Best Selling Books by charles johnson

A twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Charles Johnson’s National Book Award-winning masterpiece—"a novel in the tradition of Billy Budd and Moby-Dick…heroic in proportion…fiction that hooks the mind" (The New York Times Book Review)—now with a new introduction from Stanley Crouch. Rutherford Calhoun, a newly freed slave and irrepressible rogue, is lost in the underworld of 1830s New Orleans. Desperate to escape the city’s unscrupulous bill collectors and the pawing hands of a schoolteacher hellbent on marrying him, he jumps aboard the Republic, a slave ship en route to collect members of a legendary African tribe, the Allmuseri. Thus begins a voyage of metaphysical horror and human atrocity, a journey which challenges our notions of freedom, fate and how we live together. Peopled with vivid and unforgettable characters, nimble in its interplay of comedy and serious ideas, this dazzling modern classic is a perfect blend of the picaresque tale, historical romance, sea yarn, slave narrative and philosophical allegory. Now with a new introduction from renowned writer and critic Stanley Crouch, this twenty-fifth anniversary edition of Middle Passage celebrates a cornerstone of the American canon and the masterwork of one of its most important writers. "Long after we’d stopped believe in the great American novel, along comes a spellbinding adventure story that may be just that" (Chicago Tribune).

Chronicles the lives of Africans as slaves in America through the eve of the Civil War.

"Organized into six accessible, easy-to-navigate sections, The Way of the Writer is both a literary reflection on the creative impulse and a utilitarian guide to the writing process. Johnson shares his lessons and exercises from the classroom, starting with word choice, sentence structure, and narrative voice, and delving into the mechanics of scene, dialogue, plot and storytelling before exploring the larger questions at stake for the serious writer. What separates literature from industrial fiction? What lies at the heart of the creative impulse? How does one navigate the literary world? And how are philosophy and fiction concomitant?"--Publisher information.

This work reaches across the colour line to examine how race, gender, class and individual subjectivity shaped the lives of black and white women in the 19th- and 20th-century American South.

Whether you believe that man evolved from the apes (Darwinism) or that man was created in God''s own image (religion), man has questioned the whats and whys of his surroundings. Why does the sun rise and set? Why does it rain? Why do dinosaurs eat us? As time went by, man learned those answers, but there were always many more questions to be answered. From the time, we left the trees and caves to present man we have learned much about what goes on in our planet, the planets closest to us, and our solar system. Even as we continue to learn about the deepest parts of our own oceans and the deepest parts of space around us, there are still mysteries occurring around us every day that we don''t know the answers to or even understand. This book brings to light some of those mysteries, explaining the history around them; discussing the opinions, beliefs, and options; and allowing you, the reader, to decide for yourself whether the story is fact or fiction.

"This book provides a sweeping account of what has come to be called the Golden age of piracy. It went through four editions in two years, and without doubt owed a substantial part of its success to a dramatic writing style that vividly captures the realities of pirates'' savage existence. The book contains documentary evidence of events during the lives of its subjects. In the 270 years since its original publication, Johnson''s work has come to be regarded as the classic study of one of the most popular subjects in maritime history."--Publisher description.

From the National Book Award-winning author of Middle Passage, a fearless fictional portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his pivotal moment in American history. Set against the tensions of Civil Rights era America, Dreamer is a remarkable fictional excursion into the last two years of Martin Luther King Jr.''s life, when the political and personal pressures on this country''s most preeminent moral leader were the greatest. While in Chicago for his first northern campaign against poverty and inequality, King encounters Chaym Smith, whose startling physical resemblance to King wins him the job of official stand-in. Matthew Bishop, a civil rights worker and loyal follower of King, is given the task of training the smart and deeply cynical Smith for the job. In doing so, Bishop must face the issue of what makes one man great while another man can only stand in for greatness. Provocative, heartfelt, and masterfully rendered, Charles Johnson confirms yet again that he is one of the great treasures of modern American literature. Dr. Charles Johnson is a novelist, screenwriter, essayist, professional cartoonist and the Pollock Professor of English at the University of Washington. He is the author of more than sixteen books, including the PEN/Faulkner nominated story collection The Sorcerer''s Apprentice and the novel Middle Passage, for which he won the National Book Award.

National Book Award winner and MacArthur Genius Fellow Charles Johnson reflects on the joys of being a grandparent in this warm, inspiring collection of wisdom and life lessons—the ideal gift for any new parent or grandparent An award-winning novelist, philosopher, essayist, screenwriter, professor and cartoonist, Charles Johnson has held numerous impressive titles over the course of his incomparable career. Now, for the first time, with his trademark wisdom and philosophical generosity, he turns his attention to his most important role yet: grandparent. In Grand, Johnson shares stories from his life with his six-year-old grandson, Emery, weaving in advice and life lessons that stand the test of time. “Looking at the problems I see in the world around me,” Johnson writes, “I realize that there are so many things I want to say to him about the goodness and beauty that life offers. What are the perennial truths that I can impart to Emery that might make his journey through life easier or more rewarding?” Johnson shares these truths and more, offering profound meditations on family, race, freedom and creativity. Joyful, lucid and deeply comforting, Grand is Johnson at his most accessible and profound, an indispensable compendium for new grandparents and growing grandchildren alike, from one of America’s most revered thinkers.

From National Book Award winner Charles Johnson, “the celebrated novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and essayist…comes a small treasure, one to be read and considered and reread” (The New York Times Book Review), showcasing his incredible range and resonant voice. Charles Johnson’s Night Hawks presents an eclectic, masterful collection of stories tied together by Buddhist themes and displaying all the grace, heart, and insight for which he has long been known. Spanning genres from science fiction to realism, “Johnson’s writing, filled with the sort of long, layered sentences you can get happily lost in, conveys a kindness; a sense that all of us…have our own stories” (The Seattle Times). In “The Weave,” Ieesha and her boyfriend carry out a heist at the salon from which she has just been fired—coming away with thousands of dollars of merchandise in the form of hair extensions. “Night Hawks,” the titular story, draws on Johnson’s friendship with the late playwright August Wilson to construct a narrative about two writers who meet at night to talk. In “Kamadhatu,” a lonely Japanese abbot has his quiet world upended by a visit from a black American Buddhist whose presence pushes him toward the awakening he has long found elusive. “Occupying Arthur Whitfield,” about a cab driver who decides to rob the home of a wealthy passenger, reminds readers to be grateful for what they have. And “The Night Belongs to Phoenix Jones” combines the real-life story of a “superhero” in the city of Seattle with an invented narrative about an aging English professor who decides to join him. With precise, elegant, and moving language, Johnson creates an “arresting” array of “indelible moments that show Johnson to be a master of the short form” (Library Journal, starred review). Night Hawks is “a masterpiece…[that] ultimately offers a message of empowerment and hope” (Oprah.com).

From National Book Award–winning author Charles Johnson comes a sly, witty, and insightful collection of short stories exploring issues of race and identity. In “Sweet Dreams,” a Kafkaesque tale is set in a world where dreams are taxed—a reality that leads to a man and his dreamlife being audited. In “Cultural Relativity,” a young woman falls in love with the son of the president of an African nation—but is forbidden to ever kiss him. A deeply humane story, “Dr. King''s Refrigerator” offers a remarkable glimpse into Martin Luther King Jr.''s life and his refrigerator. “Kwoon” is a graceful and illuminating story about a martial arts teacher on Chicago''s South Side. Compassionate and amusing, thought-provoking and richly imagined, Dr. King''s Refrigerator and Other Bedtime Stories is a wonderful and compelling collection from one of America''s most beloved authors.

Drawn from the wisdom of ancient oral tradition, this book contains two main doctrines: teaching the attainment of wisdom, and warning against life''s pitfalls, from excessive drink to promiscuity. The text is introduced by Charles Johnson.

This is a print of the 1927 reissued 4th edition of A General History of the Pirates- enhanced by the Arthur L. Hayward''s editorial touches.

"In this collection of essays, Johnson writes of the profound connection between Buddhism and creativity, and of the role of Eastern philosophy in the quest for a free and thoughtful life." "He looks at basic Buddhist principles and practices, demonstrating how Buddhism is both the most revolutionary and most civilized of possible human choices. He discusses fundamental Buddhist practices such as the Eightfold Path, Taming the Mind, and Sangha and illuminates their place in the American Civil Rights movement."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Reproduction of the original: A Genreal History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson

A General History of the Pirates has long been a classic of seafaring literature and was inspiration to both Robert Louis Stevenson and J.M. Barrie. Nothing is known about Captain Charles Johnson, and it is thought that the name may be assumed - there are even some who believe he may have been Daniel Defoe. All that can be stated with any certainty is that in 1724 a small octavo volume appeared that became so popular it grew through 4 editions over 2 years and is still famed today. Historians from both sides of the Atlantic have attested to the accuracy of the work''s content. This is a reprint of the 1927 reissued 4th edition - enhanced by the Arthur L. Hayward''s editorial touches.

Faith Cross, a beautiful and purely innocent young black woman, is told by her dying mother to go and get herself "a good thing." Thus begins an extraordinary pilgrim''s progress that takes Faith from the magic and mysticism of the rural South to the promises and perils of modern-day Chicago. It is an odyssey that propels Faith from the degradation of prostitution, drugs, and drink into a faceless middle-class reality, and finally into a searing tragedy that ironically leads to the discovery of the real Good Thing. National Book Award-winner Charles Johnson''s first novel, originally published in 1974, puts the life-affirming soul of the African-American experience at the summit of American storytelling.

Short stories inspired by the history of slavery in America, by the National Book Award–winning author of Middle Passage. Nothing has had as profound an effect on American life as slavery. For blacks and whites alike, the experience has left us with a conflicted and contradictory history. Now, famed novelist Charles Johnson, whose Middle Passage won the National Book Award, presents a dozen tales of the effects and experience of slavery, each based on historical fact, and each about those Africans who arrived on our shores in shackles. From Martha Washington’s management of her slaves, bequeathed to her at the death of the first president, to a boy chained in the bowels of a ship plying the infamous passage from Africa to the South laden with human cargo, from a lynching in Indiana to a hunter of escaped slaves searching the Boston market for his quarry, from an early Quaker meeting exploring resettlement in Africa to the day after Emancipation—the voices, terrors, and savagery of slavery come vividly and unforgettably to life. “[These] highly detailed short historical fictions bring to life this most shameful period in our nation’s history.” —The New York Times Book Review

It’s 1943, and the second world war has only just started. The Imperial Japanese Navy appears to be invincible, destroying everything they face. The ABDA, (American, British, Dutch and Australian) fleet is all but destroyed. A few units make it to Australia. Very few. In the last naval battle, all but three destroyers are sunk. Facing impossible odds, they run, chasing shell splashes in an attempt to escape the inevitable. Sighting a rain squall, they make for it and amazingly they reach it. Hiding inside, they restock the guns, care for the wounded and prepare for the end. When the rain clears, they find themselves under clear blue skies and in a sea devoid of the enemy. Repairing what damage they can, they return to their base. The first question then is why did the enemy leave when all they had to do was wait for the rain to stop, then wipe out the three small ships? The answer? They didn’t leave. Japanese records show that the three destroyers never left the squall. It was assumed that the destroyers succumbed to their damage and sank, or were scuttled by their crews. In any event, they are recorded as sunk at the coordinates of the squall. The second question is then......If the destroyers were sunk, how did they return to their base? And the third question is......How did they return one hundred years later in 2043?

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.

For the first time in ebook, renowned scholar Charles Johnson’s exploration of contemporary black literature and the meaning of the black experience as expressed through the writers Richard Wright, Jean Toomer, David Bradley, and others. Charles Johnson approaches contemporary black literature through the lens of phenomenology. Drawing on such philosophers as Heidegger, Husserl, Satre, and Dufrenne, Johnson addresses the esthetic and epistemological questions surrounding the black experience as expressed by African American authors. In exploring the works of Wright, Toomer, Bradley, and many more, Being and Race enlarges our vision of what fiction’s purpose is and how it arises from our common experiences.

A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates is a 1724 book published in Britain containing biographies of contemporary pirates, which was influential in shaping popular conceptions of pirates. Its author uses the name Captain Charles Johnson, generally considered a pseudonym for one of London''s writer-publishers. The prime source for the biographies of many well known pirates, the book gives an almost mythical status to the more colourful characters, and it is likely that the author used considerable licence in his accounts of pirate conversations. The book also contains the name of the pirate flag the Jolly Roger, and shows the skull and bones design.

It includes fine explanations of general packing rules and background on pack organization; records of endurance; the diseases that can strike pack animals and how to avoid them; cargo slinging; and much more.

There is a fascination surrounding the subject of pirates and pirate lore that centers around the romanticized impression of lawless, brutal ruffians pillaging ships, hunting for gold and treasure, and traveling in massive ships waving the skull-and-bones flag. The golden age of piracy produced many grandiose and notorious characters whose incredible stories have found their way into this one-of-a-kind book. Originally published in 1735, The History and Lives of Notorious Pirates and Their Crews grippingly chronicles the adventures and misadventures of the most infamous pirates who ruled the high seas at the turn of the eighteenth century. From Captain Spriggs’ rampant use of torture on his victims, to Bartholomew Robert’s incredibly successful pirating career, Blackbeard’s legendary fearsome demeanor, and Captain Kidd’s tragic end, these truly enthralling stories of privateers turned bandits will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Though the author’s true identity is still debated, his book helped shape the very concept we hold of pirates today—influencing such writers as J. M. Barrie, Rafael Sabatini, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Published in a private, limited edition in his lifetime, this dialogue offers Twain''s skeptical assessment of religious belief, free will, and the nature of humanity.