Bruce Mowday Livres

"Andrew Wyeth was one of the best known American artists in the world in the 20th century with his works, including the Helga series, being sought after by serious art collectors worldwide. His father N. C. and son Jamie are integral parts of the best known American family of artists. A gang of thieves decided to steal an original Wyeth painting for their 'retirement' and engaged a professional cat burglar (who was responsible for more than 1,500 crimes during his criminal career) to steal a Wyeth painting. The theft resulted in ... 15 paintings [being taken] from the Wyeth estate in picturesque Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The search for the paintings takes the investigators throughout the United States and involves dangerous thieves, gamblers, drug dealers, and murderers. In the process of tracking down the thieves and the paintings, hundreds of other crimes were solved"--

The narrative centers on the heartfelt friendship between Richie Ashburn, a cherished Philadelphia Phillies player, and a young fan he befriended during his career. After years of admiration, the fan initiated a campaign that garnered nearly 200,000 signatures to advocate for Ashburn's induction into the Hall of Fame. Ultimately, Ashburn was honored, and the fan, now a close friend, celebrated alongside him at Cooperstown. Their bond deepened through shared meals and discussions about baseball, highlighting themes of kindness and perseverance.

J. Howard Wert was a recent college graduate when the armies of the North and South converged near his family's homestead just three miles outside Gettysburg in the summer of 1863. A militia member and anti-slavery supporter, Wert acted as a guide for Union General George Meade, helping position federal troops in the fields and hills around town. Perhaps more importantly, he collected and labeled artifacts from the battle, including a still-hot Confederate shell that almost hit him near Little Round Top. After the war, Wert resumed gathering relics of the three-day battle, many given to him by veterans of both sides, including weapons, clothing, letters, furniture, and even items related to Lincoln's Address. Now this amazing private collection can be appreciated through more than 120 color pictures and informative text about both the items and Wert's life.