The World History Shelf
How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World
Thomas J. Craughwell
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publi****ng Group
100 ***mings Center, Suite 406-L, Beverly 01915-6106
9781592333035, $19.95, www (dot) fairwindspress (dot) com
Barbarians =96 unwashed, vicious, destroyers of Europe after the fall of
the Roman Empire. They were also some of the most influential people
in the history of the world. "How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the
Modern World: The Vikings, Vandals, Huns, Mongols, Goths, and Tartars
Who Razed the Old World and Formed the New" is a look at the
barbarians responsible for how the world is today. With examinations
of the lives and actions of such brutal individuals such as Attila the
Hun, Genghis Khan, and others, "How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the
Modern World" describes barbarians' nasty crusade against the
civilized world and how their influence is still prevalent even today.
A scholarly look at times referred to as Dark Ages by many, "How the
Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World" is highly recommended for
community library history collections.
The King and Mrs. Simpson
Erin Frances Schulz
WS Beetle & Company
732 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
9780979178306, $13.95, www (dot) wsbeetle (dot) com
It's something right out of a fairy tale =96 a powerful monarch tossing
aside his crown for love. "The King and Mrs. Simpson: The True Story
of a Commoner Who Captured the Heart of a King" is the reality of this
true story that happened seventy years ago. Though the events really
did happen, the approach treats them like a story out of a romance
novel, choosing the avenue of creative nonfiction and using it well.
Drawn from the couple's letters and do***ents, "The King and Mrs.
Simpson: The True Story of a Commoner Who Captured the Heart of a
King" is sure to please those who like their history with a little
flair, and a must for community library creative nonfiction
collections.
Resistance on a Bicycle
Dirk Van Leenen
Winword Publi****ng House
News & Experts (publicity)
1127 Grove Street, Clearwater, FL 33755
9781585889617, $27.99, www (dot) winwordpubli****ng (dot) com
Too often the tale of the Netherlands in World War II is left untold,
when it is an enthralling story indeed. "Resistance on a Bicycle" is a
look at Holland's stand against Nazi Germany in World War II,
including their efforts against their wrongful genocide of the
millions. Telling of countless other forgotten contributions from
Holland in the second great war, "Resistance on a Bicycle" is a
seminal addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th
Century European History and Holocaust Studies reference collections
and supplemental reading lists.
A History of Egypt
Jason Thompson
The American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY USA 10018-2729
International Publishers Marketing (distributor)
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9789774160912, $29.95 www (dot) aucpress (dot) com 1-800-758-3756
A History of Egypt: From Earliest Times to the Present is a one-volume
survey of Egyptian history from its earliest known human civilization
to the present day. Though penned with scholarly rigor, A History of
Egypt is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and features a
brief inset section of black-and-white photographic plates. "The most
astoni****ng reversal of Egypt's relation****p with the rest of the
world has aroused little comment. During the Nasser years Egypt ceased
being a net food producer and became a net food im****ter. The country
that once provided food not only for itself but also for many others
can no longer feed itself... The amount of arable land added by the
construction of the High Dam has been more than wiped out by
urbanization... Such development would be better located in the
desert." An index rounds out this thoughtful and thorough history.
Highly recommended, especially for public and college library shelves.
Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues
Christoph Rosenmuller
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382349, $34.95 www (dot) uofcpress (dot) com 1-800-565-3770
Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues: The Court Society of
Colonial Mexico, 1702-1710 is a scholarly reconstruction of the social
networks and intrigues in the court of Viceroy Duke of Alburquerque
(1702-1710). Author Christoph Rosenmuller (assistant professor in the
Department of History, Middle Tennessee State University) reveals the
devastating depth of corruption in the Duke's court, including the
alliances he built with the local population to deny reform efforts
originating from Spain. The Duke collaborated with contraband traders,
acted against the secularization of Indian parishes, and accused local
craftsmen and merchants of treason (imprisoning some and allowing them
to die in jail) to uplift his own credentials as a "loyal" official.
Ultimately, the royal court of Madrid demanded revenge, and
Albuquerque had to pay an astronomical (by the terms of the day)
700,000 silver pesos to return to the king's good graces. A
fascinating, minutely detailed reconstruction of historical human
treachery.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publi****ng. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com
Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
|
