From Harold Bloom; one of the greatest Shakespeare scholars of our time comes ldquo;a timely reminder of the power and possibility of words [and] the last love letter to the shaping spirit of Bloomrsquo;s imaginationrdquo; (front page; The New York Times Book Review) and an intimate; wise; deeply compelling portrait of Falstaffmdash;Shakespearersquo;s greatest enduring and complex comedic characters.Falstaff is both a comic and tragic central protagonist in Shakespearersquo;s three Henry plays: Henry IV; Parts One and Two; and Henry V. He is companion to Prince Hal (the future Henry V); who loves him; goads; him; teases him; indulges his vast appetites; and commits all sorts of mischief with himmdash;some innocent; some cruel. Falstaff can be lewd; funny; careless of others; a bad creditor; an unreliable friend; and in the end; devastatingly reckless in his presumption of loyalty from the new King. Award-winning author and esteemed professor Harold Bloom writes about Falstaff with the deepest compassion and sympathy and also with unerring wisdom. He uses the relationship between Falstaff and Hal to explore the devastation of severed bonds and the heartbreak of betrayal. Just as we encounter one type of Anna Karenina or Jay Gatsby when we are young adults and another when we are middle-aged; Bloom writes about his own shifting understanding of Falstaff over the course of his lifetime. Ultimately we come away with a deeper appreciation of this profoundly complex character; and this ldquo;poignant workrdquo; (Publishers Weekly; starred review) as a whole becomes an extraordinarily moving argument for literature as a path to and a measure of our humanity. Bloom is mesmerizing in the classroom; wrestling with the often tragic choices Shakespearersquo;s characters make. ldquo;In this first of five books about Shakespearean personalities; Bloom brings erudition and boundless enthusiasmrdquo; (Kirkus Reviews; starred review) and his exhilarating Falstaff invites us to look at a character as a flawed human who might live in our world.
#732996 in eBooks 2016-09-05 2016-09-05File Name: B01KBCK1LE
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Complete Story of the Battle of Lake GeorgeBy John FemiaI have visited the Battle of Lake George Battlefield several times. In William Griffiths "The Battle of Lake George" we are finally given a comprehensive account of the battle and its historic significance in the war for North America. I finally learned that Bloody Pond and the morning scout were actually part of the Battle of Lake George. The battlefield is not that easy to find unless you are looking for it. There are no major signs and Im sure hundreds of thousands of people drive by each year never knowing that the battlefield is just off the main highway. Griffith demonstrates how the battle was Englands first major victory in the French and Indian War and that it secured a foothold at the southern end of Lake George and the eventual construction of Fort William Henry (which in contrast is easily seen from the highway and a major tourist stop). I think it is one of the best books written about the French and Indian War.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Excellent bookBy Patricia HohnerIt is well written by such a young author. He gave me a full understanding of the events leading up to and including the battle. It is a better description than any history class I have sat through.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy russVery pleased. Thanks
