Memorials Books

Having an understanding of the cities in Eastern Asia Minor during the first century of the Christian church is definitely helped by reading Ramsay's book. He discusses the culture, religion and geography of the cities that Paul visited during the first missionary journey. Recommended for anyone needing a better understanding of Eastern Asia Minor during the first century of the Apostles.

The conception of the 'classic' which stands at the center of this work is Vergilian.Kermode writes, "Vergil as the classic of empire and the type of all classics" He then goes on to read this Vergilian idea as it goes through transformations in Western culture. Centering on the question of 'permanence and change' he comes to a definitiion of the modern classic which introduces concepts of plurality , secularization, and change.
I found this work extremely difficult to read. I also found it did not really deal in a way I would have liked to have seen with literary matters and texts, though its concluding example is an analysis of 'Wuthering Heights'.
I much prefer Arnold's way of thinking about ' the best that has been thought and said'. And his relating it to ' classic works' which surely precede those of Vergil, what Arnold calls the Hellenic and Hebraic.
As for the question of what makes a work one which all subsequent generations wish to read and reread, I believe this touches upon a question Kermode does not raise, i.e. What constitutes true literary greatness?'

Daniel J. Sherman brings a background in interdisciplinary studies to this work. It is the second of his major publications, the first being WORTHY MONUMENTS: ART MUSEUMS AND THE POLITICS OF CULTURE IN 19TH CENTURY FRANCE, published in 1989. Through the use of numerous photographs taken by the author and relying on primary and secondary sources, the current work is in some respects a history of public art in France. But to describe Sherman's work soley on such a superficial basis is only to scratch the surface of this complex psychological analysis of French culture.

Sherman imposes a non traditonal approach as he looks at how the French remembered and memorialized World War I. What evolves is a description of the thought processes of the French people used in the conceptualization, financing, placing and building of monuments and the long range impact of these decisions on French culture. Sherman goes beyond the practical aspects of bricks and mortar, architectural plans and the number of francs necessary for the construction of monuments. He deals, however, with space,place and institutions of art and politics along with the mental processes and group dynamics of individual projects. He discusses the impact of tourism associated with the war and how villages sought to return to normalcy while surrounded by battlefields that other considered sacred ground. He writes about the conflicts between families that wanted the return of war dead and the government who wanted them buried in battlefield cemeteries.

With a sprinkling of Sigmund Freud and Michel Foucault, Sherman seemingly puts the French naiton on a couch and delves into its psyche. Like the person who has suffered a tragic loss, Sherman attempts to determine the ramifications of the nation's pain as a result of the Great War and how the collective and individual memories of the war merged. He accomplishes this task by presenting numerous examples, perhaps to many, of individual villages and town and their conflicts with the national government relative to memorializing. At the essence of his duscussion is how the past is fashioned by a society and how commemoration of the Great War is now a part of French culture.

This is not a book for the unskilled reader. Individual sentences are often replete with underlying meanings and could be the subject of hearty debate. The reader should also note that the author sets up his own definitions in the introduction of some of the terms he uses. This introduction also does a good job of setting the historiographic stage for Sherman's thesis which is not merely looking at the monuments but putting them into the perspective the French national memory. Within the context of reading and understanding French history it is a valuable work. Standing alone, one wonders if it is worth the read.

Iriye has bravely gone beyond the realist notion of international relations to explore what all of us (or almost all?) instinctively find lacking in that notion: the ubiquitous cultural atmosphere in which all states and peoples interact. Precisely because it is an atmosphere, it is difficult to grasp, let alone explain cogently. Iriye does both, especially in the first two chapters charting the rise of intellectual movements across borders. That rise is also admirably quantified (e.g. the proliferation of international organizations), but ironically, the reader is left wondering just how vital conferences, declarations, and so forth have been and will be for cultural internationalism. Are these the catalysts or the results of globalism? And what are their respective weights in history? As revealing as, say, UNESCO's founding was after WWII, it is surely not the whole story.

That said, Iriye does not claim that this book is the final word on the subject, only the beginning of a new approach to modern history. His beginning is rewarding, and the approach overdue.

This book is comforting and gives you some hope when you read it every day.

In 1943, Caroline Lord became the librarian of the George Holmes Bixby Memorial Library, serving the small community of Francestown, New Hampshire. She was new to the profession, did most of the work by herself, and wasn't always sure she was doing things "properly." Perhaps that's why she kept a journal, jotting down encounters with people and books, and reacting to current events as they affected the library and her town. The result is a book that's interesting on a variety of levels, as it recounts not only the culture of a possibly simpler time in small-town New England, but also the day-to-day operations of the pre-automated library. Ms. Lord retired from her position in December 1960. She has provided for us a nice reminscence of the past. And yet, for better or for worse, librarians of today will connect and commiserate with Ms. Lord's laments about limited finances, limited space for limited resources, and unruly young adult patrons. Librarians in similiar small towns and especially in New England will find themselves nodding their heads at Ms. Lord's notes. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Recommended for librarians of all ages and professional stages, as a diversion and respite from their regular "required" reading.

Fuentes writes better better fiction than lectures; however, the essay on Quixote is an interesting rumination on what is surely one of the great works of fiction. Does Cervantes' book represent the onset of modernity? Fuentes makes this suggestion and others.

William Schuman's lecture is broad but still focuses on the title. It is an excellent account of the state of the Arts' economies 24 years ago, and much of the content, situations and problems brought to light are still very much pertinent to today's Arts communities (even with MBA Arts Managers). The rest of the book contains another lecture and three responses, all of which either shout praises to the arts or agree or disagree with Schuman. For the price, Schuman's lecture alone is worth it. Personally, the book has inspired me to produce a 'follow-up' forum to discuss the changes since the book was published.

The ethereal infrared photography meshed with the insightful narrative is fascinating, not only for the art but for the history of New Orleans. As a genealogist, I am no stranger to learning from the dead. This book, however, teaches about a culture far removed from my North Carolina Scottish roots.

When you think of gardening and great gardeners you immediately think of the English. For hundreds of years this tiny island has produced some of the most influential gardens and architecture. This book provides a most picturesque view of country estates and the architecture of gardening. PERFECT for us weekend gardeners with visions of grandeur