My 12 year old son, ...loved reading this book. I planned to assign him to read 1 chapter a day and expected the usual struggle to make him read it, but he loved it so much that he finished it in short time and kept telling me what a great book he thought it was. He just didn't like when a dead character came back alive to fight Rolf, or the witchcraft parts, but otherwise wanted to read more books by this author...

Allen French has translated some of the old Icelandic sagas, including GRETTIR THE STRONG, but this is a novel, using some of the locations and settings and even some of the characters of the sagas. I first encountered this book at about the age of twelve, read it many times, and always wanted a copy. The story has plenty of adventure, some interesting twists, and is a good read, but it also deals with how to face adversity and the danger of pride. It's an excellent book for teenagers and adults will probably also enjoy this story.

The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow is one of the best recrafted narratives I have ever read. Allen French brought to life this story that he originally found as one of the Kolbieters. (The Kolbieters, founded by JRR Tolkien, was a group of friends that read ancient verse in their original languages.) I would recommend it to any history buff, Tolkien fan, fantasy reader, or just any one looking for a well written story.

I read this book when it was a doctoral dissertation and then went back and read it again as a finished book. It is a wonderful, all-encompassing study of the evolution of the femme fatale, in literature and painting. It's truly a massive undertaking that required a massive understanding on the part of the author. This book was foundational in my coming to understand the 19th century and the psychological and artistic environment from which the femme fatales of early Hollywood came. My own book, COMPLICATED WOMEN, would have been somewhat different -- somewhat thinner -- if I didn't have Allen's research to inform it. If Ms. Allen is out there, I'd love to thank her personally for a brilliant piece of work.

This cultural history of French food provides essays which examine a range of topics; from food issues throughout French history to historical and cultural transition points in the culinary world. These literary essays go beyond most recipe-oriented titles to examine the foundations of French affections with food.

So good, I couldn't put it down!

Set in Burgundy in 1167, this novel combines excitement with a very real and deep knowledge of life in medieval France, especially in backwater areas. The rescue of the Red Keep involves learning about class differences, guilds, the treatment of Jews, and more, but the background is never forced, and neither are the moral lessons. It's all of a piece with the story. From another writer, it would've gotten 5 stars, but I wound up comparing this book to the same writers THE STORY OF ROLF AND THE VIKING BOW.

I read this book after purchasing it for my children to help them learn of life in the middle ages. I found myself so involved in the story I did not realize how much I was learning! It is a wonderful story with excellent moral lessons. It has interesting battle information that would keep a boys interest yet a little romance to keep a girls. I found it a wonderful resource.

The Red Keep has strong positive role models for both boys and girls. It has good historical accuracy. Allen French was a Harvard historian who was interested in the roots of modern government. He wrote a series of children's books each focusing on a different time period and a different form of government. The story is exciting, with real villians, intrigue, suspense and last minute rescues. The hero shows some ethnic and class sensitivity within the context of the historical times. It is never forced or overly moralistic. All the lessons fit well within the framework of a well crafted plot.

This dictionary is not perfect but itis useful especially ESL BEGINNER

We bought this dictionary for general and school use for our kids and it does the job quite well. I Highly recommend it!

I'm a Junior at a 4-year college; since my initial schooling for learning English up to this date, I've relied on the Longman Dictionary Of American English, A Dictionary For Learners Of English. It has been my best guide through the process of learning and using English.

This book was recommended as further reading in my History of European Garden Design course, and proved helpful in understanding the quotation of Versailles to the imperial gardens of Rome, and then lead me to research why L'Enfant would use Versailles for the blueprint of Washington D.C.

An elegant, gracefully erudite and concise intellectual history. It is a focussed and yet wide-ranging look at the function and meaning of French 18th century formal gardens, specifically Vaux-le-Vicomte, Versailles, and Chantilly. The sources cited are also fascinating, and it is a book that leads you to many others. I found it quite wonderful, and am looking forward to reading more by the author.

This a very interesting book. However, it's authorship is not without dispute. It is my understanding that the family of Saint Exupéry believe that Denis de Rougement is the actual writer of the manuscript. However, even if this so, it may have well been dictated by Consuelo so I don't see an easy answer to that debate. At least one finds out Madame X's identify in the preface.

I have read "Kingdom of the Rocks" by Consuelo and cannot state that I believe the authorship to be one way or the other; although if this is Consuelo's work, very heavy editing is obvious. The Antoine de Saint Exupéry presented in this book is definitely not the one shown in any other book I have read by, or about him and until a third party arises to confirm the circumstances and authorship of this book I would say "reader beware".

Great men often leave great pain in their wake. So it seems from Consuelo de St. Exupery's writings about her relationship with her husband Antoine de St. Exupery.

The book covers the time from when the couple met in Buenos Aires and the way Antoine (or Tonio as Consuelo called him) completely took over her life until he left Consuelo in the United States to return to France in during WWII.

For those who question the authorship, this was most certainly written by a woman who lovingly supported by her husband's endeavors. Her pain can be felt through the words relating her feelings on his inattention, negligence and infidelities. The marriage endured despite situations that most independent women today would consider intolerable.

In light of the situations Consuelo experiences; she comes across as strong, intelligent, enterprising woman. She dealt with conditions during WWII in France that were common at the time, but today would leave many people unable continue with any sense of dignity.

The question arises as why Consuelo did not leave Tonio. There are some passages that allude to the possibility of ending the marriage. It seems that Tonio would show up and create a situation where she would no longer have legal grounds to divorce.

For those who love the book The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupery, the Tale of the Rose gives interesting insight as to why the Little Prince was having trouble with his Rose.

"The Tale of the Rose," as the title states, is indeed a tale that many readers will read again and again.

This book is not one you choose for an easy read. Linda Le writes incredible narratives that challenge the reader to piece together the story. The story she's telling is of a madman who has been locked in an asylum for ten years by his family for having had a love affair with his sister. If you have issues with this story line, read something else. Even if you're able to move beyond your moral qualms with the events of the story and let Le's words absorb you into her riveting novel, you must be prepared to have your assumptions of sanity and insanity challenged. This is not a comforting book about life. It's one that takes you to edges of humanity that we don't often visit and cloaks these events in literary maneuvers that will take your breath away if you let them.

I'd recommend this book for those who love strong, forceful writing and who are able to move outside of their own personalities and daily lives to let an unexpected story awake them to other possible interpretations of life.

had I realized that each puzzle had a list of the words needed printed at the bottom of the page right side up I wouldn't have ordered this book. would have preferred no list at all, but if there had to be one it should have been printed upside down.

The word selections are all in capitals. No accent marks, no macrons. In the back of the book the answers are not in capitals, but still no accent marks or macrons. This is a serious omission for a beginner. Could cause some bad misunderstanding and bad habits. If it had not been for this, it would have been a wonderful exercise for beginners. As it is, not having any Latin background, I had to look up every word that I thought needed accents or macrons. NOT fun!! I would like to see more puzzle books like this, but done appropriately. The authors could state that the accents or macrons don't have to be in the puzzle entry, but at least let us see the correct way of spelling and pronouncing Latin words. Another great addition would be sentences from the word list, and audio to go with the sentences.

This book of Latin crossword puzzles is just what I was looking for to supplement my two teenage daughters' Latin course. I am a homeschooling mother with no Latin experience and wanted to give them a little extra to study but did not want another text book for fear of a revolt. It is an enjoyable, relaxing way to review and increase your vocabulary in Classical Latin. The words that will be used are listed at the bottom of the page which is a big help, but I would suggest a Latin/English dictionary in the house if you get into a jam. If you are a "brain" in Latin you probably won't find it very satisfying, but this book works well for beginners.