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Biography & MemoirSeptember 2015
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"I believe that Gandhi’s views were the most enlightened of all the political men of our time." ~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German-American physicist
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A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain
by Marc Morris
England's King Edward I, known for defeating Sir William Wallace of Scotland, consolidated English power in the 13th century by conquering Wales, partially subduing Scotland, and quelling rebellious nobles. Using an "engaging narrative style" (Library Journal), historian Marc Morris creates a colorful and informative portrait of Edward's life and his era, offering an even-handed evaluation of his legacy. A Great and Terrible King also lays the groundwork for understanding the conquests -- and disputes -- of subsequent reigns.
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| The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped... by Michelle GoldbergIf, like author Michelle Goldberg, you've wondered about the origins of yoga, you'll be glad to know that Goldberg has done extensive research into the subject and produced The Goddess Pose, a fascinating biography of the woman who brought yoga to the West. Originally from Latvia, Eugenia Peterson (1899-2000) lived an adventurous and peripatetic life. While in India, she studied with the guru Krishnamacharya and changed her name to Indra Devi. Later, she taught yoga and offered spiritual advice to many significant and famous people around the globe. Yoga practitioners and anyone interested in 20th-century history will find this an irresistible biography. |
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A House in the Sky: A Memoir
by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett
Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout had an avid desire to travel from the time she was young, and after visiting parts of Asia began a journalism career with a stint in Iraq. Persuading her friend Nigel to join her, she went on to Somalia, where they were kidnapped by bandits who demanded impossible sums for ransom and kept Lindhout shackled, starved, and in filthy conditions for ten months. A House in the Sky, written with journalist Sara Corbett, details her ordeal and explains how she found the strength to persevere. Kirkus Reviews calls this, in a starred review, a "gut-wrenching, beautifully written, memorable book."
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A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940
by Victoria Wilson
Born in New York City in 1907 and named Ruby Stevens, Hollywood star Barbara Stanwyck started in the chorus line (including a stint as a Ziegfeld Girl in the Follies) before developing into an award-winning actress. In this biography, author Victoria Wilson enthrallingly details the actress' life, providing not only personal details but a panoramic view of the American motion picture industry. Wilson offers fascinating insight into Stanwyck's childhood and its influence on her later life, the ways in which her natural abilities appealed to certain directors and suited her to particular roles, and much more. Exhaustively researched and vividly portrayed, A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel-True 1907-1940 absorbs readers into Stanwyck's world, leaving them hungry for the still unpublished volume 2.
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American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell
by Deborah Solomon
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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Focus on: September and October Birthdays
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| Let the People In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards by Jan ReidSeptember 1, 1933. Texas feminist Ann Richards, who stole the show with her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, began life as an ordinary girl from Waco who married her college boyfriend and raised four children. After volunteering for a political campaign, she soon ran for office herself, becoming governor of Texas in 1990, where she promoted numerous reforms. She lost her 1994 re-election bid to George W. Bush. Journalist and biographer Jan Reid, a friend of Richards, draws on extensive interviews as well as public documents and other records to paint a vivid portrait of an innovative Texas politician and a mentor to other women in public service. |
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| Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion by Jean H. BakerSeptember 14, 1879. In the late 19th century, Margaret Sanger saw how multiple miscarriages debilitated her mother and led to her early death. Later, working as a midwife, Sanger witnessed more suffering from unplanned pregnancies and self-induced abortions. In response, she illegally distributed information on contraception and became an advocate for family planning. She faced considerable social and political opposition, but persevered into the 1960s, when the birth control pill became available. Historian Jean Baker details Sanger's life and career in this carefully researched, balanced biography, which "underscores the ferocity of the fighter and the necessity of the fight" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Bruce by Peter Ames CarlinSeptember 23, 1949. This authorized biography of Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen features in-depth interviews with family, friends, and close associates and even offers a poignant retrospective from the Boss himself. Thanks to these interviewees -- high-school classmates, Springsteen's mother, and his sisters among them -- readers will get an up-close-and-personal perspective on the 20-time Grammy Award-winning musician and songwriter. By encompassing Springsteen's entire career, Bruce provides both depth and breadth and offers insight into his work ethic and audience-pleasing performances. |
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| Gandhi Before India by Ramachandra GuhaOctober 2, 1869. Mohandas K. Gandhi was born in Gujarat, India and received his early education there, but attended university in England and began his legal career in South Africa. In Gandhi Before India, Ramachandra Guha explores the years before Gandhi returned to India for good. Drawing on voluminous correspondence from others as well as Gandhi's own words, Guha searches out details that richly portray Gandhi's character and vividly depict his friends and associates. He highlights the political significance of Gandhi's work in the context of Britain's efforts to maintain control of its Empire. This richly descriptive, satisfying account will leave readers eager for the planned completion of the biography in volume 2. |
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A Gift of Hope: Helping the Homeless
by Danielle Steel
August 14, 1947. In response to the devastating loss of her son (recounted in His Bright Light), bestselling author Danielle Steel launched a program of service to homeless people in San Francisco. For 11 years she worked anonymously after dark with a small team to deliver food and other basic items. In A Gift of Hope, Steel sheds her anonymity to illuminate the desperate needs of some of the most neglected people in America. Recent reductions in funding and services prompted Steel to reveal her work, vividly portraying many of the individuals she met and giving the voiceless a voice in this "simple but moving call for action" (Kirkus Reviews).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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