History Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsList of Figures viii Acknowledgments x Preface: The Contradictions of Theory xi 1 Common Sense is Not Enough 1 2 The “New Archaeology” 13 3 Archaeology as a Science 38 4 Middle‐range Theory, Ethnoarchaeology and Material Culture Studies 54 5 Culture and Process 72 6 Thoughts and Ideologies 94 7 Postprocessual and Interpretative Archaeologies 108 8 The Material Turn 132 9 Archaeology, Gender, and Identity 156 10 Archaeology and Cultural Evolution 180 11 Archaeology and Darwinian Evolution 202 12 Archaeology and History 226 13 Archaeology, Politics, and Culture 246 14 Conclusion: The Future of Theory 260 Selective Glossary 284 Further Reading 294 Bibliography 317 Index 358

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Book Synopsis When the Titanic sank, so did the Edwardian age that created it. In this brilliantly original history, Gareth Russell recasts a tragedy we think we know to explore an era of seismic change. Trade Review‘A fascinating look at life during a doomed era … Like spending time with an amusing conversationalist aboard what the Edwardians called ‘a ship of dreams’ … Russell’s social observations are sharp and witty … the wider history he presents is packed with interesting details.’ Times, Book of the Week ‘Gripping …. the attention to detail is astonishing.’ Sunday Times ‘Engrossing … This masterly reconstruction renders the Titanic story vital again’ Mail on Sunday ‘Russell sets out to look at the night through the experiences of six first-class passengers … Russell reminds us no one thought the Titanic could sink … The belief in the infallibility of bigness is the most striking feature of Russell’s darksome failing world’ Daily Telegraph ‘It is a wonderful, multi-angled view of history and grips the reader as compellingly as a pacey historical or epic movie … Russell has written a wonderful book, full of personalities, history but most of all suspense.’ Independent ‘Gareth Russell invites us into the first-class staterooms aboard the RMS Titanic and brings to life the Edwardian era and its elite—the exclusive circle of Europeans and Americans who wielded unimaginable wealth and influence on both sides of the Atlantic. Deeply researched and lushly detailed, the book shines new light on both the bygone Golden Age and the iconic tragedy that marked the beginning of its end.’ Lynn Vincent, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Indianapolis ‘This absorbing account proves that there are many levels to the endless fascination of the Titanic story … Gareth Russell skilfully constructs an eloquent and gripping narrative that is essentially a microcosm of the moribund Edwardian class system that would go down with the Titanic and finally be obliterated by war in 1914.’ Helen Rappaport, author of Four Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses

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Book SynopsisPausanias, one of the Roman world’s great travelers, sketches in Description of Greece the history, geography, landmarks, legends, and religious cults of all the important Greek cities. He shares his enthusiasm for great sites, describing them with care and an accuracy confirmed by comparison with monuments that still stand today.

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Book SynopsisIn Logics of History, he reveals the shape such an engagement could take, some of the topics it could illuminate, and how it might affect both sides of the disciplinary divide.Trade Review"Logics of History initiates dialogue between historians and social scientists about social theory and shows historians that they have important contributions to make to current theoretical discussions. Written by one of the most influential and widely respected historians today, it is a book that will make the intellectual history of our times." - Michele Lamont, Harvard University"

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Book SynopsisPresents an account of the author's life in relation to political events of his time; the character and history of his writings and of the Politics in particular; his overall conception of political science; and his impact on subsequent political thought from antiquity to the present.Trade Review"This revised edition of Aristotle's 'Politics' easily establishes it as the best available in English. By offering a longer introductory essay that grapples with the substance of Aristotle's argument, a new index, revamped notes, and - most important - by revising and correcting the text, Carnes Lord has substantially improved what was already a fine rendering of Aristotle's classic account of political science. A great service to students and scholars alike." (Robert C. Bartlett, cotranslator of Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics") "Carnes Lord's translation is clearly the best available." (Claremont Review of Books)"

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Book SynopsisA fascinating true crime account of one of America's most notorious mass murderers.

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Book SynopsisA vivid and illuminating new history—separate fact from fiction, myth from legend—exploring the early Vikings settlements in North America.Vikings are an enduring subject of fascination. The combination of adventure, mythology, violence, and exploration continues to grip our attention. As a result, for more than a millennium the Vikings have traveled far and wide, not least across the turbulent seas of our minds and imaginations. The geographical reach of the Norse was extraordinary. For centuries medieval sagas, first recorded in Iceland, claimed that Vikings reached North America around the year 1000. This book explores that claim, separating fact from fiction and myth from mischief, to assess the enduring legacy of this claim in America. The search for “American Vikings” connects a vast range of different areas; from the latest archaeological evidence for their actual settlement in North America to the myth-making of nineteenth-century

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Book SynopsisAppian (ca. AD 95–161) is a principal source for the history of the Roman Republic. His theme is the process by which Rome achieved her contemporary prosperity, and his method is to trace in individual books the story of each nation’s wars with Rome up through her own civil wars. This Loeb edition replaces the original by Horace White (1912–13).Trade ReviewA superb, nuanced translation…It is not simply that McGing updates the translation to reflect contemporary idiom; he also breathes new life into Appian’s prose on almost every page…This exceptionally well executed Loeb is a welcome resource that will be deeply appreciated by all those interested in Appian and his remarkable Roman History as well as expand his appeal to a new generation of readers. -- Alain M. Gowing * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *I have not read any fictions that have more dramatic tension, philosophy, or narrative curiosities than this history of Appian’s. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *

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Book SynopsisAn edited collection that explores the multifaceted experiences of Chinese culinary modernity both within and outside of mainland China from the mid-19th century to present.Modern Chinese Foodways defines some of the major processes by which Chinese food and foodways have become modern, with a focus on the period from the mid-nineteenth to the twenty-first century. The editors, Jia-Chen Fu, Michelle T. King, and Jakob A. Klein, highlight four prominent areas of change: commodification of food production; the scientization of expertise and the development of new food technologies; the creation of new culinary identities based on gender, ethnicity, and nation; and the circuits of migration taking place since the nineteenth century.This collection argues that Chinese food and foodways are very much modern—not a given in the face of the chorus of voices that insists on emphasizing its ancient roots—in ways that both recall the experiences of

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Book SynopsisThe cuneiform script, the writing system of ancient Mesopotamia, was witness to one of the world''s oldest literate cultures. For over three millennia, it was the vehicle of communication from (at its greatest extent) Iran to the Mediterranean, Anatolia to Egypt. The Oxford Handbook of Cuneiform Culture examines the Ancient Middle East through the lens of cuneiform writing. The contributors, a mix of scholars from across the disciplines, explore, define, and to some extent look beyond the boundaries of the written word, using Mesopotamia''s clay tablets and stone inscriptions not just as ''texts'' but also as material artefacts that offer much additional information about their creators, readers, users and owners.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Thanks are due to the K. Radner and E. Robson for the care with which they edited this voluminous book. * Bibliotheca Orientalis *Table of ContentsI. Materiality and literacies 1: Jonathan Taylor: Tablets as artefacts, scribes as artisans 2: Robert K. Englund: Accounting in proto-cuneiform 3: Grégory Chambon: Numeracy and metrology 4: Niek Veldhuis: Levels of literacy 5: Brigitte Lion: Literacy and gender II. Individuals and communities 6: Benjamin R. Foster: The person in Mesopotamian thought 7: Frans van Koppen: The scribe of the Flood Story and his circle 8: Hagan Brunke: Feasts for the living, the dead, and the gods 9: Michael Jursa: Cuneiform writing in Neo-Babylonian temple communities 10: Eva von Dassow: Freedom in ancient Near Eastern societies III. Experts and novices 11: Yoram Cohen & Sivan Kedar: Teacher-student relationships: two case studies 12: Dominique Charpin: Patron and client: Zimri-Lim and Asqudum the diviner 13: Michel Tanret: Learned, rich, famous and unhappy: Ur-Utu of Sippar 14: Nele Ziegler: Music, the work of professionals 15: Silvie Zamazalová: The education of Neo-Assyrian princes IV. Decisions 16: Sophie Démare-Lafont: Judicial decision-making: judges and arbitrators 17: Karen Radner: Royal decision-making: kings, magnates and scholars 18: Andreas Fuchs: Assyria at war: strategy and conduct 19: Anne Löhnert: Manipulating the gods: lamenting in context 20: Daniel Schwemer: Magic rituals: conceptualisation and performance V. Interpretations 21: Ulla Susanne Koch: Sheep and sky: systems of divinatory interpretation 22: John M. Steele: Making sense of time: observational and theoretical calendars 23: Fabienne Huber Vulliet: Letters as correspondence, letters as literature 24: Eckart Frahm: Keeping company with men of learning: the king as scholar 25: Heather D. Baker: From street altar to palace: reading the built environment of urban Babylonia VI. Making knowledge 26: Eleanor Robson: The production and dissemination of scholarly knowledge 27: Steve Tinney: Tablets of schools and scholars: a portrait of the Old Babylonian corpus 28: Mark Weeden: Adapting to new contexts: cuneiform in Anatolia 29: Francesca Rochberg: Observing and describing the world through divination and astronomy 30: Geert De Breucker: Berossos between tradition and innovation VII. Shaping tradition 31: Frans Wiggermann: Agriculture as civilization: sages, farmers, and barbarians 32: Barbara Böck: Sourcing, organising, and administering medicinal ingredients 33: Nicole Brisch: Changing images of kingship in Sumerian literature 34: Caroline Waerzeggers: The pious king: royal patronage of temples 35: Philippe Clancier: Cuneiform culture's last guardians: the old urban notability of Hellenistic Uruk

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Book SynopsisSamuel H. Walker, a carpenter turned soldier, fought in the Seminole War, Mier Expedition, and Mexican-American War, where he died heroically leading a charge against Santa Ana?s forces.Samuel H. Walker was an apprentice carpenter in Washington, D.C., when the second Seminole War broke out in 1838. He enlisted in a Washington militia unit and went to Florida. Upon the expiration of the unit?s service, he was employed in the construction of the railroad from Mobile to Pensacola. Upon the completion of his labors, he removed to Texas where he joined the ill-fated Mier Expedition in 1842, being subsequently imprisoned by the Mexican authorities for two years, during which time he developed an intense hatred for his captors. Upon his release, he returned to Texas and joined the Texas Rangers. When war broke between the United States and Mexico in 1846, Walker joined the 1st Regiment of Texas Mounted Rifle Volunteers before, at the request of General Zachary Taylor, forming his own company of scouts. He subsequently returned to the Texas Mounted Rifles and was elected lieutenant colonel of the regiment.His term of service with Texas finished, he was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Mounted Rifles and journeyed north to recruit his company. During this time, he met Samuel Colt. His discussions with Colt resulted in the Walker Colt pistol. His company filled, Walker returned to Mexico and the scene of battle. There, in 1847 Walker led a furious charge against the remnants of the Mexican dictator Santa Ana?s army in which he was mortally wounded by a Mexican sniper.Based upon archival materials including Walker?s own letters?he was a well-educated man and wrote extremely descriptive accounts of his experiences?this is the first in-depth biography of Walker.

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Book SynopsisCheese puffs. Coffee. Sunscreen. Vapes. George Zaidan reveals what will kill you, what won't, and why-explained with high-octane hilarity, hysterical hijinks, and other things that don't begin with the letter H.Trade Review'If you crossed Bill Nye with Stephen Colbert, you'd get George Zaidan. Ingredients is a masterful piece of science writing' Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive'If you ever thought that chemistry might be really interesting (it is), but your eyes glazed over in high school chem class, this is the book for you. George Zaidan will keep you laughing out loud as he shares the wonders of our most useful, practical science, with brilliant analogies that even an 11-year old can understand' Daniel J. Levitin, author of Successful Aging and This is Your Brain on Music'I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that food is very important, and yet we are terrible at talking about it. Nutrition is a mess of marketing, classism, science, truth, guilt, confusion, and outright hucksterism. Ingredients lifts the film from our eyes with humour and reassurance' Hank Green, author of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing'At last, a book on nutrition that tries to make you understand how little we know instead of offering blanket prognostications. If instead of a simple solution, you want a guide to how to think about health, this is it' Zach and Kelly Weinersmith, New York Times bestselling authors of Soonish'If you are looking for a guide in understanding the everyday chemistry of our lives, you could not do better than George Zaidan. And his book, Ingredients, is everything that should lead you to expect: funny, edgy, fascinating, dismaying, reassuring, and overall, just incredibly smart' Deborah Blum, Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Poison Squad'By all means, pick up George Zaidan's high-octane Ingredients if you want to know more about Cheetos, sunscreen, butter substitutes, and other fascinating bits of everyday chemistry. But above all, you should buy Ingredients because it teaches you how to think better—like a smart, informed, and wickedly funny scientist' Sam Kean, author of The Disappearing Spoon and The Bastard Brigade'Omfg this book is FABULOUS! It's hilarious, insightful, sassy, and reassuring. A delightful roller-coaster of science communication' Kallie Moore, Co-host of PBS Eons'George Zaidan’s mix of razor-sharp wit and pin-point accuracy are rarer in science than a T-Rex performing nuclear fusion. Ingredients has the answers to age-old questions—how many Oreos is too many Oreos?—and many more you never thought to ask. Like an optometrist performing stand-up, Zaidan is eye-opening and hilarious' Daniel Stone, author of The Food Explorer'Everything in our lives is made of chemicals. But unfortunately very few of us are chemists. Ingredients is a road map for navigating the confusing polysyllabic world we find in product labels and in viral news stories. Zaidan’s blend of humor and science will not only make you a better-informed consumer of all things chemical. Ingredients will also make you appreciate the chemistry that makes our world possible' Joe Hanson, creator, writer and host of It's Okay to Be Smart'Through incredibly weird and wonderful analogies (and delightfully nerdy wit), George helps you understand how scientists work toward the truth. I wish he'd rewrite all of my high school science textbooks!' Emily Calandrelli, author of the Ada Lace Adventures'Ingredients is a friendly introduction to the chemistry behind our health, but it's also a compelling portrait of how science is conducted and knowledge is built. Turns out, Cheetos and the scientific method have something in common: there's a lot going on, and not everyone knows what. George does a masterful job of showing where chemistry can answer questions about our health and environment, and where it—as well science in general—is lead by politics, culture and even *gasp* opinion' Mike Rugnetta, host of Idea Channel'When I taught a writing intensive course for nutrition and food science seniors, the main objectives were how to read scientific papers critically and how to argue effectively in print. I thought several times while reading this book that, rather than using peer-reviewed papers, I wish I could have had this book for my students. Pick any argument George makes and tell me, with references, why you agree or disagree. They probably would have learned more that way and certainly would have enjoyed their reading more' David Klurfeld, former Professor and Chair of Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University'Ingredients has all the ingredients I’m looking for in a science book: it’s chock full of interesting information, it reveals the science behind an everyday subject—and it’s written in a breezy, easy-to-understand voice—and it’s funny! I can’t recommend it enough' Brian Malow, Science comedian

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Thoughtful and elegant. . . . Were the book to simply chart the use of human shields in warfare and situations of political upheaval, it would be a valuable enough contribution to the literature – Gordon and Perugini write in a lucid and persuasive style, employing still photographs effectively throughout the text to illustrate their thesis. What elevates the book is its theoretical framework of inclusion and exclusion –through this prism, the book is able to examine and interrogate a number of fascinating theoretical and practical questions, using unusual and innovative examples to further explore their thesis.” * Journal of the History of International Law *“Gives the issue of human shields the roots of the term and re-narrates their manifestation in major historical moments and contemporary sites.” * Al-Akhbar *“A startling new take on the history of war, morality, and law” * Humanity *“A thoroughly engaging text, a tour de force that will stand the test of time and ought to be a mainstay for those with a healthy dose of scepticism when it comes to appraising international law’s emancipatory potential. . . . A model on how academic work should be written and conceived of moving forward.” * Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies *“A wide-ranging, accessible book that focuses on the ethical and legal dilemmas connected with a practice that blurs the distinction between combatants and noncombatants. . . . An invaluable tool for courses on conflict and human rights, especially because it provides relevant evidence and arguments, without offering an easy resolution to the dilemmas posed.” * CHOICE *"The human shield faces us; we are its audience. The key contribution of this timely book is to elucidate that speech acts about human shielding authorize some forms of action and enable particular constellations of actors while delegitimizing and disabling others." * Los Angeles Review of Books *"Through analysing the contradictions, evolutions, and the legal ambiguity surrounding human shields, they contend convincingly that ‘humanity’ is not a politically neutral category." * Political Studies Review *"Fascinating . . . . Although Human Shields is rich with historical texture, it does more than simply document instances where these shields have been deployed. The book makes an important contribution to debates about how international humanitarian law works to enable the violence inflicted on the battlefield by legitimizing the harm caused to civilians. . . . Like most great books, Human Shields provokes more questions than it resolves." * Perspectives on Politics *"Outstanding and thought-provoking. . . . Exposes, at times hauntingly, the frailty of the human condition and the precarity of life." * H-Diplo *"Contributes to public education from the evolving, global experience with human shields, which now include civilian movements to protest government actions." * Quaker Universalist Voice *“A compelling, thoughtful, and ambitious book, which successfully takes a novel – if troubling– micro-issue of conflict and explores it through a macro multi-disciplinary lens." * Peace & Change *"Excellent analysis of shielding in international humanitarian law. . . . While by far the best analysis of the subject so far, their book should inspire other scholars to think even more deeply about the humanization of human shielding at a time of global fracture." * International Politics Reviews *“Human Shields provides a critical new addition to the literature on international law. The book demonstrates the ways in which powerful states have continued to utilize IHL as a tool for aggression against marginalized communities” * Journal of Palestine Studies *"Whilst the breadth and depth of Human Shields are astonishingly exhaustive, another virtue of the book is its timing. . . . The authors’ compelling narrative and absorbing study may not draw glib and comforting conclusions, but it does offer a thoroughly researched answer to some of today’s persistent questions regarding the past, present and future conduct of war, the ethics of humane violence and the legal status of civilians in war zones." * LSE Review of Books *"Neve Gordon and Nicola Perugini have written a terrifying book about how international law enables war’s violence despite the fact it purports to do the opposite." * New Mexico Historical Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1 • Civil War Humane Warfare in the United States 2 • Irregulars The Franco-German War and the Legal Use of Human Shields 3 • Settlers The Second Boer War and the Limits of Liberal Humanitarianism 4 • Reports World War I and the German use of Human Screens 5 • Peace Army International Pacifism and Voluntary Shielding during the Sino-Japanese War 6 • Emblem The Italo-Ethiopian War and Red Cross Medical Facilities 7 • Nuremberg Nazi Human Shielding and the Lack of Civilian Protections 8 • Codification The Geneva Conventions and the Passive Civilian 9 • People’s War Casting Vietnamese Resistance as Human Shielding 10 • Environment Green Human Shielding 11 • Resistance Antimilitary Activism in Iraq and Palestine 12 • Humanitarian Crimes The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia 13 • Manuals Military Handbooks as Lawmaking Tools 14 • Scale Human Shielding in Sri Lanka and the Principle of Proportionality 15 • Hospitals The Use of Medical Facilities as Shields 16 • Proximity Civilians Trapped in the Midst of the War on ISIS 17 • Info-War The Gaza Wars and Social Media 18 • Posthuman Shielding Drone Warfare and New Surveillance Technologies 19 • Women and Children Gender, Passivity, and Human Shields 20 • Spectacle Viral Images That Dehumanize or Humanize Shields 21 • Computer Games Human Shields in Virtual Wars 22 • Protest Civil Disobedience as an Act of War Acknowledgments Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisTouraj Daryaee is Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies & Culture and the Director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies at the University of California, Irvine. He works on the history of ancient and early medieval Iran and is the editor of the International Journal of Ancient Iranian Studies.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Plates Map of the Sasanian Empire Sasanian Family Tree Prolegomena 1. The Political History of Iran and an-Iran 2. The Society of Iranshahr 3. Religions of the Empire: Zoroastrians, Manichaeans, Jews and Christians 4. Languages and Textual Remains of the Citizens 5. The Economy and Administration of Iranshahr Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fully illustrated study of the Roman cavalry''s evolution, this fascinating book chronicles tactics and composition from the time of the Republic to the fall of the Dominate.The cavalry wings' that probed ahead of the Roman Army played a key role in its campaigns of conquest, masking its marching flanks and seeking to encircle enemies in battle. However, the original small cavalry arm provided by the citizen nobility had proved inadequate before the end of the Republic, and Julius Caesar's cavalry was largely made up of hired allies. During the Early Principate, the armies under Augustus continued in this vein, incorporating large numbers of non-citizen auxiliary cavalry units. The provinces came under increasing attack throughout and following the chaotic mid-3rd century, and Rome took lessons from its barbarian' enemies in how to improve its military mobility, adopting both new, heavily armoured shock cavalry and horse-archers, and vitally shaping the tactics employed during the Dominate.In this engaging study, Roman Army expert M.C. Bishop charts how the cavalry grew to become the dominant force in Roman field armies by the twilight of the Western Empire. Eight newly commissioned artwork plates and a rich selection of artefact photographs and archaeological sources provide vivid detail and insight, helping to bring to the life the evolving tactics, clothing and weaponry of Rome's cavalry from the 2nd century BC through to the 5th century AD.

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Book SynopsisNorth Korea was an important player in the decolonisation of Africa. Freedom fighters across the continent received vital assistance from Pyongyang, and almost all southern African independence leaders travelled to the North Korean capital at some point, in search of support. This alliance has continued into the twenty-first century, with African postcolonial governments throwing a lifeline to Pyongyang's increasing isolated economy by hiring North Korean companies, despite the United Nations sanctions seeking to isolate the country.Tycho van der Hoog examines the relations between victorious southern African liberation movements and North Korea, from the 1960s to the present. He explains why African presidents sang and danced at parties in Pyongyang, and why North Korean books were translated into Swahili and Afrikaans. He reveals how African soldiers were trained in guerrilla warfare by North Korean instructors, and how North Korean labourers construct monuments in Africa in the shape of AK-47s. And he explores the question of how revolutionary regimes, motivated by a need for survival, work together to defy the global order.Based on extensive research across four continentsincluding recently disclosed African liberation archives and Korean diplomatic cablesthis innovative study is the first book on AfricanNorth Korean relations.

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Book SynopsisFor any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. âFolklorica This sourcebook provides the first systematic overview of witchcraft laws and trials in Russia and Ukraine from medieval times to the late nineteenth century.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 10001900 weaves scholarly commentary with never-before-published primary source materials translated from Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. These sources include the earliest references to witchcraft and sorcery, secular and religious laws regarding witchcraft and possession, full trial transcripts, and a wealth of magical spells. The documents present a rich panorama of daily life and reveal the extraordinary power of magical words. Editors Valerie A. Kivelson and Christine D. Worobec present new analyses of the workings and evolution of legal systems, the interplay and tensions between church and state, and the prosaic concerns of the women and men involved in witchcraft proceedings. The extended documentary commentaries also explore the shifting boundaries and fraught political relations between Russia and Ukraine.Trade ReviewThis substantial volume by two leading scholars in the field is a major contribution to the study of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine and to the study of witchcraft in general, which often omits these regions. Overall, this is a tremendously useful book for students of witchcraft history, especially non-Slavists, and all historians of Russian and Ukrainian culture would do well to have it on their bookshelves. * Russian Review *[This book] allows us to see dozens of examples[,] each presented in English translation with extensive coverage that provides a great introduction to the topic, even for a person unfamiliar with the subject. [This] is an extremely important and well-made sourcebook that should be read not only by religion and history scholars studying witch trials, but also by a wide range of historians studying the medieval, early modern, and modern ages in general. * Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft *For any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. * Folklorica *Valerie Kivelson and Christine Worobec number among the leading scholars who study the history of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine. Scholars of witchcraft outside the area of Russian and Ukrainian studies can use this volume as an entrée into that milieu. * Folklorica *Kivelson and Christine Worobec have succeeded in editing a similarly impressive broad collection of documents that spans nine centuries related to witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine.Kivelson and Worobec have put together a truly astounding piece of scholarship that will be of great service to scholars and students throughout the world wishing to know more about the prevalence and special characteristics of witchcraft in the Eastern Slavic realms of Russia and Ukraine.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine is an essential work for specialists in many fields of the cultural and social history of Russia and Ukraine since 1000. * Slavonic and East European Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION, LAW, AND PROSECUTION 1. Early Accounts of Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Magic in Medieval Rus 1.1. Pagan Soothsayers and Magicians in the Primary Chronicle 1.2. "Maybe, but God Knows": Sorcery in the Novgorodian Chronicle (1227) 1.3. Bishop Serapion of Vladimir Condemns Belief in Witchcraft (1274) 1.4. St. Alimpii and the Leper Who Consulted Magicians (Kyivan Patericon) 2. Witchcraft and Politics in Muscovy and the Hetmanate 2.1. The Death of Maria of Tver, Ivan III's First Wife, by Witchcraft (1467) 2.2. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Sofia Paleologue (1497) 2.3. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Solomonia Saburova (1525) 2.4. Trials of Maksim the Greek for Treason, Heresy, and Sorcery (1525 & 1531) 2.5. The Great Moscow Fire and the Sprinkling of Human Hearts by the Tsar's Grandmother, Anna Glinskaia (1547) 2.6. Ivan Peresvetov's 1549 Tale about Sorcery at Court in the Final Days of the Byzantine Empire (Excerpts from the "Greater Petition") 2.7. Jerome Horsey on Witchcraft at the Court of Ivan IV (the Terrible) 2.8. The Vicious Sorcerer Eleazar Bomelius Described in a Russian Chronicle 2.9. Sorcery Allegations from Ivan the Terrible's Correspondence with Prince Kurbskii and Kurbskii's History of the Grand Prince of Moscow 2.10. Loyalty Oaths 2.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin and Samuel Collins on the Alleged Poisoning or Bewitchment of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich's First Betrothed, and on Bewitchment at Weddings (1647) 2.12. Hetman Ivan Briukhovetskii's Burning of Witches (1666) 2.13. Political Sorcery against the Prussian King (1760) 3. Laws and Guidelines concerning the Prosecution of Witchcraft, Late Twelfth Century to 1885 3.1. Byzantine Church Law and Its Echoes in Russia Kormchaia kniga, 1653 Excerpt from a court case from the late 1660s containing a fragment of the Kormchaia Church Statute of Iaroslav the Wise (late twelfth/early thirteenth century) Russian Orthodox penitential listings involving sorcery and magic (fourteenth—early nineteenth centuries) The Domostroi: A household handbook of the mid-sixteenth century 3.2. Excerpts from Charles V's 1532 Constitutio Criminalis Carolina and the 1559 Polish Version 3.3. Procedures for the Courts and Affairs of Towns under Magdeburg Law under the Polish Crown (1559) 3.4. Questions and Answers from the Moscow Church Council (Stoglav) of 1551 3.5. Ivan IV's 1552 Law on Witchcraft 3.6. 1589 Law on the Honor of Witches 3.7. 1648 Decree against Devilish Conduct 3.8. Sobornoe ulozhenie: The Conciliar Law Code of 1649 3.9. Aleksei Mikhailovich's Decree Prohibiting Witchcraft and Activities Repellent to God (1653) 3.10. "Newly Established Articles on Robbery, Brigandage, and Murder" (1669) 3.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin on Muscovite Judicial Process, Torture, and Execution (1660s) 3.12. Peter I's 1715 Decree against Shriekers (the Demonically Possessed) 3.13. Peter I's 1716 Military Statute and Suggested Revisions to Its Religious Articles (1725) 3.14. Excerpts from the Spiritual Regulation (1721) 3.15. Holy Synod's Decree against the Swimming of Individuals (1721) 3.16. Empress Anna Ioannovna's Decree against Wizardry (1731) 3.17. Catherine II's 1767 Instructions to the Legislative Commission and the Holy Synod's Response 3.18. Senate's Ruling Admonishing Judges (1770) 3.19. Catherine II's Decrees (1775 and 1782) 3.20. Excerpts from the Criminal Laws: 1842, 1845, and 1885 editions 4. Witchcraft Trials' Processes (Charges and Countercharges) and Extralegal Prosecution of Witchcraft: Complete Records A: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (PLC) and The Hetmanate 4.1. Andrei Kurbskii's Sorcery Allegations against His Wife, Marina Andreevna Golshanskaia, in Divorce Proceedings (1578) 4.2. False Accusation of Witchcraft against Siemionowa Pauciutina, a Cossack Woman (1634) 4.3. Swimming of Witches in Podillia (1711) 4.4. Witchcraft and Infanticide (1753) B: Muscovy and Imperial Russia 4.5. The Trial of the Old Peasant Woman Baba Daritsa and Others (1647) 4.6. A Case of Suspicious Roots: Rogataia Baba and the Use of Torture (1647–48) 4.7. A Mass Outbreak of Possession in the Town of Lukh (1656–60) 4.8. The 1758 Trial of Chamberlain Petr Vasilevich Saltykov 4.9. The 1764–65 Case against the Peasant Ekaterina Ivanova for Dabbling in Witchcraft 4.10. An Epidemic of Demonic Possession in a Urals Foundry Town (1839–40) 4.11. The 1853 Case against the Serf Gerasim Fedotov for Witchcraft 4.12. The Mob Murder of Agrafena Dmitrievna Chindiaikina, a Suspected Witch (1880) 4.13. A Woman Accused of Sorcery Has Her Day in Court (Early 1900s) Part II: MAGICAL PRACTICES, EVERYDAY MATTERS,AND THE POWER OF WORDS: TRIAL EXCERPTS 5. Healing and Harming 5.1. Consultation with the Doctors of the Apothecary Chancellery (1628) 5.2. A Case of Enchanted Brew (1653) 5.3. Healing or Cursing? Mysterious Ingredients Raise Suspicion (1658) 5.4. The Bewitchment of Priest David and His Family by Their Domestic Workers (1676) 5.5. Witchcraft Suspected as the Cause of a Child's Death (PLC, 1732) 5.6. A Case of Milk Magic: Borrowed Pots and Bewitched Cows (PLC, 1728–31) 5.7. An Alleged Murder by Way of Witchcraft (1844–45) 5.8. No Place Is Safe from This Witch: The Case against Agafia Poliarpova (1848–49) 6. Sex/Love/Anti-Love Magic 6.1. A Case of Peasant Women's Love Magic and Vengeance, Shatsk (1647) 6.2. Bewitchment at Weddings (1648) 6.3. Iatsykha Polyveichykha Seeks to Bewitch her Husband's Lover (Hetmanate, 1675) 6.4. A Case of Rape and Spells to Inflame Desire (Semen Aigustov, Borovsk, 1689) 6.5. A Wife Suspected of Witchcraft: The Case of Anna Grekowiczewa (PLC, 1717) 6.6. Seeking a Witch or Sorcerer to Kill a Husband? (PLC, 1742) 7. Power Relations and Hierarchy 7.1. "Making My Master and All Women Bend to My Will": A Case of Subversive Spells (1648) 7.2. The Serf Woman Onuitka Avenges Ill-Treatment by the Estate Bailiff (1658) 7.3. The Servant Motruna Perysta Accused of Bewitching Her Master's Family (PLC, 1730) 7.4. How to Make All Authorities Subservient: The Magical Notebooks of Defrocked Priest Petr Osipov (1732) 7.5. A Matter of a Love Potion and Sexual Pursuit of a Menial by His Mistress, Lady Ruszkowska (PLC, 1749) 7.6. "So His Master Would Treat Him Well": The Peasant Grigorii Shilin's Ritual Use of Roots and Wax (1762) 7.7. Securing Patronage: A Spell in the Hands of Ivan Sokolov, A Highly Ranked Officer and Nobleman (1774) 7.8. Controlling a Master's Will: Divination and Enchanted Wax (1840) 8. Possession 8.1. Bewitchment at a Communal Banquet: The Petition of Ivan Shenin (1611) 8.2. Testimony of the Bewitched from the Possession Outbreak in Lukh (1656–58) 8.3. A Healer Accused of Dabbling in Witchcraft and Exorcising Demons (PLC, 1710) 8.4. An Epidemic of Shrieking and Writhing in a Village Destabilized by Manumission (1833) 8.5. Fits of Hiccuping (1833) 9. Satanic Pacts/Diabolism 9.1. "I Swear Allegiance to Satan": A Satanic Pact in the Seventeenth Century (1663–64) 9.2. "My Father Satan": Spells, Possession, and Fraternal Rivalry (1672) 9.3. A Case of Satanic Love Magic (Avdotia Borisova, 1733) 9.4. A Pact with the Dark-Visaged Master of the Hellish Abyss and His Servant Demons (Hetmanate, 1749) 9.5. The Priest Makarii Ivanov and Others Are Charged in 1753 with Possessing Booklets about Sorcery: A Demonic Incantation for Lust 9.6. God-renouncing Letters (1751): Perdun 9.7. Case of the Soldier Semen Popov, Who Renounced God and Gave His Soul to the Devil (1759) 10. Orality/Literacy 10.1. Case of the Siberian Trapper Found Carrying Spells (1652) 10.2. A Theological Defense of Herbal Healing: Petition of Ivan Ivanov, Priest of the Church of the Nativity in Komersk District, to Simon, Archbishop of Vologda and Belozersk (1679–80) 10.3. A Hegumen's Possession of Magical and Fortune-telling Texts (1720) 10.4. Transcription of an Offensive Note by a Noble Architectural Journeyman, Aleksei Petrovich Evlashev (1731) 10.5. An Incriminating Notebook of Incantations and Spells (1737) 11. Specialists in Magic 11.1. Specialists in Plants and Roots: Poisoning and Healing in Consultation with a Professional Herbalist (1692) 11.2. Spoiling a Harvest by Means of Witchcraft: Knotted Grain Stalks— a Reluctant Specialist (Hetmanate, 1765) 11.3. Case against a Fourteen-Year-Old Boy for Fraudulent Divination (Russian Ukraine, 1839)

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Book SynopsisOnce upon a time, a group of libertarians got together and hatched the Free Town Project, a plan to take over an American town and completely eliminate its government. In 2004, Grafton, NH, a barely populated settlement with one paved road, turned that plan into reality.Public funding for pretty much everything shrank: the fire department, the library, the schoolhouse. State and federal laws didn't disappear, but they got quieter: meek suggestions barely heard in the town's thick wilderness. The bears, on the other hand, were increasingly visible. Grafton's freedom-loving citizens ignored hunting laws and regulations on food disposal. They built a tent city, in an effort to get off the grid. And with a large and growing local bear population, conflict became inevitable.A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear is both a screwball comedy and the story of a radically American commitment to freedom. Full of colorful characters, puns and jokes, and one large social experiment, it is a quintessentially American story, a bearing of our national soul.

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Book SynopsisUpdated edition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.It is difficult to overestimate the excitement that accompanied the birth of the Spitfire. An aircraft imbued with balletic grace and extraordinary versatility, it was powered by a piston engine and a propeller, yet came tantalisingly close to breaking the sound barrier. First flown in 1936, the Spitfire soon came to symbolize Britain's defiance of Nazi Germany in the summer of 1940.Spitfire: The Biography is a celebration of a great British invention, of the men and women who flew it and supported its development, and of the industry that manufactured both the aircraft and the Rolls-Royce engines that powered it. It is also about the ways in which the sight, sound and fury of this lithe and legendary fighter continue to stir the public imagination worldwide more than eighty years on.Trade ReviewHugely entertaining -- James HollandAn authoritative and comprehensive tribute to a unique aircraft. -- Adrian Swire * Spectator *A drama that cannot help take wing. The elements still excite the imagination and raise the heart. -- Tom Fort * Sunday Telegraph *Eclectic and entertaining -- Patrick Bishop * Literary Review *A wonderful book -- Rowland WhiteTable of Contents1: Of Monoplanes and Men 2: The Thin Blue Line 3: Survival of the Fittest 4: The Long Goodbye 5: First among Equals 6: The Spitfire Spirit

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Book SynopsisJames Barrie has been marked in recent years as manipulative, perverted and without the ability to love. Having authored the story of _Peter Pan_, which has been enjoyed by children and adults for over 100 years, many literary critics have been intrigued about where this story epitomising childhood joy and innocence came from. Most will associate _Peter Pan_ with Disney's colourful version, but the original story that Barrie penned is actually much darker, with a gloomier background in its making. With humble beginnings from a small town in Scotland, Barrie's childhood was filled with grief and loss, but also stories and play. He took his passion of storytelling to study English Literature at university before finding himself in the capital for all writers: central London. It was here that he came to meet the Llewelyn Davies family. His involvement with this upper-class family with relatives including Daphne du Maurier are what many say to be the sole inspiration for _Peter Pan_, and

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Book SynopsisAndrea Wulf was born India and moved to Germany as a child. She trained as a design historian at the Royal College of Art and is the co-author (with Emma Gieben-Gamal) of This Other Eden: Seven Great Gardens and 300 Years of English History. She has written for the Sunday Times, the Financial Times, Mail on Sunday, The Garden, the Architects' Journal, and regularly reviews for several newspapers, including the Guardian and the Times Literary Supplement. She is a regular contributor to BBC radio and television.Trade ReviewThis absorbing and delightful book about 18th-century botanists stands out among histories of plant hunting ... Works superbly -- Jenny Uglow * Sunday Telegraph *Rounded, generous and exhaustively researched ... She is very adept at telling a good story, and in the history and origins of gardening she has found the perfect vehicle ... An excellent, hugely entertaining and instructive tale, and Wulf tells it very well -- Mark Cocker * The Guardian *Wondrous ... I have learned so much from her book -- Jon Snow, Channel Four NewsA delightful book ... Remarkably vivid -- Adrian TinniswoodEngrossing ... A gripping story, told here with grace and aplomb -- Tim Richardson * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisSafari Nation tells the history of the Kruger National Park through a black perspective, helping explain why Africa’s national parks—often derided by scholars as colonial impositions—survived the end of white rule on the continent.Trade Review“In Safari Nation, the Kruger Park and South African ideas of nature and nationality are revealed in profoundly new and insightful ways. Jacob Dlamini captures South African experiences of nature and leisure that have largely escaped the historical profession, focusing his sharp eye on the significant minority of black South Africans who managed to live ’with—as opposed to under—colonialism and apartheid.’ An enjoyable book, full of surprises.” -- Saul Dubow, author of South Africa's Struggle for Human Rights“An innovative work of intellectual, political, and social history, Safari Nation advances a compelling new explanation for why the ANC government has chosen not to dismantle colonial-era conservation projects whose origins lie in the dispossession of countless black families. Dlamini’s skillful storytelling throughout the book manages to balance compassion and concern for justice with careful empirical detail in a direct, graceful prose that makes Safari Nation an enjoyable read from start to finish.” -- Heidi Gengenbach, author of Binding Memories: Women as Makers and Tellers of History in Magude, Mozambique“Safari Nation is a highly original treatment of the history of Kruger National Park from a black perspective. Dlamini does not pursue a polarized interpretation of the park and conservation as simply white/colonial constructs but instead develops a growing literature that presents African people as engaged in many different facets of park history, as agents, and conservationists.” -- William Beinart, author of Rise of Conservation in South Africa“This book is about nature and black South Africans, but not as daughters and sons of the soil. Rather, Jacob Dlamini describes people on the move towards Kruger National Park, a place where conservation meant racial exclusion. On their way, they made a space of belonging through political effort, not nativism. Following its own eclectic route through rural reserves, cities, and mines, from Table Mountain to the lowveld, Safari Nation offers a bold argument that by making claim on the more-than-human world, black South Africans created an inclusive nation.” -- Nancy Jacobs, author of Birders of Africa: History of a Network“Safari Nation is more than a social history of KNP. It is a history of black South Africans opposed to injustice engaging with the land, leisure, what it means to be South African, and ‘ways of being’ under colonialism, apartheid, and a still unequal nation…. Indeed, Dlamini’s history of Kruger National Park makes a bold and hopeful statement about conservation and the land question in South Africa.” -- Jill E. Kelly * American Historical Review *

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Book SynopsisThe Political Martyrs memorial in Edinburgh looms large on the city's skyline but its history is relatively unknown. And that is not by accident. As Edinburgh's New Town was constructed, a narrative of kilts and loyalty was created for Scotland, with its radical history deliberately excluded. The French Revolution lit a spark in Scotland, inspiring radicals and working people alike, and uniting them in opposition to the King and his government. The oligarchy of landowners that ran Scotland was worried. Leading radicals like Thomas Muir and fellow political martyrs were later rounded up and transported to Botany Bay. But the radicals fought back and formed the United Scotsmen, seeking widespread political reform throughout the Union and prepared to use physical force in defence of their ideals and as social and economic hardship followed in Waterloo's wake, the flame of radicalism was further ignited. This is Scotland's Radical History.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review'Lawrence-Mathers's book dispels any belief that the figure of Merlin is of interest only within the realm of literary history. Instead the book paints a remarkable picture of a figure whose political and social influence has been so extensive that we should consider him a central figure in the shaping of British identity and history.' - Philip Carr-Gomm, author of The Book of English Magic'This highly readable and erudite book places the histories of Merlin, derived from the tweifth-century writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth, in their literary and cultural context. The story of how the image of Merlin as political prophet, magician and half-demon evolved in the Middle Ages is as fascinating as any romance.' - Euan Cameron, author of Enchanted Europe: Superstition, Reason, and Religion, 1250-1750'Anne Lawrence-Mathers has given us a fascinating portrait of Merlin firmly set in history and free from the usual methologising theories. As such it is to be warmly recommended.' - Peter Maxwell-Stuart, author of Wizards: A History"This book is more informative on the subject as a whole than any other I’ve seen. Merlin, though inseparable from Arthur, is a major character in his own right, and he fits in with magical and mystical interests that are still active."—Geoffrey Ashe, author of The Discovery of King Arthur

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Book SynopsisRome is an empire with a bad reputation. From its brutal games to its depraved emperors, its violent mobs to its ruthless wars, its name resounds down the centuries like a scream in an alley. But was it as bad as all that? Join the historian Jerry Toner on a detective's hunt to discover the extent of Rome's crimes. From the sexual peccadillos of Tiberius and Nero to the chances of getting burgled if you left your apartment unguarded (pretty high, especially if the walls were thin enough to knock through) he leaves no stone unturned in his quest to bring the Eternal City to book. Meet a gallery of villains, high and low. Discover the problems that most exercised its long-suffering citizens. Explore the temptations of excess and find out what desperation can make a pleb do. What do we see when we look at Rome? A hideous vision of ancient corruption - or a reflection of our own troubled age?Trade ReviewPraise for How to Manage your Slaves: Entertaining and well-researched -- Patrick Kidd * the Times *Thought-provoking and illuminating -- Orlando Bird * FT *Toner's commentary ... is excellent ... This book is at its best when Toner analyses Roman attitudes to slavery, and how little they changed even when Christianity began to take hold in the ancient world ... packed with fascinating references to the earliest writings about slavery -- Natalie Haynes * Independent *Marcus dispenses advice with aplomb ... he is a fascinating creation -- Nick Romeo * TLS *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Hosler has produced a thorough military description of this major, dramatic confrontation, and it is unlikely to be bettered.”—Christopher Tyerman, Literary Review“A gripping account” — Tony Barber, Financial Times (Books of the Year 2018)“Hosler [has a] pleasing eye for detail and commendable mastery of original sources.”—Dan Jones, The Times“The crusaders’ successful siege of Acre, the war’s main military engagement, has never received fuller treatment than in this absorbing account by John Hosler.”—Tony Barber, FT“Exhaustively researched, acutely analysed, beautifully written” —Theodore K.Rabb, The Times Literary Supplement (Books of the Year 2018)“John Hosler has provided a careful account of this crucial and neglected episode of the Third Crusade, demonstrating a careful and detailed grasp of events and their significance. This very readable account is of great value to historians of the crusades and of military history.” —John France, The Journal of Military History“John Hosler has written an exceptional work of nuanced scholarship. His research and conclusions will provide the fodder for many other scholars following in his footsteps.” —Laurence W. Marvin, Michigan War Studies Review“This is an important contribution to the historiography of the Third Crusade”—James Sewry, Times Literary Supplement"Hosler’s book opens a new chapter of research on the Third Crusade and demonstrates the need to re-examine this surprisingly neglected expedition."—Stephen J. Spencer, The English Historical Review“Writing on the Third Crusade is almost as daunting as fighting in it. It takes bravery, confidence and tenacity. John Hosler possesses all three. The result is an impressive analysis of the siege of Acre, the largest, longest and most decisive conflict of the Crusade.”—Kelly DeVries, author of Joan of Arc“Confident and highly engaging, Hosler offers us a perceptive and thorough analysis of the characters, the challenges and the mechanics of one of the great sieges of the medieval period; an important contribution to the history of the crusades and medieval warfare.” —Jonathan Phillips, author of The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople“One of the most important books to be published on the crusades in recent years … Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand not only the details of the siege of Acre, but the broader outcome of the Third Crusade. Hosler has long been a respected medieval military historian, but with this book he has now become an important voice in debates over the crusades.”—Andrew Holt, Co-Editor of Seven Myths of the Crusades"An impressive piece of work - a scrupulously researched account of one of the most complicated military events in crusader history."—Roger Crowley, author of 1453"John Hosler has done what no other historian has yet achieved: he has created a lucid, thoroughly researched, insightful account of the most complex military campaign in the medieval crusades ... This study is unlikely to be replaced for a long time. It is essential reading."—Daniel P. Franke, co-editor of Prowess, Piety, and Public Order in Medieval Society

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Book SynopsisAristotle (384–322 BC), the great Greek thinker, researcher, and educator, ranks among the most important and influential figures in the history of philosophy, theology, and science. Rhetoric, probably composed while he was still a member of Plato’s Academy, is the first systematic approach to persuasive public speaking and a classic of its kind.Trade ReviewIf you are lucky enough to be still in school or college and you have not read Rhetoric before, I strongly recommend buying this book and reading it cover-to-cover. * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *The Striker rendering is cleaner, pithy, yet recognizable from the still understandable Frese translation. -- Paul J. Cain * Lutheran Book Review *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Attractively illustrated and easy to use, the book explains difficult scientific and philosophical issues in brief and often surprisingly clear terms. . . . The field of history of science has been calling out for a book just like this one."--Science "A real landmark. Finally, two first-rate academic historians--one a specialist in biological and earth sciences, one in physical sciences--both firmly committed to sociological, contextual approaches, offer an overview of their discipline for the beginning student."--Times Higher Education Supplement "An impressively comprehensive, clear, and accessible survey of the history of science since the Scientific Revolution that tells students not only what they should know, but also how and how not to think about the history of science."--Annals of Science "An accessible, well-written book, with many nuanced and fascinating stories of individual sciences and the communities of science. . . . An ambitious and successful introduction to the history of science."--International Studies in the Philosophy of Science "The breadth of knowledge represented here is remarkable. There is nothing on (or off) the market that equals what Bowler and Morus have accomplished."--Richard Burkhardt, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Book SynopsisDespite its Union with England and Wales in 1707, Scotland remained virtually independent from its partners in many ways, retaining its own legal system, its own state church, and its own education system. In Tracing Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records, genealogist Chris Paton examines the most common records used by family historians in Scotland, ranging from the vital records kept by the state and the various churches, the decennial censuses, tax records, registers of land ownership and inheritance, and records of law and order. Through precepts of clare constat and ultimus haeres records, feudalism and udal tenure, to irregular marriages, penny weddings and records of sequestration, Chris Paton expertly explores the unique concepts and language within many Scottish records that are simply not found elsewhere within the British Isles. He details their purpose and the information recorded, the legal basis by which they were created, and where to find them both online and within Scotland's many archives and institutions.

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Book SynopsisA collection of six volumes that have shaped America—from colonial times to the present day. Since its founding, the United States of America has represented freedom, whether it be that of the state or the individual. This boxed set of six special-edition Word Cloud Classics includes The U.S. Constitution and Other Key American Writings, Selected Works of Alexander Hamilton, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Common Sense and The Rights of Man, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Other Works, and Presidential Inaugural Addresses. Readers with an interest in American history will be proud to display these works on their bookshelf—and a montage of the American flag on the spines is sure to provoke many an interesting conversation.

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Book SynopsisForty thousand years ago, the human species existed as thousands of small, virtually autonomous bands, roaming a world almost entirely untouched their presence, each band in contact with a few neighbors but unaware of the thousands of others spread across the planet. Today, no life can unfold in isolation from the general flux and flow of human activity. Every habitable inch of the planet is inhabited by humans, there is no place left untouched by our presence, and events anywhere on this planet can have consequences felt by people anywhere else on this planet. The center of the world no longer seems to be this place or that place but the system as a whole. This journey - from vulnerable small groups to a planet-encompassing hive - is the subject of Tamim Ansary's elegant and gripping history. His object is not just to describe the journey, but to illuminate origins of distinct ways of understanding the world, organizing ourselves, and making sense of what we experience. What each of us sees when we look up at the stars-or at the political landscape of this moment-is shaped by a narrative begun many thousands of years ago; and by the environment, tools, and language that informed that narrative. Ansary also reveals our various gods and laws, our rulers and bankers, our philosophers and outcasts, each of which is a continuous presence in the various global cultures. They are the survivors in the human drama, whereas nation states, corporations, policies and political ideas are all susceptible to violent upheaval and dramatic erasure. Our current moment, Ansary shows, is one of revolutionary reinvention, as old habits are cast aside and reconfigured by the ever more intertwined world we have created. The whole of human history, after all, has been leading up to it.

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Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328) of Damascus was one of the most prominent and controversial religious scholars of medieval Islam. He called for jihad against the Mongol invaders of Syria, appealed to the foundational sources of Islam for reform, and battled against religious innovation. Today, he inspires such diverse movements as Global Salafism, Islamic revivalism and modernism, and violent jihadism. This volume synthesizes the latest research, discusses many little-known aspects of Ibn Taymiyya’s thought, and highlights the religious utilitarianism that pervades his activism, ethics, and theology.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsContents Introduction: Valentinus and the Valentinian Tradition Greek Texts I. Fragments of Valentinus II. Ptolemy’s Letter to Flora III. Fragments of Heracleon IV. Excerpts of Theodotus V. Anonymous Commentary on the Prologue of John VI. Anonymous Letter VII. Anonymous Commentary on Valentinus’s “Summer Harvest” Coptic Texts VIII. Gospel of Truth IX. Treatise on the Resurrection X. Tripartite Tractate XI. Gospel of Philip XII. Valentinian Exposition Inscription XIII. Flavia Sophe Bibliographies Indices

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Book SynopsisIn November 1519, Hernando Cortés walked along a causeway leading to the capital of the Aztec kingdom and came face to face with Moctezuma. That story--and the story of what happened afterwards--has been told many times, but always following the narrative offered by the Spaniards. After all, we have been taught, it was the Europeans who held the pens. But the Native Americans were intrigued by the Roman alphabet and, unbeknownst to the newcomers, they used it to write detailed histories in their own language of Nahuatl. Until recently, these sources remained obscure, only partially translated, and rarely consulted by scholars. For the first time, in Fifth Sun, the history of the Aztecs is offered in all its complexity based solely on the texts written by the indigenous people themselves. Camilla Townsend presents an accessible and humanized depiction of these native Mexicans, rather than seeing them as the exotic, bloody figures of European stereotypes. The conquest, in this work, is neither an apocalyptic moment, nor an origin story launching Mexicans into existence. The Mexica people had a history of their own long before the Europeans arrived and did not simply capitulate to Spanish culture and colonization. Instead, they realigned their political allegiances, accommodated new obligations, adopted new technologies, and endured. This engaging revisionist history of the Aztecs, told through their own words, explores the experience of a once-powerful people facing the trauma of conquest and finding ways to survive, offering an empathetic interpretation for experts and non-specialists alike.Trade ReviewIt is admirable how Townsend exploits the details of microhistory based on Native accounts to answer bigger questions, reveal meanings behind particular events, and offer the reader macro-level conclusions ... through this book we actually experience the past rather than simply read about it. It is not only convincing; it is simply captivating. Townsend has the courage to resort to "poetic license", but even then we do not lose the sense of transparency as the endnotes provide a full disclosure, informing critical readers about exact sources, possible discrepancies, uncertainties about the facts, and the source of the historian's preferred interpretation. By combining deep reading of Native sources with reexperiencing the emotions of their actors and reliving their deeds and decisions, Townsend puts into practice an ideal of historical writing. * Justyna Olko *A revolutionary history. * Ben Ehrenreich, The Guardian *Camilla Townsend has made the extraordinary happen. She has written a chronological history of the Mexica (Aztecs) from their origins into the sixteenth century relying principally on documents that they themselves generated...Camilla Townsend has provided scholars and the reading public with a wonderful history of the Mexica. By relying closely on Native texts, she has avoided the tropes normally associated with books on the precontact populations of Mexico. The writing itself is lyrical...Everyone with any interest at all in Mexico should read this work. * John F. Schwaller, Hispanic American Historical Review *Camilla Townsend's incredibly compact and helpful Fifth Sun will serve equally well professional historians, upper-division undergraduate and graduate students, and the general public. * Andrae Marak, World History Connected *This is the best book on the Aztecs yet written, full stop ... The value of Fifth Sun lies in how it rescues Aztecs and Nahuas from centuries of colonialist caricature and renders them human again - fully human, with flaws, people capable of brutal violence but also of deep love. * History Today *This wonderfully fresh, readable new work invites you to reconsider everything you think you knew about them. * Jonathan Gordon, All About History *Shows the Mexica empire in a fresh, thrilling new light. * Simon Sebag Montefiore, Aspects of History *Spanning the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries, this book recreates key moments in the Mexica past as the Mexica themselves experienced and remembered them. We meet real men and women whose actions changed the course of history. We see time as the Mexica did, a sequence of years extending unbroken from mythic origins to intrepid migration to imperial splendor to the challenges of living with the Spanish colonial presence. Never before has the Aztecs' own epic story been so vividly and engagingly recounted for readers of English. * Louise M. Burkhart, author of Aztecs on Stage: Religious Theater in Colonial Mexico *From the initial migration southward, to the second generation after the conquest, Fifth Sun is a masterful account of the history of the Aztecs in their own words. A whole world arises from the pages: vivid, complex, and much closer to us than expected. Townsend's understanding of the indigenous annals is unmatched, and her book reads like a novel. You simply cannot put it down. * Caterina Pizzigoni, author of The Life Within: Local Indigenous Society in Mexico's Toluca Valley, 1650-1800 *Never before has the political history of the Aztecs, who knew themselves as the Mexica, been told with such sweeping élan. Townsend brings keen insight into the motivations of the players, be they seasoned warriors, shackled slaves, or calculating concubines. Her gripping narrative, underscoring Aztec tenacity and endurance before and beyond the Spanish conquest, is sure to captivate readers. * Barbara Mundy, author of The Death of Aztec Tenochtitlan, the Life of Mexico City *Camilla Townsend has an unusually profound understanding of Nahua culture, before and during the colonial period. She also has a rare set of research, linguistic, and writing skills. That combination of expertise and talent make her uniquely positioned to offer us a new book on the Aztecs, one that manages to be-despite the plethora of existing studies-both original and mandatory reading. This is a page-turner that is nonetheless packed with new insights and interpretations. * Matthew Restall, author of When Montezuma Met Cortés: The True Story of the Meeting That Changed History *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Mexica Royal Family Tree Introduction Chapter 1: Genghis Khan on Foot Chapter 2: People of the Valley Chapter 3: The City on the Lake Chapter 4: Strangers to Us People Here Chapter 5: A War to End All Wars Chapter 6: Early Days Chapter 7: Crisis: The Indians Talk Back Chapter 8: The Grandchildren Epilogue Notes Annotated Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCilka's Journey is the million copy bestselling sequel to the phenomenon The Tattooist of Auschwitz.Don't miss the conclusion to The Tattooist of Auschwitz Trilogy, Three Sisters. Available now.'She was the bravest person I ever met'Lale Sokolov, The Tattooist of Auschwitz In 1942 Cilka Klein is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Commandant at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival.After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator by the Russians and sent to a desolate, brutal prison camp in Siberia known as Vorkuta, inside the Arctic Circle. Innocent, imprisoned once again, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, each day a battle for survival. Cilka befriends a woman doctor, and learns to nurse the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under unimaginable conditions. And when she tends to a man called Alexandr, Cilka finds that despite everything, there is room in her heart for love.Cilka's Journey is a powerful testament to the triumph of the human will. It will move you to tears, but it will also leave you astonished and uplifted by one woman's fierce determination to survive, against all odds.- - - - - - - - 'Her truly incredible story is one to be read by everyone.' Sun'Cilka's extraordinary courage in the face of evil and her determination to survive against the odds will stay with you long after you've finished reading this heartrending book.' Sunday Express'Her courage and determination to survive makes for a heartrending read.' Daily MirrorTrade Reviewa sincere...moving attempt to speak the unspeakable * The Sunday Times on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *What an extraordinary and important book this is. We need as many memories of the Holocaust as we can retain, and this is a moving and ultimately uplifting story of love, loyalties and friendship amidst the horrors of war. I'm so glad Lale and Gita were eventually able to live long and happy lives together, and thankful that Heather Morris was moved to record their incredible story. It's a triumph * Jill Mansell on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *Extraordinary - moving, confronting and uplifting . . . a story about the extremes of human behaviour: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I recommend it unreservedly * Graeme Simsion on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *a touching and redemptive tale of love and selflessness * Times Literary Supplement on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *A moment of pure humanity amid unthinkable atrocity * The Independent on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *Although the subject matter is dark, this is an inspiring and ultimately uplifting story of strength and survival * Good Housekeeping *This deeply moving follow-up will touch the stoniest of hearts * Sunday Post *A heartbreaking tale of strength in the face of unimaginable challenges * Woman's Weekly *A tale of hardship, survival- and, most importantly, never forgetting * INewspaper *Cilka's extraordinary courage in the face of evil and her determination to survive against the odds will stay with you long after you've finished reading this heartrending book * Sunday Express *It will move you to tears, but it will also leave you astonished and uplifted by one woman's fierce determination to survive, against all odds. * The Week *her courage and determination to survive makes for a heartrending read * Daily Mirror *Must read * Daily Express *Her truly incredible story is one to be read by everyone * The Sun *It is well-written, and well-researched. It is captivating, devastating and even darker than The Tattooist. It will make you despair at the cruelty of humanity, but leave you in awe of the strength of the human spirit... it will leave you emotionally drained- but Cilka's story is a powerful one * Express and Star *

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Book SynopsisA rare look into the history, theory, and craft of the black mages and sorcerers of Russia Born in the Soviet Union and descended from a matrilineal line of witches, Natasha Helvin offers a rare look into the secret practices of Russian black magic, passed down from teacher to disciple for generations both orally and through their grimoires bound in black. Drawing from her own experience, Helvin provides insight into the fundamental ideology of black magic practitioners, from the universal laws of magic to the principles of morality. She explains a mage’s view on fate and predestination, how the world was created, and their relationship with the demons that grant them their power. She examines the demonic pantheon as well as how a black sorcerer is able to influence the forces in the universe and pass on his or her powers and knowledge to further generations. Exploring the history of occult practices in Russia, including how Christianity had a profound effect upon magic and witchcraft, Helvin shows how attempts to forcibly convert the Russian population to the Christian faith were widely resisted, and instead of these ancient pagan practices disappearing, they blended with Christian belief. Authorities repainted old pagan gods as demons in order to eradicate ancient traditions. Black magic became labelled as defiantly anti-Christian simply for preserving the old ways, and as a result, some branches of black magic evolved as a reaction against enforced Christianity and practitioners proudly accepted the label of “blasphemer” or “heretic.” Through this book, readers can explore the Left-Hand path of Russian magic and its spells and rituals. The author explains about cemetery magic, sacrifices, the creation of Hell Icons, and places of power, such as crossroads, swamps, and abandoned villages, as well as the best times to practice black magic, how to choose the best grave for your spell, and how to summon demons. Providing many concrete examples of spells, Helvin demonstrates the broad range of what can be accomplished by those who practice the black arts, if they commit themselves to the craft.Trade Review"A unique and expertly presented study, Russian Black Magic: The Beliefs and Practices of Heretics and Blasphemers will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Russian metaphysical supplemental studies lists." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION What Is Slavic Black Magic? 1 The Birth of Russian Black Magic 2 Veretnics and the Demonic Faith 3 The Demonic Pantheon 4 The Three Forces, the Soul, and Satanism Black Magic Spellwork5 Basic Rules and Principles of Magic 6 Principles of Cemetery Magic7 Cemetery Spells8 Principles of Church Sorcery 9 Church Spells 10 Blood Magic 11 Pact with the Devil 12 The Thirteen Veretnic Spells of EvilIndex About the Author

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia For more than 2,000 years, sublime works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. How to Read Buddhist Art introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining sixty seminal works. Beginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries. Reliquaries, sculptures, and paintings produced in China, the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, and South and Southeast Asia provide insight into the rich iconography of Buddhism, the technical virtuosity of their makers, and the social and political climate in which they were created. Beautiful photographs of the artworks, maps, and a glossary of the major Buddhist deities offer an engaging and informative setting in which readers—regardless of their familiarity with Buddhism—can better understand the art related to the religion’s practices and representations.Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

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Book SynopsisBengt Jangfeldt is an author and historian. His biography Axel Munthe: The Road to San Michele (I.B.Tauris) was published in 2008 and won the Swedish Academy's prize for biography. The Hero of Budapest: The Triumph and Tragedy of Raoul Wallenberg was published in 2014, also with I.B. Tauris. A further large-scale biography, Mayakovsky, about the renowned Russian poet, appeared in 2014. The author has twice been awarded the August Prize (the Swedish equivalent of the Pulitzer) for best non-fiction book of the year.Harry D. Watson is a graduate in Scandinavian Studies of University College London, UK. He is an active literary translator from Swedish and has translated biographies of several notable Swedes (Axel Munthe, Raoul Wallenberg) and the Russian poet Mayakovsky, as well as novels by Magnus Florin.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Mr Wagner argues his case fluently and rigorously in this excellent book. The centenary would be as good a time as any to apologise for Amritsar. In Mr Wagner's telling, such contrition might apply to many other acts of cruelty and violence visited upon Britannia's imperial subjects.” —The Economist“The hideous story of Jallianwala Bagh has been told often and well, notably by Nigel Collett in The Butcher of Amritsar. Yet no one has told it quite like Wagner, a professor at Queen Mary University of London. He calls his book “a microhistory of a global event”, and he is true to his word. Local events from March 30 to April 30, 1919 are examined and parsed into a narrative as he assembles an elaborate forensic jigsaw. In less skilled hands this spare-no-detail approach might well have suffocated readers, but the book is written with a humane commitment to the truth that will impress.” — Tunku Varadarajan, The Times“Kim Wagner [. . .] skilfully maps a tale of growing tensions, precipitate action, and troubled aftermath.” —Andrew Lycett, The Telegraph“A compelling account” — Tony Barber, Financial Times“Amritsar 1919 chronicles the run up to Jallianwala Bagh with spellbinding, almost minute-by-minute focus. . . . Mr. Wagner’s achievement is one of balance—of minutiae and sweep and, above, all, of perspective. E. M. Forster observed in A Passage to India (1924): ‘It is impossible to regard a tragedy from two points of view.’ Mr. Wagner does so without sacrificing moral clarity or verve.”—Maxwell Carter, Wall Street Journal“The book is written with a humane commitment to the truth that will impress”— Tunku Varadarajan, The Times“An extremely well-researched and highly readable account, Wagner's book will appeal to anyone who has an interest in Anglo-Indian history or those with ancestors in India at the time.” —Mark Simner, Who Do You Think You Are?“Sober and impeccably researched, it stands as the finest of centennial memorials in its own right” —John Keay, Literary Review"[A] brilliantly clear and authoritative analysis of the massacre."—William Dalrymple, Spectator“Wagner's considerable research and diligence in putting together this account is admirable.” —Navtej Sarna, Times Literary Supplement“[The book] examines the Amritsar massacre and, even though this is already well-trodden ground, makes an important contribution to deepening our understanding”– Jonh Newsinger, Race & Class“Wagner has produced the best narrative of Amritsar 1919” — Tim Willasey-Wilsey, Chowkidar "Wagner's Amritsar 1919 is a timely and well-written work on the Amritsar massacre, reminding readers that the contingent choices exercised by the perpetrators of savage violence in Jallianwala Bagh were based on longer traditions of colonial authority in which violence was presented as just retribution"—Sharmishtha Roy Chowdhury, Queens College, City University of New York, Journal of British Studies "A vivid, finely researched account of the Amritsar massacre which will be of great interest to both specialist and general readers alike. It is also an important book for our postcolonial world more generally."—Yasmin Khan, author of The Great Partition“The fullest, and by far the most authoritative, account of the causes and course of the Jallianwala massacre in any language. Wagner’s exposition of the way fear caused an event that started the unravelling of the Raj will take its place as the definitive version of a story hitherto capable of controversy, but now finally exposed in its full, undeniable horror. This is now the standard work.”—Nigel Collett, author of The Butcher of Amritsar"In this compelling yet exacting study, Kim Wagner combines the intimacy of the storyteller and the distance of the historian to evoke the ‘microhistory’ of the massacre while understanding it as the ‘final stage of a much longer process’, stretching back to the Sepoy Uprising. Mining a variety of sources – diaries, memoirs and court testimonies - he uncovers fresh perspectives and examines the relation between colonial panic and state brutality with sophistication, sincerity and style rare in published accounts of this much-trodden ground."—Santanu Das, author of India, Empire, and First World War Culture"In the cautionary tale provided in Amritsar 1919, it is enduring racist fear that lies at the heart of precipitate violence. Analytically sharp but gripping to read, the book is a page-turner"—Barbara D. Metcalf, co-author of A Concise History of India

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Book SynopsisThe perfect guide to Nelson''s Navy for all those with an interest in the workings of the great fleet.Patrick O''Brien provides the forward to this edition of the most successful Conway Maritime title. The book is eminently readable and is the first single-volume work to cover in such depth this vast and complex subject.Written by one of the world''s leading authorities on the sailing navy the book contains considerable original research to give a clear and authentic picture of the Senior Service as a whole.The book is also of interest to all those with enthusiasm for the literature based on the Nelsonic-era.Table of ContentsForeword Preface PART 1: BACKGROUND 1 The Wars with France 2 Early Naval History 3 The Naval Administration 4 Britain and the World PART 2: TYPES OF SHIPS 1 The Principles of Ship Design 2 Ships-of-the-Line 3 Frigates 4 Unrated Ships and Vessels PART 3: SHIPBUILDING 1 Ship Construction 2 Fitting of ships 3 Masts, Sails and Rigging 4 Armament PART 4: OFFICERS 1 Officers’ Entry and Training 2 Commissioned Officers 3 Warrant Officers 4 Officers’ Living Conditions 5 Ship Administration PART 5: NAVAL RECRUITMENT 1 The Problem of Naval Recruitment 2 The Press Gang 3 Other Methods of Recruiting PART 6: SEAMEN AND LANDMEN 1 Seamen’s Conditions of Service 2 Seamen and Petty Officers 3 Landmen, Artifi cers and Servants 4 Mutiny and Desertion PART 7: MARINES 1 Role and Organisation 2 Marines in Service 3 Marine Equipment and Uniform PART 8: TECHNIQUES 1 Basic Seamanship 2 Ship Handling 3 Boat and Anchor Work 4 Gunnery and Fighting 5 Navigation 6 Disaster at Sea PART 9: SHIPBOARD LIFE 1 The Organisation of the Crew 2 The Ship’s Day 3 The Necessities of Life 4 Rewards and Pleasures 5 Medicine and Health 6 Discipline PART 10: DOCKYARDS AND BASES 1 The Work and Facilities of the Dockyards 2 The Dockyard Workforce 3 Home Anchorages and Naval Bases 4 Overseas Bases 5 The Victualling Organisation PART 11: FLEETS 1 The Distribution of Fleets 2 Fleet Administration 3 Fleet Tactics 4 Signals PART 12: THE SEAMAN’S WORLD 1 Winds and Currents 2 The Merchant Marine 3 Other Naval Services PART 13: FOREIGN NAVIES 1 The French Navy 2 The Spanish Navy 3 The American Navy 4 Other Foreign Naval Forces PART 14: TACTICS 1 Fighting Tactics 2 Blockade 3 Convoys and Cruisers 4 Amphibious Operations 5 Victory and Defeat Afterword Appendices Sources Index

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Book Synopsis''Wonderful'' JOHN BARTON''A stupendous intellectual achievement'' ANDREW PETTEGREE''A stunning love song to the Bible . . . this will be a classic'' CHINE MCDONALDThe remarkable story of the most influential book in human history. The Bible is the world''s best-known text. Yet, it is a book that never was - its original form does not exist and probably never did. What we have is the inheritance of generation after generation of Christians who have sought to hear God speak. Available in over three thousand languages and taking innumerable forms, each version is a revelation, evolving as a reflection of its own culture and moment. Bruce Gordon traces the Bible''s astounding journey from its emergence as a codex in the second century, to the Reformation, to the spectacular growth of Christianity in the Global South today. For centuries a source of inspiration, it has also been a tool for violence and oppression, weaponised in the name of colonialism, and it has expressed hopes for freedom in the struggle for liberation. Found in desert monasteries and Chinese house churches, in Byzantine cathedrals and Guatemalan villages, it has been a book in motion from its very beginnings, a product of more than two thousand years of wandering, restlessness and change. Breathtakingly global in scope, The Bible is a sweeping history of this sacred book told through the stories of its diverse human encounters in search of the divine - revealing not a static text but a living, dynamic cultural force.

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Book SynopsisKonrad Morgen pursued Nazi Germany's worst murderers from inside the SS. This is his incredible true story.

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