Books published by publisher Citadel

On July 24, 1915, over two thousand Western Electric employees and their families boarded the steamship Eastland, which was to ferry them to the annual company picnic in Michigan City--as it sat in port, the ship began to list, then silently capsized as thousands of people looked on in horror, killing eight hundred and forty four people in a maritime disaster that the world has all but forgotten.

Born in slavery in Maryland in 1817, Frederick Douglass escaped from servitude twenty years later, joined the ranks of abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips and John Brown, and devoted a long and fruitful life to the winning of freedom for his people. A fervent integrationist, Douglass believed that true freedom could not come for him until all blacks were free and equal, and he gave voice and direction to the movement to achieve this goal. Told in Frederick Douglass's own words, this volume stands as one of the most important chronicles of one man's courageous fight to end slavery.

“An extraordinary life.” —The New York Times Book Review“A fitting homage to one of the great outdoor extremists.” —Kirkus ReviewsLegendary climber Scott Fischer found in Mount Everest a perfect landscape for his fearless spirit. Scaling the world’s highest peak tested his skills, his courage, and his endurance. His legendary final expedition—and its tragic outcome—are portrayed in Everest, the 3-D movie adaptation starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Scott Fischer. Robert Birkby, one of Scott’s close friends, captures in this intimate and stirring portrait who Scott Fischer really was and what led him to climb to the top of the world—before he left it altogetherUpdated with a New Introduction and EpiloguePlus new photos exclusive to the digital edition!This book is not an official tie-in to the film Everest.

A U.S. fighter pilot captured by the enemy. A father determined to rescue his son. One of the most remarkable and moving true stories of faith and perseverance to come out of World War II. October 6, 1944. Twenty-year-old Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant David “Mac” Warren MacArthur was on a strafing mission over Greece when a round of 88-mm German anti-aircraft flak turned his P-38 Lightning into a comet of fire and smoke. Dave parachuted to safety as the Lightning lived up to her name and struck the Adriatic Sea like a bolt of flames. In minutes, he was plucked from the water—only to find himself on the wrong end of a German rifle pointing straight at his head. Dave’s father, Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn MacArthur, was a chaplain with the 8th Armored Division of Patton’s Third Army when he learned of his son’s capture. He made it his personal mission to find him. For the duration of the war, as Dave was shuttled from camp to camp—including Dachau—his father never stopped searching. Then in May 1945, Vaughn’s last hope was Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, Germany. Through the barbed wire fence, he cried out his son’s name. Incredibly, out of tens of thousands of POWs, one of them, squinting into the sunlight, turned and smiled. Father and son spent the next two weeks together celebrating, a forever cherished memory. Over the next twenty-five years, Dave would go on to honor his father on rescue missions of his own, becoming a highly decorated and genuine American war hero. In both Korea and Vietnam, Dave would carry with him the legacy of a great man who gave everything to save his son. An inspiring, harrowing, and unforgettable chronicle of love of family and love of country, Lightning Sky is a timeless testament to extraordinary lives in extraordinary times.

Chicago, Saturday, July 24, 1915: Over two thousand Western Electric employees and their families, dressed in their finest, arrive early at the riverfront to board the Eastland, a bold and breathtaking steamship. The boat is scheduled to ferry its passengers to the annual company picnic in Michigan City. Suddenly, as it sits in port, the Eastland begins to list. While thousands of people watch in horror, the ship rolls to its side and silently capsizes, killing a staggering 844 people... The Eastland tragedy was witnessed by nearly 10,000 bystanders and claimed more lives than the infamous Chicago Fire. Taking place in broad daylight on the city's bustling wharfside, it was a heartbreaking maritime disaster that sorrowfully echoed the sinking of the luxury liner Titanic just three years earlier. But the victims of this terrible mishap weren't among the world's most rich and famous. They were everyday people who worked hard for the right to enjoy a day's pleasure. They did not know that for many aboard, this day would be their last. And the only thing more shocking than the event that took their lives is the fact that it has been all but forgotten. Until now...

The Beloved #1 International Bestseller Tenth Anniversary Edition "We're just going to look." Helen Brown had no intention of adopting a pet when she brought her young sons to visit a friend's new kittens. But the runt of the litter was irresistible, with her overlarge ears and dainty chin. When Cleo was delivered weeks later, she had no way of knowing that her new family had just been hit by an unthinkable tragedy. Helen was sure she couldn't keep her--until she saw something she thought had vanished from earth forever: her son's smile. The reckless, rambunctious kitten stayed. Through happiness and heartbreak, changes and new beginnings, Cleo was the glue that affectionately held Helen's family together. Rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, here is the story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most. With a New Afterword by the Author "A remarkable memoir . . . Helen Brown opened my heart." --Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author "An absolute must." --Cat World

"Not for the lame of brain, BEAT THE BARD beckons you to enter the realm of genius for the ultimate Shakesperience!" Divided into five sections of quiz-like questions - 230 pages in all - this book offers levels of difficulty ranging from "amateur" to "superstars" in an engaging fashion. Joyce E. Henry, professor emerita, director, actress, and editor, entertains and educates both novice and expert alike.

From New York Times bestselling author Helen Brown comes a funny and moving account of her life-changing month as a foster mother—to a homeless cat named Bono. When Helen Brown arrived in New York for a much-anticipated visit, a fellow animal lover talked her into fostering a shelter cat. Helen visualized a sweet-natured cuddler who blinked and dozed a lot. What she got at Manhattan’s Bideawee shelter was a wide-eyed and unpredictable Persian with a punked-out haircut and a feisty attitude. Bono had become homeless during Hurricane Sandy, had survived a serious infection, and needed daily medications. As a “special needs” cat, he was an unlikely candidate for adoption. But as affection between them grew, Helen resolved to see that Bono found his forever home. She didn’t know that he would change her life in ways she never dreamed possible and teach her lessons she would cherish ever after. Just as this sweet, beleaguered, and hopeful guy deserved a fresh start, Helen too was ready for new beginnings. And so began a heartwarming, uplifting, lasting kind of love . . . Praise for the works of Helen Brown “A buoyant tale, heartfelt and open.” –Booklist “An absolute must.” —Cat World “Brown gives inspiration with her witty, adventurous story.” —RT Book Reviews “Brown writes eloquently about women, daughters, and felines.” —Kirkus Reviews

"Dirk Hayhurst writes about baseball in a unique way. Observant, insightful, human, and hilarious." --Bob Costas- "Even more than he did in The Bullpen Gospels, Dirk Hayhurst teaches us here what happens when a 'dream career' collides with reality. There is such universality in his struggles, that if by the book's end you don't become him in your mind, there's probably something wrong with your heart. This book shows why baseball is so often used as a metaphor for life." --Keith Olbermann "Not many pitchers have replaced future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Only one has written a delightful book about it. This isn't the story of any old Triple-A veteran trying to finally reach the majors. This is the story of Dirk Hayhurst finally reaching the majors. Which makes the story worth reading."--Rob Neyer, Sports Nation "Hayhurst has done it again... Turns out he's a starter and a closer." --Tim Kurkjian, ESPN "A stirring, revealing tale of humanity." --Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports "Gripping, revealing--and not at all what you'd expect." --Tyler Kepner, The New York Times "With razor-sharp wit and keen observational powers, Dirk Hayhurst delivers a rare gem of a baseball book. Out of My League captures both the joy and the toll of becoming a big leaguer unlike anything else before it."--Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated - "Hilarious, illuminating and poignant...This is more than a baseball book. It's the story of a man learning that it's possible to grip a baseball without it gripping him." --Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports.com "Hayhurst has done it again...If only I could pitch as well as he can write, I might have more Cy Youngs than Greg Maddux." --Jayson Stark, ESPN.com "Memorable... Hayhurst delivers an entertaining story for more than just sports fans. This is about life, relationships and the sacrifices made to pursue a dream" --Jordan Bastian, MLB.com "Funny, earthy, touching. Dirk finally makes it to a big-league mound, but as a writer, he's been throwing strikes in the Show for a while now, and "Out of My League" is another quality start." --King Kaufman, Bleacher Report "The most candid portrayal of life as a professional athlete I've ever seen." --Michael Dolan, Editor-in-Chief, Athletes Quarterly "It's never too inside baseball, even though it is literally from inside baseball." --John Manuel, Editor, Baseball America "Dirk is a good friend who has never been afraid to tell it like it is. He has a genuine gift for telling the stories of his life in such a way that they reveal profound truths. I find his writing both entertaining and thought provoking... unlike his fastball." --Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays All-Star "Baseball is a game governed by countless rules, none bigger than this one: Don't over think it. Dirk Hayhurst takes us down the rabbit hole that is his mind, to a place where that rule is constantly violated, every decision, every move, every breath over thought. In the process, he provides a brutally honest take on life in the majors--the oversized ballparks, hotel rooms, and personalities, but also the self-doubt, loneliness, and despair. I laughed, I cried, I even learned how to doctor a baseball." --Jonah Keri, author of The Extra 2% "Compulsively readable and enjoyable...Apparently, it's not enough for Hayhurst to be a major league pitcher; he has to be a fantastic writer, too." --Matt Fraction, Marvel Comics