Irish-American Books

This book gives a good overview of the life of a very successful immigrant who has disappeared into the pages of history. It also provides a historical perspective of the US during James Shields life with some different information on the early days of Abraham Lincoln's political career. An easy way to remind yourself of history you may have forgotten.

Summary: Includes bibliographies of the 296 authors covered in the Critical Persepctives series, a complete table of contents of each chapter in the series, an alphabetical index to the authors covered, and an index to the critics.

This book is simply the best resource I have ever found for researching literary criticism of a particular author. It gives a synopsis of all the criticism of the author in a well laid out, easy to use format. If you are looking for a resource for writng literary criticism in an English class, this is the book for you.

Stahl, J.D. Tina L. Hanlon and Elizabeth Keyser, ed. 2007. Crosscurrents of children's literature: An anthology of texts and criticism. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN#9780195134933.

Crosscurrents of children's literature is a strong collection of essays and criticism with supporting excerpts from primary sources bringing children's literature to the forefront of literary studies. Focusing upon current concerns and debates, the editors and contributing essayists explore and discuss the various traditions of literature through the ages: instruction, gender issues, values, entertainment, oral history, word, pictures, fantasy, realism, censorship and perspectives.

Each section of the anthology presents an introductory essay followed by primary sources of essays written by literary experts and children's authors. Within the individual essays are excerpts of children's literature to support the author's argument as well as stand alone short stories, poems, and excerpts from well-known literature such as Hansel and Gretel, Huckleberry Finn, and Charlotte's Web, to name a few. Each selection is used to provide examples of the focus of each particular section, and each section is then finalized with further recommended readings.

The first section of the anthology begins with a look at whether children's literature seeks to entertain or teach, pulling primary sources, or essays, from C. S. Lewis, Charles Perrault, Lewis Carroll, Gary Paulsen and more. The editors and essayists discuss whether children's literature is created as a desire to instruct or influence children while also seeking to entertain; looking at the historical timeline from cautionary tales to the more satirical cautionary tales found in much of today's children's literature. From the discussions of the first section, the authors pull together essays for the second section that begins to look at how children's literature is seen as either the subjection of children or the subversion of adult authority. Censorship comes to the forefront due in part to a perceived innocence of children by adults as well as the adult perspectives of suitability. The third section looks at the connection between the oral and written traditions in literature: at the cultural patterns of life and traditions that make up the foundations of children's literature as intertwined with purpose. The fourth section deals with the oft challenged realm of fantasy as well as being juxtaposed with realism. More importantly, the section looks at the historical time line of how the definition for both of these genres has changed, given time, events, traditions, and cultural changes. The subsequent sections deal with gender issues, text, illustrations, satires, spin-offs and adaptations, values, and censorship.

In each case the sections are packed with authoritative essays and supportive text, creating an anthology of literary note.
The text itself has access features that support a reader's search for more information with a strong selected bibliography on the history and criticism of children's literature, a timeline of children's literature, credits, and index. It is an excellent resource for a professional educator or collegiate student who is looking to further his or her understanding of the varied history and purposes for children's literature. The professional aspect of this collection of literary criticism is outstanding and truly a volume of work that needs to be a part of a professional collection within this field of study.

Daniel O'Connell is my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather and I would really love to know more about him, I hope to read your book soon. Kelly Australia

This quirky play about science and God features Charles Darwin, kind of reincarnated as a beach bum, along with Thomas Huxley resuming his debate with Bishop Wilberforce over the theory of evolution. There's a memorable tirade by Darwin about the absurdity of God, yet the play is surreal enough to imagine all views on the matter.

I found this book very entertaining funny in parts but I was also shocked that the Irish treated their own people in such a way they were bought like cattle at markets. The author gave a brilliant account of their everyday lives as he lived it with them. I look forward to the follow up.

I loved this book! It's very informative about the time period, while still very interesting. I read it in one sitting. While my family is of Irish decent, I recommend this book to everyone, even if your not Irish!

Okay I love English history and I thought this book did a thorough job on the kings and queens of England. HOWEVER I could detect more than a hint of chauvanism in the writing of it. For example the author speaks of Eleanor of Aquitaine in a rather derogatory way, ignoring her many accomplishments and just stating that "in her youth she was, at any rate, a lady of easy virtue." Where are the comments like that about the dozens of nympho kings Mr Williamson? In fact he then goes to state that Henry II (Eleanor's husband) committed numerous infidelities but "these were to be expected of a man with a wife much older than him." This may have been true in the 12th century but what writer would write that today? Mr Williamson this is now the 20th century. Women are not meek little creature to be kept at home looking after their men. Get with it.

As World War II slowly fades into history, old veterans are now giving their tales a final telling. Memoirs, books and final recollections fill the bookstores looking back on that great event that so marked and divided the world.

In the midst of such a plethora of material on World War II, there is little talk on its aftermath. Indeed it might be argued that what happened immediately after the surrender of the Axis powers shaped world history almost as much as the dramatic event itself.

Covering this fascinating time, Prof. Gregory W. Sand provides insight and historic perspective. As part of the Contributions to the Study of World History series, the book thrusts the reader into an end-of-the-war scenario in much the same way as President Truman was driven upon Roosevelt's death.

It becomes clear that the conflict's aftermath was not just the end of a war but the beginning of another one. With extensive headnotes, Prof. Sand traces the major concerns of the two victorious powers as they headed toward a series of crises that eventually gave rise to the Cold War.

Poland, Italy's Venezia Guilia, and the Austrian occupation were all matters that immediately threatened world peace. In the power vacuum that followed the Allied victory, the letters document the perfidious actions of Stalin who shamelessly exploited postwar chaos to build an "Iron Curtain" right down the middle of Europe.
Prof. Sand weaves together the threads of the two leaders' lives as he follows their postwar careers. Their friendship was especially cemented by their meeting at Fulton, Missouri, where Churchill would deliver his famed "Iron Curtain" speech introduced by President Truman. With Churchill's second premiership, their official correspondence resumed and with it all the problems raised by the Cold War.
While the book is excellent historical resource, the personal aspect cannot be divorced from the letters. More than just a political alliance, the book records an evolving friendship. What began as official dispatches with few personal references soon became formal correspondence addressed to "Mr. President" and "Mr. Prime Minister." This would later become the more intimate "My dear Sir Winston," and "My dear Harry." In a similar way, both men in the later years would send their best regards to the other's spouse and children and extend thoughtful courtesies.

Prof. Sand, Adjunct Professor of History at the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, has provided this first full scholarly edition of the Churchill-Truman correspondence which will be an excellent chronicle of the aftermath of the war and will aid students in understanding this important period of world history. In documenting Stalin's brash post-war politics, it is a lesson in perfidy. By describing the eventual Anglo-American response, it is a confirmation that weakness has its terrible consequence and real peace can only bought through strength.