Henry Books

Reviewed by AJ Cooper for Reader Views (7/07)

Henry Fast's memoir depicts the life he led in Poland in the early 1940s and the rush for safety from the war. His father had passed away and had left him and his mother enough for them to have a house and some small luxuries in the home in Poland. Henry loved to read and play with his friends with no worries in the world. Occasionally his mother would take them on trips to visit relatives throughout Poland.

There was word of war and attacks started to occur in Poland. A military officer had stopped by on his travels to other parts of Poland and suggested that Henry and his mother should not remain but go to stay with relatives in other parts of Poland. Rena, Henry's mother decided what do with their valuables they could not carry and decided they would catch the train. On the way to the train station they discovered that it had stopped running and they would have to try to find some other way to leave their tow. With good fortune they were able to ride with a man who was going to the town of Henry's uncle, Roman. Roman and his wife Dora are not happy to see Rena and Henry and try to get them to leave the way that they had arrived. The man and his cart had completely left the area. Roman had to report to military duty but finally agreed that Rena and Henry could walk behind the cart that his family would be traveling on.

Dora and her traveling companions did not treat Rena and Henry very well and eventually abandoned them on a roadside without their possessions. Rena and Henry struggled to travel on to the next large city and encountered many strange and frightening sights. They finally arrive in a large city in Poland, Lwow, at her brother's house. He was not happy to see Rena yet allowed her to stay with Henry until something else could be arranged. Rena and Henry eventually were arrested and shipped of to a camp. The travel to the camp was terrible and was in open weather and little or no facilities for any ones use. They had been shipped to Siberia to be held for an unknown period of time. All that they owned they had to be able to carry themselves. Needless to say they did not have a lot.

Rena tried to provide as best as she could for Henry. Their food rations were never enough and there bathrooms were non-existent. Hundreds of people had been shipped to Siberia from all walks of life. Many did not survive the ordeal while others thrived on the misery.

Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (2/08)

"Fragments of a Forgotten People" is an incredible memoir written by Henry Fast about his and his mother Rena's experiences during World War II. Henry and Rena Fast lived in an apartment in Bochnia, Poland. After two army officers boarding with them told them that the enemy was nearing and that they should gather their belongings and go, they packed what they could and set out on a journey far longer and more painful than they ever expected. Their original intention was to travel to Rena's brother's house in Brzesko anticipating that he would take them in. Upon arriving in Brzesko they were received rather coldly by his brother's family who was also planning on evacuating. Henry's Uncle Roman was leaving to report for duty and his Aunt Dora and cousin Zenek were going to flee East with family friends. You would think that family would be more than willing to assist each other in times like these but that was not the case. They were incredibly rude to Rena and Henry, took advantage of them, and refused to let them ride in the wagon or share their food. The way that they treated them was terribly cruel and finally they abandoned them altogether. Things did not get much better for Henry and Rena as they moved from place to place, severely lacking nourishment and proper clothing. They tried to stay with another brother of Rena's and received the same unwelcoming reception as they had with Henry's other uncle. It is horrifying the way that these people acted toward one another during these events. Although there were some people that helped each other out, they were few and far between. After all of the running, like the fate of many during this time period, they were arrested and the deportation process began. "Fragments of a Forgotten People" is a very well-written story chronicling a family's hardships during that terrible period of war. Watching Henry and his mother struggle to survive with little assistance from other family members is heartbreaking. I was shocked at the things that were done to them by their own family! The photographs and the maps in the center of the book are very helpful in fully grasping the story that Henry has to tell. I think that anyone with any inkling of interest in memoirs or history will be intrigued by this book. "Fragments of a Forgotten People" is very eye-opening and is a book that you better not start reading unless you have the time to finish it because it is not possible to put it down!

I found that it was hard to put down Henry Fast's account of being in a camp in Siberia during World War II. I've found numerous accounts of being in concentration camps during this period, but this was the first one that I came across with this story. It shows an eye opening account of how low people can be to one another in times when they should support one another, but also shows those few shining stars that were willing to help a young boy and mother to face an uncertain future. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Jewish history during World War II.

The invasion of Poland marked the start of World War II in Europe as Poland's western allies declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. By October 1, Germany and the Soviet Union had completely overrun Poland. This is the setting for the opening chapters of Henry Fast's "Fragments of a Forgotten People."

In this extraordinary memoir Henry Fast tells the story of his plight as he and his widowed mother are forced to flee from their home in Bochnia, Poland with thousands of other refugees.

They are faced with hardships requiring endurance, physical, mental, and emotional, as they face near starvation, ridicule, and the freezing temperatures of the cold winter in Siberia.

They are arrested and deported on foot, railroad trains, and boats. Deplorable crowding, and unsanitary camps, became the way of life for Henry and his mother. Henry found escape by entering a world of fantasy, reliving books he had read. His mind was active and curious. Among the refugees, Henry found an engineer, a scientist, and a mathematician to mentor him and to work through his quest for knowledge.

Fast is a gifted story teller. His character descriptions are colorful. His narrative is both entertaining and informative. The beauty of Henry's writing comes across in the positive attitude reflected throughout the book.

Released from deportation after finding lodging in a former cow shed, Henry writes: "This was my first evening in what I called my own tiny cubicle at my own table. A real table, not a cot, a real chair, not a stump...Before falling asleep, I lent free rein once more to my fantasy, creating a picture of the future: later, after Hitler's defeat."

"Fragments of a Forgotten People" is destined to become a classic in the historical memoirs of World War II.

This is a very clever book of poetry for young children. My youngest grandchild received it for Christmas, and we have had so much fun reading it together. What really amazes me is the incredible artwork. The detail and the intricacy of the beadwork is awesome. I hope there will be more of these beautifully illustrated books in the near future.

Peggy Wiemann, Huntington Beach, CA

I am a grandmother who reads daily to my grandchildren. This book is expertly written, is very playful and upbeat, appeals to children as well as adult dog lovers. It holds the children's attention and is a spring board for questions. Loved the art work! I have purchased 12 more books for gift giving and expect the receptients will enjoy it as much as we do!!

I am a teacher and a mother. Everyone from my two year old to my third grade students enjoyed these entertaining, rythmic poems. My students now want to write dog poems of their own! Not only did my students enjoy listening to the poems, but they also enjoyed reading the poems themselves.

From the Doghouse is beautifully arranged and intelligently written. Children of any age will delight in the language, imagery and imaginative journeys of dogs travelling to space, wandering the city and country, and living out nightmares and doggy dreams. Amy E Sklansky has pushed the boundaries of children's writing--rhymes, refrains, and literary qualities accompany the exciting forays of adventurous dogs. Aside from the writing, the illustrations--delicately beaded, intricate pieces of art--are a visual feast. It's the best children's book of the year.

This little gem of a book should be on the shelves at every library. Aside from the likable Sarah, the wonderful social history is very absorbing for those interested in women's lives during the 1850's. Even if you are not particularly interested in the Gold Rush, you will be interested in the experiences of one of our formothers. Buy this as a gift for your daughters.

Joy Melcher, Civil War Lady Magazine

Sarah with husband and daughter, Mary, move to California in 1849. Trusting the God of the Bible, the Royces experience life (and almost death) on the trail to California. Second to the last party to complete the trip into northern California before winter, they eventually settle in Grass Valley. Her son, Josiah Royce, becomes the famous Harvard historian and philospher with new ideas (Royce Hall of UCLA), but his mother, Sarah, retains her faith in the God of the Bible. First hand look at San Francisco and northern California in the 1850's. Sarah is my great-great grandmother and Mary, the little girl in the story, is my great-grandmother. Easy reading and great book to take on a plane. We buy and give these books to many guests at our company ...they are very popular.

I selected this book from a list given in my college English class. The list of books were all nonfiction so I knew it would be a book based on fact. I knew nothing more. As I read, I could not put this book down. The story takes place beginning in Iowa the year 1849. "Gold fever" was born. The Royce family was on the move from their home to the great golden state of California. Sarah has more passion, faith, and drive than I've ever seen in a book. She is an example indeed of strength and inner peace throughout many challenges in a small amount of time. I was so grateful to see this book is still in print! It was first published in 1932 never meant to be a book at all. It was Sarah's gift to her son. She wrote about her journey using her journal she kept as they traveled. I will buy this book not only for my children, but for gifts as well. By the way, Sarah and her family end up living here, in the Sierra Foothills, and that is where I live! I've never read a story about the Gold Rush or the 49er's. I always thought it would be too depressing. There are sad times in this book, but as you read you can't help but believe with Sarah that they will beat all the odds.

As a historian an author of the book: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MISCELLANY, I rate this book with 5 stars for its excellent overview and in-depth look at the true lives of women who came to California during the Gold Rush. This is not a book filled with the fanciful notions of a romantic's point of view. No, this is a gut-wrenching look at the realities of pioneering California and the women who tamed the wild land and the wild men!

This book has a very clear and simple approach to music fundamentals and theory. Chapter 7 and onwards is the 'real stuff.' You are introduced to scales, keys, the circle of fifths (don't let the name intimidate you, it's just a neat circle for arranging keys). To put it in very un-musical terms, keys are the "holders or masters" of scales. Scales are basically a set of notes, that "sound good together." Bb is a note (most people know that but i'm still mentioning it for some unknown unknowledgeable reader). Say you have a Bb minor scale, that scale "produces" sounds that give off a Bb "flavor" or color. Scales are neat.

Chapter 9 and onwards focus on triads. A triad is basically a harmonic arrangement of three notes, stacked in thirds (or 'vertically' for the purpose of this review). Basically, if you have a major triad then it sound "good and square." But say you want to make...you know, actual organic music, and not just a happy yellow song. This is where music theory comes in.

The next few chapters in the book entertain you with triads. You can do alot of things to traids, you can invert them. Think of a bird, now think of this exact bird if it were smaller. Both the big and the small birds would sing the same notes but the "pitches" would be different. The smaller bird would produce a higher pitch, or something like that, but the idea is that both birds are singing the same note. This is basically the octave concept.

This book has a lot of practical value even if you're not a music person, triads in particular are extremely important. You can invert them, change their quality (sound, dark, happy, etc). If you have a piano or guitar lying around, do this: play a C triad, (C E G notes together). Now flat that e, or "play a d#"). A single note makes a big difference. if you flat both the E and the G, you get a diminished. There are many other complications & neat stuff (but of course, to musicians this is 'common sense'). Hope this helped. It's a good book.

Author of the book has done a great job explaining the fundamentals of notations used to read/write compositions.

I have the 3rd edition of this book and I have to say, it takes a while to get through this book, but it is really went written! I've learnt so much abut music theory from this book that I never could seem to understand from all the other books I have.

Fundamentals of Music 3rd Edition by Earl Henry 1999

This work is a high school or college refresher level text. It is in booklet format with 3 ring binder holes for easy transportation. The book starts out by giving instructions on how to notate music which includes exercises on re-writing musical examples. This is unique for beginning materials as it has the student re-write music in different beat levels. This is exceptional as it teaches the student reading skills without them even being told that they are doing just that.

The method comes with a companion cd that has recorded musical examples that go along with the written music that is in the text. All exercises in the book are written in large style text for easy reading. There is even a chapter dealing exclusively with the keyboard. Students need these skills so it is best to introduce the instrument as early as possible. In contrast to other texts of this style (workbook based) it does not just give a myriad of exercises, it makes sure that the student fully understands why he or she is completing the work which leads to a concept mastered.

The text helps the student to understand how to write notation for themselves on paper. There are examples of correct and incorrect notation. Many texts, I feel introduce the computer based programs too early. They are necessary in this day and age because that is the direction in which society is headed. Paper and pencil; however is still common ground for most educated persons at this point in society. It is for that reason that I favor pencil and paper in the education process at least initially and then allow the student to make up their own mind which direction to proceed. There are many composers today that still favor paper and pencil over computer programs and later have a copyist translate their work into digital format. John Williams (Star Wars) is one that comes to mind.

Chapters proceed as with major scales, keys, and the order of sharps and flats. These concepts are presented simply and in a basic format with little expounding of ideas. This appeals to younger students as it is the least confusing. I like how the author assumes that the student does not know concepts until they are taught. Many methods assume the student knows more than they actually do.

When intervals are taught, the keyboard picture is always present and then the explanation of how they construct scales. The concept of the circle of 5ths is brought up at the end of the interval chapter rather than the beginning like many texts do. This is helpful as it limits confusion. It is best to not introduce a concept until you are sure everyone understands and then it is best to proceed from there.

Minor scales and keys are presented with a look visually at a keyboard. A written musical example is given. The relative major is explained at this time adequately and thoroughly

Chapters proceed with information on root position triads, inversions and then diatonic relationships. I feel that diatonic harmony should be introduced before root position triads and their inversions but the instructor could reverse this if they preferred to. The final chapter culminates with cadences, seventh chords and voice leading. Unfortunately, these concepts are merely touched upon rather than explaining in more detail. The information on voice leading amounts to only one paragraph of written information. Possibly, the author intended for this information to be expounded upon in a further volume. If that is the case, one would need to extend the teaching by using another work or to expound upon the material. I like the text and would use it in a high school or possibly in a community college setting. I would not use it in a university except for remediation as it does not explain voice leading and 4 part harmony in any great detail.

This book was a fantastic beginning to research on a man largely ignored by American history. I hope this study sparks more work on White. He was a great man, flawed, but with superb strengths of character, facing the final consolidation of Jim Crow in the south, as a member of the demographic community the evil Jim Crow regime targeted. Thanks to the author for removing my ignorance on such a great American.

George Henry White represented North Carolina in Congress from 1897 until 1901. When he left, he became the last man of his race to be elected to Congress during the post-Reconstruction era, leaving a void which would not be filled for nearly 30 years (North Carolina didn't elect another African-American to Congress until 1992). White became, sadly, an historical footnote.

Benjamin Justesen has performed an intense labor of love in resurrecting White's story. Armed with prodigious amounts of careful research - reflected in the copious footnotes sprinkled throughout the text - and his own personal determination to bring this biography to public attention, Justesen has realized his dream of writing George Henry White's life story after becoming acquainted with his subject while working as a reporter in the 1970s.

He brings to life the issues and prejudices of the period, which only serve to magnify the high principles to which White held himself. Believing that education and one's own hard work got one where one wanted to go, White proved his beliefs in a time when Southern public sentiment was gradually moving into its shameful Jim Crow era.

A lawyer, politician, banker, real estate developer, family man and man of faith, George Henry White is a model for anyone today - black or white - who thinks, "I cannot." His life is an example to us all, and his biography a fascinating look at both a man and an era in Southern history.

I know the author of this book, and that is what first interested me in reading it. But I quickly learned there was more to George White than the novelty of being the only African American in Congress (1897-1901). He was a talented, accomplished man--ahead of his time in choosing to combine successful public and private careers with an unusual attention to the less fortunate of his own race. He faced a momentous decision at the turn of the century: accept the new segregation oin the United States, and the disfranchisement that came with it, or condemn both and fight them. he chose the latter, and effectively ended his own political career. But he remains a fascinating man, and one well worth reading about. I recommend you read this book!

At the outset: I'm the author, and of course, I'm partial to my own book. But I'm also immersed in the subject, having spent the last four years of my life bringing George White's story to readers. George White was a fascinating man, but one about whom little is known today: the first African American to serve in Congress in the 20th century (retiring in 1901) and the last of 22 to serve from the South after the Civil War until the 1970s. He was a stalwart Republican, and served alone in the Congress for four years. But he was more than a token--an accomplished teacher, lawyer, prosecutor, developer and banker. He deserves to be studied in depth; my attempt is the baseline, a painstakingly drawn outline, based on a careful study of limited evidence. Judge for yourself--and then place him in his rightful position in our history, as the intriguing, honest, flawed but eminently admirable individual he was. I recommend him--and this book--highly!

I purchased my first copy of this book back in 1984 before I left on a junior year abroad program from Illinois State University, Normal, IL. Over 20 years later, still in a German speaking country and still using it.

The book is very easy to read and locate verbs. If you canot find the verb you are looking for there is a list of words located in the back listing conjugactions of similar words which one can use as a reference. All tenses are conjugated and listed. A very great companion for anybody studying the German language or going abroad to study in Germany.

This book is a handy adjunct to the 501 German Verbs. The 501 German Verbs is excellent but a bit weighty to haul around to classes or to keep handy for those times when you simply need to quickly look up something.

German Verbs is by an author who has written many other books on the German language and his experience shows in that what's in this book is exactly what any hopeful speaker of German needs to know and is laid out in exactly the most efficient way to get what you need at speed. If you're studying German, this is an essential companion.

If you're learning German, this is a good book to have with you, anytime you have some dead time -- waiting for a plane, waiting in a doctor's or dentist's office. Waiting for Godot. You'll eventually make your way through the conjugations of over 300 German verbs, from "achten" to "zwingen."

Henry Strutz was an associate professor of languages at State University of New York in Alfred, New York, when he put this book together. The volume I have is rather older, however, this kind of book that doesn't really go out of date. Language does change, but the basics of languages remain steady over several generations in general, and German is no exception. The basic core of the language remains constant, so this book holds up over time. Subsequent printings of this book may add a verb here and drop a verb there (there are over 300 verbs laid out here) but the vast majority will remain the same.

I studied German at university almost 25 years ago, and first purchased this book to go along with my studies. While German is fairly standard in the patterns of conjugations for most verbs, German like most languages has exceptions to many rules, including exceptions to some of the most frequently used verbs, such as the verb constructions for to be (English is the same, with this being one of the most difficult verb constructions for non-English speakers to learn). The verb sein (bin, bist, ist, sind, seid, sind) is one of the most important verbs; haben is another important verb, given its 'helping verb' status (true also in English), as it occurs in constructions with other verbs.

There are over 300 verbs here, one each to a page, arranged in alphabetical order. Most of the verbs found in eighty percent or more of regular conversation and general writing are to be found here. Each page is laid out in a logical order with the various tenses and structures in good, easy to follow format.

There is an introduction with a very basic grammar, a discussion of the verb tenses and their uses, different kinds of conjugations, but this should not be confused with being a German grammar or language study. This introductory material is but the briefest of introductions, intended primarily as a refresher for those who have studied German before, or are studying German concurrently with using this text.

Strutz has several indexes in the book, including an English-to-German index of words represented in the text; there is a German-to-English index in the same pattern.

I'm trying to recapture my reading German this year, so that I can do some theological research using various German texts in the coming academic year. I find this book invaluable - it is perhaps of more value when one is trying to write than when one is trying to read, but it is still very useful, so much so that the binding on my copy has cracked from use (as with Strutz's other verb conjugation book).

This is the best re-telling of the earliest epic of mankind, that I have seen for children. At just over 100 pages, it gives a much fuller sense of the story and its intricacies than Ludmilla Zeman's version. (Although her illustrations are much better). As a supplemental/part-time home schooling mother (I supplement what my children learn in school), I think this book is the best place to start any child's study of history and literature. (Mine started with this book at age 6.)

Why this has gone out of print I do not know. This version of the story can be read to a child over the course of about 7-10 nights. Better than Zeman's version, this story fleshes out details that make the actions of the characters much more understandable.

For example, when Gilgamesh rejects the goddess Ishtar, who has decided Gilgamesh should be her next husband, in Zeman's version you really have no sense why he rejects her. Marrying a goddess seems like a good thing, but for some unexplained reason Gilgamesh doesn't go for it. In Bryson's version however, she spells out Gilgamesh's reasons; Ishtar, once she has the attention of the one she desires, grows tired of the hapless soul and then she destroys them. Suddenly Gilgamesh's action makes sense.

In another example, Zeman leaves out any reference to Ninsun, Gilgamesh's mother, while in Bryson she is an important character whom Gilgamesh seeks out for advice.

This story is a wonderful tale. Bryson's retelling gives us insight into characters who lived 5000 years ago. She makes it possible to understand their to way of life. Where else can you read about heroes who bear bronze swords and seek out the man who survived the flood?

I got this book out of the children's section of our localpublic library and now am trying to get my own copy.

There is justsomething about this book, the way that it tells the story ofGilgamesh and his best friend, Eikkidu (sp?); their battles with the magical bull; the original story of the Flood; how the first walled city was built; the troubles with Ishtar; and other tales of the dawn of history, that touches my heart. The author is showing us mankind's childhood, and she tells the story with simplicity. Her illustrations remind us of the stone carvings and other artifacts of Mesopotamia, yet somehow they convey movement and expression beautifully.

The story of Eikkidu is my favorite. God creates him, and leaves him asleep in the forest. When Eikkidu wakes up, he does not know he is a strong man, and runs away from the first rabbits and small animals that he sees. Gilgamesh eventually finds him and befriends him, and the two become inseparable. Eikkidu becomes more or less civilized, but never, if I remember correctly, can bring himself to eat meat. When Eikkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes to the underworld to bring him back. A lovely, lovely story from the time and place of Zarathrustra, the sage who taught us to call God "Friend."

For the sake of honesty, though, I must admit that my children didn't enjoy it as much as I did. Though they did read it, they might have enjoyed a more violent, colorful version. Still, the story and the illustrations of this version are historically accurate and, I would think, better art, and children have to be exposed to those things for awhile before they learn to appreciate them.

This is an excellent, complete tale of Gilgamesh.A wonderful book for middle school age children to read on their own. Excellent language, wonderful authentic illustrations from the clay tablets of the period.

I really think that all parents should get to know their child from the brain perspective. This book provides a thorough and easy-to-follow overview of the child's growing brain. The idea of brain-based education is really catching on these days. Why not brain-based parenting? See also Power Brain Kids

I was really impressed with this book because the information is all based in scientific fact AND it's a quick read. It's refreshing to be reading about the results of scientific studies from authors that are compelling writers and have a sense of humor. To summarize the content, child rearing is about common sense, but the gems in this book are the descriptions of scientific studies that explain the reasons why parents and children do what they do. There are a lot of passages worth quoting to a fellow parent! I highly recommend this book.

Norbert Herschkowitz's book may not be as inspiring a read as The Prenatal Prescription by Peter Nathanielsz, but it's filled with valuable information on giving your baby the healthiest start in life, both prebirth and after birth. The information on how a baby's brain works (e.g. language acquisition) is particularly interesting.

I wish I had already had this book when my own children were growing up, but now I can consult it to follow and understand the development of my grandchildren. The authors' vast expertise has not kept them from writing a parent-friendly, easily-accessible-for-the-layperson book that answers the questions we all have as we watch our children progress: Are they developing as they should, according to the proper timeline? Am I being too demanding? Not enough? What makes it all work? We know our children are miracles of nature, but the text gives us a wider understanding of why and how. It quells doubts and cheers us, as we watch the "sample" children, so like our own, change from day to day.

Lucille Clifton is my aunt, my father's sister. However, my father was absent, so to me, this book is more than a collection of poems or casual redaing but a true gift of my own family history in black and white, a history that I wasn't aware of. Now that I it has given me strength. My friends and I summon up my aunt's namesake, the ORIGINAL Lucille (!)anytime we need to lay down the law! Thank you Aunt Lucille for your gift and for this gift to me.

Lucille Clifton's GOOD WOMAN is an excellent volume of poetry. Moreover, the memoir challenges the traditional exercise of writing the self and experience that merits articulation. Clifton's poems and imagery rarely disappoint, but name the unspoken and bring greater consciousness and empowerment.

Lucille Clifton has always been one of my favorite poets. Her accessible poetry captures in moving, eloquent verse living in the world. Her unique voice speaks in language that is not unnecessarily dense and "cerebral": an especially desirable trait given the frequently written complaint regarding lack of readership for modern poetry. Lucille Clifton writes poetry we ALL can relate to, not just the academics and, to be a little unkind, poetry "snobs". Recommended highly.

I love reading Lucille Clifton's poetry. I get a real sense of her person, her pain, her history. Some poems are so moving, I can't help but cry. I am stunned to find such fine wording, the way she knows just what word to use. Some of her word choices are unusual....they're not a way that one would have thought of that word, but in the context of the poem, the word finds a home, makes sense. Additionally, she expresses her appreciation of the earth in almost religious terms; her exploration of religion in her poetry is extremely appealing to me. She seems to have a sense of appreciation for, and sympathetic understanding of, the characters (Job, Moses especially) in the Bible, I feel closer to them myself when viewing them through her eyes. I like this book also because you feel the strength of the woman behind the words, she's wise, she's had her pain, but she's able to celebrate those things in life that are worth celebrating -- love, family, simple pleasures and even her own hair and hips. I love too many poems to list here, but you should go to your library and read these poems; even if you don't buy the book, these poems should find a place in your life: Salt, The Lesson of the Falling Leaves, Mary, Cutting Greens....so many more. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

This was a great book to read a literary analysis of O Henry's works, unfortunately, the story I needed it for was not in the book. I had to return it.

Graphic Classics: O. Henry is a graphic novel anthology of classic short stories by O. Henry, each of which is presented in comic book form. Each individual story is fully and distinctively illustrated in comic-style in black-and-white by a different artist, and faithfully renders the gist of O. Henry's complex characterizations. The O. Henry stories featured include The Ransom of Red Chief, The Gift of the Magi, The Caballero's Way, Roads of Destiny, The Marionettes, The Friendly Call, and The Furnished Room. Brief biographies of the many different artists round out this introduction to works of great literature, highly recommended for all ages.

There's 13 illustrated O. Henry stories altogether, by additional illustrators than the few noted on the cover. The accomplished illustrators bring out in their own distinctive visual styles the diverse dramatic moments and general tones of the stories. The illustrations also accentuate the abbreviated, selected text of each tale. With stories ranging from only a few pages to about 20 at most, the variety of illustration styles can be reviewed and appreciated quickly in this work which fits right in to the current popularity for graphic novels and similar works.

Graphic Classics continues is incredible series of illustrated classics with "O Henry," an American short story author and the master of the twist ending. Almost everyone who has gone through the US school system has encountered O Henry at some point or other, most likely in "Gift of the Magi," but the remainder of his catalog is not as generally well-known.

This volume, # 11 in the Graphic Classics series, has some of the most variety of the series. From cowboy adventure yarns to morality tales to straight, melancholy tragedies, O Henry seems to have written a little bit of everything. The majority of the Graphic Classics series have focused on horror, which seems really suited to the format, but it is great to see that adventure has a place as well.

This volume contains:

"An Unfinished Story" - A quick snippet about exactly who qualifies for heaven.

"The Ransom of Red Chief" - A cartoonish take on a Dennis the Menace-style tale of kidnapping a spoiled bully.

"The Caballero's Way" - A brilliant tale of the Cisco Kid, famed bandit and caballero. The illustrations are superb, completely complementing the romantic nature of the yarn. Ah, for the love of Tonia Perez, what would we all not dare? I could happily buy a whole book in this style.

"The Gift of the Magi" - THE classic O Henry tale, illustrated by Graphic Classics's regular Lisa K. Weber. Her pretty art adds the necessary touch on this familiar and beautiful story.

"After 20 Years" - A clever story of friendship, with the art giving the right rough and ready feel. Touching and sad.

"A Strange Story" - A VERY strange story, with cartoonish illustrations. A funny break from the heavy tales preceding.

"The Marionettes" - Rick Geary's Victorian style is great for this story of free will, heroes and villains, and why people do what they do.

"The Furnished Room" - A straight-forward tragedy, full of loneliness and death.

"Roads of Destiny" - The struggling peasant/poet David takes three paths through life, but all lead to the same destiny. Three different illustrators lends power to the adaptation.

"The Friendly Call" - An odd tale of loyalty and friendship.

"A Madison Square Arabian Night" - A dilettante's dismay, a photograph of a woman...

"The Eye of the Beholder" - An artist who paints souls rather than appearance, finds that not everyone appreciates having their true nature revealed.