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History and Current Events December 2019
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| Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West by H.W. BrandsWhat it is: a sweeping yet concise three-century survey of the American West.
What sets it apart: Historian H.W. Brands' demythologizing study argues that it was violent federal intervention, not rugged individualism, that facilitated westward expansion.
Don't miss: profiles of little-known figures who shaped the region, including the Chinese laborers who built the Transcontinental Railroad. |
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| The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Misérables by David BellosWhat it is: a thought-provoking look at the publication history and cultural impact of Victor Hugo's 1862 masterpiece Les Misérables.
Who it's for: Francophiles, fans of Victor Hugo, and readers daunted by Les Mis' staggering page count -- at under 300 pages, this accessible guide is a quick and engaging read.
Book buzz: A New York Times Editors' Choice pick, The Novel of the Century won the American Library in Paris Book Award in 2017. |
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| The Last Goodnight: A World War II Story of Espionage, Adventure, and Betrayal by Howard BlumStarring: charismatic American Betty Pack, the "blonde Bond" whose efforts as an MI6 operative were crucial to an Allied victory.
Read it for: white-knuckle tales of Pack's derring-do, including securing documents that helped Alan Turing decrypt the Enigma Machine and cracking safes at the Vichy French Embassy to obtain naval codes.
Don't miss: newly declassified files. |
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| Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer and the African Adventure That Took the... by Monte ReelWhat it's about: In the 1850s, explorer Paul Du Chaillu embarked on a harrowing expedition to West Africa, returning to Victorian London with gorilla specimens, a creature many Europeans believed to be myth.
Why it matters: Du Chaillu's discovery and his enigmatic background stoked much fascination and controversy in the scientific community, which was also in the midst of heated debates concerning Charles Darwin's recently published On the Origin of Species. |
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| Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy: Ernest Hemingway's Secret Adventures, 1935-1961 by Nicholas ReynoldsWhat it is: the intriguing, meticulously researched story of author Ernest Hemingway's affiliation with the OSS, a precursor to the CIA, and Russia's NKVD, a forerunner to the KGB.
Why you might like it: This globe-trotting adventure offers a revealing glimpse into the Pulitzer Prize winner's extracurricular exploits.
Further reading: Terry Mort's The Hemingway Patrols chronicles Hemingway's efforts to track German submarines during World War II. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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