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King of Air Fighters: The Biography of Major “Mick” Mannock, V.C., D.S.O., M.C.
by Wing-Cmdr. Ira JonesMajor “Mick” Mannock, VC, was the top-scoring RAF air ace of the First World War, an almost legendary figure who personified the bravery and modesty that came to be expected of aerial heroes. While other aces of that war became better known, Mannock in his own quiet way topped them all, with an official tally of 73 victories by the time of his death. On the award of his posthumous VC the London Gazette described him as “an outstanding example of fearless courage, remarkable skill, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice that has never been surpassed.”King of Air Fighters is an exciting account of Mannock’s character and career by another great air ace. For author “Taffy” Jones himself ranks sixth in the British list of First World War aces with 41 victories. This is a tale of adventure, courage and gallantry told with an experienced insider’s understanding of the feelings and psychology of the air aces, and with a thorough analysis of aerial combat techniques.
King of Airfighters: The Biography of Major 'Mick' Mannock DFC (Vintage Aviation Library)
by Ira JonesA penetrating study of Britain’s top World War I fighter ace, written by fellow pilot Ira Jones, the author of An Air Fighter’s Scrapbook.Ira Jones’ biography of Britain’s top-scoring ace of the First World War has become the subject of some controversy over the last few years; most notably, it claims seventy-three “kills” for Mannock, making him the number-one-scoring Allied ace of the war. Later research has thrown serious doubt on this assertion, and indeed, Mannock himself only claimed fifty-one kills.Jones’ biography is nevertheless an important account, especially when seen in the context of the time in which it was first written. In particular, the biography delves into the mind of Mannock, portraying the singular nature of his character and the true stress that these pioneer air fighters experienced in the last few months of the war.Originally published in 1934 by Ivor Nicholson and Watson in London, the book has been reprinted—most recently in the 1990s by Greenhill Books as part of its Vintage Aviation Library—and reproduced from the original 1930s version of the book.Not a word has been changed in this Casemate edition, but the original, very dated type and page layout have been reworked, as has been the format in which the book is presented, to give a beautiful new treatment to this classic of aviation literature.
King of Assassins: (The Wounded Kingdom Book 3) The king is dead, long live the king... (The Wounded Kingdom #3)
by RJ Barker***Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker!***'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the WyldTHE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . .Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of relative calm for the assassin Girton Club-Foot. Even the Forgetting Plague, which ravaged the rest of the kingdoms, seemed to pass them by. But now Rufra ap Vthyr eyes the vacant High-King's throne and will take his court to the capital, a rat's nest of intrigue and murder, where every enemy he has ever made will gather and the endgame of twenty years of politics and murder will be played out in his bid to become the King of all Kings.Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and the god of death, Xus the Unseen, stands closer than ever - casting his shadow over everything most dear to Girton. Praise for this trilogy 'Outstanding . . . Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning' James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost 'Dead gods, dread magic, and a lead that feels like a breath of fresh air. Great fun' Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant 'Readers will appreciate Barker's complex mythology and smoothly flowing plot' Publishers Weekly 'Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut' Jennifer Williams, author of The Copper Promise 'A dark-humoured game of cat and mouse between assassins, with traitors on all sides' David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance seriesThe Wounded Kingdom trilogy begins with AGE OF ASSASSINS, continues with BLOOD OF ASSASSINS and concludes with KING OF ASSASSINS.
King of Assassins: (The Wounded Kingdom Book 3) The king is dead, long live the king... (The Wounded Kingdom #3)
by RJ Barker***Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker!***'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the WyldTHE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . .Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of relative calm for the assassin Girton Club-Foot. Even the Forgetting Plague, which ravaged the rest of the kingdoms, seemed to pass them by. But now Rufra ap Vthyr eyes the vacant High-King's throne and will take his court to the capital, a rat's nest of intrigue and murder, where every enemy he has ever made will gather and the endgame of twenty years of politics and murder will be played out in his bid to become the King of all Kings.Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and the god of death, Xus the Unseen, stands closer than ever - casting his shadow over everything most dear to Girton. Praise for this trilogy 'Outstanding . . . Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning' James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost 'Dead gods, dread magic, and a lead that feels like a breath of fresh air. Great fun' Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant 'Readers will appreciate Barker's complex mythology and smoothly flowing plot' Publishers Weekly 'Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut' Jennifer Williams, author of The Copper Promise 'A dark-humoured game of cat and mouse between assassins, with traitors on all sides' David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance seriesThe Wounded Kingdom trilogy begins with AGE OF ASSASSINS, continues with BLOOD OF ASSASSINS and concludes with KING OF ASSASSINS.
King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema
by Anupama ChopraHere is the astonishing true story of Bollywood, a sweeping portrait about a country finding its identity, a movie industry that changed the face of India, and one man's struggle to become a star. Shah Rukh Khan's larger than life tale takes us through the colorful and idiosyncratic Bollywood movie industry, where fantastic dreams and outrageous obsessions share the spotlight with extortion, murder, and corruption. Shah Rukh Khan broke into this $1.5 billion business despite the fact that it has always been controlled by a handful of legendary film families and sometimes funded by black market money. As a Muslim in a Hindu majority nation, exulting in classic Indian cultural values, Shah Rukh Khan has come to embody the aspirations and contradictions of a complicated culture tumbling headlong into American style capitalism. His story is the mirror to view the greater Indian story and the underbelly of the culture of Bollywood. "A bounty for cinema lovers everywhere." --Mira Nair, Director, The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding "King of Bollywood is the all-singing, all-dancing back stage pass to Bollywood. Anupama Chopra chronicles the political and cultural story of India with finesse and insight, through fly-on-wall access to one of its biggest, most charming and charismatic stars." -- Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend it Like Beckham "The "Easy Rider Raging Bull" of the Bollywood industry and essential reading for any Shah Rukh Khan fan." --Emma Thompson, actress "Anu Chopra infuses the pivotal moments of Shah Rukh Khan's life with an edge-of-your-seat tension worthy of the best Bollywood blockbusters." --Kirkus
King of Hearts: Drag Kings in the American South
by Baker A. RogersWhile drag subcultures have gained mainstream media attention in recent years, the main focus has been on female impersonators. Equally lively, however, is the community of drag kings: cis women, trans men, and non-binary people who perform exaggerated masculine personas onstage under such names as Adonis Black, Papi Chulo, and Oliver Clothesoff. King of Hearts shows how drag king performers are thriving in an unlikely location: Southern Bible Belt states like Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. Based on observations and interviews with sixty Southern drag kings, this study reveals how they are challenging the region’s gender norms while creating a unique community with its own distinctive Southern flair. Reflecting the region’s racial diversity, it profiles not only white drag kings, but also those who are African American, multiracial, and Hispanic. Queer scholar Baker A. Rogers—who has also performed as drag king Macon Love—takes you on an insider’s tour of Southern drag king culture, exploring its history, the communal bonds that unite it, and the controversies that have divided it. King of Hearts offers a groundbreaking look at a subculture that presents a subversion of gender norms while also providing a vital lifeline for non-gender-conforming Southerners.
King of Ithaca (The Adventures of Odysseus #Vol. 1)
by Glyn IliffeHistorical fantasy full of &“suspense, treachery, and bone-crunching action . . . will leave fans of the genre eagerly awaiting the rest of the series&” (The Times Literary Supplement). It was a time of myth and mystery. A time when Gods walked among men. It was a time of heroes. Greece is a country in turmoil, divided by feuding kingdoms desiring wealth, power and revenge. When Eperitus, a young exiled soldier, comes to the aid of a group of warriors in battle, little does he know that it will be the start of an incredible adventure. For he is about to join the charismatic Odysseus, Prince of Ithaca, on a vital quest to save his homeland. Odysseus travels to Sparta to join the most famous heroes of the time in paying suit to the sensuous Helen. Armed with nothing but his wits and intelligence, he must enter a treacherous world of warfare and politics to compete for the greatest prize in Greece. But few care for the problems of an impoverished prince when war with Troy is beckoning. An epic saga set in one of the most dramatic periods of history, King of Ithaca is a voyage of discovery of one man&’s journey to become a King—and a legend. &“A must read for those who enjoy good old epic battles, chilling death scenes and the extravagance of ancient Greece.&” —Lifestyle Magazine &“The reader does not need to be classicist to enjoy this epic and stirring tale. It makes a great novel.&” —Historical Novels Review
King of Kings (The Courtneys & Ballantynes #2)
by Wilbur SmithThe long-awaited sequel to Wilbur Smith's worldwide bestseller, The Triumph of the Sun.An epic story of love, betrayal, courage and war that brings together two of Wilbur Smith's greatest families in this long-awaited sequel to his worldwide bestseller, The Triumph of the Sun. Cairo, 1888. A beautiful September day. Penrod Ballantyne and his fiancee, Amber Benbrook, stroll hand in hand. The future is theirs for the taking. But when Penrod's jealous former lover, Lady Agatha, plants doubt about his character, Amber leaves him and travels to the wilds of Abyssinia with her twin sister, Saffron, and her adventurer husband, Ryder Courtney. On a mission to establish a silver mine, they make the dangerous journey to the new capital of Addis Ababa, where they are welcomed by Menelik, the King of Kings. But Italy has designs on Abyssinia, and there are rumours of a plan to invade... Back in Cairo, a devastated Penrod seeks oblivion in the city's opium dens. When he is rescued by his old friend, Lorenzo De Fonseca, now in the Italian army, and offered the chance to assess the situation around the Abyssinian border, Penrod leaps at the chance of action. With storm clouds gathering, and on opposing sides of the invasion, can Penrod and Amber find their way back to one another - against all the odds?
King of Kings: Warrior of Rome (Warrior Of Rome Ser. #2)
by Harry SidebottomThe acclaimed author continues his epic tale of Ancient Roman intrigue in the tumultuous third-century in this sequel to Fire in the East. Born a Barbarian, Marcus Clodius Ballista rises through the ranks of the Roman army to become defender of the Empire&’s eastern border. But when treachery causes him to lose the city of Arete, Ballista finds himself in retreat from the Persian Sassanid forces—and out of favor among the senators at home. As the imperial court grows increasingly concerned about religious fanaticism, the aging emperor Valerian once again calls on Ballista to defend the empire, this time sending him to the far-off port city of Ephesus. There, Ballista is charged with crushing a troublesome Christian sect. Renowned for their skilled blending of action and historical accuracy, Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome novels take the reader from the shouts of the battlefield to the whisperings of the emperor's inner circle. Endnotes and an extensive bibliography reveal the fascinating research and scholarship brought to life in this exciting tale.
King of Morning, Queen of Day
by Ian McDonaldWinner of the Philip K Dick Award“Filled with wondrous language, marvelous events.” —Science Fiction ChronicleIn Ireland, three generations of young women fight to control the powers coursing through their blood: the power to bring the mystical Otherworld into our world, and change it.Emily, Jessica and Enye must each face their dark side of human mythoconsciousness–and their own personal histories. But the forces of faerie are ever treacherous…Filled with vivid, passionate characters you will never forget, King of Morning, Queen of Day is a spellbinding fantasy of the real Ireland.“McDonald’s power as a storyteller lies in his stylistic versatility and intensity of language as well as in his capacity to create vivid and memorable characters. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal“A brilliant book.” —Charles de Lint
King of Prussia
by J. Michael MorrisonKing of Prussia hosts over 10 million visitors annually. This is quite a change from the little town once described as resembling an English hamlet. By 1762, King of Prussia had already become an area of strategic importance. Only a day's ride from Philadelphia, it was often used as a staging area for travelers heading west.
King of Shadows
by Susan CooperPlaying deftly with Time and Destiny as she did in her classic fantasy sequence The Dark Is Rising, Susan Cooper tells a vivid, fascinating and ultimately very moving story of the painful business of growing up, against a background of the timeless, glowing magic of the theater.<P><P> Nat Field's short life has been shadowed by loss and horror. His one escape is his talent for acting, and he has been picked by a dazzling international director to perform at Shakespeare's Globe, London's amazing new copy of the theater for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays four hundred years ago.<P> Brought from all over the U.S., the members of the American Company of Boys begin to rehearse at the Globe. But strange, eerie echoes of the past begin creeping in. Nat goes to bed mysteriously sick -- is it the dreadful bubonic plague of the sixteenth century? He wakes up healthy, but he's no longer in the present, he's in 1599, acting at the original Globe. And his costar is Shakespeare: no longer a vague historical figure, but a quirky, warm-hearted writer/actor whose friendship changes Nat forever.<P> Nat has a new life, blazing with excitement, edged with danger, but why is he here? Is he trapped in Elizabethan London? Will he ever go home?
King of Spies: The Dark Reign of America's Spymaster in Korea
by Blaine HardenFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Camp 14, the shocking, gripping account of the most powerful American spy you’ve never heard of, whose role at the center of the Korean War—which gave rise to the North Korean regime—is essential to understanding the most intractable foreign policy conflict of our time. In 1946, master sergeant Donald Nichols was repairing jeeps on the sleepy island of Guam when he caught the eye of recruiters from the army's Counter Intelligence Corps. After just three months' training, he was sent to Korea, then a backwater beneath the radar of MacArthur's Pacific Command. Though he lacked the pedigree of most U.S. spies—Nichols was a 7th grade dropout—he quickly metamorphosed from army mechanic to black ops phenomenon. He insinuated himself into the affections of America’s chosen puppet in South Korea, President Syngman Rhee, and became a pivotal player in the Korean War, warning months in advance about the North Korean invasion, breaking enemy codes, and identifying most of the targets destroyed by American bombs in North Korea. But Nichols's triumphs had a dark side. Immersed in a world of torture and beheadings, he became a spymaster with his own secret base, his own covert army, and his own rules. He recruited agents from refugee camps and prisons, sending many to their deaths on reckless missions. His closeness to Rhee meant that he witnessed—and did nothing to stop or even report—the slaughter of tens of thousands of South Korean civilians in anticommunist purges. Nichols’s clandestine reign lasted for an astounding eleven years. In this riveting book, Blaine Harden traces Nichols's unlikely rise and tragic ruin, from his birth in an operatically dysfunctional family in New Jersey to his sordid postwar decline, which began when the U.S. military sacked him in Korea, sent him to an air force psych ward in Florida, and subjected him—against his will—to months of electroshock therapy. But King of Spies is not just the story of one American spy: with napalmed villages and severed heads, high-level lies and long-running cover-ups, it reminds us that the darkest sins of the Vietnam War—and many other conflicts that followed—were first committed in Korea.
King of Storms (Isles/Templars #6)
by Amanda ScottLady Sidony Macleod, the youngest daughter in her family, can't easily make decisions so she is content to have others lead. But fate and the Knight Templars have other plans for her. Sir Giffard Maclennan, a knight and Highland firebrand, is chosen first to lead a top secret mission for his brethren Templars; and second, to keep the Earl of Fife (who is hunting the secret that Giff is hiding) guessing. Giff's plan includes the delectable Sidony as his accomplice. Giff's impatience and rashness will annoy the more practical Sidony, while her tendency to plan everything will drive Giff craxy. As Giff and Sidony join forces to hide the Templars' secret, he will learn to temper his impulsive behavior, and she will learn to tolerate his unpredictable temper as they fall in love. In the midst of being hunted by their formidable enemies, this romantic duo will be put to the ultimate test.
King of Swords
by Lindsay MckennaHIS SWORN ENEMYDevlin Kyle was bound to serve in Napoleon's army, but the Irish patriot vowed that someday he would make the English pay for their crimes against his family. So when he inadvertently captured Englishwoman Thorne Somerset, the lovely young lady fell very neatly into his plans....A Gypsy raised among the well-heeled, Thorne understood her captor's bitterness. But beneath Dev's hard-edged soldier's exterior, she also sensed the gentleness of the man. Could she convince him to deny his thirst for vengeance and give that place in his heart to their love?
King of Thieves
by George F. WalkerNew York City, 1928. Master thief Mac must join an FBI sting operation against a cadre of corrupt bankers. Music, murder, and mayhem ensue, both at the speakeasy where criminals scheme and on Wall Street where financiers conspire. This satirical play with songs exposes the world of corporate crime and, like The Beggar's Opera of 1728 that inspired it, challenges the conservatism that is increasingly apparent today.George F. Walker is one of Canada's most prolific playwrights, having written more than thirty works for the stage since the debut of his first play in 1971. Walker has also spent much of his career writing for radio and television, including for the CBS series Due South and CBC's The Newsroom.
King of the Armadillos: A Novel
by Wendy Chin-TannerBEST BOOK OF SUMMER 2023: The Boston Globe, Deep South Magazine, Ms. Magazine, BookRiot; TOP 20 BOOKS OF 2023: BookBrowse "Brilliant, absorbing, and powerfully moving." —Cheryl Strayed, New York Times bestselling author of Wild “[A] gripping and tenderly executed drama." —The New York Times A novel about family, love, and belonging, set against the backdrops of 1950s New York City and Louisiana, following one young man’s quest to survive an often misunderstood disease, and find love, music, and himself, in the process.Victor Chin’s life is turned upside down at the tender age of 15. Diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, otherwise known as leprosy, he’s forced to leave the familiar confines of his father’s laundry business in the Bronx – the only home he’s known since emigrating from China with his older brother – to quarantine alongside patients from all over the country at a federal institution in Carville.At first, Victor is scared not only of the disease, but of the confinement, and wants nothing more than to flee. Between treatments he dreams of escape and imagines his life as a fugitive. But soon he finds a new sense of freedom far from home – one without the pull of obligations to his family, the laundry business, or his mother back in China. Here, in the company of an unforgettable cast of characters, Victor finds refuge in music and experiences first love, jealousy, betrayal, and even tragedy. But with the promise of a life-changing cure on the horizon, Victor’s time at Carville is running out, and he has some difficult choices to make.A page turning work of historical fiction, King of the Armadillos announces Wendy Chin-Tanner as an extraordinary new voice. Inspired by her father’s experience as a young patient at Carville, this tender novel is a captivating and lyrical exploration of the power of art.
King of the City
by Michael MoorcockMore than a decade ago, Michael Moorcock's extraordinary Mother London gave stunning new breath and style to contemporary literature. With Bruce Chatwin's Utz and Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, the novel was short-listed for Britain's prestigious Whitbread Prize. Now, with scathing wit and enthralling vision, the author whom the Washington Post has praised as "one of the most exciting discoveries in the contemporary English novel [in] 40 or so years" returns to a city transformed and transforming, and in peril of its life.These are the times and trials of Dennis Dover, former rock guitarist, photojournalist, and paparazzo. Denny inhabits a world of vibrant color, smell, and sound, where novel experience and unpredictability are anchored by steadfast tradition and history. Mother London's many vagaries give Denny Dover joy and succor, always seducing him home from the Earth's terrible places, where the face of death is as common as the blood that stains the local dirt. And London is where Rosie Beck is, when she isn't off elsewhere combating the planet's great ills.Denny's brilliant, beautiful, socially conscious cousin has always been an indispensable part of his being -- his soul mate and his soul. Since childhood they have been inseparable, delighting in the daily discoveries of a life with no limits. But now the metropolis that nurtured them is threatened by a powerful, unstoppable force that consumes the past indiscriminately and leaves nothing of substance in its wake.The terminator is named John Barbican Begg. A hanger-on from Denny and Rosie's youth, he has become the morally corrupt center of their London and the richest, most rapacious creature in the Western Hemisphere. Now, as their cherished landmarks tumble, conspiracy, secrets, lies, and betrayal become the centerpieces of Rosie and Dennis's days. For Barbican has but one goal: to devour the entire world. And the only choice left is to join in, drop out ... or plot to destroy.A sprawling work of incomparable invention, King of the City is eccentric and remarkable, a unique urban love story with a pit-bull bite that confirms the unparalleled literary genius of the amazing Michael Moorcock.
King of the Corner (The Detroit Novels #3)
by Loren D. EstlemanFresh out of jail, an ex-ballplayer stumbles into the world of bounty hunting and murder in urban DetroitEven prison couldn&’t stop former big-league pitcher Doc Miller from playing baseball. Jailed after a teenage girl overdosed on cocaine at one of his house parties, the former Detroit Tigers ace became a star at the Michigan State Prison, bringing home the institution&’s first Midwestern Penal System championship. Now out on parole, his days of ballpark heroics are over for good. Miller&’s brother gets him a job selling tractor parts for John Deere, work Doc finds even duller than life in the joint. While moonlighting as a cab driver, he meets a bail bondsman who offers work as a bounty hunter. On their first job together, they find their target savagely murdered. His name was Ambrose X. Dryce, formerly Wilson McCoy, a Black Panther turned drug lord. Sucked back into the criminal underworld, Doc will need to make his best plays to stay alive without violating his parole. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Loren D. Estleman including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
King of the Dead: Lens Of The World, King Of The Dead, And The Belly Of The Wolf (Lens of the World Trilogy #2)
by R. A. MacAvoyThe optician Nazhuret saves his homeland from war in the award-winning Lens of the World series that &“promises to become a landmark of the decade&” (Kirkus Reviews). Book two of the award-winning Lens of the World trilogy, this volume finds the half-breed orphan Nazhuret as a modest and fastidious lens grinder. Although he could have chosen an exalted and wealthy life as a noble member of the court, he wishes to live in humble and undisturbed poverty with his lady Arlin. But the ordinary life that Nazhuret wants is abruptly shattered when a vicious attack by paid assassins forces him to run. With possible enemies on all sides, the only place to go is the neighboring kingdom of Rezhmia, where Nazhuret has an ancient blood-tie. However, he finds that Rezhmia is no safe haven, for dark clouds are gathering there, intent on destruction of the homeland of Nazhuret&’s heart. Evil tidings, treacherous family members, and powerful sorcery threaten to overtake him, but Nazhuret must survive for the sake of those he loves. &“The understated and unusual fantasy series begun in Lens of the World continues to delight in this second volume. . . . MacAvoy&’s series has some of the flavor and subtlety of Gene Wolfe&’s modern classic The Book of the New Sun, but her own unique elements—a fascination with shifting genders and the mysteries of death—make this series distinctive in the often monochromatic fantasy field.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Nazhuret and his sword-wielding mistress Arlin are provocative, complex people—like the world in which they live.&” —Library Journal &“Remarkable.&” —Publishers Weekly
King of the Gold Coast: Cap'n Streeter, the Millionaires and the Story of Lake Shore Drive
by Wayne KlattChicago's breathtaking Lake Shore Drive, with its beaches and luxury homes, has its origin in a neglected marsh and a clandestine land development. Meet the uncrowned king of the disputed shore, George Wellington Streeter, the outlandish swindler, unlikely hero and self-proclaimed founder of the Gold Coast who tried to secede from the state of Illinois. Opposing him was the quiet vision of Potter Palmer and the full weight of his investment syndicate. With this keen piece of investigative history, Wayne Klatt uncovers the secrets that both sides of the conflict managed to keep in spite of lawsuits, state inquiries, a presidential forgery and two murder trials.
King of the Golden Gate
by Kerry Newcomb Frank SchaeferAfter a kidnapping goes awry, an heiress lands in the clutches of a San Francisco brigand Angelica Liberty is on a tour of the Far East when she learns that her father is dying. None of her family&’s vessels are in port, so she takes passage on a shabby old bark, the Lorraine Marie. The ship is passing through the San Francisco fog when pirates come over the side. They swarm the ship, killing the crew in an attempt to kidnap Angelica. But before she can be captured, she slips into the salty water below. Angelica is found by Jeremy Drake, owner of the Lorraine Marie, which the pirates left to burn in the harbor. Drake is ruined, but all is not lost. In the rough-and-tumble world of the Barbary Coast—the most notorious red-light district in the country—fortunes can be won and lost in an instant. With Angelica at his side, Drake still has a chance to rule this city.
King of the Gunmen
by L. Ron HubbardAs a young man Monte Calhoun thought the measure of a man was how hard he could drink and how straight he can shoot. But, as principled as a young Jimmy Stewart, several years back East have changed him. He has become The No-Gun Man. Monte's civilized now ... even if that means refusing to avenge the murder of his own father. But in a land of outlaws and ambushes, it's only a question of how far Monte will be pushed before he pushes back ... with a vengeance.
King of the Gunrunners: How a Philadelphia Fruit Importer Inspired a Revolution and Provoked the Spanish-American War
by James W. MillerBy the time he turned thirty at the end of the nineteenth century, John D. Hart thrived as the busiest importer of bananas on the East Coast. A master of ships with a thunderous voice, Hart aggressively carried tropical fruit to an insatiable market with little concern for notions of supply and demand. But when an unexpected crisis hit the fruit business, Hart was unprepared. The financial Panic of 1893 doomed his strategy of bringing in limitless bananas. Jobless consumers could not afford such luxuries. Nearing bankruptcy, Hart was approached by Emilio Nuñez, a member of the Cuban Revolutionary Party—a cadre of exiled conspirators in New York whose singular purpose was to liberate the Cuban island from four hundred years of Spanish rule. Nuñez enlisted Hart as a “filibuster” to transport guns and ammunition to the Cuban rebels. For nearly three years, Hart became the most visible of a disparate group of mariners between New York and Key West who tormented Spanish authorities, riled the US government, and became heroes to an oppressed people fighting to be free. In King of the Gunrunners: How a Philadelphia Fruit Importer Inspired a Revolution and Provoked the Spanish-American War, author James W. Miller reveals the untold story of a forgotten American whose adventures helped pave the way for the United States’ emergence as an international power. With the Yellow Press trumpeting his exploits, Hart’s influence helped inflame the nation’s mood and made war with Spain inevitable. The quick US victory in what became known as the Spanish-American War compelled Spain to abandon Cuba and cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States, which also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict. This volume presents the story of Hart, the defiant king of the Cuban gunrunners, who prolonged a revolution, provoked a war, and left an indelible mark on history.
King of the Harem Heaven: The Amazing True Story of A Daring Charlatan Who Ran A Virgin Love Cult In America
by Anthony SterlingKing Of The Harem Heaven, first published in 1960, is the fascinating, although likely somewhat sensationalized story, of the House of David religious cult and its leader, Benjamin Franklin Purnell. Based in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the group also owned a large tract of land on High Island in Lake Michigan, and eventually developed a number of successful enterprises including farms, timber, a vegetarian restaurant, amusement park, roadside service station, and a motel. Notable was their having several baseball teams, the “Flying Rollers,” famous for their long hair and beards (they did not believe in cutting their hair) which toured the U.S. and played against other semi-pro teams. The group was rocked by scandal when members alleged that leader Purnell, while enforcing celibacy among the members, was engaging in sex with the women—including underage teenagers—of the group, and also for massive financial irregularities. Legal battles ensued, ending only upon the death of Purnell in December 1927.