This novel gives a harsh and cynical picture of a population under a collectivist rule: struggle with bureaucracy, incompetence, use of front men, jesuitry and ultimately demoralization and alcoholism.
It is a state where people are only happy when they can steal something from the (their) state.
The main characters would like to revolt (symbol: the axe raised by the farmer against the civil servants), but they are paralyzed, overwhelmed by a too big power.
What is special for this novel is the unrelenting, dark and menacing atmosphere (one feels the disgust of the author in his own stomach).
It seems a miracle to me that this work could have been published in his Czech home country under the communist regime.
A book to recommend, although happily most of the collectivist states don't exist anymore.

This is an excellent book on an important subject. I sincerely wish it was still around. Self-esteem and a positive self-concept for children of color, especially African-American children are still areas that need a lot of work. Our world is still consumed with an abundant amount of negative images and stereotypes of people of color. This book is wonderful in counteracting that, covering all areas of life; art, athletics, academics, social. It confronts the emotional needs of our children. Every home, school and library should have a collection of the stories and letters found in this book. I will certainly use it in my classroom. I wish I had the gift of prose so that I could properly give the type of review this book deserves. Not only is it appropriate for use as a tool in helping children to realize their self-worth, it's also a wonderful item for those who wish to collect African-American artifacts but cannot afford the more costly items. The book contains stories and poems written by known writers and by "ordinary" children of 1920-21. It also contains letters from "enquiring" minds. Again, it made me wish I could own the whole collection, not just the best of.

Billancourt Tales is an amazing anthology of thirteen stories by the skilled and talented Russian writer Nina Berberova (1901-1993) who left Russia in 1922, lived in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Italy, and then finally settled in Paris in 1925. Ably translated into English for the first time by Marian Schwartz, these stories are set in the Paris suburb of Billancourt and take place from 1928 to 1940, featuring a variety of Russian immigrants seeking to adjust to a strange new land and a new set of customs. Billancourt Tales is an appealing, highly enjoyable and recommended literary classic that withstands the test of time and the boundaries of language.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Black-Bearded Barbarian, a biography of George Leslie Mackay, missionary to Taiwan in the late 1800's. What an ironic title given to a man of love and power. His legacy of love still shines brightly on the island of Taiwan in the form of churches, schools, hospitals, and many other "firsts" Mackay built to help improve the lives of the Taiwanese. Although Canadian he learned to speak Taiwanese by tagging along with the shepherd boys working near his home which at first was just a hovel in a muddy hill-side in the north of Taiwan. He studied throughout the nights to prepare himself for debate with religious "scholars" who opposed him. He prayed, studied, spoke, and eventually won the island people over to the teachings of Christ. He witnessed individual conversions, whole-village conversions and the first Christian marriage he presided. Despite his busy and often dangerous work, since he traveled by foot to head-hunters' territory, through malaria infested jungles, over precipitous terrain and waters, etc., he was non-exhaustive and able to rejoice in whatever circumstance. Reading this book is like reading the best adventure book ever. It gives a rare glimpse of the wild beauty of the island of Taiwan before all the present-day development and pollution. It also gives an account of the receptivity and simplicity of faith of the natives, eventually leading to 60 churches in the northern part of Taiwan. One would think Taiwan was on its way to becoming a Christian island. Forces on the island however, such as foreign governments, ended the peaceful era where a traveler could hear the paise of God sung over the hills and valleys of Taiwan. Mackay died early, in his mid-forties, but he left more done than undone. He never lost his vision or love for the Taiwanese. His writings, research, and archives prove to be invaluable to the Taiwanese culture. He married a Taiwanese woman and had three children whom he raised in Taiwan. He received the honorable title "Son-in-law of Taiwan", thus the "Black Bearded Barbarian" is known as by the Taiwanese today. Finally, if you find yourself "catching the spirit of Mackay" after reading this book, you're not alone. For more on Mackay and the island of Taiwan (Formosa) read From Far Formosa, written by George Leslie Mackay.

This treasury of Marian devotions is unique in that it gives the historical and cultural roots for a rich selection of prayers, devotions, sacramentals, liturgies and apparition summaries relating to the Mother of God. It was written primarily to present these important contexts and to acquaint the reader with some of the contemporary apparitons of Mary, including Medjugorje, Betania, Akita, San Nicolas and Scottsdale. A fine and inspiring work!

The Bright Lights takes us on and off Broadway with Marian Seldes. This teaches you how to act on stage how to Audition for a good part and a not so good part how to deal with hurt and disapointments on stage and being in a long run such as Equis and Deathtrap. You learn of her sharing the stage with Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Tony Perkins not with gossip but real observations of the theatre. She had to get used to a new director in The Chalk Garden when one was replaced before the Broadway but she shares lessons from that.We learn of her Expirences as a teacher in the Drama divison of Julliard. Her Tv appearnces and Radio apperance on Himan Browns Mystery Theatre.We learn how the Death of Zereo Mostel changed the course of a play.Marian Seldes came up working with Judith Anderson , Katharine Cornell and Sir John Gielgud among others.This is a great teaching book dealing with the inns and outsof the theatre without glitter and told with caring for fellow actors. In one way I compare it to Charles Grodens book it would be nice if you were not hear in that it shows how to deal with rejection.The Bright Lights should be reprinted so people wanting to be in the theatre learn what to expect along the way.

For young Katie Koenig, growing up German-American in the Texas Hill Country during World War I means fighting battles of her own. While suspicious outsiders challenge the patroitism of her tradition-bound German neighbors, Katie's own family and friends question her loyalty to Franz, her fiance, sent to fight as an American doughboy in Germany. The author skillfully weaves details of life in this community-the odors of Mama's baking, the feel of the earth in Katie's beloved flower garden, the excitment of dressing for a dance-into a moving story of a girl's coming of age in difficult times.

This book covers the most up to date information in the field of human computer interaction, also known as human factors engineering. It is a collection of papers from industry experts and discusses works in progress.

The book is extremely well organized since it has not only an index of terms but an index of authors and a table of contents that groups papers by topic.

The topics cover the most technical issues of virtual reality, software programming tools and techniques to the most human centered issues of the learning processes, keyboard styles and narrative techniques.

This book provides important information for any person that designs, develops, delivers or trains people in the field of automation.

Although this is a book focused on coaching for professionals, anyone can benefit from its common sense advice. The reader-friendly format, the clues, cases and tools divisions, and the breezy relatively jargon-free style make this a fun read with a wallop for any workstyle or lifestyle. Who doesn't want to know more about controlling clutter, simplifying one's calendar, understanding messages, and participating in meetings? Those topics and more are covered in this read it and use it now book--a terrific treatise for professional and lay persons alike.

Excellent Map. Everything you need is on one side. Color coded attractions and Metro are well marked.