Customer Reviews (1)

Great interviews with the rarely-interviewed
Excellent interviews with several of Hollywood's best "heavy" character actors, hampered only by Horner's profound love of his own way with words. The interviews are in depth and revealing, far more so than most interviews I've read with any of the subjects (Lee Van Cleef, Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, Andrew Robinson, Jack Elam, Neville Brand, Bo Hopkins, Luke Askew, Bill McKinney, Robert Donner). But a ten-page introductory essay on how such items as the Hindu Navaratri festival, the Australian Arunda tribe, the ancient Greek Anthesteria, and Prudentius's "Psychomachia" relate to movie bad guys is utterly bewildering and suggestive of more time spent by the author in the thick jungles of academia than in the movie house. Nonetheless, author William R. Horner (a self-described "scholar and banker from Vanderbilt University") managed to gain access to some of the movies' most colorful characters and not blow the opportunity. His questions, while revealing a certain lack of understanding how movies are actually made, nevertheless reveal more than these actors were generally ever allowed to say in a public forum. For that he is to be congratulated.
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Product Description
For a decade straddling the turn of the twentieth century, Mark Hanna was one of the most famous men in America. Portrayed as the puppet master controlling the weak-willed William McKinley, Hanna was loved by most Republicans and reviled by Democrats, in large part because of the way he was portrayed by the media of the day. Newspapers and other media outlets that supported McKinley reported positively about Hanna, but those sympathetic to William Jennings Bryan, the Democrats' presidential nominee in 1896 and 1900, attacked Hanna far more aggressively than they attacked McKinley himself. Their portrayal of Hanna was wrong, but powerful, and this negative image of him survives to this day.

In this study of Mark Hanna's career in presidential politics, William T. Horner demonstrates the flaws inherent in the way the news media cover politics. He deconstructs the myths that surround Hanna and demonstrates the dangerous and long-lasting effect that inaccurate reporting can have on our understanding of politics. When Karl Rove emerged as the political adviser to George W. Bush's presidential campaigns, reporters quickly began to compare Rove to Hanna even a century after Hanna's death. The two men played vastly different roles for the presidents they served, but modern reporters consistently described Rove as the second coming of Mark Hanna, another political Svengali.Ohio's Kingmakeris a compelling story about a fascinating character in American politics and serves to remind us of the power of (mis)perceptions. ... Read more

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Francis Horner is a key figure in early 19th century history. Born in Scotland of humble origins he rose to prominence as an influential Whig MP, became parliament's premier economist, a contributor to the later years of the Scottish Enlightenment and the founder of Britain's leading literary review. His unpublished correspondence with early 19th century "literati" and his political comment should reveal much about the intellectual and political history of Britain during the Napoleonic era. The editors supply a full biography of Horner, explanatory notes and bibliography, relating his life to the leading economic, social, political and literary currents of his day. ... Read more

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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Carey, Lea & Carey in 1829 in 514 pages; Subjects: Anatomy, Pathological; Physiology; Pathology; Medical / Anatomy; Medical / Neuroscience; Medical / Pathology; Medical / Physiology; Science / Life Sciences / Anatomy & Physiology; ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: Parker; Publication date: 1823; Subjects: Human anatomy; Dissection; Juvenile Nonfiction / Science ... Read more

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General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1894Original Publisher: F. MurraySubjects: Nottinghamshire (England)Mansfield (England)History / Europe / Great BritainNotes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free.Excerpt: Customs of tbe flDanor of fIDansfielo.r 1" H E tenure to which reference has been made was copyhold, of the custom known as "Gavelkind." Of this Davies says: -- "Gavel- kind (derived from the Saxon gif eal cyn, 'give all suitably ;' or from gafolcynd -- land yielding rent), the custom of Kent in dividing paternal estates in land, the wives to have half, the rest equally amongst male children without any distinction. First employed in 550. By the Irish law of Gavelkind even bastards inherited. The Law Dictionary adds that not only were the lands of the father equally divided among all his sons, but the lands of the brother also among his brethren if he had no issue of his own. This custom still exists."In 1272, the first year of Edward I., the following presentment of the customs of the royal manor of Mansfield was made: -- Whereof by common council and assent of all the demises king's tenants of the soke of Mansfield it is ordained all their customs, and the manner of their hold, to ordain and expressin writing as their ancestors from the time of the first Conquest have been wont to hold. So in manner of a special law it is underwritten, which writings to all the heirs of them coming may remain as a memory for ever.That Tenants There Be Of Free Blood. -- First they say for them and their heirs, the tenants of our lord king of Mansfield be free of blood ; and lawfully may marry them after their wills, as well men as women, by and after the custom of the manor.Of Suit Due To ... ... Read more

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This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

A college professor writes a modern history book from newspaper articles alone?
Like Tim Oliver, I too was mentioned frequently in this book, but the author never contacted me.He got ALL of his information from newspaper articles.And, as mentioned by another reviewer, the newspapers were ALL against concealed carry. That's a big red flag, and inexcusable in a "history" book dealing with events that happened in the last few years.

Tim Oliver's review points out several of the many inaccuracies in this work; I'll add to the main one:

Horner seems to think the NRA spearheaded this effort, and pooh-poohs the idea that it was a "home-grown issue." Here are the facts:

In the mid-'80s, I and other NRA members in Missouri urged then-NRA rep Willis Corbett to get the NRA behind a CCW effort in our state. Corbett said flatly that the NRA had no interest in doing that.

A few days after Christmas in 1991, a friend and I were in my living room, compaining bitterly to each other about the NRA's lack of interest in CCW here.Then we looked at each other and had an epiphany: We were whining about the failure of a national organization to fix a problem in our own back yard. We decided then and there to reach into our own pockets and hire a lobbyist and get a bill guided through the legislature's 1992 session, which started in a week.

The lobbyist cost us $20,000. His name was John Bardgett.His name is not even MENTIONED anywhere in this book.

AFTER we had written a bill and Bardgett got it introduced by Joe Driskill, the NRA sent a liason to Missouri to find out what was going on.

For the next decade, the NRA would occasionally send reps to Missouri, and these people regularly damaged the relationships we had worked so hard to cultivate with our legislators.

NRA involvement LENGTHENED the number of years it took to get concealed carry in Missouri, but Horner seems to think that the Missouri CCW effort was all their doing from day one.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Horner deserves an "F" on this one, because writing a book like this and using only newspaper clippings as source material is being intellectually lazy.

more fiction than fact
A book can be entertaining without being factual. While some might consider this an entertaining book to read, it is based only on newspaper accounts. No interviews were actually conducted for the writing of this book, although Mr. Horner might make it appear so. Mr. Horner admits in his book that he took his accounts from newspapers, he also admits the newspapers were against concealed carry. This should make the reader suspicious right there. Basically, I thought it was a lazy, sloppy work. There are too many inaccuracies in it, maybe if it were under fiction? A really good work on the subject would have an audience. Book was a disappointment.

Historical Accuracy Is A Must-But It's Not Found Here
As the lead lobbyist for nine of the thirteen years it took to pass the License to Carry law in Missouri, I was excited when this book came out.

I went straight to the publisher and picked up a copy when it was first released and have read most of it. The first things I checked were the passages where I was referred to by name, since I have first hand knowledge of what really happened.

pg 39 para 1. The author starts off ok. He then quotes one of the true heroes of the fight for concealed carry, Sen Caskey.

In debate on the Sen Floor, Sen Caskey said, "The NRA had nothing to do with this piece of homegrown legislation. They sent one guy here three days to lobby, and we ran him out of town.

Sen Caskey knew all the players. He knew who did what. Our first real progress in 1993 was getting Caskey to sponsor out bill.

While the quote is *accurate* to what factually happened, the author's analysis in the closing sentence, *that the NRA did it by long distance,* reflects his lack of in-depth knowledge of what was really going on. This error continues throughout, and is one of the main themes and conclusion of the book.

pg 42-43, Is a recounting of the famous incident where Jet Banks
claimed I or some one of the "Gun Lobbyist" threatened to kill him.

Where I am quoted, the quote is incomplete. I said to the media, in response to JB announcing the death threat on the Senate Floor, "There was no threat! That's a damnable lie told by a damnable lier." In responding to JB's lie, and not wanting to violate the "etiquette" rules of the Senate, I cleared that quote to the media thought Sen Caskey. That's what I said, that's what the Post Dispatched reported and that's what the press told JB when he left the Senate Floor at 7:45 that evening. The author chose to leave some parts out.

When so informed, JB ran up and down the Senate halls saying "where is that little M-F I'm going to kill him!" The press saw it, but failed to report it. The author did not mention it. Wonder why?

The author is then 180 degrees off, when he talks about Sen Caskeys speech killing the bill the next day. The Sen Caskey was very eloquent in pointing out that, lying about a death threat on the Senate Floor would be the action of a dishonorable man, and that since *all* Senators are *men of Honor*, JB must be telling the truth.

To not recognize the height of *ridicule* offered by Sen Caskey, shows the author has no real knowledge of what happened. In fact, there is a video of Caskey's speech around somewhere and it is priceless in the belittling it directs at JB.

The author's analysis says, "Caskey, however, said he believed Banks."

*He could not be more wrong*.

Then in recounting the Supreme Ct case , he says nothing about
recruiting the Intervenor's so we would have a seat at the table, nor the Intervenor causing the Plaintiffs to post a $250,000 Bond or the License To Carry Legal Defense Fund's actions.

It's as if the author only read the Post Dispatch, KC Star, etc and lifted partial quotes and parrot their news reporting to write his book .

For the record, the author *Never* tried to call me or any other of the people who have the real boots on the ground time in the Capitol.

The real problem is, this is written like a modern history book. Those who read it without knowing what really happened will believe it happened the way he recounts it. It *appears* to be an impartial recounting when it in fact is not.

He could not be more wrong.

I admit I have not read the whole book, but I will. In reading passages for accuracy of what I personally witnessed and *know* actually occurred, I am not impressed. This account is what happens when you write based on what your *read* in the newspaper, not what you saw, heard and lived.

Be Safe,
Tim Oliver
LearnToCarry.com

Fascinating and thorough must-read
Showdown in the Show Me State is simply an excellent read.Horner provides a thorough investigation into the history of conceal and carry in Missouri in a clear and engaging writing style.Readers of this book will appreciate Horner's unbiased approach as he conveys both sides of the gun issue to focus on policy in Missouri rather than a one-sided perspective on conceal and carry.Full of fascinating journalistic accounts, this is a must-read not only for Missourians, but for those who are interested in state and local politics and interest groups throughout the United States. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subtitle: Delivered Before the Faculty and Students of the University of Pennsylvania, October 10, 1853; Original Published by: T.K. and P.G. Collins, Printers in 1853 in 53 pages; Subjects: Physicians; Biography ... Read more