Uses history selectively to serve O'Reily
597679
The book uses history selectively to serve the author's agenda. He cites facts, ignore others, and invents new things to create a narrative that is ideologically consistent with his views. I found the book narrow minded and laughable. Any reputable historian, like Alan Brinkley would find this book humorous, if not nauseating.
462292
I'm a great admirer of O'Dell, and have read more than few of his books;  this out-of-print title is a modestly successful historical piece set on a  ficitious Pacific island off the Southwestern U.S. coast.  It features a  tyrannical father, an independent and resourceful heroine, two black  mambas, lots of gold, and the usual winsome and authentic historical  ambience that has made O'Dell so reliable.  Worth grabbing if you can find  it reasonably cheap.
588681
This is a very nicely done reproduction of a book first published in 1843 which itself was a reproduction of a discourse first published in 1739 around the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Reading this reproduction is just like reading an original.  I've seen the Callender historical discourse referenced in several other works and on websites related to the history of the state of Rhode Island, USA. I find it interesting that this book shows why it is important to read multiple histories on a subject. The author, John Callender, was a friend of the grandson of William Coddington who set up a rival government in Rhode Island in 1651 under the British Cromwell government's authority.  There was already a government in Rhode Island functioning under the authority of British King Charles (who was beheaded by Cromwell).  That is why, I suspect, the president of the king's government, Samuel Gorton (mentioned on page 88 of the Life and Times of Samuel Gorton), is not listed in the appendix to The Early History of Rhode Island as president for 1651.  Instead, the Cromwellian Nicolas Easton is listed.  There is a notice in the appendix that the legitimacy of the Cromwellian government was questioned.  However, there is very little mention of Samuel Gorton who was a rival of Coddington (the grandfather of Callender's friend).  Of course, Callender's discourse was not intended to be a definitive history of Rhode Island. The author was not a historian, but rather, a Baptist minister in Newport.  I think we can forgive him any errors.  After all, it's been over 250 years since this "Century Sermon" (as the discourse was also known) was written.  This book is an affordable bit of New England history for those of modest means.
377239
Ignoring doctrine that doesn't fit your narrative is akin to telling on your parents and lying to yourself. Own the whole pile of junk, don't just focus on the shiny pretty artifacts. Something interesting "unchanging" because someone says it is, it is if it is and it's not if it's not. Your grandfather was nice but that doesn't make him right.
513307
My favorite technique is the way Rutherfurd ends narratives regarding periods in the late medieval by having one side burn its heretics, only to close the next segment that began about 100 years later with the other side burning its own heretics (the people who held the torch in the earlier segment). It gives a good sense of the religious swings that followed from the Reformation.

When my little friend Jimmy Wilson read this book, he thought that one narrative technique was overused. Indeed, that was true! Again and again Rutherfurd will have a character of limited intelligence make a wondrous remark about some event or artifact in history and then tell us "That was true!" before beginning his general, historical description. If this technique annoys you, the book might not be a very pleasant read.
4219454
The virtuous reforming of New Orleans over the course of thirty years is chronicled through the lives of a few reformers, but mostly through the lives of the purveyors of vice in Gary Krists Empire of Sin.  The book is a riveting history of the colorful life of the Crescent City that was, and still is, unique in both Southern and American cultural history.

Krist brings New Orleans of the 1890s into clear focus at the beginning of the moral crusade, detailing the how the citys French and Spanish beginnings created a unique cultural atmosphere that created an environment that the social and business elite of the city found needing reform.  Krists narrative takes place in four phases (1890-1, 1896-1907, 1907-17, and 1917-20) in which he identifies one defining moment that resulted in a change towards the reformers goal of cleaning up the city.  Throughout the book, the vice career of Tom Anderson is highlighted and how his fortunes showed either the progress or staling of the reform movement in the city.

Throughout the book, Krist ably shows how on event that surrounded on group of individuals had ramifications on various aspects of life in New Orleans.  One examples is how when reformers concentrate prostitution and other vice industries into one area, they inadvertently created an incubator where jazz was able to be cultivated into a new musical art form.  In connecting his entire historical narrative together in readable prose, Krist hooks the reader quickly and never lets him go.

After the reformers finally succeed in their quest to clean up New Orleans, Krist gives a short aftermath which ironically saw the city eventually embrace its sinful past to market to tourists and conventions.  The irony isn't lost on the reader who can understand some of the motivations of reformers, particularly ending political and police corruption, but cringe at the stripping of civil rights of numerous groups throughout the narrative.  Empire of Sin shows the uniqueness of New Orleans history that is an very enjoyable read and is highly recommended those who enjoy history.

I received this book free through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program.
850969
Fascinating to have documented evidence of the exercise of power in the past. Makes one thankful for our egalitarian society but,also, wish that sometimes issues might be dealt with as speedily as in pre-democratic times. I guess we can't have it both ways.
A good read overall. I learned quite a bit about the papacy & the excesses which provoked the reformation.
1613420
An excellent, in-depth exploration of his mother's Irish past and of her coming to America as a young girl.  He takes family stories and investigates them through his historian's training.  Of course, many times he finds the facts don't support the story, as family stories change over time and blend different events or are shaped by changing perspectives.  So then he explores the power of the story, regardless of its veracity, and then explores the facts to more fully understand the world that shaped the people from whom he is descended.

The book is a history lesson in how family's work and don't work.  And it is a history lesson in the politics, morals, and folkore of rural Ireland and Chicago's South Side.

A rich, well-written book.  You do not need to be Irish to enjoy it.
3723909
"God's Secretaries" is another in a long list of recent histories ("Washington's Crossing," "Paul Revere's Ride," "American Brutus") that uses a single event to shed light on an era. Adam Nicolson does a masterful job of exploring the politics and personalities behind the creation of the King James Bible. I was especially fascinated by the interplay between various early 17th century Protestant sects - Puritans, Episcopalians and Congregationalists. Students of American history will get a better feel for why the Puritans--western Christianity's equivalent of the Taliban--might have been so unwelcome at home. The King James Bible was in part an answer to the Puritan's Geneva Bible, which used deliberately-slanted anti-monarchical translations (e.g., using "tyrant" for "king"!) that made it politically annoying, even subversive.

While I enjoy the King James style, Nicolson was weakest when trumpeting the superiority of the King James to other contemporaneous translations. Seeing various versions side by side, it wasn't altogether clear to me that the King James was the obviously better choice. It doesn't hurt that the king is behind your version. That being said, "God's Secretaries" was a terrific read, full of the anecdotal information that brings history alive.
4369647
I've always been fond of books that dealt with hidden and little-known history. This is a good example of such.

Essentailly, you have documents from American history going all the way back the 1600s that involve people who went against the status quo.

In one book, you have antislavery Quakers and abolitionists, early feminists, American Indians speaking out against their oppression, American Loyalists during the American Revoution and Union loyalists from the South during the civil war, populists, Black Panthers, socilaists, racists, archconservatives, anarchists, and anti war activists from just about every war including the current one. All speak in their own voice.

Of course no one will agree with everything said here, but it's good to bring these people's words to light to put the struggles of our own time in their proper context.
2465532
I recommend it to those who enjoy reading historical novels and writings based on real history.  This author has done his homework and paid the price to  teach and entertain.
3113125
Another of the series of "Killing" books which have been remarkably successful. While it is not my favorite, it is an excellent way for readers to acquire a taste for history. The authors allow themselves to make logical assumptions based upon proven historical facts in the interest of character development and plot advancement. Readers whose interest is piqued by each topic are welcome to peruse weightier tomes on each subject. I find this approach useful and have enjoyed each book in the series, learning fascinating tidbits of information on each topic. I especially enjoy the footnotes which provide arcana which are often only peripherally relevant to the main narrative. This book made the American Revolution come to life and was a quick read like all of the books. I will cavil over two minor points: 1. I'm not sure who does the heavy lifting between the two authors, but it is about time alphabetical order is restored and Dugard gets first billing for a change. 2. Time to lose the "Killing" tag line. I do not think England was "killed" at all by the American Revolution.
2595539
I wonder if John J. Ross or C. Scanlon actually read James Scott Wheeler's brilliant book. If they did, they could not come to their wildly anachronistic conclusions comparing Oliver Cromwell to Osama bin Laden or mid-17th century Ireland to early-21st century Iraq. We should not impose our own standards on the past. Wheeler's main point is that modern readers must understand the historical context of the "wars of three kingdoms" from 1641 - 1653 to fairly evaluate Cromwell's actions in Ireland. First, Cromwell was only in Ireland from September 1649 until May 1650. He is the major player in only three of Wheeler's ten chapters. Second, and most importantly, Cromwell was a man of his time, neither more nor less brutal than the other military commanders on all sides during the twelve years of war between the Catholic- Royalist Confederation in Ireland, the Protestant parliamentary forces of England and the Kingdom of Scotland. That does absolve Cromwell of any blame. Wheeler shows that he subjugated the Irish towns of Drogheda (where Cromwell lost control of himself and ordered his men to give no quarter) and Wexford (where Cromwell lost control of his men who went on a rampage) brutally, with disarmed defenders and defenseless civilians (including priests) being murdered. Today, everyone seems to want to express a quick black or white opinion about everything.  Before we pass judgment on historical actors or events, and of course who would not condemn slavery or the Holocaust, we should strive to understand the past in its proper context. Threatened by royalist forces seeking to destroy the new English Commonwealth he had fought so long and hard to establish, Cromwell acted ruthlessly to suppress a royalist rebellion amid a bloody era.
1122290
Nineteen-year-old Tom Clarady has been sent by his uncle, Francis Bacon, to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, to gather intelligence on the secretive radical Puritans who are threatening upheaval in England. When an instructor allegedly hangs himself, Tom speculates that a murderer is among them, but who?

Set in 1587, Murder by Misrule is a methodical look at crime detection as it used to be. Toms brave, resourceful, and determined, but also inexperienced, so mistakes are made. I love that the author incorporates real-life characters like Francis Bacon and Christopher Marlowe into the plot. She also does a great job of weaving bits of information about different lifestyles and religious beliefs throughout the story.

While I understand the need for methodical detail, I found the book a little too slow-moving, although Im sure that avid readers of historical fiction will disagree. If you love mysteries about academic life in the Elizabethan period, then youll really enjoy this one.
1964242
As a child I hated history, but this helps make it interesting. I won't play it every day, but given how terrible current TV is, I plan to enjoy this as a relief from what's currently on.  An interesting history teacher is rare, but James Burke does a great job, especially the history of Mercedes Benz on the third disk, second half.

History from Pig Turd Alley
2914085
Tony Roberts has developed into a very descriptive writer over the past six years. Combining that with a top of the line knowledge of world history he continues to inform as well as entertain both first and second generation Casca fans. Perhaps his greatest challenge as a Casca author is deciding what he will place in a historic event and what could be left out. For Tony, that is like deciding who gets a place in the life boat and who goes down with the ship. Still, he has to choose.
A good example might be the fighting that took place around Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey. General George Washington ordered his forward units to attack the British rear column as the enemy attempted to flee to New York. Those advance American units were commanded by Major Gen. Charles (Cry Baby) Lee. Ok, in all fairness I should mention that the British had Lee outnumbered two to one, so there was some logic in Lee's decision to hold back unil the main body caught up. But that was not what Washington wanted.
Lee got his butt chewed off in front of witnesses. Perhaps because he had a history of backstabbing Washington. (He had gone after Washington's job at the beginning of the war) Or maybe Washington was just in a foul mood after the fight.
In any case Tony didn't cover that, but as always he refers to hundreds of people, places and things that bear out his prowess as a historian.
Great work as always.
480464
I am acquainted with families in present day Ireland whose family members are present throughout this book. Some have passed on just in recent years. According to them,  the account is  true and accurate and they are delighted that this history was told.