- Table View
- List View
Classical Architecture and Monuments of Washington, D.C.: A History & Guide (History And Guide Ser.)
by Michael CurtisA look at the statues, monuments, and buildings of the classically designed capital city—from the National Mall to Colonial Alexandria. Classical design formed our nation&’s capital. The soaring Washington Monument, the columns of the Lincoln Memorial and the spectacular dome of the Capitol Building speak to the founders&’ comprehensive vision of our federal city. Learn about the L&’Enfant and McMillan plans for Washington, D.C., and how those designs are reflected in two hundred years of monuments, museums and representative government. View the statues of our Founding Fathers with the eye of a sculptor and gain insight into the criticism and controversies of modern additions to Washington&’s monumental structure. Author Michael Curtis guides this tour of the heart of the District of Columbia.
Open Faced: Single-Slice Sandwiches from Around the World
by Karen KaplanToasted tradition gets a modern makeover in this cookbook from a former writer and editor at Bon Appétit.Open Faced crosses international borders to bring fresh, creative flavors to your toasted breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Discover butterbrote, montaditos, smørrebrød, and other open-faced sandwiches that capture the essence of Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, France, Italy, and more.Go beyond butter with inspired flavors like:• Provençal Tuna and Vegetable Salad• Cider and Honey-Scented Onion Marmalade, Cabrales Cheese, and Hazelnuts• Curried Egg Salad with Mango Chutney, Raisins, and Cashews• Meatballs with Beet and Apple SaladWith easy yet elegant recipes and romantic photography, this cookbook makes a striking gift for anyone who finds comfort in a warm slice of bread.&“The open-faced sandwich trend is here to stay. This cookbook, with its easy-to-follow recipes and interesting backstories, is a total crowd-pleaser.&”—Robert Irvine, Food Network host &“You gotta check out this book. You get takes on recipes from around the world and some killer originals. This ain't your little kid&’s grilled cheese cookbook.&”—Guy Fieri, Food Network host &“I simply love Karen&’s fresh approach to one of my favorite things in the world―the humble sandwich. It&’s both simple and sophisticated, but most importantly, the recipes work.&”—Curtis Stone, celebrity chef &“A delightful new take on toast. Loaded with colorful, creative, and easy-to-make recipes, Open Faced is just what you want: comfort from a great piece of bread with toppings of flavor and adventure.&”—Jeanne Kelley, author ofKitchen Garden Cookbook
The Zong: A Massacre, the Law & the End of Slavery
by James Walvin&“A lucid, fluent and fascinating account of the Zong. The book details the horror of the mass killing of enslaved Africans on board the ship in 1781.&”—Gad Heuman, co-editor of The Routledge History of Slavery On November 29, 1781, Captain Collingwood of the British ship Zong commanded his crew to throw overboard one-third of his cargo: a shipment of Africans bound for slavery in America. The captain believed his ship was off course, and he feared there was not enough drinking water to last until landfall. This book is the first to examine in detail the deplorable killings on the Zong, the lawsuit that ensued, how the murder of 132 slaves affected debates about slavery, and the way we remember the infamous Zong today. Historian James Walvin explores all aspects of the Zong&’s voyage and the subsequent trial—a case brought to court not for the murder of the slaves but as a suit against the insurers who denied the owners&’ claim that their &“cargo&” had been necessarily jettisoned. The scandalous case prompted wide debate and fueled Britain&’s awakening abolition movement. Without the episode of the Zong, Walvin contends, the process of ending the slave trade would have taken an entirely different moral and political trajectory. He concludes with a fascinating discussion of how the case of the Zong, though unique in the history of slave ships, has come to be understood as typical of life on all such ships. &“Engaging . . . [Walvin&’s] expertise shines through with surgical use of statistics and absorbing deviations into subjects such as Turner&’s masterpiece The Slave Ship and the slave-fueled growth of Liverpool.&”—Daily Mail
Artisan Farming: Lessons, Lore, and Recipes
by Richard Harris Lisa FoxExplore the unique farming culture of New Mexico through stories, recipes, and photographs in this book of rustic artisanal living. Life is hard for the artisanal farmers of New Mexico—but they wouldn't have it any other way. They take pride in their land, their soil, their crops, and their families. Competition for business is friendly and cordial. Neighbors help neighbors, and community is key. They eagerly await the farmers markets not only to sell their wares, but to renew their friendships and swap stories of their mishaps, trials, and adventures. Laden with rich photos, ripe with human interest stories, and bounteous with tantalizing recipes, Artisan Farming explores this state's one-of-a-kind agricultural heritage and the revival of traditional, organic, and "artisan" farming. Readers will discover the small farms, farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture organizations, heritage seed exchanges, and other entries that have made the independent farming revival possible.
Beast of New Castle: The Heart-Pounding Battle to Stop a Savage Killer
by Larry Sells Margie PorterThe terrifying life of a rampaging Indiana killer is vividly chronicled in this true crime book by the co-authors of Race to Justice. Maybe the youngest son of a violent criminal named Hoggy Thompson was born a beast. Maybe rage was beaten into him. One thing was certain, by the time he reached manhood, Jerry Thompson was a savage killer. He had no conscience about rape, child molestation, or thrashing a dozen men in a prison fight. Once he got his hands on a gun, any target would do. He didn't leave witnesses. When he terrorized an entire courtroom and threatened to rip deputy prosecutor Larry Sells apart, people wondered if there would ever be a way to stop his viciousness. In Beast of New Castle, Sells and co-author Margie Porter take a deep dive into the life and crimes of this unrelenting violent offender, and the desperate quest by law enforcement to stop him for good.
Strange Powers
by Colin WilsonThree case studies in the paranormal shed light on the limits of human potential. During his research for his major study The Occult, Colin Wilson became fascinated by three people whom he interviewed extensively. Strange Powers compiles and analyzes the compelling stories of Robert Leftwich, a retired sales manager in Sussex with proven powers as a dowser who also is able to take journeys out of his physical body; Mrs. Eunice Beattie, a hospital nurse, who has written hundreds of pages of predictions dictated to her by &“spirits&”; and Dr. Arthur Guirdham, a respected British physician, who is convinced that he is a reincarnated member of a thirteenth-century religious sect, about which he has written voluminously and accurately. All three consider their powers to be perfectly normal. If this is so, are the rest of us abnormal? Or subnormal? Colin Wilson challenges us to consider these questions, as well as the problem of how to gain scientific recognition for those vistas of reality that lie outside the experience of most of us, but that almost certainly exist.
Dirt Rich: A Novel of Texas
by Clark HowardThis saga about the building of an oil empire and one man&’s personal journey is &“wonderful . . . A truly exciting novel&” (Orlando Sentinel). After Sam Sheridan returns home from the World War I battlefront, he receives an odd inheritance from a man he&’s never met: a parcel of land in east Texas. With little to lose, he and his wife set off from Kansas City and find themselves in the dusty town of Dane—where they&’re met with inexplicable hostility. When a wealthy local rancher attempts to buy Sam&’s hundred acres for an impressive sum, Sam decides to hold on to it instead. And in the years and decades that follow, he&’ll find himself dealing with a brutal rivalry, a growing fortune, and a number of shocking secrets. &“Conflict, emotion, sex, suspense, joy, sorrow, surprise . . . It&’s a truly exciting novel, and the author&’s talent and attention to even the smallest detail serve to make it even more satisfying. From the provocative first chapter on, the reader is totally caught up in Sam Sheridan&’s world, in his quest for his past, his present and his future.&” —Orlando Sentinel &“Fast-paced . . . absorbing and real.&” —Chicago Tribune &“Entertaining and well-written.&” —Library Journal &“A winner.&” —Houston Chronicle
Inventing a Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson (Icons of America)
by Gore VidalThis New York Times bestseller offers &“an unblinking view of our national heroes by one who cherishes them, warts and all&” (New York Review of Books). In Inventing a Nation, National Book Award winner Gore Vidal transports the reader into the minds, the living rooms (and bedrooms), the convention halls, and the salons of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others. We come to know these men, through Vidal&’s splendid prose, in ways we have not up to now—their opinions of each other, their worries about money, their concerns about creating a viable democracy. Vidal brings them to life at the key moments of decision in the birthing of our nation. He also illuminates the force and weight of the documents they wrote, the speeches they delivered, and the institutions of government by which we still live. More than two centuries later, America is still largely governed by the ideas championed by this triumvirate. The author of Burr and Lincoln, one of the master stylists of American literature and most acute observers of American life, turns his immense literary and historiographic talent to a portrait of these formidable men
The Era, 1947–1957: When the Yankees, the Giants, and the Dodgers Ruled the World
by Roger KahnThe author of The Boys of Summer explores the golden age of baseball, an unforgettable time when the game thrived as America&’s unrivaled national sport.The Era begins in 1947, with Jackie Robinson changing major league baseball forever by taking the field for the Dodgers. Dazzling, momentous events characterize the decade that followed—Robinson&’s amazing accomplishments; the explosion on the national scene of such soon-to-be legends as Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Bobby Thomson, Duke Snider, and Yogi Berra; Casey Stengel&’s crafty managing; the emergence of televised games; and the stunning success of the Yankees as they play in nine out of eleven World Series. The Era concludes with the relocation of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, a move that shook the sport to its very roots.&“Kahn knows where the bodies are buried and allows his audience a joyous read as he digs them up.&”—Publishers Weekly &“[Kahn] engagingly captures the flavor of the times by bringing to the fore the defining traits and relationships that added human dimension to the sport.&”—Library Journal&“Kahn weaves such personal information into his rich descriptions of thrilling regular-season, playoff and World Series games. And in doing so he endows the players, managers and owners with more dynamic dimensions than any baseball writer of his generation. The men in The Era are ballplayers, not deities; and it takes the unerring strength of a straight shooter like Kahn to remind nostalgic baseball fans of that simple fact.&”—Chicago Tribune
The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi
by Arthur LennigThis definitive biography of the silver screen legend is &“a moving, lively, witty, sad book that revives once more the long dead Count Dracula&” (Kirkus Reviews). Bela Lugosi won immediate fame for his starring role in the 1931 film Dracula—the role that would forever define his persona. After a decade of trying to broaden his range, Lugosi resigned himself to a career as the world's most recognizable vampire, often playing opposite his horror film rival Boris Karloff. When he died in 1956, Lugosi could not have known that vindication of his talent would come—his face would adorn theaters and his Hungarian accent would be instantly recognized across the globe. In 1974, silent film expert Arthur Lennig published The Count, a highly regarded biography of the unsung actor. Now Lennig returns to his subject with a completely revised volume more than twice the length of the original. The Immortal Count provides deeper insights into Lugosi's films and personality. Drawing upon personal interviews, studio memos, shooting scripts, research in Romania and Hungary, and his own recollections, Lennig has written the definitive account of Lugosi's tragic life.
The Hundred-Year Walk: An Armenian Odyssey
by Dawn Anahid MacKeenA Dayton Literary Peace Prize Finalist and New York Post Must-Read. &“An emotionally poignant work&” of survival during the Armenian genocide (Aline Ohanesian, author of Orhan&’s Inheritance). Growing up, Dawn MacKeen heard from her mother how her grandfather Stepan miraculously escaped from the Turks during the Armenian genocide of 1915, when more than one million people—half the Armenian population—were killed. In The Hundred-Year Walk, MacKeen alternates between Stepan&’s courageous account, drawn from his long-lost journals, and her own story as she attempts to retrace his steps, setting out alone to Turkey and Syria, shadowing her resourceful, resilient grandfather across a landscape still rife with tension. Dawn uses his journals to guide her to the places he was imperiled and imprisoned and the desert he crossed with only half a bottle of water. Their shared story is a testament to family, to home, and to the power of the human spirit to transcend the barriers of religion, ethnicity, and even time itself. &“This book reminds us that the way we treat strangers can ripple out in ways we will never know . . . MacKeen&’s excavation of the past reveals both uncomfortable and uplifting lessons about our present.&”—Ari Shapiro, NPR &“I am in awe of what Dawn MacKeen has done here . . . Her sentences sing. Her research shines. Her readers will be rapt—and a lot smarter by the end.&”—Meghan Daum, author of The Problem with Everything &“Harrowing.&”—Us Weekly &“This previously untold story of survival and personal fortitude is on par with Laura Hillenbrand&’s Unbroken.&”—Library Journal (starred review)
Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style
by Natalie KengNi hao, y’all! Welcome to the dining table, a special, sacred place. Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style is in part a memoir of Natalie Keng’s personal food journey growing up in the deep South, but make no mistake: This is a cookbook full of tasty Asian-American and Southern fusion dishes, sauces, and drinks that home cooks will enjoy preparing and sharing.
Aunty Acid's Getting Older (Aunty Acid)
by Ged BacklandIn this collection from the hit webcomic, the pink-haired, sassy senior aims her caustic wit at aging. &“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…What the freakin&’ hell happened?&” &“My doctor told me to avoid any unnecessary stress. So I didn&’t open his bill.&” Created to give &“the crazy old lady in all of us&” a voice that can be heard from ten blocks away, Aunty Acid, along with her long-suffering husband, Walt, tells it like it is and has her own unique opinions on everything. In this collection, she talks about her lifetime of laughs, loves, good times, bad times, and too many bottles of wine to count. So, dive in and discover the perils of sagging boobs, how to grow old disgracefully, and more! Aunty Acid is created by Ged Backland and is brought to life by the team at the Backland Studio in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in Northern England.
Cecil B. DeMille's Hollywood
by Robert S. BirchardA look at the wide-ranging work of the Golden Age genius who made The Ten Commandments and other blockbusters—and helped found the American film industry. Cecil B. DeMille&’s Hollywood is a detailed and definitive chronicle of the director&’s screen work that changed the course of film history—and a fascinating look at how movies were actually made in Hollywood&’s Golden Age. Drawing extensively on DeMille&’s personal archives and other primary sources, Robert S. Birchard offers a revealing portrait of DeMille the filmmaker that goes behind studio gates and beyond DeMille&’s legendary persona. In his forty-five-year career DeMille&’s box-office record was unsurpassed, and his swaggering style established the public image for movie directors. He had a profound impact on the way movies tell stories, and brought greater attention to the elements of decor, lighting, and cinematography. Best remembered today for screen spectacles such as The Ten Commandments and Samson and Delilah, DeMille also created Westerns, realistic &“chamber dramas,&” and a series of daring and highly influential social comedies—while setting the standard for Hollywood filmmakers and demanding absolute devotion to his creative vision from his writers, artists, actors, and technicians. &“Far and away the best film book published so far this year.&” —National Board of Review
Baltimore Noir (Akashic Noir)
by Robert Ward Jack Bludis Rob HiaasenThis original anthology of noir fiction set in Maryland&’s Charm City includes new stories by David Simon, Laura Lippman, Jim Fusilli, and more.As fans of the HBO series The Wire have known for years, Baltimore is home to a rich and diverse underworld that is matched by an equally rich and diverse literary tradition. This is the city where Dashiell Hammett worked as a Pinkerton agent. It&’s also where Zelda Fitzgerald came for psychiatric treatment. In this sterling collection of noir fiction, some of Baltimore&’s best authors &“confront the full irony that is Charm City, a place where you can go from the leafy beauty of the North Side neighborhoods to the gutted ghettos of the West Side in less than twenty minutes, then find your way to the revamped Inner Harbor in another ten&” (Laura Lippman, from the introduction).Baltimore Noir includes brand-new stories by David Simon, Laura Lippman, Tim Cockey, Rob Hiaasen, Robert Ward, Sujata Massey, Jack Bludis, Rafael Alvarez, Marcia Talley, Joseph Wallace, Lisa Respers France, Charlie Stella, Sarah Weinman, Dan Fesperman, Jim Fusilli, and Ben Neihart.
The Politics of Upheaval: The Age of Roosevelt, 1935–1936 (The Age of Roosevelt #3)
by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.In the third volume of his series on Franklin Roosevelt, the Pulitzer Prize–winning historian focuses on the turbulent final years of FDR&’s first term.A measure of economic recovery revived political conflict and emboldened Roosevelt&’s critics to denounce &“that man in the White house.&” To his left were demagogues—Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and Dr. Townsend. To his right were the champions of the old order—ex-president Herbert Hoover, the American Liberty League, and the august Supreme Court. For a time, the New Deal seemed to lose its momentum. But in 1935 FDR rallied and produced a legislative record even more impressive than the Hundred Days of 1933—a set of statutes that transformed the social and economic landscape of American life. In 1936 FDR coasted to reelection on a landslide. Schlesinger has his usual touch with colorful personalities and draws a warmly sympathetic portrait of Alf M. Landon, the Republican candidate of 1936.&“One of the most important historical enterprises of our time.&”—Saturday Review &“Vividly portrays…the concluding years of Roosevelt&’s first term…[and] the sweep and excitement of an era more historically dramatic than most.&”—Time
Mothers & Murderers: A True Story of Love, Lies, Obsession . . . And Second Chances
by Katherine Ellison&“[Weaves] together her own story and a stranger-than-fiction true-crime tale…gripping prose that by turns is tragic and hilarious.&”—Stephen Hinshaw, author of Another Kind of Madness This remarkable memoir by a Pulitzer Prize- and Polk Award-winning journalist takes readers on a wild, tragicomic ride from the criminal courtrooms of California&’s Silicon Valley to the Himalayan mountains of Pakistan to the deserts of Ethiopia. In delightful, insightful prose, Katherine Ellison reflects on her mistakes and her triumphs as she reveals the stories of how her career almost ended before it began, how she nearly missed marrying the love of her life, and how she unwittingly got drawn into a bizarre murder case. Rich in drama and self-reflection, replete with unique characters—including two bumbling hitmen, a rodeo-riding prosecutor, a flamboyant Beverly Hills defense attorney, and a charismatic stay-at-home mother-of-three who is keeping outrageous secrets—Mothers & Murderers is like a mashup of Fargo and Eat, Pray, Love—a memoir to make you laugh, cry, and think. &“In what she&’s authentically dubbed a &‘true-crime memoir, Katherine Ellison brings to bear the demons of her own past, her considerable chops as a reporter, and her willingness to plunge into the psychological depths. What she created is a dark jewel. The reader cannot look away.&”—Jacquelyn Mitchard, New YorkTimes-bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean &“Mothers and Murderers is like nothing else I&’ve ever read, and I mean that in the best possible way…Katherine Ellison captivatingly describes a young woman's path from blind impulse to wisdom…she makes an ultra-strong case for the examined life, shedding light on the lies we tell ourselves and others—and the hard work involved in taking responsibility for yourself.&”—Stephen Hinshaw, author of Another Kind of Madness
The State of the Earth: Environmental Challenges on the Road to 2100
by Paul K. ConkinAn assessment of where we are, where we&’re headed, and what we need to do before it&’s too late: &“Instructive, well-researched, and easy-to-read.&” —John T. Ackerman, Strategic Studies Quarterly This era of staggering scientific and technological innovations, with major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, and communications, seems to document unparalleled human achievement. Yet when we examine the long-term implications, it becomes clear that the delicate environmental balance that sustains life on this planet is under serious threat, and the past century may be remembered not as a period of great progress but as one marked by unrestrained consumption and failure to come close to a sustainable use of the earth&’s limited natural resources. In The State of the Earth, noted historian Paul K. Conkin provides a comprehensive analysis of the many environmental hazards that humans must face in this still-young century. Our activities have threatened the survival of many plants and animals, created scarcities in cultivatable soils and water needed for irrigation, used up a large share of fossil fuels, polluted air and water, and most likely created conditions that will lead to devastating climate changes. This is an invaluable resource for those who desire a broad yet thorough and scientifically informed introduction to present environmental challenges.
The Anna Papers: A Novel
by Ellen GilchristA writer&’s suicide sends ripples through the world she left behind: &“A wonderful book…moving and tender and tough and unsentimental, all at the same time.&”—Chicago Tribune An accomplished author with a string of devoted lovers, Anna Hand savors life in all of its bittersweet, fleeting moments. So when she gets a letter and discovers her brother has a daughter he never knew about, she sees a major part of life that has passed her by: a child to love. Desperate to unite this young girl with her father, Anna moves back to Charlotte, North Carolina, to rediscover her family and convince him to accept her. Caught between the politics of her upper-crust family and love for a married man, Anna finds her health in serious danger. When her bad days catch up with her good ones, she must finally face the disease that had been hiding just beneath the surface. Not willing to resign herself to months of aggressive treatment, and knowing the outcome will be the same regardless, she takes matters into her own hands, and surrenders her body to the sea. But it isn't only Anna's death that shocks her family. The papers she left behind may lead her sister Helen to discover more about Anna than she, or any of the Hand family, need to know… "Gilchrist excels in drawing the bonds of love and resentment in sexual and family relationships, and no one who encounters her characters here or in her earlier works will want to miss reading about them again." —Publishers Weekly
Bisquick to the Rescue: More than 100 Emergency Meals to Save the Day! (Betty Crocker Cooking)
by Betty CrockerSave the day with this delicious collection of easy, emergency meal solutions from Bisquick.Bisquick, America's favorite baking mix, can easily be found in most American pantries. Based on the immensely popular Emergency Meals feature on bettycrocker.com, Bisquick to the Rescue includes simple solutions for brilliant last-minute meals, from simple snacks for surprise guests to quick-to-the-table weeknight meals. This book collects the best of these Emergency Meals, with more than 100 deliciously simple, no-fuss recipes for every need. Included are the winners of the recent Better with Bisquick recipe contest, and bonus recipes that use the brand-new gluten-free Bisquick mix, targeting a loyal Bisquick fan base hungry for new recipes.From pizza crust to potpies and everything in between, Bisquick to the Rescue offers tons of great ideas-breakfasts, snacks, dinners, international recipes, healthy variations of classics, and much more-accompanied by quotes and stories from real Bisquick enthusiasts.· Features more than 100 quick and simple recipes, all made with Bisquick or Gluten Free Bisquick-including casseroles, breads, and desserts· Includes handy advice on cooking for big groups and stocking your pantry for last-minute solutions· Uses simple icons to highlight super-fast recipes and recipes that use Bisquick's new gluten-free mix Need dinner in a dash? Make it easy with Bisquick to the Rescue!
A Soldier of the Great War (Vib/ediciones B Ser. #Vol. 197)
by Mark HelprinAn Italian septuagenarian recounts his life before and after World War I in this novel from the author of Paris in the Present Tense.For Alessandro Giullani, the young son of a prosperous Roman lawyer, golden trees shimmer in the sun beneath a sky of perfect blue. At night, the moon is amber and the city of Rome seethes with light. He races horses across the country to the sea, and in the Alps, he practices the precise and sublime art of mountain climbing. At the ancient university in Bologna he is a student of painting and the science of beauty. And he falls in love. His is a world of adventure and dreams, of music, storm, and the spirit. Then the Great War intervenes.Half a century later, in August of 1964, Alessandro, a white-haired professor, still tall and proud, finds himself unexpectedly on the road with an illiterate young factory worker. As they walk toward Monte Prato, a village seventy kilometers distant, the old man tells the story of his life. How he became a soldier. A hero. A prisoner. A deserter. A wanderer in the hell that claimed Europe. And how he tragically lost one family and gained another.The boy is dazzled by the action and envious of the richness and color of the story, and realizes that the old man's magnificent tale of love and war is more than a tale: it is the recapitulation of his life, his reckoning with mortality, and above all, a love song for his family. &“[A] testimony to the indomitable human spirit. Highly recommended.&”—Library Journal
Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Making of a National Leader (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century)
by Troy JacksonThis biography sheds new light on King&’s development as a civil rights leader in Montgomery among activists such as Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon, and others. In Becoming King, Troy Jackson demonstrates how Martin Luther King's early years as a pastor and activist in Montgomery, Alabama, helped shape his identity as a civil rights leader. Using the sharp lens of Montgomery's struggle for racial equality to investigate King's burgeoning leadership, Jackson explores King's ability to connect with people across racial and class divides. In particular, Jackson highlights King's alliances with Jo Ann Robinson, a young English professor at Alabama State University; E. D. Nixon, a middle-aged Pullman porter and head of the local NAACP chapter; and Virginia Durr, a courageous white woman who bailed Rosa Parks out of jail. Drawing on countless interviews and archival sources, Jackson offers a comprehensive analysis of King&’s speeches before, during, and after the Montgomery bus boycott. He demonstrates how King's voice and message evolved to reflect the shared struggles, challenges, experiences, and hopes of the people with whom he worked. Jackson also reveals the internal discord that threatened the movement's hard-won momentum and compelled King to position himself as a national figure, rising above the quarrels to focus on greater goals.
Presidents' Secrets: The Use and Abuse of Hidden Power
by Mary GrahamA &“succinct and well-written&” look at how presidents use secrecy to protect the nation, foster diplomacy—and gain power (The Wall Street Journal). Ever since the nation&’s most important secret meeting—the Constitutional Convention—presidents have struggled to balance open, accountable government with necessary secrecy in military affairs and negotiations. For the first one hundred and twenty years, a culture of open government persisted, but new threats and technology have long since shattered the old bargains. Today, presidents neither protect vital information nor provide the open debate Americans expect. Mary Graham tracks the rise in governmental secrecy that began with surveillance and loyalty programs during Woodrow Wilson&’s administration, explores how it developed during the Cold War, and analyzes efforts to reform the secrecy apparatus and restore oversight in the 1970s. Chronicling the expansion of presidential secrecy in the Bush years, Graham explains what presidents and the American people can learn from earlier crises, why the attempts of Congress to rein in stealth activities don&’t work, and why presidents cannot hide actions that affect citizens&’ rights and values. &“Engrossing . . . chilling and fascinating.&” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Haunts of Old Louisville: Gilded Age Ghosts and Haunted Mansions in America's Spookiest Neighborhood
by David DominéThe paranormal investigator and author of Phantoms of Old Louisville explores haunted historic mansions, churches, and more.The Louisville, Kentucky, neighborhood known as Old Louisville is one of the country&’s largest National Preservation Districts and the largest Victorian-era neighborhood in the country. Beneath the balconies and terraces of the district's Gothic, Queen Anne, and Beaux Arts mansions, current residents trade stories about the strange and unexplained phenomena they encounter in their historic homes.When David Dominé moved into one of these houses, he dismissed local rumors of a resident poltergeist named Lucy. But soon, disembodied footsteps and mysterious odors changed his mind. Now Dominé is one of Louisville&’s best-known investigators of paranormal phenomena.In Haunts of Old Louisville, Dominé takes readers inside the opulent Ferguson Mansion—where a phantom tosses books off shelves—and introduces them to the spectral stable hand who lurks around Campion House. He also examines historic tales pulled out of the headlines and even explores the claim that a winged demon haunts the ornate towers of Walnut Street Baptist Church.
The Extra: A Novel
by A. B. YehoshuaAfter her father&’s death, a musician must go home to Israel to confront the relationships she left behind in this novel by the author of The Retrospective Noga, forty-two and divorced, is a harpist with an orchestra in the Netherlands. Upon the sudden death of her father, she is summoned home to Jerusalem by her brother to help make decisions in urgent family and personal matters. Returning also means facing a former husband who left her when she refused him children, but whose passion for her remains even though he is remarried and the father of two. For her imposed three-month residence in Israel, her brother finds her work as an extra in movies, television, and opera. These new identities undermine the firm boundaries of behavior heretofore protected by the music she plays, and Noga, always an extra in someone else&’s story, takes charge of the plot. The Extra is Yehoshua at his liveliest storytelling best—a bravura performance.&“Engaging…Yehoshua is a master in his visual sketches of scenes.&”—The New York Times Book Review &“[A] finely etched new novel…A marvel of a book.&”—Haaretz &“Four and a half decades after his first book&’s publication, his twentieth shows Yehoshua&’s writing chops are undiminished and his content fearlessly topical.&”—New York Journal of Books &“Rich in reflection and personal truth…Masterful.&”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review &“Award-winning Israeli novelist Yehoshua gives moral force, even grandeur, to the inevitable push-pull of one family&’s life.&”—Library Journal, starred review