Europe Books

Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko has truly mastered defining and illustrating the life of "A Prodigal Saint" It is written in a solid and cohesive manner that makes it a pleasure to read. I too, have had the pleasure and honor to have been one of Dr. Kizenko's students I would unequivically recommend this book to any individual interested in Russian History.
I look forward to her next literary work!

I have the immense pleasure to have Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko as my professor of Russian History at the University at Albany. This book is a must read, it clearly illuminates the life of "A Prodigal Saint" during a time period of religious revival in Russia. Wonderfully written, easy to read, and follow.

I find myself reading this book since I had to do a 10-page book review for my Russian history class and I have to say it's a very good book. It's not a hagiography, just as the author states at the beginning of the book, which means the reader won't find any phrase like: "The most holy, most righteous, Father John of Kronstadt."

It's a well-researched book. Kizenko employs primary sources such as Father John's diaries as well as popular press representations of him. She also uses the thousands of letters sent to him by people asking for his prayers. These are also good sources when trying to find how others perceived him. Many of these letters were from women and Kizenko makes a good argument about the importance of women in religion.

One interesting point that Kizenko makes is the conflict between a saint's or a priest's two bodies - body public and body private - and how Father John dealt with this conflict.

The only weak point of the book is Kizenko's attempt to condemn the Ioannites, a cultic sect of the Orthodox Church who believed that Father John was kind of a savior. Kizenko does not entirely succeed in arguing that the Ioannites were a blemish in Father John's reputation.

An well researched, insightful and VERY WELL BALANCED look at the life of St. John of Krostadt. A must read for any Russian Orthodox Christian.

The book chronicles the life of Father John of Kronstadt, a controversial and highly profiled religious figure during the pre-revolutionary period. Details of his life and his world are fascinating. Seeing how he is approached for help and his actions indirectly reveals much about those living in Russia during that time. the book was also very helpful in dispelling some of the myths that commonly surround this man.

I think this is an excellent read for Orthodox Christians and ALSO anyone interested in Russia during that time period.

Peter Mayle's books about Provence are always wonderful, and this one does not disappoint!
Mireille McKell

Peter Mayle's "Provence A-Z" is a collection of personal interests and discoveries. There are amusing stories of construction complexities, the celebration of truffles and humorous stories of wild pigs eating perfectly ripe melons. Peter invites you into his world and as he explains the reality of Provence he keeps the fantasy of the perfect vacation alive and well. Since I recently made my own tapenade it was interesting to see a new recipe. There is also an explanation of why tomatoes are known as pommes d'amour. There are stories of unique fruits and visions of hills that are home to two thousand types of butterfly. I loved the story of the new puppy and you can't help but smile when you think of all the adventures Peter has on a daily basis. Overall, this collection of writing makes winter days seem a bit warmer and it is perfect as a cozy read by the fire.

~The Rebecca Review
Once I spent a weekend in Provence

An enjoyable collection about things in and of provence. Peter Mayle has done another winner.
An easy read and quite informative.

This is a collection of short essays about the culture of Provence in alphabetical order. I think it is typical Mayle, intelligent, bright, and whimsical without being "cute". It's a writing you can sample in at odd times.

Here's a book of a couple of hundred entries, from A to Z of course, about life in the Provence region of France. Each entry then has from a short paragraph to a few pages of description. The author is Peter Mayle who has almost made a careet of writing about Provence. He's a Brit who moved there many years ago. He was going there to write a novel, but instead wrote a book on Provence which to the surprise of many turned into a best seller.

This started a trend with 'A Year in Provence' and 'Toujours Provence' being the best known. Like expats everywhere who have permanently moved from their homeland, Mr. Mayle is in love with his new chosen country. It shows through his selection of words to include in the book and in the dedication with which he has given these words their Provence meaning.

It's almost enough to make people who don't like France ready to go visit.

This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of Elizabethan Costuming. It mainly contains all of the details of Queen Elizabeth I wardrobe but it has unique points in the society that surrounded the dresses. This book helps to explain the Gloriana image that became so popular and it helps us to understand all the little details that went into the dress of the period. Detailing costumes using portraits and explaining how the fashion progressed makes this book a must for anyone interested in Renaissance Faires and the nobility. The only drawback is that very very few of the portraits and pictures are in color. I think a total of about 7 are in color the rest is in black and white. The only way to make this book more appealing and usable would be to put all of the portraits and pictures in color, but that would make the book even more expensive. After this must have book the 2nd on the shelf should be a J. Hunniset book (the lady who did all the costuming for Elizabeth R and The Six Wives of Henry the VIII produced by BBC). Next, any Janet Arnold book. Last, would be the Norris book: Tudor Costuming and Fashion (although most of this book is very outdated it is nice to look at). All of these are must haves and will make a well rounded library. Dispite the high price of the book it is worth posessing. Enjoy.

This book is amazing. Huge, and packed full of information. An essential refernce work if you are seriously considering doing anything with elizabethan fashion. The author has poured years of scholarship into this work and it shows. It's not really a coffee table picture book. Instead it is full of carefully culled facts for the serious student or anybody curious about 'real' English Tudor costume.

For the historical costumer focused on 16th century clothing, this is the "bible" hands down. Big, expensive, and filled with the usual detail that is the hallmark of Janet Arnold, this is one very worthwhile investment for the serious costumer. This book has one tiny drawback, in that it focuses entirely on women's fashion in the 16th century as viewed through the wardrobe accounts of Queen Elizabeth I and some of her contemporaries. Therefore, it has nothing to say on the topic of men's clothing, which is an unfortunately neglected aspect of 16th century research.

Much of Janet Arnold's most important contributions to the costuming community are addressed in this book, making it extremely valuable. She presents each section with satisfying detail, raising very few questions that remain unanswered. The photographs accompanying the text are also invaluable, as many of them are not available in other books or to the general public for viewing. If only there were more color images...

If you can afford the book, you won't regret buying it.

For years I heard how this was _the_ book to buy if you were into Elizabethan costuming and wanted authentic items that could be documented. The book is good for that, and I enjoyed the style that Ms.Arnold wrote it in.

But I have two major gripes with the book-both regarding the quality of graphics and images in it.

First off-in the whole book there are only about 5 pages in color. The rest of it-including hundreds of portraits, examples of extant clothing pieces and pieces of embroidery were all in black and white. I complain about that because, with so many of the portraits quoted as examples it would help if they could be seen clearly. (Many of them are too dark to have reproduced well, and a few are quite horrible.) And the photographs....

If they could reprint this book and possibly include more color plates it would be a much much more valuable resource. As it stands now, it is a good source, but not all that I could have hoped for. Instead I have begun a search for color reproductions of the portraits cited in the book. A long tedious job but one that I think over all will make it a much more solid resource for my needs.

I bought this as a gift for a friend who helped a great deal with my wedding, advising me of dress styles, hair styles, fashion from this era, dances, music, food, and everything in between, as well as arranging all the flowers for the wedding! She was a godsend! When I gave her the book, her jaw dropped and she was so excited to get it... she said she had been wanting it forever. As I consider her quite knowledgeable about the subject matter of this book, and as it came highly recommended by her, I would say that it's a great book to have if this is something you are interested in as a serious hobby or more.

This book is excellent because it is exactly what I needed, that is an account of Edmund Burkes thinking, what it is he contributed to our understanding of government.

This small title is actually a letter that the author wrote to a friend in France. When Edmund Burke wrote this letter about the French Revolution (where the king was overthrown and beheaded by the masses aka Jacobins), English scholars agree that the result was the finest piece of prose in the English language; only a few poets have succeeded in writing something finer. Whether you agree with Burke's interpretation or not is not the point; he penned the finest piece of literature ever in the English language.

As a historian and social commentator, Burke is a "structural functionalist" decades before that term was dreamed up. He recognizes that the French are not only creatures of their culture, but prisoners. And to compare them to the English colonists and other insurgents in the American colonies who revolted against the British government is to compare apples and oranges. Whereas the Yankee revolution of 1776 was Biblically-inspired and the propaganda for rebellion preached from the pulpits, the French were railing AGAINST the Catholic Church for keeping people ignorant and in their Dark Age.

Burke says the French Revolution is a revolution without its moorings, without the necessary principles to guide individual behavior, and without the maintenance of institutions that long provided stability and security. What the French philosophes were writing was mere balderdash, says Burke. Without their traditions, customs, and institutitions that had slowly brought the French out of barbarity and into a civilized manner of living, Burke saw in revolution a rapid decline and fall of the French people into a visciousness of dog-eat-dog.

In short, Burke saw the French Revolution as lacking virtue and descending into terrorism; whereas the Yankee Revolution was virtuous and grew into a democracy.

Whether you agree with Burke or not, and I do not, his writing in this letter to a friend is the finest example of English writing to be found and should be read by everyone simply for that reason alone.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797)wrote REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE in 1789 which was four years before the rise of the fanatical Jacobins and the execution (murder)of Louis XVI. This book was not only well written but very prophetic on the tragic events that were part of the French Revolution. Burke showed historical insight and warned both the British and the French what was going to happen.

Burke cited conditions in France prior to the French Revolution. He certainly did not give a false representation of the economic and social conditions in France, but he was clear that, while not perfect, the French had advanced culture and tolerable living standards. He also warned the French that abrupt changes without recourse to tradition and legal norms were dangerous and would end in tyranny. Readers should be aware that Burke's assessment of the French political system was that the French had reasonble politcal freedom and prosperity. To destroy this political system would end in political disruption, social and political violence, lack of law-and-order, and the rise of tyrannical military leaders.

One should note Burke's assessment of the members of the French National Assembly which was vacilating and subject to the whims of any "political interest group" was serious. He suggested that military officers would be among those "pleaders" would be military officers who would be difficult to control. He also warned that when someone who understood the art of command got control of the military officers, the days of the French Republic and the National Assembly were over. The military commander would be in total control, and this is exactly what happened when Napolean I (1769-1821)started to exhibit military genius, he quickly got power by a coup d' etat in 1799 and became the French Emperor by 1804.

Burke's warnings of disaster and tragedy were fullfilled. From at least 1792 until 1815, the French were almost constantly at war with most Europeans. While the French Empire expanded beyond anything prior French monarchs ever dreamed of, the collapse of the French Empire came quickly, and the French empire was ended by 1815 at terrible cost in both blood treasure. Burke warned of these dangers, and his predictions were accurate.

Burke lived just long enough to see the rise and fall of the maniacal Jacobins which included the Reigh of Terror (1792-1794)and the execution of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie antionette. Had Burke lived a few more years, he could have resorted to remarking, "I told you so."

Edmund Burke has been defined as a conservative which is true. However, Burke was not a reactionary. Burke realized that progress, whatever that may mean, is often slow and within the confines of historical tradition, legal norms, and established law. Burke warned his readers, to use modern parlance, against "wipe the slate clean." Burke clearly understood that to "wipe the slate clean, meant mass dislocation of men and ultimately mass executions (mass murder). Subsequent modern political revolutions vindicate this view.

Readers may wonder why Burke expressed support for the American Revolution but strongly opposed the French Revolution. A careful examination of these revolutions provides the answer. The American "revolutionaries" were arguing for their "Rights of Englishmen" which had a long tradition in Great Britain. Henry II (1154-1189) started the use grand juries. The English had the right of trial by jury by the time of Edward I (1272-1307). The fact is the American colonists wanted to rules of common law and long established legal traditions to apply to them. The British wanted to rule the American colonists with administrative law using clever bureaucrats, as Burke would probably have called them, rather than use British Constitutional Law and the Common Law which many American colonists demanded. The French, on the other hand, wanted to replace a weak monarch with "clever bureaucrats" which Burke knew very well could not work in France.

Readers should note that Thomas Paine (1737-1809)wrote a response to Burke's REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION titled THE RIGHTS OF MAN. While Paine's views were different than those of Burke's Paine's book was just as brilliant as Burke's. Readers should read both works if they want exposure to profound political thought and excellent writing. This is much preferred to the current political nonsense that is pushed by media talking heads and journalists who cannot think or write. Burke and Paine were well read men and offered readers history lessons as well as politcal lessons.

Edmund Burke's REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE is highly recommended regardless of one's political persuasion. This book is not a light read and takes time. However, one will be better informed and wiser for doing so. Again, this reviewer suggests the reader should read Thomas Paine's THE RIGHTS OF MAN to draw comparisons and contrasts.

In 1789, the year of the French Revolution, Burke received a request from a good friend living in France to provide his thoughts on the Revoution. The result- one of the finest pieces of political discourse ever written. For those encountering Burke for the first time, his adament defense of the crown, and of hereditary succcesion, seem to make a hypocrite of this self-proclaimed liberal. Burke, however, was not defending an absolute monarch who ruled under the charter of divine right, but rather, pointing out the danger of a perfect democracy, whose sovereign (the national assembly) was compelled not to a moral authority such as a Church, nor to a fixed consitution. In short, liberty was safer restricted in civil socity, than left unchecked.

Whether you find Burke's analysis, consistent with your political leanings, or more likely, you find his writing very offensive, you can appreciate both the efffect of this work on American and European political though, as well as the reason and intelligence with which it was written.

This is an indispensible essay for anyone who has ever been interested in politics. It is composed of beautiful prose, crisp logic, and perennially relevant material.

You must read Burke to understand the why it is worth being critical of the French Revolution and to understand some major reasons for the counter-revolutionary movement in France.

For nearly 30 years I have carried this book with me virtually everywhere. No, it's not "an easy read" - but it is worth buying (owning)and treasuring - if only for the FOURTH LETTER (to a German Friend)- it is the most moving argument/declaration for humanity and choosing it that I have ever seen anywhere.

Some (like Sartre?) might call it a "rationalization". But even those who have resigned themselves to the religions of cynicism and despair - could find a remnant of fight and even "goodness" (yikes!) inside themselves. Camus' words remind us that resignation and the inevitable indifference and inhumanity that follow are the ultimate betrayals of life.

While there is nothing "cheerful" or even optimistic about these writings - you'd have to be cold-blooded, heartless and completely beyond repair or redemption not to be inspired by the wistful aspirations that Camus exudes from his admittedly battered heart and soul.

I disagree with the reviewer (who did praise this precious book) Sartre is smart - but so is Camus - and Camus exudes the humanity that Sartre can't even see or imagine.

Sartre would tell us that we always have the freedom to at least rattle our chains (at least theoretically) - but Camus has the power to inspire us to want to.

"I step onto the podium only when forced to by the pressure of circumstances and by my conception of my function as a writer." (p. 132) From the circumstances of Fascist Spain and Nazi occupied France, to the circumstances of the Hungarian and Algerian struggles for freedom, Camus' essays demand involvement, require action in the face of hopelessness. He never offers a moment's peace for couch-potato complacency. "Freedom is not made up principally of privileges; it is made up especially of duties." (p. 96)

To read these essays is to step into the world of a man who said to Christians "I share with you the same revulsion from evil. But I do not share your hope, and I continue to struggle against this universe in which children suffer and die." (p. 71) And "Perhaps we cannot prevent this world from being a world in which children are tortured. But we can reduce the number of tortured children." (p. 73)

Camus is recalled to the podium, in a day when children are tortured and die in Chiapas while most turn a blind eye and complain that sitcoms just aren't what they used to be. These essays, possibly his most accessible work, demand an active response from the modern reader. Our struggle today, although not against Nazi minions, still must echo his "There are means that cannot be excused. I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice." (p. 5) [See Jamal's Live from Death Row and Peltier's Prison Writings, elsewhere on Amazon.]

Camus is outspoken about capital punishment, too. "It is obviously no less repulsive than the crime, and this new murder, far from making amends for the harm done to the social body, adds a new blot to the first one." (p. 176) His "Reflections on the Guillotine" is the longest essay in book. He views capital punishment, even in "free" societies, as an act of totalitarianism.

Camus proclaims the call to justice and the struggle for freedom found in the Old Testament, especially in the minor prophets. But he does so in a modern context, where God is silent and man is the maker of his own destiny. Although he sees no messianic age, he proclims the hope that by continuous effort evil can be diminished and freedom and justice may become more prevalent.

Five stars for courage, five stars for clarity, five stars for consistency. After the abortion of democracy on December 9, 2000, every freedom and justice seeking American needs to read this book.

(If you would like to respond to this review, click on the "about me" link above & send me email. Thanks!)

This collection of essays is the most brilliant one of Camus' diverse smaller non-fiction writings. The bulk of this book concerns his journalistic writings on the Algerian Revolution, Soviet Union etc. Through these essays, you understand the pain of Camus. Camus' ethics doesn't agree to mindless violence for the sake of power. He makes an impassioned plea for tolerance and humanitarian solutions to the problems of war and peace.

Camus is not necessarily logical or politically correct. His stand on the issue of independence of Algeria is a compromised position between French imperialism and Algerian aspirations for freedom during that period. However, in his passion for diagnozing the problems of his time and addressing them, he hits upon a lot of interesting insights and arguments.

Particularly brilliant for both its analysis and its conclusion is Camus' landmark long essay 'Reflections on the Guillotine' which occupies a fair part of the book. In this essay, Camus systematically demolishes all legal or quasi-moral justifications for capital punishment and answers the third aspect of the question - Whether human life is worth taking?

In his 'The Myth of Sisyphus', he had argued against self-murder. In 'The Rebel', he argued against murder and genocide. In this essay, he argues against legalized murder. But unlike his earlier works where he offered weak arguments after a brilliant analysis, here he hits the mark by demolishing the justifications for capital punishment, totally. This particular essay deserves to be considered a classic in the philosophy of law and justice.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It has provided me with the strongest, most clear-headed confidence in the face of unrelenting hypocrisy and struggle. Camus was on the side of the angels for all of the conflicts of his time, a time that saw the darkest face of humanity. His arguments for compassion and justice are utterly transfixing and revelatory, and written with a clarity and insight that are simply breath-taking.

I challenge anyone that supports the death penalty to read "Reflections on the Guillotine" and walk away with their arguments intact. In this piece Camus utterly demolishes every argument for state-sanctioned murder while defending the right to live with dignity, a right that can easily encompass the self-defense by combat necessitated by circumstance.

Camus was a moral, intellectual, and physical hero, and reading these essays one is almost overcome by his sense of humilty, justice, and compassion. His writing is so crystalline, it's almost jolting. This is a powerful tonic for all those that despair of creating a place for the best qualities of the human race in times of utter darkness. A must-read.

Camus' essays are obviously more difficult to read than hisstories, and quite possibly more difficult to read than his philosophical investigations as well. Should they be read? Of course. In them, he speaks of similar topics (i.e. what to do in the face of absurditiy, human moral dilemmas, etc.) as he does in the other books, though in a more precise, more direct fashion. His views on the death penalty shaped my own almost completely.

What you get in this book are coherent arguments by a coherent, nuainced thinker. Is Sartre smarter than Camus? Camus knew enough to fear most -isms and -ologies where Sartre did not... (not that I recommend ignoring Sartre either! )

... but also very entertaining and terrifying at the same time. While I agree with almost all what the previous three raters wrote, I want to stress that the entertainment value of this well written biography cannot be overstated. If you want to know how papers were retrieved at the Buero Ribbentrop, the parallel foreign ministry (by emptying a renaissance chest in which everything was thrown into), or how the usually obedient Ribbentrop once enraged the Fuehrer to the point of giving him a nervous breakdown, or how Ribbentrop embarassed himself and the Royal family while he was ambassador in London, look no further, Bloch describes it all, with dry humour, mild pity and all references. And if you ever doubted what a professional diplomatic corps is good for, read this book.

This is an excellent biography of one of WWII's most influential, but overlooked personalities. Bloch does a thorough job of outlining the life of Hitler's foreign minister, from his early days as ambassador to Berlin to his ultimate caputure by the Allies. A good read.

Bloch's "Ribbentrop" is an excellent work on a figure who is often only mentioned as a supernumerary in histories of the Second World War and the Third Reich. From Ribbentrop's early years, to his pre-Nazi days, to his rather baffling rise to power, to his last days as a defendant (then convict) at Nuremberg, Bloch's book illuminates the reader as to this important but often overlooked individual. Divided into well-ordered chapters, filled with many fascinating footnotes, and drawing from diplomatic archives, interview records, and memoirs, "Ribbentrop" provides a deeply interesting look at the state of the German diplomatic machine in the 1930's and 1940's and sheds light on the Reichsaussenminister who despite his participation in terrible crimes was, as written by Philip Ziegler in his review, "never quite a monster".

For enthusiasts of diplomatic history Michael Bloch produces a masterpiece that lets us see inside the Nazi regime and their struggle to deceive the world. Ribbentrop was a cowardly and self centered bureaucrat who helped justify some of the worst atrocities that were ever seen. The book is well written and is good for a beginner on an expert. It is an essential addition to any library about Nazi Germany. Bloch's contempt for Ribbentrop is apparent and you find yourself wondering how Ribbentrop ever achieved power. His ineptitude is stunning but through this look we get a look at one of the more interesting Nazi's after Hitler and Goebbels.

I have read a lot on WW2 history and found this study very good. I certainly learnt much from it.

A man promoted well over his ability and experience into a position of foreign minister. Yet in the scheme of things he was a fairly minor character.

Yet it surprizing how much influence that he did play in the conflict. I found the questions raised by the writer in relation to Rippontrop causing Hitler to misjudge Britain response to the invasion of Poland fasinating.

Gillingham does it again. John Gillingham, again,provides us with another superb account of a remarkable ruler of England.

I was sceptical getting started on this biography. Certainly, the early parts were fact-laden, slightly uninteresting and slow going.

I am very glad I did not give up.

This is one of the few strictly historical books that restores one's faith in objective research and non-agenda, non-ego driven truth finding.

One might wish for a bit more of a picture of Richard's persona, but from the remove of nearly a millenium, this would be fudging anyway. The facts that there are are clearly and neatly laid out regarding all of Richard's attributes, and some of the modern fadist mythologies (so many of which have their underpinnings in a given academic's desire or need for attention) are dealt with fairly and thoroughly.

Example: Richard was not a homosexual, as "The Lion in Winter" would have a viewer believe. The evidence against it is clear and plenary. It isn't that one doesn't wish him to be, it's just that this notion has its roots in a modern attempt to overlay ancient male and political bonding customs with a template of modern behaviours and modern conclusions which would stem from modern interpretations of those behaviors.

All in all, Richard emerges from the historical record as a great warrior King, who was grossly treated following his exertions during the Crusades, and was forced to try to reclaim the lands that Phillip of France stole while Richard was away. He was therefore forced to stay away from Britain, because the Angevin and Acquitainian and Norman parts of his empire were on the continent. He did not stay away from Britain by choice or by neglect (another myth debunked), but because he was forced to by the duties of his Kingship. Also, Britain WAS part of continental Europe as well in those days. (Or vice versa, if you happen to be English.)

A great introduction to those curious about this legendary monarch. Gillingham pulls off a bit of a hat trick here. While he does have strong opinions of surrounding figures, particularly Philip and John, he lets the facts speak for themselves about Richard and does not argue one particular point of view. With one exception, his sexuality. This also one of the few times where I found the primary historians, both Arab and Norman, becoming "characters" and their presence is missed when they die or no longer are around the King. The very difficult task of giving all of the counts of Normandy, the Vexin, and the Aquitaine distinctiveness is handled incredibly well. In the hands of a less skilled author this would have been very dry reading and frustratingly convoluted. Also, bit of a heads up to the future reader: This is Gillingham's second book on Richard the Lionheart and he has written numerous articles and essays on the monarch. He has no problem using himself as a reference and he flat out lifts an entire chapter from his previous work and places it in this one. I found this shrewdly entertaining. It does benefit this volume and since the older version is no longer in print, no harm done. After reading this you come away better informed, entertained and with a desire to pick up another book on this era and this king. I can't think of much better praise than that. An essential work for a medieval library.

Richard the Lionheart's life and personality may be the stuff of legend, but they are hidden by the mists of time -- or rather the paucity of relevant documents. Gillingham does a brilliant job of breathing as much life as possible into rather arid fragments without stepping beyond what is warranted by the evidence. For his understanding of the king, he draws as much on contempory Arab sources as European ones, arguing convincingly that the Arab writers may have had fewer axes to grind in talking of Richard. Gillingham goes so far as to place his evaluation of Richard's character at the point where the evidence ends -- following his captivity in Germany -- rather than at the end of the book. Instead the book ends with a well reasoned argument that it was John (and John alone) who lost Normandy whereas Richard was winning the war against Philip Agustus of France. Gillingham also points out that, had Richard lived to complete that struggle, the empire of Henry II might still have disappeared with his death.

Inevitably, some of the work is frustratingly dry -- especially for the process of Richard's development into a strong ruler and military genius against the background of one of history's most disfunctional families. But that dryness arises from the lack of evidence, not from immersion in trivia at the expense of substance.

The book itself is a delight, with strong narrative supported by a myriad of footnotes which are where they should be -- at the bottom of the pages. All in all, a good story well told with insightful analysis based on the record.

This is the most balanced royal biography I've read to date. Gillingham begins by tracing Richard's reputation through the ages, beginning at it's peak in the 12th and 13th centuries, when he was considered one of the great leaders of his time to it's nadir in the 1950's when academics began to consider him a "Bad son and a bad king..." who spent far more time on the continent than he ever did in England, leaving it in terrible financial straits when he went off to fight in the crusades, and began to conjecture about his sexual preference. Gillingham explores and discounts these and other myths about Richard and his reign simply by letting the historical record speak for itself and allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions, rather than stating his own opinions as facts and then selectively using the historical record to back them up. He also isn't afraid to admit that he can't be sure of something when the historical evidence is either too thin or simply obscured by the mists of time, which is refreshing. The author is among the first to rely heavily on contemporary Muslim sources in constructing his portrait of Richard, because he believes they are less biased in their evaluation of Richard's character than a European chronicler might be. These sources are, for the most part, complimentary, and add great perspective and depth to the reader's understanding of Richard as a warrior. Gillingham strikes the perfect balance between academic research and popular history, making the book very readable. Whether you're interested in Richard himself, or merely seeking an introduction into reading further about his fascinating family dynamics, or the crusades, this is the book to read!

This is one of the best Osprey Publishing titles I have ever read! Greg VanWyngarden has put together an excellent and valuable resource book. I am acquainted with the author and know that he is a dedicated World War One Aero historian. He has meticulously assembled in these pages what the old Harleyford books did for their era. Within the scope and limitations of the Osprey series, he has presented the principal pilots, events, and aircraft of the Richthofen Circus. R.A. Forczyk's review is, as usual, very thorough. He points out very well the pros and cons of the book. I think the book deserves the highest rating for the excellent archival photos employed, the first hand accounts (the pilot's own words) and of course the color aircraft profiles are fantastic. They are beautifully executed. The Circus had the most colorful planes of the war. Greg VanWyngarden has very well synchronized the text / story and photos. Once you start reading this book you won't be able to put it down and you won't be able to resist peeking at the profiles either! I have reviewed other Osprey aviation titles. You can check out my other reviews if you wish. I would also recommend these titles by Greg VanWyngarden. You can click on their links! Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces) Early German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces) and Albatros Aces of World War 1 Part 2 (Aircraft of the Aces) Part 1 is by Norman Franks, another distinguished aero historian! Albatros Aces of World War I (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 32) If you want more details on Richthofen, "The Red Baron" another interesting book is IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RED BARON (Battleground Europe). There is also available Richthofen's own book! The Red Fighter Pilot: The Autobiography of the Red Baron

A fantastic publication. Far more accurate than other books on the same subject. The information about the unit is very informative and the color plates are wonderful.

Vanwyngarden's 'Richtofen's Circus': Jagdeschwader Nr.1 (of the Aviation Elite Unit series) is a valuable little resource for those interested in WW1 aviation, providing a clear basic knowledge of the pilots and operations of the various Jastas which made up this legendary unit. Good photographs, interesting text, well worth the purchase.

The famous Flying Circus has achieved mythical status -- read this excellent book to get the true story! The author tells an exceptional story via words, photos, and color profiles of this legendary fighter group. Not only are significant historical details given, some of the most notable pilots are covered in their own sidebars. If the book did not have to fit in Osprey's format, perhaps the author would have had space to provide his opinions of the group's overall significance to the air war, as mentioned by another reviewer. However, given the space available, the author focused on the information most important to a general audience. Can we hope for a much larger future volume? Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold' (Aviation Elite Units) Albatros Aces of World War 1 Part 2 (Aircraft of the Aces)Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)Early German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces)Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Richhtofens Mentor (Aviation Elite Units)

Eighty-nine years ago today, Manfred von Richthofen's (the "Red Baron") German army flight group was dismantled with its loss in World War 1. Greg Van Wyngarden's "Richthofen's Circus" (2004, 128-page paperback) is a fascinating read about those pilots and planes.

Presenting a day-to-day account the author offers an intimate look into the lives of JG 1's pilots, victories at war, air war strategies, and the various "areoplanes" flown from June 24th, 1917 to November 19, 1918. Wyngarden uses airmen diaries, German ace interviews, flyers' family anecdotes, and official German army materials to document this interesting story.

The Red Baron (he was the leading German flying ace with 80 kills), his command, his planes, and his battle strategies are thoroughly reviewed. Many German flyers' careers, including Hermann Goring's, are presented (Obr. Lt. Goring briefly led the flight group after Richthofen's death). Each plane (Albatros, Pfalz, and Fokker) used by the Richthofen group is analyzed. Engine power, flight maneuverability, exterior color schemes, and pilot symbolage are presented. In the end, the Allies simply had better machinery and larger numbers (reducing the Red Baron's flight group to difficult fighting levels) for winning WW1.

Perhaps the best portions of this informative book are the many black and white period photos (over 125 total!) and the 46 colored airplane drawings. Also, the researcher will find helpful the various appendix lists.

This book is recommended to all World War 1 students, biplane and triplane aficionados, and Red Baron enthusiasts.

Just adding my voice to all the positive reviews. I've tried reading other books on ancient Rome and found them to be dry and academic. Hooper presents the history as a history of people, as another reviewer has said, and that makes it much more readable. He gives personalities to the main characters and renders for us the atmosphere and class tensions that surround major events and clashes. He tells where he gets his information and even reviews his sources as strong on some points, weak on others. Finally, it is well-written. Hooper knows his material and knows how to make it interesting. Having said all that, this is not an encyclopedic source book. If you need to know specific facts about a certain period of ancient Rome, then the dry, academic works are where you should start. Roman Realities is a book for those who really want to get a sense of what Rome was like- its people, its politics and its social dynamics.

I read Roman Realities for a class that I had to take for Roman History, although we only touched on a few of the earlier aspects of the book, it is still a great book just to read, even if it wasn't assigned for a class! If you have any intrest to learn about the Rome in any way, go ahead and get this book!

The late Dr. Hooper's terse style is like the Romans he tells of: to the point, shorn of excess, straightforward. The tone of the book matches the expression of the bust of Caracalla that adorns the cover: gravitas personified. He spends more time on the Republic than on the Empire, and breaks off during the Civil Wars for a chapter on Latin letters and poetry (a subject taken again in his "Roman Letters"). Hooper covers all the highlights in highly readable fashion. A fine general/introductory book on the subject, written in magistral fashion. -Lloyd Conway

Although I keep myself busy reading investment publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Forbes and BusinessWeek (since I am a financial writer), I also spend my spare time reading about ancient history, particularly the Greeks and Romans. I've tried to get a handle on Egypt but without much success. Among the authors I have read are Michael Grant and Finley Hooper. For the most part, I have not found Michael Grant a very scintillating read-although he does have one fascinating book on Caesar that is read by Nelson Runger for Recorded Books. He knows the territory, but he is not much of a writer. By contrast, the late Finley Hooper has only two books that I am familiar with: Greek Realities and Roman Realities.

Roman Realities is a gem of a book. If I were cast ashore on a desert island, it is one of the 10 books I would hope got washed ashore with me. Dr. Hooper is a superb writer, whose style is crisp and eminently readable. In addition, he focuses on the people more than trends and how the people lived. For my money, people are the key to history. His chapter on Julius Caesar is one of the best summaries of this important figure in Roman history.

If you are intent on reading further about the Romans, Dr. Hooper provides an outstanding list of books to delve into. He also has a detailed index, which some books do not have. There are also plenty of illustrations and helpful maps.

I have read this book at least twice and intend to read it again. All told, I have about 75 books on ancient history, but this one stands out like a beacon. There is simply nothing of a negative nature that I could possible find.

John Slatter, CFA

Dr Hooper does an excellent job on Roman Realities. He not only does a fine job in outlining the history of Rome's transition from Republic to Empire but he also highlights the price of that empire. The inability of the Romans to adjust to the changes that hegemony brought about contained the seeds of its own destruction.

Hoopers narrative is clear and concise and is easily understood by students or laymen. As is pointed out in an excellent review below it is a bit outdated in some areas but its analysis is so well done that few books published on the empire today can match this wonderful book. The reflection on the causes of the fall of Rome are worth the price of the book itself.

Reading Hooper brings to light that fact that much of Roman history is a foreshadowing of the realities empires in every era face.

This is a great map of the city on water resistance paper. Will be with us while spending time in Venice. Have marked on it the location of items we wish to visit. We also have the Rome Rough Guide Map that we are taking on our trip.

The book filled in and added some supplemental information. The book was not used as much as planned as sufficient information was also available via the internet and the local residents.

I spent six days in Venice in April of 2006. After using the
excellent Rough Guide map of Barcelona, I purchase Rough Guide
maps when ever they are published for my destination. What I love
about these maps is that they are complete, accurate and very
tough. You can carry them around in your pocket, bend them and
sweat on them and they still remain as usable as ever.

You cannot get lost in Venice in the sense that you don't know
how to get back to somewhere familiar because there is always
a waterbus stop nearby that you can take to some place you know.
But the twisty pedestrian streets can be very confusing, ending
in canals, so it can be difficult to get from place to place
or to find a place you want to go to. For this you want the
Rough Guide map. I walked all over Venice, including some off
the beaten track areas where I saw very few tourists.

In summary: for Venice my advice is get a wasterbus pass for the
days you are in Venice and get the Rough Guide map. Oh, and
unless you like crowds and higher costs, don't stay in San Marco.

This was a great map! If you want to go anywhere in Venice other than the Rialto bridge or St. mark's square, you will need a map. I put this map through hell, folding it every which way and even dropping it in a rain puddle - oops :) the map stood up to my abuse perfectly and was great for getting us around. we didn't have to find the TI to get a map, and i liked it way better than the nice map our hotel gave us. I highly recommend this map and will use others when we travel!

I can't even count how many times we used it on our trip to Venice, because Venice is one of those cities that once you go off the main streets, you will get lost without a map.

I love that it's rip-proof and water-proof, because I've used other maps and hate when they get worn from folding and un-folding. And since we'll be going to Berlin soon, I ordered the Rough Guide Berlin Map.

It had every street in Venice on it, which when you're navigating your way back to a main street or canal it totally helpful.