On-the-tape

First off, I am an aviation nut. I am a student pilot and aspiring ATP. For me, finding a good book let alone a good aviation book is nearly impossible. So many books are chocked full of technicalities that I either already know or don't care about. Finding a truly interesting aviation book is a rare treat. After about 2 pages of 'Fate is the Hunter' I was truly hooked. This book puts you right in the cockpit with Mr. Gann as you venture the world from the start of his flying career on the DC-2 to flying across the endless Pacific during WWII when airlines were called to help the war effort. Mr. Gann is truly a talented writer and in my opinion one of the best in Aviation right up with St Ex. If you are as engrossed in aviation as I am, this is one book you wont want to put down and will wish would never end.

I have read and re-read "Fate is the Hunter" so many times that the pages are loose and falling out. You are not just reading the best aviation book of all time, you are in the cockpit behind the master himself, as he savors the illicit thrill of a zero-zero takeoff from a fog bound Presque Isle airport in a C-47 during the war, taking a load of steel girders to Goose Bay. Just after takeoff, the girders break loose and slide to the rear of the aircraft, which starts a climb so steep that the plane is shuddering in a stall. As Gann and his co-pilot are pushing the control column forward as hard as they can with their feet a crewmember is trying to move the girders back up the near vertical floor.

Gann's writing so inspired me that I wanted to become an airline pilot, but my flying ability was just slightly better than Bixby, his inept co-pilot that almost collided with the Taj Mahal, another fascinating story later on in the book. I became a dispatcher instead, an occupation I truly loved, which was also inspired by Gann's interaction with the dispatchers of his line.

I wrote Ernest Gann at his home in Friday Harbor, Washington and tried to convey just how much I enjoyed "Fate is the Hunter" and what an impact it made on my life. I received short note from him. It was very gracious and humble, and is one of my greatest treasures.

I also highly recommend "Hostage to Fortune", a chronology of Gann's incredible life from a rebellious young man that could never follow his father into business and be chained to an office, through a lifetime of adventure, to his retirement on Red Mill Farm, on an island in the Pacific northwest.

Speaking from a background of 36 years as a pilot of small aircraft, tactical supersonic military aircraft, and Captain of a number of modern day airliners, including the Boeing-747, I regard "Fate is the Hunter" as an aviation classic that is not only a "must read" for every aspiring pilot, but a "must have" in his/her library, to be read over and over again, as I have. Gann's book provides a unique insight into the origins and challenges of the trial and error development of the procedures that have now become the rule in modern transport aircraft operations. For anyone who has an interest in the developmental history of aviation in America or, as in my case, anyone who wants to know more about the forces behind the phenomena of "when you pull back on the yoke the houses get smaller and when you push forward on the yoke, the houses get bigger," "Fate is the Hunter" is the place to start.

After reading this book three times already, I must say it is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. Mason manages to hand in a very realistic picture of the every day life as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam war, actually he does it so well that I could never doubt him being there in person. As I see it, Chickenhawk is a 'must'for any flight lover and for anyone who is interested in a realistic historical document about the Vietnam war, spiced with tons of humor. Remember not once being 'stuck'so deep in the book that I forgot having my lunch... Roy Shoocman

Back in the late 80's, Robert Mason's "Chickenhawk" appeared on bookshelves. Mason's personal story of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was the first of it's kind and has since spawned a number of personal helicopter stories, and they all owe the market being opened by Robert Mason. I was still in high-school when the book out and I wanted very much to fly helicopters for the US Army at the time. After reading this book I was not sure what to do, I was scared at the thought of being shot down in battle, but also saw the pride in what the helicopters pilots had done in Vietnam. This was also the first book I recommended to my father to read, a two tour veteran of Vietnam himself. I have gone back and reread "Chickenhawk" at least 4 times over the years and it still holds up so well, and I still feel like someone hit me in the stomach everytime I get to the end and read those last few lines.

This is the first book I've read on this topic, so I can't compare it to any others. It was certainly very, very good.

I found it a difficult read, probably because I only read magazine articles, and am not used to reading stuff with dialog or narratives.

I think that you get a pretty good idea of how pilots coped with getting in and out of dangerous areas, often under attack.

Mason decides not to re-enlist after returning to the U.S., even though he's promised Captain's bars. Is he nuts? I guess he'd have to be nuts, just to survive the awful things he had to endure while flying. He flew a Huey slick, that is, he carried troops and supplies. (a** and trash, as he calls it)

My main interest was how helicopters work and how pilots deal with tough terrain. I suppose search-and-rescue helicopter stories would interest me equally.

You'll read about his opinions on the war, and how the horrors of war really messed him up. The book gives a quote stating that helicopter crews, infantry and the Marines always have the highest mortality.

The book gave some insight into what the Vietnam war was like. To me, that was just a bonus, as I really only read it to learn about helicopters.

This is the first book I've read about helicopters or combat. It was time well spent. If you care, he's written a sequel about how he messes up badly when he gets back to civilian life.
I personally will pass on it, though if its written as well as this book, could be a good read for someone who's interested in the psychology of ex-soldiers.

In this, the final installment of the DragonLance Legends, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman finished the story of the twins. They tell of Raistlin's journey through the Abyss, Caramon's knowledge of his brother's evil, and Tasselhoff's realization of life and it's tragedies. This book is an excellent example of perfect writing. As you read, you will be able to see yourself walking beside Raistlin, the sweet scent of rose petals and death in your nostrils. You may be trudging along beside Caramon in a life-less world, the mud sticking to you boots. Finally you could accompany Tanis and Dalamar, watching helplessly as Caramon enters the Abyss to deal with his brother, Raistlin

I started with the Chronicles when I was 15. Until now it has been a monthly affair to pick the books up and read parts of it again & again. I managed to buy the collector's editions for both the Chronicles & Legends so I can read any part of it anytime.

Test Of The Twins moved me to tears especially the end when Raistlin finally found a shred of goodness & sacrificed himself to save the world. At the very end when the Queen Of Darkness takes Raistlin, seeking his soul, but instead Raistlin was protected from her by his brother's arms and rabbits made by Caramon's hands. That really made me cry to see the love, despite Raistlin evil nature, that bond the two brothers together.

And Caramon too finally realised that he has a path to walk. Yet he knows no matter what he and Raistlin will be linked forever.

There are so many lessons taught in the Legends trilogy. From the kender to Lady Crysania to Caramon, all learnt something at the end of the adventure or quest. Raistlin too learnt that he is not invincible.

This book ends the Legends, though there are lots of unexplained stuff. On the whole this makes you want to read it again & again.

After reading the cronicles then the first two books of the legends, I was on the edge of my seat for this one. This book did not let me down, it was great. Picking up from the end of "The War of the Twins" the start of the book leaves you with a lot of questions. It hardly makes since. After the first couple chapters you realize whats going on and from then on out its amazing. If you really are a true Dragonlance fan this book should not take you long. It took me five days to read it, and i don't really read that much. The end of this book will almost make you cry. (Its almost as bad as when sturm dies) All of the problems that the twins have come down to a final defining moment and what happens might not be what u expect. I gave this book a five out of five, and if anyone thinks different email me and ill have a debate with you.

I checked this book out of the library dozens of times as a child. The stories and intrigue of the Greek pantheon, combined with the outstanding illustrations, make this book a must-read for any child (or adult) with more than a passing interest in history, or religion or mythology. To this day, not having seen the book in nearly 20 years, I can recall vividly the illustration of Argus with his hundred eyes, standing in Hera's chamber. Or Athena, springing fully formed from Zeus' head. Another thing I like is that the authors didn't sugarcoat any of the Greek myths, which were as red in tooth and claw as Nature herself. To me, that would have destroyed the impact and power of these stories. This book is truly a classic of kids' literature.

When I was in elementary school I found this book at the library. I loved it so much that I did not want to return it. Finally, after several months of renewals, my parents bought the paperback version for me. It was one of my most treasured--and worn out--books that I owned.

What made me fall in love the book was the beautiful, large colorful pictures; the easy introduction of the many Greek gods (to a child with no background in the stories); and, of course, the myths themselves. They were wonderful stories and will pull in readers of all ages.

The book inspired me to read more books on Greek mythology--Edith Hamilton, for instance--and Norse myths (the D'Aularies wrote a book on Norse gods that is unfortunately still out of print) and Asian folktakes when I was still in grade school. In college, however, I learned that the myths in this book had gone through a bit of sanitization, but the book is still terrific. I haven't found another children's book that treats Greek mythology so entertainingly and with such colorful, rich, and engaging pictures.

This book is one that will keep giving even when the child becomes an adult. When I went to college and was assigned other Greek and Roman poems, plays, and literature, I would be reminded the pictures and the myths found in this book. It would bring back wonderful memories, and in turn, made reading ancient literature enjoyable rather than onerous. To this day, I still remember all of the myths and gods that are in this book, and it (oddly) adds warm memories to my academic reading!

My parents recently bought the hardcopy edition of the book for me for Christmas. It was the best gift I have received in years!

It is simply a wonderful book!

A rare gem in the science fiction/fantasy genre, this series has a female heroine, Lyra. We follow Lyra throughout the series as she encounters intense mysteries and drama. Although this is a fantasy book series, it is superbly written and is excellent in making the reader become so engrossed that they nearly forget where they are.

I would use these books with high school, reluctant reader girls, since it's an excellent story about a girl who saves the world. They would learn from this book that girls are also craft, witty, and brilliant. Another group that I would recommend this series to are advanced high school readers as I believe these books have direct references to Paradise Lost and also make general remarks on religion. In fact by the final book, your idea of religion is completely obscured. I think it would be interesting for them to do a compare/contrast with Paradise lost of perhaps how the series develops a theme of religion.

9. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaires and Edgar Parin D'Aulaires
Copyright 1980, Bantam Doubleday Dell
Great book to build a reading unit around
One of the major things that was lacking in my education through college, was any sort of introduction to Greek Mythology. Although we seem to now steer clear of any kind of old literature ("dead white men"), I believe Greek Mythology is an important part of a person's reading repertoire. There have been many situations (not to mention Jeopardy questions) where I'm at a complete loss because I never learned Greek Mythology. My friend recently introduced me to this book, claiming his copy was so worn out from repetitive readings his parents provided him and his brothers. What an excellent find this book is!

I would use this book in the classroom and read these aloud to the students. I believe it would be a great idea to have a Greek Mythology unit where we use this book as our base reading, and have the kids explore other Greek Mythology books. I think children at first will think Greek Mythology is boring, yet they would soon find out that it is all around them. They could have a good time finding things in their neighborhoods that relate like street names, restaurant names, etc. and perhaps write some report on their findings.

My introduction to Robert Massie came when I first picked up a copy of Nicholas and Alexandra last Spring. Frankly I was expecting a serious history book-- In other words I expected it to be dry, dry, dry! What a great surprise to find I could not put it down. Having that great experience made it a no-brainer to read Peter the Great as well-- it was even better.

Massie's gift is in his ability to write history in a narrative style, identifying the nuances of each setting and character as well as the heros and antagonists, all while maintaining historical accuracy. No wonder we find that Massie's works have been converted into both film and mini-series.

His account of the succession of Peter to Regent Sophia's intrigues is heart stopping. You see directly into the private and public life of this unique Tsar who attempted to drag Russia into the modern era- The good the bad and the ugly. It is simply great stuff!

If you are interested in Russia, start out with Peter the Great and go on to Nicholas and Alexandra. These are both excellent books!

The Greatest Russian

Peter the Great was a giant. He embodied all that was Russia and aspired too many of the things Russia would later become. As a young man he had learned much about Russia's long and storied history. As Tsar he embarked on unrelenting campaigns against all of Russia's neighbors and forged a modern empire.

Massie's Biography of this seminal leader is the standard on the subject. It explored every facet of Peter's long life; his relations with family, his military genius, his ambitions, his fears, his obsessions and his weaknesses. Successive chapters detail the Northern war, the Wars with the Ottomans, the wars in Europe proper, and the final campaign along the coast of the Caspian.

In his life Peter 'Piervui' redeemed the Russians at the battle of Poltava and thus set the foundations for the building of Peters 'window on Europe', the city on the Neva named after his saint, St. Petersburg. The brilliant writer, Massie, delivers a tour de force in describing the building of Peter's northern capital.

Massie also looks into the dual personality of Peter, his obsession with Europe and his own inward struggles with his weak son. Massie examines relations with both the Ottoman east and the European West. Peter in his life looked forward to a vast Russian empire, one that would one day stretch the length of the continent and on which the 'sun would never set'. Peter dreamed of a world class navy operating from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. He dreamed of liberating the Christians of the Caucasus and Balkans and saw a role for Russia in Europe, all dreams that would be realized by successors like Catherine the Great.

A brilliant book, an epic of detail and flavor!

I've always been a great reader of novels, but reading this book a couple of years ago has made me into a reader of history. Massie has a grand subject -- Peter opened a long-sleeping Russia to the West, founded St. Petersburg (a beautiful city built, somewhat like Venice, basically on a body of water) and fought many wars. People must have kept great diaries back then because Massie is able to recreate events at court and battles from multiple points of view, lending the book a novelistic richness. Equally impressive, since the book is as much about Peter's times as it is about him, Massie pauses to include mini-essays about the many places and types of things that Peter the polymath was involved in. So you get a brief sketch of the Netherlands at the time, or about popular torture techniques of the day, that don't break up the overall narrative flow. It's a long book but a great read

This book is not a novel. It is an unusually constructed history in three volumes, written by a word-class writer. It is a heavy read. In this volume, Solzhenitsyn describes arrests, interrogations, tortures, trials, prisons, and methods of transporatation from the prisons to the labour camps. He gives a brief history of the genesis of Gulag, its principles and its expansion, in the chapter "A Brief History of Our Sewage Disposal System." Solzhenitysn marshalls an impressive range of facts and first hand anecdotes in addition to his own experiences, usually relating them in a straightforward manner, sometimes with bitter, vicious sarcasm, sometimes with passionate anger. The book is an astounding achievement, especially when one considers that he wrote it in sections, hiding each as it was completed; he was never able to refer back to what he had previously written, yet I noticed no repetitions. The book is an astounding achievement, immensely powerful, but very depressing, sometimes heart-breaking. Nonetheless, anyone who wishes to be well-informed in general, or about history in particular, must read it.

It is very interesting to compare The Gulag Archipelago, the true story of a horrible and real dystopia, with George Orwell's 1984, the story of an imaginary dystopia, or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, another imaginary dystopia.

The difference between Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's book and the others is his more convincing, more concrete detail. Solzhenitsyn describes the gritty details of the arrests, tortures, kangaroo court trials and murders or imprisonments that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union inflicted on countless millions of people while Lenin or Stalin were in power. He gives exact details about the coarse criminality and ingenious cruelty of Communist prison officials whom he watched while he was in prison. He also weighed and sifted evidence that he gathered from other prisoners and he reports it here.

Solzhenitsyn entered prison a convinced Marxist. He gradually lost his Communist faith only after many years of physical and emotional abuse by other Marxists. The hope of a free lunch in a Communist paradise dies hard.

Review by Mike, Age 13

Solzhenitsyn does an excellent job of retelling the story of the atrocities of the Soviet Union. The Gulag Archipelago is a disturbing account of what happened inside the Gulag prisons. This is an account about the things hidden from the public and the things the Marxists wanted to keep hidden. And how he gave a first person account of prison life, well that was just amazing! His vivid descriptions about the kinds of arrests that took place I thought was very interesting and an amazing brainchild of a distorted Soviet Union!

How Stalin could turn an innocent gesture of two long lost friends being reunited into an arrest is beyond me. The Gulag Archipelago is an excellent book that unveiled an entirely new side of the Soviet Union and its perverted system of justice. It's a great book for historians and World War II buffs, or even if you are trying to find out more about the Soviet Union. The Gulag Archipelago is quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read! I would recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in the Soviet Union. (Content will be confusing for younger readers.)

Small Sacrifices indeed. Elizabeth Diane Downs was completely off-whack. Her youth may have contributed to her warped view on society, but that's still no excuse for her crime. Not as drawn out as the investigation itself, I'm sure, but to relive the frustration experienced by everyione involved became a little tediuos. A great read, nevertheless, but I would only reccomend this book to those who enjoy reading books over 400 pages. It does, however, reveal to us how normal a sociopath may look, or act. She had half the world convinced she was innocent, and half the world convinced she was faking innocence. The question of "why?" doesn't linger in my mind, though. I could tell from the start of the book, as it described her arrival at the hospital, that she did not have her priorities straight... What good does standing there honking your horn do when anyone who might be able to help your poor, suffering, dying children is inside the hospital, out of earshot? I saw from the beginning that she had more than one screw loose and she didn't really want to save her children. Life plus 50 years in prison seems like nothing compared to what her beautiful children could have been. It's not enough to just know that two of them barely survived.

When I read this book I almost became physically ill when I got to the chapter in which Diane Downs commits the murders of her children. How in the name of God could she have done this to those innocent kids who were like lambs to the slaughter? During the reading of this book I cried many many tears at the thought of those children. Diane Downs didn't deserve the priviledge of being a mother. I often wonder what has become of Diane and how she feels about what she did to her kids? Does she have any remorse? This book upset me so much that I couldn't watch the t.v. movie with Farrah Fawcett. Ann Rule did an excellent job of writing this book, but it would be very difficult for me to read again. This tragic account of a horrible crime, will definitely make you want to hug your own children much tighter.

I have to say that this is Ms Rule's finest piece of writing so far. This book is wonderfully written and I could not put it down until I finished reading it. Throughout the whole book I was in delimma whether Diane did murder her kids or was she a pawn of the police system? I think the evidence speaks more than what anyone has to say but one thing is for sure this is an excellent read and I would recommend it to anyone.

Corwin is one of the titular nine princes who vie for the throne of Amber, the one true city, of which the Earth we know and countless other realities are mere reflections. He has been suffering amnesia on our world but recovers his memory and, in uneasy partnership with some of his siblings and outright conflict with others, attempts to wrest Amber from his brother Eric, who has assumed the throne.

The main drawback of this imaginative novel is its brevity. Roger Zelazny's story is epic in scope but he relates it in less than two hundred pages, making for a narrative that is extremely sketchy at times, reading more like a synopsis than a finished novel. At one point, Corwin and his brother Bleys travel to a Shadow world, insinuate themselves into the local culture, become worshipped as gods, and forge an army ready to march on Amber and fight with the zeal of Crusaders in a holy war-all in the space of two or three sentences! In addition, I was never quite clear on the nature of Amber and its powerful ruling family. What does it mean for one world to a "shadow" of another? The brothers seem godlike at the times with their abilities to manipulate the environment of shadow worlds through willpower alone and affect change in Amber itself by pronouncing curses. What does this say about the nature of reality? Ultimately, my opinion of Zelazny's series will depend on how well he addresses these concerns. I am sufficiently intrigued that I look forward to reading more.

Roger Zelazny was--and still is--renowned as a literary master of speculative fiction. It's easy to see why with this book, which is *not*, believe it or not, considered to be best of his works...only the most popular.

Zelazny stretches the use of words to the maximum. You will encounter flowery, formal dialogue, complete with "thee"'s; you will encounter the contemplative thoughts of a cynical, hard-boiled detective; you will encounter the direct, concise summary of actions taken in quick succession. And they meld together without any objection, submitting to Zelazny's hand to reside in a flawless whole before the reader.

The protagonist, Corwin, begins the story with amnesia. Yes, the typical help-I've-lost-my-memory-I'd-better-go-recover-it setup. But there's nothing to worry about; the plot has been solidly constructed from the beginning of this book to the end of the last in the series, and a diabolically intricate mesh of intrigue and adventure unfolds.

All this takes place in not only an original world, but in an original universe. Earth is part of it, a welcome familiar setting, but the premise behind why our planet is only a part of the cosmos is novel and integrated closely with the story.

Lastly, although the cast of characters is huge--nine princes in Amber, along with a handful of princesses and countless minor characters--each one is distinct and deftly described. The reader is able to reach out to each one and understand them all.

What is there to lose? And there's so much to gain. I strongly recommend this novel as well as those following it in the series, and I can guarantee an absolute lack of disappointment.

I finished this recently and didn't have time to wish there was more to read because I started immediately on Guns of Avalon -- which apart from being a whole other book started like another chapter of Nine Princes (but more about that in another review). While reading Nine Princes in Amber I was struck by how well written it is and what an individual voice Roger Zelazny is able to achieve with this writing. Having read a heavy sampling of Zelazny recently and thinking many of them to be his best work it is clear now why the Amber series caught both his and his audience's attention. This is the quintessential Roger Zelazny. Here we have a super-powerful character, Prince Corwin, with a super-powerful family whom are battling and bickering over the greatest city in the multi-verse, and are willing to go to any lengths to get it. The miracle of this is how Zelazny can make you care about it all, but he does so masterfully.

Corwin's amnesiac beginning in a present day Earth is a perfect device to explain to the reader about Amber, its princes, their powers and the nature of Shadow. This exposition is remarkably engaging. It never feels forced. Then it is time to meet a brother-- the rascally Random whom you quickly come to love- and head into Shadow through the forests of Arden, to Rebma-- the undersea reflection of Amber, and finally Amber herself where brother battles brother for the throne.

There are many great moments in the few hundred pages that comprise this book, but among the highlights for me are brother Bleys heroic last battle on the steps of Kolvir. Zelazny makes you feel every step that Bleys takes as he fells man after man up the thin twisting treacherous steps to Avalon and the waiting army of sinister brother Eric. Another highlight would be the time Corwin spent in the dungeons of amber blind, helpless and hungry. He conveys well the isolation, the deprivation of senses, and the hopelessness. That such a mighty being could be brought so low is an impressive feat on Eric's (and Zelazny's) part. The cheese and meat and bread and wine that are slipped to Corwin from time to time are well described and made me hungry as I read them. Finally, a meeting with the Mad Dworkin provides a means of escape and a glimpse at an interesting character with another piece of the puzzle. Guns of Avalon picks up exactly where Nine Princes in Amber left off, and has shown no signs of letting the reader down. You will indeed feel privileged to be reading one of the longest and greatest fantasy series.

Highly recommended!

I enjoyed reading about the life of George Dawson, a man whose life has spanned three centuries. However, the mere fact that he has lived so long does not necessarily a feature book make. Aside from Mr. Dawson's rail travels and working on the Mississippi, Mr. Dawson had not done much else until he took up reading at 98. He can't comment much on events of the 20th century because he couldn't read, and what he could remember was scant. The reader is presented with a view of a genuinely kind man whose outlook on life is basically positive and warm. Yet, I often could not distinguish if I was listening to Mr. Dawson, or his "co-author", Richard Glaubman. It would have been far more interesting to detail Mr. Dawson's years since he began to read. The book speaks of the large numbers of letters written to Mr. Dawson, congratulating him on his beginning his literacy venture so late in life. Why not write more about his classroom experience and how that must have transformed him recently?... or the interaction with those who now wish him well? Perhaps a second book should be in order because that is where the REAL interest in Mr. Dawson lies.

When a friend loaned me this book, I hadn't heard about it. Once I started reading, I wondered why the book wasn't widely known. LIFE IS SO GOOD reveals, with great poignancy, how an illiterate black man earned his living for most of a century--years of wandering, taking hard labor jobs, following the rules for survival in a white man's world. At an age when white boys were getting their favorite toys, he left home to work on a white man's farm. . .truly a hired "hand," not acknowledged as a youngster who needed family, recreation, education, social development, and nurturing. We follow George Dawson as he hoards the few dollars he earns, never complaining about his plight. Unable to decipher a newspaper, George is oblivious to the progress taking place around him--automobiles, modern appliances, jobs with fringe benefits. He knows little about the historical and social revolutions permeating America. Nevertheless, he survives--and remains content. His greatest miracle, though, comes at age 98, when he learns to read. At this point, he starts to grasp what others have known all along. LIFE tugs at the reader's heartstrings. We grieve as we consider all he missed in life, we rejoice at his delayed triumphs. If you've ever considered yourself disadvantaged, read this book. You'll be blessed by George Dawson's fortitude and gratitude.

I read this book about 5 years ago and have never forgotten it. I wanted my grandson to read it, but I couldn't remember the title and was so glad after trying many searches to find it. This is one of those quiet books. I found it very engaging and soulful when I read it, but I have only come to understand recently how much it affected me. I still think about it often. This is a sign of a great book.

Massie's work is very readable; more like a novel than a biography. There were times I couldn't believe some of the intimate details could be real, for how would Massie know? But at the back of the book he has extensive notes indicating the sources for all the details including diaries and memoirs. I thought Massie did an excellent job illustrating the roots of World War I, especially the relationship between Nicholas and Kaiser William II. Also excellent was the way he makes the enigma of Rasputin understandable and how he reconciles the public disfavor and lack of understanding of the tsar and his wife with their noble intentions with the good of Russia in mind. In reading history it is easy to imagine that the participants were ignorant or oblivious to larger trends that would envelop them, especially in light of subsequent historical events. Massie's story brilliantly sheds light on the story of the last tsar such that the reader can genuinely understand the motivations of most of the participants. Very enlightening reading. I strongly recommend the book for anyone interested in Russian history or just looking for a readable story.

The story of the last of the Romanovs is one that still keeps audiences interested, whether the focus is the revolution or the Mad Monk. This is the last gasp of old style royalty that the 20th Century was to experience and despite Massie's tendency to somewhat romanticize his subjects, the domestic tribulations of Nicholas and Alexandra make an interesting and illustrative foil for the civil strife that was going on outside the palace. It is fascinating to read some of the anecdotes recounted in this book that show the Tsar and his family to be, in many ways, an ordinary family, yet at the same time probably the wealththiest family in the world at the time. The dispair and extreme poverty of Russian peasantry is very lightly treated here, but then, this is the Romanov's story and like royalty everywhere and at all times, they were isolated from direct confrontation with unpleasant sights and sounds.

Whatever else, this is a great story - of love, family tragedy, political blundering, inepept military decisions, court intrigue, conspicuous consumption, religious meddling, hypocracy, self deception, and hope - all part of the opening act of the new century. The old world of Tsarist glitter passes and the new world of Bolshevik drabness begins - and Nicholas and Alexandra are, with their family, caught in the middle.

"Nicholas and Alexandra" is a fantastic history book that I can thoroughly recommend to all readers. The book is truly "unputdownable" and if it were not a history book, it could almost have read as a novel.

The end of the Romanov dynasty is a work of tragedy. Here we have this closely bound intimate family playing out a drama against the backdrop of the First World War and the Russian Revolution. Yet tragedy almost becomes farce when the role of Rasputin is considered. The Czarina is quite spellbound by the man despite the damage that his decisions have for the family and the dynasty.

In "Nicholas and Alexandra", we see the unfolding of the downfall of autocracy which, in due course, would have been inevitable. The First World War simply accelerated the process. Yet while we should shed no tears for the fall of autocrats, the rise of an even more vile autocracy under Lenin heaps tragedy upon tragedy. The history of modern Russia is tragedy writ large.

Robert K Massie covers the events leading to the execution of the royal family in great detail but without ever deluging the reader with arcane facts that detract from the picture that he paints. The end result is a work of substance and colour.

I emphatically recommend this book to all readers of modern history. Robert K Massie has excelled!