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. 

Exciting Adventures in Sailing from the Rugged American Literary Icon, Jack London

American author Jack London, best known for his fiction set during the Klondike Gold Rush, such as The Call of the Wild, was also an avid sailor. “Small-Boat Sailing” was published in 1917 in The Human Drift, a collection of short stories and essays. London recounts his time at sea, including travels on fishing schooners and coal ships alongside small sailboats. His descriptions of hard work, excitement, and the thrill of handling a small boat in trouble on the water are exhilarating. 

Part of Applewood’s American Roots series, this gift edition hard back features an elegant design and artful illustrations, ideal for any sailor or maritime lover’s nightstand. 

The best personal essays from a contested region, from Belt Publishing’s ten years as a press.

Many have an opinion on what the Rust Belt is. It’s the "blue wall," "Trump country," the "flyover states," or the “real America.” Or maybe, as our own president has said, it's a place that no longer exists called by a name that has long outlived its usefulness. But undeniably, there’s something that connects the region. Maybe the question isn’t what defines that connection, but who.

Over the past ten years, Belt Publishing has been putting out books that prioritize the voices of the many people who live here. We’ve collected our favorite writing from our dozens of anthologies, from Pittsburgh to Gary, Chicago to St. Louis, Milwaukee to Cleveland, and more, documenting growing up in segregated St. Louis and elucidating the coded Islamophobia of southern Michigan. Featuring LaToya Ruby Frazier, Connie Schultz, Brian Broome, Megan Stielstra, Vivian Gibson, Aaron Foley, Kathleen Rooney, Sarah Kendzior, Phil Christman, and more.