In essence, this is an economic interpretation of Southern history in the late nineteenth century based primarily on statistical data. The authors began this project when they noticed the scarcity of scholarship concerning the economic institutions which took the place of slavery in the South; they felt it necessary for the understanding of the Negro experience to understand the manner in which the Negro entered into a nonbinding economic lifestyle in the years after the War Between the States and Reconstruction. A primary concern of the authors was the economic malaise of the South agriculturally and certainly industrially in the period from 1865 to 1914, a time of impressive economic growth elsewhere in the nation.

The authors devote much of their study to a region they define as the Cotton South, wherein they see homogeneous development. They stress the fact that they are economists and not historians--political, social, and cultural history are beyond the scope of this book. While the authors may at times refer to economic effects of noneconomic forces, they make no attempt to do anything more than offer an economic interpretation of the post-emancipation South; that alone signifies their contribution to the historical field. In the end, they give their ideas as to the evolution of a Southern economy that exploited farmers--white and black--and allowed for little or no industrial development.

I was a student of Dr. Ransom at the University of California, Riverside, and I majored in history. Though Dr. Ransom generally is considered an economist, he--more than anyone I've ever read or heard lecture--is able to articulate and present economics within its proper historical parameters, and show you exactly how, for example, whatever historical event is occurring, this is how it affected the world--the people--economically.

Until I read this book, I was unfamiliar with the struggles of Olive Oatman; but as usual, Wendy Lawton takes a historical figure and makes her as real as she was in her day.

This story expresses the doubts and fears of a young girl who, due in part to her father's impetuous nature, is left in circumstances that force her to find to her own faith. She finds no easy answers; she finds few answers of any sort, most of the time. This fact makes her human and brings her to life once again in this well-researched biographical novel.

Title: RANSOM'S MARK
Author: Wendy Lawton
Reviewer: Peggy Phifer
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 0-8024-3638-2 / [money amount]
Genre: Children/Youth Fiction

When Olive Oatman's pa gets the urge to move west to California, he packs his family and belongings into a covered wagon and they leave their home in Fulton, Illinois. Olive is the third oldest child of six, with baby number seven due along the way. Olive and her brothers and sisters dream of the coming adventure and excitement. But there was no way they could have imagined what the journey would really be like on the Santa Fe Trail.

Trouble begins early when the wagon-master starts to change the plans all had agreed on when they signed up. Eventually, the train splits in two, and Olive's wagon goes with a smaller group to continue on the Santa Fe Trail. Gradually, other wagons drop off at the towns along the way, until only the Oatman wagon is left to continue on. Then, a renegade band of Yavapai Indians attacks the lone wagon, and Olive and her little sister Mary Ann are captured.

Olive and her sister are eventually ransomed from the Yavapai by the beautiful daughter of the chief of a Mohave tribe, but her life is still hard. Branded with a Mohave tattoo, Olive struggles to understand. How can this be a mark of God's love?

This true story of Olive Oatman is one of the most inspiring stories of courage I've read in a long time. Wendy Lawton has treated this story with great discretion and sensitivity to make it readable for her target age-group of 8-12-year olds. Yet she has managed to bring out the stark reality of the dangers the westward pioneers faced.

Like the other three books in this series, "Courage to Run" [Harriet Tubman], "The Tinker's Daughter" [Mary Bunyan, daughter of John Bunyan], and "Almost Home," [Mary Chilton, of the Mayflower], in "Ransom's Mark" Wendy Lawton has written another classic story of "Daughters of the Faith." I highly recommend these books.

Peggy Phifer ©2003

Ron Ransom's book is highly recommended for the novice carver who would like to produce nice results. Mostly photos and captions, the book takes the reader through the basic steps of making some attractive "folk art" santa figures. Don't be fooled by the sparse text -- the photos offer a wealth of guidance. Ron also describes a simple yet effective way to give the carvings an "antique" look. Warning: once you do a few of these projects, expect to get many requests for your work around the Holidays!

The Santa carving and painting techniques are well illustrated and explained. I also like how he describes how you can modify his patterns to personalize your Santas. He even shows how to cut a wood blank without a power tool.

The true story of the international terror of kidnapping, Ransom is a book that keeps you in your seat. Beautifully written, the compelling story is a real eye-opener. After reading it, you'll cancel your travel plans!

So many non-fiction books dealing with politics are so boring to read. I thought this book had the dynamics of a novel with the information of a textbook. I commend Auerbach for successfully marrying the two. This book is a must read for people who want to know more than the media reports about international kidnapping.

I found Ransom to be a frightening, gripping book that clearly reminds the reader that the real world is often filled with horror and heroism of greater magnitude than fictional scenarios. Ann H. Auerbach weaves many current abduction situations, each with its own frustration, fear and adventure along with the ruthlessness of the kidnappers and murderers into the political and economic conditions of our time. The details in the background, settings and each event crystallize the book into a strong and interesting read.

This book is a really good read for people who find interest in the Civil War,or just like to read.The book deserves some respect.The author done a good job telling the story,some parts of history can't be suspenseful.In summation one of the better Civil War novels (for childeren).But doesn't hold it's on against Rifles for Watie.But then again which book does!

I had to read this book for my L.A and S.S class in school. The story is about a young boy that lies about his age to get into the army. He becomes a drummer for his company. He is captured in a side battle and is taken into a prison camp. Will he die in the prision camp at a young age? Orw ill ge get back home to his family? This is a book about the civil was and it shows what life is like as a prisioner of was. The story has a good plot and is intersting to see what life is like in the army and in a prision camp. I would recemmend theis book to anyone who is interedted in the civil war. It shows what life was like at Andersville and prision when you are a prisioner of was. It was like they were treated like slaves, they barely got enough food to live. Most of the prisiones would die.

Though I agree with the reviewers who say this book starts out slowly, it packs quite a punch. In part, for me, the punch was that I have been to Andersonville, in fact, I bought my copy at the Gift Shop there. I went to several Civil War battlefields this summer, Andersonville was different, more like a concentration camp. It's been a long time since I read every war book I could find, but I was glad I bought and read this one. Ranny's story is at once general and specific, innocent and world-weary, like him.

This is a plain and simple little book. There are no color photos and no outlandish dishes that you will never try. This book is about good, honest and hearty food. It's an excellent first cookbook and makes a fine addition to a serious cook's collection as well.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE RECIPES FRO THE SWEET POTATOS PIES BECAUSE GRNNY CAN COOK YEAH I WAS WATCHIN HER TO DAY

For those of us who never 'really' learned to cook from watching mom or grandmom, this book is a must. The recipes are simple and easy to follow and yet, your friends will think you've missed your calling as a chef! I've tried many of the recipes and have not had a failure yet, not one. This book makes a great gift for newlyweds, for kids going off to college or to live on their own for the first time, or for those like me who just wanted to know how to make those delicious foods from times past. I've had friends who are long time, good cooks, asking me for 'my' recipes. Now that's a testimony. Buy it and Enjoy!!

what a great job Ms. Ransom has done on her first novel, it is well written and the characters were fun with great personalities, I don't normally read mysteries but this novel kept me curious of the outcome I could not put it down. I am looking forward to Ms. Ransom next novel, perhaps a sequel......

An absorbing, well-written tale of four African-American women who share the bonds of sisterhood, friendship and loyalty. Due to an event that occured over 10 years ago, they will forever be "linked" together. Completely reflective of the times, places and situations they experienced. I found that I could relate to their friendship and the challenges they faced in their daily lives and especially in their relationships with men.

A must read for anyone who has experienced a life changing event and trying to bring closure in an effort to move on with their lives.

Provides many other life lessons as well, if you want to know what they are, I STRONGLY suggest you read this book!

L B Ransom did a wonderful job with a first novel. The positive male characters are inspiring. The corporate overtones are delightful, just enough to feel in corporate, with the dream of being on top, and having much success.

The mystery involved with the novel makes the reader unable to put the book down. You're always reading to find out what is troubling the characters.

The language used was one that young people today can relate to...proper english, and hip-hop cool.

The descriptions of Chicago and New Orleans put the reader there while reading...

Really loved the book

God Bless.

I read Ransom, by Lois Duncan. The setting took place high in the mountains in a cabin. The main characters are Bruce, Dexter, Glenn, Jesse and Marianne. The book starts out as all five students are riding home from school on the bus, and the bus driver takes a wrong turn, he says that he's going to pick up a friend. A man in dark clothing gets on the bus, he has a gun and forces them to come with him to the cabin which he lives in high in the mountains. There they are held ransom, until each of their parents can pay the money that is asked of them. I liked the book, a lot because it was very suspenseful and had a lot of action in it. I recommend for people that like suspense.

I read the book Ransom by Lois Duncan. I want to review it because it was very exciting and suspenseful. It is about a group of high-school teenagers that are from rich families. One ordinary Friday the kids got on their bus, but the bus driver wasn't the usual. The kids thought it was a substitute, but it actually was their kidnapper. The kids were taken up to the top of a mountain and held ransom. The kids go through hard times in a cabin in the winter. Do you think the high-school students can escape? You can find out by reading this book. I recommend this book because it has a strong plot, with well developed characters, but it gets to the action quick and the action lasts for the rest of the story. If you like suspenseful, action packed stories read Ransom by Lois Duncan.

Ransom is one of my favorite books by Lois Duncan. It's a bit slow through the first two chapters, but the rest will keep you on the edge of your seat. You won't be able to stop reading. This is not only probably the best book Lois Duncan wrote, it's the best book I ever read. It all starts with a simple bus ride home from school. But, when the kids realize that they have a very suspicious bus driver..... I recommend this book for any reader, especially those who love suspence.

I agree with the last 2 reviews: being well-known and well spoken of does not preclude a poet from writing good poetry, and this collection is a very good sampling of Strand's work. I'm particularly fond of his early work, and this collection continues to keep in-print poetry that otherwise might not be read since his earlier collections are out-of-print.

Yes, a poet brings to his work a certain personality, and we can't fully separate the two. But in the end, poets are vessels and it is the poetry we are interested in--if not, we'd be psychologists.

This collection proves Mark Strand to be one of the most amazing, talented contemporary poets. Easy for a poetry beginner to appreciate and understand, yet complex enough for the biggest poetry buff to love, this book made me think over and over again about the thoughts Strand so elegantly examines. I had the luck to be able to see Strand read, and his wit and grace impressed me almost as much as his work does. If you are interested in reading contemporary poetry, or already love the likes of Simic, Tate, Wright, Ashbery, etc, pick up this book and let Stand's magic take you away.

Mark Strand is an excellent contemporary poet. Some poems leave the reader smiling, such as in "The New Poetry Handbook." An excerpt reads, "If a man publicly denounces poetry, / his shoes will fill with urine." Even within this one poem, the reader changes from a laugh to a stunned silence, from the last line in the poem, "If a man finishes a poem, / he shall bathe in the blank wake of his passion / and be kissed by white paper."

Strand uses language to purely, succintly, metaphorically, lyrically, and beautifully describe every day life: marriage, writing, love, home, and death.

BUY THIS BOOK!

Fiona Buckley's third historical mystery featuring Ursula Blanchard, lady-in-waiting (and sometime spy) to Queen Elizabeth I, "Queen's Ransom," takes place in the 1560s, mostly in France where war is brewing between Catholics and Heugenots. Accompanying her dead husband's father to fetch his niece from the troubled land, Ursula is asked by Elizabeth to carry an offer of mediation to Catherine, Queen Mother and Regent of France. Though she dislikes her father-in-law, Luke Blanchard, who was against his son's marriage and has spurned his young granddaughter, Ursula agrees to go partly in hopes of seeing her second husband, a leader of the Catholic faction in France. Joined by love, separated by politics, their relationship has several times landed them on opposite sides of armed and clandestine engagements (in previous books). The tradition continues as Ursula soon realizes she is immersed in treachery, murder at her heels. Lively period intrigue supplies subplots as well as the main story; Ursula is quick and brave but also a woman of her times, and the setting is vivid, brutal and atmospheric even to the contrasting feel of the countryside between France and England.

This is an outstanding mystery series for lovers of historical fiction, and although this entry may lack the punch of the first two (there seemed to be too few real surprises) the book is still a worthwhile read. The mystery is solid and interesting, the characters are complex, and the description of time and place is unbeatable.

Best of all, Fiona Buckley is an extremely good writer, a true pleasure to read. Unfortunately, Scribner's proofreaders seem to be letting her down--I noticed several typos (including a "teh" in place of "the"). Spell-check, anyone?

Fiona Buckley's third Ursula Blanchard/de la Roche mystery was a facinating read. The plot was complex, realistic, imaginative,smart, and VERY well-written. I found Ursula to be both a femanist and one overtaken by femanine emotions, a devious antogonist and angelic protagonist, a sage soul in desperate need of guidance. There were parts of this book in which I was laughing. At other parts, I felt like crying. I have perchased this book and urge any lover of a good historical mystery to do so also. The setting is vibrant and well-reasearched, the characters are well-written, the plot is realistic to a facinating degree, and the overall book is a true page-turner. Five stars isn't nearly enough to praise "A Queen's Ransom". Fiona Buckley is a true diva not only of historical mysteries, but of writing in general. She is a creative force to be reconned with.