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Virginia Woolf: The Will to Create as a Woman
by Ruth GruberGruber's groundbreaking study of the work and legacy of Virginia Woolf--an enduring feminist analysis pairing two of the twentieth century's most extraordinary writersIn 1932, Ruth Gruber earned her PhD--the youngest person ever to do so--with a stunning doctoral dissertation on Virginia Woolf. Published in 1935, the paper was the first-ever feminist critique of Woolf's work and inspired a series of correspondences between the two writers. It also led to Gruber's eventual meeting with Woolf, which she recounted six decades later in Virginia Woolf: The Will to Create as a Woman. Described by Gruber as "the odyssey of how I met Virginia Woolf, and how her life and work became intertwined with my life," Virginia Woolf is a clear and insightful portrait of one of modern literature's most innovative authors, written by one of America's most remarkable journalists.
Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Court
by Robert HardmanFrom one of Britain's best-known observers of the monarchy--an intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, England's longest-reigning queen, in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee History has known no monarch like her. She has traveled farther than all her predecessors put together and lived longer than any of them. She has known more historic figures than anyone alive--from Churchill to Mandela, de Gaulle to Obama. Now, the distinguished royal writer Robert Hardman has been granted special access to the world of Queen Elizabeth II to produce this enthralling new portrait of one of the most popular public figures on earth. Not only has Elizabeth II reigned through Britain's transformation from an imperial power to a multicultural nation, but she has also steered the monarchy through more reforms in the last twenty-five years than in the previous century. Queen Elizabeth II sits at the head of an ancient institution that remains simultaneously popular, regal, inclusive, and relevant in a twenty-first-century world. It is down to neither luck nor longevity: It is down to the shrewd judgment of a thoroughly modern monarchy--with no small assistance from the longest-serving consort in history. Here is the inside story.
Nijinsky: A Life of Genius and Madness (Phoenix Giants Ser.)
by Richard BuckleThe intoxicating story of one of the greatest dancers in the history of ballet and the paradox of his profound genius and descent into madness Vaslav Nijinsky stands alone as a dancer, interpretive artist, and choreographic pioneer. His breathtaking performances with the Ballet Russes took Western Europe by storm, and his avant-garde choreography for The Afternoon of the Faun and Rite of Spring caused riots in the streets. Both are now regarded as the foundation of modern dance. Through his liaison with the great impresario Diaghilev, he worked with the artistic elite of the time--Benois, Bakst, Debussy, Fokine, Karsavina, Pavlova, Stravinsky--and lived in an atmosphere of perpetual hysteria, glamour, and intrigue. When he married a Hungarian aristocrat, Diaghilev abruptly dismissed him from the Ballet Russes. Five years later, he was declared insane. The fabulous career of the world's greatest dancer was over. Drawing on personal conversations with countless people who knew and worked with Nijinsky, including his sister and famed choreographer Bronislava Nijinska, Richard Buckle has written the definitive biography of Nijinsky, now back in print for the first time in more than forty years.
The Last Jew of Treblinka: A Memoir
by Chil Rajchman<P>Quickly becoming a cornerstone of Holocaust historiography--a devastatingly stark memoir from one of the lone survivors of Treblinka <P>Why do some live while so many others perish? Tiny children, old men, beautiful girls. In the gas chambers of Treblinka, all are equal. The Nazis kept the fires of Treblinka burning night and day, a central cog in the wheel of the Final Solution. In the tradition of Elie Wiesel's Night and Primo Levi's Survival at Auschwitz and The Drowned and the Saved, Rajchman provides the only survivors' record of Treblinka. <P>Originally written in Yiddish in 1945 without hope or agenda other than to bear witness, Rajchman's tale shows that sometimes the bravest and most painful act of all is to remember. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Hitler's Spy Chief: The Wilhelm Canaris Mystery
by Richard BassettA remarkable tale of espionage and intrigue--the true story of Wilhelm Canaris, Hitler's intelligence chief, and his role in the conspiracy to assassinate the Führer Admiral Wilhelm Canaris was appointed by Hitler to head the Abwehr (the German secret service) eighteen months after the Nazis came to power. But Canaris turned against the Fu¨hrer and the Nazi regime, believing that Hitler would start a war Germany could not win. In 1938 he was involved in an attempted coup, undermined by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. In 1940 he sabotaged the German plan to invade England, and fed General Franco vital information that helped him keep Spain out of the war. For years he played a dangerous double game, desperately trying to keep one step ahead of the Gestapo. The SS chief, Heinrich Himmler, became suspicious of Canaris and by 1944, when Abwehr personnel were involved in the attempted assassination of Hitler, he had the evidence to arrest Canaris himself. Canaris was executed a few weeks before the end of the war. In a riveting true story of intrigue and espionage, Richard Bassett reveals how Admiral Canaris's secret work against the German leadership changed the course of World War II.
The Wives: The Women Behind Russia's Literary Giants
by Alexandra PopoffMuses and editors, saviors and publishers: Meet the women behind the greatest works of Russian literature "Behind every good man is a good woman" is a common saying, but when it comes to literature, the relationship between spouses is even that much more complex. F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, and D. H. Lawrence used their marriages for literary inspiration and material, sometime at the expense of their spouses' sanity. Thomas Carlyle wanted his wife to assist him, but Jane Carlyle became increasingly bitter and resentful in her new role, putting additional strain on their relationship. In Russian literary marriages, however, the wives of some of the most famous authors of all time did not resent taking a "secondary position," although to call their position secondary does not do justice to the vital role these women played in the creation of some of the greatest literary works in history. From Sophia Tolstoy to Véra Nabokov, Elena Bulgakov, Nadezdha Mandelstam, Anna Dostevsky, and Natalya Solzhenitsyn, these women ranged from stenographers and typists to editors, researchers, translators, and even publishers. Living under restrictive regimes, many of these women battled censorship and preserved the writers' illicit archives, often risking their own lives to do so. They established a tradition all their own, unmatched in the West. Many of these women were the writers' intellectual companions and made invaluable contributions to the creative process. And their husbands knew it. Leo Tolstoy made no secret of Sofia's involvement in War and Peace in his letters, and Vladimir Nabokov referred to Véra as his own "single shadow."
Lord of Publishing: A Memoir
by Sterling LordA frank and insightful memoir of a life spent in publishing, by one of literature&’s most legendary agentsSterling Lord has led an extraordinary life, from his youth in small-town Iowa to his post-war founding and editing of an English-language magazine in Paris, followed by his move to New York City to become one of the most powerful literary agents in the field. As agent to Jack Kerouac, Ken Kesey, and countless others—ranging from Jimmy Breslin and Rocky Graziano to the Berenstains and four US cabinet members—Lord is the decisive influence and authors&’ confidant who has engineered some of the most important book deals in literary history. In Lord of Publishing, his memoir of life and work (and tennis), Lord reveals that he is also a consummate storyteller. Witty and wise, he brings to life what was arguably the greatest era of book publishing, and gives a brilliant insider&’s scoop on the key figures of the book business—as well as some of the most remarkable books and authors of our time.
Seventeen's Terrifying True Teen Stories (Seventeen's True Teen Stories #3)
by SeventeenWhat would you do if your house were robbed—while you were in it? What would you do if you were kidnapped? Or if you needed brain surgery? In Seventeen’s Terrifying True Teen Stories, eleven teen girls share how they bravely handled life’s most tragic and frightening challenges. The details are crazy, but their stories are amazing!
Seventeen's Shocking True Teen Stories (Seventeen's True Teen Stories #1)
by SeventeenA collection of suspenseful, dramatic—and true—stories by the teenage girls who experienced them. Prepare to be blown away! Shocking True Teen Stories collects some of the most amazing and unbelievable reader stories ever printed in the pages of Seventeen magazine. One girl, for instance, reveals how she lost both her best friends to drug overdoses. A shoplifter confesses that she couldn&’t stop stealing, while another reader shares how she was secretly homeless for years. In all, twelve brave teens share the gritty details in their own words, so you can learn from their experiences.
Seventeen's Inspiring True Teen Stories (Seventeen's True Teen Stories #2)
by SeventeenWant some major motivation to dream big and take on your next challenge? Inspiring True Teen Stories brings together some of the most moving reader stories ever printed in the pages of Seventeen magazine. These eleven girls reveal how they faced life's most difficult obstacles--and came out stronger. One girl shares how she overcame a terrifying injury, while another explains how she confronted head-on the racism in her town. One reader describes what it's like to go to rehab even before you're out of high school, while another tells the story of rescuing a drowning victim. Each of these compelling accounts will inspire you to face life in a whole new way.
Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
by Luis J. RodríguezThe award-winning memoir of life in an LA street gang from the acclaimed Chicano author and former Los Angeles Poet Laureate: &“Fierce, and fearless&” (The New York Times). Luis J. Rodríguez joined his first gang at age eleven. As a teenager, he witnessed the rise of some of the most notorious cliques in Southern California. He grew up knowing only a life of violence—one that revolved around drugs, gang wars, and police brutality. But unlike most of those around him, Rodríguez found a way out when art, writing, and political activism gave him a new path—and an escape from self-destruction. Always Running spares no detail in its vivid, brutally honest portrayal of street life and violence, and it stands as a powerful and unforgettable testimonial of gang life by one of the most acclaimed Chicano writers of his generation. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Luis J. Rodríguez including rare images from the author&’s personal collection.
Born on the Fourth of July
by Ron KovicKovic's powerful and moving New York Times bestselling book, now with a new introduction that sets this classic antiwar story in a contemporary context This New York Times bestseller (more than one million copies sold) details the author's life story (portrayed by Tom Cruise in the Oliver Stone film version)--from a patriotic soldier in Vietnam, to his severe battlefield injury, to his role as the country's most outspoken anti-Vietnam War advocate, spreading his message from his wheelchair.
Looking Back: A Chronicle of Growing Up Old in the Sixties
by Joyce MaynardA memoir of what it was like to be a teenager in a tumultuous era, from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Best of Us. Joyce Maynard was eighteen years old when her 1972 New York Times Magazine cover story catapulted her to national prominence. Published one year later, Looking Back is her remarkable follow-up—part memoir, part cultural history, and part social critique. She wrote about diving under her desk for air-raid practice during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Beatles&’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and catching the first glimpse (on the cover of Life magazine) of a human fetus in utero. Extraordinarily frank, sincere, and opinionated, Maynard seemed unafraid to take on any subject—including herself. But as she reveals in a poignant and candid new foreword, she carefully kept her inner life off the page. She didn&’t write about her difficult relationship with her mother, or her father&’s alcoholism, or the fact that her best friend at college had struggled with the knowledge that he was gay. And she did not mention the most important part of her life at the time she was writing this book: her relationship with reclusive author J. D. Salinger, who read and corrected every page, even as he condemned her for writing it. In this special anniversary edition, Maynard&’s candid introductory reflections on the girl behind the girl who wrote Looking Back lend a new dimension to this iconic analysis of a generation. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Joyce Maynard including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Domestic Affairs: Enduring the Pleasures of Motherhood and Family Life
by Joyce MaynardAn unforgettable collection of essays on the everyday thrills and challenges of marriage and motherhood, from one of America&’s best-loved memoiristsWitty and insightful, Domestic Affairs is an extension of Joyce Maynard&’s celebrated, widely syndicated newspaper column of the same name that ran from 1984 to 1990. Each essay gives an unfiltered look at the ups and downs of family life and a remarkable window into the challenges of modern motherhood. Topics range from babysitter woes to family visits to coping with a child&’s burgeoning independence. These collected writings represent nine years&’ worth of stories about the greatest adventure of Maynard&’s life, or, as she writes, &“the difficult, exhausting, humbling, and endlessly gratifying business of raising children, of ensuring the health of both body and soul.&” This ebook features an illustrated biography of Joyce Maynard including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
A Smile in the Mind's Eye: An Adventure into Zen Philosophy
by Lawrence DurrellThe &“virtuoso&” author&’s memoir of his spiritual journey with famed Taoist philosopher Jolan Chang (The New York Times). Beginning with their first meeting over lunch at Lawrence Durrell&’s Provencal home, Durrell and Jolan Chang—renowned Taoist philosopher and expert on Eastern sexuality—developed an enduring relationship based on mutual spiritual exploration. Durrell&’s autobiographical rumination on their friendship and on Taoism recounts the author&’s existential ponderings, starting with his introduction to the mystical and enigmatic &“smile in the mind&’s eye.&” From parsimony, cooking, and yoga to poetry, Petrarch, and Nietzche, A Smile in the Mind&’s Eye is a charming tale of a writer&’s spiritual and philosophical awakening.
Bitter Lemons of Cyprus: Life on a Mediterranean Island
by Lawrence DurrellFrom the New York Times–bestselling author of the Alexandria Quartet: &“A superlative piece of . . . writing . . . rooted in the Mediterranean scene&” (Time). In 1953, as the British Empire relaxes its grip upon the world, the island of Cyprus bucks for independence. Some cry for union with Athens, others for an arrangement that would split the island down the middle, giving half to the Greeks and the rest to the Turks. For centuries, the battle for the Mediterranean has been fought on this tiny spit of land, and now Cyprus threatens to rip itself in half. Into this escalating conflict steps Lawrence Durrell—poet, novelist, and a former British government official. After years serving the Crown in the Balkans, he yearns for a return to the island lifestyle of his youth. With humor, grace, and passable Greek, Durrell buys a house, secures a job, and settles in for quiet living, happy to put up his feet until the natives begin to consider wringing his neck. More than a travel memoir, this is an elegant picture of island life in a changing world.
Blue Thirst: Tales of Life Abroad
by Lawrence DurrellA pair of lectures from one of the twentieth century&’s most mesmerizing speakersLawrence Durrell was in his early twenties when, tired of the stiffness of London life, he took his family to live in Corfu. Interwar Greece, whose hard beds and mosquito swarms Durrell documented so tenderly in Prospero&’s Cell, was no more. In the first of this pair of lectures, given during a 1970s visit to California, Durrell recalls those days, talking of family, poetry, and the joy of the islands as no other writer can. When war came to the Mediterranean, Durrell was swept into diplomatic service, an adventure he recounts in his second lecture. Though a diplomat of the modern world, he served under men whose experience stretched back to the days before the telephone, when solutions for crises had to be devised by the ambassador, and not phoned in from London. These two lectures on long-vanished worlds are an elegant demonstration of the evocative power of Durrell&’s unmatched storytelling.
Prospero's Cell: A Guide to the Landscape and Manners of the Island of Corfu (Faber Library #No. 20)
by Lawrence DurrellFrom a member of the real-life family portrayed in The Durrells in Corfu, this memoir of the idyllic Greek island is &“among the best books ever written&” (The New York Times). Before Lawrence Durrell became a renowned novelist, poet, and travel writer, he spent four youthful years on Corfu, an island jewel with beauty to match the long and fascinating history within its rocky shores. While his brother, Gerald, was collecting animals as a budding naturalist, Lawrence fished, drank, and lived with the natives in the years leading up to World War II, sheltered from the tumult that was engulfing Europe—until finally he could ignore the world no longer. Durrell left for Alexandria, to serve his country as a wartime diplomat, but never forgot the wonders of Corfu. In this &“brilliant&” journey through that idyllic time and place, Durrell returns to the land that made him so happy, blending his love of history with memories of his adventures there (The Economist). Like the blue Aegean, Prospero&’s Cell is deep and crystal clear, offering a perfect view straight to the heart of a nation.
Sicilian Carousel: Adventures on an Italian Island
by Lawrence DurrellA moving account of friendship and discovery on the island of Sicily from the acclaimed travel writer and bestselling author of The Alexandria Quartet. Despite decades spent writing poetic evocations of the timeless pleasures of life in the Mediterranean, Lawrence Durrell had never set foot on the sea&’s largest island: mysterious, impenetrable Sicily. For years his friend Martine begged him to visit her on this sun-kissed paradise, and though he always intended to, life inevitably interfered. It took Martine&’s sudden death to finally bring him to the island&’s shores. With Martine&’s letters in his pocket, Durrell signs up for a tour group, hoping to learn the travel habits of those who aren&’t obsessively devoted to island life. As he treks from sight to sight, dizzy with history and culture, Durrell finds echoes of his past lives in Rhodes, Cyprus, and Corfu.
Moving Pictures: Memories of a Hollywood Prince
by Budd SchulbergThe Oscar-winning screenwriter of On the Waterfront recounts his life, his career, and &“how Hollywood became the dream factory it still is today&” (Kirkus Reviews). When Seymour Wilson &“Budd&” Schulberg moved from New York to Los Angeles as a child, Hollywood&’s filmmaking industry was just getting started. To some, the region was still more famous for its citrus farms than its movie studios. In this iconic memoir, Schulberg, the son of one of Tinseltown&’s most influential producers, recounts the rise of the studios, the machinations of the studio heads, and the lives of some of cinema&’s earliest and greatest stars. Even as Hollywood grew to become one of the country&’s most powerful cultural and economic engines, it retained the feel of a company town for decades. Schulberg&’s sparkling recollections offer a unique insider view of both the glitter and dark side of the dream factory&’s early years. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Budd Schulberg including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.
Writers in America: The Four Seasons of Success
by Budd SchulbergStories of twentieth-century American literary giants, by the man who was their friend, peer, and confidant When he was introduced to F. Scott Fitzgerald as a potential partner on a screenplay, novelist and scriptwriter Budd Schulberg was surprised the author was still alive. In Schulberg&’s view, the pressures of success and the public&’s merciless judgment had destroyed Fitzgerald&’s talent early in his career—a situation that is arguably typical for many of America&’s great literary geniuses. In Writers in America, Schulberg shares memories and insights from his relationships with authors such as Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Nathaneal West, and Sinclair Lewis, as well as brilliant writers who never attained the success and recognition they deserved, such as Thomas Heggen. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Budd Schulberg including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.
Who Killed My Daughter?: The Startling True Story of a Mother's Search for Her Daughter's Murderer
by Lois DuncanOn July 16, 1989, Kaitlyn Arquette was shot to death in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The police gave up, but her mother would not . . . In this tragic memoir and investigation, Lois Duncan searches for clues to the murder of her youngest child, eighteen-year-old Kaitlyn Arquette. Duncan begins to suspect that the official police investigation of Kaitlyn&’s murder is inadequate when detectives ignore her daughter&’s accidental connection to organized crime in Albuquerque. When Duncan loses faith in the system, she reaches out to anyone that can help, including private investigators, journalists, and even a psychic. Written to inspire other families who have lost loved ones to unsolved crimes, Who Killed My Daughter? is a powerful testament to the tenacity of a mother&’s love. A heartbreaking personal account by an Edgar Award–winning author known for such books as I Know What You Did Last Summer, this is a true story with &“all of the elements of a suspenseful mystery&” (School Library Journal). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Duncan including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
The Child Who Never Grew: A Memoir
by Pearl S. BuckA &“groundbreaking&” memoir about raising a special-needs daughter in an era of misinformation and prejudice—a classic that helped transform our perceptions (Publishers Weekly). It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights. Pearl S. Buck is known today for earning a Nobel Prize in Literature and for such New York Times–bestselling novels as The Good Earth. What many do not know is that she wrote that great work of art with the motivation of paying for a special school for her oldest daughter, Carol, who had a rare developmental disorder. What was called &“mental retardation&” at the time—though some used crueler terms—was a disability that could cause great suffering and break a parent&’s heart. There was little awareness of how to deal with such children, and as a result some were simply hidden away, considered a source of shame and stigma, while others were taken advantage of because of their innocence. In this remarkable account, which helped bring the issue to light, Pearl S. Buck candidly discusses her own experience as a mother, from her struggle to accept Carol&’s diagnosis to her determination to give her child as full and happy a life as possible, including a top-quality education designed around her needs and abilities. Both heartrending and inspiring, The Child Who Never Grew provides perspective on just how much progress has been made in recent decades, while also offering common sense and timeless wisdom for the challenges still faced by those who love and care for someone with special needs. It is a clear-eyed and compelling read by a woman renowned for both her literary talent and her humanitarian spirit. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author&’s estate.
An American in Barcelona: Dr. Pearson, The Man Who Brought Light to Catalonia
by Xavier MoretAn inspirational novel of the real-life engineer whose ambitious project to build an electrical grid in Catalonia changed Barcelona forever Xavier Moret illuminates the story of the American engineer Frederick Stark Pearson, an entrepreneur with a global vision, whose innovative business ventures brought electricity to Catalonia. From his arrival in Barcelona in June 1911, Dr. Pearson played a key role in the industrialization of the city, building tram and train networks to benefit from this new form of energy. However, tragedy strikes when Dr. Pearson dies aboard the Lusitania, torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat. Suddenly, his ambitious project of urban and spatial planning is in jeopardy. Moret compellingly envisions these historic events and the daily life of the American and Spanish pioneers in the local villages and work camps--a world reminiscent of the Wild West. He interweaves this story with his account of his own passionate commitment to chronicling Dr. Pearson's remarkable achievements, and how this process of research and discovery ultimately changed his life.
Prince William: The Man Who Will Be King
by Penny JunorThe first definitive, in-depth portrait of the man who will be king of England--and the story of his relationship with the woman who will be his queen His face is recognized the world over, his story is well known. But what is Prince William really like? As Diana's eldest son, he was her confidant. While the tabloids eagerly lapped up the lurid details of his parents' divorce, William lived painfully through it, suffering the embarrassment, the humiliation, and divided loyalties. He watched his father denounced on prime time television; he met the lovers. And when he was just fifteen, his beautiful, loving mother was suddenly, shocking snatched from his life forever. The nation lost its princess and its grief threatened the very future of the monarchy. What was almost forgotten in the clamor was that two small boys had lost their mother. His childhood was a recipe for disaster, yet as he approaches his thirtieth birthday, William is as well-balanced and sane a man as you could ever hope to meet. He has an utter determination to do the right thing and to serve his country as his grandmother has so successfully done for the last sixty years. Who stopped him from going off the rails, turning his back on his duty and wanting nothing to do with the press--the people he blamed for his mother's death? Where did the qualities that have so entranced the world, and his new bride, Catherine, come from? In the last thirty years, Penny Junor has written extensively about his parents and the extended family into which he was born. With the trust built up over that time, she has been able to get closer to the answers than ever before.