登陆注册
10481100000001

第1章 Introduction

For Beautiful Vega Our Lovely Great-Granddaughter

The Help I Needed, and It Came From Father Divine

When self-proclaimed "God" Father Divine heard that Justice Lewis J. Smith, who had sent him to jail for a year, died from a sudden heart attack a few days after sentencing him, Father Divine said, "I hated to do it."

Father Divine, who was born in 1876, was an African American spiritual leader from about 1907 until his death in 1965. He founded the International Peace Mission movement, formulated its doctrine, and oversaw its growth from a small and predominantly black congregation into a multiracial and international church.

Father Divine was arrested in Suffolk County on November 15, 1931, for disturbing the peace with an unruly mob. In May of 1932 he was tried before Justice Lewis J. Smith at a trial moved to Nassau County, and on June 5, 1932, he was found guilty. Justice Smith sentenced him to the maximum of one year in jail and a fine of $500. On June 25, 1932, Father Divine was released on appeal, and later that month Justice Smith, who had said many nasty things about Father Divine, died of a heart attack. Father Divine made international news for his exploits and on occasion claimed to be God. As I told you, when Justice Smith died, Father Divine said, "I hated to do it."

Annie and I were at a restaurant in Hudson in upstate New York with our daughter, Pat, her husband, Sal, and our friends Shelly and Lenny Barham. I told the story of Father Divine's comment to Lenny, and he said, "What a great title for a book." It was just what I was looking for. A great title for a book. And when Arthur Klebanoff gave me the support I was looking for and improved it with a subtitle, the search for a title to this book was over. I do believe in giving credit where due, so thank you, Father Divine. Since I just thanked God, do I really have to thank Lenny and Arthur too?

The autographed poster hanging on the wall in my office reads:

For Don,

Without whom this life would not be possible.

—Kurt Vonnegut

同类推荐
  • Work. Pump. Repeat.
  • 宿命 (龙人日志系列#11)

    宿命 (龙人日志系列#11)

    在《宿命》中,当十六岁的斯嘉丽·潘恩醒过来并意识到自己正在变成一个龙人时,她努力想弄明白自己正发生着什么。在疏远了自己的父母朋友后,她唯一能转向的人只有塞奇——那个迅速成为了她生命挚爱的神秘男孩。然而,她发现,塞奇的家,已经无处可寻。斯嘉丽,孤零零地在世界上,无处可去,她寻找朋友,并努力与他们和解。一切似乎就要修复了,他们请她和他们一起参加去哈德逊河上一座废弃的小岛上的旅行——但是正当事情恢复的时候,斯嘉丽的真实力量显现了。她的朋友和敌人对于她比以往任何时候都困惑不解了。布雷克,仍然对她有好感,努力想修复关系。他看起来很真诚,而斯嘉丽也糊涂了。她挣扎着想是要和布雷克在一起还是等待塞奇,但塞奇已经无处可寻。当斯嘉丽最终找到了塞奇,他们度过了她生命中最浪漫的时光,同时也因为悲剧而黯然。因为塞奇就要死了,只还剩下几天时间活着了。同时,凯尔,变成了另一个唯一在这世界上的龙人,正在变得嗜血的残暴,寻找着斯嘉丽。凯特琳、迦勒和艾登商量,他们每个人执行不同的任务——迦勒去拦住和杀死凯尔,凯特琳去著名的耶鲁大学图书馆,研究古老的遗物,据说那遗物可以同时治疗和杀死龙人。这是和时间的赛跑,而且也可能太晚了。斯嘉丽正在迅速转变,几乎无法控制自己的改变,而且随着时间每一刻的流逝,塞奇就更接近死亡。随着本书在激动人心和令人震惊的转折中达到高潮,斯嘉丽将要作出一个决定性的选择——一个将永远改变世界的选择。斯嘉丽会为救塞奇的生命而作终极牺牲吗?她会为了爱情不惜冒一切危险吗?
  • Forensics
  • Knight, Heir, Prince (Of Crowns and Glory—Book 3)

    Knight, Heir, Prince (Of Crowns and Glory—Book 3)

    "Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy."--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Rise of the Dragons)KNIGHT, HEIR, PRINCE is book #3 in Morgan Rice's bestselling epic fantasy series OF CROWNS AND GLORY, which begins with SLAVE, WARRIOR, QUEEN (Book #1).
  • Man of the Outback

    Man of the Outback

    When beautiful Sally Baxter moves to Australia, she is eager for adventure, freedom, and to make a life of her own--far from the demands of her meddling family. Her friend, Julia, owns a ranch--and when she offers to take Sally in, it seems too good to be true. But Julia's ranch is in danger. Arrogant, domineering landowner Grant Forsythe wants to buy the land--and he'll stop at nothing to get Julia to sell. At first intimidated and enraged, Sally can't help but be drawn to the handsome, determined Grant--and he makes no secret of his attraction to her.But then Grant proposes to Sally. And she can't help but wonder--is he doing it for love, or for the ranch?
热门推荐
  • 效率达人:上班前45件事

    效率达人:上班前45件事

    找到活力的方法,绝不是猫在被窝里睡懒觉,也不仅仅是晨跑那般枯燥乏味。只要愿意,从睁开眼睛的那一刻直到迈进办公室之前,我们可以在这段时间里找到N种方法来提升的活力,让自己精神充沛。或许一时之间我们还想不出什么特别适合自己的“醒活”方法。没关系!翻开本书,我们会看到里面介绍了45种提升活力的方法,它们简单易行而且相当有效,其中肯定有适合我们的妙方。
  • 每天亿点甜

    每天亿点甜

    娇娇气气熊孩子·慕云城×面无表情心中槽意一片·顾轻语顾轻语因为忽然一夜暴穷,所以选择踏入婚姻坟墓,但她没想到的是,她嫁入慕家并不是当贵妇享福,而是提前当妈带熊孩子......论带孩子的最好方法?顾轻语:先打一顿再给颗糖,下次再捣蛋继续打。[我没坑我在思考人生]
  • 我的独立系统

    我的独立系统

    猩红如血的眼珠,清澈碧绿的笛子,挥起一卒,歌谣天下。仙女伴奏,颤动诸天!凤舞狂动的身躯,手握一戟,血色猩红,临威八方,血饮诸天!?飘渺无边的天际,一人,一笛,一酒,一饮,人则临威,笛则一曲,酒则千年沉淀,饮则八荒清泉,曲,动人心,动苍天。
  • 闪婚倾情:席少的二货甜妻

    闪婚倾情:席少的二货甜妻

    云城发生了一件大事——传说中那位不近女色的席家大少爷居然悄悄咪咪地祸害了小姑娘!而且那个幸运儿还是个名副其实的二货小废柴!一时间全城哗然,众女在惋惜又一个钻石单身汉在一个五短身材的丑小鸭身上栽了跟头之时,丑小鸭本人却欲哭无泪痛斥苍天无眼:简直是天妒英才!!然而谁都没想到的是,这位声名赫赫的少将活阎王,私底下居然是一位宠妻无度的耙耳朵,为了二货爱妻,将不要脸发挥得淋漓尽致!她连连后退:我我不喜欢你!我不要结婚!我要继续当我的废柴!他步步为营:亲爱的,你弄飞了我对象,你赔。我把你肚子吓掉了,我赔。拒绝无用,逃跑不行,难道她沈觅的一生,只能永远地活在这失足的悔恨之中了吗?
  • Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona

    Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蛇蝎女王杀天下:裙臣跪倒

    蛇蝎女王杀天下:裙臣跪倒

    她,本该无情无爱王牌杀手,却沾惹了情爱,被人以爱人之命陷害,灰飞烟灭。再次醒来,却重生在了一个女尊王国的荒淫过度而挂掉的三皇女的身上。灵魂已换,看她在夹缝之中如何步步生莲,走到权利的巅峰。手段狠戾,步步算计,颠覆了人们心中那荒淫无能的形象。男妃无数,使劲万千解数,只为博她一笑,而她却是万花丛中过,片叶不沾身。
  • 妈咪小茶点

    妈咪小茶点

    《妈咪私房菜丛书》根据家庭一日三餐的营养需求,精选了一千三百多道营养食谱,食物搭配具有较强的针对性,富含营养,有益身心,让你吃得美味,吃出健康。《妈咪私房菜丛书》内容丰富,实用性强,通俗易懂,是家庭主妇的有益参考书。
  • 黄氏宝卷

    黄氏宝卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 爱你成痴,冷少的逃妻

    爱你成痴,冷少的逃妻

    他不过是第一眼开始,就想要拥有她最美的笑容。而她却从一开始,就想要逃离。有一种爱叫做斯德哥尔摩综合症,她知道自己深陷其中。但残存的理智告诉她,这绝对不是幸福的相处模式。他禁锢了她的自由,却仿佛永远也得不到她的心。终于,他痛苦地转身,南溪,我放了你……
  • 快穿之推倒神

    快穿之推倒神

    屌丝女快穿翻身旅。因贫寒而被恋人冷漠抛弃的医女;因爱上渣渣总裁而彷徨的白领;因无法改变命运而茫然寻求救助的孤魂;因丈夫出卖而被四处追杀无路可逃的小狐……各种穿越归来,林听雨真相了——穿越是个技术活啊!额,神马?你说推倒神?那个,推倒个神,只是顺便,顺便啦!嘿嘿……新书《直播快穿之打脸成神》,书号1011054784,求新老书友们支持!