Biography: general Books

Book SynopsisThe sequel to I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS'A brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman' Barack ObamaMaya Angelou's volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement and celebration. In the sequel to her bestselling I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou is a young mother in California, unemployed, embarking on brief affairs and transient jobs in shops and night-clubs, turning to prostitution and the world of narcotics. Maya Angelou powerfully captures the struggles and triumphs of her passionate life with dignity, wisdom, humour and humanity.'She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds' OPRAH WINFREY 'She was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate' TONI MORRISONTrade ReviewA brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal womanThe poems and stories she wrote . . . were gifts of wisdom and wit, courage and graceShe moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds -- Oprah WinfreyShe was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate -- Toni MorrisonThis is the story of a great heroine who knows the meaning of a struggle and never loses her pride or dignity. Indeed, her story makes me proud of the human race -- John Oliver KillensEngrossing and vital, rich and funny and wise . . . Angelou writes like a song, and like the truth * New York Times Book Review *Angelou's stature as a writer, a woman, a black, grows, walks tall * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisMay Smith is twenty-four at the outbreak of World War Two; at night, the sirens wail, and the young men of the village leave to fight. But still, ordinary life goes on: May goes shopping, plays tennis, takes holidays and even falls in love - while recording it faithfully in her diary.'May is simply a joy, a bright spark in dark times' The TimesTrade ReviewI grew to love every single detail. This is what it really must have been like to live through the war in Derbyshire on a teacher's salary with no car. I was fascinated -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Spectator *May Smith is simply a joy, a bright spark in dark times -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *Well written, witty and absorbing, Smith's chronicles give us an insight into the life and impact of the war in a small English village -- Nilima Marshall * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisNo other poet excites such fanatical, worldwide devotion as Robert Burns (otherwise known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's Favourite Son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire or simply the Bard). Ian McIntyre's biography, first published to mark the bicentenary of Burns's death and revised here for the 250th anniversary of his birth, is still considered the best take on a notorious and often over-romanticised life.McIntyre's meticulous use of documentary and archival sources strips away myth and legend. Here, we meet the man - eminently capable of holding two contradictory political views at the same time, he was just as capable of being in love with several women at once. McIntyre also fully evaluates Burns' songs and poetry and brings to light the importance and quality of his satirical verse. McIntyre is enthusiastic but always objective and his work brings us the clearest, most sharply appreciated portrait of this great poet.Trade ReviewThe biography of Burns. -- Ian HamiltonIf you read Burns, then buy this. If you don't read Burns, then start. -- Andrew Marr * Economist *McIntyre transports you absolutely into the world of his subject. A shrewd, clear, comprehensive and wonderfully readable portrait of Burns as fallible man and gifted poet. -- A.C.Grayling * Financial Times *This biography is a major achievement, not least because the author has managed something not usually the norm in Burns scholarship - impartiality. This is a remarkable book. -- Nigel Williams * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe Gulf state of Qatar tops the Forbes list of the world's richest countries. In 2010, the country had the world's highest GDP per capita, and its reserves of oil and natural gas are vast. It has been estimated that Qatar will invest more than $120 billion in the energy sector over the next ten years. Yet Qatar has climbed to this pinnacle of wealth and influence in a remarkably short time, and from a starting point of obscurity and insignificance. This astonishing transition is the direct result of the efforts nearly 200 years ago of one visionary man - Jassim bin Muhammad Bin Thani, known as 'the Leader'. Qatar in the 1830s was a fragmented region, a desert peninsula without security or borders, where coastal communities depended on pearling for survival, while constantly at the mercy of tribal raiders. Jassim's background in this precarious environment led to his understanding that the gap between tribal settled peoples must be bridged, and then to his harnessing of regional conflicts to create a unified Qatari state. Skilfully allying with Ottoman forces to fend off the British, Jassim established power in the newly rebuilt capital, Doha, eventually becoming the first leader of the new country. Little known outside Qatar, Jassim's extraordinary achievement cannot be understated. By the time of his death on the eve of the First World War, both the Ottomans and the British had recognised Qatar's autonomy, and the way was open for the country he had created to move steadily forward to its enviable economic position today.

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Book SynopsisGuardian's Best Sports Books of 2014SHORTLISTED FOR THE CROSS BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2015LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015In Chase Your Shadow, journalist and author John Carlin tells the gripping story of Oscar Pistorius's tragic journey from sporting icon to accused murderer. Before Valentine's Day of 2013, Pistorius was best known as an extraordinary athlete, the 'Blade Runner' who became the first amputee in history to compete in the Olympics. Everything changed after he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in the early hours of 14 February. Overnight, the Olympian's status as a role model was replaced by tales of erratic behaviour and a violent dark side.With unique access to Pistorius himself, as well as to his friends and family, Carlin paints a portrait of a complex personality, a man whose heroic rise and even more dramatic fall is one of the most remarkable sports stories ever told.Trade ReviewThe strength of Carlin's superb book is that it weaves many disparate strands into a humane and sensitive overview of a case that shocked the world... The detail is fascinating... Subtle and wise -- Matthew Syed * The Times ‘Book of the Week’ *Reads like a taut courtroom drama... Vivid, gripping and illuminating... For those in search of a full rendering of the case in all its complexity, Carlin goes a long way to delivering the goods. -- Justice Malala * Sunday Times *Impressively up-to-the-minute... The Pistorius case will continue to divide opinion and Carlin's book is unlikely to be the last word on the matter. But his evident fairness, cool objectivity and robust scepticism will make it a hard act to follow. -- Simon Shaw * Mail on Sunday *Carlin's account is framed by the progress of the Blade Runner's trial, but it's also a de facto biography that exposes his psychological incongruities * Independent *The strongest of the accounts... and the best at supplying a context for what unfolded... Carlin, a fine journalist, is clearly aware of the filmic potential of the tale... and his recreation of that Valentine's Day morning has the pace and energy of a movie script * Observer *The best account we are likely to get of the tragedy and its aftermath, with proper attention to the role of the remarkable judge -- Richard Williams * Guardian, Best Sports Books of 2014 *

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Book SynopsisA masterpiece of women’s wisdom.—Christiane Northrup, M.D. The journey to capture her feminine soul and live authentically . . . makes a fascinating, well-researched and well-written story.—Publishers WeeklyIn celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its publication, a newly reissued edition of the bestselling author’s classic work of feminine spiritual discovery, with a new introduction by the author.I was amazed to find that I had no idea how to unfold my spiritual life in a feminine way. I was surprised, and, in fact, a little terrified, when I found myself in the middle of a feminist spiritual reawakening.—Sue Monk KiddFor years, Sue Monk Kidd was a conventionally religious woman. Then, in the late 1980s, she experienced an unexpected awakening, and began a journey toward a feminine spirituality. With the exceptional storytelling skills that have helped make her name,

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Book SynopsisJohn Barrington was a shepherd to over 750 Blackface ewes who graze 2,000 acres of some of Britain’s most beautiful hills overlooking the deep dark water of Loch Katrine. The yearly round of lambing, dipping, shearing and the sales is marvelously interwoven into the story of the glen, of Rob Roy in whose house John lived, of curling when the ice is thick enough, and of sheep dog trials in the summer. Whether up on the hills or along the glen, John knows the haunts of the local wildlife: the wily hill fox, the grunting badger, the herds of red deer, and the shrews, voles and insects which scurry underfoot. He sets his seasonal clock by the passage of birds on the loch, and jealously guards over the golden eagle’s eyrie in the hills. Paul Armstrong’s sensitive illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the evocative text.Trade ReviewMr Barrington is a great pleasure to read. One learns more things about the countryside from this account of one year than from a decade of "The Archers" - THE DAILY TELEGRAPHPowerful and evocative... a book which brings vividly to life the landscape, the wildlife, the farm animals and the people who inhabit John's vista. He makes it easy for the reader to fall in love with both his surrounds and his commune with nature. - THE SCOTTISH FIELDAn excellent and informative book.... not only an account of a shepherd's year but also the diary of a naturalist. Little escapes Barrington's enquiring eye and, besides the life cycle of a sheep he also gives those of every bird, beast, insect and plant that crosses his path, mixing their histories with descriptions of the geography, local history and folklore of his surroundings. - TLSThe family life at Glengyle is wholesome, appealing and not without a touch of the Good Life. Many will envy Mr Barrington his fastness home as they cruise up Locah Katrine on the tourist steamer. - THE FIELDI read John Barrington's book with growing delight. This working shepherd writes beautifully about his animals, about the wildlife, trees and flowers which surround him at all times, and he paints an unforgettable picture of his glorious corner of Western Scotland. It is a lovely story of a rather wonderful life. - JAMES HERRIOT

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Book SynopsisThe man with the gun pushed me down onto the carpet. I tried to cower to make my body curl smaller, instinctively covering my head.Oh God, please don't kill me.' My words clung to my teeth and now my whole body was so cold. All I had left were these words.'Please. Please don't kill me. Jesus. God. Please.'I wanted to live and I knew it with absolute certainty. I don't want to die.Emma Slade was a high-flying debt analyst for a large investment bank, when she was taken hostage in a hotel room on a business trip to Jakarta. She thought she was lucky to come out of it unscathed, but over the ensuing weeks and months, as the financial markets crashed, Emma became her own distressed asset as the trauma following the event took hold.Realising her view on life had profoundly changed she embarked upon a journey, discovering the healing power of yoga and, in Bhutan, opening her eyes to a kinder, more peaceful way of living.From fast-paced City life to the stillness of Bhutan's Himalayan mountains, Set Free is the inspiring true story of Emma's astonishing life lived to extremes and all that that entails: work, travel, spirituality, Buddhism, relationships, and the underlying question of what makes a meaningful life.Trade ReviewThis book chronicles the gradual transformation from a high-flying financial advisor to a committed Buddhist nun through the course of work, relationships, motherhood and finally spiritual commitment. A good read for all those involved in practising a spiritual path in a western context. * Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, author, teacher and Buddhist nun *a remarkable story * Emma Barnett, Radio 5 live *this is a story which needed to be told not just for Emma and the children of Bhutan, but for the world... utterly compelling * Spectrum Magazine *this is an amazing woman with an amazing story * Davina McCall *It's an amazing story and what's most remarkable about it is the personality of Slade herself. She is an exceptional individual * Suzi Feay, Literary Journalist *

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Book SynopsisPresents the texts of the letters, speeches, sermons, student papers, and articles of Martin Luther King, Jr. This title includes letters that the King wrote to his mother and father during his childhood.Table of ContentsTABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction Chronology Editorial Principles and Practices List of Abbreviations The Papers Calendar of Documents Index

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Book SynopsisThe spirited stories in Heart of the Cariboo-Chilcotin capture the severity and grace of the distinct pioneer culture that resides in British Columbia''s rugged Central Interior. It''s an area with a provocative history, plenty of colourful individuals and a wealth of literary talent. The writers in this volume come from different periods, places and occupations, each bringing a unique voice that adds to the diversity of the whole. A First Nations girl escapes her kidnappers. Greenhorn settlers outgun dangerous criminals. A young cowboy confronts the terrors, and revels in the thrills, of his first roundup. Occasionally shocking and always entertaining, these people stories celebrate and preserve the Cariboo-Chilcotin way of life.

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Book SynopsisBorn in the mid 18th-century, William Roxburgh was brought up in the centre of the Edinburgh Enlightenment, with all the patronage and intellectual curiosity that this entailed. In 1793 he was appointed as the first paid Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden. Always, he looked for ways to improve the lot of native workers, to reduce the impact of frequent famines.

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Book SynopsisText in Arabic. Steve Jobs was loved, hated, admired and dismissed. He was a living legend, the 21-year-old genius who founded Apple in his parents garage. Critically-acclaimed author Karen Blumenthal takes us to the core of this complicated and legendary man, from his adoption to the pinnacles of his career. Framed by Jobs inspirational Stanford commencement speech and illustrated throughout with black and white photos, this is the story of the man who changed our world.Trade ReviewThrough original interviews, a smart use of source material, and a wonderfully easy-going style, Blumenthal gives a full portrait of Jobs ...This is a smart book about a smart subject by a smart writer. -- Ilene Cooper American Library Journal

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author of The Sense of an Ending comes an extraordinary fictional portrait of the relentlessly fascinating Russian musician and composer Dmitri Shostakovich and a stunning meditation on the meaning of art and its place in society. • “Brilliant…. As elegantly constructed as a concerto.” —NPR 1936: Dmitri Shostakovich, just thirty years old, reckons with the first of three conversations with power that will irrevocably shape his life. Stalin, hitherto a distant figure, has suddenly denounced the young composer’s latest opera. Certain he will be exiled to Siberia (or, more likely, shot dead on the spot), Shostakovich reflects on his predicament, his personal history, his parents, his daughter—all of those hanging in the balance of his fate. And though a stroke of luck prevents him from becoming yet another casualty of the Great Terror, he will twice more be swept up by the forces of

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Book SynopsisThe first book to investigate one of the most notorious kidnapping cases of our times and how Natashca survived eight years in captivity. Written by two journalists who have been tracking the case ever since her disappearance, it contains a wealth of exclusive new information.Trade Review'A riveting account of the trials of Natascha Kampusch... The authors have come as close as possible to uncovering the full and shocking story.' * The Sun *'An astonishing true story' * News of the World *'Reveals more twists' * Grazia *

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Book SynopsisThe classic memoir that shocked, outraged, and ultimately changed the way America looked at the civil rights movement and the black experience. With a preface by Ishmael Reed • “As with Malcolm X, Cleaver’s book is a spiritual autobiography. An odyssey of a soul in search of itself, groping toward a personal humanism which will give meaning to life.”—The Progressive By turns shocking and lyrical, unblinking and raw, the searingly honest memoirs of Eldridge Cleaver are a testament to his unique place in American history. Cleaver writes in Soul on Ice, “I’m perfectly aware that I’m in prison, that I’m a Negro, that I’ve been a rapist, and that I have a Higher Uneducation.” What Cleaver shows us, on the pages of this classic autobiography, is how much he was a man.

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Book SynopsisA Spectator Best Book of the Year ‘This book is a wry, critical friend to both writer and reader. It is filled with cogent examples and provoking statements. You will agree or quarrel with each page, and be a sharper writer and reader by the end.’ Hilary Mantel ‘There are three rules for writing a novel,’ Somerset Maugham once said. ‘Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.’ So how to bring characters to life, find a voice, kill your darlings, avoid plagiarism (or choose not to), or run that most challenging of literary gauntlets—writing a good sex scene? Veteran editor and author Richard Cohen takes us on a fascinating excursion into the lives and minds of our greatest writers—from Balzac and Eliot to Woolf and Nabokov, through to Zadie Smith and Stephen King, with a few mischievous detours to Tolstoy along the way. In a glittering tour d’horizon, he lays bare their tricks, motivations, techniques, obsessions and flaws.Trade Review‘Provides amazing insight into the working methods, techniques, tricks and flaws of some of the greatest writers in literary history…An engrossing read for bibliophiles and lovers of literature as much as aspiring writers.’ * New European *‘This book is a wry, critical friend to both writer and reader. It is filled with cogent examples and provoking statements. You will agree or quarrel with each page, and be a sharper writer and reader by the end.’ -- Hilary Mantel‘A glorious patchwork of quotation and anecdote. It is a true commonplace book, the homage of a passionate reader to the writers who have provided his “main pastime”.’ * Sunday Times *‘Welcome, wise and witty…Aspiring writers will glean excellent advice here.’ * Literary Review *‘I very much enjoyed Richard Cohen’s How to Write Like Tolstoy’ -- Julie Burchill * Spectator, Books of the Year *‘An anecdotal, breezy and comprehensive approach…an entertainingly slick read.' * Herald *‘The highest compliment one can pay How to Write Like Tolstoy is that it provokes an overwhelming urge to read and write.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘A book for the general reader as much as the aspiring novelist.’ * Tablet *‘Interesting, charming, and engaging…Cohen reveals the possibilities that lie in wait when authors practice selection and intention, sparking the literary imagination.’ * Library Journal, starred review *‘An inspiring book! It makes one glad to be a writer.’ -- Fay Weldon‘Elegant... Cohen [tells] amusing, often discursive stories about great literature and authors, mixed with the writers’ own observations, which he hopes will further inspire readers and would-be writers. The advice is pleasant, and sometimes wise.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Insightful… [Cohen] escorts his readers to Iris Murdoch for sage counsel on launching a novel, to Salman Rushdie for shrewd guidance on developing an unreliable narrator, to Rudyard Kipling for a cagey hint on creating memorable minor characters, and to Leo Tolstoy for a master’s help in transforming personal experience into fictional art. Even readers with no intentions of writing a novel will relish the opportunity to join their favourite authors at the workbench.’ * Booklist *‘Cohen’s myriads of examples are lush and instructive... he is a generous tour guide through his literary world’ * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book Synopsis"Fanon was consummately incapable of telling the story of himself. He lived in the immediacy of the moment, with an intensity that embodied everything he evoked. Fanon's discourse pertained to a present tense that was unburdened by its narrative past...Trade ReviewThis is a book of interest and importance, and it comes at a moment when events have arguably made Fanon a contemporary thinker. Students of Fanon will surely want to read it, as will those comparing anti-colonial struggles around the globe. -- Benjamin Claude Brower * Journal of Colonialism and Colonial History *

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Book SynopsisCleopatra: kohl and vipers, barges and thrones, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. We have long been schooled in the myth of the Egyptian ruler. In his new book Michel Chauveau brings us a picture of her firmly based in reality. Cleopatra VII...Trade ReviewStudents who read this brief volume will find little of the movie queen but a great deal of Roman history. Cleopatra's defeat made Octavian emperor of Rome, and he arranged for the spin on history to make his actions look good. * School Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisI am by nature a private person. Secrets are different from privacy. They are things you are forced to keep to yourself, by family, friends, by your own shame. Secrets like these come to the surface one day and demand an airing.Emerging from an unconventional, boisterously happy childhood, Mary-Rose MacColl was a rebellious teenager. And when, at the age of fifteen, her high-school teacher and her husband started inviting Mary-Rose to spend time with them, her parents were pleased that she now had the guidance she needed to take her safely into young adulthood.It wasn't too long, though, before the teacher and her husband changed the nature of the relationship with overwhelming consequences for Mary-Rose. Consequences that kept her silent and ashamed through much of her adult life. Many years later, safe within a loving relationship, all of the long-hidden secrets and betrayals crashed down upon her and she came close to losing everything.In this poignant and brave true story, Mary-Rose brings these secrets to the surface and, in doing so, is finally able to watch them float away.Trade ReviewOne of the most remarkable pieces of writing I have read in a long, long time...Lots of stuff gets over-praised these days I reckon, and readers tire of superlatives, but in this case, I'm bringing out every superlative I've got. * Susan Johnson, author of The Broken Book *

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Book SynopsisThe heart-warming, true story of a young woman, her single father, and the books they shared as he read to her every night of her childhood, from Harry Potter to Alice in Wonderland.Trade Review'At a time when books often seem under attack, threatened with redundancy by the more aggresive advocates of new media, it is good to read so spirited and charming a paean in praise of the pleasures of reading as The Reading Promise.' * Bookseller (UK), from 'We Love This Book' *'My favourite . . . she writes beautifully of an unbreakable parent-child bond and the life lessons learnt from literature along the way. . . . My Father's Day gift of the month.' * The Bookseller *'Alice Ozma has given us the gift of a remarkable love story. In her love of books, and of her father, we see the most meaningful promises we might make to our own parents, our own children, and to ourselves.' * Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor of The Last Lecture *'Tender, funny, and deeply readable, THE READING PROMISE tells the story of how a simple ritual became a treasured father-daughter tradition. Promise yourself to revisit what matters . . . promise you'll pick up this tribute to the ways in which books change lives.' * Erin Blakemore, author of The Heroine's Bookshelf *'A testament to the power of books and reading, especially reading together, the book details the comfort, excitement, terror and inspiration stories can provide. Part love letter to a devoted parent, part memoir of a sensitive, intelligent girl, part passionate plea for readers to preserve traditions of reading aloud and using libraries, this is a book to curl up with and sink into.' * Who Weekly *'THE READING PROMISE is a powerful testament to the difference a parent's devotion and the act of reading can make in a child's life. A rare and triumphant story.' * Chris Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pursuit of Happyness *'Clearly fabulous for libraries everywhere. . . . My pick.' * Library Journal *'This is about so much more than books and reading. It's about single-parenthood and childhood, about raising a loving, witty, articulate kid, and all of it accomplished without anyone turning into the Alpha-Parent/Tiger-Dad.' * Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook *'Ozma's work is humorous, generous, and warmly felt, and with a terrific reading list included, there is no better argument for the benefits of reading to a child than this rich, imaginative work.' * Publisher's Weekly *'Ozma has written a memoir as rich and revealing, witty and warm, confident and compassionate as works by people who may have been around a few more blocks, but who probably haven't read as many books. Persuasive and influential, poignant and inspirational, Ozma's exuberant paean to the joys and rewards of reading - and being read to - is a must-read treasure for parents, especially, and bibliophiles, certainly.' * Booklist (starred review) *'this utterly charming memoir, which blends Ozma's reading experience with a perfectly phrased account of her upbringing and shows us just how much she learned. VERDICT: Sweet, engaging, and obviously inspiring (it even ends with a "Reading Promise"), this is the perfect book to hand any curmudgeon who needs reminding that reading makes a difference or thinks that today's youth are all blase. Highly recommended.' * Library Journal (starred review) *'Alice's book serves as a rallying cry, advocating the importance of books and challenging the reader to make a reading promise of their own.' * Marie Claire *'This charming memoir just might spark a revolution in communcal reading' * San Diego Union Tribune, (Recommended Read) *'For anyone with a love of books and particularly those who love reading aloud, The Reading Promise is a must-read. . . . And for those of you looking for a Father's Day gift for a book-loving dad, this might just be perfect.' * Wired *'as a record of love between a father and daughter -- and a story about the importance of rituals in family life -- Ozma's debut is touching.' * LA Times *'Among other things, this is a poignant, reflective, often frank record of a very difficult adolescence.' * The Saturday Age *Ozma has written a thoroughly entertaining book with skill, intelligence and a delightful sense of humor. The book is about reading... but its greatest strength lies in the author's affection for the father who kept his promise. He emerges from the story, with some poignancy, as a man whose idiosyncrasies are more than matched by his remarkable gift for parenthood. * Washington Post *'More than a novel about reading, it is an affecting portrait of the author's father. Ozma strikes the difficult balance of being incredibly poignant but not over-sentimental in her account of this unique man. This book is definitely worth a few nights' attention. And if you can get your father to read it to you - well, even better.' * News of the World *'gleeful, generous memoir. Sometimes corny or comic, always compasisonate, it explores a parent-child relationship rooted in trust, storytelling and true love of reading.' * Saga *'A captivating memoir of Alice's deep connection with her father.' * Sainsbury Magazine Hot Summer Reads *'a coming-of-age memoir about the touching connection between a devoted but lonely single father and his precocious and "nerdy" daughter.' * The Express *'an inspiring reminder of the difference that books can make.' * We Love This Book *

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Book SynopsisTwenty years after Appomattox, stricken by cancer and facing financial ruin, Ulysses S. Grant wrote his Personal Memoirs to secure his family’s future. in doing so, the Civil War’s greatest general won himself a unique place in American letters. His character, intelligence, sense of purpose, and simple compassion are evident throughout this vivid and deeply moving account, which has been acclaimed by readers as diverse asMark Twain, Matthew Arnold, Gertrude Stein, and Edmund Wilson. Annotated and complete with detailed maps, battle plans, and facsimiles reproduced from the original edition, this volume offers an unparalleled vantage on the most terrible, moving, and inexhaustibly fascinating event in American history. included are 174 letters, many of them to his wife, Julia, which offer an intimate view of their affectionate and enduring marriage.LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

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Book SynopsisAn insightful and comprehensive biography of the great twentieth century sculptor Alberto Giacometti.   Alberto Giacometti was one of the most enigmatic and memorable personalities of the twentieth century. Born in Switzerland in 1901, he settled in Paris in 1922 where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. Giacometti’s early influences included his father—painter Giovanni Giacometti—sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, and mentors Zadkine, Lipchitz, and Laurens. When he turned from cubism to surrealism, his work earned near-instantaneous recognition, but Giacometti quickly moved on, pioneering a solitary path on the margin of contemporary trends. Today, his signature elongated sculptures are icons of art history.   The fruit of new research, this riveting biography offers a chronological look at the whole of the artist’s life and work. It is published in coordination with the Giacometti exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York (June 8‒September 16, 2018).

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Book SynopsisCaroline Akrill reveals the frequent disasters and the occasional triumphs of her long association with a string of equine characters. Engagingly witty, endearingly frank, sometimes surprising, but always amusing, Caroline Akrill regards the horse from the safety of the stable door and scrutinises him with candour and affection.

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Book SynopsisThe story of a Cherokee boyhood of the 1930's.

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Book SynopsisIn the early 1950s, the Berkshire Constabulary finally opened its ranks to more women. And WPC Crockford was one of those early pioneers... When 21-year-old Gwendoline Crockford signed up to join the Berkshire Constabulary in 1951, she had little idea of what she was getting herself into. Whether carrying a human skeleton out of the woods, finding a missing child, investigating thefts, or chasing an escaped zebra, every day brought fresh adventures.In this nostalgic, tender and honest account of post-war British society, we follow a bright, determined woman navigating a man's world, serving as many people as she can. From performing traffic duties to unravelling a dark secret at the heart of an impoverished family, WPC Crockford's career was full of joy, thrills – and heartbreak.Written by her daughter Ruth, this is the story of a real-life woman police constable as she embarks on her police career.

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Book SynopsisIn 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia’s intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere. This special deluxe hardcover edition of Gender Queer features a brand-new cover, exclusive art and sketches, and a TK from creator Maia Kobabe.

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