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The Invention of Childhood
By Hugh Cunningham. 2006
The Invention of Childhood will paint a vivid picture of the lives of children in Britain from pagan Anglo-Saxon times…
to the present day. Drawing heavily on primary sources, such as diaries, autobiographies, paintings, photographs and letters, the book will present a complete chronological history of the experience of children in Britain during the past 1500 years. We will learn the key elements that have shaped their lives down the ages and how this has differed as a result of gender, geography and ethnicity. The book will also relate children's lives to larger events in national and international history. Written by Hugh Cunningham the Professor of History at the Universtity of Kent at Canterbury, and an expert on childhood history - the book will accompany the Radio 4 series presented by the highly respected children's author Michael Morpurgo. Michael is contributing a lengthy foreword to the book. 'The Invention of Childhood' will expand on a number of key themes from the radio series, including the idea of childhood as a distinct stage of life. Opinions on when childhood should start and end, and how it differs from adulthood have changed considerably down the centuries. And these inventions and reinventions of childhood (hence the title) have had a profound effect on children's lives. The prolonged childhood we enjoy in Britain today was a luxury few could afford in the past. This fascinating study will draw attention to the ways in which we may find childhood and children in the past quite similar to the present and to ways in which childrens lives from the past seem to differ sharply from the lives children lead today.A History of Masculinity: From Patriarchy to Gender Justice
By Ivan Jablonka. 2019
'Exhilarating . . . a work of scholarship, but also inspiration. . . Go and read Jablonka and change the…
world' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times'An unexpected bestseller in France. . . it has sparked conversations' ChallengesA highly acclaimed, bestselling work from one of France's preeminent historiansWhat does it mean to be a good man? To be a good father, or a good partner? A good brother, or a good friend? In this insightful analysis, social historian Ivan Jablonka offers a re-examination of the patriarchy and its impact on men. Ranging widely across cultures, from Mesopotamia to Confucianism to Christianity to the revolutions of the eighteenth century, Jablonka uncovers the origins of our patriarchal societies. He then offers an updated model of masculinity based on a theory of gender justice which aims for a redistribution of gender, just as social justice demands the redistribution of wealth. Arguing that it is high time for men to be as involved in gender justice as women, Jablonka shows that in order to build a more equal and respectful society, we must gain a deeper understanding of the structure of patriarchy - and reframe the conversation so that men define themselves by the rights of women. Widely acclaimed in France, this is an important work from a major thinker.Hug a Slug or Snog a Frog?: A book of impossible choices
By Chris P Bacon. 2013
What would YOU rather do - hug a slug OR snog a frog? Have hair made of soggy spaghetti OR…
a nose made of plasticine? Be best friends with the Incredible Hulk OR with Batman? This brilliantly funny and totally addictive collection of impossible choices will keep you entertained for hours!How to Avoid a Wombat's Bum (Mitchell Symons' Trivia Books #1)
By Mitchell Symons. 2006
Did you know THAT:The first ready-to-eat breakfast cereal was Shredded Wheat in 1893 (it beat Kellogg's Corn Flakes by just…
five years)Scarlett Johansson, Ashton Kutcher and Simon Cowell all have twin brothers.Everton were the first British football club to introduce a stripe down the side of their shorts.The word DUDE was coined by Oscar Wilde and his friends. It is a combination of the words 'duds' and 'attitude'.Well you do now! Filled with fantastic facts and figures to amaze and intrigue . . . once you start reading you'll be hooked for hours!How to Start a Revolution
By Lucy-Anne Holmes. 2015
A bite-sized guide to making change happen and the story behind the No More Page 3 campaign, written by its…
founder. Change doesn’t just happen. It starts with the idea that something could be different, could be better. It starts with a person who is brave enough to stand up and say, ‘Stop.’ This is what Lucy-Anne Holmes did when she wrote a letter to the editor of The Sun asking him to stop printing pictures of topless women on Page 3 of the paper. This was something that had been happening for forty five years but which - she suddenly realised - she found outdated and inappropriate and, after thinking about it, not unrelated to a lot of the bad things that happen to women. Launching a digital campaign, starting an online petition and recruiting a team of like-minded people, Lucy-Anne started a revolution. Hundreds of thousands of people signed the petition, wore the campaign t-shirt and dared to say #NoMorePage3. Lucy-Anne had never campaigned on anything before. She wasn't particularly political. She'd never been confrontational. But she found that you only need one thing to start a campaign - and it isn't cash, experience or even a thick skin. It's passion.If you have a desire to change something, read what Lucy-Anne has to say. She’s been there, done that, worn the t-shirt and come out the other side having made a difference in the world.Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit
By Wendy Doniger. 1975
Recorded in sacred Sanskrit texts, including the Rig Veda and the Mahabharata, Hindu Myths are thought to date back as…
far as the tenth century BCE. Here in these seventy-five seminal myths are the many incarnations of Vishnu, who saves mankind from destruction, and the mischievous child Krishna, alongside stories of the minor gods, demons, rivers and animals including boars, buffalo, serpents and monkeys. Immensely varied and bursting with colour and life, they demonstrate the Hindu belief in the limitless possibilities of the world - from the teeming miracles of creation to the origins of the incarnation of Death who eventually touches them all.Green Men & White Swans: The Folklore of British Pub Names
By Jacqueline Simpson. 2010
Why do British pubs have such curious names? What tales lie behind the Moonrakers, the Hooden Horse, the Derby Tup?…
And why does the Green Man come in different shapes and sizes?In Green Men & White Swans, leading folklorist Jacqueline Simpson explores the fascinating stories behind pub names, uncovering the myths and legends, euphemisms and wordplays, heroes and even ghosts that have inspired pub landlords over the centuries. Spanning beloved locals from the Three Witches to the Three Nuns, from the Ashen Faggot to the Twa Corbies, this book is both an intriguing insight into the history of the British pub and a captivating journey through the country's dramatic past.The Grass Ceiling: On Being a Woman in Sport
By Eimear Ryan. 2023
'A book which will very soon be acknowledged as a classic of Irish sportswriting' Ciarán MurphyWhat is it like to…
be female in a male-dominated sporting world? If you play with the boys, more people pay attention - but you get treated like an alien. Playing with other girls or women means you have to accept smaller audiences, diminished status and - for professionals - lower pay.And what if, as is the case for camogie player Eimear Ryan, your sport has a completely different name when women play it? What if you don't feel entirely comfortable in an all-female sporting environment because you're shy, bookish, not really one of the girls?In The Grass Ceiling, acclaimed novelist Eimear Ryan digs deep into the confluence of gender and sport, and all the questions it throws up about identity, status, competition and self-expression. At a time when women's sport is on the rise but still a long way from equality, it is a sharp, nuanced and heartfelt exploration of questions that affect everyone who loves sport.Praise for The Grass Ceiling'A gorgeous memoir about a life lived in sport, specifically a female, Irish rural life. I read it in two sittings.' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times'A love letter to the GAA and a diatribe against the idea sport is not for women' Kathleen McNamee, Irish Times'Brilliant ... Ryan's bold and deep search into so many of those internalised questions provides a fascinating collage of emotional detail' Christy O'Connor, Irish Examiner 'Lyrical, urgent, wise and bracing' Irish TimesLong before modern medicines became so widely available, families treated everyday illnesses with home-made remedies. Reused and refined year after…
year, they were handed down through the generations then lovingly copied into personal 'receipt' books. Grandma's Remedies brings together a beguiling collection of them, gathered from dusty medicine chests found in attics, recalled from childhoods long past, or discovered in family archives and libraries. Many of them are surprisingly effective. Did you know, for example, that drinking two cups of strong black coffee will alleviate an asthma attack? Or that chewing toasted fennel seeds will help combat indigestion? Or that rosehip syrup is a terrific source of vitamin C? But Grandma's Remedies is more than a guide to these traditional treatments, it also paints a vivid portrait of the world of our grandparents and great-grandparents. It shows how inventive and resourceful they were with the materials near to hand, how they made the most of everything in the store-cupboard, from bread through to vinegar, and how it was the women of the household who, despite being barred from the medical profession, were relied on to safeguard family health. In these days of antibiotics and painkillers, it's easy to forget how people survived when all they had to rely on was a garden, a larder and a healthy dose of common sense.Games for Bored Adults: Challenges. Competitions. Activities. Drinking.
By Ian Gittins. 2016
Whether you're on lockdown with your family, partner, or flatmates: Games for Bored Adults is packed full of gaming inspiration…
to liven up any dull situation. Why not play human Buckaroo with a sleeping stranger, take on the After Eight challenge, or laugh in the face of pulled muscles in the ultimate ‘Cereal Killer’ game? Challenge your family, indulge your competitive streak and prove yourself the undisputed victor in a whole range of funny and imaginative games for every occasion.The Forest People
By Colin M Turnbull. 1993
The Forest People is an astonishingly intimate and life-enhancing account of a hunter-gatherer tribe living in harmony with nature --…
and an all-time classic of anthropology.For three years, Colin Turnbull lived with an isolated group of Pygmies deep in the forest of the African Congo, experiencing their daily life first-hand. He attended their hunting parties and initiation ceremonies, witnessed their music and their rituals, observed their quarrels and love affairs. He documented them as an anthropologist but was accepted among them as a friend.A ground-breaking work in its time, The Forest People made him one of the most famous intellectuals of the 1960s and 1970s. It remains a transporting account of an earthly paradise and of a legendary and fascinating people.With a new foreword by Horatio Clare.The Golden Bough (Penguin Modern Classics)
By Sir James Frazer. 1996
Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) caught the popular imagination with his vast and enterprising comparative study of the beliefs and…
institutions of mankind, which in its third edition numbered 12 volumes. Reissued here is Frazer's own single-volume abridgement of 1922.The Frontiers of Knowledge: What We Know About Science, History and The Mind
By A. C. Grayling. 2021
'Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects' Steven Pinker_________________________In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the…
universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5 per cent of the universe; pre-history is still being revealed, with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored; and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning. What do we know, and how do we know it? What do we now know that we don't know? And what have we learnt about the obstacles to knowing more? In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean, these questions matter more than ever. Bestselling polymath and philosopher A. C. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge: science, history and psychology. A remarkable history of science, life on earth, and the human mind itself, this is a compelling and fascinating tour de force, written with verve, clarity and remarkable breadth of knowledge._________________________'Remarkable, readable and authoritative. How he has mastered so much, so thoroughly, is nothing short of amazing' Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from Nothing'This book hums with the excitement of the great human project of discovery' Adam Zeman, author of AphantasiaThe Fabled Coast: Legends & traditions from around the shores of Britain & Ireland
By Sophia Kingshill, Jennifer Beatrice Westwood. 2011
Pirates and smugglers, ghost ships and sea-serpents, fishermen’s prayers and sailors’ rituals – the coastline of the British Isles plays…
host to an astonishingly rich variety of local legends, customs, and superstitions.In The Fabled Coast, renowned folklorists Sophia Kingshill and Jennifer Westwood gather together the most enthralling tales and traditions, tracing their origins and examining the facts behind the legends. Was there ever such a beast as the monstrous Kraken? Did a Welsh prince discover America, centuries before Columbus? What happened to the missing crew of the Mary Celeste? Along the way, they recount the stories that are an integral part of our coastal heritage, such as the tale of Drake’s Drum, said to be heard when England was in peril, and the mythical island of Hy Brazil, which for centuries appeared on sea charts and maps to the west of Ireland. The result is an endlessly fascinating, often surprising journey through our island history.The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Papyrus Of Ani
By John Romer. 1999
The Book of the Dead is a unique collection of funerary texts from a wide variety of sources, dating from…
the fifteenth to the fourth century BC. Consisting of spells, prayers and incantations, each section contains the words of power to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. The papyruses were often left in sarcophagi for the dead to use as passports on their journey from burial, and were full of advice about the ferrymen, gods and kings they would meet on the way. Offering valuable insights into ancient Egypt, The Book of the Dead has also inspired fascination with the occult and the afterlife in recent years.If you've ever taken a child (or sat near one) on public transport - you know how important this book…
is. Five Minute Mum: On the Go is the ultimate companion to any journey, staycation or holiday: 80 games to keep little ones happily - and quietly! - occupied when you're out and about. Also featuring games suitable for big groups on holidays or at parties, this is endless fun for kids, and sanity saving for their grown ups!Ideal for early years to KS1 children who are starting or are already at Reception and KS1 primary school. Phonics!…
Number sentences! Reading schemes! School uniforms! Daisy Upton has two children, and used to be a teaching assistant, so is more than familiar with the reality of being a parent. This book is packed full of games and activities to help children feel confident and excited about learning. They -and you! - will get help with letters, numbers and everything in between.Daisy's games only take five minutes to set up and five minutes to tidy up you can support them at home without wanting to bang your head on the kitchen table. 'I love Five Minute Mum - she's come up with games that are fun and educational' The Unmumsy MumAlso available:Five Minute Mum: Give Me FiveFive Minute Mum: On the GoEntitled: A Critical History of the British Aristocracy
By Chris Bryant. 2017
"A proudly partisan history of the British aristocracy - which scores some shrewd hits against the upper class themselves, and…
the nostalgia of the rest of us for their less endearing eccentricities. A great antidote to Downton Abbey." (Mary Beard)Exploring the extraordinary social and political dominance enjoyed by the British aristocracy over the centuries, Entitled seeks to explain how a tiny number of noble families rose to such a position in the first place. It reveals the often nefarious means they have employed to maintain their wealth, power and prestige and examines the greed, ambition, jealousy and rivalry which drove aristocratic families to guard their interests with such determination. In telling their history, Entitled introduces a cast of extraordinary characters: fierce warriors, rakish dandies, political dilettantes, charming eccentrics, arrogant snobs and criminals who quite literally got away with murder.The Englishman's Food: Five Centuries of English Diet
By Anne Wilbraham, J. C. Drummond. 2012
Medieval gardens; cookshops; spices; ale, beer, wine and spirits; the food of peasants, labourers, townspeople, the wealthy, the poor and…
the country gentleman; fish, meat and game; the feeding of infants, children; dairy products; vitamins, proteins, fat and fibre; the adulteration of food; the four bottle man; bread; poaching; tea, coffee and chocolate; food in schools and institutions; sugar and sweetmeats; root crops; the agricultural revolution; the importance of 'white meats', the vegetarian diet; menus and recipes. . .The Englishman's Food was first published in 1939, fully revised in 1957 and now appears with a new updating introduction. A ground-breaking book, it is a fascinating and authoritative survey of food production, consumption, fashions and follies over a period of five hundred years. Reprinted with a new introduction by food editor Tom Jaine.First Confession: A Sort of Memoir
By Chris Patten. 1997
Chris Patten was a cradle Catholic (hence First Confession), became on the most prominent Tory 'Wets' of the 1980s and…
1990s, and went on to hold a series of prominent public offices - Chairman of the Conservative Party, the last Governor of Hong Kong, European Commissioner for External Affairs, Chancellor of Oxford University, Chairman of the BBC, advisor to the Pope - as he self-deprecatingly puts it 'a Grand Poo-bah, the Lord High Everything Else'. He writes with wry humour about his time in all these offices, taking us behind the scenes and showing us unexpected sides of many of the great figures of the day. No political writer is so purely enjoyable as Chris Patten.