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.

Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana 1932 (Dear America Series)

Average customer rating:

Five Stars
Zully's Review
Perhaps The Best Christmas Book I've Ever Read
The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift
Bad choice

Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana 1932 (Dear America Series)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0439219434

Amazon.com

To 11-year-old Minnie Swift, Christmas, 1932, is not going to be the time of bounty she's used to. Instead, it has become the "Time of the Dwindling." The Great Depression has changed everything: Minnie's father is working fewer and fewer hours, her hungry family eats more and more aspic and "rumor of pork" (high up on the Vomitron, a zero-to-ten scale Minnie and her brother have invented to determine the vileness of their meager dinners), and a tiny orphan girl has joined their family from Heart's Bend, Texas. Minnie finds a worthy outlet in her daily journal, in which she records the sometimes troubling, sometimes exhilarating experiences of one winter month in Indianapolis during the depression. Nothing can subdue Minnie's lively spirit, although the disappearance of her father challenges her sorely.

Kathryn Lasky's latest addition to the Dear America series is chock-full of period details: Greta Garbo's hairstyle, The Shadow radio program, Charlie Chan, Hooverville shantytowns, Buck Rogers, Amelia Earhart, and phrases like yee gads and go-to-the-dickens. Minnie is an exuberant and witty chronicler of her family life, as well as the world outside. Young readers will come away from Christmas After All with a strong image of life in the 1930s, and a sense of the resiliency and ingenuity of many Americans during that deeply troubled time. A historical note and photos follow the diary, providing background to help readers understand the era in which the fictional Minnie lived. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars.......2007-08-08

Another wonderful addition to the Dear America Series this one is about the Great Depression told through Minnie Swift diary about how the depression is effecting her family and those around her. The changes they have to make. Like only living out of the few rooms in their house their family can keep heated. As they prepare for what Minnie expects to be a joyless Thanksgiving and Christmas her cousin Willie Faye arrives from Texas and the Dust Bowl having an even harder life then Minnie. This book goes to show how far love in a family can go.

Zully's Review.......2007-01-26

Imagine you have to live with an orphanage girl that doesn't know what an adjective is. This is what Kathryn Lasky in the book Christmas After All talks about. It's a masterpiece of love ness. The love ness of the main character, Minnie is that she helps an orphanage girl that goes to live with them.
Minnie Swift is a young girl who is in 4th grade she is 11 years old. Minnie Swift lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
One day an orphanage girl name Willie Faye got to their house she didn't know anything, so Minnie's parents put her in school and Minnie couldn't believe that they put Willie Faye in fourth grade, Minnie was so embarrassed. Minnie's fingers were tired from poking cloves into oranges.
Do people always help orphanages? Can we break our friendship with a person?
Minnie faces these issues in the book Christmas After All. Is four dollars a lot of money for you, well I don't think so, but in the book Christmas After All they think it's a lot of money. Would you use a fancy dress like a curtain? Well Minnie's sister wanted to do that, she wanted to put it in their room because they didn't have a lot of money to buy a curtain. Minnie didn't like that idea, and she didn't say anything because if she says that she doesn't like that idea lady her sister will get mad at her.
Jackie is Minnie's maid house. Jackie is kind of the color cinnamon, and Minnie wishes she could be that color of skin. In school Minnie was bored in Geography.
When they got back from school Willie Faye went to her room and start getting stuff so she could make earrings for lady that goes with her dress.
Christmas After All is a book of how people of the past help orphanage people. This book shows honesty for a lot of people. Christmas After All is for these who love a heart felt story and for those who have read this book before. For those people who help people will be a really, really good book.
I felt a good affection for this book, and you will too. " We have had Christmas after all."- Christmas After All.

Perhaps The Best Christmas Book I've Ever Read.......2006-11-22

The "Dear America" books are something I can take or leave. MY SECRET WAR was pretty good, as was WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AGAIN (not really a Christmas book, but about the "Hello girls" in World War I), and the story of the Italian girl crossing the great plains. The Titanic book was average and the Pearl Harbor book was pretty bad. I've heard some pretty scathing criticisms about the two books involving Native American characters.

But in CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL, Kathryn Lasky has created a masterpiece within the diary format of the books.

It is the story of Minnie Swift, youngest of four sisters, her precocious genius younger brother Ozzie, and her parents during the days of the Great Depression. Dad's job is going badly and the family is reduced to shutting down rooms in their home to cut down on coal bills. They rarely have meat for supper, but eat a succession of aspics and "O'Grotons," as Minnie calls them. Then, as December begins, Willie Faye Darling comes into their lives. Willie Faye is the only daughter of cousins of Minnie's mother. Her parents, from a small town called Heart's Bend, Texas, have died after losing a battle with life in the Dust Bowl. Willie Faye is Minnie's age (11), but looks two years younger due to malnutrition and hardships. She arrives at the Swift home covered in dust and with a kitten named Tumbleweed whose nose she had to suction out morning, noon and night to keep him from smothering. Willie Faye has never seen an indoor bathroom, gone to a movie, read a Buck Rogers comic, or listened to the radio, so Minnie thinks that Willie Faye will have a lot to learn from them.

She never dreams what she--and the entire family--will learn from the fragile-looking but tough little girl from the Dust Bowl when the ravages of the Depression begin leaching away the family's security.

I have many of Lasky's other books and love them as well including PRANK, which takes place in East Boston, and her adult mysteries starring Calista Jacobs. But this story has a special magic to it, perhaps because it is based on Lasky's mother's experiences as well as her own and the characters ring true. Highly recommended.

The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift.......2006-10-30

The depression diary of Minnie Swift is about a girl trying to live during the Great Depression of 1930.It is cold, snowy, and miserable November right after Thanksgiving.Minnie and her family is trying to live through the troubles of the Great Depression. The biggest trouble is that her father lost his job and there is no more money coming into the family fortune.I really liked this book because it gives you an idea of what people faced during the Great Depression.The book reminds you of how fortunite that you have all that you need in life and that you don't have to worry about anything.

Bad choice.......2006-03-31

I did not care for this book. At first I thought it looked good because I used to find the depression interesting and I couldn't wait to tell my grandmother about I was reading about the depression. I didn't like it that much. It was very boring and Minnie writes so many entries in one day, she can't even write a full month's worth of diary entries. We all know about how hard it is during the depression and WHO CARES that she saw a bird at 11 PM or 12 AM!

Chicago's State Street Christmas Parade (IL) (Images of America)

Average customer rating:

Christmas Parade in Chicago

Chicago's State Street Christmas Parade (IL) (Images of America)
Robert P. Ledermann
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0738532738
Release Date: 2004-10-13

Book Description

One of the grand annual events in Chicago's history is the spectacular Christmas Parade on State Street. Filled with pageantry, these parades showcase amazing floats and displays, often featuring local VIPs along with Hollywood stars. In this companion to Christmas on State Street: The 1940s and Beyond, Robert P. Ledermann continues his celebration of Christmas in Chicago. Over 200 photographs, including 16 pages of full color, lead you on a wonderful trip down memory lane; you will also share the recollections of many famous personalities who participated in the parade. Crowds viewed the famous windows at Marshall Field's and Carson's while awaiting the parade; complete sets of those windows are featured here. Finally, Chicago can be cold in the winter, so to warm up we'll stop in at Miller's Pub and the Berghoff Restaurant.

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Parade in Chicago.......2006-03-26

Lots of good photos, but could have been so much more. Again, limited by amount of available historical information.

Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America)

Average customer rating:

What a great trip down memory lane!
Sweet Memories
Christmas in Chicago
A Magical Chicago Christmas!
Great Gift for the Garfield Goose Generation

Christmas on State Street: 1940's and Beyond (IL) (Images of America)
Robert P. Ledermann
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Motivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0738519723

Book Description

State Street, that Great Street. The name itself stands the test of time, remembered by anyone who lived in or visited Chicago. It is the main artery of the heart of the city. It is where memories were made and kept. This book vividly recreates, for the first time, a Christmas holiday trip down State Street. You will visit many of the major shops and stores that existed during the 1940s and beyond, viewing old display windows and getting reacquainted with famous Christmas characters such as Weiboldtsís Cinnamon Bear, Montgomery Wardsís Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the crown jewel of State Street, Marshall Fieldsís Uncle Mistletoe. Through these historic photographs, many never before published, you will relive the excitement of State Streetís Christmas parade, the charm of holiday dining in State Streetís fine restaurants, and the magical wonder of a childís first holiday trip to State Street, complete with a visit to Santa. ÝÝ

Customer Reviews:

What a great trip down memory lane!.......2007-02-20

Love this book...I bought 3 copies for me and my sisters, who all have fond memories of shopping "downtown" with our mother. One sister cried when she saw it as it brought back wonderful memores for her.

Sweet Memories.......2006-07-24

If you're an aging Baby Boomer, as I, and lived in the Chicago area sometime during your childhood, chances are this little book with touch your heart and bring back the fondest of memories. It's a sweet compilation of everything that's reminiscent of a journey to "downtown" Chicago during the Christmas season. Whether it be parades, shopping, choosing a new toy for under the tree, or perhaps lunching at the Walnut Room at Marshall Fields, this book hits all the high points. Touching photo's also round out the successful tale of Christmas on State Street. Sit back with a cup of cocoa and savor the memories!

Christmas in Chicago.......2006-03-26

Generally very good nostalgia. More variety in stores would be appreciated. However, I realize information is limited by historically available photography.

A Magical Chicago Christmas!.......2005-12-20

This is a beautifully arranged book detailing the opulence and grandeur of Christmas in Chicago. Amazing black and white photos capture the charm of the holidays in the Windy City.

For those of us who have visited Marshall Fields at Christmas, peered into the wonderful windows full of magical stories, this book will be a treasured keepsake of Chicago originals like Fields. Macy's will never have the appeal or class that Marshall Fields had, and we'll never forget the Walnut Room Tree or the Tiffany Dome. So long old Chicago, you were a class act.

Great Gift for the Garfield Goose Generation.......2003-11-27

Before ubiquitous, homogenous Malls, there was (and still is) Chicago's State Street, that great Street! This retrospective is an excellent gift for Baby Boomers of Chicagoland vintage who grew up with Garfield Goose and friends on WGN (before the SuperStation) and an annual magical Christmas mystical tour of State Street.

This delightful trade paperback is a return to Christmases past, a Holiday tour starting South at the old Sears Roebuck & Company and going North past the delicious themed window displays and delectable interiors of Hotel, stores, restaurants, and theatres. There is a capsulized history of each, along with a description of its Holiday finery. Great old black and white photos of people laughing, people passing, people parading and, oh yes, people shopping, are complimented by cool color photos in the middle.

There's a full page devoted to the Marshall Field's clock (7 3/4 tons of cast bronze) and a series of pictures on just how they got that huge REAL tree into the middle of the store anyway. The text is written in the stodgier AmerEnglish of the times, which adds to the charm.

Book Description

Moving from the White House to the B-52 cockpits to the missile sites and POW camps of Hanoi, The Eleven Days of Christmas is a gripping tale of heroism and incompetence in a battle whose political and military legacy is still a matter of controversy.

Customer Reviews:

Real SAC operations.......2007-10-01

This is a totally accurate view of the B-52 bomber operations leading up to and during the bombing of Hanoi. It shows what the bomber pilots were feeling and how SAC screwed up life for them. Totally real; I was there too.

An excellent book.......2006-03-19

I am very impressed with this book. It is a combination of history, great story telling, and analysis of the huge air battle fought over N. Vietnam during Nixon's "Christmas bombing." And if you like the mighty B-52, its even better.

It gives a brief background of SAC, and how LeMay's thinking carried over into the Vietnam War. He was, like anyone, flawed at times, and he left SAC in something of a tight spot. It only did things one way. Flexibility was lacking when it would have been very helpful. The bombers over North Vietnam did things in a set pattern, and that went back to SAC, and the days of LeMay. Someone should have been able to look ahead, and change the path of the bombers as they left their bomb runs.

It also gives the reader a good look at the bureaucratic bungling, micro-management, and political thinking which increased the losses of the B-52 crews. That is hardly new in war. It still hurts and frustrates to have to see the results. Lives could have been saved with a realistic response from those who should have known better. Careers can end up being more important than lives. Too bad it has to happen in the military, where some wonderful people risk so much for their country.

This was a huge, and terribly dangerous undertaking. The B-52 crews flew into some very tough air defenses, and risked a great deal to help bring the U.S. involvement in Vietnam to an end. One cannot help but wish it had been done years before. Think of the lives and heartache decisive action could have saved.

It also made me miss the good qualities of Nixon--and yes, he had them. The man was willing to show great courage when he finally unleashed the B-52s, and let them do their work. If only it had been done much, much sooner.

A great read--techinical details which interest and add, political backgrouind which is useful, and a damned good story as well. First rate.

From the Vietnamese point of view.......2006-02-09

Throughout the years I've read so many books written in English about the Vietnam War and I notice that they all so biased in favor of the U.S in virtually every aspect. From the Vietnamese point of view, this operation is called "Dien Bien Phu Tren Khong", which means "Dien Bien Phu in the air". This is a great victory for the Vietnamese side because they were able to force the U.S to agree to the demand that the Vietnamese had been demanded throughout the entire war, the demand was to withdraw all troops from Vietnam before any peace deal could be sign, other than that, the fighting would be carried on indefinitely. In 1972, the U.S agreed to the demand of the North Vietnamese that's why the North agreed to sign the peace deal. According to Vietnamese sources and eyewitnesses on the ground during this campaign, there were a total of 31 B-52 bombers that were shot down, not the 15 like the U.S or English sources have been claiming throughout the years and a combined total of 81 aircrafts were shot down. North Vietnam shot a total of around 540 missiles, not 1200 and at the end of the 11th day, missiles reinforcement was coming in masses from the city of Haiphong and it is not the myth that the North was running out of missiles. Furthermore, the total combined numbers of Migs fighters of the North throughout the war never exceeded 200 so it was impossible for the North to lose "hundreds" of aircrafts in air-to-air combat against the U.S that so many English-written sources have been claiming. In fact, the total number of Migs lost during the entire war including operational losses is believed to be no more than 50 because at the beginning of this Christmas bombing, the North still had around 150-160 Migs fighters left. I think history has to be examined from both sides, not just from the English-written sources only.

Great book.......2005-11-24

I thought the book was great. Just because we lost a few B-52's during the first couple of days of bombing Hanoi, it made me want to jump out of my seat and continue it. Clearly the research and planning for this mission should have been better. I was also amazed out how the Secretary of Defense at the time dragged his feet when the President ordered the bombing! If Nixon were un-obstructed, I think he could have ended the war sooner and with greater returns than what happend after the Xmas bombings over Hanoi. A must read book.

How Air Force Generals covered their butts........2005-10-24

This is a great read. I read this book in less than 24 hours because it was so interesting. Michel did a great job of detailing the Christmas bombing campaign of 1972. The B-52s (or BUFFs)were sent to take the war to the North Vietnamese. The target was Hanoi and Haiphong. The campaign covered only 11 days. THe North Vietnamese and their SA-2s and Fan Song radar shot down 15 BUFFs.

What is so interesting is how the SAC generals made lots of mistakes and then covered them up. The centralized approach to the war by SAC sounded like they were imitating Soviet generals. This centralized approach had a lot to do with how SAC was structured. Also interesting was the sharp turn following the bombing run. The bomber crews did this because we always did it this way. However this turn made the radar jamming inoperable during this activity. The first four nights of the bombing run were predictable and it was like a line of ants going to a picnic. The North Vietnamese practiced their skill at lining the missles up and shooting at the opportune time. The lack of missles was the only thing preventing more losses to the USAF BUFFs. General Sullivan commanding the Thailand base was the only one who voiced his opinion of these bad tactics. Once the losses were high, his voice was heard. He was subsequently put on the slow track and later retired.

This is a good book. Lots of great information on this last battle of the Vietnam War. The one thing distracting about this book is the poor grammar used throughout it. This book needed a good proof reader and unfornately this was not done well. However, the information and story within this book more than made up for this deficit.

Christmas in Colonial and Early America (Christmas Around the World) (Christmas Around the World)

Average customer rating:

GLARING ERROR MARS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK

Christmas in Colonial and Early America (Christmas Around the World) (Christmas Around the World)

Manufacturer: World Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Religion | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0716608758

Book Description

Each 80-page Christmas Around the World book includes full narratives explaining the customs of the region covered, photography and illustrations, special sections of native songs, recipes, and fun-to-do crafts.

Customer Reviews:

GLARING ERROR MARS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.......2006-10-19

I always expect that information intended for any World Book publication will be checked and double-checked before anything goes into print. For that reason, it's a great disappointment to discover a glaring error in the first chapter past the introduction of this book.

"Jamestown Colony in Virginia is thought to have been the site of the first Christmas in North America, in 1607," according to the chapter on Christmas in the Colonies.

Saint Augustine, in present day Florida, was founded on August 28, 1565. December 25, 1565 would have been the first Christmas celebration in a permanent settlement. Still, there was an earlier Christmas observance in the New World in 1539 when the army of Hernando de Soto wintered in Florida's Panhandle.

The book describes how settlers from various parts of Europe brought along their Christmas traditions and adapted them for use in the colonies. There are beautiful photographs and delicious-sounding Christmas recipes.

God Rest Ye Merry Soldiers: A True Civil War Christmas Story

Average customer rating:

Quick and entertaining take on Christmas in the Civil War
Short, but fantastic!
A poignant story of the Christmas of 1862.
In Heavenly Peace
Informative read of Civil War Christmas

God Rest Ye Merry Soldiers: A True Civil War Christmas Story
James McIvor
Manufacturer: Tantor Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Nonfiction | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

ASIN: 1400131731

Book Description

Filled with soldiers' letters, Christmas poems and songs from the period, this is a tale of unabashed holiday spirit on the eve of the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee that took place in the winter of 1862, just after Christmas. Unabridged. 3 CDs.

Customer Reviews:

Quick and entertaining take on Christmas in the Civil War.......2007-03-08

This book revolves around the people who participated in the 1862 Civil War battle "The Battle of Stones River", fought near Murfreeboro, Tennessee just after Christmas. It is not at all an account of the battle itself.

The author uses mostly excerpts from letters and autobiographies from participants to illustrate how Christmas 1862 felt to the people involved in this particular battle. There are Christmas poems from papers of the day, popular song lyrics, letters to and from home, and biographical information about various people involved.

There are no complete accounts of the battle but only descriptions of part of the battle that allow the reader to develop a context in which to place these events; so if you are looking for a military account on the Battle of Stones River, this is not the book to read.

The story of the Generals and Privates that are covered here are poignant. There are several accounts of participants who foresaw their death. There are a number of accounts of merciful treatment from enemy combatants. I found these accounts the most intriguing. The story of the 2 opposing armies singing together "Home, Sweet Home" on the eve of battle is probably the climax of the book.

The author also includes material on the nature of Christmas in 1862 and gives an excellent history of the evolution of this holiday and explanations of why it is the way it is. This was excellent material and fascinating.

Overall, a very enjoyable account of the juxtaposition of religious observances and the horror of war. Definitely worth a read.

Short, but fantastic!.......2006-11-05

***** This is a small book that was actually released in 2005. Now, in 2006, it is being reprinted in a small paperback for more people to discover and enjoy. The story takes readers back in history, to the Civil War. Through the eyes of soldiers' letters (Union and Confederate) comes a true tale of a Christmas miracle. It will not take you long to read the story since it is less than two hundred pages, but it is a book that you will find yourself reading more than once. Full of joy, sorrow, compassion, and courage, this is a story you will never forget. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

A poignant story of the Christmas of 1862........2006-06-23

An interesting little book about the Christmas of 1862 and the Battle of Stones River fought near Murfreeboro, Tennessee a few days later. The book traces the recent increase in popularity of Christmas in America, the steady decline in morale among soldiers on both sides during 1862, and how this led to a particularly poignant moment of comraderie on the eve of the battle. Very much enjoyed reading this book. A great stocking stuffer for the Civil War buff.

In Heavenly Peace.......2006-02-20

I read this on Christmas Eve with tears in my eyes. Even if you aren't interested in Civil War history, you might like this book just for what it tells us about Christmas customs in an age way before Santa Claus became a Christmas staple. (For a Canadian version of these matters, check out Derek McCormack's magnificent CHRISTMAS DAYS for a refresher course.)

From the buoyant spirits of the North and South during Christmas 1861, to the privations and agonies of Christmas 1862, is a dramatic reflection of the larger picture of the war. Soldiers in the previous Christmas still had gift packages from home, but by the very next year mail service had become erratic where it existed at all, and nothing was safe in the mail. A single turkey cost nearly 30 dollars, enough to rent an entire home for six months! There was inflation like that found in Berlin after World War I. And the suffering of the soldiers is unbelievable. Having to eat hard tack laced with worms is ghastly.

McIvor's research is terrific, and he seems to have been everywhere at once, in the research libraries of dozens of universities and private collections, gathering and sifting a mass of undifferentiated and miscellaneous dross and sifting out all but the most telling anecdotes. The only thing I didn't really like was the title, which just seems forced. I remember the old carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," but to switch it to "Soldiers," I shake my head with distaste, murmuring, nix on that.

Informative read of Civil War Christmas.......2006-01-07

The book was well written. It is a short and easy to read book. The book contains a lot of letters from soldiers to their families at Christmas. They picture in their minds the good times they had at Christmas past, and yearning to be home, and the end to this miserable war. Soldiers were shot as they tried to sneak away from their unit, just to go home and see their family one more time at Christmas. The book is worth reading year round.

Average customer rating:

Serious students of the Holidays phenomenon take note:
America's values and conflicts as seen through Christmas.
I read it in manuscript.Finally makes sense of American Xmas

Christmas in America: A History
Penne L. Restad
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0195109805

Book Description

The manger or Macy's? Americans might well wonder which is the real shrine of Christmas, as they take part each year in a mix of churchgoing, shopping, and family togetherness. But the history of Christmas cannot be summed up so easily as the commercialization of a sacred day. As Penne Restad reveals in this marvelous new book, it has always been an ambiguous meld of sacred thoughts and worldly actions-- as well as a fascinating reflection of our changing society. In Christmas in America, Restad brilliantly captures the rise and transformation of our most universal national holiday. In colonial times, it was celebrated either as an utterly solemn or a wildly social event--if it was celebrated at all. Virginians hunted, danced, and feasted. City dwellers flooded the streets in raucous demonstrations. Puritan New Englanders denounced the whole affair. Restad shows that as times changed, Christmas changed--and grew in popularity. In the early 1800s, New York served as an epicenter of the newly emerging holiday, drawing on its roots as a Dutch colony (St. Nicholas was particularly popular in the Netherlands, even after the Reformation), and aided by such men as Washington Irving. In 1822, another New Yorker named Clement Clarke Moore penned a poem now known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," virtually inventing the modern Santa Claus. Well-to-do townspeople displayed a German novelty, the decorated fir tree, in their parlors; an enterprising printer discovered the money to be made from Christmas cards; and a hodgepodge of year-end celebrations began to coalesce around December 25 and the figure of Santa. The homecoming significance of the holiday increased with the Civil War, and by the end of the nineteenth century a full- fledged national holiday had materialized, forged out of borrowed and invented custom alike, and driven by a passion for gift-giving. In the twentieth century, Christmas seeped into every niche of our conscious and unconscious lives to become a festival of epic proportions. Indeed, Restad carries the story through to our own time, unwrapping the messages hidden inside countless movies, books, and television shows, revealing the inescapable presence--and ambiguous meaning--of Christmas in contemporary culture. Filled with colorful detail and shining insight, Christmas in America reveals not only much about the emergence of the holiday, but also what our celebrations tell us about ourselves. From drunken revelry along colonial curbstones to family rituals around the tree, from Thomas Nast drawing the semiofficial portrait of St. Nick to the making of the film Home Alone, Restad's sparkling account offers much to amuse and ponder.

Customer Reviews:

Serious students of the Holidays phenomenon take note:.......2001-06-05

Restad knows her stuff and doesn't hesitate to engage controversial aspects of the season. This is part of an ongoing conversation, and should be read in dialogue with the (in my mind) better book, The Battle for Christmas by Nissenbaum. However, Restad's book is an excellent one for anyone who seeks to understand the "whys" of the cultural traditions that bombard us. As well as get some handle on the "hows" of doing things differently in your own life.

America's values and conflicts as seen through Christmas........1998-11-25

Author Penne Restad has written an excellent historical account of how the evolution of Christmas in America since colonial times parallels the evolution of the American collective mind. Going beyond the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, America's favorite holiday has been molded in the last 300 years by the idiosyncracies and anxieties of the American people, these being reflected, for example, in gift-giving customs, the use of evergreen trees, or more poignantly in the nation's portrayal of Santa Claus. I was truly fascinated with the wealth of information Ms. Restad presented in this serious, objective book. Think for a moment that Christmas was not observed universally in America until well into the nineteenth century, especially after the Civil War; before then, a rather lukewarm observance of the holiday was not public and basically was determined by religious and ethnic background (a reflection of the days when our country's idea of nationhood was still in its formative stage). The book also covers in detail the changes Christmas brought to the celebrations of Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Ms. Restad's narrative of our celebration of Christmas brings to light the complexities of the American psyche; we become enmeshed in conflicts between the sacred and profane, the spiritual and material (the celebration of Christmas in the antebellum South could not escape the dichotomy of freedom and slavery as well). Even as it prompts us to confront and come to terms with these conflicts, "Christmas in America: A History" also acknowledges the feeling of generosity, good will, and universal brotherhood the holiday inspires in us as a people; it is a work of great scholarship.

I read it in manuscript.Finally makes sense of American Xmas.......1995-08-28

This is a really accessible and entertaining book about the holiday. Recommended very highly

Average customer rating:

The Road to Santiago is a magnificent chapter among many cuban stories
I felt like I was there...

The Road to Santiago
D. H. Figueredo
Manufacturer: Lee & Low Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1584300590

Customer Reviews:

The Road to Santiago is a magnificent chapter among many cuban stories.......2006-02-06

Having been touched by a previous story by Mr. Figueredo, I recently added this one to my collection.

This story underlines the challenges that a lot of cuban children experienced during and after the cuban revolution. Politics aside, it emphasizes world experiences through a child's eyes.

For children, all that is experienced is an adventure. It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized the elements of danger that I went through growing up in a country going through political turmoil.

Great story, beautifully illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla. The illustrations reminded me so much of the memories I have of my land of birth. Don't miss sharing this information with your children.

I felt like I was there..........2004-01-16

Reading Mr. Figueredo's book was a delight! All through the book I felt as if I was there with him experiencing everything he went through as he and his family traveled to Santiago. I even had to feel my chin after he received his bunelo from his abuela. I was sure it was going to be sticky from the dripping honey! I don't have any children but this was a delightful book to read and I highly recommend it. I bought this book for my mom and she said she felt the same way..."I felt I was there." I am a proud owner of 3 of Mr. Figueredo's books and a giver of them to my family as gifts.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books