Search results for ""Author Charles"

An accessible and reliable introduction to the life and works of Charles Dickens, offering a unique combination of academic biography and literary analysis The Life of the Author: Charles Dickens explores the relationship between Dickens’ lived experience and his works, discussing themes within and key influences on literary classics such as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Nicholas Nickleby, and Great Expectations. An excellent introduction to the world of Dickens scholarship, this easily accessible volume provides the necessary background about the author’s life while encouraging readers to critically analyze Dickens’ works. Organized thematically by chapter, the book opens with a brief overview of Dickens’ life and a chronology of major works. Subsequent chapters focus on key aspects of Dickens’ life, concluding with case studies of selected texts that demonstrate the similarities between events in Dickens’ own life and the literature he was writing at the time. Throughout the book, readers are provided with an informative portrait of Dickens’ early family life, personal relationships, professional networks, social circles, travels abroad, charitable works, financial issues, dealings with publishers, and much more. Incorporates the latest discussions in Dickens research alongside documents and materials from Dickens’ time Discusses the afterlife of Dickens in film, theater, and television, including A Christmas Carol, Dickens’ most adapted story Features archival material from the Charles Dickens Museum and discussion of Dickens’ roles as a journalist, editor, and professional reader Includes short case studies at the end of each chapter to demonstrate the ways Dickens’ life informed his work The Life of the Author: Charles Dickens is an ideal introductory textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in English Literature and Victorian Literature courses, as well as a valuable resource for Dickens scholars and enthusiasts.

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Charles Darwin has become one of the important men in history. The quiet, unsure polymath who avoided confrontation, ensconced in his family home at Down House in Kent, was also a revolutionary who developed his idea of Natural Selection in isolation. This is a guide to the ideas as well as the man who was voted one of the greatest Britons.

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This is the definitive account of one of the most extraordinary stories of our time. Gyles Brandreth, acclaimed biographer of the Queen and Prince Philip, presents a unique portrait of their son, Charles, Prince of Wales, and of the one 'non-negotiable' love of his life, Camilla Shand, now Duchess of Cornwall.What are Charles and Camilla really like? What is their heritage? What has made them the way they are? This is both a revealing portrait of two unusual individuals and a family saga like no other, told with unrivalled authority and insight - and humour - by a best-selling writer who has met all the key characters in the drama: Charles, Camilla, Diana, their children, their families and their friends.

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This attractive poster features a concise introduction to Charles Dickens, alongside a timeline putting the author's life events in their national and political context. Photographs and illustrations include the original title page of 'Nicholas Nickleby' and portraits of significant figures in Dickens' life, whilst detailed information is organised into the topics: early life; becoming a writer; realism in writing; Dickens and the theatre; public readings; chronology of novels; social conditions; private life; Dickens in America; odd names of some Dickens characters; travels abroad; Dickens' London. Trivia about the author will help to ignite children's curiosity.

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Follow Ray Charles''s rise from humble beginnings, overcoming hardship, loss, and blindness to become the undisputed king of rhythm ''n'' blues. Each spread relates a different stage of his life, and key moments are captured by evocative photos from the time and Rémi Courgeon''s beautiful illustrations. The narrative of the book is recorded on the accompanying CD, as well as 15 of the singer''s most emblematic recordings.

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In this new interpretation of the life and work of the American poet, short-story writer and novelist "Charles Bukowski", David Stephen Calonne examines Bukowski's writings, colourful life and the desperate conditions of his lifestyle, looking at the literary traditions that influenced him and discussing his unique place in world literature. Bukowski was born in Germany and raised in the United States, a schism that Calonne shows to be crucial in the writer's development. From the influence of Germany's literary and intellectual traditions to the writer's traumatic childhood, this book explores the effect the writer's hybrid identity had on the themes and content of his work. Exploring several unknown works of fiction and poetry created in the early years of his career, the many volumes of poetry published with Black Sparrow Press, major works of fiction like "Post Office" and "Factotum", as well as feature films such as the Mickey Rourke-starring "Barfly", Calonne catalogues and dissects the many versions of Bukowski created by the writer and his followers. A concise yet comprehensive new account, "Charles Bukowski" will interest the wide audience already familiar with this prolific, influential figure, as well as being an invaluable introduction to those new to Bukowski's work and who wish to know more.

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Charles was in a vile temper and Anne was catching the full benefit of it. Charles Courtley is a difficult man. Prone to violent outbursts and a bully to his wife and daughters, he has uprooted the family from London to an old manor house in remote East Anglia. Spoilt by his growing wealth and increasingly intolerant of any dissent, Charles enjoys controlling everyone around him. His family, his employees and even the locals - banned from using the traditional footpaths on his forested estate - have multiple reasons to bear a grudge. When Charles is shot dead in a woodland clearing, evidence from an unreliable witness points to Courtley’s secretary, but he has a cast iron alibi and the resulting trial ends in an acquital. A year later, a seemingly innocent death and an odd cenotaph leads Chief Inspector Simon Sturt to reconsider the case. Dorothy Erskine Muir (1889–1977) was one of seventeen children of John Sheepshanks, Bishop of Norwich. She attended Oxford, worked as an academic tutor, and began writing professionally to supplement the family income after the unexpected death of her husband in 1932. Muir published historical biographies and local histories, as well as three accomplished detective novels: In Muffled Night (1933), Five to Five (1934) and In Memory of Charles (1941).

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Charles Dickens is the acclaimed definitive biography by bestselling author Claire Tomalin Charles Dickens was a phenomenon: a demonicly hardworking journalist, the father of ten children, a tireless walker and traveller, a supporter of liberal social causes, but most of all a great novelist - the creator of characters who live immortally in the English imagination: the Artful Dodger, Mr Pickwick, Pip, David Copperfield, Little Nell, Lady Dedlock, and many more.At the age of twelve he was sent to work in a blacking factory by his affectionate but feckless parents. From these unpromising beginnings, he rose to scale all the social and literary heights, entirely through his own efforts. When he died, the world mourned, and he was buried - against his wishes - in Westminster Abbey.Yet the brilliance concealed a divided character: a republican, he disliked America; sentimental about the family in his writings, he took up passionately with a young actress; usually generous, he cut off his impecunious children. From the award-winning author of Samuel Pepys, Charles Dickens: A Life paints an unforgettable portrait of Dickens, capturing brilliantly the complex character of this great genius. If you loved Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, this book is invaluable reading.'By far the most humane and imaginatively sympathetic account yet for the general reader' Amanda Craig, New Statesman

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Robert Hardman is an internationally renowned writer and broadcaster, specializing in royalty and history for more than twenty-five years. He is the author of the Sunday Times top ten bestsellers Charles III and Queen of Our Times. His other books include Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work, Our Queen and Queen of the World, along with the BBC and ITV television documentaries of the same name.Among other television credits, he wrote and presented the BBC Two documentary George III The Genius of the Mad King and wrote the BBC series, The Queen's Castle. Hardman interviewed the then Prince of Wales for the BBC's Charles at 60, the Duke of Edinburgh for the BBC's The Duke: In His Own Words and the Princess Royal for ITV's Anne: The Princess Royal at 70. He wrote and co-produced the BBC's Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers, for which he interviewed a dozen members of the Royal Family. He i

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THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLEREverything is falling to pieces for Francesca Thayer. Her beautiful, old house is full of leaks and in need of total restoration. Then her relationship with lawyer Todd collapses and he moves out. As the owner of a struggling art gallery she can't possibly manage the mortgage alone, so she is forced to do the one thing she never imagined she would: she advertises for lodgers.First arrives Eileen - a young, attractive schoolteacher. Then comes Chris, a newly-divorced father and graphic designer. Last to arrive is Marya - a famous cookery author who is hoping to rebuild her life after the death of her husband.And so Francesca finds that her house has become a whole new world - and that her accidental tenants have become the most important people in her life. Over their year together, the house at 44 Charles Street fills with laughter, heartbreak and hope. And Francesca discovers that she might be able to open her heart again after all...

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Superb, highly accessible biography of one of the giants of English literature by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A THOUSAND ACRES'Engaging and stimulating' Simon Callow'Jane Smiley, in her admirable contribution to Weidenfeld's series of short biographies, deals briskly with Dickens's career and works, and treats with sympathy and sense his relations with the women in his life' LITERARY REVIEWFrom a bitter and poverty-stricken childhood to a career as the most acclaimed and best loved writer in the English-speaking world, Charles Dickens had a life as full of incident as any of those he created in his novels of life in Victorian England. The enormous quantity of work, his public readings and his difficult relationships has made him a figure of enduring fascination. In this biography Jane Smiley reveals Charles Dickens as his contemporaries would have done, getting to know him more intimately than ever before. At the same time Smiley offers interpretations of almost all of Dickens' major works, showing how 'his novels shaped his life as much as his life shaped his novels'.

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An illustrated study of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. It features buildings, such as the Glasgow School of Art, as well as his interiors, such as the Willow Tea Rooms, many of which were designed in collaboration with his wife, Margaret Macdonald.

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Charles Burnett (b. 1944) is a groundbreaking African American filmmaker and one of America's finest directors, yet he remains largely unknown, and few filmgoers have seen his films or heard of Burnett. The interviews in this volume explore this paradox and collectively shed light on the work of a rare film master.

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The Compact Guide: Charles Darwin reveals the famous scientist's life in compelling detail. From his expedition aboard the Beagle and his legendary research in the Galapagos Islands, to his marriage and illness and the publication of his groundbreaking works, this book sheds fascinating light on the most remarkable aspects of Darwin's life - the extraordinary adventure of discovery that led Darwin to some of his greatest breakthroughs; the controversy with Alfred Russel Wallace on who first originated the idea of evolution by natural selection; and the Darwin family's prosperous but often tragic home life, and how Charles became one of the first Victorians to reject religion and God.

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The delightfully frightful Addams Family has tickled the dark side of the public's funny bone for nearly 90 years. With the creation of Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, and the whole quirky gang, Charles Addams put a satirical spin on the ideal family. His eccentric characters have become icons of popular culture, from cartoon strips in The New Yorker to television series, feature films, a Broadway musical, and much more. Thanks to this calendar's 12 cartoons, you'll revel in Addams' deadpan wit all year long.

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Mike Bartlett's 'future history play' explores the people beneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family. Queen Elizabeth II is dead. After a lifetime of waiting, her son ascends the throne. A future of power. But how to rule? Drawing on the style and structure of a Shakespearean history play, King Charles III opened at London's Almeida Theatre, directed by its Artistic Director Rupert Goold, in April 2014, before transferring to the West End. The play went on to win Best New Play at both the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and the Olivier Awards. It also won the South Bank Sky Arts Theatre Award.

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Érase una vez un hombre prolífico como pocos con la pluma, moralista, cultivador del "nonsense", mordaz, paradójico, radical, juguetón, polemista infatigable, ferviente defensor de la familia, la iglesia y el pub y enemigo acérrimo de burócratas, hombres de negocios, políticos y filántropos, que fuera denostado por algunos (en términos poco literarios) y por muchos ensalzado (sobre todo en términos literarios). Aquel hombre constituía además una curiosidad por su portentosa corpulencia y por su conversión al catolicismo en un país, Inglaterra, donde hacerse de ese credo puede parecer, más en alguien como él, casi una provocación. Se llamaba Gilbert Keith Chesterton, G. K. C. para los amigos: toda una fábula. G. K. Chesterton (Londres 1874 - Beaconsfield 1936) fue un virtuoso del estilo que, con mayor o menor fortuna, tocó casi todos los géneros literarios, creando un universo que sorprende ante todo por su inmensidad: más de cien títulos, entre obras y recopilaciones de escritos disper

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In his sculptural practice, American artist Charles Ray (born 1953) has long been fascinated by the concept of representation, the depiction of the human form and questions of scale. Known for his keen sense of—and respect for—the uncanny, Ray has carved a widely admired path that crisscrosses the arenas of minimalism and conceptual art, while continually pushing the boundaries of visual perception. This book marks the long-term exhibition of works at Glenstone Museum selected by the artist, including Baled Truck (2013), a sculpture made of solid machined stainless steel, emblematic of the artist’s meticulous fabrication process. It also includes a conversation with—and text by—the artist and installation photography.

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Brett Charles Seiler lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa, where he also graduated from the Ruth Prowse School of Art in 2015. Seiler's work has elements of painting, installation, and object art, with a strong emphasis on the use of text and language. Sometimes poetic, nostalgic, or romantic, it is an integral part of his art or stands on its own as a piece as well. In his paintings, the space is indeterminate, the figures are not located and sketchily fleeting, the writing elements seem spontaneous like statements from street art. The colour scheme moves in a narrow spectrum between black, grey, white and brown tones, often using wood. His themes are sexual interaction, oppression, homosexuality, gender, men. Originally from Zimbabwe, a state where human rights violations are commonplace, his work also makes a mark in the struggle for equal sexual orientation in education, media, and institutions. “[My work] is a deep longing for understanding. It is from the point of view of something that I’ve missed, something that I cannot go back to. It’s a process of research.” Text in English and German.

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This title explores the life and career of James Charles. Learn about James’s childhood, family, and career, including how he got his start on YouTube, rose to fame, and became a pop culture influencer. Fun facts about viral videos, popular posts, and subscriber counts enrich the text while dynamic photos give readers a behind-the-screens look at this popular YouTuber. Other features include a table of contents, fun facts, informative sidebars, a timeline, and an index.Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.

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Tells the story of Catherine of Braganza, Charles II's Portuguese Queen set against the background of injustice and tragedy. Politics, sex, lies, religion and misunderstanding meant that their marriage was never going to be what she hoped. A wonderful story making you feel for Catherine, but understand Charles. A really good read if you're into Restoration history, and even if you're not.

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In 1859 Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species. In this bedrock of biology books Darwin carved a new origin-story for all life: evolution rather than creation. In his new biography J. David Archibald describes and analyses Darwin’s prodigious body of work, as well as his equally productive home life – he lived with his wife and seven children in the hectic environs of Down House, south of London. There among his family and friends Darwin continued to experiment and write many more books on orchids, sex, emotions, and earthworms until his death in 1882, when he was honoured with burial at Westminster Abbey. This is a fresh, up-to-date account of the life and work of a most remarkable man.

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As America's oldest merchant ship still afloat and the only wooden survivor of the once-vital whaling industry, the Charles W. Morgan has a complex story to tell.Elaborating on Mystic Seaport Museum's earlier volumes on the Charles W. Morgan''s history, this new book offers an expanded account, chronicling the ship''sconstruction and launch in 1841 through its 38th Voyage in 2014the first time the Morgan had been sailed in more than ninety yearsand its continuing role today as an historic icon and the museum's flagship vessel. Chapters paint a picture of how whaling developed in Europe and the ways New England colonists adopted it as a profitable venture, and then, through the ship's own story, proceed to sketch the evolution of America's relationship with natureand the whale, specificallyand with the many peoples of the world who were encountered by, or served aboard, a whaleship.This is the story of a National Historic Landmarkone that reflects our changing relations

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Reverend Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788): Anglican priest, Oxford University graduate, leader of the English Methodist movement, and arguably the greatest hymn-writer of all time, with at least 6,000 hymns to his credit, many of which retain their popularity and status as "classics". Charles Wesley was a gifted poet, with an almost unparalleled ability to capture deep truths of Scripture and condense them into meaningful verse, thereby conveying theology in terms that a wide spectrum of people could understand. For all his genius as a wordsmith, Charles Wesley was an intensely humble Christian, sometimes living in the shadow of his brother, John, but, nevertheless, complementing the ministry of his sibling with a softer touch and a less rigid approach to life and faith. Through the Year with Charles Wesley offers a glimpse into the works of a great man whose legacy has survived the centuries, and which still influences modern hymnology.

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The great songs and folktales of the English, Irish, and Scottish tradition reimagined in comic book form by some of the most famous fantasy and science fiction authors of the 20th century, including Neil Gaiman (Sandman), Charles de Lint (Widdershins, The Onion Girl), Jane Yolen (Lost Girls, Briar Rose), Sharyn McCrumb (The Ballad of Frankie Silver), Jeff Smith (Bone), and more.

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Darwin's theory of evolution changed how people saw the world and their place in it. He challenged the long-held belief that God had created every living thing in its current shape, and showed how he believed that animals had evolved, or changed over time. This book looks at Darwin's life and work, and shows how his discoveries both changed society at the time and influenced people in the future.

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The execution of King Charles I is one of the well-known facts of British history, and an often-quoted snippet from our past. He lost the civil war and his head. But there is more to Charles than the civil war and his death. To fully appreciate the momentous events that marked the twenty-four years of his reign, and what followed, it's important to understand the man who was at their epicentre. Both during his lifetime, and in the centuries since, opinion of Charles is often polarised; he is either Royal Martyr or Man of Blood. Amidst these extremes, what is frequently overshadowed is the man himself. Propaganda still clouds his personality, as do the events of his last seven years of life. The first half of his life has not been explored in detail. As a sickly second son of the first King of Great Britain, these years shed light on the development of Charles's character. Key elements of his final days also remain lost to us, such as certain identification of his executioners. Investigating new evidence, an entirely new candidate is proposed. Persistent myths surrounding his health and supposed unwillingness to compromise are also addressed. There are many biographies, but this most intimate work draws upon fresh viewpoints and contemporary letters, some never before used. Penetrating the veil of monarchy and getting to the heart of the man through his relationships, the reader is brought closer than ever to the real Charles Stewart. A brave, principled and dutiful man, he was politically flawed and lacked the ruthlessness needed to steer his three kingdoms beyond the crossroads at which they arrived. Above all, he is a character who shares much in common with us all. "This is the story of the spare who became the heir: what shaped him - and what became of him. Mark Turnbull helps us understand Charles the king as Charles the man" Leanda de Lisle

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The third installment commemorating Charles Ray's rotating exhibitions at Glenstone The diverse sculptural practice of American sculptor Charles Ray (born 1953) has long challenged perceptions of scale, material and subject matter, necessitating multiple viewings over time. Charles Ray: Volume III is part of an ongoing series of publications commemorating rotating exhibitions of the artist’s work at Glenstone Museum, the third of which opened in the winter of 2021. Organized in close collaboration with the artist, the selections showcase Ray’s practice from early in his career to the present day, with four works ranging in material from concrete and steel to handmade paper used to realize a recent self-portrait, Return to the one (2020). This catalog includes documentation of the exhibition at Glenstone, an original essay by the artist, a contribution from art historian Anna Lovatt and an introduction by Emily Rales, cofounder and director of Glenstone Museum.

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Charles Dowding, the master of no-dig gardening, developed his highly successful methods of vegetable growing through 30 years experience of growing and selling vegetables and extensive experiments. Through his courses at Lower Farm in Somerset and his three previous books, he has won a keen following. Beginners and experienced veg growers alike find that his methods work and that he opens their minds to new possibilities. Now he has distilled the essence of his courses and ideas into one book. In it you will find out how to grow vegetables the Charles Dowding way. Charles Dowding's Vegetable Course is both a straightforward guide to success and an inspiring source of ideas for achieving a more productive vegetable garden for less effort. Lower Farm, run by Charles and Susie Dowding, has been part of Sawday's Special Places to Stay collection for 12 years. Click the link on the left to visit Sawday's to find out about accommodation at Lower Farm and our other characterful, independently-run places to stay across the UK and Europe. All have been inspected and selected because we like them - what makes each 'special' varies hugely, but common to all are owners whose personality, friendliness and local knowledge ensure a memorable stay.

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As a young boy, Charles Darwin hated school and was often scolded forconducting “useless” experiments. Yet his passion for the natural world was so strong that he suffered through terrible seasickness during his five-year voyage aboard The Beagle. Darwin collected new creatures from the coasts of Africa, South America, and the Galapagos Islands, and expanded his groundbreaking ideas that would change people's understanding of the natural world. About 100 illustrations and a clear, exciting text will make Darwin and his theory of evolution an exciting discovery for every young reader.

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Over the last two summers, Pigozzi has have been taking photographs of his young and very playful dogs. In 2016, he received from Hungary two Vizsla, that he called Charles and Saatchi, and he was immediately amazed by how crazy their playing was, so he started taking pictures of them that can sometimes look violent, but he can assure you this is all play. In 2017, another puppy arrived, who is also called Saatchi. She is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and she too played with Charles and Saatchi. He mainly took the pictures in black and white as it made them more intense and a bit more dramatic. This book, Charles and Saatchi. The Dogs , contains some of the best pictures Jean Pigozzi took of his dogs.

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This career-spanning publication features conceptual, political, formal, and technical perspectives on the work of contemporary sculptor Charles Ray For Charles Ray (born 1953), sculpture is a way of thinking that informs his work across a wide range of media—from gelatin silver prints to porcelain, fiberglass, wood, and steel. Charles Ray: Figure Ground spans the whole of the artist’s fifty-year career, from his early photographs and performances through his intriguing, often unsettling sculptures, some of which are published here for the first time. The essays foreground Ray’s engagement with preexisting traditions, as well as charged issues around race, gender, and sexuality (notably expressed through his explorations of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and investigate the modalities of touch that run through his work. In addition, a reflection by Ray himself and a conversation between the artist and Hal Foster offer further insights into his multifaceted practice. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (January 31–June 5, 2022)

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Discover the inspiring story of John and Charles Wesley, two brothers who left an indelible mark on Christian history.Step into the 18th century and meet John and Charles Wesley, brothers whose unwavering faith sparked a spiritual revolution. Witness their transformative journey from the humble English countryside to the heart of a movement that changed the course of Christianity. A Tapestry of Faith and AdventureMarvel at the thrilling tales of faith, courage,and resilience as the Wesley brothers navigate challenges, triumphs, and divine encounters. From the vibrant Oxford University to the bustling streets of London, this biography paints a vibrant tapestry of their lives, making history come alive for young readers. Faith in ActionAs you explore the pages, you will be inspired by the Wesley brothers' commitment to social justice, their passion for community service, and their unyielding dedication to spreading the message of love and grace, but most of all you will see how God

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From acclaimed journalist Adam Hay-Nicholls, the very first biography of rising star Charles Leclerc, published to mark the start of the 2023 Formula One season.Few of the drivers on the F1 grid have the racing pedigree of Charles Leclerc. Widely regarded as one of the sport's hottest prospects, he was crowned F3 and then F2 champion in back-to-back seasons before he made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2018. Now firmly established as Ferrari's great hope, following in the footsteps of legends Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher, Leclerc has his eyes set on becoming world champion.Born in Monaco to a family of comparatively modest means, Leclerc remembers playing with toy cars on a friend's balcony as the best drivers in the world whizzed around the Monte Carlo circuit on the streets below. This early experience inspired him to get behind the wheel, encouraged by his father Hervé, and so began his meteoric rise in the sport. Along the way, he lost his father, his godfather and his best friend - all racing drivers - and this gave Leclerc the inner steel to become a winner.Writer Adam Hay-Nicholls, who has spent much of his career in the Formula One paddock, provides the inside track on this rising star, recounting how he has taken the racing world by storm. And as Leclerc's Ferrari is beginning to fire on all cylinders, will he beat his old rival and adversary Max Verstappen to the world title?

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Between Minimalism and craft: a comprehensive appraisal of Los Angeles sculptor Charles Ray This catalog accompanies the 2022 double exhibition of Charles Ray’s work at the Centre Pompidou and the Bourse de Commerce (Pinault Foundation). With approximately 30 pieces that depict humans, plants and vehicles in his favored materials of wood and metal, this publication explores the artist’s critical relationship with Minimalism and the uncompromising perfectionism apparent in his work. Whether recreating fallen trees down to every nook and cranny or conjuring a certain vulnerability in his life-size steel figures, Ray’s pieces are characterized by a formal intricacy that lends an almost uncanny realism to his sculptures in spite of their sometimes unusual scale. In his meticulous attention to detail, Ray invites viewers to examine his sculptures with similar intensity. Ray’s work, which clearly draws from a minimalist-formalist focus on material as it explores the possibilities of three-dimensional representation, resists classification and must be experienced on an individual level. Based in Los Angeles, American artist Charles Ray (born 1953) has worked for decades across mediums and materials to create photography series, performance pieces and sculptures. Ray has been the subject of solo exhibitions around the world, and his work has been featured in Venice Biennales in 1993, 2003 and 2014, and in five Whitney Biennials. He is currently represented by Matthew Marks Gallery in New York.

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As a child, Charles Dickens worked in a shoe polish factory where his gritty surroundings inspired some of the most memorable characters and settings in literary history. Known for his masterful storytelling in books like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol, Dickens toured the globe as one of the most famous people of his era. Widely considered the greatest writer of the Victorian age, Dickens’s literary masterpieces continue to amuse and inspire writers and readers alike.

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Was Charles I a tyrant? He was a small man with a stammer who inherited three kingdoms when young but ultimately lost his head. His mistakes were blatant but the conflicts that arose over religion and royal power would have tested a more skilful king. First with Scotland, then in Ireland and finally in England, powerful men with strong passions set themselves in opposition to him. English MPs, Scottish Calvinists and Irish Catholics all made demands. A nervous man and poor negotiator, Charles was nonetheless a courageous general. As sides coalesced and broke apart, new forms of government were hotly debated but no agreement reached. It was a tragic time, with lives and fortunes lost; for Ireland it was a catastrophe as England broke Irish Catholic society and confiscated land. Yet it was also a time of radical ideas, commercial success and scientific advancement. Who were Charles Stuart and Henrietta‑Maria, his French queen? What motivated their opponents, and why was it Oliver Cromwell who rose to power? Extraordinary characters like Alasdair MacDonald, John Lilburne, Murrough the Burner and Montrose all blazed their trails. This book combines the story of all three kingdoms and explores the motives of the principal protagonists to show why government collapsed and the king was finally executed.

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