FOREIGN RELATIONS · HISTORY
Robert A. Divine
Also known as: et al Robert A. Divine, Robert a Divine
Leo Robert Collier (b. April 19, 1885, in St. Louis, Missouri; d. 1950) was an American author of self-help and New Thought metaphysical books in the 20th century. He was the nephew of Peter Fenelon Collier, founder of Collier's Weekly, and cousin of Robert J. Collier, its editor.
"Thirty minutes and counting," the loudspeaker blared.
— from America, 1974
Most acclaimed
The American story
Established by the Dungannon Foundation in 1986 to honor living American writers who have made a significant contribution to the short story form, the annual Rea Award for the Short Story has become one of America's most prestigious literary prizes. Each year writers and editors, chosen as jurors by Michael Rea, nominate writers of short fiction to be honored by the award. In The American Story, Rea has turned again to acclaimed jurors such as Joy Williams and Stanley Elkin and asked them to select the best stories by the illustrious winners - Cynthia Ozick, Robert Coover, Donald Barthelme, Tobias Wolff, Joyce Carol Oates, Paul Bowles, Eudora Welty and Grace Paley - along with the best stories by prominent writers who have been nominated for the award - including Ann Beattie, Harold Brodkey, Raymond Carver, Andre Dubus, Richard Ford, James Salter, and John Updike. All told, this collection brings together the finest work by twenty-one of our foremost practitioners of contemporary short fiction.
America
1974
Winning is great, but being accepted is greater. ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is a feel-good story about acceptance. One of the many perks of winning the national ‘America’s Family’ Sweepstakes is the chance to meet and to make appearances with the President on his reelection campaign. Unbeknownst to the public, the President and his shady campaign manager are profiting off of these appearances, which are beginning to make the headlines as campaign contribution corruption. When an eclectic African-American family becomes the unexpected winner of the prestigious ‘America’s Family’ contest, the President and his shiesty reelection campaign manager tries to get the family disqualified, thinking that this particular family isn’t ‘American-looking’ enough, and to appear with them on the campaign trail will hurt the President’s chance of getting reelected. Oblivious to a shrewd reporter being on their tail, the President and his cocky campaign manager tries to spin their dirty politics through their unsuspecting press secretary. Without being preachy, ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ gives a lighthearted glimpse into American politics while simultaneously showing a realistic snapshot of life in contemporary America today. Unable to get the Lantern family disqualified as ‘America’s Family’, reluctantly the President meets the family on his reelection campaign trail and, ironically, America begins to fall in love with young Ronnie, who narrates and provides us with his unique autistic insights of his colorful family, while the President’s approval rating dwindles as America begins to see his true colors. Just like any other family in America, the Lanterns have autism, transgender issues, and even a grandmother who’ve come up with her own interesting alternative to plant-base burgers. Ultimately, the Lanterns become more popular than the President, creating a huge problem and causes a gigantic PR headache for his reelection staff. ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is an entertaining political satire that looks at race relations in America, and it shows the sometimes-ugly side of America while, at the same time, reflect the goodness in certain people that highlights America’s beauty as well. The Lantern family won the national sweepstakes fair and square, and they only want to be treated as such. If you or your family ever felt left out, pushed out or shut out then Randolph Randy Camp’s ‘America: No Purchase Necessary’ is a story for you.
America, past and present
America Past and Present integrates the social and political dimensions of American history into a rich chronological narrative, providing students with a full picture of the scope and complexity of the American past. Writing in a lively narrative style that tells the story of all Americans -- elite and ordinary, women and men, rich and poor, white majority and minorities -- the authors bring history to life for students taking the AP United States History course. The resulting story clearly emphasizes the role of human choice and action in the drama of national development, striking the appropriate balance between presenting factual information and offering critical analysis. - Back cover.