The French Worker: Autobiographies from the Early Industrial Era

Book Description

This anthology, drawn from the autobiographies of seven men and women whose lives span the nineteenth century, provides a rare glimpse of the everyday lives of workers in the age of early industrialization in France. Appearing for the first time in English, these stories vividly convey the ambitions, hardships, and reversals of ordinary people struggling to gain a measure of respectability.
The workers' livelihoods are diverse: chair-maker, embroiderer, joiner, mason, silk weaver, machinist, seamstress. Their stories of daily activities, work life, and popular politics are filled with lively, often poignant moments. We learn of dismal, unsanitary housing; of disease; workplace accidents; and terrible hardship, especially for the children of the poor. We read of exploitation and injustice, of courtship and marriage, and of the sociability of the wine-merchant's shop and the boardinghouse.
Traugott's analytic introduction discusses the many shifts in French society during the nineteenth century. Used in combination with other sources, these autobiographies illuminate the relationship between changes in working conditions and in the forms of political participation and protest occurring as the century came to a close.

Customer Reviews:

Are Traugott's contributors representative?.......2001-02-26

In his book The French Worker, Mark Traugott draws on translated autobiographies to paint the reader a picture of the realities of life for workers in France during the 1800s. Their writings tell not only of hardships, but also of the joys experienced in their personal and public lives. It is Traugott's intention that such accounts, when set against the turbulent backdrop of nineteenth century France, will provide the reader with a fascinating insight into how people lived during the French Revolution.

Traugott, who obtained his Ph.D. from Berkeley University currently teaches at the University of California, Santa Cruz, specializing in social and economic history, historical sociology and revolutionary and labor history. Traugott does not restrict his research and writing to French history alone. His book Repertoires and Cycles of Collective Action, published in 1995, explores social protest in Great Britain. In Armies of the Poor, Traugott returns to France and investigates the Parisian insurrection of 1848. Whilst Traugott may not be described as a prolific author, it is clear that he is a man who knows and loves history.

It is this in-depth knowledge that enables Traugott to provide us with a glimpse into everyday life in France through the eyes of people engaged in a variety of industries and trades: furniture, textiles, construction, metalwork and clothing. He also provides accounts from the point of view of unskilled laborers and from the world of the domestic servant. Whilst reading these varied accounts, one's eyes are truly opened to both the pleasures and pitfalls of having to earn one's wage during these chaotic times. Though life appeared to be harsh, workers seem to have had a much more concrete sense of camaraderie with their co-workers and with their profession as a whole. Agricol Perdiguier, a joiner, describes these brotherly feelings, "I was pleased to see young men from every part of France living as brothers, helping one another, and offering mutual support" (128). This sense of community within an industry continues throughout his account. Indeed, he appears to receive and give more support to his brothers within the Campagnons than he ever does with respect to his blood family. Where family is concerned, many of the narrators describe a difficult childhood. Jacques Etienne Bédé had a mother who patently did not love him, Suzanne Voilquin lost her mother at an early age, and Norbert Truquin's father abandons him to a life of misery as an assistant to a wool comber. Family relationships appear much less important than the world of word. This skew on allegiances may have been due to the mobile nature of the France's workforce. Leaving home at an early age to embark on a Tour of France would have meant that one spent more time with one's co-workers than with family. Short term employment choices, essential when partaking the Tour, would have also made one dependant on the protection of like minded, but unknown workers upon the way, both to provide employment opportunities and a safe place to stay. Traugott's book amply describes this movement away from filial respect and affection towards attachment to those sharing one's profession.

Whilst The French Worker provides the reader with a rich insight into the lives of those featured, it does have its problems. From a research point of view, the accounts included may well not be representative of the average worker in nineteenth century France since illiteracy and long hours would have made the act of writing a rare pleasure. Therefore, for Traugott's seven to have battled these particular odds and produced autobiographies indicates that they were not of an ilk with, or representative of their kind. In addition, the seven accounts are personal accounts, either written in the form of a journal or completed many years after the events took place. The journal risks portrayal of a knee-jerk reaction to the day or week's events, and the personal account may be self-serving in that it exemplifies the life and loves of the writer. Traugott then had to decide which accounts to include and which to abandon, thus adding the risk of editorial bias. If these problems were not enough, translation then opens the door for possible subjectivity. In Traugott's defense, he does discuss such editorial predicaments in both his Preface and Introductory chapters. Acknowledgement of the dangers by the author shows he is aware of the thin line he walks when producing a book of this type.

The book heaves with footnotes, all essential when digesting a translation of a lifestyle account far removed from one's own. In the Preface and Introduction, Traugott cites other scholars, their works and government documents within these footnotes. However, when one tackles the remainder of The French Worker, the majority of footnote explanations are solely Traugott's. They serve purely as an opportunity to further explain a phrase or action. The book credence would be improved by a wider variety of sources supporting the workers' accounts. The book is logically organized with each account taking the reader a step further through French history. However, for the reader not in possession of an in-depth understanding of this period, this chronological layout could have been enhanced if each account were preceded with a timeline outlining the pertinent historical landmarks.

Traugott manages to provide the reader with a wealth of information, both incidental and core. As a social document, the book is both interesting and informative, but one may have problems in deciding if the lives depicted were actually representative of nineteenth century France. However, given the general lack of documented case histories of the French working classes, perhaps this is the best that one can achieve. Traugott is known for his love of the subject and one can only hope that he is true to that love.

Book Description

Operational amplifiers, feedback and frequency compensation of OP amps, multivibrators, logic gates and families, Boolean algebra, registers, counters, arithmetic units, oscillators, radio- frequency circuits, flip-flops, and waveshaping and waveform generators.

Book Description

This volume explores Malaysia's development of a technological-industrial base from a sector and firm-specific perspective. Along with its companion, Technology, Competitiveness and the State, it examines Malaysian industrialization in terms of its industrial technology development.

Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia: industry and firm studies.(book review)(Book Review): An article from: Transnational Corporations

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Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia: industry and firm studies.(book review)(Book Review): An article from: Transnational Corporations
Henny Romijn
Manufacturer: United Nations Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Transnational Corporations, published by United Nations Publications on April 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1539 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: Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia: industry and firm studies.(book review)(Book Review)
Author: Henny Romijn
Publication: Transnational Corporations (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2002
Publisher: United Nations Publications
Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Page: 125(5)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Bet you can't read just one poem!

On every page of this chuckle-filled collection of contemporary light verse you'll find a funny little poem to lighten up your day. Lighten Up! Book 2 will keep you smiling and turning the pages for more short, witty poems by Richard Armour, Ogden Nash, Bob McKenty, Charles Ghigna, Bruce Lansky, and others.

Customer Reviews:

One word comes to mind...Why?.......1999-11-05

Why write a book of frequently regurgitated light verse? The only answer I could come up with was that the editor wanted to slip some of his own efforts in amongst the over-used classics of this genre. The publisher should never have allowed the editor to take this liberty. The editor's job should have been to choose the very best, and perhaps original, examples of light verse. His ego must have got the better of him if he thought that his verse could stand in good company with Ogden Nash or Richard Armour. My recommendation is that the publisher find an editor who can keep his editorial duties in mind and his ego in perspective.

Now here's my point!.......1999-10-22

Books should be a gift, but when the only reason for the existence of a book is as a gift then it better have value. If someone gave this book to me as a gift then I would ask for the receipt so I could make a quick exchange. I don't see any point to this book except as a reason to regurgitate the same old poems (and some new ones by the editor that don't deserve to see print). I also have to comment on the amount of white space in this title. They could have printed the same amount of material in 1/10 of the number of pages. This is called padding a book and we shouldn't have to kill more than a single tree to print a title that is this insubstantial.

The Unbearable Lighten Up.......1999-10-19

There are books of substance and books of no substance. However, when you knowingly purchase a book of no substance you expect something else in exchange-perhaps a chuckle or two? There was indeed a chuckle in this book. However, that single chuckle was offset by tedium. I would recommend that the editor stick with the known quantity of wits such as Nash and Armour, and dispense with his own attempts at humor. They don't work. One should have certain expectations, even for a book of no-substance.

You'd be better served with a collection of Ogden Nash.......1999-10-15

I just received this book as birthday present from a friend who knows my love for poetry and humorous verse. I must admit that I was not impressed by this little book. I've long appreciated the talent that must go into making such a short bit of verse both lean and witty. The Ogden Nash's of the world have that talent, and he, and others of his literary fraternity are represented in this collection. However, Nash is not always in good company in this collection. I would much rather go out and buy a collection of Nash's work, then have to suffer through some of the less talented efforts included by the editor. (Why do editors insist upon including their own work in their collections? Just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should.) An uneven anthology might turn off a reader from the true greats in the genre.

If you want me to lighten up, then write a funny book!.......1999-10-12

When I first saw this book, I thought it was a travelogue because of the cover. Upon closer inspection, I was intrigued because I've always enjoyed a bit of light verse. All too often, the only light verse people ever see is scribbled by an "everyman" on the walls of restrooms. Unfortunately, much of the content of this book wasn't much better than that scribbled by everyman. However, I will admit that the verse in "Lighten Up" was spelled better. I would have preferred a travelogue.

Average customer rating:

There are many other light verse titles that do a better job
I disagree with the negative reviews on this book!
My error
There are better offerings in this genre
I disagree emphatically with the negative remarks

Lighten Up: 101 Funny Little Poems
Lansky
Manufacturer: Meadowbrook
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Limericks & Humorous Verse | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 067131632X

Book Description

You'll find a smile on every page of this book.

Lighten Up! just may be the funniest collection of contemporary verse ever published. It includes delightfully witty, short poems by Ogden Nash, Richard Armour, Dorothy Parker, John Updike, David McCord, X.J. Kennedy, William Rossa Cole, Charles Ghigna, Bruce Lansky, and others.

On every page of this highly readable book you'll find a funny little poem and a smile. Yours.

Customer Reviews:

There are many other light verse titles that do a better job.......1999-12-16

It seems like an oxymoron, but there are many other books that have more substance than this "Light" book of light verse. Sure, this book has a smattering of selections from the light verse legends like Nash and Parker. However, a quick search will show many other books with more legendary light verse, and less, or no examples from unknowns (such as the editor who insists on including his banal efforts). I recommend you bypass this books for better examples of the genre.

I disagree with the negative reviews on this book!.......1999-12-15

This book is so easy to give as a gift and is perfect for almost anyone. It will appeal to those who know poetry, it will appeal to those who are unfamiliar with poetry.

My error.......1999-12-09

My prior review referred to the sequel, 101 Funny Little Poems. This volume, the first, in fact does have some of the classics by Dorothy Parker, et al.

I do wonder whether some other anthology might have all the good poems from this collection and five times as many others, but even so, I much liked both volumes.

There are better offerings in this genre.......1999-12-02

I was disappointed with this collection of light verse. Certainly, there are representations by the "greats" such as Nash and Armour. However, there were many selections included that just didn't fit. Some of the verse, mostly those written by the editor, seemed to be better suited for a collection of children's poetry. (Although I've not been qualified to judge the merits of children's poetry since I turned 13.)I would strongly recommend that light verse fans seek out the collections of Nash or Armour and leave this uneven collection to die a pseudo-literary death.

I disagree emphatically with the negative remarks.......1999-11-28

The book consists of short poems by Ogden Nash, short poems by Richard Armour, and short poems by Nash/Armour wannabes. What's wrong with that? Personally, I think many of them are very funny. This seemingly not very erudite editor has put together a funny book. I am buying at least one more copy to give as a gift. I recommend it highly.

There's no pretense of inclusiveness -- no Dorothy Parker that I could see, no Alexander Pope, indeed almost nobody much before the modern era. So what? These are not the 100 funniest short-short poems in the English language -- just 100 that, on the average, are rather funny. Well, at least the quatrains are on the average very funny. Some of the longer ones are more labored.

Bottom line: It's funny. A book of short poems is necessarily short. And I've never seen a book of humor that didn't have a number of duds or failures. So I think the book's readers and reviewers should, er, lighten up.

Book Description

The most intimate and appreciative biography of  the mega rock band U2 to date--by the author to  whom the band gave complete access.

When U2 took the stage for their three-year Zoo TV  world tour in 1991, Bill Flanagan was there--in  the bus, on the plane, in the recording studio and  well after hours with the biggest rock band in the  world. A tour that began to support the hugely  successful Achtung Baby record and ended with a  second, even more successful record, Zooropa, took U2  to the far reaches of the world, playing to over a  hundred sold-out arenas in over forty  cities.

U2 At The End Of The World  takes you on the world tour and drops you off at  the cultural intersection where rock stars meet  politicians; where writers, directors, and models all  wind up backstage with U2. You're there when the  band meets Bill Clinton in a Chicago hotel room;  when Salman Rushdie comes out of hiding to join the  band onstage at Wembley Arena in London; when  Frank Sinatra and Bono record their famous duet,  "I've Got You Under My Skin." And finally,  when the band performs their last Zoo TV concert in  Tokyo in 1993 and nearly collapses from physical  and mental exhaustion, you are there with them  waiting for the end of the world. Augmented with  sleek photos by renowned photographer Anton Corbijn,  U2 At The End Of The World is the  most definitive book on the band to  date.

Customer Reviews:

Journeys.......2007-08-15

This book is one of the few really great rock biographies. It does a great job of chronicling the band's past by giving a distilled view of their present, in both personal lives, internal processes, and musical career. All of that is the essence of the music of U2, and the legacy their music has created. Flanagan does them a great service in this bio, but also himself, for presenting them so well and staying out of the way. Well, mostly. His humor about touring with them is fairly expressive...

Outstanding.......2007-05-08

An outstanding work of rock journalism. This is far from a starry-eyed fanboy tribute -- Flanagan is one of the most intellectually gifted rock critics out there, and here he turns his intellect on travel, music, pop culture, his own foibles, and, of course, U2 and their art.

Flanagan, one of the first American journalists to champion U2, is a confidant of the band, but it doesn't stop him from critically appraising their work. The book starts with U2 taking the last flight into East Germany before reunification, and follows the band all the way through the writing of Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and the tour that surrounded the two albums. It's probably U2's most creatively active period, and it's our good fortune that a writer of Flanagan's calibre tagged along for the ride. A must-read if you're at all interested in U2.

Travel with and get to know the band.......2007-04-10

After reading this book, I felt like I really understood what was going on in their heads while writting Achtung Baby! and the music was better for it. I've read some of the more recent books about U2 and also about Bono and this tops them all. It's a day in the life, before 9/11 and before all that came after for them. If you love U2 like I love U2, read this book.

Suprisingly enjoyable.......2006-11-23

This is one of the most well-written biographies that I have read. Mr. Flanagan covers every aspect of U2, mixing the present with the past and the anticipated future of the band. As an avid reader of various non-fiction subjects, I have to say that this kind of a biography was a first for me. You wouldn't think that a book about a band would have any transferrable application for non-musicians, however I found that these guys are fairly down-to-earth. Reading U2: At the end of the world helped me to dispell some of the superstar myths that I had. That being said, I feel compelled to put a disclaimer about some of the language. While, it didn't seem to bother me, I would have to give this an "R" rating, as far as language is concerned. It's not as if the f-bomb appears on every other page...maybe once or twice a chapter. But, for those who might be sensitive to such expletives, beware. 5-Stars, with a warning.

Love love love this book!.......2006-07-04

If you are a U2 fan, this book will not disappoint you. Great insider look at the band. Made me wish I was an Australian waitress about to be canned from my job =)

Average customer rating:

U2 At the end of The World
Bill Flanagan
Manufacturer: Bantam Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OH9GJ0

Average customer rating:

U2: At the End of the World
Bill Flanagan
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7997K

Book Description

The winter solstice, the day the "sun stands still," marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year (it occurs either on December 20 or 21). Celebrations honoring the winter solstice as a moment of transition and renewal date back thousands of years and occur among many peoples on every continent. Now The Return of the Light makes an ideal companion for everyone who carries on this tradition, no matter what their faith. Storyteller Carolyn McVickar Edwards retells twelve traditional tales-from North America, China, Scandinavia, India, Africa, South America, Europe, and Polynesia-that honor this magical moment. These are stories that will renew our wonder of the miracle of rebirth and the power of transition from darkness into light.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful stories.......2003-01-20

What a wonderful collection of short stories - really great to read and put down, come back later for more. The stories are from around the world which I particularly liked. All are very well written, easy to get into, leave you with things to think about. Here are the titles of the stories:
Part 1: Theft
- Why Hummingbird has a red throat
- The golden earring
- Raven steals the light
- The sun cow and the theif

Part 2: Surrender
- How Maui snared the sun
- How the cock got his crown
- Loki and the death of light
- The pull-together morning

Part 3: The Grace
- Grandfather mantis and his thinking strings
- The girl who married the sun
- The light keepers box
- La Befana and the Royal Child of Light

For each story we're told what country its from and a little background for contect. Excellent!!

The last part of the book has rites (e.g. tree offering, give away) and games for winter solstice nights and solstice songs (e.g. deck the halls, joy to the world etc - different lyrics from the traditional christian songs)

There's also a great bibliography to check out more books

Highly recommended.

Tales and Ritual Ideas to Enrich the Yuletide Season.......2001-11-26

I love this little volume of Winter Solstice tales from diverse cultures around the world. I believe that exploring the rich symbolism of the Yuletide season helps to make this joyful time of year come more fully to life. These clever stories are sure to further your understanding of the meanings of the holiday celebrations you have enjoyed all your life, adding new dimension to your future celebrations. They offer an opportunity to increase your sense of oneness with others who may worship and believe differently from yourself but who are none-the-less your sisters and brothers. There are tables at the back of this book which have short ritual ideas to use in your own celebrations and revels as well as some clever lyric revisions to well-known carols that put a Winter Solstice spin on them. I am a Wiccan Priestess and have used this book in crafting an annual public, ecumenical Yule ritual with great success. I recommend it for fireside reading as you wait up to greet the new born light.

Average customer rating:
The New York Sun Crosswords # 2: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper

Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Crosswords | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Crosswords | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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The New York Sun Crosswords #7: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper (New York Sun Crosswords)

The New York Sun Crosswords #8: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper (New York Sun Crosswords)

The New York Sun Crosswords #9: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper (New York Sun Crosswords)

The New York Sun Crosswords #10: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper (New York Sun)

The New York Sun Crosswords #11: 72 Puzzles from the Daily Paper (New York Sun Crosswords)

ASIN: 1402706294

Book Description

Two great collections, 144 puzzles in all, will delight and test the skills of any crossword lover!

What makes these crossword puzzles, from New York City's newest newspaper, the best ever? They're carefully edited to get rid of the junk that shows up in crosswords over and over again. Those obscure words that nobody actually uses (like agio, etui, and esne) are kept to an absolute, bare minimum. Instead, the solving pleasure arises from tricky clues and witty puns. Four-fifths of the puzzles have clever and original themes, too, which add to the fun (look at the title for a hint). Plus, solvers will enjoy the wide range of difficulty, which is indicated by the number of stars on top. Those that come from the Monday paper are simple, but the Friday puzzles, especially the themeless "Weekend Warrior" crosswords, are the toughest in America. They will challenge even the best solvers--and inspire newcomers to the world of crosswords to work their way up. A special treat: the answer to the very last puzzle from the original New York Sun, which shut down on January 4, 1950, is printed in Volume 1. At last, you can check your solution!

Book Description

Version 2.0 of Microsoft - ASP.NET will be a major upgrade#151;and this guide offers an early, detailed look at exactly what's changing in this powerful tool. The author#151;a highly regarded expert in the Microsoft .NET development community#151;guides you through new features, infrastructure changes, enhancements to data access and ASP.NET controls, and other critical insights. As you begin working with the beta release of the technology, this book provides focused, expert guidance#151;and downloadable code samples#151;for getting a head start on evaluating, planning for, and exploiting ASP.NET 2.0 capabilities.

Customer Reviews:

Good Intro.......2007-08-30

With the wide acceptance .net 2.0 and visual studio 2005 I have decided it was time to catch up with the new features provided by ASP.net 2.0. After reading Dino Esposito's Programming Asp.net, I was greatly impressed. The book became a core reference when working with ASP.net. I hoped selecting his updated version for the new framework would provide me with the knowledge necessary and was not disappointed. The book gave me a gentle welcome to the platform additions and displayed with examples how they can be deployed in a `code-less' fashion. The coverage of the new features does take knowledge of the past 1.0 platform. Often the author gives prospective on how applications features were achieved in the 1.0 platform and now can much obtained much easier. Data access coverage was well thought and built upon itself to give the user a good introduction. The only thing I can fault this book is being what it claims, an introduction. The details were kept minimal and only provided a basic working understanding of the additions. The author was able to cover many concepts while not losing a casual reader in the details of implementation. Overall this book is an excellent read for any software developer who wishes to quickly access the new functionality provided by ASP.net 2.0 platform. Dino Esposito's organization and writing style is excellent. This book also serves as an excellent gateway into his Programming Microsoft ASP.net 2.0 which covers many of the excluded details. Experienced developers may want to skip directly to this book.

TERRIBLE book.......2007-02-26

This book is vague, useless and has bugs in it. dont buy it.

Un poco desactualizado.......2007-01-11

En lineas generales muy bueno, pero hay algunos temas que parece que estaban en los betas pero en la versión final no y estan reseñados en el libro.

Be Careful before buying this book!.......2006-02-23

This book is written for the BETA version; thus, some of the information in this book cannot be applied to the latest version. Also all the examples are in C# and for SQL Server 2000 not 2005, and if you don't know C# very much or want to use ASP.NET with new SQL server 2005 which is more appropriate to each other, you shouldn't buy this book. Instead there are some newly written books about ASP.NET 2 - look into them.

Published in August 2004.......2006-01-16

I have the Dino Exposito book, Introducing Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0, and I recommend everyone to stay away from it. The company I work for received 2 of these books from a Microsoft rep and I understand why they are giving them away, it sucks. I do have experience with ASP.NET. I have been working with ASP.NET since the release of Beta 2 of ASP.NET 1.0. I started reading this book today and have realized that the content is based on the Beta. After readng the first chapter I have decided to find another book on ASP.NET 2.0. Based on Amazon's and Microsoft's Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6962.asp) this book was published in August of 2004.

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Introducing Asp.Net 2.0
Introducing Microsoft Asp.Net 2.0
Manufacturer: Microsoft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LZQKN0

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Introducing Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0
Dino Esposito
Manufacturer: Microsoft Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

This book gives an expert, developer-focused introduction to ASP.NET web programming. With concise concept and feature explanation and more than 70 fully functional examples, this comprehensive introduction gives you everything you need.

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