Fighting in the Great Crusade: An 8th Infantry Artillery Officer in World War II

Book Description

FIGHTING IN THE GREAT CRUSADE combines the terse clarity of George E. Schwend's World War II combat journals with Gregory Daddis's expert commentary on the greater context of that conflict. The result is the rare military work that counterpoints historical and strategic analysis against a foxhole-level view of the war in Europe as U. S. soldiers experienced it.

Schwend's story, which typifies that of young American "citizen soldiers" on whom the Allied cause depended, follows a draftee through the rigors of basic training and Officer Candidate School and into the grim theater of the European campaigns in 1944 and 1945. The young lieutenant's diligent entries initially record quotidian particulars of meals, training, and letters home. The accretion of detail forms a grittily realistic day-to-day account of military life, while Daddis's expansive historical backdrop invests with poignance even such routines as Schwend's faithful attendance at movie screenings as the soldier--and readers--anticipate the fateful Normandy invasion.

Schwend observes that despite the rigors of his training nothing could have prepared him or his comrades for the savagery of the actions in which they fought: the Normandy Campaign, the harrowing Heurtgen Forest, the Roer and Rhine River crossings, and the final battles in the Ruhr Pocket. The cauldron of war distills for Daddis the motivations behind why soldiers fight--not, he argues, because they follow exhortations of leaders like Eisenhower, but to protect their peers and to survive, as Schwend did, to write simply, finally: "Home at last."

The first history of the 8th Infantry Division written since 1945, this is the only complete chronicle of the life of an artillery officer serving with the U. S. Army during World War II. Impeccably researched and edited, FIGHTING IN THE GREAT CRUSADE makes an invaluable contribution to the complete war record.

Customer Reviews:

Untapped Diary of an 8th Division Officer........2002-05-18

Anyone interested in American history in general, or American military history in particular, will appreciate the discovery of an untapped diary of an American soldier. Gregory Daddis has unlocked one such diary of a young artillery officer in World War II. What is more, Daddis offers a history of one of the least mentioned, "work horse," divisions, as Russell F. Weigley discribes it in the Foreword, in the European Theater: the U.S. 8th Infantry Division. Daddis reproduces the daily journal entries of George Schwend verbatum. Schwend hides his emotions and sticks to logging his daily routine. Other than his obvious love for his fiance Jean at home, we never know his fears, hopes, aspirations or opinions. Yet the entries shed interesting insight to the training of the U.S. Army (Gen. Eisenhower called the 8th Division the best trained unit to enter the ETO). From the cultural aspect, Schwend lists every movie he saw in three years in the Army. In addition, Schwend's log shows the postal system during the war years, was quite efficient. According to Schwend's daily weather discriptions, except for scattered days, perhaps the weather in Europe (and the 8th Division was in the thick of it) was not abnormally cold as some historians have claimed. Throughout the book, Daddis placed Schwend and the 266 days the 8th Division saw combat from Normandy, Brittany, the bitter Hurtgen Forest, the crossings of the Roer and Rhine Rivers and the horror encountered at the Wobbelin concentration camp in overall perspective. As a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Major Daddis offers some analysis of his own on combined operations, the role of artillery, and the command structure of the U.S. Army in World War II. Daddis draws from a wealth of sources including some unpublished manuscripts housed at the West Point library, used here for the first time. My only criticism is the book is too short. A valuable addition to the lexicon of the "citizen-soldier!"

An extremely bias review.......2002-05-11

Before I begin, I must acknowledge that this book was written by my nephew and it is based on his grandfather's (my father and name sake) WWII journals.

Greg Daddis, the author, is a graduate of West Point, a veteran of Desert Storm and currently serving as a Major in the US Army. This is not 'Saving Private Ryan', but a very factual, meticulously researched and well documented perspective on WWII, as it correlates to the actual journal entries made by my dad as he began basic training, then on to Officer Candidate's School (90 day wonders), overseas for the build up in England, on to the war in Europe and his eventual return to the states. Greg makes a point of the fact that we fought WWII with a civilian army and my dad epitomizes that fact.

More 'History Channel' then 'Hollywood'...Greg took no 'literary license' and included every journal entry exactly as it was written, without corrections or deletions...he then provided a detailed and documented historical perspective as it related to the entries that were being made in the journals and spaced throughout the book.

As to my 5 star rating...it's a book written by my nephew who I'm very proud of, about my father who I loved dearly...what other rating could I possibly have given it? ;-)

Book Description

Animal communication expert Jim Nollman has sung with orcas, plucked a Jew's harp in waters teeming with humpback whales, and shaken rattles in the company of bottlenose dolphins. Now, in this heartfelt and quirky true adventure story, Nollman and two artist friends set out for Canada's vast Mackenzie Delta, electric guitar and underwater sound equipment in tow, to make music with belugas--the elusive white whales of the Arctic.
Traveling the expanses of this beautiful northern land, the three friends unwittingly find themselves at the center of a heated controversy over the Beaufort Sea belugas: Why have the whales stopped coming into the Mackenzie Delta, possibly jeopardizing their own calves, who live the first part of their lives in these shallow, warm waters? As they attempt to unravel the mystery, they encounter various intriguing characters now laying claim to the resources of the Mackenzie Delta region--Native people (who are allowed to hunt the whales), wildlife officials, and oil company engineers--all vividly described by Nollman. Along the way, he also conveys both the wonders and the realities of being deep in the wilderness--experiencing the connectedness of all living things while scratching the bites of the world's most fearsome mosquitos.
With its rich and passionate nature writing evoking lovely and remote landscapes, The Beluga Café suggests profound metaphors for our time about animal rights and animal intelligence, the role of science in conservation, the politics of extinction, and the place of art in the epic struggle to save the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

Who are we to say.......2005-07-06

This is a very powerful book. It is not the typical wilderness adventure book. Unlike the TV nature show, amazing things don't happen every few mintutes. In fact few amazing things happen at all, yet the whole experience of small wilderness experiences add up to a book that will take you to another place.

"It seems critical to me to devote some part of each year to this nothingness, this time without time, this confrontation with animal demons real and imagined, learning once again how to surrender to some internal environment made external."

Nollman confronts the question of us versus them strongly in this book with the us being modern society and them being animals, nature and native cultures. He feels the chance has been lost to learn from "them" in a way that everyone would benefit, instead of disregarding that knowledge and destroying it.

Chapter 15 begins with a wonderful quote by Carl Safina from Song for the Blue Ocean. "Ecosystems are now like history books with many of the pages ripped out. And when people come along there is no way for them to know what was on those torn-out pages. Their values are not constructed around the abundance that once filled those holes. They accept the blank parts as though they've always been there."

Nollman pulls no punches in what he experiences on this trip including describing the constant difficult and loving give and take among the three soujourners.

This is a strong book and well worth the time to read it.

a wonderful story.......2005-03-30

This is a quite wonderful story.... a music of words.... ebbing and flowing between near-surreal and ultra-surreal with only a few intrusions of pure didactic rationalism. Buy it and read it.

Book Description

• Includes practices for cleansing the blood of toxins, relieving pain, using sexual energy for healing, and other tools for the treatment and prevention of disease

• Explains the unique healing potential of chi kung color therapy and how to harness universal and earthly elemental energies in healing

• By Mantak Chia, coauthor of The Multi-Orgasmic Man

Taoists believe in an underlying unity that permeates the universe and intimately binds all things. Taoist Cosmic Healing presents chi kung techniques that develop and strengthen awareness of the forces and energetic principles of the universe and the earthly six directions, allowing the reader to draw upon these forces for healing themselves and others.

Taoist Cosmic Healing teaches the reader how to use the major acupuncture points in the hands to activate, open, and balance the chi meridians throughout the body. This practice allows the student to detoxify and rejuvenate the major organ systems and, when combined with specific body positions and the chi kung stance, to heal others. Through Mantak Chia’s profound understanding of the ancient esoteric science of guiding chi energy, students can learn how to harness the astral energies of specific stars. Master Chia also explains the important role that compassion and positive energy play in enhancing one’s ability to heal. He presents for the first time in the West the details of chi kung color therapy and how it can activate and strengthen the immune system.

Customer Reviews:

Mantak Chia is truly a Master.......2007-06-27

I don't know how he manages to write so many books, but I'm glad he does. This book is probably one of my favourites. As I teach qigong I have used it for myself and passed on the lovely meditations to others. The knowledge is invaluable. Thankyou.

Highly recommended, for healers.......2006-03-17

As a Massage Therapist and Reiki Master, I found this book to far exceed my expectations. This information will take my practice, and also yours, to a whole new level. The imaging for visualization, by it self is worth the price of the book. I have read other books by Mantak and I appreciate him sharing these "secrets" with the world. The information in the book, if you were to learn at a seminar would cost you thousands of dollars. If you are not into ritual, as he suggest, take his information and form your own preparation and routine.
For those of you who do consciousness calibrations on their
books, this callibrated at 915.Thank you Mantak Chia for the gift.

Wow! Wow! Wow!.......2004-01-20

I have been looking for the one book that most clearly outlines ancient Chinese wisdom for a long time. This is the closest I've found. I got it two days ago and using the techniques described in the book to cultivate energy lead me to, last night, having the most creative time of my life.

Do you want to have a higher degree of awareness, energy and focus than you ever thought possible? This book is a good place to start. Read it with your judgmental western mind on the backburner, and just try some of the techniques to feel who you are, then you'll easily discover the power of these teachings.

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Highly recommended to all readers with an interest or understanding of the culinary arts

I adore her food.

Cristina's of Sun Valley
Cristina Cook
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
West | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Cristina's Tuscan Table

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Christina's Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a Northwest Island Kitchen

The PlumpJack Cookbook: Great Meals for Good Living

ASIN: 1423600487

Book Description

Nestled in a charming European-style bistro, on a small street in the world-famous ski resort of Sun Valley, Cristina's Restaurant has been serving up seasonal and delicious fare for over eleven years. Cristina and her staff have been cooking and baking for customers that include locals, celebrities, politicians, CEOs and cosmopolitan travelers.

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended to all readers with an interest or understanding of the culinary arts.......2006-05-02

Cristina's Of Sun Valley, deftly authored by Cristina Ceccatelli Cook is an interesting collection of reflections of the life and experiences of the author, as well as an outstanding cookbook of simple, elegant, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes. Drawing upon her many years of experience and expertise, Cook's understanding of her boundaries in cooking spread beyond that of most, as readers will discover in Cristina's Of Sun Valley among other interesting tales of what made the extraordinary woman who she is today. Cristina's Of Sun Valley is very highly recommended to all readers with an interest or understanding of the culinary arts, particularly those looking for an intriguing story to accompany such "kitchen cook friendly" recipes as Clams and Mussels with a Swirl; Crispy Salmon Salad; Turkey Soup with Toasted Almonds; Barley Risotto; and Key Lime Pie.

I adore her food. .......2006-01-22

If you have never had the opportunity to dine with Cristina at her fabulous little restuarant, or had the chance to taste her tempting take out foods then this is the cook book for you. And if you are a regular, like myself, you know how lucky you are to have these recipes now in your repetoire. From its beautiful plated food shots to its easy to follow recipes this book will make everyone a gourmand. Bon Appetit.

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Cristina's of Sun Valley Cookbook

Manufacturer: Watson Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0972658513

Customer Reviews:

High quality but a little dated.......2005-06-20

I am a longtime subscriber to BH&G Wood magazine, so its no surprise that I appreciate the high quality plans contained in this book. The 25 projects are broken into four sections: Shelves, Stands and Frames; Occasional Tables; Accessories; and Racks.

Everything you need to know to build these projects is clearly explained and well illustrated. The only drawback for me as a woodworker is that several of these projects have a distictly dated feel to them, such as the Contemporary Coffee Table or the Waterfall End Table. These have the look and feel of contemporary furniture from the late 1970s / early 1980s.

There are, however, enough "classic" designs in this book that will not go out of style. Overall this is a high quality book that is still worth the asking price.

Bar Coding Catapults Small Cabinet Shop into the Future.(Brief Article): An article from: Wood & Wood Products

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Bar Coding Catapults Small Cabinet Shop into the Future.(Brief Article): An article from: Wood & Wood Products

Manufacturer: Vance Publishing Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood & Wood Products, published by Vance Publishing Corp. on December 1, 1999. The length of the article is 741 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: Bar Coding Catapults Small Cabinet Shop into the Future.(Brief Article)
Publication: Wood & Wood Products (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 1999
Publisher: Vance Publishing Corp.
Volume: 104 Issue: 13 Page: 106

Article Type: Brief Article

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Competition and the small shop.(CM&F): An article from: Wood Digest

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Competition and the small shop.(CM&F): An article from: Wood Digest
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000RG1NM6
Release Date: 2007-06-04

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood Digest, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2007. The length of the article is 1261 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: Competition and the small shop.(CM&F)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Wood Digest (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Page: 80

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Family business combine consignment shop, sales of reclaimed wood flooring: An article from: Boulder County Business Report

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Family business combine consignment shop, sales of reclaimed wood flooring: An article from: Boulder County Business Report
Elizabeth Gold
Manufacturer: The Boulder County Business Report
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Retail Businesses | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Make a trigger-assembly tool for the Winchester model 12: this simple shop-made tool not only helps make a tricky job easier, it can ensure that the trigger ... Tooling): An article from: American Gunsmith

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Make a trigger-assembly tool for the Winchester model 12: this simple shop-made tool not only helps make a tricky job easier, it can ensure that the trigger ... Tooling): An article from: American Gunsmith
Dennis A. Wood
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Sports | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from American Gunsmith, published by Thomson Gale on July 1, 2007. The length of the article is 1340 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: Make a trigger-assembly tool for the Winchester model 12: this simple shop-made tool not only helps make a tricky job easier, it can ensure that the trigger parts don't get damaged when putting them back in place in the action.(Tools & Tooling)
Author: Dennis A. Wood
Publication: American Gunsmith (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 22 Issue: 7 Page: 8(2)

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Portable tools and small machines on the cutting edge in the shop.(Special report): An article from: Wood Digest

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Portable tools and small machines on the cutting edge in the shop.(Special report): An article from: Wood Digest
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000WF6GD8
Release Date: 2007-09-25

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood Digest, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2007. The length of the article is 999 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: Portable tools and small machines on the cutting edge in the shop.(Special report)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Wood Digest (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 38 Issue: 9 Page: 40

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Sanding is the finishing touch; woodworkers, even those who operate small shops, are trading in their handheld sanders for feed-through widebelt sanders ... An article from: Wood & Wood Products

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Sanding is the finishing touch; woodworkers, even those who operate small shops, are trading in their handheld sanders for feed-through widebelt sanders ... An article from: Wood & Wood Products
J.D. Piland
Manufacturer: Vance Publishing Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00082D9YO
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood & Wood Products, published by Vance Publishing Corp. on March 1, 2004. The length of the article is 2496 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: Sanding is the finishing touch; woodworkers, even those who operate small shops, are trading in their handheld sanders for feed-through widebelt sanders to help decrease time and labor, and increase output.(Increasing Productivity)
Author: J.D. Piland
Publication: Wood & Wood Products (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2004
Publisher: Vance Publishing Corp.
Volume: 109 Issue: 3 Page: 59(5)

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Small European shop produces many doors.(includes related article on company president Dirk Plets)(Belgium-based door manufacturer Deuren Plets): An article from: Wood & Wood Products

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Small European shop produces many doors.(includes related article on company president Dirk Plets)(Belgium-based door manufacturer Deuren Plets): An article from: Wood & Wood Products
Karen M. Koenig
Manufacturer: Vance Publishing Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00098YDG0
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood & Wood Products, published by Vance Publishing Corp. on August 1, 1999. The length of the article is 964 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.

From the supplier: Deuren Plets manufactures more than 150 different models of solid wood and overlaid particleboard and medium-density fiberboard interior doors at its facility in Izegem, Belgium. The company produces 600 units a month by using a combination of CNC and automatic equipment. As much as 80% of its products are used in new housing construction and home remodeling and the remainder in office buildings. Its wood raw materials are bought from Belgian importers with cherry and white oak wood coming from the US.

Citation Details
Title: Small European shop produces many doors.(includes related article on company president Dirk Plets)(Belgium-based door manufacturer Deuren Plets)
Author: Karen M. Koenig
Publication: Wood & Wood Products (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 1, 1999
Publisher: Vance Publishing Corp.
Volume: 104 Issue: 9 Page: 77(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Small shop amasses big equipment arsenal.(Moss Creek Millworks Inc. )(Company Profile): An article from: Wood & Wood Products

Manufacturer: Vance Publishing Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wood & Wood Products, published by Vance Publishing Corp. on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 789 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: Small shop amasses big equipment arsenal.(Moss Creek Millworks Inc. )(Company Profile)
Publication: Wood & Wood Products (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2003
Publisher: Vance Publishing Corp.
Volume: 108 Issue: 7 Page: 86(2)

Article Type: Company Profile

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Do you have or know someone who has a vision problem? Nearly all of us can answer "yes". The eye care business is a billion dollar industry. Americans pay high prices for eye glasses, contact lenses and surgery each year. With all the advances in eye medicine, this title is the first step in shifting some of the responsibility of eye care from health professional to individual.

What most people don't know is integrated medicine can be an effective tool in the treatment of eye disorders such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and more. The authors use therapies such as vitamin and mineral supplementation, herbal remedies, homeopathy and much more with great success. Through both alternative and conventional therapies you too can promote long term eye health and reduce the damage to your wallet.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive and invaluable resource........2000-04-06

As well as being practicing optometrists, Dr. Marc Grossman and Dr. Glen Swartwout have been trained in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and naturopathic medicine. Both have also published previous books. Their joint effort, Natural Eye Care, An Encyclopedia: Complementary Treatments For Improving And Saving Your Eyes, draws from the best of traditional and modern medicine for the prevention and treatment of eye disorders. The authors say that their "primary goal is to offer a practical approach to vision care based on an underlying philosophy that emphasizes prevention rather than cure." They begin with a fascinating discussion of how the eye functions, including information like "the entire blood volume of the body passes through the eyes every 40 minutes or so." Although many of us don't realize it, our eyes are the first to suffer when we feel physical or mental stress. They also cite studies showing that allergies in children improve when their vision is enhanced through vision therapy. Dr. Grossman and Dr. Swartwout devote one chapter to a explanation of the various natural treatments and how they are used for treating vision disorders. They emphasize the "vision diet," which focuses on eating lots of fresh foods and eliminating processed or refined foods. They also discuss the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupressure, herbs, physical exercise, eye exercises, spinal adjustments, and homeopathy in preventing and treating eye diseases. Each of the following eye diseases have their own chapter: glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, dry eyes, sties, floaters, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The authors provide a description of the causes and symptoms of each disease, and a summary of conventional treatment. They then describe a healing program for those who have each vision disorder, based on natural treatments. Each chapter ends with a prevention program for those who still have healthy eyes. An appendix provides acupressure directions. They also include an extensive reference section, and listing for resources for those who can't obtain natural products locally. Dr. Grossman and Dr. Swartwout say that "the good news is that we don't have to be passive victims of eye disease. Eye deterioration can often be stopped--and even reversed." Readers will find Natural Eye Care, An Encyclopedia a comprehensive and invaluable resource for the prevention and treatment of vision disorders.

Sandra I. Smith, Reviewer

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Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia: Complimentary Treatments
GROSSMAN/SWARTOUT
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Contemporary
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0879838817

Amazon.com

Continuing the sweeping narrative that he began with The House of Rothschild: Money's Prophets, 1798-1848, Oxford University historian Niall Ferguson conjures up a world in which widespread change and utter uncertainty held sway in the place of carefully ordered dynasties and universally observed mores. In the aftermath of the Napoleonic revolution, European Jews had been able to move within dominant societies somewhat more freely. Of no family was this more true than the Rothschilds, whose branches lived in Germany, France, Austria, and England, and whose vast financial empire enabled them to act as diplomats and power brokers throughout the world. Their influence was enormous. When Spain wanted to build a railroad, its ministers approached the House of Rothschild. When the Confederate States of America sought to be recognized by the states of Europe, it sought--unsuccessfully--the Rothschilds' support. When Ferdinand de Lesseps broke ground for the Panama Canal and Cecil Rhodes broke ground for his vast diamond and gold mines in South Africa, Rothschild funds backed them.

Until the 1920s, Ferguson demonstrates, there was almost no economic, technological, or political development in Europe in which the House of Rothschild did not play some role. The rise of nationalist and national socialist movements and of official anti-Semitism, coupled with the rise in the Jazz Age of a new generation of Rothschilds that cared more for the good life than for the hard work of maintaining their holdings, led to a substantial decline in the family's authority and wealth. But even today, as Ferguson writes in this richly detailed but eminently readable history, the Rothschilds figure in European finance, continuing a legacy that Ferguson's two volumes trace from the Middle Ages to the new millennium. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Niall Ferguson's House of Rothschild: Money's Prophets 1798-1848 was hailed as "definitive" by the New York Times, a "great biography" by Time magazine, and was named one of the Ten Best Books of 1998 by Business Week. Now, Ferguson concludes his myth--breaking portrait of one of the most powerful families of modern times at the zenith of its power. From Crimea to World War II, wars repeatedly threatened the stability of the Rothschild's worldwide empire. Despite these upheavals, theirs remained the biggest bank in the world up until the First World War. Yet the Rothschild's failure to establish themselves successfully in the United States proved fateful, and as financial power shifted from London to New York after 1914, their power waned. At once a classic family saga and major work of economic, social and political history, The House of Rothschild is the riveting story of an unparalleled dynasty.

Customer Reviews:

THE INVISIBLE ROTHSCHILDS.......2007-07-03

What has Ferguson not told about the Rothschilds in this second volume of his seemingly exhaustive two volume set?

He all too facilely dismisses Victor Rothschild's being the fifth man in the World War II Soviet spy ring of Blunt, Burgess, et. al. He dosen't discuss the Rothschilds' connection with Freemasonry at the highest level, and their gift to Israel of the Supreme Court building, a New World Order artifact, heavily laden architecturally with Freemasonry symbolism. Likewise, glaringly absent from note are Illuminati activities, which the family has been widely thought to be involved with. History Professor Ferguson could fill in his blanks on some vital but shady Rothschild history from Henry Makow, a researcher and writer--and a Jew.

According to an article on Ferguson in Harvard Magazine (May/June '07), he is about to take on biographical writing of Henry Kissinger, at Kissinger's request. This should generate caution. Could Kissinger's "papers" be entirely relied on? Kissinger probably saw what sheen Ferguson could put on the Rothschild's archives as raw material, ignoring or minimising important but dark concerns.

Same question on the Warburg's family papers that he is availing himself of. What will Ferguson tell us about Paul Warburg's role in establishing the egregious Federal Reserve, and Max Warburg financing the Bolshevik revolution?

Let's hope that Ferguson can either put this and other allegations to rest once and for all or illuminate them if true--but now that he's shown his colors with the Rothschilds, I doubt that he will, either way.

It seems that sympathetic academic interest in these elitist families and individuals is inevitable in part because that is where the big bucks for research and publishing would be, especially for a scholar who professes to have, as he says in the Harvard Magazine article, "become a thorough philo-Semite".

Is there a whiff of opportunism here at the expense of objectivity?

Rothschild the world's banker.......2006-08-23

A very complete book, a mine of facts but the author was unable to sort what is important from miscellaneous. The mix of general european history, business history and family events is by moments as indigestible as porridge por a non-scot.

Way too detailed.......2006-07-17

This book was just way too detailed for me. It contains lots of facts and figures about biz transactions but it is just too much. It was to the point of who cares? Niall Ferguson really did his home work as far as that is concerned but it made the book boring. To me it felt like it was written by an accountant. It is the story behind the facts and figures and how they came about which make for interesting reading. But I have to give him credit for the time he spent putting this book together is unimaginable.

Having said that I would have enjoyed it more if it had some stories where they made 1.2 million on this deal or lost 500,000 on that deal but it wasn't there. Just an accounting at the end of the year saying this was what they had at the end. No exciting stories like the robber barons trying to take over a railroad or JP Morgan putting together large trust deals in the US. Although chapter 11, which tells of the Rothschild involvement with mining and Cecil Rohdes and De Beers was very interesting and by far the the best chapter in the book, although it was not enough for me to give it a better rating. But that chapter for me made the book.

I skimmed more of this book then I did the first one. There are a few more interesting stories in here but not enough to really keep you interested. If you like well written interesting biographies this is probably not for you.

Disappointed:.......2004-03-15

I agree with one of the critics that the book had many facts and details that broke up the pace of the book for me. Ferguson presumes that the reader knows a fair amount about bonds, consuls and other financial mechanisms. He would have done well to slow down a bit and explain a few of the terms and concepts. And I think that Ferguson tells an utterly superficial and innocuous history of the Family. Long awkward sentences make for labored reading. That having been said, this was no doubt a delicate and ambitious undertaking.

The House of Rothschild.......2003-07-24

Ferguson insults the purchaser of the Penguin Paperback by omitting the bibliography and only providing sketchy footnotes. "Serious scholars" who desire these items are advised to buy the Harcover edition. Other than that, it is a good read

The House of Rothschild, the World's Banker 1849-1999

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The House of Rothschild, the World's Banker 1849-1999
Niall Ferguson
Manufacturer: Viking
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MAQV8S

The House of Rothschild Money's Prophets 1798-1848 & the World's Banker 1849-1999 2 Volume Set

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The House of Rothschild Money's Prophets 1798-1848 & the World's Banker 1849-1999 2 Volume Set

Manufacturer: Viking
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I72UNU

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