read one of the short pieces in this anthology. They are also incredibly uplifting too. A brilliant bedside companion for any dog lover.

Although each of the pieces in this book was inspired by the loss of a much beloved dog, this is really a book about vibrant, fully-alive dogs: family pets, fellow hunters, soul mates, and best friends. And while none of the dogs remembered so fondly here still lives, Old Dogs affirms the remarkably special place in the heart we reserve for our dogs. My own dog is sturdy in her middle-age, but reading the eulogies and odes in this moving anthology has made me appreciate more all the quirky habits I take for granted, like how she can't resist running off with one of my Reeboks when I'm shoeing up for our evening walk--the little prance she performs when I tell her, "Bring the shoe back!" Not a sad read but a celebratory one, required for every dog owner!

This is a remarkable anthology of stories and poems by outstanding authors of the past, as well as more recent times. Although these moving remembrances are only of beloved dogs, the lovers of any species of pet will find identical sentiments for their own losses. Whatever kind of companion animal you had, you will find your own bereavement and healing tears reflected here, as well.

Care was taken to avoid over-sentimentality, in this assortment of loving reflections of dogs, celebrated here. These accounts are full of love, and are sometimes even funny - and we are thrust into the realization that perhaps that is the most wonderful kind of living memorials we can have for a beloved pet. Too often, we lose this perspective, while trying to keep from drowning in our own bereavement and sorrows.

Rather than being a collection of sad literary memorials Old Dogs Remembered is a joyful celebration of life with pets. This inspires healthy new points of view and adjustments to moving on into our new lives, without them.

Here we are treated to many different outlooks on how they permanently enriched the lives of their owners. Reading these heartwarming pages will broaden the understanding of each reader, concerning his/her own personal bereavement. Here, we are offered the collective wisdom of others, who reminisce on their honored pets. There is much to be shared and learned here, as well as enjoyed.

With so many different authors, one must appreciate that references and styles have changed drastically, through the ages. As an example of this, some might find the essay by the dramatist John Galsworthy to be interesting, but a bit troublesome to read. And, as with any anthology, there may be some accounts not everyone would appreciate. But all pet lovers will readily identify with the overall shared remembrances, here. This is a heartwarming collection, which can be enjoyed comfortably, in several installments.

There will be many an uplifting tear shed in its reading, and we suggest it for your reading pleasure.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, even those with no interest at all in falconry. The author is so skilled and talented that I'd say that he could write an entertaining piece about paint drying. Enjoy!!

Mr. White describes his experiences with training a goshawk for falconry. He has no guidance beyond an ancient manuscript and things go horribly awry. An outstanding book, a pleasure to read. Also an example of why current US regulations require a falconry apprenticeship period.

This is indeed an excellent book for those interested in history and biology. ~The Book of Beasts~ is a translation from Latin of a Twelfth century bestiary. It was written as a serious scientific study of zoology, despite giving equal precedence to dogs, horses, lions, dragons, and unicorns. This was the world of wildlife as the people of the 1100's saw it. It includes such beliefs as "when a lioness gives birth to her cubs, she brings them forth dead and lays them up lifeless for three days - until thier father, coming on the third day, breathes in thier faces, and makes them alive." (direct quote) The book also has an extensive appendix, detailing the history of the original manuscript of this bestiary, and information on ancient bestiaries as a whole. Further, the author tells us "No Latin prose bestiary has ever before been printed, even in Latin. This is the first and only English translation in print. . ." This is an invaluable reference to any students of historical sciences, especially biological/zoological sciences, or to any simply interested in the subjects. Very highly recommended.

Elisabeth Brewer is a Medieval scholar and a White specialist. This work is chronologically arranged, so that she gives in depth infomation "by the book." Her research is impressive and illuminating. As a high school teacher, I find the work invaluable as a source of my lecture information. Her book is as much a psychological study of the author as an explanation of the text.

Maria is a ten-year-old orphan girl, growing up in her crumbling ancestral home, under the authority of a cold guardian and a tyrannical governess. But when Maria paddles over to a small island in the center of a lake on the grounds, she makes a marvelous discovery: the island is peopled by Lilliputians. Yes, the sea captain who rescued Gulliver so long ago, returned, and trapped a group of the unfortunate Lilliputians for a sideshow act. But, they had escaped, and built themselves a new home on the island called Mistress Masham's Repose. Unfortunately, human nature has changed very little over the last three hundred years, and the Lilliputian's safety exists only in their being unknown to the humans living around them. Can Maria safeguard the little people from her greedy guardian and governess?

I caught the title of this charming book quite by accident, but am delighted to have it! Author T.H. White (who also wrote The Sword in the Stone and The Once and Future King) did an excellent job of building a magical world set into our own, peopled with characters that are fascinating, scary, charming, humorous, and so much more! The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat, as I watched Maria and the Lilliputians adventure through the book.

This is an excellent book for young readers, and for adults as well. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

I got this for my niece, a 10-year-old re-reader of the Potter books. I had read it in my early teen years, and followed up with the King Author books. The political undercurrents were invisible to me then, and don't add much now.

She said she liked it. I'll probably get her the Sword in the Stone for Christmas.

It has a happy ending. I had a crush on the protagonist as illustrated by Eichenberg. At 52 it is difficult to be sure of one's competence in reviewing a book for young people, but the memory of it persisted so long that I missed it, long since lost, and paid an exorbitant price for a used copy for my daughter a few years ago. She liked it too.

Odious though comparisons may be, I find more magic in the characters populating Mistress Masham's Repose than I do those in the Potter books. I think, too, that there is something to be said for the progressive maturity of the subsequent White books. Years from now my daughter and niece (and I) will still be enjoying T.H. White.

A marvelous book that deserves to be reprinted, this is the story of a ten-year-old orphan girl living on a huge moldering English estate with her nasty governess. She discovers a group of Lilliputians who have been living on an island on the estate since they escaped from the sideshow into which they were put by an associate of Lemuel Gulliver many years before. There's a good T.H.White homepage with a far more complete review at http://home.techlink.net/~moulder/mistress.html. Like the best children's literature, this is written so well as to be a delight to any adult reading it to his children (as my mother read it to me in the mid-fifties). Find a copy in the library, if you can.

The Once and Future King is a book filled with underlying meanings, ostensible purposes, and subtle humor. It is the story of King Arthur and his Round Table, which fights against Might. The book is divided into four different sections, each of which plays a vital role in developing the plot so to build up to the climax of Arthur's inevitable downfall. The four sections each have their own respective subplots to further develop each character.
The first book, The Sword In The Stone, focuses on Arthur's, then known as Wart, lessons from Merlyn as his tutor. This section is filled with humor and might be the best of the four parts. Merlyn states, "Education is experience" (46); therefore, Merlyn transforms Arthur into such things as a hawk, a fish, a bird, and an ant. Each lesson provides Arthur with experience, which plays an essential role in preparing him for his kingship, something he isn't even aware of yet. One of the most intriguing lessons is from the ants. T.H. White is comparing the ants to the Nazis. The ants live a monotonous life by doing whatever the person above them commands them to do without even thinking about it. To quote a line from Jurassic Park, "They were too busy trying to see if they could, they didn't stop and think if they should." Arthur becomes aware of how war is only existent because of one basic belief both from the ants and from the bird that befriends Arthur Lyo-lyok. He is too immature to comprehend the most important lesson he receives. "Which did you like best," he asked, "the ants of the wild geese?" (194) is the question that will play a key role in Arthur's growth. This book can be a learning experience for the reader as well as it confronts issues that some of us can be afraid to discuss. After reading this section the books isn't filled with as much humor but rather extends on the plot.
The second book, The Queen of Air and Darkness, begins as Arthur starts his reign. Arthur's way of gaining the throne is unconventional one and thus, Merlyn is worried about attacks from neighboring areas with the intent of overthrowing him. Arthur demonstrated his lack of maturity when he replied to Merlyn's worries of attacks by saying, "Let them come," replied the King. "I don't mind. I will beat them properly this time, and then we will see who is master" (221). His lack of maturity will prove to be a major characteristic on how Arthur will encounter problems during his reign. At some points Arthur displays maturity, namely when Merlyn makes him think by himself whether Might is truly Right, but there is never a definitive time when he has the true qualities which would make him a successful ruler. He was brought onto the throne too quickly and too young and because of his abnormal claim to kingship, he is forced to endure rough times as he learns and grows. The third book, The Ill-Made Knight, is aimed almost entirely around Lancelot. It talks about both his good and bad side in order to entirely explain the true person he is. Lancelot has his dark side and his good side. He relies on the fact that he is the best knight in the world to always give him strength when he feels weak. Because of this feat, he is a prominent member of Arthur's Round Table and is his closest friend. Even this can't prepare him for what is to come. The events that take place during the Crusade for the Holy Grail will change Lancelot into a whole different mentality, which will lead to a series of important conflicts. The fourth book, The Candle In The Wind, describes the tragic ending to a novel filled with happiness, despair, adventure, education, and sorrow. Each character has a downfall, but not all of them realize it and vow to improve upon it. Mordred and his colleagues tried to devise a plan to give him control of the kingdom. Lancelot realizes how horrible his mistakes were and the traumatic effect that are soon to follow. He has to deal with a horrible revelation that shocks him and makes him re-evaluate his life. Just as a candle in the wind won't stay lit, Arthur can't remain a dignified king with all that he has or has not done in regards to Might and Right on his conscience. Overall, each chapter makes connections to significant events that take place; however, some chapters, or parts of, can seem rather tedious to read and boring. This is a book that everyone should read at some point because of its issues that it discusses. I would recommend as a book to almost everyone except for children because they wouldn't understand the subtle humor of King Pellinore and the brutal comparisons made between Mordred and the ants to the S.S. and the Nazis. This back can convey a different meaning to everyone. That's the greatness of it. Anyone can read it multiple times and pick up new meanings to the same thing each time. Even after completing the book, some of the meanings of particular events remain rather vague. This is the only downfall to this book. Each of the four books keeps the reader full of anticipation as to what is to come. There is a lot of humor that can ease the process of reading this long novel, specifically in the adventures of King Pellinore in his hunt for the Questing Beast. In the end Arthur realizes all that he has done and what he has yet to do to improve upon that, hence the nickname "The Once and Future King". Even though Arthur is a part of the past and the future, will he end up being the best there was and the best there ever will be?

T.H. White's sole-achievement as an author was this stunningly beautiful tale of Arthurian legend. The book is split into four sections, each dealing with a different aspect of King Arthur's world. Whether it be the whimsical, fable-esque passage through Arthur's childhood ('The Sword in the Stone') or the more emotional account of Lancelot's internal struggle ('The Ill-Made Knight), every page from this novel drips with poignancy and a quiet, poetic quality that ranks it among the greatest stories ever told.

The book deals with a wide variety of themes and topics, including magic/wizardry, human relationships, politics, heroism, tragedy, among a plethora of other philosophies and musings. The story and its characters are so wonderfully real that you will feel the weight of the world as it rests on their shoulders, and sigh with relief when it is lifted off. I have yet to come across a more dynamic triangle of characters than the complex, fascinating connection between Arthur, Guenevere and Lancelot.

The author truly mastered the art of creating an absolutely engrossing medieval/fantasy setting, decorating it with some of the deepest, most intriguing characters you'll ever see, and weaving an incredible plotline to propel all of these aspects forth, both into the book's conclusion, and into the reader's heart. For this, he deserves to be ranked among other literary greats such as Tolkien and, dare I say, Shakespeare.

The only misgivings the Once And Future King has to offer are a few unbalanced sections throughout the book. T.H. White breaks off into overly descriptive, dry and at-times allegorical passages which disrupt the flow of the story. Though these are interesting, I feel that they could have been left out. Regardless of this small drawback, I would recommend this book with every ounce of enthusiasm I possess. Though I read it several years ago, even today, I would be hard-pressed to find a novel which kept me so addicted and emotionally wrapped up in its pages of deeply moving substance.

When I was assigned this novel as a summer reading project, I was scared to read it because of its length. When I finally picked up the novel, it took me a few days to "get into it"; however, the novel captured my mind and I had trouble putting it down. Before reading this novel, I had no interest in the Arthurian legend, but now the story of King Arthur intrigues me. This book is divided into four main sections: 1) The Sword in the Stone, 2) The Queen of Air and Darkness, 3)The Ill-Made Knight, and 4) The Candle in the Wind.
The first section, The Sword in the Stone, is a story that we all know and love, thanks to the Disney film. Since this section would capture the mind of the youth, we can all relate to it and remember the first time we heard the story. I enjoyed this section, for the story is a classic.
The second section, the Queen of Air and Darkness, introduces us to the idea and planning of King Arthur's legendary Round Table. Also, King Arthur is tricked into having sex with his half-sister; the result of this affair, King Arthur's son Mordred, eventually leads to his downfall. Personally, I love the idea of the Round Table.
In the third section, The Ill-Made Knight, we are introduced to the great Lancelot. Lancelot is the greatest knight in the world because of his relationship with God and his care for other people. Later, King Arthur begins to fear his Round Table, and wants to turn his knights to God. He wisely sends them on a quest for the holy grail.
The final section, The Candle in the Wind, is my favorite part. As a reward for reading the first three sections, T. H. White gives us the Candle in the Wind. If you are as into the novel as I was, you will find yourself talking out loud trying to warn Lancelot. This is all I will give you for the final section, so if you want to receive the reward, read the entire novel.

In this 1947 black comedy about the Irish, a farmer, his wife, and their English lodger believe they have met with Michael the Archangel and been instructed to build an ark to preserve against an impending flood.

They do so with comical events and consequences. Mostly, the acerbic wit of author T. H. White is in evidence as he ridicules all manner of traditions and beliefs. There in neither elephant nor kangaroo in this story. He refers to the lodger and farm wife as 'he the elephant and she the kangaroo' in explaining their repetitive disagreements about things philosophical. Possibly this refers to some known fable or legend which I have not so far been able to discover.

A funny book but not an elephant book.

Believe it or not, I discovered this book on my own shelf. After reading Once and Future King for the 3rd time, I notice that among my collection of old decorator books was this delightful item. I read it that night. The characters are charming simple minded people you can't help laughing out loud over. I just love how the innocent traveler (and narrator) stumbles into this bizarre episode of Ma and Pa meet the book of Revelations, and becomes as convinced as the rest of his doom. If you can find this book take a moment and enjoy the "boat" ride.

It seems that Amazon is dropping reviews that were submitted on some books. I wrote a review of this book months ago, stating that it was a decent book, but aimed at men only. If you are a sister, pass this one by. If you are a brother who is new to the work world, get it. It (sadly) tells the truth.

Author has straight forward approach and practicial advice for African Americans who find the workplace hostile. His advice helps you identify the tensions and pitfalls of working in an office where white people don't like you, or want you around. This book has been selling in my city for several years.

This is the complete diary of British Soto Zen master Jiyu-Kennett Roshi. It was originally published in two volumes, but this new edition combines them into one book. Culled from the journals she kept while training at Soji-ji (one of the head temple-monasteries of Soto Zen in Japan) during the 1960s, it describes in disturbing detail the sometimes violent prejudice she endured at the hands of some of the officers of the temple.

In spite of this, Jiyu-Kennett perservered and received Dharma Transmission from her master, Koho Zenji. She left Japan in 1969, came to America, and founded Shasta Abbey and the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. She passed away in 1996.

Above all, the book is a guide for how to train in Buddhism, to take every situation that comes our way as an opportunity to see the Buddha that resides in all things. The new edition includes a "Question & Answer" section in the back between Jiyu-Kennett and some of her students at Shasta Abbey concerning the book.

I would also recommend "Roar of the Tigress," which collects some of Jiyu-Kennett's Dharma talks, and was published a couple of years ago.

Do what we will, we always become who we are meant to be. We hold a lot of power within us, but not enough to fight our fates. Fascinating theories and themes such as these are presented and strongly portrayed in T.H. White's The Sword in the Stone. The inexorable power of destiny is beautifully illustrated in this book, which takes us through many adventures of the boyhood of legendary King Arthur.

Readers gain a respect for young King Arthur (identified in this story as "the Wart") from the very start. Though the Wart is treated somewhat unkindly by his guardians, Sir Ector and Kay, he does what he knows is right in all situations. These situations include the first main incident of the story, in which the Wart bravely stays a whole night alone in a dark forest, simply to retrieve a servant's loose bird. He also keeps his head and his priorities straight despite his older brother Kay's naggings and his envy for Kay's station in society. The Wart is somewhat confused and unsure of his purpose in life, but soon his main guardian Sir Ector hires a wizard named Merlyn to tutor and educate the boy. Thus marks the beginning of the future king's great adventures and learning experiences. Putting to use his magical powers, the wizard educates the Wart by transforming him into several different creatures so that the boy can see life from various points of view. One day, as Arthur is trying to find a sword for Kay to use in a jousting match, he comes across a sword in a stone (which is the title's derivation). He struggles to pull it out for quite some time, then senses that something strange and unusual is in the air around him, something magical, and the sword easily slips out. His family and all the townspeople are shocked and somewhat dismayed when they hear the news, but nevertheless the meek, submissive, experienced Arthur inherits the throne. The ending ties up many loose ends and brings the whole story together in one great, triumphant, fulfilling close.

Strange and contradicting as it may seem, I both dislike and love this detailed book. I dislike it because I feel that many parts are too long and drawn-out, especially descriptions of places and the Wart's out-of-body experiences. I love the story because it is very creative and poses thought-provoking theories and pieces of advice about life. I enjoy the humorous parts of this book, which are sporadically sprinkled within both casual and serious situations. I think that the young king's experiences are relevant and can be beneficial to many who seek different viewpoints of life.

I personally recommend The Sword in the Stone to people who read at about the junior-high or high-school level, roughly age twelve and up, who are interested in Arthurian legend. I especially recommend it to males, as I feel that it is generally a male-directed book. I state this because there are very few female characters involved in the story, and those are very minor (yet not inferior) characters. It is possible that this is due to the fact that the author himself is a male. Nonetheless, The Sword in the Stone contains many important themes which will be beneficial to all types of people who choose to read the book.

The Sword in the Stone is a truly wonderful book. It is the classic story of young King Arthur, but told in greater depth and detail, and filled with wonderful, humorous characters. The tale so many times retold suddenly becomes fresh and original, as T.H. White's stunning narrative sweeps the reader into the world of Midieval England, and makes the old story come alive in a new and delightful way. Never before has anyone been able to make the old characters of Arthur and Merlyn, Sir Ector and King Pellinore come alive in such a real and fantastic way. The story is brought to life, and is better by far then the traditional telling of the tale. White does not only tell the simple story of the sword in the stone- here he tells the story of the boy who pulled it out. He goes back and tells us about the growing up of this boy, that we might better understand why it was he that was meant for this destiny, and what it was that shaped him for this task. And throughout the entire story, the book sparkles with humour, wit and charm, which is all the better because it is told in Old English. There are too many books these days written in modern language, using slang and twentieth century dialect, so the Sword in the Stone is a delightful change of pace. And while the Old English sounds perfectly authentic, it is not overly used, and is never difficult to understand. My nine year old sister understood it perfectly, when I read it to her. All in all, this story is the best retelling of any Arthurian legend that I have ever read. I would encourage anyone who has an interest in King Arthur to read this book.

Young Arthur, (known to everyone else as "Wart",) learns from his tutor, Merlin, stuff that he could only dream about before, coming to life before his eyes. Like watching Jousts, turning in to fish, birds, and other animals, and going on adventures with Robin Wood,(commonly known as Robin Hood.) but makes mistakes, gets injured, and learns from them. And all of this only helps in his future life, and his quest, which is his destiny. I rated the sword in the stone a 5 because It was a extremely good book, and the only things that might affect my judgment is the fact that sometimes they use old English. It is sometimes hard to understand because some of the wording is a little old, and, and stuff like that. But T.H. White is able to incorporate a story of king Arthur, and a story full of distinct, funny and odd people, (basically, a comedy,) in to one great book. Another reason that I think that it is a good book because T.H.White gets really in depth throughout the whole book, he can describe every detail, in other words, he can really "Paint a perfect picture." So all in all I say that if you are interested in King Arthur at all, you should definitely read this book! It does not matter if you are twelve or twenty-one, thirty or seventy, you will truly enjoy The Sword in The Stone. It is definitely a top ten on my list! If you like The Sword in the stone as much as I do, then I recommend reading The Once and Future King, also by T.H.White.