History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq

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The Reader Deserts the Deserter
Loved this book
A Must-Read
Exposes the "Poverty Draft"
ALL SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND HERE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK

The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq
Joshua Key , and Lawrence Hill
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871139545

Book Description

In the first ever memoir from a young soldier who deserted from the war in Iraq, Joshua Key offers a vivid and damning indictment of what we are doing there and how the war itself is being waged. Key, a young husband and father from a conservative background, enlisted in the Army in 2002 to get training as a welder and lift his family out of poverty. A year later, Key was sent to Ramadi where he found himself participating in a war that was not the campaign against terrorists and evildoers he had expected. He saw Iraqi civilians beaten, shot, and killed for little or no provocation. Nearly ever other night, he participated in raids on homes that found only terrified families and no evidence of terrorist activity. On leave, Key knew he could not return so he took his family underground, finally seeking asylum in Canada. The Deserter’s Tale is the story of a patriotic family man who went to war believing unquestioningly in his government’s commitment to integrity and justice, and how what he saw in Iraq transformed him into someone who could no longer serve his country.

Customer Reviews:

The Reader Deserts the Deserter.......2007-09-17

I bought this book because I have a son in the armed forces who has already been to Afghanastan and is scheduled to go to Iraq in Dec '07. I wanted to get a feel for what my son might go through by seeing Iraq through another soldiers eyes. This soldier purports himself to be a true American, would die for his country, and so on. What he did after 5 and a half months was walk away from his Company, and his Country and not only became a war criminal, but turned his wife and four children into criminals. Nowhere in the book could I find one resonable excuse for what he did. Military life is hard, service in Iraq in the early days was often shameful, but he had other avenues, and he should have explored those before going to Canada. So far Canada has turned him down for political aslyium, and I hope his appeal is turned down as well. Keys need to come back and face those he left behind. I'm also sorry that the money I spent on the book is helping to support him even a little.

Oh, I did talk to my son about the concerns I had in the book, he told me that someone was lying. So, if you do go ahead and read this book, keep that in mind.

Other "facts" I found disturbing is how he was able to use his own name and not once, but twice, file and receive a tax return. The "facts" in the book are not facts at all. I talked to my son about what I read, and he did not have to sign a paper stating he would be shot by firing squad if he went AWOL. He was also never beaten with a sock, and never asked to beat anyone with a sock. He's had 13 troops in his division go AWOL, and some took their punishment and stayed or took their punishment and left. There was no need for Keys to jump the border.

Loved this book.......2007-08-19

I loved this book, though it is a disturbing read. I am wondering about those who think it is a pack of lies - the book sounds pretty convincing to me, and am glad someone had the guts to tell their truth. The fact he as post traumatic stress disorder should speak volumes about what he experienced over there, and the way people want to call him a coward, only speaks volumes about them.

A Must-Read.......2007-07-17

Anyone with half a conscience cannot read this book without being moved to tears. This is a major indictment on our involvement in a country that was no threat to us. This is very difficult reading, but absolutely necessary if you are interested in the truth and not what we are being shown on TV and what the government is telling us.

Exposes the "Poverty Draft".......2007-07-14

"The Deserter's Tale" starts out as an all too typical account of a young man growing up poor in Oklahoma and later joining the Army in the hope of building a better life for his family.

Like so many other young men and women, Joshua Key was afire with patriotism during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, believing that Saddam Hussein was a threat to America. His motivation for joining the Army, however, was a pressing need for steady employment. Married with two children and a third on the way, Key had no interest in going to Iraq. His recruiter assured him that he would never be sent overseas, and would be assigned to a non-combat unit within the continental U.S. The recruiter even went so far as to put this provision in Key's contract.

Key, who scored 49 out of 99 on the Army's aptitude test, was told by his recruiter not to mention an existing medical condition, prior arrests and number of children. With his application thus fabricated, Key became a soldier.

Shortly after completing basic training, however - where he was encouraged during bayonet practice with cries of "kill the sand n*ggers" - Key discovered that he would indeed be sent to Iraq, despite the terms of his contract. After being punished for objecting to the violation of his contract, Key was shipped out to Iraq.

The story of Key's experience in Iraq is, unfortunately, typical of those of other soldiers. Key tells of food, water and armor shortages; of fruitless raids, wherein soldiers destroyed homes, arrested men and stole everything they could get their hands on. Worst of all, he tells of the abuse and murder of civilians, including children, admitting that he, too, took part in these criminal acts.

The images presented by Key of the rape of an entire family of women as officers looked on, and of soldiers playing football with the decapitated heads of murdered Iraqis are haunting. But more than an account of wartime atrocities, Key's tale is an indictment of those in command who turn a blind eye to the crimes of those in their charge and punish those who dare to speak up about the "poverty draft" that lures the most desperate of young people into serving as cannon fodder.

Up to this point, Key's story is characteristic of the accounts of many soldiers serving in Iraq. Key's tale takes an uncharacteristic turn, however, when he is granted a two-week vacation to return to the U.S. and visit his family.

Stricken with nightmares and flashbacks and tormented by his conscience, Key knew he could not return to Iraq. Seeking the advice of an Army lawyer, Key was told "get back to Iraq or you go to jail." With no viable alternative, Key packed up his family and went into hiding. Eventually, they made it to Canada where Key awaits a decision by the Canadian courts as to whether he will be granted refugee status.

Although Key's story is in many ways typical of the war stories of soldiers in wars from World War I to Vietnam, his is also the unusual story of a young man willing to act according to his conscience, no matter the consequences.

ALL SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND HERE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.......2007-06-30

I found the book not only compelling but also corroborating so much of what we have learned about what is actually happening in Iraq since March 2003. Joshua Key didn't write this book to make money or to create controversy, as do some like Ann Coulter, et. al. He takes full responsibility for his actions and saves his most soul-baring comment for the last: "I deserted an injustice and leaving was the right thing to do. I owe one apology and one apology only, and that is to the people of Iraq." We all do, Mr. Key, we all do.

War's Relentless Hand: Twelve Tales of Civil War Soldiers (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

Average customer rating:

The dignity these unsung soldiers deserve
The Real heroes

War's Relentless Hand: Twelve Tales of Civil War Soldiers (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)
Mark H. Dunkelman
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0807131903

Book Description

A happy-go-lucky soldier falls at Gettysburg. An officer survives a hair-raising escape after capture at Gettysburg, only to die in the Atlanta campaign. A young volunteer retreats into insanity. Though they did most of the fighting and dying in the American Civil War, "ordinary" soldiers largely went unheralded in their day and have long since been forgotten. Mark H. Dunkelman retrieves twelve of these common soldiers from obscurity and presents intimate accounts of their harrowing, heartbreaking, and occasionally humorous experiences. Their stories, true to the last historical detail yet as dramatic as the most powerful fiction, put a human face on the terrible ordeal of a country at war with itself. These were soldiers from the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that Dunkelman has studied for forty years. He weaves a complex and intimate portrait of each man—portraits that reveal how, even for the common soldier, war was a cataclysmic event forever marking his life and the lives of those around him. Through a vast array of primary sources, Dunkelman reconstructs the lives and legacies of soldiers who died on the battlefield and others who later died of war-related injuries, some who were permanently disabled and others who saw their families undergo trauma. A reluctant soldier is doomed by red tape. A veteran is crippled for life because of his brutal treatment as a prisoner of war. Father and son are killed at Chancellorsville. A dying private is immortalized by Walt Whitman. Separated by the war, a husband and wife agonize when their children contract a deadly disease. A veteran claiming he was blinded by campfire smoke is at the center of one of the largest pension scandals of the postwar era. Recalling a lost world, War's Relentless Hand tells of the resilience, perseverance, and loyalty that distinguished these men, the families and communities that supported them, and the faith and character that sustained them. Though the full human cost and grief of the Civil War can never be calculated, deeply felt and carefully retold lives like these help convey its magnitude. AUTHOR BIO: Mark H. Dunkelman is the author of Brothers One and All: Esprit de Corps in a Civil War Regiment and other books on the 154th New York. An artist, writer, and musician as well, he lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Customer Reviews:

The dignity these unsung soldiers deserve.......2007-07-14

I've known Mark for twenty or so years and know when he publishes an article or book it will be a well polished,honest, accurate item. This book is another example of a true artist and his lifes work--Studying the 154th N.Y.V.I

If you love the story of the common man more than what the Generals were up to, then this is your next Civil War book. This volume remembers that the true cost of war is tapped from the lifes-blood of its participants in the ranks. When a soldier dies in battle it is always a violent death. Something nobody deserves. Let alone a young person on the very threshold of life.

I am fortunate enough to be related to one of the Soldiers immortalized in Dunkelmans book. I am proud of his finished product and feel he has at last made Captain Crosby's story known to those who wish to read it. If I had a writers talent I could not have written a better sum of the Captains life. Thanks Mark.

Thanks for these very human tales told with love, compassion and complete understanding. My guess is these tales are as close as any of us will ever get to seeing the real humans beings who fought that war against slavery. These "Lincolns men".

Buy it,read it,and mostly, learn from it.

The Real heroes.......2007-02-15

There are no stories of generals and strategy here. The author has crafted a well written book that reminds us of the personal side of the war and of the heroism of the individual soldiers of the 154th infantry. In fact this is representative of any unit. This is nuts and bolts history at its best. This book is excellant and deserves a wide readership.

Those Damn Horse Soldiers: True Tales of the Civil War Cavalry

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An Overview of Cavalry Operations: But for the CW Novice
Don't Waste Your Hard-Earned Money

Those Damn Horse Soldiers: True Tales of the Civil War Cavalry
George Walsh
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0765312700
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Book Description

Many accounts of the Civil War battles, armies, and key figures have been written over the years, but none have looked at the bloodiest war in our nation's history through the eyes of the cavalry. The horse soldiers in the Civil War are often referred to as the last of the cavaliers, men who valued their honor as much as their cause. In this sweeping saga George Walsh brings to life anew the gallant horse soldiers of the North and South, showing in dramatic detail how their raids and expeditions affected the outcome of the war and how their fortunes waxed and waned.

Customer Reviews:

An Overview of Cavalry Operations: But for the CW Novice .......2007-02-16

This is not a deep book on Civil War Cavalry operations but basically a catalogue of famous to pretty well known cavalry operations during different phases of the Civil War. What you will find are activities by notable cavalrymen such as Forrest, Stuart, Mosby, Sheridan and Morgan along with lesser known such as Grierson, Stoneman and Wheeler. But giving the author credit, he does have the fascinating Wilson-Kautz raid that is a long raid behind the Petersburg line all the way to the Staunton River Bridge (near South Boston) while being pursued from behind by Fitz Lee. However, like most chapters dedicated to the various raids, it is typically a too short capsule. The book is a pretty good primer for someone with a novice interest in the Civil War but, for the well read, experience Civil War student, the tales of the raids are limited in depth and to a degree, too familiar, telling the basic, well known story. But for the less familiar, not a bad book to start with, particularly if you have limited knowledge of the primary subjects and are looking for short renditions. The limitation of virtually any maps does make these wide traveling raids difficult to follow.

Don't Waste Your Hard-Earned Money.......2006-12-25

George Walsh's _hose Damn Horse Soldiers: True Tales of the Civil War Cavalry_ was just published. The book is intended to be a one-volume study of Civil War cavalry operations. As a long-time student of Civil War cavalry operations, I had high hopes for it.

Instead, what I got was EVERYTHING that I hate most about Civil War books. The book is VERY broad brushstrokes overview, attempting to cover all Civil War cavalry operations in 480 pages. It covers the period 1862-1865, and tries to cover all theaters of the war. That, by definition, means that the book cannot provide the sort of detailed examination that I would otherwise expect out of this kind of a book. The discussion of the Battle of Brandy Station covers a total of six pages. A fourteen hour long battle that was the biggest cavalry battle ever fought on the North American continent, and it gets six pages. There is no depth and no analysis. It's just a narrative. I guess that's okay, but there is absolutely no substance to the book.

The book has no bibliography. That, in and of itself, precludes it from the list of books I would ever considering purchasing. The lack of a bibliography permits the author to hide the lack of substantive research since there's no recital of what sources were reviewed. It's a cheap and very lazy way out.

I had a chance to take a look at the end notes. They're quite spare, and what notes there are cite mainly to secondary sources. More than half of them cite to secondary sources. The rest are to readily available published primary sources such as the Official Records, the Southern Historical Society Papers and other similar sources. There were no references to any unpublished manuscript material whatsoever or to any newspaper sources. Few of the published primary sources are particular rare or difficult to find. In short, it is clear that the author did almost no research of any depth, and that what research he did was shallow at best.

There is not one single map in the book. Given the fact that it addresses several dozen actions (albeit not in any depth), unless the reader is familiar with those actions on his or her own, the readder will get absolutely no guidance or assistance in understanding these events from maps. In my humble opinion, books can never have enough maps, and the failure to include them is indicative of either extreme cheapness on the part of the publisher, laziness on the part of the author, or, worse yet, a combination of the both.

Finally, there is not a single illustration anywhere in the book. Again, given the numerous personalities who pop in and out of the story along the way, being able to match up a face with the name is an extremely useful and helpful thing, but there's not a single illustration to be found. Again, that represents either chintiziness on the part of the publisher, laziness on the part of the author, or some very unpleasant combination of both.

Another thing interested me. There are five blurbs on the back of the dust jacket. Two of them pertain to other books by the same author. The other three are about this book, but none of them are by anyone known or recognized as an authority on the Civil War. One of them is by the novelist Steven Coonts, best known for writing techno-thrillers. I have never heard of the other two blurbists. That nobody know as being a Civil War expert was asked to endorse this book ought to tell you everything you need to know about it.

Save your money. Don't buy this book. If you want an overview of Civil War cavalry operations, your money will be better spent on Samuel Carter's excellent 1982 book The Last Cavaliers: Confederate and Union Cavalry in the Civil War or Stephen Z. Starr's classic three-volume set, The Union Cavalry in the Civil War.

If I could give this book no stars, I would. Since I can't, I have to give it one.

Home to Tennessee: A tale of soldiers returning

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Home to Tennessee: A tale of soldiers returning
Alfred Leland Crabb
Manufacturer: Bobbs-Merrill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B0006AT1T0

$Mistletoe Kisses: A Soldier's Tale\A Winter Night's Tale\A Twelfth Night Tale (Harlequin Historical Series)$
Average customer rating:

Wonderful trilogy of Regency novellas
Mistletoe Kisses
Fabulous Trio of Unforgettable Stories
What a Diversion!
Christmas came early!

Mistletoe Kisses: A Soldier's Tale\A Winter Night's Tale\A Twelfth Night Tale (Harlequin Historical Series)
Elizabeth Rolls , Deborah Hale , and Diane Gaston
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373294239

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful trilogy of Regency novellas.......2007-03-08

Mistletoe Kisses is a delightful read. It includes three outstanding tales from Elizabeth Rolls, Deborah Hale and Diane Gaston, all of which I heartily recommend. These tales provided wonderful characters, enjoyable plots and heartwarming endings. This book is a definite keeper, to be read not only at Christmas, but the whole year through.

Mistletoe Kisses.......2007-02-07

A Soldier's Tale by Elizabeth Rolls

Dominic James Martindale has come home from the war with some disfiguring injuries. Before he left, his betrothed, Lady Hermione Lancelyn-Greene, broke off their engagement but now that he has returned she seems to have set her sights on him again. Recently though, Dominic is becoming more aware of his quiet second cousin Miss Philippa Wintercombe.

In A Soldier's Tale Pippa is endearingly lovely, and Dominic is strong and handsome. This is a very romantic and heartwarming story; I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it!

A Winter Night's Tale by Deborah Hale

Christabel Wilton is struggling to keep her and her son Nicholas warm one December night when Jonathan Frost appears at her doorstep. Christabel is shocked to see Frost after so many years. Frost doesn't intend to stay long, considering what Christabel did to him years ago, but when she nearly faints from fever, he ends up taking her and Nicholas to his home. Frost's intention is to care for her until she can leave but the more time he spends with Christabel the less he wants her to leave.

A Winter Night's Tale is a tender story about rediscovering love. Frost is a wonderful man and Christabel is both strong and sweet. Frost's aunt suffers from an odd illness, but A Winter Night's Tale is still a charming story.

A Twelfth Night Tale by Diane Gaston

Elizabeth Arrington is desperate to find a room for her herself and the young and very pregnant Annie. When they are turned down at an inn, Elizabeth heads to Bolting House. Elizabeth prays the Earl remembers her and that Zachary is not there.

Zachary has had too much to drink, so when he answers the door and sees two cloaked women standing there he slams the door on them. When a stable worker informs Zachary that there are screams coming from the stables, Zachary soon realizes his mistake.

Elizabeth and Zachary are slowly getting reacquainted but another woman wants Zach. Elizabeth will have to trust Zach if they are to have any future together.

A Twelfth Night Tale is a romantic story about rekindling lost love. Zach and Elizabeth are clearly made for each other. The sparks that fly between them whenever they are near each other is proof enough. With its touching ending A Twelfth Night Tale is a lovely, heartwarming story.

The spirit of Christmas is blended with three tender romances in Mistletoe Kisses. This lovely anthology will warm your heart and have you believing in the magic of love.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Fabulous Trio of Unforgettable Stories.......2006-11-27

A Soldier's Tale by Elizabeth Rolls - Dominic, Viscount Alderley had put off going home as long as he could. He wasn't ready to face his family with the consequences of his injuries received at Waterloo. Wallowing in self-pity his cousin and heir Reverend Alex Martindale had come to escort him home to participate in the holiday celebrations. He wasn't terribly surprised by the shocked and stunned silences his sudden appearance made, but what shocked him more was to see his little cousin Pippa all grown up and looking lovelier and more desirable than he'd ever noticed before.

*** This was a very touching and well written story that should bring a smile and a slight mist to most eyes. I loved the characters of both Pippa and Dominic who were both developed beautifully with enough complexity to make them very appealing and endearing. *** Ms. Rolls is a new author for me and whose writing style is very impressive. I will definitely be looking to research this author's back list!

A Winter's Night Tale by Deborah Hale - Six years earlier Christabel was a foolish young girl who jilted her staid and dull fiancé Jonathan Frost to elope with the dashing Major Wilton. It was an ill thought plan but gave her the one joy in her now widowed and bleak existence, her son Christopher. Hearing of her reduced circumstances, Jonathan came to pay a call and found her extremely ill but as lovely as he remembered. Bundling her up Jonathan brought Christabel and her son to his home at Candlewood to recuperate. Later Jonathan would extend his hospitality to include the Christmas holidays. It was an opportunity for Christable to see Jonathan through more mature eyes and for both to secretly hope the magic of Christmas time would grant them a second chance at love.

*** This was a terrific story that encompassed all the elements of warmth and magic one expects to find during the magical Christmas season. Jonathan was fashioned as more than just a handsome man but one with charm, warmth and honor that the author did an amazing job in creating. Jonathan's loving guardianship and tolerance of caring for his aunt Fanny was beautifully described and added a magnificent layer of compassion to his character that I found to be immensely attractive. It demonstrated for Christabel, more than any of his other kindnesses, what a terrific human being he was. How could anyone NOT fall in love with Jonathan - I know I certainly did! Beautifully done this is an emotional story that will leave you all warm and fuzzy!

A Twelfth Night Tale by Diane Gaston - Elizabeth Arrington and Anna, her pregnant charge were desperately trying to reach her parents by Christmas but along the way the stormy weather hampered their progress and to their dismay, there was `no room in the inn'. Knowing she had to find shelter and remembering that the Earl of Bolton's estate was less than three miles away, Elizabeth borrowed a horse hoping they could expect to find hospitality there and help for both Anna and herself. Elizabeth was stunned when the person who greeted them was none other than Zachery the boy, now grown up whom she'd loved and who had abandoned her ten years before. Seeing him brought back memories of a different Twelfth Night that had forever changed her life. Would they now have a second chance at happiness that each had thought lost forever?

*** Diane Gaston is an author that writes from the heart and in this example it certainly proves that point. Zachary and Elizabeth were beautifully characterized with human emotion and passion making them heart wrenchingly real. The reader is pulled into the story and will experience the anguish of their misgivings and misunderstandings by the pure eloquence of writing that this award winning author is noted for.

This entire trio of Christmas stories is a splendid collection of stories that lovers of the Regency genre should gift to themselves and special friends.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

What a Diversion!.......2006-11-01

Christmas is the time of year when the days are (sigh) a bit overwhelming and dreadfully hurried. So what's the remedy? Grab a cup of cocoa, drag the lazy-boy chair by the fire, and drift away to wintry Regency England with MISTLETOE KISSES. This seasonal anthology is a great diversion, for all three stories are romantic, touching, and wonderfully joyful.

Book 1 -
"A Soldier's Tale" by Elizabeth Rolls -
He could no longer avoid the inevitability. Dominic Martindale had to go home. His older brother was dead and he was the new Viscount Alderley. It was time to claim the title, start the duties, and show his family the ruthlessness of war. Certainly, his appearance would shock them . . . save for Pippa. Little sensible Pippa was she still at Alderley Hall? If she were, a tiny ray of sunlight would remain in his heart.

*** Comments:
Elizabeth Rolls delivers a seasonal winner. A SOLDIER'S TALE is a lovely story filled with the warmth, the magic, and the happily-ever-afters every Christmas story needs. Truly, I must hunt down more from this author!

Book 2 -
"A Winter Night's Tale" by Deborah Hale -
Six years ago, Christabel was an utterly foolish young woman! She had chosen another man over the steadfast Jonathan Frost! Now, the shadows of Christmas loomed, for Christabel and her young son did not have much to celebrate. Then Jonathan Frost knocked on her cottage door and a slim flicker of hope took form. Or was Christabel being foolish again . . . was there more to Jonathan's concern than simple generosity?

*** Comments:
A WINTER NIGHT'S TALE is very sweet and very romantic. The heroine's regret was palpable, the hero's forgiveness was acceptable, and the secondary characters were "capital." Deborah Hale creates two very likeable characters in Jonathan and Christabel and this reader cheered for their continual happiness.

Book 3 -
"A Twelfth Night Tale" by Diane Gaston -
After ten years, Elizabeth Arrington still strived to put Captain Zachary Weston out of her heart. Yet, fate intervened. A second chance is a rare and priceless gift and this time Zachary vowed he would not fail Elizabeth. This time he would be worthy . . . yet could he earn Elizabeth's respect and love?

*** Comments:
Her fantastic "The Mysterious Miss M" placed me in Diana Gaston's corner some time ago. In A TWELFTH NIGHT TALE Ms. Gaston grants two lovers a second chance. And although, overheard conversations and misinterpreted situations created the notorious "misunderstanding," the criticism remains minor.

MaryGrace Meloche.

Christmas came early!.......2006-10-19

And I'm so glad it did! In other anthologies I've read, at least one story was weak, but not this one! They are all delightful and worth rereading over and over again.

I wanted it first for Diane Gaston's story, since I discovered her writing earlier this year and have collected all her books. Now I've added two new authors to my favorites list!

A Soldier's Tale is filled with wonderful characters of depth and personality. There were some enchanting twists and turns. I reread it again as soon as I finished it.

A Winter Night's Tale's exploration of second chances and the difficulty of being a caretaker is enchanting and heartwarming. What a delight.

A Twelfth Night Tale was the perfect ending to the trio. The pain of regrets and misunderstandings is so gently explored. The courage to accept the future and face the past and still have hope is magical.

Brava!!

True Tales of the South at War: How Soldiers Fought and Families Lived, 1861-1865

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True Tales of the South at War: How Soldiers Fought and Families Lived, 1861-1865

Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486284514

Book Description

Compiled by the son of a Confederate soldier, this treasury of reminiscences includes letters written by soldiers on the battlefield, in hospitals and prisons, diary entries of life behind the lines, journals kept on the homefront, stories told to children and grandchildren, more. Intimate, compelling record of the war from the Southern side. Foreword.

Relatos-Diccionario del diablo/Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (In the Midst of Life) Can Such Things Be? The Devil's Dictionary (Letras Universales / Universal Writings)

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Relatos-Diccionario del diablo/Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (In the Midst of Life) Can Such Things Be? The Devil's Dictionary (Letras Universales / Universal Writings)
Ambrose Bierce
Manufacturer: Ediciones Catedra S.A.
ProductGroup: Book
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The Brave Toy Soldier
Fred, Jr. (RTL) Crump
Manufacturer: Urban Ministries, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1934056200

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Tales for Soldiers and Civilians
An Excellent Collection of Stories!

Tales of Soldiers and Civilians
Ambrose Bierce , and Donald T. Blume
Manufacturer: Kent State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Ghost and Horror Stories of Ambrose Bierce

ASIN: 0873387899

Book Description

Witty, irreverent tales of war and the supernatural from the maverick misanthrope of American literature.

Questing after Pancho Villa's revolutionary forces, Ambose Bierce rode into Mexico in 1913 and completely vanished off the face of the earth. Though his ultimate fate remains a mystery to this day, Bierce's contribution to American letters rests firmly on the basis of his incomparable Devil's Dictionary and a remarkable body of short fiction. This new collection gathers some three dozen of Bierce's finest stories, including the celebrated Civil War fictions "An Occurrence at Owl Creek" and "Chickamauga," his macabre masterpieces "The Damned Thing" and "Moxon's Master," and his hilariously horrific "Oil of Dog" and "My Favorite Murder."

Tom Quirk, the volume's editor, provides a fascinating introductory essay, as well as indispensable explanatory notes, a glossary of military terms, and a catalog of Civil War battle sites and leaders.

Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Tom Quirk

Customer Reviews:

Tales for Soldiers and Civilians.......2002-04-20

A young northern soldier unknowingly kills his confederate father; a man is about to be hanged for tampering with a bridge during the Civil War but is freed when the rope breaks; a civilian finds a snake under his bed and freezes; and an invisible presence brutally kills a man. These are all plotlines from a few of the stories in Bierce's magnificent collection of short stories Tales of Soldiers and Civilians and Other Stories. They are guaranteed to keep the reader in suspense and awaiting the always surprising conclusion. For anyone who loves great writing and irony, check out this collection of stories.

An Excellent Collection of Stories!.......2000-11-03

I always wanted to get around to reading Ambrose Bierce. Known as an iconoclast and an excellent satirist, Bierce is best known for his Devil's Dictionary. He's also known for the disappearing act he pulled in Mexico in 1913. I decided to give this short anthology a chance. If I liked his stories, I figured I'd buy some more of his writings. I will be reading more of his writings.

The recent movie _The Blair Witch Project_ has brought scary stories back into vogue. After reading this book, I realized you can make a direct connection from this film to Ambrose Bierce. The connection would pass through Stephen King and H.P.Lovecraft along the way. I've seen things in both of these writers that could have been lifted directly out of one of Bierce's stories. In Bierce's story, "The Damned Thing", with its talk about colors that can and can't be seen, I could have sworn I was reading Lovecraft. Bierce is a master at quick twists and shocking violence, and delivers scares fast and furious. I got chills with several of these short stories, which certainly makes for good horror reading.

The book gives the reader a sample of Bierce's short stories. Most of the stories are tied around American Civil War themes, which is no surprise as Bierce served in the Union army during that conflict. His experiences gave him the necessary frame of reference to write these dark stories. And when I say dark, I mean DARK! Some of these tales will make your jaw drop. The violence in them is extremely unsettling. Chickamauga and Oil of Dog are sickening, describing blown open heads and dead babies in graphic detail.

Did I mention Bierce's prose? Some of the best you'll read. His prose is so amazing that I found myself rereading some of his passages just so I could make sure I was getting the full meaning. It is that rich and textured. It's also extremely funny in places. In the introduction it is written that Bierce lived in England for several years and was embraced by the English, who are masters not only of the language, but also insults. I'm not surprised when I look at how he writes. He can pen an insult that would bring tears of joy to an Englishman's eyes.

Finally, Bierce's stories show incredible depth for the short story format. He ridicules false courage, irony, lawyers, and even unions in the story, "The Revolt of the Gods". I highly recommend that anyone not familiar with Ambrose Bierce give this book a read. It reads fast and you'll laugh and be shocked within the space of one page. Good stuff.

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