American Century

Americans are in the midst of a world-historic drug binge. Opiates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, marijuana, antidepressants, antipsychotics—across the board, consumption has shot up in the twenty-first century. At the same time, the United States is home to the largest prison system in the world, justified in part by a now zombified "war" on drugs. How did we get here?

Cindy Bonner knows that the most powerful love stories are those told straight from the heart of the lover. In Looking After Lily, the lover is a young Texas outlaw, trying to reform. Haywood Beatty and his brother Marion have survived the famous Christmas 1883 shootout between the Beatty Gang and the McDade vigilantes. Both Beattys are jailed in Bastrop where Lily, Marion’s very pregnant young wife, waits for the outcome of their trials. Haywood gets sprung, but Marion is sentenced to two years hard labor. And before Haywood leaves the jail, Marion exacts his promise to take care of Lily...

No major arena of US governance is more elitist than foreign policy. International relations barely surface in election campaigns, and policymakers take little input from Congress. For much of the twentieth century, officials, activists, and academics worked to foster an informed public that would embrace participation in foreign policy as a civic duty. Every Citizen a Statesman recounts an abandoned effort to create a democratic foreign policy.

Starting with Lucy Terry of the early 18th century and finishing with poet laureate Rita Dove, this inspiring anthology edited by Catherine Clinton captures the enormous talent and passion of black poets. Powerful and diverse, I, Too, Sing America is a forum for voices baring their souls, speaking their minds, tracing their roots, and proclaiming their dreams.

Exploration of the early American West, beginning with Lewis and Clark’s transcontinental trek at the behest of President Thomas Jefferson, was not accomplished by standing armies, the era’s new steam train technology, or by way of land grabs. These came later, but not until pathways known only to a few of the land’s indigenous people were discovered, carved out, and charted in an area stretching from the eastern Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and the present-day borders of Mexico and Canada.

A thrilling Western novel set in the lawless American West during the late 19th century. In "Love and Gunfire," the windswept plains hide dark secrets, and every shadow tells a story of betrayal and vengeance. Cleo Matthew, a haunted drifter, finds himself face-to-face with his past when he discovers that Seamus, the man responsible for the downfall of his crew, is on board the same freight train. As tensions rise and old wounds are reopened, the stage is set for a brutal confrontation that will echo through the annals of their tragic histories. Cleo’s memories of glory and loss are ...

After three failed seasons, American heiress Syble Rinecroft is more than ready to move forward to a life of independence and adventure. And what better way to begin than by taking a trip to Egypt with her grandmother and her band of widowed friends to find a hidden tomb? There’s only one catch: the archaeologist the widows insist on employing is none other than the irritating Marcus Brandt whom Syble met years ago on another trip to Egypt.

Romantic sparks fly when a fiercely independent woman who has cast-iron plans for her life and an eligible bachelor who’s rarely seen without a beautiful lady on his arm, clash in a fateful meeting in this 1950s sweet Southern romance. Joanna Gardner’s past disturbs her every waking moment. Only her painting soothes her unrest, and there, she submerges herself, shutting out all social interactions. Until Junior Neale enters her life. When the respected lawyer Junior Neale first meets Joanna, he is rendered almost speechless, and all those other women’s charms fade away. But then he ...

Bob Dylan is many things to many people. Each Bob Dylan joins a collective cast that has made up his persona for more than 50 years. No version of Dylan turns out uncomplicated, but the postmillennial manifestation seems peculiarly contrary - a tireless and enterprising antiquarian; a creator of singular texts and sounds through promiscuous poaching; an artist of innovation and uncanny renewal. The collection of essays does justice to this difficult Bob Dylan by examining his method and effects through a disparate set of viewpoints.

It was a time when music fans copied and traded recordings without permission. An outraged music industry pushed Congress to pass anti-piracy legislation. Yes, that time is now; it was also the era of Napster in the 1990s, of cassette tapes in the 1970s, of reel-to-reel tapes in the 1950s, even the phonograph epoch of the 1930s. Piracy, it turns out, is as old as recorded music itself. In Democracy of Sound, Alex Sayf Cummings uncovers the little-known history of music piracy and its sweeping effects on the definition of copyright in the United States.

What do the struggles of the past teach us about the urgent challenges in our own time? Resist chronicles the inspiring story of young Black activists who have fought tirelessly at the helm for justice over the last century, from the 1920s to the Trayvon generation—how they reshaped America, left an indelible mark on history, and pave the way for the crucial work that must be done today.

Of all the authors and poets American schoolchildren may be exposed to over the course of their education, Robert Frost is often one of the first, and on rare occasions that he is not, it is still a near certainty that some of his most famous poems will be discussed at some point. Frost may not be as remembered or influential as other American literary giants, or even poets such as Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, but his career was historic in terms of its length and breadth of accomplishments.

A historical romantic drama set in South America during the mid-19th century. Paradise of Purple invites readers into an enthralling and intricate story tracing the life of a young man caught in a whirlwind of passion, adversity, and hope. This novel takes us to the culturally rich backdrop of 19th century South America, offering a riveting blend of romance, drama, and adventure. The StoryThe narrative revolves around our protagonist, walking the tightrope between undying affection for his beloved Maria, and the harrowing disapproval of her father, which leads him to years of unjust ...

Brian Hall’s novel vividly re-creates Lewis and Clark’s extraordinary journey into the unknown western frontier. Focusing on the emblematic moments of the participants’ lives, the story unfolds through the perspectives of four competing voices—from the troubled and mercurial figure of Meriwether Lewis, the expedition leader who found that it was impossible to enter paradise without having it crumble around him, to Sacagawea, the Shoshone girl-captive and interpreter for the expedition, whose short life mirrored the disruptive times in which she lived.

The Reconstruction era has begun. The country is moving forward. And so is the Bennett Family. With half of their family aboard the long overdue California II, including Jonathan who promised his wife to return home in time for the birth of their child, tension mounts. The family eagerly awaits news of the ship’s arrival, but when they finally receive the telegram, the news is bittersweet. The ship has returned to port, but Jonathan must now race against time to make it home for the momentous event. Meanwhile, Samantha’s brother, Adam, embarks on a mission to find his lost son, born ...

Our fairy tales come to us from the old world. It's about time some came from America. Here are some American made fairy tales.

New York City, 1890 Olga Schoon’s father has big plans for her life. Soon, she will be married. In fact, he has found her the perfect match. Olga, however, has no time for love. New York City’s garment factory workers deserve safe and fair working conditions, and as the daughter of one of the city’s most successful factory owners, she is determined to help the cause. Can she navigate her father’s strict expectations while still pursuing her calling? And what happens when her growing feelings for a handsome business associate threaten to destroy everything she’s been striving for? ...

THE MAGIC THAT HAPPENS ONSTAGE IS ONLY HALF THE STORY... New York City in 1907 is a wonderland of endless possibilities for anyone who dares to dream, and no one has bigger dreams than young Pepper MacClair, a struggling vaudeville chorus girl who craves the Broadway limelight. When Pepper must choose between the love of her life and her beloved Chance Theatre, a run-down venue well past its prime and her home for as long as she can remember, she’ll discover real life doesn’t always go according to script. She’s left heartbroken and betrayed. But as the larger world changes around her...

When a lonely cowpoke goes to see a play, he has no idea how his life will change, but from the moment George lays eyes on Polly Esther, he knows he’s lost. Can taking a job with a traveling show give George the home he has always longed for? He’s already lost his heart to the beautiful young woman with the sunshine hair. Will he lose everything else as well? Polly has her doubts about her father hiring a cowboy to help the manage their traveling show, but she’s learned over the years that her parents don’t make decisions lightly. Still, the handsome George Olson is a distraction. ...

A wild 1970s ride – an adventurous coming of age journey along America’s back roads. At twenty, Jessie Morgan is fed up with just about everything. It’s September 1971 -- time to drop out, tune in, and turn on. She leaves college and Detroit in the rearview mirror, hitting the road in her 1965 yellow Volkswagen convertible. Wandering byways from Kentucky to Key West to Montana, Jessie is out to experience everything. She didn't count on meeting a man like Twisty. WARNING: BELL-BOTTOM GYPSY is New Adult Fiction recommended for mature readers due to 1970s-era sex, drugs, and cussing.