Innocent Aimée refuses to believe she might ever have to face the intrigue and evil that lurks beneath the exotic beauty and opulence of the Ottoman Empire. Rose mistakenly believes that her marriage to an aristocratic French lieutenant will insure her place in Parisian society. Both will be proven wrong.This first book in Zia Wesley’s The Veil and the Crown series tells the beginning of the extraordinary true story of Aimée Dubucq de Rivery and her cousin, Rose Tascher de La Pagerie…both destined to be queens.Publisher's Note: This is an extraordinarily well-researched novel that is true to the period. As such, there is explicit sexual and violent content that, while typical to the era, is most appropriate for adult readers.The Veil and the Crown, in series order:The Stolen GirlThe French Sultana“I lingered over and savored the vivid descriptions and found it absorbing, historically interesting, well researched and constantly enticing. It was as if Zia took me by the hand and we followed the heroine through all her adventures. Scheherazade, eat your heart out!” - Lorain Fox Davis, Grammy winner and educator

    Its trade was prosperous, its hospitality famous and the host was jolly and generous. To his servants he was cruel and menacing, and to Ellie Roon, the most menial servant at the Fleece, he was a figure of terror. Ellie was used to being bullied, but when her illegitimate daughter was born - in a rat-ridden attic of the Fleece - she decided that Hester must have a different kind of life. And so, Hester Roon began her eventful progress in the harsh world of 18th century England. After fleeing from the inn, and the attentions of the owner, she became involved in the London underworld. From there she found herself in a world far beyond her imaginings..

    The product of the centuries-long struggle among three mighty empires--France, Spain, and England--and among their respective American colonies and enslaved African peoples, it has always seemed like a foreign port to most Americans, baffled as they are by its complex cultural inheritance.The World That Made New Orleans offers a new perspective on this insufficiently understood city by telling the remarkable story of New Orleans’s first century--a tale of imperial war, religious conflict, the search for treasure, the spread of slavery, the Cuban connection, the cruel aristocracy of sugar, and the very different revolutions that created the United States and Haiti. It demonstrates that New Orleans already had its own distinct personality at the time of Louisiana’s statehood in 1812. By then, important roots of American music were firmly planted in its urban swamp--especially in the dances at Congo Square, where enslaved Africans and African Americans appeared en masse on Sundays to, as an 1819 visitor to the city put it, “rock the city.”

    "He is one of those artists who come to the rescue of humanity's honor." Perhaps no other artist of our time has so combined supreme creativity with uncompromising humanism. Hence the appearance of this work constitutes an event of historic import. For here is Pablo Casals' first book in his more than ninety years-a book, entirely in the gentle poetry of his words, in which he reflects upon our troubled age and recounts the stirring saga of his own extraodinary life.Casals' story has an epic quality. Set in an era of massive turbulence and change, it is the story of a man's passionate pursuit of beauty and justice in a world racked by revolutions and wars. It is a story whose protagonist performed for Queen Victoria in the late 1800's and for President John F. Kennedy shortly before man set foot on the moon. It is the story of a consummate musician who silences his instrument to articulate his love of man; of a fervent patriot who protests iniquity by exiling himself from his beloved homeland for a third of his years; of a man who when nearing ninety embarks on a personal peace crusade, taking his music to a score of lands.Across the stage of this drama move peasants and celebrated artists, students and statesmen, anarchists and kings. Its pages are peopled with a host of fascinating characters-the vastly erudite authority on Spanish music Count de Morphy (whose father was an Irishman named Murphy); the frenetically eccentric composer Emanuel Moor; the dazzling virtuoso-who never practiced-Pablo Sarasate; the "sturdy young woman who was studying medicine" when Casals first met her, Gertrude Stein; the gay and gentle genius Fritz Kreisler, wounded as a soldier in the First World War; the fantastic and adventurous prodigy Isaac Albeniz; the nonconformist Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, Exquistite and iron-willed; the noble humanist from Lambarene, Albert Schwietzer. It is a story that takes the reader on a fabulous odyssey from remote villages of Catalonia to the royal court of Madrid, from Paris of La belle epoque to the Wild West of America, from the concert halls of the world's captials to the concentration camps of Nazi-occupied France, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the flowering mountains of Puerto Rico. It is a story that culminates in the ineffably tender account of Casals' love for Marta, his lovely young wife and co-worker. Above all, surmounting the viloence and cynicism of our time, it is a story of human compassion, reverence for beauty, and faith in man.In his Prefatory Note, Albert E. Kahn-to whom Casals relates the thoughts and recollections in this book-states that this work should not be termed an autobiography, It is, indeed, a book which fits no formal category. it is both a testament and a song: a testament to a way of life and a song to life itself.Joys and Sorrows is illustrated with more than 50 pages of hitherto unpublished documents, rare musical memorabilia, correspondence with president Kennedy, Albert Schweitzer and others, and a protfolio of uniquely intimate contemporary photographs of Casals by Albert E. Kahn.

    In 2001, the mesmerizing film adaptation was released to equally glowing reviews. Brilliantly innovative and oddly endearing, Hedwig and the Angry Inch—inspired by Plato’s Symposium—is the story of “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt, the victim of a gruesomely botched sex-change operation, as dazzlingly recounted by Hedwig (née Hansel) herself in the form of a lounge act, backed by the rock band The Angry Inch.

    A tangled knot of betrayal and love, lies and redemption. Marvelous. --Fiona Davis, author of The AddressA song brought them together.A secret will tear them apart.Venice, 1736. When fate brings Violetta and Mino together on the roof of the Hospital of the Incurables, they form a connection that will change their lives forever. Both are orphans at the Incurables, dreaming of escape. But when the resident Maestro notices Violetta's voice, she is selected for the Incurables' world famous coro, and must sign an oath never to sing beyond its church doors.After a declaration of love ends in heartbreak, Mino flees the Incurables in search of his family. Known as the city of masks, Venice is full of secrets, and Mino is certain one will lead to his long-lost mother. Without him, the walls close in on Violetta and she begins a dangerous and forbidden nightlife, hoping her voice can secure her freedom. But neither finds what they are looking for, until a haunting memory Violetta has suppressed since childhood leads them to a shocking confrontation.Vibrant with the glamour and beauty of Venice at its zenith, The Orphan's Song takes us on a breathtaking journey of passion, heartbreak, and betrayal before it crescendos to an unforgettable ending, a celebration of the enduring nature and transformative power of love.

    Scores include all instrumental parts (even drums!), guitar, and bass in both notation and guitar tab, plus chords, and complete lyrics. 212 songs. 1,136 pages, hardcover in deluxe slip case.

    In the most thorough and painstakingly researched book to be published since the 1980s, specialist music editor Elaine Gould provides a comprehensive grounding in notational principles.Behind Bars covers everything from basic rules, conventions and themes to complex instrumental techniques, empowering the reader to prepare music with total clarity and precision. With the advent of computer technology, it has never been more important for musicians to have ready access to principles of best practice in this dynamic field, and this book will support the endeavors of software users and devotees of hand-copying alike. The author's understanding of, and passion for, her subject has resulted in a book that is not only practical but also compellingly readable.This seminal and all-encompassing guide encourages new standards of excellence and accuracy and, at a weighty 704 pages, it is supported by 1,500 music examples of published scores from Bach to Xenakis.

    Escaped from a dismal servant's life, orphaned Becky Pumroy and her brother Eseck find adventure in the American wilderness and a new life among the Indians.

     But how did an illiterate orphan, sent to work in her half-brother’s tavern in the Strand, become recognised as one of England’s finest silversmiths? Rosalind Laker imaginatively traces Hester’s journey from rags to riches, obscurity to renown against the backdrop of 18th Century London. From the moment flame-haired Hester meets John Bateman, a goldsmith’s apprentice, both of their lives change forever. Hester ignites a passion in John that threatens to unsettle his lofty aspirations. For John is already engaged to his Master’s daughter and Hester’s pregnancy could spell the end to all his professional ambitions. The resolution to Hester and John's star-crossed love is only the beginning of a story of determination and struggle. 'The Silver Touch' is an evocative slice of London life and one spirited woman’s journey to success against the odds. It is a tale of love, artistry and true devotion, based on the remarkable life of one indomitable woman. Rosalind Laker was lucky enough to be born into a family that took a great interest in its forebears, and tales of them were handed down to her, providing characters and incidents for many of her historical novels. Her books include ‘The Fragile Hour’ and ‘The Marlows’. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher.

    She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape. Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

    1752, Midsummer. Following a desperate summons from her mother, Tabitha Hart departs London for her home village of Netherlea - only to discover that her mother has drowned. Determined to discover the truth about the Widow Hart's death, Tabitha consults her almanack and uncovers a series of cryptic notes describing her mother's terror of someone she names only as 'D'. Teaming up with young writer Nat Starling, Tabitha begins a race against time to unmask 'D' before more deaths follow. But as the summer draws to a close and the snow sets in, cutting off Netherlea from the outside world, Tabitha and Nat are forced to face the darkest hours of their lives. With the year predicted to meet a 'violent, bloody end'' will Tabitha survive long enough to bring her mother's killer to justice?

    Poetically intense and sensual, it marks the debut of a gifted new author.Beautiful Helen Gloag is determined to escape the cycle of poverty and early death that has destroyed so many women in her native Scotland. Barely out of her teens, she flees her hometown and sets sail for the Colonies on a ship bound for Boston. But the ship falls prey to a band of corsairs—pirates from the Barbary coast of Africa. Helen is taken captive and sent to a procuress in Morocco, where women are sold into the slave markets of the nobility. In the procuress’s house, she is discovered by the witty, soft-hearted dwarf Microphilus, who oversees the Harem of the Emperor himself. Knowing her red hair and milky skin will enthrall his master, he takes her to Marrakech, and the imperial palace. The Harem of the Emperor is a mysterious, voluptuous, and forbidding place, a hive of dangerous political tensions and unlikely friendships. Microphilus, himself a Scot captured by pirates as a young man, has found his fortune in the Emperor’s Harem, where he serves the Queens, including the charismatic, amazonian African empress Batoom, who is his lover. With Microphilus’s help, Helen learns to negotiate the politics of the Harem and compete for the Emperor’s favor. Cast into the luxurious but sinister world of the Harem, Helen is at first terrified of the godlike and often cruel Emperor, but she soon becomes his favorite. Eventually, out of all the Harem women, she is chosen to become his fourth wife—the greatest of honors, since the Emperor may have hundreds of concubines but only four official wives. With her marriage, however, comes the greatest danger. Helen’s predecessor, the other “White Queen,” has succumbed to a mysterious, disfiguring illness and is slowly wasting away. Poison is the most likely cause, and Microphilus knows that Helen is destined to be the next victim. In the Harem, hundreds of women are vying to be one of the four queens, thus setting the scene for the tragic power struggle and love story that ensue.

    After releasing several massively popular albums and singles, the young singer has cemented his status as today's most talked about personality in pop music. His fans are famous for their devotion and vivid forms of expressing their admiration, creating a frenzy known as ''Bieber Fever''. In order to find out more about this young superstar and his works - read this book.

    While Caroline of Brunswick eventually became his lawful queen, it was the beautiful Maria Fitzherbert, recognized as his wife by the Catholic Church but not by the laws of England, who claimed his heart. In the hands of author Diane Haeger, their relationship becomes a mesmerizing love story, filled with intrigue and passion. The characters and drawing rooms of 18th Century England come alive to create a portrait of the age that is colorful and resonant with historical detail.