The Middle of the Road: Historical Novel


Book Description

Bertram Pollard is a former soldier who comes back home after the Great War. His home, as his country, is deeply divided by war and politics. One of his sisters is married to a German, the other fancies left-wing Irish republican wanted by the police, and his brother is a member of Black and Tans, Royal Irish Reserve. His wife on the other hand is an upper-class lady who cares very little for left wing elements of the society. Bertram is, however, painfully aware of the issues on the both sides and that causes tension and distance between him and his loved ones.




The Middle of the Road


Book Description

Bertram Pollard is a former soldier who comes back home after the Great War. His home, as his country, is deeply divided by war and politics. One of his sisters is married to a German, the other fancies left-wing Irish republican wanted by the police, and his brother is a member of Black and Tans, Royal Irish Reserve. His wife on the other hand is an upper-class lady who cares very little for left wing elements of the society. Bertram is, however, painfully aware of the issues on the both sides and that causes tension and distance between him and his loved ones.




The Middle of the Road


Book Description

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.




The Middle of the Road


Book Description

Russia, since the revolution, has been an almost infallible touchstone for detecting the quality of liberalism. The old touchstone often was jasper. It was used to test the fineness of gold by the color of the streak made by the metal on the stone.The modern jasper is Russia. One need only mention Russia; casually, belligerently, carelessly, significantly, tolerantly or maliciously; the manner of mentioning does not matter. The result is always the color of the streak on the jasper, so; "Russia has what's coming to her." "Lenin and Trotsky ought to be shot" "This Bolshevist nonsense must be stamped out" .... or (occasionally) so; "Russia has a right to be let alone to make her own brand of economic mistakes".... "Bolshevism may be wrong, but the blockade was wrong, too".... "Let's give 'em a chance and see how their system works"....




Night Road


Book Description

From Kristin Hannah, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit novels Firefly Lane, The Nightingale, and The Four Winds comes a novel about how one reckless night destroys the lives of three teenagers and their families. For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children's needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach, are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close-knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia's best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable. Jude does everything to keep her kids out of harm's way. But senior year of high school tests them all. It's a dangerous, explosive season of drinking, driving, parties, and kids who want to let loose. And then on a hot summer's night, one bad decision is made. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget...or the courage to forgive. Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, Night Road raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love. "You cannot read Night Road and not be affected by the story and the characters. The total impact of the book will stay with you for days to come after it is finished." —The Huffington Post




The Whispering Road


Book Description

A moving and powerful story about brother and sister, Joe and Annie, who flee from a pitiful existence as servants. They embark on a tough and perilous journey to Manchester in search of their mother who was forced to leave them at the workhouse when they were very young. Their future is tainted by the horrors of their past and as Annie is increasingly troubled by spirits, Joe is forced to make a tough decision. Driven by the lust for freedom, he sells Annie to a fair owner who plans to use her as a medium, and sets about creating a new identity for himself on the streets of Manchester. But the voices of the past won't leave Joe alone and ultimately he finds himself gravitating back to Annie and their original quest to discover the whereabouts of their mother.




A Road We Do Not Know


Book Description

This historical fiction dramatically tells the story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn through the eyes of ordinary soldiers and warriors and vividly describes the fatigue, grime, sweat, fear, heartbreak, and carnage of frontier warfare."A Road We Do Not Know" . . . brings a fresh and moving sensibility to the story of Custer, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse, those icons whose lives came together at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. A fine novel, compellingly written.W.E.B. Griffin, author of "Brotherhood of War" Frederick Chiaventone tells an important, gripping and instructive tale.Winston F. Groom, author of "Forrest Gump"




Under Fire (Historical Novel)


Book Description

Under Fire: The Story of a Squad is novel was based on Henri Barbusse's experiences as a French soldier on the Western Front. The novel takes the form of journal-like anecdotes which the unnamed narrator claims to be writing to record his time in the war. It follows a squad of French volunteer soldiers on the Western front in France after the German invasion. The book relates broad visions shared by multiple characters but beyond these the action of the novel takes place in occupied France. Under Fire describes war in gritty and brutal realism. It is noted for its realistic descriptions of death in war and the squalid trench conditions.




The Silk Roads


Book Description

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Far more than a history of the Silk Roads, this book is truly a revelatory new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we come from and where we are headed next. "A rare book that makes you question your assumptions about the world.” —The Wall Street Journal From the Middle East and its political instability to China and its economic rise, the vast region stretching eastward from the Balkans across the steppe and South Asia has been thrust into the global spotlight in recent years. Frankopan teaches us that to understand what is at stake for the cities and nations built on these intricate trade routes, we must first understand their astounding pasts. Frankopan realigns our understanding of the world, pointing us eastward. It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures and religions. From the rise and fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the advent of Christianity and Islam, right up to the great wars of the twentieth century—this book shows how the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East. Also available: The New Silk Roads, a timely exploration of the dramatic and profound changes our world is undergoing right now—as seen from the perspective of the rising powers of the East.




The Fiction of History


Book Description

The Fiction of History sets out a number of themes in the relationship between history and fiction, emphasising the tensions and dilemmas created in this relationship and examining how various writers have dealt with these. In the first part, two chapters discuss the philosophy behind the connection between fiction and history, whether history is fiction, and the distinction between the past and history. Part two goes on to discuss the relationship between history and literature using case studies such as Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens. Part three looks at television and film (as well as other media) through case studies such as the film Welcome to Sarajevo and Soviet and Australian films. Part four considers a particular theme that has prominence in both history and literature, postcolonial studies, focusing on the issues of fictions of nationhood and civilization and the historical novel in postcolonial contexts. Finally, the fifth section comprises two interviews with novelists Penelope Lively and Adam Thorpe and discusses the ways in which their works explore the nature of history itself.