Customer Reviews (3)

A masterful life story of this legendary Texas Hero
Thomas William "Peg Leg" Ward may have only been a peripheral figure in the Republic of Texas era, but David Humphrey brings us an enthralling life story of this very significant, interesting and complicated public figure of the mid-nineteenth century. Ward, best known to Texas scholars as the young Irish immigrant who lost a leg to a Mexican cannonball at the siege and storming of Bexar in December 1835, rose to prominence as the preeminent force in the land office, settling hundreds of land grants for Texas veterans, their heirs and assignees after the war.

Humphrey, in his fascinating biography of "Peg Leg", brings to life the contributions of Ward to his adopted countries - the Republic of Texas, the United States and the Confederacy. Ward rose to national prominence and counted Sam Houston, Thomas J. Rusk and Anson Jones among his closest friends. Even so, his was not an enviable life. Following the additional loss of his right arm to cannon misfire in celebration of Texas' independence, Ward's physical injuries were largely overcome by sheer determination and perseverance.At the same time, the author reminds us that overcoming the odds of death by infection from these severe wounds was nothing short of miraculous. As Humphrey takes the reader through the complicated procedural and political maze of "Peg Leg's" administration of the General Land Office, Ward emerges as a man who made significant contributions to the Texian cause. Humphrey does a masterful job of separating facts from fiction - he diplomatically refers to the origins of several "legends" regarding Ward's escapades, which undoubtedly muddied the biographical waters for earlier historians. The author's coverage of the Archive War (a standoff between President Houston and Austin residents over the relocation of the national archives and land records in 1842), is a dramatic account of hardball Texas politics, and the resulting ruinous impact on the administration of land grants and patents for the citizens. One of the book's many strengths is Humphrey's ability to place the reader at the epicenter of the story, which at times is filled with intrigue, action and a heavy dose of political drama, culled from his masterful use of contemporary public accounts and the voluminous private letters of Ward's family.

Yet those same letters and documents revealed another side of Ward and his life after the Republic of Texas - his stormy marriage to Susan Bean, his relationships with his four children and his appointment as U.S. consul to Panama in 1853 are described in intimate detail. At the time Ward resided in Panama, the isthmus was a booming transportation hub, with the first transoceanic railroad line completed during his tenure. These chapters chronicle the violence, riots, scandalous behavior and diplomatic rifts during his tenure, and follows Ward as his career is taken down an unexpected and somewhat inglorious path, due in large part to the political fallout from his strong willed and combative personality.

One of the more surprising revelations in the book is the intimate account of Ward's emotionally draining and tumultuous relationship with his wife. Susan Bean enters the story in 1844 as a twenty-six year old widow with two children living in Austin. She soon falls in love with Ward, who is a pillar of the community but also with a reputation for a lack of patience and violent temper. Humphrey follows Susan and Peg Leg's rocky relationship in graphic detail, and shatters any perceptions of a loving marriage. Humphrey vividly describes the allegations of violence and spousal abuse on Peg Leg's part and the coldness and alleged infidelity on Susan's part. These descriptions take root and grow into a bitter, salacious and surprisinglyentertaining account of a knock down, drag out nineteenth-century divorce which played out in the public forum in both New York and Austin. Complete with scorching allegations on both sides, Susan's legal and emotional vendetta against Ward lasted over seven years, and was inconveniently put on hold for four of those years by the interruption of the Civil War, during which time Ward was elected as the Mayor of Austin.

This isn't a biography for the faint of heart, as Peg Leg's life was anything but glamorous. His career in public service was riddled with physical, political, financial and emotional obstacles. Yet Ward's strength and perseverence were a strong reflection of his commitment to serve both the Texas and the U.S. in a variety of important roles despite the tremendous physical handicaps that he had to overcome. Humphrey has created a highly entertaining read on this oft overlooked central figure of the Republic of Texas which will resonate with many of us for a variety of reasons and broaden our understanding of the legendary Texas hero, Thomas William Ward.


By James P. Bevill, author of The Paper Republic, The Struggle for Money, Credit and Independence in the Republic of Texas.

Well worth the read for those with an interest in Texas history
Some men become recluses when they lose two limbs, yet Thomas William Ward rose on to prominence. "Peg Leg: The Improbable Life of a Texas Hero: Thomas William Ward 1807-1872" tells of a man who was tough even for his time. In spite of losing his right leg to cannon fire, he remained in the military until he lost his right arm to cannon fire as well. He established himself as a remarkable political figure. Author David C. Humphrey does well in his biography of this exceptional individual; "Peg Leg" is well worth the read for those with an interest in Texas history.

AN Intriguing Biography
An in dept, engrossing, well written analysis of an intriguing figure from early Texas History. Well worth reading!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Loaded with tension, charged with uncertainty, these four taut tales by New York Times bestselling authors bring their unsuspecting or hunted and fearful targets into the deadly sights of a hired killer’s gun. Contents include: "Keller’s Karma" by Lawrence Block read by Stefan Rudnicki, "The Catch" by James W. Hall read by John Rubinstein, "A Trip Home" by Ed Gorman read by Gabrielle de Cuir and "Snow, Snow, Snow" by John Harvey read by Maxwell Caulfield.

Maxwell Caulfield has co-starred on and off Broadway with Geraldine Page and Jessica Tandy. Gabrielle de Cuir is a multiple recipient of AudioFile’s Earphones Award. Stefan Rudnicki is an Audie award-winning narrator and Grammy award-winning audio producer.Actor/composer/director John Rubinstein won a Tony for his starring role in Broadway’s Children of a Lesser God. ... Read more

Product Description
This final volume in the audio version features, in addition to the 1962 title story, "The Cruel Sky," "The Steam-powered Word Processor," the classics "The Hammer of God" and "A Meeting With Medusa," and Clarke's latest story, "Improving the Neighborhood," published in Nature in 1999. ... Read more

Product Description
MAGAZINE , 1982, 1st Edition, VG-/GOOD+, SOLD AS-IS, SOFTCOVER, Slight Rub, Wear Scuff , tiny Crease Cover, , Interior Nice Condition Light Wear., FOX, Tiny Nicks Scuff Pages Edges, , AFTER DARK MAGAZINE PUBL,Editor in Chief Louis Miele, Art Director Neil Appelbaum, articles by Jill Lynne, Joel Kudler, Gene Cooper, Loren King, Lee Swanson, Merrick Bursuk ETC, Color & B/W Photographs by Ken Howard, Rivka Shipman Katvan, Kenn Duncan, Fred Goss, Joel Kudler ETC , Cover Photo by Kenn Duncan, With Maxwell Caulfield on Cover , with Photo Spread Inside, Includes , Adult Semi-Nudes, Special Broadway Issue, From Baby June to Judy Garland, Debbie Shapiro, Alice Whitfield, Maitre of Sardis Historic Dining Room in NY, Pussies Galor CATS, Resurgence of Dance in America ETC ... Read more

Product Description
Distraught over the suspicious death of his partner, dinosaur detective Vincent Rubio beats a trail to the office of Dr. Emil Vallardo, whose bizarre interspecies experiments may be the key to numerous murders and disappearances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Not Free SF Reader
Dino meatsuit down and out PI disguise.


No, really.In a humorous private investigator novel the main character is actually a dinosaur.Apparently they didn't die out and they live hidden among us, basically human sized.

They stuff themselves into disguises, use scent etc. so no-one works it out.

Once you can get past that basically Douglas Adams level of farce, you have a pretty fun book.

An entertaining story
This book is the first book in the Dinosaur Mafia series, in terms of publication date, but the 2nd one if you take the events of the books chronologically.The truly amazing thing about these books - in which the dinosaurs have NOT gone extinct, at least not all of them, but have evolved to a smaller size and live side-by-side with humans - with the help of a lot of latex, glue and straps to disguise them - is that while you are reading them you just go with it, because it is written so convincingly.This story is mostly about Vincent Rubio, a detective and the main character of all the Dinosaur Mafia books.Rubio's partner and mentor Watson has been killed - supposedly in a hit-and-run by a taxi in New York while taking part in a mysterious investigation. Rubio has gone on a serious bender with the basil (dinosaurs can't get drunk by drinking alcohol - their recreation of choice is with herbs, which get them "high") and is refusing to buy the story about what happened with Watson and as a result has just about burned all his bridges and lost most of his business. Things are looking really bleak when he gets thrown a bone by one of the big companies in town - which seems to lead right back to the case that Watson was investigating when he was killed. Although this story is a bit dark, it provides quite a number of laugh-out-loud moments as well.At its base, this story is a well crafted detective yarn.See Anonymous Rex/Casual Rex omnibus for my review of both books.

A great idea, perfectly executed
I read this book some time ago, but I am backfilling some of my reviews.

Some books I buy based on the dust cover notes.This was one of those books.I am normally not much of a reader of detective novels unless they are very good.But the idea of a detective who was actually a dinosaur living disguised as a human was too intriguing to put down.

I ended up loving it.Garcia gets it just right.He captures the tone of classic detective novels perfectly, but with tongue-in-cheek.Very few books make me laugh out loud, but this one did.He creates an intricate backstory of the secret world of dinosaurs that you really want to believe in.But it is more than just a gimmick.Garcia also has a suspenseful detective story woven in.I highly recommend this book to anyone whether they like the detective genre or not.I believe Eric Garcia will go on to great things beyond the dinosaurs.

Half good, half bad
The Good:

*The central 'conceit' was written well and incorporated into the novel succesfully (I didn't question anything about it once)


The Bad:

*The supporting characters were terribly written.If they weren't completely personality-less and flat, they were extremely annoying to read.Glenda, in particular, was really irritating...especially her dialogue.Which brings me to my next point:

*The dialogue-there's really not much else to say about it other than it wasn't very good.

*A lot of times I found myself wincing at the forced humor or cliched turn-of-phrases.

*As the central mystery unraveled, I found myself caring less and less.For such a short book, the case developed way too slow and resolved itself way too quickly.Garcia spent a disproportionate amount of time describing the dino life than the case (which was way more interesting, anyways) so the plot suffers.

DESPITE the negative points, I'd read another dino novel by Garcia simply because the conceit of the book is so clever and well-executed.

Neat idea, slow story
I wanted to like this book more because it has a lot going for it.It's a nice concept (completely ridiculous, but so what?), and the writing is good.Unfortunately, it just didn't keep me hooked all the way through.

I think my problem was the dinos are so thoroughly integrated into human society that there's very little conflict.That's not a big deal, but the story itself just didn't catch me either.There were definitely some cool parts, and the end of it is pretty solid.But the fantasy elements don't seem as essential as they should be.This could almost be a conventional mystery, which isn't bad, but I caught myself wondering why we were even bothering with dinos, except near the very end of the story.

I also think Garcia's writing is a little too "Jokey".He is funny, but it often seems forced.As if the writer is directing the plot toward a funny "bit" rather than a satisfying scene.Often the jokes, cute at first, go on way too long.

I can't really fault this book much.I liked it more than I hated it.But, overall, didn't do much for me. ... Read more

Product Description
The lord of Laughter, the Monarch of Mirth–if only the bumbling 17-year-old Sebastian Darke could be a successful jester like his father. The problem is Sebastian’s not funny. But after his father’s death, with no choice but to beg in the streets, the half-human, half-elf teen sets off with Max, his father’s slightly cynical Buffalope, to offer his services as a jester to King Septimus of Keladon. On the way they meet Captain Cornelius Drummel, small in stature, but the fiercest of fighters. The three rescue the fair princess Kerin, who’s being held captive by brigands, and happily escort her home. If only Sebastian knew the kidnapping was engineered by the evil King Septimus!


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Do we need another shallow princess rescued by a sincere naive dolt from the evil machinations of a scheming uncle?!?!
This book is like a very, very, very tired Disney movie. There are brief glimpses of originality, but the story mainly consists of stereotype characters in a very predictable plot. There are much better fantasy books out there.

Great story, terrible type
I agree with other reviewers that this is a fun and exciting story.I would like to complain about the physical book itself.The typeface that is used on the paperback copy I received is very tiny.Granted my eyes are quite a bit older than the target audience for this book, but I don't think I have ever seen printing this small in a paperback book.I can understand saving paper and not wanting to make the book too "fat", but the page formatting could have easily been modified.There is no real need to have 3/4 inch margins on the top and bottom of each page (and that is measured from the page number and the page title).

Anyway, enjoy the story, just be sure you have a good light to read by.

great adventure, rich characters
This was a really fun read.Some of the characters were so delightful they have stayed in my mind in rich imagery for the 6 months since I read the book.What I like best was the ending.It's a great lesson for the teen readers, and allows for further adventures of the friends we've grown to love.Great fighting scenes, a tiny bit of romance, and good clean fun.Recommended for age 8/9 to adult, and good for a read-aloud, too.

A Great Adventure
Sebastian Darke sets off on a journey with his companions Max, his opinionated buffalope Cornelius, a seasoned and fearless warrior. The goal of their adventure is to find the lost treasure of the pirate king, Captain Callinestra. The journey begins with their passage through the dark forest of Geltane, where any number of mysterious creatures can end their journey where it began, and they meet the powerful enchantress Leonora.

This book is fun and instantly engaging. There are loads of adventure and edge-of-your-seat action, and it's never boring. The author has put his finger on the perfectrecipe for fun and adventure for kids of any age. What a great read!

Reviewed by Kim Shults

sebatian darke Prince of fools
For anyone who is a Harry Potter fan or who love the books Magyk and Flyte,you will LOVE this book.Very clever and witty,the characters are well formed and the story zips along,forme it's the humor that I loved so much,it's a fantasy world though with animals and humanoid creatures just one step removed from our world.Easy to read aloud for your 8 to 12 year old,yet very enjoyable for any adult that loves the fantasy genre.I've just ordered book 2. I hope there is a long line of the adventures of Sebastian Darke. ... Read more

Product Description
In addition to the well-known and ever popular stories "The Other Side of the Sky," "I Remember Babylon,"and "The Songs of Distant Earth," this volume features comic cosmic narratives originally collected in Tales From the White Hart, including "The Defenestrationof Ermintrude Inch," "The Next Tenants," and "TheMan Who Ploughed the Sea." ... Read more

Product Description
With novels like The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Dr. Moreau, H. G. Wells became famous as a prophet, predicting tanks, aerial bombing, nuclear war, gas warfare, lasers and industrial robots. The War of The Worlds was the first novel to explore the possibilities of intelligent life from other planets, and is still startlingly vivid, having lost none of its impact since it’s publication in 1898. It was the source of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast, so realistic it caused a panic, as well as two film versions. The story begins with the arrival of the Martians just outside London and ends with the near-annihilation of humanity.

This recording features Maxwell Caulfield, who was educated at St.Paul’s School in London and then came to New York at the age of eighteen to start his theatrical career. He performed on and off-Broadway with luminaries Geraldine Page and Jessica Tandy. Married to actress Juliet Mills, he now resides and principally works in Los Angeles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Effective
An abridged 3-CD version of the H.G's masterpiece. Maxwell Caulfield has the perfect British accent for the task, although i could have done with a little more menace esp. in the ominous opening chapter, but overall, he is in fine form.

The War of the Worlds
... Read more

Product Description
This volume is of special interest -- included are a wide range of classic stories, including the title story, "Jupiter Five," "The Deep Range," "Second Dawn," and the earliest of the splendidly comic narratives told by Harry Purvis for the benefit of the denizens of the White Hart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Can't Go Wrong With This One
I found this recording very entertaining and plan on buying the other volumes as soon as I can lay my hands on them. The readings are excellent, and I have spent much time sitting next to my stereo, simply taking it all in. A wonderful buy... ... Read more

Product Description
Oxford professor James Fieldhead needs a willing subject to test a new device that may offer the key to understanding human emotions. Ben Ashurst agrees to participate in the study, seduced in equal measure by his new girlfriend and by the site for the experiment — a luxury resort on a pristine beach in Kenya. Hector Macdonald’s debut novel is a masterfully crafted labyrinth of cunning, intriguing characters and startling plot twists.Amazon.com Review
When you think of game theory, do you think of chalk-dusty economists droning endlessly about the permutations of optimal outcomes and short-term payoffs? Perhaps not. But even if you do, Hector MacDonald's first novel will make this esoteric field exotic, dangerous, and downright sexy.

Ben Ashurst is a student at Oxford. He leads a fairly placid life, befriending shy girls, playing "keep up with the Joneses" with his crowd of wealthy (and nasty) friends, and trying to impress his tutor, the brilliant and controversial behavioral scientist James Fieldhead. A single day, however, is enough to turn his calm existence upside down. When he meets the beautiful and enigmatic Cara, and when Fieldhead requests Ben's participation in a ground-breaking research experiment, Ben will find himself thrust into a life where every measure of normality is rent asunder.

Fieldhead, working in conjunction with a nameless but powerful corporation, has developed a way to measure emotions by tracking the brain's physiological responses to stimuli. At his request, Ben submits to having a tiny sensor attached to his skull, and, filled with a guinea pig's pride, is sent off to Kenya with Cara for three weeks of recreation and stimulation. But vacation turns to terror when a case of mistaken identity lands Ben in a Kenyan jail, where the stimulation is anything but positive. Struggling to keep his mental balance, Ben begins wondering whether someone is manipulating the experiment and to what purpose. His search for answers will lead him into the highest corporate boardrooms and into the depths of treachery and betrayal.

The novel fairly quivers with energy: reading it is like holding a manic Chihuahua. MacDonald has places to go and things to do and plots to uncover and emotions to stir. And in fact his narrative is generally capable of sustaining this energy. If, on occasion, his grand drama seems to be a tempest in a teapot, well, that's a small (and temporary) price to pay for a highly entertaining read. --Kelly Flynn ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

so fast-paced, you have to run flat-out to keep up
Here's one to get you thinking.Ben is a student at Oxford, studying with a brilliant behavioral science researcher who proposes an experiment to test a device for measuring emotion, and wants Ben to be his guinea pig.All it requires is for Ben to take a fabulous three-week holiday on the beaches of Kenya with his new girlfriend."First rule of game theory: Do whatever produces the optimal final outcome for you."Soon Ben doesn't know what is game and what is not, what is real and what is fantasy.He starts to unravel the mystery, only to find, like an onion, more layers.The plot moves fast enough that you feel like you are running flat out to keep up.All the way to the very end, it is impossible to guess at the levels of deception and manipulation. Another great book involving game theorythat makes me want to find out more about it.

A Thriller about Brain Manipulations
Ben Ashurst was living a peaceful life as a student at Oxford University until he meet a famous investigator who offered him to participate in a research- as a volunteer human guinea pig -bases in emotions and reactions but what he never expected was that his trip to Kenya ended in a nightmare and back in England an almost persecution mania because of situations given to study his reactions and feelings without his knowledge and consent.These limit situations make him angry and curious and start investigating until the find out the real purpose and the brains behind the project.This is a very psychological thriller in which the reader have to pay attention to every dialogue to follow the sequences of the experiment and Ben's emotional responses to the manipulation and the second thoughts of the researchers.

what if emotions could be quantified and qualified?
Totally unique, psychological thriller, built around the question "What if emotions could be quantified and qualified?

The subject of this "emotions research" is placed in increasingly nerve-wracking situations, in which every thought and feeling is monitored for science's sake--or so he thinks. unfortunately, the protagonist is unsure if his predicaments are orchestrated or real and he begins to question his relationship with himself and others.

The settings altermate between, Oxford University, the coast of Africa, Silicon Valley, and the dark recesses of the mind. With more twists and turns than an Irish byway, "The Mind Game" explores the human capacity to understand fear, deceit and the search for truth amidst very complex relationships.

Excellent read!

Pleasure!
I must admit I usually don't have the patience to read books, but this one was so gripping and captivating, I even read it during work :-) Even if I predicted some of the twists, it was a pure pleasure. plus an interesting thinking of emotions control, something which never occurred to me. I wish the end had been a bit more romantic, not so cold. Even if a little love confession (another one) from Ben to Cara. Well, I guess the fact the book ended with 6 times the sentence "I love Cara" is a close enough... I really liked that Cara character, even though from some point I did not believe a word she said.
Thanks to the author for the great pleasure of reading the book. Well done!

Hitchcockian beginning, desinit in piscem, I'm afraid
The beginning is superb,and,well,the soiree whit those blase' Oxfordians and their naive hosts is beautifully written, and the dialogue is worthy of a dramatist like Pinter. Following it, a more plausible, politically conscious version of "the Beach" (if you care to compare two very different novels). Then, you have a seriesof "revelations" and "twists of the tale" that leaves the reader baffled, incredulous, doubting of being put-on. Really,there's a limit to the suspension of incredulity... and credulity. You feel admired by the writer's ability to startle. Then the book wawers on, theplot and the gist lost in dubious speculations and improbable settings. Conclusion: a good enough first novel, but there's plenty of room for improvement. ... Read more

Product Description
In the spirit of the celebrated "100 Best Book" lists, Master's Choice offers a unique challenge to today's most acclaimed literary masters, award-winners, and New York Times bestselling headliners.

In Master's Choice, Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Lawrence Block asked a wide range of authors to select not only their personal best, but also the one story by a fellow luminary of fiction that stirred their imagination, the story that stimulated, provoked, and entertained them, and most of all, the one, single story that served as an inspiration in shaping their own unique literary worlds. The result is a rich and diverse collection, a stellar showcase of the best of the best. Contributors include, Stephen King, Tony Hillerman, and Joyce Carol Oates.

* The 100 Best Books craze meets the mystery genre
* Authors include many award-winning and bestselling names
* Includes introductory notes from each of the contributors on the stories they have chosenAmazon.com Review
Penzler Pick, January 2000: I love short stories, and having read scores of anthologies over the years I rejoice when someone comes up with an especially nifty theme for one. Lawrence Block has managed to do something really cool. He asked some of today's top mystery writers to pick their favorite of their own stories as well as the story they most admire or that most influenced them. Stephen King selected his "The Wedding Gig" and Joyce Carol Oates's "Murder-Two"; Peter Lovesey picked his "The Crime of Miss Oyster Brown" and Donald E. Westlake's hilarious "Too Many Crooks"; Harlan Ellison's choices were his "Tired Old Man" and Jacques Futrelle's classic "The Problem of Cell 13"; and Tony Hillerman, best known for his novels, named his "First Lead Gasser" and Joe Gores's Edgar-winning "Goodbye, Pops."

There is a wide range in this handsome volume, with authors selecting work from the world of pulp fiction (Benjamin Appel), literary fiction (John O'Hara and Stephen Crane), and horror fiction (W.F. Harvey), as well as the more traditional mystery fiction.

It's not too soon to look forward to the next volume in what we hope will become a long-running series. --Otto Penzler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good effort
Block has created an interesting concept in this new anthology series. He contacted several mystery writers asking for what they considered to be their best story as well as the best story they have ever read. The response was overwhelming and the editor collected some of them in this book...

In the first volume of this anthology the adage `less is more' can be applied to the best stories in the collection. Some of the best include Ed Gorman's EN FAMILLE and Joan Hess's ANOTHER ROOM. Ms. Hess's choice for best short story is Judith Garner's TRICK OR TREAT. It is about four pages long and one of the scariest stories ever written. It is not because of what happens in the story but what may happen. A sample of good writing is when the author forces the reader to use their imagination in order to create their own ending. There can be different interpretations but each one is precious. The imagination is a powerful weapon. The least favorite story in this book is Harlan Ellison's TIRED OLD MAN. The problem with this story is that Ellison describes the incident that inspired his story creating a carbon copy with fictional characters. Who wants to read a story twice?

A Mixed Bag
The title pretty much tells the whole premise behind this book. Mystery stories by today's writers and the stories that inspired them. Like most short story collections some are very good, some not so great. "The Wedding Gig" by Stephen King is interesting, "Murder Two" by Joyce Carol Oates not so interesting. A few, like Harlan Ellison's "Tired Old Man" and Benjamin Appel's "Murder of the Frankfurter Man" are thought provoking. As I said, a mixed bag. On the whole I think the good ones outweigh the not-so-good so if you like short fiction you could do worse than this book.

A great collection
I bought this book for my mother, who has a passion for mystery stories.She absolutely loved it, and now I'm reading it myself.The diversity of styles, and the revelation of what top writers consider great writing, makethis not only a fun read, but also an informative one for the aspiringwriter.I whole-heartedly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Listening to History
A fun collection of early science fiction.You can listen to how Clarke's writing improved over the years.Well worth the investment.

Clarke fans need this
A valuable look into Clarke's early sci-fi stories.A Clarke fan can see the roots of many ideas that he built upon in later works.There is quite a bit of introductory matter to many of the stories that is invaluable to a Clarke fan or any sci-fi fan.

A fine collection with some shining stars and a few that seem a little thin.A recommended read for any Clarke fan.

This audio book version is unabridged, and very well done, with different readers on the various stories. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

I love Medieval fiction
and this book was no exception.I bought it because the cover looked interesting, but I didn't think I'd really enjoy it all that much.THankfully I was very pleasantly surprised.Historical fiction with a hint of adventure, and no magic or 'happily ever after'/badly written romance --- just my style.

Outstanding
This is the best book I've read in quite a while.Young prince Florin's adventure as the terrified victim of a bitter, evil King is at turns horrifying and heartwarming.How he overcomes adversity is both inspiring yet not so ridiculous as to cause one to suspend disbelief.The ending manages to provide a message of both hope and forgiveness even in the face of the most monstrous conditions.

I wish there was a sequel because I'd like an even greater exploration of the character of Mimus himself, who's a bundle of contradictions as victim, victimizer, and possible savior.

It's a shame Amazon doesn't have a cover image.The Salvador Dali meets Grimm Fairy Tale cover is excellent.

Highly recommend it to anyone who loves medieval tales
This one started out a little thicker than I normally like. I don't mean thick by the story being almost 400 pages long, I mean thick by the amount of information that is thrown at you. Lots of character names and lots of back story.

That said; let me say that this book is more than worth sticking through the first few, difficult, chapters. It's interesting to note that German author, Lilli Thal, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in information management / multimedia technology, but after learning the joy of writing copy for the internet, she decided to go for a career in writing. Her studies in medieval history, art history, and Christian archaeology come shining through in the story of Mimus.

Translated by John Brownjohn, the writing is very clear and easy to read. At first I was a little confused-as if I was reading about a valid historical era-but the fact is this story was written with such plausibility that one could almost believe this fantastical setting really existed. In reality, it is just a fantastical world written with some real-world history, making the reader believe he/she is back in the medieval days.

Story overview:

Twelve-year-old Florin, Prince of Moltovia, is summoned by his father to the kingdom of Vinland. With the recent war between the two realms the promise of a truce sends feelings of joy and relief into the hearts of the people. Florin goes with high spirits to see his father, even if it might mean the union between him and the unknown princess, Alix, which would help to seal the peace.

On the way, a strange and seemingly crazy woman jumps into the path and warns Florin to turn back. The party was a little confused by the act, but didn't let it deter them from proceeding. Later, Florin comes to realize he should have listened to the woman, as what was awaiting him wasn't a treaty, but treachery. Rather than a banquet, his father and his father's men show up in chains, only to be mocked and ridiculed by a jester named Mimus.

Once Mimus turns his attacks on Florin, he finds himself in a battle of whit's. This gives King Theodo the idea to hand Florin over to the jester to train him to become a fool. Only thing, no one is allowed to know. Suffering from this humiliation, Florin does what he can in order to survive; sleeping on straw like an animal, being in a state of constant hunger, suffering from lashes of a whip, and learning to play a buffoon. He sticks with it all so that his father (locked in a dungeon) does not suffer further punishment on his behalf. All in hopes that help will come before his father's execution, one in which he is expected to provide the entertainment for.

My thoughts:

I absolutely loved this story. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves medieval tales, and even to those who don't. Quite an original idea that is executed very well. A page turner to the very end. Other than the slightly dizzying beginning, my only other complaint is that there weren't enough scenes with Florin and the princess, Alix. Here's hoping a sequel is written.

James D. Maxon

Author of, "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440485275

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
http://booksforyouth.com/

unique
good, interesting, and unusual. i was however a mite disappointed with the concise, feel-good ending

Original and compelling
A fully realized antagonist gives extra depth to the story of a prince in hard times and the fool that grudgingly befriends him.
John Brownjohn's translation into English from its original German is terrific. ... Read more

Product Description
In October 1787 Giacomo Casanova and Wolfgang Mozart are believed to have met in a Prague coffeehouse to discuss a new opera based on the life of Don Juan. From this minor episode, Anthony Rudel has spun a tale in which the two, along with the poet Lorenzo Da Ponte, work to complete the operatic masterpiece. A struggle of wills is resolved only when, in the eleventh hour, the Marquis de Sade writes from his asylum cell to implore the trio to unite in support of Don Giovanni's theme of personal freedom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Informative and Fun Read
This clever book is historical fiction at its best.It takes interesting characters of an era and brings them together in a "What if?" scenario.I found a lot of information about writing operas, Mozart, Cassanova and the era in general slipping in as I was engrossed in enjoying a delightful story.

A Must for Any Mozart or Opera Fan
I write historical novels, and this novel is everything I look for in a novel when I read one--and everything I aspire to when I write one! It's purely entertaining; historical fiction at its finest. Mozart is characterized as a wonderful blend of naivete and the immortal genius he was; a multi-dimensional character just delightful to read about, especially if you're a fan of Mozart's and have read other biographies of him. I had read that Casanova actually did assist Mozart & DaPonte in the creation of Don Giovanni, and other historical details were very well researched. To me, the best historical novels contain factual information so that the reader can learn a bit about the time period, even if most of the plot is fictionalized. If this were made into a movie, it would blow Amadeus right out of the water!
Now Anthony Rudel has another talent to add to his list--novelist. If this is a debut, it was outstanding. Extraordinary work, Mr. Rudel! Keep them coming! (How about a Beethoven bio now???)

Whimsical, but Maybe Only for Opera Lovers
I love opera, I love Mozart, I love Prague and I'm intrigued by Casanova, so I really loved this book.It centers around the premier of Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni in Prague in 1787.

The author tells us that Don Giovanni was inspired by none other than Casanova, himself, who set up a meeting with Mozart in a Prague coffeehouse in an attempt to "sell" the great composer on the idea of basing an opera around the figure of Don Juan.That part is factual...I think.That and the characters, dates and delays in staging the opera.The rest of this marvelous book centers around imagined happenings, all contrived to urge Mozart to produce and bring Don Giovanni to fruition.

There are three main characters in this book:Mozart, of course, Casanova, and Lorenzo da Ponte, Mozart's long suffering librettist.All three main characters are wonderfully drawn, but just as wonderfully drawn are the "minor" characters, who really aren't so minor at all.

One of the best of these "minor" characters is Mozart's wife, Constanze, or "Stanzi," as Mozart called her.Stanzi had a few secrets of her own to prod Mozart to work and she often had use them.

Josefa Dusek, the singer, and her husband make appearances in the novel when they host the elaborate parties Mozart loved to attend.The party the night before the opera's premier is especially memorable.Opera lovers will recognize the garden scene in Act Four of The Marriage of Figaro, but this only adds to the whimsy of the book rather than detracting from it.This party night is a night of high tension as well as fun, for Mozart has yet to finish the opera's Overture and more than one character is more than a little anxious.

Even the Marquis de Sade manages to make an appearance, of sorts, in this book.Locked away in Paris, he answers a letter from Casanova and gives his own advice on living a life totally without limits.You can imagine what that advice might consist of.If anything in this book can be construed as being "over the top," it is this, but then Mozart was a genius who was, much of the time, "over the top," himself.I think it is completely within the character of the book to include de Sade and I enjoyed it.

Although Mozart does take center stage in this novel, as he should, he gets stiff competition from Casanova.In his sixties at the time, Casanova may have slowed down a bit, but he is still quite thoroughly a rake.Beautiful women seem to abound in Prague and Casanova seems to make it his quest to know them all, or most of them at least, and to let others know the details of his conquests.

I'm an eastern European and I've spent many happy days and nights in Prague.I loved Rudel's detail of Prague city life as well as his detail of the premier, itself.The details are, in large part, what make this book so charming.

The best thing about this book, however, is the wonderful and loving portrait it paints of Mozart, himself.Rudel has managed to capture Mozart in all his genius and all his whimsy.We see him as he no doubt was...an extraordinary composer, the likes of which the world will never see again, and a man who took tremendous joy in the simple pleasure of life.

This is a gorgeous and fun book, but I don't think it's right for everyone, or even the majority of readers.I do think one has to be a fan of Mozart or of opera to obtain the maximum enjoyment from "Imagining Don Giovanni."If you're an opera fan, like I am, I would certainly recommend this book. While it might not stay with you forever, it will certainly entertain you for a few hours and make your life more pleasant.And, it just might leave you wanting more of Mozart.

wonderful atmosphere and settings
Aside from the fact that I now have to go buy a recording of Don Giovanni, this is a terrific book.Mozart and his librettist are under the gun to get their production going and seek advice from the then-premier womanizer in the history of the world, Casanova.After all, who better to advise on staging and dramatizing the nuances and perils of seduction?But the best aspect of the book, for me, were the atmosphere and details in the settings -- the genteel yet dramatic interplay between the characters and the dynamics that move the story forward.It's all rendered with a touching affection and respect for the characters and their times.Lovely.

The Enchantments of Mozart's World
This imagined chronicle of Mozart's life in Prague leading up to the debut of Don Giovanni is a pleasure.I'm not enough of a historian to know about the accuracy of some of the book's details, but the writing is breezy and engaging, as is the story.It's a relaxing, incredibly affectionate look at Mozart's relationships with his wife, librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, and -- in an interesting twist -- Casanova, who assists both with the staging of the opera and with romantic intrigues that weave through the plot.It's also an engaging tour of the social practices and mores of the time.And it's a lot of fun.Of course, I had to go out and buy the opera afterwards, so beware of getting lured into the entire subject.My only wish is that there had been a discography to suggest great recordings. ... Read more

Product Description
The story of how an ordinary man can be driven to the brink of murder and madness by the delusions of another. It begins on a windy summer's day in the Chilterns when the calm, organized life of Joe Rose is shattered by a ballooning accident.Amazon.com Review
Joe Rose has planned a postcard-perfect afternoon in theEnglish countryside to celebrate his lover's return after six weeks inthe States. To complete the picture, there's even a "heliumballoon drifting dreamily across the wooded valley." But as Joeand Clarissa watch the balloon touch down, their idyll comes to anabrupt end. The pilot catches his leg in the anchor rope, while theonly passenger, a boy, is too scared to jump down. As the wind whipsinto action, Joe and four other men rush to secure the basket. MotherNature, however, isn't feeling very maternal. "A mighty fistsocked the balloon in two rapid blows, one-two, the second morevicious than the first," and at once the rescuers are airborne.Joe manages to drop to the ground, as do most of his companions, butone man is lifted sky-high, only to fall to his death.

In itself, the accident would change the survivors' lives, filling them with anuneasy combination of shame, happiness, and endless self-reproach. (Inone of the novel's many ironies, the balloon eventually lands safely,the boy unscathed.) But fate has far more unpleasant things in storefor Joe. Meeting the eye of fellow rescuer Jed Parry, for example,turns out to be a very bad move. For Jed is instantly obsessed, makingthe first of many calls to Joe and Clarissa's London flat that verynight. Soon he's openly shadowing Joe and writing him endlessletters. (One insane epistle begins, "I feel happiness runningthrough me like an electrical current. I close my eyes and see you asyou were last night in the rain, across the road from me, with theunspoken love between us as strong as steel cable.") Worst ofall, Jed's version of love comes to seem a distortion of Joe'sfeelings for Clarissa.

Apart from the incessant stalking, it isthe conditionals--the contingencies--that most frustrate Joe, ascientific journalist. If only he and Clarissa had gone straight homefrom the airport... If only the wind hadn't picked up... If only hehad saved Jed's 29 messages in a single day... Ian McEwan has longbeen a poet of the arbitrary nightmare, his characters ineluctablyswept up in others' fantasies, skidding into deepening violence,and--worst of all--becoming strangers to those who love them. Even hisprose itself is a masterful and methodical exercise indefamiliarization. But Enduring Love and its underratedpredecessor, Black Dogs, are also meditations on knowledge andperception as well as brilliant manipulations of our ownexpectations. By the novel's end, you will be surprisingly unafraid ofhot-air balloons, but you won't be too keen on looking a stranger inthe eye. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (176)

A disturbing creepynovel that is masterfully plotted and written
Enduring Love is evidence that Ian McEwan is one of the most talented contemporary authors in the English language. Like his wonderful book, Atonement, Enduring Love is a masterpiece. The story is compelling and grows in tension from chapter to chapter. Yet there are mysteries inside of mysteries that work themselves to the surface as the story progresses. Like Shakespeare, McEwan also uses comic relief to wonderful effect in a scene with free love hippies fighting each other after selling the protagonist an illegal weapon.
A terrible accident and tragedy initiates the book and brings Joe in first contact with Jeb, his obsessed tormentor. Joe has adopted a scientific biological deterministic view of sexual relationships, love, and love making. He is a science writer who thinks the natural world can certainly be explained through deterministic concepts. Thus he sees romantic love as a purely biologically driven impulse created so that humans would reproduce. He continues to expound on this biological determinism, often in front of his lover at dinner parties, and seems to be unaware of the manner in which he is killing the lust in his relationship by continually referring to it through biological determinism rather than as a human experience that is extremely difficult to reduce to any one philosophical perspective.
The encounter between Joe and Jed is a multi-dimensional encounter. One approach would be that Joe has encountered the very thing he has expressed in his journalism, that sexual obsession is a driving biologically driven force that is beyond rational control in some situations. Yet, when Joe is actually confronted with the power of such a biologically driven obsessive attachment, he gradually becomes rattled and thrown off-center emotionally. He becomes as mad as the mad man that has fallen so deeply in love with him. This first dimension of this book's underlying structure would be rationality confronting determinism.
Another approach would be the Jungian interpretation that Jeb represents Joe's dark shadow.Joe expounds biological determinism because he wishes to be beyond its control. The appearance of Jeb proves him wrong. In Jungian psychology, the more the conscious mind tries to suppress the shadow, the creepier the shadow becomes as it stalks the ego, seeking acceptance. Thus the film could be interpreted as classic Jungian psychology. This second dimension of this book's underlying structure would be the ego confronting the shadow.
A third approach would be based on the ancient Greek concept of the Furies, those terrible tormenting images that follow the guilty around and plague them with feelings of guilt and remorse. Joe was one of the 4 men that let go of the red balloon. Whereas the pediatrician hung on and dies from the fall, if all had held on, the boy might have been saved.Joe is tormented as to whether he let go of the balloon first, telling himself repeatedly that he was not the first to let go. The grief and remorse impact his judgment. Joe spends hours drawing balloons, cutting balloons out of magazines, and pinning balloon images up on his office bulletin board. Thus Jed is a Fury, a mythological creature come to haunt Joe's life for the sin of being the first to let go of the red balloon.
These three interpretations are also interwoven with contemporary mental health concepts such as post-traumatic stress disorder, a diagnosis that Claire offers to Joe.The contemporary social phenomenon of the `stalker' is also evident. Jed could be seen as a stalker of Joe. The observation that all of these interpretations are interwoven into this film's narrative is part of the book's strength.
Jed, revealing slowly and incrementally the extent of his insane obsession, becomes more threatening and disturbing with each chapter. As Jed becomes more blatantly confrontive and Joe becomes more threatened, those around him don't fully understand the external and internal drama that Joe is encountering.
The craftsmanship of McEwan's writing is evident in every word choice in the book. The book is excellent.

Could not put it down!
I have read several of Ian McEwan's books and this one is by far his best.It's the kind of story you read and ask "who sits around and dreams this stuff up?"McEwan is a master.I could not put the book down.The story itself is quite simple.It's the psychological aspects to the story that hook you.The magic is in the details, in the descriptions of thoughts and feelings, in the flawed characters who so vividly come to life."Enduring Love" is a wonderful ride, all the way to the last page.

A thrilling book with depth
There is so much in this book that it's difficult to describe in a brief review.I thought it was an excellent novel particularly as McEwan paints scenes so vividly with his words.Some chapters were so clearly described that I felt physically sickened because it was all so vivid and real.

On a superficial level the book is a great suspense filled thriller but beneath that McEwan weaves many philosophical themes: science and the conflict with religion, obsessions, love, relationships, art vs science and finding truth.McEwan includes depth throughout the book with hidden or double meanings to many aspects of his writing.Even the title has depth in its meaning.

One of my favourite parts of the book is chapter 3 where the character of Joe describes how the conversations that he and his wife Clarissa have to come to terms with the shocking event that the book starts with in chapter 1: "But we backed away from the moment again and again, circling it, stalking it until we had it cornered and began to tame it with words."I can really identify with that myself.Experiencing a shocking situation, I would come to terms with it myself by talking about it and talking about it from various angles until it was "tamed".

I don't feel the need to read many books twice, simply because there are so many other great books out there to be discovered, but this book was so excellent and so complex in many ways that I'm sure I'll be reading it again.I'm sure there is much that I have missed that could be appreciated more in a second reading.

Highly recommended.

Did not live up to the hype for me
There are many admirable things about the book, including beautiful language, gripping plot and interesting ideas on fragility and relativity of love, trust, faith and reason.

However I did not feel that these pieces come together to create a whole and believable picture.The crack in the relationship between Joe and Clarissa feels too abrupt and implausible. Clarissa's character is not developed or explained enough to support her reactions and conclusions, and on the whole many of the main characters' behaviors seem manufactured and flat.

Like all Ian McEwan books, the story is amazing. The micro-mass-market-sized print, however, not so much.
I am reviewing the product and in this case "product" is this particular edition of the book and primarily the print, itself. It seems as if the publisher simply wanted to sell a mass-market print at trade price. I looked though my trade paperbacks and the print in this one is far smaller and even smaller than most of my mass-market sized books. I am fine with it, but I was a bit disappointed. I love the book and would gladly give the content 4/5 stars, but I wanted to share my issue with the print size. In this case, it might be worth going hardcover or maybe even the visiting the library and passing on the purchase altogether. My eyes are not getting any younger:)
... Read more

Product Description
The War of Souls

The people of Krynn have known war in past ages. Some are still alive who remember the triumph of good at the conclusion of the War of the Lance. Still more remember the devastation of the Chaos War, which ended the Fourth Age of the world.

But now a new war is about to begin, more terrible than any have known. This war is one for the very heart and soul of the world itself.
Amazon.com Review
Finally! Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have returned to Krynn, picking up at long last Dragonlance's seminal--and best--story line. Following directly on the heels of 1996's Dragons of Summer Flame, this new trilogy (dubbed The War of Souls) continues the arc begun with their phenomenally popular Chronicles series released so many moons ago. This first installment, Dragons of a Fallen Sun, sets up another epic conflict for the poor war-torn, dragon-beset populace of Krynn, some 40 years after the close of the Chaos War (and even longer since the triumph of the Companions in the War of the Lance), with the great dragons holding sway over most of Ansalon.

The action in Fallen Sun breaks as the mother of all storms sweeps across Ansalon, wreaking havoc on all the book's players: the Knights of Neraka (née Takhisis) laying siege to Solamnic-controlled Sanction; the elves of Qualinesti and their hated cousins the Silvanesti, barricaded behind an enormous magical shield; the aging Goldmoon in the Citadel of Light; the dragons, Malys, Beryl, et al., holed up in their lairs; even Bertrem and the librarians of Palanthas must scramble to keep their precious volumes dry. But it's a small girl who lies at the center of all this, an enigmatic waif who's quietly begun a bloody path of conquest in the name of the One God--even though now, in the Fifth Age, magic is on the wane and Krynn has no gods. Or does it? Heroes still die, mysteries still go unsolved, and Weis and Hickman show that they've still got it in spades, introducing a new set of characters (plus a couple of old favorites) and enough plot and locale jumps to keep you from wandering off. (The duo even provides enough backstory for Dragonlance neophytes to follow along.) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (178)

The first Weis/Hickman novel I ever had the pleasure of reading
Let me tell you all a terrible nightmare of a story.

One day, about 2 years ago, I was sitting at work with little to do, and I randomly thought to myself, "I want to get into reading".I had an interest in D&D so I decided to pick up the very first book of the Drittz series from RAS.I ended up reading all of his books, but I was never satisfied.Some were very good books but the quality seemed up and down and his interest in "mega fight scenes" which lasted for pages, describing every sword swipe never connected with me.

It was around Christmas of last year that I was killing some time at a Barnes & Noble, waiting for my boyfriend to get out of school, when I randomly stumbled upon Dragons of a Fallen Sun.I can't put into words how much of a masterpiece I thought this was, especially after spending so much time reading Salvatore's novels.This book and the entire War of Souls Trilogy is fantastic story telling, with compelling characters that always had you wondering what was going to happen next.During this first book you really have to wonder about Mina - is this god of hers the real deal?If I'd read the whole series before hand I might have had a clue about what was going on, but I was completely in the dark about this "one god".

Since falling in love with this book, I've read all of Weis and Hickman's Dragonlance novels, as well as their Death Gate Cycle novels.If you haven't done so yet, buy this book, or just save yourself some time and buy the whole trilogy.You will not be disappointed.

5 stars

Nice Start to a Good Trilogy
Not much can be added to what has already been said about this book.Weis and Hickman once again prove why the Dragonlance series under their scribing obtained New York Times Best Seller Status.The book is well written and enjoyable.The characters are believable but do not have the same charm and appeal as the characters from their previous novels.

Dragons of the Fallen Sun is like watching the new Transformers movie.It is enjoyable on it's own account.But compared to the original series, it cannot be duplicated to have the same emotional affect on the consumer.

Despite this, Dragons of the Fallen Sun is better then 85% of all of the other Dragonlance material that has been published to date.

amazing
A pivotal beginning to the ne War of the Souls trilogy. This book enlightens and intrigues. Praise the One God :) 5 stars.

Dragonlance: Volume I
The book came in within the delivery time and was in the condition I was expecting. I'm am pleased with the service and will use this sight again and again. Thank you.

OK, but not as good as Chronicles
If you're REALLY into Dragonlance give it a go.I found them to be really long, repetitive and boring.I still read all three because some of the characters were interesting and you get to find out the final fates of some characters.It just really lacked the magic that the original Chronicles series had of a group of adventurers tied together.Here you get a bunch of adventurers all experiencing different (and somewhat boring) adventures, and maybe one or two of them bump into each other along the way. ... Read more

Product Description
Continuing the story begun in Griffin & Sabine, Sabine journeys from her South Pacific home to London to find that Griffin has left town in his terror at meeting the woman he believes to be his own fictional invention. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (70)

Griffin and Sabine Review
My book came quickly and in great condition.It was exactly as described.I found it and interesting and entertaining story.I would definitely purchase from this seller again.

Fascinating!
This little book originally came to my attention when a friend showed me a library copy. I was taken by surprise at the original, insightful premise and the unique art and design. It appears to be a series of letters, written between two people who've never met. The book completely enthralled me - and was finished far too quickly. Fortunately, the author has written two companion books available as a set of all three. I'll be getting that one; I gave this copy to friend for her birthday!

A mystical romance told through beautifully illustrated cards and letters
This is the first book in a two trilogy series.Through a series of postcards and letters we meet Griffin and the mysterious Sabine. Griffin is an artist, with a line of custom postcards. Griffin first receives a postcard from Sabine in which she comments on one of the prior versions of a card with a fish and a wineglass. The curious thing is that no-one else has seen this earlier version. The two begin a correspondence, and develop a deep closeness and a romance begins. Griffin learns that Sabine is across the world from him on a small island, where she draws and illustrates the island's postage. There remain questions throughout the book on wheter Sabine is real or a figment of Griffin's desire and need for connection. The book is unique in that the letters are in evelopes attached to the pages and must be pulled out to read. The artistry and artwork are absolutely gorgeous.

Unfortunately wet!
I love Griffin and Sabine and purchased it as a gift for a very good friend.It arrived on my doorstep in a timely manner, but sadly had been damaged by the rain.The cardboard it was wrapped in was shriveled and this unfortunate quality was also true of the book's dust jacket.I don't know whether this would be considered an issue with the postal service or with the packaging (i.e. the sender), but save the damage to the dust jacket, I was extremely pleased with the book and its arrival time.

Wow
Love this book. Magical.Great price and fast good vender shipping.Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
From early stories like "Rescue Party" and "The Lion of Comarre," to classics like "The Star," "Earthlight," "The Nine Billion Names of God," and "The Sentinel" (kernel of the later novel, and movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey), all the way to later works like "A Meeting With Medusa" and "The Hammer of God," this volume encapsulates one of the great SF careers of all time. ... Read more

Product Description
No better introduction to William Shakespeare’s dramatic masterpieces exists than the delightful prose adaptations of Charles and Mary Lamb. A standard of literature since its original publication in 1807, Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare is an entertaining way for children to get to know the classics. This retelling of the dramas in elegant prose makes Shakespeare’s plots and language easily accessible to young listeners while retaining the Bard’s own words when possible. Here Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies and comedies come vividly to life through the Lambs’ clear, supple, and rhythmic prose, guaranteed to appeal to both children and adults. Romeo and Juliet is one of several major Shakespeare plays included in this volume. ... Read more