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A Passage To Africa
by George AlagiahAs a five-year-old, George Alagiah emigrated with his family to Ghana - the first African country to attain independence from the British Empire. A PASSAGE TO AFRICA is Alagiah's shattering catalogue of atrocities crafted into a portrait of Africa that is infused with hope, insight and outrage. In vivid and evocative prose and with a fine eye for detail Alagiah's viewpoint is spiked with the freshness of the young George on his arrival in Ghana, the wonder with which he recounts his first impressions of Africa and the affection with which he dresses his stories of his early family life. A sense of possibility lingers, even though the book is full of uncomfortable truths. It is a book neatly balanced on his integrity and sense of obligation in his role as a writer and reporter. The shock of recognition is always there, but it is the personal element that gives A PASSAGE TO AFRICA its originality. Africa becomes not only a group of nations or a vast continent, but an epic of individual pride and suffering.
A Passage To Africa
by George AlagiahAs a five-year-old, George Alagiah emigrated with his family to Ghana - the first African country to attain independence from the British Empire. A PASSAGE TO AFRICA is Alagiah's shattering catalogue of atrocities crafted into a portrait of Africa that is infused with hope, insight and outrage. In vivid and evocative prose and with a fine eye for detail Alagiah's viewpoint is spiked with the freshness of the young George on his arrival in Ghana, the wonder with which he recounts his first impressions of Africa and the affection with which he dresses his stories of his early family life. A sense of possibility lingers, even though the book is full of uncomfortable truths. It is a book neatly balanced on his integrity and sense of obligation in his role as a writer and reporter. The shock of recognition is always there, but it is the personal element that gives A PASSAGE TO AFRICA its originality. Africa becomes not only a group of nations or a vast continent, but an epic of individual pride and suffering.
Time Out Of Mind
by Jane LapotaireWho are you when your brain is not you?'Jane Lapotaire is one of the lucky ones. Many people do not survive, let alone live intelligently and well again once they have suffered cerebral haemorrhage. In the long haul back to life - 'nearly dying was the easy bit' - she's learned much, some of it very hard lessons. Some friendships became casualties; family relations had to be redefined; and her work as an actress took a severe battering. The stress of living is felt that much more keenly when 'sometimes I still feel as if I am walking around with my brain outside my body. A brain still all too available for smashing by noise, physical jostling, or any form of harshness'. But she has survived and now believes it herself when people say how lucky she is.This is a very moving, darkly funny, honest book about what happens when the 'you' you've known all your life is no longer the same you.
Time Out of Mind
by Jane LapotaireWho are you when your brain is not you?'Jane Lapotaire is one of the lucky ones. Many people do not survive, let alone live intelligently and well again once they have suffered cerebral haemorrhage. In the long haul back to life - 'nearly dying was the easy bit' - she's learned much, some of it very hard lessons. Some friendships became casualties; family relations had to be redefined; and her work as an actress took a severe battering. The stress of living is felt that much more keenly when 'sometimes I still feel as if I am walking around with my brain outside my body. A brain still all too available for smashing by noise, physical jostling, or any form of harshness'. But she has survived and now believes it herself when people say how lucky she is.This is a very moving, darkly funny, honest book about what happens when the 'you' you've known all your life is no longer the same you.
Salvation: Scenes from the Life of St Francis
by Valerie Martinnspired by the great frescoes of St Francis of Assisi, the highly-praised author of ITALIAN FEVER has written a new and wholly original biography. Composed in a series of vividly realised 'panels', SALVATION begins with the dying Francesco - and the rivalry for his body among the towns of medieval Italy - and moves back in time toward his mystical conversion. The old friar, exhausted by illness and division among his brotherhood, gives way to the zealous missionary who joins the Fifth Crusade, confident that he can convert Sultan al-Kamil in Egypt. Later, we see the unwashed and innocent revolutionary, unafraid to lecture a pope on Christ's message, and finally the frivolous young Francesco on the deserted road where his encounter with a leper leads him to an ecstatic embrace of God. SALVATION is a window into a medieval world whose physicality and purity have rarely been rendered with such visceral power. Most important, it is a unique, immediate portrait of the great mystic, whose legend has resonated through the centuries in both religious and secular realms.
The Bookseller Of Kabul: The International Bestseller
by x Asne SeierstadTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERFor more than twenty years Sultan Khan, a bookseller in Kabul, defied the authorities - be they communist or Taliban - to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned by the communists and watched illiterate Taliban soldiers burn piles of his books in the street. He even resorted to hiding most of his stock in attics all over Kabul. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and hatred of censorship, he is also a committed Muslim with strict views on family life. Two weeks after September 11th, award-winning journalist Åsne Seierstad went to Afghanistan to report on the conflict there and the year after she lived with an Afghan family for several months. As an outsider, Asne Seierstad is able to move between the private world of the women - including Khan's two wives - and the more public lives of the men. And so we learn of proposals and marriages, suppression and abuse of power, crime and punishment. The result is a gripping and moving portrait of a family, and a clear-eyed assessment of a country struggling to free itself from history.'An intimate portrait of Afghani people quite unlike any other ... a compelling read' CHRISTINA LAMB, SUNDAY TIMES
The Bookseller Of Kabul: The International Bestseller
by Asne SeierstadTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER <P><P>For more than twenty years Sultan Khan, a bookseller in Kabul, defied the authorities - be they communist or Taliban - to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned by the communists and watched illiterate Taliban soldiers burn piles of his books in the street. He even resorted to hiding most of his stock in attics all over Kabul. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and hatred of censorship, he is also a committed Muslim with strict views on family life. Two weeks after September 11th, award-winning journalist Åsne Seierstad went to Afghanistan to report on the conflict there and the year after she lived with an Afghan family for several months. As an outsider, Asne Seierstad is able to move between the private world of the women - including Khan's two wives - and the more public lives of the men. And so we learn of proposals and marriages, suppression and abuse of power, crime and punishment. The result is a gripping and moving portrait of a family, and a clear-eyed assessment of a country struggling to free itself from history. <P><P>'An intimate portrait of Afghani people quite unlike any other ... a compelling read' CHRISTINA LAMB, SUNDAY TIMES
Gonzo: The Life Of Hunter S. Thompson
by Jann Wenner Corey SeymourFew American lives are stranger or wilder than that of Hunter S. Thompson. Born a rebel in Kentucky, Thompson spent a lifetime channelling his energy into such landmark works as FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS - and his provocative style revolutionised writing.Now, for the first time ever, Jann Wenner and Corey Seymour have interviewed Thompson's friends, family and colleagues and woven their memories into a brilliant oral biography. From Hell's Angels leader Sonny Barger, to Ralph Steadman, to Jack Nicholson, more than 100 members of Thompson's inner circle bring into vivid focus the life of a man who was more complicated and talented than any previous portrait has shown. It's all here: the creative frenzies, the love affairs, the drugs, booze and guns, and, ultimately, the tragic suicide. As Thompson was fond of saying, "Buy the ticket, take the ride."
Humphry Repton
by Laura MayerHumphry Repton (1752-1818) ambitiously styled himself Capability Brown's successor; the century's next great improver of landed property. He believed that the art of laying out grounds could only be achieved by 'the united powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener', and ingeniously combined his knowledge of farming with a talent for topographical sketching. Over thirty years Repton amassed an incredible four hundred commissions, capitalizing on the whims of the fashion-conscious upper classes left rudderless after Brown's death. Sensitive and snobbish, Repton's ambitions were twofold. He sought to ingratiate himself among the aristocracy, whilst simultaneously raising the status of his adopted profession. Consequently his famous Red Books, illustrated to help clients visualize the potential of their estates, also encouraged an appreciation of landscape aesthetics. This book looks at Repton's theoretic principles and how they underpin his landscape gardening. By detailed site investigations, it traces his approach to landscape design from Picturesque wildernesses like Blaise Castle, Bristol, to the progressive Gardenesque style of Wanstead House in Greater London.
A Century of Royalty
by Edward WestOver the last century Britain has witnessed a royal family saga compelling, tumultuous and heartwarming. The constitution has been thrown into crisis by an abdication, royal divorces have become commonplace, coronations and jubilees have brought the nation together - and though Princess Diana's death precipitated perhaps the most serious turn in public opinion yet, the Windsors' place in our hearts was confirmed beyond any doubt by Elizabeth II'sDiamond Jubilee and the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son, Prince George. With full-page illustrations from the Daily Mirror's archives and illuminating explanatory text, this book is a unique look at one hundred years of royalty in Britain. The British Royal Family: beloved worldwide, poised and gracious, and above all resilient. With striking images from the Daily Mirror's famous archive and expert text from Ed West, A Century of Royalty looks from unexpected angles at these fascinating lives, controversies and traditions, from Edward VII's coronation to the birth of Prince George in 2013.
Joseph Rowntree
by Chris TitleyThe Rowntree name is linked to some of the most iconic and well-loved brands of the 20th century, including the KitKat, Aero and Fruit Pastilles. On the way he transformed a small factory in York into a global business. But there is much more to the Joseph Rowntree story than chocolate. A prominent Quaker, social reformer, political campaigner and educationalist, he reshaped his home city and improved the welfare of generations of workers. Rather than diminish with his death in 1925, Rowntreeís legacy has grown as the charitable trusts he founded become ever-more influential. This fascinating biography traces Joseph Rowntreeís life from grocerís son to great Victorian philanthropist and beyond.
Debutantes and the London Season
by Lucinda GoslingUntil the middle of the last century, the dominant feature of London's social calendar was 'the Season', and central to this was the phenomenon of the debutante. As the privileged classes descended on the capital to embark on a four-month whirlwind of key social events and smart parties, the daughters of the aristocracy and the wealthy prepared to make their 'debut' into society. From the preparations and rituals involved in court presentation to the exhausting round of parties, this book will look at the details of what it meant to be a debutante; exploring a lost world that incongruously blended glamour and privilege with archaic tradition.TOC: Introduction /The London Season /Origins and 'rules' /The ritual of court presentation /How to be a debutante /Parties /Famous debutantes /The last debutantes /Index
Susie Cooper
by Alan MarshallDuring her 65-year career, Susie Cooper introduced more than 4,500 ceramic patterns and shapes, making her one of the most prolific, versatile and influential designers the industry has ever seen. Between the 1920s and 1980s she moved from the bold hand-painting of the jazz age through delicate wash banding and aerograph techniques to sophisticated lithographic transfer printing on both earthenware and bone china. Susie not only led the charge of gifted female designers in the male-dominated Potteries but also pioneered the role of women in factory management. Alan Marshall charts her progress creating patterns for Gray's Pottery in the 1920s, running her own Susie Cooper Productions in the 1930s to 1950s, and designing for Wedgwood in the 1960s to 1980s.TOC: Potteries Born and Bred / Learning Her Craft / Flying Solo / The Leaping Deer / The Kestrel Takes Flight / Coping with War and Peace / China Syndrome / Wedgwood Woes / Life After Wedgwood
London Plaques
by Derek SumerayThe city of London is dotted with plaques, many of them blue, all commemorating either a famous person who was born, lived, or stayed in that building, or sometimes a significant event that took place, or an earlier use of the site.This book is a comprehensive gazetteer of all of London¿s plaques. Using Derek Sumeray's classic book as a basis, this thoroughly revised new edition arranges plaques alphabetically by area, providing a text that is linked to London's geography and, therefore, of greater use to a resident or visitor wanting to explore the famous people and events commemorated in that area. Illustrated with photographs of many of the plaques and the places, this is the only guide to all the commemorative plaques in Greater London.
Royal Weddings
by Emily BrandFrom William the Conqueror to Prince William and Kate Middleton, A British Heritage Publisher Offers a Revealing Look at Bygone Royal Weddings With the impending nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton this April, Shire Publications offers Royal Weddings, the perfect primer on Britain's rich nigh-millennial history of kingly couplings and the ideal accompaniment to the aforementioned must-see event of the twenty-first century. Royal Weddings traces the evolution of matrimonial majesty from the politically charged, relatively austere, private affairs which dominate much of English history, to the grandiose extravaganza of Prince Charles's and Diana's union in 1981. Over time, British royal weddings have become the standard by which all other wedding ceremonies are compared. The book abounds with eye-opening details and interesting stories, such as how King Henry VIII's marital vows--"...to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part..."-- have been paradigmatic ever since; or the touching account of the 15th century monarch, Edward IV, who married beneath him and had to keep his marriage to a poor soldier's widow a secret. Even with nearly a thousand years of British royalty to cover, author Emily Brand deftly keeps from wallowing in a mire of historical pedantry. Instead, she has culled together exquisitely fascinating facts and anecdotes and presents her discoveries in a lively and inquisitive tone. Her account of the 1625 wedding of King Charles I--for which the monarch wasn't even present (he sent a surrogate for the lavish affair held at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris), reads as if she herself was present at the scurrilous event. Royal Weddings is a sleek 56 pages volume, generously enhanced with 60 full-color pieces of rare art and photos that go beyond traditional wedding pictures and add to the guilty, yet informative, pleasure of the book. There are examples of elaborate decorations, feasts and wedding cakes; ornate jewelry, commemorative medallions and other unique items; wedding dresses and evolving fashions; marriage certificates, announcements, menu cards and other juicy particulars; even the nullification document of King Henry VIII's short-lived marriage to Anne of Cleves, who Henry believed was misrepresented in the picture he was shown of her before agreeing to the coupling. Emily Brand is a writer and historian with a special interest in eighteenth and nineteenth-century England. She has written widely on domestic and family life for a number of history and genealogy magazines, including publications from BBC Magazines Bristol, the Jane Austen Centre in Bath and the National Archives. She is also an author for history society London Historians, of which she has been made an honorary member.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Song of the Morning: Easter Stories and Poems for Children
by Pat AlexanderHere is a book for the whole family to enjoy this Easter, the year round, and for years to come. The Easter events form the climax to a story that began long before. So this book starts with the creation and spoiling of the world, God's rescue plan and the coming of Jesus. The Bible's stories of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Day are placed in context.
Bob Dylan
by Lee MarshallBob Dylan's contribution to popular music is immeasurable. Venerated as rock's one true genius, Dylan is considered responsible for introducing a new range of topics and new lyrical complexity into popular music. Without Bob Dylan, rock critic Dave Marsh once claimed, there would be no popular music as we understand it today. As such an exalted figure, Dylan has been the subject of countless books and intricate scholarship considering various dimensions of both the man and his music. This book places new emphasis on Dylan as a rock star. Whatever else Dylan is, he is a star - iconic, charismatic, legendary, enigmatic. No one else in popular music has maintained such star status for so long a period of time. Showing how theories of stardom can help us understand both Bob Dylan and the history of rock music, Lee Marshall provides new insight into how Dylan's songs acquire meaning and affects his relationship with his fans, his critics and the recording industry. Marshall discusses Dylan's emergence as a star in the folk revival (the "spokesman for a generation") and the formative role that Dylan plays in creating a new type of music - rock - and a new type of star. Bringing the book right up to date, he also sheds new light on how Dylan's later career has been shaped by his earlier star image and how Dylan repeatedly tried to throw off the limitations and responsibilities of his stardom. The book concludes by considering the revival of Dylan over the past ten years and how Dylan's stardom has developed in a way that contains, but is not overshadowed by, his achievements in the 1960s.
Refugees in Our Own Land: Chronicles from a Palestinian Refugee Camp in Bethlehem
by Muna Hamzeh"For four days, I haven't been able to write. The headaches, the nausea, the pain in my eyes finally caught up with me ... I couldn't write, just as I couldn't keep any food down, or escape the persistent nightmares whenever I tried to sleep. I've been dreaming of friends getting injured, of blood, and of people seeking shelter from falling bombs. Even when we sleep, there is no escape." Muna Hamzeh. This remarkable book is a gripping eyewitness account of what it is like to live in Palestine as a refugee in your own homeland. Born in Jerusalem, Muna Hamzeh is a journalist who has been writing about Palestinian affairs since 1985. She first worked as a journalist in Washington DC, but moved back to Palestine in 1989 to cover the first Palestine Intifada, the war of stones. She then settled in Dheisheh, near Bethlehem, one of 59 Palestinian refugee camps that are considered the oldest refugee camps in the world. The first part of the book consists of a diary which Hamzeh wrote between October 4th and December 4th 2000, telling the story of the second Intifada. Facing the tanks and armed guards of one of the best equipped armies in the world, the Palestinians have nothing. The anguish and terror that Muna and her friends face on daily basis is tangible. Who will be the next to die? Whose house will be the next to burn down? The second part of the book provides the background to these current events. It describes what life has been like for Dheisheh's refugees since 1990, and explains why the second Intifada was a natural development of the Oslo peace accord. "Refugees in Our Own Land" is a rare insider's look into the hearts and minds of Palestinian refugees.
Jackie Under My Skin: Interpreting An Icon
by Wayne KoestenbaumBack Cover: "A nuanced description of how Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis transformed our definitions of personal identity and style, Jackie Under My Skin is a gallery of moments and images. Wayne Koestenbaum examines the way Jackie mesmerized America and took hold of the public imagination. What was the symbolic importance of her hairdos? Her sunglasses? Exactly what was it about Jackie that made her an American--even an international--icon? Here is an exuberant view of America's fascination with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, told with a wit and style that could match that of the great lady herself."
Eat First -- You Don't Know What They'll Give You
by Sonia Pressman FuentesSonia Pressman Fuentes, who was born in Berlin, Germany, came to the US as a child with her immediate family to escape the Holocaust. Her memoirs reveal how this five-year-old immigrant in 1934 grew up to become the first woman attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 1965, one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, the highest-paid woman at the headquarters of two multinational corporations--GTE and TRW, and an international speaker on women's rights for the US Information Agency. The author of this book donated a digital copy to Bookshare.org. Join us in thanking Sonia Pressman Fuentes for providing her accessible digital book to this community.
The Met Art Sparks: Ignite Your Imagination with Creative Prompts Inspired by Real Masterpieces (DK The Met)
by Alice HarmanDiscover incredible artworks and find your inspiration in The Metropolitan Museum of Art! Cut, stick, paint and draw with these awesomely arty activities inspired by real masterpieces. An artistic cheetah leads you through the museum as you explore and discover amazing pieces from The Met. Follow the prompts to create your own works of art! Turn your hand to artistic techniques like pointillism and sgraffito and have a go at making clay sculptures and relief prints. With space for you to try out each idea and amazing facts to read, you&’ll find all the inspiration you need to make art and have fun.
Stephen Hawking Genius at Work
by Roger HighfieldA behind-the-scenes tour of the inner sanctum of one of the world's most prominent scientific thinkers.In 2021, The Science Museum made a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition of the contents of Stephen Hawking's office. This book delves into that remarkable collection, using the seminal papers, items, and curiosities in his office to explain his theories and reveal more about one of the greatest minds in modern science. It's an unprecedented glimpse into the life of the best-known scientist of modern times. - Artifacts include:- A Simpsons bomber jacket gifted to him following his appearance on the show- A copy of Hawking's PhD thesis: Properties of an Expanding Universe- Singularities and the Geometry of Space, written at the beginning of his vital collaboration with Roger Penrose- His blackboard, where he debated ideas and doodled with his contemporaries- Scientific bets made with colleagues to prove (and sometimes disprove) his theories- His Permobil F3 wheelchair and communications systems- Hawking's Franklin medal and his CBE
King Charles III: Celebrating His Majesty's Coronation and Reign (History's Great Leaders )
by Andrea MillsCelebrate Britain&’s newest monarch, King Charles III, and uncover his fascinating story in time for his coronation in this kid&’s biography.In honor of King Charles III&’s coronation, this once in a lifetime history book for kids tells the story of a young prince who has been heir to the throne since he was just three years old. But what do we know about our new king? Come along as we embark on a royal journey like no other… This incredible book traces Charles&’ life, from his investiture as Prince of Wales and his time in the navy, to his extensive charity work and now his accession to the throne. Going beyond just the basic facts, young readers will love learning compelling and lesser-known information, like before becoming King, Charles was a magician, plus information like what being king really involves.Inside this beautifully illustrated King Charles book for children, you will find:- Fascinating facts on every page about King Charles III, the Royal Family and what being king really means.- Lively illustrations alongside simple text which keeps children interested and allows them to jump to any part of the book.- A different chapter of the King&’s life broken down into each double page feature.- Important information about the British monarchy for parents and children to read together and learn about the King&’s Coronation.From the publisher that brought you Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration, playful illustrations, exciting facts, and age-appropriate text fill every page to make this the perfect gift to mark King Charles III&’s reign and celebrate his coronation!
Asylum Speakers: Stories of Migration From the Humans Behind the Headlines
by Jaz O'Hara"Asylum Speakers is truly an anthology of humanity. It's a reminder of how much we all have in common and that each of us has an equal right to be safe." - Josie Naughton, founder of Choose LoveBased on the popular podcast, Asylum Speakers is a collection of 31 stories of migration, from those leaving everything they know behind them, to those working alongside them.Here are the voices that often go unheard: the humans behind the statistics and the headlines. From Syria to Venezuela, Eritrea to Afghanistan, Asylum Speakers will transcend borders, nationalities, religions and languages, connecting you to the people with whom we share this world."These stories are raw, powerful, intimate, at times hard to read but always full of humanity. Reading this book gives me hope." - Giles Duley, CEO of Legacy of War Foundation