Historical Books

We love this book about Fritz. The illustrations are beautiful. This is one of our favorites.

A great story especially for children entering school and not "fitting in". Jan Brett again blends beautiful artwork with an easy to follow story. Highly recommend for ages 4-10.

Love the Jan Brett series, this book did not have the famous borders that most of her books have. The story is a cute story of a pony who wanted to belong, and finally proved himself.

Once long ago there was a walled city known for its beautiful horses, and so a law was passed out that only the most beautiful were allowed in the city, not even a scruffy pony who very much wanted to look and be grand. Suddenly, the bridge breaks. Will Fritz be able to save the children? The plot is colorful and imaginative. The setting is just outside the walled city with ponds, fields, and roads. Fritz is the main character of the book. He is sure-footed, kind, and always willing to work. The men and ladies mock poor Fritz because he is scruffy. The children absolutely adore Fritz but are scared of their own horses who prance around and show themselves off. Jan Brett, the author of Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, was born December 1, 1949, in Hingham, Massachusetts. Fritz and the Beautiful Horses was her first published book ever. Today she lives in Norwell, Massachusetts, an historic area on the south shore, and spends her summers up in the mountains where she works hard on her books. Jan Brett wrote a boat-load of other books including Hedgie's surprise. I thought the book Fritz and the Beautiful Horses was great and would recommend it to everyone.

I love the illustrations in this book, and my horse-crazy daughters enjoy them too.

I just think that the very end of the book [SPOILER - the citizens welcome Fritz into their town at the end because of him saving their children] wasn't handled the way I would have. It felt like an implicit ratification of the townspeople's attitude - still only the beautiful horses allowed in town, and Fritz is allowed because he worked so hard. I'd have preferred something about the people realizing that the heart matters more, or that they were wrong about what's most important (exterior vs. interior beauty). I don't think it would have needed to be heavy-handed.

As it is, we don't read it that often and when we do, I find myself modifying the last few words. Or starting a discussion about being kind etc.

GOLDEN BOY, Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood
By Martin Booth
Picador Press |(St. Martins) 2004
ISBN 978-0-312-42626-2 (pbk)

What gave a seven-year-old British boy courage to explore the Hong Kong of 1952 in places where no foreign child belonged? Martin Booth felt safe among unusual friends during his adventures, because Chinese people believed rubbing his golden hair brought them luck.
Booth's superb prose pictures brothels, opium dens, Chinese drug-lord friends, forbidden temples and also the wild life and flora in both Kowloon and Hong Kong. Often lonely, Martin's independence was encouraged by correspondence and gifts from his grandfather in England. He never told his parents the extent of his explorations into forbidden and dangerous areas.
The boy also endured the hostilities between his bigoted, bureaucrat father, a man who never quite succeeded, and his out-going mother who was fascinated by Chinese culture.
The author calls himself a "curious, somewhat devious, adventurous and street-wise child whose heart never left Hong Kong" after his father's job sent them back to England four years later.
Anyone who likes biography, history, adventure, Chinese culture and beautifully written literature will enjoy this book.

Martin Booth had an amazing memory for the details of post-WWII Hong Kong and the times he had there as a seven to ten year-old boy. His civilian father gets transferred by the British to the far-flung colonial outpost. While his father is more of a spoilsport, his mother tries live life to the utmost--wherever that life may be--and she allows Martin the freedom to do the same. He takes her fully up on that offer, befriending hotel staff, local storekeepers and more and tasting practically every Chinese dish and joining in every local festival with eyes wide open. However, there are actually very few stories of his escapades with fellow children, mostly stories with the adults that surround him and the nature and culture of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is ruthless with its built history, so a book like this is the only way to get to know the Hong Kong that existed only fifty years ago. It includes one of the few descriptions of a westerner in the `Kowloon walled city.' And from an eight year-old boy too!
I am grateful that Mr. Booth was able to finish this book before he died. I wish he had lived a few more years for selfish reasons--so that he could have finished a book on his second time around in Hong Kong. I am sure he had just as many adventures as a teen as he did as a young boy.
Richard Mason's `World of Suzie Wong' takes place at approximately the same time and is a great and recommended look at a decidedly different part of Hong Kong. So it was neat when Booth's world and Wong's world intersected (innocently) in a few of Golden Boy's pages. Mason actually spent very little time in Hong Kong prior to writing the fictional Suzie Wong, so Golden Boy is a more knowing portrait of Hong.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who said she was sad when it ended. Well, I am recommending it, and also sad when it ended. It is a delightful memoir of a blond 9 year old boy living in Hong Kong in the 1940ties. Blond means "luck" to the Chinese and everyone wanted to pat his head. He learned Chinese and was allowed into areas that no other "white" person could go.

I am deeply sad that the author Martin Booth is no longer with us. However, he left behind a treasure in this amazing memoir. This book is also published under the name "Gweilo." I hated coming to the end of this enchanting book and recommend it to everyone.

I read this book because I love Hong Kong and its history. I was totally unprepared for Booth's parents and adored Joyce. How cannot you not like someone so lively, loving, accepting (except of Ken) and adventuresome?

While the family (Ken, Joyce and Martin) are exploring Algiers, Joyce buys some dates from a market stall, and Ken pitches a fit because they are probably unsanitary. He asks, 'How can you tell where they've been?' Joyce replies that they've been up a date tree. 'And they picked themselves I suppose?' 'No,' Joyce rplies, 'I expect they were plucked by a scrofulous urchin and thrown down to his tubercular aunt who wrapped them in her phlegm-stiffened handerchief.' I had a large mouthful of iced tea when I read that and spat the tea I didn't snort up my nose all over the page. I couldn't stop laughing. This was, I learned, pure Joyce.

'Golden Boy' is delightful, insightful and something more - a word or phrase that escapes these old brain cells. This is the first book by Booth I've read, and I'm eager to read more.

When I was young, my history-buff Mother had my siblings and I visiting every old fort she could find. I did not enjoy it. However, I found that reading Micaela Gilchrist's novel was a lot of fun and added a whole new perspective to the historic vacations of my youth. Her characters are entertaining and she shifts persectives -- from Army wife, to Army officer, to Native American -- with ease and wit. Well written, entertaining and a good journey through our past.

This novel gets off to a slow start. I think the prologue kept me reading. Initially, the author's characterization of Mary Bullitt is unconvincing. Happily, as the character ages, so does the writer's depth in portraying her. Stay with the novel through the first bit, and you'll enjoy the journey. Lots of action and opportunities for speculation about the General's romantic interests.

Excellent reading. I didn't want to put it down. This is also a
part of my husbands' family history so it was very interesting to read and also to update our family records. Will keep as a reference book.

I have never tried to read a book so slowly before. When I finished, I closed the book and was completely speechless. If you like historical fiction, this will soon be one of your favorites. The author paints a picture without overdoing it with flowery language. I had to turn around and buy a copy as soon as I finished.

This is perhaps one of the most intense historical fiction novels I have read in a long time. It is so well-written, that I keep glancing through my Native American Indian history books to gather more information about Black Hawke and General Henry Atkinson. This novel really has renewed my interest in Native American history.

Mary Bullitt agrees to marry General Henry Atkinson after knowing him one day. She moves from Louisville, Kentucky, to St. Lois ~~ at that time, a frontier-town in what was known as the West. This novel is based on Mary's journals. It is also a novel rich in details of life in the early 1800s to the mid-1800s. It also explores the question of Indian rights that were being violated at the time and other people's misconception of the Indian Wars.

Mary and her General kept me riveted through the pages and transported me back to the early beginnings of this country. It reminds me of man's greed ~~ to conquer all he sees and how others fight it. It brought me to the realization that life was tenous during those times ~~ as well as being more intense as well. The scenery descriptions and actual lifestyle habits of the times are so well-researched, that I actually felt like I was there as an observer.

This is a beautifully-written novel ~~ one to keep in your personal library. If you know of someone who is tenative about reading historical novels, start with this one. It is a guarantee to bring history alive in the reader's mind.

1-27-04

I love this series. I have had to buy it 3 times as I have loaned my copies to friends, and they are never returned, because they have gotten wrapped up in it as well. The characters are rich and diverse. There is romance, action, and humor. The story begins with a bunch of college friends who even though they have different education backgrounds, a professor, a jock, an engineer, a dilitante, psych ect., they all have one thing in common, fantasy RPG (role playing games). I also like the fact that this is one of the first books I have read that had a physically challenged person as one of the main plot characters. So the friends meet every week for their RPG fix....but something then goes terribly wrong, or terribly right, as the real world and the fantasy world of gaming come together in such a way that you will not want to put the book down. This book combines the first three novels, and is a must have for those that want a good book to lose yourself in. If you have a friend, or kids (12-17), or know anyone that's into Role Playing Games, you really need to buy them this book. Themes might be a little too adult for the Harry Potter crowd.....

This is one of those books that you can pick up and read over and over again. I am about to enter college and can identify with Rosenberg's life-like characters. His fantasy world is so realistic I can smell the trees of the Healing Hand Tabernacle and felt the heat of the Waste of Elrood. I've read this book at least a dozen times since my dad introduced it to me and I have to order a new copy to take with me to school.

If you've ever spent any time clustered around a table playing a role playing game of any genre then you will be able to appreciate the possibilities in Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series. This book is a reprinted version of the first three books in the original series: "The Sleeping Dragon", "The Sword and the Chain", and "The Silver Crown".

Mr Rosenberg starts off with a wonderfully mixed group of characters, each with their own virtues and vices, and puts them into a rich fantasy world full of magic and danger. The characters are very real and easy to understand, and are at times both heroic and tragic. The troubles they must endure as they strive to cope with their situation, blend well with their triumphs as they overcome each obsticle.

I'll definately be adding this to my library so I have it on hand for my kids to read when they're ready.

Quite possibly one of the best series of books ever written.
Mr. Rosenberg has created a believable fantasy world. The story flows so well that you'll look up to find that hours have passed and you've become so engrossed that you really don't mind the missing time.
With this omnibus you begin a sweeping saga of character growth. You will see how each character is given time to grow and become an integral part of the story.
You will follow Karl and his companions- Walter, Doria, Andrea, Ahira, Lou, Ellegon, Tennetty, and Chak- as they travel the Eren Regions. You will find yourself cheering out loud and crying along with them.
Don't forget to read the other Guardian's novels. Also look for Mr. Rosenberg's fans on the net, we're waiting to meet you.

This omnibus edition of the popular fantasy series written in the 1980s wast just re-released. Guardians of the Flame is the story of a group of college students who, while playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons (or its fictional equivalent), are transported to the world in which their game is played, and are trapped there until they find the Gate Between the Worlds.

What can I say, I have fallen in love with this series! It is the novel every RPG geek has dreamed about. The characters are funny - though some are slightly more one-dimensional than others - and the adventures the group has are action-packed. I'm currently reading book 4 and, while the action is a bit bogged down by some political situations the characters have gotten in to, I can tell the series is going to become one of my favorites.

I loved this book! I thought after reading "Brides of Prairie Gold" there would be no contenders,and there is. Once again Ms. Osborne takes you on a trip back to a time of historical interest and wraps a love story around it. This was another hard to put down book. I have learned more about the history of our country from her books than I learned in school and she definitely makes it more interesting. Ms. Osborne is in my top five favorite writers category and I never hesitate to buy one of her books.

What I admire most about Osborne's books are the scenarios her heroines end up in. I so admire her imagination in settings for the romances, and that her books are so original.
This book was especially enthralling because there are three heroines, each an individual, and they travel to Alaska in the 1800's for the klondike gold boom. They encounter and overcome many dangers and perils, and Osborne expresses the strengths and weaknesses of different types of women with skill. The premise was particularly interesting in that they were conned & married by the same man, Jean Jacques. The men they meet are superbly interesting and sexy.
My only complaint is that once again, like in the two or three prior Osborne novels I've read (Shotgun Wedding, Prairie Moon), there is a big secret that alienates the lovers and tears there love apart, only to be instantly forgiven and overcome. It is starting to grate on my nerves, this "big secret reveal" rut. It's so formulaic to me.
But again, I can't put her books down, they are far above average. I do wish they were a touch longer and plots slightly deeper. But I love them. My favorite thus far would have to be "The Promise of Jenny Jones", and "Bride of Willow Creek".

A FRIEND GAVE ME THIS BOOK TO READ WHILE I WAS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY. I LAUGHED ALOUD AND FOUND IT TO BE THERAPUTIC.

This story is not part of the usual romance mold where boy meets girl, they fight the attraction and then fall in love. Here, Juliette starts out on a trip to find her lost husband. On the way, she meets Clara and Zoe who are also looking for their lost husbands - who happen to be the same man! The three instantly hate each other but work together towards their end goal. Each woman sees what they hate most in themselves brought out by the other two women. And they also learn a lot about themselves in the process.
In the trek to the Yukon to find their lucky husband, each woman finds the man she really loves. Unfortunately, they are not free to become involved with a man but must reconcile their love with their morals as they decide to avoid or embrace their new feelings. And then the moment comes when each woman must come clean about their past...
A fun story to read with a lot of humor as we see three women discover who they truly are and find what they really want.

What a completely charming book!! Normally, a book that revolves around 3 separate romances would throw me off, but this was just too good!!! I have to tell you this book had some of the funniest lovescenes I have ever encountered...the scene between Juliette and Ben when he was setting the table is one that I wont soon forget!! As much as I loved the romance, and the fun storyline and setting, my favorite part of this book had to be the friendship between the 3 women...they were all so different..Juliette was a riot..Im telling you this is a must read!!

Boy do I ever love Mary Balogh. Not only are her stories engaging, but they evoke strong emotions and are entirely believable stories that stay true to the regency era.

Indiscreet is no exception to this rule. This is a cleverly thought out plot that I have to admit is slow in the beginning. In my opinion, the true mastery of this novel doesn't come out until after Catherine and Rex are married. After this happens, a little over half way through, things really start to unfold.

Mary Balogh does not rush a story. Slowly she starts to reveal Catherine's story of her past. We are brought through the process of her revelation TO Rex WITH Rex. The moment that Catherine finally reveals herself to her husband, she is also revealing herself to the reader. Those few pages are incredibly moving and emotional.

I loved Rex's maturation from a self gratifying rake to a protective and caring husband. It was a slow and believable transformation, and I loved how justice was served in the end.

A strong 5 star book.

When Mary Balogh is good, she is very, very good, and here she excels. This love story is wonderfully written and wonderfully enjoyed. Balogh pulls the reader into her passionate story with her usual flare. This is the tale of the mysterious Catherine Winters, and the overpowering, bored Rex Adams, the Viscount Rawleigh.

Catherine is a compassionate woman living in the rural setting of Bodley-on-the-Water. She fills her peaceful days giving music lessons, baking for the sick, and reading to the elderly. Her only companion, in life, is a little terrier dog. Viscount Rawleigh is visiting his twin brother's country estate; he is titled, rich, handsome, blasé, and mistakes an innocent smile for a sexual invitation.

What is the story's true success? Mary Balogh does not allow our lovers to dwell in confrontation. Instead she chooses to tantalize her reader with the mystery surrounding Catherine Winters' past life. The author controls this intrigue with captivating skill, and when it comes to captivation, Balogh is in her element. The result? The reader is unable to put down the book.

Catherine's story is heartbreaking and her confession draws the reader to the edge of sadness. Viscount Rawleigh is the ultimate in a romance hero; he stands by his bride, and proceeds to rectify the injustice. Balogh wrote an incredible ending, with satisfying results. The villain got his just reward.

A rating of 5 stars, to me, suggests the book is perfect; however, I felt there was one stumbling block. In the end, was Catherine's father truly in her corner or not? And, if he was, why not the heartfelt begging of her forgiveness? It may not be a perfect story, but it does come close!

Oh, how I love a good book and this is a good book.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

This is my first Balogh and it certainly won't be my last. If you crave historicals novels that are well written and characters that are perfectly drawn, you must read this book. Its fantastic! Very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer in the way Balogh can weave a tale and draw the reader in. This is not light-hearted fluff, but realistic view of regency society. The romance is wonderful and completely believable.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequels Unforgiven and Irresistable.

In most historical romances, a heroine has courage only if she fights like a man or can spar with the hero uselessly.Indiscreet is one of the few books where a heroine's courage is not defined by the above mentioned qualities but her belief in her honor and the decisions she makes.
Some great writing by Mary Balogh particularly when Catherine narrates her past to Rex. A book which truly makes you feel for its characters.

How does she do it? Mary Balogh has written historical romances for over 20 years and she is still able to continue to write excellent stories with different characters and situations who experience deep emotions. Her books aren't lightweight at all (although they may appear so at first glance) but she often deals with profound emotions and difficult histories of her characters.

Her newer books are generally in long series (6 for the 'Slightly' series, 4 for the 'Simply' series) and yet she wrote some other series previously, the 'web' series (currently being reissued) and also three novels based around the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' (in the third in the series the remaining two horsemen got hitched). "Irresistible", the last of the three books, is still in print and is a very good read. However the other two books in the series, "Indiscreet" and "Unforgiven" are far harder to get hold of. But it's worth it - definitely! Well, at least getting "Indiscreet" is worth it, I haven't managed to find "Unforgiven" yet.

So why is "Indiscreet" so good? It's the normal Balogh formula of letting you deeply into the characters of flawed people and watching them learn and change. In some ways our hero isn't as heroic as he should be, at least at the beginning - Rex Adams, Viscount Rawleigh, believes that Mrs Catherine Winters, a widow, is inviting him to a liaison whilst he visits his brother Claude. When he propositions Catherine she turns him down but his interest is piqued and he pursues her. Unfortunately some of his behaviour isn't appropriate for a quiet village and he ends up being indiscreet and Catherine's reputation is ruined.

Catherine, it seems, is no stranger to ruin. As the story progresses we learn about her past and why she has buried herself in a small village for the last five years. Rex also begins to understand that women can be powerless against male importunate behaviour and that can have drastic results in their lives. He and Catherine are forced together by circumstances, neither wanting a relationship for their own reasons, and yet they have to make something of it. Rex finds his newfound responsibilities are the making of him and he certainly comes across better in the second half of the book as he works to restore relationships, dispense justice and to make something of his relationship with Catherine.

Sometimes Catherine seemed rather cold as a heroine when reading this story but the reasons become apparent as the tale progresses. She is an amazingly strong woman who is able to withstand huge pressure from family and society in her past but who is unable to withstand it a second time. She doesn't delve as deeply into Rex's history as he does to hers but it becomes apparent that they are what each other needs and the story, although lighter in tone than many of Balogh's other books (the subject matter is dark but we don't perhaps experience the emotions as strongly as we do in books such as "The Secret Pearl") it is still a very enjoyable read.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! I devoured it in a day. Beautifully written.

The simple title belies a great author and an even greater reading experiance.

The author writes so that you actually *feel* you are there and know the streets and towns and things he speaks of and what you couldn't possibly see with your minds eye--he makes you feel with your heart.

A"MUST-READ" for anyone who has ever had a death made worse, by things left unspoken.

Into That Good Night may well be the best book I've ever read. Having been raised in a small Texas town in the same era, it really hit home. Ron's story of life's experiences, of loves and losses, is a heart felt story that is enjoyable and easy to read. It is a wonderfully written story of growing up when racism was really becoming an issue in the south, of his beloved father's Alzheimers, and much, much more. I highly recommend this book.

THIS BOOK COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED ME. I LIVED IT ONCE, AND NOW I'VE LIVED IN AGAIN THROUGH RON'S EYES. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE OUR FATHER. HE TAUGHT US INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, HONESTY, AND LOVE WITH HIS QUIET WAYS AND GENTLY DEMEANOR. HE WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE TO ME. IT WAS SO HARD TO SEE WHAT HE HAD BECOME WHEN ALZHEIMERS TOOK OVER. HE HAD THE SAME SWEET DEMEANOR, BUT SOMETIMES DIDN'T RECOGNIZE US. IT WAS HARD, AND RON TOLD THE STORY BEAUTIFULLY. I CAN JUST SEE OUR DAD'S BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES TWINKLE IN PLEASURE. THANK YOU RON FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT. I LOVE YOU...DIANE

A memoir called Into That Good Night by Ron Rozelle,
is the story told from Ron's point of view when he was
growing up in Oakwood and even in his present day
life. It talks about segregation in schools and in
some stores throughout the town where he grew up. This
book shows the change Ron goes through with his family
when his mother becomes sick with lung cancer. Ron
learns to appreciate his family much more as he got
older and started to realize he won't have parents
forever. He ultimately realizes this when his father
looses his battle with Alzheimer's disease. You also
see segregation come to an end in Oakwood as time
progresses. You see the town where everyone knew
everyone suddenly become very lonely and empty after
most of the population got old and passed away. There
weren't many people moving in to Oakwood because it
didn't have many job opportunities.
Ron wrote this book in a then and now format. Every
other chapter switches, describing his child hood and
what happened in the future. It is a little confusing
but you catch on right away. It's very interesting
this way because it keeps you wondering, "What
happened to Ron".
Ron's ability to describe things just painted a clear
picture of what everything was like for him back then
in my mind. He gets right to the point when he rights,
it's not hard to comprehend or anything. That is what
is likeable about his style of writing. He writes in a
very appealing manner. Into That Good Night's main
focus is about Ron's relationship with his dad.
Ron and his father were very close because Ron's
father is a very calm kind of guy. He doesn't show
much emotion where as his mother is described as moody
and not afraid to yell when something makes his mad.
This is why he had more of a connection with his
father because in many ways he was like his father.
Ron is not quick to show emotion either. Ron and his
father form a special bond.
Ron graduates high school and is drafted in to the
military. He gets shipped off to Germany for a year.
In the mean time, his mother's health is decreasing.
She is getting worse and the doctors say she doesn't
have much time left. She started chain smoking when
Ron was a kid and that led her to her deathbed.
Fortunately Ron got to say goodbye to his mom right
before he headed off to the airport to be shipped off.
He felt that finally, he and his mother were at peace
with each other.
Ron and his dad form a strong bond after Ron gets
back from the Army and gets his own apartment. His dad
comes to visit him and they spend quality time
together. A few years later Ron's father eventually
re-marries and lives with his new wife. When Ron's
father gets in his older years he starts forgetting
things. His loss of memory starts increasing and he's
even forgetting simple things like where he is. He is
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
What is Ron going to do when one of the most
important people in his life is starting to forget who
his own son is. What is it like to die not remembering
what your life was like and what your legacy will be.
This story was very easy to relate to. It is a very
easy understanding and likeable memoir of Ron Rozelle.

I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology, so I was excited to read Iokaste, a new take on a famous tale. Although I already knew the surprising plot twists of the original story, Iokaste had more than enough new aspects to keep my interest. Told from the perspective of Oedipus' mother, Iokaste, the tragedy takes on new life. Through the gripping narrative, I was rewarded with new insights as to how the tragedy could have occurred. Iokaste became a young woman that it was easy to empathize with, instead of just the mother that should have known better. Even though I knew how the book must end, I found myself hoping that maybe this time, things would work out differently.

Both well-researched and entertaining, this book left me wanting more, and I hope the authors will write another book soon. I would recommend Iokaste to anyone with an interest in Greek mythology or ancient history, although even a reader who knows nothing about the original story will be rewarded by this new perspective.

Despite the distinctly Kretan (Evan's Minoan re-creation) backdrop depicted on the front cover, "Iokaste, the Novel of the Mother-Wife of Oedipus" distinguishes itself as a thoroughly readable, enjoyable and faithful adaptation of one third of the Oedipus myth as restructured by the great Sophocles in his play "Oedipus Rex."

Rather than concentrating on Oedipus as ill-fated king, author team Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood focus on the plight of Iokaste (Jocasta), the hapless victim most affected by the unopposable reality revealed by the oracle of Delphi and through Apollo's wandering spokesperson, the Tiresias. (Note that in this retelling Sopholces' character Tiresias becomes less a distinct character and more of a personification of the proclamation of the gods and the rejected truth of the Laius/Iokaste/Oedipus connection. Grossack and Underwood's employment of `Tiresias' as a title is reminiscent of Marion Zimmer Bradley's use of the title "the Merlin" in her book "The Mists of Avalon" as an office rather than that of an actual personality. By doing this, they masterfully force the reader's sensibilities to move backward in time to a place where a very definite and different social structure existed. The reader feels the great pull between religion and politics while still enjoying all the elements of myth and mystery intertwined with the ambitions of humans. Along this line is the authors' rather clever treatment of the Sphinx and its riddles. Infusing the known story with a rivalry that pits Dionysius' Maenads against the more conventional belief in Apollo, Grossack and Underwood exhibit their skill at making the most of known resources; they craft a realistic palpable world that is both primitive and sophisticated.)

Likewise, the authors do a fine job of depicting Iokaste as a woman motivated by her desire for love and domestic peace but who falls prey to her sometimes uncertain morals as she attempts to invalidate the dour prophesy that hangs over her head like the sword of Damocles throughout her entire adult life. Embroiled in politics from the moment of her betrothal at fourteen (14) to the son of Thebe's puppet king, Iokaste reeks of beauty and an unfulfilled need for both sex and love. Conventional in her belief in the gods and their proclamations, she moves forward with great assuredness strengthening her role as a well-loved queen while seeking to quench her needs as a woman without betraying her beloved city. As readers, we cannot fail to empathize fully with her situation.

Thankfully, Grossack and Underwood do not infuse their story with any jumble of 20th/21st century religious irreverence or feminist propaganda. The characters of this novel remain true to the thinking of a time where the gods ruled supreme and the idea of one's fate overshadowed ambition, righteous behavior or just desserts. Iokaste has no need to trouble herself grumbling about "a man's world"; she is queen, mother to her land and she views her role and responsibilities in this arena unselfishly and seriously.

With this in mind, I recommend this tale of the mother-wife Iokaste. Although told as a first person narrative which I believe makes it far more difficult to impart the character with different shades of emotion, the authors succeed in demonstrating this beautiful woman's range of pathos, set against an ancient world that could have been difficult to comprehend through modern sensibilities. I eagerly await their next offering in their Tapestry of Bronze series of novels.

What an enjoyable read! The Greek myths were not novels or anything like them, even in Homer's telling. So it's great to delve back in and give them novelistic heft, which this book does quite well. Despite the non-action-packed subject matter of the Oedipus myth, and despite the rather heavy lunk of scholarship it wears on its sleeve, the book manages to be an absorbing page-turner.

The writing is engaging, playful, odd, right on the mark, flowered with surprising cultural history and imbued with emotional resonance. The thread of destiny and its relation to faith is both gripping and nuanced, and has, as does the whole tale, the tang of the real. Those familiar with the story will have a few of those silent-on-a-peak-in-Darien moments.

I am a journalist, who has traveled in this region while studying the Classics. So naturally I was intrigued by Iokaste: The Novel of Mother-Wife of Oedipus's subject matter. And by the way, this novel is the only one featuring Iokaste, that I have found penned by a contemporary author (s). I received Iokaste on a Friday afternoon, and on the next day, a Saturday, I did nothing else but sit on my armchair in the USA, and travel in Iokaste's sandals, around 1300 B.C., got to know her intimately, rooted for her happiness, while I saw and smelled the sights, scents, and inhabitants of her city, Thebes, on mainland Greece.

'Iokaste: The Novel of the Mother-Wife of Oedipus,' sheds new light upon this tragic heroine; however, it is also a terrific Who Done It. Indeed, writing partners Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood have created a well-researched and structured Historical Fantasy/Suspense, palatable to modern audiences. Almost everyone in the Western world has heard of Niobe's Tears, Freud's Oedipus Complex, and the play Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, therefore knows a little about the tale behind it, mostly that Oedipus had sex with his mother--oh how sinful or salacious--but don't know or remember much about what's behind the whole thing. 'Iokaste' expertly delves into what's what and why. When I turned over its last page, even though I had known how it would end, I found myself shedding a tear for her and her son/husband Oedipus. The Fates knew in advance these two souls were loving souls, I thought, therefore they were jealous of their love for each other, and threw them into circumstances which made a mockery of their love. Ahh, those darn Fates!

By the way, I also liked how the authors humanized King Kreon, he who had remained in my memory as a stuffy, nasty, grudge-bearing, unbendingly chauvinistic, king (from Sophocles' other play, Antigone). Now that I have read Iokaste, the Novel, I feel I can understand the psychological build-up that made him who he is (excuse me! who he WAS). Then I contacted the authors via their website, asking when comes the sequel, and I'd rather read it pronto. They replied that they are indeed working hard on the next installment in the series, which you can access by typing in www Tapestry of Bronze dot com. Grossack and Underwood have an easy-to-navigate website, and it's full of additional information and insight into the era. Highly recommended reading for those who like to be entertained as well as informed. Enjoy!

Most readers are familiar with the tale of Oedipus Rex, as well as the psychological term Oedipus complex, derived from the relationship between Oedipus and his mother and subsequent wife, Iokaste. Unlike the Greek tragedy, this book is told from the point of view of Iokaste and takes the tale many levels higher, revealing psychological subtleties within the personas of Iokaste and the characters surrounding her. At age 14, Iokaste is chosen by the god Apollo to wed Prince Alphenor, son of King Amphion of Thebes. When Amphion's wife blasphemes the god Apollo, the oracle predicts doom for her 14 children, and Iokaste's betrothed dies. Laius, son of King Labdakus, who ruled Thebes 30 years before, returns to Thebes to claim the kingdom and weds Iokaste. On the night of their wedding, the oracle warns Laius that he will be killed by his own son. Laius withdraws from Iokaste, not knowing she is already with child. When their son is born, Laius binds his feet and instructs he be left on a mountain to die. Instead, the child is given to King Polybus of Korinth, who recently lost his son. Polybus names the child Oedipus, meaning swollen feet.

As a young man, Oedipus is told by the Delphic oracle that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Never having learned he was adopted, Oedipus is distraught over this news and vows never to see his parents again. He meets up with Laius, who is traveling to Delphi to seek the oracle's counsel, and the two argue. Oedipus kills Laius, unaware that he has set in motion the ultimate fulfillment of the oracle's prophecy.

With profound vibrancy, IOKASTE magically transports the reader into the ancient world of Greek mythology. The visual imagery created by the authors is vividly detailed, the mindset of the characters engrossing. It is interesting to note the politics of the time, constant dedication to the ritualistic worship of gods, and delegation of all things good and bad to a particular god's mood. The Sphinx is a fascinating character, made more realistic by her portrayal in this book, specifically her role in the contest of wit to choose the next king of Thebes. The conspiracies and subsequent rationalizations of Iokaste and her brother Kreon are thought-provoking and insightful.

This riveting story flows fluidly from page to page, written in an engaging style that holds the reader's attention from the very beginning. This is one book that begs to be read more than once in order to appreciate and absorb each and every nuance of the characters, history, and tale of tragedy. It is suggested educational facilities utilize IOKASTE as an introduction to Greek mythology, as this is one book that will instill fascination and respect, leaving no room for boredom.

Ignatieff is at his best in his painstakingly detailed biography of that intellectual giant, Isaiah Berlin. This is how biographies should be written. Ignatieff has a wonderful ability of marrying the man and his ideas with the politics of the times he lived in. An elegantly written and honest homage to a life lived! I highly recommend this fantastic read!

This is a superb biography, and it also provides a very good survey of Berlin's ideas as they developed over his lifetime. That latter is no mean feat, as Berlin did not produce a highly organized corpus. Berlin's habit was to produce something, then proceed to the next thing, and never look back. He was also not very tidy in his scholarship, with a tendency to present "quotations" that are his remembered version of what the other person wrote. It is due to the extraordinary efforts of Henry Hardy that Berlin's writings having been gathered into various anthologies, with missing footnotes added, quotations cleaned up, etc.

If you have tried to get into Isaiah Berlin's thought and have been discouraged by his sometimes baroque mode of exposition, I would recommend starting with Ignatieff's book. Then read around in Berlin's essays for a while and, following that, pick up "Isaiah Berlin," by John Gray, a succinct critical survey of the central themes and ideas in the man's work. At that point, you will be able to pick up anything Berlin wrote and read it with complete comprehension. Promise.

Twentieth Century philosophers in England fall into two groups. The bigger is the one whose members engage in analyzing the meanings of words and the ways that we use them. While this is undoubtedly an important enterprise, it is often rather arid and does not touch on what is really significant to most people. These philosophers tend to teach us cleverness.

The other, rather smaller group, to which Isaiah Berlin belonged (after having started as a member of the first group), addresses itself chiefly to human concerns, to how we ought to live. I maintain that men like him teach us wisdom.

Isaiah Berlin certainly did not live in an ivory tower; and in Michael Ignatieff's immensely attractive biography we can follow his engagement in the great world. Like many other academics, he worked in government during the Second World War: at the Ministry of Information in New York and then at the British Embassy in Washington and (very briefly just after the war) at the Moscow Embassy. As a committed Zionist, he played a minor but not unimportant role, acting as an intermediary between his friend Chaim Weizmann and American politicians during the period when American attitudes towards the aspiration for an independent Israel were being shaped. Weizmann and Ben Gurion both asked him to move to Israel and play a part in shaping the nascent state; but Berlin declined. One reason for this was that he felt himself temperamentally unfitted for the intrigues, infighting and abrasiveness that such a role would involve.

Ignatieff shows repeatedly how, although Berlin had political commitments - particularly to Zionism and to anti-Communism - he shied away from being put into a confrontational position. He did not like making enemies; he liked to please; he was uncomfortably aware of his dual allegiance when working for a British government which was unsympathetic to Zionist aspirations. There seems to me no doubt that the philosophy which would develop in due course was a sublimation of his psychology. It should go without saying that this is not said in denigration of his philosophy: some of the greatest achievements in creativity have been driven by personal needs of this kind. One must judge the value of a philosophy by the quality of the end product, not by its psychological origins.

One of Berlin's essays is entitled The Hedgehog and the Fox. The fox, so an ancient Greek once said, knows many things; the hedgehog knows one big thing. Ignatieff argues that Berlin indeed knew many things but that he had been in search of the one big thing that would make sense not only of the tensions he felt within himself, but also of those which any open-minded person must feel when seeing that in so many important conflicts, whether in personal life, in the history of ideas, in politics, or in philosophical situations, there is so much to be said for each side. He found this one big thing in the notion of Pluralism.

Pluralism means that every individual and every society must accept that there is never one absolute value to which other values must be subordinated. There are many values in life which all command respect; but the most important of these - freedom, justice, equality, tolerance, compassion, loyalty - often must collide. Take, for example, Liberty and Equality. Both are rightly sought after; but equality can only be achieved by curtailing the liberty of action which, if granted, will result in some people pulling ahead of others. And even a single value, like equality, has tension built into it: do we look for equality of opportunity or equality of outcome? Again, if we want equality of opportunity, the result may be inequality of outcome; if we want to ensure equality of outcome, we cannot also have equality of opportunity. There are occasions when unavoidable collisions of values - of allegiance or of moral duty, for example - are the very stuff of tragedy.

Berlin was a liberal and believed in rational discussion; but he thought that no amount of rational discussion can resolve these conflicts of values; and for him it was certainly not a solution to give to any one value absolute priority over others which have as good a claim to be universal.

Berlin was as fascinated by those ideologies which he regarded as inhuman as he was by those he shared. He once said that he would never describe Nazism as mad. It did indeed rest on totally perverted axioms, but upon these axioms its theorists did erect an intellectual structure: how else could one explain that fascism was espoused not just by thugs, but by many academics at universities and by thinkers in other walks of life? Even more so was this the case with Marxism: he detested it, but he truly understood it from within. Ignatieff comments that "Berlin was the only liberal thinker of real consequence to take the trouble to enter the mental worlds of liberalism's sworn enemies." And although liberalism and nationalism, usually allies in the first half of the 19th century, parted company thereafter, Berlin was also one of those rare modern liberals who had respect for nationalism. The freedom to give expression to national identity was an important freedom, but of course it must not itself become oppressive of other people's national identity.

As the book's title suggests, this is a biography that focusses most strongly on the philosopher's life. An exposition of his ideas is skilfully woven into the narrative; but it is not until we are two-thirds of the way through the book, when Berlin had reached the age of 40, that we come upon the chapter headed "Late Awakening" - awakening, that is, to the ideas for which he became famous. But I cannot praise highly enough the loving and vivid portrait of Isaiah Berlin that Ignatieff has given us and the fascinating account of his private and public life.

This is the life- story of the most important historian of ideas of the twentieth century. The story is told with clarity and sympathy . And something is caught of the tone and spirit of the person considered to be ' the greatest talker the English language had ' since Coleridge. Berlin was a person not only of remarkable learning, but of tremendous intellectual enthusiasm. His understanding of how it may be impossible to reconcile ' ultimate value claims' is at the heart of his championing of liberal democracy. The story is a remarkable one including not simply his climbing to the top of the pole of the English intellectual establishment ( despite his Jewishness) but his able service in the cause of freedom during the Second World War. One of Berlin's great volumes ( edited by his devoted student Henry Hardy)'Personal Impressions' tells of Berlin's warm friendships with many of the greats of the twentienth century. One such friendship was with Chaim Weizmann first President of Israel. Berlin was a 'Yom Kippur Jew' and ardent Zionist who contributed much to Israel . On a recent walk on Keren Ha- Yesod street in Jerusalem I took special pleasure in seeing a quiet little square named after him. This book should be an introduction to reading his own collections of essays which Hardy put together. They are the remarkable record of a most remarkable mind.

How can such a great book have such a low sales number? Or such a cheap price and only available used? I found it new for less than $4 in a book store during Christmas break in Cape May, NJ. Of all the books I was reading this one grabbed my attention and was most frequently the one I chose to read until I finished it. Gems! This book is loaded with them. Getting to know Sir Isaiah Berlin has been wonderful. An example: Teaching in an American University in January 1949 "His students didn't seem to know how to read or write, at least `not as these activities are understood at our best (British) universities'." (p. 190) His course was at Harvard! Now I can't feel a sense of connaissance since I was a student no sooner than a decade later. How do I know I know how to read?

Reading p. 188: "individuals must have secure cultural belonging if they are to be genuinely free." It occurs to me while reading the book that without such a book about Isaiah Berlin a great deal of what he thought would not be obvious in what he published. He often did not say what he thought. Was this because he was not very secure in his sense of cultural belonging? (Yes).


I had not realized how much Sir Isaiah was a philosopher of the sort I would like to be some day. Because of his experiences he was a polyglot. He spent time in the service of his country using his intellectual and social skills. His philosophical views bridged the Western analytic tradition, engaging Wittgenstein in argument for example, but at the same time applying the Continental philosophy of the Hegelian tradition, his excellent introduction to Marx for example. I personally find so much to like. I have found another soul mate.

I also thank those who took the effort to write such good reviews, often including other information to make the experience even more worth while, and leave me with little to do than mention a few quotes as a reminder for myself. This book ought to be read by more people than are apparently reading it.

THE LAST TROUBADOUR (Hist/Mys/Susp-Ramon Troubadour-France-1241) - Ex
Armstrong, Derek - 1st in Trilogy
Künati, 2007, US Hardcover - ISBN: 1601640102

First Sentence: The approaching Mayday festival drew larger than normal crowds to the unholy city of Carcassonne.

It's 1241, Pope Gregory is soon to die and the Inquisition is responsible for the torture, murder and burning of those deemed heretics. Dame Esclarmonde de Foix, the High Lady of the Carther Christians has been captured and brought to Carcassone to be tried as a heretic.

Ramon is a Troubadour whose mother had been burned at the stake. With the aid of a scores, a Templer, the Baug Balar entertainers and other friends and allies, Ramon has a plan has a plan to rescue the Lady.

What a remarkable book. Armstrong symbolizes each of the main characters with a card from the Tarot deck, but each character is also taken from history and the events of the time. It is not necessary to have any knowledge of the Tarot to understand or enjoy this story, yet I found it interesting to learn how old it is.

It's hard to say enough about the characters. Many of them develop as the story progresses. There is Ramon, the talented, fair and roguish troubadour; Arnot, the strong and tattered Templar, Nevarra, an albino woman with a white owl who can cast magic; and many others. They become real; you cheer for the heroes and heroines and you despise villains.

The story is set after the Crusades to the Holy Lands and the Cathar Crusade, during the time of Inquisition. Armstrong, through his sense of place and the characters, illustrates the brutality of the period. The descriptions of the battles, torture and deaths are graphic and horrible. These are offset these with scenes of humor, charm, romance and a touch of magic; black and white. The action in the book escalates with each chapter to a wonderful conclusion.

But it's not the end. Book 2 of the trilogy, "The Last Quest," is due out October 1st and I've placed my order.

If you loved the outsized adventures of Gargantua and Pantagruel (Penguin Classics), you will surely be delighted by Armstrong's second novel, The Last Troubador: Song of Montsegur. Set in the turbulent, insecure 12th Century when Christendom set itself against Islam in the east and reforming elements at home, this book has the large stage in which to handle some universal themes.
What sets this apart from most historicals and calls Rabelais to mind is the author's tongue which is so firmly planted in his cheek that even when we are transported by the death-defying action, we're always aware of the multiple levels of meaning. Most historical novels are necessarily short-lived: their view of history is a product of their own moment and so they become dated. The Last Troubador will no doubt be around for a long time because the wink and the nod to the reader is truly timeless.

By the way, I found this book because I'd read Armstrong's The Game, a very different detective novel that shares the same dry inviting humor.

Lynn Hoffman, author of the semi-Rabelaisian bang BANG: A Novel

Yummy characters. Doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but it is. Yummy, yummy. From the twisted and dark Diableteur to the golden-haired troubadour, there's isn't a character I didn't fall in love with. The Seigneur who redeems himself through love. The object of his love, the untouchable Dame of the Cathars. I even love the future pope (don't tell anyone!) Cardinal Sinibaldo Fiesco. This is a triumph, everything I love in a historical, from fighting, spunky ladies to romantic men with swords, and other weapons! I have to admit I was a little uncertain at first when the author made this tie-in from characters to Tarot cards. This was how I heard of the book, but I was all ready to hate the idea. I loved it. The Troubadour is the fool. The Magician is a woman, a snowy, white haired pagan sourceress. The Empress was the ever-pregnant mother of the travelling Baug Balar. And the Baug (it's like a circus, with trained horses, magic tricks, acrobats, really nice) is my favorite collection of images. The author throws in a nice dash of humor, but doesn't get carried away, shaking it up with some well-researched historical events and environment. I've been to Carcassonne, and it was so nice to see this beautiful place come to life. Over the top? Not really. Just so much to enjoy! The only thing I'm not happy about is the ending... it's fulfilling, with the main mission achieved, but as it turns out it's the beginning of an even greater quest. Which makes me very impatient for book 2, The Last Quest, which I'm definitely going to order. The Last Quest: Song of Montsegur

You don't have to know anything about the mysteries of tarot to enjoy this engrossing, fun read. It's a well-done combination of sword-and-sorcerer fantasy and historical adventure set in the 13th century. The tone is light, yet layers of period detail give it more depth than you might expect, and the characters are fascinating whether or not you understand their tarot inspirations.

Ramon Troubadour, the hero of the trilogy (yes, this is the first of three volumes), is a Fool extraordinaire on a quest to save the holy Dame of the Cathars from the fires of the Inquisition. The story is full of knights and kings, circus acrobats and animal acts, mysteries and magic, not to mention continuous action and sharp-tongued humor from the Fool as he goes about the business of discovering the secrets of the age.

The Catholic Church doesn't come off very well in this tale, as you might expect since it's set in a period when red hot pokers were as important to the holy orders as communion wafers. The trilogy itself is driven by a quest to find the world's most important religious relic and the machinations of the Pope and the evil Diableteur, a scythe-carrying devil. Other fun characters include a one-eyed Knight who may or may not be a Templar and a circus fortune-teller who also happens to be a witch.

The story moves along and carries the reader with it. I found it both engaging and entertaining.

Witty, dry, well-paced, this story worked for me on all levels. Original plot and well executed, what else can a reader ask for? I recommend it for everyone to read. The characters are engaging - you are made to feel as if you are there with them, which is what a great story is meant to do. I loved it and will certainly read another novel from this talented author. Derek Armstrong is a keeper for me.