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  Louvre and the Hermitage The:...

  Editors Charles River

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  The very name of the Louvre conjures up scenes of art and elegance, and of long halls filled with beauty and people strolling through them whispering quietly among themselves about the glories they are witnessing. Even those who have never been to the Louvre know some of its most prized possessions, from ancient statues to Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”. As the world’s largest museum, the Louvre is unquestionably the cultural highpoint of Paris, a city that has long been considered the cultural center of Europe. 
  However, life is rarely as simple as one imagines, and the life of the Louvre is no different. While just about everyone is familiar with its history as an art museum, the Louvre’s history goes back over 800 years, and it used to have far different purposes, both as a medieval fortress and a palatial residence for French kings. The Louvre bore witness to mass murder during the French Revolution, and there have been countless accusations of theft and other questionable actions since its opening. 
  Catherine the Great came to power in the midst of the Enlightenment, which was flourishing in France and Britain, and she would rule as an Enlightened ruler. A known correspondent of Voltaire’s, Catherine sought to modernize Russia and turn it into a force in its own right, creating a rich and cultured court at the same time. Over the course of nearly 35 years in power, Catherine ushered in the Russian Enlightenment and presided over a period of time known as the Golden Age of the Russian Empire. 
  Moreover, Catherine had an unmatched passion for the arts, and she began a private art collection that would eventually evolve into galleries upon galleries of historical treasures shipped in from all over the world. This fabled museum was none other than the Hermitage, located in the heart of Saint Petersburg, a city founded by the imperial empire's very own Peter the Great.

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  Master the Art of Decluttering...

  Joshua Genius

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  Do you simply have too much stuff? Is there way too much on your mind?This problem seems to be a common complaint these days. A day does not go by when you don’t hear someone ask, “What I am going to do with all this stuff?” or “I’ve just got way too much on my mind. The pressures life put on many of us these days gives us little time for decluttering our lives.Solving this dilemma is where Joshua Genius’s book, Master the Art of Decluttering and Organizing: Declutter Your Home and Organize Your Mind and Life can indeed be a lifesaver. This book outlines a complete program to help you understand how to declutter your mind, your life, and your home. Following the advice in this book, you will learn to organize these same three areas so that you are in control of them, instead of them controlling you. The results of following the advice in Joshua’s easy to read book are that you will become more empowered, you will be more efficient in your use of time and energy, and you will be able to better focus on the things that are truly important to you.  These are skills that a great many of us could certainly stand to improve, and this fantastic book by Joshua Genius is just the tool to teach you how to master the combined arts of decluttering and organization. Make that first significant step and buy your copy today.

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  The Yamato Period - The Dawn of...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Yamato period, spanning from roughly the 3rd to the 7th century, marks the emergence of Japan’s first centralized political power. At the heart of this transformation was the Yamato clan, a dominant force that laid the foundation for Japan’s imperial lineage. While early Japan was fragmented into numerous rival clans, the Yamato rulers gradually asserted their dominance, forging alliances, engaging in warfare, and adopting foreign influences to solidify their authority. 
  One of the key factors behind the Yamato clan’s rise was its strategic control over fertile land in the Kinki region, an area well-suited for agriculture. This economic advantage allowed them to amass resources necessary to support a growing military force. By subjugating neighboring clans or bringing them under their influence through political marriages and alliances, the Yamato rulers expanded their reach across central and western Japan. The development of a hierarchical system of governance helped them maintain order, as powerful regional chieftains were brought into a centralized network of control under the Yamato court. 
  Military strength played a significant role in the Yamato clan’s dominance. Archaeological evidence from kofun, or large burial mounds, reveals that these early rulers possessed advanced weaponry, including iron swords and armor, likely influenced by interactions with Korea and China. These military advantages enabled them to assert control over rival clans and protect their growing territory from external threats. The construction of these elaborate burial sites also served as a demonstration of power and legitimacy, reinforcing the Yamato rulers’ status as semi-divine figures.

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  Outside In - Interiors Born from...

  Brian Paquette

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  An honest, introspective essay introduces Paquette’s second book, which represents the most recent steps in his evolution as an interior designer. Some are ground-up homes that he worked on from the iteration, some are remodels of existing spaces in various scales, and some are furnishings of existing homes for clients. Concise chapter introductions are followed by gallery-like displays of images that the reader can become immersed in and interpret for themselves. For the reader, this book will prompt keener observation of the natural surroundings and how to bring those poignant moments into their own homes.

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  Brightening Glance - Art and Life

  Pat Lipsky

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  For more than five decades, Pat Lipsky has been a leading figure in American color field painting. In loosely connected vignettes, this extraordinary book looks back on a life starting in 1970s SoHo: from her pioneering days juggling painting and single motherhood in a redesigned factory loft on Wooster Street; to Paris, where an enchanting friendship develops with the former director of the Louvre, Pierre Rosenberg; to her yearslong close friendship with legendary art critic Clement Greenberg; to a marvelous love affair with the charismatic art dealer Richard Bellamy. We glimpse Lipsky's first introduction to Cézanne as a child in 1950s Brooklyn and her studies with the mythic artist Tony Smith, who would become her mentor. Along the way we experience Lipsky's emergence at the forefront of her generation of painters.Brightening Glance offers a stunningly self-revealing portrait of the struggles and sacrifices, joys and excitement inherent in a modern painter's life, and captures the evergreen allure of New York's art world between 1970 and 2010. In stripped down, elegant prose, Lipsky summons a New York that no longer exists and ponders why we love (and hate) the art world. Ultimately, it's a story of a contemporary woman, a mother, and a painter, who dares a career in a field where only a handful of women have succeeded.

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  Modern Nations - The Making of...

  Lillian Brooks

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  "Modern Nations: The Making of Australia, New Zealand, and Māori Identity (2 in 1)" explores the transformative journey of two nations as they evolved from colonial settlements into independent, modern states, while also examining the ongoing struggle for recognition and identity among Indigenous communities. This two-part volume captures the complex and often challenging histories that shaped Australia and New Zealand, revealing how these countries forged their national identities amidst cultural clashes, political shifts, and social change.  
  The first section, The Making of Modern New Zealand, traces New Zealand's path from British colony to sovereign nation, highlighting the impact of European settlement, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the ongoing fight for Māori rights and cultural preservation.  
  The second section, History of Australia, explores the formation of modern Australia — from its origins as a British penal colony to its emergence as a diverse and independent nation — while also acknowledging the profound and lasting effects of colonization on Aboriginal communities.  
  Together, these narratives provide a comprehensive understanding of how colonial histories, Indigenous resistance, and nation-building efforts have shaped the modern identities of Australia, New Zealand, and their Indigenous peoples. This book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the dynamic and often contested histories that continue to influence these nations today.

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