Book Description
Erwin McManus wasn't raised in a Christian home, so when he came to Christ as a college student, he didn't know the rules of the "religious club." He didn't do well in Shakespeare courses, so he didn't really understand the KJV Bible he was given either. But he did understand that prayer was a conversation, and he learned to talk to God and wait for answers. Erwin's way was passionate and rough around the edges-a sincere, barbaric journey to Christ.
Barbaric Christians see Jesus differently than civilized Christians. They see disciples differently, and they see Christ's mission differently.
The Barbarian Way is a call to escape "civilized" Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians-just as Christ intended.
Customer Reviews:
Passion.......2007-06-20
I am a new consumer of McManus' work and I have wondered why it took me so long to find this guy. This book will inspire you, bring you to tears and use personal and touching examples in it's quest to move you on from your "boxed in" Christianity.
If your faith is not what it's cracked up to be, then you should read this book.
Become a Barbarian.......2007-05-16
The Barbarian Way definitely takes evangelism to a higher level, it takes it back to what Jesus and His disciples did and challenges us to get out and just do it.
Challenging the Christian Status Quo.......2007-05-15
McManus challenges comfortable Christians to face a God who calls them to more than a satisfied faith. The term Barbarian turns out to be a good thing, but the white, upper middle class men in my Bible study kept having a hard time with trying to think barbaric thoughts. It is worth getting past that to the core truth that God is not safe, this faith is not weak, our cause is great and our opportunities are boundless. Perfect for a men's group.
I want to be a Barbarian .......2007-04-10
I was in Zambia when a friend gave me this book to read. It spoke to me so vividly as I worked and served among the shantytown of Mapalo to people who see very little hope except for their tremendous faith and beauty of expression of that faith. I have spent most of my life wanting to "feel like" other Christians seem to feel, but never have. I have done all the Christian "things", but never felt like I had what everyone else seemed to have. This book made me realize that, in fact, I don't. I feel the love and the passion in a different way that makes me want to embrace all those who feel unworthy of the Christian church and religion. It has made me accept my faith and love in a wonderfully unique and accepting (of myself and others) way. I am so thankful to McManus for giving me permission through his book to accept and confirm my spirituality and to my friend in Zambia for sharing it with me.
Amazing.......2007-04-01
This book is incredible. It was recommended to me by my youth pastor and i guarantee that you will be left ready to take the untraveled road and pursue Christ.
Book Description
Barbarians at the Gate has been called one of the most influential business books of all time -- the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history. Bryan Burrough and John Helyar's gripping account of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street in October and November of 1988 is the story of deal makers and publicity flaks, of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms -- giving us not only a detailed look at how financial operations at the highest levels are conducted but also a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era.
Barbarians at the Gate -- a business narrative classic -- is must reading for everyone interested in the way today's world really works.
Download Description
With more than 500,000 copies sold, Barbarians at the Gate is the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history: the frenzy of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms -- giving us the view from the top of the financial ladder to the social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era.
Over six months on the New York Times bestseller list, Barbarians at the Gate is the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history. Bryan Burrough and John Helyar's gripping record of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street in October and November of 1988 is the story of deal makers and pulicity flaks, of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms, giving us not only an unprecedentedly detailed look at how financial operations at the highest levels are conducted but also a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era. As compelling as a novel, Barbarians at the Gate is must reading for everyone interested in the way today's world really works.
Customer Reviews:
Stranger Than Fiction.......2007-09-22
A takeover story that reads like a Jeffrey Archer novel, Barbarians at the Gate is a meticulously detailed account of the takeover of RJR Nabisco by KKR in the late 80s. The authors were WSJ journalists who covered the story for the Journal and the book does a great job of communicating the tension and intrigue of those six weeks in 1988. The book does slack in pace at times but the story keeps you engaged. Recommended.
Barbarians at the Gate audio book.......2007-09-02
Great book. Great format. I listened to it on the plane. A must read business book - goes along with reading the art of war and the prince.
The business classic.......2007-08-20
Simply compulsive. If you have an interest in business and finance or people, greed and behaviour this is a must read. In many ways this story reflects a broadly held image of the 1980's and its culture of excess that was abound in our worlds financial capitals.
This is a gripping read; the story of the battle for RJR Nabisco and the characters involved contains many elements of the best fiction with the distinct difference of this story being true. Whilst the business finally conducted may not have been the finest work of the venerable KKR it was important mainly due to its Herculean scale which was at the time unprecedented.
This book is simply a must read on many levels. Since it was first published in 1990 it has gripped the imagination of many and has kindled an interest in business reaching far and wide.
The business book of business books.......2007-08-05
To say this book was expertly written, would be an understatement. The authors craft the perfect description of an LBO, with all the players, transactions, and affects on peples lives. How they were able to get inside as well as they did, is really beyond me. This is one for the ages and should be read in Business schools.
Inquisitive narrative on the epic LBO of RJR Nabisco.......2007-07-09
This book, written in 1990, tells the detailed story of one of the largest Wall Street deals of all time - the leveraged buyout of the RJR Nabisco Corporation. The authors, Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, are former Wall Street Journal reporters. They spent many hours interviewing the players involved, and, in so, have come up with a very thorough (and presumably accurate) description of the events that took place.
Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco, decided to take the company private. Officially, his reason was to improve shareholder value, since the RJR Nabisco stock was undervalued (and Johnson's attempts to boost it have failed). His other reasons may have included money and the constant urge to change things up. He teamed up with Shearson Lehman Hutton to make a bid to the board. In their shortsightedness, this "management group" did not expect anyone else to compete - due to the sheer size of the deal. However, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. made a tender offer, which started off a bidding war between the two groups (and a few third party bidders). This book describes everything in detail - starting with how Johnson got to Nabisco - and finishing off with a gripping climax of Shearson and KKR's final bid war.
It is a long narrative, over 500 pages long. The authors take a lot of side tangents to describe many personal biographies. I found those of major players (like Ross Johnson and Henry Kravis) very interesting, and those of lesser-involved people somewhat excessive. Nevertheless, I was never tempted to skip over paragraphs or pages, as I sometimes am in lengthy books with lots of characters.
The authors clearly have done a lot of research. I liked that they included footnotes when stories from different people didn't match up. I also like the photographs included in the book - they put faces on the people described so thoroughly. The "Players" section in the beginning of the book is also very helpful - it lists the names of almost everyone involved in the deal.
The narrative is great. The story is gripping, with many twists and surprises. We learn about the multiple final bids submitted by KKR and the management group, the backstabbing plots, and the emotions and broken spirits behind the closed doors. It's as if we are there amidst the board meetings - kudos to the authors for their great writing. However, as some reviewers before me mentioned, it would have been nice to see more financial details - and more on what actually transpired after the takeover (the epilogue provides some details, but not nearly enough). Check out John Helyar's article in Fortune (October 13, 2003) - it describes what happened to RJR after the LBO. KKR took 60% of the company public in 1991 and then finally got rid of it in 1995. In the end, KKR had very disappointing returns on its LBO and drove RJR into the ground with poor leadership.
In conclusion, it's a great read for anyone interested in business or history. It works as both a fun thriller and a good historical account of the events that took place. However, I am a bit skeptical of why this book is a recommended read for many MBA curriculums. Other than describing the corporate culture and Wall Street in the late '80s, it doesn't really provide the financial details from which the readers could learn something practical.
Pros:
+ great narrative - gripping story with twists
+ many details on personal lives of the people involved
+ fantastic insight into the corporate world of the '80s
Cons:
- not enough financial details to learn from
- for some readers, can feel lengthy with lots of tangents
Book Description
The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Rome generated its own nemesis. Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors it called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling the Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. Heather is a leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians. In The Fall of the Roman Empire, he explores the extraordinary success story that was the Roman Empire and uses a new understanding of its continued strength and enduring limitations to show how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled it apart. He shows first how the Huns overturned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers, to force the Goths and others to seek refuge inside the Empire. This prompted two generations of struggle, during which new barbarian coalitions, formed in response to Roman hostility, brought the Roman west to its knees. The Goths first destroyed a Roman army at the battle of Hadrianople in 378, and went on to sack Rome in 410. The Vandals spread devastation in Gaul and Spain, before conquering North Africa, the breadbasket of the Western Empire, in 439. We then meet Attila the Hun, whose reign of terror swept from Constantinople to Paris, but whose death in 453 ironically precipitated a final desperate phase of Roman collapse culminating in the Vandals' defeat of the massive Byzantine Armada: the west's last chance for survival. Peter Heather convincingly argues that the Roman Empire was not on the brink of social or moral collapse. What brought it to an end were the barbarians.
Customer Reviews:
Why the Western Roman Empire collapsed.......2007-09-30
Many causes have been given for the fall of the Roman Empire. Some speculate that the increasing wealth of Roman citizens caused economic and military senescence. Other claim the introduction of Christianity softened the military edge of Roman leaders. Even the presence of lead in the water supply (from the pipes) has been blamed. Often these conclusions were based on historical bias (naturally, a Marxist-leaning historian would look to economic causes) or lack of proper information (only recently has it been archaeologically proven that Roman farm output did not decline over the course of the 5th century). Exacerbating the problem is the fact that most of the records of the Roman Empire have been destroyed over the years, and records from outside the Western Empire are non-existent due to the illiteracy of the Germanic and other "barbarian" peoples.
Author Peter Heather is an historian and expert on the late Western Empire and its Germanic and Hunnic neighbours. Using the latest archaeological discoveries, and sifting through original papers and classic histories (e.g. Gibbons), he brings us this new and eminently readable treatise on the fall of the Western Empire over the course of one hundred years from 376 (when two Gothic tribes arrive on the Imperial frontier demanding asylum) to the deposition of the last Western emporer (476). In that time, he builds a convincing argument that the Barbarian invasions over those 100 years were directly responsible for the fall of Rome. That this is the most obvious explanation based on the historical record does not diminish his thesis, as he successfully demolishes the more esoteric "deeper" arguments of his predescessor historians (such as Gibbon, who pointed to Christianity as the cause).
Thus: At a time when the Persian Empire was rejuvenated as a united political entity (and thus pressuring the Eastern Empire as a rival superpower), the Huns invaded the lands of eastern Europe, displacing the Goths and others westward into the lands of the Romans. Over the course of the previous 300 years, diplomatic interference in the Germani's internal affairs, periodic punitive expeditions, and especially trade had transformed their cultures to a point where they were able to coalesce into supergroups (Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals) capable of directly challenging Roman military forces. As they carved out niches for themselves (Vandals in Africa, Visigoths in Gaul/Spain, etc.), the losses in tax revenues sapped the strength of the military (unable to pay for soldiers). Thus, when Attila himself appeared, the Roman military was already in a downward spiral. Basically, the loss of tax income caused by wave after wave of Barbarian invasion (ultimately fueled by Hunnic expansion) crippled Rome's ability to field enough military strength to preserve the Empire.
Such an analysis could be dry and academic, but Heather brings the book to life with vivid portraits of everyone from the smallest Imperial usurpers to Attila the Hun. He even instills sly humour (he describes an experiment with his 11-year-old son on how long it would take to shout the obligatory acclamations to the Emporer in the Senate) and deliberate anachronisms (comparing one archaeologist to Indiana Jones) to bring variety to the narrative. There is also an ample supply of maps and some pictures. Thus, it's an entertaining book to read. Unfortunately, it lasts a bit too long for my tastes, and becomes a little repetitive, thus robbing it of a 5th star. Still, recommended for anyone interested in the latest thoughts on the demise of the Western Roman Empire.
Excellent Account of a Monumental Event.......2007-07-28
The "Fall of the Roman Empire" casts a huge shadow. A vast Empire, one of the great civilisations of history, went in barely a century from being the "sole superpower" to a mere plaything of barbarian tribes.
Why did it happen? All sorts of reasons can be offered, and Heather offers several, but what it comes down to is that this is simply what empires do - they rise, they exist for a time - years, decades or (as in Romes's case) centuries - and then they fall. Rome had already had a better "innings" than most, and in the fifth century its luck ran out.
It is usual to blame the Fall on the Empire's internal problems, and say that it became "decadent" or whatever. Heather, probably rightly, focuses more on what was happening outside Rome's borders. The Barbarian tribes, living for centuries with that 800 pound Roman "gorilla" next door, combined into larger units like the Frankish or Gothic kingdoms, which were a tougher proposition for Rome to cope with. Everlasting warfare with these states gradually wore the Empire down, and finally another barbarian, Attila, drove many tribes from their old homes and forced them to try their luck migrating into Roman territory. This proved more than Rome (or at least its western half) could cope with. So down the tubes it went.
No doubt, had Rome not fallen from this cause, it would eventually have fallen another way. Empires are usually longer lived than individuals, but are no more immortal. But Heather does a magnificent job of showing how and why it fell as and when it did.
One minor regret. Perhaps a little more "afterword" about post-Roman Europe might have been in order. For the significant thing about the Roman Empire is not that it fell (which was bound to happen sometime) but that it was never rebuilt. By contrast, China fell to Mongol "barbarians" in the 13C, an invasion probably as devastating as anything Western Rome underwent, yet within a century had gotten its breath back, expelled the invaders, and installed a native Ming Dynasty. Similarly, Egypt was able to spit out the Hyksos and other intruders. Yet Rome's former subjects not only didn't do this, but (unless the Arthurian legends count) seem never to have even tried. Rather, they appear to have largely shrugged their shoulders and made the best of things under their barbarian rulers. While purely external factors can explain the fall itself, they can't explain this apparent acceptance of it. Even when Roman lands were "liberated" by Justinian, the inhabitants seldom rallied round, and when Byzantium's grip loosened they just flopped back into barbarian hands. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that, however traumatic the Empire's fall had been, a lot of its subjects soon found they didn't really miss it all that much. This calls for explanation.
Still, that's quibbling. Heather has written a great book (even if his 21C idioms are irritating at times) and it needs to be read by anyone interested in this subject.
Dont invite a barbarian to lunch.......2007-07-27
Two Oxford classicists, working independently, have simultaneously published books on the fall of the Roman Empire. Peter Heather is an historian of the later Empire and of Barbarian Northern Europe. Bryan Ward-Perkins is an archaeologist specialising in rural society during the fall. Both historians decisively contradict recent rather dotty arguments that the Barbarians were not all that bad; that their conquest of the Western Empire would hardly have been noticed by the mass of the people; and that only the rich would have experienced a drop in living standards. Ward-Perkins' conclusion from extensive digging on former Roman villages is stark: the invasions were violent disasters. The drop in living standards was so catastrophic that they would not regain Empire levels for fifteen hundred years. His full title is uncompromising: The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilisation. Despite some empathy with the Barbarians, Heather agrees with Ward-Perkins that the destruction of the Western Empire was an apocalyptic event. His 500 page book employs well-honed analysis combined with splendid narrative, to address the age-old question: why did the Western half of the empire, so apparently all powerful, almost unassailable, worried only by the threat of Persia in the east, fall to the Barbarian invaders from the north in less than a century? In the early fourth century the Western Empire (pace Gibbon) had not been weakened by Christianity, was not in decline, was very prosperous, and the army was far from enfeebled. Heather's analysis, sinewy, cogent and informed, is too complex for adequate summary here but he believes that after the Huns caused a seismic shift in the balance of power in the North Roman failure came less from Roman weakness than from Barbarian desperation. After the destruction the long-term winner, oddly enough, was the Church. With the old Roman bureaucracy destroyed in the West priests came to monopolise literacy for more than a thousand years. Secular culture would reside with the Arabs!
excellent, clear analysis.......2007-07-07
This book explains with amazing clarity how and why the western Roman empire fell apart between 376 and 476 AD. It covers roughly the same ground as the third volume of Gibbon (minus the obsession with Christianity), but with much better analysis of the political and military calculations of the various parties. It also gives a very coherent account of who the various "barbarian" groups were, and how they formed and interacted: a topic which I have found incredibly confusing in other books. (Apparently this is the author's specialty.)
Note that the word "decline" is not in the title. The author's thesis is that the western empire did not collapse from within; it always had its problems, but in the fourth century it was as strong as ever. Rather, what caused it to fall was that unfriendly interaction with the Romans encouraged Germanic peoples on the frontier to become stronger and more unified; these groups were then impelled into the empire by the onslaught of the Huns, where they began taking over parts of the empire. This triggered a downward spiral in which decreased tax revenues resulting from the lost or ravaged territories made it more difficult for the Romans to fund the military, whereby they lost more territory, and so on. This process is explained in fascinating detail in the book. A last-ditch rescue attempt by the eastern empire in 468 failed in a disastrous naval battle, and it was game over for the west. The eastern empire, meanwhile, continued to prosper through the sixth century; while it had internal problems similar to those of the west, accidents of geography protected it for the time being.
In conclusion, if you are looking for clarity regarding what the heck was going on in fifth century Europe, this is the book for you. It is written in a colloquial style which makes it easy and amusing to read. It includes a number of maps, a dramatis personae, a glossary, and extensive notes, all of which are very useful.
A departure from tradition.......2007-06-26
This book is excellent. The author puts for a break from the traditional Gibbon approach to why the Romans fell apart. The author's work is extremely well documented. He lays out his arguments in a logical manner. Each point sort of builds on the next one in the book. The book seems to be told from the Barbarian's point of view. The book does seem to take the long way though to get to the meat of the argument. The work is very well documented. An average reader might get lost some in the names. You almost have to have a good background on the subject to truly appreciate the book. The main point of the book is that successive Barbarian invasions just wore out the Romans. That created conditions that launched independence movements in the outlying provinces like Great Britain. The author argues convincingly that the further success of the eastern half of the empire showed that internal rot didn't do the Romans in. As a reader reads this it is hard not to draw comparisons to events today for the US. The book showed how multiple problems stretched the Romans to the point of breaking. Then a reader sees the newspapers and wonder if the stretched US Army might lead to conditions similar to what the Romans went through.
Book Description
"One day your sluggish company will taken to the sound of a beating drum and the sight of a competitor approaching at ramming speed. On deck will be a jut-jawed Barbarian....He will hardly blink as his target is ripped asunder, sending Aristocrats, Bureaucrats and their unfortunate shipmates to their corporate death....So goes Mr. Miller's tale, from which we can all profit." The Wall Street Journal
Barbarians to Bureaucrats presents a brilliant new solution to a stubborn old business problem: how to halt a company's descent into wasteful, stifling bureaucracy. Lawrence M. Miller, a management consultant for such corporate giants as Xerox and 3M, argues that corporations, like civilizations, have a natural life cycle, and that by identifying the stage your company is in, and the leaders associated with it, you can avert decline and continue to thrive.
Every company begins with the compelling new vision of a Prophet and the aggressive leadership of an iron-willed Barbarian, who implements the Prophet's ideas. New techniques and expansions are pushed through by the Builder and the Explorer, but the growth spawned by these managers can easily stagnate when the Administrator sacrifices innovation to order, and the Bureaucrat imposes tight control. And just as in civilizations, the rule of the Aristocrat, out of touch with those who do the real work, invites rebellion -- from employees, customers, and stockholders. It will take the Synergist, a business leader who balances creativity with order, to restore vitality and insure future growth.
Executives from major corporations have already put the powerful insights of Barbarians to Bureaucrats into practice to regenerate their own companies. Now you can use this brilliant, lucid, and dazzlingly original book to put your company -- and your career -- back on track.
Customer Reviews:
I have never received my order.......2005-10-17
Please resend as I have never received my order and you have not reposnded to my previous request.
Barbarians to Bureaucrats Corporate Life Cycle Strategies.......2001-08-22
Excellent book. With so many "here's what's wrong with your company" books available, this is one of the best. Not only does the author suggest what's wrong...i.e., which part of the life cycle is your company in, he tells you how to do something about it.
If I'd only been able to read just one book, I am glad I choose this one.
Making sense of corporate growth.......2001-07-25
It's not necessarily that as a company grows from the garage into the boardroom that bad things happen . . . it's that some things are inevitable and are a function of growth.
This book sumarizes the multiple facets involved in such growth and allows the reader to compare the growth cycle of companies at varying stages. It's impact on people, org behavior, culture, awareness and other areas that the "garage shop" does not need to consider at early stages. It's a key read and assessment as companies find themselves in transition from a heavily entrepreneurial spirit to a more entrenched corporate being and notes many of the patterns such growth requires. Read between the lines and you may find companies who are currently faltering because of a lack of transition mindset to allow them to sustain managed growth or the new "size." Overall, it's a great academic read.
Help in understanding declining organizations.......2000-12-10
By comparing the lifecycles of corporations to those of civilizations, this book helps to explain how all sorts of organizations, not just corporations, can become "sick" through bureaucracy and poor leadership. This book helped me to understand why there is so much institutional opposition to correcting even localized corruption and dissolution in a large, bureaucratic GOVERNMENT institution. It helped save my sanity. I with the author would write a similar book dealing with governmental organizations.
Another book which may help if you are trying to "fight city hall" is Stanley Milgram's Obedience to Authority.
From Start Ups to Behemoths.......2000-10-23
An interesting book about the different life cycles a company goes through as it grows, matures and declines. This book may help you understand that giant corporation you are trying to partner with while trying to avoid being squished by them.
Average customer rating:
|
Ancient Europe, 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000: An Encyclopedia of the Barbarian World Edition 1.
Pam Crabtree & Peter Bogucki
Manufacturer: Charles Scribner's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
 General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
Prehistory | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
History | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0684806681 |
Book Description
This detailed encyclopedia is the first to explore the many peoples of early European civilization. Viewed as "barbarian" through the lens of ancient Greece and Rome, these civilizations were responsible for such accomplishments as the rise of farming in the Neolithic era and the building of Stonehenge. Coverage extends from prehistoric origins through the early Middle Ages (8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000) when tribal movements helped define the end of ancient culture and the rise of the modern European world. Arrange topically and chronologically Ancient Europe, 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000 features include 200 illustrations (including the black & white images, color images, and line drawings); 70 maps; a chronology; index; two eight-page color inserts; cartographic endpapers; glossary of key archaeological terms and more.
Book Description
The barbarians of antiquity, so long a fixture of the public imagination as the savages who sacked and destroyed Rome, emerge in this colorful, richly textured history as a much more complex -- and far more interesting -- factor in the expansion, and eventual unmaking, of the Roman Empire. Thomas S. Burns marshals an abundance of archeological and literary evidence, as well as three decades of study and experience, to bring forth an unusually far-sighted and wide-ranging account of the relations between Romans and non-Romans along the frontiers of western Europe from the last years of the Republic into late antiquity.
Looking at a 500-year time span beginning with early encounters between barbarians and Romans around 100 B.C. and ending with the spread of barbarian settlement in the western Empire around A.D. 400, Burns removes the barbarians from their narrow niche as invaders and conquerors and places them in the broader context of neighbors, (sometimes bitter) friends, and settlers. His nuanced history subtly shows how Rome's relations with the barbarians -- and vice versa -- slowly but inexorably evolved from general ignorance, hostility, and suspicion toward tolerance, synergy, and integration. What he describes is, in fact, a drawn-out period of acculturation, characterized more by continuity than by change and conflict and leading to the creation of a new Romano-barbarian hybrid society and culture that anticipated the values and traditions of medieval civilization.
Customer Reviews:
A treasure trove of valuable themes that you have to dig for.......2006-12-13
This is a collection of very long essays on the relationships between Rome and the barbarian societies present beyond or within its European frontier boundaries north of the Alps. Each essay focuses on one part of the Roman frontier in Europe and/or some period of time during the span of time in the title. I found that the level of care and detail displayed in the essays tended to fall as the essays moved from the west (Gaul and Batavia) to the east (Dacia) and from the earliest period (the late Republic) to the latest period (late Empire) covered in the book. I could never figure out how Prof. Burns organized any of these essays. They have no roadmaps, summaries, concluding sections, or subtitle markings to light the way. Mainly, I experienced a well-read, subtle scholar working his way through issues he thought were important for each essay, reaching out as he drove on to the treasure trove of references that he has accumulated in his study or office over the course of his long career. The experience is a bit like eating tapas. You get lots of interesting things to eat through the course of a meal that someone else has planned, but can't predict what will arrive next or why one has appeared with another.
The focus throughout is clearly on Rome--on mainly Roman sources and on events within Roman boundaries or that result from Roman actions. I came to the book mainly to learn more about the barbarian communities of Europe. In fairness, the title, the dust cover, and everything about the book makes it clear that Rome will be the focus--just a heads up for anyone who might have come to this book with priorities like mine.
The references are a goldmine for any amateur like me who wants to know what is available and where to look next. The text itself makes an amateur like me work to fit the pieces together and construct a complete picture that holds together. What follows is the picture that I built by looking for themes that run through the essays and circle back on themselves as Prof. Burns moves from one period or location to another. A warning to other readers: This is my take on Prof. Burns; my apologies in advance for misinterpretations!
The book relies most heavily on written sources in Latin and on Roman artifacts to describe barbarian society. In doing so, it repeatedly raises a strong caveat that Roman writers and artists usually did not seek to describe barbarians accurately. The structure of their works and the tropes used in them reveal a rhetoric broadly shared at the time in which writer and reader (artist and viewer) thought of barbarians as an essential "other" (1) that embodied characteristics that could be used to highlight growing softness and decadence in Rome, and (2) that Rome had to defend itself against and, more specifically, that Roman emperors-to-be had to show they could defend Rome against, whether real a threat existed or not. Result: We should read Latin accounts of barbarian life with great skepticism and an appreciation that their authors did not have the same goals that anthropologists have today.
Patron-client relationships dominated social connections within the Republic and Empire and between the Republic and Empire and barbarian groups throughout this period. Even relationships which appeared to have the imprimatur of an institutional entity tended to rely heavily on the personal commitments of the individuals involved.
The Roman frontier was not clearly defined in geographical terms until well into the Empire. Until then, Romans thought of Rome as a culture that could reach out in all directions and spread its values. The empire itself was defined geographically in terms of where Roman patrons lived in direct face-to-face relationships with their clients. Rome grew geographically as the interests of Roman patrons grew enough to spread a day-to-day presence of Roman culture. Always at the margin of this world were client states that Romans managed with great care without offering citizenship to relevant leaders. Leaders in these client states had specific Roman patrons, who may or may not have represented the interests of the Roman Senate or Empire when they established these leaders as their personal clients.
The Roman Republic expanded geographically to increase the status and wealth of Senatorial aristocratic families. The Empire expanded as generals seeking to be Emperor used successes on the frontier as a way to build support at home in Rome and, increasingly, among their own troops. Repeatedly, the principals seeking Roman expansion pointed rhetorically to the need to secure Rome against an ever-present barbarian threat. Although the threat was sometimes real, the dominant, real motivation for expansion lay in the political, social, and economic interests of the Roman principals.
Barbarians lived more densely in proximity to the Roman frontier than elsewhere. With a few isolated but important exceptions, there is only limited evidence that barbarians appeared there as wannabe invaders. Rather, the frontier offered opportunities for trade and employment. Rome drew the barbarians to its frontier; the vast majority of barbarians did not come primarily to attack Rome. Until very late, those who did attack Rome were basically bandits who posed more of a criminal than a military threat; such bandits existed inside and outside the formal boundaries once they were drawn.
Before contact with Rome, barbarian groups had little political coherence beyond familial clan and tribal levels. They shared language, religion, and material culture, but had no permanent hierarchical political connections. Informal alliances arose periodically to fight wars, but quickly dissolved. Rome sought to create more permanent barbarian client states that would be easier to sustain long-term agreements with and would be more effective in contributing to mutual defense. Over time, these efforts created the kingdoms whose names have come down to us in history. The families that developed claims to the crown in such kingdoms typically built those claims around their relationships with Rome and their ability to draw benefits for their own client tribes from Rome if they controlled the crown. Rome manipulated these families, favoring those who towed the Roman line and setting families against one another when Rome perceived a threat to its interests.
As a proving ground for future emperors, the frontier drew Roman armies to the frontier, drew Roman wealth to the frontier to create and sustain an infrastructure to support these armies, and induced the creation of Roman assets in the frontiers that required the continual protection of the frontier armies. That is, myths about the need to control barbarian forces created the need for a standing army. Fear of civil war between competing generals with their armies encouraged permanent placement of these armies far from the political heartland. Over time, these factors turned the Roman Empire inside out, pushing much of its wealth to its margins and repeatedly drawing its imperial leadership from emperors operating at these margins.
Rome accepted barbarians into its military forces in many different roles as far back as the Republic. Barbarians initially entered as individuals, who were diffused through the empire to serve under Roman leaders. Barbarians also entered as auxiliary light forces, ultimately under their own leaders. Some barbarians came to Roman service for a time and returned home, taking with them an understanding of how the Roman army worked. Others remained to retirement and were granted Roman citizenship for themselves and their children. Rome settled such retirees in colonies along the frontiers, building "Roman" communities from ex-barbarians with diverse heritages. Through the long passage of time, communities of military brats with barbarian heritages grew up; the sons replaced the fathers in their army units, building a tradition of local military service in these frontier families. Germano-Roman soldiers increasingly rose through the ranks to become legionnaires and generals and so potential Emperors.
Ultimately, Rome could not sustain army units on its frontiers in Europe and confront the Persian Empire at the same time. The Roman army was overextended; Rome decided to reduce its army presence on the European frontiers. As the army thinned down and disappeared in places, the infrastructure needed to support it went away as well, leaving significant parts of the frontier underpopulated. Barbarian groups moved in, with and without formal permission, to occupy empty lands. It became easier to protect towns from bandits and marauders than to defend whole areas formerly occupied by commercial farms (villas) or long expanses of road. Frontier towns built walls and increasingly looked to their own defense without significant input from the centrally managed Roman army. Arrangements that presaged medieval Europe began to arise well before large German kingdoms displaced central Roman authority in the West.
In the passage of time, Roman culture suffused itself into geographical areas well beyond Rome's formal boundaries. Roman society on the frontier increasingly absorbed influences from the barbarians drawn within the boundaries over time. Roman military personnel came to revere their German heritage as much as their Roman citizenship, especially following an imperial decision in the early third century to expand access to citizenship dramatically, thereby reducing its exclusivity. Roman generals of German descent led armies dominantly of German descent in the name of the Empire in the West. In a series of civil wars, some seized responsibility for the civil oversight of large regions from the central government. When Rome ultimately ended its efforts to sustain central authority in the West, new political entities arose to preserve the benefits of Roman culture for their own people, but this new culture could not preserve the cosmopolitan free-trade zone that had characterized the Roman world at its height. New leaders applied traditional patron-client relationships to sustain order in a more fragmented Germano-Roman world that evolved fairly steadily into a medieval world in the West as broader historical forces, beyond the control or understanding of any of the players, played themselves out in the Empire as a whole.
Troubling parallels between experience 2000 years ago and current events arise repeatedly. Does Prof. Burns perhaps bring too much of a modern perspective to bear? Or should we be busy learning from this rich account of the management of relationships between a dominant world power and the many, "less-advanced" societies that ring its frontiers and send emigrants across them during an era of rising uncertainty, anxiety, and instability?
Roman containment or Roman envelopment?.......2005-01-29
Thomas Burns has painstakingly compiled a career's worth of educational study to show the relationships created, nurtured and harnessed between the Roman people and the ancient tribes of Western and Eastern Europe. You may find it suprising the actual dependencies held between both groups. The establishment of border "Barbarians" to shield long held Roman interests from the more savage of the norther tribes is a very old view of modern allied states. The Roman Republic and subsequent Empire was, in a very few words, a complex diplomatic, economic and military machine. The numerous working parts required much more than the strong arm presumed by most passing readers. The ability to successfully manage this type of entity placed incredible demands on Rome and its leaders while, at the same time, provided the proving (battle) grounds for all aspiring Roman up and comers. Burns does a fantastic job in showing that not only did Rome use the Barbarian tribes to prove the mettle of Roman officers, but integrated these same tribes into what would eventually become the ancient worlds greatest "modern" economy. The fall of the Roman Empire is shown not to be the cause of irresistible hordes of barbarian invaders, but the inherent impossibility of managing the vastness of Roman interests. Thomas Burns has earned his merits as a Roman scholar and in doing so brings to light a broad expanse of history and speculation that is integral to the study of Rome. Recommend this book to anyone who seeks a wide understanding of Rome and the group who both sustained and eventually became its citizenry - the Barbarians.
Whoz Ya Callin' a Barbarian? Identity & Change in the West.......2004-06-16
ROME AND THE BARBARIANS, 100 B.C. - 400 A.D. by Thomas S. Burns is a book designed for general readers about the peoples of the Western Empire in what is largely Europe from Great Britain to the Balkans. Burns is interested in the military, political, and commercial interactions between the Romans and the indigenous peoples of this area, which were termed by the Romans as barbarians. He does this through analyzing literary sources and looking at the archaeological record, as it is currently understood. Burns also discusses the mechanisms by which barbarians became Roman and the role of the military in this process.
The book is divided into seven chapters and a short epilogue.
Chapter 1 - Sometimes Bitter Friends. This is the layout of the book. Investigation of Roman and barbarian relations through literary sources and archaeology. Roman rhetoric and mental landscape. How they thought of barbarians. Terminology is discussed. What were barbarians, Germans, Celts, citizens, peregrini (foreigners)? The rest of the book is three phases laid out in six chapters, with two chapters a piece for each phase. The phases: first expansion, second consolidation with some expansion, third confusion that impacted on the eras that followed.
Chapter 2 - Recognition, Confrontation, and Coexistence. First half the of the chapter is Roman relationship with the Celts in what is now southern France beginning in the second century B.C. Discussion of the long presence of the Celts in this area before the Roman incursion. Archaeological record of oppida (proto-towns/market places) also in place before the coming of the Romans. Greek contact with the Celts and the Roman idea of the Celts deriving from the Greek idea of the Celts. The Roman patron-client relationship is discussed. The second half deals with the Cimbri and Teutones and the barbarians in Bavaria area. Marius and other generals contact with these peoples.
Chapter 3 - Through Caesar's Eyes. THE GALLIC WARS by Julius Caesar is analyzed. This is fascinating.
Chapter 4 - The Early Empire and the Barbarians: An Overview. A time of rapid change. The end of oppida for civitates. The financing and reorganization of the military by Augustus. The barbarians join the military and win Roman citizenship. The impact of the military on the growth of towns through trade and building program. The continuing idea of the barbarians as threat whereas most war was caused by rebellions or civil war. The change from personal patron-client relationships to provinces.
Chapter 5 -- Perspectives from Pannonia. Pannonia used as specific example to demonstrate the generalities of chapter 4. Pannonia is the area that would be western Hungary, parts of Serbia and Croatia, and bits of Slovenia and Austria. The wars in this region from Augustus to Caracalla. Caracalla's edict on citizenship for all who lived within the Roman Empire.
Chapter 6 - The Barbarians and the "Crisis" of the Empire. Change again. The shrinking of towns. Lack of dynastic emperors. Breakdown of central administration. Lack of literary sources contemporary to this time. A look at Cassius Dio and others. Violent society rewards violent behavior that changes society.
Chapter 7 - Barbarians and the Late Roman Empire. Changes to Roman administration, military fortifications along the frontier, and the civilian population from Constantine onwards. The fluid identity of barbarian to Roman. The impact of Christianity on barbarians inside the Roman empire and outside it. Arianism as practiced by some barbarians like the Goths.
Epilogue. Discussion of the breakdown of the Roman Empire into small kingdoms and the need for barbarian kings to identify with the Roman military past. The Huns and later barbarians and their effect on late antiquity. This leads to the medieval time period.
The book also includes an appendix (Most Important Roman Emperors and Usurpers), maps and illustrations, notes, bibliography, and an index. The maps are very helpful. The bibliography is divided between primary sources, classical authors from Agathias to Zosimus, and secondary sources, that is modern authors.
Perhaps it's because I come from an art and archaeological background, but this doesn't seem like revisionism. The Thomas S. Burns writes in flowing but clear prose and explains intricate ideas even to the non-scholar. This is probably due to the fact that he is a professor and must explain these concepts to his students.
This book will interest those readers interested in Rome and its impact on other peoples. For another look at Roman perspectives on non-Romans see ROMANS AND ALIENS by J. P. Balsdon (1980). This is out of print, but look at used books or the library. For a look at the barbarians see BEYOND CELTS, GERMANS, AND SCYTHIANS: ARCHAEOLOGY AND IDENTITY IN IRON-AGE EUROPE by Peter S. Wells. For the Roman impact on another part of the world see ROMAN SYRIA AND THE NEAR EAST by Kevin Butcher. For the Roman military see IN THE NAME OF ROME: THE MEN WHO WON THE ROMAN EMPIRE and THE COMPLETE ROMAN ARMY both by Adrian Goldsworthy. For a specific Roman-barbarian confrontation see THE BATTLE THAT STOPPED ROME by Peter S. Wells.
P.S. If we look at the medieval era as perfume, it would definitely be a blend. Certainly Christianization and Romanization are the dominant top notes. The ones that you notice the most. But the quiet notes, the ones that add mystery, allure, an intriguing element to the blend, these are the peoples of Europe, the ones that the Romans called barbarians. Whether they were in place before the Romans, during the Romans, or after the Romans, they are the supporting scent of the medieval Europe, and that time period couldn't exist without them.
The Romans were intelligent and practical, but conservative. They didn't view technology as we do. Technology only advanced when a practical adjustment was needed to accomplish what was needed for the Republic or Empire. Even though the ancients may be our ancestors, they lived differently and it isn't a good idea put our modern Western values upon them.
a revisionist history.......2004-04-06
This is the revisionist account that grafts modern concepts of `diversity' `tolerance' and `cultural awareness' onto people who lived in 100 B.C. In this book it is assumed that since Rome dared to make value judgments and condemn the barbarians, who in fact were savage and ruthless, that Rome must somehow be some sort of evil hegemon like America and the Barbarians must have been `noble savages' like innocent peace loving native Americans. Unfortunately this is revisionist tripe. The reality is the barbarians actually were savage and it took Roman civilization to pacify and civilize them. Only by serving in the legion and learning roman ways of life and settling in the provinces did the barbarian tribes like the Gauls adopt civilization and become what we know today as the medieval europeans. If it hadn't been for Rome and Rome's extraordinary pursuit of science and technology and administration Europe would be a cultural backwater of feuding tribes to this day, much the way Creaser found it in 30 AD. In fact Rome's influence is so broad that not a major town exists in Europe today that doesn't include the trappings of a Roman wall, aqueduct and amphitheater. The Barbarians on the other hand built few lasting structures.
Seth J. Frantzman
Book Description
For more than 70 years, fantasy fans have followed the exploits of Conan through novels, comic books, and movies. This book, the first-ever illustrated guide to Robert E. Howard's most beloved character, is a genuine treasure chest of Conan lore, following Conan through the ages, through his different careers, as he meets friends and foes and travels across the Hyborian continent.
Click through on the images below to see sample pages from Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian:
Includes a foreword by Todd McFarlane. Created in full cooperation with Conan Properties International, LLC. Features character profiles, maps, art from original paperbacks, comic books, video games, and more.
"Conan of Cimmeria remains as vital today as he did when he first emerged from the pages of Weird Tales three quarters of a century ago to trample the jeweled crowns of earth under his sandaled feet. This gorgeous new volume, lavishly and beautifully illustrated, is a testament to his enduring popularity, a treasure for fans of Robert E. Howard, and a splendid introduction to the Hyborian Age for new readers. If you don't know Conan, you don't know fantasy."
--GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, author of #1 New York Times bestseller A Feast for Crows
"Robert E. Howard dreamed Conan the Cimmerian for himself, and set him free to roam the world of his own Hyborian soul; but first in his years at Marvel Comics and now with this encyclopedic culmination, Roy Thomas dreamed him for all of us, and made that world come vividly to life within our own."
--MICHAEL CHABON, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay and Wonder Boys
"No one has done more to popularize Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian than Roy Thomas, whose thrilling stories and brilliant editing propelled the world's favorite barbarian to the list of Marvel Comics' best-sellers for more than a decade. And now Roy has brought his knowledge and skills to bear in this ultimate guide, a fan's dream come true."
--STAN LEE, creator of The Amazing Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four
Customer Reviews:
A probable outline on Conan's career.......2007-10-09
Very nice illustrations from all the Conan's greatest authors of all time. The text is good and Thomas puts order on the multiple Characters and adventures of the cimmerian.But we miss Red Sonja, never mentioned on the book (maybe for questions of copyrights).
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-08-02
A very nice, bigarse square book, by Roy Thomas of Conan comics fame. It goes chronologically through Conan's adventures in the comics format, and is profusely illustrated throughout as it details his history, as well as the history and geography of the lands of the Hyborian Age.
Fans of Conan comics will dig it, but Conan fans in general should be happy to have a look at this.
Roy Thomas' Ultimate Guide to Conan.......2007-02-19
Roy has put in one place the reasons why Robert Ervin Howard will live forever in the hearts of fans of the Heroic Pulp Fiction.It is an excellent 'Baron's Review'for cribbing for an exam on the Conan Saga (which should be a course in college along with courses in Stephen King's literary world).For both the fan and the novice this is a must have on the shelf with all of Howard's Works.
3 and1/2 stars For Comic book Conan fans... only........2007-01-08
I hate to be the naysayer in the lot because this book is, for the most part, beautiful to look at. However, this is not for the serious reader of Robert Howard's Conan. From an artistic perspective I'm glad to see this book, but there are some considerable exceptions which keep me from endorsing it. There is a lot of representation from comic books, which is fine but there are a considerable amount of images missing, and too many from both old and recently reprinted art that is below the quality a book like this one should require. There is a lot of Cary Nord's artwork from the current Dark Horse series. While I like his work it seems to pad the book out more than it is highlighting the subject. There are reprints of some very nice Barry Windsor Smith art, which is unfortunately culled from the recent Dark Horse reprints featuring horrendous new digital color (some obscures Barry's original linework so badly as to blot it out entirely with garrish results). What is missing are the stellar talents of artists like Michael Kaluta (he did stunning cover art for the comics and the magazine), more Gil Kane, Val Mayerick, more Neal Adams (again, a vivid cover artist for the magazine line), the weird and wonderful pin-ups and illustrations done by Armando Gil and countless others. Instead we get a lot of the current artist and old John Buscema who, while a decent to sometimes great Conan artist he is not represeented well in these pages since his bread and butter pages, proofed from newsprint pages, make up the vast majority of his work. He did better work, particularly when he inked his own pencils.
On the plus side, the recent illustrations from the new Del Rey editions are also presented here. Those artists, Mark Schultz, Gary Gianni and Gregory Manchess are joined by older Conan artists like Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, the late Nestor Redondo, Doug Beekman, Earl Noram and others.
The forward written by Todd ("I can't remember what Conan I read first")McFarlane is not terrible exciting or indicative of his love for the character. It's more like the editors decided to go with a name related to comics as opposed to someone who really sank his teeth into the subject. This brings me to the decent but altogether less than stellar writing by former Conan comic scribe, Roy Thomas. His descriptions of Conan and his world are quite good, unfortunately a lot of the things included in this book are stories straight out of Roy's scripts and not part of Howard's written work. Will this book be updated later with Kurt Busiek's filler strories from Dark Horse as well? Well, no update will be required yet because a Busiek creation named Janissa is in this book.
What can I say? This is not a terrible book. It is a another in a line of missed opportunities.
For people who are Conan fans and only read the comics, well this book was made for you. The rest of us will still be left waiting for the real deal to come along.
I liked it - but I didn't like it........2007-01-07
I so wanted to enjoy this illustrated guide into the world of Conan yet, even after reading it, I still have my reservations. The artwork and imagery alone is a blast! I've always loved the grand mythos of Howards characters as seen or dreamed through the eyes of top-noch artist. But it's the so called chronological events of Conans life-long saga that leaves me with a rather bitter taste in my mouth. Much like the "Star Wars" expanded universe, I find it hard to validate these additional stories of Conans travels. I have nothing against the musing of Conans high adventures by other various story tellers. I've read many Conan books in my time that were not written by howard but I have always seen them as "Separate Works" of fiction.
Anyone could write a story about what happens to Odysseus after he returns home to Ithica to reclaim his throne but no one would ever dare to officialize it as part of the original Homeric myth. You don't see anybody writing additional stories to JRR Tolkiens "Lord of the Rings" trilogy or Stephen Kings "The Dark Tower" sereies either. If Marvel decided to continue the exploits of these characters through the medium of comics, I don't think anyone would complain. Certainly not me. Yet the events of these comics would never be added to any kind of visual companion guide of the original stories. I don't see how Robert E. Howards work should be excluded from this norm. A book of artwork involving Conan is a great idea but three quarters of the chronology that can be read from "Conan: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian" just doesn't hold weight for me. So I'am definitely torn here.
Average customer rating:
- Rough & Ready
- Wonderful Highland Historical Romance Book
- Highland Barbarian
- Artan Murray finds love in the south of Scotland
- Hannah Howell is magic
|
Highland Barbarian
Hannah Howell
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Howell, Hannah | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
Howell, Hannah | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Historical | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
Conqueror's Kiss
-
Highland Savage
-
Highland Lover
-
Highland Honor
-
Unconquered
ASIN: 0821779982 |
Customer Reviews:
Rough & Ready.......2007-07-20
Not even near one of her best books and the sequel for his brother's book is even worse. Stick to Highland Conquerer.
Wonderful Highland Historical Romance Book.......2007-05-07
Fans of Julie Garwood's Highland Historical Romance Books will love Hannah Howell's Highland Romance Series. Once started, its very hard to put down until finished. Great Book, Fantastic Author.
Highland Barbarian.......2007-02-06
Angus MacReith is ailing and he needs an heir to take over as laird of Glascreag when he dies. Angus asks Sir Artan Murray to bring back his niece Cecily. Angus thinks Artan should marry Cecily and become laird one day. Artan is very skeptical about Angus' plans. Although the thought of being laird of the land he loves is more than tempting, Artan wants a marriage of love and passion, and Cecily is stranger to him.
Cecily Donaldson is about to marry Sir Fergus Ogilvey. Cecily loathes Fergus but her aunt Anabel and Uncle Edmund demand she marry him.
When Artan sees Cecily he is pleased by her looks and angered by the way she is treated. He also senses that her family and Fergus are up to no good. When Artan decides to take matters into his own hands, Cecily has to choose between the family who has raised her, and the man she is growing to love.
Highland Barbarian is a romantic and exciting story with fiendish villains and courageous heroes. Artan is brave, strong and handsome and Cecily is delightful; she's strong and yet vulnerable too. They are very well suited. Hannah Howell uses the Scots charming accents and the romantic setting of the highlands, along with a thrilling storyline and wonderful characters to create a lovely historical romance with Highland Barbarian.
Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Artan Murray finds love in the south of Scotland.......2007-01-27
Sir Artan Murray is persuaded to go south and find Cecily Donaldson, the niece of a dying friend and relative. She is about to be married to a Sir Fergus by relatives who want her fortune for themselves. Sir Artan discovers they plot against her, escapes their castle and takes Cecily back to the Highlands. Sir Fergus follows them, trying to get Cecily back. During the trip, Sir Artan and Cecily fall in love and are handfasted. Sir Fergus follows them and tries to get to Cecily. They reach the safety of Glascraeg and her uncle Angus, but Sir Fergus enlists a neighboring clan, to attack Glascraeg and get Cecily. Artan is badly injured and Cecily promises "to be a good obedient wife" if he gets to live. Artan recovers and instead of peace they get to sort out their feelings, promises, and ideas of marriage in order to have a future. Another great Hannah Howell book.
Hannah Howell is magic.......2007-01-10
I was loking forward to Ms. Howell's latest novel and, like her other works, once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Thanks for another great read!
Average customer rating:
- Excellent Read
- :0)
- Desert passion
- Not my kind...
- Splendid !
|
The Golden Barbarian
Iris Johansen
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Historical | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
The Magnificent Rogue
-
Dark Rider
-
Lion's Bride
-
Midnight Warrior
-
The Tiger Prince
ASIN: 0553296043
Release Date: 1992-03-01 |
Book Description
A timeless novel of love and adventure set among the hot sands of an endless desert, here is the scintillating story of a fearless princess and a barbarian sheikh.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Read.......2006-10-20
Wonderful story!! A hero who falls in love with a young girl's enthusiasm and vitality and waits to have her until she comes of age! The hero was "heroic," but the heroine was such a wonderfully strong and vibrant character. I hate it when the heroine is a simpering miss who waits around for the hero to rescue her. It was very refreshing to see her take matters into her own hands. I kept imagining women from countries like Iraq or Iran might be going through similar plights -- strong women fighting to change the way they are treated in those countries. The heroine was very inspiring and the hero was heroic because he was willing to forgo long standing traditions of his kinsmen's treatment of their women. The storyline was great, the romance was great! A definite keeper!
:0).......2006-07-28
A wonderful entertaining book, the characters were so enjoyable and the plot was interesting..
Not really much i can say other than that...
........................ENJOY THE BOOK.......................
Desert passion.......2004-06-20
This is a well-written romance with likeable, strong-willed, and heroic characters. For those who have read Johansen's other books set in Sedikhan, this is the story of Galen Ben Rashid and Tess Rubinoff - who start off the dynasty. The novel transports you in time and place.
Not my kind..........2003-05-14
No, not my type of book. I really hate to put this review on here with all the other wonderful reviews about it! lol; however, I guess people do need to hear from those of us that have differing opinions. I really thought I'd like it after reading IJ's 'A Magnificent Rogue' - but I was wrong. It was very slow reading & I was having a hard time staying in it then the heroine started acting extremely stupid & the hero turned into an a real jerk. I suppose I would have to say that due to his raising, he might have actually come a long way in life, but I still couldn't enjoy either the hero or the heroine. So... I can't say I'd recommend this one.
Splendid !.......2000-05-26
I just re-read "The Golden Barbarian" and remembered how endearing this book really is. It's one of my favorite books by Iris Johansen. The setting was fascinating, and the plot never bogged down. The lead characters, Tess and Galen, began the book as sympathetic and likeable and ended the book as loveable people with depth and richness of emotional response. Galen is a sexy hero who actually does heroic things (imagine that)! Tess is intelligent, strong and never petty. The utter lack of stupidity exhibited by the couple is such a refreshing change from so many romances. The secondary characters are well-drawn, and I'd love to see a sequel concerning Tess's cousin who will play a pivotal role in Tamrovia in the future.
A very good book from an excellent author.
Book Description
These Forces of Nature Can Weather Any Storm
Barbarians, druids, and rangers are the rugged and noble champions of untamed lands. This book teems with new ways to customize even the most seasoned characters, including:
New feats, weapons, spells, and magic items.
Improved, more detailed rules for the wild shape ability.
New prestige classes such as the frenzied berserker, the windrider, and the oozemaster.
A new type of magic item -- the infusion.
Dungeon Masters and players who want to add a new dimension to their barbarians, druids, and rangers will uncover a cache of indispensable material within these pages.
To use this accessory, a Dungeon Master also needs the Player's Handbook, the
Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. A player needs only the Player's Handbook.
Customer Reviews:
Masters of the Wild.......2005-09-21
Offers excellent updates for the greatest classes in the D&D Game! My favourites are the new Druid spells! Excellent resource for expanding my campaign! Just don't forget to put the book down and sleep once in a while!
weak for barbarians, pretty ok for druids and rangers.......2004-12-03
This booklet was disappointing. There was very little new information or cool prestige classes for barbarians. If druids or rangers are your thing, they have slightly more interesting content here, so take a look.
Barbarians, druids, and rangers........2003-04-02
3 classes noticably underplayed in the d&d world are represented here.
The barbarian comes out the poorest in this book, because much of it focuses on the druid. But all in all, it's a good book for me, because I play druids and bards best.
The new classes are interesting variations on the way the game works. Queen of the woods, beastmaster . . . it's most interesting to say the least.
If you play druids and rangers, buy the book. You might want to buy the book if you're playing a barbarian and are stumped for ideas.
For DMs not players.......2003-01-10
The bread and butter of any guidebook is to (a) flesh out classes in rich detail (b)have new/cool feats (c)have really new/cool prestige classes. Unfortunately, this book fails on two fronts. Any player, except for the very new, would consider the information plebian. My biggest disappointment is in the prestige classes, which are geared for NPC's or, at best, solo adventures. For example, Deep Woods Sniper, Geomancer, Bloodhound, Foe Hunter, Verdant Lord, Forsaker, Windrider, Watch Detective, are all too specialized, requiring a severe limitation of campaigns. And don't get me started on the Oozemaster (what were they thinking?). I did like a couple of the prestige classes (Tempest, Animal Lord). Finally, the feats are solid, but favoring barbarian classes, which is good because barbarians were ignored for prestige classes.
Highly useful.......2002-11-06
This book is very useful, especially for rangers and druids. Barbarians won't gain as much from it, but overall it's worth the money.
Books:
- The Big Book of Colleges 2007
- The Blood Books, Vol. 1 (Blood Price / Blood Trail)
- The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear
- The Dark Is Rising Sequence: Silver on the Tree; The Grey King; Greenwitch; The Dark Is Rising; and Over Sea, Under Stone
- The Favored Child : A Novel
- The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)
- The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2)
- The Journey of Adulthood, Fifth Edition
- The Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage, Faith and the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Boys Called "The Lost Boys of Sudan"
- The Last Refuge: Patriotism, Politics, and the Environment in an Age of Terror
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Beatles Anthology
- GOAT: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali
- A Catch of Consequence
- Beware of the Purple Peanut Butter
- Cooking from Quilt Country : Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens
- Global Cities
- Foreign Correspondence: A Pen Pal's Journey from Down Under to All Over
- Arts & Architecture: The Entenza Years
- An Essential Guide to Bird Photography
- Angry White Male and the Horse He Rode in on
An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind
Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul
Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment
Soul Cravings
Stand Against the Wind: Fuel for the Revolution of Your Soul
