The significance of the events from 1846-1848 in the history of our country has long been overlooked. Education in many schools jumps from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War; completely disregarding the major influence the Mexican-American War had on our nation. Not only did the war result in the United States increasing it's territory by over a third, but the wealth of mineral resources in California, Arizona, and New Mexico helped to propel the United States to global prominence in the twentieth century. But if the war as a whole is neglected, the unique contributions of a single group to the formation of the U.S. border and to the development of American western migration is almost completely forgotten. The Mormon Battalion, which marched in 1846 from Iowa to California, blazed a trail that would define our nation's borders and history. Published in 2000, ARMY OF ISRAEL: Mormon Battalion narratives gives a fresh look at this regiment's history from their own viewpoint. The editors are both historians with backgrounds in journalism and a special interest in the American Far West. Mr. Bigler is a past president of the Oregon-California Trails Association, founder and first president of the Utah Westerners, and has served on the Utah Board of State History. He has also edited the diary of his great-uncle Azariah Smith, one of the members of the Battalion. Mr. Bagley has edited several books and narratives on the American West and serves as the chief editor of the series KINGDOM IN THE WEST: The Mormons and the American Frontier. The narrative focuses primarily on the events encountered by the battalion during the actual march from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Los Angeles, California in from June 1846 to January 1847. Thought the infantry regiment made the entire journey without firing a single shot, the march was the longest in the history of any American army. It's legacy, however, is much greater than simple trivia. On its way to California, the battalion occupied Santa Fe, Tucson, Yuma, San Diego, and Los Angeles, instituting the first American military presence in each of these cities. They were also to first to construct an east-west wagon road, which intersected the great mountain ranges of the Southwest. Previously, Mexican and Native American merchant traffic traveled north-south along the valleys. The roads were a major factor in the mass migration to California that would soon follow. The roads continued to be used until 1880, when the railroad was built along the same path. Interstate 10 now follows almost the exact same path that the company forged over 150 years ago. The little "Army of the West", made up of five regiments of one hundred men each, made President James Polk's vision of a continental nation into reality. In the Introduction the editors claim, "Only in recent times have historians begun to realize the achievements and the important role the Mormon soldiers performed in California and Western history. The narratives found in these pages reveal ... the significant part these men and women played in that history" (p. 29). Fortunately for us, a great number of the soldiers kept account of their experiences in pocket diaries, which many then transcribed into more detailed journals after the war. These documents not only provide us with detailed information on their day-to-day activities, but also give us eyewitness accounts of the major events of this period - the occupation of Northern Mexico, the opening of major transportation routes, and the discovery of gold in California. The book proceeds chronographically, beginning with the situation surrounding the Mormons and the U.S. government at the time. The Mormons were in need of money to finance their exodus to Utah; President Polk was in need of an army to occupy California. Polk's concern for the West Coast was not over Mexican possession but of the threat of British invasion. Once the deal was brokered, the Battalion set out almost immediately, under the command of Gen. Stephen W. Kearny and Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke. The editors utilize a great number of original documents from James Polk's presidential papers, War Department records, and Congressional archives. Correspondence between the Mormons and the government is also well recorded. The narrative then turns to the march itself, which is presented mostly by means of diaries and journals from the soldiers and their officers. The editors employ a framework that keeps the narrative interesting and ties the various accounts together, giving historical background for each event. This approach enables them to let the documents stand on their own merit but also provides them with the opportunity to accentuate events that demonstrate the importance of the Mormon Battalion campaign. The editors clearly explain the ramifications of events not only during the war but even down to our time. The result is indeed convincing. They make proper use of their source data describing not only the events but also their historical significance. The narrative is interesting and informative. An effort is made to include the journals of women who traveled with the army, as well as to maintain a balance between purely historical documents with entertaining stories. On the other hand, although the stated scope of the book is to present the experiences of the Battalion from their own perspective, there is very little information on Native Americans and even less about the Mexicans. Additionally, though the editors make an attempt to curb their glowing assessment of the Battalion by introducing a few arguments that call the Mormons' intentions into question, the effort is half-hearted and falls short of credibility. What remains is a biased depiction of the campaign that nonetheless does not detract from the authenticity of the source documents. The end result is an extremely readable book about an extraordinary group of people who played a part in our nation's history that often goes unnoticed.

David Bigler and Will Bagley successfully collaborated to bring together a series of previously unpublished documents, as well as some published ones, in an outstanding collection of firsthand accounts and other primary sources on and about the Mormon Battalion's epic 1846 U.S. - Mexican War march and their role in securing the Southwest from Mexican control and claiming the territory that would become the states of Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah -- thereby fulfilling the mandate inherent in the concept of "Manifest Destiny". Several eye-witness sourced perspectives are provided including the journal of teenager William Pace, letters from some of the women associated with the battalion; as well as military and government correspondence. Army Of Israel: Mormon Battalion Narratives is a superlatively presented and informative contribution to American history in general, and the role of a unique military command in particular.

From time to time, a historian will write a book, as opposed to an author writing history. And when TWO historians write a book, you get what Bigler and Bagley have created here. The entire series, "Forgotten Kingdom" is dynamite, we are fortunate to have these books available to us.

This is a reprint, printed in 2000, reducing 4-1 the pages of the orignal 13 volumes into 6 volumes. The orignal was published between 1910 and 1938, so this set does not include information more recent then 1938. Be sure to track down Vol. XIV, published in 1998, to complete the information. Otherwise this is excellent information.

This is the definitive source on the British peerage up to 1938. (Vol. XIV, printed recently and sold separately, updates the saga to the late 1990's.) This 4 to 1 microprint version of the original pages still leaves reasonably legible print; having a reader's magnifier might also be useful for some. The vols are well produced and come in an embossed slipcase, and though sturdy my slipcase was significantly damaged in transit (two front-to-back edges totally broken so that the case would not hold together) with subsequent pleas for amends falling on deaf ears.

Begun by George E. Cokayne, the Clarenceaux King-of-Arms, this set is to the British peerage what the Oxford English Dictionary is to the English language -- absolutely the best thing of its kind. Citations to primary sources frequently fill 3/4 of the page and anecdotal text-notes put some meat on the bones. Far superior to the 19th century Burke's Peerage publications. Don't attempt serious British research without it! The numerous appendices at the ends of the volumes also are highly recommended as instructive essays.

When you think of the Battle of Britain, what do you think of? Dashing young officers with public school accents flying Spitfires? Well, try reading this book, and discover that one of the finest fighter pilots of the war was an auxiliary pilot from Yorkshire, whose favourite aircraft was the Hurricane. James Harry 'Ginger' Lacey was flying aircraft from the beginning of WWII (winning a Croix de Guerre during the Battle of France) to the end (first Spitfire over Japan) after the surrender. The book is well written and nicely illustrated and gives a fascinating picture of what life was really like for a fighter pilot. Recently updated from the original (published in the 1960s) it also tells of the rest of this man's flying career before his untimely death in 1989. He was a real hero - I should know, he was my Dad!

Not yet got to the book, just found it. However, I knew Ginger in Bridlington, England where he taught flying at Grindale aerodrome in the early 80's. A quiet, unassuming man whose flying was as effortless to him as walking. He flew a few times with me and I loved every minute of it. I never knew about his wartime exploits till years later. He never bragged about anything. I'll miss him.

The endless courage and luck of this pilot who survived WWII gave me the inspiration to get in to a plane (glider) and fly it when I was 14 years old. After reading the book I never let age stand in the way of taking action.

I use this book as a quick reference to all things royal in England & Scotland. It is full of beautiful color photos and very well-crafted.

I bought this book many years ago, and I still pick it up at least once a month. The book gives you the most important information of every king and queen who has ever ruled England or Scotland.

As I turn the pages, I can see that there is something interesting about every regent, and by the way; this book makes you realize that royal scandals are not a new invention.

I have now read through this book twice - once before each of my trips to Great Britain - and have found this book to be immensely helpful in understanding Britain's past and present. The book purports to be about the British monarchy, but in addition to thoroughly covering royalty, this book also covers a fair amount of history so the reader has some feel for the cultural setting of the monarchs as well. There are numerous color illustrations and photographs throughout the text, finely placed, and quite instructive. Each monarch has typically 2-4 pages devoted to their reign, with important dates and events set out in an easy to consult style. Some attempt is made to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each ruler and to assess how the British peoples fared under their guidance. In general, the presentation is fair-minded, following Shakespeare's dictum to comment on each ruler as s/he appeared, "nothing extenuant, nor aught set down in malice."

There are periodically pages devoted to related topics such as the origins of Parliament, the Magna Carta, Chivalrous Orders (such as the Order of the Garter), War of the Roses, coronation of the Prince of Wales, castle construction (explaining terms like motte and bailey), or Empire Building. Events such as the 1381 Peasants Revolt, the 1666 Fire of London, or the Great Exhibition of 1851 (sharing scientific advancements from the Industrial Revolution) are richly illustrated, with commentary provided to explain their significance.

The Kings of Scotland are discussed separately, with historical figures like Robert the Bruce or William Wallace being treated in the narratives. Eventually, the Scottish and English/Welch monarchies converged with with the coronation of James I in 1603.

In all, Plantagenet Somerset Fry has done an absolutely first rate job of creating an introductory book on the British Monarchy. I found it quite helpful in keeping things straight in my mind (e.g. keeping all the Edward's and Henry's and George's distinct.) It is an excellent book to read either for pleasure, for instruction, or for historical guidance while touring the British Isles.

It is obvious from even a cursory read of this book that Theodore Vrettos did an incredible amount of research. Fortunately for the reader, the story does not suffer from overindulgence in mere historical fact, as there are plenty of extremely personal anecdotes which keep the story moving at an even pace.

It is amazing that Elgin (barely) made it through this escapade alive, and more so that he didn't make a dime from "acquiring" antiquities from ancient cultures which, in his opinion, could neither appreciate nor adequately tend to these treasures. That the battle to possess the marbles continues to this day is testament to the passions of the people involved.

My one complaint with the book as a whole was the last chapter, entitled "The Trial." Don't let it fool you, Elgin wasn't brought to trial for theft, as he should have been. The trial in question is that of his wife's lover, on trial for adultery. I found the inclusion of this rather! lengthy chapter not pertinent to the story of the marbles; it would've ended the book just as well to merely point out the financial losses Elgin suffered without the detail of the trial. Otherwise, this is well written and an educational read.

This historically accurate book does not need any pondering of motives, but the facts themselves are so bizarre and amazing, you are free to draw your own conclusion. Imagine being a nemesis of Napolean Bonaparte. Even though the gods deigned to punish Elgin from day one, he was single-minded in his pursuit to obtain the equities he alone decided should be taken from their origins. Enjoy the ride of greed, lust and devine retribution. It's thought provoking and certainly envokes a passionate response.

Andreas Lambrou has once again produced an authoritative text on fountain pens. It is relatively comprehensive and has spectacluar photographs and line drawings. This is an excellent guide to learn the history of fountain pens and to identify fountain pens. While there can be no doubt that Mr. Lambrou cares very much about fountain pens, this does not come through in his prose style. Writing is straightforward and clear, but does not connect fountain pens to social history, industrial design, or the just plain joy of writing. Inclusion of several pages on the work of Classic Pens, Mr. Lambrou's own firm, which are of limited interest is a questionable decision.

This and other Lambrou books have been described as invaluable references for the collector. I agree, for the most part. The photos and line drawings in this volume are excellent and the text gives detailed history of each manufacturer's models and variations within models. What is missing is a value guide for the pens listed. I'm sure the most serious collectors find such information unnecesary, but I believe that newer or more casual collectors would find pricing benchmarks useful as they muddle through eBay and other auction sites.

For the novice and experienced collector both, this book is Andy's finest yet. By dividing out the US and UK manufacturers, this book provides even greater detail and scale images, as well as historical reference of vintage and modern pens from all of the significant pen makers of the last 100 years. The images (both photos and line images) are the best available to-date, and an invaluable reference to the serious collector.

This is an A-Z encyclopedia of the people, places, events, and artifacts pertaining to the various derivations of the Arthurian legends. It is lavishly illustrated with artwork and is an exhaustive reference source. The author states upfront that, for purposes of study, he considers any literature written before the time of Thomas Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR to be fair game and part of "authentic" Arthurian lore. Anything after Malory is either a modernization or a retelling of the original legends. Therefore, references to works such as Tennyson's IDYLLS OF THE KING and White's ONCE AND FUTURE KING are omitted.

This book is wonderful reference material. It alludes to many obscure source materials and attempts to explain the origin of many elements of the stories of Arthur and the Round Table. However, I would not recommend it for novice fans. Coghlan takes it for granted that most of the stories are familiar, and he spends most of his time explaining how the stories originated, how they were altered over time, and why inconsistencies exist. The format of the book makes it useful for looking up a particular name but not for browsing through a chronology of the tales.

This book is for the scholars and historians, not necessarily the readers and dreamers.

Ah, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends: I was practically raised on this book! I have learned everything I know about Arthurian Legend with it. I have always loved it not only because I was able to study the literary aspects of Arthurian Legend, but also the historic background of the legends themselves. I understand it may seem a bit over people's heads at times (mainly because of its lack of detail on certain topics). Although, I am not sure it had much to do with the author. (Sometimes it is brief because there is not a lot of information available to us in some cases). I would agree that it is apparent in this book that his knowledge is extensive, and perhaps he does take some of it for granted. Personally, the only thing I can really complain about are his brief descriptions of some the alternate legends, as there was little mentioned as to WHY there were differing versions. I would have liked to have seen more on each subject in general in the book. However, so far I have not come across such a balanced book on Arthurian Legend: (not too hard a read, but yet not too basic). I would recommend this book to one who is getting started in the legends, as it is arranged in an easy elementary storybook fashion. I would also recommend, however, reading "La Morte D'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Mallory concurrently. "The Encyclopaedia" would be a great addition to any library of Arthurian Legends, and I think it's shame it is out of print.

If you or someone you know is a student of Arthurian Legend, this makes a beautiful gift. It is a rich "Who's Who" of the various strains of the tales copiously illustrated by the appropriate family trees, facsimiles of medieval illumination, photographs of the historical sites and Pre-Raphaelite reproductions. Lovers of the legend will treasure this book!

John Hillaby apparently wished to write about walking, and what you see along the way. Setting out with a backpack and some supplies, he walked the length of Britain the in the late '60s, a time when there were hippies everywhere, and the country was in a bit of turmoil. What he demonstrates by this is that, though the police are more intrusive than they used to be (during the journey they hurried him along out of town for sleeping in the common more than once) the country remains Britain, with all of its strange and eccentric accents, monuments, and customs.

Hillaby walks from Land's End (the southwest corner of Britain) to John o' Groats (the northernmost point of the island), mostly along the west coast. The edition I had of the book (Folio Society 1987) contained several beautiful maps with the author's path traced in meticulous detail, so that the problem detailed by the audio review was replaced a bit by perhaps knowing too precisely where the author had been. It's not really needed. Other than that, though, the book is very fun, and worthwhile, provided you remember that he wrote it almost 35 years ago.

I have to say I disagree with the AudioFile review on this page: I don't have a detailed knowledge of British geography, but nevertheless think I know England and Scotland better for sharing this journey with Mr Hillaby. 30 seconds with a decent atlas was enought for me to see that he was journeying roughly up the west coast of Britain, and to put the counties in pretty much the proper order. Nobody should feel the obsessive need to trace his precise route along a map with a finger. That would probably be far more work than is necessary.

I listened to these tapes while walking our dogs in the evenings, and Mr Hillaby was a wonderful and entertaining companion. I sometimes wished he had spoken a little more about the historical significance of some of the landmarks he passed (and indeed, toward the end of the tapes, he does wonder if maybe he should have lingered a bit more at some of the more interesting sites), but on the whole, I found his mixture of history, ethnology and linguistics, botany and zoology, to be just about right. And his observations of the people he met on his trip were about the best part of all.

It's hard to compress two months' walking into several hours of tape, but Mr Hillaby has done a fine job. Whether you're walking yourself, or driving, or sitting at home or on the bus, I recommend taking this trip with him.

This is the classic volume on the art of walking (well, not really the art: Hillaby thought it was a natural function). For those who cannot remember the last time they walked to a corner store, the prospect of actually walking the length of England (not one of the world's longer islands!) may be somewhat daunting. So sit back and let Hillaby tell you what you are missing.

I suppose if there is one thing to lament about North America, it's the culture of the automobile with its concomitant health situation deriving from flabby calves. The English, in particular, are great walkers and have allowed a place of importance for this national pastime, in their towns, villages and countryside. Walking is something one can do in most of Europe, along organised ways, but in England it is something one does do, and both the ways and byways are, in the main, very structured. The old straight track is a term coming from the distant past which refers to a well-trammelled path, usually between the smaller towns. At one time they might have been drove roads for sheep or cattle. At others, Roman legions may have tramped down them widely. In the main, however, the paths across England taken by Hillaby are through farmer's fields and across the high points of various heaths. Go with him for a while and you may just be bitten by a bug which will take you (one hopes it will be on foot) to some of Britain's loveliest spots. They certainly abound.

This was a truly bizarre, and sad, story of the final days of this larger-than-life woman. Maitre Blum was a woman obsessed by, and in love with, the Duchess. The amount of control M. Blum held, and the ferocity with which she held on to it are truly scary forces to see. As a follow-up to the death of the Duchess, read the essay in Dominick Dunne's collection about the disposition of her estate by the hand of M. Blum.

This book is a mystery novel, journalist's feature story and biography all in one. Telling the story through the author's attempts to uncover the truth surrounding Wallis' life after the death of the Duke keeps the suspense-level high. It grabbed my interest and held it to the end. If you are at all interested in the Windsors' story, this book completes the story of Wallis' life and gives a few more details about their lives that previous books have not.

The long coda to the life of one of the twentieth century's most famous (infamous?) figures was played out in a French villa in an atmosphere of secrecy and intrigue that was at times bizarre. This book is extremely sharply written and is a reminder that the gothic mode is not the exclusive preseve of either fiction or the nineteenth century.

With "Kingdom of Fear" Dr. Hunter S. Thompson has once again focused his bloodshot eyes on the subjects of politics, sports, war, celebrity and his own legal battles over drugs and sexual assault charges. Some of these stories we've heard before - in some cases, a few times - but as a world class raconteur the good Doctor can still provoke a smile from those of us susceptible to his wily charms. Yet be warned, this so-called memoir is but a mixed blessing after a decade of leftovers served up by Thompson (40 year old unpublished novel "The Rum Diary", a trade edition of the privately printed & anorexic "Screwjack" and 2 massive volumes of his personal correspondences). In other words, even a mild dosage of the typical Thompson gonzo is better than going cold turkey. Consider this book a greatest hits collection with a few new pieces thrown in to legitimize the reissue. But one glaring omission is the almost complete lack of substance on the events of September 11th. Where's the fear? Where's the loathing? A couple of old ESPN "Hey Rube" reprints is a missed opportunity and a major disappointment. At it's best "Kingdom of Fear" is a disjointed but highly amusing scrapbook by one of the great bigger-than-life blowhards of the last half of the 20th Century.

HST is bitingly funny in his recounting of episodes fighting against the System. In "The Witness" a has been well known porn star tries her damndest to set Hunter up for a BIG fall on drug charges and sexual assault. Thompson embarasses and shames the District Attorney and LEO's of Pitkin County (here in Colorado where he lives in Aspen).Thompson is, as always, his own person. Describing his days in SF working as Night Manager for the Mitchell Brothers famous O'Farrell Theater - THE center of pornography in it's heyday. Long running legal battles with Diane Feinstein and the leading edge of Freedom of Expression involving Sex in America. Oh enough BS! Thompson loved hanging out with strippers and other free spirits!

This is Thompson's first book since the September 11 attacks. He (accurately, in my opinion) feels that life in America will never be the same. Our generation and todays children, will be in a state of war for our lifetimes. He speculates that, for the first time in recent American history, the next generation will be less well off than the current generation. And America will relearn the sacrifices of previous generations. Not necessarily a bad thing.

Kingdom of Fear is a series of funny, irreverent memoirs describing events in Hunter S Thompson's life. He admits that some embellishing took place. A bit of what he writes about takes place in Aspen with quite a bit of Colorado "references" and landmarks, and personalities. Which (as a long time resident) I found enjoyable. The Ducati blast through "ranch" traffic and close calls with the "sausage maker" are hilarious.
The book has quite a few photographs including the back cover of Hunter buck naked except his famous hat firing a shotgun.
To sum up: As HST's good friend Warren Zevon wrote: "lawyers, guns and money"

A fun read from a guy who has led an interesting life!

Swanson from Danville gets it; Smith from Portland and especially Standiford from Cypress are lost in space-perhaps they've heard the Song of the Sausage Creature once too often.

Yes, the Doc recounts Events that we've read about before, like the Freak Power campaign of 1970. But there's so much more to it than that.

Thompson's dismay (Fear) at the Deterioration of due process of the law in the American justice system and his anger (Loathing) at the Contempt and Utter Disregard shown by the current powers that be toward the Bill of Rights and all things Constitutional are the common threads weaved Artfully through each one of his thoroughly enjoyable and creatively titled stories. And somehow he manages to maintain his Sense of Humor. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Thompson has spent most of his Prodigious career in Gonzo Journalism chronicling the Death of the American Dream, pronouncing our Hopelessness and Impending Doom and entertaining himself and some of the rest of us with the delicious Absurdity of it all. But you're left with an underlying Sense that he's pulling for the good guys to Ultimately Triumph. Reading this book one gets the sense that the Doc feels that The Odds are now Prohibitive of the good guys ever emerging Victorious. Mahalo.

I've read all of Thompson's books, most more than once, for their Social and Political Commentary as well as their Entertainment Value, and this one is by Far his Best and Most Important work. It's also the most disturbing and most depressing, especially in light of the Doc's Clarity of Vision and Dedication to the Truth, but it's by Far his Best and Most Important work. Res Ipsa Loquitur.