This book is a must for anyone interested in the 3 title poets. Wendy Martin does an excellent job in her analysis of these great female poets. She provides necessary backgound information along with correlative interpretation and history of the authors' works. This book is not only a informative and helpful tool, but it is an interesting read.

ANCESTOR'S BROCADES : The Literary Debut of Emily Dickinson. By Millicent Todd Bingham. 464 pp. New York and London : Harper and Brothers. Originally published 1945.

This book is the fascinating story of the circumstances attending the first appearance of Emily Dickinson's poetry : the arrival in Amherst in 1881 of the young astronomer David Peck Todd and his sophisticated and beautiful wife, Mabel Loomis Todd; their taking up residence near the two Dickinson households; that of the gentle recluse-poetess Emily and her bleak and arrogant sister Lavinia; and that of their brother Austin and his wife and children; the death of Emily five years later; the discovery by Lavinia of dozens of tiny manuscript-books, and of hundreds of scraps of paper on which lines and poems of varying degrees of legibility were written, many barely decipherable; Lavinia's eager desire to see this material published; her incompetence for the task; her request for help from Mabel Loomis Todd; Mabel's long labor of editing the manuscripts in consultation with her husband and Colonel Higginson; the appearance of the first three volumes as causing a transatlantic furor at their unconventionality; the feud that was simmering in Amherst; its climax, etc., etc.

This is without doubt one of the most interesting books I've read in my studies of Dickinson. Millicent Bingham Todd has an amazing knack of bringing these long-dead people before our eyes and making them live again. Her portrayal, in particular, of her mother, Mabel Loomis Todd, is very compelling. She comes across as a remarkably sane, kind, and intelligent woman, and one sympathizes with her in her feud with the horrible Lavinia. And the story of the difficulties of editing ED's manuscripts, and of getting them published in the teeth of public opinion, the triumph of finally succeeding, the slow but steady growth of ED's popularity, all this was fascinating stuff.

Don't believe what the cultists and ED groupies tell you about Mabel Loomis Todd. She was a truly wonderful and very impressive woman. And it becomes perfectly clear that if it hadn't been for her devotion to the task of editing ED's manuscripts, and her fortitude through many trials and hardships and frustrations, it's entirely possible that ED's poems might never have seen the light of day, and her amazing poems have been lost to the world. ED Cultists can go fly a kite. I think we all owe Mabel Loomis Todd an enormous debt of gratitude.

Emily Dickinson is often a religious poet, and more often than many think, an erotic one. She is famous for her mysteries and contradictions and elusiveness. She died and left more than l700 poems, many almost indecipherable, and a number of them "uncertainly finished." Her sister Vinnie wanted the works to see print, but could not persuade her brother Austin's wife Sue to get the job done, so she turned to Austin's mistress, Mabel, who was also married. This is the lovers' story, told through 13 years of self-justifying letters and diary entries. More importantly, it is the story of how Mabel took on the job of copying and editing the poems to please her lover, and perhaps to irritate her enemy, Sue. Emily became famous about five years after she died due to Mabel's efforts. Polly Longsworth did a fine job condensing love letters and diary entries to give us a picture of these tormented souls, whose relationships all ended badly. The actual love letters between Austin and Mabel clearly show that neither had Emily's literary talent, but both had her passion. Where Emily apparently suppressed carnality, her brother and his "other woman" reveled in it. If you are as fascinated by Emily's life as you are by her poetry, this part of the tale, while largely occurring after she died, is essential to know. A very worthwhile addition to the saga of Emily Dickinson.

This is the best of the Peter Dickinson juveniles: in a kingdom somewhat like ancient Egypt, with failing harvests and contracting horizons, a young man has adventures. He winds up participating in the rescue of the whole land, joined by the new young king and an exiled priest.

While the above sounds like the standard fantasy, the book is both more subtle and less predictable. It is also very well written. The description of the hero's journey down the pseudo-Nile while hidden in the coffin of the old king is a high point.

My Children begged me to buy this fun and entertaing book and when I looked at the illistrations I too wanted my OWN copy! This is a darling book! ENJOY

Of the many books inspired by World War II, Byron Lane's personal document of his experience as a bombardier in that awesome event is the most moving, as well as the most enjoyable, account I have read. Seeing the war through the eyes of an excited and often bewildered teenager, suddenly thrust into a dangerous adult world, gave me a vicarious experience that brought that world to life.

Byron's almost daily letters to his family, along with his journal entries, terrified the parent in me; gave me a new perspective of what I always considered my reckless youth; made me laugh at exploits that took daring, imagination, and wit; and made me cry over their youthful earnestness, bravado, and self-doubt.

Lane has supplemented his personal document with vignettes of the war years that helps make that era come alive.

Perhaps most remarkable is the sensitivity, the insight, and the skill this writer manifested when he was only eighteen and nineteen years old.

I found this book to be great, from the first page it pulled me in, I just had to leave it at school today when the report on it is due tomarrow.. :) I like how certain things are left to the imagination yet there are enough details for you to get it right in your mind of what is going on in the book, Great book.

I stayed up all night worried about my daughter going to kindergarten. Nights went by and I wondered how I would know what is going on in school, and how could I get more involved. Then my mother-in-law recommended a book that was featured by National PTA. It was a short, easy to read primer for parents who are worrying about their child starting school. Even if you are an experienced parent, this book gives new ways and suggestions that we never knew were possible. Now, I don't worry about getting to school. When the day came I was ready because I read this book. I highly recommend it for anyone!

Peter Dickinson has written a wonderful little book which takes a look at over thirty Old Testament stories or characters as seen through different eyes. A particular favorite of mine is a Babylonian drill sergeant using the David and Goliath story to tell young recruits how do deal with the threats posed by a slingshot to an armored infantryman. All of the stories take a different viewpoint than is used in the Bible and cast new light on the characters and situations. Quite enjoyable.

I thought this was the most comprehensive book on the colors of horses I have ever read. The art work by Darol Dickinson was great and reading the comments By Ben K. Green was most enjoyable. Great book and an excellent reference for anyone wanting to see the true color of horses.