Louis XIV ruled France for more than half a century and is typically remembered for his absolutism, his patronage of the arts and his lavish lifestyle - culminating in the building of Versailles. This original and lively biography focuses on Louis's personal life while keeping the needs of the history student at the forefront, featuring analysis of Louis's wider significance in history and the surrounding historiography. This book balances the undeniable cultural achievements of the reign against the realities of Louis's egotism and argues that, when viewed critically, Louis's rule (1643-1715) personified the disadvantages of absolute monarchy, and inexorably led to social and political blunders, resulting in the suffering of millions. Richard Wilkinson demonstrates that while Louis excelled as a self-publicist, he fell far short of being a great monarch. This second edition includes an up-to-date and accessible biography, further sections on the women at Louis's court, France in an international context and new material looking at Louis's involvement in ballet. This book is essential reading for all history students and those with a general interest in one of history's most colourful rulers.

There is a growing recognition that the most powerful determinants of health in modern populations are to be found in social, economic and cultural circumstances. These include economic growth, income distribution, consumption, work organization, unemployment and job insecurity, social and family structure, education and deprivation, and they are all aspects of "social organization". In this work, these issues are examined by British and North American researchers. They bring together an array of evidence from the social sciences, epidemiology and biology. The text starts by examining the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to improving the population's health. It then considers the timing of major influences on health and questions whether there are special periods of vulnerability early in life or whether circumstances throughout life are equally important. The final section draws out the implications for policy and for links between health and economic performance, emphasising the need for greater investment to combat the low educational standards and high and poor economic performance.

There is a growing recognition that the most powerful determinants of health in modern populations are to be found in social, economic and cultural circumstances. These include economic growth, income distribution, consumption, work organization, unemployment and job insecurity, social and family structure, education and deprivation, and they are all aspects of "social organization". In this work, these issues are examined by British and North American researchers. They bring together an array of evidence from the social sciences, epidemiology and biology. The text starts by examining the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to improving the population's health. It then considers the timing of major influences on health and questions whether there are special periods of vulnerability early in life or whether circumstances throughout life are equally important. The final section draws out the implications for policy and for links between health and economic performance, emphasising the need for greater investment to combat the low educational standards and high and poor economic performance.

Louis XIV ruled France for more than half a century and is typically remembered for his absolutism, his patronage of the arts and his lavish lifestyle - culminating in the building of Versailles. This original and lively biography focuses on Louis's personal life while keeping the needs of the history student at the forefront, featuring analysis of Louis's wider significance in history and the surrounding historiography. This book balances the undeniable cultural achievements of the reign against the realities of Louis's egotism and argues that, when viewed critically, Louis's rule (1643-1715) personified the disadvantages of absolute monarchy, and inexorably led to social and political blunders, resulting in the suffering of millions. Richard Wilkinson demonstrates that while Louis excelled as a self-publicist, he fell far short of being a great monarch. This second edition includes an up-to-date and accessible biography, further sections on the women at Louis's court, France in an international context and new material looking at Louis's involvement in ballet. This book is essential reading for all history students and those with a general interest in one of history's most colourful rulers.

Explore the wonders of the past in this stunning collection of over 160 historical artefacts, from Ancient Rome to the dynasties of China. Welcome to the museum. This rich and informative cabinet of curiosities beautifully displays objects of the ancient past. Wander from room to room to explore the magnificence of what civilisations have left behind over thousands of years of human history. With text written by expert Jo Nelson and stunning illustrations by Richard Wilkinson, this updated edition also features a foreword by Sir Tony Robinson.

It is a well-established fact that in rich societies the poor have shorter lives and suffer more from almost every social problem. "The Spirit Level," based on thirty years of research, takes this truth a step further. One common factor links the healthiest and happiest societies: the degree of equality among their members. Further, more unequal societies are bad for everyone within them-the rich and middle class as well as the poor.

The remarkable data assembled in "The Spirit Level" exposes stark differences, not only among the nations of the first world but even within America's fifty states. Almost every modern social problem-poor health, violence, lack of community life, teen pregnancy, mental illness-is more likely to occur in a less-equal society.

Renowned researchers Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett lay bare the contradictions between material success and social failure in the developed world. But they do not merely tell us what's wrong. They offer a way toward a new political outlook, shifting from self-interested consumerism to a friendlier, more sustainable society.

Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone is the most influential and talked-about book on society in the last decade - now updated with a new chapter on the controversy the book has ignited. Why do we mistrust people more in the UK than in Japan? Why do Americans have higher rates of teenage pregnancy than the French? What makes the Swedish thinner than the Australians? The answer: inequality. This groundbreaking book, based on years of research, provides hard evidence to show: How almost everything - from life expectancy to mental illness, violence to illiteracy - is affected not by how wealthy a society is, but how equal it is That societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor are bad for everyone in them - including the well-off How we can find positive solutions and move towards a happier, fairer future Urgent, provocative and genuinely uplifting, The Spirit Level has been heralded as providing a new way of thinking about ourselves and our communities, and could change the way you see the world. 'A big idea, big enough to change political thinking' - Guardian 'A remarkable new book ... the implications are profound' - Will Hutton, Observer 'The evidence is hard to dispute' - Economist Richard Wilkinson studied economic history at the London School of Economics before training in epidemiology and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Nottingham Medical School and Honorary Professor at University College London. Kate Pickett is a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of York and a National Institute for Health Research Career Scientist. Her work with Richard Wilkinson on The Spirit Level was shortlisted for Research Project of the Year 2009 by the Times Higher Education Supplement, and their book was chosen as one of the Top Ten Books of the Decade by the New Statesman.

During World War Two, a group of English troops become cut off from their batallion while behind enemy lines in the western desert. Attacked by a German fighter plane and then caught in a sandstorm, the nine men seek refuge in a deserted tomb. However, they soon cross swords with a group of Italian soldiers in a similar situation. While the Italians lay siege to the British unit, the men plan a night-time counter-attack, but it can only be a matter of time before one side buckles under the strain...

The essential new book from the authors of the international bestseller The Spirit Level 'Why are people, particularly young people, experiencing increasing levels of mental illness and distress? Highly readable and authoritative, The Inner Level shows clearly how social anxieties and the problems they lead to rise steadily in richer, more unequal societies' Clare Short, The Tablet, Books of the Year Why is the incidence of mental illness in the UK twice that in Germany? Why are Americans three times more likely than the Dutch to develop gambling problems? Why is child well-being so much worse in New Zealand than Japan? As this groundbreaking study demonstrates, the answer to all these hinges on inequality. In The Spirit Level Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett put inequality at the centre of public debate by showing conclusively that less-equal societies fare worse than more equal ones across everything from education to life expectancy. The Inner Level now explains how inequality affects us individually, how it alters how we think, feel and behave. It sets out the overwhelming evidence that material inequalities have powerful psychological effects: when the gap between rich and poor increases, so does the tendency to defi ne and value ourselves and others in terms of superiority and inferiority. A deep well of data and analysis is drawn upon to empirically show, for example, that low social status is associated with elevated levels of stress, and how rates of anxiety and depression are intimately related to the inequality which makes that status paramount. Wilkinson and Pickett describe how these responses to hierarchies evolved, and why the impacts of inequality on us are so severe. In doing so, they challenge the conception that humans are innately competitive and self-interested. They undermine, too, the idea that inequality is the product of 'natural' differences in individual ability. This book sheds new light on many of the most urgent problems facing societies today, but it is not just an index of our ills. It demonstrates that societies based on fundamental equalities, sharing and reciprocity generate much higher levels of well-being, and lays out the path towards them.

David Lloyd George left a profound political legacy, despite being described by the wife of his successor, Herbert Asquith, as a 'gambler without foresight'. He is, of course, best known as the Prime Minister who led Britain to victory in World War I, but his contribution to domestic politics was similarly impressive. As Chancellor of the Exchequer he introduced pensions and national insurance against sickness and unemployment, while as Prime Minister he extended democracy by giving votes to women. Yet Lloyd George was compromised by his flaws as a human being. Vain, cruel, capricious and dishonest, at times his notoriously corrupt nature threatened to damage the British political system. Providing a unique new perspective on one of the most phenomenally-talented - but also one of the most phenomenally-flawed - of British Prime Ministers, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in modern British politics and history.

This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

Due to the very old age and scarcity of this book, many of the pages may be hard to read due to the blurring of the original text.

Wilkinson Tales presents wholesome stories that are age-tested for a young audience. There are eight holiday short stories in this book. They include stories about Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother's Day. This is a "good read" for a young advanced reader. Vocabulary has not been abridged. Words are ordinary words used by young people, as well as adults. This is a great book for a family library that needs to accommodate young people of different ages. There are, on average, three to four beautifully illustrated drawings per story. The stories follow each holiday's traditional theme.

Due to the very old age and scarcity of this book, many of the pages may be hard to read due to the blurring of the original text.