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 Pirate's - A Who's Who Giving Particulars Surely pirates, taking them in their broadest sense, are as much entitled to a biographical dictionary of their own as are politicians, clergymen, race-horses, or artists in ferro-concrete, who all have their own “Who’s Who”? This volume does not pretend to be a history of piracy, but is simply an attempt to gather together, from various sources, particulars of those redoubtable pirates and buccaneers whose names have been handed down to us in a desultory way.
To write a whole history of piracy would be a great undertaking, but a very interesting one. Piracy must have begun in the far, dim ages, and perhaps when some naked savage, paddling himself across a tropical river, met with another adventurer on a better tree-trunk, or carrying a bigger bunch of bananas, the first act of piracy was committed. Indeed, piracy must surely be the third oldest profession in the world.
In this book are contained brief accounts of some of the most famous pirates and buccaneers who have left their marks upon history. Their exploits with their attending morals and motives were surely many and varied. Among their ranks heroes and villains were no less uncommon than among those who found themselves in other professions.
 Xenophon - Anabasis, also known as The Persian Expedition Xenophon’s Anabasis is a classic tale of high adventure. An army of 10,000 Greek warriors, far from home, find themselves in hostile territory, vastly outnumbered and in great peril. Their leader, Cyrus the Great, has been killed in battle along with a number of their other generals. They must undertake an unparalleled arduous trek and make a heroic fighting retreat to save themselves from certain death.
This story has regained popularity with each generation; in the more modern times, the story has been adapted into the Sol Yurik novel, The Warriors, as well as the movie version, and even the video game.
This true story, told by the man who became one of the leaders of the valiant band of warriors, was the stuff of legend. It is ingrained in the history of the Greeks as a cherished tale of overcoming hardship with courage and nearly superhuman endurance. Even Alexander the Great was said to have kept a copy of this book and to have often referred to it for inspiration.
Told in the third person, as were Caesar’s Commentaries, the style is simple, direct and unpretentious. Students of Greek Culture often find it a pleasure to read because of its uncomplicated style of writing in addition to being exciting story that accurately describes real people, places and times. This translation, by Professor H. G. Dakyns, retains the flavor of the original and includes embedded explanatory notes to help clarify references and unfamiliar geography.
 The Gladys Malvern Collection The majority of the Gladys Malvern papers consists of an undated and untitled 87-page typescript on the history of world theater, from the Greeks and the Elizabethans to the modern era. The typescript, which is heavily emended, appears not to have been published. Internal evidence suggests that it was written in 1945. Also in the collection is a 12-page typescript of an article about actress Helen Hayes, written during the spring of 1944 andsubmitted to AMERICAN GIRL magazine. Malvern corresponded with Hayes’ secretary prior to writing the piece, and thatcorrespondence is included.
Also present are four 2-page pieces apparently written for a radio series which featured celebrated New York restauranteur George Rector, in which Rector reminisces about famous theater people he has known such as Sarah Bernhardt and Eddie Foy. It is unclear whether the pieces were ever broadcast. Three letters written to Malvern during 1957 are also included, and concern her conversion to the Christian Science faith. Continue reading The Gladys Malvern Papers at the New York Public Library
 The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Collector's Edition Premises of The Art of War
The Art of War presents the basic principles of warfare and gives military leaders advice on when and how to fight. Its 13 chapters offer specific battle strategies–for example, one tells commanders how to move armies through inhospitable terrain, while another explains how to use and respond to different types of weapons–but they also give more general advice about conflicts and their resolution. Rules like “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight;” “He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces;” “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks;” “Victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and men;” and “Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril” can be applied to particular battle situations as well as to other kinds of disagreements and challenges. Continue reading The Art of War – History Channel Documentary, Part 2
 The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Edition “The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.” So begins The Art of War, a meditation on the rules of war that was first published in China. Historians don’t know the exact date of the book’s publication (though they believe it to be in the 4th or 5th century); in fact, they don’t even know who wrote it! Scholars have long believed that The Art of War’s author was a Chinese military leader named Sun Tzu, or Sunzi. Today, however, many people think that there was no Sun Tzu: Instead, they argue, the book is a compilation of generations of Chinese theories and teachings on military strategy. Whether or not Sun Tzu was a real person, it’s clear that “he” was very wise: The Art of War still resonates with readers today.
Continue reading The Art of War – History Channel Documentary, Part 1
 Tao - The Way - Special Edition Lao Tzu was the father of Taoism. In his Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu outlined the basic concept of Tao. Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu were Lao Tzu’s most important followers who expounded and expanded the basic principles set forth by Lao Tzu. Together, the sayings of these three sages, which make up this volume, are the foundations for the philosophy of Tao.
Lao Tzu, who was thought to be born about 600 BCE, was an elder contemporary of Confucius. Legend has it that they met on one occasion and Lao Tzu instructed Confucius on humility and simplicity. Confucius was said to have been most impressed and afterward referred to Lao Tzu as a Dragon.
Chuang Tzu (369-286 BCE) was nearly as important in the history of the philosophy of Tao as the master Lao Tzu himself. Many of the lessons that come down to us from Chuang Tzu are classic examples of enduring parables. His impressive intellect and insightful imagery served to root the concepts of Taoism deep into the psyche of ancient China.
Continue reading Tao – The Way – Special Edition: A new way to look at Tao Te Ching
The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Classic Edition The Warring States Period 475-221 BCE is a history of constant warfare, of alliances and counter-alliances, and of treaties made and broken. The nature of warfare evolved during the period. During the Warring States period, political stability was impossible to gain by adventurous military action. With the advent of swelling ranks of soldiers, protracted sieges, and an ever increasing drain on state treasuries, warfare became a serious matter for study.
Thus, the opening remark of “The Art Of War” states–without exaggeration–war had become the most serious business of the state, the key to survival or ruin. The author of this and other pithy aphorisms on how to successfully fight a war was Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu scholars place his writing “The Art of War” in the Warring States Period, based on the descriptions of warfare in the text. The book has received great exposure in the west starting in the eighteenth century after being translated by a French missionary. It has been reported that Napoleon studied the text and effectively put many of its teachings to good use. For the past 2,000 years, it has been the most important military treatise in all of Asia, even known by name with the common people. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese military figures have studied it and employed its concepts to good effect. This is especially evident in the military tactics of 20th century revolutionaries like Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh.
Continue reading The Warring States Period in China; Sun Tzu’s The Art of War
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Pirates – A Who’s Who classic history, available in paperback.
Pirate's - A Who's Who Giving Particulars
Surely pirates, taking them in their broadest sense, are as much entitled to a biographical dictionary of their own as are politicians, clergymen, race-horses, or artists in ferro-concrete, who all have their own “Who’s Who”? This volume does not pretend to be a history of piracy, but is simply an attempt to gather together, from various sources, particulars of those redoubtable pirates and buccaneers whose names have been handed down to us in a desultory way.
To write a whole history of piracy would be a great undertaking, but a very interesting one. Piracy must have begun in the far, dim ages, and perhaps when some naked savage, paddling himself across a tropical river, met with another adventurer on a better tree-trunk, or carrying a bigger bunch of bananas, the first act of piracy was committed. Indeed, piracy must surely be the third oldest profession in the world.
In this book are contained brief accounts of some of the most famous pirates and buccaneers who have left their marks upon history. Their exploits with their attending morals and motives were surely many and varied. Among their ranks heroes and villains were no less uncommon than among those who found themselves in other professions.