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The Life of a Medical Officer in World War I: The Experiences of Captain Harry Gordon Parker
by Lorraine EvansThe Life of a Medical Officer in WW1 documents the experiences of Captain Harry Gordon Parker and provides a rare insight into the conflict that engulfed Europe from 1914-1918. Having joined the Naval Medical Service as a Royal Navy Temporary Surgeon, Parker's first taste of war was aboard a hospital evacuation ship, which regularly crossed the English Channel, from Southampton to France, picking up casualties from the battle grounds. Somewhat disillusioned with the whole experience, he requested a transfer to the Royal Medical Army Corps and soon found himself transported to the trenches in France. It was here, first serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers and then later as permanent Regimental Medical Officer with the 2nd Manchester’s Regiment, that he spent the remainder of the war, witnessing first-hand the horrors of Passchendaele, Arras and the Somme. Parker's account not only reveals a record of the conflict, but also encompasses a totality of military life as it impacted on the medical fraternity. From bureaucratic red tape, lack of medical supplies, lice infestations, trench foot and absurd missions where the incompetence of his own side was as dangerous as the enemy, his thoughts are penned with sincerity, the utmost compassion as well as a certain degree of sardonic humor: ‘We went into the trenches for the first time at Givenchy. It snowed heavily, and our rations did not arrive. The Royal Welsh, however, generously shared their rations with our men, who repaid the kindness by (accidentally) shooting one of the Sergeants through the stomach!’. With endorsement from family members, author Lorraine Evans has revised Parker’s notes and scribblings for clarity and added complementary text to provide historical background. What transpires is a lasting and classic chronicle, an extraordinary human account of history as it ensued.
The Life of a Scilly Sergeant
by Colin Taylor‘Policing is like this everywhere but not everywhere is Scilly’Meet Sergeant Colin Taylor, he has been a valuable member of the police force for over 20 years, 5 of which have been spent policing the ‘quiet’ Isles of Scilly, a group of islands off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula. Colin has made it his purpose to keep the streets of Scilly free from drunk anchor thieves, Balance Board riders and other culprits, mostly drunken, intent on breaking the law. This book is the first hand account of how he did it.Coupled with his increasingly popular ‘Isle of Scilly Police Force’ Facebook page, this book charts the day to day trials and tribulations of a small-island police officer, told in a perfectly humorous and affectionate way. This book is a fantastic read and Colin's antics are soon to be the feautre of a major ITV TV series.
The Life of a Song Volume 2: The Stories Behind 50 More of the World's Best-loved Songs
by David Cheal Jan DalleyWhen great songs have been written and released, they often take on a life of their own, reshaped and given new life, transcending genres.THE LIFE OF A SONG is a compilation of weekly columns written for FT Weekend, containing the biographies of 50 songs that have been born, reborn, sometimes hideously mangled, but often reinvigorated by new generations of artists.Here you will find songs that shook the world, songs that heralded the birth of a new musical movement, songs that made the journey from soul to punk and from heavy rock to hip-hop.
The Life of a Song Volume 2: The Stories Behind 50 More of the World's Best-loved Songs
by David Cheal Jan DalleyWhen great songs have been written and released, they often take on a life of their own, reshaped and given new life, transcending genres.THE LIFE OF A SONG is a compilation of weekly columns written for FT Weekend, containing the biographies of 50 songs that have been born, reborn, sometimes hideously mangled, but often reinvigorated by new generations of artists.Here you will find songs that shook the world, songs that heralded the birth of a new musical movement, songs that made the journey from soul to punk and from heavy rock to hip-hop.
The Life of a Sports Agent: The Middleman
by Luke SuttonA candid behind-the-scenes look at the business of sports from the athlete-turned-agent and author of Back from the Edge.A lot of mystery surrounds sports agents and their roles in the lives of their high profile clients. Many imagine a glamorous existence of spending time with celebrities and earning lots of money for doing easy or very little work. The Life of a Sports Agent reveals how very wrong this perception is.Having been a top sports agent for nearly a decade, with clients such as James Anderson, Sam Quek, Nile Wilson, James Taylor, and Simon Mignolet, Luke Sutton has an incredible insight into the world of sports management across a number of areas. In his new book, Luke reveals stories and personal experiences about the sporting stars he has encountered, both the good and bad, and his very honest opinions about them, and offers a true look into how this mysterious industry works.
The Life of the Author
by Sarah KozloffWhen Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault proclaimed the "death of the author" fifty years ago, they did so in the name of freedom. They could never have foreseen that its indiscriminate embrace by many film theorists would turn the anti-authorship stance into a restrictive orthodoxy. Sarah Kozloff daringly advocates a new paradigm, a theory of film authorship that takes into account flesh-and-blood filmmakers, including their biographies, their intentions and their collaborations. Building upon scholarship by Noël Carroll, Paisley Livingstone, Robert Carringer and Paul Sellors, Kozloff argues that we watch films in large part to feel a sense of communion with the people behind them. Writing with clarity and verve, Kozloff moves gracefully back and forth between film history and film theory. She offers an extended examination of The Red Kimona (1925) in order to demonstrate how knowledge about the people who created this intriguing early feminist movie can change a viewer's interpretation. "I believe art works are made by people operating (struggling) within their historical moment. Without denying or downplaying larger cultural forces – indeed, while drawing them into the mix – I want to study films from this standpoint. Yet, I do not think of myself as a naïve fan. Filmmakers as famous, successful celebrities hold no interest for me. If I am teaching or studying a film, however, I do want to know how the filmmakers' biographies, intentions and agency combine with these larger social structures to influence the text before me." — Sarah Kozloff
The Life of the Author: Charles Dickens (The Life of the Author)
by Pete OrfordAn 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 workThe 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.
The Life of the Author: D. H. Lawrence (The Life of the Author)
by Andrew HarrisonTHE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR D. H. LAWRENCE Addresses the whole of D. H. Lawrence’s life and writing career—integrating biography, critical analysis, and recent scholarship in a single volume The Life of the Author: D. H. Lawrence is a focused exploration of the whole of the author’s life and writing career. Combining biographical detail and close readings of works in different genres, the book illuminates the complexities of Lawrence’s writing through a careful, questioning approach to biographical sources and recent scholarship. Andrew Harrison provides original insights into Lawrence’s relationship to working-class experience, his anti-suffragist feminist views, his reaction to the Great War, his responses to racial and cultural difference, his attitudes towards sex, sexuality, and sexual identity, and much more. Nine accessible chapters address important subjects in the author’s life and writing, including his treatment of taboo topics, his conflicted relationship with the literary marketplace, and the ways in which his writing challenged English middle-class values. Each chapter draws upon the biographical record to provide an interpretive context while highlighting aspects of Lawrence’s work that relate to present-day concerns, such as his critical responses to wartime propaganda and censorship, his critique of heteronormativity, and his lifelong concern with issues around mental health and wholeness of being. Designed to help readers develop a fresh understanding of Lawrence’s writing, The Life of the Author: D. H. Lawrence: Investigates Lawrence’s wartime experiences, tracing his transformation from an author who wished to change the attitudes of his readers into a radical anti-establishment figure Addresses Lawrence’s explorations of gender fluidity and non-normative sexual identities in his fictionDiscusses Lawrence’s concern with post-war social reconstruction and his risk-taking exploration of revolutionary political and religious movements in his novels of the 1920s Engages with psychoanalytic criticism on the attachment issues that shaped Lawrence’s life and writing, showing how he attempted to confront the psychic wounds of his childhood Based on materials and approaches the author has developed teaching Lawrence for more than two decades, The Life of the Author: D. H. Lawrence is an excellent textbook for undergraduate students taking English and English Literature courses, as well as graduate students discussing Lawrence in the contexts of early twentieth-century literature, literary modernism, and sexualities in modern literature.
The Life of the Author: Graham Greene (The Life of the Author)
by Andrew JamesExploring the creative mind of Graham Greene, a metafictional study of a literary icon Graham Greene's novels offer more than gripping narratives—they are a window into the author's creative obsessions. The Life of the Author: Graham Greene presents a groundbreaking study that unveils the intimate connection between Greene's life and work, using metafictional analysis to reveal the evolution of his views on authorship and storytelling. Moving beyond conventional critical interpretations, literary scholar Andrew James invites readers to discover how Greene saw himself within his fiction and how his self-perception shaped his literary masterpieces. Written with both depth and accessibility, this illuminating book delves into Greene's disciplined creative process, his struggles with self-doubt, and his playful yet profound engagement with the craft of writing. Organized thematically, The Life of the Author focuses on Greene's post-1940 works, where his identity as a writer solidified, making his novels rich with autobiographical undertones. Throughout the text, James offers new insights into Greene's novels while connecting recurring themes to his personal and creative growth. An innovative exploration of one of the twentieth century's most enigmatic authors, The Life of the Author: Graham Greene: Examines Greene's novels through the lens of metafiction to offer a fresh perspective on his craft Presents detailed literary analyses that reveal the self-reflective nature of Greene's storytelling Focuses on Greene's authorial identity, tracing his growth as a writer from neutral observer to committed advocate Concentrates on Greene's major novels while avoiding exhaustive academic overviews to promote independent critical discovery Discusses the metafictional significance of Greene's novels and "entertainments" Enriching appreciation for Greene's artistry while exploring metafictional approaches in literary biography, The Life of the Author: Graham Greene is ideal for university courses in 20th-century British literature, biography, and literary theory, particularly at introductory and intermediate levels. Scholars, students, and avid readers of Greene will find it an invaluable resource for understanding the interplay between an author's life and their creative output.
The Life of the Author: Jane Austen (The Life of the Author)
by Catherine DelafieldA fresh approach to building the life of Jane Austen through her letters, demonstrating that a well-known life can be reframed by being grounded in evidence of that life The Life of the Author: Jane Austen takes readers on a literary-biographical journey through Austen's life in letters. Using a unique non-linear approach, author Catherine Delafield explores three frames for Austen's literary life—family, correspondents, and fiction—to suggest new pathways for the interpretation of life writing about one of the most popular and influential English novelists of all time. Delafield addresses multiple aspects of Austen's epistolary practice and the ways in which her letters, juvenile writings, and unpublished novels have been overlaid on both biography and fiction. Throughout the text, special attention is paid to the changing view of women&’s correspondence as personal record and to Cassandra Austen's role as editor of her sister&’s surviving letters. The book opens with selected readings from Austen's letters and a review of the family treatment of the life. Subsequent chapters discuss the female circle of correspondents in both extant and missing letters, the letter content and structure of Austen's novels, the use of letters as representations of places and spaces based on Austen's own lived experience of epistolary communication, and more. Discusses how the letters, correspondents, and novels supplement Jane Austen&’s fiction and substantiate her life Highlights Austen's use of the letter as a conversation on paper, rather than as an autobiographical tool Explores the letters within Austen's fictional writing as well as recipes, accounts, and needlework with links to the letters Features a select chronology using letters as landmarks, tables representing surviving letters by correspondent, and family trees tracing names and relationships The Life of the Author: Jane Austen is an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses on the novel, women's writing, British writing, and life writing, as well as for general readers with interest in gaining new perspectives on Austen's chronological life and literary output.
The Life of the Author: John Milton (The Life of the Author)
by Richard BradfordTHE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR An expansive biography of John Milton, including an assessment of his poetry and prose and an account of the ways in which he has been presented over the past three and a half centuries—written by a leading scholar in the fieldIt is hard to overstate the role that John Milton played in the historical, political and literary controversies of seventeenth century England; his writings and very life challenged the status quo. Living through one of the most tumultuous periods in British history, Milton was involved at every turn. Struggling to reconcile his private beliefs with his involvement with a radical political experiment, a republic which involved the killing of the monarch, his star rose and fell several times during his life. Married three times, struck blind at a cruelly early age, he was a famed pamphleteer and political activist whose revolutionary political credos placed him in mortal danger after the Restoration. Milton’s varied life makes for fascinating reading but it also produced some of the most important poetry in the English language. Paradise Lost, the only poem in English recognized as an epic, challenged conventional thinking on widespread topics from religion and gender equality to the fundamental question of why we behave as we do.This fascinating new biography is divided into two parts. The first separates the man from the myth, and elucidates the complicated details of Milton’s life from his early years as a literary artist uncertain of his destiny, through his work as a propagandist for the Cromwellian republic, to his rewriting of the Old Testament story of the Fall as a poetic allegory of more recent history. The second looks at how biographers and critics from the seventeenth century to the present day have distorted and manipulated the personality of Milton to suit their biases. Balancing accessibility with academic rigor, this volume:Examines the significant aspects of Milton’s life and work, including his poetry and prose, his government writings, his travels, and his final yearsExplores Milton’s Protestant and republican influences in Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, and his other literary worksHighlights the differences and similarities between Milton’s poetry and political proseFollows the history of biographical and critical presentations of Milton from the seventeenth century onwards, including his adoption as a hero of Romanticism and his survival in the twentieth century as, allegedly, a sceptical humanistAddresses modern critiques of Milton in Marxism, Feminism, and other branches of TheoryThe Life of the Author: John Milton. Poet and Revolutionary is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students, university lecturers, and academic researchers in relevant fields, particularly seventeenth century poetry and history, as well as literary biography and the history of criticism.
The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou (The Life of the Author)
by Linda Wagner-MartinTHE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR MAYA ANGELOU DISCOVER THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF MAYA ANGELOU WITH A HIGHLY PERSONAL AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HER CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou delivers an engaging and thorough retelling of the life and work of the celebrated and accomplished writer, director, and essayist. The book offers readers an engrossing retelling of Maya Angelou’s entire life, from her time as a child in the segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas, to her death in 2014 in Winston-Salem. Written with an emphasis on accessibility, the author avoids critical theory and focuses on Maya Angelou’s growth as a person and writer as well as the ways in which her life influenced her work. This new biography tells the story of a young black woman who overcomes poverty and endemic structural and personal obstacles to lead an accomplished life. Readers will also enjoy: A thorough retelling of the time Maya Angelou spent in Africa and how it shaped her views and work An exploration of the screenplays written by Maya Angelou Discussions of Maya Angelou’s early life as a dancer, singer, and writer Accounts of Maya Angelou’s writing and production of television shows A fulsome treatment of Maya Angelou’s work, including her poems, autobiographies, films, music, and theatre Perfect for undergraduate students in Contemporary Literature courses as well as general readers who love Maya Angelou and her work, The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou will also earn a place in the libraries of biography and literature enthusiasts who seek to improve their understanding of the life and story of Maya Angelou with a highly personal and accessible new book.
The Life of the Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Life of the Author)
by Dale SalwakThe first major Hawthorne biography to be published in two decades, featuring original scholarship on both unpublished and published sources The Life of the Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne presents a rich and nuanced portrait of one of America&’s greatest writers, exploring the thoughts and ideas of a man whose profound insights about the human condition continue to resonate in the modern day. Accessible to those with little knowledge of Hawthorne, this unique volume uses a new biographical approach based on exhaustive primary research that provides readers with a better understanding of the artist and his work. Author Dale Salwak challenges the presumption that Hawthorne was a reclusive, eccentric, and alienated man whose relevance to modern times is diminishing. Drawing from his forty-five years&’ experience reading, studying, and teaching Hawthorne, the author reveals a more approachable Hawthorne. In-depth and reflective chapters explore topics such as the circumstances that led Hawthorne to become a writer, the influence of Sophia Hawthorne on her husband&’s work, the theory of the unfulfilled homoerotic relationship between Hawthorne and Herman Melville, and more. Offers a fresh reading of Hawthorne&’s life and work from birth to death Provides new perspectives on Hawthorne and stories surrounding his work Draws from a wide variety of sources, including novels, tales, children&’s books, notebooks, and personal letters to and from Hawthorne Suggests new strategies for teaching Hawthorne to today&’s students Includes a detailed index and comprehensive introductory and concluding chaptersHighlighting Hawthorne&’s special contributions to American literature, The Life of the Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne is essential reading for scholars, lecturers, and college students taking courses including Literary History, American Literature, and History of the Novel as well as anyone interested in biography, literature, and creativity
The Life of the Author: Thomas De Quincey (The Life of the Author)
by Andrew KeanieAn exploration of an essential but often overlooked figure in English literature In this innovative biography, Andrew Keanie explores one of the most enigmatic figures in English Romanticism. Known for his confessional prose and essays, De Quincey is more than the author of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater —he is the hidden thread connecting the great minds of the Romantic movement, including William Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Rather than a traditional cradle-to-grave account, The Life of the Author offers a thematic approach, focusing on key moments and works that defined De Quincey’s intellectual life. Through his personal struggles with addiction, loss, and identity, De Quincey forged a new style of life writing that intertwined personal experience with universal truths, influencing generations of writers to come. Throughout the book, Keanie invites readers to reconsider one of English literature’s most complex figures and the Romantic movement he helped define. Accessible to academic readers and literary enthusiasts alike, The Life of the Author: Thomas De Quincey is a must-read for anyone looking for a concise yet deeply insightful book that sheds new light on how De Quincey’s life shaped the enduring legacy of Romanticism.
The Life of the Buddha
by Heather Sanche&“In the full bloom of spring, in a beautiful garden, in a place called Lumbini, a prince was born.&” So begins the extraordinary story of the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who would become the enlightened Buddha, the Awakened One. This classic tale follows Prince Siddhartha&’s journey of truth-seeking and discovery, including his life-altering encounters with human suffering and his realization of the Four Noble Truths. Today, millions of people all over the world follow the Buddha&’s teachings on meditation, selflessness, and compassion. Rendered here in exquisite original watercolor illustrations, this inspiring story is brought to life for young readers curious about one of history&’s most monumental and influential figures.
The Life of the Buddha
by Kurtis R. Schaeffer Tenzin ChogyelThis is a call to mindfulness, dedicated to easing suffering. The story of Shakyamuni Buddha's epic journey to enlightenment is perhaps the most important narrative in the Buddhist tradition. Tenzin Chögyel's The Life of the Buddha, composed in the mid-eighteenth century and now with a new translation, is a masterly storyteller's rendition of the twelve acts of the Buddha. Chögyel's classical tale seamlessly weaves together the vast and the minute, the earthly and the celestial, reflecting the near-omnipresent aid of the gods alongside the Buddha's moving final reunion with his devoted son, Rahula.
The Life of the Mind
by James V. SchallIn The Life of the Mind, Georgetown University's James V. Schall takes up the task of reminding us that, as human beings, we naturally take a special delight and pleasure in simply knowing. Because we have not only bodies but also minds, we are built to know what is. In this volume, Schall, author of On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs (ISI Books), among many other volumes of philosophical and political reflection, discusses the various ways of approaching the delight of thinking and the way that this delight begins in seeing and hearing and even in making and walking. We must be attentive to and cultivate the needs of the mind, argues Schall, for it is through our intellect that all that is not ourselves is finally returned to us, allowing us to live in the light of truth.
The Life of the Virgin
by Stephen J. ShoemakerLong overlooked by scholars, this seventh-centuryLife of the Virgin, attributed to Maximus the Confessor, is the earliest complete Marian biography. Originally written in Greek and now surviving only in Old Georgian, it is now translated for the first time into English. It is a work that holds profound significance for understanding the history of late ancient and medieval Christianity, providing a rich source for understanding the history of Christian piety. ThisLifeis especially remarkable for its representation of Mary's prominent involvement in her son's ministry and her leadership of the early Christian community. In particular, it reveals highly developed devotion to Mary's compassionate suffering at the Crucifixion, anticipating by several centuries an influential medieval style of devotion known as “affective piety” whose origins generally have been confined to the Western High Middle Ages.
The Life, Style and Music of Chappell Roan: Pop Sensation and LGBTQ+ Icon (Pop Icons)
by Nick LevineA deep-dive into the LIFE, LYRICS and LOOKS of Chappell Roan, our favourite Midwest princess and queer icon. ❤️🔥🏳️🌈🦄💋🪩 Chappell Roan is officially a cultural femininomenon. With her powerful vocals, audacious lyrics, extravagant outfits and captivating stage presence, she has overcome setbacks to become a global superstar.Follow Chappell's journey from the heart of rural Missouri to sold-out stages across the globe -delving into her early life, the stories behind her songs, her musical influences, iconic fashion looks and the key moments that have shaped her glittering career.This is the ultimate guide to Chappell Roan and a technicolour celebration of her dazzling world of drag, dreams and fearless self-expression.In this beautifully designed and meticulously researched book, you'll find:· 90+ stunning, high-quality photographs 📸· Behind-the-scenes interviews 💅· Her musical and style inspo 💥· Chappell's tour themes decoded 🧜♀️🤠💖🤡
The Life, Style and Music of Chappell Roan: Pop Sensation and LGBTQ+ Icon (Pop Icons)
by Nick LevineA deep-dive into the LIFE, LYRICS and LOOKS of Chappell Roan, our favourite Midwest princess and queer icon. ❤️🔥🏳️🌈🦄💋🪩 Chappell Roan is officially a cultural femininomenon. With her powerful vocals, audacious lyrics, extravagant outfits and captivating stage presence, she has overcome setbacks to become a global superstar.Follow Chappell's journey from the heart of rural Missouri to sold-out stages across the globe -delving into her early life, the stories behind her songs, her musical influences, iconic fashion looks and the key moments that have shaped her glittering career.This is the ultimate guide to Chappell Roan and a technicolour celebration of her dazzling world of drag, dreams and fearless self-expression.In this beautifully designed and meticulously researched book, you'll find:· 90+ stunning, high-quality photographs 📸· Behind-the-scenes interviews 💅· Her musical and style inspo 💥· Chappell's tour themes decoded 🧜♀️🤠💖🤡
The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers
by Bobby SeagullIf you found maths lessons at school irrelevant and boring, that’s because you didn’t have a teacher like Bobby Seagull.***As seen on Monkman & Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain*** Long before his rise to cult fandom on University Challenge, Bobby Seagull was obsessed with numbers. They were the keys that unlocked the randomness of football results, the beauty of art and the best way to get things done. In his absorbing book, Bobby tells the story of his life through numbers and shows the incredible ways maths can make sense of the world around us. From magic shows to rap lyrics, from hobbies to outer space, from fitness to food – Bobby’s infectious enthusiasm for numbers will change how you think about almost everything. Told through fascinating stories and insights from Bobby’s life, and with head-scratching puzzles in every chapter, you’ll never look at numbers the same way again.
The Lifeboat Baronet: Launching the RNLI
by Janet GleesonIn this historical biography, the life story of the founder of the United Kingdom&’s royal charitable lifeboat service is revealed for the first time. Established in the nineteenth century when death from shipwreck was a tragic reality, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was created with the sole mission of saving lives. But little is known about the RNLI&’s founder, Sir William Hillary. A handsome, charismatic figure known to be something of a philanderer, Hillary was a social climber born to a slave-holder&’s family in Liverpool who mingled with royalty and married an heiress. So how did Hillary become one of England&’s national heroes? Historian and bestselling author of The Arcanum Janet Gleeson reveals for the first time how a charming adventurer was inspired to lead the historic campaign for the creation of the National Institute for the Preservation of Life (today&’s RNLI). Despite having never learned to swim himself, Hillary braved terrifying storms to save hundreds of lives during his quest. Drawing on previously unpublished letters—many of them written by Hillary himself—Gleeson narrates the fascinating story of the RNLI&’s development, along with the Hillary&’s political ties and private tribulations. For history lovers and fans of maritime adventure stories, Lifeboat Baronet is an absorbing account of how a Regency rake improbably became an important Victorian philanthropist and reformer.
The Light Ages: The Surprising Story Of Medieval Science
by Seb FalkAn illuminating guide to the scientific and technological achievements of the Middle Ages through the life of a crusading astronomer-monk. Soaring Gothic cathedrals, violent crusades, the Black Death: these are the dramatic forces that shaped the medieval era. But the so-called Dark Ages also gave us the first universities, eyeglasses, and mechanical clocks. As medieval thinkers sought to understand the world around them, from the passing of the seasons to the stars in the sky, they came to develop a vibrant scientific culture. In The Light Ages, Cambridge science historian Seb Falk takes us on a tour of medieval science through the eyes of one fourteenth-century monk, John of Westwyk. Born in a rural manor, educated in England’s grandest monastery, and then exiled to a clifftop priory, Westwyk was an intrepid crusader, inventor, and astrologer. From multiplying Roman numerals to navigating by the stars, curing disease, and telling time with an ancient astrolabe, we learn emerging science alongside Westwyk and travel with him through the length and breadth of England and beyond its shores. On our way, we encounter a remarkable cast of characters: the clock-building English abbot with leprosy, the French craftsman-turned-spy, and the Persian polymath who founded the world’s most advanced observatory. The Light Ages offers a gripping story of the struggles and successes of an ordinary man in a precarious world and conjures a vivid picture of medieval life as we have never seen it before. An enlightening history that argues that these times weren’t so dark after all, The Light Ages shows how medieval ideas continue to color how we see the world today.
The Light Dragoon
by George Robert Gleig Pickle Partners Publishing George FarmerThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. The Reverend George R. Gleig was a prolific writer of the military history of his own period and his near past, he was also well qualified to do so as a former Ensign in the 85th Regiment, the Chaplain General to H.M. forces and a friendship with the Duke of Wellington. In his capacity at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, he would have been surrounded by any number of former soldiers who campaigned under the Iron Duke and other British generals. Of these many men with stories to tell, Gleig pushed a number forward for publication, such as this book "The Light Dragoon" which he edited into its present form from the recollections of George Farmer. Farmer's recollections are earthy, vivid and detailed, and valuable from a historical stand-point as they are written by an ex-ranker of the cavalry. His adventures take him from Ireland in when he enlisted in the 11th Light Dragoons, taking him far from his home to the Peninsular, on the Waterloo campaign and to India. Although not written at the time, or following notes at the times of the events that he describes, Farmer's memory and story-telling seem undimmed by the passage of time. Author - George Farmer - ????-???? Editor - Reverend George Robert Gleig (1796-1888) Text taken, whole and complete both volumes, from the 1844 edition published in London by Henry Colbourn. Original 309/329 total-638 pages. Linked TOC
The Light In The Window
by June Goulding'I promised that I would one day write a book and tell the world about the home for unmarried mothers. I have at last kept my promise.'In Ireland, 1951, the young June Goulding took up a position as midwife in a home for unmarried mothers run by the Sacred Heart nuns. What she witnessed there was to haunt her for the next fifty years. It was a place of secrets, lies and cruelty. A place where women picked grass by hand and tarred roads whilst heavily pregnant. Where they were denied any contact with the outside world; denied basic medical treatment and abused for their 'sins'; where, after the birth, they were forced into hard labour in the convent for three years. But worst of all was that the young women were expected to raise their babies during these three years so that they could then be sold - given up for adoption in exchange for a donation to the nuns.Shocked by the nuns' inhumane treatment of the frightened young women, June risked her job to bring some light into their dark lives. June's memoir tells the story of twelve women's experiences in this home and of the hardships they endured, but also the kindness she offered them, and the hope she was able to bring.