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A Brief Guide to Stephen King
by Paul Simpson2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Stephen King?s first novel Carrie in April 1974. Rescued from the rubbish by his wife Tabitha, the novel launched the Maine schoolteacher on a prolific and extraordinarily successful career. His name has become synonymous with horror and suspense through over fifty works, including The Dark Tower, a retelling of Byron?s Childe Harold to the Dark Tower Came.Simpson traces the writer?s life from his difficult childhood ? his father went out to the shops and never came back ? through his initial books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman to the success of Carrie, Salem?s Lot and The Shining in the 1970s, and beyond. He examines how King?s writing was affected by the accident that nearly killed him in 1999 and how his battles with alcohol and addiction to medication have been reflected in his stories. The guide will also take a look at the very many adaptation?s of King?s work in movies, on television and radio, and in comic books.
A Brief Guide to Stephen King (Brief Histories)
by Paul Simpson2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Stephen King’s first novel Carrie in April 1974. Rescued from the rubbish by his wife Tabitha, the novel launched the Maine schoolteacher on a prolific and extraordinarily successful career. His name has become synonymous with horror and suspense through over fifty works, including The Dark Tower, a retelling of Byron’s Childe Harold to the Dark Tower Came.Simpson traces the writer’s life from his difficult childhood – his father went out to the shops and never came back – through his initial books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman to the success of Carrie, Salem’s Lot and The Shining in the 1970s, and beyond. He examines how King’s writing was affected by the accident that nearly killed him in 1999 and how his battles with alcohol and addiction to medication have been reflected in his stories. The guide will also take a look at the very many adaptation’s of King’s work in movies, on television and radio, and in comic books.
A Brief Guide to The Sound of Music: 50 Years of the Legendary Musical and the Family who Inspired It (Brief Histories Ser.)
by Paul SimpsonEveryone has heard the songs from The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The stage show was a roaring success in New York and London, and the much-loved feature film, directed by Hollywood veteran Robert Wise, continues to be a staple of television schedules 50 years after its release in 1965. In this fascinating and wide-ranging book, Paul Simpson explores the incredible story of the Von Trapp family and their escape from the Third Reich in all its incarnations, from real-life adventure, to book, to stage, to award-winning film to cultural phenomenon. He discusses the stage show, the many differences that were incorporated into the fictionalisation of the tale, and how that story was brought to the screen. He also looks at the numerous other ways in which the Von Trapp?s story has been told, including the two West German movies from the 1950s and the extensive forty-part Japanese anime series from the 1990s, to explain why the story of the Von Trapp family has appealed to so many generations.Praise for A Brief Guide to Stephen King:'The best book about King and his work I have ever read' Books Monthly
A Brief Guide to The Sound of Music: 50 Years of the Legendary Musical and the Family who Inspired It (Brief Histories)
by Paul SimpsonEveryone has heard the songs from The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The stage show was a roaring success in New York and London, and the much-loved feature film, directed by Hollywood veteran Robert Wise, continues to be a staple of television schedules 50 years after its release in 1965. In this fascinating and wide-ranging book, Paul Simpson explores the incredible story of the Von Trapp family and their escape from the Third Reich in all its incarnations, from real-life adventure, to book, to stage, to award-winning film to cultural phenomenon. He discusses the stage show, the many differences that were incorporated into the fictionalisation of the tale, and how that story was brought to the screen. He also looks at the numerous other ways in which the Von Trapp’s story has been told, including the two West German movies from the 1950s and the extensive forty-part Japanese anime series from the 1990s, to explain why the story of the Von Trapp family has appealed to so many generations.Praise for A Brief Guide to Stephen King:'The best book about King and his work I have ever read' Books Monthly
A Brief Guide to William Shakespeare (Brief Histories)
by Peter AckroydAn accessible and entertaining journey through the life, times, and work of the Bard - Enigma. Master of language. The greatest comedian in history? The most famous writer in the world. But isn't he a little bit boring? This is an essential guide for anyone who has previously avoided the Bard, and is the perfect introduction for first time students or seasoned theatre lovers. The book contains a full commentary of all the plays by bestselling and reknowned writer Peter Ackroyd as well as full descriptions of the cast and the drama; not forgetting the best speeches, and the wit and wisdom from across the works. There is also an opportunity to explore the poems and a complete set of sonnets, as well as an investigation of who the dark lady might have been.Contains:The complete sonnets; the greatest speeches; the best lines.Perfect for students struggling through their first play or for theatre lovers anywhere.Entertaining, accessible, Shakespeare without the boring bits.
A Brief Guide to Writing from Readings (4th Edition)
by Stephen WilhoitA Brief Guide to Writing from Readings teaches students how to write the most common papers assigned in college courses: source-based essays that summarize, analyze, critique, and synthesize. Comprehensive enough to serve as a primary text yet compact enough to serve as a supplement, this clear and concise writing guide teaches students how to critically read, clearly summarize, carefully respond to, and accurately quote or paraphrase texts. A Brief Guide to Writing from Readings, Fourth Edition, is a valuable teaching and reference tool that students of many disciplines will find useful for course work and for independent study. This text is an excellent teaching tool and reference guide to the most widely used documentation styles. NEW TO THIS EDITION · A new chapter, "Argumentative Synthesis" (Chapter 10), expands coverage of the definition and elements of an argument, including claims, grounds, and warrants. A new chapter, "Rhetorical Analysis" (Chapter 8), reinforces the rhetorical concepts, habituates students to reading and writing rhetorically, and features a rhetorical analysis of President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. An expanded chapter on response essays (Chapter 6) includes suggestions for writing thesis statements ("openings") and concluding paragraphs ("closings"), and features sample essays. Two new Appendices, "Peer Review Guidelines" and "Revision Guidelines," offer brief action steps for which A Brief Guide is well known.
A Brief Guide to the Great Equations: The Hunt for Cosmic Beauty in Numbers (Brief Histories)
by Robert CreaseHere are the stories of the ten most popular equations of all time as voted for by readers of Physics World, including - accessibly described here for the first time - the favourite equation of all, Euler's equation.Each is an equation that captures with beautiful simplicity what can only be described clumsily in words. Euler's equation [eip + 1 = 0] was described by respondents as 'the most profound mathematic statement ever written', 'uncanny and sublime', 'filled with cosmic beauty' and 'mind-blowing'. Collectively these equations also amount to the world's most concise and reliable body of knowledge.Many scientists and those with a mathematical bent have a soft spot for equations. This book explains both why these ten equations are so beautiful and significant, and the human stories behind them.
A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths
by Stephen P. KershawThe book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance.This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms - namely children's books and academic works. There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume.
A Brief Guide to the Greek Myths (Brief Histories)
by Dr Stephen P. KershawThe book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance.This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms - namely children's books and academic works. There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume.
A Brief Guide to the Supernatural: Ghosts, Vampires And The Paranormal
by Leo RuickbieFrom Most Haunted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from Underworld to Twilight, from Doom to Resident Evil, The Brief Guide to the Supernatural goes in search of the unearthly with unexpected results; combining history, science, psychology and myth he explores the allure of the paranormal - why so many people still believe in ghosts and angels - as well as the many ways people have tried to contact and record the impossible.
A Brief Guide to the Supernatural: Ghosts, Vampires and the Paranormal (Brief Histories)
by Leo RuickbieFrom Most Haunted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from Underworld to Twilight, from Doom to Resident Evil, The Brief Guide to the Supernatural goes in search of the unearthly with unexpected results; combining history, science, psychology and myth he explores the allure of the paranormal - why so many people still believe in ghosts and angels - as well as the many ways people have tried to contact and record the impossible.
A Brief History Of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, And Culture
by Jennifer Roberts Sarah Pomeroy Walter Donlan Stanley Burstein David TandyWritten by five leading authorities on the classical world, A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society, and Culture, Third Edition, is a shorter version of the authors' highly successful Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History, Third Edition (OUP, 2011). It offers a captivating account of Greek civilization and history in all its complexity and variety, covering the entire period from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic Era.
A Brief History Of Chinese And Japanese Civilizations
by Miranda Brown David Lurie Suzanne Gay Conrad SchirokauerThis compelling text explores the development of China and Japan through their art, religion, literature, and thought as well as through their economic, political, and social history. The author team combines strong research with extensive classroom teaching experience to offer a clear, consistent, and highly readable text that is accessible to students with no previous knowledge of the history of East Asia.
A Brief History Of France
by Cecil JenkinsA Brief History of France tells the story of the formation of this grand nation through its people, great events, and culture. When we think of France we often evoke images of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris, and the chic beaches of St. Tropez, but the largest country in Europe has much more to offer than tourist attractions.
A Brief History Of Mexico
by Lynn FosterA Brief History of Mexico, Fourth Edition brings readers up to date on developments in Mexico, helping them understand the deeper significance of recent events. Since Felipe Calderón took office in 2006 amidst violent protests, his reforms have been aimed at drug cartels, poverty, restructuring the role of government in private businesses, and attempts to foster trade agreements with other nations. Despite the many obstacles it faces today, Mexico has become a democratic nation with checks and balances, free elections, and the ability to build a better future.
A Brief History Of The Caribbean: From the Arawak and the Carib to the Present
by Jan Rogozinski<P>Since Columbus landed in the Bahamas 500 years ago, the history of the Caribbean has been marked by European domination and the ongoing struggle of both native and immigrant islanders for political and economic autonomy. <P>Over the centuries, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Britain, and the United States have vied for sovereignty over the islands and their rich resources, and all have left their indelible mark on the peoples and cultures they touched. <P>Taking this heritage into account, and beginning with the first known Caribbean islanders - the Arawak and the Carib - A Brief History of the Caribbean traces the complex and ever-changing course of events in the region, with in-depth coverage of the social, economic, and political factors that have shaped its history.
A Brief History Of The Cold War
by Lee Edwards Elizabeth Edwards SpaldingThe Cold War was a crucial conflict in American history. At stake was whether the world would be dominated by the forces of totalitarianism led by the Soviet Union, or inspired by the principles of economic and political freedom embodied in the United States. The Cold War established America as the leader of the free world and a global superpower. It shaped U. S. military strategy, economic policy, and domestic politics for nearly 50 years. In A Brief History of the Cold War, distinguished scholars Lee Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards Spalding recount the pivotal events of this protracted struggle and explain the strategies that eventually led to victory for freedom. They analyze the development and implementation of containment, détente, and finally President Reagan's philosophy: "they lose, we win. " The Cold War teaches important lessons about statecraft and America's indispensable role in the world.
A Brief History Of The Future: The United States In A Changing World Order
by Allan E. GoodmanThis book provides a representation of a world in which none of us have lived and of its potential dynamics. It looks at the interaction of tendencies such as democratization, technological expansion, regional integration, and the obsolescence of war, and discusses U.S. role in changing world order.
A Brief History Of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 1755 To 1915
by General Sir Edward Thomas Henry HuttonThe Kings Royal Rifle Corps, or the 2nd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets as they are now known, had a long and proud fighting tradition that they would exchange with no other regiment in the British Army. Originally raised from American colonists in 1756, their skill in fighting the French and their native American allies in the woods in the north of the nascent America was legendary; the regiment was honoured for its distinguished service with the motto "Swift and Bold" by no less a figure as General Wolfe in the Quebec campaign. During the Napoleonic Wars, companies of the 5th Battalion were attached to the divisions of Wellington's army to provide them with tough, resilient experienced skirmishers. After many significant deployments to overseas theatres during the 1800's, the regiment was hugely expanded for service in the First World War during which the men of the KRRC added much lustre to their reputation and no fewer than seven V.C.s.Lt.-General Sir Edward Hutton was a distinguished officer of the British army, aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria and pioneered the use of mounted infantry in the British Army. He was also the first commander of the Australian Army. He wrote this short history of his old regiment in retirement during the early stages of the First World War.Author -- Lt.-General Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton 1848-1923Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1917, Winchester, by Warren and SonOriginal Page Count - 84 pages.Illustrations -- 4 maps and plans.
A Brief History Of The Romans
by Daniel J. Gargola Richard J. A. Talbert Noel Lenski Mary T. BoatwrightHow did a single village community in the Italian peninsula eventually become one of the most powerful imperial powers the world has ever known? In A Brief History of the Romans, Second Edition, Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola, Richard J. A. Talbert, and new coauthor Noel Lenski explore this question as they guide students through a comprehensive sweep of Roman history, ranging from the prehistoric settlements to the fall of the empire in 476. Addressing issues that still confront modern states worldwide - including warfare, empire building, consensus forging, and political fragmentation - the authors also provide glimpses into everyday Roman life and perspective, demonstrating how Rome's growth as a state is inseparable from its social and cultural development.
A Brief History Of Video Games
by Rich StantonA Brief History of Video Games describes and explains the remarkable evolution of interactive entertainment, from the demonstration of Nimrod in 1951 to full-body virtual reality in 2014. Video games are a technology-led medium and this book examines everything from the first wood-panelled Pong machines in California right up to the engineering masterpieces that now sit in countless homes, with brief stopovers for dead-ends like Philips CDi and early VR. Most importantly, it?s all about the games ? how these experiences have evolved from simple call-and-response mechanics into sophisticated, captivating worlds, responsive in just about every way to players.
A Brief History Of Video Games: From Atari to Virtual Reality (Brief Histories)
by Rich Stanton'Stanton writes with terrific verve and precision . . . his understanding of the seductive pleasures of gaming takes us right to its heart.'Maria Bustillos, Times Literary Supplement'The best overview book of the industry that I've read.'Andrew Liptak, io9From the first wood-panelled Pong machines in California to the masterpieces of engineering that now sit in countless homes all over the world, A Brief History of Video Games reveals the vibrant history and culture of interactive entertainment. Above all, this is a book about the games - how the experience of playing has developed from simple, repetitive beginnings into a cornucopia of genres and styles, at once utterly immersive and socially engaging. With full-colour illustrations throughout, it shows how technological advances have transformed the first dots and dashes of bored engineers into sophisticated, responsive worlds that are endlessly captivating. As thrilling and surprising as the games it describes, this is an indispensable read for anyone serious about the business of having fun.
A Brief History of Afghanistan
by Shaista Wahab Barry YoungermanWahab (Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection, U. Library, U. of Nebraska, Omaha) provides a clear, concise history of Afghanistan's historical and cultural heritage, from 3000 BCE to the present, for students, scholars, and general readers. Following an overview of the land and the people, subsequent chapters examine the country's early history, the rise of Islam, the birth of modern Afghanistan, 20th-century monarchy, the coup and revolution in the 1970s, the Soviet period of 1979-1989, the subsequent years of rebellion, mujahideen rule in the 1990s, the Taliban era, and the aftermath of the civil war. The main text is supplemented with an appendix of basic facts, a chronology, bibliography, and list of suggested reading materials for each chapter, and is illustrated throughout with b&w photographs, maps and charts. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A Brief History of America (Brief Histories)
by Jeremy BlackThe next in this series of admirably concise yet nevertheless comprehensive titles looks at the history of all Americans as well as America; its environmental history and its linkage to economic history; the political shaping of America; and America in the world, from being a colony to post-Cold War America.Black examines the environmental history of America and its linkage to economic history, crucially, the clearing of forests; the spread of agriculture; mineral, coal and iron extraction; industrialisation; urbanisation; and current and growing climate-crisis concerns.He explores the political shaping of America: indigenous American polities; free European and unfree African settlements; the creation of an American State, and its successes and failures from 1783 to 1861; Civil War; democratisation; the rise of the federal Government from the 1930s; the Civil Rights movement from the 1950s onwards, and tensions in more recent governance. The book considers America in the World: as a pre-colonial and colonised space; as a newly-independent power, then a rising international one, the Cold War and the USA as the sole superpower in the post-Cold-War world. These key themes are tackled chronologically for the sake of clarity, beginning with the geological creation of North America, human settlement and native American cultures to 1500; the arrival of Europeans and enslaved Africans to 1770 - the Spanish and French in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, the English and French, and the Dutch and Swedes further north.The focus then shifts to settler conflicts with native Americans and between European powers leading to a British-dominated North America by 1770. Then the end of European rule and the foundation of an American trans-continental state. The section dealing with the years from 1848 to 1880 looks at the Civil War between North and South, reconstruction and the creation of a new society.Between 1880 and 1920, the United States became an industrial powerhouse and an international power, also a colonial power - the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico - and a participant in the First World War.The interwar years, 1921 to 1945, brought turmoil: the Roaring Twenties; the growth of Hollywood; Prohibition; jazz; the Great Depression and the New Deal; finally the Second World War. 1945 to 1968 was the American Age, brimming with confidence and success as the world's leading power, but also the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Subsequent years to 1992 brought crisis and recovery: Watergate, the Reagan years and the USA as the sole world superpower.In bringing the book right up to the present day, Black looks at factors that divide American society and economy, though it remains a country of tremendous energy.
A Brief History of America (Brief Histories)
by Jeremy BlackThe next in this series of admirably concise yet nevertheless comprehensive titles looks at the history of all Americans as well as America; its environmental history and its linkage to economic history; the political shaping of America; and America in the world, from being a colony to post-Cold War America.Black examines the environmental history of America and its linkage to economic history, crucially, the clearing of forests; the spread of agriculture; mineral, coal and iron extraction; industrialisation; urbanisation; and current and growing climate-crisis concerns.He explores the political shaping of America: indigenous American polities; free European and unfree African settlements; the creation of an American State, and its successes and failures from 1783 to 1861; Civil War; democratisation; the rise of the federal Government from the 1930s; the Civil Rights movement from the 1950s onwards, and tensions in more recent governance. The book considers America in the World: as a pre-colonial and colonised space; as a newly-independent power, then a rising international one, the Cold War and the USA as the sole superpower in the post-Cold-War world. These key themes are tackled chronologically for the sake of clarity, beginning with the geological creation of North America, human settlement and native American cultures to 1500; the arrival of Europeans and enslaved Africans to 1770 - the Spanish and French in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, the English and French, and the Dutch and Swedes further north.The focus then shifts to settler conflicts with native Americans and between European powers leading to a British-dominated North America by 1770. Then the end of European rule and the foundation of an American trans-continental state. The section dealing with the years from 1848 to 1880 looks at the Civil War between North and South, reconstruction and the creation of a new society.Between 1880 and 1920, the United States became an industrial powerhouse and an international power, also a colonial power - the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico - and a participant in the First World War.The interwar years, 1921 to 1945, brought turmoil: the Roaring Twenties; the growth of Hollywood; Prohibition; jazz; the Great Depression and the New Deal; finally the Second World War. 1945 to 1968 was the American Age, brimming with confidence and success as the world's leading power, but also the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Subsequent years to 1992 brought crisis and recovery: Watergate, the Reagan years and the USA as the sole world superpower.In bringing the book right up to the present day, Black looks at factors that divide American society and economy, though it remains a country of tremendous energy.