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Biography and MemoirJanuary 2015
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"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." ~ Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American author
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New and Recently Released!
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| Commander Will Cushing: Daredevil Hero of the Civil War by Jamie MalanowskiThough Naval Academy midshipman William B. Cushing was expelled shortly before he would have graduated, he was reinstated into the Navy soon after the Civil War began. The reckless behavior that had led to his dismissal from the Academy made him an effective combat leader who compiled a remarkable record against the Confederate Navy. In this compelling account of Cushing's life, author Jamie Malanowski employs a vivid conversational style to depict the young officer's exploits. Drawing on extensive research in primary sources, Malanowski brings to life a colorful figure many have forgotten. Commander Will Cushing has the "page-turning excitement of a thriller," says Publishers Weekly. |
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| The Wild Truth: The Untold Story of Sibling Survival by Carine McCandlessAs described in Jon Krakauer's 1996 bestseller, Into the Wild, Chris McCandless journeyed into the wilderness of Alaska in 1992, carrying minimal equipment and food. His body was found months later after he apparently starved to death. In The Wild Truth, Chris' sister Carine relates her understanding of her brother's fatal journey, vividly depicting their dysfunctional childhood and recounting how she forged her own successful life after Chris left. Her "fiercely honest and gripping" (Kirkus Reviews) memoir, while offering an account of Carine's healing as an adult, will also reward those who are looking for more background about Chris' venture into Alaska. |
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| Napoleon: A Life by Andrew RobertsHistorian Andrew Roberts relates Napoleon Bonaparte's early life in this voluminous biography, detailing his military campaigns and tracing the formation of his empire. Arguing that Napoleon was an effective statesman and an intellectual as well as a brilliant commander, Roberts strives to refute the conclusions of less admiring biographers. He also highlights Napoleon's influence on later military strategists. Napoleon "should appeal widely to readers of all types" (Library Journal). For other evaluations of the Little Corporal, try Alan Schom's Napoleon Bonaparte or Charles Esdaile's Napoleon's Wars. |
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| Ambition and Desire: The Dangerous Life of Josephine Bonaparte by Kate WilliamsIn Ambition and Desire, biographer Kate Williams brings Josephine Bonaparte out from the aura surrounding her husband, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, to claim her place on the stage of history. Born to an ordinary but aspiring family on the tiny West Indian island of Martinique, Josephine made her way to Paris. After surviving the Revolution and subsequent Terror, she became a star of the salons and married the man who was her match in both brilliance and ambition. This compelling biography offers up-close insight into Josephine's passion and achievements as well as her tumultuous relationship with Napoleon. |
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| Victoria: A Life by A.N. WilsonQueen Victoria reigned over Britain and its Empire for 64 years, becoming the namesake for a whole era and overseeing significant political developments in her government. Her children married royalty throughout Europe, extending her influence well past her death in 1901. Victoria's life was darkened by the great sadness of Prince Consort Albert's premature demise, but also notable for her collaboration with a series of effective prime ministers. Biographer A.N. Wilson's fluid and balanced account brings Victoria's complex personality to life, portraying her as an interesting woman and successful monarch. |
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January and February Birthdays
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| Ethel Merman: A Life by Brian KellowJanuary 16, 1908. In this entertaining and well researched biography of "the Broadway belter," Ethel Merman, Opera News feature editor Brian Kellow recounts her early life, her rapid rise to stardom, her many successful roles, and her turbulent relationships. Known as a temperamental diva, she was also one of the most successful Broadway performers in musical comedy, beginning in 1930 with George Gershwin's Girl Crazy. Merman's fans and Broadway buffs will revel in Kellow's book. For an engaging but more scholarly work on her life, read Caryl Flinn's Brass Diva. |
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| Poe: A Life Cut Short by Peter AckroydJanuary 19, 1809. Having already tackled several literary giants, including William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, acclaimed biographer and novelist Peter Ackroyd turns his considerable talent toward one of the most enigmatic writers in American history, Edgar Allan Poe. Ackroyd examines Poe's literary accomplishments -- including his poetry, short stories, and contributions to the genres of detective and science fiction -- and also looks at Poe's complicated and often sordid life and mysterious death at age 40. Over 200 years after Poe's birth, he still fascinates readers and historians. Check out this intriguing biography to find out why. |
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| Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr by Nancy IsenbergFebruary 6, 1756. In this thoroughly researched and accessible biography of Aaron Burr, historian Nancy Isenberg offers a revisionist view of his personality, arguing that Burr suffered more from political slurs than failure of character. Reviewing his distinguished family history, his heroism in the Revolutionary War, and his successful legal practice, Isenberg portrays him as an effective leader. He was a charismatic politician, a superb organizer, and a moderate who supported women's rights. Kirkus Reviews calls Fallen Founder a "necessary and overdue corrective" to the negative assessments offered by other biographies, including Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Fleming's Duel. |
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| Days That I'll Remember: Spending Time With John Lennon and Yoko Ono by Jonathan CottFebruary 18, 1933 (Yoko Ono). As a longtime contributing editor to Rolling Stone, Jonathan Cott interviewed many talented musicians. But in Days That I'll Remember, Cott doesn't just interview Yoko Ono and John Lennon -- he relates entire conversations from their times together, giving readers the chance to "hear" them speak openly and honestly on myriad topics. From the breakup of the Beatles to the duo's experimental music, their relationship, and Yoko's influence on John, Cott offers up not only their insight, but a joint portrait of them "as open and naked as on the cover of Two Virgins" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times by Ralph Stanley with Eddie DeanFebruary 25, 1927. Ralph Stanley stands as the epitome of early bluegrass musical style and Appalachian folkways. In this engaging and voluble autobiography, Stanley provides abundant details of his early life, his career (which he built in collaboration with his brother Carter) the development of the distinctive sound of their group, the Clinch Mountain Boys, and his devotion to pre-bluegrass styles and instrumentation as features of his music. Anyone interested in bluegrass music and the culture that produced and sustains it will find Man of Constant Sorrow informative and delightful. For a scholarly but similarly accessible account of the Stanley brothers' career, read David Johnson's Lonesome Melodies. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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