Irons Books

Railroads are necessary for the development of any nation. Certainly for one as large as China. This book delineates the laying of railroads, up till the onset of World War 2. The record is distinctly mixed. Several European nations underwrote many of these railroads. But much unlike where Europeans also invested in building up the American rail network. For the latter, the Europeans were strictly limited to providing capital, to be invested in a sovereign nation. Whereas for China, as the book makes plain, the investments were often in the context of European gunboat diplomacy. Railway rights obtained by coercion were by no means unknown. The main beneficiaries of the railroads were to be the European investors. Often by presumably allowing access from their national companies to the Chinese consumer market, as it then existed.

There is a piquant irony in this. Given that nowadays, China has grown by the reverse process. Where goods made in China travel overseas to consumers in developed countries.

Another drawback of the European involvement in China's railroads was that gauges were often incompatible. Reflecting perhaps the lack of compatibility between the various European railroads. For China, this was indeed a serious problem. By limiting the benefits of providing rolling stock compatible across a vast nation.

On balance, the building of the railways was probably a net gain for China. But in retrospect, matters could have been more efficiently handled. If it's any consolation, other nations with large land area, like the US and Australia, also suffered from incompatible railways in the 19th century, albeit for different reasons.

This collection is a fun (if fleeting) romp through Japan starring the Fantastic Four and Iron Man. The art, by the late Seth Fisher (of "Green Lantern: Willworld" fame), is odd and mesmerizing and never short of amazing. Big monster battles ensue! Collects Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big In Japan #1-4.

Also included in this TPB is novelist Joe Hill's comics debut from Spider-Man Unlimited #8. Joe Hill is Stephen King's second son, so the issue has been in demand by curious King fans. Since that issue goes for a pretty penny on the back issue market, it's a nice bonus thrown in by Marvel. It's not, however, related to the "Big in Japan" storyline nor quite as fun, so it's appearance here is somewhat of a mystery.

A useful book because it covers both doorstops *and* doorknockers, bookends, banks and other cast iron ephemera. The photographs are dark and the pricing is out of date, but there are very few books on cast iron collectibles, making this a valuable addition.

Detailed and well illustrated history of the Forges du Saint-Maurice, the first ironworks in Canada. Provides a wealth of information on both the Canadian and the European pre-industrial iron industry.

Dr Turkdogan has written a book that at the same time can be helpful for those working in the field and makes for an excellent textbook. The author has used his vast theoretical and practical experience for the benefit of the reader, presenting concise explanations, clear organization and an excellent overview of the knowledge required to understand the fundamentals of the art of steelmaking.

I had just finished Patriot Pirates and was completely disappointed in it so it was with a bit of trepidation that I began this book. The title smacked of bad marketing but to my pleasant surprise the content was fantastic.

The story of the Siege of Boston has been told many times but never from the naval perspective. The author makes an interesting read and a compelling case out of Gen. Washington's slow embrace of sea power as a lever against the British. The existence of both Washington's small fleet of essentially privateers and Congress's eventual authorization of an actual navy was a surprise to me. Though I have read a few naval histories I had never come across this fact. He consistently refers back to his thesis of the fleet's impact on the siege by giving a fair assesment of the actual vs. psychological impact of the naval action. He pays mind to the benefits to the Continental Army and the detriment to the British of the seized material. The author blends the large scale operation of ousting the British from Boston with the small scale dramas of fitting out ships and several of there engagements. Good attention is paid to the characters other than the name brands guys (Washington, Knox, Greene, etc) whom you can read about else(every)where.

I think both enjoyable to the novice reader as well as someone with a good level of knowledge of the era or naval history. I would recommend that if you are not familiar with ships of the age you have a handy guide to naval terminology as it is used quite freely without a glossary. Probably will not distract from your enjoyment but you may not get as much from the reading.

I am looking forward to his prior book Benedict Arnold's Navy. Now if someone could just write a history of the occupation of Boston, and not just the highlights and the siege, I'd be really happy.

It is really unfortunate that this book is out of print now, it deserves to be reissued and widely read. Those who know of Primo Levi only know, for the most part, that he was a partisan, was a survivior of Auschwitz, a chemist, and died, a likely suicide. All of these are true. However, there is more to Primo Levi than those stark facts, and this book makes them abundantly clear. Levi had many interests, a lively curiosity, and was an excellent writer. Think Stephen Jay Gould or Lewis Thomas as a passionate Italian, and you're close.He does not mention his time at Auschwitz in this book. He writes about his youth, the apartment building in Turin he always lived in, about his experiences with primitive personal computers/word preocessors, his trip upon a submarine, and so much more.

The girl, the apprentice, and the dogs of iron is full of excitement and jealousy all at the same time! This is a book that people can learn from. It shows kids like us how to work together, even if you are against each other or are people who don't want or even don't like to work together, but no matter what that you have to work together. When I finshed this book I felt lucky that I'm an only child and that we didn't have to many family gatherings. It is a very exciting book and I hope that you will agree with me after you read this book, this might be the best book you have ever read!

Hugo Claus has been hailed as one of the most important voices in the contemporary Dutch language. Greetings: Selected Poems is Claus' first book to appear in English.

The selected poems are a varied lot. They cover everything from the two world wars, love, family life, animals and toy trains. My personal favorites are Bitter Tastes and Elephant.

Claus' poems evoke a wide range of emotions and awake different senses in the reader, depending on the subject matter, Some of his poems are irreverent, others disturbing, and a number are edgy and raw.

Those who are passionate about poetry and the written word--how words feel and sound--will enjoy the poems depth of emotion.

Armchair Interviews says: Greetings: Selected Poems is a study in passion.

Powerful, Christ exalting sermons by Joseph Irons, an Episcopalian preacher from the 19th century, delivered at Grove Chapel Camberwell in SE London, England, where he ministered for 33 years.
Irons rarely departs from preaching on the Doctrines of Grace, especially man's inability to choose Christ for himself through his freewill and also the sufficiency of Christ in the whole work of the sinner's salvation.
I've just completed Vol. 1 of the 9 volume series by Old Paths Gospel Press, and look forward to reading more.
The title of my review is part of a quote that Irons makes about himself. Quodlibet Online Journal has the rest of it along with a biography of Reverend Irons.