Books with author Charles V. John

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!

John Charles Van Dyke (1861–1931) was an American art historian and critic. Whoever has not seen the American Desert, in some part of it, under some of its aspects, will probably think this book a collection of extravagances or an extended idealization. At least, if the present reviewer had not often beheld portions of that remarkable region, this might have been his opinion. With a quickened mass of kaleidoscopic memories rising before him, it is easy to see more in these pages, than the mere beauty of description, for which Mr. Van Dyke should be commended, “Perhaps I can tell you something of what I have seen in these two years of wandering,” says Mr. Van Dyke; “but I shall never be able to tell you the grandeur of these mountains, nor the glory of color that wraps the burning sands at their feet. We shoot arrows at the sun in vain; yet still we shoot. And so it is that my book is only an excuse for talking about the beautiful things in this desert world that stretches down the Pacific Coast, and across Arizona and Sonora. The desert has gone a-begging for a word of praise these many years. It never had a sacred poet; it has in me only a lover."But the lover almost insures the poet. To prove how nearly the poet asserts himself, one could quote many fine passages, describing color, and form, and atmosphere. The lover is a painter, surely; and often he becomes the philosopher,as instance this:“The accomplishments of Columbus, of Cortez, of Coronado, were great; but what of those who first ventured out upon these sands and erected missions almost in the heart of the desert, who single-handed coped with dangers from man and nature, and who lived and died without the slightest hope of reward here on earth? Has not the sign of the cross cast more men in heroic mold than ever the glitter of the crown or the flash of the sword?"So the desert can teach real truths; and this chronicler of it has learned them. The desert can supply much valuable information; and it does this through Mr. Van Dyke's book. Since its first publication, in 1901, the book has passed through several printings; and now this Kindle edition comes forth in eloquent testimony to the popularity of a work describing a region not supposedly popular.ContentsTHE APPROACHTHE MAKE OF THE DESERTTHE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL THE SILENT RIVERLIGHT, AIR, AND COLORDESERT SKY AND CLOUDSILLUSIONSCACTUS AND GREASE-WOOD DESERT ANIMALSWINGED LIFEMESAS AND FOOT-HILLSMOUNTAIN-BARRIERSThis book originally published in 1902 has been reformatted for the Kindle and may contain an occasional defect from the original publication or from the reformatting.

"Dragonalia" is an imaginative and whimsical collection of storypoems about dragons and other beasties. It includes a visit from Emily, a sea dragon who blows kisses and sets ships on fire, a giant worm whose slaughter created the English language, "Tessie" a Lake Tahoe Plesiosaur, and a more modern version of a dragon as an "alien" mantis. There is a recurring visit by Cowboy Bob who provides thematic continuity and whose eventual madness and death delivers an unexpected genealogical gift to the author.

During his remarkable life, John Charles Frémont served as a senator for the newly-formed state of California, led Union troops in the Civil War, and was governor of the territory of Arizona. His race for the presidency in 1856 brought prestige to the fledgling Republican Party, yet despite his popularity, his uncompromising determination to abolish slavery cost him the election. For all of his experiences in politics and the military, it was the earlier decades of Frémont's life that were the most exciting. Shortly after graduating from college, he joined a mapping expedition and surveyed the hills of South Carolina and Tennessee for the government. Eager to continue exploring, Frémont went on five more expeditions to America west of the Appalachians during the years from 1839 to 1846. He traveled up the Missouri river, crossed the Rocky Mountains, and reached the West Coast on several journeys, often with his friend Kit Carson, the legendary mountain man. In Memoirs of My Life, Frémont recounts those years in the wilderness, encountering the fabulous landscapes and native people of America's interior before the westward expansion of the U. S. His journeys across the unmapped prairies, mountains, and deserts offer a wonderful glimpse of North America's natural grandeur in its original state.

During his remarkable life, John Charles Frémont served as a senator for the newly-formed state of California, led Union troops in the Civil War, and was governor of the territory of Arizona. His race for the presidency in 1856 brought prestige to the fledgling Republican Party, yet despite his popularity, his uncompromising determination to abolish slavery cost him the election. For all of his experiences in politics and the military, it was the earlier decades of Frémont's life that were the most exciting. Shortly after graduating from college, he joined a mapping expedition and surveyed the hills of South Carolina and Tennessee for the government. Eager to continue exploring, Frémont went on five more expeditions to America west of the Appalachians during the years from 1839 to 1846. He traveled up the Missouri river, crossed the Rocky Mountains, and reached the West Coast on several journeys, often with his friend Kit Carson, the legendary mountain man. In Memoirs of My Life, Frémont recounts those years in the wilderness, encountering the fabulous landscapes and native people of America's interior before the westward expansion of the U. S. His journeys across the unmapped prairies, mountains, and deserts offer a wonderful glimpse of North America's natural grandeur in its original state.