While the nation was celebrating Independence from British Rule and singing all praises for the ‘Father of The Nation’ – Mahatma Gandhi, the news of his assassination came as a shock. He was shot in the chest three times while he was walking towards the prayer grounds at the Birla House, New Delhi. The man behind the assassination – Nathuram Godse was a well known nationalist. He was arrested at the crime scene and sentenced to death after a year long trial. The book contains the final speech given by Godse in the court, mentioning the reason behind the drastic step he took. Read more

"The Talented Tenth" by W. E. B. Du Bois advocates for the leadership role of a highly educated elite within the African American community. Du Bois argues that this "Talented Tenth" would guide and uplift the broader population through their intellectual achievements and moral leadership. He stresses the importance of higher education as a means to achieve social progress and combat racial injustice. This essay became a foundational piece in debates over education and social advancement within the African American civil rights movement. Read more

"The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights" is a foundational document of American democracy. It includes the Declaration of Independence, which asserts the colonies' freedom from British rule and outlines the principles of individual rights and self-governance. The Constitution establishes the framework of the federal government, outlining the structure and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution, guarantees essential liberties and protections for individuals, such as freedom of speech, religion, and due process. Together, these documents form the bedrock of American political and legal systems. Read more

It came out of Central Asia, killing one-third of the European population. And among the survivors, a new skepticism arose about life and God and human authority. Here, in this essay by British historian Philip Ziegler, is the story of the plague that ravaged Europe. Read more

This book is an in-depth look at one of the most fascinating kings in ancient history. It follows Ashurbanipal's stronghold on the Assyrian empire. This book also examines the family history of the warrior-king and how impactful both he and Assyria were in the ancient world. Read more

At low tide the hull of the Clotilde can be seen a little even now, in the marsh of Bayou Corne, in Alabama, where she was scuttled and sunk. She was the last ship to bring a cargo of “black ivory” to the United States—stealing into Mobile Bay on a sultry night in August, 1859, only two years before Abraham Lincoln was elected and only five years before Emancipation. The progeny of those last-minute slaves today still live in Alabama, mostly in the untidy clapboard village of Plateau, long also known as African Town. Read more

In this third installment of the Amy Cravitz Nazi death camp series, a new topic from the concentration camp of Auschwitz arises, and that is of Jews that worked with the Nazis to keep Jewish prisoners in check. In order to stay alive and fed, some Jews turned on their own countrymen, spying on them and participating in murders, and torture sessions. These Jewish helpers were referred to as Jewish collaborators, men who helped the Nazis engage in their brutality. In this documented case, we read of a guilty conscience that must relate to the world all the atrocities he committed to keep him and his two sons alive and fed in the camp of Auschwitz. As one would expect, the tale is not for the squeamish nor faint of heart. This 'letter' or short 'diary,' was written in German and translated into English by Amy. The other two diaries she previously published had been originally written in Polish before their subsequent translations into English.Here, recollections and hideous memories haunt the collaborator, who hints that he may be nearing a death of his own, where he awaits to answer to a much higher calling. And so, we wonder if this final diary in letter form, is an attempt to ease his tortured conscience. More than likely, it is, but it is also a brutal reminder, nonetheless, of a part of history that did happen but is sometimes swept under the rug for expedience's sake. There is, however, no rug sweeping in this expose, and the reader is cautioned that sometimes real life can be more horrifying than a million horror movies combined. Read with extreme caution. Read more

Alexander Selkirk had always exhibited a rebellious nature. Born in 1676 in Fife, Scotland, he was the offspring of a tanner. During his childhood, he gained a reputation for mischief and restlessness, frequently finding himself in trouble. At the age of 17, he had his first encounter with the authorities when he was charged with indecent conduct in a church. A few years later, Alexander unintentionally consumed salt water, which his younger brother found amusing and laughed at. However, instead of responding to the light teasing in a typical manner, Alexander reacted aggressively, almost shooting his brother before being subdued by onlookers. Alexander's extraordinary tail saw him travel the world as both pirate and privateer, and eventually marooned alone, with no help on the horizon. Read more

Chamberlain’s poignant tale delves into one man’s first-hand account of the Battle of Appomattox Court House in April 1865. In the midst of a brutal battle, Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee rallies his exhausted, injured troops against General Ulysses S. Grant’s Union Army. In close coordination with Grant, Major General Philip Sheridan sends orders to the Cavalry Corps to guide the troops up to Appomattox Station, confident that victory is imminent. As Sheridan and Grant’s troops square across the enemy’s front, the hour has come that will determine whether each soldier lives or dies. Until a messenger arrives from General Lee with a single white towel, shaped into a flag, that has the potential to change everything. Having agreed on a brief truce, soldiers from both sides who previously had only one order – to destroy their opponents – are conversing amicably. As the truce comes to an end and Lee is nowhere to be seen, the soldiers prepare to put aside their new found friendships and resume the destruction they are, by now, so accustomed to. However, Lee and Grant soon arrive; after some discussion, Lee’s decision is made – his one chosen word will determine the course of this crucial moment in American history – surrender. As the troops unite with their opponents to laugh, share food and discuss the destruction that has dictated their existence for so long, they reflect on the lives of those who did not survive long enough to experience this miraculous moment. Finally, all troops lay down their weapons and face one another no longer as combatants, but as humans. Filled with vivid imagery, expert-storytelling and profound thoughts on war and surrender, Chamberlain’s historical narrative will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) was a college professor from Maine who volunteered for the Union Army in 1862. Awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg, he ended the war a Brevet Major General. A Republican, after the war he entered politics, serving four consecutive terms of office as the Governor of Maine. Read more

Less than 100 years after they had hurled themselves out of the desert, Arabs were building in Spain a civilization that lasted almost 800 years and cast a bright ray of light into the Dark Ages of Europe. Here, in this essay by the acclaimed British historian Gerald Brenan, is the story of Moorish Spain. Read more

What is the future of U.S. Landpower? This is another way of asking: What is the future of the U.S. Army? The Army has been the most important of the three major military services over the past decade, mainly because of the prominence of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The Air Force and especially the Navy have played secondary roles in those conflicts. I have spoken with more than a few officers from those two services over the past decades who have complained about how all the attention focused on Afghanistan and Iraq has been detrimental to the interests of the Air Force and the Navy.This situation is likely to change significantly in the next 2 decades, and the Army is likely to be treated as the least important of the three services, which means it will be allocated less of the Pentagon’s resources than either the Air Force or the Navy. Indeed, the Army will probably have to work extremely hard to secure large numbers of defense dollars. Read more

A concise guide to the Normandy invasion with facts, maps, historical significance, strategies, and more.Operation Overlord, commonly referred to as “D-Day,” was the Allied invasion to secure a foothold in northern France to enable the final offensive into Germany. The Normandy invasion would be the largest combined air-sea assault landing in history. This massive feat would finally enable the Allies to deploy forces on the continent, of sufficient size and scale, to bring about the beginning of the end of Hitler and his Third Reich.Learn how General Eisenhower managed to attack German weakness with Allied strength as well as how intelligence and deception were crucial to the outcome.The Battle Digest summary includes all the key aspects of the campaign and battle, including maps, images, and lessons learned. Read more

General William Howe had a reputation as a bold, resourceful commander. Yet in battle after battle, he had George Washington beaten - and failed to pursue the advantage. Was "Sir Billy" all glitter and no gold? Or was he actually in sympathy with the rebellion? Here, in this short-form book by New York Times bestselling author Thomas Fleming are the answers. Read more

The hunt for red crawfish is the thing, the raison d'etre, of Acadian spring. Introduced to Louisiana by the swamp dwellers of the Atchafalaya Basin, the crawfish is a regional favorite that has spurred a $210 million industry. Whole families work at the same fisheries, and annual crawfish festivals dominate the social calendar. More importantly, no matter the occasion, folks take their boils seriously: they'll endure line cutters, heat and humidity, mosquitoes and high gas prices to procure crawfish for their families' annual backyard boils or their corporate picnics. Join author Sam Irwin as he tells the story--complete with recipes and tall tales--of Louisiana's favorite crustacean: the crawfish. Read more

"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."—Seng-ts'anThe Hsin-Hsin Ming, Verses on the Faith-Mind by Seng-ts'an, the third Chinese patriarch of Zen, is considered to be the first Chinese Zen document. Lucidly translated here by Richard B. Clark, it remains one of the most widely-admired and elegant of Zen writings, and is as relevant today as it was when it was written. In a world where stress seems unavoidable, Seng-ts'an's words show us how to be fully aware of each moment. Read more

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One of the most extraordinary acts of resistance by a woman in Auschwitz-Birkenau occurred on October 23, 1943. A woman named Franceska Mann shot SS-Oberscharführer (Quarter Master Sergeant), Josef Schillinger, in the undressing room of Crematorium II, after stealing his gun, rather than be murdered by gassing. Read more

Iranian Hostage Crisis: 444 Days That Broke an Empire thrusts you into a gripping tale of defiance and desperation that rocked the world. On November 4, 1979, Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seizing 52 Americans in a standoff that lasted 444 days and humbled a superpower. From the collapse of the Shah’s opulent reign to Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolutionary ascent, this book captures the raw tension of a nation reborn and a giant brought to its knees. Relive the failed desert rescue, Canada’s cunning escape, and the political firestorm that ended one presidency and ushered in another under Ronald Reagan.A swift, powerful summary of a world shaking crisis. Iranian students took hostages, demanding the Shah’s return. Khomeini rose, the U.S. Embassy fell, and a rescue burned in the desert. Canada saved six, oil markets shook, Carter faltered, and Reagan won freedom after 444 days. Read more

Christmas Eve, 1941. Mere days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met at the White House. As war raged throughout the world, the two leaders delivered a powerful message of hope that still resonates today.Bestselling author and renowned historian David McCullough relates a compelling story about the spirit of Christmas and the power of light to shine in difficult, dangerous times. Also sharing the stories behind the songs "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," this beautifully designed book is filled with historic photographs and uplifting messages that will bring the Christmas spirit home to your family.In the Dark Streets Shineth also includes a DVD of David McCullough's presentation of this story at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2009 Christmas concert. Read more

Sylvia Caldwell was onboard the Titanic when it sank in 1912. As one of the disaster's survivors, she took it upon herself to write an account of what happened in the event's aftermath. Women of the Titanic Disaster details Sylvia Caldwell's journey immediately following the sinking of the Titanic, and it gives us a fresh perspective on this historic event. With a foreword by Julie Hedgepeth Williams, author of A Rare Titanic Family: The Caldwells' Story of Survival, a biography of Sylvia Caldwell and her family. Read more