Traditionally isolated from mainstream European affairs, in 1914 the Dutch had no major allegiances that bound them to any one side of the conflict. Geographically and economically caught between two of the major belligerents, Great Britain and Germany, the Netherlands was constantly vulnerable to attack from either side. In adopting a position of neutrality at the beginning of the war, the Dutch took a huge gamble. The internment of approximately 50,000 foreign troops in the Netherlands, some for almost the entire four years of the war, provided an important showcase for the Dutch Government to demonstrate its adherence to international law and its impartiality towards the all of the belligerents.

Fire & the Feminine: Myths & Legends A bold and humorous creative voice emerges in a variety of media, yet award-winning San Francisco-Bay Area artist Carol Witten's most dynamic expressons are reflected in her ceramic sculptures. Witten explores the mysterious dynamics of her gender through 100 works she's "squeezed to life" from bits of clay. Her artwork will make you laugh and so will the accompany text. Inspiration for her stoneware sculptures comes from Pharaohs, queens, and muses found in myths, legends, and the daily news. The passionate and tormented Medusa, The First Fire: The Face of Medusa, will make your heart pound. Later, we meet an exhausted Mnemosyne, Mother of the Nine Muses, as she reclines at the Temple at Ayra Triada after giving birth to nine daughters. Each sister is endowed with a treasure whose fire will live forever. Witten's earthy bodies are both llighthearted and outlandish, yet her sources are profound, often borne from personal struggle. We follow the artist as she discovers the sources for these works, whether in books, museums, or travel. The book offers an example of an artist who "kept her day job" while always returning to her passion. Witten concludes with veritable information on the technical aspects of her art she gleaned from a lifetime of experience: more reason to add this book to your collection.