Biography: general Books

Book SynopsisA True Story of Ambition, Wealth, Betrayal and how a Ruthless Beverly Hills Socialite Became the Ultimate Momager and Raked In BillionsDirty Sexy Money: The Unauthorized Biography of Kris Jenner is the definitive account of how a Beverly Hills socialite with little formal education built herself a global empire. This tell-all tome unravels the family’s meteoric rise to fame and the dark secrets they’ve struggled to hide . . . until now. Together, Howard and Griffin delve behind the headlines and social media hype to tell the true story of Kris’s life—rather than the rosy picture she likes to paint. Dirty Sexy Money is an unflinching look at Kris’s triumphs and losses, her crises and celebrations, her famous friendships and family conflicts. It examines in unprecedented detail Kris’s troubled two decades with Bruce Jenner and the end of their marriage as Bruce transitioned to Caitlyn; it exposes the truth about her current affair with a much younger man . . . and it reveals what she really thinks of her daughter’s very public marriage to Kanye West. Inside are a wealth of previously untold stories, including intimate details of how Kim’s sex tape jump-started her career, of the real reasons Kris sold her long-running television reality series—as well as shocking, never-before-heard revelations about her friendships with O.J. Simpson and murdered wife Nicole. The result is a dramatic narrative account of Kris’s real story as you’ve never heard it before . . . in all its dirty, sexy glory. Trade ReviewPraise for Dylan Howard "Dylan Howard is the rare combination of cutting-edge journalist, true crime commentator, and relentless investigator. Howard passionately brings comprehensive and groundbreaking analysis to the most compelling mysteries of our time."— Dr. Phil McGraw, host of TV's #1 daytime talk show, Dr. Phil “The king of Hollywood scoops.”— AdWeek “Dylan Howard is one of the finest journalists writing today. His depth and breadth of experience are second to none; he follows every intricate angle of a story and exposes the truth. As a former detective, I know firsthand the skills that make an exceptional investigator and Dylan has them in spades.” —Bo Dietl, former NYPD homicide detective who made over made over 1,400 felony arrests “The go-to guy for authoritative showbiz news and analysis on cable and over-the-air television.”— Los Angeles Press Club Praise for Cathy Griffin"Writers write and researchers research. But Cathy Griffin is one of those rare few who combines the dogged energy and boundless curiosity of a dedicated researcher with the storytelling sense of a gifted writer. In my thirty years as a television writer/producer, no one has helped me accumulate facts—and broaden my sense of how to turn those facts into drama—more than Cathy has." — Stephen Kronish, writer/executive Producer: The Kennedys and The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe"Cathy has worked on every one of my 15 New York Times bestsellers and has always done an incredible job of not only tracking down people who have never before been interviewed but also convincing them to talk. This isn't always easy."— J. Randy Taraborrelli, bestselling author, executive producer, screenwriter: Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie, Ethel, Joan: ​Women of Camelot, After Camelot, Becoming Beyoncé, Gace Kelly, and Michael Jackson"There is no one more savvy about connecting the dots between theories and facts than Cathy Griffin. Her intuition is flawless, and her tireless spadework produces viable and credible stories. I relied not only on her superior research abilities, but her keen advisory input, when putting together my biographies of Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. Cathy came up with astonishingly revealing interviews with a number of LA beauties and rich jet-setters that brought my book to vibrant life with the kind of fresh, vivid, and exclusive material dear to the heart of every book editor." — Biographer Ellis Amburn, the former editorial director of G.P. Putnam's Sons; editor in chief of the Delacorte Press; vice president and executive editor of Putnam subsidiary Coward McCann; and senior editor of William Morrow

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Book SynopsisThe Intersexes: A History of Similisexualism as a Problem in Social Life (1906) is a work of nonfiction by Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson. Written while Prime-Stevenson was living as an expatriate in Europe, The Intersexes is a defense of homosexuality grounded in scientific and historical research. Throughout his career, Prime-Stevenson sought to dispel falsehoods surrounding the history and social acceptance of homosexuality. Writing under the pseudonym Xavier Mayne, Prime-Stevenson took great care to insulate himself from the reprisal common to the period in which he worked. Despite his limited audience—copies of his works numbered in the hundreds—Prime-Stevenson is now recognized as a pioneering advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ community. “Between a protozoan and the most perfect development of the mammalia, we trace a succession of dependent intersteps...A trilobite is at one end of Nature's workshop: a Spinoza, a Shakespeare, a Beethoven is at the other. […] Why have we set up masculinity and femininity as processes that have not perfectly logical and respectable inter-steps?” Seeking to defend homosexuality as a natural result of human evolution, Prime-Stevenson offers his theory of intersexes, of which he identifies two while leaving room for more to be defined in the future. To do so, he rejects the binary of masculine and feminine, both of which fail to describe the vast majority of humanity, in favor of a broader spectrum of sexual identity. Using the terms Uranian and Uraniad, which align with gay and lesbian respectively, Prime-Stevenson attempts to define these types, call attention to historical examples, and critique the societal condemnation and persecution of such individuals as “degenerate” or “criminal.” This groundbreaking study, perhaps the first to approach homosexuality from a scientific, historical, personal, and legal point of view, is recognized today as a landmark in queer literature by academics around the world. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson’s The Intersexes: A History of Similisexualism as a Problem in Social Life is a classic work of queer literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBrief Lives (1669-1697) is a collection of short biographical sketches on famous British figures by author, antiquarian, and archaeologist John Aubrey. The work is significant for its unique style, a blend of facts—names, dates, family, important works—and personal anecdotes for which Aubrey combined his skills for research and conversation to compile. Unpublished during his lifetime, the text was pieced together from extensive handwritten manuscripts by numerous editors and scholars, and over the centuries has become a beloved cultural artifact of early-modern Britain. A fascinating figure and gifted researcher in his own right, John Aubrey sought to capture the significance of his era and the people whose contributions to art, politics, science, and philosophy were not only changing Britain, but the world, forever. As a historical record, his Brief Lives provides valuable information on such figures as poet John Milton, playwright William Shakespeare, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and chemist Robert Boyle. But as a work of art, the text humanizes them, reminding its readers that these were people whose desires, imperfections, and day-to-day lives were not unlike our own. We turn to his works to discover that Sir Walter Raleigh was a “poor” scholar “immerst…in fabrication of his owne fortunes,” or to read that Shakespeare, the son of a butcher who worked for his father as a youth, was known to “make a speech” while slaughtering a calf. At times straightforwardly factual, at others filled with gossip, Brief Lives is a document of its time that attempts to record a living history of knowledge and influence. Whether it succeeds is beside the point—that it speaks to us centuries on is the heart of the matter, the reason it must be read. A well-known man in his lifetime, Aubrey moved between cultural and political circles with ease, compiling the sources that would later become Brief Lives. Although a tireless writer and scholar, he published little during his life. His work, including Brief Lives, is thus the product of centuries of diligent research and editing from numerous scholars who understood, as the reader of this volume surely will, that Aubrey’s work deserved to reach the public. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of John Aubrey’s Brief Lives is a classic of British literature and biography reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Countess of Albany (1886) is a biography by Vernon Lee. Published at the height of her career as a leading proponent of Aestheticism and scholar of the Italian Renaissance, The Countess of Albany is a biography of Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, whose unhappy marriage to Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, often obscured her reputation as an independent and interesting woman in her own right. A principled feminist and committed pacifist, Lee was virtually blacklisted by critics and publishers following her opposition to the First World War. Through the efforts of dedicated scholars, however, interest in her works has increased over the past several decades, granting her the readership she deserves as a master of literary horror. “On the Wednesday after Easter the bride and bridegroom made their solemn entry into Rome; the two travelling carriages of the Prince and of the Princess were drawn by six horses; four gala coaches, carrying the attendants of Charles Edward and of his brother the Cardinal Duke of York, followed behind, and the streets were cleared by four outriders dressed in scarlet with the white Stuart cockade.” Although she is more widely known for her stories of supernatural horror, Lee was also a gifted researcher whose knowledge of Italian history and literary gift collide in The Countess of Albany. This biography is the story of Louise, a German princess who married Charles Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant to the English throne. By the time of their acquaintance, Bonnie Prince Charlie was a man passed his prime, beaten down by years on the run after the failed uprising of 1745. Focusing on her independent spirit and relationship with Count Vittorio Alfieri of Italy, Lee provides invaluable insight on the life of a woman who forged her own path in a world dominated by men. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vernon Lee’s The Countess of Albany is a classic work of historical biography reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisTo know the story of the life and times of Judge Gilbert Merritt is to understand modern U.S. politics of the mid to late 20th century—how it came to be, and how it worked—particularly in the American South.Judge Gilbert Merritt and his circle of young lawyers and journalists in Nashville were among the South’s earliest Kennedy Democrats in the late 1950s. Their brash political strivings, though not always victorious at the polls, affected the shape of many things, including the rise of modern Nashville.As a young legal scholar in his twenties, Merritt was one of the nation’s youngest U.S. Attorneys (appointed by President Johnson); candidate for Congress; opponent of the death penalty; President Carter’s nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; and almost a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.This social biography is a graduate course in Southern political history, and how that history is much more than campaigns and elections. It depicts a much deeper weave of the power of friendship and loyalty, the influence of history upon individuals and generations, and of how communities of interest formed and evolved over time in our nation—and of how it is all connected.Trade Review“Keel Hunt delivers another fascinating book on Southern political history with the publication of A Sense of Justice: Judge Gilbert S. Merritt and His Times. It is a must-read for lawyers, judges and anyone with an interest in politics.” —Justice Sharon Lee, Tennessee Bar Review“A Sense of Justice: Judge Gilbert S. Merritt and His Times isn’t just a biography of Judge Merritt. It’s a chronicle of Nashville’s most influential movers and shakers through more than five decades. [ . . . ] But the book is more than a collection of accolades and acclamation. Hunt takes time to recount Merritt’s mettle in the courtroom and beyond, whether it was his opposition to the death penalty, defense of free speech, or support for civil rights and the integration of the Nashville Bar Association.” —G. Robert Frazier, Chapter 16“. . . I started reading the Keel Hunt book, A Sense of Justice, and could not be diverted. [ . . . ] The book is about an independent court system; one that follows the Rule of Law; and a judicial system that acts as checks and balances on abuse of power by other branches. The biography is about Gil Merritt and his concept of equality. To quote Judge Merritt: ‘Again, that goes back to the idea of evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.’” —Judge Paul G. Summers (Ret.)“A beautiful and literate presentation of a complex and unique man.” —Jack May

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Book SynopsisTo know the story of the life and times of Judge Gilbert Merritt is to understand modern U.S. politics of the mid to late 20th century—how it came to be, and how it worked—particularly in the American South.Judge Gilbert Merritt and his circle of young lawyers and journalists in Nashville were among the South’s earliest Kennedy Democrats in the late 1950s. Their brash political strivings, though not always victorious at the polls, affected the shape of many things, including the rise of modern Nashville.As a young legal scholar in his twenties, Merritt was one of the nation’s youngest U.S. Attorneys (appointed by President Johnson); candidate for Congress; opponent of the death penalty; President Carter’s nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; and almost a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.This social biography is a graduate course in Southern political history, and how that history is much more than campaigns and elections. It depicts a much deeper weave of the power of friendship and loyalty, the influence of history upon individuals and generations, and of how communities of interest formed and evolved over time in our nation—and of how it is all connected.Trade Review“Keel Hunt delivers another fascinating book on Southern political history with the publication of A Sense of Justice: Judge Gilbert S. Merritt and His Times. It is a must-read for lawyers, judges and anyone with an interest in politics.” —Justice Sharon Lee, Tennessee Bar Review“A Sense of Justice: Judge Gilbert S. Merritt and His Times isn’t just a biography of Judge Merritt. It’s a chronicle of Nashville’s most influential movers and shakers through more than five decades. [ . . . ] But the book is more than a collection of accolades and acclamation. Hunt takes time to recount Merritt’s mettle in the courtroom and beyond, whether it was his opposition to the death penalty, defense of free speech, or support for civil rights and the integration of the Nashville Bar Association.” —G. Robert Frazier, Chapter 16“. . . I started reading the Keel Hunt book, A Sense of Justice, and could not be diverted. [ . . . ] The book is about an independent court system; one that follows the Rule of Law; and a judicial system that acts as checks and balances on abuse of power by other branches. The biography is about Gil Merritt and his concept of equality. To quote Judge Merritt: ‘Again, that goes back to the idea of evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.’” —Judge Paul G. Summers (Ret.)“A beautiful and literate presentation of a complex and unique man.” —Jack May

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Book Synopsis"A moving, vital testament." -Saturday Review ”An incredible document, amazingly told and structured. Tough, but riveting.-Rachel Kushner “The best firsthand account of slavery.” -James McPherson Twelve Years a Slave (1853) is considered to be be one of the most riviting and important documents recounting slavery in the United States. It is the heart-rending memoir of a free black man who is taken hostage and sold into slavery in a Louisiana plantation, his twelve years of bondage, and his remarkable escape to freedom. Since its publication, this classic has become a historical reference for its salient of depiction of life as a slave in the pre-Civil War deep south of the United States. More recently the book’s popularity has soared due to the 2014 Academy Award winning motion picture. Northup’s memoir begins during his early life as a free black man in Upstate New York. He was a father of three children, a farmer, lumberjack, and a skillful musician. When two white men approached Northup about a well-paid job playing his violin in a circus, he accepted. They traveled to New York City, then Washington D.C, where after a day of celebrating his good fortunes with the two men he was drugged, and chained in a slave pen. Imprisoned by the ruthless slave-trader James Burch, he was brutally beaten and eventually sent by boat to New Orleans, Louisiana. Eventually Northup was sold to a merciful plantation owner, and valued for his hard work, and gentle spirit. Due to his master’s eventual financial hardships, Northup was sold again and again in a succession of brutal masters. With his tenacious sense of hope and goodwill he perseveres through twelve years of cruelty until his remarkable rescue from slavery and back to his freedom in New York. With its great message of hope, Twelve Years a Slave is one of America’s great literary declarations of the power of the human spirit. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Twelve Years a Slave is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisKnown for its advances in literature, industrialization, politics, and science, the Victorian era was a prominent time in British history. However, author Lytton Strachey remembers Queen Victoria as a person instead of just focusing on her accomplishments. First starting with a brief history of her predecessors and origins, Victoria was crowned just as she came of age. Having only been eighteen, Queen Victoria was widely unfamiliar to her subjects when she was coronated. While her advisors and elders attempted to train her for her regal duties and present her to society, Victoria struggled to adjust to her new life. However, after a short period of adjustment, Victoria transformed into an iconic figure, known and celebrated for her elevated sense of morality. In 1840, Victoria married her cousin, Prince Albert, a match arranged by their families. But while Albert brought financial success, he was still unpopular in high society London, unlike his wife, who was growing to be more beloved every day. First published in 1921, Lytton Strachey’s Queen Victoria follows the inventive biographical style Strachey created, featuring witty, irreverent prose paired with the focus on human characteristics rather than just their achievements. Told in relation to the prominent figures in each stage of her life, Queen Victoria is an intimate perspective of the legendary ruler. Praised for its accuracy and entertainment, Queen Victoria led Lytton Strachey to be awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, one of the oldest awards in British literature. This edition of Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Queen Victoria to modern standards while preserving the original innovation and insight of Lytton Strachey’s work.

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Book SynopsisWith authors such as Voltaire, Honore De Balzac, Victor Hugo, and so many more, French literature can be as intimidating as it is spectacular. Hoping to spread admiration and knowledge about the French literary canon, H.A.L Fisher, a former president of the board of education and prominent historian, sought out Lytton Strachey to write a survey of French literature. After accepting the commission, Strachey exceeded the original expectations, crafting a work of non-fiction that is more alluring than a gift catalog, and filled with fascinating information. Separated into chronological sections, Landmarks in French Literature provides samples, explanations, and stories of the notable literary works spanning from the 15th to the late 19th century. With detailed explorations of each era, and an alphabetized list of esteemed authors, Landmarks in French Literature is a passionate tour through history, rich with intriguing insight and historical information. In the first few months following its publication, Lytton Strachey’s Landmarks in French Literature received overwhelming praise and sold thousands of copies in various countries. Described as a fascinating and invaluable source, Landmarks in French Literature is a comprehensive commentary on the literary history of France, including information about major authors, movements, and works. Written with clear passion, expertise, and professional prose, this educational source is a compelling account, and a perfect resource for any reader curious about the culture, art, or history of France. This edition of Landmarks in French Literature by Lytton Strachey features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Landmarks in French Literature to modern standards while preserving the original innovation and insight of Lytton Strachey’s work.

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Book Synopsis Depicted by the man himself, The Journals of James Cook is an intimate first-hand account, providing an uncensored and reliable narrative of adventures spanning across the globe. The Journals of James Cook depict three of Captain James Cook’s most glorious expeditions, starting in 1768 and leading to Cook’s tragic death in 1779. Having ventured all over the Pacific, Cook encountered lands not yet charted by the British. Though his discoveries and maps inadvertently led to British colonization, Cook held a deep respect for the native people he encountered. He recorded their practices and wrote of them fondly. Cook even befriended some of the native people he encountered, including a Tahitian man who, after hearing of Cook’s homeland, wanted to visit it as well. Per the man’s request, Cook sailed him to Britain, where the man stayed until he and Cook sailed back to Tahiti three years later. After charting Australia, and the whole coast of New Zealand, Cook was involved in a plot to kidnap a Hawaiian monarch and ransom them in order to recover stolen property. He was killed during this expedition, leaving behind a legacy of a detailed description of the Pacific Ocean and its coasts. James Cook’s expeditions around the world and his detailed and innovative work as a cartographer inspired advancements in scientific, medical, historical and geological fields. His influence has also reached the literary world, inspiring novel series and characters, including the infamous Captain Hook. Exuding ambition, courage, and confidence, The Journals of James Cook provide a privileged peak into the travels and accomplishments of an adventurous, and invaluable man. Packed with wonder but free of imperialistic arrogance, The Journals of James Cook serve as a valuable an intriguing primary source of a time when places in the world were yet to be mapped. Now presented in an easy-to-read font and redesigned with a stunning new cover, James Cook’ The Journals of James Cook is accommodating to contemporary readers, providing a fresh version of the esteemed literary work while preserving its wonders and adventures.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing prominent figures in education, religion, science, and war, Eminent Victorians is a fascinating collection of Victorian biographies. Beginning with a discussion of the achievements of Cardinal Manning, Strachey provides insight on the Cardinal’s rise to power and follows the creation of the Oxford Movement, which began the development of the Anglo-Catholic church. Sparing no detail, Manning’s feud with the influential theologian John Henry Newman and its effects on his career is well highlighted. Next, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, is depicted in a more flattering light that the other subjects. Portrayed as a clever, intense, and ambitious woman, Nightingale is deemed to have an insufferable personality, but as a woman of undeniably impressive achievement. Credited for the development of the public school system, Dr. Thomas Arnold is commended for his ideas, but criticized for the unintentional negative impact he had on education. Finally, General Gordon’s legacy is saved from obscurity as the stories of his intense missions are explored. As an adventurous mercenary, Gordon navigated conflicts between governments, often decreasing the collateral of war. First published in 1918, Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey brought innovation to the biographical genre. With exciting and honest narratives, Eminent Victorians challenges the idealistic portrayal of historical figures, observing their fault without greatly slighting their achievements. Through this lens, prominent historical figures such as Florence Nightingale, Cardinal Manning, Thomas Arnold, and General Gordon are remembered as real people instead of mere figures of adoration. Featuring the depiction of innovation in religion, education, science, math, and politics, Strachey’s work encompasses much of the Victorian society, granting readers a riveting and entertaining perspective on the period. This edition of Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Eminent Victorians to modern standards while preserving the original innovation and insight of Lytton Strachey’s work.

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Book SynopsisA Son of the Forest (1829) is an autobiography by William Apes. An indentured servant, soldier, minister, and activist, Apes lived an uncommonly rich life for someone who died at just 41 years of age. Recognized for his pioneering status as a Native American public figure, William Apes was an astute recorder of a life in between. His autobiography explores the psychological effects of oppression, addiction, and cultural change from the viewpoint of a man who experienced them all. “[T]he great fear I entertained of my brethren, was occasioned by the many stories I had heard of their cruelty towards the whites—how they were in the habit of killing and scalping men, women and children. But the whites did not tell me that they were in a great majority of instances the aggressors—that they had imbrued their hands in the life blood of my brethren, driven them from their once peaceful and happy homes…” While out on a berry picking expedition as a boy, William—by then living as an indentured servant with a local white family—spots a group of Native women. From the reaction of his foster family, he realizes for the first time in his life the inherent racial biases he has absorbed despite recognizing his own Pequot heritage. A Son of the Forest is a groundbreaking autobiography from a pioneering author and activist of the early nineteenth century. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Apes’ A Son of the Forest is a classic of Native American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisA Negro Explorer at the North Pole (1912) is a memoir by Matthew Henson. Published a few years following an expedition to the planet’s northernmost point—which he claims to have reached first—A Negro Explorer at the North Pole reflects on Henson’s outsized role in ensuring the success of their mission. Although he was frequently overshadowed by Commander Robert Peary, Henson continues to be recognized as a pioneering African American who rose from poverty to become a true national hero. Seven times had Robert Peary and Matthew Henson attempted to reach the fabled North Pole. Seven times they failed. In 1908, following years of frustration, they gather a crew of Inuit guides and set sail from Greenland, hopeful that the eighth voyage will end in discovery. Throughout his life, Matthew Henson has grown accustomed to proving himself. Born the son of sharecroppers in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, he has endured racism and economic disparity his entire life. Since 1891, Henson and Peary—who he met while working at a Washington D.C. department store—have been attempting to reach the most remote location on planet earth, an icebound region devoid of sustenance and shelter, accessible only by boat, sled, and foot. As they near the North Pole, Henson prepares to make history. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Matthew Henson’s A Negro Explorer at the North Pole is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMemories of an Indian Boyhood (1902) is a memoir by Charles Eastman. Recognized for his achievements as a pioneering Native American physician, Eastman was also a prolific writer whose personal stories, powerful meditations, and in-depth studies of indigenous culture continue to be read and appreciated today. In this memoir, his debut literary work, he recalls a youth marked by tragedy and perseverance that earned him the name Ohíye S'a, Dakota for “always wins.” “What boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest life in the world? This life was mine.” Although his birth and youth were marked by tragedy—the death of his mother, his separation from his father and siblings during the Dakota War of 1862—Eastman was able to experience the joys of Dakota Sioux life with his maternal grandmother and her family. “Every day there was a real hunt. There was real game. Occasionally there was a medicine dance away off in the woods where no one could disturb us […]” Immersed in the traditions of his people, Eastman—whose birthname was Hakadah—developed an identity grounded in the wisdom of his elders, yet open to the world outside. Nostalgic and full of gorgeous detail, Memories of an Indian Boyhood is a story of one boy’s youth that resonates with all who read it. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Eastman’s Memories of an Indian Boyhood is a classic work of Native American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Life, History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bowh (1847) is a memoir by George Copway. Written while he was living with his wife and daughter in New York City, The Life, History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bowh was an immediate bestseller that helped establish Copway as a leading Native American author of the nineteenth century. Recognized as the first book published by a Canadian First Nations writer, Copway’s memoir is an invaluable resource for understanding the history of contact between settlers and indigenous peoples, some of whom, like Copway’s family, assimilated and served as missionaries, translators, and ambassadors. “I loved the woods, and the chase. I had the nature for it, and gloried in nothing else. The mind for letters was in me, but was asleep, till the dawn of Christianity arose, and awoke the slumbers of the soul into energy and action.” Raised in a moment of immense cultural change for his people, George Copway was educated to serve as a missionary for the Methodist church. Among the Ojibwe of Ontario and Minnesota, the man whose birth name was Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bowh, meaning He Who Stands Forever, spreads the Christian faith he has given his life to. Before this, however, he lived a simple life in touch with the natural world, fearful of spirits and careful to listen to the lessons of his elders. Interspersed throughout the story of his life are observations and passages on his family and the history of their ancestors, making The Life, History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bowh an invaluable record of their traditions and daily existence. Written in a poetic, meditative prose, Copway’s memoir remains essential reading nearly two centuries after it appeared in print. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of George Copway’s The Life, History and Travels of Kah-ge-ga-gah-Bowh is a classic work of Native American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe Promised Land is a compelling account of one woman’s journey from Polotsk to Boston and her attempts to embrace a new culture and identity. Author Mary Antin highlights the old values and contemporary views that shaped her immigrant experience. In The Promised Land, Antin recounts the many obstacles she encountered before and after emigrating to the U.S. Arriving in 1894, she details the years in Boston where she attempted to assimilate while facing religious, political and financial challenges. Despite hidden pitfalls and social barriers, Antin continued to make strides towards her American dream. Although it centers a specific experience, The Promised Land is an aspirational story that speaks to a universal audience. Upon its release, the book was a resounding success for Antin, eventually selling more than 80,000 copies. It propelled her into a career of public speaking, which she used to address anti-immigration sentiment and invoke policy change. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Promised Land is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisJane Addams, the co-founder of Hull House, the famous settlement home, writes about her experiences and insights in her autobiography, Twenty Years at Hull House. As a child growing up in Illinois, Addams suffered from Pott’s Disease, which was a rare infection in her spine. This disease caused her to contract many other illnesses, then because of these aliments, Addams was self-conscious of her appearance. She explains that she could not play with other children often due to a limp, a side effect to her illnesses. Still, she is able to provide relatable and even amusing childhood anecdotes. Addams was very close to her father. She admired him for his political work, which likely inspired her own interest and attention to the social problems of her society. In a time invested with xenophobia and cruelty towards immigrants, Addams bought land in Chicago and co-founded a settlement house named Hull House. There, Addams sought to improve the lives of immigrants and the poor by providing shelter, essential social services, and access to education. Addams served as an advocate not only for the impoverished and immigrants, but also for women. She was a leader within the women’s suffrage movement, determined to expand the work she did for her community to a national scale. Twenty Years at Hull House provides both a conversation about social issues and an example of how to act against them. Though originally published in 1910, Addams autobiography provides social discourse that is not only still relevant, but also considered radical by some. Addams’ autobiography was well received when it was first released, impacting many key reform movements. Twenty Years at Hull House still carries that effect today, inspiring its readers to improve their community and advocate for those in need. This edition of Twenty Years at Hull House by Jane Addams features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a readable font, ready to inspire readers to follow the footsteps and musings of activist Jane Addams.

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Book Synopsis Elizabeth Keckley reveals the hardships of slavery and the changing political climate in Washington amongst the country’s most powerful couple, Abraham and Mary Lincoln. Keckley had unprecedented access, giving insight into their state during and after the Civil War. Elizabeth Keckley was born into slavery and experienced a traumatic upbringing riddled with physical and sexual violence. One attack resulted in the birth of her son, whom she named George. Elizabeth was a gifted seamstress who used her skills to save money to buy her and her son’s freedom. She ventured North and started a career as a dressmaker to influential women in political circles. One of her most notable clients was Mary Todd Lincoln, with whom she developed a close friendship. Behind the Scenes is a harrowing story of one woman’s unshakable drive. Despite her limiting circumstances, Elizabeth Keckley earned her freedom and became a successful entrepreneur. It’s an inspiring tale that provides a personal account of one of the most volatile times in American history. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Behind the Scenes is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisPoems (1920) is a collection of poems and plays by W.B. Yeats. Containing many of the poet’s early important works, Poems illuminates Yeats’ influence on the Celtic Twilight, a late-nineteenth century movement to revive the myths and traditions of Ancient Ireland. The collection opens with Yeats’ verse drama The Countess Cathleen, which he dedicated to the actress and revolutionary Maud Gonne. Set during a period of famine in Ireland, The Countess Cathleen tells the story of a wealthy landowning Countess who sells her soul to the devil in order to save her starving tenants. The Land of Heart’s Desire, Yeats’ first professionally performed play, follows a young fairy child who disrupts the lives of two newlyweds and shakes a simple village to its core. The Rose contains some of the writer’s most beloved early poems, including “To the Rose Upon the Rood of Time”—a symbolist lyric alluding to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn—and “Fergus and the Druid,” a dialogue in verse. In “Who Goes With Fergus,” a poem blending ancient legend with modern Irish nationalism, Yeats asks the youth of his country to “brood on hopes and fears no more,” to follow Fergus who “rules the shadows of the wood, / And the white breast of the dim sea / And all disheveled wandering stars.” Yeats’ writing, mysterious and rich with symbolism, demonstrates not just a mastery of the English language, but an abiding faith in the cause and principles of Irish independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of W.B. Yeats’s Poems is a classic of Irish literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisMargaret Ogilvy (1897) is a biography by J. M. Barrie. Although he is more widely known as a popular storyteller whose Peter Pan books are filled with the wit and wonder of history’s greatest fairytales, Barrie was also a gifted memoirist and biographer. Margaret Ogilvy is the story of his mother and their life as a family in Scotland. Written in tribute to her influence on his life as a professional writer, Margaret Ogilvy was a bestselling book in the United States. “On the day I was born we bought six hair-bottomed chairs, and in our little house it was an event, the first great victory in a woman’s long campaign; how they had been laboured for, the pound-note and the thirty threepenny-bits they cost, what anxiety there was about the purchase, the show they made in possession of the west room, my father’s unnatural coolness when he brought them in…” From the remnants of memory, J. M. Barrie attempts to reconstruct his mother’s life. He begins with tragedy, the death of his older brother, an event which changed his mother forever. From then on, he writes, “she got her soft face and her pathetic ways and her large charity,” but before she could turn her loss into positive energy she struggled immensely with what would now be called depression. As he tries to express his gratitude for her sacrifice and support, Barrie crafts a loving portrait of the woman who gave him life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of J. M. Barrie’s Margaret Ogilvy is a classic work of Scottish literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisPaul Laurence Dunbar: Poet Laureate of the Negro Race (1914) is a pamphlet on American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Published nearly a decade after Dunbar’s untimely death, Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poet Laureate of the Negro Race contains three essays on his life, his legacy, and his importance to American literature. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar was the son of parents who were emancipated from slavery in Kentucky during the American Civil War. In 1893, he published Oak and Ivy, a debut collection of poetry blending traditional verse and poems written in dialect. Over the next decade, Dunbar wrote ten more books of poetry, four collections of short stories, four novels, a musical, and a play. In his brief career, Dunbar became a respected advocate for civil rights, participating in meetings and helping to found the American Negro Academy. His lyrics for In Dahomey (1903) formed the centerpiece to the first musical written and performed by African Americans on Broadway, and many of his essays and poems appeared in the nation’s leading publications, including Harper’s Weekly and the Saturday Evening Post. Diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1900, however, Dunbar’s health steadily declined in his final years, leading to his death at the age of thirty-three while at the height of his career. Alice Dunbar-Nelson, in her essay, reflects on the man her husband was, a “true poet” who “reached out and groped for the bigness of the out-of-doors, divining all that he was afterwards to see.” In his piece, classical scholar William S. Scarborough argues for Dunbar’s importance to African American history as “the first among ten million,” as a man who “did not inherit, [but] originated.” To close the collection, Reverdy C. Ransom briefly eulogizes a poet whose loss was a blow to a people and a nation, whose name must be spoken in the same breath as Wheatley, Browning, Shelley, Burns, Keats, and Poe. More than anything, Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poet Laureate of the Negro Race cements his reputation as an artist with a powerful vision of faith and perseverance who sought to capture and examine the diversity of the African American experience. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poet Laureate of the Negro Race is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Book Synopsis"A moving, vital testament." -Saturday Review ”An incredible document, amazingly told and structured. Tough, but riveting.-Rachel Kushner “The best firsthand account of slavery.” -James McPherson Twelve Years a Slave (1853) is considered to be be one of the most riviting and important documents recounting slavery in the United States. It is the heart-rending memoir of a free black man who is taken hostage and sold into slavery in a Louisiana plantation, his twelve years of bondage, and his remarkable escape to freedom. Since its publication, this classic has become a historical reference for its salient of depiction of life as a slave in the pre-Civil War deep south of the United States. More recently the book’s popularity has soared due to the 2014 Academy Award winning motion picture. Northup’s memoir begins during his early life as a free black man in Upstate New York. He was a father of three children, a farmer, lumberjack, and a skillful musician. When two white men approached Northup about a well-paid job playing his violin in a circus, he accepted. They traveled to New York City, then Washington D.C, where after a day of celebrating his good fortunes with the two men he was drugged, and chained in a slave pen. Imprisoned by the ruthless slave-trader James Burch, he was brutally beaten and eventually sent by boat to New Orleans, Louisiana. Eventually Northup was sold to a merciful plantation owner, and valued for his hard work, and gentle spirit. Due to his master’s eventual financial hardships, Northup was sold again and again in a succession of brutal masters. With his tenacious sense of hope and goodwill he perseveres through twelve years of cruelty until his remarkable rescue from slavery and back to his freedom in New York. With its great message of hope, Twelve Years a Slave is one of America’s great literary declarations of the power of the human spirit. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Twelve Years a Slave is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisBrief Lives (1669-1697) is a collection of short biographical sketches on famous British figures by author, antiquarian, and archaeologist John Aubrey. The work is significant for its unique style, a blend of facts—names, dates, family, important works—and personal anecdotes for which Aubrey combined his skills for research and conversation to compile. Unpublished during his lifetime, the text was pieced together from extensive handwritten manuscripts by numerous editors and scholars, and over the centuries has become a beloved cultural artifact of early-modern Britain. A fascinating figure and gifted researcher in his own right, John Aubrey sought to capture the significance of his era and the people whose contributions to art, politics, science, and philosophy were not only changing Britain, but the world, forever. As a historical record, his Brief Lives provides valuable information on such figures as poet John Milton, playwright William Shakespeare, philosopher Thomas Hobbes, and chemist Robert Boyle. But as a work of art, the text humanizes them, reminding its readers that these were people whose desires, imperfections, and day-to-day lives were not unlike our own. We turn to his works to discover that Sir Walter Raleigh was a “poor” scholar “immerst…in fabrication of his owne fortunes,” or to read that Shakespeare, the son of a butcher who worked for his father as a youth, was known to “make a speech” while slaughtering a calf. At times straightforwardly factual, at others filled with gossip, Brief Lives is a document of its time that attempts to record a living history of knowledge and influence. Whether it succeeds is beside the point—that it speaks to us centuries on is the heart of the matter, the reason it must be read. A well-known man in his lifetime, Aubrey moved between cultural and political circles with ease, compiling the sources that would later become Brief Lives. Although a tireless writer and scholar, he published little during his life. His work, including Brief Lives, is thus the product of centuries of diligent research and editing from numerous scholars who understood, as the reader of this volume surely will, that Aubrey’s work deserved to reach the public. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of John Aubrey’s Brief Lives is a classic of British literature and biography reimagined for modern readers.

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Book SynopsisBenvenuto Cellini started getting onto trouble at a young age. By age sixteen, he had already been exiled from his hometown for six months due to a public assault of another citizen. As a man with endless talents—sculpting, drafting, writing, music, Cellini enjoyed dabbling in many different art forms, a career that enabled him to travel to various major cities. After apprenticing for a goldsmith, Cellini moved to Rome at age nineteen. There, Pope Clement praised his work. However, Cellini’s relationship with Clement was the last time he stood in good graces with a Pope. After insulting Pope Clément’s successor, Pope Farnese, Cellini left Rome to pursue work in France, fearing that he would be arrested if he stayed. However, his travels did not protect him from the wrath of Pope Farnese. After being accused of the theft of precious Vatican items, Cellini was imprisoned. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Cellini organizes a prison escape. Though his feud with Pope Farnese greatly complicated his life, Cellini relishes making enemies, and finds humor in every situation he is in. With stories of sexual conquests, murder, escapes, near-death experiences, and artistic endeavors, Benvenuto Cellini reveals all the salacious details of his exhilarating life. Though he exposes many ugly personality traits that he possesses, Cellini himself does not believe that he has faults, and only admits to being wrong once in his life. Despite this, Cellini possesses an influential amount of charisma, which is as evident in his written work as it was in his life. Autobiography by Benvenuto Cellini provides a privileged look into the social life of the Italian Renaissance, and preserves the memory of the incredible artistic work of Cellini, most of which has been lost to time. Because of the fascinating and atypical life Cellini led, paired with his charisma and humor, Autobiography has remained to feel exciting and relevant to a modern audience, both for entertainment and educational purposes. Now with an eye-catching cover design and printed in a readable font, Benvenuto Cellini’s Autobiography is accessible for a contemporary audience, preserving the wit and grandeur of work, while renovating it to appeal to a modern audience.

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Book SynopsisKnown for its advances in literature, industrialization, politics, and science, the Victorian era was a prominent time in British history. However, author Lytton Strachey remembers Queen Victoria as a person instead of just focusing on her accomplishments. First starting with a brief history of her predecessors and origins, Victoria was crowned just as she came of age. Having only been eighteen, Queen Victoria was widely unfamiliar to her subjects when she was coronated. While her advisors and elders attempted to train her for her regal duties and present her to society, Victoria struggled to adjust to her new life. However, after a short period of adjustment, Victoria transformed into an iconic figure, known and celebrated for her elevated sense of morality. In 1840, Victoria married her cousin, Prince Albert, a match arranged by their families. But while Albert brought financial success, he was still unpopular in high society London, unlike his wife, who was growing to be more beloved every day. First published in 1921, Lytton Strachey’s Queen Victoria follows the inventive biographical style Strachey created, featuring witty, irreverent prose paired with the focus on human characteristics rather than just their achievements. Told in relation to the prominent figures in each stage of her life, Queen Victoria is an intimate perspective of the legendary ruler. Praised for its accuracy and entertainment, Queen Victoria led Lytton Strachey to be awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, one of the oldest awards in British literature. This edition of Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Queen Victoria to modern standards while preserving the original innovation and insight of Lytton Strachey’s work.

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Book SynopsisWith authors such as Voltaire, Honore De Balzac, Victor Hugo, and so many more, French literature can be as intimidating as it is spectacular. Hoping to spread admiration and knowledge about the French literary canon, H.A.L Fisher, a former president of the board of education and prominent historian, sought out Lytton Strachey to write a survey of French literature. After accepting the commission, Strachey exceeded the original expectations, crafting a work of non-fiction that is more alluring than a gift catalog, and filled with fascinating information. Separated into chronological sections, Landmarks in French Literature provides samples, explanations, and stories of the notable literary works spanning from the 15th to the late 19th century. With detailed explorations of each era, and an alphabetized list of esteemed authors, Landmarks in French Literature is a passionate tour through history, rich with intriguing insight and historical information. In the first few months following its publication, Lytton Strachey’s Landmarks in French Literature received overwhelming praise and sold thousands of copies in various countries. Described as a fascinating and invaluable source, Landmarks in French Literature is a comprehensive commentary on the literary history of France, including information about major authors, movements, and works. Written with clear passion, expertise, and professional prose, this educational source is a compelling account, and a perfect resource for any reader curious about the culture, art, or history of France. This edition of Landmarks in French Literature by Lytton Strachey features an eye-catching new cover design and is presented in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition is accessible and appealing to contemporary audiences, restoring Landmarks in French Literature to modern standards while preserving the original innovation and insight of Lytton Strachey’s work.

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Book SynopsisFrederick Douglass: A Biography (1899) is a book by African American author, lawyer, and political activist Charles Chesnutt. While he is more widely known for “The Goophered Grapevine,” the first story published in The Atlantic by an African American author, Chesnutt was also a gifted biographer whose storytelling ability allowed him to present the life of such a man as Frederick Douglass in a fresh and revelatory light. “From this night of slavery Douglass emerged, passed through the limbo of prejudice which he encountered as a freeman, and took his place in history.” Born in Maryland, Douglass escaped slavery at the age of twenty with the help of his future wife Anna Murray Douglass, a free black woman from Baltimore. In New England, he connected with the influential abolitionist community and joined the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, a historically Black denomination which counted Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman among its members. In 1839, Douglass became a preacher and began his career as a captivating orator on religious, social, and political matters. He met William Lloyd Garrison, publisher of anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator, in 1841, and was deeply moved by his passionate abolitionism. As Douglass’ reputation and influence grew, he traveled across the country and eventually to Ireland and Great Britain to advocate on behalf of the American abolitionist movement, winning countless people over to the leading moral cause of the nineteenth century. Arguably one of the most influential Americans of all time, Douglass led a life dedicated to democracy and racial equality. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Charles Chesnutt’s Frederick Douglass: A Biography is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

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