Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

...a sunday school lesson
Just as one other reviewer, I could not get past the first 70-80 pages.An adolescent writing style combined with the blatant "come to jesus" theme was enough to deter this reader.Glad I didn't pay full price.It has been duly relegated to the round file.
-dc

Military thriller
War is brutal, devastating and soul shattering yet it can also be a baptism of fire that refines an ordinary man into a courageous warrior willing to sacrifice his life for another. From personal experience, John Aubrey Anderson exposes the harsh realities of the Vietnam war through the heroic journey of Lieutenant Bill Mann, a young fighter pilot with all the swagger and confidence that comes with a man who believes he was born to fly.

John's writing is riveting and authentic, with brilliant pacing and intensive characterisation. The combat scenes are so visceral you will feel every bullet, explosion and heartbeat and will be left breathless. The deep, emotional scars of violent conflict and methods of escapism are honestly explored both amongst the pilots and their families back home. Heart wrenching, evocative and powerful, covering the barbaric to the sacrificial and the catastrophic to the miraculous, The Cool Woman is a unique and challenging story, with an unashamedly direct message of faith. With this epic military adventure, unlike anything else you will find in Christian Fiction, John Aubrey Anderson continues to impress me with his compelling and ingenious storytelling. If you are looking for an authentic, gritty and evocative read, The Cool Woman is a sure fire hit!

A benevolent bait and switch
"Livin' without God is dangerous, hon." - Missy, Chapter 6

"... if you want someone who won't let you down, you gotta go with God." - Marine Captain James Kelly, Chapter 7

After the first five chapters (pages 1-45) of THE COOL WOMAN, it was apparent this novel was to be about a hotshot fighter pilot who marries the girl of his dreams and goes off to war in Vietnam. It's 1972. At that point, the book held promise.

It was in chapters 6 and 7 that I realized that the plot, however much of an air combat storyline it was to evolve into being, was also to include a Come Hither to Jesus message.

No thanks; I'll pass; I want to be entertained, not preached to however well intentioned or wrapped up in an interesting parable is the proselytization. I ceased reading at the end of chapter 7 (page 68) feeling the same annoyance as when somebody rings my doorbell at dinnertime to sell me either salvation or magazine subscriptions. Sometimes both.

The book went on for another 261 pages, but without me. Therefore, I can't honestly rate THE COOL WOMAN high or low, but rather with a non-committal, 3-star award. You'll have to acquire and read it yourself and decide.

"There will never be enough words to properly thank my faithful prayer team and my readers who prayed." - author John Anderson in the Acknowledgments.

Good, but Hard to Follow
I found this book both intriguing and a bit difficult to read, all at the same time. Because I am not familiar with military terms, reading was not smooth sailing, as I attempted to figure out the jargon the helped create the setting for the story line.

It was also difficult but it seemed to skip around a bit and I had a hard time figuring out who the author was talking about at times, as the storyline seemed to deviate off the main track quite a bit.


However, the personal development and crisis of the characters within, did attract me as I waded through. There, the story line was just as complex as the military part of the book -but in a soul searching type of way. As a reader I found myself pulling for the main character to work through his issues and find freedom in his soul.


While not my favorite book, I'm glad I read it, because it was a book that rounded out my literary experience. I think perhaps those who enjoy military and Vietnam fiction would have greater appreciation and deep soul connection to it, than I was able to have.

Want more
Where do we go from here? I have read all of John Andersons books now and one thing I can say for certain, they always leave me thinking about God and my relationship with Him. Cool Woman was an excellant book. One had to live the experiences in order to write as well as this book was. Makes you wake up and give thank to the Vietnam Vets and the Fighter Pilots who risked their lives. Ok John lets have some more books please. ... Read more

Product Description
John Aubrey Anderson continues the compelling story of the conflict between the physical and spirit worlds played out in the lives of Missy Parker and Mose Washington.

When Mose Washington comes to the aid of a brutally attacked black woman in the racially turbulent '60s, Mose and a young charge are forced to flee for their lives. The FBI agent in charge of running Mose down is unprepared for the chase. Along with trying to find someone adept at hiding, the agent must accept that there is no black or white answer to what forces are at work here. Mose is forever tied to newlywed Missy Parker and her family in the unending evil assault that began when Missy was just a child. Now the saga continues, complicated by the FBI's involvement. With Missy busy helping Mose, can she keep fighting her own battles at home? Who will survive this next round of battles even if she does? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great Books
Before I begin, let me say that I really enjoyed the first two in the series and I'm looking to get the 3rd one now. The books were very good reading. However, they were both anti-climatic in that the most compelling parts were at the beginning while the remainder of the books gave detail upon detail about the characters' lives post-demon encounters. These details were still interesting but sometime a lot less so although I was anxious to see how they would tie together to describe how God sometimes works to protect and guide us into the truth and transform us making us useful to the Kingdom work. The books, particularly the first one sounded too preachy and too perfect with so many characters being firmly settled in their Christian convictions and laying out the doctrine of salvation it sounded so that the reader would know it from A-Z. I felt the books could've sounded more realistic and compelling if they showed God working more than taught it verbally thereby leaving somemore to the imagination. The books also have some dry areas where the writer sets the stage a lot for various characters leaving the reader completely uncertain (unless you love guessing endings)as to who's the subject and its relevance but trusting by now that it'll eventually tie-in together good. Neverthelss, both were enjoyable reads and I found myself feeling like I was in a community of Believers and being challeged as a Believer myself to pray more and rely on God more. That was a plus for the books b/c I sometimes feel out-of-touch with my evangelistic calling having become caught up with life's challenges and hardships. It makes me want to be a more transparent and prayerful Christian aware of spiritual warfare and the very real presence of the enemy. I am very grateful for Anderson's works. I enjoyed them more than I did Peretti's books I read many years ago. Partly, I'm sure because the main characters are largely black and that's my background and greatest area of interest (I love historical books about African Americans as well as Christian historical fiction). I was tempted to give the books a five but will say my four rating means they were quite engaging and great fun but reserve my five ratings for those few flawless books I come across.Also, I read one reviewer's review that said they were looking forward to Missy's return as a central figure. I couldn't disagree more (to each his own of course). I just didn't like Missy's character much. She was much too irritating to me b/c she was bossy and mouthy to a fault and everyone practically worshipped her. That is never a good thing and in real life, when we get like that God ALWAYS breaks us and His breaking comes via humbling experiences exposing our pride and I never saw that happen to Missy so I never could enjoy her character (are Ceedie's).

Shades of Grey
I love this book. There was humor mixed with suspense. The characters are great. Every book I have read of John Anderson made me feel like I was there. What is interesting is this really happens. It is nice to read a book that does not need Hollywood to make it exciting. Great author, Great Book!!

--
Years earlier, the small Mississippi community of Cat Lake suffered from spiritual warfare, but now time has passed, and many of its previous residents have either moved away or passed on--but the method is unlike any other community. The previous war between spiritual forces will always be remembered.

Mose Washington is just recently out of prison and now he's living in a barn on the back of his property. He spends his days with his friend, Bobby Lee Parker. When Mose wakes up late one night with cars coming down the gravel road, he knows trouble is up, but that doesn't keep him for grabbing his gun and going to investigate.

White men are attacking an innocent black woman. Mose steps up to defend the woman and white men die. Mose's attempt at rescue brings disaster. Now Mose is a fugitive. And now the forces of good and evil gear up for round two of the spiritual battle at Cake Lake.

WEDGEWOOD GREY is the second book in The Black or White Chronicles and I would suggest reading book 1 first as this one plays on events that happened previously. However, if you can't get your hands on Abiding Darkness then there is enough backstory included in WEDGEWOOD GREY where you will get some idea what has happened previously.

I can't really say that WEDGEWOOD GREY is expertly written as he breaks a lot of writing rules--including author intrusion, point of view shifts, etc. But the story is griping and will grab your attention from the beginning and hang on tight. If you love spiritual warfare stories you will love WEDGEWOOD GREY. Discussion questions are included at the rear of the book. $19.99 (hardcover). 372 pages.

One of the best books on forces of good and evil
After reading the first in this series, I could not wait to get Wedgewood Gray--It was well worth the wait.It is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

wedgewood grey
Book is well written, I particularly enjoyed since I am from the South,
actually Mississippi... ... Read more

Product Description
Mose Washington and his "grandson,"
Bill, are still on the lam in
1968 after fleeing Cat Lake where
Bill's mom was brutally slayed
years earlier. Hiding out under
assumed names, Bill is enrolled at
North Texas State University and
learning to ride bulls, while Mose
continues to protect Bill from the
evil he knows hunts them incessantly.
When a dangerous and
determined assassin hired by
an enemy closes in, Bill"s faith is
challenged to a point where even
Mose's devoted guidance can't seem to save him. What
was once just part of a bedtime prayer becomes an all too-
real consideration for both men: AND IF I DIE? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

And If I Die
And If I Die is the third in the Black and White series and an excellent close to a great story.The characters are ventageMississippians of the fifties and sixties.

a must read
John Anderson is one of the best writers I have read in a long time. I was not able to put this book down. It is suspenseful, funny, and sad all at the same time. You feel like you know these characters. Excellant read.

LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
My father found this series and recommended it to me and I love it !!!I was upset at first to be unable to find these books at my local library, or the online coalition library!!! However, I purchased the books and have enjoyed reading them and sharing them with other people !!!Great series, great author, cannot wait for more !!

More like 4 1/2 stars....
The war with the demons started at Cat Lake but it isn't over yet....

Estelle Bainbridge, a demon possessed congresswoman, wants revenge on Moses Washington and his "grandson", Bill Prince.She hires an assassin to track them down and kill them, as they have disappeared and are living under the assumed last name of Mann (unbeknownst to Estelle).Mose continues to faithfully devote his life to God while Bill is more interested in bull riding than anything to do with God.God has a plan, and this time it will be Mose's "almost daughter", Missy Parker Patterson, who hears the call.

AND IF I DIE is the third book in The Black or White Chronicles.While it can be read as a stand alone, readers should probably follow this series in the correct order so that the nuances of the storyline won't be missed.The relationship between Mose and Missy was well established in ABIDING DARKNESS and WEDGEWOOD GRAY, along with the history of the demon involvement and issues of faith that make this series so successful.

AND IF I DIE is a very thought provoking book.While on the surface, the battle between the forces of God and demonic beings may seem a bit sensational, John Aubrey Anderson keeps this series realistic and focused on the issues of faith in God.The faith of Mose is deeply moving; he is a man completely at peace in his faith.Missy's impetuousness will strike a chord with many readers as she has to reign herself in at times, but her faith is unwavering as well.

AND IF I DIE takes the reader further into the spiritual journey regarding faith.In ABIDING DARKNESS, many of the basic tenets of Christianity were explained, while in WEDGEWOOD GREY, the importance of prayer was fully explored.AND IF I DIE not only takes both of these issues into account, but also demonstrates the various ways that faith in God and Jesus can be shared with others.John Aubrey Anderson continues to write powerful, deeply moving stories about faith that transcend both time and racial barriers.Thank you, Mr. Anderson!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

John Anderson's 3rd book in the Black & White Chronicles
The last book in this trilogy was okay...not as good as books 1 or 2. However I would purchase another book written by J. A. Anderson ... Read more

Product Description
The whole ferment of the Elizabethan age and the vigor of the century that followed come alive in these "brief portraits" that have been looted by scholars for centuries. Here are Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Thomas More, Shakespeare, Milton, Marvel, and countless others, who in these pages become not abstract names from a history book, but flesh and blood characters. Brief Lives was written by John Aubrey (1626-1697), the greatest gossip columnist of the seventeenth century: a hanger-on among the rich and famous who left posterity a sprawling collection of notes, anecdotes, and morsels of gossip that the editor has sutured together into a series of unforgettable portraits. These men flawed, vain, ambitious, vulnerable are more alive and kicking in these pages than in any formal history. As Edmund Wilson writes in his introduction, "I have never read anything else that makes me feel in quite the same way what it must have been like to live then." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A superb book for learning history and appreciating style
This collection of short narrative portraits of famous and semi-famous people by a recognized scientist and author is among the most interesting reading you'll enjoy. His information is detailed and personal and Aubrey's writing style is a fine pattern for modern readers as well.

I recommend this book without question.

Early gossip columnist
Lives of the rich and famous recorded a time when there were no libel laws meant that even the dirt that wasnt fit to print could be disseminated, whether true or not. It still makes fascinating reading.

A Fine Edition of a Classic
"Brief Lives" has always been a delight, but it was Oliver Lawson Dick's scholarly editing that revealed Aubrey's genius.And Lawson Dick's Introduction, "The Life and Times of John Aubrey", is amiracle of synthesis and compression:certainly one of the finestbiographical essays ever written.This Nonpareil Books edition issumptuous - a joy to read in these days cheap, quickly produced paperbacks. ... Read more

Product Description
This sweeping saga weaves a riveting tale about a young girl's battle with one of hell's minions determined to destroy her and those closest to her. This is the first volume in the Black or White Chronicles series relating stories of life in the Deep South during its most tumultuous times. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Compelling
I am not a person who enjoys reading, but I could not put this book down. I have read all three books in the series and loved that they follow this family through the years. I have given this book as gifts, and have recommended it to others many times.

Page-turner
I found this book on a sale table and bought it a few years ago. This week, I picked it up and began reading it; I was hardly able to put it down! It is a different kind of Christian fiction. Angels and Demons speak and surroundthe well-written characters. Set in Mississippi cotton country, the dialog is "spot on," which is no surprise as the author is from that area.

Some will not like the "preachiness," but the author incorporated it into the storyline so well that I found it plausible.

There are several scenes that had me holding my breath. One of the best written is when the three children are playing in Cat Shore Lake. I had to stop and dry my eyes before I could finish reading.

There's a good story in there somewhere
There is a good story in there somewhere, if Anderson didn't stop to preach about God, Jesus and giving yourself to the lord, every 5 pages.
What he has done is turn a decent premise into a bible thumping sermon that ultimately bores the reader.
Skip it.

Lots and Lots of Room for Growth
A rambling, bewildered hodgepodge of schlock from the dead center of mainstream evangelical Christianity. The characters are drawn fairly well; at any rate, they're better than the pompous angels and demons who pop up every now and again to provide sonorous intonations on the action. The author has created a universe where everything is as it should be if party-line evangelicalism were true; everyone who disagrees with the Christians either caves in to its obvious superiority or becomes a demon puppet. For its few dubious strengths, the book in the end reads like a lengthy gospel tract clumsily stitched together with iffy action sequences. As Christian fiction, it's all right. As fiction, it's way below average.

To know Him and make Him known
What a remarkable book! To see realistic characters who are so devoted to the Lord and so quick to pray about their problems was very gratifying. The glimpses into the spirit world were believable. The snake attack and the attack of the deranged man were especially gripping. The various deep South dialects were probably hard work to write, but they came off well and added to the illusion of reality. I had never heard of this author prior to reading this book; he has won me over. ... Read more

Product Description
Subjects: SuperstitionNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
On the shores of Cat Lake, in the midst of the most defined era of segregation in American history, a spitfire seven-year old white girl and spiritual eleven-year-old black boy live each day as best friends.Despite the idyllic scenery and their youthful innocence, forces of darkness trouble the girl and ultimately lead these children to make choices you will never forget.Author John Aubrey Anderson weaves a gripping tale of warmth, humor, and profound eternal truth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great Read!
Very Good Read!Have read the whole series and passed it along to family to read, who have in turn passed it on to other family!Read these books!

a new John Aubrey Anderson fan
Recently my husband handed me this book he thought I would enjoy.I took it to my eye doctor's office and sat in a full but quiet waiting room engrossed in the story from the very beginning.I looked up every once in awhile while others were called back for their appointments and then went back to the riveting story.Finally the waiting room had emptied and I was alone with the book.I looked at my watch and it was 6:00pm!I tapped on the opaque sliding glass window and got no reply.Then I peeked in the door and said "Hello!"Finally a startled lady saw me and asked how long I had been out there."Since3:45!""No, you have not!""Yes, I have."I had lost track of time because the book was so good!

to know Him and make Him known
After a few chapters, I was starting to compare John Aubrey Anderson to early Frank Peretti, as there is definitely some focus on the kinds of spiritual warfare that one sees in This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness. And I would certainly mean the comparison as a compliment -- especially for a first-time novelist. But in retrospect, that really wouldn't be a fair comparison, as Anderson finds his own voice very quickly.

Black or White takes place in rural Mississippi in the 1940s and 1950s. Although the story encompasses many characters, the two best friends that are focused on are Missy Parker, a 7-year-old white girl, and Junior Washington, an 11-year-old black boy. The Parkers and Washingtons live near each other, and Junior's father is employed by Missy's father at his cotton gin.

The racial differences play very interestingly. Given the time and place of the story, segregation runs pretty rampant in general society, but the Parkers don't buy into it. If anything, the Washingtons have to remind them occasionally of their "place" in such a society. Sometimes the Parkers don't care; other times, they understand that they'd be doing more harm than good to their black friends.

Fairly early in the story, we begin seeing the spiritual warfare going on around the lives of these people. As I said, it's a bit reminiscent of early Peretti, but not derivative. And as the book unfolds, we see that it's not as pervasive either. Certainly the spiritual issues are in the forefront, but it's only occasionally that we see past the visible.

I'll tell ya -- Anderson really knows how to keep his readers going. He is able to deliver a tense scene with an unknown outcome stretched out over several chapters without frustrating the reader. And on the flip side, when the action slows, the story is just as interesting as it works as a character study. All in all, this is fabulous depth for a first-timer.

Throughout the story, knowing God and making Him known is the over-riding theme. As the book starts, the Washingtons are actual Christians, whereas the Parkers are good people who go to church because mama went to church. Events unfold such that the Washingtons are able to show the Parkers the difference eventually.

There's not a whole lot more that I can say about the book without spoiling things. Suffice it to say that Black or White is a great read, and I'm looking forward to the other books in this series.

Constant irritation, or new classic?
When I got this from my wonderful wife for Christmas, I pumped my fist. Just something about the title attracted me immediately, and I knew that this would be something I'd be recommending to friends. So I finally cracked open the first page. While the first couple of chapters got me interested, after chapter 2, when it took at least 3 chapters to put a scene into perspective, I started getting a little irritated. I was really hoping that the whole book wouldn't be drawn out like that the whole way through! I'm thankful that my tension was short-lived after that. The storytelling was darn good! So after a little bit of irritation with that one long draw, I'm wondering if I just read the next classic in spiritual warfare.

It starts out with best friends, and a game of baseball. With one of those friends, Junior Washington, it ends with a promise to his daddy. With Missy Parker, she hopes to keep the vision alive of knowing God and making Him know, just like Junior would've wanted. The lovely Pip takes the lovely Missy under her wing, teaches her the things of God. Missy is an ornery girl with a faith that won't break, and a fierce determination to go with it. She learns the things of God, and unknowingly, steps into a battlefield. There's a war going on, and in Cat Lake, its all out spiritual warfare!

Through all this, I came to enjoy all that was of Cat Lake and the people that lived and visited there. Reading might not be enough. I want to meet men like Mose, and simply observe the simple faith that they carry. I want to carry out that mission, knowing God and making Him known. I want to be friends with the Pat Patterson's of this world, and tell them about my Jesus!

Someday I'll have to take another trip to Cat Lake. When it is, I guess that's undecided for now. I suppose if I do, I'll look past the minor irritation it may give me, and I'll take my coat off. For now, I'll be telling my friends about the new great work by John Aubrey Anderson!

For the Glory of God Alone
How many times have you looked for a way to share the good news of Jesus to those you love?We are called as Christians to share the good news and God will do the work.Black or White is built on so many truths found in the Bible and wrapped together in a story that describes the struggles we have growing as Christians, fears we face, lessons we learn, and the war we are all fighting here on this Earth.In this mythical southern town in Mississippi we follow the short history of three generations of the Parker family.Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, alive with men and women and boys and girls with a truth and understanding that strike the soul, Black or White is a disciples tool wrapped in the art of fiction.

Black or White is the first piece of literature since the Bible that should be required reading for the entire human race.It takes the life of a Christian and the battles we fight, reporting on everything that happens in between with lucidity, wisdom, and drama.Mr. John Anderson has done nothing less than to create in the reader a sense of all that is profound, meaningful, and meaningless in life.

Heidi Collins, Author ... Read more

Product Description
With deft, picturesque prose, Aubrey presents biographical sketches for an intriguing and colorful parade of statesmen, poets, philosophers, and scientists, including Walter Raleigh, Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare, John Milton, Thomas Hobbes, and Rene Descartes, as well as a host of lesser known but equally fascinating figures. This anecdotal, gossipy collection brings to life the tumultuous world of Elizabethan and Stuart England and its revolutions in politics, science and morality. At the same time, Aubrey revels in the sheer variety of human nature and in the detailed, intimate, and sometimes scandalous aspects of his subjects' lives. An antiquarian, Aubrey began his collection as source material for his friend Anthony Wood's histories of Oxford University. In this new edition, more faithful to the original text than previous versions, Brief Lives emerges as a revolution in the art of English biography, a mixture of entertainment and erudition, and a lively portrait of an age. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Rambling17th century gossip
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 andPenn and had been through the Civil War and the rule of Cromwell.

A unique gleaning of 17th century English history and gossip
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. ... Read more

Product Description
At Crudwell, neer to the mannour house, is a fine spring in the street called Bery-well. Labourers say it quenches thirst better than the other waters; as to my tast, it seemed to have aliquantulum aciditatis; and perhaps is vitriolate. The towne, a mannour of the Lord Lucas, hath its denomination from this well; perhaps it is called Crudwell from its turning of milke into cruds. ... Read more

Product Description

John Aubrey (1626–97) was one of the best-connected scholars and antiquaries in the great decades of the British scientific revolution. He is remembered as a pioneer historian and the father of English life-writing, whose Brief Lives remains a lasting portrait of a generation of eminent thinkers and nobles. But Aubrey’s intellectual interests were much broader. He was one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society, and he was acquainted with leading scientists of the generation of Robert Hooke and Isaac Newton. Aubrey championed Hooke’s geological theories, radical for the time, that proposed the organic origin of fossils. In addition, Aubrey was a keen mathematician and an early donor to the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology and the Bodleian Library. Extensively illustrated, John Aubrey and the Advancement of Learning presents all of Aubrey’s varied interests and pursuits in their intellectual milieu. Published to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society, this is the first accessible and illustrated guide to Aubrey’s many diverse achievements as a biographer, natural philosopher and scientist, and antiquary.

Product Description
This indispensable guide to navigating the well-loved Aubrey-Maturin novels has been updated, with new chapters devoted to the final books in the series. Harbors and High Seas includes maps created exclusively for each of the novels in this world-renowned series.
Amazon.com Review
Where did Sophie battle the Cacafuego?Where isAubrey's beloved Ashgrove cottage?What route did Maturin take withhis bear?What's so desolate about Kerguelen Island?What's the bestroute from Botany Bay to Moahu?Find the answers to these andhundreds of other questions in this indispensable guide to the terrainand cartography of O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturinnovels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Harbors and High Seas
The book arrived in very good shape, like new. The book; Harbors and High Seas is a most valuable companion to to the Patrick Obrien Aubrey/Maturin series. However, I was a little disappointed that there were not more diagrams of the individual actions between, for example,Surprise and the French Privateer in "Treason's Harbor. Also, it took almost two weeks to arrive via USPS. Too long. Otherwise, this is a real treasure of information as a companion for the Aubrey/Maturin series.

exactly what I was looking for
after reading the whole POB series, and re-reading them, I wanted to know more about the places and events involved.I stumbled upon this book while browsing other POB-related books.Heaps of my curiosities answered, maps galore and fantastic historical artwork (French prisons, boxing stars of the 1800s, etc).If you are taken by these novels, this is an absolute must-have...

Landlubber's companion to Patrick O'Brian sea novels
Third Edition

This would have been rated one notch higher if I had had it available while reading through the series.An avid fan would own this volume and follow along with the maps (curiously absent from the books and sorely missed by landlubbers such as myself).

Pair this with A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O'Brian's Seafaring Tales on your reference shelf if you are a real O'Brian fan.

Habors and High Seas, 3rd Edition
The completion of the entire Aubrey-Maturin series of 20 novels. An essential reference to all who have the have bought the boxed set. Love it, Love it, love it!

Nice but low priority
This is a nice to have companion, but only if you have already purchased "A Sea of Words" of the same author, which should get priority if you have to chose
The book is interesting and useful. True that it might have contained more maps but overall it's good value for its cost ... Read more

Product Description
Universities have become a widely recognized route to full participation in the knowledge society. They serve as an unparalleled source of knowledge production, a foundation for modern science, an unequaled generator of talent, and a nearly required path for socioeconomic mobility. But how do we build, nurture, and sustain these crucial institutions? Globalization's Muse helps to answer those questions, informing both policymakers and educators of the profound efforts by governments and institutions, and reminding both groups that in this complex and evolving environment, the United States is no longer the clear leader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A much-needed perspective
Rarely do higher education insiders acknowledge the validity of some of the criticism targeted at American universities, so the candor with which Messrs. Douglas, King and Feller selected and edited the various chapters of this good work is most refreshing.But their purpose goes well beyond mea culpas - indeed, they offer reasons as to why the once-vaunted US system of pubic higher education has slipped relative to much of the rest of the world whose leaders have, again as the editors and authors note, accepted as gospel the premise that strong research universities are central to the development of individuals, communities and societies.Moreover, the editors and some of the authors point out that comparison with the efforts of other nations and regions to advance higher education ought to serve to do more than raise alarm for Harvard's or Stanford's or any other American universities standing vis-a-vis other institutions:America's decline ought to serve to reframe a broader public debate about how the US can and should invest resources if the standard of living is to improve (something that has not happened of late).And their call is not for unconditional spending on colleges and universities.If higher education is to have a public purpose other than and beyond increasing the earnings of graduates and presumably therefore the wealth of a society, presidents and governing boards have to be much more accountable for how they choose to use resources, regardless of rankings.

The comparisons made by the various chapter authors of American and other national and regional higher education systems are also illuminating.The practice and policy of long-standing that has national ministries seeking to direct universities, especially regarding accountability, are of limited relevance in a system (which most of the authors and editors espouse) that needs more autonomy, greater mission differentiation, and more entrepreneurism.Indeed, such measures can squash flexibility and distinction.

The "lay" reader may have to struggle a bit with terminology and "shades of grey" throughout GLOBALIZATION'S MUSE,, but it will be worth the effort.One hopes that among such readers are policymakers open to seeing the world as it is, not as we once knew it.Were that hope realized, the MUSE will have contributed greatly. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
John Aubrey (1626-1697) was an English antiquary and writer. During the period 1659 to 1670 he travelled throughout the county of Wiltshire documenting the buildings and the people.This book is a photographic reproduction of the edition published in 1862 by J. E. Jackson. It contains Aubreys notes and drawings along with numerous corrections and additions by Jackson.ISBN 978-095490188-2 ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"A Pious Bacchanal"--A Labor of Love
It would hardly be proper for me to write a true review of "A Pious Bacchanal," but perhaps a few personal words will suffice. As editor and widow of the author, Daniel Orth Bell, Ph.D., I was involved with every aspect of the book's creation, from title page to index.Daniel, myself and our daughter Katie lived and breathed the wonderful drawings of Mr. Beardsley and Mr. Flaxman for over a decade.In fact, at the age of five, the works of these fascinating, if eccentric, British geniuses were probably as familiar to Katie as the characters of "Sesame Street".But though the manuscript itself was nearly done, the tragic death of my husband at the age of 41 left many details incomplete.As a tribute to Daniel's indomitable spirit, I vowed to finish what he could not, and with Katie's help, the book went to press at last.Never before linked by any art historian, Flaxman and Beardsley are compared with skill and empathy.The health problems and deep spiritual questions these artists faced are examined in depth, and Beardsley scholars in particular will derive a plethora of new insights from "A Pious Bacchanal".In every sense of the phrase, this book was a labor of love, and it is my fondest hope that readers across the world will give it the acclaim it truly deserves.Thank you! ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This monograph evaluates Aubrey's intellectual temper and accomplishments, and measures his posthumous reputation against that evaluation. His non-biographical works are studied against their contemporary background, and "Brief Lives" is critically examined and compared with other biographies of the 17th century. This work assesses him as combining the modern scientific view of the mid-17th century with the superstition of the medieval and Renaissance past. ... Read more

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With Extracts From His Correspondence, Anecdotes Of Some Of His Contemporaries, And Of The Times In Which He Lived. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more