Amazon.com
Writer Edward Ball opens Slaves in the Family with an anecdote: "My father had a little joke that made light of our legacy as a family that had once owned slaves. 'There are five things we don't talk about in the Ball family,' he would say. 'Religion, sex, death, money and the Negroes.'" Ball himself seemed happy enough to avoid these touchy issues until an invitation to a family reunion in South Carolina piqued his interest in his family's extensive plantation and slave-holding past. He realized that he had a very clear idea of who his white ancestors were--their names, who their children and children's children were, even portraits and photographs--but he had only a murky vision of the black people who supported their livelihood and were such an intimate part of their daily lives; he knew neither their names nor what happened to them and their descendents after they were freed following the Civil War. So he embarked on a journey to uncover the history of the Balls and the black families with whom their lives were inextricably intertwined, as well as the less tangible resonance of slavery in both sets of families. From plantation records, interviews with descendents of both the Balls and their slaves, and travels to Africa and the American South, Ball has constructed a story of the riches and squalor, violence and insurrection--the pride and shame--that make up the history and legacy of slavery in America.
Book Description
In 1698, Elias Ball traveled from his home in Devon, England, to Charleston, South Carolina, to take possession of his inheritance: part of a plantation and twenty slaves. Elias and his progeny built an American dynasty that lasted for six generations, acquiring more than twenty Plantations and enslaving close to four thousand Africans and African Americans until 1865, when Union troops arrived on the lawns of the Balls' estates to force emancipation.
Edward Ball, a descendant of Elias, has written a nonfiction American saga that is part history, part journey of discovery. Ball chronicles the lives of the people who lived in his ancestors' lands: the violence and the opulence, the slave uprisings and escapes, the white and black heroes of the American Revolution, the mulatto children of Ball masters and "Ball slaves," and the culminating shock of the Civil War. He reconstructs the genealogies of slave families—from the first African captives, through ten generations, to the present—and travels to Sierra Leone to visit a prison from which his family once bought workers.
Most remarkable of all, Ball has traveled all over the United States to meet descendants of Ball slaves (who number between 75,000 and 100,000 living Americans). In a series of memorable encounters, Ball hears from black families—some of whom are his blood kin—their stories, passions, and dreams, and reveals how the effects of slavery live on in black and white life and memory. Slaves In the Family is a microcosm of America's defining national experience, a story of people confronting their inescapable common history.
Customer Reviews:
History Made Real.......2007-05-19
Edward Ball made a courageous journey into his family's past when he researched and wrote this book about their slave owning history, and took the step of searching out and meeting descendants of their slaves. This paperback edition includes an insightful follow-up exchange between the author and one of his black relatives about the writing of the book, their relationship, and how their views of race relations have and have not changed since its writing. The book inspired me both to think deeply about my attitude towards race and to read more about southern history, using the prism of slave ownership and my own family's southern geneaology as a focus. Related recommendations: The Ruling Race: A History of American Slaveholders] and [ASIN:0465015557 My Confederate Kinfolk
Peninsula of Lies.......2007-04-28
Oh my gosh! I didn't realize that Dawn Langley Simmons had passed away. When I purchased her book about the life of Margaret Rutherford, "A Blithe Spirit", I wrote to Dawn, and was surprised to receive a reply from her or him. For several years she/he corresponded and now I realize that she/he may have mis-represented herself. She did send me several photos of Margaret Rutherford. Interesting story.
Interesting Read.......2007-02-27
I thought this was a good read. I especially appreciated the details of the types of Africans that the planters preferred and detested. I recommend this book. Yes, I do agree that the author's writing style was dry. However, I find most books that have a historical base, unless it is fiction, to be dry as cracker.
man enough to do it.......2006-09-11
Some reviewers below complain that this book is tedious. Well, sure. I bet the US Constitution and the Bible are tedious to someone who has no clue about, or doesn't care about, their context. To anyone with some understanding of US history, the project of writing this book marks a step forward in race relations, however big or small that step may turn out to be. If you care even a little about why this country is the way it is, this book crackles with a searing flame.
Ball writes about visiting a wary African American man in Chapter 6, and what that man says at the end of his interview speaks for me and my opinion of the book. "Someone has to break the ice. I gotta give you credit, you were man enough to do it."
People won't agree whether reconciliation or forgiveness apply in this situation, and I'm not sure either. But this is the author's best effort at telling the objective truth about black-white relations as it was lived by individuals over the centuries. "I decided I would make an effort, however inadequate and personal, to face the plantations, to reckon with them rather than ignore their realities or make excuses for them."
Chapter 9 describes the shocking child mortality figures on the plantations. And on a slave voyage from Africa to Charleston, over a third of the captive passengers died en route - just the cost of doing business to the owners. No wonder some try to deny this history; it's too painful. Yet, the book also provides some episodes of humanity and hope. Readers will emerge with a greater understanding of our history and human nature. Maybe they'll become more vigilant against trespasses on human life and dignity in our own day as well.
An enlightening journey of family history.......2004-09-04
Slaves in the Family chronicles the history of the ball family form 1698 to modern times. Ball explores his ancestor's ownership of slaves and the treatment of slaves. In his journey to learn more about his family, he discovers family members who are descendents of this ancestor's slaves. He also describes how this discovery affected him and how the lives of his family and the lives of the families of the slaves his ancestors owned are still affected by slavery and other racially motivated injustices. Slaves in the Family puts a human face to the history of racial relations in the United States in the way that a teacher in a classroom or a textbook never could.
Book Description
This book is for Masters. This book is for established Masters who are curious about what someone could possibly write on the subject they know so well. This book is also for those relatively new to the BDSM Lifestyle who are finding themselves called to Mastery. The book covers a wide range of topics, starting with some planning steps to use before you even start looking for a slave, progressing through the negotiations stages, and ending up with some tips and techniques that you can consider once you’ve been with your slave for a while. In that light, this book is an excellent choice if you are already in an M/s relationship and want some ideas about how to do a reality check.
Customer Reviews:
Dominance and Submission.......2007-05-21
Learn everything you need to know about dominant and submissive relationships in one explicit volume. You'll even learn how to find your own slave.
accelerate your journey into BDSM .......2007-03-09
A decade of M/s knowledge in one book
Both books Master/slave Relations: Handbook of Theory and Practice and
Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave: Theory and Practice by Robert J. Rubel, PhD
Cover the same subject with a slightly different focus.
It amazes me that knowledge that took me years to learn is now available in 7 easy steps. The book can accelerate your journey into BDSM by a decade.
Less time on Differences, More Time on Realistic Questions.......2006-12-13
I consider this an expansion in many ways of the Leather Protocols book by Rubel. Here he gives more explicit examples of his own protocols and asks the reader to really consider what they might include and should include in their own should they chose the very, very rare path of an owner-slave or master-slave relationship. Personally my own protocols (yes, I do live this life, too) are not nearly as formal but these are very much the same considerations I felt were necessary to address when I began and as I continue in this life. Take the questions seriously don't just copy Rubel's ideas. Also don't plan on just jumping quickly into these relationships -- success requires planning and continuous reflection.
What a surprise.......2006-12-06
Wow! An A to Z discussion of what goes into developing and maintaining a Leather Master/slave relationship. This guy clearly knows what he's talking about. Rubel begins by defining his terms, moves through self examination, touches on ways of finding a slave, describes how to begin such a relationship, moves through collars and contracts and ends up with a slightly irreverent section called: "How's it Going?" All in all, this book provides a comprehensive and fresh look at this form of relationship. You should also check out his companion book, Protocols for the Leather Slave. Judging from the covers, they are probably meant to be companion works.
Discovering the rewards of Mastery.......2006-12-05
In the latest book to discuss the dynamics of Master/slave relationships, we have "Master/slave Relations: A Handbook of Theory and Practice" by Robert J. Rubel, PhD. Like similar books by Christina Abernathy, Guy Baldwin, Jack Rinella or Jay Wiseman (who contributes this book's foreword), it sets out to explore the Master/slave dynamic. Building like a pyramid through various phases of mastery (and this is primarily a book directed to dominants), Dr. Rubel power-points his way through the book's near 200 pages.
Where Dr. Rubel excels here is in the details. He has a background as a financial CEO, and it shows. Protocol is the greatest part of Dr. Rubel's definition to Master/slave relationships, and references to manners and etiquette are liberally used. Also frequently placed throughout "Master/slave Relations" are fragments of commentary attributed to well known Master and slave individuals, allowing for additional gravitas from outside sources. This is no "whip'em into shape" handbook. "Master/slave Relations" aims to mold more than pulverize. It should be emphasized that one of the words in the book's title is "practice."
Referring back to Dr. Rubel's financial background, within the book's first 50 pages, he asks of the reader "How much are you willing to pay to get what you want?" He is not just posing this question financially (although financial responsibility does play a great role), but what are you - and by extension, your slave - willing to expand outside your pre-defined ideas of what you already have? His answers are structured and never glib, in fact, he uses several examples from the relationships in his life to punctuate his thoughts.
Even more important is Dr. Rubels' thoughts on the dynamics of the relationship. Most telling is a blocked off comment that reads:
"A slave's duty is to be of service to Master. That's it. The trick, then, is to be a Master worthy of such service."
Again, this is primarily a book for Dominants in search of greater understanding of D/s dynamics. The concept of reinvention is brought out frequently; structure (and I do mean that in a rigid fashion) and (here's that word again) protocols - mix with spirituality. What comes across throughout all of Dr. Rubel's work is the seriousness of it all. While he always comes off as sincere in his beliefs, there is more than a slight sense that you could well be reading a power-point presentation that you would otherwise be seated in an audience for. The density of "Master/slave Relations: Handbook of Theory and Practice" is so thick with scholarly intimation that you may have to take breaks from each chapter, to review and repeat. This could possibly be the most academic D/s lifestyle book I have ever encountered. If that is what your relationship (or search for understanding of self) requires, then by all means, delve in. Just be forewarned. The information here is invaluable, but it's also for the truly dedicated.
Product Description
Becoming a Slave is an authoritative, and well-documented book on the process of finding and submitting to a dominant. Beginning with a description of terms and the characteristics to be found in a master and in a slave, the book continues with how one realizes and understands their own desire to submit and serve, proceeds to the process of advertising, searching, meeting, and interviewing prospective masters, and ends with a great deal of practical advice on submitting, serving, and satisfying a dominant in a healthy and practical way.
Customer Reviews:
its good but not for me........2007-03-19
if Y/you want to live the lifestyle without a smile on Your face than go for it. i bought and than read a friend's e-book before i got it... and well i seek love, intense true love, even in M/s which isn't really focused on. each relationship is different, including M/s, so if you want to be a slave i'd recommend getting a date over this book. for a couple though, this would make a beautiful book to work through together. that's why it deserves my five stars.
Get your workbook ready.......2005-12-31
The latest book from Jack Rinella to deal with and describe Dominant-Submissive relationships is a bit of a departure from his previous work. Where, in the ambitious "Partners In Power," there was a great deal of input from outside sources, in "Becoming A Slave," the outside source is very close to the inside; Jack's long term partner/slave Patrick. At the end of each chapter, Patrick provides a brief first-person wrap up. While it always compliments what Jack has written previously, it often veers off tangentially. It provides an interesting balance to Jack's "Do what feels right" style of writing.
It is exactly that style of writing that makes Jack's even-handed dealing with complex situations understandable in each of his books. While "Becoming A Slave" is not an easy read (if you're looking for a fast solution towards understanding your submissive nature, this is not it), it does provide detail and guidelines towards that goal. In fact, "Becoming A Slave" often feels like a college workbook, down to the suggested writing exercises at the conclusion of each chapter. These are the activities that can help both novice and experienced player alike each achieve a greater awareness of what they seek, or even if it is a path that is right for you, as well as provide potential Masters guidelines towards sorting out the pretenders from the truly interested.
shattering fantasy to create a reality that is very wonderful.......2005-11-04
I have lived with my 24/7 slave for over 6 years. Jack Rinella, the author of this book, has had the same slave for over 9 years. This book is a realistic and yet affirmingly individualistic guide to turning the Ds fantasy of consensual slavery into an every day reality. With several vignettes based on his own experiences, as well as those from many successful 24/7 couples and familys, and the reflections of Rinella's slave, this book offers honest insight into how some people have turned their fantasies into their lives. This isn't romantic, it isn't fetishy, and it isn't easy. If you are looking for a ten-step program to make you an ideal slave, you will never find it. Instead this book can help strip you of those fantasies that prevent you from your desires and help you make the goal of consensual slavery a reality. Don't plan to read this book quickly but use it as you would a textbook or one of those "self-help" guides.
Book Description
In this riveting narrative of family, betrayal, vengeance, and murder, Lillian Baptiste is willed back to her island home of Dominica to finally settle her past. Haunted by scandal and secrets, Lillian left Dominica when she was fourteen after discovering she was the daughter of Iris, the half-crazy woman whose life was told of in chanté mas songs sung during Carnival: Matilda Swinging and Bottle of Coke; songs about a village on a mountaintop and bones and bodies; songs about flying masquerades and a man who dropped dead. Lillian knew the songs well. And now she knows these songs -- and thus the history -- belong to her. After twenty years away, Lillian returns to face the demons of her past, and with the help of Teddy, the man she refused to love, she will find a way to heal.
Set partly in contemporary Washington, D.C., and partly in post-World War II Dominica, Unburnable weaves together West Indian history, African culture, and American sensibilities. Richly textured and lushly rendered, Unburnable showcases a welcome and assured new voice.
Customer Reviews:
Takes a while to get started.......2007-09-07
I took a little while for me to get into this book. I, quite frankly, didn't care about Lillian the main character until I was almost a third of the way through. The most dimensional and complex characters were of course Matilda and Iris. Once the novel's focus shift primarily to them, it becomes a page turner. If you feel like investing the time to get to the heart of this tale, give it a read.
Chimamanda Adichie's comments on Unburnable.......2007-07-23
Chimamanda Adichie (Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus: A Novel) had these wonderful things to say about UNBURNABLE in the book review section of London's Guardian newspaper on Saturday June 23, 2007:
"I read Marie-Elena John's novel Unburnable on the plane from New York to Copenhagen. I laughed aloud so often reading this wondrously intelligent book about Dominica and the United States and Africa, about gender, class and race, about love and sexuality, that the bespectacled man sitting next to me put his Wall Street Journal down and leaned over to see what the title was. He asked what it was about. I could have told him how it dealt honestly with issues without ever forgetting to keep character and soul as its centre, but instead I told him a tiny anecdote from the book about black women and thongs. And I much enjoyed his blush."
A Must Read.......2007-03-27
This is a great book to kick back in silence and just immerse yourself into suspense, deep thinking, and a few tears. I was just a little disappointed with the ending, but all in all this was a great read.
Not a Fluff Read!.......2007-01-14
I have been blessed enough in the last week to read not one but TWO great books this one being the greater. I will admit I wasn't wrapped up in the book by page two but by page ten I was all caught up in this story. Marie-Elena John is an EXCELLENT story teller. Her words are beautiful and her descriptions come off the page so effortlessly. I could've easily believed this was her third novel instead of her first. I laughed, I cried and I called all my friends and advised them to please read this book. I did not know anything about Dominica before picking up this novel and now I cannot learn enough. This book intrigued me to no end and I cannot wait to read future publishings from Marie-Elena John. This story is not in the least predictable and her knowledge on the subject matter is outstanding! If you are looking for a mind challenging novel that will shock and educate you at the same time then look no further.
Long Story Short.......2006-11-08
Interesting story, you have to continue to read this book and not stop or you might get side tracked if you put it down for too long.
Book Description
Conceived during Thomas Jefferson's junket in Paris, Thomas Woodson was Jefferson's first child by Sally Hemings. He was banished from Monticello at the age of 12, after a journalist exposed Jefferson's relationship with his young slave. A President in the Family traces Thomas Woodson's subsequent journey from Virginia to Ohio where Thomas and wife Jemima, a former slave, would raise a productive and ambitious family. Their eldest son Lewis, author of the famous Augustine letters, would carry on the family tradition of education, leadership, and public service. A founder of Wilberforce University and described by some as the father of black nationalism, Lewis argued that the black race should not depend on white philanthropy to achieve success in America. His children and grandchildren would prosper as entrepreneurs, engineers, and educators. A President in the Family tells of the Woodsons' continuing struggle to correct accounts by Jeffersonian historians and their successful discovery of documentation that supports an oral history that survived independently in five branches of the family tree. Byron W. Woodson, Sr., a sixth-generation descendant of Jefferson, details the recent developments in the quest to corroborate family lore, to locate missing family members, and to reveal the truth about the complex day-to-day life at Monticello. This is the amazing story of the Woodson family and its steadfast effort to reveal its illustrious past to the American public.
Customer Reviews:
A fine book and a fascinating story.......2007-04-11
If you've followed the Jefferson-Hemings controversy, you know that the DNA tests have shown that Jefferson was almost certainly the father of Sally Hemings' children. This conclusion is supported by virtually all historians and informed observers, with the only holdouts being the Old Virginia types (as exemplified by some of the reviewers here) who simply refuse to accept that their hero, Thomas Jefferson, had an affair with his African-American slave.
But if you've followed the Hemings controversy you also know that the DNA tests indicated that the Woodson family, the branch with the most robust oral history of their descent from the President, are apparently not related to Thomas Jefferson at all. And that while their oral history is emphatic that their ancestor, Thomas Woodson, was Jefferson's son -- in fact the "Black Tom" alluded to in Callender's contemporary attack on the President -- this young person cannot even be definitively placed on the Monticello plantation.
It's a genuine mystery. It's mysterious because the Woodson family's oral history is so strong -- and in fact so accurate about many things, such as Sally Hemings' personal ancestry. It was the Woodson family's research that uncovered much of the trail that finally linked the Hemings descendants together.
So who was Thomas Woodson? Who was he really? Who was his father?
This book, written by a direct Woodson descendant, is an account of the family's search for the truth behind their oral history. As such it is a compelling and enlightening read. Despite the lack of DNA match and the ultimate question mark as to Thomas Woodson's real parentage, it is absurd to say that the book is not "true." It is a true account of the family lore preserved by the Woodson family, of what they found when they began to search the records, and of how they ultimately pieced the puzzle together with the other descendants of Sally Hemings (those whose genetic connection to Jefferson has been demonstrated by DNA tests).
The book is also a two-century history of the Woodson family itself, a highly accomplished African-American clan that has had an important impact on this country. Even without the putative Jefferson connection, their multi-generation saga is fascinating.
Highly recommended.
Stop missing the point!.......2006-09-11
Many of the reviewers harping on whether the Woodsons were actually descendants of TJ are completely missing the significance of this book.
So we're not related to TJ (I'm the son of the author). Our historical and genealogical research is accurate (we have found over 1700 living relatives) minus one speculation. For the record, as a member of the Woodson family I grew up knowing that I am related to Thomas Woodson, but thinking I might be related to Thomas Jefferson.
So the Woodson's aren't related to TJ . . .So why read the book? Because it's a darn good book.
I was even surprised at how well-written it is. This book aspires to be an honest account of how history is lived and made through the lives of real people as part of a family, and how history is both written and mis-written. The most ground-breaking and under-appreciated aspect of this book is that it tracks the stroy of at least seven generations of successful African Americans!
This multi-generational family-centered view shows the triumphs, plights, hopes, beliefs and one mistake of generations of a family (we're not related to TJ's cousin:) and the dishonesty of historians (DNA proved TJ is related to the descendants of at least one of Sally's children, much to the chagrin of historians; and that historians physically altered national landmarks [Monticello and Jefferson's farm book] to erase evidence of the close relationship between TJ and Sally).
Move this one to the FICTION section.......2005-09-21
This is a well-written and fascinating story that has been passionately believed by generations of descendants of Thomas Woodson (allegedly the "Black Tom" who was the central piece of "evidence" in scandalmolnger James Thomson Callender's 1802 charge that Thomas Jefferson had a sexual relationship with Sally Hemings). But SIX different DNA tests of male-line descendants of three of Thomas Woodson's sons have proven beyond any serious doubt that the story is fiction. Serious scholars are still divided over whether Sally Hemings was more than one of his house slaves to Thomas Jefferson. A year-long study by more than a dozen senior scholars released in 2001 concluded the story was probably false with but a single mild dissent, but some scholars continue to embrace the story. But no serious scholar still contends that Thomas Woodson was the son of Thomas Jefferson. (It is not known whether he was the child of Sally Hemings.) When pressed to reconcile his claim with the DNA scientific proof that has repeatedly shown it to be false, Byron Woodson noted that there is no known sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA (the 1998 tests used DNA from descendants of his cousins -- which should have carried the same y chromosome as the president) and reasoned that perhaps Jefferson was illegitimate. Woodson seems like a nice fellow, and it is understandable why he might hold on to his belief despite such powerful scientific proof that it is untrue. But the issue has been clearly resolved by reliable scientific testing, and this volume should now be moved to the FICTION section -- where many readers may well find it a most interesting read.
The Only Problem Is It's Not True.......2002-06-11
The existence of 'Black Tom' is highly questionable, though Woodson is quite right about the erasure in Jefferson's records, I've seen it too in a holograph edition of his Farm Book.
Unfortunately for Mr. Woodson's thesis 'Tom's' name should certainly have appeared more than once. His 'mother' and 'brothers and sister' are listed not only on Jefferson's Slave Census but in distributions of rations and clothing as well. 'Black Tom' supposedly lived at Monticello till 1802, his name most certainly should have appeared in those records just as the rest of the Hemmings family's names did.
However the even if the existence of 'Black Tom' were proven it would do the Woodsons no good. The famous DNA tests that proved the Eston Jeffersons are indeed descended from *A* Jefferson male, (possibly Thomas but his brother or nephew is equally probable) also proved that though Thomas Woodson was undoubtedly sired by a white man that man was *not* a Jefferson.
The Woodson family has chosen to ignore this incontrovertable scientific evidence and cling to their family myth. Frankly I find it pitiable that this extraordinarily accomplished and successful family should be so fixated on a fictitious illegitimate descent from a Founding Father. The achievements of generations of Woodsons, against unbelievable odds, is in itself a heritage to be proud of, they don't need Jefferson's blood to validate their role in American history.
Oops! No President in this family!.......2002-06-11
This is pretty sad really. I started out as a believer in the Woodson story and Woodson has obviously done a lot of research on his family history. Certainly, there are many distinguished people in Woodson's family...sadly, Thomas Jefferson has been pretty definitely proven by DNA (no match after testing 6 Woodson lines!) not to be one of them! Since Woodson was the Hemings child with the strongest "oral history"/family lore--the fact that there was no link to Jefferson really calls into question the whole story since obviously Sally got pregnant by somebody else in Paris. And the allegations started about a "Black Tom"....Still and all, with irrefutable evidence that someone in Woodson's family lied to create a link that science has proven doesn't exist, Woodson still can't give it up, claiming the 'no match" was the result of illegitimacy later in the line...which Woodson still doesn't seem to get would still mean he is not related to the Great Man. Bottom line: Don't waste your money.
Product Description
While recognizing that every Master creates individualized protocols for a slave, this book is an example of a real protocol manual in a real-life situation. The content is virtually the same as the content for Protocol Manual for the Female slave, except while that book assumes that the Master is male and that the slave is female, this book is gender-neutral. So, if youre a Female Master with either a male or female slave, this is the better book of the two for you to buy. This guide demonstrates a range of ways for a slave to express love for his/her Master through action. In this case, actions include ways of standing, sitting and speaking (ways of being) as well as ways of preparing things to please Master in a consensual \"Master/slave\" relationship. The book covers formal Leather protocols as well as a range of personal rituals, such as formal dinner service. As much as anything else, this is a book of etiquette and service within the Leather-BDSM culture.
Customer Reviews:
A decade of M/s knowledge in one book.......2007-03-09
A decade of M/s knowledge in one book
Both books Master/slave Relations: Handbook of Theory and Practice and
Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave: Theory and Practice by Robert J. Rubel, PhD
Cover the same subject with a slightly different focus.
It amazes me that knowledge that took me years to learn is now available in 7 easy steps. The book can accelerate your journey into BDSM by a decade.
More theory than practice.......2006-12-29
As a companion book to "Master/slave Relations: A Handbook of Theory and Practice," Dr. Robert Rubel has a tougher time negotiating the world of submissives. As in his "Master/slave Relations" book, "Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave: Theory and Practice," covers the basics thoroughly. In his astute introduction, Dr. Rubel makes the distinction between Leather and Not-Leather when it comes to BDSM and the D/s lifestyle, which is a truly useful reminder of what separates lifestylers from weekend warriors. The first couple of chapters go a long way toward establishing plenty of essential dos and don'ts. Frankly, most of them are just teaching your slave (or perhaps yourself) decent manners. Like in the "Master/slave Relations: Handbook," "Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave" maintains that protocols are the key to a successful D/s relationship.
However, protocols only work if they make sense. As the book progresses, "Protocol Handbook For The Leather Slave" veers dangerously close to absurdity. For example, in Chapter Six there is a passage that reads, "In certain instances, the slave will serve as Master's chauffeur. This will include proper dress as a chauffeur, including cap and blazer." Now, if you happen to be a Master who has no concept or idea of your slave pulling the '88 Ford F-150 around to the driveway for pick-up services (or for that matter, wouldn't be caught dead with a slave in a chauffeur's get-up), then what passes for protocol here comes off as over-theatrical and perhaps even silly. Same goes for the intricately detailed dinner plans, which are a bit over the top. If I wanted to go to finishing school, I would have enrolled or my Master would have enrolled me. While High Society may be enticing behavior for some leatherfolk, not all leatherfolk engage in High Society. Some of us don't even own a tux.
Dr. Rubel does offer himself an out early in "Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave" when he declares the origins of the book to be "my own personal manual of protocol for my own slave," and a page or so later offering "the level of detail I present may be a bit extreme in your situation." Where Dr. Rubel's "Master/slave Relations: A Handbook of Theory and Practice" is primarily a book for Dominants and stays concise to its topic, "Protocol Handbook For The Leather Slave" reads like it might be a guidebook for slaves, but comes off as Master Fantasy material - and a stuffy fantasy at that. I will restate that the first half of "Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave" is extremely well done, there is plenty here to absorb and a great deal of very useful material (such as caring for Master's leathers and boots or levels to negotiating a Master/slave contract). However, if you're looking for the better of his two D/s guidebooks, start with Dr. Rubel's "Master/slave Relations," then come back to "Leather Slave."
The Questions and Tone of Ms Relationships.......2006-12-13
Drawing heavily on his own Ms life, Rubel offers us more than mere protocols in this book. First he describes general differences between two large parts of the SM community -- Leather and BDSM (think het or poly) -- and how these groups may differ on public issues. Secondly he offers us honest and realitistic questions that we should ask if we think we want to do Ms on more than a casual or fun basis. It is not for everyone and very few people can have successful, long-term Ms relationships. Do not buy this book with the idea that you can just start applying his own rules, rituals, and concepts to your own life (you are likely to fail) but as a way to get you and anyone you may partner with thinking about very important questions.
This is a book about the Leather subculture.......2006-12-06
This book appears to be a revised version of Rubel's book on protocols for the female slave. This version is gender-neutral and is a smoother read. Since I liked the first book so well, I've gone through this one, too. I prefer this one, actually.
This unusual book describes a male or female slave's expected behavior within a consensual Leather Master/slave relationship. I've never seen this described before. I've read novels about it (such as the Marketplace series) but not a non-fiction book.
To my knowledge, there is no other book out there like this one. After a healthy orientation to the world of Leather, the book divides into two main parts: how the slave is to behave in public Leather events and how the slave is to prepare the evening for a formal High Leather Protocol dinner.
I found this book interesting because often, particularly in new Master/slave relations, the slave is unsure what to do to serve the Master and the Master is unsure how he wants to be served. This book seems designed to help in those situations.
The author certainly has a firm point of view. This book has documented the formal structure of a Leather relationship as he has found it to be. I also sense that the author is a little eccentric. Well, his described relationship is certainly an unusual one. You will do well to think of this book as a Leather Etiquette book. If you're not familiar with the Leather culture, this will surely be an eye-opener.
Nuts and Bolts.... an M/s Toolkit.......2006-12-05
Protocol Handbook for the Leather Slave: Theory and Practice is exactly what it says it is. Although there is no one "right" way to practice consensual slavery, this book gets novices off to a successful start and provides additional sections, such as the slave as Personal Assistant, for seasoned Leatherfolk. Fascinating read!
Product Description
While recognizing that every Master creates individualized protocols for a slave, this book is an example of a real protocol manual in a real-life situation. The content is virtually the same as the content for Protocol Manual for the Leather slave, except while that book is gender-neutral, this book assumes that the Master is male and that the slave is female. This guide demonstrates a range of ways for a slave to express her love for her Master through her actions. In this case, her actions include ways of standing, sitting and speaking (ways of being) as well as ways of preparing things to please her Master in a consensual \"Master/slave\" relationship. The book covers formal Leather protocols as well as a range of personal rituals, such as formal dinner service. As much as anything else, this is a book of etiquette and service within the Leather-BDSM culture.
Customer Reviews:
This is a book about the Leather subculture.......2006-12-06
To my knowledge, there is no other book out there like this one. After a healthy orientation to the world of Leather, the book divides into two main parts: how the slave is to behave in public Leather events and how the slave is to prepare the evening for a formal High Leather Protocol dinner. It is written in the first person, directly guiding the slave through these activities.
I found this book interesting because often, particularly in new Master/slave relations, the slave is unsure what to do to serve the Master and the Master is unsure how he wants to be served. This book seems designed to help in those situations.
I also sense that the author is a little eccentric. Well, this relationship is certainly an unusual one. You will do well to think of this book as a Leather Etiquette book. If you're not familiar with the Leather culture, this will surely be an eye-opener.
Protocols: Handbook for the female slave.......2006-06-20
This practical handbook is not only for the service slave, but for the Master and Mistress as well. Both benefit by getting the specific directions necessary to take their Dominance/submission to the next level. This is a buffet of experiences. Pick the ones that suit you and your family. Modify, revamp and use this enlightening treatise into one family's structure to create your own. The handbook is transformational, and I highly recommend it to novices as well as those seasoned in the art of power exchange.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent memorandum of the period and more!
- A heartwarming look at a lovely girl
- The Journal of Agnes Lee
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Growing Up in the 1850s: The Journal of Agnes Lee
Agnes Lee
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
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Binding: Paperback
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The Lee Girls
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Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone, 1861-1868 (Library of Southern Civilization)
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The Robert E. Lee Family Cooking and Housekeeping Book
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Mary's World: Love, War, and Family Ties in Nineteenth-century Charleston
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Mrs. Robert E. Lee: The Lady of Arlington
ASIN: 0807842435 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent memorandum of the period and more!.......2004-11-05
Miss Agnes Lee, as the daughter of the famous general, was in a unique position to record the inner workings of one of America's oldest families. She records a touchingly ordinary life of a typical 19th-century young woman; home life, going to school, her hopes and dreams. Truly interesting to historians should be her position as "teacher" for her grandfather's slaves, who were being prepared for their freedom. General Lee wanted them to be taught to read and write so they could make a living, and Miss Agnes and her beloved sister Annie (who died tragically of typhoid during the war) taught the classes. Agnes, like her sisters, never married although she had a hearbreaking love over with Orton Williams, whom the war turned into a hard-drinking man. She tearfully refused his proposal and never healed from her grief when he was hanged by Union troops. This is an invaluable resource for a young girl's life of the period. Highly recommend
A heartwarming look at a lovely girl.......2003-10-16
The Journal of Agnes Lee was written over a 5-year period while Agnes was between 12 and 17, and before the Civil War that would make her father such a legend. Don't expect breathtaking adventure here, but rather sit back and enjoy a view of this young girl coming of age in the 1850's. My strongest reaction to the book was, "How I would have loved to know Agnes!" She really does come alive here with exuberant spontaneity. Her writings provide many glimpses into the overall family life and way of thinking about her life. Agnes' love for her family is intense, and it can make the reader jealous of such closeness, rarely seen in today's society. I do recommend this book to those who want to know about General Lee's family life, and those who are interested in knowing more about this delightful girl, taken from the world by illness at age 32.
The Journal of Agnes Lee.......2000-07-25
Eleanor Agnes Lee was the daughter of General Robert E. Lee, the famous Conferderate Commander in the War Between the States. This is the journal from her girlhood. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are many books about Robert E. Lee, but there are very few about the rest of his family. This is one of the only sources on his third, beautiful daughter, Agnes, and lets us see better the life of the Lee family. It tells of her faith, her struggles, and her wonderful relationship with her family. I loved this book!
Book Description
The images stitched into Hannah's patchwork quilt lead to secret signposts on the Underground Railroad as she and her father take flight from slavery on a perilous path to freedom.
The wagon wheel. The bear's paw. The flying geese. These are some of the squares in the quilt Hannah's mama helped her to sew -- before Hannah's sister was sold to another plantation and before Mama died of a broken heart. Now that Hannah's papa has decided to make the run for freedom, this patchwork quilt is not just a precious memento of Mama -- it's a series of hidden clues that will guide them along the Underground Railroad to Canada, where they'll finally be free. A fictionalized account of a fascinating oral history, THE PATCHWORK PATH tells the story of a brave father and his young daughter, two of thousands who escaped a life of slavery and made the dangerous journey to freedom -- a story of courage, determination, and hope.
Customer Reviews:
Great history lesson.......2006-11-03
I purchased this book along with others to help young people learn about not only a history of quilting, but also a history pf the human spirit. It's a wonderful book filled with great illustrations. It is being used in conjuction with a program presented by the Education Committee of our local quilt guild.
A Well-written Fictional Story by Gifted Georgia Author.......2005-05-30
This memorable book is based on a story of quilts and The Underground Railroad passed down orally from grandmother to mother to daughter. Instead of nonfiction, this book is a well-written fictional story about a young slave girl, Hannah, living on a Southern plantation. Bettye Stroud's sensitive prose, illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennett's bold, angular drawings, is an excellent way to introduce young children to a tragic time in US history; a time when children, as well as adults, were owned by others. Stroud uses her well-honed writing skills to bring this time back, and to show a little girl coping with the challenges and succeeding.
inspiring story, handsome illustrations.......2005-02-11
This tale of a child who makes a quilt as a map for her escape along the Underground Railroad is an inspiring story with handsome, earth-toned illustrations. The characters' stylized faces reflect the book's storybook "climate." I am not going to present this story to students as a slice of realistic history about the harsh period of slavery (that stain on our country's history). Instead, I'll present this lovely story as an idealized portrait about the human spirit prevailing against darkness/suffering. The main character is a child - born a slave, torn from family - who creates a quilt to guide her to freedom. Her quilt is really a symbol of order and beauty. This is a story about human ingenuity using the resources at hand to prevail against weighty odds, to triumph.
Modern-Day Myth-Making.......2005-02-09
As pretty as the pictures are, the story that children 4-8 are being told in this book has as much truth as Washington chopping down a cherry tree or Betsy Ross making the nation's first flag. Unfortunately the author presents the story as fact and not the fiction that it is. Virtually all quilt and textile historians and historians of the Underground Railroad (both white and black people) have found absolutely no evidence to corruborate the 1990's fabrication of a quilt code being used to guide slaves to freedom. It is a shame that folks anxious to make a few dollars off of this attractive but false story are teaching it to our children to the exclusion of true tales of heroic 19th century African Americans.
Rehash of the disputed secret quilt code.......2005-02-09
This wonderfully illustrated book attempts to tell the story of a little girl and her father and their quest to find freedom from slavery. What is most disturbing is that the book's content focuses on the "secret quilt code" which scholars and historians have been disputing ever since the book Hidden in Plain View was published in 1999.
Even though we realize that the use of quilts with secret messages is an appealing theme, researchers have found no evidence that quilts or quilt blocks were used in any way to guide slaves to freedom. Thus, this book shares incorrect historical information with an unsuspecting audience. This does a great disservice to African-American people everywhere especially when there are more worthy topics that could be covered which celebrate their strength, ingenuity, and courage in the face of adversity.
Average customer rating:
- Good middle instalment
- Slaves of the Mastery
- Second is the best out of all three
- Waiting for the movie
- WOW!
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Wind on Fire Trilogy, The: Slaves of Mastery - Book Two: The Wind on Fire Trilogy (Book Two in the Wind on Fire Trilogy, 2)
William Nicholson
Manufacturer: Hyperion
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Binding: Paperback
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Wind on Fire Trilogy, The: Firesong - Book #3: Volume Three of the Wind on Fire (Book Three in the Wind on Fire Trilogy, 3)
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The Wind Singer (The Wind on Fire, Book 1)
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ASIN: 078681800X |
Book Description
The people of Aramanth are finally free of the Morah, the evil power that controlled them for generations. But a ruthless attack by soldiers from a distant land destroys the city, and its people are driven off as slaves. During the invasion, Kestrel and Bowman are separated for the first time in their lives. Bowman becomes a slave of the Mastery. Kestrel escapes, then sets off to avenge the enslavement of her family. As the twins embark on their parallel adventures, their mother's prophetic dreams reveal their true identity and their dangerous fate. Bowman's mind power and Kestrel's fierce spirit are soon joined once again to fight for the freedom of their people.
Customer Reviews:
Good middle instalment.......2007-06-09
This was a pretty good follow-up to an excellent dystopian novel. The best part of this was the character development we see in Kestral, Bowman, and Mumpo. They've come a long way from their encounter with the Morah.
Slaves of the Mastery .......2007-05-23
I got this book a couple of days ago and I enojoyed reading it. I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders. It was a book that I couldn't put down. The characters were the best, but they didn't have alot of description. They did have alot of emotion and feel. My favorite character Mumpo was odd but kind hearted. I also loved the setting of the book. Its such a beautiful and wonderful place. This is book perfect for enjoyment and as a book report. I really liked the book but the beginging was alittle bit on the down side. The middle and end was great. I hope everyone who reads this review also reads the book. This book was a number one book because of its emotional feel on me and its a very addicting to read. I can't wait to read the next book. Remember never judge a book by its cover.
Second is the best out of all three.......2006-07-19
I picked up The Wind Singer when I was in 7th or 8th grade and I remember reading the last two in 3 or 4 days. I am very glad I picked up the Wind Singer when I got it, otherwise I wouldn't have known about this great trilogy. I own all three books but Slaves of the Mastery has remained my favorite for years. Even so that I don't even read the first book anymore, not that I don't like the first one but the second and third take on a kind of different atmosphere: Kestrel, Bowman, Pinto, and Mumpo are all older, as is everyone else and the trilogy itself takes a turn into a more mature state. I guess another reason why I like this one so much is because it's right in the middle of the trilogy and you know that when you read the last page it's not over yet. If you didn't like the first one I do have to tell you that the second is WAY better, it's not as juvenile. Not trying to down his first book, it just seems that way.
Waiting for the movie.......2006-02-25
Couldn't wait to read the third one after finishing this one. The imagination of the writer is incredible. The adventures in this book kept me reading into the night.
WOW!.......2005-12-03
I've just finished reading this book. I loved it so much that wherever I went it was always staring at me, waiting for me where I put it down last. In one word: Mastery!
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