In 1628, as the guest of a lavish banquet thrown by the Duke of Buckingham, the newly married Queen Henrietta Maria watched as servants set a large pie in front of her. Before she could cut into it, the crust began to rise and from the pie emerged a tiny man, perfectly proportioned, but only 18 inches tall. Lord Minimus is the story of that man - Jeffrey Hudson. Jeffrey's was a life of splendor and riches; of piracy and slavery; of war, treachery, intrigue and death. From the lowest strata he rose to the courts of kings and queens and was celebrated by the finest artists of the day. As he grew older, his adventures grew even more bizarre. He was captured by pirates, killed an opponent in a duel, served as a slave in North Africa, and was falsely imprisoned. Yet tragically, Britain's smallest man died alone, abandoned by a society which no longer cared and which had long moved on to the next object of fashion. Lord Minimus is the first complete biography of Hudson. Nick Page draws on original, contemporary sources to weave a tale that is not only a thrilling biography, but also a fascinating insight into the seventeenth century.

Echoing the petition of the disciples, Lord, teach us to pray, this book guides the reader through the challenges of discipleship and the various stages of prayer. Fr. Kirby lovingly and expertly examines this crucial petition, shedding light on its three parts the call to follow the Lord, to live virtuously, and to pray while laying out a course for growing in discipleship and strengthening the interior life.

The story of Charles Dickens's life is a truly remarkable rags-to-riches tale. His father's bankruptcy and imprisonment led to Dickens working in a blacking factory at an early age. These humble beginnings were to become a major influence upon his life and his writings. Dickens became a sensation in his own time and his legacy lives on. His books sold in tens of thousands. Audiences flocked to see him when he performed public readings of his works, inciting "Bozmania." Venues became sold out, touts sold tickets at inflated prices, and women fainted at his thrilling recitals. He went on to conquer America and commanded great fees for his performances. This long overdue republication, from 1902, chronologically records the events in the life of the "Inimitable Boz." We discover that he was not just an author but also an actor, publisher, journalist, editor, public reader, art critic, political economist and social reformer. We learn about the characters in his books; who inspired them and uncover something of the personality of Dickens himself. He was a meticulous workaholic with a desire not to be poor again and it was this desire that ultimately killed him. About the author Frederic George Kitton (1856-1904) was born in Norwich, England. At the age of seventeen he moved to London and joined the staff of The Graphic as an apprentice. He became a skilled etcher and contributed to artistic journals before becoming an author. Kitton was one of the founders of the Dickens Fellowship and most of his publications relate to the life and works of Charles Dickens including "Dickensiana: A Bibliography of the Literature Relating to Charles Dickens and His Writings" as well as annotating the "Rochester" edition of "Dickens's Works."