Book Description

Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title—offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.

This edition of The Prince and the Pauper includes an Introduction, Biographical Note, and Afterword by R. L. Fisher.

The Prince of Wales, Edward Tudor, was thrown to a filthy drunken mob--by his own guards. Beaten, starved, chased by dogs, forced to beg and steal...while even the prince's one friend, adventurer Miles Hendon, thought the boy was only a demented beggar.

Tom Canty was thrust into an alien life of protocol, ritual, and diplomacy. He, too, was thought mad, for suddenly "forgetting" classic languages, courtly manners, his role in world destiny. The beggar realized, with growing terror, that he was expected to rule, wage war, send people to their deaths...

Then King Henry VIII died. And unless two "mad" boys could convince someone of the truth, their fates would be sealed forever. By a crown.

Long live the king.
... Read more

Reviews (42)

Another Mark Twain Satire
This is the story of a prince and a pauper who switch places because of their uncanny outer resemblance. They obviously go through many trials and ordeals - the pauper trying to learn the ways of royalty, and the prince having to witness and undergo the results of some of the ridiculous laws and practices of the period.

Like many of Mark Twain's books, this is another satire that makes fun of the values that society holds to be important. In this story, Mark Twain points out how people place so much importance on outer appearance. A prince and a pauper, who, despite their outer resemblance are very different people, switch places, without anyone noticing. There is more to a person than their looks, and this is one point stressed throughout the novel.

The one complaint I have about this book is that there wasn't enough written about Tom Canty, the pauper who became a prince. I found his situations much more interesting than those of the true prince, but this was only a minor point.

I would recommend this book for ages 12 and older. Younger people could read the story, but miss the underlying meanings in certain situations. I wouldn't call this book a "Must Read" but it is a good introduction to classic literature.

Critical Review on The Prince and Pauper
The Prince and the Pauper , first published in 1882, by Mark Twain is a literature classic and has been read by many generations. This book is hard to criticize because it is written by one of the greatest authors, has around for so long, and it is considered a classic. The story is about one prince (Edward Tudor) and one pauper (Tom Canty) who meet each other and end up trading places. At the time they don't realize the resemblance between them, so once they switch places and go off, no one will believe their true identity. This book shows the adventures of these two boys with the roles they end up in, one it the gutters and one in the palace. The main message and theme behind this book is about the natural human fault of judging people merely based on their outward appearance. My overall opinion was that this was a good book and it was fun to read. Yet there were some aspects that I think needed more improvement

One of the aspects that I think needed more developing was the characters At first I was a bit disappointed because, unlike all of the other Mark Twain books I have read, this one had very little character description. There is not much that you know about the two characters and you don't feel connected to them. There was nothing that you could relate to with Canty and Tudor and while reading the book the only image that you had of them was a very vague image. This was why it is pretty hard to get caught up in this book. I believed Mark Twain left a lot about the characters so that he could focus and develop more on the plot and adventure of the story than who they characters actually were.

In the book, Tudor is constantly being kidnapped by the pauper's father (John Canty) , who believes that Tudor is his son , and in return Tudor is always running away. After a while of this wild goose chase between Canty and Tudor it gets repetitive and tiresome to the reader. In this book Mark Twain focuses more on the situations of Tudor then those of Canty. He also wrote more about Tudor then Canty. I found the situations with Canty in the princes place were much more interesting and humorous then the situation of Tudor. I would have enjoyed this book more I think if there had been more scenarios and stories about Canty

This book is recommended for all ages yet I found parts of it hard and difficult to understand. The language that all the people in the book speak is old English. There are chapters in the book that is just conversation. I found this incredibly hard to understand by reading it through just once. The only reason that I understood the conversations is because I am familiar with the old English writing style (Shakespearean style) and have had past experience reading books in this style. To someone who would read this type of book for the first time, I think that they would hardly understand any of the conversations between people. Yet the author Mark Twain wrote this book in a great way. This is why it appealed to lots of audiences. For example, Mark Twain's description of the palace are not like usual boring ones, his descriptions are fun to read and you can almost exactly picture things that he is describing. Also his wording makes it easy to keep reading and reading as if each sentence flows perfectly to the next.

The book also had many strengths, in contrast to what I thought would happen, this book did not become predictable. Every chapter has a new twist or turn. The story was also very humorous. It was very amusing and hilarious what Canty did in the prince's position. For example at his first dinner he begins drinking the rose water, which is intended for washing his hands. He also says that all the ways of royalty are strange and annoying referring to when the official "food taster", tastes his food before he eats it and the long, grueling task of putting on clothes which involves a long chain of people who pass an article of clothing down one by one.

I would recommend this book mainly to people in high school or older. In my opinion it is too childish for an adult reader, and I think many adults would get bored. The adults that would enjoy this I think would be those who are "young at heart", and enjoy fictional fairytale like stories. The humor, marvel, and intrigue that this book contains is for a younger audience. Also the difficulty of the language in the book is too hard for children to understand (below 7th grade). I believe that if this book were to be rewritten in modern English it would be a perfect story for a child at any age.

The Prince and the Pauper
(...)

This book is about two boys who were born on the same year, same day, but are still very different. One was the prince of England, while the other was a peasant. One day, the prince was taking a walk around his castle, when he saw a peasant being kicked around by a gaurd. the prince brought the boy into his castle. Then they noticed how similar they looked, and decided to see how they would look in each other's clothes. Thats how the problem began. The prince mistakenly was kicked out of the castle, and the peasant remained trapped within the castle.(...)

The things I liked about this book were when the prince and the pauper were at the ceremony being asked questions, when the pauper changed clothes, and when the royal adviser thought that the prince has gone mad.

The events that I didn't like about this book were when Miles Hendon was being tortured, when the prince was forced to steal, and when the prince was about to be killed by the hermit.

My favorite part of this book was when prince Edward and the pauper Tom got back together.

Adventure about changing two boys' positions
In the Prince and the Pauper, there were two main characters, the Prince Edward and the pauper Tom. These two boys looked very similar and also they were the same age. There was one difference, Edward was born into a Royal family but Tom was born into a poor family. When Tom walked by the palace, the palace guards took him off the palace grounds. At that time, Edward saw the situation and made the guards stop. The Prince, Edward, invited Tom into the palace and gave him some good foods. Edward wanted to change his life style. Tom¡¯s life looked good because he always had stress from his palace people and he could not get freedom. Edward and Tom switched their clothes in the palace after Edward heard about Tom¡¯s life and family. So, Edward became a poor guy and Tom became a prince.
This novel compared two different life styles, which were the life of a prince and the life of a pauper. With changing their positions, the two boys learned how to fit into the two different lives. In the novel, Edward became a poor guy, so he had a really hard life with Tom¡¯s name. When he tried to return to his position as a prince, nobody believed him, so he had to conquer the hard life, but he met good friends during the line trial. Tom also had a hard time becoming a prince. At first, he liked the rich life and was happy. Most of the story was about Edward and Tom¡¯s changing life styles. Mark Twain compared the two lives and told us that nobody could change their own life on purpose because people were given their birthright before they were born. Although there is a lot of old English, this book, the Prince and the Pauper, is fun to read and all ages enjoy it. This is a good book, but it can be difficult for people whose second language is English because there is a lot of old English, so they cannot understand well. I think this novel is valuable to read because we can learn not to be disappointed in our life. We should be satisfied with our own life. I also think that if someone does not life to read books, this book is a good to start reading. Maybe, he or she is going to be interested in books.

A Great Classic Novel
This novel by Mark Twain is truly a timeless piece of literature. Its story line is one that any young boy would love to live. It depicts the situation of a young pauper and a prince who accidentally switch places. It is an easy read, and the dialect is shown very well throughout Twain's writing. I very much enjoyed reading the book. I'm sure that most people would find it humorous and full of adventure - just a great read! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Chicken Soup for the Princess Soul
Greetings! I have recently read this book and was pleased to find that it was just what I was hoping for. I am a huge fan of the Disney Princesses, and I was long awaiting for a book that would bring out their unique personalities and their heroienism. This is a darling book for Princesses and Disney fans of all ages who enjoy little tid-bits of wisdom. The only reason why I did not give it 5 stars is because it is so short. Not that it is a bad thing, and the Disney authors could always write a sequal, it just seemed to come to a close too soon. There is a beautiful illustration that goes along with the quote on every other page, making this book very bright and colorful. A joyful addition to any collection! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good but not great
I enjoyed the book. It wasn't the best book I've read, but not the worst either. I didn't like the way the characters just had names. Nothing about anyone was in depth. It was like oh there she is and that was all. I would ony recomend it to a younger audience.

An "almost true story"
Kids shouild have fun reading this and later on they can read the older version. Anna in later life di make up a false background buyt only because she could not succeed with the one sha had. She was poor but well educated as her writing shows. She was fluent in 13 languages, and is recorded by people to have been thanked by Chulalkongkorn for teaching him about the evils of slavery which he ended. Even her greatest detractor gives her credit. She was known in BAngkok as the White Angel as her grandchild did write. Her life after Siam is just as spectacular. The book may not tell the full truth (Anna needed to sell her books so exaggerated but she records she and the king as actually being good friends) but tellls an amazing tale.

Fun, but False
Enjoy this book, and the plays, movies, etc. But please, please, please, don't think for a minute that it is "almost true." Anna Leonowens was a liar who dropped out of school at the age of 14 to be the mistress of a British clergyman. She got the job in Siam by falsifying her credentials. The real story of His Majesty Rama IV, and his son, Rama V, is much more interesting than any of these thin romances. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hawaii's Own!
I am Native Hawaiian and was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii within minutes of Iolani Palace. Much of my culture was lost and our land taken away. Many books were written some accurate and some not so accurate. This book was wonderfully written and with love, as the author did her many years of research. I say this because the true essence of Princess Kaiulani was depicted, our people, and culture. But most of all, the tragic lost of our monarchy, our queen, and our princess. The pictures and writing is wonderful, it is a easy reader book for children but made for everyone. This book is the most accurate, most informative, and most compassionate book I have read by any author on this subject. To get a condensed version of our history this would be the book to share. I appreciate the authors writing and grace she took to write such a wonderful book on our beloved Princess Kaiulani and our people. The love and tragedies our people went through, however, will never take away our spirit. That is where the word "Aloha" came from. Love, compassion, and spirit. This is something our princess had for her culture and people. This is something shared amongst all Hawaiians today. We may be a culture that had lost a lot but we will never be forgotten. The pictures are wonderful and brings me back as a little girl visiting the palace on a school field trip. I felt lost and sadness as I walk thru the palace, the same way I felt as I read this book. I couldnt help but cry through most of this book, I felt the same sadness and lost. To the author.... Mahalo Nui Loa! Malama Pono!

For everyone who loves Hawaii
This book is a joy to read for everyone who has ever fallen in love with Hawaii (and even those who haven't). This poignant story of the last Hawaiian princess will give you a much deeper view of Hawaii than ever before. Hawaii is a lovely vacation spot, but it also has a rich, unique history. I heartily recommend Princess Ka'iulani:Hope of a Nation, Heart of a People for all ages.

What an inspiring story!
This book was written for young readers but adults can enjoy, too. The Princess Kaiulani's life story gave me deeper meaning for life, such as responsibility, role, and love for people and nation. The author succeeded to picture the far away ilands so vivid even though I have never visited. Anyway I strongly recommend this book for every school library to purchase this and also adults to read. ... Read more

Book Description

She immediately took off her ring and put it under her pillow. As she did so, she fancied she felt a finger and thumb take it gently from under her palm . . . and then, feeling with the forefinger of her right hand, [she] soon found her grandmother's thread, which she proceeded at once to follow . . .

Irene is still a very young Princess, but she must grow up quickly when she and her mountain home are threatened by the goblins who dwell below it. Fortunately, while the goblins are busy planning their attack, Irene's mysterious grandmother is also busy spinning her a magic thread which will always lead to safety. Even so, the Princess and her loyal friend, Curdie, will need all of their courage and ingenuity to outwit the cunning goblins.

Book Description

Detailed photographs trace the origins, heyday, and eventual decline of

knighthood, chivalry, and the feudal system. Discover how armor was made, how

men became knights, and what life in a medieval castle was like. "Great for

reluctant readers."--School Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (6)

Got out of knights
It was pretty good, but it was kind of showing out of the knight period. They wrote a lot about castles and it was titled knights. This bothered me. I really liked how it showed what a knight has as his duty.

Interest your children in REAL history
DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful museum-quality photos of all things related to knights, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about medieval life, knights, armor, etc. If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by medieval times and knights, then you must introduce them to this book!

Captured his interest for days! He keeps going back to it.
My 10 year old son is fascinated with all things midevil. This book shows the armor, weopons, and lifestyle of knights. The photos are excellent and the copy is interesting. Your child may need a little help with some of the vocabulary.

Not the best.
Boring, boring, boring. This book wasn't good. It had anlmost no imfo. I didn't like this book.

For grown-ups AND kids alike
I own several books from the Eyewitness Series and I am imprssed with them all. Why weren't these used as textbooks when I was in elementary school :)

The pictures are quite vivid and there is so much content inside the book. You WILL come away with a greater knowledge and better appreciation of history of knighthood! ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Young Prince Condemned To Death By a Bandit...
Like books that are filled with action and romance, but couldn't find a selection? Well, than read The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen! Lloyd Alexander has once again proved himself a champion author this fantasy novel. The plot is drawn with vivid colors: a courageous prince goes on a quest with his servant to go from Chang'an, the old Chinese capital (remember, this story takes place in ancient China) to Tien Kuo, a legendary kingdom to learn the ways of how the wise king there governs his kingdom so well. Along the way, the prince befriends a flute girl, a mad robber, and more. He also meets a few enemies. Well, more accurately, lots of enemies. I just adore the way Lloyd keeps me sweating a mile a minute at the end of each chapter. I also like the way the words draw pictures in my mind. I guarantee that you will read this book in ecstasy until the end. I think this is the best book the author has ever written. Congratulations, Mr. Alexander!

The Journey to Tien-kou
The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen, by Lloyd Alexander book is a fantasy about the journey of a young prince.

The main character is a young man by the name of Prince Jen. Prince Jen is a very kind person. He is so kind that he gave away all the 5 gifts to 5 different people who needed them, instead of giving them to Yuan-Ming. There were 6 gifts, but Natha Yellow Scarf stole a sword.

The story happened in China during the period of the Kingdom of T'ang.

This book is about Prince Jen on a journey to the legendary court of Tien-kuo. On the way to Tien-kou Jen meets new friends like Moxa and Voyaging Moon. They get into gigantic trouble. One of Prince Jen's troubles is Natha Yellow Scarf. Natha Yellow Scarf is a bandit in the Kingdom of T'ang. He is a bad because he steals very valuable items like a magic sword that was supposed to be given to Yuan-Ming.

I want to recommend this book because I like the story. The story is very exciting at the ending.

A great book to read to your kids
I was read this book when I was a child, and I am still fond of it today. I just bought a hardcover, so I can keep it in my library for when my kids are old enough. Ive read it to kids and few books have the same affect. It's a giant fable with interesting characters and a smooth plot. gripping, Fast paced, and moral driven, its the perfect book to get kids (...). don't be intimidated by its large size the print is large and it goes by fast, don't worry about you OR them losing interest, I'd say you could start them on this book at 7 and even you be interested on how it progresses no matter what age you are. (I still have friends that are 21 reading this book.)
I put this in my Favorite book category

Yuck
I hated this book. I just hated it. It was extremely boring, and seemed to go on and on with that. The only good thing about it is it has morals to it. But overall, I thought this was one of the worst books ever written.

Journey to the North
I have read many books in my life, but my favorite one is The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen. It is a fantasy written by Lloyd Alexander.
The main character, Young Lord Prince Jen Shao Yeh, is very honest and is willing to help anyone. He does not act as a prince while outside the palace. Instead, he wears a yellow robe and a yellow hat. This book takes place in back in 7th century China, during the T'ang Dynasty. The celestial palace is in the capital, Chang'an where Jen Shao Yeh comes from.
In the beginning, when Jen departs from the celestial palace on a great journey, he brings his servant and army with him. He rides a carriage along the way, carrying a sack of gifts, heading to the kingdom of Tien'Kuo. On his journey, he meets many people, including a painter named Chen Cho, Natha Yellow Scarf, and Master Chu. He parts with some of his group and some of the gifts but finds them back. Jen is informed by his servant that his father, the king, died when they were on the journey and that he was now king of T'ang. He is immediately sent back to the palace. When he does, he finds that an enemy has already taken over the palace. Will Jen be able to recapture his kingdom and rule with his beloved lady?
I would recommend this novel because Lloyd Alexander has used very descriptive words and I can picture what is going on. I would give this book a 5 star rating because it is just one of my favorite books that I have read in my whole entire life! This book is confusing the first time you read it though not the second time. I would especially recommend this book to children in fourth grade and up because the vocabulary skills necessary are quite demanding. This book sure will be a joy to read. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

When was the last time...
When was the last time you heard of a 13 year-old who willingly read a 520 page novel written over 150 years ago? Well, if it has been a long time, you may rest assured that it has happened and I am living proof. This book surprised me, I read it voluntarily but I had half-expected it to be a long, unimaginative knights-in-shining-armor story. But I was wrong. The story grabbed me with its flowery old-english, the brave, young, idealist of a hero, and its many surprising twists. I never expected Robin Hood to be a main character, the struggle of Rebecca and her father against the tides of medieval prejudice stirs the heart, and the surprise ending of the last tournament will tickle you. I and my sister's favorite part would have to be the supposed "funeral" of Athelstane, the in-over-his-head Saxon Lord. We were both in stitches as his "ghost" appears just at the right moment...Hehehe. You have to read the book yourself to fully appreciate it, and I would reccomend it to everyone, but especially to fans of G.A. Henty's medieval novels, Jane Austen and James Fenimore Cooper.

Dense but well worth the effort.
This is most definately a book you have to wade through but Scott is such a masterful story teller that the difficult passages are worth the effort. Rebekah (I can't remember which way Scott spelled it so please bear with me) is a brilliant character, an intelligent and independant woman who uses her brain. Most modern books don't have as strong a female character.

THe introduction to my copy says that the book is not accurate to medieval history and was not meant to be. The Normans and Saxons were symbols for the English and Scots. (Scott was pro independance) I don't know how true this is but it makes a good deal of sense. My point is, the strength of the book was not it's historical accuracy but Scott's brilliant characters. Rebekah and Brian de Bois Gilbert are my favorites hgandds down for their complexities but everyone has at least one good scene. (Except poor Rowena who really is a damsel in distress.)

good
im thirteen, and ive read classics because ive had 2. but i wanted 2 read this 1 bcuz i read little women, and they mentioned it in there, so i got it from our library and read it. and i was very surprised. this is the only classic ive read, that were written bfor the 20th century, that actually isnt boring. rebecca the jewess is very cool, but rowena is a little spoiled brat, and 2 tell u the truth, i think ivanhoe should've married rebecca, even tho that wouldn't hav happened back then. my brother read it 2, and he thought it was good, and he usually doesn't like romance, like i do, but he thought it wuz good.

Great Twists and Turns
This review is of Ivanhoe strictly as a fun FICTIONAL book to read. I can not vouch for any historical accuracy nor is that my intent.

I turned onto Ivanhoe because I had heard that this story influenced Dumas when he wrote the Three Musketeer saga and I am really glad that I gave it a chance. The story of Ivanhoe is about the return of the Wilfred of Ivanhoe and King Richard from the Crusades. Wilfred is the disinherited son of Cedric of Rotherwood, aka Cedric the Saxon. Cedric dreams of restoring the Saxon monarchy and has been trying to facilitate a union between his ward, Rowena and Athelstane, whose pure bloodline would give credit to a claim for rule. A strong affection between Rowena and his son Wilfred (henceforth called Ivanhoe) has caused him to exile his son - his sacrifice to promote the Saxon cause. The disinherited Ivanhoe went to serve with Richard the Lion Heart in the Crusades. While Richard and Ivanhoe have been gone, Richard's brother, Prince John, has been gathering friends and making schemes for wresting control from Richard before he could get back and squelch his efforts. The conflict between the Normans and Saxons and the absence of King Richard (Lion Heart) has created the perfect conditions for a rebellion of the Saxons and/or a coup by John - both of which seem almost imminent.

The twists and turns are great. When Richard and Ivanhoe return incognito and fight in a tournament, besting all of the strongest, the wheels start turning that will see damsels abducted, the storming and sacking of a castle with the aid of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, a witch trial and more swordplay. Great, great, great. It's no wonder that this work is still being read almost two hundred years later and influenced what I consider to be one of the best adventure stories ever - the Three Musketeers. If you like Dumas, you will more than likely like this even though it is not as involved or long as a Dumas novel.

A pleasure to read
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott, is set in England during the reign of King Richard , who is away on the Crusades to the Holy Land , leaving the administration of the country to his scheming brother , John , and his corrupt court cronies like Waldemar Fitzurse , Malvoisin and Front-de-Bouef.
Meanwhile a mysterious Disinherited Knight, aided by another anonymous Knight in black amour (Le Noir Fainéant) defeats all of King John's favorite knights at the jousting tournament at Ashby.
The challenger is revealed as Wilfred of Ivanhoe, the disinherited son of the Saxon nobleman, Cedric, who is the beloved of his father's charge, the comely Rowena.

The character who was for me, the most interesting, was the beautiful 'black eyed' Jewish beauty, Rebecca, the daughter of the merchant Isaac of York. Compassionate and yet fiery, humble yet proud, sensual and yet modest, it is not hard to understand the passion for her felt by the Knight Templar, Brian De-Bois Gilbert. She and her father must try to survive in a violently anti-Semitic society, in which they are rendered defenseless, as members of a humbled nation. Rebecca, faced with a horrific fate, refuses to renounce her faith, right until the end. In a sense she represents the Jewish Nation, or the Nation of Israel, right through the exile (Galut), and also today as the international community unjustly pillories the Jewish State, and plots her destruction.

Rebecca thus says during her trial by the order of Knights Templars: " ' To invoke your pity' said the lovely Jewess, with a voice tremulous with emotion 'would I am be aware, , be as useless as I should hold it mean...Nor will I even vindicate myself at the expense of the oppressor which seem to convert the tyrant into the victim."

So you see how timeless words of wisdom can be.

Also thrown into the book are Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and the witty Jester Wamba . A quotable quote from Wamba from Wamba is " To restrain them by their sense of humanity is the same as to stop a runaway horse with a bridle of silk thread.

The book is a pleasure to read. As Herbert Strang wrote in an early 20th century edition of Ivanhoe: "In introducing this great story to a new generation of boys and girls, I find myself wishing that I too, where about to read Ivanhoe for the first time"

After having read Ivanhoe , I can understand exactly why he wrote that. ... Read more

Book Description

"Are you the Earl?" he said."I'm your grandson, you know ... I'm Lord Fauntleroy."

Young Cedric Errol doesn't know much about Earls, and he certainly never dreamt of becoming one. But when an unexpected visitor arrives to tell him he is to inherit a title and a fortune, he learns quickly what his new position entails. Whisked from the bustling streets of New York to an English country estate, the new Lord Fauntleroy must contend with his grumpy old grandfather and separation from his mother. Yet, despite the challenges of his new life, the little lord proves he has many lessons to teach those around him.

Reviews (2)

I enjoyed this book
I enjoyed this book, and recommend it to youngadult readers.

It documents each stage in Princess Diana's life, starting with her birth and ending with her death.All in less than 150 pages.Not bad.

The onlyother reviewer didn't delve into the written content.I want to clarifysome of their comments.

1.The book is targeted at young adult readers. 7 to 12 year old children are clearly not the intended audience.Ichallenge the reviewer to find the print that displays that this materialis for young children.

2.'Lady' Colin Campbell is actually Lady ColinCampbell.Literally.What is wrong with quoting her as a source?

3. What is wrong with quoting books, magazines and news articles?This bookis targeted as source material for young adult readers interested inresearching Lady Diana.Look at Chelsea House's catalog.

4.Yes, thereis a date problem on the jacket.(She was not 19 years old when shemarried Prince Charles, only three weeks into age 20).

5.If you collectRoyal Family literature, and you happen to say that all of the informationcame from books you collect, then the writer probably did some research. Just because one reviewer read them several times doesn't mean the average13 year old has!

6.Princess Diana cooperated with Andrew Morton onwriting his book.What makes this a terrible source?

I normally wouldn'twrite a response to a review, but I thought the last one was a bit unfair.

This book leaves much to be desired.
Ms. Brennan would do better by writing for newspapers and magazines.This book was purchased by me only because I collect books on the royal family.After reading the book, I read over the author's bibliography at the end ofthe book, and every book and magazine listed is a part of my library.Eachof them has been read several times.Not much confidence can be placed inan author who relies heavily on "Lady" Colin Campbell and AndrewMorton for information.

All Pictures are in black and white which detractgreatly from the book which was supposedly written for ages seven seven totwelve.This age group would never consider this book because they aredrawn to beautiful, colorful books - not dull black and white.A secondaryschool student would not be attracted to this book unless one thought hecould read the excerpt on the back cover and a couple of pages in the bookand, perhaps, pass off reading a biography or a book on a person ofachievement which is required in secondary schools.However, there is anhorrendous error on the back cover which reads,"From the moment sheemerged from St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, l981, as the 19-year-oldbride of the future King of England, Diana Spencer captivated the hearts ofroyal-watchers around the world." Lady Diana Spencer was ninteenyears of age at the time she became engaged to Prince Charles and twentyyears of age when she married him.Therefore, when she emerged from St.Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981, the twenty year old Lady Diana Spencerwas Her Royal Highness, Diana, Princess of Wales.

This refers the thehardback edition which contains 143 pages and measures 71/2x91/2 inches. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (14)

Never mind the blue poodles
The witty picture book is often considered to be a relatively new phenomenon. In this day and age there's an abundance of sly hip little books like "Olivia" or "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" everywhere you look. But clever picture books are by no means a new creation. I invite you to take a gander at the 1940s Caldecott winner, "Many Moons". If you don't find it the most sublime little work of art, I daresay I'll eat my hat.

In this story a little princess of ten years (going on eleven) become ill from eating, "a surfeit of raspberry tarts". The only cure she wishes for is for someone to get her the moon. Her father, the king, calls in his cleverest advisors, but no one can think of a way to bring the princess the moon. The court jester comes up with the answer, though by the end of the tale it is the princess who has shown true wisdom.

Author James Thurber is as equally well known for his witty cartoons in the "New Yorker" as he is for his books and articles. In this little gem he has taken his audience down a notch. Recognizing that wit and long words are just as appropriate for a five year old as a person of fifty, the book contains a series of delightful asides and ideas. For example, after listing his brilliant accomplishments to the king, the Royal Wizard points out that he also gave the king a cloak of invisibility.

"It didn't work," said the King. "The cloak of invisibility didn't work."
"Yes, it did," said the Royal Wizard.
"No, it didn't," said the King. "I kept bumping into things, the same as ever."
"The cloak is supposed to make you invisible," said the Royal Wizard. "It is not supposed to keep you from bumping into things."
"All I know is, I kept bumping into thing," said the King.

That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. It's funny. It's well-thought out. And it's a joy to read. Coupled with a series of splendid illustrations by Louis Slobodkin (whose style is suspiciously reminiscent of Thurber's own) the text is complimented excellently. If you're ready to read words to your children that consist of lines like, "midgets, and mermaids, frankincense, ambergris, and myrrh", then you're in good hands with this author. To be perfectly frank, rather than write this review I'd love to just copy down the entire book word for word and show you myself how good it is. But then you wouldn't see the pretty pictures and this WAS a Caldecott winner, after all. So I'm just going to have to trust that you understand how supremely good this book is and that you'll rush right out this very minute and get it for yourself. Few books are worth such efforts, but this is one of the few.

The Innocent Wisdom of Childhood
This delightful Caldecott Medal winner is classic James Thurber and as such is filled with sweet humorous prose with a witty little message. Louis Slobodkin's simple yet evocative ink and water color illustrations help bring the story to life. When a little princess is ill her father, the king, is worried and is willing to get her anything her heart desires if only she will get well. When the princess decides she wants the moon she sets off a chain reaction of worries for the wisemen of the court as well as for the king. All of the best minds of the kingdom are dismayed when they cannot come up with a way to get the moon for the princess. Their final analysis: IMPOSSIBLE! The court Jester gets to the heart of the problem and with the help of the princess and the wisdom of childhood, not only presents the princess with her heart's desire but can explain why the moon still appears up in the sky. Don't miss this lovely book. It's a great tucker-inner and is as fun to read aloud as it is to hear it read.

James Thurber's enchanting tale about wanting the moon
The metaphorical way of asking for the impossible has been "to ask for the moon" for as long as I can remember. I have tried to find out the origin of the phrase, but the best I can do is trace it back to the 1942 film "Now, Voyager," where Bette Davis says to Paul Henreid, "Don't let's ask for the moon, we have the stars." Perhaps the origin is lost in the mists of the past, which ends up being appropriate because the enchanting fable "Many Moons" by James Thurber takes place in the past when a young princess asked her father for the moon.

The problem is that the Princes Lenoire is "ill of a surfeit of raspberry tarts" and insists that the only thing that will make her well is if she has the moon. Since the King had a great many wise men who always got him anything he wanted he did not think this would be a problem and so he told his daughter she could have the moon. But when he calls for the Lord High Chamberlain he is told the moon is 35,000 miles away, which is too far. The Royal Wizard says it is 150,000 miles away and twice as big as the palace. The Royal Mathematician says it is 300,000 miles away and half the size of the kingdom. The only thing the three wisest men in the kingdom can agree on is that they cannot get the moon for the princess.

The King is upset that nobody can do anything for him and that the Princess Lenore will not be well until she gets the moon. He also knows he should stop asking his wise men what they think because everytime he does the moon gets larger and father away. All the King can do is ask the Court Jester to play his lute. But the Court Jester also listens to the King's problem and comes up with something that the King had not thought of that might actually solve his problem.

"Many Moons" takes a couple of out twists and turns after that, so giving away too much would be wrong. Suffice it to say that this story reaffirms the place of James Thurber as one of America's most renowned humorists. It is not surprising that when "Many Moons" was first published in 1943 will illustrations by Louis Slobodkin it was the winner of the 1944 Caldecott Medal. If the story was told with stick figures it would have won because it is that good of a story. This 1990 edition is illustrated by Marc Simont, who had already done the art for two other James Thurber works, "The Wonderful O" and "The 13 Clocks," and who received the Caldecott Medal as well for his pictures in Janice May Udry's "A Tree Is Nice."

The only problem with "Many Moons" if it gets into the hands of young children is that it may well convince them that it is indeed true that if they ask for the moon their father will get it for them. This is a wonderful story, but it may end up being an expensive one...

Very nice story with great illustrations
This book is really sweet, about a princess who is sick and will only get well if someone will give her the moon. Her father the King loves her dearly and so is determined to get the moon for her, but who will help him? There is a subtle lesson about giving people what they really need and not just what they ask for. Also about the vast wisdom we each contain if only we will take some time to care

Stories like this are once in a blue moon...
This book is absolutely a treasure. I read it the first time to my son of six the day he left for an extended visit to his grandparents. Although not exactly a quick read, it held his attention all the way through, and the illustrations fascinated him.

That evening he called and asked me to read it to him over the phone, the whole story, and again he listened just as intently as the first time around, sometimes stopping me to tell me what was happening in the illustration, "now the king looks bored," etc.

I prefer children's books that do not preach to the child, books like Winnie the Pooh (Milne not Disney!), titles from Maurice Sendak, or the Little Bear series. These, as James Thurber's wonderful story, all show and support the integrity of the child over the adult, and this is something we adults should be reminded of more often. As Mark Twain wrote in his forward to Huckleberry Finn: "Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot." So if you're looking for a lovely story to excite your child's imagination as opposed to preaching some message to him or her, look no further. I should add that the text and illustrations work so well together that each reading is sure to reveal new nuances and leave the reader with a beautiful sense of harmony.

The "School & Library Binding" edition is quality-made and will certainly last several generations. Adults who are taken by James Thurber's virtuosic use of language and ideas might wish to check out "Writings and Drawings," a very generous anthology of his works.

By the way, my son didn't buy the princess' idea of the moon. He had his own. I can almost see James Thurber winking. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In a world where even toy guns are reviled by pacifistic parents there exists the extraordinary Eyewitness Book Arms & Armor. Studying weaponry is an unusual, fascinating angle on human history, as people have always used weapons to hunt, defend themselves, or attack. This intriguing photo essay examines the design, construction, and use of hand weapons and armor--from the Stone Age axe to the revolvers and rifles of the Wild West.

In the tradition of the Eyewitness series, Arms & Armor begins with a short introduction to prehistoric weapons, accompanied by a photograph-rich spread with fascinating, history-packed, fun-fact-loaded captions.The Los Angeles Times Book Review says the Eyewitness Books are "like a mini-museum between the covers of a book," and they are right! From crude Paleolithic hand axes, we progress to missile weapons; the first warriors (and the effect of the discovery of copper and bronze on tools and weapons); the weapons of the armies of ancient times; weapons from the Dark Ages; European swords; crossbows versus longbows; axes, daggers, and knives; plate and mail armor; Indian warriors; Japanese samurais; early firearms; flintlock firearms; dueling swords; dueling pistols ("Although illegal, for centuries dueling was a popular way for 'gentlemen' and army officers to settle their quarrels," the section begins); bizarre, extraordinary, seemingly impractical hand weapons; grenadiers and cavalry; pistols; "Guns that won the West"; North American Indian weapons; and, believe it or not, more. This book is sure to find an audience with youngsters obsessed with knights and times medieval, art-history buffs, amateur historians, or anyone with a penchant for pistols. (Ages 9 to 12) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

This book was more about weapons than about arms and armor.
This book isn't really about arms and armor-- it's about weapons. If you are looking for a book that is compleatley about arms and armor, then find another book, but if you want a book that is about the history of weapons, then this is the book for you. I was looking for arms and armor, and this book didn't really have that much information on it.

SEE real weapons and armor
DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful museum-quality photos of all things related to arms & armor, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about all types of armor and weapons, how they were used, and the people who used them.

If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by armor, then you must introduce them to this book!

A Wonderful Reference
From a different perspective, I have always found this book to be a wonderful reference for role-playing games. In my D&D campaign, this book was required reading for all players. It may not be the most thorough book on the subjest but it is pretty close. It gives those new to gaming an incredible viewpoint of medieval armour, siege weapons and types of weapons and their uses that fall outside the general point of reference for most young people. Any RPG fan is sure to love this book.

Aside from RPG fans, I think this book has something to offer everyone. All of the books in the Eyewitness series stand apart as an amazing set of visual reference volumes. Vivid illustration and bold lettering make them easy to read and do not put off younger readers while the wealth of information available and the thoroughness which they have exercised in creation of these volumes earn these books a welcome place in any reference library - whether school, village or home.

I reccomend this book
I reccomend this book for anyone wishing to learn more about weaponry or doing a school project. While I was studing a specific part of the book for an article in American history, I found interest in many other parts of the book as well. It was very helpful and very interesting. ... Read more

Book Description

Among Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet is considered by many his masterpiece. Among actors, the role of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is considered the jewel in the crown of a triumphant theatrical career. Now Kenneth Branagh plays the leading role and co-directs a brillant ensemble performance. Three generations of legendary leading actors, many of whom first assembled for the Oscar-winning film Henry V, gather here to perform the rarely heard complete version of the play. This clear, subtly nuanced, stunning dramatization, presented by The Renaissance Theatre Company in association with Bbc Broadcasting, features such luminaries as Sir John Gielgud, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson and Christopher Ravenscroft. It combines a full cast with stirring music and sound effects to bring this magnificent Shakespearen classic vividly to life. Revealing new riches with each listening, this production of Hamlet is an invaluable aid for students, teachers and all true lovers of Shakespeare -- a recording to be treasured for decades to come. ... Read more

Reviews (138)

A Classic Drama that Delights Everyone
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, written by William Shakespeare, considered to be one of the best playwrights of all time, was a solid, entertaining drama. Hamlet is consistently suspenseful and full of struggle between the characters.

As a first time Shakespeare reader, I found the play challenging to read because it contains language written about four centuries ago. However, Shakespeare carefully crafted his words of prose so that every sensible person would enjoy reading it.

Hamlet is about a prince of the same name. He learns that his father, once King, had been murdered by his uncle, now the King, who, soon after his father's death, married Hamlet's mother. The ghost of King Hamlet arrives one night and wants Hamlet to revenge his father's death. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is woven with many unique characters that only Shakespeare could provide. These characters include the pathetic Polonius, the suicidal Ophelia and the ignorant and foolish Queen Gertrude. Hamlet struggles throughout the play to determine the right thing to do regarding his father's death, and how to do it.

I recommend this book to all people who love great drama. In this bold piece of literature and many of his other works, Shakespeare has the unique ability to teach many valuable and interesting lessons, some of which are comical, and some of which are serious. If you are new to the world of dramas such as Hamlet, you may soon become an addict. As you can see, Shakespeare is an amazing playwright, and I hope you have the pleasure of reading this story in the future.

The Soul of the Dane In Tortured Pain
If you're not familiar with Hamlet, a pox on you! Hamlet is the most famous failed law student in Western culture. Go see a live production. Read the play. Or get a video, or listen to an audio version. Do all four. Versions of Hamlet have been done by Laurence Olivier, Nicol Williamson, Mel Gibson, Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, or the unattainable version done by Baylor University Theater in the 1950s - the film version won a world film festival in Brussels in 1957. (Yes, I know Jacobi plays the King in Branagh's version, but Jacobi himself played Hamlet - - about the time when Branagh was 15 years old. It's better than his I, Claudius.)

Hamlet, like Shakespeare's other plays, has created a huge cottage industry of scholars, actors, theaters and books. The force of Hamlet's personality dwarfs all others, however. To see a man driven mad, and while mad, feign madness, is one of the most clever story twists of world literature. The mind and heart of Hamlet has been thrown into great, tortured pain by several levers -- the death of his father, the overhasty marriage of his mother to his uncle, the usurpation of his throne by his uncle, the threat to the entire kingdom from Fortinbras, the horrifying appearance of the ghost of his father in purgatory torments, the news of the murder of his father from a supernatural phenomenon. The rejection by his lover, Orphelia, and his ensuing mistrust of her, adds nuclear fission to the fire.

You must experience Hamlet. Oh, for a true friend like Horatio!

Chasing Shakespeare, finding Hamlet
The sheer magnitude and dramatic measure of Shakespeare is never to be missed -- but it can be a challenge tackling the linguistics of sixteenth century English, especially text from the original Folio published by Applause.

For those (like me) who need a leg up, the Durband (Editor) additions of Shakespeare's work are an invaluable help. For the ambitious reader, an additional resource in cracking the code of 16th century grammar comes in the form of Adamson, Hunter, Magnusson, Thomposon, & Wales's "Reading Shakespeare's Dramatic Language, A guide." Finally, an invaluable guild to understanding not only Shakespeare but also any dramatic structure comes from David Ball's "Backwards and Forwards, A Technical Manual for Reading Plays." With all these resources firmly in hand, I chased Shakespeare, and managed, in some sense, to tackle "Hamlet," the first Shakespeare play I had ever read . . .

So what's the play about -- other than ~3-4 hours of live performance? This question actually decomposes (like Polonius: "if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby", 4.3 (Act 4, Scene 3) into 3 questions: what's does the play "mean," what's its "theme," and what's the play "about?"

I've actually no idea what it means, and I'm not sure I understand what is meant by 'what does it mean?' so I'll let that go . . .
What are it's themes? That's easy: revenge, parental fealty, trust. Most helpful is the last question: what's the play about? I've read that constraints on the answer to this question are: it should be short, 1-2 sentences, and if you were telling it to someone who knows little about the play, it should 'draw the person in: make them want to know more,' so here goes:

Hamlet is a play about a son who pretends to lose his mind while attempting to avenge the perfect murder of his father, and he loses his own life in the process.

This isn't particularly poetic, but it does capture the basic main plot line, and it's underscores the tragic nature of Hamlet. The murder of Hamlet's father is perfect: it's takes a supernatural event to uncover the murder, i.e., the ghost of his father has to come back and tell Hamlet what happened. These are the two main events that drive the plot: the murder is perfect, and Hamlet chooses to take up the task of avenging his father with absolutely not one shred, not one bit, of evidence that Claudius killed King Hamlet.

And this is just how the play reads, how it looks to the audience: If you didn't know the story, the earliest point you might believe that the ghost really was telling the truth is Claudius' line #59, 3.1: "How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!" And what exactly is he feeling so guilty about anyway? It is unclear, not explicitly stated (e.g., it could be guilt for marrying Hamlet's mother so quickly, which is what Hamlet is initially bummed out and angry about, and justifying the quick marriage is in part what Claudius' initial speech is all about in 1.2.) And up until 3.2, Hamlet's not even sure about the veracity of the ghost -- so he sets a 'mouse trap' ("the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king"). Up until 3.2 (at the earliest), the audience doesn't really know if Claudius murdered the king, and they only know this with certainty during Claudius's confession of the murder in 3.3.

And if the audience (and Hamlet) are not absolutely sure about Claudius until Act 3, Scene 3, what about the other characters in the play? They never know. All the way through the play, to them, Hamlet looks just like the guy he's pretending to be: someone who's coming unglued. Take out Claudius's confession in 3.3, and I don't think the audience would believe Hamlet or the ghost. To them, Hamlet would be seen as he is seen through the eyes of all the characters (except Horatio): they'd think Hamlet is crazy, and to his mother (3.4), he's ranting and raving about a murder, and yes, there is a murder, but not of King Hamlet -- it's of Polonius, and yes, there is a murderer, but not Claudius -- it's Hamlet! Killing Polonius was a BIG mistake: Claudius sends Hamlet away to England, to be killed. Hamlet, far from being a man incapable of action, is "acting" every moment, struggling with one (huge) obstacle after another . . .

Hamlet's a brilliant play, a masterpiece, though I'm not convinced it's Shakespeare's best, plot-wise -- but certainty character-wise: as Bloom so aptly puts it: it is "The Invention of the Human." Shakespeare dramatizes a man that's *almost* (not totally) paralyzed with fear and uncertainty until most of the way through Act 4 (these are his first obstacles), and one main action he takes up to the end of act 4 is trying to satisfy for himself that Claudius really did kill his father, and avoid detection that that's what he's trying to do -- by acting crazy. A great play, and a full measure of the genius of Shakespeare.

Brilliant Performance.....
This review refers to the Caedmon Audio/Full Cast Recording edition(HarperCollins) of "Hamlet"....

The first thing I need to clarify is exactly which audio edition this is. If you are on the product page with a light purple box pictured, this is the 1963, full cast recording, complete play in 5 acts, starring Paul Scofield as "Hamlet.It is not, as the audio file editorial states the one with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. And if the Scofield performance is what you'd like to hear, you are in for a real treat.(You can enlarge the product picture to see a better view of the box)

The entire cast including Diana Wynyard as Gertrude,Roland Culver as Claudius, Donald Houston as Laertes and Zena Walker as Ophelia turn in powerful performances and will captivate your imagination no matter how many versions of this brilliant play you have heard, or seen. Paul Scofield("A Man For All Seasons") is masterful as the complex Hamlet, wanting revenge for his father's death, yet torn by his own conscience.

There are so many different versions of Shakespeare's "Hamlet", and on this taped set you will find a performance worthy of his genius.It is one you will want to listen to many times and well worth the price. After listening to it at home, I now bring it with me in my car to keep me company in traffic and on long trips.

This three tape set(6 sides) has the entire play, Ronsencrantz and Guildenstern included,in five acts. The entire play runs about 3 1/2 hours, each side of the tapes running between 30 to 45 minutes. The scenes are nicely seperated by music and the sound quality remastered(1995) in Dolby B is excellent.Although the tapes are not enclosed in their own cassette cases, there are individual cardboard holders inside the box for each.

A brilliant performance that you will remember, and one we are fortunate to have on these fabulous recordings.

Enjoy...Laurie

To buy this edition or not to buy it - to buy it, I say.
My review merely glances at the New Penguin Shakespeare Edition, rather than saying anything about the famous play. This edition is well worth getting: it is cheap, small, toughly bound, & durable (so it can fit in your pocket without falling apart). Best of all though, it is extremely reader friendly, and so, with interested dedication by virtually ANY reader, Shakespeare's plays - the language, plot, etc. - can be mastered; yes, thoroughly, fluently, enjoyably grasped. How does this paricular edition so effectively enable this? Well, the edition is split into three parts: First, there is a large, plainly & elegantly written, introduction on all aspects of the play, and then there is the play itself, and finally there are textual notes, i.e., explanatory and interpretative notes on the play's text. Everything you could want on this play - except a dictionary - is bound between the covers of this sturdy little book.
Five stars for the play, five stars for the edition! ... Read more