Other books that might interest you

• 

  Letters from Wales - Memories...

  Sam Adams

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  'Letters from Wales stands alone as an invaluable guide to Welsh writing.' – Sam Young, Wales Arts Review
  'In these columns, as impressive for their depth as they are for their intellectual breadth, Adams analyses the work of acclaimed Welsh writers ... with scholarly panache' – Joshua Rees, Buzz Magazine
  'illuminating and entertaining' – Jon Gower, Nation.Cymru
  Since 1996, Sam Adams's 'Letter from Wales' column has been appearing in PN Review, one of the most highly-regarded UK poetry magazines, offering insight and appreciation of Welsh writing, culture and history. This landmark volume collects these letters – a quarter century of work – and offers one of the most unique, independent and passionate critical voices on the writing and cultural output of Wales during this period.
  Here you will find erudite appreciations of the work of a wide range of recent and contemporary Welsh writers from Gillian Clarke to Roland Mathias, RS Thomas to Rhian Edwards. Alongside this, Adams offers us lyric essays to Welsh history, and clear-eyed examinations of the institutions of Welsh culture. Collected for the first time in this volume, the 'letters' are among the most significant and sustained attempts during this period to present Welsh writing to an audience throughout the UK and beyond.

  Show book

• 

  The Gothic Cathedral -...

  Harris Ropes

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The origins of Gothic architecture lie in the transition from the Romanesque style that dominated Europe in the early medieval period. Romanesque churches, with their thick walls, small windows, and rounded arches, provided a sense of solidity but limited natural light and height. By the 12th century, new architectural innovations emerged, driven by a desire for greater verticality, spacious interiors, and an infusion of divine light. These aspirations led to the birth of the Gothic style, first appearing in France before spreading across Europe. 
  One of the key figures in this transition was Abbot Suger of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, near Paris. In the 1130s, he initiated the reconstruction of the abbey church, incorporating pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and extensive stained glass windows. Suger believed that light was a manifestation of the divine, and through these architectural changes, he sought to transform the church into a place of spiritual illumination. His innovations set a precedent for what would become the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture. 
  The pointed arch, a hallmark of the Gothic style, replaced the rounded arch of the Romanesque period. This architectural shift was more than an aesthetic change; it allowed for greater structural efficiency, enabling builders to construct taller and more spacious interiors. The ribbed vault, another significant innovation, helped distribute weight more evenly, allowing for thinner walls and the introduction of expansive stained glass windows. These windows, often adorned with biblical scenes, served both a decorative and didactic function, educating the largely illiterate medieval population about religious narratives.

  Show book

• 

  Summary: Killing the Killers:...

  Scott Campbell

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This summary book is meant to complement the original. It is not intended to replace the fine book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, #1 bestselling authors. 
  Readers soon find themselves injected into the worldwide war on terror, which started more than two decades ago on September 11, 2001. 
  America went into battle mode as the World Trade Center towers crumbled, the Pentagon burned, and a tiny number of passengers fought frantically to prevent a third jet from carrying out its murderous flight plan. Killing The Killers tells the story of America's long struggle against radicals who plotted and carried out not just the 9/11 atrocities but hundreds of others throughout the globe, finally destroying whole countries in their pursuit for power. 
  Killing The Killers follows the United States' fight against Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere, as well as specific targets of these organizations' most renowned commanders. O'Reilly and Dugard provide an irresistible narrative of our era's most crucial battle with new detail and well-sourced material.

  Show book

• 

  Mesopotamia Unveiled: Discover...

  Mike Tisty

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Discover Mesopotamia Like Never Before 
  Embark on a captivating journey to the heart of Mesopotamia, the birthplace of the world's earliest civilizations. In "Mesopotamia Revealed: Uncovering the Cradle of Civilization," dive deep into the ancient lands that witnessed the dawn of history itself. Accompanied by the enticing subtitle, "Discover the Ancient World Where History Began," this book promises to unlock the secrets of a world shrouded in mystery. 
  A Treasure Trove of Ancient Wonders 
  From the majestic waters of the Tigris and Euphrates to the monumental ziggurats touching the heavens, Mesopotamia's story is one of innovation, conquest, and wisdom passed through millennia. This comprehensive narrative explores the intricate tapestry of societies that flourished in this fertile crescent, offering readers an unparalleled insight into their advancements, beliefs, and daily lives. 
  Unparalleled Insights and Revelations 
  The Dawn of Civilization: Uncover how Mesopotamia became the cradle of civilization, fostering the development of writing, law, and urbanization. 
  Empires of Glory: Journey through the rise and fall of powerful empires, from the Akkadian to the Babylonian, and discover their lasting impacts on the world. 
  Cultural Legacy: Delve into the religious beliefs, technological innovations, and artistic achievements that continue to influence modern society. 
  Archaeological Marvels: Explore the groundbreaking discoveries that have unearthed Mesopotamia's enduring mysteries and the ongoing quest to reveal more about this ancient land. 
  A Guide for the Curious and the Scholar 
  Join Us on a Journey to the Past 
  Don't miss the opportunity to discover the ancient world where history began. "Mesopotamia Unveiled: Discover the Ancient World Where History Began" is your gateway to understanding the profound legacy of Mesopotamia. Embark on this journey today and unlock the secrets of the land between two rivers.

  Show book

• 

  In Praise of Listening - A...

  Christian McEwen

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In her latest book, In Praise of Listening, Christian McEwen reflects on listening (silence, music, nature, prayer) in a series of thoughtful chapters, each one focused on a different theme. When an athlete speaks of "listening to his body," or a gardener describes herself as "listening to the land," when writers and artists explain that they are "listening" to their work-in-progress, they are using the word as she chooses to use it here—as an extended metaphor for openness and receptivity, rippling out from the self-centered human to the farthest reaches of the non-human world. 
   
   
   
  In Praise of Listening is a kind of sister or first cousin to McEwen's earlier, timely, and very popular, World Enough & Time, with the same emphasis on creativity and slowing down. As McEwen says: Most of us think of listening in fairly literal fashion: human beings listening (or not listening) to one another; the pleasure of attending to a familiar piece of music. But listening can have a far broader and more capacious meaning, moving out beyond the small apparatus of the ears to the hands or belly or enveloping spirit/mind.

  Show book

• 

  Slouching Towards Bethlehem -...

  Joan Didion

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This program is read by actor and singer-songwriter Maya Hawke, star of Netflix's Stranger Things."Narrating in a voice as clear and sustaining as a cool glass of water, Hawke’s unflashy approach allows the words to reveal their magic."—The Orange County Register"Didion’s timeless essays shine with Hawke at the helm. This audiobook will bring new listeners to this classic and is highly recommended for libraries everywhere.”—Library Journal (Starred Review)“Maya Hawke performs this classic collection superbly...Hawke gets Didion's measured pace and thoughtful tone just right as she conveys the much admired author's idiosyncratic, elegant language.”—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)Celebrated, iconic, and indispensable, Joan Didion’s first work of nonfiction, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, is considered a watershed moment in American writing. First published in 1968, the collection was critically praised as one of the “best prose written in this country.”More than perhaps any other book, this collection by one of the most distinctive prose stylists of our era captures the unique time and place of Joan Didion’s focus, exploring subjects such as John Wayne and Howard Hughes, growing up in California and the nature of good and evil in a Death Valley motel room, and, especially, the essence of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, the heart of the counterculture. As Joyce Carol Oates remarked: “[Didion] has been an articulate witness to the most stubborn and intractable truths of our time, a memorable voice, partly eulogistic, partly despairing; always in control.”A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

  Show book