This is a fascinating account of the historical development of virtuosity, expertise, a faith in technology, and even technocracy. Liberally spiced with the author's wit and erudition, readers will find interesting discussions of the growth of self-promotion, public relations, the creation of a public sphere, and the rise of a self-centered world view. It will be of interest to anyone interested in chess masters, great chefs, automaton makers, great pianists, famous detectives, and to those curious about what these seemingly quite different "celebrities" had in common during the Age of Revolutions. Highly recommended.

Last years third volume of the culinary cronicle is again a hit! This year Paris and and New York are featured and to my surprise the most innovative cuisine is from Paris, you could think that the old world has some more classic dishes, but it's New York! This book is filled with lobster and foie gras dishes and as a chef and lover of these products I don't mind at all. Top quality dishes from both parts of the world in a sublime big book, a must have for profesional chefs and lovers of good food, to find out whats cooking

As well as an in-depth account of Operation Overloard, which includes maps, and biographies, the book has numerous color plates showing actual uniforms, smallarms, awards, badges, insignia, and other related militaria relating to the allied, and axis powers. An invaluable resource for the collector of militaria.

This is a superb look at Paris. First catching the eye are the gorgeous watercolor sketches of the city and its people. Then the text grabs one's attention... a carefully considered, affectionate and very personal description of a Paris thet is not only a repository of culture but also a vibrant, ever-changing city. A delightful book in every respect! I couldn't give it enough stars.

A young hispanic girl, born of migrant farmer parents dreams of castles and chivalry...A young, rich Parisien boy, longs for companionship. The two meet at a baseball game and..... A great story for those who have felt loneliness in childhood and in later years. The illustrations are equally haunting and beautiful.

A great "happy ending" for 6 to adult.

I discovered Charles Paris mysteries quite by accident, looking for a book on tape to occupy the time on a long drive. Brett's sparse writing style and expansive wit makes this book a wonderful read that I have come back to time and time again.

Four passionate men connected by Fate and too many terrible secrets:

1998 -- Memphis, Tennessee:

Doctor Bernard Phillips believes that he has just performed emergency heart surgery on a man he witnessed executed in the gas chamber over thirty years before.

1964 -- Juneapple, Mississippi:

Sheriff Decatur Fairchild, hoping for a peaceful summer as outside volunteers bent on registering Blacks to vote disrupt the segregated status quo, discovers that there is an evil at work in his county that makes the local Klan look like cub scouts.

1944 -- Auschwitz, Poland:

Concentration camp doctor Conrad Pell finds he has deeply fallen in love with a beautiful Jewish internee and unthinkingly risks his future by seeking help from the most dangerous person in his past.

1940 -- Paris, France:

Thirteen-year-old Robert Anthony, in a desperate race against time to identify the perpetrator of dozens of horrible murders before the Nazis invade France, is determined to discover the truth no matter where the evidence may point.

Two will die, and two will have their lives changed forever.

Edgar Degas has a special place in my heart. No other artist used as many women as Degas did for subject. He is my favorite Impressionist artist and I regard his art as the finest, most realistic, meaningful and most beautiful of the late 19th century. Degas is most famous for his paintings of ballerinas, but he was a prolific artist and seemed to live only for his art.
When he died, he expressed his final wish: that during his funeral service, speeches must indicate that his greatest love was art and that he should be remembered as a great artist.

That's exactly how we remember him. This book provides a plethora of his paintings, and details about his life. It's very sad that this book is close to becoming out of print. I am honored to be the first to review this book. The cover painting is "L'Etoile" or "The Star on Stage". Degas painted ballerinas in the French opera-theaters in the 1870's. He was influenced by Japenese prints which enabled him to draw harmony and space. He was able to capture the transience of life, fleeting moments, as the ballerinas danced or moved in the stage during a performance. He also painted them during rehearsals and waiting in flocks in the wings. The pastels and oils were vibrant, colorful and made the ballerinas look nearly surreal in their artificial theatrical surrounding scenery. For contrast to the light and bright colors, he included gentlemen in dark suites waiting for the ballerinas backstage or observing them from a distance.

Edgar Degas, a gifted intellectual, had many friends in the art and literary world. Among his friends were the Naturalist writer Emile Zola and the Impressionist artist Edouard Manet. Degas participated in the Impressionist Exhibitions, was part of the movement by all means, although he considered himself a Realist painter of natural movement and contemporary society. He was a modern man in many respects and it was Degas who personally defended and helped Mary Cassat, the feminist and professional artist from America, exhibit with the Impressionists. This was a time when the art world was still very male-dominated. Mary Cassat and Edgar Degas remained good friends for many years.

This book seems to be Edgar Degas life through his paintings. Here, we see everything about him and we discover how unique and interesting he was. He never married, there was never any evidence that he fell in love, and although many accused him of voyeurism and presenting women as objects, this is not true. He loved women and respected them and treated them not only as works of great art but examples of people in motion. Later on, his subjects were prostitutes (albeit veiled by the guise of elegant high-class women in cafes), nightclub singers, and "bathers" as they fussed over their bodies and hair or other bedroom objects. Edgar Degas was incredibly gifted and a fine pro-feminist painter, despite what others might think.

To sum up everything he stood for, Degas himself said his art was intended to give "truth an illusion of madness". He was a true artist in the very sense of the word. No artist of the 19th century, in France, could compare to his dedication and his intelligence. Viva Edgar Degas! His paintings, originals, are still on display in the Louvre and in the Musee D'Orsay in Paris. A trip there is a pilgrimage to ballet lovers and fans of Degas paintings.

The book had a wonderful format that made it easy to read. When chosing a technique, I felt like she provided all the infomation I needed to make the intervention successful. I loved seeing the pictures. Being the visual learner that I am, I was able to see the idea she had in mind when she created the technique. There are a wide variety of topics covered from assessment to anger management. Overall, the book was very creative and enjoyable to read. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves play therapy and is wanting to add a great book to their collection.

This is a beautifully photographed book and a great adjunct to anyone who has, or is presently reading Proust, or just interested in the Belle Epoque or reading Edith Wharton etc.