History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

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Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

Fighting the Flying Circus: The Greatest True Air Adventure to Come out of World War I

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Fighting the Flying Circus: The Greatest True Air Adventure to Come out of World War I
Eddie V. Captain Rickenbacker
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385505590
Release Date: 2001-09-04

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I love this book!
Amazing Story
Best True Story!
Judging a book by the cover
Interesting story

The World's Greatest Elephant
Ralph Helfer
Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399241906
Release Date: 2006-03-16

Book Description

It's unbelievable but true! Born on the same day in the same small, German circus town, young Bram and his elephant, Modoc, had a lifelong friendship that spanned over eight decades. But it was never easy. From the breakup of the circus to the shipwreck in the Indian Ocean that nearly cost them their lives, the bond between the boy and the elephant survived the most unimaginable trials. This true story of their adventures together, and eventual rise to circus stardom in the Ringling Brothers Circus, will be a treasure for animal lovers everywhere.

The beautiful, life-like illustrations by Ted Lewin make the perfect backdrop to this amazing chronicle by Ralph Helfer.

Customer Reviews:

I love this book!.......2007-07-16

This story alone is incredible. Add the beautiful illustrations, and you have a truly wonderful book! EXCELLENT! I can't say enough good things about it. Everyone should read this story! Highly recommended!

Amazing Story.......2007-05-04

I just read this for the first time yesterday with my daughter.
This is an amazing story with beautiful illustrations by Ted Lewin.
A wonderful book!

Best True Story!.......2007-02-17

This was a wonderful "trip" through the lives of the two main characters. It is so awesome, you have trouble believing everything that happens to both of them on their life journey. You will not be able to put this book down. My husband, who hardly ever reads, would not put it down until he was finished. It brought tears to his and my eyes. Can't say enough.

Judging a book by the cover.......2003-04-27

I picked up the book because of the cover, a boy sitting with
an elephant with his arm around it.Little did I know I was about
to embark on a journey to Germany, England, and India. "MODOC", a story that spands seventy-eight years of a boy and his love for an elephant, who sacrifice family and friends to be together. Their true story of a rescue at sea, fighting off bandits in the forest, and a guerrilla war are only a few of their adventures. I could not put the book down till I was finshed..."MODOC" THE TRUE STORY OF THE GREATEST ELEPHANT THAT EVER LIVED. Would make a great movie...

Interesting story.......2003-04-09

This was a good book, easy to read by people of all ages. There are some amazing life struggles depicted very well...

The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy

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The Big Top...No, A Big Flop
A GREAT MEMOIR OF THE CIRCUS FIRE
'Just The Facts' style is a strength
Frighteningly Flammable!
Moving Account

The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
Stewart O'Nan
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385496850
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Amazon.com

As some 9,000 people watched the Wallendas begin their high-wire act on July 6, 1944, a fire started on the sidewall of the big top at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of 6,000 gallons of white gasoline and 18,000 pounds of paraffin; common practice for circuses at the time. In minutes, the entire tent was engulfed in flames. In the rush for the exits, people were trampled and burned--some beyond recognition. In the end, 167 were dead and 487 injured, of whom 140 required hospitalization. The city of Hartford, Connecticut, would never be the same. Stewart O'Nan brings his storytelling ability to the tragedy of The Circus Fire.

Several survivors said the one thing they will never forget about the circus fire as long as they live is the sound of the animals as they burned alive. But there were no animals.

O'Nan interviewed dozens of witnesses and examined police reports, newspaper accounts, and court documents while researching the fire. The result is an engrossing--though agonizingly painful--account of the great fire and its aftermath. He probes the tragedy's enduring mysteries--How did the fire start? Who are the unidentified victims? Who is Little Miss 1565?--and offers up conclusions of his own. He also provides remarkable vignettes of panic, heroism, and grief: Merle Evans and the band playing "The Stars and Stripes Forever," the circus disaster march, over and over; Bill Curlee, standing atop the wild animal chute throwing trapped children to safety; the Cote sisters, who made it home safely then broke down when asked why they were back so early. O'Nan tells their stories with compassion--albeit with a slight tendency toward the macabre.

Moving, saddening, gruesome--yet car-crash compelling--The Circus Fire is a gripping read. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney

Book Description

The acclaimed author of A Prayer for the Dying brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroism-the great Hartford circus fire of 1944.

Halfway through a midsummer afternoon performance, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus's big top caught fire. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of paraffin and gasoline; in seconds it was burning out of control, and more than 8,000 people were trapped inside. Drawing on interviews with hundreds of survivors, O'Nan skillfully re-creates the horrific events and illuminates the psychological oddities of human behavior under stress: the mad scramble for the exits; the hero who tossed dozens of children to safety before being trampled to death.

Brilliantly constructed and exceptionally moving, The Circus Fire is history at its most compelling.

Customer Reviews:

The Big Top...No, A Big Flop.......2007-02-17

This is a really horrific story with details that the faint of heart won't want to read about but O'Nan does a terrible job of weaving together the many different stories of survivors and those who worked to sort out the chaos after the fire.

His style of writing is awkward unnatural and clumsy. He adds confusing tid-bits related to the story that seem to have no purpose but to further confuse the reader. There were a lot of people to keep track of and I found it difficult to do.

I almost felt like he was speaking in a different language sometimes because his style of writing was just so unnatural. I often found myself wondering what was being said, almost like he was using slang that I'm not familiar with. And sometimes making reference to things that really needed further explanation, like referencing the fact that the town would not be celebrating the anniversary of Tom Thumb's arrival.

I thought the story was compelling and has all the ingredients for a really great book but this isn't a great book. If you want to read it loan it from the library save your money for Eric Larson's The Devil in the White City. I love to think about the book Larson would have written about the big top circus fire of '44.

7/11/07
If you want to read something by Stuart O'Nan try A Prayer For the Dying it's a dark story but very well written.

A GREAT MEMOIR OF THE CIRCUS FIRE.......2007-01-25

I read this book and I really enjoyed it. A poignant, memorable, sad, moving and touching story of one of the most tragic events in the state of CT. I enjoyed all the old pictures, the stories, and the memories in this book about the fire. It told of the aftermath also. It was well written and Mr O' NAN spend a lot of time researching material for this great book. If anyone wants to read about this event, then this is the book for you. I bought this in hardcover also for keeps. I enjoyed this book immensely since I am a history buff. It also told about Little Miss 1565, and the trial. Mr. O'Nan goes into great depth about this subject making it easy to understand.

'Just The Facts' style is a strength.......2007-01-15

I never read any of O'Nan's fiction, so this is my first encounter with his writing style. The Great Circus Fire is the kind of story that most writers would embellish to pull at the heart strings....they would bastardize it in an Oprah kind of way. O'Nan, to his credit, lets the human drama flow from the facts of the story itself. This is what makes The Circus Fire one of the top 10 books I've read in the past 5 years.

I agree with some of the other reviewers that at times the narrative is cluttered by the seemingly endless cast of characters. However, I didn't find it that hard to follow the narrative as O'Nan did a great job of bringing each individual into contrast with the others.

PS: I also listened to the audio version. It was extrememly well done with Dick Hill doing an exceptional great narration.

Frighteningly Flammable!.......2006-12-04

This is an absolutely compelling account of the disastrous Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus fire in Hartford Connecticut on July 6, 1944: "The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of 6,000 gallons of white gasoline and 18,000 pounds of paraffin; common practice for circuses at the time. In minutes, the entire tent was engulfed in flames. In the rush for the exits, people were trampled and burned--some beyond recognition. In the end, 167 were dead and 487 injured, of whom 140 required hospitalization." The details are at times ghastly and extremely sad, and O'Nan's writing is such that he places you directly in the tent, with the fiery canvas raining down on all sides. Highly recommended!

Moving Account.......2006-03-28

On the afternoon of July 6, 1944, a fire broke out during a performance of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in Hartford, Connecticut. The circus tent had been waterproofed with gasoline and paraffin and the fire spread quickly with 167 people (mostly women and children) ultimately dying and many others horribly burned. "The Circus fire" details the events leading up to the fire (although the worst, this was not the first fire to hit the circus), the fire itself and the ensuing panic, and the aftermath of the fire, up until 1999. There are accounts from victims of the fire, the firefighters, circus performers, and neighbors that helped out, as well as many pictures that show the horrible results of the fire. The book follows several survivors through their recovery and how they are doing years after the fire.

"The Circus Fire" is a well-written and well-researched book. Stewart O'Nan is a gifted writer and his description of the fire and the frantic attempts of the circusgoers to escape are written so that the reader can picture what is happening as they read the book. In fact, he described it so well that I had to put the book aside at times because I was having nightmares about the fire. His description of the confusion after the fire as parents searched frantically for their missing children and how neighbors and strangers pitched in to help is equally moving (and unsettling at times as some neighbors actually charged a fee for the victims to use their phones). He mentions Little Miss 1565 who died in the fire and was never identified despite the fact that her face was barely burnt (O'Nan successfully debunks the theory that Little Miss 1565 was Eleanor Cook). Her story will haunt the reader as will the story of Raymond Erickson who was taken to a hospital and whose clothes were found there but his body was never located. Also moving is the story of how the survivors dealt with the aftermath of the fire; many had nightmares years after the fire.

The only problem I had with the book is that it switched from person to person and it was often hard to keep track of who was who, especially when there were long gaps between their story. I wish there had been a list of victims at the back of the book or at least a list of the fate of the people specifically mentioned in the book.

"The Circus Fire" is a moving account of a real life tragedy.

Richthofen's Flying Circus (Archive Photographs: Images of Aviation)

Average customer rating:

Richthofen's Flying Circus (Archive Photographs: Images of Aviation)
Treadwell , and Wood
Manufacturer: Tempus Publishing, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Images from the World Between: The Circus in Twentieth-Century American Art

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Images from the World Between: The Circus in Twentieth-Century American Art
Donna Gustafson
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Modern | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Criticism | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0262572419

Book Description

Images from the World Between is an engaging survey of circus imagery in twentieth-century American art. In her introductory essay, curator Donna Gustafson chronicles the history of the American circus, showing how and why it came to be an important subject for American art. Through a discussion of a wide range of paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs, Gustafson examines how the circus has been represented both as a microcosm of society and as an alternative reality. Some artists have been drawn to the abstract beauty of the circus ring, tent, and performances. Others have immortalized individual performers such as trapeze artist Alfredo Codona, animal trainer Clyde Beatty, and aerialist Lillian Lietzel for their physical prowess, grace, and courage. Still others have focused on the darker aspects of circus life, such as the danger inherent in many of the performances and the appeal of the grotesque.

The book accompanies an exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts. Among the artists discussed are Diane Arbus, George Bellows, Rhona Bitner, Alexander Calder, John Stuart Curry, Charles Demeuth, Walt Kuhn, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Lisette Model, and Bruce Nauman. In addition to Gustafson’s, the book contains essays by Karal Ann Marling on the postwar revival of interest in circus motifs and on the clown in popular culture, by Ellen Handy on the circus in twentieth-century photography, by Lee Siegel on the circus in twentieth-century literature, and by Eugene R. Gaddis on A. Everett "Chick" Austin’s collection and exhibition of paintings with circus themes. As director of the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Ringling Museum of Art, and as a performing magician, Austin united the worlds of art and the circus.

Average customer rating:

Great book
I'm glad I got this book.
It's a hoot!
Carny Folk

Carny Folk
Francine Homberger
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0806526610

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-06-16

There is a lot of information about the persons covered, like where they grew up and what happened until they died. There are also pictures of most of them.

I'm glad I got this book........2007-01-11

I used to go to the state fair and see the displays "See the biggest steer alive!" "See the smallest woman ever!" "See the lady who had her head chopped off in a car accident and she is still alive!" I always looked down on those people. This book helped me to see them as people and I am kind of sorry that I never went in to see any of the shows.

It's a hoot!.......2006-11-10

You have to be a touch "warped" to enjoy a book like this, but if that's what floats your boat... this is the perfect item!

Carny Folk.......2006-01-22

A fascinating review of side show freaks and the more human side of their story. They seemed to hold a most non PC point of view, and some would fight for what they considered to be their rights as oposed to the rights allowed by others.

Wrestling's One Ring Circus: The Death of the World Wrestling Federation: The Death Of The World Wrestling Federation

Average customer rating:

WWE 1963 - TBA
Unbelievably horrible
An honest look at the ups and downs of one wrestling company
A solid overview of the WWE's downward spiral
Not bad at all

Wrestling's One Ring Circus: The Death of the World Wrestling Federation: The Death Of The World Wrestling Federation
Scott Keith
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Wrestling | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

History of Sports | Miscellaneous | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 080652619X

Customer Reviews:

WWE 1963 - TBA.......2006-04-21

Scott Keith isnt everyones ideal voice of wrestling .
Many can rightly point to his onesided and often jaded view of the business and claim he'd alway look at the pro wrestling glass as being forever half empty .
But personally i like his no frills approch to the subject , even if he does tend to droan on a bit after having made his point .
WWF/E wasnt painted in a very good light by Keith and no surprise there , just got to read the title to figure this.

Could of done without all his star ratings , but reading his net columns over years it was exspected .

Still good to read if read The Death Of WCW

Unbelievably horrible.......2005-03-06

This is one of the worst books i've had the displeasure of reading through......Scott Keith is a bitter guy with an extremely negative outlook on everything....his book reflects that and so does all his work regarding professional wrestling...i could only get halfway through this pile of crap before i just had to give it back to my friend...funny part was that he didn't want it back....at least I finally have leverage for my off-balanced table leg....i just had to take the book cover off because I don't want to be reminded of it....it amazes me how someone can be so negative towards a business that has given him so much pleasure over the years.....his writing style is also horrible...just awful....it just has such a condescending manner to it....it's almost like it's unintentionally putting down the reader as well......lame lame book....avoid this if you can....

An honest look at the ups and downs of one wrestling company.......2005-02-08

I am already a fan of Scott Keith's weekly columns on the Inside Pulse website, and I consider him to be one of the most honest and insightful wrestling writers out there. This book is an in-depth look at a year or so of recent WWF/WWE history. Keith is certainly biased and opinionated, but that is what makes his books and his columns so fun to read. Even if you don't agree with him, Keith can make you laugh and make you think about North American corporate wrestling in new ways. If you are at all interested in Vince McMahon's wrestling shows, then this book should be near the top of your reading list.

A solid overview of the WWE's downward spiral.......2005-01-30

Wrestling's One Ring Circus is a solid overview of the WWE's fall from grace to 2001 to 2003. Prior to this, the WWE was a crossover phenomenon creating mainstream stars such as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock. However, their descent was brutal and swift and Scott Keith does a great job of profiling their downfall. In actuality, you don't realize the magnitude of the company's failures until you read this book as Keith touches on everything, whether it's career ending injuries, the company's failure to push their most talented performers, or failed storylines. Like his previous book Tonight...In This Very Ring, Keith inserts his internet rants detailing important matches from the era throughout the text. The rants are still very good although they could be long winded, hence the term "rants." To his credit, he has revised his match ratings upon further review. As a long time wrestling fan and reporter, Keith displays his unbiased opinions about the failure of the WWE product and while many of his views come across as bitter, most of the time he has a valid point (ex....not giving a bigger push to popular performers Booker T and Rob Van Dam, the continued push of bigger and less talented athletes). In particular, Scott does a great job of the WWE's biggest failures such as the WCW Invasion angle, the gay wedding between Billy and Chuck, and the formerly wildly popular NWO. He also gives credit where it's due to the great performers from this era such as Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Brock Lesnar. However, he knocks Triple H and Shawn Michaels frequently throughout the book, to the point where it makes you wonder if it's more of a personal vendetta, particularly with Michaels since he was in on the Montreal screw job which took the World title off of Bret "Hitman" Hart, who like Keith is Canadian. Nevertheless, this is a very good read and a thorough review of the WWE's decline.

Not bad at all.......2005-01-20

I thougtht the book was pretty good. I actually read it at a Barnes and Noble, as I had gone there for the Death of WCW but it wasn't in. I didn't read the match reviews, as I had read the originals in his rants, and skipped a few minor parts. I thought it was a detailed look at a bad period for the WWE. Though things have picked up (at least on the Raw side), the company is still making the same mistakes, such as keeping the belt on Triple H. How they could screw up having Goldberg and the invasion is beyond me. Even if you've read all his rants, you can still learn a few backstage things.

'Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 (Aviation Elite Units)

Average customer rating:

'Richthofen'c Circus' a valuable resource
The true story of the Red Baron's famous Flying Circus
Excellent History of one of most famous fighter units

'Richthofen's Circus': Jagdgeschwader Nr 1 (Aviation Elite Units)
Greg Vanwyngarden
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Aviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1841767263

Book Description

Undoubtedly the most famous of any nation’s aviation units in World War 1 was the legendary Jagdgeschwader Nr 1, or ‘The Flying Circus’ as its respectful foes labelled it. Germany’s first true fighter wing, it would always be associated with its first commander, the charismatic and revered Manfred von Richthofen. JG 1 was formed in July 1917, and for sixteen months the unit’s young pilots in their colourful aircraft battled for aerial dominance of the Western Front. From its ranks emerged many of Germany’s most successful airmen, including the Red Baron’s brother Lothar; Ernst Udet; Werner Voss; Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring. This book charts the World War I experiences of JG 1.

Customer Reviews:

'Richthofen'c Circus' a valuable resource.......2007-09-11

Vanwyngarden's 'Richtofen's Circus': Jagdeschwader Nr.1 (of the Aviation Elite Unit series) is a valuable little resource for those interested in WW1 aviation, providing a clear basic knowledge of the pilots and operations of the various Jastas which made up this legendary unit. Good photographs, interesting text, well worth the purchase.

The true story of the Red Baron's famous Flying Circus.......2007-08-12

The famous Flying Circus has achieved mythical status -- read this excellent book to get the true story! The author tells an exceptional story via words, photos, and color profiles of this legendary fighter group. Not only are significant historical details given, some of the most notable pilots are covered in their own sidebars. If the book did not have to fit in Osprey's format, perhaps the author would have had space to provide his opinions of the group's overall significance to the air war, as mentioned by another reviewer. However, given the space available, the author focused on the information most important to a general audience. Can we hope for a much larger future volume? Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader 'Berthold' (Aviation Elite Units) Albatros Aces of World War 1 Part 2 (Aircraft of the Aces)Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)Early German Aces of World War I (Aircraft of the Aces)Jagdstaffel 2 Boelcke: Richhtofens Mentor (Aviation Elite Units)

Excellent History of one of most famous fighter units.......2004-10-27

Although the story of Germany's "Red Baron" - Baron Manfred von Richthofen - in the First World War is well known, the history of Germany's first fighter group that he formed is often obscured by his legendary aura. In Osprey's Aviation Elite Units #16, aviation enthusiast Greg VanWyngarden provides a detailed look into the pilots and aircraft that formed Jagdgeschwader Nr. 1 (or JG 1), the elite of the German fighter arm in the First World War. Readers who are interested in early aviation history or aerial combat in the First World War will find a wealth of material in these 126 pages. On the other hand, military readers expecting more analysis on the significance of JG 1's contribution to Germany's war effort or a look at the nuts and bolts of an early fighter wing will be disappointed. Nevertheless, Richthofen's Circus: Jagdgeschwader Nr. 1 provides an excellent unit history of arguably one of the most famous fighter units of all times.

In the first chapter, the author provides background on the origin and formation of JG -1 in June 1917. The wing was formed of four component squadrons: Jastas 4, 6, 10 and 11, giving JG-1 a total strength of about 50 fighters. Germany was forced to form larger fighter units in 1917 because of the growing Allied numerical superiority in the air, which was approaching 3-1 or better. There are a couple of things here that the author should have mentioned to clarify the air picture. First, the British and Germans had radically different doctrines for employing fighters: while the British stressed offensive air patrols deep behind German lines (and thus losing more aircraft to flak), the Germans usually mounted only defensive patrols on their sides of the line. Thus, the Germans were usually content to knock down Allied reconnaissance aircraft (which degraded the effectiveness of Allied artillery), while the British were intent upon gaining air superiority. The second point that the author neglects to mention is that despite the formation of JG-1, the Germans rarely held air superiority over even small portions of the front.

The next five chapters are essentially an operational history of the 16 months of JG-1 combat, focusing primarily upon the high-scoring pilots like the Richthofens (all three) and Udet. The author also details the introduction of new aircraft, such as the Fokker Dr 1 triplane and the Fokker Dr VII; it is apparent from the comments of the German pilots that they felt increasingly outclassed by newer Allied fighters. It is also apparent that the standard of German workmanship did not always live up to its reputation; the author notes numerous instances where faulty construction led to aircraft crashes, particularly in the Dr 1 (which only had an operational career of about 6 months). Readers will particularly enjoy the numerous first-person accounts by German pilots about life in the squadron and aerial combat, as well as the excellent photographs that support the text. The color plates, which detail the various aircraft models and personal schemes of many JG 1 aircraft, are also excellent.

Unfortunately, the author makes virtually no effort to analyze JG-1's contribution to the German war effort, other than noting that the unit was credited with 644 victories and suffered 121 casualties (thus implying a 5-1 or better kill ratio). Overall in 1914-1918, the Germans shot down 3 Allied aircraft for each of their own lost, so it seems likely that JG-1 was indeed an elite unit, which seems obvious given that it received the best pilots and aircraft available. However, even if all of the 644 victories were accurate (and the author notes several claims that were later invalidated), the unit shot down less than 1% of all Allied aircraft lost in the war. This German tendency to create elite units occurred in both world wars and it tended to strip other line units of personnel and equipment in order to create prestige units. While JG-1 had several very high-scoring pilots, it does not seem that the formation of the unit had any great material impact upon the war. It is also noticeable that by late 1918, most of the veteran pilots were gone and the unit had been whittled down to an average of only 10-12 aircraft.

The other area that the author avoids is the innards of JG-1. While the author lavishes much space upon the glamorous fighter pilots (several of whom get their own full-page sidebar), the humble mechanics and ground crews that kept the planes flying are all but ignored. It would have been nice to know how the Germans maintained their operations tempo, but this is impossible without looking at the ground component. Some type of line and block chart or equipment table would have been handy. How did JG-1 move to new airfields? Surely the ground crews had to move fuel, ammunition and spares, but how? Nor is there any mention of the pilot to aircraft ratio, which would also improve our understanding of German optempo. It would also have been useful if the author had provided a map with the bases and operational area for JG-1. However, despite this myopia, Richthofen's Circus: Jagdgeschwader Nr. 1 is a worthwhile part of any library on the First World War.

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