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The Middlebrook Guide to the Somme Battlefields: A Comprehensive Coverage from Crécy to the World Wars
by Martin Middlebrook Mary MiddlebrookWhile best known as being the scene of the most terrible carnage in the WW1 the French department of the Somme has seen many other battles from Roman times to 1944. William the Conqueror launched his invasion from there; the French and English fought at Crecy in 1346; Henry Vs army marched through on their way to Agincourt in 1415; the Prussians came in 1870.The Great War saw three great battles and approximately half of the 400,000 who died on the Somme were British a terrible harvest, marked by 242 British cemeteries and over 50,000 lie in unmarked graves. These statistics explain in part why the area is visited year-on-year by ever increasing numbers of British and Commonwealth citizens. This evocative book written by the authors of the iconic First Day on the Somme is a thorough guide to the cemeteries, memorials and battlefields of the area, with the emphasis on the fighting of 1916 and 1918, with fascinating descriptions and anecdotes.
The War Against the Jews, 1933–1945: 19331945
by Lucy S. DawidowiczA history of how anti-Semitism evolved into the Holocaust in Germany: &“If any book can tell what Hitlerism was like, this is it&” (Alfred Kazin).Lucy Dawidowicz&’s groundbreaking The War Against the Jews inspired waves of both acclaim and controversy upon its release in 1975. Dawidowicz argues that genocide was, to the Nazis, as central a war goal as conquering Europe, and was made possible by a combination of political, social, and technological factors. She explores the full history of Hitler&’s &“Final Solution,&” from the rise of anti-Semitism to the creation of Jewish ghettos to the brutal tactics of mass murder employed by the Nazis. Written with devastating detail, The War Against the Jews is the definitive and comprehensive book on one of history&’s darkest chapters.
No Pockets in a Shroud: A Novel (Midnight Classics Ser.)
by Horace McCoyIn this ingenious novel, a passionate journalist takes on his city&’s rampant corruption Mike Dolan is a widely read columnist, but he&’s intensely frustrated by his newspaper&’s attitude toward the truth. All the articles he&’s most keen to run—about a rich youth escaping punishment in a drunk-driving accident, a supremacist group called the Crusaders, or a pennant-winning baseball team found to be throwing games—are precisely the ones his editor wants to shelve, caring only to keep lucrative advertising relationships intact. Dolan finally has had enough, and borrows money from friends to launch a magazine of his own. Although he&’s now free to boldly speak truth to power and pursue his most important scoops, the move comes with grave consequences for his love life—and his life, period. As Dolan steps on toes and dodges fists, No Pockets in a Shroud showcases McCoy&’s fast-paced, suspenseful style. This ebook features an extended biography of Horace McCoy.
The Central Powers on the Russian Front 1914–1918: Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives (Images of War)
by David BiltonArranged in five sections, one for each year of the War, this superbly illustrated book covers the fluid fighting that took place on the Russian Front from August 1914. The author describes how each year saw dramatic developments, notably actions in Poland, Tannenberg, the Carpathian passes in 1914, the 1915 operations in Galicia and the Baltic and the 1916 Brinsilov offensive. 1917 saw the collapse of the German army leading to the 1918 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and continued fighting along the Baltic and in the Ukraine. The informative text is complemented by over 200 mainly previously unpublished photographs. The Central Powers on the Russian Front 1914 1918 with its emphasis on the German Army's actions against Russia but covering operations on many fronts makes it especially valuable to those who seek greater insight into the wider conduct of The Great War away from the Western Front.
How to Prosper in the Coming Apocalypse
by Richard CurtisDoomsday preppers, don&’t panic! Profit! An investment guide and survivalist handbook for the end of the world. Here&’s your chance to make it to the 1 percent—after 99 percent of humanity has perished. Worried about inflation? Concerned about nuclear arms in the hands of terrorists? Nervous about fuel costs? This must-have book is all you need to gear up for windfall profits, while friends and in-laws lose their shirts. Watch the final convulsions of civilization from the veranda of your country estate. Invaluable strategies and suggestions include tips on: Finding and fortifying your rural hideaway. (Do keep a spare copy of the minefield map; don&’t run the toaster while the electric fence is on.)New careers in Armageddon—people are going to need marksmanship lessons, evacuation luggage, places to flee (group rates available for mass stampedes).Planning ahead and cashing in when the panic hits! The Scarcity Investment Plan—stock up now on valium, lead shields, and bankruptcy forms. (Full details available in our monthly newsletter—subscribe!)Doomsday etiquette—looting protocol, dressing for a food riot, bomb shelter decor, a basic getaway wardrobe. (Don&’t forget trinkets for the natives; do wear comfortable shoes.) When the trumpets sound—and the end of the world is nigh—remember to pick up your dry cleaning, cancel your cable, and call your mother. And don&’t forget to pack your copy of How to Prosper in the Coming Apocalypse.
Trinity Fields
by Bradford MorrowTwo Los Alamos boys forge a friendship in the shadow of their parents&’ history-changing work developing nuclear weaponsIn many ways, Los Alamos is an ideal place for best friends Brice McCarthy and Kip Calder to grow up. There&’s wilderness to explore; brilliant and fascinating people, including their own parents and neighbors; and a booming wartime economy. Still, the town was built for one purpose: to manufacture a weapon capable of total annihilation. As the two boys grow and the United States enters the Vietnam War, the psychic fallout of their parents&’ deeds pushes Brice and Kip toward opposite sides in the conflict—one, a soldier; the other, an antiwar activist—even as they come to love the same woman. Trinity Fields is a sweeping saga of American life in the atomic age that brilliantly illuminates the soul of a nation.
The Kaiser's Reluctant Conscript
by Dominik Richert&“Superb . . . a useful account of the First World War for anyone interested in the perspective of a member of Imperial Germany&’s Alsatian minority.&”—The Western Front Association As a conscript from Alsace, Dominik Richert realized from the outset of the First World War that his family would be at or near the front line. While he saw no alternative to performing his duty, he was a reluctant soldier who was willing to stand up to authority and to avoid risks—in order to survive. This thoughtful memoir of the conflict gives a lively picture of major events from the rare perspective of an ordinary German soldier. In 1914 Richert was involved in fighting on the French border and was then moved to northern France where he was in combat with Indian troops. In 1915 he was sent to the East and took part in the Battle for Mount Zwinin in the Carpathians and the subsequent invasion of the western parts of the Ukraine and of eastern Poland. In 1917 he took part in the capture of Riga before returning to the Western Front in 1918, where he saw German tanks in action at the battle of Villers-Brettoneux. No longer believing in the war, he subsequently crossed no-man&’s land and surrendered to the French, becoming a &“deserteur Alsacienne.&” The book ends with his return home early in 1919. This &“remarkable book . . . an absolute must-have&” gives a fascinating insight into the War as experienced by the Germans, and into the development of Richert&’s ambivalent attitude to it (The Great War Magazine).
Nude Men: A Novel
by Amanda FilipacchiThe internationally acclaimed debut of a novelist described by the New York Times Book Review as a &“lovely comic surrealist&”—a story of sex, love, and art found in the unlikeliest of places Jeremy Acidophilus is not really named after the yogurt culture—he just likes to tell people that he is. Actually, he thought of that line years ago but has never been brave enough to use it on someone—until he meets Lady Henrietta over a dish of green Jell-O in his new favorite coffee shop. A painter of naked men for Playgirl magazine who has taken her name from The Picture of Dorian Gray, Henrietta has the power to make Jeremy do all kinds of things he would not normally do, including disrobe for a stranger. He thinks that he must be falling in love. Think again, says Sara, the artist&’s outrageously precocious eleven-year-old daughter as she sets out to seduce the new model. From the gray streets of Manhattan to the pastel kaleidoscope of Disney World, Jeremy&’s journey of self-discovery is both irresistibly absurd and uncannily real. Everyone—from his cat Minou to a dancing magician named Laura to the agents hired by his mother to taunt him—has advice for Jeremy. Before he can hear any of it, though, he first needs to find out how to listen to himself.A witty and wild exploration of sexuality, creativity, and the paradoxes of self, Nude Men is the rare novel with the power to charm and shock in equal measure.
Psychoanalysis and Religion (The\terry Lectures Ser.)
by Erich FrommAn exploration of what religion and spirituality mean to us as humans, by the New York Times–bestselling author and social psychologist. In 1950, Erich Fromm attempted to free religion from its social function and to develop a new understanding of religious phenomena. Rather than analyzing what people believe in—whether they&’re monotheistic, polytheistic, or atheistic—Fromm presents an idea of what religion means in secular terms. In his timeless and straightforward style, Fromm unmasks the alienating effects of any authoritarian religion. He reveals how a humanistic religion is conducive to one&’s own humanity, and explains why psychoanalysis does not threaten religion. Whether you&’re a believer or a long-time atheist, Fromm&’s erudite analysis of religion is sure to reshape your concept of spirituality. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.
The Roman Republic (Religion & Classical Warfare)
by Christopher Matthew Matthew DillonEssays exploring the role religion played in ancient Roman warfare, including destroying enemies’ gods, wartime ceremonies, and live burials.Religion was integral to the conduct of war in the ancient world and the Romans were certainly no exception. No campaign was undertaken, no battle risked, without first making sacrifice to propitiate the appropriate gods (such as Mars, god of War) or consulting oracles and omens to divine their plans. Yet the link between war and religion is an area that has been regularly overlooked by modern scholars examining the conflicts of these times. This volume addresses that omission by drawing together the work of experts from across the globe. The chapters have been carefully structured by the editors so that this wide array of scholarship combines to give a coherent, comprehensive study of the role of religion in the wars of the Roman Republic.Aspects considered in depth will include: declarations of war; evocation and taking gods away from enemies; dedications and ceremonies; the cult of the legionary eagle; the role of women in Republican warfare; omens and divination; live burials of people in times of military crisis; and the rituals of the Roman triumph.PraiseReligion & Classical Warfare: The Roman Republic“The authors take a novel approach in looking at military history of the Roman Republic in terms of the relationship between warriors and religion. The ancient world was driven to a high degree by religious belief, even to the point of commanders relying on seers to advise them on the eve of battle.—Very Highly Recommended.” —Firetrench “A work of meticulous and detailed scholarship.” —Midwest Book Review
Splitting: A Novel
by Fay WeldonMultiple personality disorder gets a modern makeover in Fay Weldon&’s wickedly subversive, hilarious send-up of English traditions and divorceLady Angelica Rice used to be a teenage rock sensation called Kinky Virgin. She gave it up to marry fat, lazy, near-destitute Sir Edwin Rice—and that&’s when Angelica&’s &“splitting&” began: a chorus of four women in her head, each one demanding to be heard. Now, after eleven years—during which she spent all her money restoring Edwin&’s crumbling ancestral manse to its former glory—he&’s suing her for divorce. He accuses Angelica of making excessive sexual demands, refusing to bear children, taking drugs, and failing to provide proper food for his guests—all of which are lies. But what&’s worse is that she still loves him.Egged on by her avenging alter egos—meek Jelly, shattered Lady Rice, sexually insatiable Angel, and practical Angelica—she gets her revenge in this seminal novel about marriage, divorce, and one woman&’s liberating leap into free fall.
The Man Who Lived with a Giant: Stories from Johnny Neyelle, Dene Elder
by Alana Fletcher Morris NeyelleAn Indigenous oral history collection featuring traditional Dene stories and personal stories from a Dene elder.Our parents always taught us well. They told us to look on the good side of life and to accept what has to happen.The Man Who Lived with a Giant is a collection of traditional and personal stories told by Johnny Neyelle, a Dene Elder from Déline, Northwest Territories. Johnny used storytelling to teach Dene youth and others to understand and celebrate Dene traditions and knowledge. Johnny’s voice makes his stories accessible to readers young and old, and his wisdom reinforces the right way to live: in harmony with people and places. Storytelling forms the core of Dene knowledge-keeping, making this a vital book for Dene people of today and tomorrow, researchers working with Indigenous cultures and oral histories, and all those dedicated to preserving Elders’ stories.“An invaluable road map, a gift from Johnny Neyelle that will help guide the people of Denedeh and everyone else to a positive life.” —Deborah Shatz, Alberta Native News“I am in awe of what you are holding and witnessing with The Man Who Lived with a Giant. Reminiscent of George Blondin’s When the World was New and Trail of the Spirit, this book is not only a treasure for the people of Denendeh, it is a garden of renewal for the world to learn from.” —Richard Van Camp, Writer“Johnny’s traditional and life stories are nothing short of exquisite, offering an important window into Dene traditions and history. What a find!”—Ruth DyckFehderau, Writer, The Sweet Bloods of Eeyou Istchee: Stories of Diabetes and the James Bay Cree
Knowing When to Stop: A Memoir
by Ned RoremA thrilling, poignant, and bold memoir of the early years and accomplishments—both musical and sexual—of renowned contemporary composer Ned RoremNed Rorem, arguably the greatest composer of art songs that America has produced in more than a hundred years, is also revered as a diarist and essayist whose unexpurgated writings are at once enthralling, enlightening, and provocative. In Knowing When to Stop, one of the most creative American artists of our time offers readers a colorful narrative of his first twenty-seven years, expertly unraveling the intriguing conundrum of who he truly is and how he came to be that way. As the author himself writes, &“A memoir is not a diary. Diaries are written in the heat of battle, memoirs in the repose of retrospect.&” But careful thought and consideration have not dulled the sharp point of Rorem&’s pen as he writes openly of his life and loves, his missteps and triumphs, and offers frank and fascinating portraits of the luminaries in his circle: Aaron Copland, Truman Capote, Jean Cocteau, Martha Graham, Igor Stravinsky, Billie Holliday, Paul Bowles, and Alfred C. Kinsey, to name a few. The result is an early life story that is riveting, moving, and intimate—a magnificent self-portrait of one of the great minds of this age.
Fire from Heaven: A Novel Of Alexander The Great: A Virago Modern Classic (The Novels of Alexander the Great #1)
by Mary RenaultNew York Times Bestseller and Man Booker Prize Finalist: A novel of ancient Greece by the author Hilary Mantel calls &“a shining light.&” Alexander the Great stands alone as a leader and strategist, and Fire from Heaven is Mary Renault&’s unsurpassed dramatization of the formative years of his life. His parents fight for their precocious son&’s love: On one side, his volatile father, Philip, and on the other, his overbearing mother, Olympias. The story tells of the conqueror&’s two great bonds—to his horse, Oxhead, and to his dearest friend and eventual lover, Hephaistion—and of the army he commands when he is barely an adult. Coming of age during the battles for southern Greece, Alexander the Great appears in all of his colors—as the man who first takes someone&’s life at age twelve and who swiftly eliminates his rivals as soon as he comes to power—and emerges as a captivating, complex, larger-than-life figure.Fire from Heaven is the first volume of the Novels of Alexander the Great trilogy, which continues with The Persian Boy and Funeral Games.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Mary Renault including rare images of the author.&“Mary Renault is a shining light to both historical novelists and their readers. She does not pretend the past is like the present, or that the people of ancient Greece were just like us. She shows us their strangeness; discerning, sure-footed, challenging our values, piquing our curiosity, she leads us through an alien landscape that moves and delights us.&” —Hilary Mantel
Airborne Landing to Air Assault: A History of Military Parachuting
by Nikolaos TheotokisA complete history of paratroopers and their role in modern war, including a glossary and photos.Many books have been written about military parachuting, particularly about famous operations like Crete and Arnhem in the Second World War and notable units like the British Parachute Regiment and the US 101st Airborne Division, but no previous book has covered the entire history of the use of the parachute in warfare. In this valuable study, Nikolaos Theotokis traces in vivid detail the development of parachuting over the last hundred years and describes how it became a standard tactic in twentieth-century conflicts. As well as depicting a series of historic parachute operations all over the world, he recognizes the role of airmen in the story, for they were the first to use the parachute in warfare when they jumped from crippled planes in combat conditions.Adapting the parachute for military purposes occurred with extraordinary speed during the First World War and, by the time of the Second World War, it had become an established technique for special operations and offensive actions on a large scale. The range of parachute drops and parachute-led attacks was remarkable, and all the most dramatic examples from the world wars and lesser conflicts are recounted in this graphic and detailed study. The role played by parachute troops as elite infantry is also a vital part of the narrative, as is the way in which techniques of air assault have evolved since the 1970s.
Referred Pain: Stories
by Lynne Sharon SchwartzEveryone has a face that they show to the outside world—but our thoughts, fears, and perversions lie just beneath&“Referred pain&” describes the sensation of pain, not at the actual point of injury, but somewhere else in the body. This disorientation of the senses is felt, in one way or another, by many of the characters in this collection from Lynne Sharon Schwartz, one of America&’s foremost chroniclers of contemporary life. In the title novella, a son of Holocaust survivors circumvents his discomfort over his parents&’ history through a Kafkaesque series of dental procedures. In another story, a professor&’s sexual attraction to one of his students leads him down a twisted path of misplaced identity. Laced with Schwartz&’s satirical, acidly intelligent wit, Referred Pain displays the peak of her ability.
Blood Orange: A Novel
by Troy BlacklawsTroy Blacklaws&’s follow-up to his internationally acclaimed Karoo Boy is the bittersweet tale of a South African boy coming of age during apartheidGecko&’s childhood is one of sheltered, almost magical innocence on a farm in Natal. He spends his days taking barefoot expeditions with his dogs and his nights listening to Springbok Radio, unaware of the cruel force in his life that apartheid will soon become. With the start of high school in the Cape, Gecko is thrust into a political and personal awakening that is both tragic and heartfelt. With conscription into the South African army looming over him, Gecko&’s future is as uncertain as his country&’s. Blood Orange evokes the absurdity, longing, and fear of growing up white in the last decades of apartheid.
George Mills (American Literature (dalkey Archive) Ser.)
by Stanley ElkinAn age-old family curse fuels this National Book Critics Circle Award winner: &“Elkin&’s imagination should be declared a national landmark&” (Paul Auster).Since the time of the First Crusade, every generation of the Mills family has been consigned by fate to an unfulfilling, servile existence. And each successive Mills has had a son, George, to perpetuate the family plight through history. Whether a stable hand in feudal Europe or a prisoner in an Ottoman harem, each George Mills falls prey to his hereditary misfortune—until the modern George Mills threatens to reverse this fate once and for all. Written with penetrating insight and wit, George Mills is an engrossing story of one man&’s salvation, and an unforgettable defense of free will in even the most overwhelming of circumstances. This ebook features rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate and from the Stanley Elkin archives at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Complete Victoria Cross: A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain's Highest Award for Gallantry
by Kevin BrazierThis fully revised paperback edition of the complete chronological record of VC holders is an essential work of reference for every student of military history. All the British and Commonwealth servicemen who have been awarded the highest honour for exceptional acts of bravery and self-sacrifice are commemorated here. The first VCs awarded for the Crimean War and in the nineteenth-century colonial wars are described, as are the VCs awarded in the world wars of the twentieth century and the most recent VCs awarded during present-day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The extraordinary exploits recounted in this fascinating book make unforgettable reading.
The Art Fair: A Novel
by David LipskyA poignant and painfully funny novel about the New York art world by the acclaimed author of Although of Course You End Up Becoming YourselfFor two first-class years, Joan Freeley had it all: the perfect family, the best art dealer in Manhattan, and the admiration of famous friends. Her adoring husband and two handsome sons attended her first gallery show in matching khakis and blue blazers. &“An Interesting Talent Makes Its Debut,&” declared the New York Times. Then, as if her success were nothing more than a booking error, Joan&’s life got downgraded. A brutal divorce led to paintings too bitter to sell and a career stuck firmly in coach. Unable to see her suffer alone any longer, Joan&’s teenage son Richard leaves his father and older brother in Los Angeles and moves in to her one-bedroom apartment in SoHo. At the gallery openings where she used to be a star, Richard discovers just how much his mother&’s light has dimmed. She is an artist who is not showing—she might as well be invisible. To acknowledge her is to acknowledge the thin line between success and failure in a world as superficial as it is intoxicating. Richard immediately devotes himself to returning his mother to her former glory. Everything about him—the clothes he wears, the jokes he makes, the college he attends—is calculated to boost Joan&’s reputation. But as the years go by and the galleries keep sending back her slides, Richard has to ask: Who wants Joan Freeley&’s resurrection more—him or her? And when will his own life start?
Dances with Spirits: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
by Calvin HelinScientific and technological advances have provided the means for destroying planetary life, but does humanity have the wisdom necessary to choose survival? While facing impending danger, cultures worldwide can benefit by exploring tried-and-true perspectives on humankind&’s place in the world. One proven measure for greater balance comes through reclaiming the spirit-infused views that ensured the survival of our ancestors for millennia.
To Save a Son
by Brian FreemantleDesperate for worldwide success, a businessman places himself in the hands of the unforgiving mafiaBorn a refugee, Eddie Franks intends to live like a Rockefeller. He wants wealth, not for its own sake but because it means never having to be like his father, who fled Nazi Germany only to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. For most of his childhood, Eddie was raised by the Scargos, an American family whose patriarch kept his real son, Nicky, in constant competition with Eddie. Their battle has never ended. Though now an internationally successful hotel magnate, Eddie still feels the need to outdo Nicky. At his stepbrother&’s suggestion, he goes into business in the Americas, opening a cruise company in the Caribbean. Expansion is the name of the game, and Nicky offers financing, with strings attached. The money is an investment from organized crime, and Eddie is unaware that the interest will be paid in blood. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Not Exactly What I Had in Mind
by Roy Blount Jr.A funny and incisive collection of essays on oddities of life in the 1980s, from one of America&’s most cherished humoristsFirst published in 1985, Not Exactly What I Had In Mind is Roy Blount Jr.&’s smart and witty examination of the era&’s most glaring absurdities—from the ever-growing deficit under then-president Reagan to the Game Theory–like levels of strategy required to pack for a vacation. In &“Testimonial, Head-on,&” Blount offers a loving ode to the virtues of full-bodied beer. In &“Who You Gonna Call?&” he enumerates the indefatigable charms of Bill Murray. And in &“What You Personally Can Do about the Federal Deficit,&” he proposes a brilliantly simple and populist way to reduce government debt—and probably make your neighborhood post office very happy in the process.Powered by Roy Blount&’s irresistible sense of humor, Not Exactly What I Had in Mind revels in Reagan-era topics, but with a humor that is truly timeless.
Sex and the Office
by Helen Gurley BrownHelen Gurley Brown adds dazzle to dull office days in her follow-up to the phenomenal bestseller Sex and the Single Girl The classic book from 1965 tells what it was really like to be the girl in a Mad Men–style workplace. Sex and the Office became the definitive, comprehensive guide to working life for an entire generation of women. Alongside advice about how to deal with your boss, manage office politics, and make the most of personal and professional opportunities in the office, Helen Gurley Brown also shares stories from her own office days. A classic of its time, this stands as a frank look at how to get ahead, not just through working hard but through playing hard, too.
Enemy and Brother
by Dorothy Salisbury DavisConvicted of murdering a fellow journalist, a writer returns to Greece to find the truth in Dorothy Salisbury Davis&’s stunning, richly atmospheric novel of deadly political intrigueJohn Eakins returns to Greece, seemingly to pursue Byron scholarship. But his deeper concern is to find out the truth about the murder of an American newspaperman named Alexander Webb, killed during the Greek Communist rebellion seventeen years before. Eakins had been implicated in that murder. Now, his search takes him from Athens to the primitive village of Kaléa, where he finds Paul Stephanou, a blind man also implicated in the Webb murder. Once enemies, now ostensibly friends, they journey together into an old, unforgetting part of Greece, becoming involved in new intrigue and placing themselves in mortal danger as they uncover the origins of the plot that killed Webb.