Hey everyone! Don't even bother paying ANY attention to the ...peter kline spouted in his horrendous review of The Spanish Tragedy. Shakespeare wrote Kyd's masterpiece? Give me a break! And I suppose you're also going to say that Shakespeare secretly wrote Marlowe's plays as well, right? Kudos to Mr. Richard for being a well-informed reader of the English Classics! And as for Mr. Kline, you should do some research ...

J.R. Mulryne's edition of *The Spanish Tragedy* is without a doubt the best that may at present be bought: informative, helpful, intelligent and accurate in introducing the text, presenting it, and glossing difficult words and phrases where necessary. The play is among the most exciting and artistic of its period. Kyd writes, and constructs his plot, with a level of skill comparable to that of Shakespeare, who was much influenced by *The Spanish Tragedy*, particularly in writing *Hamlet*, which is possibly yet "richer", but undoubtedly less clear and focused. Kyd shows us in an extremely sophisticated way the workings of revenge, both at an earthly and at a supernatural level. From the beginning the audience knows, in a way that the characters do not, that the supernatural world will insist on revenge. The pain of those who suffer injustice here on earth and clamour for revenge is painful to behold. Ultimately, however, in a baffling way, evildoers are punished: Hieronimo, the main character, manages to take matters into his own hands after exhausting all other possibilities, and thus ironically enacts the wishes of the higher powers. The FORM of Hieronimo's revenge is extraordinarily interesting: under the cloak of art - of a theatrical plot - he manages to kill his evil opponents quite easily. The tension between "art" and "life" is thus handled by Kyd in a very innovative fashion which still shocks modern spectators and readers. The role of language, too, is called into question: much of the play demonstrates that in real life finally action does speak louder than words, which often do not make their point or simply get ignored. Any reader who wants to get a notion of the superb quality of plays written by Shakespeare's contemporaries is certain to admire and enjoy this striking work of art. - Joost Daalder, Professor of English, Flinders University, South Australia

I reviewed this play a year ago; my purpose here is only to correct some of the astonishing misinformations given by Mr. Kline for fear that some students or others interested in Kyd might be misled.

First of all, there is no evidence that Shakespeare wrote a word of this. The play was ascribed to Kyd by Thomas Heywood in 1612, when Shakespeare was still living. The Spanish Tragedy is not mentioned in Francis Meres's list of Shakespeare's plays made in 1598; and at the very latest The Spanish Tragedy was in existence by 1592, when it was published, and performed as an old play by Henslowe. And how anyone who has read Shakespeare could possibly think the style of The Spanish Tragedy is his is beyond me; both Kyd and Shakespeare possess very distinctive styles, to neither's demerit.

The existence of the earlier version of Hamlet is not doubted. It is mentioned by Henslowe in 1594 as an old play, and alluded to by Thomas Nashe in 1589 and by Thomas Lodge in 1598 (I think). Nashe links the old Hamlet to Thomas Kyd. The fact that its text did not survive is not extraordinary; most plays in the Elizabethan period have been lost as well. The date of Shakespeare's Hamlet is almost universally accepted to be 1600 or 1601.

It is incredibly absurd to even suggest that Henry V may have been written at the same time as TST. Because of a reference to the Earl of Essex's expedition to Ireland, Henry V can be securely dated to the spring or summer of 1599. The Spanish Tragedy was at least 7 years old by then, and probably 12.

I agree that the Spanish Tragedy is worthy of frequent theatrical performance. Just don't pass it off under the mock-guise of Shakespeare.

Costain does a great job with this overview of the first named Edwards to lord it over the English throne. From the fierce but just Edward I ("Hammer of the Scots") to the effete and ineffectual Edward II to the long-reigning and erratic Edward III, the author sustains our interest with anecdotes and thorough reporting of the times. Costain has a delightful habit of suddenly focusing on a historical figure one doesn't generally hear about and then presenting the reader with yet another biography to get excited about. Well done, well written. well read.

This is one of a quartet that Costain wrote describing the monarchs and key events in European history from William the Conqueror to the War of the Roses. The history is accurate. It is always clear where Costain is speculating and where he is drawing on traditional sources, such as the various chronicles of the era. However, he weaves them together so smoothly that the reader needs concern her/himself with documentation only when it pleases. Costain is first and foremost a good story teller and an elegant writer.

Costain combines an eye for detail and accuracy in a very readable style

Triumph Over Fear is written with the compassion, knowledge and inspiration that only someone who has been on both sides of the problem could deliver. Having overcome her own anxiety disorder and worked as a therapist and patient advocate for many years before writing this book, Jerilyn Ross brings the kind of knowledge to the reader that I have not found in any other book on this subject. In addition to the comprehensive information about the nature of anxiety disorders and the latest treatment approaches, Ms. Ross gives the reader very specific tools, techniques and guidelines to follow as one moves towards recovery - all of which she has either practiced herself or taught to (or, as she states, learned from) her patients. After giving a thorough overview of the various anxiety disorders, including a good deal of scientifically based information that is presented in a very readable format, Ms. Ross presents several real case studies. Each case seems to have been carefully chosen to represent a different anxiety disorder,(ie. social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress) and the different diagnostic and treatment approaches used with each disorder. I found a little of myself in several of the people described in the stories and found that to be incredibly reassuring and comforting. The last part of the book is a supurb, easy to follow self-help section - the best I've seen - mainly because of it's practical, common sense, no-nonsense approach. I have had agoraphobia for almost sixteen years and, after diligently following Ms. Ross' instructions (even though at first I resisted keeping a diary), I am now doing things I never thought I would do again (ie. taking my daughter shopping in the mall, driving on the highway to get to work, going out to lunch with colleagues). I actually brought this book to my therapist and we used many of the techniques Ms. Ross described, such as the excellent re-breathing training exercises and "what if" challenges. Triumph Over Fear is a real gem and I was thrilled to see it on your list. THANKS

This is a good book. It was referred to me by my psychiatrist for OCD. Although it did not address my issues and help me much with my needs, it did make me realize that my problems compare little to some of the issues and difficulties other people have! I liked the book very much and found it very encouraging and informative.

Having "been there, done that" (anxiety), I've read a lot of books about the subject and I can highly recommend Triumph Over Fear. It's an inspiring, motivating book that covers all the bases.

I'd been a professional speaker for many years, traveling throughout the country giving presentations and teaching classes, then I was in a car accident and became agoraphobic. I told myself that I'd give myself all the time that I needed to heal; I'd concentrate on my writing and not travel for a while. Giving myself time to heal was a great start--I had another book published during those years (and even had a "brush" with an Oprah producer who pitched the idea of having me on the show)--but it had become easier and easier to stay home. I needed to do more. I had to "work" the ideas in Jerilyn's book so I could get back in my car and drive to the mall and go to the movies and, finally, travel again.

Jerilyn shares her own experience with having had anxiety and having recovered from it, then addresses the various anxiety disorders-agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive, panic, post-traumatic stress, social phobia, and generalized anxiety-and gives case studies that illustrate each of them. She also discusses treatment options and shares good solid expertise, common sense, and proven exercises.

Being a writer myself, I loved her suggestion to keep a diary. I also liked the idea of labeling the anxiety and paying careful attention to the thoughts and behaviors that trigger it. I worked the program myself rather than with a therapist, although I did attend a peer support group for a while. And yes, it was a challenge to drive to those meetings, but they were so helpful and necessary! At one time my anxiety had become so pervasive that I found myself wondering who I'd be without it. Jerilyn even addresses that issue in the chapter, "Becoming Acquainted with the New You."

Today I'm feeling better than I have in years. Read Triumph Over Fear for a clearer understanding of anxiety and for the proven, practical guidelines for getting on with your life. - Kathleen Hawkins, president of winningspirit.com and author of Spirit Incorporated: How to Follow Your Spiritual Path from 9 to 5

I know of no other resource that provides such an excellent, birds-eye, "young Earth" view of world history. History is really "His - Story," and the Wall Chart begins at the beginning with Adam and Eve. From there, it time-lines all the major Bible character and events, enabling the student to see who lived when and who was contemporary with whom. After the Flood and the Tower of Babel, the chart catalogs every major civilization up through 1997, so you can see (for example) what was going on in the Bible when the Pyramids were being built.

This latest and last edition (1997)presents a "good news / bad news" situation for the reader. The maps and the last two pages have been completely and superbly redone. Also the back of the chart has also been printed, devoting as much as two full pages for the major world power countries. The "bad news" is that when the secular publisher, Barnes & Noble, bought the copyright, they added a small 3.5" x 10.5" "Geochronological Timechart" on page 5. When I first saw this I thought, "What is a millions and billions of years evolutionary model doing in this book, which is clearly biblical and young earth?" But why should we be surprised? B & N makes no pretense of being a Christian company. As a Bible-believing pastor, I am totally against geo/evolutionary time theories. I have dozens of books in my library which demonstrate from good science the errors of evolutionary theory. Christians must not buy into any form of this godless "foolosophy." I do not believe in the historicity of the supposed "Jurassic Period," but I must at very least understand it. So this small Geochronological Timechart, is no big deal. Quite the contrary, it provides the creationist with a very simple example of what evolutionists believe.

Parents and teachers, who are considering the use of the Wall Chart should not throw the "baby" out with the proverbial "bath-water." In my opinion, the benefits of this latest edition far out-weigh any negatives, which any wise parent, pastor, or teacher should be able to teach around with no problem at all.

I have used the chart,pre 1997 version in teaching my children at home and others in Sunday School. I found it espically helpful with special needs children and those literally needing a picture of history. It brings our times and country into perspective. Great for all ages.

In the original version, or reprints from 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, this is a wonderful book which presents a biblical view of world history, to include a simple but very artistically appealing timeline of Adam, and Eve, Cain and Abel, Seth, and each of the patriarchs all the way down to Moses -- but intricately tied in to all the major empires in an interwoven fashion which finally makes world history clear, particularly in the potentially very confusing realm of contemporaneous concerns (what was happening in China at the time, etc). To the right of the timeline, which stretches to 1990, the thing is practically a web with separate lines to indicate the lineage of practically fifty or more major countries.

By far the most notable (and laudable) aspect of the original versions of this chart are the close adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible, along with its tacit denial of so-called prehistory.

Tragically, the 1997 version of this book incorporates a caveat that the publisher takes no responsibility for this courageous and now rare view, refering to "the Victorian elements of the chart" which "reflect prevailing knowledge and understanding" and further bleats that "any innaccuracies reflect this." How thoroughly disappointing and pedestrian. The wrong people clearly purchased the copywrite to this materal...

Furthermore, in tiny notes are incorporated in the margins near the most ancient historical portion reflect apostate views inspired by evolution theory, including the expansion of historical timelines to incorporate 10,000 year histories of north America, etc., which are in conflict with a strict literal interpretation of the Bible reflected by the older version.

Very sadly, ages of the earth such as the theoretical mesolithic, neolithic, paleolithic ages are also reported as though they were factually based, and not theoretical (as they, in truth are). These are all parts of evolution theory, and completely inconsistent with the Bible -- and which are further unproven by reliable scientific observation or experimentation.

The original version is a goldmine. The 1997 version is a sad abandonment of God's word, which was its original guidepost and anchor. The apostate newer version is of radically reduced value for learning. Again, it appears as thought the wrong people purchased the copywrite to this materal...

I read a lot of books but this book is one of the few that i would re-read again and make notes so that i can really get a good grasp of its wonderful and convicting teaching. It is also one of the few books that i can say really challenges my thinking and living.

This book also got me more interested in counselling and "Christian" psychology. Some of the views written challenges many common Christian Psychology/counselling teachings - he challenges some of Larry Crabb's views.

But besides these "differences" (which i need to look more into), i think this book is an excellent read - especially for Christians who are in leadership positions. There is always a tendency to be controlled by the opinions of man, and thus in Welch's terms, succumb to a fear of man, rather than to be controlled by what God teaches, therefore be a God fearing Christian.

This book calls us to deny ourselves, to crucify our ungodly desires for popularity, fame and good opinions of man. It calls us to see God as bigger than man and once we do that, we will start to fear God and not man. Wonderful thought-provoking, life- and attitude-challenging stuff.

This book was recommended to my husband and I during marriage counseling with a very prestigious, well known doctor.

I wish we had read it a long time ago. I have never had the biblical concept of *love* in its truest sense explained so clearly.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that has struggled with dysfunctional family relationships, codependency issues, or even just loving your enemies.

I want to buy a case of these and pass them out to everyone we know!! That's how great this book is.

Welch has written a gem on the need for us to realize how great God really is and how we need to stop fearing other people so much!

The focus of Welch's book is to have a greater healthy fear of God to the point that other people have less power and control over our lives.

The points Welch describes in his book include:

1. The fear of God is the best treatment for the fear of man.
2. Jesus was not a people-pleaser.
3. Having more fear of man than God is idolatry.
4. When we fear God we think of ourselves less.
5. When we spend more time with God, opinions of ourselves and what others think of us matter less.
6. We should love people more and need them less (only God can truly provide for our needs).
7. We love others because God first loved us.
8. When God is reduced to our feelings, He becomes less awesome to us while people become larger.

The "fear of God" may be defined as having a healthy reverence for God - He loves us and does not want us to be so afraid of Him that we are scared of having a personal relationship with Him.

Read the book and be encouraged to be more concerned about what God thinks and less concerned about what other people think!

A Gripping True WWII POW Escape Story!!

This book took me over until the very last page.

I usually don't care for reading as a past time and especially novels that take too long to get through.

I read this book over 20 years ago (and only did so by chance after finding it in the school library), because I had to submit a book report during my junior high school years.

I enjoyed the book so much I eagery and ultimately compiled a great book report and was awarded 9/10 as a grade.

Funny enough, I did so well with it that I took the liberty to re-submitted the same book report the following year and again was awarded another high mark (of course it was a different teacher and I had to re-write and date it).

In fact here I am over 20 years later I plan to get my very own copy. That's how much I enjoyed it!

"The Wooden Horse" by Eric Williams is a fabulous book and would make a perfect gift to that person who you think should read more...but doesn't.

They'll thank you for it!

Don't be put off by the recent "out of print" status, this book is a great true story of a prison breakout in WW2. You can also easily pick it up through Amazons second hand bookstores for a relatively cheap price.

Written by the escapee himself, it retains all its charm and spirit since it first received rave reviews in the late 1940s to early 1950s.

The breakout came from a novel, yet brilliant idea inspired by the Legend of the Trojan Horse- ie to use a gym vaulting horse as cover to hide an inmate who dug a tunnel to the nearest concentration camp fence. It succeeded, but I won't ruin the story with all the details, you will have to read it yourself! Rest assured the book is well written, and as it is told by one of the escapees himself it has a certain charm, readability and authenticity about it.

Getting out was just the first part, the escapees still had to travel across most of Germany to reach home, right amidst the heartlessness and desparation of WW2. I found the description of the lives of everyday German people within a major war as soulful, revealing and harrowing as the concentration camp itself.

A remarkable story, a great and uplifting novel, sure to inspire for many years to come. No mundane "political correctness" here, truthfully told and recorded with all the desperation, fear, and courageous spirit of many involved in the war-on both sides.

There was a film also made in the 1960s I think, which was almost as good as the book, but not quite. Of similar genre to The Wooden Horse is "the Great Escape", also made into a film, but the Wooden Horse is more realisitic and better done overall in my opinion.

Uplifts the spirit.

If you read "The Great Escape" by Paul Brickhill, you are bound to enjoy this book. It is also set in a POW Camp, and Eric Williams and Michael(I can't remember the surname) devise a scheme to trick the Germans.

This book was both touching, brilliant, fun, exciting and absorbent. It really taught me a lot about what life was like during WWII. This book is among the Top War books, for Sure!

I have yet to read a book by Piper without being enlightened and motivated by the supremacy of God. Far from being a boring "how-to" manual on preaching, John Piper has given an excellent primer on preaching with passion and direction in this work. This book is the application of Piper's overriding philosophy of life, that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him," to preaching. Piper divides the book into two parts. The first part is sort of a defense for his thesis being the supremacy of God in preaching. In so doing, Piper argues that the goal of preaching is the glory of God, the ground of preaching is the cross of Christ, and the empowerment of preaching is the Holy Spirit. The second part of the book is essentially a survey of Jonathan Edwards' preaching, based on his view of God as supreme. Essentially, Piper judges modern preaching with the preaching of the great Jonathan Edwards. It is most significant that Piper finishes this section by saying that one must first of all, catch a vision of the God of Jonathan Edwards (105). Piper says, "If God is not supreme in our preaching, where in this world will the people hear about the supremacy of God? . . . If anyone in all the world should be able to say, 'I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory,' it is the herald of God'" (108-09).

This is a thrilling book, which should convince those called to preach of the importance and joy of such a call. Here are a few quotes from the book which will give you a small indication of its helpfulness:

"People are starving for the greatness of God ... The majesty of God is an unknown cure ... Preaching that does not have the aroma of God's greatness may entertain for a season, but it will not touch the hidden cry of the soul..."

"God saves people from everlasting ruin through preaching."

"No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save." [a quote from James Denney]

"Don't strive to be a kind of preacher. Strive to be a kind of person."

The book has only 102 pages of text, but contains much more help than any number of longer books.

Buy one for yourself and one to give to friends in the ministry.
Highly recommended.

If I had only read the author's preface to this book, it would have been worth it. This book in meant to be read a paragraph at a time and savored. Piper's immersion in the Word of God produces a man after God's own heart. Highly recommended for anyone who aspires to the preaching or teaching ministry, particularly the emphasis on the desire to see the Word applied to their own life and those who are being reached by their ministry. Give it to your pastor!

This book is the best! I read it in less than a day.I just could'nt put it down.This has lots of action and keeps you going. It also helps me understand the hardships people had during the Great Depression especially in the texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl.I would recommend everyone to read this book!

This is a touching little book about a young girl growing up in the high plains of Texas in the dust bowl days. My mother grew up on a small west Texas farm at the same time and her story was very similar. This is well written and I hope the young author continues her writing.

I got this book for a Christmas present. I love it and have all ready read it two times!! Now I want to learn even more about the dust bowl. Some parts of this book almost made me cry it was so real.

I read this book back in the 70s and it was my all time
favorite. It really appealed to my sense of adventure and
I loved the idea of time travel. Now I love reading historical
novels. If I could find it again I'd definitely buy it
to share with my children. If I could, I'd give it 10 stars!

Good dialogue, wonderfully crafted story.

Protagonist is a girl, but boys love it, too. I read it at age 12, and again read it aloud to my kids when they were 8 and 10 years old.

I love time travel books. This book shows great courage

Until The End is the second and final instalment of Harold Coyle's Civil War series. As with the first in the series - Look Away - the novel chronicles the lives of the Bannon brothers as they continue to fight on opposite sides of the conflict. Although Until The End is the second instalment of a series it can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I would encourage you to initially read Look Away.

As with Look Away, Until The End is a splendid read if you're interested in the battles of the Civil War. This novel takes us to the end of the war and includes amongst others, battles scenes from the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, a particularly realistic account of The Bloody Angle, Jubal Early's aborted raid on Washington, the mud of the trenches at Petersburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House. Although there are chapter notes at the end of the book I certainly benefited from a little previous knowledge of these battles. If you're able to get a copy you would find it useful to have The Conservation Fund's 'The Civil War Battlefield Guide' as a reference source

I feel that the author has fine-tuned his skills in writing about this subject matter, as a result Until The End is the better of the two novels. It still has the realism of the War but has lost some of the need to over elaborate on the nature of social relationships that was to be found within Look Away. I enjoyed the focus on the Bannon's personal lives in the shape of Harriet Shields and Mary Beth McPherson and found that Coyle had developed this element of the plot in a more believable manner than the previous novel.

Until The End, as with Look Away, can not be described as high literature, it does not have any hidden agendas and it does not try to convert the reader to any particular Civil War bias. It is, however, fast paced, realistic, gritty and enjoyable. If these are qualities that you enjoy in your Civil War fiction then whether read on it's own or as a conclusion to the story of the Bannon brothers I do recommend this book to you.

Look Away and Until the End were my first 2 Civil War novels. I was not dissappointed. The battles are described in vivid detail. Coyle makes the 1860's come alive with wonderful plot AND character development. The only bad thing that could possibly be said about this book is that it is not "to be continued".

Much better than first novel MUCH, MUCH better. In my review for the first book I noticed I'd accidently reviewed the audio book. I didn't mean to... Benn M. Limburg, NL