Book Description
William Robinson used a pseudonym in 1836 to publish his now-famous memoir, knowing his all-too-realistic description of life on the lower decks would create a scandal. But he hoped it also would provoke changes in the practices of impressment and unfair punishment of sailors. Writing from the point of view of the ordinary Jack Tar in Nelson's Navy, he described the press gangs, floggings, keel-haulings, poor food, long watches, and bloody battles that were routine, as well as the relief found in drinking grog. Such vivid accounts of forecastle adventures were rare in the literature of the day--and remain rare today.
Robinson himself fought at Trafalgar in 1805 and took part in many other events in the long war against Napoleon. His revelations about the brutal conditions of everyday shipboard life in the classical Age of Sail--an era that nevertheless managed to produce some of England's finest seamen and most famous victories--provide a valuable record of the seaman's experience. This edition is illustrated with the work of caricaturist George Cruikshank, a contemporary of Robinson's well known for his sketches of nautical life, and an introduction by the noted Nelson scholar Oliver Warner. Originally published under the title Nautical Economy by Jack Nastyface, a hardcover edition of the memoir with the current title was published by the Naval Institute Press in 1973.
Customer Reviews:
excellent book.......2007-01-12
I admit it; I'm one of those who believed in the myth of John and Yoko, so
it was kind of depressing to learn the truth about them. With the exception
of being such a brilliant musician, John was a pretty ordinary guy with a lot
of personal problems. I think it was John himself who said, had he not
been a musician he'd have been a bum. Nevertheless, the story of John's
last few months alive makes for very absorbing reading and we're lucky
Fred Seaman was there to tell the story.
Interesting and believeable.......2005-05-04
Imagine the concept here - You're going to work for one of the most famous, coolest guys of the rock era...wouldn't you keep notes, a diary? I sure the heck would, confidentiality agreement or not!
The result - this fascinating book! Of course we get to hear the bad, such as Lennon's penchant for lying around depressed, getting wasted, but we hear many positive aspects, such as the pleasures he did find in his last years, including sailing, for which apparently he had a knack. All the Lennon books I have read tend to agree that he did like to chat quite a bit, so the author, being Lennon's personal assistant, undoubtably became privy to a lot of went on in Lennon's life at the time. Based on the many interviews (Rolling Stone to Playboy, etc.,) it would seem Lennon's reality and his feeling of events that took place in his life varied upon his moods. This book seems to catch him in many unguarded, unrehearsed moments.
Events in this book I particularly liked: Lennon's first loathing of, then eventual liking and purchase of the (then) latest McCartney single; The Lennon's desire to own a Mecedes station wagon (fulfilled); his interactions (positive and negative) with folks he meets and deals with during his trips.
You get a sense of joy and happiness in Lennon when he's out vacationing, only to feel his disappointment when Yoko can't or won't join him. It does appear he worked hard on the marriage.
The usual grains of salt need to be ingested...the writer was famously fired and sued by Yoko, therefore he could purposely be putting her in a less than flattering light (not always, to be fair). Perhaps the writer inflates his own feelings of involvement in John's life. But all in all, it's an interesting book, and a joy for this Lennon fan to feel "in on" some of the day to day goings on of a man who, it feels to me, was just starting to come to terms with and enjoy the fruits of his fame and labors.
How I wish we could read the diaries that Lennon himself kept! Frederic Seaman had those (hence his firing and the lawsuit!), and based this book upon those and his own diaries. However. they are now, or were, in the possession of Yoko! Do they exist anymore, or have they been destroyed???????
An Incisive look at the REAL John Lennon.......2005-02-16
This is an exellently-written book. Without chewing on it, Fred Seaman gives us a very insightful first-hand look at the inner psychology of JOhn Lennon. If you're interested in who John Lennon REALLY was -- as opposed to the air-brushed image of Saint John the Bringer-of-Peace-and-Love-to-Humanity that Yoko Ono has been foisting on the public for the last 25 years -- then you should check out this book. Its no wonder Yoko took him to court. Great job, Fred. And hey, don't feel too bad about the recent public humiliation you experienced in the New York court room at the hands of Yoko's million-dollar lawyers. You saw first hand all the public glory heaped on John and Yoko's heads, and look what happened to THEM. Maybe in the long-run, public shame is preferable. (www.geocities.com/acebackwords2002)
The Guy Was There.......2004-02-01
Interesting book. Yoko Ono's character here is shrewdly personified. "Imagine", that she was trying to really force her 'music' (warble screetch) on to Double Fantasy. This is while she was having affairs, milking the Lennon fortune, drinking and living like a pack rat-and heavily abusing narcotics. Her songs had to be pitch shifted, note by note just to stay in the key. Sad, that Lennon would refer to her as "mother' in a maternal way.I am not trying to trash Ono. Seaman's insights are vivid-in a documentary style of recorded events. One has to take notice.
Reading this book, you get inside Lennon's day to day behavior.
The Bermuda trip, is especially interesting. Here is a guy, trying to avoid the "mania" of fans (everywhere on the planet) and Seaman for me describes what that was really like. Upon recognition-they are in shock, then they try and get a piece of him, then Lennon moves on, oblivious to their existence and the loss of his essence, seems to be even more of a shock. Beatle mania-and Lennon awe, continued to grow in the 70's as had it first started in the early 60's.
I have read this book 3 times over the last 5 years, and each time it takes you to a different place. Lennon felt the Beatles peaked in 1961 and this comment, and many like this -show how good the group really was, just as they were recording those early mono albums. Raw, full of energy, romantic to the hilt, and with a backbeat you couldn't lose.
When Seaman is beaten by Yoko's bodygard thugs (ex-police officers) you really feel for the guy.It was more torture than just a mere beating. Further more, you certainly can empathize with Julian Lennon and even Paul McCartney who would have to deal with the calculating coldness of Yoko Ono.
Seamen is abit of dweep through out this narrative. (playing bongos and keeping a beat, while Lennon works out a few new songs in Bermuda.) Lennon, coming out of 5 year sleep, is full of creative juice, influenced by Bob Marley raggae to the B-52s-while covering his ears-when he hears the rock wallop and head bang of early Led Zeppelin on the radio. I am not writing this to praise Seaman but the guy should be awarded some attention for keeping diaries and copies (the originals were stolen by Yoko's thugs in a burglary) as well as his keen powers of observation, from a guy that was truly there. Right to the end of Lennon's life.
Particularly sad is the fact, that Yoko dismissed any form of protection for John when he would walk into the Dakota Apts-which perhaps would have (think of Reagan's attempted assassination) saved his life. This book may give you dreams at night.
Yoko Won the Lawuit, What a Shame.......2002-11-25
I've read many Lennon bios, from Goldman to Coleman...John has been my favorite Beatle, and human being, since I was about 15 (I'm now 29)...and I feel sorry for Yoko that she has to stifle this book. This is an entirely human account of the life John and Yoko led in the last year or two of John's life...written by the guy who was a staple in their everyday living, ordering the groceries, setting up flights, witnessing his own Aunt Helen trying to control the young Sean, as his nanny...There is no vindictiveness in this book...it's a loving account of John as a real man. I never, ever, in reading this got the feeling that Seaman was some kind of pariah bent on reaping the profits of a world famous man...Just a mere recording of daily events...with John a central presence....one sequence that stood out was John hearing Paul's song "Coming Up"....and remarking that it was a song he could not get out of his head..he asked Seaman to get hold of the latest McCartney album..."McCartney II'...
a riveting account of a man we all admire, but whose faults are there, in full display.....still feeling for his past, wanting more...this book is a display of passion, a true gem....
Average customer rating:
- Entertaining and insightful biography
|
A Florida Fiddler: The Life and Times of Richard Seaman
Gregory Hansen
Manufacturer: University Alabama Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
Entertaining and insightful biography.......2007-03-09
Gregory Hansen's study of Richard Seaman is a fascinating book that takes us into the world of a little-known artist. The book's analysis of Seaman's place within Florida history and culture is very intelligent and insightful. What makes the book so enjoyable to read, however, is that Hansen allows his subject to speak. Seaman's tall-tales are entertaining for any reader. Hansen displays a real affection for his subject that is unusual and refreshing for a study from a university press.
Amazon.com
Thomas Cochrane (1775-1860), the 10th Earl of Dundonald, was a man distinctly of his time, and in some ways far in advance of it. Descended from a noble Scottish family that had fallen on hard times, Cochrane had a naval career spanning the Napoleonic wars and beyond, to the struggles for independence of Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Greece. His exploits showed such tactical genius that they have become textbook examples in military training, and his derring-do inspired the lives and fiction of Frederick Marryat (who sailed with Cochrane as a young man), C.S. Forester, and Joseph Conrad.
But Cochrane's career was a checkered one, due mostly to his dislike of authority and tendency to nurse grudges. The man whose meticulous naval strategies were masterpieces of preparation was prone to ill-considered attacks on those in command, and his career as a British naval officer came to an effective end when he prosecuted a court martial against his commanding officer Lord Gambier after his near-disastrous timidity at the Battle in the Aix Roads. His political career as a radical politician was similarly jeopardized by impulsive attacks against the sitting government, and while he had a series of stunning military victories later in life as the admiral of several South American navies, each was followed by political wrangling and disappointment.
Christopher Lloyd's popular biography (first published in 1947) is as brisk and engaging as the novels that Cochrane inspired. It is a well-balanced portrayal of a man who, despite his heroism, invention (he proposed poison gas as a weapon a full hundred years before its usage), and idealistic commitment to liberal causes, was never given the opportunity to achieve his true genius. --John Longenbaugh
Book Description
The gripping life story of the Nelson's most fearless and renowned frigate captain.
Popularly known as "The Sea Wolf" for his daring, skill, and enterprise, Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, was one of the finest frigate captains to fight in Nelson's navy. Christopher Lloyd's vivid biography paints a memorable portrait of the leader, inventor, and reformer whose courageous actions inspired the works of Frederick Marryat, C. S. Forester, and Patrick O'Brian.
Customer Reviews:
A true Adventure Story........2006-03-17
Lord Cochrane started his legendary naval career in the British navy as a fourteen-year-old midshipman. He possessed a natural talent for seamanship and rose to the rank of Captain. In war he was particularly successful displaying daring tactics and brazen courage. His career progressed in spite of his brashness that offended the higher ranks of
the British navy. He took on a life long crusade against the old boy cronyism that harmed that country's naval effectiveness. Lord Cochran carried the idea of reforming the Navy in middle age when he became a Member of Parliament. In later life Britain finally recognized this man of naval genius who at an advanced age was openly encouraging a steam-powered navy. A man that was vastly more at home with sea battler than as a Member of Parliament, Lord Cochran became a Captain for hire to the newly emerging nations Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Greece where he did quite well in all his battles almost always against the odds.
He had a storybook action packed life, a very rewarding book that has been brought back into print.
Naval Tactician, Parliamentarian, Freedom Fighter.......2006-02-14
Thomas Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, was a larger than life Scottish nobleman, adventurer, and ardent libertarian. Christopher Lloyd wrote this biography of Lord Cochrane in 1947, and it is one of six "Heart of Oak Sea Classics." Lloyd depicts Cochrane as a masterful naval tactician whose uncompromising political idealism provides the hubris for classic tragedy. The stark irony of Cochrane's two careers is that his genius in battle derived from his innovation, reconnaissance, and preparation, whereas his consistent failures in politics derived from his headstrong impetuousness. Cockrane's naval victories during the Napoleonic Wars were remarkably heroic, and won him fame and fortune while he was still quite young. His abrasiveness, however, undid all the good, and much, much more. His depth of despair at the hands of his political adversaries is absolutely unimaginable. His arduous rehabilitation involved his enlistment in the revolutionary struggles of Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Greece. He returned to Britain hesitantly, unsure if he would be arrested and executed. The outcome warms the heart, and vindicates his life struggle. Lloyd's representation of Cochrane is remarkably objective, and nothing is more fascinating than genius and imbecility combined in the same person. It's history; it's a psychological thriller, and a biography you couldn't conceivably make up.
The real stuff.......2001-08-21
Lord Cochrane won an astonishingly brilliant series of victories in three different British ships against the French and Spanish during the Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. The first 80 pages of this biography cover his astounding career in single-ship actions, and the inability of the Admiralty to understand his innovations. The next 55 pages deal with his ignominious Radical parliamentary career and financial fiascos. Another 46 pages cover his attempts to free a series of colonies from their Iberian or Ottoman masters, and how the rebels repeatedly frustrated victory and, of course, didn't pay up. The final 21 pages cover his attempts to restore his honor and his contributions to the deveopment of a recognizably modern navy. The editors say this 1947 book was selected for its congenial style and vignettes of Cochrane, not because it is the last word on the irascible man. This biography is superseded in accuracy by those employing additional family and governmental papers made public since the 1960's and listed in the brief bibliography.
Fans of naval fiction should note that Forester's Hornblower frequently adopts Lord Cochrane's audacious naval exploits, as do many other series' heroes. Forester having appropriated Lord Cochrane's real adventures, Dudley Pope's Lord Ramage series seems to depend more on invented exploits to fill out the same general historical progression. O'Brian's Jack Aubrey also partakes of Cochrane's political ineptness and suffers his finanacial scandal (see especially the early Aubrey novels). While occasionally you see inspiration from Cochrane's later attempts to aid South Americans win their freedom from Spain (Forester, O'Brian, Cornwell), no novelist has taken up Cochrane's inventions (like ship lanterns, tar derivatives, chemical warfare!, and steam warships). This book might slightly disappoint some fiction fans because it lacks details or even a brief description of ALL of Cochrane's remarkable exploits in his Biscay or Mediterranean theaters of operation. But for any fans of Fighting Sail, Lord Cochrane is the inspiring source, and Lloyd's book a well-written introduction.
SUPERB NAVAL/POLITICAL HISTORY.......2000-08-25
A thoroughly researched and beautifully written treatment of the life of one of Great Britain's most important heroes from the Age of Fighting Sail. I've devoured everything I can find on the Royal Navy for years -- this is among the most memorable volumes available! Lord Cochrane was a naval commander in war (and peace) whose talents almost rivalled the great Nelson's, and unlike Nelson he lived to a ripe old age. In a surprisingly "modern" twist to Cochrane's biography, he was duped into a financial scandal that led to bad headlines, ugly partisan politics, and a nasty court case. His subsequent efforts on the part of Latin American nations to help them win independence from Spain make him a veritable nautical Simon Bolivar. Author Lloyd brings this amazing man to life with compelling prose.
Admiral of the Blue, by fermed.......2000-05-26
Lord Cochrane was, by all accounts, a superior naval officer. He was inventive, bold, imaginative, extremely meticulous in his preparations for action, and capable of great theatrics in the service of victory in battle, in capturing prizes, and in befuddling the enemy. He treated his men honorably at a time when abusing them was the norm and he rewarded them handsomely from the prize revenues he engendered. As a result he was adored by his subordinates and never had trouble recruiting personnel to serve under him.
He was a model which inspired aspects of Jack Aubrey and Hornblower and other fictional characters of the Anglo-French wars. His true life was even more tumultuous than the fiction it spawned, for he became a naval hero in Chile and in Peru, in Brazil, and in Greece as he participated in each of those countries' wars of independence.
When on land, Lord Cochrane was an inept, impetuous, cantankerous politician (he was a member of parliament for 10 years), who had no notion of the art of politics, and therefore was repeatedly demolished by his enemies, which were many. It is amazing that the brilliant and disciplined naval officer and tactician would become a bumbling, disorganized politician, but that is precisely what happened. He was involved in financial scandals, his honors and medals were removed, and his purse squandered and lost. It is likely that this honorable man was never guilty of the charges for which he was convicted (stock fraud), but the truth shall never be known for sure.
He lived a long life (1775 - 1860) and by the time he died at 85 he had managed to (mostly) repair his honor, his finances, and his reputation, more as a result of the political changes around him than as a result of having learned political lessons.
This book by Christopher Lloyd, a professional naval historian, has the scholar's convincing tone and language throughout. It has a fair index and bibliography. The book is highly recommended to the Aubrey-Maturin fans who are forever expanding their collections with ancillary historical volumes that allow for additional enjoyment of the series.
Customer Reviews:
A book of mixed accuracy!.......2006-05-05
Being from Louisiana, I've known of Rev. Swaggart most of my life. I attended one of his first worldwide campmeetings in Baton Rouge. During one afternoon service, we got to shake hands with him. A tour of his ministry included a look at his Goya Avenue headquarters and his house in Tara. That was awhile back. He's since moved both his home and ministry. Many ministers have received unfavorable press coverage. This book's tone is mostly negative. One of the main sources was his 1978 autobiography, To Cross A River. Another was the highly critical Let Us Prey, written by Marvin Gorman's lawyer. We hear from some family members. Comments cover a broad range. The book does get graphic and disgusting at times. Do we need this information about pornography? His wife Frances' "nylon-clad" legs are mentioned. Translation: she was wearing panty hose! There is material regarding the scandals that nearly destroyed his ministry. Talk about one sided! These allegations are treated as proven fact. Most likely, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It's highly unlikely that Rev. Swaggart will tell his side of the story. One story can definitely be put down as bogus. There's a humorous incident regarding him baptizing a baby. PENTECOSTALS DON'T BAPTIZE BABIES! In fact, he blamed a question on the subject for getting him cancelled in predominantly Catholic cities. Maybe the author got confused about baby dedications. The Swaggart ministry continues, though on a smaller scale. I still think that he should have submitted to the Assemblies Of God's rehabilation program. Even during the state organization's 3 month suspension, he would get up and testify. This book does deal with the effect of his defrocking. The author did a lot of work on this book. It is a good read at times. But talk about needing more balance!
Fair and balanced book about a fairly unbalanced kook.......2005-12-04
In an age where a television network has become a propaganda arm of the government and co-opted the phrase "fair and balanced", I hesitate to use those two words any more. But fair and balanced, in its true and original sense, is exactly how I would describe this smart, sensitive and thorough study of the fascinating and immensely talented preacher Jimmy Swaggart.
Ms. Seaman has done a superb job with this book. It would have been so easy to denigrate Pentecostal/Charismatic religion or Southerners in general while telling the story of Jimmy Lee Swaggart's rise and fall, but the author has taken the high road. She writes of the South and its rural religious traditions with the respect and authority that perhaps only a Southerner could manifest. She even treats the tender subject of Brother Swaggart's sexual proclivities with a lot more grace and taste than the Brother probably deserves, considering that he has made a career out of telling others how to live their lives. She also avoids any mention of Swaggart's numerous nervous tics, malapropisms, and his abiding hatred of Catholics, gays, and generally anyone else who won't get with the Biblical program as he interprets it.
As she so thoroughly documents, the power and dynamism of Swaggart's electrifying onstage performances would always reach their apex just as Jimmy was at the peak of sexual frustration, and just at the cusp of giving in to temptation. I personally witnessed this at Swaggart's 1987 Thanksgiving Campmeeting in Baton Rouge, in which he ranted, raved and rocked a beyond-capacity audience of 8000 souls who hung on his every word, shortly before hopping in his car and heading over to New Orleans to visit a prostitute. This should not be surprising, considering that most of the "power" in "that old Pentecostal power" is generated by sublimating one's sexuality, and compressing one's humanity and flaws into the pinched, narrow mold of bible-approved expression of the self.
I would put this book right alongside Dr. Edmund Cohen's landmark work "The Mind of the Bible Believer" as a fascinating study in the destructive psychology of fundamentalist Bible belief. However, this book's highest achievement may be in the fact that it can be enjoyed by both believer and doubter alike. Any intelligent reader will be satisfied with this excellent book. Now we just need a sequel, to document Jimmy's subsequent series of continuing rises and falls with other financial supporters and other prostitutes.
Excellent Biography.......2002-07-11
"Swaggart" is readable, carefully researched, and objective.
The media focus on the scandals, and these are covered in the book. Ms. Seaman also discusses many of the good things this minister and his ministry have accomplished, such as feeding the hungry, building churches, and supporting missionaries overseas.
Mrs. Swaggart is often portrayed as a "dragon lady," but Ms. Seaman is quick to point out the important, positive and supportive role she has played in her husband's life and ministry.
This book is well worth the price.
A Decent Book on Swaggart.......2001-08-15
I bought and read this book in two days. The story of Jimmy Swaggat captures my heart because I too am an Assemblies of God pastor. I too have seen the fall of many sincere Christians because they got focused on power, money, greed, sex, or anything other than preaching the Word of God (Col. 3:16).
This book offers the reader an inside view of the life of Jimmy Swaggart. It is rather long though from his family background until Swaggart becomes the world famous evangelist he was to be prior to his fall into sin.
The details of the sexual fall of Swaggart are troublesome for those who are not use to strong sexual language. The negatives of this book is that Seaman does use offensive language at times and she is very harsh on Pentecostals and other conservative Christians. Seaman, at times, seeks to put the blame not on Swaggart himself but upon the Assemblies of God and the Church of Jesus Christ. This of course is not the case for anyone who is committed to being a true disciple.
One final note, I do not doubt Swaggart started out with a sincere heart for people and for God but he allowed his unconfessed sins and unrepentance to keep him from obeying God. Be sure, the Bible says, yours sins will find you out. And in the end, God exposed Swaggart to the world but thankfully we serve a sinless Savior. As Jim Elliott once wrote, "We are all nobodies seeking to glorify somebody."
Fascinating and insightful analysis.......2001-01-31
I have long held the theory that there is little difference between a popular televangelist and a rock star. They just play to different audiences. Both undergo the same temptations. Both face the same potential pitfalls that are the side-effects of fame. The life of Jimmy Swaggart is in many ways intertwined with that of his cousin, rock-and-roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis (and, to a lesser extent, with his other famous cousin Micky Gilley). This book gives insight into how these relationships, along with his poor Southern upbringing and his youthful religious experiences shaped him into to the well-known Christian celebrity he later became. Soberingly, it also points out that the seeds of his downfall were planted early in life, and the demons that would gain victory over him were the same ones he struggled against his entire life.
What really impresses me about this book is the fact that it is anything but a hatchet job. In fact, Jimmy Swaggart had many admirable qualities, despite his struggles with anger and sexual temptation. The author points out many times that the media was unfair in their assessment of Swaggart. She bends over backwards, in fact, to be fair and even-handed. The book does make it fairly clear that much of the ambition to make it to the "top" and the later drive to maintain a lavish lifestyle comes from his wife, who rules the Swaggart empire with an iron hand. If there is any fault in this book, it's that it barely mentions the years since the scandal, where Jimmy maintains a more modest, scaled-down ministry. But that is a minor fault. All the important stuff is here.
Book Description
Why did Life magazine dub her "the most hated woman in America"?
Did she unravel the moral fiber of America or defend the Constitution?
They found her heaped in a shallow grave, sawed up, and burned. Thus ended Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the "atheist bitch" whose 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case ended school prayer. Her Christian-baiting lawsuits spanned three more decades; she was on TV all over the country, foul-mouthed-witty, and passionate, launching today's culture wars over same-sex marriage and faith-based initiatives.
She was a man-hater who loved sex, a bully whose heart broke for the downtrodden. She was accused of schizophrenia, alcoholism, and embezzlement, but never cowardice or sloth. She was an ideologue who spewed toxic rage even at the followers who made her a millionaire. She was a doting mother who approached prospects to mate with her lonely children, and whose cannibalistic love led them to their grave. She thrived on her fame, but just as the curtain of obscurity began to lower, the family vanished in one of the strangest of America's true crimes.
This is the real story of "the most hated woman in America," by the only author to interview the killer and those close to him and to witness the family's secret burial in Austin, Texas.
Customer Reviews:
A good book, but too much material about David Waters.......2006-12-30
This is a pretty good book on O'Hair's life, although, like another reviewer, I did wonder why there was so much material on her murderer, David Waters. It is likely because the author interviewed him, wanted to used the material in the book, and the information is somewhat relevant to the story. However, it is really hard to read a book about O'Hair and really get a feel for the woman.
There is a radio interview/debate between O'Hair and Walter Martin, a Baptist minister, that occured in 1968 on the Long John Nevel radio show that is very illuminating, if you care to take the time to listen to it. If you go to the Wikipedia entry on Madalyn Murray O'Hair and scroll down to the "external links" section, there is an entry labeled "Baptist minister Walter Martin vs. Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair". Click on it, and you'll get the entire three hour radio program in MP3 format. The first hour or so is the interview, and the last two hours is the debate and call-in part of the show.
Listening to this show after reading the book really gives you a feel for the facts presented in the book. For one, O'Hair really shows herself up to be quite the publicist in spite of her claims of not caring what other people think. As the book says, she needed these "other people" as a revenue stream. In this broadcast she claims that she is married to a "Mr. Murray", that he is Roman Catholic, and that both her sons are products of that marriage. Even O'Hair knew that, in 1960's America, most people would be much more willing to accept that she was an atheist than the fact that her sons had two different fathers and that she had never married either of them. She also makes the statement that if her son Bill decided to become a Christian minister that she would accept his decision. 12 years later when this actually happened, she took the attitude that he had commited treason. As the show wears on, O'Hair's end of the debate largely consists of name-calling, bullying, and claiming that "she had read every book Mr. Martin has read twenty years ago". In short, the radio program gives life to the facts presented in the book for those too young to remember what this woman was like in person.
If you want to read a biography of O'Hair, this is probably the one to get since it is the most unbiased and least sensational of the books written on the subject.
Another great book by Ann Rowe Seaman.......2006-11-19
Ann Rowe Seaman has written another fascinating and captivating masterpiece. It works well in paperback format, but a hard bound edition would have been nice to see as well.
Ann has a way of drawing the reader into the life circumstances of the persons whom she is writing about. She deserves a Ph.D. for all of her writing efforts.
A flawed book about a flawed woman.......2006-01-11
For better and for worse, Ann Seaman's biography is now the definitive account of Madalyn O'Hair's life. Let's start with the worse.
The sensationalistic title might be confused with Jon Rappoport's hack piece. Perhaps O'Hair was America's most hated woman at one time, but Jane Fonda replaced her in the early 1970s, and various feminists and celebrities have since vied for the distinction. "Gruesome death" reveals the climax, implicitly letting reviewers do likewise.
This is yet another biography that starts at the end, with the burial of O'Hair's remains. The device has been done to death, and it never works. I hope that whoever started this trend met a gruesome death similar to O'Hair's. Authors take note; we're born, we live, and THEN we die.
O'Hair's life story is often interrupted by that of her killer David Waters. At one point, I yelled, "Whose bio IS this?" Waters certainly belongs here, but Seaman would better have waited until he entered O'Hair's life to begin his history.
O'Hair's son Bill Murray is quoted throughout this book. Like Waters, he's necessary to the plot, but his Christian agenda requires that he slag atheists, which he enjoys doing through his mother, never mind the Fifth Commandment (does he also preach "family values"?). By taking Murray's alleged "In Hoc Signo Vince" nightmare at face value, Seaman failed to recognize its origin in Eusebius' falsified Constantine biography, thus missing the irony of a Catholic propagandist turning Murray into a Baptist.
Occasional digressions promote Seaman's contention that state and church should commingle. When religion is the topic, opposing viewpoints are forbidden, but when freethought is discussed, religious replies are mandatory: with two exceptions, Seaman adheres to this mainstream dictum. The reader is left to wonder about the author's motives for writing this book.
While Seaman's writing is concise, she sometimes sacrifices clarity. Several threads are left dangling: When the Truth Seeker sued O'Hair and her attorney John Vinson under the RICO act, "Vinson quickly extricated himself, ultimately testifying against her". Two years later, after a scuttled agreement and a mistrial, Vinson was again her attorney. What happened in the meantime? Jon Murray's cellular phone reportedly went dead (meaning disconnected) on September 29, 1995, but "no one answered" it (meaning that it rang) on the following Monday. Exactly what became of the phone isn't revealed. The July 1995 American Atheist newsletter detailing David Waters' criminal history was faxed to Waters. By whom? Another disgruntled former AA employee? O'Hair herself? And with what devastating information did FBI agent Donna Cowling prompt Waters into entering a plea agreement?
Then there are the dozens of errors, including: "Lena even welcomed her daughter's recounting of DEEP THROAT one night after Madalyn had seen it in town." Lena died in 1967: DEEP THROAT premiered in 1972. That conversation didn't happen. "...in next November's U.S. Senate race, Texan Lloyd Bentsen, a conservative Republican, defeated longtime liberal incumbent Ralph Yarborough..." Bentsen was never a Republican; he defeated Yarborough in the 1970 Democratic primary. In November's general election, he defeated Republican George Bush. "David Waters was indicted on the same five counts as Karr had been." One of the counts was different: Karr wasn't charged with interstate transportation of a firearm by a convicted felon. Granted, many of the mistakes are minor, but collectively, they call the book's entire account into question.
In her favor, when Seaman sticks to O'Hair's story, her book is engaging. She comes closer than anyone to understanding O'Hair's behavior: "She learned early the value of being in control when others were not. It so marked her that she eventually sought out or created chaotic conditions so she could feel in control." "...she enjoyed outsmarting people and getting out of scrapes, and the only way to defeat her was either trickery or betrayal. She would navigate hundreds of close calls in her life, and develop an addiction to brinkmanship and even danger."
O'Hair's belligerence is also attributed to her wildly fluctuating insulin dosages; a potentially malfunctioning pituitary is mentioned, as is speculation that she may have been bipolar. Such an unstable individual shouldn't be considered a reliable advocate, yet the press made her the sole atheist representative because she was the perfect bad example.
Seaman has found more details about O'Hair's pre-fame decades than all of her prior biographers combined. One of O'Hair's jobs during World War II was to invent Allied victories for the newswires. From it, she learned a valuable lesson that later served her profitably: "The ability of those in power to manipulate the media, and to lie and get away with it, impressed her." Seaman's assertion that O'Hair "chronically lied about everything" isn't off by much.
During the McCarthy era, O'Hair's inability to hold a steady job generated resentment, which led her to communist circles. She abandoned her communist connections after her notoriety produced a healthy income.
Only two of O'Hair's dozens of lawsuits succeeded. The rest of them (aside from those that harassed former members and ex-employees) strengthened the religious opposition by establishing negative precedents. Seaman confirms that O'Hair used lawsuits primarily as publicity and fund-raising tools.
Seaman's sleuthing results in the most accurate account of the Murray O'Hairs' final days. Allegations of torture were apparently false; murder wasn't planned until one of the kidnappers lost his patience. Seaman also exposes holes in the gold thieves' story.
The book is well written, extensively researched, usually chronological, and probably the most complete and informative account of Madalyn O'Hair we'll see. I'd recommend it, but if it were a car, it would be recalled. Its publisher should cease current production, correct the errors, tie up the loose ends, replace the editorial digressions with facts, limit David Waters to the book's last third, change the beginning, and issue a new edition.
Or not - maybe such a severely flawed woman rates only flawed biographies. I hope this is the last one about O'Hair; atheists deserve better than to be continually smeared by her taint.
Goes the Distance.......2005-10-20
There aren't many who live their last days in more sensational and mysterious circumstances than Madalyn Murray O'Hair and her family. It is amazing that there hasn't been more attention, although the reason is probably due to the length of time between their disappearance and the discovery of the bodies (as well as the criminal trials). The publicity was victimized by the drawn-out nature of the series of events. The public simply doesn't have an attention span that can accommodate a five year time-frame between events.
But it's now ten years later and all of the facts that we're probably ever going to know are on the table, so it's a great time for anyone curious about the details of the life and death of this tragic family to take an interest in the case.
This is a well-researched book. The author really goes the distance in providing a deep sketch of the Murrays. I found myself detesting them and, at the same time, feeling sorry for them, particularly the children, who seemed incapable of resisting her gravitational pull, and, consequently, never had lives of their own.
My feeling is that Madalyn was never as bad as she pretended to be, but neither was she as good as her supporters thought her. She played a role to two different audiences and pulled the wool over each.
Who's got the last laughter?.......2005-04-16
Madalyn Murray-O'Hair may not have been an easy woman to understand. Her forceful, often intolerant-seeming personality did not make a good case for herself in the media. Indeed, this book, (one of two having been published) proves how difficult it has been to reassess Mrs. O'Hair's legacy. Whether right or wrong, it is hard to pin-point just exactly where Mrs. O'Hair stopped being an idealist, someone who truly wanted to change society and right some of the wrongs she saw in American culture, and where personal opportunism and megalomania began. One thing is clear: Mrs. O'Hair had ideals! From what I've read about her (and I have most of her published books), she was ahead of her times; her intellect was eclectic, but her interpretations of ideas and current affairs often bordered on the brilliant. Unfortunately, her personality, accentuated by a bad public image, plus her personal life (her son, William Murray, went on to write a tell- all-Christian book) all worked, I think, against the message she tried to communicate.
Most leaders of the freethought movement have been relegated to a side note in history. Ironically, Mrs. O'Hair remains the best known atheist in the world.
As a biography, this book provides a much needed gap about the life of an American historical figure, especially her earlier life. Perhaps, American Atheists should publish a biography about their Founding Matriarch, a biography that will continue to further the dialogue about Mrs. O'Hair's legacy in American life and culture?
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- The title is no misnomer!
- The Man Who Would Not Give Up !
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Bravest of the Brave: The True Story of Wing-Commander "Tommy" Yeo-Thomas Soe Secret Agent Codename "the White Rabbit"
Mark Seaman
Manufacturer: ISIS Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0753150492 |
Customer Reviews:
The title is no misnomer!.......2000-05-06
This book deserves to be on the curriculum of every school in the Western World for it delineates in merciless detail just what was the price of the freedoms we take so much for granted today and what the much-devalued word "hero" actually means. One hopes that similar sacrifices will never be required again by the ordinary citizens of free nations, but if they are, the courage, self-sacrifice and indomitability of Yeo-Thomas and so many others whose lives, and often also deaths, are touched on here will serve as an example and as an inspiration. Mr.Seaman tells the story of a man, ordinary in many ways, who, when confronted with absolute evil, and at an age when serving in a less active role would have evoked no disgrace, never hesitated to accept missions of the utmost danger. He proved the ideal combination of organiser, diplomat and man of action before capture and in detention proved an inspiring leader for his companions in misery. He was under no illusions as to the consequences of arrest by a barbarous enemy and when the worst happened he endured unspeakable suffering under interrogation, torture and slave-labour in concentration camps. Throughout all this his dedication to victory never failed and even in the squalid hell of Buchenwald he continued to resist. The most moving moment detailed in the book is when Yeo-Thomas, a filthy scarecrow in striped concentration-camp uniform, is recognised in a regular POW camp to which he has been sent on menial errands, and a group of British NCOs and men stand to attention before him, honouring him for a few moments before he returns to the abyss. Though Yeo-Thomas was assiduous in supporting prosecution of his tormentors after the war, his fairmindedness was such that he was willing to rise to the defence of Otto Skorzeny, whom he considered an honourable foe. This book is not only inspiring in itself, but it provides much more detail than the earlier "The White Rabbit" on Yeo Thomas's earlier life, and on the organisation of the French Resistance. Those who enjoy it will be equally impressed, and touched, by Rita Kramer's "Flames in the Field", which tells the stories of four women agents who did not survive wartime missions in France. My own daughters have been inspired by both books and they would make ideal and inspirational birthday gifts for young persons.
The Man Who Would Not Give Up !.......2000-03-12
I have read this book, and its predecessor The White Rabbit. Tommy Yeo-Thomas BUILT the French Resistance, the Maquis. It was he who persuaded Churchill to arm them; it was he who went into Occupied Paris in support of his Free French friends under de Gaulle. It was he who was captured, tortured, and sent to Buchenwald KZ where fellow officers such as Desmond Hubble from Block 17 were hanged/strangulated and immediately cremated. He, with few others, swapped places in a typhus experiment in the camp; and as a 'corpse' escaped emaciated from Buchenwald. He testified at Nuemberg, and had been on his own mission to hunt down and execute KZ guards from Buchenwald in 1945.
Returning postwar to hunt down camp guards for liquidation. A true War Hero, but his suffering and the loss of those around him - Captain Desmond Hubble, Pierre Brosselette, Violette Szabo - make one realise the price. As a teenager fighting the Russians with Pilsudski in Poland he was sentenced to death; escaped from Zhitomir. as a man he ran Molyneux couturier of Paris; in 1939 he joined #.308 Krakowski Squadron of the Polish Air Force in England; then to SOE and life as an agent in Occupied Paris - sitting on a train with Klaus Barbie, Butcher of Lyon.
A remarkable man, an amazing story, he escaped the Concentration Camp but died in 1964 of its after-effects. A book to be read as much as a testament to human endurance, as to think of a truly remarkable man enduring great travails for his friends and comrades.
Book Description
The exploits of the British admiral who inspired the likes of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Reading for Naval Historians.......2003-01-23
The autobiography of Admiral Lord Cochrane was first published in 1860, the year Cochrane died at the age of 85. Richard Woodman has added an introduction to the present edition. Cochrane only covers the period of his life up through 1814 when he was 39. Consequently, he covers nothing of his later career in Chile, Brazil, and Greece; nothing of his reinstatement in the Royal Navy; and nothing of his immediate family other than a brief account of his marriage to Kitty Barnes (about 20 years younger than Cochrane) by whom he had 5 children.
Autobiographers always have a bias as the authors are presenting their side of the case (see, for example, Bligh's "Mutiny Aboard the H.M.S. Bounty"). While presenting the details of his early naval career, the main thrust is his campaign against corruption in the Admiralty Courts, the Royal Navy, and the Government in general. Some accounts are almost like comic opera, e.g., the Admiralty Court in Malta.
Cochrane's service commanding the Speedy from 1800 to 1801 has been fictionalized by Patrick O'Brien in the novel "Master and Commander" in which he replaces Cochrane with the fictional James Aubrey. All the major details are the same, but O'Brien added considerable color to the account.
Like many good military commanders, Cochrane lacked tact and was not a diplomat. He was promoted to command the Speedy at the age of 25 without having the experience to deal with the protocols of the Royal Navy. He could best be described as a loose cannon. He was unwilling to compromise when a little tact, a closed mouth, and a small amount of back scratching would have achieved major results. His lack of diplomacy caused others to reject well thought out plans simply because he proposed them. Cochrane damaged others around him simply by trying to be their champion, undoubtedly being responsible for Parker's ruin - people in power who Cochrane had offended would naturally take it out on his proteges.
While not great literature, the autobiography is both a good account of naval service from 1793 to 1809, and a good first-hand account of corruption within politics and the government. The writing style is somewhat like Churchill's history of World War II.
Cochrane's Life to 1815.......2000-07-29
Readers familiar with Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series will immediately recognize the source of many of those novels in Admiral Lord Cochrane's "Autobiography of a Seaman."
Admiral Lord Cochrane was born into a noble Scots family whose fortunes had declined by the time of his birth (1775). Through family connections, he secured a berth as a midshipman at the age of 17 on a British man-of-war in the early years of the Napoleonic Wars. Thereafter, he rose through the ranks of the British navy on the strength of several truly daring and remarkable attacks, capturing or destroying many French and Spanish vessels in a small sloop, and later, a frigate.
This book tells the stories of those triumphs.
The romantic aspect of the Napoleonic era is here too, and the tales abound with numerous examples of the dubious military notions of honor among combatants. Moreover, Cochrane moved in the highest circles of the navy and government, and it is surprising to see many prominent names in naval history, (e.g., Admiral Nelson, Captain Bligh) appear casually in these pages.
Lord Cochrane's exploits - at sea, in politics and in business - are clearly the source of O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. However, whereas O'Brian presents his tales in a highly-polished narrative style similar to Jane Austen, Cochrane croaks out his stories with bombastic self-apology, and delivers the narrative in a choppy and archaic military style, viz., by attaching copies of his despatches to superior officers to explain the events.
Anyone interested in naval warfare or anyone who likes a good adventure story should read this book. Napoleon's characterization of Cochrane as "le loup des mers" is well deserved. It is unfortunate, however, that Cochrane did not spend more time at sea. The last 100+ pages of this book (except for a trip to Malta) are tedious. Cochrane, perhaps at the peak of his career as a naval officer, became embroiled in reform politics, the court martial of a superior officer, and a stock fraud trial. These three episodes ended his career in Britain, (although he did go on to great success in Chile commanding its revolutionary navy.) Cochrane whines and complains about the most minute details of each case in an attempt to prove his innocence. As a practising litigator, I have represented a few clients who became obsessed with two or three facts which the client believes proves his or her innocence, in the face of dozens of facts which indicate guilt. It is difficult to listen to this type of complaining, but Cochrane takes it to new heights: this autobiography, written in 1865, spends a score of pages reviewing the 1814 testimony of witnesses on whether one stock-fraud participant wore a red or a green coat. Dreary stuff.
Readers who hope to glean some Freudian insight into his psychological make-up, or anyone hoping for a character like Diana Villiers will not enjoy this work. Although Cochrane says of himself, "my life has been one of the most romatic on record", (p.316), it is not the romance a modern reader might think. The section dealing with his marriage comprises three pages. His wife and mother are the only women mentioned, and only in passing.
Once again, a major flaw with this, like other nautical books, is the absence or inadequacy of maps. The action at Basque Roads would be much more comprehensible if the reader knew the position of the British fleet, the French fleet, Isle d'Aix, etc.
This book is a good read to the extent it focuses on Cochrane's naval actions, but that portion of the autobiography that focuses on politics and trials is no more interesting to readers now than it was when it was written.
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King Edward III
Michael Packe
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0744800234 |
Books:
- Jayne's Intelligence Review - The Royal Manticoran Navy (Honor Harrington)
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- Lone Star Lawmen: The Second Century of the Texas Rangers
- Los Cuatro Acuerdos: Una Guia Practica para la Libertad Personal
- My Name Is America: journal Of Rufus Rowe, Witness To The Battle Of Fredricksburg (My Nam Is America)
- NAM SENSE: Surviving Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division
- No More Vietnams
- None Shall Look Back (Southern Classics Series)
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