Anna of Saxony: The Scarlet Lady of Orange
by Ingrun Mann
978-0-996365-72-7 Paperback $24.99 500pp
In the early 1570s, a scandal worthy of the court of Henry VIII set Europe’s noble courts ablaze with one of century’s most shocking marital debacles. Anna of Saxony (1544-1577), wife of the Dutch prince and rebel leader William of Orange, had embarked on a torrid love affair with the father of one of the age’s greatest painters and was pregnant with her lover’s child. The princess’ pregnancy and subsequent descent into madness signaled the end of a troubled royal marriage that had begun full of promise and with one of the most spectacular wedding celebrations of the age.
Since her early youth at the glittering court of Dresden, Anna had been known as a difficult child and troublemaker. Servants complained about her violent outbursts, while courtiers bemoaned her general disregard for aristocratic female etiquette. Upon reaching her teenage years, the princess’ guardians decided that Saxony’s enfant terrible should leave home as quickly as possible by marrying a foreign suitor in a preferably far-away land. Enter William of Orange: handsome, charming, and heir to one of the Netherlands’ largest estates. The fact that he was also a profligate partier and lover of women was conveniently overlooked. Anna immediately fell for the Dutch bon vivant despite warnings from a few well-meaning relatives. For one, William was a Catholic, while Anna adhered to the Protestant teachings of Martin Luther, critical voices cautioned, correctly predicting future trouble for the princess in the Catholic Netherlands. Furthermore, the prince’s liege lord, the fanatical Philip II of Spain, very much disapproved of a match between his premier vassal and a “Lutheran heretic.” There was also the issue of plain Anna’s growing obsession with the roguish William; an obsession that was not reciprocated. In the end, the impetuous princess threw caution to the wind. No other than William would do for a husband, she insisted, while publicly announcing that “every vein in my body heartily loves him.”
Where Do You Come From Superman?
by Jacek Perzynski
978-1-945430-57-2 Paperback $15.00 144pp
This is the story of a man who was the prototype of Superman presented quite strongly against the background of the history of the Jewish nation, because it is also a very important element of the iconic pop icon of Superman culture today. It tells the story of Zishe Breitbart who in many respects could have served as a role model for Superman. He was born in Tsarist Russian (Poland) in the 1880’s and died in Poland in the 1920’s but in between he developed the reputation as “the Strongest Man in the World.” He was also one of the first entertainers to exploit the fitness market. A true story of an exceptions individual.
It is translated from Polish, the author had the cooperation of the Breitbart family and includes many photos
Josef Pilsudski: Hero of Poland
By Antoni Lenkiewicz
978-1-945430-84-8 Paperback $18.00 / 978-1-945430-90-9 Hardcover $25.00 325pp
Józef Pilsudski (1868-1935) is the heroic and controversial leader of the reconstituted Poland that emerged out of World War I. Although he never held an elected office he placed his personal stamp on the development of the Pre-War Polish Republic. In some ways he was a visionary for the era (A Federation of Eastern States, free education, woman’s suffrage) he also was responsible for a dominant military presence and a coup against the elected government.
Professor Lenkiewicz examines the legacy of “The Marshal” in Polish and world history. This is a translation from Polish based on his research collected over many years. Józef Pilsudski (1868-1935) is the heroic and controversial leader of the reconstituted Poland that emerged out of World War I. Although he never held an elected office he placed his personal stamp on the development of the Pre-War Polish Republic. In some ways he was a visionary for the era (A Federation of Eastern States, free education, woman’s suffrage) he also was responsible for a dominant military presence and a coup against the elected government.