The border between the United States and Canada is the longest unfortified and unguarded border between two sovereign nations in the world. The relations between the two countries is friendly and the countries are solid allies and trading partners. To travel to and in Canada is a joy and very rewarding (being referred to as 'English' in Quebec province is somewhat unsettling, though). It wasn't always so.

American armies have invaded Canada twice-in the War of the Revolution and the War of 1812, both times for territory and loot, and have met defeat twice in the strategic aims of the invansions. Canandians defended themselves with skill and valor, though most of the credit usually went to the British regular forces which, especially in the War of 1812, robbed Canadian units of the credit due them.

There was a small, completely unprovoked third 'invasion' of Canada in November 1838 when a small number of American 'liberators' (read terrorists) crossed the Canadian frontier to help 'free' Canada 'from the British yoke.' This relatively unknown incident is stirringly retold by Canadian historian Don Graves in this excellent volume which should be read by all interested in the history of the North American continent and hopefully will spark an interest in Canadian military history, which has been largely ignored by most historians. It is a rich history of devotion, valor, and selflessness by a people small in number but who have proven themselves the equal to all, and the superior to many, on the battlefields of the British Commonwealth and Empire.

The author is an excellent storyteller, and his research is flawless and thorough. An authority on the Niagara frontier of the War of 1812, his books are a must for all military history buffs and enthusiasts. He has earned a reputation as the master historian of the small battle, and he certainly demonstrates that in this book.

In the late 1830s, Canada was undergoing tething troubles politically, undoubtedly searching for a national identity within the constraints of British suzerainty. Agressive Americans intent on expansion again thought they could take advantage of this state of affairs and gain some of Canada for the US under the guise of 'freeing' the Canadians. What did happen was a violent incursion onto Canadian territory along the St. Lawrence, the seizure and 'siege' of a windmill along the waterway, and a bloody end to the problem, Canadians and British rallying to drive out the invaders. Royal Navy units were used in the river to bombard the American's position, even engaging in a battle in the river with a steamer the Americans had hijacked.

Royal Marines, British Regulars, and Canadian militia turned out to counter the American 'adventurers, to face a foe better armed than they, and also equipped with artillery. The fighting was intense, sometimes desperate, but the invaders were defeated, and the prisoners taken were subjected to 'Her Majesty's Justice', being confined in the citadel of Fort Henry at Kingston before the final, inevitable disposition of their crimes.

There are detailed appendices in the volume which give lists of those individuals and units that participated in the fighting. The book is also well-illustrated and thoroughly documented. It is a pleasure to read and study and is highly recommended. Although it is from an 'unfashionable' period of military history, it also gives an interesting and uncommon perspective of the American concept of 'Manifest Destiny.' It might also prompt the more thoughtful into a reappraisal of the Texas movement for independence and the other Alamo.

I have studied the Battle of Windmill Point, the central subject of "Guns Across the River", for twenty-five years. I have visited the major landmarks in the event, the windmill, Fort Wellington and Fort Henry in Ontario and Ogdensburg, N.Y. and I have lectured on the incident. I have sifted through several archives in libraries and historical societies and I have found that while Donald E. Graves book has a definite Canadian slant that U.S. readers may find slightly disorienting (Americans are not the heroes in this book) the book engagingly recounts a forgotten 1837 instance of American terrorism visited upon Canadians. While I may quibble with the omission of some details, overall, the events are compellingly told and Graves skillfully integrates their significance into the larger picture.

This is a fine book which gives the reader a thourough understanding of Norval Morrisseau's art. Mostly color with some black and white photos. The art is exquisite and Mr. Robinson's love of his friend and his art can be felt with each paragraph. If you want a beautiful art book for your coffee table or simply want to learn more about this fascinating artist (Picasso and Chagall both took in his showing in Paris)- this is a great book. I have several copies in my home...

I would recommend this book to anybody that has/is studying French and would like to get to know the Québécois variation. The book is divided into sections (Nature, Sports, School, Misc, et). Not only does it give you the Québécois variation, but also that of from France! In the end of the book there is a grammar and prononciation section. Again, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Québec :)

So you think the critics give unqualified adoration to our early moderns? Think again. Stanford, in elegant, tight, perfectly clear prose tells the story of the revolution in poetry at the opening of the 20th century from a different point of view, that of the Wintersian formalists. These are the followers and students of the great poet and critic Yvor Winters, whose radically neo-classical views cause a storm of debate in the first half of the century. (See my reviews of Winters books at my amazon site.) Stanford incisively explores the poetry of five great poets and makes a strong case for the stature of Robinson and Winters -- can you believe that? -- above that of the divinely canonized threesome also studied here. You will never read Stevens (who's the best of the remaining three), Pound, or Eliot the same again after you have studied them carefully with Stanford. This is a masterful work of literary criticism and one much needed in our chaotic times in the field of poetry. Moreover, it is a stirring treatise on the value of poetry to life and thought, a comment that would be the summit of praise coming from Yvor. I hope you'll give this great book a try if you love poetry. It might change your whole approach to the art. It's not that Stanford will induce you to leave Eliot and Pound behind, but open you up to greater vistas in the high arts of human language. Be sure to check out my other recommendations at my amazon.com personal site.

This is wide-ranging collection of Winnicott's writings on assorted topics of childhood and adolescence. It is especially important as a set of historic writings. His kindness and intelligence prevails. Winnicott was a child psychoanalyst with an especially tender heart, and his love of children, and respect for the efforts of families - often against unnerving odds - is obvious. However, it should be noted that some of his theories, while advanced in good faith and respected at the time they were introduced, have been disproven over the years. For example, enuresis (bed-wetting) is now known to be something that psychoanalysis does not "cure." (It is often inherited, and afflicted children outgrow it, period.) His articles on adolescence, written more than thirty years ago, are not "current," but still valuable. Winnicott's discussion of autism, while humane and well-meaning and enlightened for its time, is also somewhat off the mark, in light of contemporary findings on autism. Nonetheless, there is much that is valuable in this collection of papers. "The Niffle," with its report on a discussion about God that a small boy has with his father, reminds the reader again that Winnicott was not only capable of great love and understanding, but of awe.

Definitely worth reading.

This book shows Canadian French words on a wide variety of topic areas along side those of words understood by European French speakers. It is definitely handy on a trip to Quebec and the Francophone regions of Ontario and New Brunswick. The Acadian French section was very well written and might even prove useful in Louisiana as well. The book is broken down into various topic areas, such as sports, politics, foods, etc which is quite helpful instead of a a random collection of words. When I lived in the states I frequently made trips to Quebec and was very glad to have this book with me on all my trips. What should really be added to future editions of this book is a small section on Western Canadian usage. In Manitoba some of the Quebecois words may not be understood by Franco-Manitobans.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Québécois culture and joual (or Quebec French). It is divided into many categories ranging from nature to sex to sports etc. At the end of the book features certain grammatical features and pronunciation features, in French and in English. It's pretty much accurate, because I checked this out with some of my Québécois friends. This book is a *Must-Have*. :) Je recommande ce livre à ceux qui s'interessent à la culture québécoise et le joual. Il est divisé par beaucoup de catégories, incluant la nature, le sexe, les sports, etc. Au bout de ce livre, il y a un guide sur la grammaire et la prononciation, en français et en anglais également. La plupart des informations sont exactes, j'ai checke ça avec mes chums québécois :) C'est livre est un *Must have*, là. :)

A well-rounded collection of Robinson's most sincere poetry. His views on people as individuals is apparent, and his mysticism remains romantic. You'll find a little bit of every type of person in his myriad of characters.

Robinson Crusoe is the perfect treat for the wilderness lover. The novel takes the reader on a journey through many hardships that the main character encounters in order to display just how trying nature can be. Almost every new day, Crusoe must find and develop a new survival tactic in order to stay alive. There are several reasons why one should engulf in reading this book.
Robinson Crusoe displays strength and incredible will to survive. This can be very inspiring to someone who does not have a lot of confidence in themselves. Crusoe has faith in himself and God, believing that he will be guided in the right direction. God plays a large role in his everyday life. Crusoe never was a religious man before he was stranded on the island, but he believed God had allowed him to be the sole survivor of the shipwreck for a reason and he owed it to God to be the best man that he could be.
Another reason to read this book is that it shows that one can do whatever they put their mind to. Crusoe worked long and hard to create things that will facilitate his survival and make things more convenient for himself. He creates a protective shelter, makes his own tools, baskets, and pots, and even grows and raises his own food.
This book will also get many people to realize just how good their lives actually are. Many, not all, of us have lives that are not threatened by wondering how we will get our next meal or if someone or something is out to hunt us down, but Crusoe must face these dilemmas and find ways to secure himself. The wonderful thing about this novel is that it shows how difficult these tasks can be, yet Crusoe does not give up and he pursues his goals until they are accomplished.
This novel can instigate someone to try something new that perhaps thay were uneasy about doing before. Robinson is faced with so many new surroundings at once, yet deals with them so well. If he would have panicked, he eventually would have starved to death. Instead, Crusoe thinks logically and pursues what is needed to survive.
Robinson Crusoe is an amazing adventure novel that explores the life of a very strong-willed man. The main character tells his own story and it is as if he is speaking directly to the reader, which makes it seem even more like reality. Daniel Defoe has written a great novel.

With Robinson Crusoe, Daniel DeFoe transformed liturature forever. In his time, the novel did not exist as we know it today. Through Robinson Crusoe, DeFoe helped created this genre that we love today. Many people judge this book by today's standards; however, DeFoe wrote this book long before today's novel completely developed. This book is not only great for its creativity as a new genre, but also is wonderful for its adventurous plot. If you've ever seen Gilligan's Island, read Jules Verne's Mysterious Island, or heard any stories about someone stranded on a desert island, you are just hearing another rehashed version of DeFoe's story.

As with many "classics," the story of Robinson Crusoe has been around for so many years that we're all familiar--we think--with Mr. Crusoe and his "man" Friday. But the story of the ill-fated Mr. Crusoe is more than just a story about a man who is stranded on a desert island, it is a story, like that of the biblical Jonah, of a man running from responsibility and destiny, who ultimately finds it in the most unlikely place--within himself. The book does contain some pretty graphic violence and archaic thoughts about slavery, but gives you a real taste of what life was like both in the "civilized" world and Crusoe's island kingdom. This edition (edited by Joe Wheeler)has beautiful reproductions of the original wood-cut illustrations and a comprehensive introduction that gives background into the life and times of Daniel Defoe. A must read!

Such unpleasantness! And to what end?

The same old, "Yea, the deepest ring of Hell is Suburbia" nihilism; (the pet musing of all college freshmen away from home for the first time).

And that over-the-top, gross-out violence -- written in the pat ironic tone, of the guy who's SEEN IT ALL, and you have NO IDEA of the depths of human depravity...

Well I'm a little maxed out on this theme, and the nastiness at the end seems pointless, grotesque, and redundant.

Still, it had some nice bits, and I like the start of the '100 brothers', so I'll try that; but overall I'd say: this particular 90's trend/theme must be almost used up, right?

Suburban life is barbaric. I think John Updike and a bunch of other guys (and a few women) told us that a long time ago. Mr. Antrim's twist is to juxtapose brutish, post-apocalyptic behavior with the repressed mannerisms of the self-satisfied bourgeoise. The protagonist has a fascination with medieval torture devices and never *dreams* that when his advice is sought on the matter that it will be put to practical use. He runs into one of his former star students in the middle of a public park ... that has been landmined by neighbors that have literally declared war on each other.

The most interesting part of the book was the regression therapy theme. Mr. Robinson's wife regresses quite comfortably down the phylogenetic ladder to her aboriginal coelocanth-essence. Mr. Robinson rather messily reverts to bison-essence, but his co-dependence on his wife is manifested by his bison's near-drowning in her coelocanth ocean. This is all wonderfully bizarre and animistic. By contrast the sort of sans-superego Freudian society that is portrayed in the rest of the book is a joke that gets kind of old.

Donald Antrim is a wonderful original writer who takes the novel to a new and dark place unlike any book you will ever read. Black humor mixed with painful insights on us all it explores the paradoxical world of insanity and real suburban life in a very funny way.