The alkali-silica reaction is an unusual and unpredictable phenomenon which occurs worldwide. The factors involved are exceedingly complex; very interdependent and highly interactive. We are now beginning to realise that external agents; environmental conditions and microclimates can have as much of an influence as the basic ingredients of the reaction; and that the timescale over which ASR occurs can be extremely broad. Because of the obvious and serious implications for the durability and integrity of concrete structures and components; there is a need to review the fundamental causes and spectrum of effects of ASR. This book considers the advances that have been made in our understanding of this problem throughout the world.
#4367447 in eBooks 2007-04-16 2007-04-16File Name: B000FBFBIK
Review
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Deserves more than 5 starsBy C. EbelingThe Modern Library Chronicles series has distinguished itself with stand alone historical perspectives written by experts who have a gift for clarity. What could be so many volumes of Cliffs Notes for significant historical passages or eras are instead a variety of deft studies rendered in strong; attractive voices matched. The latest edition; Sir Frank Kermodes THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE; raises the bar even higher. It is nothing short of marvelous.Shakespeare means a variety of things to different people. Kermode manages to gather up all the threads; looking at the impact of the man on his age and the age; commonly known as the Elizabethan Age; on the man. It was a time of remarkable cultural strides. Against the backdrop of the Reformation and the rise of Protestantism; dramatic arts moved from morality plays and oratory to the magnificent Shakespearean canon; from stagings that were out of trunks; to theaters that sat 2;000 - 3;000. Theater wasnt just art; it became a thriving commerce. Kermode moves through time; looking at Shakespeares poetry; then his plays as they reflected the Elizabethan zeitgeist (and we think of them as being so universal!). He looks at the community of poets and playwrights who were not exactly comradely drinking pals; in fact sometimes they would argue to the point of murder; but who did find a way to work together. He provides readings of the plays and their sources; as well as an overview of critical readings in the 4 centuries since their debut. He sorts out what matters and does so in graceful prose; under 200 pages. When I reached the last page; I did something I have not done with a book in a long; long time: I turned back to the first page and began anew.Its that good.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Unclear as to purpose and audience; but worth the readBy J. MarlinI remember once reading an essay by literary theorist Wolfgang Iser wherein he claimed he never really concerned himself with his "audience"; rather he just wrote things that were interesting to himself and hoped that others would be interested as well.I had the feeling that this book was written with the same mindset. That is; it comes across like a very learned professors off-the-cuff seminar talks aimed at a mixed group of grad students rather than as an entree to Shakespeares milieu for; say; the educated adult reader or theatergoer. So many names and allusions are dropped so quickly that its clear that one needs already to know a good bit about Shakespeare and his age (as well as some things about the history of Shakespeare criticism) to understand this book.The late Frank Kermode had; of course; magisterial knowledge of and magnificent thoughts about Shakespeare and his age (see his book on "Shakespeares Language"); and it seems this compact book was written out of that very rich vein without considering what a reader of a "Modern Library Chronicle" might wish from it. This is hardly a book for those beginning the study of Shakespeare (for instance; undergraduates or casual theatergoers).Still; I enjoyed reading the book and learned from it. It is at its best when discussing specific plays; his considerations of changing acting styles and the language of specific passages are splendid. The discussion of Elizabethan and Jacobean history were; to me; too compressed: too much introduced too quickly for one without a strong background in early modern English history (since I studied it in grad school; I had not problem with this -- Im just imagining what a modern American undergrad who has perhaps read three plays in high school would make of this text). But of course Kermode worked in an environment where that knowledge could be assumed; so perhaps that affected his approach to the book.As always; Kermodes clear; strong and engaging prose style keeps things moving; this was in the end a fairly quick read. For the several new thoughts about some of the plays I had never considered; Im glad I read this.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Authoritative work on ShakespeareBy Leon LamA succinct and illustrative of Shakespeare by a respected British historian. This book gives a clear outline of the Elizabethan England; as well as the plays of one of the best playwrights in history. Without prior knowledge; I found this book easy to follow. Yet it is better to have some basic understanding before starting this book.