In 1830, the little Hebridean island of Lismore was one of the granaries of the West Highlands, with every possible scrap of land producing bere barley or oats. The population had reached its peak of 1500, but by 1910, numbers had dwindled to 400 and were still falling. The agricultural economy had been almost completely transformed to support sheep and cattle, with ploughland replaced by the now familiar green grassy landscape.With reference to documentary sources, including Poor ...

This island of Lismore boasts a remarkably rich heritage, both in terms of historic monuments and of an unbroken tradition of Gaelic culture. From their first sight of Tirefour Broch, dominating approaches from the mainland, visitors to the Isle of Lismore can explore an outstanding heritage of monuments to the past - Bronze Age cairns, medieval castles, the Cathedral of Argyll, carved graveslabs, deserted townships and watermills, not to mention a Stevenson lighthouse. Because of its stra...

A Royal Navy sailor recounts his adventuresome life at sea in this colorful memoir offering a rare look at early nineteenth century naval life.In 1803, at the age of fourteen, Robert Hay ran away from home to join the Royal Navy. For the next eight years, he experienced the trials and tribulations of a sailor's life. Intelligent and capable, he served a series of officers, all of whom helped advance his education. Yet he found the taxing conditions of life onboard d...

When young Gil Bennett is drafted into military service in mid-World War II, he knows his life will be different. But one thing that won't change is his love for Annie, who accepts his marriage proposal and vows to be waiting when he comes home. While Gil endures the horrors and suffers the wounds of war in Europe, Annie must bear the challenges faced by a lonely young woman yearning for companionship. If they are to be together again, can things be as they were before?

Although he misses Melinda, the girl he left behind, after his time as a homeless orphan on the streets of Paducah Jeter thinks being a groom in the White House stables, and life in general in the nation's capital, is all he'll ever want. His friend and mentor, Shakespeare-quoting Union Army Captain Joseph Emerson, is an advisor to President Lincoln. With the President just re-elected and the war with the Confederacy won, they all see bright days ahead.But an assassin's bullet brin...

The Isle of Lismore has a long reputation as a holy island, beginning with the foundation of a monastery by St Moluag in the sixth century, when it became a major centre of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Bishopric of Argyll was founded on Lismore in 1200, and the medieval Cathedral Church of St Moluag was completed in 1400, the choir of which forms the basis of the present-day parish church.Robert Hay tells the story of Moluag's monastery, recently rediscovered by community archa...

Life has been good in the old Prather house on the bluff overlooking Singleton's Branch. Then the second "once in a hundred years" flood in a decade brings changes that will affect the Prather family for years to come. Lacy, who sees beauty wherever she looks and expects others to be as good as she is, can no longer count on her big brother to protect her from an abusive husband, and the family learns a hard truth: No one is immune to the quirks of fate, be they blessings or tragedies, and...

Seven Thomas-Jacob Publishing, LLC authors bring you 15 of their short stories, excerpts, and poems. Sometimes offbeat, always captivating, the selections include historical fiction, magical realism, crime, psychological suspense, literary fiction, coming of age, and poetry for both children and adults. The works are grouped by author name, not genre, ensuring a surprise each time you turn the page.

In the tranquil solitude of a darkened Room 12 in the ICU on the sixth floor of Memorial Hospital's Wing C, a mortal existence is drawing to an end. His head and torso swathed in bandages, his arms and legs awkwardly positioned in hard casts and layers of heavy gauze, he's surrounded by loved ones yet unable to communicate, isolated within his own thoughts and memories.He does not believe himself to be an extraordinary man, simply an ordinary one, a man who's made choices, both goo...

Ernst Kohl has spent nearly half his life in prison after being convicted of murder as a young man. Upon his release, with nowhere else to go, Kohl returns to his old family home on the outskirts of a small Michigan town, hoping for redemption, or at least understanding.He finds a dog, a girlfriend, and a job in quick succession, and it seems as if he might finally be able to leave the past behind and make a quiet life for himself. But some of the residents, including the town’s co...

In 1955, at the height of alarm over the Emmett Till murder in Mississippi and after the Supreme Court ruling against school segregation, Associated Press reporter Rachel Feigen travels from Baltimore to Tennessee to report on a missing person case.Guy Saillot’s last contact with his family was a postcard from the Tennessee Bend Motel, a seedy establishment situated on beautiful Cherokee Lake. But they have no record he was ever a guest.As the investigation deepens, Feigen ...

This program is read by the authors (David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker), Laura Orrico and Joe Praino, with special appearances by an all-star cast of comedy giants, including the film's stars, Julie Hagerty and Robert Hays, as well as Beau Bridges, Barry Diller, Michael Eisner, Peter Farrelly, Bill Hader, Jimmy Kimmel, John Landis, Patton Oswalt, Trey Parker, Molly Shannon, Sarah Silverman, Matt Stone, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Lee Bryant, Joyce Bulifant, Dick Chudnow, Ken Co...