Nicholas Books

I have read this phenomenal work three times and still get something new with each read. What amazes me, as a former Roman Catholic, is the fact that this 14th century commentary is still relevant to the Liturgy to which all Orthodox Christians are familiar. This would not be so for a 14th century commentary of any western liturgy, since they have changed so radically since then. The debth and profundity of this reading are astounding. Any Orthodox Christian who is serious about his faith and wants a fuller appreciation of the the rich liturgical tradition which is the hallmark of the Orthodox Church should read this book.

St. Nicholas Cabasilas (really Kavasilas) is one of the outstanding Orthodox Theologians, who fortunately has been translated into English. This book takes the reader through the most awsome Mysterion of the Church - the Divine Liturgy, and the Holy Eucharist. The Orthodox Theology cannot be seperated from Liturgical Worship, and if you read this book, you will understand why. "Life in Christ" by St. Nicholas is also in English, and a primer on the Orthodox Life in Christ, with its clear, and yet very deep teachings of Purification, Illumination and Theosis. Both vols should be in every home library.

This is probably the best book available on Orthodox worship. It might not match the current liturgy exactly, and it might not be as extensive in it's treatment as some more modern liturgical texts, but whatever is lacking in this book is more than made up for in it's depth and profundity. St. Nicholas goes through the liturgy part by part to give a commentary on the fixed portions, compare and contrast western and east liturgical practices, and generally give a sense of what an Orthodox worship service *should* be like. This is required reading for just about all Orthodox Christians, but especially for those who struggle to pay attention during services and even find them boring. I am not saying that this book is going to make the liturgy seem like heaven on earth if you don't already get that feeling; but at the very least, this book shows you the rhyme and reason for all the various things going on during a liturgy.

This is a valuable book from the point of view of the theory and practice of worship in the Byzantine Church. For a student of Divine Liturgy this is a must read. The text of the Byzantine liturgy itself is not included in the book and the introduction provided by R M French helps in this direction. The book is outlined in six chapters explaining the meaning of every part of the liturgy. After reading this book the participation in the liturgy will no more be the same.

Cabasilas was a layman who lived in the 13th century. He never attained high ecclesiastical office. Though he wrote a number of books including homilies and lives of saints, his fame rests on his 'Commentary on the Divine Liturgy'.

Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession.

Nicholas Bracewell, the stage manager for the troupe of actors known as Westfield's Men has yet more problems to overcome. The group's talented playwright Edmund Hoode, has been taken ill and is unable to complete his latest offering. The problem is, is the illness a natural one or are there more sinister things afoot. Plus a gambler has moved into the inn the troupe calls home and is proceeding to relieve some of the actors of their hard earned money. Then, as if these problems are not enough the troupe's theatre costumes go missing from a locked cabinet. Nicholas could well do without all these distractions but of course, as usual, the show must go on.

The author's love for the Elizabethan theatre comes shining through this series of books. Plus his knowledge of the period fills the pages with authenticity and the sights and sounds of the streets and inns of Elizabethan London.

This was an enjoyable read, but wasn't my favorite in the series. It still features the same wonderful characters, but the dialogue between them seemed forced and formulaic -- a little tired. The plot has an interesting twist involving playwright Hoode, but the other story line was pretty lame. Part of a great series, this book had all the basic elements of the earlier stories, but the telling seemed a bit dispassionate -- like an actor who has played the same role one too many times.

I'm a latecomer to the series and after reading "The Counterfeit Crank," I will definitely order more of Edward Marston's books. The characters are wonderfully drawn, and the details are excellent. The mystery may not present much of a challenge to the experienced fan, but I think it's more than worthwhile.

We were snowed in over Christmas, and I read this book at the same time as I read Stephen Greenblatt's biography of Shakespeare, "Will in the World." Mr. Marston's portrayal of his theatrical company is exactly the way it was when Shakespeare was an actor and budding playwright. I highly recommend both books!

In Elizabethan England the acting troupe of Westfield's Men is having their share of woes. Playwright Edmund Hoode has taken ill and it is up to his protégée Michael Grammaticus to finish the new play the actors are to perform. Michael is so grateful to his mentor for his support that he pays for the doctor and the special food he prescribes. A card player Alexander Marwood entices some of Westfield's Men into a game of cards with him. More times than not he is the winner, but there is no evidence that he is cheating but bookholder Nicholas Bracewell has his suspicions.

Someone steal the take for a play and their best costumes; nobody has a clue who is behind the thefts. Two young beggars who Nicholas befriended end up at Bridewell's workhouse where Dorothea is raped before she is released and her best friend Hywell is killed for his righteous attempt to hunt down the people who run the workhouse. Nicholas is determined to bring those responsible for the boy's death to justice as well as a couple of thieves who thought Westfield's Men were easy pickings.

Readers get a taste what it was like for actors who have the backing of a lord in Elizabethan England. Nicholas Bracewell is more heroic than usual as he tries to right many wrongs by bringing thieves and killers to justice. THE COUNTERFEIT CRANK is an exciting historical mystery and readers will be delighted to become reacquainted with characters they have come to regard as friends as it is always a treat to read about the endearing Westfield's Men.

Harriet Klausner

this book is just...really good. no words. just good.

Es la historia de amor, que mucha gente sueña para su vida... y solamente unos pocos podemos vivirla y difrutarla de esa manera y con esa intensidad.

Son de esas historia donde la piel, el corazon y el alma se extremecen de tal manera que lo unico que queda es agradecer a Dios, por amar y ser amado de tal manera.

Es una verdadera historia de amor, desde el principio hasta los "80 años"... tal cual como deseamos vivirla nosotros.

Felicitaciones Nicholas Sparks, sos todo un maestro

I read this book in about 5 hours. It's pretty hard for me to do that...but it was just impossible for me to put down this book. Nicholas Sparks is a genius, he truly knows how to write. He is the William Shakespeare of our time. Any book this man writes is truly a work of art.

I LOVED this book. It was honestly one of the ebst bookd I've read. Nicholas Sparks is such a talented writer. His books just come to life in your imagination and you can't put the book down once you've started. I've read many of Sparks' books and anyone you choose to read is outstanding! Nicholas Sparks truly has a GREAT gift!!!

This book is a very comrehensive look at the culture & people of Ecuador. It is written like a travel guide giving an inside look into different locations & the people living there. This book would an enjoyable read even for people who are not planning on traveling to Ecuador.

As all Culture Shock books, this too is a very good one in unerstanding the soul of a country.

My son is in Ecuador as an exchange student for a year, and I found the book interesting. It gives you a sense of the culture and what to expect if you go to live there.

If you're planning on going to Ecuador this is the book for you. The author writes in a very lively way to keep you interested all the way to the end. Having lived there for over 20 years he has authoritatve views and accurate histories to really get you prepared to interact with the people of Ecuador. The author also has a helpful list of do's and don'ts to help keep you out of trouble. Check it out.

Death Foretold is an exceptional book. Effortlessly blending history, sociology and clinical acumen, it tells the story of how and why doctors (sometimes) avoid answering the one question their patients really need the answer to: "So what does this mean for me?". It marshalls an impressive array of data, from wonderfully human qualitative interviews with physicians, to rigorously executed quantitative experiments and surveys. All is explained in an elegant and eminently readable voice deeply sympathetic to the patients undergoing awful disease, the families caring for them, and the physicians charged with helping. This is a book that any one training (or trained) in the healing arts must read; but it is also a rare and wonderful chance for those who may one day be patients nearing death to gain some insight into what that experience is like -- and the rich possibilities it could also have.

Death Foretold focuses on the doctor's prognosis in medicine, exploring how this prognosis is made and how it's presented to patients. Interviews, surveys and the author's own experience considers the nature of medical prognosis, common errors, and how they're presented and interpreted on all sides. An essential probe of a little-covered subject.

Nicholas Christakis offers insightful research and well written conclusions in Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care. The ability for physicians to determine with accuracy the end of life offers hope of a better end for patients and families. When medical schools address this overlooked subject, patients will suffer less, be able to plan remaining time wisely and receive appropriate Hopsice and other care. Dr. Christakis is really writing about living well - even if it is the last living the patient does. A superb book for the lay population, as well as medical community - one that hopefully will be heeded by medical school faculties as curriculum is being reviewed.

Near the end of life most of us confront death with great fear. Although physicians are often shepherding us and our families through this critical time in our lives, it is often the case that their efforts fail -- leaving us to anticipate a miracle, and often shocking the surviving relatives when death finally does arrive. I never realized it before reading this book, but physicians often fail us at one of the most critical and vulnerable times of our lives, at the end. Dr. Christakis has illuminated the problems associated with physician's who are unable or unwilling to prognosticate death -- revealing a shortcoming that needs attention. This book should certainly be read by physicians, but I also recommend it for the general public. Dr. Christakis deserves credit for shedding light on a topic that too few physicians are willing to talk about.

Edward Marston is the pseudonym of Keith Miles, a fairly prolific and extremely good writer of mainly Elizabethan and medieval mysteries. He has also written mysteries under his own name with both sporting and golf backgrounds. However it is primarily the books that take place earlier in history that I am interested in. He read modern history at Oxford and has had many jobs, including university lecturer, but fortunately for all his readers, he turned to the writing profession.

A cold and miserable winter has put its icy hand on the streets of London and Nicholas Bracewell, company manager and his troupe of actors are out of work. When an offer to perform at a manor house in Essex, comes their way they are only too delighted to accept. But the offer comes with two rather strange conditions. They must perform an entirely new play and also take into their little group a young apprentice, Davy Stratton.

Initially Davy fits in well and seems to be quite talented. However he soon begins to disrupt the group and begins to argue with the other apprentices. Finally running away during a trip to Essex. Nicholas begins rehearsals for the new play, The Witch of Colchester, but when the lead actor begins to fall ill with symptoms identical to those that afflict his character in the play some of the other actors begin to fear that there may be a witch among the group. When a member of the audience during the opening night performance the troupe are only too aware that their latest venture may be short lived . . .

The author's love for the Elizabethan theatre comes shining through this series of books. Plus his knowledge of the period fills the pages with authenticity and the sights and sounds of the streets and inns of Elizabethan London.

Slowly but surely the Nic Bracewell-mysteries are changing tack.
The inevitable murder more and more enters late into the story and seems to be somewhat less important. In a book of 273 pages the one and only murder is committed on page 181 and it is not even clear (and even not important) why it's done. Moreover one of the heroes comes three times near death because there were some spells in the play he was rehearsing. The reader waiting for a logical explanation will wait in vainly. The author of the play changes the spells and that's it. Therefore we are left with a hugely sympathetic cast of by now familiar characters, very witty dialogue and a story that concentrates almost completely on the adventures of actors in a visit outside London where they are not very welcome. As a historian I like it very much but the hardcore mystery fan will feel somewhat cheated.

The Nicholas Bracewell Elizabethan Theatre series is hands down my favourite Elizabethan mystery series. Edward Marston (the authour) does a masterful job of combining broad humour with an intriguing plot and an in-depth look at the workings of a theatre troupe in 16th century England. Another plus: this series is almost always consistently good.

England is currently blanketed with horrendously bad winter weather, and the Westfield's Men face a season of being out of work, when good fortune practically leaps into their laps. They are offered the chance to give a weeek and a half' s worth of performances at Silvermere, Sir Michael Greenleaf's country house in Essex. There are however two conditions that must be met: 1) that they perform at least one entirely new play, and 2) that they take on an apprentice -- 10 year old Davy Stratton, the son of merchant Jerome Stratton, a friend of Sir Michael's. On the surface, these conditions seems completely easy ones. But little do the Westfield's Men know what is in store for them!

From the very beginning Nicholas senses that there's something not quite right about Davy's relationship with his father. Nicholas's suspicions prove to be correct when, on a reconnaissance trip to Silvermere, Davy runs away the very first chance he gets. And when Jerome Stratton returns his errant son to Nicholas, both father and son claim that Davy's horse ran away with him. Nicholas doesn't buy the story, but cannot get Davy to open up to him. Soon after, Davy's begins to pull some rather nasty pranks on the other apprentices, and earns himself a rather unappetizing nickname with the players: the devil's apprentice. Nicholas cannot quite make out what's wrong with Davy. He sense that the boy is an innately a good and nice child, but that Davy is also very unhappy. And he is quite disturbed that he cannot get Davy to trust him enough to tell him what is wrong. But soon other matters to do with the company takes up all of Nicholas's time and concern. To begin with, Laurence Firethorn, the company's leading actor falls victim to a mysterious illness that incapacitates him at the most inconvenient of times. Then the players receive word that a group of Puritans who reside near Silvermere have declared their intention to make sure that the players never make it to the manor, and who are bent on sabotaging the performances. The havoc and mayhem that the players face culminates with the death of an audience member during one of their performances. Firethorn is sure that the company is accursed and that sorcery is at the root of all their problems, but Nicholas is sure that all this is the work of an intelligent and cunning mind, and he is determined to discover what exactly is going on at Silvermere.

Why does Davy keep running away? Was the audience member murdered, or did he die of natural causes as the local doctor claims? What illness has befallen Firethron? And are the Westfield's Men truly accursed as Firethorn believes? These are the strains that hold this particular Nicholas Bracewell mystery together. The resolution of this particular mystery was a deceptively simple one, but right up till the end, when all is revealed, you can be sure of that this mystery novel will provide you with some truly enjoyable reading. "The Devil's Apprentice" is a really fun read from start to finish; Edward Marston has set just the right tone -- Elizabethan England and the world of the players comes to life before your very eyes. Definitely an interesting and intriguing read.

It has been one of the coldest winters that Elizabethan England has ever known so it's not too surprising that the poor freeze to death on the streets of London. The theatre company of Westfield's Men has been out of work because most of their acting takes place outdoors since they're a traveling troupe. When Sir. Michael Greenleaf of Essex invites them for a ten-day run of six plays, the offer is almost immediately accepted.

Nicholas Bracewell, the book holder who sees to the arrangement of the scenery, thinks the invitation is just what the company needs. Sir Michael insists that one of the plays should be original and that the company takes on Davy Stratton as an apprentice. However, Davy seems to be a catalyst for trouble and always runs away, while terrible things happen to the actors during the new play. Some say it is witchcraft but Nicholas proceeds thinking there is a more mundane reason. He also intends to find out why Davy is causing so much mischief and why he keeps running away when its obvious he likes the theatre group.

THE DEVIL'S APPRENTICE is a fascinating work that spotlights an acting troupe in Elizabethan England. The new religion that the Puritans practice regards theatre people as devils incarnate and should be eradicated from the face of the earth. Edward Marston uses the theatre group as a bridge between the common folk and the gentry so the cast of characters is refreshingly diverse. This mystery is entertaining and a history lesson rolled up into one neat package.

Harriet Klausner

This is an excellent contribution to the continuing debate over the relationship between science and theology and should be of interest to philosophers of science as well. This is an important book and it has implications for the theology of miracles, the philosophy of the laws of nature, and other fields outside the classical locus of theology.

totally recommended, and for a CUP book not too expensive either!

I found this book really useful - I am currently studing religion and science and this book contains the best discussion of the divine action issue that I have been able to find. Excellent.

In the last decades, different theological theories have tried to give an explanation of God's action in terms of modern scientific advances. In particular, quantum mechanics and chaos theory are two physical tools preferred for this objective, the first because of the ontological determinism subjacent to some of its interpretations, the second as it entails an epistemological impossibility of making long-range predictions. We must remember, however, that scientific theories are always provisional, and using them for theological explanations means a certain risk.

Most of the theories discussed in this book have to do with a certain type of divine action. SDA (Special Divine Action) applies to concrete actions of God to change the cosmos, and may be divided into "interventionist" (miracles) or "non-interventionist" (providence). The latter may also be subdivided in "compatibilist" (indistinguishable from coincidence) and "incompatibilist" (where God causes independent causal chains). Finally, this last type may be "continuous" or "discontinuous." The book looks in depth at theological theories that try to explain non-interventionist compatibilist continuous special divine action using quantum mechanics and chaos theory.

Two chapters show inconsistencies in present theories, or point out errors of interpretation in the physical basis they use. The conclusion is pessimistic: in the state of the art, we don't have a valid theological theory that explains this type of divine action. Only Peacocke's holistic explanation escapes somewhat. However, the future possibility of a new theory is not excluded. Explanations of quantum mechanics alternative to the orthodox Copenhagen version are still appearing.

This book's analysis of theories based upon quantum mechanics and chaos theory is complete and scientifically impeccable. However, since it looks at a single type of SDA, others are not considered. There are a few loose ends in the analysis that would allow a discontinuous explanation of SDA, or one that makes use of randomness. Perhaps theologians don't like the latter because they are too influenced by the famous Einstein phrase ("God doesn't play dice"). In "The laws of nature" (1945), C.S. Lewis proposes another explanation for the efficacy of prayer: God could trim the initial conditions of the universe to take into account future prayers of human beings. This compatibilist explanation of SDA is not considered in Saunder's book.

In summary: "Divine Action and Modern Science" is useful, because it describes a set of recent theological theories that make use of scientific advances, but contain inconsistencies and weaknesses. Remember, however, that this book only addresses non-interventionist compatibilist continuous special divine action. Other possible forms and interpretations are out of its field of study.

Without doubt this is one of the most important books on divine action of recent years. Except for some theologians within more evangelical circles, the amount of studies explicitly addressing theological, philosophical, and scientific issues of divine action is small. Moreover, many classic studies on the subject (such as Keith Ward's "Divine Action," Michael Langford's "Providence," and Vernon White's "The Fall of a Sparrow") have been out of print for years now and are very hard to come by. (Why does nobody protest against that!? Are publishers simply blind to the many opportunities here?) Saunders gives an overview of the most important studies, and shows that the discussion about divine action has many dimensions which are still relatively unexplored and which are in dire need of further clarification. Moreover, he makes it clear that if one takes divine action in a realist sense (i.e. that God's action has real causal effects in the world), one cannot ignore the many scientific issues involved. Miracles, laws of nature, determinism, quantum mechanics, chaos theory (Polkinghorne) and top-down causation (Peacocke) -- Saunders manages to make the crucial scientific and theological issues concerning these concepts quite clear.

The book is highly readable and does not presuppose too much knowledge of science or theology on the part of the reader (though if one has some background knowledge of science and/or theology this will aid in making the context of many discussions more lucid). While I am not totally convinced that Saunders' approach does full justice to the theological intricacies involved, and while I am critical of the fact that he simply skips many methodological issues -- I will elaborate on these points more fully in a review which in due time will appear in the online journal for Philosophy of Religion: Ars Disputandi, see -- I believe that anyone interested in the issues surrounding the concept of divine action must not ignore this book. Though it is always tricky to make predictions, I am convinced that Saunders' valuable book will remain a standard work for issues surrounding divine action for a long time.

It was little late, but this was so~~~cheap, so I was safisfied with that.

I am fortunate enough to have met Ms. Elaine Stone herself and find her style to be that of great elegance, sophistication, grace, and poshness. She is by far the most fashionable person I have yet to meet. Reading The Dynamics of Fashion as my textbook for my FM114 class I found it very informant and recommend it to everyone, even those who are not a student of fashion.

I am fortunate enough to have met Ms. Elaine Stone herself and find her style to be that of great elegance, sophistication, grace, and poshness. She is by far the most fashionable person I have yet to meet. Reading The Dynamics of Fashion as my textbook for my FM114 class I found it very informant and recommend it to everyone, even those who are not a student of fashion.

This book is an excellent tool for all fashion students, or those just interested in learning more about the #1 money making industry in the U.S. Information on topics ranging from textiles to merchandising to cosmetics to retailing, and so much more. Very detailed, lots of pictures, helpful internet resources, glossary, and also the authors list of her 100 top apparel designers starting at Adolfo, ending at Yohji Yamamoto. This book was very helpful to me when I took the class Introduction to Fashion Merchandising.

I became aware of this book through an article Hemingway wrote about books he would like to read twice. Well I can say that this book is best read in the winter, for it will melt the snow in puddles around your shoe, and warm your heart and soul at the same time. So make haste and buy it now, while the cold winds still blow.

The Argentine pampas was a land of freedom and excitement: one literary figurehead W.H. Hudson describes in his memoir FAR AWAY & LONG AGO: A CHILDHOOD IN ARGENTINA. Descriptions of natural history and wildlife abound - and also of politics and interpersonal relationships of the times. You'd think FAR AWAY & LONG AGO would give insights into Hudson's childhood and life - and it does - but more importantly it recreates the history, culture and geography of Argentina in a way few travel books accomplish.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

As we continue to pave over the beauties of our world and turn them into concrete wastelands, it is good to think back what life was like 150 years ago before we began the process of destruction in earnest.

W. H. Hudson, the naturalist, is revered in Argentina, where they refer to him as Guillermo Enrique Hudson and name streets and towns after him. In simple and stately prose, he writes about his boyhood as one of several sons in an English family that ran an estancia on the Pampas. Despite several failed attempts to school him, he managed to pick up one of the best educations available: by using his eyes and ears to study nature. His skill in language, which is considerable, came from reading his father's books on his own.

Whether writing about ombu trees, plovers, snakes, lightning storms, rheas (Argentinian ostriches), or his neighboring ranchers, Hudson brought a whole world to life with this book.

Hudson published FAR AWAY AND LONG AGO in 1917 while he was living in England -- around the same time that a Frenchman named Marcel Proust was following where that elusive taste of madeleines led him in REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, and around the same time that World War I was destroying a whole way of life. As he writes in the book:

"It is difficult, impossible I am told, for any one to recall his boyhood exactly as it was. It could not have been what it seems to the adult mind, since we cannot escape from what we are, however great our detachment may be; and in going back we must take our present selves with us: the mind has taken a different colour, and this is thrown back upon our past. The poet has reversed the order of things when he tells us that we come trailing clouds of glory, which melt away and are lost as we proceed on our journey. The truth is that unless we belong to the order of those who crystallize or lose their souls on their passage, the clouds gather about us as we proceed, and as cloud-compellers we travel on to the very end."

FAR AWAY AND LONG AGO is perhaps one of the greatest autobiographies ever written. Although I finished reading it several days ago, I am still feeling its afterglow and get this itch to re-read passages from it. This is, indeed, a book that will withstand several readings.

I could never make it through Hudson's fantasy __Green Mansions__, but __Far Away and Long Ago__ is another book altogether. Written when Hudson was approaching eighty, more than forty years after he had left Argentina for good, it's filled with the kind of longing you might expect. And even though he's a witness to the mid-nineteenth civil wars in Argentina or, more incredibly still, listens to travelers reciting poems by the eighteenth-century Spaniard Menéndez Valdés, Hudson seems modern; he makes other times, other places, far away and long ago, as he calls them, seem incredibly near.

Hudson's excellent short story "El Ombú" is also well worth seeking out. And, finally, while it's true Hudson left Argentina for England, the US also has some claim to him; it was from New England, after all, that, shortly before his birth, his American family left for Argentina. Just thought I'd make that clear, since people are always calling him "Anglo-Argentine".