Some popular fiction manages to stand the test of time, and EAST LYNNE falls into that category. For its contemporary readers, EAST LYNNE was one of the exemplars of that emerging genre, the sensation novel: its plot incorporates, among other things, murder, mistaken identity, bigamy, and adultery. Sitting awkwardly in this wild stew of criminal activity are the narrator's pious moral observations and the novel's didactic (and sometimes ponderously satirical) pronouncements on contemporary mores. The characters are mainly cardboard, with the possible exception of the termagant Cornelia Carlyle. The story remains highly readable, largely because the plot moves at a reasonably fast pace, but no-one should approach this book looking for high literature. Mrs. Wood wrote plain--some might say "simplistic"--prose with a minimum of stylistic embellishment, but most readers should find her writing tolerable. In other words, this novel exists in the upper reaches of Danielle Steele-land. It is, nevertheless, an essential text for understanding trends in Victorian popular culture during the 1860s and after.

This new edition, probably intended to replace the poorly edited Everyman version, contains a number of "extras." These include letters from Mrs. Wood, the report from publisher's reader Geraldine Jewsbury (herself a popular novelist), data on the novel's publication and serialization, contemporary reviews, contextual material, and selections from one of the many theatrical adaptations of the novel. Like most Broadview publications, this edition is obviously designed for classroom use, although casual readers should also find the additional material helpful.

Unfortunately, this edition has something in common with the Everyman version: the editing and proofreading. The text is rife with bizarre word substitutions, as if the MS had been run through a spellchecker without a second reading; typos; and improper accidentals (e.g., semi-colons for apostrophes and commas for periods). The often scattershot footnotes did not help: they were sometimes repetitive (e.g., annotating "Turk" more than once) and often too terse to be of much use. Many notes glossed old sayings whose meanings remain obvious even to today's students. To make matters worse, my own copy was badly printed. Instructors may want to keep these problems in mind.

Mrs Henry Wood's novel itself doesn't need any recommandation: generations of readers have literally devoured it. My rating however is valid only for the novel in itself.

What I should like to comment upon is the edition -- and here my rating is just 2 -- published as a volume of "Everyman's Library"...The text is disfigured by dozens...of misprints -- from a philological point of view, this edition is just useless.

The volume is out of print at the moment. This should be welcomed by the editors as an occasion to correct those numberless misprints. If they don't do so, there is only one comment possible on their edition: forget it.

I loved the novel "East Lynne" and am now reading it for the 2nd time. I could not put the book down and kept reading and reading. I recommended it to my mother and she also read it and loved it. It is Mrs. Henry Wood's greatest triumph. The reader feels so greatly for Lady Isabel, one wishes the ending were happier for her. The deaths of little William and finally Lady Isabel bring many tears. No wonder it was such a success in the Victorian era and it should be printed again in this time, to counter so much trash and vulgarity that is written.
I certainly can believe how successful it must have been when it was first printed in 1861. I also believe anyone who reads it wishes Lady Isabel back in her ex-husband's life and Barbara Hare out! Wonderful!!

This book is an excellent novel on the Civil War. Being my major, and having read many accounts of the war, both fiction and non-fiction, I would rank this with some of the great fiction accounts of the war. It is not Red Badge of Courage, Shiloh, or the Killer Angels, which are considered the pinnacle of the genre, but it is a good read, encompassing a wider range of POVs than most of the other works. It takes elements from each of the works I have mentioned, and uses them to create a story in which it is easier to see how these people were.
Fredericksburg is often compared with Gods & Generals... I can only say that I believe that Fredericksburg would make the better movie, if kept faithful to the book (unlike G&G, which was bogged down by civilian drivel for a good portion of the movie). But, considering Hollywood and the lukewarm reception recieved by many Civil War movies, I would not want to see how this good piece of war fiction would be mutilated.

This is a well written work that tells the story of the Irish at Fredericksburg. This is a battle that is often overshadowed by the battle of Antietam in September 1862 and Gettysburg in July 1863. Despite this tendency to forget this battle it stands as a bloody testament to the courage of the Federal forces that were forced to charge into destruction.

The film Gods and Generals (released 2/21/2003) features a dramatic picture of the Irish sacrifice at this battle. Over 1200 men of the Irish Brigade went into battle and only 250 came back.

It is against this backdrop that author Kirk Mitchell sets his work. It is an excellent tale of the brave men of Eire that battled against each other 140 years ago. It is well written and is very much like the style of Michael Shaara in The Killer Angels. I suggest that anyone with an interest in the Civil War pick up a copy of this novel before it is not available anymore.

Mr. Mitchell has written a compelling and entertaining novel of the Irish units during the bitter battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. The characters were a nice collection of personalites, the unit information was well handled, the factual figures were done well, and the dialog between the fictional and factual characters were superb. But the central characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more. Some of them, I couldn't relate to or feel much compassion. But, the author captured the brutality of combat, the fear, the mud, the physical discomfort, the death and chaos of battle. Good details on the terrain, weather and history of the region. Having stood behind the stone wall at Marye's Heights recently, one can only imagine what the Union soldiers must have thought as they stormed repeatedly into a virtual hail of hostile ordinance.

Only useful if you're planning to sue. Very depressing if you're searching for emotional support/help only. Do not recommend it overall. Too negative.

Nobody wants to need Stephen Mitchell Sack's new book, but everyone should. Anyone can be fired, anytime. Sack was sacked, unfairly, from his first job out of law school. It must have ticked him off, because he's become the adviser of the pink-slipped population. His book explains when to call a lawyer if you're fired and gives an overview of U.S. laws protecting employees from discrimination and unfair dismissal. Despite the necessary legal lingo, the author keeps it readable. He warns you to prepare for dismissal before it ever happens and shows that simple record keeping can boost your severance package. From sample letters to a list of relevant government agencies, this is one handy manual for the let-go, downsized, or dismissed. However, its utility is limited to those working under U.S. laws. We at getAbstract recommend this book to employers and employees, regardless of whether you think you need it. You do.

During a restructuring phase at my company, i had the heavy feeling of not knowing if I was going to be next on the ax list. I stumbled across this book at a bookstore, not really looking for it. Reading the title, I said to myself that this is what I need right now. Very good solid stable advice from a seasoned pro in this field. Knowledge is power and this book gives you an extra kick of power.

I have been hearing about Kabbalah for about a year now, because of the "Madonna Factor", but this is the first time I took the step to find out what it is about. It offers an introduction to the spirituality it encompasses. I learned so much about myself just by reading it. There are personal stories of how letting G-d into your life can make a change, that you can develop your soul and become a stronger, healthier person. Thank you Dr. Kramer for bringing this to a larger audience.

Using the symbolism of Kabalah, Dr. Kramer leads the reader through a system of self-analysis that should be worth it's weight in therapy fees! His simplified terminology and explanation of the Tree Of Life bring an easy-to-understand message of the power of love to anyone willing to risk seeking the inner light.

Ten secrets for mind/body healing from Kabbalah mysticism are revealed in this blend of ancient wisdom and modern psychology. Hidden Faces of the Soul uses the Kabbalah teachings to probe compassion, dominion, faith and other 'hidden faces' of the soul, and makes for an excellent guide for any probing personal spiritual goals.

First I must state that this is a book of simplistic prose and structure. Nevertheless, there are points of interest. Mitchell shows the personal lives of everyone in the military should be immaterial, that gays do not enlist to put the make on people. They have a professional approach and do the best job they can. In combat situations the concern of every serviceman is the same, staying alive, not how cute the man's butt is ahead of them.
What Marching to an Angry Drum also accomplishes is presenting gay characters in seeming paradoxical circumstances: a world full of innocent sexuality and sweet dreams juxtaposed with characters fighting a deadly war. The gay men and women who fought in Iraq, maybe never wore the rose coloured glasses of days gone by - the world of Mitchell and his company of men - but they join a hell of a lot of servicemen who served their country with an invisible rainbow flag draped over their collective ample and worthy shoulders.

Mitchell realized he was gay after enlisting in the army. Today's readers can only imagine the difficulties encountered by both gays and lesbians who were required to lead a double life. 'The Angry Drum' is that aspect of the military that is totally intolerant and hostile to the gay and lesbian community. It is also that part of the military that destroys lives not only through combat but also through the hostility of purges, intolerance and prejudice.
Mitchell says his book is 90 percent factual, that he wrote it to dispel the myths that gays in the military are just out to put the make on everybody, that they can't physically serve heroically the same as everybody else.
I'd say many of those myths had been buried long before this book was published. Yet nothing I have read or heard in the debate on the topic of gays in the military has been more profound than the following line found in the introduction to Marching To an Angry Drum :

"I am reminded of the epitaph of the late

Leonard Matlovich

A gay Vietnam veteran

"When I was in the military they gave me a medal for

killing two men, and a discharge for loving one."

A warm Maugham like patriotic story about citizens we know so little about.

Marching to an Angry Drum Gays in the Military

BOOK REVIEW Between The Lines July 13 - 19, 2000 Pridesource.com By: Charles Alexander

As a writer C. G. Mitchell's style might best be called "old fashioned butch." This is not a putdown. It's just that Mitchell doesn't feel the need to spell everything out. His writing, especially when it comes to sex or violence, invites the reader to use his imagination (an ingredient too often missing from today's gay market novels and short stories.) As far as the butch part goes, Mitchell doesn't shy away from the forceful use of language. When it is appropriate his dialogue is seasoned with salt and pepper (and occasionally with salt peter.) It's all verbal spit and polish. It's also two fisted, funny, and at times very touching. It helps of course, to know the macho/military complex first hand. Without this insider's point of view no gay service novel succeeds. The success of Mitchell's new book, "Marching to an Angry Drum" is due to the fact that Mitchell lived through it and embellishes his well-written adventures with similar experiences from friends and contemporaries. "Angry Drum" is his military coming out story. It's set in the 1950s and in a variety of locals from California to Korea. (His book of short stories, "I Quit - I Promise," contains lead-in reminiscences.) Its lovers are John and David. According to Mitchell, it was not easy to go back in memory and retrieve details that are painful, bittersweet, and sadly pleasant. It took three years to do so, with numerous visits to old locals. Nonetheless, he succeeds admirably. The 50s were a time when the gay scene was undiscovered and forbidding territory for most straights. For those who were gay, the motto (borrowed from World War II) could well have been, "Loose lips sink ships!" In other words: make sure your gay assignations are covered. Actually, a number of gay men survived (and thrived) in the armed services. How this was done is an important reason why "Angry Drum" is both fascinating reading and reliable documentation. (Mitchell was discharged with honors.) Many comrades, however, were ferreted out, particularly a number of his lesbian army buddies. He shares and exposes the military witch-hunt that destroyed their lives. "The real "angry drum"' says Mitchell, "is that aspect of the military that is totally intolerant and hostile to the gay and lesbian community. It is also that part of the military that destroys lives not only through combat but also through the hostility of purges, intolerance, and prejudice." Mitchell has written a fine addition to the turbulent history of gays and lesbians in the military. It's star-spangled summer reading, replete with guts, romance, and gay patriotism and, importantly, the loyalty of straight friends.

I read this book a few years ago, when living in the United Kingdom, and wanted to recommend this book to my Book Club in the USA for our next discussion. What a disappointment to find it is out of print, as this is one of the most readable and insightful autobiographies I have read! Dear Amazon team, please campaign for it to be reissued!

I am so sorry this book is not available. It is a fasinating story of a woman's ability to survive and keep her family in tact in WW II Germany. I met Mrs. Bielenberg a few years ago and she is still as interesting as she was in her book.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am surprised that nobody has reviewed it and I am also dissapointed to find out that it is not available to buy at the moment. I read it a few years ago and when I get the time, I will definitely read it again. Once you start you can not stop and it is a book you will remember for the rest of your life. Read it!

I agree with the previous reviewers. The book is helpful with developing a basic understanding of Delphi, but it is overpriced compared to other Delphi books on the market.

This book [was expensive to me] because it is a textbook, and as we all know, there's no getting around the price of a textbook. I'm not currently attending class, but purchased this book anyway. I found it extremely well laid out, very descriptive, and informative. I went from knowing very little about Delphi, to knowing quite a bit. This book has all the little bits of information the less formal books leave out. A great book! If I had one complaint, it was of the lack of attention to some of the higher programming skills, chapters like DDE were very short indeed, but gave you enough to know what they did. This is a beginners book, make no mistake. If you're just learning Delphi, it's great. I believe this was made with Delphi 5, but there are so few differences, you'll never notice.

Programming and Problem Solving with Delphi is clearly laid out and provides good information for people new to Delphi. As a self-trained programmer migrating from Visual Basic to Delphi I found it quite useful, but I question its value to experienced Delphi campaigners. I also cannot work out why it's so [pricey].

This book reveals a great deal of information that relates Margaret Mitchell, the woman, to "Gone With the Wind", the book. Sadly, this could have been a wonderful book but the author's lack of sympathy with the subject is a noticable. The author's disrespect for a courageous and talented woman only made me think less of the author and more of Peggy Marsh. Perhaps if there had been a better editor......

I had an image of Margaret Mitcell as a very cool person. But reading this book, I was greatly surprised to find that she was an alcoholic,a flirt(as stated explicitly in the book) and had two marriages and seemed to be very non-traditional. She reformed herself after becoming famous with GWTW, but she couldn't cope up with the recognition and the crowd always surrounding her. I admire her second husband for inspiring her to write a novel which she had no idea of publishing since she always felt she was only an amateur because of not having completed her study in the university. Yes, she is a complex character and it seems that she was always in two minds. Gone With The Wind is the novel which I have liked the most.

Much of Gone With the Wind was taken from Margaret Mitchell's own life experiences.

Brian, a young boy, is diagnosed with diabetes and hospitalized. While in the hospital, he learns about his diabetes and begins to practice giving himself shots. He feels lonely and overwhelmed. His mother has the bright idea of giving him a stuffed teddy bear who also has diabetes. Brian is able to practice his shots on the bear. The bear is a source of comfort because he has to experience the shots just like Brian.

I liked the story, but I really could have done without the subtle product placements all through the illustrations. I could live with discrete print advertizements in the parents' sections. I do not think that the text or the illustrations in children's books should be used to hawk specific products.

The diagnosis of diabetes is traumatic enough for an adult but even more so for a child. Rufus helps the child, family, and friends deal with this disease in an informative way that is neither too medical nor too simple. Our hospital gives the Rufus book along with the actual Rufus teddy bear to any child with a new diagnosis of diabetes. The book explains how the diabetes is managed and the bear gives the child someone else (the bear had diabetes too) to go through the shots and blood sugar tests with. I highly recommend it for anyone who has a child with diabetes even if it isn't a new diagnosis.

After learning of a friends, grandson's recent diagnosis, I searched for a book geared toward a small child. "Rufus Comes Home" was the perfect choice! The book provides the information needed to deal with the illness and specific care, but is written in a compassionate style that would not frighten a child.

Scotch Whisky by Charles MacLean is a comprehensive guide about the different single malt and blended Scotch whiskies available. It starts with a short history about Scotch whisky and goes on to the making, the regional differences and how to appreciate this very traditional Scottish drink. This is followed by a listing of all the different single malt whiskies and blended whiskies. Each of them is listed by category, distiller and owner. There is also a description of the history of the whisky as well as tasting notes. This guide to whisky is excellent reading for those interested in whisky from the connoisseur to the enthusiastic amateur. And, of course, this book is always a superb gift which is usually very much appreciated.

An excellent little guide to the making and tasting of Scotch whisky, both single malt (81 pages) and blended (94 pages). After the introductory chapters on the history, making, and appreciation of whisky, brief (2-5 paragraphs) descriptions of each whisky are listed. There is an emphasis on the history of the distillery; this makes it an ideal travel book. The book is part of the "Mitchell-Beazley Pocket Guides," so can be kept easily in a purse or coat pocket (and, yes, the print is legible but quite small).

The tasting descriptions are generally well within the limits of reasonable subjectivity. (Example: The Macallan 12--"...usually full and well-rounded, reminiscent of old Armagnac: sherry, fruit...a hint of wood, clean, intense..."). I think Paul Pacult's "Kindred Spirits" is the better book, however: The tasting notes seem more accurate, and the grading system gives you an idea of his opinion of one scotch versus another. There is no such rating system here.

The notes are necessarily brief for a "pocket guide" and often describe only one vintage (e.g., a 12-year old). However, the notes for the notorious Laphroaig (peat smoke, tar, diesel oil, seaweed, iodine, salt") don't state whether it's the 10-, 12-, or 15-year old that is being evaluated. All in all, however, the author, a renowned authority on whisky, knows his scotch, and conveys well the essential elements of nose, body, taste, and finish.

There is a fairly heavy emphasis on the industry, including a list of top selling brands, prices fetched at auction (!), and the transfer of distillery ownership. There is a nice list of distilleries, locations, and telephone numbers for those planning a scotch tasting excursion, and a good (but dated) bibliography. Recommended particularly for those who want a portable reference book, or who have a special interest in distillery history.

This is a pocket size book with detailed descriptions of numerous Scotch Whiskies, single malts and blends. It briefly provides a history of the distillery and most helpful, detailed tasting notes on each whisky. Charles MacLean is a well known and highly respected expert in whiskies. This book makes an excellent companion to Michael Jackson's "must have" book on Single Malt Scotch Whisky giving the reader another experts perspective on the wide variety of flavors in Scotch Whisky. The print in this book is very small, at times hard to read, but the information makes it worth finding your glasses. This book is one of three books on Scotch Malt Whisky I would not want to be without. If you've come this far, buy the book, I know you'll enjoy it.