Publisher: GIANLUCA
Zadig, or The Book of Fate is a work of philosophical fiction written by Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. It tells the story of Zadig, a philosopher in ancient Babylonia. The author does not attempt any historical accuracy, and some of the problems Zadig faces are thinly disguised references to social and political problems of Voltaire's own day.
She came to the throne in 1952 when Britain had a far-flung empire, sweets were rationed, mums stayed home and kids played on bombsites. Seventy years on, everything has changed utterly - except the Queen herself, ageing far more gracefully than the fractious nation over which she so lightly presides. How did we get from there to here in a single reign? To cancel culture, anti-vaxxers and Twitter feeds? Matthew Engel tells the story - starting with the years from Churchill to Thatcher - with his own light touch and a wealth of fascinating, forgotten, often funny detail.Show book
An in-depth study of the most significant Irish clergyman in the history of the stateFor three decades, 1940-72, as Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, John Charles McQuaid imposed his iron will on Irish politicians and instilled fear among his clergy and laity. No other churchman amassed the religious, political and social power which he exercised with unscrupulous severity. An admirer of the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover, Archbishop McQuaid built up a vigilante system that spied on politicians and priests, workers and students, doctors and lawyers, nuns and nurses, soldiers and trade unionists. There was no room for dissent when John Charles spoke in the name of Jesus Christ. This power was used to build up a Catholic-dominated state in which Protestants, Jews and feminists were not welcome.Show book
The enigmatic American author, best known for The Catcher in the Rye, died at age 91. Jim Lehrer talks with experts about Salinger’s influence on American literature.Show book
Maureen Waller has written a fascinating narrative history---a brilliant combination of drama and biographical insight on the British monarchy---of the six women who have ruled England in their own names. In the last millennium there have been only six English female sovereigns: Mary I and Elizabeth I, Mary II and Anne, Victoria and Elizabeth II. With the exception of Mary I, they are among England's most successful monarchs. Without Mary II and Anne, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 might not have taken place. Elizabeth I and Victoria each gave their name to an age, presiding over long periods when Britain made significant progress in the growth of empire, prestige, and power. All of them have far-reaching legacies. Each faced personal sacrifices and emotional dilemmas in her pursuit of political power. How to overcome the problem of being a female ruler when the sex was considered inferior? Does a queen take a husband and, if so, how does she reconcile the reversal of the natural order, according to which the man should be the master? A queen's first royal duty is to provide an heir to the throne, but at what cost? In this richly compelling narrative of royalty, Maureen Waller delves into the intimate lives of England's queens regnant in delicious detail, assessing their achievements from a female perspective.Show book
John Comer kept a journal of the twenty-five missions he flew in 1943 when the casualty rate on his base was close to 80 percent. His book is handwritten history, recorded within hours after the battles occurred. Comer vividly creates his experiences as top-turret gunner/flight engineer in a B-17 Squadron that was thrown against the best pilots the Luftwaffe could offer. In 1943 the Army Air Force had no long-range fighters to protect the B-17s as they flew deep into enemy territory. Immediate, straightforward, and compelling, Combat Crew is a classic of aerial warfare.Show book
The Chronicle – Book Three (July to September) This is history... but not as you know it! At Waterloo, women are stripping the corpses of their valuable shoes and stockings yet the Highlanders are left in mass graves with their coarse tartan socks still on. Roy Strong attending a private dinner with the Prime Minister notes that Margaret Thatcher in floaty chiffon is "the apotheosis of the boss's wife, with the appeal of cosmeticised putty." Even at the coronation of George IV, Queen Caroline, who is denied entry to the Abbey, is observed looking like "a blowsy landlady". As for the nude revue 'Oh Calcutta', it is noted that "there are some parts of the anatomy over whose movements the choreographer has no control”. Join Fanny Kemble as she travels at break-neck speed aboard Stephenson's Rocket and Joyce Grenfell as she washes her tennis balls and bakes them in the oven while Lord Byron conducts a fiery seaside funeral of his close friend Shelley. “It’s WONDERFUL. In fact, I would describe it as one of the all-time audio greats... an unmissable five-star production.” (The Guardian) “I recommend the reader to hunt down and buy this series wherever it may be found.” (The Spectator) Dramatised and performed by a distinguished cast of over 30 actors, including Charles Dance, Harriet Walter, David Suchet, Timothy West, James Bolam, Maureen Lipman, Robert Powell, Jenny Agutter, Joss Ackland, Eleanor Bron, John Sessions, Imogen Stubbs. Also available as part of the CHRONICLE BOX SET, over 11 hours of audio bliss.Show book
