This is the first book that captures the unique culture of Thrace through extensive photographs of ancient treasures from museums throughout Bulgaria. I am happy to see that all photographs are accompanied with captions providing a wealth of information about the objects as well as info in which museums they can be seen. The preface details the history, culture, and religion of Thrace, and it's filled with fascinating facts. It gives you deeper understanding of the political and cultural complexity of the ancient world and the relationships among Thracians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, etc. There is a timetable at the end that conviniently displays the various periods in the development of Thrace parallel to famous world events.

Needless to say, the book is a must for everybody interested in ancient history. It also makes a great coffee table book, unique and fascinating like Thrace itself.

Ivan Gold's most recent novel is a haunting, elegaic, and also quite funny novel - a brave book, too, as Philip Roth callled it. It is indeed a story of triumph over alcoholism but without the "Lost Weekend" melodrama or contemporary cliches. More important, it is an engaging and painfully honest treatment of its hero's taking stock and taking control of his life. Consisting essentially of a series of vivid set-pieces - the opening encounter between Jason Sams and his English Department chair is especially brilliant - this book will stay with you for a long time. Its characters and scenes are memorable; its prose full of both play and grace.

I read this when I was in college, and not just onces. I read it many times and loved it more each time. When I told my friends about it, they went out and bought it. Ivan Gold's other book isn't as good, but this one is really quite stunning and I hope to read it again soon.