Murder at the Villa Museum

Murder at the Villa Museum
Author: Roberto de Haro
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2010-10-14
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1450255086

Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Detective Dale Lipinski is back. This time he is assigned to a high profile murder case that involves the shooting of a beautiful, wealthy socialite working as a curator at a major museum in Malibu. While investigating the case, Lipinski uncovers an unsavory side to the murdered socialites life. As he pursues his investigation, Lipinski begins to unravel an unsettling trail of sexual entrapment and extortion leading to important people and influential political and corporate leaders in Los Angeles. In the course of his investigation, Lipinski runs afoul of a rich and ruthless family scion and very nearly loses his life. Injured from his brush with death, Lipinski reconnects with a glamorous pornography queen who takes him in and cares for him. As he gets closer to the truth, more and more people want to keep him away from it. Murder at the Villa Museum offers glimpses of West Los Angeles, and the lives of heavy hitters in the City of Angels.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Author: Emma Southon
Publisher: Abrams
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2021-03-09
Genre: History
ISBN: 164700232X

An entertaining and informative look at the unique culture of crime, punishment, and killing in Ancient Rome In Ancient Rome, all the best stories have one thing in common—murder. Romulus killed Remus to found the city, Caesar was assassinated to save the Republic. Caligula was butchered in the theater, Claudius was poisoned at dinner, and Galba was beheaded in the Forum. In one 50-year period, 26 emperors were murdered. But what did killing mean in a city where gladiators fought to the death to sate a crowd? In A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Emma Southon examines a trove of real-life homicides from Roman history to explore Roman culture, including how perpetrator, victim, and the act itself were regarded by ordinary people. Inside Ancient Rome's darkly fascinating history, we see how the Romans viewed life, death, and what it means to be human.

Chasing Aphrodite

Chasing Aphrodite
Author: Jason Felch
Publisher: HMH
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2011-05-24
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0547538022

A “thrilling, well-researched” account of years of scandal at the prestigious Getty Museum (Ulrich Boser, author of The Gardner Heist). In recent years, several of America’s leading art museums have voluntarily given up their finest pieces of classical art to the governments of Italy and Greece. Why would they be moved to such unheard-of generosity? The answer lies at the Getty, one of the world’s richest and most troubled museums, and scandalous revelations that it had been buying looted antiquities for decades. Drawing on a trove of confidential museum records and candid interviews, these two journalists give us a fly-on-the-wall account of the inner workings of a world-class museum, and tell a story of outlandish characters and bad behavior that could come straight from the pages of a thriller. “In an authoritative account, two reporters who led a Los Angeles Times investigation reveal the details of the Getty Museum’s illicit purchases, from smugglers and fences, of looted Greek and Roman antiquities. . . . The authors offer an excellent recap of the museum’s misdeeds, brimming with tasty details of the scandal that motivated several of America’s leading art museums to voluntarily return to Italy and Greece some 100 classical antiquities worth more than half a billion dollars.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “An astonishing and penetrating look into a veiled world where beauty and art are in constant competition with greed and hypocrisy. This engaging book will cast a fresh light on many of those gleaming objects you see in art museums.” —Jonathan Harr, author of The Lost Painting

Weegee's Naked City

Weegee's Naked City
Author:
Publisher: Damiani Limited
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2020-02-18
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 9788862086950

Damiani takes great pleasure in re-publishing this classic photo book from 1945 in a beautifully printed new edition which includes unpublished images and two new esseys by Christopher Bonanos and Christopher George. For his first collection, Naked City, Weegee cruised the streets of 1940s New York in the wee hours in search of the sensational. Lewd, louche, licentious but always brimming with life (except when brimming with death), Weegee's photographs have endured decades of modern art criticism and are again enjoying a much-deserved cult revival. His profound influence on other photographers over the last half-century derives not only from his sensational subject matter and his use of the blinding, close-up flash, but also from his eagerness to photograph the city at all hours, at all levels. Snapping lovers on the beach at 3:00 in the morning, transgender prostitutes in police buggies, bejeweled Society ladies at balls, the desperately poor no one knew New York like Weegee. Naked City showcases his talent, his love of the city, and his taste for the absurd and the unbelievable, and is a book that will forever stand as a classic introduction to the secret life of New York

ArtCurious

ArtCurious
Author: Jennifer Dasal
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2020-09-15
Genre: Art
ISBN: 0525506403

A wildly entertaining and surprisingly educational dive into art history as you've never seen it before, from the host of the beloved ArtCurious podcast We're all familiar with the works of Claude Monet, thanks in no small part to the ubiquitous reproductions of his water lilies on umbrellas, handbags, scarves, and dorm-room posters. But did you also know that Monet and his cohort were trailblazing rebels whose works were originally deemed unbelievably ugly and vulgar? And while you probably know the tale of Vincent van Gogh's suicide, you may not be aware that there's pretty compelling evidence that the artist didn't die by his own hand but was accidentally killed--or even murdered. Or how about the fact that one of Andy Warhol's most enduring legacies involves Caroline Kennedy's moldy birthday cake and a collection of toenail clippings? ArtCurious is a colorful look at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest, and most fascinating stories behind the world's great artists and masterpieces. Through these and other incredible, weird, and wonderful tales, ArtCurious presents an engaging look at why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore.

Lysistrata

Lysistrata
Author: Aristophanes
Publisher:
Total Pages: 64
Release: 1916
Genre: Lysistrata (Fictitious character)
ISBN:

50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2)

50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2)
Author: Jules Verne
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 11373
Release: 2023-12-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2) presents an unparalleled amalgamation of narrative brilliance, showcasing the diverse range of literary styles and themes that have defined and evolved the genres of murder mystery and detective fiction. The collection brings together an astonishing array of works from the nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries, adopting perspectives from gothic horror to whimsical mystery and hard-boiled detective stories. This volume not only highlights the versatility and depth of the genres but also features standout pieces that have become keystones in the literary canon, weaving together intricate plots, captivating characters, and rich atmospheric settings without attributing prominence to a single author, instead celebrating the collective achievements. The anthology stands as a testament to the ever-changing landscape of mystery and detective literature, offering readers an unprecedented journey through its developmental milestones. The contributing authors, including luminaries like Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, among others, are pivotal figures whose works have significantly influenced the literary world. This collection provides insight into the historical and cultural backdrops that these authors navigated, reflecting a range of societal concerns and human experiences through the lens of crime and investigation. These stories not only conform to the literary movements of their times but surpass them, creating a mosaic of narratives that transcend cultural and temporal boundaries. The diverse backgrounds of the authors enrich the anthology, bringing together a spectrum of philosophical, ethical, and psychological perspectives that underpin the core of murder mystery and detective fiction. For aficionados of literature, 50 Masterpieces of Murder Mystery & Detective Fiction (Vol. 2) offers a unique opportunity to explore the complexities and intricacies of human nature and societal dynamics through a collection that showcases the finest in the genre. This volume is an essential addition to the libraries of readers seeking to immerse themselves in the world of suspense, mystery, and intellectual challenge. It invites an educational journey that spans various landscapes of human emotion and logic, encouraging a deepened appreciation for the art of storytelling. Each page promises an enlightening experience, culminating in a richer understanding and a renewed curiosity about what truly makes a masterpiece in murder mystery and detective fiction.

The Wayward Zephyr

The Wayward Zephyr
Author: Roberto De Haro
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2011-05
Genre:
ISBN: 1456761471

A romance about a lovely New England woman and a successfull Mexican American financier.

Not in a Tuscan Villa

Not in a Tuscan Villa
Author: John Petralia
Publisher: Chartiers Creek Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2013-08
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 9780615762531

Newly retired and looking for more than a vacation, John and Nancy Petralia intrepidly pack a few suitcases and head to the "perfect" Italian city for a year. Within days their dream becomes a nightmare. After residing in two Italian cities, negotiating the roads and health care, discovering art, friends, food and customs, the Petralias learn more than they anticipate -- about Italy, themselves, what it means to be American, and what's important in life.