Reviews (1)

Thank you!
This traveller's history takes the visitor to Portugal on a tour of the country exploring historical links everywhere. It digs deep into the history of Portugal, even before Portugal, and Lusitania (the Roman province where most of Portugal is now), and discusses treasures like the recently found cave drawings of the Coa valley in the Douro. It also has other interesting features like a chapter on music and one on birds. There is one on wine too. This is a serious work that also makes good beach or bedtime reading. It is something to be thankful for at a time when a lot is being published on Portugal, but the quality varies. I have read some amateurish books on Portuguese language life and culture and World cultures Portugal. After that experience, it is refreshing to have something you feel is a competent work like Livermore's traveller's history. Thank you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1914-    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Civilization    4. Description and travel    5. Europe - Spain & Portugal    6. History    7. History - General    8. History: World    9. Livermore, H. V.,    10. Portugal    11. Travel    12. Architecture    13. Art / History / General    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. History    3. History: American    4. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    5. History / Spain & Portugal    6. Portugal    7. Santiago de Compostela,pilgram,pilgramage,pilgrams,medieval ,Christianity,shrines,shrine,St. James the apostle,bicycle,bike,cycling,cycle,travel,spain,walking tour,eco-tourism,meditation,walking,trafford,03-1164,1-4120-0796-8,1412007968    8. Spain    9. USA   

Reviews (1)

A very interesting book about the portuguese army
This is indeed a very interesting book that provides an overview of Portuguese army organisation and uniforms during the campaigns against Napoleon's armies in the Peninsula.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Napoleonic Wars    5. Military - Other    6. Military History - Modern    7. Military Science    8. Spain And Portugal - History    9. Battles & campaigns    10. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    11. History / Military / General    12. Land forces & warfare    13. Portugal    14. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Interesting, insightful
Brazilian colonialism is unlike its sisters in other places.Unlike the Americas the natives were not exterminated or removed.Unlike Africa, race did not divide people in sexual relations.In short Brazil was a hybrid.It was a hybrid because of the all important 'go betweens' that this book examines, the priests, slaves and natives who lived together and worked together and produced off spring together. An interesting book.
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Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Brazil    5. Conquerors    6. First contact with Europeans    7. History    8. Indians of South America    9. Latin America - South America    10. Portugal    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    14. Cultural studies    15. Social & cultural anthropology    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Military    5. Military - Napoleonic Wars    6. Biography & Autobiography / Military    7. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    8. History-Military - Napoleonic Wars    9. Portugal    10. Spain    11. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Fascinating book about the perfect counterfeiting scheme.
Portugal, late 1920s.The nation is prospering, but prices are increasing steadily.Somebody is pumping cash into the economy on a large scale, but who?Meanwhile rumors of counterfeit money are everywhere, but all the banknotes inspected at the Bank of Portugal seem legitimate... A fascinating book about a unique counterfeiting fraud.The counterfeiting was literally perfect, but to reveal how and why here would give the book away. If you like books about frauds, scams, and swindles, this little-known book is for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1896-1955    2. Bank notes    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Forgeries    5. Portugal    6. Reis, Artur Virgilio Alves,    7. Spain And Portugal - History    8. Swindlers and swindling    9. Reis, Artur Virgilio Alves   

Reviews (1)

An Empire in Transition
Published about a decade back, the book represented a much needed contribution (in a book-form) to readers of the Portuguese empire. The last major book on the area appeared roughly three decades back -Diffie & Winius' Foundations of the Portuguese Empire. From the professional historian point of view, it is not that the field is stagnant; articles have continued to appear in specialist journals. Unriddled with footnotes (though references were included where merited), this work is ideal for the layman who wishes to gain an insight into the early modern world of which the Portuguese empire was spawned. Of great help in this sense is also the glossary at the end of the book.Read more

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Asia    3. Far East    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Portugal    8. Portuguese   

Reviews (2)

a few more notes
I agree almost entirely with the fine review written by Roger Kennedy. Just a few more points to add: (1) I think what sticks in my mind more than anything else are the horrific marches and the lack of medical care - the authors descriptions are all the more memorable for their off-handed understatement. (2) It's also an interesting recording of the social mores of the time - the author feels that the Lash is a necessity, and deplores the idea of having promotions done by merit rather than by noble birth. Not what you might expect to hear from a commoner serving in the ranks!

Harris is the inspiration for Sharpe
This book is one of the classic Peninsular War recollections of the period.Harris was a devil-me-care lad of the English shires, who was first chosen by lot to join the English militia in 1806.Once in Ireland he becomes enamored of the green-jacketed 95th Rifles, Britian's new experimental Rifle corps, and decides to join them as a volunteer.The memoirs of Harris and many others like him were no doubt the inspiration for Bernard Cornwall's now famous "Sharpe" series.But Harris's work is certainly worth reading for its own merit, as it provides a vivid impression of what it was like to be a British soldier in the Napoleanic period.Unlike many of the memoirs of his compatriots, Harris only served for a brief time.He experinced Britian's initial efforts to support Spain in her rebellion against napolanic France's domination.As part of that early expedition, harris sees action at Rolica and Vimero (1808), and partakes in the grim retreat to Coruna (1809).He is thus privy only to the initial stages of what would become the Peninsular War in Spain (1808-1814)Harris's recolllections are vivid, but at times confused and lack chronology.This is reflective of the fact that he was a common ranker, and his level of education was somewhat less than many officiers.This does not detract from the value of his work; for Harris is in fact an amusing writer with an adroit sense of humor.He recollects his experinces as they come to mind, and the reader often feels as though he is seated right next to him relaying his stories as they come to mind.At times this can be confusing, and some knowledge of the period certainly helps in understanding the merits of this work. Christopher Hibbert has provided some valuable notes both in the introduction and within the body of the work, which adds greatly to it.Modern readers will certainly find Harris worthwhile, andwith the recent interest sparked by the "Sharpe series", will see how the real thing compares to the fictionalized character.Sharpe is most certainly part Harris, and the reader also gets an understaningof the 95th regiment as well.Worth having. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. History - Military / War    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY PRESCHOOL    7. Biography & Autobiography / Military    8. Biography: historical    9. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    10. Portugal    11. War & defence operations    12. c 1800 to c 1900   

Subjects:  1. Court and courtiers    2. Europe - General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Nobility    7. Portugal    8. Sociology    9. European history: c 500 to c 1500    10. History / Europe / General   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History - General History    3. Drake, Francis    4. Journeys    5. Norris, John    6. Portugal    7. Spain   

Reviews (6)

Journey to Portugal Review
I am reading this book and am laboring through it hoping it will get to something interesting or useful because I am planning on traveling through Portugal later this year.So far it has been very boring.I don't get a great insight of Portugal's history or culture. It is mostly a travelogue of his town by town personal encounter with little to relate. So far its been very disappointing and I feel like its a waste of time.

The translation misses
I am sure Saramago's tales are more lively than they come across in this book. Although I'm certain it was translated with care, the third-person narrative doesn't quite do it in English. I wish I had bought the Portuguese book and worked my way through, it is surely more lyrical and less clunky than this version.

Reflections on Portugal, and life in general
Those who have some affection for Portugal (like myself) will enjoy this book. It is not a travel book, rather, it's a collection of thoughts and rather low-key experiences that the author has while traveling through his country. The travels, and the writing of the book, took place over twenty years ago, and many changes have taken place since that time. Nonetheless it is still an interesting portrait of a place that I find fascinating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description    2. Description And Travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Europe - Spain & Portugal    5. Portugal    6. Spain And Portugal - History    7. Travel    8. Travel - General    9. Travel / Europe / Spain & Portugal    10. Literary Collections    11. Continental European   

Subjects:  1. Africa, West    2. Discovery and exploration    3. Europe - Spain & Portugal    4. Geography, Medieval    5. History    6. History: World    7. Hundred Years' War, 1339-1453    8. Military history, Medieval    9. Northwest Africa - History    10. Period of discoveries, 1385-15    11. Portugal    12. Western Europe - History    13. Africa    14. England    15. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    16. Henry    17. Spain    18. World history: c 500 to C 1500    19. c 1000 CE to c 1500    20. c 1500 to c 1600   

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. Political Science    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Colonization & independence    5. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    6. Portugal    7. World history   

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Commerce    3. Gujarat    4. Gujarat (India)    5. History    6. History: World    7. India    8. Portugal    9. Portuguese   

Reviews (1)

A very informative book about the Jesuit Manuel Vieira
Vieira was one of the heroes of the Portuguese Church's efforts to protect Brazil's Indians from slavery. This important monograph is extremely well written, and although its subject is very difficult, it is very useful forstudents of Brazil. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1608-1697    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Brazil    7. Historical - General    8. Missionaries    9. Missionary Activities Of Specific Denominations    10. Portugal    11. Religious    12. Roman Catholic Church    13. Vieira, Antonio,    14. Vieira, Antâonio,    15. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    16. Christianity    17. Vieira, António   

Reviews (1)

An essential addition to any Medieval Studies collection
Ably translated into English by Charles David, The Conquest Of Lisbon (De Expugnatione Lyxbonensi) is an eyewitness account of the capture of Lisbon in 1147 by the combined forces of King Alfonso Henriques of Portugal and a fleet of crusaders from the Anglo-Norman kingdoms. More than a dry historical narrative, the author vividly conveys the tensions and rivalries between the secular and spiritual factors of a twelfth century crusade, as well as tremendous and descriptive insights into medieval warfare, the development of crusading ideology and the concept of a Christian "holy war"; as well as Muslim views of the invading crusaders. An informative foreword by Jonathan Phillips provides an update on the scholarship regarding the integral place of the Lisbon expedition in the Second Crusade, the identity of the text's author, and the author's intent for his compelling history. The Conquest Of Lisbon is also available in hardcover (0231121229) and is an essential addition to any Medieval Studies collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crusades    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Lisbon (Portugal)    7. Medieval    8. Second, 1147-1149    9. Siege, 1147    10. Sources    11. European history: c 500 to c 1500    12. History / Medieval    13. Holy war    14. Portugal    15. Spain   

Subjects:  1. Africa, Southern    2. Commerce    3. Early works to 1800    4. Earth Sciences - Geography    5. Expeditions & Discoveries    6. History - General History    7. India    8. Indian Ocean    9. Portugal    10. Science    11. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    12. Shipwrecks    13. Trade routes    14. Transportation    15. World - General    16. Geographical discovery & exploration    17. Maritime history    18. Oceans & seas    19. World history: c 1500 to c 1750   

Reviews (2)

Fantastic introduction to Sephardic History
If you are at all interested in the history of the Sephardic people this is the book to get. Sachar takes you on a journey from the plains of Al-andalus to the deserts of the Ottoman Empire, the thriving metropolis of the Dutch, to the modern state of Israel. The book is utterly readable and reads less like a dry history book and more like a novel where the central character is an entire nation. There is relatively little in the way of books about the Sephardic experience, and those that do exist for the most part are stiff and scholarly. Sachar makes it palatable while at the same time showing an incredible breath of knowledge and research that went intothis book. BUY IT NOW!

Half a Story
The lack of information on Sefaradim in Arab Lands is deplorable. The author perhaps lacks knowledge of these languages to adequately research the matter. His assesment of these people seems to be limited to thosetoday in Israel. What about those that went to Canada,the US, France,Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History - General History    2. Jewish - General    3. Judaism - History    4. Religion    5. World - General    6. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    7. Portugal    8. Religion / Judaism / History    9. Spain   

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Theology - Christology    2. Europe - Spain & Portugal    3. Historiography    4. History    5. History: World    6. Sudarium of Oviedo    7. Theology    8. To 1500    9. Portugal    10. Science: General Issues    11. Spain    12. The historical Jesus   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. Judaism - History    3. Religion    4. Religion - Judaism    5. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    6. Portugal    7. Spain