Name: The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog
Brand: Eugene O'Neill
SKU: 9781429096072
Price: 12.95 USD
Availability: InStock

The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog

9781429096072

$12.95

A Touching Tribute to a Beloved Pet from America’s Foremost Playwright

Renowned playwright Eugene O’Neill composed this work in 1940 to comfort his wife about the death of their Dalmatian, Blemie. Better known for his despairing and pessimistic dramas, O’Neill’s touching piece, written in the voice of the dying pet, is somehow uplifting and joyous in its touching memory of a life shared between owner and animal. It is sure to comfort anyone experiencing the loss of a beloved, furry member of the family.

This short work is part of Applewood’s American Roots series, tactile mementos of American passions by some of America’s most famous writers.

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Midwest Futures

9781948742610

$26.00

“A combination of history, memoir, reportage, and lit-crit that taught me a lot about a region I’ve reported on. . . . Check it out.” ―James Fallows, The Atlantic

A Commonweal Notable Book of 2020
Finalist, Midwest Independent Book Award
Winner, Independent Publisher Awards Bronze Medal

What does the future hold for the Midwest? A vast stretch of fertile farmland bordering one of the largest concentrations of fresh water in the world, the Midwestern US seems ideally situated for the coming challenges of climate change. But it also sits at the epicenter of a massive economic collapse that many of its citizens are still struggling to overcome.

The question of what the Midwest is (and what it will become) is nothing new. As Phil Christman writes in this idiosyncratic new book, ambiguity might be the region’s defining characteristic. Taking a cue from Jefferson’s grid, the famous rectangular survey of the Old Northwest Territory that turned everything from Ohio to Wisconsin into square-mile lots, Christman breaks his exploration of Midwestern identity, past and present, into thirty-six brief, interconnected essays. The result is a sometimes sardonic, often uproarious, and consistently thought-provoking look at a misunderstood place and the people who call it home.

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How to Be Normal

9781953368102

$26.00

“Erudite riffs on race, religion, masculinity and [more]. . . . A crisp set of essays that bring big social and cultural debates to a human level.” —Kirkus Reviews

Phil Christman is one of the best cultural critics working today. Or, as a reviewer of his previous book, Midwest Futures, put it, “one of the most underappreciated writers of [his] generation.” You may also know Phil from his columns in Commonweal and Plough, or his viral essay “What Is It Like To Be A Man?”, the latter adapted in his new book, How to Be Normal. Christman’s second book includes essays on “How To Be White,” “How to Be Religious,” “How To Be Married,” and more, in addition to new versions of previously published essays. You’ll also find brilliant analyses of middlebrow culture, bad movies, Mark Fisher, Christian fundamentalism, and more. With exquisite attention to syntax and prose, the astoundingly well-read Christman pairs a deceptively breezy style with radical openness. In his witty, original hands, seemingly “normal” subjects are rendered exceptional, and exceptionally.
“A probing and provocative collection.” —Publishers Weekly

“Engaging a belles-lettristic negative capability, Christman takes on the big subjects while always remembering that the point of criticism is to more fully be a person, part of ‘our little attempts that we make at building a home in this world.’” —Ed Simon, The Millions

“Christman charts a frank and fearless guide for the perplexed, the battered, the exhausted, and the outraged.” —Chris Lehmann, The New Republic
“Earnest and intense.” —Richard Babcock, Wall Street Journal

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On the Decay of the Art of Lying

9781429096164

$12.95

In 1880, the great American author and humorist Mark Twain wrote his essay On the Decay of the Art of Lying for a Historical and Antiquarian Club meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. Twain's humorous and satirical voice is in full flower, as he discusses the universal pastime of lying, and suggests that judicious lying should be encouraged and cultivated – as long as one strives …to lie with a good object, and not an evil one; to lie for others' advantage, and not our own; to lie healingly, charitably, humanely, not cruelly, hurtfully, maliciously… This short work is part of Applewood's American Roots series, tactile mementos of American passions by some of America's most famous writers and thinkers.

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Great Irish Legends for Children

9781589803459

$18.99

This volume of six traditional Irish legends includes stories about a king with donkeyï¿½s ears, a moral lesson about riches and possessions based on a brown bull, a tale explaining how the coast of Antrim was formed by a giant, and other tales about treachery, bravery, and honor. Spirited illustrations bring each tale to life, and a pronunciation guide is included to assist with reading the unusual Irish names such as Ailill and Daire Mac Fiachra. Told for hundreds of years, these stories are a rich part of Irish history and lend themselves to great storytelling.

Cover image for Great Irish Legends for Children, isbn: 9781589803459

Quotations of Louisa May Alcott

9781557090546

$12.95

Quotes from the pen of America's Beloved Author Louisa May Alcott

This elegant pocket-sized hardcover gift book, part of Applewood's Quotations of Great Americans series, contains nearly one hundred quotes from the beloved author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott.