Household Wisdom: Traditional Homemaking Tips for Modern Living

Book Description

For anyone who has despaired of maintaining house and home in our chaotic, modern world, Household Wisdom provides refreshing and practical relief. A selection of Book-of-the-Month Club's Country Homes and Garden Book Club, this useful guide contains the homemaking secrets that your grandmother learned from her grandmother. Learn how to keep a well-ordered linen closet, care for your cutlery, polish silver, brass, and bronze, remove stubborn stains, and save seeds from the garden. The myriad tips and techniques make it easy to keep every room clean, pleasant, and pest-free. Illustrated with 150 color photos and drawings, this handsome volume will prove to be a handy reference to use as the need arises. Household Wisdom helps you instantly create old-fashioned order which never goes out of style.

Customer Reviews:

Some good ideas- some not so good.......2001-08-02

I found some items in this book to be useful, some should not even be considered.

There were some good recipes or formulas on caring for furniture and householod items.

On addressing wooden items, my main problem was when she suggested spraying the polish in the air for the scent of it since most people polish too often causing build up. This is not environmentally responsible, buy a scented candle if you must but please leave the chemicals in their container.

Her jams and jellies are not all safe methods. If you are going to create these tasty treats, please follow the safety guidelines set forth by the pros. Find this information from the Kerr or Ball company- or buy a book on canning. Not following guidelines can result in serious illnesses.

I hate to critique more- but I must. The section on pets was better left out completely. Ms. Donaldson should have consulted an expert on a few things. One- rodents can live longer than two years and do not make the best beginning pets. They are nocturnal- meaning they'll be awake when the children are asleep and visa-versa, to disrupt the animals natural sleep pattern can cause biting. Two- the whole goldfish thing devastated my children when fish after fish in a properly maintained tank died. We did consult fish experts and treat the water, and filter, etc. Three- She states that cats who "never experience the freedom of outdoors is not living the life it was intended to live" this is simply irresponsible.

After working with pet rescue operations, especially cats, were far more likely to acquire injuries, disease and death by people, other animals or vehicles- because they were permitted outside. My childhood cats lived 17 and 18 years inside, very happy.

Overall, if you want a few good ideas on housekeeping, buy the book. The pictures are beautiful, I'll keep it for the photographic artistry. If you demand accurate information like me, look elsewhere. I recommend Pearls of Country Wisdom and In the Kitchen with Heloise, both available here at Amazon.

Book Description

From 1895 to 1898, Cuban insurgents fought to free their homeland from Spanish rule. Though often overshadowed by the "Splendid Little War" of the Americans in 1898, the longer Spanish-Cuban conflict, according to John Tone, was in fact more remarkable, foreshadowing the wars of decolonization in the twentieth century.

Employing newly released evidence, including hospital records, intercepted Cuban letters, battle diaries from both sides, and Spanish administrative records, Tone offers new answers to old questions concerning the war. He examines the origin of Spain's genocidal policy of "reconcentration"; the causes of Spain's military difficulties; the condition, effectiveness, and popularity of the Cuban insurgency; the necessity of American intervention; and Spain's supposed foreknowledge of defeat.

The Spanish-Cuban-American war proved pivotal in the histories of all three countries involved. Tone's fresh analysis will provoke new discussions and debates among historians and human rights scholars as they reexamine the war in which the concentration camp was invented, Cuba was born, Spain lost its empire, and America gained an overseas empire.

Customer Reviews:

Summary for the defense of the indefensible.......2007-03-08

Tone, John Lawrence 2006 War and Genocide in Cuba, 1895-1898 The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. ISBN-10 0807830062 ISBN-13: 978-0807830062

This is an interesting book, but I find it misleading. In a laudable attempt to present all sides of the circumstance of genocide in during the Cuban Wars of Independence, the author has relied too heavily on data from dubious sources. In addition the author seems to have made those ideological compromises that are the common currency paid to access Cuban government archives. Examples of this follow (page numbers refer to hard copy edition).

Gerardo Machado on page 198 is mentioned as being mainly rustler citing Spanish sources, a matter generally considered alleged but not proven, but there is no mention of Machado's far more prominent career in independent Cuba. Quintín Banderas' "diary" is cited as probable source in the footnotes of Chapter Thirteen (footnote 43 p. 305) without the consideration that Banderas was one of the few Cuban war leaders who was considered illiterate.

Tone's ideological stance is made very apparent when in the very last paragraph of the book (p. 287) he makes is appear that the Spanish military was uniquely criminal in the vicious and cruel Spanish Civil War, ignoring the circumstance that the author's "striking Spanish workers," had also been murderous and indiscriminate in their killings.

Tone tends to label members of the social structures he apparently disapproves of non-neutral terms, for instance he labels owners of sugar plantations and mills as "sugar baron" (e.g. p. 16) evoking a inaccurate medieval image such as the Norman barons at Runnymede. He, as is unfortunately only too common among non-Cuban historians dealing with Cuba, labels rural inhabitants as peasants (e.g. p. 21), ignoring the very real fact that the Güajiros, commonly rode horses, and were usually armed with at least a machete, circumstances usually denied to European peasants.

However, aside from the classist but common use of the term peasant, instead of Güajiro for the rural inhabitants of Cuba, the author does makes a excellent point that the rural inhabitants of eastern Cuba were different, diverse and independent (pp. 21-22 and others).

Tone offers excuses for Spanish government actions in this regard (p. 23 ) citing British action in South Africa (a lesser but sad event), and not documented references to U.S. actions in the Philippines and Vietnam. This is most odd, since the author does not mention the massive horrors of Soviet actions such as in the Ukraine, Mao's actions in China, and the killing fields of Cambodia. The Armenian genocides roughly contemporary to the events described in this book, are also not mentioned.

Thus, in summary one can only accept the author's (see pp. 209-223 and others) constantly cited 170,000 figure for Cuban civilian dead in la Re-concentracion as a minimal figure for this horrible time. None the less this book is useful given its scholarship, but only if one considers it to be a "summary for the defense of the indefensible."

Average customer rating:

The war events with little political background
A good overview...
A summary of the Spanish American War.
The Bible on The Spanish American War

The Splendid Little War
Frank Freidel
Manufacturer: Burford Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1580800939

Book Description

Indeed it was splendid for the American public, but for the Rough Riders and other soldiers it was as grim, dirty, and bloody as any other war.

Customer Reviews:

The war events with little political background.......2004-10-13

When the United States went to war against Spain in 1898, the result was predictable, although the speed of the victory was not. Few realized how inept the mighty Spanish Empire had become, although it was no secret among the members of the Spanish military. This knowledge made them very defeatist, leading to a lack of initiative, even when they could have defeated the Americans. It all started with the battle of Manila Bay, an amazing victory where the Spanish fleet was destroyed with almost no damage to the American ships. Had the Spanish forces been able to make a respectable stand or even defeat the American fleet, the entire course of the war could have been different.
While the American navy was formidable, the Spanish navy had the advantage of shore batteries and proximity to their bases. The American army was riddled with ineptness, the invasion of Cuba could have easily been defeated. Had the Spanish forces on the island aggressively opposed the Americans before they could build their forces and land enough supplies, it could have been a catastrophic defeat. If the Spanish troops in Cuba had had word of a Spanish victory in the Philippines, they most likely would have been more forceful in their response.
Of course, none of that happened, and the events of the Spanish defeat are chronicled here. What I liked most about the book is that it is honest about the actions of the American forces. It was a war largely known for the jingoistic elements, yet there is none of that in this book. However, the emphasis is on the events of the war, there is very little regarding the political background to the American conquest of the Philippines and Cuba. For decades, there was serious talk in the United States about Cuba being annexed. Before the Civil war, southerners wanted it to join the Union as a slave state. American doctrine was that Cuba was to either be under the control of Spain or the United States. An independent Cuba was not considered to be in the interests of the United States. Some historians have argued that the United States intervened only when it appeared that the Cuban rebels were to win independence. In terms of the Philippines, no one considered it to be an American interest until the Spanish were defeated.
The last few pages deal with the American involvement in the Philippines after the war. This is one of the darkest events in the history of American arms. The war against the Filipino nationalists was brutal, with atrocities on both sides. It would have been a better book if more had been written about these events. If your interest is primarily in the events of the war, then this book is excellent. However, to satisfy any interest you may have in the political backdrop and aftermath, it is necessary to look elsewhere.

A good overview..........2003-07-09

This book will give you a good introduction to the Spanish-American War. While little attention is given to the diplomatic and political aspects of the war, the book does an excellent job of giving the reader a wide overview of the major battles and engagements of the war. All of the major personalities are discussed, and many anecdotes from the soldier in the field are given. Highly recommended reading for someone who wishes to learn more about the Spanish-American War.

A summary of the Spanish American War........2002-06-04

At a little over 200 pages, this book covers the main battles of the Spanish American War. These include the two naval battles off Santiago and Manila, and the land campaigns in Puerto Rico,Cuba and the Philippine Islands. So if you are into the military aspect of the war, this is the book for you. If you need the political reasons, see Trask's book about the war or another called Empire by Default. This is a good summary of the war, but not an explanation for the reason of the war. However, the book is well written and very readable.

The Bible on The Spanish American War.......2002-01-24

This book by Frank Freidel is my favorite on the subject. "You may fire when ready, Gridley," says Commodore Dewey at the battle of Manila Bay. And so does Frank Freidel. That action took place just five days after President McKinley signed the resolution for war with Spain and Freidel puts the reader there. Freidel puts the reader right in the midst of the twin battles of El Caney and San Juan Hill in Cuba on July 1, 1898. The outcome of these battles spelled the success or failure of the American expeditionary force. Of San Juan Hill Theodore Roosevelt stated bluntly that "The battle simply fought itself." This was a direct criticism of General Shafter. It's this type of writing and research by Frank Freidel that makes this book so interesting and an enjoyable read. This book has been around for a while. If it weren't good it wouldn't be around today.

America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Engagements from the Fall of Saigon to Baghdad

Average customer rating:

A fascinating overview of an eventful era in U.S. military history

America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Engagements from the Fall of Saigon to Baghdad
Peter Huchthausen
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0142004650
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Book Description

From the evacuation of Saigon in 1975 to the end of the twentieth century, the United States committed its forces to more than a dozen military operations. Offering a fresh analysis of the Iranian hostage rescue attempt, the invasions of Granada and Panama, the first Gulf War, the missions in Somalia and Bosnia, and more, author and distinguished U.S. naval captain Peter Huchthausen presents a detailed history of each military engagement through eyewitness accounts, exhaustive research, and his unique insider perspective as an intelligence expert. This timely and riveting military history is Â“a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the nature of war todayÂ” (Stephen Trent Smith).

Customer Reviews:

A fascinating overview of an eventful era in U.S. military history.......2005-08-28

"America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Engagements from the Fall of Saigon to Baghdad," by Peter Huchthausen, is a fascinating guide to a quarter century of American military actions. Starting with the S.S. _Mayaguez_ incident off the coast of Cambodia in 1975, Huchthausen tells the story of many missions: the failed 1980 attempt to rescue hostages in Iran, intervention in Lebanon in the 1980s, the 1983 Grenada invasion, the 1986 attack on Libya, activities in the Persian Gulf in the late 1980s, intervention in Panama in 1989, Operation Desert Shield (1990-91) and the 1991 Gulf War, the 1991 relief effort on behalf of the Kurds of northern Iraq, actions in Somalia in the early 1990s, intervention in Bosnia in the 1990s, and the 1999 Kosovo campaign.

The book is full of good features: logical organization, more than a dozen clear and informative maps, several pages of black-and-white photographs, a comprehensive nine-page bibliography, and an index. Huchthausen's prose style is clear and to-the-point. A paragraph about the author notes that he is a retired U.S. Navy captain, and that he served as an analyst of the Soviet navy, a submarine expert, and a naval attache. In his introduction Huchthausen notes that the phrase "splendid little war" was used in 1898, by a U.S. ambassador, to describe the Spanish-American War (incidentally, Theodore Roosevelt's classic memoir of that war, "The Rough Riders," would make a great companion text for this book). Huchthausen notes the irony of his book's title: "The U.S. military encounters from 1975 to 1999 were neither splendid nor small."

Huchthausen offers gripping descriptions of the unfolding events, both political and military, of each "little war." He gives historical backgrounds for the conflicts and also provides interesting analyses of the U.S. actions. Significant recurring themes include relations between the press and the military, the combination of assets from different branches of the U.S. military, and the use of unconventional forces such as Navy SEALs and the Army's Delta Force. We get glimpses of some fascinating personalities: U.S. Admiral William J. Crowe, Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, Somali warlord Muhammad Farah Aideed, Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, and more. In an afterword (to the 2004 edition), Huchthausen reflects on more recent U.S. wars in Afghanistan (since 2001) and Iraq (since 2003).

Yes, one can only fit so much information into the relatively short space allotted to each "little war," and at times I felt that the book didn't give a full enough story. Still, as a general overview of this era the book is very useful, and the excellent bibliography offers interested readers plenty more places to go if he or she wants to learn more. For additional companion texts that cover some of the same material from other valuable perspectives, I recommend "Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL," by Chuck Pfarrer, and "Inside Delta Force," by Eric Haney. Overall, I consider "America's Splendid Little Wars" a well-written and valuable book--in particular, essential reading for contemporary military professionals.

America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Military Engagements: 1975-2000

Average customer rating:

Twenty-five years of mediocrecy.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of U.S. Foreign Policy
Brilliant
Some succes, some failure
Good Overview of Modern "Small" Wars

America's Splendid Little Wars: A Short History of U.S. Military Engagements: 1975-2000
Peter Huchthausen
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Since the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, America has committed its forces to combat in more than a dozen military operations. In America's Splendid Little Wars, distinguished U.S. Naval Captain Peter Huchthausen explores the modern development of America's tradition of small wars. From the 1975 operation to recover the hijacked merchant ship SS Mayaguez in the Gulf of Siam to the 1999 "relief intervention" in Kosovo, Huchthausen presents an intimate history of each military engagement. Through eyewitness accounts, thorough research, and his unique insider perspective as an intelligence expert, he offers a fresh analysis of the Iranian hostage rescue attempt, the invasions of Grenada and Panama, the Gulf War, and the missions in Somalia and Bosnia.

This timely and riveting military history shows how America-now the world's sole remaining superpower-has enforced the global "Pax Americana" by developing and honing its military capability and making sophisticated use of the media and public sentiment.

Customer Reviews:

Twenty-five years of mediocrecy........2006-07-10

A short review of fifteen American conflicts in twenty-five years. The premise is good, but this is a short summary of many conflicts. They include the conflicts in Cambodia, Grenada, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Somilia, Kosovo, and Bosnia. Most of these were disappointing conflicts from the American point of view. The author basically rehashs the conflicts and how America intervened. One conflict he went in detail was Bosnia, but he gave short shift to the success of the reconquest of Kuwait.
These are OK summaries of all these conflicts, but one will not find any new information in them. None of them were new to me.

This is an OK read for those interested in American foreign policy from 1975-2000. This is a summarization of all the conflicts in these twenty five years. Most of them were disappointments to the U.S.. This includes even the successes such as the seizure of the SS Mayaguez. This conflict caused more deaths than it saved. An OK read.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of U.S. Foreign Policy.......2005-08-12

This is book represents a straightforeward chronology of significant American military endeavors since Vietnam ending with the first Gulf war. The author is obviously a military fanatic, as we are treated to more a strategic analysis of these conflicts than any overall analysis of their long term consequences, but this is a minor criticism of a pretty good read.

This book is of considerable value in light of current events. When I was finished reading about the last 30 years of Americn imperialism, I was left with rather mixed feellings about the extent to which my country has meddled in the destiny of other nations and whether it has truly been worth it. America has had some heroic sucesses (Kosovo), military successes(Grenada,Panama,Gulf War 1) and dismal failures (Lebanon, Somalia). I found the chapter on the failed Iran hostage rescue to be a particularly depressing lesson in military incompetence.

The reasons for launching these foreign wars has been as varied as the results they have acheived, yet one aspect is crystal clear: despite America's monstrous advantages of wealth, military power and technology, long term victory even over 3rd world dictatorships is NEVER a sure thing.

Brilliant.......2004-08-25

This incisive and unbiased historical analysis of modern military engagements is invaluable as a basis for understanding the motivations,complexities, and details of armed conflicts that have involved America's fighting forces during the critical times covered in this book. Anyone wishing to broaden their comprehension of the policies, politics, and compulsions underlying decisions to engage in battle will find America's Splendid Little Wars a very satisfying read.>

Some succes, some failure.......2004-06-15

This book is a survey of 14 American (some with allies) military actions from 1975 till 2000. For those interested in the military side it is interesting. He also writes a little about the politics behind it, though never really critizing it vehemently. It's a good reference book and I think well researched.

Good Overview of Modern "Small" Wars.......2004-02-23

The major U.S. wars -- especially the Civil War and the highly romanticized WW II -- loom large in the American consciousness. But as Max Boot demonstrated in his "The Savage Wars of Peace" (2002), scores of military engagements, interventions, peacekeeping operations and so-called "small" wars have had consequential impact. Boot discusses many such pre-Vietnam operations, including the efforts to end Barbary Coast piracy, the Spanish-American war, the Pancho Villa expedition, and various South America and the Caribbean interventions, among others.

Now Peter Huchthausen picks up where Boot left off, with a concise examination of more than a dozen military operations that occurred between 1975 and 2000.

Huchthausen, best known as the author of "K-19: The Widowmaker," presents the ignominious (Iranian Hostage Rescue, Lebanon, Somalia) alongside the unqualified successes (Panama, Desert Shield/Storm, Libya retaliation) and engagements in which success came at a price (Grenada, Kosovo).

Throughout the narrative, it is interesting to observe the U.S. military progressively restoring its efficacy following its "hollow" period in the immediate aftermath of Vietnan. And we see the positive effects of the Goldwater-Nichols reforms (1986) in fostering increased inter-service cooperation and improved operational performance. Inter-service coordination, for example, was much better in Panama (late 1989) than in Grenada (1983).

Huchthausen's book is a highly readable, compact overview, easily digestible in one session or two. Well worth the time for anyone interested in the creation of the modern U.S. military, whose recent successes in Afghanistan and Iraq we've all marveled at.

Average customer rating:
Donegan and the Splendid Little War
Thomas Morrissey
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1401049842

Average customer rating:
John Splendid The Tale of A Poor Gentleman and the Little Wars of Lorn
Neil [Foulis, Hugh] Munro
Manufacturer: William Blackwood
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IX7Y80

Average customer rating:
John Splendid, the Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn.
Neil Munro
Manufacturer: NY: Dodd, Mead & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZ5E2Q

Average customer rating:
JOHN SPLENDID: THE TALE OF A POOR GENTLEMAN AND THE LITTLE WARS OF LORN.

Manufacturer: William Blackwood
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HJR90I

Average customer rating:
John Splendid: The tale of a poor gentleman, and the little wars of Lorn
Neil Munro
Manufacturer: W. Blackwood
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00087IEMQ

Average customer rating:
John Splendid: The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn (Hardcover - 1948)
Neil Munro
Manufacturer: William Blackwood & Sons Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VT6XEC

Customer Reviews:

As one war ended, another war began.......2006-08-10

This book is a fascinating look at Spanish politics and culture during World War II. It covers all aspects of Spanish history, from Franco's meetings with Hitler to bullfighters losing their lives in the arena. I've always found European history interesting, but until a few years ago I had never read anything about Spain, and had no idea what an interesting part it played during this time

1939 was the year that World War II began. But in Spain, this was the year that war ended. The Spanish Civil War devastated the nation from 1936 to 1939, and thus while most of Europe was going to war, Spain was rebuilding from a war.

Wayne Bowen's new book, "Spain During World War II", describes how Spain attempted to rebuild itself under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Dissent on the "Left" was forbidden: communist, socialist, and democratic views were suppressed by the Franco regime. But plenty of dissent on the "Right" existed. This book narrates the history of some of the major dissenters and shows that their power was quite significant.

One example of successful dissent came from Cardinal Segura and Cardinal Goma, leaders of the Catholic Church in Spain. They supported Franco but condemned Nazi Germany - because, while they didn't mind dictatorship, the pagan elements in Nazism filled them with horror. These church leaders managed to prevent a "cultural exchange" accord that would have exposed Spanish youth to Nazi culture.

At the other extreme was Pilar Primo de Rivera. She was the leader of the Women's Section of the Falange, and was enthusiastically pro-Nazi. In May 1941, concerned that Franco was appointing too many monarchists and too few Falangists to his cabinet, she led a protest against Franco's policies. Her popularity was too great for Franco to eliminate her, and he backed down and appointed more Falangists to his cabinet. Pilar Primo de Rivera continued to lobby for Spain to enter the war on Hitler's side, and to promote the Nazi cause within Spain.

Meanwhile, the majority of Spaniards during this time were not concerned with politics: they were concerned with jobs, the economy, and sports. Soccer ("football" in Europe) and bullfighting - the two great Spanish sports - were promoted by the Franco regime as a safe alternative to politics. But even here, the regime found that the Spanish people could not be controlled, as regional rivalries led to violence between the fans at football matches.

This book is a fascinating look at how Spain managed to rebuild from its war - at the same time that the rest of Europe was being devasted by the greatest war in history.

The Freedom Line: The Brave Men and Women Who Rescued Allied Airmen from the Nazis During World War II

Average customer rating:

The Freedom Line
good read but needed some extras
Great Book, Would Make a Great Movie
An excellent read for todays generation

The Freedom Line: The Brave Men and Women Who Rescued Allied Airmen from the Nazis During World War II
Peter Eisner
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Western | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060096640
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Book Description

Compared to Casablanca by the Washington Post, this a page–turning story of a group of resistance workers who secreted downed Allied fighter pilots through France and into safety in Spain during World War II.

As war raged against Hitler's Germany, an increasing number of Allied fliers were shot down on missions against Nazi targets in occupied Europe. Many fliers parachuted safely behind enemy lines only to find themselves stranded and hunted down by the Gestapo. The Freedom Line traces the thrilling and true story of Robert Grimes, a 20–year–old American B–17 pilot whose plane was shot down over Belgium on Oct. 20, 1943. Wounded, disoriented, and scared, he was rescued by operatives of the Comet Line, a group of tenacious young women and men from Belgium, France, and Spain who joined forces to rescue the Allied aircrews and take them to safety. And on Christmas Eve 1943, he and a group of fellow Americans faced unexpected sudden danger and tragedy on the border between France and Spain.

The road to safety was a treacherous journey by train, by bicycle, and on foot that stretched hundreds of miles across occupied France to the Pyrenees Mountains at the Spanish border. Armed with guile and spirit, the selfless civilian fighters of the Comet Line had risked their lives to create this underground railroad, and by this time in the war, they had saved hundreds of Americans, British, Australians, and other Allied airmen.

Based on interviews with the survivors and in–depth archival research, The Freedom Line is the story of a group of friends who chose to act on their own out of a deep respect for liberty and human dignity. Theirs was a courage that presumed to take on a fearfully powerful foe with few defences.

Customer Reviews:

The Freedom Line.......2007-05-09

This is a wonderful book that describes a part of the European Theater in World War II that many Americans know little about. I sent a copy of the book to a friend and his wife who were in the resistance in Holland in WW II. They also loved the book and said it was an absolutely accurate and riveting account of the underground resistance movement in Europe. A wonderful read...far better than any contrived fiction. The folks who saved our downed Allied aircrew members and guided them to safety are true heros. Theirs is an amazing story of sacrifice and dedication.

good read but needed some extras.......2005-01-05

This is a well written book and reads well, but it would have been better if it had included photos of the people involved and the areas described. It also could have used an index.

Great Book, Would Make a Great Movie.......2004-12-09

Bob Grimes was twenty years old, a pilot in a B-17 on the way back from bombing Germany on October 20, 1943 when an FW-190 shot off the tail of his plane. Wounded he bailed out of the stricken plane. On the ground he was incredibly lucky. He fell into the hands of The Comet Line. This was a network of people from Brussels to Spain that helped downed British and American air crew to escape. This book uses the story of Grimes to tell the story of the Comet Line itself.

The Comet Line was the creation of an elegant young Belgian woman Dedee de Jongh. She ran the organization until she was captured and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp; she survived the war.

Parts of this story are seen in the movie "The Great Escape" where one of the escapees travels down the line to Spain. True, this is a dramatic story of people at their best in very dangerous situations.

An excellent read for todays generation.......2004-04-13

This is a perfect book for the present situation the world is experiencing today. This really shows how men and women who appreciate freedom sacrifice and put themselves in harms way. Peter Eisner is to be complimented and this book should be in every school library and a must read for all.

I'll Be Home for Christmas: The Library of Congress Revisits the Spirit of Christmas During World War II

Average customer rating:

The Real Chicken Soup for Your Soul
Best Christmas Book Ever

I'll Be Home for Christmas: The Library of Congress Revisits the Spirit of Christmas During World War II

Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Amazon.com

In December 1943, Jill Oppenheim wrote to her husband, Alfred de Grazia, who was serving in the 5th Army overseas:

...I am cheerless in the exact proportions to which Bob Hope et al were full of holiday mirth. There is a peculiar psychology in missing someone you love--the pain becomes greatest during the times you deviate from the ordinary, & to most people, distasteful, routine of living--the Sundays, the feast days, the idle moments just before you go to bed.

For thousands of soldiers and their families, the Decembers during World War II were especially trying times. Far away from friends and family, the men and women serving overseas made do as best they could to celebrate, some decorating trees with C-ration cans or surgical gloves, some making up gifts for local children, and all hoping for packages from home. Those on the home front made do as well, dealing with travel restrictions and rationing--or, worse, the loss of friends and family. I'll Be Home for Christmas is a bittersweet look at how the holiday was celebrated during the dark Decembers of World War II. Taken from the archives of the Library of Congress, stories, correspondence, illustrations, diary excerpts, and photographs provide poignant glimpses of how America survived the war years. Even Grinches and Scrooges will be touched by a Christmas letter to his mother from Emit F. Logan, imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp; or a little boy's gift to thrice-wounded marine Edward Andrusko; or pictures of GIs in foxholes, grinning as they open their Christmas packages. A wonderful celebration of The Greatest Generation's spirit--and a wonderful look at an oft-forgotten side of World War II. --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

America is ready to remember and honor the men and women who courageously served the nation during World War II. To celebrate those brave souls and their families, and the spirit that carried them through our nation's darkest days, the Library of Congress has created a magnificent gift book. Themed around memories of Christmas during the war, I'll Be Home for Christmas is a unique and handsomely packaged collection of poignant stories, correspondence, more than 100 photographs and illustrations, and diary excerpts from those who went off to war and those who kept the home fires burning.

One of the key events that shaped the twentieth century, World War II left an indelible mark on mankind. All too often overlooked in the shadow of official accounts and the sheer volume of documentation of the war are the millions of individual stories and experiences of those who served in the war and of the loved ones who waited for them to come home. Never were the personal sacrifices made both here and abroad more heartfelt than at that special time for family that is Christmas.

Now the Library of Congress has opened its treasure trove of more than 110 million items (maps, photographs, drawings, recordings, rare books, published and unpublished writings, music, and motion pictures) to craft the perfect gift for anyone interested in World War II. With more than 100 beautiful photographs, cartoons, and illustrations, I'll Be Home for Christmas captures in brilliant relief how the worst of times can bring out the best in humankind.

Customer Reviews:

The Real Chicken Soup for Your Soul.......2003-07-01

This book is by and about ordinary people in extraordinary times, whose prayers were sometimes answered, and sometimes not. It's also about real people at the one time of the year when everyone is vulnerable, people who mostly made it through the war with quiet faith and courage, despite everything. I remember as a young boy during this time seeing gold stars in peoples' windows at Christmas (a sign that they had lost a loved one) and yet right behind it, a Christmas tree.

I bought "I'll Be Home for Christmas" for my daughter and told her that this book is the real "Chicken Soup for the Soul"--written by people who sometimes didn't have enough ration coupons for the chicken-or for a holiday goose-but celebrated anyway.

It's a great history lesson and a good read.

Best Christmas Book Ever.......2002-05-29

I'll Be Home For Christmas is a must have. This book recreates Christmas time all over the world telling the stories of soldiers at the front, in prison camps (both sides), familys at home, and at internment camps. Filled with great pictures, excerpts from diaries, and newspaper clippings it leaves the reader with a feeling of gratefullness for what they went through. Some is funny, but most is thoughtful or just plain sad. Now I wouldn't put this up with say A Christmas Carol, but it is one that you can choose one story that means something in partucular to you. Each story being uniquely different,and is one that everyone can enjoy.

Bloody Biscay: The Air War Over the Bay of Biscay During World War II

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Bloody Biscay: The Air War Over the Bay of Biscay During World War II
Chris Gross
Manufacturer: Crecy Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Spain | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0947554874

Book Description

The story of the Luftwaffe's only long range maritime fighter unit - V Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 40 (V/KG40) - and its battles against the Royal Air Force (RAF), the US Army Air Force (USAAF) and the US Navy (USN) in the skies above the Bay of Biscay. Using personal accounts from both German and Allied survivors from July 1942 onwards, Bloody Biscay relates the initial tribulations of the unit and its battles against overwhelming odds to its eventual annihilation over the Normandy beaches in June 1944. Comprehensive appendices detail the unit's commanding officers, known aircrew, all of its 109 known 'kills' matched to Allied losses and the 88 combat losses of the unit with the details of who shot those aircraft down. The twenty-six aircraft lost in accidents and further aircraft interned in Spain are also listed. Containing nearly 200 photographs, the vast majority of German origin, Bloody Biscay will give the reader a graphic insight into V/KG40's aircraft, crews and 'kills' .

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