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.

Domus: Wall Painting in the Roman House (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum)

Average customer rating:

A Must Have Book
Fabulous in every respect

Domus: Wall Painting in the Roman House (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum)
Donatella Mazzoleni , and Umberto Pappalardo
Manufacturer: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0892367660

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have Book.......2006-01-31

I saw a copy of Domus while in Naples and knew I would have to order a copy when I returned home. The book is beautifully produced with an excellent essay by Donatella Mazzolini on the architecture of Roman houses, focusing on those under discussion in Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome. This is followed by an essay by Umberto Pappalando on the Domus Romana, focusing on the development of houses and gardens. As good as these essays are it is the pages dealing with the houses themselves that is jaw-dropping. The houses are arranged in sections following the development of the Roman domus and include color pictures and diagrams of the houses. There are short introductions to the homes followed by a portfolio section consisting of close up pictures of the frescos printed on non-glossy textured paper that gives a better impression of how the painting appears to the observer. These reproductions are superb.

The choice of buildings is impressive. There are far too many to list but among them are: from Pompeii the House of the Faun, the House of Julius Polybius, the Villa of Mysteries, the House of the Golden Bracelet, the House of the Tragic Poet and the House of the Labyrinth; from Herculaneum: the Samnite House, the House of the Skeleton, the House of the Grand Portal, the Collegium of the Augustales; from Rome: the House of the Griffins, Livia's House on the Palatine and at Prima Porta and the Domus Aurea. The Villa of Poppea at Oplontis gets special attention in the book, and a fresco from the house appears on the cover.

This book is a must for anyone interested in ancient Roman houses and their decoration. If you have even visited Pompeii, Herculaneum and the other villas destroyed by Mount Vesuvius you will enjoy this book.

Fabulous in every respect.......2006-01-07

A wonderful work in all respects - scholarship, printing, presentation, photography. Some of the paintings are more like wall paper samples, the paper and printing is that good.

Another great work in the Getty catalog. A must have for any serious student of Roman Art/Architecture.

Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition

Average customer rating:

Paul's House Church Model
Very good book
Good, Not Great
Excellent Book on House Churches
Crossing the interpritive bridge to the meaning of "Church"

Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition
Robert J. Banks
Manufacturer: Hendrickson Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565630505

Book Description

Robert Bank's widely read Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in their Cultural Setting is once again available to laypeole, pastors and scholars alike. In this extensively revised edition Banks has rewritten chapters for clarity, taken into account recent scholarship on Paul's writings, updated and expanded the bibliography, and added an index. This new edition retains, however, all the freshness and vitality of the original.

"The book draws fully upon the wealth of recent scholarly analysis of the New Testament churches, but in such a skilled way that the picture is not buried in learning, but brought to life for present-day readers. . . . People will be startled to find how much of modern church life has departed form the New Testament spirit. And yet the modern communities still possess in the New Testament, as illuminated through a book like this, the sources from which church life can be reawakened to the community consequences of accepting the Pauline gospel."
Â—Edwin A. Judge, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

"It is good news that Robert Banks's Paul's Idea of Community is once more available, now in a thoroughly revised, expanded edition. Convinced that Paul's distinctive contribution to Christianity is his idea of community, Banks demonstrates how this notion informs Paul's instruction to his churches. . . . [I]t is striking how naturally discussions of such topics as Paul's teaching on freedom and on eschatology fall within the purview of this stimulating book."
Â—Abraham J. Malherbe, Yale University

Customer Reviews:

Paul's House Church Model.......2007-01-31

Banks' book does away with all arguments for the existence of the institutional church. Although this is not his stated aim... his work nevertheless communicates this truth.

I enjoyed Banks' investigation of other communal groups and his comparison of Judaism and the cults to what Paul was doing with the ekklesia. Banks' book reveals that Paul's idea of community was unique to anything in his day. Paul was intentional in his planting of house churches.

For those who desire to learn about the primitive church in the book of Acts. This book is for you. Banks covers many aspects of early church practice. He discusses the freedom of the Holy Spirit, the church as oikos (family), the gifts and ministry, the headship of Christ vs. the hierarchal leadership of man, and the role of the woman and slave within the community of believers. He discusses Paul's distinct use of words to describe the kind of community Christ desires for his Body.
I highly recommend this book.

I also suggest reading:
* Going to the Root: Nine Proposals for Radical Church Renewal
The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks)
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
Pagan Christianity: The Origins of Our Modern Church Practices

Very good book.......2006-08-22

This review applies to the revised edition of Banks' book.

Banks is convinced that Paul, though not the first to formulate the concept of "community," was a major contributor to the idea as it applied to the church. Paul's global concept of church/community of believers includes (but is not limited to)the following ideas, each of which are discussed by Banks: (a) church as a household gathering; (b) church as a group characterized by a 'radical new freedom' (independence, dependence, and interdependence--all Banks' words); (c) church as a loving family; (d) church as a functional body; (e) church as a diverse group (in terms of role and function), yet characterized by unity.

The book is very lucidly written and amazingly accessible for an 'academic' work. The way Banks writes makes obvious that he understands the minds and lives of lay people (he's a professor of Ministry and Laity). This book could even be used as a study in a small group setting, but there is no study guide, so discussion leaders would need to provide their own questions.

I recommend this book.

Good, Not Great.......2004-05-18

Banks provides useful historical context in constructing Paul's understanding of community and early Christian interaction. The sum of his writing is a fairly concise vision of the early church presented with considerable breadth and above average clarity. If nothing else, Banks provides a readable summary of the issues at hand in the field. Sometimes, his conclusions tend to be unambitious: they do not seem to contribute much to the current field and many of the arguments and discussions he engages in are self-evident.
He does, however, prove to have some shortcomings. Primarily, I was offput by the complete lack of notes and extratextual explanations. Paul is complex and hundreds of years of commentary on the subject deserve more than (sometimes paltry) primary text citations and a by-chapter bibliography. The careful reader needs more to unlock the specifics of the theories presented and the definitions of problematic terms.
Other smaller issues also were apparent while reading. Acts was used to fill in the holes left by the spotty nature of the letters. That attitude, without explicity questioning the historicity of such a jump, is dangerous and presumptuous. More explanation of such evidence or the simple exclusion of it would have been helpful and more concise.
The last primary issue I had was that Banks, I think, does not extend his ideas far enough and reach into the motivating factors of Paul's actions. Why these types of communities? What motivated him? Why was it this way? These questions are not answered or distinctly addressed. Without that, we are left with a nonapocalyptic, watered-down version of the historical Paul that, while interesting, is not as rich or deep as it could be.

Excellent Book on House Churches.......2001-12-01

I am a youth pastor in a local church. I have often struggled with the current model we have of the American church. The traditions we hold so dear are so often not based on clear New Testament teachings. I have longed for a church where "one another" passages are lived out, where accountability is strong, where the pastor is not a CEO but a servant, where leaders are biblically chosen and where the Church is not divided on various theological camps. The only place to usually find this, sadly to say, is in cults (where the gospel is not preached in its power or truth).

Banks will offer you hope if you are like me and you are burned out on "church as usual." He will challange you to examine Scripture with fresh insights into house churches in their historical context. He will challange your notion of "Church" in our westernized thinking and will lead you to a biblical and fresh restoration of the true Church of Jesus Christ. We must move away from the Institutionalized church and return to the New Testament pattern that Banks gives in detail in this book.

Crossing the interpritive bridge to the meaning of "Church".......2000-11-28

Robert Banks interpritation of the Apostal Pauls view of the Church is enlightening to the modern reader of the New Testament. Banks presents a contextual historical account of St. Paul's understanding of the Church of his day, which in return spurs the thoughts of the reader to contemplate the state of the Church in this day and age. This is an excelent book for those interested in understanding the historical beginings of the Church as well as what Paul understood the church to be. I recommend this book to all who are contemplating what the Church is called to be in this day and age, by looking at what it originaly was.

The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (Novels of Ancient Rome)

Average customer rating:

It's nice to fill in some gaps.
Very Entertaining
Gordianus the Finder in Shorts
The Sixth Book in the Series
Mysteries in Ancient Rome

The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (Novels of Ancient Rome)
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312964528

Book Description

It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Stalking about the city's twisting trails looking for clues and finding bodies, Gordianus has had his share of misadventure with nobles and slaves alike. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus has stories to tell.

Customer Reviews:

It's nice to fill in some gaps........2007-04-24

This book of nine stories was a good thing for me to read. I often wanted to fill in some of the rather lengthy gaps between Gordianius the Finder books. This collection of stories takes place in chronological time between the first book "Roman Blood" and the the second book "Arms of Nemesis". These little stories are not major mysteries, by any stretch, but they are wonderful anecdotal snapshots of Gordianus and Bethesda before they married, and some of the growing up years of Eco. We also get to meet Gordianus' benefactor, Lucius Claudius. I cannot wait to continue the series, but I'm glad that I took the time to read this collection of stories. My favourite was "A Will is a Way".

Very Entertaining.......2007-03-25

This a collection of short stories, easy to follow and different from each other. Each describes different aspects of the Roman world, from customs, festivities, beliefs and superstitions.
This book is ideal for students studying English as a Second Language, or any kind of classroom. Students will find these easy stories informative, interesting and educative.

My favorite mysteries were "The King Bee and the Honey" and "Little Caesar and the Pirates."

Gordianus the Finder in Shorts.......2007-02-28

'The House of the Vestals' is Steven Saylor's first collection of short stories that fill in the gaps in the history, personal and professional of Gordianus the Finder. (Saylor later wrote 'A Gladiator Dies Only Once' to fill in even more of the blanks.)

Fans of the Roma Sub Rosa series that began in 'Roman Blood' will love these short stories. Saylor's stories are easy on the brow, enjoyable, not too taxing - the 'mysteries' are often pretty simple - but you root for Gordianus because he is a good and decent citizen.

Saylor's stories do have a serious side - they paint an admirably convincing portrait of late Republican Rome. I am by no means a scholar of ancient history, but I have read a half dozen or so histories of this era (such as 'Rubicon' by Tom Holland and 'Caesar' by Adrian Goildworthy) and he has me convinced. Saylor has a reputation for scrupulous accuracy and often cast his stroies admidst some actual event in history.

Highly recommended.

The Sixth Book in the Series.......2006-12-23

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began at an early age. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too. Steven Saylor brings Ancient Rome to life, so much so that the reader can lose himself in the sights and sounds of the ancient city.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

This is a collection of nine short stories featuring Gordianus the Finder. I am not really a fan of short stories, preferring something that I can get my `teeth into.' But I did find these very entertaining and enjoyable and what they do achieve is that they help to fill in the gaps that are left by the longer novels. We learn a little more about Gordianus's slave, Bethesda, who has now become his wife and some of the many other details skimmed over in the novels. For those who love the Saylor books this is well worth reading.

Mysteries in Ancient Rome.......2006-11-10

Saylor does it again. His Gordianus books are a pleasure to read.

A Lady, First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and the American Embassies of Paris and Rome

Average customer rating:

Review of shipping: Beware of buying this book from Amazon....
A Pleasure, and a Surprise
Terrific!
Product Review
Class from the past!

A Lady, First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and the American Embassies of Paris and Rome
Letitia Baldrige
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142001597
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Book Description

Letitia Baldrige is the woman best known as Jackie Kennedy's social secretary during the White House years. But in this fascinating memoir Baldrige reveals a career sparkling with a host of other achievements: embassy work in an era when women rarely were given jobs overseas, becoming the first female executive at Tiffany & Co., and founding one of the first companies run by a female CEO. In her amazing life story Baldrige shares her perspective as a White House insider: the hilarity of young Jackie's antics on foreign diplomatic visits, the terror of the Cuban missile crisis, and the heartbreak of President Kennedy's funeral. Stylish, chic and always polite, Baldrige reveals the determination that has made her a success and brought her the admiration of women around the world.

Customer Reviews:

Review of shipping: Beware of buying this book from Amazon...........2007-03-18

I placed my order for this book on Jan 28th, and it said it would be here around March 23 (which I thought was too long, but was willing to wait). Today I got an e-mail saying it would be further delayed and will not arrive until May 9th! This looks like a lovely book, but you're better off getting it at your local bookstore! :)

A Pleasure, and a Surprise.......2006-08-05

I've always enjoyed Ms. Baldridge's books, and this was no exception. I was expecting, knowing nothing about it beforehand, that it would be yet more nostalgia about the Kennedy White House. Thankfully, it wasn't. That period of her life occupied part of the book, but not even the major part. Actually, I enjoyed most the part about her time working for Tiffany & Co. It's great bedside reading.

Terrific! .......2006-05-29

I had this on my shelf for several years before finally reading it--and now I regret waiting so long! This is a captivating story told by someone uniquely placed in several high-level positions: aid to David & Evangeline Bruce in France; aid to Clare Booth Luce and Henry Luce in Italy; and chief of staff to Jackie Kennedy. In addition to this, Ms. Baldrige was the first woman executive at Tiffany's, and held a high level position at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. But what really endears her to the reader is Ms. Baldrige's way of telling hilarious stories on herself--the things that go askew during a dinner party, for example. She took her work very seriously, but is modest enough to tell stories on herself that can make one dissolve in laughter. I came away from this book with a higher appreciation of all that she has done. She is very likeable!

Product Review.......2005-09-06

The product arrived in excellent condition, within the specified time period, and I am very happy with it.

Thanks

Class from the past!.......2003-07-02

Oh! how I wish I had a life like Tish Baldridge's! She is a gutsy and classy lady and I admire her for that. I loved to read that book because it goes to show that dreams come true when we put the energy and efforts for them to materialize.

Ancient Rome and Pompeii (Magic Tree House Rsrch Gdes(R))

Average customer rating:

Packed with information...

Ancient Rome and Pompeii (Magic Tree House Rsrch Gdes(R))
Mary Pope Osborne , and Natalie Pope Boyce
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375832203
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Book Description

What was it like to be a gladiator? How many people died in the destruction of Pompeii? How did Roman children spend their days? Find out the answers to these questions and more in Magic Tree House Research Guide: Ancient Rome and Pompeii. This is the nonfiction companion to Vacation Under the Volcano (Magic Tree House #13).

Customer Reviews:

Packed with information..........2007-02-13

There was a lot involved... so much infact that my 8 year old son wasn't very attracted to it. However in the next few years perhaps he'll take another look thought it or use it for a project he does at school. I wouldn't recommend buying this book for 'fun' but rather for direct use with a project you might be working on.

Houses, Villas, and Palaces in the Roman World

Average customer rating:

A Most Cruel and Inhuman Book!

Houses, Villas, and Palaces in the Roman World
Alexander G. McKay
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0801859042

Book Description

In Houses, Villas, and Palaces in the Roman World, Alexander G. McKay examines simple houses, mansions, estates, and palatial buildings, and he pays particular attention to accounts of ancient writers that deal with such topics as house design, interiors, furnishings, and gardens. Describing innovative high-rise apartments, her compact civic squares, large public buildings, temples, shopping centers, and commercial areas, he shows that Roman civilization was astonishingly similar to our own. He also discusses the conditions of life in the Roman provinces, where recent discoveries have shed fresh light on private and communal living. McKay has enhanced the text by the inclusion of over 150 illustrations of plans, sites, and reconstructions.

Customer Reviews:

A Most Cruel and Inhuman Book!.......2000-06-06

This book has given me the incredible desire to take the rest of my life and do nothing except tour the archeological sites of classical Etruscan and Imperial Roman towns and cities! Alexander McKay- You are very cruel.

For many years I have seen pictures in books and online of fragments and ruins of buildings, which can be interesting but seeing the pictures in the context of a complete floor plan brings a sudden epiphany of how our forebearers lived. I spent 7 hours surfing on the net looking at the pictures online for a number of the palaces and houses included in this book and dreaming of an itinerary covering almost all of western Europe,northern Africa and great areas of the near and mid East. Now I need to go out and win a very large lottery to afford it.

Average customer rating:

Falco novels

Falco takes a Holiday

Brilliant as Usual

The Falco series

About Lindsey Davis' Book

A Body in the Bath House
Lindsey Davis
Manufacturer: Mysterious Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Jupiter Myth

Ode to a Banker (Davis, Lindsey. Falco Series.)

One Virgin Too Many

The Accusers

Three Hands in the Fountain (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries)

ASIN: 0446691704

Book Description

The 13th novel featuring Marcus Didius Falco finds the Roman P.I. in the midst of a home improve- ment that brings an unwanted 'visitor' to his bathhouse. Poor Marcus Didius Falco: The two shiftless contractors working on his new Roman bathhouse have left him with a horrible smell emanating from the below-ground furnace....and some gruesome site debris. Meanwhile, the king of the Atrebtes tribe in faraway Britannia is planning his own home improvements. But the spectacular Fishbourne Palace he is building is beset by numerous financial problems....not to mention the 'accidents' that seem to plague the construction site. Enter P.I. Falco to investigate the scene and make things right. But trouble starts anew when his favorite contractors from Rome appear on the scene, and Falco realizes that someone with murderous intentions is now after him......

Customer Reviews:

Falco novels.......2007-03-09

I'm a big fan of this series and this character. I expect this book to be as good as Davis' last.

Falco takes a Holiday.......2006-10-04

This is the twelfth novel in the mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and sleuth in Rome at the time of Vespasian. A series of books that have become hugely popular, so much so that the author is now at the forefront of historical mystery writers. It was probably a stroke of genius on her part to have novels that are extremely well researched and contain all the elements that would be and should be found in the Roman world of circa AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop.

Falco has like many people been experiencing problems with builders in what was to be his new Janiculum home. Glaucus and Cotta (remember them) were supposed to be renovating the bath house. It would seem that Glaucus and Cotta have left some rubbish behind when they left the renovation and it is down to Falco why they left it there.

While on the subject of building and renovations the Emperor Vespasian has more than a few problems with a building project he is financing for the Togidubnus, Chieftain of the Atrebates in that god forsaken place called Britannia. As Falco has served his time in Britannia he seems the logical person to send and sort out the mess. Helena is keen to turn the expedition into a family holiday, so Falco, Helena and the two young children, plus one or two hangers on arrive at the half built palace in Noviomagus.

Falco soon starts to rub the builders up the wrong way by asking too many questions. Bodies start to appear and the family are soon put in danger. Falco begins to realise why he hated this cold, wet and windy island so much.

Brilliant as Usual.......2005-08-04

Lindsey Davis has created a great series about an informer in ancient Rome. The informer, Marcus Didius Falco, is the modern equivalent of a private detective. In this novel he is commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian to settle problems on a building site in Britain. He refuses the commission until he finds the body of a labourer under the floor of his own bath house and discovers the builders who put him there have absconded to Britain, probably to the very same palace that the Emperor is concerned about. Davis has chosen the site of the palace that was discovered in Fishbourne near Chichester in 1960. The costs are too high for the civic purse and Falco discovers a phantom team of labourers and a crooked architect's stash of stolen building materials when he arrives with his family at the distant province. Davis' style of writing makes this a most enjoyable series to read.

The Falco series.......2004-01-25

Can't understand why half the editorial reviews and some of the reader's reviews are for another book altogether. But this Lindsey Davis book is from the Falco series and is fun like all the others. I frequently buy my Davis books from amazon.co.uk since they come out there about a year before in the US. There is a new one Scandal Takes a Holiday coming out in June 2004. They also spell the name Lindsay Davis which I think is the correct spelling.

About Lindsey Davis' Book.......2003-11-01

I like this book almost as well as any of the other Falco novels, even though it needs to be a bit longer. Up until now, amazon.com seems to have joined this book with the reviews for a different book altogether; until the situation is caught, let me assure you that this is indeed a book about the further adventures of the much-loved ancient Roman detective. Helena, both of her brothers, Petronius Longus, and another good character that we haven't seen since _Shadows in Bronze_ make this a good outing for Falco, who is in sent to his absolute least favorite place in the world. It's a winner in a series of winners. What book the other reviews (as of 10/31/03) are talking about I do not know.

Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum

Average customer rating:

Yawn
A fine piece of scholarship, but also an intriguing read
A Discovery of Ancient Social Stucture.
ACADEMIC TREATISE NEEDS A GOOD EDITOR

Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Andrew Wallace-Hadrill
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691029091

Book Description

Few sources reveal the life of the ancient Romans as vividly as do the houses preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius. Wealthy Romans lavished resources on shaping their surroundings to impress their crowds of visitors. The fashions they set were taken up and imitated by ordinary citizens. In this illustrated book, Andrew Wallace-Hadrill explores the rich potential of the houses of Pompeii and Herculaneum to offer new insights into Roman social life. Exposing misconceptions derived from contemporary culture, he shows the close interconnection of spheres we take as discrete: public and private, family and outsiders, work and leisure.

Combining archaeological evidence with Roman texts and comparative material from other cultures, Wallace-Hadrill raises a range of new questions. How did the organization of space and the use of decoration help to structure social encounters between owner and visitor, man and woman, master and slave? What sort of "households" did the inhabitants of the Roman house form? How did the world of work relate to that of entertainment and leisure? How widely did the luxuries of the rich spread among the houses of craftsmen and shopkeepers? Through analysis of the remains of over two hundred houses, Wallace-Hadrill reveals the remarkably dynamic social environment of early imperial Italy, and the vital part that houses came to play in defining what it meant "to live as a Roman."

Customer Reviews:

Yawn.......2004-06-21

This is a dreary, pedantic and repetitious bore. The author repeats his theme in every chapter about 10 times. The pictures are not that interesting and not very good quality.

A fine piece of scholarship, but also an intriguing read.......2003-10-07

Wallace-Hadrill's book begins with specific facts and shows how these lead to interesting questions. For example... because bed widths varied, and tended to be quite narrow, we can't be sure whether people slept alone or in pairs; in fact, we can't even be very certain how many people lived in a given household because we don't know about sleeping arrangements in detail (some slaves may have slept in or near the master's quarters, and not in separate slave quarters, for example). He points out that Roman houses had formal and informal areas, rather than the men's and women's quarters typical in earlier Greek homes, or the segregation by age that one might see in 19th century England, for example. These "dry" facts actually suggest quite a lot about how people interacted, and how the spaces in homes were used.

Of course, this isn't a novel... several recently published novels provide vivid descriptions of "what people did in those houses", complete with fictional characters (often based on people who actually lived in Pompeii). But Wallace-Hadrill's book is an extremely interesting read even though it is a work of scholarship, rather than something intended as entertainment. People who would like to have backgound information for a visit to Pompeii will find that this book helps them understand what they see when they visit. I found the floor plans, and the descriptions of use of space, really interesting: an upper class Roman house combined public and private space in ways that are quite different from modern American suburbs, but in some ways, rather like some modern Italian cities!

A Discovery of Ancient Social Stucture........2003-07-05

This book makes me think. What was it like to live in ancient Pompeii? What did people actually do with those dramatic and imposing, architectural masterpieces called houses?
Wallace-Hadrill attempts to find some answers to these questions from the physical evidence coupled with literary reference and historical facts.

Trained as a biochemist, I enjoy Mr. Wallace-Hadrill's attention to detail, propensity to stick to the facts and willingness to say so when his investigations lead into blind alleys. There are many things about life in ancient Pompeii, which there is no way to know at this time. But there are others, which can be discovered, and they paint a picture of a rich and vibrant society very different from our own, and yet as closely related as a grandfather to a grandson.

This book is not a fast read. It is not a novel. It is not emotional in the common sense of the word. But it is wonderful.

ACADEMIC TREATISE NEEDS A GOOD EDITOR.......2001-07-14

This was published by Princeton University Press and reads like a dry dissertation. I was surprised at how ponderous this is, as Wallace-Hadrill has contributed some engrossing commentary on PBS and A&E documentaries. He includes some interesting facts, but the run-on sentences are so verbose they look like paragraphs. For instance, consider this partial sampling from the houses and urban texture chapter: "The strong correlation between house size and occurrence of atria and peristyles comes out clearly in their distribution across the size quartiles (Fig. 4.16). The little shops...typify the first and much of the second quartile, and most of the three-to-five room houses, do not have space for either an impluviate atrium or collonaded garden..." This example is highly paraphrased as some sentences are close to forty words in length. Understandable, yes. Enjoyable reading, no. Wallace-Hadrill is an interesting guy, but this book is the cure for insomnia.

The Houses of Roman Italy, 100 B.C.-A.D. 250: Ritual, Space, and Decoration

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource for students of interior design history

The Houses of Roman Italy, 100 B.C.-A.D. 250: Ritual, Space, and Decoration
John R. Clarke
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520084292

Book Description

In this richly illustrated book, art historian John R. Clarke helps us see the ancient Roman house "with Roman eyes." Clarke presents a range of houses, from tenements to villas, and shows us how enduring patterns of Roman wall decoration tellingly bear the cultural, religious, and social imprints of the people who lived with them.
In case studies of seventeen excavated houses, Clarke guides us through four centuries of Roman wall painting, mosaic, and stucco decoration, from the period of the "Four Styles" (100 B.C. to A.D. 79) to the mid- third century. The First Style Samnite House shows its debt to public architecture in its clear integration of public and private spaces. The Villa of Oplontis asserts the extravagant social and cultural climate of the Second Style. Gemlike Third-Style rooms from the House of Lucretius Fronto reflect the refinement and elegance of Augustan tastes. The Vettii brothers' social climbing helps explain the overburdened Fourth-Style decoration of their famous house. And evidence of remodelling leads Clarke to conclude that the House of Jupiter and Ganymede became a gay hotel in the second century.
In his emphasis on social and spiritual dimensions, Clarke offers a contribution to Roman art and architectural history that is both original and accessible to the general reader. The book's superb photographs not only support the author's findings but help to preserve an ancient legacy that is fast succumbing to modern deterioration resulting from pollution and vandalism.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource for students of interior design history.......2000-08-16

With all the books written on Roman architecture and art, I was thrilled to find this comprehensive book on domestic Roman interiors. Written in a reader friendly manner - the book covers all elements of Roman interiors from mosaics, architectural elements, layout and visual axis to the four decorative styles. It even helps the reader to understand the motivation behind these styles, and how the Romans felt about their interiors. I would say this book is a must have for any interior design student.

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