From Harvard to the Ranks of Labor: Powers Hapgood and the American Working Class

Customer Reviews:

A courageous labor activist and his frustrations. 4.5 *s.......2004-07-20

Progressives in the early decades of the twentieth century were concerned with all manner of social issues, including the "labor question," or the relationship of employers and employees. Powers Hapgood, born in 1899 into a Progressive family, was, like many of his Harvard contemporaries, interested in the standing of the working class. But he, unlike them, sought to actually join with workers in their struggles.

After a certain amount of wandering around, Hapgood ended up playing a not insignificant role in the massive mine workers strike of 1922 from the base of Somerset County, PA, where he mostly provided assistance to miners and their families, including fund raising and creating public sympathy through writing articles for progressive publications. He became known in Progressive circles and developed friendships with any number of reformers. In addition, he became lifelong friends with John Brophy, a miner, working class intellectual, and UMW labor official. The capitulation of John Lewis, the head of the UMW, to the mine owners was disconcerting to the idealistic Hapgood, bringing home the facts that a union could be a personal fiefdom and that a just cause could be crushed.

The author suggests that this book should be required reading for not only college students taking on summer jobs with unions but also for those running those programs. They need to know, as Hapgood found out, that organizational demands of unions trump worker empowerment every time. The post-WWII labor framework rested on government sanctioned administrative processes, not worker activism. Though the radical politics of Hapgood placed him even further outside labor officialdom, he suppressed his idealism sufficiently to work on the CIO organizing drives of the mid-1930s, re-uniting with Lewis, and even became a regional director for the CIO in the later 1940s. But he was purged from his position in 1948 in the anti-Communist hysteria of the times. He was a longtime member of the socialist party, but had many friends in the CP.

Worker democracy is a constant theme of the book, but it is only vaguely identified. At times it seems to be worker voice within unions and at others within workplaces, although the extent of any empowerment in not made clear. The labor contracts that are generally negotiated under the NLRA legalistic framework are at least as restraining of workers as they are of giving workers any power. In fact, bargaining over wages and working conditions leaves employers free to make all general business decisions regardless of any harm to their workforces. It is hard to conceive of worker democracy as anything less than co-management.

Hapgood had few moments where he felt as though he really belonged to the working class and could make a difference. His life was a series of frustrations, which led to alcohol abuse over the last fifteen years of is life. He also had a complicated romantic affair with the labor radical Rose Posetta, which only added to his problems. He died at the early age of forty-nine in 1949.

Although Hapgood was not overly happy with the results of his efforts in the labor movement, it is difficult to even imagine students of the modern era being able to find the opportunities to immerse themselves in workers' struggles as did Hapgood. The political climate is so anti-labor and conservative that the mere fact of union survival is a precarious proposition. Perhaps we need some labor activists to come forward with the courage of a Powers Hapgood.

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From Harvard to the Ranks of Labor: Powers Hapgood and the American Working Class
Robert Bussel
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQYHPO

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From Harvard to the Ranks of Labor: Powers Hapgood and the American Working Class
Robert Bussel
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OR05XG

Book Description

This is a casebook that covers all the major aspects of federal income taxation

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive Tax Casebook.......2000-04-20

This 10th edition of the Fundamentals of Federal Income Taxation by Freeland is well organized and complete. You'll spend many wonderful hours deciphering and mastering the exciting and stimulating tax code of this great country of ours. The perfect book to curl up with in front of a roaring fire. Enjoy!

Book Description

Devoted to Steiff, Linda Mullins' newest identification & price guide looks at the oldest and most famous of all bear makers. Producing plush animals since 1902, Steiff is clearly the leader in desirability and value because of its impeccable quality and craftsmanship. Collectors of Steiff will enjoy the 350 beautiful photographs of their favorite Steiff animals, and find the secondary market price guide to be accurate and informative. This book contains bears and other Steiff animals from 1904 to the present line of 2001. In addition, there are guidelines for buying and selling, and tips for identifying your Steiff animal. Museum replicas, special and limited edition Steiff, along with Walt Disney World(r) convention bears and Steiff collector's club special edition animals are part of this all-encompassing guide which Steiff collectors will relish. Important milestones, bears and animals in Steiff's history are showcased. Linda Mullins, known as the Ambassador to the Teddy Bear world, authors yet another satisfying and complete book for collectors.

Customer Reviews:

Seems incomplete.......2004-07-19

This book probably has a limited audience, since it seems to be missing many items for someone else, I'm adding that its back section listing only begins with the 1980's, so if you're looking for earlier Steiff information, this probably won't have it, especially some of the more common items.

Lots of missing items.......2001-10-17

There's lots of non-rare items missing from this book (all the one's I'm looking at).

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Enjoyable knits

Beautiful patterns-expensive yarns

Read Editorial Review first

Duplicated patterns

Vogue Knitting Accessorize: Scarves, Hats, Ponchos, Socks & Mittens

Manufacturer: Sixth&Spring Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fashion | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Knitting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Hip Knit Hats: 40 Fabulous Designs

Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting

Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet (Style series)

Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume One: Knit & Purl: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary from the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine (Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Series)

Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave

ASIN: 1931543577

Book Description

Vogue Knitting presents the best of the best in accessories: 60 special projects from the archives of the most trusted source for knitters. From socks and hats to ponchos and shawls, there’s something sophisticated here to accommodate every occasion, season, and taste. Most of the items are relatively small and quick to complete, perfect for gift-giving, and made from the most updated, stylish yarns on the market. The designer-quality items include a pretty and delicate Trellis Lace scarf, just right on a cool summer night; a colorful Geometric Wrap; a Two-Piece Mosaic Stole; and an elegant Winter Shrug in angora. Each of the projects includes the level, sizing, knitted measurements, materials, and gauge; and looks fantastic.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable knits.......2007-01-03

I purchased this book a while back because it was one of the few books I flipped through where I could see myself wearing almost all of the patterns featured. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and the end results have been fantastic for everything I have knitted using them. Its true the yarn used is quite expensive but I have substituted other more affordable yarns for all my projects and they have turned out nicely. I have really enjoyed this book.

Beautiful patterns-expensive yarns.......2004-10-22

If you are looking for a book with beautiful, sophisticated accessories, and you have the money to buy expensive yarns this book is for you. I love the designs, but I can't really afford to make many of the items. Many of them could easily cost you more than $100. I don't know about anyone else, but if I had that much money to spend on a simple, knitted accessory I would probably be buying it from a famous designer rather than making myself.

Read Editorial Review first.......2004-10-14

I didn't buy this book because I read the editorial review first - seeing that it said "patterns from the archives...".

It's a nice idea and some people actually want a bound collection of past patterns some don't.

Duplicated patterns.......2004-10-13

I was looking forward to this book so much, but I was vastly disappointed. At least half of the patterns in this book are reprinted from other Vogue Knitting books that I already own. I give it three stars because I am upset that I spent the money on this book and nowhere does it state that these are not new designs and have been reprinted from their other books. However, if you do not own any of the other books and you are only interested in accessories then you will probably enjoy this book.

Customer Reviews:

So lovely to look at..........2003-08-13

As Naversen points out in his introduction, the "Victorian Era" in architecture coincided exactly with the booming, ballooning expansion of that part of the country most of us think about when we think about "the West"--the lands that lay beyond the Missouri River jump-off towns of Westport, Independence, St. Joseph and Kansas City. Here he has concentrated on houses in the Pacific Tier, from Washington down through Oregon to California, travelling from Seattle to San Diego with stops in lumber towns, Mother Lode camps, military installations, heads of navigation, and even major cities like Portland. (It's rather a pity he didn't venture into some of the other Western states, where thousands more such treasures must lie in obscurity, but perhaps a future volume will mend the oversight.) Using the same double-spread format as in the companion volume, "East Coast Victorians," he studies everything from the prefabricated Frisbie-Walsh House, erected in Benicia, CA, about 1849, to the towered Queen Anne Sherwood House, built in Coquille, OR, more than 50 years later. Large houses and small, elaborate and simple, white and multicolored, all are here, some commissioned by Western robber barons, others built for the common middle-class family. Most are of 1880 vintage and later, but if you're a fan of Victorian housing, all are enough to set you drooling.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful.......2007-01-12

I did not understand much about the disease until I read this book. This was an excellent source.

Book Description

This classic in music biography and criticism reflects the intimate, thorough knowledge of Chopin's music Huneker acquired while studying to be a concert pianist and his unusually keen insight into the character of the composer. Part 1 deals with Chopins life; the 2nd offers brilliant piece-by-piece analysis of the entire body of his music. Introduction and notes.

Download Description

James Huneker's biographical classic reflects his extensive research on the life and works of Chopin (while studying to be a concert pianist). Huneker's acute perception of the composer's life provides a complete understanding of the historic circumstances surrounding Chopin's musical development as the ultimate lyric genius of the highest realm. His dignity of spirit alternated with petulance and serious depression. Though both proud and timid he led an isolated life, but it was in his art that he was bold and impassioned. In Part Two of this remarkable work Huneker presents a brilliant piece-by-piece review of the entire collection of Chopin's music, identifying him as the most poetic of composers. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.

Customer Reviews:

Almost a Waste of Time.......2007-02-07

The biography is very disappointing, the musical descriptions are poetic but don't get into much detail. If you want a general feel for Chopin's music but don't want intricate musical detail, the descriptions of the pieces may suit your need. That's the only reason I didn't give this book the lowest possible rating.

For biographical info, "Chopin in Paris" by Tad Szulc is much more informative and accurate. Huneker's biography, besides being relatively short, takes off on gossipy tangents that often jump around in time making it hard to get a good feeling for Chopin's progression thru life.

My problem with the musical descriptions (the book is divided into 76 pages of biography and 141 pages of music "analysis", divided into sections on preludes, mazurkas, etc.) is again the gossipy nature. For example, the chapter on the preludes is 13 pages long. The first four pages are strictly about who claimed when and where they were written.

I recently played Prelude No. 4 in E Minor at Peabody in Baltimore. Prior to the recital, I was deluged with coaching at college master-class play-ins, etc. The discussions centered on things like why the downbeat beginning each measure is played weaker than usual, contributing to the feeling of hopelessness in the piece.

Huneker's descriptions are: "The melody seems literally to wail..", "This tiny prelude contains wonderful music", "The whole is like some canvas by Rembrant.."

In the relatively few times Huneker does go into musical detail there may be some insight, but just as frequently a few bars of music are shown accompanied by an explanation like, "Volcanic mutterings these!" -when the music shown is a pianissimo (played very softly) passage!

For anyone looking for insights on actually playing the pieces, Walker's "The Chopin Companion.." which can be found "used" at Amazon, is a much better choice.

Entertaining, but only mildly informative.......2002-09-10

This book (originally published in 1900) is split in two sections. In the first 100 pages, the life of Chopin is discussed by Huneker in a very colorful and poetic style, although unfortunately very few biographical facts are revealed. When I finished this section I felt I had hardly learned anything new about Chopin.

The next 150 pages deal with Chopin's music, in which Huneker comments briefly on every one of Chopin's compositions (with the exception of several pieces unknown to Huneker), categorized by type (Ballades, Preludes, etc.). This section, like the first, is amusing but not very helpful. The author never really goes into great depth about any single piece. Instead he simply says a word or two on mood or style, often quoting authorities such as Kullak and Niecks, and compares several major editions of the work. I would recommend this to someone very interested in editorial details... anyone else could probably do without most of this section.

People familiar with Chopin should find Huneker's writing somewhat enlightening, though far from substantial. Those looking for an introduction to Chopin may find the first section very helpful, if they can tolerate the author's verbosity.

A waste of time.......2001-02-19

This book does not present much information about Chopin the man, and stumbles around endlessly about Chopin's music. The prose is laughably dated. Who can not help laughing at sentences like "Chopin distrusted Jews, but that's the way Poles are." The French, English, Germans, and Hungarians: Huneker comes up with some interesting stereotypes for them too. Many of the facts are incorrect, as the editor supplies the corrected facts in the footnotes on nearly every page of the text. And the music discussions have the spirit of "What a powerful melody! However, I believe the third note of the 14th measure of Etude 12 op. 10 should be an F sharp, though it's written differently in some scores." What a snore. I suggest looking elsewhere for real information about Chopin and his music. This book offers no insights though some occasional unintended laughs.

Chopin bible.......2000-06-15

Who can count themselves learned in Chopin who has not read Huneker's wonderful, purple-prosy, unabashedly romantic examination of the Polish Master's music? If the musicology is a tad dated, the enthusiasm, the sheer love of music present on every page, are more evident than ever. This is absolutely essential reading for the Chopin lover.

Best book on the music of Chopin that I have ever read........1998-10-11

Huneker was an aspiring concert pianist (as well as a brilliant writer), and his analysis of Chopin's music and poetry are simply amazing. Like Chopin, Huneker expresses from the heart and hears the music at a whole new level. His interpretation is raw and as full in energy as the music itself (especially for etude op.25 no.11 and the ballade no.1).

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Chopin : the Man and His Music
James Huneker
Manufacturer: Hard Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1406929883
Release Date: 2006-11-03

Chopin (Large Print Edition): the Man and His Music

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Chopin (Large Print Edition): the Man and His Music
James Hunekar
Manufacturer: BiblioBazaar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1426420226
Release Date: 2006-02-08

Book Description

Gustave Flaubert, pessimist and master of cadenced lyric prose, urged young writers to lead ascetic lives that in their art they might be violent.

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Chopin the Man & His Music
James Huneker
Manufacturer: DOVER PUBLICATIONS +
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UD1C1I

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Chopin the Man and His Music
James Huneker
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1432619829

Book Description

1927. Preeminent as an in-depth music critic, Huneker's impressionistic, but incisive criticism in all fields of art made him one of the most influential of his day. This is an exciting and thorough account of Chopin the Man and His Music. Contents: Poland-Youthful Ideas; Paris-In the Maelstrom; England, Scotland and Pere la Chaise; The Artist; Poet and Psychologist; The Studies-Titanic Experiments; Moods in Miniature: The Preludes; Impromptus and Valses; Night and Its Melancholy Mysteries: The Nocturnes; The Ballades: Faery Dramas; Classical Currents; The Polonaises: Heroic Hymns of Battle; Mazurkas: Dances of the Soul; and Chopin the Conqueror. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

Chopin: The Man and His Music. A colorful life of the composer,

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Chopin: The Man and His Music. A colorful life of the composer,
HERBERT WEINSTOCK
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RQTNIW

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Fundamental essay to take into account!

CHOPIN: The Man and His Music
James Huneker
Manufacturer: Cosimo Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1596057475

Book Description

Chopin, "subtle-souled psychologist," is more kin to Keats than Shelley, he is a greater artist than a thinker. His philosophy is of the beautiful, as was Keats', and while he lingers by the river's edge to catch the song of the reeds, his gaze is oftener fixed on the quiring planets. He is nature's most exquisite sounding-board and vibrates to her with intensity, color and vivacity that have no parallel. Stained with melancholy, his joy is never that of the strong man rejoicing in his muscles. -from "Poet and Psychologist" James Huneker describes Chopin's mazurkas as the music in which "the Pole suffers in song the joy of his sorrow." Such distinctive literary lyricism fills this classic 1900 life of the 19th-century French-Polish pianist and composer. After exploring the storied artistic circles in which Frédéric Chopin moved in Paris and his tempestuous relationship with the novelist George Sand, Huneker delves into the artistic psychology of his music, with in-depth analyses of Chopin's studies, many of which Huneker finds "poetic"; his preludes, which Huneker deems "moods in miniature"; and the "melancholy mysteries" of Chopin's nocturnes. A striking portrait of genius, Huneker captures an artist who was "pleasant" and "persuasive" in public and "a neurotic being" in private, and finds a composer whose music aches with "the pathos of spiritual distance." American arts critic JAMES HUNEKER (1860-1921) also wrote Iconoclasts: A Book of Dramatists (1905), Egoists: A Book of Supermen (1909), Franz Liszt: Illustrated (1911), and The Pathos of Distance (1912).

Customer Reviews:

Fundamental essay to take into account!.......2006-05-23

James Huneker made an praised essay around the different stages of Chopin's life as well an extensive, meticulous and detailed analysis about every one of his compositions. The way he analyzes and even collates this Polish composer reveals not only a deep engagement but besides a remarkable description supported by a poetic trait that stimulates still more the necessary reading.

If you are engaged with Chopin's micro cosmos, go for this notable essay.

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Chopin: The Man and His Music
James Huneker
Manufacturer: IndyPublish
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1435311876

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CHOPIN: THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC
HUNEKER
Manufacturer: CHARLES SCRIBNER\'S SONS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S39TCO

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Chopin: The Man and His Music
James G. Huneker
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NWBM6Q

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