Book Description
The sixth and final installment in this acclaimed series about the start of the American Revolution.
Opening in the spring of 1774 and ending explosively on the York River in the fall of 1775,
Sparrowhawk Book VI: War concludes Edward Cline’s celebrated series and brings readers one step closer to the American Revolution.
Jack Frake is now the captain of an independent company of militia, while Hugh Kenrick is a burgess witnessing the twilight of the colonial legislature in Williamsburg. When Parliament passes more acts restricting the colonists, Americans take it as an unofficial declaration of war and the residents of Caxton are thrown into an uproar. All-out conflict between the Crown and the colonists seems inevitable.
In a move that will take the Sparrowhawk into combat one final time, Hugh and Jack strike out to end British tyranny and form a free country, a battle which will culminate on the bloody slopes of Breed’s Hill near Boston.
Customer Reviews:
A rousing, action-packed finale!.......2007-08-29
Volume Six of Ed Cline's Sparrowhawk series is a rousing, action-packed finale to what has been a landmark drama of ideas leading up to the American Revolution. In "War," Cline brings together a huge cast of characters and resolves their various conflicts with thunderous finality. To put it succinctly: in this final volume, the time for talking is over; the time for shooting has arrived. And shoot they do!
If you've read the entire series, this finale is a just reward--although some readers might need a stiff drink and a whisk broom to brush themselves off.
Ed Cline is to be congratulated for producing such a memorable series of historical novels.
A series of books that make History enjoyable for all........2007-08-23
The Sparrowhawk series of books by Edward Cline are among my favorites. These books bring history from the dry text books of school to a living understandable enjoyable story. The series also teach morals without being preachy. All students in middle school and or high school should be required to read this series.
Excellent capstone work for the series........2007-08-14
I've followed the players through all six of the books, and appreciated how Edward Cline kept my attention from start to finish. The players captivate one's imagination to the point of temptation to turn to the last pages, yet knowing that the detail in the pages will only support the ultimate conclusion. Thanks, Ed, for a wonderful series.
A Classic.......2007-08-03
This final in the Sparrowhawk series of the events prior to the War of Independence commencing 1776 will I believe be a classic to be referred to for all those wanting to understand and appreciate the fundamental philosophical differences that triggered this struggle. That these distinctions have been so profoundly captured within such wholesome charachters, whose development has shown the flaws and virtues which made for those forces for change and conflict. Those same attributes that we see challenging us today. These are powerful charachters and I can say without hesitation that this has been one of the finest reads I have had the pleasure of indulging in. I look forward to reading further great pieces from this author. He is a refreshing voice in that world of mediocrity and chattering trivia. Well done Mr Cline, job well done. I salute you.
A worth conclusion.......2007-06-03
Mr. Cline's final Sparrowhawk novel brings the series to satisfying conclusion. Plot twists keep the reader's attention and the action is relatively balanced between the two main characters, Hugh Kenrick and Jack Frake. As in the past, Kenrick is the more interesting character, much more of a work in progress, and with a much wider range of contacts. Nonetheless, Jack Frake is challenged with uncharacteristic doubt and uncertainty.
You may find the viewpoints of some of Mr. Cline's characters throughout the series overemphasized (particularly Frake's), but this is not straight fiction. The author has a very particular political point of view and he uses the characters to explore and illustrate not only this, but various others that were current in the 18th century. There may be some anachronism in this, but it doesn't detract. This is literature that makes one think. That I do not agree with all of Mr. Cline's premises does not mean that I found Sparrowhawk any less worthwhile, indeed, it is more valuable for having done so. I would like to see what happens if Mr. Cline applies his talents to another era of history.
Book Description
Following the passage of the Stamp Act of 1765, Hugh Kenrick attends the Stamp Act Congress in New York while Jack Frake forms a local chapter of the Sons of Liberty. After they foil a plan to smuggle the stamps into the colony, Dogmael Jones debates repeal with his allies in British Parliament, earning himself more enemies. Through these vividly drawn characters and events, Sparrowhawk V: Revolution continues the story of resistance to the Stamp Act, the true beginning of the American Revolution.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book.......2006-10-29
The Sparrowhawk series is excellent. I'm reading this one for the third time and eagerly anticipating the new one in December.
The incredible series continues, albeit at a slower pace........2006-09-18
This is one of the slower books in the series, but it still keeps a reader's interest. There is still plenty going on, but the pace in this book is slower than in book four. This book also furthers development of the central characters. Finally, it really strokes the interest in seeing what comes in the following book. I wish the next book in the series were available when I had finished this one.
Lazy Readers Need Not Apply.......2006-01-08
If you're someone who prefers light, purely escapist reading that doesn't require much active thought on your part, this is definitely not the book for you. I'm not saying it isn't a moving, tension-filled story, because it most definitely is (though thank goodness it's not "moving" in the sticky, maudlin sense that's so prevalent today, where authors drop anvils of loss, despair, and pity on your head). It's only that Cline doesn't cater to intellectual laziness.
This is a book of astonishing historical richness, built on an uncompromising philosophical foundation. The dialogue is written with nuanced, historical phrasing and a deep lexicon that require care and attention. I freely admit that several times I had to re-read passages for some subtlety or detail or witty allusion. And every single time I was rewarded for doing so--rewarded by a chuckle or increased comprehension of an historical point (internal vs. external taxation anyone?). "Sparrowhawk: Revolution," is one of those rare novels that you finish feeling that your time was well spent, that you were entertained and educated at the same time, and that you simply must read again.
My only problem now is an enormous anticipation for the final book of the series. Two weeks after finishing "Revolution" and I'm still thinking about the clues that Cline left us and asking questions, many of which have to do with the reappearance of Reverdy. Is she what she seems? Or is she more concerned with living up to her husband's expectations than with having high expectations of herself and living up to them? Is she a woman of the mind--enough to keep from languishing after public gaiety? And when her husband is called on to make difficult choices, what role will she play in those decisions? These questions and many more about what the war will bring to the Kenrick family, to John Proudfoot, to Jack and Etain, to Danvers and his ilk...my mind is whirling with them.
P.S. Let me add my appreciation to that of the other reviewers for the book's cover art...it's beautiful.
The Beginning of the End.......2005-12-27
This fifth of the six volume series that is already a timeless classic for the ages, leaves the reader eager for more. This volume takes the characters from the historic Virginia Resolves opposing the Stamp act described in Volume 4 through the heroic resistance to the Stamp Act by the Sons of Liberty and the British political intriques leading to the expedient repeal of the Stamp Act and simultaneous bullheaded passage of the Declaratory Act.
This series, and this volume in particular, does a wonderful job of detailing the incredible obstacles to, and the glorious achievement of the American Revolution.
The beauty of this Sparrowhawk volume and, indeed the entire series, is the illustration of how ideas have consequences and the power of principles in predicting reality and guiding heroic men's actions.
This volume shows the evolution of thought on the part of the colonists from formulation of arguments designed to specifically attack the Stamp Act to a deeper realization of the requirement that the protection of liberty in America will require complete separation from Britain. By showing that the repeal of the Stamp Act was purely a pragmatic gesture on the part of the British, and contrasting it with the Declaratory Act's declaration of absolute power over the lives of Americans, Cline clearly shows why the Stamp Act battle is a short lived victory, and simply the "beginning of the end" of the domination of the British over America.
Historical Fiction at its Best.......2005-12-26
The fifth volume of Edward Cline's Sparrowhawk series in now available. I received my copy last week. It is a handsome hardback and a rare treat for me, since I live on a paperback or used book budget.
Revolution picks up right were Book IV: Empire left off, with the debates surrounding the repeal of the Stamp Act. The novel's action takes place in Virginia and London. In Virginia the patriots are working to keep the hated stamps from entering the colony, even if that means using force against British colonial authority. The patriots also have to keep an watch on local "moderates" who will sell out Virginian liberty for peace and quiet.
For most of those in the British Parliament, liberty is not an issue. The primary concern is the cost in both trade and of military force of enforcing the Act. The rare exception is the circle of MPs revolving around the Baron Kenrick. Kenrick's son Hugh is also a patriot leader in Virginia. While Hugh is leading the local Sons of Liberty, Dogmael Jones is the only MP who will uphold colonial liberty in Parliament.
Cline's portrayal of the debate in Parliament is based on a wealth of research. It is also, to my knowledge, the only example of the 18th century Parliament being presented in fiction. As Cline makes clear the shortsighted ministers, with the Declaratory Act, are only putting off the reckoning for a short time.
In the next, and last, installment of the Sparrowhawk epic Book VI: War Cline will have to resolve the potential differences between his two main protagonists, Hugh Kenrick and Jack Frake, and tie together the various sub-plots.
I'm eagerly awaiting the last volume of this masterful series of historical novels that honors the architects of our liberty.
Book Description
Bringing a radically new perspective to the events leading up to The American Revolution, Sparrowhawk, a new series of historical novels, establishes that The Revolution occurred in two stages: the war for independence and also a more subtle revolution that happened in men's minds that occurred many years before the Declaration of Independence.
Book 1 in this new series introduces the reader to life in 18th Century England, where, despite being one of the freest countries in the world there were rumblings of discontent amongst the citizens and Jake Frake is no exception to this endemic restlessness.
From an early age he has developed an independent mind and spirit, a trait that is not openly welcomed for someone of his lowly class. Fate and circumstance leads him to join a band of smugglers and he furthers their cause. Jack himself is sentenced to eight years of servitude in the Colonies and he embarks on a sea voyage aboard the Sparrowhawk, destined for Virginia.
Customer Reviews:
A real hero.......2007-06-18
Novels with true heroes are few and far apart these days. When characters with no tragic flaws are deemed "unrealistic" and individual achievement scorned, heroes are impossible. Yet when a Harry Potter comes along, everyone is surprised by its overwhelming success. The fact is that deep down people still know heroism is possible and love to read about them.
Jack Frake brings unabashed, unapologetic heroism to the realm of historical fiction, giving physical form to the essential values of reason, honesty and integrity.
Hard To Find The Words..........2007-06-13
...to describe how wonderful reading this novel was. I moved right on to the second in the series after finishing Book One. Mr. Cline has written a compelling series, no doubt. If you are a fan of early American history, and indeed the philosophical and intellectual foundations that led to our Founding, read these novels. You won't be disapointed. If you are, there is something terribly wrong with you, plain and simple.
Enlightening!.......2007-05-30
My family & I were visiting Williamsburg, VA and Edward Cline was at the bookstore signing copies of his latest Sparrowhawk book. I went up and talked to him and I gave his first book in the series a try. I am very glad I did. The book gave an interesting view of the common peoples life on the British Isles in the 1740s. The book gave the reader an opportunity to mentally struggle with the issues of the times. It gave me a new perspective on some of the colonists previous experiences before landing in the new world. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Great Beginning to the Sparrowhawk Series.......2007-05-14
When people find out that I have a degree in history it is sometimes followed up with a question of what historical fiction I like best. My response is usually: none of it! Although I'm an avid fan of history books and intellectual history, historical fiction has always left me wanting to say the least. This, however, is not so with Edward Cline's first book, _Jack Frake_, in the Sparrowhawk series. Cline delivers an admirable example of the kinds of men who refused to submit to slavery, in whatever form slavery might be presented to them.
The code-- live free or die-- is alive and well in Jake Frake and his mentors whose lives are energized by the idea that a man's life is his own. Although _Jack Frake_ is the first of six in the series, the reader can easily see the building intellectual attitudes of the men who would be the force behind the American Revolution that is yet to happen. I found it interesting that the book was set in England and not the colonies so the reader gets an even better view of what those men who sought freedom would one day rebel against. It also provides a view of the intellectual growth and the individualistic idea that is not unique to the American people as such, but, those individuals from across the world who seek what America is about. Many different people came to America in various different ways seeking something new that history had denied their ancestors---freedom.
I'm looking forward to making my way through the rest of the series and would highly recommend _Jack Frake_ to those who have an admiration and respect for real heroes. Jack Frake, although just a boy in this first book, is a hero in the making. In an age where it is difficult to find writers who write about heroes, and instead focus on the grotesque and celebrate mediocrity, _Jack Frake_ stands as a must read book.
sparrowhawk volume 1.......2006-08-17
I liked it. The descriptions of the people ,the way they lived ,especially about their lack of rights was fascinating in 18th century England. The story about Jack Frake and his life was first rate and I'm interested in what happens next in volumne 2.
Customer Reviews:
An incredible story ... that's largely true!.......2006-09-18
While the Sparrowhawk series introduces fictional characters, in this book they interact with historical people amid historical events. The result is the best history lesson around - a compelling story that not only makes history come alive but allows the reader to get a unique perspective of the founding fathers. If this were used in schools, many more students would have an interest in history. This particular book is my favorite in the series so far.
Great series.......2005-09-17
This book is another 'chapter' in the Cline series on the ideas and people behind the American Revolution. The series is excellent and the characters are not only truely inspiring, but bring to light the serious lack of principled people that currently lead our nation.
Heroes As They Really Were.......2005-02-07
Ed Cline's romantic epic of the American Revolution continues its grand style, dramatic plotting, and intellectual suspense in Sparrowhawk Book Four: Empire. The fourth novel in a six-book series devoted to the founding of the United States, Book Four: Empire portrays American planters Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick as men allied in spirit and philosophy who disagree over the means to their political ends: chiefly freedom from English tyranny. Set in 1760s Virginia, Book Four begins with George the Third's Royal Proclamation of 1763 that established a vast Indian territory between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River and forbade any use of those lands to colonials. The storyline progresses through the debates over the Stamp Act in Parliament and in the Virginia House of Burgesses and the adoption of the Virginia Resolves of 1765 that sparked the fire of revolution.
Sparrowhawk is an expertly researched work of fiction. Cline recreates the period vividly down to the relevant details in pre-revolutionary history and culture. Hugh Kenrick constructs the first system of indoor plumbing in Caxton. Communications via ship are maddeningly slow, with many months required between the passage of an act in England and the arrival of legislative documents in the colonies. The Virginia House of Burgesses in Williamsburg is populated with contemporary figures: John Robinson, George Washington, Richard Bland, Edmund Pendleton, Peyton Randolph, and Patrick Henry. Hugh becomes acquainted with young Thomas Jefferson, a law student at the College of William and Mary.
The storyline in Book Four: Empire follows the deepening conflict between England and the American colonies established in Sparrowhawk Book Three: Caxton. Upon victory in the French and Indian War, King George and Parliament set out to increase Crown control and exploitation of the colonies through settlement restrictions, higher taxation, and the denial of English constitutional rights to Americans. New Crown policies reverse the Act of Settlement that encouraged the patenting of lands upon which taxes and other levies had already been paid by the colonists to England. These new policies confiscate property from its lawful owners. England already benefited greatly in its regulation of colonial trade, exchange of currency, and collection of tariffs. The newly proposed Stamp Act imposes an unjustified additional burden on the colonials by requiring the purchase of special stamps for almost all documents. To tighten the colonials' chains, Parliament rejects any suggestion that Americans be allowed Parliamentary representation as British subjects in adherence to British constitutional law.
At the center of the Sparrowhawk epic is the story of two heroic men, Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick, who recognize that any compromise with tyranny will destroy American liberty. Self-assured and confident in their moral convictions, Jack and Hugh part ways only over the strategies necessary to rebuff English authority and preserve American freedoms.
The personal and political issues at stake are enormous and the threat of death and other destruction very real. A challenge to Crown power is no less than "an invitation to tragedy," in the words of one burgess. Both opponents and proponents of the Virginia Resolves foresee the inevitable reaction of the king and Parliament: a punitive military response to subdue the disobedient Americans and to permanently destroy any hope of American political independence.
Hugh Kenrick is a man of tremendous intellect and practical achievement who believes in the power of reason. Reason alone, he believes, can persuade the English of the morality and justice of American independence united in alliance with England. Hugh's speeches in the Virginia House of Burgesses speed the Resolves along to passage despite heavy resistance, aiding Hugh's conviction that men who know reason will act in accordance with it.
In contrast, Jack Frake is just as settled in his conviction that many men do not respond to reasoned principles but act inconsistently and often blindly according to whim, fear, or the irrational desire for advantage and power over others. Though on different roads to their destination, Jack and Hugh recognize the same spirit and soul in one another. For Jack, Hugh is "a self that would never submit to malign authority; a self that was sensitive to the machinations of others, a self trained in the brittle, lacerating society of the aristocracy to be on guard against sly encroachments; a self that was proof against corruption, sloth, and violence; a self that recognized and cherished itself, and so was proud; a self that quietly gloried in its own unobstructed and unconquered existence. A self very much like his own."
Throughout his grand epic, Ed Cline helps readers grasp the vital connection between philosophical ideas and the personal choices and events that arise from them, especially in the birth of the independent new nation and moral political system based on individual rights. American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand stated that art can be uniquely inspirational in showing us life as it might be and ought to be. Sparrowhawk portrays principled, heroic individuals living consistently and courageously by moral absolutes, men as they really were and might be again.
Sparrowhawk, Book 4 hits the mark again.......2005-01-24
Here's my highest recommendation as a person who loves great literature and as an amateur historian who has been fascinated by the American Revolution and its intellectual antecedents for more than 30 years.
If I have a complaint it's that I would like to have seen the entire series published as a single volume so I could devour it all at once.
Cline has obviously spent an enormous amount of time researching the background for these books. It shows in a thousand little touches and details that give the era life and character for the reader. Some may argue that there is too much background, that it tends to obscure the story. I do not agree. There is neither more nor less background than is necessary to provide the proper context. These are historical novels, after all.
But far more impressive than the detail is Cline's deep understanding of the revolutionary mind. Finally, here is the historical truth of the American Revolution. Religious "freedom" and self-sacrifice are relegated to their proper place as near-nonentities on the list of historical causes and personal motivations. Here is a world peopled by giants of an intellectual and moral stature seldom seen today, who do not sacrifice values but risk everything to keep them. Here men do not oppose England in order to prostrate themselves at the alter of a jealous Christian God. They fight to live as free men, opposing all forms of tyranny.
Cline has a literary style that perfectly frames this story set in the world-shaping era of the Enlightenment. He builds his stage and writes his actors large and heroic as they ought and deserve to be written. The books are full of profoundly perceptive and beautifully poetic writing. The emphasis is on intellectual drama not physical action as befits one of the great intellectual conflicts in world history.
Thank you Edward Cline. Sparrowhawk is a classic in the making.
The Benefits of Thinking.......2004-12-31
Sparrowhawk, Book IV: Empire is a joy. This is a thinking person's book. One of the themes of the book is that those who focus on reality, do the hard work to develop a model of that reality, and act on the results of that thinking - even in the face of opposition - will gain glorious rewards.
None of the Sparrowhawk series are easy, mind-disengaged reads. The historical detail is so rich, the philosophy is so deep, and the characterizations are so intricate, that they demand focus. But the effort yields its own glorious reward.
Book IV in the Sparrowhawk series details the politics behind the passage of the Stamp Act in England and the heroic stance of Patrick Henry and his allies in the Virginia House of Burgesses in lighting the flame of resistance to the Stamp Act.
The book makes one realize what a close-run thing it was that the beginnings of the resistance to British rule happened at all. The forces for compromise and acquiescence to encroaching British tyranny against the American colonies were strong, and it took heroic thought melded with action to move Americans to have the courage to resist.
This book makes more clear than any of the series the link between the ideas of the philosophers of the Enlightenment - like Locke and Sydney - and the actions of the American Revolution. The exploration of the intellectual trends in 18th century Britain and Europe is another benefit of reading this book.
Like the first two books in the Sparrowhawk series, this book makes clear the personal emotional benefits of thinking and acting consistently, too. Romantic fiction gives us heroes to emulate, and the Sparrowhawk series is romantic fiction at its best.
I just hope we don't have to wait as long for Book V: Revolution and Book VI: War as we did this one. Edward Cline's web page (www.edwardcline.com) says that Book V is complete and that Book VI will probably be done in early 2005. We just hope that the publisher gets them to market as soon as possible.
Customer Reviews:
The heroes meet.......2007-03-30
In Book-III, the two heroes (from Books I and II) meet.
While some have commented that this book is somehow lesser than the first two, I disagree. I find that the author's style gets smoother with every book. In this one, the author draws one in so well, that I found myself visualizing the action as a movie.
Great Bridge to the Future.......2007-01-10
Excellent work. This one brings the characters together, providing an indepth look at their individual and combined personalities. The players come alive, thanks to Edward Cline's wonderful and unique presentation style. I've read each book in the series multiple times, and eagerly look forward to receiving "War".
The Story Continues ... in America.......2006-04-17
This book builds on the characters developed in the first two books in this series. While not quite as dramatic as the previous two novels, this one is considerably more intellectually stimulating. It takes place in America and shows a slice of life there in the pre-revolutionary war days. This really gives far more details about the causes behind the war than history texts or even classes.
The portrayal of Man the hero continues...........2004-12-07
Excellent continuation of the Sparrowhawk series! I am hooked!
Quick recap:
Book One introduced Jack Frake living on the fringes of a tyrannical society and family. He overcomes the petty evil of his family to find himself facing the equally evil and tyrannical government that ends up unjustly trying and hanging his friends and mentors.
In Book Two we meet Hugh Kenrick, born into a life of privilege, he nonetheless develops into a self-made person far exceeding the deeds and honor of his ancestors and peers.
In Book Three tensions are created and developed. Hugh Kenrick is now a man. He is moving to Caxton to buy a tobacco farm and to learn how to be master of his own property. One of his neighbors is Jack Frake. It quickly becomes obvious that the two men are cut from the same cloth even though Hugh is an aristocrat and Jack was formerly an indentured servant. They meet in America as equals. One of the fascinating and satisfying aspects of Book Three is to watch the relationship between Jack and Hugh develop. There is no petty jealousies between them even though they vie for the affections of the same woman. Between England and the colonies the tension increases as the inevitable clash of philosophies nears. Will the crown hear the cries of its suffering colonies?
The portrayal of Man the hero continues to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of this series. Though the primary characters are fictional they are a true representation of the kind of intellectual and moral giants that existed during the gestation and birth of the greatest country in the history of the world.
(3.5) Colonists on the path to revolution.......2004-06-07
The British-held colony of Virginia celebrates on a grand scale when France loses her hold on Canada in 1759. The Crown rules from afar and most colonists are content to operate under the arcane and ambiguous laws that govern their lives. The town of Caxton is growing to meet the needs of this new land, expanding to meet the future of with a profitable sale of their tobacco crops, as well as other trade goods. But the sound of freedom is in the air. Young Virginia landowners are questioning their obligations to a government that sees them as less than full British citizens.
Europe is experiencing an intellectual upheaval despite the Church's interference, as printing presses churn out work espousing new philosophies to the world at large, exploring innovative concepts that can potentially alter the opinions of the common man. Popular writers of the day are Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume and the Pennsylvanian, Benjamin Franklin. However, the planters of Queen Anne County consider themselves aristocrats of a sort, content with their lot, entrenched in their own comfortable bureaucracy.
New landowner Hugh Kenrick is one of these young colonial enthusiasts and has purchased a tobacco plantation that needs excessive restoration after years of mismanagement. His closest neighbor, Jack Frake, is of similar mind. Frake has maintained a low profile, keeping his political opinions to himself, but as relations with Britain are more strained, both Frake and Kenrick find themselves allies. It is up to Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick to lend their resources to the changes they envision, as America moves towards its eventual separation from England.
The third volume in the Sparrowhawk series, this is American history as lived by Frake and Kenrick. Book III: Caxton is about life in the colonies, on the irrevocable path toward the American Revolution. This is rich episodic history from Cline's viewpoint, with a wealth of details. The two pivotal Sparrowhawk characters come together, leading the charge, finally challenging British taxation and regulation. Luan Gaines/ 2004.
Average customer rating:
- Misleading Title and Art Work
- Don't Let the Title Fool You
|
Flying Hookers For The Macon: The Last Great Rigid Airship Adventure
Thomas S Hook
Manufacturer: Airsho
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Naval
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Aviation
| Transportation
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
| Aerospace
| Automotive
| Bioengineering
| Chemical
| Civil
| Computer Technology
| Design
| Economics
| Education
| Electrical & Electronics
| Energy
| General
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Management
| Marine
| Materials
| Materials Science
| Mechanical
| Nuclear
| Patents & Inventions
| Petroleum, Mining & Geological
| Power Systems
| Reference
| Research
| Special Topics
| Telecommunications
| Welding
Engineering
| Specialty Stores
| Books
| Aerospace
| Automotive
| Bioengineering
| Chemical
| Civil
| Computer Technology
| Design
| Economics
| Education
| Electrical & Electronics
| Energy
| General
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Management
| Materials
| Materials Science
| Mechanical
| Nuclear
| Patents & Inventions
| Petroleum, Mining & Geological
| Power Systems
| Reference
| Research
| Special Topics
| Telecommunications
| Welding
ASIN: 0960150641 |
Book Description
Last of the trilogy by the author of SHENANDOAH SAGA and SKY SHIP: THE AKRON ERA. A comprehensive Lighter Than Air history including air ships, kite balloons, blimps up to the present day CARGOLIFTER. Over 150 photographs, maps, and artwork. Includes appendices, index and bibliography.
Features the careers of many hook-on pilots. Court of Inquiry excerpts and correspondence from key crewmen who served aboard MACON. A review of the many reasons leading to the crash off Monterrey, CA after 23 months of service.
Customer Reviews:
Misleading Title and Art Work.......2002-04-26
The title and painting on the cover are misleading as this is not a book about the Curtiss F9C-2 or the Macon's aircraft. It is a book about the Macon, people, blimps, the future of LTA etc. There are 9 photos of the author and only 11 of the F9C-2. The bibliography doesn't mention a single periodical and ignores the AAHS Journal (v3, n2) with 40 pages and 22 photos of the F9C-2.
Don't Let the Title Fool You.......2002-02-21
Spurred on by the title I was somewhat disappointed by its contents. Mr. Hook provides excellent coverage of the how, where, and why the USS Macon crashed but very little as to the day to day operations. You will not find any details of the hanger where the Sparrowhawks were kept or how and what kind of aircraft maintenance could be performed there. There is no step-by-step description of aircraft recovery or launch.
The story and details of the Macon are intertwined with biographies of the most notable LTA crewmen. I said LTA crewmen because the book starts out talking about Mr. Moody Erwin a crewmember on the Akron only (never on the Macon). Unfortunately little is said of their days on the Macon (or Akron), instead Mr. Hook concentrates on their WWII and post WWII or pre Macon careers. This makes for the most unsatisfying reading imaginable when you're after information on the Macon's HTA unit.
There is also an abundance of filler type material. Is a biographical chapter on Ernie Pyle really necessary? There is also a chapter on the Japanese balloon bombs of WWII and the future of lighter than air vehicles.
The book is acceptable if you are after information on the crash of the USS Macon and general information regarding lighter than air vehicles. There is also a very decent bibliography and a detailed crew list. However, if you're like me, thinking that this book is just about the Sparrowhawks you'll be greatly disappointed.
Customer Reviews:
Long Live Lady Liberty.......2007-06-15
In this second installment of Ed Cline's Sparrowhawk Series we are introduced to a young aristocrat by the name of Hugh Kenrick. In contrast to Jack Frake from book 1, Hugh comes from a wealthy and privileged family. What Jack and Hugh do have in common is a sense of justice, reason, and independence which both cultivated during their youth.
Although a bit longer in length than book 1, Sparrowhawk Book II is another exciting step in this work of historical fiction that will keep the reader inspired by the mind of a young man that refuses to submit to the irrational ways of his surroundings. You will be introduced to such characters as Roger Tallmadge, Reverdy Brune, and Glorious Swain as well as the members of the Pippin Society.
Hugh Kenrick stands as an inspiration to our modern world full of men with mixed premises.
Enjoyable Story.......2007-03-30
Like "Book-I: Jack Frake", this book follows the progression of a boy growing up to be a young man. This time, it is Hugh Kenrick. His background is the opposite of Jack Frake, and yet we see the similarities of character.
Enjoyable story, told with an even more practiced hand than Book-I.
Larger than life history.......2007-03-11
Sparrowhawk II: Hugh Kenrick is set in England before the American Revolution and centres on the life of Hugh Kenrick, an independent-minded aristocrat. In his intransigent integrity and independence, Kenrick is reminiscent of Ayn Rand's hero Howard Roark ("The Fountainhead").
As Kenrick grows from boyhood to manhood, he fights many in the entrenched establishment who put King and Country (and their own privileges) above justice. He comes across as a very noble character, and a man as much of action as of thought. He falls in with like-minded men, who he befriends irrespective of class or race. Unfortunately, as in "Sparrowhawk I: Jack Frake", a few men of independent mind and noble ideals end up being no match for the petty jealousies an hatreds of the few backed up by the power of the State, and the group are betrayed and destroyed. Hugh himself is banished to America where no doubt he will play a role in the historical events to come.
This book will delight both students of history (it comes across as meticulously researched in its historical detail) and people who seek a depiction of "man at his best" in the novels they read.
Despite its virtues, I only gave this book 4 stars partly because I found the book sometimes slow going; partly because I found Hugh's character somewhat implausible for the age in not only his stainless steel character but his philosophical genius; and partly because the author repeats his habit started in Sparrowhawk I of killing practically everybody off in a somewhat cavalier fashion. So I was left with a rather unsatisfied feeling at the end. Nevertheless, well worth the read. Kenrick is one of the more inspiring characters in fiction I've come across, and I want to know where he goes from here!
Very intellectual, very exciting.......2006-03-27
Even though I enjoyed the book, I was somewhat disappointed to see that the plot resembles in many ways that of the first book in the series (especially the climax, even though it has very little to do with the plot of the first book), only this time the protagonist is the son of a Baron and nephew of a Duke (in contrast to the first book). This is the main reason why I deducted a star off my rating.
Readers, however, should be warned that this book is no light reading. It requires constant concentration, and very often, re-reading the passages for full comprehension of what has been said. Long sentences abundant with what is called five dollar words are not rare in this book.
Yet to a zealous reader, this book (and the others in Sparrowhawk series) can offer more than just fun or diversion. They can instill in the reader both historical and moral lessons. The character of Hugh Kenrick is an admirable one, not only for his knowledge, but also his determination to stay true to his principles, even when others are making this choice as hard as it can be.
Must Read!.......2006-01-25
This is some of the best fiction I have read in years. The series of books are beautifully written, with heroic characters and strong plots set in a meticulously researched historical context. I find his works provoking thought and staying with me in the same way that Ayn Rand's fiction did when I first read it. Edward Cline is a first rate author, deserving of more recognition than he has gotten thus far.
Average customer rating:
|
Grass
Phil Sparrowhawk
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
True Crime
| True Accounts
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1840187069
Release Date: 2003-09-24 |
Books:
- Texas Quails: Ecology and Management (Perspectives on South Texas, Sponsored by Texas A&m Universi)
- Thank God I Had a Gun: True Accounts of Self-Defense
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
- The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
- The Bastard of Istanbul
- The Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi (Princeton Field Guides)
- The Birds of Pennsylvania
- The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Reyita: The Life of a Black Cuban Woman in the Twentieth Century
- On Baking: A Textbook of Baking and Pastry Fundamentals
- Midnighters #3: Blue Noon
- History: Fiction or Science
- In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing
- Introduction to Electrodynamics
- Keepers of Life: Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities Forchildren
- William Henry Belk
- Germany's Balanced Development: The Real Wealth of a Nation
- The Papers of General Nathanael Greene: Vol. XI: 7 April - 30 September 1782
Sparrowhawk Five: Revolution (Sparrowhawk)
Sparrowhawk Four: Empire (Sparrowhawk)
Sparrowhawk, Book 3: Caxton
Sparrowhawk II: Hugh Kenrick
Sparrowhawk One: Jack Frake (Sparrowhawk)
