During the high tide of the Victorian era, the political life of the nation was dominated by two men, Disraeli and Gladstone. Gladstone is an obvious choice for one of the top statesmen of the era, he was elected four times to the premiership. Disraeli was not quite so fortunate. However, given the short period of time that he was in office he accomplished a great deal. He brought the tories back from the dead, passed a reform bill and managed to acquire the Suez Canal. At the Congress of Berlin, Disraeli's command of the situation even impressed Bismark (not exactly a slouch in these sorts of things). Not bad from a rather foppish young man who specialized in "Silver Fork" novels (a fictional version of lifestyles of the rich and famous in the 19th century).

Blake's book is the best one on the subject of Benjamin Disraeli. The complex story of the novelist turned politican is brought out in all of its facets. Disraeli was probably one of the most interesting people to be prime minister (after perhaps Churchill and Walpole) and Blake's book shows the reader how he did it.

Blake's Disraeli is not only flawless in its interpretation of Disraeli but also in its style. It is a work by which all other biographies must be judged. Simply put, it is the perfect biography.

This is a work of considerable scholarship which chronicles the life of one of Great Britain's outstanding statesmen. The book covers the political life of Disraeli admirably, but also gives a view of the private Disraeli: confidant of Victoria, prolific novelist, inventor of the crouton.

I gotta say that I could not put this book down. Bob Marx has to be a real life modern adventure pirate(without the killing and dishonest staff). He has done more in and for maritime history that most academics could only read about. From all points of the compass this man has been there and done that and lived (only just) to write about it. Can wait for the next book Bob !

Another well written book by Robert Marx. Lots of treasure history and adventure. It's always a pleasure to read one of his books. If you are a maritime archeologist fan you will enjoy reading this story. Mr. Marx seems to have a sixth sense about treasure. He has a way of taking tedious daily events and turning them into real adventure. Very interesting reading, I found it hard to put the book down.

This is one of Bob Marx's best books that I've read. He is very well known for his books on treasure, shipwrecks and underwater archaeology. This book has new stories and new discoveries that I haven't read about before. Treasure hunting, scuba diving, artifacts, this book has all of that and more. I enjoyed reading every page!

My family is from Mackinac so my mom got this book for me. It did not take me long to read because I could not put it down. This was the first out of the three that I read and I'm in the middle of the first novel. They are both very good! I liked how you put some history of Mackinac in there but I don't like too much history so it was perfect! KEEP WRITING!!!!!!!!!

For those in the Great Lake States who spend time on the water, this is great fun. Don't let your parents start passing it around you may never get a chance to share it with your friends. Great reading for young and not so young!

Summer island friends from Cincinnati and Michigan sail to Mackinac Island and look for a lost treasure ahead of a deranged treasure hunter. Historically accurate. Spoon fed history in a fascinating format. Kids and their teachers love this book from an educational standpoint.

220 million years ago, Arizona was near the equator. The trees that became the Petrified Forest grew on a broad, humid floodplain with lakes and swamps, somewhat like today's Amazon basin, or a more tropical Louisiana. Most of the trees that were petrified were araucaria conifers, related to present-day Norfolk Island pines. Swimming in these waters were prong-toothed sharks and thorny-snouted fish. Giant carnivorous metoposaurs lurked in the muddy swamp bottoms, while great crocodilian phytosaurs hunted the first true dinosaurs on dryer land.

Doug Henderson's moody, atmospheric paintings bring these scenes to life. Robert Long, formerly park paleontologist at Petrified Forest, assures scientific accuracy. Veteran natural-history writer Rose Houk brings polish to the text. McQuiston, as usual, provides an elegant book design. This is a beautiful book. It would be a fine companion for (or memento of) a visit to the Petrified Forest, and a nice gift for a dino-lover. Highly recommended.

I recommend this book without hesitation for anyone with an interest in paleontology. It provides a balanced view of all forms of life evident at the Petrified Forest National Monument during the Late Triassic, from fish and invertebrates to plants large and small and on up to the most gruesome ruling reptiles and amphibians.

The text is accurate and precise without ever obtrusively presenting theory as fact. This book will age well as future discoveries further refine or reshape our view of the world at that time.

The pencil (charcoal?) and pastel drawings are scientific illustration at its best, with just enough art and dynamic enhancement to make you feel like you really are skipping nimbly around 20 foot phytosaurs, or swimming with freshwater sharks through prehistoric logjams. Each full page drawing is explained by a facing page. Scale and perspective change early and often, leaving you eager to turn the page for the next visual diorama.

The layout is clean and visually elegant, the text easy on the eyes, and the illustrations are easily seen in light from any angle against the high quality semigloss paper.

I have had this book for ten years now, and I still frequently pick it up and let myself drift backwards in time with it until I am rocking gently in warm clear waters in a far prehistoric time. This is truly a first class publication by the Petrified Forest Museum Association. The authors and Museum Association are to be commended!

This is the best juvenile seried there is. I only owned 4 books as a kid, but I read them over and over and over. Now I am trying to buy the rest of them and some are out of print! Oh that I had bought them wheni could (especially since they used to be $$$). I tried to pick up (being a girl) the babysitter's club, but that just didn't do it for me. They were so shallow and predictable. The three investigators series are quality literature, which is rare nowadays. PLEASE reprint all the out-of-print titles. Judging from others comments, many people would buy them! It would be a shame to let these go because there isnt the same calibur of books to replace them!

A fabulous book! I'd give it 10 stars!
For the record, I am educated, very interested in archaeology, but not a professional archaeologist. I found this book to be clearly written and informative, but not overwhelming with abstruse detail.
Content-wise, these bronze heads and masks are weird and wonderful, alien, unlike typical Chinese bronze finds--unlike anything else in the world really. Somewhat reminiscent of Aztec or Olmec heads. The composite bird-human figures are intriguing, the google-eyed-trunk-antenna human(?) masks totally awesome.
I would have liked more definite identification of "core-materials," types of stone, and black paint (on eyebrows and eyes of masks and heads) more maps to show where the gold, lead and casting materials came from. It would be really interesting to see a map showing possible related art styles/influences to the Sanxingdui site (text p. 32).
The photography is brilliant, and the adjacent, clearly drawn illustrations of different views and details of the objects are terrific. The layout of the text and illustrations: with notes in the second column, diagrams, and photos all together on the same spread makes it easy to get all the information. (No flipping back and forth to the back of a book for details and asides.)
I would love to see a publication relating what was happining in adjacent contemporary culures to the Sanxingdui bronze head culture. For instance, did any army have headgear similar to the bronze head on p. 95? Is there nothing left of the material that was slotted through the back of this and other heads (dna analysis?)?
All in all a great book.

This book really points out how some people have a big problem with greed. It also tells you to mind your own business when it doesn't concern you. I think you should read this book. I also recommend that you read Into The Flames and A Way Across The Sea.

William Temple's 'Christian Faith and Life' is a collection of lectures that Temple, who made a career of being a bishop (and ultimately Archbishop of Canterbury, like his father before him) in the Church of England, delivered at Oxford in 1931. These lectures comprise an easily accessible, down-to-earth exposition of Temple's theology, which has had an enduring impact both on Anglican theology generally, and practical ecumenical theology more generally.

'The mind grows always by intercourse with a mind more mature than itself.'

Temple's writing has been instrumental in giving shape to Anglican theology, which, as the 'official church' of Britain and many parts of the British Empire, also influences the theological directions of many other denominations.

'The whole case of religion, through all ages, is that it is a venture, a quest of faith.' Temple argues that to have direct, concrete and verifiable certainty of the reality of God negates the spiritual merit of faith. Faith in an Ultimate Being, of ultimate good and compassion and mercy, is central to the Christian faith, and has parallels in most other religious constructs, even those officially or notionally polytheistic.

'Faith consists so far in the determination to live and to think as if this thing were true, and to find how far we can solve life's problems by the use of that hypothesis.' This becomes the essential question in practical theology. If there is a God (if we have faith that there is a God) what then must we do? The Christian answer to this is a surprising one, given the nature of God in the Christian concept.

'The Christian conception of God begins with an exaltation of the Divine Majesty, the greatest the mind can conceive, but when the greatness and the far-reaching power, might and authority of God exhibit themselves in man, it is by washing the disciples' feet.'

The fundamental call of God, for Temple's theological construct, is the call of service to our fellows. Temple was living and writing in the post-Victorian world, in which the comfortable stability of culture, society and morals had been shaken by the first World War and the quickening pace of technological advance, urbanisation, the beginnings of post-industrialism, and a reassertion of an accepted skepticism and diversity in most human endeavours. 'Nothing comes under this new criticism more fully than everything which might be regarded as a moral convention.'

Temple espouses a strong moral code that is rooted in eternal truths, one that is nonetheless flexible enough not to be dismissed and ignored by current culture.

Temple explores the role of the church, the role of sacraments and prayer, the relevance of common Christian symbols and the activity of the Holy Spirit in this short book of lectures. Clear and concise, practical and spiritual, this brief book outlines a compassionate and full theology that is as fresh and vital today as it was when first formulated in the inter-war period. High on practical application and usefulness, the scholar may find some rigour missing here. Temple, however, took his charge, as a cleric to be an educator, seriously, in this and other writings.

This is an excellent short book on shipwrecks off hte New England coast. Enchanting lore, interesting history and stories of modern day treasure hunters and pirates. Author has series of 20 plus books on New England history covering range of subjects. Great to read while on summer vacation or travelling through old New England.

Mr Gordon does a decent job of telling Elvis' life story, although it's a story that is well known by now. The real treasures here are the rare documents and memorabilia from the Graceland archives. There are a lot of things that will be of interest to the Elvis fan. Oh, and there is also an audio CD featuring interviews with Elvis. The interviews are worth listening to once, but I don't think many people would want to listen to them multiple times.

Someone had purchased this book for me. I was so impressed with its contents/documents/photos and information that I ordered the same book for a person I know who is an Elvis impersonator. He was over-joyed to receive it and claimed he had never come across such a great book! It is a book to treasure.

When I purchased this book, I really couldn't put it down. It has some amazing stories and literature in it. It also contains letters that he wrote, letters that were sent to him, tickets, etc. This is a perfect gift for the Elvis fans!