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Once Upon a Time in Florida: Stories of Life in the Land of Promises
by Jacki LevineCurated from the archives of FORUM, the award-winning magazine of Florida Humanities, this anthology presents 50 often surprising and always intriguing stories of life in Florida by some of the nation’s most talented writers and scholars Once Upon a Time in Florida transports readers into the eventful life and times of this remarkable state through 50 stories vividly rendered by some of the nation’s most acclaimed writers and scholars, along with 150 evocative images. This collection opens more than 14,000 years ago with the first people to inhabit the peninsula and continues through the state’s territorial beginnings, the era of slavery, statehood, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Jim Crow period, and Florida’s transformation into a complex, powerful megastate. Throughout, readers will encounter the unexpected: The myth-busting truths behind Ponce de Leon’s search for the Fountain of Youth; the real First Thanksgiving; the first legally sanctioned free Black town; the revealing wartime letters of novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings; the Jacksonville principal who penned the lyrics now known as the Black National Anthem; and the little-known story of how Mary McLeod Bethune saved World War II‒era Daytona Beach. The stories also highlight Florida as a magnet for dreamers and doers, featuring the heady days of the Space Age seen through the eyes of a teenager; the secretive mission that brought Walt Disney to Orlando; the music culture that has churned out a stream of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers; and a look at how Florida’s glossy image has been indelibly shaped through the eyes of Hollywood. Told through the lens of the humanities, at its heart this anthology is the story of what it means to be a Floridian. In these pages, folklorist Stetson Kennedy travels the back roads with novelist Zora Neale Hurston, capturing vanishing stories and songs. Former U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina in Congress, remembers her family’s early days as Cuban refugees. Novelist Lauren Groff describes how the writings of literary giants taught her to love Florida. Columnist Bill Maxwell and novelist Beverly Coyle, who grew up in the waning days of Jim Crow, share clear-eyed memories of experiences as different as black and white. And southern grit writer Harry Crews tells of a family memory evoked by the Suwannee River. There is much more to discover in this vibrant anthology, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Florida Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and presents selections from the timeless and treasure-filled archives of Florida Humanities’ award-winning FORUM magazine. Contributors: Jerald T. Milanich | J. Michael Francis | Michael Gannon | Kathleen Deagan | Darcie A. MacMahon | Larry Eugene Rivers | Robert A. Taylor | Casey Blanton | Rick Kilby | Gary R. Mormino | Stetson Kennedy | Betty Jean Steinshouer | Gordon Patterson | Rick Edmonds | Andrea Brunais | Steven Noll | Richard Foglesong | Eric Deggans | Bill Maxwell | Beverly Coyle | David R. Colburn | Nila Do Simon | Stephen J. Whitfield | Willie Johns | Ron Cunningham | Jon Wilson | Dalia Colón | Bill DeYoung | Maude Heurtelou | Lauren Groff | Maurice J. O’Sullivan | Michele Currie Navakas | Craig Pittman | Thomas Hallock | Edna Buchanan | Philip Caputo | Gary Monroe | Peter B. Gallagher | Bob Kealing | Jack E. Davis | Charlie Hailey | Terry Tomalin | Bill Belleville | Cynthia Barnett | Jack E. Davis | Jeff Klinkenberg | Harry CrewsDistributed on behalf of Florida Humanities
Strange Fruit: Racism and Community Life in the Chesapeake—1850 to the Present
by John R. WennerstenFrom the author: “I have written this book about Somerset County and the surrounding region with a specific purpose in mind – to trace the course of racism and society in a tidewater county in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay country from 1850 to the present. Tidewater Somerset provides us with a palette for understanding racism and the evolution of racial ideas often overlooked by scholars. I have sought to ascertain what specific influences and trends, as well as political and cultural developments have played out at the micro-level in Maryland over time that might test or call into question assumptions about the nature of race relations that we have on the national level. My remarks, both scholarly and personal, will help us find our way in the story of race in the Chesapeake Bay country. Race provides the scaffolding, the frame that forms the underside of our national story. And in this story we will see Black actors in the human drama of oppression and freedom living lives that are both critical and self-aware.” This is a book about Somerset County and the surrounding region, which traces the course of racism and society in a tidewater county in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay country from 1850 to the present. Tidewater Somerset provides us with a palette for understanding racism and the evolution of racial ideas often overlooked by scholars. The book examines specific influences and trends, as well as political and cultural developments, which have played out at the micro-level in Maryland over time, and which might test or call into question assumptions about the nature of race relations at the national level.
Wilderness and the American Spirit
by Ruby McConnellTHE IDEA OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT has always been rooted inexpansion and abundance— at great cost to the environment. Withthe world burning up, one can' t help but wonder: how did we gethere? Wilderness and the American Spirit traces hundreds ofyears of The United States' relationship to the environment starting fromthe initial colonization of Native American land, to the developmentof land use policies, and the creation of resource based economies.Using a lesser known alternative to the Oregon Trail— Ruby McConnelluses the Applegate Trail as a vehicle to weave exposition, history, andscience to show us how we got to where we are now and what wecan do about it.
The Last Vampire: The Strange Legend of Mercy Brown
by T. A. BoundSt. Patrick's Day 1892, Exeter, Rhode Island. It wasn't over when she died. Prying her coffin open two months later transforms Mercy Brown into legend. The Last Vampire is based upon her incredible true story. <p><p>They don't kill 'em like they used to. Mercy Lena Brown is 19 the first time she dies. The third in her family to mysteriously perish in rapid succession, after her mother and oldest sister. And when Mercy succumbs, her brother is also dying. To save the remaining family from their killer requires drastic and unspeakable action. <p><p>The New England vampire panic lasted from the late 1700s through the 19th Century. History has forgotten exactly when it started, but the precise moment the panic ends, however, is documented in history, and in the pages of this book. It spread across the region, terrifying New Englanders who exhumed graves seeking to purge the vampires lurking among them. Archeological discoveries in recent years have unearthed some of these desecrated graves, confirming persisting rumors and sketchy myths lasting a century since. This is the terrifying true story of its final days. Only one can be the last. <p><p>Caution: This is based on historical facts which may be disturbing to some, including cannibalism and scenes of a sexual nature which, although neither graphic nor explicit, may make some readers uncomfortable. Don't say I did not warn you!
Wings Over The Channel
by Eric ForsythWings Over the Channel follows the continuing adventures of Allan Chadwick, a young RAF pilot who completed his tour in Iraq and is now posted to the RAF aviation research center at Farnborough in southern England. It is the mid-1930s and Britain is threatened by belligerent countries such as Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The rapid development of high-speed bombers negates the centuries-old isolation that Britain enjoyed as an island. <P><P> Chadwick is involved in the RAF’s frantic effort to build an effective radar screen, and uses an early model Spitfire for liaison with outlying radar stations, flying in fair weather or foul, as he contends with the idiosyncrasies of the prototype fighter. Closer to earth he drives an old, monstrous Bentley, which attracts attention wherever he goes. He falls in love with an older, aristocratic widow who supports a secretive upper-class appeasement clique which, unbeknownst to them, has been compromised by the German Abwehr <P><P> British Intelligence decides it is impossible to keep the existence of radar a secret from the German Luftwaffe, but its effectiveness is downplayed in misleading reports fed to the Germans by Chadwick. The success of the deception—and Chadwick’s life— are threatened when an accurate report of radar performance is stolen by a German spy.
Remember Liss: The Remarkable True Story of One Woman's Enslavement and Freedom in New York
by Claire Bellerjeau Tiffany Yecke BrooksRemember Liss is the true story of Liss, an enslaved Black woman in 18th century New York whose life sheds light on the experiences of people of color in New York from the colonial period and the Revolutionary War into the early republic. Her life reveals the often-overlooked history of slavery in New York and her involvement with Robert Townsend, a spy for George Washington, engages readers with fascinating stories of espionage. This text also points readers to primary documents and lesson plans through NY Archives' online platform "Consider the Source." Remember Liss offers a new perspective to America's founding, from the point of view of an enslaved Black woman seeking personal liberty in a country fighting for its own.
Mystery Bread of the Hollows: A Story of Appalachian Salt Rising Bread
by Genevieve BardwellDiscover the comforting allure of salt rising bread, a culinary gem from the heart of Appalachia, born from the ingenuity of pioneer women. This tale, set in 1880, unravels the mystique of this unique bread through the eyes of a young girl living on the fringe of a hollow. It&’s a journey into the rugged yet resilient spirit of a community amidst the ancient, weather-worn peaks. The narrative, steeped in rich folklore, culminates in a cherished recipe shared on the back page, inviting you to partake in a slice of Appalachian heritage, and savor the simplicity and mystery kneaded within salt rising bread.
Charged Bodies: People, Power, And Paradox In Silicon Valley
by Thomas MahonAt the heart of Silicon Valley's meteoric rise is a story etched in the lives of those who shaped it and those who were forever transformed by it. Author Tom Mahon provides an insider's perspective on the birth of the semiconductor industry, which sparked the region's transformation from sleepy farmland to the heart and soul of the high-tech revolution. Through twenty-five extended, in-person interviews you'll meet a diverse cast of characters whose goal was to create technology and tools in service to humanity. In the Afterword to this edition, the author questions whether they accomplished their objectives and urges readers to rise up and rethink technology. What did it take to create the atmosphere that transformed rich farmland into the wealthy center of high-tech? Five climates lined up in just the right way. Educational institutions (Stanford and Berkeley); an attractive location with balmy, Mediterranean-like weather; a history of technology development (Federal Telegraph in the early twentieth century); financial risk taking (the gold rush); and a cultural climate near the center of an ideological revolution (the hippie movement). The Santa Clara Valley had them all. In spades. Before personal computers, or the Internet, or social media came *chips*. Inventive minds took advantage of the quad-electron structure and unique properties - insulative and conductive - of silicon to create semiconductors. But Charged Bodies is more than just the story of new technologies emerging from "The Valley of the Heart's Delight." Using an approach like The Canterbury Tales, Tom Mahon captures the spirit of Silicon Valley in the 80s through the stories of the people all around him. The inventors and bankers have their say. But so do a range of other people who lived through that transition. Listen as artists and hackers, detectives and journalists, lawyers and scientists, flappers and philosophers tell the story of Silicon Valley in their own words.
The Search for Reagan: The Appealing Intellectual Conservatism of Ronald Reagan
by Craig ShirleyNever before has anyone explored the mind, soul, and heart of Ronald Reagan. The Search for Reagan explores the challenges and controversies in Reagan&’s life and how he successfully dealt with each, depicting a man who was never as conservative as some conservatives wanted him to be, but rather as conservative as he was comfortable being—a man who wanted to win on his own terms and integrity.Ronald Reagan was a singularly unique man and conservative who championed a wildly successful revolution—leading to more freedom and less government for the American people and to the fall of communism, while boosting American morale, which had been his three big goals. He was the first president in many years who believed optimism from the Oval Office had a direct bearing on the affairs of the nation. As a consequence, he left office more popular than when he entered with a whopping 73 percent approval. He is beloved even today as his presidential library is visited far more than any other presidential library, by more than five million people each year. He understood that American conservatism was based upon the individual and not the group. He is still regarded as one of the most admired men in America. The range of Reagan scholarship by virtue of books sold about him continues to grow. In his presidency, he solved the mystery of high inflation that had bedeviled his predecessor, high interest rates, and high gas prices. He created over twenty million new jobs, and the number of American millionares grew from 4,414 to 34,944. He quite literally changed our world for the better and is considered by most historians to be one of our four greatest presidents, along with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt.
Cardiac Cowboys: The Heroic Invention of Heart Surgery
by Gerald ImberCardiac Cowboys is the dramatic story of five deeply flawed geniuses who together—and in competition with each other—invented open-heart surgery against all conventional medical wisdom and saved millions of lives.A decade after World War II, there was still no such thing as open-heart surgery, and yet half a million Americans were dying from heart disease every year. One in a hundred children would suffer and die from congenital heart disease as well, and doctors did little other than predict their deaths. After the first daring operation in 1954 and through the next three decades, five heroic surgeons braved the scorn of their peers, withstood fierce desperation, and faced possible death in order to devise procedures that would save overwhelming numbers of those doomed children and provide hope for a new life to all manner of heart-failing individuals. Devising and mastering heart transplants and bypass surgery, they invented artificial heart valves, the lifesaving pacemaker, and worked toward the holy grail of an artificial heart as their private and professional lives imploded. The story of the Cardiac Cowboys, their outsized personalities, and often self-destructive behavior is a saga more thrilling and exhilarating than fiction.
My Right Hand to Goodness: The Life and Times of Crazy Dale Varnam
by Lynn Cook BetzMost wonder how Dale Varnam stayed alive. Dale wonders why.Back in the eighties, the quaint fishing village of Varnamtown, North Carolina—full of zany Southern characters—got rich, and so did town clown Dale Varnam, who perfected his own brand of crazy. Dale rose to the top of the heap in the drug smuggling biz, helping the town&’s livelihood of shrimping go to pot. Although it&’s not big enough to be on most maps, Varnamtown became the second busiest port of entry for illegal drugs on the Eastern Seaboard. Dale Varnam&’s misfit persona contradicts any preconceived notions of an international drug smuggler. His &“good ol&’ southern redneck persona&” belies his past…and oh, what a past! During the 1980s, Dale Varnam was newspaper fodder. He was depicted as a &“show-off,&” &“hot dog,&” and &“homicidal nut case,&” until &“armed career criminal&” became the headline. The prankster extraordinaire now lives in a junkyard morphing into a grandiose roadside attraction of sorts called Ft. Apache, where a sign reads &“A crazy place blessed by God&’s Grace.&” How did Dale get here from what he was? It took two Dales—not just one. &“New Dale&” dusts off &“Old Dale,&” who danced with the devil for over twenty years. Between the Dales were ten years he considers a &“vacation.&” As an informant, he helped bring more than one hundred and fifty of those involved to grand juries resulting in over eighty indictments. Many in Varnamtown succumbed to smuggling. This story does not leave them out; secrets are replaced by revelations, forgiveness, and healing. Forever changed, these God-fearing southern folks got caught up in crime, then caught, before eventually returning to their lives. The widespread corruption of law enforcement and politicians unfurls its tentacles through Dale&’s tales. From courting Manuel Noriega and Pablo Escobar to selling cocaine to Disney characters, from Playboy Bunnies mowing his yard to jungle labs where preserved tongues rested in jars, jaw-dropping events punctuate Dale&’s story from beginning to end.
The Emerging Populist Majority
by Troy M. Olson Gavin M. WaxThe Emerging Populist Majority analyzes America&’s political future and changing coalitions through long-term and emerging trends across demography, geography, and ideology.America is on a new rendezvous with destiny…at least that&’s what co-authors Troy M. Olson and Gavin M. Wax explore in The Emerging Populist Majority. With confounding consensus narratives in our media and culture, and building on Donald Trump&’s historical upset in the 2016 presidential election, Olson and Wax make the case that the populist revolt remaking American politics is merely at the midfield point. Furthermore, they argue that this revolt is poised to continue long-term, and more recent trends predict that populism will become the major political movement in America for the remainder of the twenty-first century. Building on the late 1960s tradition when Kevin P. Phillips accurately predicted the next generation of Republican dominance at the presidential level, and considering the forecasted coalition of the ascendent that found its way through the electoral process in the 2006 midterm wave and election of Barack Obama in 2008, The Emerging Populist Majority exists both in that tradition and sets itself apart. Casting doubt and scrutiny on realignments and the traditionally agreed-upon narrative about them, this book is an exploration of the elite corridors of American society. Leaving no stone unturned, this analytical dive into the past, present, and future of America&’s changing electorate and emerging coalitional makeup running through its two major parties has something for the politically obsessed across the divide, at home, and abroad.
In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow
by Kenneth W. HarmonWhen the spirit of an American airman befriends a Japanese woman and her daughter in the days before the Hiroshima bomb, he races against time to save the ones he loves the most.When American WWII bombardier Micah Lund dies on a mission over Japan, his spirit remains trapped as a yurei ghost. Dazed, he follows Kiyomi Oshiro, a war widow struggling to care for her young daughter, Ai, as food is scarce, work at the factory is brutal, and her in-laws treat her like a servant. Watching Kiyomi and Ai together, Micah&’s intolerance for the enemy is challenged. As his concern for the mother and daughter grows, so does his guilt for his part in their suffering.Micah discovers a new reality when Kiyomi and Ai dream—one which allows him to interact with them. While his feelings for them deepen, imminent destruction looms. Hiroshima is about to be bombed, and Micah must warn Kiyomi and her daughter.In a place where dreams are real, Micah races against time to save Kiyomi and Ai, while battling the old beliefs he embodied as a soldier and his idea of family.In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow is a tale about love in its most extraordinary forms—forgiveness, sacrifice, and perseverance against impossible odds.
Mudslingers: A True Story of Aerial Firefighting (An American Origins Story)
by Tim SheehyThe unique history of aerial firefighting as seen through the eyes of a pilot, former Navy SEAL, and current owner of one of the most successful aerial firefighting companies in the world.Blending historical context and first-person narrative, Mudslingers tells the dramatic and colorful story of aerial firefighting in America, as seen through the eyes of a decorated former Navy SEAL, US Naval Academy graduate, firefighting pilot, and businessman who founded Montana-based Bridger Aerospace, one of the most successful aerial firefighting teams in the world. Part narrative nonfiction, part memoir, Mudslingers is a riveting account of one person&’s journey from the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq to the front lines of a different but no less important battle on the home front—the war against the escalating threat of wildfire. From the early days of the B-17 to the modern fleets of the twenty-first century, Tim Sheehy will take you on a ride through the history of aerial firefighting—the most hazardous and demanding aviation mission in the world. Mudslingers is a rollicking read, an enlightening journey, and a call to action for anyone who believes wildfires are not only one of the greatest threats facing modern civilization but a threat that has long been underestimated, misunderstood, and poorly addressed, despite repeated examples of bravery and innovation by those who choose to do battle with the flames. Indeed, save for a few historic military engagements in the twentieth century, there is not a sustained aviation mission anywhere that comes close to encompassing the danger, precision, and unforgiving nature of aerial firefighting. In telling this story, Sheehy takes readers into the cockpit and into the lives of his fellow pilots—past and present—as they struggle with the seemingly never-ending threat of wildfires. One hundred percent of author proceeds from this book are donated to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation and the United Aerial Firefighters Association.
American Doom Loop: Dispatches from a Troubled Nation, 1980s–2020s
by Dale MaharidgeMuch of the contemporary crazy can be traced to the 1980s—America of the 2020s is living with the cultural shapeshifting rooted in that decade.Americans lived in a different reality in 1980: Vermont was the only state that let residents carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Twenty-four states now allow this—and numerous other gun laws have fallen by the wayside. When police were accused of wrongdoing, the default answer from society&’s arbiters—courts, politicians, newspaper editors—was: &“The police wouldn&’t lie.&” Editors steered clear of stories about rape and sexual violence. The word &“homeless&” wasn&’t in common use. The fabric of the middle class had not yet begun fraying. America of the 2020s is living with cultural shapeshifting rooted in the 1980s. History, of course, is not a snapshot—it&’s a film. To understand the United States today, we have to know the 1980s. American Doom Loop chronicles the first part of that moving picture, then brings the story forward. As a newspaper journalist, Dale Maharidge had a front-row seat to this decade, immersed in disparate worlds. He was in the Philippines during the last days of Dictator Ferdinand Marcos, witnessing the US lose a critical piece of its empire dating to the Spanish–American War; he traveled to Central America where the East-West conflict was playing out by proxy; he smuggled a Salvadoran family marked by death squads, driving them through trackless desert to the US border; he embedded with a group that was a precursor to the Oath Keepers; and he investigated police, who kept trying to get him fired. Through it all, Maharidge gained an invaluable view of a complicated decade that offers insight into our society today.
Insurgent Hunter: Memoirs of a Navy SEAL Turned Counterinsurgent Agent in Iraq
by Jack Treadway Stephen TemplinWhen you hunt men, men will hunt you.In this epic thrill ride filled with triumph and tragedy, Jack Treadway takes readers deep into the shadows of covert warfare. As a new SEAL learning to hunt men, a clandestine mini wet submarine comes within inches of slicing and dicing him. In SEAL Team Five, he shuffles through a vomit-spewed C-130 transport plane to jump into something worse—a treacherous snowy mountain in the Korean peninsula. Then he breaks his back in a Special Mission Unit assignment and breaks away from the SEAL Teams. Jack stalks deeper into the darkness from SEAL to Office of Special Investigations (OSI) counterintelligence officer in Iraq. His most elusive prey is a high value target on the kill or capture list—an al Qaeda financier codenamed Kaiser Soze. Jack and his team remove more than a hundred enemy insurgents from the battle space. When a high-ranking Iraqi ally—who secretly works for Iran—kills three members of Jack&’s team, he wants bloody revenge.
Guns, Girls, and Greed: I Was a Blackwater Mercenary in Iraq
by Morgan LeretteGuns, Girls, and Greed is an unvarnished, behind-the-scenes, tell-all account of the scathing and dangerous life of mercenaries at war in Iraq.Experience the world of private contractors conducting high-threat missions for a nascent Iraqi government in the hopes of rebuilding after the fall of Saddam Hussein. With limited support, the men of Blackwater protected US diplomats as the country descended into sectarian violence. It was a hazardous mission complete with rockets, mortars, improvised explosive devices, and not knowing who or where the enemy was. Morgan Lerette&’s irreverently honest memoir shows the good and bad of injecting private armies into active combat zones in the name of diplomacy and digs deep into the bonds of brotherhood created by war. With gut-wrenching tragedy, dark humor, and parties that make Animal House seem like a Disney film, this memoir offers a firsthand perspective on how men act and react in war. Lerette, a private contractor employed by the notorious Blackwater in the early days of the Iraq War, pulls no punches in calling out the incompetence of both the US military and the Department of State during the collapse of Iraq. You can decide if the insertion of private contractors in Iraq assisted or detracted from the war effort and if the costs in blood and treasure were worth the carnage.
My Brother's Keeper: Netanyahu, Obama, & the Year of Terror & Conflict that Changed the Middle East Forever
by Ari Harow&“A useful aid to understanding today&’s headlines as well as Israel&’s recent past.&” –Kirkus Review My Brother&’s Keeper tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the American President and the Israeli Prime Minister clashed about peace, war, and the future of the region.Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu viewed the world—and especially the Middle East—differently. The US president wanted to end what he saw as America&’s perpetual war against the Muslim and Arab worlds, use diplomacy to bring about a Palestinian state coexisting peacefully with Israel, and apply his signature foreign policy vision to reward the Islamic Republic of Iran in exchange for the scaling back of their nuclear pursuits. The Israeli premier wanted his country to thrive without the senseless bloodshed of terror and violence, and he was determined to protect the Jewish state from threats of annihilation by a member of the axis of evil that would one day be armed with nuclear weapons. Netanyahu wanted peace for peace, as well as the acceptance of Israel as a full-fledged part of the Middle East. In 2014, during a pivotal summer of terrorist violence, a war in Gaza, and the advancement of a nuclear deal with Iran, the two men clashed, threatening the US-Israeli strategic alliance and the future of the region. The Middle East would never be the same.
Divine Lives: The Descending Current of Bhakti
by Mandala PublishingDivine Lives recounts the lives and teachings of the venerated spiritual masters His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, the founder acarya of the entire Gaudiya community, and His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Thakura, the founding acarya of Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha. The Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition stresses the importance for spiritual seekers to receive transcendental knowledge in a bona-fide current of devotion. Genuine spiritual teachers retain the power and glory of this divine flow in their hearts and manifest it through their unadulterated words and proper conduct. Divine Lives highlights the descriptions of two such sublime personalities, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, and his disciple, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Thakura. In the time of the Gaudiya revolution led by Srila Prabhupada, Srila B. P. Puri Goswami carried a pen and paper wherever he went. His impeccable notes from that time will surely be of great service for many generations to come. Some of his writings are included within in the form of heart-touching glorifications to his spiritual master that have been organized into separate categories for the reader's benefit. After the biography of Srila Prabhupada and an autobiography of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami, Divine Lives concludes with the words of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami Thakura&’s successor and disciple, Srila B. B. Bodhayan Maharaja. In this last section, we learn specific details about Srila B. P. Puri Goswami&’s first meetings with Srila Prabhupada and how he joined this spiritual movement. Also included within are historical articles from the Gaudiya and Chaitanya Vani that have been translated from the original Bengali into English for the first time, as well as rare photos and artifacts from this transformational time in Gaudiya history.
Madan Mohan: An Enchanting Saga
by Sushant BhartiConservation Architect and Researcher Sushant Bharti highlights the significance of the Madan Mohan, an ancient and important temple in Vrindavan, India that has had a prominent impact both locally and globally throughout its history. The text includes a captivating portrayal of the temple both at home and in the Indian diaspora, a tribute to the attractive, ever enchanting nature of the structure and its spiritual potency.The establishment of Gaudiya Vaishnavas in the Braj region catalysed a novel movement centered around the devotion to Radha and Krishna. This movement, in turn, spurred construction of the Madan Mohan, one of the most significant and prominent temples in the area during the Mughal reign. In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, each temple emerged as a distinct exemple of Mughal artistry, showcasing a seamless integration of diverse architectural components and novel experimentation. The Madan Mohan temple stands as a remarkable testament to the confluence of social, economic, and political forces that transcended regional boundaries during the zenith of Mughal dominance.
The Singing Guru: Legends and Adventures of Guru Nanak, the First Sikh
by Kamla K. KapurPart fiction, history, and mythology, this unconventional retelling of the life of divine spiritual master Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion and revered by Muslims and Hindus alike, provides an intimate look at the enlightened Guru while bringing his ancient wisdom to a modern audience.From the best-selling author of Ganesha Goes to Lunch and Rumi&’s Tales from the Silk Road comes an original novel about the life and travels of Guru Nanak, a musician, enlightened thinker, and one of the most beloved figures in Eastern spirituality. In this fascinating book, Kamla K. Kapur weaves together facts, legends, folktales, myths, and over forty of Guru Nanak&’s poems—preserved in the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib—to form this captivating depiction of the leader&’s life. From being seduced by deadly women to almost getting eaten by cannibals, the exciting account presented in The Singing Guruincludes moral tales without being proselytizing. Factual details are intermingled with fantasy to produce a symbolic portrait in which humor and imagination combine to convey a profound and entertaining spiritual narrative.
Maharasa Manjusa: Sacred Poetry of the Divine Dance
by Prakriti GoswamiAn annotated translation of Nandadasa&’s poetic rendition of the five chapters of rasa-lila in the Bhagavata, highlighting the text&’s musical legacy, devotional worship, and Vedantic foundations.Maharasa Manjusa: Sacred Poetry of the Divine Dance provides translation and scholarly commentary of Nandadasa&’s five chapters of rasa-lila, collectively known as the rasapancadhyayi. In the Vaisnava tradition propounded by Vallabhacarya, Nandadasa is considered to be one of the eight devotional poets, whose compositions are exquisitely detailed with description of both Krsna&’s cosmic form and his divine play. This gradually developed into a distinctive style of performing art, haveli-sangita, which is practiced even today. Maharasa Manjusa: Sacred Poetry of the Divine Dance brings out the poetics, narrative style, and idiosyncrasies of the recitation of devotional poems from the region of Vraja in the 16th Century. An exquisite specimen of devotional poetics, Nandadasa&’s Rasapancadhyayi is a Braja-Bhasa rendition of the Bhagavata&’s quintet of Maharasa written in Sanskrit verse. The Bhagavata is one of the most beloved texts of Krsna-devotional traditions and the foundational scripture of Braja Vaisnavism and its five chapters describing the divine dance illustrate the ecstatic fruit of devotion. Presenting a devotee&’s execution of the Maharasa while examining its interpretative themes underpinned in the epistemology of Vallabhacarya, Maharasa Manjusa: Sacred Poetry of the Divine Dance offers an intensive view of the musical legacy, a devotee&’s worshipful interactions, and Vedantic foundations of the ecstatic devotion expressed by Nandada¯sa. The introductory chapters provide first compendious study of the theo-aesthetic, epistemic, and liturgical framework of Pustimarga&’s orthopraxis that have fuelled this lyrical delivery. Enriched with annotations, the translations are literal while offering nuanced insights into the colloquial intricacies of Braja-Bhasa poetics and the cultural expressions of the Braja region.
The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape (The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies)
by Himanshu Prabha RayThe Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape explores Hinduism as it was practised in temples across the Indian subcontinent throughout history, highlighting the temple&’s significance as a marker of cultural identity.The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape illustrates how careful attention to the Hindu temple, its social history, and cultural landscape allows us to better appreciate how Hinduism has been practised and lived throughout history. The Hindu temple was not merely a place of worship or a static indicator of royal generosity but an institution that involved the active participation of the community for its establishment, maintenance, and survival. Rather than studying temples as isolated structures, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape thus suggests that we need to examine them in the context of their social base and the sacred microcosms of which they form a part. Through a combination of textual study, archaeological evidence, and insights from contemporary anthropology, the book explores the diverse ways in which devotees, patrons, and visitors have engaged with temples, shrines, and their wider surroundings. Drawing attention to the vibrancy of the Hindu temple in different locales, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape traces the ways in which Hindu notions of sanctity and sacredness were defined and redefined throughout history through the diversity of temple audiences, deities, and rituals. The book thus allows us to form a more accurate picture of Hindu religious life in the past and the central role the temple has played in consolidating Hindu identity. EXPERT ANALYSIS: Author Himanshu Prabha Ray provides authoritative analysis of the Hindu temple, drawing on her expertise as an award-winning Sanskrit scholar, historian, and archeologist. SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape provides a breadth of educational knowledge as a supplement to both academic coursework and the independent study of Hinduism. With the integration of discussion questions, suggested further reading, a glossary of key terms, and images throughout, The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape offers an accessible introduction to studying the history and significance of Hindu temples. EXPLORE THE SERIES: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape expands the collection of academic texts developed by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Women in the Hindu World and The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide are also available in the series.
Women in the Hindu World (The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies)
by Mandakranta BoseWomen in the Hindu World explores the role of womanhood in Hindu religious culture and how the faith influences women&’s social experiences.Women in the Hindu World encourages readers to develop and nurture their own understanding of the life of a woman as a Hindu. The seven chapters proceed both historically and thematically, exploring abstract philosophical concepts about women, as well as concrete worldly conditions of the lives they lead, from the earliest stages of Hindu society to the present, marking through time the evolving religious roles and social status of women. Hindu women have consistently found in their faith resources for claiming selfhood both within their faith and in society. Within the home, women are the keepers of the family&’s religious rites. Outside the home, they worship through poetry, painting, dance, and music. Like their peers around the world, modern Hindu women have fought and worked together to claim decisive roles in shaping their own lives, while maintaining their faith and culture. Women in the Hindu World explores and explains the place of women in Hinduism, and the impact of Hinduism on women&’s roles in society. EXPERT ANALYSIS: Author Mandakranta Bose is Professor Emerita and former Director of the Centre for India and South Asia Research at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, where she also has taught courses in religious and gender studies. SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY: Women in the Hindu World provides a breadth of educational knowledge as a supplement to both academic coursework and the independent study of Hinduism. With the integration of discussion questions, suggested further reading, and images throughout, Women in the Hindu World offers an accessible introduction to exploring the connection between womanhood and Hinduism. EXPLORE THE SERIES: Women in the Hindu World joins the collection of academic texts produced by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Expand your understanding of the many facets of Hinduism with other books in the series, including: The Hindu Temple and Its Sacred Landscape and The Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation and Study Guide.
The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Sri Chaitanya Lilamrita
by Swami B. BodhayanThe Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu offers a brief history of the 15th century Vedic spiritual revolutionary, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who expounded Bhakti yoga, popularized the chanting of Hare Krishna, and is an incarnation of Lord Krishna.In this abridged biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami B. B. Bodhayan informs how Sri Krsna appeared in the form of Lord Chaitanya to deliver all fallen souls by distributing His love without discrimination. He taught his devotees how to surrender by His own example and how surrender is the soul of devotional practice. Many scriptures describe Lord Chaitanya as non-different from Lord Krsna; although Lord Chaitanya is Krsna Himself, He took the role of being His own devotee to deliver the people of the world. To spread the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Lord, which will ultimately give us the taste of divine love, Lord Chaitanya took the renounced order (sannyasa). Thus, He gave the order to everyone to spread His name: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. We have seen Lord Chaitanya, Himself, preach and inspire people to chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra. But personally, He did not give initiation. He also did not establish any temples. He taught us to spread sankirtana without having any ulterior motives. Our spiritual lineage all follow in the footsteps of Lord Chaitanya. If anyone follows the principle of &“first preserve then propagate,&” then one shall definitely be delivered from this material world.