These stories and essays, for the most part, take place in the city of Philadelphia. Taken together, they paint the portrait of a young scholar trying to find his way in the big city. From the halls of academe through his transition into the "real world," the stories chart his progress, his love life, his triumphs and his failures as he tries to find within himself who he is and where he belongs on this planet. Just because most of the characters are still in their twenties doesn't mean the stories should be labeled coming-of-age stories. Most of the stories have no moral, and there are more questions than answers to be garnered from most of them. Finally, not all the stories are uplifting, but at least they are honest and may offer some insight into this perplexing world of which we are all a part.

In Philadelphia Stories, Samuel Otter finds literary value, historical significance, and political urgency in a sequence of texts written in and about Philadelphia between the Constitution and the Civil War. Historians such as Gary B. Nash and Julie Winch have chronicled the distinctive social and political space of early national Philadelphia. Yet while individual writers such as Charles Brockden Brown, Edgar Allan Poe, and George Lippard have been linked to Philadelphia, no sustained attempt has been made to understand these figures, and many others, as writing in a tradition tied to the city's history. The site of William Penn's "Holy Experiment" in religious toleration and representative government and of national Declaration and Constitution, near the border between slavery and freedom, Philadelphia was home to one of the largest and most influential "free" African American communities in the United States. The city was seen by residents and observers as the laboratory for a social experiment with international consequences. Philadelphia would be the stage on which racial character would be tested and a possible future for the United States after slavery would be played out. It would be the arena in which various residents would or would not demonstrate their capacities to participate in the nation's civic and political life. Otter argues that the Philadelphia "experiment" (the term used in the nineteenth-century) produced a largely unacknowledged literary tradition of peculiar forms and intensities, in which verbal performance and social behavior assumed the weight of race and nation.

In All Stories Are True, Tracie Church Guzzio provides the first full-length study of John Edgar Wideman's entire oeuvre to date. Specifically, Guzzio examines the ways in which Wideman (b. 1941) engages with three crucial themes—history, myth, and trauma—throughout his career, showing how they intertwine. Guzzio argues that, for four decades, the influential African American writer has endeavored to create a version of the African American experience that runs counter to mainstream interpretations, using history and myth to confront and then heal the trauma caused by slavery and racism. Wideman's work intentionally blurs boundaries between fiction and autobiography, myth and history, particularly as that history relates to African American experience in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The fusion of fiction, national history, and Wideman's personal life is characteristic of his style, which—due to its complexity and smudging of genre distinctions—has presented analytic difficulties for literary scholars. Despite winning the PEN/Faulkner award twice, for Sent for You Yesterday (1984) and Philadelphia Fire (1990), Wideman remains under-studied. Of particular value is Guzzio's analysis of the many ways in which Wideman alludes to his previous works. This intertextuality allows Wideman to engage his books in direct, intentional dialogue with each other through repeated characters, images, folktales, and songs. In Wideman's challenging of a monolithic view of history and presenting alternative perspectives to it, and his allowing past, present, and future time to remain fluid in the narratives, Guzzio finds an author firm in his notion that all stories and all perspectives have merit.

Over 2 lbs, with 614 pages of text, tables, and graphs! Do you know who "Blackbeard the Pirate" was? Probably not! Born into a substantial family in Bristol, the eldest son of Capt. Edward and Elizabeth Thache sailed for Jamaica with his family sometime before 1695. Capt. Edward Thache of St. Jago de la Vega or "Spanish Town" died there at age 47 while his son, Edward "Blackbeard" Thache Jr. joined the Royal Navy and fought in Queen Anne's War aboard HMS Windsor. Thache resembled more a Robber Baron of the early 20th century than a poor downtrodden member of Benjamin Hornigold's "Flying Gang" in the Bahamas - or even his "pupil." Capt. Charles Johnson's "A General History of the Pyrates" is a flawed historical work and much of what we have previously known about Blackbeard is simply not true. This book attempts to rediscover exactly who Blackbeard really was... and how he related to his maritime American "Pirate Nation!" Quite a few surprises are in store! Website: http: //baylusbrooks.com

This carefully crafted ebook: "Taking the Underground Railroad to Freedom – Selected True Stories from Former Slaves & Abolitionists (Illustrated)” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of routes used by Southern slaves in escaping to the North. In their attempts they were often guided and helped by former fugitive slaves and abolitionist who were known as the conductors. Unravel the secrets of these incredible and unforgettable life journeys and the people who took these treacherous routes to freedom. This edition includes carefully compiled and detailed documentation about the lives and escapes of over 100 former slaves along with the incredible life stories of the two courageous female conductors, Harriet Tubman and Laura S. Haviland, who risked their own lives in helping these slaves cross over to the North in the dead of the night. So come and relive the stories of extraordinary courage, heart breaking saga of grief and separation and the overwhelming desire to break free! A MUST READ! William Still (1821–1902) was an African-American abolitionist, conductor on the Underground Railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist who recorded the stories of fugitive slaves to help them reunite with their families. Sarah H. Bradford (1818–1912) was an American writer, historian and a very close friend of Harriet Tubman. Bradford was also a contemporary of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Laura S. Haviland (1808-1898) was an American abolitionist, suffragette, and social reformer. She is credited to have established the first racially integrated school in Michigan with her husband, which gave lectures about the realities of life on a slave plantation.

UNCHAINED - Powerful & Unflining Narratives Of Former Slaves anthologizes the profound and varied experiences of individuals who endured slavery in the United States. This collection showcases an expansive range of literary styles, from autobiographical accounts to essays, each providing a unique lens through which the harrowing reality of slavery is examined and understood. These narratives, rich in historical and emotional depth, offer readers a comprehensive insight into the resilience and courage of those who lived through one of the darkest chapters in American history. The anthology stands out for its inclusion of seminal works that have significantly contributed to both the literary and cultural discourse on slavery, freedom, and human rights. The contributing authors and editors of this anthology bring a diverse array of backgrounds, from former slaves like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, who became leading voices in the abolitionist movement, to activists like Ida B. Wells-Barnett, known for her crusade against lynching. Their collective experiences and literary talents provide a multifaceted exploration of slavery and its lasting impact on American society and culture. Positioned at the intersection of various historical, cultural, and literary movements, this collection embodies a significant period in American history, offering perspectives that challenge, enlighten, and inspire. Recommended for scholars, students, and general readers alike, UNCHAINED serves as a compelling entry point into the complexities of slaverys legacy. This anthology not only educates its audience on the historical realities faced by these individuals but also highlights the enduring spirit of humanity in the face of unimaginable adversity. For anyone interested in understanding the nuanced and diverse narratives that compose the fabric of American history, this volume offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the voices of those who fought not just for their freedom, but for the recognition of their humanity.

The incredible real-life cases behind TV's hit crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, including photos. The crimes, the suspects, the trials—as they really went down. True Stories of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit focuses on twenty-five of the scandalous true crimes that real detectives have grappled with—the facts behind the fictionalized stories on the phenomenally popular TV show. Beyond the actual crimes, the entire criminal process is covered: from investigation and arrest to trial and verdict. This book reveals in-depth accounts of some of the most monstrous offenses recreated on the hit series, including the gripping story of a teenage love triangle that led to the murder of a young girl and the deadly confrontation between the FBI and David Koresh's cult that made national headlines. Stopping these criminals is only the beginning. Confronting the deep psychological scars left on their victims is the real challenge. This collection offers fans of the show and those interested in crime-solving techniques a glimpse of the real stories and real people behind some of the most notable, notorious, and gut wrenching cases of sexually-based crimes in recent history.