WINNER, Certificate of Excellence in “Scholarly Publications” from the Illinois State Historical Society’s 2025 Best of Illinois History Awards!Unmasking old-time racism in southern IllinoisPulling off the Sheets tells the previously obscured history of the Second Ku Klux Klan which formed in deep southern Illinois in the early 1920s. Through meticulous research into both public and private records, Darrel Dexter and John A. Beadle...

Wild Western Scenes by J. B. Jones offers a concentrated, compelling experience within fiction / literary. This concise work presents carefully drawn characters and purposeful plotting that together explore themes of choice, consequence, and human connection. The prose is precise and economical, balancing vivid scenes with clear pacing to maintain narrative momentum. Ideal for readers seeking a thoughtful, accessible read, the book is well-suited to book clubs and classroom discussion. Its...

It is increasingly recognised that instead of relying on top-down commands or leaving individuals to their own devices, communities should be given a role in tackling challenges exacerbated by global crises.Written by a team of leading experts with in-depth knowledge and on-the-ground experience, this book sets out why and how people’s lives can be positively transformed through diverse forms of community involvement.This book critically explores examples from around the wo...

Packed with villains, victims, and heroes, Stained with Blood and Tears recounts the story of what has been called the “equal opportunity” lynchings of Will “Froggie” James, who was black, and Henry Salzner, a white man, in the rowdy river town of Cairo, Illinois, on November 11, 1909. This book is the first to focus on one of the most infamous nights of lynching in the history of the United States, when about one thousand men and women were transformed into a murderous mob. The b...

Published in 1996: The Book the author produced, A Journall or Diary of a Thankfull Christian is essentially a manual, a how-to book about how to write a spiritual diary; moreover, it is the only one of its kind written in seventeenth-century England.

A bold play collection representing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) experiences, from Black British perspectives, this anthology contains seven radical plays by Black writers that change the face of theatre in Britain.With an international reach connecting Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, these plays address themes including same-sex love, sex, homophobia, apartheid, migration and space travel. The collection captures the historical scope and rang...

In "Scenes in Switzerland," the American Tract Society presents a vibrant tapestry of the Swiss landscape, culture, and spiritual life, skillfully intertwining personal narratives with rich descriptions of the natural environment. The text embodies a didactic literary style, characteristic of 19th-century American religious publications, seeking to inspire readers through picturesque accounts and moral reflections. Through an engaging exploration of Switzerland's breathtaking vistas, the b...

Excerpt: "Honest, blustering, good-humored Ned was the indefatigable merchant of the village; ever engaged in some ten or twenty pound speculation, the capital of which he was sure to extort, perhaps for the twelfth time, from the savings of Nancy's frugality, by the equivocal test of a month or six weeks' consecutive sobriety, and which said speculation he never failed to wind up by the total loss of the capital for Nancy, and the capital loss of a broken head for himself. Ned had eternal...

In "Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent," William Carleton masterfully explores the socio-political landscape of 19th-century Ireland through the lens of its complex characters. The narrative unfolds in a vivid, realist style, characterized by Carleton's keen observations and rich dialect, illuminating the struggles of the Irish peasantry and the corrupting influence of land agents like Valentine M'Clutchy. This novel serves as both a keen social commentary and a detailed historical docum...

I take pleasure in commending this unpretentious volume to the prayerful attention of all English-speaking ministers and members of the Lutheran Church. The aim of the author is to present a clear, concise, and yet comprehensive view as possible, of the way of salvation as taught in the Scriptures, and held by the Lutheran Church. That he has accomplished his task so as to make it throughout an illustration of the truth as it is in Jesus, and a correct testimony to the faith of the Church ...

In "Wear and Tear; Or, Hints for the Overworked," S. Weir Mitchell presents a compelling examination of the physical and mental strains of modern life, drawing on both medical insights and literary flair. Through a rich tapestry of narrative and analysis, Mitchell discusses the psychological toll of overwork and the societal expectations that contribute to chronic fatigue and mental distress. His eloquent prose serves not only to enlighten but also to persuade readers to consider their lif...