Books in Oxford Profiles series

In 60 essays, this volume profiles American journalists from colonial times to the present--reporters, editors, publishers, photographers, and broadcasters--whose careers reflected major developments in their profession and in the history of the United States. In a speech to Newsweek correspondents in 1963, publisher Philip Graham described journalism as "the first rough draft of history." These journalists confronted and helped to shape the discussion of major issues and events in American history, from the American revolution through abolition, westward expansion, the Civil War, the civil rights movement, immigration, and the women's movement, as well as major constitutional issues involving the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press. Biographies of well-known journalists, from Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine to Walter Cronkite and Rupert Murdoch, appear alongside some who may be less familiar, such as Elias Boudinot, founder of the first Cherokee language newspaper; Abraham Cahan, editor of the Jewish Daily Forward; and Daniel Craig, who in the 1830s used carrier pigeons to ferry the news. Other subjects include Margaret Green Draper, the revolutionary printer; Claude Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press; photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White; war correspondent Ernie Pyle; and Allen Neuharth, founder of USA Today. Illustrations, fact boxes, and quotations from the subjects themselves make this volume an indispensable reference for students of American history as well as a fascinating read. Journalists profiled include: Horace Greeley Frederick Douglass Mark Twain Thomas Nast Joseph Pulitzer Nellie Bly William Randolph Hearst Ida Wells-Barnett H. L. Mencken Dorothy Thompson Walter Winchell Red Smith Edward R. Murrow Walter Cronkite Bernard Shaw Cokie Roberts Manuel de Dios Unanue and many more

"As for life, it is a battle and a journey in a strange land."--Emperor Marcus AureliusSeeking to control an empire that spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond, the ancient Romans developed a distinctive culture in which they adapted many Greek ideas and styles but also created a wealth of new ones. The Roman heritage continues to affect our architecture, government, military, language, laws, and literature.Ancient Romans chronicles the lives and accomplishments of Roman figures whose influence continues to be felt today. We read about Romans from all walks of life, from the rebel gladiator Spartacus to the poets, historians, and playwrights who documented Roman life, to the many emperors (and some of their wives) who governed the empire. In 46 essays, Rosalie and Charles Baker explore the lives of these fascinating personalities, from the most famous Romans to people who are usually overlooked, including:* Juvenal, a master satirist who ridiculed Rome as a haven for crime, free spending, and other social evils* Livia, wife of Rome's first emperor (Augustus), mother of Rome's second (Tiberius), and grandmother of Rome's fourth (Claudius)* Mark Antony, the general and statesman whose life and romance with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra have been re-created throughout history by writers and actors* Virgil, the poet who composed the Aeneid, the national epic of Rome* Cicero, the statesman, lawyer, and orator* Nero, who became emperor at age 16 and went on to rebuild Rome after a disastrous fire and to foster peace throughout his empireThe biographies span the years 396 B.C. to A.D. 410. Each includes a handy fact box that lists birth and death dates and the major accomplishments of each person profiled. In addition, abundant illustrations and specially commissioned maps, an appendix chronicling the lives of legendary heroes and heroines of early Rome, a table of Roman emperors and their reigns, a family tree that traces the Julian and Claudian families, a timeline, a glossary of Roman terms, an index of Romans by profession, and suggestions for further reading all add to the usefulness of this exceptional reference. With figures from fields as diverse as literature, politics, the military, and philosophy, Ancient Romans provides a comprehensive examination of the origins of modern civilization.

"Outstanding individuals have the whole world as their memorial."--Pericles The influence of ancient Greek civilization has been felt throughout modern Western history. Greek ideas can be found in the laws that govern our lives, the buildings in which we live, the books we read, and the vocabulary we use every day. Because these ideas have become so much a part of our daily life, we tend to forget that they originated more than 2,500 years ago. Ancient Greeks chronicles the lives and accomplishments of Greek figures whose influence continues to be felt today. We read about Greeks from all walks of life, including one of the greatest physicians who ever lived, the father of logic, and a brilliant mathematician who once said, "Give me a lever long enough, and a fulcrum strong enough, and I will single-handedly move the world." And move the world he did, but with his ideas, not a mighty fulcrum. In 42 essays, authors Rosalie and Charles Baker explore the lives of many personalities, from the most famous Greeks to people who are usually overlooked, including: Aesop, author of timeless fables that continue to provide lessons today Lycurgus, the legendary ruler of Sparta Plato, the great philosopher who established the Academy in Athens Phidippides, a courier and long-distance runner whose run from Marathon to Athens became the basis of the modern marathon Sappho, one of the best female poets of classical antiquityHippocrates, one of the greatest physicians who ever lived Alcibiades, a patriot-turned-traitor who was exiled from Greece Ictinus, the architect responsible for the design of the Parthenon Aristotle, the father of logic who tutored the teenage Alexander the Great Alexander the Great, who ruled Greece, defeated the great Persian empire, conquered lands bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, including Egypt, and won control of lands stretching into India (and all that before his 33rd birthday) Zeno, founder of the philosophy known as Stoicism The biographies span the years 700 B.C. to 200 B.C., from Homer, the master of epic poetry and the author of the Iliad, to Eratosthenes, a brilliant mathematician who was the first to calculate the earth's circumference. A handy fact box that lists birth and death dates and the major accomplishments of each person profiled, abundant photographs and specially commissioned maps, a timeline, a glossary of Greek terms, an index of Greeks by profession, a pronunciation guide, and suggestions for further reading all add to the usefulness of this exceptional reference. With figures from fields as diverse as literature, mathematics, politics, the military, philosophy, and science, Ancient Greeks provides a comprehensive examination of the origins of modern civilization.

In 60 essays, this volume profiles American journalists from colonial times to the present--reporters, editors, publishers, photographers, and broadcasters--whose careers reflected major developments in their profession and in the history of the United States. In a speech to Newsweek correspondents in 1963, publisher Philip Graham described journalism as "the first rough draft of history." These journalists confronted and helped to shape the discussion of major issues and events in American history, from the American revolution through abolition, westward expansion, the Civil War, the civil rights movement, immigration, and the women's movement, as well as major constitutional issues involving the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press. Biographies of well-known journalists, from Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine to Walter Cronkite and Rupert Murdoch, appear alongside some who may be less familiar, such as Elias Boudinot, founder of the first Cherokee language newspaper; Abraham Cahan, editor of the Jewish Daily Forward; and Daniel Craig, who in the 1830s used carrier pigeons to ferry the news. Other subjects include Margaret Green Draper, the revolutionary printer; Claude Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press; photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White; war correspondent Ernie Pyle; and Allen Neuharth, founder of USA Today. Illustrations, fact boxes, and quotations from the subjects themselves make this volume an indispensable reference for students of American history as well as a fascinating read. Journalists profiled include: Horace Greeley Frederick Douglass Mark Twain Thomas Nast Joseph Pulitzer Nellie Bly William Randolph Hearst Ida Wells-Barnett H. L. Mencken Dorothy Thompson Walter Winchell Red Smith Edward R. Murrow Walter Cronkite Bernard Shaw Cokie Roberts Manuel de Dios Unanue and many more

Here, in a single volume, are the profiles of all the individuals and organizations that have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since its establishment in 1901. From the creator of the prize, Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, to Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, these individuals and organizations have devoted their lives to peace and have made our world a better place to live. Ann Keene chronicles the moving stories of the winners of the Nobel Peace prize in 79 essays that focus on the activities that earned each person or organization the prize. She includes fascinating anecdotes about and quotations from the recipients and, at the same time, introduces readers to major events in world history. The winners of the most prestigious peace award in the world include: Henri Dunant (1901), the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross Theodore Roosevelt (1906), who, as President of the United States, mediated an end to the Russo-Japanese War in 1905; he was the first American to win the prize Fridtjof Nansen (1922), Norwegian humanitarian, scientist, and Arctic explorer Jane Addams (1931), peace activist and social reformer, and a founder of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Ralph J. Bunche (1950), who worked to achieve peace in the Middle East; he was the first African American to win the prize Lester Pearson (1957), who as a member of the Canadian delegation to the United Nations played a key role in ending the Suez Canal crisis Albert Luthuli (1960), former president of the African National Congress and outspoken opponent of South Africa's apartheid system Martin Luther King, Jr. (1964), U.S. civil rights activist United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (1965), which continues to provide assistance to children in developing countries throughout the world Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams (1976), cofounders of Peace People, an organization dedicated to ending violence in Northern Ireland Mother Teresa (1979), originally a high schoolteacher in India who won the prize for her work with the poor of Calcutta Elie Wiesel (1986), the author who has drawn international attention to the Holocaust Aung San Suu Kyi (1991), founder of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma) who lived under house arrest for six years Appendixes include a chronological listing of the Nobel Peace Prize Winners, a timeline recounting historic milestones in the peace movement, a listing of major peace organizations, a short glossary of terms, further reading, and an index. From the career diplomats and politicians to the ordinary people who discovered an opportunity to act on behalf of peace, these stories honor those who have made a profound difference in the world. Peacemakers is the ideal introduction to the Nobel Peace Prize for young readers and is an indispensable reference for anyone who is interested in world peace and history.

Throughout time, great religious and spiritual leaders around the world have played key roles in the events and philosophical movements that have shaped history. In Believers, Elizabeth Goldman has chosen 45 men and women who have had lasting effect on the religious community. From countries and cultures all over the globe, their stories are powerful and inspiring, offering a history of religious traditions and introducing religions and customs that may be new to the young reader. The anecdotal and narrative text is highly accessible and encourages thinking about religious questions and issues directly touching young people today: ethics, personal responsibility, and standing up for one's beliefs. Moses, Joan of Arc, Siddhártha Gautama (Buddha), and other religious figures such as Pope John XXIII, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Desmond Tutu, and Mother Teresa. Each person's life story focuses on historical context, major events, and accomplishments, but Goldman is careful not to make her subjects mere cardboard paragons of virtue. Each is a real human being who lived and breathed and left a mark on our world. Photographs, engravings, and drawings are included with each profile, and a quick reference fact box lists birth and death dates, religious tradition, and major achievements. An introductory essay addresses why each subject was chosen and explores the origins of religions. Suggestions for further reading, and a complete index add to this unique and fascinating reference. Ideal for multicultural, ethical, and comparative religion studies, Believers is also an excellent supplement to world history texts. Young adults, their parents, and their teachers will find it engrossing reading and an invaluable resource.

"Judaism, or that which has united the successive generations of Jews into one people, is not only a religion; it is a dynamic religious civilization."--Mordecai Menachem Kaplan, from Questions Jews Ask (1956) In assessing what their Jewish identities mean to them, Jews today sometimes describe themselves as links in a chain of tradition that stretches back to biblical times. In this collection of biographies of Jewish thinkers from ancient times to the present, the links in that chain come to life through the dramatic stories of 41 shapers of Jewish tradition. From Hillel, whose teaching more than twenty centuries ago set Judaism on its post-biblical course, to Yitzhak Rabin, the Noble Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister of Israel who helped to broker a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, these men and women all left an indelible mark on Jewish practice, scholarship, or nationalism. In individual biographical essays, Naomi Pasachoff explores the contributions of philosophers, poets, and philanthropists; of mystics, statesmen, and scholars; of religious organizers and Zionist leaders. In so doing she uncovers surprising facts about well-known figures. For example, Theodor Herzl is widely honored as the father of the modern state of Israel, but did you know that he once dreamed of leading all the Jews of Vienna to St. Stephan Cathedral to undergo mass baptism? Readers who recognize Rashi as the most famous of all biblical commentators may be startled to learn that his concise style was a function of his tight budget. The book includes suggestions for further reading, an appendix, a glossary, and an index. Illustrations and photographs accompany the text, and a biographical fact box for each profile provides for easy reference. All these features make Links in the Chain an ideal introduction to Jewish role models for younger readers and a vital reference for all interested in Jewish history. Moreover, the book is a reminder that Jewish tradition is still evolving and that each reader has the potential to contribute to it. 41 extended essays profile the lives and contributions of Jewish heroes, including: Johanan ben Zakkai, the spiritual and intellectual leader who reshaped Jewish life after the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. Dona Gracia Nasi, the outstanding 16th-century leader who led the equivalent of an underground railroad to lead fugitive Marranos to safety. Rebecca Gratz, said to have been the model for the character Rebecca in Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, who spearheaded the development of Jewish Sunday schools in the United States. Leopold Zunz, whose transformation of Jewish scholarship in the 19th century ultimately led to the existence of Judaica departments and programs in major universities. Lily Montagu, whose unsatisfying Orthodox childhood as a child of privilege in Victorian England transformed her into a 20th-century leader of British and world liberal Judaism. Isaac Mayer Wise, the early leader of Reform Judaism in the United States, who conceived of and helped bring into existence many of the institutions of contemporary American Judaism. Eliezer Ben Yehudah, the father of modern Hebrew, who nearly singlehandedly transformed Hebrew from an ancient religious language into a spoken modern one.

The ultimate who's who of ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptians is an engaging look at the ancient world through its important leaders. Included are biographies of:* The magnificent Imhotep, who set the standard for pyramid-building* Nefertiti, the renowned beauty* Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid* Hatshepsut, a woman pharaoh who defied tradition and called herself "king"* Tutankhamun, whose tomb unveiled fantastic riches* Rameses the Great, the last majestic king of ancient Egypt* Ptahhotep, the great thinker and statesman for King IzeziAncient Egyptians reveals how Egyptian society was constructed, its religions, burial rituals, architecture, and the history and practices of archaeology that have brought all this information to light.

Including eccentric professors and adventuring fortune hunters of old and highly trained scientists of today, Archaeologists collects together biographies of more than 30 archaeologists of the past two centuries. In the process, Archaeologists presents an engaging portrait of how digging for treasure evolved into the respected and vital science we know today. Some of the archaeologists profiled include:* Giovanni Belzoni, the 19th-century archaeologist who brought the head of Ramesses II back to England* Heinrich Schliemann, the modern discoverer of prehistoric Greece whose excavations included Mycenae and the ancient city of Troy* Howard Carter, who discovered King Tut's tomb* Mary and Louis Leakey, whose discovery of humanoid fossils placed human evolution's beginning in AfricaFrom the romance of golden pharaohs and lost civilizations to computers, tree ring dating, and numerous other scientific methods, Archaeologists is a fascinating look at the explorers of the human past.

Jazz Makers gathers together short biographies of more than 50 of jazz's greatest stars, from its early beginnings to the present. The stories of these innovative instrumentalists, bandleaders, and composers reveal the fascinating history of jazz in six parts: * The Pioneers, including Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith * Swing Bands and Soloists, with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday * The Piano Giants, featuring Fats Waller, Art Tatum, and Mary Lou Williams * Birth of Bebop, including Dizzy Gillepsie, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis * Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, and Fusion, with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Stan Getz * A Century of Jazz, featuring Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, and other contemporary greats.