- Table View
- List View
The Sound of Heaven: A Novel
by Joseph OlshanA powerful novel of family secrets, doomed passion, and the fragile love between a bisexual man and an emotionally damaged woman A talented musician, James arrives in Italy in 1983, just ahead of the panic in New York City caused by the burgeoning AIDS epidemic. In Rome, the Eternal City, he meets Diana. Their attraction is intense and immediate. A passionate relationship is born and soon they are inseparable, reveling in their shared love of art and Italian culture. But storm clouds hang over their union: dark secrets of abuse from his youth, her pain over her brother&’s death, and James&’s open admission that he has known other men sexually. Back in New York, their relationship falls apart. For James and Diana, it is time to move on; to come to terms with the ghosts that haunt their lives and family histories; to find new paths and new lovers. But the darkness of their relationship is inescapable and persistent even though their love is gone. James has received news that will impact both their lives in devastating ways: He is HIV positive. Joseph Olshan&’s The Sound of Heaven is an extraordinary novel, at once romantic and troubling, terrifying and compassionate.
Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour
by Dennis Davern Marti RulliThe shocking true crime story of a beloved Hollywood star gone too soon—told by the captain of the boat on which Natalie Wood spent her last night. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour is the long‑awaited, detailed account of events that led to the mysterious death of Hollywood legend Natalie Wood off the coast of Catalina Island on November 28, 1981. It is a story told by a haunted witness to that fateful evening: Dennis Davern, the young captain of Splendour, the yacht belonging to Wood and husband Robert Wagner. Davern initially backed up Wagner&’s version of that evening&’s events through a signed statement prepared by attorneys. But Davern&’s guilt over failing Natalie tormented him. Davern reached out to his old friend Marti Rulli, and little by little, at his own emotional pace, he revealed the details of his years in Wood&’s employ, of the fateful weekend that Natalie died, and of the events following her death that prevented him from telling the whole story—until now.
Goya's Glass
by Monika ZgustovaRichly imagined portraits celebrating three historical women—including Goya&’s muse—by an &“outstanding writer&” (Vaclav Havel). In &“a unique voice that owes as much to Kundera as to Flaubert, to Hasek as to Tolstoy,&” Czech writer Monika Zgustova brings to life the stories of three remarkable women in different countries and eras who defied the social restrictions of their day to find freedom of creative and personal expression (Juan Goytisolo, author of Exiled from Almost Everywhere). On her deathbed in the royal court of eighteenth-century Madrid, the Duchess of Alba, lover and portrait subject of Spanish painter Francisco Goya, recalls the passions of her youth. Living in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the nineteenth century, Bozena Nemcova defies the protocols of her arranged marriage and pursues love and the life of a published writer—until her readers condemn her as a danger to society. In 1922, writer Nina Berberova escapes persecution during the Russian Revolution and flees to Paris with poet Vladislav Khodasevich, where the intelligentsia naively covet the promise of the Soviet Union. Each woman attempts to pursue a life of passion, intimacy, and creativity in worlds that rarely accommodate female desire and ambition. In praising Goya&’s Glass, Vaclav Havel said: &“Monika Zgustova&’s concerns are close to my own: the fate of the individual in the hands of totalitarianism. She is an outstanding writer whose fiction invokes the politics and culture of people throughout history.&”
City of the Saints: A Scientific Romance
by D.J. ButlerIn this steampunk historical fantasy, literary legends choose sides in the oncoming Civil War in an action-filled adventure. City of the Saints is a four-part gonzo action steampunk adventure tale. 1859. War among the states looms. Sam Clemens, US Army agent, is tasked with getting Brigham Young&’s Kingdom of Deseret, with its air-ships and phlogiston guns, into the war on the side of the Union. Clemens rides west aboard the amphibious steam-truck the Jim Smiley, but his competition is fierce: the explorer Captain Richard Burton for Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and as agent of the clandestine Confederate leadership, Edgar Allan Poe, who travels disguised as an exhibitor of Egyptian antiquities, armed with cunning clockwork weaponry. But will even the hypnotic hypocephalus and the flesh-eating scarabs be enough when the machinating Danites spring their coup?
The Art of Listening
by Erich FrommThe renowned social psychologist and New York Times–bestselling author shares his insights on the process of psychotherapy, drawing on his own experience. Over the course of a distinguished career, Erich Fromm built a reputation as a talented speaker and gifted psychoanalyst—the first specialization of this polymath. The Art of Listening is a transcription of a seminar Fromm gave in 1974 to American students in Switzerland. It provides insight into Fromm&’s therapy techniques as well as his thoughts and mindset while working. In this intimate look at his profession, Fromm dismantles psychoanalysis and then reassembles it in a clear and engaging fashion. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.
Ending Poverty in America: How to Restore the American Dream
by David K. Shipler Thomas M. Shapiro Jared Bernstein Katherine S. Newman Elizabeth Warren Richard B. Freeman Jacob S. Hacker William Julius Wilson Michael Ferber Michael S. Barr John Karl Scholz Hugh B. Price Beth Shulman Harry J. Holzer Michael Sherraden Ronald B. Mincy Anita Brown-Graham Carol Mendez Cassell Martin Eakes Jack F. Kemp Sara McLanahan Melvin L. Oliver Peter Orszag Dennis K. Orthner Hillard Pouncy Ruston Seaman David Spickard Michael A. StegmanAn &“engrossing collection of rigorously researched articles&” from Elizabeth Warren, Jared Bernstein, William Julius Wilson, and more (Publishers Weekly). Can the wealthiest nation in the world do anything to combat the steadily rising numbers of Americans living in poverty—or the tens of millions of Americans living in &“near poverty&”? In this book, some of the country&’s most prominent scholars, businesspeople, and community activists answer with a resounding yes. Published in conjunction with one of the country&’s leading anti-poverty centers, Ending Poverty in America brings together respected social scientists, journalists, neighborhood organizers, and business leaders—both liberal and conservative—to tackle hot-button issues such as job creation, schools, housing, and family-friendly social policy, offering a template for a renewed public debate and a genuine effort to confront this urgent issue that undermines the long-term security of our nation. Contributors include: Jared Bernstein, Anita Brown-Graham, Carol Mendez Cassell, Richard Freeman, Angela Glover-Blackwell, Jacob Hacker, Harry Holzer, Jack F. Kemp, Ronald Mincy, Katherine S. Newman, Melvin L. Oliver, Dennis Orthner, David K. Shipler, Beth Shulman, Michael A. Stegman, Elizabeth Warren, William Julius Wilson.
The Ultimate Retirement Bucket List: 101 Fun Things to Do, Exciting Everyday Activities, and Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences for a Healthier, Happier Third Act
by Sarah BillingtonEnjoy your newfound freedom with 101 ideas and prompts for good living in retirement . . . Ahh, retirement. Finally, you can do what you want. But it can be a little overwhelming figuring out what that is! Expand your imagination and make the most of your free time with this guided bucket list packed full of ideas and prompts for meaningful, budget-friendly, memory-making activities. Retirement is the perfect opportunity to focus on YOU, and on what&’s important. Featuring 101 fun suggestions to build your hobbies, deepen your relationships, and enjoy some hard-earned leisure time, this book has something for everyone. Ideas you&’ll find inside include: creativity-sparking class suggestions * inspiration to reconnect with old friends * brain-boosting challenges * delicious and healthy cooking * exciting reading recommendations * things to do for a laugh * big daring dreams * and more
Rebuilding Post-War Britain: Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian Refugees in Britain, 1946–51
by Emily Gilbert'Germany wasn't really a place for settling in, because after the war it was pretty devastated, and there wasn't really a chance to start again, so I thought Id come to England. It was a case of people between 18 and 50 and you had to be fit because it was mainly physical work. For men, it was mines and agricultural work and brick factories and women, mainly textiles.''We were thinking it was temporary. We were thinking the war would restart with the west and the east, and that the west would win, and we would be going home. But, it wasn't like that.'After the Second World War, thousands of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian refugees, uprooted by war and conflict in their homelands, were recruited from Displaced Persons Camps in Germany to fill labor shortages in Britain. This unknown episode in Britain's immigration history is brought to life in this book, through interview extracts and documentary sources. Women were the first recruits to the so-called European Volunteer Worker Schemes, in which 25,000 Baltic men and women came to Britain between 1946 and 1951, to work in hospitals, textiles, agriculture, coal mining and other undermanned areas of industry. Initially regarding their stay in Britain as temporary, a majority of these Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian men and women remained in Britain their whole lives. Recently joined by more migrants from the Baltic States, this book tells the story of Britain's Baltic communities, from the earliest accounts of their arrival in Britain to the present day.
The King Arthur Mysteries: Arthur's Britain & Early Medieval World
by Timothy VenningAn up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the history of the Arthurian phenomenon - the imaginary and historical world of the great British warlord and one of the huge historical mysteries of early and medieval Britain. The Arthurian story, based on fact and fiction, is central to Britain's 'creation myth' and the concept of Britain's heroic past. This is a deeply researched and scholarly but essentially accessible history and analysis for general readers and specialists and based on an impressive array of sources including Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, rare medieval English, French and German sources, and archaeology - essential for modern historical research in early history. Modern and contemporary historiography is covered including 'debunking' treatments. The study surveys King Arthur in fact and fiction, his family, knights, and the legends that have grown up around them and developed to the enduring interest from history, literature to TV and film.
Lying in Bed
by Mark Edward HarrisWhen the lustful but impotent professor-novelist Lee Youngdahl encounters the beautiful Mariolena Sunwall, a student in his writing class, he learns of a novel she's eager to have published and decides he can help her land a book contract with one of New York's most prestigious publishing houses. But he has his own agenda and some extracurricular activities in mind. Working for Mariolena gives him the inspiration he needs to break out of his paralyzing writer's block, but that's not all he's hoping to recover from. While his wife Beth is away visiting their children on a seven-city tour, Youngdahl is determined to find a cure for his impotence and revisit his old Don Juan days.
The Kaiser's U-Boat Assault on America: Germany's Great War Gamble in the First World War
by Hans Joachim Koerver&“An absorbing work for those interested in both the Great War and early submarine-based strategic theory.&” —Naval History This deeply researched and engaging account of the use of U-Boats in the First World War focuses on both diplomatic and economic aspects as well as the tactical and strategic use of the U-boats. The book also examines the role played by US president Woodrow Wilson and his response to American shipping being sunk by U-boats—and how that ultimately forced his hand to declare war on Germany.Includes photos and illustrations &“An excellent illumination of a multiclass, militaristic, and diplomatically inept state trying to adapt to the realities of modern war and the exploitation of new technology—and catastrophically failing.&” —Naval History &“Highly recommended.&” —The Northern Mariner
Sacred Tears: Sentimentality in Victorian Literature
by Fred KaplanAn absorbing study of the evolution of sentiment in Victorian life and literatureWhat is sentimentality, and where did it come from? For acclaimed scholar and biographer Fred Kaplan, the seeds were planted by the British moral philosophers of the eighteenth century. The Victorians gained from them a theory of human nature, a belief in the innateness of benevolent moral instincts; sentiment, in turn, emerged as a set of shared moral feelings in opposition to both scientific realism and the more ego-driven energies of Romanticism. Sacred Tears investigates the profound ways in which seminal writers Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Thomas Carlyle were influenced by the philosophies of David Hume and Adam Smith, and by novelists of the same period. Exploring sentiment in its original context—one often forgotten or overlooked—Kaplan&’s study is a stimulating fusion of intellectual history and literary criticism, and holds no small importance for questions of art and morality as they exist today.
Malta: The Last Great Siege, 1940–1943
by David WraggThe strategic importance of Malta sitting astride both the Axis and Allied supply routes in the Mediterranean was obvious to both sides during WW2. As a result the Island became the focal point in a prolonged and dreadful struggle that cost the lives of thousands of servicemen and civilians. After setting the scene for the action, this book tells the story of the Island's stand against the might of the Axis powers that led to the unprecedented award of the George Cross to the whole island by King George VI. It not only covers the struggle by the British and Maltese forces on the ground but the vicious fighting in the skies above. This was indeed a siege involving every man and woman on the Island.David Wragg tells the story using many first -hand accounts and yet skillfully explains the strategic situation. The result is an inspiring book worthy of the courage shown by the Islanders and their defenders.
After the Fire: A Novel
by Jane RuleFive women at critical crossroads in their lives come together in this gem of a novel set on an island off the coast of Vancouver After the Fire introduces a quintet of very different women as they struggle with abandonment, loss, and new beginnings—both together and alone. There is Karen Tasuki, who recently separated from her partner and wonders if she&’ll ever get used to being alone . . . until she befriends Red, who cleans houses for the island&’s privileged inhabitants. Miss James is the eccentric Southern spinster born at the turn of the century. Milly Forbes is a woman whose husband &“went scot free after stealing twenty years of her life.&” And the sensible Henrietta &“Hen&” Hawkins yearns for her absent, ill husband. On a rural island that they dub a &“used-wife lot,&” the five heroines nurture one another as they cope with loneliness, death, and renewed life. Imbued with wit and compassion, After the Fire is a novel about women loving women and women helping women—and the bond that transcends age, race, and even gender.
O My America!: A Novel (Library Of Modern Jewish Literature Ser.)
by Johanna KaplanA delightfully funny and moving novel about the singular life of a cantankerous Jewish-American writer and anarchist troublemaker, as remembered by his daughter In 1972, sixty-four-year-old Ezra Slavin&’s heart gives out at an anti-war rally. A contentious and irascible Jewish-American writer, anarchist, and inadvertent guru to discontented youth, he leaves behind a large extended family of ex-wives, lovers, and children, most of whom had cut all ties with the infuriating intellectual provocateur years earlier. Out of the entire family, only one daughter, Merry, a journalist, can remember her father with her own critical, conflicted understanding, a saddened sympathy approaching love. As the day of his memorial approaches, she attempts to make sense of the puzzle of Ezra&’s life before all of its disparate, discordant elements come crashing together at the service.The award-winning author of Other People&’s Lives, Johanna Kaplan creates a vivid cast of unforgettable characters who reveal the disparity between Ezra&’s long-suffering, neglected family, his admiring friends, and the youthful hangers-on—and, most notably, in the outrageously enigmatic Ezra himself. At once hilarious and poignant, O My America! offers a fascinating evocation of a time and place in America, a satiric history of the immigrant Jewish experience, and a wonderful portrait of an exasperating yet endearing anti-hero pursuing his unique vision of the American dream.
Someone Was Here: Profiles in the AIDS Epidemic
by George WhitmoreThree powerful profiles of men and women whose lives were changed forever by the AIDS epidemic&“Some of my reasons for wanting to write about AIDS were altruistic, others selfish. AIDS was decimating the community around me; there was a need to bear witness. AIDS had turned me and others like me into walking time bombs; there was a need to strike back, not just wait to die. What I didn't fully appreciate then, however, was the extent to which I was trying to bargain with AIDS: If I wrote about it, maybe I wouldn't get it. My article ran in May 1985. But AIDS didn't keep its part of the bargain.&” —George Whitmore, The New York Times MagazinePublished at the height of the AIDS epidemic, Someone Was Here brings together three stories, reported between 1985 and 1987, about the human cost of the disease.Whitmore writes of Jim Sharp, a man in New York infected with AIDS, and Edward Dunn, one of the many people in Jim&’s support network, who volunteers with the Gay Men&’s Health Crisis organization in the city. Whitmore also profiles a mother, Nellie, who drives to San Francisco to bring her troubled son, Mike, home to Colorado where he will succumb to AIDS. Finally, Whitmore tells of the doctors and nurses working on the AIDS team in a South Bronx hospital, struggling to treat patients afflicted with an illness they don&’t yet fully understand.Expanded from reporting that originally appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Someone Was Here is a tragic and deeply felt look at a generation traumatized by AIDS, published just one year before George Whitmore&’s own death from the disease.
Make the Pool Your Gym: No-Impact Water Workouts for Getting Fit, Building Strength and Rehabbing from Injury
by Dr. Karl KnopfStep into the non-impact, total-body benefits of water exercise with workouts for general fitness, sports conditioning, cross-training, and more.Once used primarily for rehabilitation, water exercise has been proven to build strength, improve cardiovascular fitness and burn calories—all without the strain and trauma of land-based activities. This flexible training tool can help you:Improve muscular strengthIncrease flexibilityEnhance cardiovascular fitnessAlleviate painRehabilitate injuriesWith step-by-step instructions and clear photos, Make the Pool Your Gym shows how to create the effective and efficient workout best suited to your needs. Whether you’re a non-swimmer, an elite athlete or someone with a chronic condition, you can make a splash in your fitness level without even getting your hair wet.
Bombers Fly East: WWII RAF Operations in the Middle and Far East
by Martin W. BowmanHighlights include several chapters on the Mediterranean air forces, with special emphasis placed on the brave but futile attempts of the South African Air Force Liberator crews in Italy to supply Polish patriots during the Warsaw uprising. Individual chapters covering various aspects of the war in the Mediterranean, Malta and the Western Desert are told by the combatants themselves in crisp unerring detail. The author recounts the thrilling RAF Wellington and Liberator bombing and resupply operations from Italy, before following the action to the Far East and the combats between the RAF and the Japanese Imperial Air Force.The story of some of the bravest Blenheim sorties and dog fights with Japanese Zeroes are uniquely related by the crews and the Japanese pilots. Numerous stories of the part played by the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force Liberator crews operating over the jungles of iam, Malaya and Singapore feature, as does the story of the famous Yangtze Incident, which involved HMS Amethysts precarious and dangerous voyage down the Yangtze River in the face of opposition from Chinese forces.The book is illustrated with never before seen images of RAF, SAAF, RAAF and USAAF aircraft and their crews. It serves to commemorate the many acts of bravery, endurance and heroism that characterized this time.
The Berlin Raids: The Bomber Battle, Winter 1943–1944
by Martin MiddlebrookA &“meticulously documented&” account that covers the RAF&’s controversial attempt to end World War II by the aerial bombing of Berlin (Kirkus Reviews). The Battle of Berlin was the longest and most sustained bombing offensive against one target in the Second World War. Bomber Command Commander-in-Chief, Sir Arthur Harris, hoped to wreak Berlin from end to end and produce a state of devastation in which German surrender was inevitable. He dispatched nineteen major raids between August 1943 and March 1944—more than ten thousand aircraft sorties dropped over thirty thousand tons of bombs on Berlin. It was the RAF&’s supreme effort to end the war by aerial bombing. But Berlin was not destroyed and the RAF lost more than six hundred aircraft and their crews. The controversy over whether the Battle of Berlin was a success or failure has continued ever since. Martin Middlebrook brings to this subject considerable experience as a military historian. In preparing his material he collected documents from both sides (many of the German ones never before used); he has also interviewed and corresponded with over four hundred of the people involved in the battle and has made trips to Germany to interview the people of Berlin and Luftwaffe aircrews. He has achieved the difficult task of bringing together both sides of the Battle of Berlin—the bombing force and the people on the ground—to tell a coherent, single story. &“His straightforward narrative covers the 19 major raids, with a detailed description of three in particular, and includes recollections by British and German airmen as well as German civilians who weathered the storm.&” —Publishers Weekly
2,000 Years of Manchester
by Kathryn CoaseAn enlightening and entertaining portrait of the English city&’s history, legends, and lore, including photos and quotations: &“Excellent.&” —NB Magazine This is not a chronological history of Manchester filled with names and dates and figures. Rather, it is an eclectic mix of fact, fiction, legend, and myth that presents the history of Manchester from its beginnings as a Roman settlement, then as an insignificant market town, to its place as a city at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and beyond—capturing not only the often tragic lives, times, struggles, and beliefs of the city&’s ever-expanding population, but also its resilience and humor. Including photographs, illustrations, poems and quotes, the book ranges from the funny, including the stories of &“Spanking Roger&” and the &“Manchester Mummy&” to the tragic stories of &“Cholera&” and &“Mary Bradley&”, together with the bizarre &“Pig Tales&” and the criminal &“Scuttlers&” and &“Purrers.&” For anyone interested in urban, social, or English history, this is a well-researched, well-written, and, most importantly, entertaining and informative read.
The British Army in Italy 1917-1918
by Eileen Wilks John WilksAfter the Italian defeat at Caporetto, a Bri tish Expeditionary Force under General Plumer was despatched from France. This account describes the campaign which ende d after the victory at Vittorio Veneto over the Austrians. '
The Bloody Road to Tunis: Destruction of the Axis Forces in North Africa, November 1942–May 1943
by David RolfAs the Afrika Korps withdrew after a bruising defeat at El Alamein, it became apparent that Axis forces would not be able to maintain their hold over Libya. Rommel pulled his troops back to Tunisia, digging in along the Mareth Line, and turned westwards t
Rituals & Myths in Nursing: A Social History
by Claire LaurentThe rich history of British nursing comes to life in this lighthearted volume exploring the traditions and experiences of nurses across the 20th century. Nursing in the United Kingdom has been steeped in tradition since the Nurses Registration Act of 1919. Many of the customs and methods practiced today have been passed down through the generations. Rituals & Myths of Nursing collects amusing and poignant reminiscences of nursing through the 20th century to paint a picture of this unique profession from the first registration of SRN No 1, Ethel Gordon Fenwick, to the present day. Written with humor and a light touch, each chapter explores a theme with stories told by nurses from different eras. We have tales of alcohol prescribed to dilate blood vessels or simply for the feel-good factor. Enemas were less fun for everyone concerned, but highly common as they were given for almost all bowel conditions.
Scotland Yard’s Casebook of Serious Crime: Seventy-Five Years of No-Nonsense Policing
by Dick KirbyReal-life stories of cops vs. criminals from a veteran of the Metropolitan Police and author praised for his &“engaging style&” (Joseph Wambaugh, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Harbor Nocturne). Dick Kirby, former long-serving Met officer and bestselling author, recounts the policing of the twentieth century, when uniformed officers were visibly part of the community, patrolling their beats and protecting the public&’s property. Detectives detected, cultivating informants and, like their uniform counterparts, knowing the characters on their manor. What&’s more, they were backed by their senior officers, who had on-the-job experience. Drawing on both celebrated and lesser known cases, Kirby describes in plain speak crime-fighting against merciless gangsters, desperate gunmen, inept kidnappers, vicious robbers, daring burglars, and ruthless blackmailers. Using his firsthand knowledge, he highlights the often-unconventional methods used to frustrate and outwit hardened criminals—and the satisfaction gained from successful operations. Praise for Dick Kirby&’s previous books &“A gritty series of episodes from his time in the Met—laced with black humor and humanity.&” —East Anglian Daily Times &“A great read with fascinating stories and amusing anecdotes.&” —Suffolk Norfolk Life Magazine
Thrilled to Death Volume Two: Lookout, Paper Wings, and The Strait (Thrilled to Death)
by John J. Nance Les Abend Dom StasiBuckle your seatbelts for three high-flying aviation thrillers—written by experienced pilots including a New York Times–bestselling author. Lockout Whoever has electronically disconnected the flight controls of Pangia Flight 10 as it streaks toward the volatile Middle East may be trying to provoke a nuclear war. With time and fuel running out, the pilots are forced to put animosities aside and risk everything to wrest control from the electronic ghost holding them on a course to disaster. &“A wild ride through the night sky.&” —Capt. &“Sully&” Sullenberger, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Paper Wings When a boat is found adrift off Fort Lauderdale, the investigation leads to more than murder—the evidence points to an &“accident&” that downed a passenger jet in Bermuda. Capt. Hart Lindy&’s role in the NTSB investigation puts him on a flight path to danger trying to determine what really happened to Flight 63. &“A masterful melange of deadly mysteries and desperate acts.&” —John J. Nance, New York Times–bestselling authorThe Strait Upon learning that Swede Bergstrom, the hero who saved his life, has been killed during the commission of a crime, pilot Jake Silver agrees to follow Swede&’s mysterious and beautiful sister, Christina, on a search to clear her brother&’s name. Their odyssey will take them into the heart of darkness itself, dodging death every step of the way . . . &“The Strait interrupted my normal sleep cycle . . . a page-turner for sure.&” —Donald J. Porter, aviation historian and author of Flight Failure