Source The Books

Dr. Leeds has completed a work that has long been missing. Her book is scholarly and insightful. I highly recommend it. Let's hope we see more books from Dr. Leeds.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of the Cherokee Nation. Dr. Leed's love and understanding of the Cherokee's is obvious upon reading this book. I found this book interesting and well written.

I picked this book up at the library, interested because Van Gogh is one of my favorite painters and intrigued by the title. I didn't expect that I would actually read it- just look at the pictures. I ended up doing both! It was fascinating to read about the influences behind Van Gogh's paintings and what motivated him to work so hard on his art. His objective was to make art that consoles, a striking idea. This is more than an impressive coffee table book- it's valuable insight on a genius's artistic theory for any artist or art appreciator.

Collaboratively compiled and collectively edited by Chris Stolwijk, Sjraar Van Heugten, Leo Jansen, and Andreas Bluhm, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum: Exploring The Artist's Inner World is a 150th anniversary tribute celebration of Vincent Van Gogh's March 30th birthday. Inspired by "Vincent's Choice: The Musee Imaginaire of Van Gogh" (an impressive art exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), this 320-page coffee table artbook offers an informed and informative body of expert commentary in the form of ten essays on Van Gogh and the artists his masterpieces inspired. Enhanced with more than 300 images (including 196 plates in full color), as well as excerpts from letters by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum is a superbly presented, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, professional, academic Art History and Art Appreciation reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Van Gogh's Imaginary Museum would also make a perfect community library "Memorial Fund" acquisition selection.

Four unintended results of World War I were the Great Depression, the rise of Big Communism, obviously World War II, and the rise of Fascism. Some historians argue that the rise of Big Fascism may have been the result of the the other unintended consequences. John Maynard Keynes served clear warning of the economic consequences only to be ignored and later, too late, to be proved correct and prophetic. Eugene Weber's book titled VARIETIES OF FASCISM is a surprising informative book on the emergence of Fascism. This small book was well written and very comprehensive for such a small book as a previous reviewer has noted.

Weber begins this book with ideas and trends of the second half of the 19th. century. He traced one source of Fascism to Rosseau's political thinking. Weber also comments on Euroepean economic conditions especially after 1850. Some European merchants accepted Classical Liberalism and laissez-faire economic theorizing as well some some respect for civil liberties. However, when some businessmen and merchants realized that they were being undermined by international corporations and banking institutions, they began to look for other political responces to these problems as Classical Liberalism appeared to be either a failure or too corrupt.

Weber was clear in this book that Fascism was usually a combination of socialism and nationalism. Communism which represented international socialism and class warfare did not appeal to most industrial workers. Weber cited some comments made by European workers who thought that the notions of class warfare and international socialism were ludicrous. Many industrial workers and failed businessmen saw socialism as national socialism which is a key to Weber's book.

Weber treated Fascist movements in Britain (Oswald Mosley), France (Mauras & co.) Belgium (Degrelle and the Rexists), Hungary (Szlazy and the Hungarian Arrow Cross), Germany (Hitler and the National Socialists), Italy (Musolini and the Fascists), etc. Weber was clear that each of these Fascist leaders rose to popularity and some to actual political power based on promises to reform the economic disasters of the Great Depression which in turn can be traced to World War I. Each leader demanded control over the economy but did not want to take private property. The prominent British historian, A.J.P. Taylor, has an interesing comment in his book THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR II that Hitler and co. stumbled on the econmics exactly as FDR did with FDR's New Deal.

Weber also made mention of the fact all Fascist leaders exhibited fears of Big Communism. In parts of Central and Eastern Europe fears of Big Communism were very real. Weber implied and Nolte states very clearly that without Big Communism there may not have been Big Fascism. Weber repeatedly mentioned that angry memories of W.W. I on part of both the "winners" and losers were long standing. Any honest historian will state that actually no one won that blood bath.

Weber made interesing comments regarding Franco and the Spanish Phlangists. Weber contended that Franco got control of the Spanish Phlangists before there could be a Fascist revolution in Spain, and Franco used the Phlangists to fight against what was seen as a Communist grab for power in Spain. Franco disbanded the Phlangists and politically harrassed them after the Spanish Leftists were defeated. Readers should note that once the Spanish Leftists were defeated, Franco obstructed Hitler's plans to invade Gilbralter which was British. Franco kept Spain neutral during World War II.

Weber could have mentioned the Bolsheviks which some historians think had Fascist tendencies. For example, Lenin, not Stalin, crushed spontaneous workers' movements early in the Russian Revolution. Borkenau and Nolte commented that both Lenin and Stalin secretly fostered anti-Semitism. If Fascism is defined as anti-Communism, the Stalin regime may have been Fascist. Stalin & co. launched the biggest purges of Communists in history, and everyone of Lenin's followers were destroyed by Stalin' purges. The only exception was Lenin's wife. Nolte makes interesting comments on this phenomenon in his book titled THE THREE FACES OF FASCISM.

Weber's VARIETIES OF FASCISM has a good section of excerpts of Fascist comments made througout Europe. The bibliography is brief but is very useful. For those who want a better understanding of Fascism which has been used too loosely in poltical parlance, Weber's book helps to correct some of the confusion. Again, this is a surprisingly good book for its size which another review has mentioned. This book is recommended.

Prof. Weber begins by finding the roots of fascist tendencies in the thought of Rousseau and proceeds to sift through the substrate of ideas, primarily anti-liberalism (abandonment of laissez-faire and individualism) and nationalism, that fertilized and led to the eventual flowering of fascist movements. That nationalism is collectivistic in nature is a point that is frequently overlooked, and readers will be reminded that nationalism and socialism are both products of the same assumptions. Once this is recognized, it is easy to understand why the author views fascism and communism as not antithetical but rather "fréres ennemis".

He goes on to pinpoint in a very straightforward and persuasive way the general dynamics of fascism. This discussion yields several gems too numerous to list here, including the observation that fascist ideology contains both an equalitarian [egalitarian] AND elitist element...an observation pregnant with implications that go a long way toward explaining why fascism became so immensely popular. The book concludes with a brief analysis of several better- and lesser-known fascist movements that have appeared throughout Europe, along with a list of readings pertaining to same.

This is a compact volume, but its size is deceiving. Readers will find more substance packed into these 191 pages than in most works twice as long. You won't learn everything that is important to know about fascism from this book but as a quick and concise introduction to the subject it is, for anyone with an earnest interest, indispensable.

The collaborative effort of Gordon A. Cotton and Jeff T. Giambrone and extensively illustrated with black-and-white photographs and vintage artworks, Vicksburg And The War tells the Civil War era story of the "most Southern of cities" -- Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was a state which voted against secession from the Union, but became Confederate and contributed both resources and manpower to the Southern side when the Union's army came to bear upon the Confederacy. A wealth of anecdotes and a close study of the battles of 1861 and 1862 (as well as the devastating effects of the Union's occupation after Vicksburg's surrender), Vicksburg And The War is a powerful glimpse into history that emphasizes the lasting Southern spirit and a much appreciated contribution to the growing library of Civil War Studies.

Of interest not only to Civil War buffs but to all who follow our country's history, "Vicksburg and the War" offers an in depth look at much that has been overlooked. Generously illustrated this slim volume focuses on the people of Vicksburg, their hopes and the dreaded time of occupation.

As votes indicated the people of Vicksburg were not in favor of secession or the Civil War. However, when the Union army was at their doorstep and they were left with no alternative Vicksburg joined forces with the Confederacy.

Well over 2,500 men trooped off to battle. Many never returned. Along with other Southerners citizens of Vicksburg believed the war would end in a matter of days but the months wore on. For 47 days the city was under siege and then occupied by the enemy for a matter of years.

"Vicksburg and the War" traces military actions in that area as well as military occupation of one of the most "Southern of cities." Perhaps most poignant is the author's documentation of the feelings of Vicksburg's people.

- Gail Cooke

When the British Empire relinquished control to India, the jewel in the British crown, it became evident the age of Imperial European expansionism had come to an end. The period of global decolonization following World War II paved the way for a more critical approach to colonial history. The Euro-centric historical narratives of the colonial conquests were no longer acceptable within the academic community or for that matter entirely accurate. Stuart B. Schwartz a Professor of History at Yale University has set out to ensure the history of the conquest of Mexico is not written exclusively by the winners, but rather to present a fair and balanced compilation of European and Native American primary sources complemented by his own expert analysis. "Additional alternate texts paint a broader, richer canvas, fleshing out the narrative and conveying to the reader a sense that there was not simply a "Spanish" or an "Indian" view. Rather, there are a variety of visions and opinions, influenced and mediated by personal interests, class and ethnic biases, political considerations, and many other factors."
The introduction provides the reader with a comprehensive description of Mesoamerican and Spanish societies on the eve of the conquest. Included is the rise to power of the Mexica Empire through conquest and expansion and the foundation of the empire's island capital at Tenochtitlan. The author describes the historical background of the primary sources which constitute the majority of the narrative. Nahua sources are drawn primarily from The Florentine Codex, a post-conquest study of indigenous history and culture conducted by literate natives under the auspices of a Spanish missionary named Fray Bernardino De Sahagun. Erudite natives rather quickly adopted the Roman alphabet, for the most part abandoning the use of Nahuatl hieroglyphics, and by the late 1500's were capable of writing both Spanish and Nahuatl. However, the reader is advised of the existence of tribal differences and patron appeasement reflected within the codex as historical partiality as the greater part of Sahagun's indigenous informants were from Tlatelolco, a city under Tenochtitlan political control, and highly critical of the Mexica Empire and Montezuma. The principal Spanish source is Bernal Diaz del Castillo's book The True History of the Conquest of New Spain which chronicles the conquest from a soldier's perspective. Despite the wandering and crude prose of Bernal Diaz, his account documents the typical conquistador's motivations and justifications for the conquest, reveals the true scope of the clash of cultures beginning with the first encounters up to the fall of Tenochtitlan, and provides indispensable anecdotes from a human voice and mind of reason which serve to bring the events and personalities of the conquest to life for the student of Mesoamerican history.
The book is divided into eight chapters proceeding in chronological order from 1518-1521. Each section is preceded by a succinct analysis of the documents, the biases to avoid and the themes to concentrate upon. Integrated among the sources are useful maps, both ancient and modern, and paintings, both Spanish and Native American, which are complemented with academically irrefutable analysis and interpretations.
The first chapter entitled "Forebodings and Omens" deals primarily with a mysterious comet, an unexplained temple fire attributed to vindictive gods, and a weeping prophetic woman in the streets of Tenochtitlan which ominously preceded the tragic death of the empire. The mysterious premonitions are largely attributable to post-conquest indigenous attempts at justifying the procedures of their government. The aforementioned is particularly conspicuous in the legend of Quetzalcoatl, a god/man who left Tenochtitlan in the eastward direction, vowing to return in claim of his land. Thus, as Cortes arrived from the east, the Nahua mistook the Spaniard to be Quetzalcoatl. However, Schwartz informs the reader the myth of Quetzalcoatl is most likely a defense for Montezuma's vacillation. The second chapter "Preparations" concerns the backgrounds of the conquistadors and how Hernando Cortes came to lead the expedition.
The third chapter "Encounters" relies heavily upon Bernal Diaz's account of the first cross-cultural encounters at Cozumel and the Yucatan. Hernando Cortes is portrayed displaying his horses and cannons to frighten the natives at every chance that presented itself as both a joke and a military tactic. Both Spanish and native accounts however focus on the importance of interpreters such as Dona Marina, diplomacy, and the exchange of gifts in the interactions between the two civilizations. The fourth chapter "The March Inland: Tlaxcala and Cholula" in which Schwartz explains the strategic alliance between the Spanish and the Tlaxcalans, arrived at after a fierce battle, often neglected from native accounts. The Spanish-Tlaxcala alliance was of paramount importance in helping a band of approximately a thousand Spaniards turn the tide against an empire of warriors. However, after the battle for Tenochtitlan, the Tlaxcalans were offered no special consideration by the conquerors, resulting in distortion of the differentiation between historical victors and vanquished. After consummating the alliance at Tlaxcala, the Spanish arrive at Cholula where they are at first cordially accepted but were apparently deceived by the Cholulans. Here history becomes vague as the actors attempt to justify, excuse, or condemn, nonetheless the result was a bloodbath. Adres de Tapia, a Spanish conquistador justifies the Cholula massacre as a provoked attack to prevent a planned ambush. While the native accounts differ because of post-conquest patron appeasements, the consensus leaned toward an unprovoked slaughter.
In chapters five and six Schwartz compares indigenous and Spanish accounts of Cortes' arrival at the island capital which are remarkably equivalent with the exception of the native's bewilderment at the deer upon which the Spaniards were mounted and the Spanish comparison of the city of Tenochtitlan to Venice, Italy. Nonetheless, the sense of awe and astonishment are present throughout both accounts. Conversely, the versions disagree over the incident at Toxcatl with the Indians claiming an unprovoked massacre and the Spaniards claiming Pedro de Alvarado was merely foiling a rebellion. Likewise, the tragic death of Montezuma is portrayed differently in each account. The Tlatelocans appear angered equally by the death of their leader and the capitulation of their leader while the Spanish are mournful of the death of Montezuma. The pure emotion surrounding the foreboding death of the emperor is evident in Bernal Diaz's account when he laments: "Cortes wept for him, and all of us Captains and soldiers, and there was no man among us who knew him and was intimate with him, who did not bemoan him as though he were our father"
Chapters seven and eight refer to the final defeat of the city of Tenochtitlan and the protracted effects of the conquest, colonial rule, and cultural syncretism. Schwartz reveals the glory and sophistication of Mexica civilization, its valiant resistance as it gasped its last breaths at Tenochtitlan, and its resilience under colonial rule. Bernal Diaz's account of the fierce native resistance, the siege of Tenochtitlan and the final defeat of the empire is characterized by his intense reverence of the courage, strength and resiliency of the natives. The native account of the defeat drawn from The Florentine Codex encapsulates the tragedy of the annihilation of the civilization: "the Spainiards took things from people by force. They were looking for gold; they cared nothing for green-stone, precious feathers, or turquoise. Then they burned some of them on the mouth [branded them]; and...the weapons were laid down and we collapsed"
Criticism of Victors and Vanquished can only be directed at the personal agendas, political motivations, class, ethnic, and religious biases contained within the primary sources themselves which supplant historical fact with historical subjectivism. Schwartz reminds the reader that historical scholarship is constructed upon a foundation of anecdotal primary sources and it is the endeavor of the scholar to interpret and distinguish the factual from the tainted and distorted. Schwartz emphasizes the Sisyphean task of creating a true accurate history and invites debate inquiring, "What is a "true" history?"
Nonetheless, the author equips the wary reader with a concise analysis preceding each primary source allowing the scholar to continue reading cognizant of biases to avoid and themes to concentrate upon. His writing style is neither loquacious nor deficient, but rather Schwartz provides the ideal amount of flawless and meticulous analysis all the while exhibiting his dominant command of the subject. Stuart B. Schwartz's Victors and Vanquished is an unprecedented and enriching academic breakthrough in the interpretation of the past, deviating from the archaic tradition of history dictated exclusively by conquerors to a balanced and even-handed scholarship shining light on victors and vanquished alike.
ZC

This well edited text brings students the documents behind the stories they may have read in high school textbooks. How did the Spanish conquer the spectacular city of Tenochtitlan with so few soldiers and in alien territory? The documents tell how they exploited alliances that were already in place. With hundreds of Tlaxcalan warriors accompanying them, housing them, feeding men and horses alike, the group of Spaniards was able to approach Tenochtitlan, make themselves unwelcome, and barely escape from the city alive... A fascinating read.

This collection titled "Voices of Revolution" is a selection from the many letters, resolutions, requests, appeals, complaints and invective sent to various state organs and important politicians from the period of the Russian Revolution by 'regular people'. Farmers, soldiers, deserters, workers, and so on all came together in that period to elect their own representatives and form their own councils, and these councilmembers in turn responded to the many confused events of those days with letters and resolutions supporting or opposing specific policies or politicians. Equally, individual farmers, laborers etc. wrote letters, requests, insults or even poetry to popular newspapers as well as party leaders in the hope of getting their voices heard.

In between all these documents, translated into English but also available online in their Russian originals, the editor Mark Steinberg provides a short but effective history of the period to give context to the many voices of the revolution. He does this fairly and accurately, and the many-sidedness of popular opinion in those days belies any one-sided view of the revolution. Of course it is never entirely clear how representative these individual and collective letters and appeals are, but judging by the various election results and the repetition of the same complaints and issues in the letters, the two match quite well. That makes this book an invaluable insight into the views of the common man in Russia, 1917.

A remarkable collection of documents and interpretations giving one an understanding of the revolution from below. By the way, I notice that the original Russian texts of the documents are available at http://www.yale.edu/annals/Steinberg/golosa.htm

McIntyre chronicles the history of persecution of our nation's magnificent predator, the wolf. HOW could people have these views of such incredibly intelligent and social animals which STILL persist today?

Education is so necessary and SO MISSING in our schools about how the federal government has aided and abetted the livestock industry in the extermination of our nation's precious assets, it's native predators.

A Must Read!

An extremely comprehensive history of American sentiment about the wolf. This book does an excellent job of covering the various aspects of changing legislation on the wolf at both the federal and state levels. It also thoroughly cites chants, essays, poems and treatises that map the varying American views about the wolf. Do not look for detailed biological information in this book, however, this is a study on human attitudes as they have affected the wolf. A good read for anyone interested in conservation, or the plight of the wolf in specific.

A great source for data reflecting the personal life and values of Lee. Interesting to see the differences in the way he addresses those close to him as opposed to a generally non supportive cast of characters above him.

What a thrill for students of the Confederacy! "Marse Robert's" own words come to life in his letters and dispatches of the war years! The editors do a masterful job of beginning each chapter/section with a framing sequence, followed by the respective text of key "papers" written by Genl Lee. From simplistic "love-letters" to his wife, to stratagems dispatched to Jackson, Johnston, Ewell, et. al., the reader is given first hand insights to the personality and thought-processes of the CSA's dominant figure.
On a structural note, the book is set in somewhat small print. A handful of maps are offered. At 900-plus pages, I'd suggest this book for (obviously!) serious students of the war or Genl Lee. Perhaps one should first digest on of the many biographies of R. E. Lee before attacking this Bible-sized epic.

"We the People Considers the Patriots' Act" might very well be the title of an important essay that should be written by an individual much more knowledgeable than I. Instead it is my way of introducing you to two books that have made significant impressions on me during the past month.

We the People by Adolph Caso has been a troubling, perplexing text for me to assimilate. Although I am not an avid "student" of America's history, I was nevertheless appalled to learn for the first time in my life about Cesare Beccaria and his role in our history. Indeed, I had never heard of his essay, "Crimes and Punishments."

We are all aware that there are laws under which we, the people, are judged and punished daily. But have we any significant background and/or knowledge of those laws? Have we any significant understanding of the philosophies that guided America in its formative years. I, for one, admit I did not.

Yet, the truths in Beccaria's book have been incorporated in the constitutions of practically all European countries, as well as America. Indeed, in America where there is a great need to co-exist amongst many immigrants, it required much more. "The extent to which Beccaria's observation served to cause the Founding Fathers to opt for "We, the People" over "We, the States" may never be completely known. But that the Constitution was supposed to be the supreme law of the land has certainly come to fruition. It is this kind of law, a law that aims at the single individual rather than at units, that Beccaria was principally concerned with, it being the means to regulate the activities of men and to assure them their happiness on earth." (P.288).

How can we ever attain a government of the people when we, as individuals are not taught our responsibilities? If we are not taught to take responsibility for our actions, if we are not provided an opportunity to learn what response will occur when we act irresponsibly, how are we to survive? "Among the richest to the poorest ...from the lowliest positions to the highest offices in the land--including in the courts and with judges, ministers, politicians, lawyers and every other profession--responsibility needs to be taught, emphasized and enforced, without which we end up with mayhem and ultimately destroying ourselves." (Dick Innes, Founder/ Director of ACTS International and ACTS Communications, Daily Encounter, July 13, 2006.)

While reading and studying, yes, studying, the text of We the People, I picked up a novel by one of my favorite storytellers, Stephen T. Cannell. Who of us has not seen a picture of him on TV, at the end of one of his major dramas, excitingly tearing out a sheet of paper from his typewriter and having it fly away until his next program of the A-Team (my favorite) The Rockford Files, The Commish, et. al. Thus, in my usual anticipation of a good suspense story, I opened Cold Hit.

As with many of today's major authors, Cannell has taken an issue and created a drama that helps us learn about and see the possible and probable ramifications of what is happening in today's America. In Cold Hit, Cannell calls our attention to the Patriots' Act. Was it that I had already been studying We the People, or was it the drama and reality of Cold Hit? However absorbing the storyline of Cold Hit, it brought fiction into reality for me as I watched Cannell put the Patriots' Act into action.

What if, under the USA Patriot Act, federal bureaucrats could take murder cases away from local cops--then bury those cases so they're never investigated again?

What if government agents could bug your home, your car, and your place of business--your entire life--with nothing more than spoken permission from a secret panel of judges?

What if the Department of Homeland Security could pull police officers off the street and hold them in cells indefinitely as material witnesses--because they're working on "sensitive" investigations?

They Can. . .(From the book cover)

I thank Cannell for writing Cold Hit to explain through fictional narrative the ramifications of the Patriots' Act! If you also were unaware of the extent of powers granted under the Patriots' Act, you will come to realize and question whether we are still a government of The People...

Adoph Caso has brought together the major significant documents from America's past. His inclusion of "Essays on Crime and Punishments" was entirely new to me. Yes, I can recall learning about our government, how bills and laws are formulated. I had learned and memorized "We the People of the United States, in order to formulate a more..." as is normally required in our schools. But I had never learned one word about "Crimes and Punishments." Even as I read, I was asking others, "do you recall ever learning about...?"

Why have we been taught basic guidelines, what you might call, our Policies? But never really trained in our procedures--the basics about our laws, crimes and punishments? How can an Act, such as the Patriots' Act be implemented without "We the People" fully understanding what that could mean to each of us?

Perhaps instead of two book reviews, I have actually written a short essay...but it is one that is based upon what I have learned by reading these two books. This is insufficient coverage of the books' content, perhaps, but is it not a goal of every writer to have a reader absorb and take something away from each book? That I have done! If you are concerned about our nation and what is happening today, take first a look at the past with We the People by Adolph Caso, to gain a better understanding of the philosophy behind our crimes and punishments. Then, read novels by individuals such as Stephen J. Cannell with Cold Hit, who research and tell you about events and actions that could very well affect the rest of your life!

Both of these books, in my opinion, should be on your permanent/keep bookshelf as Must Reads!

"The Worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." --James Bryce

What is our Constitution based on? What makes the Bill of Rights one of the most unique documents in World History? What's so special about the Emancipation Proclamation? This book gives the answers and so much more.

More than a book about historical documents, Caso explains the importance of each. Caso gives you the explanation as to what each document stands for and its impact on our history.

The entire text of each document is enclosed, which I found quite refreshing, as most books of this genre tend to scrutinize only certain parts. The author has certainly done his homework with this book.

A true must read for all high school and college students, as well as all politicians. This book will take out the complexity of the documents and simplify the meaning. An excellent read and a job well done!

My husband passed away a couple months ago from an accident. He was only 29 years old and we've been married for only 4 years. We didn't have any children yet. I found this book when I visited my sister in Sydney, Australia. I went to her Catholic Church and found this book at its Library. I amazed how true what the author said about people who grief and feel. I totally can relate to how she felt when her husband died. I am so glad that I read this book because I was confused and did not know how to react, what to do and how to move on with my life. People keep saying that I am still young and there is a bright future in front of me. However, the pain of being lost by someone you love so much is unbearable and it is so hard to move on and face the day every morning without him.

The book was written by a Catholic widow age 45 whose husband died suddenly, leaving her with 9 kids. I bought this book for the husband of my (also young) friend who was killed in a car accident, leaving two very young children. I read it before giving it to him, and I thought it to be a very practical and purposeful guide that gives many "how-to" pointers in how to continue on, in addition to outlining the emotions of grief. Many books have stories on grief - working through emotions - but this one gives practical advice on finances, legal affairs, dealing with grieving children as well as healing yourself. I will let y'all know if he found it as helpful as I thought he would. It's a short read (122 pages) and is written in an easy, straightforward manner by a sympathetic writer. I would recommend this for an unexpected or young death, especially of one who left young kids behind. Even though it is Catholic-oriented, I would recommend it for those who are Christian but not Catholic as well.