The Acacias of South Africa

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
We investigated how soil disturbance from roadworks affects the population structures of roadside shrubs in an agricultural landscape of southern New South Wales, Australia. Size structures of Acacia pycnantha, A. montana and A. decora were assessed, and a separate dendroecological study undertaken. On a regional scale, populations were expanding, but classification of structures showed distinct groups of colonising, stable and senescent populations. Soil disturbance from previous roadworks was recorded in 88% of populations, and there was a significant relationship between major recruitment and roadworks events in Acacia populations situated along bitumen roads. For Acacia species, soil disturbance from roadworks are analogous to periodic disturbance from a natural fire regime, which in conjunction with historical changes in grazing pressure, are suggested as the main causes of increased Acacia recruitment. Ongoing management of disturbance regimes in roadside environments may be critical to Acacia persistence and associated fauna habitat.

Nursery fertilization and tree shelters affect long-term field response of Acacia salicina Lindl. planted in Mediterranean semiarid conditions [An article from: Forest Ecology and Management]

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Nursery fertilization and tree shelters affect long-term field response of Acacia salicina Lindl. planted in Mediterranean semiarid conditions [An article from: Forest Ecology and Management]
J.A. Oliet , R. Planelles , F. Artero , and D.F. Jacobs
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR68V6

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Forest Ecology and Management, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Transplant stress limits establishment of newly planted seedlings in semiarid Mediterranean regions, which are characterized by very low precipitation and poor fertility soils. Nursery cultural regimes which influence stock quality, as well as silvicultural treatments applied at outplanting may affect the capacity of seedlings to establish successfully. We examined the influence of nursery mineral nutrition and application of individual tree shelters on 9-year seedling performance of the leguminous species, Acacia salicina Lindl., planted on a degraded site in southeastern Spain. Survival was significantly greater throughout the duration of the study for seedlings fertilized at high rates, while initial benefits to field growth associated with nursery fertilization diminished after 4 years. A significant relationship was established between P supplied in the nursery and both seedling survival and root dry weight after the first growing season (R^2=0.68 and 0.77, respectively), though no relationship was detected for N. The capacity of this species to fix N through root nodulation apparently dictates that P fertility is relatively more important to initial establishment on low fertility sites characteristic of this region. Survival of protected seedlings became significantly greater than that of non-protected seedlings following an extended drought after the sixth year. Stem diameter was significantly greater for non-protected seedlings as of the fourth year but height was greater for protected seedlings throughout the study, reflecting differential carbon allocation within the sheltered environment. Our results suggest that mineral nutrient status of nursery stock (especially high P content) and tree shelters may positively affect long-term plantation establishment of A. salicina seedlings in semiarid Mediterranean climates.

Relative infectivity of two Pisolithus spp. strains inoculated to the nitrogen-fixing legume tree Acacia crassicarpa A. Cunn. ex Benth. in a field experiment ... from: European Journal of Soil Biology]

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Relative infectivity of two Pisolithus spp. strains inoculated to the nitrogen-fixing legume tree Acacia crassicarpa A. Cunn. ex Benth. in a field experiment ... from: European Journal of Soil Biology]
M. Ducousso , A. Galiana , G. Chaix , and Y. Prin
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RR1D1G

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from European Journal of Soil Biology, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
A field behaviour trial was set up in Mahela (Madagascar) to evaluate the ecological competence of two ectomycorrhizal fungal strains on Acacia crassicarpa. This fast-growing Australasian species is very well appreciated locally by farmers as multipurpose wood. However, its symbiotic associations with nitrogen fixing bacteria, ectomycorrhizas, and arbuscular mycorrhizas have been poorly studied so far. The inoculated fungal strains used in the present experiment belonged to two different species of the genus Pisolithus, strain 441 originating from Pisolithus microcarpus collected in Brazil under Eucalyptus citriodora and strain COI.007 from Pisolithus albus collected in Senegal under Acacia mangium. A survey of sporocarps fruiting in the inoculation trial and the molecular identification of the fungal partners present within the ectomycorrhizal roots showed the exclusive occurrence of the inoculant strain 441 in all the experimental plots of A. crassicarpa after 19 months of tree growth. The inoculant strain COI.007 was not detected in any plot. We confirmed the ability of A. crassicarpa to form ectomycorrhizal associations but exclusively with P. microcarpus in the field conditions tested here. The lack of growth response to inoculation that we observed could be attributed to the contamination of all plots by strain 441.

Use of mycorrhizal inoculation to improve reafforestation process with Australian Acacia in Sahelian ecozones [An article from: Ecological Engineering]

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Use of mycorrhizal inoculation to improve reafforestation process with Australian Acacia in Sahelian ecozones [An article from: Ecological Engineering]
R. Duponnois , C. Plenchette , Y. Prin , and M. Ducousso
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000PDSBF8

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Ecological Engineering, published by Elsevier in 2007. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the mycorrhizal inoculation on the early development of Australian acacias in a dry tropical environment. Field experiments were carried out with an Australian Acacia species (Acacia holosericea) and four fungal strains were tested: an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) and three ectomycorrhizal isolates belonging to the Pisolithus and Scleroderma genera. Mycorrhizal inoculation has significantly enhanced the growth of A. holosericea seedlings after 4 months of culturing in the greenhouse conditions in a disinfected soil. Mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized (control) plants were then transferred into the field. One of the experiments (Experiment EC5) was used to determine allometric relations based on stem diameter by destructive sampling. Two forms of biomass equations were generated and compared: (i) form 1 equation incorporated only stem diameter as the independent variable and form 2 equation incorporated stem diameter and height (product of square of stem diameter and height, D^2H) as the independent variables. As no distinctive advantage of one form over the other was recorded, simplest equation (Eq. (1)) was used for above-ground biomass calculations. Mycorrhizal inoculations with one Pisolithus isolate (P. albus IR100) or G. intraradices have significantly improved the growth of A. holosericea after 18 months as well as after 30 months of plantation. These results show that mycorrhizal inoculation could be of great relevance to improvement of the reafforestation process of degraded soils with leguminous fast growing trees, more particularly in Sahelian ecozones.

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Acacia Auriculiformis
K. Pinyopusarerk
Manufacturer: Winrock International Institute for Agricultu
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Trees | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Acacia nilotica (l.) willd. ex del: Its production, management and utilization, Pakistan (Field document)

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Acacia nilotica (l.) willd. ex del: Its production, management and utilization, Pakistan (Field document)
Mahmood Iqbal Sheikh
Manufacturer: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007CBHZI

Australian Acacias in Developing Countries (Aciar Proceedings, No 16)

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Australian Acacias in Developing Countries (Aciar Proceedings, No 16)

Manufacturer: Agribookstore/Winrock
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Vegetables | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Trees | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0949511269

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A FIELD GUIDE TO THE ACACIAS OF KENYA.
M. & H. Beentje Coe
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WPC6JQ

Book Description

From "Gateway to the West" to the "Iron City," Pittsburgh is a town that worked its way up to "Most Livable City." Pittsburgh has rebuilt itself into a center of high technology and world-class culture, with fine dining, top-class entertainment, and vast parks. Ideal for newcomers and locals alike, City-Smart(tm) will show readers the hotspots and cool spots of this impressive city.

Customer Reviews:

Pittsburgh, here we come!.......2000-07-20

The City Smart Guidebook was a great source of information for us as we planned our move to Pittsburgh. It had just enough history to make one knowledgeable without putting you to sleep. It also highlighted the best parts of this wonderful city in a clear, concise manner. The special interest tables were a great help (in particular, the coffee store one!). It comes in a close second to the book Guide to Living in Pittsburgh published by Carnegie Mellon University. That book discusses information more relevant to people moving to Pittsburgh than tourists.

Book Description

From My Life are the memoirs of Kyrylo Tryliovsky (1864-1941), remembered chiefly as the founder of the Sich Society in the Hutsul and Pokutia regions of western Ukraine, before the First World War. This movement later gave birth to the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, who fought for Ukraine's independence during the war. This was far from his only accomplishment on behalf of the Ukrainian national movement. Tryliovsky was one of the most active and popular leaders of the Ruthenian-Ukrainian Radical party.

Customer Reviews:

I am always suspicious of large print........2005-01-04

It may seem a strange thing to say, but I really am always suspicious of extra large print. This book has large print and because of that, one has to ask the questions; Is it a book for those with reading difficulties? It doesn't say so. Are they trying to pad out the content to justify the large format? It would appear so.

This is a large coffee table book written by a man who has encountered wild Bears in British Columbia and throughout the USA. That, however, appears to be his only qualification for writing such a book. I am not trying to be unkind here but how many of us have encountered common garden birds or squirrels - and yet still remain unqualified to write an authoritative document about them?

Most of the photographs are extremely good and I particularly liked the way in which the photo credits were listed firstly by page number and then again by photographer. Those of us with an interest in "who took what picture" are easily able to determine the answer in this book. Apart from a couple which are soft focus (blurred!), my only real disappointment, as far as the photography goes, is that none of the photos were taken by the author.

So what we have here is a fairly reasonable book about some species of Bear which have, at some time or other, been encountered by an amateur naturalist - though never when he had a camera in his hand. Whilst it appears to be a fairly competent product, there is no way of knowing whether the text is accurate or not.

In summary, I actually found the overlarge text off-putting as far as reading was concerned and I was left wondering whether or not I could trust what was written.

Two stars retained for the photography.

NM

Book Description

In Ship Modeling Simplified, master model builder Frank Mastini puts to paper the methods he's developed over 30 years at the workbench to help novices take their first steps in an exciting pastime. You don't need the deftness of a surgeon or the vocabulary of an old salt to build a model. What you need is an understanding coach. Mastini leads readers from the mysteries of choosing a kit and setting up a workshop through deciphering complicated instructions and on to painting, decorating, and displaying finished models--with patience and clarity, not condescension. He reveals dozens of shortcuts: How to plank a hull "egg-shell tight"; how to build and rig complicated mast assmeblies without profanity; how to create sails that look like sails. . . . And along the way he points out things that beginners usually do wrong--beforehand, not after they've taken hammers to their projects.

Ship Modeling Simplified even includes an Italian-English dictionary of nautical terms, the key to assembling the many high-quality Italian kits on the American market.

Model building is fun, and not nearly as difficult as some experts would have you believe. Here is everything you'll ever need to get started in a hobby that will last a lifetime.

Customer Reviews:

A must have book........2007-01-19

This is one book I believe every new ship modeller, and the experienced, should have in their library.
Frank.

A memorial from his loving daughter.......2006-07-14

July 13,2006
My Dad, wrote this book as a labor of the love and devotion of his talent to share with the world. He is considered by professionals and hobbyists as the greatest master of his craft.
He has been cited in articles all over the world and recently we were sent an article from a major Fla. newspaper concerning a model ship builder. The article made reference to my Dad's book as being the "Bible" of model ship building. It made my modest but gravely ill father smile. I hope you have all enjoyed his book and will continue to for years to come. He is now living in Virginia Beach, VA.
I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all his fans and most importantly my father, who has influenced many in this wonderful art. He has been my guiding light throughout my art career. Goodbye Dad. You will always be my shining star.
Stephanie Mastini.
Epilogue:
My father, Frank Mastini, passed away at home, peacefully in his sleep on July 15th, 2006.
He fought a courageous battle to the very end, sitting 4 feet away from his gift to all of our family to enjoy. The "Amerigo Vespucci". I know that is the way he wanted to be remembered. At his beloved home, surrounded by his life long passions and his loving wife, Lucy.
His last wish was that in honor of him, that contributions be made to the Boy Scouts of America.
He can now breathe again and smell the sweet roses he loved so much. I love you Dad.

Stephanie

Ship Modeling Simplified.......2006-02-23

I found this book to be a good primer on model ship building and worth reading for the novice builder such as myself but its a little disorganized and has some mileading steps in applying planks to the bulkhead or frame of the ship, they just seemed to be short cuts or cheats on doing it right. But all in all a good read and recomend it to any virgin ship buider! I found Ship modeling from stem to stern by Milton Roth more up to speed for me as i am 44 and have a lot of experiance working with wood. There is a vast amount of imformation out there for the model ship builder which is a blessing to us all. Ship Modeling Simplified was the first book i purchased on this vast subject and i can say i was not disappointed it is a great first read!

MUST READ for Any Beginner.......2005-10-28

I seldom write critics, but this time, I just want to say, thank you to the author, it makes me clear about what ship model building is. I wish I have bought this book before starting the hobby, so won't have been so frustrated!

Model shipbuilding.......2005-07-25

I would consider this book the Bible of model shipbuilding.
There is none better

SHIP MODELING SIMPLIFIED Tips and Techniques for Model Construction from Kits with an Italian-English Dictionary of Nautical Terms

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SHIP MODELING SIMPLIFIED Tips and Techniques for Model Construction from Kits with an Italian-English Dictionary of Nautical Terms
Frank Mastini
Manufacturer: Camden, ME: International Marine Publishing (1990)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LYSJG2

Book Description

Silk and dried flower arrangements can add style or flair to any occasion, whether it be a dinner party or holiday celebration. Floral Decorations for Entertaining with Style helps readers create stunning, yet affordable floral designs with ease. Terry Rye provides all the instruction crafters need, covering everything from basic flower arranging techniques, tools and supplies to general information on choosing flowers, containers, colors and themes.

Step-by-step projects feature photographs of beautiful centerpieces accented with floral embellishments for napkin rings, place mats, candles, plates, glasses and serving dishes. All the flowers and supplies needed are readily available at any local craft store. Readers will be able to fashion stunning arrangements and table decorations for any occasion year-round--from Christmas dinner to spring bridal showers.

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For more "advanced" moms

Awful book- her husband should be mortified

Vicki is at it again.

Getting Your Groove Back

A must have for every mom!

The Girlfriends' Guide to Getting your Groove Back (Girlfriends' Guides)
Vicki Iovine
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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The Girlfriends' Guide to Toddlers

The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood

Girlfriends' Guide to Parties and Playdates (Girlfriends' Guides)

Girlfriends' Guide to Baby Gear (Girlfriends' Guides)

What to Expect the Toddler Years

ASIN: 0399526307
Release Date: 2001-04-01

Book Description

Fresh from the battles of baby- and toddler-hood, Vicki Iovine shows moms how to navigate the twists and turns of perpetual parenthood-and find time for their kids, their spouses, their homes, their work, and themselves.

Moms will find humorous and helpful advice on:

• How to focus at work when things at home are in chaos (and vice versa)

• Rediscovering the boyfriends living in the bodies of their husbands
• Homework help-the transformation into human flashcards
• The dinnertime crush and how to relieve frozen pizza fatigue
• Making time for yourself without feeling guilty

Customer Reviews:

For more "advanced" moms.......2006-02-10

I think this would be a great book, but I feel it spoke more to moms who are done having kids and have older kids. This is just my take on it. I have one child and one on the way, so it didn't appeal to me as much as I thought it would. I mean, although I'm not done having kids, I still want to "get my groove back"! :-)

Awful book- her husband should be mortified.......2005-10-19

....since she makes him look like the worst man alive. Anecdotes about how she has to beg him to do his part as a father and how he negatively reacts to her pregnancies really set my teeth on edge. Am I the only woman alive whose husband truly cherishes his role as a father? Even worse, I put 2 and 2 together and realized the man in question is none other then THE Jimmy Iovine, famous producer. Is THAT how she was able to get this drivel published? I agree with the previous reviewer who noted the overabundance of run on sentences as well. Don't waste your money on this book:The Iovines have plenty as it is.

Vicki is at it again........2005-10-18

I have read all of her books. Her humorous writing has helped to save my sanity during the mommy years. Her brutal honesty about raising children is much appreciated in a society that fails to acknowledge the true challenge that parenting is.

Getting Your Groove Back.......2005-09-19

I resisted her strongly at first, but Vicki Iovine is god.

A must have for every mom!.......2004-01-06

I purchased this book when my daughter was an infant, not sleeping through the night, etc. And it saved me from losing my mind. I recommend it to every new mom!

The Best Friends' Guide to Getting Your Groove Back (Girlfriends)

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The Best Friends' Guide to Getting Your Groove Back (Girlfriends)
Vicki Iovine
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0747551847

Book Description

Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) was a writer and a spiritual seeker, as well as a distinguished American painter. In his introduction to this generously illustrated volume, Townsend Ludington explores the relationships among Hartley's art, poetry, and essays. He traces the philosophical and literary sources that nourished the artist's evolving spiritual consciousness.

Raised in Lewiston, Maine, Hartley felt at odds with life. A voracious reader, he educated himself and became enamored of the transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and, particularly, of Walt Whitman. He began spending winters in New York City where he met and was befriended by Alfred Stieglitz. He visited Europe but remained restless for the right physical environment. Eventually returning to New England, Hartley painted in Dogtown, Massachusetts, in the low hills behind the port of Gloucester, and the stark landscape there stimulated some of his most famous paintings.

Throughout his career, Hartley painted landscapes and seascapes in which he tried to convey his sense of the wonder of earth, at the same time attempting to articulate the spiritual awareness that came to him in the "magic of dreams." Consciously representative of modernism, Hartley strove to express, as Wallace Stevens said, "not ideas about the thing but the thing itself." He believed that the acts of reading, writing, and painting gave significance to the world accessible to his senses.

This book is published with the cooperation of the Ackland Museum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the Babcock Galleries in New York City.

Customer Reviews:

A good textbook.......2001-09-04

In the 1940s, a longitudinal study was begun on the subject of how fathers' childrearing styles influenced the next generation. The researchers followed the then young men, through their own childrearing. Combining heartwarming interviews with the fathers and their firstborn children, with statistical analysis, the researchers examine the various effects that the fathers had.

This book was quite obviously written as a textbook, and it suffers from all of the deficiencies that that style has for casual readers: dry, academic text combined with scholarly jargon. However, taking that into account, I must say that it is quite an interesting read. Both touching and informative, I give this book a qualified recommendation.

For those of you who are interested in generational studies, the fathers were all of the Silent generation, while the firstborn children were uniformly Baby Boomers. Also, Messrs. Strauss and Howe and their book Generations are referenced in this book.

Superb Study of Dads.......1999-07-04

John Snarey's book, How Fathers Care for the Next Generation, is a superb study of men in families. Snarey draws from a four-generation, four-decade study of men to show that the impact of good fathering lasts over a life time, and even over generations. With both statistics and stories, Snarey shows how various types of fathers' involvement in their children's lives is linked to their daughters' and sons' educational and occupational success. Equally remarkable, the book shows how fathers' involvement with their children forecasts their own work success and marital happiness years later at midlife.

First Four Georges (British Monarchy Series)

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The somewhat screwy heads that wear a crown - Foibleshtick and History
Historical narrative writing at its very best
Wonderful
History at its best
Plumb is the master

First Four Georges (British Monarchy Series)
J.H. Plumb
Manufacturer: Fontana Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

The somewhat screwy heads that wear a crown - Foibleshtick and History .......2007-05-27

Plumb tells the tale of the four Hanoverian 'Georges' who seem to progress generation to generation in the direction of complete nuttiness. The climax however is in George III , the old villain of American schoolbooks. Plumb says he was extremely slow of mind, and the first twenty years of his reign a complete disaster. Thanks to the foolish advice of Lord North who is portrayed as a somewhat sloth rolypoly George III managed to antagonize and lose his American colonies. The last twenty years of his reign were however much more successful. Plumb artfully describes how the brilliant Lord Pitt at twenty- four became the King's First Minister and brought about peace with both America and France. This despite the fact that George III one day began to speak to a tree , spoke to it twenty- four hours without stop and after this was pretty much not 'in the loop of decision- making'.
The relations between the various Georges and the various Princes of Wales were most often horrible. George III could not stand his father, and his son. What is somehow surprising is that despite the eccentricities of the monarchs Great Britain continued to grow and develop its Empire.
Plumb has a clear vision of the story as a whole, writes with interest about the various figures, Robert Walpole, Lord Chatham, Lord North, Pitt et al. who served the various kings. A highly enjoyable piece of historical writing.

Historical narrative writing at its very best.......2005-07-31

This classic of historical writing and interpretation was first published in 1956, and it's still the best single volume on the Hanoverian dynasty. Taylor trained under G. M. Trevelyan, another noteworthy narrator of history, and became an illustrious Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. While he produced many important works in modern English history, he still is best known for his examination of the dynasty that began with the arrival in London 1714 of George, Duke of Brunswick, successor to Queen Anne, the last Stewart monarch. He didn't speak English and his son and successor, George II, barely could. The family has gotten bad press for generations, their reputation for loutishness and general lack of intellect perhaps being colored by American attitudes, but Plumb portrays them convincingly as ordinary human beings caught up in a series of exceptional circumstances: The rise of parliamentary power, the loss of the American colonies below Canada, the Industrial Revolution, the effects everywhere of the French Revolution, and the struggle against Napoleon. Like many others, I first read this book as an undergraduate, but I now much prefer the 1974 lavishly illustrated Hamlyn edition [which Amazon doesn't list]; the numerous political cartoons are especially useful in providing the flavor of the times.

Wonderful.......2003-12-17

Published in 1956, this work by Sir John Plumb has remained a classic. Plumb focuses his attention on personalities and politics of the first four members of the Hanoverian dynasty. He paints a balanced portrait of his subjects, bringing them to life, warts and all. These monarchs are fallible human beings, placed on their thrones by accident of birth. Plumb is especially judicious in his handling of George IV, who as Regent and King was viciously derided in his own time.
Plumb's treatment of the monarchs is supplemented with deft character sketches of many of the significant figures of the Georgian century; Walpole, Pitt, Wilkes, Fox, and North are among the figures included.
In his introduction, Plumb takes the reader on a survey of the world over which these sovereigns presided. This is history practiced in the manner perfected by G.M. Trevelyan; continuity co-exists with change, and the dynasty survives despite mistakes and scandals. Published when the influence of Sir Lewis Namier was at its height, The First Four Georges provided a refreshing antidote to the atomizing analysis of the Namier school. A fascinating and hugely enjoyable read.

History at its best.......2002-11-14

Fluent, lucid and written with Plumb's characteristic brevity, this is among the best introductions you will find to the high politics of the Hanoverian period. Sir John Plumb (d.2001) was one of the finest historical writers ever published in English. He is in the tradition of Macaulay and Trevelyan. His prose is polished and perfectly cadenced, and his light style masks a profound analytical grasp of the political forces that shaped this century of Whig ascendancy. Some may accuse him of adhering to the 'Great Men' school of history. If so, he highlights all their vices as well as their virtues.

Plumb was criticised for more often making the grand sweep of historical analysis as opposed to dredging through the minutiae of historical documentation. This analysis, I believe, is flawed and inimical to the notion that for history to be worthy of the name it should be readable for a wider audience, not solely confined to the institutions where it is nurtured.

Plumb's scholarship has inspired generations of laymen; his intellectual generosity and didactic rigour has also reaped its rewards within historical departments on both sides of the Atlantic. Those inspired by the Plumb school of history, who mastered their craft under his watchful eye at Christ's College, Cambridge, include such well known names as Simon Schama, David Cannadine, Niall Ferguson and Neil Mc Kendrick.

Plumb is the master.......2001-03-13

This is by far the best book that i have read in a long time. Most history books are boring but this one is anything but. Plumb goes to great details explaining the relationship that each King shared with his son. He does a wonderful job of giving his readers a rare insight to the royal family.

My Liberal Education: How I Survived the First Four Years of George W. Bush

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Coming of Age Under the Bush Administration
How I Survived the First Four Years of GW Bush
A great curriculum
Surviving George Bush

My Liberal Education: How I Survived the First Four Years of George W. Bush
Elizabeth James
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Political | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 142088851X

Book Description

When 25-year-old Pandora Duncan leaves her Progressive family in Baltimore and moves to North Carolina to pursue a career in journalism at a small town newspaper, little does she know that her life has just shifted onto a four-year fast track to adulthood. Elizabeth James' novel offers a refreshing use of fiction to forward a condemnation of the Bush Administration. At the same time, the deeply moving characters in this coming-of-age piece transcend current politics, making the story timeless. Pandora's journey from indifference to committed activism reveals her to be a sexy, quirky, feisty, conflicted, and finally courageous young woman who is both compelling and unforgettable. The cloying smell of Magnolia on steamy summer nights, the texture of red clay, the lacey fragility of blooming Crape Myrtle, and the rich, often brooding atmosphere elevate the setting to the status of a major character. While the book is built on the skeleton of contemporary politics, the heart, soul, and flesh of the novel are an old-fashioned, well-told story with all the elements of an enduring classic

Customer Reviews:

Coming of Age Under the Bush Administration.......2006-08-30

Unlike other "coming of age" novels, My Liberal Education is a rollicking tale with an unusual literary twist. In this debut book by Elizabeth James, truth and fiction are inextricably entwined as real-life political figures and world events mix with fictitious characters going about the rather messy business of living their lives. But before you reach the end of this engaging, thought-provoking novel, you will be convinced - without a shadow of a doubt - that truth really is much stranger than fiction!

Pandora Duncan, the 25-year old protagonist of the novel is a self-proclaimed "good girl" who goes through many changes that parallel the changes also taking place in America. Thrust into a conservative southern culture far-removed from her Northeastern progressive roots, Pan must look inward to discover who she really is - what she believes in, values and loves - as she struggles to make sense of a world gone awry after the events of September 11.

Part of this process of self-discovery is shaped in reaction to the world policies of the George W. Bush administration; part is shaped by the diverse characters that people Pan's life. During the course of the novel, Pandora falls in love with two very different men - Ethan Ernest, an idealistic, pacifist, left-wing journalist and Jerry Dobbs, a Harley-riding surgeon turned medic/soldier. Along the way, she also must put her own theories about prejudice to the test when she moves next door to an African-American family, becomes best friends with a young Hispanic woman, and takes a crash course in the meaning of same-sex love from a pair of committed lesbians.

By the end of this novel, readers will see that Pandora, much like her own country, has undergone a vast transformation in four short years. No matter on which side of the political fence you may sit, all readers will agree that My Liberal Education will make us think about the future of this country - and may even challenge us to take a good, long unwavering look at ourselves...

How I Survived the First Four Years of GW Bush.......2006-08-24

This is a bit of fluffy nonsense about sex against a background of pseudo-political ramblings.

A great curriculum.......2006-05-06

Combining the engaging story of a young woman's head first plunge into a new and alien environment, (e.g. The Red State of North Carolina) with insightful commentary on our culturally and politically polarized country-- Elizabeth James has woven a narrative tapestry that could not be more relevant or revealing.

Pandora Duncan is a green 20-something in the inchoate stages of self-discovery, who finds herself writing for a local newspaper in year 2000 North Carolina. The real editorial here is Pandora's self-realizations as she interacts with a wealth of exotic creatures, her new friends, neighbors and nemeses. In the process, she reevaluates her values and preconceptions of everything from environmentalism to her own eroticism (which James explores in sweltering detail).

All this is carefully interleaved with the unending parade of political and social issues that emanated from the first four years of the Bush administration and James examines how these issues infuse themselves into the lives of Pandora and those around her, often creating frictions or cementing friendships. James has done here what few can, with grace and reserve she's allowed her protagonist to grow and change, contradict herself and "flip-flop" her allegiances, in short, she's allowed Pandora to be a real person and at that, a truly engaging character. Never does she merely serve as a proxy for her author to pontificate or advance her own political doctrine. But she is fascinating to watch as she confronts circumstances and their fallout, whether in her tumultuous personal life, or circumstances on the world stage, both of which we can easily relate to, especially those we've all lived through in the not so distant past. My Liberal Education is not only the story of one woman's coming to self-understanding within a world spiraling out of control, but also a penetrating and terse time capsule of one of our country's most volatile eras.

This is a great "fish out of water" story, where Pandora, a self-professed "liberal" Northeastern transplant, learns how provincial she really is as she starts breathing in her new heavily Republican community. But as those four years elapse, and she navigates the unfamiliar currents stirred up by the geopolitical turmoil that characterized Bush's first term, a new Pandora emerges... And while Bush is still president after those years, Pandora is hardly the same person at all.

Surviving George Bush.......2006-01-25

Elizabeth James' novel is unlike anything I've ever read. Her use of fiction to forward a political theme is unique and effective, especially since the engaging characters transcend contemporary concerns, making the story timeless.
The story features twenty-five-year old Pandora Duncan, who leaves her progressive family in Baltimore to work at a small town newspaper in North Carolina. As she experiences the first four years of the Bush Administration, Pan evolves from an apolitical, self-absorbed woman to a mature, comitted activist. She, along with the very diverse people who enter her life, learns first-hand how flawed policies can impact the lives of decent, ordinary folks who are simply trying to live in peace and make ends meet.
Pan interacts with her idealistic, invironmentally-responsible young boss and a politically conflicted Texan warrior surgeon...both compete for Pan's love. The Walton family, her black neighbors, take Pan under their wings and teach her about inclusiveness, while a conservative Hispanic couple and Pan's Fundamentalist office mate project the opposing view. A committed lesbian couple teach Pan the meaning of love, while a quirky prostitute/union organizer at Wal-Mart adds much to the often satirical tone.
The book is funny, tragic, sexy, and romantic, but mostly it urges readers to take a stand on vital issues, honor citizenship, and safeguard democracy with the same passion one brings to personal relationships.

Nineteen Eighty-four (First American Edition, Red Dust Jacket)

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Nineteen Eighty-four (First American Edition, Red Dust Jacket)
George Orwell
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

As we remember it; a personal recollection of the first four decades of the National Association of Biology Teachers.

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As we remember it; a personal recollection of the first four decades of the National Association of Biology Teachers.
George W. & Jerry P. LIGHTNER. JEFFERS
Manufacturer: JLX Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OFVGMM

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The First Four Georges
J. H. Plumb
Manufacturer: The MacMillan Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NX3ZJM

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The First Four Georges
J. H. Plumb
Manufacturer: FONTANA LIBRARY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0006314627

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THE FIRST FOUR GEORGES
J. H. PLUMB
Manufacturer: COLLINS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SEBFHK

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First Four Georges
J.H. Plumb
Manufacturer: LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OL2HLA

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The First Four Georges
J. H. Plumb
Manufacturer: B. T. Batsford Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JVC06C

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