The Choral-Orchestral Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Autographs, Context, Discourse combines contextual knowledge, a musical commentary, an inventory of the holograph manuscripts, and a critical assessment of the opus to create substantial and meticulous examinations of Ralph Vaughan Williams' choral-orchestral works. The contents include an equitable choice of pieces from the various stages in the life of the composer and an analysis of pieces from the various stages of Williams' life. The earliest are taken from the pre-World War I years, when Vaughan Williams was constructing his identity as an academic and musician-Vexilla Regis (1894), Mass (1899), and A Sea Symphony (1910). The middle group are chosen from the interwar period-Sancta Civitas (1925), Benedicite (1929), Magnificat (1932), Five Tudor Portraits (1935), Dona nobis pacem (1936)-written after Vaughan Williams had found his mature voice. The last cluster-Thanksgiving for Victory (1944), Fantasia (Quasi Variazione) on the 'Old 104' Psalm Tune (1949), Sons of Light (1950), Hodie (1954), The Bridal Day/Epithalamion (1938/1957)-typify the works finished or revisited during the final years of the composer's life, near the end of the Second World War and immediately before or after his second marriage (1953).

The rehabilitation of British music began with Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford. Ralph Vaughan Williams assisted in its emancipation from continental models, while Gerald Finzi, Edmund Rubbra and George Dyson flourished in its independence. Stephen Town's survey of Choral Music of the English Musical Renaissance is rooted in close examination of selected works from these composers. Town collates the substantial secondary literature on these composers, and brings to bear his own study of the autograph manuscripts. The latter form an unparalleled record of compositional process and shed new light on the compositions as they have come down to us in their published and recorded form. This close study of the sources allows Town to identify for the first time instances of similarity and imitation, continuities and connections between the works.

The rehabilitation of British music began with Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford. Ralph Vaughan Williams assisted in its emancipation from continental models, while Gerald Finzi, Edmund Rubbra and George Dyson flourished in its independence. Stephen Town's survey of Choral Music of the English Musical Renaissance is rooted in close examination of selected works from these composers. Town collates the substantial secondary literature on these composers, and brings to bear his own study of the autograph manuscripts. The latter form an unparalleled record of compositional process and shed new light on the compositions as they have come down to us in their published and recorded form. This close study of the sources allows Town to identify for the first time instances of similarity and imitation, continuities and connections between the works.

The Choral-Orchestral Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Autographs, Context, Discourse combines contextual knowledge, a musical commentary, an inventory of the holograph manuscripts, and a critical assessment of the opus to create substantial and meticulous examinations of Ralph Vaughan Williams's choral-orchestral works. The contents include an equitable choice of pieces from the various stages in the life of the composer and an analysis of pieces from the various stages of Williams's life. The earliest are taken from the pre-World War I years, when Vaughan Williams was constructing his identity as an academic and musician-Vexilla Regis (1894), Mass (1899), and A Sea Symphony (1910). The middle group are chosen from the interwar period-Sancta Civitas (1925), Benedicite (1929), Magnificat (1932), Five Tudor Portraits (1935), Dona nobis pacem (1936)-written after Vaughan Williams had found his mature voice. The last cluster-Thanksgiving for Victory (1944), Fantasia (Quasi Variazione) on the 'Old 104' Psalm Tune (1949), Sons of Light (1950), Hodie (1954), The Bridal Day/Epithalamion (1938/1957)-typify the works finished or revisited during the final years of the composer's life, near the end of the Second World War and immediately before or after his second marriage (1953).

"Investing in Japan" provides indispensable information about one of the world's largest stock markets. Long disregarded by investors, Japan is a dream-come-true for value investors. And there is no other English source of information about Japanese equities like "Investing in Japan." Readers will find the following and much more: brief overview of value investing (helpful to those less familiar; hearing its merits is never redundant to practitioners); Challenge the conventional wisdom of Japan being on its last leg (a kind way of putting it compared to some others'); Comprehensive overview of investing in Japan including various must-know idiosyncrasies; The shortcomings of Japan-focused mutual funds and ETFs, which could save current/potential investors significant time and money; The odd marketing of funds to Japanese investors; Everything you need to know about ADRs; Review of select value hedge and mutual funds investing in Japan and value-focused Japanese funds; Valuation metrics and comparison to other markets; Hedge funds' investments in Japan; The oft-cited matter of low returns on equity; Some surprising (positive) information on shareholder rights and corporate governance. Meticulously researched, "Investing in Japan" has 140 footnotes from English and Japanese sources. Description from the back cover: There is no stock market as undervalued and as misunderstood as Japan. "Investing in Japan" is truly unique in that it fills the void of information in English about Japanese stocks, and contrary to popular Japan-is-doomed opinion, it presents plenty of reasons to be bullish. Readers will develop a solid understanding of the Japanese stock market, and learn why returns on equity appear to be low, about hedge funds' investment activities, Japan's surprisingly strong shareholder rights, and more. "Investing in Japan" will equip investors with invaluable information that will allow them to participate in what is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is very rare indeed that almost an entire market can trade at a discount to net asset value, have simple and sound balance sheets, and positive earnings.

The ninety letters in this collection document the Civil War career of Col. Edward Jesup Wood, an officer of the 48th Indiana. Evocative and rich in detail, A Fierce, Wild Joy offers a view of the war from an officer's perspective and provides important insights into the day-to-day administration of a Civil War regiment. Wood was born in Florida to a Connecticut father and slave-owning mother, and orphaned in early youth. He was raised in New England to be an abolitionist, and at the age of fifteen he entered Dartmouth College. His military career began in 1861, and over the course of the war Wood's regiment participated in several key battles and campaigns, including Corinth, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and the March to the Sea. Thoughtful, intelligent, and articulate, Wood was a keen observer of details during his time in the Western Theater. His letters vividly bring the war to life as he describes the events of some of its most important campaigns. His change in perspective over time is evident: readers will witness Wood's naIve optimism for a quick and sure victory transform to dawning realization about the long haul and horrors of war. Readers will appreciate Wood's broad view of the military campaign, political exigencies surrounding the war, and the effects of war on both North and South. A stark reminder of the war's costs are emphasized by Wood's later tragic life. He returned home and committed suicide before his fortieth birthday. A Fierce, Wild Joy includes biographical essays that put Wood in context and aptly remind readers that many who served in the war did not go home to peace and happiness. Stephen E. Towne is assistant university archivist at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. His articles have appeared in Indiana Magazine of History, Journalism History, and Civil War History.