Customer Reviews (1)

treat your eyes and mind to something beautiful on a dreary winter day
I was browsing through the book store at the Art Institute of Chicago and was attracted to a new book that accompanies an upcoming exhibition at the museum.The beautiful cover of the book invited me to pick it up and open it.I know a little about Winslow Homer, but did not appreciate his accomplishments with watercolors until I flipped through this book.The staff at the book store must have thought I was a little nutty as I spent nearly an hour studying the gorgeous artwork and rich information about the artist, his times, and watercolor technique.The most interesting part is how the authors uncovered, just like CSI, how the artist created the pieces and what the watercolors originally looked like.I feel a little guilty buying the book from Amazon and not the Institute's store, but the museum will probably still benefit.This book is perfect for anyone whether you are an artist, a scientist, a lover or art, or just want to treat your eyes and mind to something beautiful on a dreary winter day. I am looking forward to returning to the museum and walking through the exhibition, which opens on February 16th. ... Read more

Book Description
Welcome to Centerburg! Where you can win a hundred dollars by eating all the doughnuts you want; where houses are built in a day; and where a boy named Homer Price can foil four slick bandits using nothing but his wits and a pet skunk. The comic genius of Robert McCloskey and his wry look at small-town America has kept readers in stitches for generations! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Crazy Centerburg, somewhere in the USA.
Homer Price
A collection of heartwarming tales from a small town in the USA, as told by one of its younger residents. Shades of Bill Bryson, except that Homer Price predates him by a generation or more.
Wonderful, quirky illustrations by the author himself, who has a an eye for detail similar to that of Norman Rockwell. ... Read more

Book Description
Travel back to a mythical time when Achilles, aided by the gods, waged war against the Trojans. And join Odysseus on his journey through murky waters, facing obstacles like the terrifying Scylla and whirring Charybdis, the beautiful enchantress Circe, and the land of the raging Cyclôpes. Using narrative threads from The Iliad and The Odyssey, Padraic Colum weaves a stunning adventure with all the drama and power that Homer intended.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

What Every Parent Should Buy for their Children.
This beautifully written book by the famous Irish poet should be read by, or to, every child to give them an introduction to the most important work (Not including Religion) ever composed.The story here told has inspired people of all civilisations for nearly 3,000 years. No person should be allowed reach adulthood without having experienced some aspects of Greek classical civilisation and these action-packed tales of heroism, humanity, weakness, tragedy and joy are a great starting-point. A sampling of the stories of the Iliad, Odyssey and of other Greek myths and heroes can be the start of a lifetime of fascination.

Challenging but wonderful
Although the language in this book is rather challenging, we still found it accessible and enjoyable.These classic stories can get too "watered-down" in the easier versions, which takes away the richness and depth that has made them classics in the first place.My 12 year old homeschooled son looked at these and Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships Before Troy and Wanderings of Odysseus and ultimately chose this one, but the Sutcliff books are a good alternative if the advanced language proves to be too much of a barrier.She has several good classic retellings.Either way, these stories should be a part of every child's education--they're wonderful!

Wonderfully retold story of Odysseus
I read this book to my 7 year old, homeschooled daughter.Her children's choir is singing the story of Odysseus and this book brought the songs to life for her.She never wanted me to put it down.The language is sophisticated but she could follow the story and was entranced by it.

Homer for Children Today!
Ho hum--I will never get my 5th grader to read this tome--however moving the story line and imagery.It is too thick to easily add to a history block of Ancient Civilizations around the world.The language is too dated.The narrations dwarfs the action.The standard, for good youth literature today, requires writers to SHOW the meaning and NOT TELL IT.
Thankfully, author Geraldine McCaughrean wrote a wonderfully telling of GILGAMESH, so I turned around and ordered her retelling of Homer's THE ILLIAD and THE ODYSSEY which is titled, ODYSSEUS.

Does anyone want my copy of Padric's version.The cover art is great.

The Children's Homer
As a homeschooled child, I read this book when I was eight and thoroughly enjoyed it; now, at fifteen, I have just finished reading the original Iliad and Odyssey for the second time. Reading them made me realize how much The Children's Homer helped me, both in exposing me to the epics and giving me a basic overview of the story. My only complaint was that it lacked the strength and beauty of the original, but that is understandable.
I would also recommend The Greek Way (Edith Hamilton) as an excellent look into ancient Greek philosophy and philosophers. I read this in the same course as The Children's Homer and it has become my favorite history book-children will enjoy it, but parents had best let them read it to themselves; it is unfair for parents to monopolize children's books.
Marion Doak, student ... Read more

Amazon.com
Robert Fagles's translation is a jaw-droppingly beautiful rendering of Homer's Odyssey, the most accessible and enthralling epic of classical Greece. Fagles captures the rapid and direct language of the original Greek, while telling the story of Odysseus in lyrics that ring with a clear, energetic voice. The story itself has never seemed more dynamic, the action more compelling, nor the descriptions so brilliant in detail. It is often said that every age demands its own translation of the classics. Fagles's work is a triumph because he has not merely provided a contemporary version of Homer's classic poem, but has located the right language for the timeless character of this great tale. Fagles brings the Odyssey so near, one wonders if the Hollywood adaption can be far behind. This is a terrific book.Book Description
Robert Fagles’s stunning modern-verse translation—available at last in our black-spine classics line

The Odyssey is literature’s grandest evocation of everyman’s journey through life. In the myths and legends that are retold here, renowned translator Robert Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer’s original in a bold, contemporary idiom and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery. This is an Odyssey to delight both the classicist and the general reader, and to captivate a new generation of Homer’s students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (150)

an excellent translation
It wasn't easy, but I have to admit I had a great time reading Robert Fagles' translation of the Odyssey.I thought his translation offered just the right compromise between using "elevated language" and readability.Also, I liked the traditional verse format Fagles retained, even though the English version had no rhyme scheme or strict metric format found in the original.The shorter lines made it easier to read.

The 70-page introduction by Bernard Knox also helped quite a bit.It focused mostly on higher themes of the Odyssey, which was great.There are also excellent explanatory notes on specific lines at the end of the book.I read all these notes before I read that particular section to avoid flipping back and forth too much.I also kept a copy of Cliff's notes along side me, reading the upcoming chapter in Cliff's before reading the real text.

As I was saying, it wasn't easy, but the Odyssey and the Iliad are such basic texts that all this effort was well worth it.I still have a hard time accepting that the text was written in roughly 800 BC, yet the insight into what it's like to be human seemed so real.No wonder this edition was a best seller when it came out 20 years ago, re-inspiring movies and television shows.

Fagles' Iliad is next!

Accessible translation, but I wanted more poetry
This is, of course, a good, fun story; in fact it's just about the original good, fun story. I doubt I could really add anything to the plot beyond what everyone already knows. There's the famous story of the Sirens, and Odysseus lashing himself to the mast to stop himself from falling prey to their wiles. There's the Cyclops, whose one eye Ulysses gouges out. There are the monsters at the Scylla and Charybdis. And so forth. He's been away at war against Troy for ten years. After Troy falls at the end of the Iliad, Ulysses and others sack the city and take to the seas to return home.

Meanwhile, after so long away from home with no word back to his wife, the locals back on Ithaca (known as "the suitors") believe Ulysses is dead, take up residence in his house, drink his wine, slaughter his animals, bed his maids, and try to woo his wife. She -- Penelope -- is crafty, and tells them that she'll pick a suitor once she's done sewing a burial shroud for Odysseus's father (who's not dead, but who's been devastated by the loss of his son and expects to die soon). Every day she weaves it, and every night she undoes what she made during the day. Eventually one of the maids lets the suitors in on the secret, so they force her to finish her sewing. She's just on the verge of choosing a suitor when Odysseus returns home, disguised as a beggar by the goddess Athena. He wanders around his property, begging for a crust of bread and judging the character of all those who are living in his house. His son, Telemachus, is brave and handsome and everything else you'd expect out of the son of a Greek hero. Penelope has remained true to her husband for twenty years. Various swineherds weep for their departed master, still, after twenty years. All the rest of them are contemptible.

After setting up appropriate dramatic tension really effectively, and leaving Odysseus within just a few feet of his family -- though disguised -- Homer finally lets loose in a cataclysm of blood. All the brutes die.

I love the story because it's so elemental. Throughout The Iliad and The Odyssey, "staid servantwomen" serve hundreds of meals wherein goats and sheep are cut into four pieces and roasted over spits. After eating the meat and drinking the hearty wine, various heroes either fall into peaceful slumber on soft beds, or take baths and get lacquered with oil by nubile servant-girls. Life could be worse for the Greeks.

I didn't realize before reading The Odyssey that nothing much actually happens to Ulysses during the era when the story takes place. Instead, most of The Odyssey is spent in flashback: Ulysses stops off at some island or other on the way home, and while there reminisces about all that's happened to him. Finally he gets so homesick that he simply must return to Ithaca. And he does. Why Homer chose this method, I'm not sure. Borges uses the same method. For that matter, so does The Arabian Nights.

Fagles's translation is workmanlike. It's highly readable, but it's not very inspiring. People do what they're supposed to do, and that's the end of it. I didn't feel the poetry. I've read Fagles's description of the challenges he faced, and I appreciate them. He could have chosen to stick to the literal meaning of the original words, thereby making the book irrelevant to modern readers. He could hack the words to pieces to make them fit with the meter. He could completely adapt The Odyssey to a modern idiom, thereby deleting a lot of the book's original force. Me, I would have liked more music.

Think about reading this again.
I recently read this new translation after reading James Joyce's Ulysses. It is not the tedious book I remember in high school. Perhaps it was my age and immaturity at the time, but I prefer to believe that that previous translation was more difficult to wade through. This translation, however, makes the Odyssey amazingly accessible. Without the barrier of language, one can perceive the beauty of the verse and the complexity of the story. It is easier to see both the heroism and the flaws of the central character, Odysseus. The reunions that occur at the end are truly touching. If you haven't read this in a while, and you weren't impressed the first time through, I highly recommend you try this translation.
As an aside, I find it odd that the Cliff's Notes for this epic has a higher rating than the epic itself.

Uses for this Translation
this is an amazing book, with something for anyone. if you are interested in studying philosophy, you'll find it here. but, you can also read a great adventure story with fables and a love story written in. in that sense, this is a great translation; if you want to read this for the sake of entertainment, Fagles is a great translator.if you want to read for philosophical discussion, however, he might not serve your purposes. the thing you have to know about Fagles is, he often inserts adjectives and the feel of the entire story changes. so, if you want fidelity to the Greek words, try Lattimore. if you want fidelity to the Greek metrical sense, try Mandelbaum or Pope. and if you want fidelity to the Greek adventure epic, Fagles is your guy.

Fantastic Read
I'd tried to read some of the "classic" translations in college, and though I love poetry I found that Chapman, Pope et al. were extremely difficult to wade through. I skipped around, read what I thought were the "best parts," and put it aside.

I found the prose translations to pedantic, and none caught my interest.

Fagles version enthralled me, and made me realize that I knew nothing about the story. It was far deeper, more complex, and emotionally rich than I ever suspected.

There were certainly parts that dragged - there were whole pages devoted to feasting, and some of Odysseus' longer lies grew tiring.There were also parts that soared - Calypso's unrequited love for the hero, Athena's deadly games, Nausicaa on the beach, Odysseus meeting his dead countrymen in Hades, and the slaughter in the hall are all vividly captured. I'm ready to move on to the Iliad and Aeneid now! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (58)

"Gricks may rise and Troysirs fall . . ."--Joyce
The translation of "The Iliad" I'd bring to the moon. But who says I have to pick one? What I like about Lattimore is, I sometimes feel Homer's face popping through the pages. Lattimore's translation says, "This is important." And I think his scheme, the line-by-line thing, is overall for the best. You have to go to it; I try to avoid overly slangy translations; and I was never one to mind "thee" and "thou." But hey, as Shakespeare said, you have to piece out its imperfections in your mind. I mean, is there one best performance of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion"? No: that's why I own 4 different CD's of it. Fitzgerald is good; he hits burts of poetic heights that others don't. Other than that, I think A. T. Murray is just as good (i.e., straightforward). Give Pope a shot. Once you get "used to it," it's a poetic marvel. I read Butler's translation a while ago, and that's a good, solid prose translation, like the aforementioned Murray's. Fagles I couldn't get a grip on, but if he's your cup of tea, why not? Wherever you roam, I'd snatch up a used copy of Lattimore from good ol' Amazon and keep at your bedside, just like Alexander of old.

A great translation.... not for the meek at heart.
The Lattimore translation is, as I was told my my humanities teacher, the closest translation to the Greek to date.This is good in that it keeps true to the intended poetry of the work.This is bad if you are a non-English major college student :P

In this translation, not meant to be easily understood by today's English speakers, there are many sentences that end in the subject of the sentence, which can be confusing.If you don't pay very close attention, you will get lost.There are many similies and metaphors that can be confusing unless followed closely.... it sounds something like, "Then Hektor of the wide arms spoke unto Melos of the flowing hair.Then they two took their swift spears and their shining swords upon those whom the Goddess of the White arms had chosen....not a direct quote, mind you but the book sounds like this throughout.

I would call this a difficult read.I would suggest it for the English majors, those who are poetry minded, or those who want a better understanding, better translation after having read another, more understandable translation.

Enjoy.

The Speaker's Handbook!
What the Iliad REALLY is

By Chris Miller

It is rather unfortunate that very few people today really know what the Iliad is. Upon being asked, most readers would say that the Iliad is about the Trojan War, or about Achilles or about Hector and so on; some might say it is about war or the frailty of human existence. But the plethora of answers indicates that they have not hit upon the one thing that ties all of them together. The Iliad is about speechmaking. It was written at a time when speechmaking meant life and death to the peoples of Greece. Under the oligarchic systems in place in Athens, Sparta, Corinth and other major cities in Archaic Greece, one's skill in speaking in front of the courts, councils, foreign officials, high-ranking dignitaries, armies and even in the market place could spell the differences between death, war, confiscation, banishment, fines, payments, safety, survival and peace. This book filled a demand for a handbook of speechmaking, the speeches of the Ancient heroes of the great united Greek forces who defeated a seemingly undefeatable Asian foe. The tale being set very far back in time, and glorifying all the Greek cities, removed any political or nationalistic barriers to its reception anywhere in Greece. It could therefore display the orator's art to the full, pulling no punches (sometimes literally so!) because it ran no risk of offending anyone. About 50% of the Iliad is speeches, and the other 50% narrative but written in dramatic, emotive, rhetorical fashion. This is not to say that Homer intentionally created a textbook for speechmaking, but rather that his audience craved an epic full of brilliant speeches, since their lives were so involved with this art. The kind of exquisite rhetoric Homer provided his audience befitted the oratory they thought their glorious ancestors possessed, and it in due form became the model for their own speeches and remained so through the democratic period, through the Hellenistic kingdoms, through the Roman empire and even into the Middle Ages. It was the central text for study in Greek schools, and the raw material for speechwriting exercises there. Senators and Emperors read and reread it, even memorizing it. In our own day we seem to have forgotten the Iliad's purpose and have viewed it as a rousing tale of war and adventure; but to do so misses the point. It was not read as a pleasant novel for petty diversion but instead as a study in public speaking. It can safely be said that this text enshrined the democratic tendencies of the Archaic Greeks in the everyday life of the ancient Greek and Roman world, and set the stage for the dialectical development of thought, culture and even science. The Iliad established the debate as a socially acceptable and even necessary thing for arriving at correct ideas. The debate remains the hallmark of Western developments in all areas. This is really what the Iliad is all about and is why it is the central piece of our Western civilization.

Awkward translation
The major problem I have with this translation is the awkwardness of its language. There are long, unwieldy sentences with twisted syntax. Sometimes, the translation is obscure. For example: "...and the will of Zeus was accomplished/since that time when first there stood in divison of conflict..." Not every line is as bad as that, however. There are some passages that read fairly smoothly, and the last two lines of the fourth book stand out. The translation as a whole, however, mutilates the English language. There are better options if you would like to read the Iliad.

Excellent English Iliad
Richmond Lattimore's translation of The Iliad is the strongest, most resonant version I have yet read. It doesn't have the energy or the high poetry of the Fagles or Fitzgerald translations, but it is nevertheless the most moving and the most rewarding to read.

Lattimore's translation approximates as closely as possible what it would have been like to hear Homer speak for himself, in long, rhythmic lines that leisurely extol the story of Achilles's wrath. One feature that I found helpful was Lattimore's direct transliteration of Greek names into English, rather than using their Latin equivalents. Here, Achilles is Achilleus, Menelaus is Menelaos, Hephaestus is Hephaistos, and so forth. Printing the names so that they can be pronounced as they were in the original Greek helped in separating this reading of Homer from those I had experienced before. And unlike the Fitzgerald translation, these names are not encumbered with accent marks and other distracting apparatus.

Lattimore's introduction is also worthwhile. He spends a few pages examining each of the many major figures--Odysseus, Diomedes, Agamemnon, Paris, Hektor--as well as describing the cultural context of Homer's epic. And index of characters and where in the text they can be found makes this, along with the introduction, an excellent edition for students and beginners.

But the chief attraction is, of course, the story itself. As I said, this is neither the most energetic nor poetic of the English versions, but it is certainly the best and most faithful to the original. Despite having read The Iliad several times before, I found myself moved and excited again and again by the often poignant scenes of war that Homer presents.

If you only read one English version of The Iliad, make this it. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

With his past series of books set in Coalwood, West Virginia, New York Times best-selling author Homer Hickam won the praise of critics around the world and the devotion of legions of fans. Now, he returns to his beloved coalfields, not as they were fifty years ago, but today. In this hauntingly beautiful and romantic novel, he brings alive the little Appalachian town of Highcoal and a people dedicated to mining coal according to the old ways while struggling with modern problems--illegal drugs, environmental destruction, and a world economy that threatens their very existence.

Song Hawkins is a beautiful, tough, but lonely New York City businesswoman who thinks she's met the man of her dreams in Cable Jordan, the superintendent of a West Virginia coal mine. But soon after they impulsively marry during a romantic holiday, Song realizes they're in big trouble. She can't imagine life outside of New York, and Cable has no intention of leaving Highland.

Song's visit to the little mining community to meet its quirky citizens only makes things worse and it looks like the marriage is over. But in a shocking turn of events, Song realizes it's up to her to put on the red helmet of the new coal miner and descend into the deep darkness to make a life-changing sacrifice for both Cable and the entire town.

Customer Reviews (9)

Red Helmet a winner!
For those who enjoyed Homer Hickam's previous "tales" of life in Coalwood, West Virginia, you will not be disappointed in this latest work.The conflict between two recently-marrieds, in concert with the drama in the coal mines, makes for a fast-moving story that is dificult to put down. The author's best work, I think, has always been when he's writing about his beloved mountains and people of West Virginia.And though I enjoy Hickam's Josh Thurlow series, I thoroughly get involved with what he really knows best--life in a coal mine community!And one needs to know nothing of coal mining to enjoy the story because Hickam does a masterful job of explaining what goes on "down there."Order this book and enjoy the ride with Song and Cable and all the other colorful characters as they find out many things about themselves and each other in an exciting conclusion to a wonderful story.If this is a first-time read of Homer Hickam, I would certainly recommend going back to Rocket Boys, The Coalwood Way, and Sky of Stone.Those are all non-fiction, but they serve as a good background for Red Helmet, making it all the more enjoyable.

Hickam at his best!
Homer Hickam, in "Red Helmet", transports us to the small mining communities of West Virginia.With characters that make us love them, laugh with them, wipe away a tear or two, and become a part of their lives, struggles, and mysteries, "Red Helmet" is a great read. Curl up on your sofa with a hot cup of tea and a blanket and be carried away to West Virginia!

Sometimes, five stars aren't enough, this time is one of them!
An eclectic group of characters on a thrilling adventure which includes romance, betrayal, tragedy, and heroism. And with as many twists and turns as any coal mine. Be warned, you may not be able to put this book down once you've started reading it; I sure couldn't.

Read it in 1 Sitting
This is the best yet by Hickam. I couldn't put it down. It was masterfully written- a real page turner! Any woman who has worked in a man's world could relate to the main character's struggles as she trained and eventually became a coal miner. The descriptions of the coal mines themselves were illuminating. Above and beyond all of this, it is a beautiful love story.
Excellent job, Mr. Hickam.

Homer Hickam's Best Book Ever
RED HELMET is a riveting romance/adventure/susupense story that reflects the true spirit of the West Virginia coal miner and the courage and skill of mine rescue teams everywhere.This book is a real page turner.At one point I was laughing out loud and the next, my eyes were filled with tears.Indeed, this is a powerful story.I could not put it down. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This is a boxed gift edition of Fagles's two widely acclaimedtranslations of Homer.

The Iliad is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but to call it a war story does not begin to describe the emotional sweep of its action and characters: Achilles, Helen, Hector, and other heroes of Greek myth and history in the 10th and final year of the Greek siege of Troy. The Odyssey is, quite simply, the story of Odysseus, who wants to go home. But Poseidon, god of oceans, doesn't want him to make it back across the wine-dark sea to his wife, Penelope, son, Telemachus, and their high-roofed home at Ithaca. The story is told in easy-going, beautiful poetry; the characters speak naturally, the action happens briskly. Even the gods come across as real people, despite the divine powers they exercise constantly. Both works have been hailed by scholars and the public for the powerful language that brings clashing, pulsing life to these ancient masterpieces.Book Description
A beautiful gift set of Robert Fagles' award-winning translations of Homer

Gripping listeners and readers for more than 2,700 years, The Iliad is the story of the Trojan War and the rage of Achilles. Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic.

If The Iliad is the world's greatest war story, then The Odyssey is literature's greatest evocation of every man's journey through life. Here again, Fagles has performed the translator's task magnificently, giving us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.

Each volume contains a superb introduction with textual and critical commentary by renowned classicist Bernard Knox.

* Deluxe paperback editions with French flaps and acid-free paper in a handsome slipcase

* Robert Fagles is the recipient of the 1997 PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters

* The Iliad was a New York Times Notable Book and won the 1991 Harold Morton Landon Translation Award by The Academy of American Poets, an award from the Translation Center of Columbia University, and the New Jersey Humanities Book Award

* The Odyssey was chosen by Time as one of the ten Best Books of 1996 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

The ground is dark with blood
The Iliad

With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad.

For example:

"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles

"Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another."
-Translated by Samuel Butler

Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.

We have the wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.

Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warier and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, who's power comes form position.

We are treated to a blow by blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war.
=======================================================
The Odyssey
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle

The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.


Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
The Archaeology of Heinrich Schliemann: An Annotated Bibliographic Handlist

Its not painful
I really am enjoying reading this book again.read it in uni and hated every bit of it; but this time around, with this version, i can really get into what is happening.the index and annotations in the back are great for those of us that are not experts on Homer.
The book itsself is really cool.i love how the pages are serrated.books are lightweight and not so big at to be a pain to carry in your bag.this is a solid purchase.

Epic made easy
I love feeling pages in between my fingers and a new book always lifts my spirits. The boxed set is truly a collectible item.
The books by themselves are translated by award winning translator,
Robert Fagles.
The introduction takes the reader through the premise and the verse itself is very simple and simplifies the epic.
The reader wont get confused with the myriad of characters but instead the book sequentially unfolds the main characters and their importance to the legacy of Iliad and Odyssey.

Odyssey/The Illiad Penguin box set
A very nice set. It looks good and the binding is sturdy. It should last many years of use and still look presentable on the shelf. The poetic translation is the best I know of. A poetic translation is always suspect because either meaning, tone or the poetic phrases will have to be sacrificed at certain (usually frequent) points. This one goes quite a ways in the direction of maintaining the feel of the original, and staying poetic - a least better than any other translation I know of. The original has a sound and movement in its meter that is unmatched and this translation does not match it, but it does occasionally remind me of the original, and there are a very few, if any, really awkward phrases. The text is also approachable by someone who is not a classical expert, another problem with many translations. Not a masterpiece, but it does allow you to get glimpses of the masterpiece that is the original. It is a very approachable and enjoyable translation, and the best thing out there for these very important, enjoyable, imaginative, and pivotal works in Western literature.

The Set You Should Own
Quality. Quality. Quality.
And at a VERY nice price.
A common problem with sets like these is that the type is often
crammed so close together, and so light, it can be extremely hard to read.
That's NOT the case here.
Very easy on the eyes, well spaced and printed on surprisingly thick, rag edge stock.
The binding (so important in a paperback) is absolutely first-rate.
The covers are way beyond what you'd expect at the price.
And boxed is always nice.

Quality. Quality. Quality.
And highly recommended.


... Read more

Book Description

The most eloquent translation of Homer's Odyssey into modern English.

Customer Reviews (29)

Straight-forward translation
I own and have read translations of The Iliad & The Odyssey by Fagles, Fitzgerald, and Lattimore. I rate them as follows:
1. Lattimore
2. Fitzgerald
3. Fagles
Fitzgerald's translations are often the most enjoyable. However, I feel that Lattimore's clarity facilitates greater understanding of the story by the reader.

An Incredible Experience
The Odyssey of Homer is an incredible experience.

If you haven't read it, or aren't familiar with the story, it's about Odysseus, a veteran of the Trojan War, who upon embarking for his home on Ithaca experiences a series of trials (the Great Wanderings) that eventually lead to his marooning on Ogygia, Calypso's island. Pallas Athene (more commonly known simply as Athena) intervenes on the part of Odysseus (whose house is overrun by various suitors trying to win over his wife Penelope) and sends his son, Telemachos, on a journey to find news of him. Athena convinces Zeus to help Odysseus off of Calypso's island, which he does by sending his son Hermes. Odysseus leaves the island, lands on Scheria, and receives conveyance from Alkinoos and Arete, the King and Queen of the Phaiakians, respectively, back to his home on Ithaca. To make a long story short (the entire last half of the book takes place around Odysseus' contrivance against the suitors and their ultimate murder) Odysseus and Telemachos get to Ithaca (Odyssues disguised as a beggar), plan out how to punish the suitors, kill them, and kill their revenge-seeking relatives. This is obviously an incredibly short synopsis because the book is so rich and full of detail and minor - though incredibly interesting - stories (including Menelaos' journey and struggles against the Old Man of the Sea, Agamemnon's murder at the hands of Aegisthus and his traitorous wife, and the suitors' bow and arrow competition) that it's impossible to go into any great detail.

As for the translation, everybody knows that Lattimore did an incredible job; not often is there a translator whose name I actually remember after I read the work he/she translated. In Lattimore's case, I'll never forget, seriously: it's that good. He incorporates the nuances of modern English into Homer's epic masterpiece to create a rich interpretation that will probably never be duplicated. I would seriously recomend this book to all literate peoples. Like I said: it's an incredible experience that you'll never forget.

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle
The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.

Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Review of The Oddyssey
This translation is very good.We enjoyed it although parts were boring and haed to read.

The Odyssey
This is a requirment for 9th grade Honors class.We bought our own copy in addition to the school paperback that our son brings home daily.This way his father could read along and discuss it with him. We were glad to be able to buy the same translation. ... Read more

Book Description
The year is 1943 and World War II in the Pacific rages on, with Americans engaged in desperate battles against a cunning enemy.Coast Guard Captain Josh Thurlow is on hand at the invasion of Tarawa, as the U.S. Navy begins the grand strategy of throwing her marines at island after bloody island across the Pacific.But nothing goes as planned as young Americans go up against fanatical defenders, who revel in snipers, big guns, and human wave attacks from which there is no escape save death.As blood colors the waters around Tarawa, Josh flounders ashore through a floating graveyard of dead men and joins the survivors, determined to somehow wrest victory from disaster.Critically wounded, ,Josh expects to die.Instead, he is spun off on one of his greatest adventures when Sister Mary Kathleen, a young Irish nun, nurses him back to health, then shanghais Josh, sidekick Bosun Ready O'Neal, and three American marines to a group of beautiful tropical islands invaded by a brutal Japanese warlord.Josh and his little band must decide whether to help the Sister fight the battle she demands, return to Tarawa and the "real" war, or settle down in the romantic splendor of the South Seas. Hickam expertly weaves the adventures of these hot-blooded characters tighter and tighter until the Sister's secrets and sins are finally revealed during a horrific battle in the lair of the warlord. With an incredible eye for historical detail and the talent of a master storyteller, Homer Hickam delivers another tour de force. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A superb novel
I'm a bit astonished at the one-star reviews this book has received.I just put it down after two days of voracious reading and then looked at it, wishing I could start all over again fresh.Maybe it sometimes gets knocked down because it is not truly a World War II genre book.There is a depth to this book that is layered one upon the other as it progresses.It is the tale not only of Josh Thurlow at the battle of Tarawa but really on what happens afterwards as Sister Mary Kathleen, the Catholic nun who shanghais Josh, Ready O'Neil and three vagrant Marines to the Far Reaches.There, the men find a paradise and even tough old Josh finds love and tenderness with a new family while the sister keeps struggling with the great sin that presses down upon her.I found the pages where Josh loses his new family some of the most powerful writing I have ever read.I suppose it is true that readers are as various as writers and not all are meant for one another.Hickam is a writer that seems at time a simple stylist but he is also an artist who paints with an exceedingly fine brush.Perhaps his novels are not for everyone but I am captured by his writing and will recommend him to everyone who not only likes a good read but also likes to put a book down with a new understanding of the truths of life.I will be thinking about Sister Mary Kathleen, Josh, Ready, and even Colonel Monkey Burr for a very long time.

Perhaps the worst book I've ever read
What else is there to say? I very rarely give up on a book and I fought the urge to give up on this book many times. After finishing the book, I wished I had listened to my instincts. It was awful. The one saving grace was that I didn't actually pay for the book, but checked it out from the library.

I've heard Hickam wrote good historical fiction and expected much better. I doubt I'll give him another try. The characters are pathetically simple and some of the scenarios just plain ridiculous. The main character loses his son and wife and takes a whole sentence to say goodbye to them both. Great writing. Great character development. This book was just way too simplistic. This is literature's equivalent of a grade b movie. Look elsewhere.

Sometimes You Really Can Judge A Book By The Cover
Last year I read a terrible novel about the Battle of the Bulge. For some reason, the cover featured a famous photograph of a US Marine on Iwo Jima! "The Far Reaches" isn't quite as bad: the cover shows a well-known photo of US Army troops wading ashore at Normandy on D-Day, but with a bunch of palm trees inserted in the background. The novel was preposterous; cliches piled on top of sterotypes, incredibly stilted dialogue, and unbelievable characters and situations. A young Irish nun and a bunch of Polynesians on TARAWA? Laughable! Not to give away too much of the plot, the author clearly has little knowledge of the US military, World War Two, the Japanese, etc. (i.e., there are no priests in the USMC). Nor could I imagine the business of several characters simply going AWOL in the middle of WW2 and instantly adopting native families as their own. The central premise --- about the child --- made absolutley no sense given the contempt for Westerners held by the Japanese officer corps of the period. I borrowed the audio version from the library and it was painful to listen to.No more Josh Thurlow for me!

bullseye again!
I just finished reading this book and came away impressed again. The story moves along at a brisk pace and there are very few slow parts. It holds your attention. The only flaw I found in the book was toward the beginning when Josh Thurlow was shot up pretty bad and survived. A previous poster mentioned he was like rambo and I have to agree with that. That doesn't take away from the book at all for me though. Great summer reading!
Do yourself a favor a pick this one up.

Hickam's Best Novel to Date
If you've read any of Hickam's other books you will love this one.If you haven't read any of his books yet, what are you waiting for?As a Vietnam combat veteran you can tell that Homer uses a lot of his own experiences in this novel.A must read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A superb novel
I'm a bit astonished at the one-star reviews this book has received.I just put it down after two days of voracious reading and then looked at it, wishing I could start all over again fresh.Maybe it sometimes gets knocked down because it is not truly a World War II genre book.There is a depth to this book that is layered one upon the other as it progresses.It is the tale not only of Josh Thurlow at the battle of Tarawa but really on what happens afterwards as Sister Mary Kathleen, the Catholic nun who shanghais Josh, Ready O'Neil and three vagrant Marines to the Far Reaches.There, the men find a paradise and even tough old Josh finds love and tenderness with a new family while the sister keeps struggling with the great sin that presses down upon her.I found the pages where Josh loses his new family some of the most powerful writing I have ever read.I suppose it is true that readers are as various as writers and not all are meant for one another.Hickam is a writer that seems at time a simple stylist but he is also an artist who paints with an exceedingly fine brush.Perhaps his novels are not for everyone but I am captured by his writing and will recommend him to everyone who not only likes a good read but also likes to put a book down with a new understanding of the truths of life.I will be thinking about Sister Mary Kathleen, Josh, Ready, and even Colonel Monkey Burr for a very long time.

Perhaps the worst book I've ever read
What else is there to say? I very rarely give up on a book and I fought the urge to give up on this book many times. After finishing the book, I wished I had listened to my instincts. It was awful. The one saving grace was that I didn't actually pay for the book, but checked it out from the library.

I've heard Hickam wrote good historical fiction and expected much better. I doubt I'll give him another try. The characters are pathetically simple and some of the scenarios just plain ridiculous. The main character loses his son and wife and takes a whole sentence to say goodbye to them both. Great writing. Great character development. This book was just way too simplistic. This is literature's equivalent of a grade b movie. Look elsewhere.

Sometimes You Really Can Judge A Book By The Cover
Last year I read a terrible novel about the Battle of the Bulge. For some reason, the cover featured a famous photograph of a US Marine on Iwo Jima! "The Far Reaches" isn't quite as bad: the cover shows a well-known photo of US Army troops wading ashore at Normandy on D-Day, but with a bunch of palm trees inserted in the background. The novel was preposterous; cliches piled on top of sterotypes, incredibly stilted dialogue, and unbelievable characters and situations. A young Irish nun and a bunch of Polynesians on TARAWA? Laughable! Not to give away too much of the plot, the author clearly has little knowledge of the US military, World War Two, the Japanese, etc. (i.e., there are no priests in the USMC). Nor could I imagine the business of several characters simply going AWOL in the middle of WW2 and instantly adopting native families as their own. The central premise --- about the child --- made absolutley no sense given the contempt for Westerners held by the Japanese officer corps of the period. I borrowed the audio version from the library and it was painful to listen to.No more Josh Thurlow for me!

bullseye again!
I just finished reading this book and came away impressed again. The story moves along at a brisk pace and there are very few slow parts. It holds your attention. The only flaw I found in the book was toward the beginning when Josh Thurlow was shot up pretty bad and survived. A previous poster mentioned he was like rambo and I have to agree with that. That doesn't take away from the book at all for me though. Great summer reading!
Do yourself a favor a pick this one up.

Hickam's Best Novel to Date
If you've read any of Hickam's other books you will love this one.If you haven't read any of his books yet, what are you waiting for?As a Vietnam combat veteran you can tell that Homer uses a lot of his own experiences in this novel.A must read. ... Read more

Book Description
Selections from both Iliad and Odyssey, made with an eye for those episodes that figure most prominently in the study of mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best of the Best of the Best
Lombardo's translations of Homer are brilliant, energetic, and fun to read. While other translations are as dry and dusty as ancient Greek itself, Lombardo remarkably manages to bring it all to life, and reading both the Iliad and the Odyssey are as interesting and exciting as reading the most fascinating and lurid novel you've ever had in your hands.

The best thing about this edition is that it has MAPS in the front, and NAME GLOSSARIES in the back (for both the Iliad and the Odyssey).This edition is abridged, but I found that only long, tedious descriptions of preparations for battles seemed to be missing.

This is the ideal student text.(If you are looking for the best FULL edition ever, Lombardo's entire translations of the Iliad and Odyssey are also available.

If I could give it six stars, I would.

The Iliad
I had to use this book for a school project. This version by Stanley lombardo is great, and the refreshed modern day speaking makes the book easier to get through. Furthermore, the character guides and reference to other books in the back proved to be very helpful! ... Read more

Book Description
Winslow Homer's watercolors rank among the greatest pictorial legacies of this country. Winslow Homer's first medium was oil painting, although to make ends meet, he did commercial illustration and chronicled the New York City social scene. Eventually, Homer withdrew from city life altogether to settle at Prout's Neck on the rocky New England coast. There he turned to watercolor, in part for financial reasons (watercolors were easier to sell), but the newly popular medium also enabled him to capture his impressions of scenery and landscapes encountered during his many travels with an immediacy and directness impossible in the more time-consuming oils. Of his more than 700 watercolors, over 140 are reproduced here, dating from the 1870s to the turn of the century and ranging from pastoral to narrative, dramatic to serene. Miles Unger's text provides insight into the artist's technical mastery of the medium and discusses the importance of Homer's watercolors within the larger body of his work. 140 color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Watercolors of Winslow Homer
As a very young child I would spent many hours looking through my grandmother's art library.Winslow Homer and the French impressionists were my favorites and that early experience is probably one of many reasons I became an artist. I bought this book as a gift for my sister who is also an artist. I was able to read most of it before I gave it to her but intend to get a copy for myself. I especially liked the way the book follows Mr. Homer's growth as an artist. It's well written and the collection of his work is incredible. There are so many paintings I have never seen and some I have only seen in black and white.

Beautiful Reproductions of Homer's WC
My first impression of this book was WOW!!!The size of the reproductions is astounding.Many extend over both large pages of the text.The binding is such that the book lies flat on the table and so the seam in the middle is negligble.THe colour of the reproductions is rich, detailed, and rings true (altho I have not seen any of Homer's work in real-life).Compared side-by-side with Cooper's book, Cooper's reproductions are much smaller and the colour appears weaker and washed out.

As for the text of the book, it is interesting, informative, and insightful.Altogether, this is a very well put together book; it is one of the finest books I have in my collection.

Beautiful pictures, overwritten text
To: Amazon.com

The hundreds of paintings reproduced in this large-format book deserve five stars.The publisher should be thanked for bringing together works scattered around a large number of museums, and for giving us a finely produced art book.Even fans of Winslow Homer will not have seen most of these paintings, which may represent the summit of American watercolors.Unfortunately, the accompanying text goes far beyond what is necessary to appreciate Homer's art.The descriptions of personal history and technique are helpful, but not the philosophical musings and overwrought interpretations. The text should have been cut by a third. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

An erudite and impressive literary critique
Alberto Manguel's latest volume does not contain the text of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Instead, It is a "biography" in the sense of being a commentary on how Homer's works have been translated, interpreted, adapted, vilified, and lauded for more than 2,500 years.

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Manguel says, stand at the fountainhead, or primordial spring, of Western culture. Indeed, without these masterpieces, he asserts, there would have been no culture.

In the same vein, the French poet and novelist Raymond Queneau (1903-1978) opined, "Every great work of literature is either the Iliad [a story pf conflict, strife, battle and war] or the Odyssey [a story of a journey or exile and, after much wandering, a homecoming]."

The extraordinary power of the Iliad, Manguel says, comes from the fact that it holds in tension two truths: our fascination with war and our abhorrence of its cruelty: "Homer fully understood our ambiguous relationship to violence, our desire for it and our hatred of it, the beauty we ascribe to it and the horror it makes us feel."

Manguel traces Homer's influence through the centuries: Virgil's The Aeneid, Dante's The Divine Comedy, Goethe's Faust, Cervantes' Don Quixote, James Joyce's Ulysses, with numerous others in between.

With its wide-ranging knowledge and perceptive insights, this erudite volume is eminently impressive. Manguel has compressed much wisdom, beauty, and truth within its pages. ... Read more

Book Description
NOW AVAILABLE - Digitally remastered, and on CD for the first time

Translated by Robert Fagles, with an introduction by Bernard Knox
Read by Sir Ian McKellen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Fundemental Literture in the Form it Was Meant
For thousands of years this story has been told and retold.
The reason this story is still being told and still being heard is because it is so exciting and so very compelling.
It never grows old.
I have read and enjoyed this story from a leather bound book, but it is best heard spoken from a human voice.Ian McKellen is qualified as a modern day bard.

Unlike most movies and books of today, once will not be enough.
Those who listen to it will not be disappointed.

Utterly superb
I'll not waste any time of yours with long and deserving praise for this telling of an ancient story, other than to say that should another day pass where you have stolen from yourself the opportunity to listen to this master storyteller lead you through a story written by a master, then only the Gods can forgive you.

Sir Ian Mckellan's performance is measured and beautiful, and there is no shame in a tear falling at the meeting of father and son for the emotion that comes through this practiced orator.I can say with a fair amount of confidence that the bards of old must have sounded like this - masters of their craft and able to bring the imaginations of their audience to life.

Not a moment longer - a treat awaits you...

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle,
The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.

Gandalf reads the Odyssey...what's not to like?
I thought that this is perhaps the best audio book I have ever listened to, rivaled only by John Cleese's reading of C. S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters.Ian McKellon, whom most know primarily through his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, reads with the same epic sounding voice that he employed in the Lord of the Rings (as oppossed to less epic sounding voice inflection he employed in Xmen).Somehow his voice just sounds as ancient and mythical as the Odyssey itself.I cannot imagine a better reader for this book.I wish he had done the Iliad as well.

As for the translation itself, I must disagree with those who claim that it is the best.It is, I grant you, better than the thoroughly modernized versions like W. H. D. Rouse's, but I think it is (very) slightly too modernized.Phrases like shilly-shallying or other modern phrases simply do not belong in ancient texts like the Odyssey.That said, they did keep that type of language to a minimum, and the only better translation I have come across is Richard Lattimore's.For the most part this translation keeps the epic feel that the Odyssey should have, and Ian McKellen's voice only adds to this.I highly recommend this version.It is one of the few audio books I think is worth a second listen.

Overall grade:A+

One of the world's oldest adventure stories
Homer's "The Odyssey" is one of the world's oldest adventure stories and holds the same attraction for contemporary readers that it has for Hellenic antiquity some three thousand years ago as an epic chronicle of adventure recounting the trials and tribulations of Odysseus when that famed Greek war hero tried to make his way home after the fall of Troy. Here are the stories of the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, the Underworld, and the demanding suitors for the hand of Penelope. This classic story is dramatically narrated by John Lee who is able to fully convey the energy, intellect, and resourcefulness of Odysseus in all of his legendary encounters. Strongly recommended for both school and community library audiobook collections, this complete and unabridged, ten compact disc recording has a total running time of 11 hours and 49 minutes. ... Read more

Book Description

The most eloquent translation of Homer's epic chronicle of the Greek hero Odysseus and his arduous journey home after the Trojan War

Customer Reviews (1)

Too Good!
Since reading Lattimore's translation of the Odyssey this past summer, I haven't been able to read ANYTHING ELSE with the same interest and enthusiasm. Homer's Odyssey needs no endorsement from me. It sits at the very heart and genesis of the Western literary tradition and will forever continue to do so. If you haven't read the Odyssey, you should: it's an important part of our human heritage. It's also incredibly fascinating for its age. Almost three thousand years old now, the Odyssey transports you into another strangely foreign time, imagination, and culture.

The Odyssey is also a compelling narrative in its own right. It's simply an amazing and beautiful story, and this is certainly what accounts for its continued influence throughout history. The prose, beautifully and faithfully rendered in this edition by Lattimore, are captivating and rythmically satisfying. The world is rich, awe-inspiring, but not over-indulgently described. Odysseus is a hero in the truest sense of the word. Everything you want is there but not in over-abundance. The Odyssey is just sparse enough to leave you yearning for more, which is why I haven't been able to read much else lately. I figure Lattimore's translation of the Illiad is my next stop. I'll let you know how that goes.





... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A must read book.
I have loved these stories since my early childhood. In an age of [...]on the TV and movies. These stories will delight children young and old and make you wish you were born back when this stuff was comon place.

Homer Price is back...
Centerburg Tales is the second book to hold stories about Homer Price and friends.The first four stories are tales from Grandpa Hercules, an old man known for his tall tales.All of the stories, including the three not told by Hercules, are fun to read, even outloud!Giant ragweeds, 'Eversomuch More-So' (which makes everything better) and a song you just can't stop singing!Good, old fashion, drug free, rocket-ship free, non-violent FUN for most of the family.

"That character," said Freddy after a long silence, "could make some little squirrel very happy."

Homer Price redux
This is a great sequel to the original "Homer Price".Homer and his friends are off on more wacky adventures, each one funnier than the last.The final story, in which Homer and his fellow citizens are literally dancing all over town, is one of the most hilarious children's tales ever written.McCloskey had magic in his writing pen and his drawing pencil; it's hard to say which are better, the stories or the illustrations.Suffice to say that they all add up to a wonderful book for young folks.Highly recommended.

Tall Tales that Stick with you
The Adventures of Homer Price in the quaint town of Centerburg are flat out hilarious.Homer's uncle Hercules quickly sets the tone of disbelief by spinning some yarns that have just enough "truth" to them to be plausible.This is a truly a story of the American Scene in a time when people entertained themselves by gabbing with one another and singing songs together instead of hiding in the basement watching videos.Good old timey values like hucksterism, lying, and cheating face the good natured community of Centerburg and sometimes turn it upside down.Strange things happen in Centerburg, and the curious Homer Price is going to get to the bottom of it.Robert McClosky is also one of our finest illustrators and his lively drawings add texture and background to the story.Highly Recommeded.

Centerburg Rocks
I loved the silly stories of Centerburg as a kid and hoped that my nine-year-old nephew would not find the material too dated to understand.No worries!He laughs out loud at the complicated adventures that ensnare Homer Price and his friends.I'm pleased that he's enjoying a book that enlarges his vocabulary and his ideas about life way back in the mid-twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Martha's Review
I am very pleased with the book of watercolors. There were numerous pictures of high quality, and covered different phases of his life.

An excellent book
This book provides a great analysis of Winslow Homer's growth as an artist.The author uses each chapter to analyze a different period of Homer's life as he, basically, self-taught himself through observation and experimentation based on where he lived, whether it was in the Bahamas, England, or the Northeast Atlantic coast of the United States. The pictures within the book are very good quality.The author emphasizes analysis of Homer's work over actual biographical information.If you are looking for more of a biographical-type book of Homer read Lloyd Goodrich's book Winslow Homer.Enjoy!

In Awe of Homer
Since seeing a show of Winslow Homer's works a few years ago, I have been in awe of this artist's talent and versatility. So it was natural for me to pick up this beautifuland informative book which focuses on his watercolor career. In addition, the author gives us Homer's earlier background as an oil painter and illustrator. She is certainly well-qualified to write about Homer---she holds the position of Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Yale University Art Gallery.

The color plates in this book are gorgeous and the text gives good information about Homer, his life, times, and techniques. It was a delight for my eyes!

In 1873, at the age of 37, Homer began serious work with watercolor while in Gloucester, Massachusetts. These paintings were characterized by broad brushstrokes and extensive use of light and color.

The Gloucester watercolors began Homer's lifelong pattern: he would focus for a certain amount of time on a singular theme inspired by a particular location.Some of these themes included rural life, especially childhood, and seascapes/marine scenes. He lived for periods of time in Gloucester; Cullercoats, England; Prout's Neck, Maine; the Bahamas and Cuba;, the Adirondacks; Quebec; Bermuda; and Florida. His need for privacy led him to live in somewhat remote locations, and during these years he was constantly experimenting with new techniques. Prout's Neck was his home base for his last 30 years although he often spent time in other places during that period. It was in Cullercoats (1881-82) that he developed his mature watercolor technique and his love of sea themes which he painted for the rest of his life.

Homer's late works are very thought provoking, often showing heroic subjects or themes; they show nature's beauty and its power and humans' mortality.

Homer lived a very solitary life, never truly realizing how really famous he was. He died at the age of 75, his last five years spent even more withdrawn from society and battling many illnesses.

Beautiful and Lasting...
Received as a gift and have loved to peruse it ever since. Everyone should have these paintings to relax themand these words that stimulate.

Homer, my hero!
One of my heroes, Winslow Homer (1836 - 1910) worked in watercolour throughout his career.As a watercolorist myself, I rate Homer as one of the best in the history of watercolor painting.

I purchased this book for its good illustrations of Homer's watercolour paintings, but soon found that the excellent text makes compelling reading too, dealing with formal and art-historical painting issues.It is an academic publication, with an emphasis on Homer's technique as it relates to his subject and meaning. Buy it just to drool over the paintings; the text is an added bonus.

The author has grouped Homer's watercolor work into geographical sections - for example, "Bahamas", "Adirondacks", "Florida and Prout's Neck".More than just a chronological journey, the book examines Homer's work from his many different physical locations.Homer's technically brilliant watercolours reflect his unique artistic vision, celebrated in vivid color, unique viewpoints, superb composition ... and more. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The answer to the attention-grabbing question posed by classicists Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath in the title of this passionate defense of their field (which is also a damnation of their academic colleagues) is not a pretty one. "It was," they admit sadly, "an inside job."

Why, at the end of the 20th century, should we give a hoot in the first place about a brutal, misogynist society that rose to greatness on the back of slaves? Because, they argue, it was the first place; for all the faults of ancient Greece, the seeds of what Western civilization is today were planted there. "What we mean by Greek wisdom," they explain, "is that at the very beginning of Western culture the Greeks provided a blueprint for an ordered and humane society that could transcend time and space, one whose spirit and core values could evolve, sustain, and drive political reform and social change for ages hence."

But Hanson and Heath are not content to simply make a fiery, articulate case for what's right about understanding this particular ancient civilization in a contemporary world where more and more non-Western societies openly seek to embrace the democratic spirit. They go on to launch a deliciously vituperative jeremiad on what's wrong with the priorities of those entrusted with passing on this wisdom. Classics departments, as portrayed in Who Killed Homer?, appear to be filled with politically correct, insecure footnote fawners who, steeped in minutiae, miss the Big Picture. Hanson and Heath have a plan, sure to raise the hackles of tenured professors, for reviving classical studies that emphasizes the importance of teaching, communicating, and popularizing over publishing arcane monographs in journals not even the writer's family will ever read, insisting that the alternative--the extinction of a vivid intellectual pursuit--borders on cultural suicide. --Jeff Silverman Book Description
With straightforward advice and informative readings of the great Greek texts, the authors show how we might still save classics and the Greeks for future generations. Who Killed Homer? is must reading for anyone who agrees that knowledge of classics acquaints us with the beauty and perils of our own culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

The (Losing) Battle for the Western LOGOS
Victor Davis Hanson(renowned American military historian/philosopher ofilk of John Keegan)and his colleague John Heath have written devastating critique of the DECONSTRUCTION/collapse of Western Canon in philosophy and literature as its seminal roots comprise in The history,culture,LOGOS of Greece(classical Hellas).Logos is an architecture of Thought & Being which...in effect...subtends and entire world view: ONTOLOGY~(definition of The PERSON);ETHICS~(what comprises RIGHT & Wrong...ultimately GOOD & EVIL and how a person therefore OUGHT to act);& EPISTEMOLOGY~(what comprises essence of TRUTH:facts that may be validated/tested empirically leading subsequently to bodies of KNOWLEDGE(termed Logoi)and most practically WHAT kind of schools we have;what is taught;and who allowed to go there)...

Heraclitus (Father of History...whose enemies scorned "father of Lies)declared Logos to be the Principle of Order & Intelligibility: effectively the framework of an entire Civilization.
ROMAN LAW(Lex:legis-Legions-Lux/Light)enforced much molding and transmittal of Greek Thought(specifically THE INDIVIDUAL with radically inherent freedom and responsibilities to the Polis/community).
JUDAEO/CHRISTINAITY tempered "Law" with mercy.It expanded individual's person(prosopon)from "only"Greek(male)--others were barbarians/ babblers--or Roman civis to..."All"(Jews & Gentiles~ brothers & sisters under ONE Father,God ).Hanson and Heath focus on The Greek construct of LOGOS(as their body of thought regarding MAN;HIS MEASURE & TELOS~
purpose)as seminal pillar(of the three prongs mentioned)upon which WESTERN CIVILIZATION has evolved and continues to(shakily)rest...

The body of the essay describes POST-MODERN Deconstruction of the Western Logos by academic hacks,careerists and mediocrities.These "dwarfs," standing on the shoulders of giants,"ironically have dedicated themselves to undermining,if not destroying,making outright inaccessible, the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE they are entrusted to preserve and transmit. Reasons for this betrayal by should-be,Keepers of the Flame are many yet singularly disreputable. If our authors(H&H)are to be credited:the essential reason for this inside-job assault on foundations of Western learning and thought is:RANK ENVY and sly "elitism" that despises the very pupils to be taught.Politically Correct "curriculum" agendas are fundamentally involved in this "intellectual" attack on The Western Way. Names like Derrida(sort of Jacques Clouseau of PM philosophy that asserts there is no Truth only textual/cultural""differences""(???));Michel Foucault, French de-constructionist who "deconstructed" himself deliberately contracting AIDS in SAN FRANCISCO bath houses trying to prove Jails and sexual ontology were foundational anti-logoi of "society"; Nazi philosophe, Martin Heidegger comes into "renown" as intellectual totalitarian who claims there are no Truths only "referent-opinion" based on Power and(ab)use of Language(House of Being).ARISTOTLE said reality is OUSIA~Substance-things,being qua being.To these winners add very desperate Feminist ideologues and Stanley Fish' theories on Books: (nothing/no text means "anything" outside itself unless IMPERIAL READER condignly confers meaning).

Enough. Page after page of examples...cited texts...of unreadable,
Alice-in-Wonderland nonsensical interpretations of Classics of Greek Philosophy,history,mythology and literature are subjected to jargon-filled atomization by university-sponsored pseudo-Brahman professoriate whose fundamental purpose is not only NOT to TEACH would bestudent-acolytes; but to turn some of the most profound and interesting
material ever created into drivel and unmitigated,unreadable dreck.

According to Hanson & Heath,these modern day barbarians-pirates have succeeded.H &H detail collapse of CLASSICS departments around the nation(with consequential result of fundamental Greek and LATIN no longer taught in most colleges and High Schools).Who cares,right? Let's pretend Cleopatra was Black.That idea of Greek poloi(persons);mesopoloi(middle class);actually came from Persia(or Egypt or Mars).WHO KILLED HOMER? HOMER SIMPSON,you mean? The King of the Hill or the HOM(ER)IES FROM SOUTH PARK.
The book is not shrill as its guilty enemies(they are many~secure inanti-Winnie-the-Pooh 50 Acre Wood university-tenured caves). LOVE of KNOWLEDGE has been traded for the Volvo;the Mimosa(with unnecessarily expensive champaign)and thirty pieces of low grade silver coated copper.

Victor Davis Hanson told me as a recent guest lecturer at Univ.of St.Thomas Houston:rank monetary envy;and lack of acclaim for bitter MIRROR/MIRROR/on the WALL inbreds is reason why PM's academic mercenaries killed their own leader.The war they were supposed to fight to defend THE GREAT WESTERN LOGOS begins with The ILIAD.(It mythically comprises an entire civilization of values and heroism.)They gave up or sold-out.So most of our kids grow-up thinking THE ODYSSEY is punk-rock band. Like it was said to Augustine~TAKE AND READ(7 stars)

Flipping burgers and driving taxis
Victor David Hanson's and John Heath's devastating expose of the Anglo classicist establishment, 'Who Killed Homer? - The Demise of Classical Education and the Recovery of Greek Wisdom' (San Francisco: Encounter Books, 2001. ISBN 1893554260) is a book which infuriated classicists because - and as an ex-academic myself I can vouch for this - what it tells us about them and about their utterly baleful influence on our culture happens to be true.

Classicists as a class are here accused of being idle, arrogant, greedy, irresponsible, amoral careerists. They are cads who care little if anything for Greek thought and who have nothing but the most extreme contempt, not only for the general public which pays their salaries, but even for their students since they would rather disburden themselves of the distasteful task of teaching by passing it to an underclass of slaves known as 'graduate teaching assistants' while (when not gadding about the world on an endless round of international 'conferences,' i.e. mutual back-slapping canape-munching cocktail-slurping gabfests) they themselves engage in what they fondly describe as 'research' (i.e. the scribbling of esoteric monographs on utterly trivial matters which no-one is ever going to read) since they would blanch at the thought of actually doing something useful.

The laziness, greed, and arrogance of these elitists have pretty well destroyed the classics as a subject of study and hence as a profession. Many of their former colleagues and most of their ex-students are now flipping burgers or driving taxis, and I think one may confidently predict that it won't be long before the remainder of this elite are looking for similar work since no society can be expected to indefinitely support such a useless class of parasites.

Since their collective efforts have helped to effectively undermine and destroy the foundations of Western Civilization, the demise of classical education being simply one facet of the larger ongoing demise of the West, one wonders if they will perhaps feel a twinge of remorse for what they have done when the tentacles of the New Dark Age they have helped to spawn reach out to coil about them ...?

Classics are Essential to Citizenship
Pick up any copy of the Federalist Papers, the articles addressed to the citizens of New York in 1787 on the subject of the Constitution, and you will find unmistakable references to Republican Rome.The authors of the Federalist Papers (and the framers of the Constitution), Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, each had a Classical educationwhich shaped the core of their philosophy.

Why then, is Classical education gradually disappearing from high schools and colleges?Why do teachers and professors refer to Homer, Virgil, Ovid, Thucydides, Tacitus and others as "dead White males?"Authors Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath explore these questions in their book, Who Killed Homer.

Hanson and Heath do a good job of explaining the Greek and Roman origins of American political thought, and convincingly warn that our citizens are rapidly becoming illiterate about the ideas that gave birth to modern republican government and free market economics.The authors perform a public service, putting together reading lists of Classical authors, and discussing interpretations of key writings by Classical authors that demonstrate the undeniable Greek origins of Western civilization.

The authors also offer a explanation for the demise of Classical learning -- academic careerism, and to a lesser extent, ideology have polluted the pure teaching of the Classics.While plausible, this argument often degenerates into mud-slinging, as Hanson and Heath settle scores with scholars whom they accuse of destroying their field.Sometimes, the score-settling gets out of hand, as Hanson and Heath specifically name the scholars they are criticizing, and even accuse one scholar of literally hounding another to his grave.This gossipy material actually detracts from their argument and is not appropriate for the audience the authors are trying to reach.

This book would be more effective if the authors did not take so much time focusing on their opponents and critics and instead stuck to the principles of their argument.The Classics are an essential part of any high school and college curriculum.Our democracy cannot hope to survive on a steady diet of Oprah, the NFL and reality TV.

Problematic, sees the teaching of Greek as useful for just one thing and all else is anathema
WHO KILLED HOMER is a tract by Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath seeking to change the contemporary method of teaching and researching Classics--which is facing a decline in popularity among the average student--turning it towards the political and moral ideals the authors hold. For these two, the Greek world (Rome and Latin literature is present here only as an afterthought) is seen as a paragon of political, social, and ethical organization whose lessons undergraduate students must learn. Hanson feels that American is facing "balkanisation", so from the Greeks the youth of today should see that it is desirable for the life of the "polis" to speak a single language and shunning outside cultural traits (including, presumably, such innocent things as food, music, and clothing) just as the Greeks spoke Greek and despised the Persians. They also suggest that Greek literature contains moral insights that the writing of other eras cannot impart, and so is the only basis for a solid education.

The first objection I have against WHO KILLED HOMER is that this idea of classical Greece as worthy of emulating is simply a misinterpretation of the Western heritage. It is the confluence of the ancient world and the grace of Christianity that created the society we know today; only after Christianity entered the life of the Empire do we find a meaningful guide to thought and action. If we want to form the morals of our children, we'd do better teaching them the Church Fathers and the history of Byzantium than the incomplete thought of Athens. Hanson and Heath have raised up the Greek thinkers almost as idols, seeing them not as occasionally interesting intellectual figures, but as the solution to all our problems.

Hanson and Heath feel that research has ruined the university, and that there is little value in much of recent publications. The authors want all research to be on broad, generalized topics that even non-specialists can understand, but in the end it seems that they simply don't understand the value of criticism and haven't learned its terminology, therefore it scares them. While I have seen poor theses appear in print, I've discovered that even the most obscure and specialized studies are occasionally useful to me as a student. I don't care much for ancient literature, but I do read quite a bit of 20th-century poetry and prose, and the close criticism written about my favourite authors has only helped me appreciate even more what they wrote, not led me astray into meaninglessness. My own experience as a knowledge-hungry young person leads me to see that research is valuable and instructive.

Hanson and Heath would prefer to see an end to publication, and recommend heavy teaching loads for faculty. This would be disastrous, for the traditional system of lecturing only draws faculty away from research and demotivates students. I'd rather get everything by drawing together all the many resources in the library than by having to come in and listen to a single boring lecturer every day. Similarly, I'm sure my lecturers would be happy to concentrate on research instead of wasting their own and students' time with classes. Less lecturing is the key to happy, motivated, and successful students and productive faculty, one simply needs to see how much more educated undergraduates turn out in countries were class attendence is not mandatory, but where clear study goals are given and the final exams are rigorous. There's a reason why most of our most brilliant professionals are immigrants trained abroad before coming to the U.S. for graduate education, and our productivity would tank if Hanson's plans succeeded.

Another serious fault of the authors' thesis is that they assume the only reason to read Greek is to understand the thoughts of classical writers. That may be true for Classics majors, but there are many students who take Greek as part of their training in comparative Indo-European linguistics. I could really care less about ancient literature or Plato's philosophy, but I still need a grounding in Greek grammar, ideally in a diachronic context. Were the ideals of Hanson and Heath put into effect, the entire field of Indo-European studies would disappear. Is limitingthe possibilities of what one can get out of the material really an improvement for scholarship? And if I have to "think like a Greek" when I study Greek, do the authors think I should also be sacrificing to Agni and Indra in Sanskrit classes?

The writing style here is quite annoying, at times being a screed and always being too passionate and unstable. As one Classics professor has said, Hanson's texts attempt to speak persuasively instead of authoritatively. Furthermore, the authors make digressions into other complaints they have about modern life that strays from the central thesis, as when they rage against free verse and claim it is "non-poetry" written by "non-poets". All in all, I see little value in the book, since the claims of the authors that Greek civilization is the only thing truly worth of study is simply false to most people. One can sympathize with their plea that general writing and representing Classics to the public is worthy of respect, but this is wiped out by their raging against specialized research. All in all, a problematic work.

think like a Greek?
This book is refreshing and fascinating.However, I do wish that classicists of all kinds would stop drawing battle lines about the origins of western culture and the "good" and "bad" within the Greeks themselves.We might take a lesson from Herodotus, who happily wandered around the entire Mediterranean recording observations about all the civilizations he encountered and the origins of various Greek customs (many of which he derives from much-maligned Egypt).Herodotus brought to his work a warm sense of humor, an open-mindedness, and a genuine, passionate interest.Nor did he seek to be an obscure specialist.In his day he performed his histories publicly to large audiences-he investigated, and spoke to, everyone.

We might also take a lesson from Thucydides, whose methods were different from Herodotus' but who recorded the events of the Peloponnesian war for much the same reason that Herodotus wrote about the Persian war: "in the belief that it was going to be a great war and more worth writing about than any of those which had taken place in the past."Thucydides was not a propagandist but a clear-eyed observer of the complex workings of power and war.The moral questions he confronted-about the uses of empire, the value of peace, the meaning of justice, the nobility or inhumanity of war, the abuse of power-are ones Greek culture had been addressing since the conflict of Achilles and Agamemnon in the Iliad and ones we should still be considering today.The moral dilemmas of the Roman empire-the exchange of direct political participation and freedom for peace and material prosperity, the accumulation of wealth, the value or danger of mass entertainment, the fantasy of the simple life, the place of a mercenary army (just to name a few)-are also timely.I have a problem with certain professors of today not because they criticize the Greeks and Romans (the ancients criticized themselves extensively already), but because they wrap themselves in jargon and excuse inaction by talking of subjectivity.They do not confront, as the Greeks and Romans did, what I still consider the most essential, troubling, frightening, important questions of human existence:the burden of power, the meaning of responsibility, how much power and responsibility the individual citizen should have, and what, truly, is the best kind of life. ... Read more

Book Description
The allure of fantasy continues to grow with film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. But how should Christians approach modern works of fantasy, especially debated points such as magic and witches? From Homer to Harry Potter provides the historical background readers need to understand this timeless genre. It explores the influence of biblical narrative, Greek mythology, and Arthurian legend on modern fantasy and reveals how the fantastic offers profound insights into truth. The authors draw from a Christian viewpoint informed by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien to assess modern authors such as Philip Pullman, Walter Wangerin, and J. K. Rowling. This accessible book guides undergraduate students, pastors, and lay readers to a more astute and rewarding reading of all fantasy literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A Christian Focus
The authors evaluate fantasy from a Christian perspective. While they have interesting things to say, it is a rather narrow focus. For instance they judge Le Guin's The Wizard of Earthsea series to be morally ambivalent, whereas many readers would recognize her as presenting a Taoist point of view. Judging the worth of a work of fantasy this way, to me, does not shed much light on the relevance of the genre to our modern society as a whole. It also misses or misconstrues many works that can not be read favorably from their world view. The authors are not necessarily close minded toward other religions. But their focus generally detracts from this book's broader appeal.

Stories on the boundaries
I came across this book somewhat by accident and am very glad that I did.It is an absolute treasure trove of information.And, as I said to a friend when recommending it, the authors quote all the right people, especially Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
I was in synch with the authors from the beginning, having long ago been converted, along with Lewis, to the concept of "true myth" and to an understanding of the Christian story as the one True Story.Unlike some of the other reviewers, I deeply appreciated the authors' Christian viewpoint, one which is becoming increasingly rare these days.Since I considered their discussion of works I know (e.g., Ursala LeGuin's "Earthsea Trilogy" and Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series) to be accurate and insightful, I am also willing to trust their judgment regarding Pullman's "His Dark Materials."
Although I am very well read in the genres under discussion, I still found some material that was new to me, e.g., the "Heliand" and the writings of Patricia McKillip.But what I found most beneficial was the application of several key concepts to the understanding of myth, fantasy, and fairy tale.These are borrowed from Tolkien: the great cauldron of story, the three faces of myth and faerie, and the fact that these stories take place on or near the boundary between worlds.The application of these concepts to the writings discussed was extremely helpful, along with the examination of the worldviews of the writers.
My only disappointment was with the last chapter on Harry Potter.I do not agree with John Granger (whom several reviewers cited) the Rowling is writing Christian fiction.I think Dickerson and O'Hara got too caught up in the magic issue instead of applying the same criteria to the Harry Potter books that they used for the other writings they discussed.To be fair, they had only the first five books to go on, but even by that point I was convinced that Rowling is a secular humanist.
Nevertheless, this is an extremely valuable book and I would recommend it (and have done so) to anyone with an interest in the genres under consideration.

Tacked-on HP
I've only read the last couple of chapters of this book, but my advice is, don't buy it for the Harry Potter part.There are a few pages on HP, and they say things everyone has said before by John Granger and others.John Granger's books are hard to follow at times, but he really engages with the HP books in a way this book doesn't.

I also read the His Dark Materials chapter which seemed biased against Pullman, but I need to read the rest of the book to rate it fairly.

Misleading, false and biased book - christian propoganda
I was very excited about this book as an intellectual investigation into myth and fantasy used through out world literature.

How dissapointed I was.This book is initially very interesting but the more you read the more clear it becomes that these are Christian fundies writing this book and the only purpose they see for art is one that converts more people to Christianity. Ironically the Book rails against the author Bill Pullman for having an anti Christian "axe to grind" when they clearly have their own "Christian Axe to grind".This book pretends to be critical discourse.All it really is is christian propoganda that states anything that isn't "christian" is bad.

Incredible
This is just the book I needed to cushion my sorrow of having finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which to me was like saying goodbye to an old friend. This fine overview of the literature of myth and fantasy, from their origins to the present, is from an entirely Christian perspective, while simultaneously showing a love for these works in the spirit of Tolkien and Lewis. After introducing us to the foundations of all myth and fantasy, they use the principles of Tolkien and Lewis to explain the adherence to tradition, or the lack thereof, in modern works of fantasy, such as the His Dark Materials trilogy of Philip Pullman, and of course, Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter.

The best part of this book, for me personally, was the final chapter, entitled Harry Potter: Saint or Serpent? I considered myself well read on all of the Christian defenses of the Harry Potter theories, especially those of author John Granger, but also others all over the Internet. I was very pleasantly surprised. Although John Granger does very well in elucidating positively on all of the Christian symbolism and aspects of the Harry Potter series, these authors do more than I have ever seen in terms of their negative arguments concerning the harmfulness of the magic in Harry Potter. The nature of magic in the books is thoroughly dissected, along with comparisons from other works to assess its appropriateness for Christian readers. All along the way, even when analyzing Pullman's trilogy (a work that is terribly disrespectful to Christianity and all theistic religions), the authors wisely avoid any of the disrespectful zealousness of fundamentalism, while still remaining true to conservative Christianity, and not shying away from reasoned criticism where necessary. This is a marvelous feat, and all accomplished during a pleasurable read, especially if you're curious about what came before and paved the way for Joanne Rowling's wonderful addition to the edifying land of fairies. ... Read more

Book Description
Three of the most collectible lines of vintage dinnerware are throughly explored in this major work written by expert collectors. Colorful Fiesta, Harlequin, and Kitchen Kraft sets made since 1936 by The Homer Laughlin China Company are shown in 592 color photographs and detailed measured drawings along with extensive analysis of the shapes, marks, production methods, and decorations. Their enormous popularity, originally and now, has made these dinnerware lines familiar to four generations of Americans, and this reference will link them with collectors, dealers, and users long into the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The definitive Fiestaware® and Harlequin® text.
This is the definitive text on Fiestaware®, Harlequin® and Kitchen Kraft.It was written for collectors by collectors (the combined efforts of the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association.)

The book has insightful, smart and readable text that was reviewed by experts for accuracy.Each piece is illustrated with gorgeous, professional full-color photos, scale line drawings and details on its manufacture.

Homer Laughlin gave the authors unprecedented access to the original journals of Franklin Rhead, the original designer behind Fiestaware® and Harlequin®, and it shows.

This is more of a textbook than a guide.I find myself using it constantly.For Fiesta and Harlequin® collectors there is no equal.

The *Definitive* Fiesta Reference Book
This book, by far and away, is THE BEST for the collector of Homer Laughlin colourware.It has an amazing amount of detail and answers almost every question a person could ask about the dishes named in the title.Measured line drawings are an invaluable help for both the novice and seasoned collector.And it is quite a treat to see photos of nearly every piece in all glaze colours.I found the price guide to be a major improvement over most, as each piece is priced individually by colour.

Readers are treated to a wonderfully accurate history of the dishes.Several rumours that have circulated among the collecting community over the years are laid to rest.The fact that the authors had access to both Frederick Rhead's journals and the HLC modeling logs resulted in a book that is sure to become "The Fiesta Bible".

It is quite refreshing to be able to consult a reference for information, and know that it is factual and free of some author's prejudice and innuendo.This particular book sets a new standard for what collectors' books should be.A MUST BUY!!!

Get the Huxford One First
This is a fine quality coffee table type book, with heavy paper and nice color reproduction.If you are an advanced collector who owns every book about Fiesta as well as every piece of Fiesta, you will want this book.

If you are a new collector who has absolutely no idea what any thing is, have no assortment of Fiesta to look at as you read and have no spatial visualization skills, you will want this book because it very pedantically gives every measurement every which way so that you can figure out that your plate that measures 9 5/8 inches is ... surprise commonly called the 9" luncheon plate, and not some "rare, unknown, experimental" due to that extra 5/8".In fact, if you are given to such flights of imagination, especially when pricing your items for sale, please buy this book.

If you are the average collector who falls in the middle, who has seen a set or two of Fiesta, or owns some already, who knows the difference between a bowl and a cup, the tried and true Huxford book, also out at this time in a new edition at about ... and in stock at ..., is the more standardly used alternative, and the one that all but the most novice collector would probably find the better value.

Given the hype-
Given all the hype that has been sounded off about this book, I guess my expectations were far too high.I expected something that would make me throw away my Snyder book for the pictures, stop constantly using my Huxford for the information and become enraptured with this one... sorry folks. I found the "one item to a page" thing a little too overdone and self important.Really, MORE information on LESS pages at a LOWER cost would have been much preferred.At 39.95, it is unlikely that I will buy the next (inevitible) edition...- I mean, just how many photos of a single item, followed by a line drawing of the same item,do you need to see?... Huxfords have always kept prices at around $20 per each edition update.... at $40 I would rather buy a piece of Fiesta than (a second edition of) this book.If you can, buy it used or borrow it.

The definitive guide fro collecting Fiesta & harlequin
If you are a beginning collector of Fiesta, Harlequin or Kitchen Kraft, this book will be an excellent source of information, particularly with regard to colors, dimensions and marks, the most commomly asked questions.If you are a more advaned collector, there is still a wealth of information to be found in this reference.The inclusion of dimensions for each piece is a subtantial improvement over most collectors guides to dinnerware.An absolute must own for the Fiesta or Harlequin collector! ... Read more