History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments in Modern Law

Average customer rating:

Celebrity cases, mostly of the left - certainly not the "greatest."
If your idealism is waning, this book will help you find it!
A worthwhile read for a trial attorney
Legal History
Spellbinding

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments in Modern Law
Michael S Lief , H. Mitchell Caldwell , and Ben Bycel
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Courts | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Jury | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Trial Practice | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law Practice | Law | Subjects | Books

Legal History | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Rhetoric | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0684836610

Amazon.com

Anyone who's ever watched Perry Mason knows that the closing argument is a very important part of a big legal case. The closing argument is the "game point" of law, the time when lawyers pull out all the stops on the cajoling and the litigating. Michael S. Lief and his coauthors have collected the closing arguments from 10 noteworthy cases in this volume, introducing each speech with background information on the trial and commentary on the lawyer's technique. In these pages, readers get front-row seats to some of the most riveting trials in this century, including the Charles Manson murder trial, Karen Silkwood's wrongful-death suit, and the trial of the Chicago Seven.

Because the authors chose to include all the courtroom interruptions in the transcript, the Manson summation makes for especially lively reading. Manson and his codefendants repeatedly spoke out of turn during prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's statement, saying things like "You are going to be eaten up by your own lie" and "Even if I have never been in the Gotham Bank!" Bugliosi's speech is among the most eloquent in the collection, which is why it is so stunning when one of the defendants provokes him so much that he loses his cool and calls her a name that rhymes with rich.

Although the title promises the "greatest closing arguments in modern law," some of the speeches seem to have been chosen because they were connected to important cases rather than because of their own rhetorical merits. However, the cases themselves are interesting, and these transcripts bring them to life better than any summary would. This collection should be of interest to anyone in the legal profession. --Jill Marquis

Book Description

Clarence Darrow saves Leopold and Loeb from the gallows in the Roaring Twenties. Gerry Spence takes on the nuclear power industry for the death of Karen Silkwood in a modern-day David and Goliath struggle. Vincent Bugliosi squares off against the madness of Charles Manson and his murderous "family" in the aftermath of their bloody spree. Clara Foltz, the first woman to practice law in California, argues passionately to an all-male jury, defending her place in the courtroom. Bobby DeLaughter brings the killer of civil-rights leader Medgar Evers to justice after thirty years and two mistrials. Aubrey Daniel brings Lt. William Calley, Jr., to justice for the My Lai massacre. William Kunstler challenges the establishment after the '68 Chicago riots in his defense of yippie leaders known as the Chicago Seven.

Each closing argument is put into context by the authors, who provide historical background, a brief biography of each attorney, and commentary, pointing out the trial tactics used to great effect by the lawyers, all in language that is jargon-free for the benefit of the lay reader.

Download Description

Until now, only the twelve jurors who sat in judgment were able to appreciate these virtuoso performances, where weeks of testimony were boiled down and presented with flair, wit, and high drama. For five years the authors researched every archive from those of the L.A. Times to the dusty stacks of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and readers can now lose themselves in the summations of America's finest litigators. Clarence Darrow saves Leopold and Loeb from the gallows in the Roaring Twenties. Gerry Spence takes on the nuclear power industry for the death of Karen Silkwood in a modern-day David and Goliath struggle. Vincent Bugliosi squares off against the madness of Charles Manson and his murderous "family" in the aftermath of their bloody spree. Clara Foltz, the first woman to practice law in California, argues passionately to an all-male jury, defending her place in the courtroom. Bobby DeLaughter brings the killer of civil-rights leader Medgar Evers to justice after thirty years and two mistrials. Aubrey Daniel brings Lt. William Calley, Jr., to justice for the My Lai massacre. William Kunstler challenges the establishment after the '68 Chicago riots in his defense of yippie leaders known as the Chicago Seven. Each closing argument is put into context by the authors, who provide historical background, a brief biography of each attorney, and commentary, pointing out the trial tactics used to great effect by the lawyers, all in language that is jargon-free for the benefit of the lay reader.

Customer Reviews:

Celebrity cases, mostly of the left - certainly not the "greatest.".......2006-06-10

The authors claim that these "greatest closing arguments in modern law" were chosen for the "quality of [their] summation, as well as for [their] historical significance." The immediate question is who is judging the quality of the summation and, more importantly, their historical significance?

The view here is obviously that left-wing causes have the most historical significance, though some cases, such as Nuremburg, are politically neutral. Clarence Darrow's summation in behalf of two young men who brutally murdered another is an argument against the death penalty. Many would consider the resulting verdict an injustice, compounded by early release of one of the murderers. Also, the fact that the case was argued in a Cook County, Illinois courtroom, one of the most corrupt jurisdictions in the nation, casts the power of this closing argument into doubt since the parents of the murderers were wealthy and in Cook County, money has always spoken loudly even when passed in silence from one hand to another.

Gerry Spence is without a doubt one of the most eloquent and effective litigators in the nation. But the science his Silkwood argument rests upon is, to some, suspect as were the alleged facts.

The closing arguments are presented with a wrapping of context, though it is a bit on the light side. With that in mind, the closing defense argument in the John DeLorean case is truly great, cataloging a series of government misdeeds. But the reader searching for political balance may be troubled by equally meritorious closing arguments in the Rosenberg and Alger Hiss cases.

Vincent Bugliosi's closing in the case against Manson and his followers is competent, but isn't great. It is a narrative that virtually any competent prosecutor could have put together. The Manson case involved celebrities, but otherwise wasn't much different than many murder cases of the same nature: groups of people motivated to murder. Johnny Cochran's closing in the O. J. Simpson case was far more powerful, in my opinion, far outclassing Bugliosi in persuasiveness.

The inclusion of Robert Jackson's closing at Nuremberg is puzzling. It was not an American trial. The guilt of the accused was beyond doubt, though law underpinning the tribunal was not. From the commentary, I derived the feeling that the authors were trying to rescue Jackson's reputation from his disastrous cross examination of Hermann Goering.

William Kunstler, in the opinion of many, was a living insult to the practice of law. The authors describe his closing in the Chicago Seven case as a "four-part clinic in how to excel in persuasive argument." Others might see it and Kunstler's behavior in a circus presentation of how to flout the law. All of Kunstler's clients were convicted: so much for the persuasiveness of his argument. The convictions were overturned owing to the trial judge's behavior. Again, this was in Cook County, Illinois where for many years both the state and federal judiciaries were of abysmal quality, products for the most part of the Democratic political machine. (Many of the "murderers" convicted under the current Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, had their convictions overturned because DNA testing became available. At least one Cook County judge accepted bribes to free a murderer. Great place.)

The authors note that it is probably "terribly presumptuous" of them to choose the ten greatest arguments - and they are correct. They admit to choosing only "noteworthy" trials . . . and it is there that they blinded themselves to a far wider range of great closing arguments.

All the arguments are interesting and all the lawyers who made them were clearly eloquent, so more so than others. But to call these ten the greatest in modern law? I think not.

Jerry

If your idealism is waning, this book will help you find it!.......2005-02-16

After years of arguing caseslaw, motions, picking juries, interviewing witnesses, going through all the day to day protocol that trial work demands, one may forget at times how important is the job of a lawyer. But this book reminds the practioner that he/she is a part of a wonderful system of justice. Not many cases will go down as "The Greatest" but to your clients, it is often the defining moment of their lives. And this book helps you reconnect to the reasons why you sought a lifetime devoted to the noblest of professions.
Reading about the great lawyers of in our history is humbling and worthwhile. Reflection is helpful as you try to regain a little lost idealism. And if you are a new lawyer and have all of you ideals from law school still in tact, reading this book will help you realize how important it is to never lose them. Great book for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

A worthwhile read for a trial attorney.......2004-08-20

If only for Spence's closing in the Silkwood case, this book is worth every penny. A real thing of subtle and effective beauty, that closing contains so many incredible and useful techniques, it's just plain stunning. The subtle allignment of Spence to the jurors in groups in which Spence and the jurors can work together are wonderful and powerful -- Spence places himself and the jurors by turns in a self built retirement community, and in the class of local state citizens all the while emphasizing that the cause of the need for retirement and the genesis of Spence's new found home state membership is the defense's prolongation of trial -- wonderful. The rhyming "if the lion gets away, Kerr McGee must pay" is hard-to-forget and masterfully so. The analysis that proceeds each transcript is useful and informative. Buy it if you can.

Legal History.......2001-02-19

Describing or reading a speech is like describing color. I guess you can do it, but nothing is the same as being there and listening and experience a great speech. There is a poetry to the delivery which is missing from a dry read. Yet, if you want to read some of the great closes from the past, this is a good place to start.

This books picks 10 closing arguements which the authors state are the greatest of history. Whenever you have such a book, of course, people will differ on which closes should be included. By necessity, for mass appeal, oftentimes "famous" speeches, which may not be so great will be included while less famous speeches, which were much better, will not be the cut. I thought the ones chosen, overall, were very good.

Personally I liked the ones I read. My favorite was Clarance Darrow's close in the Leopald and Loeb case. It was great because it was effective. Everyone in this case knew they were guilty and wanted them to die. How did Clarence Darrow change the judges mind? It was in his words and his delivery. This was an effective speech.

There are others here which I also found very good. We hear the closing speech from the Nuremberg trials (which I would not have included because I think the win was almost preordained), the close in the Karen Silkwood civil case, the DeLorean defense close and six others. This is a good book and a good read. I would recommend it most to history fans, but I think some of the general public would also enjoy it.

Spellbinding.......2000-12-30

Ladies and Gentlemen... kills two birds with one stone by providing an eduactional and intruiging experience. You will hit your curiousity spot by learning what the landmark trials of the United States were all about, and you will also get locked into some of the most persuasive literature I have ever seen.

While those who are interested in the legal field are virtually guaranteed to be interested in reading Ladies and Gentlemen..., you don't need to be anything close to a lawyer to appreciate this. This anthology of closing arguments teaches the reader how to connect/communicate with others. After reading a series of closing arguments, I learned different strategies to use to relate to a group of people to get my point across (in this case, a jury). This book is great to any businessman, negotiator, or even those who want to improve their basic social, everyday, oral skills.

I just bought this book for ten of my friends for the past holiday season, and I got star reports from all of them. I recommend this innovative book to all types of readers.

Customer Reviews:

Typical Romance Plot, Great Character Development!.......2005-04-02

Another of Nora Roberts' early romance tales involves the characters of Victoria Ashton, affectionately known as Tory and Phil Kincaid. Tory is acting sheriff in Friendly, New Mexico, a small town that hasn't changed in years. Phil Kincaid is a big time movie director from Hollywood trying to find the perfect town to use as a backdrop for his next film. When he flies into town, he's stopped for speeding and then arrested when he refuses to sign the ticket. The typical romance plot takes over from there.

The characters in this saga are not typical romance characters!

Tory Ashton is only filling in as sheriff until the next election a few months down the line. It seems her father was the sheriff and died unexpectedly and she felt responsible to take over until the elections. Tory is actually an attorney from Albuquerque and also acts as judge for the small town of Friendly.

Phil Kincaid seems like the typical director type - always wanting to be in charge and has difficulty taking orders from someone else in authority. A bit on the spoiled side, and used to getting his way, as he is depicted when he refuses to sign the speeding ticket.

Merle T. is the deputy in Friendly and this character is fantastic. Merle T. should have been born in the 1800's and longs for gunfights, barroom brawls, etc. He even walks with a swagger! Merle T. is innocent, naïve and since he and Tory grew up together, she's always been the one to look out for him.

Tod is a local teenager who gets into trouble with a storeowner by hanging out with twins a few years older who always seem to be in trouble. Tod is caught by Tory and sentenced to community service when she senses Tod comes from an abusive home.

And Roberts throws in appearances from a wide variety of townspeople who are colorful enough to make the reader chuckle and wonder if a visit to Friendly, New Mexico wouldn't be a great vacation spot!

A few of the subplots seemed to be lacking. For instance, Phil convinces Tory to let him film her while riding her Palomino. You expect something else to happen with that "home movie", like showing up in the film or something. But it's just left dangling.

Another subplot that didn't go anywhere involved the twins that were always in trouble. I thought that something would culminate when the movie was being filmed but nothing happened with them either.

Other than these minor complaints, The Law is a Lady is a good book. It's a fast read and can be finished in one sitting. If you're looking for an escape from reality, then I'd recommend adding it to your reading list. If you're looking for something that makes your brain work, you should steer clear!

Silhoutte special edition #175 , Fun, exciting ,and sexy.......2003-02-24

Victoria Ashton (Tory) is the sheriff and justice of the peace in a small town and arrests Phillip Kincaid, a movie director. It is a very entertaining and comical book. Reminds you of Mayberry, NC but you love the characters. A "feel good" book. Totally enjoyable

Superior Early Nora Roberts Novel.......2002-02-24

Very cute book about the woman sheriff of a small town and the big city movie director who comes speeding into town, scouting locations for his next film. After a brief stint in jail for a speeding ticket, he returns to shoot the movie there and falls in love with the beautiful sheriff. Really enjoyed it!
Excerpt from the back of the book:
"Director Phillip Kincaid could have sworn Victoria Ashton was smiling when she tossed him in the slammer for speeding. But as sheriff of Friendly, New Mexico, Tory had a job to do and falling for an out of towner was out of the question. If only she'd known how dangerous Phillip would be to her heart, she would have kept him behind bars for good!"

CCEL Classics CD: works by Saint Augustine, John Calvin, John Donne, Julian of Norwich, Brother Lawrence, Martin Luther, Saint Teresa of Avila, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas a Kempis, John Wesley, and more!

Average customer rating:

CCEL Classics CD: works by Saint Augustine, John Calvin, John Donne, Julian of Norwich, Brother Lawrence, Martin Luther, Saint Teresa of Avila, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas a Kempis, John Wesley, and more!
Dr. W. Harry Plantinga
Manufacturer: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Product Description

The most important spiritual writings of Christian history are available on this Classics CD by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at Calvin College. It contains 118 Christian classics, including three versions of the Bible, several commentaries, Bible dictionaries, readings, spiritual guides, sermons, poems and journals -- all in a convenient, searchable form. Books are available in HTML and PDF formats. The easy-to-use CCEL Desktop software powering the CD enables users to browse and print books and install additional books from the Web. The top-of-class search engine can search for words or phrases in books, in authors works or in the whole library. In addition, it can search for dictionary definitions of words and commentary or references to scripture passages. The interface is a Web browser. The CD is compatible with Windows 2000+, Macintosh 10.3+, and most Linux versions.

Average customer rating:

The Law and the Lady
Very Readable Classic Amateur Detective Fiction
Engaging Story of Lady Detective Challenging Victorian World
This Book Should Be Outlawed
Three and a half stars

The Law and the Lady (Penguin Classics)
Wilkie Collins
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140436073

Book Description

Probably the first full-length novel with a woman detective as its heroine, The Law and the Lady (1875) is a fascinating example of Collins' later fiction. Valeria Valerie Woodville's first act as a married woman is to sign her name incorrectly in the marriage register; this slip is followed
by a gradual disclosure of secrets about her husband's earlier life, each of which leads to another set of questions and enigmas. Developing many of the techniques at work in The Moonstone in bizarre and unexpected ways, and employing both Gothic and fantastic elements, The Law and the Lady adds a
significant dimension to the history of the detective novel.

Customer Reviews:

The Law and the Lady.......2006-02-27

Great mystery. It holds your interest from the beginning until the end! Wilkie Collins novels are all great!

Very Readable Classic Amateur Detective Fiction.......2002-09-10

As a general rule I rarely enjoy the novels assigned in classical literature classes but I can usually appreciate the work for its merits. I was pleasantly surprised by The Law and the Lady because it is very readable, the first hurdle in making an assigned piece of literature more than just required text.

Though it is tame by today's standards, Collins presents the relatively new concept of the "amateur detective" and even goes so far as to make his protagonist a woman, very unusual (and almost scandalous) by Victorian standards. To make the novel acceptable in the time it was published, Collins is very careful to temper his progressive ideas with plenty of references to Valeria Macallan's feminine weaknesses and multiple uses of the phrase "only a woman" but he constructed a foundation that scores of female writers and characters have built upon. Keep your eye out for parallels to the classic "Oedipus Rex" story and how Collins treats the gender role-reversal of Valeria and Eustace.

All in all, not an unpleasant book to read if required to do so. Experienced readers will recognize that, despite its faults, The Law and the Lady was very provocative when written and really jump-started the genre of female P.I.s that is so common and popular today. Valeria could be considered the great-grandmother of Kinsey Millhone or V.I. Warshawski.

Engaging Story of Lady Detective Challenging Victorian World.......2002-04-14

Many fans and critics agree that Wilkie Collins' writing talent declined after the gripping "The Moonstone," and his works in the 1870s and 80s are sometimes dismissed as misfires of once-genius mystery writer. Though part of the low estimation is reasonable (and some of the works in this era testifies to this opinion), many of them are still readable and interesting. And "The Law and the Lady" should be classified among those neglected pieces.

Probably the first full-length novel featuring female detective, the novel follows the story of heroine Valeria, who marries Eustace happily in the opening of the book. However, she discovers behind the happy marriage a terrible secret, which involved an unsolved murder case in her newly-wed husband's past, and soon she realizes that her husband is not exactly what she thought. To clear her tainted (and his) family name, Valeria single-handedly embarks on a job of amateur detective.

To fully relish the story, you have to remember several things: one of them is that the book is partly inspired by the real-life case of Madeline Smith, who, it was alleged, disposed of her lover with arsenic. Collins made use of this well-known, sensational case, changing the sex of the accused, and he deftly challenges many concepts embedded in morally strict Victorians. So, when Valeria appoints herself as a detective, her "job" (in Victorian society in which ladies are supposed not to work, with the possible exception of poorly-paid governess) starts to have another meaning. Collins, on the one hand attacking the insufficient laws of Scotland, which give its unique "Not-Proven" verdict to the accused when the jury cannot decide whether or not he/she is guilty, also challenges the morally rigid Victorian ideas about male/female concept. This is not to say Wilkie Collins is a feminist; but considering he never married (but, it is generally agreed, had two mistresses), his unique ideas about contemporary males and females are reflected in this seemingly starange work.

And as a detective novel, "The Law and The lady" has still power to entertain us. Though its beginning part is a little shaky because of implausible situations, the book gradually gets you into the thrilling adventure of Valeria, who overcomes all the barriars on her way to the truth. Though the fact that Collins' best work(s) is "The Moonstone" or "The Woman in White," this book is enjoyable. shows some version of Victorian ideas about the roles of males and females.

By the way, it is argued that the first fictional female detective (including amateur) is also created by Collins in his short story "The Diary of Anne Rodway." (1856) This short can be found in most of the collection of his short stories. But if you know another contender for the first female PI, let me know.

This Book Should Be Outlawed.......2002-01-15

I truly feel sorry for anyone who is required to read this book. It is by far one of the worst pieces of literature I have ever read, and I read a lot of books.
I found there was no suspense to the writing, since from the beginning, the reader was able to suspect what the outcome was going to be, and was proven right by the time you read the last paragraph. I personally found the book boring to read, because I guessed what the outcome was going to be, and every chapter confirmed my suspicions. I found the plot development to be very poor, with stereotypes imbedded in several characters, especially the main character.
I don't wish to give away the ending of the book completely, but I will say this much-- when you base your whole plot on a madman, is there any plot at all? The author uses his "villian" as a crutch, using the character's lunacy as an escape route for any unbound plot threads.
I personally recommend you don't waste your time on this book, if you're looking for a some good classics, try "Jane Eyre" or "David Copperfield".

Three and a half stars.......2001-11-21

Wilkie Collins is most famous for his classic mysteries, "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White." Both were influences to 20th century mystery masters like Dorothy Sayers. In "The Law and the Lady" first published in 1875, Collins focuses on the plight of Valeria Woodville who unwittingly marries a man previously tried for poisoning his first wife. Evidence and testimony could not convince the jury of his guilt or innocence, and an unusual Scotch verdict of "Not Proven" is handed down. He assumes a new name and conceals his tainted past when he marries Valeria. She, however, proves to be a very perceptive and resourceful woman who discovers the truth on her own. Unshaken in her love, she vows to clear her husband's name and reputation in order to secure their future happiness.

*** In his signature works, Collins often frustrates the reader's patience with his lengthy narrative style. But "The Law and the Lady" moves along surprisingly well. Despite some ridiculous and dated perceptions about the sexes (Collins frequently has characters and Valeria herself remark that she's "only a woman"), Valeria's actions prove she's admirably keen and the one to get things rolling.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

consistently entertaining!.......2006-09-04

If you are a fan of Collins like I am you will enjoy this book! It has the same flavor as The Woman in White and Moonstone. A great read!

Another Good One for Wilkie.......2005-04-28

I was not sure how I was going to like this book just finishing the Woman in White a short time ago. I knew going in that this was not one of his more famous works but I bought it since I have read five others written by him and I had so far very much liked all the others (Dead Secret, Haunted Hotel, Woman in White, No Name & The Moonstone). This book did not disappoint me and, in fact, I read it in a mere 4 days. This is a very easy read that keeps the reader guessing on "who done it".

The story is about Valeria Woodville (Macallan) who married a man that she finds out married her under an assumed name. She is bound and determined to find out why which she does depite being asked not to by her husband and his best friend. Once she finds out why her husband married her under an assumed name, (hint - he was accused of the murder of his first wife) - she then decides to prove that her husband is innocent. However, the evidence looks pretty damning that her husband actually did murder his first wife. Here is the point where she meets several different people and the puzzle begins to come together. By the end, I had thought of at least 4 different people that I thought had murdered his first wife.

I will not give away the end but it is not too surprising. However, this book was an easy read and an enjoyable read. If you like Wilkie's style of writing, you will like this book. This book is certainly not as good as the Woman in White, The Moonstone or No Name, but it is good nonetheless.

There are parts of this book that tend to show the prejudice against women during this time. Many times throughout the book, Valeria is asked what can a woman do that the (male) lawyers did not do during the trial. However, Wilkie gives Valeria the love and determination to find out the truth and she does so. The comments about women did not bother me for I knew this book was written in 1870's and the times were different.

If you like Wilkie and have read No Name, Moonstone and Woman in White, this is a good easy read by a good author. I look forward to reading more of his works.

Jessica Fletcher meets her match.......2000-02-19

I really enjoyed this book. It is the predecessor to a lot of the women detective books. Its about a woman who finds out her new husband was once accused of murder. She decides, against a great deal of advice including her husband's, to find evidence of his innocence. On the way, she meets a number of interesting and superbly drawn characters. The book does contain a good deal of Victorian romance and prejudice, however. I found the portrayal of a smart young woman as constantly overcome by her emotions a bit bothersome. Plus, I've never liked love stories and, basically, this is one.

Sara and Eleanor: The Story of Sara Delano Roosevelt and Her Daughter-in-Law, Eleanor Roosevelt

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Biased!
Shallow and Superficial
An admiring look at a formidable woman, and her son's wife

Sara and Eleanor: The Story of Sara Delano Roosevelt and Her Daughter-in-Law, Eleanor Roosevelt
Jan Pottker
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0312339399
Release Date: 2005-03-10

Book Description

We think we know the story of Eleanor Roosevelt--the shy, awkward girl who would redefine the role of First Lady, becoming a civil rights activist and an inspiration to generations of young women. As legend has it, the bane of Eleanor's life was her demanding and domineering mother-in-law, Sara Delano Roosevelt. Biographers have overlooked the complexity of a relationship that had, over the years, been reinterpreted and embellished by Eleanor herself.Through diaries, letters, and interviews with Roosevelt family and friends, Jan Pottker uncovers a story never before told. The result is a triumphant blend of social history and psychological insight--a revealing look at Eleanor Roosevelt and the woman who made her historic achievements possible.

Customer Reviews:

Biased!.......2006-06-21

I started to read this book with hardly any opinion about the two main characters. I soon started to realize the author's bias towards Sara and against Eleanore! She uses subjective snide remarks about Eleanore to promote Sara. In her book Sara can do nothing wrong while everything Eleanore does is questionable and fraught with ulterior motives.

Shallow and Superficial.......2005-06-18

As a long-time student of the lives of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, I am always eager to expand my knowledge of these two important Americans. Thus, when I stumbled across this book, I immediately ordered it. However, it didn't take me long to discover that this read more like a book report based on Geoffrey Ward's excellent biographies of FDR than an original work. I respect the author for her turning the viewpoint around and taking a sympathetic look at Sara Delano Roosevelt, but her historical perspective lacks rigor and does not agree with any of the other major historians who have offered razor-sharp looks at the lives of the Roosevelts. Indeed, this book reads like a piece of fluff and the author's uncompromising adoration of Sara Roosevelt leads to unsupported conclusions and apologetics in Sara's relationship with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Sara comes off in this book as simply too good to be true, a paragon of virtue, and an angel-made-flesh. There is little critical information related here, just a retelling of the same old story in a revisionist vein. This is not the book for serious students of history and anyone else seeking factual information on the subject.

An admiring look at a formidable woman, and her son's wife.......2004-04-06

Who among us wouldn't want to have been Sara Delano Roosevelt? Adored daughter and sibling, independently wealthy through her father's success in the Chinese opium trade, married to an older man whose forebears were as securely rooted in America as her own, she became the mother of one perfect child who grew up to be Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Self-doubt was not in the emotional vocabulary of either of FDR's parents, who raised him in the country splendor of their estate in Hyde Park, New York. Jan Pottker takes an intriguing look into the life of Sara Delano Roosevelt, and entwines it with her relationship with FDR's wife, his fifth cousin Eleanor Roosevelt. The book is a feast of anecdotes. Finding them and displaying them appears to be Pottker's greatest strength as a biographer. Everyone's heard the story of how the King and Queen of England came to Hyde Park in 1939 and enjoyed an informal hot-dog lunch. But who knew that 200,000 people lined the road from Poughkeepsie to Hyde Park to greet the royal couple? Or that when the formal dinner for the visiting royalty was delayed an hour, "the roast beef remained pink in the center"?

Keeping life, well, rosy appears to have been the leitmotif of Sara's life, and the polar opposite of her daughter-in-law Eleanor's. Much has been written about Eleanor's deep insecurity, having been orphaned young and passed around among relatives, and Pottker covers no new territory here. However, it makes the reader squirm to see Eleanor's dutiful, doubtful personality wither somewhat in the face of Sara's utter self-confidence. Eleanor appears to have spent her thirty-six years of married life abjectly begging Sara's pardon, bickering with her, or silently, sullenly yielding to her mother-in-law's will, which was as formidable as her control over the extended family's pursestrings.

In her effort to provide a rounded portrait of Sara, Pottker often provides contrasting anecdotes about her daughter-in-law that almost always cast Eleanor in a bad light. This is unfortunate, as neither woman needs to play the bad guy at this late date. Both Sara and Eleanor were remarkable women, but where the latter learned to find her greatest fulfillment outside the unnourishing bosom of her family, the former started life strengthened by the best that the Victorian era could provide a girl, and only later yielded graciously to satisfying the interest of the world in her role as the President's mother. The contrast between the two women is sufficient without Pottker's effort to cast Eleanor in a lesser light so as to illuminate Sara further.

Yes, she did frequently tell her grandchildren, "You are my true children. Eleanor only bore you." But in light of their parents' increasingly separate lives and chaotic schedules, Sara and Hyde Park were the constant touchstones while her grandchildren were growing up.

Had Sara not subsidized the family as she did, her son could not have run for president and guided the country through the Depression and World War II. We, as a nation, are richer for her generosity. However, the dependency that she encouraged in her son, which he never appears to have refused, seemed to have born bitter fruit in the unfulfilled potential in the subsequent generation: There were nineteen divorces among the five Roosevelt children, none of whom appears to have sustained a notably happy or successful adult life despite their financial and social advantages. Elliott and James in particular made something of a cottage industry of writing and being interviewed about their parents. They are quoted extensively--perhaps too extensively--throughout Pottker's book.

Pottker interviewed Anna Roosevelt's two eldest children, the great-grandchildren whose memories provide a living link with the matriarch born in 1854. (Interestingly, Curtis Dall--once known to the nation as "Buzzie"--dropped his father's name to use Roosevelt as a surname.) She also provides the insights of Nina Roosevelt Gibson, Ph.D., the psychologist daughter of John, the youngest Roosevelt child, who is almost never quoted by Roosevelt biographers.

This book is a welcome addition to our knowledge of the Roosevelts--and, as Sara would point out if she were here, of the Delanos as well, whose family background she privately considered to be superior.

The largest, sturdiest oak at Hyde Park inexplicably toppled to the ground only minutes after Sara died there at the age of eighty-six. Though witnesses were startled, no one was surprised.

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The Judge and the Outlaw Marry for the Baby's Sake

The Law Is No Lady (#8)
Helen R. Myers
Manufacturer: Silhouette Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0373501722

Customer Reviews:

The Judge and the Outlaw Marry for the Baby's Sake.......2004-04-21

Ethan Walker is a loner, a rugged individual who lives on his ranch outside of Whitehorn, Montana. He has one ranch hand, a man called John Mountain, no electricity and he's miles from his nearest neighbor and he likes it that way.

Then on a snow filled, stormy night a prospector named Homer shows up at his door with his younger sister Marilee. Marilee had run her car off the road on her way to Ethan's. She is in labor. Marilee gives birth at Ethan's, then makes Ethan swear that if anything happens to her, that he'll raise the child. Ethan, worried about his sister as she's lost so much blood, promises her he'll do it as an emergency helicopter lands out front. Then, sadly, Marilee dies in the chopper on the way to the hospital.

When he was younger, Ethan had been accused and arrested for murder, but he'd been acquitted. However in the minds of many in Whitehore he was guilty. So things look bad for Ethan when the baby's paternal grandparents decide to sue for custody. Then beautiful Judge Kate Randall has a solution. She'll marry Ethan, in name only of course, and that'll give him the respectability he needs, plus, with a wife, he's sure to win custody. However will he win custody of Kate's heart as well? And can Kate settle this loner down.

"The Law is No Lady" was a nice romance that kept me up for the better part of a Friday evening. Helen Myers put a generous dose of humor (two rugged men dealing with a baby) and suspense (will the grandparents get custody, will the judge and the loner fall in love) in her book and topped it off with a keen writing style. Highly recommended.

The Law and the Lady Volume I [EasyRead Comfort Edition]

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The Law and the Lady Volume I [EasyRead Comfort Edition]
Wilkie Collins
Manufacturer: ReadHowYouWant.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Font Size 13 | Alternative Formats | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1425059511
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Book Description

”The Law and the Lady” introduces one of English literature\'s earliest women detectives, Valeria Woodville. She investigates the murder of her husband\'s first wife in an attempt to prove him guiltless. Rich in plot and characters, including the extraordinary Miserrimus Dexter and his cousin Ariel, the novel exposes the repression that was part of Victorian domestic life and marriage.

The BEARDSTOWN LADIES GUIDE TO SMART SPENDING FOR: How to Save for a Rainy Day Without Sacrificing Your Lifestyle

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Beardstown Ladies Guide to Smart Spending for Big Savings
Everyday hints
Pathetic

The BEARDSTOWN LADIES GUIDE TO SMART SPENDING FOR: How to Save for a Rainy Day Without Sacrificing Your Lifestyle
Beardstown ladies
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Business Law | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0671575279

Book Description

ReferenceLarge Print Edition* A New York Times BestsellerOn the heels of the enormous success of their first two national bestsellers, The Beardstown Ladies offer more of the common-sense wisdom that has made them the most trusted financial advisors in America. Now the fourteen women tell us exactly what we need to know and do to spend the least and get the most. Its easy once you know the ground rules and the ladies show you how with fail-proof planners, worksheets, charts, graphs, and a spending-smart Savings Pyramid that cant miss.

Customer Reviews:

Beardstown Ladies Guide to Smart Spending for Big Savings.......2004-02-10

This book has a wealth of information on how to save money.
It is directed to middle age and elderly people. For instance,
the book provides car buying checklists, brand name equivalents,
repair or replace decision-making criteria, insulation R value
statistics and the priority pyramid . The priority pyramid
ranks spending categories by order of importance. There is a
section of mail order drugs and comparative pricing to local
pharmacies. This book is worth the price of admission in every
respect. It will help you in your personal planning and
routine purchasing decisions.

Everyday hints.......2002-10-05

This book has a lot of every day hints that are timeless.

Pathetic.......1999-11-20

OK, Now that it is official that they didn't beat the market, they have reversed gears and try to address the savings part. Nothing to differentiate this from a zillion other such books. I should grant them one thing, they know how to market their name to catch on the gullible.

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