MASTERPIECE: WOLF HALL
354149
THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE THAT SHOULD BE SEEN BY OTHERS. IT WAS INFORMATIONAL ABOUT THE TIMES OF ENGLISH KING HENRY VIII. I AM VERY MUCH INTO HISTORY.
4132292
I have been following Jon Ortner's career for a very long time and his work never ceases to amaze.  His latest coffee table size "Peak of Perfection" is, in my opinion, his finest work to date. Each shot reveals the very essence of Ortner's highly stylized, artistic eye and attention to detail; his subject matter is, yet again, fantastic to look at. Nudes on my coffee table!  This beautifully assembled book is a treasure.
1103750
Product just as expected and described.  Arrived quickly and in perfect condition.  Very smooth and easy transaction.  Can't wait to complete the wolf and hang in on the wall.  Thank you.
1297450
Wonderful story telling with fascinating historical detail and incredibly well drawn characters of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. This sequel is just as good as Wolf Hall. It gave me a greater understanding of the complex legal, political, financial and psychological issues involved. If you are interested in English history, or just want to read a gripping story, this is a must read that is all the more fascinating because the characters are based on real people.
798152
I must admit that for the longest time, my attention and focus, while studying Michelangelo, has been towards the Sistine Chapel. Most of the books I own on him devote numerous text and space to the ceiling, and a moderate take on the Last Judgement. It's not that I didn't appreciate the wall, or regard it as a masterpiece--truthfully, when I saw it in person, it floored me--I just didn't pay very much attention to it.
Boy, was I missing out. After finishing the companion book, Sistine Chapel: A Glorious Restoration, I decided I should pick this one up as well (might as well complete the picture, so to speak).
First of all, this book does not disappoint. The pictures are sumptuous and provide phenomenal detail. The Last Judgement is a very "busy" painting, with Michelangelo including approximately 400 figures, so it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This book systematically breaks the painting down into its various sections, detailing the thoughts (spiritual and secular) behind the depictions, bringing the fresco into focus.
The book also describes the painstaking restoration the wall went through and its glorious results.
After reading this book, I have a renewed vision and appreciation for this work. When I saw it in Rome, the wall stunned, scared and thrilled me all at the same time; this book brought that all back. Simply put, I love this book and consider it to be an important piece to my collection.
Bravo.
3598429
What can I say?  The woman is brilliant.  She can convincingly (and lovingly) step into the shoes of any narrator.  I loved this book to pieces - maybe even more so than I loved "Wolf Hall," which is saying something!
2600263
An excellent book detailing the weeks leading up to Anne Boleyn's execution. I struggled with "Wolf Hall," even while realizing that Mantel is an excellent writer. But after reading this one, I'm tempted to re-read it. Thomas Cromwell remains an enigma to me, but that may be the point. There are so many layers to his personality and resulting machinations - I never knew what he was really feeling, as opposed to what he was really thinking. Mantel transforms what history would record as a dull, dry "bureaucrat," into a fascinating character study.
1610925
Much easier reading than Wolf Hall, this is a 'hard to put down' book, inspite of the fact that we know the ending. Beautifully written with a wonderfully vivid use of language. The Mann-Booker  Prize was well deserved
124421
I own this film and I never tire of watching it.  As a passionate wolf advocate, I am always grateful to see films which show the true nature of wolves made available to the general populace - not just scientists and environmentalists. Another terrific wolf film, "Wolves at Our Door", made by wildlife film maker Jim Dutcher, has done wonderful things for the public's awareness of the intelligence, complexity, and devotion to family that are the keystones of the nature of the wolf.  The film is carefully pieced together, however, with gorgeous backround music, etc.  It's a beautiful film about beautiful animals - but it lacks the raw realism that this film shows: this is about two men, Dave Mech (famed wolf biologist) and Jim Brandenburg (famed wildlife photographer and wolf lover), freezing their charms off on Ellesmere Island to observe a pack of wolves who have never before known human contact.  Apart from great footage, the beauty of this particular film is in the unstaged way in which it shows the life of this wolf pack - and the remarkable tolerance - and trust - that the wolves come to show to both these extraordinary men.  I recommend this film to everyone, not merely to wolf lovers.  I particularly hope that those who do NOT love the wolf will see it.  Perhaps they will learn something, besides the error of their ignorance.
2997590
Wolf Hall brings Cromwell and a story I thought I knew into new, vivid life. The inner world of Cromwell and the personalities and machinations of the court captivated me, because this writer is masterful and unusual.  Historical fiction is not my genre, or so I thought...
3322004
I love this book. As an aspiring visual storteller, it really provides a background of all the work behing a masterpiece. The book is filled with pencl sketches, sculptures photos, digital paints, renders, and commentaries from the people who did the work, as well as the director's approach to excellence. The only thing regretable things is that I does not include the color script. More storyboard images would have been a plus too.
4475252
This book, celebrating Fallingwater's 75th anniversary, is a testament to how much Mr. Wright, and his masterpiece of organic architecture, still have to teach us.

The book begins with a "Director's Tour," by Lynda Waggoner, accompanied by Christopher Little's wonderful photographs. It's the next best thing to being there!

I've lived on the same road as Fallingwater, for many years; it's a feature of my neighborhood, so to speak. I've seen it in all seasons, over decades. It's never looked as fine as it does in these pages.

The book features seven illustrated essays by experts and Wright scholars, along with appendices and notes. Documents and personal correspondence from the Kaufmann family, which only recently entered the public domain, were among the treasures that fascinated me most about the new book. Whether you're a frequent visitor yearning for more, or someone just discovering the greatest example ever of a building in absolute harmony with nature, this book will not disappoint.
4569096
It never ceases to amaze me how convincingly Hilary Mantel forms the character(s) in these stories. They are utterly believable and enjoyable. I particularly missed Cromwell once I had finished. In terms of rhythm this second tome starts slowly and builds to a strong ending. This is the reverse of of the first in the series, Wolf Hall. I think for sheer impact Wolf Hall is better, but if you want more of the same you are going to read this and enjoy it.
4569456
This book finally hits its stride with this volume.  These are modern classics, truly epic-feeling stories that define favorite characters.  It is illuminating to read Tower of Babel, featuring art by Howard Porter, and then Divided We Fall, with art (mostly) by Bryan Hitch.  What a difference a great artist can make!

Bryan Hitch is an exceptional artist.  Each panel is expressively composed to convey the story and the emotional content.  The figures and facial expressions are carefully rendered.  When the characters use their powers, you can feel the energy and drama crackle from the pages.  The panels featuring "establishing shots" of the watchtower, or Earth seen from the moon, have true grandeur and scale.

Mr. Hitch also possesses a great creative imagination- his interpretations of fictional and mythic creatures, the characters of the "Into the Woods" storyline, are striking and fearsome.  When rendering conflict on an earth-shattering, cosmic level, Mr. Hitch effectively conveys the scope and power involved, with dazzling light effects and dynamic compositions.

Certainly, the nuanced writing of Mark Waid also contributes to the refreshing feel of this book.  As brilliant as Grant Morrison has shown himself to be, with his work on X-Men, Batman, JLA/Earth2, All-Star Superman, and of course his many works for Vertigo, he made a complete mess of his run on the JLA.  He was not getting any help from the straightforward, clunky, even abrasive artwork of Howard Porter, either.  I suspect that his writing on JLA might look a bit different if his blitzkrieg, go-for-broke style was tempered by an artist of greater subtlety than Mr. Porter.

This material by Mark Waid is what should really be getting the "Deluxe Edition" reprintings.  No doubt the marvelous artwork by Bryan Hitch would look even better on glossy, oversize pages.  These are great super-hero comics.
1384678
Great read. Enjoyed WOLF HALL, but really loved this second book much more!  Great, rich characters and fresh take on an old story.
130143
Is this the same author that wrote Wolf Hall? That would be my personal review of this book.
2437961
Well writen great compliment to viewing Wolf Hall on Masterpiece Theater book gave more depth to the history than we generally receive