English Renaissance

Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick is an outstanding collection of stories about love and migration, gender and class, racism and sexism that proudly reflect African-American folk culture. Brought together for the first time in one volume, they include eight of Hurston’s "lost" Harlem stories, which were found in forgotten periodicals and archives. These stories challenge conceptions of Hurston as an author of rural fiction and include gems that flash with her biting, satiric humor, as well as more serious tales.

For as long as language and communication have existed, humans have invented ways to mask their messages from prying eyes. One could be forgiven for assuming there are no ciphers left unsolved. On the contrary, a diverse array of both ancient and modern cryptographic challenges, which have stumped even the most seasoned code crackers of today, exist, and may exist for generations to come. Among the most famous of these memorandums is a 600-year-old document that continues to mystify: the Voynich Manuscript.

They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally best-selling author Philippa Gregory brings the Plantagenets to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women.

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author behind the upcoming Starz original series The White Princess, a gripping new Tudor story featuring King Henry VIII's sisters Mary and Margaret, along with Katherine of Aragon, vividly revealing the pivotal roles the three queens played in Henry VIII's kingdom.

A dazzling and ambitious history of the pre-Columbian Atlantic seas, Ocean is a story that begins with the formation of the mid-Atlantic ridge some 200 million years ago and ends with the Castilian conquest of the Canary Islands in the fifteenth century, providing a template for the methods used by the Spanish in their colonization of the New World.

Harlem, 1926. Young Black women like Louise Lloyd are ending up dead. Following a harrowing kidnapping ordeal when she was in her teens, Louise is doing everything she can to maintain a normal life. She’s succeeding, too. She spends her days working at Maggie’s Café and her nights at the Zodiac, Harlem’s hottest speakeasy. Louise’s friends, especially her girlfriend, Rosa Maria Moreno, might say she’s running from her past and the notoriety that still stalks her, but don’t tell her that.

The newest novel from #1 New York Times best-selling author and "queen of royal fiction" ( USA Today) Philippa Gregory tells the passionate story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen, who gets caught in the middle of a battle for the crown of England. A princess from birth, Elizabeth fell in love with Richard III, though her mother made an arranged betrothal for her with the pretender to the throne: Henry Tudor. When Henry defeats Richard against all odds, Elizabeth has to marry the man who murdered her lover in battle.

A philosophical exploration of alchemy set in Europe during the late Medieval period through the Renaissance. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of "Alchemy and Secrets," where the ancient pursuit of transforming base metals into gold intertwines with the quest for spiritual enlightenment. This thought-provoking book unveils the dual nature of alchemy, revealing its role not only as a precursor to modern chemistry but also as a profound spiritual journey that shapes our understanding of self and the cosmos. As you turn the pages, you will find yourself drawn into the fascinating ...

Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VII's claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporter - Sir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margaret's contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon.

If you want to discover the captivating history of Europe, then this audiobook might be what you're looking for. It includes five books that cover topics like ancient history, influence of ancient Greece and Rome, fall of the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, important events, and much more.

New Zealander Second Lieutenant Neil Rankin and his platoon find themselves on the back foot, with limited supplies and dented morale, facing a coup de grâce from the relentless Axis forces... After the fall of Greece in April 1941, the Allies regroup on the island of Crete to make their next stand against the German forces. Bruised and short of weapons and equipment, the story follows New Zealand troops evacuating the mainland and arriving on Crete, the navel of the Mediterranean. Control of Crete was paramount for dominance of sea and air operations, and the defeat in Greece weighed ...

Dive into the profound world of John Milton, a pivotal figure in the annals of English literature, in "Where More is Meant Than Meets the Ear: The Life and Poetry of John Milton" by John Cousins. This comprehensive biography not only explores Milton's celebrated works such as "Paradise Lost," "Paradise Regained," and "Samson Agonistes" but also delves into the less-trodden paths of his interest in the occult, magic, and his substantial political engagements. John Milton, a poet, polemicist, and civil servant, is a name that resonates in the realm of English literature. Often hailed as one ...

She turned down Henry Tudor. But would she be allowed to marry the man she loved? In 1509 Marguerite d’Angoulême of the royal House of Valois is the King of France’s most valuable unmarried asset. Gaston de Foix is France’s most promising young knight, eager to prove himself on the King’s Italian campaigns. Fanned by chivalric ideals of courtly love, Marguerite and Gaston burn for each other with a secret flame. When Gaston learns that the King intends to marry Marguerite to the Armagnac heir, he is heartbroken. Louis XII needs Armagnac lands for the crown of France. What better ...

Niccolò Rising, book one of the series, finds us in Bruges, 1460. Jousting is the genteel pastime, and successful merchants are, of necessity, polyglot. Street smart, brilliant at figures, adept at the subtleties of diplomacy and the well-timed untruth, Dunnett's hero rises from wastrel to prodigy in a breathless adventure that wins him the hand of the strongest woman in Bruges and the hatred of two powerful enemies.

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness.

Volume Three of 2,000 Years of Christ's Power, in showing the progression of the Reformation era and the daring bravery of its figures, presents a period of history from which there are many lessons to be learnt—not least of all, the vibrancy of people's lives and the courage with which they faced death.

Milan, 1492: When a 16-year-old beauty becomes the mistress of the Duke of Milan, she must fight for her place in the palace—and against those who want her out. Soon, she finds herself sitting before Leonardo da Vinci, who wants to ensure his own place in the palace by painting his most ambitious portrait to date. Munich, World War II: After a modest conservator unwittingly places a priceless Italian Renaissance portrait into the hands of a high-ranking Nazi, she risks her life to recover it, working with an American soldier, part of the famed Monuments Men team, to get it back.

John Donne is one of English literature's most compelling and enigmatic figures. Renowned for his mastery of metaphysical poetry, Donne's work captivates readers with its intricate blend of intellect, emotion, and spirituality. This book, "The Metaphysical Muse: The Life and Poetry of John Donne," aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of his life, poetry, and the enduring legacy that continues to influence and inspire. Donne's life, set against a backdrop of religious and political turmoil, was a series of dramatic shifts and contradictions. From his early years as a fervent poet and ...

The award-winning Beneath the American Renaissance is a classic work on American literature. It immeasurably broadens our knowledge of our most important literary period, as first identified by F.O. Matthiessen’s American Renaissance. With its combination of sharp critical insight, engaging observation, and narrative drive, it represents the kind of masterful cultural history for which David Reynolds is known. Here the major works of Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, and others receive striking, original readings set against the rich backdrop of contemporary popular writing.

In When Plants Dream, Pinchbeck and Rokhlin explore the economic, social, political, cultural and environmental impact that ayahuasca is having on society. "Part One" covers the background; what ayahuasca is, where it is found, and its cultural origins. "Part Two" explores the role and practices of the ayahuasquero in both Amazonian and Western cultures. "Part Three" examines the medicinal plants of the Amazon, looking particularly at the ingredients in ayahuasca and their therapeutic qualities, covering the most up-to-date biomedical research. Plus much more....