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Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search of Her Subject
by Meryle SecrestThe first rule of biography, wrote Justin Kaplan: "Shoot the widow."In her new book, Meryle Secrest, acclaimed biographer ("Knowing, sympathetic and entertainingly droll"--The New York Times), writes about her comic triumphs and misadventures as a biographer in search of her nine celebrated subjects, about how the hunt for a "life" is like working one's way through a maze, full of fall starts, dead ends, and occasional clear passages leading to the next part of the puzzle.She writes about her first book, a life of Romaine Brooks, and how she was led to Nice and given invaluable letters by her subject's heir that were slid across the table, one at a time; how she was led to the villa of Brooks' lover, Gabriele d'Annunzio (poet, playwright, and aviator), a fantastic mausoleum left untouched since the moment of his death seventy years before; to a small English village, where she uncovered a lost Romaine Brooks painting; and finally, to 20, rue Jacob, Paris, where Romaine's lover, Natalie Barney, had fifty years before entertained Cocteau, Gide, Proust, Colette, and others.Secrest describes how her next book--a life of Berenson--prompted Francis Steegmuller, fellow biographer, to comment that he wouldn't touch the subject with a ten-foot pole.For her life of British art historian Kenneth Clark, Secrest was given permission to write the book by her subject, who surreptitiously financed it in the hopes of controlling its contents; we see how Clark's plan was foiled by a jealous mistress and a stash of love letters that helped Secrest navigate Clark's obstacle course.Among the other biographical (mis)adventures, Secrest reveals: how she tracked Salvador Dalí to a hospital room, found him recovering from serious burns sustained in a mysterious fire, and learned that he was knee-deep in a scandal involving fake drawings and prints and surrounded by dangerous characters out of Murder, Inc. . . . and how she went in search of a subject's grave (Frank Lloyd Wright's) only to find that his body had been dug up to satisfy the whim of his last wife.A fascinating account of a life spent in sometimes arduous, sometimes comical, always exciting pursuit of the truth about other lives.From the Hardcover edition.
Shop Talk: A Writer and His Colleagues and Their Work
by Philip RothThe legendary author&’s essays and interviews explore how fellow writers from Milan Kundera to Edna O&’Brien are influenced by time, place, and politics. Writers are often deeply influenced by the time and place in which they live and write. In Shop Talk, Philip Roth, winner of a National Book Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and numerous other literary honors, explores the intimate relationship a writer&’s experience has with his or her work. In a series of essays, Roth recounts his intellectual encounters with writers, discussing with them the diverse regions from which they hail and pondering the influence of locale, politics, and history on their work. Featuring luminaries such as Milan Kundera discussing Czechoslovakia; Primo Levi talking about Auschwitz; Edna O&’Brien reflecting on Ireland; Isaac Bashevis Singer tackling Warsaw; Aharon Appelfeld on Bukovina; and Ivan Klíma on Prague, Roth&’s conversations touch on the conditions that inspire great art, with artists as attuned to the subtleties of their societies as they are the nuances of words. Also including a portrait of Bernard Malamud, a written exchange with Mary McCarthy about Roth&’s The Counterlife, and the essay &“Rereading Saul Bellow,&” Shop Talk is a &“fascinating [glimpse] of some of the deans of postwar literature&” (Los Angeles Times Book Review).
Shopping as Comedy: A Victorian Scrapbook
by Alexis EasleyThis volume is a critical edition of a Victorian scrapbook, composed of cuttings from advertising images from the 1880's. These images are arranged in hand-drawn domestic spaces and embellished with watercolour details. At the foot of each page is a handwritten running text, written by an unknown Victorian author, that provides a narrative to explain the accompanying images. The album also includes four original short stories, interspersed by twenty-three vignettes, which, like advertisements in a magazine, echo and reinforce themes in the surrounding content. The album highlights issues of concern to women at the fin de siècle: romance, marriage, shopping, and house decoration. The satirical commentary on late Victorian shopping and commodity culture provides a fascinating insight into the interests and responses of consumers during this period. The volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of literary and advertising history.
Shopping with Freud
by Rachel BowlbyWhat is a consumer? Shopping with Freud looks at some of the surprising ways in which the consumer subject appears in a range of writings - from literature to marketing psychology to psychoanalysis. Rachel Bowlby shows how ideas about consumption are brought to bear on contemporary conceptions of choice in areas that seem far removed from a straightforward matter of shopping. She also shows that arguments and assumptions about the psychology of consumers themselves throw light on genderal questions of human psychology.
Shores of Light: A Literary Chronicle of the 1920s and 1930s
by Edmund WilsonA literary chronicle of the Twenties and Thirties from the brilliant mind of Edmund WilsonShores of Light covers a vast range of authors including Sherwood Anderson, Ring Lardner, Eugene O'Neill, e. e. cummings, Woodrow Wilson, H.L. Mencken, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Elinor Wylie, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Andre Malraux, Henry Miller, W.H. Auden, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
Short Circuits: Aphorisms, Fragments, and Literary Anomalies
by James Lough Alex SteinFollowing up on the success of their first anthology of aphorisms, Short Flights, editors James Lough and Alex Stein have returned with a new volume that expands on the theme of aphorisms to include other short form writing and concrete poetry and prose from several of the world's leading, award-winning, and bestsellling writers in the genre, including Charles Simic, Lydia Davis, Sarah Manguso, Jane Hirschfield, Joy Harjo, Yahia Labadidi, Claudia Rankine, and Stephen Dobyns.
Short Dictionary of Mythology
by P. G. WoodcockThis concise A-to-Z reference volume offers definitions and historical contexts for mythological characters and terms. With in-depth coverage of ancient Greek and Roman mythology, this concise yet comprehensive dictionary includes information on the mythological systems of Asia and Africa. Entries include gods, emperors, and other major figures, as well as lesser-known characters and archaic terminology. Legendary figures such as the Greek poet Homer and Alexander the Great are included alongside mythical characters such as Apollo, Pandora, and Medusa.
Short Plays with Great Roles for Women
by Suzette CoonShort Plays with Great Roles for Women is an antidote to the traditional underrepresentation of women on stage, by offering twenty-two short plays that put women right at the centre of the action. The push for more women’s roles has gathered force over the last few years, and this collection is part of that movement, with rich, intelligent roles for women of all ages and backgrounds. This anthology offers a vital slice of life, addressing relevant and diverse topics such as: a young, Islamic woman coming out to her religious mother; black women’s navigation of the natural hair movement; bullying in a small-town American school; social media addiction; and the trials and tribulations of family life. Plays from award-winning playwrights are supported by original production details and playwrights’ afterwords, forming a broad and comprehensive collection of complete texts that offer full character journeys. Appealing to aspiring performers, playwrights, directors and students, Short Plays with Great Roles for Women is an essential resource for actor training, assessments, showcases, show-reels, short films and theatre performances.
Short Stories
by Henry I. Christ Jerome ShostakThe collection of stories in this book is quite different that students want in stories of proved merit. They provide a variety of settings, from the turmoil of the inner city to the lonely reaches of the desert. They can be classified as mysteries, detective stories, fantasy, science fiction, exhibitions of courage, human-interest stories, and tales of the unexpected providing humor, character study, suspense, and a compassionate understanding of many types of people.
Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi (Short Stories By Jesus Ser.)
by Amy-Jill LevineJesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used images from everyday life to stir up interest in his message about the Kingdom of God. But life in first-century Galilee and Judea was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus's stories not only ignore this difference, but also often import anti-Jewish and sexist views. As eminent Bible scholar Amy-Jill Levine writes in Short Stories by Jesus:Jesus was requiring that his disciples do more than listen; he was asking them to think as well. What makes the parables mysterious, or difficult, is that they challenge us to look into the hidden aspects of our own values, our own lives. They bring to the surface unasked questions, and they reveal the answers we have always known, but refuse to acknowledge. Religion has been defined as designed to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. We do well to think of the parables of Jesus as doing the afflicting. Therefore, if we hear a parable and think, "I really like that" or, worse, fail to take any challenge, we are not listening well enough.In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Levine explores Jesus's most popular parables, revealing their hidden depths, exposing their misinterpretations, and showing how they can still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.
Short Stories for Students: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Short Stories, Volume 7
by Ira Mark MilneGive students the tools they need to make books and authors a meaningful part of their lives by introducing them to one of our "For Students" literary references. These resources are specially crafted to meet the curricular needs of high school and undergraduate college students and their teachers as well as the interests of general readers and researchers. Each title in the series provides understandable, comprehensive explanations of the most commonly studied poems, novels, dramas, epics and short stories as identified by an advisory board of teachers and librarians. No other literature references furnish such a high level of coverage -- all written in an unassuming tone that users will welcome. The references in the Gale Group's "For Students" series provide: -- Easy-to-read discussions of themes, plots and characters-- Easy-to-understand critical essays chosen specifically for students-- Analysis of each work's construction and historical context-- Photos, illustrations and other graphics-- And moreThe "For Students" series includes Poetry for Students, Novels for Students, Short Stories for Students, Drama for Students, Shakespeare for Students, Shakespeare's Characters for Students and Epics for Students. They're sure to be a welcome addition to your library. Each volume presents vital information on approximately 20 of the most-studied short stories at the high school and early- college levelsz Short Stories for Students contains concise synopses of the story's plot, characters and themes, along with a brief author biography, a discussion of the story's cultural and historical significance and excerpted criticism. Cumulative indexes enable students toaccess entries via author, title, nationality, and theme.
Short Stories in Japanese: New Penguin Parallel Text (Penguin Parallel Text)
by Edited by Michael EmmerichA dual-language edition of Japanese stories—many appearing in English for the first time This volume of eight short stories, with parallel translations, offers students at all levels the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of contemporary literature without having constantly to refer back to a dictionary. The stories—many of which appear here in English for the first time—are by well-known writers like Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, as well as emerging voices like Abe Kazushige, Ishii Shinji, and Kawakami Hiromi. From the orthodox to the cutting-edge, they represent a range of styles and themes, showcasing the diversity of Japanese fiction over the past few decades in a collection that is equally rewarding for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students of English or Japanese. Complete with notes, the stories make excellent reading in either language.
Short Stories, Knowledge and the Supernatural: Machado de Assis, Henry James and Guy de Maupassant
by Amândio ReisThis book proposes a comparative approach to the supernatural short stories of Machado de Assis, Henry James and Guy de Maupassant. It offers an alternative to predominantly novel-centric and Anglo-centric perspectives on literary pre-modernism by investigating a transnational and multilingual connection between genre, theme and theory, i.e., between the modern short story, the supernatural and the problem of knowledge. Incorporating a close analysis of the literary texts into a discussion of their historical context, the book argues that Machado, James and Maupassant explore and reinvent the supernatural short story as a metafictional genre. This modernized and innovative form allows them to challenge the dichotomies and conventions of realist and supernatural fiction, inviting their past and present readers to question common assumptions on reality and literary representation.
Short Trip to the Edge
by Scott CairnsWhile walking on the beach with his Labrador, poet and literature professor Scott Cairns ran headlong into his midlife crisis. A fairly common experience among men nearing the age of fifty, midlife crises are usually manifested in the form of sports cars and younger women; not so for this Baptist turned Eastern Orthodox. Cairns had a realization that as the advancement of his spiritual life was moving at a snail's pace, time was running out, and his crisis emerged in the form of a desperate need to seek out prayer. Told with wit and exquisite prose, Slow Pilgrim is the story of Scott's spiritual journey to the mystical island of Mt. Athos. With twenty monasteries and thirteen sketes scattered across its sloping terrain, the Holy Mountain was the perfect place for Scott to seek out a prayer father and to discover the stillness of the true prayer life. His narrative takes the reader from a beach in Virginia to the most holy Orthodox monasteries in the world to a monastery in Arizona and back again as Scott struggles to find his prayer path. His story includes accounts of the relationships he forges with several different monks and priests along the way, as well as life-long friendships he makes with other pilgrims.
Short Walks from Bogotá: Journeys in the new Colombia
by Tom FeilingFor decades, Colombia was the 'narcostate'. Now travel to Colombia and South America is on the rise, and it's seen as one of the rising stars of the global economy. Where does the truth lie? Writer and journalist Tom Feiling, author of the acclaimed study of cocaine The Candy Machine, has journeyed throughout Colombia, down roads that were until recently too dangerous to travel, to paint a fresh picture of one of the world's most notorious and least-understood countries. He talks to former guerrilla fighters and their ex-captives; women whose sons were 'disappeared' by paramilitaries; the nomadic tribe who once thought they were the only people on earth and now charge $10 for a photo; the Japanese 'emerald cowboy' who made a fortune from mining; and revels in the stories that countless ordinary Colombians tell. How did a land likened to paradise by the first conquistadores become a byword for hell on earth? Why is one of the world's most unequal nations also one of its happiest? How is it rebuilding itself after decades of violence, and how successful has the process been so far? Vital, shocking, often funny and never simplistic, Short Walks from Bogota unpicks the tangled fabric of Colombia, to create a stunning work of reportage, history and travel writing.
Short Wordless Picture Books: Developing Sentence and Narrative Skills for People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs
by Kulvinder KaurThis collection of short wordless picture books helps to support children with speech, language and communication needs as they develop their expressive sentence and narrative skills through storytelling. Each book is comprised of six colourful images that follow a simple everyday routine such as ‘Brushing Teeth’, ‘Having a Haircut’ and ‘Walking the Dog’. Unlike traditional picture books, they follow a film scroll effect, showing the progression of time and allowing the child to follow the story to its resolution. Because of their simplicity, the books can support children as they move from simple to intermediate sentence levels, as well as encouraging them to consider additional elements of language such as cause and effect, sequencing and inference.This resource includes: Ten beautifully illustrated picture books, each following a simple pattern of routine, disruption and resolution An accompanying guidebook including story scripts, cue questions and prompts for using the resource to support additional skills Although developed specifically to help children with speech, language and communication needs, this set is suitable for any child who requires support and practice in developing their speech. It is an invaluable resource for speech and language therapists, teaching staff and caregivers.
Shortcut
by John PollackA presidential speechwriter for Bill Clinton explores the hidden power of analogy to fuel thought, connect ideas, spark innovation, and shape outcomes From the meatpacking plants that inspired Henry Ford's first moving assembly line to the "domino theory" that led America into Vietnam to the "bicycle for the mind" that Steve Jobs envisioned as the Macintosh computer, analogies have played a dynamic role in shaping the world around us--and still do today. Analogies are far more complex than their SAT stereotype and lie at the very core of human cognition and creativity. Once we become aware of this, we start seeing them everywhere--in ads, apps, political debates, legal arguments, logos, and euphemisms, to name just a few. At their very best, analogies inspire new ways of thinking, enable invention, and motivate people to action. Unfortunately, not every analogy that rings true is true. That's why, at their worst, analogies can deceive, manipulate, or mislead us into disaster. The challenge? Spotting the difference before it's too late. Rich with engaging stories, surprising examples, and a practical method to evaluate the truth or effectiveness of any analogy, Shortcut will improve critical thinking, enhance creativity, and offer readers a fresh approach to resolving some of today's most intractable challenges.
Shorter Dictionary of Catch Phrases: From The Work Of Eric Partridge And Paul Beale
by Rosalind FergussonThis collection will appeal to everyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like "all part of life's rich pattern" and "long time no see". It covers a wide range of catch phrases in current use in all parts of the English-speaking world. Most entries are drawn from the second edition of Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Catch Phrases (second edition, edited by Paul Beale), but have been completely rewritten in the light of recent research, and there are many additions. Catch Phrases include: close your eyes and think of England! have I got news for you! ... refreshes the parts that other ... cannot reach some mothers do'ave'em! you are awful, but I like you.
Shorter Slang Dictionary
by Eric Partridge Paul BealeFrom abdabs to zit From pillock (14th century) to couch potato (20th century) From She'll be apples (Australia) to the pits (USA) This new collection brings together some 5,000 contemporary slang expressions originating in all parts of the English-speaking world. It gives clear and concise definitions of each word, supplemented by examples of their use and information about where and when they came into being. This entertaining reference work will be of use to students of English at all levels and a source of fascination to word-lovers throughout the world.
Shorter Views: Queer Thoughts & the Politics of the Paraliterary
by Samuel R. DelanyIn Shorter Views, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Samuel R. Delany brings his remarkable intellectual powers to bear on a wide range of topics. Whether he is exploring the deeply felt issues of identity, race, and sexuality, untangling the intricacies of literary theory, or the writing process itself, Delany is one of the most lucid and insightful writers of our time. These essays cluster around topics related to queer theory on the one hand, and on the other, questions concerning the paraliterary genres: science fiction, pornography, comics, and more. Readers new to Delany's work will find this collection of shorter pieces an especially good introduction, while those already familiar with his writing will appreciate having these essays between two covers for the first time.
Should There Be Zoos?: A Persuasive Text
by Tony Stead Judy Ballester and her fourth-grade classNIMAC-sourced textbook
Should We Use Someone Else's Sermon?: Preaching in a Cut-and-Paste World
by Scott M. GibsonWith easy access to sermons on the Internet, plus pressure to deliver the next sermon with little time to prepare, no wonder some pastors have resorted to plagiarizing other people's sermons, passing them off as their own. This growing epidemic has received coverage in the Wall Street Journal, on National Public Radio, and elsewhere. Some pastors have been caught in the act and dismissed from their churches. Is this fair? Is this stealing? How can you recognize it? How can it be prevented? This book not only helps explain the problem, but it also explores the ethical implications and gives advice on how to avoid it or deal with it if the problem surfaces in your church. It includes study questions at the end of chapters and a concluding case study.
Should You Judge This Book By Its Cover?: 100 Fresh Takes On Familiar Sayings And Quotations
by Julian BagginiA philosopher takes a second look at sayings, proverbs, and bits of homespun wisdom: &“Every society needs its guardian of good sense: Baggini is ours.&” —The Financial Times These short, stimulating, and entertaining capsules of philosophy delve into the familiar words that live in our consciousness yet are rarely examined. Should you really do as the Romans do when in Rome and practice what you preach? Is the grass always in fact greener on the other side of the fence, and is there ever smoke without fire? Is beauty always in the eye of the beholder and is it actually better to be safe than sorry? From the popular author of The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, cofounder of The Philosophers&’ Magazine, and academic director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, this is a witty, deeply thought-provoking reminder that we should never stop asking questions.
Shovel Knight (Boss Fight Books)
by David L. CraddockIn 2014, Yacht Club Games released its very first game, Shovel Knight, a joyful 2D platformer that wears its NES influences on its sleeve. This unlikely pastiche of 8-bit inspirations manages to emulate the look, feel, and even the technical limitations of nostalgic titles like Mega Man, Zelda II, and Castlevania III—imbued with a contemporary sense of humor and self-awareness. But how is a fundamentally retro game created in the modern era? And what do the games of the past have to teach today's game designers? Based on extensive original interviews with the Yacht Club Games team, writer David L. Craddock unearths the story of a fledgling group of game developers who worked so well together at WayForward Games that they decided to start their own studio. From the high highs of Shovel Knight's groundbreaking Kickstarter to the low lows of its unexpectedly lengthy development, Boss Fight presents a new master class in how a great game gets made. Get ready to steel your shovel and dig into this fascinating oral history. For Shovelry!
Show And Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations
by Dan RoamEven if you're already a good speaker, you'll learn more about understanding your audience, organizing your content, building a clear story line, creating effective visuals, and channeling your fear into fun. And you'll master three fundamental rules: #1; When we tell the truth, we connect with our audience, we become passionate, and we find self-confidence. #2; When we tell a story, we make complex concepts clear, we make ideas unforgettable, and we include everyone. #3; When we use pictures, people see exactly what we mean, we captivate our audience's mind, and we banish boredom. From nailing the opening to leaving a lasting impression, you'll soon be able to give the performance of a lifetime--time after time.