Novels / Fiction Books

Here is an authoritative, unforgettable biography of Martin Luther, the great religious leader, who entered a monastery as a youth and who, as a man, shattered the structure of the medieval church. Luther spoke out against the corrupt religious practices that then existed. His demanded that the authority for doctrine and practice be Scriptures, rather than Popes or Councils, echoed around the world and ignited the Great Reformation. Accused of heresy and threatened with excommunication and death, Luther maintained his bold stand and refused to recant. In his crusade to eliminate religious abuses, he did more than any other man to establish the Protestant faith.

Let history come to life - just the way it should be.

Read the stories of Gregory the Great, Boniface, Charlemagne, Constantine Methodius, Vladimir, Anselm of Canterbury, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Sienna, John Wyclif and John Hus.

From people of the Medieval church you can discover how the young Christian church moved on into another era of time. From Gregory I through to Wyclif and Hus you can discover about the crusades and the spread of Islam as well as the beginnings of universities and the Reformation.

As the church moves on through the centuries you can see its people struggling against persecution and problems from inside and out.

Learn from their mistakes and errors but more importantly learn from their amazing strengths and gifts. Marvel at God's wonderful care of his people - the church - the Christian church.

Written in a modern and relaxed style this is a book that will introduce you to history without the tears and with all the wonder.

Extra features throughout this book include looking deeper into issues such as Islam; Division; The crusades; the first university; Creeds and Councils and the Renaissance.

Rudeness. Crudeness. Thoughtlessness. Uncivilized behavior is everywhere. From the boss who publicly chews out her assistant and the student who bullies his professor to the sports fan who yells obscenities at the ballgame, there's little doubt that we live in an increasingly barbaric world. When author Steven Selzer was researching the subject of civility, he found that George Washington had written 110 rules of civility and decent behavior at the age of 14. Although these guidelines are 250 years old, they are still pertinent in today's society. By George: Mr. Washington's Guide to Civility presents the 110 rules with engaging and conversational commentary after each rule, describing how it can be applied in modern life. Interspersed throughout the book are anecdotes, sidebars, and quotes. The tips and principles in By George will enable readers to better handle interpersonal conflicts, conduct business, and manage everyday stress with grace and civility.Rule # 56Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.Rule # 40Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.Rule # 37In speaking to others, do not lean nor look them full in the face, nor approach too near them. At least keep a full pace from them.Rule # 35Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive.Rule # 22Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

When Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519, he believed he could get to the Spice Islands by sailing west through or around the New World. He was right, but what he didn't know was that the treacherous voyage would take him three years and cost him his life. Black-and-white line drawings illustrate Magellan's life and voyage, with sidebars and a time line that enhance readers' understanding of the period.

The perfect addition to every family's home library and just right for sharing aloud, American Tall Tales introduces readers to America's first folk heroes in nine wildly exaggerated and downright funny stories.

Here are Paul Bunyan, that king-sized lumberjack who could fell "ten white pines with a single swing"; John Henry, with his mighty hammer; Mose, old New York's biggest, bravest fireman; Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, who could "outgrin, outsnort, outrun, outlift, outsneeze, outsleep, outlie any varmint"; and other uniquely American characters, together in one superb collection.

In the tradition of the original nineteenth-century storytellers, Mary Pope Osborne compiles, edits, and adds her own two cents' worth--and also supplies fascinating historical headnotes. Michael McCurdy's robust colored wood engravings recall an earlier time, perfectly capturing all the vitality of the men and women who carved a new country out of the North American wilderness.

The delightful tales of whales and cats and kangaroos and crabs - everything from how the camel got in a humph (and got his hump!) to how the alphabet was invented. Enchanting and funny, these fantastical stories continue to delight each and every generation. With an inspiring written, inspiring introduction by Jonathan Stroud, author of the Bartimaeus trilogy, Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling is one of the twelve wonderful classic stories being relaunched in Puffin Classics in March 2008.