Cabinets Books

Dr. Caligari's cabinet is a wonderfully done piece of literature. The story is very original and suspenseful. Definately the book to read if you don't want to sleep at night

This is not the screenplay but a reconstruction made from a print of the classic 1919 expressionist film. The introductory material is more valuable than the text itself, as it includes little known historical detail. There are about 100 pages of text in the edition I bought in London, and 24 pages of b&w photographs.

'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' is a legendary film that has become buried in its own legend(s). There has been the ugly conflict between its various contibuotrs as to who actually 'authored' the film (with maligned director Robert Wiene, who died before the spats began, losing out). There has been the contentious issue of the framing story, where the screenwriters' conceived attack on authority is neutered as the ravings as a madman. There has been the notoriously influential thesis of art historian Siegfried Kracauer in his book 'From Caligari to Hitler', which claimed that films reflected the subconscious of a nation, and that, by virtue of the framing story, 'Caligari' somehow visualised the German desire for Nazism. Then there is 'Caligari''s position in the history of film, as the first example of Expressionist cinema, the most widely influential 'school' in the medium.

Legend and myth are anathema to the British critical mind, which prefers to deal with verifiable facts. By going back to primary sources - the original script, production memos, trade reports, advertising materials, contemporary reviews, as well as first-hand testimonies (which latter he treats with scepticism), David Robinson builds up a more prosaic, but convincing, picture of the conception and creaton of 'Caligari' (an appendix compares the original script with the finished film, allowing us to dismiss the main myth-disseminator, co-screenwriter Hans Janowitz), showing how subsequent legends were created for various self-interested reasons (e.g. as a calling-card for exiled screenwriters in World War II Hollywood).

'Caligari' is revealed as less the inspired breakthrough in Cinematic Art than a happy accident - the famously Expressionist sets were less a necessary visualisation of character subjectivity than a cynical attempt to cash in on the vogue for modern art and Grand Guignol. Wiene, derided in film history as a 'one-trick pony', is rehabilitated, as it the framing narrative once condemned as conformist. The study offers a fascinating history of film-making in the context of post-World War I Europe, the expectations of the public and the reactions of the press. He gives a precis of the wider Expressionist project, showing how 'Caligari' borrowed heavily from the art and theatre of its time (not just visually, but in acting technique), concluding that this style was 'bolted on' to a story that didn't really need it, rather than arising aesthetically out of it. 'Caligari' is no longer considered a great film, but it is important because people thought it was, encouraging film-makers and audiences to take more risks, paving the way for the genuine achievements of Expressionism (co-screenwriter Carl Meyer would write most of Murnau's great films).

This is all very interesting and a pleasure to read, but something is missing - the film itself. There is little analysis of 'Caligari' as a movie, why it can still exert a fascination for a sympathetic audience, what the various stylistsic choices actually mean or achieve. It's not enough to dismiss 'Caligari' as a ragbag of various accidents (so are most Hollywood 'classics') - it is still a film to be watched and understood, even if eventually dismissed.

Nevertheless, this book is a visual joy, full of crisp stills, sketches for sets, and, most pleasurably, various posters for the original exhibition run (including the lurid but mysterious one on the cover) which, I must confess, are more strikingly beautiful than anything in the actual film.

The BFI Film Classics series is a consistantly stimulating guide to great films, and this is one of my favorites. Robinson is particularly strong in placing this film in its historical context. As wonderful as it is, Caligari is nevertheless a product of its time, and an awareness of this only increases its resonance. This book beautifully passes the only true test of film criticsm - it enhances our experince of the film itself.

I enjoyed reading and studying some of these projects. Each one of Norm's books have something new and interesting to learn about. My only question is when will there be a next issue? The TV projects are great and it would be nice to review the available plans and be able to order them on the net.

He's got this book laid out so that each chapter is it's own project. That's a good way to do it to make sure there's enough info to do it right. However, That means that in this relatively fat (expensive) book there are only 10 projects or so. The only project I really liked was the Adirondack chair, the others were too specialized for my simple tastes.

I bought this book at my local book store the other day. I must say it is excellent. It is mostly for non-amateurs, but they can give it a try. It says on the book, a companion to the series. I totally agree. Though you can probably make the projects from the book, it will be much easier to follow along with the specific episode. Nice illustrations. Scaled down plans are included.

If you are a fan of the New Yankee Workshop, then you have to get the book.

Excellent book! Well laid out and thought out plans. Now if only we could have Norm to run the band saw for us and cut out those curves for the chair.

It is easy to be skeptical about the faith claims of politicians. It is rare for a politician to claim to be anything other than a Christian and yet so few of them show any real evidence of the faith they profess. Of course there are undoubtedly some who rise to power that truly are genuine Christians. In The Faith of Condoleeza Rice, Leslie Montgomery shows Condoleeza Rice to be one of these.

Though this is a book about a woman who has made her mark as a politician, it is not a book about politics. Rather, it is about the faith the of Condoleeza Rice and the legacy of faith that was passed down to her by her family. Growing up in a family of Presbyterians, many of whom were clergy, Rice seems to have always considered herself a believer. She was born into a remarkable family, the only child of parents who gave everything they had to give her everything she needed to be one of the most influential people in the world. As the book traces Rice's life, it also traces the history of racial tension and reconciliation in the United States. Rice was born into the geographic and chronological heart of the Civil Rights Movement. While her parents kept her largely sheltered from the strife surrounding them, she certainly did notice the world changing around her.

I was intrigued by the intellectual nature of Rice's faith. While in many ways she has a simple faith and says she has never doubted the tenets of her faith, at the same time her faith has become remarkably developed in her mind as she has reflected on the Bible. The parts of the book in which the author discusses the particulars of Rice's faith, and especially those that are drawn directly from interviews with her, make for fascinating reading. While the book attempts to portray Rice as a spiritual hero I am not so sure that the author succeeds at this. She certainly appears to be a Christian, but to consider her some kind of a spiritual giant would seem to be overstating it. After all. Rice's faith, while certainly driving and motivating her, is not what she is known for. Her faith is an important part of who she is, but it is something she must necessarily keep in the background much of the time.

The book moves quite quickly and, thankfully, unlike many biographies, does not dwell upon things like the books Rice has written. While they are mentioned, the author (rightly, no doubt) assumes that readers will have no interest in knowing just what Rice had to say about Germany Unified and Europe Transformed: A Study in Statecraft. It is well-written, fast-moving, and is certainly an enjoyable read.

So while I would not be likely to read this book as an attempt to peer in the life of a spiritual hero, I would gladly recommend it as an interesting glimpse into the life of a woman who is extraordinarily gifted and who has not risen to a position of great responsibility and great authority despite her faith, but, it would seem, because of her faith.

Condoleezza Rice has shown us an all business side in the world of politics. It is nice to know that the decisions she makes every day are made by a woman who's faith is of the utmost importance to her. The author has done a remarkable job bringing us the facts in a book that I couldn't lay down. I have read all of Leslie Montgomery's books and she just continues to keep me interested and wanting more.

If you are looking for a new view on Dr. Rice this is the book to read. What an unexpected delight! It is rich in history and gives detailed information about Dr. Rice's life (including her childhood). The author interviewed most of Dr. Rice's family and friends and even got the Secretary of State to sign off on the book after reading it herself. Montgomery is carving out a niche for biographies and I will anticipate her next book with great fevor.

Being a political aficionado, I am always intrigued about the faith (and supposed faith) of popular politicians. Condoleezza Rice is particularly intriguing because of her rising prominence, first in Bush 41's administration, and now in the second term of Bush 43's administration. In addition, she was the Provost of Stanford University when my wife Marni attended the school. I went to the rival (I mean, superior) school, the University of California at Berkeley. But even though she was in Washington, DC while I was in graduate school at Berkeley (2000-2004), Dr. Rice was a known figure among Christian circles. So when I saw Tim Challies' review of this book, it naturally perked my interest.

The book is an entertaining and interesting read. It spends several chapters looking carefully at Rice's upbringing in Birmingham, Alabama, tracing her deeply Christian roots back to her grandparents (and maternal great-grandmother). A dogged perseverance seems to have marked each of her ancestors as they sought to resist slavery. Rice's father (John Wesley Rice) was a Presbyterian minister and a dedicated family man. Condoleezza was their only child, and her parents poured love, time, and money into her intellectual, musical, and athletic development. For example, Condoleezza had piano and ice skating lessons (both rarities for African American girls of that era).

The future Dr. Rice experienced racial prejudice in her childhood, but her parents refused to let it get them down. While her parents were friends with civil rights leaders, it seems they themselves were not particularly involved in protests and the like. Rather, they wanted Condi to "beat the system" by being more educated and thereby more accomplished than others, and to never let her race be an excuse for failure. I was impressed by the tireless can-do attitude of her parents, and it seems to have obviously shaped Condoleezza.

She began her college years majoring in music, but realized she could not compete with younger, more talented pianists. So she shifted to another passion --- international politics, and Russia in particular. Interestingly, she was mentored by Josef Korbel, a Professor at the University of Denver who was simultaneously mentoring his daughter Madeline, who later took the surname Albright by marriage. Two future female Secretaries of State mentored by the same man.

A bit about Dr. Korbel: He had been an advisor to exiled Czech president Edvard Benes, who lived in London until the Nazis were defeated in WWII. Korbel then moved back to Czechoslavakia, became an Ambassador to Yugoslavia, but was forced to flee when the Communists captured the nation. He was tried and sentenced to death in absentia, but fortunately obtained asylum in the United States.

Through her reputation as an expert on Russia, she eventually impressed key people in President George H.W. Bush's administration, which led to an appointment. The current President later tapped her for a more prestigious position, and in between she was the Provost of Stanford.

A member of the PC-USA, Condoleezza's faith in Christ strikes me as deep, sincere, and genuine. However, the last chapter reveals a somewhat swirling manner of expressing her spiritual pilgrimage. She tends to see a dichotomy between faith and reason, as if one hinders the other. In her own words, she "needs to have a better unity of faith and reason" in her personal life, in her personal relationship with God (p. 198). I found myself wanting to send Dr. Rice the text of John Piper's excellent message on this topic from the Ligonier Conference this past March.

Overall, the book is a fun, stimulating read. If you are at all interested in what has shaped Condoleezza Rice, I think you will find it worthwhile. Montgomery gives readers a fuller picture of Rice's personal history by interweaving critical historical events (e.g., in the Civil Rights Movement) with the various junctures of Rice's life. I only wish more treatment was given for how Rice came to her own political convictions, which (as I understand them) tend to be conservative on fiscal and military issues, but more moderate/liberal on social issues. For example, I would really like to know more about how Rice views affirmative action, and how she defends her pro-choice position as a Christian.

The `Acknowledgments' thank the many people who have helped John Connally over the years. Mickey Herskovitz, the co-author (p.363) and journalist, provided the final chapter. In Chapter Connally testified how he was hit by the second rifle shot (p.3). [The word "they" refers to the unknown, not specific persons.] Conspiracy plots have been around since Lincoln was shot. This chapter tells about that fateful day. Connally's statement refutes the Warren Report which depends on the theory of a lone gunman firing 3 bullets. One shot missed the car and hit a curb. If there were 4 (or more) bullets in 6 seconds there had to be more than one gunman; or a self-loading rifle.

Chapter 2 tells of his early years and life in rural Texas. He collected pocket knives (p.30). Connally tells of his college years, his LL.B., and his work in Washington (Chapter 3). Connally was involved in dramatics and politics. Campus politics reflected the struggle in the social hierarchy (p.46). Chapter 4 tells about LBJ, the most important Texan politician of the 20th century; Connally gives his assessment. Rural electrification was LBJ's life-long passion (p.65); and the fight against poverty (p.66). LBJ had a secret life (p.70). LBJ worked hard to elect Democrats (p.74). Chapter 5 has Connally's experiences in the war. [The date on page 86 is 1943, not 1944.] Chapter 6 tells about the incredible election of 1948 and other events of those days. Was Connally confused by Kefauver's popularity (p.132)? Kefauver was against racketeers. Chapter 7 says the oil industry became powerful in the 1950s (p.142).

Chapter 8 has the story about his daughter. It was the saddest day of his life (p.160). Chapter 9 explains why LBJ lost the nomination in 1960 and accepted the VP slot. Chapter 10 tells about Dallas and 11/22/63. Isn't Connally naive to say the politicians on the Warren Commission have unquestioned integrity (p.186)? "No conspiracy theories" about Bobby Kennedy (p.189)? Were the many attempts on Gerald Ford merely a coincidence? Why did Jackie marry Onassis (p.192)? Had Onassis ever been persecuted by Big Oil in the 1950s? Connally repeats anecdotes about the LBJ presidency (Chapter 11). Was Connally's advice really that great (p.205)? LBJ was concerned about a healthy economy (p.212) and left a budget surplus (p.214).

Chapter 12 tells of his election as Governor of Texas. The candidate who is out in front early rarely wins (p.220). Connally wanted to modernize Texas, his top priority was higher education (p.224). Connally became Secretary of the Treasury in Nixon's cabinet (Chapter 13). A run on the bank caused the devaluation of the dollar in August 1971 (p.238). Wage and price controls don't work over time (p.241). Devaluing a currency takes wealth from most people. Connally tells about Nixon (Chapter 14). Was the trial in Chapter 15 payback by the Nixon Administration (p.284)? Connally ran for the Presidency in 1980 (Chapter 16). Reagan's show business experience trumped political experience. He analyzed the Reagan presidency (p.301). Chapter 17 tells of his bankruptcy during the Reagan depression. Connally's experience in Iraq is in Chapter 18 (pp,328-329). Does a war ensure political power (p.331)? Not for George Bush (p.332). Chapter 19 has his judgments on America. {Believable?] America has been concerned with the economic affairs of other nations (p.335) since the 18th century. The paragraphs on page 336 never asked who benefitted from these policies! Bankers make money by increased international trade even if this creates problems for the rest of us (p.337). Today the candidates favored by NY bankers are in the lead (Hillary, Rudy). Connally offered suggestion for changes (pp.338-342). [Raising the standard deduction to around $50,000 would eliminate the regressiveness of the income tax.] Should Connally recommend Preliminary Hearings (pp.343-344)? This book would be better if Connally told about the experiences that were dropped from this book.

Connnally's story is fascinating. Few figures have been at the center of power and wielded such infleunce over Presiedents and policy, as well as standing amidst historic events that shaped an era of American history. Equally, few have been so contemptuoulsy skewered by members of both major parties and distrusted (and envied) by so many others in influential positions. No one disputes Connally's status as a capable individual; he is seen as perhaps as too capable by democrats who witnessed his change of party and by republicans who were skeptical of his past affilations with the very top of the opposition party. Nonetheless, even without the presidential mantle he sought, Connally moved history and shaped events or helped shape them to a degree one hardly considers possible these days. His story includes early political roots and his rise to Secretary of the Navy, three-term Texas Governor, an activist Secretary of the treasury, close political and policy advisor to presidents, his role at center stage during the trauma of the kennedy assassination, his alledged ties to the Watergate crisis that ended his political career, his role as a potentially major contender for the republican npomination in 1980 (and the surprising fizzle of his campaign)--all of this makes for fascinaiting reading to anyone who is interested in the second half of the twentith centruy in America. IN another era, Connally would perhaps have been president, and maybe a good one. His ability and experience certainly towers over many who came before and since. His motives were suspect by many, and no one will ever know how many of those conerns were well-founded. Still, the book leaves little doubt that Connnally, while perhaps opportunistic,(ll politicians are, some just hide it better) was a true patriot who loved his country and its ideals.

This is a well written book on one of the truly great Texans. John Connally was right out of central casting, he was the epitome of the mythical Texan. He was handsome, in a man's man sort of way, tall, and blessed with ample Texas charm. This book does a fine job in giving his story warts and all, Mr. Connally really is candid and that is refreshing, he realized that he was a the foot of power, and as he watched LBJ assend he was wise enough to stay close to the ultimate power. One wonders as they read this book, if Mr. Connally truly realizes that if he had not switched to the Republican party, he may very well have been President. He was just a little early in switching, the South, and in particular Texas, still had not totally embraced the Republican Party. It's a shame really, this man had such talent, it would have been interesting to see how he would have shaped the world, I guess we'll just never know, but in reading this book you get a real feel for the charisma and talent of this great man.

This book is a good history book that tells you the life history of John Connally. You are able to learn about his life from childhood to adulthood. His time in the service is also
well covered in this book. Connally's strong friendship with
Lyndon Johnson is described in detail in this book.Connally's
election to the office of Governor of the state of Texas also
recieves attention in this book.Connally's being wounded during the assasination of Kennedy is also featured in this book.You also get coverage of Connally's friendship with Richard Nixon
wgich resulted in Connally serving in a cabinet post with the Nixon administration.You are also informed of Connally switching from the Democratic to the Republican party. This is an outstanding book that covers many historical periods. You will
find it to be a good read.

The book is very informative and an easy read. VERY interesting stuff in there! Ms. Wilson has unlocked the mystery of herbs for me and made me a believer. I have two incurable diseases and this book had helped me a lot. I am now regularly using her products, as well, and very pleased with the results.

I found the book very knowledgeable and insightful. I have used it for sometime now and the direction in the book and on Wendy's website are great. I use the book tips and the products for the whole family (pets too.) But don't take my word for it. Try it.

(...)

I have recently become interested in the benefits and healing powers of herbs. This book is a great way to get an introduction to the benefits, applications, cautions and drug interactions of herbs. What I most liked about the book is, it explains how you can make your own herbal tinctures and teas. The benefits of minerals, including Salt (natural, sun evaporated and unrefined) are also explained.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to find a natural way to strengthen and help your body to heal itself.

The author has revealed how women can manage a smoother change into maturity (menopause) with the help of nutritional herbs. I have been using the maturity formula and have found it to be beneficial in calming the nervousness and distress associated with hot flashes promoting a good nights sleep which is priceless thank you wendy

This book has far exceeded my expectations. The photos and instructions are clear, concise, and of professional quality. R. Settich presents the material in a knowledgeable and fun way. A must have resource for any workshop!

This book has been an excellent resource in my workshop. The photos are many and of excellent quality. The instructions are surprisingly clear... a great guide for anyone!

For the most part hardware is an unromantic subject. Frequently your options are plain and hidden away, and, unless you make your own, the fun stops as soon as you make your choices. Yet a mistake in the use or installation of hardware is often the mistake that is spotted first, easily becoming the ruin if hours of painstaking work.

Hinges happen to be my low water. I've measured, chiseled, shed blood, and excruciated more times than I want to talk about, only to find that it wasn't quite right and I had to make some devious adjustment. Settich's book may not be poetic, but it is eminently practical, and I discovered several tricks that eased the way as I read it. There are twelve sections that cover everything from the simplest nail or screw to the more arcane worlds of locks, slides, and hinges.

Lots of illustration and accompanying text reduce things into easily digestible advice that will improve your work and open new possibilities. My copy is already showing wear from numerous consultations. This really should be one of your earlier purchases in this series.

As usual, books in this collection are well done. The text is clear and concise. The book is full of color pictures illustrating the text.

This book covers all kind of hardware from simple nail to complex hinges.
The "catalog" part of the book is well done. If covers a lot without getting too boring.

I would have given it a 5 stars rating if the information on how to install the hardware was more detailed. If you already know how to install something, reading the text makes complete sense. If you don't it is sometimes difficult with the text alone to get a good idea of the process.

This book has everything you will need to know if you are worried about toxins.

This review is written from the perspective of a former hospital administrator that was lucky enough to be exposed to complementary medicine in one of my positions. This exposure has caused me to be interested in the concept of "green living". If you are at all interested in "green living" and reducing the toxins in the lives of your family this is a must read book.

This book is divided into two general sections, how to reduce your toxic overload, and the chemical connection to chronic illness.

In the first section (reducing the toxic load) the author outlines three steps, these are:
1. Supplementation
2. Seven-Day Desludge Diet
3. Chemical Free Home and Beauty Products.

Under Supplementation the doctor outlines specific vitamins, minerals and supplements (and her suggested levels) and tells you why you need these things. I appreciated that she also identifies the food sources for these same substances.

In the Seven Day Desludge Diet she outlines what to eat to assist your bodies own systems in purging toxins that are already present. This section recommends the usual suspects as far as consumables. What was unanticipated is the level of detail that the doctor goes into regarding preparing and storing foods.

The discussion of Chemical Free Home and Beauty Products is just down right scary. I know that I got up to read labels no fewer than 6 times while reading this chapter. Considering the fact that I am not new to "green living" I was surprised to find a couple of products in my house that I needed to toss out.

The remaining two thirds of the book is devoted to the Chemical Connection to Chronic Illness. This portion of the book was fascinating to me. If you are interested in improving your health you will get a lot of information from this section of the book. She covers the following areas in this section:
1. Immune system diseases
2. Neurological diseases
3. Digestive disorders
4. Hormonal imbalances
5. Cardiovascular diseases
6. Cancer
7. Multiple chemical sensitivity
8. Obesity & Musculoskeletal disorders
9. Childhood disorders

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving his or her health. I will caution you that this is not a casual read, and probably not one for young teens in the respect that it might frighten them. The first time I tried to read it I could not get through it, it just seemed far too alarmist on my first read. Apparently I was not in the correct frame of mind. I picked it up again this morning and went through it in two hours (even with underlining). I did a little research while reading the book and was able to corroborate many of the facts that I found contained in the book. I think this is a well researched, and well written book that everyone should read.

I want to say that this book was like a breath of fresh air to me. What is it about? The truth. Here is a book written by a doctor who tells the health hazards of the chemicals that surround us and are found in everything from the food we eat to the cloths we wear.
I found it shocking as Dr. Hamilton exposed the dangers of these chemicals to the point of causing cancer, diabetes and respiratory illnesses, just to name a few. I was not surprised as I myself have suffered from what I now know, from the information I found in this book, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. This is a disease caused by overexposure to chemicals where your body reacts strongly to smells and other chemical agents. What a blessing to finally have a name and a reason to what was happening to my body, and to know it isn't just all in my mind as so many people thought it was. Thank you Dr. Hamilton.

The good doctor goes into detail about certain agents and what they do to our bodies, but she does not stop there. She also gives us some pointers on how we can counter-react these chemicals, what vitamins to take, which foods to eat that will flush chemicals out of our bodies and what to avoid, and how to detoxify our homes, and cleanse our bodies. The author covers every area you will need to help you move to better health and avoid contamination in the future. Excellent!
I'll tell you the truth, this book was too long in coming and in my opinion should be read by every person on the face of the earth. The information will astound you and make you more aware of the dangers in the world you live in. I strongly recommend this work, you won't be sorry.

First, I would like to state that this book is full of useful information; it is very well researched. The only fault, in my opinion, is that the book is at least twice as long as it needs to be. The author is frequently repetitious and wordy. Often, the information presented is too detailed to be of any use to the average reader. She should simply have indicated what to avoid and why. Also, it would perhaps have been helpful to include recipes for the 7-Day De-Sludge Diet; they're not particularly difficult menus, but it would have been nice. Overall, it's a worthwhile effort, and I would probably be interested to read her other book.

Patrick Mauries' "Cabinets of Curiosities" is a study of rooms of wonder. Built during the Baroque Age in Europe, these rooms--sometimes large chambers and in other cases simply elaborate cabinets--held the natural and mechanical treasures that wealthy collectors assembled, often in an attempt to structure for themselves an entire universe. Consistent with the sumptuous nature of these collections and the complex manner in which they were displayed, "Cabinets of Curiosities" is distinguished above all by its color photography, its complex design scheme, and a use of cropping and perspective that give the reader a sense of personally entering the collection spaces shown.

Because of its size, focus on photography, and price, "Cabinets of Curiosities" could easily be dismissed as a coffee-table book for the few. However, its appeal should be broader. The instinct to collect and to categorize-- even if it involves only seashells found on the beach, leaves fallen in a forest, or unusual stones found around the home-- is universal. Transcending time and space, collecting and categorizing are fundamental in particular to the sense of wonder and process of learning that define childhood.

"Cabinets of Curiosities" can help us to see anew and celebrate anew the complexities and fascination of the animate and inanimate worlds about us. In these circumstances, it is particularly disappointing that the text is so lightweight in comparison to the photographs and that the confusing movement among typefaces makes it difficult to track the text. Mauries is to be congratulated for his bold thinking in fashioning this book and making it so beautiful. If he had devoted an equal amount of effort to researching, explaining, and documenting his subject matter, "Cabinets of Curiosities" would have risen to the ranks of a publishing classic.

Oh for a copy editor. This is a beautiful book, a delight to the senses. But the text contains too many careless errors. Mauries misspells, for example, both the name Linnaeus and the title of his famous book, Systema Naturae.

It is a chaotic world out there. It would be nice to bring that chaotic world in to a room, or even into a cabinet, and sort it all out, top to bottom. There have been those who have tried this, collectors who aspired to gathering parts of the world that would sum it all up, and place them together so that those parts could reflect upon each other. This quixotic aim is beautifully depicted in a big illustrated book, _Cabinets of Curiosities_ (Thames & Hudson) by Patrick Mauriès. You can look at the lavish illustrations here, and gain a bit of understanding of the obsessions of the collector, and you might look around your own relatively meager curios, and recognize some envy.

Mauriès speculates that the precursors of such cabinets were the relic collections in medieval churches. Such collections might have started with supposed pieces of saints or of the True Cross, but eventually included bizarre tangents like a vial of milk from the breast of the Virgin, or the rod used by Moses. The magical air of such a collection, but these cabinets were secular, built not by monks, but by kings and other wealthy men. As collectors perfected their assemblies, they sought out rarities, and this tended to make the collections full of idiosyncratic freaks. These sorts of marvels were to fill the viewer with wonder, but tastes in such things change. As the eighteenth century approached, wonder itself was regarded as a "low, bumptious form of pleasure," a credulousness which was out of place with scientific enquiry. Mauriès demonstrates that even though the collectors tried to emphasize relationships between the items in the cabinets, the surrealists were equally good at assembling items whose conjunctions would be without meaning. There is a picture of the surrealists' exhibition in Paris in 1936, and although the cabinet is metal and glass, it contains found objects, bones, and mathematical sculptures that any curiosity collector would have valued.

Mauriès's tour of strange collections of strange objects is great fun. His chapters about the history and fate of such collections, and the personalities that engaged in them, reflect a deeply intellectual appreciation. But _Cabinets of Curiosities_ is a picture book. There are reproductions of old prints showing how the collections used to look, as well as photographs of cabinets which still remain, and the strange objects of desire that filled them. It makes a good-looking volume. Pictures here include the cherry pit carved with thirty miniscule heads; ivory worked into seemingly impossible spirals, linked rings, and spheres within spheres; a jeweled cup with dragons horns (which are actually warthog tusks); portraits of "cat people" abnormally covered with hair; mechanical insects; and much more. Beautifully laid out, these pages are curious, indeed.

*Cousin Bette* and *Cousin Pons*, Part One and Two of 'Poor Relations', are generally considered to be the last great gasp of French genius Honore de Balzac, inspired simultaneously and written in a fury to capitalize on the recent market for novel serializations. I'm not sure about this "last gasp" claim yet - *The Wrong Side of Paris*, Balzac's last novel (recently republished!) is on my reading list - but they certainly are great in and of themselves, *Bette* more than *Pons*, in my opinion. Not to degenerate this work in the slightest: being within the shadow of a masterpiece is close enough for posterity.

'Poor Relations' tackles the subject of the individual and its family; but where in *Bette* the poor relation was the spinster cousin, surrounded and revered by her family while she secretly schemed to destroy them, in this novel Pons is the outcast and victim, humiliated by his wealthy relations for his eccentric behavior and mooching ways. For Pons loves food - sumptuous feasts, where he can indulge the demands of his gastronomical addiction - and when his lack of social grace irritates his relatives to the point of banishment, he always wheedles his way back into their hearts with exquisite presents: Pons' monomania extends to collecting the great masterpieces of art, hoarding them away in his private salon where he can bask in the glory of oil and gold. After a scheme intended to permanently set his place at the dinner-table goes awry, however, the old man finds himself an exile, snubbed and refused at the homes of his relatives. The heartbreak - and the stomach-ache - drives the poor man to his deathbed, one hounded by prospective vultures seeking to profit on his jealously-kept collection.

*Cousin Pons*, on reflection, is perhaps one of Balzac's bitterest and unrelentingly tragic novels, sharing similarities to *Pere Goirot* in its plot, structure and sharp denouncement of the materialistic bourgeois society that had come in fashion after the July Revolution. Greed, avarice, selfishness, poisonous coveting (literally), corruption, hypocrisy and blackmail all raise their heads in this novel, a gaggle of vipers ranging from the highest of society (the infuriating Presidente) to the lowest dregs (the despicable La Cibot), and all those that scheme in between (the ghoulish Fraisier). Pons and his roommate Schmucke, gentle failures in the game of life, haven't a chance among these beasts: and it is heartache to see the villainous deeds done to these two men for the glitter of lucre and the whiff of prestige. Balzac was never much of one for happily-ever-after, but most of his tragedies have some sort of uplifting resolution, some cosmic vengeance dealt upon at least a few of the miscreants (and *Bette* was probably the most satisfying in this regard); *Pons* refutes this technique, leaving the reader shaken and upset at the circumstances of the conclusion...at the _reality_ of it.

This volume is not quite within Balzac's creative pantheon: it's too slim (!), lacking the complexity and the captivating digressions of a *Lost Illusions*; but man o man does that ending work - for the novel, and as a conclusion to one of the most ambitious artistic statements of the past two centuries.

Four and a half stars, rounded down.

This work, like all of Balzac's works, possesses his style, namely his perceptive insights into a Parisian's sole and the fabric of society during that time. Had these observations been relevent only to Paris of that time (the book takes place 1844-46) this book would not have the impact it does. I can almost imagine any one of these characters existing today, and wouldn't be surprised to open up the newspaper and reading a column with a similar story as this book.

It's a great look at what moves people to get ahead and step over other's who are more vulnerable. It is as if Balzac is saying that society is an extension of the apt phrase "survival of the fittest". The characters that ultimately succeed in this novel are the one's not with the most talent, but with the drive to get ahead in society. There are limits however, as a character who oversteps the laws of society is ultimately punished.

It is a painful novel to read as the characters who are the most sensitive and least versed in the ways of society suffer the most . Even a relatively minor character who is noble becomes withdrawn and pessimistic as a result of his inability to be charitable. It's definetely not an uplifting read, but it is very well written nontheless.

I'm a Balzac's french fan.
"Cousin Pons" is one of my favourites Balzac's novels.
This novels speaks about art (music, paintings, ...), social relationships in a family and in a flat, and over there of FRIENDSHIP.
The friendship between Pons and Schmücke is the most facinating aspect of this novel (may be it's more than a frienship : a platonic love ?).

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Reading this book is like sitting down and having a personal conversation with Senator Elizabeth Dole.
I found this book on Elizabeth Dole to be informative yet highly entertaining. The authors have shed new light on Dole that presents her like no other Dole book I've read. From her time as Red Cross spokeswoman to Senator she's given some milestone speeches that have been well detailed in the book. I highly recommend this book, even if you're not a huge Dole fan.

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