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Giovanni's Gift
by Bradford MorrowThe domestic bliss of an architect and his wife is threatened by an unseen tormentor in this literary thriller by the award-winning author of The Forgers. When Grant&’s marriage begins to fall apart, he reflects upon the perfect lives of his uncle Henry and aunt Edmé, self-sufficient intellectuals who live blissfully together in a home built by Henry in the high Rocky Mountains. But when Henry and Edmé tell Grant of the terrible nighttime incidents that occurred on their property and culminated in the gruesome murder of one of their close friends, Grant moves in with them to help save an ideal he holds dear. Giovanni&’s Gift is a modern reinvention of the myth of Pandora&’s box, and a harrowing meditation on the allure of the American landscape—and the menace that lurks beneath the beauty of its surfaces.
Bread for the Baker's Child: A Novel
by Joseph CaldwellA nun struggles to keep her order afloat while her imprisoned brother fights for survival in this &“elegiac tale of tragedy and redemption&” (Booklist). At first glance, the siblings at the heart of Bread for the Baker&’s Child couldn&’t seem more different. Rachel is a devoted nun, while Phillip is a faithless accountant in prison for embezzlement. It soon becomes apparent that the two share a painful past, and though separately confined, their spirits and struggles intersect dramatically. Rachel attempts to both run her order and tend to a beloved Mother General on the brink of death. Meanwhile, Phillip comes to the aid of a vulnerable inmate, precipitating a romantic bond that could prove fatal. Intricately structured and psychologically acute, this is a gripping novel exploring the balance between good and evil.
A Perfect Divorce: A Novel
by Avery CormanKaren and Rob Burrows have always handled just about everything well—but what about divorce?Karen and Rob were always great partners, and together they built a life filled with success, good friends, and a beautiful son, Tommy. But as they each get caught up in the stresses of their careers, they realize they lack one thing—real, enduring love for each other. Can two parents who respect each other manage a pain-free separation? Mr. and Mrs. Burrows will try, even if it means asking their confused son to manage as perfectly as they do. With the insight and compassion of his classic Kramer vs. Kramer, in A Perfect Divorce Avery Corman reveals the raw hurt of a broken family, the effort of building newly separate lives, and the collateral damage even the most amiable divorce can inflict. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Avery Corman including rare images from the author&’s personal collection.
Searches & Seizures
by Stanley ElkinThree novellas filled with humor and insight by one of America&’s modern literary mastersIn Searches & Seizures, Elkin tells the story of the criminal, the lovelorn, and the grieving, each searching desperately for fulfillment—while on the verge of receiving much more than they bargained for. Infused with Elkin&’s signature wit and richly drawn characters, &“The Bailbondsman,&” &“The Making of Ashenden,&” and &“The Condominium&” are the creations of a literary virtuoso at the pinnacle of his craft. 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.
Stormtrooper on the Eastern Front: Fighting with Hitler's Latvian SS
by Mintauts BlosfeldsThe memoir of a reluctant soldier coerced into military service by the Nazis and driven from his homeland by the Russians. Following the conquest of his native Latvia by the Nazis, Mintauts Blosfelds was given the stark choice: service in the SS or forced labor in a slave camp. So he &“volunteered&” to fight for the Nazis. In this memoir he describes his training and how he became an instructor before being sent into Russia. He nearly perished during the terrible winter of 1943–44 after being wounded and finding himself with his friend lying dead on top of him. As the tide turned, the Russians advanced remorselessly through. He would be wounded twice more and awarded the Iron Cross for bravery. With German resistance collapsing, he had to flee for his life—capture by the Russians meant almost certain death. He surrendered to the Americans, but describes the neglect he suffered at their hands. Unable to return to Latvia, which was now occupied by the Russians, he became a Displaced Person, eventually settling in the UK. This book tells his compelling story.
Voyage to Somewhere: A Novel
by Sloan WilsonFrom the bestselling author of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, a World War II novel that is as thrilling as it is true to life Hoping to draw a nice, lengthy shore duty after two years at sea, Lieutenant Barton is instead told that he is being sent right back out, this time as captain of a supply ship sailing from California to New Guinea and stopping at every small island in between. Homesick for his wife, he has no choice but to accept the assignment and a crew of twenty-six landlubbers whose last names all begin with W. Their first load of cargo? Pineapples destined for Hawaii. Life aboard the one-hundred-eighty-foot SV-126 is never dull. When Barton isn&’t battling gale-force winds and monstrous waves, he is coping with seasick sailors and budding rivalries that threaten to turn mutinous. Hanging over the ship like a storm cloud is the knowledge that the world is at war and the enemy is never far away. Whether Lieutenant Barton and his crew are fighting torpedoes and typhoons or writing letters to loved ones, Voyage to Somewhere offers a unique and page-turning perspective on what the Second World War was really like.
Hitler's Fortresses in the East: The Sieges of Ternopol', Kovel', Poznan and Breslau, 1944–1945
by Alexey Isaev‘Fortresses must carry out the same tasks as the fortresses of old….They must allow themselves to be surrounded and thus tie down as many enemy forces as possible.’ So Hitler directed in March 1944 and, in so doing, sealed the fate of Ternopol', Kovel', Poznan and Breslau, cities in the Ukraine and Poland that were in the path of the Red Army’s advance towards Nazi Germany. German forces, under orders to resist at all costs, adopted all-round defence and struggled to hold out while waiting for relief – which never came. In this gripping and original book, Alexey Isaev describes, in vivid detail, what happened next –intense and ruthless fighting, horrendous casualties among soldiers and civilians, the fabric of these historic cities torn apart. His account is based on pioneering archival research which offers us an unrivalled insight into the tactics on both sides, the experience of the close-quarter fighting in the streets and houses, and the dreadful aftermath. At the same time he shows why these cities were chosen and how the wider war passed them by as the Wehrmacht retreated and the battlefront moved westward. Each of these cities suffered a similar fate to Stalingrad but their story has never been told before in such graphic and circumstantial detail.
Sunflower (Virago Modern Classics Ser. #606)
by Rebecca WestA beautiful actress of the 1920s faces painful decisions about her lovers and her future in Rebecca West&’s posthumously published semi-autobiographical novel Star of the stage, Sunflower has everything but the attention she craves from her long-time—and married—lover, Lord Essington, a brilliant and intense man occupied with more intellectual thoughts. Eager for a more rewarding experience, Sunflower must decide whether another &“great man,&” the Australian Francis Pitt, will offer a more traditional relationship and happiness. Written during West&’s own psychoanalysis and never finished, Sunflower ponders topics of the power struggle between the sexes, and a woman&’s freedom to determine her romantic destiny. Drawn heavily from West&’s own relationships with H.G. Wells and Lord Beaverbrook, this roman à clef gives a glimpse of the author&’s own struggle to find a satisfying relationship.
The Key: The Clock Strikes Twelve, The Key, And She Came Back (The Miss Silver Mysteries #8)
by Patricia WentworthA scientist flees Germany—but meets death in a little English village: From &“a first-rate storyteller&” (The Daily Telegraph). Michael Harsch&’s life has never been easy. A German Jew, he fled his country when Hitler came to power, escaping the concentration camps by the skin of his teeth. His wife and daughter were not so lucky, and he vowed revenge on the Fuhrer through science. He set to work on a marvelous new explosive that, in the hands of the British army, could silence the German guns forever. But on the eve of his great triumph, the scientist is struck down. The government asks Miss Silver, the dowdy detective, to help solve the murder and recover the valuable explosive. Was Harsch killed by a half-mad opponent to the war effort, or was it one of Hitler&’s undercover agents who pulled the trigger?
Emperors of Rome: From Tiberius to Theodora, AD 14–548 (History of Terror)
by Paul ChrystalAs with everything else, there were good and bad Roman emperors. The good, like Trajan (98117), Hadrian (117138), Antoninus Pius (138161) and Marcus Aurelius (161180) were largely civilized and civilizing. The bad, on the other hand, were sometimes nothing less than monsters, exhibiting varying degrees of corruption, cruelty, depravity and insanity. It is a sobering thought that these ogres were responsible for governing the greatest civilization in the world, simultaneously terrorizing, brutalizing and massacring. Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Commodus, Caracella, Elagabalus, Septimius Severus, Diocletian, Maximinus Thrax, Justinian and Theodora all had more bad days than good; they are all covered in this book.Their exploits have, of course, been well documented since classical times but much of the coverage can only be called gratuitous, sensationalist or tabloid. This book is different because it is based on primary sources and evidence and attempts to balance out the shocking with any mitigating aspects in each of their lives. Many of our monsters have some redeeming factors and it is important that these are exposed if a true record of their lives is to be conveyed. The book also examines how each of the twelve has been treated for posterity in literature, theatre and film, and the lessons intended to be drawn from popular culture through the ages.
Armoured Warfare and the Waffen-SS, 1944–1945: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)
by Anthony Tucker-JonesA pictorial history of Nazi Germany&’s Waffen-SS panzer and panzergrenadier divisions during the final years of World War II. Over 150 wartime photographs give a graphic snapshot of the dramatic tank battles fought by the Waffen-SS panzer and panzergrenadier divisions during 1944-5 on both the Eastern and Western fronts. By this stage of the Second World War these formations were at the height of their powers and took part in major armoured operations in Russia, France, the Netherlands, and Poland. As the Wehrmacht retreated the Waffen-SS played an increasingly important role. Most notably their panzers prolonged the war by staving off defeat at Arnhem and Wolomin, stabilizing both the Western and Eastern fronts at critical points in the fighting. The photographs and the accompanying narrative record the contrasting conditions they faced on each battlefront and the weapons and equipment they used, especially the armored vehicles, including the Tiger and Panther tanks, which were among the best designs the Germans produced. But they also record the crimes committed by members of the Waffen-SS against civilians and captured enemy soldiers during the series of brutal, often desperate operations mounted to stave off German defeat. Anthony Tucker-Jones&’s photographic history is a fascinating introduction to these elite units during the final phase of the fighting in Europe.
The Predators
by Brian FreemantleA sinister ring of child abductors sends the FBI on a frenzied manhunt to save an ambassador&’s daughter before it&’s too lateThe people in the car don&’t recognize Mary as anything special. They see the skinny ten-year-old as just another young girl on the streets of Brussels, not as the daughter of a US ambassador. The black car stops and Mary, used to having a chauffeur, climbs aboard. Before she knows what&’s happening, she is on her way to a mansion in Antwerp with a specially designed, child-sized cell. She has been abducted. Now, a team of FBI agents, along with Europe&’s foremost psychological profiler, are on the hunt for the girl&’s captors. They must find her before time runs out and Mary is murdered—or worse. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Tank Wrecks of the Western Front, 1940–1945 (Images of War)
by Anthony Tucker-JonesThis unique pictorial history captures the many types of armored vehicles used across the Western Front of WWII—through soldiers’ photos of enemy wreckage.Early in the Second World War, victorious German soldiers regularly photographed and posed with destroyed or abandoned Allied tanks. When the tide of the war turned against them in 1944, their wrecked Panzers were photographed by victorious Allies. The practice created an extraordinary record of the thousands of tank wrecks that littered the battlefields across the Western Front. In this volume, Anthony Tucker-Jones has selected a fascinating collection of these historic images, forming a rare visual guide to the fate of World War II armor. All the principal tanks of the conflict are represented: Renaults, Matildas, Churchills, Shermans, Panzer IVs, Panthers and Tigers along with many others. Tanks Wrecks of the Western Front provides insight into the rapid development of tank design during the war, and shows how vulnerable these armored vehicles were to antitank guns and air attacks.
The Birds Fall Down (Virago Modern Classics Ser.)
by Rebecca WestA &“compelling . . . oddly intriguing&” psychological thriller set in fin-de-siècle Paris from the New York Times–bestselling author of Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (The New York Times). During early revolutionary stirrings in Russia, after an unexpected turn of events, Laura Rowan, the coddled granddaughter of an exiled British nobleman, becomes her grandfather&’s sole companion on a fateful train ride. In France, a young revolutionary approaches Laura and her grandfather with information that will turn her world upside down, and their travels become a thrilling journey into the heart of the struggle against Tsarist Russia. In this suspenseful novel, West brings to life a battle between entitled imperials and the passionate, savvy communist revolutionaries who dare to face them.
Death of an Old Sinner (The Mrs. Norris Mysteries #1)
by Dorothy Salisbury DavisA Grand Master of crime fiction, Dorothy Salisbury Davis introduces the redoubtable crime-solving Scottish housekeeper Mrs. Norris in this thrilling tale of family secrets and murder General Ransom Jarvis is writing his memoirs about a distinguished career that spanned five continents and three wars. Along the way, he stumbles upon a scandal about a philandering ancestor—America&’s ambassador to England who went on to become president of the United States. But a very clear and present danger embroils the irascible retired general in a deepening quagmire of deceit, fraud, and murder. Enter Mrs. Norris, the housekeeper who has been almost a mother to Ransom&’s son since he was a boy. Jimmie is currently running for governor of New York and enjoying his budding relationship with sculptor Helene Joyce. A sudden death changes everything, plunging Jimmie and Mrs. Norris into a bizarre case headed up by Jasper Tully, chief investigator for the Manhattan district attorney&’s office. With more lives at stake, the trio follows lead after lead into a web of crime that only the canny housekeeper can clean up in the nick of time.Death of an Old Sinner is the first novel in Dorothy Salisbury Davis&’s Mrs. Norris Mysteries, which also include A Gentleman Called, a finalist for the Mystery Writers of America&’s Edgar Award; Old Sinners Never Die; and &“Mrs. Norris Observes,&” a short story in the collection Tales for a Stormy Night.Death of an Old Sinner is the 1st book in the Mrs. Norris Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Reichsbank Robbery
by Colin Roderick FultonHistorical fact meets heart-stopping action in a World War II thriller full of &“intrigue and fast paced action . . . sure to appeal to fans of wartime fiction&” (Heritage and History). In February 1945, the US Air Force launched the largest daytime bombing offensive against Berlin, dropping over 2,250 tons of bombs on the German capital. Germany&’s state bank—the Reichsbank—received twenty-one direct hits, leaving the building badly damaged and the priceless contents of its vaults at risk. It was just the chance SS accountant Maj. Friedrich Schonewille was waiting for . . . Having never believed in the Fuhrer or the Reich, Schonewille is a man out for himself. Recruiting his own father, brother, and his secret Jewish wife, he concocts a plan to get rich as his homeland falls. First, they&’ll have to get the goods. Then, they&’ll have to stay ahead of the Nazis. Then, they&’ll have to keep from getting captured by either the Allies or Russians. And then all they have to do is not turn on each other . . . In this breakneck, &“visually evocative novel&” Colin Roderick Fulton imagines a scenario that could have easily happened in the dying days of the war (The Historical Novels Review).
Accrington's Pals: The 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment and the 158th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
by Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson's new history tells the story of the Great War as it was experienced by the men of the 11th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment (Accrington Pals), the 158th (Accrington and Burnley) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Howitzers) and their families. Using information gathered from years of painstaking research in national and local archives and in private collections, he reconstructs, in vivid detail, the role played by these men on the Western Front. His book, which draws extensively on diaries, memoirs and letters, follows both infantry and artillerymen into the British armys bloodiest battles of the war, giving a graphic close-up view of their experiences. It is a moving record of the wartime service of a select group of local men during a time of unprecedented conflict.
The Indestructible Jews: The Indestructible Jews, The Jews In America, And Appointment In Jerusalem
by Max I. DimontFrom the author of Jews, God, and History, this comprehensive history of the Jewish people is &“an epic drama, searching and nobly conceived&” (Publishers Weekly). A compelling and readable account of the four thousand year history of a people that spans the globe and transcends the ages. From the ancient and simple faith of a small tribe to a global religion with adherents in every nation, the path of the Jews is traced through countless expulsions and migrations, the great tragedy of the Holocaust, and the joy of founding a homeland in Israel. Putting the struggle of a persecuted people into perspective, Max Dimont asks whether the tragic sufferings of the Jews have actually been the key to their survival, as other nations and races vanished into obscurity. Here is a book for Jews and non-Jews to enjoy, evoking a proud heritage while offering a hopeful vision of the future.
Sex and Virtue: An Introduction to Sexual Ethics (Catholic Moral Thought #2)
by John S. Grabowski&“Grabowski offers a compelling rationale for the virtue of chastity that takes into account the sensibilities and challenges of the contemporary world&” (Raymond Dennehy, Professor Emeritus, University of San Francisco). &“A welcome addition to an often contentious literature,&” Sex and Virtue provides a theological foundation for consideration of the moral dimensions of human sexuality from a Roman Catholic perspective (Catholic Books Review). In the hope of contributing to the ongoing renewal of moral theology sparked by the Second Vatican Council, John S. Grabowski discusses the systemic application of biblical and virtue-based categories on the topic of sexuality. A number of issues are examined including: the historical setting regarding attitudes and practices concerning sexuality; key biblical, historical, and contemporary resources for articulating a virtue-based approach to sexual ethics; current issues with which such an approach must wrestle; and some description of how to foster growth in moral virtue, particularly chastity. Ultimately, Sex and Virtue offers a compelling vision of human sexuality in the light of Christian faith that can provide a viable alternative to dominant cultural ideologies that trivialize sex and concrete practices that can enable growth in moral freedom. &“Sex and Virtue is a splendid result of Grabowski&’s response to the call of Vatican II to find scriptural support for Catholic moral teaching. The ecumenical potential of this book is tremendous; Christians can only marvel at the resources in scripture for establishing sexual morality—a morality that puts sexuality in service of love, life, and salvation.&” —Janet E. Smith, former professor of moral theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary of Detroit
Kissing Cousins: A Memory
by Hortense CalisherHortense Calisher&’s evocative memoir bristles with intelligence and youthful inquiryKissing Cousins recalls the author as a teenager: peppy, earnest, and a bit self-important. Hortense Calisher documents her family&’s surprising history as Southern Jews adrift in New York. Finding her new city and school boorish, the young Calisher takes solace in the enduring friendship she develops with Katie Pyle, a gregarious nurse turned &“kissing cousin&” fifteen years Calisher&’s senior. Katie, an unmarried woman, possesses her own secret, depicted here with a novelist&’s touch for the dramatic. Kissing Cousins tackles matters of aging, life, and death with the sensitivity and eloquence readers have come to expect from Hortense Calisher.
Gifts of an Eagle: The Remarkable Story of a Bird and Her Family
by Kent DurdenNew York Times Bestseller: The &“extraordinary&” true story of a golden eagle adopted by a California ranching family, and how she changed their lives (Delia Ephron). In 1955, Ed Durden brought a baby golden eagle home to his ranch in California, where she would stay for the next sixteen years. As her bond with Ed and the Durden family grew, the eagle, named Lady, displayed a fierce intelligence and strong personality. She learned quickly, had a strong mothering instinct (even for other species), and never stopped surprising those who cared for her. An eight-week New York Times bestseller, Gifts of an Eagle is a fascinating up-close look at one of the most majestic creatures in nature, as well as a heartwarming family story and &“an affectionate, unsentimental tribute&” (Kirkus Reviews).
All Good Women: A Novel
by Valerie MinerAs World War II rages abroad, a group of women forge the bonds of sisterhood in AmericaIn 1938, while tensions in Europe are reaching a boiling point, four young women with big ambitions enter secretarial school in San Francisco. Motivated to attain the financial stability that eluded their parents, they go to battle for their futures. Moira, of Scottish descent, dreams of being an actress. Ann yearns for the education her Jewish immigrant parents provided for her brother, but not for her. Japanese American Wanda experiences firsthand the racial injustices running rampant in the United States. And Teddy, who left the Dust Bowl for sunny California, comes to startling realizations about herself as the war progresses. These women will be both buoyed and challenged by their dreams, experiencing love, loss, and everything in between. Against the backdrop of a nation gripped by fear and paranoia, Miner eloquently captures the spirit of wartime on the home front.
Fallen Angels: . . . And Spirits of the Dark
by Robert Masello&“My name is Legion: for we are many.&” —Mark 5:9 They have been with us since the beginning of time. Walking the centuries in our myths, our art, our literature . . . and in our dreams. Victims of temptation and sin, they are spirits who fell from heaven&’s grace, emerging anew as servants of darkness. Here, in one spellbinding volume, are the most infamous denizens of the Underworld—from Lucifer, the first angel who challenged God&’s will, to the fathomless legions of demons and fiends who haunt us to this day. Explore their world, hear their stories, unravel their secrets, and discover for yourself that even angels can have a dark side . . .
Only Children
by Rafael YglesiasA loving satire of new parenthood and its attendant joys and blunders from a master of contemporary American fictionThe Golds and the Hummels live in the same wealthy Manhattan neighborhood, but as both couples prepare for the arrival of their first child, they share little in terms of parenting philosophy. The Golds plunge into natural birth without bothering to first set up a nursery. The Hummels schedule a C-section and fill out hospital admissions paperwork weeks in advance. Both couples, however, are grappling with the transformations they know parenthood will immediately bring. Set in a milieu of material excess and limitless ambition, Only Children skewers new parents who expect perfect lives, but also offers an intimate look at the trials all new parents face as they learn how to nurture. This ebook features a new illustrated biography of Rafael Yglesias, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
Songs of the Teton Sioux
by Harry W. PaigeThe beautiful and mysterious song of the Sioux is a carefully crafted and highly individualized ritual performed to invoke the strength of the spirits in order to harness the power of nature. In this, the first literary study of a fascinating tradition, Dr. Harry W. Paige immerses himself in the Sioux society and culture to unlock the mystery of this enchanting ritual. Passionate and intoxicating, Songs of the Teton Sioux will astound and fascinate scholar and casual reader alike. The voice of their people may be fading, but the powerful songs of the Sioux will live on forever.