Portfolio 2 Columns

Keep the Aspidistra Flying, first published in 1936, is a socially critical novel by George Orwell. It is set in 1930s London. The main theme is Gordon Comstock’s romantic ambition to defy worship of the money-God and status and the dismal life that results. George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic. His work is characterized by lucid prose, biting social criticism, total opposition to totalitarianism, and outspoken support of democratic socialism. Orwell produced literary criticism and poetry, fiction and polemical journalism. He is known for the allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics and literature, language and culture. In 2008, The Times ranked George Orwell second among “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”. Orwell’s work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective “Orwellian”—describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices—is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as “Big Brother”, “Thought Police”, “Two Minutes Hate”, “Room 101”, “memory hole”, “Newspeak”, “doublethink”, “unperson”, and “thoughtcrime”, as well as providing direct inspiration for the neologism “groupthink”. 

Katherine Hepburn is not only a beloved movie icon, but one of the early progenitors of the American woman’s movement. Coming from a life of wealth and privilege, she continued her family‘s tradition of zealously guarding the rights of others while becoming one of the the world’s most beloved and original actresses we have known. This is her story in her own words and the words of the people who knew her and loved her. This is a one-of-a-kind audio celebration of an unforgettable American original.

Towards the end of her time, Katherine Hepburn became closer to her extended family dividing time between her New York townhouse and New England estate. She maintained close relationships with friends in Hollywood assisting them when they were in trouble and freely giving the grandmotherly advice, she was famous for. She once commented she was “America’s grandmother”, so beloved was she to people everywhere. In the second part of this homespun look at Hepburn’s life, Kate speaks candidly about her life after Hollywood following the death of her beloved, Spencer Tracey.

Katherine Hepburn was the archetypical, no nonsense, all American independent, Yankee woman, but she was also a movie star. She is remembered here in this touching tribute as a woman who helped redefine what a woman was to be in the coming time and blazed new ground as a riveting, one of a kind, actor’s actor. With exclusive interviews with Kate’s brother, Dr. Robert Hepburn and a host of celebrated Hollywood friends. Featuring a very special interview with Ms. Hepburn’s longtime producer friend and intimate confidant, John Dayton.

Born in Trier, Germany, Karl Marx studied law and philosophy at university. Due to his controversial political publications however, Marx became stateless and lived in exile with his wife and children in London for decades, where he continued to develop his thought and publish his writings, often researching in the reading room of the British Museum. His best-known titles are the 1848 pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto, and the three-volume Das Kapital. His political and philosophical thought had enormous influence on subsequent intellectual, economic and political history and his name has been used as an adjective, a noun and a school of social theory. Marx’s complex theories about society, economics and politics – collectively understood as Marxism – hold that human societies develop through class struggle. In capitalism, this manifests itself in the conflict between the ruling and working classes. Employing a critical approach known as historical materialism, Marx predicted that, like previous socio-economic systems, capitalism produced internal tensions which would lead to its self-destruction and replacement by a new system: socialism. Marx actively pressed for its implementation, arguing the working class should carry out organized revolution to topple capitalism and bring about socio-economic emancipation. Marx has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history

‘The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.’ “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” Karl Marx Born in Trier, Germany, Karl Marx studied law and philosophy at university. Due to his controversial political publications however, Marx became stateless and lived in exile with his wife and children in London for decades, where he continued to develop his thought and publish his writings, often researching in the reading room of the British Museum. His best-known titles are the 1848 pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto, and the three-volume Das Kapital. His political and philosophical thought had enormous influence on subsequent intellectual, economic and political history and his name has been used as an adjective, a noun and a school of social theory. Marx’s complex theories about society, economics and politics – collectively understood as Marxism – hold that human societies develop through class struggle. In capitalism, this manifests itself in the conflict between the ruling and working classes. Employing a critical approach known as historical materialism, Marx predicted that, like previous socio-economic systems, capitalism produced internal tensions which would lead to its self-destruction and replacement by a new system: socialism. Marx actively pressed for its implementation, arguing the working class should carry out organized revolution to topple capitalism and bring about socio-economic emancipation. Marx has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history.

This stirring, evocative, one-of-a-kind new audiobook chronicles the legendary scholar, social reformer, activist and author, the charismatic, Dr. Cornel West, in a loving tribute to his great work and exemplary life. Here is the lauded university professor and folksy intellectual up close and personal exposing his sage ideals in own inimitable, stylish, endearing way. Who else in this weary world can confound and confront even his enemies yet engender smiles on the faces of all? This great man continues his mission to enlighten, educate, and counsel folks everywhere in his sometimes fierce, though always concerned and loving way. Here is Dr. West in his own words, in his own time, a charismatic apostle of that mercurial Love Supreme. A must for all university and academic collections.

John Lennon’s now well-known maternal half-sister Julia Baird joined forces with famous author Geoffrey Giuliano in the early 1980s to write a riveting book on her life and times on the famous Beatle. With a stirring, revealing introduction by close friend Paul McCartney, it was an immediate, internationally best-selling smash! The sometimes-rocky relationship between Mrs. Baird and Mr. Giuliano, however, makes for an exciting, behind the scenes inside story. Here are Giuliano’s world exclusive, unheard, super rare interviews with the reclusive younger sister of the Beatles founder and strongest member, John Lennon. An absolute must for all Beatles fans, pop historians, students of ’60s culture, as well as all school and library systems.