history

If only such a man with his minute knowledge of modern coinage as Dr. Paul D. Van Wie existed during the time of Louis XIV's reign in France, then maybe The French Revolution could have been outright avoided! This brilliant author's book on modern coinage was a delight to read and a real page turner! After having read this novel, I feel prepared to answer any question on modern coinage should it show up on the show Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which I plan to enter soon. Maybe I'll give this fine, young author a piece of my profits. You never know!

What other famous author has a professor who shook hands with the infamous Kerensky in the back of a candy shop? A man whose great uncle was executed because of his firm belief in Calvanism in The Netherlands during The Spanish Armada? A man who let his brother attend the more pretigious university as a sign of good will, and not due to the lack of a good throwing arm? A man who dresses up in a Halloween costume to frighten his own mother-in-law on Halloween night? A man who scares off the boogey-man by drinking red water? I am utterly uphauled that authors who publish books on The Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries fail to mention the name van Wie in the list of rational thinkers who shaped our era. Fact, Copernicus disproved the geocentric model of the universe. Fact, Doc van Wie used deductive reasoning, an enlightened characteristic, to determine that coinage and monetary systems shape our world. It is our duty to show our support for this underrated despot by purchasing a copy in each version of his book. And we shouldn't be cheap by going for the paper back too!

One reviewer wrote that Doc is the reincarnation of Johan Tetzel, well I must beg to differ. After many months of strenuous research, I have concluded that Paul Van Wie is truly the reincarnation of the Holy Savior Jesus Christ. Every single student that has graced his classroom has called him a "Saint" and claims to feel a holy aura beaming from his powerfully built Calvin Klein model-type body. One can see that it was Doc who acted as a "savior" to every single one of his AP Euro students in the few months before the AP test from eternal damnation (ie. their parents). He did by performing the greatest sacrifice of them all... devoting many hours of his life giving countless review sessions that he could otherwise spend at the Club shakin' it until the break of dawn. Another correlation that I have discovered between Doc and Jesus is that if Doc was "transubstantiated" into a type of bread and drink like Jesus does on holy mass, Doc would transsubstantiate into Nacho Cheese Doritos and Diet Snapple, a fine choice for a "last supper" I might add. Some also consider his book "The Holy Bible" of European coinage, which in many respects is true. Doc also preaches the holy doctrine of "respect thy Neighbor," which explains his odd and sometimes scary attraction towards Canada. And the last little tidbit of my research that proves Doc's "Jesus-ness" is his ability to speak in many different "Tongues," and even, yeah you guessed it, Dutch.

I first found this book in my local library and, being a lover of 9th and 10th century England, decided to give the book a try. From the first chapter I knew this book was honest and exhillerating.
The Edge on the Sword describes the early teenaged years of a young and spunky princess named Flaed who is pledged to marry one of her father's friends who lives far away.
To protect his daughter, King Alfred enlistes the help of Red, a war-hardened soldier who teaches Flaed about life and the art of war. Flaed learns to defend herself as she grows closer and closer to her protector. Red's devotion to protecting Flaed is soon put to the test as everyone fears for their lives.
A brilliant and eloquent piece of literature, The Edge on the Sword is an exciting and bittersweet tribute to the strong-willed who must press on through incredible hardship and pain.

AEthelflaed (or Flaed for short) lives in late 9th century England. At 15 she lives a happy life as the Kings daughter and a wannabe scholar. But when she learns that her father has, for political reasons, betrothed her to a man she's never met before she watches in shock as the little freedom she has left drifts away. Her father hires a guard named Red to protect her. In the beginning Flaed finds ways to escape from his watchful gaze but when something horrible happens Flaed realizes the seriousness of the situation she's in. Red teaches her how to defend herself, how to fight and use a shield. But when her skills are put to the test will she emerge victorious?

This is truly one of the best historical fiction novels I've ever read. Based on the real life story of one of England's most influential women, The Edge on the Sword weaves a wonderful tale of a strong young girl and her life. I recommend this books to fans of such historical novels as Anna of Byzantium and medieval novels such as the Crown and Court Duel.

The book The Edge on The Sword, was an incredable story, and I just loved it. If you like Old English stories, this book has enough, so that you will keep it in you hands. I defently recomend this book for ages 12-19. Some of the words are hard and would be hard for little ones.

I live in Riga, the same city Jack Ratz was born in, and the same city he was forced to flee during World War II. All the places he describes are still here, but the people who animate his book and who animated Riga are not here anymore. Even if Riga is still one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is still getting more beautiful everyday, it nevertheless lacks the diversity it used to have. It used to be a city where Germans, Latvians, Jews, Russians, Poles, Gypsies and people of many other nationalities lived side by side, with all the advantages but also the tensions that come with such an arrangement. However during World War II, the Jewish community was destroyed, and the Baltic-Germans who had been living her for many centuries were repatriated (willingly and unwillingly) to Germany. During the Soviet occupation from 1944 to 1991, the Moscow government continued to destroy Riga's international character by flooding Riga (and all of Latvia) with Russian immigrants, deporting the local Latvian population to Siberia, or simply executing them on the spot. Now Riga is the Latvian capital, but is still more than 50% Russian. By reading Jack Ratz's book, for a brief moment, the pre-war Riga seemed to come back to life. Many corners of the city which are now completely devoid of life or character were revived through Ratz's childhood memories. It is a shame that European Jewery was destroyed by the Nazis, it is a shame that Jack Ratz and his family had to live and die in such horrible ways, and it is also a shame that many cities in Europe, like Riga, which were alive with language, culture and color until World War II are now destroyed for ever. Jack Ratz's efforts to have the memory of Latvian Jewry live on in Riga, in Latvia and around the world is commendable. By doing this he does not only pay an immense service to the Jewish community but as well to the city of Riga, which is now trying to come alive again after 50 years of destruction and oppression. Even if the Jewish population is now almost invisible in Riga, at least the monuments erected with the help of Jack Ratz to the memory of the destroyed Jewish community will testify to what this city used to be and to what it has the potential to become again.

As the editor of this work, I was struck by the sincerity of the author as he reveals the depth of his faith during a time of limitless horror. Written in very accesible language, this book brings one man's Holocaust experience directly home to the reader. The author's motto, What can I do for you today?, is a true expression of his life experience and personal creed. The terrible episodes which shaped his life did not destroy it, and the book, which brings the reader Jack's life story to the current time, is heartening and optimistic.

Mr. Ratz has recorded his experiences at the hands of the Russian communist, then later Nazi invaders in Latvia starting in 1940. It is an inspirational story of survival under the most brutal conditions.

This is a well written story that is easliy read in one evening and well worth it.

You'll be able to look back after a bad day and think about what Mr. Ratz and others like him experienced during the holocaust, and realize that your day wasn't so bad after all.

Konnilyn Feig's engrossing journey into our not so distant past is an incredible encounter with the depths of human suffering and ultimately, the strength of humanity. A fastidious chronicle of Hitler's evil plans in action, "Hitler's Death Camps" is brutally honest in conveying the scope of the Holocaust's devastation. For an uninitiated reader of WWII suffering, Feig's book will be shocking but compelling. It is a needed text to fully comprehend what can happen to a society in the hands of hatred and moral dereliction. If you want to know what really occurred in the Holocaust, the reading of "Hitler's Death Camps" is mandatory

This book is perhaps the most comprehensive book on the concentration camp system. It offers insight into the make up each and every individual camp including the ghastly actions that took place inside the camps. Konnilyn Feig has done extensive research on this subject and should be regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on the holocaust and final solution. This book is a necessity for anyone trying to comprehend the madness that took place in Nazi Germany. It gives names, dates and places along with instructions on how to get to each of the camps. This book should be read before visiting any of the holocaust camps and/or museums. "Hitler's Death Camps" is currently in the National Holocaust museum. Anyone wanting to know anything about the holocaust and/or final solution needs to read this book.

I have the honor of being one of Dr Feig's students studying Eastern European History. I have read many things she has written, this book, like everything else , is amazing. I highly recommend it to everyone.

This oversize book is full of photos and graphics of the Catskills. It has good information on the entertainment aspect and on the workings and development of the big hotels. There are abundant quotes from the many Catskills entertainers, staff, owners, and guests that the Frommers interviewed. It Happened in the Catskills is a fun book to travel the Mountains with

This exuberant oral history of what Jewish comedians used to call the Borscht Belt re-creates a world now gone--a New York State vacation haven in the middle decades of this century primarily to New York City Jews. The Frommers, who collaborated on The Games of the 23rd Olympiad, have transcribed reminiscences of owners, executives, workers, entertainers and guests of establishments like Grossinger's, the Concord and the Nevele, which lured visitors as diverse as Nelson Rockefeller and an Indian maharajah and served as a proving ground for the developing talents of Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Neil Sedaka, Tony Martin and even opera star Robert Merrill. Besides stories of life in glamorous hotels, the coauthors recount adventures in the more modest bungalow colonies and smaller spots among the 500 resorts that populated the area. A wealth of ethnic jokes and photos also fill this unqualified treat.

While working at the Nevele Country Club, one of the many legendary Catskill resorts covered in this magnificent document, I briefly met Myrna and Harvey Frommer while doing their research. They probably don't remember me, I was too young at the time to offer the kind of history they were looking for, but the pair's enthusiasm and obvious love for the area's resorts and their unique (now long gone) familial atmosphere was readily apparent. When I finally got to read this book, it provided me with a sense of pride for being a part of its history. There's even an ancient picture of my father playing sax in the old Art Kahn Orchestra! But aside from personal connections, this book stands as a definitive oral history of an era. The people interviewed are true insiders, some of them legends in their own right among Catskill lore. And while the book provides some deep sociological perspective concerning its ethnic background, the authors know how to balance this with charming, amazing and often sidesplitting anecdotes. If you ever spent a weekend at Grossinger's, The Concord, The Nevele or one of the dozens of small bungalow colonies, this book will wash you in warm memories. And if you didn't have the chance, it will make you wish you did.

I felt every breath of emotion that Albert French's characters experienced. Mr. French has crafted an incredibly powerful story with a precision of language and structure. Every scene builds on the one before it. Characters and their situations evolve into a heart wrenching crescendo of emotional devastation. The screams of Billy's mother still resonate -- echo in my mind and spirit... three years after initially reading this story. Also, Mr. French brings the ignorance and prejudice of the time period alive. He masterfully bludgeons us with the brutality of it through desciption and dialogue. The reader must grapple with his/her own perspective of racism and its history. There is no easy way out. I highly recommend reading this book aloud. Many of my high school students from years past, still talk about this one book, read aloud to them in class. Like Toni Morrison's Beloved, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Ernest Gaines The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Albert French's Billy becomes a part of the way you view the world.

Billy is a must read! It tells a heart tugging story about a young boy on death row. This book is well written and will leave you thinking about Billy long after the last page is turned. I highly recommend this book. This would be a great choice as a book club selection.

"Billy" is a poignant, literally heartbreaking novel that exposes racism in a fictional small Mississippi town in the 1930's. Albert French did a brilliant job in using an anonymous narrator to relate the tragic story of "Billy". The author also expertly captures the horrendous effects of racism. This one I wasn't ready for. This story will stay with me for a very long time.

Once I began reading it, I couldn't stop! The book has an eerie similarity to recent events, even though it is fictional. I found myself wanting to read to find out what was going to happen next, while simultaneously fearing what I would read, out of apprehension that it would become a reality.
The author, John Hanny, is extremely knowledgeable about the White House and it's intricacies, due to his work experience within the White House. The reader finds him or herself wondering which of the details he provides in the book are true (layout, tunnels, etc.), which increases the level of curiosity and entertainment. I was completely enthralled with the book; it's format (easy to read, short, suspenseful paragraphs), story, politics, etc. In short, I loved it and you will too!

This is a fast moving,scary and extremely well written novel by John R. Hanny that is a must read for anyone. He is the new master of the political thriller and I enjoyed this book more than anything I have read in years, including Tom Clancy. If I could give this novel six stars, I would. If someone doesn't make this book into a movie they are crazy.

I have read over 600 books in the past 7 years and have always prefered historical themes. After reading Alseep at the wheel, my new favorite theme is intrigue. I read the book in one evening and my only disappointment is there isn't a sequil, yet? Hat's off to the new author!!

Groovy Greeks, a fun, educational and groovy book! Groovy Greeks is illustrated by Martin Brown and written by Terry Deary. the book is about the Groovy Greeks and the cool things that they did. The Groovy Greeks is one of the best books i have read!

That book is one of the funniest and most interesting history books - not only for children - I have ever seen. The text is interesting and really hilarious as well as the illustrations! P.S.: I am sure that you'll learn more about the 'groovy' Greeks by reading this book than listening to any teacher in school! cj/at

This book has so much info in it it will blow your mind, Great especialy the part on rencarnation.

Alex Kershaw's "The Bedford Boys" is about people. It is a history of what war does to individuals and those left behind. We are told that 5,000 Americans died on June 6, 1944, D-Day, but that is a statistic. This narrative is about folks who died trying to cross the beach code named Omaha ' Bloody Omaha. It is the names that make this volume uniquely harrowing, singularly distressing, exceptionally depressing. It is similar to the effect Maya Lin's Vietnam War Memorial in Washington has on people, 58,000 names memorialized in polished stone. Touch a name; contact a soul.
Bedford, Va, lost a higher percentage of its sons on D-Day than any community in America and that is the main reason the National D-Day Memorial was dedicated in the tiny village of Bedford in June, 2001. But 56-years of time and the presence of the president of the United States were not enough to salve the losses on Omaha Beach. Mothers and fathers were emotionally wounded by their losses, siblings permanently disheartened, widows and fiancees everlastingly scarred. Mr. Kershaw's book relentlessly reminds us that war is about humans.
The Bedford boys were shaped by the Depression, and the young men of Company A of the first Battalion of the 116th Regiment of the 29th Division had joined the National Guard in the 1930s for social purposes and also for the essential dollar-a-day they were paid when they were in training once each month and for two weeks in the summer. Many other Bedford inhabitants ' more than 1500 ' served in the armed services during World War II, but Company A was special. These men had grown up, gone to school, played baseball, and worked together, dated each other's sisters, trained and deployed as a group, and were in the first wave to assault Omaha Beach at H Hour on June 6.
Of the 28 troops from Bedford who left the landing craft, 22 were killed, most before they reached the sand, by murderous machine gun fire. Nine others also from Bedford did not reach the beach: five because their landing craft sunk on the way to shore and four others who were in support capacity and did not get ashore on D-Day.
Mr. Kershaw tells of the men trying to swim or wade with packs of more than 60 pounds on their backs, desperate to get ashore while the Germans from barely damaged bunkers and pillboxes laced the beaches with deadly fire: "The Germans had cut Company A to ribbons but they were not satisfied. They now riddled wounded men with arms outstretched in supplication. They peppered soldiers who could not crawl and American teenagers risking their own lives to save them. The . . . machine gunners shot rescuers in the back. Snipers aimed for the forehead." In all,102 men from Company A were killed in the first wave, about one third of the company.
In time, these horrors were brought to Bedford. Back home, the letters stopped a few days before June 6, and when correspondence did not start again soon after the sixth, families agonized over the lack of news.
Elizabeth Teass, one of the town's few telegraph operators, six weeks later "switched on the teletype machine." She read "We have casualties," and read the "first line of copy. 'The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret.'" Elizabeth had seen these words before, about once each week, but this time the machine did not stop. "Line after line of copy clicked out of the printer. . . ."
Mothers, fathers, wives learned from Western Union that day, and on other days soon thereafter of the death of Leslie Abbot, Wallace Carter, John Clifton, John Dean, Frank Draper, Jr., Taylor Fellers, Charles Fizer, Nicholas Gillespie, Bedford Hoback, Raymond Hoback, Clifton Lee, Earl Parker, Joseph Parker, Jack Powers, Weldon Rosazza, John Reynolds, John Shenck, Ray Stevens, Gordon White, John Wilkes, Elmer Wright, Grant Yopp. Every name spoke trauma and tragedy.
Understand this about D-Day, dear reader. The air bombardment of German fortifications was crucial, even if not as effective as hoped, and the naval attack on German defenses was essential, even if it did not silence most of the German guns, but at H-Hour when the landing craft lowered their ramps the success or failure of the greatest amphibious attack in the history of warfare, the event upon which the success of the Allied effort in World War II depended, all came down to the Bedford Boys and thousands of men like them scrambling in chest high water, weighed down with equipment and ammunition, and the water they splashed into was crimson with their blood and that of their buddies. And they advanced. Bless them all. Bless them all.

Wow. As an avid reader of World War II history, this book stands out with the likes of "Band of Brothers" and "Flags of Our Fathers" as one of the greats. This book appealed to me on several levels. First and foremost, I'm a living historian with the 29th Infantry Division re-enactment group and therefore have special feelings for that particular units sacrifice on D-Day. Also, I used to go to college twenty miles from Bedford, so I could relate to things like climbing Sharp Top mountain and strolling through the town. Other than that, the story pretty much sells itself. It's hard not to fall in love with the Bedford boys with all of the anecdotes and intimate stories that Kershaw tells in the book. The writing is crisp and sucks you in to the point where you really feel like you're there, struggling with them. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I still gasped a few times. In short, if you're a World War II buff or just someone who appreciates the cost of freedom, you should definitely grab this book. It's well-written, factually correct, and tugs at the heart -- just the way a good history book should. 29th, Let's Go!

Rural Bedford, Virginia, suffered the highest per capita D-Day casualty rate of any American town. Nineteen of its residents, or residents of Bedford County, in which the town is located, were killed at bloody Omaha Beach on that longest day, the first day of the Allied Normandy invasion. Three more residents were killed within the next few days. These Bedford soldiers were members of Company A, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division--the first troops to go ashore on H-Hour at Omaha Beach. The book is well written, a balance of contextualizing historical narrative and oral history of survivors and relatives. This work is not a history of D-Day, nor of the Omaha Beach attack, nor of the Normandy campaign--nor is it designed to be, there are other books which deal with these larger topics. Rather the author skillfully narrates the story of the Bedford boys who joined the National Guard during the Depression to earn a few extra dollars, were called into federal service and endured extended training in the U.S. before deployment to England for the invasion of France. The author portrays an emotionally compelling story of the devastating effects of the loss of so many sons, husbands, lovers, and fellow soldiers by the people of Bedford, reminding us both of the horror of war, its brutal and lasting effects, as well as the unfortunate fact that at times it may be necessary for the liberation of the oppressed and the preservation of freedom. Anne Frank, whose family in hiding learned of D-Day by their radio, entered in her diary that "the best part of the invasion is that I have the feeling that friends are approaching." (Bedford Boys, page 170) Today Bedford is the home of the National D-Day Memorial, a site well worth visiting, as is the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. The valor and sacrifice of those young men who perished so quickly in the massive D-Day invasion cries out to be remembered by every generation of Americans and citizens of the free world--especially since soon there will be no living survivors of D-Day, with the death each day of thousands of World War II veterans. This book, this D-Day Memorial, this D-Day Museum, and the lives of these brave young men and their families from rural Virginia, deserve a remembrance wherever that perpetual vigilance which is the price of liberty is honored. It was Erwin Rommel who called D-Day the longest day. And it is this day, and every day in which great sacrifices are made for freedom, from the American Revolution to soldiers today bravely defending freedom around the world, that deserves the longest of memories.

This is the first work by Hunter S. Thompson I have read. Perhaps I expected too much, after reading all the rave reviews. I found this collection disjointed, only occasionally humorous, and not at all shocking. I'm not at all sure what the unifying theme is. The nice thing is that since it is a collection, it can be read in bits and pieces. I give it three stars, because there were moments of hilarity.

Hunter S. Thompson is the craziest author that I have ever read. He has a specific style that I have never really seen before. He will go from one idea directly into a totally different one, and then back. The book itself is basically little stories composed on Thompson's experiences as a journalist. The stories take place generally in the 70's, and they are crazy. His constant religious metaphors are often hard to follow. My favorite story in the book is "Fear and Loathing at the Super Bowl." This is about a time when he was covering the Miami Super Bowl game. He is in a hotel and spends his time gambling and drinking. Drugs are a major influence on his life, which is one of the reasons he writes the way that he does. Throughout the story, you are introduced to many strange characters. These characters are described through the eyes of Thomson, which makes them all the more stranger. Thomson talks about preaching from his 15th story hotel room and in the lobby. The next second he is paranoid that the manager is after him. Thomson is an incredible journalist and writer, and his stories are outrageously interesting and thought provoking.

I first read this book when it came out and it is one of the few books I return to read over the years. Of Thompson's "Best Of's" (he has three "best of" volumes the author titles as "Gonzo Papers"), The Great Shark Hunt is easily the best. The book has very rare articles by the author in his formative years in So. America, as well as his best work from the height of his talent and fame (the 1970s). A good companion piece to "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" (the author's finest work and recently inducted as a Modern Library piece) and his insider look with "Hells Angels". The man has a mastery of the English language in a simple, flowing, humorous way