The earliest days of Sydney, Australia, and the prison colony which was its first population center provide a dynamic setting for this ambitious, old-fashioned novel. With a broad scope, grand design, and sensitive treatment of universal themes, it has the weightiness of an epic, but is far more vigorous and more involving than that, with vivid, sympathetic characters who come fully to life. Transported halfway around the world to a forbidding and alien landscape, men and women prisoners share their personal struggles, providing a vitality and emotional punch one does not often find in fiction. The reader soon discovers that the prisoners are not all that different, of course, from the civil servants and Marines who administer the colony--everyone in Port Jackson (Sydney) is a prisoner in some way or another, be it physical, spiritual, or emotional.

Lt. Ralph Clark's decision to produce George Farquhar's early 18th century comedy, The Recruiting Officer, with an all-prisoner cast leads to many emotional conflicts. Though the play provides the participants with a way to achieve a measure of dignity, they must still bow to the strictures of the colony off stage. Many prisoners wield cruel powers over other prisoners, while Marines and administrators exert power over both the prisoners and the aborigine inhabitants of the area. The restrictions imposed by the church, in the person of Rev. Dick Johnson, aggravate tensions by concentrating on rules of behavior rather than on the human soul. Against this backdrop of the restrictions on their lives, Keneally's characters are set in high relief, their humanity contrasting sharply with the impersonal forms of government which are imposed upon them.

Meticulously depicting 18th century England, its government, its penal system, and its social structure, along with early Australia, its first western inhabitants, the decimation of the aborigine population, and the social conflicts faced by its characters, this is one of Keneally's greatest novels, a timeless story based on real journals, stunning in its effect.

This finely crafted work is one of Keneally's most notable. Portraying a man in an agony of moral conflict over his love for a woman convict yet constantly aware of the family left behind in England, The Playmaker addresses human feelings at many levels. Like so many of his books, Keneally has taken figures from history, weaving a plausible tale of the life they might have led. His examination of the mind and heart of Lieutenant Ralph Clark, during the early years of the Port Jackson [Sydney] prison colony, a is deeply moving account. Far from home, these exiled people face disturbing choices. Keneally compares the founders of the Sydney colony with space travellers, isolated in a dangerous situation with limited resources.

Clark's task is the staging of a play in celebration of the king's birthday. Assembling a cast from the convicts, he's confronted with a range of personalities from house maids to forgers. Keneally's research has dredged up backgrounds of these transported felons; the thieves' guild oath is a particularly fine touch. His real talent, however, is in presenting this material through his characters . Each of his figures projects a reality surpassing other writers of historical fiction. While his descriptive narrative may make modern allusions, none of his persona are dragged out of their original time frame. Ralph Clark is particularly well drawn. Keneally has a special talent for presenting us with an 18th Century man's feelings and aspirations as much as it's possible for us to know them.

That this book has been returned to the active sales list is a testament to its value. It should be read by more people. The 18th Century setting is less important than what Keneally has to say about people. Add this book to your shelves with confidence. It's worth more than a single read.

I read this book seveal years ago, before Keneally's name became so widely known as a result of the success of Schindler's List (the movie). This book stands out in my memory for the great ability to transport us to a different time, place and way of thinking. I found it to have been very skillfully written. I subsequently read other books of his as a result of the pleasure derived from this one and was not disappointed.This book deserves to be more widely known.

Very good reference. Easy to understand. Guides you through most situations. Recommend VII as a companion. Looking forward to VIII.

This author really knows has stuff and takes a rather complicated technical subject and makes it easy to learn the various apsects on conducting an accident investigation.

How could any book of essays by today's leading philosophers and thinkers not be absolutely excellent--and this one is!

Ralph McInery (Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame) was the author of numerous works in philosophy, literature, and journalism whose clear, persistent, and creative defenses of natural theology and natural law helped to establish a dialogue between theists and non-theists, a dialogue that contributed to the moral and political renewal of American culture in general, and providing some of the philosophical foundations for Catholic theology in particular. Recovering Nature: Essays In Natural Philosophy, Ethics, and Metaphysics in Honor of Ralph McInery brings together essays by an impressive group of scholars that includes William Wallace, O.P.; Jude P. Dougherty; John Haldane; Thomas DeKonick; Alasdair MacIntrye; David Solomon; Daniel McInerny; Janet E. Smith; Michael Novak; Stanley Hauerwas; Laura Garcia; Alvin Plantinga; Alfred J. Freddoso; and David B. Burrell, C.S.C. Recovering Nature is an outstanding anthology of thought and a fitting tribute honoring a most distinguished scholar, educator, and theologian of the Catholic faith.

As a collector of American Folk Art I always wondered what guided my purchases. Only now do I understand, through the collector's and the author's eyes, that I too have focused on the Spiritually Moving. Anyone who would like to view one of the finest private collections would appreciate adding this table top book to his/ her library.

Spritually Moving, a Collection of American Folk Sculpture, produced by Harvey Kahn and Tom Geismar accomplishes in one book what decades of collecting often never achieves. To blur the line between American Folk Art, Contemporary and Fine Art is the ultimate lesson.

Professor McInerny's translation of this polemical work of Aquinas' is clear and readable. His interpretive notes provide extremely helpful elucidation of the original text. The book has been quite useful for me in my understanding of Aquinas' theory of the nature of the human intellect.

This "collected poems 1934-1953" has 2 poems that "collected poems 1934-1952" (which has all poems Dylan himself wished to be included at that time, 1952) doesn't have: "In Country Heaven" and "Elegy". Former was intended by him to be included in some future collection and latter, this is the last, but unfinished poem Dylan ever wrote.

This is a great translation of Aquinas' comments on Aristotle's work titled, "Metaphysics." Ralph McInerny (Notre Dame University) wrote the preface and the work was translated by John P. Rowan. Both men are strong in their field of expertise and both are Thomists. The book is a phrase by phrase/paragraph by paragraph commentary written by Aquinas on Aristotle's actual work. In other words, Aquinas took what Aristotle espoused in his "Metaphysics" and discussed it in great detail. Aquinas was not shy about admitting what he disagreed and agreed with in Aristotle's philosophy. So not only is the reader of this addition getting the actual translated text of Aristotle's work, but also Aquinas' remarks. This is an incredible reference/resource work for those who are either studying Aristotle's "Metaphysics," the thoughts of Thomas Aquinas, or perhaps both. The book is 839 pages of solid text and very well organized so the reader knows the parts that are Aristotle's (which are all italicized) and Aquinas'(which are in plain type). This book, if for no other reason, at least helps the student of both philosophers gain a better understanding of each; since Aquinas is at his best when commenting about Aristotle's work and the actual text of Aristotle is present for the reader to digest. This paragraph from the back cover of the book well describes what the buyer and reader can expect from such a great work as this - "Thomas Aquinas finds the twelve books he comments on wonderful for their order, both overall and in the minutest detail. His reading is governed by what he takes to be the clear sense of the text, his interpretations keep close to what Aristotle actually said, his account is breathtaking in its acuity." Thus, this is a work that you will not want to miss, since, unfortunately, books of this nature have a short a shelf life.

The Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is one of the most beautiful works ever for string orchestra. Anyone with an inclination towards Ralph Vaughn Williams or just English music would love this piece. The score is easy to read and the 1st and 2nd orchetras and the solo string quartet are easily distinguished.

this book had it all, the charachters-Thor,Iron Man,Captain America and many more,the thing I liked most about the book was the battles themselves, it was all ways exiting

I have purchased several books on locating missing persons. This one, just revised and updated seems to be the best