Book Description
The Special Edition is the first two volumes of the Fretboard Logic guitar series combined with a special discount. Part One deals with the pattern organization of the fretboard which results from the guitar's unique tuning system. Part Two teaches the tone groups of music - Chords, Scales and Arpeggios - by building them in the context of this pattern organization, and thereby eliminating the usual guesswork and rote memorization associated with these areas of a guitarist's education. This alone can take years off the learning curve. Combined, the two parts form a solid foundation by which a guitarist can intelligently pursue the music styles of their own choosing, and play them on the guitar types which they prefer.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic book!.......2007-10-06
This book is all about the CAGED system. At first there was some skepticism about the whole theory of the Caged System, you know--I figured it would be better to learn the fretboard in a more natural way--by notes and by memory, not by patterns. However, as I went deeper into my studies and deeper into this book, it made me realize how ESSENTIAL patterns are to learning guitar. Everything in life comes in patterns, and the CAGED system is one of the most important and simple patterns to memories. I find this book astonishing and intelligent--a great read!
-Dr. Kenneth
Let me save you some time and money, again . . ........2007-08-15
I originally wrote this review for Volume I, but it applies here too.
The reviews below all sound wonderful, even the ones that weren't five stars. Too good to be true I thought, so I only bought Volume I, rather than the box set. After a week of study, and occasionly rereading the same paragraph over and over until I got it, I too will say that this book did more for me in a week than all the decades of playing guitar and buying countless other books.
Still I was skeptical about the other volumes, so I decided that rather than buy the box set with the DVD I'd just buy the combination of Volumes I and II, and give Volume I to a friend. After spending some time with Volume II, I realized I needed the DVD. Amazon just emailed today saying the box set of three volumes plus the DVD has just shipped.
Let me save you some time and money - buy the box set with the DVD. I say that without having seen the DVD, but from what I see with Volumes I and II, I think you're going to want to do that. Like everyone else, I only wish that I had discovered this book when I was a kid.
Fretboard Logic SE: The ultimate guitar book !!!.......2007-07-10
Simply said this is a must... I played the guitar for 6 years and I was blind as regard as the fretboard... Not anymore :-))
DON'T BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR!.......2007-07-07
First let me say this he takes some stabs a Mel Bay books but the thing is Mel Bay books teach you how to READ MUSIC. I wasted weeks reading this book and its cryptic if you ask me.You can learn the notes on the fretboard way faster if you know all your octaves IMHO. This book is a waste of good paper.
Very tough for a complete novice.......2007-05-13
As I v'e read in other reviews, this book goes from major open string chords straight to barre chords which at this stage in the game I am not capable of doing. I like the logic presented here and will come back to this book once I've developed more hand strength and basic skills.
![History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [8 Volumes Complete Book Set] (Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21TDV9VAFWL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- Brilliant, beautiful classic
|
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [8 Volumes Complete Book Set] (Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII)
Manufacturer: Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BRUDMM |
Product Description
2 boxed set, each wrapped in the original cellophane. Each box contains 4 books. Volumes 1-4, and Volumes 5-8
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant, beautiful classic.......2007-01-25
This classic presented by the Folio Society, cream leather bound, and gold leafed was a nice touch.
Hours of some of the best history reading that many authors have used as referance. Everything you wanted to know about the Roman Empire, to Attila the Hun, Constantine the Great, The Byzantines, Mohammud, and onwards.
Encyclopeadic knowledge at its finest.
Average customer rating:
- Thank you Kohn.
- Excellent reference book
- Awesome!
- Great but with a few flaws
- An Excellent Review or Preparatory Book For Algebra II
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Algebra II (Cliffs Quick Review)
Edward Kohn , and
David Alan Herzog
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
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ASIN: 0764563718 |
Book Description
CliffsQuickReview course guides cover the essentials of your toughest classes. Get a firm grip on core concepts and key material, and test your newfound knowledge with review questions.
Whether you're looking for an in-depth treatment of the entire subject matter or occasional reinforcement of key algebra concepts, this is the place to find it.. CliffsQuickReview Algebra II is a comprehensive study guide to the many topics of a second course in algebra, including information on linear equations, complex numbers, and conic sections. In no time, you'll be ready to tackle other concepts in this book such as
- Linear equations in one, two, and three variables
- Factoring polynomials
- Relations and functions
- Quadratic systems
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
CliffsQuickReview Algebra II acts as a supplement to your textbook and to classroom lectures. Use this reference in any way that fits your personal style for study and review — you decide what works best with your needs. Here are just a few ways you can search for topics:
- Use the free Pocket Guide full of essential information
- Get a glimpse of what you'll gain from a chapter by reading through the Chapter Check-In at the beginning of each chapter
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With titles available for all the most popular high school and college courses, CliffsQuickReview guides are a comprehensive resource that can help you get the best possible grades.
Customer Reviews:
Thank you Kohn........2007-07-17
Material is step-by-step based, allowing you to learn in steps and excel in several areas of Algebra(II). [Helped me a ton- allowed me to start from the beginning and work my way up in areas both easy and difficult.]
Excellent reference book.......2007-01-10
This Book is an excellent reference for tutors and teachers. It will help anyone learning Algebra II or training/teaching children.
Awesome!.......2007-01-08
A fabulous help for those who need a desk reference for Algebra. It is clear, concise and very helpful. It covers every topic I need it too with easy to follow explanations.
Great but with a few flaws.......2006-08-03
Overall, this book is great. Everything is pretty clear and it makes algebra II almost easy. However, there are many typos I found, like forgetting a negative, or using a wrong variable. but otherwise, it's awesome!
An Excellent Review or Preparatory Book For Algebra II.......1998-11-29
This book really helped me prepare for Algebra II. With the help of this book, I had a 97% in the first semester and a 94% in the second. Then at the end of the year, this was a great tool in reviewing for the final.
Book Description
In fourteenth-century England, young Eleanor de Clare, favorite niece of King Edward II, is delighted with her marriage to Hugh le Despenser and her appointment to Queen Isabella's household as a lady-in-waiting. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Eleanor's beloved uncle is not the king the nobles of the land—or his queen—expected. Hugh's unbridled ambition and his intimate relationship with Edward arouse widespread resentment, even as Eleanor remains fiercely loyal to her husband and to her king. But loyalty has its price… Moving from royal palaces to prison cells, from the battlefield to the bedroom, between hope and despair, treachery and fidelity, hatred and abiding love, The Traitor's Wife is a tale of an extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times.
A noblewoman pays the price for her loyalty to an unpopular king and her unfaithful husband...conveys emotions and relationships quite poignantly...ultimately, entertaining historical fiction.
-Kirkus Discoveries
Download Description
In fourteenth-century England, young Eleanor de Clare, favorite niece of King Edward II, is delighted with her marriage to Hugh le Despenser and her appointment to Queen Isabella's household as a lady-in-waiting. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Eleanor's beloved uncle is not the king the nobles of the land-or his queen-expected. Hugh's unbridled ambition and his intimate relationship with Edward arouse widespread resentment, even as Eleanor remains fiercely loyal to her husband and to her king. But loyalty has its price. Moving from royal palaces to prison cells, from the battlefield to the bedroom, between hope and despair, treachery and fidelity, hatred and abiding love, The Traitor's Wife is a tale of an extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times.
Customer Reviews:
Scandals, scandals, and more scandals!.......2007-10-19
After King Edward's death, his eldest son Edward II was to inherit the throne. Edward II was rumored to have sexual relations with Piers Gaveston, while nothing was ever proven for sure. Edward as well as Piers both married beautiful women, and sired beautiful children. King Edward II doted on Piers claiming him as close as a brother, but in turn that made Edwards other brothers furious as they did not receive such niceties.
Piers Gaveston had been exiled many times until finally he met his death by beheading. This saddened the King beyond measure and from that moment on the kingdom as I call it diminished. Through all of this, Eleanor le Despenser a former Clare, and the King's niece was by the King's side as well as a lady's maid of sorts to the Queen.
Eleanor was always in the middle whether it be defending her husband, the King, or even Gaveston. When Hugh le Despenser was accused of piracy, or other horrid deeds through his life, Eleanor stood by his side faithfully and ready to forgive him at any moment. When rumors began of Hugh and King Edward II intimacies, Eleanor remains loyal, but it truly was not a wise decision in my opinion.
So many devastating events, so many innocent as well as guilty have spilt blood, but in this story family remains the top priority to Eleanor. Hugh as wreaked havoc all over, even causing Eleanor's sister to be imprisoned at one time. What will it take to knock Hugh off his high horse so to speak? Is there any way King Edward can regain the respect of his people or is all doomed?
Susan Higginbotham has definitely done her share of research in spinning this tale of deceit, betrayal, romance, and untimely deaths. The Traitor's Wife was based on actual events although some of the names were changed so not to confuse the reader, I really appreciated that. I had no idea that such scandal occurred in this historical time. The author made each and every character no matter how small come to life. Vivid images of traitors deaths, births, and the beauty of a faithful wife have forever been etched into my mind.
If you are looking for an informative and sitting on the edge of your seat kind of read, then The Traitor's Wife is the novel for you. So much history is packed between the covers of this book. I would recommend this to anyone who shares a love of Historicals. 5 hearts
An Anglophile's Must-Read.......2007-10-09
Susan Higginbotham has created an intricate and substantial tapestry of English life in the fourteenth century. The Traitor's Wife recounts the history of the reign of Edward II and the beginning years of his son's reign. The story revolves around Edward, the likeable king who was nevertheless not strong enough to hold the loyalty of his people, and Isabella, his beautiful but icy young Queen. However, the central character is a relatively unknown person from history: Eleanor de Clare, granddaughter of Edward I and, when the story opens, thirteen year old bride to an up-and-coming young commoner, Hugh le Despenser.
Ms. Higginbotham writes in a clear and precise style, and her subject has been painstakingly researched. The author's clarity is particularly helpful considering the legions of characters who all bear the same names. There are scads of Edwards, Eleanors, Isabels, Joans, and Hughs. In addition, half the cast bears a title as well as a given name, and their habit of intermarrying means that everyone is related to everyone else. Thankfully, Ms. Higginbotham skillfully guides the reader through the complexities of these relationships until we know the people well enough to tell them apart. It wasn't until I realized that I had grown to know all the characters that I truly appreciated the author's skill.
The Traitor's Wife is the story of a king who loves intemperately and unwisely, showering his lovers with gifts and favors which bring doom upon their heads. It is the story of a queen who exacts psychological and physical revenge for the humiliation of being loved second-best. It is a story of men who stop at nothing to obtain and hold onto power, selling out their integrity, their friends, and even their bodies. And it is the story of how one woman's loyalty - to her husband, her king, and her family - is tested by fire.
I have given The Traitor's Wife 5 stars with this caveat: it is not a quick or light read. However, for Anglophiles and those with a particular interest in English history, it is a must-read. Once engaged, you will find yourself compelled to learn more about this tumultuous time of British history and wondering how, with leaders like these, the country of England ever survived the middle ages!
A Solid First Outing for Higginbotham.......2007-09-13
This is a fascinating tale of treachery and intrigue, focusing on the life of Eleanor De Clare who married Hugh le Despenser. Hugh's ambitions embroil him in the life of Edward II of England and eventually lead to his downfall. As several reviewers have already summed up the story, I need not recap it again.
This is a complicated tale, with many characters with the same names so you do have to pay close attention, although the author does provide a list of characters at the front of the book. This is not a period of English history I have read before and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Eleanor's tale. Side note, having recently read Nigel Tranter's The Bruce Trilogy it was an extra treat seeing that part of the story from the English perspective.
Although I found Eleanor to be an engaging topic, I like other reviewers found her to be a tad bit too perfect -- I mean really she should have known what Hugh was up to! Or maybe not, we'll never know. All in all a very enjoyable read and one I would recommend for any lover of historical fiction or those interested in this time period.
for the history buffs.......2007-09-03
I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, so I was pretty excited to read this book. As far as historical fiction goes this book had a lot of pluses...but I guess I wanted something different from it, because I wasn't enthralled the way I had hoped to be. The writing is very accurate and thorough, and the characters have personality...you're able to become immersed in the story and become involved with the characters. I just found my mind wandering fairly often. I'm pretty sure that much of my problem with the story was my own bias and disinterest in that particular portion of history. I can't keep all the King Edwards straight, I can't keep the dates straight...and as a result, I never fully became engrossed with the story.
As I mentioned, the writing itself is superb--the author has definitely done her research (then again, the facts could be all wrong and I'd never realize the difference..) and her characters are well developed and likable. I just found the story a little too long and drawn out for my liking. But that's me. I don't want you to read this and think I'm giving it a negative review, because I'm not. Not even close. It just wasn't my cup of tea. However, as a piece of literature its incredible...so long as its something that you're interested in.
If you enjoy historical fiction -- especially in relation to King Edward and his reign, this is definitely a book you should check out. I'd highly recommend it to the history buffs.
The Traitor's Wife.......2007-07-14
The Traitor's Wife is a fictional tale based upon the real life, genealogical records, and whispered gossip of Edward II of England. This tale gets right into the hearsay of Edward and Piers Gaveston's special relationship right at the opening of the action. The book even has the two discussing the need to produce heirs and determining an appropriate match for Piers. Infighting, schemes, and scandals continue throughout the rest of the entire story. This book definitely shows a more private, hidden face of Edward and his peers than most works written about this time period.
As I first started reading this book, I was really glad that the author had included crib notes describing who each person was and their relationship to others in the story. After a while though, I found it much easier to figure out who was who. This was particularly true of those main characters that always seem to be at the thick of the latest melodrama.
Book Description
A masterpiece that is breathtaking in its scope, SARUM is an epic novel that traces the entire turbulent course of English history. This rich tapesty weaves a compelling saga of five families who preserve their own particular characteristics over the centuries, and offer a fascinating glimpse into the future.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
What an Historical Novel Should Be: Absorbing.......2007-09-10
I took my dear sweet time reading this novel, and cherished every second. Historical fiction works, and works well, when it can be lingered over, savored; when it can be read, then re-read, as the author's glowing accounts of historical events come to life right off the page.
James Michener was a master of this craft; Edward Rutherfurd aptly keeps him company, as evidenced by his sweeping novel, SARUM. Set in the author's hometown of Salisbury, England, this is a novel that tells the rich history of the valley where five rivers meet. As seen through the eyes of members of five prominent families over thousands of years, the reader witnesses an astounding array of historical abundance: from the wondrous building of ancient stonehenge to the meticulous construction of the world-renowned Salisbury Cathedral; from the influence of the Romans to the bloody invasion of the Vikings; from feudal oppression to the horrific Black Death; from civil war to Renaissance; from industry to empire. Over and over, Rutherfurd tells a rich, compelling, absorbing account of the history of the Avon Valley--the history of England.
Unlike other readers, I was not particularly bothered by each family having its own inherent propensity for a certain skill, or behaviour. (For example, the Porters had an eye for detail and numbers; the Masons were inherently skilled craftsmen.) This device enables the author to maintain consistency. My only caveat is that, after a virtually breathless examination of countless centuries of events, the titanic happenings of the 20th Century are glossed over in only a handful of pages. But this, however, did not take away from my supreme enjoyment of this novel.
SARUM: THE NOVEL OF ENGLAND does what historical fiction is supposed to do: entertain and enlighten. I learned, and I learned a lot, having read this book. Highly recommended.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
just awful.......2007-08-12
As a fan of authors like Michener, and well-written historical fiction, I found this book teeeeedious and boooooring. I have a real problem with books that read, "And then an event happened that changed their lives forever...." instead of just telling the story and surprising the reader with said event. The first few times it happened I was forgiving and kept on....but by the 16th or 17th time I was insulted and threw the book across the room. That's just bad storytelling in my book. :) This is one of the only books I have started and not finished....and I was a few hundred pages in. I have heard that the books by Alison Weir concerning British history (albeit later in the game) are beautifully written and historically accurate....we shall see! If you enjoy this book, more power to you. I just could not take it.
A Fine Piece of Historical Storytelling.......2007-08-03
Sarum is the sweeping epic of England, a rich history that blends the ancient and the modern, beginning with the Ice Age 10,000 years ago and transporting the reader through the worlds of Stonehenge, the Black Death, the Industrial Age, World War II, and ending in modern times. It follows the fortunes of five families: Wilson, Godfrey, Shockley, Mason, and Porteus. Witness how changes in political, social, and economic climates affect these families and witness how the landscape is transformed over time. From the unspoiled land of the five rivers to the ritual and spiritual centers of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral to the bustling commercial and industrial centers of the modern age, Rutherfurd interweaves history with fiction to create a seamless tale that will endure across the ages.
Though several chapters seem to drag with the story and characters, you can still learn a lot about the history of England -- many parts of the novel actually read like a history book -- and you will learn how the country arrived at its modern state. You will understand how the social climate changed dramatically with the coming of the Black Death and how the legislative system developed over time to make England unique. I particularly enjoyed the earlier chapters, those dealing with the Stone Age, the Roman occupation, the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, and the medieval period, which included the construction of the famous Salisbury Cathedral. I felt the stories and characters were much more entertaining than those in part two of the book, "New Sarum." Despite the slow going of some of the chapters, Rutherford's impressive storytelling ability does not get lost in all the history.
Definitely worth the read. Rutherfurd seems to have done his research well, though as with all historical books, I'm sure there will be debate concerning the accuracies of various parts. It's a book you will want to read more than once, as much for the entertainment as for the history.
800 pages? Seemed like 25.......2007-05-17
That's what blows me away when I go to Europe - the rich sense of history and the lost day-to-day details. I kept flipping back to earlier chapters to remind myself of the evolution of the area, the buildings, and the families.
This isn't one of those "epic, generational" things where the paperback has all these faces on it and the back cover reads dramatically using words like "sweeping saga of history." It's just a generational, evolutionary, progression of family story lines that you can't put down!
The research is painstaking. Ummm - okay, a few places I skipped pages because it got to be too much like a history book, but nevertheless, it puts things rather eerily in perspective of just how much time has passed. I can't wait to read his book "London."
Sarum.......2007-05-12
This is a "Readers" book and is best enjoyed thru steady reading. Open your mind and go back to that time - accept it for when and what it was. The only way to truly enjoy a book (in my personal opinion) is to be able to put yourself there, at that time and in that place.
Average customer rating:
- nonprescription drugs
- Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
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Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs
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II, Edward M. DeSimone ,
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Michael A. Oszko ,
Nicholas G Popovich ,
Carol J. Rollins ,
Leslie A. Shimp , and
Karen J. Tietze
Manufacturer: APhA Publications
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1582120501 |
Book Description
The gold-standard on self-care and non-prescription products! Using an evidence-based approach to establish the safety and effectiveness of self-care options for particular disorders. Thoroughly updated and revised with seven new chapters, this edition reflects recent FDA rulings and continues to emphasize communication and information-gathering skills. Features treatment algorithms, new assessment cases studies, and patient counseling information for each disorder.
Customer Reviews:
nonprescription drugs.......2007-09-15
Book arrived in excellent condition - however, it has not yet been opened or used.
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs.......2006-03-10
An excellent resource for Pharmacy students, and for anyone else who desires an in-depth look at many of the over-the-counter drugs and treatments available these days. A very large book packed with information and pictures.
Recommendation.......2000-08-19
As a third year pharmacy student, I am particularly impressed with the organization and conciseness of this guidebook to non-prescription products. This text is simple to follow, for health care professionals and also the average consumer who has questions and concerns about medications that they are buying over-the-counter.
Book Description
Real war stories told by real soldiers for readers who want to know what it was like to be in the thick of battle. These are riveting combat narratives about the weapons and warriors of some of history's bloodiest conflicts. Each book is a gritty, action-oriented account of life and death in the heat of battle. Original titles as well as long out-of-print gems will explore conflicts ranging from the blood-soaked fields of the Civil War to the current war on terror and everything in between. The books are published as high-quality and affordable trade paperbacks, making them terrific editions for all who are interested in military history.
WWII began with a metallic roar as the German Blitzkrieg raced across Europe, spearheaded by the most dreaded weapon of the 20th century: the Panzer. No German tank better represents that thundering power than the infamous Tiger, and Otto Carius was one of the most successful commanders to ever take a Tiger into battle, destroying well over 150 enemy tanks during his incredible career.
Illustrations: 51 b/w photos; 3 maps; 50 illustrations
Customer Reviews:
Amazing career.......2007-08-21
Simply amazing the luck in his career. Being able to survive 5 years of war says a lot about his skill and bravery too. Also very notable is that both his father and brother also survived WW2. Remarkable feat for all three to fought in multiple campaigns and survive.
This book provides the first person point of view from the company level of combat. The technical descriptions of the vehicles, equipment, and difficulties in serving on the front lines along with trying to stay warm in an unheated steel machine in the freezing winter is all described. The strengths and limitations of the Tiger tank with regards to road marches, bridge crossings, and need for infantry support is completely detailed.
Notable in his career was his time spent outside a tank where his experienced front line infantry battalion was lacking equipment and replacements. Meanwhile, a newly formed and inexperienced Air Force infantry regiment passed on their way to the front line, courtesy of the arrogant and boastful Goering. This new regiment had new machine guns, but no experienced sergeants to direct their fire or officers to coordinate the defenses. As a result, this unit was quickly overrun by the Soviets in their first engagement. All the new equipment was lost along with hundreds of German casualties. A tremendous waste of material and irreplaceable lives.
What really made this book unique were copies of his original German Army citations and documents. The translation of these documents to English is also very helpful. The unit history summaries on the company and battalion battles are also very good historical reading. The difficulties in maintaining, repairing, refueling, and re-arming these mechanically complex machines is detailed. But what is most important and recognized is the efforts it took to care for the men who lived, fought, and died as part of their Tiger tank.
Panzer Aces I and II provide more battles and overall campaigns of other German tank aces. Other history books provide overall descriptions of battles and statistics. This book along with Audie Murphy's autobiography, To Hell and Back, show the human side of the battle and the bond that forms among soldiers who serve in combat with each other. It is the human and individual experience over the entire career that makes this book worth reading. Nice addition to a book collection.
great first hand account of tank fighting in WWII.......2007-08-08
I agree with many of the other reviews in that this is a great first hand account of tank warfare in WWII. With that in mind, some the narration is somewhat bland.
I especially liked the conversation Carius had with Henrich Himmler, speaking his mind.
The only account I've read of a tanker in a Jagertiger. Great insight.
Almost didn't buy it, glad I did........2007-06-09
I saw some of the negative reviews and although some were correct, I don't think to an extent to take away from the remarkable story and piece of history this book is. Carius is too apologetic for Germany and Hitler, but he doesn't do it often enough to have a major impact on the value of his book. It's like he wrote the book while he was there almost, and doesn't take what he learned later on into account so much to ruin the real story. He let's you know how he felt and what it was like in 1944, not what it was like in 1960 thinking back on 1944. While I think he is wrong at times, I also was not in his shoes. Yes, I feel like the man himself is writing it in his own terms instead of having some guy polish him up too much. I'm glad he didn't try to sugercoat everything with a writing style that is not him. If you want to read about what happened to Carius in his own words (a real tiger tank company commander who tells his story), than have a look. I don't want War and Peace, I want Otto Carius. It's also nice to see the view from an intermediate officer who had dealings with sargents and lieutenants usually but did get to mingle with upper crust Nazi's at times. His viewpoint is interesting and if you read between the lines, I think you get a real look at the way some things actual were, which is rare.
Confessions of an honest Nazi.......2007-04-30
Of all the autobiographies I've read of German WWII vets (and I've read a lot), this one more than any other shows how deeply embedded was the N*zi propaganda over that generation of Germans. While Carius specifically denies any anti-semitism, either on his own part or the men he served with, such denials are common among post-war German writers.
Even giving Carius the benefit of the doubt about anti-semitism, the book probably gives a more honest picture of what it meant to be a German soldier in WWII than most. Most German memoirs of the period, written during the Cold-war, try to paint WWII as a heroic struggle of the civilized west (being the Axis), against the barbarian hordes of the Soviet Empire. While they acknowledge the shortcomings of Adolf H*tler and Naziism, there is an underlying theme that the other countries of the West failed to realize the proportions of the Soviet threat.
This book cuts against that grain and makes no attempt to, post-mortem, make N*zi Germany the first failed bulwark against Soviet communism. The book at it's best gets into the nitty-gritty of everyday life as a small unit panzer commander in the latter half of World War Two. While the book is somewhat dryer than many on the subject, this is because Carius presents it like he saw it, rather than a romanticized picture that naturally comes from an old soldier remembering back on bygone struggles and calling to mind the sacrifices of fallen friends.
The depth of the writer's N*zi indoctrination really starts to come out toward the end of the book. Here he very unfavorably compares the American soldier with what he saw as the vastly superior fighting qualities of the Red Army soldier. As an ex-American soldier myself, I found the comparison insulting and, frankly ill-considered. While in the first part of the book he describes how he and his handful of Tiger tanks destroyed dozens of Soviet tanks, at the end of the book he can only describe how his platoon of Hunting-Tigers only destroyed two American Shermans before all his own vehicles were destroyed from various causes.
Leaving personal issues aside however, I found it particularly interesting how Carius's most vociferous contempt was heaped, not on the American army, but on his own countrymen. Unlike most German writers who looked with dismay at the sufferings the war brought to their own civilian population, Carius expresses his disgust for the German civilians as the war wound down in the last few months of 1945. He was appalled that Germans would seek to save what they could from an obviously lost cause - even if it meant to cooperate with the Americans. He was of the opinion that to die fighting to the last man, woman, and child would have been a far nobler end of the German nation.
While the book is a good source of information about small unit battles in World War Two, it is even more telling in that the reader can really see the mindset in what H*tler must have considered to be the ideal N*zi.
Does anyone else think that it's stupid, given the total lack of filth control on the internet, that one can't write a review of a book about WW2 and actually spell out the words n*zi and H*tler?
Awesome First Hand Account!.......2006-12-06
This is an awesome piece of history, from a man that lived it and did it. I had the personal honor of meeting Otto Carius here in Germany, he is sharp and very intelligent. While I was serving as a US Tank Battalion S3, he shared with me many of the same situations we encounter today with our Tanks and our Tankers!
Book Description
In fourteenth-century England, beautiful Queen Isabella-humiliated by her weak, unfaithful husband-is emerging from the shadows to take her revenge. But her newly arrived, twenty-oneyear-old Welsh handmaiden, Gwenith de Percy, also seeks vengeance-against the English invaders who crushed her beloved Wales. Isabella's once-golden marriage is now her penance. Due to his rumored relations with men, Parliament forced Edward to share his throne-a demeaning arrangement that torments Isabella.
With the help of her secret, noble lover, Roger Mortimer-an enemy of her husband, imprisoned in the Tower of London-the queen plots to take control. Thrilled by this turn of events, Gwenith realizes that a king cannot afford to be weak-especially when his formidable, discontented queen seeks his power as her due.
Customer Reviews:
Waste of time and money!.......2007-09-14
I realize a historical fiction is fiction but usually the author does research and builds the fiction around the facts. I am not an expert and even I picked up on the inaccuracies (not just the dates, places and events but the customs, speech, dress, etc.)
I gave this book one star because of the historical figures she started with and the only good parts in this book are Isabella's interactions with Despenser. I can't say this would even be a good book if you like romance because the love scenes were not fantastic.
Over all this book is poorly written and I am not sure it's the writers fault or the editor. There's so many mistakes it's hard to read through it. The characters are weak, the plot is weak, details of the period are not that discriptive or all wrong. It's so unbelievable, it's comical. As I was reading this book, I thought if it became a movie it would be a cartoon.
If your looking for a good historical fiction, look for Sharon Kay Penman or Anya Seton or even Philippa Gregory.
Good Story but Full of Inaccuracies.......2007-06-06
First of all, the term "Majesty" was not used until Henry VIII styled himself as such a couple of centuries later. There are many other details which are inaccurate and for the avid reader of Historical Novels, (NOT historical romances) it was sometimes difficult to get past them to enjoy the story. This author was not as thorough on her research as she should have been. Two authors who ARE who I love and I have read nearly everything they've written are Margaret George and Sharon Kay Penman.
As a descendant of Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, I am particularly interested in historical fiction from this time period. The author should be aware that unlike historical romances, the readers of historical novels DO know their history.
Terrific historical novel.......2007-01-06
Queen of Shadows is a marvelous book. I liked it so much I wrote a blurb for it. I have written myself about dark ages and medieval Britain, and Edith Felber captures so well the color, the sights, the sounds, the smells of a medieval English court. Isabella (whom I had always thought to be a villainess) comes across as a strong woman who has the guts to take her destiny (and that of her country) into her own capable hands. This is the first review I have ever written for Amazon, but I didn't want potential readers to miss out on this wonderful book because of a highly dyspectic previous review. Joan Wolf
Edith the Historian.......2007-01-03
As a previous reviewer apparently does not understand, this is a work of historical FICTION. The author has chosen the parts of her research that worked best for her story. And as all historians know, historical research can find a different answer for any side of an historical argument. History books are often slanted according to the politics of the era or the author, so unless an author has a means of time travel, there is very seldom a definitive answer to historical questions.
The parts of Isabella's life portrayed in QUEEN OF SHADOWS were chosen to illuminate her strengths and weaknesses, and to pull back the curtain and show the reader a slice of her life and loves. The book was written brilliantly to reflect Isabella's effect on history, from a woman's point of view. I thoroughly enjoyed this peek behind the curtains and the theory that Ms. Felber chose to put forward, and I'm looking forward to the next book!
Hopelessly inaccurate, terrible ending.......2006-11-26
Queen of Shadows tells the story of King Edward II's wife Isabella and her Welsh handmaiden Gwenith de Percy, from 1321-27. The novel's sub-heading `A Novel of Isabella, Queen of Edward II' is rather misleading, as it's equally Gwenith's story. (But then I suppose `A Novel of Queen Isabella and Some Random Invented Welshwoman' isn't quite as compelling.)
There are many events from Isabella's life during the period 1321-30 that would have made great fiction. However, Felber chooses not to dramatise most of them, instead focusing more on the fictional and rather tedious Gwenith. Much of the novel is seen through her eyes. As a child, she made a vow to her grandmother to avenge her grandfather and other family members, killed by Edward II's father Edward I. To me, this just seems like a silly and implausible plot device which forces Gwenith to spend a large part of the novel mooning about court wondering how to kill Edward II. Who did nothing against her family, anyway, and didn't commit any `atrocities' in Wales as Felber seems to think. Gwenith isn't a horrible character, she's just very blah. So is Isabella, unfortunately; she doesn't do all that much except irritatingly proclaim `I am queen!' what seems like every five pages, whine about how badly treated she and other women are, and argue with Edward and Hugh Despenser.
In fact, Isabella's spats with Despenser, her husband's lover, are by far the best part of `Shadows'. There's genuine tension there, the dialogue sparkles, and you can feel the rivalry and hatred between them. The novel improves immeasurably every time Despenser gets a scene; he's a lecher, a villain, inordinately ambitious, and the most vivid character in the novel. Shame you can't say the same for Isabella's lover Roger Mortimer, who's dull and comes across as a bit thick, because of Felber's decision to do most of her exposition through dialogue. Therefore, Isabella has to keep explaining things to him that he'd really know, like this bit: "There are no kings in Holland. William, count of Hainault and Holland, is as powerful and rich as any king." Much of the novel's dialogue is of this `As you know, Bob' type. Another example: "Why not ask your sister Eleanor, who is wed to Hugh Despenser? She sits right next to you."
Isabella and other characters constantly - and I do mean constantly - refer to "Edward, the king", just in case the reader has forgotten who Isabella's husband is in the last couple of paragraphs. Isabella, as well as reminding everyone that she's queen every few pages, also keeps repeating "My father was king, and my brother is king!" Yes, dearie, you're royal; I get it.
Isabella herself too often comes across as a modern, politically correct woman dropped into the fourteenth century, constantly bemoaning the fact that she, as a woman, is subject to her lord and doesn't have the freedom that he does to pursue extra-marital affairs. Speaking of which, it's constantly hinted throughout `Queen of Shadows' that Edward II is not the father of Isabella's eldest child, the future Edward III. But this is never resolved. There are frequent mentions of the fact that Isabella spent time in Scotland when Edward `abandoned' her, that she had a passionate affair, that she lost the great love of her life, that Edward III resulted from "an act of sorrow and rage and sympathy".
Historically, this is complete nonsense, and it makes no sense as fiction either. As much of the novel is told from Isabella's point of view, there seems to be no good reason for constantly hinting at Isabella's affair but never revealing the truth. I see it as cheating. Maybe Felber is planning a prequel? If so, I won't be buying it. I sincerely hope that William Wallace, of `Braveheart' fame, has nothing to do with it!
And Isabella keeps sneaking off to the Tower of London to have sex with Mortimer, a prisoner there and her husband's great enemy. Puh-leeze!! As though a medieval queen of England, who had less privacy than almost anyone else in history, could possibly have done such a thing, without being found out and grotesquely punished. Nice storyline, but there's no way the queen of England could have left court without dozens or hundreds of people noticing, and certainly not by the simple expedient of wearing a hood!
I had fun picking out all the countless historical errors in the novel. I don't have space to include them all here, or even a fraction of them, but here's a handful.
- Henry of Lancaster dying of plague in 1345 - 3 years before it reached England
- the religious order the Poor Clares founded by Edward II's niece Elizabeth de Clare. They were actually founded by Saint Chiara of Assisi in 1212, as a quick online search would have informed Felber or the publisher. I snorted coffee out of my nose when I read that particular mistake!
- Edward II marrying his niece Eleanor de Clare to Hugh Despenser (his father arranged it in 1306)
- Felber gets the order of the French kings wrong - Louis X came before Philip V
- many of the dates are wrong, such as Mortimer's escape from the Tower
- Isabella commutes the traitor's death sentence on the earl of Lancaster to simple beheading, and watches him die - historically she wasn't present
- Edward III moves against his mother and Mortimer `almost immediately' after marrying Philippa of Hainault. In fact, it was 2 years and 9 months later (January 1328 to October 1330).
And on, and on, and on...many of these errors are to be found in the Afterword at the end. Did no editor check this novel? There are also lots of anachronisms, such as royalty being addressed as `Majesty' and `Highness' centuries before they really were, the king's children called `prince' and `princess' centuries before they actually were, and `Plantagenet' used as a surname well over a century too early.
Felber's plot device, that Parliament ordered Edward II to `share his throne' with the Despensers, makes absolutely no sense. Parliament had no authority to do any such thing. That's like having Congress elect a person to share Bush's presidency!
Annoyingly, the kings are always called `King Edward Second', `King Edward Third', `King Philip Sixth'. Any good reason why we're missing the `the' there?
Felber is pretty unfair to Edward II sometimes; she states that he had Jewish people murdered if they dared to set foot in England (his father had expelled them from England in 1290). There's not a shred of historical evidence that he ever did any such thing. Isabella, by contrast, is so enlightened that she secretly consults a Jewish physician. (Again, a medieval woman with 21st-century values.) Amusingly, Felber has Edward playing `lawn games' during his imprisonment at Berkeley. It's fair to say that he was treated a tad more harshly than that.
Right at the end, we get the lines "Her beloved grandson Edward was the image of his father. God willing, he'd never know that. God would forgive her for that, she knew." In a novel that frequently makes little sense, that really makes NO sense at all. Isabella's grandson Edward, the Black Prince, lived to his mid-forties. I think it's safe to say that he knew whether he was the image of his father Edward III or not. I can only make sense of it by assuming that `grandson' is a misprint for `son', and Felber meant to say that Edward III looks just like his real father, whoever he was, and not Edward II. Again, where was the editor?? Is the attitude to God's forgiveness really medieval, or modern? And why, at the end of the novel, do we still not learn who Edward III's real father was?
Of course, it's perfectly well known who Edward III's father was: Edward II. There's no doubt about that (no more doubt than about anyone else's paternity). Edward II and Isabella were together in York for a few weeks in February/March 1312, in order to conceive their son, born 13 November 1312. Isabella was definitely not jaunting around Scotland, having an affair with some mysterious Scotsman.
This novel is appallingly inaccurate, historically, and doesn't work very well as fiction either. It doesn't end. It just - stops. Things are starting to get really dark and dangerous for Isabella; her husband has been murdered, her son has been imprisoned by her lover Mortimer, and she's beginning to become afraid of Mortimer herself. This is where Isabella's story REALLY starts to get exciting and dramatic. Then, you turn the page - and suddenly it's 28 years later and Mortimer has been dead for a quarter of a century! Huh?? Isabella's story is wrapped up, except that it isn't at all, in a little over two pages. Mortimer's fate is dealt with in one line. I can only assume that Felber reached her word count, or had a pressing deadline from her publisher.
Edith Felber is better known as Edith Layton, successful writer of romance novels. This is her first foray into straight historical fiction. I only hope her next novels are a lot better than this one. And please, Ms Felber, if you choose to write about real historical figures, can you stick to the known facts next time?
Average customer rating:
- Well written, high level look at FDR's later Years
- No Ordinary Viewpoint
- Extrordinary Leaders for "No Ordinary Time"
- Not my type of book
- A glimpse of my grandparents
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No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, The Home Front in World War II
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
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Binding: Audio CD
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The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys : An American Saga
ASIN: 0743539656 |
Amazon.com
A compelling chronicle of a nation and its leaders during the period when modern America was created. With an uncanny feel for detail and a novelist's grasp of drama and depth, Doris Kearns Goodwin brilliantly narrates the interrelationship between the inner workings of the Roosevelt White House and the destiny of the United States. Goodwin paints a comprehensive, intimate portrait that fills in a historical gap in the story of our nation under the Roosevelts.
Book Description
From the bestselling author of The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedysand Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream comes a compelling chronicle of a nation and its leaders during the period when modern America was created. Presenting an aspect of American history that has never been fully told, Doris Kearns Goodwin describes how the isolationist and divided United States of 1940 was unified under the extraordinary leadership of Franklin Roosevelt to become, only five years later, the preeminent economic and military power in the world.
Using diaries, interviews, and White House records of the president's and first lady's comings and goings, Goodwin paints a detailed, intimate portrait not only of the daily conduct of the presidency during wartime but of the Roosevelts themselves and their extraordinary constellation of friends, advisers, and family, many of whom lived with them in the White House.
Bringing to bear the tools of both history and biography, No Ordinary Time relates the unique story of how Franklin Roosevelt led the nation to victory against seemingly insurmountable odds and, with Eleanor's essential help, forever changed the fabric of American society.
Customer Reviews:
Well written, high level look at FDR's later Years.......2007-09-23
Having read many of the reviews written here, I think that it is important to first state that I am very conservative both economically and politically. Having said that, I want to make sure that it is understood that I am not judging the FDR Presidency, just this book.
This is my first real historical look at this time frame in American history and I felt that this book was a very good start from which to look into other avenues of interest during the war years. It is important to keep in mind that the earlier FDR years do not come into the focus of this work. This would not be a good book to judge FDR and the New Deal. It sticks with the years 1940 until FDR's death in 1945.
The book is well written and easy to read. It definitely lacks an in depth look at the "whys" of the FDR decision process. I would have liked to have learned more about the actual war decisions, but in reading the subthe title of the book, it is clear that the focus is about the homefront, not necessarily the war efforts abroad. The internal fighting and family relationships are discussed at length. Eleanor is given a front and center position in this work. I really would have liked to see more of FDR and how the decisions for various strategies were found.
There is a liberal bias to the book, but maybe that's my conservative stance showing. Nothing is mentioned in the book other than two sentences about Vice President Wallace. FDR is made to be a Superman, when it could have been read as FDR was merely a dictator that was elected. Without the effect of the decision process, the impression is that all decisions were FDR's alone. And while that may have been the case, the book never clearly states the way many of these ideas came to pass. This book leaves me the impression that much of FDR's time was spent polling the public and then fitting that knowledge into a decision.
So yes the book does have weaknesses in my opinion. But the strength of the book is the look at FDR the person. He was a solitary figure that needed a strong group of friends to humor him and help him through a truly horrific time in American history. His family life was a mess - he and Eleanor going in different directions with the purpose of staying apart. But the main thing I took from this work was that FDR gave the country hope. He never said quit, no matter the odds or obstacles. Was he a great President? This book is a very small piece of that puzzle.
No Ordinary Viewpoint.......2007-09-03
This was a very enjoyable and well written historical account of America during World War II, through the prism of the relationship between Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Goodwin's great strength, it seems to me, is to find a really refreshing angle to look at a well documented subject, often by examining the subject's most important personal relationships. She did the same thing in her Lincoln book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by examining the way Lincoln put together a strong cabinet, while still remaining a strong executive.
In this book she focuses on the Roosevelts during World War II, as FDR rallied a totally unprepared nation to become, first the arsenal of democracy, and then to enter the war against both Germany and Japan.
From my point of view I would have preferred more Franklin and less Eleanor. Ms. Goodwin notes several critics dismissing Eleanor as a meddling nag, and at times the criticism has merit. Franklin's demeanor, whether he is holding court at press conferences or White House cocktail hours, is much more enjoyable to be around. And you do, thanks to the lively writing, have a "you are there" feeling throughout this book.
Extrordinary Leaders for "No Ordinary Time".......2007-08-09
I loved this book. In it, Kearns-Goodwin recreates the time frame 1939-1945 like no other book I have read. The Roosevelts, long in power and struggling to overcome personal/physical difficulties, rise to the occasion like few leaders before them. Both children of privilege, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt took on their personal demons (his polio and her, at first, paralyzing shyness) to save the nation. Already dealing with the Great Depression, they were the public face of the war effort. How easy it would have been for FDR to overreach his power (in both the Depression and WWII). Although he was restricted by an isolationist Congress before the attack on Pearl Harbor,he persuaded Congress to ok Lend-Lease, and developed a plan with Churchill (and later Stalin) that eventually led to total victory. While he made some mistakes (internment of Japanese Americans, for example), his optimistic and winning public style balanced nicely with a keen understanding of the power he wielded. Eleanor, for her part, became the paralyzed president's spokesman around the world and at home. She also pushed domestic policy in a way that kept things like civil rights, help for the poor and needy, and better working conditions for labor on the front burner despite the efforts to win the war. Kearns-Goodwin covers it all, including the personal struggles of the First Couple. After it all, they emerge as extraordinary leaders for "no ordinary time". Few have equaled them before or since.
Not my type of book .......2007-06-29
Packed with information on every aspect of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt during the WWII timeframe, this book is a history lovers dream. Unfortunately, I am no history lover. I became glossy-eyed when fine details were being mentioned about everyday activities. I felt that the book strayed from the main story and gave too much supporting detail. Yet, as is with all of the history books that I marginally enjoy, I learned quite a bit of information that I would never have gained otherwise. I was amazed to learn about how separate the Roosevelt's actually were as a couple and FDR's continued relationship with Lucy Rutherford. I also gained insight into how much Eleanor helped to spur the rights for blacks and women with her forward thinking. Eleanor and Franklin's separation as a couple was shadowed by their strength in bringing a nation out of depression and forming our current business environment. I was also surprised to see the extent in which Franklin relaxed. There wasn't a chapter where Franklin didn't either drive around Hyde Park, cruise on the Potomac, or spend time in his "Little White House" in Warm Springs. This was a man who knew what taking it easy was all about.
A glimpse of my grandparents.......2007-06-09
I am a college student. Before reading this book I barely knew who FDR was, let alone why his terms in office were so important. I traveled to Hawaii shortly after reading this book to visit Pearl Harbor because I was so moved by the book. I feel like I understand my grandparents generation a little better now and truly want to thank them for all they have done.
Overall, a terrific read. The author did a wonderful job of sharing the unique relationship between FDR and Churhill. I was also impressed with the author's knowledge of the homefront, instead of just all of the famous battles. Everyone should read this book.
Book Description
"A classic [that] covers superbly a whole era...Engrossing in its glittering gallery of characters."
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Robert K. Massie has written a richly textured and gripping chronicle of the personal and national rivalries that led to the twentieth century's first great arms race. Massie brings to vivid life, such historical figures as the single-minded Admiral von Tirpitz, the young, ambitious, Winston Churchill, the ruthless, sycophantic Chancellor Bernhard von Bulow, and many others. Their story, and the story of the era, filled with misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and events leading to unintended conclusions, unfolds like a Greek tratedy in his powerful narrative. Intimately human and dramatic, DREADNOUGHT is history at its most riveting.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Educational, entertaining and highly informative........2007-09-13
Probably one of the best histories of the period yet produced and - as an important bonus - written in excellent English.
Massively detailed,awesome in scope; at times dragging........2007-07-14
The book discusses a period in history when British power was at its height.
However emergence of Germany as a great power disturbed the status quo.
To exacerbate matters, Germany was ruled by a man who was abrasive,impetous,
arrogant.Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted nothing but an exalted status for his nation
under the sun. He advocated that Germany must have a colonial empire like Britain and
a strong navy commensurate to her status. "Seize the trident",Kaiser said. This forms the background to the naval
armament race between the two nations.
Both incurred colossal expenditure in building Dreadnoughts. This was a super
battle ship [huge,floating steel monster] capable of cruising at high speed and firing
armor-piercing shell at a long- range.Thanks to wealth she could draw from colonies
London was able to withstand the strain.
Kaiser's scheme of things envisaged a subordinate role for Britain under renascent
Germany which English pride,self-respect found hard to accept.As threat from across
the North Sea mounted ,London was forced to end her splendid isolation .Between
1904-1908 Britain became close with her former enemies : France,Russia.Europe was
now divided into two hostile blocs: Triple Entente,Dual alliance. As tensions mounted
Britain and Germany came closer to war :Agadir crisis in 1905.
German army General Staff was crowded by Prussian militarists .These men had no
qualms in violating in Belgian neutrality: the Schlieffen plan ,how Germany intend to
wage war in the west.Further Berlin was served by an ally [Hapsburg -ruled,partially
defunct Austro-Hungarian empire]which was very brash toward its neighbours.Under such circumstances sanity will never prevail.So the
two like-minded powers fused to generate violence on an unprecedented scale.Sad,tragic
incident in the Balkans, assassination of heir to the Hapsburg throne served as raison d'etre.
My gripe about this book , the text in many areas contains details which has no relevance
the subject making it exceptionally verbose. The book revolves too much around personalities.So I liked it only in patches.
However the section dealing with Admiral John Fisher's life was interesting.Innovations he effected in naval firepower ,ship propulsion revolutionized
war at sea. Also illuminating is author's elaboration of Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz's
`Risk Theory' and run down of events leading to the outbreak of great war.
A reader requires abundant time, perseverance to wade through this tome.
Indispensable read for history buffs.
An epic of immense proportions........2007-06-02
It was the First World War - known at that time as "The Great War" which changed Britain and Europe forever. As the Generals on both sides sent millions and millions of men to their deaths in the carnage which they regarded as warfare, there came about a change in the psyche of the British male - a change which would herald a complete alteration in the way he thought and acted towards those of the upper, ruling classes. No longer would that British male be so quick to use such words as "M'Lord" or even "Sir." No longer would he doff his cap as a mark of respect, no longer would the ordinary police Constable be so quick to "arrest that man" just because a well dressed person had ordered him so to do.
That change in British Society continues to this day and is easily traced back to the feelings of loss and despair which came with the realisation that far too many young men had died "at the front" - even though the war itself had been won and mainland Britain had escaped unscathed.
In this epic tale, author Robert Massie delves deep into why that war occurred in the first place. Every single aspect of argument and behaviour on both sides (both military and political) is exposed and analysed. As the title of the book would suggest, the theme is the world's first great arms race. When Britain produced the first Dreadnought Battleship it rendered all other battleships obsolete at a stroke (including the remainder of the British Fleet!). From that moment onwards it was always a question of who could produce the most new Dreadnoughts in the quickest possible time. Set against this wish by both Britain and Germany to be seen as the world's supreme masters of the seas was a political intrigue which few have been able to commit to print in such a masterly fashion as is found in this book.
In short, this is one of the greatest books of our time. It is also a damn fine read.
NM
A history book characterized by a superb literary readability........2007-03-18
Dreadnought is a delightful book for readers of different backgrounds thanks to its author's masterful literary style. Historians will most probably pick up what are supposed to be its flaws, such as the Library Journal's review. Yes, I agree with the reviewer: such topic is too complex because "The British and German systems were too complicated and too democratic to respond to a biographical focus". But when I think of History in all its complexity and multifaceted possible approaches, an author whom is capable of going far beyond what the title of his book and to stimulate the reader to further research of a critical moment of recent history, this alone is more than laudable. Mr. Massie created an outstanding book which may even be misleading in its title: for those not acquainted with naval history, the title Dreadnought may be almost meaningless, but the work will fascinate almost anyone interested in the history of XX Century because it makes several points more clear to the general reader: the complex implications of German unification under Bismark and the radical changes in world's economy already underway at that time. The reader will notice that the U.S. industrial strength and pace of development was a factor largely unknown and/or grossly underestimated by European powers. As an attempt to be brief and thorough: this book is extremely successful in its goals. There is not a single book capable to describe the complexities of Europe during and after Chancellor Bismark until World War I. But this book is really helpful and mostly pleasant to stimulate the reader with a fascinating approach. At the same time, what a historian may consider a book overtly focused on biographies actually may be a revealing source about many protagonists such as Kaiser William II and many other outstanding figures of that era, not to mention the antisemitism thriving in German society at that time. I highly recommend this book to all readers interested not only in military, but in contemporary History.
Edward the Caresser Meets the Hun.......2007-01-17
An excellent read. Very well written as we might expect from Robert Massie. I enjoyed it very much and lost countless hours reading late into the night.
A warning: this book is extremely anglo-centric. Those who are looking for a balanced handling of these matters should keep this in mind. The only way to get a balanced accounting of the genesis of WW1 in English is to read widely including the revisionist texts that are heavily discounted by most British and American scholars. This is quite a large task.
Massie tells the story of the run up to the war largely through the device of using narrative accounts of the major political and diplomatic events in Britain and Germany, mostly presented through biographical sketches of their politicians, diplomats and admirals. This makes for fun reading. The book reads like a novel and you get a good idea of the characters of the main players. It's Massie's unabashed admiration of King Edward VII that skews the book however. Edward was not as wise and insightful as the author makes him and Wilhelm was not as flightly and spiteful or motivated by feelings of inferiority.
Dreadnought almost completely ignores economic and social history. There is nothing at all about the working class movements in either country. This is a major weakness. I suppose his desire to tell the tale strictly in a narrative fashion limits the usefulness of statistical data and scholarly exposition. A book I mentioned above, The Arming of Europe and the Making of the First World War can be of great service in filling in some of these gaps.
Part two describes British politics and foreign policy up to 1905. I found this the most interesting section of the book - but I'm a political junkie. Again Massie uses sketches of politicians such as Salisbury, Balfour, Joseph Chamberlain and Landsdowne, accompanied by accounts of the "Khaki election" and the dispute over Imperial preference which split the Unionist government. Massie highlights the diplomatic ruptures with Germany - over the Jameson raid and the Krueger telegram, Samoa, and the Boer war. All of this culminates in the breakdown of Chamberlain's tentative Anglo-German alliance negotiations, and leads to the creation of the Anglo-French entente (despite the dispute over Fashoda), and its first test during the Morocco crisis.
Navalists and battleship buffs who might be attracted to this book by its title, will find part three much to their interest. Unfortunately they have to wade through a whole lot of biography to get there. Again this part of the book suffers from its anglo-centric point of view. Very little information about the German fleet is provided (for example, while the problems with inadequate armour on the British battle cruisers are mentioned, the far superior ability of German ships to withstand damage is not). The primary focus is still biographical, with Fisher and, to a lesser extent, his rival Lord Beresford claiming most of the stage.
Parts four and five continue the story up to the outbreak of war. Massie goes into much detail telling the story of the rise of the Liberals, and the Reform Bill and the emasculating of the House of Lords by use of crude threats by Asquith. Churchill and more importantly, Sir Edward Grey come into their own in this section of the book. I thought Massie's handling of Grey's failure to keep the British cabinet informed of European developments, even though he was monitoring continental communiques, was well done. Even so, in Massie's hands it is still hard to see Grey for what he really is - a villain no less than Austrian foreign minister Count Berchtold and France's man in Saint Petersburg, Ambassador Paleologue.
The book ends with Grey's famous coda on his age, 'The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.' This is only fitting because Sir Edward had much to do with the extinguishing of those lamps. All in all a fine but flawed book and I enjoyed it very much with certain reservations.
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- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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