is there any mention in this book regarding the region of cosenza in calabria, my mother's hometown? i would be most pleased if i could find anything about cosenza in this book or any other you may know of. in the very near future my husband and i will want to visit and it would be nice if i could get any information prior to our going there. thankyou for allowing me to ask this question. linda tremonti

As an Italian who comes from Southern Italy I found the Blue Guide covering this area to be absolutely on target and extremely detailed. I have been so impressed by the Blue Guides, that it has become the first item I pack when ready for travel

This is a compelling read. I have had the book for some time and just never read it.... But when I finally did pick it up I didn't put it down (except to eat and sleep) until I finished it. It is very reminiscent of Frank Abagnale's memoir Catch Me If You Can in that both writers were devastated by fathers they both loathed and loved and as a result turned, themselves, to lives of crime. Psychologically, it is very interesting, although it does not pretend in any way to be an analysis of the writer's actions or thinking or even feeling. This book has been described as humorous, but I didn't find it funny at all. It is painfully sad and excruciatingly honest and describes various situations the author got himself into, but funny they are not. In fact, after many of the crimes and weird situations with people he knew, he burst into tears, not being able to explain why. It's something we can all feel without having to know. I love to find such honest books. It was a delight to read and now I will move on to Rayner's other books.

I picked up this book on a lark and was very, very pleasantly surprised. The book is subtitled, "a memoir of crime," but the book is less about the author's life of crime than it is about his examination of himself. The story goes: Rayner, the author, is a smart Cambridge student whose life stifles him, so he turns to a life of petty crime and deception. Along the way, he grapples with such issues as love and whether he is destined for this life of lies (his father was a crook). But the tale is told through the lens of the middle-aged Rayner, reflecting on his upbringing. "The Blue Suit" is a colorful coming-of-age tale told with the powerful but delicate voice of a man reflecting on his growing up. I highly recommend!

There is nothing else available that I can find specifically on this wonderful part of Italy. And aren't we lucky it's from the Cadogan's stable!

Intelligent writing for discerning travellers; Cadogan Guides are for the independent traveller who really wants to get to grips with a place. They also provide all the essential information on how to get from here to there, hotel and restaurant suggestions. Perhaps a bit more heavily concentrating on the upper price range than what I desire, but still useful.

Cadogan Bologna & Emilia-Romagna is the first guide to cover this corner of Italy, which provides excellent art, scenery, and foods. Chapters profile the 'best' of the region with blends of historical background, cultural insights, and destination-oriented tips on what to see, where to stay and eat, and how to best enjoy the region. A recommended pick for any journeying to this corner of the world.

I bought this before a trip to London. It was quite helpful. I came back with an obscene haul of used books from stores I would not have found otherwise. For those interested in books who are going to London this will be a valueable asset to you.

Book hounds planning a visit to London shouldn't leave home without this title in hand: it is a virtual treasure trove listing new and used bookstores, libraries and specialty collections, and auctions, charity shops and more. Hours, tube directions, and specialties are covered in enough detail so any traveler can plan in advance. Indispensable.

A very special book.

One of the stereotypes about Bosnia and the recent conflicts was the common complaint that the history and culture of the region were impossibly complex, incomprehensible. The stereotype furnished a convenient excuse for those who wished to acquiesce in the organized aggression and crimes and the country and its people.

This short book is the clearest, most accessible account of Bosnian culture, history, and identity available in English. It should be the first book read in any discussion of Bosnia. Each phase of history--from the medieval period to the tragic wars and genocide of 1992-1995--is depicted with concision, humanity, and depth. The writing is lucid and the stunning black-and-white photo-illustrations are integrated with care and sensitivity into the narrative. Recommended not only for those interested in Bosnia-Herzegovina only, but for those interested in European history, East-West relations, and the dynamic of religion, culture, and identity; i.e. to both specialists in the Balkans and to the wide readership of those interested in history and culture anywhere.

The reader will emerge with a sense not of incomprehensibility, but of the richness, vitality, and uniqueness of an extraordinary place and people.

An exceptional book, from an exceptional writer. Not that many people understand all the intricacies of Bosnain culture like Ivan Lovrenovic does. Simply, one of the best books you can read about often misunderstood Bosnia.

I loved this book!

I expected an interesting memoir of WWII as seen through the eyes of a
German farmer schoolboy living near the Eastern front in 1940-45, who fought
as a soldier during the final months of the war. I expected I would hear a
different-than-usual perspective because of his youth and German Army
affiliation. I expected to learn a bit about the life led by Germans of
that time in that place. But this account is so much more than an
interesting war memoir.

Punctuated with actual pages, drawings and photographs from his childhood
diary, Thamm's book draws you in to the heart, soul and mind of this
intelligent, hard-working, mischievous and perceptive child. I felt right
there with young Gerhardt in his classes or driving his family's team of
horses, soaking up the history of his town, studying with friends,
discovering girls, listening to Nazi propaganda on the radio and to his
grandparents' and townsfolk's comments on the war. Rich with details,

insights, and historical fact, populated with memorable and varied
personalities, this book is a fascinating read. And that's even before the
account of life on the front lines of war.

My recommendation: Don't miss it!

"Boy Soldier" is written is a simple yet stunningly powerful style. It captures all of the essential elements of a great story: a sylvan existence which is violated by the ravages of war; a love story even in the midst of conflict; and the triumph of the human spirit. It is a seductive journey for the reader who knows in the beginning chapters that a dark period lies ahead. The book begins by offering a privileged window on the idyllic country life of a young country lad in Silesia. Gradually the author brings one to an appreciation of the culture, the people and the way of life in the small village of Jauer southwest of Breslau. One senses that there is a timeless beauty to this place, almost crystal in its simplicity and fragility.

Having seen the senseless waste of war I knew what was to come as the book progressed, although this was little suspected by the victims of the story, including the author. There was a undeniable tension as the sound of the approaching Russian army grew in intensity. Despite this specter and the destruction of his home and way of life, the writer brought the tragedy and victory of this personal account to pass in a very human way.

One of the things that leaps from the pages of this very readable writing is how compatible it would be with a screen version. It is literally in the correct format. This needs to be explored, for among other things it would bring war to the general public in a very personal way quite different from that traditionally seen.

I read this book in two sittings. It is a compelling personal account that is a valuable addition to my library.

I just love the style of this portrait of all the people who contribute to a perfect loaf of French Bread. Beats Peter Mayle hands down in authenticity and beautiful writing.

I loved this book! It is a wonderful read, the language always fresh, and the author's insights wise, sometime sad, but always big hearted. I learned a lot about modern-day France, but also salt, yeast, water, wheat -- and how the whole world is kneaded into something as simple as a good loaf of bread.

This is a superb book. It is scholarly yet passionate, courageous yet level-headed. The book argues that the Solidarity labor movement in Poland in 1980-81 was created by workers of the Gdansk shipyards rather than by Warsaw and Krakow intellectuals. However, the intellectuals supplied self-serving interpretations of Solidarity, and these were accepted as fact. Goodwyn shows that ever since the failed bread strikes in 1956, 1970, and 1976, the workers of Poland continued to devise methods by which to oppose the communist regime. In 1980, they succeeded: the so-called "occupational strike" in the shipyards made it impossible for the police to disperse the workers, while a system of human couriers allowed workers from various enterprises (as many as 370 factories, at the end of August 1980) to communicate when telephones were cut off by the communists. Finally, in August 1980, the workers presented to the government the centerpiece of all their demands: the demand for free labor unions. This was a move which the government of Soviet-occupied Poland did not expect. Polish intellectuals in Warsaw advised against it. The workers stood firm--and the government yielded. For a year, there was jubilation in Poland. But at Moscow's bidding, the Soviet-controlled government in Warsaw arrested thousands of Solidarity leaders in December 1981. For seven years, Poles lived under martial law. Under martial law, hundreds of people were tortured or "merely" beaten, thousands lost their lives because elementary medical help was impossible to obtain.
In later chapters, Goodwyn points out that it was "citizens' committees" and not the Solidarity labor union that produced delegates to the Round Table talks. Among the delegates, the intelligentsia members were overrepresented (195 out of some 240 delegates), while the workers who created Solidarity had a few dozen delegates. Since that time, the Warsaw intelligentsia was disproportionately credited with creating and aiding Solidarity, whereas worker activists slid into oblivion. The situation further worsened when factories began to close down because of restructuring, and millions of working men and women lost their jobs. The intelligentsia kept theirs: white collar workers were not much affected by restructuring of steel mills, shipyards, and cotton mills.
A magnificently lucid tome that provides real insights into the workings of democracy. If you are concerned with the erosion of democratic institutions in the United States, read this book.

As a student in Larry Goodwyn's social movements class, I have been reading this book to study his philosophy and methodology. It's incredibly interesting and enlightening, and sure to infuriate anyone with a vested interest in the convential wisdom about movement building in general and Solidarity in particular. I'd recommend it to anyone who can get their hands on a copy (& let me know if you can!)...

It's fun reading this collection of digressive informal anecdotes about famous (and some obscure) Englishmen. If you enjoyed "An Instance of the Fingerpost" (where some of thc characters appear) you'd like this. As a primary source for information it gets less reliable the further back it goes. Aubrey was born in 1626 so his accounts of Shakespeare and Elizathans are a generation removed, but he had met Harvey and Penn and had been through the Civil War and the rule of Cromwell.

Because its author never completed most of the entries for this biographical work, and never published it, what he did set down about his varied noble and ignoble subjects is uncensored, gossipy, perhaps unsubstantiated, and delightful. If you like browsing in Pepys' diary, or are fascinated by English life in the 17th century, this is the book to leave about for the occasional free moment.

Now in an updated and revised second edition, Dorothy Maroncelli's Britain On Your Own: A Guide For Single Mature Travelers, Western England And Wales Edition offers the over-50 vacationer or business traveler an ideal travel guide for adventures and experiences off the well-beaten path as it offers dozens of fascinating destination profiles. Helpful tips for trip planning range from finding a hub town to settle in for a few days, to changing currency, staying healthy and being safe. There is even a handy checklist for what to do before leaving home If you are over 50, going to be touring Britain, and favor comfort, novelty, and being on your own to explore historic English countrysides, then Dorothy Maroncelli's Britain On Your Own will prove an invaluable beginning for your trip of a lifetime!

This book is a delightful resource for independent travelers planning a trip to Great Britain. The author starts with a design for solo (which works even if you're not traveling solo) travel to Britain, sandwiches the sites in western England and Wales in the middle, and for a grand finale, finishes with traveling smart information. She shares the 'how to' of establishing a hub town for taking day-trips to nearby places along with lodging and dining possibilities and the actual travel logistics. Suggestions are provided for planning your trip around your areas of special interest, such as walking, literature, history, etc., to help narrow your choices down when making your final decisions. The Traveling Smart chapter is a gem with traveling light information (the packing list is fantastic), lists to take with you and one to use at home prior to your departure, lodging, rail travel, American/British English, dollars and pounds, and restaurants. The author's note in the introduction advises that eastern England and Scotland will be included in a second book. I hope so. I'd certainly enjoy another good read/planning guide by this author!