When a seemingly crazy, poorly dressed soothsayer tells you not to let a magical talisman fall into the wrong hands, take him or her seriously. DO NOT laugh it off and leave said talisman simply lying around on a side table; you might as well just end the world yourself. —The Handbook of Practical Heroics, p. 134The kingdom of Deserae is in the most direly perilous of dire perils. The realm’s precious magical talisman—Ancient Artifact Model Seven—is in the grimy h...

First published in 1946, following on from Portrait of Elmbury, the second in the series shows an England which now seems almost foreign in its remoteness.Evoked with an unerringly accurate eye, Brensham Village contains a mixture of action and character, conveying the life of a country community in the halcyon period between the wars.Sentimental it is, but not so as to undermine the picture of a time when a life of landed gentry, squalid poverty and routine vill...

We set our scene in Damask: A kingdom that couldn’t get ransacked if it tried…But now that the king is dead, that’s exactly what his brothers have in mind. All they need is a bad king to take his place. The population will rebel, the neighboring kingdom will be “invited” to restore order, and they’ll be in business…Bad Prince Charlie will do. His reputation for “badness” precedes him, and everyone knows he wouldn’t spit on Damask to save it from Drought. At...

This is the first book of the famous trilogy of English country life, The Brensham Trilogy, by John Moore.A wonderful and exuberant chronicle of an English market town between the wars, distinguished with a historic abbey, a winding river and bustling pubs with a cast of characters that could have stepped out of Hogarth or Shakespeare...

"A View of Society and Manners in Italy, Volume 1" by John Moore offers a captivating exploration of Italian culture and society during his travels. The author, a keen observer, provides insightful commentary on the customs, social structures, and the everyday lives of the Italian people. Through his vivid descriptions, readers are transported to the bustling streets and serene landscapes of Italy, gaining a deeper understanding of the historical context and the nuances of Italian life. Mo...

"A View of Society and Manners in Italy, Volume 2" by John Moore offers a captivating exploration of Italian culture and society during his travels. Moore, a keen observer, provides insightful commentary on the customs, traditions, and social dynamics of the Italian people. His narrative is rich with personal anecdotes and reflections, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the vibrant life of Italy. The book serves as both a travelogue and a social critique, revealing the complexities ...

"A View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland, and Germany" by John Moore offers a captivating exploration of the social customs and cultural practices of early 19th-century Europe. Through his keen observations, Moore provides readers with a vivid portrayal of the diverse societies he encounters, highlighting the contrasts between the regions. His narrative is enriched with personal anecdotes and reflections, making it not only a travelogue but also a commentary on the human condi...

"A View of Society and Manners in France, Switzerland, and Germany" by John Moore offers a captivating exploration of the social customs and cultural practices of these European nations. Through the eyes of an astute observer, Moore provides insightful commentary on the behaviors, traditions, and interactions of the people he encounters. His keen observations reveal the contrasts and similarities between the societies, shedding light on the complexities of human nature and the impact of ge...

A Country town thrown into chaos and defiance by a summer flood that threatens the festival pageant; a quarrel of hot young blood over the charms of rival beauty queens, a fishing competition with a compassionate embezzler's fortune at stake; a real battle between York and Lancaster with the wrong side winning; a female Communist redhead, a teetotal publican, an insufferable baronet, a mountainous American ex-soldier; and a lot of other characters who are only life-size-here is indeed the ...

When a woman ascends to the presidency of the United States, she stands there not just for herself, but for every daughter told to wait her turn, every mother who has borne burdens without recognition, and every community yearning to see its strength reflected in our highest office. Her presence affirms that leadership is not bound by gender but by vision, by character, and by the courage to serve. But my friends, we must speak plainly: the time for waiting has passed. For too long, this n...

And they lived happily ever after…Caroline’s plan to live happily ever after has hit a snag. She’s spent months mapping the swamp, building tadpole nets, and kissing every wriggling frog she could get her hands on, and one has finally turned into a prince. Unfortunately, Prince Hal is not, as promised in the fairy tales, particularly handsome. In fact, he’s kind of dorky-looking.Hal himself isn’t very eager to marry a girl so obsessed with appearances, but ...

There’s only one thing scarier than slaying a giant, fire-breathing dragon…slaying the wrong giant, fire-breathing dragon.Sir Terry knows that as a valiant (but solidly middle-class) knight he doesn’t have a chance of winning the beauteous Princess Gloria’s hand in marriage… unless he kills the dragon on the far edge of the kingdom and claims her as his reward.But Prince Charming never had to contend with re-zoning. After Terry defeats the dragon, ...