This is a well researched volume. It places togather in one volume for comparison of identifiable pieces of Rhodian armour. All the pieces mentioned are photographed. Similar pieces to the ones dipicted and thier locations (where possible to tell) and referenced publications are included. Some comments about different locational preferences of style, i.e. Spanish, northern Europe, German, etc., are dispersed throughout the book. The book reads like it is, a grocery list. In other words, this is the piece, its' dimensions, location, known references, similar to, current condition, restorations, and such. It is written to be used as a reference for comarison to unidentified or future located pieces of armour. The book has two minor drawbacks that keep me from giving it 5 stars. I will admit I am being picky. It does not have a quick reference location map with major collections pointed out. Terms are used that would leave an individual uniformed about armour scratching thier head. Therefore the book was designed to be used by a select audiance. Besides these two points, I am convinced that the work is worth the money and would make a valuable contribution to the library of individuals interested in the subject.

I cannot imagine a more factual and spiritual upbringing and documentation of an offspring with a loving mother stricken with polio. With an admittedly biased swing (having shared several formative years with the author in southern towns) I can only say that we should have all been as lucky as to have had these types of parental challenges and love. Counting stars at night was only a tool. It should be noted that there exists a unique and poignant short story from the author in a very early Reader's Digest referencing "wheelchair racing" in the hospital hallways. Probably a precursor of a Chevy Camaro to come. As I recall it was an award winner. "If you believe in miracles..."

The story of "Nat Turner and the Virginia Slave Revolt" is a problematic topic for younger students. In 1831 Turner led a slave revolt that lastd for a few days and saw over 50 white people killed and perhaps five times as many blacks. As Rivvy Neshama points out at one point, "No matter how terrible slavery was, what Nat and his soldiers did was wrong." Neshama focuses on the life of Turner, who was considered a prophet by his people and who claimed to have heard voices telling him to lead a revolt by the slaves against their masters. The actual revolt is described in some detail, as is the trial and execution of Turner. Young readers will certainly understand why Turner was considered a hero by blacks and feared as a symbol of what organized slaves could do by the whites.

This book is illustrated with etchings and photographs depicting the practice of slavery in the South, only a few of which deal with the actual events of the revolt. If you have been reading your way through the Journey to Freedom series, then you will notice that this particular volume is written on a level that is a tad simpler than the others. However, this does fit the general tenor of this book, which does refrain from pointing out that many of the white victims of the slave revolt were children. As I said up top, this is a troubling episode form American History to explain to younger students.

Ellis kept a running diary for most of his adult life. He culls much interesting information from this source as well as several better known authors in painting a vivid picture of what happened in America starting in 1929 and why. This is not to say that the book does not have some flaws. For one thing Ellis has a tendency of placing trivial comments such as "Rexford Tugwell was quite the handsomest New Dealer of them all" which frankly could have been better left unsaid. However, some of his historical information, particularly his chapter on the National Recovery Act, entitled the Blue Eagle, are well researched and very easy to read. I also like the opening chapter on the death of the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (now the site of the Empire State Building). This is an excellent juxtaposition considering that this event took place in the infamous year of 1929 and happened on May Day to boot.

This book is the day by day diary of ADM Joy. Those familiar with the Armistice negotiations will appreciate his daily interactions with the KPA, however, due to his consistent use of abbreviations, and the editor's excessive explanation of these abbreviations, it's not a smooth read. I'd rather read this without every abbreviation spelled out for me. I'd rate the original diary 5+ stars, as there are no other authoritative books I've found on the Armistice negotiations, however, with the editors muddling this up, I've downgraded it to 4 stars.

Treats the physical environment of the workplace as an important strategic element in changing organizational culture. The first two parts of the book make the case, the third outlines a broad philosophy of design and ways of treating space to meet relationship needs.

Most people concerned with change management do think about physical design issues: this book is helpful in framing the issues and possible solutions and in highlighting the linkage between types of activity and relationship and appropriate physical design. It is written for the generalist manager or OD specialist and does not go into architectural detail, but does clearly highlight the way in which physical space affects culture and performance. It is easy to read and has some very wry cartoons scattered through it.

On a cold and windy October day in Tombstone, Arizona, Virgil Earp, his two brothers, and Doc Holliday shot and killed three local men. The Earp party was allegedly acting under color of office and within the loose constraints allowed 19th century peace officers in southwestern boom towns.

For the past 117 years partisans for both sides have argued over the O. K. Corral gunfight. With the publication of this book, editor Turner brushed away the mist of time to reveal the thoughts and actions of the participants and some witnesses on that violent day so revered by believers of the western myth.

Turner divided his book into four parts: (1)prologue; (2) verbatim reproduction of the coroner's inquest; (3) the Spicer hearing to determine if a murder charge against the Earp party was warranted; and (4) an appendix for miscellaneous papers and documents of special interest. The inquest testimony covers the statements of eight witnesses. Upon its conclusion, the jurors decided the deceased expired from gunshot wounds inflicted by the Earp party.

An evidentiary hearing was held before Justice of the Peace Wells Spicer. The impetus for the hearing was a filing of a criminal complaint by Joseph Clanton, brother of one of the deceased. During the 31 day hearing a large volume of testimony was taken and reduced to statements by the court reporter. Spicer then rendered a detailed decision which exonerated the Earps and Holliday. Clanton refused to accept the decision and subsequently filed three more murder complaints against the Earps and Holliday. All three of the complaints were ultimately dismissed. What Clanton, his cohorts, and a surviving McLaury did next is detailed in numerous other books written about Wyatt Earp.

Fault can be found with the pen and ink illustrations which accompany the text. The artist "imagined" the faces of some of the witnesses. These illustrations weren't necessary and are an annoyance - possibly wished on Turner by the publisher. The photographs by contrast are interesting and informative. Glenn Boyer's preface is very good and is based on sound reasoning as to the turmoil extant in Tombstone in the 1880s. Turner livened his text with chapter foornotes and they prove crucial to the understanding of the inquest/hearing and also provide a detailed and intriguing examination of the gunfight. I'm sure Mr. Boyer lent a helping hand with author Turner's analyses.

At first glance this is a dry and matter of fact book with little interest except for the most serious of readers. However, casual readers of Western Americana will be pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the times and the broad based corruption which permeated the activities occurring in and around Tombstone. This book doesn't detract from Wyatt Earp's reputation as a fearless fighter although it might dim the luster on his law enforcement badge. It's possible the gunfight could have been avoided but an educated guess is that a similar outcome would have taken place in 9 out of 10 instances.

Too much misinformation has been written about the O. K. Corral gunfight which at the time was of little importance beyond the environs of southern Arizona. The subsequent deification of Wyatt Earp elevated this fight to olympian proportions and assigned to it a cause and effect which had no relationship to reality.

Turner performed a valuable service in locating and collecting this material as it will assist in changing the lurid to the ordinary and the myth to the truth.

In 1831, the Turner rebellion shook America's cotton kingdom to its core. Nat Turner, a slave who had become a preacher, felt he had been chosen by God to lead an insurrection. A solar eclipse provided a sign that his time was now. Turner led approximately two hundred slaves in the massacre of sixty Virginia whites. Once his uprising had been broken up by a white militia, Turner hid in a Virginia swamp for more than two months before his capture. The leader was eventually tried and executed with sixteen of his coconspirators but the South would never be the same. Turner's rebellion unintentionally caused the bonds that imprisoned slaves tightened. Teaching slaves to read, black preachers and unsupervised assemblies were outlawed, while instances of cruelty escalated. Planters saw the bloodthirsty fire ignited in its caged workforce became frightened and paranoid.

Daniel Pagner attempts to bring this historic event to life in Ol' Prophet Nat. His narrator, a collector of old books, comes across a family Bible in which Turner, while hidden in the Virginia swamps, wrote his story. The premise is slightly hokey but Ol' Prophet Nat still effectively recreates Nat Turner and his uprising. The flimsy, grimy old cabins; the hot days and long hours; the bleeding black flesh and a community's collective fear and anger are all described in stunning detail. Turner himself becomes quite the literary character. He considers himself a Moses and the African Americans, the Israelites and the gut wrenching decisions he must make to do what is right, despite its futility and detrimental outcome, is truly affecting to readers. This fine account of the Turner rebellion animates the dusty pages of history into vibrant life.

Dr. David Nicolle, a prolific writer on medieval military history, provides an excellent summary of the campaign of Orléans in 1429 that changed the course of the Hundred Years War. After years of smashing and humiliating defeats, a deeply divided France was able to achieve a military revival that turned the tide against the English invaders. Although the impact of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) is often over-stated in many accounts of this revival, Dr. Nicolle puts the famous French heroine in proper perspective and delivers a well-rounded campaign summary.

Orléans 1429 is written in the standard Osprey campaign series format and begins with short sections on the origins of the campaign as well as opposing commanders, armies and plans. A single 2-D map depicts the confusing French political boundaries in 1429. The section on opposing commanders is quite detailed, and highlights the role of professional soldiers like the Gascon La Hire, who was just as necessary to the campaign as Joan. Interestingly, the composition of the armies of both sides had changed significantly since Agincourt fourteen years before; noblemen had largely been replaced by mercenaries, non-knight professionals, foreigners and assorted roughnecks. Evidently, the war was no longer the game of kings by 1429. It is also interesting that both sides employed artillery to great effect in this campaign - a distinct change from earlier campaigns in the war.

The campaign summary itself consists of 56 pages, divided into sections on the beginning of the English siege, the arrival of Joan, the storming of Les Tourelles, the abandonment of the siege and the Battle of Patay. Three 3-D maps depict various phases of the siege, while there are five 2-D maps that cover initial campaign movements, the layout of the town's defenses, the French relief effort, the French recapture of the Loire castles and the Battle of Patay. There are also three battle scenes that depict Joan's crossing of the Loire, Sir William Glasdale taunting Joan from the battlements and the Battle of Patay. The Battle of Patay is particularly interesting since it was one of the few occasions that the vaunted French cavalry actually showed what it was capable of doing on a battlefield; in about one hour the English army retreating from Orléans was thoroughly smashed by a vigorous French pursuit. Although there are numerous photographs and illustrations, many are only slightly relevant to the campaign; this is partly due to the paucity of medieval supporting material and partly due to the author's preference for including material of dubious relevance. Nevertheless, the campaign summary is lucid and interesting, if a bit devoid of intensity. This is both a strength and a weakness in Dr. Nicolle's work; he has the scholarly ability to thoroughly research medieval military history but as in his previous Constantinople 1453, he lacks the literary ability to bring out the drama and passion in history. The Orléans campaign was a moment of high drama in French history that not only reversed a losing war, but also resuscitated the nearly defunct monarchy.

While there is no doubt that Joan of Arc helped the French army to rekindle its morale, Dr. Nicolle also points out that doctrinal and technological changes also helped to overcome mistakes made in the past. The French embraced artillery wholeheartedly, and even killed the first English commander in the siege with a lucky shot. Doctrinally, the French shifted from a predilection for large, decisive battles to smaller, attritional battles where the English could be worn down over time. Previous defeats had also made the French more cautious and they made efforts to avoid well-defended English positions. Without the overweening arrogance of nobles eager for martial glory that had led to defeats like Crecy and Agincourt, the French army became more adept at exploiting English vulnerabilities. Joan was the vital moral spark that helped the French to achieve a critical mass, but Dr. Nicolle's Orléans 1429 effectively points out that other military factors were at work as well.

This is a great introduction to Baudrillard's thought. Petit probes Baudrillard's mind on key points of his analysis. Baudrillard provides clear(as clear as it gets) explanations of what he intends for the reader to understand.