In the first book to critically examine each of the fourteen feature films Sam Peckinpah directed during his career, Michael Bliss stresses the persistent moral and structural elements that permeate Peckinpah’s work. By examining the films in great detail, Bliss makes clear the moral framework of temptation and redemption with which Peckinpah was concerned while revealing the director’s attention to narrative. Bliss shows that each of Peckinpah’s protagonists is involved with attempting, in the words of Ride the High Country’s Steve Judd, "to enter my house justified." The validity of this systematic method is clearly demonstrated in the chapter devoted to The Wild Bunch. By enumerating the doublings and triplings of action and dialogue found in the film, Bliss underscores its symbolic and structural complexity. Beginning the chapters treating Junior Bonner and The Getaway with analyses of their important title sequences, Bliss shows how these frequently disregarded pieces present in miniature the major moral and narrative concerns of the films. In his chapter on The Osterman Weekend, Bliss makes apparent Peckinpahs awareness of and concern with the self-reflexive nature of filmmaking itself. Bliss shows that like John Ford, Peckinpah moved from optimism to pessimism. The films of the director’s early period, from The Deadly Companions to Cable Hogue, support the romantic ideals of adventure and camaraderie and affirm a potential for goodness in America. In his second group of films, which begins with Straw Dogs and ends with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, both heroes and hope have vanished. It is only in The Osterman Weekend that Peckinpah appears finally to have renewed his capacity for hope, allowing his career to close in a positive way.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1871.

The unrivaled master of crime’s first collection of noir stories. . . . “If you thought you knew all the places Elmore Leonard could take you, think again.”—Mike Lupica In more than 30 books spanning half a century, Elmore Leonard has captured the imagination of millions as few writers can. A literary icon praised by the New York Times Book Review as “the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever, ” he has influenced many contemporary writers and is known for both the quality and accessibility of his writing. In this first collection of short pieces, including two novella-length works, since his western anthology Tonto Woman, Leonard demonstrates the superb characterization, dead-on dialogue, vivid atmosphere, and driving plotting that have made him a household name.

The Justified Vision is a compilation of all my works from my teenage years to adulthood. I write about what I have experienced, what I've seen, my beliefs in life, my trials, my tribulations, and a message in some cases, to those who will listen. Most of my poems are true stories, true events, true feelings. I have seen some dark days. I have seen the very gates to hell. I have been through events that could break a person down mentally. But as with any experience that you survive, strength is always the end result. I have always believed in justified living. Living life knowing that the sands of time will eventually diminish. Life is poetry. Every line, every word has a meaning that adds to the beauty of the work. Live it justified. Live your life with a purpose and reason. Everything you do in life will affect you and others around you whether you believe it or not. I hope in some way this book touches your life and helps you understand what I mean by "Live life Justified". I hope that it gives you inspiration and clarity to the turbulence within your experience by seeing what I have gone through. Most of all I hope you enjoy the vision and the spirit behind each one of my poems.

This book offers a Reformed perspective on contemporary ecumenical discussion by carefully exploring the biblical message of justification and then demonstrating how justification as a doctrine functions as an integrative theological principle. Written by an international group of distinguished Reformed scholars, with the support of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, What Is Justification About? also considers the relevance of justification for social ethics and contemporary cultural issues. / Contributors: Martien Brinkman, John P. Burgess, George Hunsinger, Chris Mostert, Fazakas Sndor, Dirkie Smit, Laura Smit, Katherine Sonderegger, Henk M. Vroom, John Webster, Michael Weinrich.

For many people today, the Christian gospel as traditionally articulated has become irrelevant and meaningless, making it necessary to rethink our understanding of the gospel. Redeeming the Gospel examines the central themes traditionally associated with Lutheran theology, including especially law and gospel, the work of Christ, and the doctrine of justification by grace through faith, in order to deconstruct and reconstruct our understanding of the gospel so that it may be proclaimed in a way that responds to the needs and concerns of our world today.