Born on September 21, 1866, classic science fiction author H.G. Wells celebrated his birthday this week: he would have been 143 years old, had he lived in the science fiction universes he often wrote about.

Cosimo offers a selection of Wells’ work, including his masterpiece, The War of the Worlds. His archetypical story of alien invasion is set amidst an 1890s backdrop of rampant and rapid industrialization, global British hegemony, and incipient war with Europe-all of which are reflected in his tale of Martian attack. The story remains startlingly relevant today in our era wracked with worldwide concerns over terrorism and national security. Cosimo’s new edition — with an introduction by mass-psychology expert Robert E. Bartholomew and classic illustrations by Alvin-Correa — is sure to enthrall and intrigue yet another generation of readers.

Other Wells books available from Cosimo:

• A Short History of the World: This story of Earth, from its very formation and the first appearance of homo sapiens (at least as understood in 1923) through the Russian Revolution and the reconstruction after World War I, reads like the most thrilling adventure story ever told. Though it has been factually supplanted by scholarship that came after it, this remains an engaging history and a classic of science fact.

• Washington and the Riddle of Peace: In these essays, written for American and European newspapers in reaction to what Wells saw and heard at the Washington Conference to organize the post-WWI peace, Wells explores issues such as the “problem” of Russia and Japan — and how little could hope to be accomplished at this conference without their participation — to the “economic decadence” of the world and how to arrest it. Wells’s intriguing foresight shines through, making this a fascinating document of the international disaster of the World Wars.

• God the Invisible King: Wells explores the chimerical concept of a deity in this intriguing work, a bestseller in its day, laying out his “personal and intimate” belief in God, an expression of “modern religion” that, by necessity, attacks “doctrinal Christianity” by professing a belief in a “finite” God, as opposed to an infinite force, worshipped by “militant” believers, not placid ones.

• The Soul of a Bishop: This tale of intuitive tale is about a bishop haunted by strange dreams and visions that challenge his faith. Lyrical, poetic, and verging on stream-of-consciousness in places, this little-read work offers a captivating and unexpected insight into Wells’s psyche.

Cosimo books are available at Amazon.com and from other online booksellers.

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Cosimo is celebrating four centuries since Henry Hudson first sailed up the Hudson River. And because we’re not only book lovers but New Yorkers, too, and we’ll looking forward to the many events planned in New York City and across New York State to commemorate this historic anniversary.

EVENTS IN LOWER MANHATTAN
NOW through December 31, 2009
The New Amsterdam Trail
Tour Lower Manhattan with stops at New York Harbor. Visit www.henryhudson400.com for more information.

NOW through December 31, 2009
The Island at the Center of the World
The exhibit at the South Street Seaport Museum features important (and “visually exciting”) 17th century New York maps and documents from the Dutch National Archives and public and private collections. For more information on the museum, visit www.southstreetseaportmuseum.org.

EVENTS IN ALBANY AND BEYOND
NOW through Jan. 3, 2010
Albany Institute of History & Art: Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of Art, History and Culture
The Hudson 400 is a year-long exhibition dedicated to Hudson’s voyage and the history of the region. Artwork, artifacts and interactive displays from the Albany Institute of History & Art’s collections serve to show the influence of the Hudson on the region, from settlement to industrial growth to culture. For more information on the museum, visit www.albanyinstitute.org.

October 17, November 21, and December 19, 2009
Henry Hudson Planetarium Saturday Star Shows
The Albany Institute of History and Art is hosting a year-long exhibition, which highlights Hudson’s voyage and the region’s rich history. For more information about the Henry Hudson Planetarium, visit www.albany.org.

Sept. 26, 2009
Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve: Albany’s 400th Anniversary Celebration
The celebration of Albany’s discovery at Riverfront Park is meant to pay tribute to the city’s history and transport visitors back to the 17th century. Highlights include tours of a full-scale replica of the Half Moon, blacksmiths explaining their craft, artist demonstrations of traditional techniques, musical and dance performances, and even a giant drum circle at sunset. For more information, visit www.albanyevents.org.

Oct. 2-4, 2009
Mid-Hudson Quad point between the towns of Poughkeepsie and Highland: Walking on Air, The Grand Opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson
The opening of the Walkway Over the Hudson, which will in essence turn the bridge into a park and trail way will include a “Grand Illumination” with the release of hot-air lanterns and fireworks, followed by the official opening ceremony the next day, with bands, a parade, jet-ski ballet, a fly-over by the Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome and more! For more information, visit www.walkway.org.

January 28, 2009 - February 28, 2010
THE ISLAND: The John Adams Institute, Amsterdam and NYC
For more information, visit www.john-adams.nl/theisland/.

November 12 - 16, 2009
FIVE DUTCH DAYS FIVE BOROUGHS: ARTS + CULTURE PAST + PRESENT: The Five Boroughs of New York
Support for the enhancement and sustainability of Five Dutch Days, celebrating the continuous influence of Dutch arts and culture in New York City. For more information, please visit www.fivedutchdays.org.

MORE ON HENRY HUDSON IN AMERICA…
Rare Maps & Document Exhibit
Dutch DNA in NYC
Riches of Amsterdam in New York
Henry Hudson 400

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This fall, Cosimo celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s journey on the Dutch ship the Half Moon to the shores of what is now New York City by presenting a number of unique classic books covering Hudson’s life and his courageous journey.

Henry Hudson in Holland, by Henry C. Murphy, is a significant early treatise on Hudson’s voyages. This volume, a replica of the original 1859 monograph, collects all the original documents known to exist about Hudson’s third voyage — the one in which he sailed up what is now called the Hudson River.

Hard to find in print, this is an important new edition of an essential work of documentation of one of the most inadvertently profound incidents of global history: the beginnings of the city that is arguably the capital of the world today.

Other Henry Hudson titles from Cosimo include:

• Henry Hudson, The Navigator — edited, partially translated, and annotated by Georg Asher — which collects the eyewitness documentation of Hudson’s voyages of exploration.

• Henry Hudson, A Brief Statement, by Thomas Janvier, which comes complete with charming etchings from the original 1909 edition.

For more information news and events honoring the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s history-making 1609 voyage, visit HenryHudson400.com.

Cosimo books are available at Amazon.com and from other online booksellers.

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