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Kings of Queens: Life Beyond Baseball with the '86 Mets
by Erik ShermanIn 1986, the bad guys of baseball won the World Series. Now, Erik Sherman, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of Mookie, profiles key players from that infamous Mets team, revealing never-before-exposed details about their lives after that championship year...as well as a look back at the magical season itself. Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Lenny Dykstra, Mookie Wilson, Howard Johnson, Doug Sisk, Rafael Santana, Bobby Ojeda, Wally Backman, Kevin Mitchell, Ed Hearn, Danny Heep, and the late Gary Carter were all known for their heroics on the field. For some of them--known as the "Scum Bunch"--their debauchery off the field was even more awe-inspiring. But when that golden season ended, so did their aura of invincibility. Some faced battles with addiction, some were traded, and others struggled just to keep their lives together. Through interviews with these legendary players, Erik Sherman offers fans a new perspective on a team that will forever be remembered in sports history.INCLUDES PHOTOSFrom the Hardcover edition.
Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China
by Jonathan Kaufman'A masterpiece of research, The Last Kings of Shanghai is a vivid and fascinating story of wealth, family intrigue, and political strategy on the world stage from colonialism to communism to globalized capitalism' Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth CollegeAn epic, multigenerational story of two rival dynasties who flourished in Shanghai and Hong Kong as twentieth-century China surged into the modern eraShanghai, 1936. The Cathay Hotel, located on the city's famous waterfront, is one of the most glamorous in the world. Built by Victor Sassoon - billionaire playboy and scion of the Sassoon dynasty - the hotel hosts a who's who of global celebrities: Noel Coward has written a draft of Private Lives in his suite, Charlie Chaplin entertained his wife-to-be, and the American socialite Wallis Simpson reportedly posed for 'glamour' photographs. A few miles away, Mao and the nascent Communist party have been plotting revolution before being forced to flee the city.By the 1930s, the Sassoons had been doing business in China for a century, rivaled in wealth and influence by only one other dynasty - the Kadoories. These two Jewish families, both originally from Baghdad, stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than one hundred and seventy five years, profiting from the Opium Wars; surviving Japanese occupation; courting Chiang Kai-shek; and nearly losing everything as the Communists swept into power. In Kings of Shanghai, Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families ignited an economic boom and opened China to the world, but remained blind to the country's deep inequality and to the political turmoil on their doorsteps. In a story stretching from Baghdad to Hong Kong to Shanghai to London, Kaufman enters the lives and minds of these ambitious men and women to forge a tale of opium smuggling, family rivalry, political intrigue and survival.
Kings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War
by Ian Sumner&“Simply superb! . . . easily the best book (in English) available on the French Air Service . . . The book is a gem.&”—The Aerodrome In comparison to their British and German counterparts, the French airmen of the Great War are not well known. Yet their aerial exploits were just as remarkable, and their contribution to the war effort on the Western Front was equally important. That is why Ian Sumner&’s vivid history of the men of the French air force during the war is of such value. He tells their story using the words of the pioneering pilots and observers themselves, drawn from memoirs, diaries, letters, and contemporary newspapers, magazines and official documents. The recollections of the airmen give an authentic portrait of their role and their wartime careers. They cover recruitment and training, reconnaissance and artillery spotting, aerial combat, ground strafing and bombing, and squadron life. They also highlight the technical and tactical innovations made during those hectic years, as well as revealing the airmen&’s attitude to the enemy—and their thoughts about the ever-present threat of injury and death. &“No stone unturned, well researched and well written, Kings of the Air should become the &‘go to&’ title for information about the French contribution to the air war of the Great War.&”—The Past in Review &“The narrative provides a complete overview of developments in technology, service organization, naval aviation and the principle missions of the French Air Service, all laced with first-person accounts . . . Kings of the Air should be in the collection of any student of the first air war.&”—Over the Front
Kings of the Air: French Aces and Airmen of the Great War
by Ian Sumner&“Simply superb! . . . easily the best book (in English) available on the French Air Service . . . The book is a gem.&”—The Aerodrome In comparison to their British and German counterparts, the French airmen of the Great War are not well known. Yet their aerial exploits were just as remarkable, and their contribution to the war effort on the Western Front was equally important. That is why Ian Sumner&’s vivid history of the men of the French air force during the war is of such value. He tells their story using the words of the pioneering pilots and observers themselves, drawn from memoirs, diaries, letters, and contemporary newspapers, magazines and official documents. The recollections of the airmen give an authentic portrait of their role and their wartime careers. They cover recruitment and training, reconnaissance and artillery spotting, aerial combat, ground strafing and bombing, and squadron life. They also highlight the technical and tactical innovations made during those hectic years, as well as revealing the airmen&’s attitude to the enemy—and their thoughts about the ever-present threat of injury and death. &“No stone unturned, well researched and well written, Kings of the Air should become the &‘go to&’ title for information about the French contribution to the air war of the Great War.&”—The Past in Review &“The narrative provides a complete overview of developments in technology, service organization, naval aviation and the principle missions of the French Air Service, all laced with first-person accounts . . . Kings of the Air should be in the collection of any student of the first air war.&”—Over the Front
Kings of the Garden: The New York Knicks and Their City
by Adam J. CriblezIn Kings of the Garden, Adam J. Criblez traces the fall and rise of the New York Knicks between the 1973, the year they won their last NBA championship, and 1985, when the organization drafted Patrick Ewing and gave their fans hope after a decade of frustrations. During these years, the teams led by Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Bob McAdoo, Spencer Haywood, and Bernard King never achieved tremendous on-court success, and their struggles mirrored those facing New York City over the same span. In the mid-seventies, as the Knicks lost more games than they won and played before smaller and smaller crowds, the city they represented was on the brink of bankruptcy, while urban disinvestment, growing income inequality, and street gangs created a feeling of urban despair. Kings of the Garden details how the Knicks' fortunes and those of New York City were inextricably linked. As the team's Black superstars enjoyed national fame, Black musicians, DJs, and B-boys in the South Bronx were creating a new culture expression—hip-hop—that like the NBA would become a global phenomenon. Criblez's fascinating account of the era shows that even though the team's efforts to build a dynasty ultimately failed, the Knicks, like the city they played in, scrappily and spectacularly symbolized all that was right—and wrong—with the NBA and the nation during this turbulent, creative, and momentous time.
Kings of the Grail: Discovering the True Location of the Cup of Christ in Modern-Day Spain
by Margarita Torres Sevilla José Miguel Ortega del RioThe explosive new book that reveals the true location of the Holy Grail--hidden in plain sight for centuries Recently discovered parchments in the Egyptian University of Al-Azhar have finally made it possible to identify the location where the Holy Grail has been kept for the last 1,000 years. Their discovery led Margarita Torres Sevilla and José Miguel Ortega del Río on a three-year investigation as they traced the Grail's journey across the globe and discovered its final resting place in the Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain. Translated by Rosie Marteau, this is the definitive guide to one of history's most sought-after treasures, the origin and object of both Arthurian myth and Christian legend, offering meticulously researched information to support an extraordinary discovery. Kings of the Grail presents the new, definitive historical and scientific facts that have come to light, unravelling the mystery that has surrounded the Holy Grail and taking the reader on a compelling and thought-provoking journey back through time.
Kings of the Grail: Discovering the True Location of the Cup of Christ in Modern-Day Spain
by Margarita Torres Sevilla José Miguel Ortega del RioThe explosive new book that reveals the true location of the Holy Grail—hidden in plain sight for centuries Recently discovered parchments in the Egyptian University of Al-Azhar have finally made it possible to identify the location where the Holy Grail has been kept for the last 1,000 years. Their discovery led Margarita Torres Sevilla and José Miguel Ortega del Río on a three-year investigation as they traced the Grail’s journey across the globe and discovered its final resting place in the Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain. Translated by Rosie Marteau, this is the definitive guide to one of history’s most sought-after treasures, the origin and object of both Arthurian myth and Christian legend, offering meticulously researched information to support an extraordinary discovery. Kings of the Grail presents the new, definitive historical and scientific facts that have come to light, unravelling the mystery that has surrounded the Holy Grail and taking the reader on a compelling and thought-provoking journey back through time.
Kings of the Grail: Tracing the Historic Journey of the Cup of Christ from Jerusalem to Modern-Day Spain
by Margarita Torres Sevilla“Stand down, Indiana Jones: these two historians say the holy grail has been discovered . . . A ride rich in historical detail” (Publishers Weekly). Recently discovered parchments in the Egyptian University of Al-Azhar have finally made it possible to identify where the Holy Grail has been kept for the past one thousand years. Their discovery led Margarita Torres Sevilla and José Miguel Ortega del Río on a three-year investigation as they traced the Grail’s journey across the globe and discovered its final resting place in the Basilica of San Isidoro in León, Spain. Translated by Rosie Marteau, this is the definitive guide to one of history’s most sought-after treasures, the object of both Arthurian myth and Christian legend. Kings of the Grail presents new historical and scientific facts that have come to light, unraveling the mystery that has surrounded the Holy Grail and taking the reader on a compelling and thought-provoking journey back through time. “The writers make a convincing case . . . This book is a fascinating look at a mystery which has caught the Western imagination via books, poems and movies.” —The Historical Novels Review “An academic exposé on the famed cup of Christ. Torres Sevilla and Ortega del Río claim to have proven the identity of the true grail, the cup with which Jesus Christ and his Apostles shared wine at the Last Supper . . . [An] intriguing glimpse at one of Christianity’s great treasures.” —Kirkus Reviews
Kings of the North (The Life and Times of Corban Loosestrife)
by Cecelia HollandFrom &“a true master,&” a historical fantasy featuring an Irish adventurer caught up in the epic struggle for the throne of England (Kirkus Reviews). After fleeing Constantinople and the wrath of the Emperor, Raef Corbanson has washed up with his companions on the coast of Normandy. His former patron Gunnhild is dead, and Raef is commanded to return to his father&’s hall in Jorvik, in England. Duke Richard of Normandy has sent his sister Emma to be wife to Ethelred of Wessex, the King of England. But other powers have designs on the island kingdom; Sweyn Forkbeard, king of Denmark and Raef&’s old shipmate, would be King of England, too. And Ethelred has other sons, older sons from his first marriage. Raef cannot escape this web of power; he owes a debt to Emma and her brother for aiding him. He owes fealty to Ethelred, for Jorvik is part of England, and Raef intends to rule the city as his father once did. And he owes an older, stronger, loyalty to Sweyn, for they are kin. &“Holland&’s battle scenes are brilliantly, viscerally detailed, and she&’s even better in quieter scenes that provide illuminating contrasts . . . If you love history, do not under any circumstances overlook or underestimate Cecelia Holland.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Kings of the Road: How Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar Made Running Go Boom
by Cameron StracherA &“lively, informative history&” of distance running&’s 1970s heyday—including the famous Falmouth Road Race—written &“with a true fan&’s contagious enthusiasm&” (Newsweek). It was 1978. Jimmy Carter was president; gas prices were soaring; and Americans were hunkering down to weather the economic crisis. But Jim Fixx&’s The Complete Book of Running was a bestseller. Frank Shorter&’s gold medal in the 1972 Olympic marathon had put distance running on the minds of many Americans. The odd activity of &“jogging&” became &“running,&” and America was in love. That summer, a junior from the University of Oregon named Alberto Salazar went up against Shorter and Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers at the Falmouth Road Race. Though he lost to Rodgers&’s record-setting 32:21, the competition set the stage for an epic rivalry among the three greats. Each pushed the others to succeed and, in turn, inspired a nation of couch potatoes to put down the remote and lace up their sneakers. &“[A] lively, informative history.&” — Newsweek/The Daily Beast &“Essential reading for runners both competitive and casual.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Kings of the Road is about marathon legends. It&’s about running Fast. It&’s about Will. It&’s about the Real. It&’s about drama of the finest kind.&” —Bernd Heinrich, author of Why We Run and Racing the Antelope &“A rollicking, informed account of . . . how distance running helped define a generation.&” —John Brant, author of Duel in the Sun and coauthor with Alberto Salazar of 14 Minutes
Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II & the Royal Navy
by J. D. DaviesIt has always been widely accepted that the Stuart kings, Charles II and James II, had an interest in the navy and more generally in the sea. Their enthusiastic delight in sailing, for instance, is often cited as marking the establishment of yachting in England. The major naval developments in their reigns on the other hand developments that effectively turned the Royal Navy into a permanent, professional fighting force for the first time have traditionally been attributed to Samuel Pepys.This new book, based on a wide range of new and previously neglected evidence, presents a provocative new theory: that the creation of the proper Royal Navy was in fact due principally to the Stuart brothers, particularly Charles II, who is presented here, not as the lazy monarch neglectful of the detail of government, but as a king with an acute and detailed interest in naval affairs. The author also demonstrates that Charles Stuart predecessors were far more directly involved in naval matters than has usually been allowed, and proves that Charles and James command of ship design and other technical matters went well beyond the bounds of dilettante enthusiasm.It is shown how Charles in particular, intervened in ship design discussions at a highly technical level; how the brothers were principally responsible for the major reforms that established a permanent naval profession; and how they personally sponsored important expeditions and projects such as Greenvile Collins survey of British waters. The book also reassesses James IIs record as a fighting admiral.It is a fascinating journey into the world of the Stuart navy and shows how the Kings of the Sea were absolutely central to the development of its ships, their deployment and the officer corps which commanded them; it offers a major reassessment of that dynastys involvement in naval warfare.
Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander To Hitler To The Corporation
by Joseph AbrahamRight wing populists increasingly draw attention around the globe, but the attention is misdirected. The real problem is not the authoritarian leader, but the blinkered supporters who unquestioningly follow him. Without them, the despot is irrelevant. Why do we attach ourselves to demagogues and mountebanks? Why do we defend even their most obvious hypocrisies and lies? The answer lies in the roots of civilization. Despite our romantic traditions, monarchs were never wise, just, nor generous. Even the briefest review of history shows that, without exception, kings were the most vicious psychopaths, narcissists, and sadists who ever lived. And the only path for survival in the ancient world required unquestioningly obeying— and blindly believing— anything the king said.
Kings, Queens, Bones and Bastards: Who's Who in the English Monarchy From Egbert to Elizabeth II
by David HilliamWho invented the 'House of Windsor' as a royal name? Who founded Westminster Abbey? Which king had twenty-one illegitimate children? David Hilliam answers all of these questions and more. Here is a continuous history of the English monarchy, showing how the nine dynasties rose and fell. The book describes the most memorable features of the life and times of each king and queen - from Egbert, crowned in 802 and considered the first king of England, to Queen Elizabeth II - as well as recording the extraordinary lives of their queens, consorts, mistresses and bastard children. It also tells the story of the Saxons, describes what has happened to the monarchs' mortal remains, and relates many lively incidents of royal history that rarely appear in the text books. Read of the saintly Edward the Confessor, who is believed to have refused to consummate his marriage; of teh rumbustious Henry VIII, given to beheading those who displeased him; of the 'little gentleman in black velvet', who caused the death of William III; and of Queen Victoria's strangest servant, the 'Munshi', Queen Emma, who endured a trial by ordeal; and Anne Boleyn, widely suspected of being a witch. A complete list of the monarchs' reigns and a genealogical table showing the royal descent down thirty-seven generations from Egbert to Elizabeth II adds to the volume's reference value.
Kings, Spirits and Memory in Central India: Enchanting the State
by Aditya Pratap DeoPart anthropological history and part memoir, this book is a unique study of the polity of the colonial-princely state of Kanker in central India. The author, a scion of the erstwhile ruling family of Kanker, delves into the oral accounts given in the ancestral deity practices of the mixed tribe-caste communities of the region to highlight popular narratives of its historical polity. As he struggles with his own dilemmas as ethnographer-king, what comes into view is a polity where the princely state is drawn out amidst a terrain of gods and spirits as much as that of law courts and magistrates, and political power is divided, contested and shared between the raja/state and the people. This study constitutes not only an intervention in the larger debate on the relationship between state formations and tribal peoples, but also on the very nature of history as a knowledge practice, especially the understandings of power, authority and sovereignty in it. Combining intensive ethnography, complementary archival work and crucial theoretical questions engaging social scientists worldwide, the author charts an unusual explanatory path that can allow us to meaningfully understand societies/peoples that have historically been marginalized and seen as different. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of history, anthropology, politics, religion, tribal society and Modern South Asia.
Kings, Usurpers, and Concubines in the 'Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles'
by R. Andrew McDonaldThis Palgrave Pivot explores the representation of sea kings, sinners, and saints in the mid-thirteenth century Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, the single most important text for the history of the kingdoms of Man and the Isles, c.1066-1300. The focus of the Chronicles on the power struggles, plots and intrigues within the ruling dynasties of Man and the Isles offers an impressive array of heroes and villains. The depiction of the activities of heroic sea kings like Godred Crovan, tyrannical usurpers like Harald son of Godred Don, and their concubines and wives, as well as local heroes like Saint Maughold, raises important questions concerning the dynamic interactions of power, gender and historical writing in the medieval Kingdoms of Man and the Isles, and provide new insights into the significance of the text that is our most important source of information on these ‘Forgotten Kingdoms’ of the medieval British Isles.
Kingship and Consent in Anglo-Saxon England, 871-978
by Levi RoachThis engaging new study focuses on the role of assemblies in later Anglo-Saxon politics, challenging and nuancing existing models of the late Anglo-Saxon state. Its ten chapters investigate both traditional constitutional aspects of assemblies - who attended these events, where and when they met, and what business they conducted - and the symbolic and representational nature of these gatherings. Levi Roach takes into account important recent work on continental rulership, and argues that assemblies were not a check on kingship in these years, but rather an essential feature of it. In particular, the author highlights the role of symbolic communication at assemblies, arguing that ritual and demonstration were as important in English politics as they were elsewhere in Europe. Far from being exceptional, the methods of rulership employed by English kings look very much like those witnessed elsewhere on the continent, where assemblies and ritual formed an essential part of the political order.
Kingship and Justice in the Ottonian Empire
by Laura WangerinLaura E. Wangerin challenges traditional views of the Ottonian Empire’s rulership. Drawing from a broad array of sources including royal and imperial diplomas, manuscript illuminations, and histories, Ottonian kingship and the administration of justice are investigated using traditional historical and comparative methodologies as well as through the application of innovative approaches such as modern systems theories. This study suggests that distinctive elements of the Ottonians’ governing apparatus, such as its decentralized structure, emphasis on the royal iter, and delegation of authority, were essential features of a highly developed political system. Kingship and Justice in the Ottonian Empire provides a welcome addition to English-language scholarship on the Ottonians, as well as to scholarship dealing with rulership and medieval legal studies. Scholars have recognized the importance of ritual and symbolic behaviors in the Ottonian political sphere, while puzzling over the apparent lack of administrative organization, a contradiction between what we know about the Ottonians as successful rulers and their traditional characterization as rulers of a disorganized polity. Trying to account for the apparent disparity between their political and military achievements, cultural and artistic efflorescence, and relative dynastic stability, which seemingly accompanied a disinterest in writing law or creating a centralized hierarchical administration, is a tension that persists in the scholarship. This book argues that far from being accidental successes or employing primitive methods of governance, the Ottonians were shrewd rulers and administrators who exploited traditional methods of conflict resolution and delegated jurisdictional authority to keep control over their vast empire. Thus, one of the important things that this book aims to accomplish is to challenge our preconceived notions of what successful government looks like.
Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England
by Katherine LewisKingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England explores the dynamic between kingship and masculinity in fifteenth century England, with a particular focus on Henry V and Henry VI. The role of gender in the rhetoric and practice of medieval kingship is still largely unexplored by medieval historians. Discourses of masculinity informed much of the contemporary comment on fifteenth century kings, for a variety of purposes: to praise and eulogise but also to explain shortcomings and provide justification for deposition. Katherine J. Lewis examines discourses of masculinity in relation to contemporary understandings of the nature and acquisition of manhood in the period and considers the extent to which judgements of a king’s performance were informed by his ability to embody the right balance of manly qualities. This book’s primary concern is with how these two kings were presented, represented and perceived by those around them, but it also asks how far Henry V and Henry VI can be said to have understood the importance of personifying a particular brand of masculinity in their performance of kingship and of meeting the expectations of their subjects in this respect. It explores the extent to which their established reputations as inherently ‘manly’ and ‘unmanly’ kings were the product of their handling of political circumstances, but owed something to factors beyond their immediate control as well. Consideration is also given to Margaret of Anjou’s manipulation of ideologies of kingship and manhood in response to her husband’s incapacity, and the ramifications of this for perceptions of the relational gender identities which she and Henry VI embodied together. Kingship and Masculinity in Late Medieval England is an essential resource for students of gender and medieval history.
Kingship, Conquest, and Patria (Studies in Medieval History and Culture #35)
by Kristen Lee OverFirst Published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Kingship, Madness, and Masculinity on the Early Modern Stage: Mad World, Mad Kings (New Interdisciplinary Approaches to Early Modern Culture)
by Christina Gutierrez-DennehyKingship, Madness, and Masculinity examines representations of mad kings in early modern English theatrical texts and performance practices. Although there have been numerous volumes examining the medical and social dimensions of mental illness in the early modern period, and a few that have examined stage representations of such conditions, this volume is unique in its focus on the relationships between madness, kingship, and the anxiety of lost or fragile masculinity. The chapters uncover how, as the early modern understanding of mental illness refocused on human, rather than supernatural, causes, public stages became important arenas for playwrights, actors, and audiences to explore expressions of madness and to practice diagnoses. Throughout the volume, the authors engage with the field of disability studies to show how disability and mental health were portrayed on stage and what those representations reveal about the period and the people who lived in it. Altogether, the essays question what happens when theatrical expressions of madness are mapped onto the bodies of actors playing kings, and how the threat of diminished masculinity affects representations of power. This volume is the ideal resource for students and scholars interested in the history of kingship, gender, and politics in early modern drama.
Kingsley Manor: The Complete Series
by Shalaby, Amanda L. V.Gothic fans will enjoy this dark Regency duology featuring love lost and found at stately Kingsley Manor.Rhianna: Alone after the death of her parents, nineteen-year-old Rhianna Braden must give up her life and beaus to move to Kingsley Manor. Her uncommon beauty captures the attention of the dashing Lord Thayne Brighton, but Rhianna is certain, despite their mutual attraction, that he will never choose her over his wealthy intended. Meanwhile, Lady Lydia Kingsley suspects her husband Guilford’s attention to the new family member under their roof has led to an affair between them. Caught in the web of desire and lies, Rhianna finds her own life in danger when the truth inevitably comes to light. After all, family secrets are not meant to be kept. Audra: Wealthy heiress Audra Kingsley agrees to go along with her father’s insistence on a London season, even though she’s always been promised to marry her neighbor and childhood sweetheart, Lord Crispin Brighton. She heads to London with her patroness, the eccentric Lady Sutherland, who is determined to show the young debutante that she has more options than a second son. Unfortunately, Audra is also the object of a secret admirer’s obsession who plans to compromise her into an unwanted marriage. Can a country girl thwart the city Ton to return to her beloved? Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors
Kingsnorth Airship Station: In Defence of the Nation
by Tina BilbeKingsnorth Airship Station played a vital role during the First World War, developing airships which successfully protected the fleet from submarine attack. It was the proud boast of the Airship Service that no vessels accompanied by one of their airships were lost to submarine attack. This book tells the story of Kingsnorth, exploring the development of the station, the challenges faced and overcome, the people who contributed to the station’s success and how the station and its legacy have changed the local area. Contemporary accounts and pictures bring this story to life, whether for the local historian, military enthusiast or a relative linked with Kingsnorth.
Kingsport Speedway (Images of Sports)
by David M. McgeeKingsport Speedway has hosted many of racing's greatest drivers, whether its track surface was asphalt, red clay, or brushed concrete. The short track, located in East Tennessee, has undergone dramatic changes since 1965 in attempts to keep pace with an ever-evolving motorsports landscape while entertaining three generations of fans. Hall of Fame members have raced and won at Kingsport Speedway, as did a contingent of regional stars. Today, Kingsport Speedway features weekly programs of NASCAR's Whelen All-American Series, which crowns track, state, regional, and national champions.
Kingston
by Betty J. CotterPerhaps no village in Rhode Island can boast the history of Kingston, or "Little Rest" as it was called. Once a seat of government (its library was one of Rhode Island's five state houses), Kingston has been home to some of the state's most illustrious residents as well as the now sprawling University of Rhode Island. A center of intellectual life long before the university began, Kingston was characterized by social, civic, and dramatic clubs, academies for both men and women, taverns for the weary traveler, and an imposing church atop Kingston Hill whose influence was felt broadly in the village.More than 200 photographs take the reader back tonineteenth-century Kingston, where Stephen Knowles waits atop his carriage to take travelers to Kingston Station, hat maker Cyrus French regales the menfolk in Joe Reynolds's tavern with his expansivestories, and the villagers gather on a summer evening to listen to a musicale on the library's lawn. Within Kingston's pages, the reader can meet people like Solomon Fayerweather, the village blacksmith and church sexton with a unique wisdom about village doings; and Quaker Billy Rose, whose fine weaving work was sought by the likes of Mrs.Theodore Roosevelt. See the familiar, Colonial-style houses that still line Kingstown Road as well as others that have fallen victim to the wrecking ball. Photographs of nearby "Biscuit City" and West Kingston are also included. These photographs, mostly from the collection of the Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, chronicle church, school, and business life in this picturesque village that has played such an important role in Rhode Island's history.
Kingston by Starlight
by Christopher John FarleyIrish-born Anne Bonny is only a teenager when she is left destitute by her mother’s death. Abandoned by her father, she seems destined to be forgotten by the world. But Anne chooses to seek her fortune in the lush tropics of the colonial West Indies, where she passes herself off as a young man named Bonn. She finds work as a ship’s hand, sailing under the command of Calico Jack Rackam, a notorious and charismatic pirate with a bounty on his head. Calico Jack has his heart set on raiding the Madrid Galleon, the richest ship in the Caribbean, which sails from Kingston laden with Cuban gold and Jamaican rum. Bonn is entranced by the sea and by the ship’s violent crew, which includes a mysterious swordfighter named Read, who, it turns out, has a secret life of his own. Calico Jack soon discovers Bonn’s and Read’s true identities, but it is only when the three pirates are captured that their darkest secrets begin to surface. In the shadow of the gallows, a strange twist of fate reveals a shocking betrayal that may save Bonn from death, while permanently changing everything she has known about her past and the world around her. Gorgeously written and full of mystery, intrigue, and startling revelations about gender, race, history, and the human heart, Kingston by Starlight is a once-in-a-lifetime read. From the Trade Paperback edition.