I picked this book from a bookstore table piled high with travel books. It was just the job to occupy me for part of a long plane ride from London, England to Western Canada.
In each short chapter, Peter Mortimer has to solve his daily challenge of walking through the UK with no money and beg food and accommodation for his journey from Plymouth to Edinburgh. He accomplishes this daunting task with charm and confidence and gives the reader an incident by incident, light and witty account of his travels. I wanted to keep reading on to find out how he solved his daily quest for food and shelter.
This is not really a travel book and not really a walking book but a slice of personal journalism. Given the crime ridden and paranoid character of contemporary urban society Mortimer brings off quite an achievement (He does this partly by sticking to rural routes). This book proved to be for me a light and amusing read for a long flight.

It was worth being stuck at home with the first streaming cold for about five years, to read Peter Mortimer's Broke in Britain.
The author's self-imposed task was to get himself from Plymouth, in the south of England, to Edinburgh, some 500 miles away, with a small dog for company, unprepared feet, an umbrella, a modicum of clothing, and not a penny in cash, nor any plastic money. And then to turn the discipline of his daily diary into a book.
The result is a fascinating reflection on modern British society, its bad bits and its brilliant ones. I could not put the book down, even while pouring the umpteenth large single medicinal malt, and polished it off in a few hours (the book, that is). I was there in spirit every step of the journey, free from the chains of office and computer, learning about my own country which I barely know, and even more about human nature.
Peter's style is so approachable and unpretentious, yet poetic and funny and ultimately very moving. Next time he's passing through Devon, I hope he calls in to Holsworthy, in a farming area devastated by foot and mouth last year - there'll be a warm welcome. There's even a chiropodist in town . . .
Keep putting those best feet forward, Peter

Yours admiringly, Hilary Vivian

This is my favourite book of the last year - bar none. It is Peter Mortimer's account of his walk from Plymouth, England to Edinburgh, Scotland with no more than a back-pack and a King Charles Spaniel. Is it possible to treck the length of Britain with no money to spend? On his journey he is welcomed into the lives of surprising array of people including a curate, a couple from a housing estate and a fox hunting community! It gives a fascinating insight into the response of people to the unexpected arrival of a penniless traveller.

There haven't been many travel books which I couldn't put down. But this was one. Each day builds up to its dramatic climax. Will he find a bed for the night? Will he be turned away? Will he make it through the night to a new day when it will all start again.

It is well written, witty, empathetic and never dull. Read it.

i had to write a paper for a geography class and figured why not do it on yugoslavia. while researching, i came across this book, and thought it was a marvelous read. it is a fascinating look at the decline of yugoslavia from Tito, who ran the country remarkably well and who had a miraculously peaceful tenure as "Emperor." then Milosevic showed up and [messed] it all up. the thing i find very excellent about this book is that it describes very well how milosevic got that power. he used nationalism to his advantage to get the serbs behind him. this nationalism lead to the bloody split-up of croatia, slovenia, bosnia-herzegovina, macedonia, and finally kosovo. this book shows one of the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) examples of nationalism and the effects of nationalism. it is especially good to observe what happened to Milosevic in light of recent events throughout europe, with the hard-right gaining popularity, in such places as Romania, Hungary, and even in more tolerant France and the Netherlands. it is a worthwhile read to observe similarities between what milosevic said and did and what these new right-wing leaders are saying and doing.

This is an excellent book by a Professor of Political Science at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada. 'International History Review' said of the first edition that it was "far superior in its factual coverage and balance to its various competitors in the field. .. He has told the story as completely and as impartially as we are liable to get." Cohen gives a brief history of Yugoslavia in the first chapter. The rest of the book gives a detailed account of Yugoslavia's breakup and the war.

Yugoslavia existed as a state from 1918 to 1991. Under Tito it had a devolved and federal constitution. This gave parity representation to each of the six republics in the Yugoslav federation, even though Serbia was by far the biggest. Tito selected people for jobs by 'ethnic arithmetic' and rotated top officials annually. But these policies signally failed to unify Yugoslavia. The constitution encouraged those who wanted to split the country. They had a two-track strategy. They aimed to move from federation to confederation as a step towards independence; at the same time they formed separate institutions designed for complete independence.

Outside forces seized on these internal failings. In January 1991 the US and German Ambassadors pressed the Yugoslav National Army not to intervene to keep Croatia in Yugoslavia. In early 1991 Germany and other countries sold arms to Croatia and Slovenia. On 25 June 1991 Croatia and Slovenia unilaterally declared their independence. The Croats were desperate for foreign intervention: "The Tudjman government believed that immediate internationalization of the Yugoslav crisis was absolutely crucial."

When the Yugoslav Government deployed the National Army to hold the country together, the EC secretly threatened to cut off all aid to Yugoslavia. On 4 October 1991, the opening day of the EC Conference, its chairman Lord Carrington presented an agenda "premised on the assumption that Yugoslavia no longer existed." The EC announced that all the Yugoslav republics "are sovereign and independent with international identity". As Cohen wrote, "the EC had apparently made a political decision to dismember the Yugoslav federation." Hurd warned in December 1991 that recognising Croatia and Slovenia would escalate the war. Carrington warned that recognition would weaken diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a settlement, and would also spread the war to Bosnia. Despite, or because of, all these good reasons, the EC, including Britain, recognised Croatia and Slovenia in January. The UN did too, despite its "internal divisions about the propriety of intervention in a sovereign state's domestic disputes."

The war did spread to Bosnia. In July 1991 the Moslem Bosnian Organization tried to negotiate a Moslem-Serb accord to prevent war in Bosnia and to preserve Bosnia's territorial integrity. Karadzic accepted this for the Bosnian Serbs, but Izetbegovic, the leader of the Bosnian Muslims, rejected it. Izetbegovic is a member of the fundamentalist 'Fida'iyane Islam', which wants to turn Bosnia into an Islamic Republic, although Muslims are only a third of the population. Bosnia's Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic tried to justify the composition of his government by saying "It is a fact that Moslems make up 99% of the Bosnian defense forces so it is natural that they form the government." In so doing he gave the lie to the nonsense that Bosnia is some form of multicultural democracy. These armed forces have been "strengthened with thousands of volunteers from various Islamic countries" and by illegal arms shipments, often through Slovenia, especially from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

In his 1970 Islamic Declaration, which he reprinted in 1990, Izetbegovic wrote, "The Islamic movement must and can take power not only to destroy the non-Islamic power but to build up a new Islamic one." Cohen noted "the more militant and religiously nationalistic majority in the party led by Alija Izetbegovic (who had spent eight years in jail under the communists for his Islamic fundamentalist beliefs)." Cohen analysed "the role of traditional religions in generating ethnic conflicts" in Yugoslavia.

Again, in February 1992 Izetbegovic sabotaged the Lisbon Agreement for Moslem-Serb-Croat power-sharing. He "later conceded that Bosnia might have avoided a violent war if it had stayed together with Serbia and Montenegro in a reconfigured Yugoslavia." In early 1992 his dash for Bosnian independence was "prompted by the opportunity for quick recognition by the EC." Even the US Ambassador to Yugoslavia called his decision 'disastrous'. Cohen pointed out that "the lack of a political settlement among the major ethnic groups within Bosnia-Herzegovina actually justified postponing recognition of that republic as another new state in April 1992." But the EC and the UN went ahead with recognition. In the autumn of 1993 Bosnian Moslem government forces killed "thousands of civilian Croats in central Bosnia".

The United States has throughout the war campaigned for US intervention. As Cohen pointed out, it used hyperbolic calls of genocide to try to justify intervention. It has vilified the Serbs and whitewashed the Bosnian Moslems and the Croats. To defeat the Serbs, "the United States, though not ostensibly taking sides in the war, had effectively engineered the Moslem-Croat agreement." Cohen showed how "behind the scenes, Washington was gradually expanding its military support for the Moslems and Croats". Clinton approved the initiative of a group of former US military officers to assist Croatia's armed forces.

Cohen finished by writing hopefully, "The imperatives of economic survival and reconstruction, as well as geographic proximity and other earlier interdependencies, suggested that such cooperation would eventually resume despite the recent episodes of terrible, ethnic, religious, and political violence." But there is no chance of this vital peaceful reconstruction happening with 60,000 foreign troops in the country. Their presence will prolong the war in Yugoslavia, and also runs a high risk of spreading it to other countries. It will certainly worsen the tension between the NATO powers and Russia. Bulgaria and Greece will not appreciate the presence of so many NATO troops so near to them.

I really enjoyed this book and I hope it will help me on my Project.

The pictures were really great. I really liked the painting of Eros when he went to the baths, and the photographs when they were digging for Pompeii. I really liked Sylvia, Eros' daughter. She is my age (six). They have found the remains of a priest's lunch (berries and nuts) and five REALLY old eggs. I'd like to find Sylvia's ring when we go to Pompeii this spring. (Hey, that rhymes!)

Omigosh, this book is fantastic! I cannot say enough good things about it! This brings history to life like nothing I've ever seen. Combining photographs of the ruins with detailed paintings of the fictitious characters, I Was There takes you back in time from the first page. My 6-year-old was completely captivated by the story of Eros and his daughter, which not only gives a very plausible suggestion for the findings at real-life "house of Menander," but also explains much about ancient Roman life along the way--from baths to markets to clothing and food. This is a MUST for any young student of antiquity or future tourist of Italy.

No one nows what to do.Mt.Vesuvius is erupting!Ash is buried on the city of Pompeii.A boy named Pliny see's the black cluod coming out of Vesuvius.My favorite book...........The buried city of Pompeii.

Kudos to Farwell for his insightful biography of one of the most charismatic figures of the 19th century British Empire. Richard Francis Burton has always been one of my personal heroes and the author has done a fine job of bringing the exploits and foibles of this extrordinary soldier, spy, rogue, linguist, explorer, and author, to light.

I have read several biographies of Burton and this is by far the best. Byron Farwell has produced an excellent biography of a unique Victorian who led a life of incredible energy and movement. In fact, Burton seemed to find it impossible to stay in one place. Not always a likeable fellow, Burton lived for adventure. His dangerous journey into the Islamic holy city of Mecca , dressed as a Muslim and speaking fluent Arabic, vies with his discovery of Lake Tanganyika (with Speke) as the most famous of his exploits. But Farwell also describes many less well known adventures - Burton travelled to Salt Lake City in 1859 where he interviewed Brigham Young. He was British Consul in West Africa, Damascus, and Santos, Brazil. Burton usually completely ignored any duties he was given by his employer (Farwell says he was "unemployable"). Incredibly, much of his exploring was done while on dubious sick leave from the Indian Army. Farwell brings out Burton as an explorer of cultures and a scholar as well as a geographic explorer - Burton translated the Arabian Nights and other major oriental works. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Burton's early life, starting as an extremely naughty boy and maturing into an exceptional young swordsman who wrote a book on bayonet drill later adopted as the standard work by the British Army. Farwell is clearly fascinated, as well as sometimes exasperated by his subject.

Farwell's biography of the extrordinary life of Capt. Sir Richard F. Burton is a fine work. Farwell's excellent style and knowledge of the 19th century are perfect backdrops to the the exploits of "Ruffian Dick". The author manages to point out Burtons many talents and shortcomings in a fair, scholarly manner, without physco-babble or hero-worship. Yet more importantly, Burton's life is allowed to unfold as what it truly was, a grand adventure, full of exotic places, eccentric characters, brilliant victories and stinging defeats. Many biographies have been written concerning Burton, many are very good, but Farwell has managed to bring to life this truly larger then life personality

What an incredible story! Any Hollywood producers out there? I think this book could be a blockbuster film. The descriptions of the characters of Angelo and Marianna are so perfectly written that I could envision many of Hollywood's mega-stars in these roles. Kudos to the author!!!

While reading this book I felt as though I was allowed to observe and be included in the life of the Chiarella family. This deeply moving tale of a courageous family will live in my heart forever. The joy, the struggles, the sadness and the hope that the author so eloquently writes about in his book is truly an amazing literary work of art. To the Chiarella family, thank you for such a wonderful book. May God Bless you always.

Drawn from a true succession of personal family incidents, Calabrian Tales: A Memoir Of 19th Century Southern Italy by Peter Chiarella is a compelling saga about a family who lived in one of Italy's poorest regions more than a hundred years ago. Here are memorably crafted stories of inexplicable injustice, poverty, avarice, indomitable pride, and survival. Marianna (who is the author's great aunt) is a woman who mortifies her family by becoming the mistress of a wealthy noble. The resulting familial clashes, the trials of emigration, and the struggle to make a new life in America enhance this engaging and deftly written tale of enduring humanity, pride, and culture.

Used this book 12 years ago for a two month trip through Europe, and it made it possible to conviently and cheaply stay in the often pristine campgrounds available in or just outside most European cities and scenic destinations at a cost far below and a level of comfort far above budget stays in hostels or cheap hotels. Too bad it's out of print! It was highly accurate, and I'd imagine most campgrounds mentioned are still in operation.

My wife and I spent 5 weeks in Europe several years ago. We followed this book's advice on how to see Europe via camping/train. Our trip couldn't have been easier or more enjoyable. This book was directly responsible for the best trip we've every taken.

This book provided essential information on two separate family camping trips to Europe. Each trip lasted more than six weeks, each was rail-based. We found that Baken's information was compact and exact. In each case that we used the book we found the directions to the campings from the train stations to be precise and that the evaluation of each camping agreed with our tastes. Additional information supplied about local sites was also very thorough. Our copy is tattered, thumbed, smudged - and very well traveled.

King George III of England was a tyrant. Thomas Jefferson said so when he wrote the Declaration of Independence and that was why we had the American Revolution and the rest was history. Except that most elementary school American History textbooks have very little to saw about King George III, a defect that Jean Fritz seeks to correct in this comic but historical view of the famous tyrant. Young readers will learn that King George III collected clocks and ate sauerkraut (the house of Hanover hailed from Germany after all), became a king when he was only twenty-two, married Princess Charlotte and had sixteen children, and tried to be a frugal monarch when it came to managing the money of his country (they are some very interesting examples of how he did this). Consequently, Fritz gives his readers an entirely different view of the taxation (without representation) that was a key catalyst for American independence.

"Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of a series of books by Fritz that teach young students about the major figures and events of the American Revolution (e.g., "Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?", "Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?). There are historical facts and easy humor in equal measure in this volume, but I think that the most important aspect of the book remains that it gives us the British perspective on the American war for independence. There is also a footnote about the King's problems with porphyria, which will be important if young readers are interested enough in the life of this kill to check out the film version of "The Madness of King George," the only film to feature George III in a prominent role. This book has pictures by Tomie De Paola in keeping with the tone of the book, which shows that even if George III was a tyrant, that did not mean he was a bad person. After all, this was a king who made buttons.

I learned all kinds of things about King George, Queen Charlotte and others. It really helped me with my research on the Revolutionary war. In this book you get to learn the funny things about King George and things that happened during his time.

Jean Fritz has created many fabulous books for children. "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" is one of my favorites. It shows the beginning of the American Revolution from the eyes of King George. The book is humerous and historically correct. Kids and adults will enjoy reading it together!

Doug Kelly has provided a much needed addition to the geneological arena with this 500 page work. If your family is from Carolina and of Scottish derivation, it is probably in here. The general history section is worth twice the price alone. A must have for even the part-time family history buff.

Helped me trace my wife's heritage back to Scotland. Since we live in the heart of Scots Carolina it all hits home. All Scottish genealogists will use this book. Very well written.

When I first ordered this book, it was for purely personal reasons. I was tracing hard to find ancestors; however, once the book arrived, I found myself engrossed in compelling reading. In fact, CAROLINA SCOTS is addictive, and I could not put it down until I had finished it.

For the Highland genealogist, this is a must-read. For anyone interested in Scottish history or early-American history, this is a must-read. And, finally, for anyone who enjoys a story well-told and well-written, this is a must read.

I'm waiting on Part II.

This book is a visual map of the castle that is a must for every history/romance/medieval buff. It can be too conplicated to imagine all of the inner and outer structures of a working castle. Lee's work can give the reader a firm foundation to build on with his fantastic illustrations.

Amazing! Alan Lee is an incredable painter/illustrator. His work in this books brings to life not only the Castles he paints, but the people and the time in which these castles are located. The work spans historical as well as fictional locations, all of which make me wish that there was a print store right next door. This book is perfect for children and adults alike. Awesome, in the truest meaning of the word.

When I first read this book when it came out way back in 86, I was blown away. The artwork was the best I had ever seen in a book like this, and the retelling of different myths to go along with each castle presented read like a fantasy story for history buffs. It covered classic celtic strongholds, all the stories surrounding the Arthuranian mythos, faerie castles, and those fortresses of the likes of Ghormenghast and Edgar Allen Poe's House of Usher. I would have to reccommend this book for all those lovers of fantasy and of great art.

I couldn't believe it when I found this book. I had no idea it existed! It has all the great shrines and places of pilgrimage in central & eastern Europe, and talks about their histories (I love the way the stories are written), as well as provides really important travel information such as contact info, places to stay, how to get there, etc. Now after getting this great guidebook, I sure hope I can find a way to make a trip out there. But if not, it's just an awesome book to have at home anyways!

What a great Catholic travel guidebook! My friends & I used it to plan a trip to pilgrimage sites in Eastern & Central Europe. This book was extremely user-friendly, and provided everything we needed....information on the shrines, contact information, places to stay, website/email addresses, things to see/do, info on how to get there, as well as great tips and hints. Because of this book, we were able to visit such holy sites as The Shrine of Divine Mercy, Infant Child of Prague, the Blessed Virgin Mary's House in Turkey, the famous Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, and much more! In short - without this book, our (awesome!) pilgrimage trip could not have been done.

This book helps all to realize the magnificence of our Lord. The wonders that are given to us from heaven for all to see. This is a wonderful book for those who can travel and also for those who cannot. We all can experience the graces given to us.