Verdi's opera, La Traviata was based on this book. Violetta is a woman who lives a life of empty pleasure in Paris who also has the Consumption (Tuberculosis, it's like having AIDS now). At a party she throws, this guy named Alfredo tells her he loves her and wants her to come live with him in the country, promising to take care of her. After deliberation, Violetta accepts. In the country, Alfredo's father approaches Violetta and tells her that this liason is brining shame to his family and he wants to get his daughter married but cannot with a blemish such as this. She agrees to leave Alfredo even though it breaks her heart and his. What happens after will tug at your heart and leave you with a renound sense of passion and a few- ok, a HUNDRED- tears. It's well worth the money to read this gem by an author as famous as Alexander Dumas. He writes with such imagery you can picture everything from the glittering, dazzling parties in the book to the anguish Violetta and Alfredo feel. You can't help but love and pity the heroine. She loves Alfredo, but what can she do? Allow shame to be brought to his name when she knows she coud very well leave him the next day? And poor Alfredo didn't know how much Violetta loved him; so much in fact that she gave up happiness so he could have honor. This is a book that everyone can get something out of, make this your next literary escapade.

The Zubial was first of all a women lover. More than anything else, he had that special quality of being to seduce any women, no matter if they met just once in their entire life. He was more than just a trip or an adventure: even 15 years after his death, his son, Alexandre Jardin, found about 10 lovers of his dad, reunited in a church, praying for the salute of this incredible man. His mom was in the middle of them, superior, but not less sad...

The Zubial was a life lover too. Never, never in his entire life, he let his fears controlled him and made him stay in the «normal». Everytime he saw an «Other Direction» indication on a highway, he just took it...only to see where it would conduct him...what kind of adventure would he reach...because his whole life became an adventure...just like putting a moneyable check (with his signature on the back) in a phone box, and tell the young Alexandre «Hey, if someone got this check, we're ruined!».

The Zubial is not just a Don Juan or a crazy man: he's a lesson of life, and through the absolutely fantastic handwriting of his son, you don't miss any part of the magic...and how his family and friends had took his crazy ideas! The relation with his wife....I don't want to sell the punch...is something you should be interested about...I don't say more...

Have fun

Ever since I read the book Fanfan; I have become a big fan of Alexandre Jardin. He is truly one of France's greates authors and his stories are always funny and romantic. He has written books and they have been translated in dozens of languages so even if you don't speak french you can enjoy them. In Le Zebre the characters are no exception. They make you laugh and cry and when your done with the book you wish there was a sequel. It is that good. I definitely recommend it; and if you get a chance to read others try Fan Fan.

If you don't already speak French, learn it just to read this. This book is Zinoviev's autobiography. His life was incredible, from childhood brushes with the KGB, to bureacratic battles, to fighting Nazis on the front, to his expulsion from the Soviet Union. The most incredible thing to read are the many times when his life formed the basis for his fiction. So often, one thinks that the ironic episodes in his books are hyperbole, but a lot of them really happened. For instance, in Yawning Heights, a character leaves a subversive manuscript in plain view, knowing that the KGB would ignore anything that was not hidden. Zinoviev actually left the manuscript for Yawning Heights on his desk, knowing that the KGB would ignore it.

Paulo Freire, viewed by many as the the most significant thinker in education in the 20th century, looks at his own thought processes in this book of letters to his niece. He explains here how he writes and rewrites, how his educational theories relate to current political debates, how he responded to his exile from his native Brazil when his teachings raised the consciousness of the peasant class to threatening levels. The book gives fascinating glimpses into the life of a great educator who loved his students deeply and who believed in their abilities to think for themselves.

Those interested in the history of Christian mission in Vietnam and in the work of Alexandre de Rhodes will find in this volume a mine of information hitherto unavailable. In particular, the book examines de Rhodes's work, Cathechismus, which is the first published Vietnamese book in the Romanized script. Phan's book is a landmark study.

Wishbone turns into a guy who is the kings brother but he dosn't know it. a musketteer comes to help him when he is in jail ordered by his evil brother. Then they switch places when the king is sleeping. I recommend his to anyone who likes mystery, excitment or fairy tales. IT WAS A FABULOUS BOOK!!!

Library Journal's review of this guide: "Combining encyclopedic coverage of destinations with loads of practical information and atlas-type maps, the series illuminates the wonders of nature but emphasizes the peculiarity of a place's people and their folklore."

If you want to pay a visit to old St. Petersburg - do it in the company of Alexandre Benois and you will be amply rewarded. He evokes the refinement and culture of the city as it was then. The turn of the century city has little to do with today`s sprawling giant - one notes that with a twinge of nostalgia. A truly artistic family, the Benois, even to this day - his niece Nadia Benois was the mother of actor-writer-director Peter Ustinov. Benois tells of his collaboration with all the great names in ballet - Nijinsky - Diaghileff - Bakst. Benois was a theater designer of great importance and his influence was tremendous - he was responsible for the design of Giselle, Les Sylphides, La Valse, Graduation Ball etc. A truly fine volume, illustrations are both photos and drawings by the author. Benois has also written "Memoirs" (London 1960).oo

I have been searching for at least a decade for a book on the Sevres production during the Napoleonic Years. This book is exactly what I was looking for and the essays and tremendous illustrations are what made this book worth the search!