"At the Heart of a Tiger: Clemenceau and His World 1841-1929" by Gregor Dallas is a passionate epic of the life of one of the most enigmatic statements of the 3rd Republic. Georges Clemenceau, a medical doctor, a journalist, radical member of the assembly, passionate defender of France's honor during the Dreyfus affair, turned as a Prime Minister in power extremely tough and conservative, a supreme war leader who suppressed freedom of speech and whose iron will helped France to endure the Spring offensive of 1918 and finally win the WWI. Clemenceau is a friend of Monet, lover of fine things in life, passionate believer in truth but foremost a French patriot. Clemenceau uncompromising position during the negotiation of the treaty of Versallies, as an elderly statesman having nothing to loose but the honor of his country, helped protect French security, but ultimately failed to produce a workable solution based on any balance of power.

Gregor Dallas style and the translation preserves the flowery nature of French language and feeling. Dallas is at his best when he describes the emotions behind the human decision making, not necessarily when at rational interpretation of history. From little we can know about the private life of the extremely secretive man who burned most of his private correspondence, Dallas manages to extrapolate from in truly incontradictory way. Although 600 pages, a book is an easy and enjoyable read. Not entirely a scholarly treatise, but not a subjective biography either.

A great behind the scenes look at the first Super Bowl title won by the Jerry Jones/Jimmy Johnson regime. Really makes you appreciate how rare winning a Super Bowl is and fortunate they are to have won three. Bayless had unlimited access and it shows.

This diary offers a very realistic view of the Civil War through a civilian's eyes who's house is taken over by forces. Anyone interested in the Civil War at all should read this wonderful book.

The story of a talented young woman whose parentage and family is shrouded in deep mystery and lies. With faith in God she struggles against almost insurmountable odds to discover the truth about her past and to overcome the almost total domination that is over her. Even the man she begins to love seems to be a part of the evil. This is quite a facinating story based on integrity and faith in God.

This book details the first twenty years of the NFL rivalry of the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. It has brief recollections of each of the forty games played in that twenty year period. These include not only important plays from each game, but related events. For example - the comments made by Redskin defensive players who were going to "get Staubach" so the only QB the Cowboys would have was that kid. Well, they knocked out Staubach that Thanksgiving Day, but Clint Longley came in and brought "the Pokes" back in one of the more memorable wins in NFL history. Each game is well described with many insightful comments. Few details are as revered to Cowboy fans as how Cowboy founder Clint Murcheson - in true JR Ewing style - aquired the rights to the famous Redskin fight song "Hail to the Redskins". He then used that as leverage to "pursuade" the Redskin owner to vote to put an expansion team in Dallas. That is typical of the kind of stories that are found in the two decade history of these two teams. It is must reading for Cowboy and Redskin fans.

Review: The Dallas Cowboys

Bob Italia, The Dallas Cowboys. Edina, MN: Abdo & Daughters, 1996. HB, 32p., illus. ISBN 1-56239-461-4

This children's book reviews the history of the Dallas Cowboys through the '94 season. It is nicely illustrated and includes a football glossary. The outstanding feature is a two page centerfold that reviews the Cowboys historical highlights. This book is one in the "Inside the NFL" series.

Chip Lovitt, Dallas Cowboys. Mankato, MN: Creative Education, 1997. HB, 32p., illus. ISBN 0-88682-789-2

This children's book reviews the history of football in Dallas beginning with the '52 Texans through the '95 Cowboys.

The outstanding feature is the many full-page color illustrations.

This book is one in the "NFL Today" series.

Copyright 1997 by Fred Goodwin

If you've thought much about the Dallas Cowboys, positively, or negatively, it's all here, the great moments, the humiliating moments and the peculiar moments. How did a team that started out so poorly grow into such an NFL monster? Gary Stratton's careful, restructuring of one of sports greatest success stories helps jog the memory without having to do all the painful research after a barroom argument. From humble beginngs, a square coach's innovations, a baby-photographer's eye's for unknown talent, to the cockier-than-dirt J-Birds and their ungracious arrival in Dallas, to some of the most colorful players ever to don a uniform in any sport, this is a book no true Cowboy fan, or NFL fan, for that matter, can be without. From Eddie LeBaron, to Don Merideth, to Craig Morton, to Roger Staubach, Danny White and Troy Aikman, the facts are all there, but much better than the facts are the little known stories. Did you remember that in the beginning, the Cowboys were supposed to be the Dallas Rangers? Me neither. Cowboy fans will quickly recognize the events, the good times and the bad, and they'll be reminded of all the great moments, and of those friendly ghosts from the past, guys named Lilly and Howley, Perkins and Garrison, Thomas and Hill. Stratton's book helps put it all into perspective for us, and when you see it in this format you're reminded of what a fun ride it's been since 1960's first entry. It's not the kind of book you're likely to read at one sitting and forget about, either. It's a book fans will want to keep by their beds to read for a few chuckles and aging memories after a long day. I personally enjoyed getting re-acquainted with some of the great names of the past, guys like Jethro Pugh, who still has a score to settle with that guy from Idaho named Jerry Kramer. All the later stuff about Jerry Jones and his embarrassing press conferences, are in there. So is Jimmy Johnson's snubbing of Jones as the bar. Then, of course there were Super Bowl highs and the Super Bowl lows. I'm glad he took the time to put all of this together. You'll like the aging pictures, too. They show how much the game has progressed in the last 30 years. Like I say, it's for addicted Cowboy fans, of which there are millions.

Review: The Dallas Cowboys Football Team

William W. Lace, The Dallas Cowboys Football Team. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1997. HB, 48p., illus. ISBN 0-89490-791-3

This children's book reviews the resurgence of America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, under Jimmy Johnson and its origins under owner Clint Murchison.

It also profiles some of the all-time great Cowboys like Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith, as well as key leaders such as Tex Schramm, Tom Landry, Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.

It is nicely illustrated and includes a glossary, references and all-time Cowboy stats and results.

This book is one in the "Great Sports Teams" series.

Copyright 1997 by Fred Goodwin

This book is going to shock Dallas fans like myself...it is really really really stretching the base storyline by adding lots of sometimes explicit subplots, but that just adds to the fun. For die-hards and nostalgic types, a very entertaing read!