Romane

Utterly confident in its brave defense of a notorious character, The Life of Cesare Borgia is a must read for any serious scholar of the period or a fan of the Borgias.Sabatini pulls off a polemic against the historians who disparage the Borgias because he relies on evidence and a superior understanding of the human psyche, also bolstered by a few truths of Machiavelli.I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope to read more courageous efforts by biographers in the future. (Awet Moges)

Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 - 13 February 1950) was an Italian-English writer of romance and adventure novels.Rafael Sabatini was born in Iesi, Italy, to an English mother, Anna Trafford, and Italian father, Vincenzo Sabatini. His parents were opera singers who then became teachers.After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. In 1905, he married Ruth Goad Dixon, the daughter of a Liverpool merchant. It took Sabatini roughly a quarter of a century of hard work before he attained success with Scaramouche in 1921. The novel, an historical romance set during the French Revolution, became an international bestseller. It was followed by the equally successful Captain Blood (1922). All of his earlier books were rushed into reprints, the most popular of which was The Sea Hawk (1915). Sabatini was a prolific writer; he produced a new book approximately every year and maintained a great deal of popularity with the reading public through the decades that followed.Several of his novels were adapted into films during the silent era, and the first three of these books were made into notable films in the sound era, in 1940, 1952, and 1935 respectively. His third novel Bardelys the Magnificent was made into a famous 1926 "lost" film of the same title, directed by King Vidor, starring John Gilbert, and long viewable only in a fragment excerpted in Vidor's silent comedy Show People (1928). A few intact reels have recently been discovered in Europe. The fully restored version premièred on TCM on 11 January 2010.Two silent adaptations of Sabatini novels which do survive intact are Rex Ingram's Scaramouche (1923) starring Ramón Novarro, and The Sea Hawk (1924) directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Milton Sills. The 1940 film The Sea Hawk, with Errol Flynn, is not a remake but a wholly new story which just used the title. A silent version of Captain Blood (1924), starring J. Warren Kerrigan, is partly lost, surviving only in an incomplete copy in the Library of Congress. The Black Swan (1942) was filmed starring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara. (wikipedia.org)

Two years have passed in England since the events that brought paranormal evil to southern England. It also brought together retired Chief Inspector, Geoffrey Spencer, and internationally renowned Psychic, Caroline De Winter, two people from vastly different backgrounds. (See 'Queen Anne's Curse') Now, as the memories fade, we find Caroline and Geoffrey recently married and embarking on their honeymoon to the idyllic Mediterranean island of Crete. Evil forces quickly shatter their honeymoon, posing a threat to Caroline, Geoffrey, and their friends. All this unrest seems to stem from a contaminated area at Rodin point, a few miles outside the city. Since 1944, a past top secret site run by the German SS and staffed by a team of top physicists has been closed it to the public, and it is widely believed that it is highly toxic, even now containing lethal doses of radiation. In Crete, Caroline and Geoffrey make friends with the local police captain, Dimitris and his English wife, Angela, while visiting a tourist spot. But things take an ominous turn when a young teenager appears at the site and Caroline realises she is the only one who can see her. Within days, the idyllic honeymoon takes a darker turn. It turns out that Dimitris' father was also a commander in the same precinct and vanished mysteriously, allegedly killed in a shootout with German deserters. However, they denied his wife the chance to see the body or attend the funeral. As Dimitris tries to discover the truth, Caroline discovers shocking evidence that changes everything, but she cannot tell Dimitris or even her husband without putting their lives in danger. A German female tourist arrives who is not all she appears to be, and a columnist from a national news magazine, complicate matters. All from different backgrounds, they all have a connection with the island mystery, but are their interests in discovering the truth or suppressing it?All turn to Caroline for answers. Caroline must navigate a hard path to soothe the unease in the spirit world and ensure that the secret of Ronin Point remains undisclosed. The Dark Island is a book that draws on factual information and follows three separate time lines, taking the reader from the end of WW2 to the heart of America's space program in the 60s. This book is one of the most complex ones that I have written. It will keep you guessing until the shocking Finale.

This story of a Shan family starts during the Japanese occupation of Burma in WWII when two artifactsof immense cultural importance changed hands. From the Kachin Hills of Northern Burma in 1942, thenarrative travels to Thailand, Japan, and from there to the United States, eventually ending in Texas.

1146 - Edessa falls to the forces of Zengi. In response, Pope Eugene III preaches the Second Crusade. His call to arms is heard all over Europe, even in the remote town of Coningsburgh where William de Warenne is inspired to take the cloth cross. However, he soon finds that religious zeal is one thing, but the harsh realities of fighting a jihad driven enemy in a torrid climate are quite another.

Aurelius Ambrosius is the rightful king of Britannia. He has built up an army like the Roman legions of old, but he knows it is not enough. If he is to win the support of his fellow Britons he must find the Sword of Albion to prove his right to the kingship. But others are looking for that sword, among them, the "proud tyrant", Vortigern. Aurelius goes on a perilous quest through crumbling Roman cities, the rugged Pennines and Angle-occupied territory, while Vortigern tries everything to stop him, including making a fake sword, but while these two Britons are battling for supremacy, the Angles and Saxons, led by Hengest, are invading from the North Sea.

"Athens" is a sprawling family saga set against the backdrop of Athens, Georgia, that captures the heart and soul of a place and its people. The Porter-Hall family is a cast of unforgettable characters, each with their own unique story to tell.Through the use of magical realism, the author weaves together the disparate threads of these lives, creating a tapestry of human experience that is both profound and moving. The journals, letters, and diaries are like snapshots of a moment in time, offering a glimpse into the hopes, dreams, and struggles of these ordinary yet extraordinary people.The Colonel's anecdotes are a testament to the power of storytelling, revealing the universal truths that underlie our human experience. And the characters themselves are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, enduring loss, pain, and hardship with a grace and dignity that is truly inspiring.But what makes "Athens" truly remarkable is the way in which it captures the essence of a place and its people. Like Steinbeck's "East of Eden" or "The Grapes of Wrath," this is a book that speaks to the soul of America, and to the fundamental struggles and aspirations that define us as a people.In the end, "Athens" is a masterpiece of American literature, a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. It is a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit, and a reminder of the infinite capacity of the human heart for love, loss, and redemption.

This volume of Northern Appalachian poetry employs many traditional and modern poetic forms to survey the human and natural landscapes of that unique and often overlooked region. Featured forms include the sonnet, ballad, haiku, ode, villanelle, elegy, found poem, epigram, narrative poem, and blank and free verse. Topics are as varied as the delicacy of the region's wildflowers, the devastation wrought by mountaintop removal mining, Northern Appalachian folklore, and the state of the region's working class.

Colonies in Ruins is a collection of intriguing short-stories about foreign colonies of the Asia-Pacific region-British Malaya, French Indochina, the Dutch East Indies, and the US Philippine Islands. For a very long time, these colonies had generated fabulous wealth from mining and agriculture for their colonial masters, but colonial life came to an end on December 8, 1941 as they were each attacked by Japanese forces soon after the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was devastated. Following three years of harsh Japanese occupation, the clear focus of local people was to gain independence from foreign powers that tried to reclaim their former colonies. Hard-won battles and negotiations finally led to the emergence of Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines as new republics in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Read about the men and women who helped make it all happen.

An unforgettable tale of love, loss and betrayal from an exciting new Australian voice in historical fiction.In stark contrast to her own childhood during the last days of the Raj in India, the spectacular beauty surrounding their home, Rathgarven in Ireland has proven to be a happy place for Kathleen O'Sullivan and her husband, James, to raise their four children. But Kathleen is no stranger to heartbreak, and when the family is faced with losing everything, she knows they will need to adapt to survive. Even if that means leaving their beloved home and moving to Australia to start afresh.Lillie O'Sullivan knows that her mother and father haven't been entirely truthful about the reasons for their move to Australia. But as they settle into their new home in rural New South Wales she is willing to give it a chance. That is, until the secrets her parents have kept for so long finally catch up with them.Secrets that have the power to destroy their family and ruin their future.From the vibrant colours of India to the meadows of Ireland to the harsh but beautiful Australian land, a family fight for their future

"Through Wind and Cloud: Blue Jays Moving" is an enchanting investigation into the charming universe of blue jay movement, digging into the surprising excursion these birds attempt through the unique powers of wind and cloud. In this fastidiously created account, perusers are welcome to observe the sensational peculiarity of blue jays crossing huge distances, disentangling the mysteries of their organic ability and transformative importance. The story takes off in the early on parts, laying out a clear representation of blue jays as more than simple avian animals; they are drifters driven by a natural craving for new experiences. As the story unfurls, perusers are acquainted with the many-sided science and conduct of these birds, offering a more profound comprehension of the inspirations driving their transient impulses. "Through Wind and Cloud" takes a piercing turn in the part named "Flight Day," where perusers are submerged in the profound elements of the blue jay rush as they get ready to leave on their burdensome excursion. The story catches the embodiment of takeoff, investigating the signs and triggers that fast movement and the piercing ceremonies that mark this critical second in the blue jays' lives. The excursion through wind and weather conditions is distinctively portrayed in "Exploring the Components," representing the difficulties blue jays face as they explore different landscapes. This part winds around stories of strength and flexibility, depicting the blue jay local area as gutsy explorers beating natural hindrances earnestly. The story's heart lies in "Stories of the Sky," where individual accounts of blue jays become fully awake, exhibiting their remarkable characters and connections inside the transitory local area. As the homestretch is arrived at in the penultimate section, perusers share in the victories and afflictions of the herd, encountering the strong landing in their objective and considering the groundbreaking idea of movement. "Through Wind and Cloud: Blue Jays Progressing" comes full circle with a strong investigation of human association with these lofty birds, looking at social importance, old stories, and the aggregate endeavors to save and safeguard blue jay natural surroundings. This story fills in as a source of inspiration, moving perusers to see the value in the interconnectedness of biological systems and add to the safeguarding of these uncommon avian excursions.

2029: Newly inaugurated President MacArthur White resigned after only two weeks. Feigning a late Covid attack, he feared indictment for inciting a riot that left a Native American at death's door. Going on the lam, he weaves his way through family issues and being kidnapped into a hidden "militia" camp in his struggle to recapture political viability. Can Mac come back?