United Kingdom Books

This book is one of the best photographic books on London that I've seen! I'm an anglophile, and love London, so I collect books on England and Scotland. This book is a great value!

I am not much for writing reviews, but this book deserves to have at least 1 review. I found this book to be of great value! This book is very weighty, with nice thick pages. The book even includes full page fold-outs of photos that could not be contained in a single page (Total of 4 pages for each pullout photo). This book hits the sights of London that do not get a mention in other books, while including the top sights. Each sight gets at least a paragraph worth of description. If you want a book that does the above, then pick this book up!

The British Library published this beautiful book of maps of London. The reproductions of maps and plans are enhanced with engravings, paintings and photographs. Peter Whitfield's commentary for each map is informative and engaging. Each map stands alone, but taken as a whole the book presents a panorama of a great city.

A few of my many favorites include:

Caesar's Camp called "the Brill" located just outside St. Pancras on the River Fleet just outside London.

Matthew Paris's 1250-54 diagram from London Bridge ('pons Lond.') and the Thames ('Tamise'), through Rochester and Canterbury to Dover, then crossing the sea ('La Mer') and reaching France.

A 1593 guide for Cuntrey men In the famous Cittey of LONDON.

Section and Plan of a Gateway to Westminster at Hyde Park Corner, 1778.

Plan of a Proposed TURNPIKE ROAD From St. JOHN'S CHAPEL, ST. MARYLEBONE into the Great North Road Near the 8 Mile Stone at Finchley, 1824.

A small sample of Whitfield's prose: "Between 1850 and 1945 London changed beyond recognition as a result of the interplay between population pressures, novel means of transport, a revolution in building techniques, and a new leisure ethos. By the early 20th century there were a variety of Londons. Buildings spread deep into the countryside until Green Belt legislation was passed to save what remained. Distinct types of suburb developed. Ramblers took advantage of the remaining commons, heaths and woods around London. And those two icons of modern London, the A-Z and the Underground map, were created."

The book is a delight to hold and to study. Even better, the British Library has mounted an interactive exhibit of 40 the 100 maps in this book. And, many of the maps are available for sale in the Library's shop.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Peter Whitfield's "London, A Life in Maps" is a must-read for anyone with an interest in, and/or love for, Britain's capital city. Having lived in London for three years in the 1970's, and returned many times since, I found the maps, drawings, photos, and text enthralling, shedding light on innumerable aspects of the city that previously were unknown to me. What an incredible amount of research Peter Whitfield has done, and how brilliantly he presents it. The book would make a superb gift for any Anglophile or student of English history.

Melbourne's life story is simply amazing. From his outrageously popular mother (a Whig noblewoman whose multitude of sons each had different--perhaps royal--fathers) and crazily intense wife, Caroline Lamb (a woman who once bit a chunk out of a wine glass when she spied her lover speaking to another woman) to Melbourne's "sexual rivalry" with that poetical superstar of the nineteenth-century, Lord Byron ("mad, bad, and dangerous to know") to, yes, a political career that shone brightly on the world stage (the city of Melbourne, Australia is named for him) this man was the first Prime Minister of Victoria's long reign, and in some ways the one with whom she was closest. The tidbits of Melbourne's personal life and the (ahem) affairs of those around him are here in pleasing detail, but there is no skimping on his political career, or on the world of his times. I found this to be an enjoyable biography of a remarkable man who had the good fortune to dwell in an interesting period and know most of the great figures (of which he was certainly one) of his age.

Simply, I read this book because Dr. Mitchell's earlier book on Charles James Fox was so fascinating. While the personalities of the two great men must have made writng about Melbourne a bit harder to enliven, it is a fascinating biography of a man I previously knew very little about.

Schiffer are well renound for publishing high quality reference books and this is no exception. The book features information and photos of many rare, unique and interesting items, some of which will not be seen elsewhere. Whether a collector, researcher or enthusiast this is the book to buy on the subject.

As with his "Vintage Flying Helmets; Aviation Headgear Before the Jet Age", Mick Prodger does another portion of World War 2 aviation history great justice with clear, detailed photos and descriptions given with great care in this wonderful reference book on RAF and Luftwaffe flying kit. The companion book "Luftwaffe vs. RAF; Flying clothing of the Air War 1939-45", is equally enthralling. These "suits of armor" were the battle gear that these "air knights" wore into combat when these young men climbed into the cockpit of their "steeds" to test their mettle against their foe. This book should be on the shelf of any RAF or Luftwaffe enthusiast. You won't be disappointed.

This book pulls you in from the beginning. It's not a dry history but a witty and sharp look at the Bloomsbury Group and issues about sex and gender in England. She can be critical of Strachey's misogyny and class elitism while at the same time she makes her readers feel strongly about the plight of the gay man during a repressive era. The book is loaded with fascinating stories about his relationships with Virginia Woolf, Dora Carrington, and John Maynard Keynes. Sodomy, war, complicated love affairs--what more could a reader ask for?!

I had never really known much about Lytton Strachey before reading Taddeo's book. I ordered this on a whim and loved it---I've just ordered Strachey's Eminent Victorians after reading this.

Taddeo writes really well---the book moves quickly and I was fascinated by Taddeo's analysis and discussion of Strachey's sexuality. What I liked most about this book (and I can't say this enough!) was its readability. This is a book for scholars and non-specialists.

If you've read any of the books by the Bloomsbury group or if you love the Victorians, buy this book (actually you should buy it and read it no matter what!).

Readers will appreciate Aitchison's thorough historical and archeological review of the "real" Macbeth. In the second section of the book, he traces the growth of the "myth" (or story) about Macbeth. I found the entire work fascinating.

This is one of the best examples of historical research I've read in a long time. The author thoroughly discusses the pertinent sources, their provinence, accuracy, contemporanety, and biases. Using a variety of these sources he paints a very clear and interesting portrait of both MacBeth and to some extent his queen, for whom there is even scanter evidence. Thereafter Aitchison follows the development of the myths of MacBeth, two of which began in the king's lifetime or shortly thereafter. Because Shakespeare's MacBeth is one of the threads of this mythologizing tradition, he also discusses the manner in which Shakespeare changed the story and for what purposes. Probably the most important aspect of this book is the fact that the author is able to give a balance account of MacBeth. He neither indulges in the condemnation of some authors or the almost unrealistic praise of the appologists, both of whose efforts he evaluates as part of his study of the effects of the myth on modern times. Of considerable interest is the discussion of modern cinimatic recreations of MacBeth, including my favorite, the Japanese version Throne of Blood.

Note: I made some Mormon angry because of my negative reviews of books out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews.

Your "helpful" vote is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Pilbeam's book is worth the read for the following poem by William Wordsworth, who so accurately described the world of the macabre that includes waxworks. Here is a country fair:

The Horse of knowledge and the Learned Pig,
The Stone-eater, the man that swallows fire,
Giants, Ventriloquists, the Invisible Girl,
The Bust that speaks and moves its gooling eyes,
The Wax-work, Clock-work, all the marvellous craft
Of modern Merlins, Wild Beasts, Puppet shows
All out-o'-the way, far-fetched, perverted things.

It is surprising that a number of the practicianer's of wax art were women. Mrs. Patience Wright (1725-86), a wax expert, toured America until her show was destroyed by fire. Then she moved to England, and finally to France. In 1781 "she failed to persuade Benjamin Franklin to help her set up a wax exhibition. He apparently told her there was too much competition."

Highly recommended history of a strange art form.

With all the historic sites, shrines, monuments, cathedrals, and museums in London, one must-see has been a tourist magnet for almost two centuries, and has been merely a commercial operation. Pamela Pilbeam says, "There is nothing so fascinating for a human being as others of the species," and if we can't rub elbows with the stars (and scoundrels) of our species themselves, then waxwork simulations will do. Pilbeam has written an enjoyable history, _Madame Tussaud and the History of Waxworks_ (Hambledon & London), which gives insight to a subject that, quite obviously, people find fascinating.

The future Madame Tussaud was the niece, possibly daughter, of the man who made waxworks a popular exhibit in Paris. Once the Revolution came, both the theater and waxworks were a sort of newspaper, but waxworks, unlike newspapers and theater, were not censored. The exhibit showed who was in, who was out, and who was guillotined. There was a great appetite to put the guillotined heads on display, and, according to her sometimes unreliable memoirs, Madame Tussaud at her studio would receive the heads hot off the chopper. She would make wax copies, so that there would be enough heads to go around, some going for display in England. Her eventual marriage to Monsieur Tussaud became unsatisfactory, and to pursue a career in exhibitions, she left him for England in 1802, never to return. Remarkably, she was 41 at the time, when women did not launch themselves into mid-life careers; she was to continue running her show until her death at 89. She originally had a traveling exhibit, offering music, good lighting, and space in which visitors could walk around and see themselves, as well as the waxworks. Her marketing was well-targeted; her show became a central place for people to socialize. Eventually she settled in London. There were plenty of others waxworks, but Madame Tussaud continued to be the one to see. She installed over five hundred figures in the new space, more than any competition could muster. She kept the exhibits timely and watched what people watched; a mannequin which didn't make people pause and look was doomed to be melted down. Most importantly, when museums had limited entry, she bought up relics, royal robes, and paintings that would make her waxworks respectable to the respectable middle class. But "respectable" has its limits; the most popular attraction has always been the Chamber of Horrors.

At last counting, Madame Tussaud's had more visitors than any pay-for-view attraction in England. Pilbeam examines the appeal, but it is hard to say exactly why a three dimensional image of, say, Madonna, would be a draw, when there are plenty of lively photos and movies that provide perfectly good depictions. There are some artistic claims among those who appreciate the exhibits; there is no reason, of course, why a wax sculpture should be less "art" than a bronze. Somehow, waxworks might be entertaining, might be instructive, but fundamentally are just fun. The same can be said of Pilbeam's book.

I simply loved this novel. It is more than just the usual spy thriller formula. It is the story of one man's extraordinary life throughout all the changes of the entire twentieth century. The characters are all flawed, but all very likeable in their own way. This is the first John Gardner book I have ever read, but it is definitely not the last!!

This is ostensibly a novel about espionage, and it delivers in that department very well. It has, however, a number of qualities that make it interesting to readers who may not normally read spy thrillers. The main character is the greatest living conductor--on a par with Toscanini. The story of how he achieved prominence raises a number of questions that are interesting from a literary point of view. Since we know that many great geniuses (Wagner is an example) led deplorable personal lives, the idea that this character would abandon and even kill some of the people who loved him and would live much of his life on the basis of lies and deceptions is quite credible. The method for telling the story is to have the Maestro deliver his autobiography as a full confession to a secret agent who must evaluate how he should be treated given that he betrayed his country as a spy for Hitler in World War II and also gave secrets to the Russians during the cold war. In the latter case, though, he believed he was actually serving his country. As the story progresses we get it from the point of view of the author, of the Maestro who is telling it, and of the agent who is listening to it. This causes us to see the same material from several different points of view, which makes it more challenging to determine our own judgment of the characters and events described. Thus we have a work of far greater complexity and literary interst than the normal spy novel. On top of all this, the author shows a vast knowledge of music and keeps dipping into specific performances on recording, many of which are compared with the Maestro's own fictitious recordings. This delicate balance between history and fiction is constantly fascinating, making us speculate about what life would be like if a few of its ingredients were different. The novel held my intereset consistently throughout as it seemed to bridge many differnt genres at the same time. Though I never lost interest, I was not driven to read it quickly, as is so often true with thrillers, which then leave a sense of emptiness behind them. This one will keep me thinking for years.

Hello I have some questions about this book, please help.. 1-The nature versus nurture controversy is still with us today in the area of language acquisition.Can you think of some evidence showing the importance of nature or what we are born with? How about our experience with the environment? which do you think is most important nature or nurture? and why?

Another question about the book: 1B- In spite of the many similarities between first and second language learning, the important differences must be considered in curriculum development. What implications might they have, particulary for planning the content of language programs?

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 The Military Revolution Debate and Seventeenth-century England 1
2 Prelude to Power: the English Navy, 1509-1648 22
3 The Naval Revolution 43
4 The Creation of the English Standing Army 66
5 The Financial Crisis of the Long Parliament 94
6 The Customs 120
7 The Excise 148
8 The Assessment 173
9 Final Reckoning: the Impact of Seventeenth-century Warfare on the English State 197
Conclusion 216
Notes 217
Bibliography 263
Index 278

The idea of a military revolution that transformed the political development of European nations in early modern Europe has gained serious attention from historians in recent decades. Professor James Scott Wheeler has brought together evidence of changes in military development in England in the seventeenth century in his book "the making of a world power". Not an account of wars and battles so much as of the logistics and development of the actual infrastructure needed to conduct war in the seventeenth century. Professor Wheeler of the United States Military Academy, West Point details the developments in navy and army in England in the period 1600-1700, focusing in on the civil war period of 1639-1652 when massive changes in the way wars were financed and the demands on the state were vastly increased.

The initial chapters contextualize the significance of Professor Wheeler's findings within the parameters of the military revolution debate. Then follows chapters on the military changes to the English navy and army in the 17th century. There is then an explanation of how and why the financial changes took place followed by a chapter on each area of finance: customs, excise and assessment; detailing their development and contribution to the English state's finance. Finding that the changes of the Commonwealth period more or less continued into the Restoration period and pre-date the changes of the Glorious Revolution of 1689 at one time attributed to starting the military revolution, Professor Wheeler shows the wider impact of military revolution and dates it earlier in Englands case than the late seventeenth century. One very small gripe is that a chapter detailing the social impact of the new taxes is not included in the book. Especially in telling how much the populace at large responded to the new taxes in terms of resistance and acceptance and of this new extension of government control. Afterall this is the first time the poor were taxed by the state!

Though written in clear and precise terms, some knowledge of the military revolution debate and of English history is desireable before reading this book. This book represents an essential piece of understanding of whether a historical process is at work and how it worked. The amount of financial data Professor Wheeler gives makes explicit and clearcut the dramatic changes in England of the period. In some ways the title conjures up the image of great armies and navies abroad readied for battle; when as so often is the case the essence of the story is about tax collectors and the organisation of pen pushing bureaucrats and procedures which allowed Kings and nations to send forth greater and greater military forces in the seventeenth century and beyond. In turn then these forces helped England to become a world power for the guts of that story look elsewhere for the how or heart of that story read this excellent book. I found it fascinating reading as it successfully details how a country can become a world power.