Publisher: Phoemixx Classics Ebooks
New Grub Street George Gissing - New Grub Street is a novel by George Gissing published in 1891, which is set in the literary and journalistic circles of 1880s London. Gissing revised and shortened the novel for a French edition of 1901.
Between 152 and 138 BC a series of wars from Africa to India produced a radically new geopolitical situation. In 150 Rome was confined to the western Mediterranean, and the largest state was the Seleukid empire. By 140 Rome had spread to the borders of Asia Minor and the Seleukid empire was confined to Syria. The new great power in the Middle East was Parthia, stretching from Babylonia to Baktria. These two divided the western world between them until the Arab conquests in the seventh century AD.These wars have generally been treated separately, but they were connected. The crisis began in Syria with the arrival of the pretender Alexander Balas; his example was copied by Andriskos in Macedon, formerly in Seleukid service; the reaction of Rome to defiance in Macedon, Greece and Africa produced conquest and destruction. The preoccupation of Seleukid kings with holding on to their thrones allowed Mithradates I of Parthia to conquer Iran and Babylonia, and in Judaea an insurrection was partly successful. Mithradates was able conquer in part because his other enemy, Baktria, was preoccupied with the nomad invasions which led to the destruction of Ai Khanum. One of the reasons for the nomad success in Baktria was the siphoning off of Greek strength into India, where a major expedition in these very years breifly conquered and sacked the old Indian imperial capital of Pataliputra.In the process the great cities of Carthage, Corinth, Ai Khanum, and Pataliputra were destroyed, while Antioch and Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris were extensively damaged. John Grainger's lucid narrative shows how these seismic events, stretching from India to the Western Meditteranean, interconnected to recast the ancient world.Show book
The Neolithic period came before the Bronze Age and is generally regarded as the final subdivision of the Stone Age. During this time, communities domesticated plants and certain animals but still relied on hunting and gathering to a considerable extent, and beginning sometime around 7000 BCE, handmade pottery was developed, along with more advanced stone axes that enabled people to clear vast forests. Thanks to tools like that, the sizes of these Neolithic communities ranged from thousands to as few as a hundred, and they spread across the world with a variety of cultures and languages. One aspect these cultures had in common was that they relied on similar tools made of stone, wood, and bone. Despite the fact some Neolithic communities grew to considerable sizes, they’re typically not considered when people think of the first ancient civilizations or the first major cities, so when German archaeologists discovered the archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey in the 1990s, it created an academic firestorm that is still raging. Far from being just another settlement, Göbekli Tepe has been described as the world’s first temple and perhaps one of the locations where human civilization began. Subsequent archaeological work at Göbekli Tepe has revealed that the site was a spiritual center for the local population during a time when humans were undergoing a transition as hunter-gatherers in the Paleolithic Period to a more sedentary lifestyle in the Neolithic Period, more than 10,000 years ago. Further research in the disciplines of anthropology, religion, and history indicate that the activity at Göbekli Tepe subsequently set the tone for elements of Neolithic and Bronze Age religion and ideology in the Near East, especially in Anatolia (roughly equivalent with modern Turkey).Show book
Unlock the hidden rhythms of Russian conversation with A Language Learner’s Guide to Russian Idioms, narrated by Ernest Timkin and crafted by linguist Dana Levina. This audiobook isn’t just about memorizing phrases—it’s a cultural passport, revealing how Russians weave humor, history, and wisdom into everyday speech. Imagine transforming awkward pauses into confident exchanges by knowing when to say someone’s “counting crows” (считать ворон) instead of daydreaming, or calling out empty promises as “noodles hung on ears” (вешать лапшу на уши). Whether you’re a traveler aiming to navigate local markets without getting “led by the nose” (водить за нос), a student tired of “thumbing wooden blocks” (бить баклуши) instead of studying, or a professional striving to “take the bull by the horns” (брать быка за рога) in meetings, these idioms bridge the gap between textbook Russian and authentic dialogue. Each expression unfolds with vivid context: Learn why “walking on heels” (ходить по пятам) means relentless pursuit, how “sitting on needles” (сидеть как на иголках) captures nail-biting anxiety, and when to “keep your ear sharp” (держать ухо востро) in tricky situations. Perfect for learners craving cultural fluency, this guide turns idioms from curiosities into tools, helping you decode films, literature, and casual chats with ease. Dive in—before you know it, you’ll be swapping stale translations for phrases that make Russians lean in and smile. Удачи! (Good luck!)Show book
The Court in Vienna under Emperor Francis Joseph was not only Europe's most illustrious and refined, it was also a huge economic enterprise, serving as both home and workplace for just under 2,000 people. The author reveals multitudinous facets of Emperor Francis Joseph's court and displays them in highly entertaining fashion, the court truly comes alive again. She takes the reader through a typical day in the life of the emperor, from his early morning toilette to the evening ceremonies; she tells tales of glittering ceremonies, receptions and audiences; she provides insights into the private and the family life of the emperor.Show book
"When it came to involving the nascent republic in military conflict, one of the founding fathers’ biggest fears was that American presidents would be reckless and aggressive to suit their own agendas. Judy Woodruff sits down with presidential historian Michael Beschloss, author of the new book ""Presidents of War,"" to discuss the history of executive war decisions and why they’re problematic."Show book
Learn to think like the great Chinese philosophers of old and swim with the flow of life, no longer against it. The ancient Chinese sages were reported to have lived extremely long lives yet to have retained their youth, vigor, and a childlike humor well into their latter years. How? By discovering and aligning themselves with the underlying Intelligence of life. In only 81 brief and truly non-denominational chapters you will discover how to do the same. This is Dr. Barnes’ second translation of the Tao Te Ching, and it goes a bit deeper than his first. Still, he did his best to simplify the concepts so as to make them more digestible to the modern reader. Want to discover what brought the Taoists such joy? Then scroll up and grab your copy now!Show book
