Catherine Reef

"A biography for teens on Queen Victoria (1819-1901). Her long reign was filled with drama, death, intrigue, and passion, and took place during a time of great transformation, an era that bears the imprint of her personality and values as well as that of her name--the Victorian period."--Provided by publisher.

"Noah Webster may be best remembered the enormous and ambitious task of writing his famous dictionary, but for him, this accomplishment was a means to an end. His true goal was to streamline the language spoken in our newly formed country so that it could be used as a force to bring people together and be a source of national pride. Though people laughed at his ideas, Webster never doubted himself. In the end, his so-called foolish notions achieved...

"An excellent 'starter biography,' clearly written, peppered with period images, movie stills and great tidbits of historical facts . . . engaging."—Austenprose Jane Austen's popularity never seems to fade. She has hordes of devoted fans, and there have been numerous adaptations of her life and work. But who was Jane Austen? The writer herself has long remained a mystery. And despite the resonance her work continues to have for teens, there has...

A tantalizing biography for teens on Sarah Bernhardt, the first international celebrity and one of the greatest actors of all time, who lived a highly unconventional, utterly fascinating life. Illustrated with more than sixty-five photos of Bernhardt on stage, in film, and in real life.
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage actor who became a global superstar in the late nineteenth century—the Lady Gaga of her day—and...

"I know why the caged bird sings," wrote Paul Laurence Dunbar in "Sympathy," one of his best-loved poems. Author Catherine Reef paints a rich and memorable portrait of the first African American to earn his living as a writer. Born in 1872 to former slaves, Dunbar touched the nation with poetry that portrayed the sorrows and the joys of African-American life. Dunbar's work spoke directly to the hearts of his readers, and his legacy inspired the generation...

"A look into the life and poetry of E.E. Cummings."--From source other than the Library of Congress

Victoria woke one morning at the age of eighteen to discover that her uncle had died and that she was now queen. She went on to rule for sixty-three years, with an influence so far-reaching that the decades of her reign now bear her name-the Victorian period. Victoria is filled with the exciting comings and goings of royal life: intrigue and innuendo, scheming advisors, and assassination attempts-not to mention plenty of passion and discord.