Before I make any comments about the book, I must first declare that my review is highly biased towards Dr. Palais and his work--I had studied under his guidance for several years at the Henry M. Jackson School, University of Washington. The score for the book, which I had rated "5," is based totally on the academic value, i.e. the excellence of scholarship in one of the more obscure, yet, important fields of Korean studies.

Put simply, the book explores the state of 16th century Chosun Dynasty through the eyes of a Neo-Confucian scholar, Yu Hyongwon. The traditional and prevalent views of Yu have been that Yu was the forerunner of Sirhak or "practical learning" school of Korean Neo-Confucianism. However, Palais disputes this long-standing notion of Yu and, rather, asserts that Yu's ideas about statescraft was rather limited in ambition--Yu was searching for ways to revitalize the Choson Dynasty well within the traditions of Confucianism. This key thesis is and will be, for sometime to come, remain a contested issue among students of Korean history.

I believe the contribution of Palais' work lie in his pain-stakingly thorough exploration into Neo-Confucian traditions extant in the 17th century Korea. Fujiya Kawashima of Bowling Green State University notes "the book will remain for decades to come a cornerstone of KOrean Studies and required reading for specialists and students alike who are intersted in Confucian statecraft and institutions in East Asia" in his review of the Palais' work in the Journal of Asian Studies. I could not agree more.

I do have a couple of reservations, however. This book is not a light reading. The sheer length of the book is enormous--totallying 1019 pages. Substance-wise, readers should have a fairly good handle on the history of Chosun Dynasty, (Neo) Confucian traditions, and the debate over Sirhak to fully appreciate Palais' work. It is a truly daulting task to actually read this book from cover to cover, but the reader will be rewarded handsomely for his effort.

Although this is the fourth volume of the new edition of WJ's correspondence, in a way it is really the first, and would be a good place for a reader desiring a more intimate acquaintance with William James and his world to start. Volumes 1-3 were devoted to the letters to and from his equally famous novelist brother -- an appealing idea and one probably calculated to increase interest and sales, but perhaps questionable on more fundamental grounds. Be that as it may, as a reading experience Volume 4 can scarcely be recommended too highly. William James is probably one of the most lovable letter writers ever to set pen to paper. In these letters every sentence comes alive and breathes.

James possessed to a high degree qualities of attention, powers of observation, and an adorable desire to render experience vividly. It is a cliche to say that "a world comes alive" in pages like these, but that is the feeling I have when, for example, I read a letter written from Dresden to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. on May 15, 1868: "Wendell of my entrails! At the momentous point where the last sheet ends I was interrupted by the buxom maid calling me to tea and through various causes have not got back till now. As I sit by the open window waiting for my bkfst. and look out on the line of Droschkies drawn up on the side of the dohna Platz, and see the coachmen, red faced, red collared, & blue coated with varnished hats, sitting in a variety of indolent attitudes upon their boxes, one of them looking in upon me and probably wondering what the devil I am, When I see the big sky with a monstrous white cloud battening and bulging up from behind the houses into the blue, with a uniform coppery film drawn over cloud & blue which makes one anticipate a soaking day, when I see the houses opposite with their balconies & windows filled with flowers & greenery -- ha! on the topmost balcony of one stands a maiden, black jaketted, red petticoated, fair and slim under the striped awning leaning her elbow on the rail and her peach like chin upon her rosy finger tips -- Of whom thinkest thou, maiden, up there aloft? here, *here!* beats that human heart for wh. in the drunkenness of the morning hour thy being vaguely longs, & tremulously, but recklessly and wickedly posits elsewhere, over those distant housetops which thou regardest..."

This jocular yet earnest mood is perhaps the most pervasive one in these letters. Yet we also get glimpses into the deep and suicidal depressions he fought during his early years. Several of the letters in this volume blossom into fascinating six- or seven-page ruminations on some of the deepest questions of philosophy and religion, for these are the years in which James, "swamped in an empirical philosophy," won through to a view of the world that found room for consciousness, will, and spirit. It is in his letters to (and from) Holmes, the physician Henry Bowditch, and his bosom friend Tom Ward that we feel most intensely James's mind and heart grappling with the ideas he cares most deeply about.

But James is not always mulling over deep principles. At eighteen years of age he briefly considered becoming a painter, and began studies to that end, so it is in his character to be fully alive to surface details of the scene about him. A commentary on cultural and political matters full of interesting judgments runs though these letters. Readers will also come to feel they know well every member of the James family. WJ's letters to his sister Alice are especially remarkable.

Though my initial reaction to the policy of extremely restrained annotation practiced by the editorial team was one of frustration, in the end I came to appreciate the free hand it gives us to reread letters more carefully and to feel ourselves into the wonderful and mysterious crannies of the inner life of a great human being. To this end, I recommend deferring the introduction by Giles Gunn until after they have concluded the letters. Professor Gunn (of UC Santa Barbara) has interesting and pertinent things to say -- especially about James's relation to his father, the Swedenborgian theologian Henry James, Sr., on whose work Gunn has written -- but there is nothing there that cannot wait until readers have first immersed themselves in the primary texts.

The volumes of this series are beautiful in their craftsmanship, and it is an aesthetic as well as intellectual delight to manipulate and peruse them. This volume would make an excellent gift for a bright high school senior or college freshman, since the problems of youth and of finding a vocation hold a special place here -- for anyone struggling with a chronic or debilitating illness (James is plagued with back and eye problems through most of these years) -- or indeed, for anyone who reads!

I got this book out at a libray for a school report. I had it last minute and this book really saved me. It's got just about every aspect of Gustave Courbet's life explained in plain English. A great resource for a student or a teacher. A must buy for an art buff.

Bidinotto has put together one of the best one-stop resources on the criminal justice system. The book offers detailed criticism of our criminal justice system and sound fix-it proposals, endorsing the view that the criminal is *responsible* for his actions, and should be dealt with accordingly. Bidinotto, an essayist and journalist who has written for Reader's Digest and is currently on the staff of the Poughkeepsie-based Institute for Objectivst Studies, writes with particular incisiveness and clarity about these issues in essays providing the connective framework for the anthology. He proposes his own "retributive" theory of justice to displace the rehabilitation theories that discount the criminal's responsibility and have swamped the justice system since the 1960s. Other standout contributions include those by criminologist Stanton Samenow, and philosopher David Kelley. Although the name of Ayn Rand is never mentioned in the book, both Kelley and Bidinotto are clearly influenced by her conceptions of justice and individual responsibility. A must-read volume for anyone interested in what the problem is with our courts and prisons. ****

... This book is a simple book, it doesn't have a lot of highly technical words that you have to have a BA or maybe a PhD to understand. No the average Joe or Jane can pick up this book, read it, and realize how much God loves us, how much God strives to open our eyes to the salvation and redemption he offers us by sending His Son to the Cross to die for us.

I would highly suggest that you the reader of this review get this book. It is not expensive, BUT it will give you so much help and ease whatever pains that you have inside. I know it has helped me with much of mine.

Having read and attempted to comprehend several James novels, it was with some foreboding that I opened "Dear Munificent Friends". I was pleasantly surprised by the accessiblity of James's most prolific body of writing, his letters. The editor has carefully selected about 150 of James's previously unpublished letters written to four of his close women friends spanning a fifty year peroid---from an estimated ten thousand existing letters. These four friends were very influential in the arts, science and politics of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The letters reveal a side of James that is not commonly perceived: he was a witty, compasionate gossip. The letters are a wonderful, very well written record of the social, political and scientific thinking of the times. Did your mother ever tell you that you should chew your food 100 times? James followed this prescription and wore out his teeth prematurely. I was gripped by his narrative descriptions of major events of his time such as the funeral of Queen Victoria and the beginning of World War I. I recomnend this book to anyone who has an interest in James and the remarkable period in which he lived

Robert Cecil, Chief Secretary to King James I, sees Papal intrigue under every rock. However, he especially feels the opportunity is perfect to consolidate support for His Highness against the growing espionage presence of the Catholic enemies, Spain and France.

While the foreign spies agitate the oppressed English Catholics, Robert seeks proof of sexual depravity against his most dangerous foe Sir Francis Bacon. He assigns Henry Gresham to obtain the evidence that will fry Bacon. He quickly learns how the agitators inadvertently strengthen the position of their greatest oppressor Robert with their anti-James plots, notably a scheme to blow up Parliament and replace the Scot with a Catholic on the throne. Keeping his own confidence, Henry soon realizes that the diabolical Cecil hired the leaders, Guy Fawkes and Thomas Percy, with an apparent double cross in mind to "earn" the favor of the King. Already in danger due to his secret Catholic beliefs, Henry wonders what to do with what he learned because Cecil will gladly string him up along with the other "traitors".

THE DESPERATE REMEDY: HENRY GRESHAM AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT is a fascinating novelization of a critical moment in English history that vividly provides the audience with a deep look at surviving the civil religious squabbles that engulfed the English throne in 1605. The story line is cleverly devised so that the history with real people is interwoven into a superbly written espionage plot. Fans of historical tales including romance readers though there is no love story will immensely appreciate Martin Stephen's delightful retelling of the Gunpowder Plot.

Harriet Klausner

I think that this book is an excellent story describing many of Jeremy James' adventures from his point of view. this way of writing allows many funny comments on Jeremy's outlook on life. Reading this book will be a wonderful experience for you and your children. I nag my mom over and over again to read me more of these hilarous stories. My mom obliges with joy because she likes the stories almost as much as I do. Even my friends enjoy the comical antics of Jeremy James. This book is a must have for any fun loving family.

This is a small book (3 1/4 x 4 inches). It is almost a type of ornamental book with glossy pages. It also has a nice star of david connected as a book marker. It has songs and a recipe following each night of Hanukah. A nice gift for a teenager or younger.

The title of this book is a bit misleading. Calling it the "Major Phase" makes it sound as if all the stories are from the same period in the career of Henry James. This isn't precisely true. Furthermore, the title story (The Cage) might lead one to suspect that all the stories are from his last period.

Now, I don't defer to many people in the level of my admiration for the work of this writer, but I am certainly aware that some stories in the book (e.g., "The Author of Beltraffio," "The Altar of the Dead") are easier going than "The Cage" or "The Beast in the Jungle" or "The Jolly Corner"--that is, stories written in James's "late manner."

However, the chronological presentation of these tales, as well as the excellent selection of material, makes a fine entrance to the world of his later novels. I'm thinking in particular of The Ambassadors, The Wings of the Dove, and The Golden Bowl.

So, if the only thing you have read by this author is Washington Square and Portrait of a Lady, and you aren't sure whether you want to dive into the writer's later work, this book is a good test.