Laurence J. Yadon's Books

Greatest Escapes of World War II

By: Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

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Greatest Escapes of World War II

By: Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

Throughout WWII, thousands of Allied prisoners dreamed of outwitting their captors and returning to war against the Axis. Their ingenuity knew no bounds: they went over the barbed wire surrounding them and under it as well; they built tunnels of enormous length and complexity, often working with only their bare hands. They concealed themselves in their captors’ vehicles and hitched rides to freedom. They became world-class forgers and tailors; they stole anything that might be useful to their escapes that wasn’t actually red-hot or nailed down. Some of them made it to freedom; some did not. Many of those who failed simply tried again and again until they succeeded. Some of the escapers who were caught were murdered by the Japanese or the German Gestapo. That did not stop others from risking torture or death to gain their freedom. Many men whose break was initially successful would not have survived save for the dangerous, selfless help of civilians, especially in occupied Europe and the Philippine Islands. The stories in The Greatest Escapes of WWII highlight the courage, endurance, and ingenuity of Allied prisoners, chronicling their ceaseless efforts and the alarm that spread far and wide when one or more escaped. These escapes tied up thousands of Axis soldiers who might otherwise have prolonged the war for many more bloody months. The troops committed to guard the Allied prisoners and recapture escapers numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

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Page Count

265

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493026631

ISBN 13

9781493026630

Old West Swindlers

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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Old West Swindlers

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

True stories of nineteenth-century crooks, con artists, and quacks—including the man who “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge. Gunslingers and outlaws weren’t the only ones who made the West wild. The nineteenth century was the golden era of riverboat gamblers, crooked railroad contractors, and filthy-rich medical quacks. These crooks made a living deceiving people who took a stranger at face value and left their doors unlocked. Throw in some get-rich-quick schemes and a generous mixture of whiskey and there was never a shortage of suckers. Conman George Parker was able to stay in business for forty years by “selling” public structures such as Madison Square Garden and the Statue of Liberty. He even “sold” the Brooklyn Bridge as often as twice a week. For most, the Salted Gold Mine or the Magic Wallet cons were enough to satisfy their greed. However, the more ambitious grifters tried the Big Store, an illegal underground betting parlor like the one seen in the movie The Sting. With an honest-looking face and a lack of morals, these scammers played a big role in giving the frontier its lawless reputation—and this book tells their stories.

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258

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455615781

ISBN 13

9781455615780

The Greatest Air Aces Stories Ever Told

By: Col. Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Air Aces Stories Ever Told

By: Col. Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

In thirty-five chapters, The Greatest Air Aces Stories Ever Told covers many of the leading American and British Commonwealth fighter aces of WW I and II, together with a few bomber crews whose gallantry made a substantial contribution to the end of WW II. Other nations had their aces, but this book concentrates on American and Commonwealth pilots. These aviators were chosen not only because of their “scores” and their great courage, but also for other qualities which set them apart, like the WWII Royal Air Force Wing Commander who shot down more than 20 Germans while flying with two artificial legs. Here are a few of the aces. Note that the air forces of Europe and the United States did not always have today’s names, used here for simplicity’s sake: Albert Ball, RAF, son of the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, winner of the Victoria Cross. He had 44 victories in WWI when he was killed at the age of 20, well known to his German foes, who much admired him. Gabby Gabreski, USAF. Son of hard-working Polish immigrants. An ace in WWII with 28 kills and later in Korea, with another six. He was an accomplished commander, finished a long career as a colonel. Mick Mannock, RAF. Tough and aggressive in spite of his fear of fire, he won not only the Victoria Cross, but five other high awards for gallantry. Highest British scorer of WWI with 73 victories, he detested Germans, and rejoiced with every kill. He was shot down by ground fire in the last year of the war. David McCampbell, USN. Scored 34 WWII kills to become the U.S. Navy’s all-time ace. In 1944, set an all-time record with nine victories on a single mission. Winner of the Congressional Medal. Pick Pickard, RAF. Led the RAF rooftop bomber raid on Amiens Prison In WWII, freeing many underground members, some of whom were facing death, and who were promptly spirited away by French partisans. Frank Luke, USAF. Deadly American famous for his busting of German observation balloons in WWI. Shot up over German territory, he managed to land safely, but, being Luke, tried to fight it out with enemy infantrymen with only his pistol. The book will also touch on the equipment these aces flew, from the famous Fokkers and Sopwith Camels to the ungainly two-seater FE2b, which was driven by a pusher engine and looked like a bathtub with wings and a miniature oil derrick glued on the back. Also included are our own Grumman carrier fighters, the P-40s, the P-38s, as well as the P-51 Mustang, probably the finest fighter of the war, a happy marriage of an American airframe and a British engine. The deadly, graceful Spitfire has its place, as do the Hurricane, the biplane Gladiator, and even the four-engine Lancaster.

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Page Count

317

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

149302969X

ISBN 13

9781493029693

The Greatest Stories Never Told

Covert Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Stories Never Told

Covert Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

In The Greatest Stories Never Told: Covert Ops, attorney and author Larry Yadon has written some of the greatest tales about covert operations, which are military operations that conceal the identity of the sponsor of the operation. These are not twice- or thrice-told tales, but the ones you haven’t heard before. It is an unforgettable collection, and includes stories of legendary operations from early in the history of covert operations up through present-day Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere in the world.

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211

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493048198

ISBN 13

9781493048199

Oklahoma Scoundrels

History’s Most Notorious Outlaws, Bandits & Gangsters

By: Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

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Oklahoma Scoundrels

History’s Most Notorious Outlaws, Bandits & Gangsters

By: Robert Barr Smith,Laurence J. Yadon

Early Oklahoma was a haven for violent outlaws and a death trap for deputy U.S. marshals. The infamous Doolin gang's OK Hotel gunfight left five dead. Killers like Bible-quoting choir leader Deacon Jim Miller wreaked havoc. Gunslinger femme fatale Belle Starr specialized in horse theft. Wannabe outlaws like Al Jennings traded train robbing for politics and Hollywood films. And Elmer McCurdy's determination and inept skill earned him a carnival slot and the nickname "the Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up." Historians Robert Barr Smith and Laurence J. Yadon dispel myths surrounding some of the most significant lawbreakers in Sooner history.

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111

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

162585790X

ISBN 13

9781625857903

The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told

By: Laurence J. Yadon

The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told is the first book to place side by side extraordinary stories of SEALs who put their lives on the line, and then go out and do it again the next day. They illustrate the SEAL maxim, “The person who will not be defeated cannot be defeated.” SEALs in action - men of courage and ingenuity, from the rice paddies and hills of Vietnam to the plains and mountains of Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan - appear in these pages. These stories cover the most significant overt and covert operations conducted since the U.S. Navy established Sea Land and Air Teams (SEALs) established in January 1962. The one common denominator in these chapters is the courage and ingenuity of those who proudly call themselves Navy SEALs. Sometimes SEALs and other participants in these stories recall differing versions of the same events, as recounted here for the reader to make his own judgments. So far as I know, no previously classified or sensitive information is revealed in these pages.

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237

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Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493030906

ISBN 13

9781493030903

Outlaws with Badges

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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Outlaws with Badges

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

In the Old West, upright lawmen were scarce. Often, the men who were bound to keep the peace were just as corrupt as the men they pursued. These dishonest deputies chose their professions based on convenience rather than conviction, and the most revered were often the wiliest. These men held grudges, ruled with violence, and instilled fear in all who crossed their paths. Offered here is an untainted perspective of these outlaws that discerns fact from myth. Legends such as Wyatt Earp and renegade lawman Dirty Dave Rudabaugh are presented as real men with quirks and weaknesses. The authors deconstruct not only the Dalton's last stand in Coffeyville, Kansas, and the gunfight at the OK Corral-among other famous heists-but also the triumphs and flaws of their organizers. The Old West's former outlaws turned good, former lawmen gone bad, and honorable citizens who moonlighted as robbers and rustlers are presented in these pages. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Laurence J. Yadon is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator who presents on various legal subjects, Oklahoma history, and crime history. He has assisted the Department of Justice in litigation matters before his local United States district court and has successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court. He is the co-author of Pelican's 100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen: 1839-1939; 200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen: 1835-1935; Ten Deadly Texans; Old West Swindlers; and Arizona Gunfighters. Yadon resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Robert Barr Smith is a History Channel commentator and the author of more than thirty articles and five books on the American Old West. He has edited several titles, including Pelican's 100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen: 1839-1939; 200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen: 1835-1935; Ten Deadly Texans; and Arizona Gunfighters, and he co-authored Old West Swindlers, also published by Pelican. A retired colonel, Smith served more than twenty years in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and earned the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit while serving in the United States Army. He is a former deputy attorney general of California and a retired professor of the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He lives in Norman, Oklahoma. Dirty Dave Rudabaugh � Hoodoo Brown and Company � Henry Newtown Brown � John Larn � Bob and Grat Dalton � Wyatt Earp � King Fisher � Ben Thompson � Henry Plummer � Joseph Alfred Slade � Doc Middleton � Frank M. Canton

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225

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455616591

ISBN 13

9781455616596

The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers

By: Laurence J. Yadon

The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers is an unforgettable collection of heart-stopping stories of well-known contemporary American snipers but focuses primarily upon other practitioners of the silent art who few contemporary readers in this genre have encountered before. They begin in south central France, at the dawn of the Thirteenth Century, and end in our present era of modern warfare. They include stories from the Civil War, the Great War, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, and more.

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249

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Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493038567

ISBN 13

9781493038565

One Murder Too Many

Whitey Bulger and the Computer Tycoon

By: Laurence Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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One Murder Too Many

Whitey Bulger and the Computer Tycoon

By: Laurence Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

A mysterious murder exposes a dangerous crime lord. In this fascinating work, both sides of a decades-long case are explored and uncovered. Tulsa computer tycoon Roger Wheeler discovered that he was being defrauded by a group of organized criminals in Boston led by Whitey Bulger. When Wheeler acted against the criminals, Bulger's gang took matters into their own hands. Wheeler's murder sparked events that led prosecutors across the country in search of the truth. This riveting true story lays out how the unrelenting efforts of the family of the murdered Oklahoma businessman led to this crime boss's downfall.

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205

Publisher

Pelican Publishing Company

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455618209

ISBN 13

9781455618200

Ten Deadly Texans

By: Dan Anderson,Laurence Yadon

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Ten Deadly Texans

By: Dan Anderson,Laurence Yadon

A lighthearted history of ten of Texas’s most notorious outlaws, including Clyde Barrow and a bank robber dressed as Santa Claus. The Wild Westerners were a tough breed. They started young and tended to die young, grow wilder, or fizzle into oblivion. Those outlaws that had the most feuds, gunfights, and robberies within the state lines are profiled here along with their associates, enemies, and accomplices. A rough chronological order of events spanning from pre-Civil War to 1935 tracks significant people and events. With so few lawmen available to police the state, troublesome youths quickly developed into heinous individuals. John Wesley Hardin killed a fellow classmate in a one-room schoolhouse, and eight-year-old James Miller was arrested for murdering his own grandparents. Beginnings and endings for each individual varied. While Sam Bass and Bonnie Parker were cut down in their twenties, Dock Newton didn’t rob his last train until age seventy-seven. Other members of the Barrow Gang lived into their fifties and sixties after transforming themselves from dangerous criminals to ordinary citizens. Texans are often described as being larger than life. Their lives were legendary, their demeanor solid, their illegal activities dramatic and varied from beginning to end. The same lighthearted take on Western history that permeated Dan Anderson and Laurence J. Yadon’s previous works resonates in their latest popular history. True stories, tall tales, and numerous anecdotes comprise this book of ten of the deadliest outlaws to cross the Texas line. Praise for Ten Deadly Texans “Picking the top ten of virtually anything is difficult if not impossible, but [Yadon and Anderson] have presented a strong argument that this grouping belongs at the top of any list of deadly fighters. In their own way, each one chose a deadly path filled with violence, bloodshed, high drama, and excitement.” —Chuck Parsons, author of John B. Armstrong: Texas Ranger and Pioneer Ranchman “A well-researched and highly readable account of the Lone Star State's meanest men and women.” —Mike Cox, author of The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821–1900 “Yadon and Anderson have done their homework to separate the truth from the legend, because not only are they good historians, they know that the real story is quite often better than the legend. Ten Deadly Texans takes you from the Civil War to the Great Depression, from cow ponies and six-guns to Ford V-8s and automatic weapons, through the real lives of some of Texas’s most notorious sons.” —James R. Knight, author of Bonnie and Clyde: A Twenty-First-Century Update

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338

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455612820

ISBN 13

9781455612826

200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen, 1835–1935

By: Laurence Yadon,Dan Anderson

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200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen, 1835–1935

By: Laurence Yadon,Dan Anderson

A lively reference covering a century’s worth of shooters, sheriffs, and more in the Lone Star State. The Lone Star State is known for producing both vicious outlaws and valorous lawmen. While Machine Gun Kelly terrorized urban civilians, lawmen such as Ranger John Barclay Armstrong tried to keep things under control. This is the story of Texas’s most famous criminals, intrepid lawmen—and in the case of James Edwin Reed, both—as well as such figures as the legendary Judge Roy Bean. This reference brings to life a time before the West was tamed, and also includes a chronology of well-known crimes and a locale list of notorious events.

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308

Publisher

Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455600059

ISBN 13

9781455600052

The Greatest Stories Never Told

Special Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Stories Never Told

Special Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

A collection of the greatest Special Ops stories NEVER told, pulled together by Larry Yadon, author of The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers, The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told, and The Greatest Air Aces Stories Ever Told.

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256

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493042130

ISBN 13

9781493042135

Outlaws with Badges

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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Outlaws with Badges

By: Laurence J. Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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225

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Arcadia Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455616591

ISBN 13

9781455616596

The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Stories Never Told: Snipers

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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249

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Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493038567

ISBN 13

9781493038565

200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen, 1835–1935

By: Laurence Yadon,Dan Anderson

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200 Texas Outlaws and Lawmen, 1835–1935

By: Laurence Yadon,Dan Anderson

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308

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Arcadia Publishing

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ISBN 10

1455600059

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9781455600052

The Greatest Stories Never Told

Covert Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Stories Never Told

Covert Ops

By: Laurence J. Yadon

In The Greatest Stories Never Told: Covert Ops, attorney and author Larry Yadon has written some of the greatest tales about covert operations, which are military operations that conceal the identity of the sponsor of the operation. These are not twice- or thrice-told tales, but the ones you haven't heard before. It is an unforgettable collection, and includes stories of legendary operations from early in the history of covert operations up through present-day Afghanistan and Iraq and elsewhere in the world.

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256

Publisher

Lyons Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

149304818X

ISBN 13

9781493048182

One Murder Too Many

Whitey Bulger and the Computer Tycoon

By: Laurence Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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One Murder Too Many

Whitey Bulger and the Computer Tycoon

By: Laurence Yadon,Robert Barr Smith

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205

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Pelican Publishing Company

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455618209

ISBN 13

9781455618200

100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters & Lawmen

By: Laurence Yadon

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100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters & Lawmen

By: Laurence Yadon

The only thing wilder than Oklahoma in the late nineteenth century are the tales that continue to surround it. In the days of the Wild West, Oklahoma was teeming with assassins, guerillas, hijackers, kidnappers, gangs, and misfits of every size and shape imaginable. Featuring such legendary characters as Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, Belle Starr, and Pretty Boy Floyd, this book combines recorded fact with romanticized legend, allowing the reader to decide how much to believe. Violent and out of control, the figures covered in 100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen often left behind numerous victims, grisly accounts, and unforgettable stories. Included are criminals like James Deacon Miller, the devout Methodist and hired assassin. Righteous and devious, he often avoided the gallows by convincing others to admit to his murders. Rufus Buck, a man of Native American descent, targeted white settlers. His crimes against them became so heinous as to cause the Creek nation to take up arms against him. The answer to criminals such as these came in the form of Hanging Judge Parker and other officers of the law. Although they were greatly outnumbered, they provided some balance to the chaos. This historical compilation covers every memorable outlaw and lawman who passed through Oklahoma.

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Page Count

402

Publisher

Pelican Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1455600040

ISBN 13

9781455600045

The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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The Greatest Navy SEAL Stories Ever Told

By: Laurence J. Yadon

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237

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Rowman & Littlefield

Published Date

ISBN 10

1493030906

ISBN 13

9781493030903

One Hundred Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen, 1839-1939

By: Dan Anderson,Laurence J. Yadon

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One Hundred Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen, 1839-1939

By: Dan Anderson,Laurence J. Yadon

This book includes difficult-to-find information about significant Oklahoma outlaws who lived and worked during the 100-year period ï¿½from horseback to Cadillac.ï¿½ While criminal history within Oklahoma is the focus, famous crimes committed elsewhere by Oklahomans, such as the Barker Gang, Wilbur Underhill, and Machine Gun Kelly, as well as Oklahoma connections to legendary outlaws like Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, John Dillinger, and Baby Face Nelson are also mentioned.

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Page Count

336

Publisher

Pelican Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1589803841

ISBN 13

9781589803848

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