The Purple Shroud

The Purple Shroud
Author: Stella Duffy
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2012-09-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101603739

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore, Stella Duffy's chronicle of this amazing woman's early years, delighted readers with its exquisite blend of historical detail and vivid storytelling. Now, The Purple Shroud chronicles Theodora at the height of her power, bringing the ancient world alive in another unforgettable, epic saga. Theodora and Justinian have been crowned Emperor and Empress, but ruling an empire is no easy task. The two factions of Christianity are still battling for dogmatic supremacy, the Empire's borders are not secure, and Theodora worries about the ambitions of Justinian's two best generals. But the most pressing concern is close to home: Constantinople's two factions, the Blues and the Greens, are beginning to unite in their unhappiness with rising taxes. When that unhappiness spills over into all-out violence, thousands are killed (including someone very close to Theodora) and many of the City's landmarks are destroyed, including Theodora's beloved Hagia Sophia. In the aftermath of the riots, Theodora guides Justinian in gaining back the love and trust of the people, her unerring instinct for what the people want proving invaluable. Justinian promises to rebuild the Hagia Sophia to be even more spectacular than before. Theodora comes to realize that being the Augusta is simply another role she must play, though the stakes are much higher and there is no offstage. It's a role she was born to play.

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore
Author: Stella Duffy
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2011-09-27
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101552662

"A bravura performance: a witty, moving, sexy book that bursts with as much color and excitement as the city of Constantinople itself." -Financial Times Roman historian Procopius publicly praised Theodora of Constantinople for her piety-while secretly detailing her salacious stage act and maligning her as ruthless and power hungry. So who was this woman who rose from humble beginnings as a dancer to become the empress of Rome and a saint in the Orthodox Church? Award-winning novelist Stella Duffy vividly recreates the life and times of a woman who left her mark on one of the ancient world's most powerful empires. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore is a sexy, captivating novel that resurrects an extraordinary, little-known figure from the dusty pages of history.

No Pockets in a Shroud

No Pockets in a Shroud
Author: Horace McCoy
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 243
Release: 2013-01-15
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1453292020

DIVIn this ingenious novel, a passionate journalist takes on his city’s rampant corruption /divDIV Mike Dolan is a widely read columnist, but he’s intensely frustrated by his newspaper’s attitude toward the truth. All the articles he’s most keen to run—about a rich youth escaping punishment in a drunk-driving accident, a supremacist group called the Crusaders, or a pennant-winning baseball team found to be throwing games—are precisely the ones his editor wants to shelve, caring only to keep lucrative advertising relationships intact. Dolan finally has had enough, and borrows money from friends to launch a magazine of his own. Although he’s now free to boldly speak truth to power and pursue his most important scoops, the move comes with grave consequences for his love life—and his life, period. As Dolan steps on toes and dodges fists, No Pockets in a Shroud showcases McCoy’s fast-paced, suspenseful style./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an extended biography of Horace McCoy./div

Shroud

Shroud
Author: John Banville
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2011-08-11
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 144720736X

‘Shroud will not be easily surpassed for its combination of wit, moral complexity and compassion. It is hard to see what more a novel could do’ Irish Times Dark secrets and reality unravel in Shroud, the second of John Banville's three novels to feature Cass Cleave, alongside Eclipse and Ancient Light. Axel Vander, distinguished intellectual and elderly academic, is not the man he seems. When a letter arrives out of the blue, threatening to unveil his secrets – and carefully concealed identity – Vander travels to Turin to meet its author. There, muddled by age and alcohol, unable always to distinguish fact from fiction, Vander comes face to face with the woman who has the knowledge to unmask him, Cass Cleave. However, her sense of reality is as unreliable as his, and the two are quickly drawn together, their relationship dark, disturbed and doomed to disaster from its very start.

Murder in a Few Words

Murder in a Few Words
Author: Charlotte Beyer
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2022-02-22
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1476641714

The clue-puzzle, legal thriller, and classic whodunit are just a few of the subgenres within the widely popular crime fiction genre. However, despite its popularity among readers, the crime short story genre has yet to be fully explored by scholars. This book offers a deep-dive into crime short stories written by a wide range of authors, tracing the history and evolution of the crime short story. The book offers an accessible and original examination of crime short stories, focusing on compelling themes such as miscarriage of justice, feminism, environmental crime and toxic masculinity.

Children of the Shroud

Children of the Shroud
Author: Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Publisher: Popular Library
Total Pages: 325
Release: 1990-09-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9780445210141

As Armageddon approaches, only the Children of the Shroud--the keepers of the genetic key to a race of superior beings--can decide who will be saved

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, Second Edition Omnibus

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, Second Edition Omnibus
Author: Nico F. Declercq
Publisher: Nico F. Declercq
Total Pages: 2090
Release: 2024-06-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 9083176940

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc (2nd edition) is a comprehensive ancestral chronicle, meticulously tracing the Desclergues family lineage from the Greek era through the Villa Ducal de Montblanc in Tarragona to the present in Belgium. This omnibus edition compiles the entire acclaimed series, offering an exhaustive account of the Desclergues of Montblanc alongside the author's other ancestral lines, including de Patin, de Patin de Langemark, Lesage, Benoit, Den Dauw, 't Kint, Surmont, de Croock, Ardan, Lammens, Decaestecker, and de Silva of Uduwara in Sri Lanka. This scholarly work is enriched by a comprehensive DNA analysis, providing genetic depth to the historical narrative. Each family line is intricately contextualized within its historical setting, with facsimile images of archival records offering tangible evidence of the past. This beautifully illustrated book presents a visually engaging experience, enhancing historical insights and making it an invaluable resource for students, historians, and anyone passionate about genealogical studies. Nico Felicien Declercq, a full professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is a distinguished scholar. With a Ph.D. from Ghent University and an MSc from the Catholic University of Leuven, his prolific academic career encompasses numerous published works. His passion for history and genealogy led him to meticulously document his ancestral lineage, culminating in this comprehensive work. Professor Declercq's interdisciplinary approach and dedication to rigorous research have earned him a reputation for excellence in the scientific community and among genealogical enthusiasts. He is also the author of several philosophical novels published under a pseudonym.

A Shroud of Leaves

A Shroud of Leaves
Author: Rebecca Alexander
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA)
Total Pages: 376
Release: 2019-07-09
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1785656252

"Finely observed beautifully written" Daily Mail on The Secrets of Life and Death "The victim had been buried in a carved hollow in the grass and shrouded in fallen leaves..." Archaeologist Sage Westfield has her first forensics case: investigating the murder of a teenage girl. Hidden by holly leaves, the girl's body has been discovered on the grounds of a stately home, where another teenage girl went missing twenty years ago - but her body was never found. The police suspect the reclusive owner, Alistair Chorleigh, who was questioned but never charged. But when Sage investigates a nearby burial mound - and uncovers rumours of an ancient curse - she discovers the story of another mysterious disappearance over a hundred years ago. Sage will need both her modern forensics skills and her archaeological knowledge to unearth the devastating truth.

Old Style Conjure

Old Style Conjure
Author: Starr Casas
Publisher: Weiser Books
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2017-09-01
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1633410633

“Starr Casas is the real deal. Anyone seeking to comprehend conjure and benefit from its powerful magic would do well to read Old Style Conjure."—Judika Illes, author of Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells and many other books Featuring rituals, spells, and home recipes, the book provides useful information suitable for novices and seasoned practitioners alike. Conjure, hoodoo, rootwork—these are all names for a uniquely American form of folk magic. Conjure first emerged in the days of slavery and plantations and is widely considered among the most potent forms of magic. Written by Starr Casas, a hereditary master of the art, Old Style Conjure is an essential guide to using conjure to achieve love, success, safety, prosperity, spiritual fulfillment, and your heart's desires. Old Style Conjure is a guide to using conjure to achieve love, success, safety, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment. It introduces readers to the history and philosophy of conjure and provides practical, modern-day advice for using it. In its pages, you'll learn about: Bone reading Candle magic Conjure bags Building your own conjure altar