An illustrated biography celebrating the life and legacy of a renowned Italian artistIn this illustrated biography of the late Italian artist, Livio Orazio Valentini: An Artist's Spiritual Odyssey, Robert E. Alexander and John A. Elliott celebrate the life and legacy of the renowned painter and sculptor while acknowledging his special relationship with the people of Aiken, South Carolina.Born to a poor family in 1920, Valentini lived most of his life in Orv...

Portraits of Piety: The Lives, Legacies and Writings of Saints gathers forty books into a capacious archive of Christian sanctity, tracing devotion through biography, theology, meditation, apologetic, historical study, and literary portraiture. Patristic argument, medieval mysticism, Reformation controversy, hagiographic narrative, and modern reflection coexist here, revealing sainthood as both an inherited ideal and a contested cultural language. Particularly compelling is the volume's mo...

While much of the transfer of wealth comes in the form of inheritance, today inter vivos expenditures for a good education may be even more important than intergenerational transfers at death. This accessible resource focuses on Section 529 plans, comparing and contrasting them with other education planning techniques. The authors identify the need to develop strategies for financing K-12, college, graduate, or professional education, detail the rules by which these goals may be accomplish...

25 essential tales that defined modern Vampire lore. A MUST HAVE for any Vampire lore fan!From Folk Tales to Seductive Aristocrats. The best, most complete compilation of Vampire stories from the 18th century to early 20th century.Contains:• Account of A Vampire• Dead Persons in Hungary Who Suck the Blood of The Living• The Vampyre• The Black Vampyre; A Legend of St. ...

The myth of the werewolf is ancient, dating back to medieval times or earlier. Like the vampire, it suffered several modifications over time. In this book the critic August Nemo brings the vision of different well known authors on the myth of the werewolf: - Olalla by Robert Louis Stevenson . - The Wolf Leader by Alexandre Dumas. - A Pastoral Horror by Arthur Conan Doyle. - The Mark of the Beast by Rudyard Kipling. - The Eyes of the Panther by Ambrose Bierce. - The She-Wolf by Saki. - Wolf...

In this series we turn the pages of classic short stories to put together the literary building blocks of how a particular genre or theme began, how it built its foundations to become the well-loved and well-worn genre that it is today.Do authors have the same ideas at more or less the same time? Or can they sniff out an opportunity as to which way the tastes of an audience are moving.Success undoubtedly builds success and in literary terms we can more politely say that imi...

20+ Diverse Traditions from New England to the West CoastDrawing on the expertise of twenty-four renowned practitioners, this book features contemporary folk traditions from all over North America. Diverse as the landscapes they thrive on, these authentic practices will expand your worldview and inspire you to enrich your own spirituality. Explore the history, tools, and spiritual beliefs of many different paths of folk magic from Mexico, the United States, and Can...

Stress can have a deleterious effect on people's mental, physical, and psychological health. There is a growing body of evidence, however, that suggests animals, both as pets and therapy partners, can help mitigate people's stress levels. This book showcases a rich collection of research papers from Human-Animal Interactions. It highlights research pertaining to pets as well as animal-assisted therapy in both school and professional settings. The book also includes a scene-setting introduc...

Experiments and theory have rapidly progressed on nonlinear optical extreme waves, showing that guided wave nonlinear optics and fiber lasers provide a relatively simple, accessible and controllable test bed for the observations and accurate statistical studies of extreme wave phenomena that obey the same universal rules, which apply to a large ensemble of different physical systems. With introductory material to make the subject area accessible to non-specialists such as graduate and PhD ...

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient), directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky (The Counterfeiters)Drawing from decades of work, travel, and research in Russia, Robert Alexander re-creates the tragic, perennially fascinating story of the final days of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov as seen through the eyes of their young kitchen boy, Leonka. Now an ancient Russian immigrant, Leonka claims to be the last living...

"Welcome to 'Pancake Paradise: A 10-Chapter Journey into the Fluffiest, Tastiest Pancakes You've Ever Had.' This book isn't just a recipe collection; it's an all-access pass to your ultimate breakfast dreams. From classic buttermilk pancakes to French crepes and vegan delights, we've got it all. This ultimate guide takes you step-by-step through ten chapters, each dedicated to a unique type of pancake you didn't know you needed in your life. Ideal for cooking novices and culinary experts a...

From the author of the national bestseller The Kitchen Boy comes a gripping historical novel about imperial Russias most notorious figureCalled brilliant by USA Today, Robert Alexanders historical novel The Kitchen Boy swept readers back to the doomed world of the Romanovs. His latest masterpiece once again conjures those turbulent days in a fictional drama of extraordinary depth and suspense. In the wake of the Russian Revolution, Ma...