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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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Fierce Convictions : The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More : Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist
by Karen Swallow Prior
The enthralling biography of the womanwriter who helped end the slave trade, changed Britain's upper classes, and taught a nation how to read. The history-changing reforms of Hannah More affected every level of 18th-CenturyBritish society through her keen intellect, literary achievements,collaborative spirit, strong Christian principles, and colorful personality. A woman without connections or status, More took the world of British letters by storm when she arrived in London from Bristol, becoming a best-selling author and acclaimed playwright and quickly befriending the author Samuel Johnson, the politician Horace Walpole, and the actor David Garrick. Yet she was also a leader in the Evangelical movement, using her cultural position and her pen to support the growth of education for the poor, the reform of morals and manners,and the abolition of Britain's slave trade; Fierce Convictions weaves together world and personal history into a stirring story of life that intersected with Wesley and Whitefield's Great Awakening, the rise and influence of Evangelicalism, and convulsive effects ofthe French Revolution. A woman of exceptional intellectual gifts and literary talent, Hannah More was above all a person whose faith compelled her both to engageher culture and to transform it"
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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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Betsy Ross and The Making of America
by Marla R. Miller
January 1, 1752. A comprehensively researched portrait of the iconic Revolutionary War figure draws on new sources to describe the fabled creation of the first flag while reconstructing her true life behind her seamstress legend and offering insight into the roles of period artisan families.
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Joan of Arc : A Life Transfigured
by Kathryn Harrison
January 6, 1412. A fully documented, inspiring portrait of the 15th-century peasant-turned-saint draws on historical facts, folklore and centuries of critical interpretation to evaluate the questions attributed to her character. 75,000 first printing.
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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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American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell
by Deborah Solomon
February 3, 1894. The heartwarming, idealized scenes of Americana that artist Norman Rockwell painted, mainly for covers of The Saturday Evening Post magazine, are instantly recognizable as his work. Yet Rockwell himself lived a far from ideal life, having had an unhappy childhood and two failed marriages. In American Mirror, art historian Deborah Solomon sympathetically explores Rockwell's personal challenges and flaws as she engagingly analyzes his artwork. She highlights the often overlooked social and emotional significance of his paintings, providing an insightful view of the iconic artist and demonstrating his skill as a "master storyteller" (Publishers Weekly).
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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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