Jeffrey Kluger a crescut ?ntr-o familie al?turi de al?i trei fra?i b?ie?i. De asemenea, mai are doi fra?i vitregi gemeni, dintr-o a doua c?snicie a tat?lui s?u – o fat? ?i un b?iat.Plec?nd de la experien?a personal?, autorul exploreaz?, cu ?n?elegere ?i umor, lumea complex? a fra?ilor din mai multe puncte de vedere: ?tiin?ific, psihologic, sociologic ?i memorialistic. El este de p?rere c? nimeni nu ne afecteaz? la fel de profund ca fra?ii ?i surorile noastre – nici p?rin?ii, nici copiii, nici prietenii no?tri. Din momentul ?n care ne na?tem, fra?ii sunt colaboratorii no?tri ?i cei cu care conspir?m, modelele noastre ?i cei de la care avem cele mai multe lucruri de ?nv??at. Ei ne ?nva?? cum s? ne rezolv?m conflictele, cum s? ne facem prieteni ?i cum s? st?m departe de necazuri. Fra?ii no?tri sunt singurele persoane pe care le cunoa?tem care se calific? ?ntr-adev?r ca parteneri de via??.Printre subiectele pe care autorul le examineaz? ?n aceast? carte se num?r?: conflictele ?ntre fra?i ?i rezolvarea lor; ordinea na?terii ?i influen?a acesteia asupra evolu?iei ulterioare a fra?ilor; consecin?ele pe care faptul de a fi favoritul unuia dintre p?rin?i le are asupra celorlal?i fra?i; urm?rile pe care divor?ul p?rin?ilor le are asupra copiilor, care fie trebuie s? locuiasc? cu un singur p?rinte, fie sunt nevoi?i s? tr?iasc? ?n cadrul unei familii noi, l?rgite; conceptul de alloparenting (ajutorul dat de fra?ii mai mari la cre?terea fra?ilor mai mici); drogurile, consumul de alcool ?i sarcina la adolescen??; studiile care au ca subiect gemenii ?i copiii unici (d?nd ca exemplu politica na?ional? a copilului unic din China); codificarea genetic? a tr?s?turilor comportamentale; tulbur?rile emo?ionale ?i efectele lor asupra rela?iilor fraterne; evolu?ia ?n timp a leg?turilor fraterne ?i multe altele.

Biblioteca pentru toi copiii“ cuprinde cele mai preuite opere ale scriitorilor clasici ai literaturii romne i universale. Crile de neuitat ale copilriei sunt disponibile astzi si in format e-book.Am scris cri despre copii; m-am gndit la sufletul lor, care era doritor de o poveste duioas, cu animale. Fram, ursul polar e o poveste cam trist, dar e scris totui pentru copii; i e izvort dintr-un sentiment de mil pentru un pui de urs ntlnit la o menajerie.“ – Cezar Petrescu

Cella Serghi este Margaret Mitchell a noastr. Aceeai for epic, aceeai curgere a personajului, acelai tip de feminitate care lupt i trebuie s nving. Cine nu i amintete ultima pagin din Pe aripile vntului, ctor cititoare nu le-a slujit drept suport, drept lecie de via Un feminism cald care e mai mult un fel de solidaritate feminin...Naturaleea, spontaneitatea scriiturii, conturarea personajului principal, att de sincer i de cuceritor, capacitatea de-a face cititorul s viseze i, nu n ultim instan, succesul de public pentru o carte de dragoste, toate acestea nseamn c avem de a face cu o carte de referin.“ – Cleopatra Loriniu

Nu n latura caracterologic st ns meritul romanului lui Cezar Petrescu. n datele lor interne, personajele au ceva predictibil. Ascensiunile le sunt sincrone. Cderea unuia duce la prbuirea celorlali. i, de obicei, ntocmai ca n jocul de domino, toi au n preajm pe cte cineva. Momentele de singurtate sunt rare n Calea Victoriei. Admirabil, n schimb, e invenia epic, dei nu din ea, ci din lirismul difuz i s-a tras romancierului succesul. Fiecare capitol ncepe printr-un soi de avertisment metaforic, fr nicio legtur explicit cu coninutul ulterior. Unele dintre aceste puneri n tem (mai degrab dect n abis) au ntr-adevr structur de anecdote, dar att de generale, nct propriu-zis nu putem vorbi despre narativitate autentic. Cel mult, despre infuzie de stri de spirit. Procedeul ine de alegorie, i substratul vag moralizator se ghicete permanent ndrtul lui. nsi Calea Victoriei reprezint, au artat-o mai toi comentatorii, un alt nume pentru melanjul de opulen, viciu, civilitate, elegan, conspiraie i tragedie care freamt n marele ora. De altminteri, prea puine lucruri se petrec spaial pe fostul Pod al Mogooaiei.“ – Cosmin Ciotlo

De altminteri, ne asigur, mereu, autorul, tabloul societii imediat postbelice este moral fracturat att de cauze sociale multiple ct i de nelesuri foarte eterogene conferite evenimentelor de protagoniti. Or, n noua realitate fiecare se simte ndreptit s solicite ceva de la via, de la istorie, de la ceilali, i, nu chiar n ultimul rnd, de la soart. Peisajul tipologiilor umane nu este unul idilic i armonios, ci unul bazat pe dezacord, pe conflict i pe nenelegere. i stau cititorului, fa n fa, idealiti morali (Vasile Mogrea) care refuz orice compromis i orice umilin, dar i venic adaptaii la succes, dintre care erou paradigmatic este Alexandru Vardaru. El n-are deziluzii n via pentru c nu-i creeaz sperane dearte sau iluzii prosteti. Clar i rspicat, se autodefinete privindu-l cu mil, dezgust i dispre pe mutilatul nenelegtor Radu Coma: Eu m-am socotit ntotdeauna nedemn de aa-zise marile idealuri. Viaa mi s-a prut mai simpl... Omul nu se sacrific idealurilor vagi. Nu iubesc o lume imaginar; o iubesc pe cea real! Nu una viitoare; pe cea prezent!... tiu c nu putem face miracole, nici n viaa de toate zilele, nici n cea politic... Tot ce poi face e s corectezi puin i treptat realitatea. Chiar patriot, sunt fr imaginaie... Ideile generoase duc la dezordine, lirismul la catastrofe!...ntunecare este un titlu ce a ajuns s conin n sine mai multe sensuri, cel antropologic destinal fiind, desigur, cel mai profund. Dar acest neles va fi – pentru muli cititori – corelat mereu i cu semnificaii sociale i psihologice. De ce Pentru simplul motiv c baza social i cea psihologic din orice rzboi, rscoal sau revoluie aduc la suprafa multe fee ale ntunecrii. Acestea sunt stocate n memoria colectiv, iar unele au constituit obiect de analiz romanesc. Fiecare cititor apeleaz, vrnd-nevrnd, la aceste nelesuri ale ntunecrilor venite din cele dou mari surse: istoria i literatura. Oricum, ntunecare a lui Cezar Petrescu rmne un reper literar major, unul dttor de seam att pentru istoria literaturii romne, ct i pentru evoluia luminrilor i ntunecrilor colective, periodice, ale poporului nostru.“ – Vasile Morar

n anii 1870, Jacques Rebière i Thomas Midwinter, doi tineri ambiioi, descoper c au aceeai fascinaie de a nelege cum funcioneaz mintea omeneasc.Cercetrile lor n noul domeniu al psihiatriei i poart dintr-un ospiciu englezesc de la ar n cmpiile Africii, din slile de conferin ale Parisului n Alpii austrieci i n California. i nsoesc n aceast cltorie iniiatic Sonia, sora devotat a lui Thomas, i Katharina, o fost pacient, a crei sosire n sanatoriul lor de boli nervoase dezvluie pentru prima dat direciile diferite ale cercetrii lor. La trecerea ntr-un nou secol i n vreme ce Europa este divizat de Primul Rzboi Mondial, cei doi prienteni sunt constrni la o tragic introspecie a propriilor idealuri i credine.Impresionant i provocator n acelai timp, romanul lui Sebastian Faulks caut rspuns la ntrebarea ce fel de fiine suntem noi, oamenii, i dac nu cumva nebunia este preul pe care l pltim pentru a fi umani.Cel mai ambiios roman al lui Sebastian Faulks de pn acum… Dragoste, loialitate, curaj, compasiune, generozitate… acetia sunt polii n jurul crora graviteaz povetile sale.“ – The Independent

Adrian Punescu scrie proz cu degetele arse de miracolul poeziei, i de aici succesul tulburtor, care, n loc s mntuie, nspimnt, oblig i rtcete. Poet al fluenelor de liliac n grle de piatr rar, al brumelor de bronz, al cderii n rnile dorului i n hohote de chihlimbar, grav despicat de neiertare i de rzvrtire, Adrian Punescu intr n hotarele prozei prin vijelia reportajului. (...) Puin i pas dac lumea l aplaud sau l njur, el vrea s rstoarne i s cldeasc, i n-are timp s cpieze stnd ntr-un picior, viaa e scurt i, dac nu vrea s se ndrepte prin cntec (i nu vrea), trebuie rezidit din mers i nvat s cnte. Reportajul lui Punescu e, nainte de toate, unul de atitudine, adevrul sare din pagin ca miezul dintr-o ceap zdrobit cu pumnul (...), fulgerul, aparent liric i aparent hrnit de curcubeie, e un arc al ndoielii, un crlig veninos umblnd prin crpturile pmntului, strigtul doare, suspinul are ghimpi n cretet, gerul frige, apsarea nghea.Durabila for a reporterului Adrian Punescu vine de acolo c el n-are chef, n nici o pagin, s fie ru de but n apte linguri, ci numai fluviu azvrlindu-se n mare, cu toate aluviunile i rzboaiele sufletului.“

n ciuda stngciei i a manierelor uor necioplite, Douglas Petersen, de profesie biochimist, d dovad de un sim al umorului care o seduce pe frumoasa Connie, artist n devenire, i o convinge s se cstoreasc cu el. Acum, la trei decenii de la nceputul relaiei lor, Connie l anun pe Douglas c se gndete s divoreze. Totui, nu se simte n stare s anuleze cltoria n Europa planificat pentru a ncuraja nclinaiile artistice ale fiului lor de aptesprezece ani. Iar Douglas, n adncul fiinei lui, este convins c acest voiaj le va reaprinde dragostea i l va ajuta s-i refac relaia cu fiul su. De pe strzile Amsterdamului n faimoasele muzee ale Parisului, din cafenelele veneiene pe nsoritele plaje din Barcelona, odiseea lui Douglas Petersen nsufleete btrna Europ pe msur ce el experimenteaz propria trezire la via. Criz a vrstei a doua, criz a cuplului, criz a adolescenei: Noi nseamn voi... Nichols jongleaz cu tema iubirii pierdute i, poate, regsite, oferindu-ne un final cu totul neateptat... “ – New York Times Un roman grozav... Nicholls este un maestru al relaiilor nuanate. Este, de asemenea, expert n construirea unei poveti inteligente, aa cum a dovedit nc din bestsellerul O zi, romanul su anterior.“ – Entertainment Weekly

KING CHARLES THE SECOND was the son and successor of King Charles the First. These two are the only kings of the name of Charles that have appea-red, thus far, in the line of English sovereigns. Nor is it very probable that there will soon be another. The reigns of both these monarchs were stained and tarnished with many vices and crimes, and darkened by national disasters of every kind, and the name is thus connected with so many painful associations in the minds of men, that it seems to have been dropped, by common consent, in all branches of the royal family.??The reign of Charles the First, as will be seen by the history of his life in this series, was characterized by a long and obstinate contest between the king and the people, which brought on, at last, a civil war, in which the king was defeated and taken prisoner, and in the end beheaded on a block, before one of his own pala-ces. During the last stages of this terrible contest, and before Charles was himself taken prisoner, he was, as it were, a fugitive and an outlaw in his own dominions. His wife and family were scattered in various foreign lands, his cities and castles were in the hands of his enemies, and his oldest son, the prince Charles, was the object of special hostility. The prince incurred, therefore, a great many dangers, and suffered many heavy calamities in his early years. He lived to see these calamities pass away, and, after they were gone, he enjoyed, so far as his own personal safety and welfare were concerned, a tranquil and prosperous life. The storm, however, of trial and suffering which enveloped the evening of his father's days, darkened the morning of his own. ??The life of Charles the First was a river rising gently, from quiet springs, in a scene of verdure and sunshine, and flowing gradually into rugged and gloomy regions, where at last it falls into a terrific abyss, enveloped in darkness and storms. That of Charles the Second, on the other hand, rising in the wild and rugged mountains where the parent stream was engulfed, commences its course by leaping frightfully from precipice to precipice, with turbid and foaming waters, but emerges at last into a smooth and smiling land, and flows through it prosperously to the sea.

HANNIBAL was a Carthaginian general. He acquired his great distinction as a warrior by his desperate contests with the Romans. Rome and Carthage grew up together on opposite sides of the Mediterranean Sea. For about a hundred years they waged against each other most dreadful wars. There were three of these wars. Rome was successful in the end, and Carthage was entirely destroyed.?There was no real cause for any disagreement between these two nations. Their hostility to each other was mere rivalry and spontaneous hate. They spoke a different language; they had a different origin; and they lived on opposite sides of the same sea. So they hated and devoured each other.?Those who have read the history of Alexander the Great, in this series, will recollect the difficulty he experienced in besieging and subduing Tyre, a great maritime city, situated about two miles from the shore, on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Cart-hage was originally founded by a colony from this city of Tyre, and it soon became a great commercial and maritime power like its mother. The Carthaginians built ships, and with them explored all parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

THERE were three great European nations in ancient days, each of which furnished history with a hero: the Greeks, the Carthaginians, and the Romans.??Alexander was the hero of the Greeks. He was King of Macedon, a country lying north of Greece proper. He headed an army of his countrymen, and made an excursion for conquest and glory into Asia. He made himself master of all that quarter of the globe, and reigned over it in Babylon, till he brought himself to an early grave by the excesses into which his boundless prosperity allured him. His fame rests on his triumphant success in building up for himself so vast an empire, and the admiration which his career has always excited among mankind is heightened by the consideration of his youth, and of the noble and generous impulses which strongly marked his character.??The ROMAN hero was CAESAR. He was born just one hundred years before the Christian era. His renown does not depend, like that of Alexander, on foreign conquests, nor, like that of Hannibal, on the terrible energy of his aggressions upon foreign foes, but upon his protracted and dreadful contests with, and ultimate triumphs over, his rivals and competitors at home.

O radiografie hermeneutic? a unor c?r?i-eveniment ce au v?zut lumina tiparului ?n perioada postdecembrist?, accentul fiind pus pe autorii interzi?i sub dictatur?, precum ?i pe c?r?ile poe?ilor ce devin, f?r? voia lor, o rara avis ?n societatea de tranzi?ie. Cartea se adreseaz? elevilor, studen?ilor, precum ?i publicului larg de cititori.

ELIZABETH was about three years old at the death of her mother. She was a princess, but she was left in a very forlorn and desolate condition. She was not, however, entirely abandoned. Her claims to inherit the crown had been set aside, but then she was, as all admitted, the daughter of the king, and she must, of course, be the object of a certain degree of consideration and ceremony. It would be entirely inconsistent with the notions of royal dignity which then prevailed to have her treated like an ordinary child.??Next came Elizabeth, who was about fourteen years of age. She was the daughter of the king's second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn. She had been educated a Protestant. She was not pretty, but was a very lively and sprightly child, altogether different in her cast of character and in her manners from her sister Mary.??Then, lastly, there was Edward, the son of Jane Seymour, the third queen. He was about nine years of age at his father's death. He was boy of good character, mild and gentle in his position, fond of study and reflection, and a general favorite with all who knew him.

Prin u?ile l?sate vrai?teDe cei ce nu se mai ?ntorcPrin pere?ii pe care i?i zg?riar?ViseleD? buzna glasul mul?imiiCare se zbateDeja prins? ?ntre fireleIscusitei urzeli a paianjenilorPoliticiThrough the wide-open doorsBy those who never returnThrough the walls on which they’d scratchedTheir dreamsThe voice barges through from a crowdWhich is strugglingAlreadz trappedIn the skillfullz/woven webOf the spiders of politics

THE author of this work makes no pretense of originality in the telling of these stories of olden times. They have been gleaned from many sources, and are the common heritage of all who love to write them anew and hear them again. Only the words belong to the story teller; the story itself is as old as the race.??In the lapse of years and with the much telling of these stories there is no longer a line between fact and fiction. How much is true and how much is false does not matter; the story itself is the thing, and one need not worry whether it really happened or not. Much of it is palpable fiction, but much of it is true. Let us not be too critical of a story when it is a few hundred years old.??At any rate, the stories herein contained are a part of the great inheritance that the boys and girls of this day have received from the past, and to which they are entitled in all fullness and freedom. If the reading of them shall add anything to the enjoyment or to the information of those who are always young in heart because they always thrill at romance and adventure, the writer of these old time tales will be amply repaid.?LAWTON B. EVANS??1. JEROME AND THE LION?2. THE SAINT WHO STOOD ON A PILLAR?3. THE SCOURGE OF GOD?4. THE VANDAL HORDE?5. KING CLOVIS BECOMES A CHRISTIAN?6. A CAMEL DRIVER BECOMES A PROPHET?7. WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A KNIGHT?8. BERTHA WITH THE BIG FOOT?9. STORIES OF CHARLEMAGNE?10. CHARLEMAGNE AND THE MAGIC RING?11. CHARLEMAGNE AND THE ROBBER?12. ROLAND BECOMES A KNIGHT?13. THE DEATH OF ROLAND?14. HOW NORMANDY CAME BY ITS NAME?15. OLAF, THE BOY VIKING OF NORWAY?16. THE CID WINS HIS NAME?17. THE LAST DAYS OF THE CID?18. THE LORELEI?19. THE MOUSE TOWER?20. THE DEVIL'S LADDER?21. GERDA'S RIDE TO HER WEDDING?22. PETER THE HERMIT?23. THE WIVES OF WEINSBERG?24. THE MEETING OF KING RICHARD AND SALADIN?25. ADVENTURES OF RICHARD, THE LION HEART?26. THE PRINCE OF TRAVELERS?27. WILLIAM TELL, THE SWISS PATRIOT?28. EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE?29. BIG FERRE KEEPS THE FORT?30. THE LEGEND OF THE STRASSBURG CLOCK?31. THE BURGHERS OF GHENT REFUSE TO BE HANGED?32. THE SACRIFICE OF ARNOLD WINKELRIED?33. THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC?34. BAYARD, THE KNIGHT WITHOUT FEAR AND WITHOUT REPROACH?35. THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD?36. DMITRI, THE PRETENDER?37. THE MAN WITH THE IRON MASK?38. STORIES OF PETER THE GREAT?39. MAZEPPA, THE CHIEF OF THE COSSACKS?40. THE CRIME OF CHARLOTTE CORDAY

THE Spanish peninsula, separated from France on the north by the Pyrenees, and bounded on the three remaining sides by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, con-tains an area of 225,600 square miles, being a little larger than France. Nature has reared a very formidable barrier between Spain and France, for the Pyrenees, extending in a straight line 250 miles in length, from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, and often rising in peaks more than ten thou-sand feet in height, offer but three defiles which carriages can traverse, though there are more than a hundred passes which may be surmounted by pedestrians or the sure-footed mule. The soil is fertile; the climate genial and salubrious; and the face of the country, diversified with meadows and mountains, presents, in rare combination, the most attractive features both of loveliness and sublimity.?History does not inform us when and how this beautiful peninsula—called Hispania by the Romans—first became in-habited. Whether the earliest emigrants crossed the straits of Gibraltar from Africa, or came from Asia, coasting the shores of the Mediterranean, or descended from France through the defiles of the Pyrenees, can now never be known. The first glimpse we catch of Spain, through the haze of past ages, reveals to us the country inhabited by numerous barbaric tri-bes, fiercely hostile to each other, and constantly engaged in bloody wars. The mountain fastnesses were infested with robber bands, and rapine and violence everywhere reigned. The weapons grasped by these fierce warriors consisted of lances, clubs, and slings, with sabres and hatchets, of rude fashion but of keen edge. Their food was mainly nuts and ro-ots. Their clothing consisted of a single linen garment, girded around the waist; and a woollen tunic, surmounted by a cloth cap, descended to the feet. As in all barbarous nations, the hard work of life was performed by the women.??The names even of most of these tribes have long since perished; a few however have been transmitted to our day, such as the Celts, the Gallicians, the Lusitanians, and the Iberians. Several ages before the foundations of Rome or of Carthage were laid, it is said that the Phoenicians, exploring in their commercial tours the shores of the Mediterranean, established a mercantile colony at Cadiz. The colonists growing rich and strong, extended their dominions and founded the cities of Malaga and Cordova. About 800 years before Christ, a colony from Rhodes settled in the Spanish peninsula, and established the city of Rosas. Other expeditions, from various parts of Greece, also planted colonies and engaged in successful traffic with the Spanish natives.??Four hundred years before Christ, the Carthaginian republic was one of the leading powers, and Carthage was one of the most populous and influential cities on the globe. The Carthaginians crossed the narrow straits which separate Africa from Spain, landed in great strength upon the Spanish peninsula, and, after a short but severe conflict, subdued the foreign colonies there, brought the native Spaniards into subjection, and established their own supremacy over all the southern coast. Cadiz became the central point of Carthaginian power, from whence the invaders constantly extended their conquests. Though many of the interior tribes maintained for a time a sort of rude and ferocious independence, still Carthage gradually assumed dominion over the whole of Spain.??In the year 235 B.C., Hamilcar, the father of the illustrious Hannibal, compelled nearly all the tribes of Spain to ack-nowledge his sway. For eight years Hamilcar waged almost an incessant battle with the Spaniards. Still it was merely a military possession which he held of the country, and he erected Barcelona and several other fortresses, where his soldiers could bid defiance to assaults, and could overawe the surrounding inhabitants.

Sonetul contondentCelor doi / poe?i de mare soi...(Istrate ?i Murgeanu)Visam c? Marea-?i p?r?sea ghioculCu-al s?u tumult de valuri euxine?i, h?t-departe-n zonele alpine,Ca-n Cretaceu, ??i reg?sise locul...Priveam de-acuma fascinat la joculDe valuri ?n?esate de jivineDin vremuri disp?rute, care-n fine,??i ?ncercau, o dat?-n plus, norocul.Sim?eam o dulce binecuv?ntareC?-n groapa euxinic? ad?nc?O Mare Neagr? nu exist? ?nc?,Nici Casa Scriitorilor la mare;Nici doi poe?i cu barb?, bur?i ?i plete,S?-n?ire contondentele sonete.

SINCE the publication of my larger book, "The Horse Fair," many letters have been received from teachers and their scholars telling of the pleasure derived from the reading of it, and incidentally suggesting that much of its contents is directly in line with the courses of literary instruction pursued in our elementary schools. This suggestion has led me to col-lect certain of the stories into a smaller volume especially adapted for use as a school reading-book.? The eighteen stories in this volume have been chosen with a thought to their educative value as well as for the intrinsic charm of the original narratives, which in various forms have delighted many generations of readers. All have a literary interest connecting them with subjects with which every educated person is supposed to be familiar. In the first four, you will be introduced to the sun myths and season myths of the Greeks and of our Norse ancestors. Following these, the tale of song-inspiring Pegasus is presented in contrast with that of Griffen, the base imitation invented by the romancing poets of the Middle Ages. ? Then in "The Ship of the Plains," you may read of the mythical founding of Athens; and in the sketch that follows, you may enjoy a brief glimpse of Arabic imagery in the story of one of the most interesting episodes in the life of the prophet Mohammed. The story of the twin brethren will acquaint you with the thought of some of the old Latin writers, while the tale of Rakush will give you a taste of Persian literature as it is found in the great epic written by Firdusi. The romances of Charlemagne and his peers are represented by the story of Broiefort and his indomitable master; and the world-famous Don Quixote is introduced by his sorry but scarcely less famous steed, Rozinante.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in planning for that wonderful first voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. The thoughts and hopes of the best part of his life had been given to it. He had talked and argued with sailors and scholars and princes and kings, saying, "I know that, by sailing west across the great ocean, one may at last reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer, and few people had any faith in his projects.??At last, however, the king and queen of Spain gave him ships with which to make the trial voyage. He crossed the ocean and discovered strange lands, inhabited by a people unlike any that had been known before. He believed that these lands were a part of India.??When he returned home with the news of his discovery there was great rejoicing, and he was hailed as the hero who had given a new world to Spain. Crowds of people lined the streets through which he passed, and all were anxious to do him honor. The king and queen welcomed him to their palace and listened with pleasure to the story of his voyage. Never had so great respect been shown to any common man.??But there were some who were jealous of the discoverer, and as ready to find fault as others were to praise. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked, "and what has he done? Is he not a pauper pilot from Italy? And could not any other seaman sail across the ocean just as he has done?"??One day Columbus was at a dinner which a Spanish gentleman had given in his honor, and several of these persons were present. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable.?"You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they said. "But what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."??Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company, "Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"

Prin volumul Istorie ?i sacralitate, Const. Miu ne poart? prin lumea cuv?ntului spus ori scris, de la ?nceputuri ?i p?n? ?n prezent. Autorul, ?n acest volum, atrage aten?ia, al?turi de al?i autori dedica?i adev?rului, pe care domnia sa ?i citeaz?, c? lingvi?tii no?tri din motive de ne?n?eles au l?sat a se ?n?elege c? limba rom?n? ar fi una de ?mprumut. Nu putem ?ti ce anume i-a determinat pe ace?tia s? conchid? ?n privin?a unor cuvinte din dic?ionarul limbii rom?ne c? ar avea r?d?cini turcice, slave ori din limba latin?. Se pare c? au uitat c? aceast? limb? este vorbit? pe ?ntreg arealul ??rii, spre deosebire de limba italian?, ce are mai multe dialecte ?i idiomuri care difer? de la o provincie la alta.

Aceste povestiri au fost scrise ?n perioada 2010?2014 ?i publicate, ?n parte, ?n periodice. Le?am numit parabole, av?nd o anumit? inten?ionalitate, ?i am aplicat ?n realizarea lor aceea?i structur? (cvadripartit?) ?i acela?i registru can?titativ (aproximativ o mie de cuvinte).Pe cele din C?l?uzitorul de suflete (cea dint?i sec?iune) le consider europene, ac?iunea lor petrec?ndu?se ?n loca?ii diferite de pe b?tr?nul continent ?i majoritatea ideilor pe care se bazeaz? n?sc?ndu?se ?n timpul unor peregrin?ri (iubirile, c?r?ile, muzica ?i c?l?toriile sunt, dup? umila?mi p?rere, cele mai frumoase lucruri care ni se pot ?nt?mpla ?ntr?o via??). Cu excep?ia primei ?i a ultimei lucr?ri care schi?eaz? un posibil cadru, ordinea povestirilor este alfabetic?. De?i g?ndite ca fantastice, ele au ?i o dimensiune experien?ial?, ?n acela?i timp put?nd fi citite ?i ca poeme ?n proz?: ale ora??elor prin care am trecut, ale oamenilor pe care i?am cunos?cut ?i, desigur, ale sufletului meu, undeva, ?n str?fundurile mele consider?ndu?m?, ca mul?i semeni de?ai mei, oarecum poet… (Ladislau Daradici)