This is a great reference work for movie buffs. Every winner and nominee in the four major acting categories is listed in alphabetical order with a thumbnail bio of his or her career and an occasional pithy quote. An index in the back lists winners chronologically and includes movies and directors as well as stars.

As a long time movie fan, I, like most, am aware of those actors who have been the "winners" of the major categories given at the Academy Awards. However, I did not realize the superb list of "losers" who did not collect the coveted statues. This fine reference work by Roy Pickard provides an excellent assessment of the distinguished recipients and the "also-rans." It is chocked full of amusing profiles and anecdotes about actors and film. The true movie fan who remembers such film stalwarts as Thelma Ritter, Broderick Crawford, Eve Arden, and Beah Richards will enjoy reading this book for they-and many others receive their just due.

I picked this book up in a used book store for [money] more than when it was purchased new in 1960. The pages literally crumbled as I turned them, but I couldn't put the book down. I was enthralled with the life of Oscar Wilde. Now, this biography isn't one written years after the subject's death from scraps of information. No. This is written by a very close friend of Wilde's, Frank Harris. In being written by someone of such closeness, it lends credence to the harsh words the author had to say of Wilde. Harris calls him lazy and slothenly. Of course, Wilde caused quite a sensation in his time. He was imprisoned under other pretenses, but mainly because he was a homosexual in a time period when this was not acceptable. Oscar was one who did not care what others thought of him. He was determined to live a life of pleasure and to make money doing things that he liked: writing and speaking. However, he did a great deal of leaching off of others. There's no denying Wilde's genius. I have yet to read any of his works except for a short essay entitled "The Soul of Man Under Socialism." To me, the thoughts seemed profound. But Harris says that Oscar never said or wrote anything original; he merely took other people's thoughts, meshed them together, and said them in a more profound way. This is a biography that reads like a fine story. Harris is a great writer and has more first-hand knowledge of his subject than any other biographer that I've read. I'd reccomend this book to others without reservation.

"The best life of Oscar Wilde", said George Bernard Shaw after reading this book. I cannot but agree with him utterly. No unnecesary data is wasted, no long reflexions bore us. It's just an Oscar's very close friend telling us with great elegance and delicacy the story of one he has admired and loved so much, but without fear of saying the truth. Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas. Of course, the reader has to know Mr Harris is the true "lead actor" in the story he's telling us, always supporting the Truth and the Right. But one can easily forgive him for that in reward for the great moments un Oscar's life he's saved from oblivion and darkness. A wonderful work of art itself, this biography must be read by every admirer of that Prince of Charm Oscar Wilde was. X. Careaga

I greatly enjoyed both the thorough examination of many important Wilde critics of the 1990s and the sensible point of view. The author defends clear writing and makes a forceful defense of biographically and psychologically based criticism, enlisting Wilde's own remarks in her argument. Her criticism of literary jargon is occasionally biting, and justifiably so. This is a book not for the politically correct, but rather the openminded scholar or student of literature. It is safe to say that Wilde himself would have enjoyed it.

Professor Knox offers a splendid overview and critique of contemporary Oscar Wilde criticism. She illustrates how "-ism-guided" approaches tend to utilize Wilde for their own agendas rather than trying to come to terms with the contradictory and fascinating nature of his oeuvre. This book is a must read for any Wilde scholar as well as for advanced students pursuing work on Wilde or on approaches to literature.

I really enjoyed "Oscar's Hijack." Great collection of characters, none of whom wasted a minute grabbing your attention with their own contributions. Ended too soon!

Intriguing story with glimpses into off-beat minds and some delightful twists. But what really got me was the presentation, the readers get into their characters and gave them a real sense of being. I feels you are there and wondering what's going to happen right along with them.

Wilson's life history of Oscar is a classic in psychological anthropology. Writing after the heyday of Culture-and-Personality studies in American cultural anthropology, the author uses Oscar's life to raise trenchant questions about the interaction between the individual and the social environment, and between madness and its context. As a misfit, Oscar provokes readers to consider whether eccentricity is a matter of individual aberrations or whether the cultural life of Providencia (a Caribbean island) produces in some way the eccentricities within it. Still another way to read this problem is to consider how much volition Oscar exercises over his "madness" and whether his life is a chosen form of criticism and even satire of the day-to-day expectations of life on the island. All in all, the book is a bittersweet look at the encounter between the person of Oscar and his social world, and it is an absorbing work, for classroom use and for readers interested in these issues.

Oscar is an enthralling look at an isolated community and its love-hate relationship with one of its members: Oscar. This forlorn and supposedly insane character plays havoc amongst the inhabitants of a tiny Caribbean island. At a glance the man is mad, but on closer examination he is a master of chicanery and far from pity.

I am not a student of psychology and thus cannot recommend it as a study text. However, I will say that I read this book about 5 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. Its a great read.

William Gordon did a fabulous job compiling this gem of a collection. This is a "must" for any writer for both inspiration and information. I reach for it often in my struggle to write my second book. I appreciate the varied resources from all kinds of backgrounds (and different ages), but most of all, they are writers who have gone down the same path as I.

Writers love words and Bill Gordon loves writers. Hehascompiledover 170 pages of categorized quotations from more than 600authors. This book is recommended to all writers, not just for yourown enjoyment but as a resource. When it is not on your nightstand, it will be within easy reach of your desk, next to your dictionary.

OK Shakespeare fans, this is the one reference book you will ever need for all you would ever want to know about the Bard. It covers everything related to Shakespeare minus information on whether he wore briefs or boxers. (Everything else, though, is covered here--trust me!)

And one thousand pages for $15? C'mon, this is well worth the price of a pizza! Of course, this is not something you would read word for word, but I have used it more than once to help me understand a play that I was about to see. However, you need to set aside the better part of an hour to read the article on the history and background of any one of his plays. There is also plenty of info on his other writings, including the sonnets. Besides visiting the reconstructed Globe theatre (which I have had the privilege of doing), owning this book is the only other requirement for the serious Shakespearean student/fan.

My sole complaint is that the lettering is rather small (is is 7 pt or 8 pt? my eyes couldn't tell--ouch!). But hey, what do you expect for $15? A 2,000-page book?

If you want a comprehensive understanding of Shakespeare this is a must buy! I used this book constantly while taking a Shakespeare class. I have already reccomended it to numerous others and they found it just as useful. I'm now on my second copy because I wore the other one out!

spellbinding and definitely a must-have for art lovers

Lovely book. Very clean. Like the building.

This book represents an extrodianry environmental focus for design. The houses created by the Miller/Hull Partnership display architecture originality combined with a keen knowledge of the northwest. Each house is created in harmony with it's surrounding environment--a beautiful representation of both art and archecture.

Please note the customer review entitled, "Architecture Reference Book," does not reflect the correct designer. The architects represented in this book are David Miller, Bob Hull, Norm Strong, and other very talented designers from the Miller/Hull Partnership.

The book reviews ten houses designed by Christian De Groote which are built in Chile round about 1988 to 1991. All the houses are contemporary and there are good photos of the houses. There is not much explination or description, however this is nor really expected of an Architecture book, since Architecture is more of a view and see experience. I thought that Christian in his designs had many great ideas. Perhaps he is not the most famous designer but I liked his designs very much and hope to incorporate some of the design ideas in the house I am building.

The careful photographs compliment the equally fine details in the buildings of this excellent architect. After a year, I'm still looking at it often.

This is perhaps the best value in pictorial architecture books. For under $20., this book has great photos, straightforeward text, clearly reproduced drawings (including construction details!!), all superbly graphically designed. Even if the architecture doesn't appeal to you, the overall presentation of it in this book will. If you do like the architecture (which I think is a beautiful modern adaption of conventional New England vernacular), then this book is a must-have. You won't find this quality in books two or three times the cost!!