Stewart Books

I bought and read this book prior to my visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum so that when I was there I knew a little about the pieces in her collection. The book is a great source of information about the rooms and the art but it also covers the life of Isabella Gardner. I recommend buying the book ahead so that you know which pieces of art you really want to concentrate on.

The book has color photos of up close shots of the art and photos of the various rooms so that you can see the art in its setting.

It is arranged by floor (there are three) and then by room and finally by the individual piece, making it very easy to use and it is a great size for carrying with you through the museum.

The history in the book is excellent and gives a great overview of Isabella's life and pursuit of art.

This small museum guide available at ISGM bookshop in great quantity but difficult to find elsewhere (amazon has it)is a delight to read. Differently from other museum guides it dosen't only deal with the works exposed in Isabella Stewart Gardner's home Fenway Court, but it also briefly reviews this brillant and eccentric woman's life and so brings us even closer to her.
The visit to the ISGM is a great experience because what we see is not a museum but a person's house, a house used for receiving, entertaining, exposing unusual things and precious objects, a house for praying and reading, and meditating, a house full of lifetimes memories and loved masterpieces. Illustrating the intermingling of Mrs. Gardner's life and her masterpiece was not easy. Mr. Goldfarb, director of the Museum is at the height of this task and with a few well done strokes draws Isabella's portrait and at the same time describes in great detail not only the works of art contained in the mansion but also their history, the way they came into the collection and many interesting news on their artists.
The book is well illustrated with expecial focus on the disposition of the pieces and the complete description of all the rooms of the house.
A useful tool for ISGM visit but also a book that is enjoyable before, after and also without the visit.

Having been to the ISGM (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum) before reading either "Mrs. Jack" or this book, if planning a trip to the museum I highly recommend you read at least one of these books. The museum is truly magnificent, however my only criticism is that the administration of the museum cannot seem to decide if they have a "house museum" (like the Newport mansions) or an art museum. There is precious little information posted within the meusum to tell you what it is you're looking at - the guidebooks available at the museum woefully inadequate. After reading Mrs. Jack I realize that much of this may have been stipulated by Isabella herself - she expected you to know what it was you were seeing without cheats like descriptions. Art for art's sake. It did not matter if Rembrandt painted a canvas - you either like it or you don't - merely wanting to see it because it's a priceless Rembrandt is too bourgeois for Isabella to have considered. In her day, in her level of society, you could still buy a Rembrandt or a Vermeer, 100 years later this is a lot harder to do, making these paintings more rare to us than her. She knew John Singer Sargent personally, so having your portrait painted by him was probably less of a big deal than we see it as today - anyone in her level of society could hire him, so to her - what was the big deal? 100 years more time has made it a big deal to us.

More than a few of my well-traveled friends have raved about The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston as their favorite museum in all the world. And why not? Wait until you see it--you'll feel right at home.

Imagine creating for yourself a life that is perfectly delicious. Imagine creating for the world a home museum experience unequaled in all the world. The Hyde Museum in Glens Falls, NY, held that honor for me until I learned the story and saw the pictural views of Fenway Court Isabella Gardner created as her home, which after her death in 1924 was changed to be called The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Most museum books have wonderful pictures without so rich a story of a strong, courageous woman of impeccable, impassioned taste. No one could have created Fenway Court except Isabella Gardner. Few have created such a wonderful life for themselves and left such an amazing legacy. And, she also managed to maintain her beauty and figure. And what a negotiator she was to gain possession of a piece of art she felt Fenway must own.

I feel empowered to have learned her story.

This book suprized me. It is the first time I was made aware of this claims or facts. The author shows that the Shia is a response to Sunnis. They did not have a school of their own but when they excluded from the Sunni community, first they dissimulate as a Shaf'i and than started their own school of thought. They did not know in the beginning what they were doing and in time they established and made their own philosophy and all these are due in response to Sunnis. Author provides a lot of short biographical information about the Shia muctehids, quite interesting information. Their acceptance of concensus just to get approved by the majority of community and than their refusal of concencus as part of usul al-fikh. Proof that Imam Cafer Al-Sadiq(as) was not really the founding Imam of the Shiat's. They did not have any school of thought at that time because majority of the community did not have their own school of thought where they would reject the Shiat's because of their belief in Imamate, Mutah etc. Interesting, definetely a must read.

devin j stewart is a lia

Stewart has fully demonstrated the fallacy of perceiving Shii law as independent of Sunni law. His study reveals intriguing facts about the number of Sunni teachers that Shii luminaries such as Mufid, Tusi, Hilli, and others had. The book also shows the dependence which Shii scholarship had on Sunni works of usul al-Fiqh (legal principles) and Ijtihad (legal deduction). This book sets a fantastic precedent in our knowledge of Shiism and its historical background.

Stewart has fully demonstrated the fallacy of perceiving Shii law as independent of Sunni law. His study reveals intriguing facts about the number of Sunni teachers that Shii luminaries such as Mufid, Tusi, Hilli, and others had. The book also shows the dependence which Shii scholarship had on Sunni works of usul al-Fiqh (legal principles) and Ijtihad (legal deduction). This book sets a fantastic precedent in our knowledge of Shiism and its historical background.

Donald Jack has created a rare thing, indeed, with this series of books that show the true human condition - that humor (and alcohol, apparently) is what makes the most horrible situations bearable. With the grimmest backdrop of the original WWI set of books - no mean feat, given that the series begins in the trenches - Jack keeps you in hysterics regardless, touching on semi-suicidal parachutes, dabbling with the wives of staff officers, baroque dentistry, pigeons, and other seemingly ludicrous subjects with grace, aplomb, and almost ritual silliness. When you throw historical accuracy in the mix as a bonus, well, it's a practically irresistible package. Poignant, incisive and wonderfully belly-laugh inducing.

My fav in the series of excellent historical fiction (the history is quite accurate, but it isn't the focus), it is full of ups and downs emotionally as well as aeronautically. The Bandy papers are very high on my list of great books since I came across them in my HS library in Carleton Place, Ontario (which could double for Beamington). Sad that so few Canadians are aware of these books. Guess it doens't fit with current trends.

If you are into undiscovered gems, check this series out. At least the first 6 books. Vol 7 was ok, 8 (Hitler vr. Me) was disappointing. Have not read the 9th yet.

I've read the entire Bandy series, and though they are all great, this is the best.

A fabulous ride from the first sentence, you will laugh out loud and excuse yourself from any shared reading room often. The characters are wonderfully written and I swear that no-one does drunken dialogue better than Donald Jack. I'm guessing he has some experience with drunkeness. In an observational role, of course.

Though an even more enjoyable read if you have an interest in vintage aviation or history, this books stands just fine on its own as a terrific work of humourous fiction.

Not to give anything away, but a wonderful meld of the usual comedic grace with a poignant touch of tragedy. You'll be laughing and crying and enjoying throughout.

I'm fortunate enough to have the entire series. It's a pity most are out of print now. This series would make an excellent BBC - style television series.

Key Light is a well written book with fascinating true to life characters. I found it difficult to put the book down because I was looking forward to the next challenge life would bring for this colorful family. I can hardly wait for Ms Stewart's next book to be released.

Pi you did a very spectacular job my friend....

Key Light has an excellent balance of fascinating plot, realistic characters, and imagery. It's no surprise that the author is also a successful artist in other media.

It's rare that I am immediately captured by the characters in a novel, but I must admit that I was instantly in love with Ms. Stewart's enchanting cast of characters. I found myself unwilling to put this book down without knowing what life event was lurking just around the corner. Ms. Stewart has proven herself to be a brilliant author who possesses a flair for captivation. I look forward to her next novel with extreme anticipation.

The book was delivered very quickly and it was as described. I am very happy with the product.

From the opening pages, to the last, this book summed up how to take your plant and make it "lean."
I have used the guidelines in the book at work and it has seemed to work seemlessly.

The information was sound and true. If you are looking for a down to earth approach and a way to get it done, then get this book!

This book is written in a lean manner. It is simple, common and easy to read. It describes ordinary things and ideas very clearly and with one purpose. This book provides all the roadmap, tools and insight needed to allow plants to achieve excellence. The authors take great pains to address common failures issues. They provide a single source handbook that any plant can understand and use, a source with example metrics and tools, with logic and simple ideas to prevent and overcome the daily issues faced by the team that implements Lean.

This is not a book that deals much about soft issues. It is not a fuzzy warm feeling book about the people side, nor is it a motivational "you can do it" book. It is a frank easy to read book about simple steps and simple ideas that make plants great. It explains the people issues and the fact that unless working teams make the decisions and changes Lean will not happen. It is a long book, more of handbook length, but much easier to read.

Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide fills the space between a detailed "How To" text and an overview. It provides coverage of every key issue in moving to Lean Manufacturing, offering rationale, plans and encouragement.

From understanding your customers needs, metrics, building a solid business case and launching a methodical process, this book has all the tools necessary for a sound lean transition.
Perhaps most importantly, it offers reliable advice on overcoming resistance and building an effective team.

Well put together, very encompassing, good explanations...... It doesn't need a paragraph to describe it. If you like Da Vinci or want to learn more about him, this is a great place to start!

I never imagined that through a "child book" I would learn about this master-genious and moreover to be capable to comprehend the "details" about his art. I really enojoyed reading this book, I learn more about his famous paints and why they are considered pieces of art. I was motivaded to read more over the other great art's men such as Picasso or Michael Angel Buonorrati; I never thought that could be an easy way to understand this genious. I strongly recommend this book and the other series too; you can not only learn but also share with your child and encourage him to develop his talents or just enhance your "general culture" reading this great book. The talent consist in explaing complex ideas using a "simple language" that everybody can understand. There is not reason to became so sophisticated and not be able to "share" what you learn with the rest of the world. When you learn a good joke you want to tell the rest about it; it is meaningless if you just keep it for yourself...

This excellent book focuses on Leonardo's drawings in the Royal Library at Windsor. Everyone has seen the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, but Leonardo's greatest achievments are found in his drawings. Vivid HIGH QUALITY color reproductions are accompanied by insightful commentary and historical/biographical information. The book covers the whole breadth of Leonardo's intellectual development. 100 color drawings by history's greatest draftsman, and indeed one of most powerful minds the world has ever seen. As the book says "...[Leonardo's] drawings [are] the pure expression of his genius, boundless and magnificent."
What more could one want in a book? 5/5

It's not the best Da vinci book, but it has a LOT of drawings.

I origionally picked this book up from a library as a teen ager and later bought it. I find thoughtout my-life I refer to the corresponding chapter for some slightly conservative advice.

The book contains letters from a fairly successful businessman to his son. They start with school and continue with such topics as school, leadership, enterpreneurship, marriage ... etc. Would make a great gift..

I read it twice when I was young. I would have been too young to judge it on grammar or any deep meaning but I can tell you the book has sat in the back of my mind all of these years. I have refered it to many people and given it as gifts to people I respect... Thanks Kingsley!

If your father was short on words , like mine was, this is your personal "mentor in a box". It will also help you become a better father and teacher. If it is our of print, some local libraires might have it.

This brief, encouraging book consists of a series of letters (edited for print) written by a successful businessman (Ward himself) to his son, tracking the son's career from a decision on which college to attend to the son's mid-career promotion to company president upon his father's retirement. During the 20-year span, the father shares with his son (and the reader) all of his wisdom on topics from business--work ethic, entrepreneurship, partnership, business expansion, diversification, teamwork, firing an employee, leadership, etc.; as well as life--challenge, success, integrity, marriage, money, manners, happiness, friendship, criticism, balance, etc.

Ward's advice is "business conservative," with his basic message being: Set goals for yourself, work hard, be honest and block off time to enjoy your life a little. The selected decision points, problems and events in the son's life revolve around people, mainly working relationships with business associates, employees, customers, suppliers, bankers and competitors--all without neglecting family and friends. Ward emphasizes the importance of cultivating friendships, stating how "Without doubt, friendship is the spice of life." However, when he opines how a person with more than three good friends should feel blessed, and how being rich is better than being poor, but also lonelier, he exhibits his realism and unveils a hint of quiet, unspoken regret: Do we all in our drive to achieve emphasize business and profit at the expense of humanity and friendship perhaps a little more than we should?

I recommend this book to anyone involved in business of any sort, and especially to all students considering a business career. However, I also note a caveat: Without the replies of the son, the book has the overall tone of unilateral lecturing rather than fair, two-way dialog. In a related manner, I comment on the father's favorite short book, "A Message to Garcia," which he includes in the text: Yes, work as hard, competently and expediently as the courageous messenger did in President McKinley's Cuban emergency, but, as importantly, in your business career please do not march forward on your boss's orders without first fully understanding the impact of your actions (i.e., think!) and respectfully raising any concerns you may have (i.e., speak up!).

Beautifully illustrated, this story of the public interest in the romance of Romeo and Juliet and how volunteers have satified this interest through medievalizing Verona, re-creating places iconic to Shakespeare's lovers, and responding to letters received by 'Juliet'. A wonderful gift book that might be given along with a batch of the 'Baci di Giulietta' (cookie recipe included in book).

The true story of the letters that are sent to the most romantic of all Shakespeare's heroines. This book book eloquently covers the men and women that have made Juliet's passion come to life for so many people around the world. It contains a brief history of how the letter writing began, where it is now, and the love affair that Verona, Italy showers on its famous lady. Included are many of the letters written over time to her and some of the responses. If you believe in true love or wish to have your faith in humanity through the ages restored, pick up this little volume and enjoy.

The authors of this wonderful read offer their unique and imaginative take on Shakespeare's love story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. The authors, Ceil and Lisa Friedman, sisters who live a continent apart, one in New York City, the other in Verona where Juliet was suppose to have lived, have published many of the actual letters people from every corner of the world have written "c/o Juliet, Verona, Italy" A group of women over the span of eight decades has voluntarily answered each of these letters personally. Some of the letters are sad, some happpy, some funny or just thoughtful. In addition to being a beautiful book, there is a very unique surprise at the back of the book ~ a lovely envelope and piece of stationery that is detachable so that the reader might write their very own letter to Juliet. This is a must-have book for anyone who still believes in the power of love!!!

Letters to Juliet belongs in the library of anyone who has ever been touched by the story of Romeo and Juliet. The sister authors, Lise and Ceil Friedman, offer a fascinating glimpse of the legend surrounding the young lovers, lore and history about Verona, itself, and a marvelous selection of letters sent to Juliet from all over the world. Through the years various citizens of Verona have assumed the role of "Secretaries of Juliet", replying to the letters from star-crossed lovers with advice and comfort. This gorgeously designed and illustrated book even provides a passion-pink envelope and stationery for the reader to write his or her own message to Shakespeare's heroine. For Romantics the world over!

WOW! I was worrying if it was old book but it was so neat. WHEW!! I read it and put it away in the shelf. I feel good to read. Thank you!

This book reminds parents of deaf children how crucial it is that they give their child a language rich environment regardless of whether they decide on signing or not. I am an educational interpreter and see children who are so far behind on their language skills because they don't get enough language support at home. I really encourage anyone who has a deaf child or works with deaf children to read this book.

A truly outstanding and eye-opening resource for parents of deaf children. Our deaf son is 14 months old and we have been reading numerous publications to try to prepare ourselves for his education. This book is full of important and eye-opening recommendations that I'm sure we will use on a daily basis in the years to come.

David A. Stewart and Bryan R. Clarke are two dedicated teachers with years of experience working with deaf children. In Literacy And Your Deaf Child: What Every Parent Should Know, Stewart and Clarke effectively collaborate to create an instructional guide specifically appropriate for parents of deaf and hard-of-hearing children who want to do everything they can to ensure their hearing-impaired child learns to read and write with fluency and competence. Also discussed are the practices and issues of hearing aids, cochlear implants, speech reading, and sign communication. Emphasizing the developmental link between American Sign Language and English literacy for children who learn and use it, Literacy And Your Deaf Child is an excellent informational and guide volume and is very highly recommended for anyone who works with hearing-disabled children.

Am only half way through this book, but can't put it down! Fascinating, well researched and nicely written narrative of a fascinating, deeply flawed genius. Nicely done indeed!

In 1924, Geza Revesh published The Psychology of a Musical Prodigy, a scholarly study which focused on Ervin Nyiregyhazi's childhood and early gifts. Over 80 years later, Revesh's book remains a reference work. But what happened to the subject of that book?

Kevin Bazzana's book is the first to document the rest of Nyiregyhazi's life in detail, from his spectacular 1920 Carnegie Hall debut, to his early flameout a few years later, and his bizarre resurrection in the 1970s.

During the middle period of his life, previously undocumented, Nyiregyhazi relentlessly indulged dual addictions for alcohol and sex. Aside from composing doggedly old fashioned works with silly titles, Nyiregyhazi's activity in the musical community ground to a halt. He did not practice, nor did he even own a piano. The last was understandable because he did not have a stable residence. Bazzana has chronicled these winter years (roughly 1925-1972, although the pianist did some rewarding work with the WPA in the 1930s) in great detail. Nyiregyhazi married ten times. Although Bazzana mentions all his wives, it's not easy keeping the chronology in sequence because Bazzana goes back and forth between time periods. Perhaps a chart would have been helpful!

While much been has made of Nyiregyhazi's treatment by the music industry (in 1925, he was compelled to sue his manager), it becomes apparent reading Bazzana's book that the main reason for the collapse of Nyiregyhazi's career was the pianist himself. He was loathe to play standard repertoire, especially in later years, because he feared comparison with other pianists. The fact that he refused to practice, even when provided with a piano, did not help his playing.

Bazzana does not pretend to be objective. He believes that Nyiregyhazi belongs in the pantheon of great pianists, and complains that the Hungarian, also a "great pianist," was not afforded the 1903 centennial celebration that was given to Claudio Arrau, Vladimir Horowitz, and Rudolf Serkin. Bazzana seems to be particularly obsessed with Horowitz, taking trouble to note that Nyiregyhazi was "not very much impressed" with his Russian contemporary and seeming perturbed that Nyiregyhazi perished with a mere $2,000 to his name while Horowitz's estate was valued at between $6 and $8 million. Horowitz's opinion of Nyiregyhazi is unknown. Other musicians' opinions of Nyiregyhazi ranged from to "pure expression" (Arnold Schoenberg), to "an amateur" (Vladimir Ashkenazy) and "the biggest piece of baloney" (Earl Wild). Nyiregyhazi seldom garnered a neutral response, and Bazzana can be forgiven the occasional hyperbole in his recounting of the pianist's extraordinary and tragic story.

This book is a triumph of the biographer's art. But the subject of the biography is sad beyond words. Ervin Nyiregyházi (pronounced, approximately NEER-edge-hawzy) was a profoundly gifted musical child prodigy, born in 1903 in Budapest and compared with Mozart in his youth. His first biography, written by Hungarian psychologist Géza Révész in 1910-1914 when the child was only 7-11, is one of the most detailed studies of a child genius ever written. Kevin Bazzana, a Canadian whose previous biography of Glenn Gould was acclaimed, pursued his subject's life story for more than ten years and looked under virtually every stone in search of material about his subject. Other reviewers here have detailed his sad descent from feted prodigy to sex-obsessed skidrow bum with his odd autumn in the sun when he was 'rediscovered' in the 1970s and a few recordings put on the market. Those recordings revealed the wreck of a great pianist, one with an obsession for emotional expression perhaps at the expense of technical finesse. Those records sold rather well and pianistic cognoscenti debated their worth, and still do.

Nyiregyházi considered himself more a composer than a pianist, but frankly little is known of his works. They were apparently typically slow, lugubrious and cryptic; many of them had bizarre autobiographical titles. For instance, toward the end of his life he wrote pieces with titles such as 'Hopeless Vista', 'The Grim Reaper Approaches', 'Time is Running Out', 'With Slow Footsteps Death Approaches'. From the reproduction of one of his pieces, the aforementioned 'Hopeless Vista', one gathers that his style was to write brief, harmonically odd works that attempt to convey a single emotional state. I could make little of 'Hopeless Vista' except that it would certainly not be a crowd-pleaser. Which brings us to the crux of Nyiregyházi's life -- his refusal to make compromises with the public appetite, his profoundly idiosyncratic style of making music, his incredibly inept psychological coping mechanisms and his dependence of a series of ten wives and many other women and men who at least briefly attempted to help him. A psychiatrist/pianist who knew him offered the likelihood of a diagnosis of 'borderline personality disorder', and as a psychiatrist myself I would tend to agree with this diagnosis, dangerous though it be to diagnose without ever having personally examined him. Certainly his tendency to have wildly fluctuating moods over a matter of minutes or hours, his intense interpersonal sensitivity that became outright paranoia at times, his inflated sense of his own importance coupled nonetheless with intense self-doubts, his furious reaction to what he considered insulting behavior of others and his alcoholism and sexual compulsions all point to this severe diagnosis. In short, he couldn't help himself, couldn't stop his inexorable path toward self-destruction. A sad, sad case.

Kevin Bazzana has written a riveting book, not sparing us either the outré details of Nyiregyházi's life nor his brief and soaring triumphs. I found myself unable to put the book down.

Strongly recommended both as a work of art and as a fascinating story.

Scott Morrison

There's always something to discover around the figure of a sheer pianist. Specially of we are talking about the most eccentric pianist the world knew about. You may cite Mr. Gould, but in the case of Erwin Nyiregyhazi we are talking about a sheer artist, a thinker musician, that never gave a affected sound, although he was a Romantic per excellence.

When I had the chance to listen in 1976 his double album "Nyiregyhazi plays Liszt" and listened his performance about The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3, I could not believe such high caliber pianism, his sound was indeed profound, revealing and sumptuously expressive: His octaves, tremolos, arpeggios and fortes were really amazing. But when I listened Mosonyi' s Funeral Procession I understood why he was so highly acclaimed. He really played the piano as it was an orchestra, a full rounded sound with an astonishing sense of the span.

Of course you may argue he played some wrong bars here and there, but what does it matter ? , when you know about his main target was to capture the essence of the work.

Kevin Bazzana gives a very detailed account about his personality, his obsessive way of living (after all, the excesses have always been a trademark in the spirit of all Romantic don' t you?).

What we really regret was his personal decision to exile himself for so long. Certainly his reappearance in 1973 was motive of jubilee all over the world.

To get close this artist of the piano demands a total obliteration of all our mental map and to assist to a true artistic experience with all its in and outs.

A penetrating and passionate biography about the most eccentric pianist of the XX Century.

Here you have a brave opinion of Mr. Nyiregyhazi: "My approach is a combination of instinct and conscious morality. It is not sin to change a score, but you can' t do it in a frivolous way. An artist has to impose a sense of responsibility on the music. He must never violate the faith of the composer. That is a matter of artistic honor."