"Acting in Opera" by George Shea is a reprint of a 1915 acting manual for opera singers. It marks the tail end of a long, unbroken tradition of acting books and rules that date from the 17th century. Amazingly, much of the advice and many of the rules in the text are taken almost word for word from acting manuals from the past 200 years - Franciscus Lang, Engels, Jelgerhuis and Gilbert Austin. This tradition has it's last incarnation in the stylized and quite beautiful acting style used in silent pictures - where the body was more important than the voice. Anyone with an interest in theatre history should take a look at this book - the illustrations are priceless - for a glimpse of a period when tenors were expected to do more than belt out high C's and sweat on cue. - Bob Skiba Acting and Gesture Historian

The Michigan Cavalry Brigade achieved its' greatest triumphs under the command of George Armstrong Custer. The troops were greatly disappointed when he eventually moved on to higher command. Under his impetuous leadership the Brigade gained respect for the Union Cavalry and its' famous red ties, emulating Custer, were a badge of pride and honor. Books by members of the Michigan brigade make it clear that the youthful Custer was greatly respected by his troops. The book is a useful tome describing the times and experiences of this unit. Like most Civil War books it bypasses the hardships, disease and despondency of the troops in favor of describing the battle related history. The book is worthwhile reading for students of the war, cavalry and Custer.

this book is interesting readying for anyone trying to walk the fine line of ethical behavior...

King's book deals with the performance of Arthur Conan Doyle's short play "A Story of Waterloo" by eminent Victorian actor Henry Irving and a devastating review of this production written by George Bernard Shaw in 1895. The play is about an old and feeble soldier who has played a heroic role at Waterloo and pathetically dies while reliving his finest hour, thereby bringing the house down (in the theatre, that is). King uses this intersection of two remarkable theatrical careers to consider the Victorians' retrospective glance at the Napoleontic wars, the nature of Irving's performance, which by modern standards would be inconceivably sentimental, Irving's relation to his audience, Shaw's development as a critic and playwright, Irving's leading lady Ellen Terry and her son, the theatre director, designer and Irving acolyte Edward Gordon Craig. An instructive and entertaining read for anyone with a broad interest in the theatre and (cultural) history. Highly accessible, but marred by some unnecessary excursions into academic obscurities that the opening chapters had led me to believe were going to be avoided. Still, fascinating stuff.

"The Classics of Western Spirituality" from Paulist Press has been dedicated, over the last twenty years, to producing excellent translations, and this is no exception. The compliation includes a detailed Introduction, the Autobiography, the Spiritual Excerices, and fragments of the Constitutions and the Spiritual Diary. Though it would have benefited from the inclusion of the Formula - an essential document in its own right - this volume provides intelligent translations and crtical explorations into the sometimes-confusing meaning of Ignatius' prose. The selections from the Diary are especially recommended, as they comprise - to my knowledge - the only fragments translated into English, and are thoughtfully printed so as to give the reader a feel for the outlay of the work, scribbled in Ignatius' journal. Highly recommended.

This book contains excellent choices from the writings of Jonathan Edwards, the first great philosopher in the American colonies, including some of his earliest writings, mostly just philosophical or biological musings. It reflects some interesting developments in the maturation of his thinking. It also has letters to friends, colleagues, and family members. Some of his most well-known sermons are alongside some representative samples of his sermons. Unfortunately, there is room for only excerpts from his longer works, such as The Religious Affections, but that can't be helped in an affordable popular anthology. If you want all of his works, but the complete works from the same publisher. If you just want a representative sample of some of the best works of this great theologian and philosopher, get this.

For 130 years, there have been articles and editorials addressing these hangings, always taking the moral high ground and ignoring the less than heroic actions of the Military in the absence of law and order. Few accounts have really tried to understand feelings and situations of the people involved. Just as they were easy targets for Picket in 1864, the illiterate farmers continued through the years since to be easy targets for writers appealing to Southern emotion. For 130 years, there has been a need for an unvarnished look at the actions and incentives of all involved. There is an even greater need to remind all people of the horrors of any civil war and to remind those in the military of the need for ethics and compassion in the absence of law and order. The thought provoking approach of "Justice or Atrocity" fills a wide gap in the teaching of Southern History and provides a needed lesson in ethics and compassion.

This is a very good book, not just on the subject of Alleyn, but on the subject of theatre in Elizabethan times. Even better than I had hoped.

My professor suggested this book and deemed it the "Bible on Evidence". I bought it and it is. A great book that will clear up many of your questions. If you don't understand what your law professor is saying, this book will make it clearer.

This book is an excellent observation of the president's limited focus and capital and shows how he is streched in the very harsh ways of a presidency