european

Thimm's bibliography is one of the unique fencing related volumes of the nineteenth century. Along with Castle's "Schools and Masters of Fence," it should be in every fencing library. As the author of "The Art and Science of Fencing," "The Inner Game of Fencing," and "The Encyclopedia of the Sword;" and the Editor-in-Chief of FENCERS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, I recommend it.

Thimm offers the most complete listing of historical fencing manuals and was one of the most thorough of Victorian era sword scholars. Most importnatly his material lists texts which actually still exist today and are being studied once again. - John Clements, HACA Director

There will not be a better collected edition of these plays in English translation. For both casual readers and scholars unable to read Ibsen in the original Norwegian, Rolf Fjelde's translation and supplementary materials make this volume unbeatable.

Fjelde presents Ibsen's major prose plays (which leaves out, of course, beauties like "Peer Gynt" but includes "A Doll House," "Ghosts," "An Enemy of the People," and "Hedda Gabler," among others) in fresh new translations, often altering standard misuses. He explains, for example, that traditional renderings of "Et dukkehjem" as "A Doll's House" warp its real meaning, which is simply "A Doll House." Pedantic as it may appear, this care is necessary, and evident throughout.

Even better are the almost 100 pages of extras: detailed introductions to each play, as well as minutely researched production histories. Who knew, for example, that "Ghosts" premiered not in Denmark or Norway but...Chicago, in 1882? The production notes and introduction to the volume tell a story we don't often hear about Ibsen, a tale of difficulties in Scandinavia, followed by years of exile and, ultimately, international acclaim. Reading the plays, which seem to have become more and more specifically Norwegian in setting and theme while Ibsen himself became more and more cosmopolitan, conjures memories of another exile who only ever wrote about home: James Joyce, not coincidentally one of Ibsen's greatest admirers.

For the price, you can't do better for English translations of these pieces--many of which can't be found elsewhere--whether you're a scholar in need of the historical context Fjelde obligingly provides, or simply interested in plowing through some of the foundations of 20th century and contemporary drama.

These twelve plays, written in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Ibsen himself often referred to as a cycle. Each is complete in itself, but regarded together, they form a remarkable artistic achievement.

The earlier works in the cycle achieved notoriety because of their themes, which were considered daring in those days. Nowadays, we can view these works with a greater objectivity. It is clear that Ibsen was still developing what was then a relatively new form - the realistic prose drama; and there are elements - e.g. the attempted blackmail and intercepted letter in "A Doll's House" - where we may still see remnants of the older type of melodrama from which Ibsen was attempting to break out. But they are very fine plays nonetheless, dealing with the individual's relationship with the wider society. Ibsen always remained aware of the extent to which human characters are moulded by the society they inhabit, but from "Rosmersholm" onwards, he focussed more on the characters' inner lives. He also found ways of saying more with less: his later plays are so concentrated, that not a word, not a gesture, is irrelevant.

Instead of re-using old myths, like Wagner or Joyce in their fields, Ibsen creates myths of his own: the white horses of Rosmersholm, for example, or the Master Builder who had defied God, but who dares not climb as high as he builds. A powerful poetic imagination is apparent in these plays, filling them with images of unforgettable intensity. The last play, "When We Dead Awaken", appears in part to forsake the realistic drama that Ibsen had so painstakingly developed, and return to the world of those earlier poetic masterpieces, "Brand" and "Peer Gynt".

"Hedda Gabler", "The Master Builder", "Little Eyolf", "John Gabriel Borkman" - these late plays are worthy to stand alongside the tragic masterpieces of Shakespeare or the Greeks. But a Nordic chill runs through them.

There are distinguished translations by, amongst others, Michael Meyer (Methuen), Una Ellis-Fermor and Peter Watts (Penguin), and here, usefully collected in one volume, by Rolf Fjelde. They all bring out different aspects of these works, and they are all eminently readable. (Having seen many of these translations in various performances, they also work well on stage.) Until I learn Norwegian to read these works in the original, these translations will have pride of place on my shelves.

Edith Södergran is my favorite poet, her work is truly amazing. And she's Finnish, so that makes me even prouder! It's great that people all over the world can get familiar with her work!

No patience for poetry! 'Rarely has a piece of poetry done ANYTHING but irritate me, but this..... This woman's work - which is a portrait of her SOUL - absolutely rocked my world, and does so every time I look into it, all over again. This should be required reading in every high school, or at least in the average college lit course. But I had to locate it quite accidently many years ago. Sodergran, as far as I'm concerned, is Immortal.

This is without a doubt one of the finest translations into English of Chrétien de Troyes' Arthurian romances, which includes the seldom found "William of England".
In "Cliges" are many references to the "Tristan and Iseult" story found in other venues. The tale of Greek and English lovers is not typical of what one expects to find in Arthurian romances.
The term "courtly love" wasn't introduced until the nineteenth century, but according to French scholars, the story of "Le Chevalier de la Charette", or "The Knight of the Cart" (AKA, Lancelot and Guinevere) is the first lyric poem that dealt with this subject. I'm sure I won't be the only person who finds surprises in this early version of the tale.
For those who would like to see one of Sir Thomas Malory's sources, and enjoy a good read into the bargain, this is indeed a book to consider purchasing.

I've read several books on Arthurian literature, and this is one of my favorites. In Knight of the Cart, Chretien really makes Lancelot shine as he sacrifices more than anyone (Arthur particularly) to save Guinevere. Knight with the Lion is a little on the twisted side as Yvain falls in love with the wife of the man he kills, breaks a promise with her, then gets her back through trickery of words.

Very solid, very readable translation by Staines.

Donald Frame's translations of Montaigne's essays have long been considered one of the two finest contemporary translations available, M.A. Screech's excellent version being the other.

The essays speak for themselves, or at least should. Their popularity is well known and well deserved, and there are a number of fine essay collections available. What's great about this edition is that included with the classic essays are a few extant letters and Montaigne's travel journals, which were lost until almost two hundred years after his death. These additional pieces are not going to rival the essays in popularity -- the letters are few and formal, for instance -- but if you enjoy the mind of Montaigne you'll enjoy these extra inclusions.

Between June of 1580 and December of 1581, Montaigne -- with four other nobles and a variety of servants -- traveled through France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy before returning to Bordeaux. In the journals you'll find more evidence of the author's deeply interested view of the world around him, set out in that seemingly (and charmingly) haphazard, humane style found in spades in the essays.

In one entry, for instance, you'll find him retelling (with a straight face?) a local story he has heard of a young girl who jumped up and down so strenuously during play that she turned into a boy (Montaigne claims that at least a few locals back up this tale); in other entries you'll find him more down to earth, describing, for instance, the little stoves in the homes of Germany, or the tiles that lined some of the homes in what is now Switzerland, or the murals on the walls of Jeanne D'Arc's father's home.

By 1581, when Montaigne visited Rome, the treasures of the Vatican had become a mandatory stop on any well-informed traveller's itinerary. To his delight, Montaigne was shown ancient Roman and ancient Chinese manuscripts, the love letters of Henry VIII, and the classics of history and philosophy. Then, as now, the Vatican Library was one of the greatest in the Western world.

This journal is an interesting view of 16th-century Europe (the architecture, the topography, the manners and customs) through a master stylist's eyes. It's nice to have back in print an edition of Montaigne's complete works, especially since it uses Donald Frame's translations.

The late Donald Frame's translation is, as Harold Bloom credits, superb. Add to it the quality and aesthetics of the Everyman's series and this is an unbeatable edition of Montaigne's works. I plan to buy several copies of this edition as gifts.

Thirty years after reading Erico Verissimo for the first time, his writing still awakens a consciousness in me that only good, universal writing can do.

E. Verissimo talks in "Consider the lilies of the field" about a man that wants to get rid of the poverty of his infancy by leaving everything and everyone behind as he scales the ladder of power and fame as an important doctor. However, the past hits him back when the woman he loved in the past dies, leaving him with their child and many doubts about her, and what they once felt for one another. And this is just the beginning of his misadventures in the South of Brazil before WWII. Consider this a book for life - it talks straight to your heart from page one till the end. You really must be made of stone to dislike it!

Contemporary Painting in Poland is an absolute delight for all wishing to better understand the contemporary art (painting) scene in Poland. Mr. Noyce provides a brief, yet thorough history of Polish painting, accompanied by insightful profiles of 48 notable, contemporary Polish artists. Excellent examples of the artists' works fill the 236 large-formatted pages. As a Polish-American, I found the book truly inspiring and have reserved a special spot in my library for it.

I have both of Mr. Noyce's books covering Polish painting and graphic arts. They represent an excellent overview of current art in Poland. I lived in Poland for two years and purchased many pieces by artists represented in Noyce's books. This book covered quite a few artists I had not known about. From my experience, contemporary painting is not as developed or respected in Poland as the graphic arts and printmaking. This is a great reference guide that I am going to use the next time I am back in Poland.

It is wonderful to have these books accompanying my art collection.

If you do not have enough time to sift through all the important continental philosophers, but want to get a detailed summary idea of their thoughts, this book is an excellent primer. Kearney has done an excellent job of anthologizing selections of text that best represent each philosopher's thoughts. Treacherous waters of phenomenology, hermaneutics, deconstruction, and such can be navigated through these selections of writings, and there are excellent introductions to the philosophers and their work in the beginning of each text. Especially now that we are in the 21st century, these thoughts of the 20th century must be appreciated to know our own history - cultural, philosophical, and historical. This book is an excellent start.

As a student of Dr.Kearney, I can say with confidence that this work is a very excellent and informative survey of the world's modern western continental philosophers. For anyone interested in studying philosophy, this is an great place to find where your interests lie and where a possible concentration might possible develop. For those who seek specifics, this work is divided into a section of phenomenology and hermeneutics, then a section on critcal thinking and theory and finishes off with a study of structuralism. Definitely a worthwhile read for anyone interested in western philosophy.

I'm a Balzac's french fan.
"Cousin Pons" is one of my favourites Balzac's novels.
This novels speaks about art (music, paintings, ...), social relationships in a family and in a flat, and over there of FRIENDSHIP.
The friendship between Pons and Schmücke is the most facinating aspect of this novel (may be it's more than a frienship : a platonic love ?).

This novel (Cousin Pons) for some reason is my favorite Balzac novel. Touching, perceptive, melancholy, and filled with brilliant characterization. You might try this if you have never read Balzac, and find out what happens to a "poor relation" who is suddenly discovered to be a "rich relation" by the relatives who have been treating him shabbily for the past three decades.

Then of course it's on to "Lost Illusions" and its sequel, "A Harlot High and Low" (Splendeurs et miseres....)

Having recently returned to teaching 8th graders after practicing law for many years, I'm trying to catch up on what is available. I'm sure my reluctant readers would not not care for this book - but I certainly did, and I'll recommend it to my more adventurous readers. The historical background is essentially accurate, and deals with a time period and event little known or studied in today's classrooms. The action is fast-paced; the quality of expression superb. I encourage my college-bound students to supplement their studies with quality historical fiction - this fills the bill.

The sequel to A Messenger for Parliament, Cromwell's Boy continues the story of Oliver Cutter, a young boy during the English Civil War. Again, Haugaard tells an exciting tale with his vivid descriptions and well developed characters. You again meet the original Faith, Jack, Ezra, and many more. This story is action packed and you won't be able to put it down.