Book Description
Babbin details how the United Nations actively pursues anti-American policies and appeases America's enemies, while being largely funded by $3 billion worth of annual American dues. After revealing the depth of rampant corruption in the UN, Babbin concludes that it is time to recognize the changes in Old Europe and redesign America's alliances that line up with America's national interests.
Customer Reviews:
Babbin ain't liken.......2007-03-25
Although I basically liked this book.It definitely has a right leaning attitude.
Inside the Asylum.......2007-03-12
I enjoyed reading this eye-opening book from start to finish. The exposure of the UN's corruption and anti-American bias was disturbing but is also something all Americans should understand, especially when our misguided politicians insist we need UN approval to defend ourselves. Mr. Babbin also provided an in-depth review of the duplicity in those European countries who 'pretend' to be our friends and allies but who are anything but, especially France and Jacques Chirac.
I strongly recommend this book. It is an easy-to-read and understand book which is both educational and enjoyable reading, written by someone who has been close to the action and knows from whereupon he speaks.
Don McGowan
Inside the Asylum: Why the UN and Old Europe are Worse Than You Think.......2007-01-09
Corruptness, mismanagement, self-intrest and anti-Americanism are what we get for our billions of dollars spent for this bad endeavor. We all know it is bad, but should read this book to get the whole story that the media won't tell us.
An asylum run by the inmates........2006-12-14
If you ever wonder if the U.S. should leave the UN, read this book and you will have the answer.
In case you do not know enough about the UN to make form an opinion, read this book.
It should be required reading for Congress and the Executive Branch.
Time to get out.......2006-10-14
Like many ideas, the desire to set up a structure such as the UN was probably well-motivated and a legitimate concept at the time. But a strong argument can be made that the UN no longer serves its original purpose, and may in fact be acting against its founding ideals.
That is certainly the case being made by Jed Babbin, a leading American national security analyst. He argues that the UN has become a moribund, corrupt, biased and bloated bureaucracy which does little to promote the good of the world, but much to support tyrants, dictators and leftwing causes, as well as its own longevity.
When the UN was formed in 1945, it had some laudable aims. But also built into the original UN charter were some glaring defects, argues Babbin. The first error was to apply the doctrine of the equality of all men to nations. But not all nations are equal. Dictatorships, terrorist states, and Communist states are simply not on a par with free, democratic states.
Another problem is that "any nation, pseudo-nation, or thugocracy such as Iran under the mullahs" can be a member of the UN. This makes the whole exercise of peacekeeping and the promotion of human rights become counterproductive.
And the lack of accountability and a system of checks and balances makes the UN answerable to no one. Thus the opportunities for mismanagement and corruption are many.
Indeed, the Oil-for-Food scandal is a classic case in point. This debacle has yet to fully see the light of day, but we do know that the UN was implicitly involved in this. Indeed, UN officials provided Saddam Hussein with the means to "bribe politicians, to deprive his people of needed food and medicine, and to literally steal billions of dollars".
Not only was this the biggest financial scandal of the UN, much of the money siphoned off ended up lining the pockets of UN bureaucrats, along with various politicians.
The UN has been especially impotent to deal with terrorism. But worse than that, it has tended to side with the terrorists and tyrants over-against he US and much of the West. The democratic members of the UN seek to abide by its resolutions, but rogue states regularly flaunt them. By routinely cooperating with terrorists, the UN is not making the world a safer and more peaceful place, says Babbin.
He argues that reform of the UN is probably impossible, and the wisest course for the US may be to simply pull out altogether. Indeed, given that is directly and indirectly pumps around $7 billion a year into the UN (being its largest benefactor), and gets nothing but grief and hostility in return, that may not be a bad option.
Babbin says a coalition of like minded states could seek to do what the UN was meant to do, but has been unable or unwilling to do. Such a proposal may or may not be workable. But to stay in a system that has proven to be a failure is certainly not the way to proceed.
Other books have been recently written making a similar case to Babbin's. But if just one volume is to be consulted, this would be a good starting place indeed.
Book Description
From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
--Chicago Sun-Times
"Indispensable"
--The New York Times
Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:
* A complete planner to Florence, Rome, and the highlights of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, and the Marches
* Honest advice that lets you feel safe and comfortable in the heart of Italy--whether you speak Italian or not
* Insider tips on finding the most charming hotels for the best price
* Hundreds of restaurants reviewed and ranked for quality and value
* A complete guide to the region's cultural and historic sights--with helpful hints for making the most of your time
Sample Rating
The Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente)
Appeal by Age Preschool Grade school Teens Young adults Over 30 Seniors
Campo dei Miracoli; # 050 560 547; www.torre.duomo.pisa.it
Type of attraction Icon of Pisa. Admission ¿15 at ticket office; ¿17 for online bookings. Hours Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., guided tours every 40 minutes. When to go This site is always mobbed. Reservations Required. Special comments Local superstition has it that seeing the Leaning Tower before an exam will guarantee a bad grade. How much time to allow 30 minutes. Author's rating
Customer Reviews:
Extremely useful!.......2007-10-04
My husband and I used this guide on our first trip to Rome and Florence. It was well written and well organized. The book contained some great tips about getting around using public transportation in both cities; the included maps were helpful.
Sights were rated based not only upon how interesting they were but on what age groups would be interested in them, from children through senior citizens. The restaurant reviews and recommendations were right on target. Everything from "inexpensive" to "very expensive" eateries were included.
This book was obviously written using input from a variety of real travelers, not some "high-brow" travel critic! The book included information on many smaller towns, too. The only drawback was that the book was a bit on the large side. It fit into a backpack but with the other things we commonly carried, (water bottles, camera), it was a little cumbersome. However, this book contains so much useful information, it was worth taking along! Read it before you go to Italy and take it on your travels. We were glad we did!
Good, Practical guide.......2007-07-25
This guide was very practical and useful in comparison to the guidebook my friend had with her. Hers had a lot of pictures but less practical information. We tried several of the restaurant recommendations - one in particular in Florence was one of our best meals and one of the best prices - half of the cost of any other meal on the trip. One recommended wine shop though was no longer open.
I was also dissappointed that the information on the galleries was not specific about how difficult it can be to get in on certain days - for example, The Uffizzi in Florence is quite difficult to get in to without an advance reservation on a Tuesday because it is closed on Mondays. This was the day I had planned to go and the line was 5 hours long just to attempt to get in.
I think it would also be helpful to include some information on the "after hours" touring options. While pricey, several of the Galleries, including the Vatican Museum have services that can provide a tour after the normal hours of the Museum when all the crowds are gone. This would likely be well worth it if you can afford the option or want to treat yourself to one special tour.
Overall I thought this was a good guidebook and easy to use.
Fun and Well-Rounded.......2007-01-13
I was pleasantly surprised with this book.
The way the attractions are organized, with star ratings for different age groups (apparently culled from tourists at each site) as well as the author's rating (sometimes the same, sometimes better or worse) helped give a better picture of each option, since not everyone likes the same thing.
The mini-history lesson for each town is also a bonus in my opinion. I really enjoy knowing a little background on where I'm going, as I feel it leads to better understanding of the things I see & people I encounter.
It is a little heavy on Rome & Florence, but is also sure to include some really unique spots.
I would definitely buy another one of these guides, but be sure to check the publication date to be sure it's within the last couple of years.
I don't rely on guide books too heavily for lodging or restaurants (I use internet research for that) since even a most recent edition takes some time to come to press and things change. I generally see that section of guide books as a starting point or fall back if needed but not as the primary source. Also, various attractions can vary widely in hours (sometimes they just change or are closed/limited due to constant renovations - just the nature of things in Italy), so be sure to double check directly with the attraction (by phone, e-mail, or on the website) before you go to avoid unexpected dissapointments.
It is also well written (although the editors missed some major typos in page headings and the like, but nothing that detracts from the book) - engaging but still informative, not fluff or personal opinion.
Details, Details..........2006-08-30
This book details each and every inch of Rome and Tuscany. In addition to this, the book was easy to read and follow, complete with excellent hotel, eating and shopping suggestions. I would reccomend it to anyone traveling to Italy!
Awesome, especially restaurant picks.......2006-08-16
My husband and I took this book on our honeymoon to Rome and Florence. We especially enjoyed the restaurant recommendations..every place we tried was excellent. Some things were a bit exaggerated, for example, the book indicated that we needed to be dressed in evening wear at some places, but the other patrons were wearing jeans! Also, it said that English was not spoken at some of the restaurants, but we found that all menus had an English translations and servers were mostly able to communicate with us.
We found the information regarding sightseeing to helpful and accurate as well.
Amazon.com
In a phrase coined by Captain Arthur Connolly of the East India Company before he was beheaded in Bokhara for spying in 1842, a "Great Game" was played between Tsarist Russia and Victorian England for supremacy in Central Asia. At stake was the security of India, key to the wealth of the British Empire. When play began early in the 19th century, the frontiers of the two imperial powers lay two thousand miles apart, across vast deserts and almost impassable mountain ranges; by the end, only 20 miles separated the two rivals.
Peter Hopkirk, a former reporter for The Times of London with wide experience of the region, tells an extraordinary story of ambition, intrigue, and military adventure. His sensational narrative moves at breakneck pace, yet even as he paints his colorful characters--tribal chieftains, generals, spies, Queen Victoria herself--he skillfully provides a clear overview of the geographical and diplomatic framework. The Great Game was Russia's version of America's "Manifest Destiny" to dominate a continent, and Hopkirk is careful to explain Russian viewpoints as fully as those of the British. The story ends with the fall of Tsarist Russia in 1917, but the demise of the Soviet Empire (hastened by a decade of bloody fighting in Afghanistan) gives it new relevance, as world peace and stability are again threatened by tensions in this volatile region of great mineral wealth and strategic significance. --John Stevenson
Book Description
THE GREATGAME: THE EPIC STORY BEHIND TODAY'S HEADLINES
Peter Hopkirk's spellbinding account of the great imperial struggle for supremacy in Central Asoa has been hailed as essential reading with that era's legacy playing itself out today.
The Great Game between Victorian Britain and Tsarist Russia was fought across desolate terrain from the Caucasus to China, over the lonely passes of the Parmirs and Karakorams, in the blazing Kerman and Helmund deserts, and through the caravan towns of the old Silk Road-both powers scrambling to
control access to the riches of India and the East. When play first began, the frontiers of Russia and British India lay 2000 miles apart; by the end, this distance had shrunk to twenty miles at some points. Now, in the vacuum left by the disintegration of the Soviet Union, there is once again talk
of Russian soldiers "dipping their toes in the Indian Ocean."
The Washington Post has said that "every story Peter Hopkirk touches is totally engrossing." In this gripping narrative he recounts a breathtaking tale of espionage and treachery through the actual experiences of its colorful characters. Based on meticulous scholarship and on-the-spot research, this
is the history at the core of today's geopolitics.
Customer Reviews:
Rousing good story.......2007-08-29
Am not qualified to judge the scholarship but, as someone who grew up on tales of derring-do in the Khyber Pass, this is a fascinating detailing of the larger reality behind the Kipling-esque "Great Game" tagline. And, as an account of two imperial powers duking it out back and forth across Central Asia, it is not without relevance to an age when Afghanistan, and impenetrable Waziristan are still a part of the puzzle and there remains no lack of imperial hubris and ignorance in dealing with the folks there (evidenced by the recent announcement of an Administration plan to spend $700-800 million "winning hearts and minds" in Waziristan - it's like some people never learn!) The geniuses behind that decision should spend a little summer reading time with Mr Hopkirk and the imperial experience of that bit of history.
Well written account of the "first Cold War".......2007-04-30
"The Great Game" is an enjoyable read and the 600 pages go surprisingly quickly. I read this as background for an upcoming trip to the region and from the perspective of the post-Cold War era, it's amazing how so many dynamics of the Cold War were in place over 100 years earlier. The chess moves of the British and the Russians and the many intrepid "explorers" provide plenty to hold the reader's interest. I would have given it 5 stars, but the references aren't well tied to the text, so it's unclear to the lay man how to evaluate the scholarship. Hopkirk certainly has a track record, however, there always are disputes in the attempt to piece together history.
One of the best history/adventure books available today!.......2007-04-23
Hopkirk is the master of the Middle East history books! FAST READ!! and I am a slow reader!
Hopkirks BEST book yet! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, it's like being there!
More Tedium From Peter Hopkirk.......2007-04-11
"Reads like a novel" ??? Come on, folks! The yellow pages of any phone book are far more exciting. This text takes a subject of great potential, & reduces it to the dried up dust of a Central Asian desert. I am disgusted with Mr. Hopkirk, because I truely love real History. This author is only one of the sorry crowd who destroy interest in even the most eager seeker. Our schools are full of them. This text belongs to the times when books were sold by the pound, rather than the content. As a former teacher - & lifelong seeker after the amazing truths of history - I consign Mr. Hopkirk to the dust bin.
Amazing that it is actually true!.......2006-12-15
This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. It takes the reader from 1814-1914 and walks through the conflict that embroiled central Asia for a century. It looks at how the British tried to defend their empire (notably India) by using proxies in Pakistan and Afghanistan. If you are wondering how the divisions are set up in the Middle East and central Asia today they are born during the Great Game. The book reads like a spy novel and is so well written you will not even notice you are reading history. The story takes you in and you wonder why there has not been a movie yet. It is amazing to see what these people went through and the things that were done in the line of duty for empire on both sides. Highly recommend and note that this is really part one of three of an official trilogy so make sure you see the other great books on the Great Game
Customer Reviews:
World of the Trapp Family.......2007-05-08
This is one book I will keep in my private library. Very good book with all the pictures. My mother has enjoying looking at it also.
Very Nice book.......2007-03-08
I really enjoyed the beautiful pictures. I first read "The Trapp Family Singers" by Maria which was great but I wanted pictures and more info and this book was greatly enjoyed.I really liked it.
The real Sound of Music.......2006-02-05
I had the opportuntiy to buy this book last fall when I saw the grandchildren of Maria Von Trapp in concert at the Dollywood theme park. Having read the account by Maria in her book "The story of the Trapp Family Singers" as a child I was fully aware that the movie and the real story were not identical, however the liberties of the movie version aside this book is a delight for anyone who loves the story and music of the Von Trapps. It gives you a first hand insight to what the family went through from the Natzi's to the building of their inn in Vermont to the rebuilding of it after it was destory by fire. The photography is superb and the history of this family is one I have enjoyed for years and will for years to come. I can hardly wait til next Christmas to add the Von Trapp Children CD to my holiday music enjoyment.
This book is great...........2003-06-06
....because I find so many information about the Trapp Familiy which I don't know. I saw the two german movies from 1956 und 1958 and the american from 1965, and I like all this films.
The pictures make it easy to read.
But there is something, that I don't like. Martina, who died in 1951. Maria Augusta wrote only one and a half sentences about her stepdaughter. Why had she done that ?
Good, that I've read "Yesterday, Today and Forever", so I know the tragedy of Martina's death.
...
Great book.......2000-08-16
This book is a really great behind-the-scenes type book about the real Von Trapp family. Fans of the movie may not like it as much, because there isn't very much stuff written about the making of the SOM. However, it really gives you a very clear picture of the way the story reall was without detracting from the magic of the movie.
Book Description
This epic history compares the empires built by Spain and Britain in the Americas, from Columbus’s arrival in the New World to the end of Spanish colonial rule in the early nineteenth century. J. H. Elliott, one of the most distinguished and versatile historians working today, offers us history on a grand scale, contrasting the worlds built by Britain and by Spain on the ruins of the civilizations they encountered and destroyed in North and South America.
Elliott identifies and explains both the similarities and differences in the two empires’ processes of colonization, the character of their colonial societies, their distinctive styles of imperial government, and the independence movements mounted against them. Based on wide reading in the history of the two great Atlantic civilizations, the book sets the Spanish and British colonial empires in the context of their own times and offers us insights into aspects of this dual history that still influence the Americas.
Customer Reviews:
England and Spain in the Western Hemisphere.......2007-09-25
This was an eye-opener for me as I knew very little on Spain's American territories, besides brief descriptions of some of the conquistadors such as Cortes and Pizzarro. What Elliott has done in this book is to show the comparisons and contrasts between England's New World Colonies and Spain's. There are many fascinating facets underlaying the reasons for acquiring these territories, how both sides viewed their mission and goals, and how they governed them. This is without a doubt a remarkable book that revealed a lot for me.
The first colonization was begun by the Spanish in the early 16th Century. The English made their first successful attempt in the early 17th Century. Both South and North America posed different challenges for both governments, i.e. the size of the indigenous populations, the geography and climate, natural resources and so forth. For me, the real fascination was learning more about the Spanish colonies and the establishment of the viceroyalties of New Spain (based in Mexico City) and Peru (based in Lima) with additional ones developing over time. The interaction with the natives, the attempts at Christianization, trade, and many other aspects of Spain's colonization were quite enlightening.
Being more familiar with United States history, I felt more familiar with the material covered on England's planting of settlers in Jamestown and later in New England. However, the real education was in Elliott's efforts to show how each of these two powers (Spain and England) confronted the realities and challenges of establishing their presence in these very different regions. The differences were often quite stark. Some of the points of contrast that most differentiated the two powers included each nation's attitude towards the Indians (including the attempts or lack of evangelization) and the extent of imperial bureaucracy brought over from the mother countries.
Elliott also describes how world events had helped to shape and or guide the developments that occurred in both country's territories. The Reformation, the British Commonwealth under Cromwell, the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, the French and Indian War, the French Revolution and so forth, all served as factors in shaping the events that transpired in North and South America. The role of various monarchs, religious, military and political leaders, as well as indigenous leaders, are also discussed.
Elliott does try to take an even-handed approach in acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of both government's endeavors. Of course it goes without saying that the notion of empire, with the connotations of exploitation of natives and their cultures, is unpopular in most peoples minds nowadays. Yes, it was and remains a blot on the records of all nations that engaged in replacing the livelihoods and cultures (sometimes more like extermination) of indigenous peoples, or those who engaged in the slave trade, but we must keep in mind that we have to try to keep modern standards in check for historical purposes.
This is such a broad subject that I find it hard to even begin to touch on more specific details found in this book; I'm just trying to outline the broader contours of Elliott's book. Having some introduction to this time period will help you, but you need not be an expert on this particular topic. An illuminating read.
Engaging Comparative History .......2007-01-03
This is comparative history at its very best. Elliott superbly describes and chronicles the history of the British and Spanish exploration and colonization of the Americas, as well as the process whereby both the British American and Spanish American colonial societies brought about their independence from the imperial governments. It is a comprehensive, detailed, and yet highly readable overview of the political, economic, social, military, and religious forces at play in the Americas during the time period. Elliott goes beyond the telling of historical events and facts, to provide analysis and interpretation of why history unfolded as it did. The writing is excellent and clearly reflects a highly learned historian who has the ability to tell history in a an engaging manner. His juxtaposition and comparison of British and Spanish America in a single volume results in a very interesting and stimulating way to learn about the two empires. The book contains very attractive end papers, a number of excellent maps and numerous color plates. Very highly recommended.
A essential addition to a great history.......2006-12-17
Elliott delivers the masterpiece that those who study the Atlantic World have been waiting for. The idea of studying history from the perspective of the Atlantic has been growing in popularity and worth taking a further look at. Britain and Spain established mammoth empires and Elliot looks at their rise and fall. He also considers other powers including the French and Dutch but focuses mainly on the first two mentioned. The age of exploration is put in context and in true Atlantic fashion the slave trade and development in Latin America are very important. The revolutions of the Atlantic world are very clearly explained in this book and Elliott leaves you wondering where else this field can go. Elliott writes very well and this book is a must read for those who want to consider how the Atlantic world impacted Europe and the United States.
Challenging Theory.......2006-08-27
This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of the Americas, colonial history or comparative studies of the American countries. Although it is based largely on secondary sources it reflects the enormous amount of work that the author has carried out in his previous books on Spain. The most interestin feature of the book is how Elliott points out the similarities between the British and Spanish Empires in the Americas; a fact that most historians have previously tended to ignore.
An important contribution.......2006-05-10
Colonialism and Empire are the two most important subjects in history, no other subject exists without them and the discovery of the New World and its repopulation/depopulation is one fo the great episodes of human history. The colonies in America can be easily put into two categories, the Anglo ones and the Catholic ones. Despite small French and Portugues and Dutch intrusions, the overall lesson is one of difference between these two great naval powers and the makeup of their colonial systems.
We are given here, perhaps for the first time in a cogent work, a true understanding of the nature of the two regimes. ON the one hand we see the brutality and discrimination of the Spanish empire. How they lopped of hands for gold, how they were anti-Jewish. How they were Catholic. But we see in them a very different mentality, that of mixing with native peoples to in fact create a whole new ethnic group. In the English colonies we see the opposite, early contacts with Indians dont suceed and the colonies immediatly set to bring over women(because of religious diveristy and rebellion against England) and in this we see the creation of the modern system of North and South America.
A wonderful and very insightful book that should be of interest for any historian of the period or anyone interested.
Seth J. Frantzman
Book Description
Download a free companion podcast about Eastern Europe at Frommers.com
- Travel to Eastern Europe is booming-international arrivals to Eastern Europe have increased by an average of 3.9 percent each year since 2004
- Destinations covered in this guide are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Moscow & St. Petersburg, Slovakia, Slovenia,and Kaliningrad
- According to a May 2006 Euromonitor article, Poland has the most visitors (15 million in 2005), with Hungary close behind
- The fastest growing destination in Europe is Bulgaria; inbound tourists increased 17 percent between 2004 and 2005
- Low cost airlines continue to add more routes to and within Eastern Europe
Book Description
A brilliantly illustrated survey of modernist photography in Central Europe, published in association with the National Gallery of Art.
In the 1920s and 1930s, photography became an immense phenomenon across Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Poland. Through magazines and books, in advertisements and at exhibitions, from amateur clubs to avant-garde schools, photographs emerged as a key vehicle of modern consciousness.
This book and the exhibition it accompanies present the work of approximately one hundred individuals whose creations exemplify the potential of photography in Central Europe between the two World Wars. Foto brings together for the first time works by recognized masters such as the Russian El Lissitzky, the Hungarian László Moholy-Nagy, and the German Hannah Hóch—all of whom developed their photographic ideas in Germany—with contemporaries like Karel Teige and Jaromír Funke (Czechoslovakia), Kazimierz Podsadecki (Poland), Károly Escher (Hungary), and Trude Fleischmann (Austria), who are less well known today.
Organized thematically, the book explores topics from photomontage and war to gender identity, modern living, and the spread of Surrealism. It shows the shared experience of modernity in the region, whereby recently founded nations and dismantled empires alike sought their place within the new world order established in the aftermath of World War I.
The illustrations, drawn from more than seventy collections in America and abroad, include several previously unpublished works as well as many others never before available in high-quality reproductions. 230 illustrations in color, tritone, & duotone.
Customer Reviews:
Avant-garde and popular culture.......2007-10-10
The previous reviewer does not justice to this beautiful book. It is not only about collage, as it is simplistically described, but about how photography was established as a modern art form. It shows how it was used creatively in Central Europe. There are some wonderful findings of lesser known artists as well as more familiar names, and most of them look incredibly contemporary (young artists and designers, have a look!!).
The edition is gorgeous, with excellent reproductions, clear typography and elegant layout. Contains a very useful bibliography. Absolutely recommendable.
Drowning in Detail.......2007-08-23
Huge amount of information about every single photographer regardless of major significance.Dig through that, and much interesting stuff. But the fixation on MODERNITY is typical curatorial nonsense. It is about "Collage and its Variations in Central Europe".
Book Description
See a Russian ruler sharing a passionate kiss with a German leader on the Berlin Wall, p. 175. Experience the medieval ambiance of Prague - without the tourist hordes - amidst the dazzling architecture of little-visited Olomouc, p. 144. Get your adrenaline pumping with a moonlight sled ride in Interlaken, p. 565. Work up a lazy sweat as you soak like a local in the thermal waters of Budapest's Szechenyi Baths, p. 307.
11 authors, 287 days of on-the-road research, 107 detailed maps. Fully updated practical information on getting active in Europe's best region for outdoor adventure. Content updated daily at lonelyplanet.com.
Customer Reviews:
Well written but light on content........2007-05-24
This is well written, like most most Lonely Planet country guides. I read through the pertinent sections for countries I was planning to visit, and while there were suggestions for each major city, there was little depth. Maps are also on the skimpy side. "Central Europe" may not be representative of the several regional Europe guides Lonely Planet has recently released, but its coverage is very brief for a number of countries. For example, "Central Europe" has fewer pages devoted to the entire CZ Republic than the CZ Republic guide has devoted to Prague alone.
So this guide may serve you well if you are on a driving or backpacking vacation without having done a lot of background research; you could pull it out to see the one-paragraph-highlights of the major city you are approaching.
But if you have a more specific itinerary, I'd instead suggest getting the books to match specific cities and maybe a road atlas if you are driving.
Neutral.......2007-05-20
I found the book to be too much of a repeat. It had incorrect information (the Munich card was discontinued the first of the year and announced last year), Munich internet cafe at trainstation is closed, another one is now 24x7 - all for over a year.
Train connection information is limited at best.
Does not give the NAMES of the bus-tram-subway stops in any city.
Disability access information is very lacking in this book and series. I wonder does LP have a writer with a movement disability?
I am usually a fan of lonely planet books but this one felt like a money and space waster.
Great general guide.......2007-03-30
This book is really good if you don't want to buy individual books for each country you are visiting.
It has information on travel to and from each country, sights to see, accommodation, food and other interesting cultural references.
It has been a great planning tool for my upcoming trip.
Book Description
The eleventh to the early fourteenth centuries saw a great transformation in the political, cultural and economic life of the Italian peninsula, marked by the rise of the autonomous city-states in the north and centre, the expansion of international trade, and the creation of a wealthy southern kingdom which reached the peak of its power in this period, before fragmenting in two in the late thirteenth century. It was also the period in which the various dialects that we now call the Italian language came into being, and in which Tuscan in particular became the vehicle for impressive literary innovation. Presenting a rounded view of Italy at a time when it was the most dynamic region in western Europe, this book looks at Italy in its entirety, rather than concentrating largely on the north, as previous studies have done. It also includes expert coverage of topics such as the family and the Jewish, Greek, and Muslim minority communities, in addition to its coverage of developments in the cities, rural life, trade, the monarchy, papal Italy, and language and culture.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent history for the armchair scholar.......2007-06-03
A history of medieval Italy as a whole can be hard to find -- there are numerous histories of the northern city-states, several of the papacy, and even a few of the Norman and Angevin south. Histories of the whole, including Sardinia, are harder to find. This book draws together the major regions of Italy, and discusses language, culture, and the impact of Greeks, Muslims, and Jews on its culture.
I was first impressed by the readability of this book. It is far to easy to find medieval histories that are stuffed with jargon and statistics until the reader's eye glaze over. The essays in this work make their points succinctly and comprehensibly.
My chief regret was that the book was not a bit longer, so that it could better develop some of its essays. The map section at the end might have been better placed at the beginning, where it would be less-likely overlooked.
This book is aimed at a reader with at least passing familiarity with medieval history and Italian history and geography. Various authors comment on their predecessors, discussing how they feel earlier authors erred in their approach to this difficult subject. There's a useful recommended reading section at the end for those interested in pursuing individual topics further.
Book Description
At the age of eighteen, Patrick Leigh Fermor set off from the heart of London on an epic journey—to walk to Constantinople. A Time of Gifts is the rich account of his adventures as far as Hungary, after which Between the Woods and the Water continues the story to the Iron Gates that divide the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. Acclaimed for its sweep and intelligence, Leigh Fermor's book explores a remarkable moment in time. Hitler has just come to power but war is still ahead, as he walks through a Europe soon to be forever changed—through the Lowlands to Mitteleuropa, to Teutonic and Slav heartlands, through the baroque remains of the Holy Roman Empire; up the Rhine, and down to the Danube.
At once a memoir of coming-of-age, an account of a journey, and a dazzling exposition of the English language, A Time of Gifts is also a portrait of a continent already showing ominous signs of the holocaust to come.
Customer Reviews:
If only there were more books like this........2007-09-18
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor.
If this book is what comes from getting kicked out of a good British public school, one can only wish fewer writers made it through. Not that Leigh Fermor needed more education, if it is, as they say, what is left when what you learned has been forgotten. In 1933, getting caught in flagrante--holding hands with a greengrocer's daughter--proved too much for the last school that accepted the challenge of the eccentric Leigh Fermor. He took a hike, walking from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople, along the Rhine and the Danube. Forty years later and many adventures thereafter, he wrote it down for a comrade he had shared waratime night watches on Crete with. Even in the hands of a lesser spirit, a report from Europe on the brink of World War II would be of interest, but with Leigh Fermor, it is pure enchantment. He is gregarious, curious, terrifyingly learned, sensitive and wry. With the meager contents of his knapsack (and later less, after its theft) and four pounds per month, he mixes with barge hands, toothless prostitutes, well-brought up girls, and genteel widows. He has Shakespeare's gift for getting familiar words to show off hidden talents. His description of a night in Munich's Hofbrau house has Mozart in the speed and lightness with which he gets opposing moods to minuet. Leigh Fermor takes us from room to room and brew to brew of the beer palace; from burghers "as wide as casks" to an S.A. chorus, from blond beer (a "cylindrical litre of Teutonic myth") in mugs with a monogram like a cannon's foundry-mark, to a "long Wagnerian chord" of dark beer. Strangling laughter follows the reader on a helpless reel through vulgarity, gluttony, joy and menace, to the sobering slap of the final phrase of British self-deprecation. Other writers took entire books to portray Germany in those years, Leigh Fermor does it in mere pages. And that is only midway through volume one, there is still volume two: Between the Woods and the Water
Europe in the 1930s.......2007-05-14
A friend told me to buy this book, and that if I did not like it, he would refund my money. I did not ask for the refund. One gets caught up in the trek through Europe, where the author visits places many of which I have visited myself, albeit many years later. I have experienced big-time nostalgia from reading this book.
Simply wonderful.......2007-02-14
Patrick Leigh Fermor's work is a joy to read. I brought it with me this past summer when I was living/traveling in the former Yugoslavia and I have as many fond memories of reading that book on long bus rides as some of the places I experienced. I ended up giving it away to a friend I had met as a present and I miss it dearly now and plan on purchasing it again when I have the funds. His description of the beer hall in Munich is my favorite part.
Having read numerous works of Kaplan and Rebecca West, I feel that Fermor is the best in the league, at least with this series. Speaking of which, I read them out of order so it is not entirely necessary to read Time of Gifts first. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Fermor finishes the third book before he passes, though I cannot find any news of it. Does anyone know?
I highly recommend this work.
I wish I was 20 again..........2007-01-29
`A Time of Gifts' is a delightful travelogue, even though the sites and sounds are long gone. Fermor paints a picture of the life every young man wants to lead - well-funded itinerant travel, nearly effortless sociability, and a seemingly endless nightlife. Together with its companion piece, `Between the Woods and the Water,' this historical post-card is required reading for anyone with the combined interests of travel, history, language, and social frivolity in pre-war Europe.
The narrative structure is an open letter to a friend. Every region receives a minor academic treatment that sets the tone for the young Fermor's adventures. Each adventure is a short glimpse into the man that was to become both a world-class writer and a guerrilla fighter who managed to both capture and trade poetry with a German General during World War II. Much like the man himself (equal parts scamp and scholar), the book mixes extraordinary academic details with what amounts to a lucid walk between drunken visits.
The depth of the author's knowledge of central European history, language, art, and architecture is almost depressing. While reading (and between trips to the dictionary), I found myself wondering whether or not the average American high school student would ever study a tenth of material Fermor picked up through personal reading. On the other hand, it is refreshing to see someone put so much historical and cultural context behind each of his encounters in foreign lands. Small wonder that he was accepted everywhere he went.
The one regret I have is the sparse treatment of Holland. Perhaps it is because this was the first stop, but the author does not seem to get his feet wet until he crosses into Germany. Perhaps it is because the country is too small. Perhaps it is too similar to the author's home country. At any rate, it feels a shame to neglect the one place that managed to nurture both the Dutch Masters and the Tulip Craze.
All in all, this was one of the most rewarding books I have read in years. I would recommend it to anyone.
The Occidental Traveler.......2006-12-31
Patrick Leigh Fermor distinguished himself during the Second World War in the Greek campaign. He did so even further by writing a series of travel narratives, including his very charming and erudite two-part, unfinished account of a walking trip he took at age eighteen from the Hook of the Netherlands all the way to Istanbul, of which A TIME OF GIFTS forms the first part.
The book has an extremely high reputation among his fellow travel writers (including Jan Morris, who provides the exceptionally gushy foreword to this NYRB edition), who seem so taken by Leigh Fermor the man that they seem to rate the book more extravagantly than it perhaps deserves. While delightful, and of high interest to anyone curious about Mitteleuropa in the Thirties, the book can often be at times quite precious: its introduction takes the form of an "Introductory Letter to Xan Fielding," and the prose, while undeniably clever and romantic, can get to be a bit much in places: "There was a reek of mud, seaweed, slime, smoke and clinkers and nameless jetsam, and the half-sunk barges and the waterlogged palisades unloosed a universal smell of rotting timber. Was there a whiff of spices? It was too late to say..." Such whiffiness of prose seems unfrotunately bolstered at times by Leigh Fermor's tremendous autodidactic learning, which he does not wear lightly in his narrative: though the book teaches much about the history of Europe (particularly during the Seven Years' War), sometimes that much becomes too much of a muchness. And even given the young Patrick's tremendous romanticism (emphasized and caressed from the perspective of the same man writing this account forty-three years later), were his travels really so disembodied? Other than for his sore feet you hear very little here about anything that happens to him below the waist. But while it is easy to criticize its faults, this book also must be given its due for its charms: I will certainly read the second part of Leigh Fermor's epic walk through Europe.
Books:
- Into the Wild
- Jennifer Government
- Legacies: Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction
- Life : A Complete Operating Manual : The Secret to Life Unveiled : Who You Really Are, How Life Really Operates, and How to Unleash the Incredible Power Within!
- Light on Snow
- March
- Marriage Fitness: 4 Steps to Building & Maintaining Phenomenal Love
- Master and Commander
- Medical Terminology: A Programmed Systems Approach
- Miss Julia Strikes Back (Miss Julia)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Compensation Handbook
- Outdoor Kitchens: Designs for Outdoor Kitchens, Bars, and Dinning Areas
- Merchant Ivory's English Landscape
- Le Morte Darthur
- Marketing w/ PowerWeb
- Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America
- Starships: Stories Beyond the Boundaries of the Universe
- The Generation X Money Book: Achieving Security and Independence
- Human Rights Horizons: The Pursuit of Justice in a Globalizing World
- A Home at the End of the World: A Novel
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos
Showdown: Why China Wants War with the United States
The U.N. Exposed: How the United Nations Sabotages America's Security and Fails the World
America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
The United Nations Exposed
