Otros libros que te pueden interesar

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  Vegas - A Memoir of a Dark Season

  John Gregory Dunne, Stephanie...

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  "In the summer of my nervous breakdown, I went to live in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada." So begins John Gregory Dunne's neglected classic of first-person writing, a mordant, deadpan, grotesque tale that blurs the line between autobiography and fiction, confession and reportage. 
   
   
   
  Panicked by his own mortality, despondent over his many failings as a writer and a man, Dunne leaves his wife and their three-year old child for the solitude of a crummy apartment off the Vegas Strip. There he plans to write an account of the city as he finds it; the book he ends up writing is "a fiction which recalls time both real and imagined." The remarkable central characters are Artha, a student at cosmetology college by day, a sex worker by night; Buster Mano, a private detective whose specialty is tracking down errant husbands; and Jackie Kasey, a lounge comic who opens for Elvis at $10,000 a night and wonders why he is still only a "semi-name." Pimps, bail bondsmen, parking-lot moguls, used-car tycoons, ex-jockeys, and women who look as if they had "spent a lifetime meeting guys in Vegas or Miami Beach or Louisville for the Derby": these are the people who wander through the lives of Artha, Buster, and Jackie—and, for a dark season, the life of the narrator. 
   
   
   
  Contains mature themes.

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  The Olive Season - Amour a New...

  Carol Drinkwater

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  “A lovely balance of memoir, travelogue and olive-growing how-to . . . Some of her adventures are quite funny.” —Publishers Weekly In this memoir, the author of The Olive Farm returns to the ten-acre property for which she and her fiancé scraped together their savings to buy—just back from their wedding on a tiny Polynesian island, loaded down with luggage and a large hand-painted didgeridoo. As Carol and Michel settle in as husband and wife, they experience the glamor of southern France at dinner parties in the company of aristocrats and at the world-renowned Cannes film festival, as well as the dirt-caked, sun-baked life of farmers—especially after their gardener heads to Algiers to arrange his youngest son’s wedding. For Carol, though, what matters most is that her longtime dream of motherhood finally promises to come true—and over the course of The Olive Season, she shares the story of her hopes and fears as she anticipates another kind of growth and nurturing. Alternately entertaining and emotionally poignant, this memoir is a rich portrait of love, longing, and the constant uncertainties of the cycle of life.

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  Imperial Chinese Foundations -...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The story of China's imperial unification represents one of history's most consequential political transformations. "Imperial Chinese Foundations: Uniting the Land" explores the three dynasties that forged China's imperial system—a political structure that would endure for over two millennia. 
  The brief but revolutionary Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) ended centuries of warring states by conquering all rivals under the leadership of the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Through military might, standardized writing, currency, measurements, and a unified legal code, the Qin created China's first centralized bureaucratic empire—though their harsh Legalist policies triggered rebellion after the emperor's death. 
  The Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE-9 CE) consolidated imperial rule through a more pragmatic blend of Confucian ideology and centralized governance. Under Emperor Wu's dynamic leadership, the Han expanded Chinese territory, opened the Silk Road, established the civil service examination system, and created cultural and political institutions that would define Chinese civilization for millennia. 
  As power shifted to the Eastern Han (25-220 CE), the dynasty initially flourished before facing mounting challenges from natural disasters, court intrigues, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Yet even as political cohesion weakened, this period saw remarkable innovations—including paper, the seismograph, and advances in mathematics and medicine—while Buddhism began its profound influence on Chinese civilization. 
  Through examining these three foundational dynasties, we witness the birth and evolution of the imperial Chinese state that would serve as a template for governance across East Asia and continue to influence Chinese identity into the modern era.

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  Osman I - Biography of the...

  Kelly Mass

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  Osman I, also known as Osman Ghazi, was the founder of the Ottoman dynasty and the ruler of the Kayi tribe, a key figure in the creation of one of history's most influential empires. The state he established, originally called the Ottoman Beylik or Emirate, grew from a small Turkmen principality in the late thirteenth century into a global power, dominating much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa for centuries. While the empire he founded lasted until the end of World War I, the man himself remains shrouded in mystery. 
  Due to the scarcity of historical records from Osman’s lifetime, much of what is known about him is based on oral traditions and legends that developed long after his death. There are no known contemporary written sources from his reign, and the Ottomans themselves did not document his life until the fifteenth century, over a hundred years after he passed away. This gap in documentation has made it difficult for historians to separate fact from fiction, with some scholars even describing the period of Osman's life as a "black hole" of historical knowledge, unable to be reconstructed with certainty. 
  The traditional accounts of Osman’s ancestry trace his lineage to the Oghuz Turks, specifically the Kay tribe. However, many historians believe that the stories surrounding his ancestry were fabricated later to legitimize the Ottoman dynasty’s rule. These narratives were likely developed as the dynasty sought to strengthen its claim to power and emphasize its noble heritage.

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  Eastern Han Dynasty - Rebuilding...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Eastern Han Dynasty emerged from the chaos and turmoil that followed the collapse of Wang Mang’s Xin Dynasty. After usurping the Han throne in 9 CE, Wang Mang attempted radical reforms, including land redistribution and changes to the currency system. However, his policies destabilized the empire, leading to widespread discontent, natural disasters, and peasant uprisings. Among these, the most significant was the Red Eyebrows Rebellion, which contributed to the downfall of Wang Mang’s rule. In 23 CE, rebel forces stormed the capital, Chang’an, killing Wang Mang and leaving the empire in a state of disarray. 
  In the wake of this collapse, Liu Xiu, a distant relative of the former Han imperial family, seized the opportunity to restore Han rule. He first distinguished himself as a military leader, defeating rival factions and consolidating power. In 25 CE, he declared himself Emperor Guangwu and established the Eastern Han Dynasty, with Luoyang as its new capital. Unlike the Western Han, which had ruled from Chang’an, the relocation of the capital symbolized a fresh start, one that aimed to correct the failures of the past. 
  Emperor Guangwu’s early reign was marked by efforts to stabilize the empire and reestablish Han authority. He adopted a cautious approach to governance, reducing taxes and reviving Confucian principles to strengthen the legitimacy of his rule. Unlike Wang Mang’s drastic policies, Guangwu relied on gradual reforms to restore economic stability. He also worked to rebuild the imperial bureaucracy, appointing competent officials who could help him govern effectively. By reinforcing Confucianism as the guiding philosophy of the state, he sought to restore order and unity among the people.

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  Egyptian Military Leaders -...

  Omar Khalil

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  The military strength of ancient Egypt was a defining factor in its ability to expand and sustain one of the most enduring civilizations in history. From its early beginnings, Egypt developed a structured and disciplined military that evolved to meet the challenges posed by both internal conflicts and foreign threats. The foundation of this power lay in the organization of its armed forces, the strategic leadership of its rulers, and the continual advancement of its weaponry and tactics. 
  In the early periods, Egypt's military was primarily a defensive force, focused on protecting the fertile Nile Valley from nomadic raiders. The unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under Narmer marked a crucial turning point, as military conquest became a tool for political consolidation. The pharaohs not only ruled as divine monarchs but also acted as supreme military commanders, leading their armies into battle and overseeing large-scale campaigns. This dual role reinforced their authority and ensured that military success translated into political stability. 
  One of the key factors in Egypt’s military rise was its ability to adapt to new technologies and strategies. During the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt faced the Hyksos, a foreign power that introduced advanced chariot warfare and superior composite bows. Instead of being permanently subdued, the Egyptians learned from their enemies, incorporating these innovations into their own forces. This adaptation played a crucial role in the expulsion of the Hyksos and the rise of the New Kingdom, during which Egypt became an empire with far-reaching influence.

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