Search results for ""james clarke co ltd""

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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Katharine Briggs made an indelible mark on the world of folklore with her compilation of the Dictionary of British Folktales in the English Languages, while her subsequent Dictionary of Fairies confirmed her already distinguished place among British Folklorists. Briggs's initial academic interest while at Oxford University was in seventeenth-century literature and the Civil War. Upon leaving Oxford she pursued amateur dramatics and worked for the Guide Movement, and during the Second World War she served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. It was here, perhaps, that her personality fully matured; among other activities she delighted her fellows with her remarkable gift for story-telling. After the war, her career as a folklorist began to blossom. As if to make up for lost time, she spent the last twenty years of her life writing and lecturing almost continually. As well as her books on folklore, she gained renown for her children's books Kate Crackernuts and Hobberdy Dick. She was responsible for revitalising the Folklore Society and as its President, she laid the foundations of the Society as it is today. Hilda Davidson's biography brings to life a remarkable woman whose combination of academic excellence and natural gift for narrative found her friends all over the world.

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Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) has been more than a national heroine. Her drive and energy transformed the Scutari hospital, which led to the recognition of the nursing profession, and won her the title of the "Lady with a Lamp". This is her biography. It is intended for ages 9-13.

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Presents the Old Testament story of Rebecca. This is an illustrated book from the "Young People of the Bible" series that contains Old Testament stories specifically aimed at children.

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Telling the story of Moses, this book is part of a series of Old Testament stories for children.

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This work is taken from the "My Favourite" series - favourite stories on different themes by different authors, each volume edited by a celebrity in the field. "The first of May, 1902, was the night of my debut at the Maryinsky. I felt eager, yet strangely light-headed, and my limbs trembled slightly. My teacher kept by me in the preceding interval. 'Don't stand still. Warm yourself up,' he advised. 'Courage!' He made the sign of the Cross over me at the first notes of introduction and hurried to the first wing to watch me. Between that night and the present day lies a gulf, the whole distance from half-conscious ardour to the lucidity of a ripe artistic means." The great Karsavina looks back to the school-girl who that night emerged from the long, rigorous training of the Imperial Ballet School to make her debut as a dancer. The story of her school years, told with characteristic verve and freshness, opens this splendid selection. Sacheverell Sitwell's glorious evocation of the Imperial court reflects the lucent world of the Sleeping Princess which ballet creates on stage; Richard Buckle shows how the crowded fairground 'set' of Petrouchka reflects in its turn the world of the theatre's audience, caught up in the puppet's tragedy. The spectacular Nijinsky; Ulanova, intensely reserved; enchanting Genee; Ninette de Vlois and Lilian Baylis indomitable in the creation of the Wells; all are here. So too is the great Indian dancer, Ram Gopal; Toglioni and Spessivtzeva; Dollin and Diaghilev; the pioneers of the modern dance - Duncan, Graham, and de Mille; the entertainers, Astaire supreme among them; and all engaged in the unceasing struggle to master the technique, to perfect the discipline, that creates an unparalleled beauty.

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From the Cities of the Biblical World series - a series presenting the results of recent archaeological developments at major Biblical sites for the general reader, the student and the tourist. Say the name Jericho and the one thing everybody knows about the city is that once upon a time the walls fell down flat. The more knowledgeable will go on to tell you that it had something to do with Joshua, with the children of Israel, possibly even with spies; and that you can read all about it in Exodus. In Jericho John Barlett says that the biblical story cries out for archaeological support. Fifty years ago the archaeologists believed they had found it. Now they are not so sure. Some of them even say that there is no archaeological evidence at all to support the idea of a collapse in the days of Joshua, and this therefore provides a classic example of relating what the Bible says and what archaeologists find (or fail to find) in the reconstruction of history. There is, however, more to the history of Jericho than this one incident and John Barlett guides us through the story of its excavation, describing the many finds, including a large amount of pottery and the famous plastered skulls.

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Boys of ten or twelve years old served with the Royal Navy of Nelson's time, sharing all the hardships of life afloat, from rotting meat to the risk of scurvy. This illustrated book provides an account for young readers of life on board a Royal Navy vessel at the time of Trafalgar.

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In Jesus and the Gospel of God, Don Cupitt takes a second look at the doctrine of the incarnation, going back to Scripture itself and especially to the person of Jesus as we see him in the synoptic gospels. His declared aim is to restore the real Jesus to his proper centrality in the Christian faith, and to focus attention on the man and his message rather than on doctrines about him. He begins by making a distinction between the primitive eschatological faith and the developed dogmatic faith. The primitive faith, he believes, was at its purest in John the Baptist, Jesus and the first generation Christians. It was practical and immediate and concerned with salvation. The developed dogmatic faith was really an adaptation which took place over 22 years by which time Christians were reading back some of the new dogmas into the New Testament. Today we have to go back and begin again at the beginning with Jesus. The old religion is returning. Christianity must become again a pure religion of salvation. In thus re-examining the doctrine of the incarnation Don Cupitt leads us on a new search for the religious meaning of Jesus' message and its implications for belief in God today. He writes in his usual clear style, with a minimum of unfamiliar terms, and so produces a book which deserves a wide readership and may well take its place as one of a small number of pioneering works.

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A story of Bible times for young children, telling of a Hebrew girl's day at the market. The author weaves an enjoyable tale around an incident from the Bible with background information. This book also includes illustrations by the author.

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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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Presenting a simple and informative science book for the youngest reader, it shows how we think and have ideas. It contains illustrations to introduce children to the things around them and the practical uses to which they are put. The other titles by this author are: "Heat: Wrigley Book No. 11", "Magnet: Wrigley Book No. 17", and others.

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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. When Robin Chesney went to Scotland to visit his old great-uncle, he found that Blackbrae was a lonely cottage in the hills. No sooner did Robin arrive than old Mr.

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A ground-breaking study of the status of the Anglican clergy in Georgian England, and the challenges of church reform in this ecclesiastical, political and social environment.

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What was it like to fall in love in Hitler's Germany? As the war tore them apart, how did young couples keep love vibrant, care for their children, and relate to the war? The earthy letters of Ernst and Lilo Sommer depict in unforgettable poignancy the collision of their personal dreams with the political and military realities of the Third Reich. They provide a vivid window into the lives of ordinary people in the midst of horrific conflict. Seventy years later their daughter, Heinke, reflects on this tragedy, while Peter Matheson provides a historical perspective. The encounter between past and present generations provides glimpses of a bygone age, and raises urgent questions for the future.

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First published in 1963, this is an important text which illuminates the complex relationship between theology and philosophy. Mehl sympathetically examines the key aspects of the dialogue between Christianity and philosophy, commenting on the perceived tension between reason and faith, Christian dogmatics and metaphysical experience, and concluding that an understanding of Revelation cannot be submitted to any philosophical principle of interpretation. This text ultimately explores the role of the Christian philosopher in renewing and continuing fruitful philosophical reflection.

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What is the nature of Christian unity? Is it Sacramental, Organic, Federal, Spiritual? These are questions that demand careful examination when different Christian traditions are drawing closer to one another in a common desire to heal the divisions that hinder the witness of the Church to the world. In any attempt to deal with these questions, full weight must be given to the evidence of the New Testament itself: what kind of unity does it reveal? In New Testament Pattern, Jean-Louis Leuba reveals a two-fold framework of unity in the New Testament. One strand - in its witness to Christ, to the Apostles and to the Church - emphasises the institutional, traditional and particular. The other strand emphasises the personal, dynamic and universal. Yet the two strands are actually one. Their unity is more comprehensive, more creative, than any undifferentiated unity could be, with important implications for ecumenism and broader scriptural study.

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Is it possible to find in the New Testament a single coherent theology? In Jesus Through Many Eyes, Stephen Neill makes the case convincingly for a unified faith underlying the many traditions and interpretations of Jesus within scripture, which can be summed up in the words Resurrection-Spirit-Reconciliation. First published in 1976, his exposition remains relevant to general readers and specialist scholars alike. Neill provides detailed explanations of more obscure concepts and references, along with comprehensive notes and bibliographies to each chapter, making this an ideal introductory textbook. Meanwhile, those familiar with his arguments will benefit from new insights and interpretations.

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In Wagner''s Theatre, Patrick Carnegy presents the turbulent story of Wagner and his interpreters over the course of the twentieth century. Carnegy gives vivid accounts of Gustav Mahler''s radical reinvention of the Wagnerian stage, and of the post-war rehabilitation of Wagner and his work after Hitler''s appropriation. He also offers sharply written reappraisals of those great Wagnerian conductors Klemperer, Toscanini, Karajan and Solti. Carnegy provides revealing accounts of the inside-workings of the Royal Opera House and of English National Opera at troubled points in their recent history. In a fascinating conversation with Sir Michael Tippett, the composer talks with unique authority about the problems facing would-be musical dramatists today. Wagner''s Theatre is an essential insight into how interpretations of Wagner have developed, and how we can respond to them.

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The use of school life as a closed narrative environment is well documented, and modern examples such as Malory Towers and Harry Potter show the genre''s continued appeal. While there have been several histories of the school story, especially in children''s literature, almost all of them take as their starting point Tom Brown''s Schooldays. Although occasionally acknowledged in passing, there has never been a complete study of earlier school stories, or of other fictional portrayals of school life before the middle of the eighteenth century. In Before Tom Brown, Robert Kirkpatrick traces the roots of the school story back to 2500BC, when school life was a feature of Sumerian, Egyptian and Graeco-Roman texts written as teaching aids for children. From Chaucer''s Canterbury Tales to Shakesperean comedies, he explores for the first time the use of school dialogues in the classroom, in print and on stage, and presents new evidence that the first school novel appeared in 1607. Finally, he

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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 Pr

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In Wagner''s Theatre, Patrick Carnegy presents the turbulent story of Wagner and his interpreters over the course of the twentieth century. Carnegy gives vivid accounts of Gustav Mahler''s radical reinvention of the Wagnerian stage, and of the post-war rehabilitation of Wagner and his work after Hitler''s appropriation. He also offers sharply written reappraisals of those great Wagnerian conductors Klemperer, Toscanini, Karajan and Solti. Carnegy provides revealing accounts of the inside-workings of the Royal Opera House and of English National Opera at troubled points in their recent history. In a fascinating conversation with Sir Michael Tippett, the composer talks with unique authority about the problems facing would-be musical dramatists today. Wagner''s Theatre is an essential insight into how interpretations of Wagner have developed, and how we can respond to them.

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Vladimir Lossky''s posthumously published masterwork is now made available in English for the first time. Eckhart''s Apophatic Theology is the culmination of a long process, whereby the renowned Orthodox philosopher and theologian embraced the ways of thinking of a thirteenth-century German mendicant and mystic. While refusing to simplify Eckhart''s theology to a system or single motif, Lossky explores in detail the various ramifications of Eckhart''s insistence on the ineffability of God.Is God to be regarded as ''being'', or the ''One'', or ''Intellect''? Does God''s pure expression of each of these preclude the others? Framed by six key statements about God''s essence, Lossky lays out Eckhart''s approach to this dilemma. His understanding of the problem, guided by careful engagement with a multitude of sources, is exhaustive. Scholars will welcome this eagerly-anticipated translation.

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A study of the role of miracles in the Bible and of the way in which changing concepts of faith and of revelation have altered the understanding of the miraculous.

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From civilisational frontier risks associated with new challenges like disruptive technologies, to the shifting nature of great-power conflicts and subversion, the 21stcentury requires a new approach to statecraft. In 21st-Century Statecraft, Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan proposes five innovative statecraft concepts. He makes the case for a new method of geopolitical analysis called 'meta-geopolitics', and for 'dignity-based governance'. He shows how, in an interdependent and interconnected world, traditional thinking must move beyond zero-sum games and focus on 'multi-sum and symbiotic realist' interstate relations. This requires a new paradigm of global security premised on five dimensions of security, and a new concept of power, 'just power', which highlights the centrality of justice to state interests. These concepts enable states to balance competing interests and work towards what the author calls 'reconciliation statecraft'. Throughout, Professor Al-Rodhan brings his philosophical and neuroscientific expertise to bear, providing a practical model for conducting statecraft in a sustainable way.

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That was the most frequently repeated phrase when listeners to Radio 2 wrote to the BBC asking for a copy of the script of Frank Topping's morning meditations on Pause for Thought. What made me decide to broadcast them regularly

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says Frank

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In the debate about homosexuality one thing that seems clear - on an issue renowned for lack of clarity and controversy - is that two fundamentally incompatible positions continue to hold tenaciously. One asserts that homosexual acts are legitimate, the other that they are not. Concentration on the legitimacy of sexual expression rather than on underlying needs has made the debate about homosexuality incapable of resolution. Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic presents a psychoanalytic interpretation that has shifted the focus of the debate from symptoms to root causes. The crux of Elizabeth Moberly's argument is that 'the homosexual condition involves legitimate developmental needs, the fulfilment of which has been blocked by an underlying ambivalence to members of the same sex'. But while the argument is certainly controversial, it involves a much-needed restatement of the traditional Christian distinction between the homosexual condition and its expression in homosexual activity. Formerly published as a James Clarke and Co Ltd title.

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Henry Wilson (1864 - 1934) worked in a highly individual style, uniting influences from the Arts & Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau with his own interpretation of traditional forms, symbols and nature. Drawing on original archives, biographical details and insights from family members, this is the first published study devoted wholly to Wilson and his work. This book discusses examples of his work throughout the UK and in North America, where he designed the bronze entrance doors for a leading Boston tea importer and the great West doors of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York. Of equal impact were his exhibition designs, and his influential teaching at the Royal College of Art, at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, and at the Vittoria Street School for Silversmiths and Jewellers in Birmingham. He began his career as Chief Assistant to the Gothic Revival architect J. D. Sedding, but felt increasingly drawn to the associated arts: church furnishings, sculpture, metalworking and jewellery. His remarkable achievements in these fields range from the breathtaking green marble fittings of St. Bartholomewís Church in Brighton, to the monumental Elphinstone Tomb in Aberdeen, and from strikingly original schemes of interior decoration and plans for a post-War craft village, to vibrant jewellery glowing with enamel and semi-precious gems. His role as Master of the Art Workers Guild (1917) and as President of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society (1915-22) serve to confirm his significance in the context of early-twentieth century design and education.

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A vibrant collection of paintings and drawings of the landscape and wildlife of the Thames, following the river as it flows from the rural countryside of Gloucestershire, meandering past fields, villages and towns, through the heart of metropolitan London and to the sea. After his previous book on the River Derwent, Riverside Journey, Ashley Bryant took up the challenge of painting the Thames, the most famous and fascinating river in England. The book covers the story of the whole river, from beginning to end, providing an artist's view of the most interesting places it passes, giving a great view and insight into the life of the river. The paintings reflect the beauty of the river itself, of the natural landscape through which it passes, and many of the architectural gems? Palaces, Oxford colleges, churches, as well as bridges and humble cottages. That have been raised alongside it. The Thames is an ideal companion for anyone walking beside the river, boating on it, or simply interested in the wildlife and the countryside that surrounds the Thames. As such it will appeal to those who live near the Thames, as well as to visitors.

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Like the author's previous book Meetings That Work, this is a self-help manual giving practical advice in an accessible way, helping people to realise their full potential. Aimed at those in small life-giving communities practising collegiality, subsidiarity and collaborative reflective ministry, the book offers the benefit of Catherine Widdicombe's wide experience to leaders and members of communities who have no outside aid. The importance of small communities in religious life is explored and the problems faced while living in them is examined, from unfamiliar and unexpected relational demands to new spiritual challenges. The author has spent over 20 years working in these areas, primarily with women from widely different religious communities, and has developed a highly accessible book to help leaders and members of communities who have little access to facilitators.

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The strongest voices in Christian history regarding the place of women in religious and secular society gave them only a very limited role, but there have always been those who disagreed with that view and with much other church orthodoxy. Often reviled by the Church, many of these women nevertheless had significant influence in their times. Some of them were considered to be heretics - unsurprisingly since they made great claims for themselves and their written and spoken words: Maximilla, a Montanist, announced that 'After me there will be no further prophets', while Joanna Southcott later claimed to be 'The Greatest Prophet that ever came into the world'. As this demonstrates, they did not speak with a single voice, but included Montanists, Jansenists, Pelagians, Antinomians, Spiritualists and Theosophists as well as Saints. This book describes the lives of twelve such women, outlining their beliefs, their attempts to make themselves heard, their clashes with the spiritual authorities, the influence they achieved and the legacies they left behind: Elizabeth Barton, Teresa Sanchez de Cepeda y Ahumad, Jeanne Marie Guyon, Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, Ann Lee, Joanna Southcott, Barbara Juliana, Baroness De Krudener, Lydia Sellon, Mary Baker Eddy, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Ethel Cecilia Dodd, Aimee Semple Macpherson. Some of these women saw themselves as reformers, others as revolutionaries; some saw their mission as lying within the Church, others broke with established religion completely. What they had in common was that each of them had a vision, some literally, others in a more figurative sense. None of them had any doubts as to the rightness of the mission to which they were called. While some of the opprobrium that they attracted from the ecclesiastical authorities related to their heterodox opinions, it is clear that had they been men their ideas might well have found more support and their activities greater approbation. Everyone who has an interest in Christian history and in women in the church - as well as in menís reaction to them - will want to read this book.

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Greek civilisation is universally recognised as the basis of the modern West. But what was the basis of the Greek civilisation? From the dawn of history in the empires of Sumer and Babylon, where writing was developed and laws first codified, to the Medes and the Persians whom Alexander the Great conquered, this history charts the political and social changes that took place over the course of many centuries, culminating at last in the intellectual and material achievements of Greece, Rome and their later successors. As well as the famous races like the Jews and Egyptians, Chahin explores less well known but vitally important groups such as the Hittites and Hurrians. The fascinating kingdoms of Crete and Mycenae hover in the shadowy background of the earliest Greek writings; the Sea Peoples are a source of great controversy among Homeric scholars and other students of that period; and the terrible might of the Assyrians is remembered to this day. All those to whom Ancient history means Greece and Rome should read this book and learn what happened in earlier generations to shape the world that the makers of Europe found when they rose to significance. It will appeal to the general reader interested in history, the enthusiast for Greek antiquities keen to discover their context and the Bible student wishing to understand more of the background to the Old Testament.

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Christian art is rich, complex and heavily invested with symbolism. The painting reproduced on the cover of this book is a case in point. Who are the central figures? (A glance at the entry under 'Baptism' will enlighten those who are unsure). And, perhaps more challenging, how can we identify the fourteen saints around them? Do the flowers at Jesus' feet have a special significance? The Dictionary of Christian Art provides the answers, giving the modern reader access to the pictorial tradition that was once the common visual vocabulary of western Europeans. There are over 1,000 entries, from Aaron to Zucchetto, covering the following areas: artists, art and architectural terms, the symbolism of numbers, flora and fauna, and parts of the body, Christian saints, biblical and mythological figures, liturgical objects and vestments. In addition, there are more than 160 reproductions by the greatest artists from the two millennia of Christian art, ranging from sixth-century mosaics and icons, through the great Italian fresco painters of the Middle Ages and the contribution of the Renaissance, to Georges Rouault and Salvador Dali in more modern times.

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Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond was born in 1875 at Arnold, Nottingham, the youngest son of a modest shopkeeper and his wife. Leaving school at the age of 11, he was reluctantly apprenticed to a local watchmaker but never gave up his determination to study art and become a painter. For some years he was obliged to limit his passion to evening classes at the Nottingham School of Art and the occasional day snatched from work on the pretext of illness or convalescence. Nonetheless, his natural ability shone through, and in 1900 he moved to London to make a living as an artist. This was to be the start of a long and prolific career, which encompassed periods as a landscape painter, a society portraitist and an industrial artist. Knighton-Hammond's subjects ranged from the serene beauty of the Derbyshire dales and the picturesque charm of the French Riviera, to the dynamic interiors of the Dow Chemical Plant in Midland, Michigan, and from the most celebrated figures of his generation to colourful local characters in Sussex. His work took him all over Europe and to the United States, although his first love remained the English countryside. Admirers and collectors of his art included members of the Greek Royal family, American industrialists, English aristocrats and fellow artists. Augustus John, noted for his harsh criticisms of his brother artists, exclaimed upon seeing one of Knighton-Hammond's numerous exhibitions in France: 'That man is the greatest English painter in water-colour of our time.' It is, then, a curious anomaly that until now there has been no biography of this remarkable painter and that, since his death in 1970 at the age of 94, his works have received very little attention. At last this omission has been rectified with this, the first full biography of one of England's great water-colourists. It includes a catalogue of the artist's work together with a complete list of his exhibitions and of his paintings currently in public collections.

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