Lauded by critics yet largely unappreciated by fans of horror and “weird fiction,” T.E.D. Klein is considered one of the great horror writers, despite his scant body of work. His prose blends the mund
For decades prior to the rise of Babe Ruth, the most recognized name in baseball was John McGraw. An outstanding player in the 1890s, McGraw—nicknamed “Mugsy”—was molded in the rough and tumble pre–20
H.C. Bailey’s detective Reggie Fortune was one of the most popular protagonists of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Fortune appeared in nine novels yet it was in a series of 84 short stories, publ
It’s a cinematic image as familiar as John Wayne’s face: a wagon train circling as a defensive maneuver against Indian attacks. This book examines actual and fictional wagon-train battles and compares
[The Ukrainian drama, which burst onto the headlines in autumn 2013, was one long and complex in its making. In contrast to other studies of the Ukrainian conflict, the present study examines in detai
An existential necessity in Western culture, universities have stood for 900 years with their institutional structures essentially unchanged. They still serve three basic functions: educating the facu
From Seattle’s earliest days as a Gold Rush boomtown to its celebration of the future during the 1962 World's Fair, local artists have created public art installations—statuary, reliefs and other scul
Originally constructed in the 18th century as a military barracks by Austrian Emperor Joseph II, Theresienstadt (now Terezin) was used as a ghetto and concentration camp by the Nazis early in World Wa
Depictions of the zombie apocalypse continue to reshape our concept of the walking dead (and of ourselves). The undead mirror cultural fears—governmental control, lawlessness, even interpersonal relat
One of the major figures in science fiction for more than sixty years, James Gunn has been instrumental in making the genre one of the most vibrant and engaging areas of literary scholarship. His genr
Writers and alcohol have long been associated—for some, the association becomes unmanageable. Drawing on rare sources, this collection of brief biographies traces the lives of 13 well known literary d
Scottish novelist Jane Duncan’s semiautobiographical My Friends series was dismissed by postwar critics as lightweight, at a time when a coterie of “angry young men” monopolized the attention of the B
Incorporated by veteran automakers in 1913, the Chandler Motor Car Company was initially successful in a fiercely competitive industry, manufacturing an array of quality automobiles at a range of pric
School, public, and academic librarians from the US provide 28 essays that share their ideas on teaching technology to staff, patrons, and students. They outline case studies and instruction method
Star of stage and screen, cultural ambassador, civil rights and political activist—Josephine Baker was defined by the various public roles that made her 50–year career an exemplar of postmodern identi
"Written primarily for teachers, this book presents hundreds of practical applications for mathematics--from baseball statistics to the theory of relativity--that can be understood by anyone with a kn
Inspired by the conference “Mediated Pasts: Visual Culture and Collective Memory,” held in Leicester, UK, in June 2014, the 13 essays in this volume examine the relationship between memory, histor
"Spurred by the surprise worldwide success of Hammer Film's Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1969), vampire movies filled theaters in the 1970s. This book explores a mixed bag from around the world,
With the American revolutionaries in discord following victory at Yorktown and the Paris Peace Treaty of 1783, the proposed federal Constitution of 1787 faced an uncertain future when it was sent to t
Beloved by young girls around the world, Hasbro’s My Little Pony franchise has been mired in controversy since its debut in the early 1980s. Critics dismissed the cartoons as toy advertisements, and d
"Baseball pioneer J. L. Wilkinson (1878-1964) was the owner and founder, in 1920, of the Negro League's famed Kansas City Monarchs. The only white owner in the National Negro League, Wilkinson earned
"This book tells the story of the changing of the guard in baseball in 1910, and how these two great teams assembled. The narrative takes in the history of early 20th century baseball, featuring men l
Huggins examines the career of early nineteenth century North Carolina congressman Willie Magnum and his role in U.S. politics as the leader of the Whigs in opposition to Andrew Jackson and the Democr
The march of the monster movie makers continues in Tom Weaver’s ninth book of in-depth interviews with the men and women who made the horror and sci-fi favorites of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s. Actors (i
From his humble beginnings as a Coney Island piano player, Jimmy Durante was one of America’s best-loved entertainers for nearly seven decades. Known for his distinctive “schnozzle” and raspy voice, t
World War I began in August 1914—the United States did not enter the conflict until April 1917. During those nearly three years of neutrality, a small number of Americans did experience the horrors of
Director F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, made in 1921, right after the devastating Spanish Flu pandemic, has become the ultimate cult classic among horror film buffs around the world. F
Between 1908 and 1920, Roger C. Sullivan and his political allies consolidated their control of the Chicago and Illinois Democratic parties, creating the enduring structure known as the “Chicago Democ
Hoping to follow his success with Laurel and Hardy with a female comedy team, producer Hal Roach paired Thelma Todd with ZaSu Pitts in a 1931 series of two-reel shorts that were quickly successful. Wh
Over the years, technological advances have given publishers the ability to produce more books and online publications with greater speed. This new efficiency, however, has increased editors’ workload
Between 1817 and 1864, sixteen officers were assigned as Commandants of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. They played an important role in training the officers who would serve on both sides of the
The concept of the individual or the self, central in so many modern-day contexts, has not been investigated in depth in the Anglo-Saxon period. Focusing on Old English poetry, the author argues that
Many scholars recognize the importance of Harry Potter as a vehicle for discussions about society—from race relations and gender studies to economic, political, religious and educational applications
A lot happened in baseball in 1980. After being stabbed with a penknife in Mexico during spring training, the Indians’ “Super Joe” Charboneau captured Cleveland’s heart—and Rookie of the Year. Nolan R
Boxing might not have survived the 1930s if not for Max Baer. A contender for every heavyweight championship 1932–1941, California’s “Glamour Boy” was a draw for promoters during the Great Depression,
? From the dime novels of the Civil War era to the pulp magazines of the early 20th century to modern paperbacks, lurid fiction has provided thrilling escapism for the masses. Cranking out formulaic
Women are now central to many science fiction films—but that has not always been the case. Female characters, from their token presence (or absence) in the silent pictures of the early 20th century to
