Belgium Books

A beautiful book, showing superb examples of belts from all over the world. This book is one, of a series of six, detailing ethnic jewelry from around the world. All of the pieces shown come from the collection of a Belgian couple, who have been collecting since the 1950s. The book contains magnificent, color photos, which show items at actual size, in many cases. My only criticism of the book, concerns the examples of Native American jewelry from the Southwestern United States. None of the Southwestern items were made by known artists, nor are the items of outstanding quality or design. The other books in the series share this same shortcoming.

A well written book about the Young Heroes of the War.
Short stories reveling the courage of Young People during the time of War.

I came to "Villette" after having read and fallen in love with "Jane Eyre". When I first began reading "Villete" I knew that I should expect a long exposition leading to a thrilling climax. While the climax did not begin until about page 400, I was not disappointed. Lucy Snowe, while eccentric, speaks to feelings of loneliness that can be extrapolated far beyond this novel. I also found it gratifying that the relationship between Lucy and M. Paul - if rather sudden in its appearance - seemed of a deeper and more genuine sort than that between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. "Villette" is not the sweeping romance with a happy ending like "Jane Eyre". I was somewhat disappointed with the ending until, shortly after completing the book, I was perusing a biography of Charlotte Bronte from my college's library and discovered just how intensely personal the story of "Villette" was. In fact, the biography used excerpts from "Villette" to illuminate the relationship between Charlotte Bronte and M. Heger, a schoolmaster in Brussels. Now I appreciate how insightful "Villette" is for anyone wishing to get to know Charlotte Bronte better.

P.S. Get an edition with notes that translate the French phrases. You'll lose whole chunks of dialogue without the notes unless you can read French.

"All these weary days, I have not for one hour forgotten you." -- Lucy Snowe in Charlotte Bronte's Villette.

too much French; too much detail. slow reading. amazing command of language. thin on plot and action.

I think it's safe to say that most of the people who have read "Villette" probably read "Jane Eyre" first. I know that I did. In such cases, "Villette" may come as a slight surprise. While still like "Jane Eyre" in the sense that much of the story tells of the character's history, includes a strange sort of "love" story, and has a series of fascinating characters, "Villette" feels less about the narrator (Lucy Snowe) than about the other characters.

Let me clarify. While the story IS about Lucy Snowe, there are parts that revolve around her friends. These parts are thoroughly enjoyable as these characters are all so vivid and clear. Everything is easy to imagine and written in such a clear fashion. The plot is intriguing, and parts actually made me laugh aloud in surprise. It's a surprising book. The way everything ties in is done so well. "Villette" deserves a wider audience and greater fame than it has. It rivaled "Jane Eyre", and perhaps surpassed it.

While the ending is the place where most people lower their scores, I personally find it brilliant. It is a vague, ambiguous ending that leaves the reader confused, disoriented, and intrigued. What better way to end a book than mystery? Perhaps not a mystery, but we're left trying to figure it out. Unfortunately, there is no answer, so the romantics will choose a happy ending, and the pessimists a sorrow-filled one.

"Villette" has a whole host of characters. It starts out with children - laughing, teasing, quite adorable children. Later there are the wealthy snob characters, the generous, yet suspcious, motherly characters, the handsome, kind young men, the sweet, and beautiful young women, and the annoying yet lovable colleague (one of my favorites!). Each character has their own spark, their own flaws, and their own crowning virtue and reason for attention. Lucy, in the center of this all, is also an interesting character, though occasionally weak and sometimes a little too fluttery for my taste. Then again, tastes vary. You'll have to see for yourself. (M. Paul is totally the coolest, by the way)

WARNING: Much of this book is in French. Keep a French dictionary handy.

"Villette" is a purely enjoyable book. While some parts seemed to drag on and needed extra attention and patience (not to be read while tired! You'll find yourself skimming over pages, yawning), the final, overall impression is a favorable one. This book deserves the name, "classic". It's a great read, and you're sure to enjoy it, especially if you liked "Jane Eyre".

Enjoy!

"Villette" was Charlotte Bronte's final novel, and while it covers some familiar territory, it doesn't quite live up to the standards of her masterpiece "Jane Eyre", or even the much more cohesive "Shirley". The narrator is yet again a rather plain ordinary woman without many prospects, who must rely upon teaching to make her way in the world, chancing to become a teacher at an established school in France. Yet the narrator, Lucy Snowe, lacks charisma and too often rambles away from the story at hand, making "Villette" a slow-paced read with too little payoff in the end.

The story begins with Lucy Snowe living with her godmother, Mrs. Bretton, her son John Graham, and their young visitor, Paulina Home. Lucy details their lives and the relationship between Graham and Polly, before quickly moving on to her time as a companion to a sickly woman. From there, the narrative jumps to her spontaneous trip overseas and her immediate luck in finding a post within Madame Beck's pensionnat, where she eventually becomes an English teacher. Lucy then spends much of her time chronicling the life of the school and the characters that reside there, especially Madame Beck and M. Paul Emanuel. As the novel progresses, Lucy finds herself reunited with her godmother and John Graham, and even Paulina Home as a young lady, for the novel covers at least ten years within Lucy Snowe's life, before wrapping up in a somewhat ambiguous manner.

The main trouble with "Villette" lies with its narrator: Lucy Snowe is an extremely faint shadow of Jane Eyre, her retiring nature making her seem weak and a pushover, rather than being a pleasant and noble characteristic. She allows others to walk all over her and doesn't speak her mind, and the man she falls in love with is such a study in contradictions that readers may have difficulty liking him and rooting for them to be together in the end. The story is poorly paced, spending a huge amount of time on what seem like tangential stories and details, and skipping other details that might enhance the main character's likability. All in all, "Villette" is a credit to Charlotte Bronte, a profound examination of one woman's conscience and character, flaws and faults included.

It's only now that I notice the subtitle "novel without a hero", and that is what struck me most about this novel- the lack of heroes. Indeed, just about all of the characters are flawed in some way, but I beg to differ that there is no hero. Surely the good and honest Major Dobbin qualifies. He may be gawky and awkward, but that makes him so much more endearing than the stereotypical Prince Charming type, or reformed rascal that we might expect to see in a typical contemporary Victorian novel.

In some ways, Vanity Fair is a typical Victorian novel. There are lots of characters that can be difficult to keep track of, it is kind of soap-opera-ish, and as it covers a long period of time, it is very long, tending to drag in the middle. However, the action really picks up in the last couple hundred pages, so it is well worth it to keep reading.

Another winning quality of Vanity Fair is the narration. It is a hyperbole and parody of the typical Victorian narration. Not only is the narrator an omniscent, third-person who passes judgements, but he is a wisecracking and exaggerated one as well.

I think Thackeray also deserves a lot of credit for not making the story predictable. I honestly didn't know quite how the story would wrap up, and as it neared the end I could tell that it wasn't going the way of a Hollywood movie plot (thankfully!).

When I read the summary of Vanity Fair, I was led to believe that it was all about Becky Sharp and that it was her story alone. Although you could argue in the end, it really is all about Becky and how she manipulates people, the characters of Amelia and Dobbin are too well-developed and interesting to play second fiddle to the scheming Becky.

In summary, Vanity Fair has more depth, wit, and honesty than your typical Victorian novel, so I highly recommend it!

Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" is at once a fascinating glimpse into the aristocratic Europe of the early 1800's while also serving as a masterful critique of the modern human drama. While it takes some time for the story to really pull you in, you can expect a rather enjoyable ride once it does. Thackeray does a good job of developing the characters and their personalities, and you will often find yourself thinking "I know people like this." In short, "Vanity Fair" is a 200-year-old story which, if anything, has only increased in relevance.

Greed, gold-digging and deception sit at the heart of "Vanity Fair." It's no joke that it's subtitled "a novel without a hero" -- William Makepeace Thackeray mercilessly skewered the pretentions and flaws of the upper class all throughout it. The result is a gloriously witty social satire.

It opens with two young women departing from a ladies' academy: dull, sweet Amelia (rich) and fiery sharp-witted Rebecca (poor). Becky Sharp is a relentless social climber, and her first effort to rise "above her station" is by trying to get Amelia's brother to marry her -- an effort thwarted by Amelia's fiancee. So instead she gets married to another family's second son, Rawdon Crawley.

Unfortunately, both young couples quickly get disinherited and George is killed. But Becky is determined to live the good life she has worked and married for -- she obtains jewels and money from admiring gentlemen, disrupting her marriage. But a little thing like a tarnished reputation isn't enough to keep Becky down...

"Vanity Fair" is actually a lot more complex than that, with dozens of little subplots and complicated character relationships. Reading it a few times is necessary to really absorb all of it, since it is not just a look at the two women in the middle of the book, but at the upper (and sometimes lower) social strata of the nineteenth century.

The main flaw of the book is perhaps that it sprawls too much -- there's always a lot of stuff going on, not to mention a huge cast of characters, and Thackeray sometimes drops the ball when it comes to the supporting characters and their little plots. It takes a lot of patience to absorb all of this. However... it's worth it.

Like most nineteenth-century writers, Thackeray had a very dense, formal writing style -- but once you get used to it, his writing becomes insanely funny. Witticisms and quips litter the pages, even if you don't pick them all up at once. At first Thackeray seems incredibly cynical (Becky's little schemes almost always pay off), but taken as a social satire, it's easier to understand why he was so cynical about the society of the time.

Becky Sharp is the quintessential anti-heroine -- she's very greedy and cold, yet she's also so smart and determined that it's hard not to have a grudging liking for her. Certainly life hasn't been fair for her. Next to Becky, a goody-goody character like Amelia is pretty boring, and even the unsubtle George can't measure up to Becky.

To sum up "Vanity Fair": think a period soap opera with a heavy dose of social commentary. In other words, it doesn't get much better than this, Thackeray's masterpiece.

Greed, gold-digging and deception sit at the heart of "Vanity Fair." It's no joke that it's subtitled "a novel without a hero" -- William Makepeace Thackeray mercilessly skewered the pretentions and flaws of the upper class all throughout it. The result is a gloriously witty social satire.

It opens with two young women departing from a ladies' academy: dull, sweet Amelia (rich) and fiery sharp-witted Rebecca (poor). Becky Sharp is a relentless social climber, and her first effort to rise "above her station" is by trying to get Amelia's brother to marry her -- an effort thwarted by Amelia's fiancee. So instead she gets married to another family's second son, Rawdon Crawley.

Unfortunately, both young couples quickly get disinherited and George is killed. But Becky is determined to live the good life she has worked and married for -- she obtains jewels and money from admiring gentlemen, disrupting her marriage. But a little thing like a tarnished reputation isn't enough to keep Becky down...

"Vanity Fair" is actually a lot more complex than that, with dozens of little subplots and complicated character relationships. Reading it a few times is necessary to really absorb all of it, since it is not just a look at the two women in the middle of the book, but at the upper (and sometimes lower) social strata of the nineteenth century.

The main flaw of the book is perhaps that it sprawls too much -- there's always a lot of stuff going on, not to mention a huge cast of characters, and Thackeray sometimes drops the ball when it comes to the supporting characters and their little plots. It takes a lot of patience to absorb all of this. However... it's worth it.

Like most nineteenth-century writers, Thackeray had a very dense, formal writing style -- but once you get used to it, his writing becomes insanely funny. Witticisms and quips litter the pages, even if you don't pick them all up at once. At first Thackeray seems incredibly cynical (Becky's little schemes almost always pay off), but taken as a social satire, it's easier to understand why he was so cynical about the society of the time.

Becky Sharp is the quintessential anti-heroine -- she's very greedy and cold, yet she's also so smart and determined that it's hard not to have a grudging liking for her. Certainly life hasn't been fair for her. Next to Becky, a goody-goody character like Amelia is pretty boring, and even the unsubtle George can't measure up to Becky.

To sum up "Vanity Fair": think a period soap opera with a heavy dose of social commentary. In other words, it doesn't get much better than this, Thackeray's masterpiece.

Vanity Fair is not a book for the casual reader. It will probably always be neglected in schools and will be unread by those without patience. However, if you are willing to devote yourself to reading this long novel, it is well worth it.

The main characters that the story centers around are Becky and Amelia, two girls who are polar opposites, yet their lives intertwine in fascinating ways. In many ways they are caricatures, but the book is long enough to give them complexity and in the end you have two unexpectedly interesting and multifaceted characters. Of course they are not the only characters, there are probably 500 more of various importance. Some readers may have difficulty keeping track of them all, especially when several have the same last name. However, Thackeray manages to keep focus through all the characters and it ends up that there are only about a dozen major characters, all very well developed.

The story itself is concerned mainly with the relationships and wealth of Amelia and Becky, but there are as many subplots as there are characters. Occasionally the story becomes stagnant, but there are enough stories and settings that I never became bored. The influence of the Napoleonic Wars is much stronger in Vanity Fair than in any of Austen's novels, which creates some interesting settings such as the battle of Waterloo, as battle that has a profound influence on the story. There is plenty of humor in the story as well and also Thackeray's famous societal commentary. This makes having notes in the book important, as there are references to events, places, languages, and things that a modern reader would normally not be familiar with.

This is a long book and the beginning isn't much fun to read, but it is interesting and insightful once you get into it. The setting might be over a hundred years ago, but the people in it are not outdated and their motivations and characters will seem familiar to the modern reader. Whether or not someone would like this novel comes down to if one can get past the length, archaic language, obscure references, and number of stories and characters. It certainly took me awhile and I almost stopped reading it, but I came to care for the characters enough that I began enjoying it.

I am going to Amsterdam for 3 weeks next month. First time. I have read several other guidebooks but I have to admit, I really felt that I was getting the "inside scoop" with this book. It can be a little crass, but it's quite well written and pretty funny at times. Mostly, I felt I got a lot of good information from it. I was afraid it would all be about pot smoking, but it wasn't ay all. The "cheap eats" were worth the price of admission alone.

I highly recommend this book!

This guide was very helpful containing not so usual info about the usual sights, as well as having a good readability. Not like other strict guides, that seem written by computers, this guide offers opinions that allow the reader to make better decisions about what to see and how to see so much of the city - it's like having a freind along to guide you.

This is a great supplemental book for Amsterdam if you are looking for off the beaten track places. I know that my partner and I will use this book well when we go to Amsterdam.

This book is a great guide to Amsterdam! We've been twice, and took an older version the first time. We bought the updated version for our trip there in July, 2007. This book is written with a sense of humor that is refreshing when you're on vacation. There are tons of different sections that list everything from where to buy groceries, do laundry, and rent a room to some of the seedier things that Amsterdam has to offer. We didn't get another guide book, and didn't feel we needed one. This is a great reference that gives you everything you need to have a great time in a great city!

A great guide for finding your way around Amsterdam. Unlike other guides, the descriptions and information are very opinionated and to the point--don't expect 12 page picture tours of museums. There is a decent section on "coffee houses" (High Times recommends Barney's), but very little attention is given to the oldest profession. Pauker does recommend some escort services that don't exploit women (for the socially conscious individual) and a few voyeuristic experiences such as live intercourse. And although this guide may be geared toward the college student or other individuals with similar tastes, the suggestions for breakfast, late night snacks, quick eats, shopping, and hanging-out in general will benefit even the most conservative traveler (though she'll probably be annoyed by the author's naive understanding of economics). Definitely worth the $10, though I recommend that you accompany this book with a mainstream detailed supplementary guide such as Frommer's, which also comes with a good map.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. An excellent read for anyone interested in WW1. No point in saying more. Read it.

After reading A Storm in Flanders, I understand--for the first time--why it was called The Great War and The War to End All Wars. Though the book focuses almost exclusively on the Ypres Salient (other pertinent events are mentioned, from the impetus for the war to Verdun and the Somme), here was where the horrors of modern warfare were first unleashed: flamethrowers, machine guns, poison gas, the godawful trench. The carnage is almost unbelievable. But the book is such an important read--one must simply slog through the death and horror to try to begin to understand this conflict.

Winston Groom does a great job in writing for the layman like me; I don't read military history, as a rule. My only criticism is that all of the maps should have been grouped together for ease of reference. Instead, both endpapers are maps and there are also maps in the middle of the book. Confusing. Otherwise, a highly recommended resource to try to understand what on earth happened in Flanders fields.

Too often,I, as an American have tended to overlook the importance of WW1 and its relevance to todays world.I had often heard that WW2 was a war to determine who actually won won WW1,and also that had Woodrow wilson's 14 points been adopted as the peace settlement there might not have been a WW2 at all.The war reparations that Germany had to pay to Europe and the "War Guilt Clause" in the Treaty of Versailles,were a primary cause of Hitler coming to power.Grooms" book backs up my interpretation of WW1 and its aftermath.While not a technical book showing troop movements,supply convoys,etc.it conveys a really great overall picture of the battlefields of Flanders where millions perished and it is an impossible book to put down cause of the writers' style."You're pretty much right there in the trenches slogging through the mud,witnessing the gruesome sights,sounds, and smells and experiencing a deadly shell percussion sting or your first breath of mustard gas.if for some peculiar reason beyond human conception this war was necessary I'm awfully glad that these people, both allies and central powers ,took on their roles so generously,maybe it was their hope that another generation would not have to suffer something like this.I particularly liked the way the author strategically places WW1 poetry throughout the book,real visions of hell.Maps are simple and understandible,the pictures reinforce the writers dialogue,you're as close to Flanders as you'll ever want to be.

Technically, there were four major battles four in the four years of WWI in the area around Ypres...but in fact, except for short periods during the winter, the battle was almost continual from 1914 to 1918. Generals were constantly asking soldiers to fight for 'worthless' pieces of ground and to often fight in conditions that were remarkably like a cesspool. One of the soldiers quoted talks about the land having been 'destroyed' to such an extent that it had the consistency of quicksand and that to fall into a shellhole full of water (and whatever else) would be certain death from drowning.

Most appalling for many of the soldiers, was the visual landscape that was churned mud and body parts. Because of the constant shelling, bodies were never underground for long, and soldiers in the trenches would be subject to injuries from shrapnel, metal and flying body parts. Bones of soldiers killed earlier in the war became morbid missiles and soldiers described these as the 'revenge of the dead'.

The best estimates were that 700,000 were killed during the four years of fighting, and if you use the five or six to one ratio of injured to dead, the total casualties come to between 4 to 4.5 million. All this dead and destruction occurred in an area forty miles wide and five miles deep. Groom has included some picture from the battlefield that give a visual idea of the destruction and you have to ask yourself how anyone could be asked to fight under these conditions.

The most remarkable statistic of the battle area, was that the 'original' professional BEF (British Expeditionary Force) of 250,000, who were known as the "Old Contemptables" were wiped out by the second year of the war. The officers from England's Public (that is Private Schools for the Aristocracy) Schools that were recruited, from the British Isles "best and brightest" were also annihilated by the third year. By the fourth year of the war, conscription had emptied the cities and countryside of england and german POWs were being used to cultivate the fields; while woman and children worked round the clock making artillery shells.

The Ypres (pronounce E-pray) Salient was where the German's first tried out Chlorine, Phosgene and Mustard Gas; the use of grenades, as well as the use of flame-throwers. The first battle tanks were used in the area and the Battle of Cambrai is considered the first 'tank' battlefield with the use by the British of over 500 tanks at one time. Not only was a generation of men lost by the British at Ypres, but Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South Africa and India all contributed troops that were cut down like wheat when they went 'over the top'.

Reading down through the thoughts of the men who fought there, you wonder if the 'men in charge' really had any concern as to what the 'man in the trench' was experiencing; or even more callously, whether they cared. The discussions by the generals of 'bleeding the other side "white"' by attrition is the most startling epitaph of the battles.

I liked Groom's Civil War book, so I decided to read his book on Ypres. Groom writes well and the flow of his book is very good. This book progressed well and the four Ypres battles were covered in summary. This is more of a summary history of the battles in this region. However, this is not the authoritative book on the battle. As even Groom will admit, this book is for Americans, and not the British who fought this battle. It is a very readable, detailed book though.

Groom writes well and gives the low down on this huge battles for a tiny piece of Belgium. The flow of this book is as well as anything that Ambrose did. This is a nice read on something most Americans know little about.

Having read and adored all of the Lymond books and fallen in love with Francis Crawford I was expecting the Niccolo books to be a bit of a let down. On the contrary this first in the series is completely and awe inspiringly wonderful. Set in 15th C Bruges and all over Europe eventually, it tells the story of Claes/Nicholas/Niccolo and his progression from lowly dyers apprentice to respected merchant. His character and talents are unveiled in the course of the book and the adventures and countries he travels through are brilliantly brought to life. You get a real taste of what it must have been like to live in medieval times and its all set very accurately in its historical context. Can't recommend it highly enough - a thoroughly satisfying and exciting read.

First, the "House of Niccolo" should be read BEFORE the "chronicle of Limond" because this collection sets the stage for Limond to arrive.
Secondly, one shall not expect, right away to enter with ease into the 1st volume. It explains the birth of the banking system, the mercantile system and so on. No matter how brilliant you are, one has to explain it to be able to build on it. And that's what Dunnett does with elegance. Do not drop the book, it takes few chapters and then starts the fabulous ascension of Nicholas.
Each book happens in a different country. I've visited all but one and Dunnett left me breathless. Again, you can't put any book down. So, stick to it and you'll have a great reward of knowledge, history and fiction. Niccolo more than Lymond is a great peace of Art. Enjoy.

Author Dunnett keeps your attention with Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin-like pace to these adventures in central Europe of the mid-15th century, complete with characters of nobility, talent, and daring, people of average gifts, and some genuinely bad folks.

Dorothy Dunnett's series (starting with Niccolo Rising) starts out feeling as though it will be a complex read. However, after I "got into it" (which requires a bit of concentration), I just loved all these books--the characters, the story, the history, etc.

Her other series of the Lymond Chronicles is also excellent. I read them all some years ago and am "saving them" so that I can read them again. Beautifully written and researched. The characters are fascinating. Such a pleasure to find something like this to read these days!

'From Venice to Cathay, from Seville to the Gold Coast of Africa, men anchored their ships and opened their ledgers and weighed one thing against another as if nothing would change.'

Thus opens the first book (of eight) of Dorothy Dunnett's 'House of Niccolo'. This book is set in Renaissance Europe where trade, travel, intrigue and politics provide a wonderful backdrop to the story of Niccolo. Meticulously researched and beautifully crafted, this novel provides both history and fiction in a way that enables the reader to enjoy the latter without being overwhelmed by the former.

I first read this book over 20 years ago. I continue to reread the series because there is always something new to discover, or some event to (re)interpret.

Highly recommended to all who love their historical fiction filled with complex plots, unrelenting action and knowledge which is conveyed with enthusiasm.

Enter the world of Niccolo!

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This author has taken a somewhat different approach to a very well covered topic. Instead of provoding the usual overall descriptions of the campaign and events leading up to the great battle itself, here we have eliminated that process and concern ourselves solely with the famous encounter itself. This alone makes this book somewhat different on the topic.

Being a non-English speaking historian this author brings other aspects into his evaluation of the battle. While he quotes many of the famous English memoirs, we also get some French, Allied and Prussian sources. Care is also taken to show that primary sources are not without their risks. Different primary sources describing the same series of events can often have radically different view points. Care must be taken when using these sources to quote and follow events, as numerous inconsistencies can abound.

This Italian author was involved long ago with the epic film of Waterloo so he comes to the topic with an almost cimeatic perspective. Waterloo itself is used as a means to an end. By jumping to the battle right off the author can use it to clarify personalities and events within the context of the action itself. A unique and different approach. The short chapters allow for quick, yet in depth views at various aspects of the action. Taken together these little chapters add up and provide a very comprehensive look at the battle.

The author provides some interesting details about formations used at various times during the fighting. The famed French Guard are described as half elite (Old Guard)and half very good, but less elite (Middle Guard). Those 9 battalions that assaulted Wellington's lines toward the climax of the battle were roughly even in number. Therefore they were not as impressive as we have been lead to believe, although 2 battalions of the Old Guard did manage to evict almost an enire Prussian Korps from Placenoit village.

The formation they used to attack the allied line was a slow moving square formation, instead of the standard attack column which most English accounts attest too. This formation provided the Guard more protection against cavalry, and might have given them slightly more firepower than column. The author also notes the effectiveness of French musketry, something not always shown in earlier works. This formation was still blasted by the British Guards and line battalions, but it is interesting to find that the Guard may have attacked in this unusual formation.

Details like this are what make this book quite good, however the author sometimes gets his terminology mixed up. Riflemen of the British 95th Rifles were not referred too as Fusiliers! This and other minor mistakes detracts slightly from what is a very good and entertianing work
overall. A good read and useful to compare with older, more traditional works.

Mr. Barbero does an excellent job of reconstructing the battle of Waterloo. New insights abound such as the deadly efficiency of the French lancers, the important role played by skirmishers and how nearly finished the British were. The narrative is well-written so cudos must be given to the translator's skills as well. My only complaints are the the maps - there are no smaller scale maps showing troop dispositions - and the lack of an order of battle. Otherwise, THE BATTLE is an entertaining and informative study of Napoleon's last and most desperate battle.

This book is new from two perspectives:
1. The human interest perspective. Loads of anecdotes and "soldier level" experiences. (well foot noted.)
2. It didn't paint the Allies as invincible. I think it was the most accurate portrayal of the battle and the ebe and flow of the momentum that I have read. It showed, for the first time that I've read, how close the Allies cam to losing the day. It gave positive points to the French forces, and portrayed the Prussians in a very realistic light.
Definitely well worth reading. I couldn't put it down.

I first thought this was a reprint of Rambaud's novel. I suppose it is hard to find new titles, and indeed, new perspectives after Chandler's books. Professor Barberro has managed with magisterial brilliance, however. Mingling the view from Wellington's saddle with ground level experience in the line gives an immediacy and movement that are not common in serious histories. There are useful chapters on arms and armies but the book maintains its pace.
Most books in English become fixated on red coats. Not here, fortunately, with a much better view of the Allies as a whole. The French and Prussians get more attention, as they should, although the writer is suprisingly remote from Napoleon. One gets little feel for his thinking, which admittedly has always been something of a puzzle.
Superb book. Should be read by anyone with an interest in history.

This book carry you to the center of the battle. You feel as being in the middle of the British squares or charging with the French cuirassiers as carried there by a time machine.

This is an excellent book. The writing is fluid and engaging and the storyline reveals insights into memory and the passing of time in very unexpected ways. It stays with you long after you read the last page.

I lived in the Flemish part of Belgium for a couple years and the author certainly has captured the endless rainy days, the feeling of permanence that only comes with multiple generations living in the same place, and the nuances of the culture's tension between the old and the new.

I found the book to be a bit uneven in places and in need of some ruthless editing. The frequent tangents and micro-details about the (fictional) Orst paintings were particularly distracting, for example. Had Orst actually existed, the descriptions of his work might have been interesting and relevant, but since it was all fictional, it seemed secondary (even tertiary) to the narrative. I found myself skimming over descriptions of art works that never existed.

But I still rate this book very highly. Where the writing is good, it's incredibly good. The section when the narrator returns to England is remarkably touching, and made me empathize with the narrator in ways I didn't think possible. And the last part of the book was perfect -- an ending that allows each of us to fill in our own conclusions.

This is the first Hollinghurst book I have read, and I plan to read more.

Alan Hollinghurst is certainly a crafty wordsmith. This book is beautifully written.

The story is basically that of an aging gay male becoming obsessed with his beautiful young student. Edward Manners becomes the tutor for a wealthy high school aged fellow, Luc. At first Edward sees a thin immature youth but as the story progresses, Edward becomes more obsessed with Luc and the descriptions of Luc change to match Edward's changing perception. This portion of the story is well told and certainly accurately portrays the process of obsession that seduces gradually, obliterating common sense and good judgement.

Edward recognizes that he has lost his bearings when he finds himself continually thinking about Luc, spying on him when he is on holiday with his friends, imagining him having sex with other young men or women, remaining fixated as to whether Luc is gay or straight, and even leaving tutoring sessions to use the bathroom so that he can smell Luc's dirty laundry.

Hollinghurst then begins to break the bubbles or desire that Edward has created. Luc becomes more realistic and less idealized. He becomes more human and more mundane. Eventually all the questions Edward has about Luc are answered, or at least many of the questions are answered. Edward begins the painful process of healing the wounds left by obsession as Luc drifts out of his life.

I found the book to be one of the best descriptions of the natural history of obsession since Robert Plant's The Catholic. Obsession is revealed to be a wounding, out of mind experience, from which we only gradually recover. Hollingshurst caught it well in this well written book.

I was a bit more impressed with Hollinghurst's technical skills here than engaged by the actual story, which revisits aspects of Thomas Mann's DEATH IN VENICE in far more sprawling fashion.

Hollinghurst is a nearly-brilliant writer, though the very lush prose I found to be a touch distracting. But it may be entirely approriate in a tale of an infatuated, youth-worshipping tutor slowly sliding into a highly inapproriate affair with a cherubic student who ultimately turns out to be not quite as angelic as he first would seem to be.

Hollinghurst's tale poses a number of questions which are left hanging: foremost among them would be the youth-obsessiveness in Western culture generally, and gay culture specifically. One is left wondering what the dead end of such a sensibility would be, and as this ethereal and atmospheric epic winds down, that question remains in the air, with a frustrating lack of further elaboration.

-David Alston

THE FOLDING STAR tells the story of Edward Manners, a sentimentally detached man who leaves England to earn his living as a private language tutor in a Flemish city. The exquisite prose of this 1994 release delineates a man's aching melancholy and longing for love despite his odd sexual economy during the few years prior to his arrival in Belgium. Therefore, unlike the most recent, highly-acclaimed THE LINE OF BEAUTY, the novel affords a plot no more than Edward Manners's hypnotic fantasy of one of his young pupils. The 33-year-old seems to be at the emotional crossroad: he often smiles at his own sense of anticipation, of being poised for change, and is ready to fall in love. But he is not used to spending so much time with one person that he thinks of a committed relationship dreads him.

It might be love at first sight that no sooner has he met Luc than he takes an intimate fancy of him. The adoration quickly becomes a morbid infatuation that manifests into a pepperoni type of spying on the boy during his weekend excursion. He has no doubt driven Edward mad at times - he feels empty and is aching for him. The boy has affected everything Edward does to the point that he suffers without feeling afflicted. The stream of consciousness reflects Manners's despair over the unfulfilled love and the thumping of the heart. He can only console himself with other affairs to which no sentiment constitutes, other than the minimal trust of two people pleasuring themselves together, without much grasp of friendship or understanding.

THE FOLDING STAR is about the unrequited love that leaves a man constantly longing, without the prospect of ever finding love. The mixed feelings of anxious longing and fear of commitment constitute a poignant air that hovers over the novel. It delivers the message that the course of true love never runs straight. The reading reminds one of the similar sentimental nuances Henry James experiences in Colm Toibin's THE MASTER. While Henry James consciously makes it a habit to keep his affection at bay and secretly longs for the intimate companion of a man, Edward Manners always finds himself marveling at how his sudden burst of feeling has wrongfooted him. Both engage in a somnambulist journey to find love. The former lives in such vessel of loneliness and independence - in a social sphere that is pinned and stifled with rules. The latter leaves his home to escape the same constraints only to find himself trapped by his emotions. That his sex life has well petered out before he comes to Belgium is the impediment to his surrender to commitment.

THE FOLDING STAR is a stoic tale about the quest for love. Edward Manners lives among many gay men not only in the regard of the longing for a relationship but also in the sense of the nervousness, excitement, sensuality, and anxiety. One may think of the novel being made up of snapshots all these contradicting emotions that roam back and forth the character. It exquisitely depicts the nuances of affection, the anticipation for intimacy, and the desire of fulfillment of unconditional needs. Hollinghurst renders with artistry and haunting precision love's merging of language and lust.

THE FOLDING STAR is a sprawling neo-Victorian achievement, full of memorable characters, breathtaking description, and graphic gay sex. At its surface the novel is the story of Edward Manners - a 40ish, drinky, and rather raunchy former academic who relocates to a small Belgian town to work as a tutor. Almost at once Edward becomes infatuated with Luc, a student. His obsession is comic, tragic, and romantic. With this as its core THE FOLDING STAR then begins to reveal a much deeper and more complex reality. The interconnectedness of various lives and histories soon begins to become apparent, with former details gaining greater significance and literary relief in this engrossing epic of obsession and taboo. This is a wonderful book though I found it a bit dry and somewhat cold...it was a book to admire rather than embrace.

An Infamous Army is the story of General Wellington's successful routing of Napoleon Bonaparte in the battle of Waterloo. As Napoleon's troops make their way towards Brussels, General Wellington is having trouble obtaining solid and trained soldiers and enough ammunition and artillery to fight the battle successfully. Beloved by his forces, Wellington must direct and marshal the tactical forces over the countryside in order to overtake the French forces. In addition to those problems, he is working with various other military leaders and troops not under his command, and the effort to create a unified front is one of the major problems in this battle. The mood in Brussels, however, is one of excitement and merriment, as many of the English gentry are visiting Brussels, and fete's and dinners are the order of the day. Of the party going set, the most illustrious is the Lady Barbara Childe. Barbara, a young widow, is flamboyantly fashionable and out to take the city by storm. Both glamorous and ostentatious, Lady Barbara has her pick of men among the crowd, and is never without an admirer. Her bold behavior and extravagant flirting keep her name constantly on the lips of those around her. But Lady Barbara is not prepared for her unexpected feelings for Colonel Charles Audley, whom she meets at a party. Audley too is quite smitten with Barbara, and instantly proposes marriage, a situation which shocks and stuns their social set. Can Barabara put away her coquettish ways for Audley and make herself a true and devoted wife? As these questions loom, Napoleon advances, and the battle begins in all it's bloody glory. When all is said and done, many will be lost and injured, and all must look to the future in their newly changed circumstances, including Audley and Lady Barbara.

Normally, I love historical fiction. I enjoy the enlightenment of discovering little known details surrounding historical events, and the glimpse into the lives of characters who have changed the course of history, even when they are slightly embellished. However, this book was not very enjoyable. The amount of detail, while impressive, was overwhelming. Some of the military tactical information and battle scenes seemed to go on forever, and the jump back to the events surrounding Barbara and Audley seemed too few and far between. I also disliked the minutia of the details. For example, there was a lot of information on the various colors and styles of the uniforms of the soldiers, which divisions had been deployed, and who was leading them. It was almost like reading a roster of names... very dry and lackluster. While I appreciate the amount of research that went into this account of Waterloo, it was very uninteresting and leaden. Perhaps if one were reading this as a history book, it would have been different, but I believe that the inclusion of the story of Barbara and Audley failed at the attempt to elevate this book into the realms of historical fiction. They seemed an afterthought, something pushed in to give the story some flavor to a rather dull military procedural. The book's tone was one of instruction, and rather than being interesting, it was instead informative.

I also disliked Lady Barbara. I don't believe that in order to be a complex character you have to be cruel, but that's exactly what Lady Barbara was. She was very spoiled and recalcitrant, always pushing the boundaries of propriety just because she liked to make a spectacle of herself. Many times in the book she admitted to being an intolerable vixen, yet she shrugged it off and claimed that her behavior was something she enjoyed and would continue. If she had not made other's so uncomfortable and ill at ease I could have accepted that. However, she seemed to enjoy playing one man off another and disappointing her friends and family. In one scene she specifically begins to take interest in a man in order to take revenge on his wife for a small social slight. I found this to be repulsive and ill-bred. It was almost unbelievable that Colonel Audley felt so strongly for her, because he was the most gentlemanly and kind person in the book. I found them to be a bad match, and an implausible one as well. Barbara spent the book flitting off from one flirtation to the next, dropping each one as her interest waned. I did not believe that her behavior would change after circumstances were altered. She seemed flighty and her serious emotions were not believable, and I had no patience for her or her antics by the end of the book. I lost a little respect for Audley's character for being so blind to her shenanigans, and felt this portion of the book to be highly vexing.

Although I didn't enjoy this book very much, I can see that it has its importance. Looking at it from a historical perspective, it is quite an accomplishment. The stellar research and the author's ability to keep all the specific information clear and well paced might be more appreciated by some who are fond of military history. Had the story been less focused on the battle and more focused on the periphery I would have enjoyed it more, and been better able to recommend it. As it was, this book was not really to my taste.

Well, I have to admit that having read These old shades, Devil's cub and Regency Buck to threads, it might be a little surprising to know that this is my first time reading An infamous army. I have always hesitated about starting this book. I knew it would feel a little sad, like visiting with very dear old friends for the very last time before each goes their own way...

I have always loved Charles in Regency Buck, in this book he was his usual merry, good humoured self, a little more mature but just as amusing as ever. Barbara had her great-grandma Leonie's hair and eyes, and she is a true scandal-creating,arrogant, spoiled Alastair that you can't help but like. Judith had turned a little more prudish that I would have thought for someone who used to take snuff and have a curricle race on the way to Brighton ( Regency Buck). Julian the quiet strength and as always a wonderful brother. Mary (Duchesse of Avon) her usual no-nonsense, practical self. Dominic is still my favorite Alastair. The tumultuous courtship between Barbara and Charles was what I would expect of an Alastair and an Audley...

A note of warning: this is one of the sadder Heyer books. The second half of the book is poignant with a very realistic portrait of a society living in the middle of a war: partying in the middle of chaos, loosing dear friends to the senselessness of war, and finally the bitter-sweet end. I cried my eyes out in the last few chapters... a rarity when reading a Heyer!!!!

I loved this book. I strongly recommend it, probably not as an introduction to Heyer's world but definitely at one point when one realises the genius of that woman and the tour de force she accomplished once more with her attention to historical details...

After reading several reviews on this site I was a little bit reluctant to read this book specially when I saw someone had given only 3 stars. I guess I was in for a great surprise! This is the best novel I have ever read. It has everything war, romance etc.... I was surprised that some people didn't even see the romance between Charles and Barbara. Let me say one thing I grew up in a war (Beirut-Lebanon)and every emotion that people experience in this book is for real. Giving parties, dancing, falling in love from the first sight, horrors of war, people without limbs etc.........It's all real. I just couldn't put the book down. Thanks God I have been living in USA for the past 17 years, but you never forget those crazy days. I give 5 stars although the book deserves million stars. Her discription of Waterloo is sooooooooo correct which amazes me.Georgette Heyer is the best I wish she wrote more books :(

Anna

Georgette Heyer wrote a terrific history of Waterloo - so well done, in fact, that both Sandhurst (in the UK) and West Point (in the US) have used this book in their military classes. However, her popularity was largely for romances, and she inserts one here, which doesn't completely meld. If you like history, you may want to skip the fiction. If you like romance, you may want to skim past the battle details. If you like both, however, you will really enjoy this. A better work of Heyer's is "The Spanish Bride", which combines a true romance with the true military details of the Peninsular War. She has less difficulty joining the threads of that book, since the characters were real, and she took most of her information from their memoirs. As an aside, it is a mild pleasure to see the descendants or relatives of characters from other Heyer novels.

A wonderful and accurate account of the Battle of Waterloo and evoking brilliantly the atmosphere in Brussels before, during and after the event. Heyer reintroduces characters from Regency Buck and Devil's Cub in a very realistic romantic story. The charming brother of the Earl of Worth, Charles Audley, falls heavily for Lady Barbara Childe, spoilt and headstrong grand-daughter of the Duke of Avon (Devil's Cub). Their story is anything but straightforward and is intertwined that of other characters both fictional and real. As usual Heyer's research is immaculate and the historical facts are seamlessly woven into the story. Like the Spanish Bride its really more of a history lesson than any of her other books but wonderfully done.