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Frances Parkinson Keyes The Old Gray Homestead

Fiction
English
67280 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Frances Parkinson Keyes (July 21, 1885 – July 3, 1970) was an American author, and a convert to Roman Catholicism, whose works frequently featured Catholic themes and beliefs. Her last name rhymes with "skies," not "keys."Frances Parkinson Wheeler was born in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married Henry W. Keyes ("Henry Wilder, always called Harry")[1] in 1903. They had three sons together. They lived in Washington, D.C., and Virginia for a quarter of a century while Henry, a Republican, served in the United States Senate. He had earlier served as Governor of New Hampshire. The story of their courtship is told in Mrs. Keyes' first autobiography, Roses in December. The story of their marriage is recounted in her second autobiography, All Flags Flying. Henry Keyes was much older than his bride and, having never married before, was quite set in his ways. Early on he was dismissive of his wife's writing talent, and the acceptance of her first manuscript by a reputable publisher was a triumph personally as well as professionally. She wrote a series of articles for Good Housekeeping magazine beginning in the 1920s titled "Letters from a Senator's Wife." These were eventually collected into a book by the same name, one of three nonfiction books she wrote about her experiences in Washington. (The others were Capital Kaleidoscope and All Flags Flying. Her 1941 novel All That Glitters is also about Washington politics.) [more]

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Henry Adams The Education of Henry Adams

Biography & Autobiography
English
175068 Words
Ages 8 and up
233
2

The Education of Henry Adams records the struggle of Bostonian Henry Adams in his later years, to come to terms with the dawning 20th century, so different from the world of his youth. It is also a sharp critique of 19th century educational theory and practice. The Modern Library placed it first in a list of the top 100 English-language nonfiction books of the twentieth century. The Education is much more a record of Adams's introspection than of his deeds. It is an extended meditation on the social, technological, political, and intellectual changes that occurred over Adams's lifetime. Adams concluded that his traditional education failed to help him come to terms with these rapid changes; hence his need for self-education. The organizing thread of the book is how the "proper" schooling and other aspects of his youth, was time wasted; thus his search for self-education through experiences, friendships, and reading. Two aspects set The Education apart from the common run of autobiographies. First, it is narrated in the third person; second, it is frequently sarcastic and humorously self-critical. [more]

Keywords: the education of henry adams, henry adams, autobiography, history, education, satire, humor, literature

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Gerald Allan Sohl THE HAND

Self-Help
English
4237 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Gerald Allan Sohl Sr. (December 2, 1913 - November 4, 2002) was an American scriptwriter for The Twilight Zone (as a ghostwriter for Charles Beaumont), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Outer Limits, Star Trek: The Original Series (using pseudonym "Nathan Butler"), and other shows. He also wrote novels, feature film scripts, and the nonfiction works Underhanded Chess and Underhanded Bridge in 1973. New York Times reviewer Villiers Gerson described his 1953 novel The Transcendent Man as "contain[ing] enough twists to afford the reader a few hours' entertainment" despite being "oversimplified in motivation."[1] P. Schuyler Miller found the plot unconvincing.[2] Gerson later panned Sohl's The Altered Ego, saying "This wordy book lacks characterization, emotion, suspense, and interest."[3] His 1955 Point Ultimate is a piece of Cold War invasion literature: in 1999, a faraway future history at the time of writing, the US lies under a cruel Soviet occupation, reinforced by a deadly artificial disease which makes conquered Americans dependent on the conquerors for the injections which keep them alive. But a dashing Illinois farm boy breaks out in revolt, killing a degenerate soviet governor and his "Commie" American collaborators. Eventually, he becomes a leading member of a very formidable resistance organization which is capable of breaking at will into the occupiers' security headquarters and springing prisoners out, and which had already established a clandestine space program under the Soviets' noses and established a sizable colony on Mars. In the far more low-key The Time Dissolver (1957), Sohl tells the story of a man and a woman who wake up one morning to find that they had inexplicably lost all memory of the past eleven years including any memory of how they ever came to meet and become married to each other, and who embark on a quest to find what happened and to trace back these eleven lost years. Aside from the science fiction aspects, the book captures the atmosphere of late 1950s America. [more]

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Trix Joyce Stories of a Caged Girl

Essay
English
11515 Words
Ages 16 and up
28
0

She was different, and not in the way anyone in the little village could understand. She was the sunshine everyone tried to cover up, the gemstone who was too rough to be loved. The girl nobody wanted near. Except him. The first person to take her in, the first person to abuse and use her, and one of the hundred people guilty of making her condition worse. This is the story of one autistic child who became an autistic teenager, and then finally an autistic adult. It’s a dark story as well as a story of hope. A story of anger and grief as well as love and compassion. This is her story and she won’t let anyone tell her she can’t express herself anymore. This is the story of one forgotten child who refuses to be silenced anymore. In this book, I share thirteen memoirs and thirteen poems, all related to dealing with trauma. Here I also want to put a content warning: this book includes themes of ableism, child abuse, domestic violence, rape, suicidal ideation, and other similar, dark topics. I suggest you read with caution and although these are important things to talk about, I know this warning needs to be here. I'm Trix Joyce, an author and blogger based in Sweden. This is my first English collection of personal essays and poetry. I have been using different names in my Swedish work, though always had a poetic and reflective style of writing according to other people. I write books in the categories of philosophy, poetry, personal essays, and other nonfiction, but also fictional novels and collections of short stories and mainly mystery and fantasy when these come alive! [more]

Keywords: trauma, memoir, personal essay, philosophy, childhood, true stories, short stories, poetry, horror

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Ephraim Adams Great Britain And The American Civil War Fiscle Vol 2 (Part-I) PART 2

History
English
124753 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Historian Amanda Foreman follows Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire with her long-awaited second work of nonfiction: the fascinating story of the American Civil War and the major role played by Britain and its citizens in that epic struggle. Even before the first rumblings of secession shook the halls of Congress, British involvement in the coming schism was inevitable. Britain was dependent on the South for cotton, and in turn the Confederacy relied almost exclusively on Britain for guns, bullets, and ships. The Union sought to block any diplomacy between the two and consistently teetered on the brink of war with Britain. For four years the complex web of relationships between the countries led to defeats and victories both minute and history-making. In A World on Fire, Amanda Foreman examines the fraught relations from multiple angles while she introduces characters both humble and grand, bringing them to vivid life over the course of her sweeping and brilliant narrative. Between 1861 and 1865, thousands of British citizens volunteered for service on both sides of the Civil War. From the first cannon blasts on Fort Sumter to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, they served as officers and infantrymen, sailors and nurses, blockade runners and spies. Through personal letters, diaries, and journals, Foreman has woven together their experiences to form a panoramic yet intimate view of the war on the front lines, in the prison camps, and in the great cities of both the Union and the Confederacy. Through the eyes of these brave volunteers we see the details of the struggle for life and the great and powerful forces that threatened to demolish a nation. In the drawing rooms of London and the offices of Washington, on muddy fields and aboard packed ships, Foreman reveals the decisions made, the beliefs held and contested, and the personal triumphs and sacrifices that ultimately led to the reunification of America. A World on Fire is a complex and groundbreaking work that will surely cement Amanda Foreman’s position as one of the most influential historians of our time. [more]

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Ephraim Adams Great Britain And The American Civil War Fiscle Vol 1 (Part-I) PART 1

History
English
106814 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Historian Amanda Foreman follows Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire with her long-awaited second work of nonfiction: the fascinating story of the American Civil War and the major role played by Britain and its citizens in that epic struggle. Even before the first rumblings of secession shook the halls of Congress, British involvement in the coming schism was inevitable. Britain was dependent on the South for cotton, and in turn the Confederacy relied almost exclusively on Britain for guns, bullets, and ships. The Union sought to block any diplomacy between the two and consistently teetered on the brink of war with Britain. For four years the complex web of relationships between the countries led to defeats and victories both minute and history-making. In A World on Fire, Amanda Foreman examines the fraught relations from multiple angles while she introduces characters both humble and grand, bringing them to vivid life over the course of her sweeping and brilliant narrative. Between 1861 and 1865, thousands of British citizens volunteered for service on both sides of the Civil War. From the first cannon blasts on Fort Sumter to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, they served as officers and infantrymen, sailors and nurses, blockade runners and spies. Through personal letters, diaries, and journals, Foreman has woven together their experiences to form a panoramic yet intimate view of the war on the front lines, in the prison camps, and in the great cities of both the Union and the Confederacy. Through the eyes of these brave volunteers we see the details of the struggle for life and the great and powerful forces that threatened to demolish a nation. In the drawing rooms of London and the offices of Washington, on muddy fields and aboard packed ships, Foreman reveals the decisions made, the beliefs held and contested, and the personal triumphs and sacrifices that ultimately led to the reunification of America. A World on Fire is a complex and groundbreaking work that will surely cement Amanda Foreman’s position as one of the most influential historians of our time. [more]

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F. MARION CRAWFORD A TALE OF A LONELY PARISH

Letters
English
110344 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Francis Marion Crawford (August 2, 1854 – April 9, 1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels, especially those set in Italy, and for his classic weird and fantastic stories. Contents [hide] 1 Life 2 Legacy 3 Bibliography 3.1 Novels 3.2 Nonfiction 3.3 Drama 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further Reading 8 External links Life[edit] He was born at Bagni di Lucca, Italy, the only son of the American sculptor Thomas Crawford and Louisa Cutler Ward, the brother of writer Mary Crawford Fraser (aka Mrs. Hugh Fraser), and the nephew of Julia Ward Howe, the American poet. He studied successively at St Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire; Cambridge University; University of Heidelberg; and the University of Rome. In 1879 he went to India, where he studied Sanskrit and edited in Allahabad The Indian Herald. Returning to America in February 1881, he continued to study Sanskrit at Harvard University for a year and for two years contributed to various periodicals, mainly The Critic. Early in 1882 he established his lifelong close friendship with Isabella Stewart Gardner. During this period he lived most of the time in Boston at his Aunt Julia Ward Howe's house and in the company of his Uncle, Sam Ward. His family was concerned about his employment prospects. They suggested that he become a professional singer; he had a baritone voice and had entertained friends with recitals of songs by Franz Schubert. In January 1882, his family asked George Henschel, who was then conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, to assess whether Crawford was capable of a professional singing career. Henschel told Crawford and his family that he would "never be able to sing in perfect tune. Crawford was distraught by the news; after a long silence, his uncle Sam then asked him, "Why don't you write down that little story you told me some time ago of that strange experience you had in India — don't you know?"[1] In December 1882 he produced his first novel, Mr Isaacs, a sketch of modern Anglo-Indian life mingled with a touch of Oriental mystery. This book had an immediate success, and its author's promise was confirmed by the publication of Dr Claudius (1883). In May 1883 he returned to Italy, where he made his permanent home. His residence at the historic Hotel Cocumella in Sorrento during 1885 moved him to settle permanently in Sant' Agnello, where in the Fall he bought the Villa Renzi that became Villa Crawford. Over one half of his novels are set in Italy. He wrote three long historical studies of Italy and was well advanced with a history of Rome in the Middle Ages when he died. This accounts perhaps for the fact that, despite his nationality, Marion Crawford's books stand apart from any distinctively American current in literature. In October 1884 he married Elizabeth Berdan, the daughter of the American Civil War Union Gen. Hiram Berdan. They had two sons and two daughters. Francis Marion Crawford Year by year Crawford published a number of successf [more]

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Melanie Higgins Zysk Unconditional Love

The amazing story of one woman and the animals that changed her life forever

Pets
English
15 Words
No Age Recommendation
654
1

This is a true story that I wrote from the bottom of my heart. I had a wonderful childhood until my father decided to have an affair with another woman. Our entire family was in shambles…not to mention how heartbroken I was because I was a daddy’s girl. We finally had to move to the projects because that was all my mother could afford. Talk about going from riches to rags. I remember crying myself to sleep every night. I started hanging around with the wrong type of people and getting into a lot of trouble, eventually doing time in a state penitentiary. I was calling out for love, I really was not a bad person, in fact, I was always quiet and shy. Life can be a hard journey. I did not have much of a childhood, or perhaps I've blocked a lot from my memory. But by the age of fifteen I was all grown up. I had to make decisions for myself; admittedly, some were not very good. Looking back, it didn't take all that long before I came to the end of my rope, but once I got there I turned around. I grabbed on as tight as I could, and soon I was pulling myself up, one grip at a time. And I've made a lot of changes in my life since then, mostly to make it a better one. The first time that I rubbed my nose against a tiny fawn‘s nose, it changed me forever. Looking back, I wish I might have been a little smarter concerning my career choice because I would have loved to be a veterinarian. But life can throw you curves, and I've learned to make the best of every day. And the day I held that warm, soft Guinea pig in my arms made me feel happier than I'd ever been. Happy deep down inside where it matters the most. The day eight years ago when we bought our “ranch”, I realized just how much I loved animals—all kinds of animals—and how much it meant for me to have them around me. I developed a piece of raw land into a working ranch and it was a lot of hard work, pulling weeds, putting in a fence line, and building pens for the animals we purchased from a local auction. And it was worth it, because, as I said, I love all animals of every kind, each with its own special interests and personality. I can spend endless hours just relaxing and watching them run and play with one another. We have thirty-seven animals on the ranch right now, and I love each and every one with all my heart. Most of them were adopted, saved from horrible situations, and still need lots of love and attention. Eventually, living with us, they come around and forget their past lives of neglect and abuse. Our animals live their entire lives on our ranch. They live to be very old and die of natural causes—the way it’s meant to be. This heartwarming story pays tribute to my lasting love affair with animals small and large. Over the years, I have adopted abused, neglected, or unwanted animals and cared for them on my Florida ranch. I developed a set of beliefs about the human relationship with animals, and I have come to realize that each creature has a distinct personality, a warm heart, passion and even a sense of humor. I operate on the firm belief that every animal, whether an unfriendly cat, lame pig, or a blind cow, needs to love and be loved. I was a pure-bred city girl, until I discovered how animals could soothe my soul and enhance my life. Since then, I have made it my mission to provide shelter and love for animals of all kinds, including cats, dogs, pigs and even cows. I believe that every animal has a right to live—and live well. I respect their wishes and they respect mine in return. It is out of this deep respect that I say that animals are not toys; they have feelings and hearts beating inside them just the way we do. And it is from animals that we receive unconditional love. I know, because it is their love, total and unconditional, that changed my life forever. Thank you for your precious time. Category Non-fiction Title Unconditional Love Subtitle The amazing story of one woman and the animals that changed her life forever. Author Melanie Higgins Zysk Illustrations 72 Pages 205 Words 74,002 Binding Hard and Soft cover ISBN 978-0-595-43920-1 (pbk) 978-0-595-70484-2 (cloth) Reviews: info@apex reviews. net Unconditional Love Melanie Higgins Zysk ISBN: 9780595439201 Reviewed By Cary Merriman Official Apex Reviews Rating: The path of Melanie Higgins Zysk’s journey through life is the very definition of “circuitous”… After her parents divorce when she’s just a little girl, Zysk, her mother, and her brothers are thrust directly into the veritable teeth of adversity. After suffering a horrendous accident that takes her friend’s life and nearly claims hers, she decides to live life to the fullest and strikes out on her own into the dangerous, yet exciting world that surrounds her. Along the way, she becomes a teenage bride, spends time as “Miss Keystone” (a NASCAR trophy girl), and even does a 10- month bid in the Pennsylvania state pen – for a crime she didn't even realize she committed. A quick study in learning the discipline of self-reliance, though, Zysk eventually becomes quite adept at following the desires of her heart, which ultimately lead her to start a rescue ranch for animals that have been abused, abandoned, or otherwise left to fend for themselves. It is in launching the ranch that Zysk finds her true calling, one that has lingered quietly, yet fervently within her entire life: sharing the unconditional love of her selfless heart with those who truly need it. Unconditional Love is an intriguing study of a life lived on quite a far reaching arc, but what’s most endearing about Zysk’s life story is the salient way that her warm-hearted nature shines throughout. From the time that she is very young, she always wishes for the best for others and sacrifices constantly for the benefit of those around her. Of course, this selflessness is most apparent in her undying affection for and dedication to her ever-growing family of furry friends, whose lives would be devoid of considerable comfort and enrichment were it not for Zysk’s faithful devotion. Life is destined to throw obstacles in our paths, but what matters most is how we choose to negotiate them along the way. In Unconditional Love, Melanie Higgins Zysk provides the reader with the perfect example of how to turn any adverse situation on its ear by focusing on the blessings hidden deep within. FOREWORD MAGAZINE wrote: Animals & Nonfiction. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: THE AMAZING STORY OF ONE WOMAN AND THE ANIMALS THAT CHANGED HER LIFE FOREVER by Melanie Higgins Zysk (205 pages, soft cover, photos, 978-0-595-43920-1): Florida rancher, animal rights enthusiast, and author presents this heartfelt tribute to her lifelong love affair with animals of all kinds; storylines include how inner city life and a led Zysk on a search for her life’s purpose, and ultimately to the devoted mission of saving animals; how to rescue and care for abused and neglected animals—such as pigs with backaches refusing to walk, blind cows ready to give birth, and dogs of all dispositions; and how to see life through the eyes of “unconditionally loving” animals—with humor, pragmatism, determination, and passion. Endorsement: "Drama, hope, and love, along with an unforgettable cast of characters, both human and animal, show us that with love, anything is possible." Sy Montgomery, best-selling author of The Good, Good, Pig. Please check out my web site www.melaniehigginszysk.com you will laugh at all four of my videos with my animals. I dedicate this book to my Mother, Dolores Baker; she is now resting in peace. If your parents are alive, cherish them with all your heart. My mom was a great influence in my life. I love and miss her dearly. A portion of all proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to the Humane Society. vii Contents Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix Chapter 1 The Beginning of My Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 2 Tim Came into My Life and We Started a Business. . . 23 Chapter 3 Happier Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Chapter 4 Sad Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Chapter 5 Selling the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Chapter 6 The Business was Growing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Chapter 7 Lil’ Abner and Lots of Excitement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Chapter 8 Building Our Dream Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Chapter 9 The Wonderful Wedding Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Chapter 10 The Terrible Hurricanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147 Chapter 11 Sally and the Crazy Things that Happened . . . . . . . . 159 Chapter 12 Going Psychic and Here’s Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Special thanks to my mother-in-law Carolyn Zysk and Sara my wonderful pig. ix Foreword Life can be a hard journey. I did not have much of a childhood, or perhaps I've blocked a lot from my memory. But by the age of fifteen I was all grown up. I had to make decisions for myself; admittedly, some were not very good ones. It wasn’t that I believed I was a bad person. I just made some bad choices about some people and some of the things that I chose to do. Looking back, it really didn't take all that long before I came to the end of my rope, but once I got there I turned around. I grabbed on as tight as I could, and soon I was pulling myself up, one grip at a time. And I've made a lot of changes in my life since then, mostly to make it a better one. The first time that I was in contact with an animal, it changed me forever. Looking back, I wish I might have been a little smarter concerning my career choice because I would have loved to be a veterinarian. But life can throw you curves, and I've learned to make the best of every day. And the day I held that warm, soft creature in my arms made me feel happier than I'd ever been. Happy deep down inside where it matters the most. The day eight years ago when we bought our “ranch”, I realized just how much I loved animals—all kinds of animals—and how much it meant for me to have them around me. We developed a piece of raw land into a working ranch and it was a lot of hard work, pulling weeds, putting in a fence line, and building pens for the animals we purchased from a local auction. And it was worth it, because, as I said, I love all animals of every kind, each with its own special interests and personality. I can spend endless hours just relaxing and watching them run and play with one another. We have thirty-seven animals on the ranch right now, and I love each and every one with all my heart. Most of them were adopted, saved from horrible situations, and still need lots of love and attention. Eventually, living with us, they come around and forget their past lives of neglect and abuse. Our animals live their entire lives on our ranch where they also get special attention from our friend and vet, Dr. Coughlan. There they live to be very old and die of natural causes—the way it’s meant to be. We believe that every animal has a right to live—and live well. We respect their wishes and they respect ours in return. It is out of this deep respect that I say that animals are not toys; they have feelings and hearts beating inside them just the way we do. And it is from animals that we receive unconditional love. I know, because it is their love, total and unconditional, that changed my life forever. [more]

Keywords: love, rescue, animals, neglect, abused, pigs, dogs, cats, cows

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