A Review of Allium Section

Book Description

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series,

Book Description

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series,

Book Description

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series,

Book Description

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series, Compact Guide Ireland. This 96-page book includes a chapter detailing Ireland's history and culture, 7 tours taking in sights ranging from the busy Temple Bar area of Dublin to the spectacular Ulster scenery, leisure-time suggestions, and a comprehensive information section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus around 180 quality photographs and maps.

Ireland Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides)

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Ireland Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides)

Manufacturer: APA Publications Pte Ltd,Singapore
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9624213178

The West of Ireland Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides)

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The West of Ireland Insight Compact Guide (Insight Compact Guides)
Rachel Warren
Manufacturer: APA Publications Pte Ltd,Singapore
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9624218153

Book Description

First Lady Betty Ford will long be remembered for her active support of the Equal Rights Amendment, her struggles with breast cancer and substance abuse, and her later involvement with the addiction treatment center that bears her name. But perhaps more than these, Betty Ford will stand as a paragon of candor and courage, an outspoken woman whose public positions did not always conform with those of her husband.

An independent, free spirit who regularly ranks among the most-admired First Ladies, Betty Ford is considered by many to be the most outspoken since Eleanor Roosevelt: she spoke her mind publicly and frequently, sometimes sending the president's political advisors running for cover. This is the first book to address the successes and failures of her advocacy, the effect of her candor, and the overall impact of her brief tenure as First Lady.

John Robert Greene traces Betty Ford's problems and triumphs from her childhood through her husband's entire political career, including his controversial presidency, which thrust her into an unrelenting media spotlight. He then tells how she confronted her personal demons and became a symbol of courage for women throughout the nation.

Contrasting the sometimes harsh assessments of historians with the respect in which she continues to be held, Greene examines Betty Ford's outspoken opinions on abortion and women's rights and suggests that her views hampered Gerald Ford's ability to forge a coalition within the GOP and may well have been a factor in his presidential defeat. Afterwards, as the author highlights, Betty Ford remained a role model for people suffering from addictions and personal pain, and made seminal contributions in the field of public advocacy for women's health issues and substance abuse. The Betty Ford Center especially stands as a lasting tribute to her foresight and caring.

Greene concludes that, while Gerald Ford wanted to restore an aura of honesty to the presidency, in many ways it was his wife who accomplished this instead. His book, the first to draw upon her papers at the Ford Library, captures her courage and candor and tells why she will always be remembered-for who, not what, she was.

This book is part of the Modern First Ladies series.

Customer Reviews:

Unduly Harsh - Belittles Influence of Betty Ford.......2005-08-16

This book made no real effort to consider the alchemy of the Ford marriage - looking at and attempting to analyze the private and personal influence of the First Lady on the President - it simply deals with the face value of public reaction. Thus is severely underrates the influence of Betty Ford. There is a lack of any human depth to this work and in attempting to be dry and objective, entirely loses what was the unique kind of power that First Ladies like Betty Ford can have - different no doubt than those who undertake specific legislative agendas, but one that the public responded to. The wrong author for a great subject.

A woman ahead of her time.......2005-01-08

Because the current Republican first lady easily can double as an extra in a "Stepford Wives" film, we must not forget that she is only one, and certainly does not reflect all her predecessors within either the White House institution or the Republican Party. Betty Ford certainly proved that.

John Robert Greene's biography of Betty Ford does justice to a woman who was so clearly ahead of her time, and certainly not afraid to admit it either. Whether people love or hate her, they ultimately admit that Betty Ford has ideas of her own. Greene, a historian, previously authored biographies on George H.W. Bush and (appropriately) Gerald Ford.

After Spiro T. Agnew and Richard Nixon's resignations, Gerald Ford unexpectedly became the nation's president. Although he is relatively liberal by current Republican standards (which was issue of contention in the 1976 Republican primary) Ford was conservative when compared to his own wife.

Even though she was from the World War II era generation---who weren't supposed to support women's liberation, Ford instead championed the Equal Rights Amendment and gave public thanks that abortion was `brought out of the back woods' in interviews which were undoubtedly path-breaking in their own day.

In a time when the new right was preparing for the Reagan and Bush eras, Betty Ford was a true lightning rod. Effectively defusing an idea that only `radicals' or `wide eyed youth' wanted policy AND cultural changes, she helped to successfully infuse women's rights with a public `respectability' that several other public female supporters were not able to achieve in 1974-1976. Being First Lady gave Mrs. Ford the ability to draw middle America to the very social movements which they otherwise might have feared.

For instance, after finding a lump in her own breast, Mrs. Ford encouraged other women to talk about breast cancer---and promoted the early detection which is now commonplace in America. Because then prevailing sentiment had been to `keep quiet' and attempt treating cancer in later and ultimately more difficult stages, Mrs. Ford has saved many women's lives. When compared against the Republican Party's subsequent and current `pro-family' ideology which actually attempts hiding frank discussions of human anatomy, her actions truly were `pro-life'.

For all its celebration, the book does pointedly acknowledge that Ford had a substance abuse problem. Again turning personal experience into public enlightenment/growth, Ford lent her name to the Betty Ford treatment center in California. If the center has subsequently become the stuff of pop culture, it also has humanized first ladies; they experience problems AND also have opinions how to end those problems.

Even if she was never actually a co-president and was generally content as First Lady, Betty Ford had ultimately opened the door for successors Rosalyn Carter and Hillary Rodham Clinton to increase the public role in ways which Eleanor Roosevelt had only dreamt about. This book is recommended for historians and political scientists, particularly those interested in theories about the power and influence of First Ladies on public policy.

Book Description

In this memoir of schizophrenia, Jason Stuart Ratcliff describes his struggle to manhood through the firestorm of schizophrenic psychosis, his journey through an often abusive mental health system, and his ideas of the necessity of "mental illness pride" in a society that socially excludes the psychotic person. Readers will continually have to remind themselves that this is not a novel but a true story.

Customer Reviews:

Rites of Passage: My Schizophrenic Youth in Mosaic.......2005-08-04

Great read. The book helped me understand more about what my loved one deals with in his journey thru life dealing with Schizophrenia. I suggest it for any family who has a member with this life-distorting affliction. He is now reading it too and wants more copies for staff members to read at his long-term care facility. It should be required reading for all those who work with the mentally ill, and would be useful in changing their perspective. I would also suggest it for the library of any National Alliance for the Mentally Ill chapter.

Opening Doors.......2004-02-28

This book opened a door for me, allowing some understanding of behavior of persons with this illness. Jason is obviously such an intelligent man, and is able to articulate the details of his life - so stange to most of us - but now made much clearer trough his sometimes disjointed writing. I was able, shortly after finishing the book, to pass it along to a co-worker whose brother - homeless in Arizona - has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I know it will help her to see her brother's problem in a different light. Thank you Jason!

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Easy to learn!

Better if you're curious about felt than if you are looking for something specific...

Great for kids on rainy days

The Art of Feltmaking:Basic Techniques for Making Jewelry, Miniatures, Dolls, Buttons, Wearables, Puppets, Masks and Fine Art Pi

Want to know what's inside?? Here's a few more details...

The Art of Feltmaking: Basic Techniques for Making Jewelry, Miniatures, Dolls, Buttons, Wearables, Puppets, Masks and Fine Art Pieces (Watson-Guptill Crafts)
Anne Vickrey
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Simply Felt: 20 Easy and Elegant Designs in Wool

Feltmaking and Wool Magic: Contemporary Techniques and Beautiful Projects

Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads: 25 Artful Designs

Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects

Feltmaking (Art of Crafts)

ASIN: 0823002624

Amazon.com

The essential materials of feltmaking are basic--wool, hot soapy water, a pair of scissors, and your hands--yet the results are anything but simple. This attractive book explains how to get started in the craft, then thoroughly explores making ropes, beads, and flat pieces of felt (the three basic feltmaking techniques). From there, the felt you create can become sculpted figures, flowers, butterflies, masks, vessels, puppets, buttons and other clothing embellishments, various wearables, and even a miniature scene with manipulatable figures. All of the techniques and projects are carefully explained in step-by-step detail and supported by clear color photos. Most of the items have a lovely folk-art quality, with vivid colors and handmade charm.

Customer Reviews:

Easy to learn!.......2007-08-23

This book explains very well how the is the wool felting process! And now I can make my own felt pieces!!!!

Better if you're curious about felt than if you are looking for something specific..........2007-08-12

This is a good book, wonderfully illustrated, with clear directions. It is definitely a good resource for the beginner. However, I was looking to do something specific (make dolls), so only a small portion of the book was pertinent to my task. I should have realized that from the title - it does say that there are lots of different projects to make. The other thing is that this book only covers a single method of felting - called 'wet felting'. There is also a method called 'needle felting', which is not covered in this book at all. I find needle felting easier, less messy, and more 'airy' looking... all of which I liked better for the project I was doing. That said, wet felting is definitely the way to go with kids. It takes a lot of elbow-grease, but is rewarding and fun. This book would be good for someone experimenting with different wet felting projects and those doing projects with kids.

Great for kids on rainy days.......2007-03-18

Using just a few basic techniques, the books show a variety of felt projects. It begins with a history of felt, with lots of information on materials and tools. Projects include felt jewelry, slippers, mittens, hats, balls, dolls, toys, pouches, bowls and masks. Beautifully written and illustrated. 144 pages, soft bound.

The Art of Feltmaking:Basic Techniques for Making Jewelry, Miniatures, Dolls, Buttons, Wearables, Puppets, Masks and Fine Art Pi.......2005-09-19

This is a great book for beginners. Good instructions and great pictures. Lots of fun ideas.

Want to know what's inside?? Here's a few more details..........2002-07-08

Since my earlier review, we have used this book extensively - kids and mom included. All our children turned out some beautiful artwork, and had a great time in the process.

The layout of the book is well done, and the different methods are covered in a logical order. The pictures are so clear they both illustrate and motivate. It is a pleasure to turn the pages and gaze at the photographs and page designs.

Contents include: getting started-materials and tools,making felt ropes,making beads of many shapes and sizes,rope and bead figures, flat pieces of felt, felt balls, small felt projects such as buttons, flowers and butterflies, masks, felt vessels, seamless wearables, finger and hand puppets, making a felt scene with posable figures, patterns, a source directory (US only unfortunately) and an index. Once you master the basic techniques, it is up to your creativity to reign!

The directions are clear and step by step, making it very "do-able" as a family craft activity. I get the feeling the author must be used to teaching this craft to families and children, as she really spells out each step.

All in all, this was a purchase we are still really happy about - it is a very family-friendly book. It would be great to see further publications by this author showing more advanced techniques, and showcasing her designs.

Book Description

This gorgeous book will teach readers how to create their ideal outdoor living space for entertaining friends, relaxing, and having fun. It's packed full of imaginative ideas--everything from silver gilded pots, candleholders and sun catchers, to garden sculpture, wind chimes and sweet pea wigwams. The Outdoor Garden Room will enable any reader to turn their garden into an outdoor living space beyond compare! It includes over 25 original projects with step-by-step instructions and a list of required materials--including recycled materials for the environmentally conscious!

Customer Reviews:

Virginia Satir.......2007-01-12

The author does an excellent job showing how to build rapport and trust.
Clear, concise dialogue and easy to follow.
A wonderful addition to the Family Therapy class I am about to attend.

Satir Step by Step: A Guide to Creating Change in Families.

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Satir Step by Step: A Guide to Creating Change in Families.
Virginia and Michele Baldwin. Satir
Manufacturer: Sci. and Behvior Bks.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NI1A4Y

Amazon.com

Historian Desmond Seward has written an indispensable book on Caravaggio--equally balanced and historically double-checked. But even with all its references, dates, names, quotes, and careful scholarship, this biography reads like a novel that is impossible to put down. Caravaggio, of course, with his "wild, wild spirit" and "very strange temper," according to contemporary accounts, is a natural subject for a galloping narrative. Caravaggio's religious and social status as a Knight of Malta, his protection by a famous cardinal, his street fighting, his fine silk clothes worn until they rotted away, his prostitute models and lowlife friends, his repeated failure to win a commission for St. Peter's, and his bitterness at the rise of mediocre rivals are just some of the ingredients of this good read.

What Seward does, to riveting perfection, is convey 16th-century life to the reader. He takes Caravaggio's renowned naturalism and shows us where it came from. He transports readers to Rome in the 1590s, where they explore the old stones of the ancient empire, step over the human excrement in the streets, and witness the pageantry of luxurious horse-drawn carriages promenading through the mud. Readers lurk with Seward in the darkness, light lamps and candles, and feel the damp as the Tiber rises, leaving behind more than a thousand corpses when it finally recedes after a terrible flood. They stand in the crowd and watch as the heads and bodies of decapitated criminals are quartered and hoisted on spears and ramparts for display. Gradually readers get the feeling that Caravaggio's predilection for severed heads was less the product of a tormented imagination than it was simply all in a day's observation for an unwavering realist. --Peggy Moorman

Book Description

Michael Angelo da Caravaggio (1571-1610) had an amazingly colorful and adventurous career, full of dramatic contrasts. He was a religious artist who used prostitutes and castrati as his models; a mystic with a police record; the favorite of Cardinals and the Pope's portrait painter, who committed a murder; an outlaw from the Roman hills, lionized at Naples; a Knight of Malta imprisoned in a Maltese dungeon; hunted by hired assassins in a vendetta with an unknown enemy; horribly disfigured by sword cuts in a Neapolitan brothel. Ironically, he died on a lonely Tuscan beach after receiving a pardon that would have allowed him to become an even greater painter.

Based on the latest research, but largely written as an adventure story, the book concentrates on the man and his personality, without neglecting the artist. It vividly re-creates his life in early Baroque Italy and as a "monk of war" on Malta.

Customer Reviews:

The Holy Sinner.......2006-06-07

I am fascinated by the combination in one person, of great creativity, in the service of religious ideals, with uncontrolled sexuality, violence and criminality, and depression. The relationship between these two extremes may be the modern temperament writ large. Thus, in the company of many people, I have long been interested in the art and character of the great Italian baroque artist, Michelangelo de Caravaggio (1571 -- 1610). Desmond Seward's short and readable biography, "Caravaggio: A Passionate Life" (1998) offers a good overview of a remarkable artist and deeply flawed and troubled person. Seward is an English historian who has written on the medieval and renaissance periods. He is a member of the Knights of Malta, as was Caravaggio for a brief time; and Seward's religious perspective undoubtedly has much to do with how he sees the artist. I was not convinced by parts of Seward's understanding of his subject. But he presents his materials well with room for his readers to disagree.

Caravaggio was born in the small Italian village for which he is named, and his father died a victim of the plague early in life. From 1588 -1592 he served an apprenticeship as a painter in Milan but fled to Rome, most likely as a result of killing a policeman. In Rome, Caravaggio ultimately received recognition for his extraordinary paintings but was forced to flee the city in 1606 after killing a man named Tommasoni in a duel. (He had earlier accumulated a long police record in Rome.) He received a dispensation to join the Knights of Malta but was expelled and forced to flee after another duel in which he severely wounded a superior in the Order. Caravaggio had strong defenders in Rome, greatly aware of his extraordinary gifts, and received a papal pardon. But, knowing that he had been pardoned, in 1610 Caravaggio died a miserable death en route to Rome after drinking contaminated water. During his years in Rome and thereafter, Caravaggio was an astonishing painter, creating many masterworks, mostly on religious themes. Many of his works have been lost, but some have resurfaced in recent years.

Seward gives a brief treatment of the little that is known about Caravaggio's life and makes an effort to separate knowledge from speculation in the original source material. He does a good job in putting the artist's life in the context of the Italy of his day, with its many states, cultures of endemic and pervasive violence, and susceptibility to natural disasters, such as floods, and plagues. He also discusses effectively the counter-reformation in the Catholic Church; and he places Caravaggio's paintings squarely within the goals and religious outlook of the attempt to revitalize Catholicism from the challenges of Protestantism. For all the violence and difficulties in his life, Seward stresses, Caragaggio never had doctrinal difficulties that might have interested the Inquisition.

Seward also discusses Caravaggio's major paintings (the book includes good color reproductions of 16 of them) emphasizing their naturalism -- Caragaggio's attempt to paint people and things as they were -- and, increasingly, their mysticism and religiosity. He is good at pointing out the violence in many of the paintings -- especially the scenes of beheadings -- and their use of light and of dark shadings. Seward is far less convincing on issues of sexuality. He is dismissive on issues of eroticism in Caravaggio's art, and on the artist's likely bisexual or homosexual orientation. The historical record may be sparse, but many viewers have found compelling evidence of eroticism in the paintings -- including the paintings reproduced in his book. Seward properly emphasizes, I think, the religious, mystical nature that finds expression in Caravaggio's art, but he downplays the violent, demonic, and sexual nature of the artist. Thus, while he properly subtitles his book "A Passionate Life", he gives the reader less than the whole of it.

As Seward points out, in many respects Caravaggio, with his great talent and equally great human flaws, is the prototype of the modern antihero. Undoubtedly, this combination accounts for much of the fascination the artist and his works continue to exert. Seward's book sets the stage for considering the tortured relationship between Caravaggio's life and his art; but in the end he fails to do his subject complete justice.

Robin Friedman

A Brillant Concise Biography.......2004-10-02

It is no secret among my friends that Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio is among my favorite painters. Because Caravaggio's paintings have a narrative quality, an almost universal appeal and real drama, they have long spoken to me. When the National Gallery of Ireland loaned its newly discovered Caravaggio - one of the best and notably, one that hasn't suffered at the hands of overzealous restorers of past centuries - to our own National Gallery of Art, I flew to Washington to see it. Even hanging in the gallery of Baroque masterpieces, it stood out as a sublime work of art. Like his paintings, Caravaggio's life was a study in contrasts. While he painted soaring religious masterpieces, he lived his life in the gutter, fighting, killing, gambling and whoring. So, enjoying his work as much as I do, it is with pleasure that I share a elegantly crafted, well-written little monograph titled "Caravaggio: A Passionate Life." The author, Desmond Seward, is not an art historian but a historian of the Middle Ages and because of the number of art historians with an agenda; this is almost certainly a good thing...instead of being filled with jargon or far fetched theories, he has provided readers with a consise, well-written monograph on a epoch creating artist!

Caravaggio is Caravaggio.......2002-10-14

Any biography of Caravaggio is bound to be immensely interesting because he was far from ordinary, someone who will never fail to shock and amuse modern readers. While several reviews I have read complain about the brevity of the book, I found its length appropriate-it did the artist justice without bogging the reader down with too much analysis and irrelevant details. It assumes some familiarity with Italy and European history, but it has several chapters devoted solely to discussing the time period, while always making a connection to Caravaggio's life. I found it particularly nice that nearly all of Caravaggio's paintings were discussed and analyzed within the biography. The book has several copies of paintings inserted in its middle, but lacks the majority. Therefore, I found it incredibly helpful to have my Caravaggio anthology nearby so that I could follow the author's discussions. Undoubtedly, anyone that is not a Caravaggio fan would find these sections tremendously boring, but I loved the opportunity to pore over his paintings with a new understanding of their significance and context.

you'll love it........2000-03-18

This may be the best of the new Caravaggio books. As a painter and a student of art history, I found this book by Seward to be absolutely absorbing. Seward not only gives insight about Caravaggio's life, but also delves into the events that may have inspired his paintings. Please read this exciting book!

Interesting Account of Caravaggio and his works.......1999-11-25

Firstly an admission, I had no prior knowledge of Caravaggio or his paintings. My main area of interest is military history but after seeing the beautiful cover on this book I picked it up and browsed through the wonderful colour plates. I had to have the book to read and after ordering it from Amazon.com and sat and waited. It was worth the wait! I enjoyed the story of this most interesting man, yes its a bit short (200 odd pages) but to a person like me who had no prior knowledge or interest in this subject it filled a gap in my education. This was an interesting book to read and I just loved the colour plates of the artists work (16 colour pictures). The book has sparked an interest to learn more of this man, his times and his art. For that alone the book was worth it and the author has done his job. I would recommend this book for those who want to learn a little bit more about this man and his art.

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Caravaggio : A Passionate Life
Desmond Seward
Manufacturer: Morrow/Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WL8TOG

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Caravaggio A Passionate Life
Seward Desmond
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UIME6K

Customer Reviews:

An rarely heard perspective on events of the 20th Century.......1999-11-29

This book does three things very well:1. It gives the reader a perspective on some significant events of World War II from someone who lived them neither as someone who controls the way history is recorded, nor is coming from the average North American viewpoint.2.It demonstrates how much things have changed in the lives of people born in the first quarter of the 20th century.And 3. It gives a (too short) account of, and reasons for immigration to the United States,not by one of the "tired,huddled masses" nor by the "famous and persecuted", but by an educated Italian man who came to the United States in the POST-war years.If you are interested in a not so often heard perspective of some of the significant (and insignificant!) events of the 20th Century, this short book is well worth the time spent reading it.

A touching story of a boy growing up in an Italian village........1999-11-04

This book was written from the recollections of the author of his childhood before, during and after WWII. It is the touching, true story of the events both small and long lasting that made the author the person he is today. It has all the elements of a good story: humor, drama, action and sadness that this boy has experienced at such a young age. You will laugh out loud from the antics of his mother and neighbors and also experience the drama of his visit to the village "witchdoctor". The author takes you with him as he writes of watching his village and country succumb to the ravages of war. It is wonderful to experience the small things that brought joy, laughter and tears to this boy especially when in today's day and age, youthfulness and childhood seem to be disappearing. I highly recommend this book as it is a true joy to read and you will find yourself thinking of this story long after you have finished reading it.

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My Village - My World
John M. Feehan
Manufacturer: Mercier Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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My village, my world
David E Sanford
Manufacturer: Crown Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The World Is My Village (A Novel With An Index)

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The World Is My Village (A Novel With An Index)
Khawaja Ahmad Abbas
Manufacturer: South Asia Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0836411315

My village, my country, my world ;: Leadership : two mini-courses (Faith journey series)

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My village, my country, my world ;: Leadership : two mini-courses (Faith journey series)
Regina Williams
Manufacturer: Geneva Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Leadership | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

My village, my world: Everyday life in Nadoria, Fiji

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My village, my world: Everyday life in Nadoria, Fiji
Solomoni Biturogoiwasa
Manufacturer: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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