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Crowdie And Cream And Other Stories: Memoirs of a Hebridean Childhood
by Finlay J. MacdonaldCROWDIE AND CREAM: Peopled with characters like Great Aunt Rachel, 'built like a Churchill tank and with a personality to match', these are the stories of a childhood, of the hard years of the Depression, and then the departure of the island's young men to fight in the Second World War. Together they bring alive the warmth and closeness of a unique Hebridean community. CROTAL AND WHITE: Finlay J Macdonald continues his story with a witty account of his adolescent years during the depression. Hard days for the villagers, but their sense of humour never deserted them. And when young Finlay won the bursary to secondary school in the Northlands it was with a mixture of joy and sadness that he prepared to leave behind him a community that would soon be changed forever...THE CORNCRAKE AND THE LYSANDER: As Finlay Macdonald set out for high school in Tarbert, Hitler's growing military strength had begun to menace the people of Europe. But to Finlay this was just one more exciting prospect along with living in Big Grandfather's house, making new friends and meeting the girls of his adolescent dreams.
Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J.D. Crowe (Music in American Life)
by Marty GodbeyIn this first biography of legendary banjoist J. D. Crowe, Marty Godbey charts the life and career of one of bluegrass's most important innovators. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Crowe picked up the banjo when he was thirteen years old, inspired by a Flatt & Scruggs performance at the Kentucky Barn Dance. Godbey relates the long, distinguished career that followed, as Crowe performed and recorded both solo and as part of such varied ensembles as Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys, the all-acoustic Kentucky Mountain Boys, and the revolutionary New South, who created an adventurously eclectic brand of bluegrass by merging rock and country music influences with traditional forms. Over the decades, this highly influential group launched the careers of many other fresh talents such as Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, and Doyle Lawson. With a selective discography and drawing from more than twenty interviews with Crowe and dozens more with the players who know him best, Crowe on the Banjo: The Music Life of J. D. Crowe is the definitive music biography of a true bluegrass original.
Crowley's: Detroit's Friendly Store (Landmarks)
by Bruce Allen KopytekOperating in the shadow of the enormous J.L. Hudson Co., Crowley's earned Detroit's trade with fine merchandise and good service, all in an atmosphere that made it the Motor City's "friendly" department store. Generations of customers still hold Crowley's close in their memories, fondly recalling the store's ancient wooden escalators, fashionable merchandise and special events like "Breakfast with Santa." Wander back in time with historian Bruce Allen Kopytek through the venerable old store and its suburban branches to discover all the things that made Crowley's such a special retail destination.
The Crown: Political Scandal, Personal Struggle, and the Years that Defined Elizabeth II (1956-1977) (The Crown #2)
by Robert LaceyThe fascinating royal and social history that inspired seasons 2 and 3 of The Crown, written by the show&’s historical consultant. In this eye-opening companion to seasons 2 and 3 of Netflix&’s acclaimed series The Crown, renowned biographer—and the show&’s historical consultant—Robert Lacey takes us through the real history that inspired the drama. Covering two tumultuous decades in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Lacey looks at the key social, political, and personal moments and their effects—not only on the royal family but also on the world around them. From the Suez Crisis and the U.S.–Soviet space race to the legacy of the Duke of Windsor&’s collaboration with Hitler, along with the rumored issues with the royal marriage, the book provides a thought-provoking insight into the historic decades that the show explores, revealing the truth behind the on-screen drama. Extensively researched and complete with beautifully reproduced photographs, this is a unique look behind the history that inspired the show and the years that would prove to be the making of the Queen.The Crown is now available to watch on Netflix.The Crown is produced by Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television for Netflix.
The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 1: Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and the Making of a Young Queen (1947-1955) (The Crown #1)
by Robert LaceyThe official companion to the Emmy-winning Netflix drama chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and starring Claire Foy and John Lithgow, The Crown by Peter Morgan, featuring additional historical background and beautifully reproduced archival photos and show stills <P><P>Elizabeth Mountbatten never expected her father to die so suddenly, so young, leaving her with a throne to fill and a global institution to govern. <P>Crowned at twenty-five, she was already a wife and mother as she began her journey towards becoming a queen. <P> As Britain lifted itself out of the shadow of war, the new monarch faced her own challenges. <P>Her mother doubted her marriage; her uncle-in-exile derided her abilities; her husband resented the sacrifice of his career and family name; and her rebellious sister embarked on a love affair that threatened the centuries-old links between the Church and the Crown. <P>This is the story of how Elizabeth II drew on every ounce of resolve to ensure that the Crown always came out on top. <P>Written by the show’s historical consultant, royal biographer Robert Lacey, and filled with beautifully reproduced archival photos and show stills, The Crown: The Official Companion: Volume 1 adds expert and in-depth detail to the events of the series, painting an intimate portrait of life inside Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. <P>Here is Elizabeth II as we’ve never seen her before.
The Crown in Crisis: Countdown to the Abdication
by Alexander LarmanIn December 1936, Britain faced a constitutional crisis that was the gravest threat to the institution of the monarchy since the execution of Charles I. The ruling monarch, Edward VIII, wished to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson and crown her as his Queen. His actions scandalised the Establishment, who were desperate to avoid an international embarrassment at a time when war seemed imminent.An influential coalition formed against him, including the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, his private secretary Alec Hardinge, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the editor of The Times. Edward seemed fated to give up Wallis and remain a reluctant ruler, or to abdicate his throne. Yet he had his own supporters, too, including Winston Churchill, the Machiavellian newspaper proprietor Lord Beaverbrook and his brilliant adviser Walter Monckton. They offered him the chance to remain on the throne and keep Wallis. But was the price they asked too high?Using previously unpublished and rare archival material, and new interviews with those who knew Edward and Wallis, The Crown in Crisis is the conclusive exploration of how an unthinkable and unprecedented event tore the country apart. This seismic event has been written about before but never with the ticking-clock suspense and pace of the thriller that it undoubtedly was for all of its participants. Painstakingly researched, incisively written and entirely fresh in its approach, The Crown in Crisis brings the events of that time to thrilling life, and in the process will appeal to an entirely new audience.
The Crown in Crisis: Countdown to the Abdication
by Alexander LarmanThe thrilling and definitive account of the Abdication Crisis of 1936On December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII brought a great international drama to a close when he abdicated, renouncing the throne of the United Kingdom for himself and his heirs. The reason he gave when addressing his subjects was that he could not fulfill his duties without the woman he loved—the notorious American divorcee Wallis Simpson—by his side. His actions scandalized the establishment, who were desperate to avoid an international embarrassment at a time when war seemed imminent. That the King was rumored to have Nazi sympathies only strengthened their determination that he should be forced off the throne, by any means necessary.Alexander Larman’s The Crown in Crisis will treat readers to a new, thrilling view of this legendary story. Informed by revelatory archival material never-before-seen, as well as by interviews with many of Edward’s and Wallis’s close friends, Larman creates an hour-by-hour, day-by-day suspenseful narrative that brings readers up to the point where the microphone is turned on and the king speaks to his subjects. As well as focusing on King Edward and Mrs. Simpson, Larman looks closely at the roles played by those that stood against him: Prime minister Stanley Baldwin, his private secretary Alec Hardinge, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Lang. Larman also takes the full measure of those who supported him: the great politician Winston Churchill, Machiavellian newspaper owner Lord Beaverbrook, and the brilliant lawyer Walter Monckton.For the first time in a book about the abdication, readers will read an in-depth account of the assassination attempt on Edward’s life and its consequences, a first-person chronicle of Wallis Simpson’s scandalous divorce proceedings, information from the Royal Archives about the government’s worries about Edward’s relationship with Nazi high-command Ribbentrop and a boots-on-the-ground view of how the British people saw Edward as they watched the drama unfold. You won’t be able to put down The Crown in Crisis, a full panorama of the people and the times surrounding Edward and the woman he loved.
The Crown in Vogue: Vogue's 'special royal salute' to Queen Elizabeth II and the House of Windsor
by Robin Muir Josephine RossA lavishly illustrated celebration of the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family from the unrivalled archive of British Vogue.'Vogue, like the royal family, has been through many evolutions of its own, and to view Her Majesty's life though the record of our pages is truly a document of history.' - Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British VogueFour monarchs (crowned and uncrowned); one abdication; one royal investiture; a jewel box of jubilees and many, many royal marriages... British Vogue has borne witness to a century of royal history. The Crown in Vogue is the magazine's 'special royal salute' to our longest serving monarch and her 'assured and unwavering' presence in the lives of a nation.Vogue's first star photographer, Cecil Beaton, was entranced by the House of Windsor and the admiration was mutual. A younger star photographer, Antony Armstrong Jones, left Vogue to marry the Queen's sister and returned as Lord Snowdon. The Queen's cousin, Vogue's Lord Lichfield proved an insightful photographer of royal style along with many of Vogue's fashion photographers including Horst, Norman Parkinson and David Bailey. With visual treasures from Vogue's unrivalled archive and contributions through the decades from the most perceptive of royal commentators - from Evelyn Waugh to Zadie Smith - The Crown in Vogue is the definitive, authoritative portrait of Queen Elizabeth II's magnificent reign - and of royalty in the modern age.
The Crown in Vogue: Vogue's 'special royal salute' to Queen Elizabeth II and the House of Windsor
by Robin Muir Josephine RossA lavishly illustrated celebration of the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family from the unrivalled archive of British Vogue.'Vogue, like the royal family, has been through many evolutions of its own, and to view Her Majesty's life though the record of our pages is truly a document of history.' - Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British VogueFour monarchs (crowned and uncrowned); one abdication; one royal investiture; a jewel box of jubilees and many, many royal marriages... British Vogue has borne witness to a century of royal history. The Crown in Vogue is the magazine's 'special royal salute' to our longest serving monarch and her 'assured and unwavering' presence in the lives of a nation.Vogue's first star photographer, Cecil Beaton, was entranced by the House of Windsor and the admiration was mutual. A younger star photographer, Antony Armstrong Jones, left Vogue to marry the Queen's sister and returned as Lord Snowdon. The Queen's cousin, Vogue's Lord Lichfield proved an insightful photographer of royal style along with many of Vogue's fashion photographers including Horst, Norman Parkinson and David Bailey. With visual treasures from Vogue's unrivalled archive and contributions through the decades from the most perceptive of royal commentators - from Evelyn Waugh to Zadie Smith - The Crown in Vogue is the definitive, authoritative portrait of Queen Elizabeth II's magnificent reign - and of royalty in the modern age.
Crown of Glory: The Life of Pope Pius XII
by Alden Hatch Seamus WalsheBiography of Pope Pius, XII who was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in March 1939. Pius XII was pope during the turbulent years of World War II through most of the 1950's. This book describes the Pope's efforts to secure peace between the Allied and Axis powers. It also tells of the role of the Vatican in providing protection to displaced refugees and all persecuted persons while trying to prevent the spread of Communism. Image descriptions added.
The Crown of Mexico: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota
by Joan HaslipEngland had been among the first to recognize Mexico's independence, hoping to find in the former colonies of Spain new markets for her ever-expanding economy. Two loans were floated on the London Stock Exchange, but the bankers demanded such a heavy rate of interest that not more than half the money ever reached the Mexican government. Others followed in England's wake, with France obtaining a substantial share of Mexican commerce. The most feared and hated of the foreign powers, however, was Mexico's North American neighbor, who, between 1837 and 1849, partly through war and partly through acquisition, absorbed over a million and a half square miles of Mexican territory, including the whole of Texas, New Mexico and Southern California.
The Crown Prince: A Novel
by John BarchilonPaul Wittgenstein was the Crown Prince of the keyboard. He was the most acclaimed pianist of his time--an intense, handsome young man, courted and bedded by royalty. Then, cruelly, he lost his right arm in battle. Could even his passion and determination rebuild that glittering world? Based on the true life of Paul Wittgenstein, the incredible one-handed concert pianist who wowed the world.
Crown & Sceptre: 1000 Years of Kings and Queens
by Tracy Borman'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle' (William Shakespeare, Richard II)The British monarchy is the one of the most iconic and enduring institutions in the world. It has weathered the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought many of Europe's royal families to an abrupt and bloody end. Its unique survival owes much to the fact that, for all its ancient traditions and protocol, the royal family has proved remarkably responsive to change, evolving to reflect the times. But for much of its history, it also spearheaded seismic change, shaping our religious, political and cultural identity and establishing the British monarchy as the envy of the world.There has never been a more apposite moment to consider the history of this extraordinary survivor. Within the next decade, there is likely to be a change of monarch, sparking renewed global interest on a scale not seen since Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Even the media and popular frenzy evoked by recent royal events such as royal weddings and births will not compare to that generated by the accession of a new king. In the lead up to this pivotal moment in Britain's history, Crown & Sceptre explores the history and evolution of the monarchy from 1066 to the present day, feeding the renewed interest not just in the modern royals but in the predecessors who helped shape the institution into what it is today.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II
by Tracy BormanA stunning tour de force and a remarkable achievement. - Alison WeirThis is Our Island Story for the modern age. - Charles Spencer'Not just a brilliant compendium of biographies, but the biography of an institution: a marvellous read' - Tom Holland'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle'(William Shakespeare, Richard II)The British monarchy is the one of the most iconic and enduring institutions in the world. It has weathered the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought many of Europe's royal families to an abrupt and bloody end. Its unique survival owes much to the fact that, for all its ancient traditions and protocol, the royal family has proved remarkably responsive to change, evolving to reflect the times. But for much of its history, it also spearheaded seismic change, shaping our religious, political and cultural identity and establishing the British monarchy as the envy of the world.There has never been a more apposite moment to consider the history of this extraordinary survivor. Within the next decade, there is likely to be a change of monarch, sparking renewed global interest on a scale not seen since Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Even the media and popular frenzy evoked by recent royal events such as royal weddings and births will not compare to that generated by the accession of a new king. In the lead up to this pivotal moment in Britain's history, Crown & Sceptre explores the history and evolution of the monarchy from 1066 to the present day, feeding the renewed interest not just in the modern royals but in the predecessors who helped shape the institution into what it is today."Crown and Sceptre shows an astonishing command of a thousand years of the British monarchy, its traditions, roles and realities beyond the pageantry and romance. Beautifully crafted, insightful, and a genuine pleasure to read, it underscores the royal heritage at the heart of a nation." - Lauren Mackay"Crown and Sceptre" combines an eminently accessible narrative with a lucid scholarly lens. Tracy Borman skilfully unravels the trials and triumphs of this ever-shifting institution. By charting both the majesty and mechanics of monarchy, we get a vivid understanding of why its glittering gears shifted over time, and by whom the levers of change were pulled. A triumph.' - Owen Emmerson, Curator at Hever Castle'Tracy Borman's passion for the British monarch and the crown is infectious and compelling!' - Estelle Paranque'Borman embraces a huge task' - Gerard DeGroot, The TimesEnlightening, gripping and skilfully composed, Tracy Borman navigates the twists and turns of the British monarchy with an expert hand. A pacy narrative that's simply bursting with colour and intrigue, Crown and Sceptre is both powerful and compulsively readable. A masterpiece. - Nicola Tallis
Crown & Sceptre: 1000 Years of Kings and Queens
by Tracy BormanA stunning tour de force and a remarkable achievement.- Alison WeirThis is Our Island Story for the modern age. - Charles Spencer'Not just a brilliant compendium of biographies, but the biography of an institution: a marvellous read' - Tom Holland'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle'(William Shakespeare, Richard II)The British monarchy is the one of the most iconic and enduring institutions in the world. It has weathered the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought many of Europe's royal families to an abrupt and bloody end. Its unique survival owes much to the fact that, for all its ancient traditions and protocol, the royal family has proved remarkably responsive to change, evolving to reflect the times. But for much of its history, it also spearheaded seismic change, shaping our religious, political and cultural identity and establishing the British monarchy as the envy of the world.There has never been a more apposite moment to consider the history of this extraordinary survivor. Within the next decade, there is likely to be a change of monarch, sparking renewed global interest on a scale not seen since Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Even the media and popular frenzy evoked by recent royal events such as royal weddings and births will not compare to that generated by the accession of a new king. In the lead up to this pivotal moment in Britain's history, Crown & Sceptre explores the history and evolution of the monarchy from 1066 to the present day, feeding the renewed interest not just in the modern royals but in the predecessors who helped shape the institution into what it is today."Crown and Sceptre shows an astonishing command of a thousand years of the British monarchy, its traditions, roles and realities beyond the pageantry and romance. Beautifully crafted, insightful, and a genuine pleasure to read, it underscores the royal heritage at the heart of a nation." - Lauren Mackay"Crown and Sceptre" combines an eminently accessible narrative with a lucid scholarly lens. Tracy Borman skilfully unravels the trials and triumphs of this ever-shifting institution. By charting both the majesty and mechanics of monarchy, we get a vivid understanding of why its glittering gears shifted over time, and by whom the levers of change were pulled. A triumph.' - Owen Emmerson, Curator at Hever Castle'Tracy Borman's passion for the British monarch and the crown is infectious and compelling!' - Estelle Paranque'Borman embraces a huge task' - Gerard DeGroot, The TimesEnlightening, gripping and skilfully composed, Tracy Borman navigates the twists and turns of the British monarchy with an expert hand. A pacy narrative that's simply bursting with colour and intrigue, Crown and Sceptre is both powerful and compulsively readable. A masterpiece. - Nicola Tallis
Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy, from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II
by Tracy BormanThe author of The Private Lives of the Tudors illuminates the almost thousand-year history of the British monarchy. Since William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy, crossed the English Channel in 1066 to defeat King Harold II and unite England&’s various kingdoms, forty-one kings and queens have sat on Britain&’s throne. &“Shining examples of royal power and majesty alongside a rogue&’s gallery of weak, lazy, or evil monarchs,&” as Tracy Borman describes them in her sparkling chronicle, Crown & Sceptre. Ironically, during very few of these 955 years has the throne&’s occupant been unambiguously English—whether Norman French, the Welsh-born Tudors, the Scottish Stuarts, and the Hanoverians and their German successors to the present day. Acknowledging the intrinsic fascination with British royalty, Borman lifts the veil to reveal the remarkable characters and personalities who have ruled and, since the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, more ceremonially reigned. It is a crucial distinction explaining the staying power of the monarchy as the royal family has evolved and adapted to the needs and opinions of its people, avoiding the storms of rebellion that brought many of Europe&’s royals to an abrupt end. Richard II; Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; George III; Victoria; Elizabeth II: their names evoke eras and the dramatic events Borman recounts. She is equally attuned to the fabric of monarchy: royal palaces; the way monarchs have been portrayed in art, on coins, in the media; the ceremony and pageantry surrounding the crown. Elizabeth II is already one of the longest reigning monarchs in history. Crown & Sceptre is a fitting tribute to her remarkable longevity and that of the magnificent institution she represents.
A Crown that Lasts: You Are Not Your Label
by Demi-Leigh TebowIn A Crown that Lasts, former Miss Universe and Miss South Africa Demi Tebow confesses the danger of tying our identities to our accomplishments. Discover the truth of who you were created to be and how to use your platform, no matter how big or small, for eternal impact.On this earth, a crown is what separates victors from the rest of the competitors, but the goal of creating a life worth living is not to gain a trophy, get a prize, or keep the crown. Our lives are not meant to be about being number one or making our own names known. While walking you through the journey of her evolving confidence—from basing her identity on temporary labels and her own efforts, to discovering the rock-solid security of anchoring her dreams in her Maker—Demi weaves her story together with the insights she's learned along the way.A Crown that Lasts will show you how toRelate to the discomfort, confusion, and doubt that arises when you base your confidence on external things,Discover God-confidence when your plans take unexpected detours,Know what do when planted in unknown territory,Use your story to grow an eternal impact, andStay grounded in the truth of who you are in Christ. The purpose of our lives is to love and serve God and others. Demi shows how you can be encouraged to focus not just on your aspirations, but on your greater purpose and leave behind a footprint of significance, not just success.
The Crow’s Dinner
by Jonathan CarrollThe Crow’s Dinner weaves a tapestry of tales, spotlighting striking, poignant moments of raw human emotion and fleeting connections, keenly and compassionately observed by Carroll. This collection is a nocturnal journey through intimate encounters in cafes, episodes of beautiful youth without shelter, and the subtle unraveling of personal facades. As one critic wrote “It captures a magic akin to the invisible, compassionate observers in Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire, who peer into the soul of Berlin, absorbing the silent stories and hidden pains of its inhabitants. With narratives that are concise yet profound, often spanning just a page or two, each piece centers around a pivotal experience or theme, unraveling layers of meaning and insight. Carroll’s work is reminiscent of a Zen koan, each story a path to deeper understanding, inviting readers into a reflective journey.”
Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee -- The War They Fought, the Peace They Forged
by William C. DavisA dual biography and a fresh approach to the always compelling subject of these two iconic leaders--how they fashioned a distinctly American war, and a lasting peace, that fundamentally changed our nation
Crucify!
by Timothy J. StonerAn Ancient Murder Mystery On Sunday they jammed the streets celebrating his arrival. But on Friday they were screaming for his blood.What prompted this stunning reversal? Why did this man's followers and friends demand his death?Crucify! reveals the motive behind the most heinous murder of all time. Timothy J. Stoner mines the Gospels to expose Jesus's secret agenda and uncovers his dangerous and provocative mission. Is there something about this young Rabbi that we have failed to understand or appreciate?Answering these questions raises another--one that is more troubling: If we'd been there, would we have joined with the scandalized crowd crying Crucify?
Crucifying Religion: How Jesus is The End of Religion
by Donavon RileyJesus is the end of all religion. All the sacrifices of priests and people are rendered null and void by Jesus' one-time-for-all-time sacrifice for all people, everywhere, past, present, and future tense. Jesus' death and resurrection save us from our own religiosity.
Crude Justice: How I Fought Big Oil and Won, and What You Should Know About the New Environmental Attack on America
by Stuart H. SmithOne day in the small Mississippi town of Laurel, a 26-year-old expectant mom named Karen Street sat down at the edge of her bathtub—and felt her hip split in two. The episode was so bizarre it wasn't until later, after she saw the doctor, that she realized her bone disease was almost certainly linked to her father-in-law's business. Winston Street ran a machine shop that drilled the gunk out of pipes used by Chevron, Shell and other giants of the oil industry—creating a white powder that covered Karen Street's husband's overalls every night, which then landed in their vegetable garden...and was highly radioactive. Winston Street didn't know the dust was poisonous, nor did his workers or his family. But someone did know. Indeed, there was evidence that America's Big Oil companies were aware for decades that they were pulling up radium from under the earth, poisoning yards like Street's while dumping radioactive water in unlined pits across the South. Now, to prove that and win justice for his blue-collar clients, an untested young lawyer named Stuart H. Smith and his eccentric team would have to get the better of America's best-known radiation attorney and the global clout of Chevron inside a Mississippi courtroom. In a gripping tale that reads as if torn from the pages of a John Grisham novel, Crude Justice tells how the Little Guy can take on the behemoth of Big Oil and win…with the help of a good attorney. Recounting more than two decades as a top environmental lawyer in the toxic oil patch of the American South, Smith tells the story of how he upped the ante again and again—getting the best of Chevron, then taking on the world's most powerful corporation, ExxonMobil, with $1 billion on the line, and finally ferreting out the elusive truth behind BP's 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Smith finally builds upon the courtroom drama of his past and the environmental threats of the present—from fracking to the Keystone XL pipeline—to issue a resounding call for America to break its crippling addiction to fossil fuels.
A Cruel Captivity: Prisoners of the Japanese: Their Ordeal and The Legacy
by Ellie TaylorCarefully and sensitively researched, A Cruel Captivity describes the ordeals of, and lasting impact on, survivors of Japanese captivity.Differing in a number of respects from other moving POW accounts, this book covers the experiences of 22 servicemen from the Army, Royal Navy, RAF and volunteer forces who were held captive in numerous locations through South East Asia including Thailand, Burma, Hong Kong, the Spice Islands and Japan itself. Some had to endure the inhumane conditions during hazardous journeys on the hellships and all suffered appalling cruelty, starvation, disease and prolonged degradation on an epic scale. Yet these were the fortunate ones many thousands perished and their graves were unmarked.The book also examines the differing mental and physical effects that the prisoners captors cruel treatment had on them. The authors handling of the legacy of their experiences during the post-war years makes this moving book particularly important. For a full understanding of this dreadful aspect of the Second World War, A Cruel Captivity is a must-read.
Cruel Crossing: Escaping Hitler Across the Pyrenees
by Edward StourtonA chronicle of the perilous European mountain escape route used during World War II, with epic stories from survivors and their families. After the Nazi invasion of Belgium in 1940, an underground network was established to help British servicemen escape German-occupied Europe. As the war progressed, others began using the secret route as well, traveling to the south of France, over the Pyrenees mountains, and into neutral Spain. The Chemin de la Liberté runs forty miles across the central Pyrenees. Since 1994, it has been hiked each July to commemorate those who made the courageous journey during the Nazi occupation of France. BBC Radio presenter Edward Stourton made the trek in 2011, and from his fellow hikers, he uncovered amazing stories of wartime bravery and perseverance. In Cruel Crossing, Stourton draws on interviews with survivors, as well as family members of those who were there, to paint a history of this little-known aspect of World War II. It is colored by tales of hardship from soldiers trapped behind enemy lines, persecuted Jews fleeing Hitler and Vichy France, and bold resistance fighters aiding their escape. There are scrambles across rooftops in the dead of night, drops from speeding trains, treachery, murder, romance, and of course, heroism. These personal stories offer a dramatic and moving trip through the past, preserving the memories of those who endured so much to gain back their freedom.Praise for Cruel Crossing &“Stourton writes evocatively and with sensitivity of the people who made the arduous trek. . . . An engaging collection of tales.&” —Daily Express &“In Mr. Stourton&’s hands, the Pyrenees become a grim amphitheatre for heroism and betrayal, collusion and rebellion. . . . Cruel Crossing recaptures much of the adventure and the fun, as well as the horror and the bitterness, as it brilliantly conjures up the voices of the past.&” —Country Life &“Heart-breaking and breath-taking . . . thoroughly moving and very readable.&” —Simon Mawer, author of The Glass Room &“An important book packed with poignant stories, remarkable characters and uncomfortable truths.&” —Clare Mulley, author of The Spy Who Loved