It is common to feel that corporate meetings are a waste of time. Time that could be better spent getting “real work” done. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This book is dedicated to the proposition that meetings can be meaningful, productive, and even fun—all at the same time. We need to bring business meetings into the digital age in the same way that we have reinvented business planning and written communication. In a technology-rich world filled with people working flexibly, remotel...

A historical study of a little-known episode of the American Revolution in which Charleston residents were held in a British-occupied region of Florida.In the months following the May 1780 capture of Charleston, South Carolina, by combined British and loyalist forces, British soldiers arrested sixty-three Americans and transported them to the borderland town of St. Augustine, East Florida—territory under British control since the French and Indian War. In Patrio...

La Cousine Bette (English: Cousin Bette) is an 1846 novel by Honoré de Balzac. It has been adapted for film or television at least four times, including a 1998 movie starring Jessica Lange.Le Cousin Pons is a novel by Honoré de Balzac written in 1847. It is considered Part Two of Poor Relations, Part One being La Cousine Bette and, of course, is part of La Comédie Humaine. Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hardened criminal Jacques Collin has been hiding under the guise of a false identity in order to escape the long arm of the law. In the novel Scenes from a Courtesan's Life, however, Collin's deceptions seem finally to have caught up with him. Will he be able to pull off the labyrinthine scheme cooked up to secure his freedom?

This diptych is part of Honore de Balzac's epic masterpiece, The Human Comedy. It comprises two stories, "Cousin Betty" and "Cousin Pons," each of which delve deeply into complicated family dynamics and the long-lasting impact of seemingly trivial conflicts.

THE Atlanta riot had sent a thrill of horror throughout the country, and colored people generally, whenever they met, were eagerly and anxiously discussing it, not only because of the desolation it left behind it, and the misery and suffering it had entailed to the families of the victims, but because as they discussed it they saw in their own neighborhoods more or less of the causes which led to that unfortunate affair. With the colored people here in Baltimore it was for a long time a co...

Set among the sprawling vineyards of France's Loire Valley, Balzac's novel Parisians in the Country follows the life of one Dinah Piedefer, a beautiful and talented young woman who finds herself trapped in a not-so-perfect marriage. Though she is initially content, she gradually begins to bristle against the constraints of her union and the provincial shabbiness of her lifestyle.

In "Poor Relations," Honoré de Balzac presents a compelling exploration of family dynamics and social hierarchies within 19th-century France. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing society, the narrative delves into the lives of the impoverished yet proud members of the bourgeoisie. Balzac's literary style is characterized by his intricate characterization and vivid descriptive language, seamlessly weaving together realism and satire. This novella stands as part of his broader pro...

Bette, a poor relation of the beautiful Adeline, nurses a terrible grudge against her cousin's family, on whom she depends. That family is slowly being ruined by the uncontrollable sexual appetites of Adeline's husband, Baron Hulot—and it is this weakness that will give the cunning Cousin Bette an opportunity to exact her vengeance.A profound examination of obsessive passion, this masterpiece exemplifies what Henry James described as Balzac's "huge, all-compassing, all-desiring, al...

In "Massimilla Doni," Honoré de Balzac weaves a poignant narrative that intertwines themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships within a richly detailed Parisian backdrop. Set against the tumultuous social landscape of 19th-century France, the novella showcases Balzac's signature literary style, characterized by meticulous realism and psychological insight. Balzac deftly explores the moral and societal quandaries faced by his characters, particularly through the il...

The Lily of the Valley is a deeply moving novel by Honoré de Balzac, exploring themes of unspoken love, moral duty, and emotional restraint. Set in the serene Loire Valley, the story follows Félix de Vandenesse, a young nobleman whose profound and reverent love for the virtuous Madame de Mortsauf unfolds with tender intensity. Bound by societal expectations and personal sacrifice, their relationship is a delicate dance between passion and propriety.Translated by James Wari...

In "Parisians in the Country," Honoré de Balzac explores the intricate dynamics of French society through the prism of the provincial experience. This novella deftly combines humorous and poignant elements, showcasing Balzac's hallmark vivid characterizations and intricate social observation. Set against the backdrop of rural France, the novel contrasts the bustling life of Paris with the seemingly tranquil, yet often tumultuous, existence of the countryside. Balzac's use of realism serve...