My daughter and I were simply delighted with this book, and we are voracious readers of tales from foreign lands. For the protagonist, a little American boy born in Africa, Africa is not another place, a foreign country, but the home that he knows and loves, described poignantly through the eyes of a child. It is the USA that is foreign and strange to him, although he acclimates with a sort of resigned acceptance. I won't spoil it by telling the end; I can only say that I hope you and your children enjoy it as much as we did.

Fascinating, though too long. I recommend starting with Taylor's _Liberty Men and Great Proprietors_, which seems to have been less of a "labor of love."

The tale of James Fenimore Cooper's father on the New York frontier in the 1790s is an Horatio Alger story run amuck. Born to a poor Quaker farm family, William Cooper learned the craft of making and repairing wheels before reinventing himself as a land speculator, founder of Cooperstown, judge, congressman, patrician farmer and Federalist party powerhouse.

Alan Taylor's WILLIAM COOPER'S TOWN: POWER AND PERSUASION ON THE FRONTIER OF THE EARLY AMERICAN REPUBLIC is an outstanding biography of an archetypical American character, an extraordinary social history of life and politics on the late eighteenth-century frontier and a brilliant exercise in literary analysis.

This is a wonderful read. Taylor's lively prose, compelling narrative and original, fresh story sustained my interest from cover to cover. I never would have imagined such a dull title could cover such a marvelous book. WILLIAM COOPER'S TOWN certainly deserves the Pulitzer Prize it was awarded.

Taylor not only describes William Cooper's rise from rags to riches and even more meteoric fall but analyzes Cooper's political odyssey in America's frontier democratic workshop.

"As an ambitious man of great wealth but flawed gentility, Cooper became caught up in the great contest of postrevolutionary politics: whether power should belong to traditional gentlemen who styled themselves 'Fathers of the People' or to cruder democrats who acted out the new role of 'Friends of the People.'"

Taylor argues "Cooper faced a fundamental decision as he ventured into New York's contentious politics. Would he affiliate with the governor and the revolutionary politics of democratic assertion? Or would he endorse the traditional elitism championed by...Hamilton." "Brawny, ill educated, blunt spoken, and newly enriched," writes Taylor, "Cooper had more in common with George Clinton than with his aristocratic rivals." "For a rough-hewn, new man like Cooper, the democratic politics practiced by Clinton certainly offered an easier path to power. Yet, like Hamilton, Cooper wanted to escape his origins by winning acceptance into the genteel social circles where Clinton was anathema." Taylor concludes "Cooper's origins pulled him in one political direction, his longing in another."

James Fenimore Cooper's third novel, THE PIONEERS, is an ambivalent, fictionalized examination of his father's failure to measure up to the genteel stardards William Cooper set for himself and that his son James internalized. The father's longing became the son's demand.

Taylor analyzes the father-son relationship, strained by Williams decline before ever fully measuring up to the stardards he had set, and the son's fictionalized account of this relationship.

James Fenimore Cooper spent most of his adult life seeking the "natural aristocrat" his father wanted to be and compensating for his father's shortcomings. It is ironic that the person James Fenimore Cooper found to be the embodiment of the "natural aristocrat" his father had longed to be and that he had created in THE CRATER and his most famous character, Natty Bumppo, was the quintessential "Friend of the People"--Andrew Jackson.

I enjoyed this book immensely and give it my strongest recommendation!

This is the story of William Cooper, the founder of Cooperstown, New York, and of how his son, James Fenimore Cooper, used his father's life and experiences in his novels. Described in this way, this sounds like a narrow book, of interest mainly to specialists. But anyone interested in early America should read this book: it reveals truths not only about these two men but about the whole period. One of the key themes of the book is that the Revolution, which in a sense made William Cooper by pushing aside the old aristocracy of New York, also unmade him by creating an anti-aristocratic politics that ousted him and other Federalists in 1800. A fascinating minor detail: the city fathers, in their effort to maintain a proper tone in Cooperstown in the early 1800s, outlawed stick ball, the precursor of baseball.

With this novel, I think that Cooper has created a fun and original work. It is a story of a boys acting company who travel to London to preform at the rebuilt Globe Theater. For one boy, the trip involves not just a voyage across the Atlantic, but a journey in time as well. Nat Field finds himself back in Elizabethian London acting in the role of Puck in Shakespeare's personal production of A Midsummer's Night Dream.

This odd transposition in time allows for some interesting interaction with the setting. For a twentieth century boy, the London of Shakespeare's day is a strange world. Having no modern convieniences (such as toilets) and having the drink at every meal be ale are things that don't fit the everyday life of a young American boy. But Nat gets along and proves himself as an actor in Shakespeare's own production.

Given the general elements of this book, not all young readers would enjoy it. To identify with or even to like the main character, one cannot by a typical American kid. The theatrical world and the ability to understand the historical setting of Shakespeare's time are, unfortunately, completely foreign to most kids these days. So this book is not for the typical nintendo-playing sports-loving kid, but rather for the imaginitive book-lover. (For the book is full of imagination and history.)

The book isn't perfect, but it is still a fun read. As an adult reader, I wished that I could have read more about the purpose behind the time travel, but I realize that what was written is sufficient for a younger audience. So, as a young adult novel, it is a great book, well worth the read.

King of Shadows, by Susan Cooper, is a great story with Shakespeare and a great adventure. This book is about a young boy named Nathan Field has been chosen to play the role of Puck for the play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which was created by Shakespeare. The acting group that Nat is in, The American Company of Boys, was created by the enigmatic Arby who was the leader of the actors. The actors are very excited for the play. Then Nat gets sick. Nat goes to sleep and has a dream of flying into outer space and is being drawn back by an invisible hand. When he wakes, a strange boy says Nat had the Bubonic Plague! Whats happening? Read this book to find out. One of the extraordinary characters in this story is Roper. He is an amazing gymnast and is merciless to all others. This is shown in many places in the book. He shows it by showing scorn on all of the other actors and cheering at the death of two animals. Another character in the story is Thomas. He is very clumsy and isn't afraid to show it. Thomas has a big show in front of the cast and ends up proving that he is a real klutz. I would recommend this book for many reasons. First, King of Shadows has a theme, going back in time, which many people in the world might like to experience. Also, the story is well written so the reader will know where Nat is, past or present, and what he is doing. This book would appeal to Shakespeare lovers too. I think anybody who wants a great fantasy book with Shakespeare as a character or just a good adventure would LOVE this book!

A seamless, poignant tale of a young boy's grief, time-travel and William Shakespeare.
Nat, an 11 year old who is orphaned and ridden with hidden grief, is chosen to join a contemporary, Shakespearian theatre group to perform as Puck in A Midsummer's Night Dream at the new Globe Theatre in London.
This journey becomes more than a transatlantic adventure for a budding actor. Nat finds himself plunged into Elizabeathan London 400 years earlier where he has to adjust to life as an apprentice in the original Globe theatre and play Puck with the great actors of the day but most of all meet and be entranced by William Shakespeare himself. Ultimately, this is a story of how a young boy must face his greatest fears and achieve healing under the guiding hand and poetic wisdom of the Bard himself.
Cooper creates a vivd and pungent world of London and does not shirk from the violence and political intrigue that must have existed at the time .
This book is for those of any age who can let their imaginations run easily and let the mastery of the author lead you through a deeply satisyfying and touching experience.

Talking With Artists volume.3

This book is pretty interesting. It is about artists who share what they like to draw and about their lives. They are asked questions such as, "Do you have any kids or pets?" The illustrators show some of pictures that they drew when they were children. They also show how the children illustrators got their inspiration to draw.

I liked this book because it was neat to see how good some of the kids are at drawing and then to see them draw as they are older. Also that was cool it showed how to draw pictures in the back of the book. I recommend this book to people who are just stating to draw and people that want to read an interesting book.

I got this book at the library for my children, but I think I enjoyed it as much as they did! (I plan to buy a copy of my own!) Instead of a cool, impersonal presentation of artists and their work, this book provides a refreshingly personal view. The artists talk about their childhoods, how they spend their days (the answers are fun & honest!), their families, and best of all, they give us peeks inside their studios. I don't know about you, but I love seeing inside of an artist's private workspace! It's like a glimpse inside his/her mind.
The styles of the artists are very diverse and they use many different techniques that kids and adults alike would like to try out. I highly recommend this book!

It's not too often that you get a Civilian view of the Civil War. This book shows how Seccesh and Unionists acted towards each other in a border state, depending upon who's troops were occupying the town of Lexington (Home of John Hunt Morgan). The diary was written by a homebound girl (she had epilepsy) with Union leanings. The area that she saw from her window still exists today, including her home and others mentioned and also show up on a hand-drawn map that is in the book. A very good book for those seeking something besides the same old worn out War stories.

A very good diary of the occupation of Lexington KY by both CS and US troops during the Civil War. Since the city was home to both Unionist and Secceshionist Civilians, it shows how each acted depending on who occupied the city at the time. It is a good illustration of Home Front activity.

The book is well researched and well written, and the style is highly readable. Having said that, it's not an engrossing book that's hard to put down either. Nonetheless, I plodded through it over a month and I am glad I did. Jefferson Davis remains an enigma to most Americans; how could someone who had studied at West Point, served in our military, been a Senator and a Cabinet officer lead a rebellion against the very nation he professed to love for so long? The book reveals the answer and makes a convincing argument that Davis neither hated The United States of America nor loved the vile institution of slavery. In his view, and perhaps in the view of many if not most of his Southern contemporaries, the largest viable sovereign political entity was the State, not the Union. Put simply, Davis was a Mississippian, and as long as Mississippi chose to associate itself with the other states of the Union, so too would Davis. But he believed very deeply in the Jeffersonian principle of decentralized government, and Federal mandates were an affront to his interpretation of the Constitution. The book makes his case admirably and tells the story of that period from an interesting perspective. It will not disappoint the reader whose views may be different than those of Mr. Davis.

Mr. Cooper has appeared to have written the definitive biography of the somewhat reluctant leader of the Confederacy. I purchased this book with the realization I knew relatively nothing about Mr Davis' career. It is certainly an eye-opening tale. I applaud the fact that Mr Cooper offers a more sympathetic view to this grossly misunderstood man. A certifiable hero of the Mexican War,and innovative Secretary of War, Mr. Davis indeed had to conquer his personal demons as well as the "enemies at the gate", in the guise of other Southern malcontents like Louis Wigfall of Texas, and Robert Toombs of Georgia. Mr. Cooper accurately portrays Jefferson Davis as, in essence, a man who was fighting a losing battle from the beginning.

Cooper, who has written a number of fine books about the Civil War and the South, has produced what is certainly far and away the best available biography of Davis, an intelligent, extremely hard-working military leader and very successful Mississippi politician who will always suffer by comparison to the far greater lights of R.E. Lee and Lincoln. The author pulls no punches about Davis' weakness for certain favorite generals, his inability to exercise his critical faculties when dealing with inadequate generals such as John Pemberton of Vicksburg fame who were, he felt, strongly devoted to the cause, as well as his calamitous command decisions relating to the war in Tennessee and Georgia, involving the trio of Bragg, Joe Johnston, and Hood, but he puts a human face on the man and his family life, including, at times, difficulties with his independent-thinking wife, Varina, who was happiest in the 1850s when Davis was Secretary of War and U.S. Senator, and with his older brother, Joseph. Davis' longstanding health problems are also fairly addressed. Like his fellow Southerner Jimmie Carter, Davis was a micromanager, both in the War Department in Washington and in leading the Confederate military machine, but it is hard to see how a more inspiring, out-going leader than Davis could have made a difference in the ultimate lost cause of the Confederacy. Cooper also does an excellent job describing Davis' theories of constitutional government. Perhaps the high point of the book, however, is Oscar Wilde's visit to Davis towards the end of Davis' life; surely, Wilde was mocking when he said Davis was the person he most wanted to meet during his American lecture tour, but the two actually did meet. Given Davis' stuffy puritanism and lack of humor, and Wilde's dandyism and wit, the two were the ultimate Odd Couple. (Varina naturally loved Wilde's cosmopolitan wit.)

This is a truly massive work (600+ pages all in "King-size") more suited for the coffee-table than the field. If there is anything you would like to know about Birds of Paradise you can find it here. The first part (150+ pages) of the book deals with a huge number of scientific matters examples being the discovery, ecology, biogeography, evolution, conservation, and reproductive behaviour of the Paradisaeidae. A absolutely astonishing number of tables exist in this part of the book. The next 300+ pages of the book deals with the individual species (all 42 or so species incl. Manucodes and Riflebirds). These descriptions are truly comprehensive dealing with description (incl. juv. and nestling appearance), distribution, systematics, subspecies, size, distribution (incl. map), habitat, vocalisation, courtship behaviour, diet, status, where any knowledge is lacking, and experiences in aviculture (this is just a sample of the subjects dealt with!!!). Numerous black-and-white drawings show different behaviours and a sonogram is often included. The text is scientific (with numerous references), however it should not present a large problem to the average reader, as a glossary exists in the back of the book. In the centre of the book 15 colour plates exists. One shows old drawings of Bird of Paradise, another shows different habitat photos, and yet another shows different nesting behaviour and moulting of a number of species (also in photos). The remaining plates show some of the highest quality drawings of birds I have ever seen. All the species of Birds of Paradise are depicted in a huge variety of plumage's (e.g. males, females, juveniles, and different subspecies). One plate is even devoted to their egg's. The drawings can only bee described as a true appetiser for anyone interested in beauty. The last two plates depict a number of hybrids apparently rather common in the Birds of Paradise. A chapter also deals with this subject. Well, after all this scientific nonsense, who would want to buy this book (other than a scientist)? Everybody interested in special, interesting, and beautiful birds. If you are going to New Guinea in the near future this is absolutely also a book worth looking at. A five page chapter also discusses how, when, and where best to see Birds of Paradise (also as a the tourist!!!). It will prepare you for this astonishing group of birds like no field guide could ever do. The only thing I would have wished for is more colour photos.

Hey thes book is very good i am from denmark and when i first saw it it seams like a good book, nice colorfotos of every species and easy readable text what moore can i say buy it *s*

I have just returned from Irian Jaya and spent the time looking at birds (including some BOP)and reading this excellent book. It is an extremely thorough, comprehensive and enjoyable book. Anybody who has an interest in Birds of Paradise - or indeed birds in general will do well to invest in this book. One day all bird books will be like this. Well done Frith, Beehler & Cooper - well done indeed.

After reading this book, I almost feel certain that this man ( William Bill Cooper )really did stumbled on some very important documents from the military. The proof is right in front of my eyes as I read his service record pages from the Navy on how he was absent from CINPACFLT base after learning the real truth about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But my overall interest is chapter 12, about the secret government ( FEMA )and the real purpose of MJ-12. To tell you the truth, when that television series " Dark Skies " made its debut in 1996, some of the material and information from that show was basically explained in Cooper's book. As they say the truth is out there. I hope you understand where I'm coming from. I'm still looking for more books on UFO's and the possibility of exterrestrail encounters. I must keep in mind that I cannot allow these publishers or editors take me on a joy ride of disinformation. However, "Behold a Pale Horse" is very interesting and enlightning for those who believe that a conspiracy really exist in our country. Thank you for reading my review.

This book mixes absurdity with some reality, therefore discrediting the reality, the same tactic Cooper accuses others of doing. If you read closely though, Cooper is doing this on purpose in order to appear harmless to those monitoring him. It was the only way that he would be allowed to say some of the real things that were and are happening. On later writings, he recants much of the silliness about aliens. When he states the nonsense about 1+3+3 = 7, he really wants you to read page 133 of HIS book, which talks about FEMA, the core threat to America's future, in his view. Notice how this page is also the 7th page of the FEMA part. (7 listed near page bottom.) The FEMA threat that he warned about is now a reality, in the form of the Emergency Powers Act, instituted after 911.

Outside of the books by COMMANDER X (such as MIND STALKERS, UNDERGROUND ALIEN BASES, and SECRET TECHNOLOGIES OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER) I don't know of a conspiracy author who has received so much attention for their views.Unlike, Commander X however, Cooper did not keep a low profile. He was - as they say -- in your face at all times, always controversial, aways "on the edge."Unfortunately, there is probably a lot we will never know about the life -- AND DEATH -- of this mavrick individual who never refused a dare. When Cooper said something in his book or on his radio show people stood up and took notice. PALE HORSE is a good read, though there is a lot it doesn't cover in its some 500 pages. For those seeking more timely information on Cooper's belief patterns read PALE HORSE, but also obtain the just published book by Commander X titled WILLIAM COOPER:DEATH OF A CONSPIRACY SALESMAN. It has just been added to the Amazon site and should be added to any good library on Cooper and conspiacy theories in general.

FrontPage 98 Unleashed is recommended reading from Amazon and Microsoft help desk! It has everything you need to go to the extreme with FrontPage 98. This was one of the rare books that I actually enjoyed reading. I learned so much from this one book is has paid for itself many times over.

I ordered extra copies to use in in-house training. I don't see how you can get by without it. Buy it! You won't regret the decision.

When it comes to FrontPage books there are lots of choices. Last week I spent a few hours in the bookstore trying to find the best one and I think I found it. The shelves were loaded with Lemay's FrontPage Web Workshop and Using FrontPage books. There was only one copy of FrontPage Unleashed in the whole store. I put the book down for a few minutes and the guy next to me picked it up and bought it! I ended up ordering the book from Amazon and it was certainly worth the wait. Buy FrontPage Unleashed if you need a FrontPage book. I love the book and that's a rarity.

1200 pages of excellent information! When I compared this book to others I was appalled at the enormous disparity. FrontPage 98 Unleashed was the only FrontPage book that actually covered all features and tools included with FrontPage 98.

FrontPage 98 Unleashed covers every feature of the FrontPage Explorer and Editor. These are the main tools for publishing and the text was excellent. I didn't find any errors and the book was obviously written with the final release of FrontPage 98. Some of the other books I checked had screens that didn't match anything to what my computer showed. This wasn't the case with FrontPage 98 Unleashed.

FrontPage 98 Unleashed has awesome coverage of Image Composer. There's like 8 massive chapters on graphics! I saw an entire book on Image Composer that didn't cover as much or as well.

The book also covers Microsoft GIF Animator and it was the only book I checked that did so. The GIF Animator is included with FrontPage 98 and it is userful.

You know this book is the only tell all and be all for FrontPage 98 when you get to the last 10 chapters. These chapters have in depth of using FrontPage with Web servers and advanced development. FrontPage 98 Unleashed was the only book to cover the FrontPage Server Extension Resource Kit in complete detail. You'll find lots of great details for remote administration, using server extensions with other types of servers. The book also covers the FrontPage Developer's Kit in complete detail and again was the only FrontPage book I looked at to do so!

With so much good things to say about FrontPage 98 Unleashed it is no wonder the book was recommened to me by the Microsoft help desk. I am very happy. Buy it you won't be disappointed.

I am very disappointed with Dean King's efforts here. Where is this great prodigy of maps that the book seems to promise? Much of the book is taken up with summaries of PO'B's novels. If I want to know what happened in the books I will read them, I don't need to pay 21 American dollars for that. And most of the content that is not summary is written descriptions entitled 'Here and There'. Can Mr. King possibly think his accounts will succeed in enabling we hopeless lubbers to comprehend intricate harbors and locations where the great O'Brian's have not? In the Post Captain chapter, do we find a map of Chaulieu where Aubrey fights the Polychrest until she sinks under him? No we do not. This book should be filled cover to cover with detailed charts and maps. It falls far and sadly short of expectations. I urge anyone not having been duped into purchasing it already to refrain from doing so.

I'm now on book 7 of the Aubrey-Maturin series, and have only had my Companion for the last 2...how much it adds to the joy and the education. The best part of the companion is the maps, with clearly marked routes taken by Lucky Jack's vessels. O'Brian's description of Aubrey passing by Elsinore while Jack describes his role in Hamlet as a young midshipman comes alive with both the map and the picture of Elsinore. As well, eliminating the frustration of trying to determine what is fiction (Grimsholm) from what is not (Admiral Suamarez) greatly adds to the historical learnings.

The only downside to having this companion is the irresistable temptation to read ahead...the plot lines of the first 17 books are all given in general outline. As O'Brian readers know, however, much of the joy is as much in the characterization and writing as in the plot line. So, even if you do look ahead, it in all likelihood only will increase your desire to move on to the next book....I personally can hardly wait to get to Treason's Harbour and the mood that O'Brian will create around historic Malta.

If you love maps, though, and have always used them to add a visual learning dimension and reference to the words, you can't possibly read the books without it.

In closing, I guess I should add the warning that as addictive as these books are, they become even more addictive with the companion.

Beware!

Once in awhile just the right writer comes along for a critical assignment, and this time it is Dean King, accompanied by some other worthy contributors. A globe isn't nearly enough when you're sailing, fighting, surviving and adventuring with Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, and it mattered not to me that King had to wait until there were sufficient chapters in O'Brian's incredible series (one that I look upon as one great, great book with 19 chapters) to form an adequate foundation for Harbors and High Seas, for I read them over and over and King's guide makes the repeat servings even more delightful.

Now as I travel the world in the O'Brian series I know where I am and where I've been -- and often where I'm going. The maps are outstanding (I always thought a map here and there in the novels themselves was called for), and King's narrative takes me ashore in places all over the aquatic world to round out my adventures with my favorite literary characters.

The old pictures from The Naval Chronicle are worthy -- and thoughtful -- additions to the whole fine work.

I guess I'll be reading Aubrey/Maturin books forever, and with Harbors and High Seas right at hand. Too bad the guide had to end with The Commodore but, hey, I'm not complaining. I'm happy for what's here.

Thanks to King, too, for his lexicon, A Sea of Words. That was the finishing touch for the O'Brian addict that I am -- I want to KNOW what a studding sail is, a snow (for I, like Maturin, thought a "snow" must be a white ship), the mainchains (not "chains" at all), the messenger (definitely not a means by which you might get a message to Garcia) . . .

A tip of the hat and a warm thank you to Dean King and his cohorts: John B. Hattendorf, J. Worth Estes, and mapmakers William Clipson and Adam Merton Cooper.

It is truly wonderful that this incredible series of historical novels has inspired these indispensible accompaniments. There is also the volume edited by A.E. Cunningham, "Patrick O'Brian: Critical Essays and a Bibliography" which belongs on the shelf with every O'Brian fan's collection. These books about O'Brian's books are a further testimony to the greatness of them -- they stood tall on their own, it's only that they're even more robust now.

Doug Briggs