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Book reviews for "Brown,_John_A." sorted by average review score:

New Orleans Unleashed
Published in Paperback by Unleashed Books (01 November, 2000)
Authors: Rhonda Findley, John DeMers, and Vanessa Brown
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Dubious creation
There is already a book very similar to this one about a dog's adventure in Paris. Findley took credit,with the true author's approval however, for this book that John Demires actually entirely wrote. The book was indeed entertaining and it gave a good overview of many of New Orleans' novel attractions.

Capture the Spirit!
This cute little book captures the wacky spirit of New Orleans with its dog's eye view. This is a perfect stocking stuffer or thank you gift for dog lover's everywhere. Great for kids too!

Delightful!
What a delightful tale! Indy Findley visits New Orleans' most famous attractions in this fun and frolicking tale of a precocious dog lost in the "Big Easy." The tour of the city will be of interest to young and old alike.


Reminiscences of the Civil War
Published in Paperback by Louisiana State University Press (1993)
Authors: John B., General Gordon and Ralph Lowell Eckert
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A Fundamental Text of the Cult of the
John B. Gordon was Georgia's greatest Confederate Hero.
After the war, he led the KKK in Georgia and participated in one of the greatest stock market scandals of the Gilded Age.

He also formed a triumvirate, along with Aleck Stephens and Joe Brown that dominated Georgia politics for more than a quarter century after "redemption." And milked his image as the "plumed knight of Appomattox", who led the last charge of the Army of Northern Virginia.

John B. Gordon, in short, was a piece of work. (Read C.Vann Woodward's description of him in TOM WATSON AGRARIAN REBEL.)

Another of Gordon's postbellum achievements was as high priest
of the cult of the "lost cause." In codifying the "myth," he was second only to Jubal Early. Like Early, he maintained that the war had not been about slavery at all, but states rights. Like Early, he would maintain that the South was not defeated but only overwhelmed but vastly superior numbers of men and material. Unlike Early, he downplayed the struggle between northern industrial capital and southern landed gentry and he gave the myth a conciliatory twist perfectly suited to the capital hungry "new south." For decades he would dazzle memorial day audiences, with a speech arguing that *both* sides of the "war between the states" were right and *both* sides won( the North preserved the union and the South preserved "honor"). (Now *that's* conciliatory!)

It is this mythmaking, that is in evidence in his wartime memoirs. His overwritten florid prose

describes each calvary charge in romantic hyperbole with out a hint of gore attached to the proceeding. (It is just this sort of bunk that Sherman had in mind when he told cadets "war is not a gentlemen's game,
war is hell.")

As "myth" this book deserves five stars, as "history" two would be being generous--so I've split the difference.

If one wants a real soldier's story told with out concern for the memories of marble men or a sense of decorum one would be better off with Edward Porter Alexander's FIGHTING FOR THE CONFEDERACY.

If on the other hand wants to wallow in fantasies of "moonlight and magnolias" then, by all means, knock yourself out!

A great book!
John Gordon's book is an important book to read for those trying to gain an understanding of the Civil War and a perspective of a individual that had been involved in multiple engagements. From the start, Gordon writes about raising the Racoon Roughs and their start in Georgia which carries the reader chronologically throughout various battles. His service to the Confederate cause is covered well from his early beginnings to his involvement with General Lee in the surrender at Apomattox. This book is an important tool for understanding the fairness and qualities of Gordon and his sympathies for the people involved in the Civil War be it North or South. His character in speaking about individuals involved is fair and truly demonstrates that he wasn't just another 'racist' that fought for the South which is typical of only today's modern society. It is a must read for those looking to get into the mind of a great Southern leader. I would have rated this book 5 stars if Gordon would have only covered his involvement in the Civil War instead of writing reports on battles he wasn't involved with, though shaped the outcome of the Civil War. It would have better in my opinion if the book didn't get into explaining other battles or problems which Gordon had not took part in since it didn't appear that those other situations affected him.

A real good book...
This is an excellent book. Gordon may not be as well known as some Confederate Generals, Nevertheless, He was a very good officier and a gentlemen that can discuss the many complex issues with the Battles he was a part of. I strongly suggest that you read this book to learn more about him and his part in the war between the States.


2002 ESPN Information Please Sports Almanac: The Definitive Sports Reference Book
Published in Paperback by Hyperion (2001)
Authors: Gerry Brown, John Gettings, and Mike Morrison
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Good Book
This is a pretty good book. I liked it but: 1. Too Long 2. Hard to understand I still recommend this book if you need a sports almanac.

A must read for ESPN fans!
This book is a must read for ESPN fans. It is an amazingly detailed book, and one that you are able to look through for hours and never get tired of.

A Fun Book Plus A Necessity
Would'nt you like a book that covers records for ALL the popular sports, instead of just one or two? Well you've come to the right place!!! Baseball, college Basketball, Pro Basketball, College Football, Pro Football, Horse Racing, Formula Racing, Nascar, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Summer Olymipics, Winter Olympics, Bowling, Track and Field, Boxing, and Fishing, are just a FEW of the sports covered in this extra thick publication!!! You get last years season records for baseball, football, and basketball, plus, the most popular All Time Records. There's hundreds of breath taking photos as well as coverage of last years World Series, and All Time World Series Records. Ever had an argument with someone about a popular sports record? There are tons of records recorded in this fine publication. Want to improve your knowledge on sports trivia without having to thumb through thousands of sports memorabilia books? Well, here's your answer! Folks, to put it simple, this book is the best publication for sports trivia in the World PERIOD I started buying this book in 1998, and it's a big help for me. I can keep up with how my favorite players and teams are faring, plus, I need it to help me pick whose sportscards I'm going to invest in. So can you tell me who the all time Rushing Leader is? If you can't, you can find out by getting this book! ENJOY!!!


The Baldwin Locomotive Works 1831-1915: A Study in American Industrial Practice (Studies in Industry and Society)
Published in Hardcover by Johns Hopkins Univ Pr (1995)
Author: John K. Brown
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A little lacking
I am interested in the nuts and bolts, brick and mortar part of the railroad industry. This book dealt too much with financial institutions and political connections for me. I could care less about the problems management had with workers, or if a union wanted to organize, or if they were having money problems. I wanted more photos, with views of the erecting floors and machine shops, things of that nature. Not enough topics concerning the actual construction process.

Great study of nineteenth century business
In eight weeks, thousands of workers at the Baldwin Works of Philadelphia would take a custom design from drawings to finished product. By 1905, more than seven engines rolled out of the plant every day. How this was done is the subject of this very interesting book. Baldwin was the premier locomotive manufacturer and ranked at the top of American industry for sixty years. Ironically, the major strength of the Baldwin company, the ability to build custom products efficiently to the customer's specific demands, was to prove a major weakness as the economy changed to a more consumer-driven environment where "standardized products, hierarchical managerial structures, and market control strategies dominated." Builders could not compete with manufacturers who mass-produced standard designs.

Matthias Baldwin began as a jewel smith in Philadelphia, but he was enamored of technology and soon built a small engine. More than a toy, it powered his first shop for forty years and now resides in the Smithsonian. Philadelphia, home of the Franklin Institute, which supported new inventions and technology, was also the home of numerous machine shops, and soon Baldwin had created a shop where he began to design ever better steam engines for railroads. He invented the Jervis leading truck, a pair of wheels that moved along as the track curved, reducing the number of derailments. His flexible-beam design became very popular because it had more driving wheels and with the weight of the engine over the drivers it could pull longer and heavier freight trains. By 1846, his shop made forty-two types of engines, he had paid off all his debts, and he had survived the panic of 1837, a severe market reversal. He had also bought out his early partners, making him the sole owner of the company.

You really have to be a locomotive or railroad buff to enjoy this book (isn't everybody?), but there is also a great deal about capitalism and market conditions in the nineteenth century. The Baldwin Works managed productivity increases on an average of 3.1% per year, as compared with 1.9% nationally, and it accomplished this through organizational and technical changes. By 1906, Baldwin was producing a locomotive every three hours, twenty-four hours a day. Baldwin minimized the risk inherent in the system by engaging in industry-wide price-fixing agreements, and he relied on "just-in-time" inventory supplies to reduce the need for substantial working capital. He drew a great deal of technical expertise from his customers, the railroads. The author suggests that Baldwin's success came also because of his reliance on a core of skilled workers rather than on trying to improve profits by manipulating workers and exploiting them.

That Baldwin rapidly lost ground to the diesel-electric engine may suggest that individual leadership tied to an entrenched way of operation might be a disadvantage in the long run.

If you like trains and manufacturing
If you like trains and how they were manufactured or if you have a passing interest in how large scale capital items were manufactured. This book is for you. I was just curious since I am a Baldwin. I enjoyed it.


The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories
Published in Paperback by Oxford University Press (1999)
Authors: Stewart Brown and John Wickham
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The authors of this book have made two big mistakes
1. The Colombian writer and Nobel Prize Gabriel García Márquez is repeatedly called along the book as Márquez. His family name as the authors should know is García Márquez.

2. In the same way the authors use Columbia, or Columbian when speaking of Colombia.

A gripping glimpse of the cricket playing Caribbean
This is the book which truly gives the reader a feeling of the "cricket playing Caribbean" a term the editors borrowed from Guyanese-born professor Gordon Rohlehr. Editors Stewart Brown and John Wickham have expanded the borders the Caribbean by including two writers from Suriname, a writer from Panama and Gabriel Garcia Marquez from Colombia. Marquez described himself as a Caribbean writer in a collection of interviews he did for a book entitled The Fragrance of Guava. There are also stories from Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The book begins with a wonderfully symbolic story by Barbadian writer Frank Collymore entitled "Some People Were Meant to Live Alone." In this story, a young man visits his eccentric uncle who may have been a murderer. In the end, the young man becomes a recluse himself. The philosophical question of whether or not we are meant to be alone or in the company of others applies, in many ways, to the individual islands of the Caribbean. The editors say they purposely began their anthology with the story because Collymore is considered by many to be the father of modern Caribbean literature. The book ends with "Nineteen Thirty-Seven", a story by young Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat. This story of a daughter visiting her mother who has been imprisoned wrongfully by the Haitian government because traitors have named her as a practitioner of voodoo, is also symbolic because it shows us how superstition often rules these islands. It also shows us how the literary torch is being passed on to a new generation of writers. In between these two stories are a delightful offering of stories which capture the fine nuances of life in the Caribbean. No other book I've read so far, deals better with the relationship between males and females, a giddy game of posturing and submission which is sometimes tragic and sometimes humourous.

A fine entry into short-form Caribbean Literature
Sadly, this was to be John Wickham's last contribution to West Indian literature, as one of the region's finest writers and editors died in 2000. Indeed, the reader owes a debt of gratitude to Wickham for his discerning eye and vast knowledge of Caribbean writers and writing shine through in this book. But we have this fine gift to cherish in his memory and in honour of the rich and diverse tradition and innovation that is Caribbean writing. As much as are Wickham's own short stories, this anthology is striking in its range, readability and resonance. And as the Caribbean consciousness has transcended cultural and strict geopolitical lines over the last century, the range of offerings in this book has also grown from what it would have delivered had it come out a few decades earlier. This book embraces Haiti, Colombia as much as the Anglophone Caribbean. An essential collection of short story writing in English and as delicious a slice of the West Indian civilization as you're likely to find anywhere.


The White Devil
Published in Paperback by Manchester Univ Pr (1988)
Authors: John Webster and John R. Brown
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Marlowe and Shakespeare's Protege (Corrected)
For those of you who read my reviews and use them to try to understand literature, I owe you an apology. I made a slight error in my review of this, and I will correct it now. For those of you who know me, I cherish the writings of Marlowe, Shakespeare, Milton, Hawthorne, and Dickens. I now have a 6th hero. The opening is quite captivating when through testimony we learn of Lodovico's evil. Webster also grabs our attention with the affair between Vittoria and Bracciano. Despite the questionable qualities of these 2 characters, they are easy to like. He also draws the division between the virtuous Francisco and the ambitious Bracciano well. Cornelia is memorable as the mother who despairs over the actions of her children Flamineo and Vittoria. Isabella is fine as a picture of innocence. The Cardinal is captivating as one of the most careful characters in the play,and we need not be surprised when he gets elected Pope. Bracciano's son Giovanni is drawn well. Through an early appearance, we get a look at his character. We then see him in mourning after he has lost both his parents. Finally, we see him restore order after the massacre has fully unleashed. Lodovico is fine as a picture of ambition. (The mistake I made was that I named Lodovico in the murder of Isabella. He was innocent of her murder. But it is possible to wonder if his affair with her 'Bracciano's wife' triggered Bracciano's affair with Vittoria. Ofcourse, the affair between Bracciano and Vittoria triggers the events of this play.) Webster also offers us horrifying and yet beautiful passages, chilling omens such as the ghosts of Isabella and Bracciano, and pure suspense. My only complaint about this is that Lodovico's delight in his massacre does not mix well with Giovanni's sudden rise to power and his restoration of order. In Marlowe's "Edward II," the 17 year old Edward III fills his enemies with pure terror when he gains control of the situation. Once again, I apologize for my error, and I wish to thank all of you who found my reviews helpful.

Marlowe and Shakespeare's Protege
For those of you familiar with my writing, you know I cherish the works of Marlowe, Shakespeare, Milton, Hawthorne, and Dickens. Well, I now have a 6th favorite. Lodovico is frighteningly demonic. 1st he participates in the murder of Isabella, then he participates in the revenge of Isabella! Poor Isabella is memorable as a picture of innocence. Vittoria is an interesting woman. She is not exactly a picture of innocence, but she does carry herself well, and she faces her death with as much dignity as possible. Webster also draws the dissension between Francisco and Bracciano well. Bracciano is captivating with all of his ambition. Francisco is memorable as the good and decent man prompted to fury by the death of his innocent sister. The harsh tones between Cornelia and her son Flamineo are dramatic. Bracciano's son Giovanni is well drawn. First he is an innocent young man, but his lines reveal his good character. Then we see him after he has lost both his parents. Finally, he flips the tables on everyone and restores order. Cardinal Monticelso is also captivating. He is a very careful character who probes the situations without losing his sense of reason. And we need not be surprised when this careful character is promoted to Pope Paul IV. What's left? Only striking images, only well constructed passages, only pure terror side by side with beauty etc. My only complaint about this play is that Webster combines 2 wonderful final touches that would be wonderful by themselves, but do not combine well (in my opinion). Lodovico's delight in his massacre does not (in my opinion) mix well with Giovanni's sudden rise to power and his sudden crush of the situation. In my opinion what makes Edward III's restoration to order in Marlowe's "Edward II" so dramatic is the pure terror the 17 year old king instills in his enemies. At this point, I would like to thank all of you who found my reviews helpful.

Webster's World of Violence
The drama of John Webster is characterized by themes of revenge, misanthropy, misogyny, villainy, murder and ultimately violence. Webster's play, The White Devil parallels a modern day soap opera in which the plot keeps readers on their edge with its numerous twists and sub-plots.

I had doubts about reading Jacobean Drama, but once I picked up The White Devil, I was hooked. I was especially intrigued with the duality of the heroine Vittoria. In Vittoria, Webster offers us a character we love to hate, but finds ourselves pitying her, perhaps even siding with her.

The White Devil is certainly a play worth reading.


John Brown
Published in Unknown Binding by Metro Books ()
Author: W. E. B. Du Bois
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j. brown
good book. he uses a lot of good quotes directly from john brown. recommended

An Amazing Man
John Brown, one of the most influential and important people of his time and of ours is captured by soul in this book. He is my great great great great great grandfather, which i know sounds a little off-the-wall, but even though he is so far down the line, i am still very proud of it. Keep his story alive, this man deserves appreciation.


John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant
Published in Hardcover by Sutton Publishing (01 November, 2000)
Author: Raymond Lamont-Brown
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Not as interesting a topic as you'd think.
This book is about Queen Victoria's unusual relationship with her highland servant, John Brown. Most are familiar with the story because of the well-received movie, "Mrs. Brown". While the story made a very interesting movie, for most recreational readers the topic doesn't merit a full book. Raymond Lamont-Brown has certainly done excellent research, and I do not doubt that his account of Mr. Brown and his relationship with the queen is as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, oneof Queen Victoria's daughters drastically edited the Queen's personal papers when it came to the topic of Mr. Brown, so much of the historical record is irretrievably lost. Nevertheless, it seems clear that it is unlikely that there was a scandalous relationship and that the Queen simply considered Mr. Brown to be a completely devoted servant . She consequently kept him in constant attendance and was tolerant of his brusque manner. No matter how hard Mr. Lamont-Brown tries to find some actual drama, most of the relationship (and therefore most of the book) revoloved around the mundane routine of the royal household - daily ponyrides, picnics in the Scottish countryside, below-stairs jealousies, etc. Any excitement in the book is the result of speculation, not historical fact. If you have a serious interest in Queen Victoria, you will find this book worthwhile. Otherwise, see the movie.

A Devoted Servant
The release of the well-regarded film _Mrs. Brown_, about Queen Victoria and her gillie John Brown, indicated there was still interest in the story of the Queen and her devoted servant. The full story of their relationship will never be known, but in _John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant_ (Sutton Publishing), Raymond Lamont-Brown sifts through what can be known to give as good a picture as we are likely to get of the servant beloved by the Queen and detested by so many others. It is a small but successful study of the Queen as honest and loyal, with a love of the outdoors, and with a sense of humor (when will the opposite legend go away?) which Brown must have frequently tickled. They were a good match. He impressed both Albert and the Queen with his knowledge of game and hunting, and a strong friendship grew between the gillie and his Queen. He liked jokes and gossip, and the Queen liked to hear his stories. There are many illustrations here of their familiarity. When the royal family went out on jaunts, John Brown usually brewed the Queen's pot of tea. Early in his service, she remarked that this was "the best cup of tea I ever tasted." "Well, it should be, Ma'am," came Brown's reply. "I put a grand nip o' whisky in it."

There is little doubt that the Queen idealized Brown in a way no one else did, but especially after Albert's death, no one tended her as he did. A courtier wrote, "Others had tended her as their Queen and mistress. John Brown protected her as she was, a poor, broken-hearted bairn who wanted looking after and taking out of herself." Many around the Queen disapproved. Brown took his duties so seriously he would deny even her family access to her. His gruffness with others made few friends. Sent to convey the Queen's invitation to dinner to the Lords-in-Waiting, Brown pushed open the door of the billiard room, eyed the aristocrats, and bawled, "All what's here dines with the Queen." The Prince of Wales particularly disliked him, always referring to "that brute" rather than using his name. He obliterated all the busts and mementoes of Brown after the Queen's death, but he was never able to wipe out the rumors that Brown and the Queen were lovers, or that they had a morganatic marriage, or that Brown was her guide in spiritualism. Such evidence as there is shows that they were nothing but devoted friends as well and mistress and servant. This readable book well illustrates the relationship, with ample quotations from the Queen's diary and from remarks of those who knew both parties well.


Liberty Ship: The Voyages of the John W. Brown, 1942-1946
Published in Hardcover by United States Naval Inst. (1997)
Author: Sherod Cooper
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Good Book.
Turns out that the history of a Liberty Ship can make for good, interesting reading. This book is both educational and satisfying.

Excellent and factual
All profits from the sale of this excellent book go to Project Liberty Ship, Inc. a nonprofit organization that is restoring and operating this oldest operating Liberty Ship in Baltimore. Your reduced price is not helping keep this National Historic Vessel steaming.


On the Trail of John Brown's Body (Young Heroes of History, Book 2)
Published in Paperback by White Mane Publishing Co. (2002)
Author: Alan N. Kay
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Reprinted from WonderKorner.com
" Here's the second book in a planned series of ten adventurous historical fiction titles from social studies teacher Alan Kay. Cousins David and George Adams find themselves "caught between two worlds," and the only way of escape is to find David's father, John, who lives in a wild territory known as "Bleeding Kansas.

Kay treats readers to a rich description of the countryside during the boys' journey. They experience the "sweet, refreshing scent" of a wide, wildflower-strewn prairie, where "green grasses waved in the wind like waves approaching a shore." The boys meet animals unheard of back in Boston, and insects like fireflies, which George compares to "millions of tiny lanterns.

Their appreciation of new sights and sounds are short-lived, though. Upon reaching David's family and realize that David's parents are heavily involved in a dangerous plot with John Brown, whose secret plan to overthrow the Federal government involves starting a violent slave uprising across the South. Feel the tension of a family divided, as members realize the risks of taking such a stand. Will they help John Brown in his dangerous plan, or make it to Harpers Ferry in time to warn the townsfolk and stop him in his tracks?" -- Bonnie Bruno...

Reprinted from Social Studies for Kids
-- "The second in Alan N. Kay's Young Heroes of History series, On the Trail of John Brown's Body, is every bit as good as the first.
Whereas that book juxtaposed the plight of a slave family and a northern family filled with abolitionists and sympathetics, this book follows the adventures of two boys and their fathers as they journey to the Kansas Territory in the days when John Brown cast the longest shadow in the land.

David and George, two of the young heroes from the first book, are the main characters here as well, along with their fathers. They have typical frontier adventures, but always in the background (and often in the foreground) is the specter of war, brought on by the increasingly violent actions of abolitionists like David's father.

The arrival of the boys in "Bleeding Kansas" brings that state's bloody conflict into sharp focus. And by having David's father, John, be a part of John Brown's brigade, the author gives us an up-close glimpse of the passion (and, some will say, madness) of Brown himself.

This book succeeds the most by having the reader follow the typical adventures of young boys (playing baseball, getting into fights, doing odd jobs for spending money) while at the same reminding that reader that the setting for these typical adventures is Civil War-era America. To his credit, Alan Kay succeeds at both.

As with the first book in this series, I highly recommend this book. It is an excellent portrayal of young people in the 19th Century. David White, editor, Social Studies For Kids, ...


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