Captivating study in English of Anna de Noailles' poetry. Perry allows us to discover this powerful woman who had such an impact in France at the turn of the century and up to her early death in 1933. An incredibly thorough study with numerous and qualitative translations of Noailles' verse and poetic prose. Anna de Noailles has been well served!

A celebrated poet in France during her lifetime, Anna de Noailles (1876-1933) gradually lost critical attention after her death, This book, the first on the poet to appear in English, reexamines her extensive poetry and prose, alongside manuscripts and private documents' in relation to the works of French and European artists and thinkers from among her predecessors as well as her contemporaries The author shows how this woman of foreign origins envisioned and constructed an original poetic world by actively engaging with her literary and intellectual heritage-as represented by Lamartine, Hugo, Baudelaire, Mallamre, Proust, Schopenhauer, and Rilke, among others--while discovering vital sources of inspiration in her Greek ancestry and in Nietzsche's groundbreaking Philosophy. Not only did Noailles create a distinctive voice in the world of French letters but her influence reached writers of both genders in France, in other European countries, and across the Atlantic. Best understood in terms of a Dionysian aesthetics, her work is sensual, erotic, and playful, but also reflective, violent on occasion, and always marked by a tragic undercurrent that becomes magnified with time. Beyond the prominent place she held in the world of French letters, Noailles' lifelong commitment to artistic creation invites a reconsideration of her work.
Through the focusing lens of Anna de Noailles, Persephone Unbound revives multiple facets of the culture in which she wrote. More crucially still, it reevaluates a writer whose historical stature and whose incorporation by the French establishment as a representative of "feminine" poetry have tended to overshadow her literary merits. With respect to her poetry in particular, critics have often failed to recognize the modernity of its lyric voice on account of its traditional verse patterns. Reflecting a dual attitude of competition and cooperation with her cultural world, Noailles held a similarly doublevoiced discourse toward conventional interpretations of woman. Her classification in literary history as a belated French Romantic further obfuscates the significance of her work While recognizing her predecessors, Noailles was frequently unable to find adequate models in their works for a distinct poetic identity. In seeking new versions of the feminine self she acknowledged women who were unable to write and, more broadly, she attempted to provide a formerly silent Muse with voice and presence. Noailles' Greek inheritance also enabled her to reclaim mythical figures such as those of Persephone and Antigone, and thus to invigorate the link that French poetry had established with antiquity. The book finther evaluates Noailles' unique positions on social-sexual politics as they find expression in her little-known relationship with the nationalist writer Maurice Barres. First made available to readers in 1991, their correspondence discloses how Barres found in Noailles a long-sought muse even while he rejected her progressive politics. The author analyzes both Noailles' renditions of this relationship and the oscillation in Barrbs's works between the symbolic significance he attached to Noailles as a quasi-miraculous incarnation of his fascination with Dionysian values and his equally forceful denial of a poet whose inspiration clashed with his philosophy of nationalist action.

I've recently developed an interest in Civil War history, an era that had not heretofore intrigued me. In doing some reading on the subject, I kept coming across references to "the diaries of Mary Chesnut," and decided to read them. Most historians look upon these diaries as a major source of information on what took place in the South during the Civil War, because the lady was present at some of the important events and was certainly herself effected by them. As the editors write, she was often reduced to moving "eventually from one place of refuge to another as a fugitive from military invaders (p. x)" and "Living out of her trunk in hotels or rented rooms (p. x)." The quotations or information gleaned from this resource do indeed illuminate the narration in the historical works in which one comes across them. They are not, however, easy to read.

I gather from the introduction to this book that the diaries had been edited for publication as a continuous narrative--minus the more embarrassing self-revelations--entitled by a hand other than the lady's a "Diary from Dixie." The author herself had died long before the book was ever printed, leaving the details of publication to a relative. The editors of the current text despair the latter work as "heavily cut and carelessly edited (p. ix)," because it prevents the reader from knowing well the lady as a character herself.

The Private Mary Chesnut is just what the Diary from Dixie is not, a real diary. As such, it contains entries that are for the most part endless mentions of people with whom the reader probably will not be knowledgeable unless he or she is very "into" the South and Civil War history. One is frequently reduced to checking the footnotes for information on the individuals named. Unfortunately the editors of the diary give only the barest of facts about them, usually social or military rank or relationship to Mrs. Chesnut or another individual mentioned in the diary. The writer's comments often leave one trying to read between her lines for some inkling of "what's really going on!" because there is the merest glimpse of some probably very interesting underlying story. The editors of the text, however, either will not or cannot give these details. Because of this dearth of underlying social information, the book comes across as either confusing or a little boring, a simple catalogue of parties and people met at parties, of polite social visits paid back and forth. This is definitely not an Edith Warton!

Spaced throughout the document are nuggets of truly golden information about the Civil War and antebellum period. [THOSE WRITING PAPERS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE OR HISTORY TAKE NOTE] Because the lady was well connected by virtue of her own social status and oft sought company, she is privileged to the opinions of and gossip about significant individuals. She knew people who had met or knew the Lincoln family and was herself intimately acquainted with the Jefferson Davis family. One of the more interesting quotes was gossip associated with Mary Todd Lincoln's notorious household economy in the White House (pp. 30 and 31-32). This gives a much truer picture of what the social elite thought of the Lincolns, particularly in the South, and makes clear, that Washington D. C. was--and probably still is--more part of the southern social milieu than that of northern or national.

Certainly the lady herself comes across quite real in these diaries. In short she is often vain, opinionated, over-indulged, and wasteful by modern standards--at least by middle class standards--but she is also a well educated, astute and outspoken judge of political events and of the social ills of the institution of slavery. [THOSE WRITING PAPERS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE OR HISTORY TAKE NOTE] Her discourse on its ills, particularly of misogynation, are eminently quotabl--and often are. My favorite is that beginning with "I wonder if it be a sin to think slavery a curse on any land (p. 42-43)," etc.

While the book is difficult to get through, for those with a desire to know more than just the bare facts about the Civil War period and its society, this book is probably a good source for that information. [THOSE WRITING PAPERS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE OR HISTORY TAKE NOTE] This would definitely be considered a primary rather than a secondary source for the topic.

This is the one indispensible book for anyone interested in what went on in the South behind the battle lines. As Pepys gives us a living picture of the London and court of Charles II, so does M. Chesnut give us a bird's eye view of the Confederate government and the society she lived in.

A wise and witty woman, Mary Chesnut spent most of the war years close to ground zero in Richmond, VA. She knew Jefferson and Varina Davis intimately. She rubbed elbows with congressmen and cabinet members. Mrs. Chesnut was a sharp tongued woman who pulled no punches and she tells us much that, but for her, would remain unknown about the leaders of the "Lost Cause".

Anyone who enjoyed the Woodward/Muhlenfeld editon of Mary Chesnut's memoirs can't afford to miss this publication of the materials from which she created her masterpiece.

I read this book many years ago when I was growing up in Dayton, Ohio. I had heard tales of the 1913 flood, but reading this book at the time made it all more real to me. Very well written, and quite descriptive with the sights and sounds and sometimes smells of the time leading up to and during the flood. Brought to life places that no longer existed when I was growing up, like the old Steele High School. A few years ago I stumbled upon an old copy at a library sale and snapped it up. I came home and reread it that night. Strongly recommended to history buffs and non-history buffs!

This book is really good. Especially if you're from Dayton. Even if you're not! I read this book when i was in about the 6th grade. it's about a girl around 16 i believe that lives through the 1913 flood in dayton. it tells of the sights and sounds of the flood along with the girls fictional family and their experiences. includes daytonview, ncr, victoria theatre etc. it's a great book!

If this book can be classified as "queer theory," then it is queer theory done absolutely right. Ladenson's analyses of traditional readings of lesbianism in the novel as transposed male homosexuality, of the dissymmetry between Sodom and Gomorrah in the novel, of voyeurism, of the evolution of Proust's treatment of lesbianism, and finally, of the Narrator's place in the relation between is mother and grandmother, are brilliant. Highly recommended. I haven't read anything as intelligent and marvelously succinct as this in a long time.

In PROUST'S LESBIANS, Ladenson goes where few critics have gone before and she reads the figure of the lesbian in Proust's works not as a gay man manque, but shockingly as...a lesbian! PROUST'S LESBIANS is a fantastic read - enjoyable, witty, erudite, accessible and highly informative.

This book changed my life from the time I was five years old in 1967. It still continues to guide my steps today. Had the privilege of meeting Auca Indians in 1971 in Chattanooga, TN, along with the great Elisabeth Elliot.I am looking for the first publication of this book. It is a very large hardback book. Approximate publication would be 1960. Any information would be appreciated. In Christ, Ella

I am not a Christian but I was touched by the faith of this woman who went to live with the Indian tribe who had killed her husband in the late 1950s. Considering that this book was penned more than thirty years ago it has aged well. It is superbly written with beautiful photos, many of them taken by the author herself. With her small daughter in tow Elisabeth Eliot kept her faith in an ecologically hostile environment, living with people whose language she barely spoke, and whose way of life was as violent as it was beautiful. I was amazed at how Elisabeth's small daughter Valerie adapted to life in the Amazon Jungle, so much in fact that she preferred the local cuisine to her mother's cooking; she also grasped the complicated language of the Indians far quicker than her mother, and in all probability could have been absorbed into the tribe if her mother had not been there. The Savage My Kinsman is not a condescending book about the conversation of Savages to Christianity. It deals with the subject of God with simplistic honesty; this is a book about a woman, her faith and her desire to continue her dead husband's missionary work. I liked the book very much, and I am glad that even after thirty years it is still in print. If you want a plain read with no frills or flowers, just beautiful photos and straight-forward narrative, then this is the book is worth buying.

Great read by one the best biographers in the business. I'd even let Terrill write my life story!

Keep up the good work Marshall. I can't wait for the Pete Maravich book!

I had the priviledge to know Rex And Elizabeth Mansfield when my husband was stationed in Germany in the early 90's. They are wonderful people and some of the most down-to- earth people I know. It was exciting to read about a time in their lives that I never really knew about. I knew Elizabeth had dated Elvis but did not realize how close they both were to him. I read every word knowing that it was true because I knew the writers. It gives youa great insight to realize that behind every famous person is just that, a real person, warts and all. I encourage every fan of Elvis to read this book because it is written by people who knew him and loved him.

Of the many Indian art books I would rate this the best as it not only is visual but poetic and philosophical at the same time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about this Indian goddess.

This is an elegant book. It is at once philosophical, poetic, and visually stunning. The text and images beautifully complement each other. After reading this book, I not only appreciated the richness of the Parvati tradition, but also of the Hindu artistic and philosophical tradition. Never again will I look at work of Indian art as merely beautiful at a sensory level. Hindu art exists harmoniously within a cultural, philosophical, and literary context, as does this wonderful book.

This is a really great book! I borrowed it from the local library. I have used the book while at home and during breaks at work. The tape is great for time spent on the road. I have learned so much in the past two weeks, that I decided to purchase the book/cassette.

A really great resource for the individual that wants to learn Spanish.

We have had the book less than one week and have already made great progress in learning Spanish! We recently moved to a mainly hispanic area and are so glad we found this book! Highly recommended! Muy bueno!

Yes, this is it. This series of books (4 so far) is the bible as far as historical recreation is concerned. Yes, it is wonderfully detailed. Yes, it has great examples of how to make/cut/do a lot of clothing related details.. but to quote another historical author "Sometimes the Museum of London folks are just flying kites".

Take, for example, the pattern and redrawing of the fitted 14th century dress. The pattern given in MOL:T&C is from one the Greenland tunics. In fact, according to Robin Netherton, it's a redrawing of tunic that the is attributed as a man's tunic that isn't particularly fitted. There just isn't enough evidence to say that a tunic from Greenland is a good indication of fashion in mainland Europe.

That said, this is a fantastic resource. It should be in every recreationists library. But reader beware not everything in it is exactly 100% accurate.

Textiles & Clothing is an Excellent resource for all who are interested in historic research of Textiles and Clothing. The book shows detailed pictures of artifacts excavated from London as well as reconstructive drawings showing weave and knitting structures. This is book 4 of the series. Others in series - Knives & Scabbards; Dress Accessories; Shoes & Pattens. All are great reference books.

Author of the well known, "On Death and Dying", and respected for her work with the terminally ill, Dr. Kubler-Ross turns her attention to the problem of AIDS. This book was written to: give support and comfort to the terminally ill, especially during the final stages of their life; to raise important social and moral questions for all; to advocate continued AIDS research; and to promote the further development of adequate care & support systems for those who suffer with this condition. Full of personal stories, with a particular focus on the plight of children and babies with AIDS, it is compassionate, insightful and challenging.