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Europe Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Amsterdam: A Traveler's Literary Companion

Published in Paperback by Whereabouts Press (2001-05-01)

Author:

List price: $13.95

New price: $8.19
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Average review score:

Amsterdam for Readers

Helpful Votes: 13 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-10

Anyone who has ever visited Amsterdam knows the curious magic of that city, its canal-lined streets, polyglot population, and unconventional mores. But few are aware of Amsterdam's rich literary life. Manfred Wolf brilliantly redresses that cultural gap in Amsterdam, A Traveler's Literary Companion.
In what may be the best in an excellent series, Wolf, Professor of English at San Francisco State University and leading expert on Dutch literature, introduces the reader to an Amsterdam of gaiety and sadness, beauty and squalor, hope and despair. The selections are arranged thematically and geographically and include "City and People," "Canals," "Red-Light District," "Gay Amsterdam," and "Jewish Amsterdam." Among the provocative essays and stories are Remco Campert's "Soft Landings," Hermine Landvreugd's "Staring out the Window," and Margo Minco's "The Return."
To read this fine collection is to come a step closer to overcoming what Cees Nottebom observes in the opening selection, "Amsterdam": "This is my city, a token for the uninitiated. She will never reveal herself to the outsider who does not know her language and history, because it is precisely language and names that are the keepers of secret moods, secret places, secret memories."

Fine book on a civilized city

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-06

Divided into sections including "City and People," "Canals," "Red-Light District," "Gay Amsterdam" and "Jewish Amsterdam," Manfred Wolf's wonderful new volume, "Amsterdam," is both travel guide to this quirky, classy, multi-cultural city, and an introduction to the writings of a number of Dutch literary greats. Through these samplings one is exposed to Dutch traditions of tolerance, freedom of expression, hatred of fanaticism, love of compromise and at the same time the occasional and peculiar manifestations of Dutch small-mindedness. It is the perfect book to accompany a visit to Amsterdam as well as the perfect volume for gaining insights into this imminently civilized city, if one lacks the opportunity to travel there. Don't miss it.

Discover a great city and some great writers too

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-10

When I first learned of this collection of Dutch fiction, I was enthusiastic about the concept (a literary anthology for the traveler to Amsterdam) but at the same time a bit apprehensive about whether selections could be found which would give a taste of this historic and many-sided city without compromising either readability or literary merit. I needn't have worried. For the most part the translations are first-rate, and the short stories and excerpts from longer works are well chosen, both for quality and the information they convey about various aspects of the city. It is refreshing to see the work of eminent, but little-known (in the English-speaking world, at least) Dutch writers like Gerard Reve and Maarten `t Hart in English. The beauty of a book like this is that it can mentally prepare you for a visit to Amsterdam (or possibly even inspire you to plan one) in a much more subtle and ultimately more enjoyable way than any standard guidebook can do.

Amsterdam's Literary Insights

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-27

This is a rich and intruiging collection of Duch literature that should be of interest to anyone visiting Holland and seeking insight into the true culture of the country, which is far too often clouded by many popular stereotypes. I lived in Holland for two years and enjoyed picking out not only the references to familiar places, but also the small details of Dutch character, customs, history, and lifestyle that transported me back to the "real" Holland that only the Dutch--and insightful travelers--come to know. The selections are varied and of high literary quality in their own right, and are worth reading even if were one not planning a trip to Holland. But after finishing this book one might very well consider doing so.

Worthy of its 5 stars

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-15

I don't have a whole lot to add to these great reviews other than stating that this book deserves its current five-star rating. The excerpts are well-chosen and they really help the reader see into the lives of the Dutch from multiple angles. The fact that the excerpts are bite-size makes this an especially desirable book to take with you to read on the plane or in your hotel/apartment each night.

I am leading a group to the Netherlands next year and this will likely be required reading.

Anatomy of Glory: Napoleon and His Guard

Published in Hardcover by Greenhill Books (2006-02-19)

Author: Henri Lachouque

List price: $69.95

New price: $24.98
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Average review score:

Check the Plates

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-26

This is a wonderful book combined with an extraordinary collection of plates. The only problem is that virtually all the references in the text do not refer to the correct plates. This is really disappointing is such a fine, and expensive, book.

Magnifique

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-01

The Anatomy of Glory is a wonderful account of Napoleon's Guard, from its beginnings during the Revolutionary Wars to its end after Waterloo. The text is highly readable and engaging. The accompanying prints are wonderful, as are the useful appendices. I would recommend this to any student of Napoleonic history. The Tondu and his Grumblers seem to march across the pages of this seminal text.

Napoleon and His Guard the Mother of All References

Helpful Votes: 15 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 2000-12-29

I concur with the supportive opinions expressed here that this book, The Anatomy of Glory by Commandant LaChouque, et al, is the ultimate reference material for serious students of the History of the Imperial Guard.

I first came upon this wonderful book as a Senior at the University of Minnesota in 1984. My senior thesis was a study of Anglo-French Diplomacy during the Napoleonic period, and I find this book to be a wonderful source of information, not only information concerning the History of the Guard, but also more generalized history of the period itself.

This book, as stated, has a fabulous collection of artwork from the Anne Brown Collection at Brown U., and also does a wonderful job getting down to the nitty gritty concerning the Marshals, the Campaigns, the Politics of the Period, etc. Commandant LaChouque leaves no stone unturned in this hugely successful documentary on the Era.

The fact that this book centers the majority of its attention on Napoleon's Guard specifically is especially attractive to me since even now with the advent of the Internet it's still a bit of a tooth pull to get so complete an analysis of the history of one of the most courageous, loyal and dedicated organizations of professional soldiers the world has ever seen...La Garde Imperiale! These hardcore heroes richly deserve to be remembered, and this book does their memory ultimate honor.

The day I lost my original copy of this book was a sad one, and I'm very pleased I have now had, thanks to Amazon.Com, the opportunity to get a replacement. I most highly recommend this book for any gung-ho student of Napoleonic History...Vive L'Empereur!

a work of unquestionable quality

Helpful Votes: 17 out of 19 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-27

The glory of the Imperial Guard resounds above all others in the annals of war. Created, built and nurtured as a bodyguard for Napoleon, it grew from a brigade of fewer than two thousand men into a virtual army, and became 'a human fortress which no one but [Napoleon] could dominate and no enemy could penetrate'. And, on such battlefields as Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Wagram and Waterloo, it won the laurels of undying fame. Written by France's foremost historian of the Napoleonic Wars, Commandant Henry Lachouque, and translated and adapted by Anne S. K. Brown, this sumptuous work is enhanced by over 180 illustrations, including 86 plates in full colour. This new printing from the second, revised edition of Lachouque's masterwork will be especially welcomed by students of Napoleonic history. The plates alone are uniquely valuable as a source of uniform colours and style, and the text provides the definitive history of an elite body of men. With its vivid narrative and lavish illustrations, The Anatomy of Glory can lay justifiable claim to be one of the most magnificent books on military history ever published. The critical acclaim that greeted it upon its first publication provides ample testimony to its reputation. The Anatomy of Glory is both informative and entertaining: a work of unquestionable quality - termed a masterpiece by Elting - and a monumental contribution to Napoleonic literature.

La Garde A Feu!

Helpful Votes: 19 out of 20 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-10

I first saw this book and read it in high school. Since then, it has been an indispensable part of my Napoleonic library. It is full of information unobtainable eslewhere in English. The superb illustrations, from the Anne S.K. Brown Collection at Brown University, greatly enhance the presentation, Mrs Brown also being the translator. The book traces the Guard from its inception during the Revolution, its emergence as the Guard of the Consuls, and into its final evolution in 1804 as the Imperial Guard. The personalities who populate it are a truly talented and colorful group, from Pere Roguet, to Napoleon himself. The book almost appears as a personal narrative of the author, Commandant Lachouque, and while he has been accused of being somewhat biased, his references used for the book itself are impeccable. That the book has already stood the test of time is a virtue in itself. The new Introduction to the latest edition is by Col John Elting the noted suthority on the Napoleonic period, and new information on the Guard was discovered by him for this introduction. It not only enhances the Guard's formidable combat reputation, but the book itself. This book is a must for every Napoleonic enthusiast.

Ancient Rome: Monuments Past and Present

Published in Spiral-bound by Getty Publications (2000-01-06)

Author: R. A. Staccioli

List price: $29.95

New price: $16.99
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Average review score:

Ancient Rome : Monuments Past and Present

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-14

This is a wonderful book. It really fleshes out the remains of Rome's ancient monuments

Rome monuments

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-24

We're planning a trip to Rome and like to prepare by reading about places we'll be seeing. This gives a very good explanation of the Roman building remains in an interesting manner.

Rome than and now

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-09

Great book
love to see rome then and now
makes history come alive

Time machine

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-25

This book uses overlays to show what Ancient Rome looked like when everything was new and in good shape. Then, you can flip the overlay and see how things look now. I always wondered how things looked then and wished I had a time machine to go back to those days. This book is the second-best thing to a time machine. The artists have done a great job of reconstructing the famous buildings, forums and temples. The book is well worth the money and is less expensive from Amazon than buying it in Rome.

Good Book

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10

This is a great book but way too expensive. I could have bought the exact book in Rome for less than half the price from a vendor at the Colosseum but decided to wait until I got home.

Annushka's Voyage

Published in Hardcover by Clarion Books (1998-09-21)

Author: Edith Tarbescu

List price: $16.00

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Collectible price: $16.00

Average review score:

Coming To America

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-05

Coming to America is the theme for ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE authored by Edith
Tarbescu and illustrated by Lydia Dabcovich. It focuses on the life
story of the author's mother.

The plot is a simple one. Anya (nicknamed Annushka by her grandfather)
and Tanya, two little sisters are waiting with trepidation for the
steerage tickets that will take them from pogrom torn Russia to their
father in America. Supposedly their life will be good in America,
however, they must leave behind their grandparents.

The author is successful in penning credible characters. I
particularly liked the following sentence uttered by the thirteen year
old Annushka: "I could tell grandma was sad, so I hugged her and said:
I'll write every day and draw funny pictures..." expressing her mixed
feelings of sadness and happiness at the moment of departure.

Ms Tarbescu has captured the feelings of anxiety, separation and
reunion with great simplicity without falling into over
sentimentality. One can only imagine the fear and loneliness of two
little girls traveling by themselves, let alone crossing an ocean and
arriving at the processing melée of Ellis Island.

Hope for a bright future never fades. Annushka is the big sister who
keeps up the necessary courage for herself and her little sister, with
the help of the Sabbath candles given to them by their grand mother.

The illustrations by Lydia Dabcovich are true to the text. Ink lines
emphasize the expressive drawings and white gouache provides the right
highlights in simple strokes. The illustrator is a master of
perspective. The illustration on p.18 when the immigrants on the boat
get their first sighting of Ellis Island is very striking. The little
girls' expressions are precious throughout the book as well as the
faces of the grandparents and the father.

ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE is a homage to the people who were left behind in
Russia, surrounded by the dangers of pogroms and anti-Semitism and to
the new immigrants. It is a charming telling of an immigrant
experience and is a must read for people of all ages.

Lily Azerad-Goldman, Reviewer for Bookpleasures.com

your grandparents' story

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-03-29

Rebeccasreads highly recommends ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE as a riveting tale, simply told with fascinating illustrations by Lydia Dabcovich, that all immigrants & their children can relate to.

In the Author's Note, Edith Tarbescue recounts the reasons why her mother made that journey to America from their little Russian village, so ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE is a true story, one millions of people from all over the world have made looking for a better, freer life, me among them.

Proud to be an American

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2001-10-19

Patriotism, a love for the new land, the thrill of seeing The Statue of Liberty for the first time, etc. are all stirred in this warm tale. I thought of my own Irish ancestors who came here about 50 years before the author's mother and aunt came. Her family is Jewish. Mine is Christian. We are all Americans.
I highly recommend using this book in classrooms followed by singing songs such as "I'm Proud to be an American." In spite of our problems, at least we know we are free. Let's help children appreciate that freedom and understand the need for responsible behavior.

A young woman of character

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-06

I've enjoyed reading this warm story many times to students. It reflects family values of love, trust, faith (including religious faith) and it also shows girls a role model of sensitivity, caring, and true female strength. In these days of Barbie dolls and warrior princeses, girls need this experience with a young woman who has realistic strength and love.

Applause for Annushka!

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-24

ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE A Children's Picture Book, Ages 4 - 8 Written by Edith Tarbescu Illustrated by Lydia Dabcovich Clarion Books, 1998 ISBN No. 0-395-64366-X, 32 Pages, $15.00

Anya (Annushka) and her little sister Tanya live with their grandparents in Russia. Each day, they work with their grandparents on the farm and await news from their father in America.

Papa's letter was filled with funny pictures. There were drawingsof the doll factory where he worked and of the pigeons on his roof.

He wrote, "People say the streets here are paved with gold. I am saving money to buy steamship tickes for Anya and Tanya."

That's when Tanya started crying. "First Mama died and went to heaven. Then Papa left for America."

I put my arms around her and wiped away her tears. "He'll send for us soon, you'll see."

Early each morning, even before it was light, we worked around the farm. In the afternoons we helped Grandma make puddings and potato pancakes. Before bed we had Hebrew lessons with Grandpa. And we waited.

After more than a year, two steamship tickets came in the mail with a letter from Papa telling us he'd meet us in New York.

Anya and Tanya soon travel from the old country in Russia toward the promise of a new life in America. Although they must leave their Grandparents and the life they know behind, they carry with them the clothes on their back, a pair of candlesticks---family heirlooms, a book of Russian fairy tales and a ragdoll.

Custom and tradition are woven through this wonderful tale of two young Jewish emigrants who go off to America alone, first crossing Europe on a train to Holland and then sailing toward "the land of opportunity" in a gigantic steamship. Through Annushka, her hopes and fears, this heartwarming story offers amazing insight into emigrant passage to America.

"As soon as we got off the train, we were sent to a big building to be examined by doctors. There were so many people speaking so many different languages."

"We kept going down, down, down, until we reached the basement of the ship. It was dark and scary, especially with the engines running."

In ANNUSHKA'S VOYAGE, author Edie Tarbescu effectively relates to children the important story of American Immigration in the late 1800s. Mixed with both adventure and history, Annushka's story is a delightful read. Lydia Dabcovich's expressive illustrations and the author's historical note make this story come alive. Although this book stands on its own, I must point out that it is an essential read for anyone (adults and children, alike) who is fortunate enough to learn about or visit the Statue of Liberty and/or pass through the Ellis Island gates. Writers Moon reViews (WritersMoon@aol.com) P.O. Box 182, Nesconset, NY 11767-0182 Copyright (c) 2000 Lynne Remick (LynnRemick@aol.com) Reprinted with permission from Lynne Remick =============================================

AP Achiever (Advanced Placement* Exam Preparation Guide) for European History (College Test Prep)

Published in Paperback by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill (2008-01-22)

Author: Chris Freiler

List price:

New price: $22.49
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Average review score:

Must Have

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-06

Mr Freiler was my teacher this year for AP Euro. As one of his fellow teachers said, "Mr Freiler really is the man who wrote European History." His book really help prepare anyone for the test. I would use it to prepare for my regular test in his class and was able to really good on them. He breaks everything down for you so you don't have to be boged down with the some details of other books. His system of giving you the information helps you see everything in a clear light. Freiler you are the man!!!

very useful for ap teachers

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-21

this book is great for review and highlighting major points to expect on the ap exam

Best Review Book - No Contest

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-06

I've taught AP European History for 10 years and never recommended a review text to my students, until now. Unlike other review texts, the AP Achiever is comprehensive; well balanced in terms of political/diplomatic, intellectual/cultural, and social/economic history; user-friendly; and even entertaining at times. Freiler manages the broad scope of European History with humor, clarity, and the expertise of someone who has been on the inside of creating the AP Exam. I strongly recommend his text for both students and instructors.

Fantastic resource

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-07

This is a very concise review book that basically covers anything and everything you need to know for the AP exam. Throughout the whole course of the school year I Struggled to maintain a B average in the class, due to the fact that I never touched the text. This book saved me on the AP test. With diligent application and studying of the material presented, there is no reason as to why anyone would even need to bother with the text book. I managed a five, and actually found the test to be relatively easy due to the information i got from it. The chapters are reviewed in Chronological order, and end with 10 review questions that are good estimates of one's understanding of the chapter. There are many essay examples throughout, and detailed explanations of why they were good or not. The practice tests in the back were also very good examples of what appeared on the AP test. The only qualm I had with the book was a lack of an index of key terms; this wasn't too big of an issue, since the chapters were organized nicely, but this would have been a helpful addition. All in all, the review book is great as both a companion and as a stand alone review of the material in the course.

AP Achiever - AP teacher

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-16

The AP Achiever is a very solid review book. If used in context with a good text, notes, and other supplements, it should help students to earn an extra point on the test.
Like all review books, it's not enough by itself.

Austria (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Published in Turtleback by DK Travel (2003-11)

Author: DK Publishing

List price: $25.00

New price: $13.99
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Average review score:

These books are fantastic

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-24

I love these books. I have Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and France. The information is good and the pictures are great. I don't actually take these books travelling with me. I look at them before I go and plan what I want to do by the books. I highly recommend these books for anyone who wants a travelling guide or for people who just want to read up on a country. The books have a wide range of information.

"Austria" review

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-03

My daughter found this book to be engrossing, and loves it. All the color pictures really enhance the book, and make the reading a pleasure. As she stated to me - all the Eyewitness books are so good, it's hard to put them down, and they are educational too!

Excellent Guide!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-12

My family loves these (Eye Witness brand) travel guides! They are VERY informative, very easy to follow, and include lots of good pictures. We've given them as gifts, and the recipients have always given us positive feedback. All of this, plus they are reasonably priced.

Virtual Austria in Print

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-08

I had purchased a similar book for my son about France to help him with his French language courses in high school. I ended up spending more time with it than he did, and when I saw the other country titles, I decided to purchase a few more. The Austria book is excellent in that it condenses a lot of information into a very portable volume. The photos and illustrations are fabulous and the background historical and cultural information is superb. The listing of accomodations and restaurants also appears to be very well researched and provides a starting point for further Internet research. My favorite part of Austria is the Salzburg Region, and this book provides a genuine sense of what it is really like. I can definitely benefit from this book on future travel to Austria. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about the country, as well as for experienced travellers. Well done to the authors, editors, and publisher!

Great Guide!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-30

I love this brand of travel books. The images really help you to identify attractions, as well as the birds eye view maps. I also enjoy the "must see attractions" call outs within each section. This book helped make our trip through Austria more well informed and helped us plan our major stops. We also got one for Budapest which was equally great.

Avant-guide Prague (Avant Guides)

Published in Paperback by Empire Press (2006-11-28)

Author: Dan Levine

List price: $20.00

Average review score:

Informative guide book in an exciting and original style.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1998-08-10

This guide book tells you everything you want or need to know in a unique and very enjoyable style. Best I've ever read.

Walking tours are great...

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-31

Get this book if only for the walking tours. The tours are humorous and fun, the directions and anecdotal info are great. Totally unlike walking tours in other guide books, which I generally find full of facts lifted from dusty encyclopedias. Besides the tours, I found the restaurant recommends right on target. And then there are the graphics, which, although a little too hip at times, are a welcome change from other colorless guidebooks. My only criticism is not with the book, but the website which purports to update the book. I checked out the website before I visited Prague and it didn't say that the ex-pat cafe on the outskirts of town had shut down. I ended up making my way there hoping to meet other Americans only to find that it was closed -- and looked like it had been closed for a while.

A guide book with attitude and the information to back it up

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1998-09-02

I split my time between Los Angeles and Prague and picked this book up mostly to use as a handy reference when I wanted to find a restaurant's telephone number or a museum's opening hours. From the first few pages it's clear this guy knows Prague better than any of the other travel guide writers, I find myself nodding so often in agreement with his descriptions of places I frequent that I'm getting whiplash. As someone who pays the rent with the written word, I also rock with his use of the language. The book is sometimes downright funny. Definitely not your father's guidebook.

the cool side of prague

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-03-07

This book is fabulous. As a 'single' traveler, I especially enjoyed the section on restaurants to feel comfortable in alone! I used this book to find interesting sights, great restaurants (not the tourist traps), and the best nightlife in the city. I was also impressed with the explanation of the hotels.

I arrived in prague without a hotel reservation, and I looked at several of the hotels on the list, looking for a room. I found Avant Guide to be right on the money regarding price, atmosphere, and room quality.

I would recommend this book to anyone who prefers not to follow the stream of tourists from one trap to another. Bravo!!!

The next generation of travel books

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-18

I spent ten days in Prague in May 1998 doing research for a novel I was writing and found this book to be the perfect companion to a more general travel guide to the city (specifically, Lonely Planet's -- also recommended highly). I needed to see and learn a lot about both the more popular tourist parts of town, as well as the not-in-Frommer's-guide parts. Avant Guide served me well.

I'm awaiting the London edition anxiously.

Battling For Souls:: The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee In Post-holocaust Europe

Published in Hardcover by Ktav Publishing House (2004-05)

Author: Alex Grobman

List price: $29.50

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Average review score:

An eye-opening true story of group dedication

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-10

Battling For Souls: The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee In Post-War Europe by academician and historian Alex Grobman tells the story of the men, women, and rabbinical leaders of the Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee, who strived to keep and nourish the spark of Jewish spirit in the hearts of survivors in the wake of the unspeakable atrocities of the Holocaust. A mission that sustained itself despite lack of funds and even in the face of open hostility, from both local populations and other Jewish organizations, The Vaad Hatzala Rescue Committee battled tirelessly for nothing less than Jewish souls. An eye-opening true story of group dedication, determination and purpose.

Guided by Truth

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-07

In all the sectarian arguments about who did what after the Nazi assault on the Jews, Alex Grobman has written a book guided by truth. He tells it as it is, and we are all in his debt.

CLEARING THE AIR AT LAST

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-06

Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, Editor, The Jewish Observer, official English-language publication of the Agudath Israel World Organization, New York, NY.

Battling for Souls gives us a new perspective on the history of the post-WWII period and the activities of Orthodox Jewry in America and in Europe. Dr. Grobman's research reveals new aspects of the Vaad Hatzala's activities and those of other relief organizations that have never been available to historians before. This unprecedented presentation helps us understand some of the residual misgivings different populations have about each other in today's Jewish community. These misgivings were based on conclusions from false assumptions. This book clears the air.

Riveting & Revealing

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-09

Dr. Grobman has written an incisive book on the little known and, until now, much maligned role of the Vaad Hatzala in the rescue of Jews in the dark days of the Shoah and subsequently. Battling for Souls is a riveting exposition of the emotional and spiritual damage-control effort of a small group of selfless people determined to return to the surviving victims that which was ripped from them by the Nazi beasts; their faith and religious self-esteem. For the first time in print, Grobman documents the yeoman efforts of the Vaad to provide spiritual sustenance to the survivors, something that was "overlooked" by other rescue organizations.

Rabbi Yale B. Butler

A "fascinating and well-written book"

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-09

In this fascinating and well-written book, Alex Grobman chronicles the important work of the Vaad Hatzala during the Holocaust and its assistance to Jewish survivors after Liberation, in particular the DP Camps in the American Zone in Germany. As a small child, who was raised as a religious Zionist and survived the Holocaust, I passed through several DP camps including the Neue Freimann DP Camp, where I experienced first-hand the religious support that the Vaad gave to surviving children and adults. Alex Grobman brings to life the Vaad's main activists and presents the chronology of important events, important locations, and numerous photos.

Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople: From The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates (New York Review Books Classics)

Published in Paperback by NYRB Classics (2005-10-03)

Author: Patrick Leigh Fermor

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Average review score:

Truly a classic.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-17

This book and its sequel, "Between the Woods and the Water," is truly a classic of the personal odyssey genre. Together they are the report by the English author of a diary he wrote between the ages of 19 and 22 while he walked from Holland to Istanbul. But he writes his report after a lengthy career in military service and, among other things, in journalism. The result combines the enthusiasm of a young student with the measured and spare prose of a seasoned and skilled veteran. The author as student is amazingly well schooled, even though thrown out of his public school. His reflections on what he sees are both erudite and almost poetic. (Read, e.g., the chapter, Prague Under Snow.) They don't serve as a normal travel guide, but they'll introduce you to the lands he traverses in a way that will make your own visit unusually well informed.

Between the Woods and the Water

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10

This is the continuation of, "A Time of Gifts." The English youth continues his walk across Europe to Constantinople. He picks up now in Austria, on to Hungary following the Danube valley. I wanted to quit reading this - page after page of allusions to east European history from Roman and pre-Roman times, Hungarian geography, reflections on Slavic languages. Esoterics I cannot appreciate. Still, they lured me and challenged me. These are places and these are people - Magyars and Gypsies - we seldom find in writing. We are introduced just as an era is about to end and everything is to change. It can be a book to go to bed with.

a classic...

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-03

I got this book before Amazon existed and I've bought multiple copies since then.
Buy this and treasure it, give it to your friends.

Reading trumps experience

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-14

`Between the Woods and the Water' is a delightful travelogue, even though the sites and sounds are long gone. Fermor paints a picture of the life every young man wants to lead - well-funded itinerant travel, nearly effortless sociability, and a seemingly endless nightlife. This is the ultimate "Wish You Were Here" card, well worth the read for anyone interested in travel, history, and tales of pre-war social frivolity in Eastern Europe.

The narrative structure took me by surprise. Almost every region receives a minor academic treatment prior to Fermor's personal tales: history, language, architecture, nature, fun and games, repeat. I found myself skimming past descriptions of birds and trees, but fascinated by the author's insights into the interplay of geography, language development, and regional history. And, of course, it is impossible not to be won over by the author's late nights, fleeting loves, and brief stays with forgotten royalty.

My father often told me that `On the Road' had a profound effect on him as a youth. `Between the Woods and the Water' has a similar effect on me, only later in life. After the reading the story I was offered a brief trip to Hungary which I could not pass up. Far from Fermor's experience, I was greeted with mindless business meetings, post-communism industrial architecture, a robbery, and small-scale street riots. In the end, my disappointment with reality deepened my appreciation of the book - a memorializing tale of a geography and way of life that no longer exists.

Gar nichts!

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-07

The title above is German for "Absolutely nothing!", Fermor's droll reply to "What are you studying?" when visiting a scholar with his newfound Transylvanian friend Istvan, who laughs about such blasphemy all the way back from the visit. The polymathic Fermor had contemplated his answer a few moments before answering-"Languages? Art? Geography? Folklore? Literature? None of them seemed to fit." The truth is, of course, as anyone who has read of anything of Fermor's knows full well, that Fermor has been studying all of these things, but with his own assiduous, unacademic zeal. This time he spent in Transylvania (The country's name meaning, as any first year Latinist would know, "Across the Woods") is by far my favourite: His escapades with Istvan, the fleeting amour with Angela, the effortless historical erudition about the region all make it exemplary of the book as a whole - which is not to slight the rest of it at all!

I disagree profoundly with the reviewers who take umbrage at Fermor's "esoteric" use of language and historic allusion. For the armchair traveler, these qualities make the book just that much more fun - Diving into the OED and various encyclopedias to thresh out some of the references.

The overall effect of this book, as with A Time of Gifts, is best likened to a friendly punch in the gut by an old chum. It takes you at unawares but leaves you invigorated and happy to be alive in the world. Yes, there are sadnesses to the book, not the least of which is that the beautiful View of the Danube near Regensburg on the cover of the NYRB edition is now underwater, lost forever; But as Fermor contemplates as his time with Angela draws to a close, "There are hours in life worth more than diamonds." This book is full of them!

And all these youths chain-smoking cigarettes! Perhaps the Surgeon General should put a warning label on the book lest a youth of today discover the vibrant meaning of carpe diem!

Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc

Published in Paperback by Houghton Mifflin (1999-10)

Author: Polly Schoyer Brooks

List price: $8.95

New price: $4.88
Used price: $1.83
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Book review

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-19

I have already read the book and it was great! I found it very intersting and not wanting to put the book down until I finished it!

An easy to read, concise biography

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-21

While this book is written for the young adult, I read it recently as a "older" adult and loved it. I have limited spare time so it was great to be able to finish this book in a day or 2. It is simply written yet gives the reader a clear, comprehensive guide to the life of a brave, determined peasant girl. All important facts of Joan's life are included, her childhood, her goal to defeat the English and secure the French throne for Charles VII and her capture and death at the hands of the British. After reading this book I now have a clearer insight into the life of this popular heroine, her call from God and her amazing accomplishments.

Getting beyond the myths about Joan of Arc

Helpful Votes: 14 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-04

In "Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc," Polly Schoyer Brooks provides a biography for young adults that makes a point of separating historical facts from popular legends. One of the main strengths of the volume is how Brooks establishes the situation in 15th-century France which involved a king who suffered fits of madness and his weakling son and then tells the story of a peasant girl from the countryside who accomplished what appeared to be miracles in rallying the French to her banner. The result is a book about Joan of Arc that captures her humanity as well as her heroism.

Brooks neatly divides the story of Joan in half, with the first six chapters starting with Joan's life in the village of Domremy and ending with the crowing of Charles the Dauphin as King of France, and the last six depicting Joan's fall from glory, trial, and execution. Brooks emphasizes that the situations that brought about her martyrdom were beyond Joan's control and details the political calculations that ended up putting her in the hands of the English. However, as Brooks emphasizes, though the English burned Joan's body to ashes they could not wipe out the memory of her deeds from the French people. I appreciate that Brooks makes it clear to her readers how the effort's to restore Joan's name and honor after the English left France were just as politically motivated as the trial that condemned her.

This young adult biography is illustrated with historic prints and paintings, including a sketch by a clerk of his idea of Joan drawn in the margin of his report, as well as contemporary photographs of historic sites, such as Joan's stone-and-rubble house in Domremy and the statue on the post were she was burned at the stake in the marketplace at Rouen. Brooks has also written similar biographies of Eleanor of Acquitaine and Cleopatra. However, as Brooks notes, although more books about Joan have been inspired than any other women in history, she remains an enigma. In "Beyond the Myth," Brooks tries to answer the key questions concerning Joan's life and to restore her humanity, which in the final analysis, Brooks sees as being her greatest virtue. For students who are ready to get beyond your basic juvenile biographies of Joan of Arc, this is a thoughtful volume to which to turn next.

Detailed biographical study garnered from intense research.

Helpful Votes: 17 out of 19 total.
Review Date: 2001-05-03

Like many females, I enjoy learning about female historical figures. I want to know as much truth as I can find. The author does exactly that for the reader. This book is a detailed account of the events that triggered Joan d'Arc's dedication to her country and its rightful king. The author traces the history based on documents and other works that have been carefully researched. She provides the reader with the personality traits and beliefs of the time which drove the events that led to Joan's trial and death. Accusations of witchcraft and sorcery were used by church and secular leaders to destroy the young life of a heroic woman because of jealousy, superstition, and shady business surrounding the church and state. In addition, health and medical issues of the times are revealed that are shocking and entertaining. Read this book to learn about Joan, but also about the way people lived. Just learning about the reasons for the need for all those castles made the read worth the time.

I'm young again !

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-03

Ms. Brooks concise biography of Joan, marketed toward "young adults," makes me feel sure that I must be young again! It exactly suits me.

The Joan that emerges from these pages is an entirely believable, if extraordinary, human being. It is written at a perfectly intelligent level, is measured in its judgments, provides historical and social context, and is never dogmatic. It seems careful throughout and provides a bibliography. And it is ~very~ engaging. What's not to like?

I proudly place this work for "young adults" on my shelves and will, in the future, look more deliberately for work in this category.

I have an interest in French history but a regular life as well, not endless expanses of time for huge historical tomes. I was extremely pleased with the return this book gave me for a modest investment of time. And nobody has accused me lately of not being a full-fledged adult ;-)