Reviews (1)

The Men's Turn...Glossy, Inconsequential Fun Though Somewhat More Definitive than the Female List
As the inevitable sequel to "Leading Ladies" released last spring, this glossy paperback covers their male counterparts in exactly the same format. Robert Osborne, longtime host of the Turner Movie Classics (TCM) and veteran film critic Molly Haskell have again winnowed down a list that presents the fifty actors they feel epitomized enduring box office appeal when the major Hollywood studios dominated the business and groomed its stars. For each of the legends, there is a full-page close-up photo, a thumbnail profile which includes even astrological sign, a select filmography of most memorable roles, selected stills, and some intriguing trivia. Like "Leading Ladies", it's all superficial but supremely entertaining for movie buffs.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Cinema/Film: Book    3. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    4. Film & Video - General    5. Performing Arts    6. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    7. Films, cinema    8. Performing Arts / Film / General   

Reviews (16)

Crocs Rule and So Does This Book!
If you're an avid viewer of "The Crocodile Hunter", as I am, than this book is a must have.True, much of the information in can be picked up from the show.However, I actually enjoyed reading about Steve and Terri's adventures a bit more than watching them.You learn more about their families and what motivates them.After reading the book, I've developed a desire to learn more about wildlife conservation and what part I can play in it.I would highly recommend this book for any animal lover or Crocodile Hunter fan.

Entertaining, but too darned short!
To millions around the world, Steve Irwin is known as "the Crocodile Hunter," thanks to his wildly popular series on Animal Planet.To millions more, he's known as "that crazy Australian guy."THE CROCODILE HUNTER, a book by Steve and Terri Irwin, won't change anyone's mind about Steve's sanity, nor will it provide new insight into the man and his adventures for those already intimately familiar with his television exploits.THE CROCODILE HUNTER will, however, provide a few hours of distraction from the tube and more leisurely exploration of Steve and Terri's usual talking points about wildlife conservation. adventurers tend not to be introspective
disappointing. a short work. steve's life is presented in little more than outline depth. while atriculate on tv, doesn't transfer to the written page.Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Dangerous animals    7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Television Personalities    9. Herpetologists    10. Life Sciences - Zoology - General    11. Scientists - General    12. Wildlife    13. Zoology    14. Nature / General   

Reviews (1)

John Hammond: Behind the Music
> John Hammond's discovery and signing of superstars like Bob Dylan, Bruce
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Subjects:  1. 1910-1987    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Hammond, John,    8. Jazz    9. Recording & Reproduction    10. Sound Recording And Recordings    11. Sound recording executives and producers    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts   

Reviews (172)

850 pages never read so fast
It's a fine testament to Spitz's writing skills that he can take you on an 850 page journey without ever making you feel like the story lags.In fact, when the book ended, I wished it had kept going.I've read a lot about the Beatles, but this book provided an overall context to better understand their rise and their fall.

The Whole Story
This is certainly the most comprehensive biography of the Beatles that I have read. Bob Spitz leaves no myth unexamined as we see nightmare of Beatlemania, the tortured life of Brian Epstein and the eventual self destruction of the greatest band in history. It is surprisingly readable although it is often more like a horror story than a rock bio.
Comprehensive biography adds to beatlesanthology
Mr. Spitz has done a commendable job overall in this detailed and well annotated publication. Granted there are some errors with the text accompanying the photographs. The authors access to Albert Goldman's original recorded interviews adds depth and detail that would otherwise have been neglected given his controversial 'biography' of John Lennon.
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Subjects:  1. Beatles    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Composers & Musicians - General    8. Composers & Musicians - Rock    9. England    10. Genres & Styles - Rock    11. Rock Music    12. Rock musicians    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Rock & pop   

Reviews (5)

Something new
I enjoyed this book.It tells the story of a man I had never head of before, so the novelty of the subject was an attraction.
Lorenzo Da Ponte
Good book but Rodney Bolt does not have real sense of humour.The world of opera theatre in Da Ponte's time was worthy of a more whimsical rendition.
Da Ponte - a lovely read
R.Bolt's The Librettist of Venice is an excellent historical biography of Lorenzo da Ponte.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Composers & Musicians - General    7. Impresarios    8. Librettists    9. Biography & Autobiography / Composers & Musicians   

Reviews (88)

A PLEASING READ
Read this one severl years ago, when it was first published, and it has stuck with me since that time.As other reviewers have pointed out, yes, the author can be a bit naive at times and no, he is not Heminway.This is the story of a young man on a personal journey.We do not even have to question his motives as they are his own.We do not have to agree with his conclusions, they they too are his own.The nice thing is, this young man took a journey, had an adventure and had the nerve to write about it.This book, and it's follow up "The Walk West," have been out for a number of years now and have been extremely successful.A lot of people have truely enjoyed them (myself included).This sort of work tends to draw out the rock throwers after a few years.Would strongly suggest you read this one yourself.It does not take that long and you will may quite well like what you find.As a added note:I note that several reviews have taken almost a venomous view as to the author's relationship to his traveling companion, a dog.While I agree, a dog is not a person, I do understand how the author could and apparently did become so attached to his pet.I travel with a dog, have for years, as my only companion, and you do tend to attribute qualities to your four legged fuzzy friend that many cannot see.All in all, recommend this one highly.

Exciting story with interesting ideas
Even before I had ever heard of this book, I wanted to do what Peter Jenkins did and just hit the road.So my judgement might be more than a little biased.
Very Interesting Book
Peter Jenkins wrote an book in this one.It needs to be noted that it is not a work of art, nor a great wonder in nonfiction writing.Of course, the author did not intend it to be.I found it very inspiring to read an individual's account of something of this nature.I would pass this book along to anyone searching for a read that will capture their imagination. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1951-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Description and travel    4. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Television Personalities    5. History    6. History: American    7. Jenkins, Peter,    8. Travel    9. Travelers    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Walking    13. History / United States / General   

Reviews (84)

Inspiring but not instructional...
Rodriguez is a phenom, only matched today by Soderberg. Both are directors who do it all, but it's not likely that most people will have the chops to be able to match Rodriguez skill for skill. So this book won't tell you how to actually make a movie, but it will tell you how to work with the limitations not just of the medium, but of everything else from lack of budget, lack of resources, lack of sets, lack of everything except imagination. The key thing you learn from this book is you get great stories about how Rodriguez overcame the limitations at the moment. Only problem is that you won't run into the same limitations, and you probably don't even have a turtle either. Key wisdom is never give up.
Learn from his experiences
Robert Rodriguez is living proof that you don't have to do everything exactly right to make it work. He was nearly kicked out of college, and he could barely get into film school. He made a movie -- on film, no less --for $7,000, performing the job of director, director of photography, acting coach, editor, producer, and countless others...
most important book i will ever read!
this book was so inspiring for an up and coming filmmaker like myself. He gives day to day knowledge he learned from being in Hollywood and gives us heavy advice of how to throw down everything and just make a movie. Don't waste your money on Film School, buy this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Robert Anthony),    2. 1968-    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Diaries    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Movie Directors    8. Motion picture producers and directors    9. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    10. Rodriguez, Robert    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts    13. Modern fiction   

Reviews (141)

Good book that tells it like it is
Follow the life of Nathan Mc Call in this book, see how America works through his eyes. This book was thought provoking, eye opening and sad.
Walking in other shoes
This book hurts to read.So much pain in so many lives.But what McCall does is put you in his shoes--this is no easy task for someone who is both white and female.It opens a huge door of understanding.It is not a book for the immature or the fearful.I read some of these reviews and wondered, "What book did they read?"Definately not light reading.Powerful, frightening, enlightening. Needs to be read.

The reality in the race relationships in the United States
I have read this book over and over and I still find parallels in the life of Nathan McCall and my own life. Mc Call calls it as it is, the society that we live in is not leveled and only one group that gets all the privileges. That there is no recognition that the success of the whites was made on the backs of African Americans that worked for free, and gave that wealth that even today whites get to enjoy. To many people who think that racism is a thing of the past this book is a revelation and goes deeply into the inherit truths of racism and its consequences. Many people think that black teenagers are "ready" for a life of crime, but the truth is that a hypocritical racist society has designated a path for those teenagers, to see a prove of this just look at school systems in white and black neighborhoods. It is like we are living under two separate states, same flag, same country but different standards of living and I'm not talking about 1862 or 1963, I'm talking about 2006. This book is very powerful with a strong sad message. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-American youth    2. Afro-Americans    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Journalists    8. Literary    9. Men's Studies - Masculinity    10. People of Color    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    13. Modern fiction   

Reviews (8)

Must have for anyone seriously studying Chopin
To the general public Chopin is famous for his beautiful piano music. However, in his days he also was a renowned piano teacher with some revolutionary ideas (at least for his time) about piano technique. His students included rich, aristocratic ladies (he had to make a living) and some very talented students.
A must have
AAA++++...a must have book if you are serious about playing Chopin. A wealth of valuable information. Very highly recommanded.

You need this if you play Chopin
You need this book if you play Chopin. There is a wealth of information on playing Chopin's music directly from the composer and his pupils. It has answered many questions and cleared up some misconceptions I had about this music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1810-1849    2. 1810-1849.    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Chopin, Frederic,    6. Chopin, Frâedâeric,    7. Composers & Musicians - Classical Composers    8. Composers & Musicians - General    9. Interpretation (Phrasing, dyna    10. Interpretation (Phrasing, dynamics, etc.)    11. Music/Songbooks    12. Musical Instruments - Keyboard    13. Musical Instruments - Piano    14. Piano music    15. Chopin, Frederic - 1810-1849    16. Composers & musicians    17. Music / General    18. Poland   

Reviews (32)

Very helpful for both newbies and veterans
I agree with the general assessment of reviewers that this is a very helpful and well-written guide to classical music. But I disagree with several reviewers' criticisms. To begin with, to those who say this book is only for newcomers to classical music, I would argue that Libbey writes so entertainingly, and with such a good blend of human interest stories and technical information, that this guide would be useful and fun for almost anyone. I think it also has a sensible balance between space given to the music and space given to discussions of recommended recordings. To those who don't like the organization of the book, and say for instance that all the works of each composer should be put together, I would argue that that is subjective, and that some people including myself would prefer to read about each category of music (orchestral, chamber, concertos, etc.), as Libbey has arranged it. To one reviewer who complained about the short length of the final sections on solo keyboard, choral, and opera, the subtitle of the book is "The 350 Essential Works," so Libbey's choices would certainly provide a good core collection, which is the intent of the book. Also, unlike some people, I never have had trouble in finding a given piece of music in here, especially since the index lists composers, their works, and performers too. And although I admit that I have not heard a huge number of different recordings of most pieces of classical music, I have so far found Libbey's recommendations to be judicious and not eccentric. Thus, I'm quite baffled at most of the criticisms that I've seen of this book, and I have spent many enjoyable hours reading it. I own several dozen books about classical music, and this one is in the top ten. However, I do think it's time for a third edition, in light of the many new recordings that have come out since 1999.

Succeeds beautifully.
Libbey's guide will get you started without trial and error. Occasionally the specific recording recommended is difficult to find (exact orchestra and composer) but this is the way to build a collection. The background information on composers and works is engaging and provides great context for enjoying the music.

Good Resource for Classical Newbies
I would recommend this as a good introduction to Classical Music for those that are not sure what area of the music they would like, be it instrumentation, composer or period, and don't have the time to spend hours listening to it to find out.
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Subjects:  1. Capsule Recordings Reviews    2. Compact discs    3. Discography    4. Discography & Buyer's Guides    5. Genres & Styles - Classical    6. Music    7. Music/Songbooks    8. Reviews    9. Acquisitions & collection development    10. Classical music (c 1750 to c 1830)    11. MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Classical    12. Music / Discography & Buyer's Guides    13. Musical scores, lyrics & libretti    14. Reference works   

Reviews (1)

What a treasure.
This is a wonderful coffee table bookfull of Tony's (Anthony Benedetto's) beautiful art and lots of personal "asides" that we fans all appreciate.Well done! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1926-    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Bennett, Tony,    5. Catalogs    6. History - General    7. Individual Artist    8. Individual Painters - Contemporary    9. Musicians as artists    10. United States    11. Art / Individual Artist    12. Bennett, Tony    13. Biography: film, television & music    14. Individual artists    15. Light orchestral, dance & big band music    16. USA   

Reviews (21)

This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind
The author "Ivan Doig" introduces Montana through his youthful eye and shares his rememberances of growing up in Montana. If you have yet to read any of Mr. Doig's excellent books or are already a fan; this book is not to be missed.

Enjoyable
I thoroughly enjoyed the book.The clincher was the realism and affection written into the characters.The work shares a time and place long since gone in this country.It makes one wonder if their own generation can live up to the character and accomplishments of the ones in the book.

This House of Sky, Tim Gauthier
The House of Sky was a good book because Ivan Doig talks about his experiences he went through in the town of White Sulfur Springs. He talks about his fathers experiences while he was growing up and how he dealed with them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Doig family    6. Doig, Ivan    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Literary    10. Meagher County (Mont.)    11. Regional Subjects - West    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. History / United States / State & Local / West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY)    14. Travel writing   

Reviews (1)

so slow
They said they would ship in 1-2 days.I got it 3 weeks later.Disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business Communication - General    5. Communication In Business    6. Communication in organizations    7. Language    8. Leadership    9. Literary    10. Theater - General    11. Business communication & presentation    12. Performing Arts / Theater / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (58)

100% Recommended
It recounts the hellish 12 months that Primo Levi, an Italian jew, spent as Haftling 174517, at the notorious Deathcamp (during 1939 and 1944 2 million people were murdered there). He was captured by the Fascist Militia in December 1943 and wished to be charged based on his religious beliefs rather than his political ones in the view that he would be treated more leniently. After a period in a detention camp at Fossili, Modena, he along with the rest of the Jews are transferred to the concentration camps. The opening chapters describe the horrific conditions of the transfer and the hasty selection process used to determine who would go to the camp and who would go to the gas chambers at Birkenau; all the women, children and infirm were sent to cremation without question. In some ways he was fortunate to have avoided arrest until the latter stages of the war as the Germans decided that the prisoners in the lagers would be of more use to them alive than dead, at Auschwitz they were detailed to build a Buna - a synthetic rubber processing plant which never saw a day of production. Prior to this the prisoners were killed without recourse.
Primo Levi enthusiasts: This is a re-issue of 'If this is a man'
It's a great book. But if you've already got 'If this is a man', don't buy this.

Brutual & Clinical Look of Survival
I stopped reading books of the Holocaust several years ago simply because the stories that come out of the Holocaust are heart-wrenching, bitter, courgaeous, guilt-ridden .... all of the emotions and thoughts that we human have produced can be a lot to digest at one time.
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Subjects:  1. Auschwitz (Concentration camp)    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Historical - Holocaust    4. History: World    5. Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Italy    8. Jewish Holocaust Personal Narratives    9. Levi, Primo    10. Levi, Primo - Prose & Criticism    11. Literary    12. Personal narratives    13. Personal narratives, Italian    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. European history: Second World War    16. History / Jewish    17. Poland    18. The Holocaust   

Reviews (59)

VERY TOUCHING!
I believe in psychics as I have psychic dreams of what I am going to see or hear the next day myself. The one story that got me was the story of the Dad astronaut and the child waving good-bye as he blasted off into space. I won't give out anymore details, but buy it and see for yourself. It was tear jerking. All of his books are worth reading, even though this is my first one and his audio CDs are worth getting too.

A Big Growth for John & the Readers
After I recently read After Life, I am immensely moved by the last chapter Papa, Can You Hear Me?.It must have taken John a lot of courage to open up and tell a true story about himself and his father.
Inspiring and honest
John Edward cuts right to the heart of skeptics, believers, and what and how he hears from the other side.I am a huge fan, but was particularly struck by John's behind the scenes look at his own life and the lives around him as the other side makes it's case.
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Subjects:  1. (John J.)    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Body, Mind & Spirit    5. Edward, John    6. Extrasensory perception    7. Mediums    8. New Age    9. Parapsychology    10. Parapsychology - ESP (Clairvoyance, Precognition, Telepathy)    11. Spiritualism - General    12. United States    13. Body, Mind & Spirit / ESP (Clairvoyance, Precognition, Telepathy)    14. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    15. Parapsychology, psychic powers, ESP    16. Spirit communication & mediumship, spiritualism   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1)

A look into the world of modern fashion design
This book is absolutely fabulous, there's no other way to say it. Whether you're looking for a gift for someone who simply loves fashion, or are someone who loves fabric and the art of fabric manipulation (which is generaly called clothing), this tome is an excellent resource for information on up-and-coming fashion and designers. As a textiles & apparel major I find this book to be a great source of inspiration, but the layout, the wealth of large beautiful photos, and the artistic design of the book itself would make it a great coffee table book. The book is also a great bargain on Amazon, I have seen it for sale in several stores for upwards of $90. If I could give it more than five stars I would! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Art / Fashion    8. Fashion design    9. Individual designers   

Editorial Review

When reality got "too dense" for 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen, she was hospitalized. It was 1967, and reality was too dense for many people.But few who are labeled mad and locked up for refusing to stick to an agreed-upon reality possess Kaysen's lucidity in sorting out a maelstrom of contrary perceptions. Her observations about hospital life are deftly rendered; often darkly funny. Her clarity about the complex province of brain and mind, of neuro-chemical activity and something more, make this book of brief essays an exquisite challenge to conventional thinking about what is normal and what is deviant. ... Read more

Reviews (399)

A Funny and Heartbreaking Memoir of a Girl, Interrupted
Girl, Interrupted is about an eighteen year old girl named Susanna Kaysen, who attends McLean Hospital- a psychiatric place for teenage girls. Her new therapist sent her there because he said that she had a personality disorder. Along the way to recovery, she meets new people with problems of their own.
not for me....
In my opinion this was not a good book. If it hadn't been such a short read I probably wouldn't have been able to finish it. Maybe the movie is better.

Country Club living
In one of the reviews found on my edition states that "Girl, Interrupted" is a writer's book" (Boston Phoenix Literary Section). The Philadelphia Inquirer' review states, "Remarkable....In prose lean and mean," and "it avoids the romantic inflation that most other sufferers of psychoses fall into when they describe their experience". Kaysen simply lets us know, with spare prose, what it is like to have a life interrupted by madness." These reviews praising Kaysen's book are the main reasons why I didn't care for the book as much as would have liked to. Because of that sparse and lean prose the book lacks depth. It reads more like a series of unrelated vignettes rather than a cohesive novel. The reviewer praises Kaysen's book for avoiding "romantic inflation," while I feel it shows the exact opposite.
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Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Kaysen, Susanna,    7. Literary    8. Massachusetts    9. Mental health    10. Psychiatric hospital patients    11. Specific Groups - Special Needs    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    14. Kaysen, Susanna    15. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (2)

Tupac:A Precious Side to Remember
This book is so incredible!!!Just to turn the pages brings awe and goosebumps.The life and times of Tupac are captured in his words on CD and in his writings which are so eloquently reproduced that you feel you are holding the actual paper that he wrote upon.The personal memorabilia scattered throughout the book bring him alive.The man in all of his complexity and compassion is revealed.This is a book to treasure.

RIP to a Poetic ICON 10 years later
Tupac meant so many things to different people. he was a Poets Poet,but he also made Hit&Miss Albums over his career. a strong Screen pressence for acting,but he hardly got the right role to showcase his full greatness.the Man had Personality,charisma&overall a :IT" Factor&Swagger about him,but he was also searching for direction&purpose to fullfill his whole being. there was so many layers to what made him as a Artist&as a person. this is a Great Overview on Tupac Shakur's Career&life.in such a short time period He left a Lasting Legacy&Impact that is felt today&Shall be for many years to come. RIP. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Composers & Musicians - General    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Genres & Styles - Rap & Hip Hop    8. People of Color    9. Rap (Music)    10. Rap musicians    11. Specimens    12. Toy and movable books    13. United States    14. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts   

Features

• Unabridged

Reviews (96)

Lovely
I love these type of memoirs. A person who is not boasting about their skill or having an attitude. Simply shares the love of his work and love of his county. All of James Herriot's books are wonderfull. I was introduced to the children's books a few years ago and just recently started reading his memoirs. Love it, some parts were a bit dry but the books still flowed well and drew you back. Love the depth of scenery and anicdotes about the area. Recommend any book of his.

Great Book
This was a great book. I decided to read it because I like animals, and I'm so glad I did. I loved this book; it was really funny and exciting. I am definitaly going to read more of his books and watch the tv show if it's ever on anymore. I think triston is hilarious. I would reccomend reading this; it was great.

A must read for all
I'm mostly a fantasy scifi guy but I'm also an animal lover and I picked up this book on a whim. I wound up reading all the books in the series and ended up loving them all and wishing there were more. This guy can really write and tell a story. What a gifted man. Great Vet and Writer. I must read for all. You will laugh out loud and at times shed a tear. This is great stuff. You cant go wrong. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Audiobooks    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. England    6. Literary    7. Medical - General    8. Unabridged Audio - Autobiography/Biography    9. Veterinarians    10. Yorkshire   

Editorial Review