The Last of the Whigs: A Political Biography of Lord Hartington, Later Eighth Duke of Devonshire, 1833-1908

Customer Reviews:

Heroic and gripping.......2005-02-05

This is a fascinating biography of a man who can truly be considered a "hero in history" because he so personally designed his own life and lived by his own rules and yet had a huge impact. In this sense this is an inspiring biography of a man who in his individualism personified what Western culture is all about. But, the book is also a major contribution to history and social science in that it describes little known events about the war against Japan, the birth of survey data collection, etc. etc. A first rate job of writing and a hard to put down read. Herbert Weiss, Emeritus Professor, City University of New York

As remarquable as offending.......2002-09-04

What a life! Tom Harrisson is hardly a household name in the US but he was one of those rather well-connected and well-educated British misfits who turned their lack of enthusiasm for the British Isles into a grand adventure. He served the waning empire both as a military man and as a civil servant. The high point of his military doings is the guerrilla war against the Japanese that he organized and fought in Borneo with the local population. That part of his life alone deserves a movie.

After the war he went back to his long standing interests in botany, zoology and ethnography, keeping at some point turtles in his bathroom as part of a study of their migratory habits. All through his life there was much womanizing,boozing and boasting. The latter two mainly got him the reputation that the title of the book refers to. But there was also much serious scholarly work and real concern for the local population he worked closely with. The work produced several publications and a couple of documentary movies.

As Judith Heimann, who knew Harrisson personally and researched his life for about 10 years, tells the story, his contributions to ethnography have been underrated because of his unorthodox methods and his knack for making enemies. Of course, without that approach he would be a much less interesting character and a less engaging writer: after having read this book, one is actually curious about reading Harrisson's own books.

However, don't skip this biography. It is a great read: carefully researched, well-written and not over-interpreted as so may biographies tend to be these days.

An amazing life, an excellent book!.......2002-05-11

Tom Harrisson did more different things in his life than any human being should be allowed to, and did them all outstandingly. And Judith Heimann does a remarkable job of following across continents and professions as he goes from one amazing adventure to the next. He was a war hero, an anthropologist, a naturalist, a pollster and much else. He was also a very difficult person who alienated many people, left a trail of broken hearts, and sorely neglected his children. But he was one of the most colorful and memorable men of his generation, and Heimann's terrific research and fine writing takes you along for an astounding ride. Once you've met Tom, you won't forget him.

the Most Offending Soul Alive.......2000-06-04

If the purpose of a book is to inform, entertain and delight - Ms. Heimann's book rates A+. Tom Harrisson must have been one of the most gifted persons of the 20th Century. His contributions in many fields of science were incredible. In his early 20's he became a veteran of scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Borneo with oustanding treatises on ornithology to his credit. His scientific pursuits only began there. He provided basic work, inter alia, in sociology, anthropology, ethnology as well as market research and documentary filmmaking! He was too brilliant for formal training and avoided it all his life to the chagrin and jealousy of many with degrees.

An outstanding leader in WWII, he formed a small army of headhunters with deadly blowguns to drive the Japanese from the jungles of Borneo. This he did with a handful of losses while inflicting casualties in the thousands on the Japanese. Harrisson was no diplomat and often seemed to enjoy rubbing people the wrong way. Although his enemies were legion, he had a way with women. The book's title provides the kernel of his story. From Henry V, the full quotation is:

But if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.

This book demands reading.

Harrison lives!.......2000-05-04

It seems impossible to imagine capturing the full and complex life of this man in book form but Heimann has done so - carrying out Harrrison's own plan for his autobiography. He had intended to be to be "self-pitiless", and this accountspares us no `warts'- but what fascinating warts! I am convinced that he would have been profoundly grateful to the author for this recording of his life. Only when fairly measured against the flaws of character and errors of judgment can we fully appreciate his amazingly varied contributions to human knowledge (on human behavior as well as that of birds,orangutans, turtles...) He said of himself that his greatest task was to keep up with himself but he gave it a gallant try, writing as much as 8000 words a day on a wide variety of subjects. One of his better known exploits was the creation of a team which discreetly observed the British public during WW II, getting a feel for the people's frame of mind, in ways that make today's polls look slapdash and superficial.

Heimann makes it clear why Harrisson was more comfortable during his many years in Borneo (among other difficult travels) than he was back `home' in England, happier in the long houses with the various tribes he came to know and love, getting drunk with them and carousing with their women. His beloved tribesmen later gathered to help rid the Island of the Japanese near the end of the war (some using their blow pipes).

The knowledge he acquired was never fully accepted by the academic community, due to his lack of formal training, but as Heiman points out, he contributed more to our knowledge of both anthropology and archaeology of Sarawak, where he was a museum curator among other things, than was garnered by specialists in either field in other areas of Southeast Asia. Throw in ornithology - his first love as a student - always a strong interest....and protection of orangutans, and green sea turtles.

Harrisson had incredible energy, and an amazing lack of requirements for personal comfort, suffering every imaginable discomfort and disease, walking miles through jungle, climbing mountains at a brisk pace, and expecting the same from his behind-the-lines soldiers in the interior of Borneo during the war. He would eat anything, without complaint - had good survival skills! But in what is referred to as polite sociey he often behaved outrageously, being rude, picking fights and in fact being "the most offending soul alive." He had a dreadful talent for offending people who were later able to get back at him and cause a great deal of harm.

This review could go on and on - buy the book! I am simply amazed at the amount of research that Ms. Heimann has done; there is no stone unturned, yet all this is laid out for us with no unwelcome suppositions on her part - he left plenty of traces without having to invent them - rather one feels led along by someone with a wise and balanced understanding of her subject. Some books about extraordinary people leave disappointing, pale images - the reader longs for a quick glimpse of the real McCoy. Heimann has been able to bring us Tom Harrisson alive and kicking, even while including the immense amount of details that needed to be sorted through and pulled together to describe his life. Bravo!

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Judith Heimann: the Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and his Remarkable Life.(Book Review): An article from: Borneo Research Bulletin
Otto Steinmayer
Manufacturer: Borneo Research Council, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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ASIN: B00082171Q
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Borneo Research Bulletin, published by Borneo Research Council, Inc on January 2, 2002. The length of the article is 1711 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Judith Heimann: the Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and his Remarkable Life.(Book Review)
Author: Otto Steinmayer
Publication: Borneo Research Bulletin (Refereed)
Date: January 2, 2002
Publisher: Borneo Research Council, Inc
Volume: 33 Page: 191(4)

Article Type: Book Review

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The most offending soul alive: Tom harrisson and his remarkable life. & Voices of the crocker range indigenous communities sabah: Social narratives of ... reviews).: An article from: Pacific Affairs

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The most offending soul alive: Tom harrisson and his remarkable life. & Voices of the crocker range indigenous communities sabah: Social narratives of ... reviews).: An article from: Pacific Affairs
Terry McGee
Manufacturer: University of British Columbia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008IJZX2
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on September 22, 2001. The length of the article is 1221 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The most offending soul alive: Tom harrisson and his remarkable life. & Voices of the crocker range indigenous communities sabah: Social narratives of transition in tambunan and its neighbours. (Book reviews).
Author: Terry McGee
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2001
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: 74 Issue: 3 Page: 456(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and his Remarkable Life.(Review) (book review): An article from: The Australian Journal of Politics and History

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The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and his Remarkable Life.(Review) (book review): An article from: The Australian Journal of Politics and History
Kay Saunders
Manufacturer: University of Queensland Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Australia | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Australian Journal of Politics and History, published by University of Queensland Press on September 1, 2000. The length of the article is 540 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and his Remarkable Life.(Review) (book review)
Author: Kay Saunders
Publication: The Australian Journal of Politics and History (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2000
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Volume: 46 Issue: 3 Page: 436

Article Type: Book Review

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The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and His Remarkable Life: An article from: Asian Perspectives

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The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and His Remarkable Life: An article from: Asian Perspectives

Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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State and local taxation: Cases and materials (American casebook series)
Jerome R Hellerstein
Manufacturer: West Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books
American Casebook | Series | Law | Subjects | Books
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International Taxation (Concepts and Insights)

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State and Local Taxation and Finance in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series)

Fundamentals of Partnership Taxation Cases and Materials (University Casebook)

ASIN: 0829920005

Book Description

Devotes substantial attention to the casebook's pedagogical function, raising questions, and providing more frequent road mapping to the complex materials covered in the book. This edition also encourages readers to find real answers to real questions. The authors have extensive practical experience in the state and local tax field, and the book (particularly the probing questions) reflects that experience.

State and Local Taxation: Cases and Materials (Includes 1993 Supplement)

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State and Local Taxation: Cases and Materials (Includes 1993 Supplement)
Jerome R.; Hellerstein, Walter Hellerstein
Manufacturer: West Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OV7RV0

1982 supplement to State and local taxation, cases and materials, fourth edition (American casebook series)

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1982 supplement to State and local taxation, cases and materials, fourth edition (American casebook series)
Jerome R Hellerstein
Manufacturer: West Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

American Casebook | Series | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006Y10BS

Arizona state and local taxation: Cases and materials

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Arizona state and local taxation: Cases and materials
Patrick Derdenger
Manufacturer: Lewis and Roca
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Taxation | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000725YU2

Cases, readings and materials on legal problems of public finance

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Cases, readings and materials on legal problems of public finance
Leon E Wein
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000720AJ2

Selected materials relating to state and local taxation in the State of Washington

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Selected materials relating to state and local taxation in the State of Washington
Alfred Elmer Harsch
Manufacturer: University of Washington, School of Law
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007HYB5G

Selected materials relating to state and local taxation in the State of Washington;: Survey of taxation - Law 531

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Selected materials relating to state and local taxation in the State of Washington;: Survey of taxation - Law 531
Alfred Elmer Harsch
Manufacturer: University of Washington School of Law
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0007HYB4W

State & local taxation: Revised materials, 1996

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State & local taxation: Revised materials, 1996
Richard D Pomp
Manufacturer: Richard D. Pomp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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great resource for caplocks

Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use

Nice little book, worthy addition to your blackpowder gun book collection

An excellent, practical, informative manual for shooting reproduction cap and ball pistols

A wonderful read, and a useful reference

Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use
Mike Cumpston , and Johnny Bates
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Uniforms | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0595357962

Book Description

In the early transition from the long-lived flintlock system, handgun development closely paralleled that of the long arms. With the advent of the revolving pistols, however; came patents that created monopolies in revolver production and the through-bored cylinder necessary for self-contained metallic cartridges. The caplock revolvers took on a separate evolution and remained state of the art long after the widespread appearance of cartridge firing rifles and shotguns. They rode in the holsters of of explorers and adventurers across the world and granted safe conduct in the back-alleys of the Industrial West right up until the last quarter of the 19th Century.

Handguns possess a mystique distinctly different from that of other firearms. They are tools of personal empowerment-chosen by their owners to provide independence and freedom of movement. In the ambitious, optimistic early years of western industrial civilization they were the emblem of liberty and equality and the bane of repressive governments and social movements. Largely because of the traditions that emerged in the time of the caplock pistols and revolvers, they remain so in the early years of the 21st Century.

Customer Reviews:

great resource for caplocks.......2007-02-18

Well-written, lots of information about caplocks during their brief but important period of use. I was not disappointed in the reason for purchase which was the honest reviews of modern replicas. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars are the pictures and awful Old English font used. A 19th century one would have been better. Maybe in the 2nd edition they will make some changes.

Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use.......2007-01-04

This is a fun little book, obviously a labor of love by the authors. The coverage of performance is not all-inclusive, but the historical information is interesting and you can infer the authors' preferences for certain brands of reproductions. They missed the Rogers & Spencer revolver, though there aren't many of them around. I like the R&S grip and it's a solid design, so too bad they didn't cover it. The book does cover the Colts and the Remington New Army pretty thoroughly, along with a few others that were of less interest to me. It steered me away from the Walker and Dragoon Colts and convinced me I had to have an 1851 Navy Colt, though I bought a .44-cal version that's compatible with my other cap-and-ball revolvers. The authors didn't test the .44-cal, only the more-common .36-cal.

What this book needs more than anything else is copy editing. There are many consistent misspellings, which detract from the pleasure of reading it. That's why I gave it only 4 stars. Perhaps the authors can find a friendly local English teacher to clean up the manuscript before the next edition.

Nice little book, worthy addition to your blackpowder gun book collection.......2006-09-23

Nice little book, full of information about various types of handguns. I liked the opinion bits about various gun makers, the load charts for each gun, nice amount of information (including history)- even for a novice to the sport. I like the range test details and comparisons to modern weapons too.
At least one reviewer mentioned the poor photographs, I don't remember the technical term but they're printed newspaper style (too hard to look at) and would be helped if they were larger. The old English script(why use that?)on these pictures is very hard to read at this scale, in one instance it's impossible. Fortunately the real information is in each chapter instead of the pictures.
My biggest complaint is that while various gunmakers/ dealers/ parts suppliers are mentioned you don't get an address or website for any of them. Many of the readers of this book will already have these bits but they should be provided for the novice as well.

An excellent, practical, informative manual for shooting reproduction cap and ball pistols.......2006-09-14

I had purchased this book to help provide information about shooting cap and ball revolvers but had the additional pleasure of finding excellent information on care, cleaning, tuning and background as well. While it does not cover all available reproduced models it is very informative, helpful and humorous about the models it does cover. The only negative I have is that the captioned photos are in very small print and difficult to read. I intend to buy a second copy for my reference library and use my 1st copy as a range and bench reference. I hope that Bates and Cumpston continue with another book covering other cap and ball pistols not covered in this work. A very useful book for Remington and Colt cap and ball shooters.

A wonderful read, and a useful reference.......2006-07-14

This is a great book, from a historical reading standpoint. It puts the technological progression of the percussion handgun in historical context.

I thoroughly enjoyed the practical information on how to use the various antique versions and modern replicas of these old guns. I also appreciated the candid assesment of build quality, parts availability and customer service from the various importers and manufacturers of replica black powder percussion guns.

My only suggestion is that the book be larger, with more pages, with lots of color and black & white photos, with more history, more gunsmithing how-to's, more custom black powder revolver modifications, more gun leather, and more field testing and hunting tales. The only regret I had on finishing this book was that there is not yet a sequel.

Buy this book, but be warned -

. . . upon reading this book you will find yourself awaiting shipment of an 1851 Colt Navy black powder revolver, along with a small box of shooting supplies. (make sure you try real black powder!)

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Ultimate Poncho Book: 50 Fun, Fabulous Knit and Crochet Designs for All Ages and Styles (Knit & Crochet)
Carol Alexander
Manufacturer: Annie's Attic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crocheting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1596350334
Release Date: 2005-07-01

Product Description

With 50 designer styles ranging from glitzy & glamorous to fun & funky, this ultimate poncho collection has everything you're looking for to compliment any waredrobe and suit any occasion. A tantalizing variety of yarns and threads worked in a luscious mix of colors and textures makes these classy knit and crochet cover-ups fun to stitch and easy to wear!

Book Description

9 1/2 x 10 1/2 240 color illustrations US and Canada Distribution architecture Pools are no longer the exclusive domain of the wealthy. Imaginative designers are now creating a variety of affordable pools that contribute to a quality of life few can resist. Small Pools presents the latest in family pools, romantic pools, wading pools, and charming covered pools, as well as providing suggestions for renovating old pools . . . and all for small spaces and limited budgets. Homeowners will revel in the numerous possibilities for adding a pool to their property, and each inspiring project is fully examined in depth in a helpful and descriptive text that is supported by photographs and designer sketches. A practical guide for homeowners with limited space and limited budgets

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, but not practical........2001-11-13

This book was full of wonderful scenery but it was not helpful in providing ideas about how to landscape an exsisting site. This was more an armchair travel book, not helpful in designing our own space.

Mediterranean Lovers.......2001-03-27

If you dream your swimming pool as a mediterranean paradise, well, this is the book to look for. Exquisite pictures expose exotic pools accompanied by dramatic views on mediterranean coasts. The author provides brief explanations on materials, landscapes and, best of all, square footage, which I find very helpful. I personally was hoping for tropical themes and landscapes, and even "smaller" pools in "smaller" patios/backyards. So, most of the scenes exposed in this book do not apply to my particular situation. However, if I was to mimic a mediterranean look for my pool or patio, I'd find this book quite inspirational.

Thank You.

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Making Babies: An Open Family Book for Parents and Children Together
Sara Bonnett Stein
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sex Instruction | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0802772218

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About Dying * That New Baby * Making Babies * a Hospital Story an Open Family Book for Parents and Children Together (4 Book Set)
Sara Bonnett Stein
Manufacturer: Walker and Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LF4YZ6

Book Description

Siegfried Kracauer's biography of the composer Jacques Offenbach is a remarkable work of social and cultural history. First published in German in 1937 and in English translation in 1938, the book uses the life and work of Offenbach as a focal point for a broad and penetrating portrayal of Second Empire Paris. Offenbach's immensely popular operettas have long been seen as part of the larger historical amnesia and escapism that pervaded Paris in the aftermath of 1848. But Kracauer insists that Offenbach's productions must be understood as more than glittering distractions. The fantasy realms of such operettas as La Belle Hélène were as one with the unreality of Napoleon III's imperial masquerade, but they also made a mockery of the pomp and pretense surrounding the apparatuses of power. At the same time, Offenbach's dreamworlds were embedded with a layer of utopian content that can be seen as an indictment of the fraudulence and corruption of the times. This edition includes Kracauer's preface to the original German edition, translated into English for the first time, and a critical foreword by Gertrud Koch.

Offenbach and the Paris of his time: With 24 illustrations in collotype

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Offenbach and the Paris of his time: With 24 illustrations in collotype
Siegfried Kracauer
Manufacturer: Constable
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006AO15Y

Orpheus in Paris: Offenbach and the Paris of His Time

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Orpheus in Paris: Offenbach and the Paris of His Time
Siegfried Kracauer
Manufacturer: Horizon Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0844300934

Jacques Offenbach and the Paris of His Time.(Book Review): An article from: Notes

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Jacques Offenbach and the Paris of His Time.(Book Review): An article from: Notes
Victor Fell Yellin
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on December 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1266 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Jacques Offenbach and the Paris of His Time.(Book Review)
Author: Victor Fell Yellin
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 2003
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Page: 460(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Offenbach and the Paris of His Time
Siegfried Kracauer , Gwenda David , and Eric Mosbacher
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Just as Jacques Offenbach exemplified the joie de vivre of mid-nineteenth-century Paris, Siegfried Kracauer's biography of the exuberant dandy, cello virtuoso, and Tales of Hoffman composer captures the extravagance of the carnivals, cafŽs, and boulevards Offenbach shared with his notable friends ƒmile Zola, Charles Baudelaire, and Richard Wagner, among others.

Offenbach launched his career at the Paris Conservatoire when he was just fourteen, performing with the OpŽra-Comique shortly thereafter. Moving on to compose a body of work from waltzes to operettas, including Orpheus in the Underworld and La vie parisienne,. he continually faced criticisms of his music and lavish lifestyle.

Kracauer's wide-ranging and astute cultural critique of Offenbach and mid-nineteenth-century Paris was first translated from the German and published in the United States in 1938. Revealing how the arts influenced one another and society, this enduring volume is a vivid portrait of a legendary time.

Book Description

Jacob Rader Marcus (1896-1995), scholar, professor, and rabbi, was called the Dean of American Jewish historians by students and colleagues alike. A seminal force in the evolution of the academic study of American Jewish history, Marcus was the first to apply modern critical methodology to this field. In the course of his long life, he published more than 300 books and articles on the history of American Jews. In 1947 he founded the American Jewish Archives, which he directed for almost fifty years. A beloved teacher and mentor for several generations of Hebrew Union College (HUC) students, Dr. Marcus remains a very significant figure in the history of American Jewry during the twentieth century.

Marcus, raised in West Virginia, was the child of East European immigrants. At the age of 15, he moved to Cincinnati to matriculate at HUC, America's oldest rabbinical seminary. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War I, Marcus became a member of the HUC faculty upon his rabbinical ordination in 1920. He subsequently moved to Europe to pursue doctoral studies and, upon returning to Cincinnati, Marcus taught courses in Jewish history. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Marcus realized that the i American Jewry was fast becoming the most influential Jewish community in the world. In the aftermath of the brutal destruction of European Jewry during World War II, Marcus's keen interest in the history of American Jewry burgeoned.

Marcus left the pulpit for a career of scholarship and teaching, he nevertheless maintained a close connection to his students and, through them, to the American rabbinate. A mentor to generations of HUC students and graduates, Marcus was an active participant in the Central Conference of American Rabbis (the organizational arm of the American Reform rabbinate), serving as its president from 1949-1951.

In this volume, Gary Philip Zola brings together a unique assortment of Marcus's most important unpublished essays, written for a more popular audience between 1916 and 1989. Read collectively, these essays bring the key themes of Marcus's work into bold relief. In the early "America: The Spiritual Center of Jewry" (1916), as in the much later "Three Hundred Years in America" (1955), Marcus calls upon American Jewry to study its heritage, arguing that this knowledge will kindle a renaissance in American Jewish life. In "Lost: Judaism in the American Expeditionary Forces, the Urgent Need for Welfare Work" (1919), he insists that the Jewish experience in America consists of a symbiotic relationship between individual Jews and the larger Jewish community. A focus on the individual in relation to the whole guided many of Marcus's essays, as did his emphasis on Jews studying their own past, strong echoes of both can be found in "New Literary Responsibilities (1941-1942) as well as works for specific occasions, such as "The Program of the American Jewish Archives" (1947) and Genesis: College Beginnings (1989). Another leitmotif linking these diverse topics is Marcus's view that American Judaism will thrive and distinguish itself as long as Jewish education and Jewish cultural life become a high priority on the Jewish communal agenda.

This collection enhances our understanding of how the ideas of one of American Jewry's pioneering historians evolved, while preserving historical documents that trace the development of American Jewish life over the course of the twentieth century.

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