If this were anyone but Heyer, I'd probably give it 3 stars. Her ability to write vivid characters, and her sense of fun, earn this one an extra star.

I haven't checked, but I'm sure this must be one of her earlier Regencies. You can see her experimenting with characters who become archetypes, like the gamester brother, or the perfect gentleman friend who supports the heroine in her trials.

She includes some details that don't appear in later novels, hinting at the darker side of Regency society.

My biggest problem is the hero, Lord Cardross. Her heroes often have a harsh streak, but he comes across as too harsh and cold, without the humor that usually softens her heroes. He and Nell are at outs for most of the story, which doesn't help.

He's a man in his thirties, while Nell is barely nineteen, and that makes them an uneven match. And he has an unkind and ungracious habit of baiting Nell for marrying him for his money. Since she came from a noble but bankrupt family, the rules of their world dictated she didn't have a choice. He knows that as well as she does. It's unpleasant to watch him holding it over her head.

Since Cardross isn't the most sympathetic hero, it's hard to identify with Nell's love for him. She can seem like a bit of a twit. That's especially true since she's got a debt she won't tell her husband about, and all kinds of silly, frustrating scruples about how to get the money to pay it back. She's not all bad, but she reminds me of the kind of female Heyer satirized in later books.

Also strange is that we are asked to believe they both fell in love at first site, and that neither one of them has even suspected it, even though the marriage has been consummated for several months. Possible, I suppose, but not pleasant to think about.

What saves this story for me is the tempestuous Letty, Cardross' half sister and ward. She's more of a risk taker than Heyer's later young ladies. Of course she is head over heels in love with an unsuitable young man. Letty's attempts to get her own way and marry him before he sails abroad are very entertaining. The lover himself is certainly not what you'd expect.

In short, this is not Heyer at the top of her form. For the true fan it is worth collecting, and certainly worth re-reading, but not as often as her best.

Contrary to another reviewer, I absolutely enjoyed this book (then again, it is a Heyer novel). Because of its light-hearted romantic approach in the midst of "the devil's own scrape," this is one of my first recommendations to readers who I am introducing to Heyer.

Poor Cardross is in love with his wife, but doesn't know how to show it so very well. To make things worse, it's just not the thing to sit in your wife's pocket, and the servants always seem to walk in whenever he wants to display affection.

Nellie, always aware of the fact the she had to marry Cardross/his money since her family didn't have a feather to fly with, finds herself equally attached to her husband, but wondering how she can show him that it's not his money she loves (her pockets-to-let spending isn't very convincing). Due to well-meaning but careless comments from his younger sister, Nellie is aware of his past "liaisons", and figures that his current reserve may very well be due to the same.

The difference in the ages ( 30's vs. 19) accounts for much of the misunderstanding. He's a Man of the Town and she's still a bit of a green girl. She is not the cleverest of heroine's but very likable. He is not the completely rakish fellow one loves to laugh at, but the reader feels that he is indeed the strong and wise hero able to smooth over all the heroine's mistakes.

Her unwise choices create many doubts in her husband's mind that he is trying to overlook. His overlooking makes him reserved, causing Nellie to fear his final rejection. Her foolish but generous use of money has created a bit of tension, and sets them up for an amusing conflict that is carried through the book, with laughable little twists-and-turns until the end.

Also, the secondary characters - Cardross's friend and younger sister - add tons of color and wit to the story.

Once again, Georgette Heyer takes the reader on a rambuncious ride with laughs and surpises at every twist and turn and doesn't stop until the very last page. This is a great novel for first-time readers of Regency stories, as the plot and character descriptions sweep you away even as you acclimate yourself to the idioms, mannerisms and delightful dialogue of the English Ton. One of Heyer's more outlandishly comedic novels, you will find yourself laughing at Nell's antics as she tries to settle her debts, which in and of themselves do not seem terribly outrageous but taken in the context of the time period are undoubtably hilarious. I challenge you to be able to put this one down once you realize Nell's predictament -- and wonder how it will resolve.

I loved this dictionary when I bought it. It appeared the best in my quick comparison in the bookstore. It does do a good job of quickly identifying root words. However when you start to use it more extensively such as looking up more specific usages of a word, the conciseness becomes an annoyance as you try to interpret the cryptically displayed definitions. I'm personally searching for a replacement.

I got this book before school started; I'm taking Spanish III. So I needed a dictionary. I opted for this one because it looked hefty enough.

I wasn't disappointed. This dictionary has enough words for any Spanish student. It even has modern words like "digital TV", "internet", and "MTV". It has easy to read print and is durable.

Whether you want to browse or seriously study this dictionary is great. Aside from defining the word, examples are given in context.

This dictionary also has a very extensive grammar section. This is a very important note. This section has everything you need to know Spanish grammar, which will help you in class much. It has all the common verbs, like hacer, ir, ser, dormir, etc. It also has sections devoted to translation problems, spelling, adjectives, pronouns, etc.

I carry this dictionary to class every day. It is invaluable in the moment when you forgot the meaning of a word. And if you know the meaning in English only, you can flip quickly to the English-Spanish section.

Some precautionary notes: This dictionary was made in Britain. Some English words are spelled differently from the American way (honour, colour, etc.). It also differs from most American dictionaries in that it contains vulgar words (I won't enumerate them, though). Also, this is a dictionary for Castillian Spanish. It probably won't have some Latin American terms.

In conclusion, this dictionary is my new amigo. I was thinking of getting an electronic spanish dictionary, but now I know that this is better. I get to actually see the words and see surrounding ones too. It's an interesting, pithy, concise dictionary. If you need a Spanish dictionary this one won't let you down.

This is a very good dictionary. I love the Harper Colllins dictionaries but this is the smallest one that I would recomend. Any dictionary with less words that this one is just to limited. The grammar section is good.(I an sure not the best judge on grammar) and the verb tables are priceless.

NIGHTS AT THE ALEXANDRA more than makes up for its brevity in the beauty of Trevor's prose - he accomplishes more in a short book like this (99 pages) than many writers can manage in much longer works. He has an amazing ability to shine a gentle but brilliant light on his characters and their lives, giving his readers a window through which to view the story. It is as if we were present - and it is a breathtaking experience that occurs whenever I read anything by Trevor.

The story here is one of love, on multiple levels - not a traditional love story by any means, but one that illuminates the various natures of love as they appear as blessings in our lives. The story is narrated by Harry, 'a fifty-eight year old provincial' as he describes himself - never married, no children. His life is nonetheless a full one - and it is not without love. His fondest memories, of a time in his adolescence, revolve around a woman named Frau Messinger - a beautiful English woman who is married to a much older German man. They have come to live in rural Ireland during the dark days of World War II. Herr Messinger's presence in the small town where Harry lives is a subject of constant speculation and no small amount of suspicion among the town's residents. Harry's father - despite evidence to the contrary - insists that Messinger is a 'Jew man', come to Ireland to escape Hitler's unimaginable persecutions.

Harry gets to know Frau Messinger when she asks him to run small errands for her - and he quickly becomes a sort of sounding board for the woman, who begins telling him things about her life. One might suspect at this point in the story that the woman is looking for a lover - but as she speaks to Harry, it becomes clear that she dearly loves her husband and appreciates what he has given her. Their marriage may not be a conventional one - the age factor, for one thing - but they are devoted to each other. One page one, she tells the boy, 'Harry, I have the happiest marriage in the world! Please, when you think of me, remember that.' It becomes clear as the story progresses that she means every word of this.

In the process and progress of the friendship between the boy and the beautiful English woman, Harry becomes aware of the many facets of the jewel of love. His school friends see his relationship with her as one with sexual possibilities. His mother calls the woman a strumpet and forbids him to go to the Messingers' home any more - a ban he defies, drawn by the gentle love and friendship offered him there, something that he has missed sorely in his home, where emotions are things to be constricted and never voiced.

Trevor's prose flows gently - the book is a quick read, even being so short - and it is sheer delight. I could call this one of his greatest works - but it would be in crowded company, for everything I've read by this amazing writer is of the highest quality.

Nights at the Alexandra may be considered by some readers to be a long short story or novella. I n either base, Trevor presents us auth a wonderful story and memorable characters. In a matter of a few pages he places his readers both geographically and time wise in both the present and at the beginning of WWII. Central to the book is the question, "Who are those people we meet early on in or lives which influenced us then and continue to influence us all of our days.

The book begins as Harry, a 58 year old, cinema owner in an Irish coastal town reflects back to his life and the time during the beginning of WWII. On the brink of adolescence, Harry was quite bored with the days he spent at his boarding school and now with his days spent in his hometown where he was forced to return when the school closed down due to the war. But life is about to change for Harry when an émigré couple move to this hometown and announce plans to open a cinema theater. Mr. Messinger is a much older man from Germany while his wife is who is both elegant and beautiful is a much younger English woman. When the couple ask Harry to work for them in the ticket booth of the cinema Harry wil have one of the greatest learning experiences from his days and nights spent with this couple specifically Mrs. Messinger. For it is this woman who ultimately will have the most profound effect on Harry as he spends his nights at the Alexandra and comes under her spell. As the war rages about all of them Harry learns about life and love from this woman and even years later thinking back on this time period in his life, Harry realizes Mrs. Messinger she still holds a very special place in his heart.

As an avid reader I have long heard about William Trevor although Nights at the Alexandra was my first experience reading any of his works. In this sparse narrative, Trevor wrote volumes about the innocence of youth, unhappiness, dislocation, memories, dreams realized and regrets we may have as we look back on our youth from a different place in time. But most of all, this book depicted how random people can shape our lives. The author not only placed me in a front row seat during this novel but left me wishing I could spend more time with these people. Now I can't wait to read more from this well-known author.

At the age of fifty-eight, Harry looks back on one of the most important times of his life. When he was 15, Europe was locked in World War II, and Ireland (Eire) existed in the "Emergency," an era of uncomfortable neutrality and semi-deprivation. And then, into his quiet life came Frau Messinger, the English-born wife of a German émigré. Drawn like a moth to a flame, Harry became wrapped up in Frau Messinger, developing a love and devotion for her beyond the understanding of all of the other people in his life.

In this bittersweet novella, William Trevor tells a poignant tale of a love beyond what most authors can comprehend. I found it moving beyond words.

Beyond that, though, the book is fascinating for giving the reader a peek into a forgotten time and place, Eire during World War II. I wish I could say more about this book, but words really do escape me. Let me just say that I loved this book, and highly recommend it.

though i have been a reader of harper's for only 20 of its 150 years--13 percent of its total publishing history--i welcomed this anthology with great anticipation. Then why was I disappointed when the heavy tome arrived? its size makes it too unwieldly to read, especially in bed where i normally read all my harper's magazines. it's like going to bed with a cement block. granted there are some wonderful essays (read: the history of the magazine parallels the cyclical highs and lows of publishing in this country), some stand out in greater relief, such as trotsky's warning about hitler. there's something to be said about reading journalism as history, and this collection won't disappoint. plus, there are some of my favorite essays of a recent vintage--david foster wallace on the state fair or richard rodriguez on san francisco's new gentilty. in any case, buy this book if you have strong biceps; otherwise, content yourself with the stellar monthly magazine.

I kept needing short stories for school reports so I bought this collection to save countless trips to the library. Everything is right in there; no scavanging is needed to find great classic stories. There are so many to choose from that in the event that one of my teachers assigns a specific short story, it will be in there. This anthology proved infinitly useful in the past few months I've had it and will continue to provide me with relevant material in the future for years to come. A must buy.

Works by some of the finest, most notable American writers who contributed to Harper's Magazine over the decades are gathered in a single volume commemorating over a hundred fifty years of the magazine's publication. An American Album: 150 Years Of Harpers Magazine is a showcase of works and images which contains some outstanding writing, and which should not be missed by any with an affection for American literary style.

As a follow up to Crypt of the Shadowking this book falls flat. I really can't place exactly where or how, except that maybe the main focus shifted from Cal to Mari. Most of the adventure and excitement were really lacking. Oh, I just realized what was wrong. . . .there really isn't a main villain here. You pretty much know how the book will end before you're even halfway through. At least Crypt had a good foe for Cal in Cutter. Here it is more of a race against time, without any of the real suspense on whether they will succeed in their quest to help their friend. This is a passable book, but only if you have nothing better to read.

Great book! I have enjoyd reading this book very much.But if you haven't read the previous one (Crypt of the Shadowking) y recommend you to read it, becouse it's as good as this one.

The plot here is placed in time sortly after Crypt of the Shadowmage. The plot is great, and, even when you can see what is happening, you don't know for sure how it is going to end. The Quest for find ...ejem.."something" (I can't say it here, sorry, you'll understand when you read it ;P ) is not long and with some surprise, and maybe you can guess how it will end and maybe. II didn't guess when I readed it but, I was to deep inside the book reading it, that I wasn't thinking of what will happen or how will it end.

The characters are also good. The only dissapoint I have is with Kellen. Ok, he is lovely, but, for my taste, he is a bit perfect, knows everything and is thinking in things a child of his age wouldn't think. He must have been playing instead of saving the world, but even with this, the book is great.

Buy it, and judge yourself, is the best I can say.

This is the sequel to "Crypt of the Shadowking" and is even better!! I love Anthony's writing style. This was a compulsive read, and I finished it in about a day. The narrative sweeps the reader along with just the right pacing and excitememt, and the story itself is a logical extension of the first book. The only slight problems were that, 1. the whole story surrounding Stiletto was just too predictable; sorry Mark, but I saw it coming a mile away, and 2. I was a little disappointed with the epilogue, which I thought was a bit unfair (I can't say why without giving away important elements of the story). But these really are minor quibbles, and I would highly recommend both of Anthony's "Harpers" books. I hope that we will see another story about these characters. I'd especially like to see something involving Kellen as Morhion's apprentice; could have lots of interesting possibilities! When you finish your latest writing project, how about it Mark?

This new 232 page novel is really quite interesting. It is written by two veteran investigators under a pseudonym. I found it to be a real thriller, as a crime fighter battles insurance industry corruption. The insurance agent thinks that he has found the perfect crime and goes to any length (including murders made to look like accidents) to get his share of the insurance loot. "Death Benefit" is written in an easy to read narrative style that lets you examine the minds of both the cat and the mouse. Not only is this work of fiction interesting, but it can encourage you to look at your own real life insurance policies and your dealing with insurance agents. Well worth the reading.

The basic plot of this book is that a life insurance agent has been stealing from his clients. Not satisfied with that, he begins killing some of them (making it look like an accident where a rich defendant was at fault) to make even more money through collecting fees from the lawyer who wins the cases of negligence. George Gray, a former reporter, learns about a refused life insurance claim on a dead woman, and is asked to investigate. He uncovers Hartman's malfeasance, and then turns to his goal: Get the agent, Jim Hartman, to pay back those he has defrauded by blackmailing Hartman. The story mostly involves how Gray gets the goods on Hartman.

This book is a new genre for me, in using the investigative techniques of reporters to seek justice through blackmailing the bad guys. The mystery aspect isn't very much about who did it and why, but how the bad guys will be brought to justice and made to recompense the injured good guys. As such, I admired and enjoyed the book's novelty of form.

If you don't like books about twisted types, you should probably avoid this one. Everyone in sight seems to be either psychologically very abnormal, seriously over greedy, or strangely compulsive. I found much of this to be gratuitous, and unimportant to writing a good story only slightly different than this one. There's a very dark backdrop here for some very dark characters in this book that should appeal to virtually all fans of livres noirs.

I rated this work down one star because the book's main premise was patently implausible: That life insurance agents can not send in payments received to the life insurance company on policies and pocket the difference, rewrite policies to increase their commissions, and persuade people to take nothing as a death benefit without tipping anyone off that there is a problem. I may be mistaken (it has happened before), but the life insurance companies I do business with are very thorough about sending notices to the policy's owner and beneficiary whenever a policy is changed or a payment is late. It makes sense that they would, because the life insurance company makes more money if the current policy stays in force unless a new policy is taken out for more coverage. Of course, you may have had a different experience. If you don't mind this implausible (to me) lead, then you should upgrade my rating to five stars.

The plot itself is filled with many violent scenes that will probably appeal to those who are interested in martial arts and the details of murder. And the action keeps coming, right to the end, which virtually makes the book a page turner by the middle.

I found some enjoyment also in the plot complications that tied George Gray (the good guy vigilante) to the family of one of the victim's (through a former girl friend).

If you are tired of predictable mysteries, give this one a try. It will probably surprise you in a number of ways.

You can use this book also to learn more about being a good consumer of life insurance. The benefits from that may be worth more than the price of the book (buy term insurance rather than whole life, even if it has a fancier title than that).

Overcome your misconception stalls about who benefits from life insurance (and be sure not to become a murder victim in the process of having too much insurance)!

In order for me to read a fiction book the book has to capture my attention within the first 15 to 30 pages. Death Benefit had me going from the very start and I found myself turning pages and finishing the book within three hours.

Philip Harper is a true talent in the fiction arena and this work is not short of spectacular. Harper blends a remarkable tale of murder and corruption with suspense and drama and gives the reader an opportunity to see how deadly insurance can really be.

The main character of the book is developed as the average man next door, but as the story unfolds you'll see how devious he really is. Follow along as a string of what would seem to be natural deaths turn into a complex and intriguing tale of how greed and power can leads a reporter to uncover the mystery.

Harper's work is some of the best fiction I have read and you can almost get a sense of reality within the writing. I see this becoming a blockbuster movie in the near future. Don't pass this one up it is well worth the time and money.

First of all forgive my English, it is not my native tongue. Having read A Glastonburry Romance first and being overall pleased with it I was looking forward to reading this one. Overall it misses the mark in generally the same manner as Glastonburry does, the start of the book throws you in a new scenery, convincing enough and quite evocative and you get the feeling of truly being displaced and part of a new life (at least if you don't live around there)but the problem is that you are introduced to a large number of characters and story lines but none of them end up leading anywhere (a bit too much like normal life...). I mean what is the point of stepping into the minds and psychological processes of a dozen characters if nothing ends up happenning ? You keep reading quotes about Powys being the Dostoievsky of English literature but I plainly don't see it... I suggest you get any book from Dostoieivsky before this one (which is what I did)....

This one seems to have been pulled from the most watery depths of Powys' imagination. It is saturated with an inscrutable feminine element, a mysterious plexus of forces. As much as I like most of his other books this one seems the most naturally magical, not as often forced as the others. The plot possibly suffers from his giving in to the dreamy depths of his imagination, but I welcome the richness of sheer strange atmosphere he manages because of this limitation.

Powys's scene is the overarching image for this silent, serene, sad book. The sands at Weymouth, and the sea lapping, or crashing, on them reflect the human drama, the human heart. The book is filled with unforgettable people, and Powys delves quietly beneath their conventional surfaces to reveal their torment, joy, longing.

I was born a Met fan and will remain one as long as the Mets exist. As I type this, I'm listening to Fred Wilpon talk about how Art Howe is going to turn the Mets around. This after the 2002 Mets, the team with the third highest payroll in baseball, finished last in the National League East.

My thoughts, naturally, turn to this book.

At the end of the abyssmal 1992 season for the New York Mets, Bob Klapisch and John Harper--beat writers for the NY Post and NY Daily News--felt the need to rant, to give the fans the necessary information to answer the question "how could this have happened?" The highest payrolled team in the history of baseball, the team that made Bobby Bonilla the highest paid player ever, finished with the third lowest record in the National League. I mean, we had David Cone, Dwight Gooden and Sid Fernandez in our starting rotation! We got Bobby Bonilla to replace Darryl Strawberry! That ring should have been ours!

Any Met fan reading the above knows what happened on the surface (and what continued to happen in 1993 and --UCK-- 1994), but the deeper story is nastier still.

This book lifts the rock on the Mets and what is crawling underneath is not pretty. The egos alone are ridiculous, but throw in the infighting, the firecrackers, the rape accusations, the press lockouts, and the non-stop party attitude that looks from here like Animal House without the humor.

You've got to feel sorry for Jeff Torborg and Buddy Harrelson, who didn't have a chance with this pack. As you'll see, though, the owner and General Managers also get their due.

NOW I want to see the 2002 edition of this book. This book proved to me that there is tons of stuff that go on behind the scenes. What happened in 2002?

It's also nice to reminisce about a time when sports writers didn't pull as many punches with their writing. Nobody is spared; the GM, the owners, past managers, players, etc.

Not to knock ESPN which is not local enough, or radio commentary like "Mike & The Maddog" which I believe to be too much a mouthpiece of the team, but this book also stands up as a testament to newspaper coverage which goes into more and better detail than cable can offer.

These guys bled Blue and Orange every day from spring training to the end of the year because it was their job. When that blood went bad, they wrote this book. As a Met fan, let me say "Thank You". This book takes that coverage to the next power. It is something you do not see enough of.

The only real flaw in this book is that it could have been a little better organized. The chronology is a bit vague; background-setting flashbacks show up and go on for pages until you've forgotten what you're getting background on. It is a minor quip, though, and I didn't even notice it until subsequent readings.

This book will probably shock you, but you should still pick it up.

The competition between newspapers in the New York market of the late '80s and early '90s was a precursor to 24-hour sports networks and the Internet in terms of bringing the personal and the issues of the locker room to the fore. Every paper was printing a game story, so the way to distinguish your coverage was to get the office politics, the behind-the-scenes stuff -- Vince Coleman and the golf club. David Cone and the allegations. Sid Fernandez in the doghouse. Buddy Harrelson, the manager who lost control. Bobby Bonilla and everybody. While the player stuff was interesting, I found this much more intriguing as a study of mass media and competition, and just as valid now as ever. A must-read for anyone interested in sports journalism.

The book talks about the 1992 New York Mets which was full of overpaid underachievers who were expected to get into the World Series after finishing below .500 in 1991 for the first time since 1983. It shows the apparent rape and other sexual charges to players like Vince Coleman, Daryl Boston, David Cone and Doc Gooden. It showed the Mets of '92 did more off the field then on the field and you can tell by there record and the fans of New York were outraged that a proud franchise would sink to this level and not succedd. Its a very good book, every Mets fan should have it.

This book looks like it was designed 50 years ago even though it was published in 1997. Even though it looks ugly what is inside is very educational. Every business that needs to express their identity needs to own this book. Not educating yourself on the nuances of logo design could break your company.

The book is an excellent tool that anyone in the business world or an organization or institution should have as a necessity. It is well written, organized, educational, and thought provoking. Anyone that is contemplating creating, using, or viewing a logo should read this book immediately. Haig's exemplary collection of information and ideas on something that so profoundly bombards us and affects our choices daily, is something every thinking person should set aside some time to read. It is well worth the price and should become a part of EVERY reference shelf; it is something you will want to share with others. It would make a great gift for any thinking person - or one that should.

The Power of Logos is vital for anyone doing business today. As basic as a business card, a logo with impact is crucial to a company -- from its business cards up in conveying its image. This book shows what, why, and how to.... A powerful book, The Power of Logos details principles of persuasive techniques to incorporate into a logo. It provides important, power-packed psychological secrets to put power in a company logo -- which should be, after all, a logo's primary purpose.

I love Georgette Heyer, and this book just didn't do it for me. The writing is still great, that can't be denied, utterly charming descriptions and dialogue. I think what got to me was the utter lack of romance here. There weren't even hints to suggest that a romance might be brewing, and I really felt that I was just going on faith that this was indeed a romance novel and I would be rewarded in the end for my perseverence. And I was, I suppose, but I really didn't get any warm and fuzzy feeling out of it. I wasn't reading it because I wanted to read a mystery novel, so by the time she got to the denouement, I was so starved for romance that I couldn't have cared less about the resolution of that part of the plot.

In short, unless you are a die-hard fan of her style, I wouldn't go out of my way to obtain this one.

This was the quote on the back of the book. The story itself begins in a decidedly Gothic fashion, with a seemingly dark, irascible hero, a heroine swept along by fate and a malevolent drunkard who plays her short-lived husband. The stage is set; some papers are missing that must not be allowed to fall into Bonaparte's hands and of course, they're probably secreted in the heroine's new home.

Some familiar personalities make their appearance in this novel; the hero's younger brother is modelled along most younger brothers/cousins, such as Ludovic of The Talisman Ring and Richmond of The Unknown Ajax. Basil, the sneaking and probably up-to-no-good fop is practically the twin of the evil Beau from The Talisman Ring. In fact, this story is a lot like the Talisman Ring, only without the guffaw-inducing nature of that worthy book and with a tamer ending. All in all, a good mystery infused with a lot of humour.

As a long term, well as long as possible at 16, fan of Heyer regency novels, I love the Reluctant Widow. Admittedly the romance between Eleanor and Edward is not nearly as fleshed out as in her other novels because of the focus on the mystery, but I enjoy it anyway. This is mainly because of Nicky. Nicky is a wonderful character and one of the funniest Georgette ever created, along with Rupert in These Old Shades. The book is a delightfully funny and mysterious romp and I heartily recommend it to any Regency lover.