Biography: general Books

A stolen past, a search for the truth, two lives changed forever Born out of wedlock in Dublin in 1937, Phyllis grew up in a tough, church run orphanage. She thought by fulfilling her dream to become a nurse in England, her life might change, but her loveless childhood predisposed a loveless marriage and things began to spiral out of control for her and for her daughter, Sally. Looking for the answers to why both their lives went so spectacularly wrong, led Sally to ask questions about the real identity of her mother: “Who was she? Why was she abandoned... I needed to find answers before it was too late.” After a mission lasting nearly a decade of searching archives and contacting various organisations, charities and anyone who would listen, Sally finally uncovered the truth.

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Book SynopsisThis is no ordinary parish, and no ordinary priest - a true story of poverty, haunting, exorcism, birth, death and murder. Seth was a priest. He served for 10 years and 163 days. Then he decided to die. “Have you ever questioned whether you are doing the right thing?” Beginning with his bungled suicide attempt, Faithless charts the incidents within Seth's ministry that led him to that point. From dealing with a cult leader to performing exorcisms in haunted houses, Seth has seen the unimaginable. He has escaped from the clutches of a man who showed signs of being possessed and helped rebuild families after unthinkable tragedy. These incidents in his life have one common thread. A young man struggling to find the right thing to do in some of the most desperate situations. All the time, his once boundless faith was dwindling. Will Seth be forced to take a different path? Trade ReviewHave you ever wondered about the spiritual realm and if it really exists? Have you ever wondered about the life of a priest, and what they experience while walking through a Journey with God? What traumas do people carry? Faithless bares all with a raw truth of experience. Check out Faithless, this book by Seth Walker is truly an eye-opener to the people in society today, in a Northern town of unemployment, poverty, alcoholism, drugs, and battery. Seth has experienced all sorts of traumas while walking in his journey with God. This gripping book tells the story of a priest and the raw accounts of his journey. Faithless will have you gripped as Seth tells his story of his daily encounters, the jaw-dropping accounts that will have you thinking how someone deals with the traumas of people. There is also a warning with the book a warning of suicide and violence. Seth writes his accounts on youths on mind altering drugs whilst dabbling with a Ouija board and responding to what they hear. but it’s not all doom and gloom there is also humour tho’ Seth’s faith is tested to a breaking point. A true story of poverty, hauntings, exorcism, birth, death, and murder. A truly heart-wrenching book that will have you gripped from the very beginning. This book is really one we recommend you read, it will certainly leave you thinking about the spirit realm, behaviours, the works of Christ, and the tough journey with God. * Hull Echo *‘Faithless’ is a fascinating book which I found difficult to put down. Initially, I wasn’t sure about reading ‘Faithless’ because I’ve experienced a crisis of faith too. At times, I had nothing to hold on to and I was concerned that reading this book may unsettle me and shake my faith. It didn’t. I’m so glad that I chose to read ‘Faithless’. I can’t escape the irony of a line in the book; ‘becoming a Christian is hard, but staying a Christian is even harder.’ I empathise with Seth Walker’s apathy and spiritual desolation; his point of view. In his own words, he was ill-prepared for the responsibilities put upon his shoulders and it crushed him. When he cried out to God … Nothing. This is a very powerful testimony. I like how he ends the book. * Netgalley *'It’s definitely not for everyone, but it is an instructive read for those considering working in a deprived community. It's not all bleak. There is warmth, even hilarity, as we get to know the characters who inhabit the estate... and, an unexpected chink of light appears right at the very end. Despite the traumatic situations he finds himself in, the author’s pastoral heart shines through. 4 stars.' * Premier Christianity Magazine *

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Book SynopsisGeorgia Williams’ murder at the hands of college pal Jamie Reynolds was a crime that shocked the nation: chillingly executed and horrific in its sexual depravity. But when Georgia’s devastated mother, Lynnette, and father, Steve, questioned the events leading to their daughter’s death, they discovered it was also entirely preventable. At the time of Georgia’s disappearance, Steve was – ironically – a highly-commended murder squad detective serving with West Mercia Police. The same force, Steve and Lynnette discovered, had had Reynolds in its sights for years before Georgia’s murder, but let him slip their net. Drawing on Steve’s inside police knowledge, the couple exposed the litany of failures that let Reynolds infiltrate their daughter’s life, and allowed him to kill. Now, in her powerful and moving memoir, Lynnette tries to get beyond the platitudes of ‘mistakes made and lessons learned’ to effect real change, and also details the heartbreaking aftermath of a crime that should never have happened.

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Book SynopsisThe love triangle of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy was as volcanic as the eruption of Stromboli that staggered Aristotle and Maria at the beginning of their romance. Had they lived in the sixteenth century, Shakespeare would have written a play about them — it was too good a story to miss. Two myths have persisted in the decades since their marriage. The first is that Onassis was a rich but likeable rogue who avoided taxes but was otherwise, at heart, a decent and generous man. The second is that Jackie Onassis was a shameless gold-digger and spendthrift, motivated by little other than greed and personal ambition. The truth was very different. Onassis was a vicious, drunken bully who beat his wives and mistresses until they were bloody and forced them to have abortions. When he tired of them, he smeared them in the media, tapped their phones and publicly humiliated them. His business empire was built largely on bribery, corruption and contempt for the law. He signed contracts in disappearing ink, reviled any politician who could not be bought, did business with dictators, and habitually lied. His children were so frightened in his presence that they peed themselves. His brutal treatment of his mistress, Maria Callas, led her to a suicide attempt and the abortion of her only child. Her early death at the age of only fifty-three was — in part — caused by the unhappiness that he inflicted on her.Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1 Jackie, How Could You? CHAPTER 2 The Burning of Smyrna CHAPTER 3 A Bad Omen CHAPTER 4 A Country of Opportunity CHAPTER 5 Pater Familias CHAPTER 6 A Look of Destiny CHAPTER 7 A Shipboard Romance CHAPTER 8 A Marriage of Convenience CHAPTER 9 Richer than Croesus CHAPTER 10 A Turn of Providence CHAPTER 11 A Man with a Compulsion CHAPTER 12 Dukes, Princes and Kings CHAPTER 13 Omertà CHAPTER 14 A Formidable Clan CHAPTER 15 The Baroness Who Would Not Be Bought CHAPTER 16 A Son Is Lost CHAPTER 17 The Aftermath Postscript References Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis "Catherine Horwood's book is a triumph, beautifully crafted by an author who has thoroughly researched and understood her subject. From start to finish, this publication gives us a real understanding of Beth's life. There is so much here to keep the reader gripped." - Gardens Illustrated Beth Chatto: A life with plants tells the story of the most influential British plantswoman of the past hundred years. Beth Chatto was the inspiration behind the ‘right plant, right place’ ethos that lies at the heart of modern gardening. She also wrote some of the best-loved gardening books of the twentieth century, among them The Dry Garden, The Damp Garden, and Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden. Some years before her death in May 2018, aged ninety-four, Beth authorized Catherine Horwood to write her biography, with exclusive access to her archive. Beth Chatto: A life with plants also includes extracts from Beth’s notebooks and diaries, never previously published, bringing Beth’s own distinctive and much-loved voice into the book. Most of the photographs, from Beth’s personal archives, have also never been seen in print before. For Beth’s legions of fans, Beth Chatto: A life with plants is the personal story behind her beliefs and the struggles and determination that brought her success. Trade Review"A fascinating portrait of one of the true gardening greats from her early childhood in rural Essex to her groundbreaking work as a nursery owner, award-winning author and multiple gold-medal-winner exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show." * Irish Times Gardening Books of the Year *"Full of tales of Chelsea shows, of travels with Christopher Lloyd and of Cedric Morris's artists' colony at Benton End in Suffolk. Fascinating stuff." * The Times *"Not a gardening book per se but a book about a gardener who created a garden of distinction on a dry, windswept site, earning her a reputation as an international influencer. The book brings its subject back to life, enabling those previously unfamiliar with Chatto's work and influence to understand the context in which her ideas were formulated and excelled." * Irish News Best Gardening Books of the Year *"Beth loved autumn, and for me, Beth Chatto: A Life with Plants shines most in this season of transition, as her later years are chronicled...[It] tells a complete and intimate portrait of Chatto's professional and personal life." * Leaflet - Massachussets Horticultural Society *"Beth Chatto...died last year having handed over her gardening notebooks to Catherine Horwood. Perhaps more pertinently for Horwood, and for non-gardeners whose eyes glaze over at the mention of horticultural triumphs, Chatto also entrusted Horwood with her private diaries. As Horwood's detailed and rigorous Beth Chatto shows, plantspeople have passions beyond their garden beds." * Sunday Times Gardening Books of the Year *"Beth Chatto, who died last year, was singularly forward-thinking and knowledgeable, and her gardens and nursery near Elmstead Market in Essex have been a continual draw to enthusiasts for half a century. Catherine Horwood’s authorised biography, based on diaries, notes and conversations, is a faithful, workmanlike account of a truly remarkable plantswoman and artistic gardener." -- Ursula Buchan * Spectator *"Catherine Horwood's book is a triumph, beautifully crafted by an author who has thoroughly researched and understood her subject. From start to finish, this publication gives us a real understanding of Beth's life. There is so much here to keep the reader gripped." -- Fergus Garrett * Gardens Illustrated *"The life story of this elegant plant guru contains enough drive and determination to inspire any modern woman...To meet, Beth was an inscrutable coiled spring of a person, beautifully composed, a brilliant lecturer and writer and, of course, a terrific grower...This book shows what a remarkable woman she was." -- Mary Keen * Country Life *"A compelling and revealing read, enhanced by Catherine's talents for research and tellling a good story." * The English Garden *"Brilliant, charming and beautiful, she was a horticultural pioneer whose impact continues to this day. Her gardening genius made her the darling of pop stars, aristocrats and royalty — yet as this sympathetically written biography reveals, her apparently gilded life was far more turbulent than anyone could have suspected." * Daily Mail *"Catherine Horwood more than does justice to this iconic gardening legend...a delightful memoir of a remarkable woman. Beautifully illustrated and superbly written...a fitting tribute to one of horticulture's most iconic women." * Reckless Gardener *"This fascinating, beautifully-written biography paints a fond and intimate portrait of one of the true greats of the gardening world." * Irish Times *"Impeccably researched." * House & Garden *

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Book SynopsisA NEW EDITION OF MICHAEL VLISMAS' EYE-OPENING BIOGRAPHY OF ELON MUSK, NOW WITH NEW MATERIAL COVERING THE LATEST IN MUSK'S FAMILY AND BUSINESS LIFEIn 2022 Elon Musk - one of the richest and best-known people on earth - made headlines worldwide with his bid to buy Twitter, and he is often in the news for his entrepreneurial exploits and his controversial tweets. Who is this boundary-pushing billionaire with grand plans of inhabiting Mars, and what lies at the heart of his vision? Why is he so utterly unafraid of risk?As an awkward Pretoria schoolboy who loved comics and science fiction, Musk's early years and singular family background were crucial in forming his stellar ambitions. Journalist and author Michael Vlismas, who attended the same high school as Musk, knows well the environment that shaped him and offers new insights into Musk's development, including his troubled relationship with his father.Tracing his remarkable life, from his South African childhood to his move to Canada at 17 and then to the US - where Musk made millions out of PayPal and built Tesla and SpaceX into two of the world's most famous companies - this is the revealing new story of a man driven to preserve the optimism he sees in humanity and find a future for humans 'out there among the stars'.

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Book SynopsisOne eveningwhen they are sitting quietly togethershe breaks the silenceand starts to talkDorothy tells the complete story of a Yorkshire woman, in verse, from her birth early in the last century to her death in the first years of this. Like so many of her generation, she lived a life both ordinary and extraordinary; shaded by grief, troubled by family dynamics, and restricted by the realities of class, location and gender. Hers was a life where survival itself, the simple act of continuing, was a victory to be celebrated but one where the reminders of why we continue, the blinding moments of sunshine when the clouds part, were that much sweeter because of it.Tender and insightful, harrowing and uplifting, Dorothy is a stunning act of empathy from a son towards his mother. Her story, told through the author's assured, unpretentious verse, is both specific and universal enough to resonate with all who encounter it; to challenge some, heal others, and leave a lasting impression on the world Dorothy came to love.

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Book SynopsisThis book, the first to focus on the integration of the Gulf Coast, is Dr. Gilbert R. Mason's eyewitness account of harrowing episodes that occurred there during the civil rights movement. Newly opened by court order, documents from the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission's secret files enhance this riveting memoir written by a major civil rights figure in Mississippi. He joined his friends and allies Aaron Henry and the martyred Medgar Evers to combat injustices in one of the nation's most notorious bastions of segregation. In Mississippi, the civil rights struggle began in May 1959 with ""wade-ins."" In open and conscious defiance of segregation laws, Mason led nine black Biloxians onto a restricted spot along the twenty-six-mile beach. A year later more wade-ins on beaches reserved for whites set off the bloodiest race riot in the state's history and led the U.S. Justice Department to initiate the first-ever federal court challenge of Mississippi's segregationist laws and practices. Simultaneously, Mason and local activists began their work on the state's first school desegregation suit. As the coordinator of the strategy, he faced threats to his life. Mason's memoir gives readers a documented journey through the daily humiliations that segregation and racism imposed upon the black populace -- upon fathers, mothers, children, laborers, and professionals. Born in 1928 in the slums of Jackson, Mason acknowledges the impact of his strong extended family and of the supportive system of institutions in the black neighborhood. They nurtured him to manhood and helped fulfill his dream of becoming a physician. His story recalls the great migration of blacks to the North, of family members who remained in Mississippi, of family ties in Chicago and other northern cities. Following graduation from Tennessee State and Howard University Medical College, he set up his practice in the black section of Biloxi in 1955 and experienced the restrictions that even a black physician suffered in the segregated South. Four years later, he began his battle to dismantle the Jim Crow system. This is the story of his struggle and hard-won victory.

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Book SynopsisMoral courage is much in the spotlight today given an upsurge in authoritarian regimes world-wide. Award-winning psychiatrist Anthony Feinstein offers his expert perspective on why investigative journalists stand up to intolerant regimes, often singlehandedly. Nineteen international journalists explain their rationales for the work they do in face-to-face interviews with the author. Moral Courage builds on Professor Feinstein’s strong and lauded track record in the field of conflict journalism research. This book this is an essential read for anyone drawn to topics encompassing biography, conflict, politics and journalism.

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Book SynopsisA harrowing and heartfelt essay collection weaving narratives about family, gun violence, art, and the American Dream. Two weeks before her grandfather purchased a gun, Ashley Marie Farmer’s grandmother tripped as she walked across their living room. It was a swift accident on an ordinary day: her chin hit the floor; her cervical spine shattered. She asked, “I’m paralyzed, aren’t I?” Later, thinking to put her out of her misery, he kissed his sleeping wife of sixty-three years and shot her in the chest. He tried to shoot himself too, but the weapon broke apart in his hands. He was immediately arrested. This is the scene we are greeted with at the outset of Farmer’s stunning collection of hybrid essays. One of its greatest features is the variety of voices, a kaleidoscopic approach that corrals in autobiography, audio transcripts, media, legal documents, internet comments, short prose pieces, and more. The result is a moving, deeply satisfying, and eye-opening story. Ashley Marie Farmer is a profound writer who is clearly here to stay, her voice a true gift to our times.Trade Review2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in "Essays" No. 6 in "Salon’s Favorite Books of 2022" The New York Times, "Mourning Songs for Lives, and Art, That Could Have Been" Buzzfeed, "17 Books from Independent Publishers You Need to Read this Summer" Buzzfeed, "17 Short Story And Essay Collections For When You Want To Laugh, Cry, Think, Or Swoon" LitReactor, "LitReactor Staff Picks: The Best Books of 2022" 2022 International Rubery Book Awards Nonfiction Winner "Lyrical and poignant." —Roxane Gay on "Mercy" "This cataclysmic event — a very public story collides with a family's specific, private loss — is the axis around which Farmer's meditations and explorations of guilt, place, grief and violence revolve, in memorable essays that take both traditional and experimental forms. Interspersed throughout are fascinating transcripts of interviews she recorded earlier with both grandparents, allowing them to be known on the page as the dynamic, loving couple they were." —Erin Keane, Salon, "Favorite Books of 2022" "Remembering an act of violence born not out of malice, but love, Farmer’s narrative is melancholic, but still full of hope." —"Mourning Songs for Lives, and Art, That Could Have Been," by Kat Chow, The New York Times "What follows are essays about gun culture, violence, and what it means to die in America. But Farmer also takes a hard look at what it means to live; there are delightful passages of transcripts made from taped interviews of her grandparents reminiscing. There are also Farmer’s own questions about teaching and writing while stringing together adjunct jobs in order to barely make rent, complicated untanglings of family histories and mental health, and examinations of relationships, from the platonic to the romantic. Dear Damage, an open letter to demons of the past, still gives plenty of space for connection and joy." —"17 Books from Independent Publishers You Need to Read this Summer" by Wendy J. Fox, Buzzfeed "[G]ripping from the start...a truly unique and fascinating book." —"17 Short Story And Essay Collections For When You Want To Laugh, Cry, Think, Or Swoon," Buzzfeed "Poet Farmer (The Women) parses her complicated family history to create a heart-wrenching portrait of love, family, loss, and aging in this astounding collection.....In 'Mercy,' she writes, 'while I’m skeptical of mining beauty from pain... or landing on a diamond takeaway or even claiming good can come from it, I’ve learned that time-freezing anguish makes for micro-moments of unexpected reverence.' Farmer exceeds her intention; the moments she depicts teem with power. This potent work introduces Farmer as a writer to watch." —Publishers Weekly starred review "A slim...but striking book." —Kirkus Reviews "The short, connected, associative essays in Dear Damage are by turns ecstatic, stark, poetic, deeply and necessarily sorrowful, and also reportorial....Farmer is a curator of the stories of others, stories that are also her selves: writer, family member, and chorus in a Greek tragedy too. This book announces itself as a collection of essays, but it is also autobiography, commentary, legal transcripts, revised memories, and dream scenarios, all told with the vulnerability and intimacy of a writer a few lucky readers already know as a powerful voice talking back to 'Damage.'" —Andrew Tonkovich, Los Angeles Review of Books "[A] deft hand at compressed narratives filled to emotional brims." —"Beauty and Lightness: Gina Nutt and Ashley Marie Farmer in Conversation," The Millions "A love letter and a dirge, a rumination on grief, family, a life in the arts, and never less than beautiful." —"Staff Picks: The Best Books of 2022" by Ben Tanzer, LitReactor "Farmer’s straightforward prose...appears effortless." —Harvard Review Online "Dear Damage delves into an exploration of beginnings and endings, lightness and darkness, as well as the damaging policies that plague us as a country, and more. The book is ingeniously crafted using multiple forms—from legal documents to internet comments—all of which seamlessly refresh the memoir genre." —Rebecca Holcomb for Southeast Review "[D]azzling." —Ryan Ridge, Southwest Review "Open it up, Farmer seems to implore us, set the needle to play, and listen. Just listen." —Barrett Bowlin, Salamander Magazine "Dear Damage caused me to repeatedly lose my breath, caught as I was between my desire to see what would happen next, and how it was going to happen, as well as wanting to know more about the ideas, decisions and characters—especially their lives before this—that graced the pages before me." —Ben Tanzer, LitReactor Magazine "[A] searing yet tender work of interrogation.” —The Swell and the Fury "Farmer shows she can grasp a readership with rare authorial honesty." —LEO Weekly "In Dear Damage, Ashley Marie Farmer has given us a window into her life experience through compelling storytelling, lovely language, and welcome grace....Farmer says, in the book, 'I’m trying to build a house.' Brava, I say, for showing us all the rooms." —Good River Review "Her [essays] are vivid and full of carefully observed details, and darkness is the essential backdrop to light." —"In Dear Damage, Tragedy Foregrounds the Strength of Ashley Farmer's Family" by Geoff Wichert, 15 bytes "Dear Damage plumbs devastating loss, family, grief, gun violence, and love—all with glittering tenderness. Ashley Marie Farmer’s mind is vast and complex, and her compassion stuns as she makes 'a quiet study of pain' while acknowledging that 'maybe pain has made a study of me.' These essays leave me aching and awestruck." —Gina Nutt, author of Night Rooms "Dear Damage is many things at once: an expertly written collection of literary essays, the riveting story of an unfathomable act of violence, a work of breathtaking empathy, a sublime and generous account of love and grief, and the account of an enormously talented writer's self-creation. Together, they assemble into a book that is somehow all of that and more: a marvel, a reckoning, possibly a miracle." —Justin St. Germain, author of Son of a Gun “Prose in the hands of a poet, Dear Damage is 'radiant and unabridged,' a story of love and violence set within the incoherence of American values. Rarely are readers gifted with the work of a mind equally incisive as it is elegant. Ashley Marie Farmer’s important Dear Damage speaks to all times from within the salience of our own particular troubled American now.” —Michelle Latiolais, author of She and Widow Past reviews: "Whip smart and empathetic...all of it rendered beautifully, the poet’s ear and the proser’s eye working together to encapsulate and expound." —Christopher Kennedy, author of Clues From the Animal Kingdom “Reminiscent of Aimee Bender, Sheila Heti, and Aurelie Sheehan.” —Electric Lit “The conviction of Lydia Davis...and a linguistic inventiveness equal to that of Diane Williams.” —The Masters Review "Surreal verve and melancholy tenderness." —Gina Nutt, author of Night Room "A highly original work of art." —The Collagist "How do we read a book like Beside Myself? Like a gift. We study it from all sides, consider how it feels in our hands, read, consider, then read it again. " —The RumpusTable of ContentsCONTENTS ONE Mercy 7 Jobs Peak, 1985 14 Audio Transcript (Recorded January 2, 2014) 16 Aftermath 19 Lucy, 1975 28 Internet Comments, 2014-2015 29 Transcript: Celebrities 32 Contradiction, 2014 36 TWO American Dream Job 38 Nevada / St. Tropez, 1987 48 Slow Circles 49 Graceland, 1994 60 When the Gun Comes 62 Transcript: Hitchhikers 68 Animal Hours 72 Transcript: Shipyard 81 THREE Body Composition 84 Transcript: Vinyl 94 Minivan, 1994 95 Transcript: Beaches 96 Bill, 1925-2016 98 Seeing the Dead Alive 99 Transcript: Games 108 FOUR Transcript: Matrimony 111 The Book I Would’ve Written With No Trouble In It 118 Piano Hour, 1995 116 End of the Line 117 Green Girls 126 Transcript: Riptides 128 If 130 FIVE Second Person 133 Titles of Essays I Didn’t Write 142 Things You Don’t Have to Be Taught, 1982 143 Transcript: Hazards 144 No One is Waiting 146 APPENDIX Letter to the Public Defender 153 Motion to Dismiss 155 Acknowledgements 172 Publication Credits 173 Biographical Note 174

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Book SynopsisIconic newscaster and Buddhist teacher chronicles the 1960s and ‘70s in India, the Bay Area, and beyondJoin “Scoop” Nisker on a wild ride from West to East and back in his quest for true self and enlightenment. Combining the best elements of memoir and social commentary, Nisker shares his own story to illuminate the spiritual hunger of modern America. His journey begins in Nebraska as the only young man in his small town to be Bar Mitzvah’ed, through the heyday of the Beats and hippies in the Bay Area from his vantage point as a high-profile newscaster, the birth of the environmental movement, and the social and spiritual blossoming of the West. This is a personal, guided tour of the outer and inner movements that joined together into today’s mindfulness movement, written by one of the leaders of both. 

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Book Synopsis2018 Choice Outstanding Academic TitleRebecca Harding Davis is best known for her gritty short story ""Life in the Iron-Mills,"" set in her native Wheeling, West Virginia. Far less is known of her later career among elite social circles in Philadelphia, New York, and Europe, or her relationships with American presidents and leading international figures in the worlds of literature and the stage. In the first book-length biography of Davis, Sharon M. Harris traces the extraordinary life of this pioneering realist and recovers her status as one of America's notable women journalists. Harris also examines Rebecca's role as the leading member of the Davis family, a unique and nationally recognized family of writers that shaped the changing culture of later nineteenth-century literature and journalism. This accessible treatment of Davis's life, based on deep research in archival sources, provides new perspective on topics ranging from sectional tensions in the border South to the gendered world of nineteenth-century publishing. It promises to be the authoritative treatment of an important figure in the literary history of West Virginia and the wider world.Trade ReviewRemarkable."" - Los Angeles Review of Books""Masterful."" - Choice""An important and exciting biography of a major literary figure. Harris's detective work fills many gaps in Davis's life and work, and her book should appeal to readers interested in nineteenth-century literature, American women writers, and the history of print culture and the book."" - Alicia Mischa Renfroe, Middle Tennessee State University""A welcome addition to Davis scholarship. Harris's depth of research is extraordinary, providing new material for those wishing to advance the study of Davis's work."" - Robin L. Cadwallader, St. Francis University of Pennsylvania

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Book SynopsisALICE COOPER CONFIDENTIAL is the profusely illustrated ultimate Alice Cooper book, written by Alice''s authorized biographer. In 1992, veteran CREEM Magazine rock critic Jeffrey Morgan was chosen to write the authorized biography of Alice Cooper, which appeared in the Warner Bros. box set The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper. Now, decades later, Jeffrey Morgan unseals his confidential Coop files in this full color hard cover coffee table size book to reveal previously unpublished interrogations, rare incriminating photographs, and hysterical fan letters-plus other ghastly horrors too shocking to mention here. No wonder Alice doesn''t look happy. He''s read ALICE COOPER CONFIDENTIAL!

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Book SynopsisLife isn''t how to survive the storm, it''s about how to dance in the rain This is the definitive story of Taylor Swift and her incredible rise to success from being just a smalltown girl with a dream to becoming one of the most influential and successful artists of her generation. Ever since she was 14-years-old Taylor has never known any other world than showbusiness, and we follow her journey through the good times and the times not so good, none more heartbreaking than losing the rights to her own music - her stolen lullabies. In her own words and those who have played major parts in her career, we look back at how she turned failures into unbelievable success and chart the creation of a wonderful legacy by one of music''s undoubted masterminds. There is no doubt that with her words of inspiration and the powerhouse lyrics to her songs, the world is a far better place thanks to the unstoppable force that is TAYLOR SWIFT.

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Book SynopsisWith 80 fading fast in the rearview mirror and handball, health and other lifelong joys littering the roadside, retired San Francisco Monsignor Harry George Schlitt relates the realities, indignities and sometimes hilarity of recognizing he''s not the man he once was. Like many his age, FATHER HARRY of the GOD SQUAD, as he''s best known, has embraced what environmentalist Bill McKibben dubbed codger power. Prayerfully accepting the fogey truism that if you can no longer join them, you can still beat them, Father Harry draws from a lifetime of media ministry to a global congregation ranging from the ragtag to political leaders, the military to peaceniks, from teens to the incarcerated and dying. Always the loyal priest bound by promises and duty to his episcopal elders, Father Harry is finally freed to speak his mind by his de facto irrelevance at age 82 and his proximity to the pearly gates. Covering a five-year period spanning grim historic societal events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the orchestration by the religious right of a serious threat to undo both Vatican II and the papacy of Francis, I''ll Never Know: The Rock & Roll Priest Looks at 80 is a soulful tonic, two parts grin and one part wry.  Since 1968, Father Harry worked as a rock & roll deejay, TV host and now podcaster and cyber celebrant for the Sunday Mass. His first book, I''ll Never Tell: Odyssey of a Rock & Roll Priest, won awards and international acclaim.

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Book SynopsisFrom survivor of genocide to conservation hero: A moving, heartwarming memoir about a real-life chimpanzee whisperer—now the subject of the award-winning documentary film Pant Hoot.Stany Nyandwi’s gift for communicating with chimpanzees is so special that world-renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall has called him a “chimpanzee whisperer.” His skills and devotion to these creatures—our closest living relatives, with whom we share 98.7 percent of our DNA—have earned him international awards and sent him on travels within Africa and around the world. But he began life in poverty, born and raised in a dirt-floor, straw-roofed hut in rural Burundi. The Chimpanzee Whisperer is the story of his astonishing life journey.It is also an African story. Receiving only an elementary education before he quit school, he suffered injustice and tragic loss because of his ethnic group. He began caring for orphaned and rescued chimps in Burundi. When the country descended into civil war and genocide, he was forced to flee with the chimps and endured long separation from his family. Continuing to work with and learn about chimpanzees in Kenya, Uganda, and later South Africa, he made himself into an incomparable authority.His memoir has adventure, danger, and many unique and touching stories about chimpanzees that show his bond with and understanding of them. As told to award-winning author David Blissett, it reveals a remarkable man who has refused to let circumstances defeat him. Conditioned by hate, wounded by loss, he has lived for love, faith, and compassion, giving new life, as Dr. Jane Goodall writes in her foreword, “to so many chimpanzees whose families, like his own, were torn apart by violence.”Trade ReviewWinner of a 2022 Audiofile magazine Earphones Award“It was clear from the start that he had a real gift for working with these creatures. . . . He was able to communicate with them in a special way to the point that we called him a ‘chimpanzee whisperer.’ . . . I hope you will be inspired by this life story of a gentle, unassuming African man whose devotion and sacrifice has given new life to so many chimpanzees whose families, like his own, were torn apart by violence.”—Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, from her foreword“An incredible true story about one of the most courageous, loving, and kind people we have ever worked with. Stany has a unique gift with chimpanzees. He understands them and they understand him. The bond Stany shares with our closest living relative is a testament to the small distance that divides us, and argues even more strongly for their protection.”—Vanessa Woods and Professor Brian Hare, New York Times bestselling authors of The Genius of Dogs "The story of a gifted and utterly unique man. Stany's is a story of accomplishment in the face of overwhelming adversity and the power of love over injustice and hate. Beautifully told and very inspiring."—Patti Ragan, founding director, Center for Great Apes, Wauchula, Florida“Stany’s harrowing story is about survival and trust—his trust of fellow human beings, who sometimes failed him, and his love for his friends the chimps and their love for him, which allowed him to survive when humans faltered. Most of all it is about the unconditional love we must all have for each other, for the animals and for our planet. David Blissett has beautifully told Stany’s story. Please read and enjoy.”—Bernie Caulfield, Emmy-winning producer of Game of Thrones“Ever since meeting Stany Nyandwi in Uganda, I have been fascinated by how well he understands chimpanzees, and how calm they are in his presence. This comes through clearly in his truly inspiring and gripping memoir, which also tells an important story about the ethnic conflict in his country of Burundi and how he overcame significant challenges as a refugee.”—Glady Kalema-Zikusoka, wildlife veterinarian, founder of Conservation Through Public Health, and author of Walking with Gorillas"The Chimpanzee Whisperer is a great read. . . . One thing that strikes you is the phenomenal understanding Stany has of chimps and their behaviour. . . . The complexities of human /wildlife conflict are explained. . . . There are funny yet awful scenes, . . . And there are really moving sections in the book, . . .Reminding us we should all be riding the same truck!"—alysontheblog"This book is an emotional roller-coaster ride. . . . Throughout we are saved by the author’s indefatigable positivity and humanity—perhaps, the traits that allowed him to get along so well with the chimpanzees. I’d highly recommend it for all readers."—The In(tro)verted Yogi

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis Nationally regarded trial attorney and media personality Brian Claypool weaves together his personal story of trauma and his experiences litigating notorious child abuse cases to show how our cultural code of silence endangers children and what we can do about it. Litigation and civil rights attorney Brian Claypool has squared off in the courtroom against child predators in some of America’s most notorious sexual abuse cases. He is also a highly regarded expert on sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and has regularly appeared as a legal analyst on various Fox News shows, Good Morning America, and other local and national media outlets. For the first time, Claypool tells his personal story of abuse and how that has fueled his mission to protect and defend children. In this inspiring story, Claypool bravely shares his own trauma, giving insight into what can happen when we don’t speak out, how abuse can affect victims for a lifetime, and how we can collectively break the pervasive code of silence. Along the way, he details five blockbuster cases he worked on and won for kids, including that of Anthony Avalos, a topic in the Netflix series The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. Claypool provides important red flags—developed from his own years of experience in court analyzing child predators—for identifying trouble and safeguarding children. It’s time to end this power dynamic and give a voice to children and those who seek to protect them. This eye-opening, crucial must-read will empower anyone who wants to advocate for children and is courageous enough to defend them. 

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Book SynopsisFrom one of rap’s most personal and evocative writers comes a stirring memoir about how Boosie Badazz, one of the industry’s most controversial figures, was able to overcome insurmountable odds to make his music dreams a reality.A Baton Rouge native who began rapping at age fourteen, Boosie Badazz was already a cult hero in Louisiana when, in 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The next year, he was indicted on even more serious charges, eventually landing him on Death Row. Prosecutors played Boosie’s music in the courtroom in an attempt to paint him as a thug with no chance of redemption. However, against overwhelming odds and the backdrop of a social media campaign to #FreeBoosie, he was freed in March of 2014 with a rare second chance to make his music dreams come true. In this evocative and compelling memoir, Boosie explores the relationship between his life on the streets with his ceaseless tear through the rap industry. From near-death experiences to a ruthless bout with kidney cancer to a life-threatening diabetes diagnosis, Boosie has overcome remarkable challenges to make a name for himself as one of rap’s most influential voices. A redemptive story with an urgent voice, Cross the Tracks is the survival tale of a man who wasn’t sure he would live to see another day...but who rose from the ashes to change the rap industry forever.Trade Review "Boosie is official as a referee’s whistle and so is his masterpiece of a book.” –Snoop Dogg "As someone who has spent countless hours interviewing Boosie, I was amazed at how much I learned about him from reading this book. This is a truly personal look into the mind and heart of not only a rapper, but a father, a friend, and a man. A truly great read."—DJ Vlad, CEO, VladTV “Boosie’s book is as real as the legend himself. You have to read it to believe it.”—Webbie

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