Salinas, California, is the birthplace of John Steinbeck and the setting for his epic masterpiece East of Eden, but it is also the home of Nuestra Familia. Born in the prisons of California in the lat
In a dramatically different tale of espionage and conspiracy in World War II, Shadow Warriors of World War II unveils the history of the courageous women who volunteered to work behind enemy lines. Se
Few people are aware that in the aftermath of German and Soviet invasions and division of Poland, more than 1.5 million people were deported from their homes in Eastern Poland to remote parts of Russi
Three weeks before Christmas on December 1, 1958, one of the deadliest fires in America took place at Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago, claiming the lives of ninety-two children and three nuns
Providing a fascinating look at the science of sex and what makes people male or female, this book explains the science of intersex conditions—such as hermaphroditism, Klinefelter syndrome, and androg
Sweet Invention is a social, cultural, and—above all—culinary history of dessert. It explores the world’s great dessert traditions, from ancient India to twenty-first century Indiana. It explores the
Hendrix on Hendrix includes the most important interviews from the peak of Jimi Hendrix’s career, carefully selected by one of the world’s leading Hendrix historians. In this book Hendrix recalls for
A tremendously insightful biography of the man who helmed the Velvet Underground and single-handedly created alternative rock This book covers not only the highlights of Reed’s career, but explores
Hot Sauce Nation is a red-hot ride through the story of hot sauce in America. Why should the world’s most painful food have inspired such adoration in the USA? While chili pepper-based sauces have tra
Katharine Wright embodied the worldly, independent, and self-fulfilled New Woman of the early twentieth century, yet she remained in many ways a Victorian. Torn between duty and love, she agonized for
The first examination of Nelson Algren in over 25 years, Algren is the definitive biography of one of the best-known writers of mid-20th-century America. Journalist Mary Wisniewski interviewed dozens
Going behind the headlines and deep into the brutal world of the Congo, this exposé examines why eastern Congo is the most dangerous place on the planet. While the Western world takes for granted its
In 2009, Somali pirates attempted to capture the US flag ship Maersk Alabama. Suddenly, the pirates were no longer a distant menace. But were the Somali pirates a legion of desperate fishermen attacki
“A valuable combination of scholarship, telling anecdote, and informed opinion.” —Stephen Kinzer Unfinished Revolution is the first full-length biography of Daniel Ortega. It traces his life from his
Ever lusted for a cool braid style, but just can’t figure out how? Thanks to The Braid Book, now you can! Sarah Hiscox and Willa Burton, founders of London’s hip The Braid Bar, show you how to style b
Being a wizard takes training, practice, and a few tips from an expert. Author and professional toy designer John Austin, creator of the popular MiniWeapons of Mass Destruction series, provides dozens
The GIs called her Joey. Hundreds owed their lives to the tiny Filipina who stashed explosives in spare tires, tracked Japanese troop movements, and smuggled maps of fortifications across enemy lines.
In Above the Din of War, Peter Eichstaedt focuses on the people of Afghanistan themselves, drawing out Afghans from all walks of life: a former warlord, a Taliban judge, courageous women parliamentar
Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich made international headlines when he was arrested by the FBI, accused of running the state government as a criminal racket and, most shockingly, of trying to sell Bar
Fred Pascente is the man who links Tony Spilotro, one of Chicago’s most notorious mob figures, to William Hanhardt, chief of detectives of the Chicago Police Department. Pascente and Spilotro grew up
“Tom Williams is the third and best biographer of Chandler. . . . [His] packed, insightful, entertaining biography will, I feel, be the last.” —(London)TimesThe life of Raymond Chandler has long been
A Light Shines in Harlem tells the fascinating story of the Sisulu-Walker Charter School of Harlem, the first charter school in New York. It is a true-to-life inspirational tale of how a hero of the c
In this honest novel set in the racial tinderbox of Chicago in 1969, Simon Fleming, the white son of an activist minister, is sent to a predominately African American high school, feeling charged to c
“An overwhelming book about an overwhelming character in the music field. . . . We owe Barry Mazor a debt of gratitude for telling Peer’s incredible life story.” —Bob DylanThis is the first biography
The Carnival Campaign tells the fascinating story of the pivotal 1840 presidential campaign of General William Henry Harrison and John Tyler—“Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.” Pulitzer Prize–nominated former
“Clinton Heylin, master explicator of the Dylan canon, has, however improbably, sorted it all out for us. . . . The book is essential.” —Jonathan LethemThe second of two volumes, this companion to eve
More than six years after his death, Michael Jackson continues to fascinate the world. Shana Mangatal was one of Jackson’s only constant and true rocks of stability for nearly two decades. Their relat
15 remarkable women receive the spotlight they deserve in this lively collection of biographical profiles. These women took action in many ways: disguised as soldiers, working as field medics, as spie
In the decades following his death, many of those who knew James Dean best––actors, directors, friends, lovers (both men and women), photographers, and Hollywood columnists––shared stories of their fi
Fleetwood Mac was a triumph from the beginning—their first album was the UK’s bestselling album of 1968. After some low points—when founder Peter Green left, some fans felt that the band continuing wa
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky are widely considered the greatest of Russian science fiction masters, and their most famous work, Roadside Picnic, has enjoyed great popularity worldwide. Yet the nov
Art historian Simonetta Carr draws on recent scholarship that challenges the traditional view of Michelangelo as a recluse. Readers will also learn about the complex and fluid era of the Italian Renai
Chronicling the rich and fascinating history of Washington, DC, this useful resource for teachers and parents, reveals to young readers the city’s remarkable past through 21 hands-on activities. Child
Micro-stories of modern monsters and other horrors.This collection of twenty-six dark, but often humorous short stories features a pantheon of disturbed and disturbing characters, human and otherwise.
This compelling memoir is the true account of Issa Ibrahim, detailing in searing prose his development of severe mental illness leading to the accidental killing of his mother, his acquittal by reason
Brilliant, intensely political, and inseparable for nearly 70 years, Lucie Aubrac and her husband, Raymond, are legendary figures of the French Resistance. Founding leaders of Liberation-Sud, one of t
This collection of gripping short biographies brings to life the brave and often surprising exploits of 16 fascinating women from around the world who served their countries at a time when most of the
Being the child of a global superstar is never easy, but being the daughter of the “Hardest Working Man in Show Business”—that’s a category unto itself. Like every little girl, Yamma Brown wanted her
One Man’s War is a gripping novel that follows the journey of one man, Bob Kafak, through World War II. It takes you where he fought, what he saw, what he did, and how he felt. The story focuses on th
The golden days of complimentary in-flight champagne and cushy sleeping car coaches on the Orient Express are largely behind us. Say hello to $50 “leg room upgrade” fees and bedbug-infested hotels. Wh
