1 comments about W.B. Yeats: A Beginner's Guide.

1. This is a clear and readable introduction to the work of Yeats. It has explication of major works, and a section which summarizes criticisms of Yeats work. There is also a feature in which key concepts involved in the Literature are defined.
   I saw the shortcoming of the work when I read a description of the last years of Yeats life and work. Too brief, and not true to the whole complexity of his situation.
   But the work does meet the test of being what it advertises itself as being.

No comments about Life's Journey.

1 comments about Patrick: In His Own Words.

1. This book contains the two surviving writings of Patricius, the missionary bishop of late antiquity known as Saint Patrick, and constitute the best remedy to his being turned into a mere icon. Both Patricius's original Latin and an English translation is included, together with some good commentary and a modern Irish translation. Too few know his story as Patricius himself told it.

1 comments about Lucia Joyce: To Dance in the Wake.

1. This review is based in good part on Joan Acocella 's comprehensive review which first appeared in 'The New Yorker'. It also makes use of information provided by D.T. Max in a story on Joyce's grandson , Stephen Joyce and his efforts to protect the family from too close public scrutiny.
   Shloss worked for many years on this book, and her aim is to both rehabilitate Lucia Joyce from the image given of her by Joyce scholars Richard Ellmann( The great Joyce biographer) and Brenda Maddox( Biographer of Nora Joyce).
   As Schloss sees it Lucia Joyce was herself a creative artist who was not simply an inspiration but a real collaborator with her father in the creation of 'Finnegan's Wake'. This claim is one Acocella believes there is no real evidence for, and is in fact the major exaggeration of the book.
   Other claims of Schloss however are given greater credibility. The primary one is that Lucia Joyce was victimized, institutionalized unnecessarily through the treacherous actions of her brother Georgio. As Schloss sees it James Joyce was Lucia's defender in the family , loved her and believed in her genius. But in his dedication to his work, especially to the completion of 'Finnegan's Wake' he did not take the time and effort to stand up to his wife Nora and son Georgio who worked against Lucia.
   Lucia's sad story, her schizophrenia, her rejection by three assistants of Joyce, including Beckett and Alexander Calder, her failed efforts at a dancing career, her tale of childhood wanderings with an indigent father artist, her language difficulties , her long period of institutionalization is told here in great detail.
   Schloss has tremendous sympathy for her subject.
   Unfortunately she in trying to make Lucia Joyce a subject of interest is unable to change the fact that the reason most people have had or will have interest in her is because of the possible light her life throws on that of Joyce itself.
   Certainly the illness of his daughter was for Joyce a major source of worry grief and frustration.
   Yet in the way Schloss tells the story Joyce himself too appears a victim, both of his other family members, and of his genius.
   He also appears as an often neglectful but nonetheless largely caring father who could not prevent his child from having a life of great pain and suffering.

2 comments about We Knew A Man Of Ireland.

1. "We Knew A Man of Ireland" touched me as no other spiritual book has before. The authors are able to convey Catholic principles and truths in an honest, engaging, and inspiring way. I was able to look at old concept in new ways and learn to apply them to my life. The story of Father Dermot Dwyer is by turns heartwarming and uplifting. This book was quite unlike any other I had ever read--I could not put it down. I plan on giving it as gifts to friends at Christmas and in using it in my own teaching of the Catholic Faith. It is an inspired--and inspiring--work.



2. I actually knew this man from Ireland...He still,even with his passing,is my GURU. The story holds true in this beautiful tale...his teachings...and and his HIGH FIVE...I AM BEAUTIFUL THANK GOD...
   THANK YOU GOD FOR FATHER DWYER

2 comments about Footsteps of the Hunter.

1. He wrote a good book on small histories of his war. But no many on aerial war ! it's curious, i like his writing but why he doesn't speak of these planes or comrade ( gunther rall, 5 sentences, we don't know about of his first victory, etc...). Curious !



2. A typical book in the genre of war memoirs. The text illuminates the human aspect of the war as seen from the perspective of a regular pilot. Adolf Dickfeld served with III./JG52 with the famous Hermann Graf. Later on he was transferred to II./JG2 and II./JG11. The author offers some unexpected details about the life of an occupational force in the various theaters of operations. Episodes of aerial duels are interspersed with accounts from the daily routines of his unit. The Dickfeld memoirs are sparse on details of historical events. The book offers few dates of events and no maps. Also, few references are made to the overall context, in which the author operated. Unfortunately, memoirs by front-line troops often share this lack of factual documentation and I have grown to accept it.
   
   There are two problems with this book though. The first one has to do with the rather poor editorial work on this publication. There are several spelling mistakes and clumsy translations of German terms and expressions. The second weakness of the book is that the author is torn between remorse for the war crimes of the occupational forces and the blind bitterness of a conquered combatant. Sometimes he would erupt in apologetic diatribes. Other times he would try to rationalize German atrocities by comparison to other historical (supposedly similar) events. Both sources of these emotional outbursts are off-beat in my humble opinion and detract from the readability of the text. In that sense, Luftwaffe Fighter Ace by Norbert Hannig and Alert in the West by Willi Heilmann are better reads on the same subject.

No comments about John of Paris on Royal and Papal Power: A Translation With Introduction of the De Postestate Regia Et Papali of John of Paris (Records of Civilizati).

No comments about As I Was Going Down Sackville Street.

4 comments about Public and Private Worlds of Elizabeth I.

1. The Public and Private Worlds of Elizabeth I is a nicely written look into her personal and private life. It is very informational; from the workings of Elizabethan politics to the fashion of the time. It is informative with out getting overly academic. It is great for anyone wishing to research and/or recreate aspects of that time period. I encourage anyone who is intererested in Elizabeth I to purchase this book. One of the greatest features of this book is the full color pictures. Definitely a must have!!! A wonderful coffee table book too.



2. Excellent, excellent book for anyone who is interested in Quenn Elizabeth I or the Elizabethan era. Interesting little tidbits of knowledge about court life, politics and Elizabeth's private life. The pictures are absolutely beautiful and go along so well with the the written text. Definate A+!



3. This work has a wealth of information about Elizabeth I and
   the era itself. She is portrayed as an elegant monarch, dressed
   in silk and other fine clothing. A portrait of Elizabeth
   depicts her stately appearance as a Tudor. Elizabeth liked to
   stroll in the area of the Great Hall at Hatfield. A personal
   astrolobe is depicted-a fine personal item created circa 1560.
   Her coronation was a stately affair depicted in a personal
   portrait considered to be priceless today. This work is perfect for historians and others interested in the period of Elizabeth. The full color portraits are valuable
   in their own right.



4. After checking this book out of the library multiple times, I decided to buy it because of the balanced overview of the Queen and her England. Many biographies of Queen Elizabeth I are riddled with the author's personal prejudice for or against the Queen and this one does not. I enjoy the photos as do students in the workshops I teach.

No comments about James Hogan: Revolutionary, Historian and Political Scientist (Cork Studies in History and Culture, 1).