Edwards Books

This is a fascinating book and is well written. Although the author is clearly a believer in "Caddy", he maintains a professional neutral position on the subject.

Cadborosaurus: Survivor From the Deep is a chronicle of the search for evidence that sea serpents exist off the coast of British Columbia, Canada and the adjacent coastal waters of the several American states. The title is based on the creature of the same name which has been seen for more than a century by many reliable and upstanding witnesses.

Dr. Paul Leblond, former head of the Dept. of Oceanography at the University of British Columbia and chairman of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, and his collaborator Dr. Ed Bousfield, retired research consultant at The Royal British Columbia Museum are both eminent scientists who have taken a professional approach toward solving the enigma of whether the Cadborosaurus exists.

They have compiled numerous eyewitness reports and other data and carefully analysed each piece of information. The conclusion is the sea serpent is a reality.

In the pages of this worthwile tome are several photographs and diagrams of actual specimens of sea serpents which have been found over the years. Of particular interest is the Cadborosaurus of Naden Harbour, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. This specimen was retrieved from the stomach of a whale and photographed. It was in exquisite condition and is proof that sea serpents were more than myths. Leblond and Bousfield recount how they found one of the witnesses to this event and his account of the proceedings is fascinating reading.

The book is written in a breezy easy to comprehend style even though it is primarily a scholarly and well-researched scientific volume.

Cryptozoology enthusiasts will find this book very helpful in understanding the life and habitat of Canada's greatest sea serpent.

John Kirk, Author, In the Domain of the Lake Monsters, Key Porter Books 1998.

I have read countless books on the subject of unknown lake and sea creatures, Paul Leblond's book is one of the best! This family of creatures have been around a lot longer then we have been and hopefully will survive with the ever increasing number of people looking for them. The book is packed full of data. It's a book worth adding to anyone's collection that isinterested in the subject.

This is the only book you will ever need for your research into the Cadborosaurus mystery. Almost every known fact on Cadborosaurus is presented here with a great selection of photos, maps and drawings. This is the #1 and only book dedicated solely to the search for this illusive creature.

As a big fan of details and facts, Winter is always for me. He`s the best chess historian by far, and this may be his best book to date. Even if you`re not a serious Capablanca fan, this book will keep you entertained with those little special events that make life so interesting (like including a section of an article by Sergei Prokofiev about his playing in a simul against Capbablanca). I also didn`t know until reading the Capablanca writings from articles included in this book that the World Champion really did have a nice sense of humour. Engrossing, filled with facts, all attributions in order... but by no means is it dry. Quite the contrary, this will also touch on your emotions.

Certainly one of the best books I`ve ever seen.

This book is basically a biography via the subject's own writings and papers. Winter does, in fact, include plenty of his own (excellent) prose, but the meat of the book is Capablanca's own writing, much of it new to me, and I've read quite a bit on Capa through the years.

Especially interesting are Capa's thoughts on contemporary players and his early game annotations when he was writing for various chess magazines early in his career. For example, he annotated every game of the epic Lasker-Schlechter match, and they are all included here.

Although Capa is infamous for writing less than virtually any other World Champion, he still penned quite a number of articles, all of them of interest, and all, or nearly all, of which are collected here.

Winter is known for being a stickler about documentation, so you will not find a lot of unfounded gossip or apochryphal stories or legend here. This is a refreshing dfference from the large majority of chess biographies, including other books on Capa. Capablanca's career is full of enough true mindboggling stories to need to make anything up.

This book is a splendid achievement by Winter, and I had a difficult time putting it down. I plan on going back to it again and again as a reference, and, of course, to play over the games which Capablanca had annotated.

Winter has researched an enormous amount of material on Capablanca, and documented his sources thoroughly. He has a commendable distaste for unsubstantiated anecdotes. It includes both significant biographical material as well as many fine games not usually found in the main game collections (which are highly recommended by the way), and often with Capa's own notes.

Winter has also unearthed some very interesting game annotations by Capa, including the Lasker-Schlechter match, a famous Spielmann loss to Tarrasch, a Janowski brilliancy, etc. There are also fascinating reports by Capa on tournaments such as his greatest victory, New York 1927, and the Chess Olympiad in Buenos Aires, 1939, where Capa made the best score on top board.

The chapters on his World Championship negotiations and matches with both Lasker and Alekhine make fascinating reading.

There also clear B&W photos of Capa at all stages of life.

BRILLIANT. WELL WORTH THE MONEY. IT HAS HELPED ME TO IMPROVE MY CHESS ENORMOUSLY.

Great book. Easy to read and follow instructions. recommend for most quilters.

Love this book. Can't wait to get started on some of the quilts. Book was in great condition and I received it quickly.

I loved the wonderful use of fabrics that were used in creating the quilts in the book. Makes me want to make one now. I haven't tried any of the patterns yet but I am going to as soon as I get some other projects finished.
This book seems well written, many photos of how to make the blocks as well as finished projects for inspiration.

This book is truly beautiful. The quilts are breathtaking! I found the directions almost too complete in that they are quite wordy, but if you take each step very carefully, you'll have a perfect cathedral window. You won't be disappointed.

The Catskills are an underappreaciated area, but Edward Henry's work is doing a lot to help correct this. The trail guide is informative and in-depth beyond the levels of most guides. The book is readable from your favorite armchair as well as a great guide to have on the trail. Every hike I've taken has been awesome.

Well written and informative. This is not only a trail guide but informs the reader of the history of the area

This is a first-rate guide to hiking the Catskills. The author's detailed desciptions, plus maps, leave nothing to the imagination and give you the info you need to enjoy the terrain to the max.

I was going on a hike with some friends into the Catskills and they recommended this book. They were right on to tell me about this. I really liked the detail and the maps. It made more out of the hiking than I usually get. It is well written and easy to use. I think it would be a good book for anyone going to the Catskills.

Jonathan Edwards preached this series of discourses on I Corinthians 13 in 1738 to his congregation in Northampton. These sermons, sixteen lectures in all, give great insight into the regular pastoral preaching of Edwards and show how gifted he was as an expositor of Scripture. They are full of both doctrinal propositions and practical instruction. They explain the text and also apply it. Edwards' aim was to show how Christian love is manifested in the heart and life of a true believer. His sermons follow the typical Puritan style of preaching, giving "doctrine" and application.

The first lecture seeks to prove that "all the virtue that is saving, and that distinguishes true Christians from others, is summed up in Christian love." In this sermon, Edwards' familiarity with the breadth of Scripture is plainly evident. The second and third sermons seek to more fully expound the first three verses of I Corinthians 13 in which Edwards explains how love is more excellent than the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit and that anything which is suffered in the way of duty is vain if not permeated with love.

Lectures four through fourteen focus on the fifteen characteristics of love as described in verses four through seven of I Corinthians 13. Edwards' pastoral concerns are most evident here as he labors to show how love will be longsuffering, kind, unselfish, etc. Edwards' penetrating application lays bare the human heart in ways that I have rarely seen in other sermons.

The final two sermons deal with the last paragraph of I Corinthians 13 and are more theological in nature as Edwards contends that the Holy Spirit will forever be given to the saints in love and that Heaven will be a world full of love. Edwards' view of heaven and hell are described with poignant detail in this last sermon, which is one of the most beautiful and insightful treatises on heaven that I have ever read. Like all of Edwards' writings, Charity and Its Fruits is full of theological acumen, philosophical insight, and pastoral concern.

Today one may hear a professing christian say that they "love Jesus'. Yet, Jesus said that our love for Him would be evident in the way we treat our neighbors. Even our enemies. This book will challenge every child of God to examine the way he or she lives in light of the great commandment, as well as Paul's teaching on 1 Cor 13. For, this book is a collection of sermons on the thirteenth chapter of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, often called the "love chapter". After reading this book, the reader may not go about flippintly using the word "love". For, in Edwards' sermons the reader learns the true meaning of the word often translated "charity" or "love". Especially to be savoured is the final sermon called "Heaven, a world of love".

This book is amazing and truly inspired of the Holy Spirit. Mr. Edwards ability to decompose scripture and address every aspect of arguments as to what the scripture means and does not mean is a Godsend. If you have struggled with the verse "In your anger, do not sin.", this book will help you unpack that verse....what is righteous anger (and what are all the forms unrighteous anger takes) and what is a godly (and what are ungodly) response(s). The "old English" takes a bit of getting into, but the absolute structure of the logic and interpretation found there is worth the minimal effort of getting into the "swing" of it. The absolute prize at the end is the chapter on the "society of heaven" -- how it will make you yearn for heaven and as the Lord's prayer says to desire "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". I think that chapter alone would be a great comfort to someone who has lost a believing loved one. Buy it, read it, share it.

Jonathan Edwards is still considered by many to be the greatest theologian America has ever produced. He is also a preacher that does not mince words, does not tell anecdotes, does not try to connect with the audience. In short, he sees himself in God's service, commissioned to spread His Word accurately and clearly, and I might add, eloquently.

Edwards had a chance to practice what he preached after he wrote this book, and was kicked-out of his church. He refused to serve communion to those he considered to be non-believers. His biography (another book) reveals his long-suffering and forbearance with what seemed like grossly unfair treatment he received. I was really impressed with his evenness during this very trying period.

'Charity and its Fruits' is a series of sermons Edwards did on the 'Love Chapter' of 1st Corrinthians 13, while pastoring Northampton Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. He goes through each phrase and winnows it down to what it really means for you and me. He is unsparing in his expositions, giving you both the good news and the bad news, what you need to seek after, and what you need to wrestle with, alternating between being encouraging and being convicting. In the process, it is, in my view, as eloquent as anything you will read, short of the Scriptures themselves. The last chapter, which is about heaven, is easily some of the best prose I've ever been privileged to read; and it is all spiritual, with almost no physical references.

Brace yourself, but do yourself a favor, and read the book.

A Child's Bible is an anthology of stories from the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible, adapted for young adult readers to enjoy and interspersed with simple yet colorful illustrations on almost every page. Most sections of the bible are rendered into short passages several paragraphs long. Quotes from Jesus Christ and other Biblical figures are typically repeated verbatim; other story elements are often streamlined or simplified. "St. Luke 8-1-3 Jesus Journeys: Jesus visited every town and village teaching and telling people the good news about God's kingdom. He traveled with his twelve disciples, and certain women whom he had healed, such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna (the wife of Herod's agent, Chuza), Susanna and several others who had money to help support him." Highly recommended, especially for church youth libraries and Christian households with younger children.

This book is so beautiful! It would be great for intermediary grades- not too babyish of a Bible, but not too difficult to understand. Most bibles jump from childish to adult with nothing in between, but this version offers the bible that isn't patronizing or overwhelming. The paintings are rather... 60's....but I still find them breath-taking.

So many adult literacy students want to learn to read, or improve their reading, in order to read and understand the Bible -- yet there are so few easy-to-read Bibles for the adult learner! Most children's Bibles are woefully incomplete, or too childish or bear too little resemblance to the Bibles their friends and families are using in church or synagogue. This Old and New Testament in one volume, though designed for use by children ages 9-12, is a joy! It's simplified/condensed, but amazingly complete, with a comprehensive index and full chapter citations at the top of every story for the student who wants to know more. Beautifully illustrated, and a pleasure for grown-up students and tutors to read aloud, together. My student (a 46-year-old male) and I were so happy to find it, and we are delighted to recommend it to other tutors and new readers.

I teach ancient history at the college level, and I give this book to my children to learn about the Bible. It has nearly all the stories, not just Noah and Moses, and tells them in a lively way, with plenty of action, but in words children can understand. And it is short, with lots of colorful pictures. There is no moralizing: this Bible sticks to the text.

I bought this book for the 22nd Anniversary of when I did this show. This the best tool for anyone that needs research for this show. It is on target in terms of tempos, dialogue etc.

A Chorus Line Sheet music is great to have if your like me and love the show, and love to sing. I love all the music in the show and it's fun to sing out of. And if you don't like to sing but like to play an instrument, get this music! You won't be upset you did!

As arrangements of Broadway shows go, this book is pretty good. All pieces are in the correct key (far too often, popular sheet msuic is deliberately transposed into the wrong key to prevent people from singing them properly), and the arrangements are a good take on the actual orchestral score. It's a fairly challenging arrangement; beginners should NOT buy this music as they will be extremely frustrated.

However, I cannot give this book 5 stars since several songs are truncated. Only one version of "One" is included, it is not the "rehearsal" version (where the actors recite dance steps and count the beat as they learn the song) but the finale, yet verse 4, with the fantastic 4-part harmony, is not included. "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen" was cut down to only the introduction, leaving out the fantastic montage of character stories sung through this four-part number. (The new Chorus Line cast CD, from the 1975 version, has almost 15 minutes of material from this recurring song.) "The Music and the Mirror" omits the extended music for Cassie's mirror dance, only including the singing.

If you want absolutely every shred of music from the show, you should look at the Vocal Score instead. That book is 224 pages of every bit incidental music, lead-ins, all verses, and codas. If you just want to play or sing a few of the songs for the show and you are comfortable with a moderately difficult arrangement, this is the right book to buy.

NOTE: There is something wrong with Amazon's handing of this product. This review is appearing for both the VOCAL SCORE product and the PIANO/VOCAL/GUITAR product. This is probably the same bug giving the wrong "Look Inside" information for the vocal score. However, if you buy the piano/vocal/guitar version, they will ship you the correct product.

This isn't "sheet music" for the songs on the cast album, this is the ENTIRE vocal score. This is a reduction rather than an arrangement; the full orchestral score was reduced to one piano with a number of extra notes added showing where you would throw in other instruments. This is more difficult and comprehensive than the "Piano/Vocal/Guitar" arrangement, also sold by the same publisher. But go ahead and try those challenging notes, because look what you get!

*Every* piece of incidental music in the show is included here. That means all the lead-ins to songs, not just the songs themselves. That means all the spoken cues to start the music. The filler songs "And" and "The Tap Combination" are included. The full version of "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen" is here. Both versions of "One" are here for your enjoyment; the "rehearsal" version (where the actors recite the dance steps, count the beat, and sing the song in a brilliant 4-part arrangement) and the finale used for curtain calls (which includes the countermelody "She walks into a room..." that turns into a terrific interwoven melody for verse 3, followed by fantastic 4-part harmony reprise in verse 4).

The 96-page "sheet music" (Hal Leonard SBN: 088188068X) does not have any of this detail. It features the same pieces in the cast album but only one version of One, which skips both the rehearsal thoughts and the final verse with harmony. It also severely truncates such great hits such as Hello Twelve (which has four parts) and "The Music and the Mirror" (which has an extended musical section where Cassie does her mirror dance). The Vocal Score, this product right here, has ALL that detail.

Don't be confused by the incorrect "look inside" for this product. It shows the identical contents of the Piano/Vocal/Guitar version I mentioned above, and that is NOT what you get with the Vocal Score. It really is over 200 pages of material, and that's why it costs so much more. And it is WORTH IT.

If you just want to play a few of your favorite songs from the show, buy the shorter, easier, and less expensive version. But if you want to capture every element of Marvin Hamlisch's score, if you just love everything about this show and want to recapture the music, THIS is the one to buy.

NOTE: There is something wrong with Amazon's handing of this product. This review is appearing for both the VOCAL SCORE product and the PIANO/VOCAL/GUITAR product. This is probably the same bug giving the wrong "Look Inside" information for the vocal score. However, if you buy the vocal score, they will ship you the correct product.

This book was written soon after the events of September 11, 2001. Throughout the book the author raises serious questions. Where was God when 9/11 happened? He was at Ground Zero. Chapter three discusses Holy Wars - Muslim and Christian. Writes the author on page 48: � One of the great mysteries of the human condition -and a great proof of our twisted, sinful condition - is that legalistic religions tend to be more popular than religions of grace. People prefer the Law to the Gospel, even though the former plagues them with guilt, frustration, and moral failure.�
The author continues: �On the deepest level, Islam and Christianity are opposites. One is a religion of sheer Law. To be sure, it can be morally impressive. But it can also be intensified into a stifling, oppressive legalism, whether politically or spiritually, grounded in the fear of transgression, making it, literally, a religion of terror. The other is essentially a religion of sheer Gospel. Christianity affirms the Law, too, but always in conjunction with God�s grace, which internalizes the Law and makes it an expression of freedom.�
A serious discussion of secularism and terrorism is presented in chapter 5. The author writes: �The battle for Western civilization currently underway is indeed not a battle against Islamic radicalism. To save the west from the enemies who would destroy it will take an intellectual battle against some of its own ideas.� (p77). In this chapter the author explains areas of difference and explains their origin. Chapter 6 discusses Christian citizenship. Chapter 7 is titled �Wars and Rumors of Wars.� The book closes with chapter 8 �The New Cultural Climate.� It closes with : �Some today think that all religions of he world are the same; that is to say, equally good. Others agree that they are the same but conclude that they are equally bad. Perhaps Christians, who believe in the Gospel, should agree with the secularists: The world�s religions are all wrong, insofar as they result in self-righteousness, self-digitization, and a seared conscience that justifies wickedness in the name of its false gods, The Gospel, in contrast, puts its trust in God�s action , not our own, trading sin for forgiveness, hate for love, and glory for the cross. In an age of terrorism, Jesus Christ is the only security anyone can have.�

Gene Edward Veith, Jr. is fast becoming an author of good repute.
It is one thing to write well, another to have a strong knowledge
of the subject matter based on fact and not emotion in the guise
of knowledge. You may be from a religious background of
legalism (to which no one can live up to), or an atheist, but no
matter what your theological or philosophical perspective you
will profit from reading this book. Even if you don't agree,
you may find yourself looking at your own belief system and
seeking validation. Does a belief that legalism and works
come from God, our from mans desire to create a god in his
own image to be manipulated? I don't want to say more at
this point so as to detract from your reading. Prof. Veith has
said much in a 140 or so pages. It is not a long and burdensome
read, but could be profitable for you, your friends and relatives.
It could be a doorway to other valuable reading, which is often
ignored because we might prefer those works that give us the
upper hand and not God. Christian, Jew, and Muslim, etc.
would profit from reading this book by looking at the questions
it poses as well as the answers. I have obtained a number of copies for friends and family.

Veith sets out to answer the question where was God on 9/11?

He answers in this short expose on looking at our culture, the terroists culture, history and the two kingdoms of God for clues to God's presence among us.

Primarily does he correctly point us to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who in Christ redeemed a rebellious world.

His stress on vocation and call, and on the two kingdoms is very well done. Writing at a level where the uninformed can grasp these deep, profound theological concerpts, he then applies them to this intense time of change in American culture.

The only thing this reviewer found questionable was his classifying African-Americans as rapidly acception Islam, which with the little I have read is incorrect. Black Muslims are not true Muslims, see "The Nation of Islam" by Steve Tsoukalas.

He does a most excellent job distinguishing among the world's religious choices between those of law and those of gospel.

This book is good reading, since it sets on off thinking about critical issues, especially so in time of threat and danger. Turns the reader toward the crucified solution to it all.

Gene Edward Veith, Jr. is fast becoming an author of good repute.
It is one thing to write well, another to have a strong knowledge
of the subject matter based on fact and not emotion in the guise
of knowledge. You may be from a religious background of
legalism (to which no one can live up to), or an atheist, but no
matter what your theological or philosophical perspective you
will profit from reading this book. Even if you don't agree,
you may find yourself looking at your own belief system and
seeking validation. Does a belief that legalism and works
come from God, or from mans desire to create a god in his
own image to be manipulated? I don't want to say more at
this point so as to detract from your reading. Prof. Veith has
said much in a 140 or so pages. It is not a long and burdensome
read, but could be profitable for you, your friends and relatives.
It could be a doorway to other valuable reading, which is often
ignored because we might prefer those works that give us the
upper hand and not God. Christian, Jew, and Muslim, etc.
would profit from reading this book by looking at the questions
it poses as well as the answers.

George Peele's King Edward the First Modernized & Illustrated

Peele, George. King Edward the First. Ed. G. K. Dreher. Midland, TX: Iron Horse Free Press, 1999;
ISBN: 0-9601000-7-5 (hardcover, 224 pages with illustrations).

The publication history of George Peele's chronicle play, Edward I, begins in 1593, as the Stationers' Company register tells us:

Die Octobris./. [1593] Entred for his Copie vnder thandes of bothe the wardens an enterlude entituled the Chronicle of Kinge Edward the firste surnamed Longeshank with his Retourne out of the Holye Lande, with the lyfe of Leublen Rebell in Wales with the sinkinge of Quene Elinour [.]

Alternately called Longshank, Longshanks, and Prince Longshank, Peele's Edward I was performed fourteen times by the Lord Admiral's Men between August 29, 1595, and July 14, 1596. The play's successful stage history occasioned the printing of a second edition, which appeared in 1599.

At least eleven modern editions have been published since R. Dodsley's 1827 text, the most recent of which is: King Edward the First, a retroform edited by G. K. Dreher, published by Iron Horse Free Press. Publisher George R. Dreher, son of G. K. Dreher, notes that the "aim of this edition is to provide . . . a few unriddles in the text, modern spelling and punctuation, and an introduction for readers who are not familiar with the play." Partly a celebration of Peele's life and works and partly a tribute to Dreher's father's scholarship, the volume brings together G. K. Dreher's previous editions of Peele's Edward I (Adams Press, 1974) and David and Bethsabe (Adams Press, 1980). The new edition also includes an introduction, a commentary, and 23 images: 8 medieval illustrations from the British Library, plus 1 each from the Public Records Office, Eton College, and the Beinecke Rare Book Collection (featured in Edward I); 12 illustrations from museums around the world by the artists Raphael, Michelangelo, Salviati, Rembrandt, Chapron, Berton, Beckmann, Picasso, and Chagall (featured in David and Bethsabe). Together these components fashion a useful volume for a general reading audience; indeed, this text does more than any previous edition to popularize Peele's work. Although not a critical edition, the book will perhaps be most valuable as a teaching text for undergraduate studies.

George Peele (1556-96), born in London, was one of the principal writers of chronicle history plays in the Elizabethan literary movement, which culminated in Shakespeare's Henry IV plays and Henry V. Peele was educated at Christ's Hospital, Broadgates Hall (Pembroke College), and Christ Church, Oxford where he won praise as a translator of one of the Iphigenias of Euripides. In 1580 Peele married Anne Cooke, daughter of an Oxford merchant. With Ann he returned to the environs of London in 1581 where he pursued an active literary career in association with the "University Wits", a group of playwrights that included John Lyly, Robert Greene, Thomas Lodge, Thomas Nashe, Christopher Marlowe, and Thomas Watson. Peele's works concern courtly and patriotic themes and can be classified according to three main categories: plays, pageants, and miscellaneous verse. In 1589, in a vitriolic preface to Greene's Menaphon, Nashe suspends his condemnation of most late-sixteenth-century English writers to praise Peele as the "chiefe supporter of pleasance now living, the Atlas of Poetrie, and primus verborum Artifex" who "goeth a steppe beyond all that write." In 1592 Greene considered him "no lesse deserving" than Marlowe and Nashe; "in some things rarer, in nothing inferiour." Peele's surviving plays are: The Araygnement of Paris (1584); Edward I (1593); The Battle of Alcazar (1594); The Old Wives' Tale (1595); and David and Fair Bethsabe (1599). His miscellaneous verse includes The Tale of Troy (1589), Polyhymnia (1590) and The Honour of the Garter (1593), an epideictic poem to the Earl of Northumberland. Excerpts from Peele's writings were first anthologized in 1600 in Englands Helicon and Englands Parnassus.

Peele's Edward I combines three narratives, each announced by the original text's full title: the Chronicle of Kinge Edward the firste surnamed Longeshank with his Retourne out of the Holye Lande, with the lyfe of Leublen Rebell in Wales with the sinkinge of Quene Elinour. Peele derives the first story, the return from the Holy Land of King Edward I (1272-1307), from at least four different chronicles, but chiefly those of Grafton and Holinshed. Peele shapes his account of the life of Llywelyn (?-1282) from popular tales of Robin Hood. The third story is an unhistorical account of Queen Elinor portrayed as a divinely judged murderess. Peele subordinates the second and third narratives under the first in order to frame the play's central plot of Edward's glorious military victories over the Scots and Welsh, especially his devastating campaigns of 1277 and 1282-83 in which he conquered the Welsh principality of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

Edward I resounds with nationalistic pride at a time when England's victory, in 1588, over the Spanish Armada continued to fuel public celebrations. Edward's first speech in the play, for example, invokes a providential design for England's history:

O God my God, the brightnes of my daye,

How oft haft thou preferu'd thy feruant fafe, By fea and land, yea in the gates of death, O God to thee how highly am I bound, For fetting me with thefe on Englifh ground?

G. K. Dreher's modern edition standardizes the text's spelling, punctuation, and stage directions, thus achieving a very readable version:

O God, my God, the brightness of my day, How oft hast thou preserved thy servant safe, By sea and land, yea in the gates of death. O God, to thee how highly am I bound For setting me with these on English ground.

This latest return of Longeshank will certainly contribute to George Peele's popular reputation as one of the most important chronicle playwrights in Elizabethan England. In addition to Peele's Edward I, Iron Horse Free Press currently offers three other books by G. K. Dreher: Samuel Huntington, Longer Than Expected (an illustrated essay on the Presidency of Samuel Huntington, first president of The United States in Congress Assembled); Now the Dog is Quiet (a novella written in opposition to world hunger); and Ourselves & One Other (a collection of Christian devotional meditations).

Author George Peele was in a group of London playwrights, precursory to Shakespeare, known as the "university wits" as were Marlowe, Lyly, Nashe, and Greene. In 1587 Thomas Nashe called Peele "The chief supporter of pleasance now living, the Atlas of poetry, and primum verborum artifex (most excellent artist of words)," and "one who goeth a step beyond all that write." Editor George Kelsey, through extensive research of primary sources at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University, has provided a retroform of KING EDWARD I, solving several riddles in the text that he discusses in the 43 page introduction covering Chronicle History Plays, Sources, Structure, Theme, Characterization, and Diction. In the special insert of DAVID AND BETHSABE (SAMPLES) Dreher juxtaposes Peele's verse with parallel Bible passages from the 1525 translation by Miles Coverdale and demonstrates that Peele worked directly from the Latin and used as sources the Psalms as well as Samuel II. Dreher offers a 35 page discussion of Peele's viewpoint, emotional involvement, and style. The book is 6 x 9, 224 pp., with color printed case, 20 illustrations from the finest museums around the world, a Foreword, Introduction, Comments, and Bibliography.

George Peele (1556-1596) was evidently one of the principle writers of chronicle history plays in the movement which rose to Shakespeare's One and Two HENRY IV, and HENRY V. His experimentation in theatrical art was precursory to the work of Shakespeare. His repertoire included such forms of literature as history, melodrama, pastoral, tragedy, folk, play and pageant. His varied interests accented a desire not to be narrowly classified and a worry about poverty. While attending Oxford, Peele launched his diverse literary career and won praise as a translator of a play by Euripedes. Here he also wrote the first of his surviving works, THE TALE OF TROY (published 1589), a 485-line verse epitome of the ILLIAD. Peele joined an assembly of fellow Oxonians living just outside London, known as the "university wits." The group of playwrights (including Lyly, Greene, Nashe, and Marlowe) were experimental with poetry in various meters. In 1587, Thomas Nashe could call him "The chief supporter of pleasance now living, the Atlas of poetry, and primus verborum artifex" and as to his dexterity of wit and variety of invention one who "goeth a step beyond all that write." Peele developed his eloquent blank, or unrhymed, verse which greatly contributed to the tone of idyllic romance that later came to characterize comedy, demonstrated most in his works THE OLD WIVES TALE (1595) and THE ARAYGNMENT OF PARIS (1584). Consequently his generation looked on him as a literary giant. Eight years after THE ARAYGNMENT, Robert Greene considered him "no less deserving" than Marlowe and Nashe; "in some things rarer, in nothing inferior." EDWARD I (1593) and THE LOVE OF KING DAVID AND FAIR BETHSABE (1599) are two of only four dramatic works that certainly are the products of Peele's wit.

This was a play first published in 1593, with the theme of King Edward's struggle against the Welsh prince Llewelyn ap Gruffudd, otherwise known as Llewelyn the Last. Llewelyn was a prince of Gwynedd who adopted the style Prince of Wales in 1258 and was formally recognised in this role by King Henry III at the Treaty of Montgomery in 1267. Edward I became King of England in 1272 but it was only on his return from the Crusades in 1274 that he had to confront the problem of Wales. In 1277 he invaded Wales and Llewelyn was forced to pay homage. Several years of comparative peace followed but hatred of English laws and settlers caused the Welsh to rise again in 1282. The king crushed the revolt and Llewelyn was killed. These events prompted a Welsh bard to ask "Is this the end of the world?" and another to yearn "Ah God, that the sea would drown the land!".

Llewelyn is rarely mentioned in English literature so I read the play with interest. This edition is edited by the late G. K Dreher who wrote an interesting introduction and modernized the spelling and punctuation. I did not expect to find new historical insights into Llewelyn but was interested to see how he was portrayed to an Elizabethan audience. In fact, George Peele is surprisingly sympathetic in his presentation of the man who posed such a threat to the English crown. As Dreher points out, the play was written for an audience of people who "under Elizabeth were enjoying health, expansion, new knowledge, relish and hope". They were citizens of a country in the midst of becoming a great power and enjoying a cultural renaissance. Peele knew that they would sympathize with King Edward's desire to unite Britain under one monarch but would also respect the motives of the Welshman who fought for the rights and dignity of his own people.

Although practically unknown today, George Peele was highly respected by his literary contemporaries. He was an Oxford "Maister of Artes" and the play contains a sprinkling of the Latin tags and classical allusions that we expect from an educated writer of his time but my own favourite passage is a homely one:

(The Friar's novice responds to his master's command to visit town in order to buy food and wine)
"Now, master as I am true wag,
I will be neither late nor lag,
But go and come with gossip's cheer
Ere Gib our cat can lick her ear ."

This new edition of the play published by the Iron Horse Free Press in Texas.

This series and Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination" empassioned my desire for the stars and science fiction. Star Trek and Star Wars would not be the stories they are or have the impact they do without the forward thinking of EE Doc Smith and Bester.

These stories enthralled me as a youth and still capture my imagination 30+ years later. Volume 1 and 2 are "must haves" for any serious sci-fi fan and library.

The anime movie... well, it wasn't so hot. It did a disservice to the books. IMHO.

E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman series should be required reading! Doc shows his age, but the story is timeless. I first read his novels at the tender age of 10 and have just finished them again, probably my 20th reading. Doc spins a story like no contemporary writer and his vocabulary although dated is such to transport the reader into the proper time and space (no pun intended).

I encourage all science fiction buffs to have this and all Doc's works in their library! Hopefully this series will never go out of print. Where is the movie? With all the comic book hero's getting movies this would be an epic on a scale to dwarf "Star Wars".

One of the best space epic/series ever. E.E. (Doc) Smith was well ahead of his time in the possibilities of future - space. A great read for young and old alike.

It's hard to believe I'm the first reviewer for this book considering the impact it's had on science fiction. Possibly because the combination of the six books into two volumes isn't as well known. Also that the book listed here has the plural version, Lensmen, in the title, while any original book of the series has the singular, Lensman. Note for anyone doing an Amazon or web search.

Personally I think the series starts to trail off starting with the second half. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the series, it's just maybe the datedness of the terminology used by Smith gets tiresome or I think just gets somewhat overused. The science is a bit oversimplified. Although the power of using an entire planet as a weapon is obvious, the little science given here and elsewhere stretches the imagination. But that's also what makes the series appealing. It's a large scale galactic conflict epic.