Years of Estrangement (Jewish Lives)

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Robert B. Kebric

Greek People, Second Edition, is an insightful introduction to the world of ancient Greece from Homer to the Hellenistic Age. Extracts from original sources such as Hesiod, the lyric poets, Herodotus, and records from the Athenian law courts profile a wide variety of Greek people - some famous, many little known but well worth singling out. The second edition includes an improved and expanded illustration program, an extensive updated bibliography, additional and redrawn maps, and new material on Alexander and Philip, married life, women, Greek humor, and views on old age in ancient Greek society.

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Jean Lacouture

A tour de force narrative history that provides readers with detailed and engrossing biographies of several notable Jesuits. French journalist Lacouture (De Gaulle, 1992, etc.) has crafted an original approach to Jesuit history here. Instead of following a traditional, chronological history of the Society of Jesus, he has chosen to provide a ""multibiography"" that emphasizes the contributions of a few innovators, including the movement's founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Lacouture has been quixotic in his sampling, choosing occasionally to highlight some obscure, understudied Jesuit in lieu of a more celebrated priest. But despite the eclectic nature of his foci, Lacouture proves he is no dilettante. The result is a nearly perfect blend of stories from various cultures, and the author, a gifted raconteur, is always passionate about his subject matter. He challenges the widely held stereotype that the Society was driven solely by blind obedience to Rome and instead explores the Jesuits' evolving commitments to syncretism and cultural exchange. As the Society founded missions in diverse cultures, Lacouture maintains, it abandoned much of its absolutism in favor of a Christianity that would adapt to its surroundings and ""be all things to all men."" Lacouture traces the development of Jesuit missions in regions as far-flung as Japan, India, and Paraguay and demonstrates a surprisingly profound knowledge of non-European histories. He also reveals some of the ""forgotten"" history of the Jesuit movement, such as the short-lived attempt to establish a sister order in the 16th century. Lacouture's historical reconstructions are greatly enhanced by his prolific use of diaries, memoirs, and letters. That the book is so well-written is pleasantly surprising, since it has been translated and abridged from the bestselling two-volume French edition. Beautifully told, with an occasional dose of sardonic humor, Lacouture's well-crafted ""multibiography"" is destined to become a classic of Jesuit studies.

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Pat Cary Peek

"Through a blend of personal experience, historical fiction, and natural history of the Big Creek River area, One Winter in the Wilderness describes the humorous, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous daily adventures of a wildlife biologist and his wife in Idaho's remote back country. During the colors of fall, the cold and dark of winter, and the welcome greening of spring, Pat Cary Peek interweaves her experiences with daily events and activities to give readers a taste of life in the wilderness."--BOOK JACKET. "The author's husband, Dr. James Peek, professor of Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho, studied the habitat of the large mammals that frequent the Big Creek canyon for several years and Pat had gone with him on summer field trips. When she retired from teaching, the two decided it would be an excellent time to spend a winter writing, observing the animals, and acting as ranch caretakers."--BOOK JACKET.

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Desmond Seward

When the Jews revolted against Rome in 66 CE, Josephus, a Jerusalem aristocrat, was made a general in his nation's army. Captured by the Romans, he saved his skin by finding favor with the emperor Vespasian. He then served as an adviser to the Roman legions, running a network of spies inside Jerusalem, in the belief that the Jews' only hope of survival lay in surrender to Rome. As a Jewish eyewitness who was given access to Vespasian's campaign notebooks, Josephus is our only source of information for the war of extermination that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the amazing times in which he lived. He is of vital importance for anyone interested in the Middle East, Jewish history, and the early history of Christianity.