Product Description
"The story begins with my father, actually, and the fact that I'm the one who's answerable for his death.  It was not my first crime, as you will see, but it is the one my mother couldn't forgive."

In her astonishing New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Elizabeth George reveals the even darker truth behind this startling confession. Playing for the Ashes is a rich tale of passion, murder and love in which Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers once again
find themselves embroiled in a case where nothing--and no one--is really what it seems.  Intense, suspenseful and brilliantly written, Playing for the
Ashes will make readers "search out the sleuthing pair's first six adventures...a treasure," as Cosmopolitan predicted in their review.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

A STICKY WICKET
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and superbly crafted book, in which two apparently disparate strands of narrative become woven together, albeit not altogether convincingly. That's to say, there is much reliance on coincidence, and at nearly 700 pages the plot is in danger at times of sinking under its own weight. But that is offset by the interplay between characters, particularly Inspector Lynley and D/S Havers, and you can always skip some of the more introspective passages and cut to the chase. But to give this less than five stars is an insult, particularly when you compare the quality of the prose to that of some of the best-sellers. Note to proof-readers: It's Belleek!

Not up to this author's usual standards
I love Elizabeth George's Lynley / Havers series, but this particular novel has been a huge disappointment. The characters are so unappealing that you don't care wha happens to them at the end. The plot - or rather, a weird jumble of unconnected bits and pieces that pass for a plot - is very boring. A large chunk of the novel is narrated by a character who is so pompous that it is painful to read her endless musings about nothing.
The good news, though, is that this is probably the weakest book in the series. So pick up any other novel by George and you will be in for a real treat.

Great Plot--Poor Characters
The character of Olivia in Elizabeth George's PLAYING FOR THE ASHES is just plain weird. Despite the intricate plotting and intricate story line it was a difficult book to finish.
As a writer of romance Ms. George does not excel. Lynley and Helen seem pathetic cross matches rather than friends on the way to the alter. Maybe Ms. George should invest in a critical editor.
PLAYING FOR THE ASHES is not the worst in this series, but it will run it a close second.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Skip this one
Skip this one if you are an Elizabeth George fan.There is not one sympathetic character in the lot, save Lynley and Havers and Lynley doesn't come off that good. Olivia is despicable and goes on and on for pages that should have disappeared under the editor's red pen.I suppose no one dares edit George now that she is such a huge success.Pity.The rest of the characters are totally without redemption, especially Jimmy, who may have the filthiest mouth yet.A little British slang goes a long way.Every other word about procreation is just too much.

Another excellent George
Elizabeth George continues her string of successful British mysteries (amazing, as she is an American).Even minor characters such as the milkman who appears for a few pages are believable people, and the plot is nicely complicated, involving the death of a cricket player (have no fear, my fellow Americans...it is not necessary to know anything about the game).The one discouraging note is that Inspector Lynley continues in his determination to marry Helen even though, as he admits on one page, she is entirely unsuitable for him. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1925, while the Tolkien's were on holiday at Filey in Yorkshire, four-year-old Michael lost his beloved little toy dog. To comfort him, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote Roverandom, a story about a real dog, Rover, who is turned into a toy by a wizard. When dropped on the beach by a small boy, the toy is transported to the moon along the path of light the moon makes when it shines over the sea. The Man in the Moon renames him 'Roverandom' and gives him wings. Roverandom sets out on a series of adventures, encountering the Great White Dragon and other moon fauna like giant spiders and dragon moths. Finally, back on earth, Roverandom travels under the sea inside Uin, oldest of the whales, to ask the wizard who changed him into a toy to undo the spell. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Good Short Story
No complaints in the least.I bought the paperback, and it has worked out very well.The paper is good, there are little to no printing errors, and the spine is relatively in the same condition as the day I pulled it out of the box.One of may favorite qualities of this book is the inclusion of four illustrations from the hand of Tolkien himself, offering further insight into the story as Tolkien envisioned it.

Even though this book is geared for a younger audience, I found it a quite enjoyable read.At just over a hundred papers, it isn't very long--taking me only a few days of very casual reading.However, this perfectly suits the tone of the story: the journey of a young dog after being cursed by a wizard.

Charming, little-known story
Long before Tolkien constructed the sweeping landscapes of Middle Earth, he created this charming series of improbable events. It started on a summer holiday, when a small nephew lost a favorite stuffed toy at the beach. In order to console the stricken child, Tolkien narrated these rambling adventures of a stuffed toy much like the one lost. 'Roverandom,' as the little toy dog is eventually named, meanders across the countryside, to the moon and back, and to a mermaid land beneath the sea in a series of gentle adventures, carefully stripped of any truly dark moments or frightening parts. It comes across as a mild-mannered but pleasant way to entertain a small child, much the same way that Beatrix Potter's Fairy Caravan did.

As a result, it charmed me at a level too deep to resist. My own father told my brothers and me similar rambling, safe adventures when we were small. Perhaps his stories, like these, were slightly inane in themselves and he was certainly no Tolkien, but that doesn't matter. They arose from a base of paternal caring, they were created uniquely for us, and we loved them. Even if the editors hadn't done such a meticulous job of documenting the stories' origins, I would have recognized the same affectionate spirit in these as in my father's.

But the editors, Scull and Hammond, did a fine, scholarly job of researching these stories. Roughly twenty pages of introduction describe the stories as they grew in their telling, by comparing different editions from Tolkien's files. Then, another fifteen pages of endnotes explain literary references and obscure terms scattered throughout the stories. Although academically rigorous, these bits of research contrast sharply with the tone of the stories they describe.

If you just take the Roverandom stories themselves, you'll find a fine bit of literary comfort food, well suited to any read-to-me kid with a bit of imagination. Tolkien completists might also be interested in this early stage of Tolkien's storytelling skills, but the gentle warmth in these stories is enough for me.

- wiredweird

How to comfort a child who's lost a toy
Let's face it, the only reason most people would read this story would be because they're curious to see how Tolkien writes when his subject is not rings and Hobbits. I was, frankly, surprised to see that he'd ever published anything non-Middle-Earthy. Roverandom certainly wasn't advertised much. It is set in a rather fantastical version of the present-day (or at least of Tolkien's present-day) and is definitely a story for children (with a few winks to any adults who may be reading the story aloud). True, the narration contains all that is wryest and most whimsical of Tolkien's humor, but other than that, Roverandom bears no resemblance to The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. But there's a warmth and affection in Roverandom that those other books do not contain, and that is best explained, I think, by the story's origin. According to the introduction, Tolkien and his family were on vacation near the sea one year when his children were young. One day when they were visiting the beach, one of his little boys lost his favorite toy, a tiny lead dog, in the sand. The whole family searched hard that day and the next, but they never found the toy again. To comfort his grieving son, Tolkien invented a story about how the toy was truly a real dog who had been enchanted and how he had to go off and have marvelous adventures in order to regain his proper shape. And so Roverandom was conceived--a love story, not in that it contains a tale of romance, but in that it was told out of love for a child. And that alone makes it beautiful.

Classic Adventure and Sweet Story
in a sentence or so: a naughty little puppy named Rover is quite rude to a crotchety magician. the magician, needless to say, does not take too kindly to Rover's rudeness and turns him into a toy pup. will Rover be able to ever become a real puppy again?

Rover, who reminds me a lot of the Pokey Little Puppy (which is like my FAVE children's book ever), ticks off a magician. his journey then begins on finding his way back to becoming a real dog. he is put in a store window and purchased by a mom for her son, Boy 2 (her second child). Boy 2 is smitten with the toy Rover, but Rover is more concerned about become real again, not just being some little boy's toy. one day on the beach, Rover slips out of Boy 2's pocket and waits in the sand for another magician to help guide him on his journey towards real-dog-hood again.

this was a really creative story. and no wonder, i mean it is written by Tolkien and all. Rover spends equal time on earth, on the moon, and in the sea. the writing feels like a parent telling their child a story, which it is. this was written by Tolkien for his son (Boy 2) after he was distraught over losing his toy dog at the beach (Rover). Tolkien draws heavily from Norse mythology in the weaving of his story and has plenty of nods to (then) cultural references. there is a note section in the back of this edition that helps guide the reader who may not be the most familiar with the year 1925 - when this was originally written.

complete with dragons, wizards, and the stuff dreams - and nightmares - are made of, Rover remained a realistic and sweet character. he meets lots of fun people and has lots of wacky experiences along the way, as any good adventurer does. this is a cute, fun, sweet and quick read for people of any age.

fave quote: "The moon-dog did not blush, because he could not; and he did not say anything, but he went and sat down in a corner and wondered how much the old man knew of everything that went on, and everything tat was said, too. Also for a little while he wondered what exactly the old man meant; but that did not bother him long - he was a lighthearted fellow." 37

fix er up: i got a bit impatient for things to be wrapped up. i don't really know why...it's all of 80 pages!

Tolkien
So much fun for adults and kids. I read this to my kid brother often and he loves it as much as I do. ... Read more

Product Description
Read by Derek Jacobi

Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous gritstone ridges.But this time, when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue.The corpses are those of a young man and woman.Each met death in a different fashion.Each died violently.

To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest assignments of his career.For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor.Now, Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola's killer was an enemy of her father's or one she earned herself, while a disgraced Barbara Havers, determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second murder victim.

Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be.And once again they come up against the icy realization that human relationships are often murderous--and that the blood that binds can also kill.

Amazon.com Review
The narrative talents of English stage actor Derek Jacobi areput to excellent use in this intriguing mystery of a double murdermost foul. Author Elizabeth George presents her popular detectivesThomas Lynley and Barbara Havers with one of their most grisly anddifficult cases ever as they search for clues to a bloody crime whilestruggling to repair their own strained partnership. George's mysterybobs, weaves, twists, and turns from a packed West End theater throughthe sumptuous halls of a country manor and into the desolate reachesof the high country moors before revealing its delightfully wicked andsuspenseful conclusion. Jacobi tackles the complex plot and diversecast of characters with relish, working his theatrical skills into anoutstanding performance. (Running time: 6 hours, 4 cassettes)--George Laney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (134)

Partners at Odds
Elizabeth George's IN THE PURSUIT OF THE PROPER SINNER interweaves B. Havers and Insp. T. Lynley fighting each other with the smash production of David King-Ryder.
King-Ryder after two stage disasters works his magic and achieves a hit, before he kills himself.
The artistic character development and dense plotting of this novel will keep you reading late into the night. George keeps getting better and better as we explore her main characters and discover new personalities that lead to murder and death.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Vintage George!
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George is yet another mystery unlike any other.In this tale Inspector Lynley, the sleek aristocrat and his partner, the rumpled Constable Havers are at odds.He is always social perfection, but plagued by introspective doubts.She is a fashion train wreck and lucky if her socks match, but she knows who she is and doesn't waste time tearing herself up about it.Havers is one of my favorite characters because she so wonderfully depicts the attitudes of the English commoner.
While Lynley follows the evidence, but is hampered by his personal feelings about the suspects, Havers doesn't like the evidence and strikes out on her own to find new clues.The story is filled with interesting characters and places as the two sleuths shift constantly from blindly following their gut instincts to being coldly logical.Lynley's logical "by the book" investigation leads him from the murder scene on the moors to an elegant bed and breakfast, then to a crumbling manor house.While Havers' gut instincts send her bustling through the city's modern art scene and stumbling onto a social network of sadomasochists. The real question you keep asking yourself is which one is on the right trail.Like all George's stories you get to know places you've never been to and look deep into the people that inhabit them.A great read.

A Great Read
Elizabeth Georges books are always a great read! Her characters are wonderful and plots are always as twisted as a pretzel!

Makes you go 'Du-uh!'
I've read this book twice; when it first came out, and again this summer. Of course, the second time around I knew who the killer was, and remembered most of the plot, however, I do so enjoy George's earlier work that I've started re-reading her.
I've recommended, and will continue to recommend Elizabeth George's earlier work to anyone who likes a good suspence mystery or just an interesting, well-written read.
I've read them in order, but they don't need to be - she fills you in on what you may have missed, but does it in a way that makes you want to read a previous book in the series, in case you missed one.

Come to the point, already
I can't help but compare this book to the books of the mistress of the British murder mystery, Dame Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie could write a book with a good, tight plot that could keep you guessing to the very end without being 400+ pages long. I'm all for a good read, but I don't have to have the life's story of each character and know every passing mood or thought. This, to me, was character development at its most mind-numbingly boring pace. And I don't like Lynley. For a person who supposedly despises being reminded that he's an aristocrat, he certainly has some superior and condescending attitudes. Not a very matey fellow, our posh Lynley. I wanted to kick him in the arse. ... Read more

Product Description
Alexander's epic quest continues into the heart of Asia and on towards the mystery of India. The Macedonian army marches ever onward in search of glory, crushing resistance at every turn. The culture and beauty of Babylon is quickly ravaged and the Palace of Persepolis burnt to ashes and cinders. An empire is destroyed and a new and bloody era begins. But there are other things on Alexander's mind. An ambitious project to unite the peoples of the empire in one homeland begins to obsess him. There are rebellions and bloodshed, but the curious beauty of Queen Roxanna gives Alexander the strength to fulfil his destiny...Compelling, exciting and romantic, this is the breathtaking conclusion to the bestselling Alexander trilogy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Excellent Historical Novel
I found not just this book, but all three in the series to be intriguing and mind-grabbing.I finished all three novels in less than 3 weeks!The books are held as close to historical fact as possible, with some room for author opinion.I would recommend this book to anyone who is the slightest bit interested in history, because by the end, you will be so involved with every character that you will love, grieve, and celebrate with them all.

Historical fiction, aka silly pap
The title of this review should tell you all you need to know. Either you love or hate Manfredi.

A Consistent End to a Strong Trilogy
I'm very glad to have finished Manfredi's trilogy: it was good, well-researched and introduced me to Peritas, Alexander's dog. I think that, having read Mary Renault's The Persian Boy, it will be hard for me to really enjoy any narrative retelling of Alexander's conquests.That said, this is a great attempt, I'm not surprised that it was an international bestseller, but...a lot of the major issues were avoided or brushed over: Alexander's bisexuality, the murder of his father, the speculation over the cause of his death, etc.I would highly recommend this trilogy for someone interested in ancient history, but a well-researched biography would certainly be of more use to a scholar.Good reading, entertaining and all that, but it could have been so much more, maybe.Manfredi sticks very closely to the facts and sources, and that's very admirable.We'll let that be the last word.

Alexander
This is the third book in the trilogy, it is best to start with no. 1, so you can really understand the relationship he has with this boyhood friends/generals. Besides being very well educated, he had a gift in strategy and statesman ship. As it is today, you need loyal people on your team. This book was very well written, it seems that you were right there with him in most of his exploits and personal moments. He was depicted as a man who had a few wives and loves and very respected by his troops and populace. You can always learn from history.

Alexander
Really enjoyed this book and the other two in the trilogy. The author brings history to life. I learnt a lot ... Read more

Product Description

Hailed by The New York Times as "a master of the British Mystery," award-winning author Elizabeth George is cherished by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Her first collection of short stories is an extraordinary offering that deftly explores the lengths to which people will go to get what they want most ...

Customer Reviews (35)

I LIKE it...
I seldom read short stories but I do love Elizabeth George's writing.So I picked this book up at a community sale.I thought the stories were very interesting to read and they all surprised me.The writing is really good, of course, and her sense of adventure and mystery held my attention throughout all the stories.Don't give up on E.G. just because you or someone else didn't care for this collection.She is a great author.:)

Very Disappointing
I should have known better, I really should.Hardly any writer whose full-length books I have enjoyed write good short stories, they always feel like the outlines of long stories without any of the detail or good writing.And one of the stories, Good Fences are Not Always Enough, the entire plot, down to the chicken coops, is lifted from a short story by HP Lovecraft, The Rats in the Walls, I believe it's called.

I borrowed this book from the library - I'm so glad I didn't spend any actual money on it - because it was the only one of Elizabeth George's I hadn't read.Should have left it on the shelf.

Plot holes and reader disrespect
Although I have never read anything by Elizabeth George before, she had come highly recommended to me by my sister when I picked up a copy of this short story collection on my local library's sale shelf. So I gave it a try. Two caveats: I only read two of these stories ("Exposure" and "Remember I'll Always Love You"), because they were so disappointing that I didn't feel like wasting any more of my life on these stories. Also, the following review contains minor and major spoilers, so read no further if that bothers you. (You will be further warned when major spoilers are imminent.) I am sorry for the spoilers, but I feel like misusing spoilers is one of the main faults of these stories. This author seems to revel in keeping back major information from readers for no discernible reason. This information would have come out in any realistic exposition of the story being told, but the author keeps it back. It almost seems she is doing it out of a perverse disrespect for her readers. Therefore, I felt the structure of the stories that I read was weak, as representative of the short-story mystery form.

The above comments refer mainly to the "Remember I'll Always Love You" story, comments on which I will get to below, but with regard to the other one I read, "Exposure," all I could think while reading this tale was, Do I care about these characters? No. So why am I reading this story? Perhaps for those who've read the Thomas Lynley novels, it's enough that he swoops in at the end and solves the pathetic so-called "mystery" that occurs in this story. Like many others have said here, even after the "mystery" is supposedly solved, it makes no sense. Why would anyone murder someone for a couple thousand dollars in hot merchandise that she could probably not even sell? Also (plot hole alert), the murderer eats the poison along with the dead man! How does she escape death? It's all very confusing and would not have even reached the standards of a Nancy Drew story in my childhood. Carolyn Keene would've explained things better.

With regard to the other story I read, "Remember I'll Always Love You," it seemed more promising at first. It had two somewhat likable characters: a young widow and her young friend. Of course, the initial red herring, that the young friend was having an affair with the dead husband, went by the wayside, as an initial red herring should. Perhaps a clever author, however, would have brought that back at the end, as a reverse-reverse to the cliche. Be that as it may, the remainder of the story is one long and winding road of expose after expose of lies that the husband had told, often for no discernible reason essential to the plot, and secrets the husband had kept, from his friends, co-workers and wife, not to mention his ex-wife. It was quite a three-ring circus this guy was apparently running, and none of it really quite makes sense. It's said that liars must be careful to pick and choose their lies; this guy apparently lied about everything.

(From here on forward, major spoilers from this story are revealed.)

Not to mention that the style of exposition is mean-spirited and unfair to the reader. Although we are allowed into the inner thoughts of the protagonist, as she thinks about her husband's death, the only thing she seems to remember are his last words, not the fact that he blew his head off in front of her! It's ludicrous and totally unbelievable that someone who witnessed that would be more curious about why he said what he said than why he did what he did. Not until the 55th page of this 58-page story do we even find out that the husband killed himself, much less the brutal and horrific way in which he did it, right in front of his wife. Only in *that* context are the words he spoke a bit bizarre (although not unheard-of; many suicides think they are doing their family a favor by removing their sorry selves from their lives). The tone is all wrong; the feelings of the protagonist are unbelievable; and the presentation is unfair to the reader, and frankly, just plain silly. No one reacts like this or thinks like this, not in the world I live in. Just think about it; if someone you loved shot their head off in front of you, would you go calmly driving around (with the flu, no less) to antique sops to investigate their background? Heck no! I'd be a basket case for at least three months! (At least!)

Like I say, I haven't read any other books of hers, but apparently most of her novels take place in England. It seems like she tried (at least in this story) to put the soul of a bloodless detective into the body of a young, traumatized widow, investigating the secret life of her deceased husband. It just doesn't work.

I also was also offended by the stupidity of this story's ending. First off, the woman takes one person's word for the fact that there is no cure for the virus that infects her, and immediately decides to off herself, and in the most brutal, messy way imaginable, a way that will be a nightmare for the biological police to clean up. Well, I can accept that she might be suicidal, but it's not presented realistically by the author. Maybe we are supposed to take her as an unreliable narrator at this point. OK, if that's all there was to object to, I could accept that.

However, then she is accosted by one of the representatives of the terrorist criminal network that purchased the biological agent, and who now wants what they paid for. She goes meekly along with him and says, "I'm only too happy to give it to [him]" because he "could do no more to her" than the virus already had. Excuse me? So apparently, she's no better or more moral than her husband's secrets have revealed him to be. She doesn't care if this thug takes a blood sample from her, or whatever, and unleashes the virus on unsuspecting, innocent civilians? (How he was going to take the virus from her body is not made at all clear either; another of the many plot holes in this story.)

Amazingly, she also seems to think that this thug will "be willing to give her the time that writing the letter required" - the "letter" being an expose and warning to the police about handling her body. How ridiculous! (Are we again in the territory of the "unreliable narrator"? That would be an easy out!) I'm pretty sure the criminals would not allow their own exposure, and even if they played along and let her write such a "letter," they would destroy it after they killed her. I get that she was ready to die. But her approach to death takes away any sympathy I might have developed toward the character during the rest of the story. It was a totally unbelievable ending that made me wonder why I even bothered reading the story.

It must be very difficult to write a mystery story. I have never tried. It must be hard to reveal some things while keeping other things hidden. Ms. George's technique in this story seems to be to reveal nothing that a character would normally reveal in their inner thoughts, just to tantalize the reader and make it more confusing and difficult for the reader to discover the answer to the mystery, as well as to allow maximum leeway to the author to "shock" the reader at the end. That's not a fair way to treat the reader. Yes, telling us the husband had committed suicide would reveal a key to the mystery, but not the final key. I think Ms. George could've found a way to reveal that sooner. It seems merely perverse, to this reader at least, that she didn't reveal that major part of the story in the first few pages.

I must add, too, that I am amazed at how blandly positive the reviews by the Library Journal and Publishers Weekly were. PW says that "the brooding, gloomy dust jacket suggests gothic themes, but the tales are thoroughly modern in setting and subject." What a cop-out! The tales are modern in setting, yes, but how hard is that to achieve? Just set them in modern-day England or LA. But compared to the gothic tales I've read, they are more convoluted and unbelievable, and with much worse character development. My sister says George's novels are great. Apparently, the "MYSTERY!" series agrees, so perhaps someday I'll try reading one of them, but these stories were not good advertising.

Ignore stars...Not yet read but I do have something to say...................
There is nothing convuluded or long winded about Elizabeth George. What a wonderful writer/story teller. I love reading her books. I know I won't have it finished in 3 hours. Ms. George you have kept me sane and very much entertainedsince I first read Traitor to Memory and proceeded to search Amazon and every other book club for all your Lynley/Havers novels so that I could start at the beginning. Didn't succeed but almost did! I think I read #5 before #4. I now only have What came before he shot her left to read and I dread reading it..........I find myself not wanting to come to the end. Thank you for your wonderful gift and sharing it with the world. Your books are awesome.

Not today
Five crime stories. I read the first. Damn, ain't no way to solve the thing until you read the last page, and I waded through all kinds of cardboard cutouts and cliches to get there. I quit reading. ... Read more

Product Description
When thirteen-year-old Matthew Whateley goes missing from Bredgar Chambers, a prestigious publicschool in the heart of West Sussex, aristocraticInspector Thomas Lynley receives a call for help fromthe lad's housemaster, who also happens to be anold school chum. Thus, the inspector, his partner,Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, and forensicscientist Simon Allcourt-St. James find themselves once again outside their jurisdiction and deeplyinvolved in the search for a child--and then,tragically for a child killer. Questioning prefects,teachers, and pupils closest to the dead boy, Lynleyand Havers sense that something extraordinarilyevil is going on behind Bredgar Chambers'scloistered walls. But as they begin to unlock the secretsof this closed society, the investigaton intoMatthew's death leads them perilously close to their ownemotional wounds--and blinds them to the signsof another murder in the making... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Any Elizabeth George novel
Ever since reading the first Elizabeth George, Inspector Lynley novel, I've been a great fan. It's amazing how they could also create a series on Masterpiece Mystery where the characters are basically the same, but different. Good show.

Class Distinctions
The brutal torture and murder of school boy MatthewWhateley send Linley and Havers into the world of the British public school system. Havers' disdain for the British class system is down played in this intricately plotted novel.
Elizabeth George in WELL-SCHOOLED IN MURDER delves into the behind the scenes of British education system to the boys who build their own class within closed walls, which allows the older students to subjugate the younger ones to their rule.
Fans of this series will enjoy the exploration of the lives of Simon St. James and his wife Deborah.
A thoughtful presentation of an on going problem in all school systems.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Well Schooled in Murder
Well written and easy to follow.The subject was pretty grisly.I'm not a mystery reader but my sister suggested I would like Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley.Liked his character a lot.Typical mystery these days where there are about 5-6 people who could have committed the murder.You don't find out until the final pages.Her style of writing is enjoyable.

Well Done!
Well Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George is more a psychological drama couched in an English murder mystery, but then the best English murder stories always are.The author manages to shed light in dark places while being both entertaining and enlightening.A must read for all those who love classic English murder mysteries.
The murder of a poor boy at a school for wealthy children becomes the emotional trigger that sets everyone looking into themselves for who is to blame.Everyone was so involved with their own problems and keeping those problems secret that it is several days before the boy is even missed.It is how the characters respond to the building pressure as bit by bit their secrets are uncovered that creates the suspense and that's what makes this story unique. No one is afraid of the killer, they're all afraid of being found out.
Weaving continually through the story is a strong indictment against the traditional education of the wealthy.A boy born into a rich family is treated like a little prince.He has servants to do his every biding, eats only the best food and frolics away his days on the family's grand estate.Then he turns twelve and is booted off to a school that is cold, ugly and too far away for anyone to hear him screaming.He has to share a room with other boys and the food is terrible.His teachers range from senile to sadistic and violent bullying is laughed off as part of the coming of age ritual.Almost all British aristocrats pass through this trial by fire and that's why they always stand together, inside they are still frightened little boys, fearful of what will happen if they break ranks.
The students fear a loss of honor if they talk and the younger ones also fear retribution from the older ones.Detective Lynley went to the same kind of school, and feels the same pressures even now; most of the staff is in the same emotional bind.The `don't tattle' tradition is so pervasive that even those who are willing to talk, don't know who to talk too, everyone but the boy's parents and Sergeant Havers seems to have an old school tie.
There are numerous suspects and almost too many motives, but if you read carefully you might ferret out who killed the boy just before Lynley does.Like all great detective stories, it is a puzzle; by carefully piecing together the evidence Lynley follows the trail that leads to the last import clue, the old school tie.

Solid Mystery; Fast-Paced
"Well-Schooled in Murder" is the first Inspector Lynley novel I've ever read, and I must say that I liked it quite a bit. I see now from reading some other reviews on Amazon that it is probably best to read these novels in order, but I really had very little trouble figuring out the personal issues the characters were dealing with.

This is a solid, tightly-plotted book with tons of clues, red-herrings, and all the conventional trappings mystery fans expect of a British detective novel. In many ways, it goes above and beyond the typical mystery novel, in that George takes quite a bit of time to explain the inner workings of her characters. I must say that in the case of Deborah and Simon, I skipped over pages and pages of Deborah's incessant whining about her previous abortion and state of her marriage. It felt like such a conservative-esque cliche: woman has abortion, regrets it, and OOPS, now can't get pregnant and is tormented incessantly by this choice. This sub-plot had absolutely nothing (let me repeat that: nothing) to do with the mystery at hand, and I found it rather tiring to slog through. Perhaps I would have cared more about these people if I had read the earlier novels, but I found the book coming to a screeching halt any time Deborah or Simon was on the page.

Lynley himself is a well-drawn character, although he makes one decision about not turning in an admitted pedophile that I found morally repugnant. Apart from that and the moments with Deborah/Simon, this was a really great book that moves along at a quick pace, always giving the reader something to chew on. I will definitely be reading more novels in this series. ... Read more

Product Description
"I, Claudius" is a historical novel with a human focus. Written in the style of a secret autobiography, it concerns the thoughts and feelings of a historical figure who was largely isolated for much of his life until middle age. Fusing historical fact with speculative fiction, Robert Graves uses a tried and tested formula to create an original and moving work, which brings the human aspect to a listener's understanding of the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius. A political as well as historical work, the story mainly discusses the relationships between the ideas of liberty and stability within society, and which of them is best. Claudius is the perfect vehicle to use for examining such an argument, as, in his younger life, he was committed to all the ideals of liberty, whereas, in later life, he came to see the advantages, societal and personal, of stability. Claudius realises, in the tale, that although the most favourable state for a human being to live in should be free and liberated, the reality of such a situation means the onslaught of numerous civil wars and the de-stabilising of the fabric of society.Like Grave's other works, such as Goodbye to all that (also published by CSA Word), "I, Claudius" is a success because it is intelligent, historical and insightful, whilst retaining the charm of a plot and a narrative style that are joys to listen to. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Story Greatly Told
Derek Jacobi is widely and rightfully regarded as being the finest Shakespearean actor now living. Listening to him recite the narrative role which he made so famous in his youth is pure magic. Graves and Jacobi take you through the lives of the first three Roman emperors (Julius Caesar doesn't count), and the intricate and corrupt lives that made up imperial Rome. A brilliant recitation of how republics turn into empires.

George Lucas commented on this process as reflected in his wonderful STAR WARS series. "How did the Republic turn into the Empire? That's paralleled with: How did Anakin turn into Darth Vader? How does a good person go bad, and how does a democracy become a dictatorship? It isn't that the Empire conquered the Republic, it's that the Empire is the Republic." (TIME Magazine, April 29, 2002)

So, too, it is in ancient Rome.

One of the unfortunate aspects of the Claudius narrative is that Caligula apparently wasn't born bad in real life (historically). He began by trying to be a good and popular ruler, but suffered a terrible stroke, after which he became a monster. In this story, he's a monster from Day One and was intentionally inflicted on Rome by a capricious and spiteful dictator, Tiberius. Still, Grave's story is wonderful in its telling, and who better to tell it than dear Uncle Cla-Cla-Claudius?

I also strongly recommend the DVD series. The audio version is great for mp3 players and CDs in the car on the way to and from work, and the 13-part series is just good television.

I still miss Brian Blessed as Augustus.

... Read more

Product Description
Read by Derek Jacobi and Michael MorpurgoSet on a farm in rural Devon, this is a collection of Grandpa's reminiscences and stories as told to his grandson. Grandpa's nature and his touching relationship with the boy is evoked superbly by Michael Morpurgo's writing.This two-voice read brings the characters to life as the story of Grandpa's 'shame' (the fact that he cannot read and write) unfolds.Derek Jacobi is sensitive and compelling in the role of Grandpa, inspiring a true sense of achievement and triumph as he finally tells his own story in his own words. ... Read more

Product Description
Four cassettes, 6 hours
Read by Derek Jacobi

Plutarch, Plato, and Thucydides have all immortalized Alcibiades (ca. 450-404 b.c.) as a peerless general and conqueror on sea and land, whom the tides of war and fortune always favored. Raised as a ward of Pericles, he was later a protégé of Socrates, and inevitably compared to the legendary Achilles. The destinies of Alcibiades and Athens were inextricably intertwined; the man and the city-state mirrored each other's boldness, ambition, and the fatal flaws that were their undoing.

When allied, Alcibiades and Athens were unbeatable. When divided, he led Sparta and Persia to glory. At the end of his life, in exile from all factions, Alcibiades was shunned by his countrymen in their most desperate hour. Athens would rather fall than be led by its most brilliant leader. Narrated by Alcibiades' trusted bodyguard and hired assassin in a mesmerizing death-row confession, TIDES OF WAR is epic historical fiction at its finest--a full-bodied, flesh-and-blood retelling of one of history's pivotal conflicts.

Amazon.com Review
After chronicling the Spartan stand at Thermopylae in his audacious Gates of Fire, StevenPressfield once again proves that it's all Greek to him. In Tides ofWar, he tells the tale of Athenian soldier extraordinaire Alcibiades.Despite the vaunted claims for Periclean democracy, he is undoubtedly firstamong equals--a great warrior and an impressive physical specimen to boot:"The beauty of his person easily won over those previously disposed, anddisarmed even those who abhorred his character and conduct." He is also aformidable orator, whose stump speeches are paradoxically heightened bywhat some might consider an impediment:

Even his lisp worked in Alcibiades' favor. It was a flaw; it made himhuman. It took the curse off his otherwise godlike self-presentation andmade one, despite all misgivings, like the fellow.

In addition to his gift for rendering patriotic gore, the author excels atquieter but no less deadly forms of combat. As Alcibiades' star rises andfalls and rises again, we are escorted directly into the snakepit ofAthenian realpolitik. Bathing us in the details of a distant era,Pressfield is largely convincing. But it must be said that his dictionexhibits a sometimes comical variegation, sliding from Homeric rhetoric totough-guy speak to the sort of casual Anglicisms we might expect fromEvelyn Waugh's far-from-bright young things. No matter. Tides of Warconquers by sheer storytelling prowess, reminding us that war was--andis--a highly addictive version of hell. --Darya Silver ... Read more

Customer Reviews (132)

A TREAT FOR ALL, FEAST FOR FEW
First, as some pointed out, read Gates of Fire. This will introduce you to Pressfield's style of narrative and flavor in that riveting book. This is #4 of his books read, and like his others, we find that his ability to paint a full canvas can sometimes leave people bored with the parts that don't interest them or make uncomfortable.

The setup story is interesting, although a bit distracting at first, as Socrates becomes a sort of bookend to the story. I also believe that by bringing Socrates' execution concurrent with Pomo's Pressfield was able to paint, from beginning to end, the political climate of a declining Athens.

Treat for all. There are some points of oratory that should be recited today. Lysander's speech on boldness vs courage is a concept that will forever change my outlook personally and politically. It is just awesome.

Feast for the few. There are some parts that simply don't interest all people. Pressfield details much of normal life in ancient Greece and thus get a bit gritty.

Granted, there are parts that seem to drag, but these are the faults of me not fully understanding the vastness of Athenian society. Trying to span the almost 30 years of a war that was Athen's to win, but for the rapacious public and venal politic, is difficult to compress into any one volume.

You feel like you are a part of the action, the pain, the boredom, and the terror of death and war. Writing romantically of war is one thing, Pressfield pushes his readers into the sweat and smells of men killing men by whatever means possible. Can't put it down, wish you could. In the end, you've survived and look back on these characters as if you knew them.

Intriguing and complex
I began this book because a book review had praised it, but almost quit when I realized that the central focus of the book, the historical figure Alcibiades (circa 450-404 BC), did not appeal to me. He may have been enormously talented, but he wasn't someone I would want as either a friend or a colleague. His overpowering ambition led him to betray almost everyone and everything that stood in his path. To be honest, I found myself wanting to see him fail.

But I suspect that, in the end, that may not be why many readers either like or dislike this book. This book is enormously complex. If you know a lot about ancient Greek history or would like to move about in such a world wondering at all you don't understand, then this book is for you. The author has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Greek history. Bits and fragments of what he knows appear on almost every page. But almost none of that background is explained. Perhaps the publisher should create an annotated edition to explain all that is left unsaid.

If you're still intrigued after my attempt at a put-down, then by all means read the book. The author is an excellent writer and the tale is clearly one worth telling. It's just not the sort of tale that everyone enjoys reading. Personally, I prefer fiction whose central characters are as likable as the hobbits and men in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

--Michael W. Perry, Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

unreadable and horrible
I was pretty excited for this book when I bought it. I love historical fiction and have read much of Pressfield, but this book was a huge let down. I tried to force myself to enjoy it but that was too painfull after about 60 pages. What the hell was Pressfield thinking, this book was horribly written on a subject that should be reletevely easy for an author to make readable...expecially historical fiction.

As advertised and better
The used book as advertised was in great condition. It arrived within a week of ordering
and I definitely would use this seller again.

Tides of War
Steven Pressfield's Tides of War is, simply put, a really good book. A lot of reviewers on here have dinged this novel a star or two based solely on the fact that it's not as engaging as Gates of Fire. For the most part, it's true, but you have to take the book for what it is, and to be honest, you would be hard pressed to find a book equal to Gates. If you have any interest in the Peloponnesian War, or ancient warfare at all, I recommend picking this story up. It does an exceptional job of conveying the process and effects that a total war had on the City States of ancient Greece, from preparations and propaganda to conquests and defeats. Pressfield also does a good job of bringing some of the more famous and somewhat ambiguous characters of the war and that time period to life, and rather vividly, such as Alcibiades, Socrates, and Lysander. From the start of the story, you feel transferred to the past, and you get a sense of actually being there as Athens has it's final fall from grace. I will say this, The book can get a little heavy at times, and the monologues can be tedious to read, but they are necessary to the development of the story. Other than that, I recommend this book to anyone who is intrigued or already fascinated with the ancient Greeks. ... Read more

Product Description

"An autobiography is a book a person writes about his own life and it is usually full of all sorts of boring details.

This is not an autobiography. I would never write a history of myself. On the other hand, throughout my young days at school and just afterwards a number of things happened to me that I have never forgotten." -- Roald Dahl

As full of excitement and the unexpected as his world-famous, bestselling books, Roald Dahl's tales of his own childhood are completely fascinating and fiendishly funny. Did you know that Roald Dahl nearly lost his nose in a car accident? Have you heard about his involvement in the Great Mouse Plot of 1924? If not, you don't yet know all there is to know about Roald Dahl. Sure to captivate and delight you, the boyhood antics of this master storyteller are not to be missed!

Customer Reviews (146)

A Childhood to Build On
On the first page Dahl proclaims, "This is not an autobiography.I would never write a history of myself."And, indeed, Boy does not fit the definition of an autobiography, as he describes it in his introduction.Free from "boring details," Boy is a collection of memories that remained significant to Dahl in his adulthood.From houses, to vacations, to dead mice and even canings, Dahl paints a vivid picture of his life at home and school, until his life lead him to be a pilot in WWII.Occasionally heartbreaking, often funny, and consistently charming, Boy is a wonderful exercise in non-autobiographical writing.

Insight to a genius writer
I read this book in Year 7 at High School. I am satisfied that this book is palatable for readers of all ages, but I am inclined to recommend it from age 12 onwards. Roald Dahl's early life was fun, tragic, and full of adventures. This book brings out the young person in us all!

Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Author

As in most of his books
I've picked up a couple of Roald Dahl books because of rave reviews.I've read enough to realize these shouldn't be children's books.They have a lot of abuse.My daughter has had nightmares.Roald Dahl definately has a dark side.

Insightful anecdotes of a Norwegian born, English-boarding-school-attending children's book author.
Having just finished reading this book after listening to the version on CD (as read fabulously by Andrew Sachs), I recommend that prospective readers acquire both versions. The book on CD, with the various voices performed by the reader is spectacular (my rating, five stars), while the book adds a lot in the way of supplementary graphics related to the text. Due to my family's interest in Dahl's books and movies based on them (between us, we've read and/or watched most of the lot), it is fascinating to learn a bit about his childhood and young adult years. The author claims from the start that Boy is "not an autobiography." If anything, it is more a potpourri of memories, most involving incidents that occurred during his time at various boarding schools (unfortunately, many involving canings). It also includes some family history, anecdotes from the annual Dahl summer holiday, the amazing fact that his mother saved (and had returned to him after her death) 600 letters he'd written her between 1925-1945, and a bit about his post-school life. From what I've learned since, the book is not without controversy, especially in his contention that one of the worst offenders in the headmasters-who-cane-students department of his childhood went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury. That issue aside, the book/book on CD (as a great source for photos, sketches and letter excerpts) combination of "Tales of Childhood" is excellent. I only wish it had continued further into his writing career. Also good: pretty much anything written by Roald Dahl.

Delightful read for all ages
I'm a big fan of Roald Dahl and used to read his books as a child. I was just recently introduced to his "adult" or grown-up novels and I've rekindled my love for this writer. "Boy" is an autobiography of sorts highlighting some of his experiences and memories as a young boy growing up in England. It's pretty cool to get a glimpse of his early life and his family background.

As usual, he infuses all his stories with plenty of heart and comedy that is uniquely "Dahl"-ian: a sort of laugh-out-loud humor that is also slightly dark. The book is a mix of Dahl's childhood mischief and pranks, and the touchingly close emotional ties he had with his mother. As a child who was sent abroad for a better education, I totally identify with Dahl's experience at the English boarding school, making his homesickness especially poignant to me.

Overall, this is a wortwhile read for kids (and adults) of all ages and all walks of life. "Boy" is a reminder of the universal childhood mischief, joys and memories that we all share. ... Read more

Product Description
When Brother Cadfael's own son--born from a brief encounter 30 years earlier--is taken prisoner, he decides to leave the monastery to find his son. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

The war between fathers and sons
This book is the final one in the Brother Cadfael series, and gratefully brought to full circle Cadfael's adventures with his son Oliver. In Virgin in the Ice, Cadfael learns at the end of the adventure of Oliver's existence, and in The Pilgram of Hate, Cadfael admits to his friend Sheriff Hugh Beringar that Oliver is his son. But now, in the final creation of Ellis Peters, Cadfael learns that Sir Oliver has been taken hostage and no one knows his whereabouts, and Cadfael leaves his order in search of his son and the solution of not one but two murders. The ending of this story is absolutely brilliant, and there is a scene with Earl Robert and his son Phillip that makes me cry everytime I read it.The theme is fathers and sons, and the story will warm your heart.It was the fitting end to a masterful murder mystery series!

a good cultural education
I do enjoy a good mystery story.This one happens to be before the rise of the King Henry's.It is a bit fuzzy when it is, but there is a civil war going on over who should be king of England and Brother Cadfael gets into the middle of it, though, to be sure, he has nothing to do with the culmination of it (that is outside the bounds of the story).
Brother Cadfael has a son who gets captured by one side of the war and is being held incognito.The important part of this book is that Mr. Ellis gives a good cultural education throughout.You learn of the various prayers and times to be praying; you learn that the Welsh are not adverse to having and acknowledging illegitimate children; and you learn the structure and discipline brothers live under.It is quite entertaining.
Brother Cadfael has to find out what has happened to his son and what may be done for him.He takes leave from the monastery to go with the Lord of the realm he abides in to a conference where he hopes to find some information about his son. A murder occurs and the wrong person is accused, as well as no information about his son is forthcoming, so he traipses on to further adventures.He saves people from treachery, he finds his son and frees him, etc., etc.
The most unfinished business is that of why was his son captured and kept incognito?I do not remember coming across the answer to that, but still, the book told a good story and it was fun to read.

The Best was saved for Last
I have reviewed many of these in this series in the last few days as I try to finish the series before the end of 2008. Well one to go, but after this, the penultimate, can it get better? If you can get past that there is little need for a mystery, for the body is truly a device to continue the action of what is a first rate historical.

We have spent twenty tales with Cadfael and Hugh and the others of the times. We have Bishop de Clinton, and Earl Beaumont, and even King Stephen. Now we meet Empress Maud but more importantly her nephew Phillip. The tale of what takes place in and around the events of the Coventry Peace conference of 1145 and how Cadfael and Hugh find their way there and the actions that Cadfael must see to of a personal nature is worth the price of admission.

The body, the murder is not important. We have 19 tales that have set this up to be what Pargeter, what Peters seems to do better, give us the setting of this civil war and a story to encompass it. This is the must read of the series.

The heart has its reasons
Finally, I have to say goodbye to a dearly loved friend, Brother Cadfael of the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul, after this, the 20th chronicle. When Cadfael learns that his son, Olivier, has been taken prisoner after the seige and fall of Faringdon castle, he also learns that his captor refuses to release him for a ransom, as he has done with all of the other prisoners. Cadfael is determined to secure his release at all costs and begs leave of the Abbot to travel to Coventry to attend the conference between King Stephen and the Empress Maud, so as to beg for help for Olivier. The Abbot grants him a short leave of absence but stipulates that he must return in a week or consider himslf recused, having failed to keep his monastic vows. Even with this heavy penalty hanging over him, Cadfael knows that he cannot leave his son languishing in a dungeon, and offers his life in return for Olivier's. With the help of Yves Hugonin, scion of a noble family and now brother-in-law to Olivier, Cadfael gains entrance to the castle where he makes the offer of an exchange of his life for Olivier's to Philip of Gloucester, lately of the Empress's court and now an adherent of King Stephen, in this perpetually changing war which is devastating the country. This is a really action packed story with seiges, seige weapons, treachery and murder included...a fine way to farewell an old friend!

A moving exploration of tangled loves and loyalties
"If you go further and delay longer, then you go as your own man, none of mine. Without my leave or blessing."
"Without your prayers?"
"Have I said so?"
"Father, it is written in the Rule that the brother who by his own wrong choice has left the monastery may be received again, even to the third time, at a price. Even penance ends when you shall say: It is enough!"
- Radulfus and Cadfael, discussing Cadfael's leave of absence herein

This book contains a major spoiler for THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE, which introduced two characters appearing in this book, and a spoiler for THE HOLY THIEF that the reader might miss.

Several illegitimate sons figure prominently in this book, all great men in one way or another:
- Robert of Gloucester, the empress' chief supporter and half-brother, who would have been king had he been legitimate. While Robert himself is only on stage briefly, his relationship with the empress is the motive for her actions in the final section of the book. - Robert's son Philip FitzRobert, who recently shocked everyone by repudiating his allegiance to the empress and going over to the king, taking an entire castle and its garrison with him after his father ignored his pleas for support during a siege.
- Geoffrey FitzClare, one of Philip's chief captains in Cricklade, whose seal was set first to the surrender.
- One obscure knight of Philip's following, now held prisoner and not offered for ransom: Olivier de Bretagne.

A list of prisoners taken at Cricklade sends Hugh Beringar to Cadfael, who in turn makes full confession to Radulfus at last: that Olivier is his son, which he never knew until the events of THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE (and Olivier still does not know), and that he never knowingly abjured the ties of fatherhood in taking his monastic vows. Radulfus gives Cadfael as much leeway as he can, giving him permission to attend peace talks in Coventry with Hugh Beringar where the subject of prisoners and ransoms is expected to be a topic. But Cadfael's leave will end with the conference, after which his further absence will indicate that he has repudiated his vows and cast himself adrift.

This is one of only two books in which King Stephen appears in person, and the only one in which the empress appears, which in itself is worth seeing as the two are brought together for peace talks in Coventry. Alas, the end of the war still seems far away, as each holds substantial territory (he in England, she in Normandy) with hopes of total victory, and neither will give up their separate claims to the crown: Stephen's, that he has been formally anointed king; Maud's, that she is the late king's only surviving legitimate child, to whom all the nobles, Stephen prominent among them, swore oaths of allegiance as the king's heir. While most of their faults are complimentary - he is too impatient to pursue either a siege or a grievance, her arrogance with her allies knows no bounds - they share one grievous fault: neither considers their responsibilities to their people, not even in great matters of the devastation wrought by war, let alone small matters of individual justice.

So it is that Cadfael, as he had feared would be the case, is left to pursue the mystery of Olivier's fate without official backing, aided and abetted chiefly by Yves Hugonin, now nineteen and Olivier's brother-in-law, and like him of the empress' following. Soon Cadfael needs to save Yves as well as Olivier, as Yves' hot-blooded confrontation of one of Philip's turncoat captains at the conference makes Yves chief suspect when the man is assassinated soon afterward. While the empress protects Yves under the safe-conduct that made the conference possible, she herself does not believe in his innocence (and, chillingly, approves of the act), nor does someone else. Yves, like Olivier before him, vanishes into unransomed captivity, but this time leaving a trail that Cadfael can follow.

The mysteries of the murders to be investigated in this book, while very interesting in their own right, are in a greater sense only tools in setting the stage for greater mysteries to be explored: that of the relationships between the characters, the mysteries of the human heart. Cadfael's loyalty to his own son, without expected return, is set against Philip's troubled relationship with his great father - all four very fine, honourable men, but separated by various entanglements. Yves' loyalty to Olivier is set against both Olivier's entanglement with their captor and Philip's loyalty to his dead captain. There is also a constant background of personal loyalties conflicting with greater responsibilities: monastic vows against fatherhood, oaths of allegiance against law, order, and justice, loyalty to one's liege against loyalty to one's friends.

And what drove Olivier's captor to hold him beyond price? That, more than any murder, is the great mystery of this book.

Drive-in totals:
- Two murders, one a stabbing at close range.
- One attempted murder (a very nasty fall resulting in permanent injury).
- One sequence straight out of THIEF: THE DARK PROJECT wherein a lone unarmed man sneaks into the heart of a guarded fortress by night.
- One battle with siege, when the empress for hate and scalded pride takes action she would not take to rescue loyal knights of her following.

As always, I recommend the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne. ... Read more

Product Description
One million dollars - that's what Harvey Metcalfe, lifelong king of shady deals, has pulled off with empty promises of an oil bonanza and instant riches. Overnight, four men - the heir to an earldom, a Harley Street doctor, a Bond Street art dealer and an Oxford don - find themselves penniless. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

$1.24
A quick and easy read from the master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer.Lovable characters, quick paced and an all around fun book.And you will have to read it to understand the title to my review.

Although slightly dated, the story is still fresh and creative today.Why was this outstanding novel never made into a movie?Read this book, you will not regret it.

Favorite Fun Read
I purchased this book over 25 years ago through Book of the Month Club.I remember reading it in just about on night and then immediately read it again.From what I remember at the time, Archer himself had been swindled out of a large sum of money that almost or may have cost him his seat in Parliment at the time.So this book wa how he came back.

I was delighted to see that NPM NPL is available on Kindle.My hardback is falling apart from having been read by me, family members, and work associates.And to think about it now, I don't think I got it back from the last person I loaned it too.

Oh well, I hope they have passed the fun along to someone else.

This would make one heck of a film.

Novel
An imaginative novel by Mr. Archer.The book arrived in the condition described, and quickly after order.

book review
Already reviewed.... again considered in fair condition-not good as described.bit disappointed.

Very dated - but OK
An easy read on a obvious story line. Keep reminding yourself that this book was written in 1973 and you'll enjot it more. ... Read more

Product Description
As you listen to this compelling spiritual quest - one of the most important works of twentieth century fiction - you will hear Hermann Hesse's story of Siddhartha, a wealthy Brahmin's son whose search for enlightenment leads him to the river of life itself. On his journey, Siddhartha learns from many teachers: the ascetic Samanas, the all-knowing Gotama the Buddha, Kamala the lovely courtesan, and Vasudeva the simple ferryman. But their examples do not satisfy him -- sensualism brings him no comfort, and he rejects the value of suffering. Unwilling to accept the wisdom of others, Siddhartha finally comes to an understanding of himself and his place in the universe, achieving the enlightened state of mind in which he can say to his lifelong friend, "The world, Govinda, is perfect at every moment." Siddhartha reaches new artistic heights through the voice of reader, Derek Jacobi. The skill and insight in Jacobi's reading beautifully evoke the spiritual experience of Siddhartha's quest in this fictional story of Buddha. Here, through his light approach to Hesse's philosophical prose, Jacobi reveals the humor and luminosity of Siddhartha's ultimate resolution. 2 cassettes. Amazon.com Review
In the shade of a banyan tree, a grizzled ferryman sits listening to the river. Some say he's a sage. He was once a wandering shramana and, briefly, like thousands of others, he followed Gotama the Buddha, enraptured by his sermons. But this man, Siddhartha, was not a follower of any but his own soul. Born the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha was blessed in appearance, intelligence, and charisma. In order to find meaning in life, he discarded his promising future for the life of a wandering ascetic. Still, true happiness evaded him. Then a life of pleasure and titillation merely eroded away his spiritual gains until he was just like all the other "child people," dragged around by his desires. Like Hermann Hesse's other creations of struggling young men, Siddhartha has a good dose of European angst and stubborn individualism. His final epiphany challenges both the Buddhist and the Hindu ideals of enlightenment. Neither a practitioner nor a devotee, neither meditating nor reciting, Siddhartha comes to blend in with the world, resonating with the rhythms of nature, bending the reader's ear down to hear answers from the river. In this translation Sherab Chodzin Kohn captures the slow, spare lyricism of Siddhartha's search, putting her version on par with Hilda Rosner's standard edition. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (544)

Great!
Read this book a couple years ago and never finished it.. this time I couldn't put it down =)

One of my all-time Favorites
Love Hermann Hesse, love this book. Probably the 6th copy of this book Ive owned in my life. I often give this as a gift to people who enjoy philosophy, or are making big change in their life (going to college, moving away from home, new career, etc.). Its an inspirational story about finding ones place in the world and a book I personally find a lot of comfort and inspiration in.

For those that havent read it, I would certainly recommend this as well as Hesse's other works. Its pretty short and easy to get through as well. You could easily read it in a day or plow through it on a long plane flight.

The new and chilling interpretation of nirvana
This great German has either super genius in composing story out of intellectual pieces of Buddhism or he himself is a stream enterer with personal and direct experiences of renouncing mundane life. His description of Siddhartha approaching the other shore of the river is so real and dramatic, transforming so distant religious path into tangible fragrant lotus bustling in breeze. I would visit this story again in years to come and wish to sing the verse together.

Great book...
This book was great... I bought it used and it looked like new...Love Amazon <3 Thanks soo much ;-)

Dissapointing Translation
The German to English translation for this work is disappointing.Word order is often confused and confusing to the english reader.I will have to find and purchase a copy of the ~1968 translation I originally read. ... Read more

Product Description
Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply?

For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole -- from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scatteredpresents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house, and many others.
Now, for the first time, these letters are brought to life with specially arranged holiday music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Father Christmas
Being a fan of the great J.R.R. Tolkien, this book is just aother reason why he is known as one of the best authors of our day. His descriptions of the story draw you right in, as is with all of his writings. A perfect book to start off your little ones Christmas tradition!

Nice edition with illustrations
This is a good, well-priced edition for the person who is interested in both reading the letters as a text and seeing Tolkien's artwork.

Its Not Middle earth, But Its Tolkien At His Best
Life in the Tolkien family in the 1920s and 1930s had its ups and downs just like any family, but the Tolkien children had one major benefit at least, a father who could tell the most thrilling tales imaginable.At Christmas the pleasure increased one hundred fold, for the Tolkiens were the only family around who actually received real letters from Father Christmas!Waiting on the mantelpiece, or handed in by the postman with a special North Pole stamp, or arriving in any number of other delightful ways, each Christmas news from the North Pole arrived and was read aloud by the children's father, J.R.R. Tolkien himself.Even better, the letters were always profusely illustrated by Father Christmas himself.

The stories told in these letters are always exciting.Father Christmas and his friend the Polar Bear had to deal with all sorts of exigencies like goblin invasions each year as they worked to get ready for their annual Christmas journey.Each letter was handwritten in a suitably shaky script by Father Christmas, and each letter included delightful color drawings illustrating the adventures it contained.

Children will love these letters because the fantasy, like everything Tolkien created, is real and engrossing.Adults will love the letters too, both for the memories of their own youthful Christmases, but also for the glimpses of Tolkien's "other" fantasies about Middle earth that may be spotted here and there in the letters.

Awaken Your Inner Child
This is a charming book, full of wonderful illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself. The cast of characters is wonderfully amusing, especially North Polar Bear, who gets into all sorts of mischief every year. There are even descriptions of wars between Father Christmas and the neighboring Goblins, reminiscent of the Goblin wars depicted in The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.

The book is also bittersweet, as it spans almost 20 years, and Tolkien begins to address his letters to fewer and fewer children, until only his youngest, his daughter Priscilla, still awaits her letter from Father Christmas. It shows how his children have grown, and Father Christmas himself seems sad as his children stop believing in Christmas magic. The last letter is especially poignant, as Father Christmas says goodbye to the children.

This is a great book to read during the holiday season, but it can really be enjoyed any time of year. It's funny, magical, and made me feel like a child again. I recommend this book not only to fans of Tolkien, but to anyone who wants to get into the Christmas spirit.

A must for anyone who still has an imagination
Tolkein wrote these letters to his own children as if they were coming from Santa Claus at the North Pole.They are sweet, funny, obviously done with great love.There are sketches to illustrate.I've had mine for many years and give them as Christmas presents often and continue to make rereading it a part of getting into the Christmas spirit. ... Read more

Product Description
The latest novel from the best-selling author of Miss Garnet's Angel.Reissue with PB edition.Many years ago Mr Golightly wrote a work of dramatic fiction which grew to be an international best-seller. But his reputation is on the decline and he finds himself out of touch with the modern world.He decides to take a holiday and comes to the ancient village of Great Calne, hoping to use the opportunity to bring his great work up to date. But he soon finds that events take over his plans and that the themes he has written on are being strangely replicated in the lives of the villagers he is staying among.He meets Ellen Thomas, a reclusive artist, young Johnny Spence, an absconding school boy, and the tough-minded Paula who works at the local pub. As he comes to know his neighbours better, Mr Golightly begins to examine his attitude to love, and to ponder the terrible catastrophe of his son's death. And as the drama unfolds we begin to learn the true and extraordinary identity of Mr Golightly and the nature of the secret sorrow which haunts him links him to his new friends.Mysterious, light of touch, witty and profound, Mr Golightly's Holiday confirms Salley Vickers's reputation as one of our most original and engaging novelists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

poor condition
Book was obviously well used from library with old cracked protector and just not something you want in your personal library. Also whole story was disappointing after her other 2......my first negative experience so no big deal

Irritation at the review process
I do not want to waste my time on this lengthy form and am only prepared to say whether the buying experience was good or bad.Please do not ask me to review any more or I will take my shopping elsewhere.
Thank you
Zandra Mountford

my holiday!
I love this author. I have read all three of her novels now. I wish she were more popular in the US.

Just Try and Put it Down
This is one of those books when you just wish it didn't have to end.

Though it is not a book of action, excitement and cliffhangers, the simple lives of English villagers and that of the mystery guest to their town, manages to be a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are written well and you can't help but warm to them as you find yourself absorbed in their lives. The story moves towards a twist at the end which, if you didn't pick up on it, makes you review the book in a different light as it provokes an interesting way of thinking.

A cleverly written book which you will have you savouring every word as you find yourself engrossed in story, though you may regret having to finish it.

A stellar novel
I agree with the reviewer who has been recommending this to everyone. It's brilliant. Clever, funny, wise, deeply profound and highly original. Ms Vickers writes in a quiet, understated Brit way. Don't be fooled. There'sa savage understanding beneath that decorous facade. And the ending is a tour de force. Bravo, Ms Vickers and may you continue to 'go lightly'! ... Read more

Product Description
John Gielgud wrote letters almost every day of his adult life. Whether at home in London and later in Buckinghamshire, or acting abroad or on location, he delighted in sitting down each morning and recounting what had been going on and what he felt about events around him. He was still writing just a few days before his death aged 96 in May 2000. His letters are treasured by the recipients and the problem for the editor has been in selection. He wrote in an increasingly idiosyncratic hand and remarked that even he needed a magnifying glass at times to see what he had actually written. Through the letters, which begin with those to his mother, we meet a man who delights in gossip, in describing what he sees and experiences. Here for the first time - and not previously available to biographers - are Gielgud's love letters. They show that he was not shy is expressing the intimacies of personal relationships. Gielgud had a reputation for speaking his mind, and this is evident as he writes about his contemporaries, including the great actors of period: Olivier, Richardson, Redgrave, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans and the like.Here is great letter-writing before the age of e-mail - a revelation - full of inside information and gossip. Richard Mangan, who edited the letters, narrates, and Derek Jacobi reads the letters. Ends with a track of Gielgud himself reading an extract from The Pilgrim's Progress, with music by Vaughan Williams, taken from the 1942 radio version. A very moving way to finish his story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Living In The Past With Sir John Gielgud
As one of my very favorite actors, Sir John Gielgud has made a lifetime of memories for so many people.This book is a collection of letters he wrote.It begins with early letters to his mother and ends well up until his final years.

I found it remarkable how well detailed the letters were, and as you read, you begin to feel privy to so much in this wonderful man's life.I felt as if I'd grown old with Alec Guinness and his other compatriots, and it was a sheer pleasure from start to finish.

... Read more

Product Description
These readings of the gospels of St Matthew and St Mark, by Derek Jacobi and Juliet Stevenson, respectively, were part of BBC Radio 4's series of 341 daily episodes of "The Bible", broadcast in 1991 and 1992. Specially composed music is included. ... Read more