Fans of Chopin will welcome this well-written and thoroughly-researched volume. It is a detailed treatment of Chopin's relationships to some of his closest friends and associates as revealed in the extant correspondence, some of which appears here in English for the first time. Of the ten chapters, the first four concern Chopin's involvement with family, early friends, and education in Warsaw (1810-1830), while the remaining six describe his associations during his Paris years (1831-1849). Included are chapters that take up Chopin's relationships to his teacher Josef Elsner, the woman he almost married, Maria Wodzinska, his friends August Franchomme and Woyciech Grzymala, his fellow pianist and composer Franz Liszt, the singer Pauline Viardort, and George Sand's daughter, Solange. Chopin's complex relationship to George Sand, as formed and modified through the other persons that entered their lives, is dealt with throughout the last four chapters and is undoubtedly one of the more revealing aspects of the book. The last chapter closes with a passage from a letter written by Solange in 1896, that gives a very sensitive and touching description of Chopin's character and impact upon her own life.

The narrative presupposes some acquaintance with Chopin's life and music, so those who are uninformed about the basic details might wish to consult a standard biography before turning to this volume. A superb bibliography and index are included, and Azoury gives ample information in his introduction and extensive notes about further sources to turn to. While one does not learn about Chopin's music from this volume, Azoury indicates that the book concerns Chopin's life, not his music, and that the compositions "are not, as sometimes suggested, a chronicle of his life." Chopin's work, career, and associations are rich enough to warrant still further treatments of these matters; we can be thankful that this volume takes us far as it does.

Starting from an earlier love of Music coupled with personal initiative to bring about Chopin's friends , lovers and rivals at an historic point in their impressive account . There are few prople I have met and known who could approach the subject of this most beloved of Composers from a unique perspective . Doctor Azoury's research and knowledge enabled him to produce this entirely new portrait of the Musician , revealing much of what was previously concealed.

Funny, I thought the last recorded pagans in Europe were the Lithuanians. They didn't accept until 1387.

"A Chronicle of the Last Pagans" is an absolutely masterful work which gives a detailed account of the rise of Christianity and the downfall of Paganism. Both rich in detail and historical accuracy, this volume makes good use of primary sources and tells it's story well. It begins at the time of Constantine and travels through to the reign of Theodosius. Though this is a modern work it is an exceptionally useful resource. Pierre Chuvin has managed to put together a wide variety of sources to create a picture of late antiquity as no other writer has yet been able to do. I found information here that I have not been able to get to easily anywhere else, such as Eastern Pagan survivals lasting well into the 500's AD. Highly recommended!

The first amazon.com review here offered by a reader from Dallas, Texas, strikes me as slightly misleading. "Good fascists," Christian monks, and heroic military invention make no appearance in Pierre Manent's THE CITY OF MAN. They are, rather, that particular reader's context for understanding what Manent is writing about: namely, Montesquieu and the career of liberal political theory and its social-scientific offspring in the past several centuries.

Manent's project is to try to understand "modern man." But to do so confronts us immediately with a riddle. To understand modern man, we would seem first to need to understand man's NATURE; but then, if man has a nature, HISTORY should not matter, and there could be no deep difference between modern man and ancient man. Yet we intuitively know that there is a very real modern "difference." "Modern man" seems to be both a natural being and an historical being. How can we understand this paradox?

In pursuing this question with formidable dialectical subtlety, Manent has opened genuinely new ground in political philosophy -- or at least retrieved a possibility which has been eclipsed for several centuries. Manent has learned much from Leo Strauss, and it is perhaps readers of Strauss who will find this book most extraordinary. For Manent in effect takes issue with a central tenet of Strauss's political philosophy: the alternatives we face are NOT exhausted by those offered by "ancients" and "moderns." For such a structuring of the history of political philosophy fails to do justice to what is unique in Christianity.

Manent's singular contribution, then, is to recover the genuinely philosophical implications of Grace.

Most world religions have not recognized what we call "progress" as a major category. Long before Christian monks unleashed science through their formulation of the scientific method, high cultures were being annihilated by a seemingly willful ignoring of the military importance of innovation. The "good Fascists" Evola and Guenon,while showing the inevitable decline of all civilizations with the underclass demolishing everything man-conceived in the final phase, they seem to "heroically" rise above mentioning the importance of delaying "kali yuga" by cranking up the power of military innovation. Guenon makes no mention of it, and Evola briefly mentions it with no conclusions. But it does appear to me human "progress is an illusion, and material progress is utterly superficial, if it weren't so dangerous, without human progress. CITY OF MAN shows a particularly precipitous discontinuity in the slope of human regress when Montesquieu irresponsibly, even mischievously blurs the connotations of classical and Christian "virtue" and recasts the word in egalitarian terms. He meretriciously appeals to Nietzsche's ressentiment in this last phase, not of Christian/Judeo/Islam Civilization, but this last phase of civilizational Christianity/Judaism/Islam. This will-to-nihilism, the morbid end of will-to-power, was taken up by Rousseau, as Manent points out, and we know the trail of mischief-makers since. We laugh at all forms of the Sacred, but strangely no one laughs when the word "rights" is spoken, neither the speaker nor the listener. Yet the enterprise of Hobbes, his right to life and the more important right to

This is a great little structured book for records of everything from appointments, to thoughts you want to consider or discuss and exact prescriptions, dates, amounts and instructions.

Anyone who has any health issues to monitor should have one of these every year. It would also be a great place to get centered and record personal thoughts or goals on a regular basis.
I can't recommend it highly enough.

This book is one of the best guided journals I've ever seen. Being very familiar with mental illness and the therapy process, this is an essential tool for anyone who is involved in long term therapy, especially those who have a mental illness. I like the spaces to not only record what you discuss in session but notes in between which is great for those things you keep forgetting to bring up or things that happen that you have questions about. There is also a medication log which is good for people on any type of psychiatric medication and a blank calendar for being able to not only keep track of therapy appointments but also physical symptoms and cycles that may affect moods and behavior. There is an address book for writing in resources for crisis situations and different doctors' numbers. In the back it gives info on resources and definitons of a variety of mental illnesses. This should be something that everyone in this type of situation should own!

The book is divided into two parts -- algebraic and analytic. I've only worked through the analytic part. Anything by Serre is worth its weight in gold and this book is no exception; everything Serre covers is of the utmost importance. But Serre's style is extremely condensed and spare, and he makes no concessions to the reader in terms of motivation or examples. I can't digest more than half a page of Serre a day; however if one wants to understand the structure of a theory, Serre is ideal.

I worked through "A Course in Arithmetic" over a decade back. As I recall I covered Riemann's zeta function and the Prime Number Theorem, the proof of Dirichlet's theorem on primes in arithmetical progressions using group characters in the context of arithmetical functions, and some of the basic theory of modular functions. All of this material is also covered in Apostol's two books on analytic number theory ("Introduction to Analytic Number Theory", and "Dirichlet Series and Modular Functions in Number Theory"); Apostol goes further than Serre in the analytic part -- which is only to be expected since he is devoting two whole texts to the subject.

This short book on number theory by one of the giants of 20th century mathematics is delightful to read. Its length motivates one to finish the book, and it is packed full of interesting results. Most of the theory discussed in the book has wide-ranging applications, such as cryptography and dynamical systems. The last chapter of the book is the best and covers the subject of modular forms, including theta functions, Hecke operators, and general modular functions. If you want to understand the Wiles proof of Fermat's last theorem, start with this book.

This is an absolutely gorgeous book, loaded with pictures that make me want to quit my job and get a greenhouse in the country and grow beautiful herbs and flowers. This book covers a wide range of topics for each aromatic group, ranging from perfumes, to garden designs, to recipes. It is practical as well as it is beautiful. This is one of my favorite garden/herb picture books, in fact it is one of my favorite picture books, period.

The English perfumier Crabtree & Evelyn "nose" (knows) about the power of scent. Our reactions to a scent-experience can be powerful; This became apparent one day while sticking my nose into a fully-blown pink cabbage rose. The neurons that sense smell cut straight to the brain, immediately evoking thoughts and feelings related to past experiences. The scent of grandma's lilac soap may stir joy-filled memories experienced during a visit fifteen years ago. Crabtree & Evelyn's Fragrant Herbal is as enjoyable and informative as it is practical. There are recipes for making fragrant soaps and scented products containing essential oils and scented herbs grown in one's own garden. For those who are new to the growing of herbs for personal use, there is an A-Z section on growing and use of herbs. The photographs are of a high quality and display everything from beautifully crafted soaps and bath products to scenes of scented gardens abundant with roses and lavender. The artistic and writing style of this work is quite English, captivating those qualities of Britain found endearing by romantically-minded Americans. A well-done compilation that appeals as much to the heart of a gardener as to the mind seeking everyday uses for the season's bounty, Crabtree & Evelyn's Fragrant Herbal is a learning opportunity for both the seasoned gardener and the amateur maker of scented home and bath items. This comprehensive, powerful work is a tool for improving the quality of life through the use of scent, whether it be in the garden, bath or home.

I loved the movie Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close and John Malkovich and decided to try this audio version of the book. I can't say it was better than the movie, but the audio is superb. It is on 3 CDs and so is longer than the movie and supplies more detail. Since it is in letter form, its style more closely follows the book. The readers show incredible and intense emotion in their voices - you can almost see them in your mind. It made my commuting a joy for several days - I was almost sorry when I got to the office or arrived back home and had to quit listening. Such devious-ness! Who is the most wicked? Enjoy.

I must admit that I have not listened to the tapes. However, the new movie "Crule Intentions" is based on this book. I have seen the movie and if the two are anything alike, I would highly recommend ordering them.

To me this review does not do justice to the most compelling aspect of the book, which is how political pressure, and assurances of safety in the face of all evidence to the contrary, by governmental officials and other trusted leaders dissuaded the people of St. Pierre from evacuating the city in time to save their lives. I read this book many years ago and have forgotten some of the details, but this theme -- more popularly explored in "Jaws" and recently in "Isaac's Storm" -- has stayed in my mind. Most readers will never be threatened by a volcanic eruption, but this book is a somewhat grim reminder that our own leaders may be lying about impending natural disasters. Remember Pelee!

Thomas and Witts tell the story of a week in May, 1902,when the Carrabean city of St. Pierre was obliterated by a volcanic eruption. When I first saw this book, I wondered how anyone could pen over 150 pages on a volcano that wiped a city out in seconds, leaving only two survivors. I thought there would not be much to write about. Boy was I wrong! It turns out that in the week prior to the eruption, St. Pierre was hit by landslides, a tsunami, and even a deadly snake infestation! Several hundred were killed before the great event itself. The final eruption is simply the climatic horror and can almost be seen as a blessing, putting people out of their misery. This book is probably hard to find now, but it is worth getting, and will interest just about everyone from the scientist to the casual reader.

This book added to my enjoyment. As a shut in I read at least a book a day and this one was outstanding. It was hard to put down and was never dull or boring. The plot changes faster than I could guess what was coming which left me on edge to the very end. I hope they can keep this in their forthcoming books.

This book, the first by Susan and Pierre Latour, is wonderfully and economically drawn. Just as you start to think that you need another clue or want a twist, there it is! From the moment you discover that is important, you are drawn into a beguiling hunt, a beautifully plotted thriller that never lets you go until the last page. The protagonists are very human and could be your next door neighbours-if you lived in a really nice area. Don't miss it. Rufus Marlowe VP Crime Writers of Canada

I can't get over it. Whether it be a stand alone, such as THE DEADLY THORN, or part of her Hawkman series, Ms La Pierre never ceases to amaze me with her talent.

Jimmy and Sally Oliver had been married just three months, and Sally couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Before they were married, Jimmy had courted her with roses, and had been so gentle. But after they had said their "I do's" things started to go so wrong. He became totally controlling, and hit her for things that she didn't understand. And it was getting worse. But she still loved him, and thought that things would get better.

That was until she received a phone call from a woman who professed to be Jimmy's third wife. Third wife! Sally didn't even know that there had been one previous wife, much less three of them. It seems, according to the woman who called, that two of the previous wives had both died in "accidents". Accidents in which Jimmy collected rather large insurance proceeds. The "wife" on the phone said that she had found an insurance policy taken out on her, while married to Jimmy, and had run away, changing her name, in order to protect her life. She suggested that Sally do the same before it was too late.

Sally searched the house, and found an insurance policy, taken out on her. She didn't waste any time running. She ran to her brother, and he in turn let her close friend, and colleague, Julia Evans, know where Sally was. Sally decided to go to Seattle and inform the insurance company about what was going on, and perhaps find out about the previous wives. Fortunately, Julia insists on going along.

What happens from this point on is so scary. The reason being is that this can, and does happen across America every day. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ms. La Pierre has done a wonderful job in bringing you into the world of domestic violence. A world that most of us cannot comprehend, as we have not lived it. She has shown why a woman would not leave the situation, and stay to be hurt, physically, and/or mentally, and even perhaps killed.

Ms. La Pierre also shows that there is help for women caught up in this cycle of violence. But mostly she shows how important it is to have support, and help, from both family and friends. With this support, the cycle can be broken.

I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is one that has an awesome story, one that will keep you up all night reading it. You will not be able to put this book down even for a minute. The characters are so real. From greasy, egotistical, sick Jimmy, to Eva Lindsay, who has found the strength to help Sally, and perhaps find out what really happened to the first two wives.

Ms. La Pierre does an excellent job exploring what happens to abuse victims, both emotionally and physically. She has woven this very important subject into a gripping story that is both very spellbinding, and at the same time very educational. One that you just have to read.

My only problem with THE DEADLY THORN is the fact that Ms. Sullivan hasn't come up with a new book yet. So I will just have to wait until she does, because believe me I will not miss any book she writes. She is one awesome, talented, author.

I could not put this book down. Just when I thought I was getting to a place where I could put this book down and get some sleep I found another episode of intrigue to keep me going. Take an arrogant short, greasy haired man and a group of beautiful women and you KNOW he has to have hidden charms. He murders his first two wives and his third wife has changed her name and moved to another state to get away from him. The slob, Jimmy, has successfully received hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance policies on his first two wives. He has married the fourth time and after only a few months of marriage is planning to murder his 4th wife and of course, has a huge insurance policy on her. Wife number four and her best friend along with wife number three get in cohoots to outsmart Jimmy and there starts the tale. This is an action packed novel well worth reading. I'm going to read it again.