Great books for this age group are difficult to come by, and Leda Schubert has created two of them with Winnie Plays Ball and Winnie All Day Long. A hugh, lovable dog, Winnie proves to be a totally appealing character for young children, and her activities engage their imaginations. These books have the same classic charm as Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge stories, and they are enormously popular with very young children.

I am not a literary expert, nor am I well read in all of the great literature of the past, but I have read enough to say this is the best piece of literature I've read.

First, the Divine Comedy Itself. I first read the Inferno as an Undergrad in general ed. I just loved this story as challenging as it was to read. Curiosity got to me, and I bought this edition (the same as I had read for the Inferno). The book got much more challenging to read as it progresses, perhaps because the imagery is much more abstract, but it also gets more fantastic all the way through. The Paradiso definitely fits its purpose as a climax. The whole of The Divine Comedy is a good story of the spiritual journey of one man through "the afterlife" so to speak. I love the interaction the book takes of Dante's interaction with history and religion, biblical and mythical. It is an interesting perspective that shows the genious of Dante the author.

As for this particular edition. I could not tell you it is the best as I have never read others. I've heard this is one of the few that has tried to make the translation stay true to the original Latin poetic form Dante used. I also think it is wonderful, and from my point essential, that this edition comes with extensive notes that help explain in layman's terms what is going on in the story Canto by Canto as well as line by line explanations of the different references made to historical people, places, and events as well as literary references.

In sum, all I can say is that "The Divine Comedy" is worth a read especially if you are up to the challenge. I am not a literary expert; I work in engineering, but I find this the most fascinating literature I've ever read. Most of all, it is inpirational, the quest of one man to find his true love, facing Hell and more...

Those of us not fortunate enough to be able to read Italian and thus savor Dante's masterpiece in its original language have the next best thing--the comprehensively noted translation by another great poet, the late John Ciardi. This superb and handsome hardbound edition of Ciardi's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy is not simply the collected, earlier translations of The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso, which in past years appeared in separate paperback editions: This edition is the final Ciardi translation from earlier forms which were "a work in progress." In this magnificent final translation, the non-Italian-speaking reader can savor Dante's extrodinary fusion of morality with the metaphorical architecture of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, explored with pathos and sympathy for the human condition which, in the mind of Dante, constantly yearns for The All in All. A volume that should be required reading for anyone who aspires to understand man's place in the universe.

Dante, with the Divine Comedy, has produced a work that has endured for centuries and influenced many of the greatest Renaissance thinkers. This is quite a testament to his abilities. The Divine Comedy is divided into three basic sections: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante begins his travels in hell. Guided by the Latin poet Virgil, he sees kings, monks, popes, and an assortment of other people, all of whom are tormented in ways fitting the level and type of their sins. After leaving hell, he continues to the mountain of Purgatory. Here he encounters those souls who must be purged of their sinfulness in order to reach heaven. Finally, he enters into Paradise, where the lovely Beatrice now guides him. He travels through the seven planetary heavens (an interesting note on the science of Dante's time) where he dialogues with the Saints, beholds the radiance and glory of the Triune God and is told the mysteries of Heaven. Dante presents his poem with vividness and great detail allowing the reader to comprehend the horrors of Hell and the otherworldly beauty of Paradise.

I particularly enjoyed reading about the many colorful people he encounters on his journey. It is interesting to see the people he puts in hell, purgatory, and paradise and to hear their stories. Many are famous historical figures. His comedy has many examples of allegory, prophecy and even theology. He tackles issues such as the Atonement, divine justice, and free will. The story includes many references to both classical pagan stories (e.g. Greek mythology) and Christian writings (e.g. Thomas Aquinas). The only downside (in my opinion anyway) is that Dante devotes too much time to philosophical discussions relating to Aristotle, who was popular with nearly every prominent medieval thinker. These discussions slow the pace of the poem at times.

This particular edition contains all three parts of the comedy and is unabridged. The low price is a plus too. It is in prose, although the language is pretty stilted. It uses "thees" an "thous," for example. This is not necessarily bad because it makes the story quite dignified, but some of the sentences can be very difficult to understand. Here is an example: "Thy kindliness not only succoreth whoso requesteth, but doth oftentimes freely forerun request." Fortunately, there are long introductions that summarize each chapter (canto) and numerous endnotes, which explain in detail the people, places, things, and ideas of Dante's work. Overall, I highly recommend the Divine Comedy to every reader, especially for those interested in medieval literature. Still, you may want to find another edition.

This book was excellent. Not only is it reputed as having very accurate historical content, but the ficitonal stories running through it were very interesting as well. It is still hard to believe this was Roberts first writing foray. It is very easy to feel for the characters and want to know how everything turns out. I have to say that their plight was often very difficult - to the point where I was feeling quite cold and hungry myself. I live in Vermont and felt quite badly for them travelling during winter under very harsh conditions without polypropelyne, fleece, or wind-blocking layers. Plus a bunch of power bars for emergencies. I will be getting Roberts other books in this series. I'm sure I will enjoy them as much as Arundel. It is easy to tell Roberts has true writing talent.

Ten years ago I discovered an old hardcover copy of BOON ISLAND in my fathers closet. After having read it I desired to read more of this authors work but was regretfully delayed due to my formal scholastic pursuits. Last month I was in a Kennebunkport bookstore and discovered a section abundant of KENNETH ROBERTS' work. I selected ARUNDEL, read it and can't wait to move to the next one. Being an historian I had but little defense and was drawn-in by Roberts' vivid imagery and very accurate historical timeline. Having just visited Arundel I could envision Phoebe sailing along the rugged Maine coast while Steven Nason and Cap Huff prepared to answer the call for troops. The journey up the Kennebec to Quebec was never without adventure; this is where Roberts' talent for his craft shines the most: where other authors would falter, allowing their story to slow, Robert's provides his characters with dynamics that are realistic and not hard to follow. This is a book not to put down for if you do you may not know if Stevie finds Mary Mallison, if revenge is achieved over Gurelac, or what Cap Huff may do next.

Kenneth Roberts is without doubt the finest historical novelist this country has ever produced. His work is the history of America in fictional settings, but it is authentic history, more accurate and reflective of the reality of this nation than most non-fiction works on the subject. Most of the people he writes about in Arundel really existed; and some were portraits of his Maine ancestors, whose stories he tells as exemplars of the people who founded this nation. In addition to being historically accurate to the most minute detail, his writing is poetic and moving. No one who has not read Roberts' work, most especially the "Chronicles of Arundel" (of which this book is one piece) can fully comprehend the American experience and how we came to be the nation we are. "Arundel" was his first novel, and after 65 years it still shines like a beacon to those who want the truth about the American Revolution, what it meant, and why it was fought. This is a book that changes lives. It will waken the dormant patriotism in the hearts of even the most cynical modernist. If you want to know why we are here and what America really stands for, read "Arundel," and then move on to his other work.

The Interior Castle (or The Mansions as it is known in Spain) compares the soul to a castle filled with many rooms. Each room is an aspect or stage of the soul, and one can progress into and out of each room. The more into the center of this castle one goes, the more his soul is conformed to the will and ways of God. It is the most interior chamber of this castle in which God dwells. The book describes the soul's way of making it to this chamber. St. Teresa focuses her work towards the nuns of her convent, and because of her personal relationship with them, the book is written in her typical conversational tone and humility. She only loosely adheres to the analogy of a castle. However, it contains several morsels of enlightened spiritual knowledge and insight. The principles that are expounded by Teresa testify to her intimacy with the Creator. She spends a great deal of time on mortification and prayer. Written in 1577, it still contains spiritual wisdom that can be applied today to both Catholics and Protestants.

"Interior Castle" is St. Theresa of Avila's classical guide to spiritual perfection. Although written to her Sixteenth Century sisters in the Carmelite order, it is readily understandable by contemporary readers.

The premise behind the book is that the road to spiritual perfection consists of passage through seven mansions. The last mansion is the Interior Castle in which God dwells. In each succeeding mansion the soul reaches a higher level of sanctity and the attachment to the world decreases as the soul comes closer to God.

Although some portions of the book describe experiences beyond the expectations of modern readers, this work still provides us all with an insight into a way to draw closer to God. While this book does not provide us with the only route to Heaven, I recommend it to all who are searching for guidance in their spiritual journey

Interior Castle is a wonderfully profound and insightful book enabling the reader to gain a better understanding and perspective of the "levels of faith" and a soul's journey toward union with God. Written over four centuries ago by Teresa of Avila, the book describes the soul as a castle with interior mansions and in each of the mansions, there are many rooms. The journey of the soul is toward the inner most chamber of the castle where God resides. St. Teresa describes the features and characteristics in each of these mansions. One might think of the mansions as "spheres of relationships"; relationship of love of God, love of our neighbor, and love of ourselves. As one moves from mansion to mansion, these relationships of love grow and change just as the features, characteristics, and experiences of God in each of the mansions grow and change. The entire journey can be summarized in St. Teresa's words "All the way to Heaven is heaven, too!".

Joyce is hypnotized by the beauty and attention of an exotic Greek sailor as she helps him in a Miami supermarket. Though the two can barely communicate verbally she falls deeply in love and at the age of 18 marries him against her parent's wishes.

Our story really begins when Nikos takes her home to his family on the Greek island of Ifestia where she realizes the ways and customs are quite different from the freedom she has taken for granted in the USA. Finding herself ruled over by a dominating Mother-in-law she does her best to fit in. The language barrier slowly becomes less of a problem as she grows to love the island but there is much more to living the ways of the past than she will ever be able to assimilate.

This was a wonderful book filled with more than a love story gone awry. It is the telling of a past political uproar and the wars and strife suffered by the people of Greece at the hands of the Nazi's, Turks and sometimes their own countryman. It is a story of personal freedom. I would give this book 4.5 stars if I had the option and I look forward to reading more titles by this author. Kelsana 3/30/01

The Sailor1s Wife is the story of an American girl who goes to live on a remote island in the Aegean with the parents of a Greek sailor who she met at a Florida supermarket. At first the girl, Joyce, and the sailor, Nikos, can hardly speak to one another except through the language of their mutual desire, but that is enough for them to fall deeply in love and to marry. Once he has brought her home to live with his peasant parents, Joyce soon learns enough Greek to understand that Nikos is not at all the man she though he was when she married him. Continuing his career in the merchant marine, he is hardly ever home, and when he does visit, he treats her as little more than a servant. Joyce is determined to stick out the marriage, however, because she has grown so attached to Nikos1s parents, and because she has come to feel that their almost Biblical existence is vastly more meaningful than her previous life in suburban Miami. Her resolve is sorely tested when she is rescued from an assault by a couple of Greek soldiers by Alex, a handsome, young, British intellectual visiting his Greek family. One of the great strengths of Helen Benedict1s novel is that she makes us understand the difficulty of Joyce1s dilemma by bringing island culture vividly to life, and by showing how all of the major characters were shaped by the ravages of war and dictatorship. This is a sexy, sun-filled, fast-moving coming of age story, but one that never presents Joyce1s personal struggles in isolation form the hard history that, in part, determines them. I read this book in one sitting, sometimes pacing the room to reduce the tension of suspense, other times sinking deep into my chair to savor the satisfactions of this deeply passionate and sexually adventurous young woman, and still other times shaking my head at the sad and even terrifying situations Joyce was thrust into by her simple need to be fully herself. This is a smart, beautifully written tale that has permanently changed the way I see both modern and traditional cultures. I cannot recommend it more highly.

If you're interested in what happens when you fall for a dream, read this book. Joyce, the heroine, thinks love will solve all her problems, and she follows handsome Nikos to Greece. But he goes off to sea for months at a time, and she's left alone working hard for his peasant in-laws. She learns to like the life, but in the end loneliness and oppression begin to get to her and her eyes wander to other men. This book is sexy and profound, and you learn a lot about Greece and the war when you read it.

I admit, I prefer Les Mis and Notre Dame de Paris to 93. First, I expected something different than what I got. 93 is about the Marquis de Lantenac, his nephew Gauvain, and Cimourdain, Gauvain's childhood tutor. Gavain and Cimourdain are on the side of Robespierre and the Revolution, the Marquis is definately not. The ideals of the revolution clash with neccesity, and this makes the Civil War we hear little about extremely brutal(one side uses the motto, "No Quarter", the other uses "No mercy"). At any rate, along with a great deal of wonderfully detailed descriptions of a cannon rolling around on a ship in a storm, the tumultuous Convention hall, and a few other things, there are also a great deal of clever sayings. The dialogue between Robespierre, Marat, and Danton is wonderful, though I wished and expected them to be the main characters...they weren't.

This is a step up from "A Tale of Two Cities" when one is considering historical context(Tale of Two Cities is nearly totally one sided in it's opposition to the Revolution, not describing the tremendous danger to Paris posed by Berlin, London, and rebels in Normandy). However I suppose Tale of Two Cities is a step up as far as literary merit.

I have read four novels of Victor Hugo(and the synopsis of a fifth one)."Ninety Three" is the one in which he has reached perfection.
This specially applies to his plot-structure which is one of the best I've come across.
Hugo's rather naive artrifices and linking devices,which he used for making tight plot structures,but lent an unconvincing coherence in his earlier novels are absent-giving rise to an ingeniously linked sequence of events-where every event,keeping in mind the moral purposes which the novel seeks to achieve and the moral premises and goals of the characters,necessarily leads to the next event,to the climax and the resolution.

The theme,most appropriately pointed out by Ayn Rand is:"Man's loyalty to values."
How every character and every event expresses the theme is the greatest technical virtuosity a writer can achieve.
(However,as I see,Hugo's conscious intention was to dramatize:"The conflict between the logic behind the French Revolution and the philosophy behind the French Revolution.)

The plot-theme is:"The conflict which arises when a ruthless revolutionary(of the French Revolution)-a priest- is sent to keep a watch on a courageous but compassionate revolutionary-the only man he loves in this world- pursuing his granduncle-a proud,haughty,fanatical Royalist-with three innocent children and their helpless mother caught up in the cataclysm of this savage,frantic battle."

The merits of this novel are numerous.First of all,it is one of the best suspense-thrillers among the explicitly philosophical novels of the 19th century.
The neck-breaking speed with which the events suceed one other will keep you biting your nails till the last paragraph.

Secondly,every page-nay,every line in this novel gives a sense of something profoundly important,grand and dramatic.There isn't a sentence,conversation or scene which is trivial,silly or commonplace.Everything is grandiose,with a heightened sense of solemnity and tension.

Thirdly,one cannot overlook Hugo's heroic view of man.Whether it be a literate beggar or an illiterate peasant woman;a wicked rebel who can go to any lengths of inhumanity or a young soldier who has lead an insignificant life-every character has been endowed with such moral courage,focus on one's values and goals,strength of conviction,fearlesness,intransigent integrity and above all,such a capacity to value one's values-that one has to conclude that for Hugo,man was a Titan or a Giant-nothing less than a demi-God.

I would not call "Ninety Three" Hugo's greatest achievement since it's scope is rather small.Further,Hugo's usual obsession to insert long historical and political essays hadn't left him while he was writing "Ninety Three".Luckily,they maybe ignored.Anyway, I would recommend them for their fascinating poetry;compelling,powerful style and tremendous universal significance.

It is strange that although "Ninety Three" is a thoroughly interesting read-moreover glorifying humanitarianism,compassion and non-violence-it is not a well known novel.One of the common criticisms is that,as the critics say,it has "unreal characters" and an "exaggerated sense of heroism".
But let me tell you this reader:If you want to look up with a sense of worship to the image of the Ideal-the Ideal whose essential nature you might not have grasped;if you want to take pride in the fact that you are a man;if you want someone and something to affirm your deep-rooted conviction : "Yes,it is possible",then you ought to read Victor Hugo's "Ninety Three".

Hugo was a great novelist with a gift for mixing history with fiction. Just like Dumas, only Dumas is lighter entertainment and less depth. 1793 was a crucial year for the French Revolution, and hence for human History. The Revolutionary regime was unstable, faction-ridden, while the forces of the Ancien Regime were still fighting fiercely (read Balzac's "Les Chouanes" and "A Murky Business" for other great references to alter years of this period). It is also a story of generational fighting, as well as an account of heroism in both sides.

The Marquis of Lantenac is an old aristocrat fighting to restore the Regime, in the La Vendée uprising. He faces his nephew, the Vicomte of Gauvain, who fights for the Revolution. The scenery is the beautiful Bretagne, in Northern France. Hugo rounds up the story magnificently, explaining the reader what is going on in Paris with the different factions and leaders. So the story is not isolated from main historical events. These give it a full context, and in turn the story enlightens us about what the fight is about. The climax comes in the battle of La Tourgue, where uncle and nephew face each other in a dramatic fight. The revolutionaries win, but Lantenac returns to a castle, to rescue three children caught in a fire. He is imprisoned, and here the drama reaches its highest: Gauvain is told to execute his uncle. The ending is a hard confrontation between political reason and personal values, a subject explored in great literature since "Antigona", by Sofocles. It's clear why this eternal confrontation is tragic: no solution is devoid of an extremely high price. A less-known but excellent work by one of the best novelists there has been.

RABBLE IN ARMS focuses on the Northern army during the Revolutionary War, and describes a lot of incidents -- the retreat from Canada most prominent among them -- that are not often taught to today's schoolchildren. It also has a flattering portrait of Benedict Arnold, showing him as a man of action nearly destroyed by the sniping of his inferiors in Congress.

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about this era of history; I'll leave that aspect of the novel to the judgement of people who are. As a novel it's very fine. The structure of the book allows us to gain snapshots of the war, which also enables us to access the war -- another way to say it is that Roberts never drowns us in detail. The protagonist is not the hero of the book -- Arnold is -- but by showing him always second-handedly Roberts manages to avoid the "hero pulp" trap. The style is sturdy and workmanlike, and because Roberts doesn't seem to be stretching for poetry it remains readable, while a lot of books from this period have dated badly.

It's faults are few. A sidetrip to the Sac nation could probably have been cut with little damage to the main narrative -- it feels like padding. The final climax seems like it could have been played out on a much bigger scale, but this may just be attributed to changes in taste. (A lot of classic "swashbucklers" are not action-packed in the sense that a modern reader would understand the term.)

And in some ways the distancing that works so well for Roberts also hurts him, in that nothing in the book is ultimately engaging the way the best of Dumas, say, is. Still, a very interesting, readable book.

I enjoyed every page of this great book at age 14 when I discovered it at the public library in my hometown. It truly made history come to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the northern campaigns of the War for Independence. There are some historical errors as well as a hero worship of Benedict Arnold. However no one can deny that Arnold was the driving force in the success of the northern army at the Battle of Valcour Island and the next year at both battles at Freeman's Farm.

The historical characters jump off the page like Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Horatio Gates, Philip Schuyler, John Sullivan, and James Wilkinson. We get some insight into their character and thinking through Roberts' accessible writings style. Roberts builds on his previous novel of Arundel by utilizing many of the characters such as Cap Huff and Steven Nason of that fine book. His narrator is a Maine sea captain Peter Merrill who enlists in Nason's company in early 1776 and follows his travails including a long captvity with western Indians after Valcour Island. We meet up again with Marie de Sabrevois who works her nefarious schemes on the gullible brother of Merrill. How that all turns out is the underbook of the whole novel.
But the real story is the that of the Northern Army who after 2 years of disease, retreat, incompetent leadership, limited food and clothing supplies and military disaster showed amazing resilience in 1777 and defeated the British at the critical phase of the war. Do yourself a favor and read this great book. You'll enjoy every page.

I have read "Rabble In Arms" several times and have liked it better each time I (re)-read it. Many years ago as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy I wrote a paper about the naval battle of Valcour Island, fought by the Continental northern army under Benedict Arnold against the British on October 11, 1776. While Arnold's small fleet was defeated and almost totally wiped out, the strategic importance of the battle cannot be overstated. This is because Arnold succeeded in forcing the British to forego until 1777 their plan of moving down Lake Champlain and Lake George to link up with another force moving up the Hudson, cutting New England off from the rest of the Colonies. When the British did move south in 1777, they were defeated and forced to surrender at the Battle of Saratoga, and it was this battle that convinced the French to join with the Revolutionary forces to fight against the British. Kenneth Roberts' history is exact, and in fact his researches made clear some very fundimental but unknown facts about the Battle of Valcour Island. This is an outstanding book!

Finnishing Becca is the story about a girl named Becca Syng, who comes to be a hand maiden to Peggy Shippen. When she is sent there to be "finnished," the only thing she learns is deciet by the time Peggy marries General Benedict Arnold, an American traitor. This book was fascinating, and it makes me feel so cool that I now know the story of two very famous Americans who lived during the Revolution. I would suggest all of Ann Rinaldi's books, they're fantastic!!! I would reccommend THE FIFTH OF MARCH(must read), In My Father's House, An Aquaintance With Darkness, The Coffin Quilt, A Break With Charity, Cast Two Shadows, The Secret of Sarah Revere, and The Last Silk Dress. They were all fantastic!

Ann Rinaldi sets up a rich and interesting background in her novel. This story takes place in the 19th century. A daughter of a sewing mistress is beckoned to be a maid for Peggy Shippen. Peggy is a spoiled Quaker daughther who spends her days thinking about dresses. Her maid will recieve a finishing education, for her services. You have to read the rest to find out! I mainly liked this book because it had a great plot and interesting characters.
Finishing Becca is one of the best book Ann Rinaldi has written.
I recommend it to anyone who loves historical novels and just wanting a great book to read.

I thought that Finshing Becca by Ann Rinaldi was a very interesting book. It was a great example of a good historical fiction novel. I think that if you just picked up a history book and started to read about Benedict Arnold it wouldn't be as interesting. This book is a good book for people who dislike learning history from the textbook, or have trouble paying attention when learning from a textbook. The book gave a wonderful inside view into the characters, historical and non-historical. It gave a background look into what the characters were like away from the history book. Ann Rinaldi did a wonderful job and I know her other works are going to be great too. I highly recommend this book to anyone who gets bored easily by history books and still would like to learn some history.

Reading this book I feel like a archeologist having just discovered in some anchient tomb, a manuscript containing the greatest secrets to life! Prof. Ehret uncovers in simple language the most fundamental aspects about the nature of the body, accumulation of obstructions, mucous and toxins and the resulting disease, by what ever name they may be called. Also how to go about cleansing the body while transitioning to a pure, natural diet that is meant for our bodies. The book appeals to our common sense and rings clear as an obvious but completely overlooked truth.

The "Mucusless Diet Healing System" is a book that teaches you an entirely new understanding of the human body as it relates to food consumption or nonconsumption, as the case may be.The body's eliminating functions are described in great detail. Thank you.

Reading between the lines of this simple yet profound book tells us that aging is based on the progressive accumulation of nonfunctional matter within the confines of the body which ultimately obstructs organ function until a key organ fails and death ensures. The origin of the nonfunctional matter within the body is from diet. If the foods we eat are not completely digested down to simple sugars and amino acids, and these incompletely digested fragments are absorbed, they only serve to obstruct the body's internal mechanisms. Aging is based on the progressive accumulation of nonfunctional matter originating in diet. If we can eliminate more nonfunctional matter from the body on a day to day basis than is formed, we have in fact reversed the aging process. Nonfunctional matter is eliminated from the body through two surfaces: the skin by sweating and the entire lining of the alimentary canal from the mouth to the anus, in particular fhrough the surface of the colon from the goblet cells. The substance of Ehret's book is the same as that found in the HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA which is a sanskrit text explaining the scientific basis of physical immortality. The key to making spiritual progress is the complete purification of the physical body. For the brain to function on a higher level the substance in the body that limits the electrical capacity of the brain must first be removed. The rest is then automatic.

If you like historical fiction and/or have an interest in knowing what made Benedict Arnold's name synonymous for the word "traitor," Dark Eagle is a book you'll definitely enjoy. Harr demonstrates a strong ability to weave many interesting and little known facts about the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold and many other historical figures into a well-written and, at times, suspenseful work of fiction. Further, as some other reviewers have noted, Dark Eagle is rich in visual imagery that makes you feel you are right in the middle of the action. Dark Eagle should find a large audience among those who are fans of books about history, war and even suspense.

Dark Eagle tells the tale of Benedict Arnold, the most reviled principal of the American Revolution, and in the process illuminates a period that today is distant and unfamiliar to most Americans. The author's achievement in bringing life and immediacy to the people and events of this world-shaking struggle is impressive and enjoyable. We recognize the timelessness of the conflicts and uncertainties people of all eras must deal with, and Mr. Harr's success at fleshing out the shadowy forms of the history book makes the story a terrific read. Arnold was a shining star of Washington's upstart army. In different circumstances, and with different choices, there would be cities named for him across the continent, and he would be enshrined in the American pantheon. Instead his name is infamous. Dark Eagle explores the personality and motivations of Arnold, his wife and accomplice Peggy Shippen, and John Andre, an equally tragic and compelling figure. We meet many other participants, famous and obscure, and Harr's narrative ease brings them all to life. The descriptions of day-to-day life and society, particularly the Meschianza, are rich and detailed. Dark Eagle is an outstanding example of writing that makes history come alive. The historical record is accurate, and the facts are embellished consistently and logically to fill in the details, without distorting the known record. This book should be on the reading list of every high school American History course. I recommend it highly to all who enjoy well-done historical fiction ( Patrick O'Brian fans, for example ) and look forward eagerly to Mr. Harr's next effort.

Like most people, I know the name Benedict Arnold very well. What I did not know, however, was just exactly what it was that he did that made his name THE synonym for traitor. Now I know.

In his novel Dark Eagle, John Ensor Harr has taken a person known by name only to most of us and made him a real person. Now we know why he did what he did. Of course, I can't go into details as it would spoil the fun for everyone else. And trust me on this one, it is fun. Suffice it to say, if you have ever wondered just what did this guy do to deserve such a bad name, you really want to read this book. It is a great read; Hollywood should be scrambling for this one. Rich with visual imagery, from the dust on a man's uniform to crumbs on a banquet plate, you really feel as if you were there. Not only are we introduced to the main character, but a whole support cast that make this story a tapestry of period elegance, as well as intrigue. Fans of history, drama, war and mystery will all enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.