Famed for his novels of the American frontier (notably the Leatherstocking Tales) and of the sea, and also the author of a large body of social and political writings, James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) received mixed reviews from his contemporaries, who generally enjoyed the adventure tales but abhored his social preachings. His posthumous reputation has fluctuated widely. Savagely trashed by, among others, Mark Twain in 1895 for his literary offenses, Cooper was resurrected in 1931 by critic Robert E. Spiller, who viewed him as a profound social critic. By the mid-twentieth century, Cooper was widely praised as a pioneer in the development of the American social and political novel, though his literary qualities remained subject to attack in some quarters. Cooper has continued to be studied from myriad points of views and critical stances both as a writer and as a critic. The immense body of criticism has been carefully channeled in this annotated bibliography of 1,943 reviews, journal articles, newspaper articles and editorials, dissertations, and books. The material is organized in chapters by broad subject category--Bibliography, Biography, General Studies, Frontier and Indian Novels, Literature of the Sea, Social and Political Writings, and Miscellaneous Publications; where appropriate the chapters are subdivided according to individual Cooper publications, with further divisions relatings to materials written before and after Cooper's death. This arrangement, together with a fascinating introductory survey of his critical reception and full author, and editor, and subject indexes, allows the researcher to trace the various topics and themes that have occupied a who's who of literary, intellectual, and social critics from 1820 to the present.

The touchstone for contemporary stargazers. This classic, groundbreaking guide has been the go-to field guide for both beginning and experienced amateur astronomers for nearly 30 years. The fourth edition brings Terence Dickinson and Alan Dyer’s invaluable manual completely up-to-date. Setting a new standard for astronomy guides, it will serve as the touchstone for the next generation of stargazers as well as longtime devotees. Technology and astronomical understanding are evolving at a breathtaking clip, and to reflect the latest information about observing techniques and equipment, this massively revised and expanded edition has been completely rebuilt (an additional 48 pages brings the page count to 416). Illustrated throughout with all-new photographs and star charts, this edition boasts a refreshed design and features five brand-new chapters, including three essential essays on binocular, telescope and Moon tours by renowned astronomy writer Ken Hewitt-White. With new content on naked-eye sky sights, LED lighting technology, WiFi-enabled telescopes and the latest advances in binoculars, telescopes and other astronomical gear, the fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide is sure to become an indispensable reference for all levels of stargazers. New techniques for observing the Sun, the Moon and solar and lunar eclipses are an especially timely addition, given the upcoming solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024. Rounding out these impressive offerings are new sections on dark sky reserves, astro-tourism, modern astrophotography and mobile phone astrophotography, making this book an enduring must-have guide for anyone looking to improve his or her astronomical viewing experience. The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide also features a foreword by Dr. Sara Seager, a Canadian-American astrophysicist and planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized expert in the search for exoplanets.

Although historians have always studied towns, widespread interest in urban history as a specialized historical field is relatively recent. This fashion has stimulated the development of a major controversy about the fortunes of towns in England between the 14th and 17th centuries. Some see them as prone to crisis and frequently subject to decay, while others have held that many of them prospered in these centuries. This book guides the reader through the controversy, summarizes the opposing cases, and adds new insights derived from the author's own research. These insights indicate that the problem lay in the rise and decline of regional economies rather than the rise and decline of the towns which lay in those regions. An extensive bibliography with notes is designed to help the reader to come to his or her own conclusions. This is a book both for students beginning the study of the subject and for their teachers, to whom it should have something new to say.

Although historians have always studied towns, widespread interest in urban history as a specialized historical field is relatively recent. This fashion has stimulated the development of a major controversy about the fortunes of towns in England between the 14th and 17th centuries. Some see them as prone to crisis and frequently subject to decay, while others have held that many of them prospered in these centuries. This book guides the reader through the controversy, summarizes the opposing cases, and adds new insights derived from the author's own research. These insights indicate that the problem lay in the rise and decline of regional economies rather than the rise and decline of the towns which lay in those regions. An extensive bibliography with notes is designed to help the reader to come to his or her own conclusions. This is a book both for students beginning the study of the subject and for their teachers, to whom it should have something new to say.

There is nothing in our lives that has appeared by chance. All the dynamics took place to develop us into all we've become.

The slightest change in any one of our choices would have strategically reset the course of our existence. Every choice or unforeseen tragedy took place for a reason. No matter what we happen to uncover along the way, it causes us to either become the better or worse for it. There is nothing about my life I would've ever changed. To have changed one iota, would have totally thrown me completely off course.

Our successes and failures in life worked to create the product that is seen before you. It doesn't matter if you're a product of unfortunate circumstances or born with a silver spoon, you are what you are. It is always encouraging to know how God can take what we thought was a misfortune and create an opportunity out of it. I know this to be a fact because He has taken all of my messed ups and turned them around for my good. I've compiled 103 inspirational poems that speak about adversity being the secret ingredient that pushes us onto the pathway to purpose.

Portrait Of A Man
A Man is always what He feels inside;
His dignity and pride
Is what makes him Survive.
Portrait of a Man
The ways of a man are strong and bold;
With these essentials,
He's sure to live happy and get old.
Portrait of a Man
His ways are very outstanding,
Often he finds himself possessive and demanding.
He wants what he wants-and that's the way it is!
Whatever it might be
He will not cease until it is his!
Portrait of a Man
Inside of his heart is a fire waiting to burn;
From his desire he learns and yearns.
His life is spent with the greatest of hope,
Which expands his horizons
And enabling him with sought after dreams; to always Cope!
Portrait of a Man
Always seeking to do his best,
So he knows this is the only way he can find rest.
Portrait of a Man
The best thing he can do is follow his first mind;
This takes him out of the dark where all was blind.

This comprehensive edition makes available two of the most important sources for population studies in the early modern period. The bishops' returns of 1563 and 1603 represent the earliest census-type information that has survived in England and Wales. The 1563 returns, surviving from twelve dioceses, record the number of households; the 1603 documents, from nine dioceses, were intended to survey religious nonconformity and estimate the number of communicants in each parish.