Several years ago, among the dusty piles of old pamphlets stored away upon the upper shelves of the Union Theological Seminary library, I met with several works of Luther, in the original editions, as they were issued during his lifetime from his press at Wittemberg. Among them were his Commentaries, or rather Lectures, on the Epistles of Peter and Jude.* The forbidding aspect of the page, with the obsolete spelling of its words, and its somewhat coarse typography, was rather an incitement...

First published in 1947, this bestselling historical novel is cherished and remembered as one of the finest retellings of the Civil War saga—America's own War and Peace. In the first hard pinch of the Civil War, five siblings of an established Confederate Virginia family learn that their father is the grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. The family's story, and the story of their descendants, is presented in this tale that includes both soldiers and civilians—complete with their boasti...

THERE are two kinds of people: small-town folks, and others. The others are inclined to think of the people of the small towns as men and women of narrow horizons and narrow interests and a vast ignorance of such important things as cocktails. But, as a matter of fact, the people who dwell in the little mid-western cities and towns are your real cosmopolites. They know their own country, east, west, north and south, at firsthand. The reason for this is simple. When a city dweller goes to t...

The fine old house stood on Jumping Tom Hill, above the town. It had stood there before there was a town, when only a cabin or two fringed the woods below, nearer the shore. The weather boarding had been brought in ships from England, ready sawed; likewise the bricks of the chimney. Indians used to come to the house in the cold of winter, begging shelter. Given blankets, and food, and drink, they slept upon the kitchen floor; and when Joel Shore’s great-great-grandfather came down in the m...

THERE is romance in the very look of the land of which I write. Beauty beyond belief, of a sort to make your breath come more quickly; and drama—comedy or tragedy according to the eye and the mood of the seer. Loneliness and comradeship, peace and conflict, friendship and enmity, gayety and somberness, laughter and tears. The bold hills, little cousins to the mountains, crowd close round each village; the clear brooks thread wood and meadow; the birches and scrub hardwood are taking back t...

In "All the Brothers Were Valiant," the story likely revolves around themes of family, honor, and redemption. The title suggests a sense of camaraderie and bravery among a group of brothers who face challenges and adversity together.The plot may follow the lives of the brothers as they navigate through personal and collective trials, perhaps in a maritime or seafaring setting. They may encounter conflicts with rival families, confrontations with nature, or moral dilemmas that test their re...

Black Pawl by Ben Ames Williams is a gripping maritime novel set on the high seas, revolving around themes of authority, rebellion, and the complex relationship between father and son. The story takes place aboard a merchant ship, where the titular character, Captain Pawl, is a fearsome and authoritarian figure, known as "Black Pawl" for his stern demeanor and iron will.Captain Pawl commands his ship with an almost tyrannical authority, ruling over his crew with a strict and uncompromising...

The story of "Evered" follows the life of the titular character, Evered Barefoot, from his childhood through adulthood. Set in rural New England, the novel explores Evered's experiences growing up in a small town and the challenges he faces as he comes of age.As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to Evered's family, friends, and the community in which he lives. The novel delves into themes such as love, ambition, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships as Evered na...

"The Great Accident" is a novel centered around a pivotal and dramatic event that significantly impacts the lives of the characters involved. The story typically revolves around a major accident or disaster, exploring its repercussions on individuals and their relationships.The plot delves into the personal and emotional consequences of the accident, examining themes such as fate, responsibility, and the effects of sudden and unforeseen events. The characters must navigate the aftermath, d...

Ben Ames Williams wrote across a range of genres, including adventure, romance, and historical fiction. His storytelling often reflected the complexities of human nature and relationships, capturing both the drama and the subtle nuances of everyday life."Thrifty Stock, and Other Stories" includes various tales that explore different aspects of human experience, characterized by Williams' keen observation and engaging prose. While the specific contents and themes of the stories in this coll...

SPIESS, a born lubber who would never learn the way of the sea, bungled his simple share of the task of getting the mate’s boat away. Black Pawl, master of the schooner, was near by; and he cuffed the man. The buffet was good-natured enough, and Black Pawl laughed as he administered it. Nevertheless it knocked Spiess end over end. The man got up, grumbling; and Red Pawl, the captain’s son and mate, said sharply to his father: “I’ll handle my boat and my men, sir. Let them be.” Black Pawl l...

THE girl, stormful and rebellious, had come out of the old farmhouse above Fraternity, and without much caring in which direction she turned, walked across the stubble of the freshly cut meadow toward the edge of the woods at the crest of the hill. This meadow was really a high plateau; it was fringed with bushes which grew along the crumbling stone wall which bordered it, and with birch and wild cherry trees here and there along its edge. Between these trees she could look abroad across a...