This is a well-written thoroughly enjoyable mix of history, religion, and biography. The book brings to life the characters and the time in which they lived. Great stuff!

An excellent review of the political manuevering that the Republic of Dubrovnik had to do to maintain it's autonomy from the clutches of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. A great book for people interested in the history of this beautiful former city state located in today's Croatia.

Interesting, well-researched book on Dominican migration between the the Dominican Republic and the United States, "Between Two Islands," is an important book for those who want to understand the reasons and causes why many Dominicans leave their nation. The title, referring to the island nation and Manhattan Island in New York City (which houses the largest Dominican community in the world outside the island) catches one's attention, as this group stands to become the third largest group of Latinos in the United States (after Mexican-Americans and Puerto Ricans). The author has done careful and thoughful research in explaining the wave of Dominican immigration to the U.S., however little is covered on the large waves of Dominican immigrants to neighboring Puerto Rico or the Netherlands/Netherlands Antilles. You don't have to live in or near Washington Heights (the Manhattan neighborhood with the largest Dominican community in the city) to really grasp this books importance. As Latinos stand to replace African-Americans as the largest minority group in the country, it is important to understand why this is happening now and now back in the 1960's (Trujillo regime did not permit emigration from the country) or why many chose to go to New York. In addition to this book readers should also pick up a copy of the books "Why the Cocks Fight," and "Sugarball" to understand the Dominican experience entirely. Overall, this is one of the best anthropology books I ever read and I highly recommend it to all.

A window on the 20th century (told largely in flashback) but beautiful, beautiful, beautiful; artfulness concealing art. If you like Proust, or if he sounds too forbidding, or if you've never even heard of him, this book is for YOU; you'll wolf it down. If it's really still in print, BUY IT NOW; you'll want to pass it on to your friends... PS I had never heard of Maria Bauer until I stumbled across this book!

My book describes the development of porcelain production in the Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) region of western Bohemia. Through the declining years of the Habsburg's Austro-Hungarian Empire to the rise of communism in Czechoslovakia, a history of each factory exporting ware to the United States is presented which recounts details of factory owners never described in English literature. A description of each small town or village in the Karlovy Vary region that manufactured porcelain is provided. Details of the methods of exporting porcelain to the United States and the history of import businesses and their owners gives the reader an insight into how today's antique porcelain found its way from factory to home. Numerous advertisements of import companies illustrate the array of Bohemian porcelain sold in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. As the demand for whiteware increased to satisfy the growing interest in amateur china painting in America in the 1880s, the Karlovy Vary area factories expanded and their export business grew. I describe the factory methods used to decorate "Carlsbad china", the name given to porcelain exported from this region in the late 1800s. American decoration of imported whiteware is also presented making the book an invaluable reference for those who purchase, sell, or who have inherited pieces of this china. In addition, the book should be of value to those interested in family histories of factory owners and decorators. Over 600 color photographs and illustrations demonstrate the rich variety of porcelain pieces exported to as well as decorated in, the United States during this time. An extensive presentation of American export dinnerware patterns from the oldest producing factory is featured in one of the book's appendices. Many factory marks are illustrated in color and are presented in a chronology following the description of each factory. A price guide is provided to give a relative value of one piece to another. If you have questions about Bohemian/Austrian porcelain please contact me and time permitting, I'll try to help you.

Who would have thought that a book about a remote foreign land would be so entertaining? Reminiscent of Bridget Jones' Diary, with MUCH more depth, Mr. Mracek has no inhibitions when sharing his adventures in this wild, wacky, and wonderfully wicked territory. The characters are endearing, and yes, quite unbelievable. The beauty is that this all really happened. I give Craig Mracek credit for his persistence with survival and relationships with women! Guys you're all going to want to travel to Czechoslovakia at Easter time! Gals, have no fear - it's all in good fun. But the Women's Prison Chapter is by far the absolute best! I want to see a film version of this book staring Robin Williams!!

Order this book now - and tell your friends!!!!

This book is Leo Perutz' monument to his childhood home prague, a fascinating tapestry that brings together the stories of historical people such as Wallenstein as well as of fictional characters. Further more, it is a tribute to Jewish life, written after the catastrophy of WWII when the Jewish culture Perutz came from had been destroied. As always with this author the plot is developed magnificently and the language beautiful. Definitely recomended!

Living in America, it is easy to miss seeing the struggle for survival that goes on in the world still today. In Armenia, each day, the basic needs of survival are the paramount issue for most, that is food and water. In A Call from Home, Dr. Najarian tells a story of courage, compassion and pure determination despite many hardships. Though set in her ancestral homeland, the story could take place many other places in the world. It is a tale of the dedication she found there while helping anchor many to the world as they helped others strive for a better tomorrow as humans do all over the globe.

After reading Tajikistan: The Trials of Independence (see review), my perspective of this region was broadened immensely with Calming the Ferghana Valley. An in-depth study of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (with particular focus on Northern Tajikistan) and Kyrgystan, the book acts as more of a petition, or call to action, to secure stability in these regions before the continued fragility, confusion, and disintegration of the political and social structure influences an irreversible course toward explosive upheaval.

The recent events in Afghanistan have demonstrated how far-reaching the effects of socio-political unrest can be. They have also demonstrated how strategically valuable these countries can be, being located in the middle of the tumultuous Asian continent. This book is a first attempt at staving off the violent actions and reactions that may or may not occur as a result of the unrest. But with the bombings in Osh, Kyrgystan; the kidnappings and "disappearances" in Tajikistan, and the secret unrest in Uzbekistan, it does not take much influence to convince one that the unrest may be more violent than diplomatic.
I'm just a guy from Minnesota, USA. I have never been to any of these places and probably never will go. Reading this book, however, gives me an apprecation for the struggles that these people encounter every day--both on an individual level and on the governmental level.
The land is a beautiful land, ranging from deserts to spectacular mountains. The people there have a desire to succeed and, with a little of our help, as proposed in this book, perhaps they will.
Read it--Learn a little about this world that you live upon!

A comprehensive history of the Cherokees up to the Trail of Tears. This history covers the building of a great nation that was able to maintain its own culture while integrating with the developing America, and its subsequent downfall.