This is an excellent book for those who wish to delve deeply into medieval history and can handle a book without pictures and illustrations, apart from a few maps. R.I. Moore, a British professor and editor for Blackwell publishers, deserves high points for a thorough scientific investigation, but also for describing his theories accessibly and vividly.

The title of the book heralds a new perspective, and Moore convinces his reader that changes occurred during this rather anonymous period in European history, after Charlemagne, but before the High Middle Ages, that were as fundamental as the French and Industrial Revolutions.

He argues that no real civilization existed in Europe before the tenth century, and that a new system of farming, administration and inheritance developed during the period 970-1215, which was a necessary foundation for all later appearances of universities, cities, commerce, castles, kings and taxes.

It is the birth of the feudal system, of course, which is a plain historical fact. What sets this book apart from many other history books is Moore's thourough grip on the minds and reasons of the actual people involved. Through sharp analysis of documents and wisely chosen and interpreted quotes, he makes the people of the period - sons of noblemen without an obvious career, intellectual monks, religious protesters, nomad farmers - come alive as thinking human beings with a rational cause for their actions. Moore shows how the actions and choices, the logic of the times, build up to a new social order, new customs and institutions, and introduce concepts as tithe, diocese, and cerealization.

His focus is mostly on France, where the development started, and partly on England, where it was perfected, and helped kings unify a nation. But he also shows how the Vikings contributed to European integration, and, very interestingly, compares Europe with the Chinese medieval empire, which lacked a few dynamic ingredients. One basic cause seems to have been the power hunger of Charlemagne's warlords, who, when the yearly conquests stopped, turned their attention inwards, to their own subservient farmers.

Moore abstains from elaborating on abstract theories, and appears to let his source material come alive on its own accord. But this painstaking build-up of details from many kinds of sources into social and economic facts, and drawing conclusions about the mentality of the people involved is the method of the Annales school, of which Jacques Le Goff is an honoured representative. Le Goff is the editor of this series on The Making of Europe, of which this book is one in a long line. The series is published by Blackwell Pulishers in cooperation with four other European publishers.

Writing European history seems to be a Millennium Project for many publishers. Blackwells could be expected to do better than most. This study neatly shows how economic reorganization on the very local level can lead to integration on a national, and European, level. These times are politically opportune for that kind of thought, aren't they?

Moore's method of investigating and explaining is very illuminating and clear, and if the approach is new to this period, the title of the book is well motivated. The Annales approach often combines with good, vivid writing, and this book is also an example of that.

Well worth reading - brings alive the subject of a detailed look at flotilla operations with a great combination of facts and veterans personal stories.

I am a big fan of anything Time Life puts out on World War 2. I found this whole series of books very interesting for the amount of detail, the layout and the overall look of the books. This is the best place to start if you want to learn about World War 2. They are very easy to read with a great deal of corresponding diagrams, maps and photos and really bring the words alive. I think if you are a real die hard World War 2 buff you need to get a copy of these books

When I taught an autobiographies unit for my fifth grade writers, they were particularly drawn to this collection of autobiographical stories by Eric Carle. We are teaching our students how to make personal connections to readings, and there were many here...such as Carle's special walks with his father...his curiosity with nature...his incredible observation skills which led to his success as an artist and writer. The children loved this work and wanted to read all the stories. The voice, honesty, and beauty is lyrical and tangible.

Living in Germany and composing a loose travel book myself, I have seen quite a few in numerous languages, and for the more in-depth traveler who wants a bit more history and depth, this is the book to reach for. The only negative side is that it lacks the budget and student offerings that Lonely Planet gives, and is targeted at an older and richer audience.
But that also means you do not have to deal with the often superficial writing of other books on the market, namely Lonely Planet, that leave you still wondering what there is to offer in the place of your destination and sometimes are factually completely wrong when it comes to almost every nook and cranny of less explored East Germany.
But put against Lonely Planet, the information is much more accurate and reliable, and you can surely thank the editors for that.
The history is well described in each chapter, and the research as far as prices, map detail, and transportation routes is second to none. The best OVERALL English travel series on the market. The editors are really top class!

Well researched; the best I've seen for Berlin guides. A+

This is a very good book. If you are a modeller, so buy it. If you, like me, is just interested on this subject, buy it as well. Comprehensive photo material and superb color plates. Unlike in Albatros Aces, this time Mr. Franks has added a good number of accounts, some personal, of the events about the units and the men who fought in and against the famous, although short lived, Fokker triplane, the "Red Baron" included. Excellent.

The author has been quite exhasting in his research of the medals and awards in this book. He is quite clear of both his facts and opinions. Those persons who collect Third Reich awards and medals would do well to use this book as a reference and check against any forgeries that may have found their way into their collections.

Dr. Moncure has done a very fine job writing this book, based on his doctoral dissertation. Using a massive amount of primary sources and compiling statistical evidence from a database of all cadets graduated from Culm-Köslin, Dr. Moncure arrives at very convincing conclusions. The period of the research sees the cadet corps in transition between modernity and tradition. This shows in the cadet's social backrounds, the educational program etc.
Dr. Moncure describes, among other things, life in the cadet corps, reasons to join, success and failure of cadets and the role of military training.
Having read its 264 pages of main text, I had an excellent overview of the most important aspects of the Prussian cadet corps. Also, my deeper understanding of its workings, pros and cons and results were much clearer. The footnotes and extensive bibliography will certainly help readers find the sources they may need for any other specific research.
All put together, a great read and well worth the money. The fact that comprehensive texts about the cadet corps are very rare, certainly in English, makes this work even more valuable.

This book tells the actual way that our soldiers were treated by the German army. My father was held at Berga as a POW. I never thought that the way he behaved towards me and our family was due to the war but now I haave changed my mind. Since his death I have found out through this wonderful book the reasons he hated Rooservelt, Red Cross and why he had a distrust of the dept of vetrans, and the vetrans hospital. I wish that I could get a copy of this book so that my children and grandchildren could know what a high cost their Grandfather paid for thier freedom. The book's only prombem was that it foused only on the Jewish point of view. My Father like many others was non-Jewish and held there too. The rest of the citizens need to know about teir treatment too.