The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors - Dan Jones

Dan Jones, the brilliant mind behind The Plantagenets, continues his vivid chronicle of the cousins competing to rule Britain. As the families tore themselves apart and the Tudors rose to power, the history becomes more cut-throat and intriguing than any fantasy series. The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors (Viking, $36) evokes the era of Joan of Arc, of power-hungry queens, and roving men-at-arms. This is history as compelling as a modern political thriller, but though the pages turn quickly, Jones imparts a great deal of period information, as well as telling stories that have clear ramifications for the struggles and revolutions of our own world.

The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors By Dan Jones Cover Image
$36.00
ISBN: 9780670026678
Availability: Special Order—Subject to Availability
Published: Viking Books - October 14th, 2014

The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors By Dan Jones Cover Image
$19.00
ISBN: 9780143127888
Availability: In Stock—Click for Locations
Published: Penguin Books - October 6th, 2015

Vivid Faces: The Revolutionary Generation in Ireland, 1890-1923 - R. F. Foster

As the one-hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising nears, the title of this book harkens us back to W.B. Yeats’s “Easter, 1916”; who were the men and women that changed history? Meet these brave souls with Vivid Faces: The Revolutionary Generation (W.W. Norton, $29.95) in R.F. Foster’s account of the patriots willing to risk everything. Indeed, Foster has investigated every facet of his subjects’ lives, and includes details of religion, sex, voting rights, literature, bawdy songs, and favorite foods as he charts the actions of this great generation driven to give their blood to gain independence. From creating the world-famous Abbey Theatre to preserving the Gaelic tongue and their Celtic creation mythology to the more intimate experiences of young couples sacrificing personal happiness to bring about change, Foster’s book offers a complex portrait of Irish freedom fighters active between 1890 and 1923.
Vivid Faces: The Revolutionary Generation in Ireland, 1890-1923 By R. F. Foster Cover Image
$29.95
ISBN: 9780393082791
Availability: Special Order—Subject to Availability
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - January 26th, 2015

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride - Cary Elwes, Joe Layden, Rob Reiner

Oh yes, you want this book. Your every fond memory of watching or reading The Princess Bride will only be magnified by this lovely volume. Narrated by Wesley/Dread Pirate Roberts himself (forgive the spoiler, but it’s been 27 years), Cary Elwes’s As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride (Touchstone, $26) is the story behind the brilliant book-to-film adaptation that set the genre’s standard. Director Rob Reiner’s introduction conveys the fresh excitement and genuine pride that runs throughout this account. Elwes retraces the film’s making with a day-by-day chronicle along with reminiscences of fellow cast members, including Robin Wright and Billy Crystal, the crew, and Bride’s author and screenwriter, William Goldman. (The actor includes one adorable moment when “Bill” Goldman is caught on film unconsciously praying under his breath during the first day of filming.) Color photos, the author’s witty commentary, and ROUS’s abound in this book for film fans in general and Bride aficionados especially. And do take a gander at the reverse of the book jacket—the special poster is all you could ever wish for.

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