CONTENTSThe King of Sweden's Visit to St. PetersburgCatherine II.Of the FavouritesAccession of PaulHas Paul Reason to Fear the Fate of Peter III.?Revolutions May Be ExpectedNational CharacterReligionOn Female GovernmentEducationSupplementAppendix
"The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena", sometime referred to as "The Dialogue of Divine Providence", is a series of spiritual treatises by 14th century mystic and political activist Saint Catherine de Siena. Born in 1347 in the city of Siena in Tuscany, Italy, Catherine was well-known for her mystical visions and developed a close and influential relationship with Pope Gregory XI, an unusual accomplishment for a woman of her time. Her most lasting legacies are her "Dialogue" and her surviving letters, which are considered some of the most important works of early Tuscan and Italian literature. It is widely believed the treatises that compose the "Dialogue" were dictated by Catherine while she was experiencing ecstatic mystical visions and contain the wisdom and revelations given to her by God. Catherine instructs the faithful in how to have a more personal and rewarding relationship to God, how to give oneself fully over to prayer and devotion, and how difficulties and suffering in life can be transformed into something positive and beautiful through faith and God's love. Saint Catherine of Siena's insights remain pertinent and instructive centuries after they were first published and endure as a timeless classic of Christian spiritual literature. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.
"Hollywood is glitter and gutter. Some make it to the top and stay there, basking in the splendor of it, while others hit bottom and are engulfed by the ugliness of it." Catherine Winter, Private Investigator The stalking of two young professional print models leads private investigator Catherine Winter into the dark and dirty shadows of Hollywood=s entertainment elite. Portraits of these people become distorted and out of focus as murder, pornography, illicit drugs, and blackmail, color the view while Catherine searches for truth and justice. In her long career as a Southern California private investigator, Catherine has seen it all and does not flinch when up against the criminal world. She is determined, open-minded, and relies on her intuition in investigative work. "Linda Pendleton's first private-eye novel is a brilliant debut." Richard S. Prather, Author of the Shell Scott Mystery Series"What makes the book so pleasurable to read outside of the brisk pace is that nothing comes easy for Winter. She has to "earn" it in the same way that Linda has earned her right to sit at the top with today's other crime writers. The inside look at Hollywood and surrounding areas rings with authenticity." Jon Guenther, Author.
Back in print after more than twenty years and for the first time in eBook, Madame Serpent, the first novel in Jean Plaidy's classic Catherine de Medici trilogy, introduces readers to the young de Medici princess. Fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici arrives in Marseilles to marry Henry, Duke of Orleans, second son of the King of France. The brokenhearted Catherine has left her true love in Italy, forced into trading her future happiness for marriage into the French royal family. Amid the glittering f tes and banquets of the most immoral court in sixteenth-century Europe, the reluctant bride becomes a passionate but unwanted wife. Humiliated and unloved, Catherine spies on Henry and his lover, the infamous Diane de Poitiers. Tortured by what she sees, Catherine becomes consumed by a ruthless ambition destined to make her the most despised woman in France: the dream that one day the French crown will be worn by a Medici heir. . . .
Back in print after twenty years, the final novel in the classic Catherine de' Medici trilogy (that includes Madame Serpent and The Italian Woman) from the bestselling grande dame of historical fiction. The final novel in the classic Catherine de' Medici trilogy from Jean Plaidy, the grande dame of historical fiction. The aging Catherine de' Medici and her sickly son King Charles are hoping to end the violence between the feuding Catholics and Huguenots. When Catherine arranges the marriage of her beautiful Catholic daughter Margot to Huguenot king Henry of Navarre, France's subjects hope there will finally be peace. But shortly after the wedding, when many of the most prominent Huguenots are still celebrating in Paris, King Charles gives an order that could only have come from his mother: rid France of its "pestilential Huguenots forever." In this bloody conclusion to the Catherine de' Medici trilogy, Jean Plaidy shows the demise of kings and skillfully exposes Catherine's lifetime of depraved scheming.
"Whenever I am confronted with death, I cannot help but be aware how fragile life is and how vulnerable we are. Everything can change in a split second." Catherine Winter, Private InvestigatorBook Two of the Catherine Winter Series.On an early spring morning in Los Angeles, the badly beaten body of USC professor of astronomy, Frederick Holloway is found outside Griffith Park Observatory. In their hunt for his killer, Homicide Commander John Anderson and his detectives must determine if the professor is the victim of a hate crime, a random attack, or a premeditated killing. Found in Holloway's wallet is a business card belonging to Catherine Winter, Private Investigator. Catherine does not know why this stranger has her business card. The mystery surrounding his death begins to unravel as his significant-other, bestselling author Andrew Bartain hires Catherine Winter to locate Frederick Holloway's son, and to find his killer. In the search for truth and justice, the images of the victim and persons of interest become fractured and must be meticulously and precisely put together into a solid pattern to find his killer."Linda Pendleton's first private-eye novel is a brilliant debut. Shattered Lens is good enough I hope it becomes a series." Richard S. Prather, Author of the Shell Scott Mystery Series"I am becoming hooked on Catherine Winter. I found I didn't want to put Fractured Image down since I wanted to know the ending of all the intrigue. I hope Linda Pendleton will continue with this series." E. Cook
