John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in California's Salinas River Valley. Although he worked briefly as a reporter in New York, it was in the Salinas Valley that he spent the Depression years, and his experiences and the people he met became the basis for his books. Of Mice and Men opened the eyes of the public to the desperate lives of the migrant workers. The Grapes of Wrath told the story of the destitute Oklahoma dust bowl farmers who flocked to the Valley in search of work, Cannery Row painted the rough and tumble lives of the cannery workers in nearby Monterey. And East of Eden, his most personal novel, revolved around the lives of two families from the Valley whose story was a tragic metaphor for the suffering humans needlessly cause one another. Steinbeck was the recipient of both the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes for Literature and was named to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Institute of Arts and Letters. His books were likewise embraced by the public-many reached the top of the bestseller lists; four of them were made into Broadway shows; and six were made into movies. Despite these successes, he often doubted his abilities. The critics were seldom kind to him, making his doubts grow. But at the end of his life he realized that by championing the causes of the underprivileged, he had made a lasting impression on the social consciousness of America. He died in New York in 1968. Keith Ferrell gives us a fascinating account of John Steinbeck, a writer who continually struggled to awaken America's social conscience. Steinbeck's ability to incorporate the dark side of life in rich stories of human strength has captured the souls of millions of readers everywhere.

Ernest Hemingway was one of the most controversial and admired writers of his time. This biography covers his life from his childhood in Oak Park, Illinois, to his suicide in 1961. It offers a sympathetic portrait of a brilliant artist and a complex individual-a private man who led a very public life. Hemingway's formal education ended after high school when the ambitious young writer went off to work for The Kansas City Star. Eager to see the war, he volunteered for ambulance corps duty in Italy during World War I. Some of his most exciting and productive years were spent in postwar Paris, living among a group of writers and artists from around the world. In the 1930s Hemingway became as famous for his personality as for his writing, and he spent more of his time hunting and fishing competitively. But when war broke out in his beloved Spain, he went to serve as a correspondent on the loyalist side. In 1940 his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls, based on his wartime experiences, was published to critical acclaim and financial success. World War II found Hemingway working as a correspondent once again, and prone to fighting and drinking. Despite this decline, he wrote The Old Man and the Sea, which celebrated the courage of an aged Cuban fisherman, and went on to win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954. Keith Ferrell conveys the scope of Hemingway's achievement as a writer and gives a vivid portrait of one of America's finest authors.

Hiram Bingham was the ideal explorer-adventurer handsome, rich, intelligent, brave, and tough. His life seems like something out of film hero Indiana Jones s exploits in Raiders of the Lost Ark. The descendant of strong-willed missionaries, Bingham was born in Hawaii in 1875, At Yale he specialized in South American studies and became a college teacher. Gradually, the romance of the past took hold of his practical soul. Obsessed by the Incas and his dream of uncovering lost cities, Bingham initiated and expedition to Peru that would lead him to uncharted territories. Using quotations from Bingham s accounts, Cohen describes how in 1911 Bingham made the greatest archaeological find of the century, the rediscovery of Machu Picchu, the abandoned Inca city in the remote Peruvian mountains. On later expeditions he discovered other lost cities, as he continued his research on the mysteries of Machu Picchu and the last of the Incans, despite the physical hardships and dangers of exploration. When World War I broke out, Bingham learned to fly no small accomplishment in those pioneering days of aviation. He eventually joined the American forces in France as head of the largest Allied flight training base in Europe. After the war, the ambitious and restless Bingham entered a new career, politics, and was elected senator from Connecticut in a landslide victory. But he was too proud an individualist to do well in government. Bingham spent the rest of his life writing and lecturing. Bingham led the kind of action-packed life that most people only dream of. Daniel Cohen has written a story sure to capture the imagination of everyone who likes history enlivened by cliff-hanging adventures."

"... this is a well-written and rich resource". -- School Library Journal review of A Student's Guide to British American Genealogy

This groundbreaking series is the first to explain the "how-to's" of genealogical research in simple, jargon-free language. The Oryx American Family Tree Series explores how to research family history for 12 different ethnic groups. Each volume begins with an overview of the group's historical and cultural background, then guides readers through each step in tracing their own genealogical heritage, with practical advice on how to
-- locate important family documents and other vital sources of information
-- conduct interviews with family members and record eyewitness accounts of key events
-- use the latest electronic research tools
-- research your background if you are adopted or come from a nontraditional family
-- preserve family history for future generations

Each volume is written in a friendly, narrative style and is extensively illustrated with full-color and black-and-white photographs. Hundreds of valuable resources unique to each ethnic group are also listed and annotated, including genealogical organizations, books, magazines, journals, videos, and special libraries and archives.

The Oryx American Family Tree Series provides an easy-to-follow road map for anyone interested in tracing a family history -- from junior high and high school students to adults who require a basic primer. Every library will want to make this practical, highly readable series available to its patrons.

Each volume is produced as a sturdy 6 x 9 casebound publication, 192 pages, and printed on acid-free paper.

Which Viking places or remains still exist in the UK today? And what do they tell us about how the Vikings lived? This book takes a tour around of some of these places, giving a fascinating glimpse of how Vikings built their houses and communities as well as why they are significant.

'York Notes for GCSE' offers a useful approach to English Literature and aims to help readers achieve a better grade. Updated to reflect the needs of today's students, the new editions are filled with detailed summaries, commentaries on key themes, characters, language and style, illustrations, exam advice and much more.

Join the Planetwalker, John Francis, on an exploration of kindness, great and small. From the kindness John has experienced in his own life to the history of how kindness has helped to shape our laws, morals and communities, read many inspirational stories from around the world. Over the whole history of humankind, kindness has been key to the survival of our species and to making our world a better place. Learn about Harriet Tubman, who risked her life to help others escape from slavery, the Nomads Clinic, which sends doctors trekking into the Himalayas to tend to patients, The Linda Lindas, a group of young musicians who use their talent to speak up for the rights of others Joshua Coombes, a hairdresser who gives free haircuts to the homeless, and many others. The joyous and awe-inspiring stories in this book will encourage young readers to be kind to others. And being kind, even in small ways, turns out to be healthy for you, yet another reason to be practise kindness every day. It's our planet to share together - let's be kind.

Which prehistoric places or remains still exist in the UK today? And what do they tell us about how our ancient prehistoric ancestors lived? This book takes a tour around of some of these places, giving a fascinating glimpse of how prehistoric peoples built their houses and communities as well as why they are significant.

Exam Board: AQA Level: GCSE Subject: History First Teaching: September 2016 First Exam: June 2018 AQA approved Create a stimulating, well-paced teaching route through the 2016 GCSE History specification using this tailor-made series that draws on a legacy of market-leading history textbooks and the individual subject specialisms of the author team to inspire student success. - Motivate your students to deepen their subject knowledge through an engaging and thought-provoking narrative that makes historical concepts accessible and interesting to today's learners - Embed progressive skills development in every lesson with carefully designed Focus Tasks that encourage students to question, analyse and interpret key topics - Take students' historical understanding to the next level by using a wealth of original contemporary source material to encourage wider reflection on different periods - Help your students achieve their potential at GCSE with revision tips and practice questions geared towards the changed assessment model, plus useful advice to aid exam preparation - Confidently navigate the new AQA specification using the expert insight of experienced authors and teachers with examining experience

This valuable study guide, based on the CAPS curriculum, covers 6 topics and, for each topic, includes: Comprehensive Notes, Key Terms & Timelines, Questions & Essays and Answers to questions and essays plus: Exam Papers & Memos. This book is a well-substantiated portrayal of the periods and cultures covered by the Grade 10 History curriculum. Many photographs and excerpts are used to contextualise events and make the subject accessible. The key terms and timelines provide easy referencing for every topic. A wide variety of source-based and essay questions are supplied and the detailed answers and model essays explicitly illustrate the skills that learners are being expected to master. This book is a valuable tool for establishing a sound understanding of the History curriculum. Teachers can request a free image CD to accompany the use of this book in the classroom. This CD also shows learners how mind-maps can be used as a way of summarising key content. The same material is also downloadable from our website.