Amazon.com
"Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few Americans--in fact, few Kansans--had ever heard of Holcomb. Like the waters of the river, like the motorists on the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there." If all Truman Capote did was invent a new genre--journalism written with the language and structure of literature--this "nonfiction novel" about the brutal slaying of the Clutter family by two would-be robbers would be remembered as a trail-blazing experiment that has influenced countless writers. But Capote achieved more than that. He wrote a true masterpiece of creative nonfiction. The images of this tale continue to resonate in our minds: 16-year-old Nancy Clutter teaching a friend how to bake a cherry pie, Dick Hickock's black '49 Chevrolet sedan, Perry Smith's Gibson guitar and his dreams of gold in a tropical paradise--the blood on the walls and the final "thud-snap" of the rope-broken necks.
Book Description
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy.
In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.
Download Description
With the publication of this book, Capote permanently ripped through the barrier separating crime reportage from serious literature. As he reconstructs the 1959 murder of a Kansas farm family and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, Capote generates suspense and empathy.
Customer Reviews:
Too cluttered.......2007-10-14
The violent murders of Herbert and Bonnie Clutter and their two youngest children: Nancy and Kenyon in 1959 became a media sensation as these violent crimes are wont to do. Inspired by a 300 word summary of the crime in the New York Times, Capote and long time friend Harper Lee headed west to interview everyone associated with the crime. The result of six year's work was In Cold Blood.
Reading the book clarified in my mind just how well I still remember the film and confirmed that I still am not a fan of true-crime (or the nonfiction novel as Capote called his book). The work is well researched and well written but it wasn't a page-turner for me.
The book suffers from an information overload and a lack of organization. Capote seems lost under all these witness testimonies, not sure what to keep, what to cut and where to put things. Things stumble along in a more or less chronological order but without the benefit of logical segues between interviews.
Quite Cold, Indeed.......2007-10-06
It is a testament to Truman Capote's ability that he was able to take a small yet disturbing blurb in the New York Times and not only write a compelling book about it, but create a new literary form, the nonfiction novel, and also turn the story into an American classic. IN COLD BLOOD fully deserves the accolades that have been heaped upon it since its publication.
That newspaper blurb, of course, was about the mysterious murders of the Clutter family (father Herbert, mother Bonnie, and teenagers Nancy and Kenyon) in the small, isolated town of Holcomb, Kansas. At first, it was unclear why the family had been slaughtered and it was thought to be the work of a psychopathic killer. That such psychopathy flared up in America's heartland made the story all the more disturbing. After all, everyone knows all the weirdos and lunatics were supposed to live in New York or San Francisco. To think that they were right in our midst...
Capote's detailed (and controversial!) studies of the murders take us so deep into the story it is like we were really there. Using the techniques of fiction and applying them to a non-fiction story, Capote brings the real life tragedy to life a second time around. This is particularly disturbing with respect to the two men who committed the crime, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. IN COLD BLOOD probably is the first book of its kind to give the readers such an accurate portrait into the minds and personalities of such brutal killers.
What strikes the reader hard is that, of the two criminals, it is the actual trigger man, Perry Smith, who is the more tender and emotionally vulnerable. That Dick Hickock seems, by every measure imaginable, to be a harsher person than his compatriot is juxtaposed powerfully with Hickock's own complaints that he is the only person on death row who did not actually kill anyone. We now know, of course, that Capote developed some type of emotional relationship with Perry Smith while researching the book and so it is up to the reader to determine how much this might have clouded Capote's judgment and writings on him.
Despite the bleakness of the story, IN COLD BLOOD is written in a very feminine and flowery style. If Capote's homosexuality were not widely known, one could almost assume as much by this. Again, this creates a jarring juxtaposition for the reader, as he is confronted with the darkest corners of depravity.
Anyone who visits the true crime section of a bookstore is confronted with books basically reeking of schlock. A good writer, however, can turn the average, or even below average, subject and elevate it to new heights. This is what Truman Capote did. IN COLD BLOOD is very cold, indeed.
Read the book before the movie!.......2007-10-05
This was a wonderful book, but I made the mistake of seeing the movie and then I had a biased. I enjoyed this.
Capote's Masterpiece Is Full Of Thrills, Suspense, And Incredible Prose.......2007-09-24
When Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" was published in 1966, it became an international bestseller and was lauded by the critics. Now, over forty years later, "In Cold Blood" remains the crowning achievemt of Capote's career as a writer. Capote's skill as a journalist and natural talent as a writer combine to create the definitive American true crime book. Whether you prefer nonfiction or fiction, Capote's true account of mass murder and it's consequences is sure to please!
As Good as it Gets.......2007-09-19
In Cold Blood is incredibly well written. Unlike many of his short stories, the prose is clean and not overly adorned. Without moralizing, he simply tells the story of one of the most random and nonsensical murders of his time. In my opinion, Capote wrote one great book, and this is it.
Amazon.com
This warm biography of Harry Truman is both an historical evaluation of his presidency and a paean to the man's rock-solid American values. Truman was a compromise candidate for vice president, almost an accidental president after Roosevelt's death 12 weeks into his fourth term. Truman's stunning come-from-behind victory in the 1948 election showed how his personal qualities of integrity and straightforwardness were appreciated by ordinary Americans, perhaps, as McCullough notes, because he was one himself. His presidency was dominated by enormously controversial issues: he dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, established anti-Communism as the bedrock of American foreign policy, and sent U.S. troops into the Korean War. In this winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize, McCullough argues that history has validated most of Truman's war-time and Cold War decisions.
Book Description
The life of Harry S. Truman is one of the greatest of American stories, filled with vivid characters -- Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Wallace Truman, George Marshall, Joe McCarthy, and Dean Acheson -- and dramatic events. In this riveting biography, acclaimed historian David McCullough not only captures the man -- a more complex, informed, and determined man than ever before imagined -- but also the turbulent times in which he rose, boldly, to meet unprecedented challenges. The last president to serve as a living link between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, Truman's story spans the raw world of the Missouri frontier, World War I, the powerful Pendergast machine of Kansas City, the legendary Whistle-Stop Campaign of 1948, and the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, confront Stalin at Potsdam, send troops to Korea, and fire General MacArthur. Drawing on newly discovered archival material and extensive interviews with Truman's own family, friends, and Washington colleagues, McCullough tells the deeply moving story of the seemingly ordinary "man from Missouri" who was perhaps the most courageous president in our history.
Download Description
The life of Harry S. Truman is one of the greatest of American stories, filled with vivid characters -- Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Wallace Truman, George Marshall, Joe McCarthy, and Dean Acheson -- and dramatic events. In this riveting biography, acclaimed historian David McCullough not only captures the man -- a more complex, informed, and determined man than ever before imagined -- but also the turbulent times in which he rose, boldly, to meet unprecedented challenges. The last president to serve as a living link between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, Truman's story spans the raw world of the Missouri frontier, World War I, the powerful Pendergast machine of Kansas City, the legendary Whistle-Stop Campaign of 1948, and the decisions to drop the atomic bomb, confront Stalin at Potsdam, send troops to Korea, and fire General MacArthur. Drawing on newly discovered archival material and extensive interviews with Truman's own family, friends, and Washington colleagues, McCullough tells the deeply moving story of the seemingly ordinary "man from Missouri" who was perhaps the most courageous president in our history.
Customer Reviews:
Give 'em hell Harry.......2007-10-03
In the middle of WW2, when Harry Truman became
president, people wondered how such an ordinary
man could ever become president: "If Harry Truman can be president,
so could my next door neighbor. ".
But as David McCulloughs wonderful Truman biography
explains - there is absolutely nothing wrong about
a "common man" becoming president. Quoting
Senator Adlai Stevenson: "The 'lesson' of Trumans life,
was a lesson about ourselves. An object lesson in
the vitality of popular government; an example of
the society to yield up, from the unremarkable origins,
the most remarkable man".
From sunday school and own reading of the Bible
Harry Truman knew many passages by heart:
"Ye are the salt of the Earth.. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may seee your good works."
and prayers like:
"Oh! Almighty and Everlasting God, creator of heaven,
Earth and Universe:
Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, because it is right,
make me truthful, honest and honerable in all things;
make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and
honor and without thought of reward to me. Give me
the ability to be charitable, forgiving and patient with
my fellowmen - help me to understand their motives and
their shortcomings - even as Thou understandest
mine! Amen."
What is more - for what we can gather from McCulloughs
biography - Harry Truman actually believed and lived by these words.
Combined with his midwestern belief in the values
of the farmer - Following Thomas Jefferson belief
in a nation of farmers - In Harry Trumans words: "
.. as long as a country
is one of that kind, people are independent
and make better citizens. When it is made up of
factories and large cities, it soon becomes depressed
and makes classes among people. ".
- he was placed in a world that was anything
but simple. But a world that was in absolute need
of his values and judgement.
Trouble never far away. His wife Bess' father kills
himself age 43, by putting a gun to his head, leaving behind
4 children. No reason given, except a drinking problem.
Harry Trumans father not that good with money -
more or less resulting in no college for bright Harry,
but 10 years of hard work on the farm instead.
Only escape - even with very poor eyesight - to
WW1 France and war horrors. Home again he marries
sweetheart Bess. And opens a business that fails
in 1922. Leaving him broke and strapped for money for 20 years,
Eventually he enters politics - settles as a local Missouri judge,
when fortune offers him to run as a US senator - a race which he surprisingly wins 2 times. And in 1944 Chicago Convention democratic bosses selects Truman as Vp candidate. Ambassadorships and postermaster
jobs etc. promised around to make the deal go through.
However corrupt some of this might seem - somehow
it doesn't cling to the man who is then elected VP -
but escapes intact.
So much so as when asked about his feelings about the
current president Roosevelt - Harry Truman answers
(obviously not in public) that he has only
one objection - that he lies.
When Roosevelt dies an old man age 63. Truman
takes over - a young man of 60. With the remark
to reporters : "Boys if you pray, pray for me now.".
With WW2 still on he offers the 48 presidency to Eisenhower.
But still he is the one to make the decisions.
And he does nuke Japan - making historians
remember that he did use the "n-word" and was
not respectful towards chinese back home in Missouri.
Still, in Trumans mind that was the only way to stop
the war in east without another million dead american soldiers.
And he was happy about the decision.
With the Berlin crisis, Korean war there was no lack of problems.
And yet reporters remark that everyday "is a mothers
day in White House under Truman" with a president who never
fails to call back to see how things are back home on the farm.
Against all odds he is re-elected president in 48.
With the backing of fellow democrats Lauren Bacall,
Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan (later to become a republican).
standing for a government for the people and
against special interest.
When MacArthur threathens to go for all out war with the chinese
in Korea he is fired by Truman, telling the world
that civilian leadership is above military leadership.
He is always well composed - when assassins from Puerto Rico
tries to kill him and all leading newspapers
are certain that he will loose. Except when a music
critic says his singing daughter is no good. Then he explodes.
Making the picture perfect of Harry the man, who became
president.
A real person.
Personally I was amazed when I visited his home in
Independence, Missouri in 2002 - that it was actually the home
of Harry Truman the president. It somehow seemed to humble.
After reading the McCullough book I see it was not.
How amazing. And how amazing the thing called democracy is.
"Give 'em hell, Harry" a spectator said in the 48 campaign for presidency,
and you see why!
-Simon
Outstanding.......2007-09-23
A great read about the man and times. Truman made some of the toughest calls to date about WW II, Korea, MacArthur, etc. This is a good jump off point to learn more about the times and other great figures of the day like Churchill and Marshall.
Fantastic.......2007-09-21
Harry Truman the man, the myth - this book has it all. This is a wonderfully written biography that gets at every aspect of Truman. From his boyhood in Missouri to his rise through the political ranks David McCullough does not dissapoint with his book on the former president.
A must read as a companion to any serious study on World War I, II and Korea - Truman's life touches all these conflicts as a soldier and leader. This is a great biography and I highly recommend it. JVD
Triumph of tireless sleuthing and attention.......2007-09-12
After spending pretty much the course of the summer reading David McCullough's immense biography of Harry S. Truman, I must say that was time well spent. For the first time, I have a largely intact understanding of not only Truman's life and times, but of the forces and events that shaped him and the United States as well. Though Truman's term as president ended the year I was born, the decisions and actions taken by our 33rd president and his staff have reverberated throughout my own life.
One need not pile on with any more plaudits or adjectives for the author or his biography for at this point I think everything has been stated. But what is most striking to me is just how much the world has changed since Truman's presidency and how our current crop of politicians are even more vile and odious than the worst of the lot in Truman's day. Reading about a man who strove to achieve the greater good rather than let his decisions be tempered by political motivations proved both startling and refreshing.
McCullough may have burnished Truman's character with a bit more shine and polish than fitting the man himself, but he does not neglect Truman's flaws or humanity, which, in turn, makes this book more compelling. The vivid, memorable characters who play key roles in the story of Truman infuse this historical account with energy and realism and also elevate Truman's character and person. The details contained in this book, both their quantity and quality, require close attention and rereading, a testament to Mr. McCullough's tireless sleuthing and attention.
Let's hope for everyone's sake that a similarly powerful, elegant biography of an American president will someday appear to take its place on the shelf beside this one.
Exceptionally Poor Quality For Papareback Binding .......2007-08-23
The book was great, and the author was most worthy of the Pulitzer Prize award for his work. However, the binding was exceptionally poor. Given the 1,100+ pages of the book, this paperback needs to be bound in a different fashion. The book completely fell apart during my reading of it, as large sections of pages fell out of it. I did not subject the book to any harsh treatment or unusual wear, and it simply fell apart under normal reading conditions.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful info on why you do what you do and are what you are........2007-09-15
This is a great book if you want to make changes in your life. If you've ever ask why you act or do what you do, this book opens it all up. If you don't want to make changes, don't buy it. This book has helped change the way I look at life and myself. I'm a much more peaceful and love life fuller. I highly reccomend it.
Doctor Recommended.......2007-09-13
My doctor recommended this book and I am so glad he did. I have been doing the script the author gave and finding it is making health changes that I want to occor in my life in my body.
I would recommend this to anyone, in fact my daughter and a best friend both got this book after I did.
Love this book.......2007-07-29
I first read this book over 13 years ago. I recently "rediscovered" the book, and I'm so glad I did! With the law of attraction we've been learning about how important our thoughts are, but this book takes it one step further and talks about how important our feelings are. I was sabotaging my own success until I started scripting (she gives her script in this book). I am feeling so much better about everything now, and I am looking forward to many more years of scripting.
Studying The Law of Attraction? This Book is Your Missing Piece!.......2007-06-11
I've been studying and teaching the laws of abundant living, the law of attraction, cause and effect, and a host of other natural universal laws via teleclass and books for years now. But, many (including myself) still feel as if an important piece is missing. "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" is that missing piece! If you've been trying to practice the law of attraction and God's other universal laws, but something isn't clicking for you, buy this book. Within days of purchasing it, I was able to identify key experiences and feelings which had been blocking my path. Now I'm using "the script" included in the book to transform my negative feelings into positive ones. I'm no longer glossing those feelings over by trying to think positive or display gratitude. I'm specifically addressing and transforming them so they will no longer plague my mind. This book is an answer to prayer.
MUST HAVE THIS INFORMATION!!!.......2007-04-16
This book should be given to each person at birth. If the world were aware of all this information, it would be a much more peaceful place for everyone!
Book Description
Extraordinarily comprehensive, this book is completely updated to the 2005 National Electrical Code® and continues to offer valuable insight into the Code® articles. Explanations are provided for each article in detail, with thorough discussions and practical examples that clearly illustrate how the Code® and its most recent changes are applied. Discussions are logically organized into coherent subject groupings, allowing readers to navigate easily through 2005 NEC® requirements as well as changes since the last edition. Through this approach, the book also integrates essential information into the 7th Edition that is not directly addressed in the NEC but is extremely useful to electricians.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely a Must Have for Anyone Involved with Electricity and Electrical Equipment.......2006-08-19
The single most important reference in the electrical industry, the National Electrical Code (NEC), is updated every three years and outlines minimum standards for all types of electrical installations. Each time the National Electrical Code® is significantly revised to keep pace with technology and enhance protection against electrical fire and shock hazards. This is a valuable reference to help you get in position to advance your knowledge and be prepared with the newest codes.
This book is like an annotated version of the NEC 2005, explaining in a clear and understandable language that is additionally supported by clear to follow diagrams every important aspect covered by the NEC.
This book is loaded with solutions designed to provide better safeguards, add greater usability, and bring provisions in line with technology trends. Absolutely a must for anyone involved in electrical design, installation, or inspection, the 2005 NEC provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code® and avoid costly errors in electrical installations of all types.
This book sounds interesting!!!.......2004-11-06
I really like the authors, they seem very well informed. I'd like to meet them sometime and discuss their thoughts! ;-)
-Matthew Best
Average customer rating:
- A classic
- Nice introduction to Truman Capote's work
- Have a wonderful fictional dream...
- a definite classic
- There's a reason it's endured
|
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Truman Capote
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Classics
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Capote, Truman
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
In Cold Blood
-
The Complete Stories of Truman Capote
-
Other Voices, Other Rooms
-
Capote: A Biography
-
The Grass Harp
ASIN: 0679745653
Release Date: 1993-09-28 |
Book Description
This volume includes three of Capote's best-known stories, "House of Flowers, " "A Diamond Guitar, " and "A Christmas Memory, " in addition to his bestselling novel, Breakfast at Tiffany, the popular story of Holly Golightly--"a cross between Lolita and Auntie Mame" (Time).
Customer Reviews:
A classic.......2007-07-08
I got this book because I love the movie, and now I can say I greatly appreciate the book also. It is always nice when a movie follows a book well and not make their own story and just use the title. But this is definitely a book i read again and again. The other stories in the collection were good also.
Nice introduction to Truman Capote's work.......2007-06-01
Like many others here, I was inspired to read Truman Capote's work for the first time after seeing the movie Capote. I thought that starting with In Cold Blood would be too dark, so I chose Breakfast at Tiffany's instead. Surprisingly, this orginal work is not nearly as light and cavalier as the famed film version. Although the movie stuck fairly closely to the actual plot, Holly is a much deeper character than her excellent portrayal by Aubrey Hepburn would suggest. There are nuances to her story that are completely left out of the on-screen version, including a poignant conclusion that is nowhere near a Hollywood ending. Overall, however, Breakfast at Tiffany's is an excellent read, at it alone is deserving of a 5-star rating.
While Breakfast at Tiffany's is more of a novella, the other tales in this book are simply short stories, and I found them to be much less compelling. House of Flowers is a sort of off-beat romance, some of which I found to be disturbing and with an ending that I found to be unsatisfying. A Diamond Guitar was more moving yet quite depressing. Finally, A Christmas Memory, the best of the three, was a sweet tale of a young boy's special bond with a much older relative.
If you are looking for an entry point to Truman Capote's work, this book would be a good place to start familiarizing yourself with this talented, important writer.
Have a wonderful fictional dream..........2007-06-01
The late novelist John Gardner said that an ideal fictional story invokes in the reader an unbroken, fictional dream. I like this way of thinking about reading a novel or short story. If you keep "waking up" during the reading, then the author isn't doing his job very well.
I just read Breakfast at Tiffany's--not 30 minutes ago--and I'm still not sure I'm fully "awake." Holly Golightly, the focal character here, seems so real to me, I can hardly believe she isn't in New York, this moment, missing her door key. Very few novels have affected me this way, this strongly. A Catcher in the Rye--that one did it. Jane Eyre, a few others. If you read, as I do, primarily for company, to share the company of fascinating "people," I think you'll love this little book.
Truman Capote was one of America's most gifted writers, and in this story, he not only brings his characters to life, he brings this New York City neighborhood, in the 1950s, to life as well.
A magical, unforgettable read.
a definite classic.......2007-06-01
Holiday Golightly. She's quirky, comical, and glamorous. She's fashionable, in-the-know, and in-the-now. She's lonely, lost, and waiting to be rescued. You couldn't resist her charm if you tried, and you can't help but fall in love with her.
Well, at least in the Hollywood film version. Capote's original novella paints a darker portrait of Miss Golightly. Unlike Audrey Hepburn's adorable Holly, who needs a knight in slightly-rusted armor to save her, Capote's girl is a "wild thing" who cannot be caged, trained, or rescued.
I can't deny that the film is a classic and is one of my favorites. Audrey Hepburn may be the epitome of glamour and beauty, and Hollywood's Holly can't help but absorb Audrey's charm. By the end of the film you find yourself rooting for "Fred" to save her from the nonsense of high society, reunite her with the cat, and wipe away her case of "the mean reds" forever. That is Hollywood, after all, and we would expect nothing less.
But the real Holly, Capote's Holly, can never be caged by convention. It would be hard to imagine her ever settling down and being content with Fred (regardless of the fact that he is an implied homosexual in the book. Hollywood seemed to have "overlooked" that).
Don't get me wrong, it's not that the book's Holly is a Bad Person; she's just more layered and real. Think about it - how many people have you come across who create a new persona for themselves, based on what they perceive others to desire? People who feign interest in the popular styles/entertainment/notable people of the day, just to seem like a Very Important Person and garner adoration, fame, and possibly fortune. I could name a few.
But we get to go deeper than Holly's exterior and see the scared and lonely girl at the core. She is terrified of being a caged animal, but also tired of being alone. She wants to seem as though she's making a holiday out of life, but struggles with the need for stability and the desire for freedom.
The book I read also included three of Capote's most famous stories, and I'd be remiss not to mention them as well: House of Flowers, A Diamond Guitar, and A Christmas Memory. The three short stories are amazingly intimate and touching, illuminating different sides of human emotion. I have not read Capote's magnum opus, In Cold Blood, but after witnessing his detailed descriptions and haunting perceptions of human nature in these shorter forms, I have added his novel to my "to-read" list.
There's a reason it's endured.......2007-05-29
The best introduction to Capote's work, in my opinion. Holly Golightly is a dream of New York City, a figure that so many millions of people, male and female, have come to Manhattan to try to be. Those amoral jerks! (ha ha) Capote's ability to sustain this dream in prose, even though Holly is not much more than a stylish wh*re, is what has kept this short, breezy-yet-tragic postwar novel in print for almost 50 years. A classic.
I'll always love Audrey Hepburn in the movie (though let's admit it, she's too old for the part), and Moon River is a great song, but I'm sorry that Fassbinder couldn't have done his own movie adaptation. THAT would have been something!
Average customer rating:
|
The Gilbert Collection of Gold Boxes
Charles Truman
Manufacturer: Harry N Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Schools, Periods & Styles
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
| Abstract Expressionism
| Ancient & Classical
| Art Deco
| Art Nouveau
| Baroque
| Byzantine
| Constructivism
| Contemporary Art
| Cubism
| Dadaism
| Expressionism
| Fauvism
| Folk Art
| Futurism
| German Expressionism
| Gothic
| Impressionism
| Mannerism
| Medieval
| Modern
| Neoclassical
| Pop
| Post-Impressionism
| Pre-Raphaelite
| Prehistoric & Primitive
| Realism
| Renaissance
| Rococo
| Romanesque
| Romantic
| Surrealism
General
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Jewelry
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Metal Work
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
History
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Art & Photography
| Bibliographies & Indexes
| Publishing & Books
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
California
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0810933640 |
Average customer rating:
- A must-read on 20th Century American Foreign Policy
|
Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman: Mission and Power in American Foreign Policy
Anne Pierce
Manufacturer: Transaction Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Relations
| International
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1412806631 |
Book Description
Recurring throughout our history are the ideas that repressive governments are doomed to failure; that liberty is a motivating force; that freedom comes with responsibilities and must be guided by principles; that the example of our democracy is a challenge to all forms of political repression and an inspiration to those desiring to be free. Wilson and Truman took these ideas as the starting point for their policy formulation and pronouncements. Truman both acknowledged his indebtedness to Wilson and learned from his mistakes. This study places the two presidents within the broader American tradition and explores the way they combined reverence for the past with innovative policies. Pierce provides a cohesive argument against those who simplify and categorize American ideals in order to demean them. Her findings show that the assumption that Wilson was an idealist while Truman was a realist distorts our understanding of these men and denies the seriousness of their positions. She reveals Truman's brilliance as a foreign policy strategist and his fervency as a spokesperson for American ideals. He was never willing to dispense with geopolitics for the sake of internationalism, nor with internationalism for the sake of geopolitics, but insisted that our mission and our power were combined threads in our work for freedom. Truman's wisely construed version of Wilsonianism, which itself was an interpretation of America's mission and power, holds great promise for the United States today.
Customer Reviews:
A must-read on 20th Century American Foreign Policy.......2003-06-25
This gets you thinking about the importance of the American foreign policy tradition in a way other books don't-provides a refreshing alternative to the cynical and negative view of American history. The focus on Wilson and Truman leads to a much broader discussion of American ideals and foreign policy. The writing is powerful and the research is persuasive.
Book Description
In 1966, everyone who was anyone wanted an invitation to Truman Capote's "Black and White Dance" in New York, and guests included Frank Sinatra, Norman Mailer, C. Z. Guest, Kennedys, Rockefellers, and more. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings of the guests, this portrait of revelry at the height of the swirling, swinging sixties is a must for anyone interested in American popular culture and the lifestyles of the rich, famous, and talented.
Customer Reviews:
An entertaining social history.......2007-10-07
An enjoyable insight into the world of New York socialites and an unusual character who rose from small town anonymity to become a key power-broker in that world. The book also traces the personal traits which lead to his downfall. There is a great mix of colorful imagery of the lavish lifestyles and ultimate party, along with interesting social commentary. Truman's eccentricities are revealed in a way which doesn't allow him to become a caricature. A fun weekend read.
great gossipy goodness.......2007-08-18
a great, fun read. a nice look into truman capote's life, the social scene of nyc in the 60s and this fabulous par-tay!
Peering at the peerless.......2007-08-11
If you're fascinated by the 1960s, you'll love Davis's take of Truman Capote's legendary black and white ball held in the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel in November 1966. Davis has a gift for not patronizing her readers. To those readers who were living, thinking, socially conscious adults in the 60s and can personally recall Capote's self-aggrandizing antics, she retells the familiar story in a unique and lively manner. For those readers coming to this story very much after-the-fact, she succinctly provides all the necessary background information without overloading the story with unnecessary details. What I enjoyed most was Davis's ability to convey the tone and mood of the era she's describing. Nineteen sixty-six, in retrospect, seems to have been a pivotal year. Positioned as it was at the virtual midpoint between the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers, it is neither a time of great optimism (American jingoism) nor a time of open rebellion. But clearly, the old order is beginning to fray at the seams. The anxiety people felt over not being invited to what promised to be "the party of the century" is hard to fathom today and is almost touching in its pathos. And to read over the list of "the invited" (which Davis provides as an appendix) is in a strange way somewhat comforting. Whatever their faults, these people (with the possible exception of Lee Radziwill) were at least famous because of their accomplishments or social status. But clearly the era of celebrities who would be "famous solely for being famous" was not far off, and Davis does a good job of suggesting its immanence. One can't help wondering if Capote's party didn't in some way help to bring it about. The last two chapters ("Hangover" and "Afterword") close the story with sobering accounts of Capote's artistic decline and of what eventually happened to some of Capote's famous guests. As social history or memento mori, THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY is a thoroughly satisfying read.
wrong info....about Mrs. Gloria Guinness.......2007-05-22
Ms.Davis yes,give us suppostly a good title,but inmediatly when I read the first 4 chapters...ohhh big dissapointment...no big research,about
the "ball of the siècle"...either her "swans"..for example..Mrs.Gloria
Guinness was born in Guadalajara,capital of the Jalisco,the richest and
more snobish place in all Mexico,for more detail in a patio downtown house
between the El Carmen and El Pilar churches in that city...then,one of
the most elegants areas in all Guadalajara.
In honor to the truth there is a big difference between born and grew in
Guadalajara(considerated in Mexico as Boston or Philadelphia are in USA)..¡¡to born and grew up in a ugly cargo ships port as Veracruz¡¡
Her`s mother was a very well know Hat designer...witch its not the same a "seamstress"...the family Rubio-Alatorre still living in Guadalajara
and are very well know people on the very close circle of the old
names of the higth society in the capital of the State of Jalisco,mostly
of those families trace his lineage to the XVI century...¡¡and the most
"news" on the beginning of the XVIII siècle¡¡
The world famous classical look of Mrs.Guinness,was and still very usual in Guadalajara:a twin set cardigan...black little dress and pearls...always pearls...in a city famous for the extraordinary beauty
and charm and natural elegance of the womans,the elegance of Mrs.Guinness was normal...another example was the recently death Countess de Teba y Baños(neè Elena Verea y Corcuera)another extraordinary women born and raised in Guadalajara,who` was married in Paris and living in Madrid and Guadalajara(her mother was painted for Lazslo in Paris)...she was very close friend and muse of
Cristobal Balenciaga,the king of the Haute Couture in Paris for many
years...Thats for sure Ms.Deborah Davis,author of this book maybe needs more exactly information about the "swans" of Mr. Capote..¡¡ not only go to the Wikipedia..¡¡
best regards
Fernando Partida Rocha
Great Read.......2007-02-19
If you're a Truman Capote fan, I thoroughly recommend this book. I enjoyed my encounter with Truman and his ascendence into society. An easy read,and fascinating to read about his never to be repeated, Black and White Ball.
Book Description
Margaret Truman, who knows where all the bodies are buried inside the Beltway, has written her most thrilling novel of suspense yet. Murder at the Opera features the popular crime-fighting couple Mac Smith and his wife, Annabel Reed-Smith, as they navigate the glitz, glamour, and grime that is Washington, D.C.
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings . . . but the show hasn’t even started yet when a diva is found dead. The soprano in question, a petite young Asian Canadian named Charise Lee, was scarcely a star at the Washington National Opera. But when the aspiring singer is stabbed in the heart backstage during rehearsals, she suddenly takes center stage.
Georgetown law professor Mac Smith thought he’d just be carrying a rapier in Tosca as a favor for his beloved Annabel, but now they’re both being pressured by the panicked theater board to unmask a killer. Providing accompaniment will be former homicide detective, current P.I., and eternal opera fan Raymond Pawkins.
Soon the Smiths find themselves dangerously improvising among an expanding cast of suspects with all sorts of scores to settle. What they uncover is an increasingly complex case reaching far beyond Washington to a dark world of informers and terror alerts in Iraq, and climaxing on a fateful night at the opera attended by none other than the President himself.
Customer Reviews:
Classical gas.......2007-05-24
One thing about this book-the plot of Tosca is fully revealed. When nothing exciting is happening, Margaret Truman explains Pucini to the uninitiated-myself included.
The other thing about this book is that the plot structure is closely modeled on those from Italian opera. This means in practicality that the real villain must be someone we would find villainous today. That means Middle Eastern terrorists. That the terrorist plot subplot seems contrived escapes Ms Truman. In modern thrillers the chase is the thing, but in this book the terrorists come and go in clouds of dust and mystery, and nobody you find interesting even knows about them.
I particularly found the continuation of the Opera Ball after an assassination attempt to be laughable. Remember 9/11? Everyone wanted to get out of any possible line of fire and hurried home. In Washington society they dance the night away.
If the DVD is broken and the cable out, you might pick up this book. Otherwise look for the new Michael Connelly or Robert Parker.
I never read her books.......2007-05-13
I liked her father! I don't care for her books but my daughter-in-law does and I bought it as a gift for her.
Please Kill Off Annabell Lee.......2007-03-19
I have read that Margaret Truman does not write these books. It is hard to believe that a woman would write a character such as Mac's "beautiful"
wife. She is nothing but irritating; almost as irritating as Susan Silverman. However, I've tolerated Susan over the years because I love Hawk. Unfortunately, these books don't have enough Rufus to justify tolerating the beautiful wife, but they do have great info on Washington and for that reason I read them and give this one 4 stars.
trip down memory lane.......2007-02-09
love her mysteries---- i love the intrique and background of Washington D.C. which i knew some time ago
My least favorite MT novel, but still not bad.......2007-01-17
I seem to be the only person (so far) who thought this novel was thin and somewhat uninteresting, despite my interest in opera. You know who one of the bad guys are from the beginning since the author gives it away, and the rest just seemed to stretch out a story that should have been half this size. It's a good thing Mac lusts after his wife, because that allowed the author to stretch the story out a bit more. (many references to this in the book.)
So, although I was looking forward to reading this book, it was just okay, and very "put-downable". (I used to enjoy reading Ms. Truman's books cover to cover, but this one was no problem to put down while I walked the dog.)
Summary: not a bad read, but not a great one. One other comment: according to Olivia Goldsmith's book "Bestseller", Margaret Truman doesn't write her own books. I've always wondered if that was true. According to rumors on the 'net, Donald Bain is her ghostwriter. Not that this affects the quality of the books; it's just interesting.
Book Description
A landmark collection that brings together Truman Capote’s life’s work in the form he called his “great love,”
The Complete Stories confirms Capote’s status as a master of the the short story. This first-ever compendium features a never-before-published 1950 story, “The Bargain,” as well as an introduction by Reynolds Price. Ranging from the gothic South to the chic East Coast, from rural children to aging urban sophisticates, all the unforgettable places and people of Capote’s oeuvre are here, in stories as elegant as they are heartfelt, as haunting as they are compassionate. Reading them reminds us of the miraculous gifts of a beloved American original.
Customer Reviews:
extraordinary small jewels.......2007-07-20
Truman Capote was a brilliant, eccentric novelist and author of a shocking at the time of its publication, documentary fiction book "In Cold Blood". And although he is famous for these works, his short stories are equally captivating and original. They are small masterpieces, weird and magnetizing.
The protagonists are usually strange children (in his other works, Capote did not pay much attention to children), fascinating and different than adults, with their own world, dreams and agendas, or alienated, nerdish, unhappy adults, losers, who also have much of a child in them. Some of the protagonists are said to be modeled on the real people the author met during the course of his life, but some can be only attributed to his imagination...
The world in the stories is only semi-realistic, like a dream, everything is wrapped in a fog of uncertainty. My favorite stories are " Children On Their Birthdays" (the longest of the stories, I think, and very well structured) where the life of a certain Miss Bobbitt, a girl of extraordinary discipline and set life goals, is abruptly ended by the afternoon bus; "Miriam" (which won The O'Henry Prize), where an elderly lady enters into a nightmare, after meeting at the cinema an angelic-looking little girl-demon, not to be able to get rid of her again (actually cost me some sleepless nights...); "Master Misery" about a mysterious New York City man, who buys people's dreams and a girl who gets addicted to dream-selling; and "A Tree of Night", about a dreary encounter on the train. The stories are spooky, but if analyzed, the events recalled may not have anything strange in them to the outside observer; yet the interpretation and way in which they are told suggest otherwise.
These short stories show the other side of Capote's fiction and are a great round-up for anyone who wants to know his works thoroughly.
Not His Best, But. . . .......2006-11-16
These stories are not the best examples of Truman Capote's writing, but they are a good resource for tracking his development as a writer, leading up to the mastery of his "In Cold Blood" which, in my opinion, is one of the best books published in the latter part of the 20th century.
It's Great to Remember.......2006-07-27
I forgot how wonderful Capote writes. His short stories make me laugh, cry, and think.
It was the best weekend spent reading that I have had in years.
Capote the Limited.......2006-07-26
Capote is bad when he writes about poor people. He's alright when he writes about rich people. He's extraordinary when he writes about himself. His "complete short stories" attempt all three. However good his style is, sentence for sentence, avoid the stories that suck. Because they suck. Read Capote when he's himself, and avoid him when he's masquerading.
so easy to read.......2005-08-15
mr. capote are simply beautiful. What I really like is that they are actually short stories, most be about 10 pages long. He takes you into the characters world and shares their life with you. One couldn't ask for better writings on the people of New York City. A Must read for all!!!
Books:
- Indigenous Mestizos: The Politics of Race and Culture in Cuzco, Peru, 1919-1991 (Latin America Otherwise)
- Information Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-Scale Web Sites
- Insider Secrets to Financing Your Real Estate Investments: What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Finding and Financing Your Next Deal
- INTO ENEMY ARMS: The Remarkable True Story of a German Girl's Struggle Against Nazism, and Her Daring Escape With the Allied Airman She Loved
- Into the Wild
- Last Lobo, The
- Learn-to-Read Treasure Hunts: Fifty Skill-Building Games for Beginning Readers and Their Parents (Learn to Read)
- Living and Working in Britain, Fifth Edition: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Britain)
- Living Large in Small Spaces: Expressing Personal Style in 100 to 1,000 Square Feet
- Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Configuring Juniper Networks NetScreen & SSG Firewalls
- The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest
- Handbook of Statistical Genetics
- Introduction to Pdes and Waves for the Atmosphere and Ocean
- New Gardens of the American West: The Landscape Architecture of Design Workshop
- The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World
- The Everything Tropical Fish Book
- Historic Adobes of Los Angeles County
- In the Neoclassic Style: Empire, Biedermeier and the Contemporary Home
- A field guide to some of the common grasses of southeastern Pennsylvania
Breakfast at Tiffany's: A Short Novel and Three Stories (Modern Library)
To Kill a Mockingbird
