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Parallel Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans is a series of biographies of famous men, arranged in tandem to illuminate their common moral virtues or failings. The surviving lives contain twenty-three pairs of biographies, each pair consisting of one Greek and one Roman, as well as four unpaired, single lives. Plutarch was not concerned with writing histories, as such, but in exploring the influence of character, good or bad, on the lives and destinies of famous men. The first pair of lives the Epaminondas-Scipio Africanus no longer exists, and many of the remaining lives are truncated, contain obvious lacunae and/or have been tampered with by later writers. His Life of Alexander is one of the five surviving secondary or tertiary sources about Alexander the Great and it includes anecdotes and descriptions of incidents that appear in no other source. Likewise, his portrait of Numa Pompilius, an early Roman king, also contains unique information about the early Roman calendar. In this copy-right expired 11-volume translation from the Loeb Classical library, the order of the paired lives is rearranged to present the Greek lives in chr...

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Biography, History

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Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43BC) was an orator, statesman, philosopher and prolific correspondent, who rose as a ‘new man’ in Rome in the turbulent last years of its republican government. Anthony Trollope, best known as a novelist, admired Cicero greatly and wrote this biography late in life in order to argue his virtues against authors who had granted him literary greatness but questioned his strength as a politician and as a man. He takes a personal approach, affording us an insight into his own mind and times as well as those of his subject. This second volume of two covers his last years, BC 57-43 and the personal and political upheavals that surrounded them: the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, the death of his daughter Tullia, Caesar's dictatorship and assassination, Cicero's antagonism against Antony in the Philippics and his final struggle for the republic. Having used Cicero's letters and speeches to guide his biography, Trollope treats his other works (what he terms 'moral essays', and works on philosophy and rhetoric), and his religious beliefs, in separate chapters at the end of this volume, to which is also appende...

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Biography

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In his vital, illustrative and dynamic autobiography, Theodore Roosevelt let us into the life that formed one of the greatest and outspoken presidents in American history. Not only are we privy to the formation of his political ideals, but also to his love of the frontier and the great outdoors. (Summary from Bartleby.com)...

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History, Biography, Memoirs, Politics

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Ambassador Morgenthau’s memoirs of his years in the service of the United States in Constantinople, (today Istanbul), are an important primary historical resource for the study of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide. During this genocide, approximately 1,500,000 Armenians living in Anatolia were murdered in an attempt to rid Turkey of its non-Turkish populations. Mr. Morgenthau left Turkey a frustrated man, having done all that he was able through diplomatic circles to halt the murders, to no avail. Today, Turkey’s official position is that their attempt to annihilate the Armenian population in Turkey was not a genocide. In 2010, the American House Foreign Relations Committee passed House Resolution 252, officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide. “If we hope to stop future genocides we need to admit to those horrific acts of the past. When Hitler had to convince his cohorts that the world would let them get away with it, he turned to them and said, ‘Who today speaks of the annihilation of the Armenians?’,” said Congressman Brad Sherman, co-sponsor of the resolution. “The last act of any genocide is gen...

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Memoirs, Biography, History, Politics

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David Davy Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet “King of the Wild Frontier.” He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas Revolution, and died at the Battle of the Alamo. This narrative attempts faithfully to record the influences under which David Crockett was reared and the incidents of his wild and wondrous life. It begins with his ancestors' immigration to the American wilderness, his adventures among the Indians, his political career in Tennessee and beyond, and ending with his heroic stand at the Alamo. (Summary by Brett W. Downey)...

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Adventure, Biography, History

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A collection of ten short nonfiction works in the public domain. The essays, speeches and reports included in this collection were independently selected by the readers, and the topics encompass history, politics science and religion. Included in this collection are Martin Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses,” Jefferson Davis’ speech before the United States Senate in 1861 “On Withdrawing from the Union,” William E. Gladstone’s address delivered in the House of Commons in 1893 on “Irish Home Rule” and Wendell Phillips speech in 1837 in Fanuiel Hall in Boston regarding “The Murder of Lovejoy.” You will also find here an epistolary essay by François Marie Arouet de Voltaire “On Lord Bacon,” a letter from Samuel Clemens commenting on the inclusion of Jesus in the list of “One Hundred Greatest Men,” “On Applauding Preachers” by Saint John Chrysostom, an essay by Alice Meynell on “Solitude,” and the entry on Captain Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard) from “The Pirates Who’s Who” by Philip Gosse. (summary by J. M. Smallheer)...

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Essay/Short nonfiction, Biography, History, Politics, Science, Religion

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What is it that makes Kate Nicolaisen's life history so interesting? One of the answers is the way she tells it. Despite often having lived a hard life, particularly during her childhood, Kate Nicolaisen has never lost her optimism. Despite being wounded deeply by her nearest and dearest, she has herself been able to heal the wounds. Kate Nicolaisen's flair for storytelling rests on a solid foundation of socio-political understanding, great humanity, and a sharp sense for detail. Her joy of storytelling is almost musical, the dimensions are psychological, the contents earthy and realistic. The book contains aspects of the history of the social conditions of the 1910s, 20s, and 30s, including the relations between parents and children. The book also deals with the psychological aspects of the relations between father and daughter, and stepmother and daughter. And it touches on the use of art as therapy and release from the traumas of childhood. Its literary aspects include the use of the autobiography as a tool for self-development and the use of the folk story to find avenues into the past....

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Over the "canal" was a bridge. When I sat on the bridge, I could reach the water with my feet. It felt like soft caressing when the water glided past. Here I could sit with my own thoughts . . . melancholy thoughts. I could see my own mirror image. My tattered dress, my thin fair hair, my eyes, by skinny arms - at the bottom of the stream. It all seemed to move in the rushing water. If I lay down at the bottom! Then I would feel the water caressing my entire body. Then father would come and find me. He would stand over the stream and see me like I saw my mirror image. He would become enraged! Maybe he would pick me up and start beating me. But I would no longer be able to feel the blows - his power over me would be broken!...

Table of Contents Details
Birth, Father, Strussliden (1910-16), Klara, To Gammalstorp (1916), Life and death (1917), Mother going to hospital, Mother's coffin, The funeral, "Miss", "Miss" becomes Mrs., To Ballingslöv (1918), To Eslöv (autumn 1918), To Bjärnum (winter 1918), Clogs, Puppy love, To Duvemölla (1919), The river, Tunes, Everyday life in Duvemölla (1919-24), Domestic animals and pets, Downhill, Berries and flowers, Fish, The tailor, Uncle Persson, Potatoes (autumn 1923), At Ingrid and Jon's (1924), The surroundings, School days (1919-26), Our Lord, Father went berserk, Summer visitors, Playing, Mirror images, Hard times, Jane is born, New little sister, Salted herring and potatoes (1922), Uncle Erik, Spring 1923, The forest, The sow, The marksman, The blue suit, The Spanish flu, Tuberculosis, Canada, Father leaves, No father - no money, From Duvemölla to Lindborg's house, Summer job (1924), Making soup on a nail, Another move (autumn 1924), Gypsies, The birch grove, Income, Notice of home coming, Father returns, The America trunk, Dancing with father, Winding up, A bitter taste, Concert for two, The school, Auntie Emma, Father and Mary leaves, At E...

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Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the premier movers in the original women’s rights movement, along with Susan B. Anthony, her best friend for over 50 years. While Elizabeth initially stayed home with her husband and many babies and wrote the speeches, Susan went on the road to bring the message of the women’s rights movement to an often hostile public. When black men were given the vote in 1870, Susan and Elizabeth led the women’s rights establishment of the time to withhold support for a bill that would extend to black men the rights still denied for women of all colors. The two women worked for over 50 years on the women’s rights cause, yet neither lived to see women get the right to vote when it finally came in 1920.Elizabeth begins her memoirs with this quotation, Social science affirms that woman's place in society marks the level of civilization, and dedicates this book to “Susan B. Anthony, my steadfast friend for half a century. (Summary by Becky Miller)...

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Biography, History, Instruction, Memoirs, Politics, Religion

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In this biography for young people, Calista McCabe Courtenay takes the reader from George Washington the surveyor to his early military career, first as a colonel in the Virgina militia and then as a member of General Braddock'a staff during the French and Indian War. He later commanded the Virginia forces before joining the First Continental Congress. Much of the book is devoted to his campaigns during the American Revolution. At the end, we see him as President for two terms. (Summary by Bill Boerst)...

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Children, Biography, History, Teen/Young adult, War stories, Politics

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François-Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture (1743-1803) rose to fame in 1791 during the Haitian struggle for independence. In this revolt, he led thousands of slaves on the island of Hispañola to fight against the colonial European powers of France, Spain and England. The former slaves ultimately established the independent state of Haiti and expelled the Europeans. L’Ouverture eventually became the governor and Commander-In-Chief of Haiti before recognizing and submitting to French rule in 1801. In June of 1802, L’Ouverture was arrested by French forces and taken to France where he was imprisoned at Joux. There he penned his autobiography “. . . to render to the French government an exact account of my conduct.” L’Ouverture died in prison on April 7, 1803 from pneumonia. Although L’Ouverture died a captive of the French, the revolution he led was historically perhaps the most significant world event opposing slavery. It precipitated a re-examination--among the major European powers as well as those in the new world--of the right of all mankind to be free and self-governing. John Relly Beard, an English minister, wrote The Life of Tous...

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Adventure, Biography, History, Memoirs, Politics, War stories

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Leander Stillwell was an 18-year-old Illinois farm boy, living with his family in a log cabin, when the U.S. Civil War broke out. Stillwell felt a duty to help save the Nation; but, as with many other young men, his Patriotism was tinged with bravura: the idea of staying at home and turning over senseless clods on the farm with the cannon thundering so close at hand . . . was simply intolerable. Stillwell volunteered for the 61st Illinois Infantry in January 1861. His youthful enthusiasm for the soldier's life was soon tempered at Shiloh, where he first saw a gun fired in anger, and saw a man die a violent death. Stillwell's recounting of events is always vivid, personal, and engrossing. I distinctly remember my first shot at Shiloh . . . The fronts of both lines were . . . shrouded in smoke. I had my gun at a ready, and was trying to peer under the smoke in order to get a sight of our enemies. Suddenly I heard someone in a highly excited tone calling to me from just in my rear, --'Stillwell! Shoot! Shoot! Why don't you shoot?' I looked around and saw that this command was being given by . . . our second lieutenant, who was wild wit...

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Biography, History, Memoirs, War stories

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Peter Kropotkin was a Russian anarcho-communist and scientist. This is his autobiography, and he writes not only about his own life, but also about 19th century Russian society and politics. He was born into the nobility and had a military education, but he gradually abandoned the values of his social class and became an anti-authoritarian socialist, opposed to both the rule of the Tsars and to the seizing of power by the authoritarian Bolsheviks. He was also interested in literature, biology, economics and geographical exploration. This second and last volume of his memoirs covers his time in St Petersburg, his time in prison, and his journeys in Western Europe. ( Summary by Elin )...

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Biography, History

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This biography is actually a series of essays by prominent personalities of the time that shed light on John Stuart Mill's life and areas of endeavor. Those areas include his experiences in India House, his moral character, certain botanical explorations, how effective he was as a critic, studies in morals and the law, and discoveries concerning political economy. They also explore ideas concerning his influence on institutions of higher learning, accomplishments as a politician, and fame as a philosopher. (Summary by Bill Boerst)...

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Biography, Economics/Political Economy, History, Philosophy, Nature, Politics

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This investigation of Bacon the scholar and man of letters begins with a look at the early days ang progresses to his relationships with Queen Elizabeth and James I. It includes accounts of his positions as solicitor general, attorney-general, and chancellor. The book concludes with Bacon's failure, his overall philosophy, and summaries of his writings. ( Summary by Bill Boerst )...

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Biography, Economics/Political Economy, History, Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Science