England Books

My grandfather was Clifford B. Hamilton, Pilot of #42-30194 "We Ain't Scared", 335th Sq, 95th bomb group (H).

The story told by the co-pilot of my grandfathers final mission, and last moments over ... more » Germany. It helped fill in the gaps of other stories told over the years.

Because the co-pilot separated from the rest of the crew and was able to escape and get back to England, he couldn't have known the rest of the story about the crew my grandfathers plane #42-30194.

Although my grandfather (Cliff) didn't survive, the men that were taken as POW's were all given the chance to write home once a month ... they all took turns writing to my grandma, telling here that he had kept the plane up long enough for everyone who could get out to jump out.

Thank You for "The rest of the story".

Steve Rima

Grandson of B-17 pilot Clifford B. Hamilton

This was a true tale of history. As you read this book, you are drafted into active duty serving prouduly in the (ETO). Good bless every member of the 8th Air Force 95th Air Group. They are truly America's Best!

'B-17's over Berlin', edited by the respected British air historian Ian Hawkins, is a collection of stories told by the men of the US 8th Air Force, 95th Bomb Group, about their experiences in World War II. It is a labor of love of the men of the 95th Bomb Group and a fitting tribute to their contributions to the Allied victory over Hitler in the skies over Europe. The 95th is known as the first bomb group to bomb Berlin. Early in the war, Hermann Goring boasted that if Allied bombers ever appeared over Berlin, his name would be Meyer-an obvious anti-Semetic snub. Of course, by the time the B-17's of the 95th appeared over Berlin, Goring had pressing problems of a more serious nature--how to stop the Allies from bombing his cities into submission and how best to produce and allocate his own air resources. This story is told by many different men, divided more or less chronologically and following their progress from training through war's end. The result is an excellent portrayal of life in the 8th, from terrifying missions over Europe to the occurances of everyday life back on the base in England. The book is full of photos carefully chosen by Col. Ed Charles, the 95 Bomb Group's able historian. If a reader wants to get a feel for life in a bomber group during the war, this is the book to read, and I recommend it without reservation.

One day I visited my local library who where having a sale of old books and audio cassettes. As I was browsing through I noticed an audio cassette the author Miss Read and it was all about village life. I thought it would make a change to my usual reading and decided to purchase it. I have since bought 5 treasured books of Miss read's collection and will not be happy until I have completed the set. My hobbie of reading is now so much more enjoyable, I would recommend readers to try and read at least one of this truly brilliant authors books and I guarantee you will find it a light,funny and a very enjoyable read. To sum it up in the best way I can , (one of those books you will want to put the washing-up to one side for.)

Battles at thrush Green is a wonderful book. Miss Read has stupendous grasp of human nature and makes her characters alive for her readers. I just discovered this wonderful author and have been working my way down the reading list. I absolutely recommend this book as well as all the rest.

One day I visited my local library who where having a sale of old books and audio cassettes. As I was browsing through I noticed an audio cassette the author Miss Read and it was all about village life. I thought it would make a change to my usual reading and decided to purchase it. I have since bought 5 treasured books of Miss read's collection and will not be happy until I have completed the set. My hobbie of reading is now so much more enjoyable, I would recommend readers to try and read at least one of this truly brilliant authors books and I guarantee you will find it a light,funny and a very enjoyable read. To sum it up in the best way I can , (one of those books you will want to put the washing-up to one side for.)

In Becoming Criminal, with remarkable ingenuity, Reynolds develops and demonstrates an original, purposeful, and conscientious critical approach, what he calls "transversal theory," that is simultaneously poststructuralist, performance-oriented, humanist, and materialist (the book teems with evidence from early modern texts of all genres: plays, pamphlets, poems, state documents, and personal letters). In effect, Reynolds' work is at the cutting edge of the next generation of literary-critical-performance studies, and thus Becoming Criminal may be as important to the next twenty years of early modern studies as Stephen Greenblatt's Renaissance Self-Fashioning has been to the last twenty. But Reynolds's "transversal poetics," I predict, will not just replace the new historicism as the dominant critical paradigm; it will continue to be a major influence well beyond the next two decades, especially given that its methodology is subsuming (manifesting and expanding on much of what the new historicism had to offer), processual (self-aware and open-ended), and necessitates evolution in response to both the changing environments through which the transversal critic travels and the various subject matters she/he pursues. As Reynolds' transversal slogan emphasizes, "Become what you aren't."

I never thought that a book about criminal culture in early modern England would help me to change my own life. I bought the book because I am a historian, but ended up reading the book as a self-help book. Reynolds develops a theory of identity formation and social history that he calls "transversal theory." While reading the book, I came to realize that everything he talks about, except the crimnal stuff, relates to me and my life. Having minority status on a number of levels, and therefore constantly scrambling for agancy and affirmation, I immediately took to Reynolds' ideas. He supplies not only a methodology for academic reasearch, but also for negotiating one's life within their social worlds. By showing me how I came to be subjectified, and how sociopolitical conductors work to constrain me, and by demonstrating how I can become what I'm not as a means by which to become what I am such that the worlds around me comes to respect and celebrate my differences; and, most importantly, by providing me with both the theory and method by which to become whatever I want, Reynolds has inspired me in ways I never imagined possible. In many ways, this is a manifesto for improvemnt through alternative thought and social performance. For me, Reynolds is like an Emerson for everyone today looking to be more self-reliant and to grow in unexpected, creative, and life-inspiring ways. The book is also a fine work of social history, about the relationships among crimnals, space, language, and theater in the time of Shakespeare.

Becoming Criminal: Transversal Performance and Cultural Dissidence in Early Modern England is revolutionary for many reasons and will contribute invaluably to research in the humanities. The big word of the last twenty years has been "interdisciplinarity," and, in my opinion, it has not produced the kinds of studies it implies. While there have been theoretical and methodological cross-fertilization within the humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences, the borders between these fields are rarely self-consciously traversed. Such traversing of borders is among the many things that distinguishes Reynolds' transversal approach -- a theoretical framework he initiated in his 1997 Theatre Journal article, "The Devil's House, `or worse': Transversal Power and Antitheatrical Discourse in Early Modern England," that is now taught in all theatre theory and performance theory courses. The fact that Becoming Criminal is truly cross-disciplinary and theoretically-driven in both scope and methodology, and thus important to scholarship in a number of fields (literary criticism, history, sociology, linguistics, semiotics, cultural studies, performance studies, and critical theory) greatly distinguishes it from other books on the representation of rogues, vagabonds, and gypsies in early modern English literature. This book has been hugely helpful to me, someone who is currently writing a book on the dramatic and literary representation of highwaymen in the long 18th century. (Look for it in 2006!)

I loved these stories. They are sad, and full of life, and don't make empty promises to the reader. Beautifully written, lovely, and touching. I look forward to more stories by Ms. Kane

Choosing my rating for this volume of short stories was more difficult than I had imagined it would be. Kane's prose flows gracefully - seemingly without effort, but we know that's not true. Her stories and characters pour out onto the pages and into the mind and soul of the reader - these qualities led me finally to the 5-star rating.

That being said, these stories are all sad, or about sad people - almost unbearably so. The characters depicted in these tales seem to share in common an inability to cope with the hand they have been dealt by life. There is an angst in each of them that is palpable and aching - they struggle to deal with their careers, their relationships, their families, their emotions, their successes and their failures. There are a couple of stories that deal with the publishing trade - `How to become a publicist' and `Exposure'.

In the latter, a writer finds herself becoming more popular later in life, and struggles to deal with the demands of her public - in particular, the need for a photograph to accompany publicity, the very idea of which throws her into a deep panic. In `How to become a publicist', we are given an `inside' look at the colder machinations of the industry - a young woman fresh out of college, idealistic about her love of literature, seeks a job as an editor and settles for a position as a publicist. Her enthusiasm would seem to make her perfect for the position, but she soon finds herself ground down under the weight of the colder, `practical' aspects of the task - in a rare (for this collection) glimpse of the author's sense of humor, we witness the character announce her disdain for the catchphrases we see so often in press releases and book reviews (mea culpa - I've used plenty of them myself, and I don't even do this for a living). I'm tempted to declare this story `luminously mesmerizing', one of her `favorites'.

I'm certainly glad I read this book - Ms. Kane is immensely talented, and I look forward to seeing further work from her. I just hope that on her next outing she `homes in' on some more positive and uplifting characters or characteristics.

Touching stories that take a simple yet elegant look at humanity's strengths and frailties. Each story finishes "just so", but the reader regrets the end, and wishes there were more to each story, and more stories to the book.

We eagerly await Ms. Kane's next offering!

I am VERY pleased with the Berlitz Lake District Pocket Guide. It is a small, compact little book but is nonetheless clear and easy to read. Unlike many guide books, the paragraphs are well deliniated and the desired information about specific locations is easy to find. The photos are of good quality and the fold-out maps on front and back cover are especially handy. I am pleased to find such a comprehensive guidebook for this region without having to purchase a large and cumbersome tourbook with lots of unwanted information. I highly reccommend this little book for those who are considering travel to this beautiful corner of the world!

I am VERY pleased with the Berlitz Lake District Pocket Guide. It is a small, compact little book but is nonetheless clear and easy to read. Unlike many guide books, the paragraphs are well deliniated and the desired information about specific locations is easy to find. The photos are of good quality and the fold-out maps on front and back cover are especially handy. I am pleased to find such a comprehensive guidebook for this region without having to purchase a large and cumbersome tourbook with lots of unwanted information. I highly reccommend this little book for those who are considering travel to this beautiful corner of the world!

If you are looking for your fist guide book then this is great. I was born in the UK and know the lakes fairly well, having walked many of the hills. I bought this guide for a trip in 2004 as I havent been in the UK since 1997.

It is a superb pocket book with snippets about most things. The maps is pretty basic, so get yourself a nice Ordnance Survey map 1:25,000 or 1:12500 when you arrive.

This book was a gift and the person receiving it has realy loved it.

Summers are short and precious here in Maine and any outdoor enthusiast, especially with kids in tow, knows that finding a loop hike for the whole family - one that can be done in single day - can be a challenge. This guide makes it easy to find that trail.

This book not only gives you the low down on the trails themselves, but the natural history, wildlife and geological insights that add dimension and interest to even the familiar trail.

Stuff this one in your backpack and leave the rest of the guides at home.

"Best Loop Hikes" is a great resources for hikers of all levels. Many books have been written about hikes in Maine and New Hampshire, but I haven't read one before which focuses specifically on the White Mountains and the Maine Coast. I was pleasantly surprised when the book I pre-ordered from Amazon came in before the April 2006 published released date. The book will especially appeal to those who also enjoy wildlife: each hike describes local flora and fauna, with a particular emphasis on native birds. The author also plugs local land trusts, the conservation organizations that preserve local parcels of land, maintaining them so that hikers and others can enjoy their trails. There is also historical information provided for many of the surrounding areas. This is an excellent resource for both avid hikers and the more casual walker.

I own all three book covering England - they are an excellent resource. I have many books on this topic but these are really the best. I'm very disappointed they are out of print - would love an updated version. The authors really do provide reliable recommendations for the best places/sites/hikes. Wish they would write about other countries - Italy, France and Switzerland.

The third book in a series (Northern England & Scotland & Southern England the other two) that allows you to get off the beaten track to see the countryside and quaint remote areas of England.

Laid out in sixteen chapters, with each chapter a separate day itinerary,makes this an easy-to-use book for those who want to avoid the tour buses and tourist traps. The Best of Britain's Countryside helps you find good food and lodging, while giving the reader tidbits on custom. Language and architecture.

Good maps are generous in this book, however to make The Best of Britain's Countryside an excellent book the weak b&w photos need to be replaced, as well as a better, more readable page layout that uses bullets and/or boxes that highlight the explanation of a various places would really help.

If you want to see another side, especially the countryside of England and you like to venture out on your own I have not found a better guide book to recommend than this.

Thanksgiving time several years ago, my husband, two friends, our 12-month old son and I used this book to guide us on a walking trip in Northern England. We started in the Harrogate area, had a fabulous time on the walks. B&B recommendations were first rate. Bill and Gwen should update the book, if that's the impediment to keeping it in print!

Today the Shakespeare Scholars enjoy emphasizing endlessly on Shakespeare's bawdy quibblings and situations of sexual ambiguity, while ignoring the large Themes where Shakespeare's sublimity really shines through ...

I couldn't afford this book but have used it and found it very precise and thorough and I trust the Author did his best to provide an objective Reference Book for people serious about trying to get to the bottom of Shakespeare.

My strong suspicion (and experience) is that for those willing to work at it, straining the Bible out of Shakespeare is priceless.

I have had the wonderful pleasure of having Dr. Shaheen as a professor for the past 5 years and this book is pure literary genius. Having spent his entrie professional career researching and documenting all biblical references in all of Shakespeare's works, Shaheen leaves nothing to question. He knows exactly what he is talking about and this book is a must have for any Shakespeare scholar or anyone interested in the literary use of the bible. Not only are his lectures amazingly informative, this book is as well.

Shaheen is a good reference for anyone who is interested in learning how much of the bible Shakespeare used in his plays. Along with the biblical chapter and verse citations, Shaheen also refernce's the commonly understood practice of faith during the time Shakepeare was writing. What did the Catholic and Angelican church practice? What bible or biblical references did Shakespeare have access to? Shaheen gives one a bird's eye view of how the Christain church may have positively impacted the words, thoughts and faith of William Shakespeare.

I actually had to read this for an MA class in history and it's definitely a textbook of the Tudor and Stuart time period but it wasn't as dry as I had expected it to be, thanks to Mr. Cressy's amazing writing ability. But it is thoroughly researched and offers up very important conclusions about the social life of the Tudor/Stuart period and anyone who wants the recent and best literature on the subject should read this book.

I've just finished writing a series of books about life in Elizabethan England, and this book was invaluable to me in my research. It is full of interesting details about how people in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century England approached and experienced the major transition points of the life cycle. I would have read and enjoyed Birth, Marriage, and Death even if I had not needed it as a reference, and I would heartily recommend it to any reader who wants to get a feel for this time period.

Most historical books of this sort are amazingly dry; this one is not. Mr. Cressy has done a huge amount of research, and the text is peppered with primary source quotations. I now have a real feel for what these experiences were like in Tudor & Stuart England. I plan to buy whatever other material Mr. Cressy has written--I found him an easy, extremely informative read.

It's hard to pick the best Dickens novel. Dickens himself favored David Copperfield and there is a lot to recommend that. But the novel of his that I most admire is Bleak House. It has a great range of characters, a personal mystery at its core, and the first detective in fiction. Dickens alternates the story-telling between the voice of the all-knowing author and that of the naive female lead character. From street sweepers to the lords and everyone in between, the dark theme of an impersonal social order and system grinding people up is remarkably like Kafka.

I had read Bleak House in college. My book at the time was a used version with pages falling out. Since I decided to reread the book this summer, I wanted to get a newer edition. I chose Modern Library Classics because it preserved a lot of the original illustrations when the work was first published. Of course, Dickens' opus is marvelous, and I recommend you read his story on the never-ending lawsuit and its repercussions on the characters involved. Rather than focusing on the merits of the story and why should should read the book, I think it's more helpful to recommend what edition to buy because there are a lot. I chose Modern Library Classics for its illustrations, its readable typeface, and strong binding. Overall, they have created beautiful edition Dickens' book deserves.

I've read most everything from Dickens but happend to pick this up in a book store, craving some good British literature. Though this book was some what predictable, it was a page turner and suspensful. This is one of my favorite Dickens works, and will keep you entertained for hours.