There passes before us a drama of modern life and pleasure, of glorious youth and love, of tragedy and triumph, of human nature at its worst and best in the challenging personalities of Julian Verrers and the Masterful Monk. Originally published in 1929, The Masterful Monk by English author Owen Francis Dudley was the third of a series of six volumes dealing with problems of human happiness. The first book, Will Men be like Gods?, was an answer to the slanderers of Religion; the second, The Shadow on the Earth, to the slanderers of God. In The Masterful Monk, Dudley endeavours “to meet the modern attack upon Man and his moral nature launched by those who would degrade him to the level of an animal.”

Again, as in his tremendously popular earlier books, Owen Francis Dudley deals with the problems of human happiness. In this new novel his talent for storytelling seeks its expression in highly dramatic incidents which take place in a variety of settings and with a fresh cast of fascinating characters. The action moves across half a world, from England to the South Seas, and begins on a steamer bound for New Zealand, where Father Thornton becomes a confidant of Michael St. Helier. Introverted and unfriendly, this young man in an accident on shipboard behaves in a manner which is interpreted as cowardice. The Masterful Monk finds that extreme sensitivity and an unhappy home life have brought about a morbid revulsion from ugliness and violence and a refusal to accept pain or sacrifice. Recognizing the psychological problem involved, he takes young St. Helier in hand and becomes his friend and mentor. With unflagging interest the reader follows the steps by which, through many trials and adventures, Michael is brought face to face with his own problems and is able, in the end, to confront his future with courage. A tender love story is interwoven in this compelling novel.

FATHER ANSELM THORNTON, the Masterful Monk, reappears, to enter the lives of Captain Louis Vivien, of the French Intelligence Service, and Verna Wray, the girl of the tale. The theme is the growing revolt against God and the moral law which is now spreading openly or in subtle forms throughout the world. An unusual love story is interwoven, the setting of which lies mainly in England, with incidental work in Leningrad, Paris, Lourdes and Hollywood. The tale works up to a love-climax, and to a startling ending, consequent upon the detective work of Captain Louis Vivien and certain acts of the Masterful Monk. It will be noticed that the author has adopted a cinema technique—interspersing “interims” with “shots” superimposed in quick succession. The method is effective for showing the monster of revolt in the background, behind the happenings of the tale.

“An extraordinary novel . . . a triumph of insight and storytelling.” —Associated Press “A true masterpiece.” —Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.

A USA Today Bestseller! “Tender and healing... I’m prescribing a preorder to anyone who has ever felt lost. Stunning, kind, necessary.” —Sarah Gailey on book 1: A Psalm for the Wild-Built A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF. After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home. They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe. Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter? At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.