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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...