R. F. "Roy" Foster author of 'W. B. Yeats: The Apprentice Mage,' 'Charles Stewart Parnell: The Man and His Family' and 'Modern Ireland,' has written this experience and interpetation into Irish history and literature. He does a fine job of it. His bravery in massacring every sacred Irish cow as one would have fun reading it. It leaves you with a warm, passionate, giggly feeling. It's entertainingly brilliant look at the past and present Ireland. I particularly love the chapters and passages on Theme-parks & Histories (with some warning from Foster on expliotation); the chapters on Yeats; When the Newspapers Have Forgotten Me: Yeats, Obituarists and Irishness; Selling Irish Childhoods: Frank McCourt & Gerry Adams; and, Remembering 1798. They're totally smothered in clichés and lots of traditional tidbits of fond or fatal memories, known to some as the Irish experience.

Foster cleverly works moments of Ireland's past into narratives of Irish culture on myth, folklore, ghost stories and romance. The result is from a varied interpetation of opinionated and right down funny interlinking essays. In Theme-parks and Histories-Foster writes of the Irish are to remember or commemorate anything. It is worth remembering the upward curve of Irish cultural achievement-referring to W. B. Yeats, Hugh Leonard, Ezra Pound, Cashel Heritage Society and the 2,000-acre Famine Theme Park in Knockfierna Hill west of Limerick. Irish history, the most distinctive achievement for it. His suggestion to form a monument to Amnesia and forget where they put it. As a historian he would be shocked, but as an Irishman he would be attracted to the idea. Foster shows no mercy on his view of manipulating Irish history on political places and Irish poverty and oppression as a commerically packaged heritage park. His exploration of Yeats' authority of the Irish story's fitting moments as the voice of his Ireland countrymen.

Foster leaves teeth-marked criticism of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes) and Gerry Adams and their devil may care attittude of taking hostages for fortune. Transcending into the bestsellerdom of Irish childhoods. Simply a technique of marketing where Irish version brag and whimper about the woes of their early years' experience. I find this to be an entertaining reading. In some places a bit wordy, but good telling of Irish culture. You may hate or love it. But, if your interest is in Irish history and literature it's quite essential.

This book ought to be on the shelf of anyone with an interest in Irish history. Foster has done an excellent job at making his points about the various 'uses' that history in Ireland has been employed for. From downright propaganda to 'memoirs' masquerading as vague truths he unleashes the power of clear thinking and valid sources. For so long Irish history has been treated as 'story' and this book attempts and succeeds in telling the difference. It is so refreshing to see something sensible in print! It is a great source book or reference and could also be read by delving into the different subjects in the index. I would recommend this for all who are involved in getting to know the real history of Ireland and the Irish and how some Irish 'history' came to be written in the first place.

Porter's tongue-in-cheek treatment of the marketing of Ireland is refreshing after an avalanche of Irish hype came from unscrupulous little publishers.The Disneynification of Ireland ,apparently propelled by American ad agencies for the Irish Tourist Board,is treated by Porter correctly as hype to snare innocent Irish-Americans.Porter gets almost every hilarious Irish twist of recent decades in this collection of exposes, including the hilarious, almost unbelievable marketing of the potato famine in Disney-like theme parks.Unfortunately, he closed his collection of revionist chapters without pointing to the biggest Irish hype of all -the invention and collapse of " The Celtic Tiger", based on runaway inflation and a Dublin stock market bubble that aped the rise and fall of America's Nasdaq.Foster's book is a must if you wish a clearer view of the Irish .

This work is a splendid example of the new emphasis of the publisher on producing comprehensive works in a handy cheap format compared with the earlier broad brush treatments which covered too much in too little detail.
The new emphasis is on sets covering various national armed forces in as much detail as is available, consistent with the current purpose of the works in the series, which have evolved from an original emphasis on serving the military miniature maker market into works intended to enlighten the general reader in enough detail to satisfy the merely curious and to point the way to further reading.
Most of us, including myself, have little need for, or the patience to read, voluminous studies, often in foreign languages, covering many eras and nations. My main interest is in the US forces, their allies and their enemies in the twentieth century.
That said, these works should be purchased as presented, in sets within the series. Since they are produced as a set, the volumes cover only relevent parts of the general history and the clothing and individual equipment is covered as it appears in each period. The French Army, US Army, British Army, and Italian Army series all have three volumes, covering the major theatres and time periods of the war. The German set has five.
If you want an introduction to the fascinating variety of clothing and equipment of the forces covered, this set is for you.

There isn't a lot of publication focussed on the Italian Army in WW2 and Osprey's Men-at-Arms series finally decided to include it in its latest book.

Philip S Jowett has done a good job in describing the uniforms and rank insignia of the Italian Army and Stephen Andrew's colour plates are of very high quality. An interesting book for WW2 historian and modelling enthusiats. Photos and colour plates are very rare references.

I am looking forward to volume II in this series.

Uggh!Finally!it took osprey to reach volume #340 before the Very signifigant contribution of the italian army in ww2 was acknowledged.This volume is wonderful with intense color plates and information of Italian units (fanteria)in stunning detail.i am hoping to see many volumes (at least 4 ) on the other fronts of the italian war effort.This is a definite buy for those interested in one of the most ,overlooked negatively stereotyped(as well as France),and ignored major power of WW2.

This stunning look into pavement design of the past 2000 years is brilliantly executed--from the detailed drawings to the in-depth analysis of mathematical principles and design principles/patterns, this book is a treat for my eyes and my mind. In working on my PhD in the stone and paving methods of Rome (and beyond), I've found Ms. Williams book fills a hole in academia left vacant for far too long. You love architecture/history/church building/math/ or design? You must have this gorgeous gift.

Wonderfully conceived, researched and illustrated, this is a book which beautifully answers some of the fundamental questions as to the why and how of paving. When I walk through the majestic spaces mentioned in Ms. Williams book I will do so with my curious eyes glued to the ground for a change. Truly a fantastic book; a good read be it for the layman or as a much needed point of reference for the learnèd. The illustrations are almost as good as being there.

This is a must book for history students of the Roman and Tuscan buildings. Contains 58 outstanding drawings of examples of Italian art pavemennt and the text explains them in detail. All architects and designers need a copy.

If your looking for a needle in a haystack, these volumes-"Italians to America" are a must for any Italian-American geneaology buff. Fortunately, I had a death certificate that had the place of birth of my grandfather. Using the index with variations of our last name, I recorded the information and proceeded to lookup every entry. On my second trip to the public library I found the entry and all information checked out. His age, city of departure and his place of birth. My only complaint was that the editors didn't have this information on CDs. It would be a marvelous reference tool. Here's hoping that they have second thoughts about updating their next volume and replace with CDs.

I am absolutely interested in the edition that pertains to the years between 1900 and 1925. Please keep me posted or send it to me when available

Did not read but am interested in a book on Italians arriving in the Port of New Orleans in early 1900 or late 1800. Anything available?

Jim Harris's "Jack and the Giant: A Story Full of Beans" is a fresh and unusual twist on the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" fairytale. The twist here is that the story is a western, complete with adobe castle, people spouting slang like "hornswoggled!" and a character named Annie Okey-Dokey.

Harris has succeeded masterfully in making the story new and approachable for even young readers for whom the classic tale might be a little bit too bloody. The illustrations are an absolute hoot--colorful, detailed, and abrim with delightful asides where tiny mice, rabbits, buffalo and other animals wink and grin at each other with quips appearing in cartoon-like balloons. It's all visually reminiscent of the very best of master illustrator Wallace Tripp.

This really is a lot of fun for adults and kids alike, and rewards repeated reading with all the fun visual stuff you'll continue to notice.

Author/illustrator, Jim Harris, has created an in-your-face western retelling of the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk that will have you and your children laughing out loud. Wild Bill Hiccup is the western version of the giant and a magic lasso that turns french fries into gold, a banjo that plays music on its own and a furry buffalo that leaves golden buffalo chips replaces the classic story's standards. Jim Harris' illustrations are hysterically one of a kind and keep you begging for more. Luckily for us, he is a prolific author/illustrator and he continues to recreate these delightful classics.

This atypical version of the well known fairy tale is a delight to both young and old alike. The creative storytelling carries the reader along like a tumbleweed in the wind, not knowing what twists and turns will happen next. Jack is the hero trying to save the day and the Bar None Ranch, along with his sidekick the yellow tabby cat. The clever adaptation of this old tale is refreshing and downright funny. I found myself laughing at the antics of the tabby throughout the story. My favorite character is the one who gives the giant the gold in a very original way (I won't give it away, you'll have to read it for yourself!) 'Jack and the Giant' captures the spirit of the west in its delightful illustrations. Each page holds a reader's attention while they try to take in all the action in the pictures. Jim Harris is a tremendously talented illustrator who seems to bring to life each of his characters with the ink of his pen. He truely has a gift to share with children of all ages! Anyone who loves fairy tales will enjoy 'Jack and the Giant' by Jim Harris.

This is a unique book that must be read by anyone interested in Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust.

Jewish Roots In Poland is an incredible masterpiece, full of invaluable information and experiences for both the researcher in the quest for roots and the ordinary reader who wants to visit those roots. It has the careful and elaborate detail necessary for serious research and the beautifully rich illustration necessary for serious visualization and enjoyment. A portion of the book is devoted to explaining and listing exactly what material is available for the genealogist (professional or amateur) who is looking for family. Ms Weiner not only tells what is available and where it is located, but also details exactly how to access it. She has the help of those very experts who are in charge of the archives for these explanations. There are, in addition, illustrations of every kind of record that is available. This in itself - the consideration of the kinds of records that were kept and the various ways of keeping them - is a fascinating dimension. Another substantial segmented is devoted to the uniquest of travel literature. There are a number of pages devoted to each of the 28 cities now within the Polish border that had a pre-Holocaust population of 10,000 or more. For each city there is a remarkable collection of photographs: the city before the Holocaust and now, its synagogue(s), its cemeterie(s), its holocaust memorial. For each there is also a bibliography. The archival holdings in Poland are indexed by town and by repository. The contribution of a number of experts in the field enriches the text, and from beginning to end Ms Weiner's collection of photographs enriches the page. Marching up and down the outer edge of the appendix pages are more towns, cemeteries, archives and synagogues. This is a gift to the Jewish community - worth many times its price.

I just received the newly published book by Miriam Weiner, "Jewish Roots in Poland - Pages from the Past and Archival Inventories."

Upfront, I must say I am an unabashed admirer of Miriam Weiner, since before she "found" four generations of my KUSHNER family going back to the mid eighteenth century in Podolia. I had look forward to the publication of this book for a long time, expecting it to be something special because I know, from experience, just how amazing Miriam's level of detail can be. But, I honestly had no idea how wonderful and valuable the book would be in actuality. It is overwhelming.

First off, this is an incredible book for Poland researchers, wishing to retrieve archival documents for their ancestors who lived in Polish towns and cities. It lists, archive by archive, all the known archival holdings (of genealogical significance) - by type and time period, for each Polish town.

In addition, it offers a wonderful pictorial view of Jewish Poland at both the beginning and end of the 20th century. Especially fascinating were photos of the same place taken "now" and "then."

Even if one never visits an archive or intends to visit an archive, this book is a treasure! " After the first glance, it will probably not be relegated to the genealogy resource shelf of your library; more probably will spend time on the coffee table as well.The artistic detail and printing are exquisite

In recent years, there has been a great deal of emphasis on Polish anti-Semitism. This is despite the fact that anti-Semitism existed virtually everywhere, and in Poland never approached the level which Jews encounted in many other European nations. Moreover, the positive aspects of Polish-Jewish relationships have been virtually ignored. Pogonowski's excellent book does much to show, in fact, how Jewish communities flourished in Poland.

Despite the frictions and mutual prejudices which sometimes developed between Poles and Jews, the fact remains that Poland was historically one of the most tolerant nations in the world for Jews. If the fact that 80% of the world's Jews, at one time, made their home in Poland does not prove this fact, then what does? This book makes it clear that Poland had been centuries ahead of others in terms of human rights and religious tolerance.

Iwo Pogonowski's book is a veritable mine of information about Polish-Jewish relations since the Middle Ages. This subject has been badly distorted in the English-language publications, mostly for reasons that have nothing to do either with history or honesty. "Jews in Poland" needs to be read slowly, in small doses, with frequent returns because sometimes a very important fact is hidden in a footnote or some such obscure place. This volume looks and reads like a scrapbook, and the impression is reinforced by its graphic aspect.

"Jews in Poland" is full of very instructional maps and diagrams, it also carries a good selection of illustrations (although their quality is rather so-so). All in all, a book that stands head and shoulders over any other treatment of Jewish-Polish history in the English language.

This is a spectacularly interesting journal. Cook was an odd sort, that's for sure. But a genius? I'd certainly say so after reading his often-daily account of his activities. Really neat book.

This well prepared abridged edition of Captain James Cook's journals is a specialized book of interest to people studying the exploration of the Pacific and/or the British Navy of that time period. Other people might find sections of it dry reading. The book is recommended for oceanography students as the 17th century voyages of exploration formed the basis for later oceanographic cruises.

Cook's voyages carried scientific personnel of that time period, many of whom died from the harsh conditions along with members of the crews. In addition to bad weather, there were diseases and hostile natives (including cannibals). Extensive charting was carried out and, on the second voyage, the Board of Longitude supplied Cook with Larcum Kendall's copy of John Harrison's H4 watch for determining longitude. Observations were made of prevailing winds, currents, temperature, and other things of scientific interest.

Natives throughout the Pacific would go to great lengths to obtain iron, expecially axes, even prostituting their wives and daughters (willing or not). Natives would attempt to steal items, if they could, leading to numerous confrontations including one in which a boat crew of the Adventure (the consort ship of the second voyage) were killed and eaten by the Maori natives of New Zealand.

Cook's journal ended several weeks before his death. The editor fills in details from journals of other people who were on the voyage, and speculates on the reason he was killed by the natives in Hawaii.

The book includes maps of Cook's routes on his voyages. It also has an index listing the names of the various individuals mentioned, with an indication of their positions on the voyages or their other positions if they were not active participants.

This re-issue of the Beaglehole edition of the Cook journals attests to the enduring importance of Cook as the exemplar navigator and Beaglehole as his nautical Boswell.

The writing is elegant and subtle and the fascination of the recital enduring.

Best there is no other!

Salloum's book is a reflection of one of the true periods of Arab glory and civilization. It is replete with historical anecdotes and at the same time, interspersed with reflections of history in the present. Not only does the reader learn facets of the conquest of Spain by the Arabs, but the myriad of contributions made through it to the Western world. It is an easy reading study of factual information of this period of world history. The author enters Andalusia the way his forefathers did. As well, the book includes various anecdotes of the author's family life as immigrants to a new land. Awaiting a sequel!

This book is a must for anyone interested in the details of what the Arabs and Islam contributed to the West by way of Arab Spain (Andalucia). The author provides details of the history of the magnificent research and intellectual movements initiated by the Arabs while rulers and even later as the conquered in Andalusia. The author relates this history by way of a travelogue searching for the Arab roots in Spain along with his family. Anecdotes and poetry add to the unique quality of this historic saga. The reader is moved by the details of what was then and what has happened now. An absolute must for anyone interested in the history of the Arabs (Moors) of Spain and the contributions of the Arabs and Islam to the West.

Salloum's book is easy reading and informative, filled with historical information yet easy to read. The book allows the reader to journey with the author and his family to Arab Spain and learn of the contributions the Arabs/Moors made to world civilization. Valuable for any student.

An ideal and captivating quick history of Britain from Julius Caeser's first expedition in 55 B.C. until Athelstan's consolidation of power in 937. This cutoff point seems to be chosen because that is when historical records become more complete, while Ashe prefers to work in the realm where historical records are sketchy or oblique, and must be pieced together with supporting clues from archaeology and legend to fill in a necessarily incomplete picture. Ashe draws heavily from Geoffrey of Monmouth, Nennius, Gildas, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, Bede, and the more dependable Roman records, though always explicitly critical of his sources and lucid in his analysis of how we can draw the kernel of truth out of embellishments or legends. In some cases, such as the pre-Roman British kings listed by Monmouth, the legends are so lacking in support as to be historically hopeless. But where several perspectives exist, even corrupted accounts like Monmouth can be compared with other records to tease out dividends of clues into the reality. The critical view of the evidence and frank analysis leave a rich and fascinating account of almost a thousand years of Picts, Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Danes vying for control of the British Isles. A case in point is King Arthur, so buried in legend while so scarce from reliable historical records that uncovering the true history appears impossible, until Ashe navigates confidently through fact and fiction to lay out the most likely possibilities behind the legend. Ashe describes the roles of diplomacy, war, and religion in the constantly shifting tides of political power, gives brief biographical sketches of countless key players, and demonstrates the difference made by remarkable leaders such as Constantine, Maximus, Maelgwn of Gwynedd, Caewlin of Wessex, Saint Aidan, Aldfrith of Northumbria, Kenneth MacAlpine, and of course Alfred the Great. He gives telling insights into the rise of Christianity in the isles despite the resistance in turn of the Romans, Celts, Anglo-Saxons, and Danes. He also emphasises the point that Britain alone of any region in the Empire was granted independence from Rome before the barbarians arrived, which uniquely poised it to maintain a heightened cultural continuity, to the benefit of succeeding eras. I'd been looking for a good, concise history of pre-Alfred Britain, and this turned out to be just right. A fair, even treatment with a brisk, highly readable style.

This book discusses English history from about 1100 B.C to the reign of Alfred the Great, A.D. 871. Much of our information on this period comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose "history" owed more to imagination and folklore (in particular the Welsh Mabinogian) than to historical scholarship. But from Geoffrey's work come many of the underpinnings of the King Arthur story, and he wrote of kings further immortalized in Shakespeares' plays and Eliot's poetry. Ashe discusses Geoffrey's work, comparing it to historical references. The result is a story viewed through the context of myth as well as history. The two do not always agree, but they complement each other and create a fascinating story with a varied cast: the warrior-queen Boadicea, Constantius, Merlin, Arthur. The brief discussion of Arthur's historical roots will be familiar to those who have read other books by Ashe, but it provides a good introduction for readers new to the subject.

As always, Ashe writes in a clear and accessible style. The book offers a historical perspective to readers interested in Arthurian lore and English literature. It is also likely to appeal to the reader who has an interest in history but not an extensive background.

I picked up this book expecting to find some boring interpretation of early Britain as I thought that all of these types of books would be. But I was really interested in the subject matter-----and this book made me even more interested. I was introduced to stories I'd never heard before and the book was easy to read for me (I'm in high school). I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend this book to anyone interested in early Britain. It offers many different perspectives of the legends while analyzing The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth. "Excellent" isn't even near enough to say!