A Fantasy... Or a Nightmare?

Adam Hawke, 20th Century

As soon as he walked into her costume shop, Diana knew there was only one outfit for this tall handsome man. She'd always had a secret fantasy about being swept away by a strapping sexy pirate. When Adam invited her along to the masquerade party, she couldn't resist.

It was a dark stormy anything could happen evening....

Adam Hawke, 18th Century

He was standing over her when she regained consciousness. But her charming date was now acting like a barbarian. Adam claimed he was Captain Hawke & she was his hostage.

In this highly interesting work, Peter Burke sets out "to describe and interpret the popular culture of early modern Europe," and he does it in such a way as to be accessible to the general reader. Burke is attempting a synthesis of all of European culture from 1500 to 1800 (i.e., until the beginnings of industrialization). His thesis is that there is such a thing as popular culture (what he terms "little tradition"), transmitted informally and shared by both elites and commoners at the close of the Middle Ages. However, with the coming of the Reformation and especially the Renaissance, the educated few, who share in the "great tradition," are driven to separate themselves from the "common", "unchristian"," or "immoral" customs of the people. This entire process ends with the return of the elite to "discover" popular culture again for a variety of reasons: antiquarianism, curiousity, nationalism, etc. Perhaps the most valuable part of the book is Burke's intelligent discussion of his method (folklorist, literary critical, and socio-anthropological), his nuanced two-tiered model of culture (great and little), and his honest discussion of the problems of the sources for popular culture. Other interesting parts of the book include chapters on the transmitters of popular culture (Ch. 4); culture ideals expressed through heroes, villains, and fools (Ch. 6), the world of Carnival as the most important ritual setting for popular culture (Ch. 7), and the reforming attacks on Carnival by the educated elite through the institution of Lent (Ch. 8). For information about specific locales and times, this book can't compare to the precision of focused studies. However, despite the fact that this book was written over 20 years ago, it still makes an excellent introduction to the study of popular culture. It also provides a context to give particular events meaning, something that most specific studies simply can't do. Burke's style and thought are clear and highly interesting. A must read for anyone interested in the world of early modern Europe.

Nice book with details illustrations handfull of tips with beautyfull photographs. An asset for pet birds keeper and a important guide for the beginers.

An updated, easy to use handbook which deals with the most common genetic disorders, their risk to be transmitted and their mode of inheritance. The book is easy to use and the tabels are simple and clear. However some additional information regarding cancer genetics could be helpful.

It was a rare moment with my daughter, nestled under the covers. "Praire Dog Pioneers" was not a mere story--it was an adventure that soothed us after a full day. It was so relaxing and interesting. My daughter, a five year old, was truly delighted with the characters and tale. We went back through time to join a family relocating. My daughter immediately identified with the youngest character, and was so caught up with her character and feelings, that she rooted for her all along. In quite a natural way, this book emphasizes the importance of integrity, acceptance, love, and family values. It also deals with some realities we all face. It is educational, colorful, historical, and positively inspiring. The text and illustrations are both truly a work of Art. The story encouraged us to sing a folk song together afterwards, which was the perfect bond for parent and child right before bedtime. This is a must for every family!

This book, really opened a new world of love and bateral, a classic, i've read it millions of time, i find it a soothing book, and i highly sujest reading it, if u ever have the time. It teachs leasons that are no longer taught and shows the charm of a proud man, whose not as he seems, it goes behing the love of the two oldest sisters out of five. Jane and Elizabeth,both learn to love and both learn to hate with a pasion that no book could possably beat in any way.

This is the one book I could not go to sleep with, I had to continue reading. The love scene is better than the ones in the movie "9½ weeks" and the plot is intense. I was so happy to find out that "King" wasn't dead, I almost cried reading this novel. Keep it up, Harper, I hope to read another of your books soon, I roam the bookstores, Wallmart is out of them and I need more copies to send to friends. I was so lucky to have a few days off to simply read through and I truly enjoyed every line of Protector with a Past. Wish I could write like this.

This book does a brilliant job of categorizing the basics of money and investing. Simply answering complex questions when it comes to Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Retirement, and more, I have found this book indispensible when it comes to explaining to others about the basics of investing. It is a MUST read for any investor who is completely clueless when it comes to investing.

It takes you back in the times of merry old England..and shows life in the royal family as it was then compared to now..best book Ive ever read.

I do not think of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" as the greatest novel in American literary history (Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" and John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" are the contenders for that honor), but it is my favorite American novel. Recently it has become the focus of civic reading programs, as it is now here in Duluth (obviously, it avoids the controversial language of Twain or the symbolic final image of Steinbeck). After reading the book this volume of "Readings on 'To Kill a Mockingbird'" will offer readers of Lee's novel some interesting perspectives.

After a brief biography of Harper Lee, there are four main units to this volume. First, there is The Critical Reception to the novel, which includes contemporary reviews from "Time" and "Christian Century" as well as a consideration from a book looking at Pulitzer Prize novels, which consider it to be a better-than-average first novel although not without "fatal flaws" (e.g., no realistic characters with whom the reader can identify). Second, there is a look at the Literary Techniques in the novel, which consists of three essays all of which look at symbols: the mad dog, the mockingbird, and racism. Third, is a treatment of Social Issues in the novel, covering how it teaches moral values, raises issues about gender roles, shows the difference between legal codes and human perceptions of justice, and a controversy over having the novel censored by a Virginia school board in 1966. Fourth, the Character of Atticus Finch is debated in four essays, two of which argue he is a heroic figure and two which take the opposite position. The back of the book includes a look at the Characters and Plot of the novel, as well as a chronology of the author, her novel and the times in which they lived.

For me the fourth section is the most interesting because it shows the importance of critical perspectives. Michael Asimov considers Atticus to be a heroic figure, worthy of emulation by real-life attorneys, because of his defense of a doomed client while Thomas L. Schaffer focuses on Atticus Finch's dedication to truth in the face of adversity which makes him not only heroic but noble. Then John Jay Osborn, Jr. (author of "The Paper Chase") argues Finch is neither heroic nor a good role model for attorneys because he values his own principles more than he does the life and freedom of his client, while Monroe Freedom makes the case Finch accepted the racism in his community and did nothing to stand up against it. This reflects the value of this collection, that it clearly sets up two sides and gives all readers something to think about.

Of course, this is all predicated on the fact that you have actually read the book and not simply watched the movie. Other titles in the Literary Companion Series focus on specific American Authors such as Maya Angelou, Arthur Miller and Walt Whitman as well as key works in American Literature such as "The Catcher in the Rye," "The Great Gatsby," and "The Scarlet Letter."