Customer Reviews (2)

Prairie Gothic - A Texas Genisis
My family came to Texas when it still belonged to Spain and I grew up in South Texas in roughly the same generation as John Erickson. I saw my whole family in this book. They were all there, the outlaws and lawmen, the ranchers and shop keepers, the drunks and the Baptists. Erickson has what only the truly great writers have: the ability to tell a story. And it is a story of his family, perhaps the hardest subject for a writer to write about with competence. There are two distinct gifts I received from this book. The first was the honesty, tenderness and love with which Erickson treated the story of some of his relations who may not have been at the pinnacle of society's list of admirable role models. The second is the amazing strength, determination and grit of the women prior to our modern times. We have few of their equal today. Whether you're from Connecticut, Utah, Florida or Texas, this book is worth reading and rereading.

An excellent portrayal of a West Texas family.
This is a well written book about a West Texas Family.John R. Erickson, creator of Hank the Cowdog Series, introduces us to his Texas family along with descriptive stories of life in the pioneering era of the West. ... Read more

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This book is the second part of the text Differential Equations: A Dynamical Systems Approach written by John Hubbard and Beverly West. It is a continuation of the subject matter discussed in the first book, with an emphasis on systems of ordinary differential equations. This book will be most appropriate for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of mathematics, engineering, applied mathematics, as well as in the life sciences, physics, and economics. This book opens with an introduction, and follows with chapters on systems of differential equations, systems of linear differential equations, and systems of nonlinear differential equations. The book continues with structural stability, bifurcations, and an appendix on linear algebra. The authors also include an appendix containing important theorems from parts I and II, as well as answers to selected problems. ... Read more

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Excellent book!
Very clear and intuitive upper-undergrad/graduate level text. I highly recomend it. ... Read more

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The most comprehensive single-volume reference on opera provides opera synopses, first performance details, bibliographies of works about opera, entries on singers, discussions of technical terms, historical surveys, and much more. ... Read more

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"John Holland Jenkins was thirteen and a half years old when the Alamo fell in 1836 and he became a soldier of the Texas Republic under General Sam Houston.... [But] it was not until 1884, when he was past sixty years old, that he began writing down . . . the reminiscences that, as now put into book form, light up for whoever will read [them] the earliest days of early English-speaking Texas." --from the Foreword by J. Frank Dobie "This is the firsthand account by one who measured up to the demands of danger and hardships and lived to write about it for others. For, here is history in the making--Indian raids and Mexican forays were daily menaces and brought massacres, capture and torture to these first settlers. These reminiscences . . . are invaluable for their recordings of early frontier times and for their presentation of such historic happenings as the Mier and Santa Fe expeditions. The original flavor of the writing has been beautifully retained and the entire account is well documented." --Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good starting point
For a single book to get the feel of early Texas, this is very good. It is largely reminisces, but that is offset by the grandson's excellent editing notes that point out errors or give further details. There is some "man, we were good" attitude, but I believe that is understandable. I may rate Smithwick a slightly better read because of the humor and intelligence, but I felt this book gives a better overall picture of the time and situation. ... Read more

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Hugh Warren West was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942, during the height of the Second World War. Following nearly two years of intensive training in the United States, West traveled to Europe with the 14th Armored Division. This combat memoir covers fighting in Alsace, crossing the Rhine, breaching the Siegfried line, and battling throughout Southern Germany. Based on official unit histories and exhaustive interviews with West, this soldier's story is rich in personal anecdotes that run the gamut from humor to horror. ... Read more

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Limited availability.Please call us if you need this item right away. John E. Alvis, Editor Thomas G. West, Editor The essays contained in this book proceed from the common conviction that Shakespeare s poetry conveys a wisdom about politics commensurate with his artistry. Well-known thinkers discuss Shakespeare's understanding of politics, the idea of the best polity, the relationship between character and political life, and the interpenetration of poetry, politics, religion, and philosophy. Contributors include: John Alvis, Laurence Berns, Allan Bloom, Paul Cantor, Louise Cowan, Leo Paul de Alvarez, Christopher Flannery, Robert Heilman, Harry Jaffa, Michael Platt, Dain Trafton, Barbara Tovey, Thomas West ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fantastic book on Shakespeare
This winter break I went on a Shakespeare buying spree, and this book is one of the fine gems I found.A large, but fascinating book, this work of great scholarship and excitement takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare, even into rather obscure corners of his works (Trollius and Cressida, Timon of Athens).This book is a must read for any would be deep thinker about Shakespeare.

The New Shakespeareans
Shakespeare as Political Thinker is a must for everyone interested in the political thought of William Shakespeare. This reprint will finally allow new comers to become familair with a commonsensical approach toShakespeare's plays. The introductory chapter by John Alvis is worth theprice. Perhaps the best Shakespearean critic alive, Alvis has an uncannyability to show Shakespeare's moral seriousness without making the bard anunquestioning adherent to any political school or theological creed. Manyof the essays that follow are also well done: Jaffa's chapter onShakespeare's entire corpus, Laurence Berns' meditation on Lear etc.

Thesecond printing of Shakespeare as Political Thinker gives hope to thoseinterested in relearning ancient wisdom and pays tribute to itsinspiration, Shakespeare's Politics (Allan Bloom). ... Read more

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What you need to know

This book is for people who:

• Have some experience of programming ASP.NET with Visual Basic(r) .NET
• Are familiar with the operation of the .NET Framework
• Want to learn how to use ASP.NET to make data-centric web applications

What you will learn from this book

For a web site to offer its users an experience that improves on that of newspapers or textbooks, it needs a way to change the information it contains dynamically - and that means it needs access to a data source. Through the combination of ASP.NET and ADO.NET, Microsoft provides everything you need to access, read from, and write to a database so that your web users can view and manipulate that data from a web browser. In this book, we'll show you how it's done.

Packed with clear explanations and hands-on examples, Beginning ASP.NET Databases Using VB.NET contains everything you'll need on your journey to becoming a confident, successful programmer of data-driven web sites. In particular, we'll look at:

• Connecting to common data sources, including SQL Server(r) and MS Access
• Reading data with data reader and dataset objects
• Creating and deleting records, and editing data
• Displaying data with ASP.NET's web server controls
• Writing and using stored procedures from VB.NET code
• Placing your data access code in reusable class libraries

The book closes with a real-world case study that consolidates the tutorials throughout the book into a practical result.

"This book is based on my experience teaching hundreds of developers over the last 12 years. In it, you'll find everything you need to begin using databases from your ASP.NET applications." —John Kauffman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good For Additional Practice
I've recently finished building all the examples in this book from scratch, using both EditPlus and VS.NET2K3 on my workstation, and storing and testing the apps on my Win2K3/SQL2K server. Once I got the security settings and connection strings figured out, I was able to get all the examples to run properly.

This book can provide good additional practice for beginners to ASP.NET, after you've been through an introductory book, like Wrox's "Beginning ASP.NET with VB.NET 2003" (ISBN 0764557076), or it's C#.NET 2K3 equivalent, ISBN 0764557084.

The book is OK as far as it goes, but you have to get all the way up to Chapter 11 before they show you an example of an object-oriented application that interacts with a relational database. And even then, they don't run through all the code in the book, they just give you the simplest files and tell you to download the rest of the example application from the web site.

One big hole in the book is that it really should have a chapter on setting up and testing connections to various databases under various server scenarios. It's just a personal opinion, but I've always felt that it's important to run a test app that tests the database connection and read/update functions before you start to build anything else.

Another drawback is that both the Beginning books, and this database book, have examples of ASP.NET server controls which don't quite render properly in any browser except Internet Explorer. Each of these books should have a section that discusses how to test in various browsers, and how to tweak the code so the pages will render properly in Firefox, Safari, etc.

One big advantage of this particular book, however, is that they don't rely on any server controls that are available only in the Web Matrix design environment and only seem to run in a Web Matrix server. This is one big flaw in the beginning books.

It's probably also important to note that no combination of the beginning books and/or this book will really get you quite up to the skill level you need to have in order to do real ASP.NET database application development. Once you're ready to start doing that, Wrox's "Professional ASP.NET 1.1" (ISBN 0764558900) is an excellent reference source. It's not a tutorial, but it's got pretty comprehensive coverage of most of the issues you'll need to know about. Go through one of the Beginning books, then do this book, then get the Pro book and you'll be ready to start developing.

Mixed Bag
My guess is that the reviewers who gave this text five stars did not actually attempt to reproduce working versions of all the examples.The quality of this book is mixed, as is common for the multiple-author Wrox editions.Some of the chapters are exceptional, and deserve five stars, having clear and logical instruction as well as examples that work as described.Chapters 5 and 6 are examples of the best authoring, and it appears that the author with last name Ferracchiati has written some of the best chapters in the book.Other chapters are nightmarish excursions through incomplete and poorly explained code, with examples that don't work, and with files missing in the downloaded code.Examples of such chapters are 7, 9 and 10, with chapter 10 being so incredibly bad that it has permanently soured my outlook toward this text.To summarize - there is some useful information in the book, but don't pay more than a few dollars for it, and don't buy it if your own time is worth more than a few dollars per hour.

Frustrating Experience
I've been reading some of the other reviews on this page, and I can't believe they are reading the same book.I have had problems running the code in several of these exercises, particularly with any code that has the DataGrid control.I've also noticed I'm not the only with this problem, since I have browsed the Wrox website forums and found others who were having the same problems with the code.I even submitted code from Chapter 3, page 67 to Microsoft Support, after receiving nothing but a blank page when I ran it.Microsoft noticed that the code was MISSING a required clause!The exercise in question is the FIRST exercise in the book.If the first exercise you attempt fails even though you made no typos, it's frustrating.I can easily see a novice programmer getting discouraged and giving up.I'm an experienced ASP programmer and even I was getting fed up!

I've been a big fan of other books by Wrox, but this one leaves a lot to be desired.

Easy to follow
I have enough programming books that if weighed would weigh as much as a car.

I love this book.

The best part is that I can read it and follow the examples without having to sit at my computer.

The key word in the title is beginning. I have found it to be a great foundation book on its subject matter.

The authors should get an atta boy for this one.

Great for Beginers... Good reference
This was my first book on .NET and I think it was a great tool to help me learn the basics of database programming. After building on the basic concepts it goes on into deeper knowledge and real world examples. This book was the only resource I used to not only get started but to continue using as my desktop reference. The book has lots of examples and it's very detailed on the explanations. The authors have a clear and concise style that does not overwhelm the reader with extremely complex details. I recommend this book if you are a beginer on ASP.NET and I also think it serves as a good refenrece. ... Read more

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Describes the history and customs of the Edo of Benin who live in the rain forest of Nigeria and are known for their ivory and brass art. ... Read more

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Today, such issues as abortion, capital punishment, sex education, racism, prayer in public schools, and family values keep religion and politics closely entwined in American public life. This encyclopedia is an A-to-Z listing of a broad range of topics related to religious issues and politics, ranging from the religious freedom sought by the Pilgrims in the 1620s to the rise of the religious right in the 1980s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Vasco
Any book which starts with the words "There were two deafening explosions" has a good chance of turning out to be a good read. I was not disappointed. On the first page, the authors describe how, in 1942, a Canadian passenger steamer and a British freighter were sunk by a U-boat, in the usually tranquil harbour of Castries, St Lucia. Now, I had no idea about that.

Of course, we all know that the islands of the West Indies changed hands on a fairly regular basis during the first 300 years after their discovery, and "Caribbean Wars Untold" first reminds us of these always-interesting wranglings. However, the meat of this book is a description of how the lives of inhabitants of the West Indies have been hugely affected by British wars over the past 200 years - either by war coming to them, or by islanders going to war in overseas theatres as loyal subjects of the Crown.

I shall give no more away, except to say that the reason we haven't heard this story before is that much of the assistance given to Great Britain by the West Indians has been undervalued or ignored in official accounts. It is clear that Humphrey Metzgen and John Graham have carried out intensive research to fill this gap in history, and the long lists of notes and sources are all there - but, luckily, relegated to the appendices. What we have in the narrative is a most readable account, interspersed with eye-witness reports, of this interesting and exciting subject.

If, like me, you already have an interest in the Caribbean, its people, and things military, then you cannot afford to miss this book. But for anyone with only a glancing interest in any one of these subjects, "Caribbean Wars Untold" is worth placing in your suitcase instead of a novel before that trip to Barbados, St Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad - or, for that matter, anywhere in the Caribbean.

I couldn't put it down, and I only hope that Volume II is in its way... ... Read more

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Father De Smet
This is a solid, serviceable biography of the great Jesuit missionary of the West. Carriker recounts and evaluates the full life of the man, paying particular attention to De Smet's role as an intermediary between Indians and whites. De Smet was fearless, energetic, and fair - traits that won the respect of just about all who knew him.

De Smet was born in Belgium in 1801, came to the US at the age of 20, entered a Jesuit order near Baltimore, and was ordained in 1827 in St. Louis. After a four-year return to Europe, in 1838 his wish to become a missionary to the Indians was granted. Two years later he went to the Flathead country in the northern Rockies via the outward bound supply caravan from St. Louis, attending the 1840 Green River rendezvous. For the next several years he spent months traversing the Rockies, administering to the spiritual needs of the Indians, followed by journeys back to Europe to promote his work (he made over a dozen trips across the ocean to Europe). In 1845 he helped the Blackfeet and Flathead Indians reach a peace agreement, and (according to legend, probably not 100% true) met Brigham Young near Council Bluffs and convinced him of the benefits of settling near the Great Salt Lake. In 1851, he was at the great Fort Laramie council held on Horse Creek, helping to negotiate between the various Indian tribes present. Although De Smet was on hand at a number of peace councils, his greatest accomplishment regarding Indian affairs might have been in the summer of 1868 when he personally met Sitting Bull and got him to accept the Fort Laramie treaty. He died in St. Louis in 1873 of Bright's disease.

De Smet authored four books, the first, LETTERS AND SKETCHES: WITH A NARRATIVE OF A YEAR'S RESIDENCE AMONG THE INDIAN TRIBES OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, was published in 1843 and was his most popular book, going through numerous editions and many different translations in Europe. He was able to raise money for his missions with all his books. One of the most traveled men in the pre-Civil War West (over 180,000 miles), De Smet loved the rugged life of wilderness adventure. Only as an administrator did his talents falter. As a friend to the Indian he was supreme, and he was universally admired.

Carriker's biography is thorough and scholarly (the annotated footnotes are excellent), but not academically dull. He gives a full picture of the man and his work, and the book is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A insight into Appalachia of the 1860's
This was an interesting book that brought a lot of insight though no solid answers into a murder that inspired a ledgend and song.The book provides a lot of insight into life in the southern Appalachian mountains in the years following the War Between the States.As is usually the case there were haves and have nots.The principals in the story were have nots.It's actually a rather sordid tale of promiscuity, sloth and drunkeness on the part of the principals not representative of the majority of people living in the area at that time.One gets the impression that a more solid answer to the question of who killed Laura Foster is forth coming but in the end the reader will have to form his own opinion.At times the structure of the book seemed not to follow a logical time line and somehow at the end I felt sort of "left hanging." (No pun intended).It's worth a read for the greater depth of what happened behind the song and ledgend of Tom Dooley and for the insight into life in those times.It's a good book.It's not a great book.

The true story at last!
The subtitle of this book tells it all -- THE TRUE STORY OF THE APPALACHIAN MURDER THAT INSPIRED ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR BALLADS. The author has done meticulous research into the murder of Laura Foster which was popularized by the Kingston Trio. He uses court records, newspaper accounts, and other documents to authenticate his findings about her murder and the trial, conviction, and execution of Tom Dooley.I have read many accounts of the crime, but none were so well documented, and thistime I feel that I have an understanding of what really happened. The reader gets to know not only the facts of the case, but also the central figures, their families and neighbors, and the law and court officials.The background information also provides a picture of life in the foothill of North Carolina during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Even though the account sometimes reads like a history book and gets bogged down with details, it is a fascinating book and should be enjoyed by anyone who has an interest in history and who has ever hummed along with "The Ballad of Tom Dooley." ... Read more

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"The book is a readable, terse, theoretically developed treatment of an important episode in African history." -- Journal of African History

"It is original and authoritative, certainly the best book we have on the heritage of Umar's conquests." -- African History

"... lucid analysis of a changing jihad society. This study enlarges understanding not only of the Umarian empire but also of the jihad movements generally." -- Choice

John Hanson's thoroughly researched study revises late-19th-century colonialist assumptions about a West African Muslim social movement. Using indigenous Arabic manuscripts, travel narratives, and oral materials, Hanson assesses the meaning of a series of revolts against Islamic authority.

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Discover the magical Wee Wizards series. Jasper's dragon comes down with a bad case of opposite-itis the week of the Dragon Pageant at Abracadabra Elementary School. Jasper and his friends have to come up with a plan to cure the dragon's ailment before the big day. The perfect picture book for the youngest fantasy fan, this adventure also comes with trading cards that kids will love to share. ... Read more

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From fiddle tunes to folk ballads, from banjos to blues, traditional music thrives in the remote mountains and hollers of West Virginia. For a quarter century, "Goldenseal" magazine has given its readers intimate access to the lives and music of folk artists from across this pivotal state. Now the best of "Goldenseal" is gathered for the first time in this richly illustrated volume. Some of the country's finest folklorists take us through the backwoods and into the homes of such artists as fiddlers Clark Kessinger and U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, recording stars Lynn Davis and Molly O'Day, dulcimer master Russell Fluharty, National Heritage Fellowship recipient Melvin Wine, bluesman Nat Reese, and banjoist Sylvia O'Brien.The most complete survey to date of the vibrant strands of this music and its colorful practitioners, "Mountains of Music" delineates a unique culture where music and music making are part of an ancient and treasured heritage. The sly humor, strong faith, clear regional identity, and musical convictions of these performers draw the reader into families and communities bound by music from one generation to another.For devotees as well as newcomers to this infectiously joyous and heartfelt music, "Mountains of Music" captures the strength of tradition and the spontaneous power of living artistry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

book mountains of music
sent this book to my uncle jack for his birthday, we share a love of west virginia. it arrived promptly and he really enjoyed it. thank you. ... Read more