The Book of Changes: a Well of Wisdom
The Book of Changes or I Ching is one of the most ancient Books of the East. This amazing code of conduct devised at the beginning of the Chinese Civilisation has helped sages, kings and common people for more than two thousand years, providing judicious advice on how to solve the dilemma that so often disturb everyone's life. This is a complete and easy-to-use software to study the Sacred Texts, which have been cautiously adapted to modern times and to consult the I Ching Oracle. The software includes a French version. The Book of Changes: a Well of Wisdom written and illustrated by Christiane Guise is the perfect gift to ensure our well-beings.
Click here to order and view the video tutorial of The Book of Changes: a Well of Wisdom
ISBN 97809802888-3.7 Marvellous Paris: Our Precious Children
France and its Poets: Middle Ages to the 19th Century
by Christiane Guise
is now available in paperback and eBook
Press Release
Poetry Lovers: The Pearls of French Literature in English
Anthology of French poems from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century in French and English versions with a brief History of France and poets’ biographies.
The new-released book France and its Poets: Middle Ages to the 19th Century written by Tasmania author Christiane Guise, gives the readers an opportunity to experience French poetry at its best without having to know a single word of French. Through the enchainment of historical events, the readers will see the evolution of a language and its influence on French and English literature.
France and its Poets is an innovation as French poetry has always been translated by English-speaking poets; this time, the author is French and as Reviewer Lynette Kapiteijn from Tasmania says: “This anthology opens the door to a new understanding of the history and development of poetry in France; and being French, Christiane Guise was able to brilliantly convey the poets’ emotions, the essence of French poetry.”
This essence entered poetry at a very early stage. Though language and style were quite coarse and tenuous at first, like the butterfly coming out of its chrysalis, French poetry languorously unfolded its beauties through the centuries. Superbly emerging with Ronsard in the Renaissance, it reached its apogee with Lamartine, Victor Hugo, Baudelaire, Verlaine, and Rimbaud, the illustrious Romantics of the 19th Century.
By using the present tense in her narration, the author invites the readers on the scene; they voyage through the centuries, feel Cassandre’s skin soft as a rose petal, dance with Ronsard’s muses and weep with him in the Gastine Forest. They sail with Lamartine and Julie on the Bourget Lake. Horrified, they watch the decimation of Napoleon’s Grand Army at Waterloo,and join the French Resistance at the call of Verlaine’s Autumn Song... These are only few of the numerous stopovers this literary voyage offers.
France and its Poets features stunning portraits and paintings including Claudine Bigaut’s beautiful watercolours.
About the Author
Christiane Guise is a life-long scholar, a lover of Poetry and Philosophy. Born in France, she moved to Australia in her early twentieths and now lives in Tasmania. She is currently writing an essay on the origin of the Book of Changes and prepares a new English compilation of Ronsard’s best poems.
Click here to order France and its Poets: Middle Ages to the 19th Century
ISBN 97809802888-3.4 Reviews
Alice Jaworski
Manager Language Link’s Manager
—Interpreting, Translating, and Training Services—
www.languagelinks.com.au
... In her book ‘France and its Poets: Middle Age to the 19th Century’, Christiane conveyed the taste of French poetry at its best. The choice of writers and poems has been influenced by her enthusiasm for life. Her realistic and romantic mixture is also reflecting her selection as well as her passion for her native language – French; without such bases this book would not have the emotions and the meanings that Christiane has passed on to the reader. This is indeed an innovation, as translations are usually done by English writers. For this reason, Christiane’s translations beautifully reproduce the poets’ emotions. This is what Christiane wanted to achieve as she emphasises in the Preface.
In this new book, Christiane provides two options; readers with small knowledge of French are able to appreciate the poetry in both languages—original version in French and English translation. Furthermore, the very helpful biography of the poets gives wider understanding of the life and events that may have influenced the writing of the poems.
Personally, I have been excited to read the English translations and read it again in French. In comparing the two versions, I found that she kept as close as possible to the originals and adroitly conveyed the poets’ feelings so that the English version could appear as an original work.
I commend Christiane Guise for her book ‘France and its Poets’, it is an outstanding work deserving the 2009 NSW Premier's Translation Prize.
Renee Smith
Former Primary School Teacher now retired
Christiane’s book has opened the way for English speaking people to further their knowledge of French poets and their writings.
The fact that the book contains a brief account of the poets’ lives puts the reader into the respective time of the French language being written.
In translating French poetry into English, Christiane has succeeded in retaining the beauty, the poets’ meanings and the sensibility of the verses.
Through her book, the author also writes about the history of the evolution of French language. The many illustrations chosen are of high quality and indicate the lengthy hours that Christiane Guise has put into her outstanding work.
Revd Dr Philip C Blake
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Dip.Th., Dip.R.E., Dip.P.S., F.A.I.W.C.W., M.A.C.C.
With Renee's encouragement I have gained some familiarity with Christiane Guise's work France and its Poets - Middle Ages to the 19th Century, l was very impressed by the scope and content of her research and writing. I make no claim for authority on the subject or original language but from my experience as an historian I consider this to be a work of very great merit. It has the potential to open many doors to a world unfamiliar to many and also being of great historical and cultural value. I have no hesitation in commending this work.
Lynette Kapiteijn
Database Analyst-Consultant
Christiane’s book ‘France and its Poets: Middle Age to the 19th Century’, enabled me to experience the beauty and romance of French poetry and its beginnings. The diligence and dedication she has displayed over many years is inspiring and her ability to produce such a poignant translation will allow people like myself who only have the benefit of one language, English, to experience and understand the history of poetry categorically linked to that of the great English poets.
She has chosen poems that have also influenced our language through a progression of historical events that paved the way for the development of our arts and culture.
This book opens the door to a new understanding of the history and development of rhyme and the literary expression of emotion.
Her enthusiasm for life is reflected in this work. The ability to allow the reader to experience the factual events that effected the poets lives by her clever use of narration in the present tense is exciting.
As a lover of poetry I have been privileged to be allowed to review this brilliant book and believe that it will enrich the reader.
I congratulate and will always be grateful to Christiane Guise for her book ‘France and its poets’, without it I would not have been able to enjoy some of the most beautiful poems ever written.
I recommend this exceptional work for the 2009 NSW Premier's Translation Prize.
Irina Gan
PhD candidate
This is a wonderful collection of selected French poetry masterly translated into English by a Tasmanian enthusiast, Christiane Guise.
Christiane was born in France. She and her family later moved to Australia and finally settled in Tasmania a decade ago. Her French origin, together with inspiration from the unique Tasmanian landscape, knowledge of both languages and love for poetry and France resulted in the publication of a remarkable book. The book was born here in Tasmania where the French connection is strong, dating back to the time of first French explorers who sailed to Van Diemen’s Land two centuries ago.
Her translation is easy and flowing and, for those who do not speak French, gives a brilliant opportunity to experience the wonders of French poetry of centuries gone by...
The beginning of each chapter briefly and knowledgeably portrays the characteristic of the epoch and its influence on poetry: it gives a first-class background to the poetical story which follows. The illustrations are appropriate and vivid.
I consider that both the book and the author deserve to be highly commended and would like to nominate Madame Guise for the 2009 NSW Premier's Translation Prize.
Shadow Forest Authors
Literacy, technology, Knowledge and Communication
During my school years, I heard Socrates’ argument against writing but could not remember in which book Plato mentioned it. I searched through my notes...without success. So I went on to Google and simply typed “Socrates’ argument against writing”; and with delight, in less than two minutes, I found what I was looking for... but, WITHOUT the ability to READ and WRITE, this would not have been possible!
More than ever, literacy is tremendously important to everyone on Earth. However, from its very beginning, writing was seen with fear and suspicion even by the greatest men of Antiquity. Homer called writing, the new means of communication, sema lugra,which literally means ‘lugubrious signs’. Socrates also denigrated writing; in Phaedrus (thanks to the Net reminding me of the book!), he argues that it only provides an appearance of wisdom and will lead to forgetfulness. Nevertheless, Socrates’ ultimate grudge against writing was the impossibility for the reader to engage in Socratic dialogues, in other words, the inability to enter into exchange.
Today, the amount of information available in written and oral forms is enormous and many are blatantly false or misleading. However, and thanks to the magical Internet, people can verify their sources. Whatever their age, they have the opportunity to discover the whole world; they can learn what they have always wanted to learn; and above all, they can communicate with the whole world... but, on ONE condition: LITERACY.
Yes! Literacy has never been so important in the world we live. In any society, everyone especially children should be able to read and write so their knowledge may one day contribute to the general well-being of humankind. Thanks to Shadow Forest Authors and all the wonderful Organisations who look for new and used books as well as eBooks to distribute them where they are urgently needed, we may hope that one day, everyone will have access to all the knowledge accumulated since writing exists. Donate to such a great cause is therefore one of our duties.
Unfortunately, people and even authors may not always be able to buy and donate books in paper form and this is where digital books also known as eBooks come to the rescue.
The advantages of eBooks are numerous; primarily, they save paper and I will not discuss the impact this has on the environment as we all know! We can read them on a computer in PDF format or with new software such as MobiReader; and now, we can also read them on amazing little devices like Kindle from Amazon. The next points I want to mention are that we can easily and cleanly discard a eBook if we have no further use of it; we can buy the book in paper form if we love it because great books are precious; and because eBooks are cheap and available immediately, we can buy and donate them for a good cause.
As an author, my duty is to share my thoughts with others; as a lover of poetry, my duty is to share the beauty of French poetry with English-speaking people; as a human being, my duty is to donate books to contribute to the world’s literacy as it is Everyone’s Right to become a Literate Human Being.
 Love of Books
Love of Books offers outstanding printing services at very reasonable rate. On the site, you will also find excellent advice on how to publish, market, and promote books. Love of Books printed France and its Poets and the product is absolutely great. So Authors visit Love of Books, I highly commend it.
Mr President
Yes We Can!
You did it my fellow Americans.
So Please! Please! Mr President Obama
honour your Words.
Be the President you promised to be.
We, the world Believe in you,
Believe in possible Peace and Happiness for all.
|
