Stuart A. Vyse Libri

"In 1972, as I was starting graduate school, a friend died in a car accident. He was a troubled man, a Vietnam veteran who never quite settled into life after returning home from the war. Late at night while his wife Susan slept in their bed, his car crashed into a tree many miles away from where he should have been. In the weeks that followed, a group of us spent a lot of time with Susan. We took her out and taught her how to get drunk. We hugged her. We tried to make sure she was with other people as much as possible"--

Do you touch wood for luck, or avoid the number 13? Despite the dominance of science in today's world, superstitious beliefs - both traditional and new - remain surprisingly popular. From black cats to lucky pennies, Stuart Vyse explores the history of our deepest superstitions, and the psychological reasons behind why they persist today.

From 1837 to 1900 the tiny borough of Stonington, Connecticut was a major transportation hub on the route between New York and Boston. Steamboats leaving Manhattan followed Long Island Sound to Stonington Harbor where passengers boarded trains for the rest of the journey to Providence or Boston. Stonington's Steamboat Hotel, built in 1838 near the piers and railroad yard, was home to saloons, restaurants, a pool hall, a cigar shop, a tailor and a barber shop. Merchants, hotel keepers and saloon workers passed through the building, each with their own unique story. Many of them were immigrants or first-generation Americans, and they are a window onto a late 19th-century class of merchants and service workers. Join local author Stuart Vyse as he reveals a lively portrait of remarkable harmony in a small village that was far more diverse than it is today.

Featuring an iconic image from the world's largest trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, this officially licensed puzzle will thrill and challenge fans worldwide. This 1,000-piece puzzle features an iconic image of The Gatewatch engaged in a battle with the infamous elder dragon and fallen Planeswalker known as Nicol Bolas, from the mythical world of Magic: The Gathering. This seminal art offers a colorful and dynamic challenge for fans, commemorating thirty years of their favorite strategy-based card game. With a finished size of 20 x 27 inches, this intricately designed jigsaw puzzle promises hours of fun.