History Books

Paul Jellinek's Promise to Mary chronicles the author's travels through the northeast, south, and Alaska, capturing the spirit of "Faith in Action," a loose confederation of interfaith religious congregations who mobilize volunteers to care for the elderly and homebound. Told in the form of refreshingly original vignettes, an engaging portrait emerges of care-givers and receivers. We see the lines separating them often blurred, with some drawn to this calling by traumatic life events, leaving an indelible formative imprint on their life's experience.

Begun in 1993 through a series of nationwide grants awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the groups were started through seed grants to fund a paid executive to coordinate the volunteer base. The author's visits reveal that most of the original 25 have flourished more than 20 years, melding into the bedrock of community service in their individual locales.

The author skillfully remains the unobtrusive central character, through whom these voices are heard. The human toll exacted over a lifetime is examined in stories woven in a distinctly compassionate literary style. The author's gently probing questions are genuine and heartfelt. He gives voice to those whose eloquence, stifled by their infirmities, reveals their quiet perseverance and he allows them to express simply stated life-affirming truths.

Dr. Jellinek celebrates the nobility and dignity of those who populate the book. The overriding tone is decidedly redemptive and hopeful. Stories of great courage emerge as the unsung heroes of local community service manage time and again to marshal their inner reserves, drawing upon a fragile yet durable support network woven of member interfaith congregations and faith communities. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, largely under the radar. The stories call to mind the importance of small deeds which loom large in the lives of those whom they touch.

The nonthreatening imprimatur of "church" is time and again the narrow margin breached by wary "forgotten souls" who tentatively reach out for much needed help. Their simple but profound acts of faith and trust are to what the program owes its success.

This book should be required reading, especially for those embarking on a career in social work or community service. To read it is to be infused with a sense of all that is possible and to have one's faith in humanity restored, through a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of some of the finest people one could meet. The author succeeds in focusing a deserving spotlight on those remarkable people who populate our everyday lives, but whose heroic deeds are largely unknown, except to those whose lives are quietly transformed by their gentle presence.

This is a book whose power lies in the gentle yet compelling individual stories which emerge, revealing the humanity which lies within all of us. It is also a compelling journey of personal discovery for the author as well as a wonderful historical record of Faith in Action.




Dr. Jellinek documents the sustained viability of what remains a simple but profound formula for success - ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary, when artificial barriers to human compassion, in the form of preconceived stereotypes are ignored and people are free to relate to one another on the most basic level. By entering this world with Paul as your guide, you emerge hope-filled and humbled by the extraordinary compassion his journey reveals.

Paul's caring and poignant sharing of his journey across the continent and through the years with Faith in Action is one that will warm your heart and hopefully inspire you to look closely at your own community. I will guess that you won't look far to find your own Mary, Gracie, Harold or Eddie Mae. But stop and look farther. Find what it is you can do in your own community and with your own neighbors to help - with or without a Faith in Action project. Paul will tell you from his own experience as a Faith in Action volunteer for many years, that you will get so very much more than you give.

Thank you Paul for writing this important anthology once again proving what a small group of very committed people can do.

Paul Jellinek is a masterful interviewer and storyteller. The amount of depth and detail he was able to uncover in the lives of those he visited in just a few short hours is incredible. For those who take time to assist neighbors in their communities, it is an affirmation. For everyone else, it is compelling work of non-fiction that will keep you reading on and on. It is truly inspirational. I would recommend this book to everyone.

This is a book with a mission. It accomplishes its mission and then some. It spreads the word about Faith in Action, a successful, 15-year-old national program that brings together local congregations of different faiths to provide volunteer help to elderly and disabled individuals. Through interviews with administrators, caregivers and those they help, the book enlightens the reader about the program and its life-altering accomplishments.

The interviews, combined with the author's observations, provide keen insight into many of our country's great challenges--racism, poverty, crime, drugs, isolation, loneliness, abandonment. They also show how Faith in Action and its remarkable staff and volunteers take on these challenges and make a difference. The book is instructive, inspirational, and motivating. Undoubtedly, some who read it will become volunteers themselves.

The book's style is entertaining and captivating. The author brings us along on his road trip to contrasting parts of America where he conducts his interviews--New England, the South, and the Last Frontier of Alaska. Through his writing we share the scenery, weather, accommodations, and food he experienced--the good, the bad, and the ugly. (On the good front, I long for a piece of the "...best slice of pie I had ever had at a restaurant." Inquiring minds should see page 217.)

Each interview is a personality profile. We are introduced to a bevy of characters--some endearing, some distasteful, all remarkable. Among the favorites are the indomitable eighty-five-year-old Miss Helen; Sylvia, who once excelled in the study of mold spores and now excels in administering social services; Kim, whose hard life has transformed her into an expert practitioner of compassion; Jamie, a former wild child turned nurse with unique experiences involving death and dying; and Rodney, a former gang member who has yet to recognize his power and purpose.

The book has a rare attribute--a wonderful use of humor. There are more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Always appropriate, humor is skillfully interjected throughout our journey with the author.

A Promise to Mary is reader-friendly. Because of its clever format--broken out by geography and interview--it can be picked up and put down as the reader's lifestyle dictates. It can be read in one sitting from cover to cover, enjoyed at the beach, or become part of a daily public transportation commute.

I owe a great deal to the book and its author. During my time reading the book, it became my travel companion, making my weekday commute a pleasure. My faith in the goodness of human beings has been reinforced. And I have added one more goal to my list of things to accomplish--becoming a Faith in Action volunteer. Thank you, Dr. Jellinek. Well done.

PROMISE TO MARY is a gem. With a narrative style that rings true, the very real characters are as complex and interesting as any in a work of fiction. The author's genuine, but realistic, empathy provides a welcome antidote to the "kumbaya"-tinged works common to the genre. It is enough to provide even the cynic with at least a modest insight into our shared humanity.

My church did a mother's study with this study book and DVD set by Jean Stockdale. I have been hooked ever since. This devotion changed my life and many other women in my church. Jean Stockdale is such a down to earth mother and Godly woman that you can't help but love her. She brings everyday happenings to Godly illustrations. A fun, interactive study that will be sure to put a giggle in every stomach and Jesus Christ into your heart. Once you do one you will be begging for more!

This study absolutely changed my heart toward my children, by helping me to understand this holy, urgent, and precious calling to be a mother. Really, moms, what else is more important to do well in while we are on this earth? The insights into Paul's encouragement to Timothy and how Jean applies that to our daily lives of rearing children fans the flame of passion we have for mothering well. It's not that difficult to be a mom, but running well and finishing strong can only be done with the power of the Word radically lived out in our lives. Buy it. Study it. Live it. God will bless.

What it comes to Christian mothering help (with the right touch of humor) Jean Stockdale is by far the BEST! Biblical principals, much needed empathy, and large doses of humor make her entire teachning series a hit with me. I'm on my 2nd teaching book and I actually enjoy & look forward to doing my homework. I have learned so much.

There is so much advice on how to be a good mother. Jean Stockdale teaches that it is impossible to be a good mom without being a godly mom. What our children need are mommas who are walking in the Spirit, submitted and obedient to the Lord. How do we do that? Jean makes it clear - become a faithful student of the Word of God. There is no other way! God used this book to radically change the way I study and apply God's Word to my role as a wife and mother.

Jean Stockdale has truly changed my life and the way that I mother my two girls. She has so much wisdom and provides so much insight on how to raise Godly children. She is also very practical on how to handle such things as sibling rivalry, discipline, and releasing your children one day to go into the real world. I have learned so much from her. I recommend this book VERY much. You will be blessed.

Charles L. Granata is a Sinatra Historian and Archivist, and he has distilled a wealth of information into his book: Sessions With Sinatra. It covers Frank Sinatra's career, from his first recording in 1939, until his last in 1993. It focuses on the music, and only mentions his private life if it pertains to the music. The book is about Frank Sinatra, the singer, but it is also about the Art of Recording, and the development of recording technology, which parallels the career of Frank Sinatra, or that is the central thesis of the book. "Chuck" Granata puts up a very good case, and documents his case with extensive detail. But with evidence like the illustrious career of Francis Albert Sinatra, it is an easy case to make.

Frank Sinatra is quite a paradox, someone with a dark side, but also a sensitive artist, the greatest singer of the 20th Century--but sometimes he could be a real jerk. The book doesn't pull any punches, but since we mostly see him in the recording studio, he is on his best behaviour. There is mutual respect between him and the musicians, the producers, and arrangers, with him occasionally pushing them to do their best. Yes, there are tantrums at times, and it is all in this book.

As well as information about Sinatra, his singing, the arrangements, and the music, there is also a tremendous amount of technical information. The various microphones used, the recording equipment, the echo chambers used to enhance it, the various studios and their construction and acoustics. Sometimes this can be a little dry to the non-engineers who might be reading it, but what is fascinating about it is that Frank was there making records when they were recorded on laquer covered disks, and he was along for the ride for all of the technical innovations that followed. To study the recordings of Frank Sinatra is to study the history of recording. He was not only there when it happened, but often the force making it happen, or at the very least the catalyst.

It is all there in Mr. Granata's book: From his early days with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, through his solo career at Columbia and Capitol. He left Capitol to form his own company, Reprise, and then finally at the end, for the Duets I and II he was back at Capitol. The great arrangers and producers that worked with Sinatra are all covered: Axel Stordahl, Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Don Costa, Johnny Mandel, Jimmy Bowen, Mitch Miller, Claus Ogerman, Ernie Freeman, and many others.

If you have ever wondered what is was like at the creation, this book is for you. If you are skeptical about Frank Sinatra's talent, if you doubt that he was the greatest singer of the 20th Century, and if there is a greater one in the 21st, he or she has yet to reveal him or herself, then listen to the songs listed in the book, then read the book. Songwriter Sammy Cahn knew Frank when he was just starting out, and as his career was just starting to gather momentum, he told him of a dream, a vision, that he could be, was going to be, the greatest singer the world has ever known. And he was.

Essential Sinatra:

Songs for Young Lovers (Nelson Riddle, August 1954) My Funny Valentine, The Girl Next Door
In the Wee Small Hours (Nelson Riddle, April 1955) In the Wee Small Hours
Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (Nelson Riddle, March 1956) I've Got You Under My Skin
Close to You and More (Nelson Riddle, January 1957) Featuring The Hollywood String Quartet
Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely (Nelson Riddle, September 1958) One For My Baby (and one more for the road)
Come Fly with Me (Billy May, January 1958) Come Fly With Me
Ring-a-Ding Ding! (Johnny Mandel, March 1961) Let's Fall in Love, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
It Might as Well Be Swing (with Count Basie) (Quincy Jones, August 1964) The Best is Yet to Come
September of My Years (Gordon Jenkins, August 1965) It was a very good year
Strangers in the Night(Nelson Riddle and Ernie Freeman, May 1966) scoobey doobey doo!

Sessions With Sinatra sets a unique standard of excellence in balancing historical research with respectful recognition of Sinatra's importance to Twentieth Century music.

This book comes from a different perspective and reminds the reader that really , it should be about the music .

I had read some silly books about Mr Sinatra and was glad to come across a serious one - I've always been fascinated by recording studios , having done some recordings myself . I wish I could have been at some of Sinatra's sessions .

This book is the next best thing for me .
I loved it .
Buy if you are even a small fan - this will make you into a bigger one .

Read this one cover to cover. Incredible detail, both technical and artistic. The only thing that would have made this book better is a complete sessionography or a description of the recording process of each album rather than just select dates. That said, it is an incredible resource. This book, along with Will Friedwalds excellent "The Song Is You" are the definitive works on Sinatra's recording career.

"I adore making records. I'd rather do that than almost anything else." ~ Frank Sinatra, 1961 ~

"Frank had the color and the fire and the brains and the imagination. Intellectual background strangely enough. Artistic sensitivity." ~ Nelson Riddle, 1983 ~

"Most Sinatraphiles would argue that his finest work, and the style he will ultimately be remembered for, was forged with Nelson Riddle. Sinatra-Riddle partnership was musically ideal and illustrates how a symbiotic musical relationship between orchestrator and singer can make a world of difference in what we hear and how we hear it." ~ Chuck Granata, 2004 ~

"Sessions with Sinatra and the Art of Recording" is indeed a wealth of information on everything you should know about Frank Sinatra's recordings. It is divided into five parts: The Big Band Years (1937-1942), The Columbia Years (1943-1952), The Capitol Years (1953-1962), The Reprise Years and Capitol Revisited. Mr. Granata did an excellent job in outlining Frank Sinatra recordings during his entire musical career, and his vast knowledge on all aspects of recording, technical in particular, is so amazing.

The Foreword was written by Phil Ramone, who himself is very well-versed when it comes to recording session engineering, and once said that he "was in heaven on the day that he realized his dream of engineering a Sinatra session."

Nancy Sinatra, who herself is a star in her own right, has written a very loving tribute to her famous Dad and "her hero" on the Afterword. I would single out a quote from her that I found so moving, here goes. . .

"My father always had a genius for picking the right songs, and when you consider the relationship between the tunes he selected, and the remarkably different themes that comes with each passing decade, you can see that his music tells a story that parallels his life and ours. Those songs, and their changing themes, represent Dad's most passionate dream - the one he talked about on dates with my mother - and the realization of that dream, which brought him almost insurmountable pain along with irrepressible joy as he experienced it, and as he lived it."

This wonderful and well-written book also features over a hundred black and white photos of the star himself with his fellow artists, musicians, conductors and arrangers such as Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones, Billy May, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Mitch Miller, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, his daughter Nancy, among others; Nelson Riddle's original score for "Close To You" in 1956; a vocal lead sheet of "April In Paris," (from Come Fly With Me sessions in 1957), which Mr. Granata cited as an example of how great Frank Sinatra was in legato-style phrasing, breath control and vocal maturity.

Mr. Granata wrote about the collaboration between Sinatra and Riddle (Part 3, Pg 92) and called it "A Musical Marriage." Frank Sinatra believed that Nelson Riddle was "the greatest arranger in the world, a very clever musician who was like a tranquilizer - calm, slightly aloof. And he's got a sort of a stenographer's brain." If Sinatra tells him, "Make the eighth bar sound like Brahms," or "make it like Puccini" - Riddle will make little notes, and will obey the Chairman. Their partnership was so fruitful and creative as well, and had produced the finest recordings of all-time, there's no doubt about it. They were truly musically made for each other. They both had good work ethic and the same musical goal. They knew what "each other was doing with a song and what they wanted the song to say." They had a very good rapport in all their collaborations, which is the most important factor to the success of a recording.

This is a very detailed source of information to any new Sinatra fan looking to start a collection of albums for the appendices show lists of Companion Recordings, Basic Collection, Concept Albums under Columbia, Capitol, Reprise, QWest Records. It also enumerates "Fifty Songs That Define the Essence of Sinatra" and most of them are meaningful, special songs that are my all-time favorites.

Congratulations, Mr. Granata for an excellent and well-crafted book you've written. And thank you very kindly for inscribing my copy. :)

Very highly recommended to any Sinatra buff.

The book was good but the binding gave out almost right away. I have a nice collection but this book looks bad because the pages are all falling out.

The author of this book, Wolf Zoepf, was an officer (battalion adjutant actually) in the 6th SS Mountain Division. He has written what can only be characterized as a classic in military history about the role of the SS Nord division in Operation Nordwind. Nordwind was the last major German offensive in the West during WWII, starting a week or more after the much more celebrated Ardennes offensive. The goal of Nordwind was to punch through the Allied lines in the Alsace region and recover this mountainous terrain to anchor the German defense of the Fatherland. It was also hoped that a direct route through the Vosges mountains could be opened to permit German armored reserves to break out into the plains in France.

There are so many things to love about this book. First, it really is a tribute to the fine soldiers of the 6th SS Mountain Division and to the brave Americans (primarily from the 45th and 70th IDs) who opposed them. Zoepf pays a great tribute to the skill, courage, and determination of all the combatants. Second, this book contains one of the best, most detailed discussions (analyses really) of the tactical situation at virtually every stage of the fighting. I've read so many military histories in which attacks failed because of bad weather, poor logistics, etc., but the details are never explained. With great detail, Zoepf describes how (and why) tank support didn't show up, the effect of losing radios, lack of ammo, the complications of coordinating attacks. As you read this book you will, I believe, get a sense of how it must have been for individual company commanders and why some things succeeded and others failed. Third, this is an extremely well written book. It is detailed and compelling, but easy and enjoyable to read. You may well read the whole thing in one sitting.

The perspective of the book is divided pretty much 50/50 from the German/American perspective. The first 20-30% of the book is a history of SS Nord from its disastrous attack on Salla in 1942 until Nordwind. The 6th SS Mountain Division spent most of the war in Finland and the Soviet Union above the Arctic Circle battling the terrain and climate as much as the Red Army. When it arrived on the Western front in late 1944, it was probably one of the best units in the German Army. After the discussion of the history of SS Nord, the rest of the book is divided into one chapter per day (i.e. seven days!). This isn't so much a complete history of Operation Nordwind, but is primarily the story of the role of two battalions in this operation. Enough large scale description of the entire operation is given to put the role of the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 12th SS regiment's advance on Wingen-sur-Moder into perspective, but you'll have to look elsewhere for a complete story on Nordwind. Without giving too much away, two mountain battalions advance via a night march through the mountain in winter to an important cross roads (Wingen-sur-Moder) with orders to hold the town until relief arrives and German armored reserves can pass through the town on their way to the plain. Can they hold out until relief arrives, or will then be surrounded and destroyed by the Americans?

This is destined to be a classic in military history I believe. All of the other Amazon reviews are enthusiastically positive as well. This book would be a good companion to Johann Voss's memoir Black Edelweiss (I think you can buy them together). My only negative complaint about the book is that the ending is rather abrupt. A few more pages could have been added to tie everything together. According to the dust jacket, the author passed away only three weeks after the book was completed. Perhaps he intended to add a bit more? In any case, this is really a must have for anyone who reads/collects books about the ETO. Highly recommended.

This was an interesting book, but it is not much of a first hand account. The author obviously went through a lot, but he was at a very high command level and his participation in the battles were very limited and in all honesty not very entertaining. If you want an exciting book to read about Nord and what it was like to be a soldier, I highly recommend "Black Edelweiss." This book is a very detailed account that often goes over the logistics of the battle and the planning on both sides. A great resource for somebody doing research for something larger concerning the western front late in the war, but not a page turning thriller likely to keep you up all night.

This book is remarquable.
The author is an excellent writer. The book is well written and of great historical value for people interested in the battle of the low Vosges.
The book describes the battle of Wingen sur Moder from the point of view of a very young German officer leading a whole battalion.
In January 1945, Wingen was 2 miles behind a stabilized front line. It was the hardest Winter of the century in Alsace. The aim of the Germans was to seize a valley in order to send 2 tank divisions to take Strasbourg. The 6th SS mountain division which has been fighting the Russians for 4 years were sent to take Wingen. They slipped through the main front line and took half of Wingen.

The memoirs available on line of the veterans of the 70th infantry division describe the battle seen from the US side. Wolf Zoepf gives us a stunning description from the German side, from a battalion commander view.

Leaving a few miles from Wingen, I was truelly impressed by the precision of the description of the battlefield.

Although the emphasis that this book gives to the "technical" aspects of the operation "Nordwind" and the fine accuracy of the terminology may cause some readers to avoid it, it is a very interesting and thought provoking analysis of the battles that the famous 6th SS Mountain Division fought in Alsace. The first 56 pages are devoted to that division's operations in Finland where, in late 1944, it was forced to retreat under attrocious conditions. Transferred to the Western Front, it participated in the operation "Nordwind" fighting excellently against the US 70th and 45h Infantry Division and causing many days of alarm and consternation to its opponents. Unfortunately for the 6th SS Mountain Division, the success it achieved outflanking the US positions and capturing Wingin-sur-Moder, proved to be just another "lost victory" since the other German divisions didn't advance in the same depth. The author was a junior officer in the Division "Nord" and he wrote this book with the help of many German and US first hand accounts, presenting a complete picture of the battle, from both sides of the hill. The book contains dozens of excellent three dimension maps, some two dimension maps and a few black and white photos. There is also an appendix with the German and US equivalent ranks. The book is higly recommended to the serious students of military history, since it is not only a battle story but a very critical and professional analysis of the operational and tactical factors that led the battle to its outcome.

First off, this is a great book. It does have a very old-school writing style (think Charlotte Bronte or Charles Dickens) which I love, but others might not enjoy. The setting, story, and excitement level are all there but it is a little shy of a 5 star rating in my book. Here is why:

1. The characters were not as realistic or as developed as I would have liked. The main female protagonist is almost frustratingly naive while the main male is distant and exceedingly unemotional.

2. Sometimes it reads a little too much like a history book entry.

3. There are very similar but better books. A book called Zemindar focuses on the same period in history (with a similar writing style) only is much more engaging. M.M. Kaye's second novel, The Far Pavilions, is also much better.

So if you are thinking about purchasing this book my suggestion would be to try either Zemindar or The Far Pavilions first and then read this novel if you want more.

M.M. Kaye is a master storyteller of the epic romance. While some readers may find her heavily stylized writing tedious and a difficult read, one must consider that like her characters, she is an upper-crust, exceedingly well educated British authoress. The richness of detail in which she sets her breathtaking sagas make the places come alive for the reader and the land, their climates, and indigenous peoples all become as integral to her intricate plots as the major characters themselves. Would that I could tell a story like she can!

Shadow of the Moon, is an epic tale of politics and war in India. I found it to be a very long drawn out book that took 3/4 of the way through before I was hooked into the story. I bought it under the understanding that it would be a gothic romance, but it really is more in the epic category. I found the writing to be tedious, and it dragged on and on. When I read the author's note at the back, I came to realize that is was once published abridged, and really that is what it needs. It was so hard for me to connect all the political drama with how long it took to get the story going. Once I got into it, the climax of the book was 3/4 of the way through it, and then the rest of the book got back to the dragging format as before, only not as tedious. I am sure if you love books that are epic in nature you will love this one. Still it is no where the match to Gone With the Wind or The Thornbirds in the writers ability to tell the tale. I personally did not like the book that much.
3 bookmarks out of 5

This was just an amazing book. Once the author set up her characters and story line things just cooked along -- be prepared for the last 200 pages, because you will not surface for air until it's done! We have Winter, a wealthy heiress born and orphaned in India and sent to England to be raised by mostly uncaring relatives(except for the great-grandfather). When her great-grandfather dies, she is sent at the age of 17 to join her fiancee under the care of Alex Randall, who unbeknownst to her is now a debauched, obese drunk. Alex does try to tell her, but she maintains her childhood image of her "hero" and will not listen, to her great regret.

Lots of trials and tribulations as our hero and heroine travel back to India, the meeting and marriage to Conway and the Sepoy rebellion, and vividly portrayed by an author who has a great knowledge and love of the country and it's history. This is not only a story of two lovers, but one of stubborn, bigoted officials hiding their heads in the sand, treachery, intrigue and the brutal way in which the rebellion played out against the British, even shocking some of their own people. As with The Far Pavilions, it is shocking to see after 150 years not much of life and politics has changed in the Middle East, nor should the Europeans (or Americans now for that matter) be interfering in their life, culture and religion.

Highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction, India, or just a darn good book. This would make an awesome mini series, the sequences from the attack on the British and Alex and Winter's escape are just breathtaking. As a side note for those loooking for well written books for younger readers, this should be a good choice. Originally written in the 50's, the love scenes are quite chaste. Just be prepared for some gory, though accurate, portrayal of the violence aginst the British (including women and children) during the rebellion.

If you enjoy this book, I would also recommend Zemindar. The same topic, the Sepoy rebellion, and beautifully written. The author's prose was gorgeous, very reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte.

"Shadow of the Moon" is the story of the time before and after the Sephoy rebellion. It is the story of two people who are passionate about India, Winter and Alex. As an officer in the Indian army, Alex is asked to escort seventeen year old English/Spanish/Indian heiress Winter back to the land of her birth, to the man she has been engaged too since age eleven. Alex expects an older woman-a spinster with no other option than to marry his corpulent, drug and alcohol addled chief. But Winter's true age, and her childish attachment to the handsome man she was affianced too brings out a resented sense of responsibility in Alex and he continues to watch over her in India.

I read in the back of my copy of "Shadow of the Moon" that the original version, published in the 1950's, contained less than half of the original manuscript, which was re-printed in its entirety in the 80's. It's easy when reading this book to see what would have been cut out-M.M. Kaye is great at describing social interactions, clothing and landscapes but she isn't so good when describing the politics that went on before the Sephoy rebellion. So the original book would have been (I imagine) a romance with very little insight to the political ramifications of the British occupation of India. It's a pity that the real manuscript took too long to come out because while it has its slow parts it is a very complete picture of two very different societies occupying the same space and expecting to co-exist.

Winter and Alex, our main characters, represent two very different aspects of India. Though both were born and to some extent, raised there, neither is actually of the land (though they both posses physical traits which allow them to fake it.) Winter, because of her sex and marriage is incorporated in British India, and Alex, even though he works for the British army, has an understanding of the Indian feelings toward the British that most people can hardly grasp. So he spends the majority of the novel sneaking around, finding information about the rebellion he believes will happen soon. Naturally, no one believes him because with the conceit of the conquerors, the British believe they are enhancing and improving Indian society and culture.

Naturally our hero and heroine develop feelings for each other-which come to a head at the worst possible moment when they are hiding from Indians who are outraged enough to commit atrocities beyond belief.

Like The Far Pavilions this an amazing novel full of romance, vivid descriptions of culture, places, clothing and attitudes of the time. While not quite as engaging as "Pavilions" (mostly because of the political discussions, which Kaye never really manages to make all that interesting though they should be fascinating) it is head and tails above Trade Wind.(Though of course everything Kaye writes is wonderful, it only varies by slight degrees.)

Five stars. But make sure you get the complete version!

The Shepherd has got to be my all-time number one favorite short story and should be considered a must-own book for anyone who enjoys Aviation Literature.

I bought this book about twenty years ago in a used book store in San Luis Obisbo, CA for $4; I know this because that is the price penciled in on the first page. I have read it at least ten times.

The great surprise about this book on top of the masterful writing, is the absolutely wonderful illustrations done by Lou Feck. This book is prolific with these illustrations, around 40 total, in a book only 123 pages in length. It is amazing how much Lou Feck's illustrations add to this book. I would buy the book for the illustrations alone. If I recall, only the smaller Hardback has these illustrations, I seem to remember the larger size hardback has a different set of illustrations which are not nearly as detailed.

OK, so I've gone on and on about these illustrations, so what do I have to say about the book?

Well, others have left pretty good descriptions about the story, so the only thing I would add, is that this story could have been an excellent Twilight Zone episode. I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it is very much like the type of twist you would see on the Twilight Zone. If you love stories of Aviation, you will love this book, and if I could only take five books from a burning house, this would be on the list.

I also highly recommend "Night Flight" by Antoine De St Exupery, which is another excellent short story.

If you are a pilot, or love the flying life, or are a writer who aspires to an altitude well above the mundane, here is a classic.

Forsyth tells a Christmas-time story of a young pilot's solo flight home to England from Germany in a then-current single-engine Vampire jet fighter. The weather is not good at takeoff, gets no better enroute and goes to worse upon arrival. A typical night in European winter flying, but with an unusual climax.

To tell more is to reveal the plot line to any who might not have already read (and re-read)The Shepherd. And it is too good a timeless book to do that. Buy it!

This is a great little story that is combined with vivid illustrations. The illustrations make it seem as though it is a young readers' book, but the context of the book is a mature one. Simply, this is a story of a Cod War era RAF pilot who is flying his Vampire (early British fighter jet) home from Germany to England on Christmas Eve night. The reader is treated to the reflective thoughts of the lonely pilot as he flies through the dark and quiet winter sky, and then we are treated to a Twilight Zone-like account of faulty instruments, bad weather, and a mysterious rescue in the fog . . . .
An adult can read this in about 15 minutes. It's a great tale, and an unusual delivery from a master of espionage fiction. Try it if you can find it.

Excellent book. I highly recommend it. It will cause you to beleive in a higher being.

This is, simpy put, one of my favorite readings of all time.

This very short novel is engaging, exciting and very well written. Forsyth showed that he's more than one of the best thriller writers of all time.

I read the book SOG, and as with any book relating true life war stories, you try to picture in your mind the people, surroundings and the enemy as they saw it. A Photo History, brought all of this to life for me. Excellent Book !!!

Back in 1997 I picked up a copy of SOG by Major Plaster and quickly became engrossed in the tales within the book that had never before seen the light of day. Later in 2004 came another book, SECRET COMMANDOS, again behind the lines material. But in between these two books came the real blockbuster: SOG--A Photo History of the Secret Wars.

I'm an ex-vietnam era serviceman, early Vietnam being out by 1967, and could not believe the wealth of intel within these three books, much of which was totally new to me. The later SOG book has over 700 photos giving a photo or more to almost every page. The value of this book is not something that can easily be put into words, and with most of these heroic men never coming back, the years have not taken the edge off that. If not for Major Plaster these men would have never gotten much recognition at all. That in itself is not right, but they one and all did their duty to their country and not for a handful of tin medals.

I have many history books on my shelves, some on Vietnam, but I can think of none that I would not part with other than John Plaster's books. These three books burn the secret wars and its warriors into your memory, and at times it defies belief the character of these men.

To read any of these books is to be proud of these men and yet humbled at the same time by their sacrifices. As Admiral Tarrant asks at ending of James A. Michener's THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI, "Where do we get such men?"

Semper Fi.

A fantastic book for anyone interested in MACV-SOG and Special forces recon teams. This is the biggest collection of photos I have seen regarding SOG and recon teams. The book is very well done.This is where the Vietnam war was really fought, across the fence.This is a major piece of history that was never really documented and the truth needs to be available to all who have misconceptions and untruths about the Vietnam conflict. These men in special forces are legends. A tribute to those who served on recon teams and most of all those who did not make it back.

This is an incredible book, perfect companion to the other John Plaster books:
"SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam" & "Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG".
The pictures have great historical value.

This book tells the story of secret ("black") military operations run by the United States during the Vietnam War. Under the name Studies and Observations Group (SOG), the secret was kept so well that few veterans ever heard of it until long after the war.

It was composed purely of volunteers from the best of the American military, including Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs. Their missions involved going behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam, areas officially off limits to US ground troops. That's why all of their missions were classified.

The North Vietnamese went to great lengths to keep the Ho Chi Minh Trail open at all times. Special military units, stationed from one end to the other, had the task of maintaining and defending a 20-30 mile stretch. If the US bombed a particular area one day, it would be fixed and open the very next day as if nothing happened.

The task of a SOG team could be practically anything, from prisoner snatching, to confirming something seen in aerial reconaissance to placing sensors on a road to give Intelligence an idea as to the traffic level. Every mission was meticulously planned and rehearsed. From the moment they were on the ground behind enemy lines, the team members could assume that the enemy was seconds, or minutes, away. A number of teams made it out safely (the only escape route was by air), but they had to shoot their way out. Some teams were never heard from again.

Since their missions were secret, nothing the soldiers wore or carried could be traced to America. There were no dogtags, no obviously American uniforms, and, in many cases, their weapons were foreign modified weapons.

This book also profiles the people who risked their lives day after day. To most people, they wer just American soldiers who served in Vietnam, but, to those who were there, the following names are practically legend: Larry Thorne, Billy Waugh, Walter Shumate, Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver and Dick Meadows.

When SOG was disbanded in 1972, all the photo files were ordered destroyed. The interesting thing about this book is that the several hundred photos here are not the "official" photos. The photos were taken by the men who were there and kept in trunks and shoeboxes for many years. The author also knows something about SOG, having been a three-tour veteran.

For military historians and those interested in special operations, this book is a requirement. For the rest of us, this is a fascinating look at an unknown part of the Vietnam War. It is highly recommended.

I purchased this as an addition to the Strat Chronicles. I have already several books on Guitar Amps and tube amps in particular, as well as several books focusing on Fender. This is such a great book historically, it offers such a breadth of information and can offer long-long hours or reading and viewing enjoyment. Not to forget the excellent CDs with great music from all the beloved tube beasts. If you have the Strat Chronicles complete the set. If you dont, buy them both!

Great history - great photos- and now we know why Fender Amps sound the way they do - truely the standard by which all others are judged.
I had a lot of these and knew how they sounded from my Blonde Tremolux- 2 -10's to my Blackface Bandmaster- bought at the famous "Manny's Music" NYC.( used on the road for 15 years- NEVER failed! :) to the Black Face super in the studio.
BTW- The CD's Ahhhhhhhhhh that Fender Crack and SMOOTH compression!
Thank God for Leo Fender:)
Jack,
ps- I have the mate to this book by the same author " 50th anniversary of the Strat 2004"- and own a new 2004 anniversary strat :) Given to me on Christmas day by "The Guitar Goddess"

..for tone enthusiasts. Great photos, great amps & great stories. Don't miss it, it'a a real very very sounding book!

I've been playing for 37 years. Great tone has always been a never ending quest. Some gear sounds thin, some tinny, or boomy, too fuzzy, or brittle, even dull. But some appliances produce sounds that are awesome. This book is about several of those savage appliances--vintage Fender amps. This book and its 2 accompanying CDs are wonderful; I've learned so much and I've been very entertained.

Great read.

If you are a fan of the Fender sound, and curious about the origins of Leo Fender, the Fender company and the legendary Fender guitar amplifiers then this book is for you. Its the first coffee table sized book I've ever had that is more than wonderful photos. Its a book I enjoy reading a great deal. There is a lot of detail, enough to keep a amplifier technician, or someone who doesn't care about the details of how they get the sound happy. There are lots of delicious quotes and images about those that prefer to use the Fender amp in their performances. Examples are Dick Dale, Buddy Guy, B. B. King, to Keith Richards. If those names aren't familiar to you, well it might not be a book for you. This is a book about influences and origins. Its not afraid to expose the mystery behind the curtain, but also to expose the inconsistencies of the Fender company.

Then there is the disc that provide you with the ability to hear and compare the sound of a wide variety of amplifiers under very similar conditions. This provides those seeking to develop a tone all their own through a Fender guitar amplifier. It doesn't denigrate other vendors, and has comments and interviews by many of the other legends and current boutique makers in the guitar amplification arena.

If you want to know about Fender amplification, this might be the only book you ever need.

Very neat gift idea. I purchased it for my cousin and he was extremely happy with it.

I bought this months ago and still have it out on my coffee table - that's how much I love this! It is loaded with excellent pictures and makes a great conversation starter when friends and family that come over. The history of the NFL is covered well and the articles offer terrific insights into sports past.

I bought this book for my 17-yr old who is a visual thinker, not a strong reader, but I loved it too! There are some amazing photos in the book and lots of history of the game and some players. I got a strong sense of the traditions of the game and the excitement for the sport. I am a stronger football fan because of it! I also recommend the rest of this 'series' by Sports Illustrated, The Baseball Book and The Basketball Book.

This is a unique, beautifully photographed book! It includes the history of football and large, clear photos of some of the best games! My husband loves it! If you're a football fan, you will treasure this book!

This was the comment of my 7 year old nephew (a Jets fan) when I gave him this book. It has the trademark Sports Illustrated photography, plus lots of old photos showing the infancy of the sport, which are interesting to adults and kids alike. He's a beginning reader, but we enjoyed looking at the pictures, with his guessing which teams were shown based on the uniforms. The Amazon price is a bargain. Highly recommended for boys and fans of all ages!

STUKA PILOT is the autobiography and Second World War adventures of Hans Ulrich Rudel. Rudel, one of the most highly decorated officers in the German Third Reich, was Hitler's favorite soldier. His unbridled passion was to be a pilot and keep flying. Wounded severely several times, he continued flying combat missions until the end of the war. Often incorrectly stereotyped as an "Unrepentant Nazi," STUKA PILOT's emphasis is on Rudel's experiences as a Luftwaffe pilot and commander. Born to humble circumstances, Rudel struggled to gain acceptance into a Luftwaffe officer candidate program. Though an exceptional athlete -- and often a dare-devil -- Rudel chose a dive bombers as his piloting career field.

The book follows Rudel through his early frustrations in missing out on early campaigns and being grounded by unforgiving squadron staff officers. The invasion of the Soviet Union offered Rudel the opportunity to hone dive bombing operations to a fine art. Rapid promotion followed. At the end of the war we find Rudel commanding anti-tank dive bombing units as just about the only force remaining to stem the Red Army.

STUKA PILOT provides excellent military history reading along with lessons in leadership. Though highly recommended, the book does harbor shortcomings. Rudel's printed story is too closely translated from German and the verbiage is sometimes confusing. Rudel's narrative also sometimes strays from a chronological recounting of events. As noted in other reviews, most versions of this book lack maps of any sort and so it is difficult to appreciate the extensive geography involved in this story. Rudel's story also abruptly ends with the end of the war. It is too bad that he did not append later version with his post war activities.

Do not expect to find much about Rudel's personal life in this volume. This book is devoted to Rudel's wartime exploits. Consider STUKA PILOT a military classic. If you enjoy military aviation books about World War Two, this book should find its way into your collection.

As so many of the previous reviewers indicate, Hans Ulrich Rudel was an amazing man. Set aside the sad truth that he dedicated his talents to the service of The Third Reich and instead focus on his individual achievements, which set him apart from nearly every warrior of history, except perhaps Achilles.

I was simply unable to put the book down. Rudel's experiences from bombing Soviet ships, to blasting Soviet armor, to cliff diving, river swimming, foot racing from the enemy to flying with one leg are just a sampling of the adventure this man lived. It's no wonder that he alone bears the highest version of the Knights Cross of all Nazi Germany's many talented warriors.

Rudel's exploits will inspire the reader with unapologetic admiration. His politics were flawed and remained so for the remainder of his life, but he never wavered from his dedication to Germany and to his own ideal of National Socialism. For this too, a man can be admired. Many other great warriors in history also fought for causes that did not deserve their individual greatness.

This book is terrific in terms of action as recounted by the most decoated soldier of the Third Reich. After an inglorious beginning, Rudel's star shined on the Eastern Front where he flew 2,530 operational sorties and destroyed a huge amount of enemy material. In this book he analyses many of his tactics, the conditions in Russia, the loss of many of his comrades and his narrow escapes from death and capture. He received his higher decorations from Hitler himself, thus he can also give his imrpessions about the dictator and the private conversations he had with him. Rudel was a real killing machine and he didn't stop flying even when he had his right leg amputated from a direct anti-aircraft hit. The book ends with his months of capture in England and France. Rudel states emphatically that he fought for his country and not for a particular Party, but many times in the book he repeats his horror seeing the "asiatic hordes" invading the German soil and his sorrow that the Western Allies didn't side with Nazi Germany to save the European civilization! Apart from this propaganda moments though, the book is an excellent first hand account of the colossal battles on the Eastern Front and the great carnage that experienced fliers like Rudel caused to the advancing Soviets. The only serious drawback of the book is that the English translation made a lot of errors regarding the Luftwaffe units nomneclature. Thus the Gruppe became a Squadron and the Staffel became Flight, which is absolutely wrong. The same applies for the highest command echelon, which became just Group. The ranks were also translated to their RAF equivalents (correctly this time) which is really absurd for most of the readers who are not familiar with this system. There are also some minor mistakes regarding aircraft types, which shows a lack of a good editing.

Not perfect, but close.

Highs - Historically correct and well told firsthand viewpoint of possibly the best ground attack pilot to fight in WW2.

Lows - Some things are a little bumpy in the stories and don't flow as good as say "Iron Coffins". British translation makes Hans seem "british" at times! More maps of where he was talking about would be helpful.

How did this guy survive!

Overall, excellent. 96/100.

the lines between hero, fool and lucky are often hard to distinguish and more often ignored. rudel's accomplishments, as he remembers them, are indeed extraordinary. imagine a single pilot sinking capitol ships, destroying hundreds of front line tanks and thousands of trucks and artillery pieces all while flying an aircraft that was obsolete at the war's begining. in addition to rudel's flying stories, he also shares with the reader the more 'traditional' views of germany's enemies and its leaders both of which the author openly embraces. rudel is strictly 'old school'. i first read 'stuka pilot' at the age of twelve, it being the first of dozens of books i have read by enemy combatants over the years. i have found the book an excellent primary source to life 'on the other side' and during subsequent readings of the rudel book over the years i am always as impressed with his skill with an airplane as with his skill with a typewriter. rudel should be remembered for his accomplishments as both writer and pilot along with such other heros of the sky as billy bishop or gregg boyington.