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Book SynopsisWhat was achieved by the Free State during the Irish Civil War was remarkable. Within a period of less than a year they raised and equipped a standing National Army of nearly 60,000 soldiers, defeating the anti-Treaty elements of the IRA. Using the counterinsurgency framework of Clear-Hold-Build, the author examines, analyzes and explains how the Free State managed to attain this remarkable achievement.Outnumbered at the start of the fighting, the Free State overcame an IRA insurgency by utilizing a number of key concepts that will be explained throughout this thesis. These concepts include the combination of kinetic clearance operations and ?Good Governance? stability actions. They also include; the use of locally recruited soldiers combined with experienced Irish veterans from World War I; the ability to generate, train and equip a new standing National Army to counter and gain combat power over the IRA; the capacity to become an adaptive learning organization, to reform, reorganize and reconsolidate against IRA tactical gains; and finally the ability to foster trust with the local population, enhancing the information sharing nexus and undermining the IRA cause. All of these concepts will be explained and examined through analyzing the successful counterinsurgency campaign executed by the Free State during the Irish Civil War.

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Book SynopsisHamish MacDonald is a poet, playwright and novelist with works published, broadcast and performed in Scots and English. He is a contributor to several publications by Scots language imprint Itchy Coo Publishing and has worked as writer and presenter on historical and political documentaries for BBC Radio Scotland including The Scot Who Stayed in Argentina', telling the story of political intrigues at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He was the first Robert Burns Writing Fellow for Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association (200305) and the first Scots Scriever for the National Library of Scotland (201517). As performance poet he became Scottish Slam Poetry champion in 2022 and runner-up in the Coupe du Monde de Poesie world slam poetry fi nals in Paris in the same year, as well as a semifinalist at the World Poetry Slam, Rio de Janeiro in 2023. A lifelong fan of Clydebank Football Club, since 2020 he has fulfilled the role of Bankies Bard as honorary poet of the club. His most recent poetry collections include Wilson's Ornithology & Burds in Scots' (Scotland Street Press) and Kilbowie Dreams' (Clydebank Football Club).

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Book SynopsisFive decades after one of America's greatest tragedies, this compelling book pierces the veil of secrecy to document the small, tightly held conspiracy that killed President John F. Kennedy. It explains why he was murdered, and how it was done in a way that forced many records to remain secret for decades.

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Book Synopsis1787?,??????????????????????????????,??????????????????????????????????????????,?????????,????????????????????????,??????????????,??????,?????????????????????????????????,????????,??????,???????????????????????????????,???????????,?????????????????:????,???????????????????,?????????????,??????????,????????????????????????,???????????,????????????????,?????????? ??????????????????,?????????????????????????,????????????????????????,????????????????,???????????????,???????????????????????????????????????????????,????????? ???????,??????,?????????,??????????????,???????????????????????,??????????????,????????,???????????????????,???????????,?????????????????????,???????????????,?????????????,???????????????????????,????????????????????????????????????????,????????????????,???????????????????????????,????????????????,????????????????????????????????,???????????????????????,?????????????????,??????????????,?????????????????,???????????,??????????????,????????????,??????????????????,??????????????????????????????????????????????????????,?????????????????????????,??????????????????????,????????,???????????????,?????????????????????????????????????????????,??????????????,?????????????????,??????????????

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Book SynopsisIn 1599, during the period when the Portuguese crown was united to the crowns of Castile and Aragon, the Portuguese master-at-arms Domingo Luis Godinho wrote a manuscript in Spanish entitled Arte de Esgrima (The Art of Fencing). Although his life is largely a mystery and Godinho’s text was never published in his lifetime, today his manuscript is of utmost relevance in the study of Renaissance Iberian fencing. It is the only complete treatise discovered so far describing the 'Common' or 'Vulgar' style of Iberian fencing, first documented in the fifteenth century, but by Godinho's day, displaced by the new system of La Verdadera Destreza (the true skill). The work includes instructions for the single sword, a long-bladed, cut & thrust weapon taught alone and with the use of the shield, buckler, dagger, and cape, as well as paired with a second sword. Godinho's instructions also included the longest known text on the use of the montante, or two-handed sword, a devastating weapon that was used by soldiers and body-guards, in duels and battlefields, in crowded streets and aboard galleys. Translator Tim Rivera provides a detailed introduction that explains Godinho's relationship to earlier masters of the 'Common School' of swordsmanship, and a short primer on the various weapons, guards, parries, footwork and terminology of the tradition. Trade Review Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Godinho's Art of Fencing Part One: Sword Alone Part Two: Sword and Shield Part Three: Sword and Buckler Part Four: Two Swords Part Five: Sword and Dagger Part Six: The Two-Handed Sword Part Seven: Sword and Cloak Part Eight: Self-Defense and Tricks Part Nine: General Advice Part Ten: Sword Alone, Continued Notes Appendix A: Pacheco's Thirty Vulgar Tretas Appendix B: Glossary Blbiography Endnotes

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Book SynopsisJean-Claude Lebensztejn’s history of the urinating figure in art, Pissing Figures 1280–2014, is at once a scholarly inquiry into an important visual motif, and a ribald statement on transgression and limits in works of art in general. Lebensztejn is one of France’s best-kept secrets. A world-class art historian who has lectured and taught at major universities in the United States, his work has remained almost entirely in French, his American audience limited to a small but dedicated group of cognoscenti. First introducing the Manneken Pis—the iconic little boy whose stream of urine supplies water to this famous fountain and is also the logo for a Belgian beer company—the author takes the reader through a semi-scatological maze of cultural history. The earliest example is a fresco scene located directly above Cimabue’s Crucifixion from around 1280 at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, in which Lebensztejn’s careful eye locates an angel behind a pillar who looks like he is about to urinate through a hole in his garment. He continues to navigate expertly through cultural twists and turns, stopping to discuss Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 film Teorema, for example, and Marlene Dumas’s 1996–1997 homage to Rembrandt’s pissing woman. At every moment, Lebensztejn’s prose is lively, his thinking dynamic, and his subject matter entertaining.  In this short and poignant cultural history, readers not only find the care for detail that has made Lebensztejn into one of the greatest European art historians, but also the rebelliousness that makes him one of the most interesting intellectuals of our time. The first widely distributed book of Lebensztejn’s in English, Pissing Figures 1280–2014 is simultaneously published in France by Éditions Macula.

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Book Synopsis'Powerful' The Economist'Fascinating, panoramic . . . Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy' Helen Castor, bestselling author of She Wolves'Narrated with pace, clarity, authority and style, Roach's book is a bracing tour of the world that the Normans made their own' Thomas Williams, bestselling author of Viking Britain'A fresh retelling . . . written with enthusiasm and brio' Marc Morris, bestselling author of The Anglo-SaxonsHow did descendants of Viking marauders come to dominate Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East?It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce freebooters, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. The Normans made their influence felt across all of western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa, and Lisbon to the Holy Land. In Empires of the Normans we discover how they combined military might and political savvy with deeply held religious beliefs and a profound sense of their own destiny. For a century and a half, they remade Europe in their own image, and yet their heritage was quickly forgotten - until now.Trade ReviewFrom Viking raiders to rulers of the Mediterranean, the Normans dominated and dazzled medieval Europe. In this fascinating, panoramic account, Levi Roach brings an expert eye and page-turning energy to the telling of their extraordinary story -- Helen Castor, bestselling author of 'She Wolves'Narrated with pace, clarity, authority and style, Roach's book is a bracing tour of the world that the Normans made their own -- Thomas Williams, bestselling author of 'Viking Britain'A fresh retelling of the story of the Normans, across all their theatres of operation - academically up-to-the-minute, sound in its judgements, and written with enthusiasm and brio -- Marc Morris, bestselling author of 'The Anglo Saxons'How the Normans shaped the Europe we live in today is a huge and gripping subject, brilliantly illuminated here in all its continent-wide human drama by a masterful historian and story-teller -- Peter StanfordInformed by the latest research, Roach reveals the history of the Norman conquests - from England to the Holy Land - in a pacy and character-driven account of a people who defined an era -- Sophie AmblerBy telling the story from their perspective and following them wherever they went . . . Mr Roach gives a powerful account of how prowess in combat, shrewd alliance-building, low cunning and sheer chutzpah let them punch above their numerical weight -- The EconomistRoach's writing is clear, concise and open to any reader willing to learn more . . . After drinking from Roach's refreshing Norman cider cup . . . they will learn much and travel far -- Literary Review

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Book SynopsisDespite being relatively brief, this very readable history covers environmental, political, social, economic, cultural and artistic elements, and is very open to regional variations and to the extent that the history of the peninsula and of its political groupings was far from inevitable. Its tone is accessible, supported by boxes providing supplemental information, and is perfect for travellers to Spain.Trade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Black's The Holocaust'A demanding but important work.'Praise for Jeremy Black's Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A Global History'A significant and timely contribution to understanding the new meaning of war.' - Choice

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Book SynopsisA thoroughly researched assessment of how China’s economic success continues to be shaped by the communist ideology of Chairman MaoTrade Review“Many western observers believed that China was moving towards free market capitalism and hoped that it would become more democratic as a result. . . . This important book shows that such beliefs and hopes were always naïve.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“An important book at a crucial time for China’s economy.”—Lingling Wei, Wall Street Journal (on Twitter)“A well-written and welcome contribution to the debate about China’s model of development. . . . The book is a pleasure to read.”—Hongying Wang, International AffairsA Financial Times “Best Book of 2022”Tied for the 2023 Axiom Gold Medal, sponsored by Axiom Business Book AwardsFinalist for the George R. Terry Award, sponsored by the Academy of Management“Mao and Markets is an important blueprint for understanding how to do businesses in China. It is intellectually well grounded and offers important and practical advice for business leaders hoping to succeed in the Chinese market.”—Craig Allen, president, US-China Business Council “Mao and Markets is a richly detailed and timely book. It is well researched and thought-provoking, shedding light on not only Chinese business and entrepreneurship, but also politics, political leadership and how different generations of leaders will affect the future of China.”—Cheng Li, director of John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution “Mao and Markets is the book to read if you want to do business in today’s China. It has great insights on Xi Jinping’s emerging ‘China Model’ that business will need to come to terms within the coming years.”—James McGregor, chairman of APCO Worldwide’s greater China region “Capitalism and communism are entwined in China. Mao and Markets illuminates the connections between the history of the Chinese Communist Party and early leaders to the current Chinese economy and society. It will give insights not only to those who do business in China, but also for those interested in the nature of Chinese nationalism.”—Rana Mitter, professor of the history and politics of modern China, University of Oxford “Contributing to the lively debate over whether today’s China is better understood as ‘capitalist’ or ‘Communist,’ Chris Marquis and Kunyuan Qiao offer an informed and engaging argument for the deep and enduring influence of Maoism on contemporary Chinese politics and economy.”—Elizabeth J. Perry, Henry Rosovsky Professor of Government, Harvard University“A compelling and provocative book. Marquis and Qiao dispel the naïve Western view that China is likely to conform with our system. Mao’s legacy as an uncomfortable alternative deserves serious consideration.”—Stephen Roach, author of Accidental Conflict: America, China, and the Clash of False Narratives “Mao and Markets provides an important account of the long-term impact of Mao Zedong on Chinese business and society. The book unravels the puzzling relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the private sector. It provides essential reading for those trying to understand China’s development strategy today.”—Tony Saich, Daewoo Professor of International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School “The authors illuminate a little-understood and often neglected aspect of modern China—the pervasive influence of Mao and Maoism in the country’s supposedly capitalist business empires.”—Jamil Anderlini, editor-in-chief, POLITICO Europe “Mao’s thinking about guerrilla warfare and ideology seems to have little to do with China’s emerging digital economy; but as Marquis and Qiao point out in this highly readable new book, Maoism continues to shape the institutions governing the digital economy and inform the thinking of private entrepreneurs and officials in China. This insight, richly informed with case studies and survey data, provides an important and welcomed correction to widely held beliefs of the ‘capitalist’ economy in China.”—Victor Shih, Ho Miu Lam Chair and associate professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego “Mao and Markets will be a valuable resource not just for scholars studying organizations and entrepreneurship but also for those in the general public who are interested in learning the history and trajectory of China’s market development.”—Eric Zhao, author of Optimal Distinctiveness

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Book SynopsisOne man goes in search of the lost cities of the Amazon in the Inca heartland.Trade Review`It is a measure of Hugh Thomson's skill as a writer, historian and explorer that The White Rock is such a pleasure...' -- Justin Marozzi * THE SPECTATOR *`In The White Rock, the whole continent becomes a plot with suspense and a cast of outrageous characters...This is Bruce Chatwin with cojones.' -- Andy Martin * THE INDEPENDENT *`The White Rock is the long-awaited definitive travel book on Peru.' -- John Hemming, author of The Conquest of the Incas`A riveting account of South American exploration and Peruvian culture, full of unforgettable stories and amazing facts.' * THE BOOKSELLER *`A record of one man's obsession with the Incas over a period of 20 years...an obsession that led him to search out (and in one case discover) Inca ruins in the most inaccessible places, far beyond the reach of tourists.' -- Anthony Daniels * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Engrossing... the sort of book that fires the armchair traveller with a desire to follow in its author's footsteps. -- Geoffrey Moorhouse * NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW *`One of the strongest debuts I have read for a while.' -- Anthony Sattin * SUNDAY TIMES *`It is the mixture of historian, traveller and film-maker that makes The White Rock come alive as few other books about South America have done.' -- Ulick O'Connor * SUNDAY INDEPENDENT *Time and again he brings the Incas to life as real people. -- Matthew Parris * RADIO 4 *Thomson's account of his travels through the Inca heartlands weaves geographical, spiritual, personal and historical strands to an effect as rich and vivid as a Peruvian shawl. -- Juliet Clough * DAILY TELEGRAPH *`It is Thomson's generosity of spirit which stands out and makes this a great book...a work that is both accessible and academically rigorous.' -- Isabel Cockayne * EASTERN DAILY PRESS *Thomson's wit, eye for detail and reverence for humanity set him apart¿he is as good a companion as a traveller could hope for. * PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY *The White Rock is a gem of a book, an intelligent, balanced and indeed original look at the empire of the Incas * LOS ANGELES TIMES *'I'll look forward to all his future stories if they're even half as well told, as vivid and funny and human, as this one.' -- Alan Peter Ryan * WASHINGTON POST *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book to tell the story of London's transport system from the earliest times to the present day.

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Book SynopsisLife in the Tudor metropolis for both commoner and king alike.Trade Review'This excellent work brings the spirit of the Tudor city to life, complete with descriptions of ale houses, glittering royal palaces and the stinking slums by the River Thames.' -- BBC History Revealed, February 2017'Stephen's book brings to life the personalities and the ordinary folk who spent their lives in the Tudor period in London town. Essential reading for anyone interested in history and people. Absolutely superb!' -- Books Monthly, January 2017'This very readable account is ideal for the general rather than the academic reader.' -- The Bookbag, December 2016'This was a very enjoyable read. It's a volume crammed with scholarly detail, a book to return to again and again as there's so much more to learn.' -- Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, February 2017'I am happy to recommend Stephen Porter's book to anyone with an interest in the Tudor period or in how the city of London developed into the capital it is today.' -- The Writing Desk, July 2018'It is clear that every aspect of the subject matter has been thoroughly researched and reveals a huge amount of information on each chapter from a wide variety of source information.  It is well constructed and presented in an easily accessible format which makes it an enjoyable and informative read.' -- On the Tudor Trail, October 2018

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Book Synopsis'Danny Goldberg is probably one of the purest, most reasonableguides you could ask for to 1967.' Ex-Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham. 'Weaves together rollicking, rousing, wonderfully colourful anddisparate narratives to remind us how the energies and aspirations of thecounterculture were intertwined with protest and reform . mesmerising.' The NationIt wasthe year that saw the release of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts ClubBand, and of debut albums from the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix andJanis Joplin. The year of the Summer of Love and LSD; the Monterey Pop Festivaland Black Power; Muhammad Ali's conviction for draft avoidance and MartinLuther King Jr's public opposition to war in Vietnam.On its 50th anniversary, music business veteranDanny Goldberg analyses 1967, looking not only at the political influences, butalso the spiritual, musical and psychedelic movements that defined the era,providing a unique perspective on how and why its legacy lives on today.Exhaustively researched and informed byinterviews including Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary and Gil Scott-Heron, InSearch of the Lost Chord is the synthesis of a fascinating andcomplicated period in our social and countercultural history that was about somuch more than sex, drugs and rock n roll.Trade ReviewHippie 101-a kaleidoscopic snapshot of the Big Bang fifty years ago, three parts social and musical history, one part personal memoir, a sweeping overview that also manages to be up close and personal. Bravo. -- Joel SelvinDanny Goldberg has done something I would not have thought possible: with diligent research, sharp prose, a clear mind, and an open heart, he has rescued a period of history from the clichés that had previously defined it. -- Eric AltermanThis extraordinary book transports us back to a 'moment' when, as Goldberg writes,the phrase '"peace and love" was not meant or taken ironically.' Beginning at sixteen, Goldberg was a participant in the rise and cresting of the hippie movement, the hippie ideal, which has been trivialized and disparaged in later decades. He cuts through the obfuscation and recreates the sense of magic, wonder, intimacy, and community that was in the air and you could breathe it in. If you want to know, or remember, what it was like to be alive and part of that historic wave, I can think of no better guide than In Search of the Lost Chord. -- Sara DavidsonIn a time of the harshest dissonance, Danny Goldberg's In Search of the Lost Chord arrives like soma from a heaven that is still up there if you look hard enough. One the great gambits of the rightist culture has been to paint the 1960s, and the hippie movement in particular, as some stammering, slothful stoner movie. As an eyewitness, I can testify it was much, much more. Danny Goldberg's highly informative missive from that long, strange trip not only reminds veterans of the glorious possibilities of the age but also serves as an excellent primer to onward generations. -- Mark JacobsonGoldberg plunges into a thorough, panoramic account of the culture, politics, media, music and mores of the year to demolish the idea that it was trivial. He has researched and interviewed widely - his section on underground newspapers is impressively detailed - and he's been there with many of the principals through all these years. Some of the stories, like the development and popularization of LSD and the saga of the Monterey Pop Festival, have been told before (though readers may be surprised to learn that psychedelic music's launchpad was a Nevada dive called the Red Dog Saloon). But Goldberg's deep purchase on his subject and his storytelling ease make it fresh. -- The New York TimesGoldberg is fascinating on the origins of political activism, from the Cold War peace movement and the fallout from the Korean War. * The Sunday Times *Goldberg brings a personal passion that itself illustrates the lasting resonance of the hippie era. * Publishers Weekly *At the core of Goldberg's readable, entertainingly anecdotal book is a chronicle and summary of what the Sixties cultural moment has left posterity. * The Times *Goldberg has created a detailed insight into an important snapshot of our history whilst also banishing the popular cliché of the hippie movement... In Search of the Lost Chord is also a timely reminder that people power does indeed have an effect and that change is always possible. * Buzz *

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Book SynopsisThis catalogue accompanies an international exhibition, "First Kings of Europe," and another volume also published by the Cotsen Institute, First Kings of Europe: From Farmers to Rulers in Prehistoric Southeastern Europe, that examine the artifacts and cultures of this area from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. Over several millennia, early agricultural villages gave rise to tribal kingdoms and monarchies, replacing smaller, more egalitarian social structures with complex state organizations led by royal individuals invested with power. Several hundred objects and artifacts in the exhibition are portrayed in the catalog, accompanied by introductory text and detailed entries for each item. The spectacular and highly detailed color photographs introduce us to the gold and silver ornaments, bronze and iron weaponry, rich metal hoards and magnificent ceremonial vessels that are masterpieces from this period of history. Many of them have never left their countries of origin, making the two volumes documenting them an opportunity not to miss.

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the historical roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs, which has lost none of its explosiveness to the present day, in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner. The question of who owns the Holy Land is more relevant today than ever. The debates on this topic are often characterized by ignorance and strong emotions, while partiality and power interests still obscure the view on the political situation in the Middle East. Shaking up old myths and prejudices, this book presents an overall historical as well as political analysis of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim structures, actors, and actions from the very beginning to this very day, as well as a topical analysis. It combines history with theology and political science. Thus, the book is a must-read for scholars and students of political science, history, and international relations, as well as policy-makers, interested in a better understanding of the historical background and current political situation in the Middle East. Table of ContentsHoly Land? Israel? Palestine?.- RELIGIOSITY AND POLITICS.- The Pious, the Zealous and a "Dead" God.- Fundamentalism - A Shield for the Culture?.- Is Zionism Blasphemy?.- Zionism in the Quran?.- THE HOLY LAND, RELIGIONS AND POLITICS.- What Is the Holy Land? - Biblical Borders?.- Why Is the Land Holy?.- To Whom Is the Land Holy?.- Where Is the Land Holy? Or: To Whom Does Jerusalem Belong?.- How Is the Land Holy? Or: Holiness and Statehood.- By What Means Is the Land Acquired?.- THE HISTORY OF CHANGING OWNERSHIP.-Whose Possession? Whose Property?.-Names and Power.- The Patriarch Fathers.- Jewish Settlement as “Conquest”.- Kingdom and Kingdoms Come and Go.- Exile, Return and Autonomy.- The Europeanization of the Holy Land.- Christians as Heirs and Owners.- Re-Orientalisation - Arabisation, Turkification.- Re-Europeanization.- The Return of Islam.- The Return to Zion.- The British in the Holy Land.- The Founding of Israel -- Palestine Becomes Jordan.- “Greater Israel” -- Jewish or Democratic? Of Federations and Confederation.- Injustice for Injustice – Conclusion – Solution?.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a critical account of the development of questions, approaches, methods, and understandings of literacy within and across disciplines and interdisciplines. It provides a critique of literacy studies, including the New Literacy Studies. This book completes a series that the author began in the 1970s. It criticizes and revises the New Literacy Studies and how we think about literacy generally. It is a revisionist study which argues that literacy and literacy studies are historical developments and must be understood in those terms to comprehend their profound impact on our traditions of thinking about and understanding literacy, and how we study it. Graff argues that literacy studies in its academic, institutional, and policy forums, but also in popular parlance, has lost its critical foundations, and this hinders efforts to promote literacy. He examines literacy over time and across linguistics; anthropology; psychology; reading and writing across modes of communication and comprehension; “new” literacies across digital, visual, performance, numerical, and scientific domains; and history. He underscores the value of new directions of negotiation and translation. This book will interest scholars and students in the many fields that constitute literacy studies across the humanities, social sciences, education, and beyond. Table of ContentsPart 1. Searching for Literacy Studies.1. Back to Basics.2. Linguistics: Between Orality and Writing.3. Anthropology: Reading and Writing from Pictographs to Ethnography.4. Psychology: Between Mind and Culture.5. Literature and Composition: Reading and Writing Revised.6. Many Literacies, Other Visions: Digital, Visual, Science, Numbers, Performance.7. Historicizing Literacy and Literacy Studies: Axioms and Lessons.8. Epilogue: Many Pasts, Many Futures.Part 2. 2021: Looking Forward and Backward.9. The New Literacy Studies and the Resurgent Literacy Myth.10. Literacy, Politics, Culture, and Society: The New Illiteracy and the Banning of Books, Past and Present.11. The Economic Debasement of Literacy: The Misrepresentation and Marketing of “Financial Literacy”.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the deep and lengthy crisis of legitimacy triggered by the death of Prince Juan of Castile and Aragon in 1497 and the subsequent ascent of Juana I to the throne in 1504. Confined by historiography and myth to the madwoman’s attic, Juana emerges here as a key figure at the heart of a period of tremendous upheaval, reaching its peak in the war of the Comunidades, or comunero uprising of 1520–1522. Gillian Fleming traces the conflicts generated by the ambitions of Juana’s father, husband and son, and the controversial marginalisation and imprisonment of Isabel of Castile’s legitimate heir. Analysing Juana’s problems and strategies, failures and successes, Fleming argues that the period cannot be properly understood without taking into account the long shadow that Juana I cast over her kingdoms and over a crucial period of transition for Spain and Europe.Trade Review“This monograph offers a refreshing look at a monarch that has long been depicted as ‘the mad queen’ within the literature and popular imaginary, while also demonstrating that popular depictions often ignore Juana’s own attitudes towards her kingdom and her place in such. … Fleming’s study captures the significance of Juana’s career and its legacy while also illustrating how women, particularly the women of the House of Trastamara-Habsburg, influenced the character of the emerging Kingdom of Spain.” (Jessica L. Minieri, Royal Studies Journal, Vol. 7 (2), 2020)“This well-crafted study is a must-read for any scholar interested in Spanish and European political history, power, the monarchy, queenship, gender, and disability studies.” (Nuria Silleras-Fernandez, Early Modern Women Journal, Vol. 14 (2), 2020)“An excellent scholarly biography of Queen Juana I, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. … Fleming examines Juana’s political significance as Queen of Castile and places her within the context of sixteenth century attitudes toward female rule in the Iberian peninsula and beyond. … Well written, well researched and interesting to read. Highly recommended.” (Carolyn Harris, royalhistorian.com, June, 2018)Table of Contents

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Book SynopsisTraces the history of visual representations of anti-Jewish hatred in Czech Bohemia. The vicious scourges of religion-based anti-Judaism and ethnically-rooted anti-Semitism are tragically deep-seated aspects of Czech Bohemian history. Images of Malice—copublished with Artefactum—examines visual instances from the well-known low points of historic Bohemian anti-Semitic resentment, while also recasting common views of eras not typically associated with rises in virulent anti-Jewish sentiment. This mapping of the visual signs of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism is also an account of their broader meaning, as the processes of stereotyping, delegitimization, dehumanization, and exclusion from society represent a more dire and universal problem. As Images of Malice makes bracingly clear, the danger of anti-Jewish visuals is still an urgent problem today, in Europe and beyond.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONEva Janácová6–9ANTI-JUDAISMTHE 12TH–15TH CENTURIES: THE BEGINNINGS OF ANTI-JEWISH VISUALITY – Jan Dienstbier and Daniel Soukup12–54THE 15TH–16TH CENTURIES: ANTI-JEWISH VISUALITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EARLY MODERN ERA – Jan Dienstbier and Daniel Soukup55–81THE 17TH–18TH CENTURIES: FROM THE COUNTER-REFORMATION TO THE THRESHOLD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT – Daniel Baránek82–134ANTISEMITISMMORE THAN ILLUSTRATIONS: ANTISEMITIC IMAGERY IN RESEARCHING MODERN ANTISEMITISM – Michal Frankl136–156THE LONG 19TH CENTURY: THE BIRTH OF MODERN ANTISEMITISM – Jakub Hauser and Eva Janácová157–2361914–1945: ON THE ROAD TO CATASTROPHE – Milan Pech237–2991945–1989: ANTISEMITISM MASKED AS ANTI-ZIONISM – Blanka Soukupová300–3261989–2020: NEW FORMS OF ANTI-JEWISH PREJUDICE – Zbynek Tarant327–358IN THE WORLD OF CINEMATOGRAPHY REFLECTIONS OF ANTISEMITISM IN CZECH CINEMATOGRAPHY – Alice Aronová360–372SOURCES AND LITERATURE374–394LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS395–396INDEX OF NAMES397–400SUMMARY402–406

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Book SynopsisTrans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography presents an interdisciplinary examination of trans and genderqueer subjects in medieval hagiography. Scholarship has productively combined analysis of medieval literary texts with modern queer theory – yet, too often, questions of gender are explored almost exclusively through a prism of sexuality, rather than gender identity. This volume moves beyond such limitations, foregrounding the richness of hagiography as a genre integrally resistant to limiting binaristic categories, including rigid gender binaries. The collection showcases scholarship by emerging trans and genderqueer authors, as well as the work of established researchers. Working at the vanguard of historical trans studies, these scholars demonstrate the vital and vitally political nature of their work as medievalists. Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography enables the re-creation of a lineage linking modern trans and genderqueer individuals to their medieval ancestors, providing models of queer identity where much scholarship has insisted there were none, and re-establishing the place of non-normative gender in history.Trade Review"The first thing one observes about Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography is that it is a beautiful object. The cover image, by medievalist and artist Jonah Coman, is a sumptuous study in gold, like a Book of Hours, with vignettes of both holy images and protest marches in a band that encircles an image of a medieval saint holding a trans pride flag. We do not often talk about the physical form of scholarly books, but this one is a joy to hold. It is also a useful object, containing an appendix on trans and genderqueer terminology, language, and usage that serves as an important snapshot of how to talk about gender in the early twenty-first century and should prove enormously useful to those just coming to explore trans studies. [...] With this kind of work in the offering, the future of the profession has a chance to be as wonderful as this collection."- Masha Raskolnikov, The Medieval Review22.03.10 (2022) "The inspiring volume is a must-read for all scholars working with religion and history. Most importantly, it is an admirable effort to dismantle cis-heteronormative conceptions of the Middle Ages (propagated alarmingly by white supremacist groups). [...] The volume is of the utmost importance for the trans and genderqueer people of today, as it is in essence a serious academic endeavour to imagine a transgender past and, thus, offer a sense of historical belonging."- Rose-Marie Peake, Mirator 1/21 (2021) "By establishing transness as holy, the authors are not only working to put trans and genderqueer subjects back into the narrative of history, but at its center. Transness is being rewritten as something beautiful and divine."- - Milo, What Lives Here Now blog (2021) "In this important volume, Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt bring together scholarship that rethinks, in creatively productive ways, how gender figures in medieval representations of sainthood and sanctity. [...] All the varied scholarship collected here is excellent, and the volume as a whole mounts a persuasive and invigorating argument about the importance of attending to trans and genderqueer texts and experiences in the Middle Ages."- Steven F. Kruger, Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures "Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography is an excellent collection that, by offering a platform for both new and established scholars to revisit their earlier assessments of medieval texts, offers an understanding of the past predicated upon the need for a more just future." - Alexander Flores, Comitatus, Vol. 53, 2022Table of ContentsIList of Figures Acknowledgements 'Introduction', Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt Following the Traces: Reassessing the Status Quo, Reinscribing Trans and Genderqueer Realities 1.'Assigned Female at Death: Joseph of Schönau and the Disruption of Medieval Gender Binaries', Martha G. Newman 2.'Inherited Futures: Capgrave's Life of St Katherine', Caitlyn McLoughlin 3.'Juana de la Cruz: Gender-Transcendent Prophetess', Kevin C.A. Elphick 4.'Non-Standard Masculinity and Sainthood in Niketas David's Life of Patriarch Ignatios', Felix Szabo Peripheral Vision(s): Objects, Images, and Identities 5.'Gender-Querying Christ's Wounds: A Non-Binary Interpretation of Christ's Body in Late Medieval Imagery', Sophie Sexon 6.'Illuminating Queer Gender Identity in the Manuscripts of the Vie de sainte Eufrosine', Vanessa Wright 7.'The Queerly Departed: Narratives of Veneration in the Burials of Late Iron Age Scandinavia', Lee Colwill Genre, Gender, and Trans Textualities 8.'St Eufrosine's Invitation to Gender Transgression', Amy V. Ogden 9.'Holy Queer and Holy Cure: Sanctity, Disability, and Transgender Embodiment in Tristan de Nanteuil', Blake Gutt 10.'The Authentic Lives of Transgender Saints: imago Dei and imitatio Christi in the Life of Saint Marinos the Monk', M.W. Bychowski Epilogue: 'Beyond Binaries: The (Trans) Gender(s) of Saints', Mathilde van Dijk Appendix: 'Trans and Genderqueer Studies Terminology, Language, and Usage Guide' Index

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Book SynopsisStudies on Chinese Modern History and Politics collects important research findings of China's social sciences studies conducted by the academics at East China Normal University (ECNU) in recent years. The book covers topics including the studies of Chen Xulu (a famous Chinese historian), the institutional advantage and governance efficiency in China, latest research on western political science, etc.This book is the seventh volume of the WSPC-ECNU Series on China. This Series showcases the significant contributions to scholarship in social sciences and humanities studies about China. It is jointly launched by World Scientific Publishing, the most reputable English academic publisher in Asia, and ECNU, a top University in China with a long history of exchanges with the international academic community.

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Book SynopsisThe unlikely beginnings of the East India Company—from Tudor origins and rivalry with the superior Dutch—to laying the groundwork for future British expansionTrade Review“Howarth tells some hair-raising tales from the maiden voyage of the Company ship Peppercorn. . . . Packed with tales, as well as gruesome accounts of clashes between rival traders in the east.”—Dan Jones, Times (UK) “Adventurers is essential reading.”—Dan Jones, Times (UK)“[Adventurers] details the early years of what would become the world’s biggest corporation…By no means a defence of the empire, this dizzying work makes its emergence all the more remarkable.”—Daniel Brooks, Sunday Telegraph“The writer can glide from Jahangir’s memoirs and Mughal miniatures to the gossipy asides of Spanish spies, the travel tales of Richard Hakluyt and Samuel Purchas, the letters and journals of Roe.”—David Arnold, Times Literary Supplement“Howarth’s study [is] quite different from its rivals, and overflowing with surprises.”—William Dalrymple, The Spectator“This is a book [Howarth] has wanted to write for 50 years. . . . The frequent exuberance of his prose echo[es] the voices of larger-than-life venturers and seafarers who fill his pages.”—Alan Mallinson, Country Life“Adventurers is an important counterpoint to received knowledge of Anglo-Indian history, and the foundations of what was perhaps the world’s first and most controversial corporation.”—Lubaaba Al-Azami, BBC History Magazine“Howarth’s book is a joy of revelation, page by page. . . . Beautifully written.”—Robert Lyman, The Critic“I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there might be a further volume. . . . Perhaps Howarth, like those first Adventurers, will have the right amount of intrepid bravery and insanity to attempt it.”—Debbie Kilroy, Get History“Drawing on an abundance of sources . . . indicative of deep research and of scholarship. . . . Howarth brings to life the Company’s way of doing business.“—Seagull: Journal of the Indian Maritime Foundation“This is a fascinating book, rich in texture, beautifully written, and covering a broad sweep of history. Strongly recommended.”—Richard Morgan, Chowkidar: The BACSA Journal“The history of the East India Company is so often read backwards. This wonderfully well-written book restores its early development to its true context—it is, like cold water in a desert, the picture for which we’ve gasped.”—James Evans, author of Merchant Adventurers“Fascinating and authoritative. David Howarth weaves a rich and rewarding tapestry of the uncertain, often chaotic development of the company, moving with style from London to Southeast Asia, and amassing a colourful cast list of princes, merchants and politicians. Adventurers will become the standard book on the subject, and deservedly so.”—Jerry Brotton, author of This Orient Isle“Howarth’s keen eye for intrigue weaves together a tale of commercial competition and imperial ambition that carries us from the Tudor court to the coasts of Japan. Adventurers is a quick-paced romp through the chaotic early history of Britain’s most infamous corporation.”—Edmond Smith, author of Merchants“Pragmatic, ruthless, and chaotic in turn, the early English East India Company is revealed in all its baroque extravagances in this superb and necessary new history.”—Nandini Das, author of Courting India

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Book SynopsisFrom prehistory to the present day in one easy-to-read volume!

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Book SynopsisHere We Are . . . on Route 66 explores America’s fabled “Mother Road,” following Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica and offering an expert look back at vanished attractions—and sites still drawing thousands each year.Table of ContentsCONTENTSPREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • INTRODUCTION:THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA: • CHAPTER 1:ILLINOIS: LAND OF LINCOLN • CHAPTER 2:MISSOURI: SHOW-ME STATE • CHAPTER 3:KANSAS: SUNFLOWER STATE • CHAPTER 4:OKLAHOMA: SOONER STATE • CHAPTER 5:TEXAS: LONE STAR STATE • CHAPTER 6:NEW MEXICO: LAND OF ENCHANTMENT • CHAPTER 7:ARIZONA: GRAND CANYON STATE • CHAPTER8:CALIFORNIA: GOLDEN STATE • IMAGE CREDITS • INDEX • ABOUT THE AUTHOR •

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Book SynopsisIt is now more than seventy years since the creation of the state of Israel, yet its origins and the British Empire''s historic responsibility for Palestine remain little known. Confusion persists too as to the distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. In Legacy of Empire, Gardner Thompson offers a clear-eyed review of political Zionism and Britain''s role in shaping the history of Palestine and Israel. Thompson explores why the British government adopted Zionism in the early twentieth century, issuing the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and then retaining it as the cornerstone of their rule in Palestine after the First World War. Despite evidence and warnings, over the next two decades Britain would facilitate the colonisation of Arab Palestine by Jewish immigrants, ultimately leading to a conflict which it could not contain. Britain''s response was to propose the partition of an ungovernable land: a ''two-state solution'' which - though endorsed by the United Nations after the Trade Review'Illuminating ... an essential primer on the historical roots of the Israel/Palestine conflict.' Nicholas Rankin 'A sobering and engrossing story of Britain's betrayal of the Palestinians from the Balfour Declaration to the present day.' Avi Shlaim 'An incisive and thorough analysis.' Ilan Pappe 'A persuasive, if provocative, analysis ... a welcome addition to existing literature on this subject.' Jewish Renaissance 'A compelling new study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ... meticulously researched.' The Tablet 'An excellent, well-researched and timely book.' Nur Masalha 'Thompson examines how the settler-colonial Zionist project in Palestine is intertwined with the designs of imperial Britain. That such an issue can still be disputed is testimony to the power of ideology: Legacy of Empire cuts through the noise to show what really happened.' Gilbert Achcar 'Useful, accessible and very welcome' Socialist Worker 'An eloquent account ... Thompson has brought an unbiased historian's eye to this inexplicable chapter of British and imperial history.' Tim Llewellyn, former BBC Middle East Correspondent 'Clearly situated within the contemporary debates in Britain' Fathom Journal 'Legacy of Empire documents how this strange brew of ideologies and bigotry led to the denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.' Electronic Intifada 'I hope that this book may contribute to the global struggle against all forms of racism by giving strength to those who are seeking realistic and fair solutions to the political problems in Israeli and Palestinian relations' Scottish Left Review 'Should be required reading by all those who seek to pronounce on this problematic subject.' Socialist HistoryTable of ContentsMaps Acknowledgements Timeline Introduction Chapter 1: The Birth and Emergence of Zionism, 1897-1914 Chapter 2: Zionism In 1914 Chapter 3: The British Adoption of Zionism, 1914-1917 Chapter 4: The British Commitment To Zionism In Palestine, 1918-1922 Chapter 5: Palestine In 1922 Chapter 6: Zionism And Britain In Palestine, 1922-1937 Postscript 1937-1947 Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTHE FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARThis absorbing collective biography of the genius Nobel family reveals how the Nobels' business and personal lives were fundamentally intertwined with the histories of Sweden and Russia, as well as the economic and entrepreneurial development of Europe in the long 19th century.The name Nobel is mainly associated with the Nobel prize. However, Alfred Nobel was only one of a family of conspicuously gifted individuals. The Nobels, who moved from Sweden to Russia in the 1830s, ran one of Russia's biggest machine factories and founded the Russian oil industry. Using thousands of Nobel family letters and other documents shared here for the first time, Bengt Jangfeldt provides a fascinating and authoritative multi-generational chronicle charting the family exploits. The author describes how the father, Immanuel Nobel, a polymath architect, inventor, and engineer set the family on a path to financial success amidst a backdrop of imperial RussianTrade ReviewThis eloquent book … reads like an official history … [A] punchy historical story [is] at the heart of this very readable tale — the translation is superb —it is the incidental details, so eloquently expounded by Swedish scholar and Russia expert Bengt Jangfeldt, that are riveting. -- Lesley Chamberlain * Financial Times *This gripping and deeply researched volume wonderfully tells the tale of the Nobel family, bringing new evidence and perspectives to show how their business and personal lives were intertwined with the histories of Sweden and Russia. * Steven Nafziger, Professor of Economics, Williams College, USA *Table of ContentsForeword Part 1 1. Immanuel 2. Immanuel Nobel & Sons 3. Immanuel and Andriette Part 2 4. Ludvig 5. Robert 6. Robert & Ludvig 7. The Nobel Brothers 8. The End of an Epoch Part 3 9. The Third Generation 10. Emanuel 11. The Age of Greatness 12. Welfare and Charity 13. Political Unrest, Economic Growth and War 14. Anno 1917 Part 4 Postscript Afterword Family Tree Picture Credits Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Cambridge Spies continue to fascinate - but one of them, John Cairncross, has always been more of an enigma than the others. He worked alone and was driven by his hostility to Fascism rather than to the promotion of Communism. During his war-time work at Bletchley Park, he passed documents to the Soviets which went on to influence the Battle of Kursk. Geoff Andrews gained exclusive access to the Cairncross papers and secrets, and has spoken to friends, relatives and former colleagues. In his portrait, a complex individual emerges a scholar as well as a spy whose motivations have often been misunderstood. After his resignation from the Civil Service, Cairncross moved to Italy and there he rebuilt his life as a foreign correspondent, editor and university professor. This gave him new circles and friendships which included the writer Graham Greene while he always lived with the fear that his earlier espionage would come to light. The full account of Cairncross's spying, his confTrade ReviewExtremely well-researched ... Both fascinating and exciting in equal measure. * The Wee Review *Compelling… Geoff Andrews’s research is extensive and exemplary. * Morning Star *[Cairncross] lived in a sort of self-imposed exile on the Continent, eking out an existence as a jobbing writer and translator. When he was finally unmasked as the Fifth Man, nobody really seemed to care. [Andrews] has set out to remedy this. * Mail on Sunday *Andrews rightly emphasizes the range of Cairncross's literary talents. He would have made a successful, though highly argumentative, full-time academic, and was a formidable linguist. * Times Literary Supplement *In Agent Molière, respected historian Geoff Andrews provides a well-researched and absorbing account of Cairncross’s life from his passing on of secret documents to the Russians during World War II to his later life as a university professor in Italy and his eventual unveiling as the ‘fifth man’. A must for all armchair spies. -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *Geoff Andrews, an Open University politics lecturer, throws new light on this mystery [of how John Cairncross found himself in the pay of Moscow's spy masters]. * The New European *Geoff Andrews brilliantly captures the essence of the unlikely “fifth man” in the notorious Cambridge spy ring, exploding the myths surrounding John Cairncross. His meticulous research paints a picture of an exceptional scholar from a humble background uncomfortable in the corridors of the Whitehall establishment. As Andrews astutely comments, Cairncross was “incapable of subscribing to any kind of orthodoxy”. Agent Molière is a refreshing and most welcome biography which blows away the cobwebs left by traditional spy writers. * Richard Norton-Taylor, author of The State of Secrecy *A thorough and thoughtful exploration of the complex life and personality of John Cairncross. This is the book we have been waiting for that rounds off the epic story of the Cambridge Spies. * Roland Philipps, Author of A Spy Named Orphan: The Enigma of Donald Maclean *Table of ContentsPrologue: 'The Chase' Chapter 1: A Scottish Education Chapter 2: From Glasgow to Germany Chapter 3: A Political Awakening Chapter 4: Cambridge Chapter 5: The Foreign Office Chapter 6: Agent Moliere Chapter 7: Appeasement Chapter 8: A Political Career Begins Chapter 9: Bletchley Park Chapter 10: Enter Graham Greene Chapter 11: Cold War and Resignation Chapter 12: An Italian Escape Chapter 13: Professor Cairncross Chapter 14: Confession and Exile (Again) Chapter 15: Hot Autumn Chapter 16: The ‘Fifth Man’ Chapter 17: The Human Factor Epilogue: 'Fact and Fiction in the Life of John Cairncross'

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Book Synopsis'Thoroughly researched and written with such calm authority, yet makes you want to scream with righteous indignation' John O'Farrell ‘We can expect the manifesto-writers at the next general election to pass magpie-like over these chapters ... The appeal to act is heartfelt’ Financial Times ___________________ Includes a new chapter, 'Moving Ahead?' Britain’s private, fee-paying schools are institutions where children from affluent families have their privileges further entrenched through a high-quality, richly-resourced education. Engines of Privilege contends that, in a society that mouths the virtues of equality of opportunity, of fairness and of social cohesion, the educational apartheid separating private schools from our state schools deploys our national educational resources unfairly; blocks social mobility; reproduces privilege down the generations; and underpins a damaging democratic deficit in our society. Francis Green and David Kynaston carefully examine options for change, while drawing on the valuable lessons of history. Clear, vigorous prose is combined with forensic analysis to powerful effect, illuminating the painful contrast between the importance of private schools in British society and the near-absence of serious, policy-shaping debate. ___________________ 'An excoriating account of the inequalities perpetuated by Britain’s love affair with private schools' The TimesTrade ReviewThoroughly researched and written with such calm authority, yet makes you want to scream with righteous indignation -- John O'FarrellTheir tone is calm and evidence-based, not agitprop … They have made up my mind. I now feel clear not just that change is urgently needed, but that options for change are more varied, imaginative and realistic than I’d dared imagine -- Maggie Fergusson * Tablet *Fascinating -- Alex Renton * Spectator *‘[A] powerful attack on private schools as engines of privilege … a forensic examination of what the authors call “Britain’s private school problem” … They start strong … leaving you in no doubt about the path from private schooling to the elite … This book does a fine job of explaining and damning Britain’s private school problem -- Hugo Rifkind * The Times *An excoriating account of the inequalities perpetuated by Britain’s love affair with private schools * The Times *A passionate attack on private schools … Kynaston’s flair for anecdotes shines through ... Fascinating -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Timely * Guardian *The historical background to our arguments over state and private education today is the most intriguing part of Engines of Privilege ... imbued with Kynaston’s fascination with the arguments and mores of post-war Britain -- Anne McElvoy * Evening Standard *Francis Green and David Kynaston say loud and clear that Britain’s private schools are a social problem … This book provides warnings and lessons of what doesn’t work and ideas of what policies could work to dismantle these 'engines of privilege' * Socialist Worker *A fresh dissection of what [Kynaston and Green] deem "Britain's private school problem" ... We can expect the manifesto-writers at the next general election to pass magpie-like over these chapters * Financial Times *[A] forensic and damning examination of ... "Britain's private school problem" * The Week *David Kynaston is one of the great chroniclers of our modern story ... Every paragraph contains some glittering nugget -- Praise for David Kynaston's 'Modernity Britain' * Sunday Times *An exemplary narrative history, with the archives plundered judiciously and plenty of focus on people and their quirks … Fascinating -- Praise for 'Till Time's Last Sand' * The Times *This is the work of a scholar with a gift for illuminating every square inch of each enormous canvas he chooses to paint … Kynaston brings characters large and small to life -- Praise for 'Till Time's Last Sand' * Literary Review *A historian of peerless sensitivity and curiosity about the lives of individuals -- Praise for 'Modernity Britain' * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisIn existence for 258 years, the English East India Company ran a complex, highly integrated global trading network. It supplied the tea for the Boston Tea Party, the cotton textiles used to purchase slaves in Africa, and the opium for China’s nineteenth-century addiction. In India it expanded from a few small coastal settlements to govern territories that far exceeded the British Isles in extent and population. It minted coins in its name, established law courts and prisons, and prosecuted wars with one of the world’s largest armies. Over time, the Company developed a pronounced and aggressive colonialism that laid the foundation for Britain’s Eastern empire. A study of the Company, therefore, is a study of the rise of the modern world. In clear, engaging prose, Ian Barrow sets the rise and fall of the Company into political, economic, and cultural contexts and explains how and why the Company was transformed from a maritime trading entity into a territorial colonial state. Excerpts from eighteen primary documents illustrate the main themes and ideas discussed in the text. Maps, illustrations, a glossary, and a chronology are also included.Trade Review"Ian Barrow has written a concise yet engaging, rich, and detailed history of the East India Company—its rise to power, evolution, and eventual demise. This book will be read with great interest by students as well as those general readers seeking a better knowledge of the world's first multi-national corporation and its important influence in the creation of the modern South Asian world." —Michael Dodson, Indiana University Bloomington"The book fills in a gap in scholarship on the English East India Company by providing a chronological guide to the Company's Indian activities. The East India Company serves as a reference for researchers starting their study of the English East India Company and as a source of information for students. Moreover, the selected primary sources provided at the end of the book represent an excellent entry into the study of the primary sources connected to contemporary English debates about the activities of the Company." —Karolina Hutková, London School of Economics, in The Economic History Review"Ian Barrow's slim volume uses the East India Company (or, as he refers to it throughout the book, simply the 'Company') as a case study through which to examine Britain's colonial journey. From the Company’s inception in 1600 to its formal dissolution in 1874, its trajectory reflects England's expanding global trade to obtaining a foothold in foreign lands to its problematic role as a colonizing country, through the growing challenges to and eventual collapse of that colonial authority. It is a concise history, but works well at bringing those multiple threads into one story. . . . There are many resources in this volume that will be beneficial for students and nonspecialists. A chronology, glossary, and series of maps provide useful aids to understanding and visualizing new concepts in the readings. Barrow closes with a concise and easily comprehensible summation of how the Company's story is important as a case study of colonial rule and imperialism, and this will be one of the book's most valuable aspects for educators. It is a story that is easy to follow, even in its complexity, and incorporates economic, religious, ethnic, political, and military history throughout the narrative. Students should find various topics that will hold their interest in this very readable book." —Michelle Damian, Monmouth College, in Education About Asia

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Book SynopsisDiscover the extraordinary stories of the Jewish people who designed, made and sold fashion in twentieth-century London, revealing their vital role in making it an iconic fashion city. While Jewish people have long been associated with making clothes, the full extent of the contributions they made to London’s growing reputation as a global fashion capital and the democratisation of fashion through the development of ready-to-wear clothes in the twentieth century have been widely forgotten. Spanning all sectors of the fashion industry – from homeworking to haute couture – the book draws stories from generations of Jewish Londoners and is richly illustrated with images from across the city and the Museum of London’s collections. Fashion City takes you on a journey across London, from the busy clothing factories of the East End to the swinging boutiques of Carnaby Street and the manicured squares of Mayfair. Along the way it introduces you to the intriguing stories of the key figures behind London fashion, such as Frederick Starke, a boy from the East End whose ability to tell a creative story changed the way the world saw British ready-to-wear fashion; Otto Lucas, a gay Jewish German hat maker who became the most financially successful milliner in the world; Mr Fish, the rule-defying tailor who dressed Mick Jagger and Muhammed Ali; and Netty Spiegel, who escaped the Nazis on the Kindertransport and became a London wedding dress designer of choice under her ‘Neymar’ label. Bringing together a wealth of new research and presenting a novel perspective of London fashion, this book gives a voice to the city’s overlooked and often forgotten Jewish fashion makers.Trade ReviewDrawing on new research, this makes for a fascinating read. * This England *Table of ContentsForeword by David Sassoon - Prelude: Neymar | Netty Spiegel 1. Introductions - Key Figures: J. H. Fisher | Malka and Juda Fiszer 2. Making Clothes in the East End - Key Figures: Koupy | Charles Kuperstein 3. High-street Chains and the Wholesale Revolution - Key Figures: Otto Lucas Ltd | The Milliner Millionaire 4. Couture and Bespoke Dressmaking - Key Figures: Mr Fish | Michael Fish and Friends 5. Menswear Boutiques and Carnaby Street - Key Figures: Moss Bros | Generations of Moss Index Picture credits

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Book SynopsisFully revised and updated. This comprehensive guide to the London section of the Thames Path Trail Guide covers the route from Hampton Court in the east to the Thames Barrier in the west, with an extension into Crayford Ness. From the Mesolithic Period timber piles near Vauxhall Bridge to the innovative Shard skyscraper at London Bridge, the long and remarkable history of London is revealed. Clapham covers all the folklore from the famous frost fairs to the much-lamented beach near Tower Bridge, not forgetting the poignant recent visit of a large whale to the centre of London. The Thames winds all the way through London’s history and culture, from Henry VIII’s Hampton Court to the chequered fate of the Dome/O2. Accompanied by easy-to-read maps and colour photography, the London resident as much as the visiting tourist will find in this guide something new every step of the way.Trade ReviewA rich, absorbing yet highly parctical guidebookThis guide will help visitors discover something new each and every step along the trail A rich, absorbing yet highly parctical guidebook

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Book SynopsisWhat is one of the best ways to successfully predict the future? Winston Churchill believed that the further back you look, the further forward you are likely to be able to see. This intriguing book is testimony to this idea. It looks back two thousand years to the Roman Empire to help us to see into our own future. Pugnare tells the story of a people like us in their capacity for creativity and self-destruction, and in the wisdom and foolishness of those whom they chose to govern them. It tells the story of their success, a prosperity that the world had never seen before. And it tells the story of their failure, the one thousand five hundred year long Great Stagnation that followed the self-induced collapse of their world.Trade ReviewFinancial Times - "Fabulous ... one to give to anyone you would like to be less blase about the resilience of our institutions." The Week -"Top ten business book of 2021." Also featured in The Sunday Telegraph, City A.M., The Express, The Actuary, Moneyweek, America Magazine and Cointelegraph.Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Expansion 8 Chapter 3 Peace 29 Chapter 4 Money 57 Chapter 5 Cities 85 Chapter 6 Prosperity 113 Chapter 7 Life 141 Chapter 8 Chaos 165 Chapter 9 Survival 199 Appendix 217 Additional Reading 219 Acknowledgements 227 List of Illustrations 229 Bibliography 233 Index 251

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Book SynopsisWriting on a small island in the Firth of Forth in the 1440s, Walter Bower set out to tell the whole story of the Scottish nation in a single huge book, the Scotichronicon - 'a history book for Scots'. It begins with the mythical voyage of Scota, the Pharaoh's daughter, from Egypt with the Stone of Destiny. The land that her sons discovered in the Western Ocean was named after her: Scotland. It goes on to describe the turbulent events that followed, among them the wars of the Scots and the Picts (begun by a quarrel over a dog); the poisoning of King Fergus by his wife; Macbeth's usurpation and uneasy reign; the good deeds of Margaret, queen and saint; Bruce's murder of the Red Comyn; the founding of Scotland's first university at St Andrews; the 'Burnt Candlemas'; and the endless troubles between Scotland and England. Weaving in and out of the events of Bower's factual history, like a wonderful pageant, are other subjects that fascinated him: harrowing visions of hell and purgatory, extraordinary miracles; the exploits of knights and beggars, merchants and monks; the ravages of flood and fire; the terrors of the plague; and the answers to such puzzling questions as what makes a good king, and why Englishmen have tails. In 1998 Donald Watt and his team of scholars completed the first modern edition and translation of Scotichronicon in nine volumes. It has been described as 'a massive achievement for Scottish cultural history' (Sally Mapstone) and 'an open invitation to join a voyage of discovery' (Books in Scotland). This selection from the whole of Scotichronicon puts Bower's epic of Scotland into the hands of the general reader. It is a marvellous and unforgettable story. Perhaps its importance is best summed up by Bower himself, who wrote at the end of it: Non Scotus est Christe cui liber non placet iste - Christ! He is not a Scot who is not pleased with this book! A History Book for Scots is selected from the complete edition of Scotichronicon by Walter Bower, edited by D E R Watt and a team of scholars, in nine volumes. This monumental work of scholarship, in which the original Latin text appears side by side with a translation in modern English, was completed in 1998. Extensive introductory material and notes guide the reader through the complexities of Bower's history and its background.Trade Review'A superlatively good edition' - G W S Barrow, Books in Scotland

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Book SynopsisDiscover the fun of shibori and the beauty of indigo dyeing in one book!This book presents a new spin on the beloved Japanese art of Shibori resist tie-dying using 100% natural indigo dyes and simple techniques that you can do at home.Add artistic touches to everything you own—from a favorite linen shirt to a bamboo basket, a pair of old sneakers or pair of jeans. Clear instructions and photos explain how to do it. Tips on creating fantastic patterns and effects using easy folding and resist techniques will inspire you to dye lots of different items—from clothes to accessories and home goods. In addition to creating beautiful tie-dye patterns you'll learn how to: Prep the fabrics, mix the dyes, build the colors and preserve them Work with cotton, linen, wool and other materials and fabrics Create different effects using wax, stitching, tying and other resist techniques Create unique patterns by sponging, dripping, rolling and silk screening Add artistic touches to your favorite T-shirts, tote bags and curtains—even to wood and paper. With so many useful and creative techniques and ways to use them, Japan Blue Indigo Dyeing Techniques is a book you'll refer to again and again as you experiment with refashioning fabrics and more.Trade Review"This is a jam-packed volume filled with clear instructions and ample color photographs to help crafters master shibori tie-dyeing and incorporate it into their projects. Best suited for those who enjoy crafting, sewing, or designing clothes." --Library Journal"A lot of young designers, who are interested in sustainability and local production, are returning to old craft traditions, and blue-printing is one of them." --Marketa Vinglerova, curator of the textile collection at the Museum of Decorative Arts

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Book SynopsisThe Hebridean island of Islay is well-known for its whisky, its wildlife and its association with the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. There would seem to be little reason to dwell on its fate at the hands of marauding Northmen during the Viking Age. Despite a pivotal location on the 'sea road' from Norway to Ireland, there are no convincing records of the Vikings ever having been there. In recent years, historians have been keen to marginalise the island's Viking experience, choosing instead to focus on the enduring stability of native Celtic culture, and tracing the island's modern Gaelic traditions back in an unbroken chain to the dawn of the Christian era. However, the foundations of this presumption are flawed. With no written accounts to go by, the real story of Islay's Viking Age has to be read from another type of source material - the silent witness of the names of local places. The Vikings in Islay presents a systematic review of around 240 of the island's farm and nature names. The conclusions drawn turn traditional assumptions on their head. The romance of Islay's names, it seems, masks a harrowing tale of invasion, apartheid and ethnic cleansing.Trade Review'Masterly analysis . . . crystallised by the author’s total command of the local place-nomenclature and his understanding of the Gaelic-Norse circumstances . . . it is hugely significant for future studies of the totality of the Viking impact on Scotland' -- Barbara Crawford * Northern Scotland *

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Book SynopsisThis book traces the history of relations between the kingdom of Strathclyde and Anglo-Saxon England in the Viking period of the ninth to eleventh centuries AD. It puts the spotlight on the North Britons or 'Cumbrians', an ancient people whose kings ruled from a power-base at Govan on the western side of present-day Glasgow. In the tenth century, these kings extended their rule southward from Clydesdale to the southern shore of the Solway Firth, bringing their language and culture to a region that had been in English hands for more than two hundred years. They played a key role in many of the great political events of the time, whether leading their armies in battle or forging treaties to preserve a fragile peace. Their extensive realm, which was also known as 'Cumbria', was eventually conquered by the Scots, but is still remembered today in the name of an English county. How this county acquired the name of a long-vanished kingdom centred on the River Clyde is one of the topics covered in this book.It is part of a wider history that forms an important chapter in the story of how England and Scotland emerged from the early medieval period or 'Dark Ages' as the countries we know today.Trade Review'A must for anyone interested in medieval history' * Scots Magazine *

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