  We present a generalization of the classical Schur modules of $GL(N)$
exhibiting the same interplay among algebra, geometry, and combinatorics. A
generalized Young diagram $D$ is an arbitrary finite subset of $\NN \times
\NN$. For each $D$, we define the Schur module $S_D$ of $GL(N)$. We introduce a
projective variety $\FF_D$ and a line bundle $\LL_D$, and describe the Schur
module in terms of sections of $\LL_D$. For diagrams with the ``northeast''
property,
  $$(i_1,j_1),\ (i_2, j_2) \in D \to (\min(i_1,i_2),\max(j_1,j_2)) \in D ,$$
  which includes the skew diagrams, we resolve the singularities of $\FD$ and
show analogs of Bott's and Kempf's vanishing theorems. Finally, we apply the
Atiyah-Bott Fixed Point Theorem to establish a Weyl-type character formula of
the form:
  $$ {\Char}_{S_D}(x) = \sum_t {x^{\wt(t)} \over \prod_{i,j} (1-x_i
x_j^{-1})^{d_{ij}(t)}} \ ,$$
  where $t$ runs over certain standard tableaux of $D$.
  Our results are valid over fields of arbitrary characteristic.
