Provides a concise history of the Catholic Church and the papacy, and chronicles the brief but productive reign of Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli as Pope John XXIII in the mid-twentieth century.
Presents the biography of nineteenth-century French Carmelite nun Saint Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower of Jesus, who devoted her short life to obedience and service to God.
A biography of thirteenth-century Italian poet-historian Dante Alighieri, discussing his youth, his days as a soldier, his civic leadership, and his years of exile from Florence.
Presents a brief biography of Rosa Parks, who, in 1955 Alabama, refused give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, and provides information on her childhood in Alabama and her achievements in the Civil Rights movement.
A biography of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, examining the influences that affected the development of his personality, and discussing his successes and failures as a military leader.
A biography of Chinese ruler Mao Zedong, discussing how he was able to rise to a position of leadership, and considering some of the myths he constructed about his life to contribute to his aura of power.
A biography of Winston Churchill, examining his family and youth, his life as a soldier, his entry into politics, and his leadership as British Prime Minister during World War II, and discussing his place in history.
A biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, tracing his life and quest for power from his birthplace on the island of Corsica to his exile and death on St. Helena.
Chronicles the life of Charles Dickens, focusing on how his life experiences influenced each of his major works, and analyzing his narrative techniques, his voice and themes, and his portrayal of England's lower class.
