Michigan Books

This book is the foundation of the research of the Gullah dialect as a serious subject. Being an Afrcan-American himself. Dr. Turner won the confidence of Sea Island Gullah speakers in the 1930s and won their confidence in providing a window to their lives and folkways. The result was this book, which was probably the first that did not patronize Gullah speakers as being backward and ignorant as some (sadly) still do today.

The central section of this book, which deals with linguistic similarities between West Africans and Gullah speakers, is primarily for linguists. But the chapters on Dr. Turner's acquaintance with the Gullah speakers anmd his collection of their tales of slavery, religion, and life expereinces make for interesting reading for the layman. Overall, a great window into a subject that had long suffered from mockery and ridicule. It shows the Gullah speakers in their pride and dignity.

Prolific and veteran poet Conrad Hillberry is back with another deftly composed anthology. "After Music" is filled with meditations on anything and everything from conflicted Mexican priests, exhausted and depressed grocery store clerks, and so much more. Five sections create the book, separated by theme - Sweet Grease, How the Juices Leap, Steering by Pheromones, One Match Flaring, and Bird with Downcast Beak. "After-Music" is highly recommended as a book poetry lovers with relish and deserves a place on every community library poetry shelf. Christmas Night: Let Midnight gather up the wind/and the cry of tires on bitter snow/Let midnight call the cold dogs home,/sleet in their fur - last one can blow//the streetlights out. If children sleep/after the day's unfoldings, the wheel/of gifts and griefs, may their breathing/ease the strange hollowness we feel.//Let the midnight draw whoever's left/to the grate where a burnt-out log unrolls/low mutterings of smoke until/a small fire wakes in its crib of coals.

Major and Surgeon John Vance Lauderdale provides a detailed and interesting account of life in the 1890s in the Dakota territories. For anyone interested in the Laura Ingalls Wilder era of history, this book is a "must read."

Now into its fourth decade, C.D. Gordon's collection of translations from ancient sources concerning the Huns in Europe, interspersed with modern narrative and interpretation, remains an almost indispensable introduction to its subject. The limits of "The Age of Attila" (1960) become clearer with repeated use, but it was never intended as a profound contribution to historical literature. It covers one of the more dramatic aspects of the "Barbarian Invasions" that marked the final stages of the Roman Empire in the West, and the final shift of imperial power to Constantinople (Byzantium) in the East, offering a good selection of the surviving narratives of the events.

Although "The Age of Attila: Fifth-Century Byzantium and the Barbarians" does not contain all of the relevant ancient sources (mostly fragments surviving in later works), it has most of them, gathered in one place, and set in context with each other and with relatively recent ideas about the period. For one major source, Priscus' narrative of an embassy to the Huns, it gave the first complete English translation of all of the surviving fragments. Such direct translations are offered in italics, often mixed with Gordon's own observations in roman type, or, in the case of brief fragments, dropped into his narrative as illustrations and examples. This provides a unified reading experience, instead of a mere collection of disjointed extracts. (Appendix A gives the dates and sources of fragments, and the pages where the translations appear, and Appendix B describes the Historians themselves.) Technical problems with texts are confined to the Notes, and the glossary of "Geographical Names" deals with the special problems they present.

The coverage is selective, since the focus is kept on the Huns, not the Roman Empire, or the other "Barbarian" tribes, during Attila's lifetime; however, as pointed out in the Foreword by Arthur E.R. Boak, it does cover the major political events of the period, as the Huns were involved with most of them, one way or another.

I was delighted to find a copy of the 1966 Ann Arbor paperback reprint shortly after discovering the book, and there have been later reprintings in hard cover, some fairly recent. Although there is a huge literature on the subject, surprisingly few books in English deal with the Huns as their primary focus. A more up-to-date work of similar scope is certainly desirable; but Gordon's work can't be faulted for it. And in that light the lack of a detailed, but ever-more-obsolete, bibliography is less important. The narrative is sometimes confusing, because the sources are less than reliable, and the events chaotic, but Gordon manages to keep the main lines clear, while indicating some of the problems.

Beyond the matter of the collapse of Rome, and the rise of the Barbarian kingdoms, is the long after-life of these events in song and story. Those interested in the Nibelungs and the Volsungs, and the Dietrich von Bern cycle, prominent in medieval German and Scandinavian literatures, will find here many of the original events and personages, among the Burgundians, Goths, and Huns, and some less familiar peoples. (Dietrich is based mainly on the later Theodoric the Great "of Verona", but in medieval legend his story has been confused with that of his father Theudomir, an actual contemporary of Attila, among other anachronisms.)

I read Gordon's treatment with pleasure, and considerable profit, in about 1970. At that date, as when it appeared, E.A. Thompson's "A History of Attila and the Huns" (1948) was the main alternative, and it often gave quotations in the original Greek and Latin, so Gordon was at minimum an essential aide for most readers. (In its 1996 revised incarnation as "The Huns" in the "Peoples of Europe" Series, with an interesting Afterword by Peter Heather, such passages are translated, following Thompson's [d. 1994] instructions.) Thompson tended to favor materialist views of history, which sometimes fits a little oddly with how little we actually know of the economy of the Huns. Indeed, he presented them as almost entirely predatory, lacking such skills as metal-working, and even weaving, although it is hard to imagine Eurasian nomads without cloth. Gordon doesn't address such issues, beyond the goods the Huns demanded as tribute.

The serious student of the nomadic peoples will want to go on to the material, literary, and linguistic evidence painstakingly assessed in "The World of the Huns: Studies in their History and Culture" (1973) by Otto J. Maenchen-Helfen (1894-1969). This somewhat ponderous work had to be edited from the author's unfinished manuscript, despite his assurances to the publisher, shortly before his death, that it was all but completed. It is filled with otherwise difficult-to-find information, has a copious bibliography, and 75 illustrations. Many common identifications of the Huns with other peoples are mentioned only to be dismissed; in the 1940s Maenchen-Helfen had already disproved the accepted equation with the Hsiung-nu, enemies of Han Dynasty China when the Roman Empire was young. (Their name was probably pronounced something like "Hong" at the time, so the equation looks plausible, but has other difficulties.) Although out of print, "World of the Huns" was a book club selection, and used copies seem to be readily available.

It is a marked contrast to Gordon's more novice-friendly approach, but Maenchen-Helfen briefly mentions Gordon's book with respect, if not always agreement, unlike any number of more ambitious works which he is at pains to refute. Frankly, given the limitations on languages I can read, I can't imagine understanding Maenchen-Helfen's references to the sources *without* Gordon.

Those who find Thompson's interpretation of the decline of Rome and the nature of Barbarian economies too Marxist may enjoy Maenchen-Helfen's sniping at his, and Soviet (mainly Stalinist-era), readings of their history. In Eastern Bloc histories, as in older Slavophile views, the Huns were generally rather identified with the image of the Mongols, monsters to be hated for oppressing the Slavs -- except in Hungary, of course, where there was a tradition (not linguistically sound) of ethnic identification, or the rare instances when the Huns were allowed to be freedom-loving opponents of the wicked Imperialists ... . A more general difficulty in assimilating pastoral nomads to Soviet versions of Marxist ideology was also involved. But the Huns have had a variety of modern political "meanings" (see Maenchen-Helfen's "Fragments from the Author's Preface").

A comparison of Gordon, or any of these modern versions, with the comparable chapters of Gibbon's eighteenth-century vision of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" may be left as an exercise for the curious. And if you are still confused by the USA Network's 2001 cable television movie "Attila," it is likely that any of these books will help replace its fictional problems with genuine historical ones.

[Addendum: Those seriously interested in the history of the Roman Empire during this period, beyond the Huns and other "barbarian" peoples, or those who need to consult the actual texts, will find all the extant fragments of Gordon's major sources in R. C. Blockley, "Fragmentary Classicising Historians of the Later Roman Empire: Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus and Malchus" (volumes one and two; Francis Cairns, Liverpool 1981 and 1983). This includes notes and a new translation. Unfortunately, the material assigned to an important compiler, John of Antioch, also used by Gordon, is not available in complete form in English, and excerpts like his are based on an edition about 150 years old. However, a new critical edition, with an Italian translation, has recently appeared, edited by Umberto Roberto, "Ioannis Antiocheni Fragmenta Ex Historia Chronica" (Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2005). Between them, they cover almost all of the classical texts translated in "The Age of Attila." (Both books are listed by Amazon.)]

[With thanks to Alan Cameron's review in the on-line 'Bryn Mawr Classical Review," July 2006 [BMCR 2006.07.37], for information on Roberto's edition, and reminding me of Blockley's volumes, which I haven't seen in at least ten years, and couldn't identify by memory.]

I bought this as a present for my nephew, along with a field trip of downtown Detroit, where we spend an afternoon spotting Albert Kahn buildings. He loved it and continues to reread this book! It has the right amount of history, a good story and explains basic architectural terms.

A new and innovative approach to Albrecht Du"rer, with insightful observations on the role of religion in his work. Nicely illustrated. The author has an excellent knowledge and "feel" for Du"rer's art, and also knows the cultural history of the time and understands Du"rer's relationship to the reformation and to the humanist movement. Highly recommended.

Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history. To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher. The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him. Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33. Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord. Some other called him civilizer and even God! All of them yet, called him "The Great". He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"! Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.

Curtius' work is the oldest extant work available and based on eyewitness accounts. He does a better job than most in explaining the battle scenes, and seems to be more balanced in his admiration and criticism of Alexander then any of the other early biographers. I love his Bucephalus Story, and I recount it here so you get a flavor of the promise this young Alexander shows.

The legend begins with Philoneicus, a Thessalian, bringing a wild horse to Philip for him to buy. None of the hands was able to handle it, and Philip grew upset at Philoneicus for bringing such an unstable horse to him. Alexander, however, publicly defied his father and claimed that he could handle the horse. The bet between Philip and Alexander was that if Alexander could ride the horse, Philip would buy it, if not, Alexander would have to pay the price of the horse, which was 13 talents, an enormous sum for a boy of Alexander's age to have.

Alexander apparently noticed that the horse had been shying away from its own shadow, and so he led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it, all the while stroking it gently and whispering into its ear, (Alexander seems to be the original horse whisperer). Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and Alexander was able to show his equestrian skill to his father and all who were watching. The incident so impressed Alexander's father, King Philip that he told the boy "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of you, for Macedonia is too little for thee". He named the horse Bucephalus, which means Ox head, and rode it across Asia, founding a city in its honor in India after its death. This story gives you an inkling about the man.

This book is a must read for students of Alexander, I also recommend Plutarch's and Arrian's work. Contemporary writers, J.F. C. Fuller and Tarn. Most of Alexander's greatest military traits are in the area of military logistics and to understand his genius in this area I highly recommend reading, "Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army," by Donald W. Engels.

As a retired U. S. Army Major, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient warfare, and history.

I picked up this book and cannot put it down. What a great text! The reader will have to know their (High School) Algebra and Geometry. Have a Reference available if you have been away for some time.

After this book, you may be ready for Geometry of Curves (Chapman Hall/Crc Mathematics Series), followed by Plane Algebraic Curves (Student Mathematical Library, V. 15) and/or Introduction to Plane Algebraic Curves.

The former is more Analysis/Topology based and the latter Algebra. They are German texts, you will certainly need a strong foundation in Analysis and Abstract Algebra. Prepare well!

There are a host of books on AG - Those above are inexpensive, except Geometry of Curves (Chapman Hall/Crc Mathematics Series), light and quite prepratory for advanced study.

PJO

I am a doctoral student in ed policy and use this book in my research...but, don't let THAT scare you! This book is an interesting read and well-written! If you think it's time for American educators to respond appropriately to religious minorities in our society, you will find this book helpful.

Libertarians today are often considered extreme conservatives. Their opposition to taxation and government regulation is widely regarded as a defense of "big business" and the popular press, to the extent they mention libertarians at all, tends to see them as a branch of the Republican Party. But liberarianism is actually a radical philosophy with deep roots in the history of American reform movements, most notably abolitionism and especially the labor movement. Detroit labor organizer Joseph Labadie was a radical printer and tradesman who helped found both the Knights of Labor and the later AFL, particularly its Michigan wing. But Labadie also came to realize that the state was no friend of organized labor. Unlike modern labor historians who try to wrestle America's labor movement into a Marxist paradigm (Philip Foner and his intellectual heirs come to mind here) Labadie came to believe that true socialism would find its best expression in free markets and anarchism. This fabulous biography by Carlotta Anderson covers Labadie's extensive career.

Joseph Labadie was a self educated printer who lived in Michigan and migrated to Detroit. The boom and bust cycle of the early 19th century caused tremendous economic hardship upon workers and Labadie quickly fell in with trade unionists and members of America's very diverse socialist party. He was a founding member of the Knights of Labor and remained throughout his life an advocate for the working poor. But Labadie also felt education was the key to any successful social reform and he practiced what he preached. A careful reader, he soon had mastered the works of Adam Smith, Herbert Spencer, Thoreau, and especially the writings of Josiah Warren and Pierre Joseph Proudhon. Reading the latter, he came to realize that demanding workers receive their fair share of production was in fact a type of property right. (This was the basis of Proudhon's famous paradox, namely that property is both theft and liberty.) The way to insure that workers received their due was to destroy government privileges which allow businesses to skim value from their workers. Ever the idealist, Labadie was not content to simply end government established "monopolies." He also thought that government itself could be abolished once people realized their true interests.

Labadie continued his work for over 50 years. Beyond hs efforts to establish workers' equality he defended those who were victims of an unjust legal system, wrote prodigious amounts of poetry, protested US entry into World War II, and advocated alternative health care. But his greatest legacy was the collection of letters, newspapers, tracts and broadsides that he and his wife collected over the years. These became the basis for the justly famed Labadie collection at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Much of America's radical history would have been lost were it not for this gentleman anarchist who was widely respected by all of Detroit.

Labadie's influence, however, extended far beyond that of his collection. His son Laurence also became a prolific anarchist writer. Long after individualist anarchism had died out and trade unions had succumbed to begging the state for monopolistic privileges of their own, Laurence kept up the lonely fight for freedom from government and proper renumeration of workers. But the 20th century also saw a variety of different issues arise and the younger Labadie addressed these as they came up. Nuclear war, integration of schools, and agrarian reforms including the beginnings of the modern organic health movement all received his incisive commentary. In the process he created a body of work which went on to inspire modern libertarianism.

On the whole then, Anderson's volume is an excellent introduction to American labor history as seen from the perspective of one of its most prominent (but now largely forgotten) proponents. But it is much more than that. This book illustrates why American historians consistently fail to understand and appreciate America's labor movement. Instead of trying to explain how labor was co-opted by "capitalism," they should understand that for 19th century workers, true free market capitalism was their ideal. If anything, the movement was co-opted by an older economic system: merchatilism. Although not widely recognized, this is in fact the economic system that characterizes America today. Ms. Anderson has done an admirable job of presenting an historical alternative that was never tried. She is to be commended for this. All students of American history and especially labor history should read this book.