any newcomers to Trollope could profitably start here to get the flavor of the series.

These folks have done a really great job in creating a really cool series about what it might be like to live in New Orleans. And unlike most of the stupid movies this one seems real, and the people talk like normal people. I've only been there once (spring break) but this really did make me think of the city when I was listedning to it. The music is a lot of fun too.

I listen to a ton of audio books when I'm working out and this one is just about the best I've heard (although it's totally unfair to call this an audio book because it has dozens of actors, and sound effects, and music, and it's more like a play than a book). I went to the website minds-ear.org and learned more about the show and the cool people who did it -- anyone interested in this series should visit the site to learn more if you have questions. (I bought mine there,sorry Amazon) It's cool, and fun, and sad, and addicting. Even if you'd never think you'd like something like this (but that's not the case because your HERE, right?) I think you should try it. The packaging is nifty too.

My teacher leant me her copy, as I am an exchange student from China learning English. She said this would be a good way for me to hear the language spoken by native speakers. I admit that I viewed this first as a textbook of English language in America. But fast, I found myself pulled in to the storys and people. I never knew that a story with sounds only could ever be interesting. I have not to be in New Orleans, I want to go now. I find movies in English can be hard to follow as I am distracted by images. This allowed me to concentrate on the language. If this story is similar to the life in this place I want to see it for myself. I think that anyone who is trying to learn English should know about plays like this. I think a person who is interested in being very entertained should get a copy of this play in specific. It is fun, sad, drama, good, sounds very nice, action, nice music, and the people are very real. The storys are interesting. It is excellent. I enjoyed this very much. I think you would too.

I heartily recommend Joel and Dana Pierson's "French Quarter" for consumption by anyone who loves audio, relishes theatre, and possesses a sincere sense of living and humanity. I will warn you, however, that once you open this tale, you cannot extract yourself from it until its end. And even then, you will not be able to stop yourself from thinking and feeling for the characters and the circumstances they find themselves in. It is with a tremendous love and awareness of life and all its quirks that the Piersons have written this tale ... and it is with pure hard work and dedication that they, along with their wickedly talented and equally understanding cast and crew, brought this superb "baby" to life for all of us to hear. Take it from someone who fell in love with "George" and cried through his greatest sacrifice. And the tale of "Jorge and Rachel" which speaks volumes for the agelessness and racial blindness of true love. Along with its dazzling array of human beings, "French Quarter" also delves into some important social issues such as adoption and women's rights, and does great justice to their significance by treating them with common sense and realism. Let's not forget the biting humor and a sharp eye (or should I say 'ear') for the cultural idiosyncracies of N'Awlins. In all, I found "French Quarter" to be much like an excellent jambalaya! I just couldn't wait to sink my teeth into another beautifully crafted character, a well-written line, or a carefully engineered sound. And left me wanting lots more.

I'm a native of NOLA and was given this for Christmas. I've listened to it for a think the fourth time in 3 weeks (I spend a lot of time in the car). This is great storytelling and so nicely recorded. Great acting. SUPER music by some local New Orleans natives. This is great. Highly recommended. I was happy to find that I stayed interested in all the characters and was touched by some tragic events. Thanks also to the writers for telling "alternative lifestyle" stories with dignity and humor. Thanks also for bringing new life to that NOLA cliche, the vampire. George is powerful and his story is "real".

Get this. Listen to it. Buy it for friends. Worth EVERY penny and then some.

I relistening to this audio production recently, I cant change my review--i totally agree with myself. It is a tribute to the talented artists who loved and made this city their home and the people who are this city

Here what I said before-I was transported to New Orleans. This multicast production blends and meshes together like a spicy gumbo of music, effects and dialogue. Innovative and unique. You won't be disappointed in this groundbreaking audio theatre work. Dana Dyer Pierson is one of the finest sound designers working in the industry today.

May I add Joel Pierson captured the live New Orleans Pre storm in this audio script and I hope one day, it will come back to the same way this audio has it portrayed

Lets Rebuild New Orleans back to where it was and the FRENCH QUARTER shall rise again like a phoenix from the ashes!

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD