Rebecca Books

The century between Augustine's death in 430 and the so-called Council of Orange in 529 has been treated rather cursorily by historians of doctrine, obscured as it has been by the long shadow of the bishop of Hippo. The tendency in treatments focusing on Dogmengeschichte has been to regard the period as a sort of quiet backwater, highlighted occasionally by evidence of the decays and glimmerings of Augustinianism. Such a viewpoint has never been adequate, and its insufficiency has been underscored in recent decades by the renewed scholarly interest in the profound social and cultural transformations of the fifth and sixth centuries. Rebecca Weaver's monograph makes a substantial step forward by setting the "Semi-Pelagian" controversy in the context of some of these transformations.

Weaver's interests are theological, a fact which--O tempore!--sets her treatment apart from much that is currently being written about early Christianity. Her central thesis is unremarkable, namely, that the controversies over divine grace and human agency that burst forth sporadically from Augustine's last years (c. 426) to Orange were the function of deep differences of theological concern and social setting between the disputants. Such differences have been noted before. Weaver's study, however, is remarkable in its ability to mark out their contours through careful, sensitive reading of the polemical texts.

Weaver distills the differences between, on the one hand, Augustine and his defenders and, on the other, those who questioned his doctrine of divine grace. The former, operating within a congregational setting, sought to safeguard the sovereignty of grace, while the latter, from within a monastic milieu, aimed to preserve the connection between human actions and human destiny. While Augustine's opponents could be regarded as traditionalists, following a path tracing back through Evagrius Ponticus and Origen, Augustine's own account of divine grace was novel and "almost entirely self-constructed." The "Semi-Pelagian" controversy, then, is essentially a clash between two different ways of conceiving the relations between God and humanity, "the Augustinian and the monastic." At first blush, this distinction may seem overdone; Augustine was, after all, a cenobite of a sort and a guide to the monastic life. In truth, the distinction between the two perspectives might be expressed with greater nuance. But the reality to which it points is clear enough. As Weaver patiently demonstrates, the differences between Augustine and, for example, John Cassian, were so deep that they could not be overcome by the convergences of vocabulary that marked the century-long evolution of the controversy.

Beginning with Augustine's troubles with the monks of Hadrumetum, Weaver traces this evolution through a clear and informative survey of the writings of the combatants: Cassian, Prosper of Aquitaine, Vincent of Lérins, Faustus of Riez, Fulgentius of Ruspe, and Caesarius of Arles. This survey is unobtrusively informed by the most recent scholarship, and Weaver proves herself a careful reader of texts. The result is the clearest and most theologically astute account of the "Semi-Pelagian" controversy now available. It also suggests the need for detailed and comprehensive accounts of Gallic and North African monasticism. This book should certainly be in every theological library. It is a sure guide to an important period in the history of doctrine, for the Augustine who emerged from this period, his rough predestinarian edges worn somewhat smoother by the course of this controversy, was the doctor of grace for the Middle Ages.

Thomas A. Smith

This is a fabulous book for older children. Really nice photographs--for example close-ups of paw pads and a dog's mouth. The glossary, index, and the "Further Research" sections are solid. The author also lists a annotated bibliography of works consulted! Karen Woodworth-Roman, Children's Science Book Review

This is the first book I have read by Rebecca Baldwin and it's a winner. The plot moves well and the characters are well-drawn and consistent, evoking anger, sympathy, humor from the reader.

Cordelia Hardy is from America, where her English-born father has amassed a ridiculously vulgar fortune in trade. Spurred by his naturally aggressive personality and his intense love for his daughter, Augustus Hardy has returned to England to purchase a title for Cordelia, in the form of a husband.

The impoverished Duke of Overslate is the cousin of Cordelia's one true friend in London, Mrs. Susannah Southbie. Overcoming his distaste for such a state as marriage--and marriage to an AMERICAN!--Harry agrees to meet Cordelia. Susannah introduces the Duke to Mr. Hardy and his daughter, and Harry is intrigued by the shy but intelligent Cordelia in spite of himself. She is not pretty, or outgoing, but her manner is sweet and gentle. She is not what the Duke would have expected a Duchess to be, but he is not unhappy with the financial agreement he reaches with Mr. Hardy.

His awkwardness with women and his inexperience with the opposite sex put him at a disadvantage, and he mistakenly gives Cordelia the impression that he loves her when he is proposing to her. Cordelia had loved him at first sight, and although she is genuinely surprised by his proposal, her shock gives way to joy and happiness. Her doting father cannot bring himself to tell the naive girl that he had arranged for the marriage like he arranged his other business ventures.

The soon-to-be Duchess is an instant success in the society that had scorned and snubbed Cordelia only weeks before. But it is when she visits Overslate Castle that she receives her most painful exposure to the pride and haughtiness of Harry's family. Harry had mistakenly assumed his new bride wanted all the pomp and splendour her father was buying for her, and the house party is lavish and overwhelming to his new bride. His relatives are overbearing, judgemental and scornful of the "Dollar Duchess" while Harry's cousin, the beautiful and newly widowed Lady Eastman, clearly has her relations' vote as the new Duchess instead of this American upstart.

As her father is fond of saying, Cordelia will be led, but not driven. Yet how far can Harry's relatives drive her with their snubs and cruelty before she digs in her heels? And why isn't Harry defending his fiance, and instead allowing his cousin Lord Trevor to spend so much time with her?

A very satisfying romp! I'm looking forward to more by Rebecca Baldwin!

Excellent book about the terrible Dr. Mengele, with some fiction weaved in. Highly recommended!

I love this book and have borrowed it numerous times from the public library. I originally checked it out 2 years ago to learn how to make fun and amusing animal drawings for my then preschool-age son since I have little innate ability to draw. The book instructs you step-by-step through some stylized drawings of animals using simple letter and number shapes. Because you are combining familiar shapes there is the potential (with practice) to actually remember the steps. And, as it turned out, my son could draw some of the simpler animal designs himself, so we had fun using this book together. I recently tried to purchase this book and was disappointed to learn that the book is out of print.

If this book doesn't make you think twice about committing a crime, I don't know what will. Wonderful story. Very captivating.

This is an unusual and fascinating book. The author is very open about personal tragedies and then explains how the interaction with the artists at ArtPace has been curative and mind expanding. The art is of the most edgy, but the author is clear about the thinking behind the images and the processes. The photos are beautiful, the book is a treat to look at and to think about. It should appeal to any thoughtful person and give contemporary art scoffers something to ponder.

Although I am an adult, this book brought back wonderul memories of my childhood. I would highly recommend this book to all readers, young and old. It provides instant gratification and leaves the reader feeling warm and fuzzy. This book would make a wonderful Christmas presnt, especially for children who don't like to read. They can read little stories in the poems and they do not have to wait for a 300 page ending. Don't hesitate to purchase this item. I am sure that you will be as pleased as I was.

Rebecca Weinstein's Dylan the Dumptruck is a short, yet important literary event of 2006. While must books would be satisfied with a mere description of Dylan's workday, Weinstein goes deeper to examine the dumptruck's psyche and the social role he plays. When we first see Dylan he knows of the hard day ahead of him yet remains optimistic. Over the course of the day, he learns that he will have to pull a double shift, seeing as how the other truck fails to show up. He gruelingly finishes the day while his co-workers (the humans) smile about, leaving his suffering unnoticed. It is in the final panel that true message comes out. Dylan is left abandoned at the work site, unserviced, unwashed, and unloved. He remarks upon his fortune with the thought-provoking "I guess that's what happens to dumptrucks." He ends the day defeated, resolved to his fate. He accepts the unchangeable. There is no traditional ending to be found. There is no second chance in life. We are born into our fate, forever unchanging, forever disappointing. Once a dumptruck, always a dumptruck.

This is a sobering commentary on the public's infatuation with the American Dream. Abandon all hope ye who enter the universe of Rebecca Weinstein.

"The Robinson Crusoe of Texas." said J. Frank Dobie. "The most literate of all nineteenth-century Texas memoirs...authentic history." wrote John H. Jenkins in his "Basic Texas Books". In 1835, Texas offered young men like John C. Duval a chance for action and glory. That year he and his brother, Burr, the sons of a former governor of Florida, organized a volunteer company called the "Mustangs." Like Davy Crockett, they were fired up "to give the Texans a helping hand on the road to freedom" from Mexican rule. The first chapters of this book lead up to the Goliad Massacre, in which Burr was killed. John was luckier. After a hair-raising escape from Goliad, he wandered across the country-side, dodging the Mexicans and living by his wits. The diary that Duval kept during these exciting months was the basis for this book, which was published more than fifty years later, in 1892. In the intervening years he was a Texas Ranger known as "Texas John" and later was recognized as one of Texas's first men of letters as the author of "The Adventures of Big-Foot Wallace". A must for any Texas collector.