History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France

Average customer rating:

Paperback???
Life in the South of France
PROVENCE, ONCE AGAIN
An Entertaining Book
fun, witty

Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France
Peter Mayle
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0679762698
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com

"Provence, again?" one may think, seeing Peter Mayle's latest effort. "Has the man nothing better to do than promote a region that's already overhyped and overpriced? Can't he turn his eye to a place that needs a touristic boost, like Bulgaria?"

However, there are reasons to plunge into the third Provençal book by Englishman Mayle, formerly a Madison Avenue copywriter whose bestselling A Year in Provence made the area a must-see for tourists and helped to quadruple real estate prices there. After four years in Long Island, Mayle has returned to France with continuing adoration.

Mayle discloses a world missed by tourists, be it the questions dry cleaners ask about wine stains or the mysterious murder of a small-town butcher given to making housewives happy with more than his displayed meat. He also incorporates guide-like tips--listing markets, cheese makers, and the essential how-tos of perfume sniffing and olive-oil tasting. What's more, this book gives a peek into the life of a bestselling writer. The role is not always an enviable one.

Mayle no longer fits into life in America--the vocabulary alone is enough to throw him off--yet in Provence, he is regarded as little more than a moneyed foreigner. Speared by the British press, he laments, "One of my crimes is to have encouraged people to visit the region ... far too many people ... and people of the wrong sort," an accusation that he denies.

And Mayle comes off as positively defensive in his attack of former New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl, who wrote that she was disappointed in the region. The title alone of chapter 3 hints at the sarcastic stabbings to follow: "New York Times Restaurant Critic Makes Astonishing Discovery: Provence Never Existed." Page after page, he roasts Reichl on the spit, creating a hissing Ruth Rotisserie that's most unbecoming from someone of his stature.

What most causes him to sputter is Reichl's admission that she "had been dreaming of a Provence that never existed."

"Where had I been living all these years?" writes the man who's helped to perpetrate the illusion of a land that is nothing but lavender fields, sunflowers swaying in the breeze, and fascinating characters every millimeter. "The Provence that Daudet, Giono, Ford Madox Ford, Lawrence Durrell and M.F.K. Fisher knew and wrote about--the Provence that I know--doesn't exist.... It's a sunny figment of our imagination, a romanticized fantasy."

Maybe. Having recently visited Provence, I agree with Reichl's critical assessment. Therein lies Mayle's ultimate charm. Crack open a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape, delve into Encore Provence, and voilà: it may be better than actually being there. --Melissa Rossi

Book Description

In his most delightful foray into the wonders of Provençal life, Peter Mayle returns to France and puts behind him cholesterol worries, shopping by phone, California wines, and other concerns that plagued him after too much time away.

In Encore Provence, Mayle gives us a glimpse into the secrets of the truffle trade, a parfumerie lesson on the delicacies of scent, an exploration of the genetic effects of 2,000 years of foie gras, and a small-town murder mystery that reads like the best fiction. Here, too, are Mayle's latest tips on where to find the best honey, cheese, or chambre d'hìte the region has to offer. Lyric, insightful, sparkling with detail, Encore Provence brings us a land where the smell of thyme in the fields or the glory of a leisurely lunch is no less than inspiring.

Customer Reviews:

Paperback???.......2007-03-09

The book was everything I expected...but y'all sent it in paperback. I never buy a book that I do not want to keep....and I never buy and keep paperback books.

Life in the South of France.......2007-03-04

Food, the air, water, the land and the people in the South of France. The book beautifully took me thru life in this person move to this area.

PROVENCE, ONCE AGAIN.......2006-11-05

Peter Mayle effectivately takes us once again to beautiful Provence through his second book. His writing is witty yet very unassuming and laid back. He gives the reader vivid and often funny accounts of the land and its people. He has an uncanny ability to observe the smallest details in the Provencal locals that he meets and to express it in a very entertaining way through his books.

An Entertaining Book.......2006-06-25

"Encore Provence" is entertaining, but not quite as hilarious as "A Year in Provence".

fun, witty .......2006-02-04

As always, Mayle is terrible entertaining. His breezy style is fantastic. He has the ability to make his readers feel like you are sitting in a cafe with a glass of local wine, just listening to his endless line of colorful stories. At the last page of his books, I feel that I have finished my visit with him in Provence all too soon.

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris

Average customer rating:

Insightful and fun
Great book
Great read!
Holiday in a book
I would prefer more wining and less whining

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris
Sarah Turnbull
Manufacturer: Gotham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travel | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1592400825
Release Date: 2004-08-05

Book Description

A delightful, fresh twist on the travel memoir, Almost French takes us on a tour that is fraught with culture clashes but rife with deadpan humor.

Sarah TurnbullÂ's stint in Paris was only supposed to last a week. Chance had brought Sarah and FrÃ©dÃ©ric together in Bucharest, and on impulse she decides to take him up on his offer to visit him in the worldÂ's most romantic city. Sacrificing Vegemite for vichyssoise, the feisty journalist does her best to fit in, although her conversation, her laugh, and even her wardrobe advertise her foreign status.

But as she navigates the highs and lows of this strange new world, from life in a bustling quartier and surviving Parisian dinner parties to covering haute couture fashion shows and discovering the paradoxes of French culture, little by little Sarah falls under its spell: maddening, mysterious, and charged with that French specialtyÂ—seduction.

Â“Â…a love song to Paris and France, yes, but a love song in a minor keyÂ…Sarah Turnbull seems to have gotten a lot closer to the real thing than most of us who will always be on the outside looking in...Â”
--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post Book World

Â“Â…jewels of insightÂ—and the book shines with themÂ—make Almost French a worthy read. TurnbullÂ's story will entertain, and edify, both armchair travelers and those of us nutty enough to try living here.Â”
--Joe Ray, The Boston Globe

Â“TurnbullÂ's memoir is a charming, insightful meditation.Â”
--USA Today

Â“Â…full of honest ups and downsÂ…its explorations of the Â“cultural quicksandÂ” Turnbull gradually adapts to are fascinating. I hope to visit Paris one day, and am grateful to learn so many ways to avoid being an ugly American.Â”
--Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer

Â“YouÂ'll love this true story of a woman who left her life behind for a sexy foreigner.Â”
--Cosmopolitan

Â“Anyone who finds herself in a situation like TurnbullÂ'sÂ…will be luckier; sheÂ'll have TurnbullÂ's warm, clear prose to soothe frayed nerves.Â”
Â-Newsday

Customer Reviews:

Insightful and fun.......2007-10-06

Very well written. Entertainingly true story of an Austrailian journalist who moved to Paris and eventually adapted to her new life with the help of her French boyfriend. Of course, there are many missteps and misunderstandings along the way. Turnbull presents these in a way that shares both the frustration of the moment and the amusement of looking back from a more enlightened future. Provides an interesting outsider turned near-insider's perspective of French culture.

Great book.......2007-08-09

I really enjoyed reading this book! It is true that it might not have been very deep, but Sarah's comments on Paris made me feel like I was there again. Very therapeutical. Also, I recommend reading this book slowly, a couple of pages at a time, so you can really absorb every comment. If you read it all at once, it is easy to overlook small details. Read a page, laugh at her comments, think about how they are very true. Put the book down. Pick it up an hour later. I think you will get the most out of it if you pace yourself. In all, I recommend this book to anyone who longs for Paris.

Great read! .......2007-08-06

Being French, but having moved to The US when I was young I wanted to see if I could relate to this book. And yes I could. Sarah Turnbull really hits it right on. It is so refreshing to read a book that is fun, easy and accurate in it's description of a different culture. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Holiday in a book.......2007-04-08

I raved about this book to all my friends! Sarah's account of her trials and tribulations adjusting to life in France is so descriptive and humorous. When she describes any aspect of the Paris scene, I feel like I am right there with her. If you love to travel and love a good narrative, read this!

I would prefer more wining and less whining.......2007-03-29

This book actually annoyed me. The author finds herself moving in on a seemingly charming Frenchman and then complains about what her life is like with him. I still don't understand what the couple were doing together in the first place. It doesn't feel like there's any love between them....it seems that this was the opportune moment for her to try out what it would be like to live in Paris. I don't really see what it she brings to the table.....she's demanding, is not earning a living and does nothing to make their life together more pleasant....she just complains. She convinces him to move from a very comfortable (but boring) apt to a much better situated and much more expensive one. I don't hear that she helps him pay for this in any way....just expects it. That certainly has not been the way my life has been and if it had been I don't thing I'd be complaining. It just rubbed me the wrong way. She seems spoiled and he seems to play into it. I thiink he is far too patient with her. There were not enough cute and funny stories that could have been a part of this story.

New French Country: A Style and Source Book

Average customer rating:

French Country decorating
A real gem
Love this book!
VERY INFORMATIVE
love it

New French Country: A Style and Source Book
Linda Dannenberg
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0609610414
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Customer Reviews:

French Country decorating.......2007-08-22

The book was very informative. It gave me many ideas on how to include my furnishings with a French feel.

A real gem.......2007-05-21

I can see this book is going to sit on the top of the coffee table book pile for a long time to come. Aside from the fabulous photos of French Provincial homes, Dannenberg delicately picks apart the details that make a typical Provincial home and garden. It does the job so much better than we sitting in another continent can grasp from a few photos in a book. It teaches us how to copy this style and really appreciate the quality of each piece of furniture, artwork or chattel we acquire for own little pretend patch of France.
I love this book!

Love this book!.......2007-04-05

Really a wonderful book - both beautiful to look at and informative. Very interesting reading, as well as artistically lovely with wonderful, colorful photography. I am not a decorator or designer by trade, but go to this type of book for creative inspiration, and this one was a winner.

VERY INFORMATIVE.......2007-02-26

Wonderful book on French Country Style. This book is packed with lots of vivid photos but what sets this book apart from all the other styling books is the wealth of information that the author shares with the reader. It is truly a must for any Provencal styling fan.

love it.......2007-02-12

If you want detailed descriptions of French design elements, including their history, this is the book for you. If you just want room pictures, this may not work for you, as it is text-heavy. I just love it.

C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris and--Voila!--Becomes Almost French

Average customer rating:

C'est La Vie
The Princess Diary
I am underwhelmed and I just returned from Paris
Enjoyed very much
C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris

C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris and--Voila!--Becomes Almost French
Suzy Gershman
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travel | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0143035509
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Book Description

Bestselling writer Suzy Gershman (dubbed Â“Super Shopper SuzyÂ” by Oprah) is our answer to Peter Mayle in this heartfelt, breezy, and funny story of starting over in Paris. Suzy had always fantasized about moving to Paris with her husband, but when he dies unexpectedly, she decides to fulfill their dream alone. Here she gives a deliciously conversational chronicle of her first year in Paris and of the dizzying delights and maddening frustrations of learning to be a Parisian. Filled with GershmanÂ's insiderÂ's tips on everything from cooking the perfect clafoutis toÂ—naturallyÂ— shopping, CÂ'est la Vie is delightfully entertaining and captures the exhilarating experience of beginning a new adventure.

Â“Anyone who has dreamed of going to live in Paris, or who has faced a devastating loss, or wonders about sex with a Frenchman, will love Suzy GershmanÂ's inspiring story.Â”
Â—Diane Johnson, author of Le Divorce

Customer Reviews:

C'est La Vie.......2007-08-27

For readers who are looking for a book that gives the nuts and bolts of moving to Paris served up with humor and pathos, this is it! Already a well-known writer and a person with international connections, she is not
your average housewife moving overseas since her network of friends keeps her with constant invitations to various functions, thus her move was made
far easier because of that. But she faces enough of the daily chores of
living that the narrative is kept plausible enough for the average person to relate to the hardships involved in moving overseas, even to a city like Paris. Very enlightening about everyday life in the city.

The Princess Diary.......2007-07-31

I'm a sucker for the move-to-Paris (Provence, Tuscany, Spain, etc.) genre, with one caveat. I like the stories where the writer has actually moved to Paris or wherever, and is not just buying a summer home expecting to become a native. In other words, I liked A Year in Provence, and was not so fond of Under the Tuscan Sun.

In C'est la Vie, Suzy Gershman has indeed sold her house in the States and moved to Paris. She is newly widowed, which adds a different twist to this story. Gershman tells how she managed to get an apartment and furniture, how she dealt with the French bureaucaracy without speaking much French, how she coped with losing her husband, and how she got back into the dating game. She keeps an upbeat attitude in spite of all the obstacles and becomes, as an acquaintance tells her, "almost French."

C'est la Vie has everything going for it, and yet, I feel as if I should have enjoyed it more than I did. I was not aware of Gershman's Born to Shop series of books, so was a bit perplexed by the frequent and detailed shopping interludes. Apparently, she is also a celebrity of sorts, so she does a bit of name-dropping. She doesn't flinch at popping for regular trips to London to have her hair and nails done, so she isn't exactly a budget traveler.

C'est la Vie reads more like a fantasy than like a travel memoir. I guess I was expecting to identify with Gershman, but the affair with the wealthy Count, the New Year's Eve assignation with a handsome Italian at the Ritz, the purchase of a summer home in Provence, made it a wee bit difficult to connect with Suzy.

Although I did enjoy C'est la Vie, I also recommend Almost French by Sarah Turnbull. It's written by an Australian journalist who travels to Paris, falls in love with a French man, and stays. Somehow, I found her story much more real.

I am underwhelmed and I just returned from Paris.......2007-03-12

Having just returned to the States from two weeks in Paris, France, I picked up this book half-priced here
on the west coast. I wanted so much to like it...but I am disappointed. This book was published by Penguin no less, and the writing is tacky and the thinking shallow. I did not know that Suzy
Gershman is the Born to Shop series author, which kind of explains the fact that she goes on endlessly about her shopping sprees, which become very boring. She seems to have so little knowledge of French history, art, and literature, that her idea of "being French" is eating at the right cafes and sleeping with an ancient French man. I am almost at the end of the book, and there has been no mention of the fabulous paintings and sculpture of Paris, as well as the museums and wonderful ethnic diversity (we went to a terrific Asian-French cafe right off the Champs Elysees, for instance). Despite her great connections, I feel a bit sorry for Suzy. She is very revealing about her personal life, and at times even I had to laugh at some of her silly antics, but she is not a very good writer, just a good schmoozer. You still might want to read the book if you want something kinda trashy to read in your bubble bath or whatever. I was amused by her cooking instant brownies and serving them to the French. I wonder what they think of her! It's a bit horrifying to think that she may be their idea of a typical American.

Enjoyed very much.......2007-02-04

I loved this book, wish it would have gone on and on. I am "into" French stuff right now so I found the book very intersting and very fun and very fast read.

C'est La Vie: An American Woman Begins a New Life in Paris.......2007-01-19

This book is a reality check. It's hard to read because it isn't all "hearts & flowers" about Paris and France. She had a hard time and details her struggles. But go to the finish. You'll be so glad you did!

There is so much good information but I also found it fun to follow her adaptation to the French culture.

This is a great book to give someone who is thinking about moving to France; Paris in particular. They might have a chance of having all the paperwork it will take to rent an apartment!

Back to the Well: Women's Encounters With Jesus in the Gospels

Average customer rating:

Back to the Well: Women's Encounters With Jesus in the Gospels
Frances Taylor Gench
Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0664227155

Book Description

Exploring six Gospel texts in which women encounter Jesus, Frances Taylor Gench encourages us to view these stories anew through the eyes of contemporary biblical scholarship. Summarizing and making accessible the work of a diversity of feminist scholars while also engaging many of the more traditional voices of the past, she examines each story's language, structure, and literary and socio-cultural context, and recounts many traditional and contemporary interpretations. In the process, she opens up new possibilities for reading these texts. Includes helpful questions for discussion.

Book Description

This book surveys the social history of New France. For more than a century, until the British conquest of 1759-60, France held sway over a major portion of the North American continent. In this vast territory several unique colonial societies emerged, societies which in many respects mirrored ancien regime France, but which also incorporated a major Aboriginal component.

Whereas earlier works in this field presented pre-conquest Canada as completely white and Catholic, The People of New France looks closely at other members of society as well: black slaves, English captives and Christian Iroquois of the mission villages near Montreal. The artisans and soldiers, the merchants, nobles, and priests who congregated in the towns of Montreal and Quebec are the subject of one chapter. Another chapter examines the special situation of French regime women under a legal system that recognized wives as equal owners of all family property. The author extends his analysis to French settlements around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi Valley, and to Acadia and Ile Royale.

Greer's book, addressed to undergraduate students and general readers, provides a deeper understanding of how people lived their lives in these vanished Old-Regime societies.

Customer Reviews:

well-written introduction to interesting topic.......1997-11-14

The People of New France was written by Professor Greer with his undergraduate students in mind. This book is therefore comprehensive while being accessible. He includes chapters on the role of women and native people in colonial life: groups who were marginalized during the period and are still under-represented in historical work today. (However, his contention that New France was 'multicultural' is debatable.) Greer is a very good writer: after reading the book, you feel like you know what it was like to live in New France, which is reason enough to pick it up.

C'est la Vie: An American Conquers the City of Light, Begins a New Life, and Becomes--Zut Alors!--Almost French

Average customer rating:

be happy
Light and Breezy---A Lot of Fun to Read
Don't waste your time or money.
WOW-ON THE BEST SELLERS LIST!!!!!!
Utter bilge water - the vain and vulgar Suzy Gershman

C'est la Vie: An American Conquers the City of Light, Begins a New Life, and Becomes--Zut Alors!--Almost French
Suzy Gershman
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0670032697
Release Date: 2004-01-15

Book Description

Who, at one time or another, hasnÂ't dreamed of leaving her life behind and moving to Paris? Bestselling writer Suzy Gershman (dubbed Â“Super Shopper SuzyÂ” by Oprah and Â“the most famous shopper in the worldÂ” by American Express Card Services) had always planned to retire to the City of Light with her husband. But when he died, Suzy decided to fulfill their dream aloneÂ—making a new life for herself in her favorite city.

CÂ'est la Vie is the deliciously chatty chronicle of her first year in Paris, of the dizzying delights and maddening frustrations inherent in learning to be a Parisian. After a grueling apartment search, the woman who was Born to Shop sets out on the terrific adventure that is French daily lifeÂ—from the great flea markets and restaurants to the mysteries of a French fax machine, the chimney sweep, and a French love affair. Heartfelt, breezy, funny, and garnished with little-known shopping tips, CÂ'est la Vie is a treat not just for armchair travelers, Francophiles, and fans of Peter Mayle, but also for anyone who has ever dreamed of starting life anew.

Customer Reviews:

be happy.......2007-08-08

Love this book. I found all kinds of practical information that would be helpful to me if I ever move to Paris, something that could happen if my dreams come true. Suzy Gershman's book is like reading a letter from an old friend and I devoured each page imagining I was there instead. Reading all the reviews I noticed that readers either hated it or thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the ones who didn't like it were expecting something else and blamed the writer when it didn't live up to their expectations. I didn't like Under the Tuscan Sun because of all the whining, page after page. Suzy doesn't whine, she embraces life. Very readable and fun, too.

Light and Breezy---A Lot of Fun to Read.......2007-01-06

I think this is a delightful book---and one to not take too seriously. It's a great book to read when you are down, ill, or needing a good laugh. I enjoyed Gershman's style of writing and while her experiences would be out of reach for most of us, they were fun to read about.

One reviewer called her vulgar---I just don't see that. While it is true that her affair with a married Frenchmen is not what most would do, it was so typically French. Just don't read this book if you feel a need to judge everyone else based on your own morals. This is a BOOK, not a guide to life.

Don't waste your time or money........2006-04-20

I feel like I have to warn readers, please don't waste time, money or energy on this terrible book. I did plod through it and I did notice her disclaimer at the very end of the book that "she left out the depressing parts" but Gersham is so cold and heartless about the death of her husband, that it is hard to get by that and like her. She does go on about herself and shopping and when she tells her readers about a private medical issue, you have to think "way too much information". I pray there is not a sequel!

WOW-ON THE BEST SELLERS LIST!!!!!! .......2005-09-29

I just adore this book and it gives everyone who reads it (I give it as gifts to my male/female friends)an insight into a whole new Paris which most never even get a chance to visit. How wonderful (even after 30 years of visiting)that Suzy still feels the magic of Paris. The one city on this earth which demands attention.

How wonderful that a woman who has educated so many people of the latest trends is now living her dream. Not even the guilt of her friends, her son, her neighbors-you name it- can stop her now.

I eagerly await your new adventures Suzy!You Go Girl!!!

Utter bilge water - the vain and vulgar Suzy Gershman.......2005-09-26

This book isn't about Paris - it's about the the vain and vulgar Suzy Gershman who uses her husband's life insurance money to move to Paris to look for a rich husband: page 111 ("the man was dead, for heaven's sake, dead"); p. 99 ("my best ... hunting ground ... was in lobbies of luxury hotels"); p. 227 (when reminded of her husband's death, she "burst into giggles"); p. 87 ("I have long thought that my birthday should be a national holiday"). She enjoys adultery (p. 142, "I thought adultery was a French treat I should try just like Krug"); and can't understand why her son is upset when she sells the family home:(p. 210, "I thought I was entitled to a life"). She finds a good hairdresser (p. 68, the creme rinse is free); buys a "pair of tight white jeans" (p. 117); discusses her sex toys (p. 125, 142); is proud to travel with 17 suitcases (p. 213); and thinks she may have genital warts (p. 227 - this is certainly a great deal more than anyone wanted to know, but then again this woman has no sense of dignity at all). She drops Walter and Patricia Wells' name at every opportunity, but they are probably profoundly embarrassed by her. I paid about $3 to buy this book used, because I needed mind candy to read on a plane, but it wasn't worth that much. Truly one of the worst books I have ever read. Read Diane Johnson's "Into A Paris Quartier" instead.

The Practice of Diaspora: Literature, Translation, and the Rise of Black Internationalism

Average customer rating:

The Practice of Diaspora: Literature, Translation, and the Rise of Black Internationalism
Brent Hayes Edwards
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0674011031

Book Description

A pathbreaking work of scholarship that will reshape our understanding of the Harlem Renaissance, The Practice of Diaspora revisits black transnational culture in the 1920s and 1930s, paying particular attention to links between intellectuals in New York and their Francophone counterparts in Paris. Brent Edwards suggests that diaspora is less a historical condition than a set of practices: the claims, correspondences, and collaborations through which black intellectuals pursue a variety of international alliances.

Book Description

French Huguenots made enormous contributions to the life and culture of colonial New York during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Huguenot craftsmen were the city's most successful artisans, turning out unrivaled works of furniture which were distinguished by unique designs and arcane details. More than just decorative flourishes, however, the visual language employed by Huguenot artisans reflected a distinct belief system shaped during the religious wars of sixteenth-century France.

In Fortress of the Soul, historian Neil Kamil traces the Huguenots' journey to New York from the Aunis-Saintonge region of southwestern France. There, in the sixteenth century, artisans had created a subterranean culture of clandestine workshops and meeting places inspired by the teachings of Bernard Palissy, a potter, alchemist, and philosopher who rejected the communal, militaristic ideology of the Huguenot majority which was centered in the walled city of La Rochelle. Palissy and his followers instead embraced a more fluid, portable, and discrete religious identity that encouraged members to practice their beliefs in secret while living safely -- even prospering -- as artisans in hostile communities. And when these artisans first fled France for England and Holland, then left Europe for America, they carried with them both their skills and their doctrine of artisanal security.

Drawing on significant archival research and fresh interpretations of Huguenot material culture, Kamil offers an exhaustive and sophisticated study of the complex worldview of the Huguenot community. From the function of sacred violence and alchemy in the visual language of Huguenot artisans, to the impact among Protestants everywhere of the destruction of La Rochelle in 1628, to the ways in which New York's Huguenots interacted with each other and with other communities of religious dissenters and refugees, Fortress of the Soul brilliantly places American colonial history and material life firmly within the larger context of the early modern Atlantic world.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books