Book Description
This is volume 3 of a five volume set.
Sholokhov's book introduces the reader to a New World that is not merely the Don Region, but the world of the author's inimitably poetic prose; giving fifteen years of his life to the creation of And Quiet Flows the Don. He began the first book at the age of twenty, in 1926. The last was finished in 1940. While Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace (1863-69) immortalized the Napoleonic campaigns to the eve of the Decembrist revolt, And Quiet Flows the Don showed the destruction of the Cossacks and the birth of a new society.
Customer Reviews:
Sholokhov has moment of incandescent literary brilliance.......2007-08-26
Sholokhov is no Tolstoy (as Gorki attempts to equate thuis work to War and Peace).
The Garry translation is no Maude (Tolstoy) translation equivalent.
In this opinion the long sprawling vicious and lustful affair of Gregor and Aksina, --reckless, rollicking and tragic though it was does not approach the depth and meaning of the affair of Bunchuk and Anna--the young ardent revolutionary. The GREAT tragedy in this book is their love affair, the primal. visceral, elemental love of Bunchuk for Anna and the horror of his stunned self negating nether world of mourning, Nothing in the book equals the strength of that narrative in this opinion--and there, the author walked with the greatest of the great Russian Authors despite the Stalionist stench that permeates the attempt at poetry and philosophical substance in the idealistic musings of young Anna.
A brutal book to say the least. I think the character dialogues are the best parts of this book and I think the author should have attempted a play here and there--perhaps approaching Chekov. What was missing from this book? ---That was a scene that one thought was definitely going to happen And that was a final visit to the general's mansion by Gregor. You may say he delt with that in the final and rough hewn leaving of a desperate Aksina--I think not because she was ever on his mind even in pitched battles or their aftermath. NOT his wife--always Aksina. The general's 8000 acres and his Czarist officer son whom Gregor beat up---should have played into the end of this novel----perhaps the sequel may have it, but it surely was missing here.
There was symbolic mood coloring in pastoral and animal discriptions- and how this author loves the color 'lilac'.
A Good read, I hope the sequel is as good----BUT the author was a revered commie---and sooner or latre the party line finds its way in to Soviet era literature--
Insight into Russian history by a Nobel Prize - winner.......2005-06-18
I am glad to see "And Quiet Flows the Don" is back in print! Sholokhov won the Nobel Prize for this novel of war and revolution among the Don Cossack host. Although painted across a backdrop of history, it is primarily the love story of Gregor and Aksinya. As much of great 20th century Russian literature, the style harks back to Tolstoy, but the subject matter is undeniably Soviet. Published in 1929, "And Quiet Flows the Don" was the pinnacle of Sholokhov's career. He never again produced a work to compare, although to be fair to him, his career coincided with the height of Stalinist conformity in the arts. This was an era when simply being a famous writer was dangerous - think of the careers of Pasternak, Babel, and Pilnyak. If Sholokhov descended into the role of a party hack churning out the obligatory Socialist Realist pap, at least he lived to a ripe old age!
Mixed reaction.......2004-04-11
A story about village Cossacks who lived through the first world war, followed by the Russian Revolution, it seems to be modeled upon War and Peace. Despite very negative presentations of women and some Sovietized propaganda throughout, it does provide a view of the Cossack life and culture. However, once the wars begin, the book gets carried away with battle, and the threads of lives introduced at the beginning aren't wrapped up at the end, leaving the reader feeling unfulfilled.
A modern masterpiece.......2003-12-19
I first read this magnificent epic in 1970 and have reread it at least three times since. Sholokhov captures the breath and sweep of the steppes of Russia as he draws the reader into maelstrom of the First World War, the Russian Revolution and Civil War. It is a time and a land that was caught between the modern industrialized West and the near medieval Russia- Cossack Calvary charging German machine guns, the slash of sabers, and the incongruity of machine guns mounted on ox carts.
But more than a story of war, this is a story of people. Sholokhov creates for us characters who we deeply care about. The doomed love affair between the protagonist Gregor and Aksinia is both filled with passion and heartache. We even come to care about Akisina husband, the brutal Stephen, We see them caught up in catastrophic events far beyond their control. Although often cited and an apologist for Stalin, I wondered as I read it why it was published in Soviet Union. Our hero Gregor is first swept up on one side of this conflict to the other- clearly he is not a dedicated revolutionary, but just a man trying to survive in a conflict he cannot comprehend. It is a story of survival, love, and revenge. Since my last reading of this novel probably fifteen years ago, I can still vividly picture in my mind the word images that Sholokhov crafted with his pen. Images as simple as the flies settling on the ceiling of the peasants hut, to Stephen brutally stomping his wife Aksinia. His description of the First World War is brutal, perhaps surpassing Remarques All is Quiet on the Western Front.
Russians write great novels and this is one of the best. If you are unfamiliar with Russian literature you would do well to read Quiet Flows the Don as your first Russian novel.
A vivid and involving epic.......2003-10-03
I have read this book more than 5 years prior to writing this review, but I have yet to read an epic that has as lasting an impression as this one. The author, a humanist to the core, gently weaves the scenes over the myriad of characters. The reader is pulled into the scenes - he doesn't remain a reader. It has a raw, fresh appeal to it, even now. Need I go on?
Average customer rating:
- A historic classic
- Breathtaking
- First complete edition in English
- Schlock
- The epic story of the Cossacks in a Nobel winning novel
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And Quiet Flows the Don
Mikhail Sholokhov
Manufacturer: Tuttle+publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 20th Century
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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ASIN: 0460878905 |
Customer Reviews:
A historic classic.......2005-11-12
In the same league as "A tale of two cities". A great story set in the backdrop of the Cossack life during the most turbulent times in Russia. In four volumes, this great romantic work will keep you absorbed till the very end...
Breathtaking.......2004-09-16
With this book Sholokov has created an absolute masterpiece that not only vividly recreates the world of the Don Cossacks, but slowly, agonizingly, shows how the Great War and the subsequent Civil Wars savaged that world, leaving nothing untouched. Amazingly for a book written during Soviet times, it slips the stink of propoganda: the Cossacks, sometimes choosing sides arbitrarily, massacres each other with numbing disregard for ideology. Sholokov couples the tragic sweep of events with a artist's eye for detail, loving recreating the pastoral pre-War Eden, and soberly describing the smoking ruins that envelope it. Perhaps the book becomes slightly overlong in the second volume, but that is a small price to pay for something so splendid.
First complete edition in English.......2003-12-06
Sholokhov's mighty work came out in English in the early 1950s if I recall; it may have been late 1940s. The translation was incomplete and the title was "And Quiet Flows the Don". A sequel came out under the title, "The Don flows Home to the Sea", both published by Wishart and Lawrence, a UK publisher with the courage to sponsor such works. Neither volume I now learn reflected accurately what Sholokhov wrote.
When the 1996 translation appeared, brilliantly executed and edited, I snapped it up immediately and also sent a copy to a former spouse in Europe. I read Sholokhov's first work as a teenager and still recall the inability to put the book down as well as being emotionally shocked at several sections of the narrative.
I came across this page in seeking any book by Professor Murphy since he has written extensively on the Cossacks and Sholokhov; re-reading the book raises my curiosity to learn more about that region of the former USSR and its inhabitants. I take the opportunity to recommend a rattling good read that provides an inside view of life in the pre-revolutionary Don basin and a rather well balanced view of the revolution and the civil war. Yes, yes, the hero Stokman is a little too upright and heroic as a communist and yes, the kulak/capitalist Molkhov a little too villainous... but these were small pecadillos when the book was written. If the model of Stokman was intended to inspire readers, they could have had far worse models!
The work did not earn the author the Nobel literature prize for nothing!
Schlock.......2002-06-14
Awful commie propaganda. Slanderous portraits of Liberals and of the Whites in the civil war. Wafer-thin characters all around, from decadent blood-sucking nobles to gooey warm camaraderie amongst their "class enemies." Read Tolstoy instead. Life is too short.
The epic story of the Cossacks in a Nobel winning novel.......1999-11-05
Certainly a masterpiece, spellbinding for 1300 pp., I happened on this amazing book as a remainder at The Strand in New York. Difficulty keeping the generals apart and whose side they were on, but a captivating story that has led me to learn to read and write Russian with hopes of living there/studying there. I had been a fan of Russian poetry for a while, esp Ahkmatova, but this is really simply an unbelievable story. Would be interested in reading more about World War I and this part of the world. Read The Guns of August and now need to read the equivalent for this area. Your suggestions are encouraged.
Average customer rating:
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And Quiet Flows the Don
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0394415205 |
Book Description
A shocking assassination creates an unconventional bond between a princess and her guardian in a kingdom filled with political intrigue, danger and unexpected romance.
Princess Shasta Soltranis enjoys a pampered life of court dances, elaborate finery, and the occasional secret fencing match with her twin brother, Daric. But in the midst of a birthday celebration, her world shatters when a mysterious assassin takes her brother's life. Shasta, the only remaining heir to the throne, narrowly escapes the assassin's blade thanks to the intervention of a traveling acrobat named Talon.
With the threat of another attempt on Shasta's life imminent, her father declares that the young hero will be come the Princess's bodyguard. But what Shasta doesn't know is that her new guardian has a very well-kept secret: he is actually a she.
Talon and Shasta soon grow closer than anyone, especially her father, could have predicted. Will the truth of her guardian's secret change their relationship forever?
Customer Reviews:
Better Than Good.......2007-06-28
It seems like I've been reading a lot of books with medieval settings lately. Fortunately, they're mostly quite good. In fact, SWORD OF THE GUARDIAN is better than good. Princess Shasta is the almost-victim of an assassination attempt in which her brother was killed. Narrowly saved by circus performer Talon, the princess is placed under heavy guard. In the meantime, the decidedly masculine and injured Talon is taken into the castle to heal. Finding out "he" is really a "she", the king offers a life in the palace for Talon and her sisters if she'll be the princess' personal bodyguard. There are two conditions. First, Talon must never reveal her true self to anyone. Second, if the princess is ever harmed, Talon's sisters will be tortured or killed.
Shasta resents her new bodyguard, particularly when the man is required to share her sleeping chambers. However, a reluctant relationship eventually develops between the two. Shasta, not knowing Talon's secret, repeatedly puts her own life in danger and wreaks havoc at the palace and beyond.
The protagonists are likable and lovely. The supporting cast rounds out the story and the final pages reveal the answers to many questions. A great book with the potential for a sequel, GUARDIAN is highly recommended by this reader.
Give Them A Visit.................2007-06-19
Being a teenager in the 1970's, I searched for books with strong female characters. My daydreams were filled with heroic women who saved the day, but the stories I found were filled with women who needed to be rescued, found love with the male hero and had to die in the end, or who were seductresses who used their feminine charms usually for evil reasons. It even got harder to find a good Fantasy read when I realized that I was a lesbian and a hopeless romantic. I found my soulmate when I was 25, but I still couldn't find many books that didn't kill off one of the lesbian characters at the end of the story. I like happy endings, remember this is supposed to be fantasy not real life. Thus, I was ecstatic to find Merry Shannons' 'Sword of the Guardian'. At first I was a little put off by the ages of the two main characters, Talon is 19 and Shasta is 16 at the beginning of the story, this would have been great when I was a kid, I'm fortyfive now and I felt a little leacherous, but you soon begin to care about the characters and forget their ages. The story unfolds quite well and includes all the elements of a great sword & sorcerer type fantasy tale, there is a handsome hero/heroine, a spoiled princess who comes into her own, several well crafted assassinations & attempts, magical powers, swords, armies, war, intrigue, betrayal, longing, and love. You will find, as the story unfolds, you are drawn deeper and deeper into the life and loves of the people of Ithyria. I enjoyed the book so much it was difficult to put down and I am hoping Ms. Shannon is working on another book with these wonderful characters. Give them a visit and you will find it hard to leave.
Midwest Book Review: December 2006 Issue.......2006-12-02
Princess Shasta is a spoiled young teen who's got everything: royal blood, beauty, wealth, power, and influence. But her life is turned upside down when her dashing twin brother - heir to the kingdom - is murdered at a party in front of the royalty, nobles, and others. If not for the quick intercession of Talon, a young acrobat performing at the party, Shasta would have been stabbed, too. The king decrees that Talon be Shasta's bodyguard, not realizing that "he" is actually a she.
What follows is a terrific adventure, coming of age story, a romance, and tale of courtly intrigue, attempted assassination, and gender confusion as the young princess learns, grows, and comes into her own. This is a rollicking fun book and a must-read for those who enjoy courtly light fantasy in a medieval-seeming time. Merry Shannon is a bright new voice in lesbian fantasy fiction, and this one's highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
Enjoy a little Sci-Fi.......2006-07-31
I'm not a Sci-Fi reader, but this novel was good.
Strategy, battles and special powers makes this an intriguing novel.
Great Characters, Nice Fantasy.......2006-07-17
I absolutely loved Sword of the Guardian - it took me a little while to settle into the book but that was only the first few pages - once I'd gotten myself settled into a different world frame of mind and mystical sounding names - i was hooked. I soon got caught up in the mystical world and the two main characters. I thought the main characters were developed extremely well and very slowly. I began to care what happened to these people. There's a few twists in the story, which builds up slowly over a four year period. A nice romance built on the good versus evil plot.
Average customer rating:
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The Angel and the Sword: A Supernatural Adventure (The Guardian Angel)
Sigmund Brouwer
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Crown of Thorns (Nick Barrett Mystery Series #2)
ASIN: 0736902937 |
Book Description
In the second book in The Guardian Angel series, angel Pelagius visits AD 1351 and introduces readers to Raphael, a young man trained to be a court jester in Avignon, France. His study of juggling, acrobatics, and knife throwing is supported by his patron, the most powerful man in Europe, Pope Clement VI. But when Raphael is falsely accused of attempting to murder the pope, his talents become tools for survival as he pursues the identity of the real would–be murderer.
Can he solve the mystery in time to save his life and the lives of others? And will he trust his faith as he unknowingly heads into battle between the forces of good and evil.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable.......2007-01-09
Interesting and creative. A very enjoyable book. Consistent with the other two in the series.
Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Still Great
- Fine fantasy, but aimless
- The Quest Continues
- Joel Rosenberg has outdone himself!
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The Sword and the Chain (Guardians of the Flame)
Joel Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Rosenberg, Joel | ( R ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0451453514 |
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Lou and Walter are stuck in the fantasy game world. It is a little bit different now as they are used to it, so this becomes more of a standard fantasy adventure type novel.
They become good guys, and fight to oppose a bunch of wizards and slavers.
Still Great.......2005-09-01
I can't believe these books are out of print. I originally bought them as a single hardcover collection from a book club. This takes up right where The Sleeping Dragon left off. There is no drop off in quality and it certainly feels like the 2nd part of a greater story and not some forced sequel. It also is an interesting social commentary on the ills of slavery.
Fine fantasy, but aimless.......2003-04-07
The Sword and the Chain, while still a quick, entertaining read, lacks the unique appeal that The Sleeping Dragon had. The characters, having been imported into a Dungeons & Dragons world from our own, are now completely ensconced and resigned to staying. There is no longer any disconnect between the characters and their setting and, except for a certain sense of greater superiority, there is little to distinguish our heroes from any other fantasy character. Also problematic is that the narrative focus has shifted entirely onto Karl Cullinane, leaving the far more interesting Ahira in a side-kick role. There is, however, an intriguing plot development involving erstwhile professor Deighton, whose resolution appears to await later books.
Like The Sleeping Dragon, The Sword and the Chain is an incredibly quick read. It's not always enjoyable (do we really need to read about disembowelments that sound like a wet fruit exploding?), but it is a fine distraction from our own daily lives. A worthwhile read for any fantasy fan.
The Quest Continues.......2001-11-09
The second book in the Guardians of the Flame series returns the reader to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Walter, and Lou are stuck in a strange world in the bodies of the characters they created and played. These friends are bound to this world through a pledge to bring freedom to the world. They made their pledges to save the life of a friend. Now Karl and his friends must wage a war on slavery, fighting against Wizards and the Slaver's Guild. With the aid of the young dragon Ellegon, from the first novel, Karl and his friends start trying to fulfill their promise. The two books in this series that I have read so far have read mostly like you would expect a Dungeons & Dragons adventure to be. The characters have to adapt to the strange world of magic, with only their wits and the instincts of their bodies. There is, of course, the obligatory quest, and plenty of magic and spells. This book is interesting, easy reading. Do not expect many plot intricacies, but do expect to enjoy the developing story of the Guardians of the Flame.
Joel Rosenberg has outdone himself!.......2001-08-02
I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with this outing. While most sequels are stale and transparent, Joel Rosenberg manages to take up where The Sleeping Dragon left off and create a mystical tale that keeps the readers attention from the first page to the last.
Admittedly, I let out a yelp of joy when Karl announced to the slaver, "Tell you masters that I am hunting them!" It showed a glimmer of what was to come in this series (especially this installment), and it did not disappoint.
I won't allow myself to announce any spoilers for those who haven't enjoyed this, but let me say that it was delightfully intriguing when the secret of Deighton was revealed. The implications of this information should have an enormous impact in future volumes.
Book Description
Is He a Victim of Circumstances, or as Guilty as the Evidence Is Strong?
The trail of a violent gang leads Hunter Stone and the North-West Mounted Police to the Blackfoot Indian village where Reena O'Donnell works as a missionary. There they find a mysterious half-breed who claims to know where the killers are. Hunter also discovers that a new missionary has arrived in the Territory who is obviously captivated by the beautiful Reena.
The Reverend Jack Sheffield is an idealistic seminary graduate who holds lofty expectations for the area. While he and Reena differ sharply over mission policy, Sheffield is deeply attracted to her.
When the Mounties clash with the gang and capture three of the men, to Reena's horror one of the outlaws turns out to be her younger brother, Liam. Reena begs Hunter to let her brother go, believing him to be a victim of circumstances, but Hunter flatly refuses to compromise on his commitment to carrying out justice, even if it means the loss of Reena.
Will truth prevail for her brother? And to which man will Reena's affections lead?
Customer Reviews:
Another Winner.......2000-03-11
Solid Christian romance with an interesting historical backdrop - Canada and our mounties! A good read.
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