Compendium of Tax Research 1987

Average customer rating:

The Best

A Superb Series

Yaoi at it's very best!

kizuna

Get this beautiful series!

Kizuna - Bonds Of Love: Book 4 (Yaoi)
Kazuma Kodaka
Manufacturer: Central Park Media - Be Beautiful
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Kizuna - Bonds Of Love: Book 3 (Yaoi) (Kizuna; Bonds of Love)

Kizuna - Bonds of Love Book 1 (Yaoi)

Kizuna - Bonds of Love 4

Kizuna: Bonds of Love, Book 5 (Kizuna; Bonds of Love)

Kizuna - Bonds of Love 6 (Kizuna; Bonds of Love)

ASIN: 1586648039

Book Description

Ranmaru and Kei were not always the perfect couple. There was a time when Ranmaru was an up-and-coming Kendo star and Kei was shy and timid scholar. What brought these two different souls together, and how did their love grow so strong? The top selling series continues to document the twists and turns of this beautiful relationship.

Customer Reviews:

The Best.......2007-03-08

This book is funny and sexy at the same time. You'll have a laugh reading it.

A Superb Series.......2006-03-08

As others have noted, Kizuna is one of the classic boys love series, and deservedly so. Characters, plot, art: it's all topnotch, and this is one of those rare manga that has something that will appeal to everyone.

Be Beautiful is to be thanked for bringing Kizuna to the English-language market, yet the translations of the first three volumes were frustratingly inconsistent and there's just no excuse for professionally published books to contain typos and misspellings. Happily, they seem to have pulled it together with Vol. 4, so you'll have nothing to distract you from the brilliance of Kodaka sensei's work.

Yaoi at it's very best!.......2006-02-24

If I could give it 6 stars I would. It is a must have for any yaoi fan. I was first introduced to this series by watching the anime years ago, and since then I've collected all the manga in Japanese. It has passion, action, attitude, and tenderness. The greatest thrill in this story comes from the slowly developing relationship with Kai and his protector, Masa.

kizuna.......2006-02-24

i heard from the interset and say that is very good and wonderful story of love.. i want to buy one and read it!!

Get this beautiful series!.......2005-07-18

Any Yaoi fan should have Kizuna. For fans who wish to purchase book 4, note that it is available in Amazon in Oct 2005 under title "Kizuna:Bond of Love" by the distributor Client Distribution Services, the new distributor engaged by the publisher "Bebeautifulmanga.com". The same goes for Embracing Love, another recommended Yaoi series.

Average customer rating:

The pinnacle of contemporary Self Help.

Strange, yet satisfying

Sensual help

The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman
Esquire, Sir Gentleman Brock LaBorde
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Esquire The Rules: A Man's Guide to Life Revised and Updated--Because Being a Man Has Gotten That Much Harder

Esquire Things a Man Should Know About Work and Sex (and Some Things in Between)

Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30 (Esquire Books (Hearst))

Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion

The Modern Gentleman: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice

ASIN: 0595341527

Book Description

The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman might be the most irresponsible book written since The Bible. And a bible it is, in its own right, for the billions of men alive today who have no clue how to behave in public or private situations.

Drawing from literally thousands of his countless private journals and personal scribblings, author Sir Gentleman Brock LaBorde, Esquire, this century's self-proclaimed Master of Social Etiquette, painstakingly outlines his complex and erroneous guidelines for the impossible attainment of the ambiguous title of “gentleman”.

Impolitely smearing the footsteps left by previous well-respected etiquette gurus, Gentleman Brock pompously dissects all aspects of a modern gentleman's life, including:

Knowing when to mutilate yourself
The proper way to burp the Pope
Inviting yourself to parties
Extreme handkerchief maintenance
Dispensing needless advice to strangers

The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman is valuable for any man who wishes to learn how not to act in his everyday life. It is also valuable because a certain amount of paper, money, paper money, and other resources were used to print and distribute this book.

Download Description

Drawing from literally thousands of his countless private journals and personal scribblings, author Sir Gentleman Brock LaBorde, Esquire, this century

Customer Reviews:

The pinnacle of contemporary Self Help........2005-05-01

Okay. This book! Phew! Wow! What should I say? I'll start from the beginning...

...I met Brock LaBorde in 1999 while waiting for the Gap on highland road in Baton Rouge to open. The summer clothes were put on the clearance rack overnight and news spread through town like SARS in Toronto. By 9:30 the crowd outside had attracted reporters from Tiger Weekly, The Daily Reveille, and the Campus Dirt. Even the cook from "Louie's 24 Hour Cafe" was there (he brought everyone hash browns). Suddenly Brock mentioned that he was writing a book. I was shocked, "A writer? What do you have to write about? You're not oppressed. You're not gay!"

Brock insisted, "I'm a gentleman, and there aren't enough of us out there." He continued to ramble, "I want to class up society! You know; teach men that there are more important things than Golf and Wayne Newton: Bentleys, yachts, and exotic women."

Later, as we tried on cargo pants and argyle sweaters Brock lectured me. I learned more about life and life's pleasures: class, TRUE CLASS, from Gentleman Brock than I had learned throughout my six weeks of study at the Hugh McClintock Men's School for Social and Mental Etiquette.

As we were purchasing our Gap fragrances, I noticed Brock paid with a Platinum ATT student MasterCard. Classy all the way. That's Brock, Gentleman Brock LaBorde, one of a kind.

So, it was no surprise to me, of course, when Brock contacted me in February and offered me a chance to read his book, "Just send me a check or something," he commanded.

Three weeks of mowing lawns and one failed bank heist later, I got my copy of "The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman" in the mail. "YES!" I declared, as I noticed the new issues of Soldier of Fortune and Cat Fancy had arrived the same day. A trifecta. The holy trinity of literature lay on my doorstep. This was one of the greatest days of my life. I believed this to be a cosmic sign that I was invincible that day!

I read all three pieces of literature as I relaxed in a hospital bed following the incidents which occurred on the day I refer to as "the day I thought I was invincible".

I consider myself a well read individual. I've read all the classics, from "The Grapes of Wrath" to "Goosebumps: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam". It is with a well-read authority that I give my full support to "The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman", and confirm its literary genius.

The first part of LaBorde's literary masterpiece contains lessons meant to ready us for the adventure that is life. There are over two thousand topics discussed, including:

- How to put on your pants two legs at a time. While wearing shoes.
- What three words are never appropriate when one attends a dog fight at a NASCAR race?
- Cheap Wine vs. Malt Liquor: Which is appropriate when?
- How to hunt down terrorists.
- How to extort money from terrorists.
- How to escape terrorist sponsoring nations, money in hand, and not let the Internal Revenue Service] know.

The second half of the book includes harrowing stories of international intrigue and epic tales of love, hate, dislike and marginal acceptance. I'm particularly fond of the legend of "Sergi", the one eyed Russian who ran Baton Rouge's largest dumpster diving ring for over 30 years.

LaBorde uses a language as most use a metric wrench set. He's graceful, but scornful; poetic but not vigorous; stern yet ultimately altruistic.

Lee Harvey Oswald once said, "Man, this movie is great! Oh man, the fuzz!" I think that's the best way to describe LaBorde's book. Sort of "Hey, great!" But also sort of, "Hey, not so great?"

What about LaBorde's book is "not so great"? It's simple. LaBorde points out the faults which encompass our miserable lives. We are horrors. We are the worst of the worst, and LaBorde confronts us. He shoves a pile of "us" in our face and shouts, "Fill your nasal passages with your wretched essence!"

OH, THE STENCH!

This brings me back to the Gap on Highland Road in Baton Rouge on that brisk morning back in 1999. When the cook from "Louie's 24 Hour Cafe" brought those hash browns for those waiting in line, what did Brock do? He confronted the cook:

"You fool! Do you not realize this is the Gap? Do you think we want your cholesterol packed carbohydrate nuggets here? What are you trying to do? Kill us? We're the elite! We shop at the Gap! I think you're looking for Old Navy! Now walk your second hand Reebok pumps back to Louies and make us all salads. Bring some diet frescas too."

I think you may begin to understand now; LaBorde can be summed up simply. He is Life's Essential Avant-Garde Philosopher, a Philanthropist, Academician, Writer, Poet, Brahmin, Purveyor of arts, Jude Law stand in, and an American Hero.

In some far off time, perhaps a few millennia, when all the world is cosmic and collapsed, and unimaginably changed, but maybe, conceivably exactly the same; an alien or a human, or some sort of alien-human hybrid master race shall discover LaBorde's book in a clay jar on the barren shores of Lake Borgne and through whatever manner the master race reads, be it through osmosis or visually, or however, it shall discover the genius that is "The Semi-Complete Guide to Sort of Being a Gentleman" and shall hold it in high esteem, possibly as gospel, and shall worship LaBorde as a god.

I suggest, if you want to act as the future alien-human master race that shall shortly conquer our quickly shrinking home planet will act, you get on the LaBorde bandwagon quick. Because Gentleman Brock is a cold-hearted, callous jerk, and if you don't worship his work soon, he won't have mercy on you when the invaders come.

Strange, yet satisfying.......2005-04-30

It was good.
The morality of the Bible is secondary to the narrative revelation of God. In any event its morality is not adhered to by anyone, so it would be well worth reading and living.
I prefer Nobles and Barn to the Jungle people.

Sensual help.......2005-04-30

Hellos my name Is jethro. Now I may not be the most Attractive man this side of alabama but I sure wasn't getting any help with having one arm. But i order this book with my two weeks pay and boy am I glad I did. The mail lady who gave me this "novel" as some would say was more than attractided to me. But she was my sister and this new law is preventin me and all kinds of folks from that kinda lovin. Any way after a week of reading I was a certified hustler. Now I have women and sometimes men, lining out side my trailer. This book changed my life Now's a days Im drving a ford (yes a ford!) and I have a new house. Thank you gentalmen Brock guy!

Book Description

Hey Hey Hey, You're Gonna Have A Good Time!It's predawn Saturday morning. You and your brother are the first ones up, gathering pillows and blankets and the TV warms up to the weekly Farm Report. Then, just as the sugar cereal kicks in, you begin your descent into the happy-spazzy TV world of Space Ghost, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Hong Kong Phooey, The Herculoids, and for the hard-core Saturday morning junkie, live-action shows like Jason of Star Command.Little did you know that this cherished world was also the battleground where greedy toy advertisers, network flacks, cutthroat cartoon companies, opportunistic politicians, and concerned parents struggled for the attention-deficit souls of America's youth.Brothers Tim and Kevin Burke bring us a loving, insightful, and hilarious examination of all aspects of Saturday morning television. Tune in and get ready for some fun.

Customer Reviews:

This is soooo funny with dead-on discriptions of many shows!.......2006-02-24

I LOVED this book.
It is snarky and has no shame when it comes to adressing the failings of many beloved 70's cartoons(and live-action kid-vid as well!)It brought back many happy(and mildly embarrasing) memories of shows I had all but forgotten.And the discriptions are dead-on perfect!!(it's section on FilmAtion's live-action shows were especially good)
It is good natured GenX nostalgia at its finest!!
Now if only I could watch all these shows again my life would be complete!!!

Authors couldn't get past themselves..........2005-01-08

This book was fun in that it brought back a few memories about what was available on Saturday mornings in the 70's and 80's. However, the authors tended to dismiss the value of anything they didn't watch, or didn't understand.

Davey and Goliath, the Filmation live action shows, Schoolhouse Rock and even Mr. Rodgers took the brunt of the author's disdain.

The book contains some good show descriptions, but be warned, the authors may trash some of your favorite shows if they didn't like them. It really took a lot of the fun out of the book for me. I didn't finish reading the last chapters because the authors couldn't keep their slanted opinions (and politics) out of it.

Ok for a walk down memory lane, but if you want more of an unbiased reference, look elsewhere.

Only fair..........2004-06-26

This book was only fair at best. It had only a few pictures (mostly of board games and toys) and little worthwhile information. It's basically a collection of the authors' opinions, thoughts, and memories on the topic, which meant little to me since I value my own opinions and memories much more. It's almost like the authors didn't seek, want, and/or have permission to write this book from the people who created the shows they discuss. The authors give us their thoughts instead of the thoughts of the thoughts of those who really matter... the people who created or were involved with the shows. I was hoping for a trip down memory lane; this book took a detour very early on and never got back on track.

Great Memories But Dispointed........2004-04-27

I enjoyed the refreshing of warm memories through this book. But I was very disapointed with the lack of photos used. There's no way you cover a topic such as this and not include a sufficient amount of photos to go with the memories.

Good for Fun, Bad for Facts.......2004-02-06

This book has many positive and negative points to it. Let's start off with what's good about it. The authors write with a clear understanding and love for animation. The book isn't a cold text book on Saturday Morning traditions or television shows. They commnet on obscure shows and remind the reader of the reasons why they watched some shows. In the book, there is a loose history of how cartoons migrated to Saturdays, with subtle mentions of struggles between advertisers, networks, and parental groups, also reflective looks on "Generation X" and their love of animation. They even post comments sent to them from internet newsgroups from people recalling their own love and rituals of Saturday mornings. Lots of inside information told in a real fun way.

Now on to the bad parts...First off, I will state there is a very clear bias in the writing. The authors make their opinions clear when they write about programs they didn't like. What's worse is that they don't give reasons for them. Their mentality sends the message: "you had to be there to know," which means there is a stark learning curve to this text. The only saving grace, is that the authors admit their bias on the first page. Right from the start you know its going to be an opinionated retrospective look back.

The lack of photos in the book is also annoying, especially considering their text on Sid and Marty Kroff's programs, describing the visuals as trippy. The medium of television is very visual, and not being able to make a cartoon character's face with its name, makes looking back 30 years a little tough. The book takes little time to break things into generas or eras. It covers the overall collective of Saturday morning and picks out the most memorible shows and comments on them.

This book is great for the casual reader, but serverly lacking for historic or animation enthusiasts. If you do pick it up, read it for fun, not for research.

Amazon.com

Those who love the single-player version of Diablo have often grown ecstatic over the online multiplayer Battle.net version. Mark Walker's guide will help you get the most from your playing time whether you're in for a couple hours or the whole weekend. He assumes you already know the game's basics from the single-player version and concentrates on the strategic elements of team play--including such matters as how to avoid those players who delight in killing off other players. A nearly 60- page appendix is filled with charts, tables, and resources to help you best plan your campaign.

Book Description

Any fool can find their way to Hell, but only those who master their demons ever return. Dare to wade through the bowels of Battle.net with a strategy guide that gives you the ways to cheat the Devil:

• Elite combat tactics for group movement
• Insights on player killers and bounty hunters
• Tactical advantages for character types
• Demon-battling experience tables

About the Author

Mark Walker is the author of many game books including WarCraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal—The Official Strategy Guide and Magic: The Gathering—BattleMage Official Strategy Guide.

Customer Reviews:

this book was ok, the other better.......1999-10-16

this book was pretty good but had less info on the regular game. also, the charts are a little less comprehensive. u should get the official prima guide instead

It wasn't that great........1999-07-03

I read the book and it didn't help me hardly at all. Most everything mentioned in the book I had already known. Maybe it was just me, this book probably could help a newbie out alot.

A kick-butt book for anyone interested in this game........1999-04-23

This book is great if you love to cheat but are appalled by the lack of codes availabe for the game Diablo. Even though there are some strategies available for this game through vgstrategies.miningco.com this strategie guide is far better

8.......1999-04-22

non

One is enough.......1997-12-15

Either this book or Diablo: The official strategy guide are all you need to know all of the tricks of the game. Highly recommend either book; however, both are redundant so only one is necessary. I prefer Diablo: The official strategy guide.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic book

Short Stories...Loosely Connected

Everything is connected

Didn't tell me anything I didn't already know

Philosophy of the 'Net

Small Pieces Loosely Joined: A Unified Theory of the Web
David Weinberger
Manufacturer: Perseus Books Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Government | Business & Culture | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
Internet | Home Computing | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books | Internet & Education | Online Searching | Web Browsers | Web for Kids
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The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual

Everything Is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder

Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution

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The Curious Researcher

ASIN: 0738208507
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

David Weinberger's Small Pieces Loosely Joined does not merely celebrate the World Wide Web; it attempts to make a case that the institution has completely remodeled many of the world's self-perceptions. The book does so entertainingly, if not convincingly, and is a lively collection of epigrammatic phrases (the Web is "'place-ial' but not spatial"; "on the Web everyone will be famous to 15 people"), as well as illustrations of these changes. There are intriguing assertions: that the Web is "broken on purpose" and that its many pockets of erroneous information and its available forums for disputing, say, manufacturers' hyperbole, let people feel more comfortable with their own inherent imperfections. At other times the book seems stale: it declares that the Web has disrupted long-held axioms about time, space, and knowledge retrieval and that it has dramatically rearranged notions of community and individuality. Weinberger's analysis, though occasionally facile and too relentlessly optimistic and overstated, is surely destined to be the subject of furious debate in chat rooms the cyber-world over. --H. O'Billovich

Book Description

From a Web visionary and co-author of The Cluetrain Manifesto, a fascinating, ambitious look at how the Web is transforming the concepts on which our society is built.

In this insightful social commentary, David Weinberger goes beyond misdirected hype to reveal what is truly revolutionary about the Web. Just as Marshall McLuhan forever altered our view of broadcast media, Weinberger shows that the Web is transforming not only social institutions but also bedrock concepts of our world such as space, time, self, knowledge-even reality itself. Through stories of life on the Web, a unique take on Web sites, and a pervasive sense of humor, Weinberger is the first to put the Web into the social and intellectual context we need to begin assessing its true impact on our lives. The irony, according to Weinberger, is that this seemingly weird new technology is more in tune with our authentic selves than is the modern world. Funny, provocative, and ultimately hopeful, Small Pieces Loosely Joined makes us look at the Web as never before.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic book.......2007-08-07

Rather unique combination of deep insight, new angles awash, solid theory, all the sources, splendid language, passion and humour. What else can you ask for?

Short Stories...Loosely Connected.......2004-09-08

"Small Pieces Loosely Joined" is one of the books that I was really excited to read. Great subject. Great author. And sure enough, within each chapter, I has some really thoughtful moments. But on balance--and maybe this was intentional--the overall connection just seemed missing (as if the chapters were loosely joined...). As a set of short stories, the chapters are provacative. Overall though it left me wanting a bit more. A good book for a slow afternoon...and hey, there's really nothing wrong with that.

Everything is connected.......2004-06-07

This is a great book that helps define what the internet is and how it is effecting our lives. This book provides great insight and gets you thinking about what we do every day on the internet. Are we being more social or anti-social if we spend more time on the internet? We are creating the internet with every web page and every weblog. It's like writing a book that never finishes.

This book looks at the internet by looking at Space, Time, Perfection, Togetherness, Matter and Hope.. This really gets you thinking about what the internet is and what it will become...

Didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.......2004-01-04

A confusing little book - from all the hype you'd think there was some earth-shattering discovery enclosed therein.

But this was just a collection of little essays about the web, the contents of which would be so plainly obvious to every 12 year-old I know. Yet for an over-40 who'd never used the Web, they wouldn't understand it either. So who is the target audience?

It doesn't even merit being considered as "WWW Futures 101". Very disappointing.

Philosophy of the 'Net.......2003-09-23

More a look at society as bounded by the Web than a look at the Web itself, as someone described this book. That's true, for it seems to offer more insights about modern humanity and the weird situation we've created for ourselves than about the Internet itself. Topics include knowledge, time, matter - the stuff of philosophy, and not of a book about the Net.

Everyone who uses the internet should read this book. Anyone interested in modernity should read it as well, even if she doesn't have a computer.

Book Description

Visit the places of America's past, the places where real people led their lives and made American history. Places in Time takes readers to twenty sites that have shaped our national story. Each stopping point is a birds-eye view of a moment in time: Hear the Great Sun call out to his people at Cahokia, ride with General Benedict Arnold at Saratoga, step out of a sedan chair at Independence Hall, and join the Fergusons as they move into "the city as new as tomorrow."

Customer Reviews:

Lilttle known facts, very well presented - that made me surf the Internet for even more info.......2007-03-14

Highly interesting!! Easy to read, and has so much fascinating information!! The Excellent Illustrations are also very very informative!!

Read it and Enjoy it!!! And then surf the 'net to find out even more about some of these places, because this book will definitely pique your interest!!!

Time Tales.......2006-12-08

Looking for the perfect gift for a youngster that you will enjoy as much as the recipient does? Try one of Buckley & Leacock's fabulous renderings of events in American history. The four books they have written (Kids Make History, Journeys for Freedom, Places in Time and Journeys in Time) weave a richly embroidered and at the same time historically accurate tapestry of the story of our nation's founding and continuing development. The authors have fastidiously researched and presented narratives that explain why we are proud to be Americans, with detailed maps and illustrations that are informative and entertaining accompaniments. These are books to be read again and again, cherished and kept forever.

Interesting Points in History.......2004-01-26

AWESOME, COOL, EXCITING

This book was a great experience for me. It taught me how life changes . It had information about wars, if you like wars. It's amazing how life changes like when a water-powered turbine powered a belt which produced electricity used to make quilts and cloth.

There is a little square on the page that tells you the year and place in the U.S. that the event took place. It has numbers to tell you what is what in the illustrations.

I loved the part about Ellis Island! Back then there were big mansions. Now a days there are not as many mansions. Read this book to learn about events in history you have never thought about before.

fun, gorgeous, fascinating.......2002-07-22

What a wonderful book! You can help your middle schooler envision locales of historic interest with these twenty two-page spreads. Pictures use up most of the space and depict people, including children, in typical doings; some cross-sections are employed. The text of several paragraphs describes the place physically, culturally and historically, and sometimes stories are personalized through the experience of a child. Numbered entries point out events or items of interest. Very nicely done and a terrific aid for visual learners.

Presented in chronological order, the sites are: Cahokia, 1200 AD; a Pacific Northwest whaling village, 1490; a pueblo and mission, 1627; New Plymouth, 1627; Charlestown, 1739; a black settlement/fort, 1759; Boonesborough, Kentucky, 1776; battle of Saratoga, 1777; Philadelphia, 1787; a Taos hacienda, 1823; Fort Laramie, 1849; a New England mill town, 1850; a plantation, 1855; Gettysburg, 1863; Abilene, 1871; a wheat farm, 1888; a Chicago mansion, 1893; Ellis Island, 1901; a New York tenement, 1916; a post-WWII housing project, 1953. An index is included.

Very nicely done. Highly recommended.

Personalized History.......2001-07-09

It does not simply show war battle sites. Historic places like a New England factory town, 1770's Philadelphia, and a slave plantation are also shown. Do not think of this as a map book. Cutaway drawings/paintings with labels show the reader a typical plantation, factory town, a 1950's planned suburb and battle scenes. It is a way of making history accessible and put a personal face on it. It is different in a very good way.

Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History.(Review)(Children's Review)(Brief Article): An article from: The Horn Book Magazine

Average customer rating:

Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History.(Review)(Children's Review)(Brief Article): An article from: The Horn Book Magazine
B.c.
Manufacturer: Horn Book, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Horn Book Magazine, published by Horn Book, Inc. on July 1, 2001. The length of the article is 622 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History.(Review)(Children's Review)(Brief Article)
Author: B.c.
Publication: The Horn Book Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2001
Publisher: Horn Book, Inc.
Volume: 77 Issue: 4 Page: 471

Article Type: Book Review, Children's Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History

Average customer rating:

Places in Time: A New Atlas of American History
Elspeth Leacock
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback
ASIN: 0606279547

Book Description

On his long journey home from the Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart--one of history’s most powerful and romantic figures--was ship-wrecked near Venice in the Adriatic Sea. Forced to make his way home by land through enemy countries, he traveled in disguise, but was eventually captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria, who in turn conveyed him to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. Henry demanded a majestic ransom, and Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, raised the historic sum--one quarter of the entire wealth of England--and Richard was returned. But a peculiar legend followed him--that a troubadour named Blondel, a friend of Richard's, had journeyed across Europe singing a song he knew Richard would recognize in order to discover his secret place of imprisonment.

David Boyle recreates the drama of the Third Crusade and the dynamic power politics and personalities of the late 12th century in Europe, as well as the growing fascination with romance and chivalry embodied in the troubadour culture. An evocation of a pivotal era, The Troubadour’s Song is narrative history at its finest.

Customer Reviews:

Chivalry, Court Love, Music and an Imprisoned King.......2007-06-02

It reads like a fairy tale:

Once upon a time there was a king, famous for his courage and strength, who was imprisoned in a distant castle by his enemies. No one in his homeland knew where he was, that is, until a minstrel wandered beneath the tower where he was kept. Below the tower, the troubadour sang, and to his amazement, he heard the answering refrain from above. It was, of course, the lost king, and the troubadour hurried to let his people know where he was being kept so that he could be ransomed and returned to his homeland.

But there is a good chance that it may have actually happened. Author David Boyle explores both medieval legend and fact in his book, The Troubadour?s Song: The Capture and Ransom of Richard the Lionheart. I must say, it?s one of the best works of popular fiction that I have come across this year. I do admit to a certain preference to this time in history, full of glamour and exoticism, and a particular favorite of many historical novelists and researchers alike.

In this, Boyle starts with the legend of King Richard?s imprisonment and how he may have been discovered by a troubadour, by the name of Blondel. Beginning with the historical legend, he moves on to discussing the culture and rise of the troubadour culture, and how the Courts of Love helped to shape a rise in music, and the idea of codified rule of behavior between men and women. King Richard had been raised in this culture of music and art, learning music and being no mean poet himself, all under the approving and watchful eye of his mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of Henry II of England. But lest anyone think that Richard was a dainty man, he was also a fearsome warrior, quick tempered and prideful, and loved to make war. And when his mother was replaced, as it were, by one of her husband?s mistresses, Richard took it as an excuse to raise a rebellion against his father.

Richard lost, but he would eventually survive his father to become King of England and master of the Angevin empire that his parents had built. And now, he intended to fulfill his vow and go on Crusade to the Holy Land and retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. His ally in this was the French King, Philip Augustus, who had helped him before in his rebellions, and may have been his lover.

Boyle goes in depth into the victories and failures of Richard?s crusade, providing an excellent analysis of what happened and when, and most importantly, why, along with giving some more insight into Richard?s shadowy queen, Berengaria of Navarre. But it was on the return trip from the Holy Land where the historical record gets murky. A minor German prince, Leopold of Austria, had been mortally insulted by Richard at a siege, and when Richard was discovered in disguise traveling in Leopold?s domain, it was an opportunity too good to pass up. He immediately had Richard arrested, and demanded an outrageous ransom ? the equivalent of nearly two billion dollars today.

It?s popular history at its best, Boyle?s writing is clear and free of jargon, told in a sprightly, slightly humourous style. He takes on such varied topics as the question of whether Richard was a homosexual or bisexual, the role of chivalry between opponents on a battlefield, medieval music, the plotting between Richard?s brother John and Philip Augustus and more than a dozen other topics. One interesting tangent that Boyle takes is the role of Robin Hood and King Richard, and indeed, the entire myth of King Richard ? and wicked Prince John ? a topic that will change many readers attitudes towards these characters. What works here is that the narrative is smooth and keeps from getting too tangled up in trivia, which is usually the problem with reading about history.

To help the reader along, there is an insert of photographs, taken mostly from manuscripts and tombs, and the usual bibliography and notes. Skimming through these, I found quite a few books and sources that are going to encourage me in future research.

This book takes several nights, provides plenty of entertainment and questions, and was pretty much overlooked when it was first published. For anyone interested in the middle ages, and particularly the real Richard the Lionheart, this is a must-read book. It?s entertaining, full of colour and life and certain not to disappoint.

Recommended

Subtitle is the key to the book.......2006-05-07

This book by David Boyle proves to be a superb work of history regarding the capture and ransom of King Richard I of England. Its a well written, easy to read and superbly research book that dealt with the details around Richard's captured, methods of his ransom and his dealing with his captors. Although it read like Richard's biography, the book gives a good detail study of this incident. It was interesting to know that inorder to ensure his final release, Richard pledged England to his captor, Henry VI of Holy Roman Empire. It was probably a pledge that he never meant to keep but for a brief moment of legel history, England was a province of Germany. Background material on Richard, especially his conducts during the Crusades and his dealing with various lords and rulers during the Third Crusade proves to be well presented and accurately gives the cause and effects behind his imprisonment.

The author also take pains to informed the readers of the type of the world, Richard lived in, the influence of music and men who write them like the troubadours. While the author get into the stories of these troubadours, especially one Blondal who were rumoured to found Richard's prison by singing under his castle cell, the author make it pretty clear to the reader where facts end and where the legend begin.

The book come highly recommended to anyone who happen to be interested in mediveal English history, especially in the personality of King Richard the Lion-Heart. A detail look at his captivity proves to be highly informative and interesting.

Rich in detail and a true pleasure to read.......2006-03-24

This book is one of those that is all too rarely found - the history is well-researched and very detailed and yet the style is smooth and engaging, making it both informative and a pleasure to read at the same time. The keenness of Boyle's interest in both the period - the late 12th century with its crusades, chivalry, courtly love and troubadours - and in the core event itself - the capture and ransom of Richard the Lionheart - comes through in the way in which he brings it all to life, immersing the reader to the extent that we feel we are there as witnesses.

One thing I felt Boyle did particularly well was pointing out where he was relating known historical fact and where he was filling in gaps with informed speculation, showing the various possibilities and why he felt a particular one might be the most likely. For example, very little is actually known about Blondel, the legendary troubadour of the title, but Boyle shows what is known and also what can be deduced or speculated based on it. He also does the same for Robin Hood, another legendary figure tied to the story of Richard's absence and return to England.

Another thing Boyle does well is giving the reader a sense of the personalities of the dominant figures of the period and its events, and showing how much the strengths and weakness of their personalities affected how things turned out. Richard's charisma, persuasiveness and calm in the face of adversity come out vividly in the parts where he is a prisoner of Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor, and put on trial for alleged crimes connected to his conduct of the crusade. By sheer presence and oratory, Richard wins over the German princes summoned to be his judges, not only winning his acquittal but also going on to form new alliances and trade deals for England, all while still a prisoner. His playful and winning nature comes out in how he dealt with his guards. Richard's reputation as a fearsome warrior was such that when he was captured, orders were given that he be guarded by four knights with swords drawn at all times. But within a matter of weeks, Richard so charmed his guards that he was constantly getting them drunk and engaging them in wrestling contests. At the same time, Boyle shows how Richard's ego and his inability to resist grand gestures were ultimately responsible for his being noticed and captured. It's rather difficult to travel incognito disguised as a merchant while at the same time insisting on giving expensive jeweled rings to local nobles and granting kingly bequests to build or restore cathedrals.

Other personalities are also brought out in vivid detail. Eleanor of Acquitaine, Richard's mother, in her 70's at the time but still a lioness in her own right, taking charge of the raising of the ransom and of the negotiations to free her son. The vacillating Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, never truly certain of what he should do with his valuable but equally dangerous prisoner. Leopold of Austria, whose personal bitterness against Richard over his treatment at the siege of Acre led to his imprisoning of Richard when was forced by fate to attempt to cross through his lands on his return to England. And Philip Augustus, the King of France, a close friend in Richard's youth only to become his enemy in adulthood.

The book is rich in anecdotes relating to the events. Among my favorite was when Longchamp, Richard's unpopular Chancellor in England, tries to flee the country disguised as a woman only to be caught at the port when a flirtatious fisherman starts feeling him up. Another was when Richard, finally released from captivity, sends a written message to his treacherous brother John, warning him "Look to yourself. The devil is loosed!" The book also goes into interesting side details, such as the difference between troubadours and minstrels (troubadours wrote songs, whereas minstrels only sang them), the limited methods of writing down music at the time (they had a way of recording the where the notes were on a scale but not the tempo of how they should be played or how long they should be held), the way in which the ransom, almost a quarter of England's wealth converted into silver, was raised and the magnitude of its effect on the economies of both England and Europe, and the fates of all of the major figures in the period after Richard's release (almost all of them were dead in less than five years).

All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys either history or a good read. It more than meets the mark in both.

A light read.......2005-10-19

I give this book 4 stars because it is an enjoyable, easy read. But it doesn't get very deep into anything. I am not sure why "the troubadour's song" got prime billing on the title. It isn't much of the book. There isn't much historical evidence concerning Blondel and anything he might have done concerning locating King Richard or his release. The author's discussion is interesting but only a very small part of the book. The author pulled together the whole story of Richard, his capture, the other major participants in the story, England's raising of the ransom, and even, the economic effect on England. All well told. But nothing particularly astounding or revealing. However, the author writes very well. The story moves along nicely and you have a pleasant time reading it. If you are only vaguely familiar with King Richard's capture and ransom and that sort of story would be interesting to you, this is a good book to relax with and enjoy. A final aspect of this book I really enjoyed was at the end when he tells you what happened to all the major participants after Richard is released.

Book Description

About 375 million people are infected with the hepatitis B virus. It has killed more people than AIDS and also causes millions of cases of liver cancer. The discovery of this deadly virus and the vaccine against it--a vaccine that is sharply decreasing the infection rate worldwide and is probably the first effective cancer vaccine--was one of the great triumphs of twentieth-century medicine. And it almost didn't happen.

With wit and insight, this scientific memoir and story of discovery describes how Baruch Blumberg and a team of researchers found a virus they were not looking for and created a vaccine for a disease they previously knew little about--work that took the author around the world and won him the Nobel Prize.

Blumberg and his collaborators were investigating relationships between gene distribution and disease susceptibility, research that was yielding interesting data but no real breakthroughs. Many viewed their work as more field trip than science. But, through decades of hard work and investigative twists and turns, their pursuit led to the hepatitis B antigen, the elusive virus itself, and, ultimately, the vaccine. As he takes the reader through the detective work that culminated in his incredible discovery, the author recounts with immediacy exciting moments in the lab and in the field--from a hair-raising flight to Africa to an unpleasant encounter with Alaskan sled dogs.

The hepatitis B story is more than a fascinating chronicle of a major discovery. What Blumberg followed to the virus was a trail of remarkable "accidents" that happen when scientists seek answers to interesting questions. Those events, combined with the investigator's determined persistence, resulted in studies that generated a pharmaceutical industry, have far-flung public-health applications, and saved millions of lives.

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PROGRESS FOR A SMALL PLANET
WARD
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Progress for a small planet
Barbara Ward
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Progress for a Small Planet
Barbara Ward
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Progress for a Small Planet
Brabara Ward
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