Product Details

• Published on: 1989-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 111 pages

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-- Bowman offers a useful and much needed biography of the 19th-century industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The account of his life is straightforward, fast paced, and effective, beginning with his Scottish childhood and describing the many risks he took on his way to becoming a wealthy man. Carnegie's final years of philanthropy and public moralizing are also well covered. The tone throughout is perhaps a bit overadulatory, and the writing is occasionally choppy. Yet, on the whole, this is a well-organized effort. The black-and-white photographs are too few and far between, however. A useful index and much less useful bibliography are included. Glassman gives a good overview of the life of the complex, greedy, and largely unlikable billionaire, J. Paul Getty. The biography follows Getty's life from its upper-middle class and lonely beginnings to his exceedingly wealthy and lonely end. He does not gloss over the nastier parts of Getty's personality; his ruthlessness, cruelty to family members, abuse of women, and, at times, extraordinary cheapness are well documented. Fortunately, there are also very good descriptions of the oil business at the turn of the century, and the complex business dealings that led to Getty's accumulation of wealth are clearly presented. The book moves along at a good pace with a forthright, if somewhat dry writing style. There are too few illustrations, however, and the black-and-white photographs rarely correspond to the text. --Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL DAFFRON, Carolyn. Edna St. Vincent Millay: Poet. 111p. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. (American Women of Achievement Series). CIP. Chelsea House. 1989. PLB $16.95. ISBN 1-55546-668-0 . LC 88-35298. Gr 6-9-- Few students of today are familiar with Millay's poems; even fewer understand the impact Millay made on the political and social fabric of her time, as Daffron makes clear. The book includes an all-encompassing look at the poet's happy childhood, the brazen young adult's feminism, and the shy reclusiveness of the later years. Many photographs and snatches of poetry enhance the book's appeal, as the text alternates somewhat between lively sketches and staid descriptions. It will not be entirely successful without encouragement, but the brief text will be welcomed by students once they are introduced to it. Although Miriam Gurko's Restless Spirit (Crowell, 1962; o.p.) will be difficult to withdraw from those collections lucky enough to have it, this title will be a useful addition to any library that supports a strong English curriculum or that has a keen interest in the achievements of American women. --Amy Adler, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, OH

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