Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth

In The Hidden Hand, Daniel Pipes provides the first full-length study of conspiracy theories in the Middle East, revealing the power of such theories in determining the political life of the region. Placing conspiracy theories in their historical context, Pipes shows how they have come to suffuse life in the Middle East - from the most private family conversations to the highest and most public levels of politics. He then proceeds to examine conspiracism as a partial explanation for much of the region's problems, including its record of political extremism, violence, and lack of modernization. Concluding with speculations about the future of conspiracism, Pipes makes a very strong case that conspiracy theories are key to understanding the often complicated political culture of the Middle East. The Hidden Hand: Middle East Fears of Conspiracy is a book that anyone interested in the Middle East will want to read.

This is the sequel to The Changed Brides by Mrs. Southworth. In this book, questions are answered that had left one hanging in the first book. The book is about the Lyon family of Washington, DC and is set in the mid 1880's (the time the book was written, so it's comtemporary to its time). The plot has many twists and turns, so thankfully the principle charaters are the mainstay of the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys such classics as are written by Jane Austen.

The Changed Brides is a wonderful period piece set in the 1850's (a contemporary novel when it was written in that period). Alex Lyon, a wealthy landowner in Virginia, is in love with his ward, who is only 16 years old. The book has deceit, passion (controlled of course because of the time the book was written), unrequited love and some heart-thumping moments. A great book!

Southworth continues the story of Ishmael Worth in Self-Raised. From the sultry heat of Cuba to the gloomy crags of Northern Scotland, Ishmael stands resolute in his commitment to those he loves. Whether he is wrestling with the icy hand of death or carefully mending broken hearts, Ishmael is ever thinking of the welfare of those around him. You can always count on Ishmael to be the rock that others need to help them through the most difficult trials. When you finally close the book, you will be disappointed that there are no more pages to read on the life of this beloved young man.