Don't let the dismal fact that this book is twenty-zillionth on the bestseller list discourageth you.... it is well worth orderething.

I first came to this book through the published endorsement (hence, not personal) of the great C.S. Lewis, who made his first reading of the Well in November of 1914. He read it many times thereafter.

In my ONE reading of the two volumes, I can attest to the fact that this is a beautiful story, a rich fantasy, a vibrant fairy-tale with no fairies. Among other things... a love story. Strictly speaking, as regards genre, it is a "romance". The chivalric, bardic story of Ralph of Upmeads, the least likely of the King's four sons, who devotes his life to the quest of the Well at The World's End... a fabled well which promises to reward its discoverer with perpetual youth.

If you are in love with Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings (and who isn't) you should definitely consider having an affair with The Well At The World's End. Let me defuse the daunting issue of Morris's use of archaic language. Be ye warned, in every sentence you will constantly encounter words such as forsooth, hitherward, quoth, whither, rideth, erstwhile, deem, draweth, betwixt, and I wot not else. At first I thought this would be really intolerable. But I quickly adapted to it, and even found it kind of "not vile".

Remember... Volume 2 is essential. It's NOT a sequel, it's a conclusion. Get both volumes, and escape the world of car horns and remote control for a bit.

I applaud this new re-issue of what is definitely a fantasy classic. Previously, one had to search a hundred used-book stores to find it. Now it's a click away.

And as regards it's place on the bestseller list? I am reminded of the wise words of the great Henrik Ibsen, who once suggested that "the solid majority is always wrong."

I rank this book up there with the Gormenghast series and the Lord of the Rings. A fantasy masterpiece, it is the precursor for everything that came after. Yes, the archaic medieval language is tough to get into at first, but after ten or twenty pages it becomes natural to the mind and presents no problem. One sees that the language is part of the beauty. Overall, this book is like one of those medieval detailed tapestries, with kings, adventurers, knights and noble women trotting through forests toward distant castles. This is medieval romance at its finest, and because it dates from 1898, it is happily free of the Tolkien imitativeness that has so infected a large portion of modern fantasy. Forget Terry Brooks, read The Well At the World's End.

I've been interested in the history of fantasy for a while, and I was definately intrigued when I happened upon this title. I immediately ordered it and read it. The Well at the World's End is marvelous. Every once in a while I start wanting to read a romance, and this is a good romance. The story is pretty original and was very different for its time. The story follows Ralph as he searches for the WELL AT THE WORLD'S END. He has enemies and intrigued galor to fight through. Along the way, there is also a love story, too.

The Well at the World's End is a good read even for modern readers. It is an excellent example of "romance." It is also good just as a curiosity read. Fans of Tolkien, Lewis, and Eliot should visit William Morris's writings. Personally, my favorite thing about the book was the archaic prose. For the first twenty pages I thought it would be bothersome. After that, I was used to it and the book flowed nicely. It is sad that few people read William Morris today.

I wonder if the good folk at the end of the 19th century when this poem was originally published were just too obtuse to understand the gist of Rossetti's work; if so, we have an innocent artifact that has evolved into something erotic because of our twentieth century sensibilities (we have dirtier minds than our compatriots from the past).

Don't let the word "erotica" scare you away. This is not a blatantly sexual work in its language; it is not a "dirty" book. Just understand that despite what anyone else says or writes, this is about as unambiguously EROTIC as you can get. With phrasing like "Eat me, drink me, love me; Laura, make much of me; For your sake I have braved the glen; And had to do with goblin merchant men."

Since the original work is now in the public domain, if you want to read the full text online just do a search using most standard search engines with the terms "Christina Rossetti Goblin Market" and you should turn up a number of links to the actual poems, go read it, and decide for yourself about it.

This makes a wonderful gift for people you are very close too. However, it is also a very personal poem, and if given inappropriately could actually scare someone away!

A children tale for adults. It's a light and thoughtful reading. The story of two sisters and lewd goblin men. Innocence, temptation and emotions all together. This inspiring story has wonderful work of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

This tale is not about sexuality but about redemption and the need to help others. Read deep into the story to find the meaning that Rossetti intended.

Beth Russell is a master at creating easy to follow charts for needlepoint projects. Her color changes are particularly easy to follow. Any figure, flower or section of her designs can easily be separated and converted for use wherever wanted.

I got hooked on Needlepoint books once I discovered it was much cheaper to buy your own wools and canvases. Not to mention you don't have to try and figure out where all the printed lines REALLY belong!

First let me say that Beth Russell is not necessarily the place for beginners to start. The designs are detailed, and the charts are detailed, and the canvas is usually smaller than, say, Elizabeth Bradley. For those needlepointers with some experience, however, you will enjoy the challenge of translating these beautiful Morris-inspired designs into art for your home.

Some of the best I've done include the Morris Lion (a wonderful medieval-looking lion with an ornate tapestry background), the orange pillow (on the cover), and the woodpecker tapestry

William Morris is well-known for his intricate designs and wonderful harmonies. He was also a dedicated designer for needlework of many types. In Beth Russell, Morris has found a faithful and dedicated translator of his work for today's stitchers. This book is full of wonderful designs and charts which allow you to create Morris designs for yourself. From the wonderful, enormous Raven tapestry, to the simple fruit pillows, this book is a treasure to dream over or stitch from

I could not expect anything more from a thesauras. This has all the words I, through my preteen years, have needed, without boggling my mind with lots of words that I never try to use. I don't feel overwhelmed, but I DO find the information I need.

This thesaurus is:
Fantastic
Excellent
High Quality
Stupendous
Superiour
and least, but not last, very good!

All joking aside, it's a thesaurus. It's a good value and as good as any other thesaurus.

_The_Clear_and_Simple_Thesaurus_Dictionary is the most practical thesaurus I have found for use with my fourth- and fifth-grade students. Unlike many thesauruses, it is formatted in a style that students (and adults!) will find familiar and easy to use. While not as comprehensive in scope as those designed for college use, this thesaurus allows students the satisfaction of finding synonyms or associated words for almost any word they might need. I had not found this to be true of other "beginning" thesauruses, which was a frustration to both my students and to me. This gem was a major find, and is now in regular use in my classroom. I highly recommend it to any teacher of intermediate or junior high age students, as well as to parents who want a truly helpful resource for their school-age children.

I already have the AHD 3rd edition(paper back) and is my first dictionary made in the U.S.A. The best thing of the AHD is that it satisfies what we want from dictionaries in everyday uses. The definitions are clear, simple, and precise. Besides, identification of word origins is the most useful feature to give in-depth understanding on each word. I couldn't resist buying the new AHD 4th edition. One more thing. The color combination of the cover page is surely more attractive than that of the 3rd edition. I think I'm going to treasure this dictionary. :)

This dictionary is one of the most informative dictionaries of the English tongue (both in Britain and America) I have come across so far. Other dictionaries such as Britain's Chambers dictionary offer merely the definitions. The American Heritage Dictionary, however, offers the words' definitions, etymologies, and various pronunciations and spellings. In addition, this dictionary is also encyclopedic, succinctly explaining about certain people, places, events, et cetera. Moreover, many of these encyclopedic explanations are accompanied by small photographs. I do question, however, the title "The American Heritage Dictionary". Many of the words in this dictionary are also spoken in other countries such as Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland. Indeed, there are Americanisms included in this dictionary. But one may also find these Americanisms in British dictionaries such as Chambers. Nevertheless, as a whole the American Heritage dictionary will be beneficial to English speakers of all nationalities.

This is a well-written rolicking ride through the last century and the history of photojournalism in the American media. It has an index that reads like the Who's Who of the century with anecdotes and insights galore on the movers and shakers of photojournalism and history. I enjoyed every word and I recommend it highly.

I just finished reading this novel and I must admitt it is one of the best novels I have read this year. It really is an exciting travel through the 20th century, through the eyes of a man who's carreer made him involved with major political and social events. I would say this is a must to anyone interested in photography and journalism, and a recommended for anyone with a heartbeat. I really loved this book.

Twelve-year-old Gwyneth enjoys her older brother Davie's company, especially because he takes her along wherever he is going. Davie even lets her come along with him and Beth, except at night on their dates. Davie has enlisted in the Marines to fight in World War II, which worries her. Before Davie leaves, their father has encouraged him to locate his grandpa, their mother's father, although secrets from the past have alienated their mother from their grandpa. When Gwyneth realizes Davie's driving away, she convinces him and her father to allow her to go along too. Unfortunately, Davie and Gwyneth neglect to ask about their grandpa's first name.

When Gwyneth and Davie arrive in the town where their grandpa lives, they realize they don't know his first name. They consult the phone book, but with twenty-nine people with the same last name, they quickly give their task up as futile. They plan to return, but with gas rationing, find they cannot return before Davie leaves for the war. Gwyneth doesn't give up, however, taking the bus back to her grandpa's town. She still can't find him the phonebook, and later takes her research to the local library when she convinces Beth to help in her quest. Sure enough, they find grandpa's address, but no one is home. Gwyneth's persistence is eventually rewarded when she meets her secret grandpa. The quest leads to lessons of honesty and forgiveness as she brings healing to her family.

Especially timely with our country at war, GWYNETH'S SECRET GRANDPA will touch the hearts of young readers. While our country does not currently sharing Gwyneth's concern for rationing and gas stamps, the glimpse into the challenges of the past comes as quite an enlightening experience. Further, author Annie Morris Williams carefully explores the delicate balance between remaining respectfully silent and speaking up for what you believe in. This intriguing look into our shared cultural heritage becomes a lesson in history and love, resulting in a riveting read. Highly recommended.

Gwyneth is courageous, curious, resourceful, stubborn, and twelve years old when she learns that there is a secret to be discovered about her family's history. Annie Williams' Gwyneth's Secret Grandpa debuts the new Field Stone Publishers' "Family History Adventures for Young Readers" series. The setting is a World War II era homefront and the secret has to do with a young girl whose older Brother Davie goest off to fight in World War II while she searches for a grandfather they never knew. Annie Williams heartfelt and engaging story is nicely illustrated by Linsey Doolittle and a highly recommended and welcome addition to any grade school or community library collection.

I learned everything I know about grammar and usage from this book! It was a gift to me as a teenager and it guided me to A's throughout high school and college. Who would have thought a dictionary could actually be FUN to read? Well this one is because it poses a multitude of common problems in contempory usage, e.g. "to split or not to split infinitives", and then lets a range of academics and humorists tackle them. The results are both enlightening and amusing.

Too bad its out of print.

Ain't, copacetic, happily, hopefully--if these make your skin creep you should check out the Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage. The authors have solicited opinions from a varied group of successful users of the USAmerican language, such as: Saul Bellow, Walter Cronkite, and Andy Rooney.

I enjoyed both the text and the pictures in this book. Certainly this is a fine show of Morris's decoration. It is also a good starting place to begin exploring the Arts & Crafts movement that followed from Morris's work.

We would need William Morris'ideas nowdays. He understood the importance of hands and mind in art and hated the guilty factories and industries that killed arts and crafts...that's why he is so modern...Was he wrong? Absolutely not!

Elizabeth Wilhide's superb "William Morris: Decor and Design" will be a real treat for William Morris fans. Wilhide combines dozens of sumptuous color photographs of Morris interiors with an overview of his life, his influences, and his artistic goals. I learned a number of interesting things about his personal background, such as:

- His beautiful wife Jane had a long affair with fellow artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti;
- In addition to his design work, he was such a respected poet that he was offered the poet laureateship of England once Tennyson had died;
- Many of his designs are still in active production today, more than a century after his death.

Morris shunned the effect the Industrial Revolution had had on the arts in England (and elsewhere) and proposed that hand-crafted art, furniture, wallpaper, and so on be the goal of an artists' cooperative he helped to found. He felt that art should be in every home and that it should be useful, beautiful to look at, and durable. This success of the cooperative produced the uncomfortable situation, for Morris, of having art be so beautifully and painstakingly produced by hand that, in the end, only the wealthy could afford it.

The photographs of Morris interiors, wallpaper designs, furniture, and more, are absolutely sumptuous, and Wilhide's well-informed and well-written text helps to expand our understanding of the whole of Morris' life. Highly recommended!

With its stunning photographs, reproduced in exceptional color, William Morris: Décor & Design is a fine interior design book that belongs on every coffee table. This book will surely win more appreciation for the diverse talents of the great designer, especially when newcomers to Morris see the breadth of his talents presented so beautifully. As a long-time admirer, I have many books about the 19th century designer, poet, fantasist, etc., but this is one of my favorites, as well as one of the most complete books on his design that I have seen. Photographs range from the colorful interiors of houses and public buildings decorated by Morris for clients, to the homes he actually lived in. Insets show details of his striking patterns, from wallpaper to tapestry to upholstery fabric to curtains, as well as pages from his illuminated books and the Morris & Co. catalog. Non-Morris interiors are shown for comparison. A pictorial glossary of his most common patterns completes the book. Further, the biography chapter is a good, comprehensive introduction to Morris, describing his forays into politics and literature, as well as his many efforts in all aspects of design. I recommend this beautifully designed book, a fitting tribute to Morris's own delight in design, to any lover of beauty in art and design.