John Lord's magnum opus, 'Beacon Lights of History,' spans across all 14 volumes, offering a comprehensive and detailed look at the lives of key historical figures. Lord's writing style is both informative and engaging, making history come alive for the reader. Each volume is meticulously researched and filled with insightful commentary on the significance of each individual's contributions to the world. The literary context of the book places it within the genre of historical biographies, providing a valuable resource for those interested in learning about the great minds of the past. Lord's work stands as a timeless classic in the realm of historical literature. John Lord, a prominent American historian and lecturer, was motivated by a desire to make history accessible to a wider audience. His passion for knowledge and storytelling is evident in the depth and breadth of research found in 'Beacon Lights of History.' Lord's background in education and public speaking undoubtedly influenced his approach to writing, as he sought to educate and inspire readers through his work. I highly recommend 'Beacon Lights of History' to anyone with an interest in history, biography, or literature. John Lord's masterful storytelling and insightful analysis make this collection a must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the past.

First published posthumously in 1902, this collection of the lectures of American historian JOHN LORD (1810-1894) is a charming rummage through 6,000 years of European and American history, exploring the past from "the old pagan civilizations" to modern leaders and cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. This replica edition features all the original illustrations, hard to come by in other recent versions. It will delight both readers of history and lovers of beautiful, classic books. While Volumes 1 through 12 were Lord's work, this one was completed after his death from the author's notes. Volume XIII: "Great Writers" covers: [ Rousseau: socialism and education [ Sir Walter Scott: the modern novel [ Lord Byron: poetic genius [ Shakespeare (by Ralph Waldo Emerson) [ John Milton: poet and patriot [ Alfred (Lord) Tennyson: the spirit of modern poetry [ and more

Praised by The New York Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; Bitch Magazine; Slate; Publishers Weekly; and more, this is “a bracing corrective to a national mythology” (New York Times) around the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement has become national legend, lauded by presidents from Reagan to Obama to Trump, as proof of the power of American democracy. This fable, featuring dreamy heroes and accidental heroines, has shuttered the movement firmly in the past, whitewashed the forces that stood in its way, and diminished its scope. And it is used perniciously in our own times to chastise present-day movements and obscure contemporary injustice. In A More Beautiful and Terrible History award-winning historian Jeanne Theoharis dissects this national myth-making, teasing apart the accepted stories to show them in a strikingly different light. We see Rosa Parks not simply as a bus lady but a lifelong criminal justice activist and radical; Martin Luther King, Jr. as not only challenging Southern sheriffs but Northern liberals, too; and Coretta Scott King not only as a “helpmate” but a lifelong economic justice and peace activist who pushed her husband’s activism in these directions. Moving from “the histories we get” to “the histories we need,” Theoharis challenges nine key aspects of the fable to reveal the diversity of people, especially women and young people, who led the movement; the work and disruption it took; the role of the media and “polite racism” in maintaining injustice; and the immense barriers and repression activists faced. Theoharis makes us reckon with the fact that far from being acceptable, passive or unified, the civil rights movement was unpopular, disruptive, and courageously persevering. Activists embraced an expansive vision of justice—which a majority of Americans opposed and which the federal government feared. By showing us the complex reality of the movement, the power of its organizing, and the beauty and scope of the vision, Theoharis proves that there was nothing natural or inevitable about the progress that occurred. A More Beautiful and Terrible History will change our historical frame, revealing the richness of our civil rights legacy, the uncomfortable mirror it holds to the nation, and the crucial work that remains to be done. Winner of the 2018 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize in Nonfiction