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It's Only a Movie: Reel Life Adventures of a Film Obsessive

In It's Only a Movie, the incomparable Mark Kermode takes us into the weird world of a life lived in widescreen. Join him as he gets lost in Russia on the trail of a low-budget horror flick, gasp as he's shot at in Hollywood while interviewing Bavarian director Werner Herzog, cheer as he gets thrown out of the Cannes film festival for heckling in very bad French, and cringe as he's handbagged by Helen Mirren at London's glitzy BAFTA Awards. Written with sardonic wit and wry good humour, this compelling cinematic memoir is genuinely 'inspired by real events'.

The Penguin Book of Haiku

'A revelation' Sunday Times, Books of the Year 2018The first Penguin anthology of Japanese haiku, in vivid new translations by Adam L. Kern. Now a global poetry, the haiku was originally a Japanese verse form that flourished from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Although renowned for its brevity, usually running three lines long in seventeen syllables, and by its use of natural imagery to make Zen-like observations about reality, in fact the haiku is much more: it can be erotic, funny, crude and mischievous. Presenting over a thousand exemplars in vivid and engaging translations, this anthology offers an illuminating introduction to this widely celebrated, if misunderstood, art form. Adam L. Kern's new translations are accompanied here by the original Japanese and short commentaries on the poems, as well as an introduction and illustrations from the period.

The Milwaukee Anthology (Belt City Anthologies)

The Milwaukee Anthology is a book on hope and hurt in one of America's toughest ZIP codes. In these pages are the stories of a Grecian basketball superstar in the making against an unlikely backdrop; of Sikh temple services that carry on after one of America's most notorious mass shootings; of an astronaut's wish for kids in the same school halls where he formed a dream of space. You won't find Summerfest or Laverne and Shirley herein, but you will find Riverwest, Sherman Park, and the South Side; Hmong New Year's shows, 7 Mile Fair, and the Rolling Mill commemoration. Edited by Justin Kern, with personal essays, narratives, poems, Q&A's, and art from more than 50 contributors including Dasha Kelly, Pardeep Kaleka, and Michael Perry, it's a book about a place on the lake that can make you say "yes" and wonder "why" in the same thought.

Feminist City: A Field Guide

Leslie Kern wants your city to be feminist. An intrepid feminist geographer, Kern combines memoir, theory, pop culture, and geography in this collection of essays that invites the reader to think differently about city spaces and city life. From the geography of rape culture to the politics of snow removal, the city is an ongoing site of gendered struggle. Yet the city is perhaps also our best hope for shaping new social relations based around care and justice. Taking on fear, motherhood, friendship, activism, and the joys and perils of being alone, Kern maps the city from new vantage points, laying out a feminist intersectional approach to urban histories and pathways towards different urban futures.

Gentrification Is Inevitable and Other Lies

From the author of the best-selling Feminist City, this urbanite’s guide to gentrification knocks down the myths and exposes the forces behind the most urgent housing crisis of our time. Gentrification is no longer a phenomenon to be debated by geographers or downplayed by urban planners—it’s an experience lived and felt by working-class people everywhere. Leslie Kern travels to Toronto, Vancouver, New York, London, and Paris to look beyond the familiar and false stories we tell ourselves about class, money, and taste. What she brings back is an accessible, radical guide on the often-invisible forces that shape urban neighbourhoods: settler-colonialism, racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and more. Gentrification is not inevitable if city lovers work together to turn the tide. Kern examines resistance strategies from around the world and calls for everyday actions that empower everyone, from displaced peoples to long-time settlers. We can mobilize, demand reparations, and rewrite the story from the ground up.

The Bone Field: (The Bone Field: Book 1): a heart-pounding, white-knuckle-action ride of a thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick (The Bone Field Series #1)

From Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben - The Bone Field is a blood pressure raising thriller: fast-paced, full of thrills, spills and unrelenting action. Perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James, this is high energy, action-packed reading that'll keep your heart-rate high and your attention glued to the pages ...'Hang on tight!' - HARLAN COBEN'Breathless' - Sunday Times'An addictive thriller full of gritty details and fast frenetic action.' - Sunday Mirror'Oh My Days....What. A. Story' -- ***** Reader review'Hit the ground running, action from word one to the very end' -- ***** Reader review'Wow - what a fab, action-packed thriller' -- ***** Reader review'Storytelling at its best' -- ***** Reader review'Gripping story line where you say to yourself just one more page and I'll go to sleep and before you realise it a couple of hours have passed' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************SOME CRIMES CAN TAKE A LIFETIME TO AVENGE...1990A young woman goes missing while backpacking in Thailand. She is never seen again.2016Her bones are discovered 6000 miles away in an English field and, within hours, the boyfriend who reported her disappearance all those years ago is dead.So begins a hunt to solve her murder that will take DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd into a dark and terrifying world of corruption and deadly secrets, where murder is commonplace, and nothing and nobody is safe...

Dead Man's Gift and Other Stories: one book, five thrillers from bestselling author Simon Kernick – absolutely no-holds-barred!

From Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben - come two electrifying novellas and three gripping short stories published in book form for the very first time. Fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James will not be disappointed!'High impact, fast paced - a real adrenalin rush!' -- ***** Reader review'Simon Kernick never fails to deliver' -- ***** Reader review'All action!' -- ***** Reader review'Kept me gripped from the very start' -- ***** Reader review'Suspense at every page turn!' -- ***** Reader review'A real rollercoaster read...' -- ***** Reader review********************************************************************************ONE BOOK. FIVE THRILLERS.Including:DEAD MAN'S GIFTMP Tim Horton arrives home to find his seven-year-old son has been abducted - and the nanny brutally murdered.The kidnapping gang's demands are simple: Tim must sacrifice his own life to save his son's.A dead man's gift...ONE BY ONESix former school-friends have been reunited on a remote island.Separated since a fateful night twenty-one years ago, when their friend Rachel was killed, they're afraid for their lives - because the man arrested for Rachel's murder has been released.They think he's coming for them. They're almost right.Plus three more thrillers guaranteed to keep you gripped to the page...Can you withstand five full-strength doses of Simon Kernick?

Deadline: (Tina Boyd: 3): as gripping as it is gritty, a thriller you won’t forget from bestselling author Simon Kernick (Tina Boyd #3)

A captivating and taut thriller that will leave you holding your breath, from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben.'The next time I see Simon Kernick's name on a book, I will pick it up. Brilliant!' - RICHARD MADELEY'This thriller is so authentic that it completely takes your breath away, and then some.' - THE MIRROR'Kernick is the master of the literary rabbit punch, thumping his readers when they least expect it, and from a different direction...Cracking stuff.' - THE TIMES'If it's heart-thudding tension you want, Simon Kernick is your man.' - DAILY MAIL'Simon Kernick uses every trick in the book to keep the action breakneck.' - TIME OUT********************************************************************'WE'VE GOT YOUR DAUGHTER.'It's evening, you're back late from work - and the house is in darkness.You step inside, and the phone rings. You answer it - and your world is turned upside down.Your fourteen-year-old daughter's been taken, and her kidnappers demand half a million pounds in cash. They give you 48 hours to raise the money. If you call the police, she will die.As the nightmare unravels, you can be certain of only two things: that you will do anything to get your daughter back alive - and that time is running out...

Die Alone: a seriously high-octane thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick

Hold on tight - Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben - has done it again. This is a no-holds-barred, pulse-pounding thriller which will have you gripped. Fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James will not be disappointed."A pacy thriller, with a body count that rises along with the tension levels" -- SUNDAY MIRROR"Simon Kernick is one of the most reliable purveyors of the edge-of-your-seat thriller... a more powerful adrenaline rush than an EpiPen" -- SUNDAY EXPRESS'A tremendous all-action super high class read. Superb' -- ***** Reader review'I literally couldnt put it down, brilliant!!!!' -- ***** Reader review'Fantastic Thriller... Fast Paced... All You'd Expect From Simon Kernick' -- ***** Reader review'Unputdownable - as usual!' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************************************Alastair Sheridan has it all. Wealth, good looks, a beautiful wife and children and, in the chaotic world of British politics, a real chance of becoming Prime Minister.But Alastair also has a secret. He's a serial killer with a taste for young women.Only a handful of people know what kind of monster he is, and disgraced detective Ray Mason is one of them.Awaiting trial for murder, Ray is unexpectedly broken free by armed men and given an offer: assassinate Alastair Sheridan and begin a new life abroad with a new identity. The men claim to be from MI6. They say that Sheridan is a threat to national security and needs to be neutralised. Ray knows they are not who they say they are, and that their real motives are far darker.The only person Ray trusts is ex-cop and former lover Tina Boyd who's keen to settle her own scores with Sheridan.With enemies on every side, only one thing is certain: no one wants them to get out alive.

The Final Minute: (Tina Boyd: 7): another riveting rollercoaster of a ride from bestselling author Simon Kernick

Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben, has written a thriller jam-packed withaction, tension and twists and turns. A heart-stopping read from page one, this is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James.'Another accomplished race against time with a delightfully morally ambiguous hero.' -- Sunday Mirror'Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!' -- Harlan Coben'Great plots. Great characters. Great action.' -- Lee Child'If you're looking for a fast-paced, believable book that you can't put down, then this is the one' -- ***** Reader review'A fast-paced page-turner' -- ***** Reader review'A cracking good read' -- ***** Reader review'This book has me hooked from the moment I picked it up' -- ***** Reader review'An original, fast paced, compelling read' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************TIME IS RUNNING OUT.'It's night, and I'm in a strange house.The lights are on, and I'm standing outside a half-open door.Feeling a terrible sense of foreboding, I walk slowly inside.And then I see her.A woman lying sprawled across a huge double bed.She's dead. There's blood everywhere.And the most terrifying thing of all is that I think her killer might be me ...'A traumatic car-crash. A man with no memory, haunted by nightmares.When the past comes calling in the most terrifying way imaginable, Matt Barron is forced to turn to the one person who can help.Ex Met cop, turned private detective, Tina Boyd.Soon they are both on the run...

The Hanged Man: (The Bone Field: Book 2): a pulse-racing, heart-stopping and nail-biting thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick

Fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James will devour this intensely addictive and adrenalin-fuelled thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben.'Brutal, bruising and brilliant' -- The Sun'Has enough breakneck action and suspense to be a real page turner' -- Sunday Mirror'An enthralling, twisted and absolutely unputdownable read' -- ***** Reader review'Thrilling, gripping, shocking and a complete page-turner. I literally couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review'I had to finish the book and did so in the early hours' -- ***** Reader review'Fast paced and gripping from the start - absolutely loved it' -- ***** Reader review'My pulse rate has finally returned to normal. What a fantastic ending to an excellent book' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************SEVEN VICTIMS. THREE KILLERS. ONE DEADLY SECRET.A house deep in the countryside where the remains of seven unidentified women have just been discovered.A cop ready to risk everything in the hunt for their killers.A man who has seen the murders and is now on the run in fear of his life.So begins the race to track down this witness before the killers do.For Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd, the road ahead is a dangerous one, with bodies and betrayal at every turn...

The Payback: (Dennis Milne: book 3): a punchy, race-against-time thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick (Dennis Milne #3)

A gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben."Pace, pace pace is what Kernick does best" - DAILY MIRROR"Delights, excites and stimulates, and the only reason you consume it so quickly is because it's so damn good" - GQ"Fast moving and a gripping race to the dénouement." -- ***** Reader review"Great read, Simon Kendrick is a fantastic writer, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through this book, couldn't wait to read every page." -- ***** Reader review"Completely compelling" -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************TWO COPS. ONE CITY. NO MERCY.Dennis Milne is a former cop and part-time assassin. He kills the bad guys - people who, in his opinion, deserve to die. Now he's in Manila, waiting for his next target: a young woman who's made some deadly enemies.DI Tina Boyd is in Manila hunting down the man responsible for the death of her lover. She knows he's dangerous. She knows he's ruthless. But she's determined to bring him to justice - even if it kills her.Two cops with pasts that haunt them - and a present that could see them both dead.They are about to meet.And when they do, it's payback time.

Severed: a race-against-time thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick

An unputdownable, edge-of-your-seat thriller full of twists and turns from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben. Guaranteed to keep you gripped. Perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James.'Simon Kernick writes great plots, great characters, great action' -- Lee Child'Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!' -- Harlan Coben'Simon Kernick uses every trick in the book to keep the action breakneck' -- Time Out'Highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review'What an amazing read, it had me hooked!' -- ***** Reader review'From the first page to the last this story keeps you on the edge' -- ***** Reader review'Thriller writing at its best' -- ***** Reader review'Kept me engrossed all the way through' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************ONE NIGHT STAND. ONE DEAD GIRL.You wake up in a strange room on a bed covered in blood.You have no idea how you got there.Beside you is a dead girl. Your girlfriend.The phone rings, and a voice tells you to press play on the room's DVD machine.The film shows you killing your girlfriend. Then you're told to go to an address in East London where you're to deliver a briefcase and await further instructions.There's no way out.If you're to survive the next 24 hours, you must find out who killed your girlfriend, and why. Before they come for you too...

Target: (Tina Boyd: 4): an epic race-against-time thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick (Tina Boyd #4)

Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben, brings us this spine-tingling, compelling and captivating thriller that you won't be able to put down. Real edge-of-your-seat stuff!'The pace is breakneck, the plot twists like a hooked eel...The sort of book that forces you to read so fast you stumble over the words' - Evening Standard"Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!" - Harlan Coben"Simon Kernick writes great plots, great characters, great action" - Lee Child'Totally submerged myself in this from beginning to end.' -- ***** Reader review'Yet another excellent page turner from the master of suspense'-- ***** Reader review'If you like your thrillers non-stop, this is one to savour.' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************************NO ONE TO TRUST.When writer Rob Fallon goes out one night and ends up with his best friend's girlfriend, Jenny, he feels guilty before anything has even happened.NOWHERE TO RUNBut guilt quickly turns to shock when two men break into Jenny's apartment, abduct her, and try to kill Rob. When Rob reports this to the police, no one believes him. And when he speaks to Jenny's father, he says she's on holiday abroad.NO PLACE TO HIDERob knows Jenny's life is in danger and starts asking questions. Soon he's the target of brutal killers who are as terrifying as they are elusive. But what do they want? And what does it have to do with an ordinary girl like Jenny?Either Rob finds out or he's dead. It's that simple ...

We Can See You: a high-octane, explosive and gripping thriller from bestselling author Simon Kernick

If you like David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James, you'll love this frighteningly tense, spine-tingling thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick - the UK's answer to Harlan Coben. "Witty, scary, fast-moving and outrageous" -- THE TIMES"Simon Kernick is one of the most reliable purveyors of the edge-of-your-seat thriller... a more powerful adrenaline rush than an EpiPen" -- SUNDAY EXPRESS'Fabulous' -- ***** Reader review'Kernick does it again!' -- ***** Reader review'A great thrill ride' -- ***** Reader review'Another fast-paced masterclass from Simon Kernick' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************************EVEN THE PERFECT LIFE CAN SHATTER IN SECONDSYou have it all. Success, a beautiful home, a happy family. Until, in a heartbeat, it's gone.We've kidnapped your daughter, and we know everything about you. Including the dark secrets from your past you thought were forgotten.We tell you not to contact the police - and that we'll know if you do. Because we can see you.And now you know this is no ordinary abduction. It's worse. Within hours you're on the run, with only one thought in your head:That you will stop at nothing to get your daughter back.Even murder...

The Witness: (DI Ray Mason: Book 1): a gripping, race-against-time thriller by the best-selling author Simon Kernick

This engrossing and unputdownable fast-paced thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben, is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James. Guaranteed to get your blood pumping - a real edge-of-your-seat ride!'Hang on tight!' - Harlan Coben'Full of Kernick's trademark cheerful amoral characters, it's irresistible entertainment' -- Sunday Mirror'A spectacularly fast moving and captivating read.' -- Lovereading'Wow I absolutely loved this book from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'I couldn't put it down and read it within 24 hours of getting it!' -- ***** Reader review'Fast paced thriller with the twists and turns that keeps you enthralled from the first page to the last' -- ***** Reader review'Full of tension and excitement' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************************YOU'VE SEEN TOO MUCH. NOWHERE IS SAFE NOW.THE WITNESSWhen Jane Kinnear sees her lover being murdered, she suddenly finds herself in danger. Taken to an anonymous police safe-house, it soon becomes clear that her lover was an MI5 informant with important information about an imminent terrorist attack.THE DETECTIVEDI Ray Mason of Counter Terrorism Command is a man with a controversial past, but his effectiveness at getting results means that he's now been given the task of preventing the attack from taking place. But can he be trusted, and does he know more about the attack than he's letting on?THE KILLERIn the safe-house, Jane is trying to piece together a description of her lover's killer. But what she doesn't know is that the killer has already found out who she is, and where she is hiding.And now he's coming for her ...

Wrong Time, Wrong Place (Quick Reads 2013 #1)

A gripping Quick Read from the master of the race against time thriller.Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?You are hiking in the Scottish highlands with three friends when you come across a girl.She is half-naked, has been badly beaten, and she can’t speak English.She is clearly running away from someone.Do you stop to help her? Even if it means putting your friends’ lives – and your own - in terrible danger?

Another Bangkok: Reflections on the City

From the author of Another Kyoto and Lost Japan, a rich, personal exploration of the culture and history of Bangkok, and an essential guide for anyone visiting the cityAlex Kerr has spent over thirty years of his life living in Bangkok. As with his bestselling books on Japan, this evocative personal meditation explores the city's secret corners. Here is the huge, traffic-choked metropolis of concrete high-rises, slums and sky trains; but also a place of peace and grace. Looking afresh at everything from ceramics to Thai dance, flower patterns to old houses, Kerr reveals one of Asia's most kaleidoscopically complex cities. Another Bangkok will delight both those who think they know the city well and those visiting for the first time.

Finding the Heart Sutra: Guided by a Magician, an Art Collector and Buddhist Sages from Tibet to Japan

'An erudite and charming book . . . both a primer and a paean to one of the central texts of Buddhism, known as the Heart Sutra. . . Alex Kerr delves into the Japanese soul' Literary ReviewThe material world is itself emptiness.Emptiness is itself the material world.Powerful, mystical and concise, the Heart Sutra is believed to contain the condensed essence of all Buddhist wisdom. This brief poem on emptiness has exerted immense influence throughout Asia since the seventh century and is woven into the fabric of daily life. Yet even though it rivals the teachings of Laozi and Confucius in importance, this ancient Buddhist scripture remains barely known in the West. During the many years he has spent living in Japan, Alex Kerr has been on a quest after the secrets of the Heart Sutra. Travelling from Japan, Korea, and China, to India, Mongolia, Tibet and Vietnam, this book brings together Buddhist teaching, talks with friends and mentors, and acute cultural insights to probe the universe of thought contained within this short but intense philosophical work.'Marvellous ... a life's work ... a brilliant literary form, weaving reflections of the sutra with those on Alex's own magical mystery tour' Alexandra Munroe, Asian Art scholar and curator

Lost Japan: Last Glimpse of Beautiful Japan

Another Kyoto

Another Kyoto is an insider's meditation on the hidden wonders of Japan's most enigmatic city. Drawing on decades living in Kyoto, and on lore gleaned from artists, Zen monks and Shinto priests, Alex Kerr illuminates the simplest things - a temple gate, a wall, a sliding door - in a new way. 'A rich book of intimate proportions ... In Kyoto, facts and meaning are often hidden in plain sight. Kerr's gift is to make us stop and cast our eyes upward to a temple plaque, or to squint into the gloom of an abbot's chamber' Japan Times'Kerr and Sokol have performed a minor miracle by presenting that which is present in Kyoto as that which we have yet to see. I know that I will never pass a wall, or tread a floor, or sit on tatami the same way again' Kyoto Journal

Prairie Edge: A Novel

The Giller Prize-longlisted author of Avenue of Champions returns with a frenetic, propulsive crime thriller that doubles as a sharp critique of modern activism and challenges readers to consider what &“Land Back&” might really look like.Meet Isidore &“Ezzy&” Desjarlais and Grey Ginther: two distant Métis cousins making the most of Grey&’s uncle&’s old trailer, passing their days playing endless games of cribbage and cracking cans of cheap beer in between. Grey, once a passionate advocate for change, has been hardened and turned cynical by an activist culture she thinks has turned performative and lazy. One night, though, she has a revelation, and enlists Ezzy, who is hopelessly devoted to her but eager to avoid the authorities after a life in and out of the group home system and jail, for a bold yet dangerous political mission: capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton, disrupting the churn of settler routine. But as Grey becomes increasingly single-minded in her newfound calling, their act of protest puts the pair and those close to them in peril, with devastating and sometimes fatal consequences.For readers drawn to the electric storytelling of Morgan Talty and the taut register of Stephen Graham Jones, Conor Kerr&’s Prairie Edge is at once a gripping, darkly funny caper and a raw reckoning with the wounds that persist across generations.

Luck of the Devil: The Story of Operation Valkyrie

'It is now time that something was done. But the man who has the courage to do something must do it in the knowledge that he will go down in German history as a traitor. If he does not, however, he will be a traitor to his own conscience' Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, July 1944The July 1944 Plot to kill Adolf Hitler was a desperate attempt by a group of senior officers to redeem Germany's honour and end the Second World War. They were heroic because they knew their chances of success were slight and that the result of their failure would undoubtedly be a terrible death. They wanted to leave a message for later generations: that there were Germans who understood the evils of Nazism and were willing to act against it. This extraordinary story is the basis for Bryan Singer's major new film Valkyrie, due to be released in February 2009. Published for the first time as a separate book, Luck of the Devil is taken from Ian Kershaw's bestselling Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis and is a brilliant account of just what happened in those fateful days at Hitler's Wolf's Lair headquarters, when his opponents came so astonishingly close to assassinating what is one of the modern era's most terrible figures.

24 Hours at the Somme: 1 July 1916

The first day of the Somme has had more of a widespread emotional impact on the psyche of the British public than any other battle in history. Now, 100 years later, Robert Kershaw attempts to understand the carnage, using the voices of the British and German soldiers who lived through that awful day.In the early hours of 1 July 1916, the British General staff placed its faith in patriotism and guts, believing that one ‘Big Push’ would bring on the end of the Great War. By sunset, there were 57,470 men – more than half the size of the present-day British Army – who lay dead, missing or wounded. On that day hope died.Juxtaposing the British trench view against that from the German parapet, Kershaw draws on eyewitness accounts, memories and letters to expose the true horror of that day. Amongst the mud, gore and stench of death, there are also stories of humanity and resilience, of all-embracing comradeship and gritty patriotic British spirit. However it was this very emotion which ultimately caused thousands of young men to sacrifice themselves on the Somme.

Understanding Variability in Second Language Acquisition, Bilingualism, and Cognition: A Multi-Layered Perspective (Routledge Studies in Applied Linguistics)

This collection brings together linguistic, psychological, and sociological perspectives reflecting on the relationships and interactions of the multilayered factors impacting second language development and cognitive competence. The book advocates a system approach as a counterpoint to existing scholarship, which has tended to focus on a small set of variables. The 13 chapters demonstrate the ways in which cognitive and linguistic development are intrinsically linked, occurring within a nested structure of multiple levels: individual neuro-cognitive systems and processes, individual engagement with the social world, and the wider social and institutional environments and cultural contexts affecting the belief systems and linguistic conventions of social groups. The volume begins by outlining the theoretical and methodological foundations before moving into a more focused look at the interplay of these different variables at the macro, meso, and micro levels. A final section features two commentary chapters from linguistics and psychology, respectively, synthesizing insights from earlier chapters and situating the collection within broader scholarship on linguistic and cognitive development, theoretical and methodological implications, and discussions of avenues for future empirical research.This book will be of particular interest to scholars in second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, cognition, psychology, and sociology.