Reviews (9)

A Great Book about a Forgotten Tradition
Prof. Berman wrote a comprehensive book about a forgotten historical topic.LAW AND REVOLUTIONis precise explantion of the gradual developement of carefully crafted legal tradition during the Middle Ages beginning in the 11th century.Prof. Berman gives a solid background of family law, contractual law, criminal law, etc.Prof. Berman also gives a solid background of due process.He examination of the Catholic Church jurists' careful work is impressive.Prof. Berman explains who the Catholic Canon Law jurists tried to merge law with the Church's mission and sacramental system.
Wonderful book -- what legal history should be
This is a wonderful, wonderful book.I'm a law professor, but this book makes me wish I were a legal historian.I loved this book so much I taught a seminar where what we did mainly, was read this book.The only criticisms I have are that it is like one of those overwhelming meals where you cannot possibly ingest, let alone digest and appreciate, everything that is offered.The book is also an important corrective to the PC notion that the West is the source of all evil in the world.Instead you learn how deeply rooted are the ideas of individual freedom and dignity (not least, the dignity of women) in Western legal traditions, that can be traced ultimately to the complex interplay of Christian and Roman legal traditions.I teach at a (somewhat nominally) Catholic law school.I wish I could require all of our students to read this book before they graduate.

Introduction Filled with Non Sequitur
I have barely finished the introduction section. Found quite a few ill-supported claims, especially when the author attempted to define certain terms such as 'feudal' and denounced all the ideologies of the nineteenth century as ignoring 'the deep roots of modern Western institutions and values...'.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. Law    4. Legal System    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Law / General    7. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (1)

A deadly game of cat and mouse in Northern Ireland
During the 1970's and 1980's, Northern Ireland was a fiery cauldron of religious hatred between Catholics and Protestants with regular bombings, shootings and kidnappings. As well as soldiers, police officers and terrorists, literally dozens of innocent civilians on both sides of the struggle were killed or maimed in the violent struggle for independence. The hatred of the British by many loyal Irish nationalists, had been seething for decades, however it had entered an even more deadly phase after the tragic events of Bloody Sunday in January 1972, when 13 civilians were shot dead by British Paratroopers.
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Subjects:  1. True Stories   

Reviews (1)

A good addition
There has been much new scholarship on the Soviet 'Empire' in Central Asia in recent years.This book builds on others such as 'State of Nations', 'Vieled Empire' and 'Affirmitive Action Empire' to explain how Soviet ethnographers tried to shape the new Russian state.Several themes were common.The Soviets were devout anti-imperialists, and the Russian people as a distinctive state ceased to exist after they attained power, in place of the U.S.S.R became a state of 'nations' whereby different ethnic minorities not only were preferred in the state but new nations were created.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Ethnic relations    3. Ethnology    4. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    5. Government policy    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Minorities    10. Soviet Union    11. European history: from c 1900 -    12. First World War, 1914-1918    13. Revolutions & coups    14. Russia   

Reviews (16)

Thought Provoking
I'm only half through the book, but I think that it is very interesting. If you are looking for light, middle-of-the-day reading this book is NOT for you. But if you are looking for a book that takes your mind to another place and really makes you think and recall historical events, this book is definitely for you. This context can be random at points, and cause me to take out my dictionary a few times, it is most definitely worth reading- that is why I give The Anatomy of Revolution 4 stars.

A prequisite for activists
I was already politically active when this book showed up the sylibus for an upcoming class titled The History of Revolution.
GREAT BOOK.VALUABLE IDEAS
While it is true that comparisons of the American and English, especially the American, with the Russian and French Revolutions are very imperfect, theories proposed by Britton in
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Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. History: American    3. Military - General    4. Revolutions    5. History / General    6. Revolutions & coups    7. USA   

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Black nationalism    3. Conflict management    4. History - U.S.    5. MOVE (Organization)    6. Pennsylvania    7. Philadelphia    8. Social Conflict    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Urban    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. Revolutions & coups    14. USA    15. Urban communities    16. Violence in society   

Reviews (2)

Concise, well-judged, sympathetic account
This book keeps up the generally high standard of the "Profiles in Power" series and will be very useful for readers fresh to Ataturk and modern Turkish history. The author does not conceal the blemishes inAtaturk's character, but equally the reader can hardly fail to grasp thescale of the Turkish leader's achievements against the background of theOttoman empire's collapse and the conservatism of Turkish traditions. Alonger biography would do greater justice to the complexities of Ataturk'spersonality and historical legacy, but this is still a reliable andenjoyable book.

A summary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic.
Profiles in Power: Ataturk as well as telling us about Ataturk also summarizes the the falling down of the Ottoman Empire and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey . It does not go into details but givesoverallexplanations of the events. Notes and references given at the end of eachchapter and the references listed in the Further Reading part is veryusefull for the interested reader. Through out the book the writer can besaid to be neutral to case, though I doubt the correctness of some of hisviews.For example the explanation of the meaning of the title"Ghazi" which is the title given to Mustafa Kemal after the Warof Sakarya as the "Destroyer of the Christians", is not correct.The meaning of the word Ghazi (Gazi) is explained in the Turkish Dictionarypublished by Turkish Language Institude as "the title given to thecommanders who, performing extraordinary courage and capabilty wins victoryagainst the enemy." Although some comments on some issues should bedouble checked it is a fluent, consistent book, enjoyable to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1881-1938    2. 1918-1960    3. Ataturk, Kemal,    4. Atatèurk, Kemal,    5. Biography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. General    8. History    9. Presidents    10. Turkey   

Reviews (3)

Sandinista
Having lived trought the early years of the revolution in Nicaragua, althouhg just a child I got a first hand view of some of the struggles and dangers of the revolution.Because I was only a child I was not able to fully grasp the grand scheme of things and now as an adult I decided to begin reading about the revolution in Nicaragua and stubled upon this book. Great Job Matilde Zimmermann
This is the first book I read about Carlos Fonseca that has more accurate information about him, than any other book I have read. Just tell me what happened, I'll form my own opinion
This book pulls off a difficult feat, providing a balanced, neutral account of a subject about which supporters and opponents usually speak in strident, propagandistic terms.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1937-1979    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Ethnic Cultures - General    7. Fonseca Amador, Carlos    8. Frente Sandinista de Liberaci    9. Historical - General    10. History    11. Latin America - Central America    12. Nicaragua    13. Political    14. Revolutionaries    15. Biography: general    16. Political ideologies    17. Revolutions & coups   

Editorial Review

The growing frequency of peaceful expansions of human rights, private property, and market capitalism lead many to consider violent revolutions a thing of the past. In light of, for example, the dismantling of the Soviet Empire, the reunification of Germany, and the Czechoslovakian "velvet Revolution," violence as a mechanism for institutional change seems immoral and counterproductive, an anachronism in our age of global economies and shuttle diplomacy. Arno Mayer takes a contrarian position in Read more

Reviews (2)

The thesis is strong, but the argument is weak
Arno Mayer's "The Furies" show the qualities that were present in his two previous works on, respectively, pre-1914 Europe and the Holocaust.They are based on secondary sources, and they clearly articulate a theme that had been percolating through the historiography of their subject."The Furies" is a comparative history of the French and English revolutions and is divided into five parts.The first deals with "conceptual signposts" such as revolution, counterrevolution, violence, terror, vengeance and religion.The second part is an overview of the process of the terror, the third looks at "metropolitian condescension and rural distrust," the fourth looks at the revolutions' challenges to the bigotry of the established church and the fifth looks at the international context of Napoleon and Stalin. Fascinating study of counter-revolutionary violence
In this book, Mayer studies the French Revolution of 1789 and the Russian Revolution of 1917. He seeks to explain why the peoples made these great revolutionary advances, and also why the nobility fought to destroy them and to restore the savage old orders. He studies the role of religion in the counter-revolutions, particularly the Papacy's bitter hostility to the Revolutions, compared to its notorious slap on the wrist for the Nazi counter-revolution. He cites Michelet's famous remark that the numbers killed by the Spanish Inquisition in just one province of Spain far exceeded the number killed by those defending France and its Revolution. The Inquisition was the crowning revelation of Christianity's ingrained violence, its hostility to people who dared to think for themselves, and to think differently from the Church: for six centuries, the leaders of the Catholic Church ordered the killing of millions of men and women for the glory of God. After the French Revolution, the British ruling class organised the foreign counter-revolutionary war. This enormously increased the economic, social and military difficulties faced by the new Government. Later in the war, Napoleon continued France's defence against the counter-revolution, upheld the Revolution's destruction of the nobility's privileges, and extended its gains abroad. After the end of World War One, the rulers of the British, US and French states united in `helping the Whites overthrow the Bolshevik regime', as Mayer writes. Their intervention prolonged the civil war, enormously increasing the suffering of the Soviet people, and adding to the huge economic, social and military difficulties faced by the new Government. Stalin played a key part in defending the Soviet Union against the Intervention; later, he expanded the Revolution's gains and, after defeating Hitler's counter-revolutionary intervention, extended these gains to the nations of Eastern Europe. However, studies that focus on the violence and terror involved in counter-revolutions, even those studies, like Mayer's, that explain why people defended their countries' Revolutions, tend to overlook those Revolutions' tremendous achievements. Of course, people fought to survive the furies of the counter-revolution, but they also fought to build better societies, and they succeeded. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. 20th century    6. Comparative Literature    7. European History    8. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    9. European history: from c 1900 -    10. History / Europe / General    11. Political Philosophy    12. Revolutions & coups    13. Russia    14. Social history    15. World History/Comparative History    16. World history: c 1750 to c 1900    17. c 1700 to c 1800   

Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. 1989-    3. General    4. History & Theory - Radical Thought    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Revolutionary    10. Revolutions    11. World politics    12. American studies    13. Asian studies    14. European studies    15. Political Science / General    16. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (69)

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK
I bought "The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbon and "Patriots The Men Who Started The American Revolution" by A. J. Langguth because they were "important" books andbecause I thought that while they wouldn't necessarily be "good reads" they would be "good for me."
Excellent Read on the American Revolution!
At first, reading a 560 some odd page on the American Revolution was somewhat daunting, considering that I am used to reading books that are no longer than 400 pages or so.However, after I started reading this excellent title, I found myself engrossed in it.
Fantastic!
This is a great book to add to your collection if you are a student of the American Revolution.The anecdotal approach made for very quick and interesting reading.Also, one gets a good feel for the interwoven paths of the founding fathers.The extra detail is also worthy.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: American    5. Revolution, 1775-1783    6. United States    7. United States - Revolutionary War    8. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    9. History / General    10. Revolutions & coups    11. USA   

Subjects:  1. 1748-1836    2. 1748-1836.    3. 18th century    4. Etats gâenâeraux.    5. Europe - France    6. France    7. France.    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Qu'est-ce que le Tiers-Etat?    12. Sieyes, Emmanuel Joseph,    13. Sieyáes, Emmanuel Joseph,    14. Social classes    15. Tiers Etat    16. comte,    17. Europe    18. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    19. Revolutions & coups   

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Reviews (3)

Interesting book about an unusual man.
This book doesn't shed any new light on the Romanovs, but it does give new insight into a man who knew them very well. It is a short book, but very informative.

A Pleasant Little Biography
Sydney Gibbes would have been unknown to all except his own family had he not taken the momentous step of going to Russia in the early 1900s.There he sought out work as tutor to the children of various noble families, with indifferent results and gaining a reputation for behavior, which while not all that unusual for the times, definitely raised a few eyebrows (especially his insistence on whipping his students).He strode into history in 1908 when Empress Alexandra Fedorovna needed a tutor to correct her daughters' accents and hired him sight unseen.Gibbes remained with the family for the next ten years through war and revolution, teaching the four Grand Duchesses and then the hemophiliac Tsarevich.
historical and fascinating!
I enjoyed this book tremendously! It is a real page turner! It follows the incredible life and circumstances of M r. Gibbes, tutor to the last Russian imperial family until his death. Very precise,well researched,with many new facts and information. It is also beautifully written. Will please all the devotees of the Romanov family,as well as all those who enjoy a great story! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Educators    5. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    6. General    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Revolutionary    9. Royalty    10. Biography & Autobiography / Royalty    11. Biography: historical    12. ROMANOV, HOUSE OF    13. Rank & titles    14. Revolutions & coups    15. Russia    16. SOVIET UNION_HISTORY_HOUSE OF ROMANOV, 1613-1917    17. TEACHERS_BIOGRAPHY    18. World history: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (1)

A forgotten bit of history remembered.
Jowett and de Quesada bring the Mexican Revolution to life through their text.Stephen Walsh illustrated this Osprey Elite book.The Mexican Revolution was overshadowed by the Great War, even though the Revolution lasted longer.The authors note that the Mexican Revolution was really a series of conflicts between many different factions--including the United States government.Much of the Revolution would be classified as terrorism or war crimes today.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Latin America - Mexico    4. Military    5. Military - General    6. Military - Other    7. Revolutionary    8. American history: from c 1900 -    9. History / Military / General    10. Mexico    11. Revolutions & coups    12. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (4)

Enlightening
Che goes through memories of the Revolutionary War in Cuba. His writing style is engaging and interesting.

An amazing story
This book is great for getting a bird's eye of the Cuban Revolution from an individual perspective.Guevara is meticulous in his notation of events and people.This is not the book to read if you are looking for a general study of the Revolution.Guevara does speak of Castro and Cienfuegos among others but this is Guevara's story.What most impressed me was his honesty about his men, his mistakes, and the conditions under which the Revolution occured.The bugs, the heat, the lack of food, the support from the residents of the Sierra Maestro are so well described that you truly get a sense of what the experience must have been like.Don't pass this book up.

Compelling and instructive
This collection of memories conveys the excitement, zeal, possibilities, problems and limitations of Guevara's "guerilla warfare" strategy as it was practiced in the Sierra Maestra. At times, one can almost hearGuevara wheezing as he traverses the rugged terrain. It is, in general,light on ideological substance and heavy on battlefield drama. A classicnonetheless... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Caribbean & West Indies - Cuba    5. General    6. Historical - General    7. Latin America - General    8. Political    9. Biography & Autobiography / General    10. Cuba    11. Irregular or guerrilla forces & warfare    12. Revolutions & coups    13. c 1945 to c 1960   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Ireland    2. Folklore & Mythology    3. Folklore and history    4. French Expedition to Ireland, 1796-1797    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Ireland    8. Popular culture    9. Revolutionary    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    13. Folklore    14. Social Science / Folklore & Mythology   

Reviews (8)

Overcoming the Terror of the Unforeseen
Alice Hogge has written, in her first book, a masterpiece of history, not only in the modern familiar sense of a brilliant artifact but also in the original sense of a "work by which a craftsman achieves the rank of a master". (from Online Etymology)
The terror of religion: Gunpowder and God in the 16th Century
A well-written, if occasionally dry, account of religious terrorism in the 16th century.
And Excellent Book about Doomed People
Alice Hogge's book is about more than English policies against Catholics in sixteenth century England.Ultimately her book is about the doomed Catholics of England, their lives, their beliefs, their incredible courage and how they rankled the Protestant proto-totalitarians by their very existence.
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Subjects:  1. Catholic Church    2. Christianity - Catholicism    3. Church history    4. England    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. Gunpowder Plot, 1605    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Revolutionary    11. History / Great Britain   

Reviews (1)

Tender fury in poetic words
Zapata's Disciple is a collection of short essays and poetry by Martin Espada, whom I consider the greatest Latino poet writing today.His poetry is insightful, politically unrelenting; anger tempered with the love thatonly one so connected to his roots and community can articulate.Espada'stribute to Mumia will move you to tears.His images are powerful and hismessage is the most relevant writing of our times.A must for yourlibrary. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Political Process - Political Parties    5. Political Science    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Mexico    8. Political Science / General    9. Revolutions & coups   

Reviews (8)

Marie Antoinette out of Context
Unfortunately publishers feel that a book on Marie Antoinette will sell every couple years, so like clockwork we see an avalanche of pro royalist, sympathetic, out of context garbage.Most of them repeat the same legends...They base their accounts of the flight to Varennes on Carlyle and talk about her martydom...With the exception of Le Notre not one of her biographers has also done a biography of one of the leaders of the Revolution.Most demonstrate an alarming lack of understanding of basic events such as the the Bread March on Verseilles, September Massacres, the Necklace Affair or even how official Court appointment were made. Garbage!
The author should study her history and get the facts! An amateurish account
This book was a disappointment. I ...was very interested. I am a 'fan' of Marie Antoinette and have been fascinated with her life since reading Castelot's biography of her.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1755-1793    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Europe - France    5. France    6. France - History - Revolution And Napoleonic Empire (1789-1815)    7. Gender Studies    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Marie Antoinette,    12. Pamphlets    13. Queen, consort of Louis XVI, K    14. Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France,    15. Queens    16. Revolution, 1789-1799    17. Royalty    18. Women's Studies - History    19. Biography: historical    20. Biography: political    21. European history: c 1750 to c 1900    22. Marie Antoinette    23. Rank & titles    24. Revolutions & coups    25. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History - General History    3. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    4. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    5. British Isles    6. Revolutions & coups    7. c 1600 to c 1700    8. c 1700 to c 1800   

Subjects:  1. 1810-1821    2. Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, 18    3. Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, 1812-1813    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. History: World    7. Medina, Battle of, Tex., 1813    8. Military - General    9. Revolutionary    10. Texas    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. Revolutions & coups