#FridayReads, March 15–“The Big Book of Daring Swashbucklers” edited by Lawrence Ellsworth

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#FridayReads, March 15–The Big Book of Daring Swashbucklers an anthology assembled by writer Lawrence Ellsworth. Delightedly making my way through this terrific manuscript which I’m going to soon be presenting to publishers. It’s a spirited anthology of historical and adventure fiction that features generous selections from the work of such writers as Rafael Sabatini (best known for Scaramouche), Anthony Hope (of Prisoner of Zenda renown, Johnston McCulley (creator of Zorro), Conan Doyle (he favored his adventure yarns more than Sherlock Holmes), Pierce Egan (known for Robin Hood), Alexandre Dumas (there’s so much more than the Three Musketeers), and Baroness Orczy (creator of the Scarlet Pimpernel)–in all a total of 20 writers from what could be fairly be called the golden age of adventure fiction.

Evidence of continuing interest in the genre? Tom Reiss’s recent book Black Count: Glory, Reovlution, Betrayal and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, on Alexandre Dumas’ father, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle annual award in biography. Here’s Reiss’s website, where you can learn more about his book. He read brilliantly at the NBCC awards a few weeks ago. His rediscovery of the elder Dumas affirmed for me my inclination toward this exciting new anthology. Delighted to be representing the supremely well-read Mr. Ellsworth.

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Excited with a New Assignment–Helping Protect the Freedom to Read/Part II

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As I reported on The Great Gray Bridge last month, I have a new consulting client, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), a non-profit organization that acts as the voice independent booksellers and the book community raise in opposition to censorship and book banning.

Today, the daily book biz outlet Shelf Awareness reported on the new arrangement, with the additional news of another hire for ABFFE–Kristen Gilligan Vlahos, who will be working as ABFFE’s auction manager–which I’m happy to link to here along with screenshots of the Shelf’s item.

The funds Kristen and I are helping ABFFE raise support the Foundation’s programs promoting free expression and freedom to read, like their signature initiative, Banned Books Week. ABFFE also advocates for bookstore customer privacy, which has become a flashpoint several times over the past couple decades. If you want to learn more about ABFFE and help support their initiatives, there’s more background at this blog post of mine, and at ABFFE’s own website. You can also ‘like’ their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter, @freadom, an apt handle.
Shelf ABFFE itemShelf masthead

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