Average customer rating:
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Breve Historia Del Traje Y La Moda / Costume and Fashion. A Concise History. (Ensayos Arte Catedra / Essays Catedra Art)
James Laver
Manufacturer: Ediciones Catedra S.A.
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 8437607329 |
Amazon.com
As the title suggests in this final volume of William Dietz's illustrated trilogy of Star Wars: Dark Forces novels, this is a tale of a Jedi Knight. But which Jedi Knight? While the ex-storm trooper turned Rebel spy Kyle Katarn is the ostensible hero of the three books, his father is also a Jedi Knight of sorts. Kyle has done the impossible and trained himself in the way of the Force, but readers learn that his father had also glimpsed the Jedi way and had turned back. In addition, the novel is populated with a number of Dark Jedi, notably Yun, who sometimes question their Dark path. And then there are the Jedi Masters--Rahn and Luke Skywalker--who stand literally and figuratively as spiritual guides to Kyle. Finally, there is the Valley of the Jedi. The Valley is the heart of the book: Dark Jedi Jerec wants to harness its concentration of the Force for his dreams of interstellar domination; and the Jedi Rebels want to protect it or destroy it before it falls into the Empire's hands. As Kyle races his Dark Side counterparts to the secret of the Valley, readers will recall the best mythic moments (Luke's attack on the first Death Star or his final duel with Darth Vader) from the Star Wars films.
In the end, Jedi Knight is a short novel of epic proportions that neatly ties up the many threads presented in Dietz's first two installments (Soldier for the Empire and Rebel Agent). Eisner-winning artist Dave Dorman brings Kyle and his love, Jan, to vivid life in his series of painted scenes scattered throughout the text. --Patrick O'Kelley
Book Description
As 1999 approaches, anticipation for the release of the first of the new trilogy of Star Wars prequel films is growing. But this interest in what went before has in no way diminished enthusiasm for the continuation of stories set in the familiar universe where Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance still battle the evil Empire. The Dark Forces trilogy is set firmly in that universe. And in Jedi Knight, the final volume, Star Wars fans will learn more about a hero whose actions helped change the course of the struggle. The worst has happened--the Dark Jedi Jerec has learned the location of the fabled Valley of the Jedi. Kyle Katarn,
former Imperial soldier-turned-Rebel agent, and his partner, Jan Ors, race across the galaxy to head him off. But they arrive too late. The planet Ruusan has been taken over by Jerec and his followers, who are plundering at will,
brutally crushing all opposition. Now only Kyle Katarn, who is only just learning to use the Force within him, can stop the Dark Jedi from fulfilling his plan to seize control of the
enormous power trapped in the Valley. The stage is set for a final confrontation between Katarn and the man who killed his father. But will he be able to get beyond his hatred of Jerec and become, truly, a Jedi Knight?
Customer Reviews:
Great Audio Book!.......2005-05-12
This review covers the audio cassette book (2 tapes, 2.5+ hours). The music score was great, the sound effects terrific, and the acting very good. The plot...well that could take some time finding, but remember episdoe IV! Anyway, I really enjoyed this story. It takes place at about the same time as Ep. IV, and covers things more from the perspective of the Empire. Well worth the purchase price. I will have to see about getting the next two in the series. I want to see what happens!
Reads like a bullet, and leaves nothing out........2002-05-09
I had this book for a year before I actually read it. Since I primarily bought it for the great, poster quality, painted, full page illustrations it didn't matter. Besides I was under the impression that it was a "juvenile", a kid's book. Yeah, right, this is about as much a juvenile as is Heilein's _Starship Troopers_. There are some very gritty combat scenes here- and very well developed characters of depth. This is amazing in a novella of less than 120 pages (after you subtract the illustration pages.) There are hack writers out there that would have told this same story in 300 or 400, or more, pages, but Dietz does it in less than 120 without ommitting any detail, atmosphere, or continuity. That's the mark of a very skilled writer. Combined with the cover quality illustrations this book is practically a cinema quality experience all by itself. Moreover, I had not read the first two books of the trilogy, nor played the games, yet the book held together on its own.
Another thing, for a book that is so good on the combat and technical atmosphere, the metaphysics are also very satisfying. The tale of Lord Hoth and the Army of Light is truly worthy of the best of the Star Wars mythos. Indeed, it could almost be a grand finale in itself.
As a measure of how "in" to this I got, I finally ordered that universal remote shaped like a light saber for the TV. Hey, I needed a new remote anyway....
D2 Differenceý.......2000-12-14
In this final installment of the trilogy, just as the contributors changed from the first to the second book, a change was again made, and this makes the final installment the superior of the 3. Artist David Dorman was selected to illustrate this book; since he is a fixture in the Star Wars Realm he brings more credibility to the work. Mr. Dorman, or one of the other long-term illustrators should have been involved in this project from beginning to end.
The other basic change was the involvement of core characters from Star Wars that everybody who is a fan is familiar with. The role-playing games and the video games are widely played and very popular. However the audience is smaller, and as this series found out, it is not large enough to support a stand-alone series of novellas, which are overpriced, and repetitive.
The problem with this series is there is just too much of a gap between the Star Wars Universe as we know it as moviegoers and book readers, and these adaptations from the role-playing and video experiences. There is a way to greatly improve the readability of this series if you want to make it part of your collection.
"Mastadge" has a great list of some of the illustrated soft cover books that cover the background and the ancient portions of the Jedi and Sith Histories. They cover material you will find nowhere else, and they will add a new dimension to your library, and to your understanding of this ongoing epic.
Some of the titles to check out are, "Knights Of The Old Republic", "Dark Lords Of The Sith", and "The Sith War". They are all available through Amazon, and while I have enjoyed many of them, I have never reviewed the works. But as I said, Mastadge has reviewed almost all the varieties of Star Wars writing, and the list he has put together is well done.
Out Of Step.......2000-11-30
It has been years since I originally read this series, this particular episode, "Rebel Agent", is the second in a three-part cycle. This trilogy is based upon the role-playing games and I believe some of the video experiences. However they are out of synch with the rest of "Star Wars", and this is an issue.
Previously I have commented on how seamlessly the books that now approach 200 in number have fit together, how all were worth the reading time, for bits and pieces of history were to be gleaned from their review. This particular cycle offered full-page paintings by a noted artist of the Science Fiction Genre, and while some readers would have preferred their mind's eye, I think they are good, if inconsistent. Specifically the image that is supposed to portray Princess Leia looks like her less than attractive sister. There is no sister, and there should not have been this image.
At 128 pages in length, backtracking the story as if the reader decided to start in the middle is simply wrong. Star Wars readers tend to read everything, and if the story is weak, or too brief, then perhaps there should be a different story.
Characters like Boba Fett have developed their personalities over the decades, and the version of Fett in this book reads as though the writer never read a word about this character before. Fett sounds like a bad lounge act. Fett actually sounds like someone else dressed in the Mandalorian Armor. This caricature speaks more in this book, than in a dozen other novels, and trite is being kind as to the dialogue.
If someone were to start with this series after viewing the movies, they would be correct in feeling lost. These books populate the galaxy with Dark Side Jedi at every turn. They must have been hiding in the movies.
There is one interesting bit as to Yoda's history, and it may sound strange to some, but if you are as addicted to this world of George Lucas as I am, it nearly justifies the balance.
The best of the Trilogy.......2000-03-29
This book continues the adventures of Kyle Katarn, a young man who is training to become a Jedi. It is by far the best of the trilogy, which began with Soldier for the Empire. The novella is generally pretty good, connecting chapters (levels in the game) pretty well, and developing on Jan and Kyle properly. The plot is not too bad, and the illustrations are great. The drawings alone make this the best of the series, but the plot thickens as a bonus. Still, the novella fails to improve on some of the other books failings. The long and drawn out lightsaber battles in the movies and the game are shortened to just a few paragraphs in length, if that. Maw's duel with the young Kyle lasted no more than three sentences, and Selonia somehow manages to lose a battle she clearly has the upper hand in. While not quite as dissappointing (or as humorous) as Gorc's demise in Rebel Agent, the battles are still far too short for their own good, and a character who ends up dying early is developed almost as fully as Jan and Kyle are. Still, this is probably the best of the series, and a fine ending the trilogy. If you don't have the other two, buy this one first to see if this is the kind of book you want. It won't be very hard to catch on to what happened in the others, and the money you save if you don't like it will be worth it.
Amazon.com
After you've seen the Star Wars movies enough times, certain unmistakable sounds get hardwired into your brain: the warbly snicker-snack of dueling lightsabers; the signature fwoosh of hatches opening and closing (which Star Trek never did as well); the sharp, metallic bangs of blaster fire; even Han's trademark "yee-haw!" as he and Chewie lay into Imperial ships with the Falcon. If any advantage sets audio CDs apart as the format for telling dramatized Star Wars stories, this is it. In the Star Wars: Dark Forces Collector's Trilogy, all these audio tropes get employed to their full effect--along with John Williams's stirring score, of course--to convincingly transport you to that galaxy far, far away.
A CD drama based on a graphic novel series, based on a video game, and based on ... well, Star Wars, may sound a little suspect, but even derivative work can excel when the original source is strong (Lucas), the writing skills proficient (long-time sci-fi author William Dietz), and the voice talent able (dozens of workman actors, with credits ranging from The Fugitive to Shine to Fargo).
The story arc of the set's three Dark Forces stories (Soldier for the Empire, Rebel Agent, Jedi Knight) spans roughly the same time period as New Hope-Empire-Jedi, following Kyle Katarn, a young Imperial officer turned Rebel operative turned (nearly) Jedi Knight. Old favorites like Han, Lando, Luke, and even Chewie pass in and out of the story, a classic Star Wars tale of honor, love, loyalty, and revenge, which sets Kyle against the evil Imperial pretender Lord Jerec. Good fun, well done. (Running time: six hours over six discs; two discs per title.) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Kyle Katarn has joined the ranks of legendary Star Wars heroes such as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. A timeless adventure of revenge and honor, the trilogy is set in a shimmering universe of sound that only CD technology can fully capture. In Soldier for the Empire, Kyle Katarn, having just graduated from the Imperial Military Academy, learns of his father's murder. On his way home, he meets a Rebel agent, learns the ugly truth about the way in which his father died, and swears revenge. In Rebel Agent, Kyle learns more about what his father found in the Valley of the Jedi that ultimately led to his death. Kyle finally earns his Knighthood as a Jedi, and the stage is set for him to avenge his father's death and stop the Dark Jedi from taking control of the source of energy that lies underneath the Valley. Jedi Knight, the exciting conclusion to the series. In Jedi Knight Jerec, the Dark Jedi, brings his forces to Ruusan in the final part of his search for the Valley of the Jedi. Destroying anything that gets in his way, Jerec reaches the Valley just ahead of Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors. With the help fo the indigenous inhabitants of the planet, Kyle and Jan confront Jerec's Jedi and prepare for a final showdown with Jerec. If Jerec defeats Kyle, the unlimited power contained in the Valley will enable him to rule the galaxy. Are Kyle's untrained Jedi powers enough to defeat Jerec?
Customer Reviews:
Star Wars, Dark Forces Collector's Trilogy book cd's.......2007-03-19
Very well made, interesting and easy to follow. Very good sound effects in the back ground to go along with the story telling. If you played any of the games in relation, you will enjoy it even more. I'm glad I bought this and I already went through it twice.
Barely worth it.......2006-02-01
A good idea crushed by weak radio style acting. If the stories were simply narated and not played as though they were old time radio broadcasts, the stories themselves are interesting. Painfull to listen to in the car driving b/c of poor volume in recording. Get some othe Star Wars audio book.
Really not THAT bad.......2004-09-01
It's a well-done audio play. It has all the sound effects of the original radio dramas, used to wonderful effect. Like most Star Wars works, it re-uses the music from the movies but that isn't a bad thing. Each piece is used exactly where you'd expect to hear it. The story is of a young imperial officer discovering that the Empire isn't on the side of the angels and that he shares with Luke Sykwalker a claim to the legacy of the Jedi.
The ONLY complaint that I'd have about this is that it strays from the books it's adapted from and the games the books are based on. In other words, some of the most dramatic aspects of the story are left out. Example: Instead of the old Jedi Knight Rahn holding his own against all the Dark Jedi in his final battle, Jerec (chief baddie) just kills him without a fight. There are a few other examples of incredibly anti-climatic re-tellings of certain aspects of the story... but overall it really isn't that bad. I bought it, and if you've played the games (and you should since Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II features live actors in movie cut scenes that all together could be considered Episode VII) then it's a fun way to revisit a great story. "A Self-taught Jedi" indeed. Kudos.
Dark Forces audio dramatization.......2003-01-22
I've always been a huge fan of Star Wars and own quite a few audio books and dramatizations including the wonderful Star Wars trilogy dramatized radio broadcast, the Approaching Storm, Darth Maul, Episode 1, Episode 2, Rogue Planet, etc.
Judging from reviews I read, I was expecting this to be at least a reasonable facsimile of the original trilogy radio dramatization but it definitely is not that. I felt the writing, acting and even the story concept poor. If you're anxious for something good to listen to and haven't tried the other Star Wars books on audio cd yet, give those a shot first and see if you can pick this up used. This can be mildly entertaining at times but it's certainly not worth full price.
Among all of my Star Wars audio books and/or dramatizations, this one comes in dead last... I'd recommend venturing into non-Star Wars audio books like Frank Herbert's Dune before dropping any money on this selection.
Excellent! same style & quality of the original radio drama.......2000-05-07
These CDs were absolutely wonderful. for those of you who have listened to the original Star Wars radio drama and wished you could have more star wars stories in the same fashion. HERE IT IS! . for those of you new to the star wars universe....or have not heard the original radio drama, this is a full cast audio production with sound effects. This is well written and acted. the story is excellent. a must have for any star wars fan. great for tips on the road in the car.
Product Description
Kyle Katern, Rebel agent and novice Jedi, has just returned from his covert operation to find the location of the Valley of the Jedi. But he knows that the evil Jerec, a dark Jedi with designs on the Empire's throne, knows where the Valley is, too. Upon returning to the Alliance, and with the support of Luke Skywalker himslef, Kyle offers to find the Valley and stop the oncoming Imperial invasion--and at last, fulfill his distiny as a Jedi.
Dramatized on 2 CD's with Mark Benninghofen cast as Luke, Randal Berger as Kyle Katarn, and Chrisopher Bloch as Lt. Aagon (with others).
Product Description
64pages
Book Description
"Hi, my name is Matt, and I'll be your waiter tonight." Since becoming a waiter, Matthew Foster has uttered these words 67,892 times, he has cried on the job 11 times, has had two nervous breakdowns, and has committed 27 acts of anonymous revenge on rude restaurant patrons. Now this comic essayist brings you his take on the modern American dining experience. In the comic spirit of Dave Barry and Drew Carey comes a humorous look into the trenches of America's true favorite pastime: dining out. From tales of waiting on the Reverend Jimmy Swaggart to a commentary on the nature of germs in the bathrooms of fast food restaurants, Matthew Foster strips away the garnishes and leaves us with the meat: the humor and pathos beyond the call for the "Waiter!"
Customer Reviews:
Amusing but flawed effort........2007-08-19
Having been in or around the restaurant business all my life, I typically enjoy books such as this, which seek to give a candid behind-the-scenes view of our world. I found Mr. Foster's book to be amusing and an easy read, but in the end it disappointed.
First, the length. At 124 pages, with very generous margins and spacing, the book is a very quick read. Considering the cover price of $10.95, I felt short-changed. I could only imagine how I'd feel if I bought the hardcover. The sheer volume of antics and anecdotes available in the world of foodservice suggests to me that the author just didn't try that hard. Everyone loves kooky customer stories, and I guarantee you any waiter who's worked in the business just a few years will have a sheaf of them. Beyond that, the dynamics between cooks and waiters can fill books upon books alone.
Second, while most of the "behind the scenes" behaviors, actions and realities of a restaurant and its kitchen reported in the book ring true, Mr. Foster paints them as universal norms. In fact, and by his own admission in a by-the-by manner, his experiences and reporting address only one segment of the business: corporate chain restaurants of a certain "tier." Furthermore, his experiences also appear geographically limited, seemingly Olive Garden-ish somewhere in the southeast U.S. Mr. Foster's experiences as reported in this book are accurate enough, based on my own experiences, but they are by no means universal. If he acknowledged this more clearly, the book would have benefited.
There are realities to the restaurant business that consumers remain ignorant of. These are a huge source of material for writers, stand-up comics, and the like, and they're all mostly true. It is also a reality that millions of people eat millions of meals in restaurants every day without incident, so if you're going to be horrified by the notion of someone preparing your salad with bare hands, get over it because you've eaten those salads hundreds of times and you're just fine. Mr. Foster attempts, as have many others before him, to open eyes to these realities in a funny way, and in some ways he succeeds. Unfortunately, his book takes a turn to the didactic and scolding at times, especially when it comes to his over-drawn (if that's possible in a book this short) chapter on tips and tipping. Yes, there are a lot of people who are lousy tippers, whether it be from ignorance, miserliness, or just self-absorption. There are also people who tip normally, and those who tip well. In the end, it averages itself out at a certain level, and if that level is not adequate for someone, he shouldn't be waiting tables. Mr. Foster seems to feel that it is his duty in this book, which is represented as a comical view of waiters and serving food to people, to "instruct" the reader in proper tipping etiquette, and almost assumes that the reader isn't a good tipper. As I said earlier, didactic and scolding.
In sum, the book is a quick and easy read that I found to ring true and honest, but it feels exaggerated in places, strays from comedy to preaching in places, and is just way too short to deserve a positive recommendation.
Funny, true, and insightful.......2007-07-26
While this is not the first book I've read about waiting tables, this is certainly one of the most funny and insightful. Matthew Foster does an excellent job of blending the favorable and frustrating aspects of being a waiter, with a sprinkling of wry humor for extra flavor.
This book is full of spot-on observations about the restaurant industry. From tipping to tuxedos, celebrities to chardonnay, and submitting to the wrath of kitchen staff and customer alike, Foster's insights into the world of waiting tables are very close to the experiences many have in his position. Foster takes the usual rundown of waiter complaints and goes a step further, imbuing his rants with insights into the industry, customers, and society at large. He posits that waiters are "conversational prostitutes" who would not give restaurant patrons the time of day if given a choice. He observes that many people can't tell the difference between "server" and "servant". And he notes that the customer who has to ask if something is "fresh" or "in season" should be lied to, because they won't be able to tell the difference anyway.
I enjoyed this book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who has waited tables. If, however, you are the type of person who can't see anything wrong with leaving a 15% tip for good service, you should probably keep looking.
As a side note: I would read more books by Foster, but if I am ever seated at a table and see him approaching to take my order, I will leave the restaurant. While most of his observations and thoughts rang true, the chapter where he admitted to never washing his hands in public bathrooms (unless a customer is watching) made me nauseous. I'm content to enjoy Foster's humor (and germs) from afar.
A hilarious dose of honesty and reality.......2005-03-24
This is the third "restaurant" book I've read and it is by far the funniest. A little too short, in my opinion, but absolutely hilarious. A great read for anyone that's been there and a great book for those customers that need a cold slap in the face reality-check. I gave it to my father-in-law and he suddenly no longer embarrasses us with his behavior and poor tips when he takes us out to eat. But overall, very entertaining and a lot of fun.
Before you pick up your menue, read this book!.......2003-10-21
Most of us are in a hurry and very self absorbed when we enter a restaurant. We don't really care who the server is. This is a mistake. These people work hard, for less than minimum wage. One of the footnotes to the minimum wage act is that the food service industry is exempt, so when you don't feel that your ego has been properly fluffed, and you leave a small or no tip, you're not making a point that will cause service to be better next time. You are being a monitary bully.
Matthew Foster has been there and tells his story with wit and irony. He describes the interactions between the wait staff and the customers in a way that the customer never thinks about.
You may want to ask yourself, "Would I say that to my daughter or son? Would I want someone else to take their bad day out on me?" Food servers have no options when a patron becomes abusive, they have to take it, quit or be fired. They do have ways of handling the customers and look forward to many of them. Foster tells us why he mows the lawn in a tuxedo, who are the best and the worst tippers and lots of other enlightening, fun things. This is an excellent book written from a unique perspective. I look forward to his next effort.
Average customer rating:
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The Video Source Book, 31st Edition
Manufacturer: Gale Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0787670707 |
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- Recommended for everyone
- Yaltah Menuhin as Brilliant Concert Pianist
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The Uncommon Friendship of Yaltah Menuhin & Willa Cather
Lionel Rolfe
Manufacturer: California Classics Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1879395460 |
Book Description
This is an extraordinary story of the friendship between Willa Cather and the author's mother, piano prodigy Yaltah Menuhin (1920-2001), sister of violinist Yehudi Menuhin. There is currently a resurgence of interest in the remarkable American author Willa Cather (1873-1947), many of whose novels explored women and creativity. This is a personal, yet universal, book which explores Cather's mentoring of the young pianist. It illuminates the lives and works of two important women artists and raises provocative questions about the effects of social and family constraints on the lives of brilliant women. Against the tumultuous backdrop of America and Europe in the early and mid-20th century, Rolfe presents an engrossing chronicle of his mother's struggle as a budding musician, her tragic relationship with her parents, and the solace she found when Cather became her mentor. The mutually inspiring friendship, which endured for decades, inspired some the most memorable heroines in Cather's novels, notably Lucy Gayheart.
Customer Reviews:
Recommended for everyone.......2007-04-20
This book is a look inside a very famous musical family, the Menuhins, and a long-term friendship between two very different women.
The Menuhin family contained three world-class musical prodigies, when most families would be happy with just one prodigy. Yehudi, the famous one, was considered the greatest musical talent of the 20th Century. Hephzibah, his sister, usually accompanied him on the piano. Then there was sister Yaltah, also a pianist. According to people who know about such things, she was the most talented of them all.
The family was run by Marutha, their mother, a cold, domineering woman. Yaltah was told, more than once, that the only reason she was alive was because of a broken diaphragm. Yaltah and Hephzibah were allowed piano lessons for the sole purpose of attracting a husband. When it came to marriage, all that mattered, according to Marutha, was whether or not he came from a well-to-do family; love was irrelevant. Yaltah's first "arranged" marriage lasted about 6 months. The family lived in Paris, because that is where the great musicians were. The rise of Hitler in the 1930s forced a move to Manhattan, where they met Willa Cather.
She was a novelist and newspaper writer from the American Midwest, who became good friends with the family and became the children's teacher (there was no regular school for the Menuhin's). Marutha kept the children out of the public eye as much as possible (their educational walks with Cather began at 6:00 AM). As the years went on, the friendship between Yaltah and Willa grew. Willa helped Yaltah deal with her mother's unfeeling personality, and Yaltah ended up inspiring several of Willa's later novels.
For Yaltah's second marriage, in the early 1940s, she eloped with an Army lawyer named Ben Rolfe. Her parents never accepted him as part of the family. The marriage ended after a number of years, partly because of his jealousy over her musical career. It was only after 2 more not-very-pleasant marriages, and her moving to London, that in the last few years of her life, she regained something like the musical career she had when she was younger.
Here is a very personal look inside a famous musical family, written by an "insider." (the author is Yaltah's son). It is very much worth reading, not just for classical music fans, or fans of 20th Century female novelists, but for everyone.
Yaltah Menuhin as Brilliant Concert Pianist.......2004-11-13
Los Angeles author Lionel Rolfe has written in The Uncommon Friendship of Yaltah Menuhin & Willa Cather a moving biography of his mother Yaltah Menuhin, sister of famed violinist Yehudi Menuhin, and her relationship with novelist Willa Cather. Yaltah like Mendelssohn's sister Fanny and Mozart's sister Nannerl showed brilliance as a musician early but was discouraged by family members and always overshadowed by her famous brother. Rolfe looks closely at what it takes for a woman to overcome the obstacles put in front of her having a career as a touring concert pianist.
Rolfe's mother Yaltah was actively discouraged by her parents Moshe and Marutha who were Russian Jewish emigres to San Francisco where Moshe was superintendant of city's Hebrew schools. All three children of their-- Yehudi, the oldest; Hephzibah, the middle girl; and Yaltah, the youngest-were musical prodigies. At first the mother had decided the daughters wouldn't have musical careers, but then mother relented, seeing that Hephzibah could perform well in the secondary role as accompanist on the piano when her brother played his violin. The parents then that Yaltah was too "fragile" to be a touring musician.
If you compare the three Menuhin prodigies with Felix Mendelssohn and his sister Fanny Mendelssohn, the parallels are striking. The Mendelssohns of Hamburg, Germany, like the Menuhins of San Francisco, California, were an extremely intellectual Jewish family and both mothers were music teachers. Fanny Mendelssohn in the 1830s and Yaltah Menuhin in the 1930s had family members telling them to give up before they started.
In fact, the Menuhins were on the 20th century version of a tradition of producing prodigies going back the shtetls of Eastern Europe. Rolfe's descriptions of how the elder Menuhins educated their three children are almost a manual on how to produce prodigies. So in many ways this is a western Jewish story-how Eastern European traditions were carried on in San Francisco. Moshe was a descendant of the Lubavitch Schneersohn dynasty, one of the great Hasidic religious dynasties of Eastern Europe. Rolfe's descriptions of the Menuhins in Los Gatos, California, in the later 1930s having intrigues over who their three teenager children would be allowed to court and then marry almost sound like the intrigues of a Hassidic or European court, but music was at the center rather than religion or politics. The parents had decided that their youngest Yaltah should be married off young to a rich husband.
What's critical in his mother's life, Rolfe argues, is her relationship with this independent older woman novelist Willa Cather. Rolfe retells the fascinated story how his grandparents educated all three children at home, convincing Willa Cather to be the Shakespeare tutor for the three Menuhin children. Though the Yaltah and Willa were together only in the last decade of Cather's life, Rolfe shows this short but intense relationship was important for both. The Menuhins weren't in the Russian shtetl (village) but in the 1930s America, and Cather was no ordinary shtetl tutor.
Rolfe argues that Yaltah was the inspiration for the heroine of the novella Lucy Gayheart, which Willa Cather was writing at the same time she regularly saw the Menuhins. Further, Rolfe argues that Yaltah thought Aunt Willa was the mother that her own mother had never been. Yaltah got from Aunt Willa the image of an independent woman artist, not controlled by her parents or a husband. Indeed, Yaltah alternated between obeying her dominating parents and rebelling against them. Rolfe captures that moment when immigrant's daughters were insisting on more freedoms in America.
It does seem likely that Aunt Willa in part inspired Yaltah's rebellion. Though Yaltah at sixteen allowed her parents to pick her first husband just as Nannerl Mozart, Mozart's sister, allowed her father to pick her husband, Yaltah's first marriage only lasted six months. At twenty-one Yaltah rebelled and chose her second husband, a young Jewish soldier/lawyer.
Concerning husbands, there is another difference between Yaltah Menuhin and Fanny Mendelssohn. Fanny Mendelssohn did get the support her husband William Hensel to publish her composition and performed in the weekly family musical salons. In contrast, Yaltah Menuhin, despite lack of support from all her husbands, performed in public concerts. Though Yaltah Menuhin never had the stellar musical career of her older brother Yehudi, she did perform piano in concerts from aged 30 to 80 in North America, Europe, and England.
In Los Angeles during the 1950s where Yaltah lived with her second husband and two sons she regularly took part in the "Evenings on the Roof" series performing the work of many new composers. Again, she was a woman who stood on her own two feet like her Aunt Willa. Rolfe's book is a moving story of a fascinating woman who in order to become a musician overcomes numerous obstacles.
Customer Reviews:
Get a Sense of Humor People!.......2006-11-12
Of course the techniques in the book are ridiculous. It is fiction, If you feel ripped off after reading this, you really need an emergency injection of humor. The stories are hilarious, well written, and hit at all the pretentiousness and delusions of the martial arts community. Great for yourself or a perfect gift.
The author wrote this as a satire on martial arts!.......2005-12-22
If you thought this book was intended to be a serious book on martial arts, you were both right and wrong. When I first read the book as a teenaged martial artist in the early `60's, I was blown away by it and believed every word. It's underlying philosophy more than anything else about it influenced my early martial arts development. Then in about 1976-77, a Tai Chi friend of mine by the name of John Panter told me he thought that "John F. Gilbey" was probably a pen name for Robert W. Smith, Don Draeger, and some of the crowd Smith and Draeger hung out with in Asia. He guessed this based on the writing style and content that was similar to their other writings.
Years later, Robert Smith came out and explained exactly how he and a group of friends (all senior martial artists including Draeger who were Westerners trained in Japan and China) got the idea of writing a spoof about the martial arts. They made up the name, "John F. Gilbey," and invented a personal history for the name that combined their actual martial arts credentials. The book turned out to be a great success, but not as they had planned. Unfortunately for them, so many people believed that "John F. Gilbey" was a real person and the book a completely true book, that it took on a life of it's own and only added to the wild tales about martial arts that became popularized in the West. This happened because Smith was so skilled at interweaving fact with fiction that he unwittingly produced a satire that many found believable as complete "fact." Robert Smith later wrote an even more wild sequel to the book thinking that would finally enlighten people, but once again, he was wrong. Finally, he just came out in the martial arts magazine, "Journal Of Asian Martial Arts," and told the true story. He later repeated it in his book, "Martial Musings."
Here's a bit of what Robert Smith said: "Gilbey was a joke, an exaggeration, a fantasy. He had money, time, and amazing skill in everything. We were sure that readers would be smart enough to realize this. We were wrong....'Secret Fighting Arts of the World' contained some truth, plus many whoppers." If you want a longer explanation of what was truth and what was whoppers, I highly recommend reading "Martial Musings," which I think is Smith's best work.
But my tale of this book doesn't end there. I recently learned that back in the `70's my old friend, John Panter, actually used a technique from the book in a real situation! When I quizzed him on it, here's what Panter said: "It was the Macedonian Buttock! I was coming home from work on the Subway in Toronto. It was my last day on that job and I was carrying my work clothes in a bag along with my lunch kit and some other stuff, all under my arms. I had to get off at the Bay St. Station to see if something I had lost was at the Lost and Found there. Of course, since construction jobs let out at 4:30, I hit Bay Street just in time for all the office workers who get out at 5:00 to be heading home. Well, when I had to get out, I was faced with a wall of people trying to get in, and I realized that if I got jostled at all, I would lose all my stuff and it would get trampled before I could pick it up. Now the etiquette is supposed to be that people getting off have right of way, but that wasn't working this time, and there was this great big meat head coming straight toward me. I quickly turned sideways to him, and rotated my shoulders further so that the things I had under my arm weren't in line with my hips, and when he ran into me I let him have the buttock thrust. I purposefully waited `til he was against me so that it was a push, not an impact. I wanted to move him, not hurt him. In any event, he went flying backward, and fell spread-eagled on top of two or three rows of other people that were behind him. I can still remember the look of total astonishment on his face as I stepped past him." One final note here. John Panter went on to become the head of the Taoist Tai Chi Society's entire Atlantic Region in Canada. I remain just another average Black Belt level martial artist...
In conclusion, this book is a fun read for entertainment, cut-to-the-core insight, and deadpan satire. Smith has a sense of amused perspective on oneself, history, and the fighting arts. The writing style is great, and I highly recommend it. Just remember that the author intended this as a spoof!
Worst book I have ever read.......2004-01-16
This book is a total waste of paper. I feel sorry for anyone who reads it, and am shocked that people actually found this book useful. It is the worst piece of literature I have ever read in my life. The styles and techniques profiled border on the absurd. I am indeed dumber for having read this piece of garbage. I would reccomend that anyone who thinks about buying this book should just watch Samuri Jack on cartoon network as his style is probably more believable than the laughable techniques "revealed" in this waste of ink.
It's a hoot! Delightful, unabashed horse manure........2003-05-10
Reminds me of a cartoon of a guy standing on a chair and holding his pant legs up as high as he could; the caption read, "Now, go on with your story." Much of it is obviously contrived: the men allegedly interviewed around the world all speak fluent English, use similar mannerisms, and quote American statesmen! LOL
As a teenage martial arts fan I thought this book was riveting. Now I wonder if anyone really believes the account of the "Parisian Halitotic Attack" (bad breath attack).
Read magellan359's review for a theory on who's behind the pseudonym. The picture of "Don Eagle" on page 134 bears a striking resemblance to the Donn on the back of the "Practical Karate" series of books. My rating is an average: 1 (lowest) as a training book, 5 for being a howl --a collection of shaggy dog stories.
A fun book, a joy to read.......2002-05-25
Don't get hung up on fact vs. fiction. If you want to know the backstory on this book, read "Martial Musings"(come to think of it, read it even if you don't). I pull this book out whenever I want to relax. I know I sound too much like a beer commercial when I say it's light, fun, and goes down smooth. Smith's writing style ( I've not revealed any secrets here, have I?) is somewhat reminiscent of Mark Twain. He weaves a tale well, peppering his prose with apt quotes and deadly accurate observations. Don't buy this book to learn how to wipe out your neighborhood, buy this book to sit back and smile.
Average customer rating:
- "John Gilbey" writes a second satire!
- Donýt waste your time or money on this oneý..
- Get real!
- Excellent Yarn!
- Amusing and bombastic view of the Martial Arts
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Way of a Warrior: A Journey into Secret Worlds of Martial Arts
John Gilbey
Manufacturer: North Atlantic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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| Individual Sports
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| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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Secret Fighting Arts of the World
ASIN: 1556431260
Release Date: 1993-01-14 |
Book Description
This book is the sequel to the underground classic Secret Fighting Arts of the World, and chronicles the further adventures of the Indiana Jones of exotic martial arts, John F. Gilbey. His fistic and foot festivities take him in and out of dojos and gyms in the United States: to Iceland, Brazil, Iraq, and even an outer Tahitian island. Investigating claims of seemingly supernatural powers, Gilbey gives a strong nod to developed and carefully school inner disciplines, but has strong words for the fast buck artists who degrade serious martial arts like karate, kung fu, and jujutsu.
Customer Reviews:
"John Gilbey" writes a second satire! .......2006-01-09
What I said about John Gilbey's first book, "Secret Fighting Arts of the World," applies just as much to this book. The real author, Robert W. Smith, intended this book as a satire!
Years after this book was published, Robert Smith came out and explained exactly how back in the early `60's he and a group of friends (all senior martial artists including Don Draeger who were Westerners trained in Japan and China) got the idea of writing a spoof about the martial arts. They made up the name, "John F. Gilbey," and invented a personal history for the name that combined their actual martial arts credentials. The first book, "Secret Fighting Arts of the World," turned out to be a great success, but not as they had planned. Unfortunately for them, so many people believed that "John F. Gilbey" was a real person and the book a completely true book, that it took on a life of it's own and only added to the wild tales about martial arts that became popularized in the West. This happened because Smith was so skilled at interweaving fact with fiction that he unwittingly produced a satire that many found believable as complete "fact." Robert Smith later wrote this second book, "The Way of the Warrior," as an even more wild sequel thinking this would finally enlighten people, but once again, he was wrong. Finally, he just came out in the martial arts magazine, "Journal Of Asian Martial Arts," and told the true story. He later repeated it in his book, "Martial Musings," which I highly recommend. "Martial Musings" is fact and includes actual photos rather than drawings. It also names many people, places, and events that can be confirmed via other sources, and many of which are famous in the martial arts.
For a more complete explanation of this, check out my Amazon review of "Secret Fighting Arts of the World" at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ISZY8/qid=1136766252/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-4476568-9636606?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
I'll conclude by saying exactly what I said about the other book. This book is a fun read for entertainment, cut-to-the-core insight, and deadpan satire. Smith has a sense of amused perspective on oneself, history, and the fighting arts. The writing style is great, and I highly recommend it. Just remember that the author intended this as a spoof!
Donýt waste your time or money on this oneý.........2004-06-15
......I always suspected that Gilbey and Smith were the same person. In his (their) first book, Secret Fighting Arts Of The World, Gilbey (Smith) gave a very good narrative of useful and real techniques although experience and a good deal of thought were required to fill in the gaps of information needed to make most of the techniques work. In this second book the author has done a formidable job of saying next to nothing. The work is filled with inconsistencies as well as typographical, syntaxique and spelling errors and has a rather boring and awkward style. If you feel you must have it "just to see" then don't expect too much for your purchase.
Get real!.......2004-05-25
Assuming I'm not mistaking this book for a different "way of the warrior", I must say that this book teaches dirty fighting alone!
Excellent Yarn!.......2003-12-29
To those who dont know yet, read MARTIAL MUSINGS or one of Smiths interviews in JOURNAL OF ASIAN MARTIAL ARTS. He has basically stated that the two books he wrote as Gilbey were fiction. In fact theres a whole secion in MUSINGS about how some of the pictures and stories were created.
There is some truth nestled in here such as the history behind Savate. Its an enjoyable, ENTERTAINING read.
Amusing and bombastic view of the Martial Arts.......1999-01-30
To be taken with a grain of salt. The writing style is vintage 50's complete with slang. Philosophy is good but the author/s have a inflated opinion of themselves. If a quarter of the information is true then there is some merit. Worth reading once for entertainment value.
Book Description
Valuable business skills from a leading project management expert
To make the leap from average to superior, you must develop the skills to manage each project like a small business. The Business-Savvy Project Manager thoroughly explains key concepts, principles, and tools for project managers to provide organizations with superior return-oninvestment and top performance. From portfolio management and strategic alignment to calculation of economic metrics and effective use of both financial and nonfinancial criteria in project proposals, it gives you the business savvy for top-level performance and certain career success.
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