Silent Duchess
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • the silent duchess
  • a silent little gem
  • ho-hum
  • Strangely still and static.
  • A very original , totally ingrossing book
Silent Duchess
Dacia Maraini
Manufacturer: Feminist Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 155861222X

Amazon.com

Dacia Maraini is something of a national treasure in Italy. The author of more than 50 books, a director of stage and screen, and an outspoken feminist, Maraini has never been afraid of controversy. The Silent Duchess won prestigious awards in Italy upon its publication there in 1990, and has since been translated into 14 languages. It tells the story of Marianna Ucria, an 18th-century noblewoman who is both deaf and mute following a mysterious childhood trauma. Though outwardly Marianna's life follows the same trajectory as most women's of her class and time--an arranged marriage and endless childbearing--her inner life is quite unique. Within the silent world she occupies, Marianna pursues a vigorous life of the mind; in fact, silence becomes a weapon she wields to defend her deepest, truest self against society's suppression of women's creativity and will. From the first, horrifying images of a child's hanging, through Marianna's forced marriage to her elderly uncle, and finally to her recollection of the trauma that scarred her, The Silent Duchess takes the reader on a remarkable journey through the mores and manners of 18th-century Sicily and into the mind of its enigmatic, courageous heroine.

Book Description

   Winner of the Premio Campiello (Italy's equivalent of the National Book Award), short-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Award upon its first English-language publication in the U.K., and published to critical acclaim in fourteen languages, this mesmerizing historical novel by one of Italy's premier women writers is available in the United States for the first time. Set in Sicily in the early eighteenth century, The Silent Duchess is the story of Marianna Ucria, the daughter of an aristocratic family and the victim of a mysterious childhood trauma that has left her deaf and mute, trapped in a world of silence. Set apart from the world by her disability, Marianna searches for knowledge and fulfillment in a society where women face either forced marriages and endless childbearing or a life of renunciation within the walls of a convent. When she is just thirteen years old, Marianna is forced to marry her own aging uncle. Her status and wealth as a duchess cannot protect her from many of the horrors of that time: she witnesses her mother's decline due to her addiction to opium and snuff and her father's cruelly misguided religious piety as he participates in the hanging of a young boy. She watches helplessly as her four-year-old son dies of smallpox and her youngest daughter is married off at the age of twelve. It is not until the death of her "uncle-husband" that Marianna at last gains freedom from her life of subservience: she learns to manage her estates and to love a man as she had never loved her husband, and she also learns of the unspeakable events that led to her lifelong silence. In luminous language that conveys both the keen visual sight and the deep human insight possessed by her remarkable main character, Dacia Maraini captures the splendor and the corruption of Marianna's world and the strength of her spirit. The Silent Duchess is the timeless story of one woman's struggle to find her own voice after years of silence.

 

The publication in America of The Silent Duchess is cause for rejoicing.-Publishers Weekly

"a carefully paced story of intellectual and moral growth."-Kirkus

"Maraini's writing is elegant, and her graphic descriptions of the luxurious life of the aristocracy in sharp contrast to the squalor of the majority living in poverty are quite realistic. . . . Recommended. . . wherever foreign authors are popular."- Library Journal

Suggested for course use in:
Fiction
Comparative literature
Italian literature

One of Italy's foremost women writers, Dacia Maraini is the winner of the international Prix Formentor and the Premio Campiello, one of Italy's highest literary honors. She is the author of more than fifty books, including novels, plays, collections of poetry, and critical essays.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars the silent duchess.......2003-03-27

This was one of the best books I have read. It will stay with me for many years. I read in Sicily and it helped give me a "living color" understanding of history and culture of Sicily. It is fiction based on accurate fact and an entertaining way to learn about Sicily. Initially I thought it was a women's book but my husband who is normally addicted macho mysteries loved the book also.

5 out of 5 stars a silent little gem.......2002-10-30

I had to read this book for a literature class, and I completely adored it. If you know even a little bit about the social situation of women in the 18th century, you'll soon understand what a remarkable character the Duchess Marianna Ucria is. Although I had figured out, really early into the novel what the 'childhood trauma' was, I was pleased to see that it wasn't a book about coming to terms with trauma (yawn, yawn). Instead The Silent Duchess is more a novel about silences, both physical and metaphorical, it gives a voice to women who have been ignored by both society and history.

Dacia Maraini has created a gem of a book, which deal with many women's issues, some of which still exist today, but does so in a way that's not off-putting. Thought provoking, not boring.

1 out of 5 stars ho-hum.......2000-06-27

Unfortunately, this book is doing nothing for me. Not only is it very slow and the minute details are so painstakingly expanded on, but I feel so distant from the main character, and find myself not caring about anyone in the story, when I really want to. I'm not really sure where this book is going, and the "mystery" behind the duchess's silence is really down-played. Of course, I'm not done with it yet, but so far, the book hasn't really addressed the mystery or expanded on it to make you want to figure out what happened to her. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to finish this one, and I'm the type of reader who wants to finish every book I start! It's really too bad, because I had such high hopes for this novel!

1 out of 5 stars Strangely still and static........2000-03-10

There's not much interaction between the characters in this long slow-moving novel. The heroine, who is mute and deaf after an early childhood trauma, is cut off from her world to such an extent that the novel lacks all immediacy. Too bad, because the descriptive prose about Sicily is interesting; there's just a great lack of emotion.

5 out of 5 stars A very original , totally ingrossing book.......1999-03-04

I have read other very interesting books of Dacia Maraini, an Italian writer who deserves to be much better known in the US. This novel may be my favorite among her works. One becomes attached to the heroine as she develops over the years. The story is at times tragic, funny, touching. By the way, the villa described still exists in Bagheria (Sicily). Read it!
THE SILENT DUCHESS
Average customer rating: Not rated
    THE SILENT DUCHESS
    Dacia Maraini
    Manufacturer: The Feminist Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
    ASIN: B000H3DKVG
    The silent duchess,
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The silent duchess,
      Anne Green
      Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Unknown Binding
      ASIN: B0006AOOYM
      The Silent Duchess
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Silent Duchess
        Dacia Maraini
        Manufacturer: The Feminist Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000INF03Q
        The Silent Duchess
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Silent Duchess
          Dacia; Translated from the Italian by Kitto, Dick and Spottiswood, Elspeth; Afterword by Hostert, Anna Camaiti Maraini
          Manufacturer: Feminist Press/C.U.N.Y.
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000IWV1IA

          Diabolo, Vol. 1
          Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
          • An excellent small horror series
          • It's not THAT graphic...
          • Diabolo, a beautiful series beyond words.
          • Evil, deals & birthdays, oh my! (Warning, possible ramblng)
          • get this manga
          Diabolo, Vol. 1
          Kaoru Ohashi , and Kei Kusunoki
          Manufacturer: TokyoPop
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

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          ASIN: 1595322329

          Book Description

          *A poignant story of friendship and heroism *The allure of the occult will appeal to fans of Demon Diary and Priest

          Ren is now on a mission to find Rai, but in his way are the six great spirits, and among them is Rai. The plot thickens when a 7-year old Mio is found alive and well. A confused Ren faces the tough task of saving Rai and his friends--but can he do it all alone?

          Customer Reviews:

          4 out of 5 stars An excellent small horror series.......2005-08-24

          I never had heard of Diabolo when I decided to buy it ; I wasn't even sure how many volumes there actually were (actually, I discovered when I read it that there are only three volumes). I thought the art looked really pretty and the story seemed interesting with demons and stuff.

          In fact, it is the story of two seventeen-years-old childhood friends, Ren and Rai, who are as close as brothers. They have been cursed by the demon ten years ago and are now "diabolos", human beings who will turn into monsters when they turn 18. Before that happens, they have given themselves the mission to protect other people from suffering the same as they did in the only way possible : by killing them before that happens.

          I have to say that at first, I thought I had made a mistake buying those books. The first volume is pretty ordinary. It gives an overview of what Ren and Rai's lives must have looked like all these years, when they fought "diabolos" like themselves. Like every first manga of a serie, it only sets the story and main characters and helps to understand what their history is, without any real plot yet.

          However, I was pretty amazed by the second book. New characters are introduced and they have more influence in the story. The plot starts to get a lot more developped and it really gets interesting. The third manga is even deeper, with a lot of plot twists, fights and treasons.

          What I really loved about these series is, first, the art, which is constant eye-candy. The characters and background are truly beautiful (see previews on TokyoPop's web site). I also loved the many plot twists. I hate predictable stories and this one kept surprising me many times. Ren and Rai are also handsome, truly lovable characters who will please every bishounen-loving girl! I also like short series because the pace is always very fast so I loved the fact that we get to the core and the end of the story in only three volumes.

          The one big deception I had in this manga was because I thought it might be a little shounen-ai, with both characters so close, but there wasn't. However, the good side of this is that the story might reach a larger public. I would recommand this manga to my male and female friends alike ; however, note that this series is rated teens 16+ horror, though I found it less violent than mangas such as Descendants of Darkness and Count Cain.

          4 out of 5 stars It's not THAT graphic..........2005-03-06

          Ok, maybe for a normal manga in mainstream print Diabolo is as intense as they come. But for people who actively seek out disturbing comics, the "twisted" stuff in this series is standard-I'm just saying because there are those out there who intentionally looking for mind-f*cks,like me, and they shouldn't mistake Diabolo as a source of that. If you're looking for, say, something that scares you stupid like Hannibal Lecter, you might wanna look up Johnny The Homicidal Maniac. On the other hand, even though I bought this in hopes I'd be disturbed out of my skin, I got something completely different that I loved.

          The stories are gruesome, sure, but they never reach the point where you're just perturbed and can't feel anything for the characters. But it truth you're far more interested in the human frailty of the involved victims than any amount of blood thier bodies can generate. Ren and Rai, the main characters, are perfect examples, and you love them to death for thier fierce protection of each other, which seems to be born out of grim necessity and not just stupid fluff filler. (You see that a lot in manga.)IN the first volume you don't see much of them till the end,but it's enough to make you both sad and touched.

          Let me say this now about the story- PLOT TWISTS. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING is what it seems. you get a shocker in every story. And it's wonderful. The art is terrific, but not in any distinctive style, I guess. Still, Ren and Rai are great-looking protagonists, and the supporting cast is more often then not just as nice to look at. The dialogue is very natural, and doesn't try to go over your head with the whole Diabolo stuff, like some series trying to explain what's going on with Hell's great plan do. In truth, the fact that almost everyone is left in the dark lets the reader feel the same anxiety they feel, with so much going on and only speculation to explain it. They're all confused and let you know they are,but stick to talking normally instead of having a few "magic words" that need to be defined.

          There's only a few things that bug me about this manga, and they're barely worth mentioning. Ren and Rai don't get as much focus as they deserve, which would make sense if they're were weak characters, but they're not. They're fascinating and it'd be nice to see them more. Also, the way some of the characters meet is just too coined. Ren and Rai hear a random disturbance, and then run over to help.(Although sometimes they're tracking people down.)

          Overall, this is a great series and I think people who are trying to move into the horror/mind-f*ck genre should start with this.

          5 out of 5 stars Diabolo, a beautiful series beyond words........2005-02-21

          Diabolo is probably the best series i well ever read. where do i start?
          first there are our charactors. there's Rai, a long haired beauty who has been an orphane and all alone untill he meets Ren, a short hair cutie. the two boys have an amazing relationship and are always there for each other.
          when the two were younger, they were tricked by the devil and became diabolo themselves. they have till their 18th birthday before they lose their soals.
          while this is an amazing book, i should give you warning that there is some very contraversial content. there is quite a bit blood and gore so if you don't like horror, this isn't your type of book. the series also deals with rape, hints of yuri (girl on girl) and Yaoi (guy on guy). there isn't anything explicet though, so if you don't mind little hints, then you can read this book.
          for any manga lovers, i would definently recommend you add this book to your collection. the art is so beautiful and there is so much insight to life in this book.
          God i love this series!! and i think you might too. ^___^

          5 out of 5 stars Evil, deals & birthdays, oh my! (Warning, possible ramblng).......2005-01-15

          While not exactly a newbie to the manga genre, I'm still far from an expert. Though, I must admit, Diabolo is one of the better series that I've read. I was compelled by the cover at first, because let's admit it, the art is very pretty, but once you get past that and actually read the pages, you're drawn into a story of deals with a devil and two boys' desparate attempt to rescue a girl before their 18th birthday, when they're destined to lose their humanity and become monsters.

          Ren and Rai use the powers gained in a deal with the devil Diabolo to fight against the monster who, in a sense, created them when the deal went wrong and they were tricked. You get introduced to the characters through other people, who are being dealt similar hands by the same devil.

          The art is beautifully drawn and the stories almost hypnotic in their ability to draw you in. There are some really dark themes involved, some could even be called controversial, and I get the feeling this series is not going to be for the faint at heart as it progresses. However, the story is one that keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next volume to come out and wondering what's going to happen next, as the clock counts down to Ren and Rai's birthdays, when things are set to change forever.

          5 out of 5 stars get this manga.......2005-01-05

          this is quite possibly the BEST manga i have ever read. i'm a devout Inuyasha and naruto fan but this series leaves them in the dust. i have read no. 2 in this series andit is EXELLENT!! read this book and see what i mean.

          Berserker Lies (Berserker)
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • Decent collection of short stories
          Berserker Lies (Berserker)
          Fred Saberhagen
          Manufacturer: Tor Books
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Mass Market Paperback

          Saberhagen, FredSaberhagen, Fred | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 0812505638

          Customer Reviews:

          4 out of 5 stars Decent collection of short stories.......2002-12-07

          This is a pretty good collection of short stories; one of the other berserker books included most of these stories.

          First off, this book is not for someone who doesn't appreciate the berserker series. Go read one of the other novels; the original by Saberhagen is probably the best to introduce you. You can find it in the list "Berserker Books", or just search for "Berserker".

          The stories themselves are pretty engaging, and are mostly focused on the early days of the ED Humanity's fight against the Berserker death machines. Lots of different literary styles, so its a good breather from the rest of the series which, to me, tends to drone on when each book is written in such a similar style.
          5 PBs by Fred Saberhagen, Berserker Series: Berserker, Man, Lies, Planet & Brother Assassin (Berserker)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            5 PBs by Fred Saberhagen, Berserker Series: Berserker, Man, Lies, Planet & Brother Assassin (Berserker)
            Fred Saberhagen
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000RXZXZC

            Product Description

            Paperbacks

            Junior League Centennial Cookbook
            Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
            • Junior League Cookbook
            • out of date
            • Great cookbook
            • Great collection!
            • AWESOME!
            Junior League Centennial Cookbook
            Junior League International
            Manufacturer: Broadway
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Spiral-bound

            GeneralGeneral | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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            ASIN: 0385477317
            Release Date: 1996-03-01

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars Junior League Cookbook.......2007-08-16

            My favorite cookbook. I like giving this cookbook as gifts to newly married cooks.

            1 out of 5 stars out of date.......2007-06-08

            We're too spoiled by fresh ingredients to utilize this cookbook. Bad choice on my part.
            Old California Junior League books, Pasadena, San Francisco, Oakland, remain superior to this collection.

            5 out of 5 stars Great cookbook.......2005-10-08

            Super centennial celebration cookbook from those Junior Leaguers who put out such great cookbooks! There are several recipes in this cookbook "to die for", as the expression goes. Enjoy!

            5 out of 5 stars Great collection!.......2002-12-14

            I received this book from my grandmother as a gift - never thought I would like it so much! It has become one of my staple cookbooks; the recipes are accurate, easy to follow (and modify, if necessary), and delicious. There are fun things to try (Brie crackers and Nebraska City Cake), good basics (a great chili recipe and REALLY easy pretzels), and lots of recipes in every possible category. I'm always finding more recipes to try and I've never been disappointed. If you're looking to go beyond Betty Crocker and BH&G, try this one.

            5 out of 5 stars AWESOME!.......2002-11-21

            I use this cookbook A LOT! It is the one I turn to if I don't have time to try a recipe before I serve it to company. I have had requests for the recipes for EVERYTHING I have served to company out of this book. I am buying several copies today as Christmas and housewarming gifts.
            Junior League Centennial Cookbook
            Average customer rating: Not rated
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              Jr Leagues Assn
              Manufacturer: BANTAM DOUBLEDAY @ DELL
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000N7C4A4
              The Junior League Centennial Cookbook: Over 750 of the Most Treasured Recipes from 200 Junior Leagues
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                The Junior League Centennial Cookbook: Over 750 of the Most Treasured Recipes from 200 Junior Leagues
                Junior League International
                Manufacturer: Doubleday Publishing
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover
                ASIN: B000MHKWY0

                Choosing a Dog for Dummies
                Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                • The perfect starting point
                • ALWAYS good to look at different qualities each breed has
                • A Godsend!
                • Good Book
                • An invaluable resource
                Choosing a Dog for Dummies
                Chris Walkowicz
                Manufacturer: For Dummies
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

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                ASIN: 0764553100

                Product Description

                A mind-boggling number of dog breeds exists, and choosing the right dog for you may be confusing. No worries! This book provides a simple, straightforward guide to selecting the best breed for your lifestyle.Discover how to:Decide which pet qualities you value most.Choose a great dog.Care for your pet.Find out about breed rescue.Select a kid-friendly dog.The Dummies WayExplanations in plain English."Get in, get out" information.Icons and other navigational aids.Tear-out cheat sheet.Top ten lists.A dash of humor and fun

                Customer Reviews:

                5 out of 5 stars The perfect starting point.......2007-01-24

                I just finished reading this book and buying my first puppy. This was my bible. I even had folded down pages and brought the book with me when I went to pick up my puppy at the breeder. This book was great because if you go on the AKC web site, they describe dogs by the qualities I didn't care about. They talk about fur markings, tail length, and things about being show quality. This book told me what I wanted to know about each breed like if it's good with kids, how much it sheds, and typical behaviors you can expect. It does that for many breeds including those considered rare. All the info was here about how to find a puppy, questions to ask when interviewing breeders, what all the health certifications mean, etc. It's told from the perspective of a person on the inside who is clearly knowledgeable about the dog world. It would be nice if more of the pictures were in color, as opposed to just the top 20 breeds, but you can't have everything and it would cost a lot more if it did. But overall, it's a great book for someone interested in getting a dog and wanting to know about all the different breeds.

                4 out of 5 stars ALWAYS good to look at different qualities each breed has.......2006-11-03

                Like the easy to find requirements for each breed.

                5 out of 5 stars A Godsend!.......2006-09-28

                This book is a Godsend for folks trying to decide which is the right breed of dog for them. Concise yet complete, and very readable. You sit down intending to glance through your new book, and end up reading it cover-to-cover (often laughing out loud). You now have a short list of possible breeds, and you know just what to do next, to find your dog. Great book for dog-hunters!

                5 out of 5 stars Good Book.......2004-09-07

                This book is full of information on all kinds of different dog breeds. It tells you if the breed is good with kids, how much it sheds, what it is good at, and more.

                5 out of 5 stars An invaluable resource.......2002-02-12

                As a cat-owner looking for a dog, I needed help. I've only lived with cats during my lifetime (except the dog my parents had until I was 5). This book gives information about the different breeds of dogs, about finding a breeder or rescuing an animal, plus much much more. If you are looking into finding the type of dog that will fit into your household, I highly recommend this book. My husband also found it to be full of information, and he's been a dog-owner all of his life!
                Choosing a Dog for Dummies
                Average customer rating: Not rated
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                  Manufacturer: HUNGRY MINDS (TWLD)
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000GT2QZ2

                  Christmas Antiques, Decorations and Traditions
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Christmas Antiques, Decorations and Traditions
                    Constance King
                    Manufacturer: Antique Collectors' Club
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

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                    GeneralGeneral | Christmas | Holidays | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 1851492976

                    Nautical Knits for Kids
                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                    • STYLISH
                    Nautical Knits for Kids
                    Debbie Bliss
                    Manufacturer: Collins & Brown
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback

                    GeneralGeneral | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                    KnittingKnitting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                    Debbie BlissDebbie Bliss | Expert Advice | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                    Similar Items:
                    1. Classic Knits for Kids: Thirty Traditional Aran and Guernsey Designs for 0-6 Years Classic Knits for Kids: Thirty Traditional Aran and Guernsey Designs for 0-6 Years
                    2. Cotton Knits for All Seasons Cotton Knits for All Seasons
                    3. Baby Knits Book Baby Knits Book
                    4. New Baby Knits: More Than 30 Patterns for 0-3 Year Olds New Baby Knits: More Than 30 Patterns for 0-3 Year Olds
                    5. Great Knits for Kids Great Knits for Kids

                    ASIN: 185585452X

                    Book Description

                    From the best-selling author of Great Knits for Kids, Bright Knits for Kids, and Classic Knits for Kids, here are 25 new nautically inspired knits for infants and for children up to six years old. A seaworthy sailor's jacket, a marine-striped baby's outfit, and a sweater bright with maritime motifs are just three of the designs in this delightful new knitwear collection from Debbie Bliss. Combining style with practicality, Bliss presents 25 seashore-inspired designs for babies and for children up to six years old; projects range from simple knits for beginners to intricate cable stitches and color patterning for more experienced needleworkers. With its charming seafaring style, easy-to-follow patterns and charts, and captivating color photos, Nautical Knits for Kids is a welcome addition to the Debbie Bliss knitwear series. Debbie Bliss is a leading designer of children's knitwear and a highly successful author. Among her books are Great Knits for Kids, Bright Knits for Kids, Classic Knits for Kids, Baby Knits, New Baby Knits, and Kids Country Knits. 80 pp 8 1/2 x 11 35 color & 26 b/w photos, charts throughout A Crafter's Choice Book Club Selection

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars STYLISH.......2000-05-12

                    I am big into Debbie Bliss' designs. This book is not different to her previous I own: great designs, very fashionable, and totally practical. The colors are beautiful, and if you are able to find the same cottons she uses, the results are a guaranteed success. The book has very easy to follow instructions if you have knitted before. Unlike her most recent book, Quick Baby Knits, this book has diagrams and I hope she continues to include them in future publications: they are most helpful. I have two girls (14 months and 2 and a half years' old) and they get a lot of "mileage" out of these sweaters. In this Nautical collection, my favorite piece is the baby blanket: easy to make, and a great heirloom for generations to share.
                    Nautical Knits for Kids
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Nautical Knits for Kids
                      Debbie Bliss
                      Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover

                      Debbie BlissDebbie Bliss | Expert Advice | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                      ASIN: B000OMYVHC

                      Sullivanesque: URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND ORNAMENTATION
                      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                      • Louis Sullivan's Vernacular Influence
                      Sullivanesque: URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND ORNAMENTATION
                      Ronald E. Schmitt
                      Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover

                      CriticismCriticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      GeneralGeneral | Architects, A-Z | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                      Decoration & OrnamentDecoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                      Similar Items:
                      1. At Home on the Prairie: The Houses of Purcell & Elmslie At Home on the Prairie: The Houses of Purcell & Elmslie

                      ASIN: 0252027264

                      Customer Reviews:

                      5 out of 5 stars Louis Sullivan's Vernacular Influence.......2003-10-25

                      This is an excellent, scholarly work by University of Illinois professor Ronald Schmitt. This book is a study in which the author traces the development of ornamentation influenced in nature patterns. The book shows how Sullivan's ornamentation was passed down to his former employees (an excellent study in its own right). And finally how terra cotta ornament became massed produced and used by lesser-known architects for the development of a Chicago "Sullivanesque" Vernacular.

                      This is a very thorough book that will appeal to students of The Arts & Crafts/Prairie School and "vernacular urban architecture" which has all but been ignored by architects and academics. The book contains numerous photographs. There is a great chapter on Sullivan's disciples, and, as mentioned before, the work of lesser-known "blue collar" architects whose background buildings are great contributions to the city of Chicago. There is also an appendix which contains an exhaustive, state by state inventory of Sullivanesque buildings.
                      Architectural Ornamentation in Chicago
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Architectural Ornamentation in Chicago
                        William A. Rooney
                        Manufacturer: Chicago Review Pr
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover

                        GeneralGeneral | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
                        ASIN: 0914091387
                        Architectural Ornamentation In Chicago
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Architectural Ornamentation In Chicago
                          William A. Rooney
                          Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000UUIUAC
                          ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION IN CHICAGO, Signed By the Author
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENTATION IN CHICAGO, Signed By the Author
                            William A. Rooney
                            Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Hardcover
                            ASIN: B000VBNZPA

                            Shopping Bag: Portable Art
                            Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                            • It's OK to Collect Shopping Bags
                            Shopping Bag: Portable Art
                            Stephen C. Wagner
                            Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Hardcover

                            GeneralGeneral | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Graphic Arts | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            Pop CulturePop Culture | Graphic Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
                            ASIN: 0517561778
                            Release Date: 1986-09-18

                            Customer Reviews:

                            5 out of 5 stars It's OK to Collect Shopping Bags.......2007-02-18

                            I searched high and low (mostly in book stores)over the last few years for material about collecting shopping bags, which is something I've done for many years. It feels good to finally have a resource that validates a collecting passion of mine (about which friends think I'm a little nuts). The book is filled with fabulous pictures and text that chronicle the history of shopping bags. This great volume includes notes and side bars which can be used as stepping stones to further research or gathering more information about the topic.
                            The Shopping Bag: Portable Art (ISBN: 0517561778)
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              The Shopping Bag: Portable Art (ISBN: 0517561778)
                              Michael L. and Wagner, Stephen C. Closen
                              Manufacturer: Crown Publishers
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover
                              ASIN: B000LCB9XO
                              The Shopping Bag: Portable Art.
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                The Shopping Bag: Portable Art.
                                Stephen and CLOSEN, Michael L. WAGNER
                                Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Hardcover
                                ASIN: B000MX8Y1W
                                The shopping bag : portable art / by Stephen C. Wagner & Michael L. Closen ; design by George Corsillo
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  The shopping bag : portable art / by Stephen C. Wagner & Michael L. Closen ; design by George Corsillo
                                  Stephen C. Wagner
                                  Manufacturer: New York : Crown Publishers
                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Hardcover
                                  ASIN: B000VZS092
                                  Shopping Bag Portable Art Colu
                                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                                    Shopping Bag Portable Art Colu
                                    Crown
                                    Manufacturer: Crown
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Hardcover
                                    ASIN: 0517564815
                                    Release Date: 1989-01-01

                                    Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War
                                    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                                    • Very insightful
                                    • A Political Book Told Honestly
                                    • Great book
                                    • "Surviving in Biafra" is a must read!!
                                    • THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS: THE NIGERIAN-BIAFRAN CIVIL WAR
                                    Surviving in Biafra: The Story of the Nigerian Civil War
                                    Alfred Obiora Uzokwe
                                    Manufacturer: Writers Advantage
                                    ProductGroup: Book
                                    Binding: Paperback

                                    African-American & BlackAfrican-American & Black | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | Africa | History | Subjects | Books
                                    NigeriaNigeria | Africa | History | Subjects | Books
                                    GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
                                    African-American StudiesAfrican-American Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                                    Similar Items:
                                    1. War Stories: A Memoir of Nigeria and Biafra War Stories: A Memoir of Nigeria and Biafra
                                    2. BIAFRA STORY BIAFRA STORY
                                    3. The Open Sore of a Continent: A Personal Narrative of the Nigerian Crisis (The W.E.B. Dubois Institute Series) The Open Sore of a Continent: A Personal Narrative of the Nigerian Crisis (The W.E.B. Dubois Institute Series)
                                    4. This House Has Fallen: Nigeria in Crisis This House Has Fallen: Nigeria in Crisis
                                    5. You Must Set Forth at Dawn: A Memoir You Must Set Forth at Dawn: A Memoir

                                    ASIN: 0595263666

                                    Book Description

                                    In 1966, several waves of rioting in northern Nigeria culminated in the brutal massacre of thousands of easterners by their northern Nigerian counterparts. Sensing that their safety could no longer be guaranteed, the easterners fled to the eastern region and established an independent nation called Biafra.Refusing to accept her sovereignty, Nigeria waged a thirty-month war against Biafra, targeting air assaults at civilian locations, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of children, women and the elderly. Nigeria used land and sea blockade to prevent relief food from reaching hungry masses in Biafra and thousands of children died from a form of malnutrition called kwashiorkor. At the end of it all in 1970, two million people had perished.

                                    Customer Reviews:

                                    5 out of 5 stars Very insightful.......2005-06-01

                                    This book is a beautiful account of the Biafran war. I grew up with Nigerian refuges and their children in Cameroon and got first hand accounts of the horrors of that war. Overall, this insightful book is credible and like DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, KING LEOPOLD'S GHOST, SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL, it gives the reader the opportunity to understand African conflicts and the pattern of genocides that have taken place or taking place in the continent. I learned a lot from this book.

                                    5 out of 5 stars A Political Book Told Honestly.......2003-10-12

                                    I loved this book because it is similar to reading a personal diary or journal left by a child. It is honest and funny,sad and poignant.

                                    The author, Mr. Uzokwe, doesn't speak as an authoritarian or an analyst. He simply tells the story of what he saw, felt and experienced as a child living in a war torn world. This includes some sorrow but also reminds us of the naiveté and life as usual wanderings of a child's mind. (Not unlike the film "Life is Beautiful" depicting a child's experience in Nazi Germany)

                                    I have read the F. Forsythe book and other material on the subject of the Nigerian Civil War. I recommend those earlier works primarily on historical merit. However in my opinion, Surviving In Biafra is the most heart-felt story telling perhaps because the innocence depicted heightens the senselessness of the nearly 2 million lives lost. Although the subject matter is heavy, many passages are funny and endearing. As a non-African reader I found some ideas and practices presented odd and intriguing. The book is about family relations, community responses and how coping affects everyone differently. A variety of cultural norms are revealed and an overall picture of life in a small war torn village is painted quite beautifully. Many words, phrases and saying and songs are translated into the (then Biafran) native language of Ibo, and a variety of photos are included which adds nice documentation.

                                    Anyone interested in peace will benefit from the truth presented in Surviving In Biafra. For those interested in the holocaust or other genocide attempts it is a must read. Likewise, for those interested in affirming the joy of life and the enduring human spirit this reading is a memorable journey.

                                    5 out of 5 stars Great book.......2003-05-17

                                    A beautifully presented account of the suffering, resilience & ingenuity of the Biafrans; the sheer bravery of its young soldiers. Written in the great Achebe's approach. About time Biafran story is included in the school curriculum.

                                    5 out of 5 stars "Surviving in Biafra" is a must read!!.......2003-03-11

                                    From when I picked up the book until I finished reading it, I was simply taken into another world. It was as though the Nigerian civil war had been brought to life again by the author. The author has done a splendid job of capturing the events of that period for his readers. The book profiles one of the pivotal periods of the Nigerian nation. I recommend it to all those who want to learn more about Nigeria and Africa.

                                    5 out of 5 stars THE BRUTALITY OF NATIONS: THE NIGERIAN-BIAFRAN CIVIL WAR.......2003-02-24

                                    This book captures the tragedy of a war that the world still knows very little about...the cost in human lives that in the end was about resource control...oil. What the Uzokwe family and the Igbos endured represent the triumph of the human spirit. A must read for everyone because there cannot be peace without justice.

                                    Books:

                                    1. Silent Sinners, Silent Saints
                                    2. Soldiers Alive
                                    3. Soldiers in Hiding
                                    4. South of Reason: A Novel
                                    5. Storm Chasers: A Novel
                                    6. TARZAN of the Apes; Return; Beasts; Son; Jungle Tales; Untamed; Terrible; Golden Lion; Ant Men; Lord of the Jungle; Lost Empire; Earth's Core; Invincible; Triumphant; City of Gold; Lion Man; Leopard Men; Quest; Forbidden City; Magnificent; Foreign Legion
                                    7. Ten American Short Stories and Others: Laugh or Cry but Love
                                    8. Tetched: A Novel in Fractals
                                    9. The Arch of Desire: An Erotic Novel
                                    10. The Big Ballad Jamboree

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