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Excellent!
Broad appeal - a little of everything!
An exciting, must-read novel that everyone will loveThis book was much better than I make it sound! I'm not a very good reviewer but I just wanted to add my opinion because I think this is a book that everyone should read...men and women!! It is an excellent book, very hard to put down and keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat!


Beautiful beyond words, a treasure
My son's favorite book.
This is a GREAT book!

Original and Full of Unexpected TwistsThe story line was also one of the most original I have read to date. Yes, this is set in the time of castles and magic, but you will be amazed at how different the story is from others in its genre. I wasn't dissapointed.
Careful about plot giveaway in previous review!!If you intend to read this book, don't read the review below entitled "One of My Favorite Books"!!
Definitely worth looking at.

An evocative, tragic but exquisitely written storyAlthough on one level it tells the story of James Achilles Kirkpatrick, British Resident in Hyderabad at the close of the 18th century, this book is a beautifully written examination of a number of white men from all over Europe (and America) who went adventuring in India from the time of Elizabeth I. Many of them became "white mughals", immersing themselves in the lifestyle and religions (both Hindu and Muslim) of the various princely states. Eventually, though, and most sadly, racist attitudes and unreasonable demands on local rulers made it more and more difficult for these men to carry on and eventually too many of the British in India became narrow minded, intolerant and xenophobic. The British presence in India eventually became intolerable and so ended the British Empire in due course. The author is particularly scathing of Lord Wellesley's governor-generalship.
The author has created a wonderful tapestry of various men, their Indian wives and Anglo-Indian children, the art, literature, architecture, politics, military adventures, food, domestic arrangements, etc of a short but poignant era in Indian and British/western history. His scholarship is evident (the footnotes often fascinating) and he was very lucky to happen upon some original, never seen, sources which help make this book so vibrant.
The sad story of James and his Khair was both a tragedy and a triumph - I shall never forget them and, should I ever travel to India, Hyderabad and the old Residency are a must-see for me.
A different take on the British in IndiaDalrymple has assembled a huge amount of information, much of which is primary source material never before examined, to support the fact that this blending of cultures was common at the time. As might be expected, many British had Indian mistresses, but more surprisingly, intermarriage was not uncommon, and for a Muslim woman, marriage to a Non-Muslim could only occur if the man converted to Islam, which some did, including Kirkpatrick. At the time the Indian rulers were Muslim, but they did not attempt the impossible task of converting the Hindu population, and as a result, the same blending of culture that was occuring between east and west occurred to some extent between Hindu and Muslim. The two religions co-existed for the most part peacefully, a situation that changed radically at the time of Indian independence.
Inevitably, the Company became ever more profitable and the British presence stronger, while at the same time the Mughal Empire began to crumble. Successive Governor-Generals reversed the trend, mixed race children became the targets of discrimination, and the remaining Mughal princes were forced into unfavorable agreements with the British. By the time of the Indian Mutiny in 1857, the notion of Empire, and a separation between the English and Indians, was largely complete, to last for almost 100 years.
Finishing the book, one wonders whether the model exemplified by a Kirkpatrick would have worked. Or is conflict between cultures inevitable?--certainly in our fractured world it seems to be. Dalrymple's work is well-written, well-researched, and very thought-provoking.
A historical masterpieceMany THANKS to Mr. Dalrymple for the hours of pleasure this book has already given - and I plan to read it several times over. It is also the perfecly balanced book - a very intellectually satisfying work of history based in fact (ah those vast primary sources referenced!), around a very romantic incident (reality, always more romantic than fiction) in a location, time and setting incomparable in terms of the multiple political/ cultural forces at work and with a meaningful message "East and West can and always will meet no matter what" and an even more important one albeit more personal than political "love conquers all" cliched as it may be;
And all told in his fabulous style that i label the "renaissance style of history-narration" charaterised by objective observation(based in reason and fact) yet madly romantic.... I loved this book and hope - very selfishly - that Mr. Dalrymple will continue to produce such enlightening and enthralling work for decades to come.


Inca Past, Explorations Past, Explorations PresentOf course the book is full of recountings of mistakes and scares, from embarrassingly split pants to humorous misunderstandings between the gringos and the natives (including a young girl who precipitously falls in love with the author). This is not a how-to manual, but those preparing to explore the area would do well to heed Thomson's words on snakes, guinea pigs, gnats, pack mules, and especially, guides. Much of the book is not just a history of the Incas, but a history of exploration of Inca sites. There are fine summary portraits here of an assortment of strange characters who have trekked some of these paths before Thomson. A prime one was Hiram Bingham, the discoverer of Machu Picchu, who thought erroneously that it was a religious monument to the Virgins of the Sun. This has sparked a lot of New Age nonsense. It was a winter camp for the Inca court, and Thomson's own view of the exalted position of Machu Picchu is simply that the Incas had a fondness, just as we do, for magnificent mountain views.
Thomson's exhilarating and self-deprecatingly humorous account of his own travels vies with the ancient history and modern history revealed here. All are expertly told. Thomson follows a trail of Inca history to the almost forgotten site of Vilcabamba, still unexcavated and obscured by thick vegetation. It was the last remnant of the great Inca Empire. Digressions of descriptions of the modern towns he goes through, and a welcome appreciation of the great Cuzco photographer Martin Chambi, are easy bypaths on the way. The book has excellent maps, a glossary of terms from the Spanish and the local Quechua language, and an genealogical chart of the Inca emperors. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book to put our currently fashionable fascination with Inca sites in a realistic context.
A great read and great fun.
A Highly Enjoyable Reading ExperienceLured to Peru by the story of Llactapata, a ruin discovered by noted explorer Hiram Bingham but lost again beneath the vines and trees of Peru's jungle, Thomson and his team embarked upon a journey to rediscover the missing ruin. Accompanied by local guides, Thomson hiked the Inca trail through the Andean Mountains to his destination --- encountering entertaining locals, interesting cuisine, swarms of gnats and the occasional snake. Nearly twenty years after his first excursion, Thomson would return to Peru to resume his studies of the Inca ruins.
THE WHITE ROCK is not only the story of Thomson's explorations, but also the history of the Inca culture and the archaeologists and explorers who have recorded it. Thomson never hesitates to give credit where it is due, a notable contrast to the often overblown egos of explorers. True to documentarian form, Thomson offers an unbiased, honest account of his travels in Peru, highlighting various aspects of its culture, arts and inhabitants. He also points out what he believes are discrepancies in the historical chronicle of the Incas and offers plausible alternatives. A combination of a history text and travel memoir, THE WHITE ROCK offers the reader much more than other books in either of these genres. Thomson's balance of humor and scholarship makes for an enjoyable reading experience, and the forty-five black and white photographs beautifully illustrate the mystical draw of the Incas.
--- Reviewed by Melissa Brown


The Lonesome PineThe illustrater, Monique Luijan-Bakerink made extroardinary pictures done in patel and paints. She made light fluffy colors. The illustrater definetly read the book before drawing the pictures because they looked exactly loke the descriptions the author put in the story.
I think that the author put great thought into this book before writing it. Some of the topics in this book are hard to understand and probobly took this author many hours to think it up.
The author showed great talent by showing incredible imagination. This book has many imaginatinary topics.
Jane West is a great author and I would like to thank her some day.
So, if youn want to read a great book by an excellent author, read the Lonesome Pine.
White Socks Only
Excellent children's book on prejudiceThis book deals with the issue of racism in a way that young children can relate to and understand because it makes the idea of judging people by the color of their skin almost as foolish as judging people by the color of their socks. I read this book to my fifth grade class and it generated some wonderful discussions about racism, and treating others with respect and kindness regardless of who they are, where they live, the color of their skin, or what clothes they wear. I highly recommend this book.


Co-Winner of 2002 ASA Oliver C. Cox Award
Award Winner
Provocative, Innovative, and Insightful Book

A Bistro at Its Best
One of my favorites
A great book for your kitchen shelf--you'll use it!The White Dog Cafe is a progressive and socially-responsible restaurant in Philadelphia. While I've never eaten there, the next time I'm out that way I'm going to give it a try because the recipes here are so excellent.
The Soups, Salads and Light Meals, Main Courses, and Desserts sections are the ones I use most often. The Soups are fantastic. I'm a real soup lover, and am always looking for new and (more exciting) soups to try. Our favorites are the Sweet Potato and Lemon Grass Soup with Peanut Pesto (a Vietnamese-inspired dish), the Curried Aplle Bisque, and the French Mushroom Soup. The salads are equally impressive, especially the Warm Mushroom Spinach Salad which always wins great praise at dinner parties. Many of the main courses require demi-glace (kind of a pain) but the Chicken and Mushrooms in Marsala-Sage Sauce is excellent, as is the Rosemary-Mustard London Broil with Wild Mushroom Glaze. In desserts the Apple-Cranberry Deep-dish Streusel Pie has become a Thanksgiving tradition, and the Milk Chocolate Cream Pie will please all chocolate lovers, kids, and kids at heart.
I don't think you will be disappointed if you buy this book, but will turn to it again and again.


A Great Read
White Out
You Never Want to put it DOWN!Terri is great for him,and there when he needs her.


White Rabbit, A MysteryThe story glides as the main characters find and keep their humanity through the maze of powerful music, new ideals truly and twistedly expressed, social institutions that both grind down and allow for freedom, and the crazy, dog-legged trail of one person whose childhood and Vietnam experiences can't be left behind.
It's a good read. Daniel trusts both the story and his chararcters enough to let them speak for themselves; this is a great gift and let's the story pull the reader into it.
If you like a book you can't put down, pick White Rabbit up (I even took it to work and read it on breaks!) Kudos to Daniel for a story well told.
Top writing, thrilling mystery
Dave Daniel Mixes the '60s with SuspenseThere is a killer loose and the victims are as nameless and lost as he/she is. Partner a down on his luck San Francisco inspector with a young, attractive writer for an underground newspaper and you have an odd couple hoping to catch an elusive prey before The Summer of Love becomes The Summer of Blood.
I recommend this book for all of you who were there in the 60s' and all of you who wish that you were.