Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection is a phenomenally wondrous book filled with photographs of ancient Tibetan artwork treasures. Every single two-page spread has a full-page photograph of a grand artwork on the left, and a page of Hugo Kreijger's descriptive text commentary specific to that particular painting on the right. The text goes into minute detail with regard to the mortals and deities depicted in each work, the historical significance, and the extrapolated origin of every piece. a great many of the works naturally relate to Buddhism, and the first fifteen plates are collectively referred to as "Buddhas and Bodhisattvas." There are 72 plates total. An ideal "Memorial Fund" acquisition selection choice for academic and community library collections, Tibetan Painting: The Jucker Collection is enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in Tibetan art and culture.

This books describes in detail the author's experience in dealing with UFO. Not only does it reveal many intriguing ideas, but also it encourages further investigation.

Enrique also suggests that "groups led by super-endowed individuals who claim to have links with UFO entities... I ask myself how best to stop these evil leaders, who are so capable of corrupting people's minds and of thoroughly brain-washing them into terribly wrong beliefs. Liberation from such fanatics can occur only when we use our free will, powers of inquiry and discrimination, and conscience to recognize, fight against, and defeat all falsity and deceit." The negative evil force should be taken care of.

Ps. Rumor has it that the English translation may be modified by secret agency of the US. Anyone has read the original version?

My children, ages 3 and 4, love exploring the underground with the book's magic flashlight. They enjoy reading together and exploring on their own. This is by far the best First Discovery book series.

I remember its like a deep dive into the men's and women's soul, pointing their main similarities and their many diferences as long as they are really equals and different at the same time.

Les Miserables is not the story of any one man. Rather, it is a story of society. Victor Hugo's characters are based around one of the most important periods of history. The events and downfalls portrayed in this novel should be grasped by everyone of our present-day society. People today believe we have it bad. People today think that a day at the office is stressful. People think that the law doesn't show very good justice. People today are wrong. In Hugo's time, the character Jean Valjean was imprisoned in the galleys at Toulon for 19 years. Nineteen! And for what? For stealing a loaf of bread. Today that's NOTHING in our society. Being a 16-year old, this seems rather harsh. To anyone it should seem rather harsh. Another character, Fantine, was led to prostitution because she needed to take care of her girl, Cosette. Starvation and deprivation from society drove Fantine to this. The love affair between Marius and Cosette should also be embraced. Here, in all the madness the world is in, these two young adults can find love for each other, and make it last. And for Jean Valjean, hope springs eternal. Through all the hardships, torments, and anguish, Valjean can still find the will to go on with his life. Anything such as this which is read in the novel will not be found in present-day society. This novel shows that in a world gone mad, love, triumph, and the human spirit....will live on. It will prevail. This novel shows that we must stick together, we must never give up, and we must never let in to the cruelties and evil of our society. I am very surprised that this immense novel has not been adopted by schools for literary purposes. It kind of makes me ashamed to be a part of my society, where everything is mad, yet, here's this tale of the miserable right in front of us, and people don't make an effort to take it in. It's a tragedy on our part. I recommend this novel to anyone who has a human heart. Once you have read it, you will want to change. This tale of Tragedy, Triumph, and Redemption will make the human soul think for a few minutes, and take time out of life's burdens. Les Miserables......is a triumph for us all. -Zach Jones

This book describes in clearly language the concepts of the waterbioengineering techinques utilized in European and North American conditions. Will be valuable a version for tropical countries, because the extrapolation of this techniques should be dificult.

I do not appear to have read this edition. The one I read was printed in 1907 by The Roycrofters Shop in East Aurora, N.Y. and was translated by Lascelles Wraxall. But if this is the same work, it is a very readable book, full of the elan and verve one expects from Victor Hugo. After reading it one can see why Wellington said Waterloo was "a very near run thing." The picture Hugo paints, complete with insightful observations made at the battlefield in 1861, is one well worth reading. I enjoyed it much.

I have an original copy of this book. Yes, in 1897-1890 orginally published by the Warner CO. I believe in Chicago, Ill. It is wonderful !!!!! There are receipes, bits and pieces of lore about the people who have been in the Whitehouse. Information on healthy cooking, for the era, not recommended today. Advise on how to live, coupled with how to do your laundry or treat an ailment. Very much worth the purchase of this copy. Makes for a great historical review as well as some really fine cooking.

I read this book before venturing out on my own thru hike in 2001. The author aimed her writing for women specificaly but there is more to garner for all. Unfortunately Beverly died last year. But her writing is part of her legacy.

Les Miserables will be a tough read for some. Victor Hugo, in typical Nineteenth Century prose, is exceedingly verbose. His character introductions go on literally page after page, covering minute details that some modern readers will find tedious. Not only are they long, but they break the modern writing rule of "show rather than tell." When he presents new characters, we don't hear them converse or see their actions to form our own opinions. Hugo simply regurgitates a ten or twenty-page biography on them.

But this was how books were written then, and he did it as well as it could be done. The language is marvelous and rich, the characters interesting and complete, and the story sweeping and classic.

Jean Valjean, freshly released from a French prison, is caught stealing silver from an extraordinarily pious Bishop. Amazingly, this Bishop denies the silver is stolen, allowing Valjean to go free. Valjean, brutalized by nineteen years of life in "the galleys" and suffering poverty and maltreatment as an ex-convict, is so affected by this merciful act that he vows to reform. Seven years later he has changed his name and transformed himself into a righteous and contributing member of society, now a prominent factory owner and town Mayor. Life is good as he shares his profits and kind heart with the poor and unfortunate--until his past catches up with him. Valjean is then faced with an incredible predicament whose genius and complexity can be appreciated only by plowing through the full text.

Historically, this is an important literary work. Much of its political and religious sub-text may be lost, however, on those unfamiliar with the basics of the French Revolution. Like Valjean, readers will be better people for making the journey through this book. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Les Miserables introduces Jean Valjean a famous character in literature. This story takes you into Paris after the French Revolution and Lafayette's death, to the barricades of the uprising of 1832. It is the story of Jean Valjean who stole a loaf of bread which made him a convict. He escapes from prison to start a new life. Javert, the police inspector, who will never let Valjean go free. Fantine the prostitute who touched Valjean's heart and defined the word desperation. The Thenadiers, the amoral villians who with the other characters bring this book to its excellency. This story brings out the desire to escape the prisons of our own minds. This novel is best summed up in its title, Les Miserables, translated is "The Miserables".

Victor Hugo takes us into the Parisian underworld. He shows us the battle between good and evil. Hugo uses Les Miserables as a platform to criticize the French political and judicial systems. He probably did not expect this story to become an epic that has touched the heart for more than a hundred years.

Reading this novel gives a clearer picture of how the French government reacted to the common people. It inspires the hope of an age of rebirth and revolution. There are also many themes played out in this novel that capture your thoughts and emotions. The story battles between good and evil. Morality is also a theme that is used many times in this novel. This book is definitely an extravagant spectacle that dazzles the senses and touches the heart. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary times or someone who just wants a story that displays human emotions like you have never read before.

Cynics may whine at the book's large size. The text goes on for well over 1000 pages. However, within these 1,500 pages is the experience of a lifetime. This is Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Miserables. Hugo penned this social criticism in the 19th century. But it's message of the miserable will forever wring in the hearts of those who read this tale. (It is also present in a growing number of film versions, and in the classic Boublil-Schonberg musical.)

The story is about Jean Valjean. He is a good man, yet a tortured one. He was jailed for nineteen years on a chain gang, for no other reason for stealing a loaf of bread. The book centers on his life. It tells of the lives he touches, and those who teach him a lesson in their own time.

The book also tells of the lives of the poor and desparate Fantine. Her husband left her, and she is forced to give up her child to two invalids, the Thenardiers. She is driven to becoming a prostitute and is forced to shed her pride.

Another major character is one of the most innocent adversaries in literature. The inspector Javert is a man driven by his own convictions. He was born in a jail to a gypsy. He has tried to make ammends by becoming a Christian. It is his strong religious beliefs that drive him on. He believes that Valjean is an evil man, and he will go through everything to catch the man. However, in the end, he realises the truth that it was he who had comitted the sin, and he kills himself.

Other characters in the book are Fantine's child whom Valjean saves, Cossette. Marius, a rebel who marries Cossette. The kind bishop who teaches Valjean to do good.

Hugo collected this story throughout his life. The book is filled with his experiences and his beliefs. As a boy, he was greatly opposed to the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. His father was a French general under Napoleon, and this caused many fights between the two. These fights are quite similar to that of Marius and his father. One night, on the streets of Paris, Hugo came accross a a man raping a poor and screaming woman. The woman was the one arrested. Hugo spoke to the polie inspector to set things right. This encounter greatly resembles that of Fantine and Valjean.

Contray to what is universaly thought, the book is not about the French Revolution. The story takes place AFTER the French Revolution. In fact, the major part of the book takesplace during the student revolution of the early 1820's.

To those who scoff at the books enormous length, and go to the abridged version, you are missing quite a lot. The abridged version is a very brief, and very poiintless adaptation that contains few of the lessons of the original novel. Hogo's novel was already cut down at it's first publishing, believe it or not. To read only a 400 page book out of the 1,500 page original is denying Hugo the right to be heard.

A note on this particular translation. This translation is a new one, that was published first in the late 1980's, when the musical appeared on London and Broadway stages. It is easier to read than the prior Charles Wilbour version, but it retains every bit of writing in that version. It is unabridged, hence it's size. Also, there are selctions of the French that are still present. These have an English translation under them, but they are still wonderful, and retain the poetry of the French.

This is a great asset to any home library. I urge you to purchase it. It is something that you will never forget.