Ancestral Voices is multi-generational epic that traces the histories of several families from the earliest settlement of America to contemporary times. The main conflict of the story develops from a dispute between two brothers in the wake of the War of Independence that has disastrous, as well as joyous consequences almost two centuries later for some of their descendants when the family is reconnected. The novel begins in 1969, the height of the Vietnam War. The central character, Katharine Carter Harrison--about to enter Yale's first coed class--struggles with her identitiy, which is an amalgam of her Connecticut father and her Virginia mother, and with the fate of her beloved brother who enlists to fight in Vietnam. When a distant cousin, Aaron Keeler, unexpectedly enters the lives of Katharine and her brother, it seems that some perverse hand of destiny is at work, as well as a curse that has run through the family for centuries. Ancestral Voices is a compelling love story, a tale of generational revenge, and a saga where the main characters suffer from obsessions with their ancestral past and a terrifying nexus between fiction and reality.

The story of Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the greatest Irish leaders of the nineteenth century and also one of the most renowned figures of the 1880s on the international stage, and John Dillon, the most celebrated of Parnell's lieutenants. As Paul Bew shows, the differences between the two men reflect both Ireland's past and its future. The story of Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the greatest Irish leaders of the nineteenth century and also one of the most renowned figures of the 1880s on the international stage, and John Dillon, the most celebrated, but also the most neglected, of Parnell's lieutenants. As Paul Bew shows, the differences between the two men reflect both Ireland's past and its future. Every time the principle of consent for a united Ireland is discussed today, we can perceive the legacy of both men. Even more profoundly, that legacy can be seen when Irish nationalism tries to transcend a tribalist outlook based on the historic Catholic nation, even when the country is no longer so very Catholic.

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Scholar and statesman Conor Cruise O'Brien illuminates why peace has been so elusive in Northern Ireland. He explains the conflation of religion and nation through Irish history into our own time. Using his life as a prism through which he interprets Ireland's past and present, O'Brien identifies case after case of the lethal mixing of God with country that has spilled oceans of blood throughout this century of nationalism and that, from Bosnia to Northern Ireland, still curses the world. "O'Brien's bravura performance [is] seductive in its intellectual sweep and literary assurance."—Toby Barnard, Times Literary Supplement "Has the magical insistence which Conor Cruise O'Brien can produce at his best. . . . Where he looks back to his own childhood the book shines. He writes of his mother and father with effortless grace and candor, with a marvelous, elegant mix of affection and detachment."—Observer

Dr. Joice Christine Bailey Lewis wrote My Ancestral Voices at the age of seventy-four. She tells stories about people and events that occurred in the Alabama community where her ancestors lived for five generations. Dr. Lewis uses autobiographies and biographies to describe events by details and dialogue that are either true, assumed, or plausible. Dr. Lewis, a member of the fifth generation, tells how she drew strength from the historical accounts of survival of people through slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, racial segregation, educational inequality, sharecropping, the civil rights movement, the Second World War, Northern and Western Diaspora, and her ancestors beating great odds to succeed in landowning and community development and in fields of medicine, law, education, and business. The Holly Springs Missionary Baptist Church was erected by the first generation of ancestors who were all freed slaves. It is still in service to the community of Romulus (Ralph) Alabama. The church stands as a monument to its members, who rose up from slavery to create a lasting legacy of hope, love, and family.

Ancestral Voices, Healing Narratives: Female Ghosts in Contemporary US and Caribbean Fiction examines four novels by Erna Brodber, Zoé Valdés, Sandra Cisneros, and Maryse Condé. In this unique comparative analysis, Kristina S. Gibby explores the significance of female ghosts—specifically maternal figures, who haunt female narrators, inspiring them to transcribe the dead’s obfuscated (hi)stories and recover their family memory. The author argues that these female ghosts subvert historiographic power structures through a matrilineal succession of knowledge via oral traditions of storytelling, inevitably broadening historical consciousness and asserting the value of fiction in the face of historical rupture. Gibby contends that in form and content, these novels disrupt patriarchal and Western expectations of time and epistemology. They favor cyclical temporality (highlighted by the spirits’ uncanny return), which underscores relational understanding and challenges the exclusive and limiting constraints of linear time. This book makes important contributions to inter-American literary criticism with its narrow focus on female authors who confront the horrors of history through maternal spirits.

Presents a selection of criticism devoted to the fiction of African American author Alice Walker.

In the heart of Southern Africa, the legacy of the legendary warrior Khomotso unfolds, beginning with a prophecy that marks him for greatness. Born with a distinctive white strand of hair and a prophetic mark, Khomotso discovers a forbidden tree that gifts him unimaginable powers, turning him into a symbol of strength and hope for his tribe. Fast forward to a new era, and Letago, Khomotso's descendant, inherits these extraordinary abilities. As the last surviving member of his family, Letago must defend the Mapedi tribe against earthly foes and supernatural threats, showcasing the unwavering determination of the African people to fight for freedom and justice. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Africa's diverse cultures and traditions, highlighting Letago's rise to power as he assumes his grandfather's throne in Polokwane. Yet, his challenges extend beyond earthly conflicts, introducing a cosmic convergence that unleashes intergalactic invaders, witches, and wizards. Guided by ancestral voices, Letago navigates political intricacies, forms alliances, and confronts unimaginable adversaries. Love blossoms amidst chaos as Letago finds a soulmate in Potego, a strong and wise woman from a neighboring tribe. Together, they embody symbols of unity, tirelessly working to unite their people against the dual threat of colonizers and cosmic invaders. Across 66 chapters, the novel weaves an intricate tapestry of unexpected alliances, shocking betrayals, and deep-seated secrets. "The African Warrior: New Generation" delves into Letago's evolution, where mastery over the elements becomes paramount. As he summons gusts of wind, bolts of lightning, and controls nature itself, the fate of his people teeters on the edge, hurtling towards a climactic conclusion. This culturally rich journey promises a thrilling blend of historical depth, supernatural intrigue, and a protagonist's unyielding quest for justice and unity. Join Letago as he grapples with the responsibility of his powers, offering readers a roller-coaster of emotions and a symbol of resilience against adversity. "The African Warrior: New Generation" is destined to be a bestseller, immersing readers in a potent mix of historical richness, supernatural excitement, and a hero's unwavering pursuit of justice.

This volume is a comprehensive collection of critical essays on The Taming of the Shrew, and includes extensive discussions of the play's various printed versions and its theatrical productions. Aspinall has included only those essays that offer the most influential and controversial arguments surrounding the play. The issues discussed include gender, authority, female autonomy and unruliness, courtship and marriage, language and speech, and performance and theatricality.