Biography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book SynopsisPublished for the first time, this illuminating and poignant correspondence offers a rare insight into the workings of the Cabinet War Rooms towards the end of the Second World War, and documents the rich wartime experiences of a woman with exclusive access to the closed world of Churchill''s inner circle.1939-1945 saw many important events of the Second World War. Yet a young secretary, Olive Christopher, was party to the political secrets of these crucial final years, working in Churchill''s Cabinet War Rooms.Trade Review'One of the most atmospheric eyewitness accounts of that time' -- Elizabeth Grice * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Strickland expertly addresses this imbalanced legacy, building on his previous work to argue that Henry’s role in twelfth-century Angevin politics is not only more complex than has been previously considered, but is also crucial to understanding the nature of events at the time . . . in renegotiating familiar source material, Strickland has provided readers with a fresh picture of an important Medieval figure who has long been deserving of such an excellent biography.”—Thomas Chadwick, Royal Studies“Strickland’s detailed and very readable biography of Henry, the Young King will certainly ensure that his subject is no longer the least known of the Angevin kings.”—William M. Aird, Northern HistorySHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 WOLFSON PRIZE 'In Matthew Strickland’s study of King Henry, royal son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, we have not just the fascinating narrative of a flawed hero’s turbulent life but also a brilliant analysis of the culture of politics at the Angevin court.' - John Gillingham, author of Richard I'This important study of Henry II’s son, the Young King, provides many new insights into the culture and politics of the Angevin Empire, from tournaments to rebellions. The evidence is skilfully used to tease out the character of a neglected figure, and to set his career in a wide European context.' - Michael Prestwich, author of Edward I 'This book is brilliant; it is the best biography of a medieval ruler I have ever read. It will be a lasting monument to both the Young King Henry and to Matthew Strickland's considerable scholarship.' - Stephen Church, author of King John: England, Magna Carta and the Making of a Tyrant

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Book SynopsisThe story of the extraordinary relationship between a former slave and England’s most distinguished man of lettersTrade Review“Bundock is elegant and precise in this detailed account of the life of Samuel Johnson’s black servant and eventual heir.”—The Sunday Times ‘Best Paperbacks of 2021’ “A remarkable work of detection, a biography of a black Briton from the eighteenth century that brings to life a rich and vital aspect of our shared history.”—David Olusoga“At last, the biography that Francis Barber deserves. A meticulous yet imaginative book which teases out the full humanity of Dr. Johnson’s servant—and of the affection and hostility he generated among contemporaries.”—James Walvin, author of The Zong: A Massacre, the Law and the End of Slavery“Michael Bundock has written the first biography in over one hundred years of Francis Barber, Samuel Johnson’s black servant and heir. Acknowledging the groundwork laid over a century ago, Bundock goes well beyond earlier commentators in exploring the evolving relationship between Johnson and Barber.”—Vincent Carretta, University of Maryland“Like James Boswell before him, Michael Bundock is a lawyer, and in his biography of Samuel Johnson’s servant that background serves him well. Reading the evidence, some newly discovered, he brings Francis Barber to life, deepens our understanding of Johnson, enriches our sense of quotidian eighteenth-century London, and provides an unusual contribution to black history in England.”—Robert Folkenflik, University of California, Irvine“The Fortunes of Francis Barber is the most complete and accurate account of the life of Francis Barber that has ever been produced or is ever likely to be produced. This book far outstrips all earlier accounts.”—Robert DeMaria, Jr., Vassar College“A remarkable work of detection, a biography of a black Briton from the eighteenth century that brings to life a rich and vital aspect of our shared history.”—David Olusoga -- David Olusoga“No longer a footnote to Johnson’s story, Barber emerges as a man whose complicated story gives an inside view of what it was like to be a black man in 18th-century Britain.”—Gretchen Gerzina, author of Black London -- Gretchen Gerzina“Commendable not only for its careful research, but also for harnessing the considerable power of Barber's untold story. It will appeal to those who care about history, but it should appeal to those who care about humanity as well.”—Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton -- Sara Collins“Elegant, precise, formidably informed. Bundock clears away a fog of falsehoods and rebalances the story.”—John Carey, Sunday Times -- John Carey * The Sunday Times *“Bundock weaves into the absorbing tale of Barber’s life a wealth of material relating to black people in England, especially in London, throughout the 18th century… He writes with clarity, sympathy and tact.”—Freya Johnston, Literary Review -- Freya Johnston * Literary Review *“A supremely skilled biography … Barber’s extraordinary and varied career allows Bundock to explore what life felt like for a black man in Georgian England.”—Kathryn Hughes, Guardian -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *“Bundock’s lively biography offers a fresh perspective on Johnson and locates Barber both in Johnson’s household and in the context of an empire beginning to debate the political and moral legitimacy of slavery.”—Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *‘[Bundock] imaginatively recreates the textures of life in 18th-century England and shows an admirable determination to question received wisdom’—Henry Hitchings, the Guardian. -- Henry Hitchings * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘His biography, well researched, fresh and distinctive, knocks off the top perch G.W.S. Barrow’s Robert the Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, published in 1965.’—Katie Stevenson, London Review of Books‘Penman’s book is first-class history: detailed, closely argued and ringing with the authority of one steeped in the period . . .Penman’s scholarship is commendable, his style clear, his contribution to this field a truly original and quietly groundbreaking addition to the known facts of Robert the Bruce. It is essential reading as midsummer draws near – and long after.’ —Rosemary Goring, The Herald'His biography, well researched, fresh and distinctive, knocks off the op perch G.W.S.Barrow's Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland, published in 1965.'—Katie Stevenson, World of Interiors'[T]his is an outstanding piece of work that shines a light on some extremely murky corners of history and allows King Robert's genius as a lawmaker and diplomat to rival his undoubted skill as a military leader.'—Fiona Watson, Reviews in History “[T]he fullest reappraisal of this crucial figure since the 1960s… [A] major advance in the study of this critical period in the shaping of the late medieval Scottish kingdom”—Michael H. Brown, Royal Studies Journal'Robert Bruce’s piety is one of the fascinating themes that characterise Michael Penman’s full and definitive account of the king’s life and reign. A magesterial study.'—Michael Prestwich, author of Edward I

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year""A Financial Times Best History Book of the Year""A monumental feat of scholarship that represents the first comprehensive reappraisal of the empress' life and legacy since the mid-19th century. . . . Ms. Stollberg-Rilinger excels at both detail and grand scale, and translator Robert Savage never lets her down. Her description of the Habsburg Monarchy's complex machinery, her analysis of the arcane workings of the Holy Roman Empire, and her exposition of the family's marriage strategies are all masterpieces in miniature."---A. Wess Mitchell, Wall Street Journal"An outstanding work that repaints the entire history of mid-eighteenth-century Europe . . . . The great woman has found a truly great biographer."---A. N. Wilson, Times Literary Supplement"Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger’s biography is a landmark in the historiography of the Habsburg Monarchy. All praise and thanks are due to Princeton University Press for such a beautifully produced and well-translated volume, and also to the original German publisher (C. H. Beck) for allowing the author enough space to do justice to Maria Theresa’s life and times."---Tim Blanning, Times Literary Supplement"This sweeping work by Stollberg-Rilinger, an expert on the Holy Roman Empire, will stand as the definitive study for many years to come."---Tony Barber, Financial Times."More than a biography of a remarkable figure, this study presents a sweeping view of the eighteenth century."---Ben Riley, New Criterion"Impressive"---John Adamson, Literary Review"A behind the scenes guide to Maria Theresa’s rule . . . an examination of the historiographical layers that have gone into creating her image."---Catriona Seth, London Review of Books"An entertaining masterpiece that reveals sides of an extraordinary woman never before seen."---A. N. Wilson, Catholic Herald"What marks this work out from previous efforts is surely its well-rounded, holistic approach to its subject . . . .Stollberg-Rilinger’s text is long but not excessive in Robert Savage’s attractive translation. Her book could be a model for how such biographies of the great and the good are constructed: a wealth of contextual detail and quirky anecdotes are marshalled in pursuit of a grand vision which becomes more than the sum of its parts."---Miles Pattenden, Australian Book Review"The near-definitive biography of a brilliant, complex woman at the heart of European affairs is a work of the highest scholarship."---Paul Lay, Aspects of History"Epic and scholarly."---Elizabeth Fitzherbert, The Lady"This sweeping work . . . . will stand as the definitive study for many years to come."---Tony Barber, Financial Times

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Book SynopsisA revealing biography of Sidney Reilly, the early twentieth-century virtuoso of espionageTrade Review“Mr. Morris’s dogged research—particularly into the shadowy intrigues that Reilly immersed himself in during the years surrounding World War I, the Russian Revolution and the founding of the Soviet Union—lends impressive rigor to this portrait of an often-cryptic figure.”—Diane Cole, Wall Street Journal“Benny Morris recounts the stranger-than-fiction biography of the famous British spy who lied his way through the turmoil of the early twentieth century and introduces a new generation of readers to a character more compelling than James Bond.”—Matti Friedman, author of Spies of No Country“Sidney Reilly adopted and shed identities as easily as he took and dropped wives, lovers, get-rich schemes, and plots. A remarkable book about a remarkable man, this will be the definitive biography of the early twentieth century’s preeminent spy.”—Gershom Gorenberg, author of War of Shadows: Codebreakers, Spies, and the Secret Struggle to Drive the Nazis from the Middle East

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive biography of Justin Trudeau as prime minister—an honest, compelling story of his government’s triumphs and failures, based on interviews with over 200 insiders and Trudeau himself.As one of the longest-surviving prime ministers and son of the legendary Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Justin Trudeau is near royalty in Canada. But how did this former high school teacher with no noteworthy accomplishments put together a team that managed to take over the Liberal Party and bring it from third place to a majority government in 2015? The Prince shows just that. In this first comprehensive history of the Justin Trudeau government, veteran journalist Stephen Maher takes readers behind the scenes of a tumultuous decade of Canadian politics. Through hundreds of interviews with political insiders, he describes how Trudeau—a Canadian prince—had the famous name, the political instincts, the work ethic, and the confidence t

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Book Synopsis A fascinating look at the lives of twenty rebels and rule-breakers throughout history and what made their contributions to society-in science, politics, art, and more-transformative. By the author and host of the popular Unruly Figures Substack newsletter and podcast.Unruly Figures gives you access to the lives and often untold stories of twenty of history''s most fascinating individuals. Of all the rebels and revolutionaries who have acted around the world, these are often overlooked. Whether they are a bit familiar or entirely new to you, each of these historical figures provides a vivid example of what it means to live life on one''s own terms and have a lasting influence on society. In the first collection of its kind, spotlighting a young historian''s fresh view on unheralded rebels, these characters'' true stories are brought to life through enthralling narratives of their feats and an original illustration of each. Even those

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Book SynopsisBryce Courtenay was a born storyteller. The success of his extraordinary debut The Power of One made publishing history, and in the years that followed Bryce continued to entertain and inspire thousands of devoted readers with his sweeping epics and larger-than-life characters who embody the strength and triumph of the human condition.In Bryce Courtenay: Storyteller, Christine Courtenay shares the remarkable story of her late husband? s life, which formed the backdrop to his storytelling. From his humble beginnings in Africa to his dazzling success in advertising and as a bestselling author, Bryce? s extraordinary, rags-to-riches life story reads like one of his epic novels.Christine uncovers the events that shaped the man behind the stories ? a man complex, driven and unfailingly positive, who never lost sight of his childhood dream to be a writer. Candid, intimate and insightful, Bryce Courtenay: Storyteller is a fascinating, loving tribute to the life and work of Australia? s most beloved and enigmatic writer.

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Book SynopsisA biography of the influential teacher of the Fourth Way• Traces the life of Maurice Nicoll, who left a successful career as a psychiatrist in 1922 to study with G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky• Explores newly uncovered diaries from Nicoll, revealing his mystical sex practices, his shadow self, and new understandings of his unorthodox teachings• Examines the influence of psychiatrist Carl Jung and Swedish scientist and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg on Nicoll’s workIn 1922, Maurice Nicoll (1884-1953) abandoned his successful London psychiatry practice and his direct studies with Carl Jung to move his family just outside of Paris to the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man, a center recently opened by philosopher, mystic, and spiritual guru G. I. Gurdjieff, the founder of the esoteric system that became known as the “Fourth Way.” Nicoll went on to become one of the most passionate teachers of the Fourth

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Book SynopsisAuthor, speaker, and former Force Recon Marine Chad Robichaux offers an honest, no-holds-barred account of what has really been happening in Ukraine and shares powerful stories that are soaked in resiliency and determination, faith and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming opposition.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of perhaps the most respected political figure in the world â updated to include her final months in officeTrade Review'An excellent book... from leader of Germany to leader of Europe, to leader of the west, a clear picture of Merkel emerges’ Simon Kuper, Financial Times'Qvortrup's biography reads like an Icelandic saga... a complex life, full of little and greater mysteries' The Times'A well-written and informative tribute to an extraordinary leader' Booklist‘An absorbing, wide-ranging and detailed account of European power struggles over the last 50 years’ Marxist Review'Qvortrup's portrait is affectionate and detailed' Herald Scotland'Necessary reading for anyone who wants to broaden his or her perspective on the world today' Kirkus'A sympathetic, engaging and informative political biography of one of Europe's foremost contemporary leaders' Aviel Roshwald, Professor, Department of History, Georgetown University'Written in a lively and engaging style, Angela Merkel is a joy to read. It is an extraordinary and incisive book' Arend Lijhart, Research Professor, Emeritus of Political Science, University of California, San Diego'Qvortrup masterfully weaves together the key episodes of this turbulent life and most unlikely political career' Ludger Helms, Professor, University of Innsbruck and author of Presidents, Prime Ministers and Chancellors'In a world full of disappointing national leaders, Matt Qvortrup provides us with an insightful, revealing, vivid reading of a leading woman who tops them all' Amitai Etzioni, author of The Active Society

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling appreciation of the monumentally gifted popular artist and cultural icon who challenged Hollywood's standards of beauty and glamour Barbra Streisand has been called the most successful...talented performer of her generation by Vanity Fair, and her voice, said pianist Glenn Gould, is one of the natural wonders of the age. Streisand scaled the heights of entertainmentfrom a popular vocalist to a first-rank Broadway star in Funny Girl to an Oscar-winning actress to a producer and director. But she has also become a cultural icon who has transcended show business. To achieve her success, Brooklyn-born Streisand had to overcome tremendous odds, not the least of which was her Jewishness. Dismissed, insulted, even reviled when she embarked on a show business career for acting too Jewish and looking too Jewish, she brilliantly converted her Jewishness into a metaphor for outsiderness that would eventually make her the avenger for anyone who felt marginalized and powerless. Neal Gabler examines Streisand's life and career through this prism of othernessa Jew in a gentile world, a self-proclaimed homely girl in a world of glamour, a kooky girl in a world of conventionand shows how central it was to Streisand's triumph as one of the voices of her age.Trade Review"[A] spirited and entertaining cultural appreciation."—Jennifer Senior, New York Times"In this fascinating and insightful exploration of what it means to be Barbra Streisand, and what it took to become her, Mr. Gabler writes with the heart of a fan and the mind of a Freudian. He delves into Ms. Streisand’s tragic childhood and her anguish at the hand of neighborhood bullies, who taunted her for her big nose and relative poverty, and shows how they engendered in her an implacable—and stupefyingly correct—belief in the singular power of her talent as a performer."—Rachel Shukert, Wall Street Journal"Gabler, the estimable journalist, pop-cultural historian and author . . . returns to his interest in the intersection of Jews, gentiles and Hollywood in BARBRA STREISAND: Redefining Beauty, Femininity, and Power. . . . The author does a neat job of weaving every thread he can pull into the cloth. . . . This brief biography looks at a well-documented star in a new way."—Lisa Schwarzbaum, New York Times Book Review"Gabler . . . argues that Streisand could never have triumphed as she did if she were a natural winner . . . a convincing account of how, once, Streisand really did bend the world to her will."—Victoria Segal, Sunday Times"Gabler’s immensely readable book demonstrates through Streisand’s remarkable story that . . . it is talent that matters most, and for her embracing who she was and accepting with confidence what she looked like was instrumental in displaying that talent to the world."—Richard Edmonds, Birmingham Post"Gabler’s enthusiasm is so infectious and Barbra Streisand’s star quality so magnificent that I found myself singing the songs."—Jessica Weinstein, Jewish Chronicle"[A] smart new book, a biography-cum-critical essay on the Brooklyn-born diva. It may be the best book about Streisand you will ever read, an acute and sympathetic rendering of a career forged from yearning and steel."—Tom Shone, New Statesman"A clear-eyed, frank, and energetic look at Streisand, filled with revealing details, that fuses her life and career into vivid focus."—Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles: The Biography

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Book SynopsisMaxine Hong Kingston is a Chinese-American writer of fiction and non-fiction. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Book SynopsisFor this edition, Rashke has added a preface and three short chapters that explore what has been released and learned about the Silkwood case since the book's original publication. Karen Silkwood, an employee of the Kerr-McGee plutonium processing plant, was killed in a car crash on her way to deliver important documents to a newspaper reporter in 1974. Silkwood was a union activist concerned about health and safety issues at the plant, and her death at age 28 was considered by many to be highly suspicious. Was it Kerr-McGee's revenge on a troublesome whistle-blower? Or was it part of a much larger conspiracy reaching from the Atomic Energy Commission to the FBI and the CIA? Richard Rashke leads us through the myriad of charges and countercharges, theories and facts, and reaches conclusions based solely on the evidence in hand. Originally published in 1981, his audiobook offers a vivid, edgy picture of the tensions that racked this country in the 1970s. Now updated, with never-befor

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Orwell Prize and the Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction; both conservative and subversive, Burke's beliefs have never been more relevant, as MP Jesse Norman explains.Philosopher, statesman, and founder of modern conservatism, Edmund Burke is both the greatest and most under-rated political thinker of the past three-hundred years. Born in Ireland in 1729, and greatly affected by its bigotry and extremes, his career constituted a lifelong struggle against the abuse of power.Amid the 18th century's golden generation that included his companions Adam Smith, Samuel Johnson and Edward Gibbon, Burke's controversial mixture of conservative and subversive theories made him first a marginal figure, and finally a revered theorist a hero of the Romantics. He warned of the effects of British rule in Ireland, the loss of the American colonies, and most famously, he foresaw the disastrous consequences of revolution in France. This he predicted, would trigger extremism, terror anTrade Review‘Jesse Norman has brought back Burke in triumph. This is an overdue reassessment of a politician who was the father of the modern political party, a man who campaigned with equal brio and genius against British exploitation of India and the bloody tyranny of the French Revolution. Anyone who cares about politics will pounce on this book and devour it’ Boris Johnson ‘A must-read for anyone interested in politics and history … Superb’ Matthew D'Ancona, Sunday Telegraph ‘An excellent book, which unites biographical and political insights. The best short biography of Burke for nearly fifty years … and a pleasure to read’ Harvey Mansfield, Professor of Government, Harvard University ‘[Norman] is a subtle historian of ideas. He does an excellent job of extracting from his subject’s speeches and writings why, in his view, Burke is the first and most important conservative thinker’ Charles Moore, Daily Telegraph ‘An intriguing and illuminating picture of the thinker who more than any other exemplifies the contradictions of conservatism’ New Statesman ‘His new book on Edmund Burke seeks to contest the very nature of today’s Tory Party. All power to his elbow … quite brilliantly, Norman … [offers] an immense critique of the present … It is a patriotic tract and an act of great leadership. This is a very significant book’ Independent ‘Personable and thoughtful, [Norman] also has a cavalier streak … This absorbing book gathers pace, and relevance, as it goes along – an important contribution to the annals of conservative thought’ Observer ‘Norman is undoubtedly a fluent and deep thinker … his account of Burke’s life and career is as good as any of equal length on the subject … Admirable’ Spectator ‘Superb … Norman succeeds in elevating his subject, showing what is conservative about Burke, and why he matters today. Ironically, he makes such a strong case that it would seem perverse if only Tories took something from Burke’s legacy’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisHow did the most wanted man in the country outwit the greatest manhunt in British history?In January 1649, King Charles I was beheaded in London outside his palace of Whitehall and Britain became a republic. When his eldest son, Charles, returned in 1651 to fight for his throne, he was crushed by the might of Cromwell's armies at the battle of Worcester.With 3,000 of his supporters lying dead and 10,000 taken prisoner, it seemed as if his dreams of power had been dashed. Surely it was a foregone conclusion that he would now be caught and follow his father to the block? At six foot two inches tall, the prince towered over his contemporaries and with dark skin inherited from his French-Italian mother, he stood out in a crowd. How would he fare on the run with Cromwell's soldiers on his tail and a vast price on his head?The next six weeks would form the most memorable and dramatic of Charles' life. Pursued relentlessly, Charles ran using disguise, deception and relying on grit, fortitude Trade Review‘Authoritative narrative history with the pace of a Jason Bourne film’, Books of the Year, Evening Standard ‘A truly thrilling tale which Spencer, a natural storyteller, delivers with erudition and wit … an exhilarating read’ Daily Telegraph ‘A book of quite extraordinary period atmosphere, the most diligent research and an appropriately cracking pace’ Sunday Express ‘It's a wonderful tale, and Spencer tells it with journalistic flair’ The Times ‘Riveting…‘To Catch a King’ is as gripping as any thriller’ Sunday Telegraph ‘One of the joys of this book…is just how close the reader gets to the action. The day-by-day account of the fugitive's doings provide delicious details. Charles Spencer is the perfect person to pass the story onto a new generation. His pacey, readable prose coasts elegantly through the great tale. ‘To Catch a King’ is a cracking read and those who come to it knowing little of the famous tale will find they have a treat in store’ Literary Review ‘In this pacey slice of narrative history Charles Spencer…constructs this spare but atmospheric account of six weeks that changed the course of English history’ Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of Helen Forrester, author of Twopence to Cross the Mersey, and how she turned tragedy to triumph.When Helen Forrester's father went bankrupt in the 1930's, she and her six siblings fell from a comfortable middle-class existence into wretched poverty. Later in life, Helen wrote a ground-breaking series of memoirs, starting with Twopence to Cross the Mersey, which told the harrowing account of her family's struggles in Depression-era Liverpool. It was a story filled with tragedy and small triumphs but many readers wondered what happened to Helen when she grew up; what became of the fragile young girl who had so much responsibility heaped on her shoulders?Now for the first time, her son Robert recounts the unexpected life that Helen went on to live; of the remarkable love story with a young man from a background a million miles away from everything a Lancashire Lass like Helen would have known and of the astonishing lengths she went to in order to achieve happiness. Trade ReviewPraise for Helen Forrester: ‘It was the biography that I would have written if my parents had not been given benefits, if they’d had to rely on parish hand outs … [I] want to press this book into your hands and go, “You must read this”.’ Caitlin Moran ‘Remarkable that from so bleak and unloving a background came a writer of such affectionate understanding and unsettling honesty’ Sunday Telegraph ‘What makes this writer’s self-told tale so memorable?… An absolute recall, a genius for the unforgettable detail, the rare chance of subject’The Good Book Guide 'Should be long and widely read as an extraordinary human story and social document' Observer

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Book SynopsisA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR In the vein of the Costa-winning Dadland, with the biographical elements of H is for Hawk, The Fragments of my Father is a powerful and poignant memoir about parents and children, freedom and responsibility, madness and creativity and what it means to be a carer. SHORTLISTED FOR THE BARBELLION PRIZE My life had been suspended, as though I had inhaled and was still waiting to let out that gasp of breath. I set aside my dreams for a future time when life might be normal again. But that night, on my mother's birthday, as I sat and watched the sky turn from blue to black, I wondered for the first time if it ever would ... There were holes in Sam Mills's life when she was growing up - times when her dad was just absent, for reasons she didn't understand. As she grew older, she began to make up stories about the periods when he wasn't around:

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Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture starring Hugh Jackman.When politics went tabloidIn May 1987, Colorado Senator Gary Hart seemed like a no-brainer for the Democratic party's presidential nomination. He was articulate, dashing, refreshingly progressive and led George H. W. Bush by double digits in the polls. However, he was also a deeply private man, uneasy when attention moved away from his political views to his personal life. Then, in one tumultuous week, it all came crashing down. Rumours of marital infidelity, a photo of Hart and a model snapped near a fatefully-named yacht, and a newspaper's stakeout of Hart's home resulted in a media frenzy the likes of which had never been seen before.Through the spellbindingly reported story of the Senator's fall from grace, Matt Bai, Yahoo News columnist and former chief political correspondent for The New York Times Magazine, revisits the Gary Hart affair and unpicks how one man's tragedy forever changed the nature of political media and, by extensiTrade Review‘In buoyant, vivid prose … All the Truth Is Out gives the reader a visceral appreciation of how our political discourse has changed in the last two and a half decades, and how those changes reflect broader cultural and social shifts.’ Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times ‘A mini classic of political journalism that will restart the debate of 1987.’ Jack Shafer, The New York Times Book Review ‘Compelling … Bai's superb book provokes many questions, and I gulped it down in a single sitting.’ Ken Auletta, The New Yorker ‘Perhaps you’re one of the many millions who believe something has gone sadly wrong in politics … If so, All The Truth Is Out is for you.’ The Dallas Morning News ‘Matt Bai astonishes us by delving deeply into a story and thus overturning our views about how the press should cover politics. This fascinating and deeply significant tale shows how the rules of American politics and journalism were upended for the worse by the frenzied coverage of Gary Hart's personal life. The soot still darkens our political process.’ Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs ‘Bai doesn't just make an argument: He tells the juicy Hart story all over again, right down to the oil-stained alley in which reporters cornered the candidate and interrogated him about the blonde in his apartment. . . Bai's important call for perspective is a reminder to all of us in the press and the electorate to recognize the complexity of the human condition, whether we're casting aside candidates because they wear a funny helmet in a tank or because they once committed adultery.’ Slate ‘You think you know it all: Donna Rice, Monkey Business, Hart taunting the press. You don't. The combustible mix of new technology and politics was birthed in [the 1987] presidential campaign, and there was no turning back.’ NPR ‘Bai … tells [Hart's] story with details that only great reporting can provide.’ Los Angeles Times

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Book SynopsisPOLITICIAN PRISONER PARENTA portrait of one of the most charismatic, but unknown, world leadersAung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and crusader for democracyin Myanmar, is once again behind bars. Her resounding victory at the polls, and re-election to office as civilian head of state, were overturned by the February 2021 military coup a move with ruinous consequences.Aung San Suu Kyi has been here before. The first half of her political career was spent under house arrest. But this time she has been disappeared into prison in Naypyidaw, following an array of charges clearly calculated to keep her out of politics and out of sight for the rest of her life. This time she is caught in a zero-sum game.Once deified by the international community for her advocacy of democracy and human rights, yet later vilified for her denial of the Burmese military's genocidal campaign against the Rohingya, Aung San Suu Kyi's image survives largely untarnished within Myanmar. Her supporters refer to her as Amay Suu' (Mother Suu). Heir to the political and spiritual legacy of her father, General Aung San, independence hero and martyr, she remains the lodestar of nationalist aspirations, and matriarch for a nation in distress.This book tracks Aung San Suu Kyi's transformation from daughter of a national hero to materfamilias of Myanmar, placing her firmly within the context of the Burmese Buddhist notions of nationhood and motherhood and explaining her continuing role as the figurehead of the nation's struggles. The result is a unique portrait of a living legend, rendered by a compatriot and contemporary, the novelist Wendy Law-Yone.POLITICIANDecades spent spearheading the fight for democracy in Myanmar following her father Aung San's legacy as founder of the modern Burmese nation.PRISONERHaving already spent halfher political career under house arrest, in December 2022, Aung San Suu Kyiwas sentenced to 33 yearsin prison.PARENTTo her exiled family anda nation.Trade ReviewPraise for Wendy Law-Yone’s Golden Parasol Gorgeous: vivid, precise and awash in remembered sunlight ― Independent on Sunday Sad, extraordinary and inspiring ― Wanderlust Captivating ― Asian Review of Books Magnificent… Delivers a riveting experience ― South China Morning Post Beautifully written with a keen sense of humour, the book is bound to be a classic ― Asia Times

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Book SynopsisThis is a beautiful book, full of ideas that could help restore America?s genius for freedom and promise.??Thomas Moore,New York Timesbestselling author ofCare of the SoulA lifelong Emerson lover, teacher, and spiritual seeker reveals how American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson?s twelve essential teachings hold the answer to living an authentic and fulfilling life, one that is in harmony with our souls.In this wise, illuminating book, award-winning author Mark Matousek reveals how Emerson?s timeless wisdom can help us with the problems we?re facing today. America?s ?original Stoic? confronted many of the issues before us, from polarization to fake news, from crooked politicians and rampant materialism, to the scourge of racism.Matousek explains that Emerson?s path of self-reliance can radically improve your quality of life. The mentor and friend of Henry David Thoreau, Emerson (aka the Oracle of Concord) was America?s first self-help author, and his nation?s conscience for half a century. Like the Stoics before him, he emphasized self-knowledge and mindfulness as paths to happiness; also, self-reliance, cooperation, non-conformity, originality, adaptability, and receptiveness.As Americans are once again discovering the power of Stoicism, Matousek shows why Emerson?s vision is precisely the medicine we need today. The principles of Waldo?s philosophy are universal and require no spiritual faith to put into practice. Each person creates her own reality Obstacles are teachers in disguise Your character is your destiny Wonder and awe are the keys to the kingdom Nonconformity is the greatest virtue Nature is the doorway to God Life without self-knowledge is not worth living Emerson encourages us to throw-off conventions and platitudes, explore ourselves in depth, tell the truth about what we find there, and awaken to our greatest potential.Trade Review“Matousek’s book resurrects an Emerson who was writing to be heard.” — Wall Street Journal "This beautifully written book on Emerson offers great principles and notions for living through these difficult times. It restored my enthusiasm, confidence, compassion, and willingness to resist authority. It made me braver to be myself, to embrace paradox and be proud all the ways I have refused to conform. It’s a guide for living outside binaries. It's a book of great vitality, vision and liberation." — V (formerly Eve Ensler) author of Reckoning “If Ralph Waldo Emerson were alive today, he'd be exactly the man for our times - spiritually independent, psychologically savvy, and full of the common sense we need to infuse our culture with wisdom and moral courage. I am so grateful to Mark Matousek for this user-friendly book and for diving deep into Emerson's works. I keep the book on my bedside table and dip into it whenever my heart needs a lift.” — Elizabeth Lesser, author of the New York Times bestseller, Broken Open “It is a filial love story, a profound appreciation of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s great mind and spirit. This is not only a touching account of the work of a great man by whom too many people today are intimidated, but also a narrative of achieving intimacy with ideas, thoughts, and feelings that had been absent from Matousek’s lived experience." — Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon and Far From the Tree "In this compelling exploration applying deep wisdom to everyday life, Matsousek has masterfully curated a way to live with more freedom, connection, and meaning in our lives. Weaving fascinating stories about Ralph Waldo Emerson, personal accounts, and the ancient perspective of Stoicism, this journey will invite you to get to know three individuals in a powerful way--Waldo, Matousek, and yourself--opening your mind to helpful insights and new ways of living in our challenging world. A fascinating and helpful historical review as current today as it is universal in its applications across time." — Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., New York Times bestselling author of IntracConnected, Mindsight, and Aware "In Lessons from an American Stoic, Matousek is more than an outstanding biographer of the legendary Emerson. He joins the lineage of Emerson by adding his own hard-earned wisdom and care. In translating Emerson’s insights to our modern world, Mark has done a great service for the soul of America. This is a great book. It will open your heart, expand your mind, and help you live more truly, more fully, and more lovingly." — Mark Nepo, author of The Half-Life of Angels and Falling Down and Getting Up “Emerson's spirit is exactly what we need to recognize now in our broken country community. I will sing the praises of him, and this book, to everyone I know.” — Marie Howe, author of What the Living Do "Through the crystalline clarity of his writing, Matousek has managed to make Emerson utterly accessible to all of us. This is must-reading for Emerson lovers and anyone looking for deep rooted wisdom to accompany their life journey." — Gail Straub, author of Women and Water "This book is a master class in Emerson, and Mark Matousek is your ideal companion to the timeless and transformative insights of America’s premier thinker. Lessons from an American Stoic showed me a new way of looking at my life, and how I might live it more profoundly if I allowed the wisdom of Emerson to guide me." — Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of Holy Rascals: Advice for Spiritual Revolutionaries "I have been guided by Emerson’s essays and journals for decades, and I’m always astonished by his fresh way of imagining human life and his original way of putting his ideas into words. Mark Matousek's soft and fluid language is perfect for introducing you to Emerson or reminding you to read him again. This is a beautiful book, full of ideas that could help restore America’s genius for freedom and promise.” — Thomas Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Care of the Soul “In this insightful exploration of Emerson's teachings, Matousek gracefully navigates the intricate pathways of transcendental wisdom, offering readers a luminous guide to the essence of American spirituality." — Rupert Spira, author of You Are the Happiness You Seek "Those looking for commonsense guidance to a more self-directed life will find it here." — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisCompelling and inspirational, Alien Nation is a celebration of immigration and an exploration of culture shock, isolation and community, loneliness and hope, heartbreak and promise—it’s a poignant reminder of our shared humanity at a time we need it greatly, and a thoughtful, entertaining tribute to cultural diversity.Trade ReviewA moving look at what the American dream means today. — Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisJ. Robert Oppenheimer is among the most contentious and important figures of the twentieth century. As head of the Los Alamos Laboratory, he oversaw the successful effort to beat the Nazis to develop the first atomic bomb a breakthrough which was to have eternal ramifications for mankind, and made Oppenheimer the ''father of the Bomb''.But his was not a simple story of assimilation, scientific success and world fame. A complicated and fragile personality, the implications of the discoveries at Los Alamos were to weigh heavily upon him. Having formed suspicious connections in the 1930s, in the wake of the Allied victory in World War Two, Oppenheimer's attempts to resist the escalation of the Cold War arms race would lead many to question his loyalties and set him on a collision course with Senator Joseph McCarthy and his witch hunters.Trade ReviewAn extraordinarily rich biography, superbly researched and written with impressive clarity. * The Times *You don't need to know your quantum physics to be gripped by Monk's doorstop study of the momentous life of J Robert Oppenheimer… Monk serves his subject well by sparing us neither the worst nor the best in him. -- Ed Caesar * Sunday Times *Superlative. -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Illuminating. * Nature *[A] fine biography... Oppenheimer has already been served well by biographers. However, Monk here takes the scholarship to a new level. * BBC History Magazine *

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Book Synopsis''If you loved Under the Tuscan Sun, you'll love this'' Red Magazine Every week on a Thursday evening, a group of four rural Italian women gather in an old stone house in the hills above Italy's Orvieto. There along with their friend, Marlena they cook together, sit down to a beautiful supper, drink their beloved local wines, and talk. Surrounded by candle light, good food and friendship, the four women tell Marlena their evocative life stories, and of cherished ingredients and recipes whose secrets have been passed down through generations.Trade ReviewIf you loved Under the Tuscan Sun, you’ll love this. Great stories of ageing, abandonment, lost loves and Mafia feuds, interspersed with wonderful recipes for authentic dishes -- Viv Groskop * Red Magazine *Celebrates the life-affirming joys of food and friendship... Marlena de Blasi recounts meals she and four Italian neighbours cook together every week and the stories they share about their lives and loves. * Good Housekeeping *Charming... astonishingly rich... Marlena De Blasi writes about the food with mouthwatering relish... Best of all, the women tell de Blasi the stories of their lives: stories that between them make for a terrific piece of social history -- Reader's DigestMarlena de Blasi knows how to write real-life romance... Each woman's passions, disappointments and hopes are artfully recounted in this earthy celebration of life's "small delights" * Sydney Morning Herald *Marlena De Blasi’s glittering descriptions and mouthwatering recipes take you directly into the heart of Italy and into the souls of the Italian people. -- Adriana Trigiani * author of The Shoemaker’s Wife *

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Set in the 1920s, this marvellously sensitive autobiography recreates the varied community of Nairn, with its fishermen and townsfolk, its crofters and its prosperous upper-middle-classes. Nairn has witnessed many of the triumphs and tragedies of Scottish history, and these are recalled with intuitive understanding. But it is also the scene of David Thomson''s formative years when he suffered an eye injury which nearly blinded him and shaped his whole future.Winner of the McVitie''s Prize and the first NCR Book Award For Non-Fiction

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Book SynopsisA House Unlocked is Booker Prize winning author Penelope Lively''s classic memoir.The only child of divorced parents, Penelope Lively was often sent to stay at her grandparents'' country house Golsoncott. Years later, as the house was sold out of the family, she began to piece together the lives of those she knew fifty years before.In a needlework sampler, she sees her grandmother and the wartime children that she sheltered under her roof in 1940. Potted meat jars remind her of the ritual of doing the flowers for church. The smell of the harness room brings her Aunt Rachel - avant-garde artist, fervent horserider - vividly back to life.In A House Unlocked, Penelope Lively delves into the domestic past of her former home, and tells of her own youth and the contrasts between life today and the way they lived then.''Wonderful. Lively is brilliant and original . . . Every page of this book captures your attention'' Daily Trade ReviewWonderful. Lively is brilliant and original . . . Every page of this book captures your attention * Daily Mail *Remarkable, richly enjoyable ... a captivating memoir -- Helen Dunmore * The Times *Engaging, curious, compelling, remarkable ... Any time spent with Penelope Lively is a joy * Observer *An ingenious memoir. The enchantment lies in its personal narrative: the portrait of a family and its progress through the twentieth century * Literary Review *

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Book Synopsis''He seems to have laboured under an almost child-like misapprehension about the size of his world. Had greatness not been thrust upon him, he might have lived a life of great harmlessness''The reign of Edward II was a succession of disasters. Inept in war, and in thrall to favourites, most notably the young nobleman Piers Gaveston, he preferred drinking, driving carts and rowing boats to the tedium of government. After twenty ruinous years, he was imprisoned and murdered. This remarkable book gives a glimpse into the abyss: the terrors of kingship.

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Book SynopsisDrawing from numerous primary and secondary sources this comprehensive biography introduces Matthai to a new generation, even as it rekindles the memory of a man who has become the victim of collective amnesia.

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Book Synopsis''The tide spreads a mantle of silk Around the Great Blasket Island'' So wrote Micheal O''Guiheen of his beloved island home. But by 1953 the authorities had evacuated the Great Blasket and its traditions were vanishing. Micheal O''Guiheen, ''the Poet'' of the book, was the son of Peig Sayers, who wrote ''An Old Woman''s Reflections''. But while that was a celebration of the good times, and her son''s schoolmate Maurice O''Sullivan''s ''Twenty Years A-Growing'' was a book of laughing youth, this takes the story to sombre middle age. It tells of sunny times clouded over only by unconscious intimations of mortality, not only of youth but also of an irreplaceable culture: the consternation caused by a passing comet, the drudgery of a turf-gathering expedition turning into a carefree rabbit hunt. This first and only English edition of O''Guiheen''s ''cri de coeur'' is supplemented by translations, from the author''s own poetry, previously only available in the original. The Blasket Islands are three miles off Ireland''s Dingle Peninsular. Until their evacuation just after the Second World War, the lives of the 150 or so Blasket Islanders had remained unchanged for centuries. A rich oral tradition of story-telling, poetry, and folktales kept alive the legends and history of the islands, and has made tier literature famous throughout the world. The seven Blasket Island books published by OUP contain memoirs and reminiscences from within this literary tradition, evoking a way of life which has now vanished.Trade ReviewPart of a unique and remarkable Irish literary archive ... compelling. * Neil Johnston, Belfast Telegraph, 24/6/00 *Table of Contents1. YOUTH AND SCHOOL; 2. NEW HOUSES BEING BUILT ON THE ISLAND; 3.THE COMET; 4. THE DAY OF THE AUCTION ON THE ISLAND; 5. LIVING IN THE NEW HOUSE; 6. HOW I GOT THRUSH; 7. THE MACKEREL SEASON; 8. A DAY'S HUNTING AND PEEVISHNESS; 9. SHROVETIDE AND THE GREAT COMMOTION; 10. BAD NEWS - THE DEATH OF NELL MHOR'S LITTLE GIRL; 11. THE GREAT WAR; 12. SITTING ON THE BANK OF THE STRAND; 13. HOW THE WARSHIP CAME TO THE ISLAND; 14. THE COMING OF DONALL O'SULLIVAN; 15. THE RISING; 16. MY TERM AT SCHOOL FINISHED

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Book SynopsisPaul is the most powerful human personality in the history of the Church. A missionary, theologian, and religious genius, in his epistles he laid the foundations on which later Christian theology was built.In his highly original introduction to Paul''s life and thought, E. P. Sanders, whose research on Paul has substantially influenced recent scholarship, pays equal attention to Paul''s fundamental convictions and the sometimes convoluted ways in which they were worked out.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewSanders makes one think afresh about all sorts of issues ... read this book ... * Hebrew Christian *Table of Contents1. Paul's mission ; 2. Paul's life ; 3. Missionary strategy and message ; 4. The return of the Lord and the resurrection of the dead ; 5. Theological presuppositions: monotheism and providence ; 6. Righteous by faith and being in Christ: Galatians ; 7. Righteous by faith and being in Christ: Romans ; 8. Christology ; 9. The law ; 10. Behaviour ; 11. The salvation of Israel and of the world: Romans 9-11 ; Notes on sources ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisBy his writings, the surviving bulk of which exceeds that of any other ancient author, Augustine came to influence not only his contemporaries but also the West since his time. This Very Short Introduction traces the development of Augustine''s thought, discussing his reaction to the thinkers before him, and themes such as freedom, creation, and the trinity.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewmagisterial and highly readable. * Bookseller *Table of ContentsList of illustrations ; 1. The formation of Augustine's mind: Cicero, Mani, Plato, Christ ; 2. Liberal arts ; 3. Free choice ; 4. A philosophical society ; 5. Vocation ; 6. Confessions ; 7. Unity and division ; 8. Creation and the Trinity ; 9. City of God ; 10. Nature and grace ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisWhile the heart of the book focuses on the Civil War, Gienapp begins with a finely etched portrait of Lincoln''s early life, from pioneer farm boy, to politician and lawyer in Springfield, to his stunning election as sixteenth president of the United States. We see how Lincoln grew during his years in office, how he developed a keen aptitude for military strategy and displayed enormous skill in dealing with his generals, and also how his strategy evolved from a desire to preserve the Union into one of emancipation and total war.A former backwoodsman and country lawyer, Abraham Lincoln rose to become one of America''s greatest presidents. The biography offers a vivid account of Lincoln''s dramatic ascension to the pinnacle of American history.Trade Review"Abraham Lincoln and Civil War America is the best brief biography of Lincoln that I have read. Briskly written, concise, and informed by the latest scholarship, it is destined to become a standard book in its field."-- David Herbert Donald, Charles Warren Professor of American History Emeritus, Harvard University and author of Lincoln "In a notoriously crowded field, this book is something quite rare: a truly concise, authoritative overview of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. While scholars will admire its sure command of the subject and its deft treatment of complicated historical issues, this book will be particularly valuable for non-specialists. Written in clear and direct prose by one of the leading scholars in the field, it is an ideal choice for the student or general reader."--Douglas L. Wilson, McCabe-Greer Professor of History of the Civil War Era at Pennsylvania State University and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Fate of Liberty: Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties "Abraham Lincoln and Civil War America is the best brief biography of Lincoln that I have read. Briskly written, concise, and informed by the latest scholarship, it is destined to become a standard book in its field."-- David Herbert Donald, Charles Warren Professor of American History Emeritus, Harvard University and author of Lincoln "In a notoriously crowded field, this book is something quite rare: a truly concise, authoritative overview of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. While scholars will admire its sure command of the subject and its deft treatment of complicated historical issues, this book will be particularly valuable for non-specialists. Written in clear and direct prose by one of the leading scholars in the field, it is an ideal choice for the student or general reader."--Douglas L. Wilson, author of Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln "The best brief biography of Lincoln. Eloquently written, accessible to students, based on a synthesis of the scholarly literature, yet an original contribution."--Roy E. Finkenbine, University of Detroit MercyTable of ContentsPreface: 1: A Son of the Frontier 2: Thwarted Ambition 3: Rise to Power 4: A People's Contest 5: From Limited War to Revolution 6: Midstream 7: To Finish the Task 8: With Malice Toward None Chronology of Abraham Lincoln: List of Abbreviations: Notes: Bibliographical Essay: Index:

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Book SynopsisThe Roman emperor Augustus gave his name to the age he dominated, from the latter half of the first century BC until the second decade of the following century. Yet he shared the age with several royal women who ruled parts of the Mediterranean world, in a symbiotic relationship with Rome. This book is the first detailed portrait of these remarkable women. Previous accounts of the period have centered on Augustus or Rome''s allied kings, with scant attention to the women who ruled as their partners or on their own. The most famous of these is Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of the great Cleopatra VII of Egypt and her partner, the Roman magistrate Marcus Antonius. Her very survival following Roman victory over her mother''s forces is itself noteworthy but she went on to rule Mauretania (northwest Africa) with her husband for more than twenty years. She even attempted to reconstitute her mother''s legacy in this remote region and, like her mother, was an ardent patron of the arts and schoTrade ReviewRoller has succeeded in synthesizing a considerable amount of information that is not necessarily widely known or readily accessible and making it engrossing and entertaining for both specialist and non-specialist readers. He has offered a fresh perspective not only on the subject of women in antiquity, but also on the Augustan Principate and the Julio-Claudian period. * Classical World *Studies of Hellenistic queenship usually end with the death of Cleopatra VII. Overcoming the inadequacies of the sources, Duane Roller demonstrates that the tradition of strong queens continued into the Principate in this illuminating study of the careers of seven royal women, including Cleopatra Selene of Mauretania, Salome of Judaea, and Dynamis of Bosporos. * Stanley M. Burstein, California State University, Los Angeles *Roller's careful and learned book offers its readers engaging accounts of the hard-to-recover lives of several redoubtable queens in the realms allied to Augustus' Roman empire. Roller shows how these women, although often operating under the most perilous of circumstances, managed to stay at the top, sometimes by deploying their regal heritage or glamour, at others by exploiting their imperial connections or wealth * but always by dint of their deep political acumen. This is a detailed, impressive historical investigation.W. Jeffrey Tatum, Victoria University of Wellington *A useful, enjoyable, deeply learned account of female dynasts of the era of Augustus. Roller introduces the period's politics, discusses terminology and precursors to late Hellenistic queens (this chapter is particularly well done), and offers excellent, concise biographical sketches of his seven subjects. He concludes with a discussion of Roman women vis-à-vis these queens. This is fine historian-as-detective work, using coins, literary references, and other evidence ... Highly recommended. * CHOICE *I think with a sound knowledge of Roman history and politics this book would fill in the gaps of these women, who are almost invisible in the records but who ruled different parts of the Roman Empire following the demise of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra VII. * Dr. Charlotte Booth *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations Genealogical Chart Introduction Chapter 1: Queens and Royal Women Chapter 2: Cleopatra's Daughter Chapter 3: Glaphyra of Cappadocia Chapter 4: Salome of Judaea Chapter 5: Dynamis of Bosporos Chapter 6: Pythodoris of Pontos Chapter 7: Abe of Olbe and Mousa of Parthia Chapter 8: Royal Women and Roman Women Appendix 1: A Note on Flavius Josephus and Nikolaos of Damascus Appendix 2: The Girl Who Danced for the Head of John the Baptist Notes Abbreviations Bibliography List of Passages Cited Index

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Book SynopsisIn this expansive new biography of George Reisner, Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian examines the life and work of America's greatest archaeologist. Manuelian presents Reisner's undeniable impact and considers his life within the context of Western colonialism, racism, and nationalism.Trade ReviewIn recent years, there's been an ongoing debate in the worlds of history and archaeology over the ethics of taking art and artifacts from a particular country and taking possession of it elsewhere. It's an unsettling remnant of colonialism, and its history runs deeply. Peter Der Manuelian's new book Walking Among Pharaohs offers readers an engaging account of the origins of contemporary Egyptology--and how it helps explain some of the debates we're reckoning with decades later. * InsideHook *Walking Among Pharaohs is a lively and uniquely informed biography of the most important American archaeologist of ancient Egypt and one of the founders of his discipline. Drawing expertly on a staggering range of sources, Peter Der Manuelian brings George Reisner, his ideas, and his times compellingly to life. * John Baines, University of Oxford *The definitive biography of G.A. Reisner, who is generally regarded as one of the most important and influential Egyptologists and archaeologists of his day. The story flows with no punches pulled, revealing Reisner in intimate detail, warts and all. A must read for anyone interested in the early days of American Egyptology. * Eric Cline, author of 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed *Peter Der Manuelian's Walking Among Pharaohs is a thorough examination of the life, career, and legacy of one of the most influential Egyptologists of his era, George Reisner. Presenting Reisner's legacy in all of its complexity—including the colonialist and the racist elements of his work—highlights the indelible mark he left on the field, and how he shaped it for future generations. Walking Among Pharaohs is a worthy contribution to our understanding of the history of Egyptology. * Kathlyn M. Cooney, University of California, Los Angeles *This is an amazingly rich biography of George Reisner, a giant among archaeologists working in the Nile Valley. It's also a powerful reflection on archaeology's many meanings, from celebration of ancient cultures to colonial appropriation. * Geoff Emberling, University of Michigan *George Reisner has long been one of the most influential but least known archaeologists from the 'golden age' of Egyptology. Manuelian has finally done Reisner justice, bringing his long life, extraordinary career, and contested legacy into the spotlight of critical enquiry. Walking Among Pharaohs is a prodigious work of scholarship. * Toby Wilkinson, author of A World Beneath the Sands: The Golden Age of Egyptology *[Manuelian] is the ideal author for this authoritative first biography of Reisner. It is an essential addition to any Egyptological library, bringing to light the work and accomplishments of Reisner in Egypt and Nubia during the 'golden age' of Egyptology. The extensive, meticulous notes and bibliography are indispensable. * Ancient Egypt Magazine *With this opus magnum (in every sense of the word), Peter Der Manuelian has completed a remarkable achievement, crowning more than twenty years of research... The author is indeed to be commended for truly mastering the 'staggering range of sources'...and the 'thorough examination'-at times painstakingly so-of the complexities of Reisner's biography, addressing the manifold issues of 'colonial appropriation' and 'racism'. * Orientalistische Literaturzeitung *Every chapter contains some gem about the history of Egyptology.... This book will almost certainly remain the definitive biography of Reisner. Professor Der Manuelian is a careful and thorough researcher and for a book this long (1,000+ pages) we can only say 'Thank god he can write!' * Bob Brier, Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt *Table of ContentsPreface Egyptian Chronology and Nubian Comparative Chart Map Introduction I. Early Years (1867-1899) 1 Midwestern Beginnings and Endings 2 Go East, Young Man 3 Conversion in Germany 4 "Somebody Needed an Archaeologist" II. The Path to the Pyramids (1899-1905) 5 The Road Taken 6 Chance of a Lifetime: Giza 7 Devastation and Realignment: The Birth of the HU-MFA Expedition (1904-1905) III. Egypt, Palestine, Nubia, America (1905-1913) 8 Multitasking across Cultures 9 King Menkaure versus the "Pestiferous Sheikhs" of Palestine 10 Back to the Classroom 11 Giza Politics, Giza Discoveries IV. War Years (1913-1918) 12 Focus on Nubia: The Kerma Kingdom 13 Archaeology in Wartime: Kerma, Gammai, Deir el-Bersha 14 A Mystery Solved: The Nubian Pyramids of Gebel Barkal and Nuri 15 The Near-Destruction of Two American Expeditions V. Archaeology and Politics (1919-1926) 16 "The Work is his God:" Gebel Barkal, el-Kurru, and Meroe 17 (Mis)interpreting the Nubians in the Shadow of Tutankhamun 18 Secrets of a Giza Queen 19 Excursus: Showdown with Breasted over Egyptian Archaeology VI. Nubian Fortresses and Giza Tombs (1927-1937) 20 Hoisting Sarcophagi 21 Looking Back and Taking Stock 22 Septuagenarian Archaeology VII. Legacies at Home and Abroad (1938-1947) 23 Virtual and Actual Homecomings 24 Finale 25 Endgame: Transforming The HU-MFA Expedition 26 Epilogue: Revered or Reviled? Reisner and his Archaeological Impact Endnotes List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Reisner Bibliography General Bibliography Abbreviations Expedition Chronology and Staff Glossary of Arabic and other Foreign Words Index

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Book SynopsisThe woman scientist who saved Americans from thalidomideIn the early 1960s, Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration became one of the most celebrated women in America when she prevented a deadly sedative from entering the U.S. market. A Canadian-born pharmacologist and physician, Kelsey saved countless Americans from the devastating side effects of thalidomide, a drug routinely given to pregnant women to prevent morning sickness.As the FDA medical officer charged with reviewing Merrell Pharmaceutical''s application for approval in 1960-61, Kelsey was unconvinced that there was sufficient evidence of the drug''s efficacy and safety. Despite substantial pressure, she held her ground for nineteen months while the extent of the drug''s worldwide damage became known-thousands of stillborn babies, as well as at least 10,000 children across 46 countries born with severe deformities such as missing limbs, arms and legs that resembled flippers, and improperly developed eyes, ears, and other organs. As a result of Kelsey''s efforts, thalidomide was never sold in the United States. The incident led Congress to pass the 1962 Drug Amendment, which fundamentally changed drug regulation in America. Those regulations, still in force today, required pharmaceutical companies to conduct phased clinical trials, obtain informed consent from participants in drug testing, and warn the FDA of adverse effects, and it granted the FDA important controls over prescription-drug advertising.One of a small minority of women to earn an advanced degree in science in the 1930s, Kelsey faced challenges that resonate with women scientists to this day. Revered by the public as a good mother of science, she went on to act as a formidable gatekeeper against other suspect drugs, such as diesthylstilbestrol (DES) and laetrile. As part of the team that tested anti-malarial drugs on prisoner volunteers during World War II, she later was instrumental in the formulation of ethical protocols for drug testing on prisoners and the vulnerable, including the elderly and children. Yet behind the public adulation, she faced professional jealousies and glass ceilings, political interference with FDA''s actions, and ongoing hostility from pharmaceutical industry officials. She was sustained and supported by family and friends, co-workers and mentors, and a lifetime commitment to good science.Based upon FDA archival records, private family papers, and interviews with family and colleagues, this biography brings to light the efforts and legacy of a pioneering woman of science whose contributions are still influential today.

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Book SynopsisMuch has been written about the French Revolution and especially its bloody phase known as the Reign of Terror. The actions of the leaders who unleashed the massacres and public executions, especially Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton, are well known. They inspired many soldiers in the Revolutionary cause, who did not survive, let alone thrive, in the post-Revolutionary world.In this work of historical reconstruction, Jeff Horn recounts the life of Alexandre Rousselin and narrates the history of the age of the French Revolution from the perspective of an eyewitness. From a young age, Rousselin worked for and with some of the era''s most important men and women, giving him access to the corridors of power. Dedication to the ideals of the Revolution led him to accept the need for a system of Terror to save the Republic in 1793-94. Rousselin personally utilized violent methods to accomplish the state''s goals in Provins and Troyes. This terrorism marked his life. It led to his denunciation by its victims. He spent the next five decades trying to escape the consequences of his actions. His emotional responses as well as the practical measures he took to rehabilitate his reputation illuminate the hopes and fears of the revolutionaries. Across the first four decades of the nineteenth century, Rousselin acquired a noble title, the comte de Saint-Albin, and emerged as a wealthy press baron of the liberal newspaper Le Constitutionnel. But he could not escape his past. He retired to write his own version of his legacy and to protect his family from the consequences of his actions as a terrorist during the French Revolution.Rousselin''s life traces the complex twists and turns of the Revolution and demonstrates how one man was able to remake himself, from a revolutionary to a liberal, to accommodate regime change.Trade ReviewRelatively short, fast-paced, insightful, and well-written.... The significance of Horn's modest biography is that it reveals that for its main and secondary actors, particularly those rising in stature in Paris, the Terror was an urban jungle of rival political networks, always changing, forever on the edge of betrayal. Fast-moving events and a Rousseauian expectation for transparency ironically yielded a local political culture in which personal relationships—what we inaccurately call friendships—assumed unusual importance. * Gary Kates, American Historical Review *Horn's biography provides more insight into Rousselin's shift from terrorist to liberal-what could be dubbed "the unmaking of a terrorist"-than it does from revolutionary to terrorist. * Howard G. Brown, Journal of Modern History *Jeff Horn's new book provides an illuminating account of this astonishing story * K Steven Vincent, The European Legacy *In this fascinating biography, Horn recounts the life of Alexandre Rousselin, a little-known French revolutionary. Born a poor Parisian in 1773, Rousselin worked as personal secretary to Camille Desmoulins and Georges Danton and oversaw the Terror in Troyes. Imprisoned and released five separate times in the aftermath, Rousselin served in the Ministry of War during the Directory and then kept a low profile under Napoleon. After 1815, he was a political liberal,...a supporter of King Louis Philippe, and founder of Le Constitutionnel, for many years the world's bestselling newspaper. This book is reminiscent of...Forrest Gump, as Rousselin constantly reappears at critical moments of French history from the Revolution until his death in 1843....Though well researched, with a firm base in archival sources and Rousselin's own published work, the book is popularly written with an eye toward engaging undergraduate students and general readers. * CHOICE *The amazing account of an enfant terrible of the French Revolution who, through a complex mixture of idealism and opportunism, survived each succeeding regime to become a wealthy liberal journalist under the Restoration and the July Monarchy; and who passed from personal secretary of Georges Danton, to the friend of Benjamin Constant — and perhaps the lover of Josephine de Beauharnais — the associate of Adolph Thiers, and even an acquaintance of King Louis-Philippe (who was godfather to his son). A spectacular story. * Timothy Tackett, University of California, Irvine *At the age of nineteen Alexandre Rousselin became an advocate of terror as an active revolutionary, trying to make a better world. He spent much of the rest of his long life, under a succession of political regimes, trying to live down his part in the heady years of the Revolution. Horn has made a compelling choice for a biographical study; he uses Rousselin's life to shine new light on the seismic years of the French Revolution and what it meant to become a revolutionary. * Marisa Linton, author of Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship and Authenticity in the French Revolution *Jeff Horn recounts the astonishing tale of a poor Parisian boy who somehow became the private secretary of Danton and Desmoulins, survived the deadliest days of the Revolution, and died a wealthy newspaper magnate and liberal noble. This is an illuminating story of brilliance, daring, and maneuvering. * Peter McPhee, University of Melbourne *A gripping account of a fascinating figure who traversed some of the most momentous eras in modern history. Jeff Horn has a rare talent for finding overlooked historical evidence and a keen sense of the dilemmas faced by anyone who survives a high-level engagement with revolutionary politics. * Lynn Hunt, author of History: Why It Matters *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: A Romantic Remembers the French Revolution Chapter 1: Education for Change, 1773-92 Chapter 2: The Making of a Terrorist, 1792-94 Chapter 3: The Consequences of Terror, 1794-96 Chapter 4: Rehabilitation: Political, Literary, and Social (1795-1815) Chapter 5: Liberalism and the Press (1816-38) Chapter 6: Remembering and Forgetting the French Revolution: Memories and Memoirs Conclusion: Satisfactions and Regrets of a Life in Revolution Appendix: Alexandre Rousselin and the Historians Timeline Notes Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA princess born to the Thuringian royal house. A captive in war, forced to marry the Frankish king who killed her family. A queen, who renounced her position, received consecration as a deaconess, and took monastic vows. A religious leader, who acquired a fragment of the Cross of the Crucifixion for her convent of Holy Cross in Poitiers. And, lastly, a saint, remembered for her healings, exorcisms, and extreme self-mortification. Such was Radegund, a woman who lived through an era defined by headlong change. Honored as a mother by subsequent Frankish kings and as a holy woman by her nuns and devotees, Radegund enjoyed a reputation for righteousness that spread throughout the whole of medieval Europe, with later queens emulating her pious achievements. For generations, she defined medieval queenship, female monastic practice, and the expectations associated with holy women. Today, she is often envisioned as a pan-European saint.Radegund presents a new interpretation of this remarkable wTrade ReviewE.T. Dailey's Radegund is both meticulously researched and supremely readable, imbued with a rare, propulsive energy. Here, finally, is Radegund fully-realized-audacious and imperfect, pioneer and survivor. * Shelley Puhak, author of The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World *E.T. Dailey has produced a sparkling new biography of Radegund. He does so by a meticulous reading of the sources, and by reminding the reader of her cultural context, steeped as it was in the Bible. As a result, the royal saint appears freshly minted, as does her community of the Holy Cross, and those around her, even the leading members of the Merovingian family. * Ian Wood, Professor Emeritus, University of Leeds, FBA *Table of ContentsMap 1: Gaul in the Sixth Century Map 2: Poitiers in the Time of Radegund List of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1. And the Lots Were Cast Chapter 2. A Temple Consumed by Fire Chapter 3. What Can Man Do Unto Me? Chapter 4. They Will Be as Bears and Wolves Chapter 5. The Lord Knows His Own Chapter 6. Veil of Veils, Holy of Holies Chapter 7. Like Eve Driven from Paradise Chapter 8. Amen Appendix 1: Radegund's Letter Dominis sanctis Appendix 2: Family Tree of Select Merovingians Bibliography Index

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