Other books that might interest you

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  Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard...

  Charles River Editors

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  Laying next to the tomb effigy of King Henry II of England in France's Fontevraud Abbey is a curious coffin chiseled in the shape of a young woman in repose. The once vibrant paint on the effigy is flaking, and several areas of the centuries-old tombs are chipped, but her general features are still somewhat recognizable. The beautiful, crowned queen, depicted with a soft smile on her face, was dressed in a simple, but elegant gown in white and blue, and an open book in her arms. The effigy is for none other than Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine. 
  	Over the years, this mysterious 12th century figure has been portrayed in countless ways, from a valiant warrior queen and resourceful politician to a control-obsessed and manipulative siren whose only objective in life was power. What is clear is that during her long life, Eleanor she played an outsized role in both French and English history, and she also had an impact on the course of the Crusades, not just with her first husband, France’s King Louis VII, but also through her offspring with her second husband, Henry II.  
  	The enduring figure of the Middle Ages is the chivalrous knight who served as a hero across much of Europe, and nobody played a more defining role in casting the popular image of medieval knights than Eleanor’s son Richard the Lionheart, one of the most famous English kings and crusaders. In many respects, it was ironic that Richard became one of the central characters of the Middle Ages, and his very popular legacy today belies centuries of controversy. Richard I Plantagenet, better known by his nickname “Coeur de Lion” (Lionheart), eventually became King of England, Grand Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Poitou, and Duke of Anjou, but as the third son in a large family, he did not expect to or even want to rule England. Nevertheless, it was he who eventually came to the throne upon his father's death, assisted in great measure by his statesmanlike mother Eleanor.

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  Radium Revolution - How Marie...

  Davis Truman

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  Step into the captivating world of scientific discovery and groundbreaking innovation with "Radium Revolution." This extraordinary book unveils the remarkable story of one of history's most iconic scientists, Marie Curie, and her groundbreaking discovery of radium. This revelation forever altered the course of human knowledge and progress. 
  As you turn the pages, you'll witness the enchanting glow of radium, a mysterious substance that both fascinated and terrified the world. Through the lens of Marie Curie's pioneering work, you'll understand the profound implications of her discovery, from revolutionizing medicine to sparking the nuclear age. 
  The book also explores the broader impact of Curie's work, delving into the societal and cultural shifts triggered by her discoveries. From the emergence of new medical treatments to the moral dilemmas of the atomic era, the "Radium Revolution" offers profound insights into how science shapes our world.

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  Summary: The Wager - A Tale of...

  Brooks Bryant

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  Disclaimer: This is NOT the official book, but a summary & it does NOT accompany the official. 
  In "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder" by David Grann, readers are thrust into a thrilling narrative based on true events surrounding the shipwreck of His Majesty's Ship the Wager in the 1740s. On a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain, the Wager pursued a treasure-laden Spanish galleon before meeting its tragic fate off the Patagonian coast. The wreckage and the ensuing survival tale provoke questions surrounding heroism, mutiny, and the human capacity for survival under the most extreme conditions. 
  The survivors' ordeal spans many months of starvation and anarchy, as they battled to endure in a harsh, desolate environment. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when two groups of survivors — one landing in Brazil and the other in Chile — narrate conflicting accounts of the events that transpired during their harrowing journey. This divergence sets the stage for a court-martial, where the truth hangs in a precarious balance with life-and-death stakes. 
  Grann excels in bringing this historic tale to life, paralleling the depth of narrative nonfiction greats and survival literature classics. The unraveling court-martial narrative holds the savvy of a courtroom thriller, beckoning readers into a vividly recreated world of 18th-century naval warfare and exploration.

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  I Dream with Open Eyes - A Memoir

  George Prochnik

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  Whatever the ideological slant of our information feeds, nowadays we all share a sense of binge-watching the apocalypse. Facing so much uncertainty, we need a language for thinking about the unknown not simply as a threat but also as a space of fertile possibility. George Prochnik has chosen to reflect on these urgent themes through the lens of a personal narrative: an account of his own family's decision to leave the United States. 
   
   
   
  I Dream with Open Eyes begins with an exploration of Prochnik's ancestral past: the pilgrimage of his mother's family, who were among the first English settlers in the New World. In the aftermath of the 2016 election, a parallel migration unfolds as Prochnik, along with his wife and their son, makes the decision to uproot their lives in New York to move to England. 
   
   
   
  A deep critique of this current moment, Prochnik takes the words of nineteenth-century poet Heinrich Heine, "I dream with open eyes, and my eyes see," as an inspiration to ask how, as a society, we might use art and literature to refract and expand our vision of the future, while simultaneously generating a new focus on present realities.

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  Becoming a Causie - Champion...

  Rob Acton

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  A Causie is someone on a mission—they see a need and feel compelled to do something about it beyond writing a check. Rob Acton will show you how to identify the issue that ignites your fire, pinpoint the organization that’s the best match for you, and learn how to engage and increase your engagement as a board leader. Get ready to unleash your potential and maximize your impact!

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  A Jacket Off the Gorge - True...

  Susan Ashline

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  A must-listen real-life psychological thriller 
   
   
   
  Jon Fontaine's teenage years are shaped by his motivation to run a lucrative drug-selling enterprise. Despite the many tricks up his sleeve, the law catches up with him time after time. To escape a lengthy prison sentence, Jon bails out of jail and fakes his own death. He throws his jacket off a gorge, the pinnacle of a meticulously staged suicide. Police find the jacket and declare him dead, only to capture him later as a fugitive from justice. 
   
   
   
  Seven years after the ruse, Jon meets Susan, who is unaware of his criminal past. And he's keeping a secret: he's stolen a treasure of ancient gold and silver coins. He will never give away its location. 
   
   
   
  Jon sends Susan on a roller-coaster of love and fear, and exploits the weaknesses in the criminal justice system to work his biggest cons yet, ending in a trail of victims—and death. 
   
   
   
  A Jacket Off the Gorge peels back the layers of the criminal mind, revealing a fascinating look at one man's struggles within himself and with others. Jon's story raises questions about incarceration versus rehabilitation, lack of mental health treatment for offenders, and abuses by those we entrust to uphold the law.

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