All Souls' Rising
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Haitian revolution comes alive. Vivid, vast, haunting.
  • You can't change the history
  • Haiti's history of revolution
  • gruesomely good
  • A DIFFICULT READ, BUT WORTH IT...I SUPPOSE
All Souls' Rising
Madison Smartt Bell
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Bell, Madison SmarttBell, Madison Smartt | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1400076536
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com

In his breathtaking and powerful novel that garnered nominations for both the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, Madison Smartt Bell leaves the dark contemporary world he has so brilliantly made his own in nine previously acclaimed novels and short story collections, such as Save Me, Joe Louis. Now he turns to the past and brings viscerally to life the slave rebellion that would bring an end to the white rule of Haiti in the late eighteenth century. The result is an explosive, epic historical novel of astonishing depth and range, catapulting Bell into the ranks of the finest living authors.

Book Description

In this first installment of his epic Haitian trilogy, Madison Smartt Bell brings to life a decisive moment in the history of race, class, and colonialism. The slave uprising in Haiti was a momentous contribution to the tide of revolution that swept over the Western world at the end of the 1700s. A brutal rebellion that strove to overturn a vicious system of slavery, the uprising successfully transformed Haiti from a European colony to the world’s first Black republic. From the center of this horrific maelstrom, the heroic figure of Toussaint Louverture–a loyal, literate slave and both a devout Catholic and Vodouisant–emerges as the man who will take the merciless fires of violence and vengeance and forge a revolutionary war fueled by liberty and equality.

Bell assembles a kaleidoscopic portrait of this seminal movement through a tableau of characters that encompass black, white, male, female, rich, poor, free and enslaved. Pulsing with brilliant detail, All Soul’s Rising provides a visceral sense of the pain, terror, confusion, and triumph of revolution.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Haitian revolution comes alive. Vivid, vast, haunting........2007-06-23

I had never heard of Madison Smartt Bell when I picked up this novel from the public library. After reading a few chapters, I began to wonder how this author could possibly not be famous? This is a moving, haunting book, panoramic in scope and often extrememly violent, bringing a unique event of human history to vivid life.

First, background about Haiti and its revolution ---->

The Haitian revolution is special in that the Haitian slaves were the first people of the world to throw off the white man's yoke and become free. At a time when India and Indonesia were just getting used to European rule and the slaughter of the North American natives was continuing apace, these blacks of Haiti (the majority of them directly brought in from Africa in slave-ships) overthrew their masters in a grand revolt and provided the Europeans with a taste of their own medicine of violence. It helped that France was going through it's great egalitarian revolution -- the slaves just happened to take the message of "equality liberty fraternity" seriously.

The post-revolution history of Haiti has not been happy -- including in the 19th century a succession of corrupt rulers and huge sums paid to France, and in the 20th century direct rule by the U.S. and then by brutal U.S.-allied dictators. But this does not make the unique revolution any less important! For a rapid history of Haitian revolution and the ensuing 200 years, have a look through the Library of Congress "Country Study" on Haiti, available online. For a modern (mid-20th-century) literary description of Haiti and of a voodoo ceremony, read Graham Greene's "The Comedians".

Now, about the book "All Souls Rising" ---->

Not knowing the author, as I read the first chapter, I decided unconsciously that he was white; the first chapter follows a white character (doctor Herbert) spending a night at a local plantation, describing breezily a disobedient slave woman crucified alive on the lawn for disciplinary purposes, and other minor tidbits. Moving onto the next chapter, I couldn't imagine that it was the same author writing, as we're following the viewpoint of Ri'au, an escaped slave who roves with a band of maroons, becomes (is possessed by) Ogun in a voodoo ceremony, and describes "whitemen" in the third person as totally alien beings.

(Later, a websearch on Madison Scott Bell told me he's white. But one of those that rises above his color and his imperialistic heritage; to hear all voices! What a writer!!)

The book is told from multiple viewpoints, alternating from chapter to chapter. Some of the characters are real historical characters. And some of the characters are very memorable.

-- A central character is the doctor Herbert, a peaceful Frenchman freshly arrived and unable to adjust to Haitian society based on slavery, throughout this book searching for his sister who appears to have disappeared. Through his experiences we witness much of the devastation and extreme violence of the times, perpetrated first by the white masters and then by the rebelling slaves.

-- A second central character is Ri'au, brought from Africa and escaped from Haitian slavery as a youth, who like doctor Herbert is mostly pushed around by fate, from one rebelling group to another, dancing to the voodoo spirits, burning and killing, and also under Toussaint's direction learning the white man's writing and discipline to use against his former masters.

-- Perhaps the most important character is Toussaint, the real historical figure we see mostly through the eyes of the fictional caharacters. A true tragic hero of the revolution -- one who went on from being a house-slave to learn the white man's writing and create a formidable, structured army from mostly Africa-born rebelling slaves, one who realized the importance of prosperity after freedom, and attempted to keep the white man's expertise in peaceful coexistence. The white man, however, wanted to reinstate slavery, and so imprisoned Toussaint after he had made peace and took him to France to die.

-- A side character I liked was a white priest with his mulatto wife and children - the character introduced and drawn lovably, and finally his execution described in horrific detail.

The book is so full of extraordinary events and situations that it's hard to give a taste in this review. There is the plantation-owner's wife cutting open a female slave made pregnant by her husband, and then being haunted by the murdered embryo for months. This haunted woman's confrontation with marauding rebel-slaves is one of the most unique literary descriptions I have read -- it's told first from the viewpoint of the white woman and later from Ri'au's. There is the (hilarious if tragic) situation of whites captured in the black rebel camps, the ex-slave women getting pleasure out of making the white women wash clothes as they always had done for white women. There are the voodoo ceremonies, often described by Ri'au, the practitioner's version of reality becoming the viewpoint of the chapter, as the residents of the spirit world are called forth and take control over the voodoo dancers.

Read "All Souls Rising". You won't forget it easily.

5 out of 5 stars You can't change the history.......2007-06-15

I read all three of the books in this trilogy. None is better than the others. They form a wondrous composite whole. This work is brilliant, stunning in it's complexity and it's presentation. The research must have been phenomenal. The characters are well drawn inside of the history that the events represent.

I was amused by other writer's comments about too many words and too gruesome or violent. If you read and there are too many words, then what are you reading for? If you understand the course of human events in the recorded world then you should know that human beings are not shinking violets when it comes to killing creatively, or rape or a host of other truly horrid human activities. The glory of Bell's achievement here is that he makes it all so real. Not too real, just humanly real. You can feel the heat. You can taste the coffee with a stick of sugar cane stirred in it. You can feel the characters love and hate based on their natures which are influenced by their experiences in life. This is not a read, it's a journey and one well worth taking. Masterful...

5 out of 5 stars Haiti's history of revolution.......2007-04-29

I loved this book.
It is not to say that it was pleasant to read or that it was not horrible but it rang believable and true to me. The ugly reality of slavery and the poison that institutionalized slavery inflicts upon the human soul is different for each person. You see the different human reactions to anarchy within a slave revolt. There is heroism as well as horror contained within these pages.

4 out of 5 stars gruesomely good.......2007-03-31

For any student of slavery or history, this is a great historical work. As a novel, it reads equally well. There is much to learn about not only Haitian but French history from this work. The sequence of events in the back of the book enriches greatly the historical context of the novel itself. I have often read of the relative brutality of Caribbean slavery compared to North American slavery - the events described in this book make the brutality abundantly clear, disturbing and historically consequential.

A great book with no simple phiosophisizing or side taking.

4 out of 5 stars A DIFFICULT READ, BUT WORTH IT...I SUPPOSE.......2005-04-27

First, I have to admit, this was not my cup of tea. I read it due to the fact that I, over the years, have had a number of friends from Haiti, children of those who have fled. That being said, I did give this one four stars in that I feel it is a book, or series of books, that probably should have been written. For a country so close to us, we know so little about it. Actually, I like my history books just that, history books, and am not all that enthusiastic about "historical fiction" good or bad. But, from what little I have read, this seems to be pretty good, well written, and I can only speculate, well researched. As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a difficult read. It is difficult on several levels. I cannot say I particularly enjoyed the vivid accounts of rape, torture, killing, etc. etc., but I suppose they were indeed apart of the story and should be told. I do admire the writers unusual use of the language, syntax, et al. All in all, I do recommend this one.
All Soul's Rising
Average customer rating: Not rated
    All Soul's Rising
    Madison Smartt Bell
    Manufacturer: Pantheon
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000J0GY5Q
    All Souls' Rising
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      All Souls' Rising
      Madison Smartt Bell
      Manufacturer: Penguin Books
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000K07DXW
      All Souls' Rising Signed Copy
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        All Souls' Rising Signed Copy
        Madison Smartt Bell
        Manufacturer: Pantheon
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
        ASIN: 0676506445
        Release Date: 1995-10-03
        All Soul's Rising
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          All Soul's Rising

          Manufacturer: Pantheon
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          ASIN: B000H6P12Y
          All Soul's Rising. (Signed)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            All Soul's Rising. (Signed)

            Manufacturer: Pantheon
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover
            ASIN: B000HJFDZG
            ALL SOULS' RISING
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              ALL SOULS' RISING
              Madison Smartt Bell
              Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000OJA9DA
              All Souls' Rising
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                All Souls' Rising
                Madison Smartt Bell
                Manufacturer: Penguin Books / Granta
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback
                ASIN: B000OJ1D8A
                All Souls' Rising
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  All Souls' Rising
                  Madison Smart Bell
                  Manufacturer: PANTHEON BOOKS
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover
                  ASIN: B000OKD17K
                  All Souls' Rising: Signed Edition
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    All Souls' Rising: Signed Edition
                    Madison Smartt Bell
                    Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover

                    HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                    Bell, Madison SmarttBell, Madison Smartt | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                    ASIN: 0517316382
                    Release Date: 1998-06-01

                    Book Description

                    One of the most prolific and gifted writers at work today presents an epic novel of astonishing depth and range about the black uprising in Haiti 200 years ago. A remarkable retelling of an episode of racial hatred at its most visceral and most unimaginably destructive, All Souls' Rising is Bell's most ambitious, most deeply satisfying novel to date.

                    Whatever Reilly Wants... (Silhouette Desire)
                    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                    • One Hot Quickie!............41/2 stars
                    • From friends to lovers...
                    • Friends and Lovers!
                    Whatever Reilly Wants... (Silhouette Desire)
                    Maureen Child
                    Manufacturer: Silhouette
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                    GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
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                    ASIN: 0373766580

                    Download Description

                    Connor Reilly was confident he could win the bet with his brothers to be celibate for three months. But Emma Jacobsen is just as determined to show Connor that she's not his "safe" and "comfortable" confidante, but the one person he can't resist...

                    Customer Reviews:

                    5 out of 5 stars One Hot Quickie!............41/2 stars.......2007-06-18

                    One down, two to go. The sexy Reilly triplets have made a bet with their big brother that whoever can go ninety days without sex wins the ten grand left to them by an uncle in his will. And since Brian's already out, all thats left are Conner and Aidan. Conner's got a plan though. He'll simply stay away from temptation by hanging out with his good friend of two years Emma Jacobson. Because she's his 'pal' and not really a 'woman' anyway. Emma may be the resident mechanic in her town and admittedly a tomboy but she's still a woman and sees red when Conner tells her of his plan. She's out for a little sweet revenge. Transform herself. Seduce Conner. Make him lose the bet. But what she didn't count on is falling for him and they couldn't possibly be together because he fell for her as a girly froo-froo girl and not the real Emma. Right?

                    I admit that I'm a total sucker for friends-turn-to-lovers romance and especially when the heroine is a tomboy. This is a really good quick read (under 200 pages) with lots of good love scenes. Most of the book is predictable but there are some surprises. Just a good solid contemporary romance. Nothing original but satisfying.

                    If you like friends/lovers plot, I also recommend Anything For You (harlequin blaze).

                    4 out of 5 stars From friends to lovers..........2005-07-18

                    Book #2 of the Three-Way Wager trilogy:

                    Connor Reilly made a bet with his brothers that he could go without sex for 90 days. One brother has already lost the bet, and he's bound and determined to make it to the bitter end.

                    Of course in order to do this, he must avoid temptation. One person he feels won't tempt him is his good friend, mechanic Emma Jacobsen. He's known her for years and feels he can be himself around her, plus Connor doesn't notice a thing beyond the overalls and grease that normally cover her body. He goes as far as to even tell her she's not a woman - she's a mechanic!

                    This sets off Emma's temper. Not that she wants Connor for herself, but she is insulted by his opinion and his lack of awareness of her as a woman. Emma decides to get a little revenge by showing him just how much a woman she is and making him lose the bet in the process. Only she doesn't expect for his reaction to affect her so strongly.

                    Connor can't believe that the sexy woman playing pool is his good friend Emma. He's never her seen her dress like this, and were her eyes always so blue? He's instantly attracted, and instantly jealous of all the male attention she is attracting. Now he can't stop thinking about her. As competitive as he is, is a night in her arms worth losing a bet with his brothers?

                    Connor and Emma must each figure out what to do now that their friendship has changed because of their attraction. Will Connor see Emma as she really is, and can Emma accept Connor for the man he is? Maureen Child writes an emotional yet sexy story that will make you sigh as you read it. My one complaint is Connor's lack of tact as he tells Emma how he thinks of her, not realizing how truly insulting he is in his description of his supposedly good friend. Other than that, I really enjoyed this story and look foward to book #3 in this fun series.

                    5 out of 5 stars Friends and Lovers!.......2005-06-29

                    Book Summary from eHarlequin - Connor Reilly had laughed at his brother for being the first triplet to lose the "no sex for ninety days" bet. Though there were two long, tempting months ahead for him, Connor was determined to go the distance. Because not only was he a marine; he was a Reilly....

                    For two years, Connor had been coming to Emma Jacobsen's shop, and she'd listened to him talk about this woman and that one. She'd thought their friendship was special. Until he admitted how "safe" and "comfortable" he felt around her. Well, war declared! She was going to show her "pal" just how much of a threat she could be to his winning the bet!

                    The Reilly triplets bet they could go ninety days without sex. Hmmm... [...]
                    This book is great - I loved the whole story - Emma is a tomboy who owns an auto mechanic shop and Conner is one of her closest friends - he hangs out with her to talk cars, etc. He makes the mistake of telling Emma he feels safe hanging out with her during the "no sex" bet with his brothers because he doesn't see her as a woman. Needless to say, this does not make her very happy, so she sets out to show him just how much of a woman she is by dressing up and showing him her sexier side & driving him crazy with lust - her punishment for him overlooking her sexuality will be him losing his precious bet to her - the one woman he considered himself immune to's charms. This is a great read - lots of steamy scenes.
                    The Three-Way Wager "Reilly" Trilogy: The Tempting Mrs. Reilly, Whatever Reilly Wants, The Last Reilly Standing (Set of 3 Romance Novels)
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      The Three-Way Wager "Reilly" Trilogy: The Tempting Mrs. Reilly, Whatever Reilly Wants, The Last Reilly Standing (Set of 3 Romance Novels)
                      Maureen Child
                      Manufacturer: Silhouette
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                      ASIN: B000VCQOO8
                      The Three-Way Wager Reilly Trilogy: The Tempting Mrs. Reilly, Whatever Reilly Wants, The Last Reilly Standing (Set of 3 Romance Novels)
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        The Three-Way Wager Reilly Trilogy: The Tempting Mrs. Reilly, Whatever Reilly Wants, The Last Reilly Standing (Set of 3 Romance Novels)
                        Maureen Child
                        Manufacturer: Silhouette
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                        ASIN: B000SO76LO

                        Product Description

                        a wonderful,hot trilogy from the fabulous ms child....
                        Whatever Reilly Wants. (Desire)
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Whatever Reilly Wants. (Desire)
                          Maureen Child
                          Manufacturer: Silhouette
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000OWW3PY

                          Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Robert Asprin's Myth)
                          Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
                          • Sweet MYTH-tery of Life part 2
                          • Something's MYTH Inc., all right
                          • A finale after a break
                          • This book was really dissapointing
                          • Weak ending to a mediocre series
                          Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Robert Asprin's Myth)
                          Robert Asprin
                          Manufacturer: Ace
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback

                          Asprin, RobertAsprin, Robert | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                          4. Myth-Told Tales Myth-Told Tales
                          5. M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action/Sweet Myth-tery of Life 2-in-1 M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action/Sweet Myth-tery of Life 2-in-1

                          ASIN: 0441010830
                          Release Date: 2003-07-29

                          Book Description

                          Revolution is in the air. The king's court sorcerer is being eyed with suspicion. Not for dabbling in the black arts...not for consorting with a demon...not for having a dragon as a pet...not even for being mobbed up. But for the greatest crime of all: raising taxes.

                          Who is this terrible tyrant? None other than Skeeve the Great.

                          Oh, how the mighty have fallen...

                          Customer Reviews:

                          2 out of 5 stars Sweet MYTH-tery of Life part 2.......2007-07-06

                          It was the book prior told from another view point that gave close to the previous books cliffhanger ending. Weak. The series that went out with a whimper.

                          1 out of 5 stars Something's MYTH Inc., all right.......2007-01-25

                          The MYTH series was one of my favorites, so much so that I would pick up anything with a title that used the MYTH tag in it. Reading Asprin's intros to the last few books, I understand he was under contract to write a set number of these books and was having some problems in his personal life (including with the IRS). But -- really, folks. This is an example of what happens when a publisher knows a series title will sell but the author's heart is just not in it anymore. This and its companion volume, Sweet MYTH-tery of Life, miss everything that made the earlier series great. A MYTH novel that's boring and whose attempts at humor fall flat? How can that be? There's essentially no plot to either one, and the narrative, even when he tries to recapture Guido's memorable style, reminds you of TV two-parters where you know they really didn't have enough material for two complete episodes and so throw in extended scenes of music videos and the like (so you are forced to say, "Guess they were a little short on plot.") I notice that they bundled Sweet MYTH tery not with this novel, its companion, but with the stronger MYTH Inc in Action (and most of the reviewers are commenting solely on the latter). And apparently now the series is continuing under the pen of a second author... The inclusion of entries like Piers Anthony and Harry Potter in the glossary combine with the content of these two travesties almost make you feel Asprin was thumbing his nose at the publisher who'd forced him to keep writing (either that or the two books were written by an unattributed ghost writer trying -- and failing -- to catch Asprin's wonderfully fresh style)

                          2 out of 5 stars A finale after a break.......2006-08-13

                          Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. should be called Something Missing as the pun intends. This is clearly a book that was put together with very little forethought and was intended to be the culmination of a contract requirement. As Robert Aspring writes in his introduciton, this book is the 12th volume and finishes his contractual requirement to write the second set of six books. The book is actually a collection of sorts. The first 150 pages or so finish up the M.Y.T.H. series by following the tired recipe of Guido telling the story from his point of view and explaining to us why Gleep was shot at the end of the last M.Y.T.H book.

                          To accomplish this feat, Asprin rewinds time and starts this volume before Skeeve manages to resolve his problems with Queen Hemlock in Possiltum. One of the things that I thought Aspring really misses out on is that his original idea around M.Y.T.H. was to tell the stories from the points of view of the other members of the company. However, outside of the first one, he only uses Guido as the story teller. This is a major miss as in this volume it would have been much more fun to hear Pookie or Gleep tell their side - let alone Aahz!! But instead, we get the corny fake mob-lish that Guide dispenses with impunity.

                          the other thing that bothers me is that it is clear that Asprin decides to end the series of M.Y.T.H. books at this point. Now, it is clear that Aspring still has ideas about what to do with Skeeve and Aahz as the continuing appearance of Myth books attests, but the rest of the crew is apparently beyond him at this point. About halfway into the book we see the gang start to dissipate as they go off on their own pursuits and no one is surprised when Skeeve resigns from M.Y.T.H. and ends it all.

                          The second part of the book is written from Skeeve's point of view. What is this? Why is this? No clue!

                          The third part is also obviously intended to help as page filler as it is a compendium of characters and places that appeared in the various volumes of the series.

                          As I said, this was clearly written to complete an obligation and is therefore bereft of the normal joys associated with this series. I only recommend that you buy this book if you want to have a complete set of Asprin or his M.Y.T.H series.

                          1 out of 5 stars This book was really dissapointing.......2004-08-03

                          Both I and my son have been great fans of the Myth series for some time and were eagerly anticipating this book. Unfortunately, there was little plot, action, or character development. It reminded me of someone getting tired of reading to a sleepy kid and saying "and they all lived happily ever after the end" and snapping the book shut.

                          2 out of 5 stars Weak ending to a mediocre series.......2004-03-05

                          I started reading the Myth books in college and enjoyed them quite a bit until Myth-nomers and Impervections, which started the downward trend to the books. I pretty much lost track of the series since Asprin also stopped writing them on a regular basis, but recently decided to finish off the adventures of Skeeve and co. once and for all. I first reread the original 6 or 7 books that I still find entertaining, although not as much as I did some 10 years ago, then slogged through the rest of the series and finally got around to Something M.Y.T.H.Inc.

                          Basically, the book is a rehash as well as a cop out of the events in Sweet Mythery of Life and their consequences. What might've had some good potential for tension and drama were turned into bad jokes. Pookie shooting Guido? Gleep getting shot? All a misunderstanding. Hell, the whole "uprising" is one big joke. It's like Asprin couldn't think of a good way to resolve some plot threads he set up earlier and said hell with it all.

                          Also, why is it that the majority of the non-Skeeve viewpoints in the M.Y.T.H.Inc stories are handled by Guido? Nothing against the guy, but I'd really like to see some of the other characters' POV's, especially Aahz or Tanda. The faux-mob speech also really grates after a while. It really feels like Asprin missed out on several good opportunities exit the series on a high note.

                          My advice to anyone who hasn't started the series yet would be to stop reading at Little Myth Marker. M.Y.T.H.Inc Link is still a tolerable read, but sets up a lot of things that will require to read some very bad books to find answers for.

                          Hallelujah: The Poetry of Our Classic Hymns
                          Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                          • A gem of a book.
                          • Gorgeous Illustrations, well written
                          • A book to be thankful for
                          • The ultimate coffee table book because it will lift your spirits
                          Hallelujah: The Poetry of Our Classic Hymns
                          Anna Marlis Burgard
                          Manufacturer: Celestial Arts
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                          ASIN: 1587612267

                          Book Description

                          By setting their doubts, hopes, and gratitude to song, the authors of classic hymns have comforted and guided people for centuries. From soulful spirituals pleading for release to heartfelt hymns of praise, HALLELUJAH pairs the poetry of our language 's most beautiful and moving hymns with stunning artwork inspired by their words. From standards such as "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, ""Go Down, Moses, "and "Simple Gifts, "to less famous but equally lovely treasures, this selection spans centuries of hymns, spirituals, and carols from most Christian denominations. An introductory essay explores the ancient tradition of sacred poetry and the development of sacred song, from ancient Sumerian to early Christian Latin hymns, from Lutheran Reformation hymns to spirituals borne from slavery, and beyond. This collection reveals how the universal language of hymns allows them to cross denominations and create a brotherhood through words. HALLELUJAH is a glorious gift! for everyone who cherishes spiritual poetry and enjoys reflecting on its meaning.

                          Customer Reviews:

                          5 out of 5 stars A gem of a book........2006-01-11

                          This book is wonderful, a gem, and deceptive in its significance. Elegantly simple in its approach and breathtakingly successful in its execution, it works on all levels.
                          I've known Anna Burgard, the editor and creative force behind this book, for over a decade, and have long been impressed by her abilities. She was the editor for my first book, and that experience served only to further imprint on me the depth of her intelligence, talent and counsel. There's a problem in having friends like Anna, though, in that the bar rises ever higher when it comes to the appeal "Dazzle me". So while I was looking forward to this book, I was cautious in signing off on her undertaking of a new and refreshing approach to a subject as old as Scripture. So much for what I know.
                          The book is a compilation of hymns through the centuries; some well known, others less so, all worthy of inclusion. The text of the hymns are complemented by a narrative tracing the history of the time that influenced their writing, and anecdotal lines about each featured hymn. All of this is embellished by Richard Krepel's lyrical illustrations, so effortlessly superior to so much of today's loud and forgettable art.
                          I had a number of interesting reactions to the book, and some surprising ones as well. Most curious was when I was about a quarter of the way through. I realized I was immersed in an experience quite rare today, participating in the enjoyment of something that may just turn out to be an instant classic. That's a pretty daring statement, so please indulge me.
                          The phrase "instant classic" is not to be bandied about lightly. To qualify, something must meet special criteria. It should say something new about a subject about which you thought there's nothing left to be said. It should satisfy that delightful urge that almost never gets indulged these days - to see a great idea brought to fruition that's been hiding in plain sight, something waiting for someone to come along and put it together, after which everyone can stand around and say "It was obvious". And it helps when you find yourself thinking about it a long time after you've put it down.
                          Hallelujah left that impression. One of the surprises I got with the book was something I can only describe as approaching transcendent. There's an feeling most can relate to that occurs sometimes when entering a house of worship, regardless of one's religious beliefs. Even I as a Jew have felt a sense of the spiritual when entering a cathedral, gazing up, and feeling the nearness of the Creator. Throughout history, regardless of culture and traditon, people have created myths, legends, and music to try and describe the indescribable, and understand that which cannot be completely understood. To that end, hymns have appeared as an important bridge to that reality. Starting as poetry, they have been coupled with music, and have earned a cherished place in our existence.
                          Along the way though, we sometimes lose sight of the meaning of the words, especially when they're overtaken by powerful melodies in a setting rich with spiritual presence. The experience is not dissimilar to a classic rock tune like Stairway to Heaven, that one has heard for over a generation and is as familiar as one's own face, yet whose lyrics are still probably not completely known to all but the most die-hard of devotees.
                          As I read Hallelujah, more specifically, when I finished Hark, the Herald Angels Sing on page 29, the true power of the book hit me. Stripped of its ubiquitous melody, away from the influence of chorus or church, accompanied by several compelling paragraphs on author Charles Wesley, and coming a page after one of Richard Krepel's soaring illustrations, the words conveyed their meaning in a way I had never realized before, the way they were intended to be taken before being overtaken by well-intentioned additions. Thus, this book is a worthy, and in fact, most necessary accompaniment to any set of CD's of hymns.
                          The hymns are arranged chronologically, and each section begins with a history of the poetic mythology and writers of the time. It was a fascinating read. The sense of the spiritual struggle that each author underwent, as they tried to overcome the adversity that was unique to his or her time was as meaningful and enlightening as reading the words they had created.
                          In today's image-hazed, MTV-laded stream of endless noise world we live in, it's easy to overlook the quiet power of meaning that has withstood the test of time. The imagery of the written word still has power to evoke and transform. I can think of no better present for anyone in this season, or any season for that matter. Like Harry Potter, which began quiet and under the radar, and which grew word of mouth, I've already seen this book begin to find a niche that very same way, and deservedly so. I fervently hope it continues.

                          5 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Illustrations, well written.......2005-10-26

                          This book is just a true delight. The illustrations give these glorious old hymns a fresh resonance. The writing is historically informative but interestingly handled.
                          I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves songs in general.

                          5 out of 5 stars A book to be thankful for.......2005-10-23

                          Scholarly yet warm, "Hallelujah" sets out to introduce the casual reader to the language of classic hymns and acheives it's goal admirably. What could be a dry exercise is in fact a gracious, gentle tour through the human voice of poetry and the nature of and need for devotion over 500 years. Burgard's notes and commentary are at once enlightening, entertaining and engaging. A lovely little book and here's hoping we hear a lot more from Burgard in the future.

                          5 out of 5 stars The ultimate coffee table book because it will lift your spirits.......2005-09-16

                          When I first heard about this book, to be honest I couldn't imagine reading it. But once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Wow! Anna Burgard knows her hymnals and what will lift your spirit, restore hope to the hopeless, put a smile on your face and force your thoughts inward. I loved this book. It has wonderful art to accompany the entries and you just feel warmth and love from each page. If you only buy one book this year, this should be the one. Honestly, it can be so much fun. My daughter and I took turns reading the hymns out loud, and it was like being at a poetry set. I envision families across America sitting in a circle reading from Hallelujah. At the end, everyone will surely shout, "Hallelujah!"

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