This black comedy blends absurdity with philosophical insights, challenging middle-class complacency. It employs humor to explore deeper themes, offering a satirical take on societal norms and expectations. The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own lives while navigating the absurdities of modern existence.
The narrative weaves together historical figures and fantastical elements, creating an absurdist tapestry that blurs the lines between reality and imagination. Readers embark on surreal journeys, such as sailing from Mombasa to Cincinnati or hunting icebergs to avenge the Titanic. With influences from notable figures like Wilbur Wright and Jules Verne, the story explores a whimsical realm where meaning is fluid and the boundaries of history are playfully challenged. This unique blend invites reflection on the interplay between history and creativity.
In the seventh American Novels series book, a young woman joins Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Barnum's circus to rescue her infant from the KKK.
"After the Union Army's defeat at Fredericksburg in 1862, Walt Whitman and Louisa May Alcott converge on Washington to attend to the sick, wounded, and dying. Both of these iconic Americans, known for bucking the conventions of their day, find their principles and beliefs tested by grueling and grisly duties. Walt Whitman was a man of many contradictions: egocentric yet compassionate, vain though frequently transported by the beauty of others, he was a bigot who sang the song of all mankind as the great poet of democracy. He delighted in the pleasures of the flesh and had no patience for religiosity but was moved by the spiritual in all men and women, from janitor to president. Louisa May Alcott, still beloved for Little Women, was an intense, intellectual, independent woman, an abolitionist and a suffragist, who was compelled to write saccharine magazine stories to save her mother and siblings from the poorhouse but aspired to true, unsentimental artistic expression. Alcott would write of her Civil War nursing experiences in Hospital Sketches and Whitman in his poem "The Wound Dresser", from which these vivid fictional evocations are in part drawn. In this double portrait, Lock deftly captures the special musicality and preoccupations of each writer as they confront war's devastation and grapple with the politics of a racist reality that continues to haunt us today"-- Provided by publisher
In the eighth American Novels series book, Nathaniel Hawthorne pens a new tale to exact revenge on his ancestor, a notorious judge of the Salem witch trials.
Exploring the evolution of society, this book takes readers on a captivating journey from the Industrial Age through Hollywood's Golden Age and into the Digital Age. It delves into the cultural shifts and technological advancements that have shaped modern life, highlighting the interplay between innovation and creativity across different eras. The narrative weaves together historical context and intriguing insights, offering a thought-provoking perspective on how these transformations continue to influence our world today.
Set in the nineteenth century, this novel explores the deep personal crisis of an army chaplain who grapples with his faltering faith in both God and his country. Confiding in his first love, the renowned poet Emily Dickinson, he navigates themes of love, disillusionment, and the search for meaning amidst the turmoil of war. Their poignant interactions reveal the complexities of faith and the human experience during a tumultuous period in American history.
A scrappy orphan from Brooklyn transforms into a vengeful assassin, guiding readers through a visionary narrative set in the American West. This tale blends themes of survival and revenge, highlighting the stark contrasts between urban struggles and the vast, untamed frontier. As the protagonist navigates this rugged landscape, the story promises a unique exploration of identity and purpose against the backdrop of American history.
Set against the backdrop of Gilded Age Manhattan, a bankrupt merchant's life takes a turn when he encounters the renowned author Herman Melville. As he navigates the challenges of his financial ruin, he becomes embroiled in a dangerous pursuit by a relentless antagonist, leading to a gripping exploration of survival and the complexities of American society during this tumultuous era.
A young surgical assistant encounters his doppelgänger in a gripping narrative that intertwines with the life of Edgar Allan Poe. The story not only delves into the eerie aspects of identity but also introduces a "lost" tale attributed to Poe, adding layers of mystery and literary intrigue. This blend of horror and historical fiction offers a unique exploration of self and the macabre, set against the backdrop of Poe's haunting legacy.