Set against the post-war backdrop of a rural village in the Emilia-Romagna, this is the second in a new series of hilarious and incisive Don Camillo anthologies, which offer 215 stories translated into English for the very first time. As ever, the townsfolk, riven by their disparate allegiances to the hot-headed Catholic priest and his equally pugnacious adversary Peppone, the Communist Mayor, are relieved of their prejudices by the gentle humour and insights coming from high above the altar in the village church. REVIEWS 'Written with such warmth and simplicity, so concerned with the trivialities of everyday life and giving us so shrewd a glimpse into the minds of the people . . .' London Evening News 'Charming and enchanting...witty and wise' -- Edinburgh Evening News 'You'll find Don Camillo not just enchanting and lovable, and at times hilariously funny, but also strangely moving in his simple but certain faith.' -- BBC Radio Books by the Fire ABOUT THE AUTHOR Giovannino Guareschi, known as Giovanni to his millions of English language readers, was born at Fontanelle in the Valley of the Po on the 1st of May, 1908. His father wanted him to become a naval engineer. He, for the very enjoyment of going the opposite way, determined to become a lawyer, but found his vocation when he sent some cartoons he had drawn to the satirical magazine, 'Bartoldo'. Later he founded a satirical magazine, 'Candido', and wrote 346 stories featuring Don Camillo, a character who has done for Italy what Cervantes Don Quixote did for Spain.
E. H. Gombrich's Little History of the World, though written in 1935, has become one of the treasures of historical writing since its first publication in English in 2005. The Yale edition alone has now sold over half a million copies, and the book is available worldwide in almost thirty languages. Gombrich was of course the best-known art historian of his time, and his text suggests illustrations on every page. This illustrated edition of the Little History brings together the pellucid humanity of his narrative with the images that may well have been in his mind's eye as he wrote the book. The two hundred illustrations—most of them in full color—are not simple embellishments, though they are beautiful. They emerge from the text, enrich the author's intention, and deepen the pleasure of reading this remarkable work. For this edition the text is reset in a spacious format, flowing around illustrations that range from paintings to line drawings, emblems, motifs, and symbols. The book incorporates freshly drawn maps, a revised preface, and a new index. Blending high-grade design, fine paper, and classic binding, this is both a sumptuous gift book and an enhanced edition of a timeless account of human history.
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! Katarina Bivald's The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a sweet, smart, and uplifting story about how books find us, change us, and connect us. Once you let a book into your life the most unexpected things can happen: Like the bestselling historical novel and Netflix film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a heartwarming reminder of why we love books. Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara: Sara traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her book-loving pen pal Amy, but when she arrives she finds Amy's funeral guests just leaving. The residents of Broken Wheel are happy to look after their bewildered visitor—there's not much else to do in a dying small town that's almost beyond repair. You certainly wouldn't open a bookstore. And definitely not with Sara the tourist in charge. You'd need a vacant storefront (Main Street is full of them), books (Amy's house is full of them), and...customers. The bookstore might be a little quirky. Then again, so is Sara. But Broken Wheel's own story might be funnier, more eccentric and surprising than she thought. If you liked big-hearted books like The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, you will love The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Praise for The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend: "The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a warm and slyly funny look at small towns and romance..."—New York Journal of Books "A heartwarming tale about literature's power to transform."—People "What begins as an unlikely international friendship based on a mutual love of books becomes a sweet and soulful discovery of America. Quirky, unpredictable, funny, and fresh—a wonderful book."—Nickolas Butler, internationally bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs and Beneath the Bonfire International Bestseller Indie Regional Bestseller National Indie Bestseller #1 Indie Next Pick
Reading Giovanni Guareschi's stories about the little world between the Great River and the Mountains, is to travel to the Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, and to do so in the incomparable company of a cast of characters which testifies to the exquisite humour and humanity of their creator. Place and people are as one: 'The river country of the little world created them;' the author wrote. 'I crossed their path, linked their arms with mine and made them run through the alphabet, from one end to another.' The year is 1953. All is peaceful in the village we know so well. The people are cheerful and friendly, and exercise their famous sense of humour. But the national elections hang like a shadow over proceedings. The Soviet Union is the West's No. 1 enemy and the Vatican has issued its famous 'Decree against Communism', which makes voting communist a mortal sin. No.6 in the Don Camillo series provides the sharpest real-life context yet for the often hilarious feud between the battling village priest and the communist Mayor, Peppone. Although, as ever, the author's message as to what truly lies at the heart of being human is for all times and peoples. 'These haunting stories about this haunting place... Somehow Guareschi made people laugh at their own predicament at a time when humour was sorely needed.' BBC Radio 4
Biff America is a wonderfully funny mix of Andy Rooney and Garrison Keillor. From low-flow toilets to prostate pride, knee surgery to avalanche fatalities, gay marriage to schoolyard bullies, Biff America poignantly writes what the American people need to know. Through it all, Biff America has a gift for revealing the uplifting realities of modern life and, sometimes, his humor will make you blow beer through your nose. With an introduction by John Nichols, author of THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR, and copious illustrations of Biff in action. REVIEWS: "Whether it is on stage, in print or on top of a fourteen-thousand-foot summit, Biff America can make you laugh, cry and feel nauseous-all at the same time." -Rachel Dratch, cast member, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE "Don't let any of that touchy feely crap fool you; Biff America can be a mean drunk, a weasel when confronted and is an unstable individual. He still owes me $67." -Brad Pitt, Baraboo, WI "Biff America's writing is provocative, edgy, insightful and, most important, absorbing. He has a unique gift for mixing comedy with pathos; his observations on life, politics, his family, himself or anything else that strike his fancy are uncannily on point, often with a devilish wit." -NBC "Beneath his blue-collar sensibilities, rough-hewn mountain-town ethos and snort-your-morning-coffee dorm-room humor, Biff America is a surprisingly refined and nuanced writer who finds amazing insights in everyday life. Unrestrained, ribald and slightly off-kilter, he stands as a mad prophet of our times. George W. Bush should read this book." -DENVER POST "The columns in this rich collection form one of the more thoughtful and laugh-provoking journeys that I've taken in a long spell. Think of Lake Wobegon Days meets The Little World of Don Camillo. There's a biting satire aplenty throughout these pages, but it is always couched in a truly humane understanding of our species' tragic-comic fallibility... I found myself repeatedly moved, and moved deeply, by these poignant and funny stories." - John Nichols, author of THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Boston-born writer, comedian and skier, Jeffrey Bergeron, under the alias Biff America, was the recipient of the 2005 Colorado Press Association award for both humor and serious column writing. Recently elected to the Breckenridge City Council on the homeland security and medicinal marijuana platform, Bergeron skis more days than he works and lives in Breckenridge with his hot wife, Ellen. He can be seen on TV, heard on radio, and read regularly in various magazines and newspapers. CONTENTS: Chapter 1: Recreation Chapter 2: Family Chapter 3: People Chapter 4: Dead People Chapter 5: Politics Chapter 6: Connubial Bliss Chapter 7: God Chapter 8: Sex, Love and Body Parts Don't miss out on your Biff fix - get Biff America: Steep, Deep, and Dyslexic today!