Lady Jane Grey: Nine Days Queen

Book Description

This new book tells the tragic story of Jane's life and death. While also revealing her to be a woman of intelligence, steady faith and unusual strength of conviction.

Customer Reviews:

Jane Grey fan.......2006-03-24

I didn't read much of "Lady Jane Grey: Nine Days Queen", but that's due to the author. However, the book is skimpy and regulated to "this event happened" and "He/she did/said this and that". Alison Plowden is a good and factual writer, but this time she paints by the numbers. Also, in her excellent four-book biography of Elizabeth I, Plowden's attitude resembles Hester W. Chapman's; she tends to get a bit terse and condescending. I guess this is why I didn't finish "Lady Jane Grey: Nine Days Queen". I simply didn't want to encounter Plowden's attitude again while reading about my favorite Tudor princess.

Disappointing reprint, no revisions, cover portrait?.......2004-11-27

I was honestly hoping that the issue with the cover portrait would have been resolved with the reprint. There is no new information that I had so hoped for from a writer as well-known as Alison Plowden. I am disappointed and would not recommend that anyone seeking facts about Lady Jane read this book. In an "information age", I had really hoped for facts, the book is so reflective of 1986. There are plenty stories about the Tudor period of our history but little factual compositions.

Queen for a day, but not much more..........2004-07-01

Jane Grey was queen for nine short days, during a period of great turmoil. The documentary evidence from this time is rather spare; even the coins minted during this brief reign are so rare as to be valued collectors' items. Author Alison Plowden uses documentary evidence and secondary sources to reconstruct the world around this brief reign. Indeed, Jane Grey remains a shadowy figure, even with this and other biographies available, given that, as a child, she was not party to much life at court, and did not have ongoing correspondence with many people likely to preserve such writing (only a handful of personal letters remain from her).

Plowden introduces the world of the Tudors and their friends, hangers-on and rivals from the time of Lancaster/York conflict, and Henry VII, the first Tudor king, forward. This reads like a soap opera, and indeed it was a time of intrigue, deception, jockeying for position and occasional outright evil behaviour. The executioner's task at the Tower was never wanting for more; the Tudors, Seymours, Brandons, Dudleys and other such families were intertwined in the political, religious and dynastic machinations of the time, and sometimes this late medieval machinery caught up the people as it would grind along.

Lady Jane Grey was not born to be queen. This does not make her unique among monarchs in British history; when the current queen Elizabeth was born, it seemed very remote that she should ever advance to be monarch. Indeed, even the great Henry VIII wasn't the heir apparent when born; his brother Arthur was Prince of Wales -- Henry married his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon, and the successive sequence of wives and offspring commenced from there. Lady Jane Grey was born of none of these wives, nor even from Henry directly, but rather through one of his younger siblings, Mary, one-time queen of France.

Plowden's tracing of the history is very much personality driven. Events and issues take a secondary role to the history she recounts here -- it is very much the people involved, who are somewhat hard to keep straight at times (when one would acquire a new title, the name changes; since these names often had predecessors also active in royal and governmental affairs, one sometimes needs charts and graphs to keep the players distinct).

Lady Jane Grey was a mere teenager when she came to power, such as it was. A precocious and intellectual child, she still lacked the political savvy of the Privy Council and other chief executors and leaders from Henry and Edward's reigns; she was the not-always-willing but not-unwilling pawn of her family's ambitions -- at one time thought to be a possible wife for the king Edward, her family jumped at the chance of settling the crown directly on her head, under the ostensible purpose of preserving a Protestant succession.

Ultimately, the venture was doomed to failure, for as much as the royal and parliamentary authorities like to believe they rule England, ultimately it has been the people en masse, and those whom they do not support do not last long. The common folk, still largely Catholic in leaning, also understood royal succession in simple terms -- Mary Tudor was the next in line for the throne, so they supported her (largely they would support Elizabeth, a moderate Protestant, for the same reason five years later). Lady Jane fell victim again to the problems of politics; Mary Tudor, once queen, was inclined to be lenient until it was felt that Jane's presence continued to be a rallying point for Protestant dissidents.

Plowden's book is not a simple biography of Jane Grey, but rather a survey of the historical period, from the generation prior to the aftermath. If Jane Grey seems to be a bit lost in the sea of people in this text, that is understandable, for even though she was queen for a short time, it was hardly her own reign or her own doing, and she didn't last long enough for contemporary histories in personal detail to be written (nor was it really in the interests of others to do so during the reign of either Mary or Elizabeth). Taken as a snapshot of a short time in the Tudor dynasty, and a very unique period in British history, this is a good survey.

This is not an historical romance, nor a narrative history done in novel style. It is a little light on notes, placed at the end rather than as footnotes, for a 'grand' history, but is still built on strong authority. The select bibliography is worthwhile, as is the index. While Plowden's language could take a little polish to good effect, the text remains interesting and factually well-executed, keeping speculation and romantic embellishment to a minimum, and clearly delineating between documentary fact, gossip and hearsay, and later interpretations and reconstructed memories.

Dissapointing.......2003-11-09

I had eagerly anticipated this book for a long time, but I found it very dissapointing.

It's more of a quick retelling of the struggle for the throne after Henry VIII's death than a biography of Jane. She's a minor character in her own biography, emerging only for brief, tersely described events.

Catherine Parr on the cover of a book about Jane Grey?.......2003-09-26

A book with Catherine Parr on the cover using a few embellished facts, very little research and fanciful story telling make this a book only for the passive reader.

Lady Jane: Nine Days Queen Of England 1553

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Disappointing
No embellishments on known facts, a refreshing change.
Entertaining, but useless as legitimate history
A great research tool
Good, but Misleading

Lady Jane: Nine Days Queen Of England 1553

Manufacturer: Algora Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0875863345

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-02-15

I have read much more reader friendly books that incorporate primary source documents. The book was dull and did not provide any new insights or information about an interesting character in the Tudor era.

No embellishments on known facts, a refreshing change........2007-01-20

I will admit that I was skeptical about this book after reading the contrasting feedback left by other readers but after completing the book I feel that Mr. Taylor should be commended for several reasons. First and perhaps that most important to a retired professor of European history as myself is that Mr. Taylor did not follow the same format as many "historians" do by using colorful embellishments to retell a few known facts. The second being that Mr. Taylor also refrained from criticizing other author's lack of information or misuse of. It is clear that Mr. Taylor only recites the sources that he felt were the most accurate. I have learned in 30 years of teaching college level classes that if you present 10 people with 10 primary and secondary sources that you will have 14 different opinions about them. I feel that Taylor's use of the Lane Letters is questionable and after contacting the author, he explained that the publisher omitted a sentence in the introduction indicating the use and source of letters. Nevertheless, the Lane Letters should have been placed in a separate chapter away from the main body of the book, but when they are read as the author intended, they are entertaining. Ill regardless of the rather harsh criticism left by another reader, I would have used the book in my classes if I were still teaching. Publishing Weekly left an accurate feedback and I do feel that there is a fresh approach here that does belong in a library. From what I can see, Mr. Taylor is the first to present all known information about this young lady. I look forward to a revision

Entertaining, but useless as legitimate history.......2006-03-17

Mr Taylor has clearly spent a great deal of time and effort in producing this volume. Unfortunately the result is useless for anything other than entertainment. It cannot in any way be called legitimate "history." The book is replete with flaws, errors and omissions. Mr Taylor relies very heavily on a late-eigtheenth century collection of "letters" published by William Lane through Minerva Press. The collection is tellingly entitled "Lady Jane Grey: An Histoircal TALE"..."tale" being the operative word. Mr Taylor notes that the Lane collection had been "lost" to historians for over 200 years until he "re-discovered" it. There is a good reason why the "letters" were "lost": any trained historian would immediately recognize them as complete fiction. The "letter" from Henry Grey to "Lord Protector" Northumberland, for example, reveals the fiction (p. 18-20, Lane Letter 86). Northumberland was never titled "Lord Protector," and Henry Grey would never have addressed him as such. Any trained historian familiar with the Tudor era would have known this. But Mr Taylor is apparently not a trained historian. This is evident from his bibliography. He has "primary" and "secondary" sources utterly confused. Further, he cites works such as Jane's prayerbook by using a secondary source (a later Harley Manuscript). The original prayerbook is Harley MS 2342, and has been microfilmed. That microfilm is available in many US libraries. Why not look at a microfilm of the original rather than a printed transcription of a later manuscript that simply describes the original? A serious error. And finally, in his bibliography he lists a work as having been written by Guglielmo Facciotti. In actuality, Facciotti was a PRINTER, not an author. He was active in Rome ca. 1592-1637. The AUTHOR of the work cited is actually Giovannni Raviglio-Rosso. Read this book for what it is: a compilation of factual AND FICTIONAL documents that take Jane Grey as their subject. But for legitimate ("real") history, look elsewhere. This book is a perfect example of why amateur historians and sloppy publishers should never be brought together. The result is a complete mess, and leaves readers completely misinformed and confused...and legitimate history teachers scrambling to pick up the pieces.

A great research tool.......2005-04-21

If the book is used as the author indicates it's only purpose is to be, which is for reference, then Mr. Taylor has done a great job of bringing all the literary remains of Lady Jane Grey together in one edition for others to use. Though I do not believe that the "Lane Letters" should have been included, I will commend Mr. Taylor on not following the format that some recent authors have chosen of embellishing a few facts and sensationalizing them to appeal to the masses. I have used this book in my classes and the book is a time saver for my students who often research Tudor history.

Good, but Misleading.......2005-04-03

If you are interested in the turbulance of the Tudor era, this is not a bad book. Unfortunately, there were very few documents from Jane Grey. Her story has fascinated me since I heard of her, yet I know no more about her now than I did before I bought the book. It seems that most of the correspondance is between Anne Grey and Lady Laurana (who wed Edward Courtenay, who many thought would be a good hsuband for Queen Mary)

The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey

Average customer rating:

BEAUTIFUL!

The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey
Faith Cook
Manufacturer: Evangelical Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0852346131

Customer Reviews:

BEAUTIFUL!.......2007-08-23

Nine Day Queen of England is a wonderful book, convincing and truthful. Faith Cook tells the true story of Jane Grey as no other book I've read has! This book is truly amazing. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in Lady Jane Grey, or in English Monarchy!
This is certainly a truthful account of one of England's most tragic and brave monarchs.

Average customer rating:

Strong, Uplifting Biography
Platform for the author's biases and beliefs

The Nine Day Queen of England
Faith Cook
Manufacturer: Evangelical Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Strong, Uplifting Biography.......2005-08-13

"Kneeling down on the hard wooden scaffold, Jane turned to Feckenham who stood by her. 'Shall I say this psalm?' she faltered. Overcome with emotion, the priest who had tried so hard to save Jane from this moment, could scarcely reply. After a moment's pause, he simply said, 'Yea.' Jane then began to repeat Psalm 51 in English, David's great prayer of contrition...A deep silence rested over the sad scene, nothing could be heard except for the quiet sobbing of her lady attendants. Hardened soliders who had witnessed brutality many times before stood without moving...Bracing her body to receive the impact of the blow, Lady Jane called out in a clear voice, 'Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With a stroke, swift, sharp and terrible, Jane's short life was ended" (page 200-201).

So ended the life of a bright light in a particularly dark and strange period of English history. In a time when the Catholic powers were trying to exterminate the new Reformed teaching, the two potential rulers who seemed most likely to increase the Protestant faith both came to an early end. Edward VI, only a teenager, died following a long bout with tuberculosis. Edward was a strong Christian and committed to the expansion of Reformed Protestantism. He attempted to bypass his half-sister Mary, an ardent Catholic, who was next in line to the throne and hand it instead to Lady Jane Grey, a friend and sister in Christ who was committed to Protestantism. Lady Jane, under great pressure from her family agreed, but did so only with the greatest reluctance. The attempt quickly failed and Mary came to the throne, bringing with her a time of terrible persecution against Protestants. Lady Jane was one of those who died during this time of great conflict. Why God chose to allow this to happen - why he would allow two strong Christians to perish in order to usher in a reign of terror and persecution - is beyond our reckoning. Truly His ways are not our ways.

Lady Jane Grey by Faith Cook, is the story of Lady Jane, who is known as the nine day queen of England. The author seeks to portray Lady Jane as someone who was more than a mere pawn in the hands of powerful men, but was a young lady of starting intelligence and strong faith. Cook feels that Lady Jane's treatment in history has been unfair, and has assigned to her far too little credit. To understand her, we must first understand that dark period of British history, and the author provides the information necessary to properly see the tragedy unfold. The strength of this young woman's faith is incredible, that one so young could know so much.

Even when offered a chance to save her life, she refused to accept Catholic teachings. Even when befriending a priest, the only person allowed to provide religious counsel during her final days, she did not hesitate to challenge him on his erroneous beliefs. Even when she had been thrust into a position which was not rightly hers, she accepted full responsibility for her sinful actions.

Because this story cannot be separated from the period of history in which it happened, the author has to spend a fair amount of time teaching history. She does so with clarity and precision, never allowing the narrative to become broken. She successfully combines history with biography in telling the story of an admirable Christian woman. Cook aptly summarizes the importance of Lady Jane's death. "Like the apostle Paul, she had fought a good fight, finished the course and kept her faith. Henceforth there was laid up for her a crown of righteousness - a crown none could take from her" (page 201). Lady Jane stands as an inspiration for her strong stand for what she knew to be right. This book is informative, moving and most importantly, inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed this biography and am more than happy to recommend it.

Platform for the author's biases and beliefs.......2005-05-07

If you are looking for a scholastic, historical account of the life of Lady Jane Grey, this is not the book for you. Simply put, book is a platform for the author's religious beliefs. Faith Cook does not write in the cool, unbiased voice of a true historian--in fact, the book is filled with anachronisms of modern day street-corner evangelical beliefs. The publisher, Evangelical Press, attests to this. Research into the author's background will show that she is not a true historian, rather pastor's wife (and former missionary) who has only before written books of religious historical fiction. Luckily the life of Lady Jane, although bookended by the author's own opinions and biases, is mostly extant (most of her primary/secondary sources are very good). The author does try to pass off the 'debate between Lady Jane & Feckham' at the end of the book as actual transcript but is only a modern day interpretation of events from the point of view of evangelical Christian.

The Letters of Lady Jane Grey, Nine Days Queen of England, 1553

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The Letters of Lady Jane Grey, Nine Days Queen of England, 1553
Jane Grey , and James D. Taylor
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786416351

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WONDERFUL !

Mantle the Amazing

His Most Heroic Role Ever

MICKEY MANTLE WAS A GREAT

A remarkable look inside the personal life of The Mick

A Hero All His Life: Merlyn, Mickey Jr., David, and Dan Mantle : A Memoir by the Mantle Family
Merlyn Mantle , Mickey E. Mantle , David Mantle , and Dan Mantle
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Mickey Mantle: America's Prodigal Son

ASIN: 0060183632

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL !.......2004-07-01

This is a truly moving, inspirational and heartrendering book. It reads like a Greek Tragedy, but is so real because the Authors were there. Written by Mickey's wife Merlyn, and his 3 surviving sons, it is by far the most honest work regarding Mickey. This book is so much more important that that trashy, tabloid like "Mickey Mantle: America's Prodigal Son" by Tony Castro, that I would suggest you never bother with that thing. Besides, Castro took most of his book directly from this one.

This story is also one of the finest studies of the dysfunction in an alcoholic family, with all the roles being lived out and understood by the participants. These are real, caring and heroic people, not because of baseball, but because they became winners in life by facing their problems together. A great, great book!

Mantle the Amazing.......2003-05-02

Mickey Mantle's wife, Merlyn, and their sons tell the unique and inspirational story of their very separate, often harrowing private lives with the husband and father that was there for them through their lives before cancer took him away. Merlyn and the boys discuss how the effects of alcohol and the spotlight of fame play a role on him and how they all came to be. Merlyn talks about Mickey Mantle the most because they were the closest, and she discusses what she went through as a wife and as a mother. The boys tell their vivid stories of what they can remember while the father was emotionally and physically absent. The dexterous Mickey, played ball everyday and is still a very well-known name in the histroy of baseball. This story explains his lief and career while alcohol impacted himself physically, hi gamily, and his life mentally. It also touches base on his career achievements and how he became the amazing Mickey Mantle.

His Most Heroic Role Ever.......1999-03-31

I have read several books on Mickey Mantle and this one is one of the best. Mickey's story is one of the best in baseball and he remains one of the most popular players in history. This book is an excellent look at the effects of fame and alcohol on the family and how the family members came to grips with things. The stories presented here are told by his wife Merlyn and his sons. Through his family, Mickey's story lives on and he continues to inspire us.

MICKEY MANTLE WAS A GREAT.......1999-02-13

I'm only 13, and Mickey Mantle is my favorite baseball player to live. I have read about 6 books on the "Commerce Comet" and this book is exceptional. In the first chapter the Mick talks about his alchohol abuse. Then Marilyn talks about her highschool sweetheart. This is a great book.

A remarkable look inside the personal life of The Mick.......1998-11-24

I have read most of the books written by Mickey and when I picked this one up I was not quite ready for it's contents. The first chapter, written by Mickey himself address his views on his alcoholism and subsequent recovery.

The following chapters by Merlyn and one by each of his surviving sons was indeed an eye openner into his private life. A lot of information I had not known before was given first hand by his family members.

It took a great deal of courage on their parts to put this book into print and although their lives were not what we might have imagined, it still showed Mick's heart felt side and the love he held for his family and the respect and love they hold for an American Icon.

A must reading for Mantle fans and a true story of courage.

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A Hero All His Life: Merlyn, Mickey Jr., David, and Dan Mantle A Memoir by the Mantle Family
Merlyn; Mantle, Mickey E.; Mantle, David; Mantle, Daniel Mantle
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OE68L2

Book Description

While the pimps and players of blaxploitation movies dominated inner-city theaters, good old boys with muscle under their hoods and moonshine in their trunks roared onto drive-in screens throughout rural America. The popularity of these "hick flicks" grew throughout the '70s, and they attained mass acceptance with the 1977 release of Smokey and the Bandit. It marked the heyday of these regional favorites, but within a few short years, changing economic realities within the movie business and the collapse of the drive-in market would effectively spell the end of the so-called hixploitation genre.

This comprehensive study of the hixploitation genre is the first of its kind. Chapters are divided into three major topics. Part One deals with "good ol' boys," from redneck sheriffs, to moonshiners, to honky-tonk heroes and beyond. Part Two explores road movies, featuring back-road racers, truckers and everything in between. Part Three, "In the Woods," covers movies about all manner of beasts—some of them human—populating the swamps and woodlands of rural America. Film stills are included, and an afterword examines both the decline and metamorphosis of the genre. A filmography, bibliography and index accompany the text.

Customer Reviews:

It's Not Easy Defining an Entire Genre..........2006-03-25

... but Von Doviak did it. Wow. This is the kind of pop culture read that I really like. Smart, funny, thoroughly knowledgeable. It was a fun and yet totally definitive exploration of a film genre that no one has really ever tackled. Maybe no one thought it was worth tackling? But Von Doviak braved the (swampy) waters beautifully. And being from Texas, I admit I was concerned that the book was going to rip apart my treasured Southern culture- but it didn't. This guy deserves a case of Lone Star.

Damn good book and fun too.......2005-07-06

You don't actually have to care much about redneck movies to like this book - I didn't, at least not much, but Von Doviak drew me into it, largely due to his amiable writing style and sharp sense of humor - he performed the impossible task of making a history of redneck cinema actually very personable. This must be what it's like to sit down and have a beer with Von Doviak and talk hixploitation. But the book is not some vanity piece meant to spotlight the author's personality at the expense of the subject - quite the opposite. Von Doviak covers his subject with a mix of knowledge and humor that reveals his understanding of the ridiculous nature of the films he has set about to cover, while at the same time treating their history with respect and providing context that deflects the possible cliched insults that could be lobbed at these movies..

We need more people like Mr. Von Doviak writing about popular culture - he presents an unusual take on a subject that is never over the top. The book is fresh, lively, unstudied in the best possible meaning of the term, and laced with a self-deprecating sarcasm that many more critics could take cues from as they get to know their subject.

Better Than A Bottle Full Of Bootleg Shine.......2005-03-25

I'll say it loud and drunkenly: Hick Flicks is a brilliant analysis, defining the genre and subgenres of movies by and about Redneck-Americans, or, as we prefer, "Sons of the Soil."

Von Doviak starts us with an Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow (www.drafthouse.com), as Scott canoes downriver, encountering hillbillies both planted and au naturale (that means "nekkid" or, in this case, "not planted"), to a riverside viewing of Deliverance. This experience sets Mr. Von D to wondering: "Is that banjo kid available for weddings? Failing that, should I write an in-depth analysis of redneck movies?" The answer, as Scott reveals in a surprising twist, is (brace yourselves for maximum shock value) yes.

Somewhat in the tradition of Jackass, Von D subjected himself to more movies about and by rednecks than is legal in 27 states. Von Doviak divides these into subgenres: trucker movies, stunt driver movies, chicks seeking revenge for what was done to them movies, hillbilly horror movies, documentaries about rural folk, and the like. In fact, in one of the more astounding segments of masochistic horror ever to emerge from scholarly film criticism, Von Doviak undertakes 24 hours of hillbilly horror flicks, starting with the Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which shortly emerges as one of the more intelligent and sensitive movies on the line-up. The guy deserves a Purple Heart.

Anyway, it's fun to laugh at rednecks, especially if, like me, redneck blood courses through your veins (and only occasionally coats your rage-filled hands of justice), but thinking about rednecks and the mysterious ways of redneck culture is hard work and usually limited to slightly contemptuous, brilliantly smart-assed novelists like Harry Crews. Von Doviak leads the way in thinking about an underappreciated segment of film history, one that mostly exists only in documentaries and on the USA Network now. This book's a hoot and a holler and has been scientifically proven to be more fun than a semi full of monkey sidekicks. Go buy it.

Southern Fried Cinephilia.......2005-02-09

We all now know that the 1970s was the period of the American movie Renaissance, when such artists as Coppola and Scorsese and Altman broke free to strew masterpieces across the landscape. But for some of us, in certain parts of the country, it was also the time when we huddled together on the playground or at the back of the school bus to trade rumors, in awestruck whispers, about what brand of violent justice was meted out by Buford Pusser in "Walking Tall" and what wiseguy putdown Gator McCluskey said to the sheriff in "White Lightning" and what horrors were to be seen in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and just how real "The Legend of Boggy Creek" was supposed to be. It was the era of Earl Owensby and Hal Needham and a time when both Jan-Michael Vincent and Jethro Bodine could be seen playing violent rednecks. Scott Von Doviak brings it all back, in such a way as to provide an alternative film history of the period, a free-wheeling period of creative ferment, countercultural experimentation and demented hucksterism as seen through the bottom of a corn likker bottle. It also happens to be the funniest book I've read in ages.

Good stuff.......2005-02-08

Hick Flicks is a fantastic and fun read. It's a bit like a walk down memory lane - summers of bad movies at the drive-in. God do I miss a good drive-in.

I did have some disturbing dreams about Bigfoot and the dude from The Hills Have Eyes, but I blame that as much on my cold medicine as I do on the book.

Scott Von Doviak's voice is clear and true, with enough astute observations to border on an entry for the Cahier du Cinema. I would have liked more Maury stories, but that's me. I'm a sucker for a dog.

Now you may question the relevance of a book like Hick Flicks. Hillbilly exploitation films died out with gas rationing (more or less). But I'd argue that with all this Red State/Blue State nonsense they're probably more relevant than ever.

Hollywood marketed 30 years ahead of where politics moved in the past two elections. Put that in yer corncob pipe and smoke it.

The hippie and the redneck can be friends: two worlds collide in film and music.(Culture and Reviews)(Hick Flicks: The Rise and Fall of Redneck Cinema)(Book Review): An article from: Reason

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The hippie and the redneck can be friends: two worlds collide in film and music.(Culture and Reviews)(Hick Flicks: The Rise and Fall of Redneck Cinema)(Book Review): An article from: Reason
Jesse Walker
Manufacturer: Reason Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Reason, published by Reason Foundation on April 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1080 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The hippie and the redneck can be friends: two worlds collide in film and music.(Culture and Reviews)(Hick Flicks: The Rise and Fall of Redneck Cinema)(Book Review)
Author: Jesse Walker
Publication: Reason (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2005
Publisher: Reason Foundation
Volume: 36 Issue: 11 Page: 64(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Whether you lived through the sixties and seventies or just wish you had, this revised and expanded edition of the HIPPIE DICTIONARY entertains as much as it educates. Cultural and political listings such as "Age of Aquarius," "César Chávez," and "Black Power Movement," plus popular phrases like "acid flashback," "get a grip," and "are you for real?" will remind you of how revolutionary those 20 years were. Although the hippie era spans two decades beginning with the approval of the birth control pill in 1960 and ending with the death of John Lennon in 1980, it wasn't all about sex, drugs, and rock `n' roll. These were the early years of pro-ecology and anti-capitalist beliefs—beliefs that are just as timely as ever. So kick back and trip out on the new entries as well as the old, and discover why some are dubbing the sixties and seventies "the intellectual renaissance of the 20th century."

Customer Reviews:

Informative and Fun on That Era.......2006-03-27

If you want to learn more about the American counterculture of the 1960s and 70s, or of that era in general, this book is both very informative and a lot of fun. It's got all kinds of entries that were common topics at the time, from summaries about historical figures such as Martin Luther King, to slang terms for.....all sorts of things. Most of the book is arranged alphabetically, and at the end there's also some very helpful lists, such as important books, movies, civil rights leaders, and so on. At about 700 pages, there's plenty to peruse. Usually the entries are very satisfying, but there are a few cases where I wish the book would tell more. For instance, in the entry on Jerry Garcia of the rock group The Grateful Dead, McCleary states the great importance of Garcia to the hippie era, yet oddly he gives a short entry on him and refers the reader to other sources of information. But this is an exception. And McCleary tells it like it was, so anyone prudish about colorful language might be offended. I suspect that that and/or the liberal philosophy promoted herein is why some reviewers unfairly denounce this book. The author is himself an adherent to the 1960s counterculture ideals such as environmental protection, peace, non-materialism, tolerance of other cultures and beliefs, and other such radical notions, which he promotes in the book. Thus, anyone of a like mindset will find a kindred spirit here, and even if you disagree with its philosophy, this is still a good reference book and should be judged as such.

A real flashback!.......2005-01-01

The author definitely defines with a strong bias, but makes no pretense at anything else, so it's not offensive. While I didn't agree with his take on every issue, it was sure a flash down memory lane! I gave a copy to my 28 yr old daughter for Christmas. It will be a great reference every time questions come up like, "Who were the Chicago Seven and what was their story?", or Timothy Leary, or Angela Davis, or Huey Newton.......I am ordering another copy now for an old hippie friend's birthday.

This is Not the Oxford English Dictionary of Slang.......2004-10-03

This book was not to my liking in the least. It completely misses many words and phrases that I recall were very essential to the alternative life style vocabulary of the sixties and seventies. At best, it's a "desk-top" dictionary for nouveau hippie wantabes.

Farther out.......2004-06-03

I reviewed the first edition of this book on 27 August 2002 (about ten reviews down), so click through if you want to read what I originally wrote. This review is for the second edition.

Here's all I'll say about the content: the revised and expanded edition, just like the first, is an extended argument for keeping The Dream alive. If, like me (and, obviously, John Bassett McCleary), you know there was something more to 'the Sixties' than a bunch of kids getting stoned and having sex, then you'll appreciate this book not only as a reference but as a 'tickler file' for your psyche.

The main thing is, what's new in _this_ edition? Well, there are about fifty more pages of text. (The official page count has risen from 663 to 704. But the page numbering has also been adjusted: the entries. which used to start on page 12, now start on page 1 and the forematter is numbered with lowercase Roman numerals. By my count that's an increase of 52 pages.) As you'd expect, some entries are new and others are longer than they used to be.

But probably the most important thing for you to know is that McCleary and/or his editor (Joan Jeffers McCleary) have gone over the earlier edition carefully and fixed the errors that have been noted in some of the earlier reviews of this book. There was, for example, some extraneous material included in the very first entry ('A'); now it's gone. The others -- all the ones I know about, anyway -- have been corrected.

The McClearys deserve a big round of applause for the quick turnaround time. (The first edition is only two years old.) In my original review I rather unwillingly deducted maybe half a star for that stuff; it was obviously the result of deadline pressure, but this is still a reference book and factual mistakes count. In this review I'm happy to give the half-star back.

Everything else I said in my earlier review still applies. As McCleary writes, our society threw the baby out with the bathwater in rejecting hippie ideals; what's most important here is to recognize the 1960s as a period of _experimentation_. Anybody who wants to devote some thoughtful attention to the results of those experiments will find plenty to think about in this book. There's a lot here, but there's nothing you need to 'believe' -- just take it seriously enough to let it roll it around in your mind for a while.

With this edition a cool book has gotten cooler. Don't miss it.

Highly recommended!!!.......2003-07-04

Jam-packed (over 700 pages!) with fascinating info from a bygone era that vowed and did change our lives forever. The author has done a great job of capturing a lot of the excitement and turmoil that occurred and making us feel as if we were there! It's educational, it's entertaining, it's just a great book to learn more about the hippie era of the 60s. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about that period of time.

Hippie Dictionary: A Cultural Encyclopedia of the 1960s and 1970s

Average customer rating:

Hippie Dictionary: A Cultural Encyclopedia of the 1960s and 1970s

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417665661

Book Description

Bacon, Eggs and Crosswords!There's no better way to start the day off right than with a crossword puzzle to get your brain up and running as the sunlight streams through the windows, the coffee brews and the rest of the day awaits. So prepare to settle into a hearty meal--for your body and your mind. New from Will Shortz and The New York Times, this book features:* 75 great, eye-opening New York Times crosswords edited by crossword great Will Shortz* Fun, solvable crosswords for all puzzlers* Fresh, exciting vocabulary and creative puzzle construction

Average customer rating:

A recommended pick for any serious business library.

Eye-opener

Great Read...Couldn't put it down!

Readable, informative and highly recommended.

A real solid exploration of the market in fake goods

Knockoff: The Deadly Trade in Counterfeit Goods: The True Story of the World's Fastest Growing Crime Wave
Tim Phillips
Manufacturer: Kogan Page
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Organized Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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Counterfeiting Exposed: How to Protect Your Brand and Market Share

Global Human Smuggling: Comparative Perspectives

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Dangerous Doses: How Counterfeiters Are Contaminating America's Drug Supply

ASIN: 0749449411

Book Description

Knockoff exposes the truth behind the fakes and uncovers the shocking consequences of dealing in counterfeit goods. Traveling across the globe, Tim Phillips shows that counterfeiting isn't a victimless crime; it is an illegal global industry undermining the world's economies. Based on interviews with victims, investigators, and the people who sell counterfeits, Knockoff reveals the link between what we see as "innocent" fakes and organized crime. Phillips describes in detail how the counterfeiters' criminal network costs jobs, cripples developing countries, breeds corruption and violence, and kills thousands of people every year. He shows that by turning a blind eye to the problem, we become accomplices to theft, extortion, and murder.

Customer Reviews:

A recommended pick for any serious business library........2007-10-05

Counterfeiting is one of the fastest growing - and most profitable - industries in the world, and hold a market worth over, $500 billion dollars. KNOCKOFF exposes the truth behind the fakes and charts the ramifications of counterfeit manufacture and trafficking, probing an illegal global industry that is slowly undermining world economics. Interviews with victims, investigators and people who sell counterfeits counter the common notion that fakes are acceptable, reveals the organized crime behind many fakes, and makes for a recommended pick for any serious business library.

Eye-opener.......2007-09-01

It's an eye-opener in terms of showing extent and seriousness of counterfeiting problem. Also a fun read.

Great Read...Couldn't put it down!.......2006-10-29

For anyone interested in unerstanding the underworld trade in counterfeit goods that plague society today this is a must read.

Readable, informative and highly recommended........2006-10-04

I bought this book as background reading for a client assignment, and was impressed with the author's balanced perspective about a subject that - as the recent debate over digital rights management illustrates - tends to create strong opinions.

For example, Phillips makes no bones about the fact that counterfeiting is theft and that it is anything but a victimless crime. At the same time, he notes that companies need to convince customers that their products (particularly music and films) have the value that the companies assign to them. He also observes that where there is a huge price difference between legitimate and bootleg product and little in the way of local support, convincing people to buy a genuine product will be tough.

Phillips also makes some interesting points about the links between counterfeiting and organized crime and terrorism, and the prevalence of fake pharmaceuticals and aircraft parts. He does this without being sensational, which is no small accomplishment when you consider that counterfeit parts have been found on Air Force One, and that in some African countries, 80 percent of the medicine is fake.

Readable, informative and highly recommended.

A real solid exploration of the market in fake goods.......2006-08-07

When the voracious consumer society meets the international market in fake goods, the demand is massive, particularly since buyers covet brand image over quality or authenticity. That's the force behind the billion-dollar market in counterfeit designer goods, but it does not explain the demand for phony industrial goods. That market is based on price alone. The two markets combine to create a huge problem that author Tim Phillips examines at the global level. Phillips certainly has done his legwork, as this book - which is written in a journalistic style that could have been tighter - makes clear. He takes us to flea markets in Russia, warehouses in Manhattan, cottages in China, and the offices of police and regulators worldwide to show how pirated luxury consumer goods, software and industrial parts are bought and sold to suspecting and unsuspecting consumers worldwide. He provides names, places and details of the crimes. We find this informative treatment of a pervasive global problem both enlightening and disturbing, and recommend it to people in supply line logistics, branding, corporate intellectual property and law enforcement.

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