I had always loved Ralegh's poetry, I fell enamored of the fictional account of his life entitled "Death of a Fox" by George Garrett some 30 odd years ago, but had never really comprehended the sweep of Ralegh's life. In his own way, according to Lacey, Ralegh's household became almost the equivalent of our Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Draper Labs, or even NASA. The story about the cloak and Elizabeth is true, but the depth of his love for his wife was new to me.

Fascinating, well-written book. Truly fascinating man.

Like his later compatriate Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Walter Ralegh is one of those historical figures about whom virtually everyone knows something. From the old yarn about cloaks and puddles (though this actually happened), to his sponsorship of the tobacco industry (this happened too), to his tragic expedition to the Orinoco, Ralegh lore is a recurring theme in school history classes on both sides of the Atlantic. Lacey's great achievement is to blend these facets of his life seamlessly with the other, less familiar, episodes. One of the most interesting revelations is that for all the early and mid-life glories of his Elizabethan years - the poetry, the daring exploits and bon mots - his "finest hour" was in adversity, when (under sentence of death in the Tower) he wrote his brilliant multi-volume "History of the World." This is one of those rare biographies (Carlo D'Este's "Patton" comes to mind as another) where the reader is completely absorbed into the subject's mind and world.

To write a biography of a man with as much vitality and variety as Ralegh would seem at first sight a daunting task for any author: however well the tale is told, it will pale beside the real life exploits of this, the most remarkable of Englishmen.

The success of Robert Lacey's account is largely due to the way he reflects the multifaceted nature of his subject in the book's structure. There are some 50 chapters, divided into seven sections, each charting the ups and downs of Ralegh's uniquely chequered career. From country upstart to royal favourite, from privateer to traitor in the Tower, his life was never still - a continuum of change within a world that was constantly reassessing itself.

It is above all an account of a man who was almost uniquely human: capable of immense bravery and ingenuity, creativity and arrogance, one moment acquitting himself with a rare brilliance, the next with sublime recklessness. Ralegh was the epitome of man, warts and all, and a man who struggled daily to achieve ends that were destined to lie forever beyond him, whether they were glories of the gold of El Dorado or the love of his virgin Queen.

Far from being a trip down the honeysuckled lane of nostalgia, this is a book that is uniquely relevant to the present day. Many readers will be aware of the legends of Ralegh's bejewelled cloak, or acquainted with verses of his gilded poetry; many more will be surprised to learn that he was the founding father of the British colony, and that his experiments in Munster, Virginia and Guyana led directly to the vast empire that was only a couple of centuries later to cover one third of the globe. Yet he was in his explorations and expeditions a great philanthropist, and his treatment of the local inhabitants in the Americas was to earn him a respect that lasted many generations, as opposed to the legacy of mistrust and hatred that the Spanish pioneers engendered.

Ralegh was a man whose talents and faults, when fuelled by his rare energy, shone like beacons. He lived the kind of life that most of us only dream of, and few can live up to. Lacey's greatest achievement is never to lapse into the kind of starry-eyed hero-worshipping that often accompanies biographies of remarkable men. It is a profoundly moving book, particularly in its final chapters, when the voice of Ralegh in his final speech before his execution is allowed to resonate down the years with few embellishments and, as such, is all the more powerful. The book is a testament to the unique powers of one man: the man, to the powers that lie within us all.

It's the "Lonesome Dove"of circus novels - without the sweep and epic scope of similar tomes, this is a character driven story with all the dung and sweat and mildewed canvas that the turn of the century big top held.
This is a great and intimate read, a decent and noble story about art and challenge and caring and,above all, the magic of the circus. Buy it and read it.
A genuine treat.

In the hardscrabble world of the 20's, Lewis Tully opens circuses time after hardluck time because it's what he knows how to do. His small shows travel through Oklahoma, Wyoming and bordering states sometimes being blown away by the winds, sometimes flooding out but always being enjoyed not just by the audiences -- amazed to see this collection of fabulosity enter their dull lives -- but enjoyed by the performers as well. Not quite a family but certainly more than just a staff of performers; Harley the old magician (who has some wizardly scenes) as well as Sam Jeanette and Shelby Lewis are vividly drawn characters alive not only in their own designs but in the way they interact with Tully. But all characters from Helen the past flame to Lucy the bareback rider, none are bit players. In this novel's all-too brief 350-or-so pages author Michael Raleigh has generated more believable, alive, charismatic , well, people, then many another author in many of today's fat, unedited tomes.

Then a boy -- Charlie, a nine year-old orphan -- is sent to join up with the circus by Tully's sister. If you are thinking Toby Tyler you're not on the right track. Instead the way that Charlie's present life brings back Tully's past and allows Tully to reflect on and learn from his own life as it is lit by Charlie's candle makes for some of the most involving of scenes.

Oh, yes, there's a vilian named Hector Blaney who runs a circus that's as muddy as Tully's is clean. But even the setpiece's antagonist is painted with Raleigh's humanistic brush. Oh heck even Jupiter the pachyderm comes across as being more of a person than some of the central characters in today's best-sellers!

I hope that Raleigh gets the readership that this book deserves to bring him. If you are looking for a book that can take you out of yourself and make you feel the world might after all be a right enough place, pull up a chair and join The Blue Moon Circus. You'll come back for repeat performances.

"A Bride For Lord Brasleigh" is the final chapter in the Rose for Three Rakes trilogy, and while the principal characters are a variation of the couples found in the other two books, the plot of this romance novel is different enough to make this book interesting and enjoyable.

After years of having ignored his young ward, Bella Lowe, Phillip Marrow, Lord Brasleigh, has decided to end his troublesome guardianship by arranging a suitable marriage for her with a French emigre. Bella is of course is incensed. She's put up with Brasleigh's neglect and living in isolation on his estate, but she's not going to sit tamely while Brasleigh marries her off to a complete stranger just so he can be rid off her. Bella decides to run away -- she has no clear idea of where she can go or what she can do, she only knows that she has to put some safe distance between herself and Brasleigh in order to avoid this arranged marriage. She passes herself off as a war widow and is hired to act as a companion by a kindly old woman she meets while on the road. Bella thinks that her troubles are over for the time being at least, not realsing that Brasleigh is hot on her trail.

In Brasleigh's eyes, Bella has been nothing but a thorn in his side. True, he has not actually had to deal with her, but letters from his butler, and the number of governesses that Bella has gone through, have given him some idea of what a hellion Bella actually is. And he is both angry and frustrated when he learns that she has run away. Fortuitously, Brasleigh discovers that Bella is at his friend's (Pudding) aunt's home. And when both men turn up at the estate, Brasleigh pretends not to realise who Bella actually is; for Brasleigh has a PLAN: he will pretend to attempt to seduce the innocent Bella, and so send her running home to his estate for safety, where she will marry the Frenchman gratefully. And they say women are totty headed!!

The plan however works in ways that Brasleigh did not expect it to, for Bella proves to be a lot more alluring and intelligent and gracious than reports of her had led him to believe. Brasleigh finds her to be so irresistible, that he has a hard time remembering his plan. As for Bella, Brasleigh is proving to be an enigma. Just who is this overly irritating man that seems so sure of his charms and his effect on her? For while Brasleigh's arrogance frequently sets her back up, he also proves to be a kind, thoughtful and intelligent man. And Bella begins to fear that she is falling for the very man who has caused her so much unhappiness and pain. Complications however arise when the French emigre turns up to court Bella. For now Brasleigh must decide if he will continue with his plan to marry Bella off, or if he will confess to wanting her for himself.

Plot-wise we know how things will turn out. What makes this novel interesting is the manner in which Debbie Raliegh has textured the principal characters in this novel. Brasleigh seems hateful at first, but he also shows that he has a gracious and chivalrous side. Factor in his troubled family life, and one is almost tempted to forgive him anything! Bella also sounds awful when we first see her through Brasleigh's prejudiced eyes in the oepning chapters, but once we are introduced to her, one cannot help but root for her to teach Brasleigh a much needed lesson or two! In spite of it's predictable plot, "Lord Brasleigh's Bride" was an enjoyable read.

This was a book full of fun twists and turns. Both Bella and Phillip were a delight as they battled to outmanoever one another. There was also a nice sense of humor that allowed one to enjoy the encounters between the two and laugh at their follies. All in all a wonderful book.

As a fan of the North Carolina Museum of Art since my Elementary days when we would take day-long field trips there this book is a real treat. Some of the museums most farmiliar painting are included, along with a very rich selection of literature. Its fun to compare the responses, especially those that have been derived from the same painting. In one case, The Eye of God by Minnie Evans draws not only the most rich and descriptive narrative of the book, but the coldest of the poems as well. My favorite is the recollections of David Sedaris on his cildhood trips and Mrs. Kingman's colorful guidance through them. This book- as the North Carolina Museum of Art- is truly a store of joys.

On March 26th, 2000, I visited the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, where I found this marvelously creative book in their gift shop. Prominent North Carolina authors were asked to choose a work of art from their permanent collection and comment on it.

How I love connections! This book contains a beautiful poem and a scholarly article both inspired by F.C. Frieseke's painting "The Garden Parasol." F.C. Frieseke was my grandfather; the primary figure in the painting portrays his wife, my grandmother Sadie. In this same collection, I found a wonderful poem by James Applewhite, who was my poetry teacher at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His poem was inspired by Winslow Homer's painting, "Weaning the Calf." I had "chosen" this painting as the one I would most like to take home from the museum (their Frieseke is too big for my condo)!

For several years I lived across the street from another author represented in this book, Fred Chapell, who was then a professor at UNC-G. Although I was not priviledged to take any of his courses, I did enjoy a poetry reading of his in 1973.

I recommend "The Store of Joys" to all lovers of visual arts, poetry, literature, and interdisciplinary studies. The reproductions are excellent, and the authors' reactions add so much to our appreciation.

Please visit my website on F. C. Frieseke at: go.to/frieseke

I enjoyed the whole series that Debbie Raleigh wrote in connection with this. This was about 1 of the 3 daughters of a noble jewel thief.

This daughter was considered the wild one of the bunch and her adventures.

I especially like the interaction of the heroine with her father who is in disguise and with the hero.

I was happy to read that Debbie Raleigh is writing another series. She does a very good job with them and I already have them entered to pick them up as soon as they come out.

"The Wedding Wish" finishes the Creswell sisters trilogy, and I think that it is the best one of the three. The characters are better developed, as are the many subplots. Debbie Raleigh has done a wonderful job of weaving together the several diverse subplots into one magnificent whole, so that the end result is one very interesting and intriguing romance novel.

After another public blow up with Lady Broswell, flirtatious Rachel Creswell has decided to take the war into the enemy camp by accepting her good friend's (Violet Carlfield) invitation to visit her in the country and celebrate Violet's engagement of marriage. Rachel, of course, is the youngest daughter of that notorious jewel thief, the Devilish Dandy; and ever since her father's arrest (and daring escape from prison), Rachel has been thumbing her nose at the London ton by attending every fashionable do, and behaving as outrageously and as flirtatiously as possible. For high sticklers like Lady Broswell, Rachel's behaviour is beyond the pale. And when she upbraids Rachel publicly and quite viciously at the London Opera House, Rachel decides to settle Lady Broswell's hash once and for all. It is Rachel's plan to visit her friend Violet (Violet lives just a stone's throw away from the Broswell estate), and to detach Lord Newell away from the Broswell grasp (Lady Broswell has earmarked Newell for one of her daughters). However, once at the Carlfield estate, Rachel finds that things are not going exactly according to plan. To begin with father has decided (for reasons of his own) to tag along, and Rachel cannot help but fear for his safety; and then she finds that her sweet and shy friend is being forced to marry a rather sanctimonious and dry stick of a man. But the biggest complication comes in the form of the mysterious inventor Anthony Clarke. A gentleman, whom unlike others, Rachel cannot wrap around her finger, but who makes her senses swim. Suddenly the plan to seduce Newell away from the Broswell camp seems completely unappetizing. Distracted by worry for both her father and friend, Rachel must now decide what it is she really wants -- revenge on Lady Broswell or a chance at love with Anthony.

What I really liked about this novel was that we got to see another side of Rachel Creswell. Hitherto, we'd only seen the care-for-all and spendthrift side of her character; but with "The Wedding Wish" we get to see the caring, compassionate and loyal side of Rachel. This made her a much more appealing and complex heroine, and one that I really liked. I also liked the manner in which Raleigh allowed for the romance (which was quite electric) between Rachel and Anthony to unfold; and that in spite of the fact that Anthony was described as being a rather reclusive individual and of an intellectual bent, he was not portrayed as a stiff, sanctimonious twit, but as incredibly appealing and sensual gentleman instead. "The Wedding Wish" is a terrific read and should not be missed!

Alan Wall has transformed his obvious reverence for Shakespeare and his equally obvious obsession with the "authorial question"--which fascinates legions of the plays' devotees and elicits weary yawns from the rest, who believe the matter prima facie beyond question--into a quirkily absorbing detective story. Indeed, with a bit of clever marketing, The School of Night might give Shakespeare's doubters, or at least enthusiasts of Marlovian authorship, the same kind of rhetorical boost Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time gave to the Ricardians (who maintain crookback Richard III was really all sweetness and light and view Shakespeare's play as based wholly on Tudor propaganda and misinformation).

Wall is a subtle writer who moves adeptly, and with economic efficiency, in simultaneously odd, interesting, learned, and tidily interreleated directions. This is literary writing, filled with symbology, scholarly allusion, and deft metaphor, but all in the most unobtrusive and graceful manner. Moreover, books of this sort must be in good part tutorial, and Wall has done his homework. At appropriate moments, he feeds us the essential elements of the authorial controversy, introduces the various contenders to the throne, and ultimately settles on Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare's great contemporary, as the alter-Bard. The novel then unfolds as narrator Sean Tallow seeks to decipher the secret of "The School of Night," which is at once an obscure reference from the early comedy Love's Labour Lost and, perhaps, a secret society to which Marlowe may have belonged.

Principal characters are closely observed and artfully developed. Bibliomaniacs of all stripes will recognize and root for the introspective antiquarian Sean Tallow and his quest, but the parallel story of Tallow's relationship to a boyhood friend and his increasingly complex--and shady--life does more than allow Wall to space out his revelations. Both stories move in surprising directions, interact nicely, and wend their ways to what I found to be a satisfying conclusion. Moreover, it is a conclusion, even a moral, that I surmise the Bard--whoever he was--would wholeheartedly endorse.

In short, a very rich, very entertaining, very instructive novel, filled with character, imagery, insight, and narrative tension--not exactly sound and fury, but certainly signifying at the very least an exciting writer whose books I'll eagerly search out.

It's amazing that a book as light as this in pages can cover so much. Wall's writing is truly skillful. I thought when picking it up that it would be almost a 'Masterpiece Theater' costume drama. Instead,I found that narrator Sean Tallow's diving into the past into the question of Shakepeare's authorship and the mysteries regarding the School of Night to be subordinate to Sean's present-day activities and state of mind. Sean is haunted on two levels; one with his family life consisting of thief dad and dead mother, and his own un-self-confident and introverted nature, and secondly about the theme of whether Shakespeare really wrote Shakespeare.

The funny thing about the present-day is it is so timeless in this book; the book has very few material accoutrements and I found myself going for pages wondering what year the book was really reflecting (there are but few clues - fleeting references to AIDs, blue plastic, and mobile phones finally narrowed it down). So much is about thought and perceptions and themes that are ageless - idolatry, betrayal, love, and especially knowledge pursuit. Sean pretty much covers what this book is all about when he says "...I was glad that I never learnt to drive, no longer embarrassed by it. After all, noone has ever unthreaded time's labyrinth like this from the inside of a car. You must touch the holy tracks for yourself. The truest pilgrims even take off their shoes and kiss the ground until their lips, along with the soles of their feet, start to bleed."

This book makes palpable the experiences of the dead and how tangible is the quest for this knowledge.

This thing of darkness I acknowledge mine. . . .
The hue of dungeous, and the School of Night.
--William Shakespeare

On this book's dust jacket there is a remarkable blurb by the novelist, poet, and essayist Anne Stevenson: "After reading The School of Night, I don't think there's a better English prose writer living."

The School of Night, however, is not for everyone. Its appeal is to thoughtful readers who appreciate the finer points of metaphysics, aesthetics, poetry, and literary criticism.

Basically the plot of this novel centers on two men, Sean Tallow and Daniel Pagett, who, although greatly different in temperament, form a bond of friendship that endures until they are separated by death.

A realist and pragmatist, Dan greedily pursuing tangible realities. He devotes his energies to the accumulation of wealth and properties, and the cavalier practice of hedonism.

Sean, the protagonist and narrator of the tale, is an idealistic dreamer. Obsessed with a burning desire to comprehend the past, he devotes himself to unravelling the secrets of "the School of Night," a 16th-century society devoted to the Faustian pursuit of knowledge.

In his relentless obsession with the thirty years of English history between 1590 and 1620, Sean discovers the School of Night to be "a group of dark and fearless intelligences, exploring with skepticism everything previously deemed unapproachable in any mode other than venerable credulity. ... Because no text was too sacred for their savage inquisition, they set themselves to gaze anew upon the world and its beliefs. Traditions were mere confusions in which superstitious men unnecessarily enmeshed themselves and reverence was no more and no less than fear of true knowledge."

At the heart of Sean's quest is the conundrum of Shakespearean authorship. Who actually wrote the plays attributed to the man from Stratford-on-Avon? After two decades of intensive study, Sean comes to a surprising conclusion.

The School of Night opens with these words: "Five days ago I stole the Hariot Notebooks," and it closes with a felony even more serious. The biblical saying, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" is given a new and shattering twist.

Along the way, Wall tosses out bon mots such as, "If you want to hear God laughing just tell him your plans for the future."

Although the author throws in some steamy erotic scenes for hoi polloi, his work is slanted toward "high-brow" readers. The School of Night is a intelligent work of fiction by a skilled artist.

Alan Wall was born in Yokshire and educated at Oxford. His previous works include Jacob, Curved Light, Chronicle, Bless the Thief, Lenses, A to Z, Silent Conversations, and Richard Dadd in Bedlam & Other Stories.

This book is definitely full of useful information, and it IS the only one of its kind for the Triangle. Still, the fact that they sell advertising in the book really makes you wonder: how objective is it? Also, the text is relentlessly positive, forcing prospective Triangle residents with valid questions--e.g. What parts of town are dangerous? What restaurants should I avoid at any cost?--to search elsewhere for answers. Problem is, this is the only book of its kind. Useful but more than a little frustrating.

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My wife and I will be relocating to the Triangle and managed to find a copy of this book. It has information about everything from restaraunts, to living arrangements, day trips, and more. If you will be heading to this area to live or just visit, this book is packed with ideas and things to see and do.

We relocated to Durham recently and find this book a great resource. Without it it would be difficult to locate great attractions or learn about the area.

This first installment in the 'A Rose for Three Rakes' trilolgy is a very charming, light romantic novel that should satisfy as well as entertain. It all starts with three rakish friends who, while enjoying themselves in Italy, rescue a gypsy from some farmers. The grateful gypsy blesses them with the promise that they will all find true love and happiness before the year's end. The men of course do not believe in the blessing and instead draw up a wager: by June the first, the first 'fool' to fall in love and marry must forfeit one thousand pounds and a red rose. Thus begins the first novel, and Simon Townsled's, Lord Challmond, story.

Returning home to Devonshire after having been abroad for so long, the first person Simon comes across is Claire Blakewell, an old childhood friend and neighbour. When he first sees Claire, she is in the process of royally dressing down his estate manager for abuses and neglect. And while Simon is drawn to Claire's beauty and vivaciy, he naturally does not take well to her charge that he has been neglecting his estate. He considers her to be far too managing for comfort. So that when he later discovers that Claire is actually correct in her charge, he feels chagrined.

Claire on the other hand considers Simon to be the very epitome of everything she despises in a man. Why then does she feel a flicker of excitement everytime he is near? However Claire has problems more pressing at hand. After years of waiting for her to marry and present him with a grandchild, Claire's father has decided to take matters into his own hands and marry again. Unfortunately his choice leaves Claire cold. So Claire comes up with the idea of pretending to pay attention to the men in the neighbourhood to deflect her father from his courtship. Again unfortunately for Claire her reputation as the 'terror' of the county does her no good; an indeed the only gentleman who seems to want to be in her company is Simon. So Claire decides to use Simon for her own ends. Simon knows that Claire is up to something, but what? Will Simon and Claire cease their wrangling long enough to sense what draws them to each other?

This novel was really entertaining. There are several light comedic moments that will definitely bring forth a chuckle or two; and the plot and characters were developed at a nice steady manner, so that there wasn't any uneven pacing that can sometimes mar a good story. Debbie Raleigh does a very good job of depicting the evolution of Simon from a rakish gentleman of society to someone warmer and who comes to genuinely care for his tenants and dependents. Likewise the evolution of his feelings for Claire: the arc from trying to pay her back for using him to actually acknowleding that he does truly care for her, made for satisfying reading.

I enjoyed this first installment very much, and I look forward to reading the other two book in this trilogy. If this book is anything to go by, the next two should make for great reading as well.

This is an evenly paced story starring a rake who doesn't know if he really wants to be a hero and a belle whose disdain pushes him to prove himself. The supporting characters are delightful, a brazen widow on the hunt, a couple of staunch friends who may end up a couple themselves, and a variety of villagers and tenants. Ms. Raleigh's deft touch and amusing turn of phrase keep the pages turning rapidly. The main problem is that it ends too quickly with only the barest hint of what is to come. Definitely a good way to pass the weekend.

I enjoyed this book. The story moves along at a good pace and it is easy to fall in love with the characters. I particularly liked Lord Challmond. He is a rake who is forced to change to win the heart of the woman he loves. It is fun to watch as he becomes the kind of gentleman Claire can love.

Sarah Cresswell is the oldest daughter of a notorious London jewel thief, whose daring antics and escape from Newgate and the hangman have plunged the family into disgrace. Sarah and her sisters react to their disgrace in different ways. Being the oldest, Sarah has tried to be a mother-figure for her younger sisters, and she is resigned to the fact that none of them will ever marry respectably because of their father's disgrace. Instead of languishing in self-pity, Sarah focuses her energy on those who are less well-off than she: neglected orphans and children of prostitutes.

Lord Chance, nicknamed "The Flawless Earl," needs help locating a family heirloom--a diamond necklace--which was stolen from his mother by his irresponsible brother and then mysteriously disappeared. It is suggested that the daughter of a notorious jewel thief would be a good person to track down the necklace before his mother discovers its loss, so Lord Chance calls on Sarah to ask for her help.

It is here where the plot loses some credibility. Sarah--although she is acquainted with the seamier side of London and clearly has learned a few pickpocket tricks from her father--really does nothing that Lord Chance couldn't have done on his own. In fact, the entire mystery could have been solved in a matter of minutes if the younger brother Ben hadn't conveniently disappeared for most of the story. The solution to the necklace's disappearance becomes obvious after Ben submits to a few simple questions. Lord Chance is not portrayed as stupid, so why didn't he think to ask those questions when Ben first admitted he had lost the necklace? Why did he allow Ben to fly the coop before the necklace was found? I mean, you wouldn't have to be Jessica Fletcher or Hercule Poirot to see Ben as a material witness in this crime.

The romance of the story was sweet and poignant, but Lord Chance disappointed me again when he initially refuses to consider Sarah as a potential wife. True, he doesn't ask her to be his mistress either, but it is clear that he would like to. Would he have eventually proposed marriage if Dandy Dan, the jewel-thief father, hadn't pressed him to do so? I'm not convinced that he would have. He thought too much about his former mistresses when he was around her.

I wanted to like this book because I LOVED the sequel--The Valentine Wish--which is the story of Sarah's sister Emma. Emma's beau is not at all fazed by her connection to a jewel thief. Nor does he consider making her his mistress. All of which make him a much more satisfactory hero and a big reason I gave that book five stars and this one a more average rating of three stars.

Suspend belief in the mystery that forms the framework for "The Christmas wish" and enjoy the effect Sarah Cresswell, daughter of the rascally Devilish Dandy, has on the well-ordered life of Oliver Spence, Lord Chance, also known as the Flawless Earl.

Without him being consciously aware of it she changes his behaviour from the moment he meets her. His morning schedule is seriously disrupted, he asks her advice, seeks her approbation, and even allows her to control the investigation they undertake into his mother's missing diamonds. His whole manner lightens with humour and enjoyment of life. He quickly becomes necessary in Sarah's quiet life.

There is so much for him to admire in Sarah, an independent and intelligent woman with her own interests. She is so different from the society maidens from whom he is expected to choose his lady. On the one hand he knows she is a lady and he should not ask her to be his mistress but unfortunately he is so bound by the conventions of his society that he almost lets her slip from his grasp because of her father's reputation.

The growing attraction between them is deliciously written ; the dialogue is quick, clever and unforced. The author draws Oliver in particular with the thoughts and vocabulary of his time.

If I have a criticism it would be that the mystery that brings them together is contrived and insubstantial. But then Oliver was so smitten by Sarah that he was not about to dispense with her services and follow through with the inquiry on his own.

The other characters remain somewhat one-dimensional but we know we are going to get the story of the two sisters, Emma and Rachel, so there is time for further character development.
I look forward to the next two stories.

"The Christmas Wish" by Debbie Raleigh is the first book in a projected (I'm guessing) trilogy that deals with the trials and fortunes of three sisters, Sarah, Emma and Rachel Cresswell. Commonly known as the Devil's Daughters, the sisters are the daughters of a notorious jewel thief, Solomon Cresswell, also known as the Devilish Dandy. The eldest daughter, Sarah, is the heroine of "The Christmas Wish" and I must say that if this novel is anything to go by, then this series promises to make for both engaging and satisfying reading.

Resigned to the fact that she will probably never marry because of her father's notoriety, Sarah Cresswell spends her days helping the children of the London slums. The work she does takes her to all kinds of places and brings her into contact with all kinds of people, so that when Oliver Spense, the Earl of Chance (also known as the Flawless Earl), discovers that he has need of someone with a particular kind of expertise, a friend of the family directs him to seek out Sarah's help. Lord Chance is in quite the pickle: his feckless and younger brother, Ben, is in debt, and because Chance has decreed that he would get no more monetary help from him, has stolen the family diamonds. However, some other thief, in turn, steals the diamonds from Ben before he can sell them. Now, Chance has to recover the diamonds before Christmas so that their mother never discovers the depths to which her favourite son has sunk. And although Chance's arrogant and superior attitude really grates on her nerves, Sarah agrees to help the earl. Soon, Sarah and Chance are scurrying all over London, trying to discover who could have stolen the diamonds and to retrieve them. In the process, the two get to know each other rather well. Sarah finds, to her dismay, that she is very attracted to and highly susceptible to the very intelligent and vastly attractive Flawless Earl; while Chance finds himself falling under the spell of a very exciting and extremely intoxicating Sarah Cresswell, who unlike the ladies of the London ton questions his very intelligence, actions and preconceived notions. Never has the Flawless Earl been so engaged and entranced by one woman. But will anything come of this state of affairs? Sarah Creswell and her family are definitely persona non grata with London society. And Chance is well known for his impeccable behavior. Will the earl be able to overlook Sarah's scandalous family connections? Or will he give up the woman of his dreams for the sake of propriety?

"The Christmas Wish" was an extremely fun read. Both Sarah and Chance are exactly the kind of hero and heroine that anyone will find easy to root for. And what I especially liked about this romance novel was that after a few initial misgivings, Chance allows Sarah to lead and direct the investigation into the theft of the diamonds. He openly shows his appreciation of her abilities and intelligence and doesn't try to take over the whole enterprise at all. I found this to be a refreshing change from the usual male takeover stance we're all familiar with. A word of warning however: while there is a mystery attached to this novel, it plays second fiddle to the romance at hand. The novel flowed smoothly and this allowed for the romance that blossomed between Chance and Sarah to develop in a satisfying manner. And while both Chance's and Sarah's characters were somewhat well developed, the other major characters -- Emma, Rachel and the Devilish Dandy -- were not. However since these characters will definitely be featured more prominently in future books, this is not so important a retraction.

"A Christmas Wish" is a delightful and engaging romance novel, and I'm definitely looking forward to the other books in this series.

There are two unrelated pieces by Mark Twain in this volume, both of them fallen into (or perhaps, never rose from) obscurity, and deservedly so. "1601" is an lewd & raunchy imaginary conversation at the court of Elizabeth I. The narrator is disgusted by what he has heard -- the author partly shares the disgust and partly is fascinated with the fact that raunchy talk was not always taboo. This story has value as a look into Victorian sensibilities and into Twain's personality, but I did not enjoy reading it. I found it tedious, like Chaucer's Miller's Tale.

"Is Shakespeare Dead?" is a wonderful but misleading title. Actually this piece is about the old controversy of whether Shakespeare wrote the works attributed to him, with Twain jousting for the Baconian cause. He admits at the outset that he originally developed his Baconian prejudice merely for the sake of argument with an ardent Avonian. This work adds nothing useful to the Baconian position, and would be of interest only to the most ardent collectors of Twainiana.

1601 recounts a naughty fireside chat between Shakespeare and other noteworthy english figures. Twain writes the entire text in a basterdized version of middle english spelled phoneticly. It is quite funny but difficult to read and rather course. In the second half of the book Twain argues that Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays. It is a prime example of Twain's wit and one long gentlemanly slight against Shakespeare.

Yes, this IS a fart joke. In fact, rumor has it that Twain's poker buddies were its first readers. The then Sec'y of the Army had West Point Press publish it.The transcendant skill and humor raises this to greatness, despite the subject. In fact, Twain probably took this as a huge challenge.Keep it from the youngest until they can appreciate it, but read it aloud alone together every Valentine's day.