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History and Current Events April 2017
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The Gulf : the making of an American sea
by Jack E. Davis
A comprehensive history of the Gulf of Mexico and its identity as a region marked by hurricanes, oil fields and debates about population growth and the environment demonstrates how its picturesque ecosystems have inspired and reflected key historical events.
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Age of anger : a history of the present
by Pankaj Mishra
A columnist at Bloomberg View and regular writer for The Guardian explores the rising tide of paranoid hatred in modern times and attributes it to our inability to fulfill the promises of a globalized economy.
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The Wars of the Roosevelts: The Ruthless Rise of America's Greatest Political Family
by William J. Mann
Award-winning author William J. Mann shines his spotlight on the Roosevelt clan, arguing that a few members of this illustrious American family were willing to sacrifice their own close relatives to further their political ambitions. Mann draws on previously unavailable documents to develop revised portraits of Theodore Roosevelt, his niece Eleanor and cousin Franklin Roosevelt, and less well-known family members. While The Wars of the Roosevelts doesn't slight the Roosevelts' impressive achievements nor neglect their flaws, this ultimately sympathetic group portrait offers complexity and nuance, especially highlighting those who didn't conform to the dominant hard-charging, high-achieving pattern. For another intriguing study of intra-Roosevelt animosity, pick up Marc Peyser's Hissing Cousins, a dual biography of Eleanor Roosevelt and Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
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March 1917 : on the brink of war and revolution
by Will Englund
A history of a pivotal month on the eve of World War I, written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Moscow correspondent, describes the abdication of Russian Tsar Nicholas II and America's declaration of war on Germany as part of the Wilson administration's decision to establish the U.S. as a global power.
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Monarchs and Their Monarchies
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The Romanovs : 1613-1918
by Simon Sebag Montefiore
The acclaimed author of Young Stalin and Jerusalem gives readers an accessible, lively account--based in part on new archival material--of the extraordinary men and women who ruled Russia for three centuries.
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We two : Victoria and Albert : rulers, partners, rivals
by Gillian Gill
Gillian Gill offers a revolutionary portrait of a queen and her prince, revealing at once both an intimate but far-from-idyllic relationship that succeeded against all odds as the strong, feisty queen and the brilliant, fragile prince worked together to build a family based on support, trust, and fidelity
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| Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42 by William DalrympleThe British imperial forces restored the exiled Shah Shuja ul-Mulk to the throne of Afghanistan in 1839, but the Afghan people soon rebelled, and the British suffered a humiliating defeat in 1842. In Return of a King, travel writer William Dalrymple draws on previously unused materials, including Persian and Pashtu sources, to chronicle the history of the Shah's family and Britain's efforts to use Afghanistan as a buffer against French and Russian imperialism. He also draws parallels between this British foray into the region and the 20th- and 21st-century wars in Afghanistan. Check out this richly descriptive and insightful analysis to learn about the country's global significance. |
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| Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia by Robert LaceyThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia owns one of the richest oil deposits in the world, but this wealth is only one among many social and political factors the royal family deals with. In this engaging and accessible analysis, author Robert Lacey incorporates his interviews with a variety of Saudi citizens, information about Islamic movements and history, foreign secularizing influences, and Saudi-led modernization efforts. He also looks at Saudi Arabia's shifting global political alliances. Publishers Weekly calls Inside the Kingdom "indispensable," praising the "depth, breadth, and evenhandedness" of Lacey's research. |
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| The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His... by Jack WeatherfordIn Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, bestselling author Jack Weatherford examined the life and legacy of the much-maligned 13th-century empire builder. He continues his study with the polygamous and prolific leader's daughters, at least four of whom became queens and provided stability among the lands that made up the Mongol empire. Unfortunately, soon after Genghis Khan's death their male relatives took over, and the empire declined until another powerful queen -- Manduhai the Wise -- reunited the Mongols. Whether you're interested in Asian history or in women's studies, you'll enjoy this "uplifting, entertaining" (Kirkus Reviews) account. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Harrison Memorial Library Ocean and Lincoln Carmel, California 93921 831-624-4629www.hm-lib.org/ |
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