UVa-Wise faculty authors to sign copies of their latest works Dec. 7

Three members of the faculty at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise will sign copies of their latest books from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7 during a special holiday event at the UVa-Wise Campus Bookstore located in the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center.

Participating will be Brian S. Wills, Kenneth Asbury Professor of History; Mark W. Clark, associate professor of history; and George Michael, assistant professor of administration of justice. Wendy Lewkowicz, who serves as the sponsor for the UVa-Wise cheerleaders and Cavalettes dance team, will also be on hand to sign copies of her new fiction book.

The four books that will be featured include:

“Gone with the Glory: The Civil War in Cinema” by Brian S. Wills

In his just-released book, historian Brian Wills takes readers on a journey through the portrayal of the war in film, exploring what Hollywood got right and wrong, how the films influenced each other, and, ultimately, how the movies reflect America's changing understandings of the conflict and of the nation. From “Birth of a Nation” to “Cold Mountain” hundreds of directors, actors, and screenwriters have used the Civil War to create compelling cinema. However, each generation of moviemakers has resolved the tug of war between entertainment value and historical accuracy differently.

“Beyond Catastrophe: German Intellectuals and Cultural Renewal After World  War II, 1945-1955” by Mark Clark

“Beyond Catastrophe” examines the post-World War II leadership efforts of four major German intellectuals: Karl Jaspers, Thomas Mann, Friedrich Meinecke, and Bertolt Brecht. Historian Mark Clark focuses on the symbolic, practical, and theoretical contributions of these men to post-war cultural reconstruction, and pays special attention to their key works of the period.

“The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right In the Violent World of Radical Extremists” by George Michael.

In this provocative study, George Michael reveals how the precept “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” plays out in the unexpected bonding between militant Islam and the extreme right in America and Europe. The first book to focus on the growing linkage between these two movements, “The Enemy of My Enemy” analyzes the histories and ideologies guiding these disparate groups, clarifies the nature of their mutual appeal, and shows how the Internet and globalization have made increased interaction possible. Michael notes that one particularly dominant thread running throughout both camps is a fervent anti-Semitism, accompanied by strong pro-Palestinian views, anger over Israel's influence on American policymakers, and opposition to the Iraq War and the U.S. presence in the Middle East. Michael also speculates on how the so-called War on Terror might unfold if this unexpected and alarming convergence grows stronger.

“The Girl Who Almost Had It All” by Wendy Lewkowicz

In this fictional work, Wendy Lewkowicz weaves the story of Gabriella , a girl who thinks she has it all, until everything in her life unravels in one unforgettable day. After that life-altering day, Gabriella spirals out of control. She is kicked out of school; she disengages from family; and she contemplates whether she wants to live. When all seems irrevocably lost, Gabriella finds hope from an unlikely source­her great-aunt Maria who lives near an Indian reservation. Gabriella learns what it is like to step into another person’s shoes, and she realizes that there are others who struggle with the same fears that she does.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.

Posted December 4, 2006