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Ett gott parti: Scener ur Ellan de la Chapelles och Albert Edelfelts liv
by Maria Vainio-KurtakkoDet här är berättelsen om ett äktenskap, om friherrinnan Ellan de la Chapelle och konstnären Albert Edelfelt. Här vävs tvåsamhetens glädje och vänskap samt tvister och bekymmer samman med samtida skönlitteratur och det sena 1800-talets tidsanda, där det moderna genombrottet stod inför dörren. Hur skulle man förhålla sig till manliga och kvinnliga roller, sedesamhet och dubbelmoral? Och hur skulle man välja den rätta när både känslor och släktbakgrund spelade roll? Ellan och Albert, som båda ställt sig tveksamma till giftermål, bildade ett till synes lyckat förbund. Men bakom kulisserna knakade det i fogarna när en framåtblickande kvinnas ambitioner och en konstnärs brokiga liv skulle anpassas efter omvärldens förväntningar. Parets självskrivna plats i Helsingforssocieteten och i de parisiska salongerna väckte gång på gång knepiga frågor om ekonomiska resurser, inflytande och social position. Ett gott parti skisserar fram ett äktenskap i tiden, och samtidigt ett samhälle i miniatyr.
Scientific Secrets of Nature: Indoor & Outdoor Experiments for the Whole Family
by Andreas Korn-MüllerIn this book, you and your children will discover the amazing wonders of nature through simple experiments. What's the science behind the Lotus effect? Find out using kohlrabi leaves. Feeding carnivorous plants with gummy bears? Yes, it works! But why? Determine the air quality of your surroundings, a park, or a forest with a homemade lichen grid. Quickly, you'll become an expert on the wonderful and useful lichens. Invisible microorganisms of a lake become visibly teeming life with a laser pointer – all without a microscope! Discover the "dark" side of nature with a simple UV flashlight, making vegetables, plants, mosses, fungi, algae, crabs, and shells glow in vibrant colors. A red glowing spooky bell pepper for Halloween? Yes! An exploratory night walk on the beach? Hooray! Great fun with experiments for indoors and outdoors for the whole family. This book is the perfect companion for hikes and holiday travels – bringing you closer to nature. Featuring numerous color photos, many descriptive graphics, and 14 spectacular videos. So: Off into nature!
Multiphysics and Multiscale Building Physics: Proceedings of the 9th International Building Physics Conference (IBPC 2024) Volume 4: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Lighting and Acoustics (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering #555)
by Umberto BerardiThis book contains selected papers presented at the 9th edition of the official triennial conference of the International Association of Building Physics (IABP), held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 25-27 July, 2024. The contents make valuable contributions to academic researchers and practioners of the building sector. Readers will encounter new ideas for realizing more efficient and resilient buildings and cities. The approach followed in the book aims to explore how building physics can be explored using multi domains and scales.
Meningiomas: From Pathology to Clinics
by Francesco Maiuri Marialaura Del Basso De CaroThis book aims to explore the correlation between pathology and molecular biology with the clinical and diagnostic features, management, and outcome of meningiomas. With its unique structure consisting of 6 parts and 22 chapters, it provides a comprehensive analysis of this topic. Each chapter delves into the pathological features, emphasizing their clinical implications, making this book distinct from others in its field. Several topics discussed in this book are not found in other texts. These include the hormone-related clinical factors, the clinical impact of the 2021 WHO Classification of tumors of the CNS, the clinical and prognostic role of hormone-receptor expression, the pattern of dural invasion, the brain-tumor interface and brain invasion, and the radiomics. Part I serves as an introduction, focusing on the most recent research on the origin and growth of meningiomas. Part II explores the various aspects and the correlation of meningioma occurrence within the general population. Part III centers around the clinical impact of macroscopic, histological, and biomolecular features of meningiomas. Part IV is dedicated to imaging diagnosis, including a chapter on radiomics, a novel and sophisticated imaging technique not covered in other texts. Part V examines the impact of pathology on the management of meningiomas, encompassing modern radiotherapeutic and biomolecular targeted therapies. Finally, Part VI delves into meningioma recurrence, with a unique chapter on the topography of recurrences, a topic not extensively discussed in other books. The primary audience for this book includes neurooncologists, neurosurgeons, radiotherapists, neuroradiologists, pathologists with a focus on molecular biology, as well as neurologists and geneticists. It serves as a valuable resource for professionals in these fields, providing in-depth insights into the correlation between pathology, molecular biology, and the clinical aspects of meningiomas.
Parallel Lives: An Empirical Exploration of the Concept of Generation
by Calin GoinaThis book explores the articulation between macro-social historical transformations and the opportunities and constraints that the resultant political and property regimes presented for villagers. It builds on ethnographic analyses of rural Eastern Europe by adding an historical analysis of the configurations and reconfigurations of life trajectories across three successive generations. The villagers studied lived a succession of property and political configurations: democratic and authoritarian regimes grounded in free market and private property until 1947, a totalitarian regime of state-socialism until 1989, and a liberal democracy re-building a free market economy from 1990 until today. It also brings forward an empirical exploration of the concept of generation, grounded on a re-reading of Karl Mannheim. The book is distinctive in its historical breath, covering a century via a detailed, rich ethnographic study, that includes a diversity of social positions (from the richest members of the community to those of very poor means) and a diversity of three ethnicities and religions.
High Energy Physics: A Level and Transition Approach
by Navin KhanejaThis book offers a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenology surrounding high-energy particle interactions. When particles possess kinetic energy surpassing their rest energy, remarkable phenomena occur. Colliding particles at such high energies can lead to the creation of entirely new particles, illuminating the intricate workings of the universe. Through vivid explanations, this book elucidates the intricate processes that unfold during particle collisions. From proton collisions yielding pions and kaons to electron-positron collisions producing muons, each collision unveils a tapestry of particle interactions. Central to these interactions is the exchange of photons, which come in various forms. Among them are electromagnetic (EM) photons, akin to the light photons that bind electrons to protons within atoms. Then, there are the heavy bosons responsible for beta decay, crucial mediators of weak interactions that govern the decay of particles such as muons and pions. Additionally, there exist photons that bind quarks within protons and neutrons, facilitating the strong force that holds atomic nuclei together. In 'High Energy Physics: A Level and Transition Approach,' we embark on a journey through the diverse array of particles and photons that orchestrate these interactions, shedding light on the fundamental forces shaping the fabric of our universe.
Systemische Psychotherapie: Lehrbuch für Studium und Weiterbildung (Psychotherapie: Studium & Ausbildung)
by Astrid Beermann Björn Enno HermansDieses Lehrbuch für das Psychotherapiestudium sowie die postgraduale Aus- undWeiterbildung vermittelt praxisnah und didaktisch hochwertig die Grundlagen undAnwendungsformen der Systemischen Psychotherapie im Umgang mit psychischen Störungen.Die Inhalte, die sich mit erkenntnistheoretischen Grundlagen, typischen Vorgehensweisen und Merkmalen sowie Anwendungsbereichen systemischer Therapie vielseitig und vertieft befassen, orientieren sich am Gegenstandskatalog für die schriftlichen Prüfungen nach dem Psychotherapeutengesetz und der Psychotherapie-Richtlinie und werden kompetenzorientiert („Vom Kennen zum Können“) anhand eines multimodalen Lehrbuchkonzepts vermittelt: Lesetexte werden mit digitalen Medieninhalten (z. B. Videos, Audios) ergänzt. Fallbeispiele, praxisbezogene Anregungen, Reflexionsfragen und Übungsangebote zeigen die Praxisnähe, Diskussionen zu einzelnen Aspekten vertiefen das Wissen, veranschaulichen verschiedene Perspektiven der systemischen Sichtweise und regen zum Weiterdenken und zu Diskursen an.
Progress in Hydrogen Energy, Fuel Cells, Nano-Biotechnology and Advanced, Bioactive Compounds (Engineering Materials)
by Carlton A. Taft Sergio Ricardo de LazaroFrom cutting-edge quantum dots poised to revolutionize energy, health, and environmental sectors to the intricate design and characterization of perovskite-based solar cells, this comprehensive volume delves into the forefront of materials science and technology. Offering both theoretical depth and practical insights, it explores the latest advancements in fuel cells, spintronics, and quantum computing materials. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the mesmerizing realm of magnetism, phonon dynamics, and thermophysical properties through a detailed examination of gamma-Fe4N. Seamlessly integrating theory with experimentation, this book serves as an indispensable resource for researchers, engineers, and enthusiasts navigating the dynamic landscape of modern materials innovation.
Textile Material Research—Statistical Tools of Experimental Data Analysis
by Mohanapriya Venkataraman Jiří Militký Dana KřemenákováThis book presents the effective combination of mathematical statistics, general metrology, and textile metrology to allow data analysis with regard to the evaluation of parameters of fibrous structures. Specialists working in material sciences, where fibrous structures are used, comprehensively understand the specifics of the fabric evaluation and manage in the context of rational use of selected mathematical and statistical methods. In this book, selected methods that are advantageous for data analysis, regardless of whether they are elementary or advanced are presented. The so-called computer-intensive methods are used in many situations when classical statistics is unable to offer a solution, or the solution is too complicated.
Advances in Mechatronics Systems: Principles, Elements and Applications (Emerging Trends in Mechatronics)
by Ajay Kumar Aydin Azizi Parveen KumarThis book consists of eleven chapters that covers all aspects of mechatronics systems from basics to advanced. This book is an edited compilation of original research and applications backed with experimental, numerical and theoretical data on mechatronics systems, suitably categorized into sections of closely related topics, contributed by researchers, academics, scientists, industrialists and professionals from the field on various aspects of mechatronics. Therefore, it will provide logical, technical as well as analytical solutions and ideas to complex problems faced by researchers in the field of mechatronics. The academicians and students will get a comprehensive update on the state-of-the-art in this area and ample ideas for further research and innovation in mechatronics.
Farmland, Farming and Food in the National Economy of China, 1947 – 2020: A Framework for Understanding China’s Agricultural Track Record and Food Security (Palgrave Studies in Economic History)
by Jane DuThis book presents a concise yet detailed analysis of China’s agricultural economy and food security in historical perspective. The book begins with an overview of China’s socialist economic transition and Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, with an emphasis on agricultural economy and food production, before discussing China’s food industry and security in more recent years. Combining accessible qualitative interpretations with a rich data set, the author analyses the transitions and evolving policies in China’s agricultural production and shows how these are essential for understanding contemporary food security challenges in the country. Covering topics including food imports and supply, dietary changes, international trade policies and other geopolitical factors impacting food security, the book presents new insights into the interplay between domestic and international systems. Bridging gaps between historical understanding and contemporary policy relevance, this book will be useful reading for researchers in varied disciplines including economic history, agricultural economics, China’s economy, and economic development.
Harlequin Historical - February 2025 - Box Set 2 of 2
by Melissa Oliver Sarah RodiLose yourself in this dramatic and emotional Harlequin® Historical collection, featuring two new full-length titles in one collection! This boxset includes:THE LADY&’S BARGAIN WITH THE ROGUE by Melissa Oliver (Victorian) Lady Elisabeth Bawden-Trebarr&’s determined to reclaim the Cornish ancestral home her good-for-nothing late husband gambled away and unearth her family&’s long-lost riches. As the new owner is Sebastian Marsden – a notorious rogue she would rather avoid – she&’ll ensure he cannot dismiss her by storming his gaming hell! Sebastian wants nothing more to do with the ton after a bitter family scandal. But when Lady Eliza refuses to give up without a fight, he entertains her treasure hunt – if only to stop her pressing on his every nerve! Yet he reluctantly admires her tenacity, and a sizzling attraction begins to stir… THE VIKING&’S PRINCESS BRIDE by Sarah Rodi (Viking) Victorious in his quest for revenge, Viking Njal takes the Saxon crown—and their princess! But while he&’s wedding Cwen in the name of peace, he cannot deny the way she entices him. Even if it&’s clear she&’s holding something back… Princess Cwen has long accepted being used for her kingdom&’s gain, but taking the enemy&’s hand is the most outrageous request yet! Still, the rugged warrior ignites a fire inside her… Cwen just can't let Njal storm her carefully constructed walls. Because she&’s harboring a secret that could rock the foundations of their marriage!
Harlequin Historical - February 2025 - Box Set 1 of 2
by Louise Allen Catherine Tinley Jade LeeHarlequin® Historical brings you a captivating trio of new Regency romances in one collection! This boxset includes: TEMPTED BY HER ENEMY MARQUIS by Louise Allen (Regency) When Will, the Marquis of Ravenham, advertises for an expert in antiques to help him navigate the hoard of treasures that fill his newly inherited estate, Katherine Jones is quick to apply! She is desperate to find the Borgia Ruby, which was stolen from her father by Will&’s family, ruining her own family&’s livelihood in the process. Katherine is determined to get revenge! Only her enemy is nothing like she imagined…not least because she didn&’t foresee being charmed by his witty repartee! Now Katherine must ask herself: Does she want vengeance or Will more? MISS ANNA AND THE EARL Part of The Triplet Orphans by Catherine Tinley (Regency) For Miss Anna Lennox, a house party hosted by the Earl of Garvald is a timely distraction from uncovering the truth about her past. And a chance to indulge her secret tendre for him! She can&’t escape her quest for long after discovering the earl&’s castle was once her home and he was her playmate as an infant! With so many unanswered questions about her past, is there room for Anna to explore her attraction to the earl and discover if her feelings for him are anything more than rekindled friendship? THE DUKE&’S GUIDE TO FAKE COURTSHIP A Daring Debutantes Story by Jade Lee (Regency) Since he inherited a dukedom, all Declan seems to do is put out fires. The latest? Deterring his feckless cousin from chasing a reprehensible woman. Except Grace Nayao Richards is far from reprehensible, and the beguiling, feisty young woman drawsDeclan closer...As the illegitimate daughter of an earl, Grace needs an advantageous marriage to protect her and her sister&’s futures. The handsome duke&’s solution? A fake courtship with him to increase her popularity among the ton. But as he teaches her to navigate London society, it&’s her dangerously attractive guide she desires!
Miss Anna and the Earl (The Triplet Orphans)
by Catherine TinleyDiscover the truth of The Triplet Orphans in the final installment of this compelling Cinderella trilogy! The key to unlocking Cinderella&’s past… The enigmatic earl? For Miss Anna Lennox, a house party hosted by the Earl of Garvald is a timely distraction from uncovering the truth about her past. And a chance to indulge her secret tendre for him! She can&’t escape her quest for long after discovering the earl&’s castle was once her home and he was her playmate as an infant! With so many unanswered questions about her past, is there room for Anna to explore her attraction to the earl and discover if her feelings for him are anything more than rekindled friendship?From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.The Triplet OrphansBook 1: Miss Rose and the Vexing ViscountBook 2: Miss Isobel and the PrinceBook 3: Miss Anna and the Earl
The Viking's Princess Bride
by Sarah RodiFeel the heat as two enemies are forced to wed in this spicy Viking romance! He&’s won the throne… But she&’s his royal prize! Victorious in his quest for revenge, Viking Njal takes the Saxon crown—and their princess! But while he&’s wedding Cwen in the name of peace, he cannot deny the way she entices him. Even if it&’s clear she&’s holding something back… Princess Cwen has long accepted being used for her kingdom&’s gain, but taking the enemy&’s hand is the most outrageous request yet! Still, the rugged warrior ignites a fire inside her… Cwen just can't let Njal storm her carefully constructed walls. Because she&’s harboring a secret that could rock the foundations of their marriage!From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
Tempted by Her Enemy Marquis
by Louise Allen"A charming Regency romance with a dash of rom-com cuteness. Perfect for readers seeking a playful story." - Library JournalRevenge is sweet… But will the marquis&’s kiss be sweeter? When Will, the Marquis of Ravenham, advertises for an expert in antiques to help him navigate the hoard of treasures that fill his newly inherited estate, Katherine Jones is quick to apply! She is desperate to find the Borgia Ruby, which was stolen from her father by Will&’s family, ruining her own family&’s livelihood in the process. Katherine is determined to get revenge! Only her enemy is nothing like she imagined…not least because she didn&’t foresee being charmed by his witty repartee! Now Katherine must ask herself: Does she want vengeance or Will more? From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
The Duke's Guide to Fake Courtship (Daring Debutantes)
by Jade Lee"Lee begins her 'Daring Debutantes' duet with this steamy Regency romance. The bold heroine and her adventurous spirit make for an erotic and enchanting read." - Library JournalA match destined to end Yet impossible to resist… Since he inherited a dukedom, all Declan seems to do is put out fires. The latest? Deterring his feckless cousin from chasing a reprehensible woman. Except Grace Nayao Richards is far from reprehensible, and the beguiling, feisty young woman draws Declan closer… As the illegitimate daughter of an earl, Grace needs an advantageous marriage to protect her and her sister&’s futures. The handsome duke&’s solution? A fake courtship with him to increase her popularity among the ton. But as he teaches her to navigate London society, it&’s her dangerously attractive guide she desires!From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.Daring DebutantesBook 1: The Duke's Guide to Fake Courtship
The Lady's Bargain with the Rogue (The Disreputable Marsden Brothers)
by Melissa Oliver"Oliver begins her 'Disreputable Marsden Brothers' series with this intriguing opposites-attract Victorian romance. The steamy story pairs passion with adventure to create an altogether engaging read." - Library JournalThe rogue she loves to hate Or her greatest temptation? Lady Elisabeth Bawden-Trebarr&’s determined to reclaim the Cornish ancestral home her good-for-nothing late husband gambled away, and unearth her family&’s long-lost riches. As the new owner is Sebastian Marsden—a notorious rogue she would rather avoid—she&’ll ensure he cannot dismiss her by storming his gaming hell! Sebastian wants nothing more to do with the ton after a bitter family scandal. But when Lady Eliza refuses to give up without a fight, he entertains her treasure hunt—if only to stop her pressing on his every nerve! Yet he reluctantly admires her tenacity, and a sizzling attraction begins to stir…From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.The Disreputable Marsden BrothersBook 1: The Lady's Bargain with the Rogue
Conversation at Princeton
by Mario Vargas Llosa Rubén GalloA series of conversations held at Princeton University between the Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa and Rubén Gallo.Princeton University, 2015. For one semester, Mario Vargas Llosa taught a course on literature and politics with Rubén Gallo. Over several classes, the two writers spoke to students about the theory of the novel and the relationship between journalism, politics, and literature through five beloved books by the Nobel laureate: Conversation in the Cathedral, The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta, Who Killed Palomino Molero?, A Fish in the Water, and The Feast of the Goat. Conversation at Princeton records these exhilarating discussions and captures the three complementary perspectives that converged in the classroom: that of Vargas Llosa, who reveals the creative process behind his novels; that of Rubén Gallo, who analyzes the different meanings the works took on after their publication; and that of the students, whose reflections and questions give voice to the responses of millions of Vargas Llosa’s readers. During these talks, Vargas Llosa not only speaks with intelligence and lucidity about the craft of writing, but also offers an absorbing, inquisitive analysis of today’s political and cultural landscape. Conversation at Princeton is a singular opportunity to attend a unique master class on literature and society taught by one of our greatest writers and thinkers.
The World According to Color: A Cultural History
by James FoxA kaleidoscopic exploration that traverses history, literature, art, and science to reveal humans' unique and vibrant relationship with color.We have an extraordinary connection to color—we give it meanings, associations, and properties that last millennia and span cultures, continents, and languages. In The World According to Color, James Fox takes seven elemental colors—black, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, and green—and uncovers behind each a root idea, based on visual resemblances and common symbolism throughout history.Through a series of stories and vignettes, the book then traces these meanings to show how they morphed and multiplied and, ultimately, how they reveal a great deal about the societies that produced them: reflecting and shaping their hopes, fears, prejudices, and preoccupations.Fox also examines the science of how our eyes and brains interpret light and color, and shows how this is inherently linked with the meanings we give to hue. And using his background as an art historian, he explores many of the milestones in the history of art—from Bronze Age gold-work to Turner, Titian to Yves Klein—in a fresh way. Fox also weaves in literature, philosophy, cinema, archaeology, and art—moving from Monet to Marco Polo, early Japanese ink artists to Shakespeare and Goethe to James Bond. By creating a new history of color, Fox reveals a new story about humans and our place in the universe: second only to language, color is the greatest carrier of cultural meaning in our world.
The Longest Autumn: A Novel
by Amy AveryFor fans of Ariadne, a spellbinding debut fantasy about a human who gets trapped with the god of Autumn, who brings with him life-threatening danger and a forbidden romance.Under the right circumstances, would even a god fall?Tirne is one of four humans rigorously selected to usher the turn of the seasons into the mortal world. Every year, she escorts the taciturn god Autumn between the godly and human realms. Autumn’s seasonal stay among mortals brings cooler weather, changing leaves, and the harvest of apples and gourds until Winter takes his place.This year, the enchanted Mirror that separates their worlds shatters after Tirne and Autumn pass through, trapping both of them in the human realm. As the endless autumn stretches on, crops begin to fail and the threat of starvation looms. Away from the magic of the gods’ home, Tirne suffers debilitating headaches that return with a vengeance. Worse, Autumn’s extended stay in the human realm turns him ever more mortal and vulnerable, stirring a new, forbidden attraction to Tirne.While the priesthood scrambles to find a way to reassemble the Mirror, Tirne digs into the temple’s secrets and finds an unlikely ally—or enemy—in the enigmatic sorcerer and master of poisons, Sidriel. Thrown into a world of mystery, betrayal, and espionage as she searches for the truth, might Tirne lose her morals, her hard-earned position, and the illicit spark between her and Autumn?
The Call of the Tribe
by Mario Vargas LlosaThe intellectual autobiography of Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.From its origins, the liberal doctrine has represented the most advanced forms of democratic culture, and it is what has most defended us from the inextinguishable “call of the tribe.” This book hopes to make a modest contribution to that indispensable project.In The Call of the Tribe, Mario Vargas Llosa surveys the readings that have shaped the way he thinks and has viewed the world over the past fifty years. The Nobel laureate, “tireless in his quest to probe the nature of the human animal” (Marie Arana, The Washington Post), maps out the liberal thinkers who helped him develop a new body of ideas after the great ideological traumas of his disenchantment with the Cuban Revolution and his alienation from the ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre, the author who most inspired Vargas Llosa in his youth.The works of Adam Smith, José Ortega y Gasset, Friedrich A. Hayek, Karl Popper, Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin, and Jean-François Revel helped the author enormously during those uneasy years. They showed him another school of thought, one that placed the individual before the tribe, nation, class, or party and defended freedom of expression as a fundamental value for the exercise of democracy. The Call of the Tribe documents Vargas Llosa’s engagement with their work and charts the evolution of his personal ideology.
Lone Wolf: An Orphan X Novel (Orphan X #9)
by Gregg HurwitzThe New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns in this "crackerjack new thriller" (Kirkus Reviews) and "crushingly brilliant piece of fiction" (Best Thriller Books)! Once a black ops government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the Program, went deep underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere and risk everything to help the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most powerful people in the world and even brought down a president. Now struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission - and this time, the truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog.Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his biggest mission yet, one that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them.Evan's mission pushes him to his limit - he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her - a teenaged daughter of her last target, and Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if he is to survive.
Following Caesar: From Rome to Constantinople, the Pathways That Planted the Seeds of Empire
by John KeaheyNATIONAL BESTSELLERA travel narrative following three ancient roads and looking at more than two thousand years of history of Ancient Rome through the modern eye.In 66 b.c., young, ambitious Julius Caesar, seeking recognition and authority, became the curator of the Via Appia, a road stretching from Rome to Brindisi. To gain popularity with Roman citizens along the way, he borrowed significant sums to restore the ancient highway. He eventually achieved greatness in Rome and the far reaches of Gaul, leading armies along the Via Appia and its sister road, the Via Egnatia, across the Balkans, to battle enemies in Roman civil wars.Other armies followed these two roads that eventually connected Rome to Constantinople, today’s Istanbul. Both Octavian and, later, his friend-turned enemy Mark Antony traveled portions of these roads to defeat Caesar’s murderers, Brutus and Cassius. The great Roman statesman Cicero, the Roman poet Homer, the historian Virgil, and many other notables also journeyed on them. In the early second century a.d., the emperor Trajan charted a new, faster, coastal route between Benevento and Brindisi, later called the Via Traiana.Today, the remains of these roads are preserved as archaeological wonders, and can be seen through the countryside near, and sometimes under, modern highways in the ruins of ancient Roman cities. Some of the earliest villages have disappeared, while others have grown into modern towns with the ancient roads hidden beneath latter-day pavements.In this sojourn across Roman history, John Keahey delves into encounters with diverse peoples in these towns in Italy, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey, who warmly embrace travelers following in the footsteps of their ancestors. They shared knowledge of historical sites, meals, and a wealth of local lore. Keahey’s unparalleled storytelling breathes life into the prominent figures, pivotal events, and ancient roads that paved the way for the rise and endurance of the Roman empire. It is a journey full of adventure, discovery, and friendship.
Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age
by Eleanor BarracloughA Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2024 A Kirkus Reviews Editor's Pick A “brilliantly written, brilliantly conceived” (Tom Holland) history of the Viking Age, from mighty leaders to rebellious teenagers, told through their runes and ruins, games and combs, trash and treasure. In imagining a Viking, a certain image springs to mind: a barbaric warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorize the hapless local population of a northern European town. Yet while such characters define our imagination of the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. Instead, in the time-stopping soils, water, and ice of the North, Eleanor Barraclough excavates a preserved lost world, one that reimagines a misunderstood society. By examining artifacts of the past—remnants of wooden gaming boards, elegant antler combs, doodles by imaginative children and bored teenagers, and runes that reveal hidden loves, furious curses, and drunken spouses summoned home from the pub—Barraclough illuminates life in the medieval Nordic world as not just a world of rampaging warriors, but as full of globally networked people with recognizable concerns. This is the history of all the people—children, enslaved people, seers, artisans, travelers, writers—who inhabited the medieval Nordic world. Encompassing not just Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles, Continental Europe, and Russia, this is a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders, and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind. “Embers of the hands” is a poetic kenning from the Viking Age that referred to gold. But no less precious are the embers that Barraclough blows back to life in this book—those of ordinary lives long past.