BOOK REVIEW by Richard Desper of:
The Dark Side of Shakespeare: An Iron-fisted Romantic in England's Most Perilous Times
A trilogy by W. Ron Hess

When delving into the life of the putative poet/playwright "William Shakespeare", it may well be said (irony intended) that there is less to the man than meets the eye. Neither the background, qualifications, nor the historical record seem to support the historical William Shakspere as the Bard, and historical research leave us with a number of "lost years" unaccounted for in his life. Ron Hess has undertaken a somewhat parallel task - he has examined the facts about the 17th Earl of Oxford, most likely the actual identity of the author "William Shakespeare", and shows that there is much more to the man than meets the eye. Indeed, it would seem, if we believe Mr. Hess, that there is much more to the "Shakespeare enterprise" than we had ever imagined.
The "Shakespeare enterprise" is a key concept in Hess's book. In his own words, '... The real question of importance should first be, "WHAT was Shake-spear?"' In the First Folio, Ben Jonson calls Shakespeare "Soule of the Age! ... Thou art a moniment (sic) without a tomb!" suggesting Shakespeare's purpose, that of defining the character and tone of an age. The written works are only part of a larger project, with Oxford playing an international role embodying a mythical hero, the "Palladin of England", which Hess identifies (through Greek etymology) with Pallas Athena as the "Spear-Shaker". Hess identifies that project with a long-term alliance involving the earls of Sussex, Oxford, and Pembroke, along with Lord Hunsdon and Lord Effingham, all with key roles at Court and in the London stage. According to Hess, beginning in the 1570's, 'The alliance controlled the public and semi-public stages, but I argue that the private homes of those in the alliance were where the "Shakespeare" plays each were "originated".' The alliance used stage plays as a public relations part of its efforts for promoting its desired goals, both in the earlier period when the author was anonymous and later on when the pseudonym "Shakespeare" was introduced.
Mr. Hess's book abounds with notes, appendices, references, and a bibliography which attest to the extensive research involved in its preparation, a level of research which would seem to be unmatched by orthodox Shakespeare scholars. He speaks with logic and clarity, as when he debunks the orthodox "voice of authority" in such matters as the dating of the plays. He deftly skewers their inconsistent logic, for instance, as to what standards are to be accepted or disdained as it suits their purposes in one instance vs. another. His writing style exudes candor, freshness, and openness - he works by presenting the evidence, offering alternate interpretations (including his own, of course), and inviting the readers to draw their own conclusions. And for those who have found his speaking style entertaining, this has translated into his written work as well, resulting in a colorful presentation, which abounds in Hess's rich personal literary images.
Hess dwells extensively on Oxford's possible role in international intrigue, juxtaposed in the 1570's against Don Juan of Austria, natural half- brother to the King of Spain and the great military leader of the day, a role perhaps not as far-fetched as it might seem at first glance. It has long been noted that the "Shakespeare" plays abound with topical references dated to that decade, including allusions to Don Juan. To what extent Oxford was an active player abroad in these intrigues remains to be clarified, but it is clear that he was an active player where it counted a great deal - in molding opinion first at Court, then in the world at large. For perception, image, whatever one might call it, counted a great deal in those days, even as it does today.

BOOK REVIEW by Richard Desper of:
The Dark Side of Shakespeare: An Iron-fisted Romantic in England's Most Perilous Times
A trilogy by W. Ron Hess

When delving into the life of the putative poet/playwright "William Shakespeare", it may well be said (irony intended) that there is less to the man than meets the eye. Neither the background, qualifications, nor the historical record seem to support the historical William Shakspere as the Bard, and historical research leave us with a number of "lost years" unaccounted for in his life. Ron Hess has undertaken a somewhat parallel task - he has examined the facts about the 17th Earl of Oxford, most likely the actual identity of the author "William Shakespeare", and shows that there is much more to the man than meets the eye. Indeed, it would seem, if we believe Mr. Hess, that there is much more to the "Shakespeare enterprise" than we had ever imagined.
The "Shakespeare enterprise" is a key concept in Hess's book. In his own words, '... The real question of importance should first be, "WHAT was Shake-spear?"' In the First Folio, Ben Jonson calls Shakespeare "Soule of the Age! ... Thou art a moniment (sic) without a tomb!" suggesting Shakespeare's purpose, that of defining the character and tone of an age. The written works are only part of a larger project, with Oxford playing an international role embodying a mythical hero, the "Palladin of England", which Hess identifies (through Greek etymology) with Pallas Athena as the "Spear-Shaker". Hess identifies that project with a long-term alliance involving the earls of Sussex, Oxford, and Pembroke, along with Lord Hunsdon and Lord Effingham, all with key roles at Court and in the London stage. According to Hess, beginning in the 1570's, 'The alliance controlled the public and semi-public stages, but I argue that the private homes of those in the alliance were where the "Shakespeare" plays each were "originated".' The alliance used stage plays as a public relations part of its efforts for promoting its desired goals, both in the earlier period when the author was anonymous and later on when the pseudonym "Shakespeare" was introduced.
Mr. Hess's book abounds with notes, appendices, references, and a bibliography which attest to the extensive research involved in its preparation, a level of research which would seem to be unmatched by orthodox Shakespeare scholars. He speaks with logic and clarity, as when he debunks the orthodox "voice of authority" in such matters as the dating of the plays. He deftly skewers their inconsistent logic, for instance, as to what standards are to be accepted or disdained as it suits their purposes in one instance vs. another. His writing style exudes candor, freshness, and openness - he works by presenting the evidence, offering alternate interpretations (including his own, of course), and inviting the readers to draw their own conclusions. And for those who have found his speaking style entertaining, this has translated into his written work as well, resulting in a colorful presentation, which abounds in Hess's rich personal literary images.
Hess dwells extensively on Oxford's possible role in international intrigue, juxtaposed in the 1570's against Don Juan of Austria, natural half- brother to the King of Spain and the great military leader of the day, a role perhaps not as far-fetched as it might seem at first glance. It has long been noted that the "Shakespeare" plays abound with topical references dated to that decade, including allusions to Don Juan. To what extent Oxford was an active player abroad in these intrigues remains to be clarified, but it is clear that he was an active player where it counted a great deal - in molding opinion first at Court, then in the world at large. For perception, image, whatever one might call it, counted a great deal in those days, even as it does today.

BOOK REVIEW by Richard Desper of:
The Dark Side of Shakespeare: An Iron-fisted Romantic in England's Most Perilous Times*
A trilogy by W. Ron Hess

When delving into the life of the putative poet/playwright "William Shakespeare", it may well be said (irony intended) that there is less to the man than meets the eye. Neither the background, qualifications, nor the historical record seem to support the historical William Shakspere as the Bard, and historical research leave us with a number of "lost years" unaccounted for in his life. Ron Hess has undertaken a somewhat parallel task - he has examined the facts about the 17th Earl of Oxford, most likely the actual identity of the author "William Shakespeare", and shows that there is much more to the man than meets the eye. Indeed, it would seem, if we believe Mr. Hess, that there is much more to the "Shakespeare enterprise" than we had ever imagined.
The "Shakespeare enterprise" is a key concept in Hess's book. In his own words, '... The real question of importance should first be, "WHAT was Shake-spear?"' In the First Folio, Ben Jonson calls Shakespeare "Soule of the Age! ... Thou art a moniment (sic) without a tomb!" suggesting Shakespeare's purpose, that of defining the character and tone of an age. The written works are only part of a larger project, with Oxford playing an international role embodying a mythical hero, the "Palladin of England", which Hess identifies (through Greek etymology) with Pallas Athena as the "Spear-Shaker". Hess identifies that project with a long-term alliance involving the earls of Sussex, Oxford, and Pembroke, along with Lord Hunsdon and Lord Effingham, all with key roles at Court and in the London stage. According to Hess, beginning in the 1570's, 'The alliance controlled the public and semi-public stages, but I argue that the private homes of those in the alliance were where the "Shakespeare" plays each were "originated".' The alliance used stage plays as a public relations part of its efforts for promoting its desired goals, both in the earlier period when the author was anonymous and later on when the pseudonym "Shakespeare" was introduced.
Mr. Hess's book abounds with notes, appendices, references, and a bibliography which attest to the extensive research involved in its preparation, a level of research which would seem to be unmatched by orthodox Shakespeare scholars. He speaks with logic and clarity, as when he debunks the orthodox "voice of authority" in such matters as the dating of the plays. He deftly skewers their inconsistent logic, for instance, as to what standards are to be accepted or disdained as it suits their purposes in one instance vs. another. His writing style exudes candor, freshness, and openness - he works by presenting the evidence, offering alternate interpretations (including his own, of course), and inviting the readers to draw their own conclusions. And for those who have found his speaking style entertaining, this has translated into his written work as well, resulting in a colorful presentation, which abounds in Hess's rich personal literary images.
Hess dwells extensively on Oxford's possible role in international intrigue, juxtaposed in the 1570's against Don Juan of Austria, natural half- brother to the King of Spain and the great military leader of the day, a role perhaps not as far-fetched as it might seem at first glance. It has long been noted that the "Shakespeare" plays abound with topical references dated to that decade, including allusions to Don Juan. To what extent Oxford was an active player abroad in these intrigues remains to be clarified, but it is clear that he was an active player where it counted a great deal - in molding opinion first at Court, then in the world at large. For perception, image, whatever one might call it, counted a great deal in those days, even as it does today.

During the high tide of the Victorian era, the political life of the nation was dominated by two men, Disraeli and Gladstone. Gladstone is an obvious choice for one of the top statesmen of the era, he was elected four times to the premiership. Disraeli was not quite so fortunate. However, given the short period of time that he was in office he accomplished a great deal. He brought the tories back from the dead, passed a reform bill and managed to acquire the Suez Canal. At the Congress of Berlin, Disraeli's command of the situation even impressed Bismark (not exactly a slouch in these sorts of things). Not bad from a rather foppish young man who specialized in "Silver Fork" novels (a fictional version of lifestyles of the rich and famous in the 19th century).

Blake's book is the best one on the subject of Benjamin Disraeli. The complex story of the novelist turned politican is brought out in all of its facets. Disraeli was probably one of the most interesting people to be prime minister (after perhaps Churchill and Walpole) and Blake's book shows the reader how he did it.

Blake's Disraeli is not only flawless in its interpretation of Disraeli but also in its style. It is a work by which all other biographies must be judged. Simply put, it is the perfect biography.

This is a work of considerable scholarship which chronicles the life of one of Great Britain's outstanding statesmen. The book covers the political life of Disraeli admirably, but also gives a view of the private Disraeli: confidant of Victoria, prolific novelist, inventor of the crouton.

This book is very thrilling, and keeps you in suspense. You feel like you are really there, watching history unfold right before your own eyes. If you find it is hard to stay into this great book, press on! You will really love this adventurous book.

I read this book with my daughter who is 10 and we had a hard time putting it down. She is studying the Middle Ages this year in school and this story brought that time period to life. Not only did we learn about the historical events of the time of King Alfred and the Vikings, but we enjoyed reading about the culture of the 9th century. We have read other books by Henty and we were not disappointed with this one. There is something here for everyone, adventure, battles, romance, friendship, etc.

Henty is a wonderful author. I have read this book dozens of times and it is always fresh. The scenes are vivid, the plot is involving, and the characters are marvellous!

This small but brilliant volume condenses and crystallizes Jewish thought and Talmudic methods, but one can read it in three hours.

Central to Judaism are Torah and Talmud--which offer democratic learning systems open to all willing to avail themselves. Heschel uses the great Yiddish writer Mendele Moher Sefarim's description of a typical Eastern European Jewish town--"where Torah was studied from time immemorial; where practically all the inhabitants are scholars, where the Synagogue or the House of Study is full of people of all classes busily engaged in studies, townfolk as well as young men from afar...where at dusk, between twilight and evening prayers, artisans and other simple folk gather around the tables to listen to a discourse on the great books of Torah, to interpretations of Scripture, to readings from theological, homiletical or ethical writings...., where on the Sabbath and the holidays, near the Holy Ark, at the reading stand, sermons are spoken that kindle the hearts of the Jewish people for the Divine Presence, sermons seasoned with parables and aphorisms of the sages, in a voice and a tone that heartens one's soul, that melts all limbs, that penetrates the whole being." Study included all: Indeed, a book preserved at New York's Yivo Institute bears the stamp of the Berditshev Society of Wood Choppers for the Study of Mishnah, the earliest part of Talmud.

A Christian scholar who visited Warsaw during World War I saw many parked coaches with no drivers in sight. In his country, he wrote, "I would have known where to look for them. A young Jewish boy showed me the way: in a courtyard, on the second floor, was the shtible of Jewish drivers. It consisted of two rooms: one filled with Talmud volumes, the other a room for prayer. All the drivers were involved in fervent study and religious discussion.... It was then that I... became convinced that all the professions, the bakers, the shoemakers, etc., have their own shtible in the Jewish district; and every free moment which can be taken off from work is given to the study of Torah. And when they get together in intimate groups, one urges the other, 'Sog mir a shtickle Torah--Tell me a little Torah."

European Jews studied in their own language--Yiddish--born of what Heschel calls "a will to make intelligible, to explain and simplify the tremendous complexities of the sacred literature. Thus there arose, as though spontaneously, a mother tongue, a direct expression of feeling, a mode of speech without ceremony or artifice, a language that speaks itself without taking devious paths, a tongue that has maternal intimacy and warmth. In this language, you say 'beauty' and mean 'spirituality;' you say 'kindness' and mean 'holiness.' Few languages can be spoken so simply and directly; there are but few languages which lend themselves with such difficulty to falseness. No wonder Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav would sometimes choose Yiddish to pour out his heart to God."

Heschel's words could easily define the Jewish faith itself. The world he describes was lost in the Holocaust, but the faith was not. This book rekindles it. Alyssa A. Lappen

A short book in size but a great book in content. It is a description of the spirit of the Jews of Eastern Europe, an exaltation of their culture, their way of life, and above all of the high spiritual development of this ethnic group. The author manifests a certain melancholy for days gone by, for a way of life which he believes no longer exists. Lets leave to the present day Hassids to confirm or deny this statement. Beautiful prose, a must for anyone interested in learning about the essence of Eastern Europe Judaism.

If I had to pick just one book to explain my inner life as a Hasidic Jew, this would be it. In fact, now that is is back in print, I shall do exactly that in my FAQ on Hasidic Culture.

Not just about Hasidism, this thin but profound volume, written in such beautifully poetic prose, covers the different types of Eastern European Jews in a way that informs and inspires at the same time. Rabbi Heschel explain so clearly how Jewish spirituality is expressd, not in visible cathedrals, art, or monuments, but in timeless words and values as they are expressed in community through both worship and daily life.

Originally written in 1949, it appears that the author, himself a Holocaust survivor, intended this book to be a memorial to a lost world. Yet 50 years later, the book is as fresh and inspiring as the day it was written. The physical Jewish world he describes may no longer be there in Eastern Europe, but the inner world of religious Jews continues to grow and flourish so that I, as a Hasid in the 90's, can read this book and say, "Yes, this describes my inner life, too!" .

Perhaps, as Heschel himself suggests, this Eastern European "golden age" of Jewish spirituality (his words) can now be fully appreciated by the world. An excellent, EXCELLENT, book! Double 5-stars!

76 of the 123 pages are menu translations, French to English, and the vice versa so you can ask for what you want or translate what they have; all this very helpful and in a light, compact easy to carry book that makes it worth taking. The "Ten Simple Rules of Dining in Paris" in the begining along with the introduction comments are very good, they will serve you well to help make eating in Paris less stress free. The 25 pages of eating place recommendations is of less use, considering how many there are in Paris this is a very small sample. Near the Sacre-Coeur their recommeded cafe turned out to be a shabby affair with curious looking characters hunched over their rundown tables, which sat directly accross from a more relaxed less rundown place that we felt more comfortable eating at, which had fine food. You have to decide for yourself.
The book is worth taking with you. Paris is thick with places to eat, making it easier to just duck in anywhere with this wonderful little guide to manners and translation. Don't rely too much on the recommendations as the only places to eat at. It would have been nice if they had included a few paragraphs about the different types of wine.

This is the third time that I used this book while on vacation in Paris. I actually used the previous edition on my last two trips in 2000, and used this edition for my most recent trip in September 2001. The book is worth the money!

When I got to Paris, I made my way to some of my favorite restaurants and obviously started using the menus. This time, it was much easier to understand the selections. I remembered the definitions of a lot of the menu items from the previous two trips (using the book) and so understanding the menus and ordering the food was relatively painless this time. Yes, I actually improved my French vocabulary by using the book during my last two visits! The book is not exhaustive; however, I would say that at least 75% to 80% of the words on most restaurant menus are listed and defined.

I was so happy about my success with the menus that I decided to give some of the restaurant tips in the front of the book a try (pages 19-51). Now you have to understand that I never visit restaurants listed in guidebooks - EVER! I think that we tried three of the restaurants that were listed in the book and we really liked them. There weren't a lot of tourists in these restaurants and the food was pretty good.

I would like to make a comment about the best restaurants in Paris (page 29). Yes, it is very difficult to get a dinner reservation at these places -- I usually call about one month in advance. However, I almost always can get a lunch reservation at one of these restaurants without much difficulty. If you are dying to have dinner at a specific restaurant and you can't get a reservation, then try to have lunch there instead. I planned our last trip at the last minute and so I was not able to call restaurants ahead of time from the USA. When I arrived in Paris, I tried to call for dinner reservations and got the usual "complets" (full) on the other end of the line. Then I called and got a lunch reservation at L'Ambroisie with no problem! We waltzed in at about 1:00 pm, sat at a great table in a beautiful room and had a wonderful three-hour French lunch. The restaurant said that the lunch and dinner menus were the same (on that day) and so I did not feel that we had a lesser dining experience. This was confirmed when we were presented with the $300 check for lunch for two at the current exchange rate of 7FF/$1!

I highly recommend the book. It will save you a lot of time and trouble while using French menus. Also, you can try the restaurant recommendations and still feel as if you had an authentic French dining experience! I would also recommend their guidebook for Spanish-speaking countries.

I got this book as a gift. It has tips on restaurants, bistros and wine bars in Paris. The largest part of this book is a menu reader that explains what you are ordering on a menu in France. What a tough job these authors had! Exploring food markets and restaurants must be hard work. But seriously, this guide sends you to restaurants with good food and reasonable prices.

As a descendant of Conversos, and researcher of their history, I am REALLY glad to see a young adult book of this kind. However, I was very unhappy to see mistakes. They are minor, and I hope that a second edition will be better edited. For example, the mother, at one point, says, "Uno momento." This is horrible Spanish and only non-speakers would say this. The correct way is, "UN momento." Still, I'm glad that the subject is being written by and for non-scholars. Isabel/Ruth's experiences are true to the time she lived in, and this period in history is widely ignored by many. Secret Jews (Anusim) and their descendants deserve more attention!

This is touching story of a family courageously dealing with cultural and religious genocide. There is, perhaps, no better way to fight intolerance than to journey with a victin, fictional or otherwise, through the nightmare of persecution. This story needs to be told. As a Catholic, I welcome the opportunity to come to terms with a dark time in our past when Christ's message of love was unrecognizable in Christianity. We don't have to look far to see parallels in the ethnic cleansing taking place today, to realize vigilance is necessary if history is not to repeat itself. I would very much recommend this book and hope it will be read by Christian and Islamic, as well as Jewish, young people.

This is an excellent book for both adults and mature junior high and high school age. The information was obviously researched well as I am of this heritage and have read much on the subject. Isabel is a believable young woman who has to grow up way too soon in the face of the Spanish Inquisition. I found the story to be both exciting and educational. Many of the situations Isabel finds herself in are well documented as fact. Parents should read this book first before giving it to their children because the information may be difficult to digest. Treat it as you would a Shoah (Holocaust) book.

I purchased this for an upcoming visit to France and think it will be very useful, esp. for someone who has limited French and loves food. I tested it out using menu information from my French Michelin guide. It does not list everything, but it contains a lot of terms and descriptions.

Eating & Drinking in France has been updated! Search amazon.com for the new Eating & Drinking in Paris. The new edition has the most comprehensive French menu reader available and lists more than 100 great places to eat and drink in Paris. You'll also find information on food markets, food stores, wine stores, wine bars and tips on budget dining.

I've used this book on two trips to France (May and November of 2000) and I think the book is incredible!

I'm at the advanced level in French, however the menus at the restaurants in France still always confounded me until I bought this book. I would say that 80% to 90% of the food items on any menu are listed in the book. Other French guide books or dictionaries do not have anywhere near the number of entries that this book contains. I've used the book at a number of restaurants in France with great success. Also, the book is so small that you can easily fit it into a small bag (or purse), so it is very easy to carry it and use it in any restaurant. You don't have to be afraid to order the Andouillette any more!

"EL ESPEJO ENTERRADO" ES UN LIBRO QUE NO PUEDES DEJAR DE LEER. TIENES QUE TOMARTE UN TIEMPO PARA LEERLO Y APRENDER DE O RECORDAR LA HISTORIA DE TODO AMERICA.

Fuentes dice en el Espejo Enterrado que Rocinante es una yegua y no es cierto. Reto al mismo Carlos Fuentes a que me lo demuestre.

I first read The Buried Mirror as a college student 7 years ago. Since then, I have travelled through Mexico, Guatemala, and Spain and have always looked to "The Burried Mirror" as a valuable source of insight to the cultures I experience.

For anyone who has ever wondered about how the cultures and histories of those from the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas have comingled and collided, this is the book for you!

In this book, Jenkins describes his choice of the thousand best churches in England. Churches range from tiny, rural chapels notable for their remote, dramatic settings, to grand and majestic churches. (Cathedrals, however, are not covered, only parish churches.) He also rates the churches from one star through 5 stars.
The descriptions are generally full and compelling. However, I took off one star from my rating, because, for the armchair traveller, more pictures would have been welcome. (How frustrating to read about glorious stained glass windows, and have no idea what they actually look like!) Only about one in 10 churches is illustrated with either an interior or exterior photo.

For those interested in knowing more about England's wonderful parish churches, this book is a must. Organized by county, the book should prove useful for travellers like me who fall victim to every village spire. I appreciated both his wit and knowledge about the subject.

The history presented, and the wonderful photographs, are a panorama of architectural beauty and fascination topped only by Jenkins' insightful and witty comments. This is a perfect "coffee table volume" for anyone interested in the Church, the arts, or history, and for others who plan travel to areas of England they have not previously explored. An added bonus is that those passionate about any one of the topics will, as I have found, have the further entertainment of arguing whether Simon's choices actually were of the 1,000 best, and which of their own favourites would have topped them.