This was without question one of the most gripping novels I've read in many a day. I first ran across this work in a brief mention by British travel writer/popular historian James Morris, where he thought it akin to the gulag novels of post-Stalinist Russia in subject matter and philosophical content. Add to that a wealth of striking narrative detail, immensely memorable characters (Maurice Frere, Sarah Purfoy, and particularly James North leap to mind), some truly transporting (no pun intended) and incredibly creepy passages, mind-blowing plot twists and turns, and a persistent refusal to provide too pat solutions to characters' problems... Clarke wasn't better than Dickens or Eliot, but neither of the latter could have written this book.

Clarke's masterpiece was published in 1874, after being serialized in 1870-72. Critics have lambasted a few of the less believable elements and some of the pat characterization of a number of supporting characters, but these are flaws to be found in most novels of that time (and ours). Clarke redeems himself by taking the cliches and mannerisms of the nineteenth-century English novel and using them to illuminate a whole new society, one practically mythical to the metropolitan consciousness of the Victorian Anglophone world. This work is a great counterpoint to all those English novels of the day where the hero or villain gets packed off to the antipodes and returns mysteriously changed. The main thrust of the novel, though, was the need to tell the true story of (white) Australian society's beginnings. Clarke, in telling the story of the unjustly convicted Rufus Dawes (aka Richard Devine), provides a panoramic view of early Victorian Australia, from the hellish convict settlements of Macquarie Harbor and Norfolk Island to the nascent frontier towns of Hobart and Melbourne, from the aging memories of the "First Fleeters" (the original convicts who arrived in 1788) to the controversial Eureka Stockade Uprising of 1854. The narrative frequently moves at a deliciously whirlwind pace to accomodate the exciting interaction of characters and history.

Clarke's novel is generally cited as nineteenth-century Australia's greatest and points the way towards more nuanced examinations of the colonial experience in the twentieth century (Peter Carey's JOE MAGGS, about the "off-stage" life of Dickens antihero Abel Magwitch, is apparently very much in this vein). Don't read it just for this reason, though. Please be sure to find the longer, original version, as I was fortunate enough to do. Clarke was forced to produce a revised, shortened version for the original publication, one dictated by his editors that turned the novel into a much more "conventional" Victorian literary production (and has a longer title--FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE). I understand a TV series was made in the mid-80s with Anthony Perkins as North. If this was the case, then it badly needs to be remade on celluloid, because I can't seem to find the series. It's a magnificent novel whose flaws, I think, are amply counterbalanced by its unexpected joys.

The well-known phrase 'for the term of his natural life' is used by Marcus Clarke to bring home the horrors of transportation and the Tasmanian penal system in the 19th century.
Richard Devine, an innocent man (under an assumed name of Rufus Dawes) convicted of a crime he did not commit, is sent for transportation and assumed killed in a shipwreck. In reality, he is heir to a vast estate (unbeknown to him) and the convolutions of the tale that evolve from this are wonderfully written; the gradual demolishing of Dawes, the unspeakable duality of Frere, the calculating guile of Sarah and the gullible innocence of Sylvia are woven together in a plot that does not end happily ever after. This I think, serves to underline the barbarism and futility of the transportation system.
Based on actual events, Clarke uses his 'hero' to illustrate the depravation and privations that prisoners (and their guards) had to endure. Graphically showing how degradation degrades and power corrupts, the narrative never dwells on gruesome details, instead it relies for effect on the imagination of the reader, which can be more terrifying.
A book that deserves a wider readership.

It's a collation of events by various persons involved in the penal settlement of early Australia. Marcus Clarke has interwoven these events into a novel of fiction. These are stark facts; and show, as far as I've researched, very detailed. L.P. Hartely said it all,in this case.."The past is a foreign country.They do things differently there." The more you read on, the more you want to know..

This is an engaging book and passionate book. The profiles focus on a diverse crowd, from Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express, to Kevin Clash, the Sesame Street puppeteer behind Elmo; all of the stories are truly moving.

This book is educational and inspirational for those who are looking for a little guidance on how to succeed in this society. It was like taking a class with more than one guest speaker in many professional fields.

h. patterson (0:

Take a Lesson is a fantastic book that shares the personal stories of many successful African-American individuals who have succeeded with great distincition. Not only did I find the content entertaining, but the words ignite feelings of courage, hope, and persevarence that I'm sure will serve me well. I also think it is important to note that while most of those profiled stand at the cutting edge of capitalism, they also remain sensitive to social and human values, a balance which I think all should keep in mind.

This is an excellent book by Mr. Harun Yahya who succeeds in expounding the truth of this life in every sense. These are not his own opinions, but accurate interpretations taken directly from the Quran, the only uncorrupted remaining revelation from God. It is a proundly sobering, eye-opening look at the real purpose of this life.

There is no need to be an expert on Islam because the book is written in such an intelligible way that someone with no previous knowledge on the subject can easily understand it. Well done Mr. Yahya. Continue to disseminate the message and may Allah bless you.

I have to say this is one of the few books that after reading, will get you thinking and thinking. Unlike many other books, this one dwelves through the soul, and deals with Islamic psychology. As well as showing the history of the world through an Islamic/spiritual perpective. You'll be convinced on so many matters that may have lurked in the back of your mind for some time. Learn the lessons from the sinking of the Titanic, to the so-called natural distasters of our time. The fallacy of evolution. And there is this one chapter that will more shake your usual mode of perception. The chapter is called "The Real Essence of Matter", after reading the convicining arguments, you'll seriously realise how futile the life of this world is, and how every single element is just a perception. As well as our perception of time, just as when we wake up from a dream, we feel like it went for about a few seconds to a few minutes. So will the time when we wake up from the dream we are in now, the supposed reality. What might have seemed like 70 or so years, will be no more than an hour. I could go on, but once you read the book, you'll know what I mean. I recommend it to my Christian friends, even though the author is Muslim, many of the topics deal with universal issues that can agreed upon by a large segment of humanity, if they only think and reflect. So my rating, Excellent, beyond 5 stars. Well done Mr Yahya, we hope more minds like you can come into this world as a result of your extensive works.

Candid, truthful look into the "reality" of what we "see". Harun Yahya begins by breaking down the concept of vision, and how the brain calculates and digests information. Making what we really "see" only a deception. He continues with drops of wisdom, reminding the readers not to be consummed, to reflect on the creation of Allah, to reflect on the life after. Allah is the only truth. This book is a great assistant to your journey to Allah, why? Seeing to some people, is believing. Do you need to see a dying corpse to believe that you will die? Do you need to see the miracle of the circulation of blood that pumps the heart? Well, you'll "see" it here! Wonderful photos on colorful glossy paper

This is a monumental effort, 220 page plus book well laid out and researched with heaps of references and an easy to follow index of pests and diseases plus biological solutions as the title indicates. Members may recall that John McPartland in fact all the authors were very helpful to NZHIAI some time back regarding MAF's (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries) request for information regarding industrial hemp pests and diseases. By NZ standards this book is quite pricey (NZD 150-00 plus landed) That said I would suggest if you are re serious regarding growing industrial hemp this book will become as it is rapidly for me "Your bible." There is so much information my head is spinning. It is attractively bound and could well become a collectors item. No problems with NZ customs. In a word it is BRILLIANT. A credit to the authors. It can be obtained from the website below. Only took a week to get here.

Hemp diseases and pests An amazing new tome on cannabis cultivation. from CC On-line, by Pete Brady

Here's the perfect recipe for a book about cannabis: use three authors who have spent decades studying cannabis horticulture, combine them with an international publishing company, and give them enough resources to create an oversized book with professional citations, illustrations, and binding.

This perfect recipe has produced a gorgeous new book, HEMP DISEASES AND PESTS - MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL. The authors - Dr. John McPartland, Robert Connell Clarke, and David Watson - are premier marijuana researchers whose credibility and breadth of knowledge are legendary.

McPartland is a medical doctor, botanist and cannabinoid researcher. Clarke is the author of two epic texts, MARIJUANA BOTANY and HASHISH!. Watson runs HortaPharm, the Dutch cannabis breeding consortium supplying specialty cannabis to UK med-pot research projects conducted by GW Pharmaecuticals.

HEMP DISEASES AND PESTS is a fascinating, practical book, and an upcoming issue of CANNABIS CULTURE will give a more complete summary of its features. For the purposes of this brief online review, however, I assure you that this book will significantly increase yield, efficiency and quality for any marijuana grower who follows its advice.

The book includes photos that help growers diagnose dozens of plant dysfunctions, including enemy insects, mites, mammals, and fungi, environmentally-caused problems, overwatering, and nutrient deficiencies. It tells growers how to protect their crops using biocontrols instead of toxic chemicals. It describes ideal soil components, harvesting guidelines, and curing procedures.

Although HEMP DISEASES AND PESTS is not intended as a "grow book" that focuses on lighting, security, and clandestine techniques, its scope, accuracy and detail make it an incomparable textbook that every marijuana grower should have. It is interesting and entertaining, immaculately presented and organized, and features the most innovative and reliable techniques for keeping your plants healthy and happy.

HEMP DISEASES AND PESTS is a large, 251 page, professional book with a professional price. It's well worth it. When I grew my own marijuana, I was often puzzled by plant problems. If I'd had this book, I could have easily eliminated those problems. HEMP DISEASES AND PESTS will likely increase the yield of your garden by at least 50%- if that's not worth, I don't know what is!

Having only been able to get an overview of this imposing tome, I came away thorougly impressed. for by far the most comprehensive book on the subject, this book should become indispensable. in a field dominated by the likes of ed rosenthal and jorge cervantes, it's nice to see a work that's more academic than either e.r. or j.c. are inclined to churn out (not that they don't provide a great service to the public as well!) if you've got the time, and are serious about cultivation, this work will resolve a lot of nagging questions and issues you might have in a professional, well-organized fashion.

I am a senior in college, and an elementary education major with a minor in anthropology- when I found this book, I was estatic. Its beautiful photography is greatly complimented with Maya Angelou's flowing words. Humor, color, and the similarities with the Ndebele girl (Thandi, which means hope) are sure to attract children. They will learn that even though Thandi is across the world, all children share many similaries- a lesson that should be remembered, especially in modern times. I will definately use this in my classroom someday. Never have I seen such a great childrens book that is infused with anthropology and the study of a culture!

I bought this book today and read it with my 10 year old niece. It has exceptionally beautiful photographs of the Ndebele people. It is a story that reminds us that the simple things in life are the most precious. Thandi tells the story of her people and family and her best friend, a chicken. She is a proud and pure hearted child that shares the culture of the Ndebele people with us. This is a lovely story that is a fun, educational, easy to read one that made me feel young at heart again. I'll be needing an additional copy to share with my grandaughter.

As a reading tutor, I have enjoyed sharing this book with my 4th grade students. It examins the differences of people, our different cultures, and is a colorful and enchanting story. My kids, both boys and girls are facinated by this book, and we always continue a dialogue with it. The recognize the author, as one their parents respect, and enjoy talking about it and laughing about the silly chicken.We have talked about trying to paint houses with a chicken feather, and may jsut try to do this during black history month! I adore this book!

Clark Kidder documents Rev. Clarke's regions of operation--Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri. The journals and notes of Rev. Clarke show his great caring and concern for these orphan children. In some cases, there are personal notes from the children he placed.
Ever wonder why so many children went to Hopkinton, Ia. when the area could not support them? Rev. Clarke's journals and notes reveal information on at least 80 of these mystery children. There are over 400 children listed in these pages.

These pages document the placement history of these children. They reveal how many times, the same children would have to be moved before a suitable home could be found for them, and why the same children appear on more than one state's lists. It documents how sometimes children would be picked up locally and transported further down the line. Kidder points out how sometimes the children would wander away from the trains to disappear forever.
No orphan train research is complete without reading this facinating book.

Two hundred thousand children were placed through the
train project. What a monumental impact on American history that is! It is astounding that this knowledge is not part of the commonly known events that shaped our nation. I hope the first person reports of Rev. Clarke found in this compilation will correct some of that void in history.

I found Mr. Kidder's book to be fascinating. The photos of the dozens of little orphans are so endearing, and the stories of their trials and triumphs are immensely entertaining. Rev. H. D. Clarke was truly a remarkable individual. You'll find this book impossible to put down after you begin reading it. The balance of the book is told in Rev. Clarke's own words, and those of the orphans, which gives one an intimate and historical look at a most remarkable chapter in America's history.

Harold Clarke is an amazing man. But before one pretends to know him, it is important to know that he voluntarily relinquished his position as the Chief Justice of Georgia's Supreme Court so that Charles Weltner, the great Civil Rights figure of Georgia's past, could become Chief Justice before he died of cancer.

Such an action is typical of Harold Clarke's character. He is an immaculate man of decency, a true southern gentleman. I will defer the fact that he knew my grandfather and cares greatly for my father and even me. The fact is that he is a hero of Georgia's often troubled judicial history, and I love him greatly.

His book is most worthy of being read. I can promise anyone who reads it that you will appreciate Chief Justice Clarke's simple upbringing and his rise to destiny.

- Jeff Berry

A pleasant trip into the past. Runs the gamut of human emotions: Nostalgia, Humor, Sadness. So very reminiscent of when times and places were simpler. I highly recommend it. Very enjoyable reading. E. F. Howard .

This book presents an outstanding understanding of the personality types including psychosocial development. It correlates Jungian personality types (and Meyers-Briggs Type Indicators) to a spiritual and biblical context to help us in our journey toward wholeness. This is an excellent resource for personal growth as well as retreat material. I am a psychotherapist and a spiritual director. I have used it for many years with my directees to help them better understand themselves in relationship to God, scripture, and their spiritual growth.

In preparing our list of Christmas books to share with others, we had to search far and wide on amazon to find this particular book, a paperback edition of the classic Night Before Christmas.

This is the book I've used for years when reading this story to my own children, passing on Tasha Tudor and other illustrators. Why?

Although we can find the same poem and pay a lot more, with award winning illustrators, the illustrations provided by Douglas Gorsline are surely the best. They are quite colorful, and offer details little children love looking into...cats lie sleepily on the window sill, we see an overview of the town, the presents spilling from the open sack are intriguing and plentiful, and Jolly St. Nick is -- well, quite Jolly (as you can see by looking at the cover!)

The story is an "abridged version" - I'm not sure about other parents, but we read this on Christmas Eve, and we only have so much time and energy. Everything we remember from the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore is in this version.

(From "'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" to "He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!" In between we have everything, from the names of the eight tiny reindeer, to a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly, including dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky".

In other words, don't be scared off by 'abridged'!)

Perhaps a hardcover edition might be more appropriate if you're giving a gift (unless you're giving to more than one child), but this book is one of the best offers we've found!

A classic done simply and inexpensively!

I discovered this book 31 years ago, for my daughter and it is still loved by all the family. The illustrations are wonderful, warm, charming and delightful and bring a special meaning to the story. We still read it to all the young children on Christmas Eve and for adults we read the story and pass a grab bag gift every time the word THE is mentioned. It would not be Christmas without this book. It is magical.

This beautiful book was in my family as a hard cover edition for many years and was a Christmas Eve tradition for my four sons when they were growing up. It's poor battered body disappeared some time after the last of my little ones went off into the adult world. I am so delighted to see it back again, though this time as a nicely affordable soft cover. Clement C. Moore's enchanting story poem already provides an atmosphere filled with warmth and joyful expectation and with the addition of Tasha Tudor's quaint, nostalgic water-colors from an antique New England the Christmas magic is complete!
The winter landscapes fill our senses and Tasha's own gray tabby cat and Welsh Corgi welcome us into this charming world.
Tasha's Santa that you will meet in this book has been portrayed as the poem describes him...a right jolly old elf. He's not that much larger than the corgi and his team really consists of eight "tiny" reindeer. His pointy ears and his Eskimo mukluks add to the delightful ambiance of the book. He dances with the toys and with the happy animals and we can truly believe it will be a happy Christmas for all.
I hope this book becomes a Christmas Eve tradition for many, many more families.

Many managers feel uneasy about organisational politics. I knew it
could be helpful to understand but was never very sure how other managers across many organisations feel about politics. This book is great to read! It shows how
politics is central to being a manager. Positive Politics is all about
reconciling different interests and positioning causes. Once you realise that companies are
full of competing interests, lots of people who sometimes work together to produce
something worthwhile, well you can really start to make things happen.

This book will change your behaviour (like it describes in
chapter five!), you will build alliances and coalitions to get real work done
but in a constructive way. It does make a difference.

I think the book is really interesting. There is no management fad
stuff here-just good honest plain speaking about the reality of
management. Politics can be constructive!

I was recommended this book by a friend who'd been on a course at Cranfield where these guys teach. I've been in management for years, and haven't read anything like it. It really got me going, I tell you. It was like a lot of common sense, but put in a way that gets you thinking. I mean, I've been using politics and all that stuff for years, but this got me to think about it, to understand why. Hoping to get on one of the courses next!(using the techniques they suggest, of course)

Wow - this is a real find. Read how to understand politics and make it work for you because you have to! Gets past the 'dirty dealing' stuff to show you just why management is all about politics and becoming powerful. Tell your friends - but not your enemies!!