D'autres livres qui pourraient vous intéresser

• 

  Messiah The - A Sacred Ecologue...

  Alexander Pope

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Alexander Pope was born on May 21st, 1688 in London into a Catholic family.   
  His education was affected by the recent Test Acts, upholding the status of the Church of England and banning Catholics from teaching.  In effect this meant his formal education was over by the age of 12 and Pope was to now immerse himself in classical literature and languages and to, in effect, educate himself.    
  From this age too he also suffered from numerous health problems including a type of tuberculosis (Pott’s disease) which resulted in a stunted, deformed body.  Only to grow to a height of 4’ 6”, with a severe hunchback and complicated further by respiratory difficulties, high fevers, inflamed eyes and abdominal pain all of which served to further isolate him, initially, from society.  
  However his talent was evident to all. Best known for his satirical verse, his translations of Homer and the use of the heroic couplet, he is the second-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare.  
  With the publication of Pastorals in 1709 followed by An Essay on Criticism (1711) and his most famous work The Rape of the Lock (1712; revised and enlarged in 1714) Pope became not only famous but wealthy.  
  His translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey further enhanced both reputation and purse.  His engagement to produce an opulent new edition of Shakespeare met with a mixed reception.  Pope attempted to "regularise" Shakespeare's metre and rewrote some of his verse and cut 1500 lines, that Pope considered to be beneath the Bard’s standard, to mere footnotes.  
  Alexander Pope died on May 30th, 1744 at his villa at Twickenham (where he created his famous grotto and gardens) and was buried in the nave of the nearby Church of England Church of St Mary the Virgin.   
  Over the years and centuries since his death Pope’s work has been in and out of favour but with this distance he is now truly recognised as one of England’s greatest poets.

  Voir livre

• 

  Grenfell: in the words of survivors

  Gillian Slovo

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The early hours of Wednesday 14 June 2017. The north-west corner of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. A twenty-four-storey residential tower. The scene of a national tragedy.
  This powerful verbatim play is drawn from the testimony of residents – a group of survivors and bereaved – at the heart of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It reveals the impact of the multiple failures that led to the most devastating residential fire in the UK since the Second World War, and asks: how do we stop this ever happening again?
  Startling, urgent and deeply moving, Grenfell: in the words of survivors explores the courage and resilience of an ill-treated community and their continued campaign for justice.
  Created from interviews by Gillian Slovo, the play was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in July 2023, co-directed by Phyllida Lloyd and Anthony Simpson-Pike.
  10% of the net proceeds from sales of this book will be donated by the publisher to the Grenfell Foundation, who support the bereaved and survivors in the aftermath of the fire, as well as help them ensure Grenfell is remembered long into the future.
  'Moving, heartfelt and important… a powerful piece of verbatim theatre that demands empathy, not sympathy' - Evening Standard
  'An engulfing experience… harrowing but not sensational… Slovo's play is new and important. It is not only that she uses the words of survivors; it's that they are her collaborators. The result is an inquiry of the best sort – the most humane kind – on stage' - Observer
  'A tour de force… deeply humane… infinitely more meaningful than dispassionate news footage… a tremendous piece of theatre' - Time Out
  'Gripping… shocking… piles up devastating detail… an ensemble masterpiece' - Guardian
  'Powerful' - Telegraph
  
  'A visceral insight into a human tragedy' - The Times

  Voir livre

• 

  A King and No King

  Beaumont and Fletcher

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A King and No King by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher is a compelling Jacobean tragicomedy that masterfully blends themes of power, identity, love, and moral conflict. Renowned for its dramatic intensity and emotional complexity, the play explores the fragile boundaries between authority and vulnerability, as well as the consequences of desire when it challenges social and ethical norms.
  
  Set in an imagined ancient kingdom, the story centers on Arbaces, a victorious ruler celebrated for his strength and military success. Despite his outward confidence, Arbaces is internally conflicted, struggling with an overwhelming and forbidden passion that threatens both his sense of honor and the stability of his rule. His emotional turmoil forms the heart of the narrative, revealing the tension between personal impulses and public responsibility.
  
  As the plot unfolds, questions of legitimacy, lineage, and identity come sharply into focus. The uncertainty surrounding Arbaces' origins complicates his claim to authority and deepens the psychological stakes of his inner conflict. Alongside this central storyline, the play introduces a range of characters whose interactions add layers of intrigue, loyalty, and deception.
  
  Beaumont and Fletcher skillfully weave together elements of romance, political drama, and philosophical reflection. Their language is rich and expressive, capturing both the grandeur of royal life and the intimacy of personal struggle. The interplay between serious themes and moments of wit reflects the distinctive style of Jacobean theatre.
  
  A King and No King remains a powerful exploration of human desire, ethical boundaries, and the nature of true authority. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to present complex emotional and moral dilemmas within a vivid and engaging dramatic framework, offering readers a timeless reflection on the challenges of power and identity.

  Voir livre

• 

  Lord Jim

  Joseph Conrad

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A deeply psychological novel about one man's struggle to reclaim his honor.
  
  After a moment of failure at sea, Jim becomes haunted by guilt and the judgment of others. Seeking a new beginning, he travels far from civilization in search of redemption and purpose.
  
  Blending adventure with emotional and moral complexity, the novel explores courage, identity, and the burden of conscience.
  
  Written by Joseph Conrad.
  
  Follow a journey shaped by regret and redemption—download your copy today.

  Voir livre

• 

  Spring Forward Mrs James! - A...

  JR. ROBERT C. BRABHAM, ALICE R....

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The creator of Slinky, Dick James, was an engineer who took a mistake in his work place and saw the potential to make a mark on the world, and increase his fame and fortune. But he sacrificed and gave up his family and even his creation to chase after mere vapors of what he thought he wanted. He leaves Betty, his children, and the company in shambles with a load of debt. Betty, whose own background was lonely and left her desperate for love, rises to the occasion and pulls the family and the company out of the dark place they were left and they all find a better future. And, even notoriety. Betty even discovers love that is well beyond what she could imagine – in the people and family who surround her.

  Voir livre

• 

  The Filostrato

  Giovanni Boccaccio

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Filostrato by Giovanni Boccaccio is a poignant and richly woven tale of love, longing, and tragic destiny set against the legendary backdrop of the Trojan War. Written in the 14th century, this early masterpiece of Italian literature blends classical legend with the emotional intensity of courtly romance, revealing Boccaccio's growing mastery of poetic storytelling.
  
  Centered on the ill-fated love between Troilus, a Trojan prince, and the beautiful Criseyde, the narrative traces the rise and fall of a passionate relationship shaped by war, fate, and human frailty. When Troilus first beholds Criseyde, he is overwhelmed by desire, and through the clever mediation of Pandarus, the two are brought together in a secret union. Yet their happiness is shadowed by the ongoing conflict between Troy and the Greek forces. When Criseyde is sent to the enemy camp as part of a political exchange, the lovers are separated, and loyalty is tested in the face of uncertainty and temptation.
  
  Through vivid characterization and lyrical expression, Boccaccio explores the psychological depth of his protagonists. Troilus embodies the consuming power of romantic devotion—torn between hope and despair—while Criseyde is portrayed with complexity and nuance, caught between affection, fear, and survival in a world governed by shifting allegiances. The story's emotional resonance lies not only in its tragic outcome but in its sensitive portrayal of the vulnerability of the human heart.
  
  Drawing inspiration from classical sources yet transforming them through the lens of medieval sensibility, The Filostrato stands as one of the earliest narrative poems in the Italian vernacular. Its exploration of love as both ennobling and destructive anticipates later Renaissance themes, and its influence would extend far beyond Italy, shaping works such as Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde.
  
  At once romantic and somber, heroic and intimate, The Filostrato captures the tension between personal desire and public duty. Boccaccio's poetic craftsmanship, emotional insight, and dramatic pacing create a narrative that feels timeless in its exploration of longing, betrayal, and the fragile nature of trust.
  
  A foundational work of early Renaissance literature, The Filostrato offers readers a compelling blend of epic setting and deeply personal emotion—an enduring story of love tested by fate and remembered through poetry.

  Voir livre