Appearance
Days of our years,
"Days of Our Years" by Pierre van Paassen, 1940, The Dial Press, hardback, English, 577 pgs. Chapter contents: Youth in Holland (1905); In the backwash of war (moved to Canada 1919); Parisian days; Men and events; The Street of Our Lady; Notes from an African diary; Ethiopian interlude; After seven centuries; L'Infame; World without end; Voices in the storm; Afraid of victory; In the shadow of tomorrow. At the Sorbonne had a curse in Biblical exegesis in late 1920s.. The author recounts the events of post-WWI in Europe; not that he participated much in any decision- or influence-making way, he just sort of reports on various social riots or political movements of the day: people rioted in Paris, Lenin made some remarks about communism, general stuff of no real impact upon the author. He became of newspaper reporter, toured Europe. Lived in Morocco, talked about the fairs of Marrakech and Fez and Meknes - but not really much detail of interest. He reports on several newspaper stories of the mid-1930s detailing how various French commanders had executed various soldiers for failing to follow orders to attack German military units during The Great War (p. 150-161). In this 1940 book he talks about the rise of Adolph Hitler in Germany in the mid 1930s, and recounts how some newspaper writers dismissed Hitler's rise in politics in the late 1920. The author did report on Hitler's demands for the German reoccupation of the Rhineland, but based on information he received from other sources - not his own. He discusses his reading of various books regarding Italy's Duce: Mussolini. He talks of his living in Berlin in mid 1930s, but very general information - one just doesn't get a `feeling' of his experiences. Due to his critical writings against Hitler, he was interned in a Dachau prison for awhile, before being released upon appeals from his journalist friends. The author details WHAT is happening with the rise of Hitler's fascism rule, but not really the WHY of Hitler's thinking. The author is in Lake Chad in 1934, but doesn't really offer much detail about his travels there. He details his watching the French shooting of four Arab youths for some crime [p. 265]. He discusses a run-down Jewish school in the Jewish ghetto (mellah) [p. 267]. In Agades he talks about the slave trade [p. 289]. He visits Ethiopia to detail the Italian's conquest of that country. He visits Palestine to cover the Druse revolt in Syria, and discusses the Jewish development around Tel Aviv, and details his interview with the Muslim `Grand Mufti', who said to the author: "There will be no peace in this country until they [the Jews] go ... Our people are at the end of their patience. They cannot bear the sight of the Jews any longer" (p. 365]. The Mufti went on to claim that Jews sought the blood of Arabs. The author discusses the incident when Arabs in Hebron passed out falsified photographs showing the Omar mosque of Jerusalem in ruins, which set off anti-Jew riots [p. 370]. The author claimed that some Arabs did not like his articles in "The Palestine Post": "One day a British tommy...with a blow of his rifle broke the arm of an Arab who rushed me with a long knife as I emerged from (my hotel)" [p. 387]. In May 1936 he begins reporting on the political troubles of Spain and the beginnings of Franco's military rise. In 1939 he returns to Europe to discuss the gathering war clouds, then travels to England to escape Hitler's invasion of France - then publishes this book.
All Things Are Lights
This is perhaps my all-time favorite book. It has everything; war, romance, religious intolerance, second chances and redemption. Every time I have lent this book out, I have lost it, because to read it is to fall in love with it...As a historian, I can tell you that the author knows his history; there are no glaring errors the likes of which keep me from reading most historical fiction. As a writer, I can tell you that the author knows how to write. As a die-hard romantic, I can tell you that this books satisfies at levels of my soul that remain untouched by most novels.You can access the book online at http://bobshea.net/all_things_are_lights.html. The author's son as posted the book with a license through Creative Commons. But do yourself a favor and track down a copy. You'll want to own and return to this world again and again...
All Things Are Lights
This book has everything! Romance, intrigue, deceit, Religious persicution, War... with a discription and belief in honor, love and God that parellel my own beliefs. This book has been a multiple read for me and I will probably read it many, Many more times.
All Things Are Lights
I know that it seems ridiculous that everyone who has reviewed this book so far gives it five stars, but I honestly think almost any reader would enjoy this fast-moving book, set in the time of Saint Louis, king of France, about a knight who is drawn into two wars of religion and is torn between two women. The emphasis is on action and romance, but a surprising amount of history is slipped in about the Templars, King Louis IX (one of the characters in the book), the Albigensians, Moslems in Egypt, etc. Kudos to Amazon for making this classic available again as a Kindle.
All Things Are Lights
Historical fiction has romance, intrigue, spies, torture, war and the Knights Templar. Takes place during the Inquistion and France's religious crusade into Egypt. The book revolves around a wandering troubadour/knight and the two women he has loved, both unattainable; and the knight he hates and wants to kill, but cannot because he is close to the King.Very historical detailed book.A very enjoyable book...Don't be thrown off by the title, you'll find out what it means while reading the book.Highly Recommended!!
All Things Are Lights
I re-read this book until, alas, it fell apart. Along with "The Assyrian" by Nicholas Guild, it's the finest historical novel I've ever read. In fact, it's one of the finest novels of any kind that I've ever read. I understand it's out of print now but available on Kindle, which I don't own. It could do with a reprint and once again be a best seller. I couldn't put it down...again and again! My only objection was what a fool Diane was--but read it for yourself. No one should go through life without it.