Indian-born booker prize winner and author Salman Rushdie was stabbed in the neck at an event in New York. He was rushed to the local hospital and the attacker is in police custody.

Salman Rushdie Attack: 'News is not good', police detain 24-year-old suspect

Life imitates art but sometimes in a way that makes us say 'Nope!' and run away. Artistic freedom may afford space for an author for his/her musings but if it becomes a blue-print for a real-world crime, it's time to nab the criminal. An author in US who wrote 'How to murder your husband' and actually killed her real-life husband has been served poetic justice of sorts and has been sentenced to life in jail.

Nancy Crampton Brophy (71), the convict, will not even be eligible for first 25 years of her prison sentence. A judge in USA's northwestern state of Oregon handed the sentence to the author.

The trial went on for a month. It was heard during the trial how the author used a gun (bought on eBay) to kill her husband Daniel Brophy in order to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in life insurance.

The weapon was bought by Nancy Crampton Brophy as research for her new novel. The gun has not been found.

Chef Daniel Brophy, her husband, &nbsp;was found on the floor of a classroom in a now-defunct culinary institute where he worked, in June 2018. He had been shot twice. His wife was seen driving in the area in a CCTV footage at the time of the murder.

The author has written a series of novels titled &nbsp;"Wrong Never Felt So Right". Some of the novels in this series include "The Wrong Husband" and "The Wrong Lover".

Nancy Crampton Brophy claimed that she had no memory of being present at the crime seen. About CCTV footage, she said tha she would have been in the neighborhood trying to get inspiration for a new work of fiction.

Crampton Brophy, whose lawyers said last month they would appeal the verdict, denied the murder, insisting that years of financial struggle were behind the couple and that she had no reason to kill her husband.

"Where is the motivation? I would ask you," Crampton Brophy said as she sparred with the prosecutor during her trial.

"An editor would laugh and say, 'I think you need to work harder on this story, you have a big hole in it.'"

Her blog post "How to kill your husband," which is still readily available online, discusses methods and motivations for dispatching an unwanted spouse.

These include financial gain and the use of a firearm, although it notes guns are "loud, messy, require some skill."

"But the thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough," the essay says.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Life imitates art but sometimes in a way that makes us say 'Nope!' and run away. Artistic freedom may afford space for an author for his/her musings but if it becomes a blue-print for a real-world crime, it's time to nab the criminal.

Life imitates art but sometimes in a way that makes us say 'Nope!' and run away. Artistic freedom may afford space for an author for his/her musings but if it becomes a blue-print for a real-world crime, it's time to nab the criminal. An author in US who wrote 'How to murder your husband' and actually killed her real-life husband has been served poetic justice of sorts and has been sentenced to life in jail. Nancy Crampton Brophy (71), the convict, will not even be eligible for first 25 years of her prison sentence. A judge in USA's northwestern state of Oregon handed the sentence to the author. The trial went on for a month. It was heard during the trial how the author used a gun (bought on eBay) to kill her husband Daniel Brophy in order to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in life insurance. The weapon was bought by Nancy Crampton Brophy as research for her new novel. The gun has not been found. Chef Daniel Brophy, her husband, was found on the floor of a classroom in a now-defunct culinary institute where he worked, in June 2018. He had been shot twice. His wife was seen driving in the area in a CCTV footage at the time of the murder. The author has written a series of novels titled "Wrong Never Felt So Right". Some of the novels in this series include "The Wrong Husband" and "The Wrong Lover". Nancy Crampton Brophy claimed that she had no memory of being present at the crime seen. About CCTV footage, she said tha she would have been in the neighborhood trying to get inspiration for a new work of fiction. Crampton Brophy, whose lawyers said last month they would appeal the verdict, denied the murder, insisting that years of financial struggle were behind the couple and that she had no reason to kill her husband. "Where is the motivation? I would ask you," Crampton Brophy said as she sparred with the prosecutor during her trial. "An editor would laugh and say, 'I think you need to work harder on this story, you have a big hole in it.'" Her blog post "How to kill your husband," which is still readily available online, discusses methods and motivations for dispatching an unwanted spouse. These include financial gain and the use of a firearm, although it notes guns are "loud, messy, require some skill." "But the thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough," the essay says. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Hubby-killing author of 'how to murder your husband' gets life in jail

Spain's youngest bishop, Xavier Novell Goma, has been stripped of his church powers after he married a woman who has authored satanic erotica. Novell has been prohibited "from exercising all the rights and responsibilities inherent in the episcopal function", said the country's Episcopal Conference.&nbsp;

It all started in autumn when the bishop's relationship with Silvia Caballol, became known publicly. Some of her works include "The Hell of Gabriel's Lust."&nbsp;

She is described as "a dynamic and transgressive author who made her mark in the challenging world of literature upsetting our moral and ethical mores".

Issuing an official statement, the conference said, "As is publicly known, Bishop Xavier Novell Goma, Bishop Emeritus of Solsona, has contracted a civil marriage with Ms Silvia Caballol, on November 22, 2021, in the town of Suria, in the province of Barcelona."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/collapse-at-amazon-warehouse-sparks-debate-on-phone-ban-employees-say-they-will-quit-436198">Also read |&nbsp;Collapse at Amazon warehouse sparks debate on phone ban; employees say they will quit</a>

The statement further highlighted that the churchman will retain his title as a bishop. However, he will not be permitted to carry out any roles associated with the post including "the administration of the sacraments".

"Any teaching activity, both in public and private, is prohibited," it added.

This is not the first time that he has attracted controversy. Earlier, he garnered lots of attention for endorsing gay conversion therapy and supporting Catalan independence.

He stepped down in August this year citing personal reasons. However, it was much later when people came to know about the reason.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Spain's youngest bishop, Xavier Novell Goma, has been stripped of his church powers after he married a woman who has authored satanic erotica. Novell has been prohibited "from exercising all the rights and responsibilities inherent in the episcopal function", said the country's Episcopal Conference.

Spain's youngest bishop, Xavier Novell Goma, has been stripped of his church powers after he married a woman who has authored satanic erotica. Novell has been prohibited "from exercising all the rights and responsibilities inherent in the episcopal function", said the country's Episcopal Conference. It all started in autumn when the bishop's relationship with Silvia Caballol, became known publicly. Some of her works include "The Hell of Gabriel's Lust." She is described as "a dynamic and transgressive author who made her mark in the challenging world of literature upsetting our moral and ethical mores". Issuing an official statement, the conference said, "As is publicly known, Bishop Xavier Novell Goma, Bishop Emeritus of Solsona, has contracted a civil marriage with Ms Silvia Caballol, on November 22, 2021, in the town of Suria, in the province of Barcelona." Also read | Collapse at Amazon warehouse sparks debate on phone ban; employees say they will quit The statement further highlighted that the churchman will retain his title as a bishop. However, he will not be permitted to carry out any roles associated with the post including "the administration of the sacraments". "Any teaching activity, both in public and private, is prohibited," it added. This is not the first time that he has attracted controversy. Earlier, he garnered lots of attention for endorsing gay conversion therapy and supporting Catalan independence. He stepped down in August this year citing personal reasons. However, it was much later when people came to know about the reason. (With inputs from agencies)

Spain's youngest bishop, Xavier Novell Goma, stripped of powers for marrying erotica author

When it was announced that the winner of the 2021 Premio Planeta literary prize —worth one million euros — was the renowned female Spanish crime author, Cameron Mola, the audience, and the spectators worldwide had a shock of their life.

Three middle-aged men rose to the podium to collect the coveted award on Friday for the currently unreleased work “The Beast”.

Jorge Díaz, Agustín Martínez, and Antonio Mercero were the writers who penned numerous best-selling crime thriller books under the pseudonym ‘Cameron Mola’.

They decided to write under the pseudonym for no “particular reason” and without “consideration of the name’s gender”.

“Carmen Mola is not, like all the lies we've been telling, a university professor,” Díaz said shortly after accepting the Planeta prize, according to the Financial Times.

Also see&nbsp;| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-grand-mosque-in-mecca-drops-social-distancing-first-time-since-covid-outbreak-421696">In pics:&nbsp;Grand Mosque in Mecca drops social distancing, first time since Covid outbreak</a>

“We are three friends who one day four years ago decided to combine our talent to tell a story.”

Mola, which the trio showcased as a university professor and mother of three who wrote gritty crime drama on her off-time, has been praised for “her” depiction of strong female protagonists, with her latest award-winning work focusing on the investigation of child murders in nineteenth-century Spain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bakery-in-uk-stops-producing-its-bestselling-biscuit-heres-why-421501">Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why</a>

Mola’s other works have also garnered acclaim, like "La Novia Gitana," which has been translated into 11 languages and will be developed into a television series.

&nbsp;Castille-La Mancha, a branch of Spain's Women's Institute, included her book “La Nena” in a list of 50 feminist titles that help readers “understand the reality and experiences of women.”

“I don’t know if a female pseudonym would sell more than a male one, I don't have the faintest idea, but I doubt it,” Mercero told Spain's El País newspaper. “We didn't hide behind a woman, we hid behind a name.”

Notably, there have been past instances where women have gone to publish works under male pseudonyms to protect their identity and dodge social biases.

(With inputs from agencies)

When it was announced that the winner of the 2021 Premio Planeta literary prize —worth one million euros — was the renowned female Spanish crime author, Cameron Mola, the audience, and the spectators worldwide had a shock of their life.

When it was announced that the winner of the 2021 Premio Planeta literary prize —worth one million euros — was the renowned female Spanish crime author, Cameron Mola, the audience, and the spectators worldwide had a shock of their life. Three middle-aged men rose to the podium to collect the coveted award on Friday for the currently unreleased work “The Beast”. Jorge Díaz, Agustín Martínez, and Antonio Mercero were the writers who penned numerous best-selling crime thriller books under the pseudonym ‘Cameron Mola’. They decided to write under the pseudonym for no “particular reason” and without “consideration of the name’s gender”. “Carmen Mola is not, like all the lies we've been telling, a university professor,” Díaz said shortly after accepting the Planeta prize, according to the Financial Times. Also see | In pics: Grand Mosque in Mecca drops social distancing, first time since Covid outbreak “We are three friends who one day four years ago decided to combine our talent to tell a story.” Mola, which the trio showcased as a university professor and mother of three who wrote gritty crime drama on her off-time, has been praised for “her” depiction of strong female protagonists, with her latest award-winning work focusing on the investigation of child murders in nineteenth-century Spain. Also read | Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why Mola’s other works have also garnered acclaim, like "La Novia Gitana," which has been translated into 11 languages and will be developed into a television series. Castille-La Mancha, a branch of Spain's Women's Institute, included her book “La Nena” in a list of 50 feminist titles that help readers “understand the reality and experiences of women.” “I don’t know if a female pseudonym would sell more than a male one, I don't have the faintest idea, but I doubt it,” Mercero told Spain's El País newspaper. “We didn't hide behind a woman, we hid behind a name.” Notably, there have been past instances where women have gone to publish works under male pseudonyms to protect their identity and dodge social biases. (With inputs from agencies)

Renowned Spanish female crime author turns out be three middle-aged men

A chef’s knife. A painter’s brush. A writer’s pen. What would artists be without their tools (And the mild obsession we have with them)?

Since time immemorial, the image of the writer has been a figure bent over paper (or parchment, depending on how far you want to go) with a quill and a pot of ink. Next to a flame. There is always a flame!&nbsp;

So romantic is this visual that every aspiring writer has at some point adopted a fancy pen when committing to putting words on paper. The more old school ones will even go for a pot of ink to dip in! But those in the business of words can tell you, when you make a living out of writing, a certain number of words a day is function over romance! Sure, the poets and lyricists can still afford to indulge. But those of us who commit to manuscripts with a lakh or more words are cursed to carry a thought cloud threatening to disappear any moment, unless hastily scribbled as notes. Not to mention the fear of a manuscript washed out by spontaneous rain! Or an unexpected pen leakage in the bag, discovered when your hand emerged from it, stained in the pen’s blue blood… (True Story.)

No sir! I belong to the tribe of scribes that swears by the humble ball point pen. Fast. Efficient. And dependable.&nbsp;

I remember when we made the transition in Class 6 from pencil to pen. That was when I stopped getting the extra mark for neatness! But it wasn’t just that. A pencil provides the scope to make a mistake. No such thing with pens! Pens do not give second chances. They demand clarity of thought and an unfaltering will. My notebooks looked like tiny insects had dipped their feet in ink and had a parade on the page. The thick strokes from the nib of fountain pens aren’t kind to those with a shy, unsure hand.&nbsp;

Then one day I made the discovery- a Cello ball point pen! It had a tiny ball at the end of a needle-like nib that made thin, precise strokes. Neat, un-smudgeable writing. And the pen would just glide over the page, oh-so-smoothly! In blue and black. I still prefer blue.

I’m often asked what I prefer to write on- laptop or on paper with a pen. To that I say- laptop for short documents, emails, etc. But for real writing that requires thought, that demands filling page after page with story, when lines are struck out and re-written on top, barely fitting in the lines, when the sides are filled with side notes, forgotten at first then hastily scribbled- it’s on paper, a sturdy notebook with a pen that can keep up with my state of frenzy. And that is a job for a hardworking pen!

For me it’s the writing that needs to be beautiful, not the pen. I did use a fancy leather-bound notebook with handmade paper while writing my first novel Urmila, The Forgotten Princess. The yellowed paper felt like parchment, and though I didn’t write next to a flame, it was the closest I could get to that classic writer visual! In the lockdown I switched to a simple school stationary notebook, with neat lines that didn’t let my sentences droop or ascend. But my choice of pen to write on both was the ball point pen. It has been since years. I buy them in bundles. I stash them in different bags, in different corners of the house for easy access, in case the thought cloud threatens to disappear. I find that it keeps up with my pace. It helps my thoughts as I twist the cap. Or tap the pen impatiently against my face. Or poke my forehead with it when a stubborn thought refuses to come out.&nbsp;

Getting 440 pages written is no easy feat. Specially of a story that has been around for thousands of years. When I was struggling to finish it, I would wonder sometimes as to how long it must have taken for the first writers of the Ramayana…&nbsp;

Who knows, they may have finished it faster if they had a ball point pen!

(Smriti Dewan is an award-winning screenwriter, director and recently turned author with her debut novel Urmila: The Forgotten Princess published by Bloomsbury)

A chef’s knife. A painter’s brush. A writer’s pen. What would artists be without their tools (And the mild obsession we have with them)? Since time immemorial, the image of the writer has been a figure bent over paper (or parchment, depending on how far you want to go) with a quill and a pot of ink.

A chef’s knife. A painter’s brush. A writer’s pen. What would artists be without their tools (And the mild obsession we have with them)? Since time immemorial, the image of the writer has been a figure bent over paper (or parchment, depending on how far you want to go) with a quill and a pot of ink. Next to a flame. There is always a flame! So romantic is this visual that every aspiring writer has at some point adopted a fancy pen when committing to putting words on paper. The more old school ones will even go for a pot of ink to dip in! But those in the business of words can tell you, when you make a living out of writing, a certain number of words a day is function over romance! Sure, the poets and lyricists can still afford to indulge. But those of us who commit to manuscripts with a lakh or more words are cursed to carry a thought cloud threatening to disappear any moment, unless hastily scribbled as notes. Not to mention the fear of a manuscript washed out by spontaneous rain! Or an unexpected pen leakage in the bag, discovered when your hand emerged from it, stained in the pen’s blue blood… (True Story.) No sir! I belong to the tribe of scribes that swears by the humble ball point pen. Fast. Efficient. And dependable. I remember when we made the transition in Class 6 from pencil to pen. That was when I stopped getting the extra mark for neatness! But it wasn’t just that. A pencil provides the scope to make a mistake. No such thing with pens! Pens do not give second chances. They demand clarity of thought and an unfaltering will. My notebooks looked like tiny insects had dipped their feet in ink and had a parade on the page. The thick strokes from the nib of fountain pens aren’t kind to those with a shy, unsure hand. Then one day I made the discovery- a Cello ball point pen! It had a tiny ball at the end of a needle-like nib that made thin, precise strokes. Neat, un-smudgeable writing. And the pen would just glide over the page, oh-so-smoothly! In blue and black. I still prefer blue. I’m often asked what I prefer to write on- laptop or on paper with a pen. To that I say- laptop for short documents, emails, etc. But for real writing that requires thought, that demands filling page after page with story, when lines are struck out and re-written on top, barely fitting in the lines, when the sides are filled with side notes, forgotten at first then hastily scribbled- it’s on paper, a sturdy notebook with a pen that can keep up with my state of frenzy. And that is a job for a hardworking pen! For me it’s the writing that needs to be beautiful, not the pen. I did use a fancy leather-bound notebook with handmade paper while writing my first novel Urmila, The Forgotten Princess. The yellowed paper felt like parchment, and though I didn’t write next to a flame, it was the closest I could get to that classic writer visual! In the lockdown I switched to a simple school stationary notebook, with neat lines that didn’t let my sentences droop or ascend. But my choice of pen to write on both was the ball point pen. It has been since years. I buy them in bundles. I stash them in different bags, in different corners of the house for easy access, in case the thought cloud threatens to disappear. I find that it keeps up with my pace. It helps my thoughts as I twist the cap. Or tap the pen impatiently against my face. Or poke my forehead with it when a stubborn thought refuses to come out. Getting 440 pages written is no easy feat. Specially of a story that has been around for thousands of years. When I was struggling to finish it, I would wonder sometimes as to how long it must have taken for the first writers of the Ramayana… Who knows, they may have finished it faster if they had a ball point pen! (Smriti Dewan is an award-winning screenwriter, director and recently turned author with her debut novel Urmila: The Forgotten Princess published by Bloomsbury)

Blog: Musings on a ballpoint pen from an author

With a microscopic organism upending life as we know it, the realm of books was among the few which held its own, operating near normally in this tumultuous year. The flow of new titles, across all genres, continued unabated and provided readers a safe haven for a troubled psyche. For avid readers, confined to homes and deprived of opportunities of external sources of leisure, it was a dream opportunity to work through pending piles and acquire fresh material. 
 
But amid the host of autobiographies and biographies, examinations of political partisanship - and their social effects, new looks at history and more, as well as a wide array of fiction for all tastes and moods, the worst health crisis the world faced in over a century, found its own niche. 
 
While there is no shortage of books on coronavirus, some representative ones could include physician and evolutionary biologist Frank Ryan`s "Virusphere: Ebola, AIDS, Influenza and the Hidden World of the Virus", which explains why epidemics are inevitable and their benefits, science journalist Sonia Shah`s "Pandemic" about the interplay of history, politics and science in tackling the scourge of disease, and John Barry`s "The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History", which not only chronicles how the Spanish flu of 1918-20 devastated a world already laid low by years of war, revolutions and other upheavals, but also shows how the political handling is as important as the medical measures. 
 
A contemporary look at this aspect can be found in legendary journalist Bob Woodward`s "Rage", his second book on the maverick presidency of Donald Trump. 
 
An Indian perspective is provided by "The Coronavirus: What you Need to Know about the Global Pandemic" by Dr Swapneil Parikh and Maherra Desai, and "Till We Win: India`s Fight Against The Covid-19 Pandemic" by by Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, Dr Gagandeep Kang, and AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria. 
 
But with the virus mutating into new variations and universal vaccination still a long way off, the last word on coronavirus is still to be said. But some signposts can be found in Fareed Zakaria`s "10 Lessons for the Post-Pandemic World" and the prolific Kiran Manral`s "Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change" 
 
The coveted Nobel Prize for Literature was won by American poet Louise Gluck, who draws on classical mythology, family life and nature in her precise and spare rendition of certain traumatic facets of the human conditions such as pain and loss ? both personal and public ? but also longing and self-realisation, while the Booker went to debutant Scottish-American writer Douglas Stuart`s "Shuggie Bain", a semi-autobiographical story of a young boy maintaining a fraught relationship with his alcoholic mother. 
 
The world of literature was also left poorer with a galaxy of veterans bidding adieu including controversial English philosopher and writer Roger Scruton, 75, British academician Christopher Tolkien, 95, the son of the great fantasy novelist J.R.R. Tolkien and the one who drew the maps for "The Lord of the Rings", American "Queen of Suspense" Mary Higgins Clark, 92, Clive Cussler, 88, known for the "Dirk Pitt" series of marine adventures, Urdu poet Rahat Indori, 70, Hindi poet Manglesh Dabral, 72, Soviet/Russian writer and satirist Mikhail Zhvanetsky, 86, British spy novelist John le Carre, 89, and Urdu author and literary critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, 85, known for his penetrating analysis of the poetry of Mir Taqi Mir. 
 
Some of the year`s notable offerings included former US President Barack Obama`s "A Promised Land", an account of his eventful first term, J.K. Rowling`s non-Harry Potter world "The Ickabog", a cautionary fairy tale about inept leadership and demonisation of the `enemy`, Hari Kunzuru`s "The Red Pill" and the irrepressible Moni Mohsin`s "The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R", but there was much more. 
 
While it is virtually impossible to make a list of books that could even approach a representative section let satisfy each palate, some suggestions/recommendations in various genres can be attempted. 
 
In non-fiction, there is astrophysicist Janna Levin`s "Black Hole Survival Guide", which not only seeks to demystify one of most perplexing celestial objects, but also shows the unflattering role of humans in the cosmos, Tim Harford`s "How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers", an engaging guide to avoid getting bamboozled by statistics, and Michiko Kakutani`s "Ex Libris", a personalised introduction to 100 key books, old and new, for those without inclination/opportunity to read the originals in full. 
 
On the humanities side, Richard Eaton`s "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765" seeks to show how the country`s pre-colonial history was not a binary construct as long politically propagated, Anne Appelbaum`s self-explanatory but disturbing "Twilight of Democracy: The Failure of Politics and the Parting of Friends", and the very vital "Bad News: Why We Fall for Fake News" by Rob Brotherton, who`s earlier "Suspicious Minds" explained why conspiracy theories have a receptive audience. 
 
In fiction, consider Curtis Sittenfeld`s "Rodham: What if Hillary hadn`t married Bill?" exploring this tantalising premise, Mieko Kawakami`s "Breasts and Eggs", an account of the female life experience (and commodification thereof) , and former ISI chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani`s "Honour Among Spies", about the dangers of asking inconvenient questions about issues the establishment would prefer to be forgotten. 
 
For aficionados of whodunnits, two authors take them to places which were long ripe for the genre - Mark McCrum in "The Festival Murders" (literary festivals) and Kiran Manral in "The Kitty Party Murder". For a rarely-invoked locale, there is Sujata C. Sabnis` "Blood on the Sands", set in Kutch. 
 
If Rick Riordan, whose finale to "Trials of Apollo" series came out or even Roshani Chokshi`s Aru Shah series (third out now) are not to your taste, Anuja Chandramouli, who has a penchant for a lyrical but contemporary refashioning of Indian mythology, had "Mohini:The Enchantress". 
 
We can only hope that 2021 is as abundant. 
 
(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) 
 
--IANS 
 
vd 
&nbsp;

With a microscopic organism upending life as we know it, the realm of books was among the few which held its own, operating near normally in this tumultuous year.

With a microscopic organism upending life as we know it, the realm of books was among the few which held its own, operating near normally in this tumultuous year. The flow of new titles, across all genres, continued unabated and provided readers a safe haven for a troubled psyche. For avid readers, confined to homes and deprived of opportunities of external sources of leisure, it was a dream opportunity to work through pending piles and acquire fresh material. But amid the host of autobiographies and biographies, examinations of political partisanship - and their social effects, new looks at history and more, as well as a wide array of fiction for all tastes and moods, the worst health crisis the world faced in over a century, found its own niche. While there is no shortage of books on coronavirus, some representative ones could include physician and evolutionary biologist Frank Ryan`s "Virusphere: Ebola, AIDS, Influenza and the Hidden World of the Virus", which explains why epidemics are inevitable and their benefits, science journalist Sonia Shah`s "Pandemic" about the interplay of history, politics and science in tackling the scourge of disease, and John Barry`s "The Great Influenza : The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History", which not only chronicles how the Spanish flu of 1918-20 devastated a world already laid low by years of war, revolutions and other upheavals, but also shows how the political handling is as important as the medical measures. A contemporary look at this aspect can be found in legendary journalist Bob Woodward`s "Rage", his second book on the maverick presidency of Donald Trump. An Indian perspective is provided by "The Coronavirus: What you Need to Know about the Global Pandemic" by Dr Swapneil Parikh and Maherra Desai, and "Till We Win: India`s Fight Against The Covid-19 Pandemic" by by Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, Dr Gagandeep Kang, and AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria. But with the virus mutating into new variations and universal vaccination still a long way off, the last word on coronavirus is still to be said. But some signposts can be found in Fareed Zakaria`s "10 Lessons for the Post-Pandemic World" and the prolific Kiran Manral`s "Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change" The coveted Nobel Prize for Literature was won by American poet Louise Gluck, who draws on classical mythology, family life and nature in her precise and spare rendition of certain traumatic facets of the human conditions such as pain and loss ? both personal and public ? but also longing and self-realisation, while the Booker went to debutant Scottish-American writer Douglas Stuart`s "Shuggie Bain", a semi-autobiographical story of a young boy maintaining a fraught relationship with his alcoholic mother. The world of literature was also left poorer with a galaxy of veterans bidding adieu including controversial English philosopher and writer Roger Scruton, 75, British academician Christopher Tolkien, 95, the son of the great fantasy novelist J.R.R. Tolkien and the one who drew the maps for "The Lord of the Rings", American "Queen of Suspense" Mary Higgins Clark, 92, Clive Cussler, 88, known for the "Dirk Pitt" series of marine adventures, Urdu poet Rahat Indori, 70, Hindi poet Manglesh Dabral, 72, Soviet/Russian writer and satirist Mikhail Zhvanetsky, 86, British spy novelist John le Carre, 89, and Urdu author and literary critic Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, 85, known for his penetrating analysis of the poetry of Mir Taqi Mir. Some of the year`s notable offerings included former US President Barack Obama`s "A Promised Land", an account of his eventful first term, J.K. Rowling`s non-Harry Potter world "The Ickabog", a cautionary fairy tale about inept leadership and demonisation of the `enemy`, Hari Kunzuru`s "The Red Pill" and the irrepressible Moni Mohsin`s "The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R", but there was much more. While it is virtually impossible to make a list of books that could even approach a representative section let satisfy each palate, some suggestions/recommendations in various genres can be attempted. In non-fiction, there is astrophysicist Janna Levin`s "Black Hole Survival Guide", which not only seeks to demystify one of most perplexing celestial objects, but also shows the unflattering role of humans in the cosmos, Tim Harford`s "How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers", an engaging guide to avoid getting bamboozled by statistics, and Michiko Kakutani`s "Ex Libris", a personalised introduction to 100 key books, old and new, for those without inclination/opportunity to read the originals in full. On the humanities side, Richard Eaton`s "India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765" seeks to show how the country`s pre-colonial history was not a binary construct as long politically propagated, Anne Appelbaum`s self-explanatory but disturbing "Twilight of Democracy: The Failure of Politics and the Parting of Friends", and the very vital "Bad News: Why We Fall for Fake News" by Rob Brotherton, who`s earlier "Suspicious Minds" explained why conspiracy theories have a receptive audience. In fiction, consider Curtis Sittenfeld`s "Rodham: What if Hillary hadn`t married Bill?" exploring this tantalising premise, Mieko Kawakami`s "Breasts and Eggs", an account of the female life experience (and commodification thereof) , and former ISI chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani`s "Honour Among Spies", about the dangers of asking inconvenient questions about issues the establishment would prefer to be forgotten. For aficionados of whodunnits, two authors take them to places which were long ripe for the genre - Mark McCrum in "The Festival Murders" (literary festivals) and Kiran Manral in "The Kitty Party Murder". For a rarely-invoked locale, there is Sujata C. Sabnis` "Blood on the Sands", set in Kutch. If Rick Riordan, whose finale to "Trials of Apollo" series came out or even Roshani Chokshi`s Aru Shah series (third out now) are not to your taste, Anuja Chandramouli, who has a penchant for a lyrical but contemporary refashioning of Indian mythology, had "Mohini:The Enchantress". We can only hope that 2021 is as abundant. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) --IANS vd

Reading amid the pandemic: Books and authors in 2020

Per Olov Enquist, one of Sweden's most acclaimed authors who wrote "The Visit of the Royal Physician," has died aged 85, his family told Swedish media on Sunday. 
 
The patriarch of 20th century Scandinavian literature, Enquist is known for powerful stories that weave his own melancholic life into the dark side of history. 
 
In his more than 20 novels, plays and essays, he drew heavily on his own experience as an oppressed child in a strictly religious home, as an athlete, a journalist and a destructive alcoholic, his leftwing convictions filling his writings. 
 
Born in 1934 in Hjoggbole in Sweden's far north, his books -- including "The Crystal Eye" (1961), "The Parable Book" (2013), "The Magnetist's Fifth Winter" (1964) and "The March of the Musicians" (1978) -- have been translated into a dozen languages. 
 
He won the 2001 August Prize, Swedish literature's top honour, for "The Visit of the Royal Physician", which earned him broad international acclaim and tells the story of a romance between the physician of the mad Danish King Christian VII and the queen. &nbsp; 
 
Enquist, known in Sweden by his initials P.O., won a second August award for his autobiography "A Different Life" (2008), its name an homage to "A Life" by August Strindberg, the father of modern Swedish literature. 
 
"P.O. Enquist's importance for Swedish cultural life since the 1960s can't be exaggerated. He was the model for the socially-engaged poet who influenced generations of younger writers. It feels empty and unthinkable that he is gone," wrote Bjorn Wiman, culture editor of the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, on Sunday. 
 
His publisher Norstedts also posted a memoriam on its website: "Few have, like him, inspired other writers, renewed the documentary novel, revitalised Swedish drama and touched readers for more than half a century." 
 
- 'Didn't give up' - 
 
The process of writing "A Different Life", he said, allowed him to work through and leave behind painful memories of sleeping in a bed meant for his still-born brother, of the void left by a father who died when he was not yet a year old, and of a strict mother who pushed him to invent sins to confess. 
 
Known for his Gregory Peck-like frown and silver crown in his later years, Enquist broke free from his family, competing in high jump in high school before attending Uppsala University, where he discovered journalism and writing. &nbsp; 
 
He just missed qualifying for the Rome Olympics in the high jump in 1960. But as a journalist he covered the 1972 Munich Olympics when Palestinian militants took hostage and then killed members of the Israeli team. 
 
Enquist's transition to adulthood was scarred by depression, self-doubt and existential questions. He was 18 years old when Swedish author Stig Dagerman, whom Enquist admired, published "Our Need for Consolation is Insatiable" (1952). Enquist was 20 when Dagerman committed suicide. 
 
"I think I wanted to be a writer all my life and I didn't give up," he told AFP in a 2011 interview, even though "it wasn't so easy to survive" much of the time. 
 
An entire wall of his large Stockholm apartment at the time was taken up with a bookshelf containing his poetry, plays, novels and fairytales, in the original Swedish as well as English, French, German, Russian and other translations. 
"It's my egocentric bookshelf," he said with a laugh. 
 
"Every time I feel depressed that I'm not doing anything, I look at this bookshelf and say to myself 'well, that is seven metres (yards) and I have done a little bit, so I can die'." 
 
Swedish literary critic Per Svensson said Enquist "finds executioners, victims and traitors wherever they are in the world, in history and literature, to bring them back to his village. 
 
"And the result is magnificent," Svensson said. 
 
Enquist battled alcoholism for several years. After two failed attempts to kick the habit, and after not writing anything for 13 years, he succeeded on the third try after convincing his caregivers to let him use his computer and discovering to his delight that "I was still a writer". 
 
"The most terrible thing about being a writer is not to write but to not write."

Per Olov Enquist, one of Sweden's most acclaimed authors who wrote "The Visit of the Royal Physician," has died aged 85, his family told Swedish media on Sunday.

Per Olov Enquist, one of Sweden's most acclaimed authors who wrote "The Visit of the Royal Physician," has died aged 85, his family told Swedish media on Sunday. The patriarch of 20th century Scandinavian literature, Enquist is known for powerful stories that weave his own melancholic life into the dark side of history. In his more than 20 novels, plays and essays, he drew heavily on his own experience as an oppressed child in a strictly religious home, as an athlete, a journalist and a destructive alcoholic, his leftwing convictions filling his writings. Born in 1934 in Hjoggbole in Sweden's far north, his books -- including "The Crystal Eye" (1961), "The Parable Book" (2013), "The Magnetist's Fifth Winter" (1964) and "The March of the Musicians" (1978) -- have been translated into a dozen languages. He won the 2001 August Prize, Swedish literature's top honour, for "The Visit of the Royal Physician", which earned him broad international acclaim and tells the story of a romance between the physician of the mad Danish King Christian VII and the queen. Enquist, known in Sweden by his initials P.O., won a second August award for his autobiography "A Different Life" (2008), its name an homage to "A Life" by August Strindberg, the father of modern Swedish literature. "P.O. Enquist's importance for Swedish cultural life since the 1960s can't be exaggerated. He was the model for the socially-engaged poet who influenced generations of younger writers. It feels empty and unthinkable that he is gone," wrote Bjorn Wiman, culture editor of the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, on Sunday. His publisher Norstedts also posted a memoriam on its website: "Few have, like him, inspired other writers, renewed the documentary novel, revitalised Swedish drama and touched readers for more than half a century." - 'Didn't give up' - The process of writing "A Different Life", he said, allowed him to work through and leave behind painful memories of sleeping in a bed meant for his still-born brother, of the void left by a father who died when he was not yet a year old, and of a strict mother who pushed him to invent sins to confess. Known for his Gregory Peck-like frown and silver crown in his later years, Enquist broke free from his family, competing in high jump in high school before attending Uppsala University, where he discovered journalism and writing. He just missed qualifying for the Rome Olympics in the high jump in 1960. But as a journalist he covered the 1972 Munich Olympics when Palestinian militants took hostage and then killed members of the Israeli team. Enquist's transition to adulthood was scarred by depression, self-doubt and existential questions. He was 18 years old when Swedish author Stig Dagerman, whom Enquist admired, published "Our Need for Consolation is Insatiable" (1952). Enquist was 20 when Dagerman committed suicide. "I think I wanted to be a writer all my life and I didn't give up," he told AFP in a 2011 interview, even though "it wasn't so easy to survive" much of the time. An entire wall of his large Stockholm apartment at the time was taken up with a bookshelf containing his poetry, plays, novels and fairytales, in the original Swedish as well as English, French, German, Russian and other translations. "It's my egocentric bookshelf," he said with a laugh. "Every time I feel depressed that I'm not doing anything, I look at this bookshelf and say to myself 'well, that is seven metres (yards) and I have done a little bit, so I can die'." Swedish literary critic Per Svensson said Enquist "finds executioners, victims and traitors wherever they are in the world, in history and literature, to bring them back to his village. "And the result is magnificent," Svensson said. Enquist battled alcoholism for several years. After two failed attempts to kick the habit, and after not writing anything for 13 years, he succeeded on the third try after convincing his caregivers to let him use his computer and discovering to his delight that "I was still a writer". "The most terrible thing about being a writer is not to write but to not write."

Acclaimed Swedish author Per Olov Enquist dies aged 85

South Korean picture book artist Baek Heena was announced as the 2020 winner of the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) on Tuesday (March 31).

South Korean picture book artist Baek Heena wins top children and young adult literature award

Tony Horwitz, author of the book 'Confederates in the Attic'&nbsp;about US Civil War reenactors and other bestsellers, has died at the age of 60.

Horwitz, who won a Pulitzer Prize with The Wall Street Journal before becoming an author of historical non-fiction, died suddenly in Washington while touring for his latest book.

His publisher, Penguin Press, said Horwitz had died on Monday of an apparent heart attack.

As a Wall Street Journal reporter, Horwitz won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for stories he wrote about income inequality and working conditions in low-wage America.

His national bestseller 'Confederates in the Attic'&nbsp;about the men and women who reenact battles from the 1861-65 Civil War was published in 1998.

Horwitz' latest book, 'Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide,'&nbsp;about the 1850s travels of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted -- designer of New York's Central Park -- was published this month.

Among his other works were 'Midnight Rising'&nbsp;about the pre-Civil War abolitionist John Brown and 'Blue Latitudes'&nbsp;about Captain James Cook.

A native of Washington, Horwitz, who was married to Geraldine Brooks, also a successful novelist, lived in Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Tony Horwitz, author of the book 'Confederates in the Attic' about US Civil War reenactors and other bestsellers, has died at the age of 60. Horwitz, who won a Pulitzer Prize with The Wall Street Journal before becoming an author of historical non-fiction, died suddenly in Washington while touring for his latest book.

Tony Horwitz, author of the book 'Confederates in the Attic' about US Civil War reenactors and other bestsellers, has died at the age of 60. Horwitz, who won a Pulitzer Prize with The Wall Street Journal before becoming an author of historical non-fiction, died suddenly in Washington while touring for his latest book. His publisher, Penguin Press, said Horwitz had died on Monday of an apparent heart attack. As a Wall Street Journal reporter, Horwitz won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for stories he wrote about income inequality and working conditions in low-wage America. His national bestseller 'Confederates in the Attic' about the men and women who reenact battles from the 1861-65 Civil War was published in 1998. Horwitz' latest book, 'Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American Divide,' about the 1850s travels of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted -- designer of New York's Central Park -- was published this month. Among his other works were 'Midnight Rising' about the pre-Civil War abolitionist John Brown and 'Blue Latitudes' about Captain James Cook. A native of Washington, Horwitz, who was married to Geraldine Brooks, also a successful novelist, lived in Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Pulitzer prize-winning author Tony Horwitz dead at 60

Author Judith Kerr,&nbsp;who&nbsp;enchanted generations of children with simply illustrated tales such as 'The&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;Who&nbsp;Came&nbsp;to&nbsp;Tea'&nbsp;and 'Mog the Forgetful Cat', has died at the age of 95.

The death of one of the most popular authors of children's books in the 20th Century was announced by her publisher, Harper Collins, which said Kerr had died after a short illness. It did not specify a cause.

"It has been the greatest honour and privilege to know and publish Judith Kerr," said Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books.

"She&nbsp;came&nbsp;to visit our offices frequently - always bringing her books in person; often arriving on the No 9 bus and leaving us all full of laughter and in awe of her astonishing zest for life."

Kerr,&nbsp;who&nbsp;left Germany with her family just before the Nazis&nbsp;came&nbsp;to power, wrote and illustrated 35 books that sold millions of copies around the world, including 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit'.

But none was more celebrated than her first about the havoc caused by a surprise visitor's enormous appetite. The&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;Who&nbsp;Came&nbsp;to&nbsp;Tea&nbsp;tells the story of a little girl and her mother&nbsp;who&nbsp;is having&nbsp;tea&nbsp;at home when a friendly&nbsp;tiger&nbsp;arrives unannounced eats all the food and then leaves, never to return.

Kerr told Reuters in 2015 that when her daughter Tacy was a toddler, the girl would often say ''talk the&nbsp;tiger''. Years later, when both of her children were at school and she was wondering what to do next, she hit upon the idea of a book.

It was published in 1968 to critical acclaim and has been a bestseller ever since, with Mog the Forgetful Cat following in 1970, the first of a long series.

Kerr was often asked whether the&nbsp;tiger&nbsp;has a hidden meaning, and some people have suggested it might represent Hitler or the Nazis, invading her home and stealing her possessions. Kerr dismissed this, saying the idea for the&nbsp;tiger&nbsp;simply&nbsp;came&nbsp;from a visit to the zoo with Tacy, and the creature was harmless.

"I never think about telling small children what to think," she told Reuters in 2015.&nbsp;

Kerr was born in Berlin and her family left Germany in 1933 to escape the rise of the Nazi Party and&nbsp;came&nbsp;to Britain via Paris.

The family's struggle to get by as impoverished refugees in Paris and then wartime London formed the subject of Kerr’s autobiographical trilogy that started with When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, published in 1971.

The book has been translated into many languages and taught to school children as an introduction to a dark chapter of history. It won the prestigious Youth Book Prize in Germany, and in 1993 a school was named after Kerr in her native Berlin.

Kerr said that as she had got older she had thought more often about the Jewish children from her generation&nbsp;who&nbsp;perished in the Holocaust, and of the lives, they might have lived.

"If you’ve got a life that so many people didn’t have, you can’t waste it," she told Reuters.

As a young woman, Kerr worked as a textile designer, art&nbsp;teacher, and scriptwriter at the BBC before taking time out from work to raise her two children with her husband Tom.

Kerr never stopped working. Last week, she was named as an illustrator of the year at the British Book Awards.

Her most recent title 'Mummy Time'&nbsp;was published last year, touching on concerns that parents are too obsessed with technology.

The book is about a mum distracted by her phone in the park while her toddler goes on adventures.

Kerr's latest book 'The Curse of the School Rabbit'&nbsp;is due to be published next month.

She is survived by her two children and grandchildren.

Author Judith Kerr, who enchanted generations of children with simply illustrated tales such as 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' and 'Mog the Forgetful Cat', has died at the age of 95.

Author Judith Kerr, who enchanted generations of children with simply illustrated tales such as 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' and 'Mog the Forgetful Cat', has died at the age of 95. The death of one of the most popular authors of children's books in the 20th Century was announced by her publisher, Harper Collins, which said Kerr had died after a short illness. It did not specify a cause. "It has been the greatest honour and privilege to know and publish Judith Kerr," said Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books. "She came to visit our offices frequently - always bringing her books in person; often arriving on the No 9 bus and leaving us all full of laughter and in awe of her astonishing zest for life." Kerr, who left Germany with her family just before the Nazis came to power, wrote and illustrated 35 books that sold millions of copies around the world, including 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit'. But none was more celebrated than her first about the havoc caused by a surprise visitor's enormous appetite. The Tiger Who Came to Tea tells the story of a little girl and her mother who is having tea at home when a friendly tiger arrives unannounced eats all the food and then leaves, never to return. Kerr told Reuters in 2015 that when her daughter Tacy was a toddler, the girl would often say ''talk the tiger''. Years later, when both of her children were at school and she was wondering what to do next, she hit upon the idea of a book. It was published in 1968 to critical acclaim and has been a bestseller ever since, with Mog the Forgetful Cat following in 1970, the first of a long series. Kerr was often asked whether the tiger has a hidden meaning, and some people have suggested it might represent Hitler or the Nazis, invading her home and stealing her possessions. Kerr dismissed this, saying the idea for the tiger simply came from a visit to the zoo with Tacy, and the creature was harmless. "I never think about telling small children what to think," she told Reuters in 2015. Kerr was born in Berlin and her family left Germany in 1933 to escape the rise of the Nazi Party and came to Britain via Paris. The family's struggle to get by as impoverished refugees in Paris and then wartime London formed the subject of Kerr’s autobiographical trilogy that started with When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, published in 1971. The book has been translated into many languages and taught to school children as an introduction to a dark chapter of history. It won the prestigious Youth Book Prize in Germany, and in 1993 a school was named after Kerr in her native Berlin. Kerr said that as she had got older she had thought more often about the Jewish children from her generation who perished in the Holocaust, and of the lives, they might have lived. "If you’ve got a life that so many people didn’t have, you can’t waste it," she told Reuters. As a young woman, Kerr worked as a textile designer, art teacher, and scriptwriter at the BBC before taking time out from work to raise her two children with her husband Tom. Kerr never stopped working. Last week, she was named as an illustrator of the year at the British Book Awards. Her most recent title 'Mummy Time' was published last year, touching on concerns that parents are too obsessed with technology. The book is about a mum distracted by her phone in the park while her toddler goes on adventures. Kerr's latest book 'The Curse of the School Rabbit' is due to be published next month. She is survived by her two children and grandchildren.

'Tiger Who Came to Tea' author Judith Kerr dies aged 95

Veteran stand-up comedian Sammy Shore died at the age of 92 on Sunday.

Sammy, in his 70-year-long career, founded The Comedy Store in partnership with Rudy De Luca, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Expressing grief, The Comedy Store's Facebook page posted, "Words can`t express how much his comedic gift, friendship, and beneficence will be missed. The bright light he shone and the laughter he brought into the lives of everyone he touched will never dim. There is only one 'Brother Sam'!"

His son Pauly Shore, who is also a comedian, paid his tribute on Twitter.

"Dad, you lived an amazing life and I`m so proud to say you are my father. When you're in heaven I'll be killing the crowds night after night and carrying on your legacy. Love you dad. Rest in peace," he wrote.

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Dad, you lived an amazing life and I'm so proud to say that you are my father. When you're in heaven I'll be killing the crowds night after night and carrying on your legacy. Love you Dad. Rest in peace. 
 
Your son and fellow stand up comic, Love, 
Pauly<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thecomedystore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thecomedystore</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uw9K3qtKFr">pic.twitter.com/Uw9K3qtKFr</a>
— Pauly Shore (@PaulyShore) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulyShore/status/1129799092907991041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The comedian performed in many one-man shows and made cameos in films including 'Jerry Lewis the bellboy', 'Mel Brooks', 'Life Stinks'&nbsp;and television series 'Sanford and Son'.

According to the Facebook post, he was most proud of his appearance on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'.

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Sammy also produced comedy albums such as, 'Brother Sam', 'Come Heal With Me', and '70 Sucks'.

He also penned three books but was unfortunately not able to complete his last book called 'Last Comic Sitting'. 
&nbsp;

Veteran stand-up comedian Sammy Shore died at the age of 92 on Sunday. Sammy, in his 70-year-long career, founded The Comedy Store in partnership with Rudy De Luca, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Veteran stand-up comedian Sammy Shore died at the age of 92 on Sunday. Sammy, in his 70-year-long career, founded The Comedy Store in partnership with Rudy De Luca, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Expressing grief, The Comedy Store's Facebook page posted, "Words can`t express how much his comedic gift, friendship, and beneficence will be missed. The bright light he shone and the laughter he brought into the lives of everyone he touched will never dim. There is only one 'Brother Sam'!" His son Pauly Shore, who is also a comedian, paid his tribute on Twitter. "Dad, you lived an amazing life and I`m so proud to say you are my father. When you're in heaven I'll be killing the crowds night after night and carrying on your legacy. Love you dad. Rest in peace," he wrote. Dad, you lived an amazing life and I'm so proud to say that you are my father. When you're in heaven I'll be killing the crowds night after night and carrying on your legacy. Love you Dad. Rest in peace. Your son and fellow stand up comic, Love, Pauly#thecomedystore pic.twitter.com/Uw9K3qtKFr — Pauly Shore (@PaulyShore) May 18, 2019 × The comedian performed in many one-man shows and made cameos in films including 'Jerry Lewis the bellboy', 'Mel Brooks', 'Life Stinks' and television series 'Sanford and Son'. According to the Facebook post, he was most proud of his appearance on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'. × Sammy also produced comedy albums such as, 'Brother Sam', 'Come Heal With Me', and '70 Sucks'. He also penned three books but was unfortunately not able to complete his last book called 'Last Comic Sitting'.

Stand-up comedian Sammy Shore dies at 92

We talked with Mr. Walter Andersen, Author & Academician from Virginia over Indian Lok Sabha Election 2019. Watch this exclusive talk.

LS Polls 2019: Watch exclusive talk with Mr. Walter Andersen, Author & Academician from Virginia

Looks like actor Chris Pratt and author Katherine Schwarzenegger are all set to take their relationship to the next level.

The duo, who <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/guardians-of-the-galaxy-star-chris-pratt-is-now-engaged-to-girlfriend-katherine-schwarzenegger-190376">announced their engagement </a>two days ago, "already has some inklings about what they want their wedding to be like," a source told E! News.

According to the source, Katherine and Chris prefer a summer wedding and are looking for a suitable date.

"They are thinking about Martha's Vineyard which is a special place for Katherine and where she spent a lot of time growing up. Chris wants her to have her perfect day and whatever she wants. It will be a big wedding and very traditional," the source added.

The portal also revealed that an engagement party and bridal shower for Katherine is in the offing.

On Monday, the 'Jurassic World' &nbsp;actor shared the news of his engagement on Instagram with a picture of him giving Katherine a peck on her cheek.

"Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I`m thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go!" he captioned the photo.

The 29-year-old author uploaded the same picture one day later and wrote, "My sweet love. Wouldn' t want to live this life with anyone but you."

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsn4v8Fh_rw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">My sweet love. Wouldn’t want to live this life with anyone but you ♥️💍</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katherineschwarzenegger/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Katherine Schwarzenegger</a> (@katherineschwarzenegger) on <time datetime="2019-01-14T17:23:51+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 14, 2019 at 9:23am PST</time>
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Chris and Katherine were first spotted together in June during a romantic picnic in Santa Barbara and since then, these two have been inseparable.

Chris was earlier married to Anna Farris, and the two share a six-year-old son together, Jack. They called it quits in 2017 and finalised their divorce in November 2018.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Looks like actor Chris Pratt and author Katherine Schwarzenegger are all set to take their relationship to the next level. The duo, who announced their engagement two days ago, "already has some inklings about what they want their wedding to be like," a source told E!

Looks like actor Chris Pratt and author Katherine Schwarzenegger are all set to take their relationship to the next level. The duo, who announced their engagement two days ago, "already has some inklings about what they want their wedding to be like," a source told E! News. According to the source, Katherine and Chris prefer a summer wedding and are looking for a suitable date. "They are thinking about Martha's Vineyard which is a special place for Katherine and where she spent a lot of time growing up. Chris wants her to have her perfect day and whatever she wants. It will be a big wedding and very traditional," the source added. The portal also revealed that an engagement party and bridal shower for Katherine is in the offing. On Monday, the 'Jurassic World' actor shared the news of his engagement on Instagram with a picture of him giving Katherine a peck on her cheek. "Sweet Katherine, so happy you said yes! I`m thrilled to be marrying you. Proud to live boldly in faith with you. Here we go!" he captioned the photo. The 29-year-old author uploaded the same picture one day later and wrote, "My sweet love. Wouldn' t want to live this life with anyone but you." View this post on Instagram My sweet love. Wouldn’t want to live this life with anyone but you ♥️💍 A post shared by Katherine Schwarzenegger (@katherineschwarzenegger) on Jan 14, 2019 at 9:23am PST × Chris and Katherine were first spotted together in June during a romantic picnic in Santa Barbara and since then, these two have been inseparable. Chris was earlier married to Anna Farris, and the two share a six-year-old son together, Jack. They called it quits in 2017 and finalised their divorce in November 2018.

Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger begin wedding preparations

Tom Wolfe, an early practitioner of "new journalism" who captured the mood and culture of America across five decades with books including "The Bonfire of the Vanities," "The Right Stuff," and "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," has died at the age of 88, his agent said.&nbsp;

Wolfe, who had a knack for coining phrases such as "radical chic" and "the me decade," died on Monday of an unspecified infection in a New York City hospital, his agent, Lynn Nesbit, said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

Wolfe`s works - fiction and non-fiction alike - looked at realms ranging from the art world to Wall Street to 1960s hippie culture and touched on the issues of class, power, race, corruption, and sex.

"I think every living moment of a human being`s life unless the person is starving or in immediate danger of death in some other way, is controlled by a concern for status," Wolfe said in an interview.

Wolfe came up with "radical chic" to brand pretentious liberals, the "me decade" to sum up the self-indulgence of the 1970s and the right stuff&nbsp;to quantify intangible characteristics of the first U.S. astronauts and their test pilot predecessors.

He was never deterred by the fact that he often did not fit in with his research subjects, partly because he was such a sartorial dandy, known for his white suits.

Wolfe was in his mid-70s while hanging out with college kids and working on the novel "I Am Charlotte Simmons," and was a fairly conservative drug-free observer in a coat and tie while travelling with Ken Kesey and his LSD-dropping hippie tribe known as The Merry Pranksters for "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" in the `60s. By looking so out of place, he figured people would be more prone to explain things to him.

`NEW JOURNALISM` 
Wolfe started his writing career at the Springfield, Massachusetts, Union newspaper and also worked for the Washington Post, New York Herald-Tribune and New York magazine. He was present at the birth of what was known as "new journalism," a loose style that featured lots of dialogue and detail and allowed reporters to narrate and develop characters in a way more often associated with fiction.

One of the genre's defining moments came when Wolfe was having trouble meeting a deadline for a 1964 magazine story on the hot-rod car culture.

In frustration, he sent his editor a letter with his thoughts and reportage. The magazine ran it verbatim as "There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. "That led to a compilation of Wolfe`s magazine pieces, followed by "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," which captured the spirit of the psychedelic era during his time with Kesey, author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo`s Nest," and his band of pranksters who helped spread the popularity of LSD in California. Written in a wild free-association style that disregarded rules of punctuation, it was filled with sentence fragments and used words like "skakkkkkkkkkkkkkk" and "wowwwwwww."

Wolfe`s style was not for everyone.

"The question is not only whether Tom Wolfe can be taken seriously but whether he can be taken at all," a leading magazine critic wrote in 1968. "He is irritating, but he did develop a new journalistic idiom that has brought relief from standard Middle-High Journalese."

Wolfe became fascinated with astronauts after Rolling Stone magazine assigned him to cover an Apollo program launch in 1972. Nine years later and in a more restrained style than some of his earlier works, he wrote "The Right Stuff" about the first seven U.S. astronauts and test pilot Chuck Yeager who came before them.

His first try at fiction was "The Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1987, which captured the cultural feel of free-wheeling Wall Street "masters of the universe" as well as his non-fiction books did. "Bonfire," a best-seller that was a much-revised version of a serial he wrote for Rolling Stone, portrayed class struggles in New York City against a backdrop of Wall Street ambition, racial stress, and yellow journalism.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that Wolfe`s "wry wit and sharp observations defined an era of life in New York."

Wolfe followed with more novels - "A Man in Full" about race, big money and high society in Atlanta "I Am Charlotte Simmons," a tale of college high life, and "Back to Blood" about immigrants in Florida in 2012.

Wolfe complained that novelists did not bring enough reality to their books, and while bemoaning the state of American literature, offered himself as an exemplar of what it should be. That kindled rivalries with contemporaries Norman Mailer and John Updike, who Wolfe referred to as "two old piles of bones." John Irving angrily denounced Wolfe by saying, "I can`t read him because he`s such a bad writer."

Wolfe`s trademark was the white suit, often accessorised with a white hat and two-tone shoes. He admitted he liked the attention they brought him.

Wolfe was born March 2, 1930, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia, the son of an agronomist father and an arts-oriented mother. He was a star pitcher in high school and in college at Washington and Lee and unsuccessfully tried out for the New York Giants. Wolfe lived in New York with his wife, Sheila. He had two children.

The American author of many novels and the one who had been a practitioner of New Journalism dead, told by his agent on phone interview.

Tom Wolfe, an early practitioner of "new journalism" who captured the mood and culture of America across five decades with books including "The Bonfire of the Vanities," "The Right Stuff," and "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," has died at the age of 88, his agent said. Wolfe, who had a knack for coining phrases such as "radical chic" and "the me decade," died on Monday of an unspecified infection in a New York City hospital, his agent, Lynn Nesbit, said in a phone interview on Tuesday. Wolfe`s works - fiction and non-fiction alike - looked at realms ranging from the art world to Wall Street to 1960s hippie culture and touched on the issues of class, power, race, corruption, and sex. "I think every living moment of a human being`s life unless the person is starving or in immediate danger of death in some other way, is controlled by a concern for status," Wolfe said in an interview. Wolfe came up with "radical chic" to brand pretentious liberals, the "me decade" to sum up the self-indulgence of the 1970s and the right stuff to quantify intangible characteristics of the first U.S. astronauts and their test pilot predecessors. He was never deterred by the fact that he often did not fit in with his research subjects, partly because he was such a sartorial dandy, known for his white suits. Wolfe was in his mid-70s while hanging out with college kids and working on the novel "I Am Charlotte Simmons," and was a fairly conservative drug-free observer in a coat and tie while travelling with Ken Kesey and his LSD-dropping hippie tribe known as The Merry Pranksters for "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" in the `60s. By looking so out of place, he figured people would be more prone to explain things to him. `NEW JOURNALISM` Wolfe started his writing career at the Springfield, Massachusetts, Union newspaper and also worked for the Washington Post, New York Herald-Tribune and New York magazine. He was present at the birth of what was known as "new journalism," a loose style that featured lots of dialogue and detail and allowed reporters to narrate and develop characters in a way more often associated with fiction. One of the genre's defining moments came when Wolfe was having trouble meeting a deadline for a 1964 magazine story on the hot-rod car culture. In frustration, he sent his editor a letter with his thoughts and reportage. The magazine ran it verbatim as "There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. "That led to a compilation of Wolfe`s magazine pieces, followed by "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," which captured the spirit of the psychedelic era during his time with Kesey, author of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo`s Nest," and his band of pranksters who helped spread the popularity of LSD in California. Written in a wild free-association style that disregarded rules of punctuation, it was filled with sentence fragments and used words like "skakkkkkkkkkkkkkk" and "wowwwwwww." Wolfe`s style was not for everyone. "The question is not only whether Tom Wolfe can be taken seriously but whether he can be taken at all," a leading magazine critic wrote in 1968. "He is irritating, but he did develop a new journalistic idiom that has brought relief from standard Middle-High Journalese." Wolfe became fascinated with astronauts after Rolling Stone magazine assigned him to cover an Apollo program launch in 1972. Nine years later and in a more restrained style than some of his earlier works, he wrote "The Right Stuff" about the first seven U.S. astronauts and test pilot Chuck Yeager who came before them. His first try at fiction was "The Bonfire of the Vanities" in 1987, which captured the cultural feel of free-wheeling Wall Street "masters of the universe" as well as his non-fiction books did. "Bonfire," a best-seller that was a much-revised version of a serial he wrote for Rolling Stone, portrayed class struggles in New York City against a backdrop of Wall Street ambition, racial stress, and yellow journalism. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that Wolfe`s "wry wit and sharp observations defined an era of life in New York." Wolfe followed with more novels - "A Man in Full" about race, big money and high society in Atlanta "I Am Charlotte Simmons," a tale of college high life, and "Back to Blood" about immigrants in Florida in 2012. Wolfe complained that novelists did not bring enough reality to their books, and while bemoaning the state of American literature, offered himself as an exemplar of what it should be. That kindled rivalries with contemporaries Norman Mailer and John Updike, who Wolfe referred to as "two old piles of bones." John Irving angrily denounced Wolfe by saying, "I can`t read him because he`s such a bad writer." Wolfe`s trademark was the white suit, often accessorised with a white hat and two-tone shoes. He admitted he liked the attention they brought him. Wolfe was born March 2, 1930, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia, the son of an agronomist father and an arts-oriented mother. He was a star pitcher in high school and in college at Washington and Lee and unsuccessfully tried out for the New York Giants. Wolfe lived in New York with his wife, Sheila. He had two children.

'Bonfire of the Vanities' author Tom Wolfe dead at 88

U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and preached to millions across the world from his native North Carolina to communist North Korea during his 70 years in the pulpit, died on Wednesday at the age of 99, a spokesman said.

Graham died at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, according to Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

According to his ministry, he preached Christianity to more people than anyone else in history, reaching hundreds of millions of people either in person or via TV and satellite links.

Graham became the de facto White House chaplain to several U.S. presidents, most famously Richard Nixon. He also met with scores of world leaders and was the first noted evangelist to take his message behind the Iron Curtain.

&quot;He was probably the dominant religious leader of his era,&quot; said William Martin, author of &quot;A Prophet With Honor: The Billy Graham Story.&quot; &quot;No more than one or two popes, perhaps one or two other people, came close to what he achieved.&quot;

Graham found himself at times in controversy over his disapproving stand on gay rights, as well as over a secretly recorded conversation with Nixon in which the cleric complained that Jews had too much influence on the U.S. media. In the later years of his career he intentionally muted his political beliefs to focus on the Gospel.

Graham was no longer a close associate of presidents in recent years but many former U.S. leaders paid tribute on Wednesday. President Donald Trump said on Twitter: &quot;The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man.&quot;

In a rare trip away from his home in his later years, Graham had celebrated his 95th birthday on Nov. 7, 2013, at a hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, where some 800 guests, including Trump, business magnate Rupert Murdoch and television hostess Kathie Lee Gifford paid tribute.

The event featured a video of a sermon that his son Franklin said was Graham&#39;s last message to the nation. Graham had been working for a year on the video, which was aired on Fox News. In it, he said America was &quot;in great need of a spiritual awakening.&quot;

With his steely features and piercing blue eyes, Graham was a powerful figure when he preached in his prime, roaming the stage and hoisting a Bible as he declared Jesus Christ to be the only solution to humanity&#39;s problems.

In his heyday Graham had a thunderous, quick-burst speaking style that earned him the nickname &quot;God&#39;s Machine Gun.&quot; Through his &quot;Crusades for Christ,&quot; Graham sowed fields of devotion across the American heartland that would become fertile ground for the growth of the religious right&#39;s conservative political movement.

MEDIA MASTERY

His influence was fueled by an organization that carefully planned his religious campaigns, putting on international conferences and training seminars for evangelical leaders, Martin said.

Graham&#39;s mastery of the media was ground-breaking. In addition to radio and publishing, he used telephone lines, television and satellites to deliver his message to homes, churches and theaters around the world.

Some 77 million saw him preach in person while nearly 215 million more watched his crusades on television or through satellite link-ups, a Graham spokeswoman said.

Graham started meeting with presidents during the tenure of Harry Truman. He played golf with Gerald Ford, skinny-dipped in the White House pool with Lyndon Johnson, vacationed with George H.W. Bush and spent the night in the White House on Nixon&#39;s first day in office.

George W. Bush gave Graham credit for helping him rediscover his faith and in 2010, when it was difficult for Graham to travel, Barack Obama made the trip to the preacher&#39;s log cabin home in North Carolina&#39;s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Graham&#39;s ties to the White House were mutually beneficial. His reputation was enhanced as preacher to the presidents, while the politicians boosted their standing with religiously inclined voters.

&quot;Their personal lives - some of them - were difficult,&quot; Graham, a registered Democrat, told Time magazine in 2007 of his political acquaintances. &quot;But I loved them all. I admired them all. I knew that they had burdens beyond anything I could ever know or understand.&quot;

Graham&#39;s reputation took a hit because of Nixon after the release of 1972 White House tapes in which the two were heard making anti-Semitic comments. Graham later said he did not remember the conversation and apologized.

In the early half of his career, Graham often spoke his mind on social and political issues of the day, including his strong anti-communist sentiments. He dismissed Vietnam War protesters as attention-seekers and, while he eventually refused to hold segregated revival meetings, he did not take an active role in the 1960s civil rights movement.

But Graham&#39;s politics were not as overt as those of some religious leaders who came after him, such as Pat Robertson, who ran for president in 1988, and Jerry Falwell, co-founder of the Moral Majority, an organization whose purpose was to promote Christian-oriented politics.

As he grew older, Graham said he felt he had become too involved in some issues and shifted to a middle-of-the-road position in order to reach more people. He did, however, dive into the gay marriage issue in 2012 when he came out in support of a state amendment to ban same-sex marriages in North Carolina. He also met with Republican Mitt Romney in October 2012 and told him he supported Romney&#39;s run for the presidency.

FROM FARM TO PULPIT

William Franklin Graham was born on Nov. 7, 1918, into a Presbyterian family and was known as Billy Frank while growing up on a farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. As a teenager, he said he was mostly preoccupied with baseball and girls until he was moved by God after hearing a fiery revivalist in Charlotte.

After attending Bob Jones College, Graham ended up at a Bible school in Florida, where he would preach at his first revival, and was ordained in 1939 by a church in the Southern Baptist Convention. He received a scholarship to Wheaton College near Chicago, where he met Ruth Bell, whose parents were missionaries in China. They married in 1943.

Rather than work from a home church, Graham went on the road, preaching in tents and building a following. His breakthrough came with a 1949 Los Angeles tent crusade that was scheduled for three weeks but extended to eight because of the overflow crowds he attracted.

The success of the Los Angeles campaign and the fame it brought Graham was attributed to media magnate William Randolph Hearst, who had liked Graham&#39;s style and anti-communist stance so much that he ordered his newspapers to give Graham a boost.

Graham eventually outgrew tent revivals and would preach at some of the most famous venues in the world, such as Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden in New York and London&#39;s Wembley Stadium. He delivered sermons around the globe, including in remote African villages, China, North Korea, the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

Liberals accused him of giving credibility to abusive governments while fundamentalist Christians criticized him for going to godless countries and promoting peaceful relations with them. Graham said he simply saw the trips as apolitical opportunities to win souls for Christ.

Graham concluded his career of religious campaigns in June 2005 in New York with a three-day stand that attracted more than 230,000 people, his organization said. He turned over his evangelical association to his son Franklin, who did not shy away from politics and frequently praised Trump once he became president.

Graham&#39;s other four children were also evangelists.

A funeral at a venue that holds about 2,300 people is planned for March 2 in front of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, his organization said. It said he will be buried on library premises next to his wife, Ruth. She died on June 14, 2007. The couple had two sons and three daughters.

Graham&#39;s body will lie in repose next Monday and Tuesday at the Graham family house which is now at the library site, having been moved from its original location, also in Charlotte, said family spokesman Mark DeMoss.

When Graham began his ministry in 1950, he would preach under a tent he called a &ldquo;canvas cathedral,&quot; DeMoss said. He said having Graham&#39;s funeral service under a tent is a reminder of how his ministry began.

Graham himself &ldquo;personally approved the planning and details of the service some years ago,&quot; said DeMoss, speaking at a press conference in Charlotte on Wednesday night.

REPUTATION

Graham maintained his public integrity even as other TV star evangelists such as Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were hit in the 1980s by financial and sex scandals. To keep his reputation pristine, Graham had a policy of never being alone with any woman other than Ruth.

Graham&#39;s closest presidential relationship was with Nixon, who offered him any government job he wanted - including ambassador to Israel. It turned out to be a painful relationship for Graham, who said Nixon and his circle misled him on the Watergate scandal.

Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman first mentioned Graham&#39;s anti-Semitic remarks in a 1994 book, which Graham strongly denied. But when audio tapes from the Nixon White House were released in 2002, Graham could be heard referring to Jews as pornographers and agreeing with Nixon that the U.S. media was dominated by liberal Jews and could send the United States &quot;down the drain.&quot;

Graham, who had a long history of supporting Israel, apologized again after the tapes&#39; release and said he had no recollection of the conversation.

&quot;If it wasn&#39;t on tape, I would not have believed it,&quot; Graham told Newsweek. &quot;I guess I was trying to please. I felt so badly about myself - I couldn&#39;t believe it. I went to a meeting with Jewish leaders and I told them I would crawl to them to ask their forgiveness.&quot;

The author of more than two dozen books with titles such as &quot;How to Be Born Again,&quot; Graham also ran the weekly &quot;Hour of Decision&quot; radio program broadcast around the world on Sundays for more than 50 years.

Graham helped bring religion into the television age. He first put together a television show, which was eventually syndicated, in 1951 and began live broadcasts of his revival meetings in 1957 from New York&#39;s Madison Square Garden.

In a 2011 Fox News interview, Graham was asked what he would do differently in his career.

&quot;I would study more. I would pray more, travel less, take less speaking engagements,&quot; he said. &quot;I took too many of them in too many places around the world. If I had it to do over again I&#39;d spend more time in meditation and prayer and just telling the Lord how much I love him.&quot;

In addition to suffering with Parkinson&#39;s disease for many years, Graham&#39;s health problems in his later years included a broken hip, a broken pelvis, prostate cancer and installation of a shunt in his brain to control excess fluid. He was hospitalized in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for respiratory problems. 
&nbsp;

'He was probably the dominant religious leader of his era,' said William Martin, author of A Prophet With Honor: The Billy Graham Story. 'No more than one or two popes, perhaps one or two other people, came close to what he achieved'

U.S. evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and preached to millions across the world from his native North Carolina to communist North Korea during his 70 years in the pulpit, died on Wednesday at the age of 99, a spokesman said. Graham died at 8 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, according to Jeremy Blume, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. According to his ministry, he preached Christianity to more people than anyone else in history, reaching hundreds of millions of people either in person or via TV and satellite links. Graham became the de facto White House chaplain to several U.S. presidents, most famously Richard Nixon. He also met with scores of world leaders and was the first noted evangelist to take his message behind the Iron Curtain. "He was probably the dominant religious leader of his era," said William Martin, author of "A Prophet With Honor: The Billy Graham Story." "No more than one or two popes, perhaps one or two other people, came close to what he achieved." Graham found himself at times in controversy over his disapproving stand on gay rights, as well as over a secretly recorded conversation with Nixon in which the cleric complained that Jews had too much influence on the U.S. media. In the later years of his career he intentionally muted his political beliefs to focus on the Gospel. Graham was no longer a close associate of presidents in recent years but many former U.S. leaders paid tribute on Wednesday. President Donald Trump said on Twitter: "The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man." In a rare trip away from his home in his later years, Graham had celebrated his 95th birthday on Nov. 7, 2013, at a hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, where some 800 guests, including Trump, business magnate Rupert Murdoch and television hostess Kathie Lee Gifford paid tribute. The event featured a video of a sermon that his son Franklin said was Graham's last message to the nation. Graham had been working for a year on the video, which was aired on Fox News. In it, he said America was "in great need of a spiritual awakening." With his steely features and piercing blue eyes, Graham was a powerful figure when he preached in his prime, roaming the stage and hoisting a Bible as he declared Jesus Christ to be the only solution to humanity's problems. In his heyday Graham had a thunderous, quick-burst speaking style that earned him the nickname "God's Machine Gun." Through his "Crusades for Christ," Graham sowed fields of devotion across the American heartland that would become fertile ground for the growth of the religious right's conservative political movement. MEDIA MASTERY His influence was fueled by an organization that carefully planned his religious campaigns, putting on international conferences and training seminars for evangelical leaders, Martin said. Graham's mastery of the media was ground-breaking. In addition to radio and publishing, he used telephone lines, television and satellites to deliver his message to homes, churches and theaters around the world. Some 77 million saw him preach in person while nearly 215 million more watched his crusades on television or through satellite link-ups, a Graham spokeswoman said. Graham started meeting with presidents during the tenure of Harry Truman. He played golf with Gerald Ford, skinny-dipped in the White House pool with Lyndon Johnson, vacationed with George H.W. Bush and spent the night in the White House on Nixon's first day in office. George W. Bush gave Graham credit for helping him rediscover his faith and in 2010, when it was difficult for Graham to travel, Barack Obama made the trip to the preacher's log cabin home in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. Graham's ties to the White House were mutually beneficial. His reputation was enhanced as preacher to the presidents, while the politicians boosted their standing with religiously inclined voters. "Their personal lives - some of them - were difficult," Graham, a registered Democrat, told Time magazine in 2007 of his political acquaintances. "But I loved them all. I admired them all. I knew that they had burdens beyond anything I could ever know or understand." Graham's reputation took a hit because of Nixon after the release of 1972 White House tapes in which the two were heard making anti-Semitic comments. Graham later said he did not remember the conversation and apologized. In the early half of his career, Graham often spoke his mind on social and political issues of the day, including his strong anti-communist sentiments. He dismissed Vietnam War protesters as attention-seekers and, while he eventually refused to hold segregated revival meetings, he did not take an active role in the 1960s civil rights movement. But Graham's politics were not as overt as those of some religious leaders who came after him, such as Pat Robertson, who ran for president in 1988, and Jerry Falwell, co-founder of the Moral Majority, an organization whose purpose was to promote Christian-oriented politics. As he grew older, Graham said he felt he had become too involved in some issues and shifted to a middle-of-the-road position in order to reach more people. He did, however, dive into the gay marriage issue in 2012 when he came out in support of a state amendment to ban same-sex marriages in North Carolina. He also met with Republican Mitt Romney in October 2012 and told him he supported Romney's run for the presidency. FROM FARM TO PULPIT William Franklin Graham was born on Nov. 7, 1918, into a Presbyterian family and was known as Billy Frank while growing up on a farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. As a teenager, he said he was mostly preoccupied with baseball and girls until he was moved by God after hearing a fiery revivalist in Charlotte. After attending Bob Jones College, Graham ended up at a Bible school in Florida, where he would preach at his first revival, and was ordained in 1939 by a church in the Southern Baptist Convention. He received a scholarship to Wheaton College near Chicago, where he met Ruth Bell, whose parents were missionaries in China. They married in 1943. Rather than work from a home church, Graham went on the road, preaching in tents and building a following. His breakthrough came with a 1949 Los Angeles tent crusade that was scheduled for three weeks but extended to eight because of the overflow crowds he attracted. The success of the Los Angeles campaign and the fame it brought Graham was attributed to media magnate William Randolph Hearst, who had liked Graham's style and anti-communist stance so much that he ordered his newspapers to give Graham a boost. Graham eventually outgrew tent revivals and would preach at some of the most famous venues in the world, such as Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden in New York and London's Wembley Stadium. He delivered sermons around the globe, including in remote African villages, China, North Korea, the Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Liberals accused him of giving credibility to abusive governments while fundamentalist Christians criticized him for going to godless countries and promoting peaceful relations with them. Graham said he simply saw the trips as apolitical opportunities to win souls for Christ. Graham concluded his career of religious campaigns in June 2005 in New York with a three-day stand that attracted more than 230,000 people, his organization said. He turned over his evangelical association to his son Franklin, who did not shy away from politics and frequently praised Trump once he became president. Graham's other four children were also evangelists. A funeral at a venue that holds about 2,300 people is planned for March 2 in front of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, his organization said. It said he will be buried on library premises next to his wife, Ruth. She died on June 14, 2007. The couple had two sons and three daughters. Graham's body will lie in repose next Monday and Tuesday at the Graham family house which is now at the library site, having been moved from its original location, also in Charlotte, said family spokesman Mark DeMoss. When Graham began his ministry in 1950, he would preach under a tent he called a “canvas cathedral," DeMoss said. He said having Graham's funeral service under a tent is a reminder of how his ministry began. Graham himself “personally approved the planning and details of the service some years ago," said DeMoss, speaking at a press conference in Charlotte on Wednesday night. REPUTATION Graham maintained his public integrity even as other TV star evangelists such as Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart were hit in the 1980s by financial and sex scandals. To keep his reputation pristine, Graham had a policy of never being alone with any woman other than Ruth. Graham's closest presidential relationship was with Nixon, who offered him any government job he wanted - including ambassador to Israel. It turned out to be a painful relationship for Graham, who said Nixon and his circle misled him on the Watergate scandal. Nixon aide H.R. Haldeman first mentioned Graham's anti-Semitic remarks in a 1994 book, which Graham strongly denied. But when audio tapes from the Nixon White House were released in 2002, Graham could be heard referring to Jews as pornographers and agreeing with Nixon that the U.S. media was dominated by liberal Jews and could send the United States "down the drain." Graham, who had a long history of supporting Israel, apologized again after the tapes' release and said he had no recollection of the conversation. "If it wasn't on tape, I would not have believed it," Graham told Newsweek. "I guess I was trying to please. I felt so badly about myself - I couldn't believe it. I went to a meeting with Jewish leaders and I told them I would crawl to them to ask their forgiveness." The author of more than two dozen books with titles such as "How to Be Born Again," Graham also ran the weekly "Hour of Decision" radio program broadcast around the world on Sundays for more than 50 years. Graham helped bring religion into the television age. He first put together a television show, which was eventually syndicated, in 1951 and began live broadcasts of his revival meetings in 1957 from New York's Madison Square Garden. In a 2011 Fox News interview, Graham was asked what he would do differently in his career. "I would study more. I would pray more, travel less, take less speaking engagements," he said. "I took too many of them in too many places around the world. If I had it to do over again I'd spend more time in meditation and prayer and just telling the Lord how much I love him." In addition to suffering with Parkinson's disease for many years, Graham's health problems in his later years included a broken hip, a broken pelvis, prostate cancer and installation of a shunt in his brain to control excess fluid. He was hospitalized in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for respiratory problems.

US: Billy Graham, 'preacher to presidents', dies at 99

ER&nbsp;Braithwaite, a Guyanese novelist, teacher&nbsp;and diplomat, died at the age of 104 in Rockville, Maryland, on Monday.

The author of &#39;To Sir, With Love&#39; was also a pilot in Britain&rsquo;s Royal Air Force during World War II, and served in the 1960s as the newly independent Guyana&rsquo;s first representative at the United Nations.

His novel, &#39;To Sir, With Love&#39; was critically acclaimed and was so loved by the people that it was made into a 1967 British drama film of the same title, starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu.

He had many other famous books to his credit, namely &#39;Paid Servant&#39;, &#39;A Kind of Homecoming&#39;, &#39;Choice of Straws&#39;, &#39;Reluctant Neighbors&#39; and &#39;Honorary White&#39;.

Braithwaite was best known for his stories about racial discrimination against black people, especially in South Africa and the United States -- the two countries where he lived much of his life.

He studied at Queen&rsquo;s College, Guyana, and at the City College of New York, and moved to Britain after working at an oil refinery in Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela.

In 1940, he volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force.

Braithwaite received a master&rsquo;s degree in physics from Cambridge University in 1949. After leaving his teaching job, he worked with Caribbean immigrant families in London.

Along with his writing, Braithwaite had a record of public service. From 1960 to 1963, he was a human rights officer at the World Veterans Federation, based in Paris; from 1963 to 1966, he was a lecturer and education consultant at Unesco, also in Paris.

From 1967 to 1969, he served as the first permanent representative of Guyana to the United Nations. He was later the country&rsquo;s ambassador to Venezuela, according to New York Times.

He also taught at New York University, Florida State University, among other institutions.

At the age of 100, Braithwaite was conferred with a national award -- the Cacique Crown of Honour -- by then-president Donald Ramotar.

(WION)

He was best known for his stories about racial discrimination against black people

ER Braithwaite, a Guyanese novelist, teacher and diplomat, died at the age of 104 in Rockville, Maryland, on Monday. The author of 'To Sir, With Love' was also a pilot in Britain’s Royal Air Force during World War II, and served in the 1960s as the newly independent Guyana’s first representative at the United Nations. His novel, 'To Sir, With Love' was critically acclaimed and was so loved by the people that it was made into a 1967 British drama film of the same title, starring Sidney Poitier and Lulu. He had many other famous books to his credit, namely 'Paid Servant', 'A Kind of Homecoming', 'Choice of Straws', 'Reluctant Neighbors' and 'Honorary White'. Braithwaite was best known for his stories about racial discrimination against black people, especially in South Africa and the United States -- the two countries where he lived much of his life. He studied at Queen’s College, Guyana, and at the City College of New York, and moved to Britain after working at an oil refinery in Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela. In 1940, he volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force. Braithwaite received a master’s degree in physics from Cambridge University in 1949. After leaving his teaching job, he worked with Caribbean immigrant families in London. Along with his writing, Braithwaite had a record of public service. From 1960 to 1963, he was a human rights officer at the World Veterans Federation, based in Paris; from 1963 to 1966, he was a lecturer and education consultant at Unesco, also in Paris. From 1967 to 1969, he served as the first permanent representative of Guyana to the United Nations. He was later the country’s ambassador to Venezuela, according to New York Times. He also taught at New York University, Florida State University, among other institutions. At the age of 100, Braithwaite was conferred with a national award -- the Cacique Crown of Honour -- by then-president Donald Ramotar. (WION)

ER Braithwaite, author of 'To Sir, With Love', dies at 104

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