Social and cultural history Books

Book Synopsis''a Casement violently opened just over my Head, and a Woman gave three frightful Skreetches, and then cry''d, Oh! Death, Death, Death!''Purporting to be an eye-witness account, the Journal of the Plague Year is a record of the devastation wrought by the Great Plague of 1665 on the city of London. Defoe''s fictional narrator, known only as ''H. F.'', recounts in vivid detail the progress of the disease and the desperate attempts to contain it. He catalogues the rising death toll and the transformation of the city as its citizens flee and those who remain live in fear and despair. Above all it is the stories of appalling human suffering and grief that give Defoe''s extraordinary fiction its compelling historical veracity.This revised edition includes comprehensive notes, a complete topographical index, and a new introduction to the greatest work of plague literature. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from arouTrade ReviewThe London of an earlier period - 1665 - is brought vividly and pungently back to life. * Cannock and Rugeley Chronicle *Gruesomely compulsive reading. * Colin Waters, Sunday Herald *

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Book SynopsisA rich and fascinating exploration of the Volga—the first to fully reveal its vital place in Russian historyTrade Review“Meticulously researched and sympathetically written. . . . ‘Without the Volga, there would be no Russia.’ The final words of Janet Hartley’s book sound sweeping. But its 400 pages make the case powerfully.”—The Economist“Well-researched and accessible to general readers. . . . Hartley has a good eye for the significant detail.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Best Books of the Week”“Janet Hartley’s study of the Volga, the river that symbolises Russian identity, is a worthy companion to her 2014 book Siberia: A History of the People. She is particularly good on the way that Russians and non-Russians interacted in the centuries after Ivan the Terrible’s conquest of Kazan and Astrakhan in the 1550s.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Best Books of 2021: History”“This is a work of masterful condensation, commanding storytelling and an invitation to marvel at the ‘gloomy grandeur’ of one of the Earth’s oldest residents.”—Matthew Janney, Spectator“Combines outstanding academic research with masterful and compelling storytelling. The result is a memorable journey into the heart of Russian social, political, and cultural history.”—Jennifer Eremeeva, Moscow Times“A vivid, human-centered story of the great river standing at a crossroad of peoples and cultures. . . . Hartley’s voyage along the serpentine river is magical and full of charm.”—Farah Abdessamad, Asian Review of Books“Accessible to the interested lay person as much as thought-provoking to experts in the field of Russian and Eurasian studies.”—Kees Boterbloem, Canadian-American Slavic Studies“The strength of The Volga is always its rich cultural and economic history. . . . Twenty-two illustrations, ten maps and a note on place names complete The Volga, and make it a welcome addition to other biographies of the world’s rivers.”—Paul Josephson, Cahiers du Monde russe“A splendid book. . . . This scholarly work provides not just a vivid chronicle of the Volga and its peoples, but an original perspective on the history of Russia as a whole.”—Maureen Perrie, European History Quarterly“Hartley does an excellent job of highlighting the many ethnic and religious groups that have lived in the shadows of Russia’s greatest river [and] creates a vivid picture of this region throughout history, and the powerful river that has shaped so many lives.”—Kit Gillet, Geographical, “Book of the Month”“Hartley treats the reader to captivating stories of conflict, conversion, trade, famine, migration and myth [and] convincingly shows that any understanding of Russian history requires an understanding of the Volga.”—Andy Bruno, History Today“A lucid and well-researched book.”—Anna Reid, Literary Review“A work of great range and erudition informed by a deep reading in published and archival sources. As I followed along, struck repeatedly by Hartley’s judicious attention to the river’s ever-flowing impact on the peoples and cultures around it, I came away impressed more than anything by the sheer scope of the story, which matches the vastness and complexity of Russia itself.”—Willard Sunderland, Slavonic and East European Review“Provides not just a vivid chronicle of the Volga and its peoples, but an original perspective on the history of Russia as a whole.”—Maureen Perrie, European History Quarterly“[This] impressive book on the Volga . . . will appeal to a wide range of readers, including specialists of Russian and Eurasian history, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and many general readers. Containing a wealth of intriguing detail and written in elegant and accessible language, it delivers new insights on Russia’s greatest river.”—Stefan B. Kirmse, Europe-Asia Studies“The Volga is an important study whose focus is the construction of Russian territorially-contiguous colonialism and its broad impacts, well worth the attention of both colleagues and the less specialist reader.”—Carol B. Stevens, Slavic Review“With clarity and commanding breadth of vision, Hartley chronicles the life of a great river through times of shocking violence and times of tranquillity.”—Rachel Polonsky, author of Molotov’s Magic Lantern“Taking a majestic sweep through centuries of turbulent history, Hartley traces in vivid detail the significance of a river that has served Russia’s multi-ethnic population as economic lifeline, strategic battleground and symbol of freedom.”—Simon Dixon, author of Catherine the Great“An impeccably documented and comprehensive history of the Volga region. It pays special attention to the ecological features of the region’s territories, and to the economic, ethnic, religious and cultural characteristics of its peoples.”—Geoffrey Hosking, Russia and the Russians“Engrossing. In lively prose Hartley tracks the not-always-easy imprint of Russian power on the peoples and environments of this vast river as it snakes through parts of the world little known to an English-speaking audience.”—Valerie A. Kivelson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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Book SynopsisAssesses the activism, writing, and legacy of Claudia Jones (1915–1964), a pioneering Afro-Caribbean radical intellectual active in the U.S. and U.K.Trade Review“Carole Boyce Davies has rendered a unique service in restoring to proper recognition the life and achievements of the Trinidad-born political activist and feminist Claudia Jones. From the turbulent struggles of Harlem, U.S.A. in the 1930s and 1940s to London in the 1950s and 1960s, Claudia Jones became a symbol of resistance and the standard by which others would measure their own integrity of commitment. Left of Karl Marx is the biography of an era of the most intense ideological combat—where reputations were assassinated and careers erased by a single rumor of incorrect political affiliation. Here is the story of a singular triumph whose legacy has nourished the lives of another generation.”—George Lamming, author of In the Castle of My Skin and The Pleasures of Exile“Carole Boyce Davies has vividly brought to life the work and struggles of Claudia Jones in the U.S.A. and Great Britain in her new book, Left of Karl Marx. Boyce Davies possesses that unique combination of being both a scholarly researcher and a writer capable of clear and persuasive language. The reader is presented with a remarkably readable and informative study of a woman who was equally adept in her writing and public speaking on feminism, and as a social pioneer, a political analyst, and an avowed adversary of racism. This book removes Claudia Jones from the shadow of the great bust of Marx to the front row of the black activists and thinkers of the twentieth century, and that is where she belongs.”—Donald Hinds, author of Journey to an Illusion: The West Indian in Britain“This book fills a lacuna in the historical understanding of black left radicalism and socialist-oriented feminism in the United States and the Caribbean. In this era of twenty-first-century corporate globalization, it reunites us with a transnational radical and anti-capitalist past through the examination of the extraordinary life, work, and political philosophy of Claudia Jones. This work reminds us that the U.S. and British radical traditions had diverse memberships, which included black, communist, and feminist women of whom Trinidad-born Claudia Jones was a remarkable example. Carole Boyce Davies has given us a well-researched, detailed analysis of this communist, feminist, intellectual, activist, and artistic woman of Caribbean origin. This is a long-awaited treasure for which many will be eternally grateful.”—Rhoda E. Reddock, author of Interrogating Caribbean Masculinities

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Book Synopsis-This is a collection of essays by world-famous author, Jean Améry, translated into English for the first time. -Although written prior to his death in 1978, their insights are as comptemporary and fresh as ever given the current political climate. -Améry's works have been a mainstay of IUP's Holocaust list of decades./Trade Review"Amery's searing and indispensable reflection on the Nazi death camps, At the Mind's Limits, has now been supplemented by this prescient collection that foresaw the rise of leftwing antisemitism and described its motivations and impact with exceptional clarity. The result is a book that interrogates the present moment from the moral and philosophical perspective of the Shoah. This is a compelling book that everyone concerned with our destiny should read."—Cary Nelson, author of Dreams Deferred and Not in Kansas Anymore"Remove the dates and historical markers on some of the essays, and you will think you are reading a contemporary critique of the left vis-à-vis the Jews and Israel. Jean Améry, for that reason, was, as much a major witness to the catastrophe, as a visionary intellectual who admonished those who had perverted the progressive project into the infamous "socialism of the fools." This collection of elegant translations prefaced by Alvin Rosenfeld shows an intellectual and a witness immune to all dogmas and whose heart and reason constitute the only measure of his ethical judgement."—Bruno Chaouat, author of Is Theory Good for the Jews? French Thought and the Challenge of the New Antisemitism"If there's a cure for today's woke antisemitism, this is it. Camouflaged as anti-Zionism, the world's oldest hatred runs amok on the left in new forms after World War II (which stigmatized old-fashioned, rightwing Jew-hatred for a time), as Améry saw ahead of the rest. Anti-Zionism is antisemitism, he recognized unflinchingly. In sum, there is no discussion worth having of campus antisemitism, the movement to boycott Israel, the upsurge in attacks on Jews around the world or Israeli-diaspora relations that ignores this prescient and piercing, achingly lucid volume"—Gabriel Noah Brahm, Northern Michigan UniversityTable of ContentsForewordIntroductionEssays1. On the Impossible Obligation to Be a Jew2. Between Vietnam and Israel3. Virtuous Antisemitism4. The New Left's Approach to "Zionism"5. Jews, Leftists, Leftist Jews6. The New Antisemitism7. Shylock, Kitsch, and Its Hazards8. Virtuous Antisemitism9. The Limits of Solidarity10. My JewishnessEpilogueNote on SourcesBiographical TimelineContributor BiographiesIndex

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Violence is part and parcel of human history and of human nature. It is one of our most distinctive traits, the one thing that all cultures and societies, across time, share in common. It has defined not only the ways in which individuals relate to each other, but also how collective entities and states have interacted with each other over the millennia. All societies are violent and all individuals have the capacity for violence. However, not all societies and not all individuals are equally violent, and nor does violence exist with the same intensity across cultures. This Very Short Introduction examines the more visible, physical acts of violence - interpersonal, gendered, collective, religious, sexual, criminal, and political - in the modern world. It explores how violence in the pre-modern world was different from the modern world, and what is significant about those differences. It also discusses what violence is by examining understandings of the ideas, values, and cultural practices embedded in an act of violence, and considering acts of violence as the outcome of a process dependent on the cultural context in which they take place. Along the way Dwyer considers some core questions, asking whether violence is always ''bad'', and if there are any limits to human violence? Why is it that what was once considered acceptable - wife beating, duelling, slavery - at some point becomes unacceptable in some societies and cultures, and yet continues in others? And finally, are we becoming more or less violent?ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewViolence: A Very Short Introduction contains some compelling arguments worth noting. * Madeleine K. Meehan and Todd K. Shackelford, Evolutionary Psychological Science *This straightforward, accessible introduction examines the different ways that scholars have understood and classified violence... This short introduction comes with an annotated bibliography that readers can consult to learn more. As a resource it is most useful for those who are beginning to build their knowledge of violence and its social consequences. * Choice *Table of Contents1: Thinking about violence 2: How violent was the past? 3: Intimate and gendered violence 4: Interpersonal violence 5: The sacred and the secular 6: Collective violence 7: Violence and the state 8: The changing nature of violence References Further Reading Index

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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 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 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 SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2018 PROSE Award in World History, Association of American Publishers""Honorable Mention for the 2019 Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies, Nanovic Institute, University of Notre Dame""Winner of the 2018 George L. Mosse Prize, American Historical Association""Winner of the 2018 Norris and Carol Hundley Award, Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association""Shortlisted for the 2018 Pushkin House Russian Book Prize""Selected as a New York Times Editors’ Choice, Aug 24, 2017""One of The Spectator 2017 Books of the Year""One of The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2017""One of The Times Literary Supplement’s Books of the Year 2017""One of The Guardian’s Best Books of 2017""One of Open Letters Monthly’s “Our Year in Reading 2017""One of the Economist.com "Wise Words 2017 Books of the Year" in History""One of the Millions.com “A Year in Reading 2017: Stephen Dodson”""One of World’s 2017 Books of the Year in “History”""One of London Review Bookshop’s Best History Books, Christmas 2017""Selected for Le Monde’s “Monde des livres” 2017 (chosen by Nicolas Weill)""One of The Australian’s Books of the Year 2017 (chosen by Louis Nowra)""One of the Times Colonist Favorite Books of 2017 (chosen by Adrian Dix)""One of Mosaic's Best Books of 2018 (Ruth Wisse)"

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Book Synopsis300 years ago, in April 1721, a smallpox epidemic was raging in England. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu knew that she could save her 3-year-old daughter using the process of inoculation. She had witnessed this at first hand in Turkey, while she was living there as the wife of the British ambassador. She also knew that by inoculating - making her daughter the first person protected in the West - she would face opposition from doctors, politicians and clerics. Her courageous action eventually led to the eradication of smallpox and the prevention of millions of deaths. But Mary was more than a scientific campaigner. She mixed with the greatest politicians, writers, artists and thinkers of her day. She was also an important early feminist, writing powerfully and provocatively about the position of women. She was best friends with the poet Alexander Pope. They collaborated on a series of poems, which made her into a household name, an 'It Girl'. But their friendship turned sour and he used his pen to vilify her publicly. Aristocratic by birth, Mary chose to elope with Edward Wortley Montagu, whom she knew she did not love, so as to avoid being forced into marrying someone else. In middle age, her marriage stale, she fell for someone young enough to be her son - and, unknown to her, bisexual. She set off on a new life with him abroad. When this relationship failed, she stayed on in Europe, narrowly escaping the coercive control of an Italian conman. After twenty-two years abroad, she returned home to London to die. The son-in-law she had dismissed as a young man had meanwhile become Prime Minister.

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Book SynopsisParis Review contributor Katy Kelleher explores our obsession with gorgeous things, unveiling the fraught histories of makeup, flowers, perfume, silk, and other beautiful objects. April recommended reading by the New York Times Book Review, Vanity Fair, Goodreads, Jezebel, Christian Science Monitor, All Arts, and the Next Big Idea Club One of Curbed’s and Globe and Mail’s (Toronto) best books of the spring A most anticipated book of 2023 by The MillionsKaty Kelleher has spent much of her life chasing beauty. As a child, she uprooted handfuls of purple, fragrant little flowers from the earth, plucked iridescent seashells from the beach, and dug for turquoise stones in her backyard. As a teenager she applied glittery shimmer to her eyelids after religiously dabbing on her signature scent of orange blossoms and jasmine. And as an adult, she c

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Fake History, Otto English, comes a shocking yet hilarious look at ten of the greatest liars from our past, examining these previously unquestioned idols and exposing what they were trying to hide.'A brilliant book.' James O'BrienWas Che Guevara really a revolutionary hero?Should Mother Teresa be honoured as a saint?Is Henry V actually England's greatest king?And why does JFK's legend continue to grow?Having exposed some of the greatest lies ever told in Fake History, journalist Otto English turns his attention to some of history's biggest (and most beloved) figures.Whether it's virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputations?Exploring everything from Captain Scott's reckless hunt for glory and Andy Warhol's flagrant thievery to Coco Chanel's murky Nazi past, Otto English dives into the hidden lives of some of history's most recognisable names. Scrutinising figures from the worlds of art, politics, business, religion and royalty, he brings to light the murkier truths they would rather have kept buried away, at the same time as celebrating the unsung heroes lost to time.Fake Heroes exposes the truth of the past and helps us understand why that matters today.Trade Review'A fascinating mixture of subjects and lots of offbeat information ... Eye-opening' -- Andrew Lownie'A brilliant book' -- James O'Brien'The most controversial book of the year' * Daily Express *'A fascinating and humorous look at some of the seminal characters of our recent histories ... An uproarious narrative' -- Iain MacGregor, Aspects of History

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Book Synopsis‘There is more history in a bowl of pasta than in the Colosseum,’ writes Andreas Viestad in Dinner in Rome. From the table of a classic Roman restaurant, Viestad takes us on a fascinating culinary exploration of the Eternal City, and global civilization. Food, he argues, is history’s secret driving force. From the starter of bread, Viestad traces the origins of wheat and its role in Rome’s rise and downfall; from his sorbet dessert he recounts how the hunger for sugar fuelled the slave trade. Viestad’s dinner may be local, but his story is universal. His ‘culinary archaeology’ is an entertaining, flavourful journey across the dinner table and time. You’ll never look at spaghetti carbonara the same way again.Trade Review'As enchanting as it is fascinating: Andreas Viestad has a calm gift for evocative scene-setting, story-telling and, crucially, for making and exploring connections that bring everything illuminatingly to life.' – Nigella Lawson; 'A fascinating look at food and its history through the prism of one classic restaurant in Rome. Andreas Viestad has created a “culinary archaeology” that’s as erudite as it is gripping. He’s as comfortable with amusing asides and anecdotes as he is with the deepest digs. His writing leaves you entranced, hugely enlightened – and hungry.' – Marina O’Loughlin, Restaurant Critic for The Sunday Times; 'Andreas Viestad has written a fascinating, thought-provoking and funny book about the importance of food in history. He zips seamlessly between the smells and flavors of a meal in a restaurant in Rome and the long lines of history.' – Alice Waters; 'Viestad comes across as a genial companion, both confident and unassuming . . . Dinner in Rome avoids the florid excesses of much food writing and offers instead the simpler pleasures of a well-crafted book with satisfying body and depth.' – Financial Times; 'Approaching the history of Rome – and civilisation more widely – through a single meal enjoyed at an Italian restaurant is an ambitious premise, but it's one the makes for rewarding reading . . . This accessible account is a perfect pairing of food and history.' – BBC History magazine; 'Viestad . . . has had the strikingly good idea of writing a foodie history of the world by examining a single meal eaten there . . . [a] riveting volume.' – Paul Levy, The Spectator; 'Food serves as a gateway into the rich history of Rome. Viestad works as a culinary archaeologist using food to unearth the historic narratives of the Eternal City from the rise and fall of ancient Rome built from the loaves of bread to how lemons influenced the nineteenth-century mafia. Dinner In Rome is perfect for the history buff more interested in a good story than cooking their own dinner.' – America Domani; 'Perfect for an armchair traveler or as a bit of homework before your own Roman adventures, Dinner in Rome provides plenty of history alongside some contemporary dining suggestions.' – Ivory Owl Reviews; '10 mejores libros para devorar de 2022.' – Tapas Magazine, Spain; 'It’s fun! You learn a lot reading this book. And you get hungry, too. Take up the opportunity to read this creative and interesting book. Dinner in Rome by Andreas Viestad is highly recommended. A fine addition to your food and wine bookshelf.' – Mike Veseth, The Wine Economist; 'History and food memories are everlasting. They bring an eternal pleasure of time and place throughout the decades and centuries. This book reminds us of how deeply rooted food is in our travels, stories and traditions.' – Daniel Boulud; 'A uniquely beautiful, historical account of Andreas’ two-hour meal at a well-known trattoria in the Campo dei Fiori area of Rome. For me, Rome is the eternal city and one that I love for its history, art, architecture, and food. Andreas has brought the history of the world to life through a meal at a Roman table. He writes an entertaining and beautifully written account of how food shapes not only who we are but where we were and where we go as humans. This is a wonderful addition to my collection of cookbooks and culinary memoirs and travel books. It is a book that tells the history of the world according to the food that is eaten on a leisurely afternoon in one of the world’s most beautiful and historical cities. A must-read.' – Lidia Bastianich, author, chef and host of PBS’s Lidia’s Kitchen; 'If 'Culinary Archaeology' had been a course major back when I was in college, I just might have graduated with honors. Andreas Viestad takes us on an evocative journey through time, effortlessly weaving past and present, and transforming one classic Roman meal into an appetite-inducing learning experience. This is the best possible insalata mista: with equal parts cookbook, history lesson, travelogue, and fantasy. It’s right up there with sitting in the Campo dei Fiori on a gorgeous spring day, devouring a hillock of crispy carciofi alla guidea.' – Danny Meyer, restaurateur, author of Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business; 'Insightful and enchanting. Viestad reminds us of the power of food and how it has greatly impacted the formation of world history.' – Eric Ripert, chef; 'Everyone’s dream is to visit Rome, to sit down at a restaurant and enjoy one Italian meal that makes you experience flavor, tradition, and passion all at the same time. Andreas Viestad’s must-read Dinner in Rome takes things a step further, inviting you to travel with your mind and your palate. His two-hour dinner is a journey to last a lifetime.' – Cristina Bowerman, chef patron, Glass Hostaria, Rome; 'Fantastic book! Essential reading for anyone who loves Italian food and wants to immerse themselves in the incredible food culture of Italy.' – Giorgio Locatelli, chef; 'Dinner in Rome is, like a good carbonara, an effortless combination of ingredients that come together to make the perfect dish . . . filled with humour, as well as a deep appreciation of the subject . . . the book lives up to expectations: every section is as tasty as promised, every chapter a joyful mouthful of information, bursting in surprising and juicy ways . . . utterly scrumptious.' – GetHistory.co.uk; 'Combining history, gastronomic know-how, and 50,000-plus restaurant meals, Norwegian food writer Viestad begins this armchair-traveling foodie history with a June dinner at his favorite Roman restaurant, La Carbonara in Campo de Fiori, going on to dissect elements of his meal in food-titled chapters . . . Dinner in Rome is a must-read, even for those not so fascinated by the foodie-verse.' – Booklist starred reviewTable of ContentsThe Center of the Universe Bread Antipasto Oil Salt Pasta Pepper Wine Meat Fire Lemon Sources Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThe Offbeat Sari will explore how the sari has become a site for design innovation, an expression of identity, a form of resistance, and a crafted object carrying layers of cultural meanings. In recent years, the sari has been reinvented. The urban youth who previously associated the sari with dressing up can now be found wearing saris and sneakers on their commutes to work. Designers are experimenting with hybrid forms such as sari gowns and dresses, pre-draped saris and innovative materials such as steel. Wearers are embodying the sari as a vessel for dynamism rather than pageantry. Individuals are wearing the sari as an expression of resistance to social norms and activists are embodying it as an object of protest. Today, the sari manifests as a site for design innovation, an expression of identity and a crafted object carrying layers of cultural meanings. Since the exhibition will focus on the sari in urban India, the book will follow suit in terms of this remit. It will comprise a series of commissioned essays by notable Indian writers expanding on some of the themes that are central to the definition of the sari in contemporary India and pegged to objects displayed in the exhibition.Table of ContentsDirector’s foreword Curator’s introduction Chapter 1. Redefining India Chapter 2. Design Innovation Chapter 3. Sculpted Form Chapter 4. IdentityChapter 5. Resistance Chapter 6. Materiality Afterword: Beyond the Sari End matter

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Book SynopsisA vivid, thoughtful examination of how technological innovation—especially AI—is shaping the tensions between democracy and autocracy during the new Cold War.So much of what we hear about China and Russia today likens the relationship between these two autocracies and the West to a “rivalry” or a “great-power competition.” Some might consider it alarmist to say we are in the midst of a second Cold War, but that may be the only responsible way to describe today’s state of affairs. What’s more, we have come a long way from Mao Zedong’s infamous observation that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Now we live in an age more aptly described by Vladimir Putin’s cryptic prophecy that “artificial intelligence is the future not only of Russia, but of all mankind, and whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become ruler of the world.” George S. Takach’s

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Book SynopsisJonathan Raban was the author of over a dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction, including Passage to Juneau, Bad Land, Hunting Mister Heartbreak, Coasting, Old Glory, Arabia, Soft City, Waxwings and Surveillance. Over the span of six decades, he won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Award, the Thomas Cook Award, the PEN West Creative Nonfiction Award, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers' Award, and the Governor's Award of the State of Washington. His work appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Harpers, The New York Review of Books, Outside, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, The London Review of Books, and other magazines.In 1990 Raban, a British citizen, moved from London to Seattle, where he lived with his daughter until his death in 2023.Trade ReviewRaban’s journey, made through empty landscapes that once brimmed with optimism, reveals what happens when American innocence begins to curdle. The tale, borne along by its superlative writing, is a riveting one * Observer *A blazing classic * Sunday Telegraph *There is a temperateness, a patience, here that makes Bad Land quite unlike anything else that Mr Raban has written . . . an affectionate reasonableness about this perplexing nation that reminds the reader how much America ha always been nourished by the optimism of its immigrants * New York Times *Raban's journey, made through empty landscapes that once brimmed with optimism, reveals what happens when American innocence begins to curdle. The tale, borne along by its superlative writing, is a riveting one * Observer *The appearance of a new book by Jonathan Raban is a bit like the arrival of an unheralded comet. The heavens gently part and suddenly, here in orbit, shimmering with novelty, is a distinguished newcomer from an unimagined world . . . Bad Land is the finest sort of travel book: scrupulously well researched, sensitive, intelligent, compassionate, humoursome, and, always, stirringly well written . . . a triumph * Financial Times *A haunting inquisition into the fate of those immigrants who settled in eastern Montana at the beginning of [the twentieth] century. It is a classic tale of the American Dream turned, literally, to dust * Telegraph *It is a remarkable tale that Raban uncovers, one that encompasses the best and worst aspects of the American Dream * Sunday Times *Subtly ambitious, full of ironies and a tough sympathy * Telegraph *[Raban] turns Montana into a profound symbol for America's sense of displacement; for its tragic romance with rootlessness, its search for identity under that big blue sky. . . One of the great literary stylists at work today * New Statesman *[Bad Land] abounds with acute observation allied with ebullient wit. His exploration of the tragic episode of homesteaders is of exceptional historic value * The Times *Jonathan Raban [was] a writer of extraordinary gifts . . . and no one has evoked with greater power the marriage of land and sky that gives this country both its beauty and terror * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisDessau, Germany, 1939. A 49-year-old veteran of the Great War hobbles over to his sleek, green racing car, hands his walking stick to his mechanic and awkwardly pulls his damaged leg into the bowels of the machine. His hosts, the glamorous young drivers of the Nazi state-sponsored Silver Arrows team, share bemused grins as he rolls up his sleeves, dons an old-fashioned leather racing cap and pulls down his goggles. A few minutes later, to the astonishment of the Germans, the mostly selffunded car flashes past at over 200mph, setting a host of new international records. Goldie moves from the brutality of an Edwardian public school, through the jungles of Ceylon and into the blood-soaked trenches of the Somme. The book follows Goldie Gardner as he emerges into the post-war world, trying to make sense of what has happened, finding friendship and love, and searching for a way to prove himself. Motor racing and record breaking seem to offer a solution, but what follows is a story of obsession that establishes him as one of the most extraordinary record breakers of all time but leads to heartbreak, betrayal and eventually taking one risk too many.

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Book Synopsis''Hugely enjoyable'' AN Wilson, Sunday Times''Thoughtful, entertaining and enjoyable'' Michael Gove, Book of the Week, The TimesInspired by William Makepeace Thackeray, the first great analyst of snobbery, and his trail-blazing The Book of Snobs (1848), D. J. Taylor brings us a field guide to the modern snob. Short of calling someone a racist or a paedophile, one of the worst charges you can lay at anybody''s door in the early twenty-first century is to suggest that they happen to be a snob. But what constitutes snobbishness? Who are the snobs and where are they to be found? Are you a snob? Am I? What are the distinguishing marks? Snobbery is, in fact, one of the keys to contemporary British life, as vital to the backstreet family on benefits as the proprietor of the grandest stately home, and an essential element of their view of who of they are and what the world might be thought to owe them.The New Book of SnoTrade ReviewHugely enjoyable - Sunday TimesThoughtful, entertaining and enjoyable . . . Taylor has a shrewd eye for the ways in which snobbery evolves over time - The TimesAn intelligent writer - Guardian

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking, informative, and thought-provoking exploration of fur’s fashionable and controversial historyTrade Review“Comprehensively and sensitively researched...An invaluable resource for those interested in materials of all kinds and fascinated by fashion’s ever-shifting transformations.”—Sarah E. Braddock Clarke, Selvedge“Fur: A Sensitive History is an exceptionally successful book in that it takes on an incredibly complicated material and provides readers with a solid understanding of the complex history of fur when no other book exists on the topic.”—Carson Poplin, Journal of Dress History“The volume lives up to the sensory nature of the subject and is attractively designed and illustrated with extensive colour and black and white photographs...This makes the book a pleasure to look at and read, while the juxtaposition of images from different time periods and disciplines inspires reflection and comparisons.”—Danielle Sprecher, Journal of Design History

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Book SynopsisThe definitive companion for anyone seeking to delve beneath the surface of Naples. Naples is an Italian city like no other. Drama and darkness are often associated with the Naples, which rests beneath active Mount Vesuvius and is the home of the Camorra - its version of the mafia. But beyond this, Naples reveals itself to be one of the most historically and culturally vibrant cities in Europe. From its origins in Homer's Odyssey and its founding nearly 3,000 years ago, Naples has long attracted travellers, artists and foreign rulers - from the visitors of the Grand Tour to Goethe, Nelson, Dickens and Neruda. The stunning beauty of its natural setting coupled with the charms of its colourful past and lively present - from the ruins of Pompeii to the glittering performances of the San Carlo opera house - continue to seduce all those who explore Naples today. In the Shadow of Vesuvius is a sparkling portrait of the city - the definitive companion for anyone seeking to delve beneath its surface.Trade ReviewThis is a study not only of Pompeii but of the whole Golfo di Napoli, which Jordan Lancaster feels to be her spiritual home. She takes us from Hercules and Odysseus to Virgil and Spike Milligan . . . take Lancaster as a handbook. -- Jane Gardam * The Spectator *Rich with well known events and tasty anecdotes. A delight for the soul. * Il Matino *This is a fascinating history of an enchanting city. Jordan Lancaster takes us on an entertaining journey that brings history to life. An ideal guide for anyone visiting Naples. * Italy Magazine *Despite the huge scope of the subject matter, Lancaster keeps things lively, ensuing the pace never sags. * The Italian Magazine *If you are planning to travel to south Italy, then reading Jordan Lancaster’s In the Shadow of Vesuvius will stand you in good stead. * The Lady *Table of ContentsPreface Maps Introduction: In the Shadow of Vesuvius 1. Ancient Naples 2. Medieval Naples 3. Spanish Naples 4. Bourbon Naples 5. Italian Naples Appendix 1. Neapolitan Monarchs Appendix 2. La Smorfia Napoletana Neapolitan History: An Essential Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the TIME 100 author of the Sunday Times and number 1 New York Times bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race, a subversive history of white male American identity -- now with a new preface.'One of the most admired writers and "internet yellers" around... [Mediocre is] ever more vital... Oluo's meeting the time -- this movement against white supremacy and systems of oppression. But the question she keeps asking in her work: Are we?' IBRAM X KENDI'Mediocre paints an urgent, honest picture of how white male identity has spawned unrest in the country's political ideology... It's a necessary read for the world we live in' CHIDOZIE OBASI, Harper's Bazaar'[Ijeoma's] books don't come from a place of hate, but of determination to make change... [Mediocre is] another amazing book' TREVOR NOAH on The Daily ShowWhat happens to a country that tells generation after generation of white men that they deserve power? What happens when success is defined by status over women and people of colour, instead of actual accomplishments?Through the last 150 years of American history -- from the post-Reconstruction South and the mythic stories of cowboys, to the present-day controversy over NFL protests and the backlash against the rise of women in politics -- Ijeoma Oluo exposes the devastating consequences of white male supremacy on women, people of colour, and white men themselves. As provocative as it is essential, Mediocre investigates the real costs of white male power in order to imagine a new white male identity, one free from racism and sexism.'[An] analytical and compassionate book' New Statesman'Deftly combines history and sociological study with personal narrative, and the result is both uncomfortable and illuminating' Washington Post'Ijeoma's sharp yet accessible writing about the American racial landscape made her 2018 book So You Want to Talk About Race an invaluable resource . . . Mediocre builds on this exemplary work, homing in on the role of white patriarchy in creating and upholding a system built to disenfranchise anyone who isn't a white male' TIME

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Book SynopsisA full history of the festival of HalloweenTrade ReviewAn excellent and comprehensive exploration of this fascinating subject. -- Philip Carr-Gomm

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Book SynopsisIn the Middle Ages, it was thought that praying at the right shrine could save you from just about anything, from madness and famine to false imprisonment and even shipwreck. Kingdoms, cities, and even individual trades had patron saints who would protect them from misfortune and bring them wealth and prosperity, and their feast days were celebrated with public holidays and pageants. With saints believed to have the ear of God, veneration of figures such as Saint Thomas Becket, Saint Cuthbert, and Saint Margaret brought tens of thousands of pilgrims from all walks of life to sites across the country. Saints, Shrines and Pilgrims takes the reader across Britain, providing a map of the most important religious shrines that pilgrims would travel vast distances to reach, as well as descriptions and images of the shrines themselves. Featuring over one hundred stunning photographs and a index of places to visit, it explains the history of pilgrimage in Britain and the imporTrade Review“Rosewell crams an impressive amount into this handsomely illustrated book, from the processes of saint-making and the care lavished on shrines, to the chaos and destruction wrought by the Reformation.” * Catholic Herald *Table of ContentsIntroduction Sainthood Shrines Christ and the Virgin Mary Saints in Daily Life Legends and Miracles Pilgrimages Reformation Glossary of Well-known Saints Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisKyla Schuller unearths the forgotten, multiethnic sciences of impressibility—the capacity to be affected—to expose the powerful workings of sentimental biopower in the nineteenth-century United States, uncovering a vast apparatus of sensory regulation that aimed to shape the evolution of the national population.Trade Review"[Schuller's] terminology here may act as a springboard for additional theorizations of race. . . . An ambitious, conscientious history." -- Joshua Falek * Cultural Studies *"The importance of this book to nineteenth-century studies cannot be understated: it fundamentally rewrites the history of sentimentalism, an affective and cultural formation that dominated norms of comportment and embodiment across the period. . . . " -- Kyla Tompkins * American Quarterly *"The Biopolitics of Feeling takes a refreshingly head-on approach to the historical entanglement of race and sex in the United States. . . Stunningly convincing . . . Readers will find an abundant resource of theoretically informed readings of postbellum and Progressive Era science and literature throughout the study, but they will be also unable to ignore Schuller’s urgent warning about feminism’s embeddedness in the machinations of biopower." -- Britt Rusert * Catalyst *"Impressibility and sentimentalism combine in this book to form a rubric assessing a broad and fascinating archive. . . . Schuller offers a broad view of how nineteenth-century Americans were given repeated exposure to the logic of impressibility and affective fitness, to the point where both became unconscious components of civic life." -- Sheila Liming * Legacy *"An impressive synthesis of historical and theoretical work. . . . A well-documented critique of society and valuable contribution to scholarship on biopolitics that addresses persistent issues that can spark intellectual discussions. The book would be useful for scholars across disciplines such as Philosophy, Health Studies, Critical Race Studies, Ethnic Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies." -- Rosemary Onyango * Journal of International Women's Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction. Sentimental Biopower 1 1. Taxonomies of Feeling: Sensation and Sentiment in Evolutionary Race Science 35 2. Body as Text, Race as Palimpsest: Frances E. W. Harper and Black Feminist Biopolitics 68 3. Vaginal Impressions: Gyno-neurology and the Racial Origins of Sexual Difference 100 4. Incremental Life: Biophilanthropy and the Child Migrants of the Lower East Side 134 5. From Impressibility to Interactionism: W. E. B. Du Bois, Black Eugenics, and the Struggle against Genetic Determinisms 172 Epilogue. The Afterlives of Impressibility 205 Notes 215 Bibliography 247 Index 271

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Jewish Book of the Year AwardThe first comprehensive yet accessible history of the state of Israel from its inception to present day, from Daniel Gordis, one of the most respected Israel analysts (The Forward) living and writing in Jerusalem.Israel is a tiny state, and yet it has captured the world’s attention, aroused its imagination, and lately, been the object of its opprobrium. Why does such a small country speak to so many global concerns? More pressingly: Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future?We cannot answer these questions until we understand Israel’s people and the questions and conflicts, the hopes and desires, that have animated their conversations and actions. Though Israel’s history is rife with conflict, these conflicts do not fully communicate the spirit of Israel and its people: they give short shrift to the dream that gave birth to the state, and to the vision for the Jewish people that was at its core. Guiding us through the milestones of Israeli history, Gordis relays the drama of the Jewish people’s story and the creation of the state. Clear-eyed and erudite, he illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic and military powerhouse—but also explains where Israel made grave mistakes and traces the long history of Israel’s deepening isolation. With Israel, public intellectual Daniel Gordis offers us a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic, and political history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, levelheaded, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on the Israel’s past so we can understand its future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn.

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Book Synopsis‘A wonderful gallery of period items related to the Titanic and Olympic, presented and shared by some of the top researchers and collectors in the field. Many of these items are quite rare or unique, and are not often seen by the general public.’ – Bill Wormstedt, co-author of Recreating the TitanicThe basic facts of the Titanic’s story are well known: in April 1912 the largest ship in the world, described as ‘practically unsinkable’, set off on her maiden trip to New York. She would never make it there. Instead she would strike an iceberg just days into her journey and sink to the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, taking nearly 1,500 people with her. She would remain there undisturbed for seventy-three years.Titanic Collections: Fragments of History is a two-part series showcasing rare and important artefacts relating to the history of RMS Titanic. Many collectors prefer to hide their treasures away, but the items presented in these beautiful books have been gathered by six well-known and respected researchers, authors, historians and collectors who want to share their acquisitions with the world.The Ship focuses on artefacts relating to the Titanic herself, ranging from carpet squares and floor tiles to crockery and bath tickets. Each beautifully photographed item brings the story of the Titanic to life, and all come together as a museum for your bookshelf.Trade ReviewA wonderful gallery of period items related to the Titanic and Olympic, presented and shared by some of the top researchers and collectors in the field. Many of these items are quite rare or unique, and are not often seen by the general public. -- Bill Wormstedt * co-author of Recreating the Titanic *In Titanic Collections: Fragments of History, the authors have shared generously from their extensive collections. We see rare objects which bring to life Titanic’s story – her brief life and its disastrous end. Highly recommended! -- Mark Chirnside * author of Olympic, Titanic, Britannic: An Illustrated History of the Olympic Class Ships *In an era where so many items disappear into private collections, never to be seen again, it is a pleasure to be able to experience the story of the brief life of Titanic in such an engaging and unique way … The esteemed group of authors behind Titanic Collections: Fragments of History has done a great service. -- Tad Fitch * co-author of On a Sea of Glass: The Life and Loss of the RMS Titanic *

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Book SynopsisBetween the years 1964 and 1974, Ethiopian post-secondary students studying at home, in Europe, and in North America produced a number of journals. In them, these students explored the relationship between social theory and social change within the project of building a socialist Ethiopia. Ethiopia in Theory examines the literature of this student movement, together with the movement 's afterlife in Ethiopian politics and society, in order to ask a vital question: what does it mean to write today about the appropriation and indigenisation of Marxist and mainstream social science ideas in an Ethiopian and African context? And, further, what does the archive of revolutionary thought in Africa teach us about the practice of critical theory more generally?Trade Review"This superb book will transform all discussions concerning the production of knowledge. Ranging through the archives, moving across philosophy and critical theory, and traversing social history, Ethiopia in Theory frames a stunningly original account of the Ethiopian student movement of the 1960s and '70s as a site for the production of radical social science. Rather than the mere reception of revolutionary theory in an African context, Zeleke shows us the dynamics of its generation. There is truly nothing in the literature that comes close to the depth of this multi-leveled, interdisciplinary study. Zeleke 's outstanding book deserves the widest possible readership in social history, African studies, post-colonial analysis, and Marxist and critical theory in general." --David McNally, Cullen Distinguished Professor of History, University of Houston, author of Monsters of the Market: Zombies, Vampires and Global CapitalismTable of ContentsForeword by Donald L. DonhamAcknowledgmentsAbbreviationsNote on CitationsIntroductionPart 1 Knowledge Production and Social Change in Ethiopia1 The Children of the Revolution: Toward an Alternative Method2 Social Science Is a Battlefield: Rethinking the Historiography of the Ethiopian Revolution3 Challenge: Social Science in the Literature of the Ethiopian Student Movement4 When Social Science Concepts Become Neutral Arbiters of Social Conflict: Rethinking the 2005 Elections in Ethiopia5 Passive Revolution: Living in the Aftermath of the 2005 ElectionsPart 2 Theory as Memoir6 The Problem of the Social Sciences in AfricaBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis is the first history of the Hippie Trail. It records the joys and pains of budget travel to Kathmandu, India, Afghanistan and other ‘points east’ in the 1960s and 1970s. Written in a clear, simple style, it provides detailed analysis of the motivations and the experiences of hundreds of thousands of hippies who travelled eastwards. The book is structured around four key debates: were the travellers simply motivated by a search for drugs? Did they encounter love or sexual freedom on the road? Were they basically just tourists? Did they resemble pilgrims? It also considers how the travellers have been represented in films, novels and autobiographical accounts, and will appeal to those interested in the Trail or the 1960s counterculture, as well as students taking courses relating to the 1960s.Trade Review‘[A] well-written, comprehensive volume, one that can equally serve classrooms, research, and the general reader interested in a fascinating chapter in this important era’Tom Fels, The Sixties, A Journal of History, Politics and Culture -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: beginning the trail1 Drugs and the trail2 Sex and love on the road3 The hippie as tourist4 The hippie as pilgrim5 Representing the trail: Hideous Kinky and beyondEpilogue: ending the journeyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe rise and fall of the business of slave trading - by a bestselling historianTrade ReviewA 'darkly compelling history of the trade'. * MAIL ON SUNDAY *The most impressive single volume history of the subject. Combining grand narrative sweep with vivid, telling detail, Thomas provides an elegant synthesis of contemporary accounts and modern scholarship * LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS *

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Book SynopsisIf there is one dominant myth about the world, one huge mistake we all make it is that we all go around assuming the world is much more of a planned place than it is.'From the industrial revolution and the rise of China, to urbanisation and the birth of bitcoin, Matt Ridley demolishes conventional assumptions that the great events and trends of our day are dictated by those on high. On the contrary, our most important achievements develop from the ground up. In this wide-ranging and erudite book, Matt Ridley brilliantly makes the case for evolution as the force that has shaped much of our culture, our minds, and that even now is shaping our future.As compelling as it is controversial, as authoritative as it is ambitious, Ridley's deeply thought-provoking book will change the way we think about the world and how it works.Trade Review‘He argues we live in a bottom-up world…a compelling argument and in this fascinating work, an evolution from Ridley’s other books, such as The Rational Optimist of The Origins of Virtue, he takes it to all realms of knowledge and how new ideas emerge… Ridley has amassed such a weight of fascinating evidence and anecdote that the pages fly by’ Ed Conway, The Times ‘Intriguing and artfully argued’ Ian Critchly, The Sunday Times ‘This is a book of remarkable scope (when Ridley says everything, he isn’t exaggerating), clearly written by a polymath who reads whatever is interesting, old and new. What’s more, it does not have the feel of a book written on commission so much as one that has been slowly assembling its own emergent thesis over time, tentatively testing and sometimes rejecting ideas along the way. As so often in nature, something wonderful has thereby come about’ Literary Review ‘The book displays his wide and deep knowledge of many different fields. It is fast paced and elegantly written. Few readers will come away without fresh information and a challenge to their preconceptions’ Prospect ‘Readable, provocative and infuriating’ New Statesman Praise for Matt Ridley: ‘What a superb writer he is, and he seems to get better and better.' Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The Selfish Gene’ Praise for ‘The Rational Optimist’: ‘A triumphant blast on the vuvuzela of common sense’ Boris Johnson ‘A glorious defence of our species… a devastating rebuke to humanity's self-haters’ Sunday Times ‘No other book has argued with such brilliance against the automatic pessimism that prevails’ Ian McEwan ‘His theory is, in a way, the glorious offspring that would result if Charles Darwin’s ideas were mated with those of Adam Smith’ The Economist ‘As a work of bold historical positivity it is to be welcomed. At every point cheerfulness keeps breaking through’ The Times

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Book SynopsisPresents the history of the bicycle, an invention that precipitated nothing short of a social revolution. This book recounts a story replete with disputed patents, brilliant inventions, and missed opportunities. It shows us why the bicycle captured the public's imagination and the myriad ways it has reshaped our world.Trade Review"Profusely and charmingly illustrated."—Richard Eder, Boston Sunday Globe"[A] wonderful new book. . . . Herlihy combines the thoroughness of a scholar with the dogged investigative skills of a newspaper reporter and presents his finding with a literary flair not normally found in authors who possess thoroughness or doggedness. The result is a fine read sure to be of great interest, if not to 87 million once-a-year riders, then certainly to the 8 million core cyclists."—Stephen Madden, New York Post"A fascinating historical account of the bicycle, from its conception in the 19th century to the present day, lavishly illustrated, too."—Sara Nelson, New York Post (Required Reading)"A prodigious researcher vividly recounts the development of a great machine that wasn’t fully practical till the 1870’s."—The New York Times Book Review"Immensely absorbing. . . . Herlihy’s prodigious research is always entertaining, as are the period illustrations that copiously grace the volume. . . . While reading Bicycle, I was all too often overcome with the desire to jump on my own machine. I would relish having David V. Herlihy as my cycling companion any day."—Edward Koren, New York Times Book Review"This is a book that ought to fascinate any reader who cares about well-researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated history. . . . Yet to call the book a traditional history is misleading. Herlihy uses brief boxed asides, artwork, photographs, cartoons, technical drawings and other tools to dazzle. . . . Bicycle . . . is compulsively readable."—Steve Weinberg, San Francisco Chronicle"Herlihy’s book gives a history of the bicycle from its painful beginnings right through to the amazingly technical machines available now."—Toby Clements, The Telegraph"A definitive look at the bicycle."—Craig Wilson, USA Today"Mr. Herlihy concentrates on [the bicycle’s] social history, especially its manufacturers and riders. Culling from the popular press, he builds a very readable account of the public perception of the bicycle as it moved from one stage to another. The book is also one of the best-illustrated histories I have ever seen. It is a delight to leaf through."—Robert Messenger, Wall Street Journal"The reader is taken on a joy ride of stories, fact and anecdotes. . . . Herlihy deserves praise for his exhaustive research. . . . I’m glad he invited us along for the ride."—Colman McCarthy, Washington Post & Chicago Sun Times"This extraordinarily researched work is not just for those interested in the history of the bicycle but for anyone who wants to follow the international history of an idea or invention. . . . Dozens of attractive images enrich the story and could be issued as a worthwhile book of their own. Highly recommended for all academic collections."—Library Journal"A comprehensive genealogy of the two-wheeled savior of mass transit. . . . The author’s vivid account of this story could not be more detailed if Herlihy himself had personally lived through every experience he recounts. . . . Herlihy takes what could have been just another history book and makes it a story worth telling your friends about."—Publishers Weekly"An instant classic."—Simon Withers, Cycling Plus"A fascinating history of an engineering marvel."—Forecast"Bicycle is the preeminent research document concerning the invention and early development of the bicycle, but most interesting is its analysis of the bicycle’s role within societal development."—Velo News"This is an excellent history… It is definitely a book for the cyclists in the family and even if you haven’t ridden a bike for years the author’s enthusiasm might even tempt you on two wheels."—Model EngineerWinner of the 2004 Award for Excellence in the History of Science sponsored by the Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American PublishersWinner of the 2005 Sally Hacker Prize sponsored by the Society for the History of Technology"If you could only own one book on bicycle history, Bicycle is it. David's account is not only thorough and accurate, but offers a great read to both the aficionado and those new to the bicycle world. A great addition to anyone's library."—Jill DiMauro, Owner Proteus Bicycles, "Bicycles through the Ages" hands on mobile bicycle exhibit "The bicycle's history is rife with confusion and myth, so it's wonderful to have David Herlihy's thoroughly researched and delightfully written account to set the record of this remarkable and important invention straight."—Jim Langley, Cycling Writer"David Herlihy is a widely recognized expert on the history of the bicycle, and this book offers the most comprehensive account to date of the bicycle and its development from a novelty for the elite to transportation for the masses. Frequently wry and always intelligent, Herlihy takes us on a marvelous tour of the bicycle's fascinating history."—Peter Joffre Nye, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and co-author of The Lance Armstrong Performance Program"Bicycle is a fascinating book. David Herlihy is a true historian, and he has uncovered a stunning amount of new material about the history of the bicycle—at times it reads like a detective story."—David Gordon Wilson, professor, MIT and co-author, Bicycling Science, and Human-Powered Vehicles

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Book SynopsisAn accessible and entertaining narrative history of the establishment, development and unravelling of the British Welfare State now fully revised to cover Blair's first term. Lively writing in the style of Peter Hennessy.Giant Want. Giant Disease. Giant Ignorance. Giant Squalor. And the insidious Giant Idleness, which destroys wealth and corrupts men. These were evils to be vanquished by the postwar reconstruction of Britain. Timmins' book recaptures brilliantly the high hopes of the period in which the Welfare State began to be created, and conveys the cranky zeal of its inventor, William Beveridge. The onslaught on the five Giants was the work of five gargantuan programmes that made up the core of Beveridge's Welfare State. These were social security, health, education, housing and a policy of full employment. It is notoriously difficult to write about such subjects and keep the reader reading, but Timmins performs wonders of narrative clarity, anecdote and human detail in a book thTrade Review‘A splendid book – knowledgeable, readable and fair.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A tour de force – thoroughly researched and vividly written…a masterpiece.’ Sunday Times ‘Extraordinarily comprehensive without ever being incomprehensible.’ Roy Hattersley, Independent

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Book SynopsisStrange Career offers a clear and illuminating analysis of the history of Jim Crow laws and American race relations. This book presented evidence that segregation in the South dated only to the 1880s. It''s publication in 1955, a year after the Supreme Court ordered schools be desegregated, helped counter arguments that the ruling would destoy a centuries-old way of life. The commemorative edition includes a special afterword by William S. McFeely, former Woodward student and winner of both the 1982 Pulitzer Prize and 1992 Lincoln Prize. As William McFeely describes in the new afterword, ''the slim volume''s social consequence far outstripped its importance to academia. The book became part of a revolution...The Civil Rights Movement had changed Woodward''s South and his slim, quietly insistent book...had contributed to that change.''Table of ContentsIntroductionI.: Old Regimes and Reconstructions II.: Forgotten Alternatives III.: Capitulation to Racism IV.: The Man on the Cliff V.: The Declining Years of Jim Crow VI.: The Career Becomes Stranger Afterword by William s. McFeely

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1975, The Machiavellian Moment remains a landmark of historical and political thought. Celebrated historian J.G.A. Pocock looks at the consequences for modern historical and social consciousness arising from the ideal of the classical republic revived by Machiavelli and other thinkers of Renaissance Italy. Pocock shows thatTrade Review"The Machiavellian Moment reinterpreted the entire history of political ideology in early modern England and America."--T. H. Breen, New York TimesTable of ContentsIntroduction to the Princeton Classics edition vii Introduction xxiii Part One Particularity and Time: The Conceptual Background I The Problem and Its Modes A) Experience, Usage and Prudence 3 II The Problem and Its Modes B) Providence, Fortune and Virtue 31 III The Problem and Its Modes C) The Vita Activa and the Vivere Civile 49 Part Two The Republic and its Fortune: Florentine Political Thought from 1494 to 1530 IV From Bruni to Savonarola Fortune, Venice and Apocalypse 83 V The Medicean Restoration 114 A) Guicciardini and the Lesser Ottimati, 1512-1516 VI The Medicean Restoration 156 B) Machiavelli's Il Principe VII Rome and Venice A) Machiavelli's Discorsi and Arte della Guerra 183 VIII Rome and Venice B) Guicciardini's Dialogo and the Problem of Optimate Prudence 219 IX Giannotti and Contarini: Venice as Concept and as Myth 272 Part Three Value and History in the Prerevolutionary Atlantic X The Problem of English Machiavellism: Modes of Civic Consciousness before the Civil War 333 XI The Anglicization of the Republic A) Mixed Constitution, Saint and Citizen 361 XII The Anglicization of the Republic B) Court, Country, and Standing Army 401 XIII Neo-Machiavellian Political Economy The Augustan Debate over Land, Trade and Credit 423 XIV The Eighteenth-Century Debate: Virtue, Passion and Commerce 462 XV The Americanization of Virtue: Corruption, Constitution and Frontier 506 Afterword 553 Bibliography 585 Index 601

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1985, this is a scholarly analysis of the Grand Tour, undertaken by young men in the eighteenth century to complete their education - a tour usually to France, Italy and Switzerland, and sometimes encompassing Germany.Table of Contents1. Numbers, Routes and Destinations 2. Transport 3. Accomodation, Food and Drink 4. War, Disputes, Accidents and Crime 5. Love, Sex, Gambling and Drinking 6. Health and Death 7. Cost and Finance 8. Social and Political Reflections 9. Religion 10. The Arts 11. The Debate over the Grand Tour: Conclusions

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Book SynopsisThe inspiration behind the powerful new film starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson, this is the story of Dido Belle, whose adoption by an aristocratic family challenged the conventions of 18th century England.In one of the most famous portraits in the world, a pretty girl walks through the grounds of Kenwood House, a vision of aristocratic refinement. But the eye is drawn to the beautiful woman on her right. Pointing at her own cheek, she playfully acknowledges her remarkable position in eighteenth-century society. For Dido Belle was the illegitimate, mixed-race daughter of a Royal Navy captain and a slave woman, adopted by the Earl of Mansfield. As Lord Chief Justice of England he would preside over the notorious Zong case the drowning of 142 slaves by an unscrupulous shipping company. His ruling provided the legal underpinning to the abolition of slavery in Britain.From the privileged yet unequal lives of Dido and her cousin Elizabeth, to the horrific treatment ofTrade Review‘A touching account … artfully constructed’ Sunday Times ‘The theatrical zest of the narrative, which is a tie-in with a movie of the same name, holds it all together’ The Times Praise for film previews of ‘Belle’: ‘A lovely, female-centric romance that completely reinvents the period movie in a way that will resound for quite some time’ Empire ‘Elegant and emotionally satisfying … this handsome period piece tells a continually fascinating, unusually layered story’ Variety Praise for Paula Byrne’s ‘The Real Jane Austen’: ‘The portrait of Austen that emerges is sparklingly multi-faceted, catching the light in intriguing ways … her Jane is far less likely to go for a quiet walk in the garden than she is to be whisked into town in search of a velvet cushion, a necklace or a smart new dress’ Mail on Sunday ‘Engaging, compelling, a delightful and engrossing book. Of course we all know that the "real" Jane Austen will forever be a mystery, but most 21st century Janeites will adore this one. Byrne's passion is nothing if not persuasive’ Sunday Times ‘Brilliantly illuminating … riveting. By focusing, chapter by chapter, on one thread or another of Austen's experience, Byrne allows us to grasp the richness of her inner life’ Simon Callow, Guardian

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Book SynopsisThis innovative volume presents for the first time collective expertise on women's magazines and periodicals of the long eighteenth century.

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Book SynopsisCannibalism is unquestionably one of the oldest and deepest-seated taboos. Even in an age when almost nothing is sacred, religious, moral and social prohibitions surround the topic. But even as our minds recoil at the mention of actual acts of cannibalism there is some dark fascination with the subject. Appalling crimes of humans eating other humans are blown into major news stories and gory movies: both Hitchcock''s Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were based on the crimes of Ed Gein, who is profiled, along with others, in this book. In Eat Thy Neighbour the authors put the subject of cannibalism into its social and historical perspective.

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Book SynopsisPiltdown. Even today the name sends a shiver down the collective spine of the scientific community, for this was the most dramatic and daring fraud ever perpetrated upon the world of science and academia. Between 1908 and 1912, a series of amazing discoveries relating to what appeared to be the earliest human were made close to the little village of Piltdown in Sussex. These remains belonged to the developmental missing link' between man and ape. The basic principles of evolution, first propounded by Charles Darwin some fifty years before, now appeared as indisputable fact. The Manchester Guardian ran the first headline: THE EARLIEST MAN?: REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN SUSSEX. A SKULL MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD' it screamed, adding that the discovery was one of the most important of our time'. The news spread quickly around the world, with many voicing their eagerness to examine the find. Few archaeological discoveries have the capacity to be front-page news twice over, but Piltdown Man' is a rar

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Book Synopsis*** THE Sunday Times TOP TEN BESTSELLING AUTHOR ***''Wonderful . . . hugely ambitious and atmospheric'' Kate MosseDiscover a brilliant story of love, danger, courage and betrayal, from the internationally bestselling author of The Betrayal. *****Junchow, China, 1928.Lydia Ivanova was among the Russian elite until the Bolsheviks revolutions forced her to flee to China with her mother. But survival is hard.Lydia has a fierce spirit. Nothing can dim it, not even the foul waters of the Peiho River. Into the river''s grime bodies are tossed - those of thieves and Communists alike. A reminder that every time Lydia steals from someone to feed herself and her mother, she takes her life into her own hands. Even though mother and daughter live in the Whites-only settlement, no walls can keep Lydia in as she escapes to meet her lover, Chang An Lo. But Chang has enemies who are hunting him down, and theiTrade ReviewWonderful ... a gripping love story ... A hugely ambitious and atmospheric epic novel Kate Mosse, author of LABYRINTH The Russian Concubine is a great story of love, loss and conflicting loyalties in a fascinatingly precarious moment of history. The wonderfully drawn and all-too-human characters struggle to survive in a world of danger and bewildering change, constantly Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series A pulse-racing romance ... breathtakingly good' Marie Claire '[an] achingly beautiful epic' New Woman Whether you like romance, history, action or adventure, this highly accomplished, sweeping epic is a perfect winter read ... Escapism at its best, this novel brilliantly captures the sights, sounds and atmosphere of early twentieth-century Russia and C 'A rollicking good read, with a fast-moving plot and oodles of colourful characters and evocative locations. The best thing about it, however, is Lydia ... a heroine that one hopes to meet for more adventures in the future' Telegraph

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Book SynopsisPlenty of people think they know Camden ... but what about the spiritualist temple that Sherlock Holmes helped build or the folk dance revival that started in a Camden Hay Market or the site of the Camden Town Murder? Camden might have the best eels and mash shop in North London but it was also the home of a local priest who was deported as a political undesirable and of a Black revolutionary who was known all over the world. Curious Camden Town explores thirty or so locations across this lively locality and brings to life the remarkable stories attached to them.

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Book SynopsisA history that brings to life the real country house servantsTrade ReviewThis is Gosford Park as non-fiction, and utterly fascinating * Times Literary Supplement *'Entertaining saga of the class divide' * The Daily Express *'Intimate and absorbing study' * The Sunday Times *Architectural historian Masson brings alive the symbiotic relationship between the houses, their owners, and the workers. * Financial Times *'Musson is excellent on the changing face of service in the twentieth century' * Spectator *'Personal anecdotes bring this well-researched book to life' * Mail on Sunday *'A brilliantly readable book full of human history and entertaining anecdotes' * Lancashire Evening Post *'He retells the story at a cracking pace... we are reminded that all kinds of likely lads, including Chaucer, started out as paper pushers and cup bearers' * Guardian *'Packed with quotes from memoirs and letters, as well as first hand accounts, a fascinating social history' * BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine *'An ideal read' * Field Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe story of Stax Records unfolds like a Greek tragedy. A white brother and sister build a monument to racial harmony in blighted south Memphis during the civil rights movement. Their success soon pits the siblings against each other, and the brother abandons his sister for a visionary African-American partner. Under integrated leadership, Stax explodes as a national player until, Icarus-like, the heights they achieve result in their tragic demise. They fall, losing everything, and the sanctuary they created is torn to the ground. A generation later, Stax is rebuilt brick by brick and is once again transforming disenfranchised youth into stellar young musicians. Set in the world of 1960s and 70s soul music, Respect Yourself is a character-driven story of racial integration, and then of black power and economic independence. It's about music and musicians--Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, and Booker T. and the M.G.'s, Stax's interracial house band. It's about a small independent company's struggle to survive in an increasingly conglomerate-oriented world. And always at the center of the story is Memphis, Tennessee, an explosive city struggling through volatile years. Told by one of our leading music chroniclers, Respect Yourself is the book to own about one of our most treasured cultural institutions and the city that created it.

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Book SynopsisThe story of cuisine and the social history of eating is a fascinating one, and Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat covers all its aspects in this classic history.Trade Review"This book should be in all libraries where history and food are a concern. It gives information that is not available anywhere else. It is well written and fascinating reading." (American Reference Books Annual, 2010) "A History of Food is a concise yet massively entertaining read that looks at the earliest hunter-gatherer societies and moves on to bring readers right up to the modern day. … It goes quite well with a cup of tea and a biscuit, and dipping in anywhere will uncover something delicious." (Heritage Key, December 2009) "The reader will be amazed and fascinated by the dizzying array of details about various foods in this 700-page tome." (Choice Reviews, May 2009) "Classic text … .[Brought] up to date by including 'the latest scientific and technological discoveries' regarding the food we eat." (Contemporary Review, 2009) "This densely informed history ranges from the first bread loaves to the low-down on cauliflowers. Fab for food geeks, it's one to dip into rather than devour in one go." (Metro, December 2008) "The second edition of this dense tome is perfect for the historian on your list." (San Francisco Chronicle, December 2008) "This densely informed history ranges from the first bread loaves to the lowdown on cauliflowers. Fab for food geeks, it's one to dip into rather than devour in one go." (Metro Food Books of the Year, December 2008) "A fascinating study that starts with the era when we are all still living in trees. Scrupulously thorough and pleasingly idiosyncratic, it promises the reader many a happy hour blissfully contemplating our ancient relationship with our stomachs. And that’s as much as you can ask from any food book." (Independent, November 2008) "Forceful and challenging … A powerful, compelling and readable case against biblical literalism and fundamentalism." (Times Higher Education, November 2008) "Encyclopaedic in scope, the result is never dull … You will find it, I guarantee, unfailingly witty and comprehensively rewarding." (The Glasgow Herald, November 2008) "Scrupulously thorough and pleasingly idiosyncratic, it promises the reader many a happy hour blissfully contemplating our ancient relationship with our stomachs. And that's as much as you can ask from any food book." (The Independent, November 2008) "A fascinating, enormously impressive work which will delight not just the foodie but anyone in social history." (Tribune, November 2008) "Toussaint Samat presents not just the historical background but the cultural, religious and social impact of food. Extensively researched with quotations from a wide array of historical sources … .Some areas receive more intense scrutiny—wine for example … .A useful source for students or researchers as a strong first reference point and for anyone with a dedicated interest in food history. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries." (Library Journal, November 2008) "First published in France in 1987, the second edition of this dense tome is perfect for the historian on your list. It explores the 10,000-year-old relationship between humans and food, including facts about foie gras, the history of olive oil and the symbolism of poultry." (San Francisco Chronicle, November 2008) "A fascinating study that starts with the era when we were still living in trees (yes, really). Scrupulously thorough and pleasingly idiosyncratic, it promises the reader many a happy hour blissfully contemplating our ancient relationship with our stomachs. And that's as much as you can ask from any food book." (The Independent on Sunday, November 2008) "A fascinating, enormously impressive work which will delight not just the foodie but anyone interested in social history." (Tribune, November 2008) "This excellent guide is an exploration of man's relationship with food from the discovery of fire onwards." (The Independent, October 2008) "This book should be republished and re-titled THE History of Food. It's probably the most remarkable book on the subject I have ever had the pleasure of reading." (Mostly Food Journal, October 2008) Praise for the First Edition: "Indispensable, and an endlessly fascinating book. The view is staggering. Not a book to digest at one or several sittings. Savor it instead, one small slice at a time, accompanied by a very fine wine." (New York Times) "This book is not only impressive for the knowledge it provides, it is unique in its integration of historical anecdotes and factual data. It is a marvellous reference to a great many topics." (Raymond Blanc, Restaurateur Writer) "Quirky, encyclopaedic, and hugely entertaining. A delight." (Sunday Telegraph) "It's the best book when you are looking for very clear but interesting stories. Everything is cross-referenced to an extraordinary degree, which is great because the information given is so complex and interweaving." (The Independent) "A History of Food is a monumental work, a prodigious feat of careful scholarship, patient research and attention to detail. Full of astonishing but insufficiently known facts." (Times Higher Education Supplement)Table of ContentsForeword to the New Expanded Edition by Betty Fussell xiii Preface xv List of Illustrations xvi Acknowledgements xix Introduction 1 Part I: Collecting Gathering Hunting 9From Fire to the Pot 1 Collecting Honey 14 Honey in the Golden Age 14 A Taste of Honey 16 Honey in Legend 18 Honey in Nature and History 21 Honey-Cakes, Spice-Bread, Gingerbread 28 Mead and Sacramental Intoxication 30 2 The History of Gathering 35 The Ancient Pulses 35 The Symbolism of Beans 40 The Etymology (and Entomology) of Haricot Beans 41 The Holy War of Cassoulet 45 Soya: the Most Widely Eaten Plant in the World 46 Soya: Nutritional Facts and Figures 50 Mushrooms and Fungi 50 Roots 57 Table of Vegetable Nutrition 65 3 Hunting 66 The Great Days and the Decline of Game 66 Nutritional Facts and Figures about Game 79 Part II: Stock-breeding Arable Farming: Meat, Milk, Cereals 83The Evidence of Occupied Sites 4 The History of Meat 85 The Birth of Stock-breeding and Society 85 Table of Areas of Origin of the First Domestic Animals 88 Meat-Eating: Likes and Dislikes 89 The Horse, the Spirit of Corn 95 Fat Oxen and Prosperous Butchers 95 5 The History of Dairy Produce 103 Cheese and Curds 103 Yoghurt: Fermented Milk 108 Butter: the Cream of the Milk 109 The Symbolism of Butter 113 6 The History of Cereals 114 Cereals as Civilizers 114 The Symbolism of Wheat 117 Table of the Long March of Cereals 118 Imperialist Cereals 119 The Myth of Demeter 126 Everyday Cereals 127 Harvest Festivals 133 Strategic Cereals 134 Rice in the East 139 The Symbolism of Rice 149 Maize in the West 149 Why Maize is Called ‘I Have No More Gumbo’ 159 Why Corn-Cobs are Thin and Small 160 Zuni Legend of Maize Flour 160 From Porridge to Beer 161 The Technique of Brewing Beer 167 The History of Pasta 170 The History of Grain Spirits 176 Part III: The Three Sacramental Foods: Oil, Bread, Wine 183The Fundamental Trinity 7 The History of Oil 185 Olive Oil 185 The Dietary History of Olive Oil 187 Olive Oil in Legend and Symbolism 191 Making Olive Oil 193 Other Oils 196 Margarine 199 8 The History of Bread and Cakes 201 The Bread on the Board 201 The Symbolism of Bread and Cakes 207 Four Stages in the Development of Bread-Making 209 The Taste of Bread 210 The Technique of Bread-Making 214 Our Daily Bread 215 Special Cakes for Sundays 218 9 The History of Wine 223 From the Vine to Wine 223 Dessert Grapes 230 The Technique of Wine-Making 231 The Symbolism of Wine 233 The Legend of Dionysus 235 The Proper Use of Wine 236 Cooking with Wine 249 Wine and God 251 A Wine of Revolution 258 Part IV: The Economy of the Markets 265The Centre of the City 10 The History of Fish 268 The Fish of the Ancient World 268 A Who’s Who of Sea Fish 272 The Salmonidae: a family of aristocrats 273 Fishing in Legend 277 Extravagance and Economy in Eating Fish 277 The Symbolism of Fish 281 Uses for Less Profitable Fish 284 The Providential Nature of Salt Fish 287 Drying, Salting and Smoking Fish; an Age-Old Procedure 293 Table of the Nutritional values of Fish 294 Aquaculture and Pisciculture: Fish Farming 294 Blue Europe, or the Common Fish Market 298 From Fishing to Our Plates 301 Table of the Economic and Social Potential of a Common Fishing Zone 302 11 The History of Poultry 305 Facts about Poultry 305 Choosing Poultry 312 The Symbolism of Poultry 319 Eggs: their Uses and Customs 322 Part V: Luxury Foods 333The Revels of the Gauls 12 Treasures from the Sea 338 The History of Garum 338 The History of Caviare 339 A Who’s Who of caviare 345 How to Keep Caviare Happy 347 The History of Shellfish and Crustaceans 348 Facts about Crustaceans 356 The History of Shellfish-Farming 359 The Biology of the Oyster 366 The Biology of the Mussel 368 13 The Treasure of the Forests 369 The History of Pork and Charcuterie 369 About Ham 378 Sausages 381 The Symbolism of the Pig 384 The History of Foie Gras 385 Facts about Foie Gras 392 The Symbolism of Liver 393 The History of Truffles 394 Part VI: The Era of the Merchants 403Making a Good Profit 14 An Essential Food 414 The History of Salt 414 The Symbolism of Salt 429 The Technique of Winning Salt 430 15 Spice At Any Price 433 About Spices 433 The Secrets of Spices 437 Cinnamon 439 Pepper 441 Ginger 446 Turmeric and Cardamom 450 Cloves 453 The Great Trading Companies 458 Nutmeg and Mace 461 Chillies and Sweet Peppers 464 Aromatics and the Imagination 467 Saffron 467 Vanilla 471 Everyday Condiments and Herbs 473 Herbs 478 The Proper Use of Spices, Aromatics and Condiments 481 The Grocer’s Trade 488 Part VII: New Needs: Sugar, Chocolate, Coffee, Tea 493Gluttony and Greed for Gain 16 The Lure of Sugar 496 Rum, A Sugar Spirit 504 The Legend of Sugar 505 17 Confectionery and Preserves 507 18 Chocolate and Divinity 515 Definitions of Chocolate 519 19 Coffee and Politics 521 Coffee from the Islands 530 Coffee in Legend 532 20 Tea and Philosophy 535 Tea in Legend 543 The Symbolism of Tea 544 Part VIII: Orchards and Kitchen Gardens 547Instructions for the Garden 21 The Tradition of Fruits 558 The Symbolism of the Apple 558 Grafting 561 Dessert Apples 562 Table of Production of Apples in EC Countries, 1982–3 564 Cider and Calvados 567 Pears 572 Plums 575 Peaches 578 The Peach in Legend 581 Apricots 582 The Dietetics of Apricots 584 Cherries 584 The Dietetics of Cherries 585 Strawberries 586 Melons 590 Oranges 593 Growing and Selling Oranges 600 A Who’s Who of Oranges 602 Grapefruit 602 Figs 603 The Symbolism of Figs and The Fig Tree 607 Dates 607 Pineapples 609 Bananas 610 Avocados 612 22 The Evolution of Vegetables 620 Cabbages 622 Cauliflowers 625 Salad 626 Chicory and Endive 629 Watercress 630 Asparagus 631 Growing Asparagus 633 Artichokes 636 Tomatoes 637 23 The Potato Revolution 641 Sweet Chestnuts 645 Potatoes 646 Soufflé Potatoes 653 Part IX: Science and Conscience in the Diet 659The Hows and Whys of Quality 24 Preserving by Heat 662 Canned Sardines 668 The Technique of Canning 670 Food Preservation 671 Pasteurized Milk 673 25 Preserving by Cold 675 Quick-Freezing 677 26 The Reassurance of Dietetics 680 Vitamins 683 Chronology of Dietary Progress 684 27 A Reassuring Future 690 Notes 706 Select Bibliography of Recent English-Language Works 723 Bibliography to Original Edition 729 Index 733

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