Stuart Books

My husband and I, while living in the area did our first boating at the Jenny Willey State Park. We were there for three years and I never met any of Jenny's descendents to my knowledge. I wish I had. The early settlers had a strong desire to move west and a determination to survive. They walked and rode horses packed with very little into a wilderness that many Indian tribes used for their hunting ground. These tribes were not happy to see the white men coming. The French and Indian war was also a factor. They fought for their land in their savage way of life. Many of the settlers fought back in the same manner. It was not one sided. This is a very interesting story of Jenny's abduction and her escape. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" A Wilderness Adventure of Early Settlers


Natchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarThe Bluegrass Dream: A Wilderness Adventure of Early Settlers

As a 3-Great Grandson of Jenny Wiley (Through her son, Hezekiah) this book is of course a great interest to me. It along with "White Squaw" and others tell a graphic story of pioneer life in the eastern U.S. mountains in the late 1700's. I am, of course, proud to be a direct descendant of this great pioneer woman.

I must note though, that I am quite disappointed in the editing done by the Jesse Stewart Society in this revised edition. Unfortunately, political correctness has "softened" the savagery of the Indians from what was originally published by Caudill. Other than that, and as was noted by a previous reviewer, Caudill's softening the impact of her supernatural encounter(s), this is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.

Also, if you find the original publication in a used book store, buy it!

Jenny Sellards Wiley is my 5th great grand aunt. This is an excellent book, especially for children. It is a tale of struggle and survival during the pioneer days.

Although i have only read the first three chapters of this book at the library i have found it extremly interresting. my grandma has informed me that jenny wiley is an ancestor of mine. after hearing this i thought i would chek it out. after reading very little i have learned so much and would love to read more. In other words im glad Harry M. Caudill worte this book. if other people read this book i know they will love it too.

I'm a decentant of Jenny Wiley.I've heard thestory about her,when I was a child growing up.I've also shared this book with my 4 childen.Who enjoyed it alot.They tell all there friends how famous & brave she was to escape from the Indians.I like to see more Kids read books like this.They sure would be suprise what people went through back in those days.

A beautiful book for anyone you know touched by DES-women, men, family, friends, lawyers, and physicians. DES exposed people deserve acknowledgement and information about the drug they were exposed to before they were born. DES Stories does this while also bearing witness to the massive disruption of people's lives, which chemical exposure and drug breakthrough can cause. Get this book to feel empowered. It helps speak the truth.

Two of my sisters are exposed to the drug DES and are affected with infertility and cancer. DES touches every one in a family for the rest of their lives. This book brings home the impact of DES in an unforgettable way. I poured over the stories and photos. The stories are incredibly validating and candid, especially to see people's faces. It does a remarkable job of balancing the pain and suffering of DES but emphasizes people's positive, heroic emotions in dealing with DES. The timeline telling the truth about what was known about DES and when it was known is excellent. This is a very special book.

This book was a great book on true life stories and DES. It was so great for someone to write a book on illness which effect people everyday. I recomend it greatly!!!

HI folks - thought those of you who have not read "DES Stories" would enjoy these little excerpts re how I felt and others felt when they read it, and a bit of why Margaret wrote it. Please tell me what YOU think:

My response:
Reading this brought back to mind my experience reading your book. The first friend who gave it to me, a male, left it on my doorstep on November 6th last year, my 39th birthday, as a surprise little gift.

I remember being hugely excited as I unwrapped its package and I remember thinking that it was 21 years before on that same date when I found out I had cancer for the first time, on my 18th birthday.
(A nurse from the clinic at Balboa Hospital had come by and left her card with my roommate, reminding her that I must see the doctor again and why - she had left 2 previous messages the week before that I did not return, because it was my first day on the job at the Bank where I was then on that date, a full-fledged employee, instead of an intern. And I had not called back because I was busy preparing for that day and thought it was about more volunteer work, anyway.)

Anyway, what a gift. The first thing I usually do when I get home is run to the bathroom... I remember reading practically the entire book right there on the porcelain goddess.
(I had part of my bladder resected when the cancer spread the 1st go-round. It's fine now - all that delicious balloon stretching that I adored so much (yea, right!) had done a good job...I still drink a LOT of fluids.)

I know one woman who had cervical, vaginal and ovarian cancer and along with the clear cell adenocarcinoma they found choriocarcinoma when she had ovarian cancer. She had her cervix, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes and spleen completely removed. She has had 1/3rd of her bladder removed and reconstructed, 19 inches of her intestine and part of her omentum removed and my vagina reconstructed two times. She had 7 surgeries, external and internal radiation therapy and 4 separate mutli-round sessions of chemotherapy - all encompassing eight years of her life (18yrs old-almost 21 and 30yrs-37).
Today, she still has two tumors in her lumbar vertebrae - one the diameter of a quarter and the other a dime.
BUT - she is healthier than most anyone she knows! (Can you guess who "She" is?)

I remember the tears rolling down my face and rejoicing at the same time, that now the world would know it's true, it's still true and it still will be true and true anew for many yet to come, unfortunately. But now, it was in writing and not just in medical journals or my own doctor's handwriting. There were documented "others" and I was not alone. I, and my DES sisters were validated. And, if any MD dared mention to me that it was a long time ago and nothing of consequence today, I would have something in hand to proudly show him or her before I quietly walked out of their office forever.

The feeling of AWE that sticks with me today continues to amaze me. I brought it to a family picnic around Thanksgiving time last year to give to my mother who was visiting from out of town, and my oldest brother picked it up and read the whole thing right there. My mother picked it up and began reading it very shortly thereafter and even asked me questions! My boyfriend read the entire book the night I gave it to him to read.

What continues to strike me is how this book appears to magnetize the reader, pulls them in and keeps them there all the way through. I've never come across that before or seen someone else experience that either.

Why is that? I believe it's because the book is so subtle. From the colors on the cover to the pictures on the pages, the message within speaks loudly, yet softly of a quiet strength, of endurance. The details are not of morbid skeleton bones found in a closet or of gross deformities or fantastic miracles. Depicting man, woman, child - they successfully link all humankind. Which, combined in this wonderful book, induce the quiet force, revealing the present triumphs of real-life people. "DES Stories" chronicles each individual's rising to the purpose, of finding the answers with mastery of oneself and of circumstance.

It is a peaceful, very special honor to have something in common with these very brave human beings. They are prevailers. We are prevailers! For we are NOT victims, which is what the word 'survivor' connotes to me. We have overcome and become stronger and yes, better.
Love, Suzette

If you thought DES was a thing of the past - guess again. DES is alive and well. All you have to do is look into the faces staring up from the pages of this book and listen to the personal stories of the people exposed to this drug to know you are in the presence of a powerful force. No, I'm not referring to DES, although its impact is profound. I am referring to the miraculous ability of the human spirit to survive and transcend experiences most can only imagine. I know. I'm one of the survivors.

While you will not find my story contained within the pages of this book, I am there. I am a DES daughter, a cancer survivor. I am also a psychotherapist specializing in health psychology. Through my work, I hear a lot of stories, but few compare to those associated with the widespread medical mistake of DES.

Despite the scope of the problems created by this drug, those of us who live with the aftermath are in danger of being forgotten, or at least overlooked. Upon seeing a new physician recently, he said, "I was told in medical school that we wouldn't be seeing any more people exposed to DES." I informed him that I certainly hoped he wouldn't see any new cases of DES exposure, but there were plenty of us still walking around to tell the tale of DES and of our experiences with it. This book does precisely that - tell the tale.

Many thanks to Margaret Lee Braun and Nancy Stuart for a well-written and graphically poignant book. It is tasteful, respectful, and a much needed reminder that we are still here.

If you are not a biologist or MD, and want to see where the application of genomics to medicine is going, try Brown's book. In clear language, he and other writers explain the key ideas and promises in this field. Like what can be done with massive genomic databases, by aiding the search for inherited diseases, and isolating these to certain places in the DNA.

One chapter looks at gene therapy. Currently, still mostly speculative. Much remains to be done to make it viable for many people. But this chapter is perhaps the most far reaching, if its potential can be fully realised. Related to this is another chapter about proteomics, which is another buzzword. We see that protein structures are another field, closely related, that also holds big promises for understanding and treatments.

"...this book was exactly what I was looking for: a high-level overview of genomic technologies and their application...Brown's book is highly recommended..." (Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 20, No. 6, June 2003)

"readable account of the underpinnings of genomics and its medical applications...a clearly written book that makes a complex discipline understandable..." (New England Journal of Medicine, July 24, 2003)

"...a good purchase for...academic or medical libraries as well as large public ones." (E-Streams, Vol. 6, No. 5, May 2003)

"It will be quite useful to anyone from other fields who is interested in a taste of what emerging technologies in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics can bring to bear on questions of potential importance in biomedical research." --American Journal of Human Genetics

Emerson Wyatt MacVey has hurt and used a lot of people during his thirty two years on Earth. It wasn't until he died and was sent to Heaven's Waystation that he began to see the error of his ways. Now with the threat of the "other place" hanging over his head, Emerson has exactly one month to go back and right three of his wrongs. He's sent back as Gabriel Falconi, a tall, muscular carpenter who lands right in Angel Falls, Minnesota. He's taken in by Carrie Alexandra, a woman whose never met a stranger and she and the whole town embrace him wholeheartedly and welcome him to spend the holidays. Immediately, Gabriel is entranced by Carrie and the goodness she tries so desperately to represent and he finds himself tumbling head over heels in love. As luck would have it, she's one of the three wrongs he needs to right and he can hardly claim success if he loves her and leaves her. He's here on borrowed time and he tries hard to keep his distance. Being around Carrie has helped him see the error of his ways far more than the threat of hell and he tries to be honorable. But when she looks back at him with the same amount of longing, Gabriel is lost and he convinces himself that a night in her arms is worth an eternity in hell.

This was such a heartwarming Christmas story. Since it was originally written in 1993, it has a down-home, Norman Rockwell feel to it that just wouldn't be realistic in the twenty first century. Heck, it shouldn't have been realistic even then, but Anne Stuart makes it work. Angel Falls represents a time when people helped out their fellow neighbors and everyone pitched in together as a group. The fact that Gabriel's arrival is suspicious and he's a stranger makes no never mind to anyone and he's immediately enfolded into the town. He's put to work helping out the Swenson family and from there, he comes into contact with all sorts of lively characters.

Gabriel was a quintessential dream man. Tall and handsome, a good cook, good with his hands and handy around the house. He took care of Carrie with such gentle, single minded fervor that my heart just melted. Carrie was so lost and broken inside and when Gabriel began to heal her, I loved seeing her blossom again. This was such a heartwarming story and it was full of rich, warm and witty characters that I delight in revisiting time and time again. Enjoy!

I've been slowly picking up Anne Stuart's backlist. This one's from 1993, and it won the 1994 RITA award for Best Futuristic/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. It was well-deserved.

Emerson MacVey was a ruthless, greedy, uncaring man, until he had a massive heart attack and died at the age of 32. Now, 17 months after his death, he has one last chance of avoiding hell--he'll return to earth in another body, and within one month, he has to make amends to 3 people whose lives he destroyed. The fine print: he gets 3 miracles--one per person, and there'll be someone there to keep an eye on him, and he can't tell anyone who he is or why he's there.

The first person, and the only one whose name he's told, is Carrie Alexander. She'd been his secretary for 3 months, and he fired her on Christmas Eve. She was also the only person who'd cried when he died.

Carrie had thought she'd seen the good hidden under Emerson's cold exterior, and she'd fallen in love with him. And when her hometown's only industry was collapsing, she thought she saw a way to help both him and her town, since his business was buying and selling businesses. Instead, he bought it and closed it down, dooming the town, and broke her heart.

Now she's being eaten up by the guilt, and making amends in the only way she can think of--being the town's resident angel.

So when Gabriel Falcone's car ran into a ditch near Angel Falls, Carrie was the one who looked after him.

Falling Angel is a sweet story of love and redemption, sort of a cross between A Christmas Carol and Heaven Can Wait. But it avoids the saccharine sappiness of so many Christmas redemption romances, by making the emotions real rather than forced, and by giving both characters real dilemmas instead of simply the expected self-sacrifice.

Carrie's not just your usual milquetoast altruistic heroine, and Emerson/Gabriel isn't just your usual hero who only seems unfeeling because he hasn't yet learned to love. They're a lot more 3-dimensional than that. The rest of the town is likewise real, and because of that, you care about what happens to them.

This is, I think, the quintessential Christmas romance--it's what so many stories aspire to, but so few completely achieve.

I love re-reading this book. Redemption and remorse are strong themes - but overall there is a comforting feel about the book. I'm not sure whether it's because it's set in a loving town at Christmas or whether it's because the characters are all so heart-warming, but there is definitely a cosy, loving feel tot his book. It's one of Anne Stuart's lighter romances but definitely up there with the best!

The book begins with Emerson Wyatt MacVey III being in Heaven for 17 months after dieing of a heart attach. He has not changed from his greedy,selfish and self centeredness he possessed while on Earth.He is sent back to Earth with an assignment to right the wrongs he was responsible for when he was alive. He goes back as Gabriel Falconi with a new appearance and new identity.

Gabriel works very hard to accomplish his assignment because he is being weighted in the balance to see if he will be allowed to return to Heaven or will he be sent to "that other place".

Gabriel's character shows both sides of the human nature.The reader is able to feel the emotions (or lack of)in MacVey's personality which is typical of many people but also the warm,loving and caring personality of Gabriel which is found in most everyone.

I enjoyed reading the book very much.It really made me stop and think about what I am doing to others while I am alive because,in reality,I do not think I will have a second chance.

Anne Stuart ( one of my favourite writers) gives us a touching story of second chances. And as usual, Stuart is the BEST at the bad boy being redeemed by love. Emerson Wyatt McVey was a ruthless corporate executive that destroyed hundreds, maybe thousands of lives by closing factories. On a Wintry holiday night, his car goes off the road and he dies, but he is given once chance to come back as another man and make right three lives he destroyed. Carrie Alexander is one of those he destroyed and it is through her love McVey will be redeemed or not. A beautiful holiday tale, with Fallen Angel being a special special Stuart tale.

A must read for anyone interested in the social and cultural evolution of the southwest in the 1930's. A fresh writing style from this first time author. Five star kudos and a big thumbs up.

Excellent read! Combines a fascinating event (riot, murder, union vs. management, communism, immigration) with a fresh and very readable style. The characters, some real and some fictitious, are brought to life very well (the best being Bobcat)and the turmoil of the times comes across quite strongly. Is justice served in the end? That will be up to the individual reader to decide, and that decision will wait until the novel is finished. If you are into the culture and history of the southwest, you won't want to miss this one.

This is a well-written, fascinating novel, with an amazing control of the complex facts surrounding the events in Gallup, New Mexico in the 1930s. I enjoyed the use of actual courtroom testimony, real names and places, but with the added excitement of a fictional young lawyer and his girlfriend to discuss the case and make it entertaining. The lawyers' opening and closing statements are so real, and powerful, that they seem part of the courtroom history, till one realizes that they are part of the fictional side of the book, penned by the author to capture the true intensity of the court case. This book was enjoyable, thought-provoking, and definitely worth recommending.

Having lived in Gallup for 20 years, and working with Gary through the State Bar of Arizona where he is a frequent speaker and writer, this book held a dual interest for me. What a page turner! The courtroom scenes are especially well told. He captures the historical incident with amazing detail and clarity, and feeling that only someone close to the legal profession and Gallup, New Mexico could obtain.

The Gallup 14 is a gripping page turner set in a small town in New Mexico during the 1930's. The charachters are compelling and colorful beginning with Bobcat.

The reader finds himself questioning how such an event could occur in a small town where everyone knows everyone. The reader then discovers that a small town is the best place to keep secrets.

The author does a wonderful job of detailing the court room saga. The reader waits anxiously for justice to prevail. Are we disappointed or rewarded? This book has made me a fan of historical fiction. The details of real life interwoven with fiction make for more than an enjoyable read.

There is no question about David Stuart being the master in the decipherment of Msya hieroglyphic inscriptions as this book plainly shows. David was Linda Schele's mentor and it is obvious how much he was indebted to her as he gives her credit throughout the book not only to her scholarly deciphedrment of Maya inscriptions throughout most of her adult life but her enthusiasm for her chosen field. The photographs of Jorge Perez de Lara throughout the work are thrilling and show almost a perfect collaboration between the two. I awaited the book with much anticipation and certainly was not disappointed.

This book shows the newly discovered stone inscriptions of Palenque. Some of them are as well produced as any other Maya stone engravings.

Very well written and excellent photography. Even if you have many other books on the Maya, this one is unique, and deserves a space on your shelf.

Dr. David Stuart has presented an in depth study of Temple XIX at the Maya site of Palenque, for Maya hieroglyphic aficionados this will greatly enhance the knowledge of the Maya writing system. This is a scholarly work for both the novice and expert of Maya studies and illustrates how far decipherment of Maya hieroglyphs has progressed.

While the topic of this book on the inscriptions at Palenque is highly specialized, the photographs are marvelous and the quality of the Maya art extremely high. This book will be of great interest to anyone who believes or who would like to believe, that Mayan art, at its best, is part of the world's finest art along with the art of the Greeks, the Chinese, etc. The book has been carefully and lovingly produced.

I am a student of the author, David Stuart, and I have just finished his "Advanced Maya Epigraphy" class at the University of Texas. I was thrilled when his book about Temple XIX was released, because he had already shared some of his insights with his students about these new inscriptions; and by reading the book I knew that I would learn even more about the inscriptions and about K'inich Ahkal Mo' Nahb, the grandson of the Pakal the great. Within this book, Dr. Stuart unravels the texts and iconography of Temple XIX and its associated sister, Temple XXI, to reveal a story of how the king ingeniously used deep-time mythology and sacred geography to try to bring order to his rule and how the king employed the age-old Maya tradition of impersonation, linking himself directly with the two most holy Palenque characters, one historical and the other mythological - the great ruler, Janab' Pakal, and the powerful god, G1.

The book is also a scholarly asset for me because, as a student of Maya epigraphy and a Palenque data monger (I can't get enough of it), I know that Prof. Stuart is the "go to" man for information on both. (He and his dad, George Stuart, retired head archaeologist for National Geographic, have a new book in press on ancient Palenque to be released soon). If you have ever wondered how Maya epigraphers go about deciphering a text, the Temple XIX Inscriptions book is the perfect case study. The volume is remarkable in that it contains here-to-fore unpublished epigraphic ideas and observations that have recently been exchanged between the top Maya epigraphers, but have never gotten into the printed record. He calls this material the "grey literature" of letters and e-mail that only the few get to see. Thank you Dr. Stuart.

This amusing, refreshing, and speedy summer read is perfect with a glass of lemonade!

With only one day left of summer vacation, Moxy Maxwell, is down to the last minute to finish her summer reading before starting the 4th grade. And though Moxy had planned all along to read, Stuart Little, there just never were enough "in-between" times during the summer!

This means that Moxy not only has one day left to finish AND start the book, but her mother has also given her an ultimatum. Moxy must finish all 144 pages of, Stuart Little, by 6:00 PM, or Moxy will not be allowed to attend and perform at the, "Goodbye to Summer Splash," program!

But with a room to clean, a word to invent, a dog to train, and a peach orchard to grow, will Moxy find the time to finish all 144 pages of, Stuart Little?

Pefectly written, so that the words come off of the page like they are coming right out of Moxy Maxwell's head! Combine that with rich vocabulary and poignant black and white photographs to create a memorable read that will make you want to smile.

Perfect for a mother/daughter nighttime read or for a teacher read-aloud during the first week of school!

Reviewed by Three Silly Chicks - Readers, Writers, and Reviewers of funny books for kids.


Moxy Maxwell is a perfectly named kid. The only thing this soon-to-be fourth grader has more of than moxy is ideas. She's full of them. Mostly ideas on how to avoid reading STUART LITTLE. Unfortunately, STUART LITTLE Is required summer reading and summer is almost over. It's not that Moxy has anything against convertible-driving mice. Or reading. Moxy LOVES reading. But she hates being told WHAT to read.

Moxy has tried all summer to read the book. Really she has! She has taken it everywhere: In the car, in the hammock, under her spilled glass of lemonade, into the swimming pool. Can Moxy help it that more important things pop up every time she opens that darned book? Who will plant the new peach orchard in her yard if she doesn't do it? Who will invent the automatic hammock stopper if not Moxy? And really folks, rooms don't clean themselves! MOXY MAXWELL DOES NOT LOVE STUART LITTLE is a great, fun read full of charm and humor told in simple, spunky language and documented by photographs taken by Moxy's twin brother (AKA Valorie Fisher). We love Moxy Maxwell and can't wait to hear more from her in the future!

Reluctant or struggling readers may enjoy this ninety-two page book because the chapters are short (ranging from one word to only four pages long) and allow the use of white space to relieve the anxiety these particular readers may usually feel. Full and half-page black and white photographs are also included in about every third chapter.

These readers may also enjoy the chapter titles which are seamlessly part of the narration. The font of these titles is larger and (depending on the chapter) may cover half of the page.

Lastly, readers may identify with Moxy's perpetual, humorous diversions as she procrastinates from ... reading a book for class ...

Moxy Maxwell is the most delightful character to come along since Junie B. Peggy Gifford uses a charming, humorous, poignant and insightful way of introducing us to Moxy. This is a wonderful book to use to teach vocabulary and for writing lessons. I hope Ms. Gifford continues to delight us with tales of Moxy and her adventures. Well done!!

Moxy Maxwell likes to read. The thing is, she likes to read what she wants to read, and not what someone else tells her to. Now it's almost time for school to start back up, and Moxy has STILL not read her assigned book, Stuart Little. But it's not as if she hasn't been trying to - the book's been everywhere with her all summer. She just hasn't found a good time to actually get to it.

Short, simple, and sweet, Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little is an adorable story. Moxy is a winning heroine who you can't help but laugh at and with. The book revolves around one day, August 23rd, and is accented with photos (taken by Moxy's brother) that give the story a nice touch. I would highly recommend this as a fun, easy read for early readers. It would also make a good read-aloud.

I read about The Sun Kings in the Smithonian Aviation magazine. For anyone wondering about the history of our sun, this is a must read. You might think that this is dry reading but not so. It delves into the lives of many famous people who made astounding discoveries about the sun. A very interesting book. Jack Main

In his book, The Sun Kings, author Stuart Clark introduces the reader to both the early history of solar astronomy and astrophysics and the reasons why such studies are important today. Clark begins by telling of the events near September 1st, 1859 in which the Earth was bombarded by a huge solar storm. While the effects of this storm were readily observed around the planet, only one person seems to have witnessed the cause, a huge solar flare on the Sun's surface. This man, Richard Carrington, forms the the central figure of Clark's narrative but he is not the only scientist who contributes to the story. Along the way we meet William Herschel and his son John, Warren de la Rue, George Airy, George Ellery Hale and a number of other figures whose work will gradually shed light on (pun intended) the murky physical connections between our world and the star it circles.

As is often the case in biographical sketches of a scientist's work, the story begins before Carrington's contributions and continues after he meets his tragic end in what be seen as a mid-life crisis gone horribly wrong. In this sense, while Carrington may seem like the subject of the book, the bigger theme is how humans came to understand anything at all about an object that could not be touched, sampled or controlled. In presenting this, Stuart does a good job of describing the science and the culture in which it took place without getting bogged down in the technicalities of the work. By presenting the material first with a pair of near catastrophic events, the author engages the reader and then holds on by revealing the events and personalities that shaped the work done. Gone is the sort of inevitable march towards knowledge approach that many simple treatments of scientific topics use. This is replaced by a better tale of false starts, professional (and sometimes personal) disputes and rivalries along with the triumphs and collaborations that are part and parcel of scientific inquiry.

The only quibble I have is that Carrington's personal story is left a bit undeveloped as compared to the larger scientific theme. I would have liked a bit more discussion of the tradition of the British "Gentleman Scientist" and certainly a deeper analysis of Carrington himself as well as some of his actions. Much of this may be lacking due to a dearth of sources available to the author however and I certainly can not find fault with showing restraint and speculating if that is the case. This is a relatively minor quibble. A bit more serious is the lack of a good explanation of why the Sun has a magnetic field and why is acts in the way it does. It seems that if the author can find a way to simply explain differential rotation as he does, more effort could be put into discussing a bit more of the physics behind the observed phenomena.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking a better understanding of the Sun, the history and culture of science or the process of scientific inquiry. Those wanting to know more about how the Sun works might be well served by checking out an astronomy textbook from their local library to supplement the material included here.

It isn't often one finds a book offering readable science along with fascinating portraits of scientists. THE SUN KINGS is an exception that does a truly commendable job of exploring the explosive nature of 19th Century astronomy and the idiosyncrasies of its practitioners. Reginald Carrington's meticulous solar observations and his discovery of solar flares and their effect on the earth are the book's major theme. But there is much more in it about the astronomical greats of that age. The Herschels (father and son), Humboldt, Hale, as well as others whose names have survived attached to various phenomena such as Bode's law, Fraunhofer lines, and the Maunder Minimum figure prominently in these pages. Clark has also sprinkled the tale with intriguing anecdotes--the meteorologist who fired dead chickens from a cannon to test the often-repeated story that tornados had stripped chickens of their feathers, the telegrapher who turned off his batteries during an aurora borealis and powered his line with the magnetic field created during the display, and the first improvised solar cooker, used to fry an egg. The 1860 total eclipse expedition with its first photograph of the event is alone worth the price of the book. Add to that the depiction of the savage infighting among the scientists of that day and the difficulties faced by amateurs and women as they were grudgingly allowed into the sacred circle of academic astronomers--these make current fracases in that field seem minor by comparison. From it all, however, emerged what seems to be a truism today, but a truly major scientific discovery--the relationship of the sun's pulsing heartbeat to events here on earth, springing in large measure from Carrington's observation of a magnificent solar flare.

This book is real history. It is well written, covers the important points of the history being written about, and is very informative. Clark has written a history of the discovery of the nature of the sun, and of how its magnetic field effects the earth. Clark does a very thorough job describing the lead researchers and how they operated. The basic science is discussed very clearly. I learned a lot.

This book is highly recommended for anyone even remotely interested in history.

Although this excellent book's subtitle mentions "modern astronomy", the book is really about the sun and how certain key individuals, the "sun kings", have made important discoveries towards our better understanding of some aspects of our nearest star and how the earth can be directly affected. In particular, the role that sunspots and solar flares play in producing auroras and magnetic storms on earth is historically explored. The author weaves his remarkable tale from the mid-nineteenth to the early twenty first century. Everything is brought together in the last couple of chapters in which our current understanding of solar astrophysics is presented. Also discussed is modern research on the observed relationship between the number of sunspots and the earth's climate - another possible contributing factor to climate change. The writing style is clear, very engaging and quite friendly; this book is very difficult to put down, in part because the author skillfully includes details of individuals' personal lives intermingled with the science that they were pursuing. The book can be enjoyed by everyone since the author was very careful in avoiding scientific jargon and in meticulously explaining scientific matters. I definitely look forward to reading more of this author's books.

I have read Anne Stuart, this is my first historical by her. I think her contemporary books are great. I think the same of her historicals.
This is a good book. Dark and dangerous, once you start to read it you dont want to stop. For some reason, even though it is romance and a historical, it still falls into its own category. You wont find another author line Anne Stuart, not one that is even close. I wouldnt reccomend this to just anyone though, cant be squemish and think romance books are not ever dark. Those who enjoy those types of books as well are in for a rare treat.

"To Love a Dark Lord" is my first Anne Stuart book. I have to tell you..I'm thrilled that I have discovered her and I cant wait to dive in and read her other stories!! Girls, This book was fabulous!!!..I enjoyed the storyline and the H/H immensely. There were also some of the most wonderful secondary characters in this book!! Killoran is so romantically tortured and Emma is his perfect match..I was up so late reading this..I couldnt bear to put it down!! DEFINITELY a MUST READ!!!!!!

If ever there was a man who needed a good woman it is James Killoran, the hero of To Love a Dark Lord. He is so jaded and world weary that it will take a special, innocent and determined heroine to veer him from his self destructive course. Emma is up to the challenge. Rarely do lovers have the combustible energy of these two characters.

James saves Emma from a certain hanging when she is discovered standing over the body of her dead relative. James vouches for her innocence, not because he believes her story or that he is smitten by her beauty. No, it just amuses him to do so. He really has no other ambition in life than to lead a hedonistic life.

He again comes to Emma's rescue from an amorous employer and realizes that she is the perfect pawn to bring about the downfall of his nemesis. Emma is destitute so she accepts his help knowing that she holds no special place in Killoran's life other than bait to be dangled before an enemy.

Things are not always what they seem, however. Emma has a true longing for Killoran, who has deep dark secrets and he just cannot forgive himself for his past mistakes. Emma is no door mat. She is quite brave and able to defend herself verbally and physically time and again.

Killoran is your wonderful Stuart hero. His intensity comes across every page and his self sacrificing nature is buried under mountains of guilt, anger and ennui. It is impossible not to be in love with him and disillusioned with him at times. Still his charm is ever present and his killer wit and looks are in no short supply. This is the best historical Stuart has ever written. The plot never gets in the way of the romance and the secondary characters are well drawn and thoroughly enjoyable.

This book is my absolute favorite Romance Novel. I have not found any Romance before or since that I have liked better. This book should have been available in hardcover as well as paperback. I really can't say why I singled this book out of all the others that I have read but my fantasy is that one day they will make this book into a movie. I don't understand why this book is no longer in print. I fell in love with all the characters in the book. I cannot express enough how much I love this book.

Anne Stuart is one of my favourite authors, I admit that - but for a very good reason. She is simply one of the best writers around in either Contemporary or Historical romances. In To Love a Dark Lord, as usual, she delivers - this time one of her best Historicals ever!

She is the queen of creating bad boys with blackhearts and souls. This time the scoundrel is James Killoran, who has a heart and soul so black he himself knows there is only one reason to lives, and that is revenge. He once loved a redheaded woman, only to have her destroyed. James could not save the woman he loved, so his only reason for living is vengeance, but he is no where closer to achieving that aim. The road to revenge can be a bloody dull, long and boring reason to live, since he cannot find the right weapon to extract it, so he uses people to relieve the tedium of his ennui. Mostly, he's just drunk and in a fowl mood with his self-loathing.

The book opens with Emma Lagolet escaping a ravishing. Between her graceless attempts at saving herself, and the drunken James tarnished knight in shining armour rescue, Emma escapes. He deposits her where she can find a possession as help, only to discover she must again fight off the advances of her employer's amorous son. James at first thinks it a hallucination as Emma flops over his wooden fence. But the Irish Lord, again, goes to great pains to save Emma - just for the entertainment. Then James is struck that Emma is the perfect instrument to complete his long awaited vengeance. Emma who now loves James will go to any length to win James' love. James, too, is falling for Emma, but he will let nothing stand in his way from his revenge.

It is so funny, with strong characters, proving once again, Stuart is the tops in her field. One of the Best! Why this is not in reprint is ONE BIG MYSTERY!

I stumbled across Helene Hanff in a place no devout reader should ever be--a video store. After watching '84 Charing Cross Road' I was enchanted with Miss Hanff's wit and humor, and needed more. After an arduous search, I found a used copy of 'Underfoot...' and read it in less than 2 days. I even found myself laughing aloud at parts, which greatly disturbed the people sitting next to me. Hanff's ability to laugh at herself and to extract the humor from any situation is addictive. The book begins with a note to the reader: 'Each year, hundreds of stagestruck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre, firmly convinced they're destined to be famous Broadway stars or playwrights. One in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999. By one of them.' From there, Miss Hanff takes the reader on a tour of her adventures and experiences as a struggling playwright in an honest and spirited manner. I was left wishing that my life was as unpredictable and ironic as Miss Hanff's struggle to live her dreams.

This witty, touching memoir tells the story of Helene Hanff's attempt to "crash the theater". It is as entertaining and charming as her great book, 84 Charing Cross Road

I first heard of this book 20 years ago, in a letter to the editor in Seventeen Magazine. The letterwriter was distantly related to Helene Hanff and was recommending the book. At the time, I was deeply involved in my high school drama program and the title of the book appealed to me. I tried for years to find the book, but it was out of print for a time. When I did finally find it, it was worth the wait. It is laugh-out-loud funny and touching to anyone who has ever been bitten by the drama bug. I was sold on the book the minute I read the preface, which reads in part, "Each year hundreds of of stage-struck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre...one in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999, by one of them." This book turned me on to all of Helene Hanff's other books, each of which is worthwhile in its own right. However, the best of the bunch is right here. This book should be on every booklover's must have list!

I once had to read a bit of this book out to some strangers on a plane who wanted to know why I was laughing out loud and then we had champagne and it was a great flight and Miss Hanff had even more fans. The tears were running down our faces. [ For those of you who have read it already it was the bit about the funeral parlour].

This book, like all of Miss Hanff's works, makes you feel great to be alive.

I've come to love my native city more and more by seeing it through Miss Hanff's eyes.

Helene Hanff published this, her first book, in 1961. She shares stories from her years as a struggling playwright in New York City; her good friend Maxine was a struggling actress. Practically penniless, they still managed to see first-run shows and movies regularly. How they did it is one of many memorable and funny tales.

I couldn't help laughing at the merry-go-round of a Broadway agent shopping a play all over town. Ms. Hanff tells how 'Oklahoma!' was named (she was there). One of her many jobs involved speed-reading long novels; her take on Tolkein is slightly different than Peter Jackson's.

I echo a previous reviewer's thought: this book would make a terrific film. 'Underfoot in Show Business' is a gem, a memoir full of magic and wit. Highly recommended.