Book Description
The vast hidden world of sunken treasure.
With less than 2% of the world's ocean depths explored to date, a myriad of unimagined mysteries and treasures await discovery.
Treasure Lost at Sea chronicles the excitement of underwater archaeology and search for treasure. The book recounts the major periods and geographic locations of shipwrecks.
Chapters include:
- The classical world
- Scandinavian shipwrecks
- The age of discovery
- The Spanish galleons
- Bermuda, graveyard of ships
- Privateers, pirates and mutineers
- Deep-water shipwrecks (Bismarck, Titanic, and others)
- Port Royal: The sunken city
The lively text details the potential treasure as well as the political turf wars, technological limitations, and forces of nature that threaten any mission's success.
Humanity's long history of exploration, civilization, trade and war is littered with sunken vessels. Colorful and richly illustrated,
Treasure Lost at Sea will inspire a new generation of underwater archaeologists.
Customer Reviews:
A well-written, wide-ranging book.......2006-07-20
This is a well-written book which ranges in presentation of shipwrecks and their treasures from ancient wrecks to a few 20th century ships (Titanic, Bismark). Lots of adventure and tales of the search for treasure ships without getting bogged down in minutae. The ships range through time since man began plying the seas and across the world. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to you. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I would have liked MORE pictures. It is loaded with pictures, but there was plenty of space to include more!
Customer Reviews:
True Treasures.......2007-05-12
An excellent pictorial review of the works and life of Louis Tiffany. Lots of details about his works.
A "must" for readers who admire the beauty of Tiffany.......2002-07-08
The "Lost" Treasures of Louis Comfort Tiffany is a dazzling artbook showcasing paintings, jewelry, glass windows, and many more wondrous works of the Tiffany studios in vibrant full color. Out of print for many years, this superbly presented Schiffer Publishing edition is a much appreciated contribution for contemporary readers with its more tan 200 color plates showcasing windows, paintings, lamps, vases as true and enduring works of fine art. The extensive and informative text evaluates Tiffany's art in personal as well as aesthetic and humanistic terms. A "must" for readers who admire the beauty of Tiffany creations, The "Lost" Treasures Of Louis Comfort Tiffany is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections.
Customer Reviews:
The silk road revealed.......2007-01-27
Hopkrik takes a break for his usual Great Game stories to explore the Central Asian deserts that have long been forgotten. This book includes a brief introduction to the Silk Road and China,s relations with Barbarians. The bulk of the book is focused on the explorers who penetrated its mysteries and their tales. From Sven Hedin to Aurel Stien explorers were removing the treasures of this hidden landscape. These treasures unlocked
important history until the Chinese decided to prevent their history from being pilfered away to foreign museums. For those who are curious about archeology or just love Hopkrik this is a great book. It is not up to par with his usual stories that everyone would enjoy so read selectively.
Archeothefts in Central Asia.......2006-09-02
Foreign Devils on the Silk Road written in 1980 by the now best-selling author of The Great Game Peter Hopkirk can rightfully be annoverated among classics of archeological history such as Ceram's "Gods, Graves and Scholars". This concise but extremelly well detailed (journalistic cut is evident!) work through brief biographies and excerpts of long travels and explorations plunges us into archeological surveys carried out by Westeners in Central Asia Tarim basin from the 1890's to the 1930's. In that period archeologists and explorers were the heros of the day and names such as Sven Hedin, Aurel Stein, Paul Pelliot and Albert von le Coq were well known. After the closure of Chinese bounderies to foreigners in the 1930's these ante litteram Indiana Jones were forgotten and Serindian culture and Gandahara art only captured scholarly interest. Today all archeological digs in the Middle and Far East have been re-evalutated and Western and harbouring countries public opinion now believe great damage has been done to many historical sites expecially in those cases in which archeological artifacts have been subtracted and removed to Western Museums. All the tombraiders of this book behaved exactly this way even if the times and the habits of the period consented it. But ask a Chinese today....
However, if we suspend moral judgement the adventures and biographies described are incredibly entertaining. From their juvenile dreams, to their meticulous organization we follow the archeothieves through the magnificent and frightful landscapes of the Taklamakan Desert among buried towns and cave temples full of brillant frescos and ancient manuscripts. We meet sleaky forgers and bribable guardians of ancient libraries (Tun-huang manuscripts all come from here), while we face episodes of danger and heroism. I read the book in less than two days, I refreshed my shaky Central Asian culture, I remembered how much I loved Ceram's, Wooley's and Carter's books and I gave Harrison Ford's semblance to Sven Hedin! Enjoy it!
Yes Virginia, there really was an Indiana Jones.......2006-07-21
This book is about the first explorers and archaeologists to make it to the most remote parts of Central Asia, where, in areas like Taklamakan, once upon a time before climatic changes, prosperous Buddhist, Nestorian Christian, Chinese, Greek and Hindu civilizations thrived along the trade routes between Cathay and ancient Rome. Taklamakan was surrounded on three sides by vast mountain ranges almost twice as high as the European alps; on the last side was the vast Gobi desert. A hundred years ago, there were no roads, cars, airplanes, radios, or GPS and few water sources to make travel easier, but rather hostile natives, wolves, 130F heat, and -25F cold to make travel there even less inviting. It was so remote that its name in Turki means that "If you go in, you won't come out."
As the British approached Central Asia from India, and the Russians from the North, and rumors of lost civilizations, treasure palaces and pleasure domes made their way to Europe and Japan; intrepid adventurers explored - and carted off by camel caravan - the remains of these civilizations.
The explorers were larger than life: Sir Aurel Stein, an Anglo-Hungarian, Sven Hedin, a Swede, Albert von Le Coq, a German of Huguenot origin, Paul Pelliot a French philologist with a photographic memory, Count Otani, a Japanese Buddhist monk, close relative of the Emperor and probable spy, and Professor Langdon Warner of Harvard. Last but far from least, is a semi-literate tribesman whose endeavors as an artful forger in a Central Asian oasis made fools of Oxford's best philologists. All this makes for an incomparable read.
How often does one read of a British diplomat urging that crossing a 18,000 ft peak and a 3 mile glacier three times during a blizzard to save the life of a frost-bit fellow traveler he met on the way be recognized by making the hero a Knight of the Hospitaliers of Saint John of Jerusalem?
Hopkirk also questions and describes the ethics of removing these treasures from their Central Asian homes to store them in vaults in London, Berlin and elsewhere. Not without sympathy to both those who claim that the treasures should never have been removed, and to those who note that most of the treasures left behind were plundered or vandalized later on, he leaves the issue to his readers' judgment.
I heartily recommend this book.
A Good Book.......2006-03-08
In FOREIGN DEVILS ON THE SILK ROAD, Hopkirk recounts the travels of several explorers in Central Asia, their encounters and the artifacts they came away with. Hopkirk doesn't go into tremendous detail about each explorer or the region, which makes this a rather quick but still interesting read. The book, however, does serve as an excellent primer on the region.
There are a few other reviews which assert that the countries which explored the region should return to China the artifacts they removed, and that Hopkirk endorses the idea that, were it not for their removal, these items would have been destroyed.
Whatever your personal position on the return of these items, Hopkirk does not personally endorse the above statement in the book -- instead, he is merely quoting one of the explorers involved.
The Great Game.......2004-04-13
Mr. Hopkirk in all of his works is accurate, profound and should be mandatory reading for all Foreign Service personnel. Having done Central Asia, the book was the "bible" in knowing the intimate details needed to not only do business in the post-Soviet era, but just in being able to discuss and move within the people where many thousands could not even bring voice to such concepts in the old days, which today are only "chatted" about in remote areas. Hopkirk rips at the fabric of humanity in what the west thinks is proper and what is reality in an eastern environment with its many passionate, intelligent, warm, and emotionally infectious people. I have read all of Peter's works several times and I continue to do so. You just have to be there to know that Hopkirk hits the nerve. It's just too much!!
G. Jannotta
Book Description
Handy guide to the long-lost mines, rich veins of ore, silver lodes, buried treasure and other bonanzas. All fully described, including fascinating anecdotes about the treasure, its general locale and other information. Each description also accompanied by a map of the region. 96 maps and over 50 other line illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
You don't need to be a treasure-hunter.......2003-09-17
This is a good read just to fire the imagination on a cold winter night. It's also a good one to get filled with bookmarks, margin notes, dog-ears, and fingerprints on the bookshelves of serious treasure-hunters. Buy it.
Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest.......2000-01-11
What is a book about lost mines without maps? The maps in the book were neat. Maybe the gold is still there?
Author seeks imput.......1999-09-05
I wrote the original book in 1963 (as Lost Desert Bonanzas) to mark 25 years of Desert Magazine lost mine stories. The main appeal was Norton Allen's great cartography (this is the only kind of map book that gets better as the maps are outdated by freeways and etc.). I would like input from treasure-seekers, but all I know about the particular lost mines is recounted in the book.
Book Description
Second printing is now available.
The first printing of 3000 was sold out. This is the second printing.
Customer Reviews:
At the top of the list!.......2002-11-13
A very handsome book which ranks Glover at the top of the list along with Kollenborn and Blair. You have to read this one if you want to know where Lost Dutchman/ Jacob Waltz research stands today. ...Glover also presents new maps, points to physical clues in the Superstitions, and hints at some of the information that has until now been the exclusive property of eccentric "Dutch hunters."
Doug Stewart, Web Master
Tale of the Lost Dutchman
Bibliography, Notes and Chronolgy
Der Deutsche Mensch.......2002-08-22
The book is well written and balances the Lost Dutchman historical review with critical comparisons of what is likely to be true or myth. This book should be one of the earlier books you read regarding the Lost Dutchman so you have a more critical eye to avoid the myth-based books that have little historical documentation supporting "stated fact."
The historical references to the characters in Arizona through Waltz's life and following with Lost Duchman hunters are wonderful. The Lost Dutchman, if and when it is found, will prove to be either a lucky accident or the effort of an eccentric detailer that was within ten feet of the mine and recognized something that was different with the surroundings.
Simply the best.......2001-01-08
Being a native of Phoenix I have been exposed to many book on this subject and this is by far the best. Mr. Glover has truly "done his homework." Most dutchman books simply offer a collection of facts with very little analysis. Mr. Glover offers in depth study with a personal feel. His analyses are well thought out and even offer some new information. This should be the cornerstone in the library of any true dutch hunter. It is also sure to get the blood flowing of even the most skeptical person.
Dutchers Dream.......2000-04-27
Dr. Glover is obviously a very well educated man but he treats the reader like a friend with side remarks that both teach and amuse. He gives facts and then substantiates them. I have read many books about this "Lost Mine" and this one is hands down better than any of the others. In fact I am sorry I didn't have all of his facts years ago but now I am too old and not in good enough shape to listen to the blood raceing to once again face those forminable mountains. I know from whence he speaks and his account of a storm recalled a like experence and I laughed out loud at his remarkable desent and can understand what made his move so quickly. If you like mysteries and true adventures read this book. I only gave it four starts because I have never read a five star book! Thank you Dr. Glover!
Average customer rating:
- Great photographic complement to "Ship of Gold"
- The Picture Companion to Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
- As exciting as any mystery novel!
- As exciting as any mystery novel!
- Splendid Book, Manipulated Reader, by fermed
|
America's Lost Treasure
Tommy Thompson
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Press
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Similar Items:
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Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
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Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era
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Shipwreck
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In the Wake of Galleons
-
Treasure Lost at Sea: Diving to the World's Great Shipwrecks
ASIN: 0871137321 |
Customer Reviews:
Great photographic complement to "Ship of Gold".......2005-12-29
Category: treasure hunting
Boats: SS Central America and a big, capable ROV
Heroes: Tommy Thompson
Location: USA, Midwest and East Coast
Synopsis: Coffee table companion book to Gary Kinder's excellent Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea. Thompson has put together a very good set of photos and descriptive text that doesn't overlap the Ship of Gold story. It's great to see the systems and treasure recovered that you read about in detail in the earlier book.
The Picture Companion to Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea.......2002-03-16
Tommy Thompson is one methodical scientist. He found a ship that sank in the Atlantic Ocean in 1857 that had eluded searchers for 130 years. He has taken the same methodical approach in creating this book "America's Lost Treasure".
Gary Kinder wrote a 1998 bestseller on Thompson's search entitled "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea". It is one of the best pageturners I have ever read! More amazing is that it actually happened! The ship was the United States Mail Steamship "Central America" which was making rounds between the Atlantic coast of Panama and New York City during the California Gold Rush era. She was a side paddlewheeler steamship and was hauling a huge cargo of gold ingots, freshly minted gold coins, gold nuggets, and gold dust along with 38,000 pieces of mail and 578 passengers. Much of the gold was being brought to New York to shore up the bullion holdings of banks that had been putting out too much paper money without the available gold reserves to back it. Most of the passengers were returning from the Gold Rush; many were women and children. The ship sank after a heroic battle with a hurricane in 1857 off the Carolinas taking about 425 lives with her and all the gold. Both books chronicle Thompson's epic adventure finding the ship and recovering the gold down 8000 feet underwater where even the US Navy couldn't effectively recover items. Kinder's book clocks in at over 500 riveting pages but, is largely without pictures of all the incredible finds. "America's Lost Treasure" fills in that photographic void quite admirably in it's 186 pages.
"America's Lost Treasure" is broken down into a background history of America at the time leading up to the Central America's sinking, a detailed account of the CA's fateful last voyage, a background of the equipment and people involved in the search and rediscovery of the CA, the discovery of the ship and the 'Garden of Gold', a review of the personal items found at the bottom other than the gold, and a section on the other scientific discoveries made at the site such as decay processes and new species of life found. There are hordes of very appropriate photographs that perfectly illustrate the topic discussed in the very readable and concise narration. The page layout is very well done and makes full use of the book's ten inches by ten inches size. Particularly interesting is the discovery and opening of several intact passenger's trunks revealing intact clothing and still visible photographs! The gold, however, is the expected showstopper.
Overall, I can't recommend this book enough when read in companion with "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea". Some people will bristle with disfavor on the efforts in general to recover items from this wreck feeling it is a desecration of history and wrong. I couldn't help but be astounded by the disciplined and rigorous scientific and engineering skills put on display in the efforts. This is an absolutely fascinating pictorial account of a remarkable period in the history of America. It will rivet your attention from beginning to end and have you looking back at sections again and again. It is one of the best coffee table books in existence. The lost treasure found is truly breathtaking and this book is an absolutely worthy account of it! VERY highly recommended!
As exciting as any mystery novel!.......2001-11-26
Tommy Thompson is one of those unusual individuals with the fantastic mind of an inventor/engineer, yet with the ability to work with people to bring out their best. Our government should take note of this man, or hopefully they have, and give him the freedom to let his mind find solutions to many of our problems, as he has shown he can do in this book. It was an adventure, filled with suspense and I would recommend the picture book to go along with the text so you can see the magnificent photos of his find.
As exciting as any mystery novel!.......2001-11-26
Tommy Thompson is one of those unusual individuals with the fantastic mind of an inventor/engineer, yet with the ability to work with people to bring out their best. Our government should take note of this man, or hopefully they have, and give him the freedom to let his mind find solutions to many of our problems, as he has shown he can do in this book. It was an adventure, filled with suspense and I would recommend the picture book to go along with the text so you can see the magnificent photos of his find.
Splendid Book, Manipulated Reader, by fermed.......2001-11-13
This book is chronologically a sequel to the narrative "Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea" by Gary Kinder, in which this writer masterfully described the tragic history of the "Central America" and the details of the successful recovery (by Tommy Thompson's group) of the gold she carried when she sank in 1857. Kinder's name is not mentioned in the body or the index of this book. What happened?
The good news is that this is a spectacular book: it is beautifully printed and illustrated. The pictures of the sunken "Central America" loaded with gold and lying in deep waters since it went under are simply breathtaking. The gold ingots, and coins and nuggets and dust have acquired a queer beauty during the years they have rested in the sea bed; the luster of the metal is still there even as it has been affected by is 131 year immersion in the depths: to be crawled over and probed by the strange denizens that thrive down there, and to react to the mysterious chemistry that is created in the deep.
Yes, this is a beautiful book that is irresistible to look at. When exposed to the passinge gaze of others it is invariably picked up and held, and exclamations of awe become intermingled with "Can I borrow it?" One must be strong if the book is to remain ours.
The not so good part is the feeling of sheer manipulation that the book imparts, based on what the book does not say--but should. I remember how distressing it was that "Ship of Gold" lacked clear photographs of the treasure found. It seemed downright stingy not to publish at least a few pictures of the loot. Well, here are the missing photos, yours for [item price] plus shipping. So what is missing in this one?
For one there is no manifest of what was taken out of the "Central America." While in the previous book (if I remember correctly) it was stated that the ship sank with 20 (or so) TONS of gold, in this book the author is ever so elusive about totals.Here he speaks in these tersm: "In addition to many tons of gold..." or "This was compounded by the sinking of the "Central America," which sent its huge load of gold...to the bottom of the sea." It isn't that Tommy Thompson doesn't know how to count: "Bound for New York with 578 passangers and crew and 38,000 pieces of mail, the "Central America" also contained tons of gold..."
Yes, there are lots of beautiful pictures of the artifacts and even clothing that was brought up, but no accounting of exactly what was extracted. The absence of this accounting (just how many tons of gold, how many coins, bars, ingots, how many glass bottles) renders the book of limited historical value. It would have taken no more than a couple of pages to furnish such information, but one feels the absence of this data was a conscious decision of the author.
In summary, if you want to regale your eyes with the treasures of this ship, get the book. I you are interested in the exact details of this find and recovery, don't.
Amazon.com
When the Order of Knights Templar was destroyed in 1307, the secret society supposedly had vast wealth that was rumored to include the genealogies of David and Jesus and other religious artifacts as well as your run-of-the-mill gold and jewels. Over 200 years ago, the site of an elaborate vault was discovered by three teenagers on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, which was determined to have been built sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries. Author Steven Sora has been investigating both the Order and the vault for over 17 years, and The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar details his fascinating theory of where the Templar's hoard went and what is buried under Oak Island. If you enjoy real-life mystery, the intrigues of secret societies, or thoughtfully researched revisionist history, this one's for you. --P. Randall Cohan
Book Description
A compelling argument that connects the lost treasure of the Knights Templar to the mysterious money pit on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, that has baffled treasure hunters for two centuries
• Fascinating occult detective work linking the Cathars, the Scottish Masons, and Renne-le-Chateau to the elusive treasure pit on Oak Island
• Draws on new evidence recently unearthed in Italy, France, and Scotland to provide a compelling solution to one of the world's most enduring mysteries
When the Order of Knights Templar was ruthlessly dissolved in 1307 by King Philip the Fair of France it possessed immense wealth and political power, yet none of the treasure the Templars amassed has ever been found. Their treasure is rumored to contain artifacts of spiritual significance retrieved by the order during the Crusades, including the genealogies of David and Jesus and documents that trace these bloodlines into the royal bloodlines of Merovingian France.
Placing a Scottish presence in the New World a century before Columbus, Steven Sora paints a credible scenario that has the Sinclair clan of Scotland transporting the wealth of the Templars--entrusted to them as the Masonic heirs of the order--to a remote island off the shores of present-day Nova Scotia. The mysterious money pit there is commonly believed to have been built before 1497 and has guarded its secret contents tenaciously despite two centuries of determined efforts to unearth it. All of these efforts (one even financed by American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt) have failed, thanks to an elaborate system of booby traps, false beaches, hidden drains, and other hazards of remarkable ingenuity and technological complexity.
Customer Reviews:
A LETDOWN! Speculative! More of a "Conspiracy Theory".......2007-04-29
This book is a bit of a stretch if you are looking for FACTS.
It is more of a hodge-podge of fact and fiction leaving the reader with a convoluted mess that is hard to pick through. Speculation abounds and creative license is plentiful in this work.
Although an entertaining read, it presents many very interesting opinions, there are not supportive texts, archeological finds or historical proofs.
Please do enjoy if you are looking for fantasy, historical fiction or could-have-been storylines, but this book is NOT FACT as it is advertised.
If taken as a work of FICTION, this is a fairly good read, but as advertised, it is a poor excuse for history.
So, It would be an average read as fiction, but must be marked down a little due to the fact that it is purported to be fact. This is how I arrive at a 2 out of 5.
Lost Treasure a great find as is Swords at Sunset.......2007-01-14
Carefully researched and thought-provoking, The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar offers compelling evidence that the Holy Grail was spirited to North America - more specifically Oak Island in Canada. As such, it should really be read alongside Swords at Sunset by Michael Bradley, as Bradley's book establishes that the Holy Grail was and perhaps still is in Niagara, Ontario and Quebec and Vermont along with much of the Atlantic seaboard. This alone is a compelling reason to read this remarkable book. Also, I've come across a number of reviews suggesting Swords at Sunset be read in tandem with The Da Vinci Code. Now I understand why. I had the pleasure of reading this remarkable book recently and was captivated by Bradley's well framed argument that the Knights Templar brought Holy Grail refugess, descendents of Jesus, to North America long before Columbus ever set foot here. Then I learned that Bradley was a researcher behind the Da Vinci Code movie. The Da Vinci Code book and movie are both highly enjoyable. But what's really fascinating is Bradley's non-fiction book putting the Grail in Canada and the United States centuries ago. I learned a great deal. You should also check out Bradley's great new Grail novel The Magdalene Mandala. All of these books are highly recommended for anyone interested in the Holy Grail.
The Knights Templar.......2006-11-23
I put off reading about the KT's involvement with the Oak Island mystery simply because it is a path whose foot steps are difficult to verify never mind follow. Historically steep. So how does Sora do it? I found it to be an enjoyable read, fact filled and well written. How would anyone verify what he is saying or rather the facts he presents? To take his books contents on face value would be to say whats buried on Oak Island is KT related. I reccommend it to any Oak Island enthusiast as its an important angle to the Oak Island mystery needed to be understood. If you're a skeptic I would buy it so you can have something else to poo poo about..Oh what a minute one of the skeptics already has written a review poo poing the book...good for you!
Scottish Masons Hid Templar Treasures at Oak Island in Pre-Columbian Times.......2006-07-18
That about sums up the author's thesis; the rest of the book is a poorly edited, rehashing of the tired Holy Blood, Holy Grail myth. The author clearly possesses a strong belief in the Priory of Sion, the bloodline of Jesus Christ, and other such nonsense, and uses this venue to air his enthusiasms. Unfortunately, only about 100 pages of this 250+ page book is actually about the Oak Island mystery. To his credit, the author does present a valid theory of the origins of the treasure but unforunately stops there. Just as he gets the story rolling and the reader's excitement bubbling he charts another course and veers away from his thesis. In the end, the reader is left to try and assemble for himself a puzzle that spans about four continents, 3,000 years, and countless secret societies.
Get this one at your local library if you're really interested.
A mystery not really solved.......2006-07-13
I'm not a reader of history, meaning I don't read history books cover to cover. This was an exception--if it is in fact history. But it was a tough read, and not because of my reading predilections. Hooked by the topical subject matter in the wake of Da Vinci Code, I figured I'd sit down for the afternoon to read the 250 pages. But the afternoon turned into several days. It wasn't just the scores of grammatical errors or repetitive explanations and descriptions or sentence run-ons that caused me to spend so much time with this book although those things tend to lose a reader. It wasn't even the weird syntax that had me re-reading and re-reading just to grasp what the author intended. Astoundingly, for such an overwritten book, what I found missing was information, pertinent, corroborating and clarifying information throughout. The author covers 2000 plus years of history and weaves in and out of centuries on a dime, and there are numerous occassions when important dates or approximate dates would have helped me keep my bearings. The author also spins off names and places by the pound, some explained some not. I found myself laying the book down to turn on my computer to check for facts. An example is the name Samuel Elliot Morrison. Now pardon me for being so ignorant of American 20th century historians, but I had no idea who this detractor of the Sinclair-Zeno expedition was or whether he was alive now or if he'd been speared by Eskimos 300 years ago. Thank God for Google. Putting the negatives aside, "The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar" contains some interesting alternative/possible histories and hypotheses, and author Steven Sora definitely got me to chomp on some of these. In parts, the book is provocative, and it does cover a lot of ground: Norse explorers, dastardly French Kings, the wars of England and Scotland, the Merovingian dynasty and so on. But ultimately this book fails to prove that Templar treasure exists on Oak Island. The author borrows much from Michael Baigent's "Holy Blood Holy Grail," a book most historians would classify as fiction. Fiction or not, I tried to substantiate some of the claimed history in both of these books, checking into, for example, the organization Prieure de Sion and its supposed former name Ordre de Sion. There are dozens of resources, books, articles, blogs, mentioning these organizations, but I found nothing written pre 1970. Most of the articles debunk the Priory of Sion and Pierre Plantard the Frenchman credited with the hoax. Of course it could be argued that the organization was so secret that nothing was written, or perhaps certain arcane documents existed but were confiscated or burned by the Church. But Steven Sora doesn't seem to care about the veracity of Pierre Plantard or the Order/priory of Sion. In this book, the Priory of Sion is real and Mr. Sora runs with it. Discerning readers and researchers are unlikely to be so easily persuaded. If you can wade through the author's bulbous style, the book is worth picking up. Review by David Marsh.
Book Description
Lydia Dunmore is preparing to move from her country house to a retirement home in the city and has invited her four granddaughters to choose something to keep from her attic of long-forgotten treasures. Sheila seeks a doll she played with as a child, Kimber is intrigued by an old fishing tackle box, Lauren cherishes an antique christening gown, and Jessica takes an intricately designed wooden box. The journey begun in a dusty attic leads each to new discoveries about her own life, and none of them realize the impact these items will have on their futures.
Customer Reviews:
Attic Treasures.......2006-06-22
It was written very vaguely and simple.
The last story was the only one that
I really enjoyed. It was also a little
too religious for me and too "goody-goody"
Skurvy
I absolutely loved this book!!!.......2006-04-20
I can't even remember how I even found this book but I am so happy that I did! I just loved it! I saw it on amazon but then got it from our local library. It is a book written by four different authors but they are all writing about the same Grandmother and four cousins who are picking out their special remembrance of the childhood spent at their Grandmother's victorian home. The first story I thought I didn't care for but by the time it was finished I did! It just got better from there. By the end of the fourth story I just didn't want it to end. I loved this book so much I have ordered the four books advertised in the back since I couldn't find them at the library. This is an enjoyable read. No heavy stuff just good clean reading!!! We need more of it.
Am I missing something?.......2005-09-01
For the life of me, I don't understand why this book would get a rave review in the slightest. I couldn't even finish it.
Reading through the first story was like reading through a first draft of a book, and one I would have expected from a beginner. This first tale, about an antique doll, wastes a great deal of time on ordinary "everyday speech" dialogue rather than having anything happen--i.e., "How are you?" "Oh, I'm okay." "Are you going to the store now?" and such. The story is dull, the characters all sound the same, the heroine has no drive whatsoever, the spiritual element is preachy--and the ending is completely predictable. I stuck with it anyway, hoping it would get better. It never did.
The second story in this collection--about some antique fishing lures--unfortunately, isn't any better than the first. The two main characters are supposed to be grown young women, but their speech, their reactions, and their emotions sound more like 12-year-olds. And yes, I say the "two main characters" because in my mind they're indistinguishable one from the other. Nothing stands out about either of them; they talk the same, they react the same, they're interchangeable. Nothing memorable about 'em...and so I let them go, along with my hopes for the rest of the book.
In short...this is a sleeper, not a keeper.
Average customer rating:
- good, but not as good as the first book
- Comes in second place
- Quickly became a favorite of my 2 1/2 year old
- A Real Treasure!!!! and inspires quality time with the kids!!
- A Great Children's Illustration Style
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Russell and the Lost Treasure
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Russell the Sheep
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Meet Wild Boars (Bccb Blue Ribbon Picture Book Awards (Awards))
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Little Pea
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Russell's Christmas Magic
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Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!
ASIN: 0060598514
Release Date: 2006-04-25 |
Book Description
Russell the sheep is determined to find the Lost Treasure of Frogsbottom. Equipped with his Super-Duper Treasure Seeker, Russell searches high and low, up and down, and in and out.
Nothing!
Finally, Russell finds an old chest! Could it be?
Discover how Russell finds the most valuable treasure of all.
Customer Reviews:
good, but not as good as the first book.......2007-09-17
The first Russell the sheep book was wonderful, especially as it dealt with insomnia. My son loves both books, and the artwork is very good in both. But I have a slight preference for the first book as it deals with an ongoing challenge with young children (sleep). The "lost treasure" book may be better for the 5 - 7 crowd rather than the 3 - 5 crowd. Either way, it's still a good book.
Comes in second place.......2007-08-11
We like this book well enough. The illustrations are top notch--somewhat similar to Wallace and Gromit. My son loves to trace Russell's long hat all over the page. I'm not sure my children like the story line of this book as much as they like Russell the Sheep. It seems to be missing something but I can't pinpoint what that "something" is. Maybe the story is less ironic than the first or perhaps the lack of Pirates (despite the reference to treasure) make it less appealing to my little ones. I suggest you check out Russell the Sheep first and save this book for later.
Quickly became a favorite of my 2 1/2 year old .......2007-01-15
Marvelous illustrations, heart-warming story. It quickly became a favorite of my young son, who is 2 1/2.
A Real Treasure!!!! and inspires quality time with the kids!!.......2006-09-29
A beautifully illustrated book that held my niece spellbound. The rich artwork and humor also make it a pleasure for any adults who get to read this as a bedtime story. What I like about the Russell series is the little lesson for the kids, in each story. This time, we see Russell learn what is truly valuable in life. At the end of the story, instead of arguing about bedtime, my niece wanted to see our family photo album! We had a `quality' moment that followed directly from storytime and because of that, I had to come write a glowing review!!! Hope some of you have a similar wonderful experience.
A Great Children's Illustration Style.......2006-09-20
You have seen Rob Scotton's work in a wide variety of places--what a pleasure to see him illustrating children's books. Light and zany, you can't help but be charmed by Scotton's characters. The story is short and simple, especially appealing for young readers or listeners, ages 3-5. The illustrations are so good, however, that you wish there was more story to necessitate more pages in the book.
Average customer rating:
- A series your young reader will LOVE
- Incredible Series!!
- Fun, humours and pleasant to the eyes
- On the Trip to Find the Lost Treasure
- Geromino Stilton Rocks!
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Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye (Geronimo Stilton, Book 1)
Geronimo Stilton
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid (Geronimo Stilton, No. 2)
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Cat and Mouse in a Haunted House (Geronimo Stilton, No. 3) (Geronimo Stilton)
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I'm Too Fond of My Fur #4 (Geronimo Stilton)
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Geronimo: Four Mice Deep in the Jungle
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Geronimo Stilton #06 (Geronimo Stilton)
ASIN: 0439559634 |
Book Description
Who Is Geronimo Stilton?That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure. Here on Mouse Island, my books are all best-sellers! What's that? You've never read one? Well, my books are full of fun. They are whisker-licking good stories, and that's a promise!Book 1It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered a mysterious map. It showed a secret treasure on a faraway island. And before I could let out a squeak of protest, Thea dragged me into her treasure hunt! In no time at all, we'd set sail for the island. It was an adventure I'd never forget....
Customer Reviews:
A series your young reader will LOVE.......2007-03-22
This is the first in a series of books, that my son was introduced to by a friend. The unique thing about the series is that although there are pictures, many of the words are written in creative text or printing, in a variety of colors, right in the paragraphs as well. This really makes for keeping a young reader engaged with the story, especially for those that are transitioning from books with pictures to chapter books, and chapter books that are all text.
My son is currently in 2nd grade, but is reading well above grade level, independantly. The challenge for him is that what he CAN read, he's not intested in yet, and what is at his grade level doesn't hold his interest. He has been devouring these books in around a week each. We also read aloud to each other from them, and they are very entertaining, even as adults.
A wonderful series, great, I think for boys and girls alike as there are very strong, positive main characters that are both male and female.
Incredible Series!!.......2006-01-25
If you are looking for a new book series, this should be it! There are 24 books out so far, and I have read them all. They are funny, clever, and have lots of funny mouse jokes. They are perfect for ages 7 and up, and come out bi-monthly. They are the best series of books ever. They originally came from Italy, if you're wondering. They are great, so read them ALL!!
Fun, humours and pleasant to the eyes.......2005-07-30
There's one fine line between well-played and over-played layouts. The full Geronimo Stilton series falls into the well-played category: the outcome is pleasant and not too loud and the fonts / colour used are really a statement on their own.
Another point to note is the translation involved. While this is not "literature" literature, the adaptation in cultural and linguistics aspect are well taken care of.
I don't know any Italian but have compared the Chinese and English versions of the same book (yes, my colleague at work has the entire Chinese series while I'm catching up by matching the English version). The funny bits are transformed elegantly.
Recommended to not only children, but anyone who's intersted in translating humour and layout.
On the Trip to Find the Lost Treasure.......2005-05-14
It all started when Thea found an old map with an x for the spot where the treasure was. She dragged her brother Trap and her cousin Benjamin on to the trip. They took a boat there and a few days later a hurricane struck. Find out what happened to Benjamin, Thea, and Trap.
I really recommend this book because the details were great. It's a great adventure and this book is good for kids from second grade to fifth grade. You should read this book.
Casey,11, R.I
Geromino Stilton Rocks!.......2005-04-20
As my 8 year old son would put it. Geronimo Stilton series is the FIRST book series that my son is willingly reading. The use of different fonts, colors and most of all humor in the book is what has kept him captivated. My 6 year old who is reading "Junie B Jones" chapter books has picked Geronimo as well.
Geronimo books are packed with references to popular culture, all re-worded to match the mouse vocabulary. And my son finds it particularly fun to "translate" mouse terms into something that he uses everyday. For example New Mouse City (New York City), Mousific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), San Mouscisco, etc.
I would also applaud to the translator who did wonderful job on the books translating them from Italian. We could hardly wait fo the next installment of the series.
So, in short, if you have a reluctant reader in your family, give Geronimo a try. It might just do the trick!
Books:
- Wall and Piece
- Weight Watchers Take-Out Tonight! : 150+ Restaurant Favorites to Make at Home--All 8 POINTS or Less
- Whatever Happened to Justice? (An Uncle Eric Book)
- Your Brain Is God
- Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (Caldecott Honor Book)
- A House of Cards: Baseball Card Collecting and Popular Culture (American Culture (Minneapolis, Minn.), 12.)
- Angels of Death: Inside the Biker Gangs' Crime Empire
- Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America
- Beneath the Diamond Sky: Haight Ashbury 1965 1970
- Introducing Character Animation with Blender
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