Buccaneer Books

We only recently found out that all our copies of The Count of Monte Cristo were abridged. We checked this out of our local library and liked it so much we bought a copy for our home library. The type setting is very readable and best of all, it's not abridged.

The story is a classic and a great read. I recommend it for everyone.

I boutht this for my Grandson freshman class in World History. He enjoyed the book and recieved a good grade on his report

The book arrived in excellent condition and it has been a delightful book to read.

I've often heard of references to this book, but never had an occasion to read it. After reading "Lone Survivor", I was curious to read "The Count of Monte Cristo". Dumas certainly set the bar high for all those to follow in this genre. The intrigue and twists are exceptional. A classic which should be a "must read".

How does one review a classic? Especially one so noteworthy as to have demanded the creation of 11 or more film variations, numerous adaptations, and even television series? I long avoided reading this novel due mainly to it's daunting size, and the fear that it's translation would cause the reader more work than I was willing to put into it. However my burning desire to know the true tale of Edmond Dantes overruled my hesitation.

The story, for those of you who are unfamiliar, follows Edmond Dantes in his wrongful imprisonment at the hands of his friends, his 14 years in the Chateau D'If, his escape and rebirth as a self proclaimed hand of vengeance against those who had wronged him. If you have only seen the movies, the book, particularly the ending, is far different than what Hollywood has created. There are no dramatic duels, no massive swordfights with brigands, and not everyone who we believe should, lives happily ever after. This is instead a slow but genius work of Dantes methodically stripping away all that his enemies held dear to them, at whatever cost. None die by his hand, but are rather destroyed by his influence, and their own evil choices come back to haunt them.

The story itself is genius, interesting and very fun. The writing, particularly the translation that I read, is an often difficult and sometimes tedious work that one may need a notebook to keep straight. The cast of characters is very large and they are often referred to by different names, making it a bit more difficult to keep track of who is who without some sort of note taking. I was not smart enough to take notes, and thus had to spend quite a bit of time searching my brain to make sure I was thinking of the correct person as I read, particularly with some of the more minor story lines and the characters that weaved in and out of the story with multiple chapters between their appearances. Also, this book will probably be disappointing to those who are interested in the action that the movies provided. The Count of Monte Cristo, does not come in with guns blazing, but rather plays a very well thought out and disturbing game of mental chess against his opponents. As readers we hope for their downfall, but also wonder how far the Count will go... his years of imprisonment have left him hardened and disturbingly without remorse at the use of innocents to gain his vengeance. As he plays his pieces we wonder just who will be sacrificed, and who will have the chance to live happily ever after in this dark world of Dumas.

Readers of more modern novels may have trouble with this book because of the sheer volume of concurrent story lines, all of which are necessary for understanding the strings being pulled by the Count. But to remember the tale of the lovers, the orphan, the bandit, the banker, the ship builder, the assassin, the count, the princess, the steward, the military man, the lawyer, the cheating husband and wife, the lost love, the musician, the buried baby, the dying father, the paralyzed grandfather, the murderess, the thief, the countess, the emperor and all of their relations, can be quite a daunting task for any reader. Still each of these stories could be a book of their own, keeping the reader quite entertained, but Dumas has managed to weave them all together into one, brilliant and shining tale... if you can keep them straight through the end.

What surprised me most was the ending of this story. It was not what I wanted, or hoped for. True I loved Haidee, and wanted nothing but her happiness... but many seemed to be left in suffering that did not deserve the fate that they were bound to. I will not elaborate for fear of spoiling the ending... but this does not end on a Hollywood, "they all ride off into the sunset" ending. Perhaps the meaning of the story is not all about revenge, but rather what damage the hunt for vengeance can bring to not just those who have wronged you, but to all those that surround you. The downfall of selfishness; be it falsely imprisoning someone to gain what you may, to the selfishness of vengeance... there is so much meaning in this book, I can see why it is so often "required reading." Though I highly recommend this book, I would advise you attempt to read it with others either in a class or a reading group so that you can discuss all of the rich meaning behind Dumas's words.

I purchased this book for my best friend who is having a boy come this December. I did so because I remember so many good memories when my parents read it to me as a child that I wanted him to share those kinds of memories with his son. Despite other reviews of saying this book is "pointless" or "dark and scary", we the reader don't always need to put on our critical, psychoanalytical, or marxist lens and analyse the books we read our children. Doesn't that take the magic out of books like this? Moreover, this book is about fun monsters and the imaginary lands that children go to when they are asleep or playing in our back yards. This book is a must for any child who is learning to or not quite yet ready to read. Furthermore, the images in this book are stunning and should captivate young audiences.

The illustrations in this book really caught my eye. My favorite one was when all the wild things were howling at the moon. I enjoyed how the text stretches over a few pages and keeps the reader interested.

Where the Wild Things Are
I purchase this book for my two year old grandson, he loves to hear his poppa read it to him. It is the only way I have found to get a two year old grandchild to set still for about 15 minutes.

Love the book remember it from when I was a child.

Briefly, the story revolves around Max, a young boy who behaves naughtily and is sent to bed without supper. In his room, he is transported to another world "where the wild things are" where he is made king of the wild things. After having his fill of leading the wild things, he returns to his room to find his supper left on his dresser.

This story strikes an interesting balance between the real world of Max and his family and Max's dream world "where the wild things are". Whereas in the former world his actions are seen as naughty and are decried, the dream world provides Max not only with the ability to act in the way he wants but also to have those actions sanctioned and praised by those around him.

Beyond that, even, is the amount of control Max can exert in each world. The real world limits him and he is almost totally at the mercy of his parents who send him to his room. In the wild world, even before he becomes king of the wild things, he is able to control the other wild things and his power is unlimited. An interesting question to ask is whether Max would be as naughty as he is if he believed himself to have more power in the real world.

The conclusion of the story seems to come mostly as the author stumbles over himself to wrap up the story. It is unclear why the angry parents would reward Max's behavior or why they would negate the punishment meted out at the beginning of the story. I found the warm supper waiting for Max upon his return from the wild world to be somewhat out of place. I understand, perhaps, that even bad kids are loved and that may be the moral being taught here, but it is strange that Max just receives the food out of the blue with no remorse on his part.

The book is a fun story and holds the attention of my 3 year old. He loves when I improvise the roaring and gnashing. Throwing in a little Troggs "Wild Thing" during the rumpus makes story time a little bit more fun too. I don't think the strange lesson at the end ruins the story, and I'm not sure that the target audience of this book would be able to figure it out in the first place. 4 stars for a fun book that holds kids' attentions.

I just read this the other day to my first grade class, and it turns out I had forgotten just how gorgeous this book is!

It's the story of a boy named Max who imagines himself to another world: an island dominated by monsters, aka "wild things". No, it's not freakishly complex, but it is a kids' story.

It tells of one of the most important things we have: the power of imagination.

I first read this book at about 9, or 10, years old, and, I have to say, I thought it to be the best book I had ever read (and I read a lot). Now, after reading it for the third time as a 13 year-old, I wish I had waited so I could enjoy it as I did while also appreciating the plot and character development. The author did a very good job with portraying how man becomes corrupted by what he wants (the Gem is a bit like Tolkein's Ring) and that the world of our imagination is more important than we think, while entertaining the reader, its just amazing. If you like Tolkein, you'll definently like the Neverending Story (which gets very close to being as good as LOTR at times).
That said, lets talk a little about the story. I don't want to reveal too much, but I'l give you a basic summary of the story to motivate you towards buying it.
The cool thing about it is this: the main character is not what you would imagine a hero to be. He's fat, pale, bowlegged, and nerdy. But when he finds a book called the Neverending Story with the image of two entertwined snakes on the front, (Hmm, isn't that familiar), he is launched into an adventure that changes him completely. And even when he does become a real hero, (handsome, skilled, smart), his problems aren't over.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Through the eyes of Bastian, we read about Fantasia and its many wonders, and how the Nothing is destroying everything. The Nothing is complete absence of matter: when you look at it, it's as if you were blind. The Childlike Empress, ruler of Fantasia, is sick, and if she dies, everything dies. So Atreyu, again an unlikely hero, being a ten-year old and all, but more likely than Bastian, embarks on a quest to find the cause for the Nothing and the Empress's sickness and how to stop both. This all seems pretty typical, but, as it turns out, the Neverending Story is anything but. And, actually, Atreyu's quest alone is enough to make anyone atleast like it.
But it doesn't stop there. Bastian then goes into the Neverending story and saves Fantasia from utter destruction by the Nothing. He becomes renowned throughout Fantasia as a savior and creator. However, the Other World, Earth is still corrupted. Bastian sets about trying to return in order to tell people about Fantasia and ultimately restore mankind to the people they were meant to be. He travels using AURYN, the amulet which grants wishes given to him by the Childlike Empress, and he's always wanting different things which causes conflict. Through a series of plot twists, physical and spiritual battles, and interestingly philosophical encounters with Fantasia's peoples, Ende then goes on to weave a story of adventure, conquest, betrayal, suspense, and neverending creativity through Bastian's constantly changing quest. It features epic battles, bizarre imagery, likeable characters, mindbending settings, and, really, everything I always imagined the best book ever would have. The world of Fantasia is so immense, you just wish you go could there and explore it all. Micheal is possibly the most creative perspn I'v ever come across, up there umong Neil Gaiman, Jim Henson, and all the greats. I'm surprised he managed to pack so many creative ideas into one book. (For instance, there is a race of people who are born as old men and die as children.)
Anyway, the underlining point is this: The Neverending Story is not just for kids. I know, technically, I am a kid, but I'm sure adults would agree with me. Of course, there are quite a few slightly corny or childish names and creatures, but, being a story about the world of imagination, Ende coulden't really avoid this, and, anyway, I don't think it hurts the rest of the book at all. The movies are another matter; compared to the book, their all cheesy, unrealistic, poorly peiced together imitations of good fantasy. Do yourself a favor and press the "Add to Shopping Cart" button, or atleast head to your local library, as soon as possible. You'r in for a treat.

Once again, I remember reading this book when I was a child. I had always been a bookworm and no problems diving into the imaginary world. This book will bring you even further. The story is one that everyone can relate to - young and old. The translation from German seems to me very good. I unfortunately do not remember every exact wording in German. The message of the book is very clear once you start reading - and even though I was hesitant, I think the movie was very well done to capture this.
There are not many books that one can read every now and then and still feel a renewed bond with the story. This one will keep you wondering what happened to you when you grew up.

If you've seen the movie, you've only gotten a taste of what this book has to offer. The movie is only an abbreviated adaptation of the first half of the book, and the sequels are simply spin-offs of the first movie. This book has so much more to offer! It's a story about the importance of imagination and fantasy, self-discovery and identity, and the importance of discovering what is truly important in your heart. At the very least the story in these pages is one of the greatest fantasy stories you will ever read... and if you truly open your heart to the story, you will walk away a better person after having read it.

This book was interesting to read because I thought it would be like "The Neverending Story" movie, but instead the book goes through both "The Neverending Story" 1 & 2. It has alot more details and you find out how far off the movies ventured from the book. The first few chapters are similar to the original movie then the rest of the book is about Bastian losing his memories and trying to get home. It is an interesting book, but some parts get rather dry. Enjoy with a grain of salt.

Originally classified as a children's book, this is really a deeply spiritual parable written for all of us. Your children will be dazzled by the imaginary creatures and fantasy lands, while you will discover deep spiritual messages and awe-inspiring symbolism that is prevalent in every single chapter.

Travel with Atreyu, Falkor and Bastian as they take on the journey into the heart of man. One of the best parts about this book is that just when you think it couldn't get any moreentertaining or profound, it surprises you by being even more of both.

If you've paid attention throughout the book and learned the lessons it
aims to teaches, then when all is said and done, you too may understand
what exactly is "The Neverending Story."

To get the most enjoyment from this beautiful book, buy the original Katherine Woods translation.

This is a wonderful story and a great book I was able to share with my students. The only drawback with the book is that the pages are not in color, but the extremely low price allowed me to purchase the books for my students out of my own pocket.

Katherine Woods' translation is the only English-language version of The Little Prince which captures the beauty, simplicity, clarity, and profundity of the Antoine de St. Exupery's classic, penned in French.

(The newer translation is appallingly horrid and bland, mistaken, and frankly perplexing.)

This is really not a children's book, although older children will appreciate it.

Don't measure the value by the thickness of the book. De St. Exupery, himself a WWI pilot, writes with a great economy yet produces here the most beautiful poetry with a delightful playfulness and childlike innocence -- a fresh vision which thus sees clearly and does not obscure the profound.

Mr. Fred Rogers used to quote from de St. Exupery, whose image and illustrations once graced the 20-franc note (in the days before the euro).

There simply is no other work like this one. It is an exceptionally rare treasure, a masterpiece.

Be sure to read Katherine Woods' translation. Read it privately, when you have time to savor each word. And keep a box of tissues nearby.

I was an adult when i read this book, and i really appreciated the lessons in life that Saint-Exupery shares through the Little Prince.

A great book, full of beautiful illustrations, easy to read, while fun and sad at the same time.

I personally read it as if Exupery is sharing with us the conversations he has with his own inner child, in the image of the Little Prince. That is why the Little Prince would ask many questions, but rarely answer the ones he was asked. Like all our inner children he's been hidden inside and kept silent for a long long time, and now that he was given his chance, he will speak. And we better listen, for he is an integral part of our psyche, who will take us through the most unbelievable adventures.

The Little Prince has often been heralded as a youthful book, required reading in elementary and high schools alike. In delivering it this way I think The Little Prince is missed by the only audience that is likely to truly appreciate it, that is adults. It is not an uncommon misconception that this is a children's book. Indeed, I keep the pictures stored on my computer, and am often asked where they came from. I reply that they are from one of my favourite books, and without fail the response is along the lines of, 'I don't mean to be rude but is that a children's book?'. 'No', I explain, 'it is not'.

The Little Prince is most needed, I think, by adults. It is easy to be caught up in, as De Saint-Exupery describes it, 'matters of consequence' and forget that it is not these matters which bring meaning to life. By pointing out the futility of professions practised endlessly and in isolation of other people, it becomes clear that the Little Prince, with his rose, is the only character with a life of consequence.

This book is beautifully written and translated by Katherine Woods. It speaks volumes through its simple tale, strange though it seems that matters such as these only become clear when they are somewhat removed from reality. Matters such as love, innocence, imagination and priorities. The Little Prince is a gentle and stirring reminder to never forget to see the boa constrictor from the hat.

This is the 2nd time I've read this saga of an ailing young woman who is sent by her Boston immigrant family in 1907 (or so) to her uncle who is pioneering on a farm not far from Calgary, Alberta, to recover her health. Her indomitable spirit in the wilderness makes a wonderful true tale of the peoples who lived in this part of the world at that time -- the native peoples, the immigrants, the "characters", the nuns, the wildlife, the winters, all wonderfully portrayed. I loved it 30 years ago, and I loved it again in 2008.

This is a wonderfully written book. It won't take long before feel that you know the characters and are part of their world. It's not that often that I'm really drawn into a book to the point of laughing and crying with those the story is about. Half way through I went out and bought the next book.

I read this book the first time when I was in Jr. high school. I know I have reread it at least ten times. I have 2 copies one falling apart and one to lend to friends. As you can surely see I love this book.

This is a story for the hopeless romantic in us all, told with fantastic writing! It's strange to think of romance with a Canadian mounty (but it works very well to the point of absolutey sexiness). It also has about it realistic. So realistic that sometimes you have to roll your eyes that so much can happen to one woman, but it's fun just the same. It speaks of life in a harsh country that a city girl has never experienced. There is humor and heart ache and plenty of romance.

At the turn of the century, life was much harder than it is today, partially because of the amount of untamed wilderness in this country. We often attribute a difficult life with sorrow and desperation, but this story portrays life in the north as a rewarding and happy one. It is based on the real-life experiences of Kathy Flannigan, a woman who met the authors and shared her story.

Mrs. Mike begins when Kathy is travelling to meet her uncle who lives in the north in a city. She suffers from pleursey and the doctor has recommended she leave the booming city of Boston to a colder climate. There, she meets a mountee from the wilderness of the north, and promptly falls in love. He warns her of their impending life together, but she embraces it with timid but open arms and she matures quickly in the vast expanse.

The depiction of the relationship between Kathy and Mike is beautiful to say the least. Both people seem so real and their love for each other is vivid and true. Other characters are highly memorable. Oh-Be-Joyful and Jonathan, Sarah, Constance, Baldy Red, Captain, Timmy, etc. all play their parts in this lively story. It reads like a series of events without the typical introduction, rising action, climax, and falling action, but this makes it seem more real. The language is easy to understand and there is plenty of dialogue.

This book was made into a movie starring Dick Powell and Evelyn Keyes. It is a good adaptation, but due to time restraints, it cuts out many characters and events and alters a few as well. I recommend seeing the movie first and then reading the book to avoid disappointment.

Sorry, but the glut of coincidences and melodramatic writing was just too much. I'm going back to my nonfiction now.

I just read this book and what can I say except that it was amazing. I actually prefer Neil to David. David was never very consistent in his faith he was good talker but he had no understanding. I recomend this book to anyone who already has faith or is struggling to find theirs. Read this book! You won't be sorry!

I really enjoyed this book. I also enjoyed the fact that many of the events in the book are in the series released on DVD. I would have preferred if certain subjects had not been discussed in this book so that it would be more appropriate for younger ages. Other than that it was a really enjoyable read.

This is one of my very favorite books! I've read it over so many times and never get tired of it. It's just so interesting, captivating and touching.

This is one of those classic novels that you could read again and again. I hadn't read it since high school twenty years ago and just re-read Christy last week. I like it even better now than I did then (and I loved it then, too). I would have loved to have had Catherine Marshall's version of a sequel (hopefully it would have consisted of a continuation of Neil & Christy's romance), but I guess we get to imagine the "happily ever after" instead. It's a great read!

Although I'll turn 50 this year, I read this little book again today - my original Scholastic version from the 1960s - and fell in love again with the characters. I'm a softy, true, but it made me cry. I came to the Internet hoping Marian Cockrell had written another children's book, perhaps (I dearly hoped) a sequel. Maybe I'll buy the expanded version instead.

This treasure of a book is perfect for your grade-schooler who loves fairies, princesses, or magic. It's also perfect for the wide-eyed adult who's still a child at heart and loves those things as well.

I read this book as a child and searched for years for a copy to give my daughter. It is a wonderful fairy tale, with very good moral values. Share this with your kids!

First loved this story 53 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. So glad that it was reprinted. I enjoyed the expanded, but the first one was not and loved it anyway.

i'm thrilled that this book is back in print..my sister and i have fought over our copy for years...our kids have loved it also...they need to write more books like this

What a pleasure to see this charming children's chapter book back in print. It was a favorite of mine when I was grade-school age, and an old, taped-up and battered copy still sits on on my bookshelf. In this tale, the lives and adventures of a family of fairies and half-fairies are paraded before the eyes of Lucy, a little human girl who has wandered into the borderlands of their world. A mysterious young man named Michael takes Lucy to a deserted castle where the shadows of past inhabitants can be seen on the walls of a tower room. As Lucy watches the shadows move about, Michael identifies each figure, and recounts their adventures of long, long ago.

The stories of the fairy princes and princesses, and their human and non-human relatives and associates, are told a simple but descriptive prose that young readers should find appealing. For children still a little bit young for the vocabulary of Harry Potter, but too old for Dr. Seuss, this is a perfect read. The illustrations are delightful as well--how I loved the pictures of beautiful Princess Meira and her friend, the dragon Branstookah!

Having read this book while in Vietnam in the 60's I found it to be a realistic assessment of what African Americans had to live through in America during and before that period. While racial intolerance may have been especially noticeable in the deep South, it wasn't much different in the Northern States. The elite northern academic institutions smiled politely on the surface while just below the surface could be as mean spirited as any of the worst bigots in the South of that period.

In 1969 I moved to the small town of Coushatta in Louisianna after returning from Nam. They still had white drinking fountains and "colored" drinking fountains as well as seperate sections in the restaurants. Lord have mercy if you drank from the wrong fountain or stumbled into the wrong section of a restuarant.

Ann Fairbairn's book is an excellent period piece and can be both dark as well as quite uplifting. Fairbairn does a good job exploring the African American experience through characters such as "Lil" Joe Champlin & David shedding light on the very real experiences of non-fictional African Americans up until the time Fairbairn wrote Five Smooth Stones.

This book and the story within it are kept close to my heart. When I first read it 30 or so years ago I ingested each and every word, and David and Sara became friends and family to me. Anyone could benefit from reading this story as it touches your heart and your mind and your sense of dignity and human rights. I cannot believe a movie has not been made of it, although perhaps none could do the story justice.

I read this book in graduate school 35 years ago at a critical time in my life. I was attracted to its themes of racial harmony and fighting oppression. Little did I realize that I was about to read one of the most bigoted works I would have read in my life (and like another boastful reviewer here, I too "read 200 books a year," so I have a basis of comparison). Despite its great theme of racial tolerance, much of the conflict in "Five Smooth Stones" is fueled by some of the most egregious homophobia ever put to print.

Hero David Champlim may indeed suffer from racial discrimination, but that doesn't stop him from fighting his oppressors with all the tools available to homophobic bigots -- moral outrage, disgust, slurs, threats of violence, private surveillance, exposure, professional ruination.

And who are David's oppressors? Why gay men, of course! Fairbairn peoples her novel with a host of stereotypical gay villains. Consider David's first run-in with nasty white gay duplicity. At Pengard College, our hero manfully rejects the homosexual advances of Virginia aristocrat, Randy Clevenger. Before anybody can say "tea and sodomy," David himself has been accused of perversion by the effete Dean of Men, Merriweather Goodhue (good grief!). Only by the intervention of tough but noble "Bull" Evans does our "victim" clear himself by hiring a private eye to prove that Dean Goodhue and Clevenger have been in, well, collusion. After all, isn't that what these people all do when they meet each other?

I am astonished and disappointed this evil book is still read. Rest yourself and give it a miss.

I read this book many years ago and have never forgot it. I am buying a
copy and reading it again. I want to see if I still have the same reaction to it as I did than. If not I feel it is me that has changed
and the book is still wonderfu.

The reality of all of our existneces is that they're complex. Five Smooth Stones is a stellar presentation and a fascinating read reviewing the intricacies and nuances entailed in the choices we make in life.

i read this story when i was little and always love it but it never made me think as much till i found out my best frind was going to have a baby being a book lover herself and a Liberian she told me right away that she wanted her baby to have as many books as possable but mostlly this one in it's Original hardback form with black and white pictures and i went about finding it for her for the baby shower she got a lots of books that day but i will be one i will never forget the look on her face when she got this one or how i felt or what lesson i rembered learning when i read the book later after i gave it to her so guess we bouth got something from it and one day when her 1 1/2 year old Daughter get's old enough to read it i'm sure the Tradition of what this book teachs to young and old alike will carry on with my Niece and any other like her who read this book because books carry a great power to teach us many things if we are only willing to listen and this is true for any book if we just take the time to stop and read them

I remembered this book from my childhood and ordered it in remembrance of my husband's grandfather whose last name was Ferdinand. It is a beautiful story and the illustrations are a perfect compliment to the text.

Ferdinand marches to the beat of his own drum. A great parable of being yourself, regardless of outside influences.

My mother read this to me as a little girl. I'm now 45. As I began to add books to the libraries of my nieces and nephews this was and still is the one book I consistently buy for them. Along with the gentle nature of the book in regards to Ferdinand's passive, gentle character, I love the illustrations. I'm also always looking for books such as this which can lead to discussions with children about the way to treat animals. In my family we learned and still our little ones learn the word gentle, gentle when dealing with animals and babies....I can imagine using the words gentle, gentle with our little ones discovery of a bull such as Ferdinand.

This is a must for my grandchildren. If it was good enough for my kids, it's good enough for theirs.

I was loaned this book by a friend of mine who is German. She was given this book by her mother and read it when she was a child in Germany. Years later she found it in a used book sale here in the states (her current residence) and fell in love with it again. She lent me this book, and I have to say it was wonderful. I learned so much reading this book everything from Napoleonic history to early French fashion. Desiree is a delightful character and her life is fascinating. I recommend this book for anyone. It is a light easy read. I was sad when I finished it because I wanted the story to continue.

"Desiree" is the (mostly) true story of Desiree Clary, silk-merchant's daughter of Marseilles, who becomes involved with the Bonapartes, rises with them to the heights of power, survives Napoleon's downfall and ultimately becomes Queen Desideria of Sweden, the first Bernadotte Queen. Desiree herself tells her story in diary form, although it isn't as annoying as the diary form usually is, and the reader experiences events of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as Desiree did--as a series of domestic events. That these events occur in royal households and that Desiree is a major player in them could be accidental, but one quickly realizes that Desiree is a remarkable woman and these are no accidents.

The tone is intimate, and one feels as though Desiree is confiding in the reader as a friend. Annemarie Selinko is a virtuoso; even in translation not one word of this amazing story rings false. You will find yourself thinking of Desiree long after the end of the book. I read this first at sixteen, and found the historical information invaluable in a college history course (not the reason to read it, but it doesn't hurt).

I've since read the Josephine B. books, and a wonderful novel based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte called "The Emperor's Lady" by F. W. Kenyon (available used on Amazon), which I also heartily recommend, but "Desiree" is the platinum standard by which to judge historical novels/fictionalized biographies.

It is simply wonderful.

I love this book (as well as the movie to this book) and not all of the book is fiction! There was a woman named Desiree Clary she was the first love/fiance of Napoleon Bonaparte. She married one of his marshals, Jean-Baptise Bernadotte whom was elected to become King of Sweden in the early ninteenth century. Desiree's and Jean-Baptise's descandents are still on the throne of Sweden to this day.

I would also like to add that the author has done a brillent job in writing this book! She wrote the book so well, that it's diffucult to distinguish the line between fact and fiction in this book!

Desiree, the fictionalized true story of woman from a small French town who was supposedly Napoleon's first love and then later became a queen, is a great book to share with your teenage daughter.

My mother had me read this book when I was about 15 or 16 years old. The first few pages completely grabbed me and could hardly put the book down! Once I had finished, my mother and I looked at the encyclopedia together to see the actual photographs of Desiree, Jean-Baptiste, Julie, Napoleon, Joseph and Josephine. It was really great to *see* the people I had just read about. I have always remembered how *cool* it was for my mother and I to share this book and the real history behind it.

By the way, I own my mother's copy of the book (which is falling into pieces now), and a copy that I picked up at a library book sale. I have read this book at least every other year for the past 30 years. It is a wonderful read each and every time!

I hope you and your daughters enjoy this as much as my mother and I did!

I'm a certified anglophile, when it comes to history. This is probably because I am one-half Angelo Celtic and so the history I read about when I read about England, Scotland and Ireland, is in some sense my own. It is a basic human urge to understand where we come from after all. Anyway, this is my way of saying I don't "get" France. I can't speak French (and so in books when there's some French thrown in I'm just lost) and I don't know anything about French history (except a little where it bumps up with England.) For most of the historical fiction I read about France, which has events that occurred so long ago it doesn't seem to matter that I have no knowledge, this doesn't effect my enjoyment of the book. But when we get into the French revolution and the whole Napoleon thing it seems I have to know something to get the book. Happily, this book explains everything so well that I can report if you know nothing about the after events of the French revolution (like me) you will not only be able to enjoy the book but you will actually learn things!

This is a fake diary kept for about forty years by (real person) Eugenie Desiree Clary, one time fiancée of Napoleon and later Queen of Sweden and Norway (obviously many events happen between the two titles.) I know nothing about the real historical person of Desiree, but the character is an amazing women. Smart, resourceful, bold, courageous, romantic, sweet, funny...kind of a perfect main character. She meets Napoleon's older brother Joseph when getting her older brother out of jail and invites him to dinner to meet her older unmarried sister Julie. Joseph brings Napoleon along with him and soon because of the girls' large dowries and the impoverished state of the Bonaparte's, Julie and Joseph are married and Desiree and Napoleon are engaged.

But we all know that Napoleon marries Josephine. So the majority of the book (told by Desiree remember) revolves around Desiree's own love story with a General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (a great character and lovely romance) and of course what happened in France under Napoleon. Like I said this book is an education about what happened to change a republic into an empire (perhaps we could be looking for parallels to today's United States?)

Desiree's life is fascinating but what also makes this book interesting is the portrait painted of Napoleon-a very different one from other view points about him (say as in "The Josephine Bonaparte collection" by Sandra Gulland which presents him as...well as a very different kind of man. Josephine also) The Napoleon of this book is selfish, arrogant and so conceited and entitled he's unbearable (as Desiree says at one point, "can you believe I was going to marry him?") I suppose the view presented in this book is more in tune with the traditional historical view of Napoleon (little-man syndrome and all) but then I don't know much about it.

I want to be clear on the fact that the romance in this novel is NOT between Desiree and Napoleon but between Desiree and her husband Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. In fact once you past page 100 it's pretty obvious that the only emotion Desiree feels towards Napoleon is some nostalgia and contempt and fear.

Anyway, this is a great book. It has engaging characters, history that's real and understandable (even by one with no knowledge such as me) and an enchanting narrator who has an inspiring sense morality, especially about government. My only complaints are that sometimes the diary entries are very far apart chronologically and there is little explanation of what happened in between the dates and so often times I had to re-read entries a couple time to get a sense of continuity. A history book may have been helpful here but I eventually figured out what was happening/had happened in between the entries. Also there are so many characters, often with similar names that a character index really would have been helpful.

Other than that this book is pretty perfect. It's a real treasure and I heartily thank the kind person who recommended it to me as one of the best of the historical fiction genre.

Five stars.