Execellent collection of Alexandrian works...
346314
As the title suggests, this is a collection of works by Christians who lived in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The following works are included: "On Marriage," and "On Spiritual Perfection" by Clement  of Alexandria (which are technically Stromata books III and VII, the former  which is only in Latin in the Ante-Nicene Fathers set.), "On  Prayer," "Exhortation to Martyrdom," and "Dialogue with  Heraclides," by Origen (all three books are absent from the  Ante-Nicene Fathers set). There are nice introductions to each book and  each author. Chadwick gives very detalied notes and explanations of  Origen's "On Prayer." This is an excellent book for 2 reasons.  First it is a great sample of the skilled thinkers of Alexandria. Second,  it acts as a good supplement to the Ante-Nicene Fathers set.
2775762
Some of the best literature, whether divinely inspired or not, has long been lost to the world, too often for political ends. Fortunately, volumes like this one, admirably edited by James H. Charlesworth, replenish much of what was "lost" between the time of the Councils at Jamina and Nicaea.

Whatever one's creed or intentions, if one approaches this volume in earnest, one will find much of interest including, but not limited to, strong, implied historical evidence of egregious tampering by the early Church fathers of certain non-canonical works. A good example in this collection is 1 Enoch, which had been in the canon for centuries before being finally removed and, in the West, abandoned. In other instances, copies were, on Church orders, simply destroyed. Fortunately, complete copies of Enoch (or Henok) were preserved in Ethopic texts. In fact, the version of 1 Enoch presented in this volume (translated by E. Isaac) is largely structured on the Ethiopic texts, though the Aramaic fragments found among the Dead Sea Scrolls have been consulted along with Greek and Hebrew renditions. Charlesworth has also included many other fine renditions of apocalyptic works, including selections from the Syriac and Slavonian. Even more is to be had in the many non-canonical Testaments presented here, many with apocalyptic passages.

Matters of whether these "rebel" and "outcast" books appeared to be divinely inspired by the various communities that embraced them is a matter of conjecture, though there are strong hints here and there from the various communities of seekers that preserved these texts around the Mediterranean world. Of greater interest to me was the thoroughness with which each non-canonical text has been researched and translated. Charlesworth should be lauded for at least that contribution to our body of collective knowledge about what was being written and by whom at the end of the pre-Christian era and in the early years of the Common Era.

To the truly curious I recommend both volumes, whether for personal enrichment, Bible study, research, or tasting and comparing various translations of non-canonical literature. This is as unbiased a compilation as I have seen in many years. I rank it with the work being done by scholars like Geza Vermes as invaluable to any person seeking a deeper understanding of the great minds on either side of that turbulent millennium (i.e., give or take 300-500 years either way). Of course these writings can lead one's mind to many other insights and down many other paths of inquiry and thought; that is best left for the individual.

Be assured that this scholarly work is exactly that, and is not only highly-informative about the stories, symbols and myths of non-canonical literature that informed the consciousness of the Near East and eventually the Western world, but this volume does so in a highly accessible way. It is easy to read and certainly gives one pause. Savor it.
1263659
So I saw this pricey book at a nice bookshop last year and fell in love with it.  Decided to try for a lower price through Amazon.  Easily done and received.

Without going into great detail I'll just say that it is quite gorgeous with large photos on virtually every leaf of this 393 page folio book.  The photos are of course of the 18th century paintings in this fabulous Egyptian monastery (well represented on the cover).  The paintings have a style much embedded in the medieval tradition with a wonderfully "crude" Coptic folk flavor.  Plenty of visual comparisons with other Coptic works are offered to the reader as well.  The book is comprehensively researched over a period of several years with a kind of intimate, enthusiastic, competent scholarship. It includes very involved indices that most readers, including me, won't spend much time in---but if one ever wants to chase down more of the same this will certainly guide the pilgrim where he wants to go.  Published according to the high standards of Yale Univ. Press.  If you purchase the book you won't be disappointed.  Short of living in this splendidly ornate monastery occasional leisurely moments in this book is the next best thing.
3976403
This beautiful volume exhibits all the quality characteristics typical of the Baronius Press...paper, bound in sewn folios, end papers, leather cover...all excellent and made to last.  It makes a beautiful gift and I recommend the black hard cover edition.

The Douay-Rheims Bible contains a near poetic cadence that later translations lack.  Its so-called "archaic" wording has been largely exaggerated.  It does use the familiar form of the second person throughout (thee, thy, thou...didst, walketh,...etc.) but for that matter so does Shakespeare.  Bishop Challenor's re-working of the original pretty much eliminates earlier ambiguities and changes in shades of meaning of many basic words.  It is highly readable and understandable by anyone possessing normal intelligence.

In case you're interested, the Douay-Rheims Bible pre-dates the KJV by nearly a decade.  In fact more verses in the KJV were taken from the D-R than the earlier Tyndale English Bible.
474979
This is a truly phenomenal work of scholarship. Arrian was widely acknowledged as a talented literary figure and historian while he lived. This translation does not diminish his prose in the slightest degree; the narrative is smooth, simple and direct. It is also extraordinarily illuminating. Arrian had access to Alexander biographers whose work has been lost to us.

But the thing that makes this particular work stand out is the massive scholarship that supports Arrian's account. The volume of explanatory footnotes is almost intimidating, but always helpful. Almost half of this volume is devoted to explanatory appendices by leading scholars in Classical History; each appendix is fascinating reading by itself. And then, there are the maps...

the maps are what distinguish the Landmark volumes from lesser editions. There are dozens of these maps, extensively annotated, large, readable and enormously helpful. They chronicle every aspect of Alexander's campaigns, from the strategic movements across continents to the tactical disposition of troops during each major engagement.

I will be buying every volume in the Landmark series, based on the excellence of this particular book.
383061
An excellent volume in the superb series, Library of Early Christianity, Wayne A Meeks, editor.  These two authors provide detailed insight into the daily life in all spheres of society in the Roman Empire, drawing examples from the New Testament after laying the foundational picture gained from extensive archaeological documentation.

The Drama of Culture
They reference all sorts of sources from the period, including grave stones and other monuments, many of which included life summaries and occupational information; Latin and Greek authors of several centuries; ostraca or manuscripts of commercial transactions and other records and various sources.  This is a very detailed, and yet very readable portrayal of the status of language, literature and commerce as well as the general cultural interaction of the Macedonian and Roman Empires.

The details they provide and the lively writing style animate the ear for the reader to make the classical period come alive. You can see the real people and their cutlural characteristics and the multi-ethnic dynamic of the period.  They cover the centuries from about Alexander the Great into the third century or so of the Christian era.

Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic
They provide good information on the Jewish language situation, confirming other recent studies indicating that Jews of the Diaspora usually spoke only Greek, and Hebrew was not commonly used in the synagogue schools.  They also indicate that Greek was the primary language even in Palestine, and confirm other scholars' view that the Palestinian synagogues would have used Greek scriptures primarily.

Hebrew was not commonly spoken as we approach the first century BC, and Aramaic was the common speech, though Greek more widely used.  They also detail the multi-ethnic character of the region, especially Galilee and the surrounding Greek areas.
1002228
Overall this selection of opera arie has quite a few pieces that are unique to this collection. There are plenty of choices for my vocal fach (lyric soprano), and it is an excellent supplement to some of the more common aria collections often assigned to voice students. While I have not reviewed all 23 arias, at lease one piece  ("Batti batti") has an editing error.
2790437
Really an amazing book with beautiful illustrations comparing the works of artists and their influence on later artists' works. This is an invaluable contribution to art history as well as a beautiful collection of art works. Very readable to laymen as well as to experts.
2848287
The Book of Kings, Art, War, and the Morgan Library's Medieval Picture Bible was produced to accompany a traveling exhibition put together by The Walters Art Gallery (Baltimore, MD) while the manuscript it celebrates was disbound for reproduction, and most of the contributing authors were affiliated with either The Morgan Library and Museum or The Walters. (The same bible was also the topic of separate exhibit at The Morgan in New York in 2014-15 under the title, The Crusader Bible: A Gothic Masterpiece.) The images of the Picture or Crusader Bible as it is variously known date from the 13th century when they were created in France where they are believed to have been owned by Louis IX (12141270); a Latin text was added for each image in the 14th century, while Persian inscriptions were added following its presentation in 1608 to Shah 'Abbas and subsequently Judeo-Persian inscriptions (not discussed in this volume) were written in as well. The Morgan owns the vast majority of the 46 surviving folios which may be seen on-line, but are not fully reproduced in this volume. This volume contains essays discussing the manuscripts production and reception, including aspects of the political, religious and military culture of the time, as well as brief catalog entries for other items that were displayed in The Walters exhibit.
Unfortunately, the illustrations for all of the catalog entries except those for the Picture Bible itself and many of the text figures that accompany the scholarly articles are in black-and-white, a particularly regrettable choice considering that most of the other items were drawn from the Walters own collection (and thus available for photography) and that illuminated manuscripts are best understood when seen in colors! Despite these drawbacks, the book provides a valuable framework for understanding both 13th century French manuscript production and aspects of religious and military practice, as well as its possible reception in Iran in the early 1600's. Individual chapters have source notes and there is a selected bibliography and an index at the end. More than just a souvenir of an exhibition this volume is a good example of how a single, in this case uniquely important, historical and visual document can open conversations and provide insights into a host of issues, many of which as some of the authors note still await further exploration and have yet to be entirely understood.
1725399
The Landmark series has set a very high standard for excellence in the area of editions of ancient authors. In my opinion, this volume of Caesar's work edited by noted ancient historian Kurt Raaflaub raises an already very high bar.  The volume is worth the (relatively modest) price simply for the introductory essay and the superb maps, but what readers get in addition is a veritable cultural history of the late Roman Republic through the copious and judicious notes, photographs, and explanatory material after the texts.  The amount of detail on individuals alone is simply stunning.  And let's not forget the text itself.  Raaflaub's translations are clear and compelling, and the decision to include all of Caesar's commentaries as well as those frequently published or grouped with them (but not by Caesar himself) was excellent.  The book taken as a whole--even leaving aside the superb essays by numerous, eminent scholars of Roman history available at the related website--may very well mark a new era (and a renaissance) in the study of Caesar.  Through this volume, students and scholars alike may very well come to realize that Caesar's life, works, and the socio-political world he inhabited form one of the most interesting and valuable periods in European history. I feel some pity for any ancient historian who plans to tackle a Landmark volume after Raaflaub.
4061962
I purchased this book for a class; Ancient Art history.  This book really is beautiful.  Most of my textbooks I would resale once my class ended, but I definitely plan on keeping this one.  The authors did a great job of giving high level overviews and thorough descriptions for each work; both in artistic form and historical context.  I would highly recommend this book for both art enthusiasts and students.
1697668
I haven't been to Alexandria in almost fifteen years, but I remember it as a lovely city on the Mediterranean, though one that partook more of the ambiance of Southern Europe than of the Middle East.  The long stretches of sea wall, the pretty beaches-Agami Beach is like fine granulated sugar-and the museums were a delight.  Little did I know that under the pavement beneath my feet lay hidden wonderful relics of Ptolemaic Egypt waiting for discovery.  At the time I was there the city was a thriving, growing community but had yet to expand even to the full size of the ancient site.  There were a few monuments from antiquity-Pompey's Pillar, the Serapeum, etc-most of them misidentified, but most of the site was much more recent.
In Alexandria Rediscovered Jean-Yves Empereur introduces the reader to the newest archaeological finds.  Expansion of the modern city and its infrastructure into and beyond the boundaries of the old settlement over the past two decades involved him in emergency excavation projects to reclaim or at least document the finds uncovered by developers.  In addition, recent discoveries in the harbor have helped illuminate the Ptolemaic period lighthouse, palaces, and government buildings, including those of the famous Cleopatra.  The author, an expert in underwater archeology helped document and reclaim some of the finds.
Complimented by the beautiful photographs of Stephane Compoint, the folio sized book gives the reader an extraordinary view of the new discoveries.  My favorites are the incredible illustrations of the catacombs and of the even more fascinating cisterns and underground canals of the city's ancient water system.  Considerable document research from the early Islamic and early colonial periods helped to identify some of these sites and to map the extent and workings of the water system.
This is probably not the book for someone looking for detail on Cleopatra or the Ptolemies or on the Greco-Roman era in Egypt.  The volume dedicates itself, as it title implies, simply to new archaeological discoveries and touches more on the history of the archaeology of the area than upon the history of its founders.  For those who want to know more about the city and its archaeology or for those planning a trip to Alexandria, this would make a very nice starting point for learning more about the area.
2163238
Although there are few paintings in the collection itself (mainly drawings), a large number of paintings are actually represented in the book to illustrate essays on Klimt's most important patrons and muses (some of which I had not seen in reproduction before) - these form about half the book, with interviews, contemporary documents, letters and photographs - I found this section the most interesting - there are also good essays on his background and his relationships to other artists, contemporary reception of his work, and his inspirations (especially fascinating were the visual comparisons of his drawings of nudes to the work of a contemporary erotic photographer, where the similarities are too many and complex to be put down to pure coincidence). Most poignant is the essay on three of the most prominent Jewish families of the period who were major collectors of Klimt's work - the Lederers, the Bloch-Bauers, and the Zuckerkandls, based on a mind-boggling 193 references. These families began the century at the pinnacle of contemporary society, and were at the centre of Vienna's cultural life; their stories make for harrowing reading - for example, Elizabeth Bachofen-Echt, the daughter of Adele Bloch-Bauer, survived the Third Reich by claiming that she was Klimt's illegitimate daughter and therefore of mixed race - and are worth the price of the book in themselves. Layout and reproductions are superb, as is the general quality of the book. A joy to the eye and definitely one of the best art books on the market.
308224
The Chronicon Paschale or Alexandrian Chronicle is an anonymous collection of dates and events from the creation of the world to the author's own day in the early seventh century. Scholars still debate who this author was and where he got his information. While many of the sources have been identified, such as the Chronicle of John Malalas, it is clear that the author had access to other documents and sources which cannot be corroborated anywhere else. This has created much controversy on certain points. For example, Theophanes records a near fatal meeting between the emperor Heraclius and the Avar Khagan in 617. The Chronicle puts the event in 623.

  Fortunately, the Whitby's translation has detailed footnotes so that readers can navigate this information better. They wisely decided to give us the best part, from A.D. 284-628. There is a lot of surprising information contain within. For example, there is a very positive assessment of the emperor Constantius II, who usually gets harsh criticism from both pagan and Christian sources. There is also an interesting account of the founding of Constantinople, which has both Christian and pagan elements. Most important is that the author was a contemporary of the emperors Phocas and Heraclius and so we have access to first rate information on these two rulers, including documents. For the historian of the seventh century, this is gold!

  The volume has an attractive blue colour and there are maps and a good index for quick reference. The Whitbys also included some appendices about the controversies about the work. In short, this is a good book to get.
3228325
A wonderfully inspired collection of M.R. James' first four stories in a graphic novel format. I was particularly impressed by the work of Fouad Mezher as he played with light and shadows in his simple, evocative depiction of 'The Mezzotint.' I would love to see him tackle a longer story in subsequent volumes ('Oh Whistle...' well, one can dream!) In all, a lovingly crafted and delicious tribute to the work of the master himself. Or, if I may borrow from another notable reviewer, "Its really a very good piece of work, Williams; it has quite a feeling of the romantic period. The light is admirably managed, it seems to me, and the figure, though its rather too grotesque, is somehow very impressive." ; ) CHEERS!!! Best, Scotty
3081615
Alright, I admit it. I now have five different collections of Shakespeare's work along with individual scripts of each of his plays. But I use them all and each one offers different supplemental information. My Delphi Classics version has drawn me back over and over as I research the Elizabethan period. I have it as a kindle edition, which allows me to verify authenticity of words I may use in my historical writing. I search for a specific word and quickly discover how many times that word is used in Shakespeare's work along with example phrases. I love it!

That said, this particular collection includes some great extras. For example, I can now access Sheakspeare's "Lost Plays": Love's Labour's Won, Cardenio, and Double Falsehood. A "Sources" section gives me an idea of where Sheakespeare might have found inspiration for each play. Another section provides me with "The Apocryphal Plays" along with explanations for their connections to Shakespeare. Critical essays include notes from Samuel Johnson, Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, and George Bernard Shaw among others. Next comes several biographies: Nicholas Rowe (Shakespeare's first "editor" who helped develop raw folios into published works in the early 17th century), Henry Norman Hudson (an American Critic from the mid 1800's), Sir Sidney Lee (an English biographer and Elizabethan scholar who wrote "Life of William Shakespeare" in 1898), Arthur Acheson ("Shakespeare's Lost Years in London), and Charles Dudley Warner ("The People for Whom Shakespeare Wrote"). The book ends with Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament and a Glossary of Elizabethan Language.

You can see why I value this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in researching Shakespeare. It's a collection of material that draws me back to discover bits of information not found in traditional biographies, along with historical insights from various period perspectives. The kindle version is a bargain at $2.99. It's reasonably formatted for electronic searches and the table of contents works very well.
29403
Not so many years ago, it was easy to publish a book on roman military matters; there were so few in print that it would sell anyway. Today any book on this subject MUST bring added value to their readers. And that is the main strength of Professor Raffaele D'Amato and his favorite illustrator Giuseppe Rava. This tag team publishes magnificent works with photos that I've never seen before (and I study this field for 20 years). You will find brilliant interpretations of known reliefs and other less known sources. If not for the author I would never have found the frieze from an Augustan funerary monument representing an officer's panoply which is preserved inside the church of St Domenico; or a photo of details of the arch of Orange in 1902 (before the damage of pollution and wear took most of the details of the reliefs); or the masked helmet with a stylized face of a Silenus (current location unknown).

But this book is much more than a compilation of rarely seen images (alongside the more well known representations of roman centurions); the reader gets a good overview of the evolution of the centurion through the monarchy until the later consular period. Their responsibilities, what was expected of them, their weapons and armor, some anecdotes of famous centurions feats like Dentatus, Baculos or Scaeva. You will get a glimpse of both the bravery (they really led from the front and used their exemplary courage as badges of office) and the brutal (to their legionaries, enemies, etc) facets of centurion's lives.

There is another title from the same author focusing on the centurions of the principate and dominate periods that will be available in February 2012.

The plates are very, very good, Rava never disappoints his fans. I advise reading Mr. Simon Review for a detailed description of the color plates.

For such a small book, who could ask for more? Highly recommended.