It is hard to believe a book this poorly written could make past the editors! There were so many run-on and incomplete sentences I had trouble reading it to my daughter. I can only imagine what my second grade daughter went through reading on her own. We will keep this book if only to serve as an example of how NOT to construct sentences. There is a year's worth of grammar exercises in this book.

I agree that this is not the finest book written on King Arthur, but it is one that can be read aloud, and easily enhanced by a grandmother anxious to read these legends to a second grader---- finding something appropriate for a young listener has not been easy!

I think this is a very good story because its placed in history. I like when the giant takes off his head. You should get this book for your child.

The book is very interesting for someone who is fascinated with the history and culture of bhutan but the first few chapters are very complicated to read. The author goes into too much detail and there are many whord written in bhutantese. Nonetheless there are beuatiful pictures of the king and the countryside. The pictures are worth the whole book.

I would like to compliment Ashi Dorji Wangmo on giving insided look into the struggles within the elite of Bhutan. She shows her father and his family going through the ups and downs of Bhutan's political fortunes in all the joy and heartbreak that accompanies life's journey. One realizes that like every country, the "Last Shangrila" has people that are not only honest and hardworking, but also coniving and ambitious. The book was also helpful by giving details concerning many people of importance during the early part of the 20th century. I especially liked the many charming photos of the royal family. For me the book was sort of a mirror, that showed the great similarities shared by all humanity, whether good or bad. It puts a human face on life in Bhutan which is often painted in a idyllic, fantasy-like manner by outsiders.
One drawback that I saw was while much detail into the benifits and problems of the ruling class during the early 20th century was given; the writer was rather silent concerning the present political body.

Enjoy this book, and the plays, movies, etc. But please, please, please, don't think for a minute that it is "almost true." Anna Leonowens was a liar who dropped out of school at the age of 14 to be the mistress of a British clergyman. She got the job in Siam by falsifying her credentials. The real story of His Majesty Rama IV, and his son, Rama V, is much more interesting than any of these thin romances.

I enjoyed the book. It wasn't the best book I've read, but not the worst either. I didn't like the way the characters just had names. Nothing about anyone was in depth. It was like oh there she is and that was all. I would ony recomend it to a younger audience.

Kids shouild have fun reading this and later on they can read the older version. Anna in later life di make up a false background buyt only because she could not succeed with the one sha had. She was poor but well educated as her writing shows. She was fluent in 13 languages, and is recorded by people to have been thanked by Chulalkongkorn for teaching him about the evils of slavery which he ended. Even her greatest detractor gives her credit. She was known in BAngkok as the White Angel as her grandchild did write. Her life after Siam is just as spectacular. The book may not tell the full truth (Anna needed to sell her books so exaggerated but she records she and the king as actually being good friends) but tellls an amazing tale.

In defense of this book another reviewer has written that it will "expand (children's) ideas of other cultures, histories, and possibilities." But what sort of ideas will they get? Nothing in these illustrations looks right - not the clothing, architecture, or landscapes, and definitely not the people! Not only will children receive a completely incorrect impression of Korean culture and peoples, but in fact the inaccuracy of these illustrations, and the obvious failure to do even basic research, shows a lack of understanding and a fundamental disinterest and disrespect for "other cultures." This sort of ignorance used to pass decades ago, but in 21st century, in our smaller, shared world, it is simply unacceptable.

Another reviewer has written that this book can "expand (children's) ideas of other cultures, histories, and possibilities." But nothing in these illustrations is right - not the clothing, architecture, or landscapes. Not only will children receive an incorrect impression of Korean culture, but in fact the inaccuracy of these illustrations, and the obvious failure to do even basic research, shows a lack of understanding and a fundamental disinterest and disrespect for "other cultures." This sort of ignorance used to happen decades ago; in this day and age, in our smaller, shared world, it is unacceptable.

Readers beware and do not buy the book. This book meets Eliot Singer's definition of multicultural fakelore. Yes, King Sejong is credited for inventing Korean Alphabet but this book is a fictional creation by the author and the traditional community is totally unaware of it. Korean Americans I know who have read and seen the book is equally horrified that this book is being sold as a Korean Legend when they have never heard of such story. Other reviewers talk only of how the story can inspire others and how wonderful the illustrations are ignoring the fact that it is titled as a traditional legend of Korea when it is not. The title should be changed. My excitement of finding a book about Korean Alphabet quickly turned into a huge dissapointment. Please vote with your wallet--do not waste your money.

Even though no one will probably read this, I feel I have to warn Holmes fans if they find this book and want to read it. I'll put it bluntly, it was very boring. I had to force myself to finish it, mostly because it was due back at the library soon. I have no idea what the author was trying to do writing this book, since it obvisously didn't get much attention. The book is not really a biography, he (Holmes) does not start out saying where he was born, in fact he never goes there but sort of skips to his childhood in the middle of the story to explain why he never talked about his childhood with Watson. Which isn't reason enough to read this book. Some things that annoyed me was the fact that the author tells us that "the woman" was actually a famous (or is that infamous?) prostitute; Holmes had never gotten married because the type of women he liked were of "a certain occupation." Holmes? Never! All in all a very bad, boring, and not worthy of Sir Author Conan Doyle.

Author's interpretation of the possible outcome of the effects of the missionary teaching on young Hawaiian Ali'i is filled with Aloha for the people and history of Hawaii. Unfortunately, the the portrayal of thought patterns and situations are NOT within the Hawaiian way of life, beliefs or thinking patterns. Her end analysis is acceptable and probable, her description of means is not.

Looking to obtain more depth in this subject, I purchased this book only to find that it lacks sufficient detail and at times fabricates details (i.e. Esther is portrayed as rather weak and timid verses the courageous women we know her to have been). It is easy to read but lacks depth to capture interest.

Although I have seen "Titus of Rome" listed as a biography of Titus it is an historical novel. The author uses dialogue between the characters and invents some improbably scenes: Nero poisons Titus' dog out of spite, Titus meets Saints Peter and Paul in Rome )of course, he's sympathetic) and has a romantic trist with Queen Berenice on Capri, where he has gone for a rest.

Domitian is portrayed as a spoiled brat, then a senseless monster. The book has little historical value and is sometimes written like a romance story. Almost all of the information included about the "good Titus" and "bad Domitian" was been proven false a long time ago. Titus comes off as a golden boy who is unlucky in love but goes down in history as the best of emperors. This is a book to be read as a sentimental view of history.

if you had put some info on the internet, i might have gotten on a on the report

It seems that Dr. Lassner pulled out a dictionary and said, "I will use the words 'quintessential,' 'albeit,' and 'polemic' at least 50 timews in this book." Highly repetitive and chaotically disorganized, this book is written in a style that is meant to show off Lassner's vocabulary and "scholarship," while putting the reader at a disadvantage.