Review: The INCREDIBLE history of U. of Oxford throughout the past 1000 years
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 19, 2013
OXFORD IS NOT A DICTIONARY. It is the love story of the attendee of the University Of Oxford, and his telling of history WHICH spans back to it's humble beginnings in England in 1096AD. Actually, this book has become more of a #%$@^*% puzzle.That being said, as I have only perused through the book, and it is turning out to be a historical and highly descriptive story of the University of Oxford of England (The University of Oxford is really made up of a number of other Colleges which were built onto or added into the area over the centuries since about 1100 AD). The author states that this book "Oxford" was printed in Great Britain "Beautiful England", and the volumes are only listed at the beginning of the book, the ILLUSTRATIONS discuss the lands with the buildings in the area, how and when they came into being.To some people who may not be interested in the history of Oxford, it may seem to be somewhat slightly dry reading but I am finding it to be enjoyable and interesting.  The writer does describe quite well (with a sort of the old "It's my college" love) the history of Oxford, which the earliest known teaching was in 1096 AD He describes in much detail the "scenery" of each land, town, castle within the Illustrations/chapters which each describes in detail the additions and subtractions of buildings, gardens, or castles and their changes (due to wars against Kings, again well illustrated with words, or buildings or castles falling down due to age) throughout the centuries up until our present day; describing nearly 1000 years of changes all the way until our time today. This book describes the sort of "love" one feels for Oxford while and after attending the College; or visiting and viewing in awe, the College whilst having a full knowledge of nearly a millenium of it's history. I was under the impression that this book Oxford has Illustrations, based on my definition of the word, but no illustrations were viewable in my Kindle Fire HD, regardless, I will also list the illustrations (will be defined later), which are LINKS that actually take you to a chapter that describes the Illustration and said history.Wikipedia "University of Oxford" is an interesting read as well [...] and has several of the supposed "Illustrations" cited with photos.The VOLUME TITLES (not numbered) as follows but are NOT LINKS, they are instead other different books written by the same author:OXFORDTHE ENGLISH LAKES (my research states it was the home of poet William Wordsworth (Wordsworth called the English Lake District "the loveliest spot that man hath found.") and also home of Peter Rabbit author Beatrix Potter)CANTERBURYSHAKESPEARE-LANDTHE THAMESWINDSOR CASTLEI did fairly soon realize (after pulling out some of my hair) that the person who wrote this book, probably knew a fair amount of English especially full meanings of words more so than myself, and I find that:1. Illustration is:a. The act of clarifying or explaining.  HOLY CARP I NEVER KNEW THIS!!b. The state of being clarified or explained.2. Material used to clarify or explain, such as words or photographs/drawings.ILLUSTRATIONS LISTED are ACTUAL LINKS which takes you to what I call "Chapters" of the book, OXFORD:Magdalen Bridge and TowerMagdalen College from the CherwellOxford from Headington HillMartys' Memorial and St. GilesThe College Barges and Folly BridgeFisher Row and Remains of Oxford CastleThe Cottages, Worcester College GardensOld Clarendon Building, Broad StreetChrist ChurchBrasenose College and Radcliffe Library RotundaBotanic Gardens and Magdalen TowerIffley MillWELL, what started out as a simple book, free at that, has turned into probably a month long read and quite a bit of very interesting and entertaining research is necessary on the internet, Wikipedia and other sources (unknown to me at this point) to give more depth and visual photos toward the history of Oxford since 1097AD.WITH ALL THAT SAID, I DO ENJOY LEARNING THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD I LIVE IN especially the history of Europe and the UK.  For someone who is interested in this type of thing, a FREE book such as this subject of Oxford which is fairly well written and holds the KEY to a huge amount of English history; and you have the time to read and do the research, it could be a fun journey through history, as this book also takes you through history of Kings and Queens of England and how they viewed and effected the College of Oxford.  Examples: Kings who tried to rule that the poor were not to be educated, the scholars who fought for and protected Oxford from the King around 1550AD.  Much more for me to read and comprehend and fill in the gaps.I GIVE IT 4 STARSONLY BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT OF AN INTENSE LABOR DUE TO MY RESULTING CURIOSITY, AND AN UNTOLD AS OF YET KNOWN NUMBERS OF HOURS I'LL LIKELY SPEND DOING RESEARCH TO FILL IN THE GAPS OR SEE A PHOTO OF THE "PLACE" OF THE ILLUSTRATION. NOW THAT MY INTEREST IN OXFORD HAS BEEN PIQUED, AND NOW THE ANTICIPATION OF LEISURELY FUN LEARNING LIES AHEAD FOR ME. This knowledge may never do me any good, but I will enjoy myself. After all, it was a FREE book...nothing is truly free, my price in reality is my time spent..LOLOLOL  My last words, I AM GLAD TO BE RETIRED!! I love FREE books!!