Spirituality

A collection of Christmas stories written by African-American journalists, activists, and writers from the late 19th century to the modern civil rights movement.

Back in print for the first time in over a decade, this landmark collection features writings from well-known black writers, activists, and visionaries such as Pauline Hopkins, Langston Hughes, and John Henrik Clarke along with literary gems from rediscovered writers. Originally published in African American newspapers, periodicals, and journals between 1880 and 1953, these enchanting Christmas tales are part of the black literary tradition that flourished after the Civil War.

Edited and assembled by esteemed historian Dr. Bettye Collier-Thomas, the short stories and poems in this collection reflect the Christmas experiences of everyday African Americans and explore familial and romantic love, faith, and more serious topics such as racism, violence, poverty, and racial identity. Featuring the best stories and poems from previous editions along with new material including "The Sermon in the Cradle" by W. E. B. Du Bois, A Treasury of African American Christmas Stories celebrates a rich storytelling tradition and will be cherished by readers for years to come.

The title comes from Cardinal Hume's homily for Ash Wednesday 1977 and is a theme that reappears frequently in his writing and preaching, particularly in his Lenten addresses.

This selection of previously unpublished material by Basil Hume takes the reader through Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, with a reading for each day, a reading from the Lectionary and a prayer based on the liturgical texts.

Cardinal George Basil Hume (1923-1999) was Abbot of Ample forth from 1963 until his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster in 1976; he remained Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster until his death from cancer in June 1999, when he was widely mourned both nationally and internationally. His books includedMystery of the Cross, Mystery of the Incarnation and Basil in Blunderland.

The texts have been edited by Patricia Hardcastle Kelly, who worked in medical publishing as the Press Office of the Bishops ' Conference of England and Wales.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, VERY GOOD LIVES presents J.K. Rowling's words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life. How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world famous author addresses some of life's most important questions with acuity and emotional force.