A perfect gift for Downton Abbey fans, the official film companion provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the art and making of the sequel to the globally successful Downton Abbey film. The worldwide phenomenon and multi-award winning Downton Abbey returns to the big screen with a movie sequel starring the Crawley family and their household staff-and the Downton Abbey 2: The Official Film Companion is the Downton fan's front-row ticket to all the behind-the-scenes action. In addition to the original principal cast-including Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary, and Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as Lord and Lady Grantham-fans will gain an unprecedented look at the new Downton characters, including those played by new cast members Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West. Featuring spectacular photographs from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, and insight from Downton Abbey writer and creator Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey 2: The Official Film Companion gives fans an in-depth experience of the magic and elegance of Downton Abbey.

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Violence Against Women we ask why so many women across the world are victims of violence, from domestic abuse and rape to forced abortions, female genital mutilation and murder. Why does it happen, who are the perpetrators and what can be done to stop it happening? This book includes quotes from key figures, opinions from all sides of the argument and debate panels that invite readers aged 12+ to discuss the issues that shape our world. Other titles in the Behind the News series: Global Financial Crisis, Hostage Takers, Race and Crime, School Shootings and Uprising in the Middle East

If your response to a mention of the Wars of the Roses, the Sumerians or the Reformation is, 'Hmm, I've heard of that - what was that again?', then this is the book for you. This entertaining yet informative book travels back through time to fill in those embarrassing gaps in your knowledge, from the invasions of Britain, the Renaissance and the Cold War, to the American, French and Russian Revolutions, the World Wars ... and everything else you have forgotten from your school history lessons. In I Used to Know That: History, information is broken down into manageable, bite-sized chunks, refreshing your memory of all those things you once knew but have forgotten, and filling you in on the bits that the school syllabus didn't include. From building the pyramids in Egypt to the fall of the Berlin Wall, everything you used to know - and much that you didn't - is here.

An exclusive inside look at the intricate and glamorous costuming of the popular PBS series, with complete historical detail and beautiful imagery. An inside look at the intricate costuming of the popular PBS series, including character costume choices and the historic fashion trends characteristic of the aristocracy during the Edwardian era. Appealing to Anglophiles, costume and sewing aficionados, and fans of the hit series, The Costumes of Downton Abbey presents--with comprehensive historical detail and beautiful imagery--the design decisions and wardrobe intricacies that shaped the glamour and elegance of the characters of Downton Abbey. Featuring the fashion of both upstairs and downstairs cast members, this title explores the unique daytime, evening, special occasion, and wedding wardrobes that led to a 2011 Emmy and several Emmy nominations for Outstanding Costumes for a Series. Detailed photographs, fan-favorite stills from the television series, and designer notes and insights make this a delightful and informative guide to the role costumes played in the character portrayal, story development, and art direction of the series.

A perfect gift for Downton Abbey fans, the official film companion provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the art and making of the sequel to the globally successful Downton Abbey film. The worldwide phenomenon and multi-award winning Downton Abbey returns to the big screen with a movie sequel starring the Crawley family and their household staff--and the Downton Abbey: A New Era: The Official Film Companion is the Downton fan's front-row ticket to all the behind-the-scenes action. In addition to the original principal cast--including Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary, and Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as Lord and Lady Grantham--fans will gain an unprecedented look at the new Downton characters, including those played by new cast members Hugh Dancy, Laura Haddock, Nathalie Baye, and Dominic West. Featuring spectacular photographs from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, and insight from Downton Abbey writer and creator Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey: A New Era: The Official Film Companion gives fans an in-depth experience of the magic and elegance of Downton Abbey.

From icons of British history to geography, and the economy to the legal system, I Should Know That: Great Britain covers a wide range of topics, filling in all those embarrassing gaps in your knowledge of this fair isle. Inspired by the UK citizenship test, this useful and interesting guide includes sections such as essential British history, the current political and legal system, migration to Britain, women's rights, geography and culture. Learn all about the Magna Carta, the House of Lords, the Old Bailey and the Commonwealth, and more light-hearted topics such as allotments, pets, haggis and marmite, while scoffing at the unfortunate but hilarious gaffes made by our politicians. Packed full of information, this entertaining and fact-filled guide to Great Britain is perfect for anyone who wishes that they were a more informed citizen.

Powerful and influential kings have long dominated our view of global history, their queens often relegated to the shadows, their influence, deeds and sacrifices unacknowledged and lost in the passing of time. But not anymore... This book chronicles the forgotten queens from across the globe - those who ruled in their own right, and those who were wives or mothers of reigning kings. All of whom wielded significant power. A smattering of queens, such as Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great of Russia, are known and celebrated, but many more have been glossed over, maligned by historians or dismissed as mere bit-players on the world stage. We are all familiar with the great Roman emperors but what of Queen Zenobia, a rebel queen of the Middle East who took on the Roman Empire? William the Conqueror, the Norman invader of England in 1066, is an iconic figure in history, but how much do you know about his powerful ally and wife Matilda of Flanders? Long Live the Queens rescues these phenomenal women from obscurity, exploring their achievements and deeds, and shedding light on the sacrifices female rulers throughout history have had to make in a patriarchal world. Learn about the trailblazers, game-changers and mighty monarchs who have no business in being forgotten.

THE OFFICIAL COMPANION TO THE ITV SERIES William Thackeray's Vanity Fair was first published in the 1840s, but its power to entertain and provoke debate remains as strong as ever. The tales of charismatic, shrewd, and amoral Becky Sharp's journey from Miss Pinkerton's academy for young ladies to a wider world in which wealth and status is valued above all else is arguably as relevant today as it was nearly 200 years ago: Becky and her equally flawed friends and acquaintances are familiar to us all. This, the official companion to the ITV series contains everything a fan could want to know about the story. It explores the characters Thackeray so memorably created and the society they inhabited, along with fascinating insights about the period. And it offers location guides, behind the scenes details, and interviews with the cast, alongside beautiful illustrations and set photography. Taking readers from London society to the battlefields of Waterloo, the book gets right to the heart of one of the greatest novels ever written.

History is a rich, varied and fascinating subject, so it's rare to find the whole lot in one book ... until now. The History of the World in Bite-Sized Chunks pulls it all together, from the world's earliest civilizations in 3500 BC to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, passing by the likes of Charlemagne, the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean War, to name a few. Here's your chance to introduce yourself to the full spectrum of world history, and discover just how the modern world came to be.

Go behind the headlines to explore the wider background of news stories that are making a major impact across the world. In Violence Against Women we ask why so many women across the world are victims of violence, from domestic abuse and rape to forced abortions, female genital mutilation and murder. Why does it happen, who are the perpetrators and what can be done to stop it happening?

This work contains four papers. The literature review looks at how hearing parents may adapt to a deaf child in the family, and considers how the literature supports a disability-stress model of maternal adaptation. Partial support is found for the model, and a revised version is suggested. The aim of the two empirical papers is to examine the relationships between psychological distress, social identity, and identity interruption in culturally and non-culturally deaf adults. Research suggests that interruption to social identity leads to increased psychological distress, and that deaf people who adopt a hearing identity have increased psychological distress. The research aims to consider identity interruption theory to explain higher levels of psychological distress in deaf people with hearing identities. The first of these two papers describes the development of a 20-item Identity Interruption Scale for Deaf people. The second paper uses this scale alongside other standardised measures to look at the relationship between psychological distress, social identity, and identity interruption. The final paper is a reflective venture into the research process.

Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion is a stunning memento, bringing the world and the characters of our favourite fictional country house to life. Featuring a foreword by creator Julian Fellowes, spectacular photographs from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, and a look into the historical and geographical backdrop of the film, this official guide to the Downton Abbey film is made to be treasured and loved by fans across the globe. With the film revolving around the visit of the King and Queen in 1927, it not only sees the return of all the main cast from the final television series, but also introduces some great British actors to the world of Downton, as we meet the royal family and their retinue. Join Emma Marriott as she returns to Highclere, discovers the new sets at Shepperton and introduces other locations the length and breadth of England that are now part of the Downton story. Hers is a unique behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, including detailed descriptions of how some of the most dramatic scenes came to life, and the talented team who made it all possible. The book is lavishly illustrated with stunning shots from both behind and in front of the camera, original costume illustrations and historical photographs, as well as capturing some wonderful off-guard moments during filming. A perfect companion to the cinema experience, Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion continues the story of Downton, and will be treasured by Downton fans everywhere.