Siblings is the story of ten children, nine of whom are brought up by the eldest who, apart from being the narrator, is keen, capable and obedient to his parents. He has been taught to care for the other nine but also to control them. When the parents are dead and he is in charge, they try to resist him but it is not easy, such are the bonds that tie them together. This is set in a time of generational change from a strict and disciplined society, in which the acquisition of skills is crucial, to a society that is more relaxed (at least for those who don’t have such an elder brother), deskilled and drawn to consumerism. This novel is not just about the claustrophobic nature of the nuclear family; it is also about the interdependence of the powerful and the powerless, but in the end that bond has to be broken as the reader will discover.

Long description: This novel is based on the life of Linnaeus, the eighteenth-century, Swedish enlightenment figure famous for his taxonomy or scientific classification still used in biology. It principally concerns the different ways Linnaeus and his gardener interpret the world around them. The gardener perceives plants for what they are in themselves and Linnaeus for what they are in relation to other things. They never understand each other and the dialogues are wonderfully inconclusive.

Now more than ever, we need informed citizens who bring a thorough knowledge of America's history to community life and the political process. Understanding what built our republic allows us to better maintain its democracy. These books are here to help. Harry L. Watson and Jane Dailey have set out to bring a highly readable, comprehensive telling of American history to the widest audience possible. And to that end, it will be one of the first American history textbooks to be offered completely free in digital form.Building the Republic deftly combines centuries of perspectives and voices into a fluid narrative of the United States. Through crisp, incisive prose it takes readers through the full scope of American history, starting with the first inhabitants and carrying all the way to the 2016 election. Throughout, Watson and Dailey emphasize the struggle for justice and equality in a more perfect union, the challenge of racial and ethnic conflict, the evolution of law and legal norms, the enduring influence of religious diversity, and the distinctive history and influence of the South. They take care to integrate varied scholarly perspectives into their chapters and work to engage a diverse readership by addressing what we all share in common: membership in a democratic republic, with joint claims on its self-governing tradition. These two volumes will enable readers and students to gain a full understanding of America. They combine open-access text with rigorous academic standards and the backing of a major university press. By presenting a straightforward, absorbing history that's accessible to all readers, Watson and Dailey hope that more citizens will gain the knowledge they need to make the best possible choices for their country.