All the Queen's Men

Amazon.com

Setting: contemporary Virginia, France, Iran
Sensuality: 7

CIA agent John Medina and electronics expert Niemi Burdock share a violent past: the two were part of a covert operation that went tragically wrong, resulting in the death of several people. Now, five years later, their paths cross again and John, whose love for Niemi has only grown over time, is determined to keep her in his life for good. Having spent the intervening five years living a solitary, staid existence--due to feelings of guilt over the ill-fated operation--Niemi is somewhat reluctant to reenter the shadowy world she once inhabited. Still, she can't resist the lure and excitement of danger when John asks her to join him on his latest mission to discover the origins of a deadly new explosive already in use by terrorists.

Concocting a plan to reveal the source of the explosive, the two enter into a dangerous masquerade, walking a tightrope between safety and death, while passion boils beneath the surface. Unaware of John's feelings, Niemi fights her physical response to the legendary agent as her emotions, in frozen limbo for the last five years, thaw with astonishing speed.

First introduced in Kill and Tell, agent John Medina is as intriguing as the perilous world he operates in. Watching him in action, à la James Bond, is exhilarating--as is the single-minded intensity of his feelings for Niemi, whose ability to hold her own with John--on both a personal and professional level--and with the host of terrorists, spies, and double-dealers the pair encounter is impressive to say the least. Throw in a couple of chilling chase scenes, some romantic interludes hot enough to peel paint from the walls, and one or two bigger-than-life internationally connected characters, and you've got the latest from Linda Howard--a romantic thriller that's sure to be coming soon to a bestseller list near you. --Lois Faye Dyer

Book Description

THE PAST PROVED DEADLY...

No one knows the dangers of getting close to legendary CIA Black Ops specialist John Medina better than communications expert Niema Burdock. Five years ago, she and her husband worked with Medina on an explosive mission that ended in tragedy. Although she has slowly recovered from her terrible loss, Niema planned never to see Medina again. Until now.

HISTORY IS ABOUT TO REPEAT ITSELF....

A French arms dealer is supplying international terrorists, and only Niema can plant the bugs needed to crack the deadly ring. Against her best instincts, she infiltrates the dealer's glamorous world. But when the plan goes awry, Niema and Medina must take flight in a strange land -- and soon find their partnership sparked by an erotic charge. In a world of deception, John Medina has once again set Niema on a free fall into danger...and into desire like she's never known.

Customer Reviews:

another great one from Linda Howard.......2007-08-27

At the moment i'm really into romance action books, the cop/SEAL/CIA/FBI hero type of stories but more of romance than suspense & this one from Linda Howard lived up to all my expectations. All the adventure drama were there with a great alpha hero & gutsy heroine, but also a very "likeable" baddie in the name of Louis Ronsard - i too hope he'll get his own story one day. The other reason that i love this book is the second chance storyline where Medina has been in love with Niema for 5 years. I love the sex scenes and didn't feel they were violent in any way...more so a testament of Medina's intense feelings for Niema that he couldn't control his response to her hence the exciting hard, fast sex. The book length was just right for me not too long that it'd get boring but enough so that you feel immensely satisfied with the ending.

Before or after 9/11?.......2007-05-31

I can't say that this book won't thrill you. It will. But also has some boring parts and some things that you know now can't be possible. This is because the airports' security had changed since 9/11 and this book was written before that. Maybe if I read this book before 9/11 I'd give it a higher notch rating.

All the Queen's Men.......2007-01-15

One of my favorites by Linda Howard. Very fun to read. Not too intense but not too much fluff either.

My favorite Linda Howard book.......2006-09-28

I've read most of her books and this one is by far my favorite. Someone complained about it being too "open-ended". Personally, I liked that. So many "romance" books have the guy knowing the woman for a few weeks and then proposing and their having 7 children. This was a bit more realistic. Another 2 great Linda Howard books are "Cry No More" and "Mr. Perfect". And, because I like it when people recommend other books in their reviews, I loved "Out of Sight" by Cherry Adair and thought "Lord Of Scoundrels" by Loretta Chase was also fantastic (albeit NOTHING like "All The Queen's Men", which is more of a thriller).

Fate Steps In On Old Friends........2006-08-22

Tonight might be the last time she ever saw John. Some guys lead normal, open lives. John's past was so closed and convoluted no one would ever know all the bits and peices of what made him who he was.

John Medina, a CIA specialist, keeps his distance and secrets by being a social loner. Most operatives would never have the opportunity to know how dangerous his missions are. Now, he has to find a way to nab a French arms dealer who is supplying weapons of destruction to an international terrorist group. Like most illegal suppliers, he sells for big bucks and leads a glamorous lifestyle. A communications expert has been assigned to assist John in cracking this deadly ring of enemies set on destroying life as we know it. They must be stopped before the shipments reach their destinations.

In '94, John had worked with Dallas and Niema in Iran where Dallas was tragically killed in action. In '99, the flight from Atlanta to London filled with tourists bound for England along with the chairman of the HOuse Committee on Foreign Relations, a United Nations delegate from Germany, a career diplomat, a computer software CEO and others exploded in a fiery ball over the mountains of western North Carolina (the Smokies, they're called). Neima has moved up by developing a new surveillance device which is almost impossible to detect. She is chosen to plant the undetectable 'bugs' and must infiltrate the dealer's haven by going undercover, a very risky business.

John does not prove to be 'Mr. Perfect,' but who cares? They've been thrown together in dangerous situations, but its Act II and not a brand new scenario. Because of the possible consequences, they become involved and realize that more than being 'professional' agents and friendship, this is a much more personal involvement. Such is life. She just couldn't stop thinking about him. I relate to that humongously (is that a word) -- in a big way. When a woman loves a man, any man, that's all that matters. Watch my grammar. People can fall in love at any age past seventeen. Before that, it is only puppy love. Facing death, she felt vibrantly alive, more than she ever had. If she could just get through this mission, she could put Dallas' death aside and move on to love John, or whomever. An unmarried woman can do her own choosing, and not leave it to kismet.

Baby, All Those Curves and Me With No Brakes : 500 New No-Fail Pick-Up Lines for Men and Women

Average customer rating:

It's A Joke
Don't waste your $. Bad lines. No humor. Pisses off women.

Baby, All Those Curves and Me With No Brakes : 500 New No-Fail Pick-Up Lines for Men and Women
Stephan Dweck , and Monteria Ivey
Manufacturer: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Cheezy Pick-Up Lines (Flick Tops!)

ASIN: 0786882743

Customer Reviews:

It's A Joke.......2001-12-27

Did you really use them? It's a joke.

Don't waste your $. Bad lines. No humor. Pisses off women........1999-07-18

The book is a total waste. The authors just wanted your money so they wrote down the first 500 lines they could think of. The vast majority of these lines will make you look like an asshole. For example: "I have nine inches. I can make you very happy." The book makes heavy use of black lingo. Most white or asian women would be insulted. For example: "Can I have the number to your ass so I can make a booty call?" Here's another insult: "Damn, you got some big legs, girl. Can I get between them?" Never, never buy this book.

All the Queen's Men: The World of Elizabeth I

Average customer rating:

Poorly executed, a bit hard to follow
All the Queen's Men
All the Queen's Men
One of the best...
Nothing really new

All the Queen's Men: The World of Elizabeth I
Peter Brimacombe
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0312232519

Book Description

Opening with an overview of the reigns of the first four Tudor monarchs, the author emphasizes just how much England was in need of a strong and charismatic ruler, particularly after the disastrous reign of "Bloody Mary." Subsequent chapters examine the make up of the royal court and the personality of Elizabeth herself, showing how her perilous path to the throne taught her much that was to stand her in good stead as Queen.

Customer Reviews:

Poorly executed, a bit hard to follow.......2003-11-20

This book was not well edited. I was amazed that a man with Brimacombe's credentials had such poor grammar. Also, refers to one of the "Queen's Men" as Anthony on one page and Arthur the next. How did the editor miss that? Brimacombe's skipping around would be a little difficult to follow for someone with no previous knowledge of Elizabeth I. The only reason I did not discontinue reading this book was that there were enough new tidbits here and there to keep me interested, however, for one new to the subject, there are many better books out there.

All the Queen's Men.......2001-05-02

All the Queen's Men provides a wealth of knowledge about Elizabeth 1, and also about the men that helped her to become one of the greatest queens in England's history. For example, Elizabeth's Privy Council was filled with many intelligent and capable people. One of these people was William Cecil, who was an extremely hard-working Secretary of State. Under Elizabeth's reign, she surrounded herself with men of knowledge. But, she also appreciated the arts. Many artists and writers evolved during the Elizabethan rule. One of the most historical writers during this time was William Shakespeare who wrote plays like Romeo and Juliet. Through her entire life, Elizabeth 1 had men surrounding her. But she never picked one for the most important positions in her life to be filled by a man, her husband. She had an extensive string of suitors, but never settled down with one. Among these suitors were Philip of Spain, Charles the Archduke of Austria, and Henry the Duke of Anjou. Overall, this is a very well written book. It contains many relevant illustrations that help you while you are reading. All the Queens Men will delight anyone who is interested in the Elizabethan era.

All the Queen's Men.......2001-05-02

One of the best..........2000-10-17

I have one of the earlier editions of this book... if you are studying Elizabeth I or are simply interested in reading a chronological account of the "Who's Who" of Elizabeth's court and courtiers, this is the book for you. If you're bent runs to historical costuming for the Elizabethan era, this is also the book for you. For the costumers: this book contains more source material (by means of portrait reproduction) than you can imagine or shake a stick at. I used this book not only for historical research, but as a costuming reference as well until I found Janet Arnold's book "Patterns of Fashion." The print plates (and there are A LOT of them) are both in color and b/w in my edition. The book is incredibly well researched and written... very little in it could be considered dry. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a page turner, but after almost 20 years with this book in my library I still use it as a reference... it's THAT good... I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Nothing really new.......2000-09-26

Looked forward to this book with great anticipation, but was rather disappointed. Many of the stories in the book, especially in the courtiers and statesmen chapters, were very familiar to me, having read them elsewhere. I'd recommend, instead, a book by Neville Williams with the same name (All the Queen's Men), if you can find a copy (currently out of print). The most interesting personalities of the period are examined in greater depth and the book is better illustrated than Brimacombe's.

ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN: ELIZABETH I AND HER COURTIERS

Average customer rating:

It's good to be the queen . . .
Best Introduction to a Glittering World

ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN: ELIZABETH I AND HER COURTIERS
Neville Williams
Manufacturer: Cardinal
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0351187049

Customer Reviews:

It's good to be the queen . . ........2005-11-19

Elizabeth I was a master of applied psychology and manipulation of personalities, juggling with great success for many years the interests of the powerful men who surrounded her. She also had a happy knack for getting the most out of their talents to the benefit of the Crown and the country. Williams, Deputy Keeper of Public Records and a noted Tudor scholar, explores the ambitions, power-bids, marital politics, and "heroine worship" at Elizabeth's court and tracks the rise and fall of the Howard, Dudley, and Devereux families in a smoothly flowing, heavily illustrated narrative.

Best Introduction to a Glittering World.......2000-04-03

This could be the best first book to read about the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England (reigned 1558-1603), one of the great monarchs in history. Witty, moderate, and strong, she has had few equals. She was not a feminist -- that was centuries ahead; she had to rule men, and by means of men. She drew the best to her, and charmed them which was better than forcing them. The wise understood, the rest grumbled, and England flourished. Neville Williams was a scholar with a knack for easy, popular writing. Here, at his best, with dozens of illustrations, he is colorful, thoughtful, short.

2 HBs: All the Queen's Men & Kill and Tell

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2 HBs: All the Queen's Men & Kill and Tell
Linda Howard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WMV88E

Product Description

hardbacks

Average customer rating:

ALL QUEEN'S MEN
BRIAN HOEY
Manufacturer: COLLINS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S5JFBC

Average customer rating:

All the Queen's Men
Brian Hoey
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Heartless
A TALE OF TWO QUEENS AND THEIR MEN...
So you want to know about Elizabeth I?

All the Queen's Men
Evelyn Anthony
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customer Reviews:

Heartless.......2006-09-10

This is a life story of the major men who had a role in this life of Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Queen of Scots. I won't summarize those events because they're fairly well known.

Let it just be said that this book, while it may be technically well written, is totally without heart. Everyone in it is cynical and ambitious and forced into being halfway decent people because other people decide (not being decent themselves) that they must be. It is hard to imagine that among the great and well known consolers and personages of Elizabeth's reign there could be not one good person among them, but that's how this book portrays them.

It is also boring at times, and very much not the book on Elizabeth and Robert Dudley I was looking for. In fact, this is the worst I have ever seen Dudley portrayed-not only ambitious but stupid and mean. This is not a book about the folly of Queen's trusting men; it is a book about some nasty people who happened to have power.

Not at all how I think things really were.

Two stars.

A TALE OF TWO QUEENS AND THEIR MEN..........2005-12-27

This is historical fiction at its finest. The author, a born storyteller and gifted writer, tells the story of Elizabeth Tudor, who would become Queen Elizabeth I, and those men who were to play important roles in her life. The author also tells the parallel story of Elizabeth's cousin and claimant to the throne of England, the potential usurper, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, and those men who were to play important roles in her life. It seems that Elizabeth Tudor, unlike Mary Stuart, had a knack for choosing her men wisely.

It is clear from the story that Elizabeth I was a Protestant Queen who ruled with her head, rather than with her heart. Mary Stuart, on the other hand, was a Catholic Queen who ruled with her heart, rather than with her head. Elizabeth would eschew sharing her crown with the love of her life, Robert Dudley, putting no man before her obligations and love of country. Mary Stuart, on the contrary, would decide to rule with a king beside her but would, unfortunately, choose most unwisely in selecting Lord Darnley as her bridegroom. She also had little talent for the wily, political, behind-the scenes machinations in which Elizabeth I and her advisors so effectively engaged. Consequently, it was no surprise that it was Mary Stuart, rather than Elizabeth I, who would one day lose her head to the executioner's blade.

The author tells a riveting story of both Queens and their lives. She carefully delineates how it was that their paths were to cross over time. Eventually, Mary Stuart, her Scottish kingdom torn asunder as a result of her many foolish decisions and the political machinations of Elizabeth I and her advisors, fled Scotland. Leaving behind James, her infant son and heir, she entered England, foolishly seeking succor and aid from Elizabeth I, only to find herself a prisoner of her wily cousin. Never again, would Mary Stuart rule Scotland. Instead, her infant son, who would be raised a Protestant, would be declared Scotland's King.

Mary Stuart would remain her cousin's prisoner for over twenty years, causing Elizabeth I much heartache, as Mary Stuart was a Catholic Queen Regnant, providing a cause around which England's Catholics could rally. Elizabeth I knew that she, as well as England, would know no peace as long as her Catholic subjects had such figurehead in their own backyard. Over the years, plots to restore Mary Stuart to the Scottish throne and crown her Queen of England, would come to the attention of Elizabeth I. This was to cause Elizabeth I great heartache.

After all, not only was Mary Stuart, as was Elizabeth I, a Queen Regnant, she was also her cousin by blood. The execution of Mary Stuart, for which her advisors clamored, was, therefore, a precedent that Elizabeth was most reluctant to set, though it would guarantee surcease by her Catholic subjects. She also knew, however, that Mary Stuart, though long her prisoner, would not cease plotting to escape. When Elizabeth I was finally presented with seemingly irrefutable evidence of her cousin's perfidy and treasonous behavior, she finally took the step that she had long dreaded.

This beautifully crafted, well-researched story grips the reader from beginning to end. Replete with period detail, those who were to play an important part in the historical events of the time come vibrantly alive under the pen of this noted author. It is a riveting tale that will keep the reader turning the pages until the very last. This is a book that those who enjoy well-written historical fiction will love. Bravo!

So you want to know about Elizabeth I?.......2002-02-08

[...] Evelyn Anthony's classic novel about Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers. Anthony is a well established name in historical fiction, and this book is one I read many years ago. I was fascinated by the richness of the story of Elizabeth as Queen and as woman, and her relationships with the great names of her day,who loved, hated, supported, and conspired against her. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a good Elizabeth I novel.

Average customer rating:

All the Queen's Men
Evelyn Anthony
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NLQM94

Average customer rating:

All the Queen's Men
Guy De Montfort
Manufacturer: Hamlyn
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0600203387

Book Description

The Ragin' Cajun is back with a vengeance in his very own ongoing series! Ever wonder what Gambit gets up to when he's not out saving the world with the X-Men? Welcome to the exciting but treacherous terrain of the New Orleans underworld, where Gambit's skills and mastery are unquestioned...but this time, his confidence might be his downfall! Join writer John Layman and artist Georges Jeanty for the breakneck adventures of the smoothest, most charming devil ever to wear the X!

Customer Reviews:

Gambit is the Best.......2007-01-18

Although "stereotyped" Super heros are no longer cool. Remember Superfriends in the 70's or 80's. Anyone that appreciates Nawlins and the Cajun archtypes,has to love the Gambit. Anyway as far as the book itself it was an X Mas gift, for my kids. After reading it, they agreed that "Gambit is the best" They also thought Gambit should of been in the Movie, not "Cry Baby Cylops"

Evil Tarot, the Big Easy, and Gambit.......2005-07-02

This graphic, which reprints Gambit #1-6 (2004) is one of the best graphics from Marvel this year. The story revolves around Remy, as he takes some time away from the X-Men to return home. There, he is hired by a beautiful blond to steal infamously evil tarot cards from her uncle. But things are rarely simple for Gambit, and soon he's in trouble of every kind, being chased by the assassin's guild, jealous women, demons, and cops. Wolverine even pops in for an appearance, just for good measure.

The story is engaging and the art is beautiful, very reminiscent of Adam Hughes or Terry Dodson. Jeanty is definitely an artist I'd like to see more of. The writing is an odd mix of Claremont and Giffen's styles, action packed, character driven, and funny all at the same time.

This graphic can be enjoyed by new comers to comics and veteran collectors alike, and it
has my highest recommendations.

Average customer rating:

Gambit: House Of Cards TPB
John Layman , Georges Jeanty , and TBD
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Marvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000LSBSMU

Book Description

The Ragin' Cajun is back with a vengeance in his very own ongoing series! Ever wonder what Gambit gets up to when he's not out saving the world with the X-Men? Welcome to the exciting but treacherous terrain of the New Orleans underworld, where Gambit's skills and mastery are unquestioned... but this time, his confidence might be his downfall! Join writer John Layman and artist Georges Jeanty for the breakneck adventures of the smoothest, most charming devil ever to wear the X!

Book Description

A planet orbiting binary suns, Helliconia has a Great Year spanning three millennia of Earth time: cultures are born in spring, flourish in summer, then die with the onset of the generations-long winter.

Helliconia is emerging from its centuries-long winter. The tribes of the equatorial continent emerge from their hiding places and are again able to dispute possession of the planet with the ferocious phagors. In Oldorando, love, trade and coinage are being redisovered,

This is the first volume of the Helliconia Trilogy -- a monumental saga that goes beyond anything yet created by this master among today's imaginative writers.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Helliconia Spring is the start of a big fat series from way back then.

The title comes from the planet it is set on. For astronomical reasons it is one of those places that has really, really long seasons. Now, when it is winter, this really sucks donkey gonads, of course.

So, the setting for the first book is coming out of winter into a more pleasant time, and the interaction between two major races on the planet, one humanoid, one not.

Passable, but not great.......2007-08-29

This is the first book in the Helliconia series. When I first tried to read it, I lost interest in the first chapter and put the books aside. A decade later, I took it up again and forced myself to read past that. It does get better, but it's never better than so-so.

The story is of the recovery of civilization as the Helliconia system moves into the Spring of it's long cycle around a companion binary star (Freyr). The idea is interesting but the execution is awkward. Aldiss has the equivalent of a small village produce more science than the equivalent of Newton and Einstein. They domesticate the horse, reinvent agriculture, and work out all the details of astronomy in one generation. This is par for the course in science fiction, but implausible to say the least.

Aldiss's writing is OK to good, and his characterization adequate, but the novel itself just isn't that interesting. Part of the problem is that you never identify with a particular character enough to really care a lot about his or her motivations.

It was enough to keep me reading the series (which I'd already bought), but only just.

This first book is funereal, better stuff to come?.......2006-02-07

Aldiss has created a very interesting world but there is not much of a plot in this first book. The book seems to be a setup for the subsequent books in the series which I have not read yet.

The book is mostly about how the humans on Helliconia cope with the severe change to their environment as Helliconia moves out of its long cold winter into spring. Due to a simultaneous change in leadership, they are challenged to adjust socially and economically in order to survive. They are threatened within by their own internal petty politics and without by the aboriginal Phagors who have always hate humans and by other humans who are their sworn enemies and wish to kill or enslave them. They must deal with a new age of enlightment which is at odds with their traditional ways of thinking. Blindly following their religion is questioned. On top of all this, they also must deal with a devastating plague that threatens to wipe them from the face of Helliconia.

All this is watched by a group of anthropologists from old Earth who do not interfere. The assumption is that this is an old Earth colony which has fallen back to the stone age due to Helliconia's severe winter thousands of years ago. These watchers add some clarification to what is going on on Helliconia. Whether they play any significant role remains to be seen.

Great book!.......2004-10-03

The span of years encompassed by the first book in the Helliconia trilogy is huge, the concept of Helliconia infinite. I've only read the first book, and I can't wait to read Summer. Spring was well written, even visionary, and I read it non-stop for two days until I turned the last page.

The generation gap between the two sections of Spring was at first troubling. I normally like to follow a character all the way through, but the scope of this series is too big for one protagonist to fulfill. It's the story of a world, and a culture, embroiled in perpetual combat with an enemy species--an alien species paramount in the Spring.

I was reminded of those films in school showing a flower blooming with time-lapse photography. I could almost see humanity blooming as Spring advanced. Each snapshot through the years featured a blossoming human ascendency over the evil Phagors. There was also a troubling, and for me, unresolved question about the voyeuristic watchers from Earth. What part do they play in this saga?

What happens as the season roll towards winter again?

A Great Book.......2004-07-09

This is a great book and part of a great trilogy. The proper comparison is with Gene Wolfe and not with Frank Herbert. The book is fascinating in the way it shows the multitude of effects that the environment has on societies.

Average customer rating:

In a time of hatred and war, a stark reminder of another way

An unexpected delight

Positive words. A warm book.

A Vietnam War of Love, Peace and Memory that has never ended

A life-giving source of joy!

Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals, 1962-1966
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Zen Philosophy | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Hanh, Thich Nhat | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Release Date: 1999-12-13

Amazon.com

To many of his readers, Thich Nhat Hanh is a great inspiration, a model of both spiritual maturity and social responsibility. But his personal life has been a closed book--until now. Fragrant Palm Leaves is the first publication of Thich Nhat Hanh's journals, in this case, those centering around the most decisive period in his life. A young monk in a Zen Buddhist lineage, Nhat Hanh had aspirations of developing a Buddhism that was meaningful in the lives of everyday Vietnamese. The chaos of the Vietnam War ironically offered him the chance to move beyond the strictures of the conservative Buddhist establishment and initiate experimental villages as well as a university, but the same war also forced him from his homeland. In entries written in both Vietnam and America, we see an already seasoned Nhat Hanh thinking through the politics of his tradition, his close friendships and alliances, the future of Buddhism, and the way to bring peace to a war-ravaged time. We also witness his glimmerings of enlightenment and are treated to lyrical passages on the interbeing of all things. Fragrant Palm Leaves is a rare glimpse at a great human being in the making. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

From one of the most influential Buddhist leaders of our time, journal entries from America and Vietnam in the '60s-a portrait of the Zen master as a young man.

Best known for his Buddhist teachings, Thich Nhat Hanh has lived in exile from his native Vietnam since 1966. These remarkable early journals reveal not only an exquisite portrait of the Zen master as a young man, but the emergence of a great poet and literary voice of Vietnam. From his years as a student and teaching assistant at Princeton and Columbia, to his efforts to negotiate peace and a better life for the Vietnamese, Fragrant Palm Leaves offers an elegant and profound glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most beloved spiritual teachers.

This edition includes a new introduction

"One of the sweetest and most personally revealing of Thich Nhat Hanh's books, it shows the planting of his seeds of remarkable wisdom."-Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

"Enlightening."-Maxine Hong Kingston

"One of the greatest teachers of our time....In Fragrant Palm Leaves, the venerable poet emerges poignantly, disclosing the essence of enlightenment, and also life itself."-Robert Thurman, author of Inner Revolution

"Informative and inspiring."-Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

In a time of hatred and war, a stark reminder of another way.......2006-12-21

Reading Thich Nhat Hanh's 'Essential Writings' is like having Michael Jordan teach you how to play basketball. The focus is not on the dazzling tricks. It's about the fundamentals. And they are few --- compassion, mindfulness, tolerance, breathing.

Hearing Thich Nhat Hanh lecture is to experience holiness on a very high order. We once drove hours to hear him talk about death. You would expect him to focus on theology. But what I took away was completely practical: Hold the dying person's feet, as he/she may not feel connected to the earth.

But it is when he is most personal that Thich Nhat Hanh is at his best. And 1962 to 1966 were key years for him. With some other "committed" Buddhist monks, he had tried to broker peace in his native Vietnam. No one --- not even the Buddhist hierarchy --- wanted any. In 1966, he was exiled. (He didn't return to Vietnam for 40 years.)

'Fragrant Palm Leaves' begins in a cabin in the New Jersey woods. It's 1962. Thich Nhat Hanh is 36. American troops have not yet been dispatched to Vietnam, but there has already been death aplenty. Thich Nhat Hanh, sick of heart, has come to teach and study at Columbia University.

The journals begin with scenes of a peace that Thich Nhat Hanh can find anywhere, even in this unfamiliar country: "Some mornings I stay in the woods all day, strolling leisurely beneath the trees and lying down on the carpet of soft moss, my arms folded, my eyes looking up to the sky. In those moments, I'm a different person; it would probably be accurate to say that I am 'my true' self." He is childlike: "Today I went with two eight-year-old boys to pick some [berries], and we stuffed our mouths until they turned blue!"

Surrounded by nature, he can't help recalling Phuong Boi, the monastery he and some friends built in Vietnam. In 1957, its 60 acres cost $140. "Here, for the first time," he recalls, "we were sheltered from the harshness of worldly affairs." On full moon nights, in deep silence, he watches, in awe, as the moon and forest merge. By day, he works the land, meditates and prays. Walking can't express his joy at being here --- so he runs.

You may feel a great peace as you read his account of daily life at the monastery. At the same time, you'll feel a deep dread --- you know this peace can't last. And, soon enough, the arrests begin: "You could be accused of being a Viet Cong by anyone who opposed you."

For Thich Nhat Hanh, the war is both external and internal. "Finding truth is not the same as finding happiness," he cautions. "You aspire to see the truth, but once you have seen it, you cannot avoid suffering." And does he ever suffer! "I feel the unbearable pain of a woman who is about to give birth to a child she already knows will be sentenced to death." But he always finds a balance. Suffering is a wonder. It helps us learn "how to ride the waves of impermanence, smiling as one who knows he has never been born and will never die."

In 1964, he returns to Vietnam, and the ideas he explored in America are put to the test. He's ten miles from Saigon now; he can hear gunfire. Phuong Boi has been abandoned. And the United States is pushing an unworkable strategy: "How can you win a war with bullets when you do not even know where the front line is?"

Now it is 1965. The house at Phuong Boi "is a pile of ashes where wild mushrooms grow." And yet, for Thich Nhat Hanh, the house still exists --- it was a place of love, and love endures. Indeed, if he too is burned to ashes, "those ashes will be love and will nestle in the heart of the earth to nourish the flowers."

His conclusion couldn't be more gorgeous: "We will return to the circle of life as flowers, grasses, birds or clouds to bring people the message of eternal love. Like the village children who, even in this time of war, sing: 'We will love others forever and ever, hand holding hand. We love others forever.'"

What a thing to learn from war! And he learned it the hard way: "not from intellectual investigation but from my actual experience of suffering." To have compassion for those who have made you suffer --- I have such trouble with that. And yet, as Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, there is no other answer.

From the New Jersey woods to Vietnam, and then beyond --- in just 212 pages, Thich Nhat Hanh takes you very far. Like all the way to peace.

An unexpected delight.......2006-09-17

An extraordinary journal - after reading several of Thich Nhat Hanh's key works, I think this may be the best introduction to his ideas.

In FRAGRANT PALM LEAVES, we have writing and ideas expressed with great clarity, and a calm thoughtfulness that contrasts with the turbulence of the era in which they were first written: during these years, Thich Nhat Hanh was moving between New York and New Jersey and the beloved Vietnam he would soon be permanently kicked out of. Through it all, there is a great sense of purpose, and a deep and sophisticated joy in life, but not an ounce of bitterness.

There's a lesson in this - whatever one seeks in Thich Nhat Hanh's writing, you'll find it here, though not perhaps in the expected way - there are few if any 'teachings' here, but instead slice-of-life examples of a mindful life in the face of tremendous adversities.

An unexpected delight.

-David Alston

Positive words. A warm book........2001-12-10

Even if you're not interested in Buddhism, this book offers food for our everyday thoughts. Written in a clean, lucid style, Thich Nhat Hahn shares moments from his life during the tubulent period of the 1960's. From the shores of a lake in New Jersey, to the bustling streets of New York City, back again to his beloved homeland of Vietnam, Nhat Hahn's experiences appear to have provided him with valuable insight, strengthing his resolve in matters concerning compassion and love. For those who enjoy memoirs, this book is a must read. His approach to writing is simple, yet poetic, offering sections both humorous and sad. In other words, it's about life in the here and now.

A Vietnam War of Love, Peace and Memory that has never ended.......2001-11-25

Thich would not need my review of his work. I can no longer wash my hands and not think of rain and mountain streams.

This is an incredible memoir and philosophical discussion. Thich uses the memoir as a vehicle to teach his philosophy. But in that you can still sense the pain of loss, the pain and frustration of rejection by his country and his abandonment. But it is also a hopeful piece. He does not let the external struggle defeat his soul and his personal peace. He accepts wars and destruction as things he must try to change but must not allow to change him.

The beauty of this book is its honesty. Thich's religion is attractive as a portrait of his individual testimony and light.

There is also a history in the story. A struggle of a simple man and a patriot. A patriot who perhaps lost the war for now.
Also a man who understands that thought and love and peace are separate from the boundaries of politics and culture. He may have lost his war at home, but he certainly won a larger war.

-Mike

A life-giving source of joy!.......2000-09-04

I agree with every word of the review written by the Jerusalem reviewer found on this page! This slender volume contains much that could save the world, indeed the profound beauty that emanates from the soul of this revered teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, is such that one is transformed by it fundamentally each time one soaks up its light. These journals, covering especially those periods of his life that manifested for him tremendous human strengths within himself, and from which he has conscientiously built a kind of life-giving ark for the rest of us, are a joy to read, and read again. Everything Nhat Hanh writes is essential. Nothing is wasted, or wastefully passive. Interior action is his watchword, and his own life's example. The milieu of violence and war that so influenced his early adult life he has transformed into a life-giving teaching for humankind. The mark of the poet is everywhere in these pages- slaying the mediocre, lifting up the discarded, transforming the lost. One really cannot praise adequately this unique and gentle volume. If you seek to understand the nature of suffering, its true character, the inevitability of its power to redeem, and are unafraid of confronting the chagrin of your own wastefulness and fearfulness, read this book. It can only leave you freer.

Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1962-1966

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Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1962-1966
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Rider & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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