Product Description
The field of optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light; however because light is an electromagnetic wave, analogous phenomena occur in X-rays, microwaves, radio waves, and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. The pure science aspects of the field are often called optical science or optical physics. Applied optical sciences are often called optical engineering. Applications of optical engineering related specifically to illumination systems are called illumination engineering. Each of these disciplines tends to be quite different in its applications, technical skills, focus, and professional affiliations. More recent innovations in optical engineering are often categorised as photonics or optoelectronics. This new book presents important advances in this exciting field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A hard to find book
I'm 69 and internet unskilled, but found this book, which I have been looking for for over 40 years.And it's in good shape.And it didn't cost an arm and a leg.And it came from Great Britain, arrived when promised, and was all I had hoped for.WOW

Some almost ancient history
I first read this story inprobably 1937 or 1938, so I was 12 or 13 years old. It was published as a six-part serial in a magazine, probably Cosmopolitan or perhaps Redbook under the title "A Tale of Six Cities". (What's a 12-year-old doing reading Cosmo?Believe me, it was not like today's Cosmo)There were only three chapters in the library magazines. It was the Methodist Church Ladies Aid Library in a little town in Kansas (real little - less than 800 people) and my mother tended the library every Saturday afternoon. I found the full book in 1946 in the Naval Air Station Library in Pensacola.
Hiram Holiday was a newspaper copy editor, a mundane, totally unadventurous job. My family has been in the newspaper business since 1904 and I could set my name in type before I could write it, so that attracted me at the start. I won't give away the story, but the international maneuverings and desperation of those pre-World War II days is masterfully covered, with Hiram, with his totally unexpected skills and insight, in the thick of it. It should be a movie - directed by Alfred Hitchcock. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Christianity in a Can
This book is not a metaphor for life. It is a metaphor for a Christian view of life. It is not a book which most ex- or non-Christians would especially want their children to read. It presumes the existence of a Male God and the human Soul. It also implies that war is simply the necessary fight of good people against an obviously-evil enemy (fire). Ironically, this book seems to deny hope for the "family value" that children can maintain relationship with their parents for life.

The life, and the eventual death, of Snowflake.
High in the sky Snowflake is born and then slowly she begins to fall to Earth, but that is just the beginning of her journey.There are many more miles and forms that she will take before she reaches her journey's final end.Seemingly aimed at Young Adult readers, the emotionally mature reader will quickly notice that Snowflake's journey is a metaphor for the many joys, pains, and inevitable questions of Life itself.The heartwarming message that everything serves a design is delivered with, if not subtle, at least beautiful writing.I had only known Gallico as the writer of The Poseidon Adventure.I am glad to have discovered this wonderful little book among my late wife's personal belongings.It soothed me like no book on grief could.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Dust jacket notes:"'In the first place, it was not gray but an utterly mad blue.It had a fat little body like an o'possum, hind feet like those of a kangaroo, the front paws of a monkey, and instead of delicate and transparent ears, these were long and much like those of a rabbit.And what is more, they were blue, too, and violently orange-colored on the inside.But the worst thing of all was that it had no tail.'The fact that he has decidedly curious features - and no tail - is not the only thing that sets Manxmouse apart from run-of-the-mill mice, for he has an extraordinarily sweet and gentle nature, is so innocent about the ways of the world that he knows no fear.Just after the stroke of thirteen on the night of his creation by a tipsy ceramist, Manxmouse sets boldly off from Buntingdowndale on the road to high adventure and self-discovery...." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Imaginitive
This book requires the reader to have an open mind. Once you do that, it's pretty good. In some places it can be a bit contradictory and I think it's a book for younger kids, but nonetheless, I am glad J. K. Rowling recommended it. It is a good, fairly quick read that I might someday read to my kids.

The adventures of an unusual and lovable mouse
I'm always looking for good books to give my nieces and nephews.I read Paul Gallico's Manxmouse because J.K. Rowling said it was one of her favorites; my young relatives are Harry Potter fans, and are interested in whatever Harry's creator likes.I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the adventures of the blue tailless mouse, and the creatures he meets, like the clutterbumph: "Something that is not there until one imagines it...Whatever it is that frightens one the most and that is just above the worst thing one can think of, that is what a clutterbumph looks like."

But Manxmouse's creator had "forgotten to put fear into him," and in fact, as Gallico wrote, "No one is ever born frightened or fearing anything."Because he's fearless, Manxmouse has some amazing adventures with animals most mice would avoid-a hawk; a fox and the hunt pack of hounds pursuing the fox; Nervous Nellie, the Nellyphant (elephant); and more.Eventually Manxmouse has to decide how to deal with a major threat-whether to run, or to surrender, or to fight.How he handles the challenge, and how it all comes out is very satisfying.Buy Manxmouse, read it, and read it aloud to those who can't yet read.
Pros: Great fun for any age
Cons: To enjoy it, the reader must believe in magic.

Childhood Memories
Of all the books my mother read to my brother and I as children, this is the only one I specifically remember. I can't wait to read it to my son.

A neglected fantasy
I was starting to think I was the only person on earth who'd read this book, till I saw J.K. Rowling listing it as one of her childhood favorites. It was definitely one of mine, too!

MANXMOUSE is the story of a mouse, accidentally created by a drunken ceramics maker, who magically comes to life. His adventures through the English countryside are absolutely charming, as are the illustrations by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone (who also did the lovely illustrations for Dodie Smith's The Hundred and One Dalmatians).

While undergoing various adventures in everyplace from a movie set to a rural school, Manxmouse learns that he "belongs to the Manx Cat", and that their fates are bound together. The mouse, wanting to control his own destinty, determines to track down the Manx Cat and face him, no matter what might befall him.

Written by the author of "The Three Lives of Thomasina" and the charming cat adventure "Abandoned", this one is worth tracking down. It's absolutely overdue for a reprint. ... Read more

Product Description
Philip Rhayader is a painter. He lives alone in an old, empty lighthouse. But his life changes when a young girl from the village brings him a snow goose. It is hurt and he and the girl must look after it. This haunting tale is one of three stories in this collection, the others are The Doll and The Silver Swans. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not the original!
Important... Please note that this book has been rewritten for a very young audience by Christine Rose.This is not the book as it originallyappeared!

Great for young adults
This book is incorrectly listed as a book for babies. It is written for adults (young adults, and not so young!).

I LOVED The Snow Goose as a teenage girl. My son does not like to read, so I'm buying it for himbecause I think he will enjoy it. The Snow Goose is touching andinspirational, but it has enough war stuff to keep boys interested. I gaveit 4 stars rather than 5 because I haven't yet read the other stories. I'manxious to read them, and to re-read the classic Snow Goose myself.

It'sdifficult to find good books for boys who would rather not read, so I'mpleased to find this book available! ... Read more

Product Description
a small format reissue in hard cover of the 1958 novel ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

warm and winning
Witty and warm little book about a char woman whose dream it is to own a Dior dress.A woman's single-minded love of beauty.

Optimistic and heart-warming, but never maudlin.Mr. Gallico has an ear for dialect and a feel for human sentiment, with the words to express it succinctly.

Cute and quick!
Mrs 'Arris or Harris is a housekeeper, and really lovable. She sees a Dior in one of the closets of her houses she cleans and she makes up her mind she is going to make the money to go buy one. And she does!

However, the best laid plans get fouled up, but Mrs. Harris is in for some wonderful treats, and you will be too as the reader along for the journey.

This book is awesome, clean and enjoyable.

Absolutely Charming
This book is a keeper!The story highlights determination, making sacrifices, working toward a goal and dealing with situations when things don't work out as planned.The tale is charming; about true friendship and how one person can influence the lives of others through sincerity and kindness.The story is an easy read with a plot that has several twists and turns right up until the last page.You don't find stories like this any more!

Cute
Paul Gallico's delightful little book (little as in, its only about 150 pages, give or take) is about Mrs. Ada Harris (or Mrs. `Arris, as she would say in her cockney accent), a London charwoman who finds herself coveting in the worst way imaginable a Dior dress. Never mind that she can't afford it; never mind that she'd never have any place to wear it. After winning a bit of money, and scrimping and saving the rest, Mrs. Harris goes off to Paris to the House of Dior.

But nothing turns out the way she imagines it to be--especially the people, who she'd imagined to be disgusting and dirty. Once there, Mrs. Harris becomes acquainted with a number of eccentric characters, to whom she becomes a sort of 1950s fairy-tale godmother. The books is completely charming and funny. My only criticism of the book is that Gallico could have drawn Mrs. Harris's week-long stay in Paris out a bit more.

Lovely read!
I adore this book! Mrs. 'Arris goes on one big adventure in the heart of Paris. Just adorable!
Perfect size for a lazy weekend read, too! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Big publisher Dover tries to destroy little fencing publisher Laureate Press
This book has been printed by a small publisher, Laureate Press, for more than a decade. Now Dover comes in and wants to take this very small market away from a company that has struggled to provide this and other books to the fencing community for so long. Laureate Press is responsible for bringing Aldo Nadi's name back to the attention of the fencing world. They published this book in 1994, and though not sold through book stores anymore, it has been in print ever since (see Bowker's Books in Print) and available here on Amazon in the Market Place as a New Book under the "On Fencing" title or directly from Laureate Press. This book along with Nadi's autobiography The Living Sword, Secrets of the Sword by Bazancourt, and William Gaugler's books, The Science of Fencing, the Dictionary of Fencing Terminology, and the History of Fencing, are also published by Laureate Press. That's all they do, Dover has hundreds of titles.

Notes on this book: The typeface is smaller in Dovers version and therefore much harder to read. The back cover quotes and some of the text appears to have been taken right off the back cover of the Laureate Press book. They did not include the New Foreword as in the Laureate version, that gives a short biography of Nadi's life. They also did not include the portrait of Nadi and his signature, which is opposite the title page in the Laureate book. I think the photo and signature give my copy a much more personalized feel, almost as if Nadi signed it himself.

A purchase of this Dover version "Nadi on Fencing" is a nail in the coffin for the other great fencing titles Laureate Press publishes. I think Dover should go back to publishing books that are no longer in print and leave the small publishers alone. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of The Silent Miaow examines the cat in all his infinite variety, moods, and from every aspect--psychological, social, intellectual, and historical. More than 60 charming poems are illustrated by beautiful full-color photographs by famed photographer Nishikawa. Full-color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

There Aren't Enough Stars To Rate This Book
I received this book as a gift, along with "The Abandoned," and "The Silent Meaow," all by Paul Gallico.They are each unforgetable.Of the many books of poetry I have read, The Honorable Cat is truly in a league of its own.Written in the wonderful Paul Gallico style, he brings you right to the heart of his characters, whether real or imagined, through themirth, wisdom, and his ability to connect so intimately with life around him.It is a great book written by a great author.

Honorable Cat
This book is packed with beautiful kitty photographs and poetry. It is configured with a photo on one page and a poem (based on the photo)on the opposite page. The beginning of the book takes a unique look at the cat from a respectful and appreciative perspective. The authors writing style tends to be "old english" (compared to what I'm used to) But it quickly grows on you. I've read and re-read the book many times...In fact, I find the words drifting into my mind when riding the bus or trolley..It's truly a special book for the cat lover. A+++

My Absolute Favorite Cat Book
Honorable Cat is my "most favorite" cat book. The poetry is unique, the photographs are terrific... this book is so SPECIAL it's hard to sum up in a few words. I try to keep one on hand at all times to use as a special gift. It makes a wonderful coffee table book. My favorite poemsinclude "The Dandelion" and an absolutely priceless ballad about"Tough Tom, the King of the Car Park." I tell you the truth, youcan't buy this book fast enough. ... Read more