Average customer rating:
|
Ships, Furs, and Sandalwood: A Yankee Trader in Hawai'i, 1823-1825
Charles H. Hammatt
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| 19th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Hawaii
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Social History
| Historical Study
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Australia & Oceania
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Cultural
| Anthropology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
| Beaches
| Business Travel
| Cruises
| Essays & Travelogues
| Food & Lodging
| Guidebooks
| Pictorial
| Reference
| Spas
| Tips
| Tourist Destinations & Museums
| Travel Writing
General
| Hawaii
| States
| United States
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0824821939 |
Book Description
Charles H. Hammatt arrived in Honolulu in 1823 anxious to do business, not to save souls. Young, confident, and ambitious, Hammatt had been entrusted by a mercantile firm in Boston with the delicate task of negotiating trade agreements with Hawaiian royalty to secure sandalwood for the China Trade. We have no fears of your falling into any of the vices you will find at the Islands, his employers wrote in their detailed instructions, but it may be well to reflect on them, to be better prepared to reside in a Society where indolence, intemperance, debauchery, and gambling are so fashionable.
Hammatt remained in Hawaii long enough to form his own opinions about native society and the odd mix of miscreants and missionaries that populated the largest port in the Pacific. His personal and business dealings brought him into close contact with a wide range of people, from the king, Liholiho (Kamehameha II), and his wary ministers to unscrupulous harbor merchants and sea captains and other Yankee rogues. From time to time Hammatt also found himself among polite missionary society. He diligently recorded his encounters and observations in his journal, which, published here for the first time, provides an unexpected and intimate glimpse of life in frontier Hawaii less than half a century after Cooks arrival.
Ultimately, Hammatt proved unsuccessful in his business dealings, and in 1825 his employers ordered him home to Boston. But the account he left of his failed mission is an exciting and colorful addition to previous descriptions from the period. Hammatt learned the hard way that the Hawaiians were shrewd negotiators and in firm control of all aspects of trade with foreigners. Readers will delight in this unique view of a Yankee trader and his merchant rivals competing to do business with Hawaiian royalty.
Average customer rating:
|
Lord of The Isles
Manufacturer: Avon Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000EK4TXK |
Product Description
Avon book. When first published it cost only .35cents. Good reading condition. Small book.
Average customer rating:
|
Passport to Prosperity: Tales of a Yankee Trader
Jack Nadel
Manufacturer: Mms Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
| Agricultural
| Commercial Policy
| Comparative
| Consolidation & Merger
| Cooperatives
| Debt & Deficits
| Development & Growth
| Econometrics
| Economic Conditions
| Economic History
| Economic Policy & Development
| Exports & Imports
| Free Enterprise
| Inflation
| International
| Labor & Industrial Relations
| Macroeconomics
| Microeconomics
| Money & Monetary Policy
| Natural Resources
| Privatization
| Public Finance
| Statistics
| Sustainable Development
| Theory
| Unemployment
| Urban & Regional
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0922658005 |
Average customer rating:
|
THE YANKEE TRADER
John Rossborough
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Military & Spies
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Life & Institutions
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 141072803X |
Average customer rating:
|
Yankee Trader
Manufacturer: Pyramid
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000CZ43WY |
Average customer rating:
|
Yankee Trader
Stanley Morton
Manufacturer: Pyramid Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000P1TJOC |
Average customer rating:
|
Yankee Trader
Stanley Morton
Manufacturer: sheridan house
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EHM0SE |
Average customer rating:
|
Who's Who in Science and Engineering: 2000-2001 (Who's Who in Science and Engineering)
Manufacturer: Marquis Who's Who
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Scientists
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Reference & Collections
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Science
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Directories
| Catalogs & Directories
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0837957583 |
Book Description
Twenty-eight million people in the United States suffer from chronic, recurrent, often disabling headaches-half of them forgoing medical attention in favor of analgesics that do nothing to prevent the next one. In Breaking the Headache Cycle, the authors-migraine sufferers themselves-present the integrated Headache Reduction Program (HARP) they developed at the Princeton Headache Clinic. Based on the central insights that the predisposition to headaches is a sign of an unusually sensitive nervous system and that drugs are only one component of the most successful treatment plans, this remarkable program instructs readers in a range of techniques, including - how to relieve the pain of migraines - how to detect and ward off oncoming headaches - how to prevent migraines from even threatening The innovative solutions detailed in Breaking the Headache Cycle range from simple breathing exercises and dietary changes to support groups and the latest medications. In this thorough and accessible guide, the authors promise new relief for those already being treated for recurring headaches and for those who currently suffer in silence.
Customer Reviews:
Headache help.......2007-09-17
I have read about 4 books on headaches and lots of magazine articles and websites. This was probably the best because it was the most informative. It let me know what things I was taking that may help with my headache but usually caused "rebound" headaches. It also helped with what foods that help and what foods to stay away from. It was about as helpful as a book can be but I still suffer with lots of headaches. Now I am more inclined to suffer through them. I don't want the rebound effects of what most drugs cause.
A relief for migraine sufferers.......2007-09-08
This book has been a godsend. I have suffered from migraines since I was a teenager. Nothing worked to relieve my pain - I would just have to suffer through them until they were over.
After reading reviews of this book on Amazon, I decided to give it a try. What an amazing difference! I will not tell you that I don't get migraines anymore, which I do. But this book tells you ways to prevent them and to lessen the pain during a migraine. Its fantastic!
I went from having at least one migraine a week to one a month. They used to last me for days, but using the exercises in the book, I just take 5 minutes and it lessens up the pain enough for me to function or even breaks it all together.
Wonderful book! A must-read for migraine sufferers. I even plan to buy my mother a copy for Christmas.
Not the Best Headache Book - Little Practical Advice ..........2007-07-17
The better book is Bucholz's Heal Your Headache which is the most no-nonsense, practical book out there. Breaking the Headache Cycle is mostly philosophical rambling about stress reduction and breathing with little useful advice. The chapter on the pros and cons of current medications is the only useful part of the book. The rest is fluff. If you check out the Bucholz book, you'll see what I'm talking about.
This book changed my life!.......2007-05-17
Since I have suffered from headaches all my life, I have eagerly read any book I can get my hands on that may lead to some relief. This is the first book that I can truly say has SOLVED my problem! For many years, I have had almost-daily headaches and even as recent as Feb 2007, I had 2 to 3 headaches a day (a total of 46 headaches that month alone)! I took Zomig to get relief. It's effective and very expensive but I also knew I was taking WAY too much medicine. This book is full of great information about the hows and whys of migraine headaches and also many, many suggestions of options to break the pattern and get relief. It's very practical, easy to read with stories of other peoples headache histories. As I read it, it seemed they were writing about ME and my headache history. Two very powerful suggestions from that book that changed my life: the deep breathing exercises when I am feeling stress and a low dose of amitriptyline, as prescribed by my doctor. Because of this book, I can truly say - I NO LONGER GET HEADACHES!
If you have recurring headaches - you MUST read this book!
one of the better headache books.......2007-05-07
second most effective book. the information in the book is right on. The best book is "Heal Your Headaches".
Book Description
Gourmet and natural food enthusiasts will delight in over 100 delicious recipes using nori, kelp, dulce, and other sea vegetables in baked goods, soups, salads, main dishes, and more. You'll also learn about the varieties of sea weed, their healthful benefits, and tips on using sea vegetables for pets, plants, and as beauty aids. Includes color photos.
Customer Reviews:
Short but sweet (and tasty).......2007-09-18
This book contains very useful information about a variety of sea vegetables, mostly from the North Atlantic (if I recall, this book has strong ties to Maine Sea Coast Veggies). Very basic recipes demonstrating the versatility of sea veggies - from breakfast to dessert. The only books that I enjoy more (demonstrating the usefulness of sea veggies) would be Cathe Olsen's "A Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook...." and "The Garden of Eating".
Interesting Book.......2006-02-21
This is an interesting, informative book.
I have shared this book with my friends and we have
all learned more about eating what is healty and new.
The delivery was promt.
Average customer rating:
|
Isotope Aided Studies on Livestock Productivity in Mediterranean and North African Countries (Panel Proceedings Series)
Manufacturer: International Atomic Energy Agency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Nuclear
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
| Animal Production
| Bees
| Breeding
| Dairy Science
| Livestock Management
| Meat
| Nutrition
| Poultry
| Range Management
General
| Veterinary Medicine
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 920111088X |
Book Description
-Exciting ideas for cardmaking, one of the most popular papercrafts
-With over 200 step-by-step photographs, instructions are easy to follow
-Includes 40 individual greeting cards to provide inspiration With this book, crafters will be learn to create 30 innovative novelty designs that are as fun to make as they are to receive. No matter what the occasion, the guide features an appropriate novelty card.
Pop-ups, jigsaw cards, pocket cards to contain vouchers or money, an opening box card, shaker cards, and a hidden message card are just a few of the amazing designs featured. Materials and techniques required are thoroughly explained, and the projects themselves combine step-by-step instructions with clear, easy-to-follow photographs that ensure amazing results.
With variation ideas provided for every project in the book, readers will find endless ways for creating unforgettable cards whatever the occasion.
Customer Reviews:
You will be surprised at what you can easily achieve. I was !.......2005-12-21
There is a good balance of card projects in this book.
The designs and instructions are easy to follow and supported by great step by step photos that clearly illustrate what the text says. The majority of the cards are easily achievable and some cards, such as the hidden message and pocket present, would be ideal for mass-producing for party invites, birth aanouncement etc.
Sue Nicholson starts off with a section that explores basic tools, supplies, tips and short cuts. This is extremely informative and easy to read.
She includes projects from beginner level through to the more advanced. Having said that the construction of the majority of designs is straightforward, so just follow the steps and prepare to be amazed at what you can produce!
The card decoration includes stamping, stickers, photos and ready made embellishments. All main cards have variations and some of Sue's "try this" ideas are inspirational.
There is a clean, bright airy feel to the layout of the book and this reflects Sues style.
Finally, a particulary innovative idea has been to include a Kids Korner. Great for help to adapt the designs for kids of all ages. A great benefit for parents of crafty children!
Recommended for card crafters that are looking for enjoyable, fun projects as a move away from a basic side folding card.
Excellent & You Get The Authors Help !!!!.......2005-12-20
I was given this by my long suffering husband as an early Christmas gift so I could use it when creating my special Christmas cards!
This is an EXCELLENT book. All the ideas are great, and the cards really lovely to look at. There are lots of ideas to adapt the cards and even younger children can do some of the designs with good results.
And I had a query, contacted Sue, (her em address is in the book), and she got back to me in 48 hours with her suggestion! WOW! I have since made several Christmas starburst cards and received lots of compliments.
First-rate! A must!
For every age and every ability.......2005-12-19
This book presents a lot of creative ideas and techniques that are easy to follow. The designs are refreshing many looking more complex than they actually are. My son, (age 11), tried his hand at a card too so giving me the time to complete mine! This book is a definite must-have for card makers, scrapbookers and papercrafters alike.
Awesome * * * * *.......2005-12-19
Just purchased this book and found it a complete joy. There's step by step directions and photos to help you. At the beginning of each card the book lists the supplies you will need to complete each project. This book is AWESOME * * * * * So easy to use and fun too * * * * *
You must get this book!!.......2005-12-17
If you want to send cards that will NEVER be thrown away, try these easy to follow steps. Great ideas with many that can be used in scrapbooking.
Have a good day!
Average customer rating:
|
Prayer Journal Tulips (Journals)
Zondervan
Manufacturer: Inspirio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
Faith
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Worship
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Gifts
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Faith
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Worship
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Gifts
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 0310808405 |
Book Description
Unique prayer journal features quotes and Scriptures that will inspire the journaler to meet with the Lord in prayer. Also includes sections for listing prayer requests and answers to prayer.
Average customer rating:
|
Pink Tulips Journal
Manufacturer: Antioch Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
Gifts
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 0782485960 |
Average customer rating:
|
Blank Journal: Tulip
Manufacturer: Nodin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 1932472126 |
Product Description
Blank Journal to be used for collecting thoughts, memories addresses and recipes. Cloth bound cover with 2 long stemed yellow tulips and the Eiffel Tower pictured on the cover
Average customer rating:
|
Timeless Tulips Journal
Manufacturer: Ryland Peters & Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Stationery
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 1841727598 |
Book Description
These journals, record books and notebooks make wonderful gifts and are ideal for notes, recipes, record-keeping, reference and late-night jottings. They feature appealing photography and are a perfect way to keep organized.
Average customer rating:
|
Tulip Obsessed Journal
Rebecca Cole
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
Flower Arranging
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 1584791217 |
Average customer rating:
|
Tulip: Final Report
Tulip (Program)
Manufacturer: Elsevier Science Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Graphic Design
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
| 3D Graphics
| Adobe FrameMaker
| Adobe Illustrator
| Adobe InDesign
| Adobe PageMaker
| CAD
| Desktop Publishing
| Electronic Documents
| General
| Information Visualization
| Interface Design
| Printing
| Reference
| Rendering & Ray Tracing
| Scanning
| Typography
| Web Design
Algeria
| Africa
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Online Books
| Books & Reading
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Library & Information Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0444825401 |
Average customer rating:
|
Tulips
Manufacturer: Ryland Peters & Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Stationery
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 1841727695 |
Book Description
These gorgeous, elegant address books are spiral-bound to lie flat when in use and feature smart cloth quarter-binding. Each address book includes vibrant colour photographs that illustrate themes ranging from gorgeous homes and gardens to pampered pets.
Average customer rating:
|
Tulips
In House Compilation
Manufacturer: Garborgs Heart N Home
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Stationery
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 1580613764 |
Average customer rating:
|
Tulips Journal (Wire-O Journals)
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Tulips
| By Plant
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Gifts
| Spirituality
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Blank Books
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
Home & Garden
| Journals
| Accessories
| Formats
| Books
General
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
Home & Garden
| Journals
| Book Accessories
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
General
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
Home & Garden
| Journals
| Our Favorites
| Gift Ideas
ASIN: 0811832902 |
Book Description
Creative, interesting, and thought provoking, these 94 interactive group activities will produce laughter, insight, and more successful young people.
Book Description
In the spring of 1884 Ulysses S. Grant heeded the advice of Mark Twain and finally agreed to write his memoirs. Little did Grant or Twain realize that this seemingly straightforward decision would profoundly alter not only both their lives but the course of American literature. Over the next fifteen months, as the two men became close friends and intimate collaborators, Grant raced against the spread of cancer to compose a triumphant account of his life and times—while Twain struggled to complete and publish his greatest novel,
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.In this deeply moving and meticulously researched book, veteran writer Mark Perry reconstructs the heady months when Grant and Twain inspired and cajoled each other to create two quintessentially American masterpieces.
In a bold and colorful narrative, Perry recounts the early careers of these two giants, traces their quest for fame and elusive fortunes, and then follows the series of events that brought them together as friends. The reason Grant let Twain talk him into writing his memoirs was simple: He was bankrupt and needed the money. Twain promised Grant princely returns in exchange for the right to edit and publish the book—and though the writer’s own finances were tottering, he kept his word to the general and his family.
Mortally ill and battling debts, magazine editors, and a constant crush of reporters, Grant fought bravely to get the story of his life and his Civil War victories down on paper. Twain, meanwhile, staked all his hopes, both financial and literary, on the tale of a ragged boy and a runaway slave that he had been unable to finish for decades. As Perry delves into the story of the men’s deepening friendship and mutual influence, he arrives at the startling discovery of the true model for the character of Huckleberry Finn.
With a cast of fascinating characters, including General William T. Sherman, William Dean Howells, William Henry Vanderbilt, and Abraham Lincoln, Perry’s narrative takes in the whole sweep of a glittering, unscrupulous age. A story of friendship and history, inspiration and desperation, genius and ruin,
Grant and Twain captures a pivotal moment in the lives of two towering Americans and the age they epitomized.
Customer Reviews:
Dissonance and Victory - Well Done!.......2007-07-25
I decided to read Mark Perry's treatment of "Grant and Twain" for several reasons: First, I loved Perry's duo-bio of Marshall and Eisenhower; Second, I had read individual biographies of Ulysses S. Grant and Samuel L. Clemens a.k.a. Mark Twain already, having been intrigued by both men and their roles in the Civil War and Gilded Age eras of America. (Think of the old television series "Wild Wild West!" with anachronistic secret agent James West and side kick Artemis Gordon traveling around the growing country by that behemoth of high tech, The Railroad System, at the commission of President Grant himself, dealing with criminal arch genius villains and their Jules Verne-esque technologies in the middle of carpetbaggers and con men and normal everyday people trying to make an honest even moral life in it all).
And so I did read "Grant and Twain" and I am glad I did and I find myself wanting to review it not just to share it but to draw out the uncomfortable and til now not quite articulated thoughts I had on Grant and Twain in my earlier readings of the details of their lives.
And I DO recommend it and give it five stars. I give it five stars for a) Perry's lovely method and focus of comparing two famous men side by side for new perspectives, b) His revealing a, to me, hitherto unknown connection between the two men, c) His focus on the 15 or so months where Grant wrote his famous Memoirs (which I am now, finally, going to read) and Twain facilitated him, and d) Early hints in this Perry work of some themes about war and democracies more fully realized in the Marshall and Eisenhower work.
The "dissonance" I allude to in the title of this review is that, while Grant and Twain are FAMOUS, their lives were full of downs and ups and arguably each died in unhappy circumstances. Grant died of cancer, using the writing of his memoirs to energize himself to see it through to the end as his last campaign, though incidentally creating what Perry characterizes as the United States' greatest work of nonfiction. Grant wrote his memoirs partly as a result of having been misled by a business partner and having to pay off debts to retain Grant's sense of dignity and honor. Oh yes, and Grant's eight years at president were a bit marred by constant financial scandals of government officials he'd naively trusted to be honorable in the positions he'd given them.
Twain died of old age basically, but was embittered at the end of his life at the deaths of his wife and oldest daughter, and disgusted with the reliable dishonesty and exploitation and hypocrisy of men. And oh yes, near bankrupt from inept business dealings as well.
So when I first read the bios of these two great men it bothered me... was dying in pain and embitterment a worthy end for great men like these? For heaven's sake what could the rest of us aspire to? Life is so complicated when there is not a 'lived happily ever after' ending to biographies like these.
I could barely stand to re-read the "sad bad bits" in the stories of both men... skimming along quickly at times to the interesting action bits such as the when Grant decides to write his memoirs and who to have publish them; the point where Twain finds the inspiration needed to complete the story of Huckleberry Finn (quietly dedicated to General Grant at the very front, according to Perry's convincing analysis, who characterizes Huck Finn as the United States' greatest work of fiction).
And yet having completed Perry's book, I have became satisfied and at peace with the mixed happinesses of the lives of both these great men. The Gilded Age was a time after the Civil War where the pursuit of the dollar became rampant. "The Rise of Silas Lapham" was published in this era by Twain's good friend William Dean Howells. Twain lived next door to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The thrashing of the United States about attitudes to slavery and commerce continued to dominate this century.
And yet in all this dissonance death and discord... two great men married, raised families, pursued careers, pursued concepts of professional honor and dignity, faced literal and figurative life and death often and unpredictably, and at the end, died. They "won" because they became "famous" and they became famous because their names became household words. But are they to be emulated for having become famous? Are they to be emulated for the clarity and brilliance, the insights of their most famous literary works? Are they to be emulated for the example they set of sheer persistence if not bravado making a life with what they were given. As all of us are challenged to do?
Well done Grant!; well done Twain!; and well done Perry!
A Story about Two American Historical Figures.......2005-11-29
Mark Perry's GRANT AND TWAIN: THE STORY OF A FRIENDSHIP THAT CHANGED AMERICA is one of those books where the old adage, "never judge a book by looking at its cover," comes to mind. However, never judge a book by reading its title may be a better term. The subject matter of U.S. Grant and Mark Twain is quite interesting, and Perry parallels Grant and Twain's lives. Unfortunately, Perry does not show how the two men grew closer as friends during Grant's last few months of life in 1885. The entire aspect of the book concentrates on Grant's life and death experiences while completing his memoirs, and how Twain completes his most famous, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. Possibly, this book is a tie into the story behind Twain's opening passage to Huck Finn (The book's premise almost resembles the Citizen Kane story, and how the movie revolves around the mystery behind Rosebud).
Perry attempts to elaborate on the lives of these two monumental figures in American history. Perry offers a short biography of the two men, and Perry credits personal accounts from family and friends as to the friendship between the two men. However, the story revolving around Twain and Grant's friendship never quite meet in this book. There is a sense of disconnect in Perry's attempt to cite how their friendship changed America; the stories are separate from one another, and their is not one inkling of emotion on how one felt about the other. The narrative dwells on Twain helping Grant publish his memoirs.
As a recommendation for reading about U.S. Grant or Mark Twain, GRANT AND TWAIN: THE STORY OF A FRIENDSHIP THAT CHANGED AMERICA, should be read after reading Grant's memoirs and Huckleberry Finn.
Grant eclipses Twain... for an excellent read........2005-10-27
Mark Perry's "Grant and Twain" may well be the only work in which the personality of Mark Twain plays second fiddle to another. Whereas Twain was a giant of literature, Grant was a giant of humanity and this book offers plenty of evidence in that regard.
U.S. Grant was such a mass of contradiction. He was a soldier with a distaste for war, yet he possessed little fear in battle and deployed his forces with vicious ferocity. He was a man of great ethical conviction, yet as president he headed one of the more corrupt administrations in our history. With a clarity no doubt inspired by Grant's writings, Perry explores those contradictions and how they made his relationship with Twain noteworthy.
A lesser historian might have just focused on Grant's final year of life, and how he approached his final illness with dignity and stoicism. But Perry finds deeper meaning in the ways that the mutual admiration between Grant and Twain came to influence them both.
Twain's effort to finish Huckleberry Finn dovetailed nicely with Grant's reluctance to write his memoirs. Grant's perspective on the South helped Twain flesh out some of the nuances within his work. The novel had stalled in the writing process and in fact had been shelved by Twain as having no promise. Meanwhile, Twain moved from basically looking for a publishing coup (that of winning the rights to Grant's memoirs) to a more nurturing role as writing mentor to the General. Twain's numerous business failures were legion, but Grant's writings were a notable exception. Perhaps that was due to the respect that Twain held for Grant prior to their association, or more a reflection of the admiration that he developed as the ailing ex-president applied himself to the task of putting his memories to paper.
Grant began his memoirs after being diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. As time elapsed, the effort to give his perspective on his military career and the Civil War became a counterpoint to his illness; perhaps even to the point of prolonging his life somewhat.
Grant and Twain is excellent history. It's informative, readable and enjoyable. And to it's credit, this book will (should) foster renewed interest in reading Huckleberry Finn and Personal Memoirs by U.S. Grant.
A Thoroughly enjoyable read.......2005-10-14
Grant and Twain is a good book, informative, insightful, and concise enough.
Mark Perry starts by giving us very good sketches of the lives of the two principals up to the point of the story, including some surprising (for me) details about their personal lives. He then goes into their relationship, how it came to be, and the affect it had on their great works of literature. The books influenced by their time together, Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Grant's Personal Memoirs, are considered to be classics and the best that either of the authors ever produced. In fact, some think that Huckleberry Finn is the best American novel ever, and that Personal Memoirs (about the Mexican and Civil Wars) is the best American book ever written on military events. Perry records many conversations Grant and Twain had with each other and with the other folks surrounding them, including families and associates. It makes you feel like you are there, and gives some personal insight into what these gentlemen were really like. We find that they were both quite remarkable as private figures as well as public figures. The story of their relationship rides to a great extent on the heroic drama of Grant racing to finish his book before dying of cancer, to ensure the financial security of his family. Perry, at the same time, paints a fascinating sketch of what Twain called the Gilded Age, a time of great industrial progress along with great corruption in the U.S.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Mistitled.......2005-06-08
This is a decent book that was mistitled. It should be "The Last Days of Grant with a Little Twain Thrown In".
The vast majority of the book is devoted to Grant's life. There is some background biography, but really starts with his near bankruptcy and then his efforts to get his memoirs written - a truly compelling story.
There are a few short chapters devoted to Twain. Unfortunately, there was a disappointingly small amount of space devoted to the friendship between Twain and Grant. It obviously was addressed, but never in depth. It appeared that the two men were living parallel lives rather than experiencing a close friendship. This was the major short-coming of the book and where it did not live up to its billing.
It is well-written, however. The account of Grant's struggles to complete the memoirs and what it meant to him was very well done. The accounts of Twain were equally good. The author just never really brought the two great men together in any meaningful way. Regardless of that shortfall, it is still worth the read for the account of the memoirs writing.
Average customer rating:
|
For Whom Do I Toil?: Judah Leib Gordon and the Crisis of Russian Jewry (Studies in Jewish History)
Michael Stanislawski
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Jewish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Japan
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Jewish
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Russia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Russian
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Hebrew
| Middle Eastern
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Ethics & Morality
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Philosophy
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0195042905 |
Book Description
This is the first full-length biography of Judah Leib Gordon (1830-92), the most important Hebrew poet of the 19th century, and one of the pivotal intellectual and cultural figures in Russian Jewry. Setting Gordon's life and work amidst the political, cultural, and religious upheavals of his society, Stanislawski attempts to counter traditional stereotypical readings of Eastern European Jewish history. As a prominent and passionate exponent of the Jewish Enlightenment in Russia, Gordon advocated a humanist and liberal approach to all the major questions facing Jews in their tortuous transition to modernity--the religious reform of Judaism, the attractions and limits of political liberalism, the relations between Jews and Gentiles, the nature of modern anti-Semitism, the status of women in Jewish life, the possibility of a secular Jewish culture, the nature of Zionism, and the relations between Jews in the Diaspora and the Jewish community in the Land of Israel. His personal story is a fascinating drama that both symbolizes and summarizes the cultural and political challenges facing Russian Jewry at a crucial time in its history, challenges that remain pertinent and controversial today.
Books:
- Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution
- Stay Out of the Wheat Field
- Surry Of Eagle's Nest
- T-Patchers Vs. Tiger Tanks, Rutabaga Diet: World War II, A Corporal's Diary
- Tales of a Tankman: Between the Battles
- Teenage Soldiers Adult Wars (Icarus World Issues Series)
- The Anarchist Resistance To Franco
- The Corsican: A Diary of Napoleon's Life in His Own Words
- The Dance of Fear: Rising Above Anxiety, Fear, and Shame to Be Your Best and Bravest Self
- The Forgotten Service (ISIS Reminiscence)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- MCAD/MCSD Training Guide
- Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War
- How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime
- Hoyle's Modern Encyclopedia of Card Games: Rules of All the Basic Games and Popular Variations
- Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play
- Investing in Fixer-Uppers : A Complete Guide to Buying Low, Fixing Smart, Adding Value, and Selling
- History: Fiction or Science
- Venture Capital: The Definitive Guide for Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Practitioners
- CIMA Study Systems 2006: Management Accounting-Financial Strategy
- Elder Law Answer Book, 2nd Edition, 2006 Cumulative Supplement
