Books with author Stephen O'Connor

“Dazzling. . . The most revolutionary reimagining of Jefferson’s life ever.” –Ron Charles, Washington PostWinner of the Crook’s Corner Book PrizeLonglisted for the 2016 Center for Fiction First Novel PrizeA debut novel about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, in whose story the conflict between the American ideal of equality and the realities of slavery and racism played out in the most tragic of terms. Novels such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved, The Known World by Edward P. Jones, James McBride’s The Good Lord Bird and Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks are a part of a long tradition of American fiction that plumbs the moral and human costs of history in ways that nonfiction simply can't. Now Stephen O’Connor joins this company with a profoundly original exploration of the many ways that the institution of slavery warped the human soul, as seen through the story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. O’Connor’s protagonists are rendered via scrupulously researched scenes of their lives in Paris and at Monticello that alternate with a harrowing memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson’s death, as well as with dreamlike sequences in which Jefferson watches a movie about his life, Hemings fabricates an "invention" that becomes the whole world, and they run into each other "after an unimaginable length of time" on the New York City subway. O'Connor is unsparing in his rendition of the hypocrisy of the Founding Father and slaveholder who wrote "all men are created equal,” while enabling Hemings to tell her story in a way history has not allowed her to. His important and beautifully written novel is a deep moral reckoning, a story about the search for justice, freedom and an ideal world—and about the survival of hope even in the midst of catastrophe.

“Dazzling. . . The most revolutionary reimagining of Jefferson’s life ever.” –Ron Charles, Washington PostWinner of the Crook’s Corner Book PrizeLonglisted for the 2016 Center for Fiction First Novel PrizeA debut novel about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, in whose story the conflict between the American ideal of equality and the realities of slavery and racism played out in the most tragic of terms. Novels such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved, The Known World by Edward P. Jones, James McBride’s The Good Lord Bird and Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks are a part of a long tradition of American fiction that plumbs the moral and human costs of history in ways that nonfiction simply can't. Now Stephen O’Connor joins this company with a profoundly original exploration of the many ways that the institution of slavery warped the human soul, as seen through the story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. O’Connor’s protagonists are rendered via scrupulously researched scenes of their lives in Paris and at Monticello that alternate with a harrowing memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson’s death, as well as with dreamlike sequences in which Jefferson watches a movie about his life, Hemings fabricates an "invention" that becomes the whole world, and they run into each other "after an unimaginable length of time" on the New York City subway. O'Connor is unsparing in his rendition of the hypocrisy of the Founding Father and slaveholder who wrote "all men are created equal,” while enabling Hemings to tell her story in a way history has not allowed her to. His important and beautifully written novel is a deep moral reckoning, a story about the search for justice, freedom and an ideal world—and about the survival of hope even in the midst of catastrophe.

“Dazzling. . . The most revolutionary reimagining of Jefferson’s life ever.” –Ron Charles, Washington PostWinner of the Crook’s Corner Book PrizeLonglisted for the 2016 Center for Fiction First Novel PrizeA debut novel about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, in whose story the conflict between the American ideal of equality and the realities of slavery and racism played out in the most tragic of terms. Novels such as Toni Morrison’s Beloved, The Known World by Edward P. Jones, James McBride’s The Good Lord Bird and Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks are a part of a long tradition of American fiction that plumbs the moral and human costs of history in ways that nonfiction simply can't. Now Stephen O’Connor joins this company with a profoundly original exploration of the many ways that the institution of slavery warped the human soul, as seen through the story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. O’Connor’s protagonists are rendered via scrupulously researched scenes of their lives in Paris and at Monticello that alternate with a harrowing memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson’s death, as well as with dreamlike sequences in which Jefferson watches a movie about his life, Hemings fabricates an "invention" that becomes the whole world, and they run into each other "after an unimaginable length of time" on the New York City subway. O'Connor is unsparing in his rendition of the hypocrisy of the Founding Father and slaveholder who wrote "all men are created equal,” while enabling Hemings to tell her story in a way history has not allowed her to. His important and beautifully written novel is a deep moral reckoning, a story about the search for justice, freedom and an ideal world—and about the survival of hope even in the midst of catastrophe.

Mountbatten's Samurai: Imperial Japanese Army and Navy Forces under British Control in Southeast Asia, 1945-1948 ‘This is an important book that uncovers some remarkable secrets… Connor is an outstanding historian of wartime Asia and he tells his story well.’ Richard J. Aldrich, author of GCHQSix weeks after Japan’s surrender in August 1945, British and Japanese troops were fighting side-by-side against nationalist revolutionaries in ‘peacekeeping’ operations in Indonesia and Vietnam. In Java, Dutch civilians cheered as their former jailors, members of the infamous kenpeitai rescued them from what had seemed certain death at the hands of armed mobs. In November 1945 a Japanese Army officer was recommended for a British Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services rendered to South-East Asia Command after his troops helped restore order and save thousands of civilian lives.‘The Japanese may be so deployed and…drastic action including shooting should be taken against any who refuse’.Adm Mountbatten (to War Office), Kandy, 24 August 1945‘The men concerned are surely Japanese prisoners-of-war and if the War Office, in order to evade compliance with the Geneva Convention, have decided to call them something else, this should not…avoid responsibility for decent treatment.’Foreign Office, London, 18 March 1946.In August 1945 Britain accepted responsibility for the care and repatriation of over 750,000 Japanese military personnel in Southeast Asia. Short of manpower and resources in Burma and Malaya, and with its French and Dutch Allies’ colonial territories of Indo-China (FIC) and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) embroiled in revolution, Britain found it expedient to press the Japanese—who were denied Prisoner of War (PoW) status—into military operations in support of European colonial interests and then ignore repatriation commitments by deliberately retaining over 100,000 as mass, unpaid labour.‘[A] stain which would blemish the honor of the United Kingdom…’Gen Douglas MacArthur, Tokyo, March 1947Mountbatten's Samurai reveals a Britain struggling to match Great Power status and obligation without a Great Power budget or capability in Southeast Asia in the face of strong criticism from the US State Department in Washington, General Douglas MacArthur’s SCAP GHQ Occupation headquarters in Tokyo, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), the Japanese Government and even the Vatican.‘A perceptive, detailed and shrewd analysis of the prolonged and secret diplomatic stand-off between London and Washington over Britain’s post-war use of tens of thousands of surrendered Japanese in combat operations in support of European colonial interests in contravention of the Geneva Convention, and later as deliberately retained, unpaid labour in breach of the Potsdam Agreement'. (Publisher’s Catalogue)

‘This is an important book that uncovers some remarkable secrets… Connor is an outstanding historian of wartime Asia and he tells his story well.’ Richard J. Aldrich, author of GCHQSix weeks after Japan’s surrender in August 1945, British and Japanese troops were fighting side-by-side against nationalist revolutionaries in ‘peacekeeping’ operations in Indonesia and Vietnam. In Java, Dutch civilians cheered as their former jailors, members of the infamous kenpeitai rescued them from what had seemed certain death at the hands of armed mobs. In November 1945 a Japanese Army officer was recommended for a British Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services rendered to South-East Asia Command after his troops helped restore order and save thousands of civilian lives.‘The Japanese may be so deployed and…drastic action including shooting should be taken against any who refuse’. Admiral Mountbatten (to War Office), Kandy, 24 August 1945.‘The men concerned are surely Japanese prisoners-of-war and if the War Office, in order to evade compliance with the Geneva Convention, have decided to call them something else, this should not…avoid responsibility for decent treatment.’ Foreign Office, London, 18 March 1946.In August 1945 Britain accepted responsibility for the care and repatriation of over 750,000 Japanese military personnel in Southeast Asia. Short of manpower and resources in Burma and Malaya, and with its French and Dutch Allies’ colonial territories of Indo-China (FIC) and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) embroiled in revolution, Britain found it expedient to press the Japanese—who were denied Prisoner of War (PoW) status—into military operations in support of European colonial interests and then ignore repatriation commitments by deliberately retaining over 100,000 as mass, unpaid labour.‘[A] stain which would blemish the honor of the United Kingdom…’ General Douglas MacArthur, Tokyo, March 1947.Mountbatten's Samurai reveals a Britain struggling to match Great Power status and obligation without a Great Power budget or capability in Southeast Asia in the face of strong criticism from the US State Department in Washington, General Douglas MacArthur’s SCAP GHQ Occupation headquarters in Tokyo, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), the Japanese Government and even the Vatican.‘A perceptive and shrewd analysis of the prolonged and secret diplomatic stand-off between London and Washington over Britain’s post-war use of tens of thousands of surrendered Japanese in combat operations in support of European colonial interests in contravention of the Geneva Convention, and later as deliberately retained, unpaid labour in breach of the Potsdam Agreement'. (Publisher’s Catalogue)

In this lovely little short book, novelist Stephanie O’Connor has set out to tell a story of one young boy’s strength to stay true to himself. The Fox in the Suitcase We meet Zack, a young schoolboy, who is not a fast runner, even though he tries hard every day. One day, after a particularly bad day at school, Zack begins his walk home alone. Taking his favourite track past the forest, Zack comes across a curious brown suitcase lying on the grass verge which he opens. To his amazement, up out of the suitcase pops a mysterious little fox. The fox tells Zack that he can grant him a wish to make him run as fast or even faster than his peers, but Zack does not want the wish. The story builds into an ever-accelerating test of character, until one day the fox gives Zack a new pair of magic trainers, now he can run marathons and beat the school's sprinting records. This short book will challenge children’s preconceptions about dishonesty and urge them to be honest.

‘This is an important book that uncovers some remarkable secrets… Connor is an outstanding historian of wartime Asia and he tells his story well.’ Richard J. Aldrich, author of GCHQSix weeks after Japan’s surrender in August 1945, British and Japanese troops were fighting side-by-side against nationalist revolutionaries in ‘peacekeeping’ operations in Indonesia and Vietnam. In Java, Dutch civilians cheered as their former jailors, members of the infamous kenpeitai rescued them from what had seemed certain death at the hands of armed mobs. In November 1945 a Japanese Army officer was recommended for a British Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for services rendered to South-East Asia Command after his troops helped restore order and save thousands of civilian lives.‘The Japanese may be so deployed and…drastic action including shooting should be taken against any who refuse’. Admiral Mountbatten (to War Office), Kandy, 24 August 1945.‘The men concerned are surely Japanese prisoners-of-war and if the War Office, in order to evade compliance with the Geneva Convention, have decided to call them something else, this should not…avoid responsibility for decent treatment.’ Foreign Office, London, 18 March 1946.In August 1945 Britain accepted responsibility for the care and repatriation of over 750,000 Japanese military personnel in Southeast Asia. Short of manpower and resources in Burma and Malaya, and with its French and Dutch Allies’ colonial territories of Indo-China (FIC) and the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) embroiled in revolution, Britain found it expedient to press the Japanese—who were denied Prisoner of War (PoW) status—into military operations in support of European colonial interests and then ignore repatriation commitments by deliberately retaining over 100,000 as mass, unpaid labour.‘[A] stain which would blemish the honor of the United Kingdom…’ General Douglas MacArthur, Tokyo, March 1947.Mountbatten's Samurai reveals a Britain struggling to match Great Power status and obligation without a Great Power budget or capability in Southeast Asia in the face of strong criticism from the US State Department in Washington, General Douglas MacArthur’s SCAP GHQ Occupation headquarters in Tokyo, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), the Japanese Government and even the Vatican.‘A perceptive and shrewd analysis of the prolonged and secret diplomatic stand-off between London and Washington over Britain’s post-war use of tens of thousands of surrendered Japanese in combat operations in support of European colonial interests in contravention of the Geneva Convention, and later as deliberately retained, unpaid labour in breach of the Potsdam Agreement'. (Publisher’s Catalogue)

Lucy receives a mysterious book— a magic encyclopedia. Can she be trusted to use the book wisely or will her curiosity get the better of her?....Gorgeous modern fable about listening to others and keeping promises.These charming Fox in the Suitcase short stories not only entertain, but they also teach and guide. Perfect bedtime reading!About The Fox in the Suitcase Book SeriesThe Fox in the Suitcase books are a series of popular short stories with moral values for children. These short modern children's fable stories feature a mystical fox in a suitcase that turns up in most unexpected places to teach a valuable life lesson or suggest a different moral from each story. Each book in the series is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn modern examples of life lessons. Also for parents and teachers to teach or read to children and impart wisdom to them while spending quality time with them.

In 100 Prayers, 100Praise Songs, best-sellingauthor Stephen Elkins brings an exciting and educational way forchildren to learn about prayer by teaching them 100 prayers to pray toGod and providing 100 songs to sing Him praises. God loves to hear from His children and this book will help kidsfeel comfortable talking to God and singing praise to Him. Prayersinclude classic prayers such as "Now I Lay Me;" Biblical prayers suchas "The Lord's Prayer;" topical prayers such as how to pray when I amafraid or what to pray when I am thankful; and prayers from famousbelievers. Familiar Bible verses tell of God's promises and encouragelittle ones to talk to Him every day. This is a great resource to helpkids memorize 100 Bible verses. Includes two CDswith 100 new praisesongs written and recorded by Grammy-nominated producer, Stephen Elkins.