european Books

Even with a background in classical studies, I've always been much more interested in the supposed "barbarians" who gave the Greeks and the Romans so much trouble, especially the Visigoths and the Franks -- perhaps because I have all sorts of Gothic, Frankish, and Celtic DNA in me. Like so many studies of this type, Heather's work began as his doctoral thesis on the effects of the Goths on the empire of Rome, especially in Greece and the southern Balkans, where the Goths first ran into the Romans and the Amalring family began to reach its greatest power. He was also interested in looking more closely at the history of the Goths written c.550 by a scholar named Jordanes, of whom almost nothing is known -- but whom Heather is convinced was more of a publicist than an uninterested historian. Not a bad supposition for any writer of that period, actually. But since every writer on the Goths and their motivations and actions since then has been based very heavily on Jordanes, reevaluating his influence has probably far-reaching consequences. Along the way, though, the author was pulled off course by his growing fascination with the Goths themselves, and this study takes him places he hadn't expected to go. The result is to see the Gothic invaders (or militant migrants) as a people who might have blended more easily than most into the Roman world and its seductive culture, but whose ruling clans made sure their people retained their self-identity. This was especially true of those Goths who joined with Attila in the 5th Century. In fact, it is due probably to the continued influence of the Amals and the Balthi that we even consider the Goths an important and separate people. For a thoroughly scholarly work heavily laden with footnotes, this is still a very readable work and I can recommend it to anyone who shares my interest in Late Antiquity and the Early Medieval period.

Although originally published nearly a decade and a half ago, Dr. Heather's assessment of this period of Romano-Gothic interaction is at the top of the field and remains directly applicable to any serious study of the topic.

Dr. Heather approaches this important Late Antique topic, which has not been adequately studied by English speaking scholars in my opinion, by offering a detailed critique of the primary sources that we are forced to use in our attempt to recreate the history of the Goths. He constantly reminds us that Gothic history, for the most part, was written by Roman authors who viewed them merely as barbarians. In addition, Dr. Heather forces us to consider also the reliability of our written sources in attempting to create a plausible historical narrative.

Beginning with the reign of Constantine the Great, Dr. Heather attempts to show that Roman interactions with Goths followed a well-established pattern that modified due to factors outside their relationship, like the introduction of the Huns in the steppe region. With this in mind, he offers a very reliable recreation of the time period with regard to imperial policy, especially the reigns of Theodosius the Great and Arcadius, although his analysis is necessarily skewed towards the more important regions in the East.

Dr. Heather's analysis of the Goths is necessarily weakened by a lack of contemporary sources dealing directly with the Goths in the mid fifth century, when the Goths assimilated into the Hun Empire of Attila. But it picks up and argues persuasively regarding the rise of Theodoric and his approach towards Italy in 489.

Overall, very well researched (modified from an Oxford DPhil dissertation), reliable, and perhaps the most authoritative monograph produced on the topic in English.

This winner of the College Art Association's Charles Rufus Morey Book Award (1981) has received numerous reviews of highest acclaim. Coming as they do from noted art critics, these probably set the book as high or higher than normal five-star reviews could. From the back cover of the book:

"Extremely perceptive, indeed extremely powerful . . . I can think of few, if any, books that have so daringly, so concretely, so successfully managed to cope with a problem that critics, just as much as historians, have for many years tended to shy away from: What is it that makes a great artist great for us? It is one of the most important problems that can be asked and Licht's imaginative answers deserve great acclaim."
--Francis Haskell, The New York Review of Books"

"The most brilliant, far-ranging, and profound study of this fascinating artist that I have ever read." --Linda Nochlin, Mary Conover Mellon Professor of Art, Vassar College

"Licht's book is a refreshing corrective. His erudition is rich and allusive. He looks minutely at the pictures, his argument is arresting." --V. S. Pritchett, The New Yorker

"A brilliant book . . . filled with new observations and striking analogies" --Sir John Pope-Hennessy, European Paintings Department, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Though he slights neither Goya as a person nor the time in which he lived, Prof. Licht focuses on analyzing Goya's oeuvre and explaining why it was, as the subtitle suggests, a departure from the art of the past. Thus it was from Licht that I gained a new appreciation of and respect for Goya's works in each of his periods. As an added bonus, Licht's writing is so far from academic that even those with no background in art will find him a pleasure to read.

The only aspect of this book will probably disappoint many is that most of the reproductions are in black and white. But while books with colored prints of Goya's works abound, I've found no other that does such an excellent job of not only explicating his art but also of clearly establishing him as a pivotal artist.

Consider what those well-qualified to judge have written about GOYA: THE ORIGINS OF THE MODERN TEMPER IN ART.

1) H.W. Janson, Prof. of Art History, NY University: "For the past century and a half, Goya has been viewed--and rightly so--as the one towering giant, the one master of unquestioned genius, among the founders of modern art. Fred Licht's book is unique in its broad perspective as well as in its daring comparisons, which at last put Goya in the company he deserves. It was a true revelation to me."

2) Robert Rosenblum, Prof. of Art History, NY University: "Endlessly fascinating. A book that casts a dazzling light not only on Goya but also on the entire history of modern art and culture."

3) Dore Aston, Prof. of Art History, Cooper Union: "A vibrant and vastly intelligent interpretation of Goya's oeuvre. Through his penetrating inspection of Goya's key works, Professor Licht is able to locate the precise tenor of Goya's irony, anger and disaffectation--the characteristics that make Goya undeniably the prototypical modern artist. In lucid prose unburdened with pedantic detail, the somber story of Goya's life and time is dispassionately revealed through each phase of his work."

4) Linda Nochlin, Prof. of Art, Vassar: "The most brilliant, far-ranging and profound study of this fascinating artist that I have ever read. Licht not only illuminates the art of Goya and his contemporaries, but provides us...with extraordinary insights into the art and moral dilemmas of our own time as well. This is indeed a unique art-historical undertaking, one which combines sensitive formal analysis with keen epistemological penetration and. . .is carried out with such richness of concrete detail, such wit, and such intelligence."

Although the accolades were written of a book published in 1979, I do not think they would be retracted in light of Robert Hughes' more recent GOYA. --B. Evans, 8/3/07

This book took a subject previously unknown to me, Hot Air Baloons, and turned it into one of the most intriguing historial events I have yet to read about. I strongly reccomend it for any reader, history buff or not. Go Eileen! I can't wait for your next book!

A good story, with excellent details. As with most events of this era, there is a lot more that is not written, and is only available from personal accounts, which she did so well, from the sources that were available.

Salvatore J. LaGumina, author of 18 books on etrhnic studies and Italian American Studies, has chronicled the tragic earlquake and subsequent tidal wave that devastated Messina and overwhelmed both Sicily and Calabfia in Italy, killing upwards 200,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The catastrophe occurred on December 28, 2008, a time when the American Great White Fleet was touring the world to demonstrate the rise to power of the United States. As the fleet was approaching the Mediterranean region, Presient Theodore Roosevelt, with the support of Congress, ordered the ships to assist in the rescue operation. President Roosevelt boldly asserted that the United States and the world owed much to Italy for its contributions to civilization.
Investigating Amreican and Italian archives, Professor LaGumina has provided a firt-had account of the suffering and the events surrounding the tragedy. He analyzes the world's reactios to the Messina erthquake. The United States took the lead in assisting the suffereing Italians. THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE is a must-read for those interested in the humanitarian aspect of American history. The volume contains 29 original photographs that reinforce the tragedy of the Messina earthquake.
Frank J. Cavaiolii, Ph. D.

THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE is another of Dr. Lagumina's well-researched and
informative books about the southern Italians, and their ability to endure unbelievable hardships. Few contemporary authors know those resilient people, whether in their native setting, or in making their way
in a new land, as well as Professor Lagumina. Like his other books about Italians and Italian-Americans, THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE is wonderfully
informative. The story's aspect that I found most gripping was the major role played by the United States, and its Great White Fleet that was
cruising in Mediterranean waters at the time of the earthquake that struck the Straits of Messina in late December, 1908. This is must reading for descendants of those hardy folks as well as for anyone who
is a student of human behavior in a natural disaster.

Tomas Tranströmer is a Swedish poet who is one of the strongest and most frequently honored artists of the time. Robin Fulton has translated and curated the bulk of Tranströmer's published poems in this magnificent book THE GREAT ENIGMA: NEW COLLECTED POEMS and it is a rare treat. In one tome are some of the most moving conversations with and about nature this reader has ever read. Tranströmer's ability to alter the landscape of the sea and the cliffs, the islands and havens, with an imagination that defies comparison: it is a staggering achievement.

Able to succeed in both the very short and the epic form, he finds those niches in our psyches and makes them into words we could never generate. 'It's spring and the air is very strong. I have graduated from
the university of oblivion and am as empty-handed as the shirt
on the clothesline.' Perhaps it is his training and practice as a psychologist that allows his entry into our heads the way few other poets can achieve. A solid (yet one of many equally powerful) examples would be the following 'Sailor's Yarn':

'There are bare winter days when the sea is kin to mountain
country, crouching in grey plumage, a grief minute blue,
long hours with waves like pale lynxes vainly seeking
hold in the beach gravel.

On such a day wrecks might come from the sea searching
for their owners, settling in the town's din, and drowned
crews blow landward, thinner than pipe smoke.

(The real lynxes are in the north, with sharpened claws
and dreaming eyes. In the north, where day lives in
a mine both day and night.

Where the sole survivor may sit at the borealis stove
and listen to the music of those frozen to death.)'

Few collections of poetry are as satisfying as this and to Robin Fulton's translations must go a lot of the credit. This book is stimulus for the adventurous imagination as well as for the lover of great sea songs. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, January 07

If you like poem, you must read this book.
If you dislike poem, you may be changed after reading "The Great Enigma".

Fantastic insight into the great private collections of Imperial Russia.
Beautifully illustrated with photos of the collection's.

I am surprised that Russian nobility possesses great art collection that worth millions of dollars in today's money. Great works by Picasso, Poussin, Monet, Gainsborough, Renoir, Gaugin and other impressionists took pride in the private galleries of russian noble families.

This book will amaze you of the artistic side and wealth of russian nobility.

My only concern is that the pictures are mostly of black and white. Too wordy and contains few interesting information about the paintings and artists.

Still, I gave 5 stars for the effort of coming up with this extraordinary book.

The story is very cute and clever. The artist did an amazing job of really bringing the story to life. The expressions on Billy Brown's face are wonderful. I hope to see more of this artist!

I had the chance to purchase this book by Margaret Read MacDonald--one of my fav authors--at the National Storytelling Festival, and my granddaughter just loves it. So do I, because it communicates traditional values in a subtle way. And because the illustrations are gorgeous. I'm buying more to give to new parents in my church.

Mr. Alford's superior research skills shine in this definitive account of nazi plunder in war-torn Europe. Should a reader's interest be piqued by the true story behind the disappearance of many of the greatest treasures of antiquity,to the extent documentation can provide, Mr. Alford produces the answers. This is a well written and entertaining account devoid of "political correctness". Mr. Alford has produced the facts. The reader is left to draw his own conclusions as to just who are the bad guys!

Ken includes his photo at a war museum room. Documented: many full illustrations of recovered booty. Best chapter on --Berchtesgaden---GI's looting,drinking best French Wine from Hitler's (Summer) home- cellars. Several pages on momentos--taken by GI's,like Sepp Dietrich's dagger--& Knight's Cross, highly prized nazi memorabilia. Author is top expert,this updates his "Spolis"book; does speaking tours, lives N.VA....

This is a really great book. I was going to write a long review, but when I read the editorial reviews above, I found they described the contents of the book almost exactly as I had intended to do, so I will not repeat those descriptions here. I will note that the book does require a working knowledge of World War I; it is not for the beginner. And it is not, nor intended to be, a complete history of the war. But, for example, the two chapters on the Somme give the best short overview of the entire battle I have read in 35 years of studying WWI. In every essay in the book I gained some new insights. I will also point out that the book does not have to be read in order; I jumped back and forth often in my reading. I'd give this book six stars if I could.

I found this book both compelling and readable. Each of the essays were written by talented and skilled writers and the topics range from Jutland, a Turkish viewpoint of Gallipoli, origins of the flamethrower, the Paris Gun and it's myths, the origin of the term 'No Man's Land', the brutal battles at Ypre, the Somme, noted pilots and their daring adventures, some great insight into 'Black Jack' Pershing and his dealings with the Allied generals and his lady friends.
These were edited from previously published MHQ magazine issues and should find a place on the book shelf of any WWI buff. Enjoy.

its not very functional but its enhanced with great illustrations, the information are brief and very clear,,, i really liked it ! i think its a perfect reference.

Papers concerning a serious topic seldom offer that addition zeal to motivate an audience; well, this volume of reference book yields intriguing facts about the author for that extra "PizAzz". The information offered includes: the writer's handwriting style, details about the writer's life, his work, and much more. Invest time, money, or the combination in this set for a paper that is funto read.