Humphrey Newton (1466-1536) - An Early Tudor Gentleman
The public and political lives of the fifteenth- and early sixteenth-century gentry have been extensively studied, but comparatively little is known of their private lives and beliefs. Humphrey Newton of Pownall, Cheshire, offers a rare and fascinating opportunity to redress the balance, thanks to the fortunate survival of a commonplace book he compiled c.1498-1524. Drawing upon this unique manuscript, this interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional study of Newton explores his family life, landed estate, legal work, piety, and his literary skills (he composed nearly twenty courtly love lyrics).
Grade 3-7 - Cast out when their spooky castle gets modernized into a holiday camp, Humphrey and his ghost family search for a new home. They meet a friendly schoolboy named Rick who decides they should start a "ghost sanctuary," since human expansion has ruined so many ghoulish spots in England. When the sanctuary turns out to be a trap meant to exorcise all of the ghosts, Rick and Humphrey must save the day. Ibbotson's sense of humor is in fine form, especially in her detailed descriptions of the various ghostly characters. Headless Aunt Hortensia and Humphrey's brother, George the Screaming Skull, are just two of the repulsive, yet endearing figures.
Added by: JustGoodNews | Karma: 4306.26 | Fiction literature | 1 April 2011
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The Sea Wolf by Jack London (Epub+Mobi)
1904. American writer (real name John Griffith London). London grew up in poverty, earning a living through various legal and illegal means. He was a sailor and took part in the Klondike gold rush. These experiences provided much of the material for his works and also made him a socialist. The Call of the Wild, the classic story of sled-dog Buck brought him instant celebrity and established his readership to this day. In The Sea-Wolf, London's most gripping novel, Humphrey Van Weyden is rescued from the freezing waters of San Francisco Bay by a demonic sea captain and introduced to fates far worse than death.
The letters of J. R. R. Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter
Added by: arcadius | Karma: 2802.10 | Non-Fiction, Other | 7 January 2011
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The letters of J. R. R. Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter
Scholars and fans of the great mythologist will find a rich vein of information in Humphrey Carpenter's The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien was a prodigious letter writer all his life; the sheer mass of his correspondence would give pause to even the most stalwart archivist. Carpenter manages find the cream of the crop - the letters that shed light on Tolkien's thoughts about his academic and literary work, as well as those that show his more private side, revealing a loving husband, a playful friend, and a doting father. The book has 354 letters.