Watt examines four famous characters from Western literature who have been reincarnated numerous times: Faust, Don Quixote, Don Juan, and Robinson Crusoe. He treats each individually in the first half of the book, and makes comparisions and discusses recent reworkings in the second half. The depth and breadth of Watt's knowledge of his four myths is readily apparent. Still, though, it's an easy read, intended perhaps for the non-expert. Even if you haven't read the original works yourself, it's easy to follow. The book hints at provocative issues in the creation and meaning of myth as well as "individualism," though Watt's theoretical musings aren't as rewarding or complete as his close analysis of the four figures. The work of history and translation on the transformation of myth is a fascinating subject, but Watt's book suggests far more questions than it answers.

This book does present many good arguments, and provides Bible verses throughout supporting author J. Faust's ideas. Some of these arguments are questionable; therefore, this book should only be read by theological students, clergy, or those who are well-versed in theology and prophecy. Otherwise, the reader may become confused as to what the Bible teaches us. Very thought provoking.

The 3 stars are for the lousy editing and organizing of the book, not its actual contents, which is a collection of the more important works of I understand one of the world's greatest writer.

Books like this should be judged by the way they are edited -- the stature over the past 200 years of the author and of his works contained in the book are beyond dispute anymore. You can always say all the superlative words about, say, Shakespeare or James Joyce, but it will only show that you are just catching up with what the rest of the world knows already. Same here.

Usually, books like this, specially those published by supposedly respectable publishers, would be a bit more well organized. A well known critic would introduce the book at the level of an average reader, would tell you how the works that comprise the collection were selected, would tell you the merits and demerits of the available translations and why a particular translation was chosen for the collection, etc.

It would have maps and chronologies and a bit more background information so you will appreciate better the historical and geographical and cultural context of the author's works.

Aside from the chronology and a terribly irrelevant and unreadable and useless and boring exercise in conceited academic hoo-hah, otherwise known as the book's Introduction, you get none of those goodies and you must just fend for yourself while wading in 1,248 pages of 200 year-old literature.

The specialists -- those who are engaged in the cottage industry that surrounds a major writer -- will probably like this book, if indeed this book collects all of Goethe's books that matter in the English translation.

However for the dilettante like you and me who just knows that Goethe is supposed to be a good writer and specially those who are looking for a good English translation of any of his major work, this book is no help at all. You just don't know whether the translations are the best ones available in English.

Almost all the paraphernalia in the book are useless, and you will be like reading an unknown 200 year-old 1,248-page book of an unknown writer.

(P.S. but I did enjoy reading the Sorrows of Young Werther and the poems, for all they are worth.)

Max Brand did an excellent job of relating animal instincts, as well as their fight for survival and leadership. Brand narrated the story in a very meaningful manner in White Wolf's relationship with his foster parent, Mother Wolf. This was the fifth Max Brand book I have read, but it won't be my last. "The White Wolf" is probably not one of Brand's best works, but is definitely worth your time in reading.

It's a same with all the great books published today, that occasionally a book slide through that should have never made it to the press.

This book is a wonderful record of the way things were accomplished in everyday living when electricity and cars were beginning to make their way into homes. I found it enlightening, entertaining, and educating. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in rural life, history, and short story telling. It is a wonderful book to read to kids and to elderly people.

I was so disapointed with this book when I got it. I wanted some ANALYSIS and scholarship in conjunction with the photographs...but NO, there was NONE TO BE FOUND. The reproductions are nice and if you just want something to look at fine...get the book. However, if you actually want to read a book about french studios this is not the book to buy.

Compared to other trail guides I've read, the author of this book is obviously not writing from too much first hand information or did not fully research each ride before writing about them. I would recommend this book only as an overview of SOME of the trails in NH, but would not recommend that anyone head out on a new trail relying only on this book to get you back.

My wife & I bought this book last year to find some new rides close to our home. We finaly made it out to New Hampshire this past weekend and chose a ride listed as "Beginner" in the book. What the book called a nice ride, turned out to be nearly impassible single track riddled with boulders & roots,not to mention swamp & knee deep mudd. We spent the majority of the 12 mile ride actually walking our bikes. By the end of the trail, we were covered in mudd & exhausted. I can't imagine that the authors actually rode this trail before writting this book.

Have you read an entire story, read the very last sentence on the very last page and then asked yourself "Now, WHAT in the world was THAT story about?"

Max Brand's "Devil Horse" was either so very dull that it couldn't hold my attention, or at the time that I read it, attention wasn't mine to give. I read the words on each page, but the cumulative effect was that nothing seemed to sink in. Fortunately, the story was short, being barely more than one hundred pages. The paperback that I read was a re-release of the original story that was copyrighted sometime after the turn of the twentieth century. I give this creation a very low rating, because all that I know is a good yarn will immediately grab my attention and will creatively build a fictitious story, making a fictitious conclusion that could possibly happen in real life. The only element that the story was missing was "the ability to immediately grab my attention."

I had purchased this version of Marlowe's work because it was convenient at the time. While I thought it was a good story, it was also heavily edited. It did spur my desier to find the original A and B texts of the play, and now that I have read the more complete version I feel that this particular revision actually cheats the reader of the true depth of the play and the fall of Faustus. Many scenes from the original, such as the knight's plot of revenge, were removed. The author claimed such cuts were made for the sake of a more 'performable' play, which may be true, but in this, and other instances, I felt the material cut was crucial to filling out the plot and improving character develop throughout the story. I read both versions with a directors eye, and I would urge anyone considering this purchase to look for 'The Complete Plays' instead.