Editorial: Charles River Editors
W.B. Yeats was an Irish poet who was one of the biggest contributors to the Irish Literary Revival of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1923, Yeats became the first Irishman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This edition of Reveries over Childhood and Youth includes a table of contents.
From a PEN/Hemingway Award–winning author: The true story of Pope John Paul II, his Jewish childhood friend, and a milestone in religious history. In October 1978, Karol Wojtyla, Polish Archbishop of Krakow, became Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years. He had a mission to improve the Catholic Church’s relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Anglican Communion. Only days after the election, he granted Jerzy Kluger, a virtually unknown Jewish businessman, the privilege of first audience at the Vatican. Jerzy was overwhelmed, but not surprised. When they were children, Karol and Jerzy were best friends, known then as Lolek and Jurek. For the pope, this union of Catholic and Jewish faiths was a profound symbol of things to come. It was also a personal gesture that reflected a remarkable bond between the two men. The Hidden Pope is the story of that relationship, from their simple boyhood in the small town of Wadowice in southern Poland to their separation at the beginning of World War II and their survival under Nazi occupation and Soviet tyranny. The reunion almost thirty years later—after Jerzy lost his family in the Holocaust and spent years in Stalinist labor camps—would not only deepen a friendship, but also afford Jerzy a unique perspective on papal intrigue and policies when he was eventually appointed diplomat between the Vatican and Israel. Set against the landmark events of the twentieth century, and the monumental reconciliation between Christianity and Judaism, this singular portrait of John Paul II reveals him as only one of his closest friends can. Readers will come to know the Holy Father as a man, to understand his controversial ideas as expressions of his life experiences, and to discover the genesis of an enduring friendship that would impact the world. The Hidden Pope is “a fascinating personal tale played out against the great moments of modern European history. . . . Anyone intrigued by the often surprising confluences of history, politics and religion will relish this impressive study in faith, friendship and mutual respect” (Publishers Weekly).Ver libro
A leading George MacDonald scholar presents a fascinating introduction to the 19th century Scottish author’s views on Christianity, faith, and God. The Victorian author, poet, and theologian George MacDonald inspired some of the greatest writers of the early 20th century, including C.S. Lewis, who said MacDonald’s books were pivotal in leading him toward Christianity. While MacDonald’s beloved fiction—including classics like Robert Falconer and At the Back of the North Wind—remain popular, his sermons and nonfiction writings on faith are less well-known. Now MacDonald scholar and biographer Michael Phillips presents a comprehensive introduction to George MacDonald’s theological ideas. In George MacDonald’s Spiritual Vision, Phillips provides extensive, thematically arranged quotes from the author’s writings. This brief volume covers topics from the nature and character of God to salvation, justice and atonement.Ver libro
Set in Dublin during the years of the Second World War and in England during the post-war years of the 1950s and 1960s Against the Wind is a lively and compelling memoir. It is the story of a young man of independent mind and feisty spirit who refuses to accept the constraints and strictures of a closed Irish society. And who through economic necessity, at a very young age, is forced to live and work in ‘Pagan England’ the land of ‘the enemy’. There he learns to ‘like the English’ and learns of ‘freedoms that he knew very little about’ in ‘holy Ireland’. A wealth of varying and informative material and the ability to anchor the personal securely within the public domain gives this memoir a universal appeal. The narrative has all the ingredients for a compelling read –vivid and varied characters brought alive on the page, compelling setting and historical relevance and interest. The prologue whets our appetite for what is to come and the mixture of recollection, poetry and historical information drawstrings the narrative together well. Astute observation and character portrayal are the strengths of the work, as is the accessible tone of the narrative voice in which the author employs a light touch that has just the right amount of wit and sobriety.Ver libro
It's the 1940s. WW II. A New England farm boy is growing up during wartime. In Home Front A Memoir from WWII you'll share his story - the blackouts, the rationing, the fears, the patriotism and the unity everyone felt. As the men go off to war, our young narrator grows to an obliged maturity, shouldering the work they left behind while struggling with the daily impact of the war on his world. But the biggest impact would come after the war when the country was all about getting back to normal. For him normal was gone. Home Front chronicles a farm family and how their lives were irrevocably changed by the war and by "progress" in the post war period.Ver libro
Neil Sedaka had more than a dozen hits from 1958 to 1963, but his career slumped with the arrival of the British Invasion. In 1974 he found his way back to the charts with “Laughter in the Rain.” In March of that year, Wink Martindale sat with Sedaka to discuss his early career and his thrilling comeback. Sedaka recounts his early life as a child receiving classical music training and secretly writing pop songs, despite his sister telling him to stick to the classics. Sedaka clearly made the right call as he went on to achieve great success despite the ups and downs of his career as he cheerfully details in this enthralling conversation.Ver libro
Today, researchers estimate that between five and twenty percent of the population is affected by dyslexia. This growing awareness and understanding of different learning styles has changed the lives of tens of millions of people. When Scott Douthit was growing up in the 1960s, though, no one could explain why it was so difficult for him to succeed in the one-size-fits-all schools he attended. My Dyslexic Life: A Journey Out of the Shadows, a deeply moving account of Scott’s struggles and triumphs, invites the reader to consider new ways of overcoming barriers to accomplishment and understanding, both for themselves and others. At once entertaining and touching, it offers an intimate glance into the life, mind, and heart of a courageous individual. Scott’s story serves as a reminder that the norms, standards, and expectations of society are a work in progress, and that it is within our power to make them more humane and compassionate.Ver libro
