Book Description
La Vie En ROSE -- New cookbook takes recipes from one ofParis's most fashionable restaurants and places it in the eager hands ofhome cooks.It might come as a surprise to some that one of the most trendy andsuccessful bakeries in Paris is run by an Englishwoman. But it shouldn't. With the triumphant success of Rose Bakery in Paris's 9th Arrondissement,Rose Carrarini quickly earned a reputation for creating simple, yetuncompromising foods that focus on the importance of using fresh, flavorfulingredients and a loving attention to detail.Like the Rose Bakery itself,Carrarini's new cookbook BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA: The Many Little Meals ofRose Bakery dissolves the distinctions between restaurant cooking and homecooking, and holds firm to the belief that flavor need not be complicated.Carrarini has always believed that simplicity is the key ingredient togreat food and a great life, and it was this philosophy that led her toopen London's influential Villandry in 1988 and Rose Bakery, theAnglo-French restaurant in 2002. Tucked away on a side street near theGare du Nord, Parisians line up daily to sample the lunchtime display ofsalads, tarts, cakes, and light fare at the charming b+-ite.At RoseBakery, it is evident that Love of food has become a universal language.It is this universal language that makes BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA pure delightwith recipes from 100 of Rose Bakery's most popular dishes, from breakfaststaples such as Crispy Granola to afternoon treats, including Sticky ToffeePudding and Carrot Cake, as well as soups, risottos and other perfectdishes for a light lunch.In BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA simplicity is indeed the golden rule, from therecipes and techniques to the structure of the cookbook itself. The bookbegins with a chapter on techniques and ingredients, with thoughts andadvice on such matters as peeling, oven temperatures, and moisture, anddescriptions and tips for such ingredients as olive oil, butter, vanilla,and marigold. Then Carrarini moves straight into Breakfast, providingdozens of simple and delicious recipes, including Fresh Mixed Fruit Salad,Lime Grapefruit and Ginger Juice, Honey Granola, Traditional Porridge,Perfect Scrambled Eggs, Ricotta Pancakes, and Blueberry Scones. Lunchbegins with numerous soups, salads, pastries, and risottos, and thenprovides main courses that range from Asparagus and Almond Salad withChicken to Braised Lamb Shank with Cumin, Aubergine and Chickpeas.BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA saves the best for last. The Tea chapter featuresmore than fifty of the tarts, cakes, cookies, tray bakes, and puddings thathave made Rose Bakery world famous and locally adored, including LemonBlueberry Tart, Fresh Ginger Cake, Pine Nut and Almond Biscuits, HazelnutBrownies, Apple and Blackberry Crumble, and Apricot Sorbet, just to name afew.More than 100 specially commissioned photographs from acclaimedphotographer Toby Glanville make BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA a visually richcookbook, allowing each recipe to seduce the senses from the very firstread. These pictures are populated with the food, people, and shopatmosphere that make Rose Bakery so special.
Customer Reviews:
A Feast ForThe Senses.......2007-05-21
This is a delightful book that operates on a number of levels. First the exquisite photographs capture the beauty of the mundane doings of the Rose Bakery. From the simplicity of a zested lemon to the ruddy faces of the apple suppliers to the delivery truck to the ooh so chic clientèle, the pictures transport the reader to this Paris cafe.
Then there is the author's story, a tale of a woman who loves food and people. With no formal training and a belief in natural, fresh and unpretentious dishes, Rose Carranini built the wildly successful business. Her sense of purpose and commitment to quality and sustainability is impressive and her affection for her patrons is palpable.
Finally, the recipes themselves are superb. Basically, there are two types of people: those who follow recipes to a tee and those who view recipes as a guide or starting point for their own creativity. The author advocates the flexible approach. She encourages the cooks to use their favorite ingredients and substitutions, cautioning that it is the method as opposed to the ingredients that is crucial to the ultimate success of the recipe. She correctly points out that cookie cutter results are impossible when using natural ingredients...the juiciness of a piece of fruit, the humidity,the weather, the rainfall or lack thereof, the temperature of the room all impact the final result. The amateur cook should not be deterred. While some of the recipes are a bit labor intensive, they all are fairly easy. Additionally there are plenty for vegans and vegetarians.
The author embodies the joy of cooking. Food should be fun not fake. Her secrets are all revealed...always buy fresh, seasonal and local; use organic and sustainable when possible and remember the most important ingredient is love.
A Wonderfully Quirky Cookbook.......2007-03-02
What a charming and wonderful book this is! From the lemon, rice and polenta cake to the Pistachio cake using a bit of wheat flour and ground almonds and pistachios, to the Eccles Cakes (cookies that use pie dough as cases) filled with raisins, spices, lemon zest and brown sugar to the lamb shank with cumin, eggplant and chickpeas, it's all wonderful. I've tried several other recipes, and, although I've only had this book for a few months, it's covered with smudges and bent pages.
I love this book!
Collections strong in original cookbooks will find little duplication of recipes elsewhere........2007-02-06
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA: THE MANY LITTLE MEALS OF ROSE BAKERY comes from a trendy modern Parisian bakery which blends the tastes of home cooking with the style of a restaurant: now home cooks will have access to 100 of Rose Baker's most popular dishes and innovations - dishes not to be found elsewhere. Here are Blueberry Scones, Honey Granola, Carrot and Seed Salad, and Chestnut and Chocolate Tartlet - with full-page color photos peppered throughout. Cooks interested in breakfast, lunch and tea specialties will find plenty to like here - and collections strong in original cookbooks will find little duplication of recipes elsewhere.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Masterpiece of small meals.......2006-12-03
I noticed the book Breakfast, Lunch, Tea by Rose Carrarini being mentioned in the Lifestyle magazine that came with Sunday The New York Times newspaper. The idea of little meals caught my eye. Over the years I have handpicked cookbooks into my small collection, but I'm constantly on the market for something that I might like or might not have imagined. The latter appeared in the form of this book. I ordered the book, opened it on a random page and - it took my breath away, literally, with its structure, beauty (needless to say - Phaidon press)and a promise of finer things, food included. I opened it on a back flap, which quoted Rose Carrarini saying "Life can be improved by great food." Oh yes - they are my kind of people! The Carrarinis prefer and prepare their food simple and natural, preferably, but not necessarily organic. They put vegetables above meat or fish with ambition to blur the line between home and restaurant cooking; they have put together menus, and based on them, a cookbook that is too filled even to be read in many sittings. Rather, it is to be enjoyed by tiny morsels that make your lunch, snack or day. A thousand thanks for this masterpiece!
Book Description
Once upon a time, in 1930s England, there were two little princesses named Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. Their father was the Duke of York, the second son of King George V, and their Uncle David was the future King of England.
We all know how the fairy tale ended: When King George died, “Uncle David” became King Edward VIII---who abdicated less than a year later to marry the scandalous Wallis Simpson. Suddenly the little princesses’ father was King. The family moved to Buckingham Palace, and ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth became the heir to the crown she would ultimately wear for over fifty years.
The Little Princesses shows us how it all began. In the early thirties, the Duke and Duchess of York were looking for someone to educate their daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, then five- and two-years-old. They already had a nanny---a family retainer who had looked after their mother when she was a child---but it was time to add someone younger and livelier to the household.
Enter Marion Crawford, a twenty-four-year-old from Scotland who was promptly dubbed “Crawfie” by the young Elizabeth and who would stay with the family for sixteen years. Beginning at the quiet family home in Piccadilly and ending with the birth of Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in 1948, Crawfie tells how she brought the princesses up to be “Royal,” while attempting to show them a bit of the ordinary world of underground trains, Girl Guides, and swimming lessons.
The Little Princesses was first published in 1950 to a furor we cannot imagine today. It has been called the original “nanny diaries” because it was the first account of life with the Royals ever published. Although hers was a touching account of the childhood of the Queen and Princess Margaret, Crawfie was demonized by the press. The Queen Mother, who had been a great friend and who had, Crawfie maintained, given her permission to write the account, never spoke to her again.
Reading The Little Princesses now, with a poignant new introduction by BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, offers fascinating insights into the changing lives and times of Britains royal family.
Customer Reviews:
Groundbreaking "tell all" has stood the test of time.......2007-07-28
For fans of the British royal family, this book is a must-read. While it may be a trifle dated and decidedly unsensational, the book holds a unique place in the now vast array of books about the royals because it was the first to break the rules and reveal details of life behind the gilded doors of Buckingham Palace. "Crawfie," who cared for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret for 17 years, was completely cut off by the royal family after the book was published, but the book itself lives on as a kind of time capsule of royal life before the press declared open season on the royal family.
This portrait by "Crawfy" is priceless!.......2007-03-02
Truly, this book is a national treasure and even the Queen should cherish it (apprently, she does not). After reading it, I have new-found respect for Elizabeth II and her family. No where else would you find such wonderful detail of the lovely lives these little girls led. Its also very revealing to see another side of the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII. I couldn't put it down and was left wanting more!
Little Princesses.......2006-08-30
absolutely fascinating story of Nanny Crawford which brings to life how the Royal Family live. I cannot understand why the Royals thought it was disrespectful to write this and cut Nanny Crawford off for the rest of her life. I wonder what the real reason was?
Charming, but in no way saccharine.......2006-05-07
A lovely portrait of royalty as it used to be, painted in the words of a woman who devoted years of her life to royalty's service. "Crawfie," as a very young Princess Elizabeth nicknamed her new governess, had no idea when she accepted the post that she would be staying for more than a short time. She'd come to help the Duke and Duchess of York begin their little girls' education, after which Miss Crawford fully intended to take up the classroom teaching career of which she had always dreamed. She wasn't planning on growing to love Elizabeth and Margaret as she did. Nor had she any clue that one of her charges would someday sit on England's throne.
The interlude Miss Crawford planned to spend with the Yorks lasted until after Princess Elizabeth's marriage. As a member of their household, she experienced history first hand when the abdication of King Edward VIII - otherwise known as "Uncle David" - forced her employers to give up their private, comfortable, family-centered life. She kept their daughters out of harm's way during the frightening war years that soon followed; and after the war's end, helped the family that by now considered her indispensible in guiding its "little princesses" from adolescence into womanhood.
Charming, but in no way saccharine, this recently re-released book provides invaluable insight into the character of the woman who has reigned for more than half a century as Queen Elizabeth II. Not by any means just for "royal watchers"!
A....C L A S S I C...A N D...A...R O Y A L...D E L I G H T !.......2005-02-20
This was the very FIRST book to present Royalty as human beings --and as such, it truly got its authoress, (to use the contemporary term), into much trouble with the English Royal family, whom she worked for in the capacity of Governess to the two Royal Princesses, Pss. Elizabeth and Pss. Margaret Rose, from the 1930s until they were grown young women -- and in Pss. Elizabeth's case, married.
This is the GENUINE article -- a first-person reminisence, the
REAL story of what went on behind the palace walls in the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. It is great reading for royal-watchers, as one can almost feel oneself actually there, a "fly on the wall" as it were, to these auspicious royal happenings. And seeing the royal personages themselves, through Ms. Crawford's eyes: the dilligent and almost too-dutiful Pss. Elizabeth, the rather diffident, but still very brave Duke of York who became George VI, the artistic, rebellious, and elfin Pss. Margaret, the warm, friendly, yet very, very Royal Queen Elizabeth, the King's Consort, and the extremely regal, yet still very human
Queen Mary.
I got this book out of the school library when I was in college....but was so excited to have found it, that I just skimmed it. However, I have recently bought a copy, and am forcing myself to read it all the way through! So far I am only up to the Abdication of King Edward VIII -- but I realize this is a true turning point, and am loathe to go futher, though I know I must. Never, (believe it or not), was there ever such a reluctant couple to mount the throne of England as George
VI and Elizabeth -- the responsibilites, and separation from their children, were great burdens to them. The "fairy-tale" existance they had as the very private Duke and Duchess of York was no more.....
Later on, of course, WWII intruded even more into the Royal lives, changing royal routine even more.....forever.
It is interesting to see, even in the professed "simplicity" of the Princesses pre-war, (and post-war), lives, that little luxuries were taken for granted, even so. As a small child, Princess Elizabeth plays with imaginary ponies before going to bed, later graduating to toy ponies, and stil later, to real horses. Large grounds, many servants, and many homes complete the picture.....and even though Ms. Crawford does give some middle-class amazement at some of the priviledges, others are just taken as natural for her royal employers. I find myself wondering how the Princesses would have reacted, had they suddenly found themselves, "Twilight-Zone"-like, waking up to suddenly find themselves, instead, as Ruby and Margaret McDonald -- the Princesses' real-life sister-maids. (Probably,
the Dutiful Elizabeth would have taken it as a matter of course....but the independent and talented Margaret Rose would have definitely rebelled!)
Still, this is truly a book to cherish and delight in...especially if one wishes, secretly or not so secretly, to imagine oneself one (or both) of the Royal Sisters. There are
many royal secrets in this book too -- such as Queen Mary's
recommended "royal pick-me-up receipie", and the fact that the secret of the perfectly coiffed hairdos of the royal ladies, even after hours in a car, lay in the fact that the Royal cars were, in fact, hermetically sealed!
I can understand why the Royal Family were so upset that this book -- which doesn't critize them, but merely shows all their human strengths, and some of their all-too-human weaknesses. Royals are supposed to be 100% perfet. This book shows them to be 100% Human. Secrets are shared. And -- contrary to Baghot's
admonition -- light is, indeed, shed on the magic.
In the end, however, Ms. Crawford, (who had married just before
Princess Elizabeth herself did), left all of her papers and
diaries, etc. to her royal employers -- the very ones she had once been so close to, but who had cut her off, completely, from their lives, once "The Little Princesses" was published. It is a sad thing for curious commoners, such as myself -- for no matter how many authors write about the Royal Family of England, none, I feel, will have as intimacy with their royal material as Miss Crawford did. (With the possible exception of Paul Burrell, and Stephen Birmingham, valets to Princess Diana and the pre-married Prince Charles, respectively.) For English -- and perhaps other royals -- now reqire a signed statement from their possible servants, before employment, not to disclose anything of their employment in future books. This is another reason why "The Little Princesses" is such a true classic: the reality of the book was recorded without any constraint or even thought of constraint.
This alone makes the "fairy-tale become reality" sense of this book even more genuine -- and to royal-watchers, even more precious.
So this book -- and the others written by Marion Crawford -- are the true and genuine articlesw -- 24-karat gold, amongst all the other books on the royals, no matter how well written, or how engrossing.
"The Little Princesses" is thus not only a wonderful, involving, exciting, and easily-read book.... It is a piece of history, in and of itself.
Book Description
From the creators of the British cult comedy TV show Little Britain, comes this intimate and revealing autobiographical audiobook. Boyd Hilton follows Lucas and Walliams as they write, rehearse and film their tour– where Little Britain goes in search of Great Britain, visiting the places that have inspired their characters.
Customer Reviews:
Narrative, Easy to Read - But Only for Little Britain Fans.......2006-10-21
I enjoyed this book; I also like Little Britain.
One can't help but get the feeling that you are being drawn in - that this book is designed to make you like David Walliams and Matt Lucas. By the end of the book, they felt somewhat like friends, and I suspect this is somewhat the aim of the writer
It is a fairly open and at times frank narrative of the preparations for the Little Britain tour of the UK in 2005/2006.
As an official publication the content is most likely controlled, but frankly it doesn't seem to matter.
Customer Reviews:
The best novel about the fall of Rome.......2007-03-28
Most novels about the Fall of Rome don't interest me, because their authors favor the Empire. I have always rooted for the barbarians, because in my view Rome was a deeply sick society after the "reforms" of Diocletian.
But one can always count on Alfred Duggan for an unusual take on familiar history. There are no barbarian hordes or savage battles in this book. Instead it tells the story of the Roman collapse in Britain from the viewpoint of a fictional senior civilian bureaucrat named C. Sempronius Felix, Praeses of Britannia Prima.
A Preases is a very busy man. In the morning, Felix and his staff fix all prices, ration all food, approve all marriages, punish anyone who attempts to change jobs or marry out of her class, and ruthlessly collect punishing taxes to support a huge incompetent army that never fights. In the afternoon, Felix acts as judge in politically fixed trials. On weekends he orders emigrants burned at the stake.
Felix's Rome is a rigid totalitarian nightmare where citizens have become slaves and slaves have become pieces of furniture. But like a typical Duggan character, Felix is oblivious to reality and thinks he is upholding "civilization" instead of wrecking it. After ten years in London, he hasn't even bothered to find out who the local secret police chief is. He is easily manipulated by his wife and father-in-law into supporting a series of usurpers who predictably turn in megalomaniacs. You want to kick Felix but you can't stop reading.
Evelyn Waugh wrote of Alfred Duggan that "he surveyed contemporary history with nothing but calm despair", and there are usually no detectable commentaries on current events in his writing. But I see this book as a warning to the British ruling class of 1950 who were rapidly heading toward Diocletianism (despite their classical educations). When his proto-Thatcherite wife suggests returning to a free-market economy, Felix responds with all the classic XXth-century arguments for government planning.
Average customer rating:
- An enduring classic!
- Great Book with Valuable Lessons
- One of my favorite stories! (submitted by [EoN] FrenchFryMayo)
- the grass is always greener on the other side
- My Thoughts About A Little Princess
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A Little Princess
Frances Hodgson Burnett
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
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ASIN: 0397306938 |
Book Description
Sara Crewe seemed just like a real princess...
When Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school, she seems just like a real little princess. She wears beautiful clothes, has gracious manners, and tells the most wonderful stories. Then one day, Sara suddenly becomes penniless. Now she must wear rags, sleep in the school's dreary attic, and work for her living. Sara is all alone, but keeps telling herself that she can still be a princess inside, if only she tries hard enough.
Customer Reviews:
An enduring classic!.......2007-07-27
Good to see that readers are still enjoying this marvelous 1905 book which makes it a century old. Reminiscent of Dickens, but mercifully shorter, the prose flows in beautiful rhythms keeping young readers and readers like myself who are young at heart poised to keep on reading to find out what becomes of our tough little heroine.
Sara had a charmed life as an only and beloved child which fortified her through later immense difficulties as she fell from riches to rags. Her ability to tell stories and to help others saved her from the appalling treatment she received from the aptly named Miss Minchin. The author's own life (1849-1924) as a child parallels that of her heroine.
Young readers will find Sara a loving spirit to emulate. We are truly THERE with her on every page. When she eats her hot cross buns and tea we long for the same. Although drawn out at the end, the book ends at a surprising and perfect place.
Great Book with Valuable Lessons.......2007-06-14
My son and daughter were both enchanted by this story as I read it to them a few weeks ago. We all fell in love with Sara and her very active imagination. She inspired us to do good, as she did.
I thought it provided an excellent opportunity for us to discuss how important it is to treat others with respect, even when you think you will gain nothing from it. Sara seemed to be nothing more than a lowly pauper, but the man who chose to provide some beautiful things for the pauper next door was so immensely blessed by having done so. Conversely, Miss Minchin thought she could treat Sara in a humiliating demeaning fashion, but it ultimately brought her harm. Thus, there is value in being kind to everyone we meet. This point wasn't made in the story (I know that would turn some people off), I just thought it worth using the story to drive home the point.
Anyway, it is worth reading for more reasons than just that it is a great story, but it definitely is that.
One of my favorite stories! (submitted by [EoN] FrenchFryMayo).......2007-04-29
When I was in third grade, I longed for a story that I could actually enjoy and remember nearly everything that goes on. You see, I couldn't find ANYTHING interesting until I found Secret Garden, Black Beauty, and A Little Princess, all of which I literally COULDN'T PUT DOWN. Now in fifth grade, I continue to read these books again and again and again and again and again and again and again and... you get the picture. $[...] is a great price for a book like this. If you have not yet read this, I strongly reccomend you read it. You will be blown away at this.
Hope you enjoy the story!
-[EoN] FrenchFryMayo
the grass is always greener on the other side.......2007-04-04
The book A Little Princess by Frances Hodgons Burnett has many emotions.In the dark winter of London
a little rich named Sara. Sara was very close to her dad.Sara's dad drops her off at Miss Minchin's Seminary shcool for girls. Her dad's partner Mr. Carrisfield just discovered a diamand mine.
While Sara was being treated like princess her dad was dieing of Jungle Fever. A coulple weeks later her
dad died and Sara was taking it really hard. Now Sara had lost all her many. Instead of living in the nicest room
she has to live in the attic as a slave.
She was running errands alot and hardly ate. A year has past and Mr. Carrisfield found diamonds in the mine!! Also half of them were Sara's!!
Mr.Carrisfield took Sara to live with him. Once again Sara was a princess!
My Thoughts About A Little Princess.......2007-04-02
A Little Princess is a very good story. It is about a little girl that is put in an orphanage. Her name was Sarah. Everyone called Sarah a princess. They called her a princess because she was spoild and rich. Sarah finds out that her father died of stress. Her fathers friend runs with all of her money. She was sent to be a maid for all of the other girls. Then at the end her fathers friend finds her and has Sarah live with him. Once again Sarah was rich. She donated money to the bakery and had the bakery womansell the berad to the homeless people to have something to eat. The Little Princess is a very good book. I think everyone should read it.
Average customer rating:
- The Colorful Life of a Forgotten General
- reevaluation of reputation of high British officer
- Fair portrayal of a much maligned General
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LITTLE FIELD MARSHAL: A Life of Sir John French
Richard Holmes
Manufacturer: Weidenfeld and Nicolson
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Book Description
Sir John French is a figure who has always aroused controversy. Douglas Haig despised him, while Churchill thought his leadership qualities unsurpassed. Despite being the most capable cavalry leader of his generation, posterity has judged him an unfeeling butcher, responsible for more deaths in the first two hours of the battle of Loos than all the casualties on both sides in the 1944 D-Day landings. But there was another side to French, which is only revealed in his private papers. If his public life was controversial, his private life was positively scandalous: he courted dismissal after an affair with a fellow officer's wife, and had a string of beautiful and well-connected mistresses. And far from being the unfeeling butcher of popular myth, he was personally tormented by what he termed 'glory and her twin sister murder'. The lengthening casualty lists on the Western Front filled him with despair, as he envisaged his room at GHQ filled with the 'silent army' of the dead. In the writing of this book, the first and only comprehensive biography of the Field Marshal, Richard Holmes was granted unrestricted access to Sir John French's private papers. His research has produced a portrait of a complex man, at the heart of some of the most important military events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Customer Reviews:
The Colorful Life of a Forgotten General.......2006-11-07
Richard Holmes' well-written and often fascinating biography, "The Little Field Marshal", is the life of Sir John French, once one of Britain's foremost soldiers but now largely forgotten. French had the misfortune to be the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force in the difficult opening year of the First World War, a role that Holmes makes clear he was poorly suited for.
French entered the British Army in 1852. His service in uniform would span the half century that marked the apogee of the British Empire and the beginning of its decline, and Holmes's biography is to some degree a portrait of the times as well as of his subject. French was a hardworking young officer who earned a battlefield reputation as a courageous and dashing cavalry commander in Sudan and South Africa. The honors he earned in the Boer War, and the favor of various patrons, would propell French to the very top of the British military establishment. He would be the obvious first choice to command Britain's Army on the continent in 1914.
As Holmes makes clear, French, a superb leader of men and a loyal officer of the crown, was poorly suited to the challenges of high command. He never mastered staff work, was often politically naive, undisciplined in his personal life, and too emotional for his own good. He made many friends and many enemies, and adapted indifferently to the demands of coalition generalship under the stalemated conditions of 1914-1915. Holmes successfully redeems him from the "General Blimp" stereotype of history but reveals him as a good officer of the Empire who outlived his times.
"The Little Field Marshal" provides some fascinating insights into the politics of the British Army in the first years of the 20th Century, and into the handling of the "Irish problem" and the struggle over home rule.
This book is highly recommended to students of the First World War and of the history of the British Army
reevaluation of reputation of high British officer .......2005-07-06
Field Marshall John French got a poor reputation in his own day when British troops he commanded were slaughtered in the first two hours of the World WAr I battle of Loos. His controversial term as Viceroy in Ireland during the time of the "Troubles" there did nothing to improve his reputation. Scandals in his personal life involving a series of mistresses, including the wife of a fellow officer, only further tarnished his name. Holmes does not find any grounds for elevating French's reputation. What he does is add a new dimension to this historical character by relating French's torments over the large number of deaths resulting from his leadership in the First World War along with the general carnage of the War. These concerns that dogged French are found mostly in his private papers, creating discordance between his public image as an unfeeling military leader and his private reflections. Holmes concludes that "in many respects, [French] never transcended the nineteenth century." By temperament, training, class, and expectations of himself and his peers, French was unable to effectively come to grips with either military or political problems of the early 20th century.
Fair portrayal of a much maligned General.......2004-09-13
This book is plainly baised toward its subject, Sir John French, and is very much like an official biography. However, it does has its merits in showing that French was not the bloodthirsty, uncaring, blundering stereotype as exemplified by his more infamous contemprorary, Douglas Haig. In the book French was seen to be much depressed by the casaulties of war, and unfairly intrigued against by a whole bunch of unsavoury characters behind his back, like Kitchener, Ian Hamilton,. Haig, Robertson and other assorted incompetents who tried, only too successfully, to blame French for all that was wrong with the BEF.
We are also told of the semi mutiny of the British Army in Ireland as a result of Home Rule,though French's scamdalous private life and his many flirtings outside of marriage are not touched on.
Definitely a much better and balanced biography than the ridiculous one on Haig by John Terraine.
Customer Reviews:
Baps? Black Bun? Bannocks? Butter Rowies? Here's How.......2001-02-20
"Oh Aye, I et a bap! The other OTHER white bread It's hwats fer dinner! Get in mah belly! Ahm higher on the food chain than you!"
Even if you aren't Fat B***std from Austin Powers sequel film, you'll appreciate good Scottish baking. And unlike Fat B***std, this book does not weigh a metric ton or have unusual eating habits (like Haggis.) It's TINY! But it has everything you need to make the most popular Scottish treats. These little cookbooks are amazing in how they pack in the most essential recipes from around the world, yet fit nicely in an overhead shelf in the smallest galley kitchen. I especially like the Oatcakes, which are easy to make and taste marvelous with butter and honey. (Heather honey if you can get it.) But be careful, if you overindulge in these recipes, and boy can the Scots bake or what, you may end up looking like a certain villain from a Mike Meyers film.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Insight into Aristocractic child rearing.......1999-10-01
No, I don't agree with the earlier review. I didn't find this a story about the author as much as a story about what it's like inside the home of an English lord. I see no more straying to personal storytelling than can be found in the books by Stephen Barry about his life as valet to Prince Charles.
Is this a rose-colored view of Diana's childhood? Perhaps. I'll allow the author the privilege of her opinion. Afterall, she was closer to the subject than us outsiders and thus may be right. I feel it is worth taking what the author says into consideration.
I have never read such a trivial, boring, non-book, book........1997-11-07
The author takes advantage of the public's adoration of Diana, and writes a book about nonsense. She could expound on the color of dirt for an entire chapter. Mary Clarke writes, for the most part, about herself. WHO CARE'S?!
Customer Reviews:
Very detailed, but never boring.......2007-09-13
Probably the best account of what exactly happened in Bosnia, and how the whole thing started (not just Bosnia, but Kosovo and Croatia as well). Authors go into extensive detail, providing the reader with a solid background to the war(s). While I was intimately familiar with the conflicts, or so I thought, this book shed some much needed light on some of the doubts I had, some confusing contradictions I picked up through the media, etc. The book, contrary to what some people are saying here, is not biased at all. That one side is portrayed in an "evil" tone is merely a result of what that "side" did during the conflicts, as documented by thousands of media outlets, historians, cameras and photographs. Of course, no one is an angel, but that should not diminish the fact that - there are demons and then there are DEMONS. Or whatever the daily word for evil, bad, ruthless people is.
The book is thoroughly researched with a lot of important and verifiable information. It focuses on Croatia and Bosnia, mostly in Bosnia. It is the most accurate account that I've encountered yet; written in a clear and harmonious way. Did not get bored for one second, even though most of the information was not new to me. But what was new to me was certainly worth the wait.
The Premier Primer for the 1990's Balkan Conflict.......2007-05-26
If ever there was a book published that covered nearly all the bases on what happened and who was in charge, the dynamics of the countries involved and all the political and military players, this is the book. I've read several books now on the history of the Balkans and the fall of Yugoslavia and this book is probably the least biased by authors who were there and watched it all unfold. The book leaves no doubt that atrocities did occur and that those responsible covered all the bases. There is plenty of blame to go around and plenty of denial by those involved and even those who ignored the plight of Croats, Serbs and Bosnians throughout this disastrous war of ethnic cleansing. Highly recommended if you know nothing or think you know it all.
Detailed, but incomplete and biased.......2005-05-01
As most other reviews stated, this book is easy to read, and it provides a detailed description of the events throughout the Croatian and Bosnian War (1990-1995) This book is supplemented by the highly popular BBC series - "Death of Yugoslavia," which is perhaps the most-known documentary on the war. The documentary follows the book quiet closely, with an inherent strength of BBC reports having interviews to most of the major players - Milosevic, Tudjman, Stambolic, Izanbegovic, and others (most of which are in jail or dead now anyways).
Nonetheless, this book has a strong anti-Serb thesis, which, I suppose, it needs in order to be conclusive. In other words, if there are no good guys and bad guys, the Laura Silber would create an incomplete work. But for someone who wants to get a good insight of the war in Balkans, it cannot be looked through the lenses of "black and white," as this book tries to convey.
It is important for readers to know that the accounts of the war are carefully selected and edited in the anti-Serb fashion. For example, the ethnic cleansing atrocities, when described in detail, are almost always pertaining to the Serbs. But when it comes to the Croats and the Muslims, the book overlooks their actions during the war. In addition, the book provides little evidence of the involvement of the bigger powers - EU and USA.
For example, early chapters go into great depth talking about the pointless shelling of Dubrovnik, talking about Montenegrins peasants getting their "revenge" to fulfill their jealousies against the prominent Croatian population of Ragusa. But when it talks about Operation Storm - the single biggest even of ethnic cleansing during the entire war, undertaken by Croatian Forces will full military, logistical, and financial support from the US, it does not go into any depth at all. It is dismissed as "Krajina Serbs" got what they deserved. The Krajina Serbs did not "occupy" that part of Croatia - they lived there for hundreds of years.
When dealing with international involvement, it goes to great length to disapprove Srebrenica, while Operation Storm is supported by the West. Perhaps US and EU had other motivations in this conflict? What about the arming of Croats and Bosnia throughout before the war in the old SFRJ (which was then illegal)
In addition to a one-sided view, it fails to address other major issues, such as economic disparities. Invoking economics, it justifies Croatia's and Slovenia's promising economic position before the disintegration, nevertheless, it mentions to compare facts. Slovenia and Croatia assumed a high level of industry due to the fact they had cheap natural resources that mostly came from Serbia and Kosovo. In addition, the economic status of Serbia is taken under consideration with Kosovo - even though Kosovo, not Serbia, is the most impoverished region in former Yugoslavia. The fact that Kosovo Albanian's have been boycotting the federal institutions since early 1980s - not paying taxes, utilities, and other duties since the death of Tito had something to do with this idea.
While I do not discourage people from reading this book, I only state that Laura Silber (et al) provides a narrow-minded, opinionated, and sensationally journalistic view of the breakup of former Yugoslavia.
If anyone is interested in truly learning about this conflict, more resources are necessary.
Designed and Decided by the West.......2004-11-26
This book of the disintegration of Jugoslavia is very detailed, nicely organized, and easy to read one. It covers the step-by-step death of Jugoslavia, and like many reviewers I found biases dragging all over the book as if the Muslims are saints and the Serbs devils. The blame on Milosevic is constant, but the blame of Tudjman does not exist. How good or bad Milosevic is/was, it was designed and decided by the USA and the Western Europe-same like in Irag, with once Western darling Saddam Hussein and suddenly the evil, the demon. The ethnic differences in Jugoslavia were created and provoked by the USA and the Western Europe ONLY by corrupting the Balkans governments in search for more markets for their collapsing empires and places for their oil tubes for their SUV's and poluted fat ways of living.
A brilliant analysis of the breakup of Yugoslavia.......2004-11-15
Silber and Little offer in this book irrefutably the most exhaustive and lucid account of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the war in Bosnia. Unilke other books on the same subject, this book sheds light on key events in a chronological order, facilitating comprehension and the retrieval of target facts. Readers with no or fairly little knowledge of the subject will probably find the structure of this book very appealing.
Silber and Little argue that the key to understanding why Yugoslavia collapsed is Milosevic coming to power and the subsequent rise of the Serbian nationalism. Cunning and manipulative, Milosevic stabbed the then President of Serbia Stambolic in the back and took over as President of Serbia. Through sophisticated propaganda, Milosevic was able to manipulate and control the Serbian people. He had managed to convince his people that they were second-class citizens facing extermination unless they all united and pursued the sacred Serbian goal of creating a "Greater Serbia". Milosevic claimed that the Serbs in Kosovo were living under the Albanian rule. Of course nothing could be farther from the truth, if anything the situation was quite the opposite. The Albanians in Kosovo were oppressed but Milosevic aware that the Serbs had always considered Kosovo a part of Serbia knew the enormous importance of Kosovo for his people. Determined to "save" the Serbian people from "extermination", Milosevic asserted that the creation of a "Greater Serbia" would be his primary objective. This pursue of the greater Serbian ideology led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia; Serbia first attacked Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and ultimately Kosovo.
Silber and Little completely shatter the myth that the war in Bosnia was a civil war. Instead they provide compelling and incontrovertible evidence that the war was a Serbian aggression. The presence of the JNA, the former federal Yugoslav army in Bosnia, which sided with Bosnian Serbs throughout the Bosnian war corroborates their assertion that the war in Bosnia was the Serbian aggression. Furthermore, Silber and Little give a thorough account of the atrocities that were committed in Bosnia. For instance, a detailed scrutiny of the unfathomable torture in detention camps at Omarska, Trnopolje, Keraterm and Omaca is offered. Silber and Little also brilliantly analyze the gruesome massacre in Srebrenica, the worst massacre in Europe since World War II.
People seeking to understand the root causes of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent devestation of the country are strongly advised to read this masterpiece. In my opinion, it is undeniably one of the best written books on the subject. It is also without a doubt the most objective one. The fact that it is extremely well structured and well written make it a must. Buy it!
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The Banzai Hunters: The Forgotten Armada of Little Ships that Defeated the Japanese, 1944-5
Peter Haining
Manufacturer: Anova Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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