Too often Marx and Engels are reduced to philosophical caricatures in order to serve an author's own agenda. Richard Schmitt's book is noteworth for his careful analysis of the enduring issues and insights of Marx and Engels. I enjoyed this refreshing reminder of what all the fuss was about.

In about 1953 or 54 I was about 12 or 13 years old when the Clyde Beatty Circus came to my hometown of Glasgow, Montana. My cousin and I were drawn to the grounds like every other kid in town. We were two of the lucky ones who were given the nod by an old grizzled guy and allowed the privelege of watering the elephants, assisting in the cook-tent and that night actually stuffing ourselves into a small car with a couple of clowns and 25 other kids, and popping out in the center ring.

Richard Schmitt's The Aerialist took this reader to the other side of the curtain I had the privelege of brushing up against that day. The book is vivid and fascinating in its description of the circus as society apart, one that reflects and mimics the complexity, limitations and disorder of American society.

The characters are well-rounded and complex. I especially liked the decision to include other points of view as first person essays between chapters. These small gems of insight round out the story without violating the first person limited point of view. Several of them are obviously the result of deep thought, imagination and endless revision - as finely crafted as any written today. Any of them could stand alone.

I have two criticisms. First is the introduction of two fascinating characters - Alberta and Marge - toward the middle of the book that are dropped without full development. I liked them both and wanted to know more about them. The second is that the book sags a little during the European period. The sense of novelty and freshness declines and the writing lacks the vividness of the first part. There is also a bit of under-development in the novel's resolution. After all of his experiences why did he settle for marriage to a non-entity?

The character of Gary is true to life and convincing. His voice is strong and confident, consistent, and carries the reader along in effortless participation. Makes it a great read. Good on you Schmitt! Keep it up.

I must preface my comments by explaining that I have Richard Schmitt as a professor in creative writing, so I have no doubt that my comments are biased. However, I feel compelled to urge readers to pick this book up. Schmitt has a knack for characters - picking them up, examining them, and framing them for all to see. He uses the small detail in order to extract a full story. The novel reads as a series of vignettes, each chapter a self-contained story, yet adding to the understanding of the larger journey.

Pick it up, read it. It's great.

THE AERIALIST begins ordinarily enough - with two hapless guys, one who dodges responsibility and the other dying of cancer, taking a joy ride in a car that's obviously a murder scene - but once this novel gets going, it takes an extraordinary leap. Gary joins a circus by whim and by accident, and later pulls his buddy Dave aboard. What they experience there (particularly what Gary, our narrator, does) becomes something both larger and more gritty than a circus show. Schmitt takes his readers through Gary's various jobs in the circus as well as describing a variety of others, giving me the impression, whether false or not, that Schmitt knows his material. From bull prodder to aerialist, Gary becomes the circus with all its quirks and desperate moments, its glitz and its manure, the odd comraderie behind the scenes as well as the machinations that make the audience ooh and aah. Gary and the supporting characters are well-drawn and compelling in their off-beat ways.

This debut is a literary gem. Its originality, well-written prose, and the deftness with which the characters are drawn will assure Richard Schmitt of a solid following.

Id advise staying away from this book. As the title suggests its got plenty of excercises, but the presentation and layout are very lacking. (Stick with Schaum's Outlines German Grammar instead).

I have worked with this book for a year now. It is a good reference to keep around at the time you are taking a german course.It is not very easy to use, because of its organization, but nontheless, I believe it helps to clear a lot of questions that students may be afraid to ask because they fear it may sound stupid.

The grammar explanations are very clear, straightforward and succint. It's oriented toward practice, with lots of exercises. I found this grammar very user-friendly, both in terms of finding topics and of understanding concepts. It is invaluable help for anyone studying German! However, I do not suggest it as the first and only source for beginners, as the explanations may be unclear to those with no previous knowledge of German. Finally (which may be a problem): the key to the exercises is not included with the book, but has to be purchased separately.