Kangaroo Hollow

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In the Forests of Serre, who knows what will happen?

"I Broke My Heart to Get It for You..."

The Heart of Serre

Can't see the forest for the trees

Lyrical, imaginative but missing something..
In The Forests Of Serre
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Ace Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

McKillip, Patricia A. | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441011578
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

Like Ursula K. Le Guin and Jane Yolen, World Fantasy Award winner Patricia A. McKillip (author of Riddle-Master, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, and Ombria in Shadow) is one of the great fantasy authors working at the turn of the millennium. In her beautifully written novel In the Forests of Serre, McKillip again demonstrates her intimate understanding of the mysteries of magic and the human heart.

Everyone in the kingdom of Serre avoids the Mother of All Witches, an ugly, powerful, and dangerous woman who lives in the Forest of Serre. But then the grief-blinded Prince of Serre rides down the witch's white hen and earns her curse. Prince Ronan believes nothing can be worse than what he has already experienced: the death of his wife and their newborn. But soon the curse destroys what little the prince has left, and he wanders lost and half-mad through the Forest of Serre, pursuing a beautiful, elusive firebird that may be an illusion, or his doom. His only hope may be the young Princess Sidonie of Dacia, to whom his brutal father betrothed him against his will... and hers. But Princess Sidonie may have no interest in helping a man she's never met. And her powerful, mysterious magician-guardian, Gyre, has secret intentions and desires of his own. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

In the tales of World Fantasy Award-winning author Patricia McKillip, nothing is ever as it seems. A mirror is never just a mirror; a forest is never just a forest. Here, it is a place where a witch can hide in her house of bones and a prince can bargain with his heart...where good and evil entwine and wear each others' faces... and where a bird with feathers of fire can quench the fiercest longing...

Download Description

"A beautiful new novel from the World Fantasy Award-winning author of Ombria in Shadow In the tales of World Fantasy Award-winning author Patricia McKillip, nothing is ever as it seems. A mirror is never just a mirror; a forest is never just a forest. Here, it is a place where a witch can hide in her house of bones and a prince can bargain with his heart...where good and evil entwine and wear each others' faces...and where a bird with feathers of fire can quench the fiercest longing..."

Customer Reviews:

In the Forests of Serre, who knows what will happen?.......2005-05-14

In the Forests of Serre was my first McKillip novel and after reading it I was hooked! I'll admit that it is a bit confusing and you have to think quite a bit before you figure out what it is about. However, it is definitely worth reading and you will probably find yourself grabbing every single one of her books that you can lay a hand on afterwards!

It alternates point of view between several characters: Prince Ronan, Princess Sidonie, the wizard Gyre, and Euan Ashe, a scribe. The story begins with Prince Ronan returning from a military campain in the south of Serre. On his way back to the palace, he accidently runs over a white hen which belongs to the elusive witch, Brume. When he refuses to enter her house (for good reason; the witch is known to eat anyone who does), she lays a curse on him that he will have a very bad day, and be forced to wander in the forest until he finds her again.

He returns home and finds his father, King Ferus, in a rage that his sone went off to fight without his permission. He tells Ronan that a Princess from Dacia (a smaller neighboring country with a reputation for magic) is coming and that he will have to marry her. Ronan is obviously upset by this, the more so because his own wife and child died in childbirth. Ever since then he has been trying to be killed.

Ronan wants to escape, but doesn't know what to do. He happens to glance out the window and sees a bird made of fire perched in the forest. (This is the mystical firebird, which gives anyone who follows it his heart's desire.) The bird calls to Ronan and he flees the castle, following the bird into the forests of Serre.

Meanwhile, in Dacia, Princess Sidonie is not exactly thrilled with the match either. She must marry Ronan to prevent a disastrous war between Serre and Dacia. Since Dacia had lost most of it's magic in the last generation. She runs to the wizard Unciel for guidance, but eventually she determines to go and make the best of it. Unciel puts a wizard named Gyre in charge of watching the princess in the dangerous and unpredictable forests of Serre.

Arggh, this story is hard to explain! So much happens and there is so much that is only implied, but has so much impact on the story. Well, I'll just give you a brief idea. Sidonie makes it through the forests to the palace only to find Ronan missing. Ronan has been wandering in the forest, following the firebird, but no one knows where he is. He does find the witch, but she won't release him until he captures the firebird and brings it to her. To Ronan this is unthinkable, because he has lost his heart to the firebird.

Somehow, Gyre decides he wants to take over Serre and become Ronan. So he captures Ronan and turns him into a firebird. Then Gyre takes Ronan's shape and leaves the real Ronan at the witch's house. Now he can go home. He makes it to the palace and is about to marry Sidonie before he says something that gives him away. Ferus blows him out the tower window in a blast of fire. However, this doesn't kill Gyre. Ronan manages to free himself from Brume, and agrees to bring Gyre to her in return, but he has to leave his heart with her as a guarantee.

Gyre is lured to Brume's cottage by the firebird and Ronan forgets his heart and goes home. When Sidonie finds him completely heartless (no pun intended) and discovers why, she sneaks out of the palace to find Brume and get Ronan's heart. Ronan's mother sends him out after her, and long story short, Ronan, Sidonie and Gyre all find themselves thrown together in Brume's cottage. Gyre appears to have realized how evil he was becoming. They are only free when Gyre gives the firebird's egg to Brume. Apparently they are somehow connected.

The story ends with Gyre going off on his travels alone, as before. Ronan realizes that what he really needed was something (or someone) to live for. It seems like he and Sidonie have a chance for a happy ending after all.

Another thing is that it is rather unclear why we keep having flashbacks to Unciel and Euan. Somehow, in an amazingly intricate way, they are all connected, but it is very foggy. I still don't really understand all of it, but it was so delicately embroidered together that it was a joy to read. However, if you like action-packed, clear-cut, black and white fantasy, this is not for you. This book is all about the grey areas. What does it really mean to have a heart? To be evil or kind? To be dreaming or awake? How can you really tell what is real and what is not? I mean, at the end, you're not even sure Brume is bad! I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers, but be prepared to have a lot to think about after reading this.

If for nothing else, read this book for McKillip's graceful prose and her gorgeous descriptions. It is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read!

"I Broke My Heart to Get It for You...".......2005-02-01

Patricia A. McKillip once more takes us into her intricate and ornate imagination with "In the Forests of Serre", which has the feeling of an old fairytale that McKillip has discovered in some old book and fleshed-out for us in her unique style of writing. Combining several components from various myths and legends, (predominantly the Firebird and a witch who bears more than a passing resemblance to the Russian Baba Yaga), "In the Forests of Serre" is a book that McKillip's fans will find to their liking.

In the Forests of Serre are many creatures of enchantment, both beautiful and deadly, predominantly the Mother of All Witches: Brume, who lives in a moving house of bones. It is one of her white chickens that Prince Ronan of Serre kills on his way home from the wars and so is cursed. For Ronan however, the threat of bad fortune is meaningless - he's already lost his wife and infant son to death: what could possibly be worse?

As it turns out, an arranged marriage. In his absence, his tyrannical father has organised a marriage to Princess Sidonie of Dacia, attracted to the small kingdom's promise of magic and power. Though Sidonie is a reluctant bride, she realises the threat posed toward her home - if King Ferus cannot have Dacia through marriage, he will take it by force. The court wizard Unciel is sympathetic to her plight, and has arranged his young acquaintance Gyre to accompany the princess to her new home in Serre. But Gyre has his own agenda concerning the magic in Serre, and the hidden past between himself and Unciel has not yet reached its conclusion...

And then Ronan is captivated by the sight of the Firebird, which reveals to him its secret, beautiful face. Without a second thought, Ronan escapes into the forests, which is only the first of many comings and goings into the Forests of Serre, which are traversed by almost all of our characters throughout the course of the novel. Each time something new is discovered, something is lost, something precious switches hands or is left behind. By the time the story ends each of the characters (even the far away Unciel and his new scribe Euan Ash, who is working to piece together his history) have all their secrets revealed.

The characters are not especially vivid, especially when compared to others that appear in McKillip's previous books, but their dilemmas and mysteries are interesting - from Ronan's earth-shattering grief, to Sidonie's entrapment between two countries, to Gyre and Unciel's shadowed past together.

The forest itself is gorgeously written in McKillip's distinctive use of language and imagery, and Kinuko Y. Craft's beautiful cover illustration once more embodies the atmosphere of the book. Filled with meaning and symbolism, this is a treat for any fantasy lover, especially those that are already fans of McKillip's work. Although at times it can be a bit needlessly complicated (I kept loosing track of who was in the forest and why, since there are so many coming and goings), and perhaps not the best McKillip novel out there, it was still an intriguing and fascinating read.

The Heart of Serre.......2004-11-10

Do you know the value your heart? If you think you do, do you know yourself that well? Dive in the magical tale weaved by the firebird that reflected each one's heart desire.

Serre, a mighty kingdom, with its dense and enchanted forest. Dacia, a small but wealthy kingdom, with infamous magical veined kings, except its latest one. To prevent magical war between them, Sidonie, Princess of Dacia, and Ronan, Prince of Serre, were trapped in royal marriage plan although both of them tried to flee from it. And a young wizard, tried to find and encapture his heart's true desire but attracted to dangerous side of himself that he didn't know instead. Each lost their heart and each found them again, guided by the magic of Serre in the form of firebird.

Discover yourself and your heart through the tangling beauty and ugliness, light and dark, good and evil, enchanting of the heart of The Forrest of Serre, where fairytale came to life till it brought you to satisfying conclusion.

Can't see the forest for the trees.......2004-11-07

Occasionally I feel the desire to escape into lyrical fantasy, and, remembering the experience of reading this author's Riddlemaster series as an adolescent, seek out Patricia McKillip's latest book in the library.

Unfortunately I am not finding the magic I used to find in her books. Is it me that's changed or has McKillip's well of inspiration begun to run dry? I suspect a bit of both.

Many have commented on McKillip's use of language. Yes, it is dreamy, fantastical and often achieves lyrical effect. However, I feel that too much focus is now going into the writing (the trees) and not enough into the development of imaginative story (the forest). The tale in this book is fractured and never achieves narrative drive. Indeed there are really only glimmers of story, held together in a kaleidoscopic prose.

And to address the writing itself. McKillip's lexicon is not un-naturally broad. Rather her writing can seem strange and unworldly through odd grammatical effects such as her almost adjectival use of nouns and her occasional use of unusual words. I suspect she is something of a word-raven, seeking in dictionaries and thesauruses for strange words whose color she fancies. Like particular narrative effects, she sometimes repeats her use of an unusual word. An example of this repetition is the word 'sough' (rhymes with bough) in these two sentences:

"Her voice was the hollow sough of windblown reeds." (p 2)
"Finally a restless night wind blew the candle out, stranded them in the soughing dark." (p 120)

I think the first use is much more effective than the second.

Then there is the archaic word 'limn' which basically means illuminate:

"Scars underlined one eye, limned one jaw;" (p 4)
"Staring at the void limned by moonlight into the shape of the wizard's face" (p158)

Here the two applications of this word are different enough to justify the repetition.

One twinned narrative effect I noticed is the description of first the mother's and then the daughter's eyes:

"her eyes were the cold color of dawn at the end of a sleepless night" (p 96)
"...her grave eyes, which, he suddenly saw, were the color of the hour he loved best, when the last haunting moments of day shifted towards the deepest purples of twilight" (p 132)

This repetition can sometimes be powerful but in this story it felt like being lost in a wood where all the trees start to appear the same.

Finally, an example of a word use that simply fails - the use of the word 'riffle' in this sentence - "So did the proctor, riffling at his bald head and looking mystified." (p 17) To my mind, riffling requires something to riffle, such as playing cards or sheaves of wheat and is not possible with a smooth skinned pate.

There is some imaginative naming of the wizards characters in the story, with Unciel recalling the majuscule form "uncial" and Gyre directly conjuring the image of a vortical power. However the characters themselves never really came alive and their motivations were either too simplistic or, in the case of the young wizard Gyre, narratively conflicting.

So in summary, if McKillip is seeking to cast magic with her storytelling, my experience was that while the writing somewhat drugged my senses, the underlying power of the story was in the end insufficient to place me under it's spell.

Lyrical, imaginative but missing something.........2004-11-03

This would more like be a 3 1/2 or a 4 even on most people's scales, but I judge a little harder...

A very enjoyable book by McKillip but far from her best work. The prose is as lyrical as ever, like reading poetry that scuplt vivid images of foriegn, strange worlds. The story itself is born from the dustings of the typical fairy tale, with some unique twists thrown in for good measure, and a fascination for a firebird. The characters never become emotionally involving however, and a few seem a little stiff halfway through but as with every book of hers that I've read so far, this one is also worth checking out, if only for its lyrical beauty.

The Mother of All Witches: Baba Yaga and Brume in Patricia McKillip's In the Forests of Serre. : An article from: Extrapolation

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The Mother of All Witches: Baba Yaga and Brume in Patricia McKillip's In the Forests of Serre. : An article from: Extrapolation
Helen Pilinovsky
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Extrapolation, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 7349 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: The Mother of All Witches: Baba Yaga and Brume in Patricia McKillip's In the Forests of Serre.
Author: Helen Pilinovsky
Publication: Extrapolation (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Page: 36(14)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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The New Watchers at the Well Trilogy Almost Lives Up to the Original Series

Fantastic!

The best of the best...a must for all sci-fi fans.

WOW!

Read this book with an open mind, and you may never return.

Echoes of the Well of Souls (Watchers at the Well, Book 1)
Jack L. Chalker
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Chalker, Jack L. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345386868
Release Date: 1993-12-29

Book Description

Nathan Brazil had been the guardian of the Well of Souls, where the Well World's master control lay. But now the universe faced a threat more grave than mere destruction: An unnamed and utterly alien entity had somehow been released from its ancient prison and was bent on the corruption of the Well World itself. If successful, it would cause chaos beyond mortal understanding....

Customer Reviews:

The New Watchers at the Well Trilogy Almost Lives Up to the Original Series.......2007-02-03

Jack L. Chalker's return to the Well World universe was much anticipated, and in the end pretty good. This new trilogy, Watchers at the Well, starts with Echoes of the Well of Souls, continues with Shadow of the Well of Souls, and concludes with Gods of the Well of Souls.

Long locked away in an ancient prison, a completely alien force found a chink in its prison cell the last time Nathan Brazil, the immortal keeper of the Well World where control of the universe lies, reset the universe. Now it wants out so it can have free reign of the universe and control of the Well World itself.

Alerted to the danger at hand, the Well World summons Nathan Brazil and Mavra Chang, his new co-Keeper of the Well, but will they answer the call? Brazil is weary, very weary; keeping watch over the universe for all eternity has taken its toll on him and his is just too tired to deal with it anymore. And Chang, who is now estranged from Brazil, never wanted the responsibility that forced upon her.

As the threat to the safety of the universe and the Well World grows and Brazil and Chang ignore the call, the alien entity grows stronger; and, the computer at the heart of the Well World must stop at nothing to get the undivided attention of its keepers before it is too late!

If you loved the original Well World series (and who wouldn't?!?), you will want to read this series; if you haven't, then stop and read it immediately. Then pick up this second series and devour it as well.

Fantastic!.......2003-06-26

Very fast and clean read. The author has taken an old story concept and expanded upon it to create an incredable world. Very fascinating. I never once thought to put the book down, I was hooked! Very good discriptive power.

The best of the best...a must for all sci-fi fans........1997-08-13

When I think of science fiction/fantasy there is one author and series that comes to mind. Jack L. Chalker and the Well of Souls were the beginning of my infatuation with science fiction. When I read that first book as a teenager almost 20 years ago, little did I know the hours and hours of enjoyment that I would have. This series has been in my collection since that time, and with each re-reading it grows more enjoyable. The wonderful plot twists, the mystery, the fabulously rich description and characters grabs your imagination and draws you into a very unusual world filled with sorcery, science and awe. A must read for anyone who wants to get lost in a book of riches of the imagination

WOW!.......1996-11-19

I highly reccomend this book, and the rest of the books in this series! It was a wonderfull journey from earth to a fantasy world where many have gone before

Read this book with an open mind, and you may never return........1996-06-18

I read this book 19 years ago, and the impression was so strong that this is the only book I've ever reviewed(of my own volition)! Mr. Chalker finds the perfect balance between his mesmerizing setting desriptions and his nail-biting action. After 19 years, I still get a familiar "feeling" when I think or hear about the author or his work. This book has the quirky subtleties of Detective Columbo, the relentless action of The Terminator, and, creates and fosters the need to know "why" as manifested by the success of the British TV cult classic - The Prisoner. No amount of plot description seems appropriate for The Well of Souls series. Suffice it to say that if you have a good imagination, you like to read, and you love adventure with a wonderfully developed protagonist, you'll be sending me a thank you letter. (That is, if you'll make the time from reading all the Jack Chalker Well of Souls' books you can find.) Brian D. Allen, M.D.

The Watchers at the Well: Echoes of the Well of Souls; Shadow of the Well of Souls; Gods of the Well of Souls

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The Watchers at the Well: Echoes of the Well of Souls; Shadow of the Well of Souls; Gods of the Well of Souls
Jack L. Chalker
Manufacturer: Doubleday Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1568651236

THE WATCHERS AT THE WELL - Book (1) One: Echoes of the Well of Souls; Book (2) Two: Shadow of the Well of Souls

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THE WATCHERS AT THE WELL - Book (1) One: Echoes of the Well of Souls; Book (2) Two: Shadow of the Well of Souls
Jack L. Chalker
Manufacturer: Del Rey - Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRX3NQ

Echoes of the Well of Souls (Series: Watchers at the Well, The 1.)

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Echoes of the Well of Souls (Series: Watchers at the Well, The 1.)
Jack L. (Cover illustration by Bob Eggleton.) Chalker
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVJ52E

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Echoes of the Well of Souls (Series: Watchers at the Well, The 1.)
Jack L. Chalker
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVBGL2

Book Description

There are two deep trance journeys on this CD and a 6 page booklet containing journey preparation information and assistance. These journeys transport the listener to higher dimensions through the trance voice of Jessie Ayani and the channeled music of Richard Shulman.

In the first journey, the participant is transported to Alcyone, the central Sun of the Pleiades, for healing and release of core beliefs that stand in the way of enlightenment. Magically transformed, the listener/participant re-enters the Earth dimension with new perspective and a new reality. This journey can be used an infinite number of times to raise vibration and attain enlightenment.

In the second journey, the participant receives deep healing in the arms of Mother Earth, Pachamama. A magical journey to the fairy kingdom gives ample opportunity to release emotional and mental baggage as well as heartache in preparation for heart opening and service.

These are spiritual journeys based on the most profound shamanic teachings - and they work!

Customer Reviews:

Powerful Core Belief Work.......2005-10-28

Ayani's voice is perfect for this type of CD - mature, calm, and detached. The background music is well selected and placed.

The first of the two journeys, which concentrates on breaking down Core Beliefs, is especially powerful and includes the forming of new beliefs to put into place once the old ones have been removed.

I found this CD so helpful in my spiritual work that I have just purchased the second CD in the series, Right Relationship.

Easy to use; profound results.......2005-09-10

This is one of the best meditation CDs I have ever used. The background music appropriately supports the words of the meditation, enhancing your actual feeling experience. Jessie's voice is a good guide. She is easy to follow and thoroughly explains what is going on without being invasive or causing you to lose the thread of what you are experiencing. The first meditation is extremely important, teaching us how to access our fourth dimensional consciousness for the purpose of changing old outdated core beliefs which no longer serve our life journey. Once these old beliefs have been released and replaced with new, effective beliefs, be prepared to experience the results in your waking reality. Your ego might pitch a fit within 24 hours or so of dislodging the old stuff, but just let it do what it needs to, all the while understanding that you are not your ego. The release is necessary and when you get through it, you will find yourself operating under the new core beliefs. Just like that. The second meditation is a pure healing as you interact with Pachamama, Mother Earth. You will feel much lighter after this experience. I highly recommend these meditations for anyone intent on healing their Rainbow Body.

Book Description

Chicken wings are popping up on menus everywhereas bar food and appetizers, paired with pizza for take-out, even at Chinese restaurants. Although this obsession has focused on Buffalo Wings, author Charlie Reavis shows you there are many other ways to make chicken wings51 other ways, to be exact. With recipes like Greek Wings and Honey Mustard Glazed Wings, 52 Ways to Wing It proves that not all chicken wing recipes have to be spicy. But, for chile aficionados, theres a recipe called 911.Research shows that wings are the hottest selling food item coast to coast. Additionally, wings are the perfect party food and make a great snack for the family. In a fun and affordable package, 52 Ways to Wing It is sure to be a hit.Charles Reavis is the author of several cookbooks and has written articles for numerous national and regional publications. He is a

Customer Reviews:

A Fantastic Compendium of Bar Food and Haute Cuisine.......1997-06-15

This is the first book I've seen that elevates the once lowly wing to gourmet status. Starting with the "original" Buffalo wing recipe from the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, the author takes you on a culinary roller coaster of wing recipes (literally a wing recipe a week), ranging from simple, quick appetizer food, to main dish delights that you can serve at your next dinner party. True Chiliheads take note: the "911, aka Wings From Hell" recipe demands you have a fire extinguisher handy when you suck the last drop of sauce off that bone

Customer Reviews:

Good reading for amateur.......2007-08-29

This book is the first book I read about antiques. It has many insightfull tips on antique collecting as well as trading. The author try to save you from errors made by inexperienced people trying to enter the complex market of antiques. Also, he emphasize the importance of condition of antique.
Overall, nice, short, and straight to the point book.
If you planning to start antique selling, this book should be good starting.
However, as the title states "Antiques for Amateurs", if you have read some books on the subject and have some experience, this book may not be appropriate to you.
AlSallamy AlEkom.

Go elsewhere for advice on antique silver!.......2000-10-11

I was browsing a bookstore when i came upon this book. Curious to see how the author advises readers relative to the subject of antique silver, I read the chapter on that subject. There were numerous cases of factual errors and misinformation. It almost seemed as if the author went to an antique show one day and scribbled down some information about silver, then considered it complete, without verifying anything with other sources. Or perhaps he took tidbits from various references and threw them all together, without including other significant facts necessary to clarify what he did include. Clearly, the information doesn't come from an expert in the field, which isn't necessarily bad, but the author to me came off trying to sound scholarly in this area. Take the phrase "American silver is very rare" (this may not be verbatim). This is particularly galling, because it is simply not true. Yes, certain pieces, styles, etc. are rare, but the book, at least at this point, appears to discourage amateurs from collecting American silver. Of course in other parts, American silver doesn't sound so rare. Then there is the phrase "Durgin pieces made in 1904 are collectible." (again, not verbatim due to my memory) D "What sorts of pieces? Who is Durgin?" an amateur might ask. I know from my own experience that Durgin was an American silver maker, based in NH, etc., and in 1904 a collectible flatware pattern called "New Art" was designed by Durgin, and that this wonderful Art Nouveau pattern is indeed very collectible. However, the book itself does not even show how to recognize a Durgin piece in general (in fact no hallmarks are illustrated, and an amateur should really know important marks, such as Gorham, Whiting, Durgin, Shiebler, and many more), let alone describe the specific pattern. This phrase is just one example; I am trying to limit my use of examples for brevity's sake, though some may say this review is already very lengthy. Sweeping generalizations also work to the detriment of amateurs. Furthermore, from the parts I read at least, the author fails to explain certain styles of silver, for instance Art Nouveau, Aesthetic Movement, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Rococo, Neoclassical, etc., all important to know. Please forgive this diatribe (anybody who has read this far), but advice such as this may cause many not to read the genuinely scholarly references on silver. For instance, I recommend "Silver in America 1840-1940" by Chas. Venable. This wonderful book is amply illustrated, and a very valuable reference. This is just one book which should enamor anybody of American silver of this time period. For American marks, try "Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers" by D. Rainwater, with thousands of makers listed in it, most illustrated with their mark(s). It is just very irritating to see such not necessarily false but certainly dubious information being propagated in this manner. I'll save my complaints about the jewelry section for another day...

Educational,Inspiring, and Entertaining.......1999-12-10

After reading this book I purchased a number of copies as gifts. It is the most educational book I have ever read on antiques. Not only did I learn but it also took me to far away places and I felt that it broadened my understanding of relics. Also, now I have more confidence when I search the market for old precious items and have a better understanding of their value and how it is established. I have read all three of Mr. Vesely's books and loved them. I wish I could find a copy of the one which is no longer in print. Perhaps you can help me find it.

Useful antiquing book for beginners.......1999-07-14

This book of 190 pages contains easy-to-read information and expert advice to assist new collectors in getting started in antiquing. Written by a knowledgeable collector, it takes you through all of the basics of collecting and covers the many different areas of antiquing, providing numerous tips. A helpful glossary of terminology is included. Its a book you'll refer to often.

Book Description

Provides precise, thorough instructions and illustrations of 45 historic, remarkably beautiful Danish pulled thread designs. Each is accompanied by a photograph of a finished section of embroidery made with the stitch. 84 line drawings. 89 black and white photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Was too difficult for me to learn to do at my age. .......2007-09-21

Wonderful for a younger person but not for me. Am not able to do close work that requires a steady hand any more. I kept the book and plan to pass it on.

Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery: With English and Danish Text

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Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery: With English and Danish Text
Esther Fangel
Manufacturer: Peter Smith Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0844655732

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Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery With English and Danish Text.
Esther et al Fangel
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NULXLM

Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery=SammentrÞKssyning: With English and Danish Text

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Danish Pulled Thread Embroidery=SammentrÞKssyning: With English and Danish Text
Esther Fangel
Manufacturer: Dover Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYBDY2

Book Description

55 masterworks by one of the most influential — and most prolific — illustrators of children's books during the early 20th century. Includes exquisite images for "The Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "The Snow Queen," "The Real Princess," and other beguiling tales. An invaluable treasury for lovers of fine art; a delight for fairy-tale enthusiasts.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing and beautiful.......2007-09-11

I had never heard of Dulac before and ordered his book along with the Rackham collection. I actually was blown away by Dulac's work and am really amazed that after studying in art and exploring classic illustration, I had never come across this guy. I have heard of Rackham and seen his work, but I enjoy Dulac even more...his rich color and beautiful compositions are inspiring.

the great Dulac.......2007-03-20

this book is very interesting , I like the drawings very much, Dulac is a very amazing artist.

Classic and Triggers Fond Memories.......2006-11-08

I actually remember the books I grew up with having these particular fairy tale illustrations. Of course, they were mostly library books in my day because not as many people could afford books, and they weren't as plentiful as they are today.

This book gave me a chance to reminisce, and I am now on the hunt for some of the earlier volumes I remember. So I am using this as both a collector book (since I collect fairy tales) and as a reference to help me find older books like The Nightingale and The Sleeping Beauty.

This book has beautiful color and detail and really showcases this talented artist.

Exquisite.......2006-11-01

This is a beautiful book for fairy tale collectors. The details and colors of the art plates are unmatched in my opinion as far as classic fairy tale illustrations, though I do like Rackham's lovely art too. This is just so completely classic and really draws me into the scenes. The book is fairly large to showcase the detail in the drawings and paintings, and features art from the Snow Queen, Cinderella, the Nightingale, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, and others. This is a perfect book for collectors.

Edmund Dulac's Magic Mind.......2006-07-28

My life long favorite illustrator, Edmund Dulac's work was a huge inspiration for me. This book has it all. His best work in one neat package.

Book Description

1866. Birth and Parentage; His First Ideas of Religion and Scholastic Life; Travels; His Life as a Man of Science Ends; His Spiritual Site Opened and Seership; His Most Important Writings.

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