Stephen Brennan – författare

The cowboy, one of the greatest fictional characters in American literary history, is more than a man or a myth; he is an identity, the soul of a country that started out as the wild and unruly and has risen to the civilized and respected. The Greatest Cowboy Stories Ever Told includes twenty-three exciting stories from a variety of contributors, such as Mark Twain, Karl May, Tom McGuane, Larry McMurtry, Edgar Beecher Bronson, Frederic Remington, Max Brand, and John Graves. The Golden Age of the Cowboy, or what has been called the Kingdom of Cattle, lasted from the close of the Civil War to the turn of the 20th century. Barbed wire and the iron horse put paid to the free range and the long trail drive just as the coming of the law obviated the need for the rough chivalry of the code of the West. Though the days of dueling—every individual was for himself and men were expected to settle their own scores—are over, it is memories of these drastic times and extreme measures and the people who lived them that remain our defining characteristics. This book is filled with some of the most action-filled and exciting stories ever to come out of the American landscape.

Incredible stories from those who thrived in the Wild West.The “mountain men” were the hunters and trappers who fiercely strode the Rocky Mountains in the early to mid-1800s. They braved the elements in search of the skins of beavers and other wild animals, to sell or barter for goods. The lifestyle of the mountain men could be harsh, existing as they did among animals, and spending most of their days and nights living and camping out in the great unexplored wilds of the Rockies. Life outdoors presented many threats, not least among them Native Americans, who were hostile to the mountain men encroaching on the area for their own purposes. For a certain kind of pioneer, this risk and more were outweighed by the benefits of living free, without the restrictions and boundaries of “civilized” settlements.Included in this collection are tales from great writers, including:Washington IrvingStanley VestalOsborne RussellFrancis Parkman Jr.And many more!In The Adventures of the Mountain Men, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Brennan has compiled many of the best stories about the mountain men—the most daring exploits, the death-defying chances taken to hunt big game, the clashes with the arrows of Native Americans, and also the moments when the men were struck by the incomparable beauty of the unsullied, majestic Rocky Mountains.

Anyone who loves a good story full of excitement, adventure, thrills, and laughs will find this massive collection (more than 800 pages!) irresistible.  Over the years, thousands of tales both true and fantastic have been told about the dastardly thievery of pirates, and their rum-drunk exploits and high-seas violence never fail to delight. Compiled here are more than 100 of the very best pirate yarns ever created on history’s most debaucherous scalawags. The stories, songs, and verses include writing by Daniel Defoe, Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, James Fenimore Cooper, Robert Louis Stevenson, and many more. This is 800 pages of true treasure!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.

Here is the ultimate collection of stories about the sea for sailors old and young, experienced seamen and armchair admirals. For thousands of years, we have set out sailing for all kinds of reasons—for battle, for wealth, for excitement, and for escape. We have always had a primal relationship with the sea. Even those who have never been to sea are fascinated by the seafaring life and tales of salty adventure. This oversized collection of the greatest sailing stories of all time brings together such diverse authors as James Fenimore Cooper, Daniel Defoe, Homer, Jack London, Rudyard Kipling, Richard Middleton, Victor Hugo, Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle, John Masefield, Stephen Crane, H. G. Wells, Herman Melville, and dozens more. Many of the writers whose words are featured here are instantly recognizable and have achieved deserved fame; others are less well-known, and rarely featured in print, but here take their rightful place on the shelves of sailing literature. Each story is illustrated with black-and-white line art that makes this book a true classic. Even if you are enjoying The Gigantic Book of Sailing Stories from the warm, dry comfort of your own living room, you are bound to be inspired by the colorful and stirring stories in this timeless collection. 50 b/w illustrations.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Father and son duo Stephen and Finn Brennan know what is truly fun for boys of all ages, and The Adventurous Boy’s Handbook is filled with ideas, explanations, and instructions for games, sports, and activities any boy would love. From star-gazing, baseball, and camping to using Morse code, learning basic survival skills, and paddling a canoe, this handbook is invaluable for any boy! Step-by-step instructions are provided for all types of activities, including:• Pitching a tent • Building an ice-yacht• Shooting a bow and arrow• Fending off a hungry shark • Identifying constellations while on a camping trip• Learning sign language• Saving someone from drowning• And more! The Adventurous Boy’s Handbook offers countless hours of entertainment for boys interested in orienteering, cowboying, sailing, and many more fun outdoor activities.

No matter who you identify with—Democrat or Republican, Tea Party or Green Party, Independent or something else altogether— we the people should read: • The Constitution of the United States of America • The Bill of Rights and all of the Amendments• The Declaration of Independence• The Articles of ConfederationTake a moment or two to reflect on the words of our forefathers, as these are the documents literally created America. The Constitution set up a system of government that remains centuries later. The eloquent words of The Declaration of Independence are an enduring statement of human rights. Written and signed by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other great lights of our historical past, these documents define our freedoms and promise us our futures. And while they are often quoted, they are seldom actually read. Here is an opportunity to reach a new audience, with a fresh design and the same inspiring words. This collection will be a welcome addition to any American who believes in the dream.

Based in part on his own writings, this is the true story about one of America’s most beloved leaders. From president of the board of New York City Police Commissioners, secretary of the Navy, founder of the Rough Riders during the war with Cuba, his time as the governor of New York, to vice president and eventually, after the assignation of President McKinley, becoming the twenty-sixth president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt’s role in the shaping of the United States is still felt today. Illustrated with drawing and photos, discover the rich history of this great man’s life here.

Based in part on Davy Crockett’s own writings, this is the true story about one of America’s most iconic historical figures. From his days as a scout for Andrew Jackson during the war of 1812, his time as a Congressman for the state of Tennessee, and his eventual death at the Alamo, Davy Crockett led a life that was admired and idealized by people all across America, to this very day. Read about the monopolist and corporate misdeeds, environmental degradation, and foreign military adventures that he experienced during his amazing life. Illustrated with drawings and photos, discover the rich history—part myth and part fact—behind this great American man.

Taken from George Armstrong Custer's own writings, An Autobiography of General Custer is the “true story” of one of the most praised, most despised, but surely most remembered American military heroes. Indeed, few figures in our history were—in their own time, as well as in our own—so wildly cheered and so roundly hated.Custer’s narration takes us from just after the Civil War, when, having gained a reputation as a bold and inventive leader of the cavalry, Custer was given command of an expedition to help subjugate the Native Peoples of the Great Plains and to force them onto reservations. His story touches on his own court martial and subsequent reinstatement to command. It ends shortly before he embarks upon the campaign that would eventually lead to the Battle of the Little Bighorn and “Custer’s Last Stand.” As Custer was unable to write about his most famous battle, the Autobiography concludes with an 1880s newspaper account of an interview with Sitting Bull himself after his escape to Canada, in which the great Chief looks back on the battle and offers his own point of view.In the evenings, on post and during his various leaves, Custer would sit at the dining room table with his beloved wife, Libby, and together they would compose the various stories of his exploits that would eventually become the book My Life on the Plains, which was a bestseller in its time, and from which this autobiography is largely taken.

Jack London has been a best-selling author for more than one hundred years. In his short life (1876–1916) he wrote twenty-five novels and dozens of short stories, plays, and essays. Today he is recognized as a forerunner of such literary giants as Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and Jack Kerouac. Author of a number of well-known and well-loved stories in our literature (including White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and The Sea Wolf), London also worked as a day laborer, Alaskan gold rusher, and seaman. He was also an adventurer, journalist, celebrity, polemicist, and drunk.An Autobiography of Jack London is a revealing portrait of the man who was Jack London—in his own words—and is largely composed of excerpts from his memoirs: The Road, John Barleycorn, and The Cruise of the Snark. Rather than a mere biographical summary of a man’s life, An Autobiography of Jack Londonaims to give the reader real insight into the character and personality of this uniquely American literary icon. This book is illustrated throughout with more than forty drawings, facsimile pages from his works, and contemporary photographs, many taken by London himself.

From real, larger-than-life showmen like Buffalo Bill to silver-screen gunslingers like John Wayne, the cowboy has become an international symbol of honor, adventure, valor, daring, and courage. The era of the cowboy lasted from roughly just before the Civil War to the turn of the century, but it created some of the most enduring and popular names of all time: Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok, and Pat Garrett, just to name a few. And although the days of duels and showdowns are over, the wisdom and values of those times live on.The Little Red Book of Cowboy Wisdom offers the lessons learned and taught by the men of an earlier, simpler era. Chapters include:TenderfeetSix-Gun or High NoonAround the CampfireCowboy LoveOne-LinersAnd more!The cowboy is without a doubt one of the greatest characters in American history—the soul and backbone of a country. This book is filled with some of the greatest and most lively quotations, sayings, and anecdotes ever to come out of the American West.

Heart of Darkness author Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski in 1857) was a Polish writer who learned to read, write, and speak English after he was granted British nationality in 1886. Although his peers accepted him as a British gentleman, he never forgot where he came from. In fact, the history of his native land of Poland often inspired the short stories and novels he penned. Those details, along with the experience he'd had since moving to Great Britain, found their way into many of his published works.In An Autobiography of Joseph Conrad, editor Stephen Brennan has selected pieces from some of Conrad's better known nonfiction works—including The Mirror of the Sea (1906) and A Personal Record (1912)—to showcase some of the more exciting and trying times in the novelist's life. Readers will attend school with Conrad in Russian Poland, sail with him in Marseille, and meet family members who took part in his upbringing, such as Uncle Tadeusz.Portraits of Conrad throughout the years, in addition to photos of his town, home, and family, supplement the text and help readers envision the author and his surroundings during various stages in his life.Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, 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.

An adventurous boy is a force to be reckoned with. Whether for the hyper boy or the bold teenager, The Adventurous Boy’s Handbook is filled with ideas, explanations, and instructions for games, sports, and activities that range from quick tasks to day-long adventures. With beautiful full-color images and step-by-step instructions, this terrific book with keep you busy for hours, both indoors and out.There are many fun activities in this book, including:Pitching a tentLearning to fishMountain hikingAnd much more!The bond between a child and an adult is an important one—especially for men. And with The Adventurous Boy’s Handbook, you’ll have all these activities in one collection. So if you’re a father with his son, a grandfather with his grandson, or an older sibling with his kid brother, you’ll find that there is something that boys of all ages with enjoy in this book.

An adventurous girl is a force to be reckoned with. Whether for the wild girl or the bold teenager, The Adventurous Girl’s Handbook is filled with ideas, explanations, and instructions for games, sports, and activities that range from quick tasks to day-long adventures. With beautiful full-color images and step-by-step instructions, this terrific book with keep you busy for hours, both indoors and out.There are many fun activities in this book, including:Decorating with beadsDesigning your bedroomPicking and studying wild flowersAnd much more!The bond between a child and an adult is an important one—especially for women. And with The Adventurous Girl’s Handbook, you’ll have all these activities in one collection. So if you’re a mother with her daughter, a grandmother with her granddaughter, or an older sibling with her kid sister, you’ll find that there is something that females of all ages will enjoy in this book.

Crafts and Skills of the Mountain Man is a fascinating, practical guide to the skills that have made the mountain men famous worldwide as outdoorsmen and craftsmen. Readers can replicate outdoor living by trying a hand at making rafts and canoes, constructing tools, and living off the land.Learn key skills like:Building a strong fire.Learning to hunt and butcher your meals.Creating a safe and solid shelter.And much more!Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or a novice hiker, Crafts and Skills of the Mountain Man is your handbook to not only surviving outdoors, but flourishing. The style of the mountain man is unique and popular, especially among young people, historians, and those with a special interest in living off the land. The mountain man has been successful outdoors for ages, and now you can too with the skills, tips, and tricks included in this handy manual.Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”--Mark TwainIt’s telling that Mark Twain chose sailing as a metaphor for living life to the fullest. Throughout history, humankind has been going to sea in boats and ships—for the purposes of trade, exploration, transport, fishing, and pure enjoyment.The Little Red Book of Sailing Wisdom contains some of the most moving, perceptive, witty, and inspirational words ever spoken or written about the sea-faring life. Novelists, politicians, explorers, playwrights, poets, musicians, and celebrities weigh in on life upon the water, under sail. These are just some of the folks whose words appear in these pages:•Daniel Defoe•Ted Kennedy•Charles Dickens•Franklin Roosevelt•Herman Melville•Dennis Connor•Patrick O’Brian•Larry Ellison•Eugene O’Neill•Thor Heyerdahl•Jack London•Isak Dinesen•William F. Buckley•And dozens of others!Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Biographer Steven J. Holmes once wrote that John Muir was "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity." In his lifetime, the engineer, author, biologist, and activist worked alongside powerful men such as President Theodore Roosevelt, railroad executive E. H. Harriman, and conservationist Gifford Pinchot. Muir was responsible for the creation of the Sierra Club and he played an important role in preserving the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park.During his lifetime, Muir published six different volumes of nature and personal writing. After his death in 1914, four more volumes were discovered and released. In An Autobiography of John Muir, editor Stephen Brennan brings to light the many accomplishments of Muir's life through the naturalist's own nonfiction works, including The Story of My Boyhood and Youth and My First Summer in the Sierra.Through the essays featured in this book, readers will learn of Muir's childhood, which was split between Scotland and a farm in Wisconsin. They will travel the world with him, from the High Mountains to the Mono Trail, the Bloody Canyon, Yosemite, and everywhere in between.

Business Lessons from the Renaissance Master of Gaining and Maintaining PowerGenerally considered the father of modern political science—and political ethics in particular—Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was a Renaissance Italian writer, philosopher, humanist, historian, politician, and diplomat. After his career in politics had ended, Machiavelli wrote a short treatise that is often considered his masterpiece but was not published until five years after his death. The Prince contains adages regarding politics, in particular, providing advice for gaining and maintaining power. While Machiavelli was writing primarily about political power, his philosophies have been adopted by business leaders and titans of industry—presidents, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and innovators—ever since. Also including excerpts from The Art of War, Discourses on Livy, and Machiavelli’s other works, Machiavelli on Business explores such ideas as:Whether it’s better for a leader to be feared or lovedHow to best keep subordinates contentThe necessity of breaking promises at timesProjecting the right qualities and fostering appearancesTurning obstacles into opportunitiesTaking advantage of crisesAnd much more!

William Shakespeare is ubiquitous throughout the Western world as the master of the written word, and the above-quoted “Sonnet 18” is celebrated as one of the most exquisite love poems of all time. Love comes in all forms—friendly, familial, unrequited, and lustful—and impressively, the bard’s canon works with them all. His views on love—whether they be amorous and passionate or obsessive and unsettling—are provocative to the mind and imagination. The modern reader will recognize poignant turns of phrase; though still used today, they originated from Shakespeare—known for inventing much of the modern English vocabulary. Shakespeare on Love draws from the entire Shakespeare canon: love sonnets, plays, and songs. Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and countless others all have their place. In one complete volume, discover the lyrical, the funny, the lewd, and the idolatrous passages on love as composed by the most influential writer of the English language.Beloved excerpts featured in these pages include:Sonnet 43:All days are nights to see till I see thee,And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.As You Like It:Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?Hamlet:Doubt thou the stars are fire;Doubt that the sun doth move;Doubt truth to be a liar;But never doubt I love.

Become a pro at living and thriving off the land.Survival Skills of the Native Americans is a fascinating, practical guide to the techniques that have made the indigenous people of North America revered for their mastery of the wilderness. Readers can replicate outdoor living by trying a hand at making rafts and canoes, constructing tools, and living off the land.Learn key skills like:Building a strong campfireLearning to hunt and butcher your meatsCreating a safe and solid shelterAnd much more!Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or a novice hiker, Survival Skills of the Native Americans is your handbook to not simply surviving the outdoors, but flourishing. The know-how of the Native Americans is unique and popular, admired by young people, historians, and those with a special interest in living off the land. Native Americans have lived outdoors for ages, and now you can be successful, too, with the skills, tips, and tricks included in this handy manual.Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

For a comparatively small country, Ireland’s contributions to the world of literature have been enormous. From the older tradition, Irish writers have inherited a sense of wonder in the face of nature, a narrative style that tends toward the deliberately exaggerated or absurd, a keen sense of the power of satire. These themes carry through the entire canon of Irish literature, up until modern times. Stephen Brennan brings us this collection of classic stories, essays, and fairytales that inform the past and therefore, the present, of our most beloved fiction.This collection of thirty-six stories includes the influential works of Ireland’s most treasured authors, including:• Oscar Wilde• Jonathan Swift• James Joyce• W. B. Yeats• And so many more!In Irish Stories and Folklore, the reader can revisit old favorites like Oscar Wilde’s short story, “The Canterville Ghost” and discover lesser known treasures such as, “The Orangeman: Or the Honest Boy and the Thief” by Maria Edgeworth. The imaginative stories contained in this volume are sure to engage the mind and delight readers looking to enhance their knowledge of the rich history of Irish literature and folklore.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, 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.

The love affair between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett is one of the Victorian era’s most famous romances. It was one of passions, tragedy, illness, and ultimately, endurance.The beginning of their relationship was luckily documented and preserved via their letters, which have been archived at Wellesley College since 1930. While these exchanges are some of the most popular reads for Victorian literature enthusiasts, Robert had more to say about the abstract idea of love.He continued to express his thoughts and feelings on the subject of romance, marriage, familial love and respect, unrequited love, loving thyself, and even friendship. Robert Browning On Love conveniently collects these thoughts, which have been previously published in Browning’s poems, plays, and, of course, his letters to his beloved wife, Elizabeth.These include:“Best be yourself, imperial, plain, and true.”“Take away love and our earth is a tomb.”“I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever.”“Love, hope, fear, faith—these make humanity; these are its sign and note and character.”

Cowboy Skills is a fascinating, practical guide to the skills that have made the cowboy famous worldwide as both an outdoorsmen and rancher. Readers can replicate outdoor living by trying a hand at rounding up cattle, breaking horses to saddle, and living off the land.Learn key skills like:Handling a stampedeUsing the proper saddle and tackProper ways to use a lasso and lariatClassic songs and lingoAnd much more!Whether you’re an avid outdoorsman or a wannabe cowboy, Cowboy Skills is your handbook to not only surviving the Wild West, but flourishing. The style of the cowboy is both famous and infamous, and the skills are ones for the ages. The cowboy has been a successful outdoorsman for ages, and now you can too with the skills, tips, and tricks included in this handy manual.