Byrne Books

This isn't for everyone. Arthur Plantagenet, Baron Lisle, Henry VIII's maternal uncle and the illegitimate son of Edward IV, became governor of Calais, the hotly contested final British stronghold on French soil, in his old age. It was a time of social unrest and the perilous birth of Protestantism. He was accused of treason, and his letters were subpoenaed. Thus, they survive to this day. Muriel St. Clare Byrne edited them into six volumes that tell a narrative tale and paint a genuine portrait of a highly placed Tudor family stuck in turbulent times. Fortunately, there is this one-book abridgement for those of us who don't quite have the stamina to read the whole six volumes.

This can be a difficult read, as you would expect. Some of the legal and real estate squabbles are obscure. On the other hand they involve people like John Dudley, father of Robin, who also turns out to be Plantagenet-Lisle's stepson, and Edward Seymour, brother of Queen Jane. (Both these men, incidentally, become Lord Protector during Edward VI's reign.) And it's fascinating to read genuine letters written by the administrative power, Thomas Cromwell, who is probably the best writer of the lot, though clearly very calculating and political. We also watch as two of Arthur's stepdaughters, through his second marriage to Honor Basset, are forced to vie for positions as ladies-in-waiting to Queen Anne Boleyn, his stepson James Bassett vies to get into the college of Navarre so that he'll be hobnobbing with Princes, future Kings and Cardinals, and a perfectly ordinary courtship between his sister Mary and the son of a French business partner goes sour because of the Reformation. Meanwhile the daily routine of ordinary life shows through with everyone throwing gloves and lace and coats and animals, some as pets, some to eat, at each other, and describing the various states of lands--that they're fighting over, live on, or are absent from. Different readers will get different things out of the wealth of material here. Though everyone will learn a little bit more about why Cardinal Reginald Pole was so important to the machinations of Tudor times. There's even a nice picture of him.

The Lexicon of Greek Personal Names is a unique and momentous on-going scholarly project. Its intention is to provide those engaged in the study of the Greek world with a list, accompanied by full, itemized evidence, of any personal name known from literature, inscriptions, papyri, vases, coins, and other objects. The chronological range is from the earliest period (though excluding Mycenean names) to about the seventh century AD; the arrangement, both with each of the alphabetically arranged entries and in the work as a whole, is regional.This unique book provides the source materials for a complete Biographical Dictionary of Athenians in antiquity. It contains an entry for every identifiable resident of Ancient Athens from the earliest times to the fifth century AD. It includes the evidence from thousands of inscriptions, otherwise not readily available.This is the second volume in a series covering Athens.Other areas in Greece including the Aegean Islands, Western Greece and Magna Graecia are covered in later volumes.

Written by a professor of New Testament at Jesuit Theological College of Melbourne, Australia Lifting the Burden: Reading Matthew's Gospel in the Church Today is a scholarly study of the book of Matthew, in particular looking at how Matthew relates Jesus Christ's interpretation of the Torah as "burden-lifting", as opposed to the "burden-imposing" interpretation of the Toray as held by the scribes and Pharisees. An extensively researched, in-depth dissection of scripture spanning early and later Galilean ministry, Jesus' journey to to Jerusalem, and His sacrifice. Extensive index of scripture and referenced modern authors allow for quick cross-examination in this welcome contribution to Christian and religious studies shelves.

Anyone looking for four leaf clovers, leprecauns and little people should give this book a miss. Welcome to Dublin at the beginning of a new millennium and what a cosmopolitan, affluent, vibrant, colurful capital it has become. Even if the traffic is as chaotic as Tijuana, Robert O'Byrne's beautiful coffee table book with superb photography by Alex Ramsay, is a sneak peek into the New Ireland: and in particular into some of the most beautiful homes in the city.

It would have been easy for O'Byrne to go down the well travelled, tried and tested Georgian route and he does. But he also embraces coverted warehouses which now boast New York style lofts, contemporary minimal cottages, converted mews houses, hotels, bars, restaurants and shop fronts which all point to Dublin, as O'Byrne says, as a work in progress.

The State Apartments in Dublin Castle, refurbished by the then Prime Minster Charlie Haughey are also beautifully chronciled as is the historic Old Library at Trinity College, O'Byrne's Alma Mater.

Dublin's rich literary heritage is also included. The city has been home to George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Sam Beckett and Seamus Heaney, to name just a few but O'Byrne plumps for the home of contemporary, prize winning author Colm Tobin with it's colorful interiors reflecting that authors on going love affair with Barcelona.The beautiful Georgian interiors of the Dublin Writers Museum in Parnell Square are also included as is the doorway of No. 7 Eccles Street, home of James Joyce's fictional character Leopold Bloom in Ulysses.

The stunning garden of Helen Dillon in the south city suburb of Ranelagh looks so stunning it expalins why visitors flock there from all over the world.

What is particularly interesting about this book is the number of young people who have heavily invested in Dublin city homes, once the preserve of the country's landed gentry, which they have lovingly and imaginatively restored to their original splendour. This is especially true in the case of the country's leading fashionistas Jen Kelly and Louise Kennedy. Kennedy has restored a magnificent Georgian house in Merrion Square which is now her company's flagship while Kelly and his partner are still restoring one of the city's best examples of Georgian architecture which now serves as Kellys salon and home.

As a Dubliner this book fills me not only with pride but also with great hope for the future of my beloved Dublin. Anyone with even a scintilla of affection for Ireland's capital will love this one which makes the ideal gift for the holidays.

how to avoid breaking my ankle--which I did! The guide, like all Lonely Planet publications I've used to date, is ecellent.

As a Greek student, I can't say enough about how great this text is. The running vocabulary is immensely helpful, as is the running commentary. As anybody who's gotten frustrated by constantly going back and forth between the text and various commentaries can understand, it's very helpful to have it write there, underneath the text. The commentary provides much needed help for a beginning Greek student. Edmund Cueva knew just when to nudge student readers in the right direction with his notes, and when to give them a harder shove. A superb text.

Having looked through the Altiris documentation I decided to buy this book. It's exactly what it says it is 'A step by step guide to installing and configuring CMS'. No frills or dross, good explanations and examples and logically thought through. Recommended buy.

While there are tons of varied reprint collections out there, this is a great small collection for the casual reader.

I'm not much of a romance buff, bit I sure enjoyed Byrnes' book. As the back cover says, she's definitely "one to watch!"

Picked it up because I always love a good cop/mystery story, and this has got it all. A great whodunit, with a compelling love story thrown in for good measure!

The pacing of the novel is fast. It's a smooth read, with compelling characters. Both lead characters are given real depth. They're real -- not just cookie cut-outs.

I _highly_ recommend it! Even if you're not a usual romance reader, pick it up!

Packie Manus Byrne is a master storyteller. His memoirs, "Recollections of a Donegal Man" Edited by Stephen Jones is another fine book that I highly recommend. These are the books you want to share with others and give as gifts, as they will be appreciated by any reader.