Olibro

Out, damned spot! A brilliant retelling of this classic tale of witches, murder and madness. With Notes on Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre and Evil in Macbeth.The tales have been retold using accessible language and with the help of Tony Ross's engaging black-and-white illustrations, each play is vividly brought to life allowing these culturally enriching stories to be shared with as wide an audience as possible.Have you read all of The Shakespeare Stories books? Available in this series: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Antony and Cleopatra, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, and King Lear.

Recipient of the 2018 William F. Sibley Memorial Subvention Award for Japanese TranslationA new, definitive translation of the postwar classic known to the west as No Longer Human—a tortured vision inspiring the likes of Junji Ito and Bungo Stray DogsOsamu Dazai is one of the most famous—and infamous—writers of 20th-century Japan. A Shameful Life (Ningen Shikkaku) is his final published work and has become a bestselling classic for its depiction of the tortured struggle of a young man to survive in a world that he cannot comprehend. Paralleling the life and death of Dazai himself, the delicate weaving of fact and fiction remorselessly documents via journals the life of Yozo, a university student who spends his time in increasing isolation and debauchery. His doomed love affairs, suicide attempts, and constant fear of revealing his true self haunt the pages of the book and reveal a slow descent into madness. This dark tale nevertheless conveys something authentic about the human heart and its inability to find its true bearing.Gibeau's translation cements A Shameful Life's place in the existentialist literary canon from Dostoevsky to Camus. Fans of Bungo Stray Dogs will recognize Osamu Dazai as one of the characters named after the giants of Japanese literature. Those familiar with the numerous adaptations in graphic novels and animation can experience the source material in faithful, modern prose.

A week's holiday in a luxurious Yorkshire time-share is just what Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid needs. But the discovery of a body floating in the whirlpool bath ends Kincaid's vacation before it's begun. One of his new acquaintances at Followdale House is dead; another is a killer.<BR><BR> Despite a distinct lack of cooperation from the local constabulary, Kincaid's keen sense of duty won't allow him to ignore the heinous crime, impelling him to send for his enthusiastic young assistant, Sergeant Gemma James. But the stakes are raised dramatically when a second murder occurs, and Kincaid and James find themselves in a determined hunt for a fiendish felon who enjoys homicide a bit too much.

The Army has an opioid drug problem that is not going away under current personnel policies and medical practices. The survey results recorded here indicate that senior officers attending the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) recognize that the opioid problem is distinct in nature and origin from those of recreational drug abuse. Yet, these officers are saddled with a legacy drug enforcement structure and outdated procedures that do not track opioid usage across the force and do not address the root cause of the issue. They are commanding units under a regulatory structure that belatedly responds to opioid-related misuse with the same misconduct-focused disciplinary policies as those for recreational drug use, rather than with a proactive medical and personnel approach crafted for this unique problem set that emphasizes prevention and rehabilitation. The USAWC officer survey responses reflect the fact that the majority of these future Army leaders see misuse originating out of prescribing practices...

"Star point guard Mack Morris's senior year of high school begins with twin cataclysms: the death of her father and the arrival of transfer student Liv Cooper. On the court, Mack and Liv discover an exhilarating, game-winning chemistry; off the court, they fall into an equally intoxicating more-than-friendship that is out of bounds for their small Pennsylvania town in 2004, and especially, for Liv's conservative mother. As Mack's desire and grief collide with drugs, sex, and the looming college signing deadline, she is forced to reckon with the disconnects between her past and her future-and fight for the life she wants for herself, whether or not Liv will be on the court beside her"--

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST • A vibrant and intimate novel about growing up, first love, and all the joy and heartbreak of competitive high school basketball, from the Lambda Literary Award–winning author of I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself<BR><BR>“Deeply affecting . . . Crane’s writing drives forward hard and fast. . . . Knowledge of the sport isn’t required to understand the novel; all you need is a familiarity with loving something to the point of pain.”—Casey McQuiston, The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)<BR><BR>A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Elle, them, Book Riot<BR><BR>Star point guard Mack Morris’s senior year of high school begins with twin cataclysms: the death of Mack’s father and the arrival of transfer student Liv Cooper. Playing side by side for their high school basketball team, Mack and Liv discover an electrifying, game-winning chemistry on the court. Off the court, they fall into an equally intoxicating more-than-friendship—one that feels out-of-bounds in their small Pennsylvania town. Mack teeters on the precipice of adulthood as desire and grief collide with drugs, sex, and the looming college signing deadline. Caught between the dual impulses of ambition and self-destruction, Mack must decide what kind of life they want to fight for.<BR><BR>Written with the lush longing of André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name, the obsessive attention of Jean Kyoung Frazier’s Pizza Girl, and the sweeping romance of the beloved film Love & Basketball, A Sharp Endless Need is a stunning testament to the big feelings of coming of age, falling in love, and, of course, playing sports.

After the calamity of the Great War, there was a desire in Britain for escapist fun - the lights of the Jazz Age, radio comedies and the pictures were a welcome respite from the grim reality of the Great Depression. Yet the storm clouds were gathering, and Britain between the wars was a turbulent, restless place - and where the foundations of the modern nation were laid. Combining cultural, social and political history, Shellshocked is the next instalment in Alwyn Turner's highly original history of the twentieth century, sketching a portrait of the interwar nation through its entertainments and scandals, its people and political crises. From the General Strike to the BBC, Irish Home Rule and the rise of fascism, this is the definitive story of Britain's most anxious era.

'This series is a must-read for anyone who loves the sea, or islands, or joyous, intricate story-telling.' ANN CLEEVES<BR><BR>It's the dark nights in the run up to Christmas, and sailing sleuth Cass Lynch's first night on dry land is disturbed by strange noises outside her isolated cottage. Tiny footprints in the moonlit snow trail from her front door before mysteriously disappearing. Soon Cass learns others were visited by the same tiny feet in the night.<BR><BR>It looks like ingenious local teenagers playing tricks - but what happens when festive games turn deadly?<BR><BR>Cass soon finds out as a schoolboy disappears, leaving only a trail of footprints into the middle of a snowy field. She's determined to investigate, but uncovering the truth will also put her in danger . . .<BR><BR>Nail-biting and unputdownable, A Shetland Winter Mystery is the latest instalment in the much-loved Shetland Sailing Mystery series by Marsali Taylor. Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths and J M Dalgliesh.<BR><BR>Readers LOVE the Shetland Sailing Mysteries:<BR><BR>'Definitely the best of the Cass Lynch series yet!' 5* Reader Review<BR><BR>'The beautiful descriptions of Shetland life, traditions, it's landscape and even language bring everything to life.' 5* Reader Review<BR><BR>'This series gets better and better' 5* Reader Review<BR><BR>'A beautifully written story, with descriptions so vivid you can smell the sea and beautiful countryside.' 5* Reader Review<BR><BR>'The perfect lockdown read for anyone who longs to be back on the sea.' 5* Reader Review

When Anna's stepfather Caleb is arrested, she must prove his innocenceby finding a lost whaling ship. But without a map, only migratingbirds and whales can show the way . . .

A STANDALONE gothic dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange.<BR>Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.When she was just 16-years old, she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay "Bones" Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate--not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive. Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it's being held in the captain's wicked hands.But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who--and what--Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate's dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.<BR>When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

"Former painter and unreformed rake Kit Griffith is forging a new life in Cornwall, choosing freedom over an identity that didn't fit. He knew that leaving his Sisterhood of women artists might mean forfeiting artistic community forever. He didn't realize he would lose his ability to paint altogether. Luckily, he has other talents. Why not devote himself to selling bicycles and trysting with the holidaymakers? Enter Muriel Pendrake, the feisty New-York-bound botanist who has come to St. Ives to commission Kit for illustrations of British seaweeds. Kit shouldn't accept Muriel's offer, but he must enlist her help to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men. And she won't agree unless he gives her what she wants. Maybe that's exactly the challenge he needs. As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun. But are they pedaling toward something impossible? The past is bound to catch up to them, and at the season's end, their paths will diverge. With only their hearts as guides, Kit and Muriel must decide if they're willing to race into the unknown for the adventure of a lifetime"--

The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model.- Berry phase, Chern Number.- Polarization and Berry Phase.- Adiabatic charge pumping, Rice-Mele model.- Current operator and particle pumping.- Two-dimensional Chern insulators - the Qi-Wu-Zhang model.- Continuum model of localized states at a domain wall.- Time-reversal symmetric two-dimensional topological insulators - the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model.-The Z2 invariant of two-dimensional topological insulators.- Electrical conduction of edge states. <BR><BR><BR><BR>

Savvy managers no longer look at contracting processes and documents reactively but use them proactively to reach their business goals and minimize their risks. To succeed, these managers need a framework and A Short Guide to Contract Risk provides this. The foundation of identifying and managing contract risk is what the authors call Contract Literacy: a set of skills relevant for all who deal with contracts in their everyday business environment, ranging from general managers and CEOs to sales, procurement and project professionals and risk managers. Contracts play a major role in business success. Contracts govern companies' deals and relationships with their suppliers and customers. They impact future rights, cash flows, costs, earnings, and risks. A company's contract portfolio may be subject to greater losses than anyone realizes. Still the greatest risk in business is not taking any risks. Equipped with the concepts described in this book, business and risk managers can start to see contracts differently and to use them to find and achieve the right balance for business success and problem prevention. What makes this short guide from the authors of the acclaimed Proactive Law for Managers especially valuable, if not unique, is its down-to-earth managerial/legal approach. Using lean contracting, visualization and the tools introduced in this book, managers and lawyers can achieve legally sound contracts that function as managerial tools for well thought-out, realistic risk allocation in business deals and relationships.

90 Classic titles celebrating 90 years of Penguin Books<BR><BR>Best known for his existentialist novel The Outsider, set in French-occupied Algeria, Albert Camus was profoundly influenced by the landscapes, towns and traditions of his youth. Selected here are some of his finest personal essays about Algeria and its environs, including the luminous 'Nuptials at Tipasa', one of his earliest works where he developed the themes that would inform his later philosophy: to thrive now, without hope for paradise, as mortal life alone can be worthwhile.

'Jenkins sets about his task with infectious enthusiasm and draws out all the most important themes in America's 250-year history' The TimesIn the two hundred and fifty years since its foundation, the United States of America has grown to become the world's richest and most powerful union. How did this new nation come to dominate global culture, economics, politics and warfare? Informed by years of close observation, bestselling author Simon Jenkins follows the extraordinary journey of America from before independence through revolution to Civil War, its emergence onto the international stage and the turbulence of the present day. We meet its most notable Presidents and see its most formative moments in a colourful and pacey narrative of a country often in turmoil, yet one that remains to many a land of freedom and a citadel of democracy with a story to inspire. This is an essential read for anyone who seeks to understand the country that continues to shape our world.

Classical Greece and its legacy have long inspired a powerful and passionate fascination. The civilization that bequeathed to later ages drama and democracy, Homer and heroism, myth and Mycenae and the Delphic Oracle and the Olympic Games has, perhaps more than any other, helped shape the intellectual contours of the modern world. P J Rhodes is among the most distinguished historians of antiquity. In this elegant, zesty new survey he explores the archaic (8th - early 5th centuries BCE), classical (5th and 4th centuries BCE) and Hellenistic (late 4th - mid-2nd centuries BCE) periods up to the beginning of Roman hegemony. His scope is that of the people who originated on the Greek mainland and Aegean islands who later migrated to the shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and then (following the conquests of Alexander) to the Near East and beyond. Exploring topics such as the epic struggle with Persia; the bitter rivalry of Athens and Sparta; slaves and ethnicity; religion and philosophy; and literature and the visual arts, this authoritative book will attract students and non-specialists in equal measure.

'Packed with more detail and colour than many books twice its size, Hughes brings the epic story of Rome vividly to life.'<BR>PAUL COOPER, HOST AND AUTHOR OF FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS<BR><BR>Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Roman world, and meet its most intriguing and influential characters, as this immersive account brings 1000 years of history to life.<BR><BR>Immerse yourself in the dramatic and thrilling thousand-year story of Ancient Rome. Combining impeccable research with action packed storytelling, this riveting short history explores the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.<BR><BR>Walk Rome's bustling streets, witness the fearsome exploits of its all-conquering army and step into the opulent corridors of its palaces and pioneering building projects. Follow Hannibal as he crosses the snowcapped Alps with elephants in tow, shadow Julius Caesar as he ponders whether to cross the Rubicon river, and look on as Cicero delivers an impassioned speech to the Senate.<BR><BR>In a Bacchanalian feast of despotic rulers, colossal conquests, visionary women, gladiator games and the daily life of Roman citizens and subjects, A Short History of Ancient Rome charts the dramatic twists<BR>and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline, as you navigate this crucial period in history.

From the hit 'Short History of...' podcast comes the dramatic and thrilling history of Ancient Rome. Packed with vivid detail and extraordinary characters, this immersive account brings to life the rise and fall of one of the greatest empires the world has ever known. Short History of Ancient Rome transforms 1,000 years of history into a riveting and action-packed account of the inception, expansion and ultimate fall of Ancient Rome.Combining impeccable research with gripping storytelling, A Short History of Ancient Rome takes readers through the dramatic twists and turns of the kingdom, the republic, the empire and its decline in less time than it would take to watch the Gladiator movies.Filled with the sights, sounds, smells and characters that shaped Rome, this book brings the ancient world to life and tells you everything you need to know about this crucial period in history.

A fully updated edition of the Canadian classic.<BR><BR>Most of us know bits and pieces of our history but would like to be more sure of how it all fits together. The trick is to find a history that is so absorbing you will want to read it from beginning to end. With this expanded, seventh edition of A Short History of Canada, readers need look no further.<BR>     Desmond Morton, one of Canada's most highly respected historians, is keenly aware of the ways in which our past informs the present, and in one compact and engrossing volume, he pulls off the remarkable feat of bringing it all together -- from the First Nations before the arrival of the Europeans, to Confederation, to Stephen Harper's prime ministership, to Justin Trudeau's victory in the 2015 election. His acute observations on the Diefenbaker era, the effects of the post-war influx of immigrants, the Trudeau years and the constitutional crisis, the Quebec referendum, the rise of the Canadian Alliance, and Canada under Harper's governance, all provide an invaluable background to understanding the way Canada works today and its direction in years to come.

Top World Guild Award WinnerThis book is about an idea―namely, that Scripture mandates a Jewish return to the historical region of Palestine―which in turn morphed into a political movement, rallied around a popular slogan ("A country without a nation for a nation without a country"), and eventually contributed to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Christian Zionism continues to influence global politics, especially U.S. foreign policy, and has deeply affected Jewish–Christian and Muslim–Christian relations.Donald M. Lewis seeks to provide a fair-minded, longitudinal study of this dynamic yet controversial movement as he traces its lineage from biblical sources through the Reformation to various movements of today. He explores Christian Zionism's interaction with other movements, forces, and discourses, especially in eschatological and political thought, and why it is now flourishing beyond the English-speaking world. Throughout he demonstrates how it has helped British and American Protestants frame and shape their identity.A Short History of Christian Zionism seeks to bring clarity and context to often-heated discussions.

Dissects Man's decadence in a remarkable series of moving and beautiful pieces. “To miss reading this book would be a deprivation.”—Los Angeles Times<BR><BR>E. M. Cioran confronts the place of today's world in the context of human history—focusing on such major issues of the twentieth century as human progress, fanaticism, and science—in this nihilistic and witty collection of aphoristic essays concerning the nature of civilization in mid-twentieth-century Europe. Table of Contents:<BR>- Foreword- Directions for Decomposition- The Second-Hand Thinker- Faces of Decadence- Sanctity and the Grimaces of the Absolute- The Décor of Knowledge- Abdications<BR>Touching upon Man's need to worship, the feebleness of God, the downfall of the Ancient Greeks and the melancholy baseness of all existence, Cioran's pieces are pessimistic in the extreme, but also display a beautiful certainty that renders them delicate, vivid, and memorable. Illuminating and brutally honest,<BR><BR>“When A Short History of Decay was published, it tended to polarize readers. Many dismissed it as overly morose and pessimistic, completely out of tune with the obligatory optimism of postwar European culture. Others praised it for precisely these reasons (in his review of the book, Maurice Nadeau proclaimed Cioran ‘the one whose arrival has been prepared by all the philosophers of the void and of the absurd, harbinger of bad news par excellence’). The original impact of Cioran’s book can still be felt in reading A Short History of Decay today.”—Eugene Thacker, from his Foreword

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A TIPPLE . . . OR TWO . . . OR TEN! <BR><BR>Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there's drink there's drunkenness. But in every age and in every place drunkenness is a little bit different. Tracing humankind's love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, it answers every possible question:<BR><BR>What did people drink? How much? Who did the drinking? Of the many possible reasons, why? <BR><BR>On the way, learn about the Neolithic Shamans, who drank to communicate with the spirit world (no pun intended), marvel at how Greeks got giddy and Romans got rat-arsed, and find out how bars in the Wild West were never like the movies.<BR><BR>This is a history of the world at its inebriated best.<BR><BR>'This book is a laugh riot. I mean the way the author has presented it is hilarious and to the point' Goodreads Reviewer <BR><BR>'Highly entertaining. Cheers! Bottoms up! Good health!' Goodreads Reviewer<BR><BR>'It can make a good gift for someone with a sense of humour and appreciation for the magical powers of alcohol' Goodreads Reviewer

From the invaders of the dark ages to the aftermath of the coalition, one of Britain's most respected journalists, Simon Jenkins, weaves together a strong narrative with all the most important and interesting dates in a book that characteristically is as stylish as it is authoritative.<BR><BR>A Short History of England sheds light on all the key individuals and events, bringing them together in an enlightening and engaging account of the country's birth, rise to global prominence and then partial eclipse.There have been long synoptic histories of England but until now there has been no standard short work covering all significant events, themes and individuals. <BR><BR>Now updated to take in the rapid progress of recent events and beautifully illustrated, this magisterial history will be the standard work for years to come.

Discover the history of Europe - from the Dark Ages to present day - by the author of the bestselling A Short History of EnglandEurope is an astonishingly successful place. But it would take volumes to tell its story, right? Wrong. From warring peoples to peace, wealth and freedom, Andrew Jenkins distils its evolution into this short, single-volume history.From Greece and Rome, through the French Revolution to the Second World War and modern times. Taking in leaders such as Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Wellington and Angela Merkel.Sharing stories of cultural figures like Aristotle, Shakespeare and Picasso.Jenkins brings together the transformative forces and dominant eras into one chronological tale - all with his insight, colour and authority.

A Short History of European Law brings to life 2,500 years of legal history, tying current norms to the circumstances of their conception. Tamar Herzog describes how successive legal systems built upon one another, from ancient times through the European Union. Roman law formed the backbone of each configuration, though the way it was used and reshaped varied dramatically from one century and place to the next. Only by considering Continental civil law and English common law together do we see how they drew from and enriched this shared tradition.<BR><BR>"A remarkable achievement, sure to become a go-to text for scholars and students alike... A must-read for anyone eager to understand the origins of core legal concepts and institution-like due process and rule of law-that profoundly shape the societies in which we live today."<BR>-Amalia D. Kessler, Stanford University<BR><BR>"A fundamental and timely contribution to the understanding of Europe as seen through its legal systems. Herzog masterfully shows the profound unity of legal thinking and practices across the Continent and in England."<BR>-Federico Varese, Oxford University<BR><BR>"Required reading for Americanists North and South, and indeed, for all of us inhabiting a postcolonial world deeply marked by the millennia of legal imaginings whose dynamic transformations it so lucidly charts."<BR>-David Nirenberg, University of Chicago

The world-renowned economist offers "dourly irreverent analyses of financial debacle from the tulip craze of the seventeenth century to the recent plague of junk bonds."-The Atlantic.

“Thrilling . . . a bracing summary of what we have learned [from] ‘archaeogenetics’—the study of ancient DNA . . . Krause and Trappe capture the excitement of this young field.”—Kyle Harper, The Wall Street JournalJohannes Krause is the director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and a brilliant pioneer in the field of archaeogenetics—archaeology augmented by DNA sequencing technology—which has allowed scientists to reconstruct human history reaching back hundreds of thousands of years before recorded time. In this surprising account, Krause and journalist Thomas Trappe rewrite a fascinating chapter of this history, the peopling of Europe, that takes us from the Neanderthals and Denisovans to the present. We know now that a wave of farmers from Anatolia migrated into Europe 8,000 years ago, essentially displacing the dark-skinned, blue-eyed hunter-gatherers who preceded them. This Anatolian farmer DNA is one of the core genetic components of people with contemporary European ancestry. Archaeogenetics has also revealed that indigenous North and South Americans, though long thought to have been East Asian, also share DNA with contemporary Europeans. Krause and Trappe vividly introduce us to the prehistoric cultures of the ancient Europeans: the Aurignacians, innovative artisans who carved flutes and animal and human forms from bird bones more than 40,000 years ago; the Varna, who buried their loved ones with gold long before the Pharaohs of Egypt; and the Gravettians, big-game hunters who were Europe’s most successful early settlers until they perished in the ice age. Genetics has earned a reputation for smuggling racist ideologies into science, but cutting-edge science makes nonsense of eugenics and “pure” bloodlines. Immigration and genetic exchanges have always defined our species; who we are is a question of culture, not biological inheritance. This revelatory book offers us an entirely new way to understand ourselves, both past and present.

“A Short History of Ireland stands out for its brevity, but also for its accessibility. . . . A solid introduction not only to the key events and themes of Irish history, but also to the processes of that history, too.”—Seán Hewitt, Irish Times<BR><BR> A concise history of Ireland from the Protestant Reformation to the present day – newly revised and expanded<BR><BR> In this compact and accessible account, John Gibney traces five centuries of Irish history. He explores major events and key themes, including the Cromwellian conquest, the Great Famine, and the struggle for independence. Wide-ranging and brisk, engaging and informative, this is essential reading for anyone interested in Ireland’s complex past.<BR>  

'A history that somehow manages to be at once succinct and sweeping: essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries' - Tom Holland'The perfect introduction to [Japan's] intriguing society is Christopher Harding's lively new A Short History of Japan... The book is short, yes - but its scope is long, deep and rich' - Rana Mitter, History Extra, History Books of the Year 2025 In this enormously enjoyable introduction to a remarkable country, Christopher Harding traces Japan's rich history over several millennia. Beginning with its earliest coastal communities through to the spread of Buddhism, the rise of the warlords, the promise and menace of the West and Japan's own empire-building, Harding explores how a distinctly Japanese society and culture was forged.Drawing on the latest scholarship, A Short History of Japan moves beyond traditional tourist-board clichés to consider Japan's own view of its past, values and culture, from ceramics and theatre to food and architecture. The result is a sensory, tactile history conveying to the reader much about Japan's special nature. Harding skilfully shows how these everyday details are intimately bound up with the bigger historical picture, as an expression of the values that have been extraordinarily successful in helping the country to cope with centuries of radical change.

'A history that somehow manages to be at once succinct and sweeping: essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries' - Tom Holland'The perfect introduction to [Japan's] intriguing society is Christopher Harding's lively new A Short History of Japan... The book is short, yes - but its scope is long, deep and rich' - Rana Mitter, History Extra, History Books of the Year 2025 In this enormously enjoyable introduction to a remarkable country, Christopher Harding traces Japan's rich history over several millennia. Beginning with its earliest coastal communities through to the spread of Buddhism, the rise of the warlords, the promise and menace of the West and Japan's own empire-building, Harding explores how a distinctly Japanese society and culture was forged.Drawing on the latest scholarship, A Short History of Japan moves beyond traditional tourist-board clichés to consider Japan's own view of its past, values and culture, from ceramics and theatre to food and architecture. The result is a sensory, tactile history conveying to the reader much about Japan's special nature. Harding skilfully shows how these everyday details are intimately bound up with the bigger historical picture, as an expression of the values that have been extraordinarily successful in helping the country to cope with centuries of radical change.

In this fully revised and updated edition of the best-selling popular science book of the 21st century, Bill Bryson makes complex subjects clear and compelling for everyone with an interest in the world around them. NOW FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED.'Possibly the best scientific primer ever published.' Economist'Truly impressive...It's hard to imagine a better rough guide to science.' GuardianBill Bryson can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 is the result of his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from being nothing at all to what we are today. Now fully updated to reflect the many scientific discoveries in the last twenty years since this book was first published, it explains among much else:- why Pluto is no longer a planet- how the number of moons in the solar system has more than doubled in 20 years- how scientists used advances in genetics to discover previously unknown species of early humans- why we still don't know what most of the universe is made of- how the little Higgs boson transformed physicsThis journey through time and space will inform a new generation of readers, young and old, as well as those who read this book on first publication with a new perspective based on what we know now.Written in his inimitable style, Bryson makes complex subjects fascinating and accessible to everyone with an interest in the world around them.A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 reveals the world in a whole new way.Praise for A Short History of Nearly Everything:'I doubt that a better book for the layman about the findings of modern science has been written.' Sunday Telegraph'Bill Bryson has an unmatched gift for explaining the most difficult subjects in the clearest possible way.' Mail on Sunday'A travelogue of science, with a witty, engaging, and well-informed guide' The Times'Hugely readable and never obfuscating.' Sunday Times'A genuinely useful and readable book... A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' Daily Express'The very book I have been looking for most of my life... Bryson wears his knowledge with aplomb and a lot of very good jokes.' Daily Mail'Destined to become a modern classic of science writing' The New York Times

Journey through time and space with Bill Bryson in the best-selling popular science book of the 21st century, exploring the history of the Earth, the universe, and everything in between. <BR><BR>NOW FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED.<BR><BR>'Possibly the best scientific primer ever published.' The Economist<BR><BR>'Truly impressive...It's hard to imagine a better rough guide to science.' Guardian<BR><BR>Bill Bryson describes himself as a reluctant traveller, but even when he stays at home, he can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. <BR><BR>A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 is the result of his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization - how we got from being nothing at all to what we are today. Now fully updated it explains among much else:<BR>- why Pluto is no longer a planet- how the number of moons in the solar system has more than doubled in 20 years- how scientists used advances in genetics to discover previously unknown species of early humans- why we still don't know what most of the universe is made of- how the little Higgs boson transformed physicsThis journey through time and space will inform a new generation of readers, young and old, as well as those who read this book on first publication with a new perspective based on what we know now.<BR><BR>Written in his inimitable style, Bryson makes complex subjects fascinating and accessible to everyone with an interest in the world around them.<BR><BR>A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 reveals the world in a whole new way.<BR><BR>Praise for A Short History of Nearly Everything:<BR><BR>'I doubt that a better book for the layman about the findings of modern science has been written.' Sunday Telegraph<BR><BR>'Bill Bryson has an unmatched gift for explaining the most difficult subjects in the clearest possible way.' Mail on Sunday<BR><BR>'A travelogue of science, with a witty, engaging, and well-informed guide' The Times<BR><BR>'Hugely readable and never obfuscating.' Sunday Times<BR><BR>'A genuinely useful and readable book... A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' Daily Express<BR><BR>'The very book I have been looking for most of my life... Bryson wears his knowledge with aplomb and a lot of very good jokes.' Daily Mail<BR><BR>'Destined to become a modern classic of science writing' The New York Times

A funny, bullshit-free and surprising history<BR><BR>Queer families have always existed<BR> <BR>Even Sappho, the OG lesbian, had a daughter named Cleis, in honour of vaginas everywhere! For centuries, the women of ‘The Golden Orchid Society’ in Qing-dynasty China were getting married and raising daughters together – platonically, obviously... And Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson’s fabulously bisexual open marriage proved women really can have it all – a husband, two kids, a writing career and Virginia Woolf.<BR> <BR>Maybe you’re exploring your options. Maybe you don’t want kids but you have questions. Either way, Kirsty Loehr provides another rollicking guide to the ups and downs of queer parenthood through the ages.

Kirsty Loehr exposes centuries of outrageous straightwashing in this deliciously queer history'Fast paced, fun, and delightfully filthy.' Kate Lister, host of Betwixt the SheetsNo, they weren't 'just friends'!Queer women have been written out of history since, well, forever. 'But historians famously care about women!', said no one. From Anne Bonny and Mary Read who sailed the seas together disguised as pirates, to US football captain Megan Rapinoe declaring 'You can't win a championship without gays on your team', via countless literary salons and tuxedos, A Short History of Queer Women sets the record straight on women who have loved other women through the ages.Who says lesbians can't be funny?

Russia’s epic and dramatic story told in an accessible, lively and short form, using the country's fascinating history to illuminate its future.A country with no natural borders, no single ethnic group, no true central identity, Russia has mythologized its past to unite its people and to signal strength to outsiders. Mark Galeotti takes us behind the myths to the heart of the Russian story: the formation of a nation through its early legends including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great the rise and fall of the Romanovs, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, Chernobyl and the Soviet Union the arrival of an obscure politician named Vladimir Putin.A Short History of Russia explores the history of this fascinating, glorious, desperate and exasperating country through two intertwined issues: the way successive influences from beyond its borders have shaped Russia, and the way Russians came to terms with this influence, writing and rewriting their past to understand their present and try to influence their future. In turn, this self-invented history has come to affect not just their constant nation-building project but also their relations with the world.

*Pre-order A Short History of the Apocalypse - out 7th November 2024*A Short History of the Apocalypse is your comprehensive guide to the challenges presented by Armageddon. Join Frankie Boyle (Saturday Night Swindle; Celebrity Vengeance) and Charlie Skelton (head writer: Ad Naseum; David Suchet"s News Sachet) as they debrief time traveller and bon vivant from the late 21st Century, Alonso Lampe.How do you go about joining a militia? What will life be like in a billionaire"s bunker? How will people entertain themselves in re-education camps? All these questions will be answered in several different, often contradictory, ways.With exclusive illustrations by Hall of Fame comic artist Frank Quitely, A Short History of the Apocalypse is vital to your future survival.

Incorporating the latest scholarly developments to offer an in-depth account of the history of the Byzantine Empire, this revised edition sheds new light on the Empire's culture, theology, and economic and socio-political spheres.<BR><BR>Charting from the Empire's origins, to its expansion and influence over the Mediterranean, later revival, and eventual fall - this book covers more than 1,000 years of history. With analysis of the Empire's changing social infrastructure, key events, and the broader cultural environment, Stathakopoulos expertly analyses how and why it became a powerhouse of literature, art, theology and learning, whilst also examining its aftermath and afterlife - and enduring significance today.<BR><BR>Drawing on a variety of English and non-English sources, in addition to a plethora of visual and textual materials, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and general readers alike.

'An excellent primer . . . Essential reading' GUARDIAN*History matters, especially in Palestine.In this essential account, historian Anne Irfan reveals the long-term roots of Israel's genocidal destruction of Gaza. She examines six key moments in its history that provide vital context for the present day, beginning with Israel's expulsion of the Palestinian people in 1948, when the Gaza region was truncated to a tiny 'Strip' of 141 square miles, through to Israel's occupations, the first intifada and the rise of Hamas. Drawing on a decade of meticulous research, she cuts through the misinformation and conflicting narratives to tell a story that begins long before the Hamas-led attacks of October 7 and centres Gaza as a microcosm of the Palestinian struggle. Clear-sighted and compassionate, this is an account that foregrounds the voices of Palestinians of all walks of life, from farmers and teachers to poets and activists.A Short History of the Gaza Strip is an indispensable primer for anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge of Palestine and the wider region. *'Brings an unsparing moral clarity and deep insight to this timely, scholarly, humane and profoundly tragic tale' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE, NEW STATESMAN 'Wonderfully informative, nuanced, humane' BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE Book of the Year'Written with passion, precision and clarity' IRISH INDEPENDENT

A short, authoritative, enthralling history of the Roman Mass from the Last Supper to the \"Tridentine Mass\" as said today. Covers Low Mass, Sacramentaries, other Western Rites, etc. Highlights the reforms of Popes St. Gregory the Great (590-604) and St. Pius V (1566-1572). Says neither \"reform\" produced a \"new\" liturgy.

Combining an expertise on the Tudor dynasty with an authoritative understanding of its religious and political make-up, A Short History of the Tudors provides a fresh and accessible perspective of one of the most formative periods of British history.<BR>Rex considers the ways in which the Tudors shaped the beginnings of modern England through the momentous break with Rome in a comprehensive yet balanced way. Close attention is also paid to the dismantling of the baronial system and centralisation of secular power, as well as an exploration of the break with Rome, the two pillars on which the author's argument will rest.<BR>The book is organised chronologically and divided up into time periods, making it the ultimate companion for anyone keen to delve into the history of Britain's most notorious dynasty.<BR>The famous and infamous key players in the Tudor age have long endured in text books and are, brought to life here by Rex. Lively portraits of John Fisher, Thomas Moore and Thomas Wolsey and Mary Queen of Scots are painted, as well as the lesser-known players like the flamboyant Robert Devereux. A leading authority on the Tudors and British religious history, Richard Rex brings to life a dynasty which continues to engages and fascinate readers.

It is impossible to understand the history of modern Europe without some knowledge of the Weimar Republic. The brief fourteen-year period of democracy between the Treaty of Versailles and the advent of the Third Reich was marked by unstable government, economic crisis and hyperinflation and the rise of extremist political movements. At the same time, however, a vibrant cultural scene flourished, which continues to influence the international art world through the aesthetics of Expressionism and the Bauhaus movement. In the fields of art, literature, theatre, cinema, music and architecture - not to mention science - Germany became a world leader during the 1920s, while her perilous political and economic position ensured that no US or European statesman could afford to ignore her. <BR><BR>Incorporating original research and a synthesis of the existing historiography, this revised edition will provide students and a general readership with a clear and concise introduction to the history of the first German Republic.

The book has a unique status as an emblem of human culture and civilization. It is a vessel for sharing stories, dispersing knowledge, examining the nature of our extraordinary species and imagining what lies beyond our known world. Books ultimately provide an invaluable and comprehensive record of what it means to be human.This volume takes a curated list of fifty of the most influential books of all time, putting each into its historical context. From ancient game-changers like the Epic of Gilgamesh, through sacred texts and works of philosophical rumination by the likes of Confucius and Plato, via scientific treatises, historic 'firsts' (like the first printed book) and cultural works of enduring impact (think Shakespeare, Cervantes and Joseph Heller), these are volumes that are at once both products of their societies and vital texts in moulding those same civilizations. It would take a lifetime and more to read and absorb all of them. But this volume allows you to become ridiculously well read in just a fraction of the time. This isn't a celebration of the canon, it's about the books that have changed how we think and live - and which have changed the course of history.

The bestselling alternative history series in bite-sized chapters. Thoroughly researched and entertaining. This is history ... but not as you know it.<BR><BR>Explore the failures, mistakes and missed opportunities that shaped history in this new entry in the bestselling series.<BR><BR>From the botched attempt to create a life-extending elixir that produced gunpowder, to the unsuccessful stint in medical school which led to a career in naturalism for Charles Darwin, to the missile detection system malfunction that almost sparked a nuclear war, the course of human history has so often been shaped by failures of all magnitudes.<BR><BR>In fifty bite-sized chapters spanning thousands of years, A Short History of the World in 50 Failures details how the world as we know it has been defined by plans gone awry, opportunities not seized upon and schemes that were always fated to end in catastrophe.<BR><BR>Whether it's the pharaoh Akhenaten's misplaced attempt to found a new religion or Napoleon's doomed invasion of Russia, discover a fascinating collection of outsized tales and historical snafus that created the world as we know it today.<BR><BR>Also available:<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Conspiracies (9781789299076)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Murders (9781789297737)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants (9781789298437)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Lies (9781789294606)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Places (9781789291971)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Animals (9781789292954)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Books (9781789294088)

The bestselling alternative history series in bite-sized chapters. Thoroughly researched and entertaining. This is history ... but not as you know it.<BR><BR>Taking readers on a global journey through human history, Natasha Tidd examines how lies can change the world around us, from Julius Caesar's deceptive PR machine to the cover-ups that caused Chernobyl.<BR><BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Lies journeys through forgeries that created centuries worth of conflict and domination, such as The Donation of Constantine, that all started with a forged papal document that went on to spark the start of the European Reformation. Also uncovered are mass political and press cover-ups including the infamous Dreyfus Affair in France that explores wrongful accusations, anti-semitism and Devil's Island. <BR><BR>Alongside these are examinations of how our retellings of history can turn fiction into fact, including The Spanish Inquisition's deceitful legacy. Plus, there is an in-depth look at how historic lies can still impact our lives today, such as the deadly legacy of America's Tuskegee Experiment.<BR><BR>Meet incredible people, including Jeanne de Clisson who became the fourteenth century's most feared pirate - all because of a lie.<BR><BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Lies details the profound impact of this secretive side of history and shows that the truth really is stranger - and far more dangerous - than any fiction.<BR><BR>Other books in the series:<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Conspiracies (9781789299076)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Murders (9781789297737)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Tyrants (9781789298437)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Places (9781789291971)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Animals (9781789292954)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Books (9781789294088)<BR>A Short History of the World in 50 Failures (9781789296938)

Taking readers on a global journey through human history, Natasha Tidd examines how lies can change the world around us, from Julius Caesar's deceptive PR machine to the cover-ups that caused Chernobyl.