This is a social history written around the experiences of the author during the time he was working in Italy in the 1950's and 60's , since when he has seen considerable changes. The bustling seaport of the ancient city of Naples was a recovering from the Second Great War (WW2) devastation. You were told "See Naples and die!" - because of the many plagues of cholera, syphilis and other diseases that had caused so much suffering since earliest times. The post-war drug trafficking had begun in earnest. Some of these criminals had the reputation of helping the poor, but all were involved in smuggling, prostitution and misappropriation of funds and medical supplies from relief agencies. Murders were a daily happening perpetrated by the gangs at warfare with each other, and each anxious to exploit the spoils of War and Peace. High rise flats and offices replace the bombed sites of the days when this story unfolds. Local officials, often blackmailed and corrupt, took every advantage of international aid. To combat communism the US employed the particular brand of Mafia and smugglers, commonly known as the Camorra. . Churches lit by home-made candles fashioned with prayer were always open; on Sundays and Feast days congregations overflowed, the men escaping from the rear pews to smoke their cigarettes on the portico while the sermon admonished their women folk or bore their children. Nowadays churches are mostly closed for lack of that religious Faith for which Neapolitans were renowned in ardor and song. Candles are factory made

Eleven-year-old Cécile Rey searches through many corners of 1854 New Orleans seeking a necklace, borrowed from her Tante Tay, that disappeared as she was exiting a crowded showboat. Includes facts about the 1850s.

Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm, and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered. Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she's never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now... she doesn't even know who or what she is.A centuries-old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously, captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her 18th birthday... things will change.

A young woman, unsatisfied with her life, finds herself tangled in a plot that reveals that the Chernobyl accident was not an accident. As she struggles to finally acheive her career as an artist, she discovers that her dreams may come crashing down, since the art agent who has promised her success is a fraud, and connected to the plot to recreate another accident in order to gain world domination within the oil industry. She uncovers a secret contained in the cameo bracelet that has come into her possesion through a friend of her husbands. The secret holds the key to what really happened in Chernobyl, and what could happen again. Her life now in danger, she decides to end the destructive cycle herself.

Proof coins have always been highly prized by collectors, for whom they are minted. Intended to be the highest expression of the coin minter's art, the polished, jewel-like quality of proof coins give them an appearance that coins struck for commercial use cannot equal. This is the first book to offer an in-depth look at a fascinating era in US proof production. It features a detailed analysis of proof issues of every date & denomination, from Franklin & Kennedy half dollars thru Lincoln cents, during the 1950 to 1970 era, over 300 illustrations are included. Some of the finest proof coins known from this era were assembled & photographed, employing techniques which not only capture the beauty of these coins, but which also accurately portray the detail differences between the various dates. The book also examines the proof-making process, & compares proof-making during the 1950-1970 era to today. Information on grading & appraising of proof coinage is also included, & more. An excellent book for the novice & advanced collector interested in acquiring a reference book on a significant area of numismatic interest.

"Emma Addison is a busy woman. She's finishing up her MBA and working near full-time hours as a supervisor at the Cameo Hotel ... Gavin Grayson is demanding, and he's not shy at all about showing his displeasure when things aren't up to his high standards--and his are the highest Emma has ever seen. He's just transferred in, a guest on extended stay at the prestigious hotel and will only deal with Emma ... The Cameo doesn't allow relationships between employees and guests, so when Gavin makes his intentions for Emma known, a secret relationship is born ..."--Back cover.

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was a Russian painter credited as being among the first to truly venture into abstract art. He persisted in expressing his internal world of abstraction despite negative criticism from his peers. He veered away from painting that could be viewed as representational in order to express his emotions, leading to his unique use of colour and form. Although his works received heavy censure at the time, in later years they would become greatly influential.