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Stanton: Life And Times of Lincoln's Secretary of War
by Harold M. Hyman Benjamin P. ThomasAt the time of his death, renowned Lincoln biographer Benjamin Thomas was at work on a life of one of the most controversial figures in American history: Edwin McMasters Stanton, the man who marshaled the military forces of the Union in the Civil War and played a crucial role in the only presidential impeachment trial in our history. Harold Hyman, himself a prize-winning historian, undertook to carry on from the advanced point in research and writing that Thomas had reached. The result of their collaborative efforts is a monumental work worthy to stand beside Thomas's own Lincoln as a truly outstanding American biography. Continuously absorbing and written with clarity and grace, Stanton gives an objective, full-scale portrait of this complex and enigmatic figure. Stanton could be explosive and domineering or gentle or considerate; he was at once single-minded and self-doubting. That Stanton should be "controversial" is curious, for he served with distinction under three Presidents; Lincoln offered him unquestioning trust and warm personal friendship. Yet Stanton's name is commonly associated with duplicity rather than with selfless patriotism, including charges that he connived in Lincoln's murder, betrayed each of the Presidents he served, antagonized such generals as McClellan and Sherman, and thwarted opportunities for the peaceful reconciliation of North and South. This biography puts legend and prejudice in clear perspective by going directly to documentary evidence, by probing into Stanton's motives and methods, and by evaluating his accomplishments and failures. It is a judicious and honest portrait of a stubborn, dedicated man; but it also brings to light many important details about the times in which he lived.
Stanton: Lincoln's War Secretary
by Walter Stahr“The book should be Stanton’s definitive biography for some time to come.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A welcome and significant addition to the ample literature on the Civil War and Reconstruction.” —Ron Chernow, author of The New York Times bestseller Alexander Hamilton Walter Stahr, award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Seward, tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s indispensable Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, the man the president entrusted with raising the army that preserved the Union.Of the crucial men close to President Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (1814–1869) was the most powerful and controversial. Stanton raised, armed, and supervised the army of a million men who won the Civil War. He organized the war effort. He directed military movements from his telegraph office, where Lincoln literally hung out with him. He arrested and imprisoned thousands for “war crimes,” such as resisting the draft or calling for an armistice. Stanton was so controversial that some accused him at that time of complicity in Lincoln’s assassination. He was a stubborn genius who was both reviled and revered in his time. Stanton was a Democrat before the war and a prominent trial lawyer. He opposed slavery, but only in private. He served briefly as President Buchanan’s Attorney General and then as Lincoln’s aggressive Secretary of War. On the night of April 14, 1865, Stanton rushed to Lincoln’s deathbed and took over the government since Secretary of State William Seward had been critically wounded the same evening. He informed the nation of the President’s death, summoned General Grant to protect the Capitol, and started collecting the evidence from those who had been with the Lincolns at the theater in order to prepare a murder trial. Now with this worthy complement to the enduring library of biographical accounts of those who helped Lincoln preserve the Union, Stanton honors the indispensable partner of the sixteenth president. Walter Stahr’s essential book is the first major biography of Stanton in fifty years, restoring this underexplored figure to his proper place in American history.
Stanwyck
by Axel MadsenA compelling portrait of one of Hollywood's most invincible women, the late Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck was a most unusual movie star, an actress of considerable and neglected talent who continually elevated every role she had, a woman whose personal life matched the rocky road her career eventually took. Whispered to be among Hollywood's scandalous "Sewing Circle," a group of internationally famous actresses who hid their potentially career-ending lesbianism and bisexuality, Stanwyck always kept her liaisons as secretly shrouded as possible. Despite her steely resolve and her image as a take-control kind of woman, Stanwyck suffered from turbulent marriages and relationships, including her sensational marriage to, and divorce from, the beautiful and abusive Robert Taylor. Madsen offers a fresh look at this fascinating, complex screen goddess, offering provocative and shocking details from one of Hollywood's most interesting lives.
Stapme: The Biography of Squadron Leader Basil Gerald Stapleton DFC, Dutch Flying Cross
by David RossThis biography of the WWII flying ace recounts his legendary career in the RAF, his time as a POW and his postwar life as a beloved public figure. One of the most famous fighter pilots of the Second World War, Basil Gerald &“Stapme&” Stapleton achieved flying ace status in the Battle of Britain and was immortalized in Richard Hillary&’s classic wartime memoir The Last Enemy. Born in Durban, South Africa, Stapleton joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 and flew Spitfires with 603 Squadron. His legendary escapades during the Battle of Britain account for nearly twenty enemy aircraft destroyed, probably destroyed or damaged. Stapleton later became flight commander of 257 Squadron and a gunnery instructor at RAF Kenley and Central Gunnery School, Catfoss. He returned to combat in 1944, flying Typhoons as commander of 247 Squadron. For his courageous combat during the Battle of Arnhem, he received the Dutch Flying Cross. In December of 1944, he was forced to land inside German lines and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in Stalag Luft I on the Baltic coast. Nicknamed 'Stapme' after a phrase used in his favorite cartoon 'Just Jake', Stapleton was a larger-than-life character who became a beloved public figure in his postwar life. With his handlebar mustache and good-humored bravado, he became for many the quintessential ace fighter pilot. In this authoritative and intimate volume, Stapleton tells his full story to historian David Ross, author of the acclaimed biography Richard Hillary.
Star Actors in the Hollywood Renaissance
by Daniel Smith-RowseyIn the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new generation took over the leading roles in Hollywood films. These untraditional-looking young men were promoted and understood as alienated and ironic everymen, and exerted a powerful, and until now unexplored, influence over a movement often considered the richest in Hollywood's history.
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler
by Ibi ZoboiFrom the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler, author of Parable of the Sower and Kindred.Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.
Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak
by Kimberly C. MooreThe astronaut crime that shocked the world Star Crossed transports readers to the moment the news broke that one of America’s heroes, an astronaut who had flown aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery& just months before, had been arrested for a very bizarre crime. Lisa Nowak had driven 900 miles from Houston to Orlando to intercept and confront her romantic rival in an airport parking lot—allegedly using diapers on the trip so she wouldn’t have to stop. Nowak had been dating astronaut William “Billy” Oefelein when she learned that Oefelein was seeing a new girlfriend—U.S. Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman. The “astronaut love triangle” scandal quickly made headlines. The world watched as Nowak was dismissed from NASA, pleaded guilty to a felony, and received an “other than honorable” military discharge.An award-winning investigative reporter who covered Nowak’s criminal case, Kimberly Moore offers behind-the-scenes insights into Nowak’s childhood, her rigorous training, and her mission to space. Moore ventures inside the mind of the detective who studied the actions Nowak took that fateful February night. She includes never-before-told details of Nowak’s psychiatric diagnosis, taking a serious look at how someone so accomplished could spiral into mental illness to the point of possible attempted murder.This book spotlights the often-overlooked psychological health of astronauts, exploring how they are cared for by NASA doctors and what changes have been made in recent years to support space travelers on long-term missions. Expertly told, Moore’s story is a riveting journey inside the high-pressure world of one of America’s most elite agencies and the life of one beleaguered astronaut.
Star Shell Reflections, 1914–1916: The Illustrated Great War Diaries of Jim Maultsaid
by Jim MaultsaidAs the centenary of the Great War approaches, this book offers a unique perspective told in the words and illustrations of someone who was there , on the front line.Although an American citizen, Jim Maultsaid's parents were Irish and he lived in Donegal. He joined the Young Citizen Volunteers, a group drawn from the ranks of clerical and professional society, at the outbreak of war.Although he left school at age 13, the author was naturally gifted in both writing and drawing, with a great eye for detail, and has often been described as the unofficial war artist.Jim's personal style of writing is engaging, and along with his sketches and illustrations, which are witty at times, takes the reader on a journey through not only the dark days and misery but also reveals the gritty humour that helped him and his 'chums' cope with the horrors of life in the trenches.The diaries offer in words and illustrations, a true insight into the thoughts of the ordinary soldiers, and are filled with untold stories from the Great War, covering aspects that have never been addressed in other books. In particular there is new light shone on the Chinese Labour Corps, where Jim served as Captain, after he was certified unfit for active service due to his wounds.The book has great historical and educational value, and will give those of all ages a real understanding of how this brave generation faced war, and how they struggled to survive.
Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America
by Chris DeRoseThe year is 1859 and Congressman Daniel Sickles and his beautiful wife Teresa are the toast of Washington, D.C. society. President James Buchanan is godfather to their daughter. Philip Barton Key, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia (and the son of Francis Scott Key), is one of the couple’s closest friends—so close, in fact, that he often escortes the beautiful Mrs. Sickles to social events when the congressman is too busy. Revelers in D.C. are accustomed to the sight of the congressman’s wife with the tall, Apollo-like Philip Barton Key, who is considered “the handsomest man in all Washington society… foremost among the popular men of the capital.” Then one day Congressman Daniel Sickles receives an anonymous note about his wife and Key, setting into motion a tragic course of events that culminates in a bloody confrontation in the street that leaves one man dead and the other charged with murder. This is the riveting true story of the murder and historic trial that shocked 19th century America, now brought to vivid life by historian Chris DeRose with the help of Mrs. Sickles’ writings and other primary sources.
Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the mysteries of the cosmos
by Stephanie Roth SissonA biography of Carl Sagan focusing on his childhood and culminating in the Voyager mission and the Golden Record.
Star Trek Memories
by William Shatner Chris KreskiThe star of the legendary sci-fi franchise shares the ultimate &“Captain&’s Log&” in this classic behind-the-scenes memoir. A living pop culture legend and one of Hollywood&’s most enduring stars, William Shatner will forever be associated with the role of James T. Kirk, captain of the starship Enterprise and hero of the sci-fi series Star Trek. Beginning in 1966, Star Trek offered something entirely new to prime time TV audiences. Though it suffered from shaky ratings throughout its run, the show became a global pop culture phenomenon, as well as a billion-dollar entertainment juggernaut. In Star Trek Memories, Shatner offers fans his personal insights and recollections of the show&’s creation. He covers everything from the drama behind its most unforgettable episodes, to its outsized cultural influence and groundbreaking vision of the future. Star Trek Memories includes more than 120 photographs and illustrations.
Star Trek Movie Memories
by William Shatner Chris KreskiThe legendary Captain Kirk takes readers behind the scenes of the long-running movie franchise from the first feature film to Star Trek: Generations. In this jam-packed memoir, William Shatner picks up where he left off with Star Trek Memories, recounting in equally intriguing detail what went into the making of the first six Star Trek movies, while including on-the-scene reporting from the set of Star Trek: Generations. Shatner discloses all of the creative turmoil, backstage politics, and production challenges that permeated every one of the movies. And with unflinching candor, he reveals the accumulated personal grudges that haven&’t mellowed with the passage of time. Drawing on in-depth interviews as well as Shatner&’s private reminiscences, the book recounts how Kirk&’s love interest in Star Trek IV began as a role for Eddie Murphy; the creative and production nightmares of Star Trek V; and the rewarding experience of the &“classic&” crew passing the torch to Patrick Stewart and the cast of The Next Generation. Star Trek Movie Memories contains more than one hundred photographs and illustrations.
Star Wars Skywalker – A Family At War
by Kristin BaverUncover the secrets of the Skywalkers: the family that shaped a galaxy far, far away ...The Skywalker story has everything: passion, intrigue, heroism, and dark deeds.This revelatory biography explores every twist and turn of the Skywalker dynasty: the slow seduction to the dark side of Anakin; his doomed marriage to Padmé Amidala; the heroics of Luke and Leia; the fall and redemption of Han Solo and Princess Leia&’s son, Ben; and the struggles of his dyad in the Force, Rey. Leaving no stone unturned in tracing the dynasty&’s trials and tribulations, this definitive biography of Star Wars&’ first family explores and explains the deeper, more personal story of the Skywalkers, their characters, motivations, and, against seemingly impossible odds, their ultimate triumph.© AND TM 2021 LUCASFILM LTD.
Star Wars The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
by Chris KempshallUncover a history of galactic evil."So this is how liberty dies—with thunderous applause." —Senator Padmé AmidalaWhen Sheev Palpatine declared the birth of his new Empire, he expected it would stand for thousands of years. Instead, it lastedonly 24. This is the story of how a tyrannical regime rose from the ashes of democracy, ruled the galaxy with an iron fist, and then collapsed into dust.It is a story of war and heroes. It is a story of propaganda and the power of fascism. But most of all, it is a story of normal people trying to live their lives in the face of brutal dictatorship.From the barbarity of Darth Vader's campaigns to the horrors of the Tarkin Initiative, this book offers new insights into the dark entity at the core of the Star Wars saga, with chapters covering economic strategy and political organisation, propaganda, crime and punishment, military tactics, and warfare, giving even the most expert Star Wars fans a fresh perspective on the Galactic Empire.© AND ™ 2023 LUCASFILM LTD.
Star Woman: We Are Made from Stars and to the Stars We Must Return (Medicine Woman Series)
by Lynn V. AndrewsFollowing Lynn V. Andrews on the continuation of her life&’s journey to embrace her sacred feminine power, Star Woman, the fourth book in the internationally bestselling Medicine Woman series, will inspire you to face your fears, recognize your shadow self, and embrace the power of the stars inherent within.A little more than a decade has passed since Lynn Andrews first became initiated into the Sisterhood of the Shields, a secret circle of woman shamans from all over the world, but her journey into the depths of her own power has seemingly just begun. Serving as a bridge between primal ancient knowledge and modern consciousness, Lynn must embrace the dark side of her own spirit and follow the west wind, tapping into the innate, extraordinary powers that exist within us all. Upon visiting a man claiming to have bred a magical horse, Lynn meets the spectacular white stallion, Arion. But, obsessed with power, the horse breeder deceives Lynn, poisoning and kidnapping her for the evil shaman Red Dog, who longs to finally destroy her. In a blaze of light and glory, Arion and Lynn escape, starting her vision quest into the depths of her soul. When she awakens, she meets a new teacher of the Sisterhood: Twin Dreamers, a nomadic shape-shifting shaman woman who, together with Agnes Whistling Elk and Ruby Plenty Chiefs, guide Lynn in the unraveling of the barriers of her consciousness, her self-imposed limitations, and her deepest fears.
Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
by April AjoyA hilarious and eye-opening account of leaving Christian Nationalism behind to follow Jesus better. April Ajoy wouldn&’t have called herself a Christian Nationalist when she performed her original song &“America Say Jesus&” on the Jim Bakker show, or when she participated in Jesus Marches across America, or when she posted cringe-worthy videos on YouTube to campaign for Mitt Romney. April just considered herself a good Christian: faithful, Republican, and determined to make America a Christian nation once again. But as her view of the world widened, Ajoy began to see cracks in her steadfast beliefs and recognized the ways her conservative politics and religion were intertwined in her mind. Did God really bless America? Is it actually by His red, white, and blue stripes that we are healed? Ajoy, content creator and podcast host, shares funny stories from her time deep within Christian nationalism, exploring how aspects of evangelical culture such as product boycotts, Satanic panic, and end-times theology have all been exploited to advance the Christian Nationalist narrative. She also illuminates the ways nationalist thinking has infiltrated our churches and political arenas, shaping not only modern evangelical culture but also American public policy and international relations. Part memoir, part guidebook, part call to action, Star-Spangled Jesus explores how the fight to make America a &“Christian nation&” has damaged us all and shows how one woman left Christian Nationalism and why America should too.
Star: The Bird Who Inspired Mozart
by Mireille MessierA chance encounter with a starling inspires Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this picture book based on a true story.Star: The Bird Who Inspired Mozart is based on the true story of how Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the world's most remarkable musicians, was inspired by one of the world's most unremarkable birds: a starling. In this charming picture book, author Mireille Messier tells the story of a very special relationship and how it began: with a chance musical encounter. And Matte Stephens's playful art captures both the grandeur of 18th century Vienna and the budding unlikely friendship between a famous musician and a humble starling.
Star: The Life and Wild Times of Warren Beatty
by Peter BiskindIn this compulsively readable and constantly surprising book, Peter Biskind, the author of the film classics Easy Riders, Raging Bulls and Down and Dirty Pictures, writes the most intimate, revealing, and balanced biography ever of Hollywood legend Warren Beatty. Famously a playboy—he has been linked to costars Natalie Wood, Julie Christie, Diane Keaton, and Madonna, among others—Beatty has also been one of the most ambitious and successful stars in Hollywood. Several Beatty films have passed the test of time, from Bonnie and Clyde to Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait, Reds (for which he won the best director Oscar), Bugsy, and Bulworth. Few filmgoers realize that along with Orson Welles, Beatty is the only person ever nominated for four Academy Awards for a single film—and unlike Welles, Beatty did it twice, with Heaven Can Wait and Reds. Biskind shows how Beatty used star power, commercial success, savvy, and charm to bend Hollywood moguls to his will, establishing an unprecedented level of independence while still working within the studio system. Arguably one of the most successful and creative figures in Hollywood over the last few decades, Beatty exercised unique control over his films, often hiring screenwriters out of his own pocket (and frequently collaborating with them), producing, directing, and acting, becoming an auteur before anyone in Hollywood knew what the word meant. In this fascinating biography, the ultimate Hollywood Star comes to life—complete with excesses and achievements—as never before.
Starboy: Inspired by the Life and Lyrics of David Bowie
by Jami GigotA starry-eyed ode to self-expression and staying true to yourself, inspired by the life and lyrics of beloved icon David Bowie.For as long as David could remember, he felt like a stranger on his own planet. As if he’d fallen to Earth from outer space…David Bowie is one of the most influential artists of our time, beloved for his joyful self-expression and fierce individuality. But how did he come to be this iconic Starman, celebrated by millions around the world? Inspired by the life and lyrics of David Bowie, author-illustrator Jami Gigot imagines the story of a lonely young boy enchanted by the music of the stars—yet no one else can hear the shimmy-shake rhythm that moves through his body. At first misunderstood and ignored, David ultimately finds the courage to be true to himself, sparking a dazzling revolution… At once vibrantly imaginative and true to the spirit of Bowie, Starboy is about embracing your individuality and discovering the cosmic rhythm that hums within each of us.
Stardust and Shadows: Canadians in Early Hollywood
by Charles Foster"You’ll like Louis Mayer," Mary Pickford told Charles Foster in 1943. "He is from Canada, too." As Foster was soon to discover, Mayer was not alone: a great many of those who helped shape Hollywood into the movie capital of the world were Canadian. Stardust and Shadows brings together the stories of 18 Canadians who were celebrities during Hollywood’s formative years. Most of those profiled were known to Foster, and stories they told him about Hollywood’s early days, enhanced by many years of research and interviews with other living performers and directors from the silent movie era, reveal a never-before-seen look at what the movie industry was really like in those early days. This is Canadian history that has never been told, and many of the startling stories and secrets of Hollywood’s past are revealed here for the first time. Celebrities profiled: May Irwin, Al and Charles Christie, Joe and Sam De Grasse, Marie Dressler, Allan Dwan, Florence La Badie, Florence Lawrence, Del Lord, Louis B. Mayer, Sidney Olcott, Jack Pickford, Mary Pickford, Marie Prevost, Mack Sennett, Douglas Shearer, Norma Shearer.
Stargazer: The Life, World and Films of Andy Warhol
by Stephen KochThe definitive critical study of twentieth-century pop culture icon Andy Warhol, the man who redrew the boundaries of art. Andy Warhol&’s work and personality changed American visual culture forever, making him an international superstar. In this must-read volume, heralded as &“exemplary&” by Artforum and &“resoundingly brilliant&” by Film Comment, Stephen Koch provides unprecedented detail on Warhol&’s life and work—his rise to global fame, his entanglement with the seedy New York sexual underground, and the shocking assassination attempt that almost ended his life are chronicled—giving particular attention to a medium that found Andy at his wildest: film. The &“superstars&” he created—Candy Darling, Ultra Violet, Edie Sedgwick—to populate his films and his curation of socialites mingling with hustlers that coined the phrase &“The Beautiful People&” seem prescient as we consider today&’s stars and cultural panorama. In Stargazer, Koch illuminates the inspiration and brilliance on both sides of the public image that Warhol, who made paradox an art form, so meticulously crafted. In doing so, he gets to the core of Warhol&’s most interesting invention: his own public personality, the strange persona that this frightened and brilliantly talented poor-boy from Pittsburgh created to survive the savage world of his own ambitions. &“Stargazer is to die over.&” —Andy Warhol &“A volume of profound insight . . . resoundingly brilliant. It assumes the place of cornerstone in what will someday become a scholarly edifice dedicated to the analysis both of Warhol&’s meanings and of Warhol&’s forms.&” —Film Comment &“Some of the most exemplary critical writing that I have encountered. Moving across the convoluted terrain of Warhol&’s sensibility . . . with an ease and fluidity that draws the reader effortlessly around their quarry.&” —Artforum &“A landmark in American criticism . . . Stargazer is not only compelling beyond anything one expects of criticism, it happens also to be utterly timely.&” —The Boston Phoenix
Staring at Lakes: A Memoir Of Love, Melancholy And Magical Thinking
by Michael HardingThroughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained.When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now.Staring at Lakes started out as a book about depression. And then became a story about growing old, the essence of love and marriage - and sitting in cars, staring at lakes.
Staring at Lakes: A Memoir of Love, Melancholy and Magical Thinking
by Michael HardingThroughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained.When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now.Staring at Lakes was a number one bestseller in Michael's native Ireland and won three BGE Irish book awards in 2013, including Non-Fiction Book of the Year. 'It's rare for a memoir to demand such intense emotional involvement and rarer still for it to be so fully rewarded' - SUNDAY TIMES.'Staring at Lakes is a raw and honest account of a life in depression. Harding's writing, which is rich and lyrical, is especially astute when describing the pain of living with an illness that has the ability to suck the joy out of any occasion.' - DAILY EXPRESS
Staring at Lakes: A Memoir of Love, Melancholy and Magical Thinking
by Michael HardingThroughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained.When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now.Staring at Lakes was a number one bestseller in Michael's native Ireland and won three BGE Irish book awards in 2013, including Non-Fiction Book of the Year. 'It's rare for a memoir to demand such intense emotional involvement and rarer still for it to be so fully rewarded' - SUNDAY TIMES.'Staring at Lakes is a raw and honest account of a life in depression. Harding's writing, which is rich and lyrical, is especially astute when describing the pain of living with an illness that has the ability to suck the joy out of any occasion.' - DAILY EXPRESS
Staring at Lakes: A Memoir of Love, Melancholy and Magical Thinking
by Michael HardingThroughout his life, Michael Harding has lived with a sense of emptiness - through faith, marriage, fatherhood and his career as a writer, a pervading sense of darkness and unease remained.When he was fifty-eight, he became physically ill and found himself in the grip of a deep melancholy. Here, in this beautifully written memoir, he talks with openness and honesty about his journey: leaving the priesthood when he was in his thirties, settling in Leitrim with his artist wife, the depression that eventually overwhelmed him, and how, ultimately, he found a way out of the dark, by accepting the fragility of love and the importance of now.Staring at Lakes started out as a book about depression. And then became a story about growing old, the essence of love and marriage - and sitting in cars, staring at lakes.