Biografier

According to the FBI, morebank and armored-car robbers have come out of Charlestown, Massachusetts, thanany other one-square-mile area in the world. With these robberies also camegangland violence and corruption. Fictionalized in the movie The Town featuringBen Affleck and Jeremy Renner, this is the true story of Charlestown andthe thieves and gangsters who terrorized the community for decades. On October 31, 1961,Bernie McLaughlin got shot dead in broad daylight in front of a hundredwitnesses in the City Square section of Charlestown. Becauseof the ironclad code of silence in the Irish stronghold known as the "Green SquareMile," no witnesses came forward. The murder ignited a bloody war between theMcLaughlin Gang and Buddy McClean's Winter Hill Gang that left more than sixty mendead. Three decades later, asnarcotics invaded Charlestown, and a concurrent Mob war raged between J. R. Russo's North End crew and that of Patriarca-family boss "Cadillac Frank" Salemme,five thieves called the "No Name Gang" committed over a hundred heists acrossNew England that cemented the enclave's infamy. Grippingly cinematic and raw, Thievesof Charlestown delivers an unprecedented look at the real criminals who ruledthe streets of "The Town."

Mark Agnew was part of the first team to ever kayak the north-west passage - spending 103 days in the Arctic. The infamous route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans had defeated countless explorers for centuries, and Mark himself had failed two previous expeditions where he attempted to row across the Atlantic. Pushed to the brink, on the verge of turning his back on the adventures that had made him feel alive, he experienced a mental health crisis and almost abandoned the water forever. Charting an inspirational journey from failure to world record breaker, in There Will Be Headwinds Mark reflects on his struggles and reveals the lessons from sports psychology that allowed him to conquer his demons and achieve something truly remarkable. As well as exploring Mark rebuilding himself following his lowest ebb, this is also an astonishing story of ice, suffering and camaraderie. It's a testament to the power of teamwork, determination and ambition - and a celebration of the human spirit of adventure.

In this fully revised and updated edition of his 2021 biography of Starmer, Michael Ashcroft traces how he went from schoolboy socialist to radical lawyer and Director of Public Prosecutions before - aged 52 - becoming an MP, then Labour leader and now the occupant of Number 10.

How does one of the greatest storytellers of our time write her own life? The long-awaited memoir from one of our most lauded and influential cultural figures'Every writer is at least two beings: the one who lives, and the one who writes. Though everything written must have passed through their minds, or mind, they are not the same.'Raised by ruggedly independent, scientifically minded parents - entomologist father, dietician mother - Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec. This childhood was unfettered and nomadic, sometimes isolated (on her eighth birthday: 'It sounds forlorn. It was forlorn. It gets more forlorn.'), but also thrilling and beautiful.From this unconventional start, Atwood unfolds the story of her life, linking seminal moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel year that spawned Cat's Eye to divided 1980s Berlin where she began The Handmaid's Tale. In pages bursting with bohemian gatherings, her magical life with the wildly charismatic writer Graeme Gibson and major political turning points, we meet poets, bears, Hollywood actors and larger-than-life characters straight from the pages of an Atwood novel.As we travel with her along the course of her life, more and more is revealed about her writing, the connections between real life and art - and the workings of one of our greatest imaginations.

The Complete London Writings present the spiritual and theological journal of a man revived by God's word. German philosopher Johann Georg Hamann, destitute and depressed in London in 1758, bought a King James Bible Bible on impulse. Within a month of reading it cover to cover, he was convicted of his sin and converted to Christ. His reading inspired him to write meditations on the entire Bible and reexamine the course of his life.

From award-winning journalist Joseph Lee, a sweeping, personal exploration of Indigenous identity and the challenges facing Indigenous people around the world.Before Martha’s Vineyard became one of the most iconic vacation destinations in the country, it was home to the Wampanoag people. Today, as tourists flock to the idyllic beaches, the island has become increasingly unaffordable for tribal members, with nearly three-quarters now living off-island. Growing up Aquinnah Wampanoag, journalist Joseph Lee grappled with what this situation meant for his tribe, how the community can continue to grow, and more broadly, what it means to be Indigenous. In Nothing More of This Land, Lee weaves his own story and that of his family into a panoramic narrative of Indigenous life around the world. He takes us from the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard to the icy Alaskan tundra, the smoky forests of Northern California to the halls of the United Nations, and beyond. Along the way he meets activists fighting to protect their land, families clashing with their own tribal leaders, and communities working to reclaim tradition. Together, these stories reject stereotypes to show the diversity of Indigenous people today and chart a way past the stubborn legacy of colonialism.

A coming-of-age tale that follows its quintessential musical enthusiast narrator from his stormy, blue-collar childhood in Michigan to his striving twenties in 1990s New York and the making of Rent, his first astronomical triumph, and later on the Broadway sensation, Hamilton.

“Among the most profound and dazzling debuts I've ever read.” —Kiese Laymon, award-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir An essay collection from culture critic Lawrence Burney that is a personal and analytical look at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him.There are moments throughout our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression, helping inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward. In No Sense in Wishing, Lawrence Burney explores these profound interactions with incisive and energizing prose, offering us a personal and critical perspective on the people, places, music, and art that transformed him. In a time when music is spearheading Black Americans’ connection with Africans on The Continent, Burney takes trips to cover the bubbling creative scenes in Lagos and Johannesburg that inspire teary-eyed reflections of self and belonging. Seeing his mother perform as the opening act at a Gil Scott-Heron show as a child inspires an essay about parent-child relationships and how personal taste is often inherited. And a Maryland crab feast with family facilitates an assessment of how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation. Taking us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, No Sense in Wishing is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney’s search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, it’s like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.

From journalist and professor at University of Texas-Austin, SLIP presents a revelatory new framework to understand the experience of eating disorder recovery by weaving together moving personal narrative, immersive reporting, and emerging science.

“A beautiful story about an extraordinary mother’s gift of love and hope.” —Jeannette Walls, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle From “a writer who’s absolutely going places” (Roxane Gay), a remarkable, inventive debut memoir about a mother-daughter relationship across cycles of poverty, separation, and illness, exploring how we forge identity in the face of imminent loss.When Erika Simpson was growing up, her mother loomed large, almost biblical in her life. A daughter of sharecroppers, middle child of ten, her origin story served as a Genesis. Her departure from home and a cheating husband, pursuing higher education along the way a kind of Exodus. Her rules for survival, often repeated like the Ten Commandments, guided Erika’s own journey into adulthood. And the most important rule? Throughout her life, Sallie Carol preached the power of a testimony—which often proved useful in talking her way out of a bind with bill collectors. But where does a mother’s story end and a daughter’s begin? In this brave, illuminating memoir, Erika offers a joint recollection of their lives as they navigate the realities of destitution often left undiscussed. Her mother’s uncanny ability to endure Job-like trials and manifest New Testament–style miracles made her seem invincible. But while our parents may start out as gods in our lives, through her mother’s final months and fifth battle with cancer, Erika captures the moment you realize they are just people. This gorgeously rendered story of a mother’s life through her daughter’s eyes weaves together a dual timeline, pulling inspiration from both scripture and pop culture as Erika moves through grief to a place of clarity where she can see who she is without her mom—and because of her.

In thoughtful, candid, and often funny vignettes, Hilaria Baldwin reveals the highs, the lows, and the outrageous outtakes from her different and not-so-different life.

A true crime tale of unbelievable friendship, loyalty, criminal genius, and a staggeringly audacious plot to steal one of the world’s most valuable paintings—and return it.On April 14, 1975, Myles Connor, already a known art thief, entered the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in disguise along with a cohort. The pair went directly the Dutch Gallery and proceeded to remove Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn from its place on the wall. After a brief scuffle with the guards—with Myles deterring his partner from shooting a bystander—the pair was gone, leaving behind no traceable evidence amidst the mayhem. Who was Myles Connor and what were his motivations? Most thieves are in it for the money, but Myles was far from most thieves. His motive was freedom. The summer before the heist, he was arrested by the FBI when he attempted to sell three highly valuable paintings by Andrew and N.C. Wyeth to an undercover agent. Incredibly, Myles did this while out on bail for possession of yet more stolen art. When he was arrested and placed in the back seat of a state police vehicle, the FBI agent said to him, “We’ve got you now. Let’s see you get out of this one.” Without batting an eye, Connor calmly replied, “Just you watch me.” Again released on bail, Connor met with an old friend of his father’s, Massachusetts State Police Major John Regan. Regan worked for the District Attorney at the time, future Congressman William Delahunt. Connor asked Regan if there was any way out of the fix he was in, and the straightlaced cop told him bluntly, “It’s going to take a Rembrandt to get you out of this one.” With that, a master plan was hatched. But there was a flip side to this story. One involving Connor’s best friend—Al Dotoli—who lived a life in the music industry, far from the world of art heists. Dotoli’s own masterpiece of a plan hinged on the Rembradt’s return. Filled with unforgettable personalities and non-stop action and intrigue, The Rembrandt Heist will lay out the anatomy of this notorious art theft while describing not just the criminal genius that is Myles Connor, but also the complexity of personal relationships between lifelong friends. All along, the reader will learn about a breathtaking painting by the world’s most famous artist and the incredible true story about how Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn ended up on the wall at the MFA in the first place.

A riveting chronicle of the battle for chess supremacy and the brilliant, eccentric, extremely online grandmasters changing an ancient game.Every elite chess player dreams of becoming world champion, of wearing the wreath and going down in history. Yet for many of today's top grandmasters, that dream long seemed out of reach: Norwegian juggernaut Magnus Carlsen was just too good. So when Carlsen announced he wouldn't defend his world title for a fifth time, the rest of the best saw a chance finally to sit on the throne. Interregnum follows these brilliant and often eccentric minds around the world as they vie to become world chess champion. It’s a story of millennial greats whose time is running out. Of teenaged prodigies who refuse to wait their turn. Of triumph and heartbreak, aspiration and anxiety. Of an ancient sport experiencing a remarkable resurgence and of the extremely online enfants terribles changing the game. Part sports chronicle, part paean, part character study, Interregnum offers something for both the chess-obsessed and the chess-curious as well as anyone who enjoys a riveting tale of struggle in sport or triumph of the intellect.

BEYOND THE BADGEONE MAN, TWO LIVESStep into the gripping world of law enforcement with Tony Mozingo, a former FBI agent whose journey is interwoven with homespun wisdom learned from his beloved pet companions. This compelling memoir invites you to explore an unexpectedly charming journey from humble beginnings in rural Virginia to the thrilling challenges of FBI life. Mozingo’s story unfolds through riveting narratives and profound reflections. Discover how his profound bond with animals informed his dedicated pursuit of justice against criminals, shaping his understanding of life’s deepest meanings in Beyond the Badge.From the Foreword by Richard K. Lack, FBI Special Agent, Retired Whether Tony was leading a team or working independently, his meticulous attention to detail and innovative problem-solving skills ensured that his contributions were always of the highest quality. His ability to balance a multitude of tasks with grace and efficiency is truly commendable, making him an invaluable asset to the FBI during his years as an active Special Agent.In addition to his professional prowess, Tony possesses unwavering integrity and ethical standards. He navigated the complexities of his field with a strong moral compass, earning the respect and trust of colleagues. I told him I consider this book to be an exposé—so get ready to be exposed to insider information that will have you intrigued and captivated. The animal stories are a delightful bonus. Enjoy!

DICK MORRIS CALLED IT YEARS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IN HIS BESTSELLING BOOK: THE RETURN: TRUMP'S BIG COMEBACK.TRUMP WOULD WIN THE 2024 ELECTION AND AS DICK PREDICTED: TRUMP WON!New York Times bestselling author Dick Morris is a winning presidential strategist and the man Time magazine dubbed "the most influential private citizen in America." In his new book, THE SECOND SHINING: Trump's Return to Radically Remake America Forever, Morris recounts how President Trump returned to power and lays-out Trump's agenda to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and change the World, FOREVER.

The stunning short story collection--available in English for the first time--that established Edith Bruck as a major figure in Italian literature.This Darkness Will Never End, the first short story collection by the Hungarian-born author Edith Bruck, was published to acclaim in Italy in 1962. After World War II, Bruck, a Holocaust survivor, settled in Rome where she wrote her fable-like stories, recounting the lives of poor Jewish families in Europe before, during, and immediately following the war. In the title story, believed by some film scholars to have inspired the Oscar-winning movie Life Is Beautiful, a young girl shepherds her blind, sickly brother as they are deported. In "Matzoh Bread," a child gets a painful glimpse of anti-Semitism when a friend tells her a legend about the unleavened bread Jews eat at Passover. In one of the more colorful stories, a hapless father whose business partners swindle him over a horse only tells the truth when he's talking in his sleep. Beautifully translated from the Italian by Jeanne Bonner, these stories offer a glimpse into a bygone world. They testify to the resilience of survivors like Bruck, whom Italian critics initially compared to Anne Frank, deeming her the writer Anne would have become had she survived."This Darkness Will Never End subtly draws us into the complex emotional world of growing up in wartime. These are finely wrought, meticulously translated stories about living through both everyday and extraordinary hardship--Bruck, unsparing and insightful, is a major Jewish voice."--Jamie Richards, winner of the National Translation Award in Prose, and translator of Adua by Igiaba Scego"The gifted translator Jeanne Bonner has done a great service by bringing us these extraordinary stories by the Hungarian writer Edith Bruck, a Holocaust survivor who lived in Rome after the war; she offers vivid and poignant stories about the experiences of Jewish families whose lives were overturned during the war. Bruck's book is a splendid and vital addition to the body of Holocaust literature by women."--Lynne Sharon Schwartz, author of Disturbances in the Field

A bold and brilliant short work by the author of the Goldsmiths Prize-winning Cuddy

River Magic: Tales from a Life on 1000 Rivers takes the reader on an amazing global adventure by river. Mark Angelo, one of the world's most acclaimed paddlers and river conservationists, who has paddled more rivers than perhaps anyone on Earth, recounts a selection of his encounters with amazing animals, big fish, unique cultures, and wild rivers. This is a collection of short stories, each captivating and often spellbinding, with a conservation underpinning. The book enables readers of all ages to better appreciate the value and magic of rivers along with the need to better care for them.