Columbia Books

This book is definitely a classic book in detaling the history of New York City politics and the role different ethnic groups played in politics. It is clear that McNickle did a great deal of research in putting together the electoral data for municipal elections going back 100 years.

One of the themes of the book is the constant fight between organizational candidates and reform candidates and how many politicians carry the reform banner when it suits them. Robert Wagner,Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo are good examples of politicians who have been able to dance with the reformer and the machine, sometimes simultaneously. This book also gives a very good history of the labor movement in NYC, the rise and fall of the Liberal party and how national political trends affected the local political scene.

McNickle write a second edition as the last threee mayoral elections and this years mayoral campaign would provide a great deal of material to continue talking about ethnic coalitions, reform vs machine, and labor unions in politics. Today's political scene is definitely more complicated than it once was even although many of the themes mentioned in this book still apply.

As a participant in many NYC campaigns this book certainly puts many things into perspective. To Be Mayor of New York is a smooth read and very well written and researched. I highly recommend it.

To Be Mayor is an excellent story of the social and ethnic politics of the most diverse city in the world. To Be Mayor provides the reader will a behind the scenes feeling of the races for Mayor. This book is a must read for anyone who is a New Yorker who thinks they are a New Yorker. The book povides the reader with a new prospective to interpret city politics, in a city where the politics is almost as important as the news itself

The sixth novel in the series does not disappoint! The various plot lines are fantastic and criss cross and intertwine with each other. The many characters and events keep the story moving at a good pace. The action, while not of blockbuster proportion, never stops until the last page. Wright has managed to paint an interesting (and sometimes quirky) picture of small town life.

A Touch of Panic is one of the best mysteries I've ever read. L.R. Wright shows her skill to create a tense crime - as well as a tense private world.

Having read the first two of Hammond's books, I had to have this one too and it didn't fail to disappoint, to say the least.
I think A Touch of Strange is my favourite of all three of this real-life west-coast trilogy. It's grittier than the others and there are even more great characters -many old ones but several new ones too- than in the other two books combined, which I was not expecting.
There is high humor and fairly gruesome tragedy, as well as some almost epically poetic moments.
Something of the ancient Greeks and Romans here, or perhaps closer to a Viking bard?

This is the third and last book in the ever-fascinating series of stories told to the author by his father.
In the first, "Tales from Hidden Basin", we meet Hal and Cliff, the Tom Sawyer-esque boys growing up in the wilds of the west coast of Canada in the first years of the twentieth century.
In the second, "Haunted Waters", we have the various adventures of Hal (Hammond's father) as an adult, exploring the atmospheric inlets and forests more or less on his own. "Haunted Waters" is presented as a collection of short stories, each one of them a stand-alone gem.
In this one, "A Touch of Strange", there are somewhat more stories, and it has more of the feel of a novel, as in "Tales from Hidden Basin". Indeed, some of the characters we meet in "Tales" are met again, older. In this way, "A Touch of Strange" ties up some loose ends and answers some questions. It is bittersweet at times, and more than ever there is the feeling of sitting in an interesting old room and having a captivating old man tell them to you.
I would say that this book is equally well-written but quirkier than the others, and even more evocative of a lost world.
I'd recommend reading all three of these books, and of them, "Tales from Hidden Basin" and "Haunted Waters" could be shared with your children. Then when they become teenagers, give them "A Touch of Strange."
These are unforgettable books.

Tour of Duty in the Pacific Northwest: E.A. Porcher and H.M.S. Sparrowhawk 1865-1868. My great grandfather was a warrant officer gunner on this ship during the exact period covered. E.A. Porcher was the Captain of H.M.S. Sparrowhawk and a brilliant water colour artist. I ordered vis Amazon.com as I was able to purchase a brand new copy of the book for less than half the price of a used copy in the UK! Okay, it took 27 days to arrive in UK but I was told this when ordering. Very efficient service - very well packaged and arrived in perfect condition. I certainly advise UK based customers to check this site if time is not important. Thanks. The book gives a fascinating insight into the life of British sailors 140 years ago and of the relationship between the Canadian Innuits and the authorities during the establishment of British Columbia. The watercolour paintings are a delight and study of the characters and their costumes brings the period to light.

Edmund Augustus Porcher was the captain of a Royal Navy vessel serving an Esquimalt-based tour of duty on Vancouver Island. Porcher was also a watercolor artist who made an impressive array of sensitive and skillfully executed paintings of what he saw. A Tour Of Duty In The Pacific Northwest: E. A. Porcher and H.M.S. Sparrowhawk, 1865-1868 is an impressive and uniquely informative work drawn from the ship's record and Captain Porcher's commentaries, enhanced with his superb paintings and illustrations presenting the reader with a kind of "window in time" to understand and feel what it was like in those times and places along Canada's Pacific coasts, as well as the complex and multifaceted roles and functions of a British war vessel. A Tour Of Duty In The Pacific Northwest is a unique and highly recommended contribution that will be greatly appreciated by students of maritime, and Canadian nineteenth century history.

Don't think of these as 17th century stories, though they certainly are. Instead, this readable translation brings an easy flow and modern language to these half-dozen episodes. And don't think of it as just Chinese, even though Chinese history and culture pervade each story. Like all good literature, these show that loyalty, lust, the urge for revenge, and family joy are human qualities, where- and when-ever humans might live.

The first of these stories, "A Tower for Summer Heat," uses that Western novelty, the telescope, to gain an edge in the mating game. Although sneaky, the suitor has basically kind intent, though, and his eventual wife takes his ploy in good spirit when he reveals it to her. "House of Gathered Refinements" has some unrefined moments, but offers a working lesson in being careful who you wrong, and how. The last story, "Nativity Room," presents a wildly improbable tale of family separations, hidden identities, and joyous reunions worthy of Shakespeare at his finest. The Bard, incidentally, wrote not that long before Li Yu did, and their lives overlapped even if they could never have crossed.

Hanan has done an outstanding job of translating these stories, as he has with other bawdy Chinese classics. I recommend these to anyone with an interest in Eastern culture - and, come to think of it, to anyone.

-- wiredweird

This book consists of six short stories from an original collection of twelve stories by the 17th century Chinese literati writer Li Yu. They are wonderfully translated by Patrick Hanan, whose renditions make each story both fresh and interesting to western audiences. Most of the narratives are propelled by the theme of Karma as well as Daoist imperatives for transformation, balance and harmony. Although each and every story is engaging, I recommend three in particular. In "A Tower for the Summer Heat" events are propelled forward because of the hero's possession of a telescope, which allows him to spy on a young woman and therefore appear to her as an all-seeing immortal. "House of Gathered Refinements" is totally focused on male homosexual relationships and how these play themselves out in the economic and political realities of the day. "Nativity Room" is an absolutely amazingly conceived and eminently satisfying narrative of the convoluted workings of the cosmic karmic rewards of Confucian filial piety.

As a teacher of Japanese literature, I am thrilled to have this resource. Everything one needs for a serious study of pre-modern Japanese literature in translation is here. It is an "everything in one place" book around which one can plan a great college course.
I am one of the translators included in this volume, and I am aware of the immense amount of hard work, on the part of the editor and the many translators involved, that has gone into this project. It is a resource that will be invaluable in our field for years to come.

A comprehensive selection of Japanese texts from the ancient, Heian and medieval periods, this book is a very valuable addition to the existing range of anthologies of classical Japanese writing available in English. It far exceeds any other anthology of its kind in terms of both the breadth of its selections and the depth of its secondary supporting material.

A wide range of primary texts is included, with extensive excerpts not only from major classics such as The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari), The Pillow Book (Makura no soshi), or The Tales of the Heike (Heike monogatari), but also passages from texts less commonly included in anthologies of Japanese literature, such as the Hitachi Province Gazetteer (Hitachi fudoki) or The Essentials of Salvation (Ojo yoshu). Other genres represented include poetry in Chinese, setsuwa, noh, kyogen, linked verse, and sermon-ballads (sekkyo-bushi). Some texts in this volume have been selected to complement each other: for instance, one can read the account of the death of Taira no Atsumori in The Tales of the Heike, read a dramatization of the event in the noh Atsumori, and also read a letter from Honen, the founder of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan, to Kumagai, the man who killed Atsumori ("Reply to Kumagai Naozane, the Monk Rensei"). Likewise, the anthology includes both the famous essay An Account of a Ten-Foot-Square Hut (Hojoki) and part of the less widely read Record of a Pond Pavilion (Chiteiki), which addresses similar themes. Selections from poetry anthologies such as New Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems (ShinKokinshu) are accompanied by passages from critical works on poetry such as Essentials of Poetic Composition (Eiga no taigai); similarly, the anthology includes both noh plays and excerpts from noh treatises such as Teachings on Style and the Flower (Fushikaden).

In addition to its careful selection of primary texts, the anthology also features well-written and informative introductions to the translations and, more generally, to the historical and cultural background of the texts included. The general introduction to the volume treats broad themes such as "Language and Writing", "Love and Eroticism", and "Performance and Narration", while there are separate introductory essays to each of the major historical periods covered and then more specific introductions to the texts and genres included. These introductions are invaluable in placing the works in their historical and social context within the almost one-thousand-year span of history covered by this anthology.

These features--the selection of texts and the introductions--not only give the casual reader a more multidimensional view of the works included, but make the anthology a extremely useful teaching tool. This anthology should be of great interest to scholars and instructors in the field, and to students or to any reader wishing to gain a comprehensive understanding of early and medieval Japanese literature.

This is the best book available regarding the little-known and mysterious transient orcas. In addition to having a detail catolgue of each transient whale in B.C waters, the book analysis and discuss the distinct behaviour and hunting styles of the transients, which are completely different from the salmon-eating resident killer whales.

Futhermore, there are numerous rare and spectacualr photos showing transients launching into the air and attacking their preys. This shows why Killer Whales are called "killers". For while these whales do not attack or eat man, they are highly efficient predators, no marine mammal is safe from transient whales. Read this book and you will understand why.

This is the definitive source for information on the transient or mammal hunting race of killer whales of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. If you are serious about learning what there is to know about these fascinating superpredators-this is THE book to buy. I am a naturalist on a whale watch boat in the San Juan Islands and we use this book constantly to inform our guests about the "alter egos" of our salmon eating Resident Orcas. Fabulous pictures and incredible stories.

With this book, Danaher deftly explores and mines the riches of Edwards' contribution to Trinitarian ethics. One only hopes to read more from this talented author.

Like an oarsman on a long row, Danaher uses intense, sustained effort, efficient strokes and deep reflection to bring Jonathan Edwards ashore in the 21st Century. Edwards' insightful witness to God as a Trinity of persons has profound implications for our own behavior.

I loved the pictures, and am extremely proud & happy because this is a beautiful, classy & wonderfully put together collection of pictures of Black South Carolinians during this period in time.

This book was a visual journey into the lives of early 20th century black america. Many of the pictures could be termed as "dignified photo essays" of life in the black community.You feel as though you are right there behind the lenses of these photo's while they're being taken. They almost have an "ethereal beauty" about them. In these photo's you can see the dignity of a race of people who were considered low class at the time of the photographs, but in the way they are portrayed you feel like you're in the presence of royalty. "A visual treat for the eye's" is the best way to describe this book . It is also well worth reading as you enjoy the beautiful photography! I would highly recommended this book to african americans and those who enjoy a look into the past!

This effort reads more like a novel than history. It is wonderful when a history writer knows how to illuminate a period of life and make your imagination come to life. This is what happened in this book. The author takes a long and convuluted period with a wide range of subjects and cultures and give you something you will never forget. This book will stand the test of time and should be read by anyone who wants to understand the influence of the Turks on European culture. Absolutely wonderful effort.
I love history and don't encounter many books that even a layman would enjoy. That is not meant to sound condescending but it should be required reading in any college course.

Nabil Matar's work is a breakthrough in our understanding of just how wide spread the Ottoman and Muslim influence was in the Age of Discovery. Not only do we have strong cultural links to the Turks and Moors of the period, but it is clear that our American shores were far more ethnically diverse than previous scholars would have us believe. This book is a triumph of both research and honesty. It should be required reading for all public school history teachers, to say nothing of university level students and instructors.