Murray Books

Edward D. Ives provides a fascinating study of a ballad. He first gives us a history of the Bonny Earl of Murray and then explains the political tensions that lead to his slaying by the Earl of Huntly. He makes excellent use of a variety of sources to place this history within the socio-political context of Renaissance life. This history is exceptional because there simply isn't that much good information about the Bonny Earl. The story is also fascinating. It involves political rivalry, complicity, if not conspiracy, by a king, and rumors of illicit affairs. In sum, it contains all of the elements of a ballad, including the sordid details of gothic romance. Following this historical background, Ives writes an thorough history of the ballad. He carefully demonstrates how the tune came from different sources, and he shows how it became part of F. J. Child's canon of 305 English and Scottish ballads. The analysis is an interesting look at the aesthetics of ballad composition, and Ives provides some intriguing insights into this ballad's history. He shows, for example, that it apparently wasn't commonly performed within the Scottish and English oral tradition yet it was occasionaly documented in the USA by folksong scholars working in the field. Ives moves out a limb, by his own admission, and even suggests how the original composer of the ballad may have come from a particular social background. One intriguing tidbit to this book is his discussion of "Mondegreens," or what is sometimes referred to as "Lyrics Misheard." This ballad is the source of the term, and Ives' witty writing includes some good ones that he has collected from students.

Think of a subject or season or animal... This book has something for every one. The children's section is not dumbed down yet still enchanting. The most concise but all-encompassing poetry book you will ever need.

A book of days is a great way to write down meaningful things that have happened to you. Using it as a mini journal or a timetable, this book is basically a list of the days of the year without a specific year. You keep it year after year (instead of throwing it away like a calendar) and write down anything significant that happened to you on a particular date. Over the years it fills up with short memos of important events and helps you to remember those special milestones without having to write extensively in a journal or run through lengthy volumes to find when something happened. This particular book of days is creatively designed by Claire Murray, a New England Illustrator, who focuses on the beauty that is found in nature. Each month begins with a attractive example of Murray's work while the covers of the book are carefully ornamented with borders and designs inspired by her Nantucket gardens. The book is compact and perfect for beginning the simple legacy that is you.

One of the classic works on lion hunting from 1913. Like Capstick says in his editor's note at the beginning, " This book is prized Africana, noted for its accuracy on lions and lion hunting." Teddy Roosevelt hunted with Pease in 1909. Sir Alfred Pease was one of those legendary 19th. Century Englishmen: born rich in 1857, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he traveled all over Africa and finally ended up in Kenya as a big game hunter. The Book of the Lion is told in a straightforwared manner much like Capstick's own interesting writing.

This is a sturdy hardcover book 32 pages in length. Not only is this book well illustrated, accurate, and most informative but it teaches lessons that any of us could afford to learn (or re-learn!). Author Peter Murray gently tells the life story and adventures of "Slow" in a manner that DOES NOT turn young readers off to History. His choice of words entices his audience, young or old, to turn "just one more" page. As a homeschooling Mother of six I especially appreciate the review questions & answers, the helpful study guide, and the time line. I have already incorporated this book, and the rest of the series, into our schooling regimae.

This book shows the real role of history, not to regurgitate historical facts, but to weave the complex cloth of what came before us

This book gives some good information on The History of The New York Black Panther Party. It is very comprehensive in its coverage of the trial and its aftermath.

This book has JUST been reviewed by the Financial Times of London and is available through them at a disocunted price. It is NOT out of print.

Murray makes trustworthy use of historical detail and supports his narrative with good documentation. Good writing is employed.

Although the country itself is larger than France, the Burma campaign of World War Two has remained poorly documented. Like the Russian front for Germany in Europe, Burma proved to be a step too far for the invading Japanese force, but not before inflicting terrible casualties and destruction on the country.

Written as a narrative, Latimer outlines the basics of the war in Burma, from Imperial British roots, through to Japan's eventual surrender, but lets the men who actually fought there fill in the details. Using diary entries and interviews, Latimer paints a picture of the incredible horror, boredom and occasional humour of war, and the awful conditions endured by soldiers. For example, a soldier in the town of Phek described the natives carrying a headless Japanese body "...like a trussed pig, jolting and swaying." The victim had raided the village, but then fallen sick with dysentery. Such was the nature of war, the British would pay the natives in salt for any enemy equipment or heads. Another British quote describes how the heat caused severe sweat rashes, which became infected and bled.

The conflict is often thought of as a war between the Japanese and British, but huge numbers of natives and immigrants, speaking over 120 languages, fought on both sides of the conflict, for any number of reasons. Natives were often forced into labour for both sides. The Japanese struggled to build a railway link from Thailand to northern Burma, as preparation for an invasion of India. The British had suffered heavy defeats, but the rugged and unforgiving Burmese landscape aided their struggle to slow the Japanese advance, which eventually slowed to a bogged down stalemate. The Japanese were never defeated in Burma, but neither were they fully victorious.

Latimer presents a human side in this book, which is shocking and real, even sixty years after the war. His style is easy to read, unlike many academic texts. The detail of the various battles and personalities of the war in Burma is backed up with highly detailed maps, a number of photos, and almost 200 pages of footnotes and bibliography.