Portugal Books

A considerable part of this book talks about the Aztec, Maya and Inca. While it has got really valuable information, not all assertions should be taken to letter. The European vision of Native americans is still predominant in most works, and it is still polluted with myths and false assumptions about facts and ideology of these peoples.

It is a great introductory book, thanks to the Conquistadores (which are familiar to us), and it has beautiful and quite accurate drawings. However, if Aztec and Maya history is what catches your interest, and you are willing to dig deeper, I HUGELY recommend looking for some Mexican authors, who have a different take on the subject: what Mesoamerican peoples thought, and what their traditions really were, not through the conquerors' eyes. Pablo Moctezuma Barragan, Miguel de Leon-Portilla and Ignacio Romerovargas are good examples. Be warned however, that these authors may display too much nationalism. All in all, when reading ANYTHING about Prehispanic American civilizations, it is recommended to be critical and apply your own criteria.

I recommend this book to anyone who is eager to learn something about what the Conquest of the most powerful nations in America was like.

This book really helped flesh out Bernal Diaz's account of the fall of the 'Aztec' Empire for me. The first part of the text concerns the gear of the Conquistadores themselves, with the following catagories being the Aztecs/Mexica, the Inca, and the Maya, the three major enemies the Spaniards found in the New World. The plates are awesome, depicting, among others, noble Incan warriors, a freaky-looking Maya spearman, and a plain nasty Aztec priest with the heart of his most recent victim.

This book is one of osprey finest, its a pity that the section of the conquistadores is so small, but it contains a lot of good information. And it is always cool to read about 400 men with armour and swords who conquer a whole nation. I Love the helmets.
P.S. Osprey is publishing a new book about the conquistadores.

The title of this book is misleading: it is not only the story of Cortez and Pizzaro, but also of their opponents, the Aztecs, the Incas, and the Mayas. The book clearly explains where the military advantages of the Spaniards lay (it wasn't gunpowder as you might think!) and also describes the strengths and weaknesses of the cultures they subdued, sometimes with relative ease and sometimes with great difficulty. You will come away with new respect for all the combatants.

(Hee, hee, hee.) Psss...t! (Hee, hee, hee.) Wanna hear somethin' funny? Culture Clash. The book presents their most memorable work to date, although the point can be easily argued (e.g., at the Japan America Theatre, their wickedly hilarious, cathartic "S.O.S." following the mop-up of the L.A. Riots/Rebellion/African-Korean Turf Wars). "The Mission" (1988), "A Bowl of Beings" (1991), and "Radio Mambo: Culture Clash Invades Miami" (1994) are the published plays. Japanese-American playwright Philip Kan Gotanda introduces the Chicano comedy troupe--Herbert Siguenza, Ric Salinas, Richard Montoya--in a 9-pg. transcribed interview, covering the education and work experience of each member, group evolution, collective creation, and comedy group alliances. A 4-pg. glossary of bicultural terms/refs. can be found in front. Each play is prefaced by a different member of the group. BW production photos give the reader the illusion of watching the show in between script consultations.

I haven't seen "The Mission" yet, but I've caught other shows and benefits they've done, enough so that I could hear C.C. talking in my head as I read through the script. Weird. Lalo Guerrero's song "No Chicanos on TV" pretty much summarizes what this play is about and how desperate out-of-work actors can get, in this case kidnapping Julio Iglesias for their 15 minutes of fame. There's also some irreverent stuff (I didn't say irrelevant) about Father Junipero Serra.

"A Bowl of Beings" premiered at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in July 1991; it was the first time I saw them. I watched "Bowl" on PBS the following March and saw it yet again that October at Univ. of Calif., San Diego. My favorite part of the show is "Chicano on the Storm," where Richard is stuck in a straitjacket vomiting his multicultural nightmare.

"Radio Mambo," created from videotaped interviews with Miami residents, made me fall back in love with C.C. Their tremendous talents as performers were spotlighted as they had to go beyond the parameters of their usual stock characters. I caught "Mambo" at South Coast Rep's Second Stage in July 1996. The intimate setting worked for the play. It's a show whose power is in the close up--of the performer and the performed.

This books provides a written guide to the hilarious stage antics and dead serious social commentary of this comedy trio. Richard, Rick and Herbert have that strange ability to make you laugh out loud then make look over your shoulder wondering whether you should. Those fortunate enough to have experienced Culture Clash will recognize where the improv begins and ends. This book gave me the opportunity to revist the many places these guys took me, at my own paso.

"Culture Clash: Life, Death..." is not really a novel or biography of the comedy/performance group, but a collection of their first three plays "The Mission," "Bowl of Beings" and "Radio Mambo." The book also includes a relatively short interview with the group where they discuss their origins and an introduction to the three plays each done by one of the members. That said, the actual plays are great. They are original, political, thought provoking, hilarious. "The Mission" is about a Chicano comedy groups kidnapping of the greatest Latino entertainer Julio Iglesias. "Bowl Of Beings" is a collection of sketch pieces which includes "Stand and Deliver Pizza" and "The Return of Che Guevara." "Radio Mambo," is a series of sketches done in interview form (mostly) commisioned by the City of Miami. It thoughtfully examines the social complexities of the Black, Jewish, Cuban, Haitian and White communities of Miami The best part of Culture Clash is their ability to blend the Chicano political conciousness with humor and making it accesible to all without "selling out." If you haven't seen them live, think about doing so. The three plays are great, but may not be as entertaining if you haven't seen their manic performance style.

Culture clash is a collection of 3 plays that analyzes the complexites of race relations in America. Humor is the guise which coats the deeper issues that is brought up by the trio. This book can be enjoyed in numerous levels.

As a specialist and research scholar in the history of collecting at European courts, including Portugal, in the Renaissance, I found this book/catalogue to be lacking in any new, innovative scholarship. This exhibition was meant for a general public in the USA never before exposed to such objects, and as a "blockbuster" show it fulfilled its intent to dazzle, draw crowds and surprise. Encompassing was conceived of as a marketing strategy, which gained Levenson an honorary medal, but which had little to do with the advancement of more serious, as yet unanswered, questions concerning trade, political and cultural relations between Europe, the Americas and Asia in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Serious shows dedicated to these same (and identical) themes have been presented in Europe since 1983 in Lisbon, Porto, Brussels, Bordeaux, Vienna and Madrid, and most recently, the Encounters exhibition held at the V & A Museum in London in 2004, from which Jay Levenson and his team drew much material (both written and visual), without citing one of their sources. One case in point: the section dedicated to exotic animals and menageries in the Encounters catalogue was repeated (almost verbatim) in Encompassing. Neither were any objects addressed in-depth, either in the three essays presented here, or elsewhere in the Encompassing catalogue; nor was a bibliography included, which should have been obligatory.

Jay Levenson is not a specialist in any of the areas highlighted in Encompassing, but even if the catalogue falls short of its objectives, it remains a lovely picture book produced to accompany the show.


Encounters: The Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500 - 1800
Jahrbuch des Kunsthistorischen Museums Wien: Jahrbuch des Kunsthistorischen Museums Wien 03. Exotica: Bd 3 (Gebundene Ausgabe) von Helmut Trnek (Autor), Sabine Haag (Autor)
Black Africans in Renaissance Europe
Early Modern Zoology: The Construction of Animals in Science, Literature and the Visual Arts (Intersections)
The Development of Cathararine of Austria's Collection in the Queen's Household: Its Character and Cost
Kingship and Conversion in Sixteenth-Century Sri Lanka: Portuguese Imperialism in a Buddhist Land (University of Cambridge Oriental Publications)
Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume II: A Century of Wonder. Book 1: The Visual Arts (Century of Wonder Bk. 1)
Hindu Arms and Ritual: Arms and Armour from India 1400-1865
Cultural links between Portugal and Italy in the Renaissance. (Reviews).: An article from: Renaissance Quarterly
The Jesuits II: Cultures, Sciences, and the Arts, 1540-1773
Luxury Goods from India: The Art of the Indian Cabinet-Maker (Victoria and Albert Museum Studies)

Gorgeous photographs of the artwork and in-depth views of this intensely and fascinating period. Thanks so much for finally creating this masterpiece!

I too saw the exhibition and it was simply marvelous. Many amazingly crafted objects from the 16th and 17th century from around the world reflecting the Portuguese influences. Many of the objects will never be put together again in once place for us to see, so this was definitely a treat for history and art lovers. For those who couldn't make the trip, this is an excellent substitute. A coffee-table size book with wonderful reproductions of the exhibit items. It will make you wish you had made the trip! Get it!

This book is the catalog of the exhibition of the same name. Unfortunately it will soon close at its only U.S. venue and move to Europe. I made a long trip to see this rare exhibition of Portuguese Colonial objects because I felt that I would never see such things in one place again in my lifetime. The show didn't disappoint and the catalog is bound to be a real collectible

Available locally (at list price) is the 1998 edition detailing the large network of "autopistas" built in Andalucia since the version offered by Amazon (1991), which is now out of date. The coverage of this map is actually all of Spain SOUTH of Valdepenas and east of the Portuguese border to the Costa de Almeria at Aguilas: the entire territory of Andalucia. The single map insert (7") is of Sevilla. Otherwise, I concur with the comments of the two other reviewers, especially the one that more city maps on the reverse side would be eminently more helpful (and efficient).

This is without doubt the best road map for the tourist in Southern Spain to buy

AMAZON puts the reviews for several different Spanish Michelin maps together, including the Central and Southern regions, so you will notice that some of the reviewers are speaking of a Anadalusian map and some speak of a Central Spain or some other map: Bottom line, the Michelin Spanish maps at this scale and detail are very, very good. Spain is a beautiful and diverse country. When outside the main cities and rail lines do not be hesitant to rent a car and explore.

My review is for the Central region map.

If you are thinking about maybe renting a car when visiting the Madrid/central Spain area, get this map now. The map is perfect for showing how easy it is to get around the very beautiful and dramatic area. This part of Spain, with mountains to the north of Madrid (with Segovia and Avila), the plains to the south (with Toledo, La Mancha), craft towns to the west (Talavera de la Reina, Oropesa) are as much worth seeing as the art museums in Madrid. The driving was a pleasure; the roads well marked, in good condition and safe, traffic not a problem outside the cities (if you rent the car in Madrid, leave town immediately, do not drive a rental around the city).
From Segovia, we crossed the mountains from the Avila side to Oropesa; we saw parts of an old roman stone road still running up through the mountains, a rainbow's end in a little valley by a sheep herder's cottage, and of course a castle or two. The map led us through without problem to some dramatic, fantastic and very memorable sights.
With this map we spent one day castle hunting from our base in Toledo: Castles on hilltops, castles in towns, castles next to windmills. We visited renovated castles and climbed through abandoned ones, saw amazing photo ops and sights to remember.
The map was perfect for the task.

This map has excellent detail, covering all the terrain from south of Madrid to the northern coast, and from Salamanca in the west to Zaragoza in the east. Includes even little-used country roads. Also has a 7" inset of Madrid and city/road index. But it is missing features we expect in US maps: double-sided printing, more city insets.

This is a very interesting version of Cinderella and I really like the fact that it is a truly bilingual book. Great for elementary school libraries.

Marta C.Valdez-Menchaca; Grover J. Whitehurst. ?Accelerating Language Development through Picture Book Reading: a Systematic Extension to Mexican Day Care. Developmental Psychology, 28.6(1992):1106 Hayes, Joe. Estrellita de Oro Little Gold Star. Illus. El Paso Texas: Cinco Puntos Press, 2000

A Cultural Wonder Gold Star is a picture book that takes the classic tale of Cinderella and adds the Mexican heritage to it. Arcìa is the young heroin of the story. She begs her father to marry her neighbor, Margarita because Margarita is so nice to her. Finally the father agrees and marries her. Margarita turns out to be a bad person who only cares for her two daughters. Arcìa?s father buys all the girls a sheep so that they can raise and take care of them so that later they can shear and sell them. Each girl takes her sheep to bathe at a river where they meet a hawk. Arcìa is nice to the hawk and receives a gold star on her head but the other two sisters are mean to the hawk. One gets a donkey ear while the other gets a greenhorn. When it is time for the ball the sisters cover their obscenities and go. Since Arcìa doesn?t have any shoes or nice clothes, she goes and watches from a window. As in most Cinderella tales, the Prince goes on a hunt, but this prince goes on a hunt for the girl with the golden star. Arcìa marries the prince, and they live happily ever after. Joe Hayes retells the classic story of Cinderella with a Mexican her flair. On the last page of the book Hayes tells us that Cinderella was very popular in the mountain communities of New Mexico. This version, he says, retains most of the traditional details. This includes the golden star on the forehead. Hayes says that the symbolic reward of the golden star on the forehead appears almost in every episode, but the star is more central in his tale. Also in most traditional versions, a fish takes the wool, the sheep is slaughtered and his intestines are stolen. Hayes says that these details where a bit too gruesome for a picture book. The blessed virgin (the fairy godmother) who usually guides the girl does not appear in Hayes?s story. He says that he based his story on a plot form that doesn?t require her intervention. This book combines the Mexican culture and a classic fairy tale. The wonderful illustrations add life to the story. Mother and daughter painted the story illustrations. Gloria Osuna Perez did the first three pages because she was sick with ovarian cancer. Her daughter, Lucia Angela Perez, did the last twelve illustrations in honor of her mother. The oil painted illustrations show a part of Mexican culture. Being panted by the Perezs they put their heritage and soul into the illustrations. Any child will enjoy these wonderful drawings. I enjoyed this rendition of Cinderella. Arcìa didn?t need a godmother-like character to help her. She did it with her own will and personality. The book deals more with the human spirit and the power it has. Arcìa is kind hearted and doesn?t think about herself. Even when Margarita doesn?t give her new shoes or nice gowns, Arcìa doesn?t complain or show any remorse. Her kind heart is what gets the golden star put upon her forehead. This book can be used to help young children learn. By using Spanish or any other language in reading a child can learn and interact more with the picture book . The book is written in both Spanish and English, which helps readers easily learn a new language. Foreign languages are being taught in elementary schools and they are required to get into most colleges. If a child is taught young, he will have a better grasp on the language when he is older. This picture book would be a good way for a child to be introduced to another culture and language. I enjoyed reading this book. Seeing Cinderella written from Mexican heritage is educational as well as enjoyable. The illustrations are as wonderful as the story.

Marta C.Valdez-Menchaca; Grover J. Whitehurst. ?Accelerating Language Development through Picture Book Reading: a Systematic Extension to Mexican Day Care. Developmental Psychology, 28.6(1992):1106 Hayes, Joe. Estrellita de Oro Little Gold Star. Illus. El Paso Texas: Cinco Puntos Press, 2000

A Cultural Wonder Gold Star is a picture book that takes the classic tale of Cinderella and adds the Mexican heritage to it. Arcìa is the young heroin of the story. She begs her father to marry her neighbor, Margarita because Margarita is so nice to her. Finally the father agrees and marries her. Margarita turns out to be a bad person who only cares for her two daughters. Arcìa?s father buys all the girls a sheep so that they can raise and take care of them so that later they can shear and sell them. Each girl takes her sheep to bathe at a river where they meet a hawk. Arcìa is nice to the hawk and receives a gold star on her head but the other two sisters are mean to the hawk. One gets a donkey ear while the other gets a greenhorn. When it is time for the ball the sisters cover their obscenities and go. Since Arcìa doesn?t have any shoes or nice clothes, she goes and watches from a window. As in most Cinderella tales, the Prince goes on a hunt, but this prince goes on a hunt for the girl with the golden star. Arcìa marries the prince, and they live happily ever after. Joe Hayes retells the classic story of Cinderella with a Mexican her flair. On the last page of the book Hayes tells us that Cinderella was very popular in the mountain communities of New Mexico. This version, he says, retains most of the traditional details. This includes the golden star on the forehead. Hayes says that the symbolic reward of the golden star on the forehead appears almost in every episode, but the star is more central in his tale. Also in most traditional versions, a fish takes the wool, the sheep is slaughtered and his intestines are stolen. Hayes says that these details where a bit too gruesome for a picture book. The blessed virgin (the fairy godmother) who usually guides the girl does not appear in Hayes?s story. He says that he based his story on a plot form that doesn?t require her intervention. This book combines the Mexican culture and a classic fairy tale. The wonderful illustrations add life to the story. Mother and daughter painted the story illustrations. Gloria Osuna Perez did the first three pages because she was sick with ovarian cancer. Her daughter, Lucia Angela Perez, did the last twelve illustrations in honor of her mother. The oil painted illustrations show a part of Mexican culture. Being panted by the Perezs they put their heritage and soul into the illustrations. Any child will enjoy these wonderful drawings. I enjoyed this rendition of Cinderella. Arcìa didn?t need a godmother-like character to help her. She did it with her own will and personality. The book deals more with the human spirit and the power it has. Arcìa is kind hearted and doesn?t think about herself. Even when Margarita doesn?t give her new shoes or nice gowns, Arcìa doesn?t complain or show any remorse. Her kind heart is what gets the golden star put upon her forehead. This book can be used to help young children learn. By using Spanish or any other language in reading a child can learn and interact more with the picture book . The book is written in both Spanish and English, which helps readers easily learn a new language. Foreign languages are being taught in elementary schools and they are required to get into most colleges. If a child is taught young, he will have a better grasp on the language when he is older. This picture book would be a good way for a child to be introduced to another culture and language. I enjoyed reading this book. Seeing Cinderella written from Mexican heritage is educational as well as enjoyable. The illustrations are as wonderful as the story.

This children's classic is beautifully written and illustratedin both English and Spanish, which makes it truly unique andextraordinary. Many books are translated into other languages from English but this book was written in both lanuages and reflects the culture of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

I am sharing this reading experience with my four year old granddaughter. I highly recommend you share it with a child that you love.

Buy this book. Read it cover to cover. And do it before you leave...

This book is the perfect orientation to Spain and what riches it has to offer. By using this book as my guide, I saw more of Andalucia than I could have ever hoped for. The photographs in the book inspired many of my own (and more!). The city layouts are fantastic for anyone who has no sense of direction. Furthermore, the book gave me a tantilizing taste of the thrills to come when I would be in Spain...

My wife and I used this book and Lonely Planet: Spain book for a week in Seville and Cordoba.

We found it to be excellent for the high-points, or must see's, of the area. The photos are excellent in this book. Also, this book is much smaller and easier to carry than either Lonely Planet's or Eyewitness' guides for the entire country.

For non-touristy (or less touristy) things, Lonely Planet has much better depth. We found the two books to complement each other nicely.

By the way, Andalusia is spectacular! Enjoy!

As always, Eyewitness has the best maps. The coverage of Seville makes it the best guide for that city, period. The coverage of the outlying major areas, such as Granada and Cordoba, should be supplemented with the Cadogan book on Seville, Granada, Cordoba, but the Eyewitness has the best information on eating, shopping, getting around, hotels, and culture survival for Seville. If you are staying in Seville, take this book with you into the streets when you go.

As with all Eyewitness Guides, this is beautifully illustrated and informative. I have to admit I read it AFTER I visited Andalusia, but wish it had been on the market when I did go. It is an excellent armchair travel book. It has certainly whetted my appetite to go back. Retrospective reading always reveals gems you wish you had discovered at the time. One real bonus of Eyewitness guides is that they have PROPER maps, with street indexes integrated into them, unlike some guides which rely on sketch maps, and where the scale can be a bit hit and miss. Another advantage is they don;t attempt to list a "Top Ten" for each place, rather they provide comprehensive coverage, and divide their coverage by locale.

There are so many beautiful places in the world, sites to see, pilgrimages to make. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could visit all of them? In reality, one is probably fortunate to travel to just one of the scenic spots on his or her wish list. After leafing through "Hidden Gardens of Spain," that country rose to the top of my hope-to-travel-to areas.

Writer/photographer Eduardo Mencos has trained both his eye and camera lens on some of the most breathtakingly lovely scenes in Spain. His vision is unerring. Stunning photos in this folio size volume are accompanied by perceptive descriptions that are intelligent, informative, and dynamic. Mr. Mencos may well have come by his appreciation of gardens naturally as his grandmother, the Marchioness of Casa Valdez, was a pioneer of contemporary gardening in Spain.

With 250 color photographs the author escorts us from Galician to Granada, Barcelona to the Balearics, Catalonia and the Canaries, Madrid and Mallorca. Many of the gardens are drenched in that country's history, reflecting the influences of the Romans, Moors, and Europeans. Other gardens were created and are tended by their current owners, still others came to life through the talents of respected garden designers, such as Luis Gonzales-Camino and Arabella Lennox-Boyd. Mr. Mencos was allowed unprecedented access to private gardens, and his views of the Alhambra are spectacular.

In his Introduction Mr. Mencos writes, "Exploring the hidden gardens of Spain has been an enthralling journey for me. Each of the owners would welcome me into their own little Eden and we would share an enchanted moment there."

We are in debt to Mr. Mencos for sharing these enchanted moments with us.

- Gail Cooke

A delightful coffee-table book which attacks the senses, giving a glimpse into the gardens of large Spanish estates which we mere mortals will never see.

The photography is fabulous and picks out the essence (and often quirkiness) of gardens in each region. The accompanying text provides good insight into the motivations and character of the gardens' owners.

It is not a book for instruction on garden design or practice - rather it is a good read for a gardener on a winters day. A high quality publication, worth its price.

Spain. What are your first thoughts, food, flamenco, bullfighting, sun, sand, and Hemingway? Be honest, images of beautiful homes surrounded by cool, luxurious, patios, pools and gardens didn't immediately pop into your head. Gazing at a copy of Hidden Gardens of Spain will utterly change your conception of Spain, the Spanish lifestyle and the people who create these intimate spaces.

Thirty-one gardens are profiled reflecting the diverse regions of Spain. Many are classical gardens, located in exotic hispano-moorish settings such as villas, castles, monasteries, and palaces. Several modern homes and gardens are included and they re-interpret classical features.

Exceptional lush photographs explore the beauty and style of Spanish gardens. Each garden profile is accompanied by a passionate personal reflection of the owner. One owner says, " The garden is a dream and with skill and patience you can bring it to fruition no matter where you are." Many of the gardeners discuss the natural challenges they faced creating their personal spaces. Others discuss the history of their properties and gardens. Several Grande dames discuss loss of spouses and their eventual personal healing through involvement in their gardens.

You may not have a volcano as a backdrop or a 1000-year-old olive tree but Hidden Gardens of Spain is full of wonderful executable ideas that would compliment a wide variety of American homes. Spanish gardens have similar features, which are practical and easily interpreted. A short list of essentials includes: patio, pool or other water feature, an emphasis on cool green foliage, strong vertical elements, and formal geometric plantings. Secret spaces, gardens within gardens that manipulate the view so only part of the garden are revealed at one time. Spanish gardens generally have a minimum of flowering plants; there are always a few varieties, for example a huge bed of agapanthus as a center point of color. Box hedges, stately cedars, and cypress are also very common.

Pictured on the cover is Palacio de las Dueñas, located in Seville and owned by the Duchess of Alba. Building began in the fourteenth century and the garden is still a work in progress. Seville is incredibly hot in summer and the tinkling of the water and the refreshing coolness of the green space can be appreciated even in the photo. This portion of the garden illustrates several of the common elements, strong verticals, in this case the palm trees, low geometric box hedges outlining greenery, and a central fountain. This garden has more flowers than most. The enclosed courtyard extends the living space and blurs the boundaries between inside and outside. The courtyard also makes a secret or hidden space, revealing only this section and the remainder of the garden remains hidden from view.

A modern garden, La Mirada, the author's own, uses classic Spanish elements but his choices of materials are unique. For example, he used a mixture of live and dead trees from the surrounding area to create strong verticals. In a reflective moment he admits to ripping up all the trees in order to control the landscape. A mistake for sure, because he didn't realize how hard it was to grow a tree in pure chalk soil! Geometrical elements throughout the garden are made from tinted cement and salvaged automobile glass represents "a pool". A large reflecting pool near the house serves as a true water feature and it is accented with a few water lilies. Green ivy covers the façade of the modern organic shaped house, providing a green cooling respite.

Gardeners, landscape designers and those who are crazy about all things Spanish will appreciate this intimate look at rarely photographed gardens. Many of the gardens are open to the public so those planning a trip to Spain can put some of these beautiful locations on their itinerary.

I had expected more court-yard gardens (being in Spain) and more historical gardens. What we are presented are more modern gardens (mostly) at villas and mansions in the country. And they didn't always live upp to my expectations. If you compare to France, gardens in Spain doesn't seem to have that high standard in design. I thought there would have been enough for a book this size to rival the French but no. Although some photos are stunning, this will not be a favourit in my humble collection.

This was a great story of the adventure for a young couple who fall in love with Spain, buy a farm and try to make a life without modern conveniences. I laughed out loud many times while reading it and was sorry to have their adventure, and the story, end.

I think the author wrote this book as an act of revenge for what his girlfriend did to him while they were living together in a rural farmhouse in Spain.

It makes for thoughtful reading on what can go wrong if you live far away from the creature comforts of life with electricity, water & food on tap and take it for granted. The author lives in an outlying rural region without any connection to electricity and tap water is from a well. To confound things, the land is not very fertile, as summers can be very hot and rains are not frequent. Only certain types of vegetation can thrive.

I would label this book as "Survivor with Realism" theme. Not your normal "Survivor" series, but what is actually required of you given the constraints of nature. It is not your normal expatriate living abroad squabbling with builders, engaging with townfolk though there is some episodes on that, enjoying wine types of Peter Mayle's world.

A good read if you want to know how the rest of rural Spain lives.

I'm not much of a book reviewer, but I picked up this book recently, merely on the attraction of the title "How NOT To Live Abroad". Hmm, I tought that looked pretty interesting. I was not disappointed, it was a compelling read all around.

The basic premise of the book is that Shaun Briley (the son of Jon Briley, who scripted the "Gandhi" movie blockbuster) and his girlfriend are living uncomfortably with her mom in the UK, and so decide to go on vacation to Spain to escape the mom. Totally unplanned they end up buying a rural farm house in deep Spain, thinking this would be eternal bliss of sun and coctails. The book cronicles the pair's misadventures in adjusting to that rural life (no modern amenities we take for granted such as electricity, bathroom, etc.), while at the same time describing the ups and downs, and ultimate demise, of the couple's relationship.

Briley writes with a great sense of humor, and the pages fly by. As a transplant myself (but not to a rural setting), I took an immediate liking to the book, and found it hard to put down. I highly recommend as perfect beach reading for the coming summer!

I read this in two days!The author documents his move to a small rustic town in southern spain in which he and his girlfriend buy a small home. The accounts of the people he meets and much of the miscommunications between him and the people are very personable and humorous. The author is an English-American so he comes from a mixed viewpoint which means you can identify both with his reflections as well as his initial impressions of the people he meets. I still laugh when I think of his misadventures!

This is the most thoroughly researched biography of Queen Isabel found in English. Written by an American historian, it's surprisingly readable.

Dr. Carroll has again done a magnificent job of making history interesting. His portrayal of Isabel is gripping, his scholarly foundation is excellent, and his style is highly readable. I especially appreciated his comments on the Spanish Inqisition - a viewpoint you won't hear from most historians! Isabel is one of the most admirable women figures in the history of the world, and an excellent model for all women concerned with true feminism. Her humanity, intelligence, compassion, wisdom and courage are inspiring. Thank you, Dr. Carroll, for your service to the truth in bringing her so vividly to life.

I want to counter the reviewer of this book who was so angered by it. I found this book to be in agreement with other historians who look at Isabel in the light of her times without modern prejudices and preconceptions. She was an exceptionally great historical figure; this book tells you why. It will help you to understand Isabel's world and how she took a corrupt and chaotic state and ushered it into a golden age.
Another great biography of Isabel is William Thomas Walsh's "The Last Crusader, Isabella of Spain" published in 1930. I recommend reading both biographies.

In the most glowing terms, the author enamored of this Queen, makes excuses for her bad behavior. Using the "times" as a rationale, he mentions that she expelled the Jews, pursued the Moors, executed people who said they had converted to the Catholic religion. The inquisitions began under her reign. What, for heaven's sake is there to be proud of? However, this slavish tome does just that. She did have to fight for her rights as a monarch in a time when women were relegated to royal cows. That much I'll say, but this book mostly angered me. Now, if she had been forward thinking, I'd say that was something to read about.

Still Waters

A light breeze kisses a mountain lake;

a ripple of delight. So deep felt is

the caress that the lake undulates long

after the breeze has gone.

This is one of the early poems from Jan Oskar Hansen's Letters From Portugal, and it tells us much, in its four lines, about this poet. Firstly, there is a sensuousness about the language, an appreciation of nature through the senses that is not filtered through the reductive intellect. Secondly, this is an affirmation for the poet: the delight he feels is entirely natural and untaught. Then, beneath the surface of the appreciation of nature, we become aware that Hansen is touching on wider issues: the breeze is a 'caress', and the undulation of the lake is surely also that of a human body. The overall effect is very pleasing, and this is something that one finds throughout Letters From Portugal: the surface of the poem is only an entry into the bigger world of the poet's consciousness.

Bewrite have kindly given us, through the good auspices of their poetry editor, Heather Grace, a series of prose insights into Hansen's life and poetry at the opening of the book. This is certainly a poet who has lived life and travelled, both physically and mentally, and this breadth of experience continually reveals itself throughout Letters From Portugal. This is particularly noticeable in the section 'On People', from which 'The Blessed' is taken:

The Blessed

Handicapped beggars fight

for the best position

nearest the church's door;

the one with spiked

crutches wins.

We who have communicated with

God are in a mellow mood,

give more coins than we should,

which we notice with annoyance

when we pay for a coffee and

have to break into a note.

That's why we scowl at the

beggar in the town square,

ignore his outstretched, dirty

palm and silly grin.

We are going to church

next Sunday too,

to feel blessed while

beggars fight outside.

The poet presents this story in the simplest language, and makes no apology for the emotions expressed. It is we, the readers, who are left to reflect on what Hansen really thinks of this kind of Christianity. It is sobering to reflect that there were beggars in the New Testament, and still, 2000 years later, our society is as graspingly materialistic as it ever was. Hansen tells us this without needing to spell out his own feelings on the subject, and the message is all the more powerful for that.

It would be invidious to quote every poem in this book that gave me pleasure, and obviously, in the scope of a review, this is just not possible. Hansen is a writer who embraces the big subjects, although his canvases are miniaturist, and I recommend this book to those who have not come across his excellent work before. Let the poet have the last word though. In Two Lonely People Together, he writes of a love that is fleeting and unsure, and seeks solace in 'a book about love'. I am sure many will find solace in Letters From Portugal, and much fine poetry too:

Two Lonely People Together

It was late. We had been drinking

wine, and you asked me to stay.

The bed was unmade; a faint scent of

aftershave in the air. I wondered how

many men slept in your bed before you got

around to changing the sheets. If wine isn't an

aphrodisiac, it surely is an anesthesia

of the mind, and with the light off, the ghosts

of men past disappeared. When you gently

snored, the rhapsody of humanity lost,

I got up and sat in your living room,

reading a book about love.

Review by Tony Lewis-Jones
Poet in Residence
Bristol Evening Post, UK
24.5.03

Letters From Portugal is an honest picture of the world and human nature in all its beauty and tragedy portrayed in a lovely collection of poetry. Jan Oskar Hansen gives voice to the everyday man in an everyday world. Simplicity is as its best when this talented poet expresses straightforward awe at nature and all living creatures, vegetable and animal alike.

Within this scope he bears witness to those forgotten men, women and children some would avoid seeing. Innocently drawing our attention to a currently pervasive immunity towards suffering in our society, Mr. Hansen is never judgmental in tone, nor does he set himself apart. His poems are like black and white snapshots of life, reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth's paintings.

"City at Night" is a potent example of this brilliant picture painting. The scene, a simple view from an urban hotel room window, does not divulge its emotional effect until the last.

"An empty beer can clatters
in the night, a window opens,
and for a moment,
loneliness lingers."

With a talent for encapsulating human emotion as inspiring as it is original, Mr. Hansen's penetrating insight into loneliness and loss pervades much of his work. However, he can also cleverly dispatch a touch light as ambrosia, slightly winking at you with his words. This good natured humor is at its best in "If I Should". He entreats that when he dies, he'd like his last thoughts to be of he and a young Marilyn Monroe talking and walking in the woods together. With a gentle imaginative style of reflection, Jan Oskar Hansen is the true poet's poet and his writing is delightful reading even for the infrequent reader of poetry.

'Jan Oskar Hansen writes with an openness and simplicity which will refresh the most jaded of palates. His extraordinary achievement in Letters from Portugal ranks him as an important new voice in global poetry.'

This book is hard to lay down.

The "Letters" are stories told with finely-tuned sensibility by Jan Oskar Hansen, a poet who has sailed the seven seas of his inner and outer worlds. Because of their range, loving acceptance of life and unflinching honesty, the stories will appeal even to those who don't usually read poetry, and sophisticated readers will discover new truths and newly experience old ones.

The poet takes Life on and goes from overview into its nooks and crannies. Our own lives are shown to be larger and more interesting than we'd realized. The gentle nobility and empathy that pervade the lines compel us to experience and enjoy our own humanity. Mr. Hansen is a powerful communicator.

From Letters from Portugal:

Winners and Losers

As the rich Iraquis are fleeing Baghdad,
the poor are left behind, and as always,
in every war fought, it is the not-haves
who die. The foot soldier too, in his fox
hole, where war propaganda is suddenly
rendered valueless, is usually from a city
slum or from a tiny homestead.

Far from the battlefield, the sons
of the powerful join the National Guard,
wear spended uniforms, talk tough.

###

To Be in Love

Once, but only once, was I in love.
Pink clouds bumped my head on
morning stars. Smiled to everyone
and was incredibly kind, which in
the end was my downfall, because
some women can't resist a man in
love, wanting to possess that inner
glow to warm their lonely hearts.
I was led astray, eating the icing on
the cake of love. She didn't see it
that way, and dumped me cruelly.
Sadly watched the cake get stale; its
icing melt. Let me fall in love
once more, and this time get it right.

###

There are many poems rich in fantasy in this collection and those in which fantasy and reality intermingle, so that we are compelled to recognize that any rigid separation is of our own making.

In his essay, "The Case for Popular Poetry," Joseph Sobran makes a plea for poetry that will "stick to the ribs," reach his heart and mind and stay with him. I hope he finds these poems.

Bonuses: the book has an excellent introduction and an interview with the poet. At the end is a brilliant touch -- a section titled "Emails from a poet to his editor."