In the early 1600’s, with Dutch power and prestige on the rise, the Dutch form the world’s first publicly-traded corporation whose purpose is to break Portugal’s trade monopoly in the Far East. Led by the mysterious and ruthless Gentlemen Seventeen, the Company has its own armies, its own ships and has the power to wage war, annex territory and make laws. In the New World life is better than fair for Mary - until grim misfortune finds her. A freakish wave during a monstrous storm off the coast of Florida sweeps her overboard and she is lost. Mary’s plucky, protégé Elizabeth - headstrong, full of Spanish fire and raw ambition, but also very young - assumes command. With prospects dwindling in the West Indies following Mary’s death, Elizabeth pledges Mary’s ships and men to the Company and agrees to sail to the Spice Islands in the East Indies for nutmeg, mace, cloves and pepper - cargo more valuable than gold. When Elizabeth exceeds her authority and ventures to Portuguese-held Macau, she is introduced to a powerful Chinese merchant named Féng Wú - and to the plentiful opium served liberally at the House of a Thousand Pleasures. When Elizabeth is later betrayed a ship is lost and the crew is slaughtered. As Elizabeth falters Mary, having survived her misfortunes, returns. When Mary learns that the Company has seized her ships and men because of Elizabeth’s foolishness, she must agree to sail into war alongside the Dutch to free them. Once she fulfills her obligations to the Company, Mary will sail on to Macau where she will introduce herself to the men who murdered her crew... “… [P]aced like an adventure movie, filled with sea battles, colorful bit players, and double crosses … a rousing, sprawling yarn about two indefatigable pirate women.” - Kirkus Reviews

It is 1793. John Pearce and his Pelicans are going home - to gain their freedom and put the treacherous Captain Ralph Barclay in the dock. Emily Barclay discovers Pearce has papers that would ruin her husband’s career and her future security. And then comes that dread thing: a fire aboard a wooden ship of war! Cast adrift, Pearce and his Pelicans find help from an unlikely source. Finally, back on British soil, they hope they have reached the end of their troubles, but with the documents missing, the real concerns have only just begun. Emily Barclay holds the key, but where do her loyalties lie?

Larry Diamond, a lifelong scholar of democracy, examines the history of its struggles and its future. The defence of democracy has relied for decades on U.S. global leadership, including its alliances with advanced democracies in Europe and Asia. But, he warns, if America does not reclaim its traditional place as the keystone of democracy, today's global authoritarian trend will accelerate. But there is hope - Diamond offers concrete, deeply informed suggestions for policymakers and citizens alike to turn the tide and usher a new age of democratic renewal.

This collection of autobiographical essays tells of Dr. Bard's childhood in Eastern Siberia, with a detour to Moscow and the Crimea. He moved to Shanghai in the mid-30s and spent his last school years there before moving to the University of Hong Kong to study medicine. His newly-acquired medical skills were invaluable in his years as a POW.

"Lochinvar" by S. R. Crockett. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.