The Cloak of Shrouded Men


Book Description

Cotton Colinaude is a man desperate for redemption, cursed with a dual identity. As the Eidolon, his heroic career seemed doomed from the start. Over the course of a decade, his struggle will define the destiny of history for an entire city, and perhaps mankind itself. From his partnership with Godsend to the mentorship of William Tekamthi, the villainous Viper, the informant Ratbeard, and the tragic Calypso, Colinaude's journey embraces a large cast of unforgettable characters, but none more so than himself. For a man who long ago dedicated his life to others, can his be saved?




Dreams and Realities


Book Description

One of the most dramatic figures among Latin America's romantic writers and the distinguished woman writer of her century, Juana Manuela Gorriti brings passion and intrigue to the scene of writing. An exile from her native Argentina who sought refuge first in Bolivia and then in Peru, her lifetime of travel and displacement is echoed in her fictions. Her short stories tell of homelessness and nomadic yearnings, taking the reader from the Peruvian highlands, where Spanish colonizers plot to rob the treasures of the Incas, to the Argentine capital city plagued by sinister political intentions. Her later fictions move from Chile to scenes of the California Gold Rush. Covering the wide landscape of the Americas, Gorriti tracks the spirit of nineteenth-century adventurers and dandies, nation builders and soldiers who participate in the conflicts of settlement in a new and lawless land. Women are the protagonists here, mediating episodes of civil strife as they voice their despair about the treachery of fortune seekers in Latin America in the years following Independence from Spain. Dreams and Realities offers a sampling of Gorriti's stories, showing the range of her commitment to political fiction drawn in the romantic style. Originally published in four volumes under the titles Suenos y realidades and Panoramas de la vida, her works deal with the tyranny of the Rosas regime, the mediating role of women, and the clash of European and indigenous cultures. Notwithstanding her personal political leanings, Gorriti's stories and fictions provide a generous dose of swashbuckling adventure and romance. Translated into English for the first time by Sergio Waisman and with an Introduction, Chronology, and Critical Notes by Francine Masiello, the book gives a woman's view of the world of political intrigue and civil unrest that marks Latin America's turbulent nineteenth century.




St. Nicholas


Book Description




The Girondins of Chile


Book Description

The Girondins of Chile tells of the strong influence that the European revolutions of 1848 had in Chile, and how they motivated a young Santiago society with high cultural aspirations but little political knowledge or direction. Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna, a Chilean writer and historian who lived during those days in Santiago, relates the events of the time, events in which he was a participant. He pays special attention to how the 1848 revolutions influenced a group of young liberals he called "Chilean Girondins." When news of the fall of Philippe d'Orléans and the installation of the Second Republic arrived, there was an explosion of jubilation in Santiago. Now there were no barriers to ideas, "much less to the generous ideas proclaimed by the sincere people of France." But when a proletarian revolution took place in France in June, Chilean public opinion became virulently anti-revolutionary. Except, of course, among the liberal youth, the Chilean Girondins, who were headed towards revolution--and sooner than anyone thought. When revolution came in 1851, Vicuña Mackenna found himself sentenced to death for taking part in the uprising. After escaping and spending some years in exile, he was able to return in 1855. He remained active in politics, yet his account of what happened in the 1851-52 revolution was not published until 1876.




Dreams and Realities : Selected Fiction of Juana Manuela Gorriti


Book Description

One of the most dramatic figures among Latin America's romantic writers and the distinguished woman writer of her century, Juana Manuela Gorriti brings passion and intrigue to the scene of writing. An exile from her native Argentina who sought refuge first in Bolivia and then in Peru, her lifetime of travel and displacement is echoed in her fictions. Her short stories tell of homelessness and nomadic yearnings, taking the reader from the Peruvian highlands, where Spanish colonizers plot to rob the treasures of the Incas, to the Argentine capital city plagued by sinister political intentions. Her later fictions move from Chile to scenes of the California Gold Rush. Covering the wide landscape of the Americas, Gorriti tracks the spirit of nineteenth-century adventurers and dandies, nation builders and soldiers who participate in the conflicts of settlement in a new and lawless land. Women are the protagonists here, mediating episodes of civil strife as they voice their despair about the treachery of fortune seekers in Latin America in the years following Independence from Spain. Dreams and Realities offers a sampling of Gorriti's stories, showing the range of her commitment to political fiction drawn in the romantic style. Originally published in four volumes under the titles Suenos y realidades and Panoramas de la vida, her works deal with the tyranny of the Rosas regime, the mediating role of women, and the clash of European and indigenous cultures. Notwithstanding her personal political leanings, Gorriti's stories and fictions provide a generous dose of swashbuckling adventure and romance. Translated into English for the first time by Sergio Waisman and with an Introduction, Chronology, and Critical Notes by Francine Masiello, the book gives a woman's view of the world of political intrigue and civil unrest that marks Latin America's turbulent nineteenth century.




St. Nicholas


Book Description




Thirteenth Tower


Book Description

"e;. . . grows more addicting with each chapter."e; -Kirkus Reviews In adversity lies strength beyond imagining.Abandoned as a baby, young Emelyn's life as a housemaid in the quiet village of Fallow is unremarkable-and empty. That is, until a host of magical creatures arrives and inflicts terrible misdeeds on the townsfolk. Inexplicably immune to their enchantments, Emelyn joins a pair of Magi intent on stopping the cause of the trouble-and who claim to know of her parents, promising Emelyn answers to a lifetime of questions.But the answers Emelyn seeks prove to be more elusive than she hoped, and the world outside Fallow more perilous than she imagined. Magical creatures roam the land over, attacking yet another town before coming after Emelyn. The key to her survival-and finding her family-lies deep within her, if only she can conquer her doubts and believe she is more powerful than she ever dreamed.In a journey that explores facing one's fears amidst the uncertainties of an unknown world, The Thirteenth Tower is a magical tale of discovery, growth, and of love's enduring strength.




Men in Black


Book Description

Mr. Pink: "Why can't we pick out our own color?" Joe: "I tried that once, it don't work. You get four guys fighting over who's gonna be Mr. Black." —Quentin Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs Men's clothes went black in the nineteenth century. Dickens, Ruskin and Baudelaire all asked why it was, in an age of supreme wealth and power, that men wanted to dress as if going to a funeral. The answer is in this history of the color black. Over the last 1000 years there have been successive expansions in the wearing of black—from the Church to the Court, from the Court to the merchant class. Though black as fashion was often smart and elegant, its growth as a cultural marker was fed by several currents in Europe's history—in politics, asceticism, religious warfare. Only in the nineteenth century, however, did black fully come into its own as fashion, the most telling witnesses constantly saw connections between the taste for black and the forms of constraint with which European society regimented itself. Concentrating on the general shift away from color that began around 1800, Harvey traces the transition to black from the court of Burgundy in the 15th century, through 16th-century Venice, 17th-century Spain and the Netherlands. He uses paintings from Van Eyck and Degas to Francis Bacon, religious art, period lithographs, wood engravings, costume books, newsphotos, movie stills and related sources in his compelling study of the meaning of color and clothes. Although in the twentieth century tastes have moved toward new colors, black has retained its authority as well as its associations with strength and cruelty. At the same time black is still smart, and fashion keeps returning to black. It is, perhaps, the color that has come to acquire the greatest, most significant range of meaning in history.




Black Box


Book Description

The plane crash was only the opening to the path of destiny that would challenge young Eli’s mind, spirit, and heart. As the boy ́s rural hometown of Raccoon Township, Pennsylvania begins to change in front of his very eyes, Elijah Marshall takes it upon himself to find the source of whatever it is that ́s causing the strange phenomena. In his search for answers, the troubled thirteen year old boy endures much pain and loss while he finds hope and unlikely companionship with an aging college professor. Together, they venture into a world of horror and magic in their quest for the Black Box, and a solution to the evil that plagues Raccoon Township. As the introductory novel of The Triad Series, Black Box opens up a reality based world that is touched by the supernatural. It explores and examines the human heart and spirit, demonstrating that even in the darkest of times hope is always possible. Black Box is a complete novel within itself, although it introduces many mysteries and questions that leave the reader wondering just what else can possibly lie within the remainder of The Triad Series.




The Demonfall


Book Description

From schoolboy author, Eric Richardson, comes The Demonfall, a collection of 3 books including the last and concluding chapter in the trilogy The Hordes of Rakshar. Decimated by the horrors of The Medtak Bridge, the remnants of the band of heroes which set out to save the land of Richareme from the tyranny of evil Lord Ladracsin have been scattered along the banks of the mighty Medtak river. To resurrect their quest, they will need to draw on magical forces, both good and evil; only then can they hope to confront Ladracsin, his vampiric servant Thomz, and defeat The Hordes of Rakshar. Can they reach the malevolent city of Rakshar? Can they summon the power to defeat Ladracsin? How much must they sacrifice to complete their quest? . . . This 3 book volume brings together all 3 episodes in The Demonfall trilogy The Brink of Chaos, The Medtak Curse and The Hordes of Rakshar and reflects the development of author Eric Richardson from 12 year old debut novelist to 18 year old veteran of 3 published books. A non-stop kaleidoscope of blood-spattered action and magical warfare, a fantastic tale of betrayal, resurrection and redemption, Eric has combined all of these in a fi ttingly dramatic conclusion to the Rakshar adventures.