Average customer rating:
- Part memoir, part psychohistory - provocative
- Sometimes clever, sometimes dull, ALWAYS pretentious
- A travellers tale of St Helens, captivity and Napoleon
- Dull, dull, dull
- The Last Laugh
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The Black Room at Longwood: Napoleon's Exile on Saint Helena
Jean-Paul Kauffmann
Manufacturer: Four Walls Eight Windows
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Emperor's Last Island: A Journey to St. Helena
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To Befriend an Emperor: Betsy Balcombe's Memoirs of Napoleon on St Helena
ASIN: 1568581718 |
Amazon.com
This is an unusually intelligent, elegiac book; not merely an account of Napoleon's last days in exile on the remote Atlantic island of St. Helena but a meditation on the interrelations of past and present and the shadow a figure as gigantic as Napoleon casts onto futurity. On one level, the book is a travelogue, as Jean-Paul Kauffmann revisits modern St. Helena and describes what he finds; the small-scale lives of the islanders are related with tenderness as well as humor. But we also learn a great deal about Napoleon as Kauffmann passes through the places associated with him and attempts to get inside the head of the deposed emperor.
There is a danger of pretentiousness, and there are moments when the Gallic gush is a little much; but overall the sheer force of Kauffmann's imagination fuses the whole into a powerful and affecting unity. In particular, his lyrical, poetic style has been well translated (by Patricia Clancy) and there are many striking moments. The beaches of St. Helena, for instance, are described as "black shingle, shiny as nuts of coal." Even the sunrise in this part of the world has a prison-like feel: "only one ray from the rising sun manages to pierce the clouds, falling on a corner of the coast as through a basement window." Thought-provoking and often exquisite, this is a unique sort of history. --Adam Roberts, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
Like his subject, Napoleon, author Jean-Paul Kauffmann has experienced captivity, as a three-year hostage in Beirut. He brings his insider's knowledge to this moving account of the most famous French soldier's last years in seclusion on a tropical island. After his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was exiled and imprisoned by the British on the island of St. Helena. He became increasingly withdrawn, surviving on a diet of memories that he recounted to the few people around him. But the book -- part history, part travelogue -- portrays the leader as a prisoner also of his mind, poisoned by nostalgia for his triumphs and grief over his defeats. "A haunting, unforgettable book....Kauffmann captures the desolate atmosphere of Napoleon's last home with evocative precision." -- Boston Globe
Customer Reviews:
Part memoir, part psychohistory - provocative.......2006-02-14
It may be fair to call this book a meditation on how some places are perfectly fit to induce particular states of mind. As promised by the title, "The Black Room at Longwood" describes the prison by describing its effect on the prisoner.
Kauffmann describes the sights and smells of St. Helen in such detail that its desolation is almost palpable. He makes many self-conscious efforts to find the relics and remembrances of its most famous prisoner. Kauffmann brings the place to life--but such a life--dreary and meaningless--and contrasts it with known preferences and dislikes of Napoleon so that every little pinprick can be felt.
When I tried to picture as active a man as Napoleon Bonaparte in that place, I couldn't help but pity him (from my comfortable vantage point, in 2006). As described in the book, Napoleon's own mind was beginning to give way to the horror of that oppressed place by the time he died.
Sometimes clever, sometimes dull, ALWAYS pretentious.......2004-09-08
The author has a seemingly great idea : cruise to out-of-the-way St. Helena and combine a historical hunt with a modern day travelogue of his journey.
The premise works well at some points, but lags quite often. The most annoying trait of the book is the author's tendancy to wax poetic for literally PAGES describing paintings or other works of art to be found in Longwood. I don't really understand what Mr. Kauffmann's opinion of "The Last Phase" has to do with Napoleon's exile.
I've finished reading the book and I'm still actually not quite sure what I just read. It was certainly unique and well-written, I'll give Kauffmann that much. But I don't believe that I learned anything about Napoleon's exile that I didn't already absorb from more thorough, historical works. I genuinely expected to hear some unique tales and speculation about Napoleon's last days... but alas, none were to be had. This was a fruitless read if you're looking for fun or irreverant facts about Napoleon's final days.
Bottom line : Not worth your time and money unless you are completely obsessed with Bonaparte, or if you plan to visit St. Helena at some point.
A travellers tale of St Helens, captivity and Napoleon.......2002-07-12
This is a strange mixture and I have to admit to very much disliking it when I first picked it up. It is a translated version of what was originally a French work and the English to me seemed a bit florid and dramatic. I am not sure if that is the translation or if the French naturally write in that style. I would however recommend people who are interested in Napoleon to persevere - it is a strange sort of book but worth the read.
I say this for two other reasons - firstly because Kauffmann has read just about every primary source about Napoleon's exile on St Helens - a tiny island pretty much in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and secondly because Kauffmann knows first hand about captivity.
After reading this book a little = and not enjoying it I read the author biography - this man spent some years as a captive in Beirut in the 1980's. Returning to the book I started to realise that this is more than just a book about Napoleon, or about a travellogue to the island. This is a story about captivity and its psychological side. Kauffmann is very clearly the right man to write about it. The oppression of captivity overwhelms the writing sometimes. Kauffman clearly found the place oppressive - he keeps talking of the town itself squeezed between two mountains - it is one of his repetitive themes and I get the sense that if he didn't sail out there expecting to dislike the place, his dislike of it coloured his later writings about it.
I think this book could just as easily be named 8 days on St Helens as the book is divided into chapters for each day. So his trip is dealt with chronologically - the information about Napoleon ducks and dives - often with seemingly little logic to it. However if you are looking to learn about Napoleon's last years they are touched on - more so Napoleon as a man is revealed. His impatience (he drove each day on the island in a carriage with two wives of his officers - but went at such high speed as to throw them around - a demonstration of power?) his arrogance.
There are also interesting insights into the man prior to his captivity - for instance I never knew Napoleon couldn't speak perfect French - (he spoke it badly and confusingly at times - muddling his words and pronunciations). However I don't think Kauffman explains anything new to most scholars of Napoleon. He mentions that Napoleon considered going to America before settling for surrendering to the English - why did he change his mind?
So you can read this book on many different levels - a story of St Helens, a mixed bag of Napoleonic history, or a story of captivity. All have different merits in this - but they are all mixed together. I don't know that I would recommend making a special trip to get it - but worth reading if you haven't much else to do.
Dull, dull, dull.......2001-10-15
I went searching for a book about Napoleon for a friend. This is that book. If you want to know anything about Napoleon's last years, this isn't the book to read. I found this book dull to the extreme. It reads more like "what I did on my summer vacation.' I kept waiting to get into the informative part of the book but it never came. Kauffmann talks of paintings that aren't shown, quotes that came from other works as he wanders around Longwood.What the English women have to do with this book is a mystery. A complete waste of time and paper. Read something else if you want to know about Napoleon.
The Last Laugh.......2001-03-16
I read this book on a flight to France, and was mesmerized by the author's lapidary prose and his ability to bring to the reader a keen sense of loneliness and desolation. According to the author, Napoleon spent a good deal of his last six years trying to figure out what went wrong at Waterloo...the sort of torment worthy of Greek mythology. Feeling broken and forgotten, the former emperor, to quote General McArthur, "faded away", dying as much of depression as of physiological causes.
A few days after finishing the book, I visited Napoleon's tomb at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris. It's very grand, and I'm sure he would have loved it. Enshrined, perhaps even resurrected, in this manner, Napoleon has the last laugh.
Book Description
Philosophy is shaped by life and life is shaped by philosophy. This is reflected in The Philosophical I, a collection of 16 autobiographical essays by prominent philosophers.
Book Description
Games play a crucial role in a child's development, helping children to discover and understand the world around them. Parents are always on the lookout for new games and activities to play with their kids.
The Great Big Book of Children's Games features more than 450 indoor and outdoor games for kids.
Arranged according to appropriate agegroup, the games run the gamut in theme and mood. There are games designed for quiet times and intellectual stimulation as well as those that contribute to physical development, such as strength and wrestling games and races and relays. This book presents parents with a vast array of games for children of all ages, including:
- Card games
- Word games
- Sidewalk and blacktop games
- Tabletop games
- Party games, road games, and more
Customer Reviews:
a keeper.......2007-08-08
This is such a great book! I was looking for some activities to keep the kids from being bored. What a wonderful surprise! This book was way more than I expected. There are tons of activities--card games, outdoor games, pen and paper games, travel games, table top games, blacktop games, and much more. As we looked through the book I remembered some of these from my own childhood, but I probably wouldn't have recalled them without this book to prompt the memories. I was very pleased and the kids love it. There are so many games that they will not be bored for a long time.
From the Board Games Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2005-12-16
The Great Big Book of Children's Games is full of fun games of all sorts: Ball Games, Water Games, Chase Games, Card Games, and so on. Many of the games are well-known childhood classics, but many of them are either foreign or totally new.
The book offers lots of ways to play versions of popular games with a make-your-own version. Naturally, it doesn't tell you explicitly, "Don't buy game X, you can make your own!", but it does give great instructions on how to make paper playing boards for games like Shut the Box, Beetle (like a drawing version of Cootie), and also how to get the most out of a game like Checkers.
As far as outside games, it can't be beat, there are dozens of variations on classics like hopscotch, hide-and-seek, and that eternal favorite: tag!
This book is a great gift idea for Moms, Teachers, Daycare Providers, and it's a great one to leave around for the teenaged babysitter if you're going out and you don't want the kids to spend the evening in front of the TV. Wonderful!
What a great book!.......2005-04-29
I do not own this book, but I put it on my "wish list". I currently have it checked-out from my local library for the second time. What a wonderful book for such a great price! I plan to use it for birthday party activities, kids church activities, etc. This book is well worth the price!
Book Description
Lightsabers flash, starfighters explode, strange creature lurk in the shadows. Lift the flaps in this sturdy, oversized board book to reveal the most exciting details and fun facts about the characters, creatures, vehicles, and ships of STAR WARS Episode I. Also, follow the simple instructions in this book to make your own Naboo starfighter! Illustrated by the acclaimed fantasy and Star Wars artists Greg and Tim Hildebrandt.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for any young star wars fan.......2003-04-25
My 4-year-old son loves this book. We checked it out of the library and he cried when we had to bring it back so I ordered him a copy and he reads it all the time. As you read the book you can lift all the flaps for more information about the characters and the ships and droids and creatures in the Movie. Great fun for the little Star Wars Fan.
Customer Reviews:
From the Board Games Editor at BellaOnline.com.......2006-01-10
The Great Big Book of Children's Games is full of fun games of all sorts: Ball Games, Water Games, Chase Games, Card Games, and so on. Many of the games are well-known childhood classics, but many of them are either foreign or totally new.
The book offers lots of ways to play versions of popular games with a make-your-own version. Naturally, it doesn't tell you explicitly, "Don't buy game X, you can make your own!", but it does give great instructions on how to make paper playing boards for games like Shut the Box, Beetle (like a drawing version of Cootie), and also how to get the most out of a game like Checkers.
As far as outside games, it can't be beat, there are dozens of variations on classics like hopscotch, hide-and-seek, and that eternal favorite: tag!
This book is a great gift idea for Moms, Teachers, Daycare Providers, and it's a great one to leave around for the teenaged babysitter if you're going out and you don't want the kids to spend the evening in front of the TV. Wonderful!
Reader's Digest Great Big Book of Children's Games.......2000-05-31
This is a wonderful book and I really enjoyed learning more about games to play with my two children. The author is great, Debra has four kids of her own!
A wonderful idea book for all ages........1999-11-12
Ms. Wise does an excellent job thinking of terrific games for kids with helpful explanations and innovative twists on old favorites. One problem is that the age ranges are sometimes too restrictive. My 4-year-old loves to play 20 questions and "Wrong!", games they suggested for 8's. Try things out and have fun!
Customer Reviews:
Where are those bugs?.......2004-11-06
Little boys love bugs and this is the book to help them identify those creatures they come in contact with on a daily basis! Learn the name of any bug you can imagine.
To first understand the book you will find page two most helpful. This explains how the pages are set up. This is a puzzle book and many of the bugs are hidden in the pictures among the background of their surroundings in their daily life.
When you open up the following pages there is a picture laid out in the two pages in the middle. The top, bottom and side borders have pictures with descriptions and facts on all the bugs. Some of the pages are horizontal and others are vertical.
For each picture you will find approximately one hundred bugs. It is important to teach the youngster that you would not normally find that amount in the same spot. The Big Bug Search is an asset for the child who is learning to count, what a fun way to learn your numbers than by counting bugs! This is also similar to the types of homework we receive from the Kindergarten classroom with the searching for items that are hidden and hard to find.
This search book series will provide countless hours of exploring, learning, counting and memorizing of every name listed in here for my son. I feel he will be having fun this summer as well as experimenting with the outside world of bugs, beetles and the like from the knowledge taken from The Big Bug Search .
By looking through the pages with the pictures he has learned where to find certain spiders, what color trees some bugs like to hang out while others like the water scenery best.
For the child who is a beginning reader this will be more of an interactive book with an Adult to read and help with the search of where each bug is lurking. With a magnifying glass a child can explore further. With this being a large paperback book you can use a pen or pencil to circle those that are of interest and answer the questions. My son likes to use a highlighter or marker to note his favorites.
Read Again and Again.......2002-04-19
My 3 1/2 year old son loves this book. The pictures are so detailed, he can alwasy discover something new. When he first read it, we looked for butterflies on each page. Now, he enjoys looking for snails. The text and illustrations make it suitable for much older children, so I know he will continue to enjoy it for years to come.
Beautifully illustrated by Ian Jackson.......2001-07-06
EDC Publishing offers three outstanding Usborne "picture puzzle" titles beautifully illustrated by Ian Jackson for children with an interest in nature and wildlife that are as fun and they are informative. In The Great Animal Search (0746017391, ...) there are some 100 animals to spot and identify on every double-page of this oversized book. Each scenario showcases a different part of the world and the wildlife that lives there. In addition to countless hours of puzzle solving fun, there is a wealth of fascinating animal facts presented in succinct, easy-to-read captions. The Big Bug Search (0746027036, ...) follows the same format, only this time for insects ranging from hairy spiders and black slugs to dragonflies and leafcutter ants. With The Great Undersea Search (0746023413, ...) the focus in on live under water in the various puzzle pictures ranging from coral reef to ocean depths to sunken pirate ship, and more. With all three books, should young readers (or their parents!) get stuck trying to find all the hidden things, their are answers in the back. This wonderfully presented, magnificently illustrated series is especially recommended for home schooling curriculums, rainy day pastimes, or long road trip diversions.
Great book to give as a prize for finding software bugs.......1999-11-16
Great book to give as a prize for finding software bugs (beats "A Bug's Life" merchandise hands down).
Average customer rating:
- not recommended though it does have some cuteness factor
- Elmo's Busy Baby Book
- Wow! A real baby pleaser
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Elmo's Busy Baby Book (Great Big Board Book)
Stephanie St. Pierre
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
Activities & Toys
| Sports & Activities
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General
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| Pop-Up & Movable
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Accessories:
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Sesame Street The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
ASIN: 0679894020
Release Date: 1999-10-19 |
Amazon.com
Squeak! Click! Rattle! Clack! Sesame Street's Grover, Big Bird, Elmo, and others are having fun playing classic baby games including peekaboo and pat-a-cake in this big, interactive read-aloud book. With surprises behind every giant flap, and lots of satisfying noise from the plastic board of colorful buttons, rollers, and dials, busy babies will find plenty to occupy themselves. This book is so lively and quick, kids won't be content to just listen. Soon they'll be "reading" right along! Joe Mathieu's illustrations, based on the beloved Sesame Street characters, are goofy and appealing. (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter
Customer Reviews:
not recommended though it does have some cuteness factor.......2001-12-09
Its not worth paying for that toy bar which looks cute on paper, but doesn't really work well in practice. He has had this since 6 months old, and it is very difficult/close to impossible for my now 17 mo old son to work anything except the black and white roller. So while he does love the big peek-a-boo and other flaps inside the book, even I find it hard to push the triangle squeaky or turn that green dial or push the blue square, the toy is built way too stiff!!! he has done fine with similar concept toys like his crib activity center, so it is not for lack of know-how or trying.
The flaps in elmo's lift and look around the corner or one of the other big sesame street flap books are much more educational and just as much fun.
Elmo's Busy Baby Book.......2001-03-15
This book doesn't have many flaps, and the Busy Baby Toy part of it has never interested my 11 month old. We've since bought other lift-the-flap books with much more success.
Wow! A real baby pleaser.......2000-06-11
My infant started playing with this book when he was only 5 months old. It is a exciting book that incorporates all of the babies first games. It also has the added toys on the front to keep the baby interested in the story. We have so many books for our son and this is the one he reaches for everytime he reads. I reccomend this book for anyone that has a infant or toddler.
Average customer rating:
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Great Big Book of Bible Fun
Betsy Schmitt
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Reference & Interpretation
| Bible
| Christianity
| Religions
| Children's Books
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Stories
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| Christianity
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General
| Activity Books
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| Games
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| Ages 9-12
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ASIN: 0842373543 |
Book Description
The Great Big Book of Bible Fun is a Bible activity book featuring over 200 different activities based on 50 best-loved Bible stories. Games, puzzles, dot-to-dots, mazes, and great comic-book-style art for coloring are perfect for kids of every age. This is a great way for kids to become familiar with the key stories and passages of the Bible.
Average customer rating:
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A Great Big Box of Bible Fun: 12 Bible Activity Books
Incorporated Barbour Publishing
Manufacturer: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Reference & Interpretation
| Bible
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| Activity Books
| Sports & Activities
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| Ages 4-8
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Trivia
| Puzzles & Games
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Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Boxed Sets
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Sports & Activities
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ASIN: 1586605496 |
Book Description
What could be better than a Super Bible Activity book from Barbour? How about twelve Super Bible Activity books? This fantastic boxed set will keep kids busy for hours--with wholesome, fun, and educational crosswords, word searches, picture puzzles, trivia, and more--all based on God's Word. Each book features plenty of illustrations and age-appropriate text in a convenient, kid-sized packaqe. It's truly A Great Big Box of Bible Fun
Average customer rating:
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The Great Big Game Book
Guylaine Ouellet , and
Lucie Duchesne
Manufacturer: Gardner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
Humor, Comics & Pop Culture
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ASIN: 2764119429 |
Book Description
A trifle layered with ripe summer raspberries, frothy whipped cream, and sponge cake. Tender gingered apricots baked with a crisp almond topping. Sweet, juicy blackberries concealed inside a flaky pastry turnover. Whether stewed with spices or simply dusted with powdered sugar as the topping for a tart, almost every kind of fruit can be transformed into a delectable dessert.
Williams-Sonoma Collection Fruit Dessert offers more than 40 favorite recipes, from homey pies and cobblers to elegant tarts and sorbets. For the perfect end to a dinner party, serve your guests an exotic coconut cake with fresh mango or homemade strawberry ice cream enriched with crème fraîche. When you are short on time, whip up a batch of easy baked apples or a warm berry compote to serve alongside ice cream or pound cake. And during the holidays, indulge yourself with a homemade pumpkin pie or apple crisp.
Full-color photographs and helpful sidebars on key ingredients and techniques accompany each recipe, so you can successfully picture and prepare your dish of choice. An informative basics section at the back of the book offers tips on how to select fruit at its peak of ripeness and perfect your tart dough and pie crust. Whether you are looking for an impressive dessert or a simple dish that takes just minutes to prepare, you will find no shortage of inspiration in these pages.
Customer Reviews:
Love this book :->.......2006-07-02
All of my Williams Sonoma books are beautifully presented and so helpful around the kitchen and this book is no exception. I have found myself using it often. There are times when you don't always want to make chocolate desserts and cakes; people sometimes prefer the more natural sweetness that comes from fruit and this way, there are 40 or so really delicious recipes to make fruity desserts that make you feel like you've had something sweet yet somewhat healthful (maybe).
Lemon Meringue Pie (although not entirely healthful) is one of my favourite desserts and I tried this recipe with great success thankfully. I've yet to try other good looking recipes like the Coconute Cake with Mango and the Grand Marnier Souffle but they all look scrumptious thanks to the fantastic pictures and I know I'll get to them soon. There are sorbets, pies and tarts and I can't wait to give them a go. I love this book and I recommend it to all adventurous cooks.
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- The Lamb and the Butterfly (Blue Ribbon Book)
- The Mighty Eighth in Wwii: A Memoir
- The Peace & Power of Knowing God's Name
- The Saigon Zoo: Vietnam's Other War: Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n Roll
- The Sun Kept Rising
- The Tracks of God:The Story of Henry Oehmsen -- Waffen SS Soldier of World War II and Prisoner of the Soviets
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