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Behind Nazi Lines
by Denise George Andrew Gerow HodgesIn 1944, hundreds of Allied soldiers were trapped in POW camps in occupied France. The odds of their survival were long. The odds of escaping, even longer. But one-man had the courage to fight the odds . . . An elite British S.A.S. operative on an assassination mission gone wrong. A Jewish New Yorker injured in a Nazi ambush. An eighteen-year-old Gary Cooper lookalike from Mobile, Alabama. These men and hundreds of other soldiers found themselves in the prisoner-of-war camps off the Atlantic coast of occupied France, fighting brutal conditions and unsympathetic captors. But, miraculously, local villagers were able to smuggle out a message from the camp, one that reached the Allies and sparked a remarkable quest by an unlikely--and truly inspiring--hero. Andy Hodges had been excluded from military service due to a lingering shoulder injury from his college-football days. Devastated but determined, Andy refused to sit at home while his fellow Americans risked their lives, so he joined the Red Cross, volunteering for the toughest assignments on the most dangerous battlefields. In the fall of 1944, Andy was tapped for what sounded like a suicide mission: a desperate attempt to aid the Allied POWs in occupied France--alone and unarmed, matching his wits against the Nazi war machine. Despite the likelihood of failure, Andy did far more than deliver much-needed supplies. By the end of the year, he had negotiated the release of an unprecedented 149 prisoners--leaving no one behind. This is the true story of one man's selflessness, ingenuity, and victory in the face of impossible adversity.
War Memoirs of David Lloyd George, Vol. I (War Memoirs of David Lloyd George #1)
by David Lloyd George“Mr. Lloyd George’s War Memoirs constitute a record of unfading historic interest….No one who wishes to be well informed about the Great War should fail to study them.”—Rt. Hon. Winston S. ChurchillA personal account of World War I events, as told from the perspective of David Lloyd George, former Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908-1915), Minister of Munitions (1915-1916), Secretary of State of War (1916) and, towards war end, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1916-1922).
War Memoirs of David Lloyd George, Vol. II (War Memoirs of David Lloyd George #2)
by David Lloyd GeorgeA personal account of World War I events, as told from the perspective of David Lloyd George, former Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908-1915), Minister of Munitions (1915-1916), Secretary of State of War (1916) and, towards war end, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1916-1922).“Mr. Lloyd George’s War Memoirs constitute a record of unfading historic interest….No one who wishes to be well informed about the Great War should fail to study them.”—Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill
The Prince of Preachers: Charles Spurgeon
by Christian Timothy GeorgeCharles Spurgeon was a simple country lad who went on to become one of the best known preachers in London, Europe and the world. Caught in a snowstorm one day when he was a teenager, he crept into the back of a church and the words "Look unto Jesus and be saved!" changed his whole life. Charles spoke words that touched the hearts of rich and poor alike. His fame became so widespread that it is reputed that even Queen Victoria went to hear one of his sermons. Charles was more concerned about the King of Kings - Jesus Christ.
The Lambs: My Father, a Farm, and the Gift of a Flock of Sheep
by Carole George“An enchanting book—please read.” —Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE; Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of PeaceIn this touching memoir about the relationship between father, daughter, and animals, Carole explores life after adopting thirteen pet Karakul lambs. Throughout her years with the lambs and her aging father, she comes to realize the distinct personality of each creature, and to understand more fully the almost spiritual bond between man and animals. This is a beautiful book in every way that will touch the hearts of readers everywhere.“In her new book, The Lambs, Carole George shares the fulfillment she has experienced over years tending a flock of sheep. I hope that this book will inspire readers to become more compassionate toward the living beings deprived of the many privileges we humans enjoy.” —His Holiness The Dalai Lama“The Lambs is beautifully written, and right on target as an example of the natural—pastoral—world where we may achieve the fullness of human experience. Our descendants may gravitate toward the equivalent of [Carole’s] Virginia farm.” —Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
Bobby Dazzler: My Story
by Bobby GeorgeThe autobiography of one of the most charismatic figures in darts history, who has so much more to tell.<P><P>When Bobby George first appeared on the darts scene, he immediately caught the eye: well built (he was the only darts player ever to be approached to take part in TV's Superstars), good looking and with plenty of bling, he was a natural showman. He could play a bit too, as he showed by reaching the final of the world championship in both 1980 and 1994. <P> But that is only the beginning of the story. Before the darts came his time as a doorman at various East End pubs and bars just after the era of the Krays and Richardsons, when baseball bats and knuckle dusters would often come in handy. He also helped build the Victoria line. Since he retired from full-time darts, he has appeared in gangster films such as Dog, on TV programmes such as Celebrity Fit Club, and in videos with The Streets.<P>Now best known as a commentator on the BBC, George relives the excitement of the last thirty years of the world of darts, with plenty of insider gossip and stories about all the most famous players in the TV era of the sport.
Memoirs of the Late War – Vol. II. (Memoirs of the Late War #2)
by George Augustus Frederick, 1st Earl of MunsterThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. An anthology of memoirs of the Peninsular War and the abortive attack on Bergen-op-Zoom in 1814. In this first volume, Captain Cooke recounts his experiences with the 43rd Foot at Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, the battles of Salamanca, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, the Bidassoa, the Nive, Nivelle and Toulouse. As with many of the British officer memoirs, there is a tone of dry wit about his writing. Title - Memoirs of the Late War - Vol. I Sub-Title - Series Name - Memoirs of the Late War Series Number --1 Authors -- Captain John Henry Cooke (????-????); George Augustus Frederick, 1st Earl of Munster (1794-1842); Lieutenant John W. D. Moodie (1789-1815) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1831, London, by Henry Colbourn and Richard Bentley. Original - 321 pages.
The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn
by Alice L. GeorgeOn February 20, 1962, John Glenn became a national star. That morning at Cape Canaveral, a small-town boy from Ohio took his place atop a rocket and soared into orbit to score a victory in the heavily contested Cold War. The television images were blurry black-and-white phantoms. The cameras shook as the rocket moved, but by the end of the day, one thing was clear: a new hero rode that rocket and became the center of the world's attention for the four hours and fifty-five minutes of his flight. He became celebrated in all corners of the world as not just the first American to orbit the Earth, but as the first space traveler to take the human race with him. From that day forward, Glenn restively wore the hero label. Wherever he went, people knew his name and what he had done. Refusing to let that dramatic day define his life, he went on to become a four-term US senator—and returned to space at the age of seventy-seven. The Last American Hero examines the many layers that formed the man and unravels the reasons for his singular role. He was a creation of the media, in some ways, but he was also a product of the Cold War. Not even Glenn himself seemed to fully understand his celebrity. He was a war hero, a two-time astronaut, a veteran senator, a devoted husband, a father, and much more. At a time when increasingly cynical Americans need heroes, his aura burns brightly in American memory.
The Marco Chonicles
by Elizabeth GeogheganIn this hilarious, irreverent, flash memoir, a young American expat arrives in Rome to find handsome, charming men, breathtakingly beautiful antiquities, and perfectly made cappuccino. What more could anyone want? But after a few too many romantic mishaps, she discovers the so-called dolce vita comes at a price. With a jaded eye, but a vulnerable heart, short story writer Elizabeth Geoghegan takes us on a literary Sex in the City romp through Rome. The Marco Chronicles shows us what life in Italy looks like when you' re 30-something, running from grief, and trying to find a way back to love.
Calvin Johnson: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Wide Receivers (Football Biography)
by Clayton GeoffreysLearn the Inspiring Story of the Detroit Lions' Legendary Star Calvin Johnson! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Calvin Johnson: The Inspiring Story of One of Football's Greatest Wide Receivers, you will learn the inspirational story of one of football's premier wide receivers, Calvin Johnson. Since joining the NFL as the 2nd overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Calvin Johnson has solidified his legacy as one of the most impressive wide receivers to ever play the game, holding the Lions' franchise records for most receiving touchdowns in a single season, most receiving touchdowns in an overall career, and most receiving yards in a career His retirement from professional football after nine seasons marks the end of nearly a decade of dominance by Johnson. <p><p>While Calvin Johnson may now be retired from professional football, his legacy remains one of sheer brilliance. In this book, we'll explore Calvin's journey into the NFL, his greatest moments, and what makes him one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play the game. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: - Childhood and Early Years - High School Football - College Football - Calvin Johnson's NFL Career - Johnson's Retirement from the NFL - How Johnson Compares to All-Time Greatest Receivers - Johnson's Charitable Work - Personal Life - Johnson's Overall Legacy
Kobe Bryant: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Shooting Guards (An Unauthorized Biography)
by Clayton GeoffreysKobe Bryant was the face of the Lakers dynasty for the past two decades and for good reason. Few players have commanded a basketball court as much as Kobe in historical performances such as his notable 81-point performance in just under 42 minutes of playing time in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. While the 2015-2016 NBA season marked the end to Kobe’s storied career, the Black Mamba’s legacy will never be forgotten. Few players can parallel Kobe Bryant in terms of competitive fire and will to win. His polarizing figure defines him and makes even those who do not like him at the very least respect him. Read on to learn about the days of when Kobe played alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Horry, Metta World Peace, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol in some of the greatest times of Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball history. Get this basketball book if you're looking for an entertaining afternoon read or an affordable gift for your basketball fan.
Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards
by Clayton GeoffreysNewly revised for the 2017-2018 season, Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards details the inspirational story of basketball's superstar point guard, Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook's ascent into the top point guards in the NBA amongst the likes of Chris Paul and Stephen Curry has definitely been a surprise. From once struggling to make his high school varsity team (he did not make it until his junior year) to spending his freshman year at UCLA as a benchwarmer, few would have predicted that Russell Westbrook would be selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The rest is history as the Oklahoma City Thunder continue their quest for a championship. <P><P> Russell Westbrook is easily one of the most exciting point guards to play the game of basketball. From flashy crossovers to high flying dunks, Russell Westbrook has a bright basketball career ahead of him. When Kevin Durant came down with a foot injury, Russell Westbrook rose as a primary leader for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the first season since Durant's departure from Oklahoma City, Westbrook again rose to the occasion as he captured the MVP award while putting up forty-two triple doubles in the regular season, a historic record. <P><P> It will be exciting to see how Westbrook and the Thunder do in this year's NBA season as Paul George joins the team. More importantly though, it'll be interesting to see how Westbrook continues to mature as a leader. But don't delay, pick up your copy of Russell Westbrook: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Premier Point Guards today.
Reconsidering Flannery O'Connor
by Marshall Bruce GentryContributions by Lindsay Alexander, Alison Arant, Alicia Matheny Beeson, Eric Bennett, Gina Caison, Jordan Cofer, Doug Davis, Doreen Fowler, Marshall Bruce Gentry, Bruce Henderson, Monica C. Miller, William Murray, Carol Shloss, Alison Staudinger, and Rachel Watson The National Endowment for the Humanities has funded two Summer Institutes titled "Reconsidering Flannery O’Connor," which invited scholars to rethink approaches to Flannery O’Connor’s work. Drawing largely on research that started as part of the 2014 NEH Institute, this collection shares its title and its mission. Featuring fourteen new essays, Reconsidering Flannery O’Connor disrupts a few commonplace assumptions of O’Connor studies while also circling back to some old questions that are due for new attention. The volume opens with “New Methodologies,” which features theoretical approaches not typically associated with O’Connor’s fiction in order to gain new insights into her work. The second section, “New Contexts,” stretches expectations on literary genre, on popular archetypes in her stories, and on how we should interpret her work. The third section, lovingly called “Strange Bedfellows,” puts O’Connor in dialogue with overlooked or neglected conversation partners, while the final section, “O’Connor’s Legacy,” reconsiders her personal views on creative writing and her wishes regarding the handling of her estate upon death. With these final essays, the collection comes full circle, attesting to the hazards that come from overly relying on O’Connor’s interpretation of her own work but also from ignoring her views and desires. Through these reconsiderations, some of which draw on previously unpublished archival material, the collection attests to and promotes the vitality of scholarship on Flannery O’Connor.
J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets
by Curt Gentry"The cumulative effect is overwhelming. Eleanor Roosevelt was right: Hoover's FBI was an American gestapo."--Newsweek Shocking, grim, frightening, Curt Gentry's masterful portrait of America's top policeman is a unique political biography. From more than 300 interviews and over 100,000 pages of previously classified documents, Gentry reveals exactly how a paranoid director created the fraudulent myth of an invincible, incorruptible FBI. For almost fifty years, Hoover held virtually unchecked public power, manipulating every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Richard Nixon. He kept extensive blackmail files and used illegal wiretaps and hidden microphones to destroy anyone who opposed him. The book reveals how Hoover helped create McCarthyism, blackmailed the Kennedy brothers, and influenced the Supreme Court; how he retarded the civil rights movement and forged connections with mobsters; and what part he played in the investigations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
Barack Obama: An American Story
by Ariele Gentiles Bob CarltonYou’ve read about historical U.S. figures in school textbooks. Maybe you’ve even seen a mini-series or movie about some of the leaders of America’s past. But right now you’re living in the midst of history in the making. You are watching a man with an unlikely story become one of the most important people in American politics today. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve heard him speak, or even whether or not you agree with his politics. The life of Barack Obama is an inspirational story for anyone who has ever felt abandoned, alone, different, or who has wanted to do great things and make a difference in the world. Learn about the life-shaping experiences Barack Obama faced as he: • was raised by a single mom and his grandparents • rose to the top of his class at Harvard law • accepted a faith that gives his life deeper meaning • left a lucrative career in law to work in public service In 1967 Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke out about the state of our country and its leadership, saying, “We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.” Barack Obama was only six-years-old when that speech took place, and forty years later he stood in the place where Abraham Lincoln once stood, and announced he was running for President because of what Dr. King called the “fierce urgency of now.” He recognized a country once again in turmoil and a nation looking for something different—something better. As you read about the life of Barack Obama you’ll be encouraged, inspired, and challenged to look at the world around you and see how you can take your own improbable journey to change it.
Blindsided by the Taliban: A Journalist’s Story of War, Trauma, Love, and Loss
by Carmen GentileI turn to see a rocket-propelled grenade screaming toward me. The ordinance strikes me in the side of the head, instantly blinding me in one eye and crushing the right side of my face.On September 9, 2010, while embedded with an Army unit and talking with locals in a small village in eastern Afghanistan, journalist Carmen Gentile was struck in the face by a rocket propelled grenade. Inexplicably, the grenade did not explode and Gentile survived, albeit with the right side of his face shattered and blinded in one eye. Making matters worse, his engagement was on the ropes and his fiancée absent from his bedside. Blindsided by the Taliban chronicles the author’s numerous missteps and shortcomings while coming to terms with injury and a lost love. Inventive and unprecedented surgeries would ultimately save Gentile’s face and eyesight, but the depression and trauma that followed his physical and emotional injuries proved a much harder recovery. Ultimately, Gentile would find that returning to the front lines and continuing the work he loved was the only way to become whole again. As only he can, Gentile recounts the physical and mental recovery which included staring only at the ground for a month, a battle with opiate-induced constipation and a history of drug addiction, attacks by Taliban assassins born of post-traumatic stress, the Jedi-like powers of General David Petraeus, and finding normalcy under falling mortars in an Afghan valley. The result is an unapologetic, self-deprecating, occasionally cringe-worthy, and always candid account of loss and redemption in the face of the self-doubt common to us all. Blindsided by the Taliban also features the author’s photos from the field that depict the realities of life in Afghanistan for soldiers and civilians alike. #KissedbytheTaliban
The Mass Deportation of Poles to Siberia, 1863-1880
by Andrew A. GentesThis book concerns the mass deportation of Poles and others to Siberia following the failed 1863 Polish Insurrection. The imperial Russian government fell back upon using exile to punish the insurrectionists and to cleanse Russia's Western Provinces of ethnic Poles. It convoyed some 20,000 inhabitants of the Kingdom of Poland and the Western Provinces across the Urals to locations as far away as Iakutsk, and assigned them to penal labor or forced settlement. Yet the government's lack of infrastructure and planning doomed this operation from the start, and the exiles found ways to resist their subjugation. Based upon archival documents from Siberia and the former Western Provinces, this book offers an unparalleled exploration of the mass deportation. Combining social history with an analysis of statecraft, it is a unique contribution to scholarship on the history of Poland and the Russian Empire.
Walt Whitman and the Civil War: America’s Poet during the Lost Years of 1860-1862
by Ted GenowaysShortly after the third edition of Leaves of Grass was published, in 1860, Walt Whitman seemed to drop off the literary map, not to emerge again until his brother George was wounded at Fredericksburg two and a half years later. Past critics have tended to read this silence as evidence of Whitman's indifference to the Civil War during its critical early months. In this penetrating, original, and beautifully written book, Ted Genoways reconstructs those forgotten years—locating Whitman directly through unpublished letters and never-before-seen manuscripts, as well as mapping his associations through rare period newspapers and magazines in which he published. Genoways's account fills a major gap in Whitman's biography and debunks the myth that Whitman was unaffected by the country's march to war. Instead, Walt Whitman and the Civil War reveals the poet's active participation in the early Civil War period and elucidates his shock at the horrors of war months before his legendary journey to Fredericksburg, correcting in part the poet's famous assertion that the "real war will never get in the books."
A Presidential Nation
by Michael A. GenoveseThe Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial. Why do we devote monuments to the presidents? Why do we honor them, instead of Congress, or the courts? A Presidential Nation examines how the presidency--an office limited by the Constitution and separation of powers--became the centerpiece of American government. Michael A. Genovese argues that in rebelling against the British, the Framers of the Constitution invented a circumscribed presidency to guard against executive tyranny. Yet, over time, presidential power has risen and congressional power declined to a point where the United States has a near imperial presidency. Reexamining the status of presidential power in the post-9/11 world, Dr. Genovese considers the alternatives, if any, to the current model of presidential power. A Presidential Nation is perfect for students of American Presidency and Federal Governance courses and anyone interested in the changing authority of the American political system.
The Deportation Regime: Sovereignty, Space, and the Freedom of Movement
by Nicholas De Genova Nathalie PeutzThis important collection examines deportation as an increasingly global mechanism of state control. Anthropologists, historians, legal scholars, and sociologists consider not only the physical expulsion of noncitizens but also the social discipline and labor subordination resulting from deportability, the threat of forced removal. They explore practices and experiences of deportation in regional and national settings from the U. S. -Mexico border to Israel, and from Somalia to Switzerland. They also address broader questions, including the ontological significance of freedom of movement; the historical antecedents of deportation, such as banishment and exile; and the development, entrenchment, and consequences of organizing sovereign power and framing individual rights by territory. Whether investigating the power that individual and corporate sponsors have over the fate of foreign laborers in Bahrain, the implications of Germany's temporary suspension of deportation orders for pregnant and ill migrants, or the significance of the detention camp, the contributors reveal how deportation reflects and reproduces notions about public health, racial purity, and class privilege. They also provide insight into how deportation and deportability are experienced by individuals, including Arabs, South Asians, and Muslims in the United States. One contributor looks at asylum claims in light of an unusual anti-deportation campaign mounted by Algerian refugees in Montreal; others analyze the European Union as an entity specifically dedicated to governing mobility inside and across its official borders. The Deportation Regime addresses urgent issues related to human rights, international migration, and the extensive security measures implemented by nation-states since September 11, 2001. Contributors: Rutvica Andrijasevic, Aashti Bhartia, Heide Castaeda , Galina Cornelisse , Susan Bibler Coutin, Nicholas De Genova, Andrew M. Gardner, Josiah Heyman, Serhat Karakayali, Sunaina Marr Maira, Guillermina Gina Nuez, Peter Nyers, Nathalie Peutz, Enrica Rigo, Victor Talavera, William Walters, Hans-Rudolf Wicker, Sarah S. Willen
On Pluto: Inside The Mind Of Alzheimer's
by Lisa Genova Greg O'BrienThis is a book about living with Alzheimer’s, not dying with it. It is a book about hope, faith, and humor—a prescription far more powerful than the conventional medication available today to fight this disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the US—and the only one of these diseases on the rise. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia; about 35 million people worldwide. Greg O’Brien, an award-winning investigative reporter, has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and is one of those faceless numbers. Acting on long-term memory and skill coupled with well-developed journalistic grit, O’Brien decided to tackle the disease and his imminent decline by writing frankly about the journey. O’Brien is a master storyteller. His story is naked, wrenching, and soul searching for a generation and their loved ones about to cross the threshold of this death in slow motion. On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s is a trail-blazing roadmap for a generation—both a “how to” for fighting a disease, and a “how not” to give up!
Bitter Waters: Life and Work in Stalin's Russia
by Gennady M. Andreev-Khomiakov Ann HealyOne dusty summer day in 1935, a young writer named Gennady Andreev-Khomiakov was released from the Siberian labor camp where he had spent the last eight years of his life. His total assets amounted to 25 rubles, a loaf of bread, five dried herrings, and the papers identifying him as a convicted "enemy of the people. " From this hard-pressed beginning, Andreev-Khomiakov would eventually work his way into a series of jobs that would allow him to travel and see more of ordinary life and work in the Soviet Union of the 1930s than most of his fellow Soviet citizens would ever have dreamed possible. Capitalizing on this rare opportunity,Bitter Watersis Andreev-Khomiakov's eyewitness account of those tumultuous years, a time when titanic forces were shaping the course of Russian history. Later to become a successful writer and editor in the Russian émigré community in the 1950s and 1960s, Andreev-Khomiakov brilliantly uses this memoir to explore many aspects of Stalinist society. Forced collectivization, Five Year Plans, purges, and the questionable achievements of "shock worker brigades" are only part of this story. Andreev-Khomiakov exposes the Soviet economy as little more than a web of corruption, a system that largely functioned through bribery, barter, and brute force-and that fell into temporary chaos when the German army suddenly invaded in 1941. Bitter Watersmay be most valuable for what it reveals about Russian society during the tumultuous 1930s. From remote provincial centers and rural areas, to the best and worst of Moscow and Leningrad, Andreev-Khomiakov's series of deftly drawn sketches of people, places, and events provide a unique window on the hard daily lives of the people who built Stalin's Soviet Union.
Sentence: Ten Years and a Thousand Books in Prison
by Daniel GenisA memoir of a decade in prison by a well-educated young addict known as the "Apologetic Bandit"In 2003 Daniel Genis, the son of a famous Soviet émigré writer, broadcaster, and culture critic, was fresh out of NYU when he faced a serious heroin addiction that led him into debt and ultimately crime. After he was arrested for robbing people at knifepoint, he was nicknamed the &“apologetic bandit&” in the press, given his habit of expressing his regret to his victims as he took their cash. He was sentenced to twelve years—ten with good behavior, a decade he survived by reading 1,046 books, taking up weightlifting, having philosophical discussions with his fellow inmates, working at a series of prison jobs, and in general observing an existence for which nothing in his life had prepared him. Genis describes in unsparing and vivid detail the realities of daily life in the New York penal system. In his journey from Rikers Island and through a series of upstate institutions he encounters violence on an almost daily basis, while learning about the social strata of gangs, the &“court&” system that sets geographic boundaries in prison yards, how sex was obtained, the workings of the black market in drugs and more practical goods, the inventiveness required for everyday tasks such as cooking, and how debilitating solitary confinement actually is—all while trying to preserve his relationship with his recently married wife. Written with empathy and wit, Sentence is a strikingly powerful memoir of the brutalities of prison and how one man survived then, leaving its walls with this book inside him, &“one made of pain and fear and laughter and lots of other books.&”
American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem
by Jane Fletcher GeniesseFor generations in Jerusalem, a fabled mansion has been the retreat for foreign correspondents, diplomats, pilgrims and spies but until now, few have known the true story of the house that became the American Colony Hotel or its bizarre history of tragedy, religious extremism, emotional blackmail, and peculiar sexual practices. During the boom years following the Civil War, in the country's heartland capital, Chicago, a prominent lawyer Horatio Spafford and his blue-eyed wife Anna rode the mighty wave of Protestant evangelicalism deluging the nation. When suddenly tragedy struck, the charismatic Spaffords, grieving, attracted followers eager to believe their prophecy that the Second Coming was at hand and in 1881 sailed with them to Jerusalem to see the Messiah alight on the Mount of Olives. No sooner had they settled into the Holy City than the U.S. Consul and the established Christian missionaries declared them heretics and whispered of sexual deviance. Yet Muslims and Jews admired their unflagging care of the sick and the needy, and Jews were intrigued with their advocacy of a Jewish Return to Zion. When Horatio died, Anna assumed leadership, shocking even her adherents by abolishing marriage and established a dictatorship that was not always benevolent. Ever dogged by controversy, she and her credulous followers lived through and closely participated in the titanic upheavals that eventually formed the modern Middle East. Written with flair and insight, American Priestess provides a fascinating exploration of the seductive power of evangelicalism and raises questions about the manipulation of religion to serve personal goals. A powerful narrative, the story sweeps through the dramatic collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the establishment of the British Mandate, and finally the founding of Israel where Anna's house in East Jerusalem, now the American Colony Hotel, stands as an exemplar of beauty and comfort, despite its turbulent history.
Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark
by Jane Fletcher GeniesseFreya Stark--traveler, explorer, Arabist, and woman of letters--began the extraordinary adventures that would glamorize her--and would catapult her into public life for the next sixty years--in 1927. And with the publication of The Valley of the Assassins in 1934, her legend was launched. Leaving behind a miserable family life, Freya set out, at the age of thirty-four, to explore remote and dangerous regions of the Middle East. She was captured in 1927 by the French military police after penetrating their cordon around the rebellious Druze. She explored the mountainous territory of the mysterious Assassins of Persia, became the first woman to explore Luristan in western Iran, and followed ancient frankincense routes to locate a lost city. Admired by British officialdom, her knowledge of Middle Eastern languages and culture aided the military and diplomatic corps, for whom she conceived an effective propaganda network during WWII. But Stark's indomitable spirit was forged by contradictions, her high-profile wanderings often masking deep insecurities. A child of privilege, she grew up in near poverty; she longed for love, but consistently focused on the wrong men. This is a brilliant and balanced biography--filled with sheikhs, diplomats, nomad warriors and chieftains, generals, would be lovers, and luminaries. Author Jane Geniesse digs beneath the mythology to uncover a complex, quixotic, and controversial woman.