James Legge was a 19th-century Scottish missionary to China. This is his translation of the "Four Books" and three of the "Five Classics." The translations are dated, and Legge's interpretations of the texts are often old-fashioned, but these are still important and useful translations.

Of the "Five Classics," Legge translates the Book of Documents (a collection of historical texts), the Spring and Autumn Annals (another historical work; Legge also includes his translation of the Tso Commentary on this), and the Book of Odes. (The other two of the five are the Record of Rites and the I Ching, which Legge also translated, but which are not in this collection.) The "Five Classics" have been central texts of Confucianism since about the time of Christ.

The "Four Books" are the Great Learning, the Analects of Confucius, the sayings of the later Confucian Mencius, and the Doctrine of the Mean. These texts are all quite old, but they were grouped together, and made the basis of the Confucian educational curriculum, around the 12th century A.D.

Part of what makes Legge's translations so helpful is that he includes the Chinese text, along with extensive interpretive notes, introductions, and glossaries. This can be a little overwhelming for the beginner, but it's fun to have all the information in one place.

One caution: This set is normally in 5 volumes. I assume that this edition has combined the 1st and 2nd volumes (the "Four Books") into one volume, but it is possible that this edition does not include all that I think it does.

Doc May is currently my professor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. He is one of the most brilliant men that I have ever met. We got to read his book before it was published for a literature class. It is a very good translation. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

The E.J. Brill Academic Press graciously reprinted the full Nag Hammadi library, which had previously only been available in 13 hardcover volumes at a price of $2000 (or was it only $1995? I forget...). Even at $500 the books are pricey, but given the fact that not everyone reads or cares to learn to read Coptic, I can understand the reasons behind the pricing. Each text from the Nag Hammadi Codices is presented in its original Coptic form along with an English translation mirroring the Coptic (i.e., the page on the left is Coptic and the page on the right is the English translation) along with an extensive and insightful critical apparatus linking the texts to the Greek New Testament, the Vulgate, writings of the early Church fathers, and other Nag Hammadi and Coptic works. Obviously, if you just want to read a translation you can buy one of any number of translations in one book for $30 and be satisfied. However, if you are a serious student of Early Christianity, the Coptic language, Egyptology or the like, this work has been extremely well researched, put together by specialists in the field with the utmost care, and presented in an accessible format. I highly recommend!

Jane Varkaris undoutedky is THE worlds leading expert on the rather specialised subject of CLOCKS made in Canada. Her book fills a huge void in most horological libraries, there simply was nothing published on the subject.

The book offers the only comprehensive history existing of the Pequegnat clock manufacturing company.

A MUST for the collector of CANADIAN CLOCKS.

Reviewed by Fortunat Mueller-MAerki, Publisher of HOROLOGY-THE INDEX

This book has to be one of the best ive ever rear about early fords and the pictures are just amazing.. words cant describe this so i wont even try.....

The problem with the early middle ages is that most History classes tend to speed through it too fast b/c; (1) It's not quite as exciting as the later medieval ages and the Renaissance; and (2) I believe the reason for this is b/c there just isn't as much documentation for the early middle ages.

But, in actuality, there's a lot to the early middle ages and this book is a quick read for those who just want to get a coverage but not a textbook equivalent of the era.

Contents/highlights include: (1) Barbarian invasions which resulted in the fall of the Roman Empire; (2) the ascension of the Franks in Gaul; (3) the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east in Constantinople; (4) the spread of the Roman Catholic Church and all the various orders and sects it formed during the early Middle Ages; (5) Charlemagne's Empire, its dissolution and the Treaty of Verdun; (6) the emergence of feudalism; (7) the Byzantine Empire and the iconoclasts; (8) the spread of Islam and the conquests which followed; includes Mohammed and Mecca, of course; (9) the vikings and their many raids; they were the last of the various barbarian invasions in Europe; and (10) the end of the early Middle Ages.

I recommend this book to people when they want to learn more about the early Middle Ages.

This work of fiction takes place in Nero's Rome between A.D. 54 and A.D. 68. Political turbulence and social instability are the norm, incorporating evil, corruption, immorality, sometimes in graphic and gruesome descriptions. In these conditions Christians gather to form a church, cope with opposition and work out their faith in daily circumstances, even as they find disagreements in their own ranks. Exciting, attention holding, thought provoking, historically accurate--all these I found contributed to a "good read."

I read these translations before they were published, and can attest that they are extremely accurate and readable. Unlike most translators, Nichols strives for the highest level of accuracy and consistency. Key Greek words are translated consistently throughout, allowing the reader to follow their usage throughout the diallogues and see how Plato subtly plays with their meaning. Also, the footnotes are both helpful and exhaustive.

Anyone who read and enjoyed Allan Bloom's famous translation of the Republic will also enjoy these -- they are written in the same spirit. Don't waste your money on any other translation of these dialogues.

Oh, and I might add, the dialogues themselves are masterpieces of philosophy, and of Western literature. The Gorgias may well be, after the Republic and the Laws, Plato's thrid most important work. Must reading for anyone concerned about the fate of justice and morality in these troubled times.

The content and context held much interest because of its well-presented subject matter.

For an inquiry, A GUIDE TO FRENCH LITERATURE: FROM EARLY MODERN TO POSTMODERN really came in handy for a quick reference and for a well-done narrative that read almost like a novel. Recently someone had mentioned the poet Lamartine to me. Coincidentally, this book for personal enjoyment included the needed reference about his work. Later, the excellent index led back to the relevant text and the end notes (a bibliography by itself!). The easy access to needed information and the highly readable narrative to pleasant reading yielded an overall excellent book.

The content covered a broad sweep of literary, sociological, political, and intellectual history with emphasis on explicating the literary. The clearly written, chronological organization from 1515 and onwards joined to build both an enlightening narrative and a reference book. The French-English translations in the narrative (except for titles) enlivened otherwise word-for-word ones; just the right amount of these additions (divergences) supported the text. A balanced amount of political, sociological, and intellectual background illuminated the writers' prose, poetry, and drama. These writers' comparative viewpoints with predecessors, contemporaries, and successors provided depth; while the literary details remained securely afloat to take along this reader.

The cover design depicting Pissarro's 'Rue Saint-Honore, Effect of Rain' with its picturesque city-life and its swiftly moving clouds over the rooftops, pedestrians, and carriages convinced one to sit with this book in a warm, dry place until the final page.

Holding Aloft the Banner of Ethiopia is required reading for anyone interested in the history of Black radicalism in the United States, particularly the singular role played by people of Caribbean descent. Professor James skillfully examines the history and political economy of race relations in the French and Spanish speaking Caribbean. Here is the background of the African Blood Brotherhood led by Cyril Briggs and the Universal Negro Improvement Association led by Marcus Garvey. Moreover, this is the background of the singular Arthur Schomburg (actually Arturo Schomburg) who founded the pivotal Harlem library and research center. There is an important analysis of Hubert H. Harrison's role in inspiring Harlem's Black radicalism. Furthermore, this is the complex history of Jesus Colon's ideas on race and class. In conclusion, this book is essential to an understanding of 20th Black radicalism, modern Black leadership, and the background to Black Power. While we are waiting for Jeff Perry's biography of Hubert H. Harrison, the Black Socrates of the Harlem Renaissance, this is as good as it gets!