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The Mosul Legacy
by Christopher LoweryThere are no winners in war… Mosul, Iraq, 2016: Once ISIL's greatest conquest, the city is fast becoming a giant graveyard. As Western attacks devastate the city, even senior officers like Karl realise defeat is inevitable, while traumatised families find themselves displaced, looking for somewhere safe to call home. On Karl&’s instructions, two jihadists travel across the EU, planning to bring terror to the West. German police officer Max Kellerman is on their trail, but can he find them in time to prevent a catastrophic terrorist attack? Meanwhile, the Al-Douri family flee Mosul in search of peace and safety in Western Europe. As refugees they face an impossible journey fraught with danger, but will they ever reach the safety they dream of?The Mogul Legacy is a story about love, sacrifice and the horrors of war, that combines detailed factual events with a gripping multi-stranded plot and culminates with a surprise finale…
The Moth and the Mountain: A True Story of Love, War, and Everest
by Ed Caesar&“An outstanding book.&” —The Wall Street Journal * &“Gripping at every turn.&” —Outside * &“A hell of a ride.&” —The Times (London) An extraordinary true story about one man&’s attempt to salve the wounds of war and save his own soul through an audacious adventure. In the 1930s, as official government expeditions set their sights on conquering Mount Everest, a little-known World War I veteran named Maurice Wilson conceives his own crazy, beautiful plan: he will fly a plane from England to Everest, crash-land on its lower slopes, then become the first person to reach its summit—completely alone. Wilson doesn&’t know how to climb. He barely knows how to fly. But he has the right plane, the right equipment, and a deep yearning to achieve his goal. In 1933, he takes off from London in a Gipsy Moth biplane with his course set for the highest mountain on earth. Wilson&’s eleven-month journey to Everest is wild: full of twists, turns, and daring. Eventually, in disguise, he sneaks into Tibet. His icy ordeal is just beginning. Wilson is one of the Great War&’s heroes, but also one of its victims. His hometown of Bradford in northern England is ripped apart by the fighting. So is his family. He barely survives the war himself. Wilson returns from the conflict unable to cope with the sadness that engulfs him. He begins a years-long trek around the world, burning through marriages and relationships, leaving damaged lives in his wake. When he finally returns to England, nearly a decade after he first left, he finds himself falling in love once more—this time with his best friend&’s wife—before depression overcomes him again. He emerges from his funk with a crystalline ambition. He wants to be the first man to stand on top of the world. Wilson believes that Everest can redeem him. This is the &“rollicking&” (The Economist) tale of an adventurer unlike any you have ever encountered: complex, driven, wry, haunted, and fully alive. He is a man written out of the history books—dismissed as an eccentric and gossiped about because of rumors of his transvestism. The Moth and the Mountain restores Maurice Wilson to his rightful place in the annals of Everest and tells an unforgettable story about the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
The Mother Code
by Carole Stivers'The Mother Code is a dystopian tale for all, which is scarily relevant right now' Press AssociationWhat it means to be human-and a mother-is put to the test in Carole Stivers' debut novel set in a world that is more chilling and precarious than ever. Steven Spielberg's Amblin Partners has acquired the worldwide film rights for THE MOTHER CODE.It's 2049, and the survival of the human race is at risk. Earth's inhabitants must turn to their last resort: a plan to place genetically engineered children inside the cocoons of large-scale robots-to be incubated, birthed, and raised by machines. But there is yet one hope of preserving the human order-an intelligence programmed into these machines that renders each unique in its own right-the Mother Code.Kai is born in America's desert southwest, his only companion is his robot Mother, Rho-Z. Equipped with the knowledge and motivations of a human mother, Rho-Z raises Kai and teaches him how to survive. But as children like Kai come of age, their Mothers transform too-in ways that were never predicted. When government survivors decide that the Mothers must be destroyed, Kai must make a choice. Will he break the bond he shares with Rho-Z? Or will he fight to save the only parent he has ever known?In a future that could be our own, The Mother Code explores what truly makes us human-and the tenuous nature of the boundaries between us and the machines we create.
The Mother Code
by Carole StiversWhat it means to be human-and a mother-is put to the test in Carole Stivers' debut novel set in a world that is more chilling and precarious than ever. It's 2049, and the survival of the human race is at risk. Earth's inhabitants must turn to their last resort: a plan to place genetically engineered children inside the cocoons of large-scale robots-to be incubated, birthed, and raised by machines. But there is yet one hope of preserving the human order-an intelligence programmed into these machines that renders each unique in its own right-the Mother Code. Kai is born in America's desert southwest, his only companion his robot Mother, Rho-Z. Equipped with the knowledge and motivations of a human mother, Rho-Z raises Kai and teaches him how to survive. But as children like Kai come of age, their Mothers transform too-in ways that were never predicted. When government survivors decide that the Mothers must be destroyed, Kai must make a choice. Will he break the bond he shares with Rho-Z? Or will he fight to save the only parent he has ever known? In a future that could be our own, The Mother Code explores what truly makes us human-and the tenuous nature of the boundaries between us and the machines we create.(P)2020 Penguin Random House Audio
The Mother of All Hooks: Story of the U.S.Navy's Tailhooks Scandal
by William H. McMichaelThe Mother of All Hooks is a richly detailed description of the United States government's attempts to punish naval officers for sexual misconduct committed at the 1991 Tailhook Association convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Journalist William H. McMichael describes the institutionalized mind-set that led to that misconduct and, in the face of an oppressive, politically charged investigation, to a large-scale failure to cooperate with government agents. This failure led to further investigative and prosecutorial excesses that ultimately doomed the effort to bring the guilty to justice; many of the guiltiest, hi fact, were given immunity to testify, and escaped severe punishment. At the same time, McMichael makes clear that Tailhook misconduct had been largely condoned for decades, but that senior officials failed to take responsibility for allowing such an atmosphere to flourish. This powerful expose is a shocking, eye-opening read for psychologists, criminologists, criminal justice professionals, and members of the U.S. military.The Tailhook Association convention had become infamous in naval circles for heavy drinking, hard partying, and sexual promiscuity. The most notable such ac-tivity was the "gauntlet"—a hallway lined by men through which selected women were forced to pass, only to be fondled. McMichael provides a rich narrative ac-count of how the United States Navy and the Pentagon mishandled investigation of events at the 1991 convention and subsequent hearings. In addition to exposing that approach's dramatic shortcomings, McMichael also provides insight into the Navy's history of open sexuality by its members while overseas, the fighter pilot psyche, and the larger issue of whether the Navy should be permitted to investigate its own transgressions. While more than thirty admirals eventually received what amounted to a hand slap, more than twenty junior officers received career-killing punitive letters of reprimand in closed-door administrative hearings. The Mother of All Hooks provides absorbing new details for all who think they "know" what hap-pened because of Tailhook—and why.
The Mother's Day Club: the BRAND NEW uplifting family saga that celebrates friendship in wartime Britain (Women on the Home Front)
by Rosie HendryTHE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . . Will friendship and motherhood keep the Women on the Home Front safe from war?Norfolk, 1939When the residents of Great Plumstead, a small and charming community in Norfolk, offer to open their homes to evacuees from London, they're expecting to care for children. So when a train carrying expectant mothers pulls into the station, the town must come together to accommodate their unexpected new arrivals . . .Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don't discover the truth about her situation.The women of Great Plumstead, old and new, are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time of need to do their bit for the war effort?The Mother's Day Club is the perfect wartime family saga, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Ellie Dean, Sheila Newberry and Elaine Everest.Early readers LOVE The Mother's Day Club:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'
The Mother's Day Club: the uplifting family saga that celebrates friendship in wartime Britain (Women on the Home Front)
by Rosie HendryTHE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . . Winner of the 2022 Romantic Novelist Association, Romantic Saga Award Will friendship and motherhood keep the Women on the Home Front safe from war?Norfolk, 1939When the residents of Great Plumstead, a small and charming community in Norfolk, offer to open their homes to evacuees from London, they're expecting to care for children. So when a train carrying expectant mothers pulls into the station, the town must come together to accommodate their unexpected new arrivals . . .Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don't discover the truth about her situation.The women of Great Plumstead, old and new, are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time of need to do their bit for the war effort?The Mother's Day Club is the perfect wartime family saga, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Ellie Dean, Sheila Newberry and Elaine Everest.Early readers LOVE The Mother's Day Club:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'
The Mother's Day Victory: the BRAND NEW uplifting wartime family saga (Women on the Home Front)
by Rosie HendryTHE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . .Can the Women on the Home Front protect their community in times of war?Norfolk, 1940. As war rages on, sisters Prue and Thea, along with the wider community of Great Plumstead, are doing all they can to help the war effort, from running the mobile canteen for the Women's Voluntary Service to organising clothing drives and collecting salvage.When, Anna, a young German girl who fled her country, seeks refuge at the local hall, Thea opens up her home, Rookery House, and invites Anna into their growing family. But while many in the village welcome Anna with open arms, others are suspicious of the new arrival . . .As the war intensifies and panic sweeps the country, Anna is taken by the government who fear she's a spy. The women of Great Plumstead are already fighting their own battles on the Home Front, but will they come together in Anna's time of need to keep the newest member of their community safe from war?The Mother's Day Victory is the perfect wartime family saga and the second novel in Rosie Hendry's much-loved series, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Donna Douglas and Elaine Everest.Readers LOVE The Women on the Home Front series:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'
The Mother's Day Victory: the BRAND NEW uplifting wartime family saga (Women on the Home Front)
by Rosie HendryTHE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . .Can the Women on the Home Front protect their community in times of war?Norfolk, 1940. As war rages on, sisters Prue and Thea, along with the wider community of Great Plumstead, are doing all they can to help the war effort, from running the mobile canteen for the Women's Voluntary Service to organising clothing drives and collecting salvage.When, Anna, a young German girl who fled her country, seeks refuge at the local hall, Thea opens up her home, Rookery House, and invites Anna into their growing family. But while many in the village welcome Anna with open arms, others are suspicious of the new arrival . . .As the war intensifies and panic sweeps the country, Anna is taken by the government who fear she's a spy. The women of Great Plumstead are already fighting their own battles on the Home Front, but will they come together in Anna's time of need to keep the newest member of their community safe from war?The Mother's Day Victory is the perfect wartime family saga and the second novel in Rosie Hendry's much-loved series, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Donna Douglas and Elaine Everest.Readers LOVE The Women on the Home Front series:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'
The Mountain War: A Doctor's Diary of the Italian Campaign 1914-1918
by Isaak BaraschThe diary Dr Isaak Barasch kept while serving in the Austro-Hungarian army on the Italian front during the First World War gives the reader a remarkable insight into the conflict and into the man himself. Few personal accounts of service on the Italian front have been published in English and diaries from the Habsburg side are rarer still, so his writing is exceptional. He doesn’t record military actions and manoeuvres in detail, but concentrates on his own reflections and feelings as he coped with the sick and wounded on the front line. He is often angry with the army and the war, but never expresses jingoistic hatred of the enemy. His indignation is directed at superiors, at commanders and politicians who know nothing of the terror of the fighting. When reproached for being too sensitive and insufficiently hardened, he noted that his biggest worry was how to remain untouched – how to retain his humanity. Eventually Barasch’s sensitivity – and his resistance to authority – led to his being placed in a psychiatric hospital, and he died during the influenza pandemic of 1918. But his unique account has been preserved and is now available in English for the first time. It is engrossing reading. It shows one man’s honest, often emotional response to the experience of the war on the Italian front and offers a very rare inside view of life in the Austro-Hungarian army.
The Mountain: Event, Legend, Ancients, Leviathan, Primeval, Legacy, Ripper, Carpathian, Overlord, The Mountain, The Traveler, And Beyond The Sea (Event Group Thrillers #10)
by David L. GolemonIn 1863 a meeting takes place between legendary war leaders--a secret alliance that will never show up in any American history books. A clandestine arrangement has been struck for a single chance to heal a war-torn nation. The mission is to bring the greatest prize in the world back to American soil-remnants of pre-history's greatest ship and most startling mystery. The prize may lie on a mountain top inside the fierce Ottoman Empire, yet the men who seek it are only days away from trying to kill one another. In 2007, America's darkest agency known to only a privileged few as the Event Group, has been tasked by the President to bring home a famous former astronaut who was on a mission to bring back the greatest biblical artifact-Noah's Ark. It will be up to the newly-installed Director of Security at Department 5656, Major Jack Collins and his team of brilliant men and women, to rescue the archeological expedition from forces that will kill to keep the mysterious artifacts inside the territorial borders of Turkey.THE MOUNTAIN is the latest entry in a series that ratchets up the suspense with each new installment. Combining the action of James Rollins and Matthew Reilly, David L. Golemon sets the bar even higher with his New York Times bestselling series.
The Mountains Sing
by Nguy?n Phan Qu? Mai'An epic account of Viet Nam's painful 20th-century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling... Moving and riveting.' Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer A New York Times Editor's ChoiceAN INTIMATE, STIRRING PORTRAIT OF A COUNTRY AT WAR AND A FAMILY'S BATTLE TO SURVIVE Set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War, The Mountains Sing is the enveloping, multi-generational tale of the Trần family, perfect for fans of Min Jin Lee&’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing. Hà Nội, 1972. Hương and her grandmother, Trần Diệu Lan, cling to one another in their improvised shelter as American bombs fall around them. Her father and mother have already left to fight in a war that is tearing not just her country but her family apart. For Trần Diệu Lan, forced to flee the family farm with her six children decades earlier as the Communist government rose to power in the North, this experience is horribly familiar. Seen through the eyes of these two unforgettable women, The Mountains Sing captures their defiance and determination, hope and unexpected joy. Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyễn's richly lyrical debut weaves between the lives of grandmother and granddaughter to paint a unique picture of the country's turbulent twentieth-century history. This is the story of a people pushed to breaking point, and a family who refuse to give in.
The Mountains Sing
by Que NguyenA Best Book of the Month/Season: The New York Times * The Washington Post * O, The Oprah Magazine * Real Simple * Amazon * PopSugar * Book Riot * Paperback Paris * She Reads * We Are Bookish &“An epic account of Việt Nam&’s painful 20th century history, both vast in scope and intimate in its telling . . . Moving and riveting.&” —VIET THANH NGUYEN, author of The Sympathizer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee&’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi&’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner&’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart. Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.The Mountains Sing is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai&’s first novel in English.
The Mountains Wait: Nazi Germany's Takeover Of Norway
by Theodor BrochThe Mountains Wait, first published in 1942, is a first person account of life in northern Norway just before and during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Author Theodor Broch (1904-1998) served as the mayor of the city of Narvik during this trying period, and was witness to the changes wrought by the Nazi regime, the famous naval battle of Narvik in April 1940, the resistance efforts by the Norwegians, and the struggles of the civilian population. Broch also describes his voyage to America and his visits to camps training Norwegian soldiers. Included are 15 pages of maps and photographs.
The Move To Global War (IB Diploma)
by Keely Rogers Joanna ThomasDrive critical, engaged historical learning. Helping learners more deeply understand historical concepts, the student-centred approach of this new Course Book enables broader, big picture understanding. Developed directly with the IB and fully supporting the new syllabus for first examination 2017, the clear, structured format helps you logically and easily progress through the new course content.
The Moved-Outers
by Florence Crannell MeansThe captivating story of a Japanese-American family in a World War II internment camp who struggle to retain their dignity and identity as Americans.<P><P> Newbery Honor book
The Moving Prison
by Thom Lemmons William MirzaThe year is 1979 and Ezra Solaiman and his family are trapped in a country in turmoil. Their homeland is increasingly ruled by Islamic fundamentalists who are becoming a law unto themselves. The Solaimans plan their escape only to have Ezra captured and imprisoned on trumped-up charges. Unsure just who his enemies are, Ezra is desperate for a way out--out of prison, out of Iran, out of the chaos his life has become. The Moving Prison is a riveting tale of revolution and revelation, of failure ... and faith.
The Mozart Code
by Rachel McMillanNo matter how you might try to hide in a war to escape your past, it is always close at hand.Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing&’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre&’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer&’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.Simon Barrington, the illegitimate heir of one of Sussex&’s oldest estates, used the previous war to hide his insecurities about his past. Now, he uses his high breeding to gain access to all four allied quarters of the ruined city in an attempt to slow the fall of the Iron Curtain. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment he met her, and a marriage of convenience to save Simon&’s estate has always kept her close. Until now, when Sophie&’s mysterious client in Prague forces him to wonder if her allegiance to him—and their cause—is in question. Torn between his loyalty to his cause and his heart, Simon seeks answers about Sophie only to learn that everything he thought he knew about his involvement in both wars is based on a lie.&“Murky espionage and burgeoning passion twine beautifully together in The Mozart Code&’s superbly evocative prose—an enchanting read!&” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code&“Vienna is the new Paris in The Mozart Code, a World War II spy novel with deft, chess-like plotting, and plenty of old-fashioned romance.&” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope novels and Mother Daughter Traitor Spy&“The Mozart Code is a smart, luscious romance, a thrilling suspense, and a thunderously good read. McMillan is a rising star in historical fiction.&” —Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The School for German Brides&“Rife with secret codes, haunting melodies, betrayal and sacrifice, at its heart this is a story about the courage it takes to love and be loved. Highly recommended!&” —Kimberly Brock, author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare&“Beautifully lush and atmospheric, The Mozart Code is a novel full of nuances and brimming with danger, romance, and intrigue.&” —Jenni L. Walsh, author of Becoming Bonnie and The Call of the Wrens&“The Mozart Code left me breathless.&” —Joy Callaway, international bestselling author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society and The Greenbrier ResortPost World War II historical romanceStand-alone novel (features characters from The London Restoration)Book length: 95,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
The Mucker
by Edgar Rice BurroughsBilly Byrne was a product of the streets and alleys of Chicago's great West Side. From Halsted to Robey, and from Grand Avenue to Lake Street there was scarce a bartender whom Billy knew not by his first name. And, in proportion to their number which was considerably less, he knew the patrolmen and plain clothes men equally as well, but not so pleasantly. His kindergarten education had commenced in an alley back of a feed-store. Here a gang of older boys and men were wont to congregate at such times as they had naught else to occupy their time, and as the bridewell was the only place in which they ever held a job for more than a day or two, they had considerable time to devote to congregating. They were pickpockets and second-story men, made and in the making, and all were muckers, ready to insult the first woman who passed, or pick a quarrel with any stranger who did not appear too burly. By night they plied their real vocations. By day they sat in the alley behind the feedstore and drank beer from a battered tin pail. The question of labor involved in transporting the pail, empty, to the saloon across the street, and returning it, full, to the alley back of the feed-store was solved by the presence of admiring and envious little boys of the neighborhood who hung, wide-eyed and thrilled, about these heroes of their childish lives. Billy Byrne, at six, was rushing the can for this noble band, and incidentally picking up his knowledge of life and the rudiments of his education. By the time he became an adult, he was another thing entirely. . . .
The Mulberry Empire
by Philip HensherSpanning a decade and moving between London and Calcutta, "The Mulberry Empire" explores the doomed 1839 mission of some 50,000 forces of the British Empire as they entered Afghanistan to overthrow a hostile amir. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
The Mule
by Juan Eslava GalanCritically acclaimed throughout Spain, and now available for the first time in English, this tender, satirical novel vividly captures the intrinsic absurdity of war--and the joys of true friendship in a place where it is difficult to distinguish man from beast.Juan Castro Pérez is a simple muleteer caught in the brutal Spanish Civil War. Never far from his closest companion--a stray mule named Valentina whom he is determined to keep for himself after the war--Juan engages in the low-brow drinking escapades, long shots at love, and an otherwise droning existence shared by his compatriots.As he lies, cheats, and steals to protect Valentina during his improbable odyssey home, Juan unwittingly "fights" for both sides--and becomes a reluctant and unlikely hero of the people, exploited by opportunistic journalists desperately trying to convince the Spanish public that the war is under control, when it is anything but.... Translation by Lisa Dillman.
The Mule Shoe
by Perry TroucheA TIME MACHINE COULD TAKE US NO CLOSER! Synopsis of The Mule Shoe by Perry Trouche Give a nearsighted child glasses for the first time and what you'll hear immediately is "I can see the leaves". This sudden clarity strikes the protagonist Conner DuMont in the final chapter of The Mule Shoe but it comes with a price. The dogma, promises and tradition of the past are gone. He can no longer go on doing things the way they have always been done. With this change comes awareness of his conformity and acquiescence to a society built on evil. The Mule Shoe is Conner's journey through his subconscious that takes him, past and present, through beliefs and memories to final acceptance of a new era built on truth. The trauma of the horror of combat hastens the process. Like the peeling of an onion causing tears, Conner's gradual descent into his mind unleashes emotions that overwhelm reality. The story is set at the battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, in 1864 during the American Civil War, but Conner's mental journey encompasses his childhood on the sea islands of South Carolina, the recent death of his cousin for which he blames himself, and the fantasy of life through the eyes of the common soldiers he meets. He struggles to stay in the present but death, and the fear surrounding it, propel him into a dream world of memories, real and imagined. His day to day reality is increasingly bombarded with hallucinations in which the significant people of his past and present deliver a running commentary on his life. As the combat worsens at the Muleshoe Salient, he is unable to differentiate reality from delusion. He creates a world of calming touch to replace the insanity of war, readily embracing the delusion of soothing affection to overcome mind numbing savagery. The final acts of killing sever his last tie to his prior life. He retreats physically from battle as he wanders mentally in search of acceptance and peace. As he has learned to kill in reality, he finds he must do the same in his delusional world. The power to kill is the evil on which his world has been built. The final act of killing a childhood friend is so repugnant that it frees him from all attachment to his past. He accepts peace as he would use clear, cold water to rinse an open wound. Hope for life and peace replaces the misery of war. The Mule Shoe is twenty-four chapters, half of which are in the present, June 1864, and half, flashbacks and fantasy. The historical accuracy has been well researched and the emotional journey based on the author's extensive experience as a psychiatrist.
The Mullah's Storm
by Tom YoungA transport plane carrying a high-ranking Taliban prisoner is shot down in a blizzard over Afghanistan's mountainous Hindu Kush. The storm makes rescue impossible, and for two people-navigator Michael Parson and a female Army interpreter, Sergeant Gold-a battle for survival begins against not only the hazards of nature, but the treacheries of man: the Taliban stalking them, the villagers whose loyalties are unknown, and a prisoner who would very much like the three of them to be caught.
The Munich Crisis, 1938: Prelude to World War II
by Erik Goldstein Igor LukesMost of the works on the crises of the 1930s and especially the Munich Agreement in 1938 were written when it was virtually impossible to gain access to the relevant archive collections on both sides of the Iron Curtain. This text studies the Czechoslovak-German crisis and its impact from previously neglected perspectives and celebrates the post-Cold War openness by bringing in new evidence from hitherto inaccessible archives.
The Murder Trial of Judge Peel
by Jim BishopOriginally published in 1962, this is the true story account of one of Florida’s most chilling crimes.Joseph Peel, a crooked municipal judge of Palm Beach, Florida, is accused of killing fellow judge, Curtis Chillingworth, of the superior court, who mysteriously disappeared along with his wife, Marjorie Chillingworth, from their home in 1955.Peel was publicly reprimanded by Chillingworth in 1953, when Peel represented both sides in a divorce. In June 1955, Peel was scheduled to appear in court to answer charges of unethical conduct in yet another divorce case, and so faced disbarment.Since Peel was also using his position as an elected municipal judge to protect bolita operators and moonshiners by giving them advance warnings of raids in return for financial consideration, Peel faced the loss of his superior position—and thus his lucrative illegal racket…A gripping read.“Bishop’s reconstruction is well-ordered and well-observed, a stunning form of journalistic jazz, cool, crisp and all on one note, like a headline. […] A simple, speedy, thoroughly satisfying thriller…”—Kirkus Review