Twelve Plays for Christmas but not a Partridge in a Pear Tree is a collection of Christian dramas written by Skip Martin that explore the true meaning of Christmas. With an average running time of between thirty and forty minutes, each of these dramas has already been performed before live audiences of more than ten thousand people. Filled with lively characters, witty dialogue, and plenty of humor, each story keeps in view the goal of helping audience members develop a better understanding of the gift of Christmas. Any of the scripts in Twelve Plays for Christmas would make an excellent addition to a church Christmas program, Singing Christmas Tree, or other church event. Skip Martin has the rare ability to touch peoples hearts with a unique presentation of the Good News. The Rev. Dan Cracchiola, music minister, Grace Church, Sarasota, Florida Skip Martin has given us a volume of Christmas plays that are delightful and entertaining The plays have conveyed the message of Christmas to all who have seen them performed. Having warmed the hearts and drawn the souls of thousands across the years, they will be a treasure to all who experience them. Dr. Frank Crumpler, retired pastor, Alpharetta, Georgia We found these scripts easy to use and added our own music to make a memorable program. Each play has a great message that the audience seems to relate to. Becky Lawrence, drama director, First Baptist Church, Brandon, Florida As a professional actor who has done many Christmas drama programs, my greatest thrill is when weve successfully touched not just the Christians in the audience but have affected the hearts and minds of the nonbelievers as well. Skip Martins plays do just that. I can attest to their effectiveness, the quality of the characters in them, and the ease with which they can be presented. I strongly recommend them! Mark Woodland, actor, BFA Florida State University, Bradenton, Florida These dramas crafted and created by Skip Martin are spot on. Having used them at two different Christmas productions, I can say first hand that they are witty, solid, and provide room for adding your own personal creative touch. If you are in need of dramas for your Christmas program, this should be your go-to source. Mike Drury, lead pastor, Pine Hills Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Henry James' 'Ultimate Collection' is a monumental compilation of the author's most notable works, showcasing his mastery of the novel, short story, play, travelogue, essay, autobiography, and biography. James' literary style is characterized by his intricate and psychologically rich character portrayals, his astute observations of human behavior, and his keen eye for social and moral dilemmas. This collection allows readers to delve into the varied and expansive oeuvre of one of the most celebrated American authors of the 19th century, offering a comprehensive view of his artistic evolution and thematic preoccupations. From the timeless classics like 'The Portrait of a Lady' and 'The Turn of the Screw' to his lesser-known travel writings and essays, this collection is a treasure trove for fans of James' works and students of American literature alike. Henry James's keen insights into human nature and society make this collection a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of the human experience and the art of storytelling.

Though the wonders of ancient Roman culture continue to attract interest across the disciplines, it is difficult to find a lively, accessible collection of the full range of the era's literature in English. The Oxford Anthology of Roman Literature provides a general introduction to the literature of the Roman empire at its zenith, between the second century BC and the second century AD. Two features of this extraordinarily fertile period in literary achievement as evidenced by this anthology are immediately and repeatedly clear: how similar the Romans' view of the world was to our own and, perhaps even more obviously, how different it was. Most of the authors included in the anthology wrote in Latin, but as the anthology moves forward in time, relevant Greek texts that reflect the cultural diversity of Roman literary life are also included, something no other such anthology has done in the past. Roman literature was wonderfully creative and diverse, and the texts in this volume were chosen from a broad range of genres: drama, epic, philosophy, satire, lyric poetry, love poetry. By its very nature an anthology can abbreviate and thus obscure the most attractive features of even a masterpiece, so the two editors have not only selected texts that capture the essence of the respective authors, but also have included accompanying introductions and afterwords that will guide the reader in pursuing further reading. The presentations of the selections are enlivened with illustrations that locate the works within the contexts of the world in which they were written and enjoyed. The student and general reader will come away from this learned yet entertaining anthology with a fuller appreciation of the place occupied by literature in the Roman world.