Historiske og politiske biografier

Embark on a captivating journey through the tapestry of time with "Threads of Time: An In-depth Historical Overview." This comprehensive exploration delves into the captivating narratives of the past, weaving together the triumphs and tribulations of civilizations, the rise and fall of empires, and the remarkable individuals who shaped our world. Unravel the mysteries of ancient civilizations, from the enigmatic pyramids of Egypt to the majestic ruins of Rome. Witness the birth of groundbreaking philosophies in Greece, the meticulous craftsmanship of the Han Dynasty, and the vibrant cultures of Mesoamerica. Each thread in this tapestry tells a story, offering a glimpse into the lives, beliefs, and innovations that continue to resonate today. Wander through the medieval labyrinths of Europe, where knights and chivalry flourished alongside plagues and political intrigue. Experience the grandeur of Renaissance artistry, the intellectual fervor of the Enlightenment, and the tumultuous revolutions that redefined the social landscape. Every chapter in this historical saga unveils the forces that drove humanity forward, shaping the political, religious, and cultural landscape of the modern world. "Threads of Time" is not merely a passive observer of the past; it is an active participant. This captivating exploration invites you to ponder the choices made by historical figures, analyze the turning points that altered the course of empires, and draw parallels to the challenges and triumphs of our own era. Through insightful analysis and vivid storytelling, this book transforms history from a dusty collection of dates and names into a living, breathing narrative that resonates with the present.

In 1945, John Russell (Russ) Kerr provided a poignant narrative of his experiences as a left gunner on the B-29 Super-fortress engaged in the struggle against Japanese forces. Stationed on Tinian Island in the Mariana Islands of the Pacific Ocean, Russ articulates his wartime journey through a series of handwritten letters addressed to his brother, Robert (Bob) Kerr, and their family in Detroit, Michigan.Despite some letters enduring damage in a basement flood, Bob preserved this collection as a historical treasure for his family and future generations, maintaining the original spellings and phrasing. Russ's letters offer a vivid portrayal of daily life on the island as he awaited bombing missions over Japan, recounting the challenges of flying missions against enemy antiaircraft artillery. The sobering reality that not all members of his unit returned from these perilous missions adds a somber tone to his accounts.In addition to the challenges, Russ's letters also capture the camaraderie and humor shared among the airmen. He skillfully weaves tales of their escapades, injecting moments of levity into their wartime existence. The island's entertainment offerings, including movies, appearances by famous baseball players, live performances, and the presence of beer, became crucial elements in sustaining morale.In essence, this book stands as a cherished historical record of the Kerr family and serves as a compelling narrative for anyone with an interest in World War II. The preservation of Russ's original expressions adds an authentic touch, making this account not only informative but a heartfelt and personal contribution to the collective memory of this pivotal period in history.

Escape from Corregidor, first published in 1958, is the harrowing account of Edgar Whitcomb, a B-17 navigator who arrives in World War II Philippines just before its capture by the invading Japanese. He evades the enemy on Bataan by traveling to Corregidor Island in a small boat. However, Whitcomb is captured but later manages to escape at night in an hours-long swim to safety. Captured once again weeks later, Whitcomb is imprisoned, tortured and starved, before being transferred to China and eventual freedom.Whitcomb (1917-2016) served as governor of the state of Indiana from 1969-1973, and in later life made a number of solo sailing voyages before returning to his home state.

Author Helen Muir drew on her journalistic and personal correspondence to provide a memoir of her friendship with poet Robert Frost during the 30 years he wintered in South Miami (between 1934-1963). Frost and his wife, Elinor, brought a property in Miami to escape public life. After Elinor's death, Frost maintained their five-acre home named Pencil Pines, comforting himself with birdwatching and stargazing, cultivating flowers and friendships. Muir's children have taken up the task of releasing the work in paperback with a new foreword and new photos to give readers a fresh look at this iconic memoir written by their mother.

The Extraordinary Life of a Revolutionary Journalist

Eddie Rickenbacker, first published in 1946, is the biography of American World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973). The book portrays Eddie's life through World War II, providing details of his childhood, his career as a race-car driver and owner of the Indianapolis Speedway, his experiences in France as a highly decorated flier, his efforts to create a car company, and finally, his harrowing crash landing in the Pacific in 1942 followed by 24 days adrift at sea. Included are 10 pages of illustrations. Rickenbacker would go on, following the Second World War, to become the long-time head of Eastern Airlines.

"Okamoto-san was an invaluable diplomatic advisor who provided essential knowledge for our foreign visits and meetings with heads of state during my term as Prime Minister of Japan." -- Junichiro Koizumi, former Prime Minister of Japan. "Yukio's inclination to take action, his generosity and openheartedness were exceptional. [...] This book presents his admirable perspective and I will remember him forever." --David Petraeus, former CIA Director As one of Japan's most distinguished and gifted diplomats of his generation, Yukio Okamoto navigated the corridors of political power at the highest levels. In Japan and the United States, Okamoto recounts the compelling story of his diplomatic service and his role as a steadfast advocate for strong Japan-United States relations during an era of political crises, war, and fierce economic competition. During his 20-year career in the Japanese Foreign Ministry and after he left government, Okamoto was an indispensable advisor to several Japanese prime ministers including Ryutaro Hashimoto, Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe. He worked tirelessly to strengthen relations with the United States and the survival of this alliance is due in no small part to Okamoto's influence. This book features contributions from former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph S. Nye, who both worked with Okamoto and share their thoughts on his life, career, and legacy as an influential friend of the United States.

"The son of a celebrated Hollywood director emerges from his father's shadow to claim his own place as a major force in American culture. George Stevens, Jr. tells an intimate and moving tale of his relationship with his Oscar-winning father and his own exciting career in Hollywood and Washington. Fascinating people, priceless stories and a behind-the-scenes view of some of America's major cultural and political events grace this riveting memoir. George Stevens, Jr. grew up in Hollywood working on film classics with his father and writes vividly of his experience on the sets of A Place in the Sun (1951), Shane (1953), Giant (1956) and The Diary of Anne Frank (1958). He explores how the magnitude of his father's talent and achievements left him with questions about his own abilities and future. The younger Stevens began to forge his unique career when the legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow recruited him to work at the United States Information Agency in John F. Kennedy's Washington. He began his service in government by initiating what has been called the Golden Age of USIA filmmaking. In 1967 he became the founding director of the American Film Institute, placing him at the leading edge of culture and politics, shepherding the rescue of thousands of endangered motion pictures, and training a new generation of filmmakers. He created the Kennedy Center Honors and began making distinguished films and television programs that celebrated American culture and explored social justice. He earned an Oscar and other accolades, including fifteen Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and the Humanitas Prize. Stevens provides a fascinating look at a pioneering American family that spans five generations in the performing arts, from the San Francisco stage in the 19th century to Academy Award-winning films, Emmy Award-winning television programs and a Broadway play. He shows us the private side of the dazzling array of people who cross his path, including Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, Robert and Ethel Kennedy, Yo-Yo Ma, Cary Grant, James Dean, Bruce Springsteen, Barack and Michelle Obama, and many more. In My Place in the Sun, George Stevens, Jr. shares his lifelong passion for film and commitment to the performing arts. He provides an insightful look at Hollywood's Golden Age and an insider's account of life in Washington as he collaborated with presidents, power brokers, media moguls and social activists. This magnificent and delightful memoir brings to life a sparkling era of American history and culture"--

A portrait of a brilliant journalist and tireless campaigner for justice

Churchill: The Scottish Years tells the incredible story of how the god-fearing teetotaller Edwin Scrymgeour fought and won an election against Britain's most famous politician. The story begins with their first electoral contest in 1908 and follows their political rivalry over the next five elections until Scrymgeour's eventual victory in 1922.

The story of survival and courage. Written by a Vietnam veteran who served three tours of duty. Follow a journey of love, loss, and endurance from the threat of jail, to an armed conflict, and finally a happy home.

Duel of Wits, first published in 1953 (and including the earlier published book Of Their Own Choice) is Peter Churchill's account of his experiences with the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) in France during World War II. The S.O.E., similar to the American O.S.S. (predecessor of the C.I.A.) was formed to conduct espionage and sabotage in occupied Europe, and to aid local resistance movements. The book describes Churchill's training in England and his four missions into occupied France, including two harrowing night-time parachute drops and two submarine landings. Notable too is the underlying love story with Odette Sansom, another Allied agent (code-named Lise), who along with Churchill were captured, imprisoned, and tortured for two years until the war's end. Churchill's narrative ends with their capture by the Germans; his prison experiences are related in The Spirit in the Cage, published in 1954.

Defeat in the West, first published in 1948, is a well-documented, comprehensive account of Germany's loss in World War Two, based on author Milton Shulman's interviews with top German generals, corroborated by his fact-checking research (Shulman was an officer on the Intelligence Staff of the Canadian Army). As stated in the Introduction, the book's objectives were to tell the story of the defeat of the German Wehrmacht (Armed Forces) in western Europe, to investigate the causes that brought about that defeat, and to show how soldiers, from commanders to foot-soldiers, reacted to the bitter experience of defeat. Defeat in the West, unlike many books in the genre, succeeds in making this important topic understandable and is a true pleasure to read. Included are 7 maps.

Deliver Us From Evil, first published in 1956, is Dr. Tom Dooley's moving account of his humanitarian work in the newly divided Vietnam aboard U.S. Navy refugee ships and in refugee camps in the turbulent years of 1954-55. The book focuses on American efforts to evacuate Vietnamese from Communist-controlled areas, and Dooley's work in camps, hospitals and orphanages with those needing medical care. Included are 32 pages of photographs. Dooley, born in 1927, passed away in 1961 from cancer at the age of 34. Deliver Us From Evil was the first of 3 books he wrote about his experiences in Vietnam and Laos. Thomas Dooley's too-short life remains an inspiration, and was cited as an example by President John F. Kennedy during the formation of the Peace Corps. Dooley's work with orphaned children continues today via the Dooley Foundation-Intermed International.

I wrote this book for my family. It is about Angela's Life from birth to the present. How Angela managed to survive it all and came out on top.

This book traces the life of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), who is rightly revered as one of the greatest of all engineers. His leading role in the transport revolution of the nineteenth century, and especially in the building of the Great Western Railway, left an indelible mark on the British landscape. His achievements captured the imagination of his contemporaries and subsequent generations, whilst his colossal energy and determination to carry out projects on the largest scale and to an extremely high standard set him apart from his rivals. Brunel tells the story both of the engineer, who followed his father Marc into what was then a new profession, and of the man. It explores his successes and failures, at home and abroad, including both the broad gauge GWR and the SS Great Eastern, as R. Angus Buchanan expertly brings out Brunel's imagination, drive and inventiveness. Above all, it sets him in the context of his times, showing both what made him who he was and how he made the most of the great opportunities offered to him.

Ice & Oil is indeed a biography of an unlikely titan. Meet Dan Murphy, the man who shaped Los Angeles as the 19th century turned into the 20th century Murphy and his endeavors parallel the history of California. But, because he's shunned renown his name is virtually unknown. Author Joseph Francis Ryan delves into the complex life of Dan Murphy, businessman-turned-tycoon: Mentored by Southern Pacific's Charles Crocker, he built the town of Needles the transfer point for a second transcontinental railroad. His ingenuity made it possible to transport citrus across the country. He honored Mojave culture in and the Native American's respect. He saved the day when Edward Doheny needed money for his oil company. His California Portland Cement Company provided cement for Los Angeles just as it was becoming a 20th century metropolis and for the construction of Boulder dam. "Another important piece of California history has emerged."

Conquer: The Story Of Ninth Army 1944-1945, first published in 1947, is a comprehensive history of the U.S. 9th Army from September 1944, to the end of the war in Europe and the unit's occupation of Germany. Detailed are the 9th Army's activities in Brest and Brittany, the November Offensive, and crossings of the Rhine, Ruhr and Elbe Rivers. Included are numerous photographs and maps, a chronology of events from May 22, 1944 to October 10, 1945, listings of key Headquarters personnel, officers and enlisted men, and unit statistics.

C. Blaine Hyatt spent hours in his father's repair shop as a boy, listening to others tell fascinating stories.Fascinated by their strategies for navigating challenges-and the times in which they lived-he set about writing this collection of stories to preserve their collective history.One lesson he hopes readers will take away is that the things of this world do not matter in the big picture. No one cares what kind of car you have or what position you held. None of the things of this world that we often place so much value on matter much, if at all.When all is said and done, there are really only two things that last: What we have become and the legacy we leave-as in the effect, either good or bad, we have had on others.As you read these stories, the author hopes you will be aware that the water in your life is still flowing under your bridge. Take the time to become who and what you want to be and consider what legacy you will leave with others.

The Coastwatchers, originally published in 1946, is the story of the brave men and women who served behind enemy lines as observers and reporters of enemy movements in the South Pacific during Wold War II. Their dedication in the face of numerous daunting challenges - betrayal by natives, capture by the Japanese, and isolation and loneliness - remains inspiring to this day. Their efforts were critical to the eventual Allied victory in the Pacific.The Coastwatchers was written immediately after the war by Eric Feldt, the first commander of the operation code-named Ferdinand. His intimate knowledge of the operation, and his familiarity with the islands and their people, provide a unique perspective on this important piece of military history. Included in this edition are the original maps, plus a new Introduction by Steve W. Chadde and several pages of photographs.

Jane Eyre is a classic Gothic novel by Charlotte Brontë, published in 1847 under the pseudonym Currer Bell. The novel tells the story of Jane Eyre, an orphaned girl who is raised by her cruel aunt and then sent to a harsh boarding school. After years of suffering, Jane takes a position as a governess at Thornfield Hall, the home of the brooding and mysterious Mr. Rochester. Jane and Mr. Rochester fall in love, but their happiness is short-lived when Jane discovers that Mr. Rochester is already married to a mentally ill woman who is hidden away in the attic. Torn between her love for Mr. Rochester and her moral principles, Jane flees Thornfield and begins a new life for herself. Jane Eyre is a powerful and moving story of love, loss, and redemption. It is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century and has been adapted into numerous films and television shows. Here are some of the things that make Jane Eyre so special:The compelling characters: Jane Eyre is a strong and independent heroine who is not afraid to stand up for herself. Mr. Rochester is a complex and fascinating figure who is both passionate and flawed.The gothic atmosphere: Thornfield Hall is a dark and mysterious place that is full of secrets. The novel is full of suspense and surprises.The timeless themes: Jane Eyre explores themes of love, loss, faith, and identity that are still relevant today. If you are looking for a classic novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, Jane Eyre is the perfect book for you.

"We Can Take It", first published in 1935, is an early history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.). The C.C.C., considered one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's most successful New Deal programs, operated from 1933 to 1942 and provided natural resource-related work for young men, ages 18-25, during the Great Depression. In the program's nine years, 3 million young men participated in the C.C.C. In return for their work, the men received training in a variety of skills, living quarters, clothing, and food, and a small wage of $30 a month ($25 of which had to be sent home to their families). The accomplishments of the C.C.C. remain evident today in the nation's national forests, parks, roads and trails. Included are 10 pages of well-executed pen and ink illustrations.In "We Can Take It", author Ray Hoyt provides an on-the-scene look at the C.C.C. several years after its formation. He was with the men in camp, ate at their mess tables, and read thousands of letters describing their work, their play, their reactions to camp life and their officers, and their thoughts about their families at home and about their government. The book attempts to capture both the tangibles of the program - what the men achieved - as well as the "spirit" of the C.C.C. As the author states, "It is hoped that this short story of the C.C.C. will call general attention to a nation's great attempt to conserve the 'national resources' of the country; to the thousands of young men who are participating in this gigantic 'experiment' in natural and human conservation and rehabilitation; and to the new patriotism that has sprung from their contact with nature, government, and the need of a job."

Can Do!, first published in 1944, is a fascinating account of the formation and Second World War activities of the U.S. Navy 'Seabees' (from 'C.B.' - construction battalion). The book covers projects of the Seabees throughout the South Pacific, the Aleutian Islands, and in Italy, as well as numerous personal stories of the men as they faced enemy attacks, for example, while attempting to construct vital island runways. Their skill and competence in critical trades such as construction, engineering, pipe-laying, electricity, and plumbing, and their positive 'Can Do!' attitude in the face of danger and difficult conditions were critical in the Allied effort to win the war and remain an inspiration to younger generations. This unabridged reprint edition includes 70 pages of drawings and photographs of Seabee activities throughout the world.

Berlin Command, first published in 1950, is Brig. General Frank Howley's account of his four-year tenure in post-World War II Berlin with the U.S. Military Government. Filled with stories of Soviet complicity in undermining Allied efforts to rebuild the city, the book is throughout a testament to the ideals of freedom and democracy and the American determination to remain in Berlin, even though surrounded by a hostile opponent willing to lie, cheat, kidnap, rape, and steal to achieve its ends. Howley oversaw Allied efforts to counter the Soviets, and was instrumental in organizing massive airlifts of food, heating fuel, and other supplies that meant survival for the hungry, cold Berliners. General Howley was an unsung hero of the early Cold War period, and Berlin Command is a fascinating account of this historic period when Europe's fate was still being decided.