Picturing Modernisim takes a look at one of the most under-rated, but influential members of the Bauhaus. It explores, not only the ways and means that this genuis came to discover a new vision, but also the forces that molded and shaped him into the artist, teacher and visionary that he was. For an excellent introduction and exploration into one of the visionaries of the 20th century, you would be hard pressed to find anythjing better, or more rewarding than this!!

This book is a must have for any quilter! I have decided to order one as a gift for a friend who has just started quilting. Eleanor makes her directions easy to follow and understand. THe Pioneer Quilting book has an array of beautiful choices for many fabrics and color schemes. A lovely book!

Jean Plaidy, also known to her legion of devoted fans as Victoria Holt, has written an absorbing account of the reign of King John, a depraved, dissolute monarch whose tyranny was absolute.

Son of iron fisted King Henry II of England and his headstrong wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, John was their youngest son. When his older brother, King Richard the Lionhearted, died without an heir, there were two who laid claim to the crown of England: Richard's nephew, Arthur, who was the son of John's older, now deceased brother, Geoffrey, and Richard's youngest brother, John.

Arthur had not been brought up in England. He had, instead, been raised as a Breton and was foreign to English ways. Moreover, he was a mere pubescent child of thirteen. Fearing that the people of England would not flock to Arthur's banner and thinking John to have precedence over his older brother's son for purposes of succession, William Marshal, the most respected knight in England, gave John's cause his support, and where William Marshal would lead, others would follow. Thus, John was crowned King, a black day in English history.

John would turn out to be a cruel and evil tyrant, more given to indulging in debauchery than to securing the kingdom over which he reigned. Foolish and dissolute, he prefered to rape, pillage, torture, and murder than to apply himself to statesmanship and governance. Lascivious by nature, he abducted a beautiful twelve year old girl, Isabel of Angouleme, who was betrothed to another, and made her his child bride and queen. Together they would sport, while his kingdom fell apart.

As for Arthur, let's just say that the kid never even had a fighting chance. In the end, however, John, himself, and not Arthur, would be his own worst enemy. John would lose the great possessions for which his ancestors had fought, and, for a time, even England's fate was made precarious by John's failure to rule effectively.

The lurid details of King John's reign make for an absorbing and compelling work of historical fiction. The author seamlessly weaves historical events and persons into a tapestry replete with period detail that fully engages the reader. Devotees of historical fiction will certainly enjoy this novel, which is part of the author's fifteen book Plantagenet saga.

Again, Eleanor Brilliant gives us a no-nonsense look at American charitable enterprise and the people who run it. As events and actions of leaders give frequent rise to questions about the caliber and integrity of Americans' non-profit way of serving others, she provides a well-researched analysis of information that people who give their time and money ought to know. Since most don't, the leaders of the agencies to whom they give ought to read this excellent work to become familiar with information important to their constituents.

Lawrence Lader spent a lifetime on the pro-contraception and pro-choice barricades in the American women's reproductive rights movement. Indeed, he was co-founder of NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League). One would therefore expect this writer to produce a shrilly biased account of the story that chronicles the women's movement to provide constitutional control over their own bodies. This was carried out against formidable resistance from the powerful political lobbying efforts of the Catholic Church and their Christian, Jewish and Islamic cohorts.

Having myself spent a lifetime in medical research to improve family plannning, had I written an account of its history perhaps the injustices and hypocrasy which I witnessed by those who would assume moral authority over all of humanity would have certainly made my writings biased. Yet Lader gives a rather balanced overview, trying to exercise respect for the position of his enemies; those calling themselves pro-life or putting the Pro-Life brand name on it.

From the early struggles of daring to place contraceptives into the hands of needy young people through the development of the safe abortion pill in France, Lader simply delivers factual accounts of its scientific, medical and political history. Of course, he doesn't fail to neglect the wicked political hippocrasy of the Republican Party who begin by first rallying around Richard Nixon's national and global agendas of promoting widespread family planning as part of his national security program for the 1970s. Exposaed here are two of Nixon's staunchest family planning supporters: Governor Ronald Reagan of California (liberalizer of his state's restrictive abortion laws) and Congressman George W. Bush of Texas, the point man for global contraception and abortion. Gleaning support for his presidential campaign from American Catholics and their allies for putting a stop to Nixon's efforts, Jimmy Carter begins cashing in on the anti-abortion movement. They get the message, and pretty soon Reagan and Bush do a 180-degree moral reversal so that the White House can become theirs. [Is any creature lower than politicans?]

In the end, French scientists led by Georges Teutsch and Emile Etienne Baulieu trying to produce a new treatment for overactive adrenal glands accidently stumble on the first safe drug for induction of first trimester abortion: RU-486. Lader carefully chronicles the medical and political developments accompanying this new drug. Against enormous odds, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Gore fulfill their 1992 campaign pledges of making RU-486 available to American women.

To gain insight into a very significant history of the emergance of women's reproductive rights in the 20th century this book is an indispensible sourcebook for educating the enlightened reader.

This book, one of the last written by Eleanor Cameron before her death, is arguably her best. She's an extremely talented writer infusing her books with a wonderful reality and subtlety that make them hard to forget. While her Mushroom Planet books are the most acclaimed, her Julia Redfern series, especially A Room Made of Windows and The Private Worlds of Julia Redfern are examples of her strongest writing. She has been compared to Virginia Woolf stylistically, but is, in my opion, a much clearer writer. An especially wonderful book for any aspiring writers.

I have long been enamoured of the story of Queen Victoria, but this is one thing I had not known about until I began really reading about her! Plaidy writes a wonderfully flowing novel about the charming young Victoria - newly ascended to the throne of England - and her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. As if she doesn't have enough to deal with, the young Queen finds herself falling in love with her advisor, and the feelings are likely reciprocal. Once again, Plaidy does a marvellous job of bringing one of the lesser-investigated (or perhaps more covered-up!) stories of a past monarch. The book is a fast, engaging read, and not at all dry or filled with too many tedious, unneccessary facts about the story (as too many historical novels are!). For anyone wishing to know a little bit more about Queen Victoria or the history of England's monarchs -- this is a book (and author) I highly recommend.

Jean Plaidy, also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt, will delight her fans with this, the sixth book in her well-written, fifteen book Plantagenet saga. As are all her books in the popular Plantagenet series, it is replete with vividly drawn historical events and persons. The author weaves a stirring medieval tapestry, focusing on the wife of King Henry III of England, Eleanor of Provence.

Eleanor was one of the four beautiful, well-educated, and accomplished daughters of the impoverished Count of Provence. When the eldest, Marguerite, married King Louis IX of France, Eleanor soon followed with a king of her own, Henry III of England. The other two younger sisters later married into the royal houses of France and England. Sanchia married Richard of Cornwall, brother to Henry III, while Beatrice married Charles, the Count of Anjou, brother to Louis IX.

Eleanor, a headstrong, and imperious woman, won the heart of King Henry III, turning him into the most uxorious of husbands. A weak king, he was the most devoted of husbands, happiest when he could be with his Queen and their family. Eleanor, although a devoted mother to their children, led Henry by the nose, making insatiable demands upon the exchequer for money, jewels, luxurious clothing, and lavish gifts for her and her family from Provence. The besotted king was more than happy to grant his beloved wife's desires, even at great cost to his subjects, who despised this greedy Queen from Provence, known for her wild extravagance. She, in turn, would despise her subjects, treating them with contempt and seeing them only as a source of unlimited funds.

This, of course, eventually led to unrest throughout England, as well as a revolt led by Simon De Montfort, who was married to the sister to King Henry III. Simon de Montfort desired to form a parliament that would represent the people and ensure that laws would be passed that were just. He called for an end to the crippling taxation that was imposed upon the people of England in order to support the greedy and parasitic Provencal relations of the Queen, as well as the King's foreign born half-brothers and sisters. He also desired their ouster from positions of power and influence in England. He would eventually take King Henry III and his heir, Edward, as prisoners.

Edward, who would be known as Edward Longshanks because of his great height, was the handsome, beloved son of King Henry III and Queen Eleanor. He would escape his imprisonment and defeat Simon de Montfort and his forces, ensuring the return of control over England to his grateful father. Edward quelled the rebellion, showing himself to have none of his father's weaknesses. Though the English had despised King Henry III and his avaricious Queen, they were delighted with the heir to the throne, who would go on to rule England as King Edward I.

A superb novel, one of my favourite book I have ever read. Jean Plaidy is able to convert history into an interesting book which people can get absorbed in without a problem. Its an easy book to read with treachery, murder and romance. It has a wide range of vocabulary and I have learnt many new words from reading this book. I recommmend this book for anyone over 14 years old.

This is a spellbinding work of historical fiction. A continuation of the Start saga, Jean Plaidy weaves an absorbing account of the reign of Queen Anne. Rich with historical detail, it captures the imagination of the reader until the very last page is turned.

When King William died, his sister-in-law, Anne, became Queen of England. Anne, however, was easily manipulated by her childhood friend, Sarah Churchill, now the Duchess of Marlborough. Power hungry, Sarah had her own agenda, and she manipulated the Queen to her own advantage. Viewed as the power behind the throne, Sarah was courted by many who sought her favor or intercession with the Queen.

Sarah, however, was brash, insensitive to others, and overly confident, faults that were to cloud her judgment. She also forgot her position and presumed too much when speaking to the Queen. It was as if the roles were reversed. When she ensconced her poor relation, Abigail Hill, in a position in the Queen's household, Sarah never suspected that quiet, shy Abigail could destroy all for which Sarah had connived.

This is a wholly absorbing and enjoyable work of fiction, replete with plots, intrigues, and political machinations.