Tennessee Books

It seems incredible that much of the work in this volume has not been widely available since the publication of Bierce's Collected Works more than ninety years ago. It seems particularly incredible in the case of the two long satires, "Ashes of the Beacon" and "The Land Beyond the Blow", since these constitute perhaps his most sustained attack on the absurdities of American society, and contain some of his most pointed and iconoclastic writing. Bierce himself seems to have held them in high regard, but until the Collected Works no publisher took an interest. "The Land Beyond the Blow" is a voyage to strange lands, undertaken courtesy of a large hairy fist applied to the narrator's eye; the various customs and other foibles of the peoples encountered serve to parody the government, judiciary, public taste, dog lovers, etc., etc., of Bierce's own time and place. "Ashes of the Beacon" purports to be "An Historical Monograph Written in 4930" and gives a few indications concerning the lamentable failure of "self-government" in America. It is less amusing and more analytical; and while practically everyone will find much in it to disagree with, there is also plenty to think about. Though generally conservative (with some startling exceptions) and frequently pigheaded, Bierce is neither a fool nor a hypocrite, and he makes his points with thoroughgoing clarity. His work as a whole is (among many other things) a lifelong battle against woolly thinking, murky logic and bad writing, and the pieces in The Fall of the Republic are no exception. Besides the long satires, the book includes a number of short essays on such topics as capital punishment (which Bierce favours), insurance (which he does not favour), temperance (which he demolishes completely) and the Decay of the Nose (upon which he is coolly judicious and commendably straight-faced). A further section is devoted to the Annals of the Future Historian, a series of pieces in which the Future Historian's misconceptions and presuppositions serve to point the reader towards uncomfortable questions not only about the present but, by implication, about the possible misconceptions and presuppositions embedded in our own perception of history. There is also a scholarly and sympathetic critical introduction by the editors who, in hunting out this work and making it available to a general readership, have done satire, literature and the rest of us an immense service.

Fast moving romance between two unlikely souls....."passing in the night". Quick read on how love can conquer adversities and how individuals from different classes and temperaments can come together. Also the characters mature and learn to accept help when needed. Excellent, descriptive writing of a rural setting.

Brian Crozier asks a fascinating question. The covert 'war in the shadows' between freedom and slavery is generally presented as a clash between governments: during the Cold War, it was NATO and the West versus the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact; CIA versus KGB; MI6 versus GRU. But why? Why couldn't there also be a private-sector organization, a collection of free agents, doing what the Free World's governments couldn't or wouldn't do?

That forms the basis of this fascinating book, part history, part autobiography, about Crozier's efforts, and those of his allies, to undermine and destroy international socialism on a private-sector basis.

Crozier is a journalist and political scientist, but also an experience intelligence hand and long-time advisor to governments. Motivated in part by Western spy agencies' bureaucratic incompetence, their penetration by Soviet moles, and their governments' 'own goals' and shortsighted legislative restrictions, Crozier struck out on his own. This book is chock-full of stories of disinformation campaigns, subversive tricks, and spy-versus-spy maneuvers that rank, in my mind, with some of the best of Ludlum or Le Carré. Conservatives will also enjoy the eyewitness portraits of Reagan and Thatcher in action.

Very highly recommended to any student of espionage or the Cold War, or any fan of spy fiction.

My 9 year old daughter (a reluctant reader) loved this book and gained knowledge of the Civil War too!

Dava Lee Russell is a wonderful author (and teacher), I highly reccommend this book to anyone.

Ms. McKenna has created a story that will keep you guessing till the very end. The story is set in Memphis, Tennessee and utilizes some of the more well known locations such as the South Main Art District, The Med and the Rendezvous restaurant to create a wonderful setting for this suspense. Her hero is flawed but strong. Her villians are incredibly mean. This story unfolded like a flower revealing detail after detail that still kept me guessing till the surprise ending. A great read!!

Ive never done a review on Amazon before but I read maybe two or three books per week and this is the best one I've read in months. In the other review Renee Russell said this was a great read that keeps you guessing and she sure was right!! I stayed up all night because I couldent put it down and go to sleep I was that hooked!! THis is a truly great writer who shuld be on the NY Times "List" clear at the top. When Hollywood directers get a hold of this story its going to be an *OSCAR* winner for sure. The story is just so tricky and it has great twists and characters. With this book Darcy Makenna is right up there with my favorite writers of all time and I cant wait for the next one!!

Wade's monograph is a superbly illustrated guide to the Upper Cretaceous bryozoa, mollusks, crabs, and lobsters of the Gulf Coastal Plain. The fauna were revised by Lloyd W. Stephenson (University of Texas Bulletin 4101) and Norman F. Sohl (USGS PP 331-1&B) and the stratigraphy updated by Ernest Russell and William Parks (Tennessee Division of Geology Bulletin 75). Coon Creek is today operated as an educational science center by the Memphis Pink Palace Museum.

"A Walk in the Spring Rain" is an underrated and little seen film made by Bergman in 1969. It's a lovely film! This book has everything one could want as an accompaniment to the film. It contains the entire screenplay and directions. It has numerous stills and off-set shots. It also contains the original novel. If you liked the film - buy this book! But if you haven't seen the film, go out and get the video now!

How many years did it take for the author to conduct the research for this writing? He has tapped into multiple resources, verifying his information with countless photogtaphs and footnotes, therefore leaving routes for any astute follower to authenticate his chronicles of the accomplished musical journey of Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman.
It reveals the extraordinary natural talent of an unassuming young man born in the East Tennessee hills, who played his music solely for the love if it. He was discovered by major outside elements of the times and solicited to leave his family and homeland and unveil his talents to the world.
The writing is a substantiated historical documentary that will become a classic to America's musical heritage.

This is an excellent book--along with great receipes the history is great.