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.

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The New Great Fantasy Adventure Series
Pretty Good
The Warrior Heir Review, Cal Skogman
Loved it...
Interesting Tale of a Warrior

Warrior Heir, The
Cinda Williams Chima
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786839163

Book Description

Before he knew about the Roses, fourteen-year-old Jack lived an unremarkable life in the small Ohio town of Trinity.Only the medicine he has to take daily and the thick scar above his heart set him apart from the other high-schoolers.Then one day Jack skips his medicine.Suddenly, he is stronger, fiercer, and more confident than ever before.And it feels greatuntil he loses control of his own strength and nearly kills another player during soccer team tryouts.Soon, Jack learns the startling truth about himself:he is Weirlindpart of an underground society of magical people who live among us.At the head of this magical society sit the feuding houses of the Red Rose and the White Rose, whose power is determined by playing The Gamea magical tournament in which each house sponsors a warrior to fight to the death.The winning house rules the Weir.As if his bizarre magical heritage isnt enough, Jack finds out that hes not just another member of Weirlindhes one of the last of the warriorsat a time when both houses are scouting for a player.Jacks performance on the soccer field has alerted the entire magical community to the fact that hes in Trinity.And until one of the houses is declared Jacks official sponsor, there are no limits to what theyll do to get Jack to fight for them. . . .

Customer Reviews:

The New Great Fantasy Adventure Series.......2007-08-29

In an age when reading is less and less popular among both children and adults, Cinda Williams Chima has presented us with the next great series that will entertain people of all ages without the need of electricity. Though labeled a a novel for "Young Adults," the series will appeal to adults as well as teenagers. In The Warrior Heir, Chima brings to life a plethora of complex characters. Among them is Jack, the protagonist. Jack is neither an orphan nor the product of an unbroken home. As is so common in reality, and less common in most novels of the genre, Jack's parents are divorced. This is the first of many qualities that tie the main character to those who read about him. Jack's mother, a mysterious old caretaker, a new assistant principal at Jack's school, and others all bring Trinity, Ohio to life. Initially set in Ohio, the novel ties reality to fantasy in the combination that fantasy readers thrive on. The adventure explores a whole new, more sinister, way of life just when global readers thought they had finally conquered the Wizarding world. Pre-teens, teenagers, their college aged siblings, and parents alike will all enjoy Cinda William Chima's The Warrior Heir and the complex world of the Weir that it explores.

Pretty Good.......2007-08-22

The book overall was good. The plot never lets up and you really want to get to the next page. I would recommend reading this book before Wizard Heir. Unfortunately, I started with Wizard Heir, so I knew most of the plot. The story begins with Jack and what happens after he doesn't take his heart medication one day.All of the sudden, his whole life changes. Things change for him in the drastic way.I'm looking forward to any new installments of this series, if any.

The Warrior Heir Review, Cal Skogman.......2007-04-17

The Warrior Heir is a extremely fascinating book that keeps you guessing until the end. It leads you on an epic journey, that will satisfy the most 'picky' of readers. Jack is a teenager, that has suposedly heart problems. He takes medicine every day, but one day he forgets to take it. He feels amazing, better and stronger than normal. Vice Principal Hastings finds Jack, and Jack finds out a secret that has been kept from him since he was born. He is a warrior. Part of an ancient family of warriors before him. The tournament is brewing, and Jack is chosen to fight. The question is not Jack's ability, but his expeirience; and who will he fight? The Warrior Heir was an amazing book that I had a very hard time setting down.

Loved it..........2007-03-22

I really enjoyed this book. I had the day off and spent my entire morning reading it...once you get started it's hard to stop reading. It kept me geusing unitl the very end. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy books that involve seemingly ordinary people.

Interesting Tale of a Warrior.......2006-08-27

Jack, a former heart patient, is simply living his rather normal teenage life until the one day he forgets to take his medicine. Suddenly he discovers he has a strength he didn't know he possessed, but worse than that, others who have been searching for him now know where he lives and they are coming for him. It turns out that Jack is a warrior, though born a wizard, and many wizards are now looking for him so that he can take part in a gladiator style fight for supremacy in the wizarding world. His aunt Linda tries to protect him but eventually it becomes apparent that Jack must fight, or spend his life running and hoping not to be killed.

This is a good story, with plenty of exciting moments and lots of interesting characters who are either intent on helping Jack or destroying him. However, there are a few problems that keep the story from being truly riveting. The different classes of sorcerers, enchanters, wizards, and warriors are never fully explained, and the rather optimistic ending just seemed a little too pat. Overall this is a good fantasy, but with a bit of editing and the addition of some explanations, this could have been a great one. Still, it should enthrall its target audience, and can be recommended for fans of the genre.

The Renaissance Popes: Statesmen, Warriors and the Great Borgia Myth

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Renaissance Popes by Gerard Noel
Bad Popes or Bad Scholarship?

The Renaissance Popes: Statesmen, Warriors and the Great Borgia Myth
Gerard Noel
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786718412

Book Description

Between the years of 1447 (Nicholas V) and 1572 (Pius V), the Vatican became the official home of the Church, and a succession of Renaissance Popes — who were statesmen, warriors, and patrons of the arts as well as churchmen — turned Rome into an unparalleled center for culture, and turned the Church into the world’s largest bureaucracy.

These mercurial popes, such as Alexander VI, the infamous Borgia patriarch, and Julius 'Il Terrible' II, contributed to cultural achievements — the Basilica of St. Peters and Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel — through the sale of indulgences, and targeted heretics with Inquisitions and witchhunts.

In the midst of this explosion of great culture and violent debasement, Alexander VI, father of the ruthless Cesare and jezebel Lucrezia, came to be seen as the embodiment of this iniquity. But Gerard Noel shows that Alexander's legacy was tainted by false confessions and historical myth. In fact, Alexander created the blueprint for reform — the first of its kind — that would eventually lead to the Counter-Reformation.

In his survey of the colorful reigns of the seventeen Renaissance Popes and his examination of the great Borgia myth, Noel brings to light the true legacy — political, artistic, religious — of an extraordinary time.

Customer Reviews:

Renaissance Popes by Gerard Noel.......2007-05-25

This is one of the worst - if not the worst - work of history that I have ever read. It is dreadfully written, often comically so. It is repetitive, contradictory in its many moralizing judgements, and highly subjective in its usually unsubstantiated (by respected historical authority) conclusions. The editors where either asleep at the wheel or non-existant. It is a shameful comment on its publishers that it ever went to press. The Da Vinci Code of non-fiction, without the commercial success. Save your money. Do not buy this book.

Bad Popes or Bad Scholarship?.......2006-12-28

Awful book. Very poorly written. This is junk scholarship at its best. Claims to dispel myths about the Renaissance Popes, and to "carefully identify...rumors and legends," but then provides only 150 footnotes in a 342 page volume, with many repetitions. Again, there are five footnotes for the last three chapters. If you want to find out the sources of the rumors, forget it. With friends like this, the Renaissance Popes don't need enemies.

Average customer rating:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Warriors
James Harpur
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416939512

Book Description

Whether they're fighting single-handed or shoulder-to-shoulder with others

in strict formation, warriors have given their lives to win land, cities,

and empires.

From the ferocious ancient Assryians to the fearsome Zulus, Warriors

showcases these celebrated fighters, highlighting their battles, heroisms,

weapons, and tactics. Discover how the fearless Spartans were groomed and

trained for war from birth, or how Boudicca, Britain's terrifying warrior

queen, rose up in revolt against the mighty Roman army. Learn about the

bloodthirsty Aztecs and their custom of ripping out the hearts of living

sacrificial victims, and enter the mysterious realm of the ninja, masters

of stealth and sabotage!

Here are the brutal stories of history's legendary warriors. Open these

pages and enter a thrilling and savage world...

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-07-11

Along the same lines as Pirates: Most Wanted, WARRIORS takes us behind-the-scenes to discover the true lives of long-lost warriors of old.

This interactive book takes us into the lives of the Assyrians, the Spartans, Alexander and the Macedonians, the Celts, the Romans, Gladiators, the Vikings, the Samurai, the Ninja, Genghis Khan and the Mongols, Medieval Knights, the Aztecs, and the Zulus.

What's great about this book, besides the facts and figures, is its ability to truly draw you into the world that it's describing. There are posters, envelopes filled with interesting cards, pop-ups, awesome graphics, and all sorts of fun things that you can spend your time getting lost in.

This is the perfect reference book to use as a guide for that pesky book report, or just a good read that you can spend the day exploring in detail. Either way, you're sure to learn something, and how can your parents say no to that?

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

The Fians Or Stories, Poems And Traditions Of Fionn And His Warrior Band

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The Fians Or Stories, Poems And Traditions Of Fionn And His Warrior Band

Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0766188299

Book Description

1891. The stories, poems and traditions in this book were gathered entirely from oral sources as opportunities arose and follow the legendary exploits of Fionn and his warrior band. The warrior-bands called Fianna were composed of people who had cut themselves off from mainstream society and created a counterculture of their own. They renounced allegiance to their relatives, retaining allegiance only to each other. They served as mercenaries for tribal rulers, but for much of the year they lived by hunting and gathering in the wilderness. Their disregard for boundaries meant that they often interacted with creatures from the Otherworld, and could assume the shapes of the animals they hunted. Most of the surviving stories are about Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his band of Fenians. Fionn Mac Cumhaill's men are all drawn as individuals: Oisin the poet and mystic, Diarmuid the lover, Caoilte the conciliator, Conan the boastful but cowardly bully, the scrupulously fair Oscar, and so on. Part of the delight of the stories is how these diverse and contrasting personalities manage to cooperate in order to ensure the group's survival. They are also known for their generosity and hospitality. See the other works by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

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Retelling of as story from Shandong/Shantung province

The Cricket Warrior: A Chinese Tale
Margaret Chang , and Raymond Chang
Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Beggar's Magic: A Chinese Tale

ASIN: 0689506058

Customer Reviews:

Retelling of as story from Shandong/Shantung province.......2004-10-05

This is a story about a poor farming family and their emperor who loved to watch cricket fights. The Emperor ordered a new tax to be paid by everyone and this tax was to be paid for in crickets. The father was worried because of little rain the past 3 years produced little money and no money to pay his taxes. The Cheng family's only hope would be to catch a fighting cricket. One evening the father hear the chirp of a cricket and called for his son to be a bamboo tube and they caught a nice big cricket! The son didn't see the cricket and just wanted to take a peek at it, and when he did the cricket got free and off the son when chasing after the cricket. The son followed the cricket until he was so tired he could go no further. All of a sudden a voice spoke and asked the book what was wrong. The boy told the man his story and said he'd do anything to get the cricket back. The old man asked if the boy would take the place of the cricket and he replied if only I could. The next morning the father had a small red cricket hop into his hand... his was really his son.

I'm not going to give the ending away, but I really enjoyed this retelling of an ancient Chinese tale. At the very end of the book is information on when the "Fighting Cricket" was recorded and information on it's original author Pu Songling. There is also a glossary, but it is only English word your child might not be familar with .

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Good book to empower young girls
Good Role Model For Girls
Srong women, Wu Mei Kung Fu & Shaolin Monastery
Great message but inaccurate martial arts-wise
Not just for martial-arts enthusiasts

Beautiful Warrior

Manufacturer: Arthur A. Levine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0590374877

Customer Reviews:

Good book to empower young girls.......2007-09-10

This book has a great story and tends to give a wonderful message for young girls. I recommend it to any parent who wants their daughter to grow up with an "I can do it", or "never give up" attitude.

Good Role Model For Girls.......2007-05-09

The story resonated with me, I find it inspirational. I also thought that the drawing of Jingyong captures the essence of her calm strength.

I think society is lacking role models for young girls and this book is perfect. It doesn't teach winning by force but by realizing one's own inner strength.

Srong women, Wu Mei Kung Fu & Shaolin Monastery.......2004-10-09

I just love that this book is based on a woman that I hope existed! I love that when she was born that they watched her to see her true nature before they named her and then gave her the name Jingyong - Quiet Courage. Also that her father would not allow Jingyong's feet to be bound, and that he treated her as a son and she was taught the 5 pillars of learning - art, literature, music, medicine and marital arts! There is so much more of the book, but I don't want to spoil it for you! This is an excellent book!

What a fasinating story! The artwork is beautiful! And I can't wait to read this book to my daughter and find a Wu Mei Kung Fu studio to learn Wu Mei ourselves!

Great message but inaccurate martial arts-wise.......2003-12-24

My son loves this book as do I, but I would love it more if I weren't a longtime student of Sifu Ken Lo, 7th Generation Master of Wu Mei Pai and Head of the Wu Mei Kung Fu association. While everyone's version of events of Wu Mei's life will be somewhat different, there is a very real martial art called Wu Mei that descends directly from Wu Mei herself. The nun Wu Mei's movement as depicted in the story are very different from the Wu Mei I've studied for the last 15 years. I suppose that is poetic and artistic license, but it's a shame nonetheless, especially as the author interved Sifu Lo and watched his class.

Not just for martial-arts enthusiasts.......2000-11-21

I love sharing this book with my daughters because of the beautiful artwork, the portrayal of female strength and the message that inner resolve coupled with practice are the keys to achieving one's goals. We often quote Wu Mei's admonition to the bean curd seller: "No problem can be solved by a drunken monkey!" The reminder to remain calm, make up one's own mind, and engage with the world from a firm sense of self is valuable for people of both sexes and all ages.

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WAY TO THE WARRIOR
A Well-Researched Novel; Leaves room for another sequel

Lady Ilena: Way of the Warrior
Patricia Malone
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385732252
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Book Description

Lady Ilena still can’t believe she is hereditary chief of Dun Alyn, her new home in the North. She eagerly awaits the return of her betrothed, Durant of Arthur’s table, and the time when Durant will rule beside her. But Britain is in a state of unrest. Despite Durant’s and Arthur’s efforts at unification, several neighboring fortresses have allied with Saxon invaders in the South. These tribes want Dun Alyn, and one tribal leader called Faolan will stop at nothing to get it. When Ilena refuses to accept Faolan’s marriage proposal in her loved one’s absence, she sets off a bloody battle–with grave results.
A warrior can commit no greater crime than to falter under attack, and now Ilena faces the ultimate punishment: she must leave Dun Alyn, alone, and may not return to her people until she has proved herself worthy to be their leader. The journey will take Ilena to old friends–and new ones–as she searches for Durant and for Britain’s protector, the legendary Arthur.

Customer Reviews:

WAY TO THE WARRIOR.......2006-08-11

Lady Ilena Way To The Warrior follows the adventures of Ilena, the beatuiful cheif of Dun Alyn in Britain (now England) during the Middle Ages. After disgracing herself in battle, she loses her claim as cheif of Dun Alyn, and is sent into exile. The only way she can win back her claim is to leave Dun Alyn-alone-and not return til she has accomplished tasks great enough to prove herself worthy to be cheif again.
The book was OK. This sequel is not as engaging as the first book The Legend Of Lady Ilena. But all together I'll give Lady Ilena Way To The Warrior 4 stars out of a possible 5.

A Well-Researched Novel; Leaves room for another sequel.......2006-03-28

Set in 6th century Britain, WAY OF THE WARRIOR follows the continued adventures of Ilena, the warrior chieftess of Dun Alyn. When her fiancee, Durant of Hadel, goes off to war with his liege lord, she is left with an undesired suiter. She refuses to marry him and war follows. During battle, Ilena makes a grave error and is exiled from her home because of it. To prove her worthiness and win back her title, Ilena joins forces with new friends and works to defeat the Saxons and other enemies of Arthur.
Malone is definitely an entertaining author. Evidence of strenuous research is apparent throughout the novel. However, Malone's use of the present first person is awkward at times; it slows the pace of the story. The plot is no masterpiece. Everything is a bit predictable. But overall, a good novel destined to make Arthurian fans happy.

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This book is Great!
Adventureous,humorous,and a very fascinating story!
Another Masterpiece!

Young Hercules: Cheiron's Warriors
Keith R.A. DeCandido
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Young Hercules

ASIN: 0671035525

Customer Reviews:

This book is Great!.......1999-11-09

I really liked this book. I thought it was better than the first one. I can really picture Ryan Gosling in this book and the author did a great job of bringing in parts from the Series. I love it and I love Ryan. Keep up the good work.

Adventureous,humorous,and a very fascinating story!.......1999-10-26

Young Hercules was one of the best books I've ever read. It has lots of action and suspense, as well as lots of funny anecdotes. I really enjoyed reading this book becuase not only was it very entertaining but it also was well written.It was very discriptive in that way that made it come alive for me while I was reading it. In conclusion the book was an outstanding mythological story for both children,teens,as well as adults.

Another Masterpiece!.......1999-09-17

I have to say, the authors have done it again. It's a very creatively written book - to sum up all that's happened on the Young Hercules episodes. I hereby thank the author for his wonderful work. I could picture every move of Ryan Gosling in this - and I would hope to see more like this.

Quantrill of Missouri: The Making of a Guerrilla Warrior--The Man, the Myth, the Soldier

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The Real Quantrill
Apologetic license?
A fact based account
Hallmark Book
Disappointing

Quantrill of Missouri: The Making of a Guerrilla Warrior--The Man, the Myth, the Soldier
Paul R. Petersen
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581823592

Book Description

One will not find the name of William Clarke Quantrill in the pantheon of noble Civil War personalities but rather listed near the top of the list of its notorious scoundrels. He has been demonized as the devil incarnate, and most historical accounts portray him as a sadistic, pitiless, bloodthirsty killer. That image, however, did not ring true to Paul R. Petersen when he weighed it against the man's wartime accomplishments. When he began researching Quantrill of Missouri, he found that much of the lore that has been accepted as fact had been recorded by those who fought against Quantrill. In short, the victors wrote the history.

Petersen asks, "How could this so-called fiend have been a respected schoolteacher? How could he have organized and led up to four hundred men in the most noted band of guerrilla fighters known to history? How could he be so hated by his own men and still lead them in the most renowned battles through Missouri, winning victories over superior Union forces? Others entrusted their sons to him. Others served him as spies. Women willingly tended his wounded, and his followers even guarded him in battle. Most of his people were God-fearing farmers.…God-fearing, righteous people would not have followed a depraved, degenerate, psychotic killer."

The war in Missouri was vastly different from the set-piece encounters in Virginia and Tennessee. Here the war was personal, and no injury was forgotten or forgiven. In that environment, Quantrill's accomplishments rivaled those of John S. Mosby's partisan rangers and Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry. But Quantrill's victories are labeled as massacres, and his men are judged to be murderers.

In the end, Petersen discovers a vastly different Quantrill, a leader who assessed the border situation and devised an effective military solution to the problems he faced. The result was what we know now as modern guerrilla warfare.

Customer Reviews:

The Real Quantrill.......2007-05-08

If you want to know what William Clarke Quantrill was really like, then this is THE book for you. Petersen really did his homework, questioned all the assumptions closely and paid attention to the answers he got back. This is the story of the War Between the States from the Missouri Point of View. Quantrill is shown for the hero he was instead of the psychopath his detractors have painted him to be (without substantiation, I might add.)

Apologetic license?.......2007-01-19

The author seems bent on tipping the balance from the negative portrayal of previous biographers such as Connelly to the extreme opposite. Indeed, this weighty tome seems to be not much more than a response to Connelly's biography at the expense of objectivity. William Quantrill may not have been the devil incarnate but he was also no saint. The author seems to put a lot of stock into "God-fearing people" who followed Quantrill as if to impute their righteousness to him - instead of guilt by association it is the equally unjustified righteousness by association. In the end we are given not an historical biography but an idolatrous apologetic of the Confederate guerrilla leader.

As a biography, this portrayal in an attitude of deep reverance for the subject only perpetuates the neo-Confederate myth. The same fault makes it untrustworthy as a political or military history. Perhaps the value is in it's adoption and example of the Confederate apologetic method. Truly the Confederate side of the history has been vilified to an unfair degree outside the context of the times. But countering the vilification with the opposite extreme does not provide balance. It only makes the Confederate side seem ludicrous and makes one question the purpose for their fight altogether rather than explaining the background of the conflict.

The fact that the text seems a response only to anti-Confederate biographers is evidenced further by little mention of more balanced biographies such as _The Devil Knows How to Ride_ by Edward Leslie. I would highly recommend that book for a more balanced approach. I was pleased to find that many of the works of Mr. Donald Hale and Ms. Joanne Eakin are identified as sources since I have found their work very helpful in my own study of the guerrilla war in Missouri. Their research has led them to gather many of the primary and secondary sources into collections for publication into single volumes. It is a labor of love for them that will help current and future researchers immensely in this study.

In contrast to the portrayal given in the text, the photographs and maps provided are first rate and help to place the reader in the context of the time.

A fact based account.......2006-02-19

I have done extensive reading and research on this topic over the last decade and this is the most well researched, complete, and accurate account that exists today. If you are looking for a book that just re-enforces your already preconceived notions - then try something much shorter and less well done. Otherwise I would highly recommend it to those looking for a complete, accurate, and well researched account. It is probably much more of a neutral view than a souther view. Since most of the related history that I have found has been an extreme "slant" on history by Northen side of the war, who got to control how history was recorded, this may appear to be a southern view. If you have researched this topic as much as I have done, it will appear as probably one of the few attempts at accurately recording this most difficult time in the history of the mid-west.

Hallmark Book.......2004-06-25

From a woman's point of view this book was fascinating reading. Mr. Petersen's book is by far the best book yet written about William Clarke Quantrill. Not only his new insights but his understanding and experience as a combat veteran enables Petersen to give the reader a clear understanding why guerrillas fought so desperately. For the first time a complete account has been compiled written in a clear and easy-to-read style professionally edited and produced by a leading publisher. Reviews by critics who claim their self ascribed knowledge, is immaterial compared to someone who has done years of research and has tangible proof to show for it. Critics who once lamblasted Quantrill's men were labeled as unqualified and irresponsible. Modern reviewers lacking education or credentials are still critical of anything not demonizing Quantrill by showing their bitterness and mean-spiritness in what Petersen has expertly portrayed in his new book. One man with courage makes a majority and I'm glad Petersen had the determination and fortitude to see this work put into print. It should set a new standard for books about the border war in Missouri.

Disappointing.......2004-06-13

Inasmuch as this book is the only available work on Quantrill by a living author that does not demonize its subject, I was prepared to use this review to defend it from its attackers--until I tried to read the book. Quite aside from errors and apparently deliberate distortions of fact, not to mention photos of dubious origin, and regardless of the fact that the same information is available in "previously written manuscripts, novels and personal accounts" that you might be able to acquire for a few hundred dollars (if you can find them), the book is very poorly written.
The author has a plodding, soporific style that reminds one of the "begats" of the Bible in its endless, repetitious recitation of jayhawker atrocities--or of an old man on a park bench at the county courthouse repeating the same anecdotes and stories over and over, repeatedly making the same point again and again in the same words, or nearly the same. Frankly, I gave up somewhere just past the middle. Maybe it has a thrilling ending. But I doubt it.

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