Exploring American history and finding diversity at its roots! This graphic novel by JAMES OTIS SMITH celebrates the extraordinary true tales of three black heroes who took control of their destinies and stood up for their communities in the Old West. Born into slavery in Tennessee, Mary Fields became famous as "Stagecoach Mary," a cigar-chomping, cardplaying coach driver who never missed a delivery. Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy US Marshal

...

"A New York Times Notable Book of the Year that Sir Ian McKellen called "a shocking tale of heroes and villains-illuminating and upsetting in equal measure." The first production of Oscar Wilde's Salome in 1918, with American exotic dancer Maud Allan dancing lead, ignited a firestorm in London spearheaded by Noel Pemberton Billing, a member of Parliament and self-appointed guardian of family values. Billing attacked Allan in the right-wing newspaper...

"Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries -- reading about the remarkable lives of world leaders, captains of industry, innovators and artists. But not every notable life has gotten the send-off it deserves. With Mobituaries -- the book companion to the CBS podcast of the same name -- the journalist, humorist, and history buff is righting that wrong, profiling the people who have long fascinated him -- from the 20th century's greatest entertainer... to...

The dark-garbed Hopalong Cassidy was a wildly popular matinee idol of the '30s and '40s and one of the most iconic cowboy heroes of all time. Astride his white steed Topper with a black, 10-gallon hat perched on his head Hopalong (so named for a limp caused by a bullet wound) made a striking figure. Includes all 52 TV episodes.

"I've written this book in hopes that its stories--and the incredible people they're about--will pull our country closer together through a shared history of the American West. In its own way the Wild West was a melting post every bit as much as the cities of the East Coast--and maybe even more so. While the American cowboy is, deservedly, a cultural icon and part of our national mythology, what many people don't know, is that a significant per\centage...

Presents a history of the infamous South Dakota mining town where Wild Bill Hickok was killed, taking a broad look at the times and social conditions that spawned the legends.

Bandit/Queen: The Runaway Story of Belle Starr is a polyphonic, "docupoetic" project exploring Belle Starr, a notorious Wild West outlaw, and her unsolved murder in 1889. Belle Starr traded a privileged upbringing for a life on the lam-marrying outlaws, thieving, and providing shelter for criminal gangs, all with her signature brocade and purple hats. After the media locked into her story, Belle Starr rocketed to fame. She "became" a compelling anti-hero,...

From the film critics of The New York Times come these uncut, original reviews of the most popular and influential movies ever made -- from the Talkies to blockbusters like Chicago and The Wizard of Oz from timeless classics like Casablanca and Notorious, to beloved foreign films by Truffaut and Kurosawa, Fellini and Almodovar. The reviews reflect Hollywood history at its best. In addition, this volume includes: Full cast and production credits for...

"There is no shortage of Hollywood films about historical events, but what do the movies actually get right, and why do they get so much wrong? Hollywood loves a story: good guys versus bad guys, heroes winning the day, and the guy gets the girl. But we all know real life isn't exactly like that, and this is even more true when we look at history. Rarely do the just prevail and the three-act story cannot exist over continents and decades of human...

Provides quick, accurate answers to hundreds of question about the historical background and setting of 300 often-studied literary works, including novels, plays, poems, speeches and short stories. Contains profiles of three hundred notable literary works written from ancient times through the end of the twentieth century, relating them to the historical context in which they were written and in which they are set; arranged alphabetically by title...