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The Year's Work in Lebowski Studies (The Year's Work)
by William Preston RobertsonA massive underground sensation, The Big Lebowski has been hailed as the first cult film of the internet age. In this book, 21 fans and scholars address the film's influences—westerns, noir, grail legends, the 1960s, and Fluxus—and its historical connections to the first Iraq war, boomers, slackerdom, surrealism, college culture, and of course bowling. The Year's Work in Lebowski Studies contains neither arid analyses nor lectures for the late-night crowd, but new ways of thinking and writing about film culture.
Pocahontas, Alias Matoaka: Through Her Marriage at Jamestown, Virginia in April, 1614, With John Rolfe, Gentleman
by Wyndham Robertson Robert Alonzo BrockExplore the rich and enduring legacy of one of America's most iconic figures with Wyndham Robertson's comprehensive genealogy, "Pocahontas, Alias Matoaka: And Her Descendants Through Her Marriage at Jamestown, Virginia in April, 1614." This meticulously researched work offers an in-depth look at the life of Pocahontas and the generations that followed her historic union with English settler John Rolfe.Robertson's book begins with a detailed account of Pocahontas's life, from her early days as the beloved daughter of Chief Powhatan to her pivotal role in fostering peace between the Native American tribes and English settlers. Through engaging narrative, Robertson highlights Pocahontas's courage, intelligence, and the cultural significance of her marriage to Rolfe, which was a critical moment in the early history of Jamestown and the American colonies.The heart of the book lies in its extensive genealogical research, tracing the descendants of Pocahontas and John Rolfe through the centuries. Robertson meticulously documents the family lines, providing readers with detailed records, biographical sketches, and historical context for each generation. This genealogical exploration not only sheds light on the lives of Pocahontas's descendants but also offers a broader understanding of the impact her legacy had on American history and society.This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the lineage of one of America's foundational figures, the intertwining of Native American and colonial histories, and the ongoing story of Pocahontas's descendants. Wyndham Robertson's work stands as a testament to the lasting legacy of Pocahontas and the profound impact of her life and lineage on American history.
When Franny Stands Up: A Novel
by Eden RobinsNamed a Best Book of the Month by Bustle and Buzzfeed!Named one of the best books of 2022 by Chicago Reader and All About Romance!As praised by Book Riot, Autostraddle, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more!The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets A League of Their Own in this inspiring story Buzzfeed calls "a warm hug of a novel." Franny Steinberg knows there's powerful magic in laughter. She's witnessed it. With the men of Chicago off fighting WWII on distant shores, Franny has watched the women of the city taking charge of the war effort. But amidst the war bond sales and factory shifts, something surprising has emerged, something Franny could never have expected. A new marvel that has women flocking to comedy clubs across the nation: the Showstopper.When Franny steps into Chicago's Blue Moon comedy club, she realizes the power of a Showstopper—that specific magic sparked when an audience laughs so hard, they are momentarily transformed. And while each comedian's Showstopper is different, they all have one thing in common: they only work on women.After a traumatic flashback propels her onstage in a torn bridesmaid dress, Franny discovers her own Showstopper is something new. And suddenly she has the power to change everything…for herself, for her audience, and for the people who may need it most.
Point of Honour (The Sarah Tolerance Mysteries #1)
by Madeleine E. RobinsOn the mean streets of Regency London, a truly different adventure-with an unforgettable heroineIn a Regency London that isn't quite the one we know, young women of family whose reputations have been ruined are known as the Fallen. Young Sarah Tolerance is one such: a daughter of the nobility who ran away with her brother's fencing-master. Now that the fencing-master has died, everyone expects her to earn her living as a whore.But Sarah is unwilling. Instead, she invents a new role for herself, and a new vocation: "investigative agent." For Sarah, with her equivocal position in society, is able to float between social layers, unearth secrets, find things that were lost, and lose things too dangerous to be kept. Her stock in trade is her wits, her discretion, and her expertise with the smallsword -- for her fencing-master taught her that as well.She will need all her skills soon, when she is approached by an agent of the Count Verseillon, for a task that seems routine: reclaim an antique fan he once gave to "a lady with brown eyes." The fan, he tells her, is an heirloom; the lady, his first love. But as Sarah Tolerance unravels the mystery that surrounds the fan, she discovers that she--and the Count--are not the only ones seeking it, and that nothing about this task is what it seems.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Mercury, Mining, and Empire: The Human and Ecological Cost of Colonial Silver Mining in the Andes
by Nicholas A. RobinsOn the basis of an examination of the colonial mercury and silver production processes and related labor systems, Mercury, Mining, and Empire explores the effects of mercury pollution in colonial Huancavelica, Peru, and Potosí, in present-day Bolivia. The book presents a multifaceted and interwoven tale of what colonial exploitation of indigenous peoples and resources left in its wake. It is a socio-ecological history that explores the toxic interrelationships between mercury and silver production, urban environments, and the people who lived and worked in them. Nicholas A. Robins tells the story of how native peoples in the region were conscripted into the noxious ranks of foot soldiers of proto-globalism, and how their fate, and that of their communities, was—and still is—chained to it.
La Repubblica Bianca (Il portatore di morte cremisi - Libro 5 #5)
by Sean RobinsCosa accadrebbe se gli Akakie si trasformassero in Klingon in un universo parallelo? Aiutati dalla loro tecnologia di gran lunga superiore, conquisteranno la loro galassia e poi verranno a prendere la nostra. La marina della Repubblica Bianca decima le forze della Federazione con un attacco a sorpresa. Ora Jim e i suoi amici devono unirsi ancora una volta per cacciare gli invasori e liberare i loro mondi, ma restano solo poche migliaia di astronavi. A peggiorare le cose, il conto alla rovescia scorre e il tempo stringe. I fan della serie bestseller "il portatore di morte cremisi" sanno cosa aspettarsi: posta in gioco alta, battaglie spaziali emozionanti e personaggi indimenticabili. Aggiungete a quell'umorismo campy e abbastanza colpi di scena da far vergognare Alfred Hitchcock, e otterrete "la Repubblica Bianca" in tutta la sua gloria. Leggi oggi un'altra delle epiche avventure di Jim!
If You Go
by Alice RobinsonWhen Esther wakes with a breathing tube down her throat, she has no idea where she is or how she got there. In terrible physical condition, Esther is tended to by Grace, the only other person in the building.In the half-consciousness of her recovery, Esther is desperate to get back to her young kids and grapples with the events of her life as they come flooding back: a childhood spent between warring parents; the demise of her marriage; the struggles she faced when her children were born.Suspicious of Grace, Esther takes drastic action to escape. But there are certain facts about the reality of her situation - her place in time, her history and her life - that she will need to uncover first.If You Go is a moving, captivating and unforgettable novel about hope and grief and family, exploring what we inherit and what we pass down.
Biosecurity: A Systems Perspective (A life skills manual)
by Andrew P. Robinson Susan M. Hester Lucie M. Bland Edith Arndt Sana Bau James S. Camac Evelyn Mannix Raphaël TrouvéBiosecurity: A Systems Perspective provides an overview of biosecurity as a system of related components, actors, and risks. This book—directed to the biosecurity practitioner, generalist scientist, and student—introduces overall features of the biosecurity system while walking the reader through the most up-to-date research on each step of the continuum (i.e. pre-border, border, and post-border activities). This book, which explicitly incorporates economic and social dimensions as well as varied decision-making contexts, paves the way for a more systemic approach to biosecurity risk management. The work spans statistics, ecology, mathematics, economics, veterinary science, human medicine, and sociology, involving collaborators across government, academia, and the private sector. This book uses a broad definition of biosecurity, rather than solely focusing on plant health, animal health, security, or one step of the biosecurity system (e.g. surveillance). As such, this book is a one-stop shop for readers interested in all aspects of biosecurity. The content and language are accessible to a wide range of audiences, including generalist scientists, biosecurity practitioners, and graduate students. More complex content is introduced in standalone boxes or chapters. The book follows a clear, simple structure within and among chapters (i.e. following the structure of the biosecurity system), making it a preferred option for graduate students. This book introduces novel cross-cutting themes, such as the importance of economic efficiency and institutional and social factors, going beyond the traditional science-based approach to biosecurity. Written in partnership with government agency practitioners, this book uses on-the-ground case studies to demonstrate how biosecurity principles are applied in practice. The book addresses challenges common to regulators in general, namely efficient regulation in uncertain and rapidly changing environments with multiple stakeholders who have—at times—conflicting priorities.
René and Postcolonial Seychelles: An African Chameleon in the Indian Ocean (African Studies)
by Ashton RobinsonRobinson details the life and times of France-Albert René (1935–2019), the second post-independence leader of Seychelles who oversaw the nation’s transition to democracy after over a decade of his brutal dictatorship.René’s career was Seychelles’ history over the forty-three years from independence in 1976 until his peaceful death. Having seized power in a violent coup he presented himself as a socialist in the Cold War but transitioned to build Africa’s most successful relationship with international lenders and developed Seychelles as a major offshore tax haven. He also sustained and cultivated Seychelles’ position as a Western tourism-based economy. Robinson outlines not only René’s use of political violence and extrajudicial killing but also his unique relationship with transnational, organised crime including his links with the New York mafia, Italian organised crime interests and even helping to arm the Rwandan genocide. Nevertheless, René – a white leader of an African nation – avoided the self-isolation of Rhodesia and South Africa; endowed racial harmony; enabled women to advance politically and socially; and left Seychelles with high incomes, currency convertibility, and robust human and physical infrastructure.This is an essential read for anyone with an interest in the history of Seychelles, which will also be of great value to scholars of postcolonial states, African studies, microstates and the Indian Ocean region.
Estonian Animation: Between Genius & Utter Illiteracy
by Chris RobinsonEver wonder why Estonian animation features so many carrots or why cows often perform pyramids? Well, neither question is answered in Chris Robinson's new book, Estonian Animation. Robinson's frank, humorous, and thoroughly researched book traces the history of Estonia's acclaimed animation scene from early experiments in the 1930s to the creation of puppet (Nukufilm) and cel (Joonisfilm) animation studios during the Soviet era, as well as Estonia's surprising international success during the post-Soviet era. In addition, Robinson writes about the discovery of films by four 1960s animation pioneers who, until the release of this book, had been unknown to most Estonian and international animation historians.
Spalting 101: The Ultimate Guide to Coloring Wood with Fungi
by Dr. Seri RobinsonA step-by-step guide to DIY spalting—harnessing fungi to create spectacular colors and lines in woodLeads beginners to success and offers spalting veterans fascinating info to improve their workWhether spalting wood in your yard, your bathroom, or a lab, save time and frustration
Living with Wood: A Guide for Toymakers, Hobbyists, Crafters, and Parents
by Dr. Seri C. RobinsonEasy-to-follow guide to the science behind wood and its use as a materialAdvice and tips for maintaining wood in the home makes it perfect for parents, every-day individuals, and all wood enthusiastsA broad range of wood topics provided by expert woodturner and professor Dr. Seri Robinson
Lucky Me: My Sixty-Five Years in Baseball
by Eddie Robinson C. Paul RogersEddie Robinson&’s career lasted sixty-five years and spanned the era before and during World War II, integration, the organization of the players union, expansion, use of artificial turf, free agency, labor stoppages, and even the steroid era. He was a Minor League player, a Major League player, a coach, a farm director, a general manager, a scout, and a consultant. During his six and a half decades in baseball, he knew, played with or against, or worked for or with many of baseball&’s greats, including Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker, George Steinbrenner, Casey Stengel, Bill Veeck, and Ted Williams. The lively autobiography of Robinson, Lucky Me highlights a career that touched all aspects of the game from player to coach to front-office executive and scout. In it Robinson reveals for the first time that the 1948 Cleveland Indians stole the opposition&’s signs with the use of a telescope in their drive to the pennant. This edition features a new afterword by C. Paul Rogers III.
Not So Good a Gay Man: A Memoir
by Frank M. RobinsonNot So Good a Gay Man is the compelling memoir of author, screenwriter, and activist Frank M. Robinson.Frank M. Robinson (1926-2014) accomplished a great deal in his long life, working in magazine publishing, including a stint for Playboy, and writing science fiction such as The Power, The Dark Beyond the Stars, and thrillers such as The Glass Inferno (filmed as The Towering Inferno). Robinson also passionately engaged in politics, fighting for gay rights, and most famously writing speeches for his good friend Harvey Milk in San Francisco.This deeply personal autobiography, addressed to a friend in the gay community, explains the life of one gay man over eight decades in America. By turns witty, charming, and poignant, this memoir grants insights into Robinson's work not just as a journalist and writer, but as a gay man navigating the often perilous social landscape of 20th century life in the United States. The bedrock sincerity and painful honesty with which he describes this life makes Not So Good a Gay Man compelling reading.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Persi nella Nebbia: Riedizione
by Ty'Ron W. C. Robinson II"Bentornati a New Haven!" Preston Maddox ed Emily Weston, Marescialli degli Stati Uniti e Investigatori della Sezione Omicidi, vengono incaricati di risolvere una serie di omicidi avvenuti a New Haven, nel Connecticut. Preston ha una pista su chi potrebbe essere il responsabile degli omicidi, dal momento in cui il suo amico d'infanzia, Hoyt Bennett, esce di prigione e torna a New Haven. Insieme a lui, ricompaiono nella vita di Preston altri vecchi nemici del suo passato, che preparano a brutti scenari mentre Preston ed Emily si ritrovano persi nella nebbia. *Riedizione ristrutturata*
Grendel Omnibus Volume 5: Grendel Tales
by James Robinson Matt Wagner Darko MakanFrom the visionary mind of Matt Wagner, this anthology sees several industry giants stepping into the world of Grendel to tell their own tales of anger and vengeance in a strange, dystopian future—where the force of Grendel looms as a part of everyone&’s lives!Perfect for longtime fans and newcomers to the Grendel saga, these dark tales from multiple creative teams explore the violent, alarming future of the post-Orion Assante era. With over 400 pages of gripping narratives and stunning art, this omnibus volume features new cover art by Matt and Brennan Wagner and is reprinted for the first time in the standard comics size.Collects &“Devil Worship&” the first Grendel Tales short story from Grendel #40, Four Devils, One Hell #1 to #6, Devil&’s Hammer #1 to #3, The Devil in Our Midst #1 to #5, and Devils and Deaths #1 to #2.
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service
by Jeffrey Robinson Joseph PetroStanding Next to History presents the extraordinary account of Ronald Reagan's Secret Service bodyguard with stories that will make even a diehard "West Wing" fan go speechless.Joseph Petro served for 23 years as a special agent in the United States Secret Service; eleven of them with presidents and vice presidents. For four of those years he stood by the side of Ronald Reagan.Following his career as a Navy Lieutenant, during which he patrolled the rivers and canals along the Vietnamese-Cambodian border, he worked his way up through the Secret Service to become one of the key men in charge of protecting the President. That journey through the Secret Service provides an individual look inside the most discreet law enforcement agency in the world, and a uniquely intimate account of the Reagan presidency.Engagingly, Joseph Petro tells "first hand" stories of: riding horses with the Reagans; eluding the press and sneaking the President and Mrs. Reagan out of the White House; rehearsing assassination attempts and working, then re-working every detail of the president's trips around the world; negotiating the president's protection with the KGB; diverting a 26 car presidential motorcade in downtown Tokyo; protecting Vice-President Dan Quayle at Rajiv Gandhi's funeral where he was surrounded by Yassir Arafat's heavily armed bodyguards; taking charge of the single largest protective effort in the history of the Secret Service-Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to the United States; and being only one of three witnesses at the private meeting between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that ushered in the end of the Cold War.Joseph Petro provides an original and fascinating perspective of the Secret Service, the inner workings of the White House and a little seen view of world leaders, as a man who stood next to history.
Conducting Online Research on Amazon Mechanical Turk and Beyond (SAGE Innovations in Research Methods #1)
by Jonathan Robinson Leib LitmanConducting Online Research on Amazon Mechanical Turk® and Beyond, written by Leib Litman and Jonathan Robinson, provides both students and experienced researchers with essential information about the online platforms most often used for social science research. This insightful and accessible text answers common questions like, "How do I maintain data quality in online studies?," "What is the best way to recruit hard-to-reach samples?" and "How can researchers navigate the ethical issues that are unique to online research?" Drawing on their experiences as the founders of CloudResearch (formerly TurkPrime), the authors provide information that guides new users planning their first online studies and engages even the most experienced researchers with detailed discussions about the challenges of online research. The book begins with an overview of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and its rapid rise within academic research. Then, the authors describe how to set up an MTurk study with screenshots that walk readers through the steps of creating an account, designing a study, collecting data, and using third-party applications to enhance MTurk’s functionality. Later chapters provide readers with a detailed understanding of the MTurk environment and use data from hundreds of thousands of participants and tens of millions of completed tasks to dive into issues like participant demographics, sources of sampling bias, and the generalizability of findings from MTurk. Finally, the book explores the benefits of using other online platforms as a complement to MTurk and the ethical issues that are unique to conducting research with online participant platforms. Throughout the book, the authors share hands-on advice and best practices, such as those for conducting longitudinal studies or carrying out complex studies. Altogether the mix of data, insight, and advice make this book an essential resource for researchers who want to understand the online environment and the most effective ways to conduct research online.
Conducting Online Research on Amazon Mechanical Turk and Beyond (SAGE Innovations in Research Methods #1)
by Jonathan Robinson Leib LitmanConducting Online Research on Amazon Mechanical Turk® and Beyond, written by Leib Litman and Jonathan Robinson, provides both students and experienced researchers with essential information about the online platforms most often used for social science research. This insightful and accessible text answers common questions like, "How do I maintain data quality in online studies?," "What is the best way to recruit hard-to-reach samples?" and "How can researchers navigate the ethical issues that are unique to online research?" Drawing on their experiences as the founders of CloudResearch (formerly TurkPrime), the authors provide information that guides new users planning their first online studies and engages even the most experienced researchers with detailed discussions about the challenges of online research. The book begins with an overview of Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and its rapid rise within academic research. Then, the authors describe how to set up an MTurk study with screenshots that walk readers through the steps of creating an account, designing a study, collecting data, and using third-party applications to enhance MTurk’s functionality. Later chapters provide readers with a detailed understanding of the MTurk environment and use data from hundreds of thousands of participants and tens of millions of completed tasks to dive into issues like participant demographics, sources of sampling bias, and the generalizability of findings from MTurk. Finally, the book explores the benefits of using other online platforms as a complement to MTurk and the ethical issues that are unique to conducting research with online participant platforms. Throughout the book, the authors share hands-on advice and best practices, such as those for conducting longitudinal studies or carrying out complex studies. Altogether the mix of data, insight, and advice make this book an essential resource for researchers who want to understand the online environment and the most effective ways to conduct research online.
Icehenge: A Novel
by Kim Stanley RobinsonSF titan Kim Stanley Robinson’s breakout novel, now in a Tor Essentials edition with a new introduction by Henry FarrellTor Essentials presents new editions of science fiction and fantasy titles of proven merit and lasting value, each volume introduced by an appropriate literary figure.Decades before his massively successful The Ministry for the Future (2020), Kim Stanley Robinson wrote one of SF’s greatest meditations on extended human lifespan, the limitations of human memory, and the haunted confabulations that go with forgetting.On the North Pole of Pluto there stands an enigma: a huge circle of standing blocks of ice, built on the pattern of Earth’s Stonehenge—but ten times the size, standing alone at the edge of the Solar System. What is it? Who could have built it?The secret lies in the chaotic decades of the Martian Revolution, in the lost memories of those who have lived for centuries.This new Tor Essentials edition of Icehenge includes a new introduction by Henry Farrell, co-author of Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Wild Shore: Three Californias (Three Californias Triptych #1)
by Kim Stanley RobinsonThe Wild Shore is the first novel in Kim Stanley Robinson's highly-acclaimed Three Californias Trilogy. 2047: For the small Pacific Coast community of San Onofre, life in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear attack is a matter of survival, a day-to-day struggle to stay alive. But young Hank Fletcher dreams of the world that might have been, and might yet be--and dreams of playing a crucial role in America's rebirth.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A Dance with Her Forbidden Officer & Diary of a War Bride: Two Emotional Historical Romance Novels
by Lauri RobinsonHarlequin Historical brings you two heart-racing World War II stories in one collection. Experience the epic love stories of two officers and the women they fall for, where every stolen moment together counts! Dance With Her Forbidden Officer Nurse Wendy Smith promised her mother she&’d see the world, starting with beautiful Hawaii. Her promise to herself – to never depend on a man – is harder to keep when Navy Officer K.T. McAllister jitterbugs into her life. Then Pearl Harbor is attacked and, as Wendy nurses injured K.T., she learns he too has promises to people back home. Yet as K.T. grows stronger, so do her feelings, and her longing for the forbidden…? Previously published Diary of a War Bride July 1942 Dear Diary, despite the war raging around me I find I can&’t stop thinking about the American officer, Sergeant Dale Johnson.? I&’ve never known anyone as brave, kind and handsome! But I promised myself I wouldn&’t care this much about a man again, and especially when he could be transferred at any time. Yet that only makes me want to relish our time together.? Now, fighting my heart feels like the biggest battle…? Previously published
Reading Genesis
by Marilynne RobinsonINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLEROne of our greatest novelists and thinkers presents a radiant, thrilling interpretation of the book of Genesis.For generations, the book of Genesis has been treated by scholars as a collection of documents by various hands, expressing different factional interests, with borrowings from other ancient literatures that mark the text as derivative. In other words, academic interpretation of Genesis has centered on the question of its basic coherency, just as fundamentalist interpretation has centered on the question of the appropriateness of reading it as literally true.Both of these approaches preclude an appreciation of its greatness as literature, its rich articulation and exploration of themes that resonate through the whole of Scripture. Marilynne Robinson’s Reading Genesis, which includes the full text of the King James Version of the book, is a powerful consideration of the profound meanings and promise of God’s enduring covenant with humanity. This magisterial book radiates gratitude for the constancy and benevolence of God’s abiding faith in Creation.
H.M.S. Unseen (Arnold Morgan #3)
by Patrick RobinsonThe H.M.S. Unseen is one of the most efficient, lethal submarines ever built. But suddenly, on a training mission off the English coast, it vanishes, baffling military intelligence on both sides of the Atlantic, including National Security Adviser Admiral Arnold Morgan. A missing weapon is dangerous enough. But then the unthinkable begins to happen... Planes begin blowing up across the skies.Searching for answers, Morgan is convinced that only one man can be behind all these devastating events: his archenemy, the world's most cunning—yet reportedly dead—terrorist spy. Determined to stop his old nemesis, Morgan must use all his wits to find a madman armed with a powerful sub hidden somewhere in a million square miles of ocean. What Morgan doesn't know, however, is that the fanatical terrorist has a plan of his own, one that will bring these two intense warriors face-to-face—and only one will come out alive in one of the most chilling spy stories of the year.
Sparta: A Novel
by Roxana RobinsonGoing from peace to war can make a young man into a warrior. Going from war to peace can destroy him.Conrad Farrell has no family military heritage, but as a classics major at Williams College, he has encountered the powerful appeal of the Marine Corps ethic. "Semper Fidelis" comes straight from the ancient world, from Sparta, where every citizen doubled as a full-time soldier. When Conrad graduates, he joins the Marines to continue a long tradition of honor, courage, and commitment.As Roxana Robinson's new novel, Sparta, begins, Conrad has just returned home to Katonah, New York, after four years in Iraq, and he's beginning to learn that something has changed in his landscape. Something has gone wrong, though things should be fine: he hasn't been shot or wounded; he's never had psychological troubles--he shouldn't have PTSD. But as he attempts to reconnect with his family and his girlfriend and to find his footing in the civilian world, he learns how hard it is to return to the people and places he used to love. His life becomes increasingly difficult to negotiate: he can't imagine his future, can't recover his past, and can't bring himself to occupy his present. As weeks turn into months, Conrad feels himself trapped in a life that's constrictive and incomprehensible, and he fears that his growing rage will have irreparable consequences.Suspenseful, compassionate, and perceptive, Sparta captures the nuances of the unique estrangement that modern soldiers face as they attempt to rejoin the society they've fought for. Billy Collins writes that Roxana Robinson is "a master at . . . the work of excavating the truths about ourselves"; The Washington Post's Jonathan Yardley calls her "one of our best writers." In Sparta, with the powerful insight and acuity that marked her earlier books (Cost, Sweetwater, and A Perfect Stranger, among others), Robinson explores the life of a veteran and delivers her best book yet. A Washington Post Notable Fiction Book of 2013