Editorial: Bigg Communications
TV and movie producer, journalist, editor and writer Brian Bigg provides a humorous behind-the-scenes look of his experiences making television programs in Europe for the world's fastest growing television production company.
Of all the puzzles about ancient Egypt, the pharaoh Hatshepsut stands out as one of the most remarkable rulers in the long and complex history of ancient Egypt. Although it was extremely rare for a woman to rule Egypt, it was not entirely unheard of by the time Hatshepsut became the regent of the Nile Valley. The Middle Kingdom saw a woman named Sobekneferu ascend to Egypt’s highest office, but the details of Hatshepsut’s situation are quite different (Grajetzki 2006, 61). It remains unknown just precisely how Hatshepsut was able to arrange such a coup as Thutmose II’s half-sister. The familial connection between Hatshepsut and Thutmose II meant that Thutmose III was actually the queen’s nephew, but it is likely that the two had few, if any, interactions before the death of Thutmose II. Hatshepsut’s relative middling status in the Egyptian royal house makes the situation even more intriguing. In the early 20th century, over 3,000 years after her death, Nefertiti became a household name across the world and one of the most famous women of the ancient world. Egyptologists were aware that she was a queen of the New Kingdom Egypt during the later portion of the 18th dynasty, but she was barely known until the presentation of a reconstructed bust depicting her at the Berlin Museum in 1924. Nefertiti means “the beautiful one has come”, and if the presented bust is anything to judge by, she was indeed a beautiful woman. Cleopatra was a legendary figure even to contemporary Romans and the ancient world, as Plutarch’s quote suggests, and she was a controversial figure who was equally reviled and praised through the years, depicted as a benevolent ruler and an evil seductress, sometimes at the same time. Over 2,000 years after her death, everything about Cleopatra continues to fascinate people around the world, from her lineage as a Ptolemaic pharaoh, her physical features, and her famous suicide.Ver libro
GEORGE WASHINGTON There is quite a bit of pedigree that comes with being the first in any role or position. Most specifically, you get to set the tone and expectations for those who come after you. As there is no expectation or previous failures for you to repeat, there is less pressure to uphold the reputation of someone who had held the position before you. Unfortunately, there is also a great deal of pressure that comes with being the first. When you are first there is no one there to come before you, to help guide you in the right direction or advise you when you are perhaps leading astray. One of the most prestigious firsts is the focus of this book. Inside, you will get a comprehensive look into the life, career, education, accomplishments, failures, death, and legacy of the first president of the United States, George Washington.Ver libro
Jim Morrison, the enigmatic frontman of the iconic rock band The Doors, lived a life filled with artistic expression, rebellion, and introspection. Born in 1943, Morrison's raw talent as a singer, songwriter, and poet was matched only by his charismatic stage presence and unconventional lifestyle. His music, poetry, and provocative persona continue to captivate audiences, making him an enduring figure in rock and roll history. Morrison's legacy lies in his ability to push boundaries and challenge societal norms through his art. As the lyricist and vocalist of The Doors, he explored themes of love, darkness, freedom, and the human condition with profound intensity. Songs like "Light My Fire," "Break On Through (To the Other Side)," and "Riders on the Storm" showcased Morrison's poetic prowess and his willingness to delve into the depths of the human psyche. His performances were characterized by a raw, uninhibited energy that captivated audiences, establishing him as one of rock's most iconic and controversial figures. In addition to his music, Morrison's poetry and writings reflected his profound introspection and artistic vision. He published two collections of poetry, "The Lords and the New Creatures" and "An American Prayer," which revealed his talent for blending vivid imagery, introspective musings, and social commentary. Morrison's exploration of themes such as identity, mortality, and spirituality added depth to his artistry and provided insight into his complex worldview. Jim Morrison's life was cut tragically short when he passed away at the age of 27, joining the infamous "27 Club" alongside other legendary musicians. However, his impact on music, poetry, and the counterculture of the 1960s continues to resonate.Ver libro
Adeline Virginia Woolf was born on the 25th January 1882 in South Kensington in London. Although lauded as a founder of modernist writing with such classics as ‘Orlando’, ‘Mrs Dalloway’ and ‘To the Lighthouse’ and, of course, many classic short stories, her background is filled with elements of tragedy that she somehow overcame to become such a revered writer. Her mother died when she was 13, her half-sister Stella two years later and with it her first of several nervous breakdowns. Appallingly it was later found that three of her half-brothers had sexually abused her so darkness must have seemed ever present. She began writing professionally at age 20 but her father’s death two years later brought a complete mental collapse and she was briefly institutionalised. Somehow she found within herself a literary career and with it great innovations in writing; she was a pioneer of “stream of consciousness”. Her tight circle of friends were the founders of the Bloomsbury Group, a movement whose legacy still influences across the arts and society in many way to this day. Whilst the dark periods continued to interrupt her emotional state her rate of work never ceased. Until, on 28th March 1941, Woolf put on her overcoat, filled up its pockets with stones, and walked into the River Ouse, in Lewes, East Sussex and drowned herself. Her body was not recovered until the 18th April. She was 59. She left behind a note which read in part “Dearest, I feel certain that I am going mad again. I feel we can't go through another of those terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices, and I can't concentrate. So I am doing what seems the best thing to do”.Ver libro
The Night Has Its Own Darkness is a chorus of women’s voices - remembered, imagined, and reborn. Across generations and continents, they rise from silence to speak their truths: of love and loss, of resistance and longing, of faith, exile, and survival. Among them are the iconic and the forgotten, women we thought we knew, now revealing who they truly were, and others whose names were never spoken aloud. Each voice burns like a candle in the dark, passing its flame to the next, forming a fragile, luminous chain of remembrance that refuses to fade. Written by J. M. Niv and narrated with the extraordinary presence by Erika Calvert, this audiobook becomes more than a reading, it is an act of listening, a haunting dialogue between past and present. Every voice carries the breath of those who came before, every pause holds the weight of what was never said.Moving between history and memory, between the living and the lost, The Night Has Its Own Darkness invites the listener to bear witness, to stand in the quiet and hear the light.Ver libro
A sixth-generation funeral director and writer of the popular ""must read"" (Time magazine) blog Confessions of a Funeral Director reflects on mortality and the powerful lessons death holds for every one of us in this compassionate and thoughtful spiritual memoir that combines the humor and insight of Smoke Gets in Your Eyes with the poignancy and brevity of When Breath Becomes Air. Death. It happens to everyone, yet most of us don’t want to talk about this final chapter of existence. Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde intimately understands this reticence and fear. The son of an undertaker, he hesitated to embrace the legacy of running his family’s business. Yet he discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones profoundly changed his faith and his perspective on death—and life itself. ""Yes, death can be bad. Yes, death can be negative,"" he acknowledges, ""but it can also be beautiful. And that alternate narrative needs to be discussed."" In Confessions of a Funeral Director, he talks about his experiences and pushes back against the death-negative ethos of our culture, opening a thoughtful, poignant conversation to help us see the end of life in a positive and liberating way. In the wry, compassionate, and honest voice that has charmed his growing legions of blog readers, Wilde offers an intimate look inside his business, offering information on unspoken practices around death such as the embalming process, beautiful and memorable stories about families in the wake of death, and, most importantly, a fresh and wise perspective on how embracing death can allow us to embrace life. Confessions of a Funeral Director is the story of one man learning how death illuminates and deepens the meaning of existence—insights that can help us all pursue and cherish full, rich lives.Ver libro
