The Birch: Bright Tree of Life and Legend

Book Description

This book is a celebration of one of the most widespread, beautiful, useful, and inspiring of trees - the birch, a group of species that occur across the middle and high latitudes of Europe, Asia, and North America. The author provides an overview of birch ecology and then shifts his focus to the economic, social and spiritual roles of the birch among peoples of North America, Europe, and Asia. The book concludes with a discussion of the birch in art and literature, and the ancient alliance between people and trees. The Birch is an accessible, friendly book containing 17 line drawings by the author-artist.

Customer Reviews:

A book as bright, plain, and graceful as its subject.......1999-06-11

John Peyton was 87 years old when this book came out in 1994. It reflects 87 years of wisdom, appreciation of birches, and experiences among traditional "Birch Indians" that nobody will ever have again. Full of facts, devoid of rhetoric and arm-waving, yet infused with soul, this is good, biological natural history writing at its best. Mr. Peyton simply cannot write a bad sentence. Don't wait until you are an octogenarian to read this fine ode to a beautiful tribe of trees.

Book Description

Introduction

Ten measures of beauty gave God to the world: nine to Jerusalem and one to the remainder Ten measures of sorrow gave God to the world: nine to Jerusalem and one to the remainder The Talmud, Kiddushin 49:2

Everybody has heard of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim in Hebrew, al-Quds in Arabic), and most people have some image of it in their heads, but almost everyone who comes here is surprised at what they find. Sacred to three religions and once considered to be the centre of the world, the Holy City is, for all its fame, quite a small town, far from opulent, provincial in many ways and conservative in outlook. But if it fails to live up to its fabled magnificence, it is still a fascinating place, full of museums, religious sites and ancient relics, at their densest in the Old City, where almost every building has a story. Here you'll find three of the world's most venerated institutions: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, held to be the location of the Crucifixion, and the holiest site in Christendom; the Western (Wailing) Wall, last remnant of the Second Temple and most sacred Jewish relic in the world; and the Dome of the Rock, third most hallowed location in Islam as the spot from where the Prophet Mohammed made his night ascent to heaven.

Even without these monuments, and even to a non-believer, Jerusalem has much to offer - from the narrow alleys and vibrant souqs of the magnificent walled Old City, within which lies the Via Dolorosa (the path taken by Jesus to the Cross), to the churches and tombs of the Mount of Olives, and the expensive shops and lively bars of downtown West Jerusalem. In fact, Arab East Jerusalem and Israeli West Jerusalem offer the visitor two worlds for the price of one: the tradition and relaxed pace of the Arab world, and the cosmopolitan glitz of the West. And the Palestinian fellahin and Bedouin who meet their urban compatriots in the markets and shops of the East, and the Israeli farmers (from kibbutzim and moshavim in the foothills and the plain) who do much the same in the West, add further to the diverse cultural mix.

Perched high in the Judean Hills, the city's location is equally captivating. The view on approach is dramatic, with even the modern city providing a magnificent array of white high-rises gleaming in the sunlight - an architectural legacy of the first British governor, who declared that all new buildings must be made from local limestone, a ruling followed under subsequent Israeli and Jordanian rule. To its west lie the fertile planted fields, olive groves and settled villages of the coastal plain and the Judean foothills, while to the east the harsh desert of the Jordan Valley stretches out to a horizon that, on a clear day, offers glimpses of the Dead Sea.

As far as politics is concerned, Jerusalem is at the heart of the Israel-Palestine question, hotly contested and deeply divided. It may be one city, but it's definitely two countries, and if the Israel-Jordan border that once ran through the city no longer exists in physical form, the political, legal and above all cultural divisions are still very tangible. The two halves live uneasily side by side, a tension heightened by the construction of new Jewish settlements that encroach upon Palestinian land. Though Israel has taken the position since 1967 that Jerusalem is the single, indivisible capital of the Jewish state, it's a status recognized by few other countries, so while the Knesset is in Jerusalem, virtually all foreign embassies remain in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Palestinians also consider Jerusalem their true capital - however unrealistic that may seem - and it remains the focus of their commerce, culture, political aspirations.

Jerusalem then is a schizophrenic city, a frustrating and complex place that can seem overwhelming on a first visit. In fact, such is the emotion that the city inspires in some visitors that it has its own mental disorder: some victims of Jerusalem Syndrome suffer the delusion that they are characters from the Bible - Jesus is the favourite, but others include Moses, King David, Elijah, John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary. You might see them wandering the streets, dressed in the robes of their adopted persona. Other sufferers commit bizarre acts in their certainty of the imminent Second Coming - in 1969, an Australian tourist tried to burn down the al-Aqsa Mosque in preparation for Jesus's arrival. An upsurge in the number of cases of Jerusalem Syndrome is expected for the millennium, and the city's psychiatric health facilities are bracing themselves to deal with it. Fortunately, it's a form of breakdown that's usually temporary in nature.

Despite its very real difficulties however, Jerusalem is still a beautiful city, teeming and alive, a historical location without compare and the backdrop against which the histories of three religions were acted out. It was from here that Mohammed ascended to heaven, from the spot where God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son. It was the residents of this city who welcomed Jesus by spreading palm leaves on the ground before him, along these streets that he dragged the cross, and here that he was executed upon it. Here, too, stood the capital of David and Solomon, home to the two Jewish Temples of antiquity; and this is the city for which the Jews through all their centuries of exile and persecution cried their ancient hope, "next year in Jerusalem". Little wonder that it inspires such dreams, such devotion, such love, such madness.

Around Jerusalem too are a number of fascinating places that are easily reached on outings. Of these, the ancient fortress of Masada gets many a visitor out of bed by 3am for the ever-popular excursions to climb it at dawn and see the sun rise from the top, before checking out that bizarre natural phenomenon, the Dead Sea (for those who value their lie-in there are more leisurely ways to see both). Nearer at hand, David's royal city of Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, is almost within walking distance, and a mere twenty minutes away by service taxi. Jericho, the city whose walls came tumbling down, takes a little more getting to, but still lies only an hour to the east. Westward, meanwhile, the village of Abu Ghosh attracts lovers of fine Middle Eastern food as much as those with an interest in history, and not far beyond, Emmaus and Latrun are sites with resonances ancient and modern respectively.

Customer Reviews:

very unbalanced reporting.......2006-02-10

The author of this book is extremely biased against Israel. he seems to practically bendover backwards to put a pro Arab slant to just about everything in the book. I couln't understand why he would not just simply describe the scene or location with out finding something nasty to say about israel. I was almost expecting him to blame any bad weather on the Israeli government.I was extremely disapointed , and to me it seemed that he found himself a soap box , at my expense. It's a shame that he put so much effort into trashing a country , instead of concentrating his efforts on presenting the beauty of such a pretty and culturally rich land. My suggestion, find another tour book. if you want to sunscribe to the authors sentiments , you can find the same stuff on Al Jezzira.

Rough Guide not so Rough.......2000-06-27

The Rough Guide is comprehensive without being overwhelming - a truly useful pocket guide to a city which defies unilateral description. I have found this the most portable, versatile guide for city travel and expansive, reflecting quality writing and research.

Book Description

Using many never-reported facts, award-winning writer Anne Hagedorn Auerbach chronicles the compelling and tragic story behind the downfall of Thoroughbred racing's crown jewel.

Customer Reviews:

Astonishing Story..........2007-05-16

By far and away, this is the best book I have ever read. It is enthralling, astounding in its detail, it is meticulously researched, beautifully and stylishly written. Auerbach's book is the classiest piece of reading I have completed. I couldn't put it down, and it will lead you along the road from awe to woe. I could read anything about the Bluegrass and the thoroughbred industry, but this book will cross genres from horse fans to general public.

But be advised, it is an involving read and you need to concentrate. But I found my emotions building with every chapter and a sure void when I discovered that the book ends before the completion of the Calumet story which, by my own research, continues long after the close of pages in 1995...

Financial shenanigans and excess destroy a racing dynasty.......2007-03-04

At last a detailed explanation as to what caused the implosion of the seemingly solid Calumet Farms throughbred racing dynasty. How could things go so wrong, so fast? An interesting mix of human pettiness, ignorance and weakness, greed, and then the Farm was lost to greater and greater accelerating debt. Detailed portraits of many of the Calumet favorites, especially Alydar, who's accidental death stopped the cash machine that was keeping the farm afloat in a sea of debt. Interesting crosscurrents of bad feduciary management by the trust's bank managers, criminal activity, gangland ties, possible drug peddling for cash, contracts that were fast and loose and pledged the same assets over and over again. If you like racing and remember the Calumet lock on winning and its great horses, this is a fascinating book. If you are looking for just a "horse" book you should look elsewhere, but this is a great story from the get-go.

Ripping The Veneer Off The Sport Of Kings.......2006-09-01

I vividly remember the reports in the sports section concerning the death of Alydar and then the financial collapse of Calumet Farm. Little did I know then that it was as criminal as anything found on the front page of a major daily.

Ann Hagedorn Auerbach does an outstanding job of piecing together the jagged financial picture of the crumbled puzzle pieces left by J.T. Lundy. The book also poses poignant questions - many remaining unanswered today - concerning the death of a great champion who seemingly was worth more in death because of the huge insurance windfall gained by Lundy.

And please don't be fooled by the pomp on major race days covered on national TV/cable; the Thoroughbred industry is driven by racers graduating to the stud farm and commanding oftentimes six figures per mating.

Though the book is about 10 years old, you will wonder if there are more Lundy's cooking up schemes to defraud others while striding nonchalantly under the backdrop of beautiful turf, colorful silks and million-dollar runners.

Depressing But True.......2006-06-27

This is the story of the downfall of the premier horse racing & breeding farm as well as the death of the legendary racehorse stallion Alydar, due to, of course, greed. Rest in peace Alydar.

The author follows the money trail expertly, & as a horse person, I have seen this scenario in a smaller scale before (downfall of a stable etc) due to greed.
It is a shame that real horsepeople do not own these farms/stables. Money is still directing what is happening to all horse breeds to this day. Witness the "Dubai" (Doobie) Brothers are still buying up the best bloodstock of the USA, & they are not just limiting themselves to Thoroughbreds (also Arabians, Saddlebreds).
I gave the book only 4 stars as it is depressing. However, it is very well written.

This is Not a Horse Racing Book.......2006-06-12

There may be a horse on the cover, but this is not a horse racing book. If you want a book that covers the entire history of Calumet - you'll have to keep waiting. This book is primarily about J.T. Lundy and the investments he made that ultimately led to the Alydar tragedy.

Citation - one of the greatest racehorses of all time and easily the greatest horse ever bred at Calumet (no offense to Whirlaway) - gets a whopping paragraph mention.

Many portions of this book get bogged down with discussions of trust funds, banks, liens, etc. If you want to know how not to run a business, this is for you. If you want to know how not to run a horse farm, this is for you. If you are just plain curious in how Calumet went so downhill so fast, this is for you.

If you want to read about horse racing - this book is not for you.

Auerbach seems to grasp the basics of horse racing...but she apparently never actually visited the farm...several times referring to Keeneland (which is directly next door to Calumet) as several miles away...Since she's a Wall Street Journal writer, obviously the business side of everything is extremely sound.

Average customer rating:

Good book for this price, but....

Compared to a Newer Version

GREAT BOOK

Creating a Natural Aquarium (Onterpet Handbooks)
Peter Hiscock
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Fishing | General & Anthologies | Hunting | Shooting
Similar Items:

Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature

Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants

Aquarium Plants Manual (A Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Ecology of the Planted Aquarium: A Practical Manual and Scientific Treatise for the Home Aquarist, Second Edition

Nature Aquarium World Volume 2

ASIN: 0764561413

Book Description

The allure of the natural aquarium is that it is both a spectacularly beautiful and all-natural environment - the ideal backdrop for an aquarium of colorful fish . The plants and accessories needed to create a natural aquarium are more abundant than ever, giving aquarium hobbyists may more choices.

This book explores the full range of natural aquarium possibilities, and with its abundance of full-color photos and drawings makes setting up and lm maintaining the design of choice as simple(and successful) as possible.

Customer Reviews:

Good book for this price, but...........2006-04-16

This is a good book for aquarium biotopes beginners, worhthy the price, have lots of images, good ideas that may help you at the time you mount a tank. On the other hand, this book has many errors on the right location of some plants, for example anubias in an "Amazon Acis Pool"?, i don?t think so, so if mistakes like this don?t bother you then this book is a good low price choice. Conversely to the plants mistakes, i found several ideas about "fishing bitopes", a very accurate research on fishes on differents areas. Good book for the price.

Compared to a Newer Version.......2005-03-02

I'm going to start off by saying that this book is basically an older version of "Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature", by the same author. This being said I'm going to compare the two in this review.

Both books are for anyone who has wanted to turn their aquarium from a mix and match display to a strict biotope aquarium. They are divided in two parts, the first is a "practical section" that covers the water cycle, substrates and decoration, plants, water conditions and planning. Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature (ADIBN) goes into some detail on the subjects but doesn't go as far as a textbook and make it boooooring. It is good information for aquarists of all levels. In the book, "Creating a Natural Aquarium" (CANA), the same information is covered in Part 1, but to a lesser degree and CANA omits some small sections. Part 1 of both books is really very similar and I wouldn't choose one based on the small differences. The important factor, in my opinion, the differences in part 2.

Part 2 of ADIBN covers more biotopes than CANA, which I will list below. The biotopes that are in both books are virtually the same. I this list I will list the biotope sections and then which book it is in.

Mountain Stream (CANA) split up in ADIBN
*Chinese Mountain Stream (ADIBN)
Central American Stream (BOTH)
Central American River (BOTH)
Australian River (BOTH)
European River (BOTH)
*European Lake (ADIBN)
Flooded Forest (CANA) Same as Below
Flooded Amazon Forest (ADIBN)
Amazon Acid Pool (Both)
*Downriver Amazon (ADIBN)
*Congo Whitewater River (ADIBN)
*West African Streambed (ADIBN)
Lake Malawi (BOTH)
Darkened Cave (BOTH)
*Southeast Asian Stream (ADIBN)
Southeast Asian Swamp (BOTH)
*Indian River (ADIBN)
Brackish Estuary (BOTH)
Mangrove Swamp (BOTH)

Personally I prefer Aquarium Designs Inspired by Nature because it includes a few extra biotypes and goes into a little more depth about each biotype. Aquarium Designs... is also a larger book so there are more pictures and they are larger. Aquarium Designs... uses the pictures from Creating a Natural Aquarium and adds a few. I like pictures, so this personal preference.

CONCLUSION:
If you want a little more detail and a few extra biotopes then go with AQUARIUM DESIGNS INSPIRED BY NATURE. If cost is a factor CREATING A NATURAL AQUARIUM is usually cheaper, or if you don't really care about the extra details left out CANA is equally as good as ADIBN. Both books are helpful in pointing you in the right direction and showing natural habitats. No matter which you pick you will be happy. (I Hope) These are the best books I have found (so far) that describe natural environments for the home aquarium. GOOD LUCK!

GREAT BOOK.......2004-07-14

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in Biotope tanks, or just a healthy habitat for your fish. It give in detail instructions and ideas, for biotopes from every part of the world, along with list of fish and plants for the tanks as well, its had many pictures to help you. and even goes into detail about kinda of substrates, filtration and other things. all the tanks in the book are built in 55gallon tanks, but can be made smaller. It even explains the different biotopes. if you having trouble finding info on any type of biotope this book is well worth the small investment, even with just one use it will pay for itself in the time you save. I very highly recommend this book to everyone, beginner or expert.

Average customer rating:

Excellent for beginners, but doesn't assume you're an idiot
It's just natural

The Natural Aquarium Handbook
Ines Scheurman
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0764114409

Product Description

Beginners and experienced aquarium hobbyists will find a wealth of advice on maintaining a balanced aquarium that supports a wide variety of freshwater fish, animals, and plant life. Advice covers everything from maintaining a clean aquatic environment to selecting compatible fish varieties for your tank. Titles in Barron's popular Pet Handbooks series instruct pet owners on health care, proper feeding and housing, and other facts important to owners and their pets. All books in this series have high quality, full-color photos, instructive line drawings, and run to an average of approximately 140 pages. Paperback / 144 Pages / 6 1/2 x 7 7/8 / 2000

Customer Reviews:

Excellent for beginners, but doesn't assume you're an idiot.......2002-01-21

Unlike many of her peers, this author writes well. She covers the issues you need to consider in a smooth style that makes learning easy and logical. Lots of pictures of fish, and a very clear *DETAILED* review of fish species appropriate for aquariums. I appreciate the book's to-the-point style, avoiding the let's-make-the-book-as-fat-as-we-can approach.

It's just natural.......2001-03-18

The first book I had was Piranhas by Barron's and it was a great book. I wanted to learn more about other fishes so I thought why not get Barron's, too? This book is for beginners and experienced home aquarists. The reason why I gave this book a five star is because it doesn't talk much about a specific fish like Discusfish. And that's good because it draws begginers the attention on thinking twice about keeping a fragile fish.

Average customer rating:

Aquarium Fish (Practical Handbook)
Mary Bailey
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Book Description

A comprehensive, practical guide to setting up and maintaining fish tanks and aquariums.

Average customer rating:

The Aquarium Fish Handbook
Nick Dakin , and Mary Bailey
Manufacturer: Caxton Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1840673354

Book Description

It's the only handbook you'll ever need, with uniquely detailed plans for eight biotope aquaria, including Rainforest, Rocky Lake Shore, and Mangrove Swamp. An identification guide to the main fish groups discusses size, habits, diet, physical requirements, and compatibility. Set up the aquarium specifically for your chosen species, from maintaining proper water chemistry to heating, lighting, and decorating. With facts on equipment, breeding, and illness, you'll have a thriving, beautiful aquarium!

Average customer rating:
FIRST GARDEN How To Get Started in Southwestern Gardening (First Garden)

Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B000F6Z6GW

Book Description

New Qumran Texts and Studies contains 18 papers from the first meeting of the International Organization for Qumran Studies (Paris, 1992). Seven studies analyse parts of previously unedited texts: 4Q47 (A. Rofe, E.C. Ulrich), 4Q222 (J.C. VanderKam), 4Q265 (J.M. Baumgarten), 4Q286-290 (B. Nitzan), 4Q385(B) (D. Dimant), and the Psalm scrolls (P.W. Flint). Some of the other studies discuss various aspects of well known texts: 1QIsa(a) (J. Cook), The Temple Scroll (L.H. Schiffman, D.D. Swanson), and the Hodayot (L. Vegas Montaner). Yet others cover a range of subjects: the publication process (E. Tov), the wilderness community (G.J. Brooke), the scrolls and the New Testament (J. Kampen, H.-W. Kuhn), computer aided scrolls research (A. Lange), dating (E.-M. Laperrousaz), and wisdom traditions (G.W. Nebe).

Average customer rating:

A Fascinating Life Well Presented in this Biography

Indiana Jones in the flesh...

Intriquing and Sometimes Painful

WONDERFUL BIOGRAPHY - I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS ONE

Towering Individual of the 19th Century

The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn McKay Brodie
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton: A Biography

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Mecca (Volume 1)

A Rage to Live: A Biography of Richard and Isabel Burton

The Travels of Ibn Battuta: in the Near East, Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 (Dover Books on Travel, Adventure)

The Oregon Trail (Dover Value Editions)

ASIN: 0393301664

Book Description

"Starting in a hollowed log of wood--some thousand miles up a river with infinitesimal prospect of returning, I ask myself `Why?' and the only echo is `damned fool!...the Devil drives.'"

So wrote Richard Francis Burton, while preparing for an exploration of the lower Congo in 1863. Tormented by the question of "why?", his answer "the devil drives" applies not only to his explorations, but to the whole of his turbulent life. The nature of his demon, the source of his restlessness, has baffled many biographers.

Drawing from Burton's own published works and from the few manuscripts that managed to escape destruction by Lady Burton, Fawn Brodie explains the "why?" and in doing so creates a fascinating portrait.

Customer Reviews:

A Fascinating Life Well Presented in this Biography.......2007-09-03

The author presents a very thoroughly researched and well written biographical book on a fascinating life of an early British explorer of East Africa (Burton was the first European explorer to report his "findings" of what is today called Lake Tangenyika). At times the presentation can become tedious but on the whole this is a book well worth reading and a life well worth knowing more about. Beyond his explorations Burton lived, wrote, fought, loved and experienced life to the fullest extent. As many of the other comments from other readers have suggested, his life and how he lived it can be a positive inspiration.

Indiana Jones in the flesh..........2007-04-23

Richard Burton was an enigmatic, sour, oftentimes neurotic voyeur with the intention of beating his contemporaries and traveling the globe learning and exposing the cultures he came across. Ms. Brodie also has a tie with writing other biographies of sensational men (Joseph Smith, Jr of Mormon fame) and this book is an educated insight into Richard Burton's travels, motives, and surroundings. The maps included along with photographs, illustrations, and excerpts of Burton's own words help move the narrative along. It can be 'old English' tedious, but is well worth the delve into a man that went against the grain in every way.

Intriquing and Sometimes Painful.......2006-11-20

This is a captivating account of a unique and restless individual driven to observe and graphically document the often very cruel life of the Middle East and Africa in the nineteenth-century. This will not bore.

WONDERFUL BIOGRAPHY - I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS ONE.......2006-07-06

I read this one years ago, when it was first published. This was my first expierence and admittedly my first encounter with this remarkable man. This has lead me, over the years, to read much more of Sir Richard Burton. Each work I read, each bit of information I gather, I am even for fascinated with this individual, his accomplishments and his writings. This has been a nice reading hobby for me over the past number of year and it all started with Ms. Brodie's work. I am grateful. The book is well written, well researched and is very, very readable. Highly recommend this one.

Towering Individual of the 19th Century.......2004-11-22

Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton would be a worthy study for anyone interested in the potentials of the human being. A man of multiple talents and achievements, to count and adequately summarize them all would be an improbable task. This man accomplished more in a lifetime than most of us mere mortals could in several. As a 19th century British explorer, he stands with the legendary - Livingston, Stanley, Baker and Speke. What set him apart from these luminaries, towers above in fact, was is scholarship. His writing talents, publishing countless volumes, his uncanny lingual gift, (twenty-five languages, including several dialects that amount to over forty) and his inroads into anthropology, ethnology, religion and archaeology, make him one of the truly great individuals of the Victorian age. Brodie's treatment of Burton is a worthy tribute to the man, and after reading over four other life histories of Sir Richard; I can say with all honesty, that it is one of the best.

I have to admit that I have a severe aversion to that sixties literary trend of applying Freudian psychoanalysis in a biographical study. It is difficult enough analysing the living, let alone the dead and gone. Brodie is guilty of this method in this biography; however, she does it without taking anything away from the subject. Most all the typical psychoanalytical symptoms are present: the Oedipus complex, latent homosexuality, and preoccupations with sex in general. Brodie's analyses, though, is not a closed shop - she remains open to her subject. In other words, her psychoanalytic musings do not cloud the uniqueness and larger than life qualities of this man. It's a side issue, and therefore can be ignored.

What is so startling about Burton was his enormous passion to know, his tireless travels and recordings of the unknown and exotic. He not only was everything mentioned above, but a poet of talent, geologist, amateur physician, expert swordsman and skilful spy. A precursor to Freud, he studied the sexual customs of many cultures and was a fierce critic of Victorian values on the subject. This man's curiosity knew no bounds and he ensured he did not waste a minute of his sixty-nine years - a relatively short life considering what the man accomplished.

There are many biographies about Burton, but this one seems to encapsulate the man's spirit and zest for life. Brodie writes an enthralling biography and anyone interested in this towering figure of the 19th century, this text is highly recommended.

Burton of Arabia: The life story of Sir Richard Francis Burton

Average customer rating:

Burton of Arabia: The life story of Sir Richard Francis Burton
Seton Dearden
Manufacturer: Folcroft Library Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton

Average customer rating:

The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith

ASIN: B000AYS8EQ

Average customer rating:

"Flabbergaster"
This book "rocks" !
Rock Child

The Rock Child: A Novel of a Journey
Winfred Blevins
Manufacturer: Forge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0312864000

Book Description

Asie Taylor is a half-blood Indian raised by Mormons, a gifted musician and a sharp-tongued philosopher; Sun Moon is a Tibetan nun who has been kidnapped and sold into prostitution in California. Each is on the run--Asie toward his heritage and the secret of his "Rock Child" name, Sun Moon from her captors, in particular the fanatical "Destroying Angel" of Mormondon, Porter Rockwell.

The fate of these two innocents takes its strangest turn when they are thrown together with a man innocent of nothing, the scar-faced Nile explorer Sir Richard Burton who in 1862 is making his leisurely way across the American West.

The journey of this remarkable trio, their footsteps dogged by the relentless Rockwell, ranges from Brigham Young's Salt Lake City through the mining camps of the Comstock Lode in Nevada (where a reporter named Sam Clemens befriends them) is a dazzling tour-de-force adventure.

Customer Reviews:

"Flabbergaster".......2002-10-22

I found this novel a delightful and interesting read. The inclusion of Buddhist spirituality, an amazingly international array of characters (even a Chinese Muslim (Uighur) tavernkeeper), and emphasis on the Native American experience, make this novel deeper and more meaningful than most other novels set in the American West. Though the plot is intriguing, the novel is at its best in depicting its colorful and diverse characters (Taylor, buoyant half-Indian, with a passion for music, who pairs up with Sun moon, beautiful Tibetan nun)and settings, from a Digger Indian village to Mormon Utah. Despite its realistic depictions of the racism and violence of the period, the story remains light-hearted and humorous. Sir Richard Burton, Nile explorer and drug addict, was particularly enjoyable. It would have been more interesting if his Sufi beliefs were explored a bit further, but of course he was somewhat of a side character.

This book "rocks" !.......2002-02-10

Everything about this book kis great. Awesome and *original* story line, interesting historical facts, and wild adventure. This is the first book I've ever read by Blevins, and now I can't wait to order his other books, pronto. If you like historically based novels and unique :-) story lines, this is the book for you.

Rock Child.......2000-05-21

This book is a first person account of a perilous journey taken across the wild west. What makes this book unique is the company the teller keeps. A half breed of unknown origins is the teller, and he is in the company of a Tibetan nun whom he has fallen in love with, and a spy for the British--who's secretly practicing a 'heathen' religion! If you like westerns...try this one! It's a western with a twist!

The Devil Dirves a Life of Sir Richard Burton

Average customer rating:

The Devil Dirves a Life of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn Brodie
Manufacturer: NORTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KDFNVI

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The Devil Drives - A Life Of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn M. Brodie
Manufacturer: Eyre and Spottiswoode
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ND0STC

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The Devil Drives A Life of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn M. Brodie
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CNP11

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The Devil Drives. A Life of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn M. BRODIE
Manufacturer: Penguin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7QS56

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Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard
Richard Francis, 1821-1890 Burton
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NP68OO

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The Devil Drives: A Life Of Sir Richard Burton
Fawn M. Brodie
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PYC35G

Book Description

Historians of the Christian Social movement in the Church of England during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries have paid little attention to its relation to the Liberal Party. But from about 1886 to 1918 there were some socially concerned churchmen who firmly supported the Liberal Party in its new role as an agency of social reform and tried to exercise influence as a group, taking Henry Scott Holland as leader and inspirer. Edward Lee Hicks, who succeeded Edward King as bishop of Lincoln in 1910, was a distinctive churchman associated with this group. He was an outstanding classical scholar who combined a long pastoral experience with active support of movements for temperance reform, improved housing, women's education and enfranchisement, and international peace. This study shows how he developed these social concerns under the influence of such friends as John Ruskin and C. P. Scott, and how he was drawn from his radical liberalism to the support of the incipient Labour Party without becoming a theoretical socialist.

Radical Churchman: Edward Lee Hicks and the New Liberalism.: An article from: Church History

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Radical Churchman: Edward Lee Hicks and the New Liberalism.: An article from: Church History
David B. McIlhiney
Manufacturer: American Society of Church History
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Church History, published by American Society of Church History on March 1, 2000. The length of the article is 701 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: Radical Churchman: Edward Lee Hicks and the New Liberalism.
Author: David B. McIlhiney
Publication: Church History (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 2000
Publisher: American Society of Church History
Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Page: 208

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Radical Churchman : Edward Lee Hicks and the New Liberalism

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Radical Churchman : Edward Lee Hicks and the New Liberalism
Graham Neville
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKSPQM

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