Book Description
Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is finally invited to a social event that she doesn't have to cater-but trouble is brewing at the engagement soiree of the season...
Customer Reviews:
Loving Tea and Mysteries in Texas #2.......2007-05-08
I love Tea...and I love mysteries...and I love Earl Grey...he's the best!
Shades of Earl Grey part of the Tea Mysteries.......2007-05-07
This a part of the Tea Mysteries by Laura Childs. It helps iif one reads the earlier books, but this will stand alone. The descriptions of charlestown, South Carolina and iit's poeple are priceless. The heroine and her staff of two couldn't be better. The information about the many teas is interesting and the included recipies are wonderful.
The Story is a B- / The Mystery is a F-.......2006-12-07
The best thing about this book is the beautiful descriptions of historic Charleston that the author crafts with vivid and colorful prose. You can almost feel the fog coming off the Cooper and Ashley rivers as her character jogs through the cobble stone streets at The Battery. Or the smell of flowers, blooming after the rain in a hidden garden of an old inn.
Her characters are fun and interesting for the most part, but the development is light and her male characters seem a bit off somehow, too passive. Also for most people the insightful discussions of tea maybe slightly boring after awhile.
The worst thing about the series is the mysteries, they are shallow, and full of factual mistakes regarding criminal investigations and law enforcement! Her main character frequently commits obstruction of justice/ hindering a police investigation, by willfully withhold information/ evidence/ or contaminating a crime scene! She has no clue about basic police procedures, rules of evidence, warrants, or criminal law. Theo wonders why a homicide detective is interested in a case that's "just a robbery", well perhaps because someone died in the robbery, thus a homicide (felony murder) had been committed. There are a great deal of such inaccuracies, it actually fun looking for them and getting a laugh.
Seeing Through the Shadows.......2006-07-25
Although formulaic, the Tea Shop mysteries are quick, fun reads. Laura Childs has a knack for blending the two sides of her main character, Theodosia Browning; the tea-shop owner and the would-be detective. In "Shades of Earl Grey", the third book in the series, Theodosia once again finds herself surrounded in a mystery that only she can piece together.
The story opens when an unfortunate 'accident' occurs during an engagement party - the groom is killed and the expensive family heirloom wedding ring goes missing. Everyone assumes it was an accident, except for Theodosia, who is certain foul play was involved; and when more robberies take place in the Historic District of Charleston, she is convinced that a cat burgular is at work. Since the police aren't willing to hear her theories, she must take matters into her own hands to uncover the thief and retrieve the stolen goods.
Although I do enjoy these books (as a lover of tea and mystery), I do take certain issues with Childs' writing. There are plenty of times when it seems an amateur hand is at work, when character development is made through extensive description of what a character wears, instead of through what they say or how they act. Also, as much as Theodosia fancies herself to be a detective, she always places blame on the wrong people. She doesn't 'figure it out' until the person reveals himself to her, and it's been obvious to astute readers for several chapters. It is fine for an amateur detective to make mistakes, but this has been the case in every book, and needs to be improved upon.
Shades of Earl Gray.......2006-07-14
This entire tea shop mystery series is delightful. Wonderful recipes in the back! I've tried some of them and they are as good as the books. This book is an easy read. Not too easy to figure out whodunit!
Average customer rating:
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Shades of Earl Grey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000H21M9O |
Book Description
In 1882, after six years of foreign travel and adventure, renowned diplomat and detective Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow in the heart of Mother Russia. His Moscow homecoming is anything but peaceful. In the hotel where he and his loyal if impertinent manservant Masa are staying, Fandorin’s old war-hero friend General Michel Sobolev (“Achilles” to the crowd) has been found dead, felled in his armchair by an apparent heart attack. But Fandorin suspects an unnatural cause. His suspicions lead him to the boudoir of the beautiful singer–“not exactly a courtesan”–known as Wanda. Apparently, in Wanda’s bed, the general secretly breathed his last. . . .
Download Description
In 1882, after six years of foreign travel and adventure, renowned diplomat and detective Erast Fandorin returns to Moscow in the heart of Mother Russia. His Moscow homecoming is anything but peaceful. In the hotel where he and his loyal if impertinent manservant Masa are staying, Fandorin’s old war-hero friend General Michel Sobolev (“Achilles” to the crowd) has been found dead, felled in his armchair by an apparent heart attack. But Fandorin suspects an unnatural cause. His suspicions lead him to the boudoir of the beautiful singer–“not exactly a courtesan”–known as Wanda. Apparently, in Wanda’s bed, the general secretly breathed his last. . . .
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorite Fandorins.......2007-09-03
Fandorin is back in Russia from Japan with Masa, his manservant, and immediately encounters the mysterious death of General Sobolev, his colleague from "Turkish Gambit". Other reviews have detailed the plot, so I won't elaborate, but as someone once said "the beauty is in the details"; they are in abundance in this book. One of Akunin's strengths is that he creates villains as interesting and complex as his hero Fandorin, and this book contains a very worth match for the intrepid Erast Petrovich. The last third of the book elaborates upon the life of this villain and his motives, essential to the plot and evoking details from "The Winter Queen, aka Azazel", my second favorite Fandorin novel. As usual, Akunin includes well-drawn, intelligent and beautiful femme fatales to add some spice to the mix.
This book would translate nicely to the screen. I have read that Azazel will be refilmed in 2008 by an American director. Perhaps then Fandorin will have a larger, well-deserved world-wide audience.
Superb mystery novel.......2006-08-15
Strongly recommend to all lovers of mystery who enjoy an occasional mental exercise :)
Another good Akunin mystery.......2006-07-13
The Death of Achilles is a return to form for Akunin, with keenly drawn characters more reminiscent of Winter Palace than his later books. Not high art, but a fun summer read.
The Death of Achilles.......2006-05-30
I love this author. Not only do you have a 'whodoneit' but the dry sense of humour is wonderful. I will read every book he writes.
Mindblowing.......2006-05-08
This is my 4th Fandorin novel and I like it as much as the first, Winter Queen. It is fast-moving and complex. I have now learned to pay attention to all the details and it is fun to look for characters from the previous books (readers new to the Fandorin series should read the books in sequence: 1. Winter Queen 2. Turkish Gambit 3. Leviathan 4. Achilles). What I really liked was just as they get down to business solving this mystery, the author stops and embarks on a seemingly unconnected story about some "Achimas". This book within a book is Russian story-telling at its very best and allows you to catch your breath before Akunin dives back into the main plot and puts together all the pieces from two perspectives. Simply wonderful. As there are no more English translations, I will continue with this series in German.
Book Description
The New York Road Runners Complete Book of Running and Fitness, 4th Edition is an up-to-date resource for running, walking, and general fitness. The combined knowledge of experts in the field provides readers with a comprehensive guide for every level of fitness. This newly revised edition includes:
·Advice on motivation, in-depth training techniques and exercises, injury prevention, nutritional information, and healthy recipes.
·New content targeting the specific concerns of women, children, and aging.
Customer Reviews:
Cover pic.......2007-05-12
I bought this book because I'm wearing the orange hat on the cover of the book, and I thought that was cool. But I have read some of the book and it is good stuff.
A Single Comprehensive Reference!.......2006-03-11
I bought this book on the recommendation of another reviewer on Amazon. I am very happy that I did. I have other books on the subject, but none of them are as comprehensive and thorough as this one. It is the type of book that you can scan for pertinent topics, or read straight through! Many, many tips for all levels of runners (very good beginner tips), all ages of runner, including stretching tips, yoga postures for warming up and staying limber, how to prepare for various races, and so many other subjects. The writing is clear and concise. Topics covered include: Training, Racing, distance running with various levels and information on how to prepare for each race (mile, 5K, 10K, marathon, etc.), The Psychology of Running, Nutrition, Safety, Sports Medicine, Aging and Exercise, Walking, and Equipment.
Book Description
Baking is about memories: recipes handed down from generation to generation and tastes that conjure childhood—think of Proust’s madeleines or your mom’s chocolate cake. Sweets are often bound up in our emotional life as adults, too: they’re how we reward ourselves or our children, how we celebrate holidays, birthdays, and special occasions, and how we honor guests.
In Baking from the Heart, more than fifty of the nation’s preeminent bakers share their recipes for cookies, cakes, and other dessert favorites, and the memories of why they hold that recipe dear. From the Apple Snacking Spice Cake that Joanna Chang made her fourth-grade teacher to show her how much she loved her to the Polvorones that were a Sunday after-church treat in Miguel Ravago’s home, these are recipes—and stories—to treasure.
When James Beard Award–winner Greg Patent was a teenager, he won a trip to New York City to compete in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with his Cherry-Apricot Coconut Bars. Forty years later, his mother earned a place in that same competition with her Walnut Fudge Bars. World-renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres tucked a few pints of hand-picked Michigan blueberries into his luggage so he could again make Blueberry Dame Blanche, the jam-filled cookies he made when he was a child in France, with his aging mother. For her son Gio’s first Valentine’s Day at school, Food TV’s Gale Gand concocted Marshmallow Heart Throbs, a cupcake he could cut into the shape of a heart. When Jimmy Schmidt’s family vacationed in Wisconsin, his contribution to his mother’s Black Walnut Pound Cake were the walnuts he picked and shelled with his siblings, aided by their father who would crack the hulls by driving over them in his ’55 Chevy. Like many of the other contributors, Jimmy Schmidt serves up two recipes with reminiscences (the walnut cake and his Blueberry Slump) for our delectation.
Baking from the Heart is also sweet inspiration for anyone who wants to join in The Great American Bake Sale™. When Share Our Strength—the nation’s preeminent hunger-fighting organization—joined with PARADE magazine to launch The Great American Bake Sale™ in 2003, the country’s response was overwhelming: nearly half a million people baked, bought, or sold, raising over a million dollars to end childhood hunger. (More information appears inside.)
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefit Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s preeminent anti-hunger agencies.
Customer Reviews:
very unique - big variety.......2005-12-23
I really enjoy this book. There is a cinnamon roll recipe in here that is to die for! The homemade oreos are wonderful and fun to make. The stories are interesting to read. There is many recipes in here that I would never make but when there is a book like this with such a variety of recipes, that is bound to happen. I collect baking cookbooks and one of the reasons that I purchased this one is because there is recipes in here that I have not seen in any other book. Very original.
now fearless.......2004-11-30
I'm not sure what I enjoyed the most - the photos, the recipes or the stories. Like so many people, I've had a love of cooking and fear of baking... until Baking From The Heart. While thumbing through my new copy, I stopped at Mohn Kickle, a poppy seed cookie I grew up eating but hadn't heard of or thought about in 20 years. As I read the introductory story by chef Lora Brody, I couldn't stop laughing as she shares hilarious stories about her parent's culinary skills. I decided to bake something that my 2 1/2 year old would enjoy and settled on David Lebovitz's peppermint patties. We loved them - as did everyone in my office the next day. I felt like such a big shot, making candy at virtually my first baking attempt. I hit a few bumps along the way but in the end, they looked and tasted delicious. Now I want to try literally every recipe in the book starting with the Flan Almendrado.
A Wonderful Book!.......2004-11-24
A beautiful book. Not your average cook book - the contributors to this book share with you where their recipe comes from - most often a family recipe passed down over time. A great gift (especially when paired with Cooking from the Heart) and a great opportunity to support Share Our Strength.
Makes You Want to Bake!!.......2004-11-03
Just in time for the holidays, this book has great recipes for those you love with sweet tooths. My personal favorites are the luscious peppermint patties and the homemade Oreos! Plus, I love the anecdotes by each chef. It makes each recipe much more personal. I love this book and I think you will too.
Great holiday gift - but buy one for yourself too!.......2004-11-02
I bought this book as a thank you gift for two friends who love to bake, but after reading through it, I decided I had to have one for myself. The Pumpkin Loaf Cake with Chocolate chips and the Chocolate Rasperry Chess Pie were both delicious and fairly easy to make. I have to say that I've never enjoyed reading a cookbook as much as this one. The stories are so much fun to read. If you like to bake, or want to start baking, you will really enjoy this collection - and knowing that proceeds will go to fight hunger makes it that much better.
Book Description
If you love the beauty of gems but have trouble distinguishing a topaz from a sapphire, this book is for you. How can you make sure you are getting good value for your money? Just buy this book! Dan Dennis, the gem show host whose popularity with Home Shopping Network viewers nationwide has helped to fuel the recent explosion in the gem collecting market, offers a wealth of useful facts and fascinating lore about gems in this funny yet practical illustrated guide.
With the same passion and entertaining, informative style that has marked his television appearances over the past 15 years, Dennis covers in detail more than 100 different gems-from diamonds, pearls, and rubies to emeralds, jade, opals, and a host of less-familiar stones as well. The book describes the often surprising route a gem takes from rough stone to polished and set jewelry; lists birth and astral stones; and offers helpful tips on how to buy jewelry and how to care for your treasures once you do.
60 illustrations, 55 in full color, 8 x 10"
DANIEL J. DENNIS, JR., is a gemstone specialist and senior gem show host for the Home Shopping Network. Dennis, his wife Linda, and family reside in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Customer Reviews:
Gems: A LIvely Guide...review.......2005-09-27
This book is just what the title says - the author uses some humor and information is aimed toward a casual collector rather than a scientist or a super-rich collector. Besides the usual information about the make-up of a gemstone, there is also comparisons of the gem if it is found in more than one location, a bit of history of the discovery of a gemstone, and even a bit of information about the beliefs in the health benefits of some stones. It is not absolutely a complete guide, but more than just an overview of the main gems such as diamonds, sapphires, etc. The photos are very good, although not all are labeled.
Very Informative.......2001-09-29
I very much enjoyed this book mostly because it is written in plain ordinary English for the average person. With all the internet shopping that is now available, it is advisable to know something about the various gems so you know what you're getting.
This book fills the bill perfectly!
This man romances the stones!.......2001-08-09
This man knows his gems and he has great stories behind each piece. He has great ways of romancing the stones like no one else. I get so excited hearing the little background stories he tells about each gem and the history behind the locations they come from. A great book by a renowned expert of gemology. I highly recommend this book.
What a pleasure!.......2001-07-26
I can't begin to say how wonderful this book is. Whether you are a layman or a professional, this is THE book to turn to. Not only is it highly informative, but it is written so well that you actually WANT to read it. Dan's sense of humor and his love for gems shines here. I wouldn't trade this book for anything.
Great Book!.......2000-03-28
This book is very insightful. If you want to know anything about gems - how to care for them, where they come from, etc. - this book is a must. Highly recommended!
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Countryside & Small Stock Journal, published by Countryside Publications Ltd. on March 1, 1993. The length of the article is 398 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: Natural Baskets: Create Over 20 Unique Baskets with Materials Gathered in Gardens, Fields, and Woods. (book reviews)
Author: Jd Belanger
Publication:
Countryside & Small Stock Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 1993
Publisher: Countryside Publications Ltd.
Volume: v77
Issue: n2
Page: p87(1)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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The Castle of Prague and Its Treasures (A Motovun Group book)
Tim Sharman
Manufacturer: Flint River
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1871489156 |
Average customer rating:
- A PICTORIAL ODE TO PRAGUE
- Beautiful, informative book for research or souvenir
|
The Prague Castle and Its Treasures
Ivo Hlobil , and
Prince of Schwarzenberg Charles
Manufacturer: Vendome Press, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0865659524 |
Customer Reviews:
A PICTORIAL ODE TO PRAGUE.......2004-04-11
One of the world's most beautiful cities is exquisitely represented in this splendid volume.
Beginning with a breathtaking twilight washed view of the towered city, each succeeding photograph reveals anopther extraordinary work of art within the Hrad or Prague Castle.
Its age of glory began in the early 14th century, with the first building dating back to the second half of the 9th century. Today it beguiles the eye in all its Baroque splendor.
Beautiful, informative book for research or souvenir.......2004-03-20
Prague has always been one of the most beautiful and interesting -- as well as historically significant -- cities of Central Europe. Even forty-odd years of Communist domination weren't able to destroy that. This worthwhile book, published in 1994, focuses on perhaps the brightest jewel of that bright city, the Prague Castle.
Karl Schwarzenberg, editor of this title, is a former intimate advisor to Václav Havel and scion of a noble Austro-Bohemian family that is itself interesting and historically-significant. He has assembled a fine collection of art, photography, and narrative into a book that will satisfy people seeking a souvenir of their visit to Prague as well as historically-minded readers looking for a window into Czech history or medieval and early modern art and culture. The castle itself is thoroughly catalogued, from its ancient foundations to the modern, stylish, and unpretentious office of the president of the Czech Republic. St. Vitus's Cathedral, next door, is also covered, as are various squares, chapels, and the collection of the National Gallery at the nearby St. George's Convent.
In all, this book gives the reader much to admire and enjoy. I've never been to Prague, but it's definitely high up on my list of places I want to see. Until then, this book will be both diversion and further incentive.
Average customer rating:
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Drawings After Codices Madrid of Da Vinci
Joseph Beuys
Manufacturer: Dia Center For the Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 3928762753 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 10502 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: Dramatizing issues that historians don't address: an interview with Oliver Stone.(Interview)
Author: Gary Crowdus
Publication:
Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2005
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: 30
Issue: 2
Page: 12(12)
Article Type: Interview
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on September 22, 1996. The length of the article is 5186 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.
From the supplier: Film director Oliver Stone's provocative historical films 'JFK' and 'Nixon' have elicited adverse criticism, such as his proficient fusion of newsreel footage with fictional scenes in the film JFK. The director considers dramatic license a reconstruction of what one believes has occurred, using actors, costumes, make up, the condensation of events and the invention of dialogue which occurred behind closed doors.
Citation Details
Title: History, dramatic license and larger historical truths: an interview with Oliver Stone. (film director)(Interview)
Author: Gary Crowdus
Publication:
Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 1996
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: v22
Issue: n4
Page: p38(5)
Article Type: Interview
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Amazon.com
In our increasingly visual culture, a growing amount of what we learn about history comes from the movies. This unusual and cornucopian book draws on the knowledge of 60 experts who examine the historical accuracy of a splendid array of classic movies such as Julius Caesar, Aguirre the Wrath of God, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Last of the Mohicans, Gallipoli, and Gandhi. They reveal what each movie has done right and wrong in portraying the complex threads of the stories as known to the world's most qualified scholars. Highly Recommended.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on September 22, 1996. The length of the article is 5742 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.
From the supplier: Film director Oliver Stone opines that historians consider themselves the custodians of recorded world events with a pompousness and solemnity mien. He believes that movies are a sort of initial rough draft that point out issues, inspire students and a method of attacking the current consensus of history among historians. Stone's films elicit such adverse criticism from critics, particularly historians, because he sends a dramatic message that is too defined and clear-cut.
Citation Details
Title: Past imperfect: history according to the movies. (interview with film director Oliver Stone)(Interview)
Author: Mark C. Carnes
Publication:
Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 1996
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: v22
Issue: n4
Page: p33(5)
Article Type: Interview
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Customer Reviews:
The Beauty of the Cinema.......2002-10-03
This book is commendable for its conception but is flawed in its premise and execution. The problem is there are too many fingers in the pie. I would have liked to read about one historian's perspective on all the films reviewed. Instead, each film was addressed and compared to historical recollections by a different author. There is no uniformity of thought or perspective. For instance, I am sure that if Stephen Ambrose had reviewed TORA! TORA! TORA! he may have seen that film in a much more favorable light than did Akira Iriye. One can speculate to infinitum. It is possible to find and read countless books on a given historical topic. The point I am making is that each author has the ability to bring different perspectives or interpretations of historical record that may result in different conclusions of events or more importantly ideas. If you were to ask an auditorium full of historians what was the most important factor contributing to the start of the Civil War I am sure you may get at least five good answers. Perhaps the idea that a film conveys is more important than the accuracy of each step that led to that idea. I think that SPARTACUS is an important film not as a representation of a historical record but for the idea that the inherent rights of human beings to live free is a notion worth dying for. Kirk Douglas as SPARTACUS stated something to the effect that he would never stand by and see two men battle and die just for the amusement of other men. There is something very noble about that statement and to the visuals on the screen that precipitated that assertion. To touch a chord of emotion from the audience is really the magic of the cinema. I never once ever thought that the purpose of the cinema was to teach history. For the audience the main purpose of the cinema is to be entertained and if you take it a few more steps perhaps come away with an idea or spark of imagination. That's the beauty of the cinema.
Good but Not Perfect.......2002-01-24
This is a very interesting and useful book but I don't exactly like the overall point of view that it takes on motion pictures. It takes many historically based films and critiques them by comparing what is on the screen to actual historical events. Each chapter is devoted to one film (in most instances) and is critiqued by a different authority. The one constant that I see running throughout this book is that history does not make for good motion pictures if you are gazing through the eyes of the historian. That disturbs me. Motion pictures are a business as well a legitimate art form. If a historically based movie gets your interest as well as entertains you then perhaps that movie has fulfilled its purpose. The movie is the catalyst. It is up to you to dig up the history book and see what was recorded. And if you dig up a second history book it is very possible that those same events may be recorded slightly different. I liked the critique by Sean Wilentz on "THE BUCCANEER: Two Films" where he states that they stand somewhere in between fact and fiction. Akira Iriye is too critical of TORA! TORA! TORA! When you recall that particular motion picture, that's the one that stands out as a film that tried to get all the facts correct. Americans and Japanese respective of their home countries directed it. Iriye's criticism is almost ludicrous trying to state that inflections in the voices of some of the actors actually distorted the true meaning of their words. In light of PEARL HARBOR (2001) Akira Iriye is way off mark. Marshall De Bruhl's words about THE ALAMO are redundant and superficial. THE ALAMO was John Wayne's screen fulfillment of the legend. THE ALAMO is a great American film and it perpetuates that legend till this day. I liked what Stephen E. Ambrose had to say about THE LONGEST DAY. Ambrose recognizes that half the duality of filmmaking is a business. His approach and comments are very insightful and well written. As seen by James H. McPerson GLORY comes off best. It deserves it. "PAST IMPERFECT" is a good book but I just wish there were more input from the filmmakers.
Can you properly portray history in the movies?.......2001-11-14
When you're both a student of history and a movie buff, as I am, it can be difficult to sit and watch a film that presumes to have an accurate historical context without fighting the urge to evaluate it and pick holes in it. And I'm not the only one. This is a collection of analytical essays, most of high quality, by experts (not all of them historians) analyzing and critiquing individual films: Stephen Jay Gould on _Jurassic Park,_ Antonia Fraser on _Anne of the Thousand Days,_ Thomas Fleming on _1776,_ Dee Brown on _Fort Apache,_ William Manchester on _Young Winston,_ and numerous others. Sticking to those films about which I have some knowledge of the historical events they claim to portray, most are right on the money. James McPherson, commenting on _Glory,_ points out that while the context and general atmosphere are very well done, and the costuming and so on are exact, there are still deliberate historical errors for the sake of drama; none of the soldiers in Col. Shaw's 54th Massachusetts were ex-slaves, for instance, all of them having been recruited from among the state's free black population. And Catherine Clinton does an excellent job taking the wind out of _Gone with the Wind_'s mythical sails. There's a great deal of good information and criticism here and it's a compliment to say that nearly any of these essays will start an argument.
Let's have a revised edition...PLEASE???.......2000-11-08
This book is just too damn interesting not to go into a revised edition that would, welcomingly, include a few more recent examples of the movies portending to convey history. It is cleverly organized, with an actual historical "timeline" that is matched with a selected movie that attempted to portray events for that period or year. It starts all the way back in the Jurrasic period, with "Jurrasic Park," of course. Each movie critique is written by a different film expert or historian, so you get a lot of diversity of perspective as well as writing style. There is a very intelligent interview of director John Sayles ("Eight Men Out" "Metowan") in the preface, which may be reason enough for film buffs to purchase this book.
One can either browse through the book and focus on "favorite" or "hated" films of the past, or read it straight through. Each essay offers at least one very good insight on the nature of history and how elusive the "accurate" accounting of an era or event can be.
The overall impression this book leaves is that movies, for all their ostensible efforts to "recreate" historical realities, will NEVER get it quite right. That's because they are products of their own times, and cannot ever fully escape the sensibilities of their own historical eras. Given this approach, the reader cannot help but gain a deeper appreciation for the exacting work of historians -- even if he or she is first attracted to the book out of interest in film. Films (and histories) explored here include "Spartacus," "Aguirre, Wrath of God," "Houdini" "Anne of a Thousand Days," "Henry V" (both Oliver and Branagh)"They Died With their Boots On", as well as many more. Since this book's publication, there have been more films that have either come close to, or completely mangled historical reality, so a revised edition would be most welomed. So to Mark Carnes, et al. -- PLEASE???
Perfect for the film buff and the historian........2000-07-13
A book that unites two of my passions: history and cinema. Great essays that not only discuss the movies themselves; but also put the times that movies were made in a historical context. These movies often reveal more about the time the movie was made in than the historical period the movie is about.
My only complaint? Wish there wasa volume two!
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