George Books

In a world so hectic as ours, it is always a pleasure to be able to pick up a few lines of prose that returns us to the center and gives us reflections from outside our normally self-centered life.

Dr.John Hopkins

Beach Walks by George Thatcher In this well writen book, the reader is transported to their "beach" whether mental or actual. Mr. Thatcher has a wonderful way of communicating more than sights and sounds that goes to the heart and soul of the subject offered. Obviously, Thatcher is a man of rich life experiences and a high level of respect for life. His educated presentation is meaningful to readers (and beach walkers) of all ages. Around our house, one page can lead into a lengthy discussion. Thatcher's chronical is a treasure!!!!!! Son of a Beach Walker

For a land-bound Arkansas boy, BEACH WALKS opens new vistas of nature and beauty that I have not experienced as a way of life but only in passing on too-quick vacations. But Thatcher's introspection transcends the Coastal life to all who are one with God and nature.

Beach Walks is more than a collection of thoughts inspired by years of beach walking the Mississippi Gulf Coast by an observant, curious and perceptive beach walker. These thoughts, often lyrical, are enhanced with various quotations from Psalms to Mae West and Stalin, and frequently include fascinating scientific and historical facts, as well as entertaining trivia. Though this book will be especially meaningful to those familiar to the Gulf Coast, its essence is universal, transcending time and place.

Beach Walks is a lovely series of daily musings by George Thatcher, whose way of writing reminds me of paintings with words. George has an acute and creative sense of observation as well as a rich interior life! I am giving this book for gifts; a friend told me yesterday she reads my gift daily as a kind of devotional. Susan McNease

George Gillson is publishing the book periodically himself now. If you go to www.Dube.com, they will order a copy of the book from him. They charge $12.95 plush S&H. My wife found this out by emailing George Gillson himself. He actually answered her back with the info. What a great guy. Good luck. Egon

If you already know the baisics of jugling (3 ball cascade and reverse cascade/2 in one hand, ect.), but would like to learn more, this book is perfect for you. It may not be the best book from which to learn the baisic three ball cascade, but it contains clear and detailed instructions for many of the essential three ball patterns. This book is an incredible resource for even an experienced juggler. A must have.

So you've learned to juggle 3 balls. You're probably doing what's called a "cascade," with the balls forming a figure eight pattern. Now you figure you want to do more, so plan to move on to four. Wait!! There are literally hundreds (probably thousands, depending on how fine a distinction you want to make) of three ball tricks, most more interesting and challenging than the basic 4 ball patterns. From basics like under the leg, behind the back, the shower, and clawing, to exotic and beautiful patterns like Mill's Mess and Burke's Barrage, this will give you a clear explanation of 88 of them.

If you already know the baisics of jugling (3 ball cascade and reverse cascade/2 in one hand, ect.), but would like to learn more, this book is perfect for you. It may not be the best book from which to learn the baisic three ball cascade, but it contains clear and detailed instructions for many of the essential three ball patterns. This book is an incredible resource for even an experienced juggler. A must have.

An excellent resource for all jugglers. When I got this book I had already been juggling for several years and was working on seven balls, and still use it as a valued resourse. Gillson highlights cleary 88 excellent patterns, from the most common to some very rare and innovative. Beyond the Cascade is a wonderful way to increase your 3 ball repertoire quickly, and also a way to gain some great ideas for numbers work. I have also carried many of the tricks and patterns over to rings and clubs. This book is a valuable resource to jugglers of all levels.

This is one of the best translations I've ever read, and it is so nice to have another of George Sand's works available in English. The story is surprisingly modern, very readable, with really appealing, human, simple characters. If you've heard of Sand but never read anything of hers, start with this book!

It took me a few chapters to get into this book (possibly because I was reading it as I was falling asleep) However, once I was in the midst of it, I just sat down and finished it off. The characters are really appealing and interesting, and also very human. With a very few descriptive words I know these people that Sand has created, I can see them very clearly and imagine every detail that she doesn't give us.
It isn't a very long story, though it takes place over a couple of years, and the cast of characters is very small. Sept-Epees is our hero and Tonine the heroine, they are a very interesting and powerfully drawn pair. Sept-Epees at first has a burning ambition to prove there are better things in life for him and invests all of his time and money in a money-pit of a factory (What it produces we never find out, but it is ultimately not importatnt) This ambition drives him further and further away from what everyone else (including the reader) know as his real happiness, Tonine.

The complexity of the plot that Sand manages to created with relatively few characters or incidences is amazing and very tantalizing. I would reccomend this book to anyone who was looking for something along the lines of Dickens but with a little more sunshine.

I really liked it. It's a good story that everyone can relate to in some way. This book made me want to read more by George Sand. It's the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon!

This short, fast paced novel, artfully translated by Kover, is as much a social commentary on life during the Industrial Revolution as it is a story of true love. The plot is engaging, the characters are convincing, and the story culminates in an inspiring twist. A pleasure to read, The Black City will surely strike a familiar chord with every entrepreneur, aspiring business owner, or anyone who has ever yearned for something more in life. I highly recommend reading it!

If you like Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, or Gustave Flaubert, you will love George Sand. Many people have heard her name but much of her work has never been translated into English, so she is largely unread in the United States. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. The story seems fairly simple on the surface, but it has layers of meaning and truth that will strike you. The love story is very real and beautifully crafted, and the book's hero and heroine would not be out of place in the twenty-first century. I enjoyed every page of this book. You will, too! It's a must-own!

Although published back in 1985, this is one of the best ever written books about the Maya. Anyone who sets a price for his/her attitude towards true knowledge will find this jewel of a book as astonishing as its pictures. Linda Schele unveils the secrets of Maya life, as deciphered by tens of scholars before her, and sets her own trademark as well. Definitely not for those who still wander through the fantasies of extra-terrestrial connections, but for those who study history as a living process, a result of historical and geographical circumstances. Enjoy!

Mary Ellen Miller and the late Linda Schele put this book together in 1986. The field of Mayan studies is a fast-moving arena, and Mayanists already know a lot more now than they did when this book came out, but in my opinion this book is still the place to start if you want to begin learning about the Maya.

For one thing, the photography of the artwork is fantastic - the book is worth acquiring for that alone. Secondly, the commentary is by the greatest names in the field, including an introduction by Michael Coe. Thirdly, the book never strays from academic discipline, unlike a great deal of New Agey-type material written about the Maya. In fact, the book studiously avoids making any observations that cannot be substantiated - perhaps a reaction in the field of Mayan studies against the sometimes too pat assumptions that Eric Thompson made when he dominated the subject. Fourthly, it covers all the major cultural features of the Maya, providing abundant commentary on each piece of art portrayed. Last but not least, it tackles the thorny subject of Maya iconography. This is a field about which we already know a great deal more about now than we knew in 1986, but in fact if the book were written today there is probably very little that would actually be changed.

The book was printed in Japan, for some reason. No harm in that - the Japanese have a tradition, and a reputation, of producing quality bindings and excellent photographic reproductions, both of which are evident in this edition and which add to the quality of the book. I can't recommend it too highly to anyone interested in the Maya.

It is nearly twenty years since this book was published in 1986 as part of an exhibition at the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas during the Texas Sesquicentennial. This book was and remains a triumph. We still mourn the loss of Linda Schele and are grateful the Mary Ellen Miller continues her work and teaching at Yale.

The book makes clear the Mayan Kings were not Emperors. They were rulers of city-states that competed with one another. They also had a spiritual role in the life of those they ruled. This book discusses how one became a Mayan King, life in the court, the role of bloodletting and visions (hallucinations?), warfare and human sacrifice, the all-important ballgame, the Mayan concept of afterlife and Xibalba, and the Mayan view of the cosmos. All fascinating topics and the articles are written quite well. I find them to be a captivating read.

The selection of images for the book is fabulous. This book can make a wonderful coffee table book, they are that beautiful. However, the articles are far superior to most books you find on coffee tables. I remember seeing Maya Blue (the shade that the Mayans painted on a great many of the monuments and sculptures) for the first time in this book. Having seen it in person since then I can tell you the shade is captured very faithfully in the photographs in this book.

Much has been written since 1986 and new discoveries and new examinations of existing discoveries deepen our understanding of the Maya. But this book still stands strong and valuable. It is not too technical for the general reader and still has value for the student. I am glad to have my copy on a shelf of favorite books.

The Blood of Kings by Linda Schele and MAry Ellen Miller was written on the occasion of the Kimbell Art Mesuem's exhibition of Maya Art in 1986. The hope was to draw attention to the rich legacy of Maya art along with a book that would give texture to these artistic recordings of the singificant ritual events in the lives of the Maya. What better way, since art has been our keyhole to understanding the magnificance of there thought, language, science and culture? Schele and Miller do an incredble job of focusing on these artifacts to bring us inside the current understanding of what th experts perceive the maya ritual and life to be about-- including the deciperment of the syllables of the maya language.

The book begins with a history of the road to understanding the Maya culture, complete with its meadering and diversions. This "age" delights in knowing that the Maya are filled with blood, both their own in bloodletting and those of captives that they sacrifice, unlike previous interpretations of a more peaceful existence. Blood, the ooze of life, was offered to eh gods in hopres that they would continue to give their ooze of sap, rain and other life-sustaining things. The book is based on 8 sections of art and interpretation: person, accession rites, courtly life, bloodletting, captives, the ballgame, and death, and the kingship of the Maya Cosmos. Of note as weel is the colors on p.158 where one can get an interpration of what the colors might have been in the Classic period.

In this book Coe prefaces the book commenting on the profound understandng that the world of the Maya is filled with notions of death. But the myth of the Mayas is that the hero twins went to the underworld and by trickery defeated death and those rose to take their place in the Mayan night sky. Perhaps these indiscernible Maya have continued to trick us as well in our attempts to traverse the road of their culture-- and their greatest preoccupation, enscribed on their ceramics and reliefs ---is not death, but life, in all its oozing forms.

When I went through school the Maya were peace loving agriculturists that invented a lot of neat stuff, especially in astronomy and calendars. We even looked at some of the writing. To bad we did not look a little closer.

Look at the cover of the book ad you will see a Mayan pulling a rope with knots in it through his tongue. The also had plenty of blood thirsty rituals and rivalries with neighboring Mayans. Their underworld is a place full of farts.

I bought this book as part of an exhibit at Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth. I am still a member.

The book its self is oversized and has lots of glossy pictures. There are a lot of good references to other books and articles on the Myna.

After reading this book and getting a good overview of what Maya really is, you may want to find some of their writing "Popol Vuh : The Definitive Edition Of The Mayan Book Of The Dawn Of Life And The Glories Of" by Dennis Tedlock.

I read this back in the seventies and it became part of the permanent furniture of my mind. This guy was dumped as a boy with Gurdjieff and, to my mindl, became Gurdjieff's son.

What struck me, and one of the things so endearing about this book, is Gurdjieff the stern would basically take crap off of this guy he wouldn't take from almost anyone else. It was definitely a fatherly relationship. If you are aware of Gurdjieff's softer, warmer, big-hearted side and want to really explore that aspect of him this is the book to do it with.

The other great characteristic of this book was its humor. It seems I remember this guy actually wrote two books about his relationship with Mr.G and I read them both.

There was also one story that burned itself into my mind more than all the others--later this same guy was in world war 2, fighting his way across europe. He got a leave which allowed him to get away from the carnage. He was on the brink of a nervous breakdown and he survived by clinging to the thought that if he could just get to Gurdjieff's apartment in Paris he would be ok.

He got there and Gurdjieff realised the distress the young man was in. While sitting at the kitchen table a "ball of blue light" came out of Gurdjieff's forehead, crossed the space and entered into the young man. He then felt all of his stress fall away. Shortly after Gurdjieff went into a nearaby room where the young man heard him doing a "breathing exercise."

Gurdjieff then came out of the bedroom (where he'd been "breathing") and said, "This meeting was good for you and for me."

Well,now, beloved brother or sister, if you have a better Gurdjieff story than that one I'd love to hear it.

Best of luck to one and all.

There's no martial arts but I found some of it reminiscent of the scenes in the Karate Kid where the young kid was given philosophical lessons from incidents in real life by a wise master.
This is both a well written memoir of an unusual boyhood and an invaluable first-hand account of life at the Prieure. Like Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous this book combines transcriptions of Gurdjieff's philosophising (though given much more informally) with descriptions of Gurdjieff himself and his circle of followers. The reader gains an insight into what life was like at the Prieure through Peters' accounts of the episodes, incidents and personality clashes that arose. There are fascinating descriptions of Xmas at the Prieure, going on a road trip with Mr Gurdjieff and dining and bathing at the Prieure.
Some of the teachings include Gurdjieff's thoughts on dogs and horses, differences between men and women and reincarnation. Peters differs from writers like Ouspensky and Bennett in that he came to Gurdjieff by accident, because his guardians were his students, and so his perspective is very different.
A lot of Gurdjieff's behavior comes across as bizarre to say the least and you can understand how this proved too much for some people. However it's very interesting to consider this in the light of the teaching itself.

Written by the nephew and ward of two of spiritual leader Gurdjieff's earliest American students, Fritz Peters (1913-1979), Boyhood With Gurdjieff is a long out-of-print classic revived in a new hardcover edition with an introduction, notes, black-and-white photographs, and index. Deftly relaying the experiences of the author's childhood as he lived and interacted with Gurdjieff for five years, Boyhood With Gurdjieff applies descriptive, flowery prose to make sensory images and unforgettable personalities come to life. A sound evocation of the author's remembered sense of community, told with candor, goodwill, and a sharp twist of wit.

Fritz Peter's remarkable account of his experience with Gurdjieff is a genuine classic. Straightforward, perceptive, and filledwith numerous "scenes" that illuminate his unique experience with one of the great figures ofour time, I highly recommend thisbook not only to anyone interested in Gurdjieffs teachings,but anyone interested in a fascinating tale

A wonderful account of Peter's stay in Gurdjieff's commune when he was 11 years old. He brings Gurdjieff to life and makes Gurdjieff's work available and understandable. His child's eye view of the experiment makes it all the more compelling... I loved this book and recommend it highly.

Plumb tells the tale of the four Hanoverian 'Georges' who seem to progress generation to generation in the direction of complete nuttiness. The climax however is in George III , the old villain of American schoolbooks. Plumb says he was extremely slow of mind, and the first twenty years of his reign a complete disaster. Thanks to the foolish advice of Lord North who is portrayed as a somewhat sloth rolypoly George III managed to antagonize and lose his American colonies. The last twenty years of his reign were however much more successful. Plumb artfully describes how the brilliant Lord Pitt at twenty- four became the King's First Minister and brought about peace with both America and France. This despite the fact that George III one day began to speak to a tree , spoke to it twenty- four hours without stop and after this was pretty much not 'in the loop of decision- making'.
The relations between the various Georges and the various Princes of Wales were most often horrible. George III could not stand his father, and his son. What is somehow surprising is that despite the eccentricities of the monarchs Great Britain continued to grow and develop its Empire.
Plumb has a clear vision of the story as a whole, writes with interest about the various figures, Robert Walpole, Lord Chatham, Lord North, Pitt et al. who served the various kings. A highly enjoyable piece of historical writing.

This classic of historical writing and interpretation was first published in 1956, and it's still the best single volume on the Hanoverian dynasty. Taylor trained under G. M. Trevelyan, another noteworthy narrator of history, and became an illustrious Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. While he produced many important works in modern English history, he still is best known for his examination of the dynasty that began with the arrival in London 1714 of George, Duke of Brunswick, successor to Queen Anne, the last Stewart monarch. He didn't speak English and his son and successor, George II, barely could. The family has gotten bad press for generations, their reputation for loutishness and general lack of intellect perhaps being colored by American attitudes, but Plumb portrays them convincingly as ordinary human beings caught up in a series of exceptional circumstances: The rise of parliamentary power, the loss of the American colonies below Canada, the Industrial Revolution, the effects everywhere of the French Revolution, and the struggle against Napoleon. Like many others, I first read this book as an undergraduate, but I now much prefer the 1974 lavishly illustrated Hamlyn edition [which Amazon doesn't list]; the numerous political cartoons are especially useful in providing the flavor of the times.

This is by far the best book that i have read in a long time. Most history books are boring but this one is anything but. Plumb goes to great details explaining the relationship that each King shared with his son. He does a wonderful job of giving his readers a rare insight to the royal family.

Fluent, lucid and written with Plumb's characteristic brevity, this is among the best introductions you will find to the high politics of the Hanoverian period. Sir John Plumb (d.2001) was one of the finest historical writers ever published in English. He is in the tradition of Macaulay and Trevelyan. His prose is polished and perfectly cadenced, and his light style masks a profound analytical grasp of the political forces that shaped this century of Whig ascendancy. Some may accuse him of adhering to the 'Great Men' school of history. If so, he highlights all their vices as well as their virtues.

Plumb was criticised for more often making the grand sweep of historical analysis as opposed to dredging through the minutiae of historical documentation. This analysis, I believe, is flawed and inimical to the notion that for history to be worthy of the name it should be readable for a wider audience, not solely confined to the institutions where it is nurtured.

Plumb's scholarship has inspired generations of laymen; his intellectual generosity and didactic rigour has also reaped its rewards within historical departments on both sides of the Atlantic. Those inspired by the Plumb school of history, who mastered their craft under his watchful eye at Christ's College, Cambridge, include such well known names as Simon Schama, David Cannadine, Niall Ferguson and Neil Mc Kendrick.

Published in 1956, this work by Sir John Plumb has remained a classic. Plumb focuses his attention on personalities and politics of the first four members of the Hanoverian dynasty. He paints a balanced portrait of his subjects, bringing them to life, warts and all. These monarchs are fallible human beings, placed on their thrones by accident of birth. Plumb is especially judicious in his handling of George IV, who as Regent and King was viciously derided in his own time.
Plumb's treatment of the monarchs is supplemented with deft character sketches of many of the significant figures of the Georgian century; Walpole, Pitt, Wilkes, Fox, and North are among the figures included.
In his introduction, Plumb takes the reader on a survey of the world over which these sovereigns presided. This is history practiced in the manner perfected by G.M. Trevelyan; continuity co-exists with change, and the dynasty survives despite mistakes and scandals. Published when the influence of Sir Lewis Namier was at its height, The First Four Georges provided a refreshing antidote to the atomizing analysis of the Namier school. A fascinating and hugely enjoyable read.

My only complaint is that the comic books are so short, but they end on wonderful cliffhangers that keep you wanting more, just like the tv series. The storyline for "season 8" starts off with a bang and I'm really anxious to find out what happens next.

I must say, this particular book is well worth the purchase just for the sexy pic of Angel, Buffy and Spike alone!

I'm so impressed with this series so far, and I loved this issue. The last page was a shocker. Love it. What more can I say?

Wonder no longer! As a huge fan of Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Joss, I was anxiously determined to adapt to this new format for Season 8...and, after a few issues, adapted I have. And I guarantee that you will, too - anxiety free. Let me tell you how you won't regret it:

1. It's Joss! He IS these characters. Even just scanning the word and thought bubbles, you can HEAR them all quipping and whining and fighting just like in the good ol' days. It's super fun to try to figure out who the "surprise" character is on the next page from the little bit of enticing dialog revealed before you make that fateful page turn...such is Joss's talent for words that you'll instinctively know who it is before you see the art. You might as well be hearing their voices off-camera on the show, pre dramatic entrance.

2. While some of the body-language slash facial-expression "acting" by the artists doesn't quite match what the actor-actors (on tv) might have chosen, it is incredibly well done and seems to be getting better with each new issue.

3. The comic medium is actually used to deliver new stuff...especially special effects that would've been waaay too "special" on tv. (Dawn's giant situation, for example...but other stuff, too. Especially in this issue.) Plus, you know that some of the harshness of real-world reality, like annoying network notes and the unavailability of actors, etc, just won't be responsible for derailing stories here.

[As an aside, I have to believe that some of the giddiness of this freedom is responsible for the much-hyped Buffy/Spike/Angel fantasy panel which, to me, seems completely bogus, out of character, and gratuitous for the comic-book-guy-stereotype. Some version of this for Xander - totally! But not so much for Buffy.]

4. Joss does an incredible job of smoothing the tv-to-comic transition. As another reviewer (Beranbo) eloquently describes, Joss blatantly chooses "surprises" that almost over-resonate with connections to the tv show. And, in retrospect, you look at the surprises and you're like, "duh-of course! Why didn't I see that coming?" But no matter how well you know your Joss shows, you STILL don't see `em coming. Unlike the other reviewer, even though I occasionally saw through the device-iness - I not only bought into it but completely LOVED it.

Most importantly, the combo platter of Joss's script, the art, your imagination, and your love for the show will allow you to FEEL the characters and their stories and be swept away into their world...which is the whole point!

These comics just keep getting better. This one starts off immediately after Issue #2, and the action never stops. This, I'm sure, is the issue that will woo over any Buffy fans that have been doubting the greatness of these Whedon-penned comics.

So many questions come up after reading the first few issues, so I was counting on some answers in this one. We get to find out the following...

+ Who is Amy's boyfriend?
+ Who is the "My love" guy in Issue #2? Is it the same guy as the floaty-leather-jacket guy?
+ Is Renee alive after being stabbed last issue?
+ What's up with Willow and Kennedy?

Also, we get an appearance from a very popular baddie--none other than Ethan Rayne. Not to mention the unforgettable image of Spike/Angel that Scott Allie promised us in the letters section of the last issue. All that, plus scenes with Giles, Andrew, and the re-union of Xander, Buffy, and Willow.

The art, as usual, is amazing. However, one scene bugged me. There's a scene with only Willow's face, where she says "She looks tired" (referring to Buffy). In that scene, it looks like Willow either almost fell asleep herself or got her hands on a whole lotta drugs. But other than that one little flaw, everything is done well. Particularly Jeanty's interpretation of Ethan Rayne. Spot on. And, while I didn't think Giles looked like himself in Issue #2, this issue shows a VAST improvement. Very Gilesy.

And what can be said about Whedon's writing and plotting that hasn't already been said? Everything is tight, all is perfect. The cliffhanger at the end makes me want the next issue right away! How in the world will I be able to wait until June 6th for Issue #4?

*Note: All Buffy/Angel products rank a 10/10 CLASSIC compared to other products. This is rated against OTHER Buffy/Angel products, not all products*

9/10

Granted, with Joss Whedon doing the writing the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" comic book is an absolute must have for fans of the late, loudly lamented cult classic television series. You might have no interest in variant covers and you might wait for the inevitable collection of issues in trade paperbacks rather than finding your local comic book store to get each issue as soon as it is hot off the presses, but if you have all seven seasons of "BtVS" on DVD (or your own personal collection of videotapes) then you have to check out what Joss is up to here because it has the virtue of constituting canon. Now the question is: how good is "Season 8" going to be?

Our Story So Far: Of the almost two thousand Slayers running around in the world about five hundred of them are working as squads under the control of Buffy and her new "Watcher," Xander. The gang is working out of a castle in Scotland investigating a strange symbol that is being carved into human bodies. But things escalate when somebody (who do not yet know who) sics Amy on Buffy. The witch and former rat has Buffy living a nightmare from which only the kiss of true love can awaken her. Oh, and Dawn is a giant.

Written by Whedon with pencils by Georges Jeanty and inks by Andy Owens, issue #3 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" is the third part of "The Long Way Home." As the start of this issue Buffy's nightmare continues, with Ethan Rayne showing up to play Virgil to the Slayer's Dante on a tour of her collective slayer memory, which includes an image of Buffy with Spike and Angel that you have never seen before and will never forget (What is this comic book rated?). Back in the real world Willow has finally showed up and is going toe to toe with Amy. We do not get back to the plotline where the military thinks of the Slayers as being terrorists, which I find rather intriguing, so I assume that is a set up for something down the road. However, by the end of this issue all of the pieces appear to be on the board for the end game and I am willing to round up on issue #3.

So far all three issues have ended with a bug (gasp!) reveal on the final splash page, and what bothered me is that the reveal of Amy in issue #1 reminded me of the reveal of Darla in "To Shanshu in L.A.," the season one finale of "Angel," while Willow's appearance on the last page of issue #2 explicitly repeats the sudden appearance of Giles at the end of "Two to Go" from season six of "BtVS." I find myself wondering if Whedon is trying to mix familiar bits with all of this new stuff to make the transition to this new format palatable. I mean, we know what the man is capable of and I am certainly hoping that he is able to work into this "season" his story idea for bringing back Tara (a good pair of shoes holds not temptation for me). However, I think it is safe to say that Joss is laying the foundation for his brave new world in this first story-arc and you should plan on being here for the long haul.

Reading Joss Whedon's "BtVS" comic book might take a bit of getting used to and it dawned on me today that the pacing is much more like what he is doing in one of the other comic books he is writing, "Astonishing X-Men" ("Runaways" is now the third), than what we learned to love with the television series. It turns out "The Long Way Home" is going to be a four-part story, which will conclude in the next issues. But given that the real villain is not disclosed until the final splash page of issue #3 it seems there is a lot to get covered next month. Initially my big question was whether each issue of this comic book constitutes an entire episode or just an act in an "episode," and at this point I think it is clearly the latter case. So when I think that Joss has a lot of 'splaning to do regarding who shows up on the final page I know at the same time that I am going to have to see how this whole thing plays out before I make a final judgment on how well things are going with this first "episode." Suffice it to say that my hopes outweigh my fears in this regard.

General George S. Patton's younger daughter, Ruth Ellen, has written an interesting and readable memoir about growing up in this military family. The hero is her mother, Mrs. Beatrice Patton.

Beginning before World War I, the author takes us on several tours; life on military posts, growing up before radio and television, the folkways and mores of a society where children were raised by nannies.

Although replete with anecdotes and family myths that reveal Mrs. Patton's role in the success of her husband, the events and relationships which give her substance in her own right are a major and significant part of the story. Not a hagiography, the author easily and with good taste recounts family matters that would not have been shared with outsiders.

For some, the connection to 'Patton' will be the reason to read this book. I think, however, the publisher, The University of Missouri Press, saw this memoir in a much broader context.

If you think you've read everything there is on George Patton as I had, then you owe it to yourself to read this book or you will never really understand his life's story. His daughter did a masterful job of putting the family story in a readable fashion and I could only dream of having such an adventurous life as their's was.

Great Read for any Patton fan. Reads quick and is insightful.

Ruth Ellen Patton Totten has left us with an extraordinary insight into the lives of the Patton family & most especially a wonderful tribute to her mother, Beatrice Ayer Patton. This book does more than present facts as a biographer would. Ruth Ellen tells the story from an insider's perspective. She not only tells the story but more importantly gives her mother's reaction to some of the most trying events in her lifetime & how she handled those events. The underlying theme of the book is the way Beatrice faced life; positively. She summoned courage, dignity & perseverance in the face of trials.

Ruth Ellen makes a great point by saying that soldiers are not the only casualties of war & it is evidenced by the sufferings which Beatrice, Ruth Ellen & Little Bea (Beatrice's daughter) endured, each of them being married to husbands in the Army.

This is an inspiring book that makes you wish you had met Beatrice Patton. Ruth Ellen herself is an incredible story teller & must have been one amazing woman in her own right. The Patton family has much of which to be proud because of the courage & strong character of Beatrice Patton. You don't have to be a fan of General George S. Patton Jr. to read the book. If you simply want to read a great book about a great woman, read this book.

What an amazing window into the true lives of the "Cold Roast Boston" aristocracy, and what a tribute to a strong, multi-talented and insatiably curious woman. Hilarious, insightful, poignant, historical, and best of all...completely uncensored.

I am in total agreement with those who have praised this book. It is a model for all scholars and merits a major book award. Avoid any other publication that presents itself as accurate.

The Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Virtuoso of the Sword and the Bow is the biography of Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), the illegitimate son of a French planter and a young African slave. Educated in France, his skill in fencing and amazing talent as a violin virtuoso earned him a distinguished place in French high society and the court of Versailles; yet he was not content to simply bask in court life, choosing to support the abolitionist movement, take part in the Haitian slave revolt, and join the French Revolution in the hope of ending slavery. Considered the first classical composer of African descent, his music is best understood in the context of his vivid life. Black-and-white photographs, illustrations, and sample scores, and reproductions of primary source documents round out this in-depth study of a singularly remarkable musician, politician, and fighter.

One of the problems in researching Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges is separating fact from fiction, due to the popular myths propagated beginning with Roger de Beauvoir, and continuing with Alexandre Dumas (fils). These and other semi-factual accounts of Le Chevalier's life led many to believe that it served as the basis for the character D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers. In contrast to these myths, surviving well into the twentieth century, Mr. Banat's thoroughly researched study is factual.

Banat, a retired violinist from the New York Philharmonic and a specialist on the violin works of Mozart, is ideally positioned to understand the significance of this historical figure. It turns out that Le Chevalier was a major contributor to the symphony concertante genre, until recently thought to be Mozart's creation. As a musician, Le Chevalier was a violinist and composer, mastering the classical style and creating multiple compositions for orchestra and violin that remain underrepresented in the academic and performance Canon today.

Not only a prominent musician and athlete of his day, Le Chevalier was one of several African descendants who made important contributions to European elite culture. Born in Guadeloupe to a French plantation owner and his enslaved mother, Le Chevalier was educated in France, with substantial periods in England, where he was a champion fencer. In the latter part of his life, Le Chevalier became highly involved in the Haitian Revolution.

Mr. Banat began his study on Le Chevalier with an original article from the 1980s. Twenty years later, Banat's recent book reflects his dedication and enthusiasm toward his subject matter. The extensive documentation he provides for his assertions makes him the authority on Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

The second half of the 18th century from St. Petersburg to St. Louis was a socio-political mess as men and women of faith and courage strove to overthrow the imperial tyrannies oppressing their lives and stultifying their cultures. Supported by his white planter father and adored by his black slave mother, Joseph Bologne, born on Guadeloupe, captivated the Court and Parisian society by his extraordinary fencing ability and musical genius. Nor did it hurt that he was both handsome and intelligent. His violin playing, his original compositions, and his orchestral conducting assure him a place among the handful of outstanding musicians between Bach and Mozart. His military acumen and his political idealism on behalf of the downtrodden not only in France but also in Haiti made him a distinguished brigade commander in the Revolutionary army and led him, at the pain of a long imprisonment, to help stop The Terror. At the end of his life, the world he had bedazzled was gone and the world he had hoped to establish was falling to Napoleonic power.
The sad, powerful tale of this romantic hero's life and genius is all movingly here in Banat's scrupulous research and genuine affection--just waiting for an intrepid director and a first-rate actor to make a brilliant film that would really speak to our time.

This book is far more than a biography of the 18th-century fabled composer/violinist/swordsman Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, born in 1745 in Guadaloupe, son of a plantation owner and one of his slaves. Based on rigorous scholarly research, the author presents a vivid picture of the social and historical background of the period in France, and the picaresque life of an extraordinarily gifted individual. The book is informative as well as an exciting read. It is enhanced by numerous illustrations, reproductions of original documents, and musical examples.

I purchased this book because I wanted an updated copy of the 1971 version. This book is practically identical to the older copy, but it's still great information and a really cool book.

This beautiful classic, repackaged by Alfred A. Knopf, will remain a treasured addition to the library of any lover of the ballet. Six hundred stunning illustrations, in 156 plates by Carlus Dyer bring life to the concepts.

I have the hard bound edition of this book, published some time ago by Alfred Knopf, and I never tire of looking at the drawings and appreciating the mathematical precision of classical ballet. The reading of this book will be of an enormous assistance to studying ballet, and it is also invaluable if one wants to study the more technical facets of the subject. Ballet is one form of dance that can be mathematically systemaitized and characterized, and this book is a great reference for such an undertaking. Definitely worth having and the paperback edition with its low price makes it completely accessible to all.

I thought this book contained good information and the drawings are incredible- although confusing at times. There are many steps described in this book, both advanced and beginner. I find this book a great addition to my ballet collection. As a dancer, it is a good reference book for me when I have a question or uncertainty about a step. This book describes in detail how to preform barre exercises, allegros, turns, pointe work, etc. This is a necessity for all dancers and dancer-wannabes.

This is a wonderful book for beginners as well as experienced dancers. In particular, this is one of the best references for barre exercises, but the center steps are well covered, too. This is actually my first choice when recommending barre exercise references, which is reason enough to include it in a ballet library.