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Book reviews for "Roper,_Ronnalie_J." sorted by average review score:

Phoenix: Archbishop Laud
Published in Paperback by Phoenix Press, London WC2 (2001)
Author: Hugh Trevor-Roper
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Less Than the Whole Laud
The mocking grace "To God much praise, and little laud to the Devil" reflected the opinion of many of William Laud's contemporaries - and also of several generations of Whig historians. To Macaulay and his ilk, Charles I's Archbishop of Canterbury was a stock villain, culpable for the royal policies that provoked the English Civil War.

Hugh Trevor-Roper's biography (first published in 1940; Phoenix Press reprints the very slightly revised 1961 edition) cannot be called a rehabilitation, but it does correct, and has largely superseded, the Whig caricature. (The Britannica entry on Laud, for instance, reads like a precis.) Instead of a Wolsey-like grand prelate, Laud is shown to have been an honest, hardworking man, notable both for extensive charities and for fostering Greek, Arabic and Persian studies. His most conspicuous faults were personal rudeness, excessive severity as a judge (even by the severe standards of the time) and political maladroitness. Though he left behind many volumes of writings, he never grasped the importance of propaganda or public opinion. His immediate reaction to opposition was clumsy suppression, an instinct that led him to advocate the forcible imposition of episcopal governance on the Scottish church. From the failure of the "Bishops' War" followed the disintegration of Charles' personal rule, the Short and Long Parliaments, civil war and Laud's own murder by Act of Parliament in 1645.

Trevor-Roper recounts Laud's career in, as one would expect, a lively and opinionated, yet thoroughly scholarly, fashion. He emphasizes high politics and ecclesiastical conflict but also directs attention to Laud's achievements as Chancellor of Oxford University, where his impact may have been more lasting than on either Church or State. There is little speculation about the Archbishop's private life, for which hardly any evidence survives. He never married, apparently kept no mistresses, lived unostentatiously and left behind almost no purely personal correspondence or anecdotes. Trevor-Roper surmises that he tended to have allies rather than friends, but the truth is unknowable.

Excellent though it is in most respects, "Archbishop Laud" suffers from distortion in one key area. The biographer takes it as a fundamental truth that 17th Century men were as secular in outlook as his own 20th Century circle of acquaintances. Therefore, religious principles must have been mere masks for social and political content. Men adopted Puritan or Arminian or Roman Catholic theology because they liked the political doctrines associated with those labels.

That premise is no doubt true of many figures of the day, but Trevor-Roper's own narrative exposes its dubiety in this particular case. The tenet that Laud advanced most persistently, in the teeth of massive opposition by both clergy and laity, was the importance of preserving continuity with the pre-Reformation Church. He was not sympathetic to Roman Catholicism but would not abandon traditional doctrines and rituals simply because they had been labeled "popish". In these views he followed Lancelot Andrewes and Richard Hooker, and it is largely because of his efforts that their species of "Anglo-Catholicism" lasted beyond the lifetimes of their personal disciples.

None of the distinctive issues addressed by the Andrewes-Hooker school is important to Trevor-Roper. Hence, he concludes, none of them could really have been important to Laud. The "true" reason for, say, upholding the mystical character of the Eucharist was evidently to strike a blow at enclosures, emigration and the pretensions of Parliament. Rather an indirect blow, one might think.

If one imagines that Laud's ostensible hierarchy of values was his real one, his life comes into clearer focus. Activities such as the promotion of scholarship and the recovery of the church's property rights were not disconnected enthusiasms but elements of a program for reinforcing the links between contemporary and ancient Christianity and safeguarding a refurbished church from the influence of modernist opinion. Likewise, his indifference to politically attractive pan-Protestant initiatives, a stance that puzzles Trevor-Roper, reflects his desire to hold the English church at a distance from Reformation theology.

Although Trevor-Roper pronounces Laud a "failure", the Laudian tradition held a prominent, occasionally preeminent, place in the Church of England for three hundred years, and from that base it has gained an extended, if attenuated, influence. The descendants of Puritan zealots now study the Fathers of the Church, take the sacraments seriously, pay heed to the continuity of Christian experience, celebrate the ancient holy days and even admit religious images into their sanctuaries. From the perspective of 1645, that is an astonishing evolution. There is no way to know what might have been, but one cannot help suspecting that today's Protestant Christianity would be much more drab, anti-historical and unintellectual had William Laud never lived.


The Practice of Zen Meditation
Published in Paperback by Thorsons Pub (1993)
Authors: Hugo M. Enomiya-Lassalle, Roland Ropers, and Bogdan Snela
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For westerners,a wonderful introduction
The late Fr. enomiya-lasalle, german jesuit and along with Frs.Henri la saux,Bede Griffiths, William Johnstin and Thomas Merton,are the great bridges from west to east. Fr Lasalle was a survivor of one of the Atomic blasts{a tv movie made about Hiroshima cast max von syndow as a composite],and an accepted Zen master while retaining his standing{as it was] as a catholic priest. the fact that he served in Japan with dom pedro arrupe, later to be general of the jesuits was certainly advantageous.

This book, then is a compostite of fr enomiya -lasalle,a week long retreat ,as it were,a 7 day zen reatreat. The writing is non esoteric[somehow, zen can appear like quantum mechanics], clear and clean,like calligraphy. A wonderful intro, for people like me without the backround,though most definitely NOT A NEW AGE FUZZY WARM BOOK. There is effort[or better NON_EFFORT] involved here. Well, done, very well presented ....


Fatal Mountaineer: The High-Altitude Life and Death of Willi Unsoeld, American Himalayan Legend
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (2002)
Author: Robert Roper
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Painfully boring
The writter forgot that this was a book about a mountaineer. This could have been an exciting, inspiring book about a great climber and instead its a book about someone's ramblings since other more interesting books were apparently already written

A riveting read for climbers and couch potatoes alike
Roper's mixture of first-rate journalism and top-notch story telling make this thrilling and tragic biography of mountaineer Willi Unsoeld unfold with page-turning immediacy. The use of the present tense and the beauty of the descriptive writing make the reader feel as though he is on each expedition. As one life-and-death scenario after another unfolds, the story never becomes sensationalized, and the medical and technical information is always handled clearly. This is a fascinating look at a subculture rife with egos, infighting and betrayals, in which Unsoeld emerges as a true hero for our time. As Roper explores what, exactly, mountaineers are after and what, if anything, they owe the rest of us, Unsoeld's life ultimately serves as a microcosm for the history of mountaineering, and for man's place on the planet. But this isn't just a guy's guy book; it also explores and celebrates the role of women mountaineers, such as Unsoeld's beautiful and spirited daughter, Devi, who's remarkable relationship with her father and heartbreaking demise make this an unforgettable read.

First ascent of a terrific adventure biography
Robert Roper has written a gripping account of one of mountain climbing's most charismastic figures, Willi Unsoeld. "Fatal Mountaineer" will appeal both to mountaineering and adventure enthusiasts and to any serious reader looking for a wrenching drama set in an exquisite landscape.

Framed by the story of Unsoeld's eventual demise in an avalanche on Mt Rainier, the centerpiece of the book is the detailed narrative of a fateful ascent of Nanda Devi, India's tallest mountain, by a group of elite climbers. Roper carefully dissects the tensions that emerge from Day One of the expediton between the hard-charging, summit-oriented alpha males of the pack and those sympathetic to the transcendental, growth-oriented perspective of Unsoeld. Included among this latter contingent is Devi Unsoeld, who was named after this mythopoetic mountain, and tragically becomes, or merges with, its resident goddess.

Roper's writing is crisp and nuanced, and he is able to bring an immediacy to events he has reconstructed from multiple and often contradictory or sanitized versions of events. Within the first chapters, I felt as though I were in the tent debating whether an ill member of the team, and thus potentially the weakest link (it does not help that this particular climber is also a woman)should make the trek or head back to base camp.

Roper tells not only the outward bound story of a mountain-climbing expedition but also draws us within the psyches of the characters, explicating the motives behind this most enigmatic of human undertakings.

I would urge readers to go out any buy this book before the Spring thaw.


Ropers and Riders (Rodeo)
Published in Paperback by Heinemann Library (2001)
Author: Josepha Sherman
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Rodeo: Ropers and Riders
I like the way it has the techniques in Calf Roping?

I like the roping event in the Calf Roping?

"Their Up Rebond?" Jim the cowboy in the book yell


Tis Pity She's a Whore (Revels Plays(Reprint))
Published in Paperback by Manchester Univ Pr (1997)
Authors: John Ford and Derek Roper
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Tis Pity She's a Whore
I was reluctant to pick up this book because of it's title, but I decided to read it because I had it in my collection. I was somewhat entertained, and finished the book very quickly due to the short length. It is a tragedy in which almost all are killed in the end. I did not care much for the plot, which involves an incestuous relationship between brother and sister. After reading part of the book, it was rather easy to predict the ending. It is not a tremendously detailed and emotional story. I'm not sure if this is a title that would often come up in conversations between friends or colleagues, but avid readers might want to pick up the title to have read it.

"Tis a pity alright.."
This play is an excellent example of incest in the Renaissance. It's also fairly short and very readable. Bergetto is an interesting character and provides much needed comic relief in this play which is ultimately quite tragic. The title is misleading in many ways, but female sexuality is problematic throughout.

Good but not great
I chose to read this play because firstly, Anthony Burgess mentioned it in his book "English Literature" (1857) and secondly, because it was a short play. Or maybe even thirdly - the central theme [incest] it deals with is treated in an entirely different manner from other literary works. The nature of the incest is frank and horrifying. The intensity of the unlawful relationship is compromised by the coarsening of Giovanni's love for Annabella; their ethereal relationship gradually loses its innocence in the course of the play, culminating in Annabella's pregnancy and finally her death in Giovanni's hands.

While we certainly cannot put Ford in the ranks of Shakespeare, he deserves credit for a play whose themes of sexual jealousy, revenge, violence and incent intertwine in a most heartrending way.


Using Computers in the Law Office
Published in Paperback by Delmar Learning (04 March, 1996)
Author: Brent D. Roper
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Mandatory purchase that disappointed me
My legal secretary class was required to purchase this book at a costly price. I had problems with it from the start! Typo's, instructional errors, How are you supposed to learn? I regretfully have to recommend against it.

Don't even bother!!
As a student in a legal secretary program, I was required to buy this book, as it is part of the curriculum. Well let me be the first to say that it is a total waste of the [money] I paid for it! It is filled with typos and instructional errors. Before I can learn the software it is supposed to be teaching me, I have to first decypher the directions. I may as well just wing it, the book is no help. I recommend to anyone about to purchase this book, to think again. Look for a book you might actually learn from!

Good Book!
I don't know what the other reviewer was talking about! Maybe they didn't read the book! I found the book to be extremely helpful. I didn't see any typos, or instructional errors (whatever that means!). It was required for my paralegal class and I thought I got my money's worth. I got a CD with free software and I thought it was worth every penny. It covers a wide range of computer uses in law offices and it was easy to read and practical. My teacher said she has been using this book for years. The other people in my class didn't seem to have any problem with it. I highly recommend it. It wasn't written for secretarys - it's for paralegals - maybe that was the other reviewers problem. Anyway, don't hesitate to buy it, you won't be sorry.


God's Bread: Baked Fresh Daily
Published in Paperback by Emerson Press (01 June, 2000)
Author: Carol Roper
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Mystical but meaningless
In God's Bread the main character drifts in and out of disappointing relationships, and finally meets her soul mate in a mystical musician. She learns to channel positive energy to get a happier attitude. I bought this book thinking it would be like another book by a Roper (got Gayle and Carol mixed up) which I'd read. The OTHER book was a passionate, fascinating story about a friendship between an Amish paraplegic named Jake and an EMT technician named Rose. (I forget the title.) The plot and characters had depth and many aspects to them. It portrayed beautifully the juxtaposition of the two cultures with an evangelical Christian message. God's Bread, however, was flat, floaty, mystical, and meaningless - not inspiring and nothing like the other book.


Oedipus and the Devil: Witchcraft, Sexuality and Religion in Early Modern Europe
Published in Paperback by Routledge (1994)
Author: Lyndal Roper
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Not for most people
This book is difficult to review. As an academic work for social historians and feminists, it may be very interesting.

However, I am not an academic and I am not much interested in social history. I read this book for a class, not for pleasure.

The points the book does make with regard to the Reformation's effect on society are interesting. Again, though, I feel the book leaned too far toward academic argumentation.

The major flaw in the book is that it just isn't a read. Given the topic, I was expecting some fun trip into the bizarre world of witchcraft in early modern Germany. What i got was too much commentary from the author on academic subjects and not enough of a pleasurable read. There isn't enough story here. It is more a collection of related essays.

I would like to see a book on a similar topic that is done more to instruct rather than to argue.


The Philby affair: espionage, treason, and secret services; [and, Admiral Canaris]
Published in Unknown Binding by Kimber ()
Author: H. R. Trevor-Roper
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An inadequate starting place for Philby and Canaris readers.
The author clearly has an axe to grind with Philby. This book represents two articles previously published in the April 1968 edition of Encounter. Although the author claims that as a result of recently declassified documents a book is warranted, it is not. This is an inadequate starting place for Canaris and "The Philby Affair". by R.E. Brennan


Chuckie's New Mommy
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (2002)
Authors: Kim Ostrow and Robert Roper
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reading your favorite schoolhouse "schoolhouserock"
Lolly,Lolly,Lolly get your adverbs here, interplanet Janet she's
a galaxy girl, yes many of these songs are from "chuckie's new mommy" rock wich is currantly now avalible the tape features these three schoolhouserock adventures "science rock,grammar rock,and money rock" the program also contains the"I'm just a bill" music video preformed by deluxx folk implosion
avalible from WaltDisney home entertainment takes 90 minutes and was made in 2002.


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