by Susan Napier (2018)
A thirtieth-century toxic jungle, a bathhouse for tired gods, a red-haired fish girl, and a furry woodland spirit — what do these have in common? They all spring from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest living animators, known worldwide for films such as *My Neighbor Totoro*, *Princess Mononoke*, *Spirited Away*, *Howl’s Moving Castle*, and *The Wind Rises*. Japanese culture and animation scholar Susan Napier explores the life and art of this extraordinary Japanese filmmaker to provide a definitive account of his oeuvre. Napier insightfully illuminates the multiple themes crisscrossing his work, from empowered women to environmental nightmares to utopian dreams, creating an unforgettable portrait of a man whose art challenged Hollywood dominance and ushered in a new chapter of global popular culture.
Estel Eforgan
Leslie Howard's acting career as a Hollywood star was well known but behind the charm was a perceptive and determined man. This book follows his life by using original material in archives and libraries, personal narratives, newspaper and magazine accounts, and much more.
Ronald L. Davis
"Stage actor turned Hollywood star, William S. Hart (1864-1946) was for movie fans a cherished symbol of the romantic Old West. His silent westerns offered excitement, lessons in righteous behavior, and a nostalgic vision of the American frontier. This biography explores the personal and professional life of Hollywood's prototypical cowboy hero." "For the first time, readers are given insights into Hart's somewhat lonely and tragic personal life, his quarrels with exploitive studios, and his association with such latter-day frontier legends as Charles M. Russell, Bat Masterson, and Wyatt Earp, who regarded him as a kindred spirit. Other highlights of this book include excerpts from his previously unpublished letters to starlet Jane Novak, Hart's one-time fiance, as well as numerous photographs from studio and private collections." "Drawing on Hart's papers, primary sources of the Motion Picture Academy, oral history, and contemporary newspapers, this chronicle of Hart's life is the first since his own starry-eyed autobiography, My Life East and West, appeared in 1929"--Jacket.
Joan W. Blos
A series of letters and newspaper articles reveals life in California in the 1850s, especially for thirteen-year-old Eldora, who was raised in Massachusetts as an orphan only to meet her influential mother in San Francisco, and Luke, who hopes to find a fortune in gold.
Moody Adams
There is more to the sinking of the Titanic than a historic tragedy. Courageous heroism and unshakable faith inspire all who know the story about the tragic events of that bitterly cold night a century ago. The Hollywood movies about the Titanic provide a great drama. The exhibit of hundreds of artifacts recovered from the ship provide great intrigue. But this story about John Harper will provide life-changing import to those who have read it. Harper stood as a giant of unselfishness in a world where most men are obsessed with looking out for “number one,” a giant of sacrifice in a world where most men are unwilling to deprive themselves, a giant of passion for souls in the world where few men possess a deep desire for the salvation of their fellow man. The book includes the John Harper story as told by Lowell Lytle (portraying Captain E.J. Smith) at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and elsewhere. This reprint of the original 1997 book now includes several pages of John Harper and Titanic related editorial comments by titanic historian Lee W. Merideth.