Colonial India

Cartagena was an important Spanish port and the site of an Inquisition high court, a slave market, a leper colony, a military base, and a prison colony—colonial institutions that imposed order by enforcing Catholicism, cultural and religious boundaries, and prevailing race and gender hierarchies. The city was also simmering with illegal activity, from contraband trade to prostitution to heretical religious practices. Nicole von Germeten's research uncovers scandalous stories drawn from archival research in Inquisition cases, criminal records, wills, and other legal documents.

Chasing Dignity, a New-Era-Dickensian Tale from India, is set in Punjab in the 1980s and 90s. It is the story of a young outcast boy who sets out to succeed in an intolerant Indian society. When Jaggi begins school, no one expects him to make it through primary school, including his teacher. However, despite their low caste, his proud mother is determined to help her son succeed. The story weaves through the centuries-old caste-based social structure still dominating Indian society. Along the way, Jaggi crosses paths with several strong-willed men and women who defy the social norms and ...