Product Description
The classic Photofile series brings together the best work of the world's greatest photographers in an attractive format and at a reasonable price.Handsome and collectible, the books each contain reproductions in duotone and/or color, plus a critical introduction and a bibliography.

With his focus on the "disagreeable beauty" of the anomalous and the transgressive, Joel-Peter Witkin's images are edgy and disturbing. Influenced by artists from Giotto to the Surrealists, by daguerreotypes and the work of Bellocq, his portraits and complex tableaux incorporating corpses, hermaphrodites, masks, and mutilation provoke and challenge the viewer. 64 photographs in color and duotone ... Read more

Product Description
A brand-new addition to the Backroad Bicycling series, featuring rides on quieter, less-traveled roads and byways easily accessible from New York City.

Renowned for sprawling rural townships, quaint agricultural villages, and tucked-away mountain hamlets, the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions are idyllic destinations for cycling. From the dramatic Hudson Highlands, through the little towns along the river that Henry Hudson called a great "Arm of the Sea," this guide will introduce you to the both the Hudson's gentler, scenic river routes as well as the hilly back roads of the Catskill, Shawangunk, and Taconic mountain ranges.

Intriguing facts about the historical, cultural, and natural gems you'll find along each ride, detailed mile-by-mile directions, and clear maps guide you along you dozens of never-before described bike routes, many of which pass through recently-designated National Heritage Areas. 25 black & white photographs, 26 maps, appendix. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Some good routes - poor technology
I picked up this book to add to my routes in the Catskills.While it has some good routes, it misses others.The Catskills section comes up far short of the Litchfield Hills section of the Connecticut book. The statements about elevation & mapping technology are at least misleading even in 2000.Google maps, Google earth, topo DVDs, and bicycle mapping websites provide a wealth of information on routes, elevations and terrain.

Backroad Bicycling....Wonderful!!
It is clear to me that the authors have a real passion on top of knowledge of the "lay of the land" in the Hudson Valley.
I would strongly recommend this book as it is easy to read and hugely informative. ... Read more

Product Description
A history of the world's most famous trading company based on Peter Newman's history. In 1838 Sir George Simpson, the governor of the HBC, was toasted at a dinner as the "Head of the most extended dominion in the known world - the Emperor of Russia, the Queen of England and the President of the United States excepted". It was an astonishing but appropriate tribute to a commercial enterprise of unique scope and character, with trading houses that once stretched from the Arctic Ocean to Hawaii. Yet the history of the HBC is less the story of a company than of a people - its self-proclaimed gentlemen-adventurers mapped a continent and built a nation. The exciting story of the company and the people is told in this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent history of how the HBC shaped Canada into a country
I have read all three of Newman's Hudson's Bay Trilogy, and enjoyed all three.This, the first volume, has the best illustrations but is more of a summary overview of the other two books.I do not know the history of how the three were written, but this first book seems like it was originally intended to be a coffee table book on the HBC.It has nowhere the depth that the other two have.If you want an overview of how the HBC began and how its actions and its competition with the Northwest Company shaped much of the essence of modern Canada, read this volume.If you want to read a truly extraordinary book, read the second volume entitled "Caesars of the Wilderness", which focuses on the fur trade period of the HBC's history.I gave this latter volume as a Christmas present to my mother's companion of 27 years who was dying of lung cancer.It kept him company in the weeks leading up to his death. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The personal experiences of an African trip.
I love to travel and I admire Hudson for taking off and spending a year traveling the African continent.This book relates his experiences in three countries:Mali, Zaire (DR of Congo), and Somalia.This was written in the eighties before two of these countries fell to pieces.It probably would not be safe to travel now with the way things are going in much of Africa.
Hudson's point is the African people are wonderfully kind to strangers, even those from the West.His experiences prove that once you are off the beaten track for tourists, the people are friendly and helpful to the stranger from another land.Hudson experiences no discrimination.He lives and travels like Africans, and gets their viewpoint.He even understands the corruption common in everyday African life.I admire Hudson's courage in undertaking this trip and his writing is easy to follow.A good read. ... Read more

Product Description
"Starting at the source--Lake Tear, in the Adirondacks--›Lourie| paddles his canoe all the way to Battery Park, at the south end of Manhattan. . . . The many color photographs that illustrate the book give a sense of glorious, solitary adventure".--"The Village Voice Literary Supplement". Full color . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Rave Review
I was very satisfied with the condition of the three books I ordered. I give them rave reviews because they were like new. I was more than satisfied about the timing of shipping and delivery. I needed them in time to give as a gift to my three students who were leaving town. The books arrived a week before the expected delivery date which was excellent for me.

An Incredible Journey
Living in upstate NY, the Hudson is a majestic presence flowing by on it's way to the city.I'd been to the source, and parts here and there, but this book was an amazing opportunity to travel the entire length of the river, see the sights and get to know the many characters of the river. This is one of those great books that make you curl up and escape....andwish you were right there in the canoe! ... Read more

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A light-hearted cookbook that reflects the historical and culinary heritage of the Hudson Valley. ... Read more

Product Description
Every drawing by great printmaker: combine surreal, antic, erotic elements with technical virtuosity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

First artist
When I began collecting art in the 70's, "Jolly Corner" by American artist Peter Milton was my first print. Milton's obvious mastery of printmaking and the nostalgia his prints evoke, intrigued me then as they do today. In this book, Milton explains the reasons behind his choices for subject matter (usually literary, biographical and surrealistic) and the technical process behind his successful pieces. Interesting side note: Milton is color blind. Hence, he works only in tone.
Do not pay the current price of $230.00 for this book. I got a new copy from Amazon only a few months ago and paid less than half this price.Those who like Milton's work will also be interested in Moroccan print artist Erik Desmazières.

A Master's Touch
Peter Milton has long been respected for his exquisite drawings and subsequent etchings for many years. This catalogue raisonne of his drawings offers fine evidence of why he is so widely respected.

Milton draws in black and white, creating large scale images that are excruciatingly detailed n their realism, yet he goes beyond reality and suffuses his drawings with ethereal otherworldliness as though making dreams visual. Drawing with graphite on Mylar makes much of this impossible draughtsmanship possible, though his works on paper (and in his etchings) are equally as delicate.

Milton works in series: 'Country Pieces', 'La Belles et la Bete', 'Interiors', and the incomprehensibly evocative and beautiful 'The Aspern Papers' based on the work of Henry James.For each of the series in this fine book, Milton offers his written thoughts and the book opens with a thoughtful introduction by Rosellen Brown.

This book is a must for Milton admirers and for anyone who appreciates the gift of drawing. Highly recommended.

Grady Harp
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

Great Hiking Guide
I have bought many hiking guides over the years, and consider this one to be outstanding.The trails are described in great detail, with good directions and maps.The writer has done his research, plus given a lot of thought as to the most important elements of each hike (views, topography, geology, history, ecology; not just a rote trail description).My husband and I greatly enjoyed our treks to Anthony's Nose and Mt. Taurus.They were just as he said they would be.My next area hikes will be along the AT in Harriman State Park and the Dry Brook Ridge trail in the Catskills, and someday Lake Minnewaska state park in the 'Gunks, all inspired by this wonderful book.The writer is quick to point out hikes that may be above one's ability level, but includes hikes for families with children. If you want to get out of the City and explore the great natural areas of our beautiful state (but not too far away), this is the book for you.

I like this
I really enjoy this guide a whole lot. I'm a moderate hiker who frequent Sterling Forest and Bear Mountain, but mostly hike outside of NYS. Since I wanted to stay in my own backyard, so to speak, I found this to be really informative on how to get to a certain area, along with a history of each park.

Nice book
I use to be a 2ce a week hiker but have slowed down with age.This book helps and other have helped me find some special places to hike in the Catskills that I can take my child with me.

Excellent guide
I love to hike with my children. This book is filled with simple yet clear maps, excellent directions, helpful descriptions, and useful information. I rely on it to assess the level of difficulty of and what to expect from a particular hike. The authors put a lot of hard work and heart into this guide. I highly recommend it.

Great All Around Guide
An excellent guide at a great price.Included are an overall map, a chart summarizing the hikes, a map and details (difficulty, distance, time, elevation change) for each hike, directions to the starting point and lots of useful information about each trail.Several pictures are included and there's good reference information in the back of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
The most important radical analysts of our time present a comprehensive account of the current financial crisis.Most accounts of the current financial crisis tell a story of deregulation, out-of-control markets and irresponsible speculation. But few of those works have done more than regurgitate the newspaper coverage. In contrast, The Great Credit Crash digs deeper, drawing on some of the most prominent radical analysts of the modern market to foreground the key questions that are still waiting to be answered.

This volume presents a more complete and convincing analysis of the recent economic disaster, which is revealed as a product of a social order built during the triumphalist years of neoliberal capitalism. The contributors assess current events and political responses, critically examining official rhetoric and hegemonic narratives to point the way to an understanding of the crisis beyond the subprime headlines. ... Read more

Product Description
The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.
Western literary study flows out of eighteenth-century works by Alexander Pope, Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Frances Burney, Denis Diderot, Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and others. Experience the birth of the modern novel, or compare the development of language using dictionaries and grammar discourses.
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The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification:
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British Library

T129345

With an additional titlepage in French: 'Guide pour ceux qui commencent à apprendre la langue françois' and a final leaf containing a table and an advertisement.

London : printed for George Keith, 1780. xxviii,346,[2]p. ; 12° ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

People please
Come On! This book is 20 years old and people are reviewing it as if it's new! DUH! This book needs to be taken off the list, but Amazon doesn't want to do that, and why? Because they still have books to sell. Nevermind the fact that it draws stupid reviews from all sorts of idiots who think that material this old should still be accurate. Duh, Duh, duh, people.

Outdated but not Outclassed
I know the Catskills very well. And I will tell you that this book is among the very best when it comes to the Catskills. I don't know about the Hudson Valley area too much except to say that those are the areas that change the most. But the Catskills don't change that much--because it's all state forest preserve and Forever Wild. Still a good deal for enthusiast, especially at the price! Kick's History and original research has been copied by many other writers.

AClassic
Fabulous--No matter if it's outdated. This book was written over 20 years ago, and has had no field updates (except for a contrived new edition foisted off by the publisher).
If only guidebooks of today were written as well--
A must for any serious hiker of the hudson Valley and the catskills!

This is incredible!
This book is over 20 years old. The "new" author who joined Peter and Barbara did not update the book, as required by Backcountry contract, and the publisher didn't enforce it. so what you have here is essentially a 20-plus year old book with 2 newer hikes than the original edition and NO updated field information. The book is also out of print. Still, it remains an excellent book if used intelligently.

Why would Amazon allow/encourage reviews of out of print books as if they were current books? Of course such reviews are going to be come in from disoriented, angry hikers. Consider this.

Do not use this book unless you want to get lost.
I agree with the other commentaries.The book is outdated.Trailheads and trails have changed too much to use this book.

It is good for finding Hikes - but take a hiking map with you (from Appalachian Mountain Club or elsewhere) and have a better day. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic Photofile series brings together the best work of the world's greatest photographers in an attractive format and at a reasonable price.Handsome and collectible, the books are produced to the highest standards. Each volume contains reproductions printed in superb duotone, together with a critical introduction and a full bibliography.

Fascinated by Africa and the writings of Karen Blixen, Peter Beard (b. 1938) was twenty-four years old when he moved to Kenya, where he built up an exceptional body of work. His images of wild animals such as crocodiles and elephants, and of the land in all its purity and its wildness, are a huge collage of his experiences. This book features mainly photos from Africa, together with pages from his photographic journals. 62 b&w photographs ... Read more

Product Description
Few areas have more to offer the mountain biker than the Hudson Valley, with its scenic beauty, intriguing history, and abundance of trails, organizations, and facilities created expressly for wide-tire devotees. The 25 tours Peter Kick selected for this book are as diverse as their settings: They range from Lake George to Yonkers, from family outings to challenging peak climbs, from rail trails to canal towpaths to heritage bikeways. Each tour description includes complete directions, a comprehensive map, a list of nearby bike repair services, and a wealth of details about the land and cityscapes through which you'll be riding—written with an emphasis on responsible riding and the Hudson Valley's tradition of outdoor stewardship. ... Read more

Product Description
The English explorer Henry Hudson devoted his life to the search for a waterroute through America, becoming the first European to navigate the Hudson Riverin the process. In Fatal Journey, acclaimed historian and biographer Peter C.Mancall narrates Hudson's final expedition. In the winter of 1610, afternavigating dangerous fields of icebergs near the northern tip of Labrador,Hudson's small ship became trapped in winter ice. Provisions grew scarce andtensions mounted amongst the crew. Within months, the men mutinied, forcingHudson, his teenage son, and seven other men into a skiff, which they leftfloating in the Hudson Bay. A story of exploration, desperation, and iceboundtragedy, Fatal Journey vividly chronicles the undoing of the great explorer, notby an angry ocean, but at the hands of his own men. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A poor excuse
This book was very difficult to stay interested in from the beginning. The author states several times in the first chapter there was very little accurate record keeping or actual first hand accounts of the story that he is telling as non-fiction.The author tries to cobble together a likely story of what would be possible at the time, based on general accounts of people unrelated to the story.The only truly concrete information is from sketchy ship logs and the trial that resulted on the return of the mutinous crew.
Overall it was a tough and uninspiring read.

Fatal Journey
This wasn't at all what I expected. It read more like a history book regarding the economic battle between nations to finding the NE or NW passage to spices and riches.
The actual account of Hudson's voyages and especially his fatal voyage was minor in comparison to events that wrapped around the trips.
An ok read - just not for me.

Mutiny is always a fascinating read
Henry Hudson must have made an appearance in my school textbooks, because I had a vague recollection of his fate. I couldn't have told you anything more than that he was set adrift during a mutiny on a sea voyage to locate the elusive Northwest Passage.

This book filled me in adequately on the time of exploration surrounding Hudson's doomed voyage and on Hudson's expedition in particular. I imagine not much is known about the actual voyage of the ship Discovery beyond what Mr. Mancall has written. Other reviewers feel that the book is padded with extraneous information about other expeditions, but I felt it was a good way for the author to fill in the blanks of this sketchy journey with what might have happened, given the challenges other explorers faced on similar expeditions.

The author might have spiced up his tale by heightening the emotional tone of his writing as the mutinous events unfold. The startling revelation that Hudson hid food for himself while his men starved was shocking to me, but the author presents it in much the same tone as he uses to describe the effects of cold on the human body. The narrative drive is somewhat bumpy, too. It doesn't build to the climactic event in the way that, say, a Jon Krakauer book does. But then this story doesn't end with the dramatic cutting loose of Hudson's skiff. The trial back home in England of the remaining crew members follows, and it's not gripping courtroom stuff, at least not as it's presented here.

But this ill-fated sea voyage is worth knowing about in its entirety, whether or not Mr. Mancall's entire book is a thrilling read. It's far better than any textbook I ever got saddled with, that's for sure!

Disappointing. Lacking good narrative and light on facts
I picked up the book from my library after seeing a mention of it on Glenn Reynolds blog and was fairly disappointed in it.

The structure of the book follows Hudson on four journeys: Two due north, one to the Hudson River area of the Atlantic coast, and then his journey to Hudson Bay ending in James Bay.After the mutiny, the book concludes with the trials of the mutineers.

The author doesn't seem to have enough source material to write an entire book on Hudson's journeys.Hudson's early life is fairly anonymous, the circumstances surrounding his death are completely unknown.Against these book-ends, there's only sketchy narrative pieced together from ship logs and from journals very few of which are his own.If this were a book about mutiny on 17th century English ships or northwest passage exploration, Hudson's tale would make an interesting chapter or three.

Next, get yourself a good map of the Hudson Bay, Hudson River and the Arctic Circle before even cracking the book open.

My copy of the book didn't have any kind of useful map other reviewers have mentioned (I wonder if this was an insert in later printings).Without it, the book is confusing and requires constant trips to an atlas to find out what the author is talking about.The maps included in the text are worthless for following the narrative: illegibly small, blurry, and of course dated.Islands and channels are named, but modern names for these places often aren't given alongside.The players in this story were confused about distance and heading, and the author's descriptive style doesn't clear that up for the modern reader either.

Speaking of narrative: Mancall is not a storyteller.He bounces around through the story unevenly, giving away later events that aren't so well known under a guise of foreshadowing.There was undoubtedly a great deal of tension on the ship before Hudson was marooned, but it fails to come through the pages.Twice he drags us through the examination of the mutineers, repeating the same facts but without any drama.He makes it clear that the treatment of mutineers changes between the first and second examinations, but doesn't give much a sense of why that makes the second one necessary or important.

One more nit.The author's previous book was about Richard Hakluyt.Throughout this book, the name is dropped over and over again but without a clear connection of what it has to do with this story.I can understand wanting to re-use your research, or pitching your other book, but please tie it all together.To give you a sense of this sillyness, I recall one passage similar to "Hakluyt may have have written about this".

This book needed a cruel editor.

There probably are better books about Hudson, and there are most certainly better books about English exploration of the Northwest Passage and the New World in the early 17th century.Seek them out.

Tragedy of Henry Hudson
Basically, the book is a credible account of the efforts to find a Northwest Passage in the early to mid-seventeenth century.Mancall does a good job in establishing the economic importance of finding an Arctic route to the Spice Islands.Mancall's research of journals and accounts appears to be exhaustive, but unfortunately the book is a rather dry read.The author may be excused for lack of drama in some respects since the Hudson's journals and those from his associates apparently were rather cursory--unlike Pigafetta's. Even so, the story could be much more compelling had the author visited Hudson Bay or had first hand knowledge of working a sailing vessel in Arctic waters.Much more vivid are the works of Samuel Eliot Morison and Dallas Murphy because they sailed the routes of the voyages they write about.

The two page map of Hudson's voyages (1607-1611) is very welcome and an essential part to understanding the narrative--particularly the inset map of Hudson Bay.The reproductions of early maps, paintings/drawings from other expeditions scattered throughout the book are generally too small and dark to be useful.The large map itself has mislabeled the Provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.Also, Davis Strait should have been noted as well as the degrees latitude.
Tom Ogle,South Carolina

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must for any fan of the Mighty Hudson
River of Mountains is more than a travel journal. It is also an historical and anecdotal work about the Mighty Hudson River.The author recounts his journey from the headwaters high in the rugged Adirondacks (Lake Tear of the Clouds), down 315 miles of whitewater, dammed water, polluted water, and brackish water to New York City and the Atlantic Ocean.He meets many interesting river people along the way, and relates much historical information about river.A must for anyone with any interest at all about the Hudson River ... Read more