_Hoofprints in the Sand_ is a marvelous book that succeeds on many levels at once. Horse-lovers can peruse it for enjoyment. Laymen can curl up with it in their beach cottages on rainy afternoons. Children can read it for edification. Students of all ages can cite it as a reference. Concerned citizens can quote it at public hearings. Browsers who don't know a word of English can lose themselves in the author's delightful drawings and photographs. It's one of those rare books that are never out of place.

_Hoofprints_ is not only the best work in print on the feral herds of the East Coast; it's also the only work ever published in any language for a general readership. The horses that frolic about our seaside resorts are in trouble. Their range has shrunk to a few dynamic spots that they occasionally outgrow. They're losing genetic diversity. They compete with native species. They're mired in scientific controversy, historical ambiguity, political rhetoric, and raw emotion. The few government reports and scholarly papers are hard to read and usually limited to one herd or one specialty. Popular coverage is mostly local, often romantic, and sometimes fictional. Bonnie Urquhart is the first nonfiction writer brave enough to deal with this complex subject in its entirety, and she does so without stuffiness, stridency, or sentimentality.

While telling the stories of a half-dozen similar, but distinct herds, she looks in on some of the people who interact with them: curious vacationers, innovative scientists, determined defenders, struggling officials. She examines threats to coexistence: economic development, environmental change, even some attempts at preservation. She deals with such abstract issues as the definition and value of wildlife. She examines an assumption or two, and she gently bursts the odd bubble. As she says, whatever significance we attach to these animals, anything we do about them, including nothing, may have decisive effect. Our wisest course is to act (or not) on understanding.

Every decade or so, someone combines art and science, culture and nature, kindness and clarity, analysis and wonder to create a book that enriches as no other has done or is likely to do. _Beautiful Swimmers_, William W. Warner's Pulitzer-winning essay on Chesapeake Bay crabbing, is a one such book, unique when it was first published in 1976 and still superlative. _Hoofprints in the Sand_ is every bit as good. It's all the more remarkable because it's the author's first major publication. I look forward to the next.

I remember searching through gift shops in and around Chincoteague looking for a good book on the wild horses and being amazed that there weren't any. There were a few children's books, and a couple of dry, academic ones, but nothing that would serve as a reminder of my visit there.

Well, now here it is!

Hoofprints in the Sand is just what I wanted. The book is full of information about the various herds of wild horses on the East Coast and covers each one with its own chapter. I had no idea there were herds other than the famous Chincoteague and Assateague horses. Urquhart covers six different herds! She carefully sifts through the many contradictory stories about the origins of each herd and adds lots of interesting information about their history. Did you know there was once a mounted Boy Scout troop on Ocracoke? She also details how each herd has been protected and maintained over the years, and she describes the controversy over whether they are a natural part of the ecosystem that deserves protection or a threat to the local species. I loved reading about the often heroic efforts of people to protect the wild horses they love.

Besides talking about the herds, there's a chapter on the history of horses in America. She also discusses the difference between wild and feral horses and whether these herds are horses or ponies. Finally, there's an interesting section on wild horse behavior and one on how to see the different herds.

But most of all, you've got to see the photos! The book is full of beautiful shots of the horses in their wild state, nosing around picnic tables, and playing in the sand.

If you've been to Chincoteague and want a reminder, if you've got a young girl who's fallen in love with Misty, if you're looking for information about wild horses, or you just want a good read, you're gonna love this book.

Unless you are an advanced nature buff, birder, etc. this book should fulfill the need for travelers to recognize habitats and the land and air critters that inhabit them. Lavishly illustrated, good identification information, and even range maps- all very compact, and accurate. The information is next to the photo, so there's no paging back and forth- a good thing when you have a critter right in front of you. There's even a cross-referenced check-list by habitat! I'll definitely be taking this slender book with its strengthened, plasticized covers on my next trip to the "Islas Encantadas". You'll be glad you got this for your trip.

A friend bought me this ID guide to take with me on a week-long cruise of the islands. The trip was magical and defies description; this ID guide was very helpful to me. It discusses not only the specific animals but also the ecology of specific vegetation zones of each island and documents sightings of each species. Not strictly for the layperson, because it requires some familiarity with scientific terms. I shared this guide with the National Park guides on our trip and they praised it highly - so I bought them each a copy. How's that for an endorsment?

This work is a treasure, I don't know how we can thank Pof. Carson enough.

There is precious little known about the ancient Greek Poet, Sappho. Most of us know the obvious, that she was a famous poet and lyricist (meaning, she composed music to be sung with the lyre) and that she lived on the island of Lesbos off the Greek coast in about 630 B.C.. However, almost all other details about her life, such as they are, come from texts written about her by other ancient writers; of the 9 books of lyrics she is reported to have written, none survive today.

Fragments of poetry written by Sappho still exist, but most are damaged or illegible. Hence, here as in other previous works of the poetry of Sappho, the reader is left with only fragments of what clearly must have been delicate and breathtakingly beautiful poetry. As Ms. Carson says in her introduction to her translations, the reader is left with a profound sense of wonder when confronted with the small snippets of Sappho's poetry. For example, all that survives of poem 36 is "I long and seek after". What, we wonder, does the rest of the poem pertain to? What flowing scenes did she paint with her words that we can never know?

I personally am not a Classicist, though I HAVE read through many of the surviving texts of the ancient worlds: Beowulf & The Odyssey, for example, and occasionally I'll attack some texts in Latin and have a go at the translation. However, for the most part, I am not a scholar of ancient times or texts. I'm here to say that one does NOT, even for a second, need to know much about ancient Greek culture, text or times to thoroughly enjoy these translations. Granted, you will find that most poems are little more than bits of a whole (sometimes only a word or two survives), but even these small pieces will cause your imagination to soar.

Ms. Carson has also boldly gone where no translator has gone before (to my knowledge). In previous translations of Sappho's poetry that I've read, the pages are crammed tight with the fragments themselves, explanations and footnotes. In Ms. Carson's book, each page is dedicated to one fragment of Sappho's poetry, regardless of it's length. In this respect, a poem that is only three words long has an entire page dedicated to itself. This is a wonderful touch, as it means that the reader's entire attention can be focused only on that poem, no matter how small, without the distraction of commentary by the author (Ms. Carson puts an extensive appendix at the back where she adds her thoughts and comments on the fragment's origin, word meaning and characters). Opposite the English translations are the original fragments in their original Greek characters. I myself cannot read Greek, but I found it a beautiful and thought-provoking touch to be able to look at what Sappho wrote in her own language. Though I'm not able to read Greek, it made the text more alive to have it there for me to look at and examine.

In conclusion, anyone who enjoys ancient Greek culture, ancient history or simply enjoys reading poetry should not hesitate to add this book to their collection. I'd personally go so far as to say that if you've got a different volume of Sappho's poetry, make some shelf space to add THIS book as well. For the clean, uncluttered page and lyrical, moving translation, I highly recommend this work and highly compliment Ms. Carson on her work.

If you read only one "South Seas" book from the 1920s back, this should be the one. This Penguin issue corrects a number of inaccuracies from previous editions, including Stevenson's own error in their departure date (!) It is the classic travel and observation book of the Pacific. The early descriptions of the Marquesas are unmatched, as are the accounts of the several islands they visited in Kiribati (Gilbert Islands). The account of Tem Binoka will give you a real eye opening into an absolute ruler and his ways in the late 19th century. Reading this could start a life long interest in Pacific literature.

In his book, In the South Seas, Stevenson gives an accurate and in depth look into the people and culture of the islands of the South Pacific. The book describes Stevenson's two year journey from the Marqueses Islands, to Tahiti, then Honolulu ,and finally Somoa. Stevenson uses the great adventures he experienced and his masterfully writing skills to paint a breath taking view of the islands and thier many beauties.

Having been married to one of the Johns decendants (in Amherst County, VA), I must say that this is probably one of the most accurate depictions of life for the Monacan Indians as any I have heard. I would like to add that Dr. Houck was my daughters neo-natologist when she was born very prematurely...24 years ago!! If you enjoy this book, read MATOHE, written by Cathy Smoot Carson.

Peter Houck and Mintcy Maxham do a wonderful job of presenting a generalized history of the Monacan tribe. As with any generalized History study, consisting of one volume, covering centuries of time, and possibly thousands of individuals, the reader should not expect a complete detailed history of the tribe, but rather a jumping off point to further enhance his or her education of the Monacan past. While lots of specific details are missing, the major events are listed. This list of major Monacan occurrences, along with an ample Bibliography, gives everyone from the begining historical student to the advanced researcher many sources and avenues to approach the study of Monacan history and culture.

This is one of the few books that does justice to Iona, an island that has enchanted and captivated visitors for, literally, thousands of years. It is truly difficult to convey the elusive magic of Iona, that combination of physical place and atmosphere which draws so many of us back, time after time. Colin Baxter needs no introduction to those familiar with landscape photography in Scotland, and his work here is up to his usual breath-taking standard. Mairi MacArthur has a solid grounding in the history of the island, and of Argyll and the Highlands, as well as a sympathetic but honest perspective on islanders, past and present. As a guide during your visit to Iona, the book is first-rate. The maps and diagrams are simple but clear and full. The explanations and descriptions help you understand what you see around you, in terms of geology, ecology, human settlements, animal and human life - and including of course the ancient religious centre. It is readable and useful for those less familiar with Scotland and its life and traditions as well as for those of us who live here For those who have visited Iona, it is a lovely reminder. For those who have not yet had that privilege, this is a taster which should have you itching to come.

This book is the latest of Mairi MacArthur's books on her family's native island. It is rich in accurate, well-researched detail, supported by her extensive knowledge of Iona. This has been gained through academic research and through her close acquaintance with the island's residents over many years. Colin Baxter's photographs give an excellent impression of Iona, though generally when on its best behaviour in the summer - it can be a wild place at other times! The island is of interest to tourists, academics and also Christian people wishing to explore this small and incredibly beautiful island, and to see for themselves the place where some of those rugged Celtic saints brought their faith from Ireland to Scotland in the sixth century. The pictures and story of the Abbey show how it remains very much a living home of the Christian faith. It will surely also appeal to the generations of Iona emigrants who have settled in the USA and Canada.

this book was great. im 13 and i enjoyed it, even though its a children's book. everything about block island is true to detail...cept for the part about how many steps there are to the south beach...i think there 183. kathleen captured peter's attitude perfectly in this book...i cant wait to see them again so i can tell kathleen in person how great the book is.

The author could have been a member of our traveling party on our very first trip to Block Island. The story is delightful to read, the illustrations are beautiful, and the content is so true! What a wonderful find and a wonderful island.

The marinades and sauces that are in this book make the most mouth watering barbecue that I have ever had. Most of the ingredients you can find in supermarkets. If you like a zing in your food, try this book out.

This was a fun book to read for me. The stories that were read made the visualization process much more appealing. A cookbook should not be just recipies, but an inspiration to the craft. For me, Island Barbeque has been an inspiration as well as good source of information. I have used it to make wonderfully hot jerk marinades and sweet and spicy ginger beer, among other fantastic dishes.

This book is so rare and so precious that if one were to come across a copy in a used bookshop (which is the only place where one could realistically purchase this out-of-print book) one should not chance it on a coffee table. The photographs are of such an excellent quality, and Mr Beny has been able to capture the real essence of the island which has the alias Serendib. Particularly striking is the photograph of the line of Buddhist monks setting off on their search for alms - this really captures the mood of those who have devoted their lives to tranquility in a country which at present is anything but tranquil. A rare and delicious treat to be savoured slowly.

This is one of the most sort after books on Ceylon. It captures the essence and beauty of the island as very few photographers have been able to do. Many recent photography books on Sri Lanka have been published in colour, but none show the shades of light as these b&w photos. A wonderful coffee table book, if you can get hold of a copy.

My partner, a sculpture professor, and I have been fans of Rebecca Goodale's work for a while now. We were lucky to catch one of her museum exhibitions in which she showed several of her hand-made books, which blur the line between the functional and the figurative. ISLAND DOG is a most imaginative foray into the mass market; the book retains the feel of a unique work of art while still being sturdy, accessible, and inviting to all ages. It is a story in pictures- rich, full-flavored, juicy pictures. My partner likes it for the way it uses color and motion, but to be honest, this book is most special for the way it encourages readers to imagine their own island home. Sit with your child and create a new book over and over each time you read it together. For dog lovers, parents, art collectors, and bibliophiles, this is the perfect gift. It's a book-lover's book with a vibrant, gentle, constantly shifting story. I heartily recommend it for fans of Goodale's work or people who want to be introduced to this exciting book artist.

For anyone who loves dogs, the sun-washed Maine coast, and bright joyful images that gladden the spirit, this is the book for you! As a librarian, I know that true picture books, ones without words, whose images carry the story, are amongst the very best for fueling the imagination of pre-schoolers. In my library we have a permanent display of these books and they simply fly out of the door in the arms of patrons of all ages. Rebecca Goodale's book is one of the very best. Her strong playful images and surprising page structures will get the attention of the most disinterested reader. Highly recommended for any home or library collection.