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The Moral Education Policy System in China: History, Challenges, and Strategies (Exploring Education Policy in a Globalized World: Concepts, Contexts, and Practices)
by Jian LiThis book examines the moral education policy system in China, discussing the challenges of promoting moral education policy in the country, and proposes relative strategies. It explores the moral education policy in China from various perspectives, including in preschool education, primary education, higher education, vocational type-based higher education, secondary vocational education, English education, music education, classroom teaching, citizenship education, and Chinese language education. This book serves as a guide for scholars and researchers who are interested, and work in, research on moral education policy in China, administrators, stakeholders in China's education system, and graduate students who major or minor in the field of moral education policy in China.
In Search of Creative Commons: Proceedings of the ICSSR Funded International Conference 2023
by Mukunda Mishra Dhritiman Chakraborty Sanchayita Paul ChakrabortyThis book contains selected papers presented at the international conference titled 'In Search of Creative Commons: Crisis, Catastrophe, and Responsive Literature in India', held at the Abid Ali Khan Centre for Digital Archive and Translation of Cultures, Gour Mahavidyalaya (College) from 31 August to 2 September, 2023 in collaboration with the Department of English, Dr. Meghnad Saha College. The conference was funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). In this book, three basic questions are considered. First, as humans try to live in-and-through catastrophes and exceptional situations in the contemporary world, what new perspective can literature as a creative form offer for healing and restorative purposes? Second, what new idioms and narrative styles, massive crises such as famine, partition, migration, the decimation of forests, rivers, and the disappearance of villages held up in creative articulations in colonial and postcolonial times in India? Can these representations be called “responsive literature”? Further, and this is the third major contention of this book, how can responsive literature be thought of as a conceptual category? What new transdisciplinary optic should be adopted to go beyond the limits of the “literary” and eventually include the “non-literary”? The objective of these discussions was to contribute to the larger discursive literature on disaster studies, which we believe has been excessively hegemonized by concepts from the West. By bringing in indigenous ideas from Bhasa Sahitya (language and literature), the images of samaj (society), samata (equity), and ahimsa (non-violence), the existing literature on catastrophe and crisis studies can finally be decolonized.
Natural Language Processing on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Building Transformer-Based NLP Solutions Using Oracle AI and Hugging Face
by Hicham AssoudiThis book demonstrates how to use Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Hugging Face technologies to develop advanced NLP solutions. Through a practical case study, it addresses common NLP challenges and offers strategies for creating efficient, cost-effective transformer-based models. By the end of this book, you will have the skills and knowledge to create cutting-edge NLP solutions on OCI, customized to meet the needs of various industries and projects. The book takes you through the complete NLP solution life cycle—covering data preparation, model fine-tuning, deployment, and monitoring—while highlighting key topics such as cost-effectiveness and responsible AI for NLP implementations. Drawing from real-world experience and offering practical insights, it bridges the gap between theory and practice, equipping you to design and deploy scalable, cost-efficient NLP solutions. What You Will Learn Master key NLP concepts and the OCI ecosystem Create high-quality datasets using Hugging Face and OCI Data Labeling Service Fine-tune domain-specific pre-trained models from Hugging Face using OCI Data Science Notebook Sessions Deploy and operationalize your models with OCI Data Science Model Deployments Automate the NLP life cycle with OCI Data Science Pipelines Implement cost-effective strategies throughout the entire NLP life cycle, from dataset preparation to model training and deployment Who This Book Is For A diverse audience interested in implementing NLP solutions on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: NLP practitioners, data scientists, and machine learning engineers who want to learn how to leverage Oracle AI and Hugging Face to implement an end-to-end NLP solution life cycle, from data preparation to model deployment; Oracle practitioners who want to expand their Oracle expertise by exploring OCI's advanced capabilities for building and scaling cutting-edge NLP solutions in enterprise environments; business decision makers who want to discover the strategic benefits of NLP solutions on OCI, including cost-effectiveness and responsible AI, while driving business value
European Sovereignty: The Legal Dimension
by Gavin Barrett Jean-Philippe Rageade Peter-Christian Müller-Graff Viktor VadászIn October 2022, the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier celebrated its 30th anniversary with a congress devoted to the legal dimension of the European sovereignty. 1992 was not only the year in which the ERA was founded, but also a key moment in the history of European integration, as it marked the signing of the founding treaty of the European Union, the Treaty of Maastricht. While sovereignty was a highly controversial issue at the time, the (geo)political and economic challenges facing the Union in recent years have brought it back to the centre of the debate. This book brings together some of the papers presented at the Jubilee Congress and explores recent concepts such as 'budgetary sovereignty', 'strategic sovereignty', and 'digital sovereignty'.
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twin Technology: 1st International Conference, IconAIDTT 2023, Sivakasi, India, April 26–28, 2023, Proceedings (Communications in Computer and Information Science #1972)
by Utku Kose Bui Thanh Hung Kottilingam Kottursamy Valarmathi K. Ramathilagam A. Sankarganesh SeeniThis book constitutes papers from the 1st International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twin Technology, IconAIDTT 2023, held in Sivakasi, India, April 26–28, 2023. The 12 full papers and the 1 short paper included in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 41 submissions. The papers cover the following topics: Advanced AI and IoT Solutions for Environmental, Healthcare, and Security Challenges; Deep Learning Techniques for Wireless networks and Data Analysis.
Achieving Sustainable Business Through AI, Technology Education and Computer Science: Volume 3: Business Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence Applications (Studies in Big Data #163)
by Allam HamdanThis book focuses on the symbiotic relationship between sustainable practices and cutting-edge AI technologies, offering insights into how businesses can thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. This book discovers how AI is revolutionizing sustainability efforts, driving efficiency, and fostering a greener tomorrow. From smart energy management to ethical supply chain practices, this book is a guide for organizations looking to harness the power of AI for a sustainable future. Engaging, informative, and forward-thinking, this book is essential reading for leaders shaping the future of business.
Star Trek: The Next Generation 365
by Terry J. Erdmann Paula M. BlockA complete episode-by-episode exploration of the hit TV series—with rarely seen photos and illustrations. With the launch of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gene Roddenberry somehow managed to recapture lightning in a bottle. This new incarnation of Star Trek was an instant hit, and its popularity inspired four films and three spin-off television series. A must-have for fans, Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 provides a fresh, accessible overview of the entire series, including an authorized guide to all 178 episodes. Featuring classic and rarely seen photography and illustrations, this visual celebration of the voyages of Captain Picard, his crew, and the Enterprise-D offers a loving look back at the Emmy and Hugo Award–winning series.
The People of the Sea: Celtic Tales of the Seal-Folk (Canons #8)
by David Thomson&“Readers will be carried away on successive waves of pleasure [and] irresistible holistic beauty&” in this journey to uncover myths of Selchies (Seamus Heaney, from the introduction). When author David Thomson travelled across the coasts of Scotland and Ireland to seek out the legend of the selchies—mythological creatures who transform from seals into humans—a magical world emerged before him. Thomson was enchanted by tales of men rescued by seals in stormy seas, and others who took seal-women for their wives and had their children suckled by seal-mothers. The People of the Sea is Thomson&’s poetic record of his journey into this world, and his encounters with people whose connection to the sea and its fertile lore runs deep. Winner of the McVitie Prize for his memoir Nairn in Darkness and Light, David Thomson offers &“a splendid resurrection of a life that has almost vanished.&” Timeless and haunting, The People of the Sea retains its spellbinding charm and brings to life the enchanting stories of these mysterious creatures of Celtic folklore (Daily Telegraph, UK).&“I know of few books which so ably open a window on the Gaelic scene today or which so faithfully reflect the mind, vigour and courtesy of its people…Pounds on the imagination like surf on a reef&”—Observer, UK
Dutch Warships in the Age of Sail, 1600–1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates
by James BenderThis definitive study presents a complete account of the Dutch Republic&’s naval fleet during its golden age as a world power. The Netherlands was by far the most important maritime power of the seventeenth century. It dominated seaborne trade with the largest merchant fleet in the world. Born out of an 80-year struggle against Spain for independence, the Dutch republic relied on naval power to protect its freedom, promote its trade and defend its overseas colonies. Yet the ships that made up its fleets are among the least studied of any in the age of sail. This is partly because a decentralized administration of five separate admiralties, often producing ships of the same name at the same time, as well as competing systems of measuring ships, all lead to confusion and error. In this comprehensive volume, James Bander delivers the first definitive listing of all Dutch fighting ships—whether purpose-built, purchased, hired or captured—from the heyday of the United Provinces. Each entry is complete with technical details and summaries of the ship&’s career. It also provides administrative, economic and technical background, and outlines the many campaigns fought by one of the most successful navies in history.
Grand Fleet Battlecruisers (ShipCraft)
by Steve BackerThe ShipCraft series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeller through a brief history of the subject class, highlighting differences between sister-ships and changes in their appearance over their careers. This includes paint schemes and camouflage, featuring colour profiles and highly-detailed line drawings and scale plans. The modelling section reviews the strengths and weaknesses of available kits, lists commercial accessory sets for super-detailing of the ships, and provides hints on modifying and improving the basic kit. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery of selected high-quality models in a variety of scales, and the book concludes with a section on research references books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites.rnrnThis volume follows the format of the highly successful Flower Class where the extent has been doubled to include far more illustrations of the many different designs, from the Invincible of 1906 to the Renowns of 1915, and including the hybrid large light cruisers Courageous, Glorious and Furious.
The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited
by Christer BergströmA thorough look at this turning-point WWII aerial battle, with eyewitness accounts, maps, and rare photos: &“incredibly well-researched&” (Aircrew Book Review). By late summer 1940, Nazi Germany had conquered all its opponents on the continent, including the British Army itself, which was forced to scramble back aboard small boats to its shores. A non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union in hand, Hitler had only one remaining object that season—the British Isles themselves. However, before he could invade, his Luftwaffe needed to wipe the Royal Air Force from the skies. History&’s first strategic military campaign conducted in the air alone was about to take place. This book contains a large number of dramatic eyewitness accounts, even as it reveals new facts that will alter common perceptions of the battle. For example, the twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf 110 was actually a good day fighter, and it performed at least as well in this role as the Bf 109 during the battle. The Luftwaffe&’s commander, Hermann Göring, performed far better than has been believed. The British night bombers played a more decisive role than previously thought; in addition, this book disproves that the German 109 pilots were in any way superior to their Hurricane or Spitfire counterparts. The author has examined records from both sides and provides surprising statistics that shatter much conventional wisdom—laying out the Battle of Britain as seldom seen before. Includes color photos of the relevant aircraft.
No Better Place to Die: Ste-Mère Eglise, June 1944: The Battle for La Fière Bridge
by Robert M. MurphyThis &“outstanding memoir&” of a WWII soldier&’s experience at Normandy gives &“a fuller picture of what the 82nd [Airborne] accomplished on D-Day&” (WWII History). In the dark early hours of D-Day, nearly every airborne unit missed its drop zone, creating a kaleidoscope of small-unit combat. Fortunately for the Allies, the 505th Regimental Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division hit near its drop zone. Its task was to seize the vital crossroads of Sainte Mère Eglise and to hold the bridge over the Merderet River at nearby La Fière. The paratroopers reached the bridge only to be met by waves of German tanks and infantry. Reinforced by glider troops, the 505th not only held the vital bridge for three days but launched a counterattack to secure their objective once and for all, albeit at gruesome cost. In No Better Place to Die, WWII veteran Robert M. Murphy provides a personal chronicle of countless acts of heroism by the men of the 505th. No World War II veteran is better known in 82nd Airborne circles than Robert M. &“Bob&” Murphy. A Pathfinder and member of A Company, 505th PIR, Bob was wounded three times in action, and made all four combat jumps with his regiment, fighting in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and Holland. He was decorated for valor for his role at La Fière and is a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. After the war, he was instrumental in establishing the 505th RCT Association. A selection of the Military Book Club.
War's Nomads: A Mobile Radar Unit in Pursuit of Rommel during the Western Desert Campaign, 1942–3
by Frederick Grice&“The only known detailed account in existence of the small radar units who played a key part in the Western Desert Campaign . . . Highly recommended&” (Military Modelcraft International). War&’s Nomads is an evocative account of one man&’s experience of life in a mobile radar unit after the battle of El Alamein as Rommel&’s Afrika Korps was relentlessly pursued across the desert through Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia by the Eighth Army. After Fred Grice was called up in 1941, he kept two journals of his experiences. The first deals with waiting to embark after initial training, the journey to the battle zone, and the privations of a low-ranking AC. Daily life onboard a ship is vividly brought to life with details of routine, the cramped conditions, the banter and hobbies used to pass the time by the troops, and the luxurious-by-contrast existence of the officers. The second gives a detailed account of the activities of Unit 606, a radar crew that follows just behind the battlefront. 606 provided radio-detection for the advanced landing grounds being used by RAF fighter-bomber squadrons, because these landing strips, in turn, were the target of the German Luftwaffe and Italian Air Force attacks. It was a tiny unit, never more than ten men, frequently operating for protracted periods in complete isolation. Fred Grice&’s account lyrically evokes the landscape and the often tense and dangerous environment they operated in, pitching the reader into the experience of traveling with the unit in a three-ton truck, finding ingenious solutions to lack of rations and living space, even commandeering an abandoned boat to relax in the sea, while constantly needing to be alert to dodge air attacks. Along with these colorful first-person accounts, War&’s Nomads includes an authoritative introduction explaining the background to the military events of the Western Desert campaign, and the purpose of 606&’s mission, which Grice for security reasons could not talk about: to get to a selection of the two hundred or so landing grounds in the desert with all speed—and then defend them against air attack by using a light warning radar set developed to go operational within an hour.
A Foot Soldier for Patton: The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
by James G. Bilder Michael C. BilderThis candid memoir of a GI serving under Gen. Patton offers a rare glimpse into the realities of life and combat in Europe during WWII. Though Gen. Patton&’s army is famous for dashing armored attacks, some of the most intensive fighting of World War II was done by Patton&’s infantry—the foot sloggers who were deployed to reduce enemy strong points. This candid account of the US infantry in the European theater takes the reader from the beaches of Normandy to the conquest of Germany—all through the eyes of an infantryman who had the unique perspective of speaking the enemy&’s language. A fluent German speaker, Michael Bilder was called upon for interrogations and other special duties. As a combat lifeguard, he also played a key role in successive river crossings. Here, Bilder relates his experiences of infantry life, from German snipers to intoxicated Frenchwomen, to the often morbid humor of combat. He also describes the Battle of Metz in all its horror, as well as the 5th Infantry&’s drive into the Bulge, where they faced their first winter battle against enemy veterans of Russia.
Translational Mitochondrial Medicine (Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease #32)
by Guillermo López Lluch Anna GvozdjákováTranslational mitochondrial medicine applies the knowledge of experimental medicine in clinical practice, it is a prospective direction of the development of mitochondrial medicine. The monograph "Translational Mitochondrial Medicine" was created on the basis of rapidly developing new information about mitochondrial diseases and their disorders, is a revised and supplemented edition of the monographs: "Mitochondrial Medicine", ed. A. Gvozdjáková, Springer, 2008 and "Recent Advances in Mitochondrial Medicine and Coenzyme Q10", eds. A. Gvozdjáková, G. Cornélissen, RB Singh, NOVA Science, USA, 2018. The monograph was created as part of the book series "Advances in biochemistry in health and disease", edited by prof. Naranjan Dhalla of Winnipeg, for which we are grateful. The book"Translational Mitochondrial Medicine" contributes to the elucidation of the pathobiochemical mechanisms of various diseases, provides current information on the prospective application of the latest diagnostic approaches and targeted therapy of mitochondrial diseases. Perspective mtDNA diagnostic methods include new technologies based on NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) to identify new genes associated with mitochondrial diseases. With the help of the high resolution respirometry method (HRR), it is possible to record even the most subtle deviations of the bioenergetics of mitochondria in blood cells, it contributes to the monitoring of the used daily doses of drugs in patients with various diseases. Determination of the endogenous level of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in platelets is a key method to improve the diagnosis and targeted therapy of damaged mitochondrial bioenergetics. Perspective therapeutic strategies for damaged mitochondria include mitochondrial transplantation, plasma therapy, mitochondrial nanotherapy, weight reduction in obesity, spa rehabilitation, the influence of molecular hydrogen and oxygen therapy. Targeted therapeutic methods for dysfunctional mitochondria and CoQ10 deficiency include supplementation with CoQ10, antioxidants and vitamins. This volume is intended for researchers and physicians looking for new prospective diagnostic approaches and targeted therapies for dysfunctional mitochondria in their patients.
Application of the BIM Method in Sustainable Construction: Status Quo of Potential Applications in Practice (essentials)
by Niels Bartels Jannick Höper Sebastian Theißen Reinhard WimmerThe integration of sustainability requires a paradigm shift in the lifecycle of buildings. By using the BIM method, aspects of sustainable construction can be increasingly integrated into processes and workflows. Information is captured consistently and in a structured way across the lifecycle and made available to all stakeholders. This Essential presents the current status quo of possible applications of the BIM method in sustainable construction. The aim is to promote a fusion of BIM and sustainability by highlighting essential requirements for BIM processes and models, workflows and their added value.
Nordic Coastal Tourism: Sustainability, Trends, Practices, and Opportunities
by Grzegorz Kwiatkowski Christian Dragin-Jensen Ove OklevikThis book explores sustainable tourism development and examines the development strategies of different coastal regions in the Nordic region. In recent decades, tourism research has been topical among researchers in the Nordic region and in international tourism literature. Especially important in this is research on coastal tourism, which is both a linear and area-based activity. An increased interest in coastal tourism has been determined by the fact that around 40 percent of the world’s population lives on the coast or within the coastal zone, and these communities are dependent on coastal tourism besides their other professions, such as fisheries, agriculture, and commercial port activities. Nordic coasts combine a rich maritime heritage and tradition with an unrivalled diversity of landscapes and natural refuges. Its oceans and seas are known for their biological richness and great beauty. Coastal and maritime tourism constitutes one of the Nordic countries' most important touristic thematic sub-sectors. With further perspectives for growth in the coming years, coastal and maritime tourism’s full potential is yet to be unveiled. Guaranteeing the conditions for sustainable coastal and maritime tourism development may significantly contribute to Nordic's economic growth and employment. It can also support the sustainable development of the more remote coastal regions, bringing the Nordics closer together and endowing coastal communities with sustainable solutions for the future.
Empirische Zugänge zu Bildungssprache und bildungssprachlichen Kompetenzen (Sprachsensibilität in Bildungsprozessen)
by Juliana Goschler Peter Rosenberg Till WoerfelIn der Diskussion über Sprache in Bildungskontexten geht man davon aus, dass diese sogenannte „Bildungssprache“ durch verschiedene grammatische und lexikalische Merkmale charakterisiert wird. Häufig wird außerdem angenommen, dass diese Merkmale für Schüler/-innen – unter anderem und insbesondere solchen, die Deutsch als Zweitsprache erlernen – schwierig und damit eine Hürde für erfolgreiches fachliches Lernen sein könnten. Der Band widmet sich in einer Reihe von Einzelstudien möglichen Zugängen zur empirischen Überprüfung dieser Annahmen.
Recent Advances in Mathematics Textbook Research and Development: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mathematics Textbook Research and Development
by Lianghuo Fan Chunxia Qi Jian Liu Qimeng Liu Lianchun DongThis open-access book documents the issues and developments in mathematics textbook research as presented at the Fourth International Conference on Mathematics Textbook Research and Development (ICMT 4), held at Beijing Normal University (China) in November 2022. It showcases research and practical experiences from the mathematics textbook research field from over 20 countries and reflects the current trend of curriculum reform globally in terms of mathematics textbook research. It helps readers gain knowledge about various issues related to the development, content and use of mathematics textbooks from kindergarten to university level, in and out of school settings, in paper or digital format, as well as the historical and recent developments and future directions in mathematics textbook research. ICMT 4 continues the successful series started in 2014, with the first ICMT held in Southampton (UK), which was followed in 2017 by ICMT 2 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and in 2019 by ICMT 3 in Paderborn (Germany).
Digitales Besuchermanagement in Destinationen: Von der Bedarfsermittlung bis zur Implementierung (essentials)
by Eric Horster Lisa Naschert Julian ReifDieses Open-Access-Essential erläutert die Entwicklung eines digitalen Besuchermanagementsystems für Destinationen von der Bedarfsermittlung bis zur Implementierung und Ausspielung. Zunächst müssen der Bedarf an Entlastungsmaßnahmen ermittelt und Ziele für das Besuchermanagement festgelegt werden. Daten aus diversen Quellen werden verarbeitet, gespeichert und an Gäste und Tourismusmanagementorganisationen weitergegeben. Im Anschluss wird ein Recommender entwickelt: ein Empfehlungssystem für Gäste, das auf KI basiert. Es werden Auslastungs- und Frequenzdaten modelliert und prognostiziert. Gewonnene Informationen über Auslastung und mögliche Alternativen werden der Öffentlichkeit auf verschiedenen (digitalen) Kanälen zur Verfügung gestellt. Zusammenfassungen der wichtigsten Erkenntnisse sowie eine Schritt-für-Schritt-Vorgehensbeschreibung runden das Essential ab.
The Battle of the Bridges: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Operation Market Garden
by Frank van Lunteren&“On these pages, the human story comes to life, sometimes tragic, sometimes amusing, but always poignant and compelling&” (John C. McManus, author of Fire and Fortitude). Operation Market Garden has been recorded as a complete Allied failure in World War II, an overreach that resulted in an entire airborne division being destroyed at its apex. However, within that operation were episodes of heroism that still remain unsung. On September, 17, 1944, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, floated down across the Dutch countryside, in the midst of German forces, and proceeded to fight their way to vital bridges to enable the Allied offensive to go forward. The 101st Airborne was behind them; the British 1st Airborne was far advanced. In the 82nd&’s sector, the crucial conduits needed to be seized. The Germans were as aware of the importance of the bridge over the Waal River at Nijmegen as James Gavin and his 82nd troopers were. Thus began a desperate fight for the Americans to seize it, no matter what the cost. The Germans would not give up, however, and fought tenaciously in the town and fortified the bridge. On September 20, Gavin turned his paratroopers into sailors and conducted a deadly daylight amphibious assault in small plywood and canvas craft across the Waal River to secure the north end of the highway bridge in Nijmegen. German machine guns and mortars boiled the water on the crossing, but somehow, a number of paratroopers made it to the far bank. Their ferocity rolled up the German defenses, and by the end of the day, the bridge had fallen. This book by Dutch historian Frank van Lunteren draws on a plethora of previously unpublished sources to shed new light on the exploits of the &“Devils in Baggy Pants.&” A native of Arnhem—the site of the &“Bridge Too Far&”—the author draws on nearly 130 interviews he personally conducted with veterans of the 504th, plus Dutch civilians and British and German soldiers, who here tell their story for the first time.
Race to the Rhine: Liberating France and the Low Countries 1944-45 (Then And Now Ser.)
by Simon Forty Leo MarriottTravel across the battlefields of WWII with this beautiful book combining historical images, full-color aerial photography, and informative text. In June 1944, Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France, beginning a sweep of fierce battles that would eventually liberate Western Europe. With aerial photography, historic images, maps, and other illustrations, Race to the Rhine brings readers to the fateful grounds where men sacrificed their lives for freedom. The destruction of German forces in Normandy&’s Falaise pocket was a decisive victory: by September, British troops were in Ghent and Liege; Canadian forces liberated Ostend, and in northeast France, Patton&’s Third Army was moving rapidly to the German border. The liberation of the Low Countries would not prove as straightforward, however. Operation Market Garden—Montgomery&’s brave thrust toward the Rhine at Arnhem—ended in failure with over six thousand paratroopers captured. In late October, belated operations began to clear the Scheldt Estuary and open the port of Antwerp to the Allies. Belgium was almost free of the Nazi yoke, and the Netherlands looked likely to be cleared before Christmas. Then, on December 16, came a major German counter-offensive in the Ardennes. It turned out to be Hitler&’s last try: the American defenders held, and in the spring, the Rhine was finally gained. Perfect for the armchair traveler or for those who want a historic guide as they visit significant sites, Race to the Rhine supplies essential information on the places that best represent the battles today.
My Dark Room: Spaces of the Inner Self in Eighteenth-Century England
by Julie ParkExamines spaces of inner life in eighteenth-century England to shed new light on interiority in literature and visual and material culture. In what kinds of spaces do we become most aware of the thoughts in our own heads? In My Dark Room, Julie Park explores places of solitude and enclosure that gave eighteenth-century subjects closer access to their inner worlds: grottos, writing closets, landscape follies, and the camera obscura, that beguiling “dark room” inside which the outside world in all its motion and color is projected. The camera obscura and its dreamlike projections within it served as a paradigm for the everyday spaces, whether in built environments or in imaginative writing, that generated the fleeting states of interiority eighteenth-century subjects were compelled to experience and inhabit.My Dark Room illuminates the spatial and physical dimensions of inner life in the long eighteenth century by synthesizing material analyses of diverse media, from optical devices and landscape architecture to women’s intimate dress, with close readings of literary texts not traditionally considered together, among them Andrew Marvell’s country house poem Upon Appleton House, Margaret Cavendish’s experimental epistolary work Sociable Letters, Alexander Pope’s heroic verse epistle Eloisa to Abelard, and Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela. Park also analyzes letters and diaries, architectural plans, prints, drawings, paintings, and more, drawing our attention to the lively interactions between spaces and psyches in private environments. Park’s innovative method of “spatial formalism” reveals how physical settings enable psychic interiors to achieve vitality in lives both real and imagined.
The Armies of Bismarck's Wars: The Army of Prussia—History, Uniforms, Weapons & Equipment, 1860–67
by Bruce Basset-PowellThe riveting story of the nineteenth-century rise of the Prussian army—a key factor in the unification of Germany—with maps and illustrations. On July 3, 1866, a Prussian force overwhelmed and defeated an Austrian army near the fortress city of Königgrätz in a bloody battle that lasted all day. At a stroke, the foremost power in Germany and central Europe had been reduced to a second rate player. The event caused anxiety and alarm in the capitals of the western world. How was an upstart country like Prussia able to upset the balance of power in Europe? Only sixteen years before, it had been put in its place by Austria with the treaty of Olmütz. Its performance as an Austrian ally had been less than stellar in the Second Schleswig War of 1864, despite its defeat of the Danes at Düppel. Yet within five years, a Prussian-led army would humble France and a Prussian king would be crowned emperor of a united Germany. The history of the world would be changed forever. This book tells the story of this army, chronicling its growth from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the reforms of the 1860s, then offering a full account of the wars against Denmark in 1864 and Austria in 1866. The author shows how the confluence of three men&’s lives—King William I, Helmuth von Moltke, and Otto von Bismarck—provided the essential ingredients that created this victorious army. The growth and influence of the General Staff is examined, along with the recruitment and training of officers and men. Powell fully describes the organization of the army and the fledgling navy, as well as the weapons with which they fought.
Landing in Hell: The Pyrrhic Victory of the First Marine Division on Peleliu, 1944
by Peter MargaritisA detailed history and analysis of the most controversial amphibious operation in the Pacific during WWII: the Battle for Peleliu. On September 15, 1944, the United States invaded the tiny Pacific island of Peleliu, located at the southern end of the Palau Islands. Boasting a large airfield from which the Americans could mount bomber campaigns, Peleliu was a strategically essential part of Gen. MacArthur&’s long-awaited liberation of the Philippines. With the famed 1st Marine Division making the amphibious assault, Pacific High Command was confident that victory would be theirs in just a few days. They were drastically wrong. A mere week after landing, having sustained terrific losses in fierce combat, the 1st Marine Regiment was withdrawn. The entire division would be out of action for six months after sustaining the highest unit losses in Marine Corps history. This book analyzes the many things that went wrong in the Battle for Peleliu, and in doing so, corrects several earlier accounts of the campaign. It includes a comprehensive account of the presidential summit that determined the operation, details of how new weapons were deployed, a new enemy strategy, and command failure in what became the most controversial amphibious operation in the Pacific during WWII.