Although the content of the book is as good as described in the reviews, I was disappointed to discover that it is NOT hard cover. It is spiral bound with a very thin paperboard cover, then comes in a paperboard "storage box" the consistency of a cereal box. It may survive a year with me before the cover is bent and torn and the pages start falling out. For the price, my expectations were higher.

Even though I've been teaching this technique for a number of years and had the opportunity to study the method under Lynne Henderson, I still use this book almost daily in my teaching and as a general resource.

I hear the guy who complained about the cover and that part is very much true. However, when this book was published, it was very difficult to find a publisher for vocal technique books. When one was finally found - one who would allott an appropriate amount of money to the authour, even - this was what was available. I, personally, think the book is worth it's weight in gold. If you prefer, you can tear it apart and put it into a loose-leaf, but the information in this book is superior and shouldn't be glossed over by some complaint about the cover.

Contained in the book is a general discussion, of voice care, rehearsal advise - including choral rehearsal techniques - and many, many excercises for developing the voice and solving most of the more common vocal problems. It is written clearly and has a glossary in the back (my favourite part).

This technique is "natural" in that it doesn't use methods like shoving spoons into people's mouths and manipulating the voice into something it is not naturally. It takes the quality of the student's voice and enhances it while not neglecting the individual assets of each person's voice which differentiate it (and make it unique) from all others.

This is the only published work on this very effective, safe, and established vocal method.

It has easy to understand methods. Includes broad and specific techincal base. Provides approaches for all levels, from beginning to professional. It explains voice problems, causes, and how to avoid and correct the problems if possible. The example vocalises are extremely understandable and easy to apply. The index is thorough. The book maintains your interest and motivating. A must book for voice instructors.

Man this cat is suave. I purchased the "book on tape"version and listened to it going to and from my job and while runningerrands. Completed 2 tapes in 3 days. I especially focused mythoughts on Archie's wit and behaviour. The one liners aregreat... The lifestyles of the people of Palm Beach, FL. are a far cryfrom Elian and ballot counting. Which supplied to me a refreshing newlook on characters and plot. I must say this book kept me glued to mycasette player and mindful of the story even while not listening.Recommend it to people 35+ yrs.

This book is very appealing and well written. It has a likeable protagonist, a series of interesting suspects, and a nice second plot theme (Archy's lovelife). Near the end, we are led to a shocking revelation which explains some of the strange behavior which puzzles Archy through most of the book. Archy uses his secret to his advantage, as he solves a tangled set of problems in a clever way. Overall, I would say this book reminds me of the tone of Lawrence Block's Bernie the Burglar series, which is also excellent.

I actually own all four of the "Deadly Sins" books in paperback, but the stories are among my alltime favorites. Sanders should abandon McNally, a poor read at best, and get back to Edward X. Delaney -- he's my favorite character of all mystery writers' characters.

While containing good thoughts and sentiments, this book is little more than facile observations, short anecdotes and lessons learned from the author's own narrow life. Her writing style is simple, bland and uninteresting.

As a minister, chaplin and counselor with a masters degree and many years of experience, I expected more adroit observations and solid, far reaching conclusions on what is an important and provocative subject.

I find what Thomas J. Henry, MD, PSy.D. wrote about this book absolutely out of line -- it is vindictive, mean-spirited, vengeful, personal and along the lines of character assasination. How many of the leading lights of Psychology, those who wrote the most seminal works did not struggle with their dark side or lead tangled lives? That is not the issue here. The issue here is whether this book is helpful for those who are dealing with spiritual issues at middle age and on. For someone with a "counseling" degree, Dr. Henry comes across as having little to no empathy and showing very little professional etiquette. I have used Sallirae's book with adult classes at Unitarian Universalist circles and find it immensely helpful. As a tool for group exploration of late life spiritual issues it is unequaled in the market. Whether the author is a pristine, ideal person or not is irrelevant to the way this book can be a blessing in people's lives. I strongly recommend the book for those who want to explore very valid issues in middle to late life.

Like most people I lead a busy life and buy many books thatI glance at and then put on the shelf to read later. "A Life Complete" was not one of those books. As a minister and pastoral counselor I spend a lot of my professional life working with people who are aging, caring for the aging and struggling with what it means to be spiritual. When I began to read this book I just had to finish it. Sallirae has wonderfully blended some very deep thinking and reflection with her own personal experiences and has presented in a style that is very readable. There is no heavy technical psychological or theological language - she does not waste our time trying to impress us with her knowledge of complicated words but writes in a style that is clear and understandable, whilst at the same time she does not talk down to us. I also loved how she very gently but firmly slipped in some of her political belief,demonstrating in her writing how spirituality is grounded in how we live our lives and our beliefs. As a pastoral counselor I rarely recommend books to clients as they tend to be either too complicated in language or they oversimplify complicated issues. This book I have recommended to many people as Sallirae writes as one of the people for the people. On a personal level both my wife and I have fathers who are in various stages of Alzheimer's Disease and have tried to read a number of books on the subject. None of them were as helpful as the chapter Sallirae devoted to this topic. Personally I find stories about how other people cope far more helpful than a lot of theory, and was greatly helped by her comment "To the unpracticed eye, the person with AD has become a 'what' rather than a 'who'". My father is still a "who" and I am grateful for the stories that remind me that I am still learning from him, and he is teaching me far more about the art of listening - carefully and patiently. Spirituality as Sallirae puts it is "a minefield" but she approaches it gently, whilst at the same time exposing a few of the mines (beliefs) that are held to by the narrowly religious - you will have to read the book to see what I am referring to. This is a book of hope - buy it, read it, share it with others and live what she suggests and maybe we will all have a more complete life.

According to author Robert Henderson, Jr. "A lack of economic power and lack of control of our economic future has further fueled the lack of awareness of what's going on in African-American communities." Moreover, he intones this caveat, "We're no more than 'Modern day slaves' riding the new underground railroad". These are profound statements that beg for an explanation, but in his new book The New Underground Railroad Mr. Henderson gives a rather unique analogy to convey the concept that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." What then, is the new Underground Railroad? How does it apply to Black folk, and most importantly, what comparisons does it has to the old underground railroad. I found this to be quite interesting if not intriguing to me relative to how he drew parallel to old slave mentality vs. the so-called new slave mentality. Albeit, if readers can get past the many tired clichés and annoying inferences to an old slave to that of the current state of 'forced labor' that permeates our existence, perhaps the author's point of view could be better understood. With such a title, I'd imagine that the purpose intended indeed was to support why one slave is superior or inferior to the other.

Lauded as a beginner's guide to understanding investing, it indeed is elementary in giving posits of truths as it pertain to some of the rudimentary terms and policies that govern the usage of stocks, bonds, and ordinary investment prerogatives. After reading all of the chapters I felt that perhaps more information could have been supplied to give this book more oomph. As such, even beginners should be privy with as much information to insure that they are on the right (railroad) track. Many working Americans are only one or two paychecks away from poverty as Mr. Henderson opines. According to which history book you read supposedly in 1865 Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves from physical bondage with a stroke of the pen. Today, as it is implied in the book, the NEW slave is in economic bondage, and cannot be released by the government. The NEW slave may have a nice house, sports car and a high salary, but he is STILL a slave because he is dependent on his job for his sole economic welfare. He is content with his current uncertain financial status of possible layoffs, down sizing, termination, and corporate reorganization, etc. The NEW slaves can only be freed with financial knowledge. Now comes this author who brings out some interesting facts to illustrate his points.

The New Underground Railroad offers solid financial and living advice in direct, easy-to-understand terms expressly for those who may be looking for a better understanding of financial security. I found it to be rudimentary in the sense that anyone on any level can understand it. It's a good read despite the author's penchant for giving parallels to historic insight for not being a prime candidate for a slave to the system. In the present, he empowers individuals to step away from the slave-master mentality and be energized with the essentials of the 21st Century. One way of doing this is to have a winning attitude, think positive, and to stay focused. Certainly nothing that hasn't been harkened to us before, this author proceeds to say that faith and positive thinking does not work alone with one taking the necessary initiatives to stay tracked. repetitive but in view of the fact that it reads like good news that we slaves (people) need, so be it. I remember another author implying that to stay ahead one must "think and grow rich". This book is along the same mindset. I recommend that you read it to track your destination for a good start!

"The New Underground Railroad is about freeing people who need to be economically enlightened, as the author puts it." Henderson built his own financial group on the declaration of Harriet Tubman; "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." By the time you have read the last page of The New Underground Railroad, you too will declare the same.

In the present, he empowers individuals to step away from the slave-master mentality and be energized with the essentials of the 21st Century. One way of doing this is to have a winning attitude, think positive, nothing we have not heard before right? Well this author proceeds to say that faith and positive thinking does not work alone, you need to take action. Gain control of your life, gain ownership of some real estate. The modern slave is of no race, creed or color.

Robert Henderson, Jr. exercises the use of cliches and scripture lessons to expound on his point. Sometimes it is repetitive but in view of the fact that it reads like good news that we slaves (people) need, so be it. I believe the one message Henderson wanted us to walk away with is this, we as slaves need to begin taking advantage of America and all of its riches. Think and dream bigger than you ever have before then put those visions into motions.

Missy

APOOO BookClub

Do not pick up this book to be entertained, it should do more than
that, it should enlighten, empower and educate anyone who wants to
break the chains of Economic Bondage.

It is written by a young man who was so stirred by Harriet Tubman,
that he wanted to empower individuals to step outside of the
slave-master mentality and adapt to the elements of the 21st century.
Because poverty has no color or limitations, it just exists.

The New Underground Railroad is about freeing people who need to be
economically enlightened. It is an escape plan intended to educate
the readers about real estate, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. And
to teach about the effects of inflation and taxation. The author so
aptly states 'he wants to bring Wall Street to your street'.

Mr. Henderson, Jr. shares some superb investment tips, which should
flag this book as a beginner's guide to understanding investing,
a good reference tool.

Reviewed by aNN Brown

This is a supurb anthology by 3 highly talented authors. In all 3 stories, you find that the love you felt that took you to the alter, is the same love you have to feel to keep your marriage vows. Leslie Esdaile shows us with Alexander and Edward that marriage the second time around can bring obstacles and guidelines that are crumbs from your first marriage. Scared that you have made a second mistake in choosing your mate, and you don't want to go through another divorce, you hinder the relationship by not being honest. Alexander cannot hold back any longer her own needs to be happy and she has to find a way to tell Edward, at the same time Edward has not faced the turmoils of his first wife and his mother and all the rules and control, he has to realize will ruin his second marriage if he doesn't lighten up and see his wife for who she is. After some disturbing truths are brought to their attention by people who love them, they find there way back to the love that brought them together. Ms.Esdaile tells this story with reality of second marriages with children involved and also when a spouse does not work toward the future and forget the past.

T.T. Henderson does a remarkable job of showing how two people strive and build to have a family and through lack of communication can lose it all. Camille and Devon have been married for 19 years, have 2 children and a relatively nice life style, but do to a mistake that took place 5 years ago, the lines of communication have been severed and they are on their way to destruction. Devon has sacrificed to prove to his wife his love for her, but she doesn't see his sacrifice or his pain, so he turns to his friends and drinking to dull the aches. Camille has silently been miserable and has made her career her life, so she is indulging in work to hide her pain. When she serves divorce papers to Devon, the anger escalates and they are on a down hill battle, especially when Handsome high powered business man Alexander Touissant comes into the picture. Camille and Devon are so out of touch, that they don't understand when the other person is trying to wave the white flag, they keep on digging the hole deeper. Through much heartache and pain, Camille realizes how much she really loves Devon and when she is put in a compromising position, she has time to think things through clearly and understand Devon. While Devon is sulking and alone and allows his temper to settle because he can now only be mad at hisself, he realizes that he has jumped to the wrong conclusions and he knows Camille better, they finally both realize that there are some give and takes in marriage and with 2 children approaching college, they have each other and there are no limits to what they can achieve together. Finally realizing each others point of view they are able to recapture the love that brought them to the alter the first time. (I really liked this story, but I hated Alexander from the very beginning).

Jacquelin Thomas has brought the effects of a deadly disease and the destruction it can have on a marriage to light. she has shown that when love is the key element in the marriage, even a silent killer has no chance and destroying what God has put together. Reva has been plagued with Breast Cancer and it has comsumed her life, driving her away from Edward and their daughter. Edward has attempted to be understanding and consoling and wants very much to have things back to normal before the cancer. He still sees Reva as the beautiful woman that she was when he first married her, but his space and understanding is misinterpreted by Reva as rejection. Reva is suffering because she hasn't expressed her feeling to him or to herself, she has succumbed to hiding and running away. Jacquelin Thomas brings this story full circle, showing the reality of this situation and the devastation, but also shows us how love conquers all. Edward shows Reva through tough love that she has to face the future and not allow the cancer to stop her from living and she doesn't have to face the battles alone, that is why he is there. Through his strength, Reva gains courage and comfort and also relief. Realizing that love is not just skin deep, they are back on track. So many marriages fall apart when a spouse becomes ill and they don't fight together, so they end up in divorce, this story shows a strong man a couple that are truelly in love.

After the Vows is a wonderful love anthology by three wonderful
writers that we should truly watch for in whatever literary
writings they will be doing in the future. I enjoyed each story
and all three will give you much food for thought in reflecting
on what marriages are truly all about.

The first story titled, Time Enough For Love by Leslie Esdaile,
had me truly relating in many aspects to what Alexandra was
feeling and the emptiness of her marriage. Alexandra and Edward
started off with a wonderful marriage; they loved each other
very much. They came together with children from previous
marriages and they both felt in the beginning, that this marriage
was what they both longed for. Unfortunately, the marriage,
to Alexandra was becoming too much and too routine. On top of
working each day, the children, the house cleaning, the cooking
was left up to Alexandra with no help from Edward or the children.
He felt his job was to make sure they saved as much money

as possible and to waste not one penny on anything. To
Alexandra, this was not the life she longed for and she didn't
want to continue in it. Will Alexandra make a decision she
will regret?

The second story titled, Something So Right by T.T. Henderson,
was truly a story that any reader could relate to and understand
Camille's determination to end her marriage and move on. However,
Devon, her husband, had other plans to ensure that did not happen.
He had yet to understand that what he was doing was causing
Camille to distance herself from him. Although Devon
loved Camille very much, he knew he had to do something major
to make her see his love and save their marriage. Now this is
where you want to yell at Devon and say "hey! don't you get it?
don't you see what you're doing to her?" Will Devon finally
see the "light" and will Camille stand firm to her decision?

The third story titled, Skin Deep by Jacquelin Thomas, is a very
sensitive and wonderful story that needed to be told. I commend
Ms. Thomas on her beautifully crafted story of a woman who has
breast cancer and had to have her breasts removed. Because of this,
Reva now feels she is less then a woman to her husband and family.
Sometimes when suffering, we choose to go it alone and leave the
most important people in our lives out of it. Reva felt that
she would never be a beautiful woman again to her husband,
Edward. She remembered how he always told her how
beautiful she was and how he enjoyed looking at her body.
But when she had to have her breasts removed; everything changed,
at least that's how she felt. So she chooses the coward's way
out so he wouldn't have to look at her in disgust; by deciding
it would be best if she left him and the family. Reva doesn't
realize that appearances does not always make a person love you,
or not love you. If only she could look into Edward's mind
and heart to see what he is really thinking and feeling.

Each author did a wonderful job of developing each character,
leaving the reader with some serious thoughts and reflections
on married life. I chose not to give much detail on each story
because I think it's important that you get the book and read
for yourself each story of how they all went about holding on
to the bonds of marriage, After the Vows. I truly enjoyed this
book. I give it a rating of 4.

Reviewed by.....

This book proves "Happily Ever After" is deeper than a fairytale. I have only recently began to read the Indigo line and I am glad I did. Leslie Esdaile's "Time Enough for Love" gives us a glimpes into the second marriage of Alexandra and Edward as they seek to salvage the promises of love they made to one another before getting caught up in the cares of work, kids, and other outside influences. The added problems of past life's baggage also clouds the brightness of their future. To make their love survive for them and their children, Edward has to realize his love for the woman he married is stronger than any hurt he has suffered or pride he seeks to keep. Alexandra has to be the woman he fell in love with.

T.T. Henderson's "Something So Right" talks about infidelity, career, and trust. Camille and Devon have been married enough years for the honeymoon to be over, but for true love to still linger. However, with twins ready for college, true love is not at the top of the agenda. Desperate at the thought of divorce, Devon hopes a hastily planned anniversary getaway can rekindle the love he and Camille have shared. Camille feels trapped by the remnants of what once was a marriage of promise, she loves Devon but no longer sees him as the man she lost her heart too. Devon has to sacrafice pride and fight to show Camille his love for her is greater than any trouble that has come between them. Camille, must truly search whether the security of her career can replace the surety from the love of a good man.

"Skin Deep" by Jacquelin Thomas definitley proved to be the story with the most meaning for me. When Edward Anderson married Reva twenty years before, he meant his vows of for better for worse, in sickness or in health, so when the proof of the grave illness that could have taken Reva's life was merciful enough to just leave behind scars to her once perfect body, he still only saw his wife through the eyes of his love. Reva could not escape the casualty, the illness left her weak, frightened, unsure, and feeling less than a woman. Reva's demons were real, but she had a family that was more than supportive, even when she wanted to give up, when she tried to push them away. Edward is definitely a hero, he came through when she was in trouble and let his love rescue her from the dark place she was lost and dying in. Perfect love seeks no flaws. This story is wonderful, Bravo to Ms Thomas.

ALL RECIPES VERY HARD TO MAKE. TOO MANY STEPS & EXOTIC INGRIDIENTS.

This beautiful book is loaded with exciting recipes that will make you famous at your next dinner party.

The best recipe book I've ever bought. You'll be more than satisfied with this creation. If only everyone could cook like Alan Wong. Here's your chance!

Alan Wong does a great service to all of the culinary professionals out there such as myself by nearly creating a cuisine. His interpretations of hawaiian regional cuisine meld flavors together like no other....each recipe is described for the layperson and the pictures of the final products make one's mouth water. BUY-THIS-BOOK!

HAVE WE NOT ALL DREAMED OF BEING A PRINCESS AND FINDING THE PERFECT PRINCE TO SWEEP US OF OUR FEET AND CARRY US AWAY TO NEVER NEVER LAND. FOR AMBROSIA HER DREAMS DO COME TRUE. ABANDONED BY HE FATHER OR SO SHE THOUGHT, ABBROSIA LIVED THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE BOOKS SHE READ AND HER DREAMS. ALLWAYS THE SAME THAT HER PRINCE WOULD COME AND TAKE HER AWAY. AS SHE IS THINKING ABOUT BUYING A HOUSE AND AND EXPANDING HER BUSINESS.AMBROSIA MEETS THE VERY VERY HABDSOME MAJIDIAN WARRIOR JUSTUS,WHO TELLS HER HE WANTS TO HIRE HER AN IN THE NEXT BREATH HE IS ASKING HER OUT TO DINNER. AS TIMES PASSES AMBROISIA LEARN SHE IS A PRINVESS, HER FATHER IS ALIVE FIGHTING FOR HIS KIF. ZZFTER TALKING WITH HER MOTHER SHE DECIDES TO GO TO UZIRA A COUNTRY IN AFRICA ; WHERE HER FATHER IS KING, IF HE DIES SHE IS HEIR TO THE THRONE.THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND SHE SLEEPS WITH JUSTUS ONLY TO LEARN THAT HE CAN BE BANNED FROM UZIRA. T. T. HAD YOU BELEIVING THAT YOU WERE IN THE COUNTRY OF UZIRA AND KNIGHTS IN SHINNING ARMOR. EVERY LADY DREAM CAN COME TRUE IN THIS BOOK. JUST GIVE YOUR PRINCE HIS OWN NAME. AMBRRROSIA READ LIKE A FAIRY TALES AND WE ALL KNOW EVEY ONE IS HAPPY.

"Ambrosia Harris had been looking for something all her life."

This line is how T.T. Henderson begins this wonderful story. Ambrosia has vague memories of a father who abandoned her some 20 years ago, taking with him the missing piece of herself. She lives in Denver, Colorado and works as a researcher, digging up facts and statistical data. She has spent 5 years searching for her father and has finally decided that he doesn't want to be found, so she has ended her search.

Ambrosia was approached by handsome Justus Nadamo, a Majidian warrior from Uzira. His request was for her to assist in finding the King's wife, the Queen of Uzira and his two daughters, whom the King had not seen in 20 years. The King is dying and his last request is to see his estranged family and prepare his daughter to assume the role of ruler of Uzira. As Ambrosia starts her search, she stumbles across more than she bargained for. A stunned Ambrosia is reluctant to believe what she has found. Queen Lysette Harikeem in 1980 legally changed her name and the names of her two daughters.

The princess is found and the adventure begins. Does the princess travel with Justus to Uzira, to reunite with her father and save the country from an impending war? Is this the missing link and the excitement she has so often dreamed about and can the princess live with the Uzirian law that says Royal blood cannot mix with that of a common warrior?

T.T. Henderson took us on a beautiful and historical journey back to the motherland, where customs and traditions held a special place in our lives. This was a magical read, that had you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by aNN

This novel is absolutely wonderful, powerful in its message, and the visuals of an exotic place in Africa called Uzira, were awesome. The reader is taken on an adventurous ride of fabulous proportions. I loved the way Ms. Henderson tied everything together. For she writes a book that I could not put down until I was at the end, panting and wishing I had a man in my life named Justus. The plot was interesting, the pace excellent, there is not one thing about this story I did not love. Before this story I had never thought about the African culture and such strong traditions, loyalty, and not mixing royalty with a warrior. But Ambrosia and Justus do mix after all their efforts at restraint are exhausted. I loved the scene where the power of dance was used. Dancing is a form of erotic arousal and Ms. Henderson paints a poignant picture of how music, hypnotic drums and sexual energy can become a powerful mixture for the sensual dance of love. I found this book to be such a delightful, different story line that I can't wait to read her next novel.

Judging by the enthusiasm of most of the previous reviewers, my somewhat qualified endorsement of this book may strike a sour note. So, to pre-empt some of the possible adverse reaction, this is where I'm coming from: British, and fond of the place with all its faults, son of a long-service Royal Navy officer, and with a life-long interest in naval history. I do not, in short, criticise out of national or personal bias.

Henderson's book is fundamentally a collection of anecdotes, rather uneven in quality, about frigate actions during the Revolutionary, Napoleonic and American (1812) Wars. Some of these, especially Cochrane's wasted effort at the Basque Roads, and Hoste's victory at Lissa (a miniature fleet action) are analysed in considerable detail and provide real insight into what went on. Henderson writes well, and as other reviewers have noted, he was a practical sailing man and does not make mistakes about ship-handling.

On the plus side, he is far more balanced than many writers of his generation (the book was first published in 1970) about the relative merits of the Royal Navy vis-a-vis its opponents. He gives credit to brave and skilled opposition where it is due, and includes a fair selection of British defeats as well as victories. And if he reports more victories than defeats - that's the way it was. Even the rude awakening given by the big American spar-deck frigates in 1812 hardly put a blip in the graph of British naval success in the period he covers.

On the minus side, he idolises his heroes amongst the frigate captains, especially Pellew and Cochrane, and is strongly partisan about everything to do with them. He rails against the ill-favour in which the Admiralty held Cochrane, but fails to note that Cochrane was damned not only by his own headstrong (to put it mildly) conduct, but also by the fact that his political patron Dundas was the most outstandingly corrupt politician of his generation (a hard title to carry off), who was doing all he could to thwart the Admiralty's efforts to put its own house in order.

The action chapters are preceded by and interspersed with with some fairly summary (and in a few instances inaccurate) information on how frigates were crewed, armed and supplied. The problem here is that Henderson doesn't really take proper note of the changes over his period. He notes the phasing out of the small 12-pounder frigates in favour of the 18-pounder classes, but otherwise tends to gloss over the quite considerable changes, including the shaking off of French design influence, to which he attaches far too much weight. Perhaps the book suffered in my mind from being read at the same time as Robert Gardiner's masterful volume on the Napoleonic frigates, which addresses these issues in great detail (and had the benefit of an additional 20 years' accrued research by the naval history community).

What Henderson wrote was a well worthwhile book at the time of its publication. That was more than 30 years ago, and internal evidence (e.g. comparisons with classes of 20th century British warships long-defunct even in 1970) suggests that some sections had been drafted (or at least had gone firm in the author's mind) decades before that. As a collection of blood-stirring tales it is still first class, but naval scholarship has moved on a long way since then. If you want the real story behind the actions Henderson describes, you should invest in Gardiner's book, or Tom Wareham's new book on the frigate captains.

The book The Frigates is a historic account of battles between warships from 1793-1815. The term 'frigate' originated in the Mediterranean, in French frégate, in Spanish fregatta, and was first applied to a galleass type warship, about 250 tons, fitted with oars as well as sails. The word was also used loosely for describing small swift ships of force until the eighteenth century when the Royal Navy made a strict rating system.
The book tells how frigates came into regular use as warships in navies worldwide. The illustrations throughout the book show many diverse battle tactics that were used during this time. Tables in the back of the book compare relative strengths of different sizes of frigates in 1794 and 1814. The French originally developed frigates, which were superior in size and speed to British ships. However, the British frigates were generally built from the bases of French ships that had been seized in battle.
During the years from 1794 to 1814, privateers, which were pirates that had been royally pardoned, were generally enlisted in navies to raid merchant transport ships. The privateers, however, were required to pillage enemy ships at their own expense and contribute a small percentage of their loot to the government. Despite the royal contribution, being a privateer was especially profitable as an estimated four billion Pounds was transported in pure gold between the Spanish colonies in Central America and Spain.
The Frigates is a spectacular book describing early naval warfare. Many battles between ships of many nations are accounted in this book. In addition, the author gives explanations to parts that may be hard to understand. I would enthusiastically encourage anyone who has an interest in naval warfare, or mass pillaging and plundering to read this book. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

First of all, Mr. Henderson is an experienced "canvas" sailor. He shows this in every word, and even provides some examples of seamanship from his own background to bolster his tales. Each chapter illustrates some aspect of the character of these independent world cruising hunter-killers. The frigate captains were the functional equivalent of the submarine or surface commerce-raiding helions of the First and Second World Wars. Frigates were not quite powerful enough...in weight of shot per broadside...to join in with the "line of battle ships" in the great fleet-to-fleet contests. Nonetheless their firepower and speed made them superior to most of the vessels they might encounter along the far-flung mercantile trade routes. Because of the poor communications with the commodore to whom they were nominally responsible, let alone the Admiralty, the British frigate captains were pretty much on their own, sailing under general orders they might interpret as circumstances permitted. Just like Francis Drake and the raiders of Elizabeth I's time, these men took their vessels into the midst of formidabbly escorted convoys, fortified and heavily gunned harbors, and even chanced encounters with lone warships carrying almost double their cannon. There are a few negative examples of frigates commanded by spoiled heirs promoted solely due to social connections and those commanded by men who despised their crews, often comprised of desperate gamblers and paroled debtors. However these examples stand out as lonely exceptions. It is hard to realize that many of the shrewd adventurers populating these lively pages are barely into their twenties. One clearly sees the apprenticeship and development of future Nelsons and Cochranes. The chapters are short and to the point. The actions are supported by maps, some at tactical level, as well as contemporary woodcuts and paintings illustrating a number of the actions. To give you an idea of the desperate tactics of these swashbucklers, there are three or four episodes in which the attacking frigate crew finishes their journey as the crew of the conquered vessel, their own ship having been sunk or disabled. The sail and rigging plan of a typical frigate at the front of the book is quite helpful, as is the glossary. There is no bibliography or footnotes, but so authoritatively does the author write, it is as if he had taken part in these sea chases himself.

This is the real-life story of Hornblower, Aubrey and Maturin.

I was hoping for more contemporary rejection letters. This is still a fun book, but mostly rejections and reviews for older authors.

If the greatest authors of all can be rejected and survive, maybe there's hope for all unpublished authors. The publishing racket has only become harder and harder to break into these days, unless one is willing to go the route of electronic publishing and on-demand printing, both of which remain dangerously akin to vanity press printings as of this review. This wonderful little collection serves as a comic tonic to the rejection and review blues; although some of the authors are obscure today (which is my reason for not giving it full marks --it's hard to laugh when you have no idea what book is being rejected), overall it's a marvelous little read. Some examples of rotten rejections: Tony Hillerman was told to "get rid of all that Indian stuff"; J.G. Ballard was told "the author of this book is beyond psychiatric help"; William Faulkner was told about his novel "Sanctuary" "Good God, I can't publish this. We'd both be in jail."; and my favorite, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language." When one considers that J.K Rowling had the first Harry Potter book rejected ten times before it was published, one has to wonder what publishers are thinking. Now you can see for yourself how badly they perceive literary quality, most of the time.

this is a great collection of bad reviews and rejection letters of great books and authors. it gives the unpublished writer hope, knowing that authors like dickens and joyce were rejected by publishers. and it's loaded with humor.

"Dangerous if read too late in life", Hemmingway.

This is an excellent book if you can find it.

I have just read this book and I think I could place it among the ones I liked the most (together with Gerald Durrell's ones): what I prefered was the poetic that filled the whole book , in the descriptions of landscapes, and people, that poetic you can't find in modern writers.