History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Families of County Kerry, Ireland: Over Four Thousand Entries from the Archives of the Irish Genealogical Foundation (O'laughlin, Michael C. Book of Irish Families, Great & Small, V. 2.)

Average customer rating:

Very usefull book
Just what I needed
First on my shelf for Kerry
A Really Good Book for Research
Too much information, no direction

Families of County Kerry, Ireland: Over Four Thousand Entries from the Archives of the Irish Genealogical Foundation (O'laughlin, Michael C. Book of Irish Families, Great & Small, V. 2.)
Michael C. O'Laughlin
Manufacturer: Irish Genealogical Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0940134365

Book Description

6x9, hardbound, gold stamped @ 244 + xxvi pages. Illustrated, Surname Index. Over 4000 families of Co. Kerry are included, from ancient times to the coming of the 20th century. Copyright date is 2000.

Customer Reviews:

Very usefull book.......2007-01-05

Whilst I found this book useful possibly a few pages showing Townships would be really helpfull. An example is the Town of Sneem, it doesnt exist in the book as it was a part of different Townships. Otherwise could not fault the contents. Recommended

Just what I needed.......2003-10-03

Just what I needed- even got some info on TRALEE and early settlement. Some names had a lot of info included just on one family. Other families are just given with a location and date!

First on my shelf for Kerry.......1999-08-14

This book is the first one I go for when looking for info on Kerry families....I found 4 families the first time I read through it...If you really want some info about Kerry families that you cannot find elsewhere - this is it. Much more than a how to book - I love all the extra information !

A Really Good Book for Research.......1999-06-21

This Book was really helpful. It included census information and actual specific locations of families, and it included more families than any other source I have ever seen on County Kerry. Nothing else has this scope so it is the first book I go to for Kerry info...not another coffee table book, great for those who really want information.

Too much information, no direction.......1999-03-28

Though this book is packed with facts and surname family histories, it leaves one wondering what to do with all that information. I got lost in the vast amounts of information that has no key to finding it's source or how to apply it to my current research. It would have been to the readers advantage if this book was written to inform rather than impress.

Average customer rating:

Coffee-House
Markman Ellis
Manufacturer: Orion Publishing Group, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0753818981

Book Description

When the first coffeehouse opened in London in 1652, customers were bewildered by this strange new drink from Turkey—hot, bitter, and black as soot. But those who tried coffee were soon won over, and more coffee-houses were opened across London, America, and Europe. For a hundred years the coffeehouse occupied the center of urban life, creating a distinctive social culture. They played a key role in the explosion of political, financial, scientific, and literary change in the 18th century, as people gathered, discussed, and debated issues within their walls.

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Glorious Castles

Great Irish Houses and Castles
Jacqueline O'Brien
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0810933659

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Castles.......2000-07-09

Irelands landscapce of beautiful rolling hills and flowing rivers plays in perfectly with the unimaginable Manor houses that it hosts. The 308 pictures in this book show many of the most historic and beautiful homes in Ireland. If the history of architecture intrests you, this is a must buy book.

Average customer rating:

These Irish houses are what lies at the end of the rainbow

Great Houses of Ireland
Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Great Houses of Scotland: A History and a Guide (Universe Architecture Series)

ASIN: 0847822060
Release Date: 1999-12-03

Book Description

Although known for its lush green vistas and glorious countryside, Ireland also boasts an architectural trove of 18th- and 19th-century country houses.Great Houses of Ireland reveals 26 of these wonderful castles and county seats, many never published before in full color.

Customer Reviews:

These Irish houses are what lies at the end of the rainbow.......2000-05-03

Great Houses of Ireland is a wonderful book for the Irish, architecture, or home design enthusiast. It is filled with lots of great pictures of some of Ireland's most extravagant castles and houses, both inside and out. The book also includes history and interesting facts about these monumental abodes. If you enjoy European architecture, lavishly decorated homes, and lots of beautiful photography, this would be an excellent book to own. It would also make a great coffee table book with it's hard covers and large size.

The Hundred Years War: Trial by Battle (Middle Ages Series)

Average customer rating:

How History Should be Written
A Sterling Effort: I Bought Vol. II
Readable, knowledgeable and intelligent history
Sumption makes it work...

The Hundred Years War: Trial by Battle (Middle Ages Series)
Jonathan Sumption
Manufacturer: Univ of Pennsylvania Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Western | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0812231473

Customer Reviews:

How History Should be Written.......2005-07-30

Trial By Battle is a magnificent achievement. Though daunting to look at, the 600+ page narrative sweeps by with the excitement and suspense of a great novel. Sumption fails to give any real background details (the marriage of a king will be mentioned in passing without so much as a clue as to his wife's name!). We learn nothing of castle construction, arms and armour, architecture, geography, or anything else of the spectacle of life in 14th century Europe. But the step-by-step analysis of the intricacies of medieval politics more than compensates, throwing the reader headlong into the meeting rooms of the royal courts. The narrative, for all its complexity, never ceases to be anything but fascinating. The reader is able to see all the seemingly small and random details, the mistakes and misunderstandings and mistimings, and how they build to create a situation in which all out war is the only option.

Trial by Battle isn't simply the best book I've read about The 100 Years War, but the best I've read about the challenges faced by the medieval politician, and the strategic maneuvering required to achieve an acceptable outcome. Brilliant.

A Sterling Effort: I Bought Vol. II.......2002-05-08

Sumption's history of this sordid and bloody conflict will be the defining opus of this era. In this first volume of 600 pages he covers intimately all aspects of the war's first 10 years. He is mostly skilled at both the economic and diplomatic machinations of the conflict, emphasising how armies were fielded and then supported.

His scope is grand and he covers events as far away as Scotland, Flanders, Britany, and the Popes involvement from the Avignon palaces.

His strategic interpretation is superb, without equal. He has an ability to get into the head of participants and show their ultimate motivation in fighting. Why particular courses were decided upon are also fittingly reviewed; why a campaign in Flanders? Why get involved in Britany? How did England ultimately expand and prevail in Aquitaine when their foothold was so tenuous? Why were the French completely unable to exploint a fundamental postion of strength by working with their internal lines of communication? All of these questions are answered in good detail.

There are no real weaknesses in this work but there are a few things that readers should be prepared for:

1) Sumption is not writing a biography of any of the characters and although we understand a lot of their emotions in the heat of dimplomacy and battle, we hear little about the individual idiosyncracies of both Edward III and Philip VI. We learn almost nothing about their respective sons in this volume, which is amazing considering the future role they played.

2) Although this is a story of battle and slaughter, we are largely spared the details of the minutea of battle, who fought whom, the real intricacies of the weapons involved and the fate of those who were turned to bones. Sumption leaves that to other military historians who have written hundreds of pages on individual battles. There are however amazing revalations here about Crecy which deserve to be noted; Sumption notes that the repeat regrouping and charging of the English lines was not characterisitic of a disorganised French attack. As such this contracdicts the traditional version of the French falling over themselves in the battle. In the end the longbow won the battle. No new surpises here.

3) There is little actual focus on how the war effected the peasant. Perhaps because we know so little of them, but Sumption's research is so exhaustive that he purposefully concentrates on the diplomatic, military alliance structures and their respective figures.

This was a major project to get through. I had to admit that times I did wander in my attention span. But the detail in the text is rich and his coverage of the impact of the war in Britany and the northern English Marches against the Scots, is something largely ignored by other historians of this war.

I have already bought volume II and determined read all future volumes as he finishes.... although at this rate it will be a total of at least 10 volumes to get throught this particularly depressing interval in human history.

Readable, knowledgeable and intelligent history.......2000-09-19

The Middle Ages in Europe, a time of poor sanitation and brutal men terrifying local communities into submission; where the rule of law may have been as tenuous as the mortality people might expect to achieve. The Middle Ages in Europe is as near as one might get to the post apocalyptic nightmare depicted in the movie Mad Max 2 the Road Warrior where decisions are terrible and give very short shrift to our political correct world of today. This is the world Jonathan Sumption evokes in his Trial by Battle. It's a time of shortages of food and resources, the golden age of the plentiful thirteenth century is drawing to a close and the economy of Europe is coming under strain. Thrust into this crisis are the rulers of the lands of those times. Principally the Kings of England and France. But theres a host of other lesser nobles, of Dukes, Earls and Counts in north west Europe effected and effecting the politics of the times. In this book, Mr. Sumption gives a crash course in the organisation of the various kingdoms, principalities, counties and dukedoms as they become involved in the story of the Hundred Years War. Its not necessary to know in depth about the running of a kingdom though it might help to have a little background knowledge. The pace of the book carries this history at a good rate of knots. My only criticism is while Mr Sumption produces a suitable statistic here and there to back up the picture he paints in words, there can be a lack of colour, the description of an event or cultural or technological details, is lacking in places. This left me at a loss for an image to anchor my understanding (after all I am a product of an age addicted to visualisation), That said it is only a small detraction from a really interesting work. The battle descriptions are spot on and the developments in between give the theme a sense of continuity. This volume brings the history from the origins of the war to ten years into its execution. You'll have to buy the next volume (which I did) to find out what happens but Trial by Battle is good in itself if you like the at times bizarrely mystical and nonsensical Middle Ages and at times utterly no nonsense people of those hard times

Sumption makes it work..........2000-09-08

Reading about the Middle Ages is like treading upstream sometimes. Its so easy to get bogged down and lose your path and eventually your interest. A lot of times reading history is exactly like that.

This book is very good at keeping the story of this period on its path and is extremely, even remarkably, readable. I actually managed to get wrapped up in the story (which I've read many times already) the way one does with good novels. The author is obviously very familiar with the primary sources but he quotes from them with care and only when his point is well-made. Otherwise he tells the story in clear, simple language - amazing for any of us who study or write history! And he has a fine sense of when the chroniclers were playing to their audience's prejudices and when they probably were right on point. Its difficult to read about the early period of the wars between England and France without getting mired in the problems the various powers faced -- and continued to toil over every year -- like constant bankruptcy, local rebellion, personality disorders and prejudices, and so forth. The author gives you these things -- the Middle Ages would not be the Middle Ages without them -- but in the right doses to make the fuller picture clear, not lose it in the haze.

Customer Reviews:

Great Photography and writing.......2002-12-28

Left me wishing the book was twice as long.

Decidedly Haunting...........2002-02-18

A most interesting pictorial collection of forlorn sadness.
I find the images both beautiful and emensly contemplative, images that conjure ghosts and spirits real or perhaps imagined, yet provacative none the less. One ponders how these phantoms shall apear in a thousand years, and rue the thought how long they may have lasted would they not been murdred by circumstances. The text that accompanies the images an important, interesting, and informative heuristic. This book ostensibly one any Artist, Architectae, or student of history should have in his Librarié.

Haunting Images and Illuminating Historical Text!.......2001-12-16

A wonderful book full of haunting images of the castles and houses of Ireland that have now fallen into ruin and decay. Excellent subjects for infrared photography.

The photographs are on the whole well composed and the overall effect can be quite disturbing. An explanation of the fate of the various buildings is included. A book which sits on the shelf ready to show visitors instantly the nature and feel of infrared photography.

There is an excellent supporting article by Pete Schermerhorn in the Official Infrared FAQ describing his visits to the places photographed in the book together with map grid references.

Examples of fine infrared photographs.......1998-03-30

For some reason neither the authors nor the publishers admit that the images in this book are photographed in infrared. This is a pity since the juxtaposition of buildings and foliage is one of the best subjects for this and overgrown ruins are an excellent subject. As an infrared specialist myself I have a small reservation about a few of the photographs from a technical standpoint but I can't fault the sense of composition and form that they show.

Great photography ...very interesting and educational.......1997-08-28

Simon Marsden is a master of the art of infrared photography. The pictures are haunting and project an eerie dreamlike quality. I highly recommend this book as an excellent example of the chilling effects of infrared photography

Average customer rating:

Full of memories
The Stories of the Disposessed
More reality than Angela's Ashes
Dublin in the Rare Old Times

Dublin Tenement Life
Kevin C. Kearns
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

In Dublin Tenement Life, historian Kevin C. Kearns presents a fascinating, often heartbreaking look at life in the slums of Dublin from the early nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth. Gathering original and authentic oral testimonies from survivors of the old Dublin tenements and presenting along with the social and historical background, as well as a valuable collection of photographs, Kearns shows what life was like in Europe's most wretched slums. Their accounts are sometimes tragic, but always moving. Equally, they are an inspiring chronicle of struggle, survival, and the triumph of the human spirit.

For readers of books such as A Star Called Henry or Angela's Ashes, for fans of Studs Terkel--or for anyone fascinated by modern Irish history--Dublin Tenement Life will fill a gap in our knowledge about Irish urban life.

Customer Reviews:

Full of memories.......2007-03-20

'Bang-Bang' and I was right back in the Liberties. So many memories came flooding back. The vernacular of the liberties comes to life in the many oral stories collated by Kevin Kearns. Kevin is an expert at putting what he has on tape onto paper. The mind-set of the real Dubliners shines through in all these stories. As a young child growing up in Piles Buildings, which were wedged in between Golden Lane and Wood Street, I remember going into Siney's shop in Golden Lane. These two streets encompassed my world. The stories are in general told by an older generation but their stories have links to my own childhood experiences.
The oral history tradition has a very important part to play in scientifically determining the habitus of groups of people and fixing them in place and time. The oral method shows how to bridge the gap between generations and how to let tradition flow. In that sense, this is a comlpete book. A sociologically timeless book. A book full of memories. A grate buek.

The Stories of the Disposessed.......2002-04-23

In order to understand the history of Ireland you have to read this book. It shows up the hypocrisy of the authorities before and afterindependence who thought that 17 shillings was a decent enough wage for a working family and that those at the bottom should be grateful for whatever they get.

The stories (or testimony) are simply and movingly told. Sometimes sad and often funny we should all be grateful to Kevin Kearns for having collected them.

More reality than Angela's Ashes.......2000-11-26

Comfortably seated in my armchair in my little condo located on Florida's Suncoast and drinking a glass of cool orange juice squeezed from the fruit I had earlier picked from a tree in my own garden, I settled down to read Kearns' Dublin Tenement Life. A few months ago my sister, vacationing with her husband from Australia, had given me a copy of the paperback edition. She had no comment on it, except that I should read it free from any distraction.

I couldn't put the book down. It was terrible in the emotional effect it began to hold over me that started with a quiet interest in the book's Introduction. Nothing very new there, but interesting nevertheless. I then paused to look at the photo sections. That's when it happened. I just started crying, simple as that, for I found myself looking at photos of some of the people and places I knew in my childhood; the streets were I played as a child; the women my mother worked alongside with as a dealer in the Daisy Market; my cousins in the more upscale Iveagh Market; the pub where my dad did a lot of his drinking; the now derelict shops on Winetavern Street Hill where my mother bought her meat and vegetables every day on the way home from the Daisy. An incredible array of images and memories and even smells began to flood my consciousness, all prompted by those photos.

I was born in Dublin's Liberties, York Street to be exact, sixty years ago. My mother and father, all my grandparentsand many aunts, uncles and a thousand cousins were all the products of that strange Irish ghetto. The Coombe hospital, another Liberties landmark, was where my younger brother and I were actually delivered. My mother decided that her third confinement be at home in the top-back single room of 34 York Street. My twin sisters Maureen and Noeleen were born just before the Christmas of 1944. Noeleen died a few weeks after her birth. "A failure to thrive" was the summary of her short life as listed on the death certificate.

I then read the section on the history of the Dublin Tenement slums. Again, very interesting and factual, but with not much emotional response, apart from a sense of anger at the unfairness and injustice that marked social life in those days.

Then I got to the sections on day-to-day life in the tenements and the oral testimonies. What memories came back to me, some wonderful, bright and cheerful, others sad, even gut wrenching in their brutality. I had a particularly hard time reliving the experiences of people being evicted from their homes. My throat was tight and painful as I relived the memories of those experiences. Life in the Liberties was at the same time so wonderful and so very, very sad.

A few years ago I read Angela's Ashes and later saw the movie. Strangely enough, even against the background of my own life lived in the Dublin slums, I didn't relate to that book's description of the Limerick slums. Don't ask my why - I just don't know. Yes, I am aware that McCourt's work is a novel and Kearns' book is a sociological/historical study. Ashes is more marketable and photogenic, but Kearns' work has a lot more stark reality to it. Yes, I'm a Dubliner. Limerick might as well be another country.

Come to think of it, when I lived in York Street all those years ago Terenure was another country.

Dublin in the Rare Old Times.......2000-07-14

This book is a truly fascinating read! The author, Kevin Kearns, has undertaken to preserve a part of Irish culture that has all but disappeared. This surprising book is a compillation of interviews he has conducted among various former inhabitants of the tenements. The stories they share give a glimpse into the daily life of those "less than fortunate" in monetary terms, but surprisingly rich in compassion, humor and perserverence.

Expecting a type of "text-book" or "scholarly" read, I was quite pleased by its lively and entertaining nature. While predictably some of the stories were happy and some were sad, I learned of an entire world whose existence I had only been marginally aware of until I read this book. The stories are powerful indications of a difficult life, but one that former dwellers often longed to return to. The ability of these people interviewed to reflect upon their lives and their pasts in such an open and engaging manner is admirable. Perhaps one of the more surprising aspects of the book was the shattering of pre-conceived ideas. Despite the tenement's historic reputation as filthy places full of squalor and devoid of hope, they also fostered a great sense of community and of affection.

It would have been a pity to let these stories and this way of life be forgotten.I would recommend this fine book to anyone who is interested in Irish History or culture. Personally, I couldn't set the book down.

Average customer rating:
Country Houses of Britain and Ireland
Tom Quinn
Manufacturer: New Holland Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Specific Styles | Building Types & Styles | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1843308991

Average customer rating:
RECOMMENDED COUNTRY HOUSES SMALL HOTELS, INNS AND RESTAURANTS GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 2007 (Johansens Recommended Country Houses, Small Hotels and Traditional Inns: Great Britain and Ireland)
Conde' Nast Johansens
Manufacturer: Johansens
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Great Britain | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Dining | Food & Lodging | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
Hotels & Inns | Food & Lodging | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
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RECOMMENDED HOTELS AND SPAS GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND 2007 (Johansens Recommended Hotels: Great Britain and Ireland)

Special Places to Stay British Hotels, Inns, and Other Places, 8th (Special Places to Stay British Hotels, Inns and Other Places)

Frommer's Ireland 2007 (Frommer's Complete)

ASIN: 1903665299

Book Description

Small often intimate properties that include old coaching inn's, hunting lodges and manors. The emphasis is on personal service and high levels of comfort.

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