Product Description
In Sicily 405 AD, the infinite duel between a man and a superpower begins. The man is Dionysius, who has just made himself Tyrant of Syracuse. The superpower Carthage, mercantile megalopolis and mistress of the seas. Over the next eight years, Dionysius' brutal military conquests will strike down countless enemies and many friends to make Syracuse the most powerful Greek city west of mainland Greece. He builds the largest army of antiquity and invents horrific war machines to use against the Carthaginians, who he will fight in five wars. But who was Dionysius? Historians have condemned him as one of the most ruthless, egocentric despots. But he was also patron of the arts, a dramatist, poet and tender lover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Enlightening and novel
I'm a history buff who reads a lot of historical novel, so it ain't easy to impress me. But this book certainly did. In fact, it's what got me started on reading historical novels in the first place.

Few authors know the Greek stuff as well as this Italian dude. Frankly, everytime you read it, it makes me feel like he's Greek, but he'd sooner choke on spaghetti than the best gyro in Athens.

Tyrant tells the story of Dionysus the Elder, a man born in Greek Sicilian city of Syracruse. The city and man ring a familiar bell, which was why I first picked it up. As you read through the book, you will get a glimpse of the mafia (then called the Company), the rising power of Carthage (long before Rome), hints of Rome (but was sacked by the Gauls back then), and of course some Greek civilization on the sideline.

I look the book for its exploration of topics such as democracy and dictatorship, how a man single-handedly gains power in a city-state even though he starts from nothing. Best of all, I like the part when he kills those two dudes who raped his wife Arete even after they helped him rig the election or judgement. Few more pictures would be great though.

Historical Fiction at it's Best
Few authors can be better equipped to write about the history of ancient Greece and Rome than Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Professor of archaeology at the university of Milan, he has carried out many excavations and expeditions in the Mediterranean region. He has produced many factual books on historical matters, mainly military and has still found the time to write several novels and this is one of the best of them.

I think that this is one of the authors best books to date and he has written several excellent ones including the Alexander trilogy which received world wide acclaim and probably brought the authors name to the forefront of ancient historical writers.

The book takes place in 412 BC and charts the clash of one man and a superpower. The man is Dionysius of Syracuse. The superpower is Carthage, a city with thriving trade links and one of the most powerful navies in the Mediterranean. How can a 20-year-old even think of going against the might and resources of a place such as Carthage.

Thus begins the journey into manhood of a man who rose to gather one of the greatest armies in the Ancient World and also invented many of the trappings of war that lasted for centuries. Machines never seen before by mankind. Machines that could wreak havoc and destruction on a scale never before dreamed of. Dionysius also invented the quinquereme a five module battleship that had fifty oarsmen to propel through the water.

But who was the man Dionysius, was he the ruthless, murdering tyrant that his enemies depicted or was he an intelligent man born ahead of his time. History has lumped him with the so called tyrants, but the greatness of the man is impossible to deny.

Informative but not excellent
Tyrant by Manfredi is a very informative and well researched book. The book gives us a wealth of information about Sicily- geographic and political- the relations with Sparta and Athens. It is also interesting for someone who has read accounts of the Peloponnesian war to see some of the events occuring in the backdrop and their impact on Sicily.
However there are quite a few things about the book that impact its quality. One is the translation. I am unaware of how the author builds the narrative in Italian but in English, the narrative jarrs. The dialogues also are confusing at certain points and do not flow continuously. One is forced to go back and re-read at certain places to figure out who is speaking what. Another is the characterisation of Dionysius. The transformation of Dionysus into the ruthless tyrant because of circumstances is well done but could have been better done in my opinion. There is not much focus on Dionysius and what goes on in his minds- the turmoil and the angst. We see his friends and his brother observing and regretting his changes and reflecting on them but we do not see things from Dionysius' perspective.
The book does have its touching moments. And the bond between Leptines and Dionysius and the character of Philistus is very well brought out.
On the whole, it is a good book and if you are a history buff its definitely worth a read.

A Rewarding, Informative Book
This is my first Manfredi book, but I frequently read historical fiction. This book is a biography about a historical character, not an adventure or event set in the past.

The protagonist of the biography has great strengths and great flaws. The evolution of the character during the story gives the reader cause to often reevaluate my views of the protagonist.

I also liked that the book was well researched while being set in a time and place that is less discussed than others. I feel like I learned more reading Tyrant than reading yet another book set during the Greek / Persian wars for example.

The author is a history professor from Italy and he chooses not to insert a great deal of his own conjecture about motives into the protagonist. Instead the book challenges the reader to come up with their own motives for the actors in the story. So be prepared for a story that covers all the historical facts, but does not reveal all the details about the thoughts in the character's minds. ... Read more

Product Description
Suetonius wrote his Lives of the Twelve Caesars in the reign of Vespasian around 70AD. He chronicled the extraordinary careers of Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Vespasian and Domitian and the rest in technicolour terms. They presented some high and low times at the heart of the Roman Empire. The accounts provide us with perspicacious insights into the men as much as their reigns - and it was from Suetonius that subsequent writers such as Robert Graves drew so much of his material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Behind the Scenes View of Roman History
Our human nature drives us to want to know the "real story" behind great historical personalities.Much like "People" or "Us" magazine, Suetonious gives his readers back curtain access to the lives of the rich and famous.No salacious story nor tantalizing scandal is ignored.While many of his portaits are interesting, most of the biographical sketches are ultimately mere fluff.Enjoyable but disjointed if you do not know your Roman history.Finally, the great British actor Derek Jacobi's audio performance really lifts what is really a three star book.

A Glimpse of 12 Caesars
Reading this book is a bit like being on scene in ancient Rome.The style is not what we are used to in contemporary biographies and that adds to the charm of this volume.The Caesars are exposed for inspection, warts and all.Suetonius breathes life into them as they strut across the stage of the Roman Empire.

If ancient Rome had tabloids...
Not much is known about the life of Gaius Suetonius Tranquillis. He was probably born in A.D. 69--the famous 'year of four Emperors'--when his father, a Roman knight, served as a colonel in a regular legion and took part in the Battle of Baetricum.

Suetonius became a scribe and noted secretary to the military set, eventually ending up in the service of Hadrian, who was emperor from A.D. 117-138. He was dismissed for 'indiscreet behaviour' with Hadrian's empress, Sabina, but not before doing sufficient research to complete many books of a historical nature. His attempts at philosophy were much less well received, and most of his history has been overlooked by all but classical scholars, but this work, 'The Twelve Caesars' has held the imagination of more than just the scholarly set since it was first written.

Suetonius had the good fortune of speaking to eyewitnesses from the time of the early Caesars. Much of his information about Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero in fact comes from those who observed and/or participated in their lives. Suetonius is in many ways more of a reporter than an historian--he would record conflicting statements without worrying about the reconciliation (this set him apart from Tacitus and other classical historians who tried to find a consistency in stories and facts.

Suetonius has been described as the tabloid journalist of ancient Rome, because not only did he not appear to check facts (which in fact is not true--he did check, he just didn't try to smooth over the conflicting facts), but he choose to concentrate on the private lives, motivations and personality quirks of his subjects rather than their grand plans, policies and military/political victories. Thus, many details of the lurid scene appear. Suetonius, and this volume in particular, formed much of the basis for Robert Graves as he wrote 'I, Claudius' and 'Claudius the God', which in turn pulled up the popularity of Suetonius in this generation.

Suetonius had first hand knowledge of many of the Caesars who followed the Claudians, and ready access to the archives of the imperial family and the Senate, given his imperial posting.

This translation is not intended to be a faithful rendering of the language (which might well result in a stilted English construct) but rather a faithful account of the stories Suetonius tells. Graves has taken the liberty of changing monetary, date, and technical terms into standard English measurements of close kinship of meaning.

For the record, the twelve Caesars, about whom Suetonius writes, are:

+ Julius Caesar
+ Augustus
+ Tiberius
+ Gaius Caligula
+ Claudius
+ Nero
+ Galba
+ Otho
+ Vitellius
+ Vespasian
+ Titus
+ Domitian

Suetonius held nothing back in writing about the personal habits of the emperors and their families, nor did he hold back in his moral judgement of them. Of Tiberius, for instance, he wrote that Tiberius did so many other wicked deeds under the pretext of reforming public morals--but in reality to gratify his lust for seeing people suffer--that many satires were written against the evils of the day, incidentally expressing gloomy fears about the future.... At first Tiberius dismissed these verses as the work of bilious malcontents who were impatient with his reforms and did not really mean what they said. He would remark: 'Let them hate me, so long as they fear me!' But, as time went on, his conduct justified every line they had written.

Graves' edition of Suetonius is available under many covers, from hard-back study editions to Penguin paperbacks, including a wonderful, finely printed edition by the Folio Society. Take a step back into the seemier side of ancient Rome, the side most history courses overlook in favour of more traditional historical events, and hie thee to the bookstore for this work.

All the Dirty Laundry!
Seutonius did the world a great service when he wrote his "The Lives of the Twelve Caesars". This was one of the first primary sources that I read, and it remains a favourite of mine.

Seutonius tackles each of the first twelve Caesars in chronological order, with a section on each one. He claims he has used many sources, and has even included some hearsay or otherwise unconfirmed information. He certainly was not shy about airing their dirty laundry.

Unlike a lot of ancient authors that get translated into English, Suetonius' style is very relaxed and very easy to get absorbed into. Even in translation, the book maintains a brisk pace and has enough to keep one interested until the last page.

Suetonius' "The Lives of the Twelve Caesars" is a fascinating book, written with access to sources long lost to us. This is a great book to read and enjoy, simultaneously being good for those interested in serious study of the period.

Fascinating insights into 12 first century leaders
Suetonius book covers the lives and works of the 12 leading Romans of the periode from ca. 70BC to 96AD: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasianus, Titus and Domitianus. He describes their commendable achievements first an then goes in depth into their not so nice qualities too. The account he gives is lively and alive with quite private details of the 12 men. It's a fascinating read that also gives the reader an insight into Roman live in the first century AD ... Read more

Product Description
In DWM 384, both DEREK JACOBI and JOHN SIMM speak exclusively about breathing new life into the Doctor's old nemesis... Ive tried to explain to my son that his dad is going to be, like, the epitome of evil, John Simm laughs, but if I say, I have a fight with Doctor Who, and ask him who he wants to win, hell say Doctor Who! Its one of those opportunities, though, to impress your son in a massive way, and that was just too good to turn down. Julie Gardner was trying to find something for me to do in it, and I kept saying, Look, Im not being painted blue! And then Julie and Russell T Davies said, What about the Master? As soon as they said that, I was like,Youre kidding? Oh yeah! I got really excited about it, but I just had to sit on the news. I wanted to tell people, IM GOING TO BE THE MASTER!!! But it was a secret. Hmft. Also this issue, there's a preview of the devastating climax to Series Three, Last of the Time Lords, as the Doctor, Martha and Jack struggle to save the Earth from the Master's clutches. ... Read more

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9 hours / 8 compact discs ... Read more

Product Description
Balford-le-Nez is a dying seatown on the coast of Essex. But when a member of the town's small but growing Asian community, a Pakistani named Haytham Querashi, is found dead near its beach, his neck broken, sleepy Balford-le-Nez ignites. And working solo, without her long-time partner Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, Sergeant Barbara Havers must probe not only the mind of a murderer and a case very close to her own heart, but the terrible price people pay for deceiving others...and themselves.Amazon.com Review
In Deception on His Mind Sergeant Barbara Havers places herself at the center of an investigation in Essex concerning the mysterious death ofa recently arrived immigrant from Pakistan. Although still recovering fromthe broken ribs and nose (received at the end of In the Presence of theEnemy), Havers convinces herself that she needs to stay on the jobin order to help her neighbor Taymullah Azhar and his elfin daughterHadiyyah who have a familial connection to the dead man. As is typical withElizabeth George's novels (this is the 10th in a popular and powerful series), the murder and its investigation are the central feature of the story. But inthis case they are also the means by which she explores the Pakistaniexperience in a foreign and not always friendly culture. As Havers herselfnotes, the food may well have improved in Britain with an increasinglydiverse population, but that same population has "engendered a score ofpolyglot problems." Whether or not the dead man is a victim of a raciallymotivated crime is only one of the questions Havers tries to sort out. Theresult, with George's typically complex characterizations and deft plot turns,is a deeply satisfying novel. Fans of Havers's superior officer, ThomasLynley, and his lady love Helen Clyde will be disappointed as the twoare off ontheir honeymoon. But with Lynley out of the picture, Havers, with herprickly personality, caustic tongue, and sound investigative skills, comeswell and truly into her own. Nitpickers might question one aspect of thefinal denouement--motive and opportunity are securely in place but the meansare on the outskirts of unbelievable. Still, the book is a rich andenjoyable one that continues to tickle the imagination well after it hasbeen shelved amidst other favorites. --K.A. Crouch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

Havers should butt out or in -- that is the question.
Elizabeth George is the first mystery author that I read who tried to handle the Pakistani population problem in Great Britain. Since that time I've read several and always come to the conclusion that is any vehicle without to lay blame on thewhite racial colonial system that existed before we were born.
Barbara Havers finds an idol whose investigation of a murder is tinged with racial overtones. She is shocked and hurt to discover the woman detective has feet of clay, but it becomes funny when one remembers earlier volumes where Havers damn every man who walked.
Georges' main characters are strong and vivid, but her grasp of social commentary is shallow.
The earlier books in the series are much better mysteries.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Cultural and Religious Errors Detract from Story too Much
I generally like Elizabeth George novels, but this one needed more research, apparently.Her story has at its heart Pakistani Muslims living in the UK, yet George displays shocking ignorance of the culture she spends so many wordy pages writing about.first of all, Pakistani Muslims by and large speak Urdu, not Arabic.Secondly, the dowry in Islam is required to be given from the man to the wife, not the other way around.It is primarily a Hindu, not Muslim, practice for the dowry to go from woman to man, although many Muslim families do prepare their version of a "hope chest" for their daughters to start her out in married life.She misrepresented the roles of women, arranged marriage, and even homosexuality.And she introduced some essential but strange concept of cutting off family that is 100% contrary to Islamic teachings.I wonder if she got her ideas from some amalgamation of Indian Hindu culture and popular media representation of Asians?In any case, it is so wrong on many points that it became impossible to overlook, confusing, and detracting from the story.I think Ms. George didn't try to be insulting by any means, but her lack of proper research is alarming, and it is more alarming that it was published with such inaccuracies, even as a work of fiction.

Havers at Center Stage
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is the principal character in this, the ninth of the Detective Lynley mystery novels.(Detective Lynley is away on his honeymoon.)A Pakistani immigrant is murdered in a seaside town where racial tension is already high, and one of the self-appointed leaders of the immigrant community tries to exploit the situation to his own advantage.Barbara's neighbor Taymullah Azhar, who has had some experience in mediating disputes of this kind, is called in to help the Pakistanis.Havers, on enforced leave because of the injuries she sustained in the previous installment (In the Presence of the Enemy), is concerned that he will endanger himself and his daughter Haddiyah, and manages to get herself assigned to the investigation.There is, of course, much more afoot than the murder that launches the story, and Havers soon finds herself at odds with both Azhar and her superior officer, one Emily Barlow, as she tries to find out what is really going on.Barlow is a domineering, take-no-prisoners personality type who is not disposed to tolerate either Havers' independent thinking or her insubordinate style.Their disagreements about the conduct of the investigation soon escalate, and as they close in on a suspect, Havers must make a terrible choice.

There are several things to recommend this novel besides the well-drawn plot: the author's portrayal of anti-immigrant feeling in the small town; the painful conflicts experienced by a young woman who has grown up in England in a traditional Pakistani family; and, most of all, the fuller picture of Barbara Havers.

Deception on His Mind
Book was Excellent.Developement of characters and plot allowed events to move on their own.Events happened as these personalities would have interacted

A favorite in the series
"Deception on his Mind" by Elizabeth George is, as always, a beautifully written book.Again, as always, I wonder how Ms George can get inside the heads of so many disparate characters.She has an awesome talent.

This tale features Barbara Havers as the main detective.The racism in England might be said to be another "character" in the book, and the conflict between the traditional Pakistani culture and the British culture figures prominently.Ms. George eschews the traditional sort of happy ending in books, but this one, nevertheless, is satisfying and rings true. ... Read more

Product Description

Written as a personal diary for spiritual development, Marcus Aurelius' "meditations" were not meant for publication or prosperity, yet his insights on all aspects of the human condition have provided inspiration and guidance for over eighteen centuries.

The lack of arrogance or self-pity in his ruminations offers proofthat Aurelius passed Lincoln's test of character with flyingcolors. Furthermore, the best way to test a person's writing is togive it time. Once again, Aurelius aced the test. For example,contemporary world leaders would do well to heed his advice under theheading "Talking and Being": "Stop talking about what the good personshould be, and just be that person." Most of these quotes aresimilarly brief as he extols the virtues of working hard, not actingimpulsively, and living in communion with the natural world. Like Thich NhatHanh and Kahlil Gilbran, Marcus Aurelius is an accessible writerof lasting spiritual integrity. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful Little Book
Although the founder of Stoicism was Zeno of Citium (circa 333 B.C.), this philosophy had a far reaching influence on the Roman Empire and even Christianity. Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), mentoree of the Great Emperor, Hadrian, mentor, was the closest to what Plato refers to in his book, The Republic, as The Philosopher King. When thinking of Stoicism we never think of Zeno, but Marcus Aurelius.

Aurelius' text, Meditations, is just as relevant today as it was at the time the philosopher Emperor sat in his tent in the freezing cold with his soliders battling the encroaching 'Barbarians', far from his beloved Rome.

What Mark Forstater has compiled is Aurelius' writings from Meditations in particular catagories, such as "The Cruelty of Anger, "Conceptions of Good", "Meeting Challenges" and my favourite at the moment, as office politics is currently rampant at work, " Social Unity"

"Since you are an integral part of a social system, let every act of yours contribute to the harmonization of social life. Any action that is not related directly or remotely to this social aim disturbs your life, and destroys your unity." (P.105)

Advice that, for me, at least, put the situation(s) in there proper perspective. Do not add to the dis-unity but aim for a concensus, a harmony that all or most can live with.

As an undergraduate, fumbling around the smorgasbord of humanties courses, reading Meditations helped focus my mind towards finding that 'focus' and really begin to learn.

This is a wonderful book to simply "flick" through and discover some relevant advice on life, confrontation, what is the right way to live, love and the soul.

Not Bad
This book received a lot of bad reviews which I don't think it deserved. First of all it is a modern translation of Aurelius--so therefore a little--I should say--a lot more understandable to a modern day reader. And after having read other more literate versions--I don't think much is lost here. The fact Marcus Aurelius has a lot to say to us today--strangly enough--more so than the people of his own era. The into could have been shorter--but the meat of this book (the sayings) is more than worth the price!

Waste of Money
The Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius by Mark Forstater is not a book recommended for any serious student of Stoic teachings.The book contains no actual text from Aurelius' teachings or meditations, rather it contains only Mr. Forstater's thoughts on what Marcus Aurelius was thinking. Furthermore, since Mr. Forstater is not any type of noted scholar in stoicism, I don't understand what prompted him to tackle such an important historical figure. The book would have had much more value to me had it contained actual translations of Aurelius'teachings but unfortunately it didn't even exceed that hurdle.

An uninformed, trivial cash-in on the self-help market
Forstater's book is either an uninformed and trivial glance at one of the masterworks of Western philosophy or a quick-and-dirty attempt to cash in on the self-help market.

Forstater says, in the third paragraph of the preface, "Marcus Aurelius wrote a book of "spiritualexercises" for himself that was in effect the first self-help book ever written."This demonstrates that he never studied Epictetus's Encheiridion; the title itself meaning "ready at hand" or "handbook" in contemporary speech.

This disappointing book is written in two parts. Part One, as said, is a trivial glance at the history and meaning of the Stoa.Part Two consists of some selections from the adequate, Victorian era translation by George Long.These selections have been transliterated into colloquial American with Forstarter's own subjective, subject titles and no references to the original work, such as "Med. XII.1."

Save your money and download the G. Long translation from the net or buy the C. R. Haines translation from Harvard (Loeb Classical Library,) or even the Penguin edition.

A superb reading of a superb text
The other reviewers have thoroughly covered the content of this wonderful work so I will simply add that listening to Derek Jacobi's reading of the text is a sublime experience in itself.It's somewhat like listening to awise Dutch uncle and Jacobi's easy conversational tone (never hectoring orlecturing) makes you want to pay attention to what he's saying. After ahard day it's especially soothing to listen these tapes before retiring. ... Read more

Product Description
This audiobook takes us from Robert Browning's earliest work, through the poet's literary successes and critical disappointments, by way of romantic lyrics such as "Home Thoughts from Abroad". Explanatory commentaries elucidate the works and place them in a historical and biographical context. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The poet of dramatic monologue
This is the opening of one of Browning's most well- known poems "Rabbi Ben Ezra"
Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith ' A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all,
nor be afraid!'

Browning is a poet of the inner life.His dramatic monologues are in the words of F.B. Pinion the editor of the Collins Edition of ' Dramatis Personae' centered on ' the thought- processes and mental outlook of his characters than in dramatic action" The
poems are rich in consideration of the moral and religious problems of his time. Lovers of poetry and students of human relationships can certainly be enriched by the reading of these poems.

one of the greats
Browning is one of the great poets. this selection contains poems such as 'the last dutchess', 'porphyria's lover' and 'childe roland to the dark tower came' which shows browning at his best. this selected poems only whetted my appetite for a complete version. ... Read more

Product Description
The Sourcebooks Shakespeare brings the Shakespeare page to life. This remarkable edition of Romeo & Juliet is both the easiest way to understand the play and the best way to experience the full power and depth of the play.

This dynamic book includes an integrated audio CD that showcases key scenes from great performances past and present. You'll experience the play like never before-it's the next best thing to seeing the play performed live.

Each book offers:
* The full play, with line notes and a concurrent glossary
* Scholars and theatre producers discussing the play and popular culture
* Comments from every cast member of a current production.

This is also a very visual text, including:
* Photographs from great performances
* Costume designs and set renderings from different productions
* Production notes that take you inside the stage experience

Exclusive to The Sourcebooks Shakespeare and like no other edition of Romeo & Juliet, our audio CD and unique focus on the play as performed on the stage and on film brings the play to life.

Hear:
* Ellen Terry from 1911
* The Renaissance Theatre production with Kenneth Branagh, Sir Jon Gielgud and Dame Judi Dench
* Modern scenes with Kate Beckinsale and Joseph Fiennes

Read:
* About the 1811 production in Covent Garden, London
* And see how the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 2005 cast approaches the play

See:
* Page facsimiles from the Garrick-Kemble text from the late 1700s
* Costume designs and set renderings from Sir John Gielgud’s 1935 production
* Photographs from Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann

Narrated by: Sir Derek Jacobi

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Don't anticipate a dry account of the play here
Don't anticipate a dry account of the play here, for ROMEO & JULIET: BRINGING THE SHAKESPEARE PAGE TO LIFE is packed with visuals and interest, even including a cd of great scenes from the Renaissance Theatre production. Photos from notable productions and a compelling audio with narration by Sir Derek Jacobi bring the classic play to new life.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Product Description
In the summer of 1144, a strange calm has settled over England. The armies of King Stephen and Empress Maud, the two royal cousins contending for the throne, have temporarily exhausted each other. On the whole, Brother Cadfael considers peace a blessing, and agrees to accompany a friend to Whales. When Cadfael is captured by an army of Danish mercenaries, he finds himself in the midst of a brotherly quarrel that could plunge an entire kingdom into deadly chaos. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

That's All She Read
[...]

I have now officially read every single Brother Cadfael mystery novel. It took me quite a time to find this one in a format I can access readily. I found it at last on Audible.com and downloaded it to my Kindle2.

This is just barely a mystery. There is a murder. There is a call to track down the killer. The killer is, in fact, revealed. Brother Cadfael does supply the forensics, meager though they be. But that is simply not all that relevant to the story. This is an adventure and love story unlike any Brother Cadfael you have read.

Brother mark, now a deacon in the Bishop of Lichfield's service, arrives at the Abbey of St. peter and St. Paul as he makes his way on a special mission. He is to travel to the two bishops in Wales to present gifts from his own bishop. One is Gilbert, a new bishop, a Norman who speaks no Welsh, and the other is a thoroughly Welsh and well-beloved bishop. The mission is to remind each of the importance of sticking together. Mark asks for and receives Brother Cadfael as companion and translator on his traversals. On the way they meet a young woman, Helleth (sorry, I can't find the spelling online), who is the daughter of a canon who wants her out of the way. The same night as a liegeman of Prince Owine's rebellious brother Cadwallader bisits the prince's court and is thereafter murdered, Helleth disapears and a horse with her.

Jump to main plot. Mark, Cadfael and Helleth all wind up prisoners of the Dublin Danes that Cadwallader has hired to convince Owine to give him back his lands lost after one of his rebellions. Their captors treat them splendidly, and something seems to start up between the tall, robust, sexy Danish captain of the longship that captured Helleth and Cadfael and Helleth herself. As the struggle between Danes, Owine's Welsh and Cadwallader's Welsh goes through a series of broken oaths, sneakiness, ill-considered loyalties, and efforts by Mark at diplomacy, Helleth and the Dane are ever in the background making googoo eyes ever-so-subtly at each other. Meanwhile the man who was supposed to marry Helleth is creeping about. I know, you are rooting for the Dane. Me too. Cadfael gets a few weeks off from sleuthing and just watches it all transpire.

It may be that Cadfael fans will be disappointed, and perhaps this is why the novel was so hard for me to locate. I liked Helleth a lot, she was a refreshing female role. I also liked her Danish sweetie. It's a nice story of a woman who wants to choose her own mate. I suppose Peters made it a Brother Cadfael mystery so his fans would buy the book. After all, that's why I read it, though I liked her other novels I've read that were published under the name Edith Pargeter. I would say the adventure part of the novel is something Sharon Kay Penman could have done more with, but it's fine as a backdrop for the love story.

Just not a mystery, and not as engaging as it should be
I am finding as I read these novels that Peters is not consistent. This one should not be labeled a mystery. Oh there is a body and early enough that one thinks a mystery is to be solved, but Cadfael certainly has no part in it, or so little at the begining that one thinks that Peters/Pargeter wanted to indulge in the aspects of the time period that she found more fascinating.

Through 17 earlier adventurers we have warmed to Brother Cadfael and seen that his keen mind and his ability to be a deep study of human nature leads him to uncover man's basest nature, that of the murderer. Here in this novel we see that Cadfael still is an observer of humanity and history, but his skill set in solving crime is unneeded. Prince Owain and his brother Cadwaladr have a falling out. Cadwaladr is banished, in order to get back to his lands, he hires Dane raiders from Dublin, hence the title.

Cadfael happens to be deep in Wales and far from Shrewsbury as a translator for his old protege, Brother Mark and immediately he is caught up on the edge of events. But the body and the murder have little to do with the Danes and the two princely brothers. Indeed at the end of the book, Peters just conveniently resolves it. What happened to the smart Cadfael who allowed me to read alongside his discoveries to solve the mystery too?

Lust for Power
THE SUMMER OF THE DANES, number 18 in this charming medieval series by the late Ellis Peters was my introduction. Stories have been told and characters set and it left many questions about what went before, maybe enough to set me to reading the entire series.
An older style with long descriptions of the landscape of Wales and travels, which were beautifully done. Today's reader would do well to take it on a long flight where you have time to read and nowhere else to go.
The murder is almost lost in the struggle between the participants and remains a mystery until the last pages.
Nash Black, HAINTS and WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS

Strained relations
This 18th chronicle of Brother Cadfael has less about him and more about history. In fact, he really only appears at the beginning and at the ending and doesn't have any hand at all in the solving of crimes. The story springs from the tempestuous relationship between Owain Gwynedd, Prince of Wales and Cadwaladr, his treacherous and headstrong younger brother. The brothers have had no peace between them for years as Cadwaladr is forever plotting to seize power for himself, being beaten at this game by his brother and then counting on the strong family ties that exist in all Welshmen, to be forgiven and taken back into the fold. This time, he has gone too far however, and has hired Danish mercenaries to attack Owain's troops. These Danes have been settled in Ireland for generations (a fact I did not know) and were just as much Irish as Danish and were Christian to boot! It was an interesting read for the historical contents alone, even if Cadfael scarcely appeared.

not quite as good as the rest of the series
The first 50 pages are mostly travelogue, and the next 50 pages are mostly set-up.The story doesn't really take off until around page 115.Once it gets going, it's good, but I found myself skimming huge paragraphs of bucolic description in the beginning.It's worth reading if you're working your way through the series, but if you're looking for an introduction to the Cadfael series, don't start with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The most popular epic of Western culture springs to life in Allen Mandelbaum's magnificent translation.

Homer's masterpiece tells the story of Odysseus, the ideal Greek hero, as he travels home to Ithaca after the Trojan War—a journey of ten years and countless thrilling adventures. Rich in Greek folklore and myth, featuring gods and goddesses, monsters and sorceresses, The Odyssey has enchanted listeners around the world for thousands of years.

Mandelbaum's robust, romantic, lyrical translation has an openness and immediacy unsurpassed by any other. Read aloud, it is a wonderful way to experience this enduring classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Major Issues with Kindle Edition
I have no beef with the translation, but the Kindle edition of this particular book is missing pretty much all of Book XV.If you need this, get the print version off of Amazon -- it's almost as cheap, especially when you consider that they skimmed a little off of the top by removing a chunk of the actual content. It's pretty easy to transfer print to Kindle format, why remove around twenty pages? It's infuriating.

Great version of odyssey
This is a fabulous way to experience the Odyssey. It was meant to be (and originally was) oral. This is a wonderful translation read by a truly great actor (and great reader). Gripping! I highly recommend this version. Good for older kids too.

"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkel
The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home, Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no one else survives to tell the tale. Therefore, we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but also the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.


The Odyssey

Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

get the Lattimore instead
Although Mandelbaum's translation of the Divine Comedy is well-done and highly recommended, I don't think too much of his translation of the Odyssey:it reads stiffly and is very dense going.

If you're gonna read it, I would recommend the Lattimore translation (0060931957), which reads much more clearly and naturally.

This ain't just me:look at the difference in the Amazon reviews.

Hear the Sirens sing.
When I was a younger lad, I bought Richard Lattimore's translation, which is a grandiose bore.Then I had the good fortune to read Mandelbaum's Aeneid, which shines.This brought me to Mandelbaum's Odyssey. And it is the ideal Odyssey for scholarship and pleasure:

-The language is simple and strong.Mandelbaum knows his job--he tells the story simply and brings the ancient genius of Homer through with vigor and clarity.Occasionally Mandelbaum goes on a stint of rhyme and that's distracting, but overall the translation is beautiful.

-There's a well-drawn map of Ancient Greece in the beginning that really sets the scene for the wild sea adventures.

-One of the complaints I often hear about epics is that the many characters are difficult to keep straight. Mandelbaum solves this by giving us a comprehensive glossary in the back of the book that explains who everyone is and lists the page numbers of where they occur in the book.

-Another thing makes this a swift read is that, at the beginning of each book, Mandelbaum gives a quick summary of what's about to happen (a fantastic feature for reference and review).

Thus, with the book summaries, the glossary, and the map, you always know where you are in the epic--so while Odysseus wanders, you are never lost. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Horror Defined and Refined
M.R. James' "Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories" is not a simple anthology of classic English ghost stories of the 19th century, but rather a well-researched and annotated compilation of some of most thoughtful stories of the supernatural ever written.Given the changes in language, custom, and style that have elapsed since James penned these tales, the annotation is critical in fully enjoying these great stories, while at the same time providing interesting historical context and appropriate anecdotes.While most all of the stories are similar in tone, "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad" is probably the best known - a haunting tale with frightening imagery that set the baseline for the more visceral horror fiction of the 20th century.And then there's the spooky "The Ash-Tree," and "The Mezzotint" - a theme that has been repeated in contemporary literature and film.

On that note, however, a word of caution: these stories are not the gory, gaudy, "slasher" fright stories of Stephen King or other contemporary writers.Instead, the Victorian version of a ghost story was expectedly more reserved and less sensational, relying on nuance and imagination - with healthy does of ambiguity - than today's works of terror that leave little to the imagination.This is by no means a criticism of modern horror - but if you're expecting Peter Straub's "Ghost Story" or King's "Salem's Lot," you may find the prose and settings a bit boring and the pace at points tedious.Notwithstanding, the ghost story fan will want to read this as fascinating insight into the origins of the genre - insight that is not without spine-tingling moments and a more "civilized" version of terror.Think of the brilliance of Hitchcock, for example, in his ability to produce the mind-numbing fear of "Psycho" in spite of the motion picture rating constraints of the day.M.R. James produces some of these same effects through prose and plotting - a neat collection of entertaining stories that will keep you up late into the night - frightened or otherwise.

Stories Awesome: Annotation Lame!
The stories of Mr. James are above reproach; unique in English literature for being subtle and creepy at the same time and shaped by James' knowledge of medieval history, English history, and the occult. The question for the reader is whether they want to pony up [...] for the Penguin annotated editions of James' tales, as the James repertoire is in the public domain and you could read many of these stories for free on the internet and / or get a [...] copy of the "Collected Ghost Stories" from Wordsworth Press and get 30 out of 33 of the stories featured in the two combined Penguin volumes. So the question then is are Joshi's notes and intros worth about [...]?

S.T. Joshi is an immensely gifted editor and critic. His studies of the "Weird Tale" are modern classics in the field, and the immense work he has put into his Lovecraft bio and his annotated Lovecraft volumes are a paradigm. There is no doubt that if Mr. Joshi put the full focus of his attention on working with James' material that he could have easily justified the purchase price for these books. Unfortunately, Joshi, for whatever reasons, just went through the motions here and produced a fairly pedestrian work of annotation and criticism to accompany the text.

Joshi's annotated Lovecraft or annotated Blackwood (also available from Penguin) are superb works of annotation - each story has copious notes explaining themes and background of the work at hand. In approaching James though, Joshi appears dutiful at best or even bored. Many tales here have less than half a dozen bland notes, and many of the notes are nothing more than scutwork, translations and nutshell bios of historical figure mentioned.

This would be fine if James needed no annotation. (But then why buy these books at all?) The true issue is that James' work would indeed benefit from some first grade notes. For instance "The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral" is a story involving an ambitious clergyman who schemes to murder his inconvenient predecessor who is holding him from a promotion. The career of the sinister cleric has many subtle details that point up James' low opinion of him based on his theology and clerical administration policies.

For a modern reader who is not fully aware of Episcopalian intra-denominational quarrels in the late 19th Century, knowing this info will add a new level of depth and interest to the story. Instead, Joshi tells us none of this and simply translates a few Latin phrases and fleshes out a few Biblical citations, something the ordinary reader with internet access could do on their own with a [...] copy of the stories.In comparison, Joshi's notes in his annotated Lovecraft for "Herbert West Reanimator" (one of the slightest and most pulpy of fictions in the HPL body of work) are far more detailed, engaging, and affectionate.

Now you might say "well who cares about Episcopalian church governance squabbles of the 19th Century?" and indeed the Barchester story works very well even if the reader knows none of the "extrinsic" detail. But yet the entire point of an annotated edition is to add maximum depth and detail to a story for those interested in pursuing such a level of analysis. To provide a minimalist annotation defeats the entire purpose of the endeavor, as the reader may be better served by dispensing with the slight commentary offered and simply reading the work in question cheaply or for free while doing their own cursory research as needed for historical figures, translations, etc.

The problem may be that Joshi is well-known for his postulate that a Christian perspective is incompatible with effective horror writing. Joshi is a rather strident atheist and feels that atheism and similar godless perspective make for the most creative and interesting horror. I see his point, but yet the existence of effective horror by pious men like Hawthorne and Montague Rhodes James acts as a counterpoint to Joshi's thesis. This is not to say that Joshi sets out to sabotage James with lame notes - rather it perhaps shows why Joshi viewed this particular exercise as a bore and a task rather than a pleasure.

I do not wish to psychoanalyze the editor too much; my theory above may be entirely wrong. However, the heart of the matter is that if we compare Joshi's notes and analyses on the stories of the pantheistic Blackwood, the existensialist Lovecraft, or the atheist Ligotti, we see that he has done a much better job than here. Maybe this is due to the fact that he finds these others more personally simpatico, or perhaps he simply finds detailed textual analysis of James to be uninteresting.

In any case, the ultimate answer to the question of whether a reader should purchase these two volumes of James' ghost stories is probably not. The much cheaper Wordsworth edition (though less aesthetically pleasing) will offer all the pleasures of the original text (or 90% of them anyway), the somewhat cheaper Oxford World Classics Edition though offering only 20 or so tales has a far better intro and notes by Michael Cox, and for the ultimate discount, most of these tales are in the public domain and can be tracked down and read for free over the internet. Joshi, though ordinarily adding enough value to an annotated edition to justify a higher price, has fallen down on the job here and given us a bare-bones minimal effort annotation effort.

Can anyone who has this audiobook please list the titles of the stories?
This is the kind of information which would really help in a decision to buy audiobooks, but Amazon isn't always very good at listing it.Thank you.

The greatest ghost stories ever published
For several years when she was growing up my daughter and I made a habit of from time to time gathering all the candles we can muster, lighting them, turn off the electrical lights and reading one of the stories in this collection.

What Conan Doyle is to the detective story, James is to the ghost story. These are not horror stories. No gore is to be found, no monsters, no savagery. One can find a subtle horror, a persistent sense that there are things in this world that we have either forgotten or never discovered.

If one has ever engaged in any historical research on the occult (which I have undertaken as an extreme nonbeliever), one will come across several ancient books and manuscripts in the field that were edited by M. R. James. He was not merely the writer of perfect ghost stories; he was an authority in the field of occult beliefs and practices. This concrete grounding accounts for much of the realistic feel to the researches of many of the characters in his stories.

Academic and Exciting Ghost Stories
M.R. James' scholarship in the areas of medieval manuscripts and church history manifest themselves in appreciable ways throughout his many stories. The stories range from definitively supernatural (Canon Alberic's Scrap-Book) to those that really allow you to question the reality of the events described ("'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You My Lad'"). James has a wonderful grasp of just how much background story is necessary to create story and character depth, while at the same time establishing a mood conducive to truly spooky and chilling revelations.

Jame's training and knowledge allow him to tap into real history and geography, as well as invent things which seem utterly plausible - the Penguin notes are helpful in circumventing extensive research to determine whether a place is real or not, and what historical relevance there might be for the story. However, those not interested in this may grow tired of the notes and those pursuing studies will find the recommended reading of far more pertinence.

This is a nice, portable introduction to M.R. James' ghost stories and is highly recommended to those that are interested in the gothic and to anyone who enjoys a good short story. ... Read more

Product Description
Award-winning author Elizabeth George gives us an early glimpse into the lives f Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James, and Lady Helen Clyde in a superlative new mystery that is also a fascinating inquiry into the crimes of the heart.Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton, has brought to Howenstow, his family home, the young woman he has asked to be his bride.But the savage murder of a local journalist is the catalyst for a lethal series of events that shatters the calm of a picturesque Cornwall village and embroils Lynley and St. James in a case far outside their jurisdiction--and a little too close to home.When a second death follows closely on the heels of the first, Lynley finds he can't help taking the investigation personally--because the evidence points to a killer within his own family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Backstory
Havers stops by for a moment, but Elizabeth George's A SUITABLE VENGEANCE is pure backstory for the complex relationship of Linley, St. James and Deborah. The mystery is insignificant and secondary to the story.
The time frame is set a few years prior to the story line of THE GREAT DELIVERANCE where we first met these extraordinary characters and well worth the read.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Rated PG13 For Foul Language and Sexual Situations
I don't recommend. But I enjoyed reading it. I love the characters and the mystery. I don't like the attitude towards sex outside of marriage. I also don't like the foul language.

Very Slow Start, But a Good Book Overall
"A Suitable Vengeance" starts out extremely slowly, so slowly in fact, that I put the book down after 75 pages of inaction and did not pick it up again for two weeks, having read two books in between. The first third of the book is concerned mostly with personal matters between Deborah, Lynley, and St. James, as well as introducing several characters we will get to know later. It's really quite boring to read, and I think George would have done well to have edited this first section down considerably.

Once the murder actually occurs (around 120 pages in), the story picks up speed and becomes rather enjoyable. I personally have very little interest in George's love triangle, but at least in the last thirds of the novel it takes a backseat to the mystery for the most part, only to reappear again to take the spotlight in the last 20 pages or so. The mystery itself is fairly convoluted and at one point, I stopped trying to figure out who did it and just went along for the ride.

Despite the tedious beginning, "A Suitable Vengeance" is a nice addition to the Lynley series, although I would only read it after having read at least one of the first three books in the series, as events in this book are mentioned in the earlier books.

Twists and Turns
I gave a rating of three because I had figured out the culprit after a third of the story was read. Though I knew the probable culprit, James continued to add twists and turns to thicken the plot. I liked the way James led the reader through a maze of reasoning behind the murder of Mick Cambrey, a journalist -- from a drug deal that soured to the discovery of a plot to run guns. Aside from the 'why' of the murder, the oddity of Cambray as a character (the reader has to read it for him/herself) and the circumstances of the rest of the characters provided a diversion that tried to draw the reader away from the obvious.

Back Story
This is the fourth in the "Inspector Lynley Mystery" series, but it does not pick up where the previous novel left off.It is set a few years earlier in time, and gives us some of the back story of Thomas Lynley, Earl of Asherton, and some of the people closest to him:Simon St. James, Deborah Cotter, and Lady Helen Clyde.All of them--and some important relatives--are together at Lynley's Cornwall estate when a local man is found murdered, and soon thereafter one of Lynley's house guests is found dead under ambiguous circumstances.Although the local police have jurisdiction, Lynley and St. James become involved, not in their official capacities but in effect as private detectives, as people close to both of them become prime suspects. Although the crimes are eventually solved, the main emphasis in this book is on the emotional lives of the principal characters.As Lynley and St. James try to exonerate their loved ones, they must cope with conflicts that arise from the discovery of damaging evidence.Of course the reader expects both of them to "do the right thing"--but the issues are interwoven with the conflicting loyalties arising from their shared history. Both men must ultimately uncover painful truths about themselves that will have implications for the rest of the series.

In structure and emphasis, then, this book is quite different from the three published before it.The sharply-drawn class conflict that is so well done in Elizabeth George's other novels is also mostly absent from this one, except for a masterful depiction of the country life of British aristocrats.An elaborate dinner party at Howenstowis described in such perfect detail that we can almost taste the salmon pastry and smell the post-prandial brandy.In many ways, the scene might have come from a 1930's movie--and that, I think, is the author's point.

With a wink to her existing readers, George brings on Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers for a cameo appearance.The circumstances are unpleasant and there is no hint of her future importance.For that, the reader must hurry to the next book in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
Elizabeth George, award-winning author of For the Sake of Elena, has earned acclaim and a standing with the masters of psychological suspense. In this three-hour abridgment of her sixth novel. George plays out the tangled, intimate relationships that bring men and women together with passion, with grief, or with the intent to kill.

Missing Joseph

Chance and bad weather led forensic scientist Simon St. James's wife, Deborah, and the vicar of Winslough to London's National Gallery. While viewing Leonardo da Vinci's study for his painting Virgin and Child, the vicar comments that Joseph is missing from the picture. which strikes a chord with Deborah, whose inability to bear a child has caused her much pain and widened the growing rift in her marriage. Comforted by the vicar's words and affected by his description of the solitude surrounding his northern village, Deborah persuades Simon to take her on a country holiday in Lancashire to regain her peace of mind and see the vicar again. Only one detail mars their plans -- the discovery that the vicar is dead.

His death is ruled "death by misadventure," a case of accidental poisoning. But as Simon quickly realizes, accidentally ingesting this particular poison is nearly impossible. With the assistance of his old friend Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, he intends to find out why no charges were brought against the mysterious, sensual woman who met with the vicar on the night he died and fed him a dinner laced with death.

The answer lies hidden among the gloomy moors and winter mists of a rural northern village and in the dark, complex relationships among those who live there.

Derek Jacobi won a Tony award for his performance in Much Ado About Nothing on Broadway. On Television, he played the title role I, Claudius, His film credits include Little Dorrit and Henry V. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Too Many Subplots
A murder in the rectory, but why kill a priest who is about to perform a wedding ceremony? A strong beginning to a plodding novel as too many subplots clog the narrative.
Elizabeth George's MISSING JOSEPH is a must read for fans of B. Havers and Insp. T. Lynley, but it will take some careful reading to match all the characters to their purpose in the story.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.

Missing Joseph
Elizabeth George has really extended herself in "Missing George"to the point where the whole story borders on the truly unbelievable.We have colorful and well developed characters, multi-faceted plots and subplots, with teenage problems, witchcraft practicing priest's housekeeper, salacious mother, obnoxious rapist constable, and last but not least the British aristocratic ex CID agent, Thomas Linley.Wow...what's left??

Well, there is more.We have thegroom who really doesn't love his pregnant bride to be, who happens to be very very rich, and a priest who doesn't show cause he's been murdered! Then there's the rectory housekeeper who has the hots for the errant groom and vice-versa.When all the above is sorted out and we come to the finish of this convoluted novel, the ending shocks us.Not George's best, by my standard, but readable and reasonably interesting.

E.J. Walden, author of "Operatin Snow Owl"

Writes like a real Brit
It's hard to believe that the author is an American.All of her books are set in England and she writes like a classic British mystery writer.The characters of the recurring actors develop through each new book and her ability to create brief vignettes of new characters is masterful.She can get a bit wordy and tiresome at times -- actually most of the time - but she is well worth reading.

pure George
Last year a friend gave me George's latest work and I got hooked on the life of the main character, Sir Thomas Lynley. After I finished that one, I realized I had to read the earlier works to understand the whole character development. George's attention to detail of the physical as well as the emotional aspects of the story are amazing. If you are a detective/mystery fan, I highly recommend any one of her books as a starting point. They can stand alone or as part of the whole series. Now I have to order a couple more. . . . . .

a fine examination of human nature and self preservation
I must say that I consider Elizabeth George my favorite author, and by far prefer her to P.D. James, who is more highly accaliamed than I understand.But back to this book, I found it to be one of my favorites from George, and I have read them all. One of her greatest strengths as an author is her choice of murderers.She rarely chooses someone who is simply mentally disturbed/perverted/psychopathic hiding in the shadows of some unpleasant trailer.She chooses to examine the killer that we all tend to put out of our mind- the ordinary person who is driven over the edge by extraordinary circumstances.She puts a face and a story with the idea of a murderer, and introduces them to us as a normal character.

Her books do tend to be so intricatly woven that they are probably not for everyone, but I find this writing style refreshing.Fast-paced american thrillers are not very relaxing, though they are entertaining and a quick read.George forces us as readers to slow down and smell the roses... and take in the english countryside... and stay for a cup of tea and a chat.No detail is left unnoticed, no character undeveloped.If this is her fault, it is also her strength.It sets her writing style apart and makes her truly unique in a genere that is synonomous with tired plotlines and standard characters.I hope she continues writing for many years to come! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Sir Derek Jacobi's masterful reading is pure pleasure
I recall asking a bookseller years ago if he had this Jacobi audio narration of The Iliad in his store. His response, "We don't do audio. Bookstores are for books." Fine and dandy. But The Iliad was an oral poem to begin with, and for those who want to hear it, regardless of having read it or not, there is no better place to start. Yes, it is abridged, but the choice of abridgement seems sensible, though I would have preferred the poem in its entirety. Another reviewer refers to Jacobi, a mentor of Kenneth Branaugh, as the greatest living Shakespearean actor. Though there are many fine Shakespearean actors currently performing around the world in dozens of fascinating roles, it is easy to imagine that Jacobi is one of the finest. His reading of Homer's ILIAD is intense and riveting and a must for fans of the poem in English. PS: Check out Jacobi in his most brilliant performance as the lead in I CLAUDIUS (available on DVD and VHS).

N.B. : this Robert Fagles translation/Derek Jacobi narrated audio version is also available on AUDIO CASSETTE (here at amazon)

Sir Ian McKellen's very fine narration of Fagles' translation of The Odyssey in an unabridged audio cassette recording is available for purchase here at amazon.com.

Sir Derek Jacobi's narration of Allen Mandelbaum's translation of The Odyssey is available in abridged CD or audio cassette versions, also here at [...]. As I am a big fan of Jacobi, it is odd that I've not yet listened to his Odyssey reading.

Great Buy for Those Who Hate to Read
Reading's wonderful. There's nothing like curling up with one and leaving reality for an hour or two. But it's even nicer to lay back, close one's eyes and listen to this wonderful classic tale told by the greatest living Shakespearian actor on the planet. And this translation of the Iliad is perfect for such storytelling.

A friend, criticizing Brad Pitt's Achilles in the recent movie TROY, complained that Pitt's portrayal of the world's greatest warrior was one who was too much of a philosopher and cynic. "Just like Homer's Achilles," I reminded him. And there's no shortage of Achilles' righteous indignation at the pompous Agamemnon, son of Atreus, who sacrificed his only daughter, Iphigenia, to Artimis for favorable winds to ill-fated Troy. Given this, it should be no trouble choosing sides: Agamemnon, the great king of kings or Achilles, of whom Agamemnon called "the most dangerous man I've ever met."

Jacobi first came to the attention of many Americans for his portrayal of the Roman Emperor Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, the wily old republican who became the adoptive father of Nero, the mad emperor. Since the death of Lawrence Olivier, Jacobi has generally been regarded as the greatest living Shakespearian actor. Olivier, in his last days, apparently disagreed, saying Jacobi was greater than he. In the midst of all this modesty and tribute, the viewer/listener will have to come to his or her own conclusion.

This is a wonderful CD.

... Read more

Product Description
Abridged 2 Cassettes ... Read more

Product Description
A dazzling blend of farce and morality, this play explores human frailty and social hypocrisy. Sir Robert Chilton's secret is discovered and exposed. He is accused of having exploited government secrets for his own gain early in his political career. With this revelation from Mrs. Cheveley comes the threat of blackmail and the ruin of Sir Robert's career. Yet in order to be a successful blackmailer, one's own reputation must be beyond reproach. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A Wildely Witty Comedy
Surely, this is one of the most hilarious comedies ever written by anyone. Every page of the script offers up lines of pure, gracefully articulate wit. Wilde's insight is prodigious and relevant as it could have been written as easily about Wall Street as London of 1895: "Private information is practically the source of every large modern fortune." This is the playwright who, when passing through customs into Canada, was asked if he had anything to declare and replied, "Only my genius." The movie with Rupert Everett is spectacularly funny. Wilde has the ability to criticize high society so cleverly that the paradoxes he frames almost seem a compliment. "Fashion is what wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear." And this one: "Vulgarity is simply the conduct of other people." And this great truth: "Soooner or later we all have to pay for what we do." Wilde was a real genius. I strongly recommend that you read his play.

An Ideal Husband
This is a great play, the things that happen with the characters is extremley funny because it deals with morality and marital issues that still exist. The play is set in the late 1800s early 1900s in England. It is a perfect example of how we over anaylize things in society and that if we just "let go" ofwhat an ideal relationship is we will see thatthe acceptance of two individuals is the foundation for a healthy, long lastingrelationship and that there really is no princess or prince charming. What I found to be the funniest thing about it is that the one character who naturally got this without a scandel came off to me as being the most shallow and superfical of the characters. Mabel really has no substance to her, she's not very bright and loves being scolded. Yet at the end of everything is the only one who doesnt waist time trying to anaylize everything that goes on in her relationships with people. I guess we all can learn something from those different from us after all.

Politics, love and black mail - what more could you want?
I actually read An Ideal Husband, a play by Oscar Wilde last month but am just now getting around to reviewing it.

This play contains politics, love, and black mail what more could you want? Turmoil revolves around the main character's ability to handle a threat to reveal a dark secret from his past and possibly jeopardize his marriage.You'll read how each person responds to this information and some great interactions with one another.The deep story line discusses human morals, remorse and the question of if a loved one can accept faults.

I really enjoyed this play. It was a quick read with a story that still works today, a truly timeless piece. If you are looking for a fun steady tale that will make you smile this is the play to pick up.

"Life repeats itself meaninglessly"- T.S. Eliot
The play is a description of the morals and values of Victorian England, where a good hearted man, Chiltern is torn apart between remorse over a mistake he committed in the past and his love and devotion to his wife.
It was quite fascinating to read Chiltern's thoughts of being a victim of feminine adoration as opposed to his masculine love that accepts loved one's imperfections.

Apparently, Wilde believes that the acceptance of loved ones' flaws is a key part of love. Oscar Wilde examines love, honesty, friendship, and forgiveness with a humorous, forcibly happy ending.
Nice plot that cleverly mixes seriousness with humor and cynicism with hope. Each character is attractively built, even Mrs. Cheveley, who is the quintessential evil lady, is frankly an attractive evil character
A century later, the same moral irony and the same human nature still exist.

Great easy Wilde's book
This book is a great nineteenth century literature of one of mi favourites writers ever . It makes a great picture of the english bourgeoisie of the century combined with humour, sarcasm and moral content. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The best, and not-so best, of Ellis Peters
Ellis Peters has made the medieval mystery novel what it is today, setting high standards not only for historical accuracy but for believable characters, well-thought-out plots, and exquisite writing.Unfortunately, she doesn't always live up to these standards herself.
This package comprises some of the high points of the series:Monk's Hood, St. Peter's Fair (which has a far more satisfying conclusion than the rather simplistic TV movie), The Heretic's Apprentice, and especially The Potter's Field, which begins quietly but turns into a powerful tale of youthful idealism and middle-aged passion.
The Summer of the Danes has memorable characters and a beautifully described excursion outside the confines of Shrewsbury, and Peters cleverly links the fortunes of Cadfael et al. to significant events in Welsh history (which she has also made into a series of novels).But, a couple of chapters into the story, the author forgets that Brother Mark can't speak Welsh and Cadfael is supposed to be there as his interpreter (well, maybe it's a miracle, but in that case she forgot to credit St. Winifrid!).
Likewise, in Brother Cadfael's Penance, our hero unravels a murder using physical evidence plus a fishy explanation offered by the perpetrator;later on he discovers that the murder was avenged by someone who identified the murderer without access to any of the evidence!Again, the characters and the setting are vivid, the "real" history is an integral part of the story, and Brother Cadfael's conflict between his duties as a monk and as a father makes for an engaging tale -- but the implausibility of the "payoff" seriously weakens the novel.
I feel that, in general, this has the highest consistent quality of any contemporary mystery series.All the novels are worth reading, but some require tongue placed firmly in cheek first. ... Read more