Books with author Charles Johnstone

A twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Charles Johnson’s National Book Award-winning masterpiece—"a novel in the tradition of Billy Budd and Moby-Dick…heroic in proportion…fiction that hooks the mind" (The New York Times Book Review)—now with a new introduction from Stanley Crouch.Rutherford Calhoun, a newly freed slave and irrepressible rogue, is lost in the underworld of 1830s New Orleans. Desperate to escape the city’s unscrupulous bill collectors and the pawing hands of a schoolteacher hellbent on marrying him, he jumps aboard the Republic, a slave ship en route to collect members of a legendary African tribe, the Allmuseri. Thus begins a voyage of metaphysical horror and human atrocity, a journey which challenges our notions of freedom, fate and how we live together. Peopled with vivid and unforgettable characters, nimble in its interplay of comedy and serious ideas, this dazzling modern classic is a perfect blend of the picaresque tale, historical romance, sea yarn, slave narrative and philosophical allegory. Now with a new introduction from renowned writer and critic Stanley Crouch, this twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Middle Passage celebrates a cornerstone of the American canon and the masterwork of one of its most important writers. "Long after we’d stopped believe in the great American novel, along comes a spellbinding adventure story that may be just that" (Chicago Tribune).

A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates is a 1724 book published in Britain containing biographies of contemporary pirates which was influential in shaping popular conceptions of pirates. Its author uses the name Captain Charles Johnson, generally considered a pseudonym for one of London's writer-publishers. The prime source for the biographies of many well-known pirates, the book gives an almost mythical status to the more colorful characters, and it is likely that the author used considerable licence in his accounts of pirate conversations. The book also contains the name of the pirate flag the Jolly Roger and shows the skull and bones design. First appearing in Charles Rivington's shop in London, the book sold so well that by 1726 an enlarged fourth edition had appeared. It pandered to the British public's taste for the exotic; revelling in graphic stories on the high seas. English naval historian David Cordingly writes: "It has been said, and there seems no reason to question this, that Captain Johnson created the modern conception of pirates." Scottish novelists Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island) and J. M. Barrie (author of Peter Pan featuring Captain Hook) both identified Johnson's General History of the Pyrates as one of their major influences, and Stevenson even borrowed one character's name (Israel Hands) from a list of Blackbeard's crew which appeared in Johnson's book.

It is 1830. Rutherford Calhoun, a newly treed slave and irrepressible rogue, is desperate to escape unscrupulous bill collectors and an impending marriage to a priggish schoolteacher. He jumps aboard the first boat leaving New Orleans, the Republic, a slave ship en route to collect members of a legendary African tribe, the Allmuseri. Thus begins a daring voyage of horror and self-discovery.Peopled with vivid and unforgettable characters, nimble in its interplay of comedy and serious ideas, this dazzling modern classic is a perfect blend of the picaresque tale, historical romance, sea yarn, slave narrative, and philosophical novel.

A Scribner Classics edition of Charles Johnson’s masterpiece, winner of the National Book Award—“a novel in the tradition of Billy Budd and Moby-Dick…heroic in proportion…fiction that hooks the mind” (The New York Times Book Review).It is 1830. Rutherford Calhoun, a newly freed slave and irrepressible rogue, is desperate to escape unscrupulous bill collectors and an impending marriage to a priggish schoolteacher. He jumps aboard the first boat leaving New Orleans, the Republic, a slave ship en route to collect members of a legendary African tribe, the Allmuseri. Thus begins a daring voyage of horror and self-discovery. Peopled with vivid and unforgettable characters, nimble in its interplay of comedy and serious ideas, this dazzling modern classic is a perfect blend of the picaresque tale, historical romance, sea yarn, slave narrative, and philosophical novel.

The Original and Best Pirate Book. Often considered to be the primary source for information about the pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, this book was written around the time these marauders plagued the Seven Seas. Scholars have often linked the pseudonym of Charles Johnson to Daniel Defoe and other authors, but whoever the true author was they speak with obvious knowledge of the subject and of maritime matters in general. This work contains both Volumes of the History of Pirates, with chapters on the following pirates: Henry Avery, John Martel, Edward Teach (Black-beard), Major Stede Bonnet, Edward England, Charles Vane, John (Calico Jack) Rackam, Ann Bonny, Mary Reid, Howel Davis, Bartholomew (Black Bart) Roberts, Thomas Anstis, Richard Worley, George Lowther, Edward Low, John Evans, John Phillips, Francis Spriggs, John Bowen, William Kidd, Thomas Tew, John Halsey, Thomas White, Christopher Condent, Samuel (Black Sam) Bellamy, Captain Fly, Thomas Howard, David Williams, Samuel Burgess, Nathaniel North, and John Augur, as well as the fictional pirates James Misson, William Lewis, and John Cornelius. To round the volume out are extra chapters on Sir Henry Morgan, John Gow, Brigstock Weaver, William Ingram, and John Upton, by the same author. This work is not a cheap scan or the result of copying and pasting; It contains no missing pages, areas of blurred or missing text, photocopier's fingers, coffee stains, or other scanning artifacts. It has all of the original text , reformatted in an easy to read format, with illustrations.

Read this children's book about famous African American inventors and discover...* How a black doctor discovered an amazing new way to preserve blood that has saved millions of lives over the years.* How a courageous African American surgeon was the first to perform an incredibly risky surgery that has brought countless patients back from the brink of death.* How an ingenious 20th century black inventor made the world a safer place with two inventions that we still depend on today.* The remarkable story of how an African American scientist improved the lives of millions of farmers around the world with his groundbreaking discoveries.* The brilliant black inventor who played a key role in the creation and improvement of two of the most important inventions in history....and much more!

Excerpt from A General History of the Pyrates, From Their First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence, to the Present Time: With the Remarkable Actions and Adventures of the Two Female Pyrates Mary Read and Anne Bonny; Contain'd in the Following Chapters, Introduction; Chap. I. Of Capt. Avery; II. Of Capt. Martel; III. Of Capt. Teach; IV. Of Capt. Bonnet; V. Of Capt. EnglandNow we have accounted for their Rife and Beginning, it will he natural~ to enquiie why they are not taken and de flroy'd, hefo're they come to any Head, fining that they are jeldom lofs 'than twelve Men of War flationed in our Ame rican' Plantations, even in Time of Peace 5 a Force' fulfi cient to contend with a powerful Enemy. T his Enquiry, perhaps, will not turn much to the Honour of thofe concern'd in that Service 5 however, 'i hope I may he circus'd, if what I hint is with a Defign of'fervzng the Puhlick.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.