France Books

This book helped open my eyes to what children go through in Foster Care. It helped me to relize that you can't judge a book by its cover. That the struggle for acceptance,love acknowledgement or to be recognized can consume & overwhelm a child...to even the point of doing something you know in you heart is wrong. This book makes me want to work hard, so I can buy a big house, Just so I can provide enough love and support and room for not only my three children, but for those children in need of a place to call home & to know that they have someone who care about them.

This is a story about a young boy who gets abused and treated unfairly. He doesn't have any clothes besides the ones he caries in a brown paper bag. He runs away from the world he hates. He has no home to go to, then he finds hope. To find out more information about this book find it and venture into it.

In my opinion this book was excellent and amazing.Why? Because it made me cry on the first page, some parts I felt like going in the book, because the suspense never ends. I would recommend it to those who love to read soppy, exciting books that are true.

This book, along with another came in on time and for a great price. I Love this book.. I am now waiting to read the two books left that tells the rest of Dave's Story. There are 4 all together!

This book will open your eyes to child abuse. You will forever remember and reflect on what you have read. We all have a need to be loved.

this is a good book! i love it when dave sees that kid and the kid says what you call my sister? then dave says a horror? then the kid punches dave, makes his nose bleed, and says don't you ever, ever, call my sister a whore again! read it if you liek dave pelzer as much as me!

I bought this book for one of my children for a summer reading project. I needed a specific version and was glad I could search Amazon by ISBN. The book arrived quickly and the price was reasonable. I'm sure other family members will enjoy the book when the projcet is complete.

except for the Bible, this is the best.
It is the full and undiluted version from the first english translation.
read it, learn it,live it.
j

Although the story is well known to me, the editing of this audio book was so confusing. I absolutely could not follow it. Too much is cut out.

Story has good twists, but there are too many French places and people which makes the audio confusing.

The book is excelent reading but please get a different version.
This version only has 580 or so pages where as other versions have over 1,300 pages. That means that this version is only half the story.
So much gets lost in translation already don't cheat yourself even more.

This book is simply amazing. After a slow start I wondered why people had always said to me that the book was great. Then the story began to grow on me. The characters have such depth and as you watch their lives intertwine and change you cannot help but be swept away by the fantastic story. Though some people may be bored by histories and descriptions, as I sometimes found myself, they are absolutely essential to the story. Three of my friends who have read the book still can't describe how wonderful it is. My mother, father, brother, grandfather and aunt are all in line to read it. The book has a myriad of meanings but a few themes are: redemption, revolution, deperation, forgiveness and morality. This book is my favorite and trust me I have read many.

There is no doubt that Hugo can be quite long winded in telling this story, but it is worth every second. A classic story of human suffering, kindness, cruelty and redemption.

Oh,I think that those of you who swoon over this novel, for reasons that I fail to comprehend completely , will not take my comments kindly.

While I grant that Les Miserables holds a reader's attention in spite of himself, I should point out the glaring defects in this work. No, it is not the lengthy digressions. David Foster Wallace is so much more irritating in that regard. Victor Yugo's magnum octopus simply is littered with characters that are pure ideals of good, evil, misfortune, piety, etc. One cannot travel more than fifty pages without encountering some anectdote that has no resemblance to anything that ever happened on earth, outside of a moralist's mind.

Give me the near-hack writing of Balzac or even the long-windedness of Dickens with his sloppy sentimentality at times ruining his comedy. Huge-Go simply took his banal messages to humankind too seriously.

Come to think of it, maybe his pre-modern sociology mixed with romance is what so appeals to the progressive wing of modern romanticists. That and a good score and grandioso staging.

Simply the most beautiful work of art I have ever been exposed to...anything beyond the brevity of this statement is an attempt in vain to "review" genius.

I have read this incredible work of art several times and never cease to be amazed by the enormous impact it has on me. The first time I ever read it, I cried off and on for about three days, I was so moved. Victor Hugo tapped into something profound when he penned this story. It is long, yes, but I find that every little rabbit trail Hugo goes down has a very important point. I can just read the first chapter and feel humbled and challenged by his description of the way the bishop lived his life for God. It is better than most Christian devotionals I have read. Most people think of this as a somber story and indeed in many ways it is, but I am always surprised how much humor is infused into it as well. I have said it to many people and I say it here: every Christian should read this book. It is a perfect fictional example of how Christ can change anyone and of how believers should relate to their fellow man. I have even given it as a wedding present, considering it an excellent guide to living selflessly for another person. I challenge people to read it and see if they are not in some way changed.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is a literary masterpiece. It has everything one could want in a book and more: adventure, fighting, planning, tales of riches, tales of suffering, tales of ultimate betrayal and revenge, and even a little love.

This book may be long, but every single page is worth your time. It is written so perfectly and the story put together with such great design...an epic tale perfect for any reader.

I had never read Monte Cristo before and was at first reluctant to invest the time needed for this modern, unabridged version. I'm glad I did though, because it was a great story that moved along quickly in spite of its length. The freshly translated language helps, and because it's unabridged, it's satisfying to know that you're getting the full text that Dumas intended.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is a phrase that most people are familiar with; the broad outlines of his story have become a part of everyone's general understanding via cultural osmosis: Edmond Dantes, wrongly imprisoned by the contrivance of four men, escapes jail after decades, and, armed with essentially limitless money, plots his revenge. With this in mind, those revisiting the original novel have a general idea of what happens with the principal characters. While it would perhaps be optimal to begin reading with no preconceptions, the novel does not suffer for knowing the general outline. In particular, adaptations always end up significantly cutting the original story, which clocks in at nearly 1300 pages in this edition; so there are plenty of story points normally omitted for the reader to discover.

An English professor once related that in the Renaissance genre of revenge tragedy, there were only a few that really examined the toll taken on the revenger (Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy" and Shakespeare's "Hamlet" being the notable ones), while most simply offered a black-and-white story of wronged men slaying the demons who haunt them. Alexander Dumas' story, which has become perhaps the archtypal revenge novel, also falls into the more complex category. It is perhaps telling that while the novel follows Edmond Dantes' perspective from the beginning to the point where he escapes from prison and finds the treasure that will finance his scheme, as soon as Dantes becomes The Count of Monte Cristo the perspective largely shifts to other characters; Dantes, a young and happy man, becomes something different and less human; the Count is almost automaton-like in his calculations and actions, though, as the story wears on, pricked by resurgent emotions. It is the conflict between his assumed roll as the wrath of God and his mere humanity that serves as the major conflict in the novel's climax.

Dumas offers a panoply of other characters, generally well-drawn, and absurdly interconnected in the best traditions of the Victorian novel; particularly notable is the oblique sketch of a lesbian couple who ride off into the sunset, a risky inclusion for the time period (and generally sanitized from most versions of the story).

This is by no means a quick read, but it is very much recommended for fans of classic literature.

There are a handful of traits that make a book a "classic". They can stand the test of time from 10 years to 100 years beyond. Due to their meaningful story lines which everyone can relate to and have the different interpretations of. The Count of Monte Cristo has all these characteristic of a classic story. It is a story of revenge, love, hatred and the second chances in life one may be lucky enough to receive. Even though this story is almost 200 years old it still appeals to people of all ages and walks of life.
Edmond Dantes is wrongly accused and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. After spending 14 years in a horrendous prison he miraculously escapes and uses his new fortune given to him by a prison mate to live out his new life of enormous wealth and his quest for revenge. This seek of revenge captured myself along the ride with Edmond Dates' use of wit and internal hatred towards others to seek revenge on those who destroyed his life. It came to my discovery through Edmond Dantes or Count of Monte Cristo experiences and actions; that people back in 1800's were just as devious, greedy, deceitful, manipulative and vengeful as people can be today in modern times.
Alexandre Dumas builds a captivating and rich plot throughout his story which makes the reader wonder what will happen next and what the consequences may be. The theme of love, hatred, happiness, vengeance and forgiveness is something everyone can relate to in our lives since they are feelings we have all felt. My negative critique for this book is the fact that it was a struggle to keep all the 40+ characters in order. The French names I am not familiar with as an English speaker were confusing at times.
I found this book intriguing because this story portrays the evil nature of the human spirit but at the same time teaches a lesson in the possibility of Karma and how eventually people will end up paying for their wrongdoings. It was at times a struggle to get through but when I did I was glad I did.

Of all the books I've ever read, this is one of my favorite. But all my good memories of it come from the first third of the book. Up until the end of chapter 30 I'd give the book five stars, but after that it's pretty long-winded and drawn out (And that's 87 more chapters!) . Furthermore I didn't even like any of the characters introduced after the first 30 chapters, except two I'll mention below, two of which were very minor characters.

The first thirty chapters deal with Dantes being unjustly imprisoned and spending a miserable 14 years in the Chateau d'If. The story of his imprisonment, escape, and coming to riches and power culminates in his saving his old boss from financial ruin and suicide. It's a fantastic story but after that it's on to a long, drawn out, extremely wordy, and ultimately not-very-satisfying revenge on those who put him in prison. The main characters during these 87 chapters, aside from Dantes, his woman, and the four men who put him in prison are Haydee (the beautiful, but disturbingly reclusive Greek woman), Albert (the hotheaded son of Monte Cristo's old rival Fernand), Madame Danglars (the shrewish wife of Danglars), Héloïse de Villefort (the one-dimensional murderer whose love for her child is her only emotion), Franz d'Epinay, (a nice guy, but forgettable), and a host of other forgettable characters. Finally, there are Valentine de Villefort and Maximilien Morrel: two annoying and sappy lovers who remind me exactly of Cosette and Marius from Les Miserables. If you liked those two you'll love the latter half of the book. I detested them and the latter half of the book gave them an unfortunately large amount of sappy-time.

So that's the principle problem with the last 87 chapters: I don't like any of the characters. I wasn't even all that fond of Dantès during this part. The only characters I even remotely liked were Ali, Monte Cristo's slave, and Noitier de Villefort, who talks by blinking. Everyone else is either annoying or forgettable. This means that the almost the entire last 87 chapters are dedicated to conversations among all these annoying or forgettable people, very little of which was interesting.

Still, my memories are mostly fond. It's only when I put on my critic's hat that I began to realize how bored I was during the last two-thirds of the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a good long read. The abridged version would probably be better for the non-OCD type, as it'll cut out a lot of the superfluous stuff.

This was an amazing book. Marie Antonette was a beautiful young maiden who showed her worth to King Louis. This was a great historical story. She was the great queen of England. She was, sadly, forced into an arranged marriage. She then transformed Louis into a kind man. I like this novel because it had real life situations in it and how to get out of them. I would look up to M. A. if she was alive today. She is my historical hero. She is a great role model to all special people.

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versaille, Austria-France, 1769 takes young readers and adults into the world of the Franch history through the eyes of a young Queen. All the cruelties and hypocricies are exposed in sharp contrast to the extreme devotion to fashion and petty perfections.

What a wonderful way to enjoy history -- and an excellent lesson in human nature, as well!

Recommended!

This royal diaries book starts out in Vienna, Austria January 1, 1769. The book continues while Marie Antoina (Marie Antoinette) goes from an Archduchess in Austria to a Dauphine in France. Marie Antoina becomes Marie Antoinette when she marries Louis Auguste. This book kept me entertained from the first page. When Marie Antoinette first arrives in France she is told to leave everthing Austrian behind and she feels alone. She encounters Madame du Barry, King Louis XV's mistress and ends when she makes up her mind to talk to du Barry after ignoring her for a while in the book. The Epilogue finishes up Marie Antoinette's life in a few pages and a brief description. A Historical Note explains how the world was changing and calling for revolution. A family tree that includes the Habsburg-Bourbon family tree with descriptions of Marie Antoinette's parents, husband and children. There are pictures in the last pages too of Marie Antoina, Antoina's mother, Antoina and her children, castles, and du Barry. There is also 2 and a half pages about the author.

This book was written based off of the diary of Marie Antoinette. When she is given a diary, she doesn't know at first what to write in it. She just writes her daily chores down & what she's done that day. She is born as the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa as Maria Antonia. Her mother is a very strict person who likes things done her own way. As custom, Maria Antonia is 13 & awaiting to find out who she will marry. Her mother picks out her husband just as she had done for her 3 sisters before her. She is only allowed to marry royalty because her mother needs allies for Austria. Years before, a ruler from another country had seized power of land that had belonged to her family. Ever since then, her mother had been making allies to take the land that she rightfully owned back. Unfortunately for her mother, Maria Antonia is a very headstrong young girl. She, also, knows what she wants & won't stop until she gets it. She obeys her mother but similtaneously listens to her wilder side. When she is told she is to marry the prince of France & live in Versailles, she isn't quite sure of what to think. She expects him to be a very handsome prince because his grandfather was. She spent months getting ready for the court of Versailles. The rules & manors are very different. This once independent girl has to learn how to let everyone else do everything for her. She isn't even allowed to give herself a bath. She doesn't adjust very well either. She believes that the manors are completely pointless. She doesn't understand why it is that in Versailles, belching at the table is considered polite. She also must change her name to Marie Antoinette to sound more French. The rules are almost opposite from her home. The worst part about her trip is that she cannot take anyone with her except for her dog. Her little dog will be her only companion as she leaves her home to join her awaiting new family & husband. When she gets there, Louis, the prince, is not exactly her idea of a fairytale prince. He's quite overweight, very shy, & has very bad acne on his face. For the first few weeks, he barely speaks to her. He is very sweet but she wants to get to know him better. She decides that if they are going to talk, she's going to have to start the conversations until he gets used to her better. She does, however, make friends with his aunts who aren't too much older than they are. She finds out a lot of important court information from them. Soon, she learns of a secret room in her apartments that had been used by previous princesses to get away from the constant media. When she wants time to herself, she can go in there. She talks to Louis about it & he has it decorated for her. Eventually, they warm up to each other & get to know each other better. When they don't share interests in a particular subject, they still support the other one & watch them anyways. They both teach each other a lot & do grow to like each other. Marie Antoinette knows that she will never truly love him but because they cannot divorse, they are at least good friends. They live a very good adolescent life together. The book stops a few years after their wedding. It doesn't go into her adult life at all but knowing about her childhood, I believe that she led a very independent lifestyle & probably changed some things about the Versailles manors when she became queen. This book was excellent & a good way to learn about history & a very important French ruler.

I personally thing that this was a very good book. I think it had a lot of good morals, and is apropriate for any age. I would recommend that you read it. I really like the main character i think she was an all around girl that just made a few bad choices. Anyway this is a great book and i think you should read it

i am reading the series and i finnished this book in two days. i feel ots the best one yet. very few times when ui was reading this book i got board and when it did it would instantly be filled with awsemness and suspense. u should get it

Eagle Strike is one of the best teen spy novels in a series of books written by Anthony Horowitz. It combines action across numerous European countries, celebrities who aren't what they seem, Air Force One, politics, and enough chase scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. This undoubtedly one of the best Alex Rider adventures yet.
Alex is vacationing in France with Sabina, his new best friend, and her family, when the man he hates most, Russian contract killer Yassen Gragorovich, shows up to stir up trouble. Yassen, though, seems to be uninterested in Alex and doesn't even know he's in the area. However Alex, being a suspicious teenager, cannot help but get in Yassen's way. After going out one day after Yassen, Alex returns to find the house he's been staying in has been blown up, and Sabina's father is in intensive care. This leads to the discovery of a strange plot involving a famous singer, Damien Cray, who has developed the ultimate video game system called Gameslayer. This seems to be nothing more than a marketing move for Cray, but the more Alex Rider dives into this Gameslayer and spies on Damien Cray, the more sinister Cray's part in the events becomes.
This leads to Alex travelling around Europe with his trusty guardian Jack in search of the truth and the bad guys, but the bad guys find him first. Alex is stuck in the middle of a plan with deadly consequences. The world's most powerful celebrity has gotten control of the world's most dangerous weapons, and his intentions are unthinkable. A brilliant climax, Eagle Strike will have you on edge of your seat, waiting to know how the book ends, while learning about an explosive secret regarding Alex's history.

Scott Totten

This book is one of the many Alex Rider books; this is defiantly an action thriller. This takes place all around Europe from Venice to England. Its theme is about a young teenage spy who has to solve mind puzzlers to saving damsels in distress. It starts in a little town in Europe when Alex and his new friend Sabina are on a vacation; But Alex ends up seeing Yassen Gregorvich, the man who killed his uncle. After Alex sees this man everything starts to go wrong. The adventure involves a famous singer named Damian Cray; this man is also the man who made the new game system called the Game Slayer. This seems nothing more then a way to make money for Cray but really it is really to fund Cray's evil plan.
One part of the book that I think you will really enjoy is a chapter called "Pain Synthesis". This chapter is when Alex has to face real challenges that are in a video game for the Game Slayer. Also Alex has to face a deadly python, gods, flying spears and electric vines.
The climax is at the end where a crazy super star is in control of weapons of mass destruction. The turnout is incredible on Air Force One. But I can't tell you the turnout you have to read the book to find out what happens.

This is a compelling, shocking, and thrilling book. this is about Alex Rider a teenager being forced to do spy work again to save his friend but this time he must do it alone. This is an action/adventure/suspense/thriller fiction novel. Four and a half stars out of five because, it had nonstop action and kept me guessing what was going to happen next throughtout the entire book. people wgi enjoy Darren Shan or Christopher Polini will enjoy this. tgis is a wonderful read for people of all ages.

I read all of the Alex Riders (not including Snakehead)and Eagle Strike is the best. It has so much action from start to finish. The best part is when Alex is thrown into a real life replica of a violent video game. It's so good you won't be able to (willingly) put the book down.

This book literally changed my life. As someone with a deep interest in Anne Frank and the Holocaust, I began reading it with some concern. I have read several books involving time travel and there is nothing that irks me more than a romanticized version of Anne Frank's life. However, this is a book that brings her and other victims of the Final Solution to life for me, and it is one of the best books I have ever read. I can clearly see how easily it could have been me and my family in the Holocaust, instead of someone else. The story also does a brilliant job of linking everyday events with those of the Holocaust. I can only imagine how survivors view modern life after what they went through. It makes you think about what is really important in life. I literally began thinking about how materialistic and selfish I can be, and how little that I really worry about is of any importance.
The title is misleading however; Anne Frank does spark the story and end it, but she is really not the driving force behind the book. She appears in the Holocaust flashback for only a few pages, though those pages are tearjerking.
Nevertheless, there is a great deal of information about the Holocaust in this book. It is extremely well-written, an incredible page-turner. I almost find it difficult to believe that it is a work of fiction, it seems so real. It is a slightly more mature book, recommend at least for teenagers. Aside from the age issue, this is a story that comes highly recommended. It will alter your life forever.

I loved this book! As i was readig it i thought what does it have to do with Anne Frank but as i kept reading the book got more interesting and i found out what it had to do with her.

This was the best book I ever read and i plan on reading it again. i recomend it to everyone.

Anne Frank and Me was an emotional story about a girl in present day and in the time of the Holocaust. If you do not like books that will make you cry, then do not read this one. The author uses very realistic details about the Holocaust so that you feel like you are really there in the story. Anne Frank and Me is exciting from the very beginning. You do not have to read for hours just to get to an exciting point in the book. I highly recommend Anne Frank and Me because it is an emotional book, and it is based on a horrible but real event that happened not too long ago.

Anne Frank and Me was an exceptional book and I enjoyed it very much. I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't love following Nicole through her journey starting in the 90's and ending up in year of 1942. I've read it twice and I know I'll set it down for a few months, then read it again! I recommend this to anyone with a heart! Enjoy Anne Frank and Me.
Stephanie A.
Tustin, CA

I would have to say that Anne Frank and Me is a very well written book about a modern girl trapped in a world shattered by the Nazis. Very realistic, I must say. Cherie Bennett makes it feel as if you are actually THERE. The characters are very original. The ending is very shocking and also well written.

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I grew up with Angelique as my mother was a big fan. We used to watch the movies all the time. I only wish the books and the movies were available in the US to buy as i would definitely be a buyer of both series

I first read the Angelique series when I was in high school, 30 years ago. Her story always stayed with me. At one time I had ALL the Angelique books (that is all the ones published in english). I went looking for them the other day to reread them. I can't find them! I can't believe I got rid of them!!!ARGH! Now Angelique is selling for $45! I now have to buy all the books again to reread them.

I would compare "Angelique" to "Kristen Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Undset. Heroines like these come along once in a generation.

The book traces Angelique's story from her childhood in Poitou to her arranged marriage to the horribly disfigured Comte de Peyrac. Her days as a criminal in the Court of Miracles, her time in the tower of Nesle and finally her triumph.

The detailed research in these books is mind boggling. It was this book that sparked my interest in Louis XIV and French history. Everything in these books is based on historical facts. In Angelique La Voisin predictes that the King will love Mme de Montespan and Angelique but that he will marry Mme Scarron. This is what actually happened! The poison conspiracy also is historically documented. Sergeanne Golon is not the only author(s) to write about The Court of Miracles. In "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" a large part of the action takes place in the Court of Miracles. If you look at a Michelin guide map of Paris the Court of Miracles is identified on it.

For Angelique readers here is a list of her books in chronological order:

Angelique (sometimes appears as two books Marquise of the Angels & The Road to Versailles)

Angelique and the King

Angelique and the Sultan (Angelique in Barbary)

Angelique in Revolt

Angelique in Love

The Countess Angelique (Angelique in the New World)

The Temptation of Angelique

Angelique and the Demon

Angelique and the Ghosts

I am not surprised to see that nearly every single review of this book is 5 stars. The book IS that good.

The Angelique series (actually 10 book) is one of the most enjoyable reads, as well as movies. It has everything one would want in a story: action, adventure, secrets, love, hatred and revenge in the time of Luis XIV. Although the story is far more interesting while Angelique is still in France (the first 5 books), her adventures in America/Canada are also pretty good. Unfortunately, it is impossible to find a new edition in the English language. I am lucky enough to be bilingual and was easily able to find the new editions of the full series (and the movies) in Russian, it has never been out-of-print in that language. However, I would love to reread it in English. The mini-series is also fantastic although it takes some liberty with the written plot and Michele Mercier is the perfect Angelique. If you can get it (in any language) the book is a must read and the mini-series is a must see!

Anyone fortunate enough to first read these books while young (I was in my late teens), will very likely want to read and re-reread them as he/she gets older. I do, and simply cannot recommend them highly enough. One of the reviewers here states that Anne and Serge are born storytellers but is misinformed: Serge did indeed produce writings, but he was primarily a scientist and he provided invaluable research for earlier Angelique books; their historical accuracy, human insight and fluid yet economical prose were, and remain today, the key to their enormous success. Anne and Serge Golon combined their very different talents but Serge was adamant in crediting the authorship to his wife. For your information, Serge died in 1972 but, so far as I know, as of May 2007, Anne is still alive and resides in Versailles. There are various websites, www.worldofangelique.com, Wikipedia, etc.

I started reading this series in the 70's while travelling enroute to my husbands next military assignment. I have read them 4 different times in a period of 20 years. Just getting ready to read the 9 books again since it has been apx. 5 years and I can't wait to re-read them. After reading the reviews in this section, I was astounded to learn that it has been made into a series in some countries on tv? Wow, what a fantastic series it would be for HBO or one of those broadcast companies! I am hoping that they are published as one person mentioned here as leather bound copies for collection. My copies are yellowed, tattered and torn but "saved" nonetheless, for re-reading. Thank you for all this wonderful information and please add my pleas to have it re-published as soon as possible.

Read this book first when I was 15 years old and it motivated me to learn more about history of the second world war. It's one of the great books on world war II and D-Day and it is highly recommended!

A great deal of ink and celluloid has been used to describe the Allied invasion of Fortress Europe on Tuesday June 6, 1944. This book remains and no doubt always will be one of the best accounts of what happened that day. It captures the heroism of the common soldiers on both sides. While some of the men collapsed under the pressure, most exhibited great bravery as they fought for what they were told to fight for. One of the best features of this book is that Ryan depicts the German soldiers as fighting soldiers; he very rarely mentions the concept of Nazism or the origins of the war.
There is also very little mention of the clash of egos on the Allied side, although he spends a great deal of time describing the personality conflicts on the German side. I do not fault him for this, for it was these conflicts that kept the German mobile reinforcements from entering the fight on the beaches when they could have made a difference.
D-Day was not the greatest battle of World War II, greater ones took place on the Eastern front between Germany and the Soviet Union. However, it was the most complex in execution and was necessary from the Allied point of view. Given the tremendous power of the Soviet offensive in the east and the blockade of supplies, Germany would eventually have been defeated. However, if the D-Day invasion had been repulsed, the Soviet armies would have overrun all of Germany and possibly even much of France. As a consequence of this, the post-war world would have been very different. From this perspective it was one of the most significant as it put allied armies on a course through Germany. You cannot understand history without knowing about D-Day.

I reread this classic account after watching the Ken Burns PBS documentary,"The War". While Burns' work is magnificent and spans the entire war effort on both fronts, Ryan'streatment of the Normandy invasion is still the best ever on this most remarkable of all military undertakings. Much like Burn, Ryan's writing is filled with poignant personal; accounts expertly interwoven into the broad scope of this climactic event. Its worth a reread.

very fast delivery, quality product, would do business again

Cornelius Ryan invented two genres with his ground-breaking history-The Longest Day.
On the one hand, he started a trend to personalized history. His book relies heavily on the recollections of those who fought on both sides. In this he anticipates Ken Burns' The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick and also The Second World War the more scholarly John Keegan.
His other innovation, a brisk style of story-telling that hops from the personal to the technical to the strategic has won the day in the fiction of war. Tom Clancy Red Storm Risingis one of his legatees.
Aside from considerations of this book's considerable influence, this is one absorbing read. The personal sense that comes from Ryan's extensive interviews with veterans comes through on the page and the effect is extremely involving, even hypnotic.
The prose style, which seems a little overwrought today, was borrowed heavily from Henry Salomon's TV series Victory at Sea - The Legendary World War II Documentary (History Channel).In 1959, it seemed lke the best-maybe the only way-to discuss events whose importance was becoming more evident as they receded.
This edition lacks maps-except for one that doesn't even include Normandy, and there's no way to tell the strategic part of the story without them. There are also the same typos that existed in the first edition.

None the less, an exciting book and a great introduction to the power of personal history.

Lynn Hoffman, author of bang BANG: A Novel and the pioneering New Short Course in Wine,The

Continuation of Volume I. This volume has breadmaking for one that wants to duplicate wonderful French bread. Unless you live near a fabulous bakery, the recipes in the bread and pastry section will make life better.

Both Volumes I and Volumes II are must have and make absolutely wonderful gifts for any new bride.

Being french and a lover of cooking, and living in United States for the last 15 years, I was intimidated by this thick and presumably academic American Cook Book, until I read "my life in France" also written by Julia Child.
In this book,the way she describes how she wrote "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was so lively and appealing that I decided to give it a try.
And I was not disappointed.
Not only she gives all the equivalent proportions, quantities and temperatures, but she explains very clearly and simply how to make a dish a success. I tried several of the recipes, my best being a "souffle with orange and Grand Marnier" .
To get the most of her explanations I also borrowed a couple of DVDs of her first cooking shows from my local library, and I got the same good feeling.
The reason I gave only 4 stars is because of the presentation of the recipes, with a very detailed master recipe, and just a few lines for the variants. That makes a little bit uneasy to go back and forth during my usual rush cooking time. But that is part due to my own lack of organization.
I was so thrilled by this book that I also gave it , as a gift , to a friend who loves cooking.

Julia's book was recommended to me by a French Chef we met in the Caribbean. It is the perfect book from which to learn French cooking. Julia's instructions are very detailed and make it easy to prepare each recipe. I highly recommend this book.

This book bring together years of cooking by recipe. It actually explains things so I can understand why I'm doing them.

The best Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon recipes you'll find are in this book. I've had Mastering the Art of French Cooking for years and recently gave one to my son, who also loves to cook. This cookbook tells you what to do, how to do it, and where to easily find the ingredients in your American supermarket. I don't do much (any?) baking, so don't have Volume II Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 2 (Paperback), which I understand is primarily about baking, but this one, Volume 1, is fantastic.

This book and The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 are the first ones I turn to in the kitchen. Together, they will teach the new cook how to cook and the experienced cook how to cook much better.