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Ypres 1914: Langemarck (Battleground Early Battles 1914)
by Nigel Cave Jack SheldonThese three Battleground Europe books on Ypres 1914 mark the centenary of the final major battle of the 1914 campaign on the Western Front. Although fought over a relatively small area and short time span, the fighting was even more than usually chaotic and the stakes were extremely high. Authors Nigel Cave and Jack Sheldon combine their respective expertise to tell the story of the men British, French, Indian and German - who fought over the unremarkable undulating ground that was to become firmly placed in British national conscience ever afterwards.When, in October 1914, the newly created German Fourth Army attacked west to seize crossings over the Yser, prior to sweeping south in an attempt to surround the BEF, two things prevented it. To the north, it was the efforts of the Belgian army, reinforced by French troops, coupled with controlled flooding of the polders but, further south, the truly heroic defence of Langemarck, for three days by the BEF and then by the French army, was of decisive importance. The village stood as a bulwark against any further advance to the river or the town of Ypres. Here the German regiments bled to death in the face of resolute Allied defence and any remaining hope of forcing a decision in the west turned to dust.
Thirteen: The Apollo Flight That Failed
by Henry S. Cooper Jr.An &“exciting&” minute-by-minute account of the Apollo 13 flight based on mission control transcripts from Houston (The New York Times). On the evening of April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were just hours from the third lunar landing in history. But as they soared through space, two hundred thousand miles from Earth, an explosion badly damaged their spacecraft. With compromised engines and failing life-support systems, the crew was in incomparably grave danger. Faced with below-freezing temperatures, a seriously ill crewmember, and a dwindling water supply, a safe return seemed unlikely.Thirteen is the shocking and miraculous true story of how the astronauts and ground crew guided Apollo 13 back to Earth. Expanding on dispatches written for the New Yorker, Henry S. F. Cooper Jr. brings readers unparalleled detail on the moment-by-moment developments of one of NASA&’s most dramatic missions.
100 Things Every Artist Should Know: Tips, Tricks & Essential Concepts
by The Artists of Walter FosterAn educational and inspirational journey in drawing, painting, and other artistic mediums—from basic pastel techniques to color theory and perspective.What's the best way to stretch watercolor paper? What basic materials do I need to start oil painting? How can I use color to create mood in my paintings? You'll find answers to these questions and much more in 100 Things Every Artist Should Know.This broad book aims to equip and inspire beginners with fundamental art knowledge, as well as provide a refresher course for more experienced artists. Readers can discover or re-discover essential concepts, tips, and techniques distilled into a collection of one hundred instructional entries by a range of Walter Foster authors.From lessons on value and color theory to helpful shortcuts, this book seeks to cover it all!
The Killing Ground: The British Army, The Western Front & The Emergence of Modern War 1900–1918
by Tim TraversA study of how the British Army fought on the Western Front during World War I.This books explains why the British Army fought the way it did in the First World War. It integrates social and military history and the impact of ideas to tell the story of how the army, especially the senior officers, adapted to the new technological warfare and asks: Was the style of warfare on the Western Front inevitable?Using an extensive range of unpublished diaries, letters, memoirs and Cabinet and War Office files, Professor Travers explains how and why the ideas, tactics and strategies emerged. He emphasises the influence of pre-war social and military attitudes, and examines the early life and career of Sir Douglas Haig. The author’s analysis of the preparations for the Battles of the Somme and Passchendaele provide new interpretations of the role of Haig and his GHQ, and he explains the reasons for the unexpected British withdrawal in March 1918. An appendix supplies short biographies of senior British officers. In general, historians of the First World War are in two hostile camps: those who see the futility of lions led by donkeys on the one hand and on the other the apologists for Haig and the conduct of the war. Professor Travers’ immensely readable book provides a bridge between the two.
The Kennedy Revelation: The Kennedy Imperative, The Kennedy Momentum, And The Kennedy Revelation (The Kennedy Trilogy #3)
by Leon BergerDallas, 1963: In the immediate aftermath of the JFK assassination, the shock is multiplied for young CIA agent Philip Marsden when he learns of the death of his Cuban American wife. As evidence builds and the threats begin to mount, he discovers that the two tragedies might not be unrelated.
Long Summer Day (A Horseman Riding By #1)
by R. F. DelderfieldA great read for fans of PBS&’s Poldark and Downton Abbey—first in the saga of a man returning from battle to an estate in the pre-WWI English countryside. After serving his country in the Boer War, injured Lieutenant Paul Craddock returns to England to resume civilian life. But things have changed since he joined the Imperial Yeomanry three years ago. His father has died, leaving Paul as heir to a scrap metal business he has no intention of continuing. Instead, he purchases an auctioned-off thirteen-hundred-acre estate in a secluded corner of Devon. Neglected and overgrown, Shallowford becomes the symbol of all that Paul has lost—and a reminder of the gentle place his homeland once was. And here, on this sprawling stretch of land, he will be changed by his love for two women: fiercely independent Grace Lovell, and lovely, demure Claire Derwent. Set in the English countryside in the first part of the previous century—from the long &“Edwardian afternoon&” following the death of Queen Victoria, to the gathering storm of World War I—Long Summer Day is the story of a man, his family, and a people struggling to adapt to life in a new world. Long Summer Day is the first novel in R. F. Delderfield&’s saga A Horseman Riding By, which continues with Post of Honour and The Green Gauntlet.
The Sleeper: A Novel
by Gillian WhiteThe sins of the past haunt an isolated farmhouse as a snowstorm rages outside . . . It&’s not shaping up to be a very merry Christmas. Clover Moon feels trapped in her life as a farmer&’s wife. She certainly doesn&’t enjoy hosting Fergus&’s mother, Violet, who always finds new ways to publicly humiliate her unsatisfactory daughter-in-law. But would Violet ever seek a more violent way of expressing her disapproval? Violet is a medium, and the voices of the dead sometimes encourage her to do disturbing things. During her stay at the farmhouse, she claims to sense an intrusive presence. Fergus then discovers the dead body of a woman floating in their flooded cellar, and elderly Miss Bates, resident of a nearby senior home and a client of Violet&’s, is missing . . . With her acute sense of human nature and gift for suspense, reminiscent of Barbara Vine, Gillian White will leave you guessing until the very end.
The Final Betrayal: MacArthur and the Tragedy of Japanese POWs
by Mark FeltonThis book examines the period between the unconditional surrender of Japan on 14 August 1945, and the arrival of Allied liberation forces in Japanese-occupied territories after 2 September 1945. The delay handed the Japanese a golden opportunity to set their house in order before Allied war crimes investigators arrived. After 14 August groups of Allied POWs were brutally murdered. Vast amounts of documentation concerning crimes were burned ahead of the arrival of Allied forces. POW facilities and medical experimentation installations were either abandoned or destroyed. Perhaps the greatest crimes were continuing deaths of Allied POWs from starvation, disease and ill-treatment after the Japanese surrender. The blame rests with the American authorities, and particularly General MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific. MacArthur expressly forbade any Allied forces from liberating Japanese occupied territories before he had personally taken the formal Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. Vice Admiral Lord Mountbatten, Commanding Allied forces in Southeast Asia, protested against this policy, believing that pandering to MacArthurs vanity and ego would mean condemning many starving and sick prisoners to death. Deaths among British and Commonwealth POWs were significant as opposed to American POWs who were already largely liberated in the Philippines and elsewhere.
Family Memories: An Autobiographical Journey
by Rebecca WestPublished posthumously, this wise and entertaining family history and memoir offers keen insight into the origins of Rebecca West and her work Working on Family Memories for over twenty years, West set out to narrate the story of her mother&’s, father&’s and husband&’s unique and talented families. As in her novels, the richly drawn characters of her heritage and childhood traverse a diverse landscape, from Scotland to Australia to Africa, encountering love, loss, and a panoply of challenges. Although fans will recognize many settings, characters, and themes from her novels, West&’s exploration of her family stands on its own as an engaging narrative. Told with her compelling voice, West&’s chronicles reflect not only the importance of family to identity, but to the way one relates to the larger world.
The Patriot: A Novel
by Pearl S. BuckA Chinese dissident is torn between love and country in this novel from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Good Earth. When Wu I-wan starts taking an interest in revolution, trouble follows: Winding up in prison, he becomes friends with fellow dissident En-lan. Later, his name is put on a death list and he&’s shipped off to Japan. Thankfully, his father, a wealthy Shanghai banker, has made arrangements for his exile, putting him in touch with a business associate named Mr. Muraki. Absorbed in his new life, I-wan falls in love with Mr. Muraki&’s daughter, and must prove he is worthy of her hand. As news spreads of what the Japanese army is doing back in China, I-wan realizes he must go back and fight for the country that banished him.The Patriot is an engrossing story of revolution, love, and reluctantly divided loyalties by the Nobel Prize–winning author renowned for her novels set in Asia and informed by the sweep of history, including the New York Times bestsellers The Living Reed and The Hidden Flower. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author&’s estate.
The Game Player
by Rafael YglesiasThis critically acclaimed novel from a master of contemporary American fiction is a story of genius, performance, and the psychological forces that drive the competitive spirit Brian Stoppard is blessed with prodigious natural talents. Howard Cohen, less so. Starting in middle school in New York, Howard watches Brian effortlessly win at everything he tries: He&’s a natural chess champion, a perfect athlete, a brilliant student. As the two move through life as friends and competitors, Brian&’s easy success is a constant source of envy, awe, and inspiration for the ambitious but less-gifted Howard. Told with great humor and style, The Game Player is a story of those born to greatness and those who must strive for it. This ebook features a new illustrated biography of Rafael Yglesias, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
The Shrapnel Academy: A Novel (Dales Large Print Ser.)
by Fay WeldonA weekend in the country erupts into a free-for-all of mutiny, sex, and murder On the anniversary of the Eve of the Battle of Waterloo, an assortment of unusual dinner guests gather at a remote country house to pay homage to Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the exploding cannonball. But all is not peaceful at the Shrapnel Academy: The downstairs servants, a group of third-world refugees led by a South African butler, are plotting to overthrow their upstairs oppressors. When a blizzard hits the countryside and traps everyone indoors, the rebellion erupts into bloody warfare throughout the Academy, &“a shrine to the ethos of military excellence.&” With characters that include a domineering female sergeant, a war-mongering general, a brain-damaged spy, and an idiot-savant arms dealer, Fay Weldon gives us a country house novel replete with sexual atrocity and class warfare. No one will emerge unscathed in this stinging tale of modern-day barbarians, where the deadliest weapons are the ever-raging battles between the haves and the have-nots.
Life in the Iron Mills (Xist Classics Ser.)
by Rebecca Harding DavisA shocking rendering of poverty, tragedy, and desperation in the American North This shocking depiction of the lives of impoverished Welsh miners in the American North was one of the first novels to expose the brutal realities facing the nation&’s poor. Rebecca Harding Davis casts an unflinching gaze into the lives of the destitute, drunk, and desperate in a work that was controversial for its honesty, but popular for its adept storytelling. The story follows Hugh Wolfe, a proud and educated yet desperately poor laborer in an iron mill, and his cousin Deborah, who breaks the law for a chance at a better life for Hugh. If they keep the ill-gotten money, the pair could transcend their hardship, and Hugh could become the talented artist he was born to be; however, keeping the money would mean sacrificing the morals they&’ve so stridently adhered to all their lives. First published in 1861, Life in the Iron Mills became notorious for its merciless descriptions of underclass suffering. As relevant today as it was in the nineteenth century, this is a classic, hypnotic tragedy. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Miss Jill: A Novel
by Emily HahnA novel about an enterprising Shanghai streetwalker from the &“American literary treasure&” and author of the memoir China to Me (The New Yorker). Meet Miss Jill, a young woman pursuing the oldest profession in prewar Shanghai. Fifteen, blonde, and full of personality, Jill begins her career as a Japanese banker&’s mistress. Soon after, she becomes a European prostitute in the house of Annette, and believes that any day now she&’ll be married to a nobleman. But none of her adventures prepare Miss Jill for the war and her subsequent internment. An early feminist and an American journalist who traveled to the Belgian Congo and China in the 1930s, Emily Hahn wrote more than fifty books, both fiction and nonfiction; this is Hahn at her touching and entertaining best, portraying an exotic place in a dramatic time with great authenticity and empathy.
The Outlaw's Daughter
by Paul LedererIn search of a kidnapped boy, a gunslinger takes a young girl along for the rideRain looms over the prairie when Matt Holiday sees a gang of horsemen abduct the boy. The only man who could have kidnapped young Will Waverly is his father, an outlaw who rightfully belongs in prison. Holiday agrees to rescue Will, but the family demands he take something along: Will&’s spirited sister Serenity, whose beauty disguises one of the fastest guns in the west.Although the girl&’s presence irritates him, Matt cannot deny she&’s a crack shot. But can he trust her? The boy isn&’t the only thing missing: $20,000 in gold is gone, too, and there is no telling what the outlaw&’s daughter will do to get her hands on it.
The Patient Has the Floor: Essays
by Alistair CookeMasterful essays by one of the most distinctive voices in broadcast journalismIn his Letter from America reports for the BBC and as the host of PBS&’s Masterpiece Theatre, Alistair Cooke addressed millions of people all over the world every week. The fourteen essays collected here, each of which was first delivered as a speech, showcase the wit, charm, and eloquence of Cooke&’s voice in more intimate, but no less intimidating, settings.In exclusive forums as varied as the Mayo Clinic and a conference of British and American scholars investigating the &“state of the language,&” Cooke eagerly challenges expert opinions and delightfully skewers the pretensions of the powerful. Addressing the House of Representatives on the bicentennial of the Continental Congress, he warns against the dangers of sentimentalizing history and wryly notes that &“practically every man who signed the Declaration of Independence is at this moment being measured for a halo or, at worst a T-shirt.&” At the Royal College of Surgeons in London, he compares his listeners to armed robbers and to the disreputable half of that infamous duo Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. &“If I could be benevolent dictator of the United States for a year,&” he informs the National Trust for Historic Preservation, &“I should provide several million jobs for the wrecking industry.&”No one played the devil&’s advocate with as much grace and good humor as did Alistair Cooke. The Patient Has the Floor is an eminently quotable testament to his extraordinary talents as a journalist, scholar, and public speaker.
Voices from the Moon: A Novel
by Andre Dubus IIIFrom the acclaimed author of &‘A Father&’s Story&’: A boy looks to the Catholic Church for understanding as his family weathers two failed marriages.Voices from the Moon opens amidst the fallout of Stowe family patriarch Greg&’s divorce from his wife, Joan; and shortly after, that of their eldest son, Larry, from his wife, Brenda. On the verge of adolescence, young Richie Stowe grapples to make sense of these events and their consequences, and seeks solace in the church. As the family attempts to mend itself and move forward, its members are forced to reconcile their feelings of betrayal with their enduring love for one another. Masterfully related from the alternating perspectives of its six main characters, Dubus&’s richly drawn novella recounts a family&’s failure to abide by those laws divined and decreed, and its path to redemption via understanding and forgiveness. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Andre Dubus including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate.
Russian Armour in the Second World War: Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives (Images of War)
by Michael GreenThis WWII pictorial history of Russia&’s tanks and armored fighting vehicles provides a vivid look at the Eastern Front through rare wartime photographs.When Hitler&’s armies advanced into Russia, it was Stalin&’s tanks and armored fighting vehicles that finally pushed them back from the outskirts of Moscow. At the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943, the Soviet tanks and AFVs proved their effectiveness by defeating the cream of the Panzertruppen. From that point on, the tanks and armored fighting vehicles of the Red Army continued their offensive operations until they victoriously entered Berlin in April and May of 1945. In this fascinating pictorial history, military expert Michael Green provides historical images of the full range of Russian armor as well as exterior and interior color photos of preserved and restored tanks and AFVs from the period. This latest book in the Images of War series brings to life the Red Army&’s efforts to repel Hitler's Panzer Armies.
Happy Odyssey
by Sir Adrian Carton de WiartThe legendary British Army officer recounts his experiences in the Boer War and both World Wars in this memoir with a foreword by Winston Churchill. Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart had one of the most extraordinary military careers in the history of the British Army. His gallantry in combat won him a Victoria Cross and a Distinguished Service Order, as well as an eyepatch and an empty sleeve. His autobiography is one of the most remarkable of military memoirs. Carton de Wiart abandoned his law studies at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1899 to serve as a trooper in the South African War. During World War I he served both in British Somaliland and on the Western Front, where he lost his left eye to a bullet at the Battle of Somme. He went on to serve as a liaison officer with Polish forces, narrowly escaping the German blitz at the outbreak of World War II. He was part of the British Military Mission to Yugoslavia, taken prisoner by the Italian Army, and made numerous attempts at escape. He spent the remainder of the war as Churchill&’s representative in China. The novelist Evelyn Waugh famously used Carton de Wiart as the model for his character Brigadier Ben Ritchie Hook in the Sword of Honour trilogy. In this thrilling autobiography, the legendary officer tells his own remarkable story.
Typical: Stories
by Padgett PowellTwenty-three surreal fictions—stories, character assassinations, and mini-travelogues—from one of the most heralded writers of the American South There are many things that repulse &“Dr. Ordinary.&” &“Kansas&” is notable for its distinct lack of farmland. &“Wayne&’s Fate&” is most unfortunate, not merely for Wayne but for the roofer pal who stands by watching his good buddy lose his head. &“Miss Resignation&” simply cannot win at Bingo. And there is nothing &“Typical&” about the unemployed steelworker and self-described &“piece of crud&” who strides through this collection&’s title story. Welcome to the world of Padgett Powell, one of the most original American literary voices in recent memory. Typical is both a bravura demonstration of Powell&’s passion for words, and an offbeat, perceptive view of contemporary life—an enthralling work by a one-of-a-kind wordsmith, and a redefinition of what short fiction can be.
Double Feature: Discovering Our Hidden Fantasies in Film
by Herbert H. Steina) What recent smash hit movie secretly depicted fear of the female breast? b) Name some recent films that were preoccupied with castration anxiety? c) Would you be surprised to know that reliving our childhood Oedipal fixations helps us to better understand adult-themed films? You'll find the answers to these and many similarly intriguing questions in DOUBLE FEATURE: DISCOVERING OUR HIDDEN FANTASIES IN FILM by Herbert Stein, M.D. Dr. Stein, a highly-respected Freudian psychiatrist and passionate moviegoer, literally puts our favorite films on the couch and shares his confidential findings with us. In a book that could become a cult classic, he lays bare the truth about unconscious and subconscious themes running through popular culture with fresh, jolting, and often moving insights into some of the most popular films ever made, including JURASSIC PARK, FIELD OF DREAMS, FORRST GUMP, THE SIXTH SENSE, and THE USUAL SUSPECTS. However perceptive we may think ourselves, this book reveals how we unconsciously respond to deeply-embedded archetypal themes in movies and enables us to re-experience films we love in a completely fresh way. Indeed, DOUBLE FEATURE makes our favorite films even more resonant and enables us to articulate even more deeply what it is we love about them.
The Battle for France: Six Weeks That Changed The World
by Philip Warner“Provides a fresh and invaluable explanation of the military and political events of that extraordinary campaign.” —Scale Military Modeller InternationalAfter the long winter of the Phoney War, the invasion of the Low Countries and France by Hitler’s rampaging armies threw the world into crisis. Chamberlain’s government fell, Churchill became Prime Minister. France was humiliated, the British Expeditionary Force was only saved by the miracle of Dunkirk but many men and huge amounts of equipment were lost to the Blitzkrieg. England trembled but the invasion never came.Philip Warner graphically recounts the momentous events of that terrible period thanks to his painstaking research and skillful writing. He demonstrates how the under trained and ill-equipped British forces gallantly but futilely resisted the German land and air onslaught. He emphasizes the understated contribution of the French. This book provides a fresh and invaluable explanation of the military and political events of that extraordinary campaign, which continued on after Dunkirk.
The Busy Body (Mysterious Press-highbridge Audio Classics Ser.)
by Donald E. Westlake&“Merriment, mayhem and a plot that really keeps you guessing&” from the Grand Master of Mystery and author of the John Dortmunder novels (Kirkus Reviews). The corpse isn&’t anybody special—a low-level drug courier—but it has been so long since the organization&’s last grand funeral that Nick Rovito decides to give the departed a big send-off. He pays for a huge church, a procession of Cadillacs, and an ocean of flowers, and enjoys the affair until he learns the dead man is going to his grave wearing the blue suit. Rovito summons Engel, his right-hand man, and tells him to get a shovel. Inside the lining of the blue suit jacket is $250,000 worth of uncut heroin, smuggled back from Baltimore the day the courier died. When Engel&’s shovel strikes coffin, he braces himself for the encounter with the dead man. But the coffin is empty, the heroin gone, and Engel has no choice but to track down the missing body or face his boss&’s wrath.
Love Rehab: A Novel in Twelve Steps
by Jo Piazza&“If you&’ve ever had your heart broken and then cut your own bangs, read this book. I laughed so hard I made people around me uncomfortable.&” —Paula Froelich, New York Times–bestselling author of Mercury in Retrograde Cyber-stalking, drive-bys, drunken text messaging, creating fake email accounts—you&’re gonna have to face it, you&’re addicted to love. Sophie isn&’t dealing with her breakup well. Dumped by her boyfriend, Eric, for his sexting, D-cupped, young Floozy McSecretary, Sophie leaves Manhattan and lands back in her hometown, crushed and pajama-clad, blaming herself and begging her ex for a second chance. But when her best friend, Annie, gets in trouble for driving drunk and is forced to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, something clicks in Sophie&’s strung-out mind. Women need love rehab, she realizes, to help fix the craziness that comes along with falling for someone. If you start it, they will come. When she opens up her home to the obsessed and lovelorn, Sophie finds a way to help women out there who have overdosed on the wrong men—and she saves herself in the process. Love is a drug and the only things that can save us are the steps, rules, and one another. Step one: Admit you have a problem, and keep the hell away from Facebook.
Séance on a Wet Afternoon
by Mark McShaneHoping for notoriety, a struggling psychic kidnaps a child in this Edgar Award–nominated mystery. Most so-called psychics disgust Myra Savage. She has no patience for their chintz and cheap tricks, for her power is real. Myra can see into other people&’s minds, can even sometimes sense the future, but she has never yet communicated with the other side. For that she needs the cooperation of great psychics, but she lacks the stature to attract their attention. To satisfy this burning need for fame, she and her husband concoct The Plan. Bill snatches a six-year-old girl from her schoolyard and pastes together a letter demanding ransom. After a few days of citywide panic, Myra will lead the police to the girl and the money, and all of London will know her name. When a criminal can see the future, what could possibly go wrong?