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Lewis Carroll & His Illustrators: Collaborations & Correspondence,
1865–1898
Morton N. Cohen, A49, and
Edward Wakeling, editors
Cornell university press
Many of Lewis Carroll’s works are, in the minds
of their readers, intricately connected to their illustrations.
Morton N. Cohen, professor emeritus of English at the
City University of New York, has co-edited a collection
of letters between Carroll and his various illustrators
that opens a new window into this deeply private man’s
world, uncovering new insights into the famed author
of Alice in Wonderland.
“Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (sometimes Lewis Carroll)
reveals himself in three important ways in this book:
the manner in which he deals with his artist collaborators;
his own aesthetic principles as he shares them with
his artists; and in revelations about the basic character
of the man.
“Actually, he tells us here some things about himself
and his attitudes in a more forthright, succinct way
than we find elsewhere. We see him protesting about his
own inability to draw as well as he would like to; we
see the painstaking efforts he makes to ensure that his
readers will get the highest quality product.
“We know that he could sometimes be sharp and prickly
in his relationship with tradesmen, even with his Oxford
colleagues. But we also see him here being extremely
kind and considerate. For example, on December 23, 1892,
he writes to one of his artists: ‘I wish you a
very happy Christmas: but my wishes will come a little
late, as, to spare the overworked letter-carriers, I
shall leave this, to be posted after Christmas.’
“Many more insights into the man’s true character
emerge here and they all go to show us how complex, fascinating,
and sometimes perplexing a man he was.”
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Mirror, Mirror
Gregory Maguire, G90
Regan Books
The best-selling author of Wicked revisits the world
of fairy tales, this time retelling the tale of Snow
White. Set in Renaissance Italy, the book recounts the
story of Bianca de Nevada, who is seven when her father
is ordered by the duplicitous Cesare Borgia to go on
a quest to reclaim the relic of the original Tree of
Knowledge, a branch bearing three apples. Bianca is left
in the care of her father’s farm staff and Cesare’s
sister, Lucrecia. But Lucrecia becomes jealous of her
lecherous brother’s interest in the growing child
and plots a dire fate for Bianca in the forest below
the farm. There Bianca finds herself in the home of seven
dwarfs—the creators of the magic mirror of the
title—who await the return of their brother, the
eighth dwarf, long gone on a quest of his own. |
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Come Closer
Sara Gran, J93
Soho Press
In her second novel, Sara Gran tells the story of Amanda,
an architect happily married to Ed and satisfied with
her life. But soon her contentment is shattered. Odd
noises haunt the couple’s apartment; Amanda suffers
blackouts that have no medical explanation; she and Ed
squabble; the image of a beautiful woman from the past
invades Amanda’s dreams. When a volume titled Demons
Possession, Past and Present arrives at her door instead
of the book she ordered, Amanda begins to question her
life: Does everything that has happened have a rational
explanation? Are the coincidences that have occurred
just that? Or has she been possessed by a female demon
known to students of the Kabbalah as Naamah? |
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On a Night Like This
Ellen Sussman, J76
Warner Books
First-time novelist Ellen Sussman offers the story of
Blair Clemens, a fiercely independent single mother who
must learn to confront loss in order to find love. Blair,
once the weird and lonely hippie-chick in high school,
reconnects with Luke Bellingham, the golden boy of their
youth, rich, handsome, and destined for greatness. When
they meet again, years later, Luke has fulfilled his
early promise and is one of the country’s most
acclaimed screenwriters, while Blair struggles to raise
a teenage daughter alone, earn a living as a chef, and
hide a tragic secret that will test all her emotional
resources. Blair’s life and love are only for her
daughter when she crosses paths again with Luke and is
faced with the decision of her life: What to do when
the right man comes along . . . at the wrong time.
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See You Down the Road
Kim Ablon Whitney, J95
Knopf Books
In her first novel, Kim Ablon Whitney looks at the life
and culture of the Irish Travelers in America. Welcome
to Bridget’s world, where home is a trailer that
moves the family from place to place and scam to scam,
a prearranged wedding maps the future, and parental pressure
is forcing her to quit high school. All these stresses
force Bridget to question whether the Traveler life is
one she would choose for herself. But if she leaves the
life, she’s out of the family for good.
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Natchez: The Houses and History of the Jewel of the
Mississippi
Hugh Howard, A74
Photos by Roger Straus III
rizzoli
Boasting over 500 houses, churches, and other buildings
predating the Civil War, Natchez, Mississippi, is one
of a few Southern towns that has produced and preserved
such a rich architectural heritage. With text by Hugh
Howard, the author of Thomas Jefferson Architect, Natchez
is a sumptuous entrée to the houses and gardens
that abound in this richly historic, deeply Southern
town that draws thousands of visitors each year. Filled
with beautiful photographs, Natchez is a splendid look
at the “jewel by the river” and a must-have
for both the residents and tourists who make Natchez
a popular destination year after year.
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The Breakup Repair Kit: How
to Heal Your Broken Heart
Marni Kamins, J98, and Janice MacLeod
Conari Press
Breaking up may be hard to do, but with The
Breakup Repair Kit, breaking up can also be a lot of fun. Packed with
activities, inspiration, advice, and even recipes, the
book is like a wise—and hilarious—girlfriend
who can help anyone get over him and get a life. Whether
you’re the dump-er or the dump-ee, authors Marni
Kamins and Janice MacLeod help readers mend broken hearts
and get back in the game.
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1600 Perfect Score: The Seven Secrets of Acing the
SAT
Tom Fischgrund, A70
HarperCollins
Every year nearly 2.3 million high school students take
the SAT; of those, only 650 on average achieve a perfect
score. Such a statistic raises obvious questions: Who
are these kids? What are they like? And how do they do
it? In a new landmark study, educator and executive recruiter
Tom Fischgrund became the first researcher ever granted
comprehensive access to these high aca-demic achievers
by the College Board, the body that administers the SAT.
Weaving together in-depth interviews with perfect-score
students, insights from their parents, and exclusive
College Board data, he reveals the seven secrets that
separate the rest of the cream from the crop.
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Textual Knowledge: Teaching
the Bible in Theory and in Practice
Barry W. Holtz, A68
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Dr. Barry W. Holtz, a professor at the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America, has written a book aimed at anyone
who wishes to explore what it means to teach the Bible.
In this volume, he explores the largest issues involved
in Bible teaching: What are our purposes? What are the
outcomes that we are looking for? How do we conceptualize
the Bible as subject matter? How do we develop theories
of Bible teaching? And how do we move from theory to
practice? By looking at alternative perspectives, Holtz
offers clarity about a teacher’s goals and practical
advice about what it means to attain them.
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A Compassionate Conservative: A Political Biography
of Joseph W. Martin Jr., Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives
James J. Kenneally, G51
Lexington Books
Joseph W. Martin Jr. was a longtime Republican leader
and chairman of the Republican National Committee and
National Conventions. In this first full-length, scholarly
examination of Martin’s career, readers encounter
a devoted public servant who often modified his party’s
extreme stances on domestic matters during the Great
Depression and on foreign policy issues leading up to
World War II. This political biography effectively illustrates
that bipartisanship does not mean abandonment of principles,
that kindness, integrity, and gentility are compatible
with effective leadership, and that close friendships
with members of the opposing party can contribute to
a more effective Congress.
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Adventure
Capitalism: Globalization and the Political
Economy of Stock Markets in Africa
Todd Moss, A92
Palgrave Macmillan
Sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest and least integrated
region of the world, is now home to 15 stock markets.
Todd Moss, a research fellow at the Center for Global
Development in Washington, D.C., examines the economic
and political forces behind this trend and discusses
the potential consequences of financial market integration
for developing countries. Using a political economy approach,
the book finds that financial globalization presents
a formidable challenge for African policymakers, but
also an opportunity with a range of benefits.
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