The Journeyer is an incredible book. It ranks up there with The Good Earth, Shogun, and Tai Pan. If you're into old China, epoch adventure, sex, romance, and suspense, and an if you like the notion of following several story threads each embodying a clever cast of characters this is the book for you. I lost count of how many times I've read the book and how many times I have recounted the doings of the Fondler.

Garry Jenning's "The Journeyer" has become one of my favorites. It has everything! True romance, adventure, perill and heroes. Not to mention it is an extremely erotic novel. I was given this book by a friend.....two years later...I still have it!! Mr Jennings has the ability to transport you back in time to experience first hand the travels of the Polo's. By the time you are done with this book you feel as if you "know" the characters. You hate to put it down. I read all 1000+ pages in less than a week.....the first time. Each time I go back to it , it feels as if I'm seeing an old friend.

From start to finish, Jennings takes the reader back to an old world....experience the past more vividly than any previous saga. Journeyer is a delicuous journey of the senses. For those with a trained mind's eye, there is no experience more delectable than a well developed scenery and Jennings takes his readers to new levels.

This book, a favorite in elementary school, haunted me for years...until I found a copy in a used book shop. Marvelous!
As an adult, I still return to its magic and poetry. A soothing balm for the old, cynical heart!

My mother, who is now 82, read poems from this book to her three children in the 1950s - I still remember sitting on her lap listening to "Animal Crackers" by Christopher Morley and my all-time favorite, "The House with Nobody In It" by Joyce Kilmer. I am delighted that it has been reprinted for me to read to my grandchildren.

I was introduced to this marvelous collection in an old copy held by a dear friend, who grew up with it. I received my own, reprinted copy last year, and it is one of the treasures of my book collection. Ms. Thompson has selected what were modern poems for her from the under-appreciated trove of early 20th Century American literature. Her eye for poetic gems is startling, and the book holds up to dozens of readings.

My first exposure to Victorian-era erotica was actually courtesy of my mother -- by accident. "Now, these books on the top shelf are mine," she said, pointing to a line of rather drab-looking books on the bookcase in the family room of our house. "There's no reason for you to be reading these books." Pure challenge for a 10 year old, I'm afraid. And though I only looked at the peculiar-looking covers of the books for the next three years (for the writing inside was far too "old" for me), it was inevitable that I would start reading those books on the top shelf...and _The Romance of Lust_ was the first. I was daunted by the size of the book, first of all; this was the Black Cat edition, with all four volumes of _TROL_ in one big book. But my initial skim of the first few pages of the book sold me. After all, it was about a young man named Charlie...not so much older than myself. It had to be cool, then, right? Sufficed to say, reading the first volume alone was an education. Though I was aware of where babies came from and knew the clinical terminology for what a man and a woman possessed "down there," I had no idea that people could do THIS with them! It was, quite honestly, refreshing. Though I'm the first to admit that my initial readings of _The Romance of Lust_ were strictly to gawk at the "dirty parts," my later perusals of the book as I got older showed me that "Anonymous," whomever he (or she) was, had their finger on the pulse of Victorian society -- dishing out some interesting social commentary and satire to boot. It was also courtesy of _The Romance of Lust_ that I learned about sexual orientation. Within the pages of _TROL_, young Charlie and his siblings and friends attempted pairings I'd never considered before...with the end result being that they all enjoyed it and nowhere did anyone see the fingers of a higher power condemning them for their actions. Whether you end up purchasing this book, or any of the other Victorian novels here at Amazon.com, I encourage you to take a look at the book beyond its simple sexual prose. Hiding just below all of that lies a fascinating and thoughful glimpse into a time gone by...with more meaning than you ever thought possible.

Hitting the scales at over 500 pages the connosoire of Victorian erotica will absolutely read every single page probably over and over again ...... This book, first published as four volumes, is now generally reprinted as one book with all four volumes .. For those readers that have a proclivity to enjoy coming of age books as told by a young man than this is the best of all Victorian examples I have ever devoured....

A fifteen year old Charlie Roberts he manages to witness a recently married houseguest, Mrs. Benson, in the thoes of sex with her husband. The little voyeur is soon discovered by the newlywed, and, instead of becoming outraged and immediately snitching on his parents, Mrs. B swears Charlie to keep 'their secret' and she will 'reward him' for his silence. Well let me tell you what a deviously delicious reward it was, and, she went out of her way to reward Charlie over and over..... Matter of fact, she introduced Charlie to her friend and she also rewarded him over and over ......

Our hero, very quickly decides to spread his newfound knowledge with his two younger sisters and, feigning innocence, allows himself to be seduced by two successive live-in governesses, one of which he actually impregnates......

Charlie's appetite for the erotic and sexual becomes voracious as he managed to either seduce, or let himself be seduced, by practically anyone that comes within his grasp, including, of course, (it is after all Victorian erotic lit) his mother .... Male and female alike fall under his spell one way or another ....

I can't imagine much under the norms either eroticism or sexuality that isn't described in the most delicious and intimate detail in this book so it's easy to understand why repeated print runs, over the past 40 years alone, have been bought by Grove Press, Caroll & Graf, Masquarade Books and now in 2002 a new edition by Blue Moon to be relased in June. If the past sales are any indication, this edition will sell out fast as well and will also be treasured as keepsaked for those naughtiest of moments to read alone ....

This has to be one of the true classics of Victorian Era Erotica. It details the sexual adventures of Charlie, who at age 15 is initiated into the arts of love by an older woman staying with his family. After recieving his training, Charlie then goes on to initiate both his sisters, and their Governess Miss Evelyn, (Whom Charlie impregnates) into the sexual arts before moving out into the world to find further sexual adventures. Very well written, with a nice flow to it, this book is a must for any true conesuir of 19th century erotic literature.

One April morning of 1366, a young girl rides to join her sister at court in Windsor. The young girl was Katherine. There, a boorish knigh, Sir Hugh falls madly in love with her, but Katherine isn't interested. She is persuaded to marry him for her own security, but she has no love for him, nor even any affection.

Katherine has also caught the eye of the King's third son, John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. Something in the handsome duke's kiss on her wedding day, arouses in Katherine feelings she had never known and she seeks out the duke at every opportunity.

In the laws of God and man, their love is forbidden, but the seed of passion has been sown which will change the course of English history...

This was a brilliant book, difficult to put down. All the history is there, but told through the eyes of the characters, making it that much more real. There's even a cameo appeareance by Goeffrey Chaucer! (Who wrote the Canterbury Tales.)

One to re-read again.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams and Shadows of the Rose.

I fell in love with this book the first time I read it, more than 40 years ago, as a teenager who hated history and never dreamed the past could be so exciting and romantic. I must have cried my way through three boxes of tissues before I finished it. I still have my falling-apart first edition hardbound copy, and I reread it once a year. If only more writers could recreate history and make the reader care about the people who made it, we might be a wiser and kinder civilization now. Anya Seton was a master, one of a kind, and I'm glad she lived and wrote every time I pick up "Katherine" again for another venture into her 14th century world.

This work is well-written, factual, and breathes such life into the characters and time in which they lived (15th-century England) that the reader becomes so engrossed as to actually feel drawn into the everyday existence and "romance" of the Medieval World, its history, philosophy, religion, intrigue, etc.

It is one of the best books I've ever read, and I heartily agree with other reviewers. I don't know how many copies I've given away to the "literate uninformed" and I don't know how many times I've read it, but I developed an incredible crush on John of Gaunt--enough to research his life--and was thrilled that he committed the unheard of sin of marrying his longtime mistress,Katherine. It was no wonder that the Church fathers damned her to hell; she was beautiful, intelligent, and a woman for the ages.

While I was teaching medieval history to my 6th grade students, I used much of the factual information as reference during my lectures (also authenticating Miss Seton's research). She vividly describes events, places and people to such a degree that history came alive and vital. I loved every minute of the many times I read and reread "Katherine" and I will no doubt read it again very soon. I have never found another book that I identified with so closely, and everytime I find someone who has not been exposed to Anya Seton and her works, I descend upon them with a vengence.

Why hasn't "Katherine" been made into a film? It has all the characteristics of a smash hit: great plot, real people, romance, intrigue, excitement, and visual splendor. Mr.Spielberg where are you?

Este libro ofrece una descripción magnífica sobre la vida, sitios, sucesos y todo lo relacionado con la gente en el México antiguo durante la colonización españolal.

Se da una gran cantidad de detalles en historia, arquitectura, cocina, medicina, etc., que parecen bien documentados. Sin embargo, en todo momento tuve la duda sobre cuando termina la historia y comienza la ficción.

Disfruten el libro si les agrada este tipo de lecturas, pero por favor recuerden, este libro es una novela.

Realmente es una extraordinaria novela de Gary Jenninigs donde mediante la historia de Mixtli, nos transporta al fascinante mundo de los aztecas relatandono las costumbres e ideologías de esta cultura, de una manera ligera. Realmente no me costo mucho leer las más de 800 páginas que tiene este libro el mejor libro que he leido.

En esta obra maestra de Garry Jennings, el leector es transportado al mundo de la mesoamerica, en una obra que pagina tras pagina te absorve, captiva y depicta de una manera tan elocuente y grafica que no solo se imagina, pero se transporta al leector a un mundo desaparecido, oculto, que ahora solo vive como parte del paisaje mexicano, esta novela abre la grandeza, gloria y caida de la cultura azteca, y la expone en una obra de arte que no debe de faltar en la biblioteca de ningun mexicano.

I enjoyed the book, They Cage the Animals at Night. This autobiographical story is about a young child who is seperated from his brothers and sent to different orphanages, becasue their mother is sick. The nuns are very strict and have no sympathy for an eight year old boy, Jennings. It is about Jennings and his struggles through a series of diffeent orphanage homes, feeling lonely, and frightened. He held on to a stuffed animal who he named Doggie. This book is, as the back cover explains, "The triumphant tale of a little boy who finally gained the courage to reach out for love- and found it waiting for him".. Jennings' unyielding spirit and hope are seemingly contagious as he brings the reader into this brave boys childhood. While reading this autobiographical you will be able to feel sympathy for the kid, wanting to help. And you will feel as if you were going through the experiences with him- the hurt and pain. It is very well written with good details. I am very glad i chose to read this book, and would recommend it to anyone.

This is the story of Jennings Michael Burch and it is not an easy book to read. It tells of a young boy's determination to survive despite abandonment, physical abuse and humiliation after being left by his ailing mother at an orphanage. He then experiences a variety of foster homes and some of these accounts will bring more than a single tear to your eye.

During his stay at an orphanage, the Sisters would allow the children to choose a stuffed animal to take to bed with them at night as a source of comfort. Goodness only knows, it was their only small comfort - every other aspect was a child's worst nightmare! However, in the wee hours of the morning before the children awoke, the animals would quickly be gathered up and locked away (caged) and this is the source of the book's title. David's only source of acceptance, love and understanding comes from "Doggie", a tattered stuffed dog. Your heart will cry for this little boy whose only desire is to please, be loved and be wanted. The story does have a happy ending, if such stories ever really do. Despite all odds, Michael does survive, along with "Doggie". The hurt, rejection and loneliness felt as an abused child never disappear. The wounds heal, the heart forgives, but the mind never forgets. Anyone who has experienced abuse as a child, whether it be physical, sexual, emotional or verbal, will be able to relate only too well to the story of little Jennings Michael Burch. Often, reading the stories of other victims of abuse, help the adult survivor to realize they are not alone. If you have never experienced abuse, you will count your blessings that you have never had to live each and every day in a world of constant fear and rejection. ...

They Cage the Animals at Night is a terrific and emotionalstory about Jennings Michael Burch, a young boy who learned to survivein a cold, frightening world. His mother was too sick to care for him and left him in a series of orphanages and institutions. Life in these orphanages was brutal, punishments were cruel, rules were strict, and Jennings was unable to do anything about it. He couldn't rely on family and friends because they all abandoned him in times that he really needed them. A tattered stuffed dog was the only friend that stayed with him through it all and the only thing he could count on in his lost childhood. This is the best book I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. When it was time to go to sleep, I would get a flashlight and sit in the dark for hours and read this book. I have never read a sadder story. The fact that this all happened to the author makes me realize just how lucky I actually am to have family, friends, home, and money. I really felt sorry for Jennings. He was a boy about my age who doesn't have all that I have. The story was based on sadness, love, survival, family, and friends. I would recommend this to anyone of any age who likes a powerful, sad story or who wants to be moved and touched. My entire family has either read it or wants to read it. Everyone I know that read it has felt the same way that I do about it.

Charlotte Bronte was the productive sister. Emily Bronte graced us with one powerful, brillient masterpiece. What about Anne, the forgotton Bronte sister? The Tenant of Wildfell Hall proves Anne Bronte has no trouble matching her sisters in talent. Brilliently executed, this novel engrosses your mind, leaving it immune to distractions.

This novel begins through the eyes of an English countryman, Mr. Markham, and continues switching to the viewpoint of Helen, a mysterious newcomer to Mr. Markham's small gossip-ridden community, and then back to Mr. Markham. The entire book is in first-person narrative- an excellent oppertunity for Bronte to flex her descriptive muscles. I found the characters to be well-developed and symbolic, especially Arthur Huntingdon. At first we are led to despise him, even wish for his death, yet as the story unfolds we pity him, even understand why Helen once loved him.

Bronte's message is clear- society torments women. This book is bold in it's suggestions, considering it was created in 19th century England. I suggest you buy it; it is a book to read more than once

'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' is written by the least remembered Bronte sister. Many people at the time, including her sister - Charlotte, thought that this book tackled inappropriate subject matter, but I disagree. It is a passionate book about a woman's struggle to free herself and her son from her dissolute husband. She flees to a broken down mansion where she attracts the attention of a young farmer. In order to clear the gossip surrounding her dwelling in Wildfell Hall, she offers him her diary to read, which takes up the main part of the narrative. This book is extremely readable and deserves much more attention than it actually receives. The female protagonist is a likeable woman, whose plight obtains sympathy with the reader. It has been described as a feminist book, before its time and when Helen Huntingdon shut the door on her husband it 'resounded throughout the whole of England'.

Anne is the Bronte we never read in school and most of us don't read afterwards, which is a big loss for those who don't, because she's at least as talented as her two older sisters. "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" can hold its own against "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights" any day in the week, but it was panned in its own time, in large part because of its "unladylike" topic of alcoholism. Anne Bronte knew alcoholism first hand through her brother Bramwell who drank himself to death, and her revulsion of the alcoholic personality is central to this book. The heroine of "Tenant", Helen Graham, is a headstrong and independent young woman, who marries Arthur Huntington against the advice of her family. She is one of those who loves not wisely but too well, because Arthur, a selfish and irresponsible womanizer, cares about nothing but satisfying his own wishes and desires. Helen wants to help Arthur turn his life around, which Arthur couldn't care less about, and his drinking and adultery right under her nose eventually repels her to the point where she despises him as much as she once loved him. It is only when she sees him attempting to influence her young son to become a chip off the old block, that she realizes her responsibility as a mother to save her son from his father trumps her duty as a wife to stand by her husband. With the help of her brother, she runs away with her son to the anonymity of life in a small village. Here she meets Gilbert Markham, who falls in love with her, but realizes that their relationship has no future as long as her husband is alive. Arthur's ultimate death from alcoholism not only frees Helen from an abusive and degrading marriage, it also leaves her free to find happiness with Gilbert. Anne Bronte pulled no punches in writing this book and that is probably what so perturbed readers of her own era; too bad for them, because they were unable to appreciate this book for what it is, one of the unrecognized classics of English literature.

This book is just plain fun to read. Jason Jennings is a great story teller; the fact that you gain great insights into business is a bonus.

Yes, some of the concepts have been talked about before (Simple BIG Objectives are similar to Jim Collins' BHAGs) but the stories illustrating each point are invariably on topic and extremely well written. The chapter on Compensation alone is worth the price of the book. "In companies without a culture, money frequently becomes the culture by default." WOW!

This book will be the "In Search of Excellence" of the 2000s.

Jason Jennings latest book, Less Is More, has two very rare features that establish it as a classic, head-and-shoulders above other books in this category.

The first outstanding item is easy to spot: the writing style is incisive and entertaining. When was the last time you read a book about business productivity that you thoroughly enjoyed? Even those completely unfamiliar with business tactics, financial statements and the like will find this book not only understandable but as easy to read as great fiction. And those with no background in business may be inspired to learn more, as Jennings advocates for all employees.

The second rarity is the unflinching dedication to humility, respect for the work team, and adherence to building a culture of honesty. In the aftermath of the Enron & WorldCom scandals, we need a return to basic values and simplicity. The blueprint is here in this book.

My preconception about this book was that it would be the usual stuff of cutbacks and running lean operations. I found to my delight a very entertaining, quite well written account of a number of real world success stories, companies that far exceed their respective industries' performance standards by staying focused on what is really important. The example companies apply the most striking logic and simplicity in the tests and standards they apply to themselves and their businesses. And as for cutbacks, the book makes clear that cutbacks are just not part and parcel of companies that have shown over time they know what they are doing and where they are going. These top performers ask what resources they need and then execute flawlessly in ways, as recounted by Jason Jennings, that increase your awareness as to what is truly important in business today. Read for yourself and draw your own conclusions, but I can assure you it will make you think about what passes for conventional business wisdom. Thumbs up from this reviewer.

I look at every new decorating book that comes out, and I buy up to 6 or 7 a year. I admit that I haven't seen Lynette Jennings' TV show because I work, but I've heard of her and have friends who never miss her show. She is funny, fresh, irreverent. She is honest and seems to understand what real people need and want. I am so into her message of doing what WE want with OUR home and not paying any attention to what anyone else has to say. This book is so good. I think it's must reading for everyone who loves her home and wants to make it as personal as possible. What a great message. This book is great to read but it's also filled with glorious color photos. I was glad to see that those photos run the gammut of colors and styles and home types and that Lynette Jennings isn't trying to push one viewpoint on her readers as some decorating book authors are doing. Lynette Jennings makes it clear that I am supposed to do what I want and she'll be there to help me through it. Just great.

This is an EXCELLENT book. If you've ever watched her shows, you can just hear her talking to you as you read the book-even the use of typefaces and colors in the text helps get her points across. Lynette does not dance around issues, she gets straight to the point. There are lots of pictures to help you visualize, which is very helpful because she "disproves" a lot of common "wisdom" about decorating and colors and the pictures really show you that she's right.
There's nothing about furniture styles; she's not going to define French Provincial for you. She IS going to give you a lot more confidence about getting away from white and ivory walls in every room! (But she's OK with keeping them if you do it because you truly love neutrals, not because you are afraid of color.) She's also going to help you identify what sort of style makes you comfortable-formal, minimalist, eclectic, etc.-and help you realize that the most important thing is to create a space that you are comfortable in.
If you buy only one book on decorating, this is it. If you've bought lots, this is going to be the best of all of them.

This is the first decorating book I've ever actually wanted to read, cover to cover. I feel like Lynette Jennings is talking to me personally and pushing me to ditch my fears and get on with my personal decorating plans. I need this. It's also fun to read and look at. I love all the photographs and illustrations. Also like the peeks at Lynette's own homes. I have to add this to my list of favorite decorating books, which are the New Decorating Book, Garden Style, Shabby Chic Home, and now Lynette Jennings Straight Talk. Recommend highly.

This is one of Jennings' best books - definitely on a par with "Journeyer" and almost as good as "Aztec". As alsways, his historical research is immaculate, and he weaves reality into his fiction in an almost seamless way.

The story follows the travels of a circus ("Florian's Flourishing Florilegium") from America at the end of the Civil War to Paris at the time of the Franco-Prussian War. The characters are all strongly drawn, and the circus memorabilia excellent. The story line runs the gamut of emotion from humour to tragedy. Jennings is able to draw the reader into his story so that we can see the book unfolding in our imaginations.

A worthwhile read - and it would make a fantastic movie - if he were younger, Clint Eastwood would make a great Zachary Edge!

I am a big Jennings fan, but after finishing all 3 books in the Spangle series, I can't help but feel there was something missing. I enjoyed the story, and the history, but maybe got confused with some of the characters. If you are a fan of historical fiction or Gary Jennings you should read this saga....

Gary Jennings has carved out a niche for himself in modern fiction - long, intricately plotted novels based around a single character in a little known historical area. Great reads, full of love and violence, colourful and exciting. And educational - history comes alive in his books, virtually bursting out of the page to take you by the throat. Or the heart.

In Spangle he has outdone himself. This is my favourite of all his books, and perhaps the most poignant. We follow Zachary Edge, a colonel riding away from Appomattox, from his chance meeting with the down at heel circusman Florian through post Civil War America across the Atlantic to Europe, all the way to Moscow and back, ending in the beseiged Paris of the Franco-Prussian War.

Along the way Florian's circus grows and prospers, until he performs before the very crowned heads of Europe. Colonel Edge learns the circus trade, all its tricks and traditions, and we learn along with him. It is a road story of course, as all circus stories must be, but this one is longer than most, and travels a more colourful, exciting road than the circus itself.

It is a grand entertainment from start to finish, at every page revealing the fruits of Gary Jennings' research into the history of the circus.

And in these latter days, where the animals are mostly gone, and circuses are fewer than they were, it is a journey back to freeer, happier days.

One of my personal favourites, as much for the wealth of detail as for the story.