United Kingdom Books

The sources which Dr Jafri has used to write this book are predominantly Sunni. That goes very well to support his argument.

The analyses that he has made of the Ghadir Khumm episode is thorough.

Dr Jafri also does well to explain the influence of the Ghulat in mainstream Shia thought.

This book is probably the most comprehensive book on early Shia history in English.

The most disturbing argument brought forth by Shia sect is the event of "Ghadir" when Prophet gives his lecture on supposedly passing authority to Ali. When I first heard this from one of my Shia friend, I flatly denied it and considered it a typical Shia fabrication. But to my personal embarrassment I later found out that this was written by our own ulema and great scholars. I was deeply disturbed. Why would Prophet say something like this, especially the way he approaches the whole thing. I don't blame some people having interpreted that event as prophet giving authority to Ali, certainly that event if not conclusive is very suggestive of that notion. It seems as though, and God know best, that Prophet wanted to create a dispute among his people after his death.

And yet another question comes to mind about Prophet's intention when I consider the fact that he wished to send all the great companions,with the exception of Ali, to a battle. He planned this course of action at a time when his death was at hand. Apparently companions of the prophet realized that something fishy is going on here and didn't go along with prophet's plan and inspite of Prophet's insistence they decided to stay and not leave town. Now I neither care much about Shiism nor about Sunnism, but if you ask me I think Prophet was definitely up to something. It is unlikely that all these events are just random events without any meaning. My guess is that he was planning something, though I am not sure what. But as history shows he did not succeed., and maybe that is why Islamic history, like many other major religions, is nothing but a big mess and a killing field. Needless to say that Prophet's own immediate family was first to fall victim to this unfortunate reality. Was he trying to prevent this by his careful maneuvering? I don't know the answer to this question. Oh well, there were other prophets before him who didn't succeed in what they had in mind as well, I guess such is life.

I am just finishing reading the book published recently by Oxford University Press (Pakistan). The book is highly readable. Written in a very dispassionate tone, the book covers the events mainly from the death of the Prophet of Islam to about the time of birth of five major schools of Islamic jurisprudence. For every key event, incident, interpretation, the author takes care of presenting the major viewpoints quoting the earliest and most well known sources and then giving reasons for his own conclusions. Finally, it fills an important void about the period of the Caliphate of Imam Hasan which most historians have tended to gloss over. The book is very important in understanding and explaining the current Islamic thoughts.

This is a well documented book on the early years of Islam and development of the Shia Islam (Ja'fari School), one of the major schools of thought and jurisprudence in Islam.

It describes in detail the last years of Prophet Muhammad's life and the events that followed in the 50+ years after his death.

The descriptions of the events that led to sucessions of the Khalifs after Prophet's death, and the insurgencies challenging Imam 'Ali's leadership are well written and fill a void in scholarly books on these events.

Finally, this book provides one of very few worthwhile writeups in the Western literature on (the why's and how's) of Imam Hussayn's (Prophet's grandson and designate) martyrdom and on his successful drive to cleans the first Islamic nation of its corruption.

The book is well written and provides a balanced view of isalm from a scholar who is very open minded and does not follow the usual mullah style religion practices or thoughts

I have been using the "Oxford Companion to British History" on a regular basis since its publication. I am not a specialist in British History, but my work as a cataloguer of rare and antiquarian British books has required me to have a working knowledge of British History. This book has proved invaluable to me in my work. Moreover, I can rarely resist the temptation to browse the Companion--it is a text that draws the reader in. Highly recommended.

I just purchased the book a few days ago and highyly recommend it. Pages 949-980 are in my copy so do not be afraid that they are missing.

Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, The Oxford Companion To British History is a dictionary-style, 1056-page resource reference which is filled from cover to cover with names, places, terms, and events comprising the history of Great Britain and organized alphabetically for easy lookup. Compiled and edited by John Cannon (formerly the Chair of Modern History at Newcastle-upon-Tyne until 1992) and brimming with extensive facts and details, The Oxford Companion To British History is a top-notch reference which is enhanced with the inclusion of 12 maps, and would prove to be an invaluable cornerstone for any academic library's British History collection.

Nice little pieces on the areas Britain has affected but now leaves alone - nearly 4 pages on Australia, 1 each on Canada and New Zealand. Also helpful to find those weird, typically British obsessions: pigeon-fancying, seaside holidays and Tractarianism (go look them up). The kind of book you go to to look up one topic and find yourself reading for an hour. Failed to score 5 stars because it failed to record biographies on influential British sportsmen.

This massive 1,000+ page guide to all things British is a solemn, sometimes irreverent dissection of the United Kingdom. More than just a reference work describing the doings of politicians and generals. This companion carefully moves into areas not normally covered by such works. There are entries that discuss various major industries - shipbuilding, mining, gas and cotton - and on aspects of private and domestic life, like childbirth, housing, health and food. While the growth, meaning and importance of sports is discussed, only two athletes rate their own entries (the soccer star Stanley Matthews, knighted for his accomplishments on the field, and cricketer W.G. Grace, the Victorian star who continued playing first-rate cricket until he was 60). The only flaw in the entire book is a production problem that caused the deletion of pages 949 through 980, or between James Ussher and William Whewell. Not a noticeable problem, unless you're looking up information about Queen Victoria.

I read this excellent book over a year ago and am amazed at how often my thoughts return to visit. I find that many of the folkways described by this extraordianary observer are part of my own everyday life as American Scotch Irish over two centuries removed from roots in Ulster, Ireland. The descriptions of the kitchen hospitality, even the arrangement of the kitchen furniture are very familiar to me. The gifts of storytelling and musicmaking so vividly described are as frequently celebrated in my current mileau. Thanks for an excellent piece of research and writing.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

As a study of the folklife and history of a community in Ulster, this book is full, rich, fascinating, and moving. I've used it as a first reading for graduate classes in fieldwork because it merges useful ethnographic research techniques with insightful analysis and eloquent prose. Students find the book both practical and inspiring, and it is a tour de force of the best of folklore research. Glassie's insights are more than relevant today for thinking through contemporary concerns about a range of important social and political concerns including what it means to foster healthy community life and provide honor and respect to old masters and stars. It is also a wonderful read for anyone interested in storytelling and Irish history and culture.

For years anthropologists and folklorists have often "looked down" on the subjects of their studies, attempting to fit their subjects into preconceived boxes and categories. Unfortunately some anthropologists and sociologists continue to regard their "subjects" with condescension or even amusement. Henry Glassie's work is a much needed antidote to such practices. _Passing the Time in Ballymenone_ is a jewel. Henry Glassie regards the people of Ballymenone with respect and affection, allowing them to describe their ideas, life-ways, and values on their own terms, not his. Recognizing that theirs is a mindset and lifestyle that must be seen as an integrated whole, Glassie studies everything about Ballymenone from traditional songs to entertainment to religious beliefs to architecture, liberally quoting from the people who welcomed him into their homes over his extended stays. Some of his insights are pure brilliance, such as recognizing the way the poets and storytellers of a rural Irish district have adapted ancient Gaelic metrics to the English they use today. You will learn more about Ireland and its people in this one book than in a host of others. You may also find yourself re-evaluating your own lifestyle after encountering the wisdom of these tradition bearers. The book also serves as an excellent model for those who plan to work and study in folklore or anthropology.

What began as a light read turned in to an engrossing read. I expected it to be just something to read without becoming too involved but that was not the case. The ending was a surprise but not a complete surpise because of some little hints scattered throughout the volume. It all came together very nicely. I hope Ms. Hunt continues this saga because she left me longing for more.

For her fifteenth birthday in 1848, a young girl living on an estate in Victorian England is giving a diary in which to record her thoughts. She describes her idyllic life in the beautiful English countryside, where her biggest problem is dealing with her annoying little brother. When her parents travel to London, she expresses her disappointment at not being able to join them. Although this girl lived 150 years ago, her feelings and relationships were not all that different from those today. This book seemed almost like a real diary, even though it was fiction. Although this is an adult novel, teenage girls who enjoy historical fiction, such as myself, will enjoy it too. I highly reccomend this book.

I started reading Primrose Past on a plane from Dallas to Los Angeles. It was clever and amusing, and I took it to be an enjoyable, light read. As I got into it, and as the story unfolded more and more, I could see that it was "getting to me" in unexpected ways. The people were so real, the challenges and problems were presented boldly and beautifully. I will never casually pass an old graveyard again, and see all the aging and weathered old stones marking the graves, without remembering this book, and the fact that beneath the ground there are buried dreams, promises and love. Buy this book and see what I mean! Kent Perkins, Los Angeles

I read "Primrose Past" in one continuous session. The characters grow as the story flows.

"Primrose Past", beautifully bound, not only provides reading pleasure but also a vivid description of the lifestyles, customs, and traditions of l800 England. A diary, lost for over a century, opens doors to the England of years gone by and the deepest secrets of the girl who wrote it. A truly unique and revealing book.

Primrose Past is terrific. Caroline Hunt has conveyed fully the mind and spirit of an adolescent girl -- her struggle for identity and independence, her drive to develop and demonstrate her knowledge and skills, her emerging romantic and sexual desires, and her longing for family relationships that are mutual, intimate, and special. What a vivid portrayal of this bright, courageous, vulunerable, and likable girl! The story is replete with deft and detailed descriptions of life in England over 150 years ago -- estates (lands, buildings, furnishings, provisions, management, and operations), societal and cultural mores and expectations, and travel and experiences throughout the contemporaneous world. Primrose Past is practically a textbook wrapped in a delightful, intriguing tale. If I were teaching English in secondary school, it would be required reading along with Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. I am eager for the sequel!

I was most touched by Queen Elizabeth, seeing that all her life she has had to put country and duty first. I felt heart broken for her with her treatment from her husband and his bad behavior, but at the same time could understand that it was most difficult for him as well, having to give up all his hopes and dreams. I also learned how Diana threatened the monarch with her behavoir, something I never understood until now and I felt differently about the whole thing, and understood both sides. I learned a lot about how royals raise their children and was shocked, but understood that it is how they are raised, and they know no other way. I also learned what the Queen does in official business and just how influential she is. She has earned my deepest respect and I have watched her intereact and must say that when she smiles it is truly captivating because it radiates from her heart. Great book! I highly recommend it.

Sufani Garza
Author

A great book about the Queen. Lots of information, but not too over the top with details and hard-to-understand writing.

Three years ago, I added this book to my too-large collection of books about the Royal Family. I started re-reading it this week when looking up something about her disinterest in clothes while reading the reports of her visit to Australia. Whoever is doing her hats now should be drawn and quartered!

This is an enjoyable book and I can only feel a bit sorry for the Queen. For all of her worldly possessions, she leads a rather dreadful life. Smiling, looking interested, holding flowers, etc. must almost drive her out of her mind! She does a good job of it, though, and for that I give her credit. It's a good show. I've been watching it for over 40 years!

One of the best books on the British Royal Family and on Queen Elizabeth in particular.

Reading this book one can see that Mr. Davies is quite knowledgeable and has done his homework where researching the subject is concerned.

Queen Elizabeth may not be easily amused - and she has every right not to be - but I certainly was highly amused and entertained.

Ever since I can remember I have been fascinated by the British Royal family; watching the weddings of both the Waleses and the Yorks, reading Majesty magazine each month, etc. I bought this book to find out more about the Queen and Prince Phillip. I finished this book within two days and still find myself drawn to it. The depth that the author reaches, describing the Queen's marriage, family, responsibilities, daily life - it is all covered with a thoroughness that makes the reader feel as though they knew Her Majesty personally. Undoubtedly there are other books available that detail Queen Elizabeth II's life, but this one will stand out due to it's ability to draw the reader into the world of this remarkable monarch.

Lutyens, the architect of Queen Mary's Dolls' House, also designed the city of New Delhi and the Viceroy's House, one of the largest and most unique palaces in the world. Sadly, he was one of the world's greatest artists, but is remembered only for this (comparatively) tiny tourist attraction.

Tourists, architectural students, and historians should buy this book. This is the only thorough analysis of any of Lutyens' buildings, and as such, is an important historical document above and beyond its tourist appeal.

I was so enchanted by Royal Collection Official Guide Book to Queen Mary's Dolls' House that I ordered this one figuring (correctly) that there would be other unique pictures. This is the better of the two books - nearly three times as long and filled with more pictures, especially detail shots of the tiny furnishings and decorations. I am charmed by Cripp's method of showing scale: he poses the tiny cricket bat next to a regulation cricket ball, and the little golf clubs next to a real golf ball. This also includes a section on how the house is aging: fading wallpaper, damaged paint, etc. All of the pictures, except for a few that are historic, are in color. This is unfortunately out of print, and may be more expensive, so the purchaser will have to weigh issues of cost and availability for themselves. I think that either would do as a souvenier.

If someone is really interested, I would recommend getting both books. The Royal Collection Official Guidebook is a pretty good buy at $11.95 and a nice supplement to this one. A very few of the shots are in both, but not enough to make them redundant to the person who wants all the information they can get. Generally, the duplicate shots are slightly large in the S-W book. To compare and contrast the two, while the S-W book has more of everything, the RC book still has some unique shots. The photographs in this book take in the entire room, while the RC book often shoots the room at an angle, cutting off part of the room, but what is shown is sometimes in better focus and a bit larger. To compare the shots of the Queen's bedroom, the Stewart-Wilson shot shows the entire bedroom. The Royal Collection shot, at an angle , reveals some additional details such as the fire screen and the chinoiserie cabinet, but cuts off the exteme left-hand side of the room. (Her Majesty has apparently been rearranging her decorative items since the S-W book.) The S-W detail of the 18th century pietre-dure table concentrates on showing the design on the top. The RC detail shows more of the table and the objects normally on it. The historical sections, revealing how the house came to be built are the most different, and the RC book has more pictures of people who participated in creating the doll house and of the room in which it now sits with the Phillip Connard mural. The captions are overlapping, but not identical, and so one gains more information by having both.

England's Queen Mary--grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II--commissioned the construction of her extraordinary dollhouse (or "dolls' house" as it is referred to here) in 1921, during her own reign. It resides at Windsor Castle, as it has since being constructed there. Designed by Edward Lutyens (famous for his graceful furniture), the house is a reproduction of Windsor Castle right down to the last nail--almost literally.

David Cripps' photography beautifully captures the interiors of this amazing dollhouse, from the grand to the plebian. Here is the linen closet, each batch of towels tied with different-colored ribbon to denote whether they were intended for the nursery, the staff, or the kitchen. Here is a lacquer cabinet with gilded stand, dovetailed working drawers, and gold-leafed decoration. Here is a bed, complete with pillows, bolsters, sheets, blankets, and even a tiny walnut-handled bedwarmer. The toilet, complete with toilet paper discreetly placed in a bowl alongside, really works. The toothbrushes are made of ivory and have bristles made from the hair of a goat's inner ear. In the cellar, bottles of Chateau Margaux are properly corked and waxed and labeled. The pantry shows real bows of Fry's Chocolates sharing space with McVitie & Price biscuits, barley sugar candies in hefty glass candy jars, and Frank Cooper's Seville Marmalade in squat jars tied with brown paper and string.

The garage houses a miniature bicycle with brakes "in perfect working order," not to mention a Rudge motorcycle and sidecar, a seven-seater Rolls Royce limousine-landaulet, a Vauxhall, a "Sunbeam open tourer," and two Daimlers. Gorgeous royal crests are hand-painted on each. The house even has its own petrol pumps and fire appliances, as was normal for large houses in that era.

The house's garden is splendid despite the absence of a single living thing. The lawn, made of cut green velvet, boasts several tiny mowers (both motor-powered and not), and the nearby garden has its own lovely benches, hoes, spades and the like. There is even a robin's nest, complete with eggs, and a tiny, tiny snail.

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing in the house is the book collection. Famous authors were asked to contribute their own works. Arthur Conan Doyle obliged by submitted "How Watson Learned the Trick," an original 500-word short story done in his own handwriting. The bookplates for each of the books were designed by beloved Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator Ernest Shepard. Rudyard Kipling submitted not only two poems, but illustrated them himself as well. Other well-known authors who gave their own works to the Queen's house included G. K. Chesterton, Joseph Conrad, Robert Graves, Aldous Huxley, Hilaire Belloc, Rose Macauley, W. Somerset Maugham, and Vita Sackville-West. Topping off the fine works of this distinguished crowd are the leather-bound autograph books--one each for famous folks from stage and screen, famous folks from the military, and famous politicans.

There is even a room for storing the scepter, crowns and other regalia--all featuring flawless gemstones!

The details are endlessly fascinating and the house and its furnishings so well-constructed that without a tennis ball or coin or some other everyday real object, you easily forget that everything your eye falls upon here is miniature. For those who cannot get to Windsor Castle themselves to view the house in person, this book offers a very fine tour.

To further correct the first reviewer, the Doll's House is certainly not a copy of Windsor Castle. It is nothing like it. Windsor Castle is a CASTLE - stones and very old, and big. The Doll's House is an "ideal home" of the early 1020's - albeit intended for royalty and not for your average Joneses.

With a couple of corrections of the first review, I'd like to make sure that it's known that Queen Mary did not commission this dollshouse. It was the original brain child of the Princess Marie Louise, who spearheaded the creation of the house. Queen Mary was "extremely surprised" but agreed. The initial shell of the house was erected in Lutyen's office, then removed to the drawing room of his house in Mansfield Street in London.

It was unveiled to the press, once completed, in the Mansfield Street house, then moved and reconstructed in the Palace of Arts at Wembley. It went from there to Windsor Castle, then to an exhibition at Olympia. In February of 1925, the house was returned to Windsor Castle. The Daily Mail donated a glass case through which we can now view the dollshouse in Windsor Castle.

This wonderful book has photographs of the letters written by Princess Marie Louise to all the firms and manufacturers involved in the dollshouse creation, as well as numerous photographs of the interior and furnishings. Pictures of tiny dollshouse ledgers, keys, and even a garden snail grace this book.

This book is a must for the Scottish visitor. I bought 5 books including Frommers driving tours (never touched it) and eyewitness guide (nice pictures, but we never used it). It was the only book we used. The book is outlined in several ways, either you can pick by the area you are, or certain interests. Either way, this is a book written by a Scot, and he knows the area very well. He covers everything from best waterfalls and scenery to best pubs, and the things you shouldn't miss. We felt like we had a guide with us the whole time telling us where to go for the best Scotland has to offer, and everything he said was right on! We found so many places off the beaten path, that as a tourist we never would have found on our own. This book is also very amusing and unbiased, as the author has a keen sense of humor and I found myself laughing several times at his honest approach. I believe this makes all of the difference when you want to have a good traveling experience. I would recommend this book to anyone who is going to Scotland, and also the Michelin map was extremely helpful. It got us everywhere without a problem!

If you are going to Scotland, forget all the other travel books and buy "Scotland The Best." My family and I used it exclusively on two long trips to Scotland, mostly spent wandering around the Highlands and Western Isles. Irvine's book definitely has a point of view, which makes it entertaining reading. Most importantly, the reviews and recommendations are spot on. We found several places to eat, sleep and shop which no other book mentioned. And after you have visited Scotland, this is a great book to pour through as you plan your return visit (because you will go back!).

This book is a big hit with visitors and Scottish residents alike. Although the format is unconventional (lists of the best of X, where X ranges from upmarket hotels to spooky graveyards), it can be used to guide the tourist to the best that Scotland can offer. On the other hand, as a 'local', I've found it opened my eyes to places and things I might never have noticed on my own. And the witty commentary prevents the lists becoming too much like, well, lists....

The reviews of places to stay and eat are very accurate - I've had a lot of fun eating out in Edinburgh and elsewhere to check out the recommendations!

Only negative point - I find the map references irritating to interpret - the map section could be formatted and printed more clearly.

Once you have a solid book on Scotland, (Fodors, Eyewitness, etc), then this book will bring more life and excitment to your base of knowledge. The authors pick what/where they like best in certain categories, and you will find places not listed in the main tourist books but worth going for if your travels take you near the vicinity. The "best of" topics are such things as graveyards; churches; castles; historical places; waterfalls; coastal villages; shops; beaches; golf courses; glens; and so forth, along with more information in detial on Glasgow and Edinburgh. Told with honesty and a sense of humour, is good for tourists and natives as well. 300 pages of great information, well worth it.

AS a well-prepared traveller, I spend WAY too much money on books and then have to cart them around the whole time. This time, I bought five books on Scotland and Edinburgh. As we travelled for five days, I noticed the book I continuously had out was Scotland the Best! At one stop at one of the "bloody good pubs" by Glencoe, we sat at a table next to Morag and Ian, both Scottish, married 35 years. They saw our book, grinned, and pulled out their own. They said they used it every weekend and kept it in the glovebox. How much more of a recommendation do you need? Buy this book and all the updates!

I only can hope that this book sheds light on to the athiest world that we live in. If things don't start changing around here a little bit I am gonna have to convert over to Islam or something. I need some God in my life, you know, salvation and all that jazz. Pat R. brings it on like donkey kong. He knows how to throw out some zingers and boy is he smart. One time he said he couldn't understand how evolution takes place and so he prayed to the lord and the lord said 6,000 years is all it takes my son. I mean wow who would of thought that to the answer to all are problems could be solved by a little discussion with Christ. Also, Pat is a healer - I once witnessed him telling the world that he saw a women with no brain in his vision and he said lord give her a brain and then Pat R. said she has a brain. I wish the world knew the Pat R that I know. Read this book and you too can heal - ...

This is the Pat's best book. A must read for people stuck in the "matrix" of this world, who want a glimps into the reality of the Spiritual world.

A must read for anyone serious about having an impact on their generation and their world. I am currently reading this title for the third time, taking notes as I go! Truly eye-opening material and if acted on, life-changing!

This book is about universal principles relating to Christian teachings. However, these universal principles were created by God and are taught quite extensively throughout the Word. For example; Pat speaks of the law of reciprocity which the unsaved world calls "karma". Jesus taught reciprocity when he said "Give and it shall be given to you." Newton even taught about it: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Pat explains this principle and many more as how they relate to the Word and how they can work in your lives. If you're looking for no nonsense, Bible based yet scientifically grounded teachings...read this book!

This book shows you how to apply the principles given by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to your life. Pat Robertson is saying, these are the principles of God's invisible kingdom, if you apply them you will experience the results of doing so. Applying principles is one thing, knowing the God Who gave the principles takes you a step further and that is encouraged in this book also. Learning about God and His ways is wonder-filled, i.e., abundant living. This book encourages you to tap resources beyond the physical, to learn how God's kingdom operates.

Arthur W. Pink's The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross is more than a long title. It's also a detailed and challenging look at the last things Jesus said. The dying savior expended precious breath on the cross and we ought to listen carefully to what he says there.

Pink uses one chapter, and a total of 139 pages, for each of the seven things Jesus said while dying: the word of Forgiveness (Luke 23:34), the word of Salvation (Luke 23:42-43), the word of Affection (John 19:25-27), the word of Anguish (Matthew 27:46), the word of Suffering (John 19:28), the word of Victory (John 19:30) and the word of Contentment (Luke 23:46). Each of the seven chapters is then broken down into seven profound insights (some more than others) on what Jesus said, why he said it, and the far reaching implications for us who hear it.

Pink is a classic writer. No where near as classic as some of our Puritan friends. He lived from the late 1800's all the way through to the the 1950's. But a classic writer none the less. Seven Sayings is among the easiest Christian books I've read. The words roll off the page into your mind and there's no confusion about what he's saying. However, unlike most modern Christian literature, this is worth reading. He doesn't stay away from theologically important ideas and he never lets Jesus' words just stay information bouncing around in our heads. He always tries to help guide these things down into our hearts and lives. He's not always successful, but there's much to be said for trying.

Pink adhered to a pretty rigid structure in this book. Seven chapters. Seven sub-sections, per chapter. Unfortunately, it seems that because of that there were points made that perhaps aren't especially relevant. Although an irrelevant point can still be deeply impacting. However, in terms of his immediate goal, it may have been better to leave them out for the sake of staying on topic.

Aside from that one very minor complaint, Seven Sayings was an excellent read. A great companion for meditating on the Work of Christ and its impact on our lives. I recommend anyone and everyone read it.

Christians have a deep and abiding fascination with the cross. Though 2000 years have passed since Christ hung on that cross, Christians continue to grapple with its deepest meanings and continue to seek to apply its lessons to their lives. Of the countless thousands of books written on the subject, A.W. Pink's The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross stands as one of the few true classics.

In this book Pink looks at each of the seven words Jesus spoke while hanging in agony. In his introduction to the book Pink says, "The death of Christ...was unique, miraculous, supernatural. In the chapters which follow we shall hearken to the words which fell from his lips while he hung upon the cross - words which make known to us some of the attendant circumstances of the great tragedy; words which reveal the excellencies of the one who suffered there; words in which is wrapped up the gospel of our salvation; and words which inform us of the purpose, the meaning, the sufferings, and the sufficiency of the death divine." He dedicates a chapter to each of the words of forgiveness, salvation, affection, anguish, suffering, victory and contentment. In every case he spends some time discussing the meaning of the word and usually equal time applying these words to the faith of the individual Christian. Far from "mere" theology, this book is intensely practical and immediately applicable.

The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross deserves the accolades given to it. It bears repeated readings and is ideal for group study (and, indeed, I led a group of over 100 people reading it in tandem). It is worthy of a spot in the collection of every Christian.

Pink, master of the Old Testament and lover of the NT, takes each of the 7 sayings and explores seven aspects of each of the sayings. Wonderfully enlightening as he always is with his timeless commentaries. Use this as a devotional leading up to Resurrection Sunday...you will experience the Cross in ways you never imagined. All of Pink's works and thoughts are Scriptually based.

The hinge point of creation is presented to us in Christ's death and resurrection. I must confess that I knew that..but I didn't really understand all it's implications.

A.W. Pink has a remarkable ability to bring forth truth and understanding that lies incredibly rich in the understanding of the seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross.

If you would like to understand the lessons from Christ on the cross then you must read and understand this text.

I am nearly done with this book and I must confess that Pink has done an incredible job in pointing us to Christ.

Buy this book!

This is a must read for any student of the Bible. Pastor Pink's insights into Jesus on the cross are unique and fully referenced to the rest of the Bible. I couldn't put the book down. It was very readable and unlike many of his works, short and compact.

Alex Henshaw grew up in the 1920's and 30's - his first aircraft was a Gipsy I Moth. HE set his heart on winning the King's Cup Air Race, which he won in 1938 after years of practice and experimentation. In 1939 he broke all the records for flying to Cape Town and back in a modified Mew Gull (His account of this epic feat is given in his book Flight of the Mew Gull (1980) in which Henshaw describes hazardous landings at remote bush airstrips, battling through a tropical storm, and overcoming extreme exhaustion on the return leg. The aircraft he used, G-AEXF, was restored to its Cape flight configuration in the 1980s and remains in flying condition at Breighton in Yorkshire).

Because of this peacetime experience he was asked to join Vickers-Armstrong as a test pilot when WW2 broke out. He was appointed Chief Test Pilot at Castle Bromwich, the giant Spitfire factory near Birmingham, and under his leadership the flying programe continued from dawn to dusk, despote the often appalling weather conditions. The factory built over half of the total output of Spitfires ever made, and 350 Lancaster heavy bombers. Henshaw tested both, leading a team of 25 others. The production/acceptance test flying job was essential, to ensure that faults were detected before aircraft were delivered to the frontline, but was also dangerous: two of his team were killed testing new aircraft. Henshaw survived many forced landings and a catastrophic crash between two houses in Willenhall in July 1942 which destroyed the aircraft.

It is estimated that Henshaw flew 10% of all Spitfires and Seafires, testing up to 20 aircraft a day in often foggy conditions. He would also demonstrate the Spitfire to visiting dignitaries, such as Winston Churchill, and once flying the length of Broad Street in Birmingham at low level. He was the only pilot known to perform a barrel roll in a Lancaster bomber, a feat that was considered reckless and impossible due to the aircraft's size and relatively low speed. This he did with co-pilot Peter Ayerst, fighter ace and previous member of No. 124 ("Baroda") Squadron RAF

The books really well-written, has some superb flying descriptions and fascinating stories of test-flying Spitfires. A great read and it's good to see it's still in print and available.

First published in 1979, the copy I have is 200 pages, 16 b&w photos.Henshaw wrote a third book, Wings across the Great Divide which was published in 2004. This final part of his trilogy details his experiences flying in Africa in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Alex Henshaw died at home in Newmarket on 24 February 2007

To anyone interested in the history of both the Spitfire and the magnificent engine that powered it, this is a top read. A well-written memoir, it retains the interest from first page to last. Highly recommend it.

You will not read a better book about flying the Spitfire than Alex Henshaw's "Sigh for a Merlin"! Although no combat sequences are included as would be expected of a Spitfire book, the testing of so many aircraft leads to as much tension and action as any of the best combat-based stories.

Alex Henshaw writes as well as he flies. I was reluctant to put this book down as Mr Henshaw regularly shares the flying with the reader. You are right there as he tests new aircraft and escapes from tricky situations due to aircraft failure.

For anyone who has heard a Merlin engine on any aircraft, you will understand the title. You'll make the same sigh of satisfaction/awe as you read the last page of this book...if you haven't done so already while reading the book!

I read this book several years ago but it still has an affect on me. There are some good Spitfire books out there, but this is the best.

A nation at war, all hands to the tiller. Henshaw, already renowned as a young solo long distance record-breaking pilot, after a brief spell twiddling his fingers at Vickers, Weybridge meets Geoffrey Quill - another talented young flier, already chief test pilot of the Spitfire. In no time at all, he is offered and accepts the post of production test pilot at the massive, barely finished Castle Bromwich factory in the heart of the Midlands, with its Black Country weather.
By the end of the war, Henshaw had flown over 3,000 Spits straight off the line, barrel rolled Lancasters and flown upside down along ....!
Excelling in inverted flight, Henshaw's required to demo the Spit at the drop of a hat, flight test them in appalling conditions and keep a large team of disparate pilots working foir the common good. His sheer professionalism, commitment and outstanding flying skills shine through. Modestly written, a superb account of a great plane and great pilot.

The exploits of Alex Henshaw are done some fine justice in this book. It highlights testing of dangerous airplanes during WWII and how so many people contributed without mention. any flying fan will trully love this one! A must for aviation fans.