Robertson Books

Great book...full of information which is easily organized and easy to read if you're interested in this good information.

It's supposed to be a new item, but the book was wrinkled with a few wears on the binding.

An absolute must for anyone who is getting started for the first time on writing a thesis or completing a major project. It breaks down the research process into manageable steps and explains them in plain language. It is targeted at the first time researcher but is also a valuable reference at later stages of the research and reporting writing processes. It has made researching my own project a whole less daunting.

A great book for a graduate student like me. It helps you how to pick a topic, have some questions concerning a topic, and make them into a research that is in your words. It is an excellent book for a beginning researcher, guiding him or her step by step, through the entire research process with practical suggestions. It is a great book if you want to have a quality research in any discipline. Good luck.

This book was shipped fast and was brand new, just like they said. Thanks!

I saw the thoughtful movie, "Breaker Morant" many years ago and thought it was a fictious allegory of the Vietnam War, which, as it turns out, is a case of American bias. Several years ago, I was in Australia and picked this fascinating book at an airport bookstore.

I was dead wrong. Actually, this is the story of a grim episode in the spread of Empire. No, it doesn't explore the morality of going to war against the free Africaner people but it puts the microscope to the nature of war crimes and our reactions to them.

Breaker Morant is an enthusiastic volunteer for the Ango-Boer War. As an educated and sensitive man, he quickly becomes an officer and leads the Bushveldt Carabiniers in commando operations against Boer commandos and homesteads. His horsemen must travel fast, unencumbeed by POWs. Orders comes from "the top" to shoot prisoners of war. They do. They murder a German missionary, too.

The war is winding down and the Brits want to finish it off on a "good" note. They will throw a bone to the Afrikaners in the form of a few soldiers that--have been shooting prisoners. Morant can't believe it but then gets frightened. They get excellent legal coucil but the high officers who can besttestify on their behalf, are conveniently out of the country. Our boys are shot to death.

This book obliges you to scrutinize the nature of a war crime. Breaker and the others are innocent of anything worse than "just taking orders."

Ron Braithwaite author of Mexican Conquest novels, "Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"

If you have sen the superb " Breaker Morant" movie and wanted more info on The Breaker, his companions, their actions and the court martial, there are very few books out there. This one, by G.R.Witton, one of the men court-martialed with Morant et al, would seem to be the choice to be the best and most complete. It is not, as Witton spends much of the book recounting his life before he met and served with Morant and Handcock et al...he was not present at their execution and the last part of the book recounts his 3 years in various prisons. Kit Denton has a decent book out (have read it...it suffers a tad from emotion).There is another by a Nick (cannot remember last name) that is scarce. I believe that you would have to read all three...and would be in for some surprises if all you know about Morant et al comes from the movie.

I finally found a copy from the Univ. of Virginia via a book load service. I never *really* wanted to own it, just read it. It is simple and straight forward writing but the movie "Breaker Morant" tells 80-90% of what you will read in the book. Indeed the book was one of the primary resources for the movie "Breaker Morant". There are copies of the 1982 re-print around but IMHO they are not worth the ($$$) asking price. More like ($$$) but demand is what drives the price up. Same yourself the time and money, get a library loan copy to read if you must. It is a good book to compare with the "Dreyfus Affair" in France or other past/future war crime trials. The 10-20% of the book that is different from the movie is the post trial period which goes over Wittons's life in jail and the appeal process. Huge public outcry in Australia and the UK was what eventually set him free. That part of the book was interesting, but not worth ($$$).
I am glad I read it before buying. I have seen some "originals" on the net for $5000+, there are only 7 original 1907 copies in the world. (Be very carefull) The rest were "lost" in a fire.

Like many of us, I had seen the movie "Breaker Morant" and found it disturbing. Of course, I'd always wondered if it was actually true. I'd heard of a book, "Scapegoats of the Empire" that had supposedly been banned, but I had never seen a copy of it. Only by accident did I find out that Clock & Rose had published a facsimile edition. I hestitated to actually buy it, because the price is fairly steep, but I succumbed to my long-standing curiosity and took the plunge.

A couple weeks later the book arrived, and I opened the package wondering what I'd find within. To my delight, I uncovered an extremely well-made book, nicely bound, printed on cream paper, with a handsome sepia dustjacket. Already I was feeling much better, and I hadn't even read the book...

But, oh my goodness! What a story! An eyewitness retelling of the entire incident by one of the participants, the book is like a dagger plunged into the hypocritical heart of an empire on its last legs. For those unfamiliar with the incident, it occurred during the Boer war in South Africa just after the turn of the century, when a unit of the empire's troops comprised of British and Australian soldiers, ostensibly following orders, executed a number of Boer soldiers who had been taken prisoner in the field.

The incident became a cause celebrè, with everyone in power doing their best to distance themselves, and a court-martial resulted. Seven officers were tried, 3 Australian and 4 British. The British all were let go with dishonorable discharges; the three Australians were sentenced to death. Two were executed by firing squad in Pretoria, South Africa and the third, Lt. George Witton, had his sentence commuted to life in prison. Three years later, the British House of Commons overturned Witton's conviction, and he returned to Australia a free but deeply troubled man.

"Scapegoats of the Empire" is his story, a matter-of-fact recounting of the events as he recalled them, and it is in effect a scathing indictment of the supposedly "noble" institution of British Law, and of the men who ran the Empire. The book's extraordinarily relevant right now, in 2004, as we watch our own government going through contortions of self-justifcation over our latest (mis)adventures in Iraq.

There's nothing new under the sun: a must-read!

Like many of us, I had seen the movie "Breaker Morant" and found it disturbing. Of course, I'd always wondered if it was actually true. I'd heard of a book, "Scapegoats of the Empire" that had supposedly been banned, but I had never seen a copy of it. Only by accident did I find out that Clock & Rose had published a facsimile edition. I hestitated to actually buy it, because the price is fairly steep, but I succumbed to my long-standing curiosity and took the plunge.

A couple weeks later the book arrived, and I opened the package wondering what I'd find within. To my delight, I uncovered an extremely well-made book, nicely bound, printed on cream paper, with a handsome sepia dustjacket. Already I was feeling much better, and I hadn't even read the book...

But, oh my goodness! What a story! An eyewitness retelling of the entire incident by one of the participants, the book is like a dagger plunged into the hypocritical heart of an empire on its last legs. For those unfamiliar with the incident, it occurred during the Boer war in South Africa just after the turn of the century, when a unit of the empire's troops comprised of British and Australian soldiers, ostensibly following orders, executed a number of Boer soldiers who had been taken prisoner in the field.

The incident became a cause celebrè, with everyone in power doing their best to distance themselves, and a court-martial resulted. Seven officers were tried, 3 Australian and 4 British. The British all were let go with dishonorable discharges; the three Australians were sentenced to death. Two were executed by firing squad in Pretoria, South Africa and the third, Lt. George Witton, had his sentence commuted to life in prison. Three years later, the British House of Commons overturned Witton's conviction, and he returned to Australia a free but deeply troubled man.

"Scapegoats of the Empire" is his story, a matter-of-fact recounting of the events as he recalled them, and it is in effect a scathing indictment of the supposedly "noble" institution of British Law, and of the men who ran the Empire. The book's extraordinarily relevant right now, in 2004, as we watch our own government going through contortions of self-justifcation over our latest (mis)adventures in Iraq.

There's nothing new under the sun: a must-read!

Every once in a while I will pick up a book that is very far from my field, just because it looks interesting and because I want to try something that is well-written in unfamiliar territory. This book surely fits the bill. The prose is very good, and the story of how Charles went from the throne to the chopping block is told in a dramatic way. I totally recommend it.

For a long time, I have been world weary of contemporary historians who time and again sell the truth of a period for a mess of pottage. The Tyrannicide Brief was written by lawyer and judge, Geoffrey Robertson, who has researched a brilliant history of the time of the Commonwealth in England, which has been horribly treated for the last 347 years.

His main focus is on the lawyer, John Cooke, who accepted his Parliamentarian assignment to try King Charles I, who indeed started the English Civil War and conspired with foreign interests.

Robertson gives a well researched history of the conflict that lead up to the king's trial (Robertson concurs that he was guilty) and the life of Cooke.

He also treats the many histories that have mostly provoked against the Parliamentarians who stood up to the task. He also clears up some historical errors, like the fact that the Parliamentarian Army did not wholesale murder Irish citizens, but took Drogheda against English officers according to the rules of war; and that Irish subjects were treated with the best English judgement under the Commonwealth judge Cooke, who also did not imprison debtors, but instead ordered them to pay the debt by installments, a form of legal sentencing of the poor that would take centuries to recapture, following the malicious court of the conspiring villain king and son of Charles I, Charles II, who tried to subvert his country at the secret Treaty of Dover to Louis XIV of France.

It is atrocious to see how conscientious men had and have suffered in history at the hands of antagonists. This is an important study concerning the Good Old Cause.

While I like the thoughtfulness of Robertson's application of this study of jurisprudence against tyranny, I think it is difficult to apply the traditions and common law of a sovereign state in an international context (i.e. part of the problem of enforcing democracy in Muslim nations) as he does at the end of the book. Nevertheless, his legal thoughts on the state of modern tyranny need to be considered in an increasingly complex world of law and culture. From an American perspective, I think one should also consider the thoughts of John and John Quincy Adams on the difficulties of that subject.

Robertson is rigorous in his historical analysis which is quite rare today. Perhaps historians should study law to write history.

If you want to add an authoritative text to your library, choose this one.

I confess: I like the way Geoffrey Robertson thinks and the way he writes even if I don't always agree with his conclusions. This book is a great read.

If you can suspend your knowledge of the history (and any associated bias) and look at the events through the perspective of the law, then this is a wonderful fresh look at the legal issues uncovered/exposed by these events.

This book is not just about the events of 17th century England. The issues discussed reverberate today in the trials of modern war criminals and leaders.

Highly recommended to all who have an interest in history, the law and contemporary international events.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Note: I first published this review in April 2006 for the hardcover version of the book.

Over the last few years I have become aware of the phrase "History Wars" which seems to be a serious attempt by the Politically Correct brigade to reinterpret, and in some cases completely rewrite, history.

One of the most shameful rewritings of history I have ever seen (up there with the holocaust deniers)is Mr. Geoffrey Robertson's book "The Tyrannicide Brief" the basic argument of which is to say that the illegal trial and execution of King Charles I was the first time the people put on trial a tyrant and then set about establishing a utopian new society under Oliver Cromwell.

When I first heard Mr. Robertson put forward his views in an interview on ABC Radio National I was shocked "could this educated man be serious, Cromwell was good man and did the right thing by the people and God?!" As any encyclopaedia will inform you, Cromwell could not get his way with Parliament to put the King on trial so he excluded the House of Lords from the vote and when he was no more successful with the House of Commons he arranged for Colonel Pride prevent around 150 members of the house from entering so that he then had the numbers to win the vote!

Robertson's attempts to make John Cooke into a hero is as absurd as it is wicked. Not only was His Majesty the King denied the fundamental right of the presumption of innocence, he was told in the "trial" that he was to be convicted. The King was placed before a hand-picked biased tribunal. The law had never received Royal Assent.

Add to this the fact that none of the existing high court judges agreed to preside over the court and you get the basic idea. I will not go in to too much detail as readers can seek out the finer details in any good book on the subject. Cromwell simply wanted the King dead at any cost.

The other thing Cromwell is remembered for is his hatred of Roman Catholics and the killing of many thousands of innocent people in Ireland.

So why does Mr. Robertson rewrite history? The answer might be one of the views he often puts forward in interviews and in his writings, that is that he believes the UK, Australia and other realms of the Queen should become republics. So instead of articulating a republic model he engages in twisting the truth to hoodwink the ignorant.

His Majesty King Charles I was the last person to be made a Saint by the Anglican Church due to the fact that Cromwell offered him his life if he would abandon episcopacy but he refused, for this would have taken the Church of England away from being part of 'the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church' and made Her into a sect.

I would urge readers to look to properly researched books on this subject that can be bought through Amazon.

John Cooke of 17th Century England, now that is a name most unknown to massive majority of Americans today and few who do, probably known him as "John Cook" and he wasn't well regarded by previous authors like Antonia Fraser, Charles Charlton or C.V. Wedgwood. But Geoffrey Robertson does great justice to him and this book is a biographical work on John Cooke (with the "e") and his greatest legal work, conviction of King Charles I of high treason against the people of his kingdoms. Of course, that conviction later cost Cooke his life when royal restoration came.

The author traces Cooke's life and interwoven it with the dramatic events of his lifetime, his services with Thomas Wentworth, the English Civil Wars, Cromwell's rule and finally at the end, restoration of Charles II. But the author took care stayed within the boundary of his subject. The author also made sure that Cooke wasn't just a "hack lawyer" as many of the previous historians made him out to be but someone who is ahead of his time in terms of legal reforms. Cooke appears to be a type of lawyer who took his profession very seriously. According to the author, he was the first to advocate the right to remain silence, to pro bono lawyers to help those who cannot afford one and to regard kingship in terms of office granted by the people instead of one anointed by God. Many of what Cooke initially advocated soon became part of our nation's Constitutional laws and legal system we enjoyed today.

The book reads very well and it well written. Obviously the author have done his homework and it clears up many of the misconceptions and little disregards that previous historians have given toward John Cooke, including the proper spelling of his name. Core of the book is the trial of King Charles I and its an excellent narrative far above the only other book that I read on the subject, authored by C.V. Wedgwood. He was a die-hard Puritan but made his reputation as fair-minded and very knowledgeable. He wasn't very famous nor rich or well connected, ironically nobody really know what he even looked like after his death since no one thought Cooke was worthy enough to paint his likeness. This book provides a lot of useful and new information to anyone interested in British history.

The book highly recommended for anyone interested along this subject area. However, I strongly recommended that you should have a good background on the time period before reading it since the subject of the book is rather specific in nature and having a good background knowledge of the reign of Charles I, the civil wars and all that really helped enhance your understanding of the book.

"The Napoleon of Notting Hill" is probably the most absurd novel I've ever read. The author, G K Chesterton, was a colorful, verbose and highly eclectic British intellectual. He supported the Boer and the Irish, opposed the suffragettes, and collaborated with Guild Socialists, only to become entangled with the notorious Catholic fundamentalist Hilaire Belloc. I honestly admit that I don't quite understand the man!

Still, there seem to be some unifying themes in Chesterton's voluminous writings. The most obvious is traditional Christianity, first in the form of Anglicanism, later as Catholicism. The reader shouldn't be surprised if some of the characters in his novels turn out to be angels, the Devil, or God himself. Second is a kind of populism. Chesterton emphasizes common sense, the opinions of the common man, the everyday life of the common people, etc. As one of the characters in "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" puts it: "The human being, the common man, whom mere geniuses like you and me can only worship like a god". In his economic writings, he idealizes the peasantry. In other contexts, Chesterton says that life in the city is intrinsically interesting, and calls on realist writers to relate to it. Finally, there is a search for authenticity, as opposed to the artificial greyness of modernity and the tyranny of the Zeitgeist. Somehow, Chesterton believed that this authenticity could be found among ordinary people, hence making a connection to his populism.

All three themes are present in "The Napoleon of Notting Hill", published in 1904 and one of Chesterton's earliest novels. Both the setting and the plot are completely absurd, although the absurdity is revealed to have a point at the very end of the story. The setting is a futuristic Britain. The nation is a dictatorship, but nobody seems to care. Free speech is outlawed, but nobody notices, since nobody has anything important to say anyway! The standard of living is quite high, and the police have been abolished, since there is no crime. The king or dictator is choosen at random by lot. The whole world has been globalized, except Nicaragua. In other words, this society of the future is a parody of the greyness, dullness, lethargy and creeping statism Chesterton saw (or think he saw) in Britain during his own lifetime.

The plot revolves around two characters, king Auberon Quin and the seeming lunatic Adam Wayne. Upon his unexpected ascension to the throne, Auberon decides to resurrect the traditions of the Middle Ages as a sick joke for his own higher amusement. He divides London into independent boroughs, forces the mayors (or provosts) to wear ridiculous medieval attire, orders them to create mock armies, and so on. Unfortunately for the king, one person takes the whole thing seriously: Adam Wayne, the Lord High Provost of Notting Hill, the smallest and least significant borough in London. Before long, Wayne starts an absurd war with the other boroughs, and eventually succeeds in establishing "the empire of Notting Hill". Throughout the novel, we are lead to believe that Wayne is raving mad, and his actions certainly seem to parody nationalism and local patriotism. Only at the end is it revealed that Wayne is actually "the good guy", perhaps even an angel from Heaven. Both Quin and Wayne are overthrown by the people, but they join fortunes and wander off together.

The message of the novel is that nationalism and localism, which looks absurd to modern eyes, aren't artificial but real, more real than the dull greyness of the modern. Local patriotism is authentic, is part of what humanity is really all about. Chesterton was a "Little England nationalist" and called for extensive decentralization.

Another point raised by the novel concerns the relationship between humour and seriousness. The futuristic society described by Chesterton is frankly boring, but when Auberon attempts to protest this state of affairs, he can do little else than frivolity. Indeed, our "postmodern condition" is characterized both by conventional, mass boredom and frivolous mass entertainment. The two things aren't antipodes, but twins. This is Auberon's problem in the novel. Wayne's problem is seemingly the opposite: he takes even the absurd deadly seriously, and hence turns into a cultish fanatic. In the end, however, it turns out that Wayne knows the solution to the problem: humans need to be both humorous and serious, and there is no contradiction between authentic laughter and authentic seriousness. It may sound like a bland message, until you start watching TV!

However, Chesterton's novel also contains a cautionary note: "When dark and dreary days come, you and I are necessary, the pure fanatic, the pure satirist".

Is the world ripe for a real Adam Wayne?

Many rush around in a hazy anxiety that they are missing an opportunity to join the future, to be part of it, something special is coming. Chersterton seems to say that the future is highly overated. The best things for all time and eternity are love and having a sense of humor. There will never be anything better, technoledgy can not make it, nor social theory; if you do not see that then you are amoung the walking dead.

Not as well crafted as "The Man Who Was Thursday" but non-the-less Chetertonian in allegory, sybolism,analogies and voice. Chesterton's allegory and symbolism has a way of getting under one's skin and tearing something up inside. vanity? Is it some pseudo-self dieing and truer one breaking free? Something. His disparaging comments on those who stop after success, why; because their stopping was a sign they sought success for vain reasons not passion or the undying spirit that connects self to the divine.

Chesterton brings unique insights and his voice is his own. His attacks in this book had much to do with killing a false Idol of futurism and future worship; his futuristic utopia is a unique mocking jest. His wit and aphorisms supported by a large allegory knock at a truer self, real and spiritual. But the format here was at times hard to swallow. Even many people with good sense of humor may find this a little much. Tech advances don't equate more giggles necesarily. Chesterton saw much in tradition, his message is often confussing to me. But he is like interpreting a poet or a piece of music the intent of the work is in the eye of the beholder an executor of opinions may just obfuscate an understanding; and it is safe to say that Chesterton's fiction is widely interpreted.

I thought he was on to something, just not as well crafted as A Man Who was Thursday.

Imagine a 1984 London where society has frozen at turn-of-the-century levels, a King is randomly selected from the populace, and nobody really takes politics seriously.

Of course, it only takes one wise, weird little man to turn all of that on its head. G.K. Chesterton's magnificently absurd comic novel explores a common theme in his books -- a person who entertains himself with an absurdly serious world -- in an increasingly heated situation where the little boroughs of London have become warring kingdoms. Not much in the way of sci-fi, but a delicious little social satire.

Friends of the eccentric Auberon Quin are understandably shocked when he is selected as the new King of England... especially since his main focus is definitely not power ("Oh! I will toil for you, my faithful people! You shall have a banquet of humour!"). After bumping into a young boy with a toy sword, Quin decides to revive the old city-states of medieval times, with city walls, banners, halberdiers, coat of arms, and ruling provosts -- all as a joke.

But ten years later, a young man named Adam Wayne -- who happens to be the little boy who inspired Quin -- refuses to let a road go through Notting Hill. Quin is first delighted and then perplexed by Wayne, a man who treats the King's joke with deadly seriousness. Now a full-out medieval battle is brewing between the boroughs of London, and Auberon Quin finds that his joke may have some very serious consequences...

G.K. Chesterton was no H.G. Wells when it came from trying to imagine the future --- the 1984 London he imagined was pretty much the same, technologically and socially, as the London of 1904. It's the message that important in this tale, as personified first by a deposed president and then by Wayne -- pride and patriotism in one's country and culture, especially a small one, is something to be prized.

And Chesterton handles this concept with a sense of humor worthy of Quin, outright mocking the respectable and boring ("The provost of West Kensington is mad because he thinks he is respectable, as mad as a man who thinks he is a chicken!"). The humor starts off fairly ordinary (Quin standing on his head as he's declared king) and moves into more sophisticated realms with the elaborate medieval games. It would be scary to contemplate, if it weren't so hilarious.

The greatest satire is in this future society itself, and it's occasionally scary to contemplate. With his knowledge of human nature, Chesterton predicts ennui, complacency, disdain of religion, cultural indifference, and a public oblivious to the mad wackiness of their leaders because they just don't care. It hits a little too close to home.

His writing is full of color and striking description ("... a blue and gold glittering thing, running very fast, which looked at first like a very tall beetle"). And while the battle of Notting Hill doesn't really pull you in, the powerful speeches that are given during important scenes -- such as when Quin talks to Wayne about the damage his joke has caused -- are among Chesterton's best dialogue.

Auberon Quin is a pretty fun character, acutely aware of life's absurdity and determined to have as much fun from it as possible -- but he becomes a bit more serious at the prospect of people being killed. Wayne is the complete opposite -- young, passionate, intense, and vehemently patriotic. He's set apart from all those stuffy codgers because his love is not for respectability and normalcy, but for his home of Notting Hill.

Chesterton may have gotten the future of England all wrong, but "The Napoleon of Notting Hill" is still a wildly amusing little satire, with two very different heroes and a very unrecognizable London. A deserving classic.

This short book, The Napoleon of Notting Hill, written 100 years ago, is a futuristic fantasy, a political satire, a prophetic tale, and a comic novel, all intertwined. Published in 1904, The Napoleon of Notting Hill was G. K. Chesterton's first novel. It has been called the best first novel by any author in the twentieth century.

It has been some years since my first reading of The Napoleon of Notting Hill. Once again I find it to be enjoyable, humorous, highly entertaining, and decidedly thought provoking.

The setting is London in the year 1984, 80 years in the future. Chesterton had tired of endless predictions of futuristic technologies. His future London is identical to Edwardian London - all technological advance halted in 1904. One change is notable: the people have lost faith in political revolutions. Only slow, gradual change, akin to Darwinian evolution, was fashionable. No one was interested in voting, and consequently, democracy had withered away. A ruling monarch, a king, was selected in some capricious, random manner from the governmental class. All was well until Auberon Quin was chosen to rule as king.

As a lark, the new King designs colorful, medieval style uniforms, required dress for all governmental representatives of the London boroughs on official occasions. Reluctantly, city officials comply with the king's ridiculous wish to revitalize local patriotism. Unexpectedly, the Provost of Notting Hill, a sober young man named Adam Wayne, a man without humor, takes the King's command seriously. An attempt by other London boroughs to route a major thoroughfare through Notting Hill leads not only to acrimony, but to actual warfare.

The first chapter is Chesterton's scholarly criticism and friendly ridicule of contemporary (that is, early 1900) prophecies of scientific and technological changes, especially the more utopian futuristic projections, and is titled Introductory Remarks on the Art of Prophecy. The actual story does not commence until chapter two.

This inexpensive Dover edition includes a lengthy, interesting introduction by Martin Gardner. The artist W. Graham Robertson penned seven full page ink drawings and a map of the seat of the war.

Not Chesterton's best work, this quirky debut novel is still a must-read for anyone who appreciates the "Prince of Paradox" and his quirky sense of humor. It begins with a humorous overview of some of the more ridiculous social theorists of the day. (Science fiction fans will surely get a kick from a brief mention of H. G. Wells and his far-fetched visions.) Then we observe London society in 1984, changed very little from the early twentieth century, because the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy have worn down the human spirit to the point where it can barely stand. When a pint-sized clerk named Auberon Quinn ius randomly selected as head of state, he decides to turn London into a mideival carnival for his own amusement.

One man, Adam Wayne, takes the order to heart. He sets out to organize the neighborhood of Notting Hill, drafting an army to fight invaders from other streets who are trying to run over his corner of London. At first Wayne's behavior baffles everyone, but eventually his dedication to the cause proves infectious, with delightful results. At a thin 174 pages (including illustrations), the story goes by in a flash. Comedy galore, along with plenty of offbeat characters and bizarre unfolding events.

As I said, it's not Chesterton's best book. The writing is somewhat rough, particularly in two large leaps of time between chapters. Moreover the characters are abusrd in ways that don't add up too much; the brilliance of later works like "The Man who Was Thursday" and "The Club of Queer Trades" is that everyone's behavior makes perfect sense in the context of the story. But "The Napoloen of Notting Hill" is still well worth reading.

Harry Lorayne, the master of `Memory Power' says : Memory is an essential food for success. Memory boost the confidence for success. And at the age seventy plus, Harry has superb memory powers and those who have seen him on televion in action or read his books are sure to exclaim "Oh gosh! This is the Something! Memorising the names of a hundred strangers and than recognizing their faces and telling them their names just perfectly is real cool Memory! Who says "When you become old, you start losing memory" Harry just proves it wrong.Harry Lorayne's techniques increase performances as he says that every moment is precious and it counts. Sometimes, you don't remember the name of a person even though you sense it just beyond the grasp of your memory. You might not remember the name of a movie and such tip of the tongue which tots out incidents keep happening quite often. The best remedy for such flaws would be to stop fretting about it and take it lightly. Soon the memory is back normal again. Many times, we forget the keys and our minds go blank as we keep thinking and trying to locate it. It creates an annoying situation.Memory isn't fading but it's probably you didn't give the memory system the information it required. Harry Lorayne's techniques boost brain cells to activate, enhance powers of concentration, observation, be confident and makes a person alert and alive. You can test your Memory skills and get the tips and tricks to memorize in general, remembering names, telephone numbers, faces, classnotes, multiplication tables, music scores or just about anything. That's the Whizz Master of Memory Power Harry Lorayne with 'Page a Minute' Memory Book. Good and practically sound.

What can I say in simple words?
Another unique step by step guide which helps you to start use your memory. The great memory you already have. Harry proves that by teaching you how to take advantage of it.
Easy to understand techniques and explanations in this unique... Harry's style.
You work at your own pace. Author (like in other books) gives you a chance to work the way you like.
As a memory developmnent specialist I can say, that what Harry teaches is nuts and bolts of what you really need to improve your memory. Even single technique from this book can help you a lot.
But to be honest- you have to start and pracice!
I love that book and other books of this great author.

This book is filled with a good number of memory improvement tricks and techniques that are presented in a conversational style and kept to roughly a single page in length.

In addition to showing you various techniques, the author subtly weaves in ways that improve your observation skills, helps you form creative associations, and that causes you to remember.

There are little exercises through out the book, but they are just that - samples. There's nothing boring or done by rote. As you're reading along, several pages later (which could days later), the author indirectly tests you, validating that if you even try the technique, you get high return with minimal effort. Simply practicing seems to improve your memory even more.

Instead of spending money on all those mega-memory courses, this book will get you there in shorter time and in a much more entertaining manner.

I have read other of Harry Lorayne's books and they have all been valuable.

But this one is unique in that it gives a page by page plan to learn the techniques. You can go through it at your own pace and it's presented in an easy to understand way. You can spend as much time as necessary with each page. You can finish reading it understanding the mechanics of memory a lot better, and even a surface practicing of the techniques will help a lot.

Of course, systematic practice will work even better.

Some of Lorayne's other books present more detailed information, but this one is a good, solid presentation of memory improvement and is maybe one of the easiest ones to begin to put into practice for immediate improvement.

It is especially good for people who have had no prior exposure to memory improvement and would like to have some practical advice that they can implement right away.

Try it! You won't be disappointed.

I originally read this book many (many) years ago and had lost track of it and wanted to re-read. So, I did the most natural thing to do -- find it on Amazon. And, as they say, the rest is history. Received it and enjoyed it the second time around. Amazon and their partners in products have not disappointed me yet -- (knock on wood).

I enjoyed reading about one of my favorite, "classic" TV series. I have been diligently purchasing the DVD's as they are released and found the book to be a great behind-the-scenes episode guide. I found the background information about the series as a whole to be interesting as well.

I bought this book for my husband who really likes the Rockford Files TV series. It makes a great companion for the DVDs and my husband has already mentioned some of the information he has learned from the book while we watch the shows together. He says the book enhances his watching pleasure.
[...]

If you are a big fan of the Rockford Files, especially with the release of the first five seasons on DVD (the sixth should come next year)this is an indespensible guide. Ed Robertson finds about every piece of possible trivia he could glean from the television show and the 8 movies in the 90's.

This is a great book. If you are a Rockford Files fan, this book is a must buy. The author (Ed Robertson) has gone to great lengths to even include the phone messages at the begining of each and every episode.

This is a good book, but like all genre of show books it's only average as far as interest and enjoyment. I loved the Rockford Files and still watch them when on one of the cable channels. I've seen some of the episodes at least 5-6 times. There are a few bummers among them (mostly the last two years), but 75% of them I enjoyed. After four years or so I think any writing staff is challenged to write fresh & creative material for a show and I don't think Rockford Files was an exception to the rule.

The books tells quite a bit about the actors & actoresses who played in the show. It also talks about the Pontiac Firebird that Jim drove. If your a James Garner/Rockford fan do read the book.

This second volume of "The Boys" collects the first story arc from Dynamite Comics. It's easy to see why the book was dropped by DC: The characters are crude, the humor is dark, and the superheroes (clearly parodies of DC's characters) are just plain filthy. The first and second volumes are carried by their shock value alone. Ennis has said that he intends the series to go 60 issues... I'm not sure if the characters here are strong enough to stay interesting that long, as the one-dimensionality of the shock tactics wears off after repeat readings. But if you want to see superheroes doing awful things with gerbils, then you need to read at least the first two volumes of "The Boys."

If you grew up with Superman and Batman, you should really appreciate a graphic novel like "The Boys". It's for us adults, and it's possibly the most unique comic I've read. It's not for kids, nor is it for anyone who's not tolerant of profanity and/or sexual content. But if you're looking for something really different, and you aren't easily offended, "The Boys" is for you.

Talk about shock value, this has it. The first story really sheds a light on those Batman - Iron Man types. The second it just funny, especially the character Love Sausage. Can't wait for the next volume.

When I was a child, I loved to read comics. In fact, they were some of my earliest memories, looking at all the four coloured pictures of Spider-man, the Hulk, Batman, and the Fantastic Four.

The thing I remember the best was, of course, the art. The artists were what made comics for me many years ago. Writers, well - when you consider that I couldn't read at the tender age of 4 or 5, they didn't mean all that much to me.

Of course, as I grew and learned to read, the writers became a little more important to me. The artists, take for example John Byrne, Marc Sylvestri were what made the comic what it was.

But, then the stories began to get more and more complex, and I started to pay closer attention to the writers.

Sadly, they still took a back seat to the artists.

That was my trend for years, before I finally got tired of the silly super powered soap opera that most of the titles I used to read had become.

I started to look at independent comics and other companies that relied more on story than on the art. A perfect example right now would be Dark Horse comics.

Then the unthinkable happened. I got married and found I was about to become a father. So, I had a choice to make - it was either my family or comics. Well, my family won out. Lets face it, this was a no contest.

It wasn't until many years later, mainly due to a co-worker and friend that I started reading a couple of titles again.

Not a single title from the major contributors, you know, Marvel and DC. Instead I started reading several titles from a smaller company called Dynamite.

For me, the flagship title for this company is The Boys. Written by Garth Ennis (who's gained notoriety and infamy or fame? You be the judge - for his work on the Punisher and Preacher), and the Artist Darick Robertson.

I was hooked from the first issue (technically the first volume, since I borrowed my co-workers copy to read).

It had everything that I never saw growing up. The super-heroes, those people pledged to protect humanity from all manner of threats, as they really are when they're not in the limelight.

Petty, egotistical, evil, nasty, depraved, you name it.

Sort of like the rest of humanity in general. They have their strengths and their weaknesses. Because, despite the fact that they are super-powered, they are still just human.

The Boy's is essentially a watchdog group set up to keep the Supers under control and to look into unpleasant occurrences that might have taken place where supers are involved.

Volume 2 covers two complete story arcs... one dealing with a Batman type character known as the Tek Knight and his involvement in the death of a young homosexual man, and the other a possible revolt led by supers in Russia.

Now, with Garth Ennis you have his style of writing. Dark, gritty, in your face. And of course there is humour to be had to, and plenty of it. Typically at Wee Hughies expense.

There were numerous times in the second volume that I laughed out loud while reading, especially the whole deal in the Tek Knight's lair. You'll see what I mean when you read it.

Great stuff, to be sure.

However - the one thing about comics today that still remains true to me is that you need an artist that you like.

I've never been exposed to any of Darick Robertson's work before, although my co-worker says that I should pick up his Transmetropolitan.

I digress...

It did take a little time for me to get used to his work. It was very dark, and exceptionally bloody and graphic at times.

Which is EXACTLY what the Boys needed. An artists who could pull it off. His work grew on me, and now I can say that I am a fan of his work in the Boys. And, maybe I should pick up his earlier work as well.

His work compliments Garth Ennis's style perfectly.

So, the review I wrote for Volume 1 was in praise of Garth Ennis, this is in praise of Darick Robertson's exceptionally well done work for a very violent and dark comic.

5 out of 5.

I really loved the first Boys collection. I found it fresh, originally and at times shocking. But most of all, I found the writing to be really good backed with tremendous art. Get Some has it's shocking moments for sure, but the story seemed lacking for me. Also the fill in artist for the last two issues really took the momentum out of the story. It was passable art, but nowhere near the quality of Robertson. I am also getting a bit distracted with all of the British slang. It's not bad, and it is realistic since many of the characters are British, but sometimes it stops the flow of the story for me. I will pick up the 3rd volume. I hope it will get my interest back.

I liked this book. I really did. But it is a very sad commentary on the state of education in today's world. This young man, Martin, a teenager, attends a fancy private school where he is supposedly getting a good education. But he knows NOTHING about history, or art, does not know that a 'seraphim' is an angel and so on. Did I know at 13 what a seraphim was? Yes. I read voraciously then and now. I knew. I am no genius but I knew.

But this is overall a very well written, extremely entertaining book. I truly enjoyed it and would like to read other works by this author.

Other reviewers observe that London Calling is part problem novel, part historical fiction, and part time-travel adventure. Despite the author's skill at creating vivid locations, as a whole, I think the story suffers from this mixture of stories more than it benefits.

Martin hates his school and his life, but the revenge he seeks against classmate Lowery, grandson of the WWII hero, seems small and unsatisfying. That's because the story morphs into that of the relationship between Martin and his alcoholic father. But that's somewhat underwhelming too, because the story also is about helping Jimmy, his time-travel friend from 1940, and Jimmy's father.

I had difficulty hanging in there long enough for Martin to get to the real issues in all three stories-- just past halfway in the book. I think I would have preferred a straight story of any one of the elements rather than all three weaved together. And of them, the story of Jimmy and his father has the most potential for development on its own.

It never fails to surprise me how certain books will turn out. You start a book, and you think you have its number. You say, "Book, I know exactly who you are and where you are going." Many times, you are right. But therein lies the joy of discovering a book that adds to your life. Edward Bloor is one wacky guy. He comes up with original plots, but he is also a very good writer. In Story Time, his protagonists went to a private school where the students sat in windowless rooms, taking standardized tests, and drinking noxious shakes blended to keep the students chained in their educational prisons (Yes, down with standardized tests!). With many authors, they are good at only one aspect of writing (plots, characters, pacing). Bloor has all of these elements of writing nailed down, plus he creates characters that will touch your heart.

In London Calling, Bloor again shares his loathing of private schools. Our protagonist is Martin Conway, a bright, unhappy 12-year old with little drive. He is a self-proclaimed hermit. He lives in the basement, where his crazy uncle once lived, and his dad used to live before he set the place on fire. Martin's nuclear family consists of an alcoholic dad that works for an airport steakhouse chain, an unhappy mother who works as a secretary at the school so that Martin can attend (She thinks he will have better opportunities.), and a sister who is a genius and works at an encyclopedia company as a fact checker. See what I mean? You have to be pretty creative to make this stuff up.

Martin has only two friends at his private Catholic school, which appears to be run by the Lowery family. The Lowery family claims that their ancestor, Hollerin' Hank Lowery, was a World War II hero. They have some money, and so the school kowtows to that family.

The current reigning Lowery loves to pick on the weak, and he makes regular sport of picking on Martin and his friends. On one such occasion, Martin's friend, Manetti, takes a piece of concrete and chucks it at Lowery's head, causing Lowery to whine like a little girl. It also, unfortunately, breaks off a chunk from a statue the school is getting ready to unveil for the Hall of Heroes. The school, in a guise of a fair trial, rules that Martin and his friends are completely responsible, suspending Martin from school.

At the same time, Martin loses a family member. His Grandma Mehan, his mother's mom, passes away. Grandma Mehan is another wacky family member. She believes that she came back from the dead while in hospital. No one really takes her seriously. Martin, however, is quite fond of Grandma Mehan. When she passes away, she gives Martin a vintage radio from the 1940s.

This is where our story elements come together. Martin begs his mom and principal that he be allowed to remain on regular suspension. In lieu of attending school, he asks to do a home study about the radio his Grandma gave him. He gets permission, but Martin has a secret agenda. The radio is actually a time travel device. When he sets it to a frequency that receives static, Martin is transported back to 1940s London, where he meets a Jimmy Harker. Jimmy says Martin has something he needs to do, but he doesn't know what. Martin reluctantly follows Jimmy on several late night adventures, involving blackouts and Germans bombing London. Martin suspects he is going crazy, but this is where his sister comes in. As a fact checker at an encyclopedia, she can verify or deny the facts he records from his travels.

Martin discovers he does have a mission to fulfill, and it will impact not only the Harker family, but his own family as well. Martin is asked repeatedly, "What will you do to help, when the time comes?" Martin finds out that he, yes, even he, a 12-year old boy, can make a difference. He also learns to hope again, and his family receives some healing.

I just loved this book. Any book that causes me to shed a tear is usually a winner for me. There was also a lot of talk of a higher power; that we can't do things on our own without the help of a higher power. In addition, this story had so many elements. It was historical fiction, and it was also fantasy. It had the adventure and purpose that boys crave, and it had relationships that would appeal to girls.

I would recommend this to teens that love historical fiction. I would also give it a fantasy fan that has to read historical fiction.

Is time travel really possible? Many people wonder about that. That's also the question this book asks. As for the answer, you'll have to read this book to find out.

Martin Conway is confused. His grandmother has been calling him late at night, telling him he has to help "the boy". At first, he doesn't know what she's talking about. When she dies, however, and leaves him her old antique radio, he's transported to World War Two London, and the adventure begins.

Edward Bloor's fourth book really tells Martin's story in his own voice. This story is about redemption and courage. It's really interesting to see how the whole story comes together, and when it does, you're left with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Anyone who likes historical fiction will love this book. I know that I did. London Calling is a dramatic journey that you'll want to ride. Trust me.

-Paul Brandt

I picked this up because I loved Tangerine, by the same author. I decided my boys are all going to read Tangerine when they get a bit older because it is a great story and I loved how the main character takes on the bully in his life.

This book will also be on my list of reads for them, but for a different reason. It's also a great story and once again there is an obnoxious bully who needs someone to stand up to him. But there is also a message. I know, kids don't like message books, but it's really just a small part of the story and it's a good message. I think I read a similar sentiment in a Margaret Frazer book, where she wrote something like, "it will be asked how you spent the time you have been given." Here, it's "what did you do to help?" Either way it applies to the hero here. At the beginning he is spending his summer sleeping - he doesn't do anything. No interests, hobbies, nothing. He is very unenthused about life.

And then Martin's grandmother leaves him an old radio that transports him to 1940s London. The story gets sort of Sixth Sense-y, but it is a very satisfying story.

This book was for my wife, she found it to be an excellent book which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has also watched the film TIM before reading the book and thought that was brilliant. She found the book far better though, (as you usually find) and was glad she watched the film first.

I really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was very well written although a bit unrealistic. Great characters and a very quick read. I will certainly read more by this author.

There are no words to describe this wonderful and moving novel. Yes, it maybe a bit outdated, but the charatcer of Tim has so much heart and goodness in him, that most readers will wish he was real so they could take him home.
Tim is a somewhat mentally handicapped 25 year old (think Forrest Gump). He lives with his mother, father and sister and basically just works and lives a simple life. He lives this simple life because that is what everybody thinks he is limited to. Until Mary comes along....
Mary is a 40 something spinster, who likes order and no confusion. She lives in her own simple life also till Tim enters it. At first it looks like an employee to employer and then mother to son, then friend to friend. It becomes so much more complicated as their feelings grow into something more. But many things are against them, the age difference, their lifestyles and most importantly, Tim's mental capacity.
Through Tim's outlook on life, Mary comes out of her shell and finally enjoys what is around her. She helps Tim feel important and learn so much more then he was ever able to understand.
This story becomes so much more than an enduring love between a man and a woman. We see two lost soul who equal each other in so many ways.
The only thing missing is a much longer book, or even a sequel to see how Mary and Tim have succeeded.
So beautiful and poignant!!

Katiebabs

this small book really packs a wallop! it is perhaps the best book i have ever read because it is such a wonderful love story without being sappy. two thumbs way up!

As a person who adores both Harry Potter and Salman Rushdie, this is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read this book at least 8 times in the past few years, and I have lent it to many a friend and loved one. The story is engrossing, the characters are complex and endearing, and McCullough's writing is magical. As a writer and an editor, this is a story I appreciate every time I read it.