Reviews (2)

I agree with "A reader": This book is sublime.
This should be considered indispensable to anyone interested in this artist, Romanticism, or landscape painting in general. As well as offering a carefully considered account of the artist's life and work, the text is careful to separate the myths that have grown around some of these paintings, carefully placing the artist within the context of his own time andcovering the manner in which these images have been misappropriated up to the present day.
Sublime
Werner Hofmann's new monograph on Caspar David Friedrich benefits from superb colour reproductions as well as Hofmann's own discursive brilliance.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1774-1840    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism and interpretation    5. European    6. Friedrich, Caspar David,    7. Germany    8. History - Romantic    9. Individual Artist    10. Individual Painters - 19th Century    11. Landscape in art    12. Romanticism in art    13. Art / General    14. Individual artists    15. Painting & paintings    16. Romanticism   

Reviews (2)

"Our Eastern Affairs are Complex Beyond All Words"
History is useful not only for revealing the past, but also in foreshadowing what the future might hold.In the case of Iraq, this is a very important matter.This book by Liora Likutz, a scholar who is currently at the Truman Institute in Jerusalem, describes the making of modern Iraq through the life of one the two key protagonists who drew its boundaries on the map following World War I.Those two individuals were T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell.While the broad outline of Lawrence's life and exploits in the Middle East are well known to many, Gertrude Bell remains more of a mystery.This book attempts to pull back that veil.Anyone who seeks to understand the currents and tides swirling underneath modern Iraq needs to understand how this country came to be, and the complex life of Gertrude Bell is a good place to start.
Understanding Irak
Facinating and exciting point of view of Irak through Gertrude Bell's life.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Colonial administrators    5. Great Britain    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Iraq - History    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Sociology    13. Women    14. Women Middle East specialists    15. Women's Studies - General    16. 20th century    17. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    18. Asian studies    19. Biography: historical    20. Imperialism    21. Iran   

Reviews (226)

Gripping real-life adventure seeking, amateur history, and personal drama
Shadow Divers is a gripping tale that combines the best of real-life thrill-seeking adventure, undocumented war-time history, and friendships and interpersonal drama.Author Kurson brings the reader 223 feet underwater to the sunken remains of a German U-boat located just off the New Jersey coast.Officially, no U-boat ever got that close to the eastern seaboard, and there are no unaccounted-for U-boats which were hit in the area.Post-war record keepers cleaned everything up nicely, filling in the blanks in which data was unclear.
Hoax and Fabrication
This book is ambiguous at best. It should probably be listed as fiction rather than non-fiction since it is so misleading in the way it sensationalizes the two divers with no real truth to back up the claims.
Fantastic story
There is no fantasy in this story, so maybe I should have used another word in the title of this review.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. Excavations (Archaeology)    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Military    6. Military - Naval    7. Military - World War II    8. Naval operations    9. Naval operations, German    10. New Jersey    11. Shipwrecks    12. Submarine    13. Submarines    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. History / Military / World War II   

Reviews (6)

Strong Five Star Book
Charles Faudree's style is "Comfortable French"Anyone could live in his rooms.They have a touch of elegance without being stiff or too formal.They are like that favorite outfit that you have had for years and years and still love to wear.This book is full of great pictures so you can see exactly what he means when he talks about French Country Style.

Fantastic!
If you love Country French that is not pretentious, but still elegant, this is the book for you.This is the second of Charles Faudree's design books that I have purchased.The pictures are incredible, and his attention to detail is amazing.He certainly has a gift and I wish that I could afford for him to help me with my house.Especially if that involved traveling with him to the French Market or to the Portobello Market in Notting Hill.Instead, I will use his pictures as a guide.I hope that this book is not his last!

French Country Elegance Defined
Mr. Faudree has knocked another one out of the park with his follow-up book to Country French Design.His high style seems to have calmed down somewhat and isn't quite as "over the top" as it was in his first book.I could literally step through the pages and take residence in any of the rooms featured.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Decoration & Ornament    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. France    7. History    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Influence    11. Interior decoration    12. United States    13. Home furnishing & decoration    14. House & Home / Decorating   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. American - General    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Art, American    6. Artists as teachers    7. European    8. Exhibitions    9. France    10. History - General    11. Paris    12. Study & Teaching    13. Art / General    14. History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 1889-1976    2. General    3. Heidegger, Martin    4. Heidegger, Martin,    5. History & Surveys - Modern    6. Philosophy    7. 20th century    8. Germany    9. Other prose: from c 1900 -    10. Reference / General    11. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -    12. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. 63 B.C.-14 A.D    2. Ancient - Rome    3. Ancient Rome - History    4. Augustus,    5. Augustus, 30 B.C.-14 A.D    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. Biography / Autobiography    9. Biography/Autobiography    10. Emperor of Rome,    11. Emperors    12. Historical - General    13. History    14. Rome    15. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Reviews (7)

Want a Good Start on an Education?
"Caesar and Christ" is the third thick volume of an amazing 45-year life work by Will Durant. I strongly advise you do not heed the academic reviews of "The Story of Civilization." There is no reason to assume the critics even read one volume of Durant's work. Be aware that academic philosophy professors list Hanna Arendt, a second rate intellectual, as the only significant female philosopher and ignore one of the most powerful minds of the post WWII era, Ayn Rand. Sure, she is flawed but she is greater than a Camus or a Chomsky. I strongly recommend reading "Caesar and Christ" and the entire 10 volume set of "Story of Civilization" - if you truly seek to be generally educated. You will learn more from Durant than from years of liberal arts schooling in any university. I never heard a professor mention Durant to students but I saw the entire set on the shelves of the private libraries of some major historians. Would you buy, own, read and keep 10 volumes of books you knew to be worthless? Ignore the academic mantra and decide for yourself.
HISTORY WELL DONE
It this third volume, Durant continues the story of man through the time of the height of Rome and Christ.Like the other volumes it is quite well done and despite what another reviewer's opinion is, quite comprehensive.Granted, I you want to read more about battles, etc. they you should probably look elswhere.I am of the school that a time period can only be understood by what they left behind, i.e. art, literature, politics, etc. rather than who they defeated in battle, or who defeated them.This is only my opinion though, others look at it differently.Also, I suppose if you are teaching a college course addressing this period of time, you would certainly want to gleen information from other sources.That not being the case on my part, I thought this was a wonderful overview of a very important epoch.I thought it was quite well presented.Recommend highly.

Civilization vs. History
The book has wonderful moments.It is lovingly written and often witty.However readers should be aware of Durant's definition of civilization.According to Durant: Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Christianity    3. Church history    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600    7. Rome    8. World - General    9. History / General   

Reviews (4)

An invaluable book on Fair Isle and Shetland knitting
This book is a classic. Ms. Feitelson starts off by laying out the history of Fair Isle knitting and progresses to technique and color theory. The patterns that she provided are beautiful in terms of fit and silhouette, not to mention color choices and pattern designs. I have knitted a few Fair Isle articles and I wish I had bought this book first before knitting my caps and socks. This book is a must-have for anybody wishing to embark on the wonderful journey of Fair Isle and Shetland knitting.

Fad or classic resurgent
At this time it looks as though the art of Fair Isle is making a huge comeback.Books that are out of print are selling for ten times the original price. Old magazines are being sought in every nook and cranny. Newer yarns are now colored to automatically create Fair Isle color patterns.
formidable exposition of knitting lore
When, as a naive young knitting-ingenue, I bought this book, I did not realize what a veritable corncopia of woollen joys awaited my delectation. Having opened that Pandora's Box, I now find myself unable to concentrateon my daily life. I eat, drink, breathe, and sleep, Fair Isle knittingpatterns. Ah, Ann Feitelson, see what thou hast done to me! Thou hastverily unwoven the weft of my wool. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fair Isle    4. History    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Knitting    7. Needlework - Knitting    8. Patterns    9. Scotland    10. Crafts & Hobbies / Knitting   

Reviews (6)

Capitalismasitwasmeanttobe

An Excellent Concise Treatment of Smith
There is no good substitute for reading Adam Smith's own beautiful prose.But if you don't have the time or the inclination to do so, I would recommend The Authentic Adam Smith.Buchan summarizes Smith's life and ideas.Of special note is his ability to convey Smith's humanity.I have a few minor quibbles about emphasis, but overall the book is accurate, readable and concise.Not many books of this type can make a similar claim.

The best short treatment ever written aboutAdam Smith's philosophy
Buchan's book reveals Smith as the greatest conservative thinker and moral philosopher of the last 250 years.Clearly,Buchan is one of the very few economists who has in fact read all of Smith's Wealth of Nations(WN)and Theory of Moral Sentiments(TMS).The best lesson of this book is Buchan's overwhelming demonstration that Smithcompletely rejected the libertarian approach to economics and politics of L von Mises,Milton Friedman,Murray Rothbard,and Ayn Rand.TMS demonstrates Smith's complete and total rejection of libertarianism on moral grounds alone.Smith emphasized the neeed formoral and ethical norms as prerequisitesin a capitalist society .This review will consider only one policy area where this is demonstrated-education.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Business    6. Business / Economics / Finance    7. Economic History    8. Economics    9. Economists    10. Great Britain    11. History Of Economic Thought    12. Business & Economics / Economic History    13. History    14. Miscellaneous Items   

Reviews (17)

Sun-drenched colors of Southern France
"French country decorating at its finest is the harmonious mingling of fabrics, textures, and patterns - an artistic blending of the familiar with warmth and sophistication." For Americans creating French style, who can't go toFrance
Ok, so this isn't "authentic French Provence design." Suppose you won't be visiting Aix-en-Provence and running around looking for all the pieces you need, and then figuring out how to fill up a shipping container and send it through customs, etc etc, (can you imagine doing this in a foreign country in a foreign language?!) You just aren't going to find a lot of genuine French furnishing and fabrics in the US. What if you want to use French elements in your decorating (as we did) and only have access to American furniture lines and the fabrics sold here? French Provencal style influences American interiors
I found this book a wonderful view of French Provencal style, blended with American verve and elegance. Many of us have traveled in France, and know the French are also very influenced by the freshness and ease of American design. Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament, Rusti    5. Decoration and ornament, Rustic    6. Do-It-Yourself - General    7. France    8. History    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. Influence    12. Interior Design - Style Books    13. Interior decoration    14. Residential Interior Design    15. United States    16. Home furnishing & decoration    17. House & Home / Decorating    18. Interior design   

Reviews (2)

I would give this glorious book 10 stars if I could....
This book is simply magnificent.But first, a word about the price. The British publisher, Thames and Hudson, prices this book at 45 pounds.At this time, 1 pound = $1.8 US.I encourage you to compute the currency exchange and then shop . . . .
Intelligent extraordinary and revealing.
Extremely well written account of the ongoing excavation of Chauvet Cave. The detail in the authors descriptions of the many artifacts found and the maticulous fragility used in processing, dating, and cataloging. This book goes way beyond cave art. From the animals and humans that had contact with the cave to the environment, geology, and paleo-botony. These are some of the oldest art ever dated and while reading their accounts the reader is transported back into time witnessing specific events that occured more than 32,000 years ago during the IceAge.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. France    3. History of art: pre-history    4. Painting & paintings   

Reviews (15)

Written for a 12 Year-Old
What a disappointment!It is only lacking cartoon illustrations to make it seem competely childish.But more disturbingly it is deceptively simplistic.Told through rose-colored glasses, leaving out what is convenient to ensure a "happy" ending.
Absorbing history that reads like a soap opera
As a lifelong and very active Catholic I was shocked to learn just how little I knew about the history of St. Peters in Rome.
A Mixed Bag
I've been waiting for a popular history dealing with the Renaissance, Reformation, Catholic Reformation, etc. And at first glance this book is it. It's an easy and absorbing read, and endlessly fascinating.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano    4. Buildings, structures, etc    5. Christianity - History - Catholic    6. History    7. History - General    8. History - General History    9. Religious Buildings    10. Religious Buildings Architecture    11. Renaissance    12. Vatican City    13. History / Europe / General    14. Italy   

Editorial Review

Everyone knows that Galileo Galilei dropped cannonballs off the leaning tower of Pisa, developed the first reliable telescope, and was convicted by the Inquisition for holding a heretical belief--that the earth revolved around the sun. But did you know he had a daughter?In Read more

Reviews (221)

Charming read
Reading letters to Galileo from his daughter is something every scientist, historian, or interested reader can now enjoy. Dava Sobel tirelessly hunted across continents for the letters, and then learned Italian in order to translate them into English. The result is a splendid and insightful collection, revealing the Galileo that history forgot. Instead of the familiar and legendary iconoclastic Church-challenging rebel, we see a pious man who fathered two nuns and spent a great deal of time trying to reconcile his science with his God. This book will sweep you away to a time and place full of conflict and misunderstanding, a place that hasn't existed for four hundred years, but is undeniably very present today.

A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love
Galileo's Daughter waited in my accumulation of books for several years. The "Best Seller" tag on the cover always puts me off. Most 'best sellers' are abject wastes of time, whose sales have been propped up by the praises of critics too used to praising abject wastes of time. Well, now that I've offended many, I admit that there are exceptions. Here is one.
Not so compelling
After reading Longitude, I was disappointed by this book.It's arguably a more compelling and provocative topic, but somehow it didn't come to life the same way.It did provide a sense of the politics of science in the 16th century, but I was expecting more about Galileo's daughter (silly me).Anyway, I think this book is primarily of interest for someone already interested in the topic, which wasn't the case for Longitude. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1564-1642    2. Astronomers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Correspondence    8. Galilei, Galileo,    9. Historical - General    10. Italy    11. Religious    12. Scientists - General    13. Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology   

Reviews (15)

Understand that any civilization may fail.
Gibbon is one of the first historians of the Enlightenment.He does not have a favorable opinion of Christianity or the times he lived.This bias does not detract from this book.Nor is this book an effective argument against Christianity.His thesis is Christianity helped bring down Rome.The Christian mindset made it impossible to defend their empire in a way similar to how they made their empire.If you lose your basic traditions your empire will crumble.An excellent book, a must read.

MISUNDERSTANDING OF BYZANTIUM
Historians agree today that this book is responsible for the modern misunderstanding of Byzantium. Think of only what the labeling "Byzantine" means today. If you want to know more about Byzantium start with one of the books on the empire by Sir Steven Runciman.

Considered the most scholarly collection of Gibbon's work
I do not recommend buying an edition of "The Decline and Fall" based upon price alone, because for many reasons, which will become clearer to you after reading this complicated and scholarly work, the editions vary in content and price, nor does price alone guarantee quality.
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Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Ancient Rome - History    3. Byzantine Empire    4. Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D    5. Gibbon, Edward, 1737-1794    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Rome    10. Ancient Rome    11. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    12. Fiction / General    13. Scottish Gaelic   

Editorial Review

The thorniest scientific problem of the eighteenth century was how to determine longitude.Many thousands of lives had been lost at sea over the centuries due to the inability to determine an east-west position. This is the engrossing story of the clockmaker, John "Longitude" Harrison, who solved the problem that Newton and Galileo had failed to conquer, yet claimed only half the promised rich reward. ... Read more

Reviews (237)

I suggest this book to anyone interested in geography and history.
I chose this one because I thought it kind of related to me in a way, but I always thought it would be just a bunch of useless fact. As I read it, I became more and more interested in the struggle to 'find the longitude.' I suggest this book to anyone interested in geography and history. It's also an easy reader.
An epic 40 year struggle!
Dava Sobel, like Simon Winchester or Canada's Pierre Berton, has clearly mastered the art of writing history in a form that is not only informative but, perhaps more important, is also compelling and entertaining.
Ocean Navigation Before GPS

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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Clock and watch makers    4. Earth Sciences - Geography    5. Great Britain    6. History    7. Inventions    8. Longitude    9. Measurement    10. Navigation    11. Science    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Scientists - Inventors    14. Science / Geography   

Editorial Review

British parliamentarian and soldier Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) conceived of his plan forRead more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (50)

A challenge to read.
I'm probably 1/3 of the way through the book and slowing.I don't think this book is for everyone and that is why I'm giving it 3 stars.I've found the book difficult to read for the following reasons.
Description is misleading
The Amazon description says Vol. 1-3, boxed set, hardcover.That is all true.What they don't tell you is that there are actually six volumes.The box in which it comes is clearly marked, "Volumes 1-3 (of six)."That would have been a much better description for Amazon to have used.If you have volumes 4-6 and you are looking to complete the set, this book is for you.If you are looking for the complete set, look elsewhere.

A Comprehensive Historical Work
Gibbon's "Decline and Fall" is without a doubt one of the most well-written and truly comprehensive historical works concerning the Roman Empire.From the military maneuvers of the northern legions to the intrigues of the Imperial Court, Gibbon showcases the history of Rome as it unfolded--often relying on the eyewitness testimony of contemporary writers to give readers a sense of the passions and policies of the time.There are a few minute problems--or rather gaps--in Gibbon's work, but given that he originally published in the late 1700's we can excuse his lack of complete information.Overall, an excellent read and a great history of such an important subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Ancient Rome - History    3. Byzantine Empire    4. Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D    5. Gibbon, Edward, 1737-1794    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Rome    10. To 527    11. History / Ancient / Rome