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Books > Humanities > History > General

Christian Heritage (Teacher Guide) (Paperback, Teacher ed.): Marilyn Boyer Christian Heritage (Teacher Guide) (Paperback, Teacher ed.)
Marilyn Boyer
R575 R473 Discovery Miles 4 730 Save R102 (18%) Ships in 4 - 8 working days
The Lincoln Miracle - Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History (Hardcover): Edward Achorn The Lincoln Miracle - Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History (Hardcover)
Edward Achorn
R596 Discovery Miles 5 960 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The vivid, behind-the-scenes story of perhaps the most consequential political moment in American history—Abraham Lincoln’s history-changing nomination to lead the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election Illinois lawyer Abraham Lincoln had a record of political failure. In 1858, he had lost a celebrated Senate bid against incumbent Stephen Douglas, his second failed Senate run, and had not held public office since one term in Congress a decade earlier. As the Republican National Convention opened in mid-May 1860 in Chicago, powerful New York Senator William Seward was the overwhelming favorite for the presidential nomination, with notables like Salmon Chase and Edward Bates in the running. Few thought Lincoln stood a chance—though stubborn Illinois circuit Judge David Davis had come to fight for his friend anyway. Such was the political landscape as Edward Achorn’s The Lincoln Miracle opens on Saturday, May 12, 1860. Chronicling the tense political drama as it unfolded over the next six days, Achorn explores the genius of Lincoln’s quiet strategy, the vicious partisanship tearing apart America, the fierce battles raging over racism and slavery, and booming Chicago as a symbol of the modernization transforming the nation. Closely following the shrewd insiders on hand, from Seward power broker Thurlow Weed to editor Horace Greeley — bent on stopping his former friend, Seward—Achorn brings alive arguably the most consequential political story in America’s history. From smoky hotel rooms to night marches by the Wide Awakes, the new Republican youth organization, to fiery speeches on the floor of the giant convention center called The Wigwam, Achorn portrays a political climate even more contentious than our own today, out of which the seemingly impossible long shot prevailed, to the nation’s everlasting benefit. As atmospheric and original as Achorn’s previous Every Drop of Blood, The Lincoln Miracle is essential reading for any Lincoln aficionado as it is for anyone who cares about our nation’s history.

London Cemeteries - An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer (Paperback, 3rd edition): Hugh Meller, Brian Parsons London Cemeteries - An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer (Paperback, 3rd edition)
Hugh Meller, Brian Parsons
R670 Discovery Miles 6 700 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The cemeteries of Greater London have been a neglected area of the capital's history. They are filled not only with the remains of recent generations but also with a wealth of architectural and social history that is described here in an entertaining and eloquent narrative full of picturesque melancholy. The book is divided into two. Part one records the origins of London's cemeteries and includes introductory chapters on cemetery history, planning, architecture, epitaphs and natural history. Part two is a gazetteer, with descriptions of all the cemeteries in Greater London, together with short biographies of the celebrated people buried in them. There are two indexes, one listing the names of those in the gazetteer and a second naming the architects, landscapers and sculptors whose work is represented in the cemeteries. The text is illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and a wide range of rarely seen archive images. London Cemeteries is an important source for biographical and genealogical research, and a compendium of material for the architectural historian. Social and local historians will also find much of interest here.

The Women of Windsor - Their Power, Privilege, and Passions (Paperback): Catherine Whitney The Women of Windsor - Their Power, Privilege, and Passions (Paperback)
Catherine Whitney
R509 R418 Discovery Miles 4 180 Save R91 (18%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Who are the women of Windsor?

Queen Elizabeth: Born to duty, adored by her parents, she swore as a teenager to serve her country above all else . . . and she has lived up to her promise, even when her crown has been a burden.

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother: Hitler was afraid of her, the English people adored her. Her kind, sparkling blue eyes and cheerful manner belied a backbone of steel.

Princess Margaret: Beautiful, talented, vivacious, and complex, the Diana of her day. But the promise of her youth was destroyed when she was betrayed by her sister, now the queen, who needlessly forced her to give up the man she loved.

Princess Anne: Hardworking, hard-headed, and hot-tempered, arguably the most intelligent of the queen's four children and her father's favorite&#8212yet she is forever forced to take second place to her older brother, Charles.

Catherine Whitney takes readers behind the palace doors to give us an intimate glimpse into the private lives of the women of the British royal family&#8212four women who have shaped the world, each in her own way. Now, at last, their stories can be told.

Russia - Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921 (Paperback): Antony Beevor Russia - Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921 (Paperback)
Antony Beevor
R350 R289 Discovery Miles 2 890 Save R61 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

'A masterpiece of history' DAILY TELEGRAPH Between 1917 and 1921 a devastating struggle took place in Russia following the collapse of the Tsarist empire. Many regard this savage civil war as the most influential event of the modern era. An incompatible White alliance of moderate socialists and reactionary monarchists stood little chance against Trotsky's Red Army and Lenin's single-minded Communist dictatorship. Terror begat terror, which in turn led to even greater cruelty with man's inhumanity to man, woman and child. The struggle became a world war by proxy as Churchill deployed weaponry and troops from the British empire, while armed forces from the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Poland and Czechoslovakia played rival parts. Using the most up to date scholarship and archival research, Antony Beevor, author of the acclaimed international bestseller Stalingrad, assembles the complete picture in a gripping narrative that conveys the conflict through the eyes of everyone from the worker on the streets of Petrograd to the cavalry officer on the battlefield and the woman doctor in an improvised hospital.

The Serpentine - Or the Attractions of Water (Paperback): Louise Foxcroft The Serpentine - Or the Attractions of Water (Paperback)
Louise Foxcroft
R204 Discovery Miles 2 040 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
The ZERO Percent - Secrets of the United States, the Power of Trust, Nationality, Banking and ZERO TAXES! (Paperback):... The ZERO Percent - Secrets of the United States, the Power of Trust, Nationality, Banking and ZERO TAXES! (Paperback)
Du'vaul Dey
R517 R440 Discovery Miles 4 400 Save R77 (15%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Imperium: Horizons: Nigel Buckle, Dávid Turczi Imperium: Horizons
Nigel Buckle, Dávid Turczi; Illustrated by Mihajlo Dimitrievski
R1,412 Discovery Miles 14 120 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Imperium series continues in this asymmetric card-based civilisation building game for 1–4 players, charting the rise and fall of fourteen of the greatest civilisations from history. Formidable adversaries are arrayed against you. Your people stand ready. History beckons. In your hands lies the destiny of one of the most storied peoples of history. Under constant threat of attack, you must conquer new lands, oversee dramatic scientific and cultural advances, and lead your people into the era of empire. Expand too rapidly and unrest will bring your civilisation to its knees; build up too slowly, however, and you might find yourself a mere footnote of history. As one of fourteen radically asymmetric civilisations, you will compete to become the most dominant empire the world has ever seen. Imperium: Horizons is a standalone game that contains an astonishing fourteen distinctive civilisations, each of which makes for a unique and challenging opponent, even in a solo game. Fully compatible with Imperium: Classics and Imperium: Legends for those wanting to expand their pool of civilisations even further, Imperium: Horizons also incorporates a new trade module that allows players to recreate all the intrigue, wealth generation, and dynamic politics of a thriving economy. Players: 1–4 Ages: 14+ Playing Time: 40 mins per player Contents: 550 cards, 150+ tokens

Great Books of China (Paperback): Frances Wood Great Books of China (Paperback)
Frances Wood
R330 R264 Discovery Miles 2 640 Save R66 (20%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

Discover – or rediscover – the major achievements of Chinese culture and civilization. Great Books of China offers concise introductions – each of them accompanied by generous quotation (in English) from the book in question – to sixty-six works in the canon of Chinese literature. The books chosen reflect the chronological and thematic breadth of Chinese literary tradition, ranging from such classics as The Book of Songs and the Confucian Analects, through popular dramas and novels (The Romance of the Western Chamber; The Water Margin), twentieth-century political and biographical works (Quotations from Chairman Mao, the autobiography of the last emperor) and modern novels that are little known in the West (Memories of South Peking, Six Chapters from a Cadre School Life). Frances Wood presents a comprehensive, accessible and richly informative primer for the uninitiated; a box of delights that opens up an entire literary culture to the inquisitive reader.

Chronology of the Angevins 1154-1216 & the Plantagenets 1216-1372 (Paperback): David C. Wallace Chronology of the Angevins 1154-1216 & the Plantagenets 1216-1372 (Paperback)
David C. Wallace
R976 Discovery Miles 9 760 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Angevins The Angevin Empire is a neologism defining the lands of the Plantagenets: Henry II and his sons Richard I and John. Another son Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany ruled Brittany and established a separate line there. As far as historians know, there was no contemporary term for the region under Angevin control; however descriptions such as "our kingdom and everything subject to our rule whatever it may be" were used. The term Angevin Empire was coined by Kate Norgate in her 1887 publication, England under the Angevin Kings. In France, the term Espace Plantagenet (Plantagenet Area) is sometimes used to describe the fiefdoms the Plantagenets had acquired.

History, Women and Gender in the Modern Middle East - From Orientalism to the Arab Spring (Paperback): Lisa Pollard, Mona L... History, Women and Gender in the Modern Middle East - From Orientalism to the Arab Spring (Paperback)
Lisa Pollard, Mona L Russell
R1,109 Discovery Miles 11 090 Ships in 9 - 15 working days

This introductory text explores the gendered history of the modern Middle East, from the eighteenth century to the present, studying the various ways in which gender has defined the region and shaped relations in the modern era. The book captures three aspects of change simultaneously: the events that mark the “modern” Middle east, women’s encounters with the transition to modernity and gendered responses to modernity. It contains both new field work and a synthesis of secondary scholarship that highlight the role of gender in the modernization of Egypt, Turkey, Iran, the Levant and the Persian Gulf states. Chapters are organized chronologically to chart the rapid developments of the modern era, but each chapter also stands on its own, with coverage of masculinity and femininity, sexuality, marriage and the family, labor and women’s contributions to Arab Spring uprisings. Through this comprehensive account, the book pushes back on stereotypes that the Middle East is an ahistorical region and that women have not been vital actors in the process of change. Richly illustrated and accessible for a variety of readers, History, Women and Gender in the Modern Middle East is an ideal resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students in gender studies and Middle Eastern history.

Unlocking the Sky - Glenn Hammond Curtiss and the Race to Invent the Airplane (Paperback): Seth Shulman Unlocking the Sky - Glenn Hammond Curtiss and the Race to Invent the Airplane (Paperback)
Seth Shulman
R421 R349 Discovery Miles 3 490 Save R72 (17%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Unlocking the Sky tells the extraordinary tale of the race to design, refine, and manufacture a manned flying machine, a race that took place in the air, on the ground, and in the courtrooms of America. While the Wright brothers threw a veil of secrecy over their flying machine, Glenn Hammond Curtiss -- perhaps the greatest aviator and aeronautical inventor of all time -- freely exchanged information with engineers in America and abroad, resulting in his famous airplane, the June Bug, which made the first ever public flight in America. Fiercely jealous, the Wright brothers took to the courts to keep Curtiss and his airplane out of the sky and off the market. Ultimately, however, it was Curtiss's innovations and designs, not the Wright brothers', that served as the model for the modern airplane.

8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster - 'A wild ride of a novel' Monica Ali (Hardcover): Mirinae Lee 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster - 'A wild ride of a novel' Monica Ali (Hardcover)
Mirinae Lee
R531 R436 Discovery Miles 4 360 Save R95 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

'Mesmerising, heartbreaking ... a wild ride of a novel' Monica Ali 'Soaring, fierce, bold and intoxicating' Marjan Kamali, author of The Stationery Shop of Tehran 'I have never put so much trust in a verified liar' Alyssa Songsiridej, author of Little Rabbit 'The prose has a brutal beating energy' Catherine Cho, author of Inferno SLAVE. ESCAPE-ARTIST. MURDERER. TERRORIST. SPY. LOVER. MOTHER. TRICKSTER. At the Golden Sunset retirement home, it is not unusual for residents to invent stories. So when elderly Ms Mook first begins to unspool her memories, the obituarist listening to her is sceptical. Stories of captivity, friendship, murder, adventure, assumed identities and spying. Stories that take place in WWII Indonesia; in Busan during the Korean war; in cold-war Pyongyang; in China. The stories are so colourful and various, at times so unbelievable, that they cannot surely all belong to the same woman. Can they? As playful and thought-provoking as it is compelling, as brutal and harrowing as it is achingly poignant and tender, this is a novel about love and war, deceit and betrayal, about identity, storytelling and the trickery required for survival.

Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother's Secrets (Hardcover): Clair Wills Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother's Secrets (Hardcover)
Clair Wills
R607 R493 Discovery Miles 4 930 Save R114 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

How far would you go for the missing? When Clair Wills was in her twenties, she found out she had a cousin, Mary, who she had never met. In 1950s Ireland, Clair's uncle had got his lover Lily pregnant and gone to England, leaving her and the family farm - his inheritance - behind. Lily and Mary ended up in Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, not far from her grandmother's farm where Clair spent happy childhood summers, with no idea that Mary existed. The truly shocking thing about this story is how ordinary it was. It was repeated in families across Ireland for decades: the last mother and baby home closed in 1998. How could this happen? How could a whole family - a whole country - tacitly agree to abandon unmarried mothers and their children to such a stark fate, even to their death? And how, Wills asks, could her grandmother live with herself? To retrieve the missing, and make a new inheritance, Wills searches across archives and nations, from rural West Cork to Suffolk woodlands, from Paddington pubs to the factories of Massachusetts. But there are no easy resolutions, and there is a difference between a secret and a truth unspoken. Every family has its missing persons. Here is their story.

Finding Endurance - Shackleton, My Father and a World Without End (Hardcover): Darrel Bristow-Bovey Finding Endurance - Shackleton, My Father and a World Without End (Hardcover)
Darrel Bristow-Bovey
R584 R478 Discovery Miles 4 780 Save R106 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The discovery of Endurance briefly swept the anxiety and rancour of 2022 from the headlines of the world, and new generations thrilled again to one of the greatest tales of all time. Acclaimed South African writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey has a deeply personal relationship with the story of Endurance and in this lyrical, loving journey into past and present, into humanity and the natural world, above and below the Antarctic ice, he revisits the famous story from a contemporary perspective, wondering why it seems to mean more today than ever before, and exploring our changing relationship with ourselves and the ice, and with our shared story of survival. Drawing on literature, natural history, personal memoir and the thrilling epics of polar adventure, this is finally a celebration of the human spirit and the delivering powers of calculated optimism. If the story of Ernest Shackleton and Endurance tells us anything, it's that in the face of self-inflicted natural disaster, when there's no one to help us but ourselves, we can still pull off a miracle or two. From the bottom of the Weddell sea, Endurance still whispers that not all is lost, and not forever.

A Chronology of the Anglo-Saxons 1001 A.D. Until 1066 A.D. and the House of Normandy 1066 A.D. Until 1154 A.D. (Paperback):... A Chronology of the Anglo-Saxons 1001 A.D. Until 1066 A.D. and the House of Normandy 1066 A.D. Until 1154 A.D. (Paperback)
David C. Wallace
R585 Discovery Miles 5 850 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

A chronological history of the period from 1001a.d. to the Norman conquest of England in 1066 a.d with the enormous changes brought about by the Nornan conquest. Anglo-Saxon England. Facing the threat of Viking invasions, the House of Wessex became dominant during the 9th century, under the rule of Alfred the Great. During the 10th century, the individual kingdoms unified under the rule of Wessex into the Kingdom of England, which stood opposed to the Danelaw, the Viking kingdoms established from the 9th century in the north and east of England. The Kingdom of England fell in the Viking invasion from Denmark in 1013 and was ruled bythe House of Denmark until 1042, when the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex was restored. The last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, was killed in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings. The Battle of Hastings 1066 and the House of Normandy. William's claim to the English throne derived from his familial relationship with the childless Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor, who may have encouraged William's hopes forthe throne. Edward died in January 1066 and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Harold II of England. The Norwegian king Harald Hardrada invaded northern England in September 1066, was victorious at the Battle of Fulford, but Harold defeated and killed him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066. Within days, William landed in southern England. Harold marched south to confront him, leaving a significant portion of his army in the north. Harold's army confronted William's invaders on 14 October at the Battle of Hastings; William's force defeated Harold, who was killed in the engagement. Although William's main rivals were gone, he still faced rebellions over the following years and was not secure on his throne until after 1072. The lands of the resisting English elite were confiscated; some of the elite fled into exile. To control his new kingdom, William gave lands to his followers and built castles commanding military strongpoints throughout the land. Other effects of the conquest included the court and government, the introduction of Norman French as the language of the elites, and changes in the composition of the upper classes, as William enfeoffed lands to be held directly from the king. More gradual changes affected the agricultural classes and village life: the main change appears to have been the formal elimination of slavery, which may or may not have been linked to the invasion.There was little alteration in the structure of government, as the new Norman administrators took over many of the forms of Anglo-Saxon government. This book is part of the Chronology series which endeavors to provide you with a refreshing new approach to history; detailing all the tumultuous events leading to the Norman Conquest and beyond. All in chronological order making reference much easier.

My Port of Beirut (Paperback): Lamia Ziadé My Port of Beirut (Paperback)
Lamia Ziadé; Translated by Emma Ramadan
R509 Discovery Miles 5 090 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

In August 2020, Lebanon was in the midst of the global pandemic and a devastating economic crisis. People protested in the streets, calling for the removal of a political elite accused of greed, negligence and incompetence. The Lebanese people felt as though their country was staring into the abyss. But the worst was yet to come.  On the evening of August 4, 2020, Hangar 12 of the Port of Beirut exploded, and then exploded again. A shockwave moving faster than the speed of sound tore through Beirut, leaving nearly 200 people dead, 6,000 injured and 300,000 homeless. The blast had been caused by the storing of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate alongside a stash of fireworks - a deadly arrangement about which the government had known, but done nothing. For six months straight, French-Lebanese author and artist Lamia Ziadé wrote, illustrated and recorded every new piece of information, every photograph of the wreckage or the wounded that made its way around WhatsApp groups, Instagram and Twitter. In My Port of Beirut, Ziadé weaves together the play-by-play of the tragedy with her own personal stories, as well as the historical and political background that made such a catastrophe possible and, perhaps, inevitable.

The LGBTQ + History Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained (Hardcover): Dk The LGBTQ + History Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained (Hardcover)
Dk
R530 R414 Discovery Miles 4 140 Save R116 (22%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

Discover the rich and complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world - their struggles, triumphs, and cultural contributions. Exploring and explaining the most important ideas and events in LGBTQ+ history and culture, this book showcases the breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience. This diverse, global account explores the most important moments, movements, and phenomena, from the first known lesbian love poetry of Sappho to Kinsey's modern sexuality studies, and features biographies of key figures from Anne Lister to Audre Lorde. Dive deep into the pages of The LGBTQ + History book to discover: - Thought-provoking graphics and flow-charts demystify the central concepts behind key moments in LGBTQ+ history, from eromenos and erastes in the Ancient World to political lesbianism. - Features insightful quotes from leading historians, philosophers, cultural commentators, economists, anthropologists, sociologists, activists, and politicians. - Includes biography boxes and directory entries on the lives of important but lesser-known individuals, alongside well-known names including Sappho, Oscar Wilde, Anne Lister, Harvey Milk, and Marsha P. Johnson. - Global in scope with a localizable directory. The LGBTQ+ History Book celebrates the victories and untold triumphs of LGBTQ+ people throughout history, such as the Stonewall Riots and first gender affirmation surgeries, as well as commemorating moments of tragedy and persecution, from the Renaissance Italian "Night Police" to the 20th century "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. The book also includes major cultural cornerstones - the secret language of polari, Black and Latine ballroom culture, and the many flags of the community - and the history of LGBTQ+ spaces, from 18th-century "molly houses" to modern "gaybourhoods". The LGBTQ+ History Book celebrates the long, proud - and often hidden - history of LGBTQ+ people, cultures, and places from around the world.

Crazy As Hell - The Story of the Transformation of Christopher Newport University (Hardcover): Ellen Vaughn Crazy As Hell - The Story of the Transformation of Christopher Newport University (Hardcover)
Ellen Vaughn
R1,213 Discovery Miles 12 130 Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Revisiting The Educational Heritage Of India (Hardcover): Sahana Singh Revisiting The Educational Heritage Of India (Hardcover)
Sahana Singh
R490 Discovery Miles 4 900 Ships in 12 - 17 working days
Queer Footprints - A Guide to Uncovering London's Fierce History (Paperback): Dan Glass Queer Footprints - A Guide to Uncovering London's Fierce History (Paperback)
Dan Glass; Illustrated by Mark Glasgow
R452 R379 Discovery Miles 3 790 Save R73 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

This groundbreaking guide will take you through the city streets to uncover the scandalous, hilarious and empowering events of London's queerstory. Follow in the footprints of veteran activists, such as those who marched in London's first Pride parade in 1972 or witnessed the 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho. Accompanied by a chorus of voices of both iconic and unsung legends of the movement, readers can walk through parts of East, West, South and North London, dipping into beautifully illustrated maps and extraordinary tales of LGBTQIA+ solidarity, protest and pride. The shadows of gentrification, policing, homophobia and racism are time and again resisted. From the Brixton Fairies to Notting Hill Carnival to world-changing protests in Trafalgar Square, Rebel Dykes to drag queen communes, Queer Footprints celebrates the hidden histories of struggle and joy. Including an accessibility guide and a list of these gems for your pleasure - queer spaces, clubs, networks and resources galore.

Brief History of the Bodleian Library, A (Hardcover, New, updated illustrated edition): Mary Clapinson Brief History of the Bodleian Library, A (Hardcover, New, updated illustrated edition)
Mary Clapinson
R800 Discovery Miles 8 000 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

How did a library founded over 400 years ago grow to become the world-renowned institution it is today, home to over thirteen million items? From its foundation by Sir Thomas Bodley in 1598 to the opening of the Weston Library in 2015, this illustrated account shows how the Library’s history was involved with the British monarchy and political events throughout the centuries. The history of the Library is also a history of collectors and collections, and this book traces the story of major donations and purchases, making use of the Library’s own substantial archives to show how it came to house key items such as early confirmations of Magna Carta, Shakespeare’s First Folio and the manuscript of Jane Austen’s earliest writings, among many others. Beautifully illustrated with prints, portraits, manuscripts and archival material, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of libraries and collections.

The First Showman - The Extraordinary Mr Astley, The Englishman Who Invented the Modern Circus (Paperback): Karl Shaw The First Showman - The Extraordinary Mr Astley, The Englishman Who Invented the Modern Circus (Paperback)
Karl Shaw
R342 R280 Discovery Miles 2 800 Save R62 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Before ‘the greatest showman’, P. T. Barnum, there was Philip Astley, an Englishman who revolutionised popular entertainment. This is his extraordinary story. The First Showman is a hugely entertaining history of the man who created the modern circus: Philip Astley. There have been many books about aspects of the circus but little written about its inventor. Here, New York Times bestselling author Karl Shaw draws on original research to tell the story of Britain’s Barnum. He brilliantly evokes the time, the place, the drama, pitfalls, successes, characters and passion behind Astley’s rise to fame. Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, ‘Mr Astley’ is also a local hero for the author, who now lives there. Astley served as a sergeant major in the British Army where he learned his horse-riding skills, before becoming a brilliant innovator of equestrian tricks and spectacles. In April 1768 Astley staked out a ring at Halfpenny Hatch near Waterloo in London and he and his wife Patty put on displays of trick horse-riding in the open air. Two years later, he put a clown in the ring and gave birth to the modern circus. His circus performers included a strongman called Signor Colpi and a clown called Mr Merryman. He established the still-standard diameter of the circus ring, 42 feet. He was invited to perform before European royalty and built France’s first purpose-built circus building, the Amphitheatre Anglais, in Paris. Almost incredibly, he built circuses in twenty European cities. At home, Astley’s Amphitheatre was mentioned in books by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. He died on 20 October 1814 and was buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. His life is a wonderful story of perseverance and flair on the way to achieving everlasting renown.

A History of St John Baptist Church Broughton (Paperback): Brendan Hurley A History of St John Baptist Church Broughton (Paperback)
Brendan Hurley
R340 Discovery Miles 3 400 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Broughton Church has existed for close to a thousand years. Its long history and that of the people who have worshipped there, are inextricably entwined, preserved and recorded in its very stones. This book will help all who are interested to explore and read the building.

Out Of The Dark Night - Essays On Decolonization (Paperback): Archille Mbembe Out Of The Dark Night - Essays On Decolonization (Paperback)
Archille Mbembe
R350 R273 Discovery Miles 2 730 Save R77 (22%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

Achille Mbembe is one of the world’s most profound critics of colonialism and its consequences, a major figure in the emergence of a new wave of French critical theory. His writings examine the complexities of decolonization for African subjectivities and the possibilities emerging in its wake. In Out of the Dark Night, he offers a rich analysis of the paradoxes of the postcolonial moment that points toward new liberatory models of community, humanity and planetarity.

In a nuanced consideration of the African experience, Mbembe makes sweeping interventions into debates about citizenship, identity, democracy, and modernity. He eruditely ranges across European and African thought to provide a powerful assessment of common ways of writing and thinking about the world. Mbembe criticizes the blinkers of European intellectuals, analyzing France’s failure to heed postcolonial critiques of ongoing exclusions masked by pretenses of universalism. He develops a new reading of African modernity that further develops the notion of Afropolitanism, a novel way of being in the world that has arisen in decolonized Africa in the midst of both destruction and the birth of new societies.

Out of the Dark Night reconstructs critical theory’s historical and philosophical framework for understanding colonial and postcolonial events and expands our sense of the futures made possible by decolonization..

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