A Little History of the World
The international bestseller: E. H. Gombrich's sweeping history of the world, for the curious of all ages "All stories begin with 'Once upon a time.' And that's just what this story is all about: what happened, once upon a time." So begins A Little History of the World, an engaging and lively book written for readers both young and old. Rather than focusing on dry facts and dates, E. H. Gombrich vividly brings the full span of human experience on Earth to life, from the stone age to the atomic age. He paints a colorful picture of wars and conquests; of grand works of art; of the advances and limitations of science; of remarkable people and remarkable events, from Confucius to Catherine the Great to Winston Churchill, and from the invention of art to the destruction of the Berlin Wall. For adults seeking a single-volume overview of world history, for students in search of a quick refresher course, or for families to read and learn from together, Gombrich's Little History enchants and educates.
Hildegard
Her young life in East Germany was trouble-free until her father's freak accident when she was 10 years old, at the same time as Naziism was taking a hold of the country. Relatively unaffected by intense propaganda and eventual war, little did she dream that, as war drew to an end, she, her family and neighbours she'd known all her life, would become sacrificial lambs and driven out of the village they called home.
An Early Florida Adventure Story
This book makes available a rare eyewitness account of Florida's Spanish colonial period: the 1595 narrative of a teenager who journeyed from Spain to Mexico, Havana, and Florida, presenting an inside view of the sailing experience in the sixteenth century and insight into the ambitions, concerns, and religiosity of his fellow Spaniards.
National Museum of African American History and Culture 2e
This souvenir book showcases some of the most influential and important treasures of the National Museum of African American History and Culture's collections. These include a hymn book owned by Harriet Tubman; ankle shackles used to restrain enslaved people on ships during the Middle Passage; a dress that Rosa Parks was making shortly before she was arrested; a vintage, open-cockpit Tuskegee Airmen trainer plane; Muhammad Ali's headgear; an 1835 Bill of Sale enslaving a young girl named Polly; and Chuck Berry's Cadillac. These objects tell us the full story of African American history, of triumphs and tragedies and highs and lows. This book, like the museum it represents, uses artifacts of African American history and culture as a lens into what it means to be an American.
Putin and the Return of History
An original history of Russia's thousand-year past, tracing the forces and the myths that have shaped Putin's politics and rekindled the Cold War. Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has reshaped history. In the decades after the collapse of Soviet communism, the West convinced itself that liberal democracy would henceforth be the dominant, ultimately unique, system of governance - a hubris that shaped how the West would treat Russia for the next two decades. But history wasn't over. Putin is a paradox. In the early years of his presidency, he appeared to commit himself to friendship with the West, suggesting that Russia could join the European Union or even NATO. He said he supported free-market democracy and civil rights. But the Putin of those years is unrecognisable today. The Putin of the 2020s is an autocratic nationalist, dedicated to repression at home and anti-Western militarism abroad. So, what happened? Was he lying when he proclaimed his support for freedom, democracy and friendship with the West? Or, was he sincere? Did he change his views at some stage between then and now? And if that is the case, what happened to change him? Putin and the Return of History examines these questions in the context of Russia's thousand-year past, tracing the forces and the myths that have shaped Putin's politics of aggression: the enduring terror of encirclement by outsiders, the subjugation of the individual to the cause of the state, the collectivist values that allow the sacrifice of human lives in battle, the willingness to lie and deceive, the co-opting of religion and the belief in Great Russia's mission to change the world.
Worship Through Latin American Eyes
Every Sunday, millions of Christians worldwide gather for public worship. They may use different languages, sing distinct melodies, and perform rituals according to different traditions and in diverse styles, but there is a common element among all Christians: the practice of worship. In this book, eight Latin American Christian scholars reflect on contextual worship practices using various disciplinary lenses and methodologies. Each contributor to this book observes, describes, and interprets worship through Latin American eyes. These authors are women and men from different countries, are experts in varied academic fields, and represent a range of Protestant Christian traditions. They bring diverse religious backgrounds and worship experiences to this work. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected on a global scale, this book provides an opportunity to listen to underrepresented voices and develop a more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of worship beyond familiar settings.
The Code
Across centuries and continents, warriors have stood as symbols of courage, discipline, and endurance. From the deserts of Nubia to the mountains of Japan, from the battlefields of Rome to the forests of India, their voices still echo. They speak of loyalty, honor, sacrifice, and the will to stand when everything seems lost.The Code: Ancient Voices for the Modern Warrior is a journey through more than two millennia of warrior tradition. It is neither a simple history nor a collection of heroic tales. It is a guide for the modern age, drawing practical wisdom from those who lived by necessity, consequence, and conviction. Their lives, forged under pressure, offer lessons that remain relevant in personal, professional, and spiritual struggle.The journey begins in the ancient world with figures such as Taharqa of Nubia, who resisted foreign empires, and Tomyris of the Massagetae, who defied Cyrus of Persia. We encounter Leonidas at Thermopylae and Alexander the Great reshaping the known world. From Ashoka's transformation from conqueror to moral ruler to Hannibal's relentless defiance of Rome, these lives reveal the many faces of power, restraint, and ambition.Through the medieval centuries we meet Khalid ibn al-Walid, Ragnar Lothbrok, and Yue Fei, each embodying different expressions of loyalty and command. The Crusades introduce rivals who respected one another, Saladin and Richard the Lionheart. The Mongol expansion brings the unmatched strategy of Genghis Khan and Subotai, while in Japan, Musashi demonstrates that mastery of self can outweigh mastery of others.As the world expands and collides, we encounter Shivaji Maharaj, who defied empires through resilience and intelligence; Osei Tutu, who forged unity in West Africa; and Shaka Zulu, who transformed warfare through discipline and vision. Warriors such as Tecumseh of the Shawnee remind us that dignity and resistance can endure even in defeat.Though their weapons and cultures differ, these figures are united by shared principles: courage, clarity, discipline, and honor. These values matter as much in classrooms and workplaces as they once did on battlefields. Modern life may not demand steel and shield, but it still requires integrity under pressure, resolve in chaos, and the ability to rise after loss.This book is for anyone who understands that being a warrior is not about rank or uniform, but about mindset. It speaks to soldiers returning home, athletes chasing limits, leaders facing failure, and students searching for purpose. Each chapter blends story and reflection, linking ancient experience to modern application.In an age of distraction and uncertainty, the need for a code is greater than ever. The Code does not glorify violence. It distills enduring truths: courage is a choice, leadership is a burden, and while victories fade, honor remains. Drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, these voices show that the warrior ideal belongs to no single culture. It is a human inheritance, waiting to be claimed.
Travis Savage
An unflinching portrayal of war and humanity."-Warrior Writers Review1999, Kosovo. The region collapses into brutal conflict. Two lovers from opposite sides of a deep ethnic divide dare to flee for a future together. Miroslav, a young Serb electrician, and Julianna, an Albanian Kosovar dancer, risk everything to escape the rising violence-but their elopement is shattered when the Yugoslav Army launches a devastating campaign.Across the border, U.S. Army Special Forces officer Lieutenant Colonel Travis Savage parachutes into hostile mountains with his Belgian Malinois, Trooper, and a British SAS counterpart. Their mission: link up with the Kosovo Liberation Army, expose war crimes, and direct airstrikes against an army that threatens to annihilate an entire population.As villages burn and loyalties fracture, the lives of Miro, Julianna, Travis, and KLA commander Josif Shala collide in a gripping story of courage, love, and the impossible choices made in the crucible of war. Every decision carries consequences measured in blood.Praise for Travis Savage: Top Secret Destroyers"Scott A. Porter writes with precision and authenticity-readers feel every explosion, every heartbreak."-Military Times"An intense, immersive war novel that captures both heroism and humanity."-Combat Fiction ReviewDon't miss Scott A. Porter's unforgettable tale of war, loyalty, and survival: TRAVIS SAVAGE: TOP SECRET DESTROYERS (SERIES 1)
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol. III
This third volume of Conrad Black's magnificent series opens with the assumption of direct rule by Louis XIV of France and covers the great sweep of history with the rise of Russia, the decline of the Ottomans, the wars of the Spanish and Austrian successions, the Age of Discovery, the rise of India, China, and Japan, colonization of the New World, the Seven-Years' War, the American and French revolutions, the Napoleonic wars, the founding of the United States through the American Civil War, the Crimean War, the unification of Germany and Italy, and the decline of Pax Britannica prior to the start of World War I. Writing with his usual panache, Lord Black continues to delight his readers with his sagacious assessments of historical figures and events. He insists, and these volumes demonstrate, that history is shaped by individual decisions in specific times and places, and that human beings are active participants in the historical movements of the world, not passive victims of blind social forces. Many intriguing personalities come to life in these pages as our modern world slowly comes into view. This is history for the history-lover and is also a mighty reference work to be returned to again and again. A must have for all home libraries to pass down to future generations that they may contemplate the doings of their ancestors, draw strength from their courage and tenacity, and revive hope in the certain knowledge that human society continues to progress despite the hardship and setbacks which often accompany it.
The Political and Strategic History of the World, Vol. III
This third volume of Conrad Black's magnificent series opens with the assumption of direct rule by Louis XIV of France and covers the great sweep of history with the rise of Russia, the decline of the Ottomans, the wars of the Spanish and Austrian successions, the Age of Discovery, the rise of India, China, and Japan, colonization of the New World, the Seven-Years' War, the American and French revolutions, the Napoleonic wars, the founding of the United States through the American Civil War, the Crimean War, the unification of Germany and Italy, and the decline of Pax Britannica prior to the start of World War I. Writing with his usual panache, Lord Black continues to delight his readers with his sagacious assessments of historical figures and events. He insists, and these volumes demonstrate, that history is shaped by individual decisions in specific times and places, and that human beings are active participants in the historical movements of the world, not passive victims of blind social forces. Many intriguing personalities come to life in these pages as our modern world slowly comes into view. This is history for the history-lover and is also a mighty reference work to be returned to again and again. A must have for all home libraries to pass down to future generations that they may contemplate the doings of their ancestors, draw strength from their courage and tenacity, and revive hope in the certain knowledge that human society continues to progress despite the hardship and setbacks which often accompany it.
Viking Language 1
Viking Language 1, Third Edition is a new method for teaching Old Norse, the language of the Vikings and their runes. This innovative new book takes the reader on a journey through Viking Age Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, and the Baltic lands. From page one, you will read original Old Norse passages about Vikings, Norse mythology, sacral kingship, blood feuds, and daily life. With maps and sections on Viking history, sagas, myths, and runic inscriptions, the reader quickly learns from original Icelandic sagas and runes, the latter from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. A new and innovative word-frequency method eases learning and speeds comprehension. Download MP3 pronunciation albums on the website oldnorse.or as well as answer keys to the exercises in the lessons. Learn two languages at once: Because the grammar of Modern Icelandic has changed little from Old Norse, the learner is well on the way to mastering the modern language as well as the Old Norse of Vikings and runes. One reviewer writes: "Jesse Byock brings learning Old Norse into the 21st century. Reading passages are relatively short and progressively graded, and vocabulary building is chosen to give the reader the most common words to be found in the Old Norse sagas. www.oldnorse.orgOne reviewer writes: Rather than masses of paradigm and conjugation tables hurled at the reader at the beginning, they are introduced in stages. Linguistic necessities are explained, so for example when older grammars may speak of "i-umlaut" without further description leading to a "WTF?" reaction from most people, Byock with great clarity takes the reader through the mechanics.
Artemis II The Crucible
In 2026, four astronauts will venture farther from Earth than any humans in more than fifty years. Their mission: validate every system, procedure, and engineering decision that makes sustained lunar exploration possible-or expose the flaws that could doom it.Artemis II: The Crucible provides the first comprehensive account of NASA's highest-stakes mission since Apollo. This extensively researched narrative explains how a heat shield failure on the uncrewed Artemis I test flight forced engineers into an impossible choice: delay the program eighteen months to redesign critical hardware, or proceed with an untested reentry profile that trades known risks for unknown ones. The crew of Artemis II will prove whether that calculated gamble succeeds.Author Gray Sutton examines the mission's technical foundations with unprecedented clarity, from the 8.8-million-pound-thrust Space Launch System rocket to the life-support systems that must function flawlessly for ten days in deep space. He explores the proximity operations demonstration that validates manual flight capability for future Gateway docking, the international partnerships that make the European Service Module essential to mission success, and the geopolitical pressures driving competition with China's parallel lunar program.Drawing on NASA engineering reports, Congressional testimony, Inspector General audits, and technical documentation, this account addresses the program's fiscal reality-each launch costs $4.1 billion-and the political fragility that makes every success essential for survival. Sutton also profiles Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, whose diverse backgrounds represent a deliberate departure from Apollo-era demographics.Artemis II: The Crucible offers space enthusiasts, educators, and general readers an authoritative guide to the mission that determines whether humanity's return to the Moon becomes sustained exploration or another brief symbolic gesture. The book includes detailed technical notes, mission timelines, and comprehensive source documentation for readers seeking deeper understanding of America's most ambitious space program since Saturn V.
Travis Savage
An unflinching portrayal of war and humanity."-Warrior Writers Review1999, Kosovo. The region collapses into brutal conflict. Two lovers from opposite sides of a deep ethnic divide dare to flee for a future together. Miroslav, a young Serb electrician, and Julianna, an Albanian Kosovar dancer, risk everything to escape the rising violence-but their elopement is shattered when the Yugoslav Army launches a devastating campaign.Across the border, U.S. Army Special Forces officer Lieutenant Colonel Travis Savage parachutes into hostile mountains with his Belgian Malinois, Trooper, and a British SAS counterpart. Their mission: link up with the Kosovo Liberation Army, expose war crimes, and direct airstrikes against an army that threatens to annihilate an entire population.As villages burn and loyalties fracture, the lives of Miro, Julianna, Travis, and KLA commander Josif Shala collide in a gripping story of courage, love, and the impossible choices made in the crucible of war. Every decision carries consequences measured in blood.Praise for Travis Savage: Top Secret Destroyers"Scott A. Porter writes with precision and authenticity-readers feel every explosion, every heartbreak."-Military Times"An intense, immersive war novel that captures both heroism and humanity."-Combat Fiction ReviewDon't miss Scott A. Porter's unforgettable tale of war, loyalty, and survival: TRAVIS SAVAGE: TOP SECRET DESTROYERS (SERIES 1)
Stonescapes
Explore a world of ancient stone circles, towering dolmens, enigmatic standing stones, and hidden cairns as you walk the rich landscape of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany's prehistoric and early medieval past. This book serves as a field guide to breathtaking megalithic sites across the Celtic countryside.From the windswept Burren to the misty highlands, uncover the stories etched in stone. Marvel at the engineering genius of the farmers who raised portal tombs, the spiritual artistry of Pictish standing stones, and the cosmic alignments of the mysterious megaliths from Beaghmore to Carnac.This travel guide booklet features: Over 100 detailed site descriptionsRich colored photographyDirections, GPS coordinates, and OS Grid ReferencesHistorical and archaeological insightsPictish and Ogham SymbolsIdeal for either solo backpacking or exploring with a group
PTSD and ME
He was taller than me, dressed in black, scary, and I knew he was lying. A few days later, we killed him, but it was okay because it was Vietnam and I was fighting for The United States of America. Thirty years later, he came back to my medical office and tried again to take me out, but this time he was fighting for The United States Department of Justice, I was the enemy, and I was lying. Not all the scars of war are visible and some never heal. Learning that lesson can be painful for all concerned. I hope this story helps us all better understand that combat experiences come home with the soldier and what that can mean.
Mothers, Sisters, Soldiers, Spies
Mothers, Sisters, Soldiers, Spies documents the long and continuous history of women's participation in American wars, challenging the assumption that women's presence in military history was rare or exceptional. From the Revolutionary War through the modern era, women played essential roles sustaining armies, gathering intelligence, organizing logistics, nursing the wounded, supporting war industries, and, at times, engaging directly in combat.Rather than focusing solely on well-known individuals, this book examines how women's service was shaped-and often constrained-by military policy, political institutions, and social norms. It explores how race, class, and gender influenced who was permitted to serve, under what conditions, and with what recognition. The experiences of women of color are integrated throughout the narrative, illustrating how layered forms of exclusion affected both opportunity and historical memory.Drawing on primary sources, government and military records, and scholarly research, Mothers, Sisters, Soldiers, Spies offers a comprehensive account of women's contributions across multiple conflicts and eras. It reframes familiar narratives of American warfare by placing women's labor, sacrifice, and service at the center of the historical record.This volume is suitable for academic and public libraries, students of American and military history, and readers interested in women's history grounded in documented research.From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror, this book traces women's roles across eras of conflict, including: Early American and Indigenous wartime laborEnslaved and free women sustaining armiesCivil War nurses, scouts, and intelligence operativesWorld War I and II aviators, codebreakers, and spiesJapanese American nurses serving while their families were incarceratedKorean and Vietnam War nurses and intelligence analystsPioneers of military integration and modern service academiesWomen who served-and sometimes died-in recent conflictsWomen were present in every American war. The question is not whether they served-but why their service was so often denied. This book tells that history in full.
Northamptonshire and the Abolition of Slavery
In 1838, full emancipation swept across the British Empire.To mark the occasion, William Knibb stood before a vast congregation in Jamaica and declared: THE MONSTER IS DEAD.But did you know that several of the weapons used to slay the monster were made, or at least sharpened, in Northamptonshire? This book follows those ideas, those movements, and those people, showing how a county far from the Caribbean plantations became part of the great struggle to end one of history's gravest injustices.
Stagecoach Mary
Stageaoch Mary is a biographical western dramatisation of the life and time of Mary Fields, Montana doesn't hand out second chances. It dares you to take them.Mary Fields arrives in the Northern Rockies with a body built for work, a temper built for survival, and a past she refuses to explain to anyone who hasn't earned it. The town watches her the way frontier towns watch anything they can't label. A Black woman with steel in her spine, a laugh too loud for polite company, and eyes that don't drop when men try to stare her down. Some call her trouble. Others call her a miracle. Mary calls it Tuesday.When winter clamps its jaws around the mail route, and the men hired to run it start failing, the settlement begins to rot from the edges. Medicine doesn't arrive. Wages don't arrive. News doesn't arrive. Families turn into rumours. Bandits and bullies smell weakness and start circling. Mary steps forward, takes the reins, and makes a promise that sounds impossible in a land that kills the unprepared: the mail will get through.With a stagecoach, a rifle, and a will that refuses to bend, Mary drives into blizzards that erase roads, through terrain that breaks horses, and past men who mistake cruelty for authority. Every run tests her strength, her faith, and her right to exist in a world determined to reduce her to a warning story. Instead, she turns herself into a legend.Stagecoach Mary is a fierce, cinematic historical novel inspired by the extraordinary true story of Mary Fields, a woman who fought for her place on the American frontier and delivered more than letters along the way. She delivered hope, defiance, and a new definition of what courage looks like.
The Writings of Ted Grant, Volume 1
This collection brings together the writings of one of the 20th century's most significant revolutionaries. In the decades following Leon Trotsky's death in 1940, Ted Grant applied and developed the Marxist method to analyse emerging political phenomena. His theoretical contributions preserved the method of Marxism, and are of first-rate importance for revolutionaries today.This first volume covers the years 1938-43. Having arrived in London from South Africa only a short time earlier, Ted threw himself into the task of building the forces of Trotskyism in Britain. As editor of Socialist Appeal and political secretary of the Workers' International League (WIL), he quickly established himself as one of the foremost theoreticians of the Marxist movement. The writings in this volume trace the WIL's growth into one of the most dynamic and successful Trotskyist organisations anywhere in the world.Ted entered the struggle at a decisive historical moment: Hitler's armies were sweeping across Europe and the world was once again engulfed in war. As the only organisation to consistently apply Trotsky's proletarian military policy, the WIL succeeded - despite daunting obstacles - in rooting itself among both the working class and the armed forces.The debates on the attitude Marxists take towards war remain acutely relevant today. In a period marked by sharpening imperialist tensions and renewed urgency to build a revolutionary International, this volume provides an essential and richly instructive contribution to Marxism.
Lightning
This book is a true story about love and duty during a time of war when two people fought through the daily struggles of living through intense storms to do their duty. This book tells the story of Jack's second tour in Vietnam and his wife Jean's life at home with their four little children. Many people recognize the heroism of the combat soldiers but few recognize the heroism of the wives left behind to raise the children and deal with the sometimes-overwhelming challenges of carrying the burden alone every day. The fear of having a husband at war for a year and at the same time, every day, trying to meet all the needs of four young children was excruciating. Jean's personal letters to Jack, shared in this book, reflect her struggle of pain and her triumph to endure. Jean remembers the fear and pain like it was yesterday. One of her sisters once asked, "how do you stand it?" and her reply was "what choice do I have." Jack remembers the white-hot intensity of battle every day. Jean and Jack relied on a strong sense of Faith to get them through the storms.
Reality, Resistance, Rock and Roll
Every review in this book first appeared in Counterpunch magazine. The story they tell is a history of the world. The books are mostly non-fiction-history, political analysis, books about music and its social meanings, theory, and biography. Topics range from the music and politics of Bob Dylan to the life of Kwame Toure, the nature of twenty-first century imperialism to the capitalist turn in China, the counterculture of the Long Sixties and discussions of works by Thomas Pynchon, Marc Estrin and Ishmael Reed. May this book serve as an introduction to the books reviewed.
Turning the Tide
Packed with personal accounts of the action, this is a vivid narrative history of the often-overlooked USAAF campaign in North Africa and Sicily in World War II. In 1942, the Western Allies needed to take the offensive against the Axis powers to relieve pressure on the Soviet Union and President Roosevelt ordered his military leaders to support the British in the Mediterranean. This led to the first USAAF units arriving in the Middle East as reinforcements for the British in July and as part of the Operation Torch landings in French Morocco and Algeria in November. This is the story of how, in only 11 months, the USAAF grew from these small beginnings in to become the senior partner in North Africa, providing aircraft and crews the other Allies were unable to match. In those 11 months, the Axis forces that had controlled almost the entire southern shore of the Mediterranean had been swept from the African continent and the island of Sicily. Using first-hand accounts from pilots and other aircrew, renowned aviation historian Tom Cleaver describes how the USAAF units that landed in 1942 faced an intense baptism of fire in combat with veteran Luftwaffe units, and how the experience gained in the skies over North Africa and Sicily was invaluable in developing the air forces that would dominate the skies over Europe in the latter years of the war.
Firestorm America
Firestorm America is not just the story of a wildfire. It is the story of a country crossing a threshold. In January 2025, Los Angeles burned in winter. Neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Altadena were consumed by wind driven flames under conditions once thought impossible for that time of year. Evacuations unfolded in real time. Smoke choked the region. And one of America's most iconic cities was forced to confront a terrifying question: if this can happen here, what comes next. Drawing from the on the ground reporting of Jacob Soboroff, Firestorm America delivers a gripping, deeply human account of the blaze that reshaped Los Angeles and signaled a new era of disaster. Moving from the first frantic evacuation texts to the front lines of live reporting, from charred neighborhoods to halls of power, this book blends firsthand storytelling with investigative depth and scientific clarity. This is a narrative about fire, but also about systems. About how climate change, land use, infrastructure, policy failures, and human decisions converged into a single catastrophic moment. It examines why the fires burned so fast and so hot, why preparedness fell short, and why recovery is proving as complex as the disaster itself. Along the way, it amplifies the voices of survivors, firefighters, scientists, and officials grappling with loss, accountability, and an uncertain future. At its heart, Firestorm America is a love letter to Los Angeles and a warning to the nation. It shows how wildfire has moved from the margins to the center of American life, transforming fire from a seasonal emergency into a permanent condition. The book does not offer easy answers, but it offers something more urgent: clarity about what is at stake if the lessons of this fire are ignored. Powerful, unflinching, and impossible to dismiss, Firestorm America captures a defining moment when disaster became diagnosis and the future arrived in flames.
World War II Letters and Notes of Colonel James H. Polk
Firsthand and personal account of the campaign to fefeat the Nazi army in France and Germany through the unique perspective of Col. Polk's letters to his wife.Serving as C.O. of the 3rd Cavalry Group which spearheaded George Patton's Army, Col. Polk's letters emcompass the Normandy Invasion, the dash across France, crossing the Moselle River into Germany, and final victory.
A Jericho's Cobble Miscellany
A genre-bending work similar to Edgar Lee Masters' A Spoon River Anthology, this "miscellany" is a portrait of a fictional New England small town over the past several hundred years, celebratory and insightful, its stories recounted by more than a hundred voices, those of the living-white, Black, Native American, male, female, gay-and of the dead, and also of inanimate objects-a neglected upright piano, a bench along a nature trail-in poems, dialogues, roadside markers, tombstones, business brochures, newspaper articles, a playlet, diary entries, oral history transcripts, a stitched sampler, and even a nursery rhyme. Some tales are of quiet happiness, others of roiling passions, moral quandaries, tragedy and comedy; above all they speak to the centrality of community and continuity in our lives.
Memorial Book of Dubienka, Skryhiczyn and Dorohusk
The Jewish Communities of Dubienka, Skryhiczyn and DorohuskThere has been a Jewish community along the Bug River in the Dubienka area since King Sigismund III granted permission for Jews to reside and operate businesses there in the late 16th century. The community's growth in the mid-18th century was linked to the town's economic success as a station on the Bug River grain transportation route. Residents included tradesmen, merchants, dealers, and peddlers, most of whom were poor but maintained a community life with multiple synagogues and traditions of mutual support and charity.The town of Skryhiczyn is about 5 km (3 miles) from Dubienka on the Bug River. Skryhiczyn included a special Jewish community, whose members were pious, scholarly, and descendants of Hasidic leaders. They possessed all the best features: religious study, work, Zionism, and doing good deeds. Most Polish Jews were not farmers since Polish law prohibited selling land to Jews. But the brothers Shmuel and Chayim Rottenburg were able to purchase an entire estate in Skryhiczyn. Life in the town was unique, and for many years nearly idyllic. Dorohusk lies on the banks of the Bug River about 20 km (12 miles) from Skryhiczyn. Dorohusk was a lively town with a rich Jewish life. In September 1939 Germany invaded Poland, and soon occupied the entire country. They attacked the U.S.S.R. on 22 June 1941, crossing over the Bug River bridges. The Germans intensifyed their persecution of Jews in 1942, hunting and murdering them at random. Of those that survived, most were sent to the Belzec and Sobibor death camps.This Yizkor book provides firsthand accounts of life along the Bug River and the multifaceted Jewish communities that existed for centuries. It also provides accounts of the destruction of those communities, and efforts to memorialize the martyrs of the Shoah.
Command at Dawn
June 1, 1968, Vietnam ⁠-- Bravo company was on a mountaintop, two kilometers from Laos. At 1430 hours, mortar rounds moved across their perimeter like the wind. Twenty rounds into the attack, Lt. Scott Ledbetter ran to the command post. The carnage stopped him cold. The commander and several others were lying wounded on the ground and the forward observer was sitting dead against a stone wall.With mortar rounds exploding around him, he started calling in artillery. After thirty rounds, the mortars stopped and small arms probes began. Knowing an attack was imminent, he pounded the enemy with rounds long into the night.In the morning, the new commanding officer Scott walked forty-four men off the mountain and into the rest of the war. The attack cost five men their lives. Twenty-seven were wounded and medevac'd.In eighteen months, Scott had gone from a civilian in a strife-torn America to a battle-hardened infantry commander. Upon his return, he found that soldiers were hated and to stay sane, he started to write. Command at Dawn is the product of that writing.
Hitler's Jewish Wife
The discovery that Eva Braun carried Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry has shattered one of the central myths of the Nazi regime. Explore how DNA analysis exposed the greatest irony of Hitler's private life and the collapse of racial ideology.A secret hidden in plain sight-revealed by science. When scientists uncovered evidence that Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler's long-time companion and wife, carried Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, the discovery shattered one of the central myths of the Nazi regime. The woman Hitler presented as the embodiment of Aryan purity possessed the very heritage his empire tried to erase.This groundbreaking book explores how modern DNA analysis exposed the greatest irony of Hitler's private life, and what it tells us about the collapse of racial ideology under scientific scrutiny.Inside you'll discover: The story of Eva Braun's life and her hidden role at Hitler's sideHow cutting-edge forensic techniques turned 60-year-old hair strands into definitive genetic proofThe Nazi obsession with genealogy, racial purity, and why their methods failedThe broader lessons DNA reveals about ancestry, memory, and identityHitler's Jewish Wife is more than a shocking historical revelation-it's a story about how truth survives even when buried under decades of myth, propaganda, and silence.Perfect for readers of untold WWII history, forensic science, Jewish heritage, and hidden family secrets, this book offers a powerful reminder: the past always leaves traces, and the truth eventually comes to light.
Cookshire's Pine Hill Farm
This is the story of a farm like no other. Officially designated as "Range 8 parts of Lots 9 and 10" of Eaton Township, Cookshire's Pine Hill Farm is unique in so many ways: its geographic features, the great variety of crops grown, the Noah's ark collection of animals raised, and the unusual woodpecker-like shape of the property.It is also the story of the five generations of the Bailey-Fraser family, who farmed this land over a period that spanned four centuries. During that time, they have tilled the fields, pampered the animals and toiled night and day to eke out a hard but honourable living on this land. The scope of the book is not limited to the history of my own ancestors, but rather it includes the important history of the First Nations peoples who preceded them on the land I call home.
Hitler's Jewish Wife
The discovery that Eva Braun carried Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry has shattered one of the central myths of the Nazi regime. Explore how DNA analysis exposed the greatest irony of Hitler's private life and the collapse of racial ideology.A secret hidden in plain sight-revealed by science. When scientists uncovered evidence that Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler's long-time companion and wife, carried Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, the discovery shattered one of the central myths of the Nazi regime. The woman Hitler presented as the embodiment of Aryan purity possessed the very heritage his empire tried to erase.This groundbreaking book explores how modern DNA analysis exposed the greatest irony of Hitler's private life, and what it tells us about the collapse of racial ideology under scientific scrutiny.Inside you'll discover: The story of Eva Braun's life and her hidden role at Hitler's sideHow cutting-edge forensic techniques turned 60-year-old hair strands into definitive genetic proofThe Nazi obsession with genealogy, racial purity, and why their methods failedThe broader lessons DNA reveals about ancestry, memory, and identityHitler's Jewish Wife is more than a shocking historical revelation-it's a story about how truth survives even when buried under decades of myth, propaganda, and silence.Perfect for readers of untold WWII history, forensic science, Jewish heritage, and hidden family secrets, this book offers a powerful reminder: the past always leaves traces, and the truth eventually comes to light.
When The Time Comes
When The Time Comes is a compelling and thought-provoking journey blending the past and the present. In this gripping novel, Joseph Chisholm and his family relocate to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, seeking a peaceful life in the countryside. However, their fresh start takes a dramatic turn when Joseph becomes involved in the lives of his Aboriginal students, especially the troubled Steve Ellis. As Joseph and Steve's lives intertwine, they embark on an extraordinary journey that explores the spiritual connection between Aboriginal culture and their own heritage.Set against the backdrop of Australia's rich Aboriginal history, When The Time Comes captures the essence of identity, belonging, and healing. The narrative dives deep into the spiritual teachings of the Aboriginal Dreamtime and the haunting legacy of ancestral wrongs that are still felt today. As Joseph begins to unlock hidden truths about his past, he uncovers the painful history of his adopted land, setting the stage for an epic struggle for reconciliation and understanding.
When The Time Comes
When The Time Comes is a compelling and thought-provoking journey blending the past and the present. In this gripping novel, Joseph Chisholm and his family relocate to the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, seeking a peaceful life in the countryside. However, their fresh start takes a dramatic turn when Joseph becomes involved in the lives of his Aboriginal students, especially the troubled Steve Ellis. As Joseph and Steve's lives intertwine, they embark on an extraordinary journey that explores the spiritual connection between Aboriginal culture and their own heritage.Set against the backdrop of Australia's rich Aboriginal history, When The Time Comes captures the essence of identity, belonging, and healing. The narrative dives deep into the spiritual teachings of the Aboriginal Dreamtime and the haunting legacy of ancestral wrongs that are still felt today. As Joseph begins to unlock hidden truths about his past, he uncovers the painful history of his adopted land, setting the stage for an epic struggle for reconciliation and understanding.
First Adirondackers
The First Adirondackers challenges the widespread, long-standing belief that the Adirondack uplands of northern New York were uninhabited before the arrival of European colonizers. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Through local indigenous traditions and supporting findings by natural science, authors David Fadden and Curt Stager expose, document, and honor the long human presence in the Adirondacks, helping not only to redefine what it means to be an Adirondacker, but also contributing to a more complete understanding of America itself. Like the upland mosaic of public and private lands that it describes, The First Adirondackers is a cultural crossroads in which Indigenous and Western worldviews meet, both figuratively and in the personal lives of the co-authors. Together, they use their different cultural backgrounds and professional expertise to reveal the human history of the uplands, the region defined as everything situated between 1000 feet elevation and the top of Mount Marcy, a mile above sea level. Fadden, a master storyteller and renowned painter, uses traditional oral history and stunning works of art to capture the humanity and vitality of Indigenous peoples of the region. Stager, a natural science professor at Paul Smith's College, explains in scientific terms how people are elementally linked to the land, species, and waters of the Champlain-Adirondack region through his own research on the environmental history of the region and by documenting more than three dozen locations in the uplands where ancient items of Indigenous origin have been found. By challenging the predominant Eurocentric narrative of the Adirondacks, The First Adirondackers does not seek to erase history, but rather to help recover a proud and wonderful history.
Women on the Prairie
Women on the Prairie presents a rigorously researched narrative history of women who lived, labored, and endured on the American frontier during the nineteenth century. Drawing on diaries, letters, contemporary accounts, and modern historical scholarship, this volume examines the daily realities of pioneer women, Native American women, nurses, homesteaders, activists, and survivors whose lives shaped the settlement of the American West.Rather than romanticizing frontier life, this book documents the physical hardship, isolation, violence, disease, and moral complexity of westward expansion. Readers encounter women confronting childbirth without medical care, navigating cultural conflict, sustaining families through famine and war, and asserting agency in environments structured to deny it.Written for general readers, students, and libraries, Women on the Prairie blends narrative storytelling with historical accuracy, offering a corrective to male-centered frontier histories. It is an essential companion to studies of American westward expansion, women's history, and nineteenth-century United States social history. This title is part of the American Frontier Chronicles series.
The Camera at War
Drawing on an incredible archive of historic and contemporary imagery, former Imperial War Museum photo curator Hilary Roberts charts over 170 years of photographic manipulation in the causes of national morale, subterfuge and control of the winning narrative. It is said that the camera never lies. But in the arena of war photography, its truth is subject to extreme distortion. Drawing on an incredible archive of historic and contemporary imagery, former Imperial War Museum photo curator Hilary Roberts charts over 170 years of photographic manipulation in the causes of national morale, subterfuge and control of the winning narrative. From the American civil war to the conflict in Gaza and Ukraine, this book delves into the to the practices of both professional and amateur conflict photographers - exploring the hows and whys of image distortion. By examining the consequences, Hilary also contemplates their enduring impact on our understanding of history, providing a nuanced perspective on the intricate interplay between images, truth, and the complexities of war.
Steerage and Steel
This work examines the sinking of Titanic as a systemic failure rather than an isolated maritime accident. Drawing on the United States Senate Inquiry, the British Wreck Commissioner's Report, contemporary documentation, and vetted modern research, it analyzes how class structure, labor roles, and institutional assumptions shaped survival outcomes.Particular attention is given to third-class passengers and crew members, including immigrant communities whose experiences have historically been marginalized in popular narratives. The book also addresses the legacy of the disaster, tracing how regulatory reforms emerged-and where structural inequalities remained unaddressed.Written in a restrained, evidence-based style, this volume contributes to social and labor history, migration studies, and disaster analysis. It is suitable for general readers, libraries, and academic collections seeking a non-sensational, human-centered examination of Titanic and its aftermath.
Jacob's War
Jacob's War is the compelling tale of one soldier's exceptional influence on the American Revolution. A carpenter by trade, Jacob was an unlikely war luminary. But, a series of astonishing and mysterious events changed everything. Inspired by actual events, this is one historical account you will not soon forget. Get ready to be entertained and surprised! All profits from the sale of this book will be donated by the author to Easter Seals Military and Veteran Services. To learn more, visit www.EasterSealsDixonCenter.org.
New Hampshire and Independence
Six groundbreaking essays by Sons of the American Revolution reveal the significance of New Hampshire's role in the RevolutionNew Hampshire is one of the oldest American colonies and one of the tiniest, but its small size obscures the mighty importance of its role in the American War of Independence. New Hampshire was one of the first colonies to assert control over its own militia and seize gunpowder from imperial control. It sent more men to Bunker Hill than any other colony, created a state constitution, and declared independence months before the rest of America. The Granite State provided heroes and generals in every major military campaign and cast the decisive votes for the ratification of the country's new constitution. William Fahey reveals six penetrating and inspiring essays from the archives and records of the Sons of the American Revolution to bring this rousing tale to life.
Eleanor
An extraordinary historical journey from the author of Eighteen, the acclaimed Sunday Times bestseller.'Loxton is the leading historian of her generation' Dan Jones, bestselling author of The Templars In 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalised in stone. To mark the places where her cortege rested, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses. More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: walking the entire 200-mile funeral route from Lincoln to London, following in history's footsteps on the corresponding dates in November and December 2024. As Alice journeys in search of England's forgotten queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of a royal, the hidden history of Britain and Eleanor's inspiring legacy. 'Loxton has the novelist's skill of seeing the world through her characters' eyes, and the historian's accuracy of vision' Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women
Here We Go Again!
Billions of dollars. Hundreds of lives. A Well-Intended Strategic Failure No One Wants To Repeat.Planning for massive reconstruction efforts in Ukraine and Gaza is already underway. Before committing billions and deploying thousands of workers, decision-makers need to understand why America's reconstruction of Iraq failed strategically, despite completing thousands of individual projects.Kerry Kachejian served as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations officer during the reconstruction of Iraq in 2004, when workers faced IEDs, suicide bombers, snipers, and RPG ambushes while trying to rebuild the national infrastructure. Tribal rivalries, insurgents, and terrorists turned construction sites into war zones. Costs skyrocketed more than 30% as security ate up budgets. Completed facilities were handed to local authorities who often lacked the capacity to maintain them, and progress quickly unraveled.Hundreds died: military personnel, government employees, and civilians from many nations. During protracted combat operations, Kachejian lost friends and teammates, including an interpreter whose vehicle plunged into the Tigris River and multiple security personnel supporting the mission. This daily war of reconstruction was largely ignored by mainstream media, but this book offers stark evidence of what can go wrong.Here We Go Again isn't a memoir. It's a practical resource for the next generation. Using Iraq as an in-depth case study, the book examines what went wrong across oil, electricity, security, water, schools, and hospitals. It addresses the hard questions: Who's in charge? Who controls the money? How are workers protected? How will projects be maintained?Through detailed analysis and ten operational imperatives, Kachejian lays out what future planners need to avoid past failures. While Ukraine and Gaza each require different strategies, the fundamental challenges of rebuilding amid chaos remain constant.
Little Edna's War
They tried to erase her. Instead, she became a legend.At just seven years old, Edna Szurek risked everything to smuggle food through holes in the Warsaw Ghetto wall, knowing each step could be her last. By the age of 10, she was the youngest decorated member of the Polish resistance. And by the end of the war, she had defied every Nazi plan for her destruction.Though she fought armed with a pistol, Edna's true weapons were wit, bravery, and an unshakable love for her sister. Disguised as a Catholic girl, she even earned a medal from Pope Pius XII, who never knew he was honoring a Jewish child who had outsmarted the Reich.Drawn from over five hours of her firsthand testimony recorded by the USC Shoah Foundation, this powerful memoir traces Edna's impossible journey: from the ashes of a shattered birthday celebration to the brutal reality of a POW camp, escaping the deadly confines of the Warsaw Ghetto to find the hidden safety of a convent sanctuary.Edna Szurek should not have survived the Holocaust. But she did. And her story will stay with you forever.
Pawleys, Allstons, Wards & Flaggs Book 1
This book is not just a genealogy book. It is also a personal history of the people and their plantation homes. It can be used as a guidebook when traveling to their plantations located mostly in All Saints Waccamaw Parish, Georgetown County, South Carolina. It also contains over 99 pages of photos with many pictures of the plantation owners themselves and their families. This book is a comprehensive study of the Rice Planter culture and people along the Waccamaw River. This book can also be used to research and find important people of the Rice Planter Low Country class in South Carolina. The importance of this work is that it addresses five areas of interest to most readers: genealogy, history, photos & Ilustrations, plantations, and a guidebook.
Pawleys, Allstons, Wards & Flaggs Book 2
This book is not just a genealogy book. It is also a personal history of the people and their plantation homes. It can be used as a guidebook when traveling to their plantations located mostly in All Saints Waccamaw Parish, Georgetown County, South Carolina. It also contains over 99 pages of photos with many pictures of the plantation owners themselves and their families. This book is a comprehensive study of the Rice Planter culture and people along the Waccamaw River. This book can also be used to research and find important people of the Rice Planter Low Country class in South Carolina. The importance of this work is that it addresses five areas of interest to most readers: genealogy, history, photos & Ilustrations, plantations, and a guidebook.
This Week in Estes Park
Estes Park, Colorado has a fascinating history. The Estes family, first pioneer settlers; Lord Dunraven and Isabella Bird; Griff Evans and "Rocky Mountain Jim;" naturalist Enos Mills; Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Trail Ridge Road; the Cheley camps and YMCA of the Rockies; F.O. Stanley and his hotel; Buel Porter and his Christmas designs; and a myriad of others have made Estes Park what it is.Mel Busch takes you through this history in short stories focusing on the people and events of Estes Park through the year. Originally published by the Estes Park Trail-Gazette as articles entitled "This Week in History," these stories range from Estes Park's connection to world crises to the tragedies, comedies, accomplishments, and foibles of ordinary residents. Utilizing accounts in the Trail-Gazette, memoirs of participants, and other sources, Busch brings Estes Park history to life--one week at a time.
Our Worst Preference
This work draws mainly from papers and an article written by Politician and Economist Brendan Halligan on Ireland's Single Transferable Vote system (STV), spanning some 30 years. Each chapter examines how the Irish system of Proportional Representation (PR), the Single Transferable Vote, is riddled with defects and is the main cause of a dysfunctional political system. Reform of the Irish political system, and of the electoral system in particular, has been a life-long preoccupation for the author.
For the Waters are Come
Where do we come from? Four small, great stories, so simple and intricate, like the four directions of the conquered Mesoamerican universe, New Spain thereafter, and Mexico nowadays, make up this rich story. In it, our ancestors -black slaves, Spanish adventurers, local Indians, and a healer from the Ming Dynasty in China- build the framework shaping the identity of the territory that we now call Mexico. Four characters with strong personalities and different stories that occasionally intersect, "For the Waters are Come" tries to hold on to their wanderings, desires, and misadventures, converging in the Great Flood of 1629. The power of its waves will alter their lives and ours, for we stand on the backs of our ancestors. The new established order will fight the memory of what it used to be until they find a way to reconcile with it and with themselves. Follow these brave explorers and survivors on a voyage that crosses oceans and continents, until they make peace with a future none of them could have ever imagined.
My Blood Divides and Unites
Website for more information is: www.myblooddividesandunites.comComing of age in South Africa as apartheid falls, a young mixed-race woman struggles to overcome her identity and heritage.Born into poverty and state-mandated third-class status, Jesmane was weighed down by self-doubt, feelings of inferiority and shame even though she was at the top of her class and showed great promise.After graduating from a prestigious South African university, earning a master's degree at Harvard University and becoming Head of Business Engagement for Africa at the World Economic Forum, she continued to wrestle with internal conflicts and contradictions stemming from her past.In this touching memoir, Jesmane and various South African colleagues explore their early lives, embrace the crippling contradictions forced upon them by apartheid, and craft new narratives for themselves, narratives of acceptance, inclusion, and boundless possibilities.As a mixed-race (coloured) woman, whose genes connect her with all parts of Africa, as well as East Asia, South Asia, Germany, Wales, Netherlands, and other parts of the world, Jesmane is a microcosm of nations riven by internal strife. She reconciled with herself by deliberately turning to the conflicts and contradictions within. Doing so forced her to explore her past, grapple with lingering emotions, and come to a new understanding of herself, to a new healing. Our world today, divided and fractured, would benefit from a similar process of self-reconciliation, of exploration of national and individual stories, followed by the embrace of contradictions and the crafting of new narratives of acceptance, inclusion, and boundless possibilities. The stories Jesmane tells in this book - her story, and those of people from around the world spanning from US, Mexico across to India, Pakistan, Nepal and to Rwanda - can bring healing and inspiration to all.Jesmane Boggenpoel is an experienced business executive and a former Head of Business Engagement for Africa at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. She has served on the boards of various South African and international organisations. She is a Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and holds a Master's degree from Harvard University's JFK School of Government. Jesmane was honoured as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and is a Harvard Mason fellow.
