Delaware Books

This excellent work sold out its first printing at University of Delaware Press and is now in its second printing-- perhaps because it offers something quite unusual: a perceptive and thought-provoking discussion, deeply informed and yet accessible to any interested reader, of, as the subtitle tells us, "British and German Writers and Activists" of World Wars I and II. Most of the writers included are women, but the inclusion of some male poets as well adds to the perspective of the discussion, and works well within the author's thesis. To quote from Professor Byles' concluding chapter, "this book is not so much about the historical-social period of the two world wars as it is about the literature of these wars and the interweaving of the connections--the similarities and the differences-- between the works of the two eras. In particular, I have been concerned with the poetry that articulates the perspectives on the historical, social and cultural realities of these tragic years in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century. For it is above all in reading the poetry of these two wars that as women and men we come to understand and respond to the horror of war as the most terrifying of human acitivies." Earlier, she remarks that "it is one of the arguments of this book that the underrepresentation of international women in political life and in positions of power contributed to the climate of opoinion that resulted in two devastating world wars that killed millions." This work, by focusing particularly on the voices of women poets and activists, provides an opportunity for them to be heard again, and through its anti-war perspective provides incentive for greater representation and activism in the future. The book consists of an introduction, five chapters, and a conclusion. The chapters are: 1) Women's Experience of World War I: Britain and Germany; 2) British Women Poets and Soldier Poets of World War I; 3) Women between the World Wars, 1918-1939; 4) Women's Experience of World War II: Britain and Germany; 5) British Women and Men Poets of World War II. WAR, WOMEN AND POETRY, 1914-1945 is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of the two world wars, in the intertextuality of poetry from opposing sides in war, in women's history, in peace studies, in poetry itself. It would be an excellent addition to college, secondary school, and public libraries. Dr. Joan Montgomery Byles is a poet herself, and a noted Shakespeare scholar, whose love of poetry is combined with her astute understanding of history. I approached this book through my perspective as a professor of English and of Women's Studies, but also from that of a woman who is horrified by war and interested in peace studies, and I recommend it highly.

This excllent binder* contains 100 pages and 3 tapes [audio],it also has 20 lessons and a glossary. If you don't live in Oklahoma [like me] sometimes you won't be able to understand the lenape speaker's accent. I have been looking foreward to learning the Lenni Lenape language* and culture for a long time. I already know how to count from number one to number five. It is easy to learn if you study for a very long time and remember some words. I reccomend this to anyone who wants to speak Lenape.

*This kit will teach you how to speak the Unami dialect of Lenape, not Munsee. I am sorry for those people who want to speak Munsee. Try other items from Amazon! I found one.

* This binder may look a little home-made but don't be dissapointed with this binder.

I teach 4th grade in Newark, New Jersey, and wanted to do some work on the Lenape with my kids. The stories in this book were so appealing to them that they tell them to each other and act them out when I read them. Their favorite story is the one about the White Deer, because of the gory scene where a person gets their legs bitten off by a monster, but then sticks them back on with spit. I highly recommend these stories if you can stand the imagery.

This is a core document concerning the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians in that it was written by a known, astute observer during the time that they were still practicing their ancient customs. It consists mainly of a lengthy account including details of crafts, housing, customs, religion, governance, etc. His view of these Native Americans was quite positive. Also included are various treaties and letters that reflect on the Lenape. A forward and introduction establish the context of the document for the modern reader. As would be expected, the account includes some statements that are silly or objectionable to modern ears (such as a suggestion that they might be one of the tribes of Israel).

This is a core document concerning the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Indians in that it was written by a known, astute observer during the time that they were still practicing their ancient customs. It consists mainly of a lengthy account including details of crafts, housing, customs, religion, governance, etc. His view of these Native Americans was quite positive. Also included are various treaties and letters that reflect on the Lenape. A forward and introduction establish the context of the document for the modern reader. As would be expected, the account includes some statements that are silly or objectionable to modern ears (such as a suggestion that they might be one of the tribes of Israel).

I found this book invaluable in developing a program to teach my third graders about the local American Indians, the Lenape. The illustrations are joyous and precise, showing how the natives dressed and lived. The books ends with directions for making an ancient children's toy, which we executed in class and had a wonderful time learning how children of long ago amused themselves. Great for in class or out.

Exquisite color plates of every known species, along with nesting habits, calls, etc. Quality printing in a quality text. Still in print as of october 1995. (See also Philippine Birds and South Pacific Birds, also published for the Delaware Museum of Natural History by Weidner & Sons Publishing, Box 2178, Riverton, NJ 08077.

I would recommend this book to anyone who had interest in the New Jersey Campaign. It gives a good background view on the disaterous New York Campaign and the retreat across New Jersey. Sometimes the book seems to drag a little bit, but that is only becuase of the great detail in the book.

This is a masterful account of one of the most trying times in the nascent American revolution and Washington's miraculous campaigns at Trenton and Princeton (1776-77). It's a book I still appreciate four years after first reading it. The text is lucid and the volume (hardcover) lavishly illustrated.

Washington, given a questionable legacy in the Colonial War - the peacetime death of Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville and over ten others (28 May 1754), the surrender of Fort Necessity (3 July 1754 to Jumonville's elder brother Louis Coulon de VIlliers), and his role in Braddock's defeat at Monongahela (9 Jul 1755), his elder brother Lawrence and Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie's role in the Ohio Company - wasn't worthy of banking odds (this is not part of the text - read Fred Anderson's `Crucible of War' et al).

Washington proved audacious and unrelenting in his winter campaigns against his mother country. Despite all odds (and not without cost) he defeated them at Trenton (26 Dec 1776 and 2 Jan 1777) and at Princeton (3 Jan 1777). That is the tale of this volume. Without those victories, the United States wouldn't exist.

This work is as enjoyable as the author's `Paul Revere's Ride' (1994).

Well worth reading and highly recommended.

This was a very well written book, it was easy to follow and it's maps were of great help in following the battles events. I'm a new reader to the revolutionary war and since I was able to follow this book, I would definately recommend this work to others who are new to this subject. From start to finish this book kept my interest every word of the way!

This was an absolute joy to read. The book is not only about the crossing, but gives a good background of the events, politics and emotions that surrounded the American Revolution. Then it gives eyewitness accounts, from diaries, about the actual events that happened. It also gives details on aspects of the army, culture, political background and important figures that fill in the gaps and make the whole story read like a motion picture or documentary. The book tells how all the parts fit together. Truly a great book.

This is a truly great piece of historical writing. Over the past several years, there have been three outstanding books about Washington and 1776: McCullough's "1776", Ellis' biography of Washington, and this book by Fischer. Fischer's is by far the best and deserved the Pulitizer Prize.

Modern Americans have always been able to identify more with Lincoln than with Washington, the latter being more aristocratic and less modern in outlook (not to mention being a slaveowner) and seemingly austere and rigid. What Fischer is able to do is to capture the enormous problem Washington faced in trying to manage a completely unmanageable army and politics, plagued by geographical and cultural differences as well as by the lack of central political authority. Once one fully appreciates the daunting challenge faced by Washington -- as daunting as that which faced Lincoln in 1861 -- one can fully appreciate Washington's success in managing it.

Fischer spares no punches in showing Washington's tactical failure in New York and his frustration with being unable to make a rag-tag army of mostly New Englanders function like a "real" European army. But he gives credit where credit is due in showing how Washington was able to create a different kind of army -- an American army functioning in a uniquely American kind of polity. Washington is not the rigid aristocrat we imagine. He is able to appreciate the democratic nature and impulses of his army, and he leads by consensus. He takes pains to build consensus among his subordinates and to involve and respect ordinary citizens in building better intelligence gathering.

Added to this is Washington's larger-than-life charisma. He is physically imposing, a brilliant horseman, and a man of great physical courage. This earns him the respect necessary to lead the army -- and the ability to build consensus without looking weak.

The completely desperate circumstances of the New Jersey campaign in 1776 are vividly portrayed and add to the drama of the story -- as well as add to Washington's luster in handling it so well. Tactically, Washington is brilliant in how he managed the campaign, and Fischer destroys the myth that all Washington did was to surprise a bunch of drunk Hessians sleeping off a Christmas binge.

Fischer's concluding chapter summarizes his work and does so in a moving way that points Americans, in the present dark times, toward recapturing the better angels of our nature -- the American insistence on placing a high value on life, treating even enemies with humanity, and building national strength through consensus. This is historical writing at its best -- as a form of literature.

"The navy regrets to tell you that our husband lieutenant commander David Beck has been critically wounded...we will furnish more details when available..." This was the telegram that Maddie Beck and her mother got from the U.S. navy. The K3F, her and her friends' war aid club, hadn't been enough to stop her dad's injury. The stress of being a tweenager with a father in World War Two was on Maddie's shoulders, and she managed to handle it. Though she had to leave her boyfriend and her life in Long Island, New York, Maddie's father was okay, and she later married her junior-high school sweetheart. Straight-forward and attention-grabbing, My Secret War was a great diary-form book to read.

It was pleasurable to be able to predict in part what was going to happen. Before the telegram reached Mrs. Hawkins's Mansion-by-the-Sea, I was anticipating that Maddie's father would die, and though he didn't, I was partly right because a telegram told them he was hurt. I also predicted that the "Coast Guard" who caught Maddie on the beach at night were really Nazis. It kept me on the edge of my seat, however, when Johnny told Maddie that he didn't really like Maxine, head of the Star Points-the popular girls-when I assumed that he liked her and not Maddie.

The author did an exquisite job of making Maddie look real through things like Maddie trying to break the habit of biting her nails or the feelings that she wrote in the diary. It was realistic that telling Johnny off would help her feel better, because people often feel that way when they are upset and blow off some steam on other people. Even when she kissed Johnny days before she left for California to see her dad, she needed a tissue and had to stop, which I found very real at the same time as humorous.

One component that made this book so effortless to read was the short chapters. Because they were usually only about a paragraph, you could read one in a spare minute, unlike other books whose chapters take at least ten minutes. Also, as well as the history, there was romance and drama so that the book wasn't completely obsolete and boring. The aspect of the book being the diary of a girl around the age of the book's targeted audience made you understand the way she was thinking so that you could understand and enjoy the book.

My Secret War allowed me to view history in a more nonchalant and less snore-intriguing way. The excellent unity between characters such as Johnny and Maddie, though their main topic of conversation was war, and the clever workings of the author's mind wove a magnificent story for its readers. Nazis working on Long Island were foiled by Johnny and Maddie, tin cans were collected left and right, and doggone it was the phrase of the day. It is definitely a five-star book.

I had to read this book, called My Secret War, for a US History book report. At first I chose this book because I noticed that is was on World War II. I have always been pretty interested in World War II because I know people that served in the army forces during it. As I began reading this book, it wasn't my very favorite. Once i got into it though, I thought that it was interesting and my opinion filp flopped. It is about a young teenage girl, and her life when her dad is sent to fight in the war as a Navy Commander, and how she and her mother deal with the compications of their lives. This book was written as a diary , and I found it easy to realate to because of the same age factor. I liked, and would recommend this book to any student around the ages twelve to about fourteen, because it is easy to understand due to the perspective that it is written in.

I loved "My secret war" by Mary Pope Osborne. I enjoyed reading about 13-year-old Madeline who was a lot like me. If I had actually met Madeline in person, we could become friends. I like World War 2 a lot because I know about the Holocaust. This book was very good but rushed in some ways. I liked the fact that Maxine and the popular girls were SO drama-queenish it is like girls today. You should read this book it was very good.

I read the book My Secret War. This book is great. It is funny and exciting because you never know what's going to happen. I learned some interesting facts, and they are unbelieveable. I learned that all the contries fought in WWII. Madeline Beck's dad was in the war, but he got wounded in the war. I would recommend this book for three reasons. One is that you can look in the back of the book for amazing pictures. It's also interesting to read. The last one that you can learn about WWII. My Secret War is an amazing book.

I let my children read these types of books for our unit studies. They bring them into history quite well.

Great story and learning material for anyone who is trying to start their own brew pub. There is a wealth of knowledge shared through Dogfish Head's sucesses and pitfalls. Great read for anyone starting a business, brewery or not.

Let's be honest - if anyone knows about brewing and the brewing business, it's Sam. His chronicles of a half-madman half-beer-lover turned brewery owner are fantastic. He shows that you really don't have to know about business in order to run one, but for Heaven's sake learn from your mistakes and get all the help you can. This is incredibly inspiring and reassuring for those considering opening his or her own brewery, reviewer included. It should however, like anything he writes, come with a coupon for a free four/six pack of Dogfish brew.

It really is a light in a tunnel when you're an entrepreneur that is breaking new ground. Offers hood advise on steps to take and importance on building the team.

[...]

In this combination auto biography, business account, and brewery guide Sam Calagione, lays down what challenging the big American breweries is like and his mission to redefine of beer to public. It was not an easy path, but it has a happy ending. Some of the stories he went through are just amazing. He is open to sharing many of his mistakes over the decade it took to build up the Dogfish Head brand.

This was a very informative read, and I'm grateful that he is promoting craft brewing as an industry in the United States. Even if you are not planning to start your own brewery, it gets you more in touch with the industry as a whole. In terms of business sense, the insights shared could be applied to almost any area. If you are an entrepreneur who likes beer you will appreciate this book.

Topics unique to this book

* Starting a brewery
* Starting a pub house
* Managing a brand identity
* Niche marketing
* Creativity in brewing

This book is great for anyone starting a business or who interested in the subject.