Fergus Books

BOUND FOR CANAAN should be required reading for every American! Every American! This is one of the most important books about our history and who we are and where we came from.

Bound for Canaan is a fascinating, engaging, book on the "Underground RR" written from primary sources. It describes in vivid, first hand detail the flight of slaves from the south and the changing attitudes of the northern and southern states on the slave issue from the 1820's to the eve of the civil war. Wonderful book.

I listened to the abridged audio version on CD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Read by the author, it is in interesting study that contains a number of riveting stories.

I have two minor complaints about this audio version. One is that the author's voice sometimes drops into a range that can be inaudible if you are listening in a vehicle with traffic noise around you. The other is that maps are not included in the CD set. Fortunately my public library had a copy of the book so that I was able to examine the maps and various illustrations. The maps were of interest to me since a couple of my great-great-grandfathers supposedly sheltered escaped slaves, one near the Ohio River and another in Philadelphia.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and inspiring book that raises questions about civil disobedience that we must ponder in order to understand the complexity of our history. I wholeheartedly recommend the audio version to those who like audiobooks. It is as exciting as an adventure novel, and you can supplement it with a hardcopy if you want.

Harriet Tubman was a great lady, and she did not simply help the slaves to freedom -- she helped move America to a better place. Growing up, whenever I heard or read of the Underground Railroad, Ms. Tubman's name came up again and again. This book expands the vision of the Undergound Railroad and shows it as a part of something much bigger in our history.

First, the book does discuss the railroad and how it works. The reader gets an idea of the perils involved and the logistics behind helping a slave to freedom. This was no easy task, and this books shows the reader not just how brave the conductors were, but how brave the "passengers" were.

Second, the book discusses the fortitude and determination of the different people who tried to make America better by fighting the injustices of slavery. We learn of the battles of the press as well as the battle of the gun. This was a dark time in our history, and the author does a good job in illuminating us to the various people that tried to illuminate their time.

Lastly, the book explains what else happened. In school, we learned that the Underground Railroad helped slaves to freedom. That was about it. There is more to the story, and the author explains this to us. We also see that just getting to the North didn't make things better. There were still things that needed to happen to help the slaves create their new life.

In all, I would highly recommend reading this book. It brings a much more enlightened perspective to this part of American history.

I really enjoyed this book, which fleshes out for the first time, based on significant new research, the numerous heroes and participants who risked their lives for freedom from slavery. A few insights in the book were new to me:

1. I had no idea how crippling and discriminatory the laws were against blacks who lived in "free states." Most of the time they could not vote, own property, needed affidavits in order to move or get a job, were subject to kidnapping by freelance slave catchers -- it was pretty horrible.

2. I did not realize the critical role that radical, truth-to-power religion, in particular but not exclusively the Quakers, played in ending the evil practice of slavery. These folks risked financial ruin, stonings, beatings, and criminal charges to put in practice their moral view -- based on their faith -- that slavery in all forms must end. They deserve our thanks and praise, and we should remember them as we are faced with current moral conflicts that call out for action based on our beliefs.

3. I found especially interesting the debates in Congress in the 1850s in support of the federal Fugitive Slave Act, and the justifications used by supporters of slavery to denigrate the abolitionists. Indeed, Mr. Bordewich makes the point that even in "free" states, a measure of your worth as a politician was how "tough" you were on abolitionists, in the same sense that today politicians are expected to be "tough" on communism.

But what was interesting to me was that slave supporters like Daniel Webster justified the practice based on the Bible (cherry picking quotes that supposedly support the practice); science (blacks were intellectually inferior and like animals who require our feeding and care); inalienable property rights (the slaves were chattel and were necessary in order for owners to make productive use of their land); and also anti-Europe prejudice (the abolitionists are getting all of their crazy ideas from Europe). These concepts are still being used today to justify social policies that may in the distant future seem equally morally bankrupt.

I did think, however, the book could have used a little editing. I found it a bit difficult to keep up with so many historical figures, and perhaps some of their activities could have been trimmed in the interests of narrative flow.

But in all, a highly readable book and a substantial step forward in terms of historical scholarship.

Fascinating book. Even if you never make any of the dishes covered in the book it is a real hoot to read. I have made a couple and they turned out great.

A wonderful cookbook to scare the children and vegetarians in your life with. A diverse collection of recipes using various critter parts that you may not have though of as being edible.

I don't have the bravery to try some of the recipes, but there are a few that are on the list to try next time I'm feeling adventurous in the kitchen.

If you want to get back to real food this is for you

This is a great book for all cooks and foodies no matter if you are a pro or a novice i highly recommend its reading. It is mostly reading however not much illustration but all the same good.

A delightfully intriguing, simple, and elegant collection of recipes and techniques. Unlike some of the reviewers, I see little or no problems getting the ingredients or reasonable substitutions. Pig's head, tripe, tongue, etc just go to a Mexican or Asian market. I may not be able to get rocket but I know I can get nasturtium leaves and flowers (also peppery greens) from my backyard. Most of the shock seems to come from the ingredients we all used to eat, and may still eat if you have had ground meat products. Honestly where do you think it all comes from? Ninety percent of these recopies can easily be made without any searching for ingredients. Most of the rest need a little bit of searching, pre- planning or pre-orders from a meat or fish market...or even a good counter at your neighborhood grocery store will do special orders with a down payment of some kind. Having been part of a group that does historical medieval reenactments (yes SCA) I can tell you even in this day in age you can get much of this stuff easily. There are no true exotics in here. If you don't have exactly what the recipe says any search of internet cooking sites can give you substitution charts and http://www.foodsubs.com/ is a personal favorite. Live a little. Try something more like what we ate when we had to use ALL the animal, because we couldn't afford to waste anything...and you might find it tastes not only good, but better than the more commonly found fare in your supermarket prepackaged, precut, preped foods and meats section.

For those of you wondering about the title to this review, yes, that was Sarcasm. Having read Fleming's "Off the Map: Tales of Endurance and Exploration", I would recommend skipping this tome and reading that one instead. Many of the same people are covered in both books, but Fleming's talent is much better presented in 'Off the Map'.

I'm not totally sure how the stories in 'Barrow's Boys' disappointed me in that they suffered from "Michneritis". This is a virus that effects the writings of certain historians/academics and the like. They feel that they must include in their writings every piece of information that they have accumulated in preparing to write their book. Having spent so much time close to the info, they have lost the ability to exorcise any piece of data, not being able to tell the diamonds from the coal.

Putting all this aside, and keeping in mind that this was Fleming's first true stab at a mass market history, he has done a fine job. (Just wish he had left of some of the torturous descriptions of what people took along or how they managed to bring it back in written form for posterity.) He has written about both the sublime and inarticulate, not to mention the obstinate and insane. It's an engrossing story, just a little too gross.

It is amazing and fascinating book. Length to whitch desperate explorers would accept years of being exposed to dangerous and deadly conditions of Arctic and Africa is unbelievable. Just to get recognition, sinecure or promotion, these brave people risked their lives and actually begged government and influential British societies for being sent to most climatically unpleasant, unfriendly and ramote places on Earth. All this to open new trading routes for England's riches and help them to get even richer in the future.
Explorers were truly a strange breed of human beings and Fleming presents them in an extraordinary fashion. Enclosed maps could be better though.

This is a fascinating story of an ambitious program of exploration launched by John Barrow, Second Secretary to the Admiralty in 1816.

Between 1816 and 1845 `Barrow's Boys' worked - sometimes with each other and sometimes against each other - to fill in some of the blank spaces around the globe. Some of the questions they set out to answer:

What was at the North Pole?

Was there a North-West Passage?

Where did the Niger go, and what was at the heart of Africa?

Did Antarctica exist?

To a large extent, John Barrow's ambitious program was only possible because of the oversupply of officers and ships as the Royal Navy reduced in size following the Napoleonic Wars. The politics of the bureaucracy, the unfettered ambition of some of the key players, the bravery of many, and the stupidity of others makes for intriguing reading.

Were these expeditions successful? The answer to that depends on how success is measured and who is applying the measure. It is indeed true that most (if not all) of Barrow's goals were of dubious value once found. However, the heroic activities of men, however badly directed, should not be dismissed so simply. We know far more about the geography of the world in which we live as a consequence of these expeditions and that knowledge is invaluable.

I invite you to read the book and decide for yourself.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Barrow's Boys is an account of the British exploring efforts of the known (and unknown) world of the first half of the 19th Century. Spearheaded by Sir John Barrow, Second Secretary of the Admiralty, the British Navy sent out a number of ships to diverse areas of the globe. Notably Fleming does not focus solely on the Arctic explorative efforts for which Barrow is most well known. Fleming argues that Barrow could well be considered the father of Global exploration. British explorers penetrated the frozen wastes of the Arctic, and Antarctic, as well as the African interior, all in the name of Science and Knowledge.

Fergus Fleming is a particular favorite of mine, since I picked up his book "90 degrees North" a couple of years ago. He has a particular knack for drawing fine textual character sketches of the individuals whose tales he tells. Barrow's Boys is no exception. Fleming relates with ease the characters and adventures (and tragedies) of John and James Ross, of Parry, Back, Richardson, and the doomed Sir John Franklin.

Lesser known names in the annals of British exploration are not neglected: Lyon and Ritchie's mission to find the source of the Congo via the Sahara is discussed, as is James Tuckey, on which the book first begins it's exploration narrative after having introduced Sir John Barrow in the first chapter. The stubborness and arrogance often found in Victorian Englishmen that often rendered them inflexible to changes in their environment- for example the wearing a heavy woollen navy uniform in the suffocating heat of Africa- is well portrayed by Fleming.

Barrow's Boys covers the period between 1816 (Tuckey sails to the Congo) to 1859 (the efforts to locate the missing Franklin exidition). A neat touch is the epilogue, in which Fleming relates briefly the lives of the British explorers after they had their moment in the sun. Barrow's Boys is authorative, but by no means academic, as it is a very easy read. Recommended for those with an interest in exploration, particularly from the viewpoint of the British.

A great book. All about the Arctic voyages in search of the North-West Passage and the interior African explorations mainly in search of the fabled town of Timbuctoo and the course of the Niger River. All of these adventures were conducted while John Barrow was Secretary to the British Admiralty, and thus under his watch. Most of the explorations were unproductive for the most part, though success was finally achieved for all endeavors. In the Arctic Fleming recounts the Ross, Parry, and of course, the John Franklin disaster (along with the numerous follow-up search expeditions for Franklin) [1818-1860]; in Africa he relates the Denham, Laing, Clapperton, and Lander explorations [1822-1831]. The hardships and privations endured by all involved often seem beyond belief. Fleming is an interesting writer and is able to capture the most intriguing details of each expedition as well as the personalities of their leaders, which are often pretty eccentric. The petty feuds among explorers (and Barrow) are also aired. Despite its 400+ page length, the book was hard to put down. Fascinating.

For 41 years John Barrow manipulated the Royal Navy and the British Government to pursue his own fixed ideas on geography.
His mistaken belief that there was an open, ice-free sea at the North Pole, a permanently clear North-West Passage and that the Niger emptied into either the Nile or the Congo, caused the deaths of unknown numbers of men, the loss of ships, the expenditure of a king's ransom and the physical and mental breakdown of many of Britain's elite officers.

This is the story of that prolonged tragedy; the irony of it is that it fathered the most amazing feats of endurance and privation, that they are regarded today as the pinnacle of human endeavour - only the similarly ill-equipped expeditions of Scott come close.

Barrow's 'Boys' are his hand-picked officers (strangely, they were usually totally ill-suited to the tasks he set them) who are either ambitious, incompetent, zealots or plain insane (or any combination!) and Barrow goes out of his way to ignore all the best advice from those with the real experience, to either under- or over-equip the expeditions, seemingly never hitting the right balance.
The internecine rivalry of the officers, the badly-picked crews, the obstructions of companies and kings, all combine to produce farce after explorational farce. On top of this, each failed expedition only fires his zeal, perversely convincing him that he is right, so off goes another doomed expedition.

If anything tells us that inhabitants of ivory towers have no idea of the real world, it is this book ... Get it and enjoy!

Good book, but it spent too much time in England peering behind the political scenes and not enough time in the Arctic. It is very interesting to learn of the behind the scenes "politicing" required to carry off such pointless acts of courage, but most of the officers come off looking like political hacks instead of the incredibly courageous explorers that they were. These men sailed in the face of fear and came home heroes, but a self-serving bureauocrat makes it to the title of the book. While Barrow deserves much of the credit for getting the machinery in place behind these men, sometimes he did not even do that. I may be trasferring some of my deep personal distaste for the man (Barrow) to the book, but I did enjoy the book very much. I just wish it spent more time on the expeditions and a little less on the politics.

For 41 years John Barrow manipulated the Royal Navy and the British Government to pursue his own fixed ideas on geography.
His mistaken belief that there was an open, ice-free sea at the North Pole, a permanently clear North-West Passage and that the Niger emptied into either the Nile or the Congo, caused the deaths of unknown numbers of men, the loss of ships, the expenditure of a king's ransom and the physical and mental breakdown of many of Britain's elite officers.

This is the story of that prolonged tragedy; the irony of it is that it fathered the most amazing feats of endurance and privation, that they are regarded today as the pinnacle of human endeavour - only the similarly ill-equipped expeditions of Scott come close.

Barrow's 'Boys' are his hand-picked officers (strangely, they were usually totally ill-suited to the tasks he set them) who are either ambitious, incompetent, zealots or plain insane (or any combination!) and Barrow goes out of his way to ignore all the best advice from those with the real experience, to either under- or over-equip the expeditions, seemingly never hitting the right balance.
The internecine rivalry of the officers, the badly-picked crews, the obstructions of companies and kings, all combine to produce farce after explorational farce. On top of this, each failed expedition only fires his zeal, perversely convincing him that he is right, so off goes another doomed expedition.

If anything tells us that inhabitants of ivory towers have no idea of the real world, it is this book ... Get it and enjoy!

This was a well written book on the many Polar and African interior explorations that were sponsored by the British in the first half of the 19th centry. From trying to find the North-West Passage above North America to searching for the legendary "city of gold" called Timbucto in Africa this book kept me interested throughout. Never before or for that matter since has such a group of explorers been assembled. The man responsible for these quests was John Barrow, a man who had a dream of mapping uncharted areas of the world. He set into motion the largest and most expensive series of explorations in the history of mankind. This is a story of courage and determination like no other that I have read before. This book recounts the stories of men who spent years stuck in the freezing cold in their dreams of being the first to find a passage across North America. The book also details the adventures that other men had in their quest to map the interior of Africa. Other stories of different areas in the world that were explored are also included. John Barrow might not have been as successful as he would have liked but his dream inspired later explorers and set a benchmark that carried on into the 20th century.

The Author explains that this book originated as the name of John
Barrow is to be found in the Bibliographies on English Expeditions of
Discovery, for a good portion of the first half of the 19th
Century. Those that lead or were notable participants in these
ventures have books written by them, and about them, many times
over. Evidently this is the first time the man who was a driving force
behind these events has been profiled alongside the voyages. Just some
of these events include the search for The Northwest Passage, the trek
for The North Pole, documenting the North and South Magnetic Poles,
and exploring Antarctica. And when you have frozen through these epic
travels, the writer takes you to Australia, and the overland marches
in search of Timbuktu, the beginning and end of The Niger River, and
many other historical firsts.

Along with the details of the trips and
the men that participated, the Author also explains the construction
of the ships, how these wooden vessels were able to break through ice
instead of their being broken. There are remarkable details noted,
such as there was a black member of the group that first crossed the
Northwest passage from West to East, and also a man of color when the
North Pole was attacked. The tales range from remarkable folly when
officers were to wear dress uniforms when crossing the desserts of
Africa to maintain the pride of Britain, to other men who adopted not
only the dress of The Muslims, but also learned to speak their
language!

In his position at The Admiralty and other distinguished
posts, Barrow not only could direct what expeditions took place, but
also those that were to lead them. With this power he made or
destroyed the reputations of many brave men whose only failure was
that they did not succeed according to Barrow. Most of his beliefs
about The Northwest Passage, The North Pole, and the rivers and cities
of Africa were wrong. Despite this, his persistence and those that
shouldered these journeys filled in the voids on the worlds map that
had until then been blank. But while alive he was a bitter taskmaster
who would brutally discredit the same men he had sent to destinations
never before seen by a European, if he did not gain the information
and confirmation of the beliefs he held to be true.

Different readers
will select those actions they find to be the most remarkable, for me
it was those trips that in futility sought The Northwest Passage by
ship. These ships and crew would at times be gone for 2, 3, or even 4
years depending on the whims of the ice. During one such voyage after
surviving another brutal winter a vessel again made its way toward
home. When once again locked in the ice for yet another winter the
ship had traveled a distance that a man could easily walk in 2 hours!

These winters, which occupied most of the calendar, were filled with
activities to literally keep all members healthy and sane. Seamen who
could not read or write came home literate, and the majority of the
time scurvy was kept at bay by Captains that truly seemed to care for
their men. There were of course Captains whose sanity could be
questioned, and at least one who was certifiably a mental
misfit. However these were the exception and not the rule. The Author
also shares the first human encounter that an isolated group of
Eskimos had experienced in 400 years. The story will contradict every
evil cliché that has been too easily attached to those who set out on
these voyages.

The book is a remarkable piece of work, and pays
tribute and passes judgment when appropriate. A wonderful piece of
scholarly work that is a privilege to read.

My eleven year old daughter really enjoys reading this book series. Even my four year old little girl enjoys listening to the adventure and viewing all of the artwork throughout the stories pages.

My 10 yr old daughter read this book and could not put it down. As soon as she finished this one, she was looking for Corby. She is looking forward to the Hugo book.

I think the far fetched imagination in this book is funny but also brings in a few issues that are real but dealt with in a funny way. It gives kids a fun and challenging book to read.

I have have just read my sons (9 and 6) this book. They were completely enraptured. It is the best, new childrens book I have read in years. Destined to become a classic!

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have a fantastic partnership. If you love the Edge Chronicles, you'll be pleased by this fairy tale. It is intended for a bit younger reader/has a gentler tone than the somewhat dark Edge Chronicles. The story is engaging and funny, though, so older kids and adults will enjoy it, too.

Thanks, Stewart and Riddell, for helping thousands of children learn to love books.

I read this book first, to see if my children would like it. I am CERTAIN they will, but I had to write this review first because I loved it! It is just pure whimsy and delight! There are fanciful gadgets, wonderfully descriptive passages, adventure, mayhem, funny happenings, etc. Awesome pictures too! Which, even though I plan to read it aloud, it may be better for a 8-10 independent reader who wants to spend time pouring over the illustrations. I can't wait to read the next one myself!

Reid Buckley (RIP) has masterfully written an insightful memoir of a family (his own) that, along with many other families, formed the backbone of a once-great Country, a dynamic culture regrettably on the wane.

As one would expect, coming as it does from the Buckleys, this book entertains and informs, amuses and instructs, simultaneously opens the heart and breaks it with reminiscences quite common to us all. Primarily, Mr. Buckley's words address both the individual's and the culture's soul.

If you presume that the Buckley family of the passed and passing generations was comprised of elitist snobs, that presumption will be dispelled; unless, of course, you consider those who place God, Family, and Country (and in that order) first are somehow representative of primordial elitism.

One might ask: "How could one family produce so many creative and successful citizens?" The answer is to be found in the Buckley definitions of "citizenry" and "success." For that you will have to turn especially to Chapter 12: "The Mexican Impact and Its Legacy" and pages 253 and 254 (the Buckley inheritance contraindicating that of materialism). Therein is established a propaedeutic on both concepts.

You will love this book because it exemplifies what is being lost in the present generation of America; you will identify with the Buckleys and you will sense a loss. In doing so, you may be caused to engage in recovering what is being withered away. Reid Buckley, and Bill, etc., have left their fellow-citizens a legacy - a gift. This book is the culmination of their contribution.

Even tho I'm a liberal, many of his concepts ring true. The way the book is presented is delightful.

Reid, once again, captures the truth of what our Founders sought. This time, through the personal story of his family, An American Family. What a gift he has given us!

This is a wonderful book. It shows us the joy,and sometimes sadness,which comes from being in a strong family.It also gives us wise political and cultural observations about what has made the USA great.It portrays the power of love. As WFBsr said, love for "God, Family,and Country in that order".In doing all this, it makes clear the profound good brought to this earth by disciplined,loving parents. It is full of awe inspiring history and stories about this great and hugely talented family. I laughed frequently,experienced sadness occasionally, and was inspired always. WFBjr was one my American heroes since my grad school days in Politics. I own more than 50 of his books and have cherished them all. Reid's new book will be a wonderful addition. I hope it can serve as powerful encouragement to all who love the American family and America itself.

I have been fascinated with the Buckley's since I first discovered a copy of National Review at a teenage friend's home in the 1960's. Throughout the succeeding decades I gobbled up anything Buckley. I must admit after reading Reid's book, that they are a different type of Irish American especially when juxtaposed with the Kennedy's of Massachusetts. However when you combine a heritage of Wild West frontier, New Orleans, Swiss heritage, oil money with a big heaping teaspoon of old fashioned Catholicism you get the Buckley's. You'll read this book with a feeling of nostalgia for a time and place that has disappeared forever just as the New York City of my childhood is long gone as well as the parents and grandparents who were once part of that world. Mr. Buckley writes with this nostalgic tone while at the same time still railing and kicking about what is wrong with this modern world. What would his beloved parents think of this non-republic USA, gay marriage, inarticulate President, Brittney Spears et al.? Alas, the Buckley's and their kind s we will see no more and what a treasure they were while these two generations graced our world. Thank you Mr. Buckley for a delightful glimpse of your wonderful world and a description of the family values that made this a great country.

Sorry to be crude, but this book is great to read in the restroom. Makes me feel happy reading all the little sayings.

This is a beautiful and winsome "big little book" of the things that are Irish.
Physically,it is only 4 1/2" X 6" but 1 1/2 " thick.It has 366 pages and a hard cover.The hard cover is glossy and printed with the same charming color sketch of an Irish ,thatched-roof cottage as on the dust jacket. The book is printed on high quality gloss paper.The printing is high quality and there are 245 (I counted them) delightful sketches ,similar to the one on the cover,to accompany each wee bit of wit and wisdom. It is almost like 6 little books in one. Each section,Irish Blessings,Irish Toasts,Irish Proverbs,Irish Riddles Irish Laws and Irish Wisdom are illustrated by different artists.The book is very well constructed,comes with a book mark on a ribbon with a metalic Celtic charm.Hence,you get a captivating little treasure that nobody can resist picking up and thumbing through and enjoying.
The Irish are well known for their wit, expressions, and their unmatched use of language,much of it handed down for thousands of years,orally,as there was no written language left by the Celts.
You may come across things you have heard before,but most of what you find in this little tome,will be new to you,whether you have a little or a lot of knowledge of Irish culture.
It's impossible to select a couple of favorites,but here is just a sample;

"May the Lord keep you
in his hand
And never close His fist too tight
on you."


For a Happy Death

"When your eyes shall be closing
And your mouth be opening
And your senses be slipping away.
When your heart shall grow cold
And your limbs be old
God comfort your soul that day."


"In the New Year,may your right
hand always
Be stretched out in friendship
and never in want,"


St Patrick was a gentleman
Who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland,
Here's a toasting to his health;
But not too many toastings
Least you lose yourself and then
Forget the good St Patrick
And see all those snakes again."


"Drink is the curse of the land.
It makes you fight with
your neighbour. It makes
you shoot at your landlord--
and it makes you miss him."


"You never plough a field
by turning it over in
your mind."


"The Irish forgive their
great men when they are
safely buried."

And finally;


"May you live to be
a hundred years,
With one extra year to repent."

Even if you are only Irish in spirit, you will enjoy this book. It goes from the Irish proverbs to the humor of the Irish. It's a book to enjoy.

This is one of those delightful books to be browsed, treasured and shared. This book draws together Irish blessings, toasts, proverbs, riddles, laws and wisdom. Many of us who are part of a wider Irish diaspora will have heard at least some of these. They reflect a version of Irish wit and wisdom that perhaps grows stronger at each remove from its geographic centre. The book has its own delightful illustrations (which are especially important in the riddle section).

To give you a hint of the flavour, I'll share one entry from each of the six separate headings.

From Irish Blessings, here is `The Emigrants Prayer':
`Brigid that is in Faughart
Blinne that is in Killeavey,
Bronagh that is in Ballinakill
May you bring me back to Ireland'

From Irish Toasts:
`May the face of every good news
And the back of every bad news
Be towards us'

And how many of us are familiar with this proverb:
`A turkey never voted for an early Christmas'?

One of the riddles:
`It was in the river but wasn't drowned
It was in the grass but wasn't cut
It was in the shop but wasn't sold'

My personal favourite from the Irish laws would be:
`Speech is given to three:
To the historian-poet for the narration and relating of tales,
To the poet-seer for praise and satire,
And to the Brehons for giving judgement'

Finally, from the Irish Wisdom (which presents ideas in triads):

`Three things which judgement demands:
Wisdom,
Penetration,
Knowledge.'

Explore this book for yourself. In brevity there is both wit and beauty.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is an enchanting little book that encompasses a collection of Irish Blessings, Irish Toasts, Irish Proverbs, Irish Riddles, Irish Laws, and Irish Wisdom. They are inspiring, funny, uplifting. Each saying is accompanied by a beautiful illustration. I would recommend this book to anyone, you don't have to be Irish to enjoy it! This is a keeper on my shelf!

Action, adventure, and suspense draw the young reader in to this story of Fergus, an acrobatic palomino colt. Fergus demonstrates a flare for playing soccer. Bobby Simpson and his friend Ramon Aguilar train Fergus on their make shift soccer field on the Simpson horse farm. Soon the whole town gathered along the fence to watch the antics of the amazing Fergus as he played goal keeper for the soccer games.

Fergus soon gained national and international attention and was invited to participate in a 14 city tour promoting the game of soccer in some of America's largest, best known, stadiums. After a reckless run on a Florida beach, Fergus was stolen by a scheming man, mistreated, and finally escaped. The story quickly moves to a dramatic exciting climax.

Dan Peterson demonstrates a gift of communication as he captures the reader's attention carrying them through conflict, suspense, and adventure, in a heart warming style that reveals strength and character.

In his writing Peterson intuitively knows how to stimulate the creative imagination of young and old alike. Pen and ink illustrations drawn by
Ryan S. Weber and Los Hermanos add another dimension to this exciting story of "Fergus", the remarkable soccer playing colt.

Fergus was a very interesting horse. He could do summersaults and back flips. Bobby liked Fergus very much. One day Bobby tossed a soccer ball at Fergus and Fergus kicked it back. That started Fergus playing soccer.

Before they knew it Fergus was on TV. Everybody wanted to see Fergus. Awhile later Fergus was on a promotional tour for soccer. Fergus went all over the US so people could see him be a goal keeper. Something goes very wrong on a beach in Florida when someone steals Fergus. The police and Bobby try to find Fergus, but he is very far away. Will they find Fergus? Read the book to find out.

***** I enjoyed this book very much. It has very good plot twists in it. I also enjoyed this book because it is a very interesting story. If you like horses make sure that you read this book. *****

Reviewed by Brandon Stabler, age 13, for Huntress Reviews.

Reviewed by Kim Peterson (not related to author) for Reader Views (1/06)

Fergus, a palomino colt at Simpson Farms, displays unusual talents. Besides twirling in the air and executing daring back flips, Fergus loves to play soccer. Bobby Simpson and his friend, Ramon, set up a goal in the pasture and let Fergus guard it while they practice penalty kicks and heading the ball. The agile colt blocks all their shots. He flicks the ball off his nose or whirls around and kicks it with his back feet.

Soon the local news, then CNN and other networks feature the golden goalkeeper. People flock to the farm to watch Fergus play with the boys. All the publicity boosts the popularity of soccer in the United States, drawing the attention of Ian Connor from the International Soccer Federation. He asks to "borrow" Fergus and the boys for a fourteen-city tour promoting the colt and the sport of soccer. The boys' parents agree and the tour launches successfully with Fergus enjoying the matches and playing flawlessly. All goes well until the colt is horse-napped partway through the tour by three bad guys who scheme to turn him into a bucking rodeo champ. The rest of the story relates Fergus's struggles and his return to Simpson Farms.

Peterson's book should entice between (8- to 12-year-old) boys to read. He offers adventure, sports, and humor. His bad guys provide comic relief and still have a conscience. In an era when few books cater to the young male reader, Fergus is a welcome addition. Young girls can enjoy the story of this endearing colt, too.

This book is a great read. It is full of action, and teaches lessons on the importance of friendship. Not only did my boys love this book, but my little girl loved it as well! In this day and age, there are few books or stories that touch our hearts like Fergus does.

Simpson Farms raises polo ponies. But one of the colts, named Fergus, has zero interest in polo. Fergus spent the days doing somersaults and back flips. Bobby Simpson is the boy who owns Fergus.

One day Bobby is practicing soccer moves with his friend, Ramon Aguilar, when he notices Fergus's interest. As a lark, the boys send t he soccer ball toward the colt. Sure enough, Fergus sends the ball right back to them. Turns out Fergus is a natural for the position of goalkeeper. Local residents begin coming around to watch Fergus play soccer. Word spreads and soon the media is involved.

It is not long before Ian Conner with the International Soccer Federation has the boys and the colt on a national tour. They play soccer in famous places, such as at the Chicago Diamond, Ohio Stadium, Foxboro Stadium, Tampa Stadium, and even the Giants Stadium. Fergus's name becomes known all over the globe.

In steps Rumble Smith, a rodeo stockman with a mean temper. He and Reiterate Johnson make plans to kidnap Fergus from the tour.

***** This book may target boys, but girls will enjoy this story just as much. I found myself smiling as I read of Fergus's antics. The frolicking colt is just so fun to read about. He is amazing! There are a few illustrations scattered throughout the tale to help boost the imagination. I could clearly see that the Illustrators drew in some tiny details too.

All-in-all, you will find this the perfect read for kids around the ages of 8 to 15. Well written, easy to understand and follow, and highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I lack the erudition to do this book justice. This slender volume explains, in a way I've found nowhere else despite years of reading about the Republic and the early Principate, how Rome worked -- how the laws were enacted, elections were conducted, military commands were assigned, prosecutions took place and why, and how verdicts were reached. Most significantly, it demonstrates that the source of and acitive agent in all of these powers was the people -- the crowd acting collectively in, for the most part, the Roman forum. It shows how the crowd was led and how affirmative crowd action was obtained by those who had acquired, in one way or another, some degree of auctoritas. In the course of this, the book reveals, as no other source I have read does, just what the Senate, the Consuls, Tribunes, and local Governors could and could not do, and the manner in which imperium (ultimate military and judical authority)was granted, exercised and abused, and, in the end, how that power was restrained through prosecutions before the people after those to whom it had been granted finished their terms of office. (Recall how unwilling Julus Caesar was to lay down his authority when, under the law, he had to do so to enter Rome to stand for election as Consul.) It is not an easy book for the beginner, but essential and fascinating to anyone interested in the Republic and the foundation of Roman power. Superb! You'll read it more than once. Were it up to me, this book would be required reading for every American.

This is a positive and deeply researched book. It politely refutes the anti-Roman revisionism that was common in the late twentieth century. Mr. Millar lucidly describes how the Roman Republic was a "varied democracy." Focusing mainly on the period 80-50bc. He sites public speeches to the existing records, elucidating that Rome during the Republic was a far more participatory form of government than was previously believed. Ex: "Decision making was not found in the Curia, but the Forum where the everyday citizens gathered." All eight chapters are insightful and technical terms are explained. This volume will interest general readers, and students of both Roman and political history.

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the politics and goverenment of the late Roman republic. It is well written. Millar has done an outstanding job. I strongly recommend it.

The Roman Republic was strangely a very dynamic as well as rigid institution in which the causes of its demise have baffled scholars until the present day. Fergus Millar's scholarly work is one of the most concise studies on the politics and society of the Late Roman Republic. His published lectures provide a unique insight into the mechanics of popular politics in the Late Republic. Millar demonstrates how Roman suffrage was restricted to the physical location of the Forum and, how this affected the dynamics of Rome's political and legal institutions from the time of the Social Wars until the Civil War.

Having no written charter or constitution to guide it, the Roman Republic relied on tradition and ad hoc enactments as precedent. Unlike the democracies of today, Roman suffrage was collectively manifested by two voting assemblies representing either 35 geographical classes (tribes) or individual votes valued upon wealth (i.e. the less money you had, the less your vote counted.) Each assembly voted on certain ranges of legislation and were further segregated between commoners and the elite patrician nobility whose family clans originated from the earliest days of the Republic. When the time to vote did come, suffrage was limited to the physical confines of Rome in the Forum or the Campus Martius: if you were poor and lived over 50 miles away from Rome, you probably voted little.

This system worked well in Rome for so long because, until about 90 B.C., the Roman citizenry was limited to those who lived in Rome and its colonies in Italy and overseas: other cities in Italy were treated merely as allies (socii) who had limited privileges in Roman society and no voting rights. The Roman aristocratic oligarchy thus had few problems in manipulating the needs and sentiments of these voting blocks. Those dynamics changed after Rome was forced to enfranchise all of Italy to settle a bitter insurrection by its Italian allies around 90 B.C. This resulted in a sudden surge in the size and power of the traditional voting blocks which, despite their attempts to organize them to their advantage, began eroding the traditional allegiances and methods of Rome's ruling families. The changing political dynamics gave populists and demagogues such as Clodius and Caesar much greater flexibility in projecting mass popular will on given agendas. Although corruption, plebicites, political trials, and outright violence to pass legislation was not new to Romans, these changes along with more subtle ones made them evermore common occurrences near the end of the Republic and, to a great degree, made the leadership of charismatic populists like Caesar to many an appealing solution to the woes of a failing republican system.

Millar suggests that the traditional assemblies and their physical restriction to Rome as a location to express popular will became a cause of intense political friction after the Social Wars and the enfranchisement of Italy. With previously untapped voting blocks spread out all over Italy, demagoguery became a norm to by-pass the de facto ruling power of the Senate. Specifically, Millar shows how laws such as the enfranchisement of Italy, the reinstatement of the tribunes after 70 B.C., and the ever more frequent granting of extraordinary commands through the tribunate instead of the Senate, eroded the legitimacy of the Senate and voting assemblies as Rome's traditional political institutions; turning the Forum into a scene of incessant plebicites led by charismatic leaders. These motivations increased the frequency of political trials and the use of hired mobs to control the forum. The inevitable result was the development of violent factionalism as a means to control the forum to pass legislation. Legislation now being passed without the Senate's traditional role of revision and approval, people's reliance on single charismatic leaders like Caesar to hold sway thus became the norm. Millar concludes that these are the political dynamics that rendered the Senate obsolete as a governing body and paved the way for the Civil War and ultimately the Principate.

As with Gruen in "The Last Generation of the Roman Republic", Millar is very detailed in supporting his arguments; referring not only to Cicero's letters and trials but various other classical and modern sources. Along with Ward's "Marcus Crasssus and The Late Roman Republic", this book does a great service to the study of the Late Roman Republic. There are variant opinions as to what factors were primarily responsible for the collapse of the Roman Republic and Millar is one of leading scholars in this field along with Erich Gruen. Millar offers a unique insight on the impact of the forum's physical location, how that affected Rome's political institutions and, how this interaction with socio-political events after the Social War led to the desintegration of the Roman Republic. I wouldn't recommend this work as an introductory text on Roman history as its depth and scope would already require at least some basic knowledge of Roman history and society. This is, however, a great book for anyone who is seriously interested in Roman history, political science, and/or sociology. I strongly recommend it.

This was a very useful book and I keep it inside a hunting back pack at all times. This book is definitely worth adding to your canine related library. Along with a quality first aid kit!

Being a nurse, I take the proverbial "be prepared" to extremes, but when you are camping hundreds of miles away from the nearest emergency health care facility, you must be educated to handle most emergencies of your family members.

Well, DON"T FORGET THE DOG

We just adopted a wonderful black labrador, and being a busy outdoor kind of family I needed a concise, handy, well rounded emergency care manual for my little boy, Abbott. I researched and decided on this pocket field guide that is perfect for carrying on your outdoor excursions. I am pleased with the content and find the directions easy to follow, even for a lay person uneducated in medicine.

Hopefully, my dog will never need emergent care, but I feel better knowing and gathering the knowledge needed to be there for him if the need becomes reality. Buy this book and put together a first aid kit for your dog. His life could depend on it.

I've reviewed many first aid books in my search. This is the clearest, most practical canine first aid book I've found. Most books read "take dog to nearest vet", this isn't always possible and this book covers what to do in those situations using clear text and precise pictures. Essential for anyone who takes their dog anywhere (even those dogs who just go to the park and back), but essential for dogs who go hiking, camping, travelling, kayaking, etc with their humans; anywhere you wouldn't be able to reach a vet within 20 minutes. Keep one in your car's glove box, the dog's backpack (along with a portable first aid kit), and one at home.

This is excellent to have for emergencies and general knowledge of what to do when an injury occurs. Very usefull!