I found the book hard to follow for several reasons. One reason is that I hadn't read either one of the author's two previous books and that might have helped as one of the earlier reviewers suggested. I also thought the style was too choppy and so it was hard to follow. You would be reading about some event and then the next few pages would be some philosophical dialogue which would be hard to follow. I found his terminology very very confusing. The "I-There" term was especially silly and not meaningful at all given how he described what it meant. He also contradicts himself several times and I found that disturbing. I understood he may have had one perception at the beginning of a journey and another at the end but you can't just change what something is supposed to mean without going back and acknowledging your earlier, different, comments. I also have to beg to differ in that I don't think he necessarily answers more questions at all. He left me with lots and lots of questions. Nothing was pinned down and it's just as fuzzy as before about an individual's experience after death of their physical body. I did however appreciate getting some insight into just how difficult it is to really comprehend this subject matter and why it's better that we just not worry about OBE and go about trying to live a full and happy life which is in a nutshell all we are supposed to do anyway. That is according to Robert.

I have tested many different paths and hit a lot of dead ends.
Finally found a book that answered all of my questions and provided me with a step by step map on how to complete the final return to my Over Soul. I just wish I found this book when it first came out. This is the perfect book for the seeker who is ready to graduate and break way from the incarnation cycle. You are not bogged down with any type of religious dogma. You are very much on your on. This book picks up where the other ones have left you hanging and wondering what is going to happen next. Its the best of the Monroe Books !

Bob McKelvy bobmck@cox-internet.com

Read this book couple of years ago... and what i learned from it still guides me in my daily life, and it has reshaped my view about the Universe, about humans, about LIFE itself..
Monroe writes about his exploration in the OBE astral realm, and there are many lessons he learned from... himself! Time travelling, Space travelling in the astral world is indeed an amazing adventure. Look at life and events long ago, as if a long ago dream. An excellent exciting read!

Collates existing information and mythology into an alphabetical format. Balances accepted facts with rumor and speculation. Includes a wide variety of photos, both posed glamour shots of the "Marilyn" persona and more natural, subdued glimpses of the woman behind the image. Refers to the Christie's auction, the Leaming bio, and several other late '90s happenings. (Negatives: Many typos, misspellings, and pointers to Web sites which are likely to vanish tomorrow.) Recommended overall, though dedicated fans will find few surprises. A great book to flip open to a random page and begin reading.

Unfortunately, I bought this wonderful book in Quebec City and the entire thing is in French. I can still understand most of the book and I tell ya it's an EXCELLENT source of information on Miss. Monroe. If the book were free of text, it would still be worth it for it's gorgeous pictures. Each photo is crisp and clear--there are TONS of pictures in here in this whopping 350-page book. This is the first book a Marilyn fan should purchase. Lots of info and even more photos--what are you waiting for?? Get it now!

The Marilyn Encyclopedia is sure to become the standard reference work for all MM fans now and in the future. The book is a stunning compendium of people, places, and things in the life of "the divine Ms M". As well, it is richly illustrated with both black-and-white and colour photos of Marilyn and friends (and a few not so friendly people in her life). This book supercedes both "The Unabridged Marilyn: Her Life from A to Z", and "The Ultimate Marilyn". It is a handsomely produced volume, and deserves a place of pride in anyone's library. It is an absolute MUST for all fans of Our Lady, Marilyn.

I realy enjoyed reading this book, and loved just how many turns the book took. Carmen's character was the face of so many young African American girls and women today. She carried so many secrets and so much on her shoulders that she never really got the chance to be Carmen. This book is a great read along with "God Don't Like Ugly". I must admit this author has a talent for writing and making her readers involve themselves in her characters. This book gets a thumbs up from me! Can't wait until the next one. Best of luck Mary Monroe!!!

Mary Monroe has done it again. Her latest book Gonna Lay Down My
Burdens is another example of her great creative imagination. This
well written piece of art is entertaining, heartfelt, as well as
hilarious. It will keep you in suspense until the very end. Once you
read the first page, the characters come alive and keep you wanting
more.

The main character, Carmen, learns life lessons through carrying
emotional draining secrets which become burdens that are just too
heavy to carry. From childhood to womanhood she carries the burdens
caused from unwise and unnecessary decisions along with lies and
secrets that have snowballed out of control. In return, these issues
enabled her to live a life that is unhealthy in all areas of
relationships.

Carmen's friend Desiree is living and loving simply for the moment.
Desiree's own secrets helped her to become the free spirit person she
is. She finds strength in her friend Carmen, who feels dedicated to
carry her burdens as well. When being faced with having to run away
from all the people she loves most, due to yet another mistake,
Carmen realizes it's time to lay down the burdens and let them go and
try to put the pieces of life back together in some type of orderly
fashion. However, she was not prepared for what was to follow.

This book was different from Ms. Monroe's previous two books which
dealt with mentally challenged characters. She came with a different
angle with this book allowing her readers to see the versatile style
of writing she can offer. I think she is an exceptional author. If
you have never experienced the joy her writing can bring, I advise
you not to only read this book, but also God Don't Like Ugly and the
Upper Room.

Stacy Campbell

APOOO BookClub

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down. I was mad at first because I wanted Carmen and Chester to get together but couldn't imagine why she would choose to be unhappy for the rest of her life. I am awaiting the sequel to this one. I would love to know what became of the Carmen, Chester and the baby. I read this book in two days. I've read God Don't Like Ugly and was mad in that book because of the secrets but enjoyed it as well. Mary Monroe is an excellent writer and I've recommended this book to all my friends.

Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe is an excellent book! After you finish reading this, you feel as though you've been w/ her every step of the way. The author Anthony Summers goes into great detail of her childhood, struggles of becoming famous, her marriages and divorces, her mental breakdown, etc. A little less than half the book is about Marilyn's death. Summers is quick to give us possible causes of the tragic event backed up w/ testimonies, interviews, and police reports. Instead of forcing the THIS IS HOW MARILYN DIED routine on us, he lets us decide for ourselves. MANY MANY MANY people were interviewed for this book, including a lot of Marilyn's friends (and so called friends) One thing this book does prove is that Marilyn was definitely involved sexually w/ both of the Kennedy brothers (JFK and Robert) around the last months of her life. Lots of pictures are included (there is even one of her after her autopsy) and copies of police reports and even some of Marilyn's personal letters!! This book is EXCELLENT, and you will not want to put it down. Marilyn is one of the most interesting people you can read about. So beautiful and talented, but so afraid and fragile...too bad this book is Out of print ~ FIND THIS BOOK: you won't regret it!!

This is an "exelent" book by Anthony Summers, So well written from beginning to end, this is a book that every Marilyn Fan should have in their bookshelf. You can really appreciate all the time he has devoted in writing "GODDESS." Anthony Summers gives a detailed description of the life and death of Marilyn Monroe. He addresses many sensitive topics that many would not have dare write about, for example the reason why she was murdered, who did it and what was their motive, I love this book exactly for that reason, At last someone dared to discover the truth.

Anthony Summers is a respected British investigative reporter, and he's not afraid to delve into controversial subjects. Among other things, he's written one of the best-researched - and most controversial - books on the JFK assassination ("Conspiracy"). In "Goddess" Summers offers us a thoroughly-researched, extremely well-written account of one of Hollywood's greatest - and most tragic - actresses. The first part of the book takes us through Marilyn's turbulent life and film career. She never knew her father, and her mother suffered from schizophrenia and eventually was sent to a mental hospital - and as a result Marilyn (real name: Norma Jean Baker) constantly feared that she would also suffer a mental breakdown someday. Her life was a series of foster parents, short-lived love affairs that usually ended badly, sexual promiscuity, three (and possibly four, as Summers discovers) marriages, and always the hope on Marilyn's part that she could find the "right man", get married, and settle down to raise a happy family. Of course, that never happened, and Summers writes sympathetically of her unhappy life - and of her brilliant acting career, in which she often drew upon her personal unhappiness for her best performances. The remainder of the book generated considerable controversy when it was published, and it's not hard to see why. Summers argues that Monroe didn't commit suicide but was murdered - a murder which was covered up and made to look like a suicide. He also argues that she was "clearly" involved with the Kennedy brothers in her last days, and that her murder may have been tied to her relationship to them. He even implies that Bobby Kennedy may have been present in her home at the time of her death - a charge which seems fantastic, but Summers has interviewed enough people to prove that there were some strange things going on the night that she died. However, even if you don't believe Summer's murder theories, the first part of the book does offer one of the best, and most sympathetic, biographies of Marilyn's brief but brilliant life ever written. If you could only read one biography of Marilyn, then "Goddess" should be it.

I own dozens of other books and pictorials about Marilyn that claim to have "...never before seen pictures..." inside, which turn out to be the same ones used in every other book. However "The Complete Last Sitting" provided me with hundreds of beautiful pictures that I can quite honestly say I have NEVER seen before. Marilyn had never looked better. It's so nice to see her looking relaxed and natural instead of the usual posing, and she even shows off her playful sense of humour by donning a Jackie Kennedy style wig! This collection of photographs is just stunning, quite simply a MUST-HAVE for any Marilyn Monroe collectors/fans.

If you are any kind of Marilyn fan at all...then you need to have this extraordinary book!!! The hefty pricetag is well worth it. My favorite photos in the book are of Bert Stern's and Marilyn's first session together (with the see-thru scarves)because it has lots of fine close-ups of Marilyn's face. I also like the "bed" series that took place at the end of their second session. I was less thrilled with the fashion shots because i feel that the people at vogue had some odd ideas about what clothing to put Marilyn in...all those black dresses and stiff poses felt unnatural to me. But those photos also showcase Marilyn in a different light altogether...and that makes them interesting. I can never get enough of looking at this book and i wish they had the space to enlarge every single photo..but i guess that's being a little greedy!!! hahaha Marilyn was an incredible beauty and i think this book shows that fact of well.

This book is an essential for all MM fans. The photos are some of the most beautiful taken. I also enjoyed reading Bert Sterns account of meeting and working with monroe on this shoot. His impressions of her are touchingly personal and for those of us who will never have the opportunity of a face to face encounter with this amazing woman Stern's sincere first hand account, accompanied by his photos is pretty close. The photos are amazing but repeative,and although the book is quite expensive, it is worth it just for those accidential shots where you get a rare glimpse of a Marilyn who isn't posing for the camera.

While this book is meticulously researched, one thing is very apparent right from the start. The author is massively in awe of his subject. In this particular case, that tends to get in the way of the enjoyment of the book in certain spots.

Occasionally he weaves what are probably tall tales into the story just like they are certifiable fact and he often justifies every oddball decision Monroe ever made. Just tune out some of the author's personal opinions and this is a great read. That being said, the book is very entertaining. You get a good sense of the struggles Monroe had to go through to attain the success he achieved later in life. He definately suffered for his art (although that suffering was self-inflicted sometimes.) The author conducted tons of interviews with Bill's former sidemen, his lovers, his family and other important folks.

To the author's credit, he reveals a very multi-faceted Bill Monroe. Everyone has the impression that he was just some country bumpkin with a mandolin and the author does his subject justice by proving that Monroe was so much more. Monroe was a complex man with great personal as well as professional struggles.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will end this review with one great story from the book. Bill Monroe is at the White House to receive his Medal of Arts from the president. Frank Sinatra is also there and comes up to Bill and compliments him on his music. Monroe says, "I didn't catch your name son." When Sinatra tells him his name, Monroe looks at him and says, "You know, I believe I've heard of you" and walks off.

This is a powerful book, and Richard Smith has succeeded in presenting an especially well-rounded portrait of an especially complex individual.

There's been quite a bit of discussion of the book on several Bluegrass oriented internet lists, most of it positive, although there have been a few carping posts on the decision to expose some of unpublished, but oft-rumored, facts and incidents in Monroe's life.

Wisely bypassing the on-going "what is Bluegrass, anyway" debate, the book offers a very common-sensible approach to whether or not Monroe indeed invented the genre -- RDS posits an "auteur" theory of the foundation of Bluegrass, giving WSM the principle credit, but also elevating several others to near-founder status: Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin and, to a lesser, but important extent, Don Reno.

Richard talked to many (if not most) of the (surviving) women in WSM's life; they were seemingly very forthcoming about Bill and his good and bad traits, and their stories are integral to the overall picture. The one person who did not talk to him, who's input would have been invaluable, but who come across much better than I (and, I suspect, many others in the BG world) expected, was Bill's son, James. Input from surviving members of the BG Boys is also critical to the overall success and utility of the book.

One of the complaints that I have: the book is too short, and neglects to cover many of the stories that circulate in the Bluegrass world, either to confirm or debunk. My other major complaints: the index, which seems rather perfunctory, and the notes -- I would have preferred source notes at the back (as they appear), but with parenthetical remarks in the body of the text, as footnotes, rather than combining the two in one section after the entire text. These notes are integral to the story, and I'm going to have to reread the book just to coordinate these asides with the main text; I was flying through it on my first of, (probably) many readings.

But these are nits, and I almost had to search in order to pick 'em. Overall, it's an outstanding job. Also, I feel very proud both for Richard and for Mr. Monroe that the book appears under the imprint of a mainstream trade publisher, rather than being in the relative backwater of an academic press.

Thank you, Richard, for spending the time and effort to bring this book to us. It passes my own personal test for great art: It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think. What more can one ask!

I, too, couldn't put the book down, although I have a quibble with the way the author transitioned from one subject to the next in the same way the announcer uses a "teaser" on TV shows to bring viewers back after the break. "But soon Bill would hear the knock of a man whose offer he couldn't refuse" then that'd be the end of that section. A quibble. At any rate, I read the entire thing in one sitting. It definitely humanized the idol and also added shadings to someone who always seems to be portrayed as a stiff, distant man, who always seemed to be able to be clearly viewed in black and white. After reading this, a person realizes that Mr. Monroe was humane and vulnerable. I also liked the fact the author didn't hit too hard how his terrible childhood affected his future life. Just kind of gentley pointed it out to the reader. No pscyhobabble, which is nice in this day and age. The author shied away from making any leaps in logic or pandering to purient gossip.

Robert Monroe uniquely writes about a world known as the spirit realm. He is not religous in any manner, giving a very scientific and objective point of view of astro-projection. Other than writing about his adventures, which are very discriptive and energenic, he keeps a detailed log, and methodically writes down his experiences/data.
If his accounts are true, Monroe has writen deeper, clearer and more exciting than any other astro-projection author around. Monroe has even developed a whole scientific center inabeling normal people to learn how to astro-project using non-traditional and non-religious methods (The Monroe Institute).
If you have not read the first book ("Journy's Out Of The Body", a 5 star book), I recomend doing so before reading this one.

I have read Monroe's 3 books, and this one seems to be the most intriguing and enlightening. While his first book talks about the mechanics of Out of Body Experience ( written in the early days when he was still experimenting with it), this book talks about his Far Journeys to the outer realms of existence, out of time and space limitation, where he learns about the cycle and meaning of human existence (this will be the first time you read something like this from a rational straightforward perspective, without any religious conotations). Talks about human existence in time and space, and about existence outside of time and space. He meets a brighlty glowing enlightened being who knows everything about him (somewhat like his guide) who guides and shows him about life itself (most people who had Near Death Experience think that glowing being as their God, or Jesus, Allah, angels or whatever God they believe in, which Monroe many years later in his 3rd book 'Ultimate Journey' discovered who that glowing being truly is! You will be absolutely shocked and surprised!!)

In this book he uses a lot of new terms which he uses to describe the Non-Verbal Communication (NVC)(similar to telepathy) and Ideas he experienced and communicated in the out of body state, into verbal language (English) which we use to make sense of things. Spirits don't use languages like humans do, since language is a human creation!! That is the reason why he used many unusual terms, to generally describe the NVC to the reader. It actually isn't that hard to read, you just have to flick the pages and refer to his word list (only about 15 words) to look up what it means.

I've read all three of Monroe's books and this is by far his best. In this book he has accepted the OOB experience for what it is and has stopped worrying about his sanity. In this book, he has also pretty much perfected his OOB techniques and begins to have truly meaningful experiences and revelations.

There is one aspect of this book that Monroe touches upon very briefly but is of utmost importance to understand. Once you master the OOB experience, you become psychic, telepathic and the body is less likely to suffer physical trauma as a result of accidents. Monroe clearly describes two incidents where he fell down a steep flight of stairs head first and landed smack on his head both times. However, he said that his head touched the ground gently, like a feather, while his legs remained dangling in the air. His legs then gently draped down onto the stairs and he suffered no pain and developed no bruises. It is because of these "side-effects" of lucid dreaming, that Toltec sorcerers and Shamans sought to practice and perfect OOB techniques. For more information about this aspect of the OOB experience read 1) The Art of Dreaming- Carlos Castaneda; 2) The Path- Esmeralda Arana.

This romantic tale of faerie magic was a wonderful book. Yes, it had a slightly more leisurely pace and more description than is "politically correct" these days, but to be honest, I found it to be a refreshing change of pace. It was almost as if the author was gently seducing me into the story and boy, once she had me, I didn't want her to let me go! Before I even realized it, I had read huge chunks and was nearing the end. Aside from being a powerful and beautifully written romance, it was also a great female wish fulfillment story. Who wouldn't want to leave behind the hustle and bustle of modern life to live in a charming cottage and eat fairy cakes with Maybelle while being wooed by the gorgeous "gardener" next door? Laurel and Dane are both on a search for self, but in the process, they find each other and that's truly the greatest magic of all. So grab a hot cup of tea, curl up in a comfy chair, open ONE SUMMER'S NIGHT and prepare to be enchanted!

Upon finding herself on the threshold of adulthood, 21-year-old Laurel Carrington realizes that she doesn't know anything about herself, except that she doesn't want to continue in the path laid out for her by her scientific father and long-time boyfriend. When she receives a letter from a famous painter known for her mystycism and elusiveness, she does the first impulsive action in her life and moves to Fallingstar, Vermont to find herself.
This book is a wonderful story mixing fantasy and contemporary romance, interweaving each character with mystical quirks and qualities set to a magnificent setting of fairy-laden woods and misty mountains. The main characters of Laurel and Maybelle Starr practically dance off the page, each complimenting and changing the other for the better. Laurel slowly emerges from her restrictive scientific cocoon to realize the magic and wonder of nature and fantasy, while Maybelle becomes more human upon deciding to share a secret she has kept for 21 years.
The romance between Dane Walden and Laurel is rocky, yet satisfying as it evolves from suspicion to wonder, as each changes and delves into the fairy tale writing itself around them.
For anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," this is the book for you, full of mischief, love, wonder and delight in the human spirit and the magic that can only be found in the land of the fey.

As she heads home to Wilmington, Delaware on her twenty-first birthday, Laurel Carrington wonders about her future. Tomorrow Laurel graduates college and the pressure from her loved ones to meld her life into their image of her is very strong. Her father wants her to join him working at a research lab while her boyfriend wants to marry her. Neither path seems right to Laurel.

A third avenue surfaces when renowned artist Maybelle Starr offers Laurel an opportunity to study art under her in Fallingstar, Vermont a special place filled with magic. Five years ago, Maybelle attended the Delaware Art Fair where she enjoyed Laurel's works. Over the objection of her father and her boyfriend, Laurel accepts the opportunity to learn under Maybelle's tutelage.

In Vermont, Laurel struggles with her mentor's teaching method. Laurel also finds herself attracted to the estate's caretaker, "just" Dane, who fears the newcomer will hurt Maybelle. As Laurel and Dane become acquainted, they fall in love, but any long-term relationship remains threatened by the outside world and Maybelle's secrets.

ONE SUMMER'S NIGHT is an entertaining adult fairy tale. The story line is fun as Mary Alice Kruesi paints a special place where love thrives even when the mundane outside world intrudes. The lead couple is a wonderful duo and the support cast from both inside and outside of Fallingstar adds depth and conflict to the shaky, but loving relationship between Dane and Laurel. From the start, Ms. Kruesi has shown she has the right stuff and is second to none when it comes to enchanting her audience.

Harriet Klausner

Soap superstar Stevie Marriner looks forward to her stage debut when she performs in a one-person show as Marilyn Monroe. However, Stevie finds the road to critical acclaim filled with potholes as her and director Black Jack Sheridan argue over the role. Their dispute ends when an unknown assailant murders Black Jack using the victim's Oscar as the weapon. The police feel Stevie had motive and opportunity, especially since she was at the crime scene at the time of the murder.

Whenever Stevie faces trouble, which seems as she does every day, she turns to her former husband, reporter Neil Gulliver for help. Neil begins to investigate, starting with Stevie's alibi. As he digs deeper, he finds a tenuous link between the director's death and a rumored cache of letters proving Elvis and Marilyn shared a heated love affair. Apparently, someone will kill to make sure that no one substantiates the rumor.

Is THE ELVIS AND MARILYN AFFAIR a novel version of the supermarket tabloids? In some respects the answer is yes as the story line centers on a rumor that excites people even though both parties have been dead for over two decades. However, to his credit Robert S. Levinson turns that rumor into an interesting who-done-it that makes the plot more than just a one-line tale. The lead characters are an intriguing duo, especially their off-kilter relationship that seems to fit Hollywood.. Mr. Levinson pulls out the sensationalism most readers try to hide, but makes it feel respectable.

Harriet Klausner

The Elvis and Marilyn Affair' is sexy, and sophisticated, a wild and witty romp through Hollywood past and present, with ample doses of murder, mayhem, and gossip.. The main protagonists, Neil Gulliver and his ex-wife, Stevie Marriner (Sex Queen of the Soaps), remind me of a modern Nick and Nora Charles; intelligent, urbane, and undeniably in love. When Stevie is accused of murdering Blackie Sheridan, the director of a one woman play in which she is starring, Marilyn Remembers., she calls on Neil for help. One death quickly follows another, each of an aging star connected to a rumored love affair between Elvis Presely and Marilyn Monroe. Mr. Levinson's secondary characters are fully formed, as interesting and endearing as Neil and Stevie. His knowledge of, and apparently genuine fondness for, Hollywood shines through, making the plot believable... even probable. If you like intrigue, suspense, plenty of dead bodies, witty repartee, and affairs of the heart you¹ll love ŒThe Elvis and Marilyn Affair¹.

Robert S. Levinson really knows how to tell a story. He also knows how to hook readers. THE ELVIS AND MARILYN AFFAIR is his first mystery effort. It mixes two popular culture legends with an unhappily divorced modern couple. Robert S. Levinson teases the reader throughout the book with suggestions of an affair between that singer and that blonde. A Los Angeles newspaperman/detective, Neil Gulliver, and his actress ex, Stevie Marriner, find themselves entangled in murders and danger attempting to discover the truth and catch the killer. Better debut novels are hard to find.

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that as a junior literature major, this is the first time I have ever read The Iliad all the way through. Though I can't compare the Rouse translation to others, I can say a few words based on my perception of it. First, you'll notice that it is a prose, not poetry. This did not hinder the experience for me, but individual readers may wish to experience this classic the other way. I found it to be much easier reading than I expected, with the central characters easy to remember and follow. The story clips along rapidly and is rarely boring. The introduction states that much of the repetition that would be necessary for oral storytelling has been removed for the benefit of the reader, which I found to be a positive. However, there is still plenty of repetition of certain phrases ("and darkness covered his eyes" or "rattling armor" come to mind) and there is no shortage long lineages or lists of previously anonymous characters killed in battle. Still, it is worthwhile to get to know Homer and this seems like a reasonable translation to begin with.

I am a retired high school and college instructor who taught the Iliad many times at both levels. The Rouse version was always my translation of choice, and it was enormously successful. The complaints (or halfhearted commendations here) miss the point. Most seem to think that Rouse's "plain English" version is a diminution of the original. All translations are! Rouse merely eliminated many epithets and repetitions (necessary in the meter of the poem and unnecessary in prose). But Rouse is extremely accurate within his chosen limits and the result is a brilliant achievement: a fast-moving text (as is the original) that is colloquial where appropriate, noble sithout being stuffy when nobility is called for; the result is an always ongoing, rapidly moving narrative told in vivid, sinewy prose that simply hurtles you along. It does not attempt to give the more complex reading experience that Fitzgerald and Lattimore and Fagles achieve in their superb verse translations; but these are best reserved for second . . .or 17th readings, once the complex story and relations between characters are mastered. And indeed, none of the more famous verse translations (Pope's is to be avoided: it's a beautiful Augustan poem, not Homer)--none come close to Rouse's focused and frightening rendering of Achilles' on the battlefield, once he goes into action. In short, Rouse is in spirit thoroughly "Homeric"--by turns racy and funny, savage, noble, ultimately tragic as, e.g., the dreadful Victorian versions of Butler and Lang, Leaf, & Myers are not and should be avoided). Even with the small point-size in which the text was set, Rouse's Homer is not just a bargain: it's a treasure bought at a small price.

I have been reading two translations of Homer's Iliad over the past several weeks: Robert Fagles' 1990 translation and Alexander Pope's 1743 translation. I have read the two translations in tandem, one "book" at a time. I first read Mr Fagle's translation, then the notes of Mr Pope, and finally his translation. I would call this one of the finest reading experiences of my life. I read both translations out-loud, or at least in a whisper. This winter-time reading experience has been, for me, a labor of love, a stimulating intellectual experience, a study in contrasts, and a return to the sources of Western Literature. I find Homer as fascinating as Alexander Pope claims him to be. Although his long narrative describes only a few days of the ten years war between Greece and Troy, he makes it interesting by his variety of metaphors, his close description of characters, and his attention to detail. Every man who dies is a person, with family, friends, history, and personality. Some are likeable, others are not; but in any case there are no ciphers in Homer's war. I am fascinated too by the developing theological issues of this six century BCE civilization. We might have to worship these meddlesome gods and their All-powerful Zeus, but do we always have to respect them? They seem to be all too human. In fact, the gods themselves seem to be trapped in an eternally frustrating struggle. Zeus is condemned to defend his sovereignty against a panoply of gods who must always resent his authority. Meanwhile, he is lonely, and he cannot stop himself from occasionally confiding in "that bitch" his sister and wife, Hera. She reminds me of a woman in a recent movie who said "Sometimes being a bitch is the only way a woman can save her self-respect." (Or something to that effect.) "Hera" represents that eternally angry woman who will not and cannot buckle under male domination. I find myself being grateful to this western tradition which has honored and preserved the memory of Homer and kept these ancient books in tact. I grieve at the thought of ancient celtic, african, and native american epics that have been lost or so badly mangled that they cannot be restored. I understand that there has been an enormous flurry of excitement over Mr Fagles' translation and I am certainly caught up in it as well. He tells these stories with excitement and conviction; they are as plausible and coherent today as they must have been to the privileged listeners who sat at the feet of Homer. But I am also grateful to Penguin Press who last year celebrated their 50th anniversary by republishing this magnificent translation by Alexander Pope. I only wish more of the reading public had heard about the celebration. I hate to admit that I was an indifferent student in college. I had other things on my mind. But now, in my middle years, I am glad to have the time and opportunity, to curl up with two great translations of Homer's Iliad on a winter's evening, to discover again the joy of reading superb English.