Today, William Godwin is perhaps best known as the 'anarchist' philosopher who wrote "Enquiry Concerning Political Justice..." It is my understanding that in the 19th century, although his philosophy was popular, his fiction also garnered significant attention. After reading both "Enquiry" and "Caleb Williams," I can see both why his novels were popular then and why they're scarcely in print now.

As a story, this novel is pretty good. It is a psychological suspense story of first (teetering on second) rate. The tale is about Caleb Williams's descent from a promising career as personal secretary to an intellectual, to a fleeting criminal that ironically was, at first, innocent. So, while the plot and action are good, these are buried in over-emotional asides and one dimensional characters. You never quite get to know Caleb, Mr. Falkland or anyone else here. All in all, as a story, I give it 4 stars as the plot makes up for any weaknesses.

As a political/social commentary, this novel has 2 stars. First, unless she has read "Enquiry Concerning Political Justice," the reader will not pick up on many of the subtle points Godwin makes about the nature of liberty and its preconditions. Second, while trying to show Caleb as victim of a flawed legal system, Godwin created in Caleb a character that was just as villianous. The only way Calebs often villanous behavior could be explained is Godwin's belief in determinism; the theory that our actions are predetermined solely by external circumstance - in other words, Caleb, while increasingly underhanded in his actions, is not responsible for them as he is treated like a criminal anyhow. At any rate, one may not get these points if they've not read Godwin the philosopher.

In short, I would reccomend this novel but with hesitancy. First, I would qualify the reccomendation with "but you should read "Enquiry" first." Well, since "Enquiry" is 800+ pages (and out of print in every edition) this is quite an undertaking in itself. However, if the reader JUST wants a good suspense story (minus the philosophical undertones) then this is a pretty good novel.

Having never myself been the victim of a wrongful criminal accusation, imprisonment, or torture, I was ill-prepared for the experience of reading "Caleb Williams". I once thought that Orwell's "1984" and "Animal Farm," or the fiction works of Camus, Kafka, or Sartre were more than adequate to address the problem of total alienation and isolation in the very midst of humanity. Even Richardson's "Pamela" carries its heroine through half the novel in a state of claustrophobic paranoia. In 1794, Godwin created a world and a mind no less frightening than the worst and most depraved of the 20th century. That we still toil through issues of basic human and legal rights entering the 21st century speaks to the complexity of these issues and casts a shadow of doubt over our ever finding a suitable solution.

In an effort to expose the hypocrisy of a legal system under the complete influence of the "long purse" and the lack of recourse of the common man to justice, Godwin has his hero Caleb suffer increasing terrors, imprisonment, and the threat of ceaseless surveillance at the hands of the ex-thief Gines. Like Richardson's Pamela, Caleb's suicidal fantasies enable him for a short while to claim control over his mind and his situation.

Unlike Pamela, Caleb fails to maintain this control, even after he forces the ruthless Falkland to admit to the murder of Tyrrel. In a scene reminsicent of ones in "1984" and Kafka's "The Trial," Caleb relinquishes what little power he has been able to garner over his torturer. Falkland, a frail, physically powerless, demoniacal 'gentleman,' through a constant and pervasive presence in Caleb's own fragile mind has unwittingly reclaimed final power over the novel's helpless hero.

By internalizing the social hierarchy since childhood, Caleb is finally unable to bear the disgrace he brings upon Falkland. Ironically, while he is pursued across England and Wales as a thief, he claims innocence. Once he is exonerated of his crime, he is insistent on his guilt. "Caleb Williams" is an endlessly complex and captivating novel, frought with issues of power, levels of narrative, and takes issue with the flawed notion of human justice.

Maurice Hamilton has told the story of a man who has meant so much to Formula One but who has been an enigma to many. His book gives great insight on the real Frank Williams -- and has given me an entirely different outlook about the him. His determination to rise to the top -- and not let his crippling crash get in the way -- is fascinating. Hamilton does a great job of capturing his personality and his trials and tribulations in an unbiased fashion. It's a must read for any Formula 1 fan.

An informatri book. with good knoledge giving things. need to be updatted and republished.

1) manufacturing process of textile chemicals like detergents,stabilisers,softners etc

The obvious problems with the Parallax inversion effect was overlooked whilst writing this book leaving the section of hydrogen bonding rather sketchy and all in all a little vague. The author seemed to lack understanding of the subject matter and clearly needed to spend more time researching the base topics involved (esp. Hydrogen bonding anti-inversion relapse). I felt the book moved from one topic to the next with no real explanation of the autors thought processes (if any!). The book is slightly 'dated' in it's approach albeit an old book, but it was dated even in its day. The subject matter would have been far better served with a broader more flexible approach to the quantum - devience factors which seem out of reach of the reader. The book does have it's merits, Rigby clearly has his strengths in resolving the complex mathematical equations required to derive the Schrodinger Equation from first priciples. If this book was ever re-published (and prefferably proofed for errors (the last time it must have been done by a real layman)) it would be a great guide to all the forces between molecules. Alas so much potential squandered...misses greatness by a mile

This book was a great disappointment. It is not much more than some very tedious readings of the plays and poems in regard to love and lust, with an afterward that doesn't do much except say we don't know much about Shakespeare's personal life. Well, we don't, that's true, but there are nevertheless plenty of circumstantial information about Shakespeare and his times that might have been alluded to. Clearly, Charney is firmly in the traditional of a contemporary academic: he is quick to point out anti-feminist sentiment, while at the same time utterly void of any type of larger humanistic context in which to view these plays that have thrilled readers for four hundred years.
Frankly, I am shocked that Columbia Press would print these chapters, work not much better than a talented undergraduate could work up.