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Call to Arms: The British Army, 1914-18
By Charles Messenger. 2005
This is a comprehensive account of how the British Army coped with and adapted to the enormous challenges and pressures…
of the First World War -- the first major continental war that the army had had to fight for almost a hundred years. Following the course of the War, both on the Western Front and in other theatres, Charles Messenger tells how the British Army managed the challenges of command, training, technology and new weapons of war. He examines officer selection, medicine, discipline, the manpower crisis of 1918, the integration of women into the forces and many other topics. Based on years of original research, this will become the standard work of reference on the organization and administration of the biggest army Britain has ever put into the field.The Three Sisters: A Drama In Four Acts (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)
By Anton Chekhov. 1993
First performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1901, The Three Sisters probes the lives and dreams of Olga, Masha,…
and Irina, former Muscovites now living in a provincial town from which they long to escape. Their hopes for a life more suited to their cultivated tastes and sensibilities provide a touching counterpoint to the relentless flow of compromising events in the real world.In this powerful play, a landmark of modern drama, Chekhov masterfully interweaves character and theme in subtle ways that make the work's climax seem as inevitable as it is deeply moving. It is reprinted here from a standard text with updated transliteration of character names and additional explanatory footnotes.The Imaginary Invalid
By Molière, Henri Van Laun. 2004
The greatest writer of French classic comedy, the 17th-century playwright Molière was one of the most brilliant satirists in the…
history of literature. His keen observations and barbed wit deflated the pretensions of society in his day and focused a brilliant light on the universal frailties of humanity.The Imaginary Invalid, one of Molière's funniest and most incisive satires, is also among the most performed worldwide and perennially studied in world literature courses. In this entertaining gem, a hypochondriac, victimized by two pompous doctors, tests his daughter's loyalty and discovers the greed and contempt of his scheming wife.11am, 11.11.1918: the war is finally over. After four long years Britain welcomed her heroes home. Wives and mothers were…
reunited with loved ones they'd feared they'd never see again. Fathers met sons and daughters born during the war years for the very first time. It was a time of great joy - but it was also a time of enormous change. The soldiers and nurses who survived life at the Front faced the reality of rebuilding their lives in a society that had changed beyond recognition. How did the veterans readjust to civilian life? How did they cope with their war wounds, work and memories of lost comrades? And what of the people they returned to - the independent young women who were asked to give up the work they had been enjoying, the wives who had to readjust to life with men who seemed like strangers?Apollinaire in the Great War (1914-18)
By David Hunter. 2015
A major literary figure in pre-war Paris, Guillaume Apollinaire volunteered for war in 1914, trained as an artilleryman and was…
posted in April 1915 to the Champagne front in northern France, participating in the bloody but little-known offensive that September and then moving into the front line as an infantry officer, before being wounded in March 1916 and invalided out of active service. Back in Paris, Apollinaire plunged back into the activities of the capital's artistic avant-garde, meanwhile publishing poetry, prose and plays that were deeply influenced by his involvement in the conflict. He died on 9 November 1918, two days before the Armistice, a victim of the influenza pandemic, but with a literary reputation secured, as well as a certain fame for coining the term 'Surrealism'. This book draws heavily on Apollinaire's writings to tell the story of his war years, within the wider context of the French experience of the Great War. In this period, Apollinaire also wrote hundreds of letters, the bulk of them to two women: Louise de Coligny, a flighty socialite of aristocratic origin, and Madeleine Pagès, a young schoolteacher. In these letters he poured out his passionate feelings for both in often highly erotic poetry and prose, as well as giving detailed descriptions of his life as a front-line soldier.Life Is a Dream (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)
By Pedro Calderón de la Barca. 2002
Considered one of the outstanding Spanish dramas of all time, this 17th-century allegory explores the mysteries of human destiny, the…
illusory nature of existence, and the struggle between predestination and free will. On the basic plot structure of king's suspicions of his son's role in an impending revolution, the playwright builds a dramatic edifice of theatricality, rich in symbolism and metaphor, expressed in magnificent poetry. This edition presents an excellent new English translation, with an informative introduction and footnotes.Third play of a trilogy (the other two are lost) about the doomed family of Laius and Oedipus and his…
sons. After the city of Thebes has banished Oedipus, the former ruler's sons vie for the crown. The victor, Eteocles, expels his brother, Polyneices, who then recruits 7 champions to lead an assault on Thebes, with a tragic results.Coriolanus: Large Print (Dover Thrift Editions Ser.)
By William Shakespeare. 2003
A highly political play, Coriolanus concerns a military hero of ancient Rome who attempts to shift from his career as…
a general to become a candidate for public office -- a disastrous move that leads to his collaborating with the enemy and heading an attack on Rome. Despite his battlefield confidence and accomplishments, Coriolanus proves psychologically ill-suited as a candidate for the office of consul and makes an easy scapegoat for the restless citizenry and his political opponents. The last of Shakespeare's tragedies, Coriolanus was written in approximately 1608 and derived from Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans. A timeless tale of pride, revenge, and political chicanery, it remains ever-relevant for modern readers and audiences.The Way of the World
By William Congreve. 1993
One of the greatest of all Restoration comedies, this knowing comedy of manners depicts the scheming of a nest of…
shallow, deceitful aristocrats to prevent two lovers from marrying. The play abounds with felicitous phrasing, delicious verbal battles of the sexes and a depth of feeling and sensitivity.Boydell's Shakespeare Prints: 90 Engravings
By John Boydell, Josiah Boydell. 2004
This impressive collection of engravings illustrating the dramatic works of Shakespeare takes a new look at the long-neglected area of…
romantic early-19th-century art. Nearly 100 illustrations depict dramatic scenes from AMidsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear, and 26 other plays. A monumental effort begun in 1787, the engravings speak as passionately to the viewer today as they did more than 200 years ago.The Mammoth Book of How it Happened: World War I
By Jon E. Lewis. 2003
The spectre of the Great War still haunts us. No other conflict so dramatically illustrates the waste of life, and…
the slaughter of innocents, as that of 1914-18. And none has so dramatically shaped the modern world: the Russian Revolution, the rise of Hitler, the break-up of Empire, the supremacy of America and World War II all stem from the four years of the 'war to end all wars'. Here is the eye-witness chronicle of that war, from the trenches of Flanders to the staff rooms of the Imperial Germany Army, from T. E. Lawrence in the desert to the 'Red Baron' in the air, from Land Girls in England to German U-boat crews in the Atlantic, it leaves nothing out. And if all the horror of the war fought by the Tommies in the trenches is captured, so too are the machinations of the 'top brass' and politicians.Japanese No Masks: With 300 Illustrations of Authentic Historical Examples
By Friedrich Perzynski, Stanley Appelbaum. 2005
Combining elements of dance, drama, music and poetry, the performances of Japanese No theater are a highly stylized form of…
entertainment. Accompanying the sumptuous costumes worn during performances are elaborately carved No and Kyogen wooden masks--major works of art in their own right. This book, based on a classic two-volume German study, presents a wealth of illustrations and information relating to these magnificent theatrical devices.A new, informative introduction and extensive captions derived from the original text and newly translated, accompany the heart of the book--more than 120 full-page plates depicting museum-quality masks worn by actors playing gods, warriors, demons, and monsters, beautiful women, feudal lords, mad characters, and supernatural beings. All 303 illustrations from the original two-volume work are included.A unique introduction to classic Japanese theater for Western theatergoers, this volume will also serve as an excellent reference for students, scholars, and enthusiasts of No drama.Roger, Sausage and Whippet: A Miscellany of Trench Lingo from the Great War
By Christopher Moore. 2012
Roger: A code word for a gas cylinder and a nickname for rum. Sausage: An observation balloon. Whippet: A small,…
light type of tank with a top sped of eight m.p.h. The First World War raged for four years, taking with it hundreds of thousands of young soldiers who lived and died together, bonded by the horror of the war. Now, all the way from the trenches and through the letters of Christopher Moore's Captain Cartwright, comes an extraordinary lexicon of the phrases and lingo of life at the front. Whether born from the desperation of gallows humour ('If it keeps on like this, someone's going to get hurt'), borrowed from Cockney rhyming slang, Latin, French and other languages ('Cushy: Comfortable, safe, pleasant. From the Hindustani: khush, pleasure') or even taken from the name of the Huntley and Palmer biscuit company, Tommy had a new word for almost everything. From Ammo to Zig-Zag, this is a fascinating glimpse into the world of our First World War heroes. So fetch the dooly and the other makings, brew up some char, and read on safe in the knowledge that you won't be going over the top today...Mud, Blood and Poppycock: Britain And The First World War (Cassell Military Trade Bks.)
By Gordon Corrigan. 2003
The true story of how Britain won the First World War.The popular view of the First World War remains that…
of BLACKADDER: incompetent generals sending brave soldiers to their deaths. Alan Clark quoted a German general's remark that the British soldiers were 'lions led by donkeys'. But he made it up.Indeed, many established 'facts' about 1914-18 turn out to be myths woven in the 1960s by young historians on the make. Gordon Corrigan's brilliant, witty history reveals how out of touch we have become with the soldiers of 1914-18. They simply would not recognize the way their generation is depicted on TV or in Pat Barker's novels.Laced with dry humour, this will overturn everything you thought you knew about Britain and the First World War. Gordon Corrigan reveals how the British embraced technology, and developed the weapons and tactics to break through the enemy trenches.The First Family Detail
By Ronald Kessler. 2014
Since publication of his New York Times bestselling book In the President's Secret Service, award-winning investigative reporter Ronald Kessler has…
continued to penetrate the wall of secrecy that surrounds the U.S. Secret Service, breaking the story that Secret Service agents who were to protect President Obama hired prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia and revealing that the Secret Service allowed a third uninvited guest to crash a White House state dinner. Now in The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents, Kessler presents far bigger and more consequential stories that will make headlines about our nation's leaders and the agency sworn to protect them. Kessler widens his scope to include presidential candidates and former presidents after they leave the White House. In particular, he focuses on first ladies and their children and their relationships with the presidents. From seeing reckless behavior that threatens the country's safety, to overhearing First Lady Michelle Obama's admonitions to the president, to watching their own agency take risks that could result in an assassination, Secret Service agents know a hidden world that Ronald Kessler exposes in The First Family Detail.From the Hardcover edition.Lysistrata
By Aristophanes. 1994
First presented in 411 B.C., this ancient comedy concerns the efforts of Lysistrata, an Athenian woman, to persuade other woman…
to join together in a strike against the men of Greece, denying them sex until they've agreed to put down their arms and end the disastrous wars between Athens and Sparta.When the strike begins, and the men respond, the comedic battle of the sexes that ensues makes this spirited play one of the most enjoyable of the classics. In it, Aristophanes employs a mixture of shrewd logic and raffish humor that fully exploits the rich comic potential of the story and its underlying antiwar sentiment. Always a favorite of audiences, Lysistrata, because of its pointed feminist sympathies, is studied and performed today more than ever.El Vuelo del Fénix
By Raquel Pagno, María João Patricio Martinho. 2016
De repente, Natalia se enfrenta a una nueva realidad: un aneurisma cerebral, que puede romperse en cualquier momento. Frente a…
esa nueva realidad, descubre también una renovada fuerza de voluntad, antes aletargada, y el deseo de encontrar al hombre que la atormenta todas las noches en sus pesadillas. Para ello, contará íntegramente con la ayuda de su amigo Andrew, que la anima a iniciar una terapia de regresión. Durante las consultas, Natalia se encuentra con el misterioso hombre de sus sueños y presencia su muerte en repetidas ocasiones. Andrew la acompaña en un viaje rumbo a lo desconocido. Una vez encontrado el inalcanzable hombre de sus sueños,en ésta vida un temerario y apasionado piloto acrobático, sólo les queda encontrar la manera de llamar su atención y conseguir que escuche el relato de Natalia. Ella tiene una idea clara: en esta vida, le salvará de la muerte precoz que le aguarda.Dr. Faustus (Dover Thrift Editions)
By Christopher Marlowe. 1994
One of the most durable myths in Western culture, the story of Faust tells of a learned German doctor who…
sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. Early enactments of Faust's damnation were often the raffish fare of clowns and low comedians. But the young Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) recognized in the story of Faust's temptation and fall the elements of tragedy.In his epic treatment of the Faust legend, Marlowe retains much of the rich phantasmagoria of its origins. There are florid visions of an enraged Lucifer, dueling angels, the Seven Deadly Sins, Faustus tormenting the Pope, and his summoning of the spirit of Alexander the Great. But the playwright created equally powerful scenes that invest the work with tragic dignity, among them the doomed man's calling upon Christ to save him and his ultimate rejection of salvation for the embrace of Helen of Troy.With immense poetic skill, and psychological insight that foreshadowed the later work of Shakespeare and the Jacobean playwrights, Marlowe created in Dr. Faustus one of the first true tragedies in English. Vividly dramatic, rich in poetic grandeur, this classic play remains a robust and lively exemplar of the glories of Elizabethan drama.Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will: A Comedy In Five Acts (classic Reprint) (Dover Thrift Editions: Plays)
By William Shakespeare. 1996
A delightfully comic tale of mistaken identities, Twelfth Night revolves around the physical likeness between Sebastian and his twin sister,…
Viola, each of whom, when separated after a shipwreck, believes the other to be dead. The theatrical romp begins when Viola assumes the identity of Cesario, a page in the household of the Duke of Orsino. The Duke is enamored of the Countess Olivia, who spurns him for the newly arrived young page. The comical machinations of Malvolio, Sir Toby Belch, the maid Maria, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek add to the ensuing confusion -- all of which is pleasantly resolved when Viola and Sebastian meet once again. Filled with some of the finest comedic scenes in the English language, this entertaining masterpiece remains one of Shakespeare's most popular and most performed comedies.Miss Julie (Dover Thrift Editions Ser.)
By August Strindberg. 1992
In Miss Julie, a willful young aristocrat, whose perverse nature has already driven her fiancé to break off their engagement,…
pursues and effectively seduces her father's valet during the course of a Midsummer's Eve celebration. The progress of that seduction and the play's stunning denouement shocked Swedish audiences who first attended the play in 1889.Despite its controversial debut, this now-classic drama, inspired by the new ideas of naturalism and psychology that swept Europe in the late 19th century, helped to shape modern theater, and remains one of the most potent-and most frequently performed-of modern plays. The full text of Miss Julie is reprinted here as translated by Edwin Björkman, complete with Strindberg's critical preface to the play, considered by many to be one of the most important manifestos in theater history.