John Dryden published Absalom and Achitophel: A Poem in 1681. It is an elaborate historical allegory using the political situation faced by King David (2 Samuel 14-18) to mirror that faced by Charles II. Each monarch had a son whom a high-ranking minister attempted to use against him. James Scott, first Duke of Monmouth, Charles II's illegitimate son, was detected planning a rebellion late in 1681, supposedly instigated by the Earl of Shaftesbury, who was tried for high treason, and it is believed that Dryden wrote the poem in an effort to sway the jury in his trial. The fates of both Absalom (Monmouth) and Achitophel (Shaftesbury) are left unspecified at the end of the poem (Monmouth did rebel in 1685, after his father's death, and was executed, and Shaftesbury was acquitted), but we are left to surmise that their fates would resemble those of their Biblical counterparts: Absalom was killed against David's instructions and Achitophel hanged himself. The poem can be enjoyed without any special knowledge of either the Bible or seventeenth-century English history, but it is useful to understand why Monmouth (AKA Absalom) was such a useful tool to use against his father: Charles had many illegitimate offspring, but his wife was barren, so at his death the crown would pass (did pass) to his brother, James, who was Catholic, but Monmouth was Protestant as well as well-beloved by both the king and the people. England had good reason to dread a return of officially enforced Catholicism. The narrator's urbane attitude toward David's amatory adventures in the opening of the poem and his burlesque of the supposed Jebusitical plot (the "Popish Plot" of 1678) establish clearly his Tory bias in favor of the Establishment and his disdain of the panic caused by fear of Catholicism (Dryden himself converted to the Catholic faith at some time before 1685).

In a memoir marked by joy, love, and an unbending sense of adventure, Cornelia Stratton Parker reveals the heart of a unique man and their life together. As a member of California's turn-of-the-20th-century Immigration and Housing Commission, Carlton H. Parker came to understand the problems surrounding migrant camps and the labor movement in general. In this volume she recounts his undertakings in that regard and their family life. - Summary by Mary Schneider

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

"Life of St Teresa" by Frances Alice Forbes delves into the profound spiritual journey of Teresa of Ávila, a pivotal figure in Christian mysticism and the reformer of the Carmelite Order. Her life story, marked by her dedication to contemplative prayer and her influential writings, offers timeless insights into the nature of faith and the pursuit of inner peace. As a saint and Doctor of the Church, Teresa's teachings on mental prayer and the stages of spiritual development continue to resonate with seekers of spiritual depth today. Her works, including her autobiography and "The Interior Castle," not only enrich Spanish Renaissance literature but also serve as essential guides for those navigating their own spiritual paths. Forbes captures the essence of Teresa's legacy, reminding us of the enduring relevance of her insights into the complexities of the human soul and the transformative power of divine love.

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)

Dive into the captivating life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Old Castile, Spain, and died in 1582 in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain, she was a key figure in the Counter Reformation. As a Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer, she initiated a reform of the Carmelite Order and is recognized as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites, along with John of the Cross. Her contributions were so significant that Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Come along as we delve deeper into her remarkable story and lasting legacy. (Summary adapted from wikipedia.org)