Product Description
A masterful, moving novel about age, memory, and family from one of the true literary icons of our time.

Ptolemy Grey is ninety-one years old and has been all but forgotten-by his family, his friends, even himself-as he sinks into a lonely dementia. His grand-nephew, Ptolemy's only connection to the outside world, was recently killed in a drive-by shooting, and Ptolemy is too suspicious of anyone else to allow them into his life. until he meets Robyn, his niece's seventeen-year-old lodger and the only one willing to take care of an old man at his grandnephew's funeral.

But Robyn will not tolerate Ptolemy's hermitlike existence. She challenges him to interact more with the world around him, and he grasps more firmly onto his disappearing consciousness. However, this new activity pushes Ptolemy into the fold of a doctor touting an experimental drug that guarantees Ptolemy won't live to see age ninety- two but that he'll spend his last days in feverish vigor and clarity. With his mind clear, what Ptolemy finds-in his own past, in his own apartment, and in the circumstances surrounding his grand-nephew's death-is shocking enough to spur an old man to action, and to ensure a legacy that no one will forget.

In The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Mosley captures the compromised state of his protagonist's mind with profound sensitivity and insight, and creates an unforgettable pair of characters at the center of a novel that is sure to become a true contemporary classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Walter Mosley's Ptolemy Grey...the BEST of the best!
Walter Mosley has done it again with his unforgettable character, Ptolemy Grey aka Pity aka Pitypapa."The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" is one of the best reads I have had all year long!Walter Mosley has written over 33 books and of course all should remember the movie adaptation of Mosley's "Devil in a Blue Dress".I believe that Mosley has gotten better with each book, how does an author keep topping his work?

In this novel, we meet Ptolemy, a senior citizen embarking on a journey leading to dementia.As with a lot of old people, Ptolemy at age 91, has been almost forgotten by family and has out lived most friends and even his spouse.His home is filled with enough mementos, photos, stuff, and memories to last two life times.He lives in LA (the place of the author's birth).Ptolemy has experienced elder abuse at the hands of a female drug addict in his neighborhood and fears going out or answering his door.His nephew Reggie has been taking him monthly to cash his social security check, pay bills, and get groceries.Reggie meets an untimely and tragic end and that is when Ptolemy's world changes dramatically.The author keeps readers on the edge of the seat as Ptolemy must make some decisions that could be defined as making a deal with the devil.

Ptolemy Grey gives us an up close and personal experience of aging, memories, life, and legacy.I highly recommend this book, you will enjoy the touching, inspiring, unforgettable Ptolemy and you may even be inspired to spend more time with the aging folks in your life.

On Aging
"[Ptolemy] only had one chair, and that had a book, a glass of water, and three stones he'd found that day at the park on it. They were blond stones, a color he'd never seen in rock and so he picked them up and brought them home, to be with them for a while."

That's exactly why I read Walter Mosley -- to "be awhile" with his characters, whose situations and moral complexities I always think I haven't seen, and whose unfamiliarity always softens into a fond recognition.

Here it's 2006 and 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey lives alone in squalor in south-central LA. He has a small pension, he has a radio and a TV tuned 24/7 to a dueling background of classical music and cable news, and he has sporadic contact with extended family two and three generations down the line. But his home and mind have declined since his wife died decades ago, and now dementia makes him obsessed with the ages-ago deaths of a childhood friend in a house fire and the lynching of a beloved mentor. So when another loved one dies in street violence, and a young new friend awakens Ptolemy's spirit, he embarks on a mission to protect his loved ones before his own time comes.

Mosley narrates almost completely in scenes here -- from Ptolemy's perspective, which is a mix of confusion and distraction co-mingled with vestiges of philosopher and keen observer. A key plot point about experimental drugs did require a suspension of disbelief ... or maybe it just required me to fully enter a world where the rules don't resemble the ones I know, and to appreciate the point of this book: being awhile with this man in that world. I loved every page of it.

A movingly drawn main character, but a novel undercut by cliche plotting and lumpy prose
The central character of this novel, Ptolemy Grey, is movingly rendered, especially in the book's first fifty pages; it's a well-realized portrait of a man lost in his fragmentary memories and slowly losing touch with the world of the present, living his final days in rather squalid and sad surroundings and without much love or human contact.But from this interestingly nuanced initial portrait, the book never develops into a realistic novel.Instead, it descends into cliche and fantasy, on every level from flat characterization to absurd plot to undistinguished, sometimes clunky prose.

The novel has a host of problems that make it hard to recommend reading, despite the occasionally very well rendered, even touching realistic moments amid its grotesqueries and cliches.First, there are no other real, rounded characters around Ptolemy's present or his past, outside of perhaps his half-remembered benevolent uncle, whose death and legacy form an important part of the plot.Second, every strand of the plot, as it develops, becomes absurd Grand Guignol rather than measured realism.The novel's version of reckoning with the past involves overcoming the old man's traumatic memories (everyone here has traumatic memories to be nobly, if often easily, overcome), a lynching and a secret pot of gold (yes, really), and revenging his grandnephew's drive-by killing.It's hard to say more without spoiling the plot, but several different revenge fantasies are cheaply, cathartically fulfilled and the administration of a lot of secret wealth is, for some reason, also important.(The selfishness with which Ptolemy administers the wealth he was left, though it was intended for the betterment of his race rather than just his friends, goes surprisingly ignored.)

Further, Ptolemy's magical escape from senility, via a magical "medical experiment," is achieved in a manner that's evidently meant to seem Faustian, but comes off instead as a half-baked pastiche of Flowers for Algernon.It's hard to see why this strand of the plot even needed to be there, since it would've been easy enough for Mosley just to write him a few flashes of lucidity when necessary.Every aspect of this plot, from the secret hoarded wealth to the magic pills, seems motivated by infantile wish fulfillment rather than realism, and the prose is similarly children's-bookish in its clunkiness, complete with lots of lame explanations and irrelevant descriptions where there ought to be rounded psychology, telling details, and compelling rather than perfunctory dialogue.

While this novel has Mosley's deft touch for unpolemical, telling renderings of race in American life, and the main character himself is well drawn, it is simply not a very good novel on the level of plot, writing, or characterization.

Enjoyed this book from beginning to end
This was a fascinating book about the relationship between a 91-year-old man Ptolemy Grey, his grandson, his great nephew and a friend of the family who was considered Ptolemy's niece and/or daughter (depending on the day). Ptolemy is suffering from dementia, but when he finds out his grandson Reggie was murdered he wants to know just what happened. After his great nephew does something that furthers the distance between Ptolemy and family, Robyn comes along with Ms. Wring to wake him up. A "deal with the devil" is made and suddenly Ptolemy's mind is a little bit sharper. He's ready to do business and solve crimes, but he sure has the ladies after him, too.

I loved this book. I don't know why I'd never read a book from Walter Mosley before--especially considering how well-known he is--but this was the first one that caught my eye. I'm glad I did. In so many ways Ptolemy reminds me a whole lot of my own 87-year-old grandfather (minus the dementia) so the relationship between Robyn and Ptolemy was dead on (minus the whole "looking at my legs" stuff). I liked the connection between the two and how they had each other's backs, and Ptolemy was one charismatic guy. I got a kick out of him. This was an easy read, and although the person who killed Reggie was predictable from the beginning, it was interesting to watch Ptolemy grow through the book.

A Challenging and Daring Exploration of Age and Race
It's hard to describe how much I admire Walter Mosley's writing. His ability to create realistic dialog, characters and actions made his Easy Rawlins detective novels a hit, but even better, Mosley never let himself fall into a rut.He kept writing detective novels, but also branched out into genres including science fiction (like Futureland and Blue Light), modern fiction, and stuff that's hard to categorize (for example, The Man in My Basement and Killing Johnny Fry: A Sexistential Novel). Each time, Mosley's gift for character and dialog lifts the novel to a place you never expected it to be.

"The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" is a typically ambitious and fearless Mosley effort, and it largely succeeds.The title character, Ptolemy Grey, is a 91 year old retiree, sinking into dementia.Largely trapped, both physically in his apartment and mentally in his uncontrollable memories, Grey has a series of encounters that motivate him to change his life, confront a variety of deep-set problems, and attack some long-unfinished business.

Ultimately, this novel becomes a powerful mediation on the end of a person's life.Ptolomy confronts what he has accomplished and what he has left undone, balances his love for people long dead with his obligations and connections to the generations left to come, and does his best to put his life and his own memories in order. Mosley does a great job with his characters, including Grey himself, Grey's new friend Robyn, and some characters who we only see through Grey's or other's memories, like his mentor, his childhood friend, and his grand-nephew Reggie.All of these characters were powerfully real, and fascinating.

As usual, Mosley doesn't shy away from race, and uses it to ground his characters.Born in 1929, Ptolemy lived through segregation and Jim Crow, served in World War II, and has a complicated view of race that ultimately shapes how he reacts to his friends and relatives' situation in modern Black America.

Mosley's most ambitious technique is his use of Ptolomy's sometime dementia, sometime lucidity, to write a novel that braids Ptolomy's past and present.This is often fascinating and effective, but occasionally makes for hard reading, particularly in the half of the book or more where Ptolomy is frequently floating helplessly on a sea of his memories rather than riding them.Still, this is a thoughtful, often captivating, emotionally powerful book. ... Read more

Product Description
Three years after the events of The Golem's Eye, the young magician Nathaniel is an established member of the British Government.

But he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly and Britain's enemies are mounting attacks close to London.

Increasingly distracted, he is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever: the long-suffering djinni is growing weak from too much time in this world, and his patience is at an end. Meanwhile, undercover in London, Kitty has been stealthily completing her research into magic and Bartimaeus' past. She hopes to break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans -- but will she be able to get anyone to listen?

Before any of these problems can be resolved, disaster strikes London from an unexpected source and the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathanial, and Kitty are thrown together once more. They have to face treacherous magicians, a long-fermented conspiracy, and an enemy from 'The Other Place' that threatens London and the world. Worst of all, they must somehow cope with each other . . .

Bartimaeus fans will be entranced by Stroud's brilliantly conceived finale to the series -- sure to be a major best seller. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (146)

This book is the best of all three
In my review of the second book, I said "Sequels are often a disappointment, but The Golem's Eye succeeds where others have failed."

That statement is even more fitting for this third and final installment. I will go so far as to say that this book is the best of all three.

So far in the series, twelve-year-old Nathanial went from being raised by a petty and unloving wizard to defeating another rogue wizard who used the Amulet of Samarkand. A few years after that, Nathanial went on to take position at Internal Affairs, uncover yet another plot that involved a Golem and Gladstone's staff, and found himself being saved by one of the last two remaining survivors of the Resistance. All with the aid of a sarcastic djinni named Bartimaeus.

Story overview:

Nathanial is now seventeen-years-old and has grown into a young man. With this come increased responsibilities as he is now the Information Minister. As prestigious as that sounds it mainly entails putting together pamphlets and other forms of propaganda to entice civilians to join the wizard's war against America (one that is going poorly). In doing so he becomes even more cold and indifferent, especially to Bartimaeus whose essence is nearly depleted from having to stay in the human world for so long.

It seems that something deep inside of Nathanial cannot let go of Bartimaeus, who is one of the few reminders of the days when Nathanial used to be a caring lad. It takes a visit to his old school teacher and a face-to-face encounter with the supposedly dead Kitty for him to see what he has become. About the time he realizes this, Nathanial finds himself facing the man behind all the previous plots from the first two books.

The plan is to let spirits take possession of each wizard's body. This way the wizard would have limitless power. The mastermind failed to realize that this only allowed the spirit to take full control, and soon the land finds an army of angry beings wanting revenge for hundreds of years of enslavement. Nathanial acquires a good partner in Kitty as they both attempt to find a way to save the people: Nathanial to obtain Gladstone's staff and the Amulet of Samarkand, and Kitty to use Ptolemy's Gate to enter the other-place and gain Bartimaeus's favor as an ally of freewill.

My thoughts:

This story is candy for readers. I absolutely loved this series and this volume had me glued to the pages, filled with excitement, and not disappointed with the results (though I could have used a happier ending). I'm glad that Nathanial found his redemption, and that both he and Kitty developed a close bond. My only complaint is that this series has come to an end; I have grown so fond of it that this idea is a little depressing, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Things to consider:

There are some disturbing elements, but nothing beyond what is appropriate for this tale. The closest "inappropriate" situation is when Kitty summons Bartimaeus, who chose the form of a scary demon without clothing. Actually, this is done quite humorously and it is a laugh to see Kitty's response, but the scene does have potential to be a little questionable. That is, if the reader takes it beyond the lighthearted intentions. Also, parents need to be clear that the "spirit" element of this story is fictional; they need to inform their children about the differences between these fantastical elements verses real-world ones. I can see some Christians holding picket signs and yelling accusations against this, but that's the point of this blog: to thwart this kind of ignorant behavior. I stick to my series rating, preteen (tween) and older. Not gender specific.

James D. Maxon

Author of, The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
[...]

Reviews from Brizmus Blogs Books
Jonathan Stroud totally did it. After starting to get (VERY) minimaly bored with the second part of this trilogy, I was worried that Stroud wasn't going to be able to pull of the boom of an ending that the first book deserved and made the reader expect. But he did, and this is an AWESOME book! It is laugh out loud hilarious, it sometimes makes you step back and say whoa, and I think there was even a point where I cried (not for long, though, because Bartimaeus's snarky comments were just too funny for sadness). Kitty and Nathaniel became the characters I thought that they should have been in the second book. It was great to see both of them grow up and watching their relationships develop. Bartimaeus was back and even whittier than he was in book number 1.
It was also exciting to get to learn more not only about Bartimaeus, but also about Ptolemy, about whom we had heard little snippets in the previous two books, and his relationship with Bartimaeus. It's awesome the way that, over the course of the book, the reader really comes to understand Bartimaeus and how he developed his personality.
While being an incredible page turning fantasy, Ptolemy's Gate also broaches head on class issues, acceptance of those that are different, pride, and war.
This book is sheer awesomeness, a total success, and possibly and probably even the best of the trilogy.
Who Should Read It?Anyone into fantasy, only after having read and enjoyed (which of course you will) the first two.

What in the world happened to the Bartimaeus Trilogy?
I read and enjoyed both of the other books in the Bartimaeus trilogy, but this one quite simply bombed. I don't know how Stroud lost it, but he lost it. This might be the worst conclusion to a series I have ever read.

Firstly, the plot is getting stale in my mouth. Okay, there's a secret subfaction among the magicians who are up to no good. Didn't that happen in both previous books? Okay, the hero needs to get ahold of powerful and valuable objects to save the day. Yeah, I remember that. Okay, there's a super-dangerous demon unleashed upon the world that Nathaniel has to stop. I get it, already!

I'm tired of these repeated plot themes. It seems almost like Jonathan Stroud was taking writing advice from Terry Goodkind. Well, at least Stroud isn't beating a dead horse and churning about another 8 books like Goodkind did. I'm thankful that this is the end.

The characters are really getting on my nerves. We're treated to even more of Kitty's almost inhumanly hardcore bitchiness(seriously, there were times when I wanted to ask who shoved a Horla up her backside), and Bartimaeus, the witty and big-talking Djinni of the previous books, becomes weak and angsty. The only thing he seems to be good for nowadays is as a bystander to events perilously dangerous to him, where he stands back and mocks it all. For icing on the cake of idiotic characterization, they both bad-talk Nathaniel waaaay too much. All right, I'm all into dissenting opinions, but my favorite character getting railed on like this is not earning the author any points with me.

Nathaniel himself, however, almost deserves it. What happened to the morally ambiguous anti-hero that's kept things interesting? In a lame attempt to finish the series with extra character development, Stroud causes Nathaniel to revert to the soft, innocent demeanor he had before he became a magician. This was a horrendous disappointment for me, made me feel as if I had been betrayed by my favorite character.

Dishonorale mention: While Nathaniel is researching conspiracies and going from Mean Anti-Hero to Innocent Widdle Boy, Bartimaeus is whining about his diminished strength and down-talking other demons, and Jones is laying out more naive rebellion plans with the personality of a wet cat, the author continues to disrupt the pace of the story with flashbacks. This time, Bartimaeus' history with Ptolemy. This is a boring, underdeveloped, and barely interesting subplot that I hardly care to know about. Stroud would have been better off putting the content of those chapters into a novella and putting some actual good stuff in this book.

Last and worst, the ending was absolutely terrible. I won't put spoilers here, but suffice it to say that Nathaniel makes some decisions that are so abysmally stupid it ruined whatever little good there was in this book to begin with. The ending itself is rather similar to the endings of the first two books, and while the last couple of pages carry a strong amount of emotional volume, they weren't enough to quench my dissatisfaction. The conclusion was vague and didn't properly wrap up the plot, as if the author just decided to make everyone, both friends and foes go, "Oh, the trouble's over, let's all be one big happy family now!" Pathetic.

In conclusion, this book is a heinous crime against the Bartimaeus Trilogy, a piece of trash so bad it seems almost like the author picked up a piece of fanfiction and published it instead of his own work. If you've read the first two books, you should probably read the conclusion, but Ptolemy's Gate was, for lack of a better explanation, an epic fail.

Slow to start but gets really good near the end
Another outing with Nathaniel but slow to start and overwritten in places. This time he's the the Information Minister, and spends his time making up propaganda pamphlets. Three years have passed since the last book and the characters feel more jaded than ever and you almost feel sorry for the way Nathaniel treats Bartimaeus.

He does this by not allowing Bartimaeus to return to the Other Place until his essence is severely weakened. Mandrake is totally absorbed in his work and things aren't going well for the government as the commoners revolt. Kitty is back and through her the reader learns the secret behind Ptolemy and gets a look into Bartimaeus' domain. When a sinister plot unleashes an old evil, Mandrake, Kitty and Bartimaeus team up to defend the human race.

The last hundred pages or so is where it gets really good. Otherwise, it kind of moves slowly.

AMAZING!!
I read the previous two books and loved them so as soon as I saw the third and final one was out I jumped at it.This book was expertly crafted to make one completely absorbed in it.It was literally a book I could not put down.The storyline was intricate and well thought out.In the end I felt both a sense of peace, sorrow, and happiness.This is a must read for anyone with eyes and a mind thirsty for entertainment! ... Read more

Product Description
Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly; Britain’s enemies are mounting attacks close to London; and rebellion is fomentingamong the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The longsuffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world and is nearing the end of his patience.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel’s longtime rival Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeus’s past. She has a daring plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say?

In this glorious conclusion to the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty converge once more. Together the threesome faces treacherous magicians, a complex conspiracy, and a rebellious faction of demons. To survive, they must test the limits of this world and question the deepest parts of themselves. And most difficult of all–they will have to learn to trust one another. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

loved it!
pretty much the same thing i said for the previous one of this serious, it's an awesome book series. if you liked the Harry Potter series, you'll like this.

Better than I expected
The first book of the Bartimaeus Trilogy was utterly fantastic, and I quickly purchashed the second of the series, eagerly expecting more of the same. I was dissapointed. Not wanting to leave a series unfinished, and in need of a new book, I picked up Ptolemy's Gate. After hearing that some fans had found it to be far superior to the second book, I figured "why not?"

I found the first half of this book to be rather dull. The conflict was rather shallow, the characters were hard to really connect with, and I got fed up of Bartimaeus repeating the same old jokes time and time again.

The book did pick up later though. I found myself chuckling at some of Bartimaeus' comments, the plot was more involving and the conflict pretty tense. The chemistry between characters really picked up, and though it still wasn't anything spectacular, I did find myself enjoying things a bit more.

Be sure to read them in order
I'm a teacher and therefore naturally bossy.
Just about flawless.I imagine bright middle schoolers could read this successfully. Like Pratchett, it has a cross age appeal.With footnotes.

"an unexpected wallop of heart and soul"
When I bought this book I looked at the back and saw one of the critics reviews calling the ending "an expected wallop of heart and soul" and it really was.I had to reread the last chapter a couple times just because the end was so surprising and so heartfelt it took a while to sink in.It was an absolute punch of emotion and I was left feeling both moved and quite sad.It definitely wrapped up the series and answered any last questions, but I would love for another book, even though it wouldn't be quite the same.An amazing book with humor and heart, action and emotion.
One of my favorite fantasy series, darker than Septimus Heap (also a great series, and soon to be movie) and certainly one that will be enjoyed by those experiencing the 'life after Harry Potter' syndrome like me.

Demons attack!
Bartimeas the djinn defeats all of his opponents, but after years of service to his mean master John Mandrake, "Nathaniel," he has become weak. He can not even kill a foliot. He is done listening to his master so he is going to do the impossible -- attack his master.

This is a good book for people who are eager to know the conclusion. I like it when Bartimeas is so weak he became a ball of slime and he had to convince a Marifit not to kill him.

People who enjoy mysteries and exciting journeys from different perspectives would like this book. -- Andrew
... Read more

Product Description
Ptolemy's Almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. A masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. This translation, based on the standard Greek text of Heiberg, makes the work accessible to English readers in an intelligible and reliable form. It contains numerous corrections derived from medieval Arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in this century, due to the discovery of Babylonian records and other researches. It is designed to stand by itself as an interpretation of the original, but it will also be useful as an aid to reading the Greek text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Ptolemy's "Almagest"
It's a very interesting astronomy book, it's explain how they've thought about the motion of the planets(epicycles)in the past(AC)by the time of the Ptolemy and Babylonia.

Great Translation
Adding to the other comment below about star names beginning with "al-," I might add that the title "Almagest" itself is an Arabic translation of the original Greek "Megale Syntaxis."

epicycle
so it turns out that the center of the eccentric circle that the planets travel on travels on its own circle but be careful this is not a giant epicycle on a small deferent!haha! genius!!

A new look at the universe
The main desire of Ptolemy in writing his Almagest is to explain and account for the motions of the apparently erratic celestial beings in terms of perfect and circular motions. In doing so he introduces the epicyclic (which states that the center of a smaller circle orbits around the earth and the object orbits around the smaller circle) and the eccentric hypotheses (which supposes that the center of the circular motion of the planet is not exactly centered on the earth), which are ultimatly equivalent to eachother in terms of result. Begining with the motion of the sun in the sky and moving on to the less accountable outer planets, Ptolemy moves his mathematics brilliantly with a nod to a story teller's art. Some may find his introduction of his equant (something that is often said to defile his principles of perfect motion), which explains the retrogradation of the outer planets, to be a let down to the fanfare of perfection in the stars.Yet, overall, the Almagest manages to recapture the magic and wonder of the universe through complicated mathematical hypotheses and to succesfully lay the ground for the break throughs of Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler to come. If you are at all interested in astronomy or mathematics, you ought to read this.

compares favourably with the Tetrabiblos
The mathematics is difficult to follow, but as it is developed from Euclid and Eratosthenes it is reliable. The observations have been made from a very wide area and over a long time; but while the mechanics may be rathermysterious the results are impressive.

Does the front cover always showPenelope weaving at her loom? - the ancients obviously thought highly ofHomer and the Greek myths.

The Tetrabiblos survives together with theparallel Greek. Since the Almagest went through successivetransliterations/translations (and interpretations?), it might not be toosurprising if the Greek text has disappeared.

And what of Ptolemy's otherbooks? - his geography for example. The Almagest has observations fromCeylon to Thule, including Britain. The ancients must have travelledwidely.

Is there anywhere an account of the origin of the names of starsand constellations? These seem to have accumulated over time. Many starnames begin "Al-", from the Arabic, I suppose.

Well done! ... Read more

Product Description
Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly, Britain's enemies are mounting attacks close to London; and rebellion is fermenting among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The long-suffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world, and his patience is nearing its end. ... Read more

Product Description
Ptolemy was the creator of the longest lasting of the Hellenistic kingdoms. He created a state whose cultural importance was unparalleled until the coming of Rome. He encouraged the erection of the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as creating a library which eventually contained the greatest collection of books until relatively recent times. Ptolemy's institution of higher learning, the Museum, gave birth to the greatest advancements in science before the seventeenth century of our own era. In this work, the first biography of Ptolemy in any language, Professor Ellis charts Ptolemy's extraordinary achievements in and beyond Egypt in the context of the fragmentation of Alexander's enormous empire and the creation of the Hellenistic state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ideal book about Ptolemy I
This study provides great details on this ancient ruler's life. Although he lived part of it in the shadow of Alexander the Great, much is owed to Ptolemy I Soter : the birth of the Hellenistic state, the creation of theMuseum, the addition of the Great Library and the Lighthouse to the city ofAlexandria, as well as other extraordinary achievements both in and beyondEgypt. Alexandria, his capital, became known as an intellectual center.This book not only tells the story of a leader, but also of his satrapy,his kingship, his family, the wars he fought, and his role during Alexanderthe Great's reign. With several black and white pictures, it is arecommended biography of interest to students of Greek and Ptolemaichistory. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt are powerful; irresponsible; dangerous. It's 279 BC and Ptolemy Philandelphus finds his wife ousted by his reptilian sister, who wants to marry him herself. A generation later, and Berenike Beta murders her husband and marries Ptolemy Euergetes instead. But with the glory of the Ptolemies at its height after Egypt wins victories at Syria, it is the turn of the murderess to be murdered. Meanwhile, the people of Egypt are thinking about revolution... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fine series continues
I have always hated history in school, where it was presented as a meaningless jumble of dates peppered with brainless, arrogant blowhards (much like today's political climate). However, a book like this will absolutely blow away all preconceived notions of 'boring' ancient history - and is both a terrific read and an absolute revelation as to how things REALLY were in the so-call Classical civilized world. This is precisely detailed, comprehensive and yet tremendously interesting work,the second book in Ptolemys quartet.

Like the first book in the series, this is a bloody, sacrilegious, and fascinating saga, this time covering the period of Egyptian history during the reigns of the children of the first Ptolemaic pharoah. Also like the first book, it is 'narrated' by an Egyptian deity, this time Sheshat, goddess of architecture and mathematics. Her tone is considerably milder than the bombastic oratory of her husband Thoth, narrator of the first book, which is probably a good thing - Thoth was fun, but overbearing, and I'm not sure I could take another long work narrated by him. In any case, read this book slowly - you'll want to get every juicy detail of this wild and wooly tale. I also recommend that you refresh your knowledge of the first book in the series, the Ptolemies, (also sold under the title House of Eagles)if it's been awhile since you've read it; the details of the first book are important to this second. Especially as pertains to the women of the Royal House, who end up being married off to various allies and enemies as hostage brides; some are killed, and some will return to Egypt to make further serious mischief. The saga continues, and I can't wait for the next installment. Not the least of which is wondering which Egyptian deity will be the narrator next time around...

Some quibbles with the publishing / availability of this book: I bought the first Ptolemies book overseas, under a different title, years ago, and have been haunting US bookstores ever since looking for the sequels. I finally found Daughter of the Crocodile on the Internet two years after its original publication date. I cannot understand why this fine series is not promoted or made widely available in the US. Books of this quality should not be so difficult to find.

I also question the first two reader critiques in this file, which are exactly the same reader critiques shown under the first book of this series, The Ptolemies. Is this a mistake somewhere?


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Product Description
A journey through 20,000 years of history and myth in search of the answer to a single question: Do animals have souls?
 
Anyone who has ever mourned the loss of a cherished pet has wondered about the animal soul. Do animals survive the death of the body, or are they doomed to disappear completely when they leave this world behind? Both scientists and religious authorities have long scoffed at the idea of animals in heaven. Yet the question endures. In this wise, immensely readable book, Ptolemy Tompkins embarks on a quest for the answer—taking us on a top-speed tour of the history of the animal soul.
 
Equally at home with mainstream and alternative spiritual philosophies, Tompkins takes us from the savannas of Africa to the earth’s first cities to the early days of the great faith traditions of both East and West. Along the way, he shows that, despite what many of us have been taught, the world’s various spiritual traditions all have profoundly meaningful things to say about the animal soul, if we simply know where to look. Rescuing these ancient insights and blending them with vivid stories about animals today—from a dwarf rabbit named Angus to a manatee named Moose to a black bear named Little Bit—The Divine Life of Animals paints a gloriously inclusive picture of the cosmos as a place made up of both matter and spirit, in which animals are every bit as important, spiritually speaking, as the humans with whom they share the world. Though it is startlingly original, The Divine Life of Animals also feels strangely and instantly familiar, for it reveals truths that many of us have held in our hearts already, waiting only for someone to give fresh voice to one of the oldest and most trustworthy intuitions we possess.
 
The Divine Life of Animals offers a compelling and timeless vision of the relationship between humans and animals that will have you looking at the animals in your life with new eyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not what I expected
I was expecting sweet anecdotal stories about animals but the book was mostly a complicated metaphysical analysis of something I couldn't figure out.

Human animal Bond
In the ever growing market for K-9, and cat,relationships Is is one book all animal lovers should read. Well rewritten, and a pager turn turner. Authors did a great job!

The Divine Life of Animals by Ptolemy Tomkins
Wonderful book!For me, it confirmed what I already knew about my spiritual path and that of the animals I have loved and cared about on my journey.Highly recommended!

Not an Easy Read but Worthwhile
Anyone who's lost a beloved pet knows the pain, emptiness, even despair of the loss of an animal friend and companion. One suffering such a loss is wrought with feelings of guilt, disbelief, and uncertainty. In my case, questions of animal mortality or immortality came to mind so I wanted to read a book confirming my belief or rather hope that dogs too possess a spirit or soul that survives the body. Thus I decided to read "The Divine Life of Animals" looking for answers, support, confirmation, and perhaps some uplifting stories.

Reading this extensively researched book is like taking a long trip, a specific destination in mind, but delayed with what one at first perceives to be excessive detours, wrong turns, and dead ends. After reading the first of five sections, a laborious read exploring ancient religious beliefs, Mayans, Eastern religions, primitive man, and early and pre-Biblical Jewish beliefs I was ready to call it quits. My wife, who had read the book before me, suggested I persist because the book would soon take a turn for the better.

I'm glad I followed her advice. Once the author arrives in the present time with modern day anecdotes and current thought, my interest and enjoyment of the book heightened. In the last few chapters all the esoteric and the exotic and the mysterious came into alignment, into a merger of what I could even call enlightenment.The ending brings a satisfaction that makes the long, sometimes-arduous journey worthwhile. I may even pursue my newfound interest in the otherworldly topics brought up by Tompkins with further reading.

Overall the Tompkins does a masterful job with impressive research and background though the book's beginning reads more like a scholarly research paper or textbook than I would have liked.

Do animals go to heaven? An exploration of the spiritual lives of animals
In his book latest book, The Divine Life of Animals, One Man's Quest to Discover Whether the Souls of Animals Live on, acclaimed author Ptolemy Tompkins (son of Peter Tompkins, author of The Secret Life of Plants) seeks to answer the question, do animals go to heaven? His search for the truth leads the reader down an intricate and fascinating path that explores not only whether animals have souls, but also the question of what a soul is, as it's been perceived through time and across cultures.

In his pursuit of understanding how the soul pertains to animals, Tomkins examines beliefs about the human soul, highlighting eastern and western religion, ancient philosophies and practices of prehistoric people. The story of the human soul is inextricably intertwined with man's relationship to the physical world and nature, and it is here where Tompkins reveals to the reader how the wisdom of the ages lives on in modern life. Woven through the narrative are the stories of Penny, a neglected dog, Angus, Tompkins' own pet rabbit, Moose the Manatee, and a bear named Little Bit, all of whom through their own distintiveness in both `animality' and personality touched human lives in a profound way and who illustrate the surprising reason why people and animals need each other now more than ever.

Beautifully written and thoroughly captivating, you'll want to read this book - even if you think you already know the answer to this question.

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Product Description
From a refreshingly antic new voice in historical fiction, this epically entertaining, irresistibly madcap novel re-creates an ancient family whose obsessions and dysfunctions would change the world, for better or worse.

They were the last pharaohs to rule Egypt. Ptolemy Soter (putative half-brother of Alexander the Great–his mother may have been raped by Alexander’s father) begins it all when he takes the kingdom of the Nile as his share of the empire and brings along Alexander’s carefully embalmed corpse for luck. Soon enough, Ptolemy, in a kind of ancient corporate takeover, becomes pharoah, the living god of Egypt, first in what he hopes will be a long line of Ptolemies. Scheming priests, conniving wives, errant sons and daughters (some of whom have a thing for each other), and an epic’s worth of battles and intrigue make for a tale so rich in upheaval and mayhem that perhaps only our narrator, the irreverent and disapproving Thoth, Egyptian god of Wisdom and Patron of Scribes, could do it justice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Duncan Sprott's The Ptolemies (aka House of the Eagle)
Published in the UK as "House of the Eagle," The Ptolemies is the first book in Duncan Sprott's Alexandria quartet.This is a massive, dense book, more akin to historical nonfiction than a novel.No dialog breaks up the massive blocks of text; those hoping for a snappy read should run for the hills.This is the story of the Ptolemaic dynasty begun by Ptolemy Soter, one-time general of Alexander the Great, who later became, in order, Satrap of Egypt, Pharaoh of Egypt, and finally a god of Egypt.Oh, and the story is told by Thoth, the Egyptian god of scribes.

The Ptolemies reminds me of three other books: Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude," Norman Mailer's "Ancient Evenings," and Evan Connell's "Deus Lo Volt."The Mailer because it's set in ancient Egypt, the Connell because it's a history book in the guise of fiction.But more than either of those it reminds me of the Marquez in that it recounts, at great length, the epic exploits of one family through several generations.And like the Marquez it recounts these exploits with a sort of reserved demeanor, despite the murders, the wars, the supernatural occurrences - all of it relayed with a matter-of-factness.To make the comparison even firmer, The Ptolemies even features a young girl who eats dirt!

And yet this matter-of-factness harms the book.Page after page of dense text unfolds, Sprott leaving no stone unturned, but the drama lacks.Everything is relayed via summary; there are no tense moments or heartfelt moments or touching moments.It's all this happened then that happened then this happened.Characters never speak their own words, we instead are told what they say.Wars are pronounced as hopeless or lost before the armies have even met.The fates of major characters are announced moments after they first appear in the narrative.

To make matters worse, Sprott somehows feels he must stay close to history, even though he's writing a novel.This of course makes The Ptolemies seem all the more like nonfiction, and even in those areas where Sprott COULD increase the fictional element (ie where exactly Alexander was buried, what happened to Ptolemy's Athenian courtesan Thais, or even what happened to Thais and Ptolemy's daughter) he instead has Thoth claim a lack of knowledge.This is part of the joke - Thoth bombasts us with constant assurances of his omniscience, only to claim a few sentences later that he doesn't know something - yet the shtick wears thin.It's not like this really IS a work of historical nonfiction; it's not like scholars are going to tear Sprott apart for illuminating via his imagination those corners which history has left in shadow.But Sprott takes the safe route every time, making the reader wonder if he or she shouldn't just read an actual book on the Ptolemaic dynasty instead.

Sprott followed this novel two years later with "Daughter of the Crocodile," which continues the tale into the reign of Ptolemy II.It wasn't even published in the US.This implies that The Ptolemies was a poor seller.No surprise, really; it's overlong and at times boring.Even the Library Journal advised that The Ptolemies was "Not Recommended," and they recommend everything!But despite its faults this book has many attractions for those of us in love with the ancient world; therefore, "Daughter of the Crocodile" might someday end up on my reading list.Just not anytime soon.

Too much Greek Bashing!!
Although I had high hopes for this book it ultimately disappoints. It is too long-winded and the story never maintains a smooth flow.
Even though Thoth narrates the story from an Egyptian point of view the Greek bashing that goes on continuously does not convey the feeling that it is made as an aid to understand the differences in the cultures or people but simply as a mechanism to demean Greeks and Greece as a whole.
As for extensive research, that may be true for the historical facts, but when Sprott uses Greek words or phrases as a wow-he-is-so-learned factor he would have done much better if he employed any Greek school kid as an advisor.
Lastly, in which Greek tourist trap did he ever learn that moussakka was a food eaten by ancient greeks???!!!!

same novel...different title
Someone needs to point out that "The Ptolemies" and "The House of the Eagle" are the exact same novel.Amazon should not be offering them together as two-novel deal.I would be reluctant now to order "Daughter of the Crocodile" since it might be the same novel again under a third title.

Egyptian and Greek Cultural Saga
Sprott presents here the first of a trilogy on the history of the Ptolemy Greek dynasty of Egypt.Cleopatra is the well-known romantic-tragic figure who was the last of the Ptolemy dynasty that ruled Egypt from the 300s till their defeat by Rome.

This first volume tells a very detailed, apparently well-researched story of the Ptolemy Greek dynasty of Egypt, beginning in the campaigns of Ptolemy with Alexander the Great.It carries through to the second generation of the Ptolemy family and the end of the "Successors," the generals who parceled out the empire of Alexander, then fought each other for more.

This story is a novel, but appears to be well-researched and utilizes vivid personal and environmental detail to bring to us an ancient, very different period of life and culture.The story is told by Thoth, the Egyptian ibis god of knowledge and writing.

But much of the story is necessarily from the perspective of Ptolemy, who became Ptolemy Soter (Deliverer, Saviour), the founder of the Egyptian Greek dynasty.He was declared a god in his own lifetime by the Greek oracle of Zeus in Libya, as well as agreeing late in his kingship to become the King of the Egyptians, which meant he was deified as the representative of Ra, the Sun God.

But in a Mitchneresque pattern, the author explains and fills in much background and helps the reader make connections.He provides an extensive family tree, lists of the lineages, a glossary explaining the names of the gods and other terms, and a long cast of characters.He does a very good job keeping identities clear in such a saga involving cultures and dynasties that used a variety of names.

Sprott provides good cultural insights, and deals with the ethnic attitudes of the various cultures and classes.I have continued to watch for the followup volumes in the series, but as of early 2009, I have not seen a further title from Sprott.

Sometimes fascinating, sometimes slow, always the glass is half empty
The Ptolemies is a novel chronicling the lives of the first two rulers of this dynasty. It contains a wealth of detail that is sometimes fascinating and sometimes distracting. The two most famous Ptolemies are the first (Ptolemy I) and the last (Cleopatra VII; THE Cleopatra). Therefore, the dynasty is circumscribed and defined by the history of Alexander at the beginning and Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony at the end. This book does not deal with the later Ptolemies (although a sequel apparently will), but since Ptolemy I rose to prominence as a comrade in arms of Alexander the Great, a familiarity with Alexander is ESSENTIAL. The recently dead Alexander is a brooding presence hanging over the whole story and the book is neither adequate nor optimal source material regarding him. Readers with a serious interest should read either Steven Pressfield's short and fast-paced novel Virtues of War (not one of his best), the longer 3 book cycle Alexander by Valerio Massimo Manfredi or the scholarly biography by Robin Lane Fox (all available at Amazon.com). All of them are good and will provide the sense of perspective required to appreciate this book. Without Alexander, the name of Ptolemy would be obscure.

The story is told through the eyes of the Egyption god Toth, and here lies the major problem with the book. The god is cynical and contemptuous of the characters in his own novel. This is a problem. Modern readers are not accustomed to cynicism and contempt from a deity, perhaps because ours are universal and should see all men as equal. Toth, though, being a parochial Egyption deity has a very poor view of non-Egyptians - and almost all the characters are non-Egyptians, since the Ptolemies were Macedonians. The repeated denigration of everyone and everything is particularly pronounced in the first hundred pages or so, but after this begins to abate somewhat. Around this time too the reader begins to realize that Toth, god or not, is just about as ignorant and short sighted as the characters he despises, irrespective of his claims to the contrary. Another problem is the deliberately stilted archaic style. I am familiar with this device as used for Arthurian legend, but here the style is quite unique and whether this is how translated Egyptian would read I do not know. In any case, this stylistic choice together with the god's use of four letter words (!) is distracting.

Once you get past these artistic choices, the book is interesting because Egypt under the Ptolemies is far less familiar territory than say ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt before the Greeks. As such, the book fills an important gap in the popular historic literature. Many readers will particularly enjoy learning about the details of daily living in Egypt in the 4th century BC. At times the pace is too slow and Ptolemy's thoughts are repeated over and over again. This is too bad, because reconstruction of the thoughts of historical figures is generally the most questionable part of historical fiction, and here there is too much of it. To me the most fascinating part was the latter half of the book in which the focus shifts to the offspring of the first Ptolemy.

Great books involve their readers because they are written with a love of the period and its people (see Elizabeth Kostova's bestseller The Historian, for example). In The Ptolemies there is not much love to go around. From beginning to end we are told that the story is one of misfortune, blood and death. Really, the story is no different than that of any other dynasty of ancient or more recent times, with neither more nor fewer assassinations, deaths and intrigues. Yet the Ptolemies had their glories too, so the preference for calling the glass half empty is unnecessary, because it could just as well be half full. I think the material is fascinating, I just wish the tone could have been different.
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Product Description
Ptolemy's Geography is the only book on cartography to have survived from the classical period and one of the most influential scientific works of all time. Written in the second century AD, for more than fifteen centuries it was the most detailed topography of Europe and Asia available and the best reference on how to gather data and draw maps. Ptolemy championed the use of astronomical observation and applied mathematics in determining geographical locations. But more importantly, he introduced the practice of writing down coordinates of latitude and longitude for every feature drawn on a world map, so that someone else possessing only the text of the Geography could reproduce Ptolemy's map at any time, in whole or in part, at any scale.

Here Berggren and Jones render an exemplary translation of the Geography and provide a thorough introduction, which treats the historical and technical background of Ptolemy's work, the contents of the Geography, and the later history of the work. Also included here are unique color reproductions of maps from manuscripts and early printed editions of the text, representative of the beautiful and practical cartographic artistry that flowed from Ptolemy's work. Historians of science, classicists, and anyone who enjoys beautiful maps or map making will find this work an indispensable addition to their library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A glimpse into the past
Reading the translated text of Ptolemy's Geography gives you a glimpse into the scientific, technical, social and political minds of those times. From a technical aspect, the maps are really quite good, considering the limited tools and data that Ptolemy had at his disposal. There are many mistakes, those about Africa and Asia are extreme, but it is possible to recognize the general shapes of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The descriptions of how to determine locations from astronomical observations and the manner whereby it is interpreted is a classic example of stretching a technology to its' limits. For somewhere in the neighborhood of fifteen centuries, his maps were not significantly improved, which is a technical achievement that may be unequaled in any other field.
From the political and social realm we see that the Mediterranean is the hub of the world, with China and India a significant, albeit peripheral part. Africa below the Sahara desert is a great unknown, as there is little more than an empty spot on the map. North Africa is simply Libia and southern Africa is Ethiopia.
The translators have done a very good job with what was a very difficult subject. They begin with a great deal of explanation and close with a series of appendices that clarify many of the intermediate points. There is also a section of maps, where Ptolemy's are compared with modern ones. However, this is a translation of the theoretical chapters only, so if you are looking for the complete text, you will have to look elsewhere.
One of the greatest technical triumphs of the ancient world, Ptolemy's Geography can teach us much aboutthe world in which he lived and worked. I found this translation of his great work to be well worth reading.

Well done, but incomplete
The introduction is excellent and translation is well done, however the book is incomplete - it offers only a tiny sampling of Ptolemy's geography (only the book concerning Gaul), which may disappoint some (I was certainly surprised, expecting to see a full translation). ... Read more

Product Description
"I can think of few better ways of introducing students to the history of astronomy than by using The Eye of Heaven as a text....This is science at its best....Not only does Gingerich make you think, he also forces you back in time and makes you think as astronomers did then. Students need this inspiration." David Hughes, New Scientist

Astronomer and historian Owen Gingerich provides a fascinating introduction to three giants of early astronomy: Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Kepler. In these collected essays, Gingerich examines the revolution in man's conception of the universe brought about by the shift from the earth-centered cosmos of Ptolemy to the sun-centered model of Copernicus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Eye of Heaven: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler
I bought this book because I am hoping to write a book myself, giving a thumbnail sketch of history relevant to today's climate science (including Global Warming) from the Ancient Egyptians through Newton and Foucault and into the present. Real meteorology started 7 years after Foucault's work, as a direct result of what was learned from Foucault's pendulum.

I am a climate scientist, not an historian, so I have a steep learning curve to write such a book.I had previously obtained Toomer's magnificent translation of Ptolemy's "Almagest" (it shows Ptolemy to have been the world's first full-on theoretical physicist, and a magnificent teacher). I knew Toomer valued Gingerich highly, so I bought Gingerich's book. It has not disappointed. It has helped me to understand Ptolemy's fairly opaque book much better, and has also given me a much better appreciation of Copernicus the man.
I would have liked it if Gingerich had described Brahe in the same way -- we scientists value observations first, then theory -- and Ivar Peterson's "Newton's Clock" does a better job on Kepler. Nevertheless, I nearly gave this book five stars, not four.

Required reading!
This book is essential for anybody who wants to understand what Ptolemy, Copernicus and Kepler really did. It's a bit more technical than "The Great Copernicus Chase", but if you're serious, you'll appreciate it.

And if you're really serious, you'll get a copy of the paper by James Evans in Am. J. Phys 56 (Nov, 1988) 1009-1024. It answered tons of technical questions for me. Just do it, you'll thank me (and Jim Evans!). ... Read more

Product Description
Claudius Ptolemy (c.100 - c.178 AD), of Alexandria, was one of the greatest philosopher/scientists of the ancient world.Among his books are the Almagest, Geography, Optics, Planispherium and Tetrabiblos.

The earliest surviving version of Tetrabiblos is the paraphrase attributed to Proclus the Philosopher (412-485).Tetrabiblos (literally, "four books") was long thought to be a complete survey of Greek astrology.Recent research suggests this not to be the case, but Ptolemy’s work remains the foundation of western astrology.In particular, his persuasive use of the Tropical Zodiac, rather than the Sidereal, changed western astrology forever.

Book 1 of Tetrabiblos defines various technical terms and supplies other information needed by the astrologer.Chapters 9, 10 and 11 detail the influence of fixed stars in various constellations.

Book 2 is the astrology of nations and their rulers.Books 3 & 4 are devoted to Natal Astrology.Book 3, chapter 2, explains Ptolemy’s method of rectifying the Ascendant.Chapter 10 gives a method for determining life expectancy.Book 4 deals with fortunes of wealth & rank, as well as employment, marriage, children, death, etc.

Also included are extracts from Ptolemy's Almagest (a compendium of Greek astronomy), as well as "Ptolemy’s Centiloquy," a list of aphorisms, the authorship of which is disputed.Many of the 100 deal with horary astrology.They have been studied by astrologers for centuries.

Translations:Gardner (1911) lists four English translations of Tetrabiblos.The first was by John Walley, 1701.The second was Walley’s translation, edited by Sibley and Brown, 1786, which is said to be worthless.The third, by James Wilson (author of the famous Dictionary of Astrology), was published in 1820.The fourth (this one, by far the best), was by J.M. Ashmand, 1822.A fifth translation was made in 1940 by F.E. Robbins.Of these several translators, only Ashmand could claim to be both a Greek and Latin scholar as well as an experienced astrologer.We are honored to present Ashmand’s translation to a new generation of students.

Every serious astrologer, from the 3rd century to the present, has studied the Tetrabiblos.With the current revival of traditional astrology, it remains essential reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very nice edition
Ptolomy's "Tetrabiblos" (as most call it today) is the seminal work on western Astrology.It covers a tremendous area including nativities, astrology of events, and advanced matters of interpretation.The work has been one of the most influential works assembled in its day and had a wide-ranging impact on the later developments in Hellenistic times, among the Christian late middle ages, and the Islamic golden age as well.

This book is nicely typeset with facing page translation.The translation is clear and easy to read, but careful to preserve the original meanings and hence preserving more of Ptolomy's style than many readers might desire.The footnotes are generally helpful and the introduction places much in context.

Anyone interested in studying the Hellenistic world, Astrology, or the Classics will want to get this book.Highly recommended.

That Aries the Ram was the Sign of the Jews
Astrologers and astronomers searching for the Star of Bethlehem have long overlooked this primary source for an important piece of evidence: Aries the Ram ruled over Judea. This helped me reveal the Star that pointed the Magi to Judea where the King of the Jews was born on April 17, 6 BC - two years before King Herod died. My book, The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi also made use of other astrological primary sources which showed that to understand the Magi's Star, we need to understand astrology as it practiced as Ptolemy described.

The Tetrabiblos belongs on every classical historian's bookshelf. It is a major primary source on astrology as it was praticed in Roman times.

A Must for any Astrology/Metaphysical Library
The wonderful thing about this translation of Ptolemy's seminal work in Astrology is the conscientious and painstaking work to adhere to the original text which appears on the opposing side of the english texttranslation. I am in a position to corroborate myself its accuracy. As aresult however the English text is not an easy or flowing contemporarystyle. This is not a quick read, and probably should be used as reference.It covers a multitude of Astrological areas and can serve as a springboardto further inquiry. The book is a compact size, typeface and spacingpleasant and non-fatiguing.

The Bible amongst astrology litterature.
This book is the source for most astrology - the ancients as well as the moderns students - who have respect for the art.Claudius Ptolemy was born in Egypt and lived in the years 100-178 (ref. Tetrabiblos)and left thescripts which is presented here in the four books "TetraBiblos".

It is from this scripts astrologers through the times hasfound the descriptions of the strength of dignities and debillities of theplanets, the methodes of making predictions, subdivisions of the science ofnativities, bodily descriptions etc. ... Read more

Product Description
The pot thief is back, but this time Hubert Schuze' larceny is for a good cause. He wants to recover sacred pots stolen from San Roque, the mysterious New Mexico pueblo closed to outsiders. An easy task for Hubert Schuze, pot digger. Except these pots are not under the ground - they're 150 feet above it. In the top-floor apartment of Rio Grande Lofts, a high-security building which just happens to be one story above Susannah's latest love interest. Hubie's legendary deductive skills lead to a perfect plan which is thwarted when he encounters the beautiful Stella. And when he is arrested for murder. Well, he was in the room where the body was found, everyone heard the shot, and he came out with blood on his hands. Follow Hubie as he stays one step ahead of building security, one step behind Stella, and one step away from a long fall down a garbage chute. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Light, fun mystery set in New Mexico
This light, cozy mystery stars Hubert Schuze, a pot digger and craftsman, who plans to break into an apartment to retrieve some sacred Pueblo pots that have been stolen by a deceitful professor of anthropology and archaeology. The story is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I lived for several years, and the author does a great job of portraying the distinctive culture and flavor of that area.

The book is also very funny, and made this reader laugh out loud many times. I especially liked the conversations between Hubert and his friend Susannah, who is a bit of a Mrs. Malaprop at times (she says he has "post-dramatic syndrome" after some bad guys break into his shop while he's there and smash his pots). I thought it was fun that Susannah lends him a copy of Lawrence Block's "The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza," but Hubie unfortunately doesn't have Bernie Rhodenbarr's ease and confidence after he's gone to the trouble of breaking into a place.

In addition there's a good mystery plot and a cast of colorful characters. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys humorous mysteries or a Southwestern setting.

Very funny New Mexico mystery
I have read both of Dr Orenduff's books and look forward to his third book.I live in Albuquerque where the books take place and really enjoy his humor and his excellent comments on life, our government and on people in general.He changes the names of some of the places in Albuquerque but is right on in his description of our Old Town area and the flavor of our life here. His protagonist is very likeable-though hardly perfect, and I have recommended this book to many people.Long live the Pot Thief!

Another great book by this gifted writer
I really, really liked Orenduff's first book but I have to say I LOVE this one.Orenduff has a talent for mystery writing sprinkled with quick wit that is hard to beat.He obviously does his homework when it comes to making pots.He describes in loving detail just what it takes for his character, Hubie, to duplicate these rare and very old vessels.You will love all the colorful characters he has created and I challenge anyone to read a chapter without laughing out loud as the mystery unfolds.Keep the books coming!!

The Pot Thief Who Studied Ptolemy
I loved this book! I grew up in Albuquerque, so reading this was like a walk down memory lane. Even if you're not from the Southwest, the humor and mystery are worth the read.

Pot King of Duke City Rides Again


Easily overlooked and at personal peril underestimated, Hubie Schuze is as comfortable as a pair of slippers. He's short, on the wrong side of forty-five, and lives in the back of his shop, an ancient adobe building in the colourful Old Town part of Albuquerque in the Land of Enchantment. Hubie makes replica pots, but given the right circumstances, he also steals originals.
Hubie is a lapsed archaeologist turned businessman, booted out of university for "relocating" Puebloan pots up to a thousand years old. Nothing makes him happier than being alone under the desert stars digging up a treasure. "I figure I'm part of the public, so why shouldn't I have the right to prospect on our land?" he asks in all insouciance. It was much more pleasant before the bothersome Archaeological Resources Protection Act.
True to his own ethical code, Hubie has a bone to pick with the establishment. Phony language such as "deaccessioning" doesn't fool him. In some dig sites, scientists rebury the pottery, or even toss it out. As for the hypocrisy of museums, they lock away glorious artifacts so that no one can enjoy them, a real crime. A master potter and materials scientist in his own right, Hubie loves "pushing pots by day and digging them up by the light of the moon." Those which make up his real income have dubious parentage and command five figures. Dry spells do happen. That's when he has time to volunteer to correct an injustice.
From a trusted connoisseur friend,Hubie learns that five legendary pots were supposed to be returned to the elders at the nearby San Roque Pueblo, but ended up in the hands of an unscrupulous university professor. What's the problem? The professor lives in an eleven-story loft building constructed like a fortress with state-of-the-art defenses. This caper is the ultimate challenge, Topkapi Revisited.
As in the debut novel, where Pythagorus guided Hubie's philosophy, this time Ptolemy's wisdom oversees the parallels. What better place than the ebony New Mexico desert sky to demonstrate the optical illusion of retrograde motion, like a circle in a spiral? The hypnotizing paths of the stars form a pattern for life and give Man an idea of his inconsequence.
Hubie has a reverence for history and the few living links too stubborn to disappear. This respect often gains him access to the inner sanctums and secrets of the sacred kivas."Ma children are taught to recite their ancestors' names back for ten generations. Everyone before that is called an ancestor without a name."
To hear Hubie describe pottery is to sit at the feet of a poet. "The pot...demonstrated perfectly how a flat plane can be represented on a curved surface....the glaze where the lightning coincided with the clouds must have been altered ever so slightly." When he can touch the same clay that an ancient molded, he is in heaven on earth.
Enjoy a salt-rimmed margarita with Hubie's Basque friend Susannah at Dos Hermanas Tortilleria in the soft breeze and muted light of magical Duke City. Their friendship a touchstone in the uncertainties of life, they spar screwball-comedy style about Warner Oland, Merle Oberon, and Sidney Greenstreet. And on the way home, Hubie's neighbour Gladys, Nuestra Senora de los Casseroles, will be waiting in ambush with a King Ranch Chicken Hot Dish. Life is good. ... Read more

Product Description
The Tetrabiblos, or 'four-part book' of Ptolemy is one of the most important surviving ancient texts on Astrology. Claudius Ptolemy, the second century C.E. author of this book, is best known as the originator of the Ptolemaic system. The Earth stood fixed at the center of the universe, with crystalline spheres within spheres whirling around it. In balance, the universe had a vast influence on earthly events, which was the basis for the belief in Astrology. This explanation stood for nearly a millenium and a half, bolstered by its acceptance as orthodoxy by the Catholic Church, until Copernicus and Galileo demolished it and placed the heliocentric (sun-centered) system in its place. ... Read more

Product Description
Few other civilizations rival Ancient Egypt in its power to capture the modern imagination, and Cleopatra VII, monarch at the end of the Ptolemaic period, has always been preeminent among its cast of characters. Coming to power just before the unstable state was about to be absorbed into an autocratic empire, Cleopatra oversaw not only Egypt's progress as an influential regional power but also the fragile peace of its ethnically mixed population.

Michel Chauveau looks at many facets of life under this queen and her dynasty, drawing on such sources as firsthand accounts, numismatics, and Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. His use of such sources helps to free the narrative of dependence on later (and usually hostile) Greek and Roman historians. By taking up such subjects as funeral customs, language and writing, social class structure, religion, and administration, he affords the reader an unprecedented and comprehensive picture of Greek and Egyptian life in both the cities and the countryside.

Originally published in French in 1997, Egypt in the Age of Cleopatra fulfills a long-standing need for an accessible introduction to the social, economic, religious, military, and cultural history of Ptolemaic Egypt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another excelent book if you wonder what daily life was like in Egypt over 2000 years ago!
What fascinated me about this book is that it explains several aspects of daily life in an Egypt, not only dominated by the Macedonian Lagides, but in a land where Greek settlers and Egyptian natives coexisted. It is quite interesting to learn how the two groups related to each other in their city life, rural space, property, bodies of law, religious beliefs, national identity, and of course family ties by marriage and blood. The translation is quite good (not that I've read the original French version to compare both, but it reads smoothly in English). However, I only give it 4 stars as the book (which is very interesting at first) became a little tiresome for me at the end.Nefertiti: Unlocking the Mystery Surrounding Egypt's Most Famous and Beautiful Queen

an excellent book
This book is a social and economic study of the Ptolemaic period, dealing particularly with the reign of Cleopatra. The author provides a history of the period, an overview of Cleopatra's relations with Antony, an excellentpresentation of the Greek pharaohs and the Lagide people, and a briefintroduction to the religion, military, economy, art and languages of theselesser-known times. Beautifully translated from the French, the book offersa few black and white photographs. For the interested students andscholars. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Product Description
Second-century classic of civilization listed over 8000 places in Europe, Africa and Asia, tabulated according to latitude and longitude. Excellent reproduction of the rare first (and definitive) English translation, published in a limited edition of 250 copies by the New York Public Library. Included are 27 maps from the Ebner Manuscript, ca. 1460, and an Introduction by Professor Joseph Fischer, S. J.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Important work with a good translatoin
Ptolomy stands as one of the most important individuals in the history of natural science and philosophy.He wrote books on astrology, astronomy, and geography, and each of these contributes a significant amount of knowledge to our understanding of the shape of natural sciences in Europe.He argues clearly based on travel observations that the earth must be a sphere, that Venus and Mercury must revolve around the sun (I think that's in Tetrabiblos iirc).

This work is similarly no less important.In it, Ptolomy set out to map all of the known world including all of Europe, parts of Africa, and parts of Asia.The maps are important because they provide us a view of the ancient world through the eyes of this great scholar, and they help us understand the general geography of Roman historians generally.

The maps in this book are quite clearly reproduced in a scaled-down format and are hard to read.They are helpful nonetheless in general historical studies.The rest of the book is largely a collection of latitudes and longitudes for cities.While this isn't the most exciting reading in the world, it's a handy reference.

AMust -Read for understanding European history
This book ,finally translated into English language, has for centuries been missing in the live of English speaking people. The knowledge other Europeans had for many centuries about their early history has been virtually missing from the English speaking world, particularly the United States. One has to wonder ,why ? In the 150's AD Claudius Ptolemy clearly shows the people ofEurope and the world.Ptolemy shows Magna Germania at the Vistula river (Vistula being the Gothic name) and verifies the recorded history of Tacitus who in 98 AD recorded the Britons and the Germanic people in the Agricola and the Germania.

Ptolemy Geography was not re-discovered until the mid 1500's. Nevertheless the original river and place names remained from original times throughout the centuries of attacks from the east on Germania, which brought in many new people.

It also gives great information on all parts of the then known world 1900 years ago .

The map drawings , today so different, are a real challenge. But the original place names help to find the correct places.

Ptolemy should be required study in every school class . ... Read more