Well, perhaps not definitive London, but a good collection nonetheless. Like most modern histories of London, the books pays only cursory attention to the period prior the Norman Conquest; there is a simple reason for this -- not much exists text-wise to give account of life, history, etc. prior to this time. The Oxford Book of London, edited by Paul Bailey, is divided into three sections: Part I, Twelfth to Eighteenth Century London; Part II, Nineteenth Century London; and Part III: Twentieth Century London.

Part I includes observations and rememberings of monks, poets, diplomats, clerics, and royals (being the major divisions of literate people during the 12th to 18th centuries). Included are visions of Chaucer and Shakespeare, Nashe and Donne, Jonson and Herrick, Hobbes and Pepys. The texts include passages from person diaries and newspaper headlines such as 'A Whale in London' circa 1658. All sides presented, as a perusal of headlines will show: "A Revel! A Revel!' balances 'An Absolute Hell on Earth'. Here you will be introduced to (or reminded of) Wat Tyler, Moll Flanders, John Boswell; you'll walk the streets as seen by Mozart and Haydn.

Part II narrows the focus a bit, and when most people think about 'Old London', it is in fact this period of time to which most of them harken back. The nineteenth century saw London's explosive growth and true development as an imperial world city. In 1834 Thomas de Quincey published 'The Nation of London'; excerpts are here. Wordsworth and Blake wrote of London during this period, as did Keats and Thackeray (his 'How to live well on nothing a year' is wonderful). This is also the London of Dickens and Sherlock Holmes, perhaps the two visions of London that endure most. The rise of popular press also took hold during this period -- the true miracle here of this section is that it does not go on for a thousand pages.

Part III is a similar miracle. London is established, in many ways a city of unparalleled urban blight (Jack London--hmmm, where do you suppose he got that name?--called it a 'vast and malodorous sea'). Shaw's post-Victorian London images remain firm in our minds, as does E.M. Forster's; T.S. Eliot describes London as an 'Unreal City', yet, for the fire wardens during the war, the city was far too real, and far too flammable.

One is inclined to agree that London is in many ways the 'Capital of all Capitals', to quote Steen Eiler Rasmussen (1937), and yet, while there is hopefulness in the latest visions of London, there is also a sadness and an underlying fear that perhaps the best days are behind.

Anyone who enjoyes contemplating the joys and absurdities of married life would enjoy this book. It also makes an ideal wedding present for any couple that is somewhat intellectually inclined. It is a well-organized compilation of excerpts from literature through the ages, ancient to modern, all relating to the topic of marriage - from the comical to the sublime. Highly recommended.

There is nothing like a scary story to make me appreciate my save, warm home, and this book is filled with such stories. The Oxford Book of Scary Tales has all kinds of chilling stories written in a wide variety of styles. It begins with a poem entitled "This is the key to the castle" by Dave Calder, which like "The House that Jack Built" adds one new clause each stanza building a repetitive rhyme children will love. My favorite is:

"where the black rat runs with yellow teeth
sharp as sorrow and long as grief"

The editors include more narrative poems, a cartoon that reminds me of Edward Gorey, a story written as a series of letters that tell of a real camp horror, and a story purporting to be an interview with a novelist who explains why she writes horror stories. The book includes a grave-digging story one's grandpa might tell if he had a particularly keen sense of humor and irony, and there are enough traditional tales of horror and terror for any of us, all toned down to a kid's level. The collection even includes several friendly ghosts.

The language of the stories is also marvelous, filled with picturesque similes and not a cliché in sight. Consider these snippets:

"He's got about as much idea of sailing as a camel up an apple tree with its eyes shut." (From "Dear Jane" by Shelia Lavelle)

"... a smile like stretched elastic." (From "A Change of Aunts" by Vivian Alcock)

"They dodge ... the long snakes of reclaimed trolleys, their guides at the rear slumped like galley slaves." And "The aisle is crowded. Trolleys lie in all directions like ships of a scuttled fleet. But his mother negotiates them and the people clinging to them like a confident pilot...." (From "Supermarket" by Dennis Hamley. btw, "trolleys" is brit speak for "shopping carts.")

The illustrations are almost as varied as the styles of the stories and were a bit distracting until I became absorbed in the stories. I just thought of the experience like reading short stories form one children's magazine after another or like reading from a stack of picture books. All different stories, all different illustrators.

With over thirty short stories, The Oxford Book of Scary Tales gives an October's worth of reading and will take a reader all the way to Halloween. I bought this book for my daughter years ago because I was so fond of another collection of scary tales written for adults and entitled The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories. That book is edited by Michael Cox and R. A. Gilbert. Older children may want to progress to that collection for next October's reading.

Linda Murphy
...

A wealth of artistry and talent highlight the poignant and often heartbreaking history of this small nation. This collection of poetry brings to light the richness of the Scottish culture and the amazing diversity of her people. Selections from the 1200's through the 1900's trace the passion and the pain of a nation who's people have helped to shape the world in which we live. Every facet of life and society is touched upon in this collection and the translations into English on each page make understanding the "old language" so much easier. As a lover of Poetry or a lover of Scotland, this book is a treasure for any collector to own. I highly recommend that you own it and read it... again and again!

Grammar and Practice is an excellent text for teaching English as a second language to business persons who are serious about studying English. Most ESL grammar books are written for students who are still engaged in their formal education. This book explains English grammar in terms of the use of English in business. All examples use a business theme. I highly recommend it for part-time students who have full-time jobs in business or international trade.

This dictionary is complete with contemporary business terms in Spanish with their English equivalent. This dictionary is a handy reference for those who need to know and understand business terms in Spanish as well as keep pace with neologisms that come into the language especially from the technology sector. The vocabulary is very contemporary and includes abbreviations as well that are included in business documents and letters. The middle of dictionary includes a business correspondence section with sample business letters, resumes, email vocabulary and other handy business correspondence references. This dictionary would be most beneficial to those who use Spanish in a professional capacity, advanced learners of Spanish and those who simply want to speak correctly using proper business terms at all times in Spanish. This is a worthwhile investment.

When I received the Oxford Book of Science, my first impression was that, though beautifully produced and illustrated, it would be too demanding for children in the 9-12 age group. I was wrong. My nine-year old son has been avidly reading this book for weeks, along with his copy of The New Way Things Work. Unlike, say, the also excellent DK Science Encyclopedia, which presents scientific concepts in short, easily digestible sections, The Oxford Book of Science takes the reader on a tour of the physical world through 22 chapters covering broad topics such as images, sounds, energy, and the human body. The authors explain scientific principles in a very accessible style, using many fascinating examples and illustrations. Definitely recommended for budding scientists grades 4 and up.

Believe it or not, having the words you are looking up in this dictionary highlighted in blue makes it easier for the eye to scan the words down the page, and find what you are looking for. your eye stays on the blue, and can ignore the black text of the definitions. I hope that makes sense.

The main reason I bought this dictionary was because it is hard bound. Not hard backed, but _bound_, ie, the pages are sewn in. I was sick of my other pocket dictionaries that started to self destruct the moment I started to use them.

It was a nice surprise to find out that this is a VERY GOOD dictionary. Sure, it's not as good as full-sized Cassell's or Oxford-Duden, but for the size (portable) and cost, it's great. Many idioms are included, and I'm finding that I reach for it even when home with my big Cassell's within reach. Ein guter Kauf!

This book provides introductions to a wide variety of topics in Australian history. It has been edited by three of the most eminent Australian academic historians and many of the entries have been written by experts in their respective fields. The entries themselves deal with events, people, noted historians and current issues in Australian historiography.