All Things Betray Thee: The Life and Times of a Liverpool Sailor

Customer Reviews:

A captivating personal history of English life at sea........2001-05-23

If you like to read books that grab you -- whose characters enter into your psyche so completely you feel them pop up inside of you for days, maybe years after reading their tales -- this is such a book. Not only the characters are captivating, but their unique speech as well. I found myself thinking and speaking in a Liverpool English for days after each reading session, so deeply did the stories enter into my make-up.

At the outset I will caution a reader to expect the book to be a little like getting a large ship underway. For me it was slow going at first, with the details of history, but then picked up speed and rolled along at a steady 18-knot pace throughout. Any effort it took to wade through the surprizingly detailed historical information was more than rewarded by the stories themselves.

This is an autobiography, a moving tale of an aging man desperately trying to finally create something positive and useful from a largely-felt wasted human life -- by at least going through the agony of recalling it all --- of writing it all down, but more than that -- of writing it down with the care and dedication it takes to qualify as a printed book worth reading. It may be especially worth while for those whose lives have been or are affected by the disease of alcohol, and certainly as well for those fortunate enough not to have so suffered, but who may need to know something about it.

But the book is more than an autobiography, it is an accounting of an entire history and tradition of an English-Irish family sailing culture no longer existing, with all the language and actions and emotions of those days, vividly brought back to life. A very brief example: p. 6: " Halloo lads. Are ye upstairs now? Come on down fer a minute and see yer ould dad. Ye can finish off yer homework in a wee while."

Besides this human side, the accounts of formal English/Irish sailing history alone are well worth the reading - from 550 AD to 2000. These historical data are laboriously detailed - laborious not just in the massive research it must have taken to excise and record such events, but at times laborious to read as well. No matter, it is worth the effort, for smooth sailing sections abound throughout which more than make up for the time invested in reading every one of these words faithfully. Also, I venture to say if anyone dared to verify the specific details of some of the sea accounts, they would very likely end up experiencing a healthy respect for the accuracy and veracity of the author.

While you will find several typos in the book, I did not find them to be an interference, because interest in the stories themselves far outweighed their few interruptions. But photographs were far from acceptable for a tome of this quality. Captions fonts were often too small to read, and photographs far too grainy - which leads one to wonder not of the author but of the publisher. I will also caution against undue concern about sudden changes in time and place. The author keeps us on our toes by requiring we store certain accounts in active memory while temporarily engaging in seemingly unrelated incidents.

Having thus commented on the wonderfully detailed accounts of sea-faring history, I must also allude to the pleasure of reading his fictional accounts of selected events. In fact, I will go so far as to suggest the author seriously consider writing more fiction, because compared to the detail of his faithful recording of actual events, his flights of fancy stand out as further inspirational enjoyment. Example: his recounting of all the sights, feelings, sounds and emotions while being formed in his mother's nurturing womb, and the final sudden expulsion into the hard glare of life. Another is the detailed "history" of the death of his uncle Tom, as breath-by-breath accounts leading to that sad incident are re-membered not only through Tom's last moments of life, but in those of the young German sniper who pulled the trigger from 800 meters away. The author couldn't have been there, but he somehow puts we readers there in those wonderful, awful moments. The author has a way with words - a pleasing poetic way. Sudden surprizing jewels pop up unexpectedly throughout his book such as: p. 180: referring to the price one often pays to become an adult: "A false sense of our own importance has taken the laughter out of life." p. 244: on reflecting upon graduation from Laxton school: " I also took away with me many cherished memories. Like books, they line the shelves of my mind." p. 509: ".....I have already lived one complete life which I myself controlled, and have started out on a second one which I try to hand over to Someone who does a better job than I."

In all, I highly recommend Mr. Wright's book, and will be surprized if you do not also enjoy it.

Book Description

This vital new reading of Freud's pre-analytic texts proposes both to introduce psychoanalysis to a research-driven, interdisciplinary means of solving problems, and to open up the possibility of a methodological shift in the sciences.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful

A wonderful guide for expectant mothers

I feel blissful too

Wonderful Book - Loved by me and Friends

Serious mistakes, packed with prejudice

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Yoga | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Pregnancy & Childbirth | Women's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Meditation | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Obstetrics & Gynecology | Specialties | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The New Method: Baby and Mom: Prenatal Yoga

Yoga for Pregnancy: Ninety-Two Safe, Gentle Stretches Appropriate for Pregnant Women & New Mothers

The Eight Human Talents: Restore the Balance and Serenity within You with Kundalini Yoga

Prenatal Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for Mothers to Be

Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Accessories:

Luna Bars, Nutz Over Chocolate, 1.69-Ounce Bars (Pack of 15)

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0312310889

Book Description

From internationally renowned yoga teacher Gurmukh comes a book on pregnancy unlike any other. Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful is a treasury of wisdom, information, and inspiration for pregnancy and motherhood based on the spiritual and physical practices of Kundalini yoga, which Gurmukh has taught for the last thirty years. With illustrated, step-by-step instructions, she teaches time-tested techniques, meditations, and exercises that will help you physically, mentally, and spiritually. In the timeless way that women have passed down wisdom surrounding birth and child rearing to one another for centuries, Gurmukh weaves folk stories and contemporary testimonials into a program designed to help you get profound results in the shortest possible time.The sections in this book cover each trimester of pregnancy as well as delivery and life with the baby. In her wise, gentle, and comforting voice, Gurmukh suggests meditations, exercises, and yoga positions to respond to the various needs of expectant and new mothers as you undergo dramatic body changes. Gurmukh also helps you explore and, when necessary, heal your own history and unconscious attitudes about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. In Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful, Gurmukh gives you all the tools you need to have a healthy and happy pregnancy while increasing your connection to your partner and building compassion and prosperity. The ancient practices of yoga can lead you back to your own power as a woman, capable of more than you ever dreamed. All you need is a belief in the possibility of change and a commitment of as little as three minutes a day. Gurmukh has helped thousands of women and their families find fulfillment through the healing movements and meditations of Kundalini yoga---and she can help you, too!

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-01

A big companion during and after my pregnancy. A beautiful voice. Excellent advices and simple meditations. A dinamic vision of life. I strongly recommend. A perfect gift.

A wonderful guide for expectant mothers.......2007-02-21

I can only say that I wish I had this book when I was having my children - Gurmukh relates her own personal experience in a way that a lot of women in my age group can identify with. Through the beauty of yoga and meditation, she has found a lovely way to hand the power of your own pregnancy and decisions that need to be made back to the mother where it belongs. I recommend this book to all expectant moms!

I feel blissful too.......2007-01-26

After reading Spiritual Midwifery and Birthing From Within, I thought nothing would match the beauty and strength contained in those books. Imagine my surprise when I opened Gurmukh's book and found myself immediately captured by her descriptions of her feelings during her first trimester of pregnancy. I was hooked. My husband bought me the book for Christmas and I am using the exercises and Gurmukh's wise, nurturing voice to accompany me during my second pregnancy.

Wonderful Book - Loved by me and Friends.......2006-11-13

Gurmukh is amazing at bringing in a completely different angle/aspect to pregnancy and childbirth. It so helped me (43 1/2 when I had my first child) and several friends.

Serious mistakes, packed with prejudice.......2004-10-14

I bought this book after reading some very positive reviews on Amazon.com. Unfortunately there are grave misconceptions and mistakes in Gurmukh's book, which means I don't dare trust her advice. Some of the worst mistakes include:

Nourishment - Gurmukh claims there is more protein in broccoli than in meat (p 80). She suggests pregnant women should try a vegetarian or vegan diet. There is very little protein in broccoli (3,5%) whereas there is a lot in meat (15-20%). However there is plenty of proten in soy flour (37%), nuts (15-25%), beans, peas and tofu (8 - 10%). Gurmukh's claim is wrong, potentially harmful and unnecessary, since there are lots of great sources for vegetable protein, just not broccoli.

Exercise - Gurmukh says she once had a student who was a dancer on a fairly rigourous training schedule. She ended up having a C-section because her cervix would not dilate (p 151). Gurmukh thinks her abdominal muscles might have been so tight that she couldn't let go. I have studied the subject of pregnancy and exercise carefully and versions of this story are often used to scare women to take it easy during their pregnancy. Yes, there are exercising women who had to have a C-section. But this complication in childbirth is more common in women who exercise little or not at all! Abdominal muscles cannot get too tight to give birth, it is the cervix and uterus that are involved in the birth process. Exercising women who generally find it easier to relax than those who don't and recover faster after childbirth. Read James F. Clapp, "Exercising through your pregnancy" for well researched information.

Heavy Metal - Gurmukh says that heavy metal is bad for your baby p 88). This is a matter of opinion but my personal belief is that anything that makes mother feel good will make baby happy.

Men - Gurmukh thinks most men can't stand to see blood, are unsuitable as birth attendants and can only do one thing at a time. Now, let's not generalize... the men I know are intuitive, sensitive, brave and supportive. And I can only do one thing at a time!

Furthermore, Gurmukh says that religion doesn't matter but at the same time she recommens that everyone should try making an altar for the baby, celebrate the arrival of the child's soul and so on. If you like a lot of references to religion and God, this book may be right for you.

Anything good in the book? There is some wholesome advice against circumcision and planned C-sections and Gurmukh is in favour of family beds and attachment. But if these are subjects that interest you, you'll get better value for money if you buy a copy of Sears "The Baby Book". The book is not as much about yoga as about how to expect, deliver and be a mother the Gurmukh way. There is a single yogic exercise at the end of each chapter, I would have preferred suggested exercise programs with routines to follow every day.

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation

Average customer rating:

Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation
Gurmukh Kaur; Crawford, Cindy Khalsa
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTGXSA

Average customer rating:

Fussy, Fussy, Fussy!

Just not for me

Lightening Up Summer Cuisine

The ultimate cookbook!!

Perfect for the summer and year 'round

The Summer House Cookbook: Easy Recipes for When You Have Better Things to Do with Your Time
Debra Ponzek , and Geralyn Delaney Graham
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Seasonal | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Beach House Cookbook

The Family Kitchen: Easy and Delicious Recipes for Parents and Kids to Make and Enjoy Together

The Coastal Living Cookbook: The Ultimate Recipe Collection for People Who Love the Coast

THE TASTE OF SUMMER

Celebrate!

ASIN: 0609608223
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Book Description

Whether your summer house is a beachside bungalow, a lakeside cottage, or a year-round retreat, cooking for family and friends while on vacation can be a delight—if you know how to keep it simple. The Summer House Cookbook has all of the tips, tricks, and recipes guaranteed to make summertime cooking a breeze.

Rather than stocking a vacation home with a full array of spices, whip up a couple “make-to-take” infused oils, marinades, and spice blends to bring along—they’ll give instant, effortless flavor to meats and fish. Save time in the kitchen by cleverly dressing up leftovers—turn extra roast chicken into Tarragon Tree Chicken Salad, and grilled flank steak into a great sandwich with some Balsamic-Marinated Red Onions. From crowd-pleasing recipes such as Picnic Basket Fried Chicken, Memorial Day Coleslaw, and Bar Harbor Lobster Cakes to sophisticated offerings like Charred Pesto Shrimp and Grilled Lamb Chops with Olive Butter, these dishes require nothing more than the basic equipment available in even a bare-bones kitchen.

The Summer House Cookbook is filled with great ways to enjoy the pleasures of the season. Share a big pitcher of margaritas and a bowl of Best-Ever Guacamole with friends, or celebrate summer produce with Fourth of July Strawberry Shortcakes and Perfect Peach Pie.

Filled with evocative photographs and the stove-side advice of two friends who love to cook together, The Summer House Cookbook is all you need to create delicious food in any kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

Fussy, Fussy, Fussy!.......2006-07-07

I was excited to find a book filled with fun, fresh summer ideas but one look inside and I was so disappointed. The premise of the book is fresh, easy meals that appeal in those lazy summer days and nights yet the book is filled with not terribly interesting, not terribly difficult but very fussy meals. Who needs that in the summer? and who needs this book -- certainly not me!

Just not for me.......2004-04-20

I have to tell you for the average midwest simple minded cook, this is not the book for me. I was pretty disappointed when I received the book as a gift. The recipes seem to be to involved and high maintence ingredience. I think this book is more for the expreinced gourmet cook than us simple minded ones.

Lightening Up Summer Cuisine.......2004-04-19

This is an approach that one would think other cookbooks deliver also, that of a summer style menu which eases up on the tedious prep work and makes placing enticing food before family and friends easy and yet delectable.

They do, but here is a specialty cookbook which centers only on this aspect: light summer cusine.

These two experienced chefs achieve their stated purpose by providing lots of recipes both of the standard recipe fare and some unique ones as well. They begin with a superb section on "Getting Ready to Go" which provides hints that truly prepare one to get all the gear and chef tools and ingredients ready to take or find and purchase whether to stock the summer abode or take to a rental or one's own backyard cooking. There is also a "Make Ahead" section with oils and marinades, etc. which is truly a neat idea to achieve the desired: "summer state of mind."

The recipe groupings are around meals, i.e. breakfast, picnics, dinners, parties, rainy days and then around source: farm stand, dock, grill, and desserts.

My two favorites thus far are "From the Dock" and "Rainy Day Dinners." Feast your eyes and appetites on such as: Sea Bright Striped Bass" with peach, nectarine, and plum balsamic vinegar sauce; Malibu Soft-Shell Crab Salad with watermelon, fennel, arugala and orange salad; Sweet Corn Pudding; Lobster, Mushroom and Sweet Pea Risotto; Chilled White Peach Soup with Red Wine Ice; Fig and Raspbery Fool.

Well done with delightful text bolstered with superb color photos. Also, not thick, heavy book it packs and travels well.

The ultimate cookbook!!.......2003-10-15

It's now Autumn, but this book will be used year round in our kitchen. I used the "Only Pie Crust Recipe You'll Ever Need" in this book. It was right! The results were a light, flaky crust. I used it for an apple pie. All I heard from the kitchen table were moans and groans. What a reward that was!
I highly recommend this book for the crust and all other recipes! "MMMMMMM!"

Perfect for the summer and year 'round.......2003-06-06

Healthy, natural, and easy. This book puts the fun back into cooking at a time of year when there are so many other things to do. Starting the day with Lemon Blueberry Muffins followed at lunch with Jerssey Corn chowder, convinced me that this is a cookbook that will be always be open when I want my family to have wonderful food while I have the time to participate in their summer fun.

The Random House Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook: Over 175 Recipes for Outdoor Cooking and Entertaining

Average customer rating:

All Fired Up!

The Random House Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook: Over 175 Recipes for Outdoor Cooking and Entertaining
Margaret Fraser
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Seasonal | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0679759387
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Book Description

Nothing says "summer" more than the wonderful aroma of sizzling foods on a backyard grill, the crisp taste of fresh farm vegetables, or the colorful bounty of summer fruits. Now Random House brings you outstanding recipes for delicious summer meals from the garden and the grill. Summer Gazpacho...Smoked Whole Trout...Hoisin-Ginger Chicken Wings...Grilled Lemon-Garlic Leg of Lamb...Melon and Shrimp Salad with Thai Dressing...Green Pea Salad with Dill...Blueberry and Strawberry Tart...Honeydew Lime Sorbet.

Inventive theme menus, featuring everything from a Western Barbecue for ten to a fun and easy Kids'-Style Barbecue, show how summer entertaining can be a breeze. Sumptuous color photographs throughout -- along with dozens of helpful hints, charts, and sidebars -- plus up-to-date information on equipment and barbecuing techniques make this the most complete cookbook for dining outdoors.

Customer Reviews:

All Fired Up!.......2000-07-18

This book features many complete menus for various occasions and holidays. In addition, it also has individual recipes for all kinds of foods. There are appetizers, soups, salads, desserts, etc. The recipes are easy to follow that consist of everyday ingredients and display great photos of the actual dishes. They are not outlandish or too elaborate, yet they are full of flavor. We have made so many of the dishes and continue to use them time and time again. People have loved our barbecues and always ask for the recipes. I am actually buying it as a house warming gift for first time b-b-q'ers... I highly recommend it.

The Random House Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook

Average customer rating:

The Random House Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook
Margaret Fraser
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Weber 2251001 Black Genesis Silver B Propane Gas Grill

ASIN: 0394588053
Release Date: 1991-03-13

Book Description

The summer house cookbook (An Original harvest/HBJ book)

Average customer rating:

The summer house cookbook (An Original harvest/HBJ book)
Chris Casson Madden
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0156863022

Average customer rating:

Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook
Random House
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O64OES

Average customer rating:

The summer house cookbook (An Original harvest/HBJ book)
Chris Casson Madden
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OK416U

The Summer House Cookbook: Easy Recipes for When You Have Better Things To Do With Your Time

Average customer rating:

The Summer House Cookbook: Easy Recipes for When You Have Better Things To Do With Your Time
Debra Ponzek
Manufacturer: Clarkson N Potter Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N781BK

Average customer rating:

The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters: Complete 100 Hole

Good for casual collectors to have.

Looks great, works so-so

Excellent Coin Folder

I HATE this thing!

The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters: Complete 100 Hole Collector's Folder, Complete Collection 1999-2008

Manufacturer: Whitman Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Coins & Medals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Coins & Medals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Fifty State Commemorative Quarter Folder: Deluxe Edition 1999-2008

The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters 1999-2008 (P and d Album)

The 50 States Quarter Folder

State Series Quarters Collector Map (State Series)

Statehood Quarter Album (Official Whitman Coin Folder) (Official Whitman Coin Folder)

ASIN: 0794807135

Customer Reviews:

The Official U.S. Mint 50 State Quarters: Complete 100 Hole.......2007-09-28

I was disappointed in this product. The cover lillustration is nice but the book itself was a quite thin and flimsy cardboard. In addition, our son has trouble getting the quarters into the holes. After putting only about half of the quarters in, the book looks battered and worn. I would suggest looking for something better made.

Good for casual collectors to have........2007-06-08

I collected coins for awhile in high school but fell out of the habit. Getting one of these complete collection booklets is an easy way for the casual coin collecter to have an easy formal way to collect the State Quarters....

Looks great, works so-so.......2007-03-10

I just purchased three different 50 State Quarters books to try as the quarters fall out of the one I have. The other reviewers who weren't happy with this item are spot on. This is the worst of the three.

It looks great and has a lot of useful information about each state and the order of release. But the holes are too small though I didn't need a hammer to push the quarters in. It's clear given the tight holes and the force needed to get the quarters in that it would only be a matter of time before I ripped through the paper thin cover.

This is personal taste, but I don't like that the P and D are in totally separate groups rather than having both coins for each state together.

Excellent Coin Folder.......2006-11-13

My son really enjoys looking at his state quarters in this folder. I do need to help him put in the quarters, but that is no problem. Once the quarters go in, it doesn't fall out.

I HATE this thing!.......2006-06-10

This album is extremely attractive and informative and has storage space for a complete set of 100 quarters (both P and D mint marks for each state). Unfortunately, it's a nightmare to use.

You'd think the U.S. mint would know what size their own coins are and be able to make an album they would actually fit in, wouldn't you? Well, guess again! It's just about bloody impossible to get quarters all the way into these slots so that they're firmly lodged and don't fall right back out again. I have only found two ways to accomplish this: 1) pound on the coins with a heavy object (obviously a disaster for preserving either them OR the album in good condition) or 2) painstakingly shave away a little bit of the cardboard around the edge of each slot (extremely tedious and time-consuming, as well as very hard to do without puncturing the flimsily thin backing material).

I am now in the process of shopping for an album that doesn't require me to risk damaging my quarters in order to get them into it. When I get one, this thing will go straight into the recycling bin. I couldn't bring myself to inflict it on some other unsuspecting person.

P.S. No offense to Burton W. Ostrower, but I think he MUST have been reviewing a different album. Mine does not have a "top plastic cover," and the coins are NOT viewable from both sides as he said. (I wish!) I would report the inaccuracy to Amazon if I knew how, because I hate to see people be misled. But the report form only allows reporting of "inappropriate" material, and there's no place to write comments there.

Official Whitman Statehood Quarters Folder: Complete 50 State Set 1999-2008

Average customer rating:

Excellent Product
junk and ugly
Good lay-out, but hard to use
Avoid this item whenever possible
Too difficult

Official Whitman Statehood Quarters Folder: Complete 50 State Set 1999-2008

Manufacturer: Whitman Coin Products
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Coins & Medals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Antiques & Collectibles | Reference & Nonfiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 158238097X

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Product.......2007-01-07

I have looked everywhere for this product. I should have known Amazon would have it. I didn't want it for both Denver and Philly mints. Thanks, Amazon!

junk and ugly.......2006-12-29

I ordered Official Whitman Statehood Quarters Folder: Complete 50 State Set 1999-2008 to my friend as a gift. She said this is a junk and cheating product. This is because its design is ugly and inside has only 40 slots which is 1999-2006. And I agree with her.

Good lay-out, but hard to use.......2005-09-21

Since I'm not a hard-core coin collector, I like the fact that this folder only has one space per state (i.e., not one space for each mint). However, I found it very difficult to insert the quarters into the slots so that they would stay put.

Avoid this item whenever possible.......2005-09-04

The holes are way to difficult to fit in quarters. The booklet looks very cheap. The cover design is different from what you see here. The interior looks boring and ugly.

Very, very disappointed.

Too difficult.......2004-07-21

The quarters are very difficult to fit in the folder. I would look for a different one to use.

50 State Quarters Collector's Folder: 1999-2008 Denver & Philadelphia Mints

Average customer rating:

Not happy with purchase
MORE THAN I EXPECTED
Quarters Fall Out
Quarters Securely Fit
Like it very much!

50 State Quarters Collector's Folder: 1999-2008 Denver & Philadelphia Mints

Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Crafts & Hobbies | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Coins & Medals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 1402708696

Book Description

It's a coin collector's dream folder, with a space for every state's newly designed
quarters--arranged according to the year each was minted--along with dozens of fascinating facts. When Congress passed the "50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act" in 1997, which led to the creation of quarters honoring every state in the union, its members especially hoped that young people and their families would collect these memorable tokens. This handy folder will help youngsters realize that goal and hold onto these special keepsakes, which are being released over ten years in the order in which the states ratified the Constitution. In addition to the slots for the quarters, kids will find a description of the Commemorative Coin Program; a history of the United States Quarter Dollar; a list of state capitals, nicknames, mottoes, and more; details on how the 50 designs were chosen; and an account of how coins are manufactured by the U.S. Mint and distributed by the Federal Reserve Bank.

Customer Reviews:

Not happy with purchase.......2007-10-01

I was disappointed and had to send it back as it wasn't what I wanted. I didn't realize that it was for quarters from both places they mint the state quarters and I just wanted a folder for one quarter for each state and I wasn't concerned that I had one from each place. I didn't realize they printed them in two places anyway. Richard Risener

MORE THAN I EXPECTED.......2007-07-21

IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO PUT COINS IN, BUT FOR SURE THEY WON'T COME OUT. I LIKE THE EXTRA SPACES FOR THE OLD STYLE AND THE FUTURE STYLE COINS.

Quarters Fall Out.......2007-05-26

What a pain in the toosh... cheap plastic is supposed to "grab" the quarters if you "simply push down on them". HA, what a joke. I turned to washable kids glue to help them stay in. Very frustrating, especially for my 5yo.

Quarters Securely Fit.......2006-07-21

Hi! Ebay has a seller whom offers a high-quality, U.S.A. map/book which measures, when closed, approximately 13" X 16", with each State that truely SECURES a collectible quarter. Great for children and adults! Check it out! Only for a nominal investment in the amount of $12.95 plus shipping.

Like it very much!.......2005-12-29

I am very impressed with this folder. My quarters stay in the slots very nicely. Also like that it has slots for both the Philadelphia and Denver mints. It also has a more substantial feel than some of the other folders I've seen.

50 State Commemorative Quarters Map Folder

Average customer rating:

50 State Commemorative Quarters Map Folder
Panavu
Manufacturer: Panavu
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0970005121

Book Description

Trace the growth of the United States with Panavu's U.S. map folder for the 50 State Quarters. Coin display area shows you the year of each quarter's release and the year each state joined the Union - and this informative display is color coded so you can match each coin with its state on the map. Sturdy-turned edge construction and film laminated cover make it durable and stain resistant, plus it folds to a convenient size for storage. 11"x 12.5" folded, 22"x 12.5" open. Holds 1 quarter for each state, plus it folds to a convenient size for storage. 11"x 12.5" folded, 22"x 12.5" open. Holds 1 quarter for each state, coins not included.

Average customer rating:

It never holds your quarter
Quarters won't stay in - buy a different product
Statehood Quarter Folder
keep glue handy
Worthless - coins all fall out

The 50 States Quarter Folder
Scholastic Inc.
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 043920822X

Book Description

Kit created to collect the 50 states quarters

Customer Reviews:

It never holds your quarter.......2007-08-09

I ordered more than one 50 States Quarter Folders and thought they would hold the quarters collected. When they were finally delivered to me, I found the dented holder could hold nothing and threw them away.

Quarters won't stay in - buy a different product.......2007-08-04

Ditto what others have said. My son has this folder and the quarters will not stay in the plastic slots. As a result most of his collection has disappeared. There are other folders available that are much better. The best seem to be ones where you just press the coin tightly into a cardboard cutout.

Statehood Quarter Folder.......2007-07-29

I like the folder very much as I am collecting the statehood quarters for my grandchildren. The booklet inside gives them lots of information on our United States. The only drawback I have seen is sometimes the quarters pop out. Other than that, it is easier to use than the traditional folders for coins.

keep glue handy.......2007-06-13

The folder itself is nice with a booklet that gives information about all states but inserting the quarters just doesn't work. They don't just "press in" - they pop right out and you have to glue them in if you want them to stay in. We even tried hammering them in. I bought it for my grandson but there was no way he was getting the quarters to stay in.

Worthless - coins all fall out.......2007-05-16

This coin folder is a ripoff. The coins will not stay in the spaces and fall all over the place. This is a basic specification for a coin holder and this one is so bad that it should not have been placed on the market. Amazon should not sell this product.

Average customer rating:

State quarter book

50 State Commemorative Quarters Folder
Panavu
Manufacturer: Panavu
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0970005113

Book Description

Collect the entire ten years of Statehood quarters in one compact folder. Panavu's affordable three panel folder has 50 spaces, one quarter from each state, yet it folds to a convenient 6.25" x 8.5" size that fits most bookshelves. Includes fascinating information about the coins.

Customer Reviews:

State quarter book.......2001-07-08

I love this book! When I started my first state quarter collection I bought the collectors map. However, when I started my second and third collections I was looking for an alternative to an expensive map book. This book is sturdy and stores my additional collections beautifully.

Average customer rating:

Complete basic Woodturning

An excellent and complete beginner's turning guide

Great starter book

learn to turn: a beginner's guide to woodturning from start to finish

Good for beginers

Learn to Turn: A Beginner's Guide to Woodturning from Start to Finish
Barry Gross
Manufacturer: Fox Chapel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Projects | Woodworking | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Turning (Complete Illustrated Guide)

Lathes and Turning Techniques (Best of Fine Woodworking)

The Pen Turner's Workbook: Making Pens from Simple to Stunning

The Lathe Book: A Complete Guide to the Machine and its Accessories

Turning Wood with Richard Raffan

ASIN: 1565232739

Book Description

Written for true beginners, this approachable and enjoyable instructional guide teaches the art of turning. Readers receive advice on every step of the turning process, including selecting the right lathe, basic safety and woodshop setup, an overview of the proper tools and how to use them, and the basics on sharpening, sanding, and finishing. Step-by-step instructions for eight projects such as a birdhouse, a simple bowl, and a pepper mill are included. This guide also features a special chapter that addresses and reveals surprisingly simple solutions to common beginner mistakes.

Customer Reviews:

Complete basic Woodturning.......2007-08-27

This is a grat book with good pictures and texet. It is easy to read and understand.

An excellent and complete beginner's turning guide.......2007-03-27

This book is an excellent reference for the new woodturner. It makes no assumptions, and starts from the VERY beginning, so some may skip some of the beginning sections. However, the book is organized to guide you through the process, and includes projects to use your newly found skills. The book reads very well, and will give you the fundamental knowledge you need to get started. It's also filled with excellent photos to help clarify the text. I would highly recommend this book to other beginners (in fact, I already have).

Great starter book.......2007-01-15

I gave this book along with a lathe as a Christmas gift to my Father-in-law. He has a machinist background, but had not used a wood lathe before. This book offered a great starting point for him. I read the book also and found it to be very good.

learn to turn: a beginner's guide to woodturning from start to finish.......2007-01-04

this book helped me a lot and found it very interesting and gave me
a lot of ideas.

Good for beginers.......2006-03-15

Large detailed photos. Printed on good quality paper. This book could be recomended to those who are just curiouse about turning to the beginner just starting out.

Book Description

Spiraling Through Life with Fast Plants: An Inquiry-Rich Manual was developed to help high school teachers meet high school science standards by teaching inquiry-based science. It contains over 25 explorations in germination, growth and development, flowering, pollination, fertilization, and embryogenesis.

Each chapter focuses on a single stage of the Fast Plant life cycle, enabling students to take a plant through its entire life cycle or concentrate on a single chapter activity.

Average customer rating:

creative, thoughtful manual to raise happy kids with morals

365 Ways to Raise Great Kids
Sheila Ellison , and Barbara Ann Barnett
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Marriage & Family | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Child Development | Babies & Toddlers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

365 Days of Baby Love: Playing, Growing and Exploring With Babies from Birth to Age 2

365 Afterschool Activities: Tv-Free Fun for Kids 7-12

365 Days of Creative Play: For Children 2 Yrs. & Up

365 Foods Kids Love to Eat : Nutritious and Kid-Tested

365 Games Smart Toddlers Play (365)

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 1570713987

Customer Reviews:

creative, thoughtful manual to raise happy kids with morals.......2002-08-13

Many of the activities in this book are fun, though some are a little too idealistic for my family. However, it's a good resource if you're looking for ways to create long lasting memories in your kids (memory tree, creating a scrapbook, etc.), teach them morals and facts of life (such as dealing with death, etc.). It also has many good ideas for keeping communication open with your children.

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A Biography of hair.

Wonderful Book

The Real Story about Beethoven and his deafness

Good Content, With One Stylistic Problem

A thrilling biography of a clump of hair...

Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved
Russell Martin
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Beethoven, Ludwig van | Composers | Classical | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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Similar Items:

Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the World

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier

Beethoven (Revised Edition)

Beethoven's Letters

Late Beethoven: Music, Thought, Imagination

ASIN: 076790351X
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Amazon.com

A well-publicized 1994 Sotheby's auction listed, among other musical artifacts and ephemera on the block, a lock of Beethoven's hair. The high-bidders of the hair, two Beethoven enthusiasts, were easy enough to identify by their oddball names: one was a doctor named Che Guevara, the other a retired real estate developer named Ira Brilliant. But the real story, as author Russell Martin attempts to explain in this book, is how did the lock end up on the auction block? More important, can we learn anything from a 175-year-old snippet of hair? Somehow, author Russell Martin attempts to weave biographical information about Beethoven's life with scientific findings about his hair (the two buyers had the lock DNA-tested), as well as trace the path the hair took, from the great composer's head right into the present.

It's a tall order and one at which Martin partially succeeds. His facts about Beethoven and Ferdinand Hiller (the original keeper of the lock) are solid, but he hypothesizes at length about how the hair ended up in a small port town in Denmark during the Nazi occupation. Likewise, he spends nearly the entire second half of the book describing the lives of Guevara and Brilliant, occasionally sounding more like a press agent than a journalist. Subtitled "An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Musical Mystery Solved," Beethoven's Hair doesn't truly solve any musical mysteries, but it is a fascinating, original read for Beethoven-philes who want to learn a little bit more about their favorite composer. --Jason Verlinde

Book Description

Ludwig van Beethoven lay dying in 1827, a young musician named Ferdinand Hiller came to pay his respects to the great composer. In those days, it was customary to snip a lock of hair as a keepsake, and this Hiller did a day after Beethoven's death. By the time he was buried, Beethoven's head had been nearly shorn by the many people who similarly had wanted a lasting memento of the great man. Such was his powerful effect on all those who had heard his music.

For a century, the lock of hair was a treasured Hiller family relic, and perhaps was destined to end up sequestered in a bank vault, until it somehow found its way to the town of Gilleleje, in Nazi-occupied Denmark, during the darkest days of the Second World War. There, it was given to a local doctor, Kay Fremming, who was deeply involved in the effort to help save hundreds of hunted and frightened Jews. Who gave him the hair, and why? And what was the fate of those refugees, holed up in the attic of Gilleleje's church?

After Fremming's death, his daughter assumed ownership of the lock, and eventually consigned it for sale at Sotheby's, where two American Beethoven enthusiasts, Ira Brilliant and Che Guevara, purchased it in 1994. Subsequently, they and others instituted a series of complex forensic tests in the hope of finding the probable causes of the composer's chronically bad health, his deafness, and the final demise that Ferdinand Hiller had witnessed all those years ago. The results, revealed for the first time here, are startling, and are the most compelling explanation yet offered for why one of the foremost musicians the world has ever known was forced to spend much of his life in silence.

In Beethoven's Hair, Russell Martin has created a rich historical treasure hunt, an Indiana Jones-like tale of false leads, amazing breakthroughs, and incredible revelations. This unique and fascinating book is a moving testament to the power of music, the lure of relics, the heroism of the Resistance movement, and the brilliance of molecular science.

An astonishing tale of one lock of hair and its amazing travels--from nineteenth-century Vienna to twenty-first-century America.

Download Description

An adventure story starring a lock of Beethoven's hair, this irresistible true tale mixes history, music and science into a compelling narrative. Beginning in 1827, when 582 strands of the great composer's hair were cut from his scalp, the author traces the history of the lock right up to the present day.

Customer Reviews:

A Biography of hair........2007-10-13

If you are looking for a biography of Beethoven this is not the book; however, if you are interested in the biography of his lock of hair, then you've hit pay dirt. How a lock of Beethoven's hair traveled from his head in 1827, at the time of his death, to Germany, Denmark, the United Stated, and Mexico is fascinating.

The portion of the book that delves into WWII, the Danish attempts to assist fleeing Jews, and how Beethoven's hair became involved is truly remarkable. It is also a piece of positive humanity I think Beethoven would have rejoiced. It is a portion of history few people are aware of, and I am saddened to learn I didn't know about it when I lived south of Gilleleje, Denmark. Being a Beethoven fanatic, and half Danish, makes the desire to return to Denmark to explore Beethoven's hair's path grow strong.

Learning more about how Ira Brilliant began his fabulous Center for Beethoven Studies was also a treat. As with my regret at not being able to speak directly to Beethoven, I regret that I can not speak or meet Mr. Brilliant. However, both men have left humanity with wonderful testaments to musical art, and will be greatly remembered and revered by Beethovenites.

Wonderful Book.......2007-05-25

Purchased the book for my daughter, who is a music student. Loved the book, it is more interesting and accessible than expected.

The Real Story about Beethoven and his deafness.......2007-01-10

This book was fascinating from the start. A mixture of World War II intrigue and Classical Music history. The book was well written and kept me involved to the end. I have used what I learned from it to help with my teaching in Music Connections in Middle School.

Good Content, With One Stylistic Problem.......2006-10-25

Let me say first - and I say it with enthusiasm - that I enjoyed the content and - unlike some - the layout of the book. However, there was one - and only one as far as I can figure - drawback to the book. It seemed at times like it happened on almost every page - this drawback - that Martin used extremely long hypenated sentences - like these, which, after a while could cause you to lose track of what the sentence started out to say - that caused me to have to read them three times to make sense of them. Okay, the point is made. That problem aside, I found the content of the book very riveting and exciting. I thought it was a nice creative touch to alternate between the history of Beethoven's lock of hair and the modern-day events surrounding its acquisition and scientific evaluation. The book even suggests a possible cause of Beethoven's deafness based on the study. I recommend the book. And now that it is in paperback, the price is right, too.

A thrilling biography of a clump of hair..........2006-08-11

A lock of hair, not a famous composer, plays the lead role in this forensic thriller. The story of how this lock found its way from Beethoven's head to the city of Cologne, to the port city of Gilleleje, to Sotheby's in New York City, and finally to the Beethoven Center in California makes for a breathtaking and page turning tale. And, along the way, a very likely explanation for the ravaging illnesses that plagued Beethoven throughout his life emerges. Not only that, it even played a part in saving Jews from Nazi terror. Quite an accomplishment for a clump of hair.

This book demonstrates the facility with which science and history can synergize. A simple wooden and glass locket states in antiquated writing that the hair within came from Ludwig Van Beethoven. But did it? As the item was passed for over a century through numerous hands in Germany, many may have harbored suspicions of its authenticity. After all, how does one prove that the hairs once sprouted from one of western civilization's key figures? And the stories of numerous fradulent relics, notably those of Saints, rings loud in european history. But modern science can unravel such questions, and, as the purchasers of the hair realized, many other surprising things.

In 1827, the hair in question did make its way from the scalp of Beethoven into the hands of young Ferdinand Hiller, who then made quite a name for himself in Cologne. Amongst his friends he could count Felix Mendlessohn, Franz Liszt, and Frederick Chopin. And throughout his fascinating life he met other luminaries such as Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Hector Berlioz, and Goethe. He garnered a reputation as a composer and music critic, and achieved renown in his day. But his fame eventually faded, and he passed the locket on to his son, Paul, as a treasured family heirloom. The locket received some restoration work in 1911, and remained in the care of the Hiller family until the precarious era of Nazi Germany split apart families and cities. Somehow it ended up in the small city of Gilleleje in northern Denmark. The book explores various theories as to its arrival there. At the time the city was heroically transporting Jews to Sweden to keep them from the maw of the Nazis. A modest physician named Kay Fremming received the locket from one of the Jews hidden in the town church the very night the Gestapo stormed it and hauled away a hundred or so refugees. Fremming kept the locket in his office drawer for two decades. The Fremming's adopted daughter (she literally sat on their step one day and claimed them as her family when they arrived home) was shown the locket by Kay's wife, Marta. As time passed and Kay and his wife passed away, the locket came into the daughter's hands. Rough times later descended, and she decided to put the locket up for sale. Sotheby's showed an interest, and the some two hundred year old item appeared in the 1994 catalog. Ravenous Beethoven fans on the American continent bid on the piece, won it, and trasported it to the Beethoven Center in San Jose, California (where it remains). They had the idea to have some of the hair analyzed to help determine the cause of Beethoven's death, a wish that Beethoven had explicitly expressed in his letters. The analysis revealed the now old news that Beethoven had significant levels of lead in his body, and that lead poisoning likely hastened his death. That theory remains the accepted explanation. Then, to put the final piece in order, bone analysis linked the hair to Beethoven almost indubitably.

Weaving throughout the story of the locket is a cursory biography of Beethoven himself. Those familiar with his life will likely learn nothing new from these interposed sections. Regardless, they help elucidate Beethoven's health issues, and help point the book towards its ultimate goal. But the travails of the snipped hair remain the focus of the book.

A summary of the twisted plot leaves out the rich nuances and details that provide the book's real fascination. Not to mention the numerous people that came together to help solve the puzzle. This story has a curious parallel in the fictional movie "The Red Violin", in that the life of an object through phases of the human world receives elucidation. Fans of that movie will likely appreciate the intentions at work in "Beethoven's Hair". Perhaps the most astonishing fact is that a simple hair cutting led, two hundred years later, to the unveiling of a historical quandry. Which goes to show that very small human actions can lead inexorably to momentous consequences.

Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved

Average customer rating:

Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved
Russell Martin
Manufacturer: Broadway books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V65QM0

Book Description

The story of the secret intelligence network set up to organize illegal immigration operations, which made possible, argues Szulc, the birth of Israel. Based on previously confidential archives, extensive interviews, and private correspondence, The Secret Alliance uncovers the blood-for-money deals with Eichmann, Ceaucescu and Saddam Hussein; secret arms purchases; and the heroic efforts of heroic underground operatives who rescued more than two million Jews after Worl War II.

Extraordinary Jewish Americans (Extraordinary People)

Average customer rating:

A good introductory work A worthwhile project indeed

Extraordinary Jewish Americans (Extraordinary People)
Philip Brooks
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Jewish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0516263501

Customer Reviews:

A good introductory work A worthwhile project indeed.......2005-11-13

This is a well- written, informative work about exceptional American Jews. I would have included far more intellectuals, the remarkable group of people who constitute around one quarter of America's Nobel Prize Winners.I would have also included more 'spiritual leaders', and less from the entertainment business. I would not have included Jewish gangsters because I do not believe this is really something to be proud about. The important point about Jewish gangsters is that they were a one- generation phenomenom.
Overall, this is a very good introductory book, a worthwhile project indeed.

The Jesuit and the Incas: The Extraordinary Life of Padre Blas Valera, S.J. (History, Languages, and Cultures of the Spanish and Portuguese Worlds)

Average customer rating:

An illuminating book on a dark corner of history
The Jesuit and the Incas
a response to the reviewer from London
An intriguing topic, but this book needs work
A most fascinating life story

The Jesuit and the Incas: The Extraordinary Life of Padre Blas Valera, S.J. (History, Languages, and Cultures of the Spanish and Portuguese Worlds)
Sabine Hyland
Manufacturer: University of Michigan Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Incan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0472113534

Book Description

"[A] refreshingly lucid account of an important but poorly known figure in colonial Latin American history."
-Richard L. Burger, Yale University

"This is a beautifully written, deeply informed and highly informative work. . . . [Hyland] has cast a bright light into a corner of early colonial Latin American scholarship that we had all but abandoned hope of ever seeing into very clearly."
-Gary Urton, Harvard University

". .. . Hyland provides insight into the life of the Jesuit scholar, indigenous historian, teacher, and religious comparativist. Part history, part detective novel, the book plunges into various controversies: Christianity and indigenous Inca religion; Jesuits and the Spanish Crown; Valera's own mixed heritage; and even Valera and the Jesuits who imprisoned and then exiled him, despite his loyalty to the order. . . . Valera takes his place among ethnographers such as Acosta and Native rights advocates such as Las Casas, and Hyland's book provides captivating access to his unique contribution to history. Highly Recommended."
--Choice

In the spirit of justice Blas Valera broke all the rules-and paid with his life. Hundreds of years later, his ghost has returned to haunt the official story. But is it the truth, and will it set the record straight?

This is the tale of Father Blas Valera, the child of a native Incan woman and Spanish father, caught between the ancient world of the Incas and the conquistadors of Spain. Valera, a Jesuit in sixteenth-century Peru, believed in what to his superiors was pure heresy: that the Incan culture, religion, and language were equal to their Christian counterparts.

As punishment for his beliefs he was imprisoned, beaten, and, finally, exiled to Spain, where he died at the hands of English pirates in 1597.

Four centuries later, this Incan chronicler had been all but forgotten, until an Italian anthropologist discovered some startling documents in a private Neapolitan collection. The documents claimed, among other things, that Valera's death had been faked by the Jesuits; that he had returned to Peru; and, intriguingly, while there had taught his followers that the Incas used a secret phonetic quipu-a record-keeping device of the Inca empire-to record history.

Far from settling anything, the documents created an international sensation among scholars and led to bitter disputes over how they should be assessed. Are they forgeries, authentic documents, or something in between? If genuine, they will radically reform our view of Inca culture and Valera. The author insightfully examines the evidence, showing how fact and fiction intertwine, and brings the dimly understood history of this author-priest to light.

Customer Reviews:

An illuminating book on a dark corner of history.......2004-02-07

Dr Hyland should be commended for her scholarship, dedication and fortitude on bringing to light the life of Blas Valera. His chronicles give great insight on the transition of Incan to Spanish culture and society that effects Peru to today. Prof Hyland's narrative is very helpful in understanding Blas Valera and the context of the world around him. My only criticism, and a mild one, is that Blas Valera's somewhat gilded view of Incan culture and accomplishments, although understandable given his imprisonment, could have deserved more discussion. The presentation of the Naples documents was fascinating, and I think, fairly represented. The Jesuits and the Incas is a highly readable and recommeneded book for all interested in Peruvian history.

The Jesuit and the Incas.......2004-01-27

The prose was excellent and scholarship first rate. In dealing with the life of Blas Valera Dr. Hyland was confronted with a very complex and controversial topic. Rather than obsessing over the authenticity of the so-called Naples documents, she did a thorough background study of the man and his time and the injustices he experienced at the hands of those institutions and persons he served. In dealing with the authenticity of the Naples documents in the final part of the book, I found her analysis to be thorough and dispassionate. The ethnohistoric data was presented in a clear, highly detailed, and unambiguous manner. Instead of taking sides or taking the data beyond its limits, Dr. Hyland let her readers make up their own minds about the controversy surrounding the Naples documents on the basis of the evidence. In my opinion, Hyland is to be applauded for the breadth and scope of her research and for not letting herself become entangled in the bitter acrimony which no doubt played a large role in some of the poor reviews this fine work received. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Andean ethnohistory.

a response to the reviewer from London.......2003-12-23

I would not normally respond to an anonymous review, but there may be some potential readers who will be seriously misled about the contents of my book by the reviewer from London.

First, most of my book is not about the so-called "Miccinelli documents" -- the sensational manuscripts which claim, among other things, that Valera faked his death, returned secretly to Peru and taught a phonetic form of Inca writing -- at all. The first eight chapters of my book discuss Valera's tumultuous life and radical ideas based entirely on sources other than the Miccinelli documents. Only the final two chapters of my book concern the Miccinelli texts; Chapter 9 describes the documents while Chapter 10 explores the controversy over them.

Second, I state unequivocally in my book that I believe the documents to be forgeries. The issue is whether they are 17th century forgeries or modern forgeries. My book argues that they are 17th century forgeries created by Valera's followers within the Society of Jesus in Peru, a position supported by other respected researchers in the field. Other scholars have argued that the Miccinelli texts are modern forgeries, suggesting in print that Umberto Eco is the criminal mastermind behind this alleged conspiracy of forgery, in collusion with professors at the University of Bologna and other Italian universities. I leave it to readers of my book to decide which position is more convincing.

Because this cannot by posted without assigning stars, and, while I am confident in my book, there is always room for improvement, I assign it three stars.

An intriguing topic, but this book needs work.......2003-12-17

This book proposes to shed light on a dark corner of colonial Latin American history and historiography by exploring the life of Blas Vaelra, the mestizo chronicler who proved so influential in the writing Garcilaso de la Vega's Royal Commentaries of the Incas. This is a laudable goal, but unfortunately this book is evidence of some of the sloppiest kind of scholarly sensationalism in Academia. In reviewing the ongoing controversy over the so-called Miccinelli documents (recently discovered in the private collection of an Italian academic), Prof. Hyland does a mediocre job of detailing just how questionable these sources are. Her responses to more creditable and sober critics are unconvincing, as are her apologies for the weaknesses she *does* recognize in the documents.

Those who craft elaborate frauds often shield themselves behind what they like to characterize as the "establishement's" inability to brook radical transformations, but that is simply not the case. When revolutionary material is available to genuine public scrutiny, and when that material hasn't been as effectiv