Other books that might interest you

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  On Hearing That Constantinople...

  Amelia Opie

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  Amelia Alderson, an only child, was born on the 12th November 1769 in Norwich, England. 
  After the death of her mother on New Year’s Eve 1784 she became her father's housekeeper and hostess. 
  The young Amelia was energetic, attractive, and an admirer of fashion.  She spent much of her youth writing poetry and plays and putting on local amateur theatricals.  At 18 she had published anonymously ‘The Dangers of Coquetry’. 
  Amelia married in the spring of 1798 to the artist John Opie at the Church of St Marylebone, in Westminster, and together they lived in Berners Street where Amelia was already living. 
  Her next novel in 1801 ‘Father and Daughter’, was very popular even though it dealt with such themes as illegitimacy, a socially difficult subject for its times.  From this point on published works were far more regular.  The following year her volume ‘Poems’ appeared and was again very popular.  Novels continued to flow and she never once abandoned her social activism and her call for better treatment of women and the dispossessed in her works.  She was also keenly involved in a love of society and its attendant frills. 
  Encouraged by her husband to write more she published Adeline Mowbray in 1804, an exploration of women's education, marriage, and the abolition of slavery.  
  Her husband died in 1807 and she paused from writing for a few years before resuming with further novels and poems.  Of particular interest was her short poem ‘The Black Man's Lament’ in 1826.  Her life now was in the main spent travelling and working for charities and against slavery.  She even helped create a Ladies Anti-Slavery Society in Norwich which organised a parliamentary petition of 187,000 names of which hers was the first name. 
  After a visit to Cromer, a seaside resort on the North Norfolk coast, she caught a chill and retired to her bedroom.  
  Amelia Opie died on the 2nd December 1853 in Norwich.  She was 84.

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  Hamlet | Simple Shakespeare...

  Jeanette Vigon

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  This modern adaptation of "Hamlet" breathes new life into Shakespeare's legendary tale, presenting it in contemporary English to draw readers into the vortex of betrayal, revenge, and existential angst at the heart of the play. With Prince Hamlet's story unfurling in the modern vernacular, the timeless tragedy of the Danish prince wrestling with grief, moral uncertainty, and the specter of vengeance becomes more accessible and immediate. Whether you're meeting Hamlet for the first time or returning to the shadowed corridors of Elsinore Castle, this version is crafted to convey the raw emotion and profound insights of Shakespeare's work in a language that speaks directly to the modern reader. 
  Key features of this modern version of "Hamlet":Showcases Shakespeare's intricate narrative and deep philosophical queries in clear, modern English, broadening its appeal.Maintains the original's narrative depth and existential themes, ensuring the essence of Shakespeare's vision remains intact without the need for external commentary.Perfect for educational settings and readers seeking an intuitive understanding of the play’s themes, characters, and complex storyline.Draws in readers of today with an age-old exploration of revenge, sanity, loyalty, and existential musings, proving the play's enduring relevance.Preserves the emotional intensity and character complexity that Shakespeare is renowned for, allowing a direct connection to the dilemmas and passions of his characters.Stimulates critical thought and discussion around perennial human concerns such as justice, the effects of grief, and the essence of existence, inviting readers to ponder deeply.Opens up Shakespeare's oeuvre to new audiences, encouraging exploration and appreciation of literary artistry with ease and enthusiasm.

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  In Montgomery and Other Poems

  Gwendolyn Brooks

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  Composed of three sections, this collection features the final poems of the late poet laureate of Illinois. The first section, ""In Montgomery,"" is a verbal description of a visit made by the poet and a highly talented photographer for Ebony Magazine, Moneeta Sleet. This is followed by a section of poetic character sketches. The final section is based upon a well known building located in the Black ghetto of Chicago's south side.

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  Poems From The Chinese - A...

  Arthur Waley

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  These are called ''' Poems from the Chinese"" and we have Mr. Waley's assurance that there are in existence Oriental originals. But if it be so (and, of course it is) then we have here a literary miracle. It is a platitude that translation of poetry is either bad verse or bad translation. But Mr. Waley, translating not merely from one language into another, but almost from one planet into another, has produced a body of living poetry, in which there is every reason to believe he re-creates, without distorting, the Chinese poets. This is an unparalleled feat. But as we are, with about six exceptions in the whole of Great Britain, incapable of comparing the English and the Chinese, we must address ourselves to these poems as though they had been written by an Englishman of the twentieth century, and judge them on that basis. It is a severe test to apply to translations, but Mr. Waley emerges from it serenely victorious. Indeed, serenity is the keynote of all this work—the serenity of assured mastery in a difficult medium but still more of outlook. The beauty with which these poems are. inlaid is fundamentally a wise beauty and the wisdom is as much in the shape of Mr. Waley's mind as in that of China. There is no need to hurry here. Wisdom goes at an even pace, and has time between her penetrations of the stars to observe the smallest things of life. Her leisurely glance sweeps over them with patient gold, and they settle, almost without a sigh, into decoration and into pattern. We have lost {and the Chinese have lost) the secret of their enamels of the great periods. But Mr. Waley has private access to them, and his poems, varnished with just that cool and even certainty of paint and texture, achieve one filial translation— the translation of colour into speech. -- Humbert Wolfe.

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  By Blood and Blade - A Taletha...

  Anna Augustine

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  In the land of Taletha, the Wife Market is the prime place for young lords to find a spouse...but not the place for love. Something Inara knows all too well. After six years of rejection, she has no hope of being chosen for anything but a plaything. 
  When the future ruler of Taletha arrives at the Market, Inara is chosen. More shocking still, Dhamar is exactly what he appears to be: kind, gentle, and willing to build a relationship of mutual respect and trust. 
  Yet Dhamar has his own demons to fight. With a tyrannical father pushing for war with the Šerians, a scheming council, and the burden to protect those he loves, Dhamar is stretched thin. He wants to be a good husband to his wife, but how? 
  Thrown together by chance, will breaking down their walls reveal something beautiful, or leave only shattered pieces behind?

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  Perve

  Stacey Gregg

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  An irreverent and unsettling play that interrogates paranoia, ambiguity and innocence in our highly sexualised world.
  Gethin has just finished his film course and reckons he's the next Scorsese. His mum is on at him to do her friend's wedding video - before the couple get divorced!
  But Gethin is interested in a much more daring project - one that will get him into dangerously deep water, question his idealism and turn his life and that of his family upside down.
  Stacey Gregg's play Perve was first staged at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in 2011.

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