Search results for ""james clarke co ltd""

On his great-uncle's butterfly farm, Roy learns how God forgives mistakes and helps with difficulties, especially following his grandmother's death. This is a story with a strong Christian theme for 9 to 12 year olds.

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From the Junior Gateway Books series - a series of simple, easy-to-read stories in large print with a Christian message.

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From the Stories of Faith and Fame series - the stories of men and women who went all over the world with their Christian faith. The story of John G. Paton is one of the world's most famous missionary stories. From Scotland to the remote islands of the New Hebrides, always living dangerously, J.G. Paton was a great prophet of the Christian faith.

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The highly popular First Books series, which brings together favourite prayers, hymns, carols and poetry along with the beautiful illustrations by Brenda Meredith Seymour and Tasha Tudor, has been in print for over thirty years. They will make perfect gifts for children aged 2-4, and are ideal for adults and children to read together. This edition is bound in white with gold-edged leaves in an attractive presentation box.

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From the Antique Pocket Guides series - a useful series for the collector of small antiques. Collecting small antiques can be of absorbing interest, partly because of items are easy to display and partly because they can be found in a great variety of places, including antique shops, public auctions, bric-a-brac stalls, jumble sales and flea-markets. Each title in this new series is written by an expert in his or her chosen subject. There is a wealth of practical advice to help the novice over any initial hurdles, guidance on prices and over 100 illustrations to help with identification. Each book could lead the way to a remarkably satisfying hobby. 'This book is intended to suggest the fascinating possibilities of collecting some of the finest glassware ever to gleam and sparkle on English tables, long overlooked by connoisseurs of drinking glasses. One of the pleasures of preparing such a book is the opportunity it offers to discover fellow enthusiasts with a shared admiration for past - and present - craftsmen and their superb lead crystal, world-renowned for centuries as flint-glass. I am extremely grateful to those who have given time and thought in helping me to select illustrations worth of my subject. These include treasured pieces from fine private collections and notable specimens, too, from museums in glass-making regions in London, the West Midlands and the North, where readers may go and see for themselves - and by looking learn far more than my words can ever convey.' From the Introduction.

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Retold and illustrated for children, this is the Old Testament story of Joseph, illustrated by Norm Hamdorf.

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From the Cities of the Biblical World series - a series presenting the results of recent major archaeological developments at major Biblical sites for the general reader, the student and the tourist. By chance, fifty years ago, a farmer found a cemetery on the coast of Syria. It led to a series of discoveries, and in particular of an unknown language which has radically changed our understanding of the Israelites' settlement in Canaan.In Ugarit, Adrian Curtis describes the discovery of a royal palace near the sea, two temples and numerous buildings and artefacts. But the most important discovery was of a collection of baked clay tablets and other collections of texts in a variety of languages, including a local, unknown language which may be the first known alphabet. This was deciphered with amazing speed and one repeated phrase confirmed that the site was the ancient city of Ugarit. When the children of Israel arrived in Canaan, they borrowed and adapted ideas from Canaanite culture. The Ugaritic texts were written at this time, and they may prove vital to our understanding of early Hebrew thought and language.

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This comprehensive guide enables anyone with practical common sense and musical awareness to revive an ailing piano. At the same time, the author does not underrate the part played by the professional tuner and technician; indeed he suggests that co-operation of amateur and professional in the care of a piano is the ideal arrangement. The book deals with both upright and grand pianos in detail, explaining how they are constructed and the many factors contributing to their musical quality. It discusses the tools and materials required for restoration and gives full instructions for the repair and adjustment of the resonant parts, actions and keyboards which are most often encountered. A separate chapter is devoted to tuning and the sensitive hammers. The final chapter considers approaches to purchasing and restoring older pianos. Wherever possible the text has been illustrated with line drawings and photographs and at the end there is a Glossary of Terms to help the reader through the maze of piano terminology. This book teaches the pianist and would-be craftsman not only what to expect from his or her chosen instrument but how repairs and adjustments can be carried out to improve its performance.

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Part of the Century series - each book reviews and summarises the key developments in a particular branch of religious studies during the past century. Protestant theology did not begin a hundred years ago, but it is within the last century that so many significant developments have taken place. It is these developments which are Alasdair Heron's primary concern, though in order to put them in their proper context, he has also provided outlines of earlier thinking. Whilst the main emphasis is Protestant, the last chapter looks at the new horizons opened up by encounter with the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, with other religions and with the natural sciences.

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From the Gateway Books series - a series of interesting stories for the slightly older child, with some adventure and each with a Christian theme.

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When people read the New Testament they are sometimes puzzled by the supernatural stories: miracles of healing, storms that are stilled, poisonous snakes with no effect and a wily Satan who engages in direct temptation. Some have no difficulty with such stories. This is the world of the Bible and the reader must expect such like. Those who cannot believe that have either abandoned the Bible and its world altogether or else they have devised ways of explaining (or explaining away!) events that puzzle them. Bruce Kaye seeks to avoid both extremes. Instead of asking what happened and how it happened he chooses instead to ask what it meant. Why did the early church relate and record these tales? And what did they mean? What did they say about God? So the reader begins to see that beyond the stories themselves there is truth about God and his world for every generation. Teachers will find useful lesson materials here, discussion group leaders will find something to start folk talking, and preachers will find a new approach to familiar passages. A companion volume, The Supernatural in the Old Testament by John Rogerson, is also published by the Lutterworth Press.

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From the Wrigley Books series - little science books arranged by topic for the youngest reader. Clear, straightforward words and illustrations introduce children to the things around them and the practical uses to which they are put.

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From the Wrigley Books series - little science books arranged by topic for the youngest reader. Clear, straightforward words and illustrations introduce children to the things around them and the practical uses to which they are put.

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Presents a collection of favourite prayers, hymns, carols and poetry along with illustrations. This book is intended for children aged 2-4.

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Features an illustrated collection of prayers of thanksgiving, which have been selected from old and contemporary sources. Containing prayers, hymns, carols and poetry, this book is intended for children aged 2-4. The other books by this author include "First ABC", "First Nursery Rhymes" and "First Poems".

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The highly popular First Books series, which brings together favourite prayers, hymns, carols and poetry along with the beautiful illustrations by Brenda Meredith Seymour and Tasha Tudor, has been in print for over thirty years. They will make perfect gifts for children aged 2-4, and are ideal for adults and children to read together.

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This work, written by a man personally involved with the Jehovah's Witnesses movement for several years, provides an examination of the Witnesses' eschatological development, treating Watch Tower theology objectively but sympathetically. It also speculates about the future direction of Jehovah's Witness teaching. The book begins with a consideration of the biblical foundations of doctrines of the last days, particularly the books of Daniel and Revelation. There follows an outline summary of some of the main aspects of the history of the doctrine within the Protestant mainstream during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and an outline of the Adventist teaching of William Miller (1782-1849) in the USA. Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916), prime mover of the Watch Tower movement, developed his ideas during the time following the failure of Miller's expectations. This book explores the way in which Russell amended Miller's ideas and also the distinctive way in which he handled the Dispensational categorization of history of John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) to create an extension of historicist speculation on the application of prophecy to the modern world. The response of the Watch Tower movement to the failure of Russell's expectations in 1914 is explored and the new body of doctrine which has replaced Russell's is examined. The ways in which these doctrines have been modified in the past suggest ways in which future doctrine may develop, especially in response to the protracted delay of Armageddon. What is envisaged, in the light of the history of Watch Tower doctrine, is no dramatic collapse of the movement but rather an increasing emphasis upon other less vulnerable areas of doctrine together with a greater turnover of membership which may, in due course, undermine the movement's stability.

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The biography of a major British academic and cleric of the early 20th century, revealing his talent for controversy, his role in the reconciliation between the Anglican and Catholic Churches, and his wide-ranging interests and enthusiasms.

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A leading evangelical theologian describes the relationship between God and his Universe, and urges a return to a biblical understanding of a truly personal God.

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For the Christian faith, questions relating to God can essentially be viewed as centred on the person of Jesus Christ. In The New Testament Concept of Atonement, H.D. McDonald uses this key insight to examine mankind's redemption, focussing on Christ's atoning act as crucial in shaping God's relation to humanity and the world. McDonald analyses elements which hold vital meanings and messages for the Christian doctrine of salvation. In the first six chapters he investigates single terms within the New Testament, such as 'tree' or 'blood' whose metonymical association with Christ's redeeming act has often become obscured over time. Then, various biblical interpretations of the Calvary event are studied. In the final section, he analyses the importance of the findings in previous chapters and their implications for Christology. Detailed research underpins the text, in the tradition of Reformed biblical scholarship, with care taken to suggest further reading and trace sources.

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First published in 1941, The Historic Mission of Jesus is one of the landmark texts on the life of Jesus, his relation to the Father and his earthly task. Counter to the prevailing scepticism of the reliability of the Synoptic sources chronicling Jesus' life, Cadoux presents a sweeping yet detailed illustration of the evidence, while advancing theories for its interpretation that would go on to be significant facets of New-Testament study. While not going to the same lengths as Albert Schweitzer, Cadoux nevertheless advances a thoroughly eschatological interpretation of Jesus' self-perception. He thus emphasises the nation-wide character of his appeal, his concern for the redemption of the Gentiles through Israel's fulfilment of the universalistic aspirations of the Old Testament, his eager endeavour to avert a military clash between the Jews and the Roman Empire, and his early expectation of being accepted and loyally followed by his fellow-countrymen as a whole. The result is a prime early example of the revival of interest in the historical Jesus on theological grounds.

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A comprehensive guide to repairing, adjusting, and maintaining a piano, Pianos: Care and Restoration is suitable for pianists, amateurs, and would-be craftsmen. Eric Smith discusses the tools and materials required for restoration, and provides instructions for the repair and adjustment of the resonant parts, actions, and keyboard most often encountered. The book explains both upright and grand pianos in detail and includes explanations of toning piano hammers and purchasing and restoring older pianos. Illustrated with line drawings and photographs and including a glossary of terms, Pianos: Care and Restoration is an accessible guide which will enable anyone to improve the performance of their piano.

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In Ritual and Drama, Francis Edwards reveals that ritual forms the basis of all popular theatrical entertainment, the root from which dramatic art has grown. Covering the period from the tenth to the fifteenth centuries, Edwards focusses on the audience impact rather than the artistic qualities of the mediaeval plays, devoting much of his attention to the emotional effect of religious and dramatic ritual on the spectator. Illuminating the impact of Christian rituals, liturgy, and stories, Edwards draws illustrative parallels between mediaeval and modern states of mind. Ritual and Drama describes the growth of the dramatic idea, the styles of presentation of the mystery cycles, and the evolution of the morality play, presenting in straightforward terms a theme fundamental to our understanding of mediaeval dramatic art.

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Roger Schutz-Marsauche, known as Brother Roger, is one of the most influential figures in Christianity in the twentieth century. He was founder and first prior of the Taizé Community in France, where tens of thousands of young Christians flock each year for their distinctive music and contemplative style of worship, spending time in prayer and reflection. But it is the community of monastic brothers, from differing Christian traditions and over twenty-five different countries, who makes this contemplative experience possible. They stand as a ''parable of community'' and as a sign of unity in the midst of a divided world and a divided Christianity. This first volume of Brother Roger''s journals covers his arrival in Taizé during World War II through to the 1960s, in which young adults found the hill of Taizé in their searching. These collected reflections on personal and current events offer an illuminating portrait of the founder of Taizé, bringing to light key aspects of the community

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The story of how the map of New Zealand emerged is a fascinating one. The first full map of the islands was published in London in 1773, which might seem the natural starting point, but over the preceding 150 years, fragments of charts and intelligence about New Zealand ricocheted around various parts of the world. In A Draught of the South Land, Paul Moon provides the first comprehensive account of this piecemeal process. Moon's investigation covers several continents over more than a century, and reveals the personalities, blunders, strategic miscalculations, scientific brilliance, and imperial power-plays that were involved. Above all, he examines the roles played by explorers and traders, Maori and European rulers, scientific societies and military groups, as well as specialist cartographers and publishers. At a time when maps as colonial tools, enablers of trade and objects of curiosity are being studied anew, his careful analysis and engaging narrative will be of interest to scholars everywhere.

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Franz Liszt is well known for his early years as 'super-star' pianist who excited audiences throughout Europe, but his later life is also of great interest. In his final 25 years he sought to achieve his life's aims of promoting new forms of music and giving stronger witness to his Christian faith, while continuing to support his stalwart life partner Princess Carolyne. However, he was to face unexpected problems in the continued negative reception of his music and recrimination in his closest relationship. Drawing on detailed analysis of Liszt's correspondence from his fiftieth year onwards, Peter G. Coleman approaches his later life as a case study of an older person grappling with a succession of often disturbing life experiences. These included the deaths of two of his children, political upheaval and war within Europe, and a growing realisation of his own past failings. Liszt suffered frequent bouts of depression but never ceased composing music nor steadfastly heeding Christ's command to bear one's cross. This sensitive treatment of an extraordinary individual will appeal to the scholar and general reader alike.

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Stephen Neill (1900-1984) was a towering figure of twentieth-century global Christianity, but was in many ways a broken man who faced profound and crippling struggles. A Worldly Christian charts the extraordinary but often tragic life of a global Christian pioneer par excellence in a church that diversified dramatically during his lifetime. Privileged to live in radically different cultural contexts over the course of his life, Neill excelled by turns as a missionary and bishop in India, an ecumenist in Geneva, a professor in Hamburg and Nairobi, and a prolific author of some seventy books and hundreds of articles upon his retirement to the UK. Throughout this varied career, he shared his tremendous knowledge of the world Christian movement with scholars, clergy and laypersons alike. Many will find his story compelling, from Christian scholars to all those who have cherished his influential body of work and benefit from his legacy.

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The Decorative Design of C.F.A. Voysey is the first book to place Voysey in his times. His was a dynamic age; 'Our descendants will envy the dawn through which we are passing', wrote a contemporary. Voysey's houses appealed to a forward-looking generation of intellectuals - writers and artists. Voysey learned architecture was an art from the Gothic Revival architect John Pollard Seddon - a friend and patron of the Pre-Raphaelites. Besides architecture, Seddon taught him decorative design. Voysey became one of the most successful textile designers of his generation. After Seddon, Voysey worked for Henry Saxon Snell, the leading hospital designer. Fresh air and light were essential for healthy living science dictated. Voysey's third mentor was George Devey, the leading designer of large country houses. Devey appreciated plain rural architecture. Voysey's buildings possess the modesty of the village house. Sixty-four of the two-hundred and eight decorative designs by Voysey in the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects are reproduced here. Once housed in two chests he had designed in his flat in 73 St James's Street, off Piccadilly - where he lived in genteel poverty - they were never intended for posterity. They enable us to feel his presence and know something of his way of working and his extraordinary imagination.

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Small and furry, the stable troll is a helpful little creature that helps out on the farm on which he lives. But as the family who own the farm grow up and move away, leaving the lazy eldest son to manage the fields and the animals, the troll finds himself overworked and ignored. Leaving the farm, he sets off through the woods, helping and befriending the various animals that he meets. Unlike the farmer he has left behind, the animals are ready and willing to repay him for his assistance, guiding him and his new friend the wood troll though the forests and mountains and lakes, until they find themselves called back to the farm, where a surprise awaits them. Ilon Wikland's full colour illustrations add to the charm of this captivating tale.

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Where do scientific terms come from? Why are they so similar in so many languages? How was the new nomenclature spread across the world? The Language of Science analyses the development of scientific vocabulary from its basic origins in everyday agricultural work, through to the need for a measurement system when it came to trading, to the scientific innovations of the seventeenth century and a subsequent period of consolidation in the eighteenth century. This is a period of great relevance in history of science and a strong focus of Crosland's work. The time between 1750 and 1800 saw many movements trying to organise and revolutionise scientific names and units the significance of which is often overlooked. Crosland talks here about the development of language in botany, chemistry and the metric system, drawing a connection between the three fields and the development of the sciences in general. The final chapter pays close attention to how the international conferences helped in the adoption and standardisation of the new language. Crosland's approach to the subject matter is very clear and concise. The Language of Science will be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about history of language, social history and of course science. The author popularises an often intimidating and complex segment of the English language. Scientists and non-scientists alike will find this book stimulating and thought-provoking. Aimed at anyone interested in Popular Science, this book is a stimulating introduction to the development of Scientific Language and offers a historical overview of the progress of standardisation of the Sciences.

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Dare to overturn preconceptions about the nineteenth-century arts with this fascinating work. Two assumptions are often made about the arts of the 19th century; firstly, that urban centres of the 19th century are where the arts flourished and 'provincial' centres were rather more inferior in their contributions to art, music and literature; and secondly, that women played a lesser role in their contribution to the arts. It is two such notions, which S.W. Jackman challenges in his highly detailed study of a range of Irish nineteenth-century women writers. Through eight far-reaching, biographical sketches of prominent Irish women writers, the author demonstrates that 'provincial' prose and poetry was not of lower status, but simply different. As the reader discovers the backgrounds to writers, such as: the 'doyenne,' Maria Edgeworth; Sidney Morgan; Marguerite Blessington; Helen Dufferin; Caroline Norton; Speranza Wilde; Augusta Gregory and Edith Somerville, so it becomes clear that 19th century literature knew no sexual or geographical boundaries. This well-researched study portrays above all how the writers' contributions appealed very highly to the romantic Victorian spirit and helped greatly in shaping Western culture. 'Literature was a lady-like pursuit even if pecuniary motives were paramount, and a woman did not lose caste by writing fiction.' Extract from Maria Edgeworth.

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Synergetics can be defined as the exploratory strategy of starting with the whole. It was in the 1940s that Buckminster Fuller developed a series of spherical models which embodied the synergetic theory within geometry. This study of Fuller's sacred geometry describes with vigour and in detail how his spherical figures relate both to Nature and to the tenets of synergetics. The author assesses the legacy of Fuller, a scientist-artist-engineer extraordinaire whose visions were inspired by the American Dream, and portrays with enthusiasm and sympathy the creative and individual science of a man whose character was as multifaceted as the domes he created. Discover the theory behind the idea that the straight lines and boxes of science and maths are inadequate for representing Nature's spherical and cyclical patterns of growth. The ways in which Fullerís synergetics can be seen in the ancient iconographies of the past are also revealed with fresh insight. In addition, Eastham looks to the future artistic applications of Fuller's wholes, with the aim of inspiring the reader to think outside of the box themselves. 'We sought for years to bring out a brief alternative geometry textbook. [...] It's not easy to produce a round thing in a square world...' Extract from the Introduction.

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There are many different opinions over the origin of the word collect. The Latin collecta means a gathered together. Whatever its origin, however, the collect is a very ancient prayer. This delightfully illustrated book contains the collects from the Book of Common Prayer. Some date back to the time of Leo I, more to Gelasius, and yet more to Gregory the Great. The wording of them in their present form owes much to that liturgical genius Thomas Cranmer, the sixteenth century archbishop and martyr. The collects are a perfect example of the Book of Common Prayer which itself was compiled at a time when for beauty of rhythm and splendour of diction, our language was at its zenith. Time and faith have hallowed this work, and the Prayer Book is now hailed as one of the supreme achievements of the English tongue. The wonderful prayers here are framed with enchanting illustrations which augment and enhance the beauty of the language. A Prayer for all Seasons was originally published by the Prayer Book Society in 1987. This new edition benefits from a clearer and more attractive layout. It starts with the Morning Prayers and continues with those from Christmas, Advent, Easter and the Saints' Days, concluding with the prayers for Holy Communion. Delightfully illustrated with nineteenth-century woodcuts, this is a must for anyone who appreciates the antiquity and beauty of the language of the Book of Common Prayer. With a Foreword by HRH the Prince of Wales, an Introduction by Ian Curteis and an Afterword by the Bishop of London.

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Eagles seemed to dominate Marcus Morris's life. As a clergyman's son, he grew up with the eagle of the church lectern; as a priest himself he had his own lecterns. A brass inkwell topped by a flying eagle became the symbol of the most famous eagle of all - the children's magazine that influenced a generation. Eagle and its sister papers Girl, Swift and Robin were read by millions throughout the 1950s and 60s. They offered excitement in the adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, brilliantly drawn by Frank Hampson; of PC49, Riders of the Range, Tommy Walls, Luck of the Legion, Harris Tweed and Captain Pugwash. Small boys were fascinated by the cutaway drawings of modern wonders like the first jet airliner, by features on science, history and nature, and by the adventures of a roving Special Investigator. The religious and moral framework was strong, though not overstated, with Bible stories and lives of missionaries and saints featured regularly, and young readers were encouraged to become good citizens. David Hockney and Gerald Scarfe had their teenage drawings published in Eagle (the first published work for Scarfe), and many of the original illustrators of the magazine are well-known today - some have contributed cartoons drawn especially for this book. Each issue of Eagle had an Editor's Letter, signed by Marcus Morris, a name as widely known to his young readers as any modern pop idol. The fascinating story of this extraordinary man is now told for the first time. Morris was a radical priest, continually at odds with the Church establishment. His desire to spread the word of Christianity led him into journalism, and his Lancashire parish magazine was read throughout Britain and as far afield as Australia. This magazine was a commercial failure, but its literary success made Morris determined to spread its ethos to children. Eagle was the immensely successful outcome. Morris was a man of contrasts. His clerical status did not prevent him, or his beautiful and successful actress wife, from indulging in extramarital affairs. The success of Eagle and his other magazines brought him no substantial wealth, and his way of life was funded by a generous expense account. After arguments with new masters in Fleet Street he left the company and spent the rest of his working life with the fourth eagle in his life, the symbol of the National Magazine Company which he made one of the most successful publishers in Britain. Though he became disillusioned with the Church, he remained a priest, and in spite of being happily married until his death, he continued to enjoy liaisons with beautiful women. Although a legendary drinker and lover of good living, he was greatly respected, loved, and mourned by employees, parishioners, and his many friends. Prof Stephen Hawking, when asked what influence Dan Dare had on him: 'Why am I in cosmology?' Kenny Everett, on Eagle: 'Marcus made my childhood a lot easier to bear. Every week this divine colour magazine came through the letter box with lots of fab colour adventures; it was glossy and other worldly ... You don't know what this magazine meant to me. It saved me.' With a foreword by Sir Tim Rice.

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There are those who say that the Reverend Sydney Smith ought to be made a saint of the Church of England. There are those who say that he jested away his chances of a mitre. There are those who simply read him and laugh. Sydney Smith was not only a humorist. He was a respected clergyman who worked steadily for Roman Catholic emancipation despite his own staunch Anglicanism. In 1802 he helped to found The Edinburgh Review, which became one of the most powerful journals in Britain. Lord Macaulay referred to him as The Smith of Smiths. Jane Austen is thought to have based Henry Tilner in Northanger Abbey on him. G. K. Chesterton was another of his admirers. This book gathers together a selection of Smith's own writings together with extracts from his daughter's biography of him. Arranged thematically, the passages deal with Home and Abroad, Politics, Social Evils, Education, Religion, and Health and Happiness. As well as Sydney's renowned wit, the collection enshrines the wisdom of a man of enormous common sense and the preaching of an eloquent orator. We discover the sloth, who 'moves suspended, rests suspended, sleeps suspended, and passes his life in suspense - like a young clergyman distantly related to a bishop'. We meet the bishop who deserved to be preached to death by wild curates. But most of all, we enjoy the company of a man determined that as long as I can possibly avoid it I will never be unhappy. The amusing defender of our faith described a friend's idea of heaven as eating pate de foie gras to the sound of trumpets. His present-day admirers may disagree, finding their ideal of heaven in reading this wonderfully entertaining book.

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Now, as never before, the big questions of life - purpose, the mind, physical nature - are tied together as philosophers have to take on board the findings of scientists about the mysteries of the universe and physicists seek to explain ideas of human destiny. All too often this crossover results in confusion being worse confounded. Professional philosophers are seldom equipped to comprehend cutting-edge scientific research, and when scientists attempt to explain their findings they mystify the ordinary reader. Yet the public remains eager to be enlightened; hence the great bestsellers that end up unread.This book is different. Without ever reducing the text to a simplistic or patronising level, Hector Parr provides a guide to modern thought that will genuinely inform the average person and provide a basis for understanding more advanced works. He explores in detail the true nature of Time, and pursues the scientific and philosophical implications more fully than other books on the subject. He follows through the implications of seemingly abstruse fields such as particle physics for our ideas of our place in the universe and presents his own synthesis of the problems; at once scholarly, humane and challenging. Concepts are explained simply and concisely. No assumptions are made about the readerís education; when arguments are introduced that could baffle the non-scientist, they are clearly marked and may be skipped, but those who can follow them are encouraged to pursue the reasoning. Rather than present pre-digested results, Parr lets us accompany him in drawing conclusions from the evidence collected by researchers. This is an elegant appraisal of matters in which we are all ultimately concerned. Succeeding where other more specialised texts fail, it will be welcomed by all who are willing to exercise their imagination and seek out the truth.

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By 1918 St Ives had a long tradition as an artists' community. It took as its standard the Royal Academy, which retained great popular appeal, but was neither forward-looking nor progressive. In 1920 it became the permanent home of one of the great innovators of the twentieth century, the potter Bernard Leach. At the outbreak of the Second World War it provided shelter for a small group of the most progressive painters and sculptors, including notably Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, already leaders in the advanced art movements of the 1930s, and committed to the principle of abstraction. In the 1940s and 1950s a remarkable group of younger artists came together in and around St Ives, making it a centre of avant-garde art activity. This book is concerned with those artistic events, especially during the years 1939-75, and the larger circumstances in the world of art by which they were affected, or which were affected by them. It describes the singular contribution of St Ives to the art of our time.

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Relying chiefly on unpublished material, Doors of Possibility examines the significant changes to girls' secondary education between the 1880s and the 1940s, through the life of a lady who, born into the lower middle-classes, made her own way working in schools to become head of Roedean and a leader of headmistresses, articulating and defining the hopes and needs of her time. She epitomised the values and attitudes which formed developments in girls' education in England. Dame Emmeline Tanner started teaching at the age of 13 years, and the book examines the problems faced by a late-Victorian girl without money or the right connections. She was very interested in the new educational modes of the time, and the book tells of how she first experimented with ways and means, and the shaped one of the new secondary schools under the 1902 Education Act, guided it throughout her career, including chairing the Joint Four which dealt with problems arising from evacuation during the Second World War. By the time she became Headmistress of Roedean School, she was recognised as an influential leader of headmistresses and a champion of broadening the path. This book will appeal to both the general and professional educationalist. The detailed biographical detail gives a glimpse into women's educational history during the late and post-Victorian eras.

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From the I Am a Little... series - a series of delightful books each concentrating on a different animal. The beautiful illustrations make these titles particularly appealing, with just enough detail to draw adults and children alike into the animal's world. This story follows the thoughts of an inquisitive squirrel as he prepares for winter and watches with interest the strange decoration of a tree by the children in the house opposite his nest. It encourages children to be responsible for the wildlife around them, and to think of others when they may need it the most. These books are perfect for children who have just learnt to read, as most of the words are monosyllabic and repeated, to aid memory retention, whilst those which are longer are phonetic, which expands both vocabulary and knowledge. The format of these books is ideal for children wanting to read and establish independence from their parents, as they are small in size, perfect for small hands, and are presented like an adult publication, which boosts confidence in those engaging on independent reading.

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This frank, sensible and compassionate book examines in detail the particular needs and experiences of young adults, many of whom will be taking on fresh responsibilities, buying their own homes and starting families. At a time when life promises so much, a major bereavement can be devastating. The author examines the physical and emotional effects of grief, the changes it can bring about in an individual or family, and provides useful addresses of organisations and societies who can give support and advice at this crucial time. Bereavement brings with it a multitude of different physical and emotional demands. From the practical business of arranging the funeral and sorting out the legal complexities of the will to the distressing and confusing feelings connected with losing a loved one, this will prove a useful guide for both the bereaved and those who work with them. The authorís approach is realistic, yet positive throughout, as is evident in the words: 'Death teaches us a great deal. Perhaps its greatest lesson is the fact that nothing lasts forever. Not even sadness and grief.'

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This absorbing study surveys the developments in decorative design from the 1830s to the 1950s, showing how the modern age has affected the status of decoration and examining the role of ornament in a rapidly changing industrial society. Arranged in three sections, the book opens with an introductory essay which looks at the cultural background of the discourse of decoration, bringing into play two major strands of decorative theory, and looking at the changing natures of modernism and traditionalism. The central section of the book is composed of pictorial examples, arranged in order of chronological development, from the most significant trends in taste and fashion. The concluding postscript expands on the origins and development of the two opposing strands identified, which the author defines as normative and critical 'schools'. The first takes its foundation from the 'Philosophical Radicals' and their programme of industrialisation and social reform, and is exemplified by Owen Jones and the Department of Science and Art; the second is the critical reaction led by Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts Movement. The one led toward the abandonment of decoration, the other toward its pastiche. The author concludes with a critical summary of the present sorry state of decoration. However, decoration is seen as a natural attribute of our species, and the discourse that has built in around it is by means closed.

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Imagine ordering a sunny day from the local weather witch, asking an apple tree to answer the telephone and making a beautiful garden out of old cereal boxes. What would you do if you inherited a real hair loom, or found three ugly old ladies and a dragon on your doorstep? And would you need a bicycle if you had a unicorn to ride? Anything is magically possible in these twelve short stories by gifted story-teller Joan Aiken.

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