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Everything as promised; prompt delivery of pristine copy of the book

Julian Barnes in his excellent survey of this book in NY Review of Books states that Brown shows how Flaubert in the few intimate relations of his life preferred the memory of the experience in solitude where he could control it, to the actual experience itself. He cites an instance where Flaubert wrote to the woman closest to him Louise Colet explaining to her that if people truly loved each other they could do so without seeing each other for ten years. Colet appeared to be somewhat skeptical of the matter.
Barnes also says that Brown in telling the story of Flaubert's relation to his long- time friend Maxine du Camp shows how the lifelong friends nonetheless aimed differently in life, and had subtle criticisms of their best - friends' enterprises. So Flaubert upon hearing that du Camp had been accepted as member of the 'French Academy' hinted that it was an honor not at all worth receiving. So du Camp criticized Flaubert for being stuck all the years in the same attitude he had early on.
Barnes says that Brown's book is truly admirable though it contains no significant great revelation about a writer who has fascinated more than one devoted biographer.
Nonetheless he makes it clear that this is by and large a first- rate biography, and one well- worth reading.

In his book, "Flaubert: A Biography," Frederick Brown portrays his book by giving the readers a closer look at Paris during a period of radical change. He writes his book to illustrate a wonderful biography Madame Bovary as Gustave Flaubert. Interestingly and what makes this book fascinating is how Frederick Brown keeps his distance away from the audience to make us decide what the apparent contradictions in Flaubert's life really is. The 24 chapters not only offer a vivid, detailed, and accurate account of Flaubert's life, they also provide relevant historical background for Europe, France, and Rouen, Flaubert's birthplace. Flaubert (for those who don't know) was romantic and optimist yet his most famous work required a degree of discipline to keep his emotions out of it. He loathed the bourgeois, but perhaps was one of the greatest symbols of the social class in the middle nineteenth century when he hugged fame. Flaubert's loving relationship with his mistress Louise Colet really summed up the complexity of the subject of this fine work Mr. Brown provides in his biographical masterpiece in literature today. I really love this book a lot...since I am a fan of Gustave Flaubert. I highly recommend for those who are intellect and love to learn more about the life of Falubert and his career. Overall, 9/10!

I understand that another author's biography was more psychological and I understand that Frederick Brown wanted to examine Flaubert in a more social, historical context. I just wish Brown had come up with a slightly different title for his biography of my all-time favorite writer. Titling the biography *Flaubert* lent me to think the biography would be more psychological, rather than historical. Perhaps Brown should have considered something like *Flaubert and Normandy* or *Flaubert's Normandy.* The historical passages are well done, but I wonder if they could have been trimmed a bit. Though I have been trained in European history, I gritted my teeth while reading every word. I wonder if Brown thought to himself, "Now let me get through this so that we can get back to Flaubert's literary tribulations and relationships." Flaubert's literary struggles and relationships are the most fascinating part of this biography.

My gripes aside, this biography is densely (in the best sense of the word) and beautifully written. Flaubert's best and not so great moments are limned gorgeously. The most touching aspect of the man is how good he was to his niece Caroline and how she honored his memory. I wished I had been Willa Cather when she encountered Caroline to talk about "les ouevres de mon oncle."

'Madame Bovary,' Flaubert's signature work celebrates 150 years of basically continuous publication. Shocking at the time because of its portrayal of the infidelities of a married woman, its publication caused Flaubert to be tried for lewdness.

Flaubert, like many writers was a tortured soul. One page from his original manuscript of 'Madame Bovary,' shows pained writing, much crossing out and re-writing. For him writing was not something he enjoyed, but more along the lines of something that he had to do. The words did not flow easily and fast, instead he struggled over each sentence, each word. But at the end, a book still in print in perhaps a dozen editions in English alone a century and a half later.

This new biography gives a look at both the life of Flaubert and also of his times. Here is a picture of the literary world that was Paris in the middle 1800's. Flaubert observed first hand the Revolution of 1848 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. While not a history of these events, Mr. Brown presents a view of them from their impact on Flaubert.

This is likely to remain the definitive biography of Flaubert for many years.

Guido and his spouse, Maria, live in the beautiful city of Florence in a small apartment over the bakery they inherited from Guido's father. Although they work extremely hard and lead frugal lives, the money they generate from the bakery is simply not enough to cover their living costs. A dwindling customer base is the main reason for this sorry state of affairs, for Guido, unlike his father, skimped on the key ingredients and made flavorless dough. Although Guido resorted to selling off their furniture, piece by piece, Maria drew the line when he sold their bed and she demanded that he find a new one.

Serendipity leads Guido to an extraordinary bed shop, where he acquires what is, unbeknownst to him, a magical bed. This bed takes Guido and Maria to a magical town far away, where a master baker gives them a special kind of yeast. When Guido and Maria bake bread with the unusual yeast, the delicious smells and tastes bring them so many new customers that their financial constraints disappear virtually overnight. Unfortunately, they learn the hard way that such a gift is not to be squandered through greed and short-sightedness.

The Flying Bed offers readers a powerful set of lessons about entrepreneurship and poverty, cleverly woven into an imaginative story with stunning images. Children and adults alike will appreciate the interesting plot, the well-developed characters, and the eye-catching scenes from Florence and the bakery. This first-rate book makes a valuable addition to any collection of children's literature with substantive content and dramatic illustrations. The Flying Bed puts fun and magic into the business of learning economics.

In Florence, Italy, Guido inherited a bakery from his father. He isn't a good baker, and he and his wife barely have enough income to survive. Gradually, Guido sells all of their furniture to make ends meet. When he sells their bed, Maria says, "' Enough is enough!' she shouted. 'I can't sleep without a bed. A bed I want and a bed I'll have!'" Guido searches all over Florence and is finally given an elaborately carved bed by a mysterious seller of beds. When he and Maria go to bed that night, they discover that they have been given a magical bed. It flies nightly out of the window -- carrying its occupants.


With a lilting story wrought with the mystery and magic of an Italian fairytale, the author presents an undeserving protagonist who fails on all counts -- except for his very wise choice of a wife. The realistic
paintings (except for a bed that flies) are exquisitely detailed and crafted. The painting of the bed flying over the tiled rooftops of Florence, with every one of the multitude of tiles shaded and distinct, is masterful. The illustrator's pictures of baked goods look good enough to eat. An amazing, perfect duet.

Nancy Willard weaves a wonderful fairy tale of modern tones emanating life's little lessons. John Thompson's magical pigmented canvas is freshly baked and alluring to the senses.
See also Your Favorite Seuss: A Baker's Dozen by the One and Only Dr. Seuss

Enjoyable story, and very nice pictures. It also prompted my son to ask questions about the greed of the baker and which led to a discussion of what people value.

Nancy Willard's THE FLYING BED features warm paintings by John Thompson, 2006 Hamilton King award winner, as it surveys the end of summer in Florence and a magic shop crammed with beds. A woman's offer to show off the best bed of all results in some surprises in this fun fantasy for grades 2-3.

In one sense, the events in the book, although well written, are remote from us. The so-called communist menace is destroyed, so Russia is not formost in our minds. But the process by which a society can so fall into ruin as to make Lenin viable is revealing. The fatal combination of scapegoating and failed despotism is something the reader find in today's world news as well.

What shines through undimmed from Fuller's account is the sheer incompetence and paranoia of the Imperial Russian government. The mobilisation of the Russian army for way against Germany and Austria-Hungary was massive in the numbers that turned out. But the logistics were primitive and wholly inadequate, both for the numbers of men that had to be supplied, and the distances across eastern Europe for which this was done. Plus of course the inept battlefield decisions made by the Russian generals.

As a desperate search for scapegoats for the resultant defeats, the Russian government then shot hundreds of purported spies. Based on the flimsiest of hearsay. To an American reader, who perhaps is familiar with the US military system, or who has been following the Guantanomo controversy, whatever your views on that, the book's descriptions of Imperial Russian military justice can be shocking.

Fuller's book is thoroughly documented, with extensive footnotes that suggest considerable, lengthy research was performed.

William Fuller, in his new evaluation of potential causes of the February Revolution, has opened a chapter that many people have not previously considered - that espionage and internal sabotage led to the abdication of the Tsar.

At first blush, it seems to be a far-fetched theory, but as the reader continues through the tale, it becomes more & more believable. Fuller offers the reader dossiers on both Miasoedov and Sukhomlinov, who he claims are the two people that really led to this wave of "spy mania" that was pivotal in the downfall of the Romanov Dynasty.

Suffice it to say that it is critical to know that the February Revolution started as a soldier's mutiny - without this piece of information, the book makes a little less sense, though it certainly is easily understandable. Once the reader connects the soldiers to Miasoedov, who was a gendarme and a soldier, and Sukhomlinov, who was the minister of war in WWI era Russia, the concept of internal subversion and the concern that spies were "everywhere" easily leads the reader to conclude that yes, indeed, spy mania was a contributing factor to Tsar Nicholas becoming the ex-Tsar and a political prisoner.

The book is easy to read, despite the fact that it is an academic text. The author lays out his premise well, and supports it nicely with evidence, primarily from contemporary sources such as trial transcripts, interviews with accomplices or eyewitnesses, and newspapers. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in the causes of the Russian Revolution - it is an interesting revision to the standard concept that the Bolsheviks came into power strictly because of economic difficulties in Russia at this time.

When something bad happens, be it in the military, the government, or business, the first thought is to look for people to blame. In the cast of Pearl Harbor the top leaders of the Army and Navy (Short and Kimmel) were immediately fired and an investigation began into how this could have happened.

In 1915 Russia made a very poor showing in their battles with Germany. Obviously it couldn't have been the Russians fault, so they had to find fault. Lt. Col. Miasoedov was tried (in a two hour trial) and executed. The crime, of which he was not guilty, was of spying for Germany. A year later the Minister of War, General Sukhomlinov was arrested for the same crime.

These trials are used by Fuller as a starting point to examine the Russian government from 1915 until the revolution in 1917. It brings a great deal of understanding to how the Tsar government was corrupt and ready to be overthrown.

I really enjoyed this book, since I have always considered the period immediately preceding and following the Russian revolution very interesting. The author's theory is that the widely held belief that Russia was riddled with spies during World War I undermined the validity of the imperial government in the eyes of most Russians and eventually brought down the Russian government. The feeling among the Russian people was that only corruption at all levels of government could have caused them to be losing the war so badly since they had a strong sense of pride that made them believe that if only the war were run competently that they should prevail. A secondary cause, according to the author, was the belief among Russians that entire groups of fellow Russians - the Germans, the Jews, and the Muslims, for example - were working with the enemy powers, thus turning the people against each other as well.

The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, made for the sake of military victory, brought down the whole structure of Russian statehood along with it. For all its immense territory, the Russian empire was a fragile artificial structure that was held together by the man-made links of the bureaucracy, police, and army - links whose unquestioned authority vanished along with the tsar. Russia's 150 million inhabitants were bound neither by strong economic interests nor by a sense of national identity due to its great ethnic diversity.

Although the author accurately pinpoints the causitive factors of the overthrow of tsarist Russia, I think that he makes the mistake of conveying the traits of modern-day well-fed literate Westerners upon the poor largely illiterate Russian peasants, only a generation removed from serfdom, who were just trying not to starve in those times. With the authority of the tsar gone, the promise of bread and an end to the war is what ultimately caused the soldiers to abandon the army and the citizens to take up arms against their government.

If you are interested in this period of time, the author certainly puts forth some interesting theories and also talks about lesser known characters, events, and attitudes leading up to the revolution. For those reasons alone it is worth reading.

This is an excellent and entertaining book but upon re-reading after a space of several months, I am puzzled by the introduction that states "More importantly, the Empress should be remembered for having a higher fatality of passengers (840) in one calamity than either Titanic (832) or Lusitania (791)". At least one other source (Wikipedia) indicates that the Empress of Ireland claimed 1,012 lives, the Titanic 1,517 and the Lusitania 1,198. Perhaps someone else can explain whether I am missing something here. Do the words "in one calamity" have a special meaning that I am overlooking?

This book covers the subject well. The ship and the accident are covered in detail and it has some great photos as well as some blueprints.

It doesn't matter how you view history...this is one of the greatest books written on a little known disaster. I read it and was completely overwhelmed by the well-written text. The depth of the story came alive to me. I could picture myself being among those trying to survive the wreck. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in great liners and survivor stories.

THE LOSS OF THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN OVERLOOKED. IT WAS NEVER THE MOST FASHIONABLE SHIP, BUT IT WAS A FASHIONABLE SHIP. IT DID NOT CARRY " THE " ELITE, BUT IT CARRIED SOME ELITE. THE HORROR OF THE SINKING CAN ONCE AGAIN BE SEEN THROUGH THE PASSENGERS EYES. AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR SHIPWRECK LOVERS.

Mr. Zeni has somehow reached into the murky depths of the St. Lawrence River and retrieved the details of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland. Bringing out many small details that were never mentioned in earlier works, David Zeni does so with a style that keeps one reading on page after page. A truly delightful book to read, on a subject seldom written about. If you collect works on shipwrecks or great ocean liners, this is a must for your collection.

I really enjoyed this book, although more illustrations and the addition of photos would have greatly enhanced it. It is an excellent English companion to Y. Mary's four volume series in French. There is a great deal of information cramed into 200 pages covering everything from the military mobilization plans to the fortification on the Northeast and Southeast Front known as the Maginot Line and the coastal defenses of France in World War II with additional information on the Mareth Line in Tunisia and the coastal defenses there.

This 200 page book is a useful introduction to the history and technical details of the Maginot Line. The Maginot Line is not only described, but it is placed into context within the overall French strategy of defense in the 1920's and 1930's. French strategic plans that the French had developed before the outbreak of WWII, and at the attempt to modernize and rearm the French Army, Navy and Air Force during this time period are covered. The chapters include: Marching to the Wrong Tune that describe post World War I policy, strategy, and more; The Maginot Line covering its development, construction and components; Closing the Gaps showing how the French extended their defenses along the frontier, modernized and economized on the fortifications; Sea and Air Defense examines another aspect of the French defensive system; March to Defeat shows what the Germans knew and public expectations as war approached; and the French at War covers the campaign and the role and use of the fortified systems.
The book also includes many amazing drawings, maps and numerous useful tables of data excellent drawings of the Maginot Line, tanks, ships, aircraft etc. Why there are no photos in this remarkable book seems strange, despite the excuses given in some of the other Amazon reviews. This is a book I strongly recommend especially because of the useful drawings and charts that, with the text, help the reader understand French strategy and the role of French fortifications in World War II.

A fine introduction to French defensive systems of World War II. In six chapters this book covers the inter-war period through World War II. The challenge of the French military after the Great War in deciding on doctrine and dealing with a basic demobilization of their forces is the theme of the first chapter. The next chapter covers the creation of the Maginot Line and how it was built and organized. The third chapter describes how the gaps in the French front between the Maginot Line and sea were covered including the Maginot Extension of the New Fronts and also the little known Mareth Line in Tunisia. Chapter 4 describes the naval and air defenses of the French nation. Chapter 5 and 6 deal with the events leading to the 1940 campaign, German intelligence on the French fortifications, and a summary of the events of the campaign showing the relationship of the fortifications to French strategy and some of the positive aspects the high command failed to take advantage of. There are many drawings in the book of more than just the Maginot Line. They include maps of the defenses, drawings of aircraft, ships and tanks and even perspectives of not just the Maginot line positions, but even a 340-mm gun turret block of the coastal defenses at Toulon! The book is a little pricey at almost $50, but the $10 CD supplement that I ordered from Merriam Press has many more illustrations including photos (there are no photos in the book)and copies of pre-war German plans although I do not know why this CD was not included with the book. This is about the best general work covering all aspects of the French defenses that I have seen in English.

I received this book with the Osprey Maginot Line book this week. After reading both, I find that it would have been nice to have similar colorful illustrations like those in the Osprey book included here. Unlike, the reviewer "Jackie", I do not think the book is seriously lacking in text, but maybe in illustrations. I have also noticed a number of typos and what appear to be editing errors. Still the work provides a good detailed description of the Maginot Line and also information on the Mareth Line of Tunisa and other French defenses. There is an amazing amount of information packed in this 200 page book. I am not aware of the CD mentioned by the other reviewers (maybe someone will add details), but this is a great book for those interested in what was going on on the "other side of the hill." I would give it a solid "4 Stars" but have made it "5 Stars" to compensate for "Jackies" distortions.

This small book is a wonderful introduction to the history and technical details of the Maginot Line. The author, not only describes the Maginot Line, but he also places the Maginot Line into context within the overall French strategy of defense in the 1920's and 1930's. He looks at the strategic plans that the French had developed before the outbreak of WWII, and at the attempt to modernize and rearm the French Army, Navy and Air Force during this time period. The author has included many wonderful drawings, maps and numerous useful tables of data about the Maginot Line, tanks, ships, aircraft etc.
One unfortunate choice that the publisher made about the book was the decision not to use the many photos that the author had gathered, many from his own photo collection. The publisher wanted to limit the overall size and cost of the book. Therefore the author has compiled a CD-ROM to accompany the book that contains many photos and additional maps and interesting material taken from German Pre-1940 intelligence documents. The CD adds to the overall strength of this book. (...)
I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in the Maginot Line and French Defense in 1940.

This book has been an excellent source for information concerning Drake's life and the violent political era in which he lived. The combination of several authentic and contemporary 16th Century sources give validity to the generous amounts of information contained therein. Sir Francis Drake became a man of destiny, with the flaws and foibles all such heroic men have; the book shows many examples of his brave humanity in a very brutal age, as well as the hard decisions he had to make in the name of fulfilling his pledge to Queen Elizabeth I to complete the grand and dangerous voyage. The details of his actions during the attack on the Spanish Armada showed a clear picture of his part in the battles; likewise the events after his being knighted were noted (often such progressive accomplishments of his life as a man and official of Plymouth have been beglected in other books). As a writer currently working on an illustrated chronicle of Drake's Circumnavigation, I feel most grateful for the excellent period portraits, pictures and maps which have helped me to gain more visual insight into the complexities of Elizabethan Maritime History. The work has been well-researched; it breathes life into a bygone age, the effects of which still reverberates over 400 years later.

I started this book expecting to read of the charismatic sea dog and protestant zealot of school history lessons. Instead a far more complicated and contradictory picture of a man who to modern eyes is both admirable and despicable - much like the Queen he served.

Here Drake is a man of paradoxes. He started his career on slave ships but grew to despise the trade and became the first European to interact with the Cimarrons - escaped slaves - as equals. Drake was capable of fiery nationalism, and a passionate hatred of Spanish Catholicism but yet consistently treated his Spanish prisoners with the utmost courtesy. Perhaps the greatest duality of Drake was one that was apparent during his own lifetime - his dual service of personal fortune and national, English protestant, interest. To Drake these were not as distinct as they seem today, but perhaps it is the only fault of this book that they are not better resolved.

John Cummins' excellent book practically reads itself, a highly recommended look at an amazing and complicated man.

Reading about Drake's many seagoing professions, I can't help relating his exploits to those of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. While your average corporate adventurer doesn't risk life and limb on long maritime voyages, the desire for fame and fortune is the same.

Francis Drake, as Cummins presents him, was a man of common birth who sought to make a name and a great deal of wealth for himself. Early in his career he was a slave trader along with John Hawkins, but if we are to believe what Cummins says, he found it distasteful.

He later took to a highly successful career as a corsair and explorer, raiding Spanish shipping for gold and becoming one of the first men to circumnavigate the Earth. Cummins' portrayal of Drake as an egalitarian holds up under scrutiny. He employed men of many backgrounds in his crews including African Cimarrons who had escaped from slavery under the Spanish and fled into the jungles of Latin America.

Cummins explores Drake's exploits in great detail without apparent bias. He doesn't shy away from showing the man's less appealing traits in his portrait. One of the things that stood out was Drake's behavior during the battle with the Spanish Armada. Drake had a hard time suppressing his piratical urges when he often was needed for more military endeavors. Nevertheless, Drake stands out primarily as a man of honor in a tumultuous time.

If you enjoy biographies, history or just a good pirate tale (that's real!) I highly recommend this book. It's a fascinating story of a man whose inner passion and desire for glory drove him to great things.

I started this book expecting to read of the charismatic sea dog and protestant zealot of school history lessons. Instead a far more complicated picture emerges, a man who to modern eyes is both admirable and despicable - much like the Queen he served.

Here Drake is a man of paradoxes. He started his career on slave ships but grew to despise the trade and became the first European to interact with the Cimarrons - escaped slaves - as equals. Drake was capable of fiery nationalism, and a passionate hatred of Spanish Catholicism but yet consistently treated his Spanish prisoners with the utmost courtesy. Perhaps the greatest duality of Drake was one that was apparent during his own lifetime - his dual service of personal fortune and national, English protestant, interest. To Drake these were not as distinct as they seem today, but perhaps it is the only fault of this book that they are not better resolved.

John Cummins' excellent book practically reads itself, a highly recommended look at an amazing and contradictory man.

The Key to Sir Francis Drake was that he was in the essence a shallow water boatman.The technique of long distance navigation had been discovered and exploited by the time Drake hit the water. Drakes first edge in his line of work was that he sailed to the West Indies with shallow water boats on board his transatlantic ships, in partially assembled form or complete 'ready for action' towed behind. His second edge was that he had the sponsorship of the Queen of the Realm, E1. With The Royal Patronage, like 007 he could do whatever, no problem. Let Sir Fancis test his new maritime tactics in the shallow lagoons and bays of the Caribbean against the hated Espanish, if he succeeds everybody's rich, if he fails he's dead. In the early years Sr. Francis exploited every advantage; particularly the huge differences in time and distance between the government of Spain and its Western claims. In Francis' time those regions barely qualified as any governmental area, so far from authority and management they were. Happening upon a likely victim, our pirate simply cut a deal with the site governors, the treasure caravan leaders, and the treasure ship captains in transit. Francis took most but left enough to make the employees rich. He cast off with fair regards for all people, and everybody involved looked forward to the "Good Pirates" return next season. Philip of Spain was more circumspect. Over a period of years he established his authority via clear management lines of responsibility and procedures for the transportation of loot and filthy lugar. After the Spanish King consolidated his realm, Sr. Francis days were done. The Spanish had yet another use for our pirate hero. It was Spanish Literature that was first to elevate Sr. Francis to the place of folk hero, epic warrior, and national poltergeist. For a generation whisper of "El Dragon" was sufficient to warn every child to bed and more importantly every shipping manager, captain and dock clerk to do his best for King and kind.

It's best monography of French WW I aviation in Englisch language. Marvelous plans (in modeler's scales!), hundreds high-quality bw photos, lot of useful information in text. In minus - there are small number of colour plates. If you interested in WW I aviation, you must have it!

This is a massive book that tells everything there is to know about every aircraft developed by the French during WW1. I had no idea there were so many. Very detailed and very well done. Hundreds of pictures and three view drawings. Full color illustrations in the back. It is a bit pricey. Is it worth it? If you are a hardcore fan of French WW1 aircraft...yes.

This is truly an honest and inspiring testimony of amother's experience with prenatal diagnosis and termination. Itchallenges the notion that God would never guide a woman to choosetermination when a genetic anomaly is prenatally diagnosed. Mrs. Lyon is open about how she struggled with guilt and depression, but has now found a healthy way to cope with her pain. It should be read by any Christian person put in this position who is struggling with a life-changing decision.

This is XXL book not only in its size and weight, but mostly for the contents. I wish I had similar on other air services of Great War. No doubt is worth the money paid...because it accumulates huge amount of systematic information which helps in orientation among sometimes confusing mess of names and abbreviations of French air service. All planes (even prototypes and concepts) have at last one photograph. For example Nieuports are covered on 70 large pages, SPADs on 50 - monographs of its own. Taking in account the difficulties caused by destroying many of original sources it must take years for the team to produce it.

This is without a doubt the finest study of French military aircraft during World War One to be published, and will become a classic reference. It presents a very detailed organizational account of the units of the French Air Service, and then a complete detailed account of over 400 aircraft types hat were flown. More than 900 photos, over 180 three-view drawings in 1/72 and 1/144 scales, 25 pages of color art work by Alan Durkota of 56 different aircraft. 1997, new hard bound, color laminated cover, 9 x 12, glossy page stock, 618 pp. FLYING MACHINES PRESS series

Fantastic book. Reading it is like exploring the vanished world of polish stetels. Although I found only one chapter regarding Szczebrzeszyn I highly recomend the book. I wish there would be more translations of Yizkor Books.

This book contains selections from seventy of the more than five- hundred Memorial books of Jewish communities in Poland. As the editors make clear in their introduction 'the memorial books' aim to make certain that the destroyed world of Polish Jewry will not be forgotten.
The books provide in some sense a record of the town they are written about, and often a picture of the people themselves. They connect up with the Jewish traditional Literature of Lamentation. In the words of the authors, " The memorial books came to be seen as substitute gravestones. " The memorial books are structured on a continuum from simple acts of naming to highly elaborated acts of narrative." The authors make clear that even a list of names serves the purpose of remembering. In their introduction the authors quote Shlomo Pultusker," When I review in thought my life in Rozhan, events, splinterrs of half- forgotten memories, appear before my eyes. People , formerly flesh and blood and everyday Jews, were transformed by the tragic events into figures similar to heroes in the dramas one reads.Of all the people of that time, individuals stand out whose names stick in memory..And to these people, most of whose remains lie in no cemetary, may my humble words about them serve as an eternal monument and redeem them from merciless oblivion. With trembling and fear of God I write my modest words, which are no more than a pale reflection of what was in reality."

Three million Polish Jews were murdered in the Shoah.
These books are the fragmented, inadequate witness of what they were.

What this book does, like nothing else, is to recreate the diversity of Jewish life in Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust. Carefully selected excerpts from hundreds of memorial books in the YIVO library, this book isn't just about some shtetl, but about Zionists and Misnagdim and town councils and about town that, well, "most towns have a town fool, our town was so small that our village idiot was only half-crazy."

Rarely is a book published that causes an entirely new genre of studies to open up. This was the result of the first edition of this book printed in 1983. Before 1983, some scholars, librarians, and genealogical researchers knew of yizkher bikher in general, but up to that time there had not been a major focus on these books as social, historical, and genealogical sources of first-hand knowledge of destroyed communities, to some extent because of language barriers. But as more lay persons began searching their roots in the late 1970s, with interest building in the 1980s and exploding in the 1990s, they started to tap into these remarkable books. The publication of From a Ruined Garden, containing over 70 translated excerpts from Polish yizkor books, illuminated for many lay persons the lost world depicted in these books from which they had been cut off because they could not read them in their original languages, primarily Yiddish and Hebrew. The first edition has long been out of print, but again, in another bit of fortunate timing, a second, expanded edition has been published.

This is a truly splendid compendium of excerpts from various memorial books written after the Holocaust to commemorate the vanished world of Eastern European Jewish life in the shtetlach of Poland. I read it in a sitting and will re-read it in the future. For anyone with the slightest interest in this vanished world, I URGE you to buy this book - give it to your friends, as well.

I am a 15 year old girl who hear about this book by word of mouth. This book was life changing in my current situation. The reality of the events and revelations spawned thoughts and realizations of my own. This book could not have come at a better time in my life. I had myself wondered about some of the things covered in this book. It was aweinspiring and life changing. I have gotten 3 other people to read it and they absolutely loved it also. I recommend this to anyone. Thank you Coach Wade!

a good tale, from the point of a storyteller, rather than a theological point of of view. a perspective of what life will likely be like when "it" happens and how those left behind will cope with things they really don't understand. wade has done a good job of telling how a common man would feel about and deal with the events presented. a "hail mary" ending - a dramatic, surprising and decisive victory (hard earned) in the face of superior force through sacrifice and commitment. good job bill.

Great Christian message from a non-religious novel. Homegrown humor, philosophical concepts and totally unexpected climax make for a short yet powerful read.

Mr. Wade has done in two hundred pages a great job of presenting an alternative to current "apocalyptic" novels. Relevant to todays ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts, interesting theory on blending creation / evolution with ancient history and by concentrating on only the first year of the tribulation, he has given a believable and entertaining look at what could happen in the near future. The use of profanity is minimal but definitly not a read for kids. Knock out ending. Two thumbs up.

the prose gets ya right there (in the heart).
Keep up the good work Mr. Wade

I was greatly impressed by this book. I now use it as a reference for any reading I do on World War II.

I was saddened not to find "Anzio Annie" (aka Leopold and Robert) referenced as such, but comparing google articles I found it to be the "28cm Kanone 5 in Eisenbahnlafette".

I was disappointed to find, as did another reviewer, that mortars and self propelled artillery were not included. Luckily, I had the "German Military Vehicles" catalog to refer to for "Karl" and "Thor".

I would have liked a more comprehensive index by popular names of various artillery. More history of the various railroad guns would have been an added attraction.

Overall, I do like the book. With other reference books and google, it adds to my library.

This book gives historical as well as technical knowledges about German artillery pieces of WWII. And there are lots of photos of them to help reader's understandings. The only regret is there is no chapters for German mortors and rockets of contemparary era. This book, however, should be the best reference to understand German artillery of WWII beyond amature levels.

This is the Best Book on German Artillery of World War II that I have read so far. It covers all artillery from small guns to the biggest Railway and coastal Guns. The technical Data is great and the pictures are very good. It also covers those that were designed but never used in World War II. This is the book for the person that wants to know all about German Artillery in World War II.

The histroy of the development, weapon specifications, ammunition and use of all forms or artillery used by the German armed forces in World War II. Catagories covered include: Field, Infantry, Mountain, Medium, Heavy, Superheavy, Railway, Anti-Tank, Costal, and Recoiless artillery. Illustrated with 250 photos and 150 drawing. Text is by one of today's outstanding writer of military history and technology, Ian Hog

I'm an italian student and I find this book the best one under the tecnical aspect. There are a lot of details, photoes and dates. This is certanly the best catologue of the german artillery of WWII that an amatour can read. N.B.: for the non-english people. Language is quite difficult in this book, it isn't very simple to read.