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Showing 1 - 14 of 14 items
By Bob Blaisdell. 2011
This anthology commemorates the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War with reflections from both sides of the conflict. Compiled…
by an expert in the literature of the era, the poems and short stories appear in chronological order. They trace the war's progress and portray a gamut of moods, from the early days of eagerness to confront the foe to long years of horror at the ongoing carnage and sad relief at the struggle's end.Selections include the poetry of Walt Whitman, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; observations by Herman Melville and Louisa May Alcott; and noteworthy fiction by Ambrose Bierce ("An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge") and Mark Twain ("A True Story, Repeated Word for Word, As I Heard It"). Lesser-known writers, many of them anonymous, offer heartfelt testimonials and eyewitness accounts from battlefields and the homefront.By Jennifer Joukhadar. 2018
El pasado y el presente de Siria en una novela poderosa y conmovedora, en traducción en catorce países. Nour es…
una niña de once años cuyo padre acaba de morir. Su madre, cartógrafa que dibuja los mapas a mano, decide mudarse de Nueva York a Siria, su tierra natal, junto a sus hijas, pero la ciudad de Homs deja de ser su hogar cuando comienzan los bombardeos, y a la familia no le queda más salida que huir de ese lugar donde la vida se extingue. La búsqueda de un sitio seguro se convierte en un viaje que los lleva a atravesar siete países. Encontrar un hogar es cada día un sueño más lejano pero también una esperanza a la que aferrarse. Novecientos años antes, Rawiya, otra joven de dieciséis años, emprende también un viaje en busca de fortuna que la lleva por el mundo de la mano de un cartógrafo decidido a trazar un mapamundi. Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar entrelaza estas dos vidas en un libro tan delicado como estremecedor, que nos recuerda la necesidad de apreciar los detalles de la vida: los aromas y colores del hogar, el arte de contar historias y los vínculos irrompibles de la familia. La crítica ha dicho...«En este fascinante debut, pasado y presente cobran vida. Con una prosa clara y exquisita, despliega una historia vibrante sobre la familia y el dolor, la creación de mapas y la migración.»Hala Alyan «E.M. Forster nos enseñó que la ficción es más cierta que la historia porque va más allá de la evidencia. La primera y mágica novela de Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar es testimonio de esa máxima. Un libro hermoso, encantador y revelador.»Chris BohjalianBy Natalia Ginzburg. 1963
From one of Italy’s greatest writers, a stunning novel “filled with shimmering, risky, darting observation” (Colm Tóibín) After WWII, a…
small Italian town struggles to emerge from under the thumb of Fascism. With wit, tenderness, and irony, Elsa, the novel’s narrator, weaves a rich tapestry of provincial Italian life: two generations of neighbors and relatives, their gossip and shattered dreams, their heartbreaks and struggles to find happiness. Elsa wants to imagine a future for herself, free from the expectations and burdens of her town’s history, but the weight of the past will always prove unbearable, insistently posing the question: “Why has everything been ruined?”By Judy Nunn. 2019
'It seems to have happened overnight,' Val thought as she pulled the beers. 'We've become a khaki town.' It's March…
1942. Singapore has fallen. Darwin has been bombed. Australia is on the brink of being invaded by the Imperial Japanese Forces. And Val Callahan, publican of The Brown's Hotel in Townsville, could not be happier as she contemplates the fortune she's making from lonely, thirsty soldiers. Overnight the small Queensland city is transformed into the transport hub for 70,000 American and Australian soldiers destined for combat in the South Pacific. Barbed wire and gun emplacements cover the beaches. Historic buildings have been commandeered. And the dance halls are in full swing with jitterbug and jive. The Australian troops, short on rations and equipment, begrudge the confident, well-fed 'Yanks' who have taken over their town (and women). And there's growing conflict, too, within the American ranks. Because black GIs are enjoying the absence of segregation and the white GIs do not like it. Then one night a massive street fight leaves a black soldier lying dead in the street, and the situation explodes into violent confrontation.By Peter Watt. 2019
It is 1857. Colonial India is a simmering volcano of nationalism about to erupt. Army surgeon Peter Campbell and his…
wife Alice, in India on their honeymoon, have no idea that they are about to be swept up in the chaos. Ian Steele, known to all as Captain Samuel Forbes, is fighting for Queen and country in Persia. A world away, the real Samuel Forbes is planning to return to London - with potentially disastrous consequences for Samuel and Ian both. Then Ian is posted to India, but not before a brief return to England and a reunion with the woman he loves. In India he renews his friendship with Peter Campbell, and discovers that Alice has taken on a most unlikely role. Together they face the enemy and the terrible deprivations and savagery of war - and then Ian receives news from London that crushes all his hopes...By Polina Barskova. 2020
A poignant collection of short pieces about the author's hometown, St. Petersburg, Russia, and the siege of Leningrad that combines…
memoir, history, and fiction.Living Pictures refers to the parlor game of tableaux vivants, in which people dress up in costume to bring scenes from history back to life. It&’s a game about survival, in a sense, and what it means to be a survivor is the question that Polina Barskova explores in the scintillating literary amalgam of Living Pictures. Barskova, one of the most admired and controversial figures in a new generation of Russian writers, first made her name as a poet; she is also known as a scholar of the catastrophic siege of Leningrad in World War II. In Living Pictures, Barskova writes with caustic humor and wild invention about traumas past and present, historical and autobiographical, exploring how we cope with experiences that defy comprehension. She writes about her relationships with her adoptive father and her birth father; about sex, wanted and unwanted; about the death of a lover; about Turner and Picasso; and, in the final piece, she mines the historical record in a chamber drama about two lovers sheltering in the Hermitage Museum during the siege of Leningrad who slowly, operatically, hopelessly, stage their own deaths.Living Pictures introduces a startlingly daring and original new voice from world literature.By Volodymyr Rafeyenko. 2022
The Length of Days features a wild cast of characters—Lithuanian, Russian, and Ukrainian—and cameo appearances by Rosa Luxemburg, Amy Winehouse,…
and others. Embedded narratives attributed to one character, an alcoholic chemist-turned-massage-therapist, broaden the reader’s view of the funny, ironic, or tragic lives of people who remained in the ill-fated Donbas after Russia’s initial aggression in 2014. Unexpected allies emerge to try to stop the war, as characters criticize Ukraine’s government at the time, its self-interest, and failures to support its citizens in the east.With elements of magical realism, the work combines poetry and a wicked sense of humor with depth of political analysis, philosophy, and moral interrogation. Witty references to popular culture—Ukrainian and European—underline the international and transnational aspects of Ukrainian literature. The novel ends on a hopeful note even though by then the main characters have already died twice: they return with greater power each time. As the author’s last novel written originally in the Russian language, The Length of Days is a deeply Ukrainian work, set mostly in the composite Donbas city of Z—an uncanny foretelling of what this letter has come to symbolize since February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.By Jules Hayes. 2021
'A splendid story of heartbreaking consequences and ambition during the Spanish Civil War... A recommended read' Glynis Peters, bestselling author…
of The Secret Orphan***A country torn apart by war.Two love stories divided by decades.One chance to discover the truth... Feisty journalist Isabella has never known the truth about her family. Escaping from a dangerous assignment in the turbulent Basque country, she finds her world turned upside down, firstly by her irresistible attraction to the mysterious Rafael, and then by a new clue to her own past. As she begins to unravel the tangled story of her identity, Isabella uncovers a story of passion, betrayal and loss that reaches back to the dark days of Spain's civil war - when a passionate Spanish girl risked everything for her country, and for the young British rebel who captured her heart. But can Isabella trust the man she's fallen in love with? Or are some wartime secrets better left undisturbed...? Heartbreaking, gripping historical fiction about the tragedy of war, and the redemption of love. Perfect for fans of Angela Petch's The Tuscan Secret and Kathryn Hughes' The Letter. ***Praise for The Spanish Girl:'An outstanding read... Epic, personal, intimate and beautifully written' Lizzie Page, author of The Forgotten Girls'A compelling tale of friendship, love and loss. Impeccably researched, the story is full of surprises' Rhiannon Ward, author of The Quickening'A fabulous read of love, loss, loyalty and bravery set against the fascinating backdrop of the Spanish War. I was engrossed from the start and a must read for fans of dual timeline women's fiction' Suzanne Fortin, author of The Forgotten Life of Arthur PettingerBy Ronald J. Glasser. 1980
An army doctor’s classic Vietnam War memoir—a National Book Award Finalist and “a book of great emotional impact”—plus two powerful…
novels (The New York Times). Published in 1971 with the Vietnam War still raging, Ronald Glasser’s unflinching memoir of one doctor’s experience with the human cost of the devastating conflict was hailed by William Styron as “a moving account about tremendous courage and often immeasurable suffering . . . [A] valuable and redemptive work.” 365 Days quickly became a powerful anti-war statement of the time that still resonates today, selling over two hundred thousand copies. Turning to fiction, Glasser continued to draw on his own experience as a doctor in the Vietnam War and as an intern in a pediatric ward to craft novels of gripping drama and heartfelt poignancy. 365 Days: In 1968, as a serviceman in the Vietnam War, Ronald Glasser, a pediatrician, was sent to Japan to work at the US Army hospital tending to children of officers and government officials. But he was soon caught up in the waves of casualties that poured in from every Vietnam front. In 365 Days, Glasser reveals a candid and shocking account of that harrowing experience, giving voice to the wounded, the maimed, the dead, with unflinching candor and compassionate humanity. “The most convincing, most moving account I have yet to read about what it was like to be an American soldier in Vietnam.” —Newsweek Another War, Another Peace: Assigned to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, an idealistic young doctor forms an unlikely bond with his driver, a battle-hardened soldier, as they struggle to bring medical aid to Vietnamese villagers. “The author of the remarkable classic 365 Days has in this small novel written with such power about a young American doctor in the war zone that surely he has added another memorable book to the literature of those ghastly years.” —Gloria Emerson, author of Winners & Losers Ward 402: In this gripping, authentic, and impassioned novel, an intern on pediatric Ward 402 fights to save an eleven-year-old girl with advanced leukemia, which her parents believe to be terminal. “[Dr. Glasser] can describe a medical emergency in a way that makes the entire scene spring to life. . . . This is good and exciting writing.” —The New York Times Book ReviewBy Aimie Runyan, Rachel McMillan, J'Nell Ciesielski. 2023
&“A fascinating story of love&’s ability to overcome family curses, scandals, and even war. Told in three parts, this multi-generational…
tale is wonderfully heartwarming!&” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in LondonLeedswick Castle has housed the Alnwick family in the English countryside for generations, despite a family curse determined to destroy their legacy and erase them from history.1870. After a disastrous dinner at the Astor mansion forces her to flee New York in disgrace, socialite Beatrice Holbrook knows her performance in London must be a triumph. When she catches the eye of Charles Alnwick, one of the town&’s most enviably titled bachelors, she prepares to attempt a social coup and become the future Marchioness of Northridge. Then tragedy and scandal strike the Alnwick family, and Beatrice must assume the role of a lifetime: that of her true, brave self.1917. Artist Elena Hamilton arrives in Northumberland determined to transform a soldier&’s wounds into something beautiful. Tobias Alnwick&’s parents have commissioned a lifelike mask to help their son return to his former self after battle wounds partially destroyed his face. But Elena doesn&’t see a man who needs fixing—she sees a man who needn&’t hide. Yet secrets from their past threaten to chase away the peace they&’ve found in each other and destroy the future they&’re creating.1945. Alec Alnwick returns home from the war haunted but determined to leave death and destruction behind. With the help of Brigitta Mayr, the brilliant young psychoanalyst whose correspondence was a lifeline during his time on the Western Front, he reconstructs his family&’s large estate into a rehabilitation center for similarly wounded soldiers. Alec&’s efforts may be the only chance to redeem his family legacy—and break the curse on the Alnwick name—once and for all.Three beloved authors share stories of the Alnwick family through the generations, revealing how love and war can change a place—but only its people can unshackle it from the misdeeds of the past.Multiple historical timelines following generations of one familyStand-alone collection of connected storiesIncludes discussion questions for book clubsBy Jules Hayes. 2021
'A splendid story of heartbreaking consequences and ambition during the Spanish Civil War... A recommended read' Glynis Peters, bestselling author…
of The Secret Orphan***A country torn apart by war.Two love stories divided by decades.One chance to discover the truth... Feisty journalist Isabella has never known the truth about her family. Escaping from a dangerous assignment in the turbulent Basque country, she finds her world turned upside down, firstly by her irresistible attraction to the mysterious Rafael, and then by a new clue to her own past. As she begins to unravel the tangled story of her identity, Isabella uncovers a story of passion, betrayal and loss that reaches back to the dark days of Spain's civil war - when a passionate Spanish girl risked everything for her country, and for the young British rebel who captured her heart. But can Isabella trust the man she's fallen in love with? Or are some wartime secrets better left undisturbed...? Heartbreaking, gripping historical fiction about the tragedy of war, and the redemption of love. Perfect for fans of Angela Petch's The Tuscan Secret and Kathryn Hughes' The Letter. ***Praise for The Spanish Girl:'An outstanding read... Epic, personal, intimate and beautifully written' Lizzie Page, author of The Forgotten Girls'A compelling tale of friendship, love and loss. Impeccably researched, the story is full of surprises' Rhiannon Ward, author of The Quickening'A fabulous read of love, loss, loyalty and bravery set against the fascinating backdrop of the Spanish War. I was engrossed from the start and a must read for fans of dual timeline women's fiction' Suzanne Fortin, author of The Forgotten Life of Arthur PettingerBy Clare Chambers. 2021
In the best tradition of Tessa Hadley, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Ann Patchett—an astonishing, keenly observed period piece about an ordinary…
British woman in the 1950s whose dutiful life takes a sudden turn into a pitched battle between propriety and unexpected passion."With wit and dry humor...quietly affecting in unexpected ways. Chambers' language is beautiful, achieving what only the most skilled writers can: big pleasure wrought from small details."--The New York TimesLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION1957: Jean Swinney is a feature writer on a local paper in the southeast suburbs of London. Clever but with limited career opportunities and on the brink of forty, Jean lives a dreary existence that includes caring for her demanding widowed mother, who rarely leaves the house. It’s a small life with little joy and no likelihood of escape.That all changes when a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth. Jean seizes onto the bizarre story and sets out to discover whether Gretchen is a miracle or a fraud. But the more Jean investigates, the more her life becomes strangely (and not unpleasantly) intertwined with that of the Tilburys, including Gretchen’s gentle and thoughtful husband Howard, who mostly believes his wife, and their quirky and charming daughter Margaret, who becomes a sort of surrogate child for Jean. Gretchen, too, becomes a much-needed friend in an otherwise empty social life.Jean cannot bring herself to discard what seems like her one chance at happiness, even as the story that she is researching starts to send dark ripples across all their lives…with unimaginable consequences.Both a mystery and a love story, Small Pleasures is a literary tour-de-force in the style of The Remains of the Day, about conflict between personal fulfillment and duty; a novel that celebrates the beauty and potential for joy in all things plain and unfashionable.By Gail Jones. 2022
Macedonia,1917. The great city of Salonika is engulfed by fire as all of Europe is ravaged by war. Amid the…
destruction are those who have come to the frontlines to heal: surgeons, ambulance drivers, nurses, orderlies and other volunteers. Four of them – Stella, Olive, Grace and Stanley – are at the centre of Gail Jones’s new novel, which takes its inspiration from the wartime experiences of Australians Miles Franklin and Olive King, and British painters Grace Pailthorpe and Stanley Spencer. In Jones’s imagination these four lives intertwine and change, each compelled by the desire to create something meaningful in the ruins of a broken world.By Anne-Marie Einhaus. 2007
An anthology of Great War short stories by British writers, both famous and lesser-known authors, men and women, during the…
war and after its end. These stories are able to illustrate the impact of the Great War on British society and culture and the many modes in which short fiction contributed to the war's literature. The selection covers different periods: the war years themselves, the famous boom years of the late 1920s to the more recent past in which the First World War has received new cultural interest.