As a child I read this book and re-read it and re-read it so many times that my hardbound copy fell apart! What more can be said for the attraction of a book?

This treasury consists of complete stories as well as excerpts from classic books such as Winnie the Pooh, the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. It has variety of genres -- Aesops fables, Grimm's fairy tales, stories from the Arabian nights, as well as more contemporary work. One of my favorites, Turn on the Night, is a great story to help soothe children who are scared of the dark.

Additionally, the book is filled with wonderful illustrations. Each story has its own style, so there is something new and interesting on each page (almost).

I highly recommend this book for good readers in the early elementary grades and for all middle grade elementary readers. I enjoyed it much longer as a child, but it is sure to be appreciated by those grades.

I can't remember a time when this book wasn't on our bookshelf in my parents' home. My father and mother took turns reading us the stories, and when I was old enough, I insisted on taking my turn to read aloud. I can't say enough good things about this collection, filled with beautiful and whimsical illustrations, exerpts from children's classics and unique stories that you may never have seen elsewhere. Many of the classic Grimm and Anderson fairy tales are presented in what is probably close to their original form (NOT P.C., but parents, don't worry - young children have an amazing capacity to absorb the grotesque without the fears that come with adolescence and adulthood). It also contains exerpts from such children's classics as "The Hobbit", "Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland", and "The Wind in the Willows". Another plus: the stories in this collection are not edited, re-worded, or otherwise scaled down for the young reader - a boon to those of us who understand that small children can and do learn "up" to the level of reading/conversation with which they are presented. Warning: Some of the fairy tales (like "Blue Beard") can be considered graphic and frightening - although small children may not be frightened at all due to a limited ability to absorb such imagery. Whatever you do, do NOT let the fear of a couple of gory fairy tales keep you from introducing your child to the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde, Kenneth Grahame, A.A. Milne, and Lewis Carroll.

This is my favorite book, I received it when I was 10 and now my son discovered it in the school library and has almost finished it all. It has fabulous stories for all ages.

Once you have spoken, even the swiftest horses
cannot retract your words. -Chinese proverb

The analysis of public address is one of the oldest sources of human communication studies. Many students encounter the study of rhetoric in public speaking classes where they are focusing on preparing their own speeches. They learn to make clear presentations, logical arguments and how to perfect their delivery techniques. By studying rhetoric, it is possible to develop individual communication skills.

In selecting the speeches for this volume, the editors were guided by a commitment to the Isocratean perspective and have attempted to bring together instances of rhetorical practices which represent the height of rhetorical culture.

"As an art, public speaking, or rhetoric as the ancients called it, is measured and evaluated generally in terms of the ideal forms through which it produces wisdom; as a political practice, however, it is measured and evaluated in terms of the material power or effect that it wields over the audiences who attend to it." -LMB/JLL

The first set of speeches have important implications for contemporary American society as the genetic foundation of rhetorical culture. This section offers speeches drawn from the Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian rhetorical traditions. They include:

Oratory in Classical Antiquity: Pericles (Funeral Oration), Gorgias of Leontini (Encomium on Helen), Lysias (Against Eratosthenes), Demosthenes (The Second Philippic), Marcus Tullius Cicero (the First Catilinarian), Moses (The Decalogue), Jesus of Nazareth (Sermon On The Mount) and St. Augustine (Sermon on The Lord's Prayer).

In Pericles's Funeral Oration, there is an expression of ideological principles like "the good of the many vs. the good of the one," that are as important today as they were in the fourth century B.C.E. These speeches also help students to develop a critical , historical perspective on the thetorical foundations of contemporary society than it has to do with understanding the cultures of classical antiquity.

The second set of speeches come from the Golden Age of Oratory and these speeches deal with individual freedom. They include speeches by:

Martin Luther (I'll Take My Stand), Peter Wentworth (On the Liberties of Commons), Queen Elizabeth I (To the Troops at Tilbury & The Golden Speech), Jonathan Edwards (Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God), James Otis (Writs of Assistance), William Pitt (The Right of Taxing America), Edmund Burke (Two Speeches to the Electors at Bristol), John Hancock (The Bostom Massacre Oration), Patrick Henry (Liberty or Death), George Washington (First Inaugural Address), Thomas Jefferson (First Inaugural Address), Sagoyewatha (Speech to the Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations), Daniel Webster (Bunker Hill Memorial Oration), Maria W. Steward (Lecture Delivered at the Franklin Hall), Ralph Waldo Emerson (The American Scholar), Wendell Phillips (The Murder of Lovejoy), Angelina Grimke (Address at Pennsylvania Hall), Sojourner Truth (Ain't I A Woman), Frederick Douglass (What, To the Slave, Is The Fourth of July?), Chief Seattle (Our People are Ebbing Away Like a Rapidly Receding Tide), Abraham Lincoln (A House Divided, Gettysburg Address & First and Second Inaugural Address) and Robert Toombs (On Secession).

Then there is a third section on Oratory in the Modern Era which includes speeches by:

Russell Conwell (Acres of Diamonds), Henry Grady (The New South), Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Solitude of Self), Booker T. Washington (Atlanta Exposition Address), Albert Beveridge (The Star of Empire), Woodrow Wilson (Declaration of War), Emma Goldman (Address To The Jury), Eugene V. Debs (Address To The Jury, and Statement To The Court), State of Tennessee V. John T. Scopes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (First Inaugural Address), Huey P. Long (Every Man A King), Adolf Hitler (Germany Demands Its Rights & The Invasion of Poland), Sir Winston Spencer Churchill (The War Situation & Alliance of English-Speaking People), Margaret Chase Smith (Declaration of Conscience), Richard Milhous Nixon (My Side of The Story), Dwight David Eisenhower (Farewell Address). These speeches chart a transformation in the practice of public speaking and address a number of key public issues confronting Americans during this time period from a variety of perspectives.

The last section includes Oratory in Contemporary America by John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Inaugural Address, 1961 & A Moral Crisis, 1963), George Corley Wallace (First Gubernatorial Inaugural Address, 1963), Martin Luther King, Jr. (I Have a Dream), Malcolm X (The Ballot or The Bullet), Lynndon Baines Johnson (Gulf of Tonkin Speech, 1964), Betty Friedan (The Crisis in Women's Identity), Cesar Estrada Chavez (The March 10th Speech), Robert Francis Kennedy (Speeches on the Assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.), John V. Lindsay (Vietnam Moratorium Address), Richard Milhous Nixon (Cambodia & Resignation Speech) Barbara Jordon (Statement of the Articles of Impeachment & Democratic Convention Keynote Address), Gerald R. Ford (Pardon of Richard M. Nixon) Ronald Reagan (First Inaugural Address & Eulogy of the Challenger Astronauts), Mario Cuomo (Democratic Convention Keynote Address), Geraldine Ferraro (Acceptance Speech), Jesse Jackson (Common Ground and Common Sense), George Bush (Acceptance Speech & War Message), Elizabeth Glaser and Mary Fisher (AIDS: Personal Story I and II).

Each speech is introduced with a head note that includes a general discussion of the historical and symbolic context of the speech. Relevant biographical information about the speaker is also included. One fourth of the book contains Speech Criticism Sheets where the reader can consider the content of the speeches, draw their own conclusions and record their thoughts.

Some of the questions include:

1.What is the occasion for this speech?
2. Identify the Speaker. What might the audience(s) for this speech have known about the speaker's ethos-public character or past behaviors-that might affect its willingness to trust or identify with the speaker?
3. What specific beliefs, values, or other collective experiences and/or commitments define the audience(s) for the speech?
4. What is the speaker's goal or intention for this speech?
5. Why might the speaker have assumed in advance that the approach adopted in the speech would be effective in achieving his/her goal?

Enjoyable to read with a highlighter in hand
to highlight various quotes of note or you can analyze
the speeches by using the Criticism Sheets.

What began me on this book was reading FDR's War Speech, with the line 'the Day that will live in infamy.' soon, I was reading the speeches from Pericles' funeral Oration of 431 BC to Martin Luther's i'll Take My Stand in 1521 to George Bush's Gulf War speech, just so I could try and find some way to link why these people had the power to change the face of the earth. What helped me understand the speeches was the introduction, a small essay about the times around the speech, such as why it was writen, what effects it had, and so on. A must for any college or high school student who is trying to look good to his or her teachers.

If one thing can be said about this book, it's that it can give you good information concerning the speeches that changed the tides of war and the hopes of humanity. it is amazing to read something that has speeches from as far back as Ancient Greece, when I didn't think speeches were made much before the Revolution. if you're looking for quotes, there are wonderful speeches about almost anything. Need to use a quote about World War Two? Hitler, Churchill and Roosevelt have speeches included, all dealing with the war that shifted the balance of power across the ocean. Go back to ancient Greece with Pericles' Funeral Oration from 431 BC. go the the Reformation with Martin Luther's I'll Take My Stand. See the political minds who shaped this country through 225 years of war, expansion, depression and luxury. Complete with summuries of the events that transpired to bring about the speeches, one can learn just as much from this one book as by reading histroy books from each era.

California has the most culturally diverse Indian ethnography of any U.S. state. Since California habitats range from coastal near- rainforest to dry desert, the Indians have developed a wide range of cultural and technological innovations to deal with it. The linguistic relations are also complex and diverse, a particular interest of mine, and I thought Kroeber did a fine job of discussing this, too. Altogether, Kroeber spent 17 years compiling and writing this great work, and it shows.

Some of the tribes understandably receive more coverage than others, because little was known about them at the time. For example, the Wappo and Washo Indians only have four and half pages each in the book, but the Yokuts section has 70 pages, but this is understandable given the original publication date of 1925 by the U.S. Government Printing Office. Since then, our knowledge of many of the tribes has become significantly greater, or at least less sketchy, but you'll have to consult other sources for that.

One notable thing about the book is the photos of various individuals, most of which could probably not be obtained today--such as the picture of the "Karok man in warrior custume in rod armor and helmut," or the "Hupa (man) measuring dentalium money against tattoos on his forearm," two truly quite striking photographic portrayals.

Despite its deficiencies (which are still modest considering how old it is), this still ranks as the best compendium of knowledge about California Indians, and one of the greatest ethnographies ever written.

On a personal note, I thought I'd mention I had Kroeber's son, Ted, as my psychological statistics professor at San Francisco State back in the mid-70's. Although I never had the opportunity to meet the father, Ted was a really cool psych. prof., and I enjoyed his class. He said his father would often tell him and his sister Ursula (Ursula LeGuin, who became a famous science fiction author), stories about the Indians when they were children, and he would occasionally regale us with stories about his famous father in class, which helped to break up the necessary discipline and technical rigors of a statistics class.

Alfred Kroeber deserves admiration as one of those men who ensured that our knowledge of Native American peoples would not be lost. He is perhaps best known as the friend of Ishi and, sometimes, for his concept of "culture" as "superorganic", but it is this work that I feel is his most lasting contribution.

Though some of the information has been corrected by subsequent researchers (checking Kroeber's work against more recent publications is reasonable), the Handbook remains useful to anyone who wants an overview or details about the numerous peoples who inhabited the state before the coming of the Spanish in 1769.

Where Kroeber is sketchiest is, of course, where the peoples had been exterminated before his investigations began shortly after the turn of the century. His work on the Yokuts and the Mojave, on the other hand, is extensive and helps us to understand some of the culture of their now missing neighbors. He has left no people unaccounted for. Thanks to this volume, interest in the California Indians has been stimulated for all time and with that interest has come a desire to preserve.

All California history lovers and anthropologists need this book on their shelves.

The content of this book is EXCELLENT. However, the "hardcover" version is just a hard cover slapped on OVER the paperback--not worth the extra $100+.

The author describes himself as a visual artist and amateur film maker. I've got news for him: he's a first rate scholar too. I cannot remember the last time I've read a book on history that was so well presented and so amply documented. If you want to understand how the US came to become a "wag the dog" TV-ocracy and how CNN could morph into a televised version of the National Enquirer, check out this masterpiece. The roots of our present day media sewer can all be traced back to Hearst's turn-of-the-century and-beyond media 'experiments.' This book belongs on the bookshelf - in a featured location - of anyone who is interested in 20th century American history. It's an absolutely stunning work of scholarship, packed with well documented detail, and completely approachable.

I have never read such a well researched and detailed examination of any topic. There are many Hearst books out there and many books about the innner workings of Hollywood but this book really does have it all.

I just finished this terrific book which I just happened upon (has it been reviewed anywhere?). As a journalist myself (not yellow)I always thought of Hearst as a publisher. This book completely surprised me in the way it builds the case for Hearst as the world's first media mogul. There are great details about Hearst's controlling role in Hollywood and puts Citizen Kane in an entirely new light. Great reading.

This book should inflame every reader to demand congress to taken action and slay this beast. From the TERMINATOR of the HOBBLE IN BOSTON to the Lawlessness of the Courts in Buford & SON to the OKLAHOMA WITCH TRIAL ,Minns exsposes the underbelly of the beast.

I am an economics professor at a university located in Washington State. I recently received a copy of Mr. Minn's book from a friend of mine at the Seattle Times. I think I have read every major book on the IRS, but Mr. Minn's book provides new facts and information. Minns not only dispells any doubts that taxpayers may have about the ruthless antics of the IRS, but he also provides valuable tips and information about tax code, tax shelters, offshore banking and important guidelines for staying out of harm's way with the IRS. I was extremely moved as he shared the blow-by-blow accounts of his IRS court cases, and was appauled by the devastating and unconscionable acts that some IRS agents employed in order to bring about charges of tax evasion. From one who has considered himself an expert on tax law and the IRS, my hat is off to this vallant crusader. I was highly enlightened and recommend this book to any taxpayer who wishes to avoid the attention of the IRS.

Here I am in the beginning of what promises to be the busiest "tax season" ever, and into my office comes "How to Survive the IRS", a pulse quickening, rapid read of struggles with the formidable Internal Revenue Service by one of the great champions of the people. I couldn't put it down! Unlike other lawyers who surrender to the IRS' maze of bureaucracy and deceptions, Michael Minns goes in with the singular intent to fight and win for his clients who have been wronged. His insight and tenacity are unparalleled, his candor refreshing and his integrity embraced by those of us who strive daily to right the wrongs to our fellow citizens. I highly recommend this book to all of my clients and tell them to pass it on. His first book "The Underground Lawyer" was just a interesting and is a must read for everyone who needs a lawyer.

This is a must have book for teachers!! The illustration in the book is wonderful! There is just enough color to make it inviting and the writing is so great. You could work on rhyming or your colors with this book. The color words within the text are actually colored that color. Ex. The word Green is written with green ink!! It is also good for special education and the lower elementary students. As a fellow Mississippian it's a great way to show our local talent! At this great of a price why not add it to your collection!

Ida Claire Does Fabulous Hair is an excellent childrens book. It is delightful,well written, has good rythm and interesting illustrations. This is a book any child would enjoy. They can learn a lesson while entranced by the rhyming, use of color and wonderful imagination.

We need more children's books like this.

Ida Claire comes to life through the delightful illustrations of Sunny Dai. The accomplished storyteller/author, Louis Rowles,creates a story of human character in this promising children's book. Valuing one's self as a worthy person, one of life's most important lessons, is the underlying theme to be gleaned through Ida Claire's adventure.

Through ear pleasing rhyme and informative vocabulary, the reader follows Ida's quest for popularity with the town's folk. Only through being herself does Ida find true happiness. What better way to teach young people about acceptance in today's seemingly foreboding world?

Great book for fostering phonemic awareness in preschool children and teaching the literary element of theme to students of all ages. A must for character education instruction!

Definitely a 5 star book whose popularity is sure to rival the classics of old.

Insatiability is one supreme novel. The time between the wars was an interesting one in Central Europe, and a great deal of truly great literature appeared or was conceived then. Broch and Musil reigned in Austria, writing their masterpieces which were virtually unknown. Celine wrote his monumental work in France. Doblin experimented in Germany and Poland had both Witkiewicz and Gombrowicz fashioning their fascinating work. Insatiability is, like Gombrowicz' 'Ferdydurke', Musil's 'The Man Without Qualities', Celine's 'Journey', Broch's towering 'The Sleepwalkers' and Mann's superior books, a philosophical novel of enormous dimensions and proportions. It is a fantastical novel, darkly utopian, in which Europe is under a fascistic regime while a Russian revolution dominates that country, and everyone is faced with a Chinese invasion. The leaders in a seemingly invincible Poland succumb to an unusual new drug religion, 'Murti Bing', and in the end surrender to the Chinese. The hero of the novel is Genezip Kapen. His adventures are in the main sexual and philosophical. Witkiewicz uses him to expound his own theories--serious and not so serious--and he goes far afield in doing so. Peopled with a vast assortment of unusual characters, the novel is always interesting, and generally engaging. Witkiewicz does not seem to take himself or his ideas all too seriously, and so in some senses this book is a tonic compared to the general 'novel of education' of the time. He paints and splatters a broad canvas in this novel that could as easily be termed 'dystopian science fiction' as well as a moral or philosophical reference. The philosophy is peculiar but certainly interesting (if only for its bizarreness). Witkiewicz, a talented artist who gave up painting, also argues about the impotence of language, the inadequacy of fiction, rejecting his undertaking while creating such a huge work. It is thoroughly entertaining, but it is an eccentric novel, from a different time and context. A true intellectual, Witkiewicz' thoughts on the many hundreds of subjects he raises are interesting and interestingly expressed. It is a bit of a grand labyrinth, and certainly will not be to everyone's taste, but I highly recommend it. It is an important novel, and an engaging one. It is worth the considerable effort required...

INSATIABILITY, a futuristic, expressionistic, demonomaniacal novel of extremes, records beneath an overwhelming avalanche of thrilling philosophical debate, the tortured comings-of-age of NOT just a young man beautifully blooming into bonafide manhood,( via initiatory sexual debauch, heady doses of ritual drug-use, and an above average nihilism )but charts in the midst of its explorations the becomings of an exemplary monstrous candidate capable of being a leader of men, yet equably capable of being an insane nobody, all the while constantly risking absurdity, and far be it from me to assault the possibilities of giving away the end of such a great work to those it will hold captive for its own. More than any novel (which its author,"WITKACY", has dubbed a "body-bag" he correspondingly fits the reader into with subtle skill) INSATIABILITY affected me to an alarming degree and, in a very definite sense has shaped the monstrous person I have become over the course of the past 10 years. Had I been granted foreknowledge the effect such a rare work of art would have had on me I cannot say with imputiny I'd have so willingly and Insatiably devoured it,(tearing myself out of the confines of the body-bag) as I have done so repeatedly since that first miraculous time I gave up my Literary virginity to its frightening wiles. And I am sure I will return to that accursed book forever with the dedication of a crushed and powerlessly fascinated lover for the rest of my life, even under the futile threat of adultery, so well has it taught me the INSATIABILITY of the human condition.

Let this confessionary review stand as a warning to young influential readers and as a testament to the undeniability of this novels strange powers which I've no doubt will work its fascinations on seekers of great and experimental literary works for centuries to come. How such an immense secret of a work as profound as Witkiewicz's INSATIABILITY has held its breath for so long can only give multiple births to conspiracy theories. When this novel breaks its silence it will be as if a ravenous serial-killer were loosed in your hometown.

I cannot recommend a greater novel in all literary history, of which I am an dedicated adventurous servitor; yet I do so warily, all too well aware of the repurcussions that may be heaped upon me for abandoning moral principles in spreading out the darkness so many have actually thought was the light.

One of the greatest exploratory novels ever written; far, far ahead of its time. Witkiewicz is one of the unknown geniuses of the modern novel and his life and work should serve as a model of inspiration and emulation by those seeking to further themselves creatively and philosphically in their own work

This book has information anybody can use. Even if your children are grown or you've retired from teaching. You probably have nephews, nieces, grand kids or neighbor kids.
Incidentally, it's never too late to learn.

This is an interesting, easy to read, informative book. Positive and full of good ideas. It dispels for once and for all the myth that some of us are born with a sense of humor and some are not. The author shows that this is not true. Everybody, especially kids, can learn to develop, and use, their sense of humor. Great examples and practices as well as interesting websites are chronicled. Exceptional children are also taken into consideration. As the author says, "exceptional kids like to laugh too." Don't we all.

Finally a parenting book that deals with teaching children a skill that will be all-important in any future relationship. It also teaches how to discourage inappropriate humor in a positive manner.

This book would be a wonderful guideline for teachers who want to incorporate humor in the classroom. And as teachers are role models for children this is an excellent place to develop this skill.

Kids Who Laugh is written in an easy and witty style and it is apparent that Dr. Franzini has an excellent sense of humor himself.

I would recommend this book to every parent who thinks that laughter in life is important.

Kids Who Laugh is a very informative, enjoyable and worthwhile book. I believe that one of the most important gifts I can give to my children is the gift of a sense of humor. Dr. Franzini, with his insightful text and helpful techniques, helps a parent achieve this goal. Dr. Franzini makes a convincing argument that a sense of humor is a learned trait and, after reading this book, I agree. Even if you already have a well developed sense of humor, this book helps you transfer that trait to your children.

Louis' book is revolutionary and groudbreaking, wow! The Latino Journey to Financial Greatness will change your life! Louis is the first and only Latino author to address the culturally conditioned beliefs about money that limit latinos. All latinos should read this book. This book should be required reading at the high school and collegiate level. The book is a very easy book to understand yet its message is pure and powerful. You will not change and you will not start your path to financial greatness until you make yourself aware of what is limiting you. Louis opens your eyes to the cultural limiting beliefs that hold us all back!

The Journey to greatness starts by focusing on your strengths and delegating your weaknesses. Despite what Home Depot tries to make you believe, A do it yourselfer is wasting their valuable time on a weakness. Some people waste a life time on careers and task that take them off their path to greatness. I ask you today. Are you a specialists or are you a generalists? Who would you go to today if you had a brain tumor, a neurosurgeon or your campadre that is a real estate agent, insurance salesman, travel agent and notary. Louis identifies this cultural barrier in his book as Mi Campadre, Consulting (Non)Experts. We as latinos do this all the time and aren't aware of it. The book is divided into two parts. The first part makes you aware about the 10 barriers or potholes on your journey to financial greatness. It is also very inspiring and motivating. Only after you are aware of the barriers will you be ready for the second part of the book, the 10 steps to financial greatness. I use the word Awareness because it is the key that Louis Barajas will hand you to unlock the imaginary door that you have placed on your path to financial greatness.

For the pastor in Indiana, thank you for writing that great review it was very helpful for me. Please contact me at (323) 890-8180. I will be in Indiana soon and would love to share my story with you and your congregation, thank you and kindest regards.

The best recommendation I can give this book is that I am going to suggest it to my congregants. It is written for them, that is, hard working, Spanish-speaking immigrants who may not understand how money really works. And by the way, I understand the book is soon to be available in Spanish.

The reason I like this book as a pastor, is that what Barajas means by "financial greatness" is not an idolatry of the dollar, but a much broader approach to true happiness. In his how-to approach, his illustrations, and his closing forms to complete, he guides the reader through a wholistic approach to life.

First is the question: what are your major life foci and roles? He gives the examples of foci that include physical health and spiritual growth. Then he deals with roles that are associated with each focus, e.g., spouse, parent, coworker. And this like every other chapter concludes with a written exercise to help the reader answer the focus question.

Chapters on "Core Values," "Ideal Outcomes," "Starting Point," "Obstacles," "Resources," "Strategy," "Practical Systems," "Monitor Progress," and "Celebrate and Share" follow. This is a good pedogogy and an integrate approach. Money is central to but not solely what he means by wealth.

I plan to give this book to my compadre, and once he has read it, to discuss it with him. I think it will help him manage his hard earned money as well as prioritize his values. And that will make him not only a more proficient bread winner, but a more grateful recipient of the banquet of life.

I could not put this book down. This book is what our Latino community has needed for a long time. I am new to the world of finances and found other personal finance books either too boring or too difficult to understand. This book was thought provoking, motivating, and fun to read. Applying the 10 Steps to Financial Greatness will definitely help us become a major financial force in America. This book has inspired me to take action and start my own journey to financial greatness. I have bought several copies for my family and friends. I am sure you will do the same after reading the book.

An amazing book and inspiring to anyone yearning to lead a Christ centered spiritual life.

I read this book in a matter of days. St. Catherine has always interested me, and this book put a new dimension to a very well-known and loved saint. Among other things, this book showed me how Catherine prayed. As she spoke to her Lord, she was filled with fire and persistence, saturated in love for her Lord. Truly a book that sheds light on the true strength of an incredible woman.

I first read this book in 1963 - as it was being serialised in Extension Magazine. I was drawn to Catherine Benincasa, the stubborn, forthright, reclusive young woman who refused to allow herself to be used for any reason by her mother or her city - or even the Church. Catherine was a woman of rare courage and spirit. She was spiritual - but that did not stop her from denouncing cardinals & bishops as "whoremongers" when she found them chasing after wealth and political advantage. Mr DeWohl's wonderful introduction to Catherine is a bit superficial, but if this is understood at the beginning the reader will not be disappointed. It must also be remembered that DeWohl wrote during a less critical age when the culture of the Faith was stronger and an effort to demean th subject of a biography was not the all-consuming sine qua non of such books as it is now. Because of this book I began to read as much of DeWohl as I could find. He was a straightforward wordsmith and his Faith shines through in every page. Mr DeWohl has many titles to his credit while also contributing to journals and articles to World Book Encyclopedia. I am very happy to see that his novels are being reprinted in time for another generation to discover him. DeWohl made saints much more real than their official hagiographies ever did. Teenagers especially will find the story of St Catherine eye-opening as they will find DeWohl's other saintly subjects were not made of plaster and synthetic feelings but were men and women of the world who overcame the carnality of life, but only through the help of Jesus Christ.