Montalban: Master of His Domain
934430
Ever Since I saw the press for this, I have been meaning to get the version here. As for the rating, if this is the Directors cut, then there is no way this should be PG-13;Personally I would like to see more options in these genres for unrated( especially when Adults make the principle purchase).That having been said, I still think that this film is very family friendly, even more so than most news casts.
I suspect that most people buying this will know the story, however some may not know that some edits were made, and this cut restores some. Anyways, the film has the most amazingly great audio and video. In 5.1 this film is superb.from start to finish this is a great ride. Wether you have never seen this film before, or if you are wanting the collectors cut, this is a gem.
THE DVD.
The Commentary. I am always ambivalent about Nicholas Meyers' commentary, however here he has come as close as he seems able to come to a balanced commentary, that is... informative and entertaining. The Second disc extras are great...a bit conflicting ( Shatner now compared to Shatner in 82 with his Attitude about the plot points), and the coverage of the Star Trek Universe... well, I guess Hard Core Trekkies wedge in some-how, and I could care less about that part of the bonus, but thankfully the WRATH OF KHAN is overall a great collection. Hopefully I can complete my set of these DVDs before  the series sells out.
2714327
A great introduction to the quality of John Steinbeck's masterful writing.  This is simply meant to be a broad survey of his work, not intended to be complete, yet is thorough nonetheless. Herein you will find representative short stories from The Long Valley and Pastures of Heaven, the complete versions of The Red Pony and Of Mice and Men, and excerpts from all his major novels.  Novel excerpts are often tricky to present out of context, and often fall flat, but these selections, especially from The Grapes of Wrath, Tortilla Flat, and East of Eden are powerful pieces of literature, booming with the resonance of Steinbeck's voice.  A book such as this is ideal for the traveler, casual reader, or initiate to John Steinbeck, and will most likely be the stepping stone for some to his complete works.  A special bonus to this book is Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, discussing the responsibilities of a writer--one more testimony to his depth and brilliance.
3983665
"Montcalm and Wolfe" is simply a wonderful work of history.  Francis Parkman is considered by many scholars to be the greatest American historian ever.  This book is his masterpiece, written in 1884 as the  final volume of his multi-volume work "France and England in North  America."  It  tells the story of the Seven Years' War (also known as the French and Indian War), which is  probably the most historically decisive war ever fought on the North  American continent.

Parkman writes with precision, eloquence, and  objectivity.  With his vivid and fast paced narrative, he demonstrates a  wonderful flair dramatizing history.  At the same time, his tremendous  knowledge about this vast and complex subject is evident on every page.  For me, the most fascinating parts of this book were the chapters which  described  the conflict for Acadia, and the ultimate forced evacuation of  the Acadians by the British; Braddock's defeat; and the battles of  Louisbourg and Quebec. Parkman's descriptions of these key events, and the  personalities behind them, make them seem to come alive.

Parkman writes  in the romantic style popular in the late nineteenth century; yet, his  prose is of such high quality that it never seems dated.  In fact, as I was  reading, I found it difficult to remember that "Montcalm and  Wolfe" was written over a century ago! This book, which  is already a timeless classic,  is essential reading for those interested  in the Seven Years' War. Most highly recommended.
101140
In the most compact and vigorous prose the Latin toungue had up till then seen, the future 'Dictator Perpetuo' reveals himself through his 'commentaries' (which were designed as propaganda to defend his action's  against his enemies) as a no non-sense leader of men, and a general of  genius.  On a review of his life one is taken aback that one man could have  had such drive and energy to divide between civic reforms, military  campaigns, and a host of other activities which brought him fame and renown  through out the entire Roman world; when at the same time he could with  ease write masterworks of classical literature the vividness and potency of  which still stun us.  One will especially enjoy his depiction of the  building of the siege works at Alesia, and the final defeat of  Vercingetorix.  A pleasure.
2972499
Diego Velazquez  is rightfully accounted one of the greatest of painters, and also as one of the least understood.  He is remembered for a series of magnificent portraits, usually of seventeenth century Spanish royalty and nobility but also including many perceptive studies of servants, court dwarfs, and other menials. With the slightest touch of his brush he could depict his sitters' inner characters so well that some, including the King of Spain, often refused to pose for him lest he reveal too much. In the nineteenth century John Snare was a busy stationer and bookseller in Reading, England, prosperous enough that he could indulge a love for collecting old paintings. At one fateful auction Snare was struck by the grimy portrait of a young man, purchased it for a few pounds, then spent the rest of his life obsessed with it.

That portrait is the link between Velazquez and Snare.  Snare became convinced that it was a long lost portrait of the future King Charles I of England, known to have been painted by Velazquez in 1623 during the Prince's unsuccessful attempt to marry a Spanish Infanta, and spent the rest of his life attempting to convince the rest of the world of the rightness of his belief.  This led to financial ruin, separation from his family, a lengthy lawsuit from a Scottish peer who believed he was the rightful owner of the painting, and eventual obscurity and an unknown grave in New York City.

Laura Cumming's fascinating chronicle traces Snare's story and tells it in parallel with that of Velazquez.  The daughter of a painter and an art critic herself, Cumming does an excellent job of describing and analyzing Velazquez's paintings for us, so that we actually feel we are standing in front of Las Meninas in the Prado, for example.  She does just as good a job of detection in her reconstruction of Snare's life, though the paper trail was frustratingly faint and she is forced to disappoint us in the end by revealing that no trace of Snare's painting can be found today.

I finished this book knowing a great deal more about, and with an infinitely greater appreciation of, the work of Diego Velazquez. I also finished it with great sympathy for John Snare and the hope that someday, in some bank vault or dark corner, his painting will be rediscovered and finally verified as a Velazquez.
4415322
I'm a great admirer of Jonathan Raban, so don't expect a disinterested review here!  But let me have a shot at reflecting on what many other reviewers, of all stripes, find lacking here. Raban is a very idiosyncratic writer, and Bad Land, like his other works, is a splendid literary hippogriff.  Nobody is going to find exactly what he or she expected when they picked the book up.  They will certainly find accounts of the homesteading movement and of the hopes and tragedies of the families who moved to eastern Montana in the early Twentieth Century.  But they will come across many different things as they move from chapter to chapter: history, landscape, weather.  But they will only find one thing here with continuity, Jonathan Raban:  Raban digging into the history of the soil and the implements used to plough it, Raban bewildered by the landscape as if he is standing in a Dali painting, Raban nearly incapacitated as he tries to ambulate over a few city blocks in the sub-zero weather in imitation of those early homesteaders.  And, as always, Raban, the quintessential outsider amidst outsiders, garnering not a few odd looks as he button-holds Montanans in pursuit of his quest.

But, really, it's not Jonathan Raban, per se, that holds this book together and makes it an amazing read.  Rather, it's his always literate and splendid writing.  Readers familiar with Shakespeare will notice how many times, consciously or subconsciously, Raban interjects parts of the lines from A Midsummer Night's Dream about the poet's "giving to airy nothings a local habitation and a name" and employs them to describe the homesteaders.  I almost missed "earth standing hard as iron, water like a stone" as being from Christina Rossetti's poem (posthumously turned into an English hymn) "In The Bleak Mid-Winter."  I'm sure I did miss many other subtleties in the reading of the work.  But the point here is that you are reading just as much about the plucky -at times, eccentric- quest of a man who views the world through the eyes of great literature as you are about the plight of the homesteaders and their eastern Montana descendents.

If this mix appeals to you, you will love this book.  If not, rest assured.  You will find many textbook and academic histories on the subject in your local library.
3816107
Conrad is one of the all time greats and this volume brings together much of his most important work (NB: the book is enormous, over one thousand pages and probably three pounds in weight. Hardly portable). Be aware, he is not an easy author to read, but the rewards are immeasurable. The stories vary quite a bit, but there is great adventure, travel to exotic lands, deep insight into character and the human mind, brilliant political and social commentary, and even what are some of the first spy stories ever written. His sentences are long and complex, but his language is beautiful and his descriptions are vivid. His grasp of human psychology is second to none and he wields it to create characters that are vibrantly alive. Many of the issues present in Conrad's work continue to resonate today as he was one of the first writers to engage the world as a whole and consider the interactions between different cultures in a way that very much reflects the realities of modern globalization.
2077751
Henry Adams' MONT SAINT MICHEL AND CHARTRES (MSMC) is simply a great book.  Adams' lucid writing style  and his insights are impressive, and this book should be read by every supposedly "educated" individual.  Adams deals with complex topics such as Gothic Architecture, Medieval poetry and mysticsim, and Scholastic Philosophy with clarity and ease.

The early sections of MSMC compare the church of Mont Saint Michel with the Catholic view of St. Michel who was militant and was the perfect example of the Medieval hero defending the Catholic Church against all enemies.  The comparison with this church with that of Chartres which was the examplar of God's mercy via St. Mary is insighful and facinating reading.

Such embellishment of St. Mary or Notre Dame(Our Lady)is further investigated in Adams book by Adams' careful treatment of Medieval Poetry.  Adams's translations of Medieval French and Latin are good and give those who are not familiar with these languages a better understanding of both the poetry and the Medieval devotion to St. Mary.

Much of this peotry was mystical, and Adams demonstrates the attempt of St. Francis and the Franciscans to use such mystical thought in their missionary efforts to help the very poor.  St. Francis' mysticism is revealed in Adams' translation of St. Francis' poem titled BROTHER SUN AND SISTER MOON.

Henry Adams then compares and contrasts Medieveal mysticism, which bordered on Pantheism, with Scholastic Philosophy.  Adams gives the reader an insight to scholastic debate when he summarizes the debate between William of Champaux and Peter Abelard(1079-1142).  Here Adams demonstrates his understanding of how students and masters argued and learned.  He also shows the careful balence the Catholic authorities tried to impose between reasoned debate and heresy.

The last section of the book deals with the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).  Adams careful treatment of Aquinas' thought is worth the price of the book.  Adams gives the Angelic Doctor high praise for both his clear thinking and liberality.  Adams also effectively deals with the liberality of the Medieval Catholic authorities who canonized so many men whose views were apparently contradcitory.

Henry Adams' MONT SAINT MICHEL AND CHARTRES is intellectual history at its best.  The book deals with complex ideas and views in an attractive literary style which holds the readers' interest.  This reviewer has read this book numerous times since he first read it in 1968 and has never found the book to be boring.  Readers should also read Thomas Woods HOW THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILT WESTERN CIVILIZATION and compare Woods sections on the High Middle Ages with Adams' book.
1646013
This is a very thorough, carefully referenced, and clearly written narrative and analysis of Franco's tenure as the autocrat of Spain.  Payne begins with a concise introduction to the relevant background of Spanish politics and the origins of the Civil War, providing a nice overview of the major ideological currents and which of these currents is likely to have had the greatest influence on Franco.  Payne's discussion of the origin of the Civil War is probably the most controversial part of the book.  His position, laid out extensively in a prior book is that the actions of the Spanish Leftist and Radical parties were the primary contributors to the demise of the Second Republic.  Payne's points are well taken but other scholars have tended to emphasize the role of the right in destabilizing the Second Republic.  Payne then provides a nice overview of the Civil War, concentrating on the politics of the Nationalist side, the development of Nationalist ideology, and Franco's role as the eventual leader of the Nationalist movement.  The narrative of Franco's participation in and leadership of the Nationalist cause shows the qualities that characterize his whole career as the Dictator of Spain.  Cautious, thorough, tenacious once committed but politically flexible, and a very good judge of subordinates.  The Nationalist triumph in the Civil War derived to a large extent from Franco's military professionalism.  While certainly not an outstanding commander, his competence and the unity command inherent in having a single leader gave the Nationalists a substantial advantage over the Republicans.  Payne divides the subsequent regime into 3 phases.  The initial consolidation of power and semi-fascist phase, a period of authoritarian nationalism with a strong emphasis on Catholic traditionalism, and the final relative reformist phase from about 1960 to Franco's death.  Each of these phases is discussed well with a good balance of narration and analysis of the underlying currents.  Payne does a particularly nice job of tracing the tortuous history of internal regime politics and the impact of external events on the regime.  Franco emerges as an unusually capable politician who was able to balance competing groups within his regime and willing to make key compromises when necessary.  At the end of the 1950s, it became clear that the regime's economic policies were total failures.  Franco had the flexibility to accede to marked changes in policy that played a major role in Spain's subsequent remarkable economic development.  Payne is thorough, dispassionate, and makes judgements free of rightist or leftist cliches.
454489
This is a good biography on Michelangelo, viewing his life through a detailed look at six of his most famous works, The Pieta, David, the ceiling frescos of the Sistine Chapel, the Medici Tombs, The Last Judgement and his role in the construction of Saint Peter's. Other works are addressed as well, the analysis of the Bacchus statue is very insightful, but the author chooses to make his points addressing these works.

In most cases, I think this work succeeds admirably. It features some excellent comments on the nature of the work, in particular the understanding that the subjects (David, God, Christ, Noah, Moses, Bacchus) have been imbued with back stories, not unlike say the characters of Tolstoy. There is a tale that the positioning of the body, its attitude and surroundings tell us, it is just a matter of looking closely, beyond just the technical mastery, which is dazzling.

The only section of the book I would fault is the one dealing with the Medici tombs. This section seemed a little disorganized and this reader was a little taken aback when the topic reemerged after an interlude of several pages. Many of Michelangelo's commissions could be confusing, just by the nature of his clients' fortunes, the struggles among the various components of the Italian peninsula, the Papacy, the Empire and France all had significant impact on Michelangelo's work. The tombs were no exception, indeed, they may be the most outstanding example.
1277238
AUC Press is a valuable gateway through which readers can explore modern Arabic literature in high-quality translations.

This historical novel is an excellent example. It covers the last two decades of the life of Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 C.E.), the great Tunisian-born historian and philosopher of history. He is dubbed a polymath, an expert in many disciplines. Ibn Khaldun was trained as an Islamic scholar but his lifelong fascination was with history and with the social sciences that surround it. He was a pioneer in sociology, cultural anthropology and economics.

Himmich's novel begins in Cairo, after Ibn Khaldun has written his great history, and tragically lost his wife and children when their ship went down off the coast of Alexandria. The story covers three phases that steadily build in intensity:

(1) Seven nights spent dictating to his amanuensis, recording his thoughts - and second thoughts - on tyrants, governments, "group solidarity" (one of the greatest evils, he says) and political intrigue;

(2) An unexpected second chance to build a family, when the 60-year-old falls in love, marries again and fathers a child, seeking to balance his new personal life with precarious public service as a religious judge under the dangerous Mamluk sultan Barquq; and

(3) His role with the next sultan, Barquq's 13-year-old son Faraj, in defending Damascus against the Mongol conqueror Tamerlane - and helping to negotiate that city's surrender.

Throughout the novel, we see another side of the great historian: his human frailty in a dizzying maelstrom of political duplicity and violence. Ibn Khaldun, a scholar who disdains tyranny and abuse of power, nevertheless quails before the mighty and heaps sickening flattery upon the mercurial sultans - and later upon all-powerful Tamerlane. Ibn Khaldun finds his own behavior disgusting, but he justifies it as the only way to stay alive, and thereby protect his wife and baby daughter. Sadly, even the stratagems of a polymath sometimes come to naught.
4149174
There's a reason the book is subtitled, "The Life and Times of Machiavelli."  The author does a great job of explaining the political and social environment during Machiavelli's career and connecting his writings to his career needs when he wrote them.  In this light, some of the more controversial sections of "The Prince" make sense.

The political environment of M's native Florence was a class-conflicted republic, embedded in a fractured Italy where contending foreign powers invaded at will.  M's chosen career as a diplomat can be seen as a personal rise to the challenge of keeping Florentine liberties - he worked hard at becoming a player in the foreign relations game and did pretty well until a regime change in Florence brought a purge of supporters and functionaries of the prior faction.  He was famously on the outs with the de' Medici and wrote "The Prince" to display his mastery of politics to the new rulers. It seemed to pay off, in time.

The book has an interesting link of M's thoughts and writings to the regional character of the Florentines, their cynicism and irreverence, of which the author is proud to share.  The text is sprinkled with Florentine folk sayings, used to explain M's actions and writings.

If I could offer some minor complaints, the principal one is that sometimes the translation is a bit muddled and the author overuses Italian place names and phrases.  A second complaint is the need for better, more detailed maps.  The single map doesn't even show many of the places mentioned in the text.  I was also left wondering about the economic basis for Italian society - where did all those ducats come from?

Overall, a highly recommended biography of Machiavelli and guide to the politics contemporary to his career.
4817608
I have just finished to translate in Italian language "MONTCALM and WOLFE"; I am really a passionate of the USA history, and, particulary, concerning the period starting from 1650 to 1800. I think that Parkman, with his book, has exposed in a precise, charming and, sometimes, amusing style one of the better period, in my opinion just of the American history. Every details is deeply puntualized, and some episodes, up to now just alluded into the books that I have red on the argument (very few here in Italy) are described in a detailed, almost pedantic way ; the traits related to all the personages are well delineated (into my mind I have really present who were MONTCALM and WOLFE, only reading as Parkman speaks about them). Really a beautiful book, thanks Francis Parkman to have written it.
1156695
Camilleri's Commissario Montalbano takes you to Sicily, with the view of his human police actions and the intrigues that fascinate you to the end. Very much recommended.
683650
Those who are familiar with books by author Allen Josephs, his distinguished fifty year academic career, and the honors and awards that have been bestowed upon him will not be surprised by this volume.  Others may be astounded.

This collection ranges farther, wider, and goes much deeper than other Hemingway books for many reasons, not the least being that Josephs can and does write with certitude rather than relying upon speculation.

There have been so many bad books published about Hemingway, his life and his writing that the reader of this book experiences a feeling of joy to happen on this volume - a large, true, hard, bright shining diamond among the dust of so many bad books about Ernest Hemingway.

Some may have as much knowledge of Hemingways art as Josephs, none has more.  Some may have as much knowledge about Hemingways life as Josephs, none has more.  Some may have as much knowledge about Spain as Josephs, none has more.  Some may have as much knowledge about toreo or what is incorrectly referred to in English as bullfighting as Josephs does, none has more.

It is Spain and toreo, the art form Hemingway devoted a nonfiction book to in 1932 wherein EH revealed more about his art, writing than in any other book he wrote, thus, it is essential for those interested in Hemingway whose profound impact on English literature is only rivaled by Shakespeare to overcome their prejudices against toreo, to attempt to understand it.

No one writing in the English language knows more about the corrida and taurine world than Josephs who has been a serious aficionado for fifty-one years, devoting ten of those years to researching and writing the highly acclaimed work on toreo, Ritual And Sacrifice In The Corrida.

There is no one who has ever known more or understood more about all of these subjects - Hemingway's work, his life, Spain and bullfighting - than Allen Josephs.

Beyond being the most important Hemingway book to be published in many years, this book holds a real surprise for the reader as it is one of the most entertaining books of any kind published in many years.

It is very unusual for a book of this kind to be a page turner, a book the reader cannot put down.  This is unheard of.  This is exactly that kind of book.

For everyone who values literature and enjoys reading fiction, nonfiction, biographies and histories, this book is essential, for it imparts great insight into the writings of one of the greatest authors in history and provides real biography that cuts away myth, giving us a historical perspective of creative writing from 1921 to the present, for the influence of Hemingway is never ending.

Josephs other published works informed my own research as I worked on a book I wrote that in small part addressed some of the topics fully developed in this extensive and complete collection.  Thus, I eagerly anticipated the publication of all of these works in one book.

I, like many writers, owe a deep debt to the published works of Allen Josephs.

This book will not only become a source book for all writers, but also for all readers of literature in every genre. It is an invaluable addition to Josephs large body of work and to American literature.

Ray Mouton
Author of PAMPLONA, Running The Bulls, Bars, and Barrios In Fiesta De San Fermin
324644
I had read this book many years ago when it was published, but with a new fascination for Velasquez, I wanted to read it again.  It was so wonderful that I ordered three copies to gift artist friends. It is well-written and shares intriging stories of  Diego Velasquez, the Artist AND the Courtier.  The writer's many years spent in Madrid make this biography fascinating as you feel that he truly "knows the territory." His new novel, "SOLO GOYA", is the story of another famous Spanish artist, Goya and his abbreviated relationship with the Duchess of Alba. It is fictional in part but greatly grounded in fact.  One feels that you, the reader, are there in those troubled times. I highly recommend both of these as well as many other of the books by Jon Manchip White.
1983083
I am amazed at some of the panning this book has received. With out a doubt this book ranks way up there with the likes of - well, name them all. Mr Frazier shares with us not only  vivid snapshots of his 200 year old mountain legacy, he also paints word scapes. Each character is a microcosm of us all. This is the real deal. I havn't read anything as indelible for many years.