Books by "Francis Day Curtis"
4 books found
Sakeenah Francis describes her life as a Cinderella story in reverse. She grew up in a well-respected, middle-class African American family. She went to college, was homecoming queen, married, began a career and had children. Then, schizophrenia struck and she lost everything. She went from homecoming queen to being homeless and institutionalized. Sakeenah Francis tells her daughter about her darkest moments of living with schizophrenia in a series of letters that chronicle the first time she heard voices in her head, her hospitalizations, her struggle to parent, and her arduous path to long-term recovery. Both shaken and moved by her mother's revealing letters, Anika faces the haunting effects her mother's mental illness had on her. After years of keeping the secret about her mother's illness, Anika breaks her silence voicing what it was like to grow up with a mother with a severe mental illness.She describes the emotional roller coaster created by her mother's bouts of recovery and how this impacted her well into adulthood. Though Sakeenah lost many bouts in her early struggles with schizophrenia, she kept striving. Through it all, there was love which at times was the only thing that made sense to Sakeenah and Anika. Love gave them the strength and resilience to heal and piece together that which schizophrenia had torn apart in our lives. This sobering story carries a message of hope that will be inspiring to people affected by a severe mental illness and the web of people connected to them.
In "The Triumph of Virginia Dale," John Francis explores the intricacies of the human condition through the lens of a young woman's journey towards self-discovery and empowerment in 19th-century America. The narrative is rich with vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue that vividly captures the societal norms and challenges faced by women during this transformative era. Francis's prose balances lyrical beauty with a shrewd examination of class, gender, and the aspirations that define personal triumph, making the book not only a compelling read but also a significant contribution to historical fiction. John Francis, a scholar of American literature and social history, has drawn upon his extensive research into the period's cultural landscape to craft this narrative. His background in sociology and a personal fascination with the evolution of women's roles in society have profoundly influenced his writing. Through "The Triumph of Virginia Dale," he weaves together history and fiction, illustrating the struggles and triumphs of individuals often overlooked in mainstream narratives. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of gender, society, and personal resilience. Francis's mastery of historical detail combined with poignant storytelling offers readers a profound insight into the diverse experiences that shaped a generation. Dive into this exploration of resilience and ambition, and discover the remarkable tale of Virginia Dale.
First published in 1992, The Imaginary Indian is a revealing history of the "Indian" image mythologized by popular Canadian culture since 1850, propagating stereotypes that exist to this day. Images of First Nations people have always been fundamental to Canadian culture. From the paintings and photographs of the 19th century to the Mounted Police sagas and the spectacle of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show; from the performances of Pauline Johnson, Grey Owl, and Buffalo Long Lance to the media images of Oka and the Vancouver Winter Olympics?the Imaginary Indian is ever with us, oscillating throughout our history from friend to foe, from Noble Savage to bloodthirsty warrior, from debased alcoholic to wise elder, from monosyllabic "squaw" to eloquent princess, from enemy of progress to protector of the environment. The Imaginary Indian has been, and continues to be—as Daniel Francis reveals in this book—just about anything the non-Native culture has wanted it to be; and the contradictory stories non-Natives tell about Imaginary Indians are really stories about themselves and the uncertainties that make up their cultural heritage. This is not a book about Native people; it is the story of the images projected upon Native people—and the desperate uses to which they are put. This new edition, published almost twenty years after the book's first release, includes a new preface and afterword by the author. Daniel Francis is an award-winning historian and the author of twenty books.
The Banning family is said to have come from Denmark, Holland, England and Ireland. The first Banning in America was Edward Banning, who settled in Talbot Co., Maryland prior to 1678. He is said to have come from England. He had three sons, James, who settled in Maryland and John and Samuel, who settled in Lyme, Connecticut abt. 1700. Fourty years later Benoni Banning came from Dublin, Ireland and settled in Talbot Co., Md. The Bannings of Delaware came from those in Maryland. Most descendants of James Banning of Maryland live in Ohio, Indiana, Delaware, Maryland and elsewhere. Members of the New York branch of Bannings migrated to Canada and the central and western United States.