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The Agony And The Ecstasy
The Agony And The Ecstasy | Irving Stone
Irving Stone's powerful and passionate biographical novel of Michelangelo. His time: the turbulent Renaissance, the years of poisoning princes, warring popes, the all-powerful Medici family, the fanatic monk Savonarola. His loves: the frail and lovely daughter of Lorenzo de Medici; the ardent mistress of Marco Aldovrandi; and his last love - his greatest love - the beautiful, unhappy Vittoria Colonna. His genius: a God-driven fury from which he wrested the greatest art the world has ever known. Michelangelo Buonarotti, creator of David, painter of the Sistine ceiling, architect of the dome of St Peter's, lives once more in the tempestuous, powerful pages of Irving Stone's marvellous book.
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PurpleyPumpkin
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Eggs Brilliant 👌🏼👏🏻 3mo
39 likes1 comment
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perfectsinner
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Pickpick

I couldn't figure how to link my Goodreads review of this, so here's a screenshot of what I wrote there. I really dislike Litsy's limiting review length, which is why I don't usually write one 😶😬

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perfectsinner

670/776
Almost there! 😅

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perfectsinner
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I'm surprised how quickly I've been going thru this 700+ page book. Currently 594/776 pages
Hoping I can finish it this weekend, and it'll be the first book down of 2024... started it out with a banger, and a biggin.

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monalyisha
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Every year, I consider matching myself with @BarbaraJean . Looks like 2024 is finally the year! Here‘s her full list: a little Lit Fic, a little Fantasy, a dash of Children‘s Lit, and surprisingly (for me) even some Mysteries! I‘ve read 3 titles already: Thank You for Listening, When Women Were Dragons, & The Agony and the Ecstasy. The first made my list this year, the second *almost* did, & the third was a formative title in my adolescence! 👇🏻

monalyisha @BarbaraJean I have vivid memories of a lazy summer, sitting on the ladder of my above ground pool with my feet dunked in the water, absolutely devouring Michelangelo‘s story. I‘m tempted to revisit it; it‘s been at least 15 years since I first fell in love with it (& my memory is terrible 🙃). I‘m going to start with new-to-me titles, though…& we‘ll see where the year takes us! Follow-up post (about which books I *will* be prioritizing) to come! 10mo
BarbaraJean I debated whether to put Agony & Ecstasy on the list because of how LONG it is, but it‘s just such an amazing book! I look forward to hearing what you think of some of the others when January 1 rolls around. 😊 10mo
42 likes3 comments
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BarbaraJean
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Pickpick

I bought this book at a library book sale while I was in grad school. Almost 20 years later, I finally tackled the chunkster & thoroughly enjoyed it! The writing felt a little dated at times, but the depth of research that went into this is staggering. Michelangelo‘s life is fascinating. I loved reading the historical and biographical background for his art, as well as seeing Renaissance Florence and Rome through his eyes. #ChunksterChallenge2023

Amiable Congrats and well done -- and kudos for lugging the book around for 20 years! 2y
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BarbaraJean
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Having reached page 328 of 650, I am halfway through this chunkster. I split it across two BookSpin slots, so this means I have completed my February #BookSpin (and am halfway to completing a Chunkster Mini for the #ChunksterChallenge2023). 🎉

And just in case there was any doubt: yes, I intentionally chose the Tattered Cover Bookstore bookmark (which itself is rather tattered) because of the tattered cover on this library discard copy. 😁

Ruthiella Nice tattered cover follow through! 😃👍 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic progress and great bookmark-matching! 😂 2y
sisilia Love this edition 2y
Amiable That is a well-loved book! 2y
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BarbaraJean
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“The Florentines reinterpreted the S.P.Q.R. of the Roman‘s Senatus Populus Que Romanus to read, ‘Sono Porci, Questi Romani. They are pigs, these Romans.‘”

🐖🐖

LeahBergen 😆 2y
Aimeesue Lol 😂 2y
38 likes2 comments
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BarbaraJean
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“…he dug into the mass, entered in the biblical sense. In this act of creation there was needed the thrust, the penetration, the beating & pulsating upward to a mighty climax, the total possession. It was not merely an act of love, it was the act of love: the mating of his own inner patterns to the inherent forms of the marble; an insemination in which he planted seed, created the living work of art.”

Well, then. That‘s one way to describe it. 😳

Tea_and_Starstuff Whelp. Those are sure... some words! 2y
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BarbaraJean
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“Talent is cheap; dedication is expensive. It will cost you your life.”

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BarbaraJean
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“Ham and pork had been made into ravioli with cheese, flour, clove, ginger, and laid with the chicken sausage between layers of pastry, dates and almonds. The whole dish had then been shaped into a pie and was being covered with dough…”

I don‘t understand this dish!! Ravioli and sausage layered with pastry, dates, and almonds, and made into a pie?! What is this carb-laden extravaganza?!

Tea_and_Starstuff That is a DISH. My tongue is so confused, trying to imagine how it might taste. 2y
Read-y_Picker Loved this book so much! It's one of my favourites of all time and definitely sent me down a few rabbit holes... 2y
BarbaraJean @Tea_and_Starstuff I don't even know. It's RAVIOLI PIE. And she sprinkles nutmeg on the top later!
@Read-y_Picker Yes! I keep putting the book down to Google things!
2y
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BarbaraJean
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Here‘s my next #ChunksterChallenge2023 pick, and this month‘s #BookSpin! At 650+ pages, this is a “Chunkster Mini” (but it definitely doesn‘t FEEL mini!). I picked up the huge old library discard copy at a library book sale when I was in grad school, in the early 2000s. Then a few years back, my husband bought me the paperback, not realizing I already owned a copy! The hardback will be my “home” copy and the paperback for reading out & about.

Amiable Those older books with the small print definitely have some weight in them! (edited) 2y
DivineDiana I like the 2 copies approach to make this challenge a success! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Oh my!! Good luck!!! 2y
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BarbaraJean @TheAromaofBooks I gave this one two spots on my BookSpin list, so technically I only have to read the first half to complete my BookSpin! 😆😂 2y
TheAromaofBooks Nice!! I love doing that with the bigger books. I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere that way! 2y
RebelReader I‘ve been going to read this since I went to Italy in 2000, but still haven‘t bit the bullet! 2y
BarbaraJean @RebelReader I hear you! Maybe once I finish this one, I'll manage to read the two “optional reading“ books from my 1996 semester in Florence that I still haven't read... 😆 2y
RebelReader @BarbaraJean Curiosity is getting the better of me. What we‘re the 2 optional reading books for your semester in Florence? 2y
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wanderinglynn
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Pickpick

What a phenomenal story. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni truly is a master artist & architect without an equal.

And Huzzah! I finally finished this is nearly a 34hr audiobook. 🎉 First book & goal finished for #FabulousFebruary #reads thin! 🎉

Since it‘s nearly 800 pages, I‘m counting it for #AlmostAChunksterChallenge & I found a color that matches the cover for #pantone2022

TheAromaofBooks Nice!!! Even the #AlmostaChunkster visual matches! 3y
Andrew65 A big book! Well done 👏👏👏 3y
Karisa 34 hours! 😱😱🙀🙀🎉🎉 3y
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Clwojick Great match!! 💖❤️ 3y
wanderinglynn @Karisa listening at 1.3x speed did drop it down to 29hrs. 😆 3y
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wanderinglynn
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#fabulousfebruary #readathon starts Saturday, 12 Feb! 🎉

I love these mid-month readathons, hosted by the amazing Andrew, because it helps me re-focus my monthly reading goals.

My goals:
* finish the tagged (only 6hrs left!)
* read my #bookspin & #doublespin books
* finish my Jan #roll100 roll 2 book

Trashcanman 😘 3y
wanderinglynn @Trashcanman hi George! ❤️😘 3y
Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😊👍 3y
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wanderinglynn
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#audiopuzzling 💚🧩 #24in4 update

I‘ve made it to ~25% of the tagged, I‘m on section 3. I‘ve listened to ~5 hrs of 26 hrs. Good thing I have a lot of puzzles to work on!

The amount of work Irving Stone did on the book is amazing. Living it Italy, working in a marble quarry, even apprenticing to a marble sculptor. Incredible.

Cathythoughts That‘s some puzzle ! Psychodelic 3y
Texreader Holy cow that puzzle!!! Amazing!! 3y
Yuki_Onna Oh my goodness, how beautiful! 3y
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AmyG That‘s So pretty! 3y
Tera66 Wow, that is such a pretty puzzle. 3y
janeycanuck Whoa - that puzzle!! Looks so fun but really hard! 3y
wanderinglynn @janeycanuck it really wasn‘t quite as hard as it looks. And super fun! 3y
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Susanita
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Tagged book was apparently very popular around the time I was born. A friend of mine went to Europe and brought me this print, so being the smart ash that I am I tacked it to the ceiling.

#publishedtheyearyouwereborn
#falltreasures

wanderinglynn I just started this book on audio. 3y
Susanita @wanderinglynn I plan to read it someday. You‘ll have to tell me what you think. 3y
Eggs 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
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wanderinglynn
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Okay, let‘s do this!

I‘m starting this chunkster audiobook. A bit over 28 hrs on 1.2 speed.

TheBookHippie Enjoy! 3y
wanderinglynn @TheBookHippie thanks! So far, it‘s good. 3y
TheBookHippie @wanderinglynn my daughter loved it, I remember her carrying that chunkster around. 3y
61 likes3 comments
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STORYBOOK-CAFE
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Pickpick

Irving Stone‘s classic biographical novel of Michelangelo—the #1 New York Times bestseller in which both the artist and the man are brought to vivid, captivating life.

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swynn
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Mehso-so

January has mostly been a bust for me, as RL interferes with reading plans ... But I did finish the bestselling novel of 1961, a dramatized biography of Michelangelo. It's not bad but dang is it long, and this month probably was not the best time for me to tackle it, a thick leisurely ambitious novel with such attention to detail that it comes with a bibliography.

Read-y_Picker Too bad! I remember this one fondly. One of my favourites. Should probably reread it someday but I loaned out my copy.... ages old story... 4y
swynn @Read-y_Picker I really think it's a case of right book, wrong time for me. 4y
Crazeedi I loved this book when I read it many years ago... 4y
swynn @Crazeedi I expect the problem was me. Parts of it I loved: the anatomy lessons in the morgue, the rivalry with Leonardo ... my head just want in the right place to absorb it. 4y
Crazeedi @swynn that happens for sure! 4y
35 likes5 comments
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Read-y_Picker
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#day4 of #7days7books We present here 7 books that will always remain in our minds, because they touched us so much, changed us.
No further comments! @rather_be_reading care to play along?

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Susanita
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This book was one of the best sellers the year I was born. It‘s on my #TBR but at 700+ pages I don‘t know if I‘ll be getting to it anytime soon. Rex Harrison (!) played the Pope in the movie. (Charlton Heston was the artist.) #AuldLangReads

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚🙌🏻 5y
Crazeedi I read this years ago, I loved Irving Stones books! 5y
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Petelord
Pickpick

Excellent biographical fiction

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DarcysMom
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Pickpick
rretzler I read this years and years ago and remember enjoying it quite a bit 6y
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DarcysMom
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I forgot to post this yesterday. 🙃
#audiowalk
#2019kmin2019
#105mileApril
#overdrive
#LitsyWalkers

tammysue Yay! 💛🙌🏻 6y
67 likes1 comment
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DarcysMom
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I forgot to post yesterday's walk. Oops!
#audiowalk
#2019kmin2019
#105mileApril
#overdrive
#LitsyWalkers

KathyWheeler I read this book as a teenager and was thinking of rereading it. How‘s the audiobook? 6y
DarcysMom @KathyWheeler I am enjoying it - it is a definite time commitment. It clocks in at about 30 hours. 6y
KathyWheeler @DarcysMom My husband and I are currently listening to The Stand which is about 49! It‘s the longest book I‘ve ever listened to; 30 hours will seem like a breeze after that! 6y
DarcysMom @KathyWheeler The Agony and the Ecstacy will be a walk in the park for you! 6y
70 likes4 comments
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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tammysue 🙌🏻😊 6y
rretzler Great book. I read it years and years ago, maybe time for a reread one of these days! 6y
DarcysMom @rretzler I am really enjoying the audiobook. 😁 6y
64 likes4 comments
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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DarcysMom
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Ugh... I moved so slowly today that I may as well have been wading through mud.
#audiowalk
#2019kmin2019
#105mileMarch
#overdrive
#LitsyWalkers

Kaye I think we all have those days sometimes. At least you got lots of steps in and burned lots of calories. 👍🏼 6y
PurpleyPumpkin At least you got out there. Good job!👍🏽 6y
54 likes3 comments
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DarcysMom
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Short walk today. I fell asleep on the couch and napped right through part of my walking time. Oops!
#audiowalk
#2019kmin2019
#105mileMarch
#overdrive
#LitsyWalkers

tammysue 💗🌸 6y
70 likes1 comment
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DarcysMom
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Tanisha_A Pretty sights! 🏵️ 6y
Wife 🌹 6y
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DarcysMom
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tammysue 🙌🏻💚 6y
Crazeedi That book was one of my faves when I read it years ago, love Irving stones books! 6y
DarcysMom @Crazeedi I am really enjoying it so far! 6y
KathyWheeler I read this book when I was around 12 or 13 and loved it so much! 6y
81 likes5 comments
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DarcysMom
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overtheedge
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# 11 of 100
The Agony and The Ecstasy
By Irving Stone

On TBR forever...I hope it's as good as Lust For Life!

Crazeedi Oh it is! Hes an amazing author! 6y
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overtheedge
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Wondering how this book is. Sounds good, but is so long. Has anyone read this? What did u think?

Libby1 I read another book written by this author about Vincent Van Gogh. It was a great read when I was 16, but I understand now it was likely light on historical accuracy. 6y
Herschelian I read this book about a million years ago when in my late teens, having just studied Michelangelo‘s works for an exam. Seem to remember it was an ok read, and made into a film. 6y
overtheedge I haven't started it yet....it's length is daunting....I did read and love Lust For Life, but I love Van Gogh, so I'm a tad biased.... 6y
48 likes3 comments
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Kaylamburson
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The tagged book isn't actually the book I read, but the titles are similar. Agony and Ecstasy by Linda Burson (my momma!) is from the independent publisher Class Act Books. This is the third book in The Marcy Series, and it throws an unexpected curveball. The second half reads easier than the first and actually ends on a happy note, which is a change for this series! Now on to #4!

emilyhaldi Wow your mom is an author?? Cool! 7y
Kaylamburson Yeah! She has six books out in this series, and one standalone novel, too. Definitely a proud daughter! @emilyhaldi 7y
minkyb She should be in the data base! 7y
Kaylamburson She would be so thrilled!! @minkyb 7y
Jody3 So cool!!! 7y
78 likes5 comments
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lynneamch
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This is my readimg corner with the book I've owned since 1969. It was required reading before our English teacher took us to Europe right after graduation. The sights im Florence and Rome were so much richer because of this, even though it is fictionalized. I still try to read a novel set in whatever city I'm visiting. There is truth in storytelling. #bookyouveownedlongest #Riotgrams

DivineDiana I too love to read a novel that takes place in a locale that I am visiting. 7y
lynneamch @DivineDiana It really makes you feel part of thimgs, doesn't it? I just read The Hopefuls for Wash DC. Love Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil for Savanna. Will reread South of Broad if I get a chance to go to Charleston. Do you have any favorites? 7y
DivineDiana The only one that is coming to mind is Chesapeake when I went to St. Michael's on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Unfortunately, the trip wasn't long enough for me to finish the chunkster! 7y
KathyWheeler I read this book a very long time ago and just loved it. 7y
lynneamch It's definitely time for a reread for me, too! @KathyWheeler 7y
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PurpleyPumpkin
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In keeping with my Michelangelo theme, I chose these two books for #fictionnonfictionpairings. The first book is a novel of the artist's life and work and the second is his autobiography. I also thought that this would be a good pick for the #thisshouldbeamovie prompt. But I looked it up and a movie was already made! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Agony_and_the_Ecstasy_(film) #day9 #day10 #seasonsreadings2016

charl08 The book is better though! 8y
PurpleyPumpkin @charl08 😉Isn't that often the case? I think it's just too difficult to translate all of the details to the big screen. 8y
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cathysaid
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This is on my TBR shelf but I have been told it's quite good! #artrelatedbooks #SeasonsReadings2016

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mjdowens
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"The skills with which men handle stone tells how civilized they are."

Brilliant????

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Book_Gnome
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This looks fascinating...please has anyone read it? Do tell!!!!

Crash I have years ago and really enjoyed it. I'm planning on getting around to it again one day. 8y
Book_Gnome Cheers. I really want to try it. And it's a big one too! All the better 😁 8y
LianneB It's great, but may be a little dated. I read it forty years ago. 8y
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