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Celebrating Italian Scholarship in 2025 In its 2025 issue (Volume 43), Annali d’italianistica—a leading international journal in Italian Studies—features reviews of three of our recent publications that explore Italy’s history, culture, and language from fresh scholarly perspectives. From the nation-building years of the nineteenth century to the literary and human legacy of Clara Sereni and the evolving methodologies of teaching Italian as a foreign language, these reviews highlight the richness and diversity of current Italian research. Together, they reaffirm the continuing vitality of Italian Studies and the role of academic publishing in connecting new generations of readers, educators, and researchers with Italy’s multifaceted cultural heritage. Review Highlights Italy in the Second Half of the 19th Century [...] In this volume we find eleven thought-provoking articles that enhance the story of Italy in the exciting turbulence of its early nation building. [...] Admirably researched and detailed [...] it will certainly attract serious readers of Italian History and will undoubtedly serve to inspire further academic explorations of the fascinating years of Italian post-Unification. [Extract from book review on 'Annali d’italianistica' (Italian Studies Journal). Volume 43 (2025). pp. 573-575. Reviewer: Anne Urbancic (Victoria College in the University of Toronto) https://annali.org/volume-43-2025/ ] The Literary and Human Legacy of Clara Sereni [...] the volume acts as an essential toolbox for understanding Sereni’s complexity, caught between the legacy of the Resistance, the drama of the Cold War, the trauma of the Lead Years, the rise of feminist consciousness, the needs of neurodiverse populations and their caregivers, and the rediscovery of food traditions. [...] [Extract from book review on 'Annali d’italianistica' (Italian Studies Journal). Volume 43 (2025). PP. 736-738. Reviewer: Stefania Benini (Franklin & Marshall College) https://annali.org/volume-43-2025/ ] Italian as a Foreign Language: Teaching and Acquisition in Higher Education [...] Methodological pluralism is the collection’s primary strength: every essay provides ready-to-use task banks for lecturers who face time constraints. [...] "Italian as a Foreign Language" merits a place on the program director’s shelf. Its wide mix of phonetic clinics, field-work ethnographies, and LSP modules demonstrates a curriculum where disciplinary content and linguistic form develop together. While instructors seeking robust analytics or globalsouth perspectives must look elsewhere, the collection offers an indispensable repertoire for redesigning post-pandemic courses that aim beyond generic communicative competence. Recommended for MA-level teacher-training seminars and for departments intent on integrating Italian into art history, geography, media studies, or performance, this volume serves as a vehicle for the profession-ready literacy. [Extract from book review on 'Annali d’italianistica' (Italian Studies Journal). Volume 43 (2025). pp 752-754. Reviewer: Deion Dresser (University of Pennsylvania). https://annali.org/volume-43-2025/ ] Continuing the Dialogue in Italian Studies These three reviews in Annali d’italianistica (Volume 43, 2025) underscore the ongoing relevance of Italian Studies in today’s academic landscape. Each volume—whether addressing the social transformation of post-Unification Italy, the literary and ethical resonance of Clara Sereni, or innovative approaches to teaching Italian as a foreign language—reflects the field’s interdisciplinary energy and global reach. We are proud to see these works recognized for their scholarly contribution and invite readers, educators, and institutions engaged in Italian history, literature, and language research to explore them further on our website. Explore the Featured Volumes Discover the books reviewed in Annali d’italianistica (Volume 43, 2025) and learn more about their contributions to Italian Studies: Italy in the Second Half of the 19th Century. Bridging New Cultures The Literary and Human Legacy of Clara Sereni Italian as a Foreign Language: Teaching and Acquisition in Higher Education Read more about these titles, view full reviews, or order copies directly from their individual pages on our website.

We are pleased to announce that Lost Kingdom: Animal Death in the Anthropocene edited by Wendy A. Wiseman and Burak Kesgin has been reviewed by Steven E. Silvern (Salem State University) and published in the 'Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture', Vol. 19 (2025) 1-3: [...] “Lost Kingdom” is a worthwhile book, challenging readers to recognize the material and ideological forces behind the mass extinctions of animals in the Anthropocene. The book asks us to bear witness to the loss of animals’ life, to empathize with non-humans, and to work towards a radical relationality with the animal world. [...] [Extract from book review on the 'Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture', Vol. 19 (2025) 1-3. Published online: 2025-11-03. Reviewer: Steven E. Silvern (Salem State University). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1558/jsrnc.33043] Find out more about the book and order your copy here: Lost Kingdom: Animal Death in the Anthropocene The authors in ‘Lost Kingdom’ grapple with both the catastrophe of mass animal extinction, in which the panoply of earthly life is in the accelerating process of disappearing, and with the mass death of industrial animal agriculture. Both forms of anthropogenic violence against animals cast the Anthropocene as an era of criminality and loss driven by boundless human exceptionalism, forcing a reckoning with and an urgent reimagining of human-animal relations. Without the sleights of hand that would lump “humanity” into a singular Anthropos of the Anthropocene, the authors recognize the differential nature of human impacts on animal life and the biosphere as a whole, while affirming the complexity of animal worlds and their profound imbrications in human cultures, societies, and industries. Confronting the reality of the Sixth Mass Extinction and mass animal death requires forms of narrativity that draw on traditional genres and disciplines, while signaling a radical break with modern temporalities and norms. Chapters in this volume reflect this challenge, while embodying the interdisciplinary nature of inquiry into non-human animality at the edge of the abyss—historiography, cultural anthropology, post-colonial studies, literary criticism, critical animal studies, ethics, religious studies, Anthropocene studies, and extinction studies entwine to illuminate what is arguably the greatest crisis, for all creatures, in the past 65 million years.

Citation in a Leading Forum on Public International Law Vernon Press is pleased to share that Blue Crimes and International Criminal Law, edited by Regina M. Paulose (2025), has been cited in a recent contribution to Völkerrechtsblog, the widely respected online forum for public international law scholarship. The article, titled “Unanchoring Universality: A Case for Extending the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over Unregistered Vessels in International Waters” (31 October 2025), examines persistent jurisdictional gaps in the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s ability to address crimes at sea committed aboard unregistered vessels operating in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The Article’s Discussion of Jurisdictional Gaps In this piece, Konstantin Pfaff argues that the Rome Statute’s current jurisdictional framework offers no effective mechanism to address conduct occurring on vessels lacking a flag state. Because the ICC relies primarily on territoriality and nationality as gateways to jurisdiction, unregistered vessels in international waters remain effectively outside the Court’s reach. Pfaff contends that this lacuna undermines broader efforts to combat transnational maritime crimes and suggests that a move toward a more universal model of jurisdiction may be warranted. The article situates this problem within recent incidents at sea and reflects on the legal and practical implications of expanding the ICC’s mandate. Relevance to Blue Crimes and International Criminal Law The citation of Blue Crimes and International Criminal Law underscores the book’s contribution to emerging debates on maritime criminality, ocean governance, and the limits of existing international legal frameworks. The volume brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine the growing category of “blue crimes,” including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution, trafficking, human rights violations at sea, and broader ecological harms that often fall outside traditional doctrinal boundaries. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the book highlights the complex interaction between environmental degradation, organised crime, corporate activity, human vulnerability, and the shortcomings of current international criminal law. Contribution to Current Debates on High-Seas Accountability Several chapters engage directly with the themes addressed in the Völkerrechtsblog article, particularly regarding accountability gaps in areas beyond national jurisdiction and the structural weaknesses that allow harmful conduct at sea to persist with relative impunity. By foregrounding the challenges of enforcement, evidentiary barriers, jurisdictional limitations, and the need for legal innovation, the volume offers a substantive framework for rethinking how the international legal system might evolve to meaningfully address wrongdoing in the world’s oceans. Continuing Importance of the Volume We are pleased to see this scholarship informing ongoing debate and contributing to renewed consideration of how international criminal law can respond to crimes committed in maritime contexts. Blue Crimes and International Criminal Law is available through Vernon Press and continues to serve as an important resource for researchers, practitioners and policymakers concerned with the future of ocean governance, marine justice, and the pursuit of accountability at sea.

We are pleased to announce that Navigating Boundaries: A Comprehensive Study of Postcolonial Theory and Literature by Shuchi Agrawal has been reviewed by Shivani Singh (Amity University) and published in the 'SABITA: A Journal of Humaties', Vol II, Issue I (2025), ISSN: 3107-376X (Online), pp. 74-78: [...] By tying together key academic debates on identity, resistance, language, gender and nationalism the book under review provides a comprehensive examination of postcolonial theory and literature. Its structured approach and inclusion of literary studies from South Asian and the Caribbean alongside engagements with seminal postcolonial theorists make it an indispensable resource for scholars, students and researchers in post-colonial studies, literary criticism and cultural theory. The book’s interdisciplinary character and emphasis on current viewpoints assure its continuing relevance in postcolonial discourse making it an essential text for those seeking deeper understanding of the complexities of power, resistance and identity in a post-colonial world. [...] [Extract from book review on 'SABITA: A Journal of Humaties', Vol II, Issue I (2025), ISSN: 3107-376X (Online), pp. 74-78. Reviewer: Shivani Singh (Amity University). https://sabitajournal.com/index.php/sabita/article/view/44/49] Find out more about the book and order your copy here: "Navigating Boundaries: A Comprehensive Study of Postcolonial Theory and Literature" 'Navigating Boundaries: A Comprehensive Study of Postcolonial Theory and Literature' delves into the intricate area of postcolonial discourse, amplifying the voices emerging from the margins, challenging dominant narratives while exploring the themes of identity, mimicry, hybridity, power and resistance. Drawing from key theorists such as Edward Said, Homi K. Bhabha, Frantz Fanon, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Philip G. Altbach, Deepesh Chakravarthy, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Gauri Viswanathan etc., this book offers a deep investigation into the multiple aspects of theoretical frameworks that shape postcolonial discourse. The analysis moves seamlessly from theory to literature, investigating how postcolonial literary texts navigate critical issues such as hybridity, mimicry, identity and resistance. A vital resource for students, research scholars, teachers, and anyone curious about the dynamic field of postcolonial theory and literature, this book calls readers to reflect, question, and join the discourse on the complex narratives that continue to shape our world. Generally, most of the postcolonial critiques explore linguistic imperialism, but this book makes a groundbreaking contribution by foregrounding the use of vernacular languages in literary texts and critical theory, positing that this is not just an aesthetic choice but a form of resistance and identity reclamation. In doing so, it echoes Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s call for linguistic decolonization and applies it in a broader, more diverse context, examining how the act of writing in local languages disrupts colonial power dynamics and fosters cultural preservation. While much of postcolonial criticism tends to centre on broad historical and political analysis, 'Navigating Boundaries' emphasizes the multiple voices coming from Africa, Caribbean and South Asia, offering a more intimate look at identity formation in postcolonial settings. Moreover, the book’s interdisciplinary approach strengthens its position in the field. By weaving in cultural studies, sociology, and psychological perspectives on gender, trauma, ethnicity and memory, it opens up fresh pathways, making the work relevant not just for literary scholars, but for those interested in a wider discourse on postcolonial theory.

We are pleased to announce that False Idols: How Diversion Is Destroying Democracy by Kurt Warner has been featured in a recent review published in the 'Midwest Book Review', Volume 24, Number 10, October 2025: [...] impressively timely, informative, deftly crafted, intellectually and emotionally engaging, and essential reading for anyone wanting to defend and protect the Constitution against the kinds of assaults that currently permeate American politics on the state and federal levels. [...] [Extract from book review on the 'Midwest Book Review', Volume 24, Number 10, October 2025. https://www.midwestbookreview.com/sbw/oct_25.htm#politicalscience ] Find out more about the book and order your copy here: False Idols: How Diversion Is Destroying Democracy (Vernon Press) The ancient Roman poet and satirist Juvenal stated that people were distracted by “bread and circuses” rather than engaged in their civic duty. Juvenal argued these bread and circuses, or basic needs and entertainment, consumed the thoughts and lives of the average Roman no matter what was happening in the Republic around them. The powerful political forces in society used many different forms of distraction to enable them to do what they wanted unimpeded by the masses. 'False Idols: How Diversion Is Destroying Democracy' picks up where Juvenal left off. The book is a journey through contemporary America and it illustrates how the concept of “bread and circuses” is as powerful and as relevant now as it was in the days of ancient Rome. It examines the deliberate distractions that are created by the cultivation of false idols. The distractions include the adoration of celebrities and parasocial interactions, the economic culture and the implicit belief systems contained within it, sports and the adoration of athletes, the political system and structure, the art, music, and literature we spend our time listening to and watching, the internet and social media that occupies so much of our time, and the video games that occupy the minds and much of the lives of so many people. As long as everybody is chasing and distracted by these bread and circuses, they are willfully negligent to the goings-on in the very fabric of the social network that is of our society, government, and country. The more negligent they become, the more the democracy continues withering and dying. This book systemically deconstructs a modern society that seems designed to consistently pull us away from rather than draw us toward the creation of a better existence for all.

Congratulations to Anish Dave (Stephen F. Austin State University), the author of the book 'Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean' for receiving a review from Neil Stubbs (Camosun College, Canada) appearing in'Literary Journalism Studies', , Vol. 15, No. 2, December 2024 • Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2025: [...] The extent of the author’s research is admirable and makes this book a valuable resource for seasoned scholars, as well as a useful primer for those who are just beginning their studies of literary techniques and their application in the field of reportage. [...] [Extract from book review on 'Literary Journalism Studies', , Vol. 15, No. 2, December 2024 • Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2025. Reviewer: Neil Stubbs (Camosun College, Canada) https://s35767.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23-BkRev8_Stubbs_Daves-Sheean-Bio.pdf ] The book is available to order here: Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean Vincent Sheean, a groundbreaking American foreign correspondent and author, is known for reporting from Europe, North Africa, and Asia, writing news reports, articles, and books. A few books and articles have described Vincent Sheean’s life, and briefly discussed his major nonfiction books. However, no book-length study or article has closely examined his nonfiction books. 'Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean', textually analyzes his five nonfiction, journalistic books to examine them for characteristics of literary journalism. Spanning nearly the entirety of his journalistic career, these books include 'Personal History' (1935), 'Not Peace but a Sword' (1939), 'Between the Thunder and the Sun' (1943), 'Lead, Kindly Light' (1949), and 'Nehru: The Years of Power' (1960). Set in different world areas, the books illuminate events as disparate as the Riffian war, the Spanish Civil War, the infamous Munich pact, the Nazi bombing of London, and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Sheean’s books provide an in-depth, personal look at these and related events. This book includes analysis of Sheean’s works, finding that they have several prominent characteristics of literary journalism: stories and scenes, cohesive structure, lifelike characters, vivid description, well-crafted sentences, immersive reporting, among others.

Vernon Press is proud to share the growing recognition of Kurt Warner’s book, False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy (January 2025), which delivers a powerful critique of how modern “bread and circuses” undermine democratic life and civic engagement. Featured Podcasts and Broadcasts Warner has been invited to discuss the themes of False Idols across multiple platforms, reaching listeners nationwide: Womanhood and International Relations Podcast – Kurt Warner on How Idol Worship Undermines Democracy (Episode 202, Pocket Casts). Tell Me Your Story Podcast – Hosted by Richard Dugan, running since 2007 (episode available on Podbean). America at Night with Rich Valdés – False Idols, Gaza on the Brink… (Apple Podcasts, NYC-based). Michigan’s Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels – Interview segment featured on JioSaavn. Press Coverage The New York Trend Magazine featured Warner’s work in the article Are ‘Bread and Circuses’ Dismantling Democracy? New Book Warns of the Hidden Cost of Modern Distractions (September 15, 2025). Read here. Scholarly and Critical Reviews Michael Maiello, in his review False Idols, The Image, The Future (Middlebrow Musings, August 22, 2025), offered a thoughtful engagement with Warner’s exploration of media, distraction, and civic neglect. Read here. About the Book In False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy, Warner examines how celebrity worship, sports, politics, media, art, and technology function as modern diversions that erode critical thinking and civic responsibility. Drawing inspiration from Juvenal’s critique of Roman “bread and circuses,” Warner demonstrates how these cultural distractions threaten democracy today. False Idols: How Diversion is Destroying Democracy is available now in hardback, paperback, and e-book editions from Vernon Press. Learn more about the book and order your copy here.

Washington, D.C. — September 18, 2025. Pamela Carter-Birken, author of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips and America’s First Museum of Modern Art (Vernon Press), delivered a captivating presentation at the historic Arts Club of Washington, located in the President James Monroe House. Her book explores the legacy of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips, founders of The Phillips Collection, widely regarded as America’s first museum of modern art. During the event, Carter-Birken highlighted how the Phillips family not only collected art but also cultivated a cultural home where artists, staff, and the public could engage deeply with modern art. “The Arts Club of Washington was honored to host Dr. Pamela Carter-Birken in the historic President James Monroe House, where she delivered a captivating presentation on the Phillips family, founders of The Phillips Collection. Her presentation revealed not only the art that graces the museum’s walls, but also the people—collectors, artists, and dedicated staff—who shaped it into both a cultural treasure and a home. With lively storytelling, she illuminated the intertwined lives of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips alongside the many others who built and sustained the Collection. The evening left our audience with a deeper appreciation of the Phillips family's contribution to America's cultural legacy. Her book is a remarkable testament to how art, literature, and history continue to shape the human experience and enrich our cultural life.” — Jameson Paul Freeman, President, The Arts Club of Washington The evening underscored the relevance of Carter-Birken’s book for scholars, students, and art enthusiasts seeking to understand how modern art entered the American cultural landscape. The Phillips Collection, founded in 1921, remains one of the most significant institutions for modern art in the United States, and Carter-Birken’s work provides a nuanced look into the lives of its founders and the community they fostered. Duncan and Marjorie Phillips and America’s First Museum of Modern Art is available from Vernon Press in hardback, paperback, and e-book editions. Learn more about the book here.

We are pleased to announce that False Idols: How Diversion Is Destroying Democracy by Kurt Warner has been featured in a recent review published by New York Trend NYC. The article, titled “Are ‘Bread and Circuses’ Dismantling Democracy? New Book Warns of the Hidden Cost of Modern Distractions”, explores the book’s urgent message on the cultural and political dangers of modern distractions. About the Book In False Idols, Warner draws on his expertise as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist to examine how celebrity culture, consumerism, and social media erode civic engagement. By comparing today’s society with the Roman concept of “bread and circuses,” Warner argues that systemic diversions keep the public pacified while democracy weakens. Key Themes in the Review The review highlights several central arguments of the book: Modern society idolizes celebrities, influencers, and brands, diverting energy from civic participation. Constant distractions create a psychological toll, leaving individuals vulnerable to manipulation and disillusionment. Warner’s book serves as a wake-up call to reclaim focus, question cultural priorities, and engage in democratic action. Read the Full Review You can read the full article by New York Trend NYC here: Are ‘Bread and Circuses’ Dismantling Democracy? Find out more about the book and order your copy here: False Idols: How Diversion Is Destroying Democracy (Vernon Press)

Vernon Press is pleased to share a series of exclusive interviews with the editors and authors of the recently published volume Liberation through Destruction: From Fantastic Creatures to Marginalized Social Groups. Produced by Habemus Litterae as part of its program PERFILES, these conversations highlight the inspiration, research, and creative processes behind this groundbreaking book. About the Book Liberation through Destruction explores the ways in which literary and cultural narratives of destruction can be reframed as acts of liberation. Edited by Kate Kagan and Gabriela Schiappacasse, the volume brings together contributions that bridge literature, social critique, and cultural analysis, offering fresh insights into how marginalized groups and fantastic beings are represented across contexts. Featured Interviews We invite readers, scholars, and students to watch the following interviews with the book’s editors and contributors: Interview with editors Kate Kagan and Gabriela Schiappacasse Book presentation: Liberation through Destruction Interview with contributor César Ruiz Ledesma Interview with contributor Briseyda Barrientos Why Watch? These interviews offer: Insight into the themes and motivations behind the volume. A chance to hear directly from the editors and contributors about their scholarly journeys. Valuable context for understanding the book’s relevance to contemporary cultural and literary studies. Learn More Discover more about the book and order your copy here: Liberation through Destruction (Vernon Press).

Congratulations to Ugur Ada, the author of the book 'Edward Bond: Bondian Drama and Young Audience' for receiving a review from Prof. Dr. Graham Saunders appearing in De Gruyter's 'Journal of Contemporary Drama in English', 2025, Volume 13, Issue 2: For Chen, Bond's ideas share certain similarities with the work of the Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky (5). One Bondian concept, "The Invisible Object," is the main subject of Chen's chapter. This term is understood as a product of ideology and hence how we understand reality through enactment and the intervention of the actor. Potentially, this allows the invisible object to be "freed fron1 its ideologized use and reinvested with a new significance" (4). In the three chosen plays this concerns an intruding foreigner, an invisible spectre, and an untold story (18). Bond's preoccupation with the creation of humanness also informs Ada's conclu­ding chapter, which returns to this central tenet, achieved largely through the indi­vidual being able to feel at home in the world. Ada sees the domestic home as a site where these processes are frequently demonstrated in Bondian drama. He uses the play Tune (2011) as a case study, identifying its two sites. Part of the journey for its two young protagonists -the home and the street outside - leads to the realisation that the further they travel from home, the further societal laws break down. Another cluster of chapters chooses to examine the types of children who ap­pear in Bond's plays. For example, Susana Nicolás Román's chapter, ''Transcending Vulnerability and Resilience: Bondian Female Youth in the Big Brum Plays," looks at examples from the television play Tuesday (1993) as well as from Chair (2006) and The Hungry Bowl in terms of how they demonstrate not only forros of active resil­ience (157), but how vulnerability itself can be interpreted "as a potential for change" (159). While frequently shown to be survivors, as Cüneyt ózata's "Bond's Psychological Drama: Neurosis in The Children" elucidates, many of the young peo­ple in these plays exhibit the selfish or violent patterns of behaviour learnt from the adults who surround them, from which "the seeds of neurosis are planted" (35). [...] [Extract from book review in the 'Edward Bond: Bondian Drama and Young Audience', 2025, Issue 13(2). Reviewer: Prof. Dr. Graham Saunders, https://doi.org/10.1515/jcde-2025-2034] The book is available to order here: Edward Bond: Bondian Drama and Young Audience 'Edward Bond: Bondian Drama and Young Audience' focuses on one of the most influential playwrights of Britain, Edward Bond, and his plays for young audiences. The chapters examine the theatrical and pedagogical prospects of the plays on young people which have been mostly staged since 1990s, throughout the globe. The issues covered in this book involve interdisciplinary studies such as theatre, pedagogy, ethics, children, culture, politics, among others. These topics have crucial importance for the production of plays for young audiences. Apart from this, the book focuses on Bondian Drama and its relation with the dramatic child, involving most of his plays for young audiences. The authors in this volume examine theatrical and pedagogical backgrounds of the plays, discussing critical issues, by questioning the specialities of Bondian drama and present future implications of this for young audiences. This volume presents substantial and elaborate information on crucial issues, and enable detailed discussions from various perspectives on theatre.

Congratulations to Stephen Chapin Kinnaman, the author of the book 'A Crisis of Loyalties: The Destruction and Abandonment of the Gosport Navy Yard' for receiving a review from John V. Quarstein (Director, Emeritus of the USS Monitor Center, Mariners’ Museum & Park, Newport News, VA) appearing in 'Civil War Navy—The Magazine', Summer 2025, p .69: I truly enjoyed reading “Crisis of Loyalties.” The six appendices, which include lists of the yard’s officers, tables of those present, resigned, or dismissed during the key six-day period of the yard’s pending destruction, the fate of warships present, and destinations of the seized guns, were extremely well organized and informative and clearly supported all of the author’s opinions. The text guided through all of the people and events in a compelling manner that prompted me to read the book in one setting. The work also contained 27 illustrations, including nine maps. The conclusions enable readers to clearly understand that the loss of the Gosport Navy Yard was due to the ineptitude of leadership manifested in those days in April 1861. I highly recommend this book to students and scholars seeking to understand how one of the major Union failures during the war unfolded. [Extract from book review on the 'Civil War Navy—The Magazine', Summer 2025, p .69. Reviewer: John V. Quarstein (Director, Emeritus of the USS Monitor Center, Mariners’ Museum & Park, Newport News, VA), https://civilwarnavy.com/ ] The book is available to order here: A Crisis of Loyalties: The Destruction and Abandonment of the Gosport Navy Yard In the opening days of the American Civil War, the U.S. Navy suffered the catastrophic loss of its most valuable navy yard at Gosport, Virginia, commonly known as the Norfolk Navy Yard. Its fate was sealed by Virginia’s vote for secession and the subsequent resignation of most of the yard’s Southern officers, leaving its commandant, Charles Stewart McCauley, virtually defenseless. Early in the morning of Sunday, 21 April, fleeing federal forces set fire to and abandoned the Gosport Navy Yard, burning ten warships and surrendering 1,200 naval guns to Virginia’s militia. A year later, the Confederate ironclad "Virginia", built on the charred hulk of the steam frigate "Merrimack", chose the sloop "Cumberland"—the one ship to escape Gosport—as her first target during the Battle of Hampton Roads. "Virginia" then attacked the frigate "Congress", leaving in her wake nearly 280 dead or wounded Union sailors and two sunken ships. The birds from the disaster of Gosport had finally come home to roost. In his quest to uncover the details behind Gosport’s destruction, the author methodically cross-tracked chronologies, carefully examined primary sources and dug deeper into the principal officers’ backgrounds to grasp just what was in their minds during the hours leading up to the navy yard’s burning. This fresh focus has yielded a more nuanced explanation of McCauley’s decision to hold back "Merrimack", of Paulding’s rush to burn the yard and run, and of opportunities for success missed by all three commodores present. "A Crisis of Loyalties" is the first full-length work of history to present the entire story of the destruction and abandonment of the Gosport Navy Yard.