This is amazing- a really comprehensive history of western jewelry from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection. The photography is just primo, and any jeweler or gem mad type needs this book. The text is clear and super informative. As a part time jewelry maker I find this an amazingly inspirational reference work, the pictures are so good you can see tool marks and technique. Period portraits illustrate fashion and the use of jewelry in different forms at different times.
Highly reccomended- and just plain pretty to boot. Even you all who just like to look at beautiful things will thoroughly enjoy this book.

I must have a dozen books on jewelery and the history of jewelery. This is the best yet. First off the book very clearly organized. On any page that you might flip to there is a short chapter with a title, photos and supporting text. For instance, the section called "Jewelled Bouquets" shows five full color photos of flower themed broaches, descriptions of each an a well written history of the beautiful little things. Much of the jewelery is supported with photos of period portraits, to further illustrate how the pieces were worn. It's a wonderful, wonderful book and I'm not surprized to find it's from the fabulous Victoria and Albert Museum.

In Jewels And Jewelry, Clare Phillips surveys 500 years of western jewelry drawn from the internationally famous Victoria and Albert Museum collection. Phillips covers the materials used, presents a chronology of style, and provides information on manufacturing and distribution including hallmarking and design registration, shops, the tracing of a jewel's history, jewellery boxes, and more. All manner of jewelry is examined, including famous pieces of royalty, and anonymous representatives of unusual design. From rings, brooches, necklaces and pendants to earrings, tiaras, hair combs and buckles, each piece showcased illuminates and documents this collection as one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world today. Jewels And Jewelry is a highly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, academic, and community library collections.

I am moved by every book in the "Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister" series, but Land of the Brave and the Free has influenced me most. Displaying God's faithfulness to one life through a sequence of dramatic and suspenseful events, this book accurately describes the struggles and questions that a young person has about life. The reader's interest is stirred by the Civil War setting and by Corrie's placement in major events in U.S. history, such as the Civil War's final battle and the funeral procession of President Lincoln. My favorite aspect of this book is Corrie's growing relationship with God and, in these portions, I learned a lot about myself. God's goodness and beautiful gifts bring the book to a close with an ending that brings tears. Overall, Land of the Brave and the Free is one of the best installments in "Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister" series and a must-read for every Christian fiction enthusiast.

This book changed my whole perspective on dating, marriage andlife as a single person. It helped me finally become secure in beingsingle, even if for life. God definitely used this book to shape who I am today. The writing style is great and you'll find you can't put the book down. The books before this one compliment it and I would suggest reading the first 6 books in the series before it. It will be well worth your time!

After a tragedy in the novel before this seventh book in the series, Corrie finds herself awakened with more questions without answers than she can figure out by herself. She must rely on her faith in God to help sort through the questions to her life. Is she to stay at the convent, is she to continue writing to help those she believes are right? She overcomes some heartaches and misunderstandings by visiting the home of her youth in New York, emerging on the other side with California beckoning to her and a certain someone on her mind. God reveals to her what is to become of her life! Though not as exciting as some of the latter novels, this book certainly keeps me reading! Very good!

I have not yet read the book, but I too love the movie, although I keep missing the beginning. I just wanted to reassure the person posting the question that the book definitely precedes the film, and that yes they are the same story. You can doublecheck me by just looking at the books on zstores and auctions-- same author, same title, and one has a banner that says "now a Hollywood film!" The book was published in 1960, the movie came out in 1962.

After spending six months in Florene, Italy, I saw the movie Light in the Piazza on a late night television movie channel. I fell in love with the movie as it gave me great memories of Italy. I have never been able to find the movie on video as it has not been released. So instead I read the book. The story is a true romance between a naive mentally-challenged woman and an Italian man. Very quick, easy reading. A must for anyone going to or having been in Italy.

Unfortunately, you don't give a synopsis of Light in the Piazza and I want to know was it made into a movie -or was the title borrowed from the movie with Olivia de Havilland, Rossano Brassi, George Hamilton and Yvette Mimieux? Since I can't find a video of the movie I would like to read the book as I loved the movie.

I was on my way to pick up my parents at the train station when I turned on National Public Radio and caught this reading of "Masque of the Red Death." I was instantly mesmerized (remarkable for a station surfer such as myself). In fact, I immediately called my husband on the cell phone and made him turn it on at home. And, when my parents finally made it to the car, I shushed them and we all listened to it, with rapt attention, on the way back to my house. I can't remember the last time radio has caught my attention in such a fashion. I am going to buy several of these to play for my daughter when she gets older.

the book was awesome! I have a question to anyone out there who will answer it. In the story certain words are capitalized that really shouldn't be. Such as Time and Beauty. WHY? If anyone knows, drop me a line. NIKKICELLO@excite.com

I love Edgar Allan Poe's work, but this would have to be the best because of all the symbols he uses in his style of writing. Most of his work deals with the dark-side of reality and fiction, and I love it.

This large and attractive book was created by the Discovery Channel, to tell the story of the Battle of the Nile. Brimming with details, the book tells the story of the French Revolution and the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, followed by the life of Horatio Nelson, and the exciting finale: a minute-by-minute retelling of the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Along the way, the reader is treated to many excellent pictures, charts and graphs, not to mention a plethora of highly informative sidebars.

This is a wonderful book, one that will please readers that know nothing about the subject, and those that know a lot. I am very glad that I was able to get ahold of it, and highly recommend it to you!

Accompanying a Discovery episode, the book tells the story of Napoleon's conquest of Egypt, and his Battle of the Nile with Lord Nelson. Beautifully illustrated, the authors dramatically relate the surrounding events in a detailed and clear style. A final chapter about excavations by Frank Goddio and his underwater team has provided marvelous photographs and much information about recent discoveries. Definitely a must-read for all interested in historical events, Napoleon, marine archaeology and Egypt.

As a history buff and Discovery Channel fan, I really loved this book

Guide to Marine Mammals of the World illustrated by Pieter Folkens et al is a National Audubon Society book organized into four major groups of marine mammals; marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians.

There is fascinating detail as the book goes on to describe the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, marine and sea otters, and polar bears. Not only is there detailed descriptions, but there are maps to show where these animals live throughout the world. There is a general introduction that outlines the evolution and tanonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals.

There are 120 species represented in this book. Also, there are facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming and diving, details about food items and foraging techniques, and estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

If you are taking a trip to the coastlines or live near the oceans then don't be caught without this fine field guide. You will be amazed by the wildlife near the and in the ocean. This is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work.

Don't leave home without it, as your trip will be richer and more fulfilling as you spot the animals listed.

Pieter Folkens illustrates Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World, a comprehensive desk reference which blends color photos and maps with realistic drawings of marine mammals. Paintings illustrate juvenile and subspecies, photos show typical behavior and appearance in the wild, and color range maps reflect the latest information, while chapters cover all the natural history basics. Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World promises to be a lasting, important library reference.

The National Audubon Society's Guide to Marine Mammals of the World contains a wealth of information about pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), polar bears and otters that's timely and easy to digest. Descriptions, range, behavior, etc. of the various species are informative, with just enough detail for anyone short of a marine biology major.

Along with a number of excellent quality photographs, Pieter Folkens (from my hometown of Benicia, CA!) illustrations are superb. From Knopf, the same publishers of the Sibley Guide to Birds, the graphics and layout of this guide are similarly clean and very attractive. I think it's one of the best looking books of it's type, and an ideal introductory guide for anyone with an interest in marine mammals.

As a newcomer to New York City this book gave me immediate access to the entire NYC Art World and everthing that happens behind the scenes. It is my most valuable Art Resource Book and I always find what I am looking for.

Everything you ever wanted to know about New York City galleries, but were afraid to ask. There is no other book like this that I've seen. It's up-to-date, which is very important in the dynamic NYC art world, yet also easy-to-use - I found what I was looking for. Other artists, in NYC and elsewhere - it's essential.

This is the book every artist and art lover has been waiting for. It lays out the complete map to find out about every art gallery and museum in the city -- more than 800 detailed listings -- and the kind of art work you can find there. I know of artists who have found galleries for their work from reading this book and they don't even live in New York City. In addition to providing the hundreds of listings Renee Phillips offers guidance to artists in the introduction and professional resources in the back of the book.

This book is like sitting down in a wisewoman's kitchen & taking notes. It is full of lots of recipes pertaining to the eight sabbats that we witches celebrate. It has chapters on wine, preserves, freezing, bottling, pickling, salting, drying herbs, mead making, incense making....But this book has a lot of sabbat lore & info that I haven't seen in other books. The food recipes are all vegetarian and include some wild foods that you can harvest yourself (the Latin names are given so that you make sure you're gathering the right thing!). However, the wild plants & fungi listed are from Britain, so Americans may have trouble finding them over here!

This book is helpful, informative, charming & really helps get you into the mood of each sabbat. Plus it doesn't ever preach at you, as some wiccan books can do. Anna Franklin & Sue Phillips really know their stuff.

I bought this book because it was by Anna Franklin, one of my favourite Pagan authors. It is full of information on how to celebrate the Eight Pagan Festivals- there are hundreds of recipes, all with seasonal ingredients, together with ideas for altars, incense recipes, plus lore, history and a chapter of rituals. Furthermore there is information on handfasting ceremonies and celebrations, and full moon (esbat) rites and food, preserving, wine and mead making, and preparing ritual food. I don't know how I mananged before I got this book- it has the information of ten other books, and with Anna Franklin you can be sure that the information is accurate.

With so much rubbish and mis-information published on pagan festivals, it's a refreshing change to find two authors with such intimate knowledge of the subject. A powerful blend of pagan ritual and practial advice. An excellent reference book for all pagans, wicca people and Celtic minded individuals.

I found this book to be an excellent resource for my practice as a mental health attorney. This book is written in an easy to read format with helpful pointers for parents with depression and those who work with these parents and families. In addition to its useful hints, the book also lets parents with depression and other mental health issues realize that they are not alone. I highly recommend this book to parents, families, and mental health providers.

I found this book to be extremly helpful and insightful. I am not a parent but do have a bi-polar mental illness.
The book has shown me a way to better manage my illness. Most of the chapters deal with subjects such as how to put together a self-care plan,a crisis plan (such as going into the hospital),how to make better use of finances as well as the importance of keeping a balanced life.
I believe very strongly that not only parents with a mental illness but parents without a mental illness and childless couples with or without an illness can also benefit from reading this book.
This is a must read book for anyone who wants to improve any area of their life.

I recently received a copy of this book from one of the authors. It is not only extraordinary in its focus and scope, but exceptional in that it addresses such issues at all. The challenges of parenting are well known, but undertaking them while experiencing depression is hardly ever discussed - despite the fact that depression is one of the most common health complaints in our nation. Learning to cope with the negative emotions, and still be the best parent you can, involves recognizing behaviors and developing skills - and this book shows you how. I highly recommend this to any parent who feels the burdens of their life are impinging on their ability to parent. If you think you might need help, this is a good place to start.

Pierre et Gilles are exquisite interpreters of campy glamour.Their sexy saints,their innocently looking yet sizzyingly sexy boys and girls, are like a sumptous glittering candy. I've savoured their work.

This beautiful produced book , accompanying a major exhibition at the new Museum of Contemporary Art, in New York, is a wonderful introduction for anyone to Pierre & Gilles beautiful & unique combination of photography and painting. I have been a fan of Pierre & Gilles for many years, and have enjoyed all of the wonderful collection of books published about them over the years, but this book was indeed welcomed because it has a lot of their new unpublished photographic paintings. Art critic & curator, Dan Cameron, gives a great overview & history of Pierre & Gille's photographic paintings as well as a complete explanation of all of the images presented in this book. It's very insightful and I learned a lot more than I knew before.

So if you are a true fan of Pierre & Gilles work you definitely should have this beautiful book in your collection, or if their work is new to you this is one of the best introductions to their talented and very unique photography.

These two artist are some of the most avantgard and ambicouis photographers of our time. With their representations of saints and their homoerotic pieces they have something for jsut about anybody. I recommmend this book to anyone who is looking to add a very different type of art to their home library!