From literary polymath Suzanne Loebl (the author of ten books, most recently the acclaimed America's Art Museums) comes the captivating, first-of-its kind exploration into the philanthropic and cultural legacy of one of America's wealthiest and most influential families: The Rockefellers. Fueled by John D. Rockefeller's vast petroleum fortune, the entire family's terrific passion for the arts transformed the artistic infrastructure of twentieth century...

Gertrude Stein is a seminal figure in modern and postmodern literature, yet her work is not easily defined and has had both fierce supporters and equally fierce detractors. In a series of linked essays, How Reading Is Written considers a set of questions associated with reading Gertrude Stein today. In particular, how can we read a body of work that is largely resistant to conventional and interpretation-based models of literary criticism? The book...

"When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. Growing up in the southern kingdom of Valenia at the renowned Magnalia House should have prepared her. While some are born with a talent for one of the five passions-- art, music, dramatics, wit, and knowledge-- Brienna struggled to find hers until she chose knowledge. However, despite all her preparations, Brienna's...