Beauty In Thorns 16pt Large Print Edition

A spellbinding reimagining of 'Sleeping Beauty' set amongst the wild bohemian circle of Pre-Raphaelite artists and poets. The Pre-Raphaelites were determined to liberate art and love from the shackles of convention. Ned Burne-Jones had never had a painting lesson and his family wanted him to be a parson. Only young Georgie Macdonald - the daughter of a Methodist minister - understood. She put aside her own dreams to support him, only to be confronted by many years of gossip and scandal. Dante Gabriel Rossetti was smitten with his favourite model, Lizzie Siddal. She wanted to be an artist herself, but was seduced by the irresistible lure of laudanum. William Morris fell head-over-heels for a 'stunner' from the slums, Janey Burden. Discovered by Ned, married to William, she embarked on a passionate affair with Gabriel that led inexorably to tragedy. Margot Burne-Jones had become her father's muse. He painted her as Briar Rose, the focus of his most renowned series of paintings, based on the fairy-tale that haunted him all his life. Yet Margot longed to be awakened to love. Bringing to life the dramatic true story of love, obsession and heartbreak that lies behind the Victorian era's most famous paintings, Beauty in Thorns is the story of awakenings of all kinds.

This chilling passage is from Ellen McLaughlin's new adaptation of The Persians by Aeschylus, the earliest surviving play in Western literature, an elegy for a fallen civi-lization and a warning to its new conqueror. As Margo Jefferson wrote in the New York Times, ''the play is a true classic: we see the present and the future right there, inside the past. And when writers give us a 'new version' (a translation or adaptation) of a classic, they both serve and use it. They serve the playwright's gifts by refusing to simplify. But they can't just imitate. Every age has its own rhythms and drives. The classic must make us feel the new acutely. Ellen McLaughlin serves and uses The Persians with true power and grace.''

Developing Knowledge Communities through Partnerships for Literacy explores the development of knowledge communities - safe spaces on the educational landscape - where research and professional development with literacy teachers and writers can unfurl.

John Trudell's potent imagery and passionate convictions have established his international reputation as a poet and musician. Using his commanding voice, the ''people's poet'' has also made great strides as a Native American activist, as a leader of the American Indian Movement, and as spokesperson for the All Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island. For the first time, Lines from a Mined Mind brings together lyrics and musings from Trudell's 20-year recording career. More than a simple anthology, this collection goes deeper, revealing the incendiary intersection of music and activism.

Hope Dies Last is Studs Terkel's inspiring new oral history of social action in America. An alternative, more personal history of the ''American century,'' Hope Dies Last forms a legacy of the indefatigable spirit that Studs has always embodied, and an inheritance for those who, by taking a stand, are making concrete the dreams of today. For Terkel, these interviews represent a change that has taken place in the last few years of uncertainty in America. From a doctor who teaches his young students compassion, to the now-retired brigadier general who flew the Enola Gay over Hiroshima, these interviews tell us much about the power of the American dream and the force of individuals who hope for a better world. Terkel's subjects express with grace and warmth their secret hopes and dreams, combining to tell an inspiring story of optimism and persistence that resonates with the eloquence of conviction.

Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury weaves a powerful story of a young couple whose love must face the ultimate challenge.

60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Cincinnati is one book that covers the best and sometimes the least-well-known hiking destinations within 60 miles of the greater Cincinnati area. The hikes were selected based on family friendliness, scenery, and history. Many of the hikes fall between 3 to 5 miles in length, which provides parents with a relaxing and revitalizing hike even little ones can enjoy. This isn't a bunch of poppy-cock either. Author Tammy York hiked most of the trails with her two young daughters. 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Cincinnati was created with other parents and newbie hikers in mind, while also providing challenging hikes for skilled hikers. With this guide, hikers will discover many of the local hidden hiking treasures that are in or near Cincinnati. Places such as Caldwell Nature Preserve, Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, and Quiet Trails Nature Preserve offer incredible views, ample wildlife and wildflowers, and a chance to get away from everything and enjoy the simple pleasure of nature. Trails in the guide cover Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, and range from easy to you-must-be-joking difficult. For example, Sharon Woods is an easy and accessible paved trail for most of the hike, but Clifty Falls State Park hike will challenge your ability to concentrate on crossing slippery and tippy rocks without falling into the stream.