Reviews (6)

Not impressed
I read this at the prompting of a friend.However, I'm not that impressed -- it didn't hold up to the literary expectations I had.It isn't horrible -- just a historical novel about the 1920's in Germany and Britain.Hughes did a good job of providing sympathetic portrayals of characters some of whom are so flawed I would call them evil.Honestly, that contributes to why I don't care for the book.

The end of reader's block
I'm only writing this "review" to express my amazement that this book has not received a uniform 5 stars. Richard Hughes is one of the most sublime discoveries of my literary life. The Fox in the Attic was supposed to be the first of a trilogy. The second book also got written by this very slow and idiosyncratic author (who loves parentheses), and it is equally wondrous although rather different from the first. The third was only begun, and what got written is disappointing. Then to discover A High Wind in Jamaica ... well, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. So if, as I had, you think you're not likely to discover an entirely new (to your experience) author of truly great and enjoyable novels, banish your malaise and give this fellow a try.

Hughes
I read 'The Fox in the Attic' many years ago when I was seventeen. It was a revelation to me of how literature can deal with history and politics on a deeper and more profound level than simple narration of events can do. As a journalist Hughes had travelled widely in pre-war Europe and the novel reeks with his knowledge of real people and places. In one sense perhaps this is a roman-a-clef but Hughes was interested intensely in the psychology of human beings, in the irrational, half-understood motives we have for our behaviour, and his writing focuses on that as much as on giving a picture of an era. This was the first of a projected trilogy; 'The Wooden Shepherdess' being the second installment. Hughes was not a prolific writer and he died before he finished the third - whether he had begun it or not I do not know. One of the minor greats of twentieth century English literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th Century English Novel And Short Story    2. Bavaria (Germany)    3. Beer Hall Putsch, 1923    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Germany    8. Historical - General    9. History    10. Hitler, Adolf,    11. Welsh    12. Young men    13. Fiction / General    14. Hitler, Adolf   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Revolutionary    6. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    7. Literary studies: 19th century    8. Literary studies: from c 1900 -    9. Literature/English | British Literature | 20th C   

Reviews (1)

Meticulously researched and impressively written
Meticulously researched and impressively written, The Carriage Trade: Making Horse-Drawn Vehicles In America by Thomas A. Kinney (Assistant Professor of History, Bluefield College, Virginia), is part of the outstanding Johns Hopkins University Press "Studies in Industry and Society" series. Professor Kinney offers a comprehensive and superbly organized history of the transportation manufacturing industry that preceded the coming of the automobile from its beginnings in American shops down to the final conference in 1926 of the Carriage Builders National Association which marked the triumph of the horseless carriage over that of its horse-drawn predecessor. Informed and informative, The Carriage Trade is an impressive and seminal work of original scholarship enhanced with extensive notations, and is especially recommended for inclusion into an academic library's American History Studies reference collection and the supplemental reading list for students of America's involvement in an evolving transporation industry.
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Subjects:  1. Carriage industry    2. General    3. History    4. Technology & Industrial Arts    5. Transportation    6. United States    7. United States - 19th Century    8. United States - General    9. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    10. Road vehicle manufacturing industry    11. USA    12. c 1800 to c 1900    13. c 1900 - c 1914   

Subjects:  1. England    2. History    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Ship Design And Construction    5. Shipbuilding    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    7. Ships & Shipbuilding - General    8. Ships, Medieval    9. Transportation    10. British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500    11. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    12. Marine engineering    13. Maritime history    14. c 1000 CE to c 1500    15. c 1500 to c 1600   

Reviews (3)

Very good!
This wonderful book is a history of English cooking from the fourteenth century to today, complete with recipes! Each of the five chapters examines how English cooking developed during that time, and is then followed by a great number of recipes organized into: soups, eggs, fish, poultry and game, meat, vegetables, desserts, sauces, breads and cakes, pickles and preserves, and forcemeats and garnishes (though not always in that order). The text is very well written and interesting, and the recipes are very good. Fun to read
Even if you never make a single recipe out of it, just the information and the wording of some of the older recipies makes it a worthwhile and delightful read.

Don't let rumors of English food being terrible fool you !
This book is a very well put together cookbook, that I have throughly enjoyed.This book deals with some period recipes as well as more modern ones.The recipe book is simply filled with tons of recipes, she does an excelling job of incorporating a wide variety of recipes into this book.There are no pictures, but she does offer some background info on many recipes.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, English    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. History    5. Reference    6. Regional & Ethnic - English, Scottish & Welsh    7. England    8. General cookery    9. National & regional cuisine   

Subjects:  1. 1564-1616    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Dramatists, English    8. Early modern, 1500-1700    9. Elizabeth, 1558-1603    10. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    11. Friends and associates    12. Great Britain    13. History    14. Literary    15. Shakespeare    16. Shakespeare, William,    17. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616    18. English    19. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    20. Shakespeare studies & criticism   

Reviews (4)

Historical Revisionism taken to the extreme
This unfounded work is by far the worst case of historical revisionism I have yet to encounter in my studies.I was assigned this book in a history course, and found it to be extremely biased with no references whatsoever.Michael CC Adams simply notes things such as "various editions of Time Magazine from the 1940's" as his references.Adams makes broad claims that he fails to backup.
the worst book ever
I had to read this for my history class. It reads like a freshman paper, but longer. Revisiting the "Good War" Mythos
Much of the events of WWII has been mythologized not only by Hollywood and government propaganda, and over the years this mythology has been perpetuated by those who lived through the war themselves.Michael C. C. Adams has sought to expose these stories for what they are, fabrication and oversimplifications, and provide the basic facts that facilitate a truer understanding of WWII and the world wide cultural changes surrounding it, both before and after the war itself.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - World War II    6. United States    7. United States - 20th Century/WWII    8. World War, 1939-1945    9. American history: Second World War    10. Europe    11. European history: Second World War    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    13. USA   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. History    3. History - General    4. History - General History    5. Human Geography    6. Industries - General    7. Louisiana    8. Louisiana - Local History    9. Plantation life    10. Plantations    11. Social aspects    12. Sugar growing    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. Agriculture & related industries    15. Deltas, estuaries, coastal regions    16. Historical geography    17. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    18. Regional geography    19. Social history   

Subjects:  1. British Americans    2. California, Southern    3. Civilization    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Irish Americans    8. Scottish Americans    9. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. Cookery    3. Cookery, British    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Modern - 18th Century    9. Regional & Ethnic - English, Scottish & Welsh    10. Regional & Ethnic - International    11. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    12. General cookery    13. Social history    14. United Kingdom, Great Britain    15. c 1700 to c 1800   

Reviews (1)

A sequel in the works?
This is a great read about family battles, love lost, and the revolutionary war.I enjoy Morris' books, but this one left me wondering if there would be a sequel.The love story wrapped up in two pages and left you wondering what would happen to everyone?If this is a series, I wholeheartedly recommend it, if not you probably will not like the ending. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Historical    3. Historical - General    4. History    5. Naval operations    6. Physicians    7. Revolution, 1775-1783    8. Shipbuilding industry    9. United States    10. Welsh Americans    11. Christian Interest    12. Fiction / Religious    13. General & Literary Fiction   

Reviews (5)

Best biography I've read in years
This is a well-researched, splendidly written biography of a very complex man, a real enigma. Even though the book is a decade old, its subject matter is still relevant today.Highly recommended.

Allen Dulles Committed High Treason
Any notion that Allen Dulles was a gentleman is absolutely absurd!He helped Hitler secure funds for his war machine from American and British financial institutions.On behalf of his client, Nelson Rockefeller, Dulles arranged to keep a steady flow of Saudi oil flowing to Nazi Germany throughout the war.He knew about the Holocaust, but didn't lift a finger to help the Jews.Dulles and James Jesus Angleton setup the Nazi Ratline near war's end that smuggled thousands of Nazi war criminals out of Europe to various Middle Eastern states as well as Argentina.After the war, he organized Operation Paperclip to smuggle hundreds of Nazi war criminals from South America into the United States to work for the CIA.He and brother John Foster Dulles committed high treason by providing aid and comfort to the enemy during wartime; crimes for which they should have been executed.Instead, they got an international airport named after John Foster Dulles.

Great Book -- Fantastic life
What a great book!If you are a history buff like me, you'll love this book.Allen Dulles, former lawyer, former diplomat, former OSS Operative, former President of the Council on Foreign Relations, for Director of the CIA (under Eisenhower and Kennedy), and brother of the Secretary of State (John Foster Dulles who the airport is named after), and member of the establishment -- this book is quite a treat.It takes us through the post-WWI years and then through WWII where Dulles was stationed for OSS in Bern.It then details the formation and escalation of the Cold War.Grosse does a terrific job detailing Dulles's public and personal lives.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1893-1969    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Dulles, Allen Welsh,    7. Espionage    8. General    9. History    10. Intelligence service    11. Military - Intelligence/Espionage    12. Spies    13. U.S. Government - Intelligence Agencies    14. United States    15. Dulles, Allen Welsh    16. Political structure & processes    17. USA   

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. 19th century    3. Aesthetics, Modern    4. Congresses    5. Esthetics    6. History: World    7. Picturesque, The    8. Garden design & planning    9. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    10. Literary studies: general   

Reviews (5)

It depends on what you're looking for
As an unique insight into Elizabethan culture, it's fascinating.As an analysis of Hamlet, it's lacking.Many of his points are unsupported by textual evidence and much of his excellent historical information unconnected to the play itself.Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to anyone with a love of Shakespeare that goes beyond the word and into the period as it is a great read.

Superb Writing and Scholarship
This is an excellent book--excellent scholarship.I highly recommend it to anyone generally interested in medieval and Elizabethan accounts on purgatory, or to those who have an interest in Shakepeare studies.Even for those who don't, this is an excellent book, and my interest in it grew with every turn of the page.It is rich and well-written. Fun...
Yeah, the reviewer from Santa Monica is on the mark.Good book, plenty of interesting historical tidbits, some connections to mull over, but Greenblatt doesn't really use his historical conclusions to much purpose in his analysis of Hamlet.Some of his literary points are strained ("the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns" means Hamlet has forgotten about the ghost; when Ophelia says that Hamlet looked as though he "had been loosed out of Hell" she of course means Purgatory instead of Hell, the rabble who follow Laetres against Claudius represent Protestants attacking the Catholic Church, etc.) but a couple are interesting, such as the play's disconnect between body and spirit mapped onto Elizabethan views of the Eucharist.But there are a good 150 pages (more than half the book) before we enter this dicey realm.Chapters 1-3 get five stars, and chapters 4-5 get three point five. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Literature - Classics / Criticism    2. Plays    3. Shakespeare    4. British Literature    5. Christianity    6. English    7. European History    8. History of ideas, intellectual history    9. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    10. Literary studies: general    11. Religion    12. Shakespeare studies & criticism   

Reviews (1)

Simple but thrilling cuisine from a culinary superstar
There are two things which make this book different. First, the food is abrilliant example of the new style of 'fusion' food of which John Torode,as I understand it, was one of the pioneers. And second, it is beautifullywritten by Sarah Francis: witty, informative, enticing and clear. I buy alot of cookbooks and I would rate this one easily in my top 5. The othergreat thing is that these recipes actually work, which is a major plus fora cookbook, and far from the norm. Torode combines classic ingredients fromeast and west to create fantastic dishes which seem completely unforced,and yet wonderfully original. One last note, the photos are beautiful, andgive a vivd sense of Torode's food. A couple of months ago, the book wonthe James Beard award. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. History    6. Mezzo (Restaurant)    7. Regional & Ethnic - English, Scottish & Welsh    8. General cookery   

Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. History: World    3. Military - General    4. Military Science    5. History / Military / General    6. Technology: General Issues    7. Warfare & Defence   

Subjects:  1. Folklore & Mythology    2. General    3. History    4. History: American    5. Sociology    6. American history    7. USA    8. World history   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. English literature    4. General    5. History and criticism    6. Irish Literature    7. Irish authors    8. Literature And Society    9. Poetry    10. English    11. Ireland    12. Literary Criticism & Collections / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    13. Literary studies: general    14. Literature/English | British Literature | 19th C    15. Rural communities    16. c 1700 to c 1800    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Less adaptation than imagination
While the author of this work seems as if she means to be sincere, sincerity is not enough when your purported goal is to "adapt Elizabethan recipes for modern kitchens". More attention to accuracy in the redactions (conversion to modern recipes) and authenticity of the results would have been a better goal. The individual recipes quote "originals" with no notation as to where the original source came from (which book?), leaving no idea as to whether they have been quoted accurately. The adapted recipes not only jump to some pretty wild conclusions as to what the finished dish was intended to be, but in some cases contain wildly different ingredients than were quoted in the original recipe, with no explanation. There are also giant leaps from a baked dish (in the original) to a boiled one (in the adaptation), or vice versa. This might pass muster as a "popular"book for those who have no serious interest in authenticity in historical recreation of recipes, if it were not for the author's repeated claims as to scholarship and accuracy. Not recommended for the serious food history buff or re-enactor. I might give this to someone with a mild interest in the subject, but only with a warning about lack of historical accuracy. She even manages to perpetuate the tired, old myth of spices being used "to cover up the taste of bad meat". Nothing could be further from the truth. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Cookery, English    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Courses & Dishes - General    6. Elizabeth, 1558-1603    7. Great Britain    8. History    9. Regional & Ethnic - English, Scottish & Welsh   

Subjects:  1. Ethnic    2. History and criticism    3. Hymns, Welsh    4. Music    5. Religious - Hymns    6. Wales