Probably the best and most enjoyable book I've read on the culture (cultivatis) of Rome. Covers Roman Clothing, Houses,
War, everything. I could not put this book down.
Absolutely loved it and will purchase it. Dupont does an excellent job in her details and research. Esoteric issues such as homosexuality are touched upon lightly but nonetheless
informative. Highly recommend!

I read this book about 5 years ago and I still find myself going back to it when I feel a little down or discouraged. This book will make you realize that there is a whole different "level" out there or maybe one of our "senses" that most of us don't know we have--kind of like new planets that astronomers "find" but have actually always been there. That's a little deep but, believe me, this book makes a person understand that "we" all hold ourselves back because that special ingredient that we are all looking for is already possessed by us all........we only have to just dare ourselves to reach inside of ourselve and use it and reach for our goals....mental goals, spiritual goals, health goals, physical goals and oh yes, the material goals will follow. Read this one, you'll be a better "you" and you will realize how special you are.

This is a good solid book with plenty of well-drawn black and white pictures to help the reader follow the story line. It tells an interesting true story of a young woman who dresses as a man in order to join the army during the American Revolution. The book also introduces the reader to various historical characters of the time, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. This is an easy book for young children to read, and could be a good starting point in getting a child interested in history. Let's hope that it is reprinted again soon as it is an excellent book and is worth having on any bookshelf, private or public.

I bought these tapes in addition to the books so that I can be inspired even while I drive.

I like this book because it shows very old dolls that you don't see alot. It has alot of pictures and is very nice for a coffee
table book.

Dolorosa Soror [Sad Sister] is an intelligent, exhilarating erotic tale. Florence Dugas fuses both pain and pleasure, blurs the line between the two sensations, and then separates them to the point of constant anticipation. She weaves a powerful, consuming, all too real narrative with graphic sex and intensely, tender moments; Dugas inescapably explores love, grief, and hope, too. Her descriptions are breathtaking as she plays with language. Dugas makes the reader patiently wait, but always leaves you with a searching yet satisfied feeling. Fighting against and grasping for understanding all at once, Dolorosa Soror dances in your head long after you have closed the pages. Lose yourself in Dugas's semi-autobiographical story, and then find yourself all over again, and again...

I'm extremely impressed. I think this book would make an outstanding addition to any Renaissance-lover's, or garbaholic's, bookshelf.

It is not about how to make Italian-persona clothing. Instead, it focuses on how Florentines of the Renaissance used clothing to make social statements. Along the way, it examines some things that garbmakers would like hearing about (one table lists various color combinations found in gowns and linings), but mostly, it's about the sociology of fashion.

Chapters:

* Craftspeople and tailors (including how clothes-making guilds were organized and the role women played in these guilds)
* Tailoring Family Honor (how Florentines viewed honor and how they thought honor was expressed through clothing)
* Family Fortunes in Clothes (how much they spent, and a bit about the secondhand clothes market)
* The making of wedding gowns (you'll love learning how many opinions went into one and how totally political it all was)
* Trousseaux for Marriage and Convent (how they differed, and lists of what went into each)

And stuff about sumptuary law, information about layers of clothing, types of dyes (and an examination of mourning clothes), types of fabric, and clothes as depicted in art -- and how art might have distorted how people really wore clothes. Embroidery is also covered.

Needless to say, the painter Ghirlandaio features pretty prominently here. There are also b/w repros of portraits, unfortunately not super well detailed, but there are a few here I haven't seen before. There are also appendices that are very useful -- lists of currency and measures, categories of clothiers, yardage required for various garments, glossaries of what yardage terms meant, and a HUGE bibliography and glossary of terms.

It isn't a physically large book, clocking in at around 300pp, but it's very rich in detail, and the writing is pleasant to read. I'd definitely recommend this book to anybody wanting to immerse in the period -- and DEFINITELY for any Renaissance costumers out there. It might not be a bad idea to have some basic grounding in the period before reading this, but it's written well enough that if any is required, it isn't much.

I strongly recommend this book. This is a great book about a boy in the Crimean War who helped Florence Nightingale. This book makes you want to read more and more! It is one of the best books I have ever read--I was really inspired by the love and care that Florence Nightingale gave to the wounded and sick soldiers. It was kind of bloody in places, but it makes you pray and feel sorry for the bad conditions they were in. I have read most of the Trailblazer books, and this one is my favorite!

This is a beautiful book. Mr. Florence out-did himself with this one! It is so easy to read, is laid out so beautifully, the information is complete and the photography is outstanding. I respect Gene Florence's expertise and would make this my "Bible" for information on Elegant Glassware.

I thought this book was great. Origins and descriptions of flavors of all beans were so interesting and informative. Wonderful recipes. Personal notes of Elizabeth's favorites was great. Finally, where to find these beans was so helpful. Some recipe books leave this one out. Also,lovely pictures.