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Ancient Germanic Warriors: Warrior Styles from Trajan's Column to Icelandic Sagas
by Michael P. SpeidelPresenting a range of evidence for these diverse styles, from Roman art to early medieval bracteate amulets, and from classical texts to Beowulf, the Edda and Icelandic sagas, Professor Speidel here details seventeen different Germanic warriors styles, including berserks, wolf-warriors, club-wielders, long-hairs, ghost warriors and horse-stabbers, and how they indicate an unbroken continuity of customs, beliefs and battle-field tactics. Ancient Germanic warriors played a decisive role in historical events from 200 BC, when Germanic culture first became identifiable, to AD 1000 when Christianity swept through the Nordic countries. Arising from beliefs and states of mind, a variety of warrior styles manifested themselves in differences of dress, weaponry and fighting technique. Fully illustrated with over fifty photographs, this vivid and fascinating survey adds a colourful new dimension to our understanding of the history of Europe.
Ancient Greeks at War: Warfare in the Classical World from Agamemnon to Alexander
by Simon Elliott&“A detailed, insightful survey of Greek warfare&” with illustrations and &“many well-informed and highly perceptive observations&” (Choice). In this book, historian and archaeologist Simon Elliott considers the different fighting styles of Greek armies and discusses how Greek battles unfolded. Covering every aspect of warfare in the Ancient Greek world from the beginnings of Greek civilization to its assimilation into the ever-expanding world of Rome, it begins with the onset of Minoan culture on Crete around 2000 BC, then covers the arrival of the Mycenaean civilization and the ensuing Late Bronze Age Collapse before moving on to Dark Age and Archaic Greece. This sets the scene for the flowering of Classical Greek civilization, as told through detailed narratives of the Greek and Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian Wars, and the rise of Thebes as a major power. The book then moves on to Macedonian domination under Philip II, before focusing on the exploits of his son Alexander the Great, the all-conquering hero of the ancient world. His legacy was the Hellenistic world with its multiple, never-ending series of conflicts that took place over a huge territory, ranging from Italy in the west all the way to India in the east. Topics covered include the various Wars of the Successors, the rise of the Bactrian-Greek and Indo-Greek kingdoms, the wars between the Antigonid Macedonian, Seleucid, and Ptolemaic kingdoms, and later the clash of cultures between the rising power of Rome in the west and the Hellenistic kingdoms. In the long run the latter proved unable to match Rome&’s insatiable desire for conquest in the eastern Mediterranean, and this together with the rise of Parthia in the east ensured that one by one the Hellenistic kingdoms and states fell. The book ends with the destruction of Corinth in 146 BC after the defeat by Rome of the Achaean League—and concludes by considering the legacy of the Ancient Greeks in the Roman world, and subsequently. &“A comprehensive survey, smoothly written by an expert popularizer of ancient history. A tour de force.&” —NYMAS Review
Ancient of Days (Gateway Essentials #295)
by Michael BishopImagine a living specimen of a multimillion-year-old hominid species, Homo habilis, encountering the contemporary world. Told in the first-person narrative of Paul Loyd, divorced owner of a small town restaurant, Ancient of Days tells the story of a habiline man found wandering in a Georgia pecan orchard, a living descendant of a habiline tribe, brought from Africa via Haiti as a slave. Paul's ex-wife, RuthClaire, takes in the living fossil, appropriately naming him Adam, and as an artist she discovers Adam's mute but vibrant artistic sensibility, falls in love with him, and marries him - much to Paul's confusion and dismay.And then the story begins to widen out onto a broader canvas, as Adam first faces persecution by small town Georgia Klansmen, then, surviving that, moves with RuthClaire to Atlanta and encounters the whole spectrum of American culture, from art critics and media spectacles to evangelists and punk clubs.Throughout the peregrinations and travails of Adam, however, runs a rich and developing strain of self-conscious spiritual, intellectual, and artistic growth, interwoven with Adam's genuine anguish over the problematic nature of his true humanity.In the end, the central characters come together on the Haitian island of Montarez in the aftermath of crisis, and in a moment of illumination and revelation meet the mysterious and extraordinary origins of Adam and his race in human prehistory.
An Ancient Peace: Peacekeeper #1 (Peacekeeper #1)
by Tanya HuffGunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. But when she learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting, she left the military for good. But Torin couldn't walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, she drew together an elite corps of friends and allies to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not--or would not--officially touch. Torin just hoped the one they were about to embark on wouldn't be the death of them. Ancient H'san grave goods are showing up on the black market--grave goods from just before the formation of the Confederation, when the H'san gave up war and buried their planet-destroying weapons...as grave goods for the death of war. Someone is searching for these weapons and they're very close to finding them. As the Elder Races have turned away from war, those searchers can only be members of the Younger Races. Fortunately, only the Corps Intelligence Service has this information. Unfortunately, they can do nothing about it--bound by laws of full disclosure, their every move is monitored. Though Torin Kerr and her team are no longer a part of the military, the six of them tackling the H'san defenses and the lethally armed grave robbers are the only chance the Confederation has. The only chance to avoid millions more dead. But the more Torin learns about the relationship between the Elder Races and the Younger, the more she begins to fear war might be an unavoidable result.From the Hardcover edition.
An Ancient Peace: A Torin Kerr Novel (Peacekeeper #1)
by Tanya HuffBestselling author Tanya Huff returns to the spacefaring Confederation in a new series, as centuries of battle give way to a fragile calm… but new threats lurk beneath the surface.With the war that’s dominated her life finally over, Torin Kerr is ready to prove wrong anyone who claims there’s no such thing as an ex-gunnery sergeant. She has plenty of opportunity to use her unique skills as a contractor to the Peacekeepers, zipping up petty rebellions and working to rehabilitate those who can’t lay down arms. But when Military Intelligence calls with a covert mission so explosive it could tear apart the Confederation, Torin can’t possibly refuse.Someone has found the hidden tomb planet where the founders of the Confederation buried their weapons when they swore off violence. Now the clock is ticking for Torin and her team to find it, too, and stop the planet-killing technology from resurrecting. But the Elder Races aren’t telling them everything. The citizens at the Core treat warriors like criminals. The grave-robbers know secrets no official record includes. And in the heart of this strange ancient memorial, Torin might learn more about the Confederation’s past than is good for her…
Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction
by Harry SidebottomGreek and Roman warfare was unlike that of any other culture before or since. The key difference is often held to be that the Greeks and Romans practiced a "Western Way of War," in which the aim is an open, decisive battle--won by courage instilled, in part, by discipline. Here, Harry Sidebottom looks at how this Western Way of War was constructed and maintained by the Greeks and Romans and why this concept is so prevalent today. All aspects of ancient warfare are thoroughly examined--from philosophy and strategy to the technical skills needed to fight. Sidebottom examines war in the wider context, showing how wars were able to shape classical society, and how an individual's identity was sometimes constructed by war, as in the case of the Christian soldier fighting in God's name. He also explores the ways in which ancient society thought about conflict: Can a war be just? Why was siege warfare particularly bloody? What role did divine intervention play in the outcome of a battle? Taking fascinating examples from the Iliad, Tacitus, and the Persian Wars, Sidebottom uses arresting anecdotes and striking visual images to show that any understanding of ancient war is an ongoing process of interpretation.
Ancient Weapons in Britain
by Logan ThompsonA groundbreaking study of the weaponry used in combat thousands of years ago. Few accounts of ancient warfare have looked at how the weapons were made and how they were actually used in combat. Logan Thompson's pioneering survey traces the evolution of weapons in Britain across three thousand years, from the Bronze Age to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Insights gained from painstaking practical research and technical analysis shed new light on the materials used, the processes of manufacture, the development of the weapons, and their effectiveness. His account features new information about the weapons themselves and their origin and design—as well as a fascinating new perspective on the practice of early warfare.
Ancients: An Event Group Thriller (Event Group Thrillers #3)
by David L. GolemonReminiscent of the works of James Rollins and Matthew Reilly comes the latest in an action-packed series about the nation's most secret agency---the Event GroupTen thousand years before the Roman Empire marched great legions across the known world, there was a civilization dedicated to the sciences of earth, sea, and sky. In the City of Light lived people who made dark plans to lay waste to their uncivilized neighbors using the very power of the planet itself. As the great science of their time was brought to bear on the invading hordes, hell was set loose on Earth. And the civilization of Atlantis disappeared in a suicidal storm of fire and water.Now history threatens to repeat itself. The great weapon of the Ancients has been uncovered in the South Pacific, and it is being deciphered by men of hatred---by an evil once thought banished from history. Again, the black swastika of hate is rising. Their plan is to attempt to control and direct the most destructive force this world has yet to see, a weapon that would make nuclear arms pale in comparison. The world starts to tremble under the power of the ancient science. The seas rise, the earth cracks, and entire cities crumble to dust as the evil plan mapped out thousands of years before takes shape.The Event Group, the most secret department of the United States government, staffed by the most brilliant men and women of science, philosophy, and the military, must take the lead and try to stop the power of the Ancients. With a presidential mandate to discover the truth behind the myths and legends of history, the Event Group fights to ensure that mistakes from the past are never repeated. Headed by Colonel Jack Collins, the Group must face its most dangerous assignment ever: to find the lost trail of the Ancients and unearth the missing key before the new Reich. Can the most secret federal service of the United States track down the lost trail that will lead them to the lair of this secret power? Or will the world explode in a chain reaction that began more than eleven thousand years ago? The Event Group is the world's only hope as they search and battle for the lost power of the Ancients.Heart-pounding action combines with historical adventure as the Event Group discovers that some myths never die. . . .
Ancients To Middle Ages (Great Battles for Boys)
by Joe GiorelloSpartans! Persians! Romans! Historic warriors who changed the world. But does your son know why these soldiers were fighting? <p><p> In this installment of the bestselling series, boys travel to the ancient world to learn about twelve famous military battles that drastically altered world history. They'll also learn about the notable men who led those battles, including Alexander the Great, Julius Casaer, and William "Braveheart" Wallace, among many others. <p><p> Beginning in Ancient Greece and Persia, the battles continue into the Middle Ages—including the Crusades—and conclude with the year 1588 when the Spanish Armada's attempted invasion of England, and the dawn of modern naval warfare.
Ancillary Justice: THE HUGO, NEBULA AND ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD WINNER (Imperial Radch #1)
by Ann LeckieThe record-breaking debut novel that won every major science fiction award in 2014, Ancillary Justice is the story of a warship trapped in a human body and her search for revenge. Ann Leckie is the first author to win the Arthur C. Clarke, the Nebula and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in the same year.They made me kill thousands, but I only have one target now.The Radch are conquerors to be feared - resist and they'll turn you into a 'corpse soldier' - one of an army of dead prisoners animated by a warship's AI mind. Whole planets are conquered by their own people. The colossal warship called The Justice of Toren has been destroyed - but one ship-possessed soldier has escaped the devastation. Used to controlling thousands of hands, thousands of mouths, The Justice now has only two hands, and one mouth with which to tell her tale. But one fragile, human body might just be enough to take revenge against those who destroyed her.'ENGAGING AND PROVOCATIVE' SFX Magazine'UNEXPECTED, COMPELLING AND VERY COOL'John Scalzi'HIGHLY RECOMMENDED'Independent on Sunday'MIND-BLOWING'io9.com'THRILLING, MOVING AND AWE-INSPIRING'Guardian'UTTER PERFECTION, 10/10'The Book Smugglers'ASTOUNDINGLY ASSURED AND GRACEFUL'Strange Horizons'ESTABLISHES LECKIE AS AN HEIR TO BANKS'Elizabeth BearThe Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy. Also available now: Provenance is a stunning standalone adventure set in the same world as Ancillary Justice. NPR calls it 'A fitting addition to the Ancillary world'.
Ancillary Justice: THE HUGO, NEBULA AND ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD WINNER (Imperial Radch #1)
by Ann LeckieThe record-breaking debut novel that won every major science fiction award in 2014, Ancillary Justice is the story of a warship trapped in a human body and her search for revenge. Ann Leckie is the first author to win the Arthur C. Clarke, the Nebula and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in the same year.They made me kill thousands, but I only have one target now.The Radch are conquerors to be feared - resist and they'll turn you into a 'corpse soldier' - one of an army of dead prisoners animated by a warship's AI mind. Whole planets are conquered by their own people. The colossal warship called The Justice of Toren has been destroyed - but one ship-possessed soldier has escaped the devastation. Used to controlling thousands of hands, thousands of mouths, The Justice now has only two hands, and one mouth with which to tell her tale. But one fragile, human body might just be enough to take revenge against those who destroyed her.'ENGAGING AND PROVOCATIVE' SFX Magazine'UNEXPECTED, COMPELLING AND VERY COOL'John Scalzi'HIGHLY RECOMMENDED'Independent on Sunday'MIND-BLOWING'io9.com'THRILLING, MOVING AND AWE-INSPIRING'Guardian'UTTER PERFECTION, 10/10'The Book Smugglers'ASTOUNDINGLY ASSURED AND GRACEFUL'Strange Horizons'ESTABLISHES LECKIE AS AN HEIR TO BANKS'Elizabeth BearThe Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy. Also available now: Provenance is a stunning standalone adventure set in the same world as Ancillary Justice. NPR calls it 'A fitting addition to the Ancillary world'.
Ancillary Mercy: The conclusion to the trilogy that began with ANCILLARY JUSTICE (Imperial Radch #3)
by Ann LeckieAncillary Mercy is the stunning conclusion to the trilogy that began with Ancillary Justice, the only novel ever to win the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards. For a moment, things seemed to be under control for Breq, the soldier who used to be a warship. Then a search of Athoek Station's slums turns up someone who shouldn't exist and a messenger from the mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq's old enemy, the divided, heavily armed, and possibly insane Anaander Mianaai - ruler of an empire at war with itself.Breq could flee with her ship and crew, but that would leave the people of Athoek in terrible danger. Breq has a desperate plan. The odds aren't good, but that's never stopped her before.The Imperial Radch trilogy begins with Ancillary Justice, continues in Ancillary Sword and concludes with Ancillary Mercy. Also available now: Provenance is a stunning standalone adventure set in the same world as Ancillary Justice. NPR calls it 'A fitting addition to the Ancillary world'.Praise for the trilogy:'ENGAGING AND PROVOCATIVE' SFX Magazine'UNEXPECTED, COMPELLING AND VERY COOL'John Scalzi'HIGHLY RECOMMENDED'Independent on Sunday'MIND-BLOWING'io9.com'THRILLING, MOVING AND AWE-INSPIRING'Guardian'UTTER PERFECTION'The Book Smugglers'ASTOUNDINGLY ASSURED AND GRACEFUL'Strange Horizons'ESTABLISHES LECKIE AS AN HEIR TO BANKS'Elizabeth Bear
Ancillary Mercy: The conclusion to the trilogy that began with ANCILLARY JUSTICE (Imperial Radch #3)
by Ann LeckieThe stunning conclusion to the trilogy that began with the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke award-winning Ancillary Justice.For just a moment, things seem to be under control for the soldier known as Breq. Then a search of Atheok Station's slums turns up someone who shouldn't exist - someone who might be an ancillary from a ship that's been hiding beyond the empire's reach for three thousand years. In the meantime a messenger from the alien and mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq's enemy, the divided and quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai - ruler of an empire that's at war with itself.Anaander is heavily armed and extremely unhappy with Breq. She could take her ship and crew and flee, but that would leave everyone at Athoek in terrible danger. Breq has a desperate plan. The odds aren't good, but that's never stopped her before.
The ANC's War against Apartheid: Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Liberation of South Africa (Encounters)
by Stephen R. DavisFor nearly three decades, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), waged a violent revolutionary struggle against the apartheid state in South Africa. Stephen Davis works with extensive oral testimonies and the heroic myths that were constructed after 1994 to offer a new history of this armed movement. Davis deftly addresses the histories that reinforce the legitimacy of the ANC as a ruling party, its longstanding entanglement with the South African Communist Party, and efforts to consolidate a single narrative of struggle and renewal in concrete museums and memorials. Davis shows that the history of MK is more complicated and ambiguous than previous laudatory accounts would have us believe, and in doing so he discloses the contradictions of the liberation struggle as well as its political manifestations.
...and a hard rain fell
by John Ketwig"A magnetic, bloody, moving, and worm's-eye view of soldiering in Vietnam, an account that is from the first page to last a wound that can never heal. A searing gift to his country."-Kirkus ReviewsThe classic Vietnam war memoir, ...and a hard rain fell is the unforgettable story of a veteran's rage and the unflinching portrait of a young soldier's odyssey from the roads of upstate New York to the jungles of Vietnam. Updated for its 20th anniversary with a new afterword on the Iraq War and its parallels to Vietnam, John Ketwig's message is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago."Solidly effective. He describes with ingenuous energy and authentic language that time and place."-Library Journal"Perhaps as evocative of that awful time in Vietnam as the great fictions...a wild surreal account, at its best as powerful as Celine's darkling writing of World War One."-Washington Post
...and a Hard Rain Fell
by John KetwigAn honest and soul searching true story of a GI's experience of the war in Vietnam
And All the Phases of the Moon
by Judy Reene SingerDelving into the mysteries of the human heart with humor and emotion, master storyteller Judy Reene Singer explores what it means to begin again after a life touched by tragedy . . . Aila Cordeiro absolutely cannot take on an abandoned pit bull. So why is she suddenly filling food bowls for the wounded stray and opening her seaside home to him? Maybe it’s the sadness in the pup’s eyes, a sorrow that mirrors her own. But caring for another is not on Aila’s agenda anymore. As the sole owner of the general store in a Cape Cod tourist town, she has enough on her hands. Besides Aila can’t love anyone ever again. Not since her husband—her heart—boarded a boat with her beloved father two years ago, never to return . . . Of course, life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Now instead of solitude and grief, Aila is suddenly at the center of controversy in the small town. And the only person on her side, besides her best friend, is a stranger whose heart might be more battered than her own. Ex-Navy seal Sam Ahmadi has seen his share of misfortune, which is why Aila never expects him to be the one to show her how to live again in the face of shattering loss. How to hope for the happiness you once dreamed of . . . “Page-turning, beautifully written . . .” —Library Journal on In the Shadow of Alabama, STARRED REVIEW
And If I Perish: Frontline U. S. Army Nurses in World War II
by Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee Evelyn MonahanIn documenting the contributions of the unsung nurses of the US Army Corps in World War II campaigns, women who served in the Women's Army Corps and Navy Nurse Corps in the 1960s, respectively, honor the frontline service of some 60,000 volunteers and their contribution to changing attitudes about women's roles. The book includes period and contemporary photos. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
And Miles to Go: The Biography of a Great Arabian Horse, Witez II
by Linell Smith[from the book jacket] The great Arabian horse Witez II endured the hardships of the Second World War in Europe, then came to the United States to found a dynasty to rival that of Man-O-War. This is his biography, told from actual sources in Europe and America. Except for details of his early life in Poland, where records were scant, it is all true. Witez II was foaled under the White Eagle of Poland, matured under the German Swastika, and achieved his greatest fame in America. His story includes that of the Poles who reared him, the Germans who cared for him, and the Americans who were lucky enough to secure him at an Army auction. In this book with Witez are Stasik Kowalski, the young Pole who risked his life for him; the two German veterinarians who surrendered to the Allies to save their horses; and Witez's American owners, Earle and Frances Hurlbutt. The fine breeding policies of the latter resulted in the remarkable Arabians sired by Witez. But most important of all is Witez himself, the horse whose name meant "chieftain and knight, prince and hero, all rolled into one." Witez II fulfilled the promise of his name. Linell Smith is herself a breeder of Arabian horses on the Maryland farm where she lives with her husband, their three daughters and an array of pets which include cats, dogs, horses, and goats. Of And Miles to Go she says, "This book wrote itself, really. The story was there; it simply needed to be set down. The research work required to make the book as accurate as possible was absolutely fascinating--from my trip to Poland through my lively correspondence with the charming Frances Hurlbutt. "By far the most important element of Witez's story was the amazing effect he had on those who were close to him. The people who loved Witez broke through the blank walls of groups and found each other. I myself, in the process of tracking him to his beginnings, felt at home in a strange land whose political philosophy differed strongly from mine. The kindness and gracious hospitality offered me were more than enough to make any stranger comfortable, but the great thing was getting to know the people and finding that they were friends. My thanks to Witez. It was a welcome lesson and one that has given me joy." Images are described.
And No Birds Sang
by Farley MowatTurned away from the Royal Canadian Air Force for his apparent youth and frailty, Farley Mowat joined the infantry in 1940. The young second lieutenant soon earned the trust of the soldiers under his command, and was known to bend army rules to secure a stout drink, or find warm - if non-regulation - clothing. But when Mowat and his regiment engaged with elite German forces in the mountains of Sicily, the optimism of their early days as soldiers was replaced by despair. With a naturalist's eyes and ears, Mowat takes in the full dark depths of war - and his moving account of military service, and the friends he left behind, is also a plea for peace. It is one of the most searing and unforgettable World War II memoirs from any Canadian.
And Save Them For Pallbearers
by James GarrettAnd Save Them for Pallbearers, first published in 1958, is a gritty World War II novel centered on a platoon of U.S. GI’s, fighting from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge. Main character Sergeant Peter Donatti is wounded on an attack on the Siegfried Line, and while in an army hospital in Paris, meets nurse Lt. Abigail Winslow, and a romance develops. Although he is scheduled to return to the U.S., Donatti instead returns to his outfit. His return to the front has tragic consequences as the fierce fighting of the Battle of the Bulge is beginning, and Donetti will pay the ultimate price.From the dust jacket: To read Peter Donatti’s story is to come face to face with the taste of truth, with the deepest feelings of a man whose life was measured by the distance between him and the nearest shell burst. Indeed, to read it is to discover a truly great novel of World War II, a rare work of fiction that brings with it a profoundly honest understanding of the forces that shape the destinies of all men and women.
And the Mighty Will Fall: A NeoG Novel (NeoG #4)
by K. B WagersWith the fourth stand-alone NeoG novel, Die Hard meets A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in this nail-biting, action-filled story that’s as much about found family as it is about survival when a peaceful transition of power in the Mars Orbital Station goes terribly wrong as rebels decide this is the moment to make their move, leaving two NeoG members stranded inside a ticking time bomb.When you’re trapped in space, there’s no way out.The mission of the Near-Earth Orbital Guard is to ensure the peace and security of the solar system. Commander Maxine Carmichael and Lieutenant Commander Saqib Vahid are at the Mars Orbital Station (MOS) to help facilitate the official handover from NeoG to Mars civilian control as part of the ongoing negotiations. Members of the extreme wings of the fight for Martian independence refuse to remain silent, and are willing to resort to violence to make their voices heard; Max and Saqib find themselves fighting for their lives. The attacks both on the MOS and the ground of Mars sets off a chain reaction that could destabilize the last few years of cautious peace.The leader of Free Mars, Sylvia Moroz, knows better than anyone how fragile harmony is, having seen for decades the Coalition of Human Nations’ inability to negotiate for peace. Without any assurances—and knowing her splintered people all too well—anything less than complete liberation will only lead to more bloodshed. She’s not opposed to fighting, but when there’s an attempt on her life, she finds she must look for help from the NeoG and Commander D’Arcy Montaglione. The pair will have to overcome their past to figure out who they can trust and how to stop the attacks on the ground before more lives are lost.Trapped inside the station, Carmichael and Vahid are scrambling to not only get to the bottom of the attackers’ motives, but also to simply survive. Because with the rest of the Zuma’s Ghost crew stuck down on Mars, it’s up to them to do what they can to keep the MOS from fully falling into the wrong hands…and keep Mars from descending into all-out war.
And the Show Went On: Cultural Life in Nazi-occupied Paris
by Alan RidingIn June 1940, Paris fell to the Nazis who made the world's cultural capital their favourite entertainment ground. Music halls and cabarets thrived during the occupation, providing plenty of work for actors, singers and musicians - except for Jews. The likes of Maurice Chevalier and Edith Piaf, who had entertained the French troops, now unabashedly provided amusement to the Germans. After the invasion of France, those artists still in Paris had to find ways to survive. Although Matisse and others kept out of view, Picasso could not avoid Nazi visitors. A few, like Beckett, joined the Resistance. Some were arrested and died in German hands. Others entertained the enemy. The theatres reopened, the movie cameras rolled, galleries sold paintings looted from Jewish families, pro-German writers and their rivals fought in print. Told through the experiences of renowned creative figures and witnesses of the times, And the Show Went On is an authoritative account of how Paris's artistic world lived through the Occupation, both of those who suffered Nazi oppression and those who prospered through collaboration.
And the Sparrow Fell: A Novel
by Robert J. MrazekAnd the Sparrow Fell is a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Former U.S. Congressman Robert J. Mrazek tells the story of a wealthy family on the north shore of Long Island in the spring of 1967. Cornell undergraduate Rick Ledbetter goes through a rocky journey of self-discovery as both his family and his country disintegrate around him. Rick is a young rake in the mold of his father, Travis Ledbetter, a Medal of Honor–winning World War II navy pilot. Rick has been accepted into the swift boat program at Naval Officer Candidate School and will be heading for combat in Vietnam. Rick’s brother Tom, also a Cornell undergraduate, is a young man of true conscience who, because of his Christian faith, is morally opposed to the war. He has rejected conscientious-objector status. Rick meets and falls in love with Kate Kurshan, who is Tom’s girlfriend. She is also a Cornell student who opposes the war. Their three lives intersect as Rick, who becomes a war hero, discovers the human cost of war, while Tom, who has great moral courage, puts his life on the line in protest of the Vietnam War at a terrible personal cost.
And the Whole Mountain Burned: A War Novel
by Ray McPaddenFour-tour combat veteran Ray McPadden offers a vivid portrayal of American soldiers facing an unseen enemy and death in the Mountains of Afghanistan.Sergeant Nick Burch has returned to the crags of tribal Afghanistan seeking vengeance. Burch's platoon has one goal: to capture or kill an elusive insurgent, known as the Egyptian, a leader who is as much myth as he is man, highly revered and guarded by ferocious guerrillas. The soldiers of Burch's platoon look to him for leadership, but as the Egyptian slips farther out of reach, so too does Burch's battle-worn grasp on reality. Private Danny Shane, the youngest soldier in the platoon, is learning how to survive. For Shane, hunting the Egyptian is secondary. First he must adapt to the savage conditions of the battlefield: crippling heat, ravenous sand fleas, winds thick with moondust, and a vast mountain range that holds many secrets. Shane is soon chiseled by combat, shackled by loyalty, and unflinchingly marching toward a battle from which there is no return. A new enemy has emerged, one who has studied the American soldiers and adapted to their tactics. Known as Habibullah, a teenage son of the people, he stands in brazen defiance of the Ameriki who have come to destroy what his ancestors have built. The American soldiers may be tracking the Egyptian, but Habibullah is tracking them, and he knows these lands far better than they do. With guns on full-auto, Shane and Burch trek into the deepest solitudes of the Himalayas. Under soaring peaks, dark instinct is laid bare. To survive, Shane and Burch must defeat not just Habibullah's militia but the beast inside themselves.AND THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN BURNED reveals, in stunning, ruthless detail, the horrors of war, the courage of soldiers, and the fact that no matter how many enemies we vanquish, there is always another just over the next ridge.